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Gig review: THE GUILTY MEN – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 1 April 2026
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Category Archives: BOOK REVIEWS
Book review: On track…STEVE HACKETT (Every album, every song) – Geoffrey Feakes
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.05.21] The hallmark of a good rock read has to be when the reader genuinely learns something new about the subject matter. Geoffrey Feakes is evidently a real fan of Hackett’s work but once again there … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Every Song, Genesis, Geoffrey Feakes, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, On track...STEVE HACKETT - every album, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Solo
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Book review: Decades – Focus in the 1970s (Stephen Lambe)
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.04.21] At the outset I should declare an interest. As an inveterate Focus-watcher since the early 1970s, author of articles about the band for Record Collector magazine, liner notes, and the first book about Jan Akkerman … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Focus, Focus In The 1970s, Jan Akkerman, Mike Vernon, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Stephen Lambe, Thijs van Leer
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Book review: On track…LEVEL 42, AIMEE MANN (Every Album, Every Song)
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 01.04.21] Level 42 were very much a band of the eighties – the decade of their greatest success – and submerged their early brand of jazz rock fusion in a highly accessible blend of pop funk. … Continue reading
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Tagged 'Til Tuesday, acoustic, Aimee Mann, book, Every Album, Every Song, folk, indie, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Level 42, Mark King, Mike Lindop, On Track, pop funk, review
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Book review: ROY WOOD, KANSAS (On Track…)
Sonic Bond Publishing Roy Wood: The Move, ELO & Wizzard by James R Turner The ‘On Track…’ series gets to one of my musical heroes, Roy Wood. An interesting musician to cover, as although he still tours, Roy Wood has … Continue reading
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Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, ELO, glam rock, Jeff Lynne, Kansas, Kerry Livgren, melodic rock, On Track, pomp rock, prog rock, review, rock 'n' roll, Roy Wood, Steve Wlash, The Move, Wizzard
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Book review: On track…UFO (Every Album, Every Song) by Richard James
Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 26.02.21] It was a sad day when UFO announced their ‘Last Orders’ tour in 2018, even sadder when a couple of weeks after the UK leg long-standing keyboard/guitar player Paul Raymond died of a heart attack. … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Every Album, Every Song, Michael Schenker, On Track, Pete Way, Phil Mogg, review, Richard James, UFO, Vinnie Moore
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Book review: OFF THE CHARTS by KAT GOLDMAN
Sutherland House [Publication date 09.02.21] Canadian singer songwriter Kat Goldman has made four critically acclaimed albums and her songs have been covered by Grammy-nominated band, The Duhks, Dar Williams, among many others. I will be honest I had not … Continue reading
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Tagged book, folk, Kat Goldman, memoir, Off The Charts, pop, review, singer songwriter
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Book review: On track…KATE BUSH, RENAISSANCE, DIRE STRAITS, JONI MITCHELL
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates: December 2020; January/February 2021] The On Track volumes from Sonicbond come thick and fast. I can’t help thinking that in the rush certain standards are being compromised or, at least, opportunities missed. Firstly there are a … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Derek Taylor, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, On Track, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Book review: Limelight: Rush in the 80’s by Martin Popoff
[Publication date 20.10.20] Martin Popoff’s follow up to ‘Anthem: Rush in the ‘70s’ he now covers the band’s 80’s albums – both studio and live. Different from the ever expanded ‘Track By Track’ books in that although Martin Popoff critiques … Continue reading
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Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Limelight, Martin Popoff, melodic, prog rock, review, rock, Rush
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Book Review: ON TRACK (every album, every song…) – IRON MAIDEN (by Steve Pilkington) and THIN LIZZY (by Graeme Stroud)
Sonic Bond Publishing The ‘On Track’ series is a new one to me, but glancing at GRTR!’s recent book reviews it seems to be a rapidly growing collection. While more critically acclaimed artists such as the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Every Album Every Song, Graeme Stroud, Iron Maiden, On Target, Steve Pilkington, Thin Lizzy
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Book review: Decades – Marillion in the 1980’s by Nathanial Webb
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 09.10.20] Sonicbond have already published a series of enjoyable ‘On Track…’ books and now they delve a bit deeper into some bands’ histories with this Decades series. Marillion are one of the first artists to get … Continue reading
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Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Fish, Marillion, Marillion in the 1980’s, Nathanial Webb, prog rock, review, Sonic Bond Publishing, Steve Hogarth
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Book review: Noise Damage by James Kennedy
Eye Books [Publication date 18.10.20] I’ve not just got a passing interest in rock autobiographies. I positively devour them. Pretty much anyone I admire who puts one out these days will tend to end up on my reading list sharpish. … Continue reading
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Tagged book, indie, James Kennedy, memoir, music, Noise Damage, punk rock, review, rock
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Book review: MARK BADGEMAN & ANDREW WOLFMAN – Memories of The Market Tavern Kidderminster 1990-96
Self-published [Publication date 16.11.20] Even if you didn’t attend a gig at Kidderminster’s Market Tavern, if you’re a live music fan then there’s plenty here to enjoy. This long defunct but fondly remembered and unique venue is celebrated in this … Continue reading
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Tagged Andrew Wolfman, book, Carter USM, gigs, Glen Matlock, live, Mark Badgeman, Memories of The Market Tavern Kidderminster 1990-96, pop, punk, review, rock
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Book review: On track…MIKE OLDFIELD (Every album, every song) – Ryan Yard
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 18.09.20] As Ryan Ward suggests in this survey of Mike Oldfield’s music, his calling card Tubular Bells – in 1973 – defined him and was never surpassed. He was only 20. Those of a certain age … Continue reading
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Tagged book, classical, dance, Every Album, Every Song, guitar, instrumental, Mike Oldfield, music, On Track, prog, progressive, review, rock, Ryan Yard, Tubular Bells, world
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Book review: The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems – Chris Hewitt
A Dandelion Records Book [Publication date 14.08.20] ‘The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems’ is a book with no beginning and no end, but it has plenty of substance in the middle. Much like the other 7 books from the … Continue reading
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Tagged Adrian Maben, Alan Styles, Arthur Brown, Carey Chenoweth, Cat Stevens, Charlie Watkins, Chris Hewitt, Colosseum, David Martin, Dinky Dawson, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Hawkwind, Isle of Wight, Jim Marshall, Jimi Hendrix, John Hiseman, John Thompson, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin, Peter Watts, Pink Floyd, Pompeii, Rod Stewart, Roger Chapman, The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems, The Faces, The Pink Fairies, The Rolling Stones, THE WHO, Tim Boyle, Weeley festival, WEM
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Book review: On track…THE WHO (Every album, every song) – Geoffrey Feakes
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] One of the good things about any book like this, it encourages you to either dig out old vinyl or notice that you’ve missed something. In the case of The Who they released their latest … Continue reading
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Tagged book, classic rock, Every Album, Every Song, Geoffrey Feakes, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, mod, On Track, Pete Townshend, pop, review, rock, Roger Daltery, THE WHO
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Book review: On track…DREAM THEATER (Every album, every song) – Jordan Blum
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.07.20] This volume reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the series’ premise. Jordan Blum’s careful expose of all the albums reveals how indebted he is to other writers, websites and magazines. And, let’s be honest, Wikipedia. … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Dream Theater, Every Album, Every Song, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy, On Track, progressive metal, review
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Book review: On track…10cc and Godley & Creme (Every album, every song) – Peter Kearns
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] In the hot summer of 1976 I was checking roll-on roll-off cargo at Liverpool Docks and realised I was looking at a consignment of music gear. It turned out that 10cc were coming over from … Continue reading
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Tagged 10CC, book, Eric Stewart, Godley & Creme, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, pop, pop rock, review
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Book review: On track…GENTLE GIANT (Every album, every song) – Gary Steel
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] The only time I saw Gentle Giant live was when they “supported” a film about Jimi Hendrix at Liverpool Stadium. Due to the poor PA system it was just cacophony. Giant’s music is so full … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Gary Steel, Gentle Giant, On Track, review
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Book review: JOHN BARROW – How NOT to Make it in the Pop World
Trafford Publishing John Barrow’s hugely entertaining memoir about his life as a working musician is now onto its third edition, having originally been published in 2004. Having instantly taken a liking to John from reading the original edition, it’s good … Continue reading
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Tagged book, How NOT to Make It in the Pop World, John Barrow, memoir, music, musician, pop, review, rock
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Book review: STEVE HACKETT – A Genesis In My Bed
Wymer Publishing [Publication date 24.07.20] It was perhaps inevitable: riding the crest of the prog resurgence, repurposing classic Genesis in front of insatiable crowds, and making well received solo albums. And now, the book! Steve Hackett traces his journey from … Continue reading
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Tagged A Genesis In My Bed, autobiography, book, Genesis, guitar, guitarist, prog, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett
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Book review: FLYPOSTING: Posters Of A Music Revolution by Chris Hewitt
Dandelion Records [Publication date 15.06.20] ‘Flyposting – Posters Of A Music Revolution’ doesn’t so much document the radically changing times of the 70′s, as reflect an era when the medium became the message. Up until such times as when local … Continue reading
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Tagged Barclay James Harvest, Bob Marley, book, Burning Spear, Captain Beefheart, Chris Hewitt, Dandy Shaft, Flyposting Posters Of A Music Revolution, Ian Gillan Band, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, John Cooper Clarke, Led Zeppelin, Man, Queen, Racing Cars, Rainbow, review, Slade Rabid Records, Snips, Squeeze, Stackwaddy, Stanley Clarke, Steam Hammer, Steve Gibbons, Steve Hardcastle, Steve Hillage, The Bystanders, Tosh Ryan, Trapeze, Writing On The Wall
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Book review: HAWKWIND On Track – Every Album, Every Song by Duncan Harris
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] ‘Hawkwind – every album, every song’ is another volume in Sonicbond’s ‘On Track’ series, this time taking on the Herculean task of documenting the prolific adventures of Dave Brock’s gang of space rockers in the … Continue reading
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Tagged book, classic rock, Dave Brock, Duncan Harris, Hawkwind On Track – Every Album Every Song, Lemmy, review, space rock
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Book review: Broken Greek by Pete Paphides
Quercus [Publication date 05.03.20] An entertaining memoir that works on two levels, first and foremost as a musical journey through the hits (and some misses) of the 70s and 80s charts, and secondly as Pete Paphides recalls his own family … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Broken Greek, ELO, memoir, Pete Pahides, pop, review, rock
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Book review: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music by Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff
ECW Press [Publication date 21.04.20] Ted Templeman started out on the other side of the mixing desk as a musician, being part of Harpers Bizarre who had a number of US hits, the most well-known being ‘59th Street Bridge Song … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerosmith, book, Classic Albums, Dave Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Greg Renoff, Harpers Bizarre, producer, review, rock, soul, southern rock, Ted Templeman, The Doobie Brothers, Van Halen
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Book review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION On Track – Every Song, Every Album by Kevan Furbank
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] The ‘On Track’ series by publishers Sonic Bond provides an album by album, track by track overview of a number of artists. The latest in the series to get this treatment are British folk-rock legends … Continue reading
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Tagged book, Dave Pegg, Every Album, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, Kevan Furbank, On Track Every Song, review, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Sonicbound Publishing
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