Book review: On track… OPETH, PETER HAMMILL, LITTLE FEAT, LAURA NYRO

SonicBond Publishing [Publication dates February-May 2022]

On track ... Opeth (Book)

You tend to think of Opeth as one of the “newer” prog metal outfits and then you realise they started out in the late 1980s.  Since that time they’ve released 13 studio albums. Jordan Blum plunders (and credits) a variety of online sources for his narrative.

Given that Opeth are a complex band covering black/death metal, jazz rock and prog metal in their 30 year history it is not an easy task of dissection.  Blum achieves a good balance of critique and compliments (he rates the debut ‘Orchid’(1995) as the weakest album) and in the absence of a published biography a great place to learn more about the band.  ****

It might be overlooked that the frontman of prog rock legends Van Der Graaf Generator has released over 30 solo albums.  And, he is still going strong!  Most recently fronting the band playing UK live dates in February.

Richard Rees Jones book must be commended as the first-ever attempt to distil Peter Hammill‘s extensive output starting with 1971′s ‘Fools Mate’.  He also emphasises Hammill’s eclecticism which, in truth, may have alienated some.  You could call him the David Bowie of Prog because throughout his career he has pushed boundaries and embraced everything from electronica to punk.

Rees Jones epiphany came in the early 1990s when he saw Hammill perform a small gig in the musician’s home town of Bath.  He does a fine job of interpretation.  It’s just a shame that he couldn’t base his book on an interview with the man himself.   Although an index is available online.   ****

On track ... Little Feat (Book)

Little Feat are a band I always thought I should get into more than I have.  Will  Georg Purvis’ book make any difference?

The band seemingly picked up more plaudits from fellow musicians than the punters. Perhaps the lack of a hit single and their frontman Lowell George’s descent into drugs and alcoholism didn’t help wider appreciation.  He died aged just 34.

Purvis’ highlights the band’s best moments (‘Feats Don’t Fail Me Now’ (1974) and the live ‘Waiting For Columbus’ (1978)) whilst covering the post-George years.  ‘Rooster Rag’ appeared in 2012 with keyboard player Bill Payne the remaining original member although bassist Kevin Gradney joined the band as early as 1972.

If you need Little Feat let Purvis be your podiatrist.  ****

Can anyone name one song (or hit?) by Laura Nyro?  No, I can’t either.  But the singer songwriter has been very influential, with not least Joni Mitchell and Elton John naming her in despatches.

Philip Ward’s survey will be welcomed, therefore, to give more in depth analysis of her solo output and weaving her story in between (relying heavily on the official biography by Michelle Kort).  Nyro died from ovarian cancer at the age of 50 in 1997 and there have been several posthumous live releases, covered here.

Strangely there’s no reference to the compilation ‘Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro’ overseen by Nyro before her death and which is a good starting off place for the uninitiated.

Her first studio album was in 1967 and the singer songwriter was not easy to pigeon hole, hence she has perhaps more of a cult following certainly in the UK.  Her albums mix rock, pop, soul, jazz and even theatre.  Philip Ward’s exposition is enlightening.  ****

Review by David Randall

Book review (Jimi Hendrix)
Book review (Brit Pop, Blur)
Book review (Motorhead, Black Sabbath)
Book review (Mott The Hoople, Ian Hunter)


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply