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Sonicbond Publishing www.sonicbondpublishing.com
[Publication dates 26.01.24*, 29.02.24**, 05.04.24***, 10.05.24****]
The wide spread of the On Track… series is confirmed by Paul Tornbohm’s dissection of Carpenters*. Surveying the pop duo’s output from 1969, Tornbohm approaches his task from the viewpoint of a songwriter and musician and this adds an additional dimension to his analysis. ****
Ben L.Connor believes that Jack White* may be the last great rock star, as music in the past couple of decades has been even more fragmented with the modern superstar derived from other genres. His survey of White’ s music may therefore assume greater significance.
This book includes a section on the non-album tracks, B-sides, rarities but by the author’s own admission it isn’t a complete discography. He does add information about White’s live recordings, production work and video. ***1/2
Andrew Rooney’s survey of Oasis* condenses their sometimes volatile history into 130 pages. He reminds us that the band’s single B-sides were just as significant as album tracks. In that sense this is a comprehensive overview and will appeal to the newcomer as much as the hardened fan. Rooney himself is a self-confessed collector/obsessive when it comes to this band and that attention to detail is evident throughout. ****1/2
Neil Young 1963-70** by Opher Goodwin is a trawl through the formative period of the artist’s history, including his time with Buffalo Springfield and early solo work. Goodwin says “Neil is the ultimate innovator whether in the field of folk, blues, country, grunge, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, punk or electronic…” This volume only touches on the start of Young’s biggest period of commercial success which culminated in 1972′s ‘Harvest’. ****
Chris Sutton’s work on AC/DC*** is enhanced by several new interviews including early manager Michael Browning and even some select comments from logo designer Gerard Huerta. Sutton takes us from the Young brothers’ first forays in 1973 to the more sophisticated sorties and the production gloss of Mutt Lange. It’s peppered with highs and lows, not least Bon Scott’s death in 1980 and firmly reflecting Malcolm Young’s pivotal role. ****1/2
INXS*** blend of rock, funk, pop and new wave is summarised in Manny Grillo’s book. He notes that the band is now better thought of and therefore his track breakdown assumes new relevance. For his narrative, he has drawn upon the official autobiography as well as various podcasts under the “INXS Access All Areas” moniker. ****
Procol Harum**** were one of the early bands to freely mix the classical with rock and Scott Meze takes us on their journey from their roots in the early 1960s as The Paramounts. Lyricist Keith Reid’s importance is emphasised (at least until the early 2000′s).
As Meze relates the band was very much centred on keyboard player Gary Brooker who pursued a solo career from the late 1970s. Procol Harum resurfaced in 1991 with ‘The Prodigal Stranger’. Robin Trower returned to the fold but not for live work which was carried out by Geoff Whitehorn who then appeared on the two remaining albums, in 2003 and 2017. The latter – ‘Novum’ – was a more accessible epitaph. Brooker died of cancer five years later. ****
Mention too of a new Sonicbond series ‘Rock Classics’ which takes the “on track” format and applies it to one album. This makes for an easy, if condensed, read (70-90 pages)and the books cover the albums’ various incarnations. There is (or will be) inevitable overlap with some of the “on track” tomes and they are even referenced in the reading list.
So far we’ve had Meat Loaf (‘Bat Out Of Hell’) by Geoffrey Feakes, The Stones ‘Let It Bleed’ by John Van der Kiste and Bob Dylan ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ by Opher Goodwin.
Review by David Randall
Book review (On track…Magnum, March 2024)
Book review (On track…The Police, 2024)
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.
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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 28 April 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 13 May 2024
THE FEVER KINGS Nowhere To Hide (indie)
STONETRIP Beautiful You (Golden Robot Records)
ONLAP Ghosts (AFM Records)
DEFENCES The Curse (Long Branch Records)
LATE NIGHT TROUBLE Pretty Little Thing (indie)
IANN BRENNAN Game Over (AGR Records)
Featured Albums w/c 13 May 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 DEMON – Invincible (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023
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