Tag Archives: Classic Albums

Book review: ULTRAVOX – Every Album, Every Song by Brian J Robb

Posted on August 4, 2024 by jason

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date: 26.07.24] Ultravox had 17 UK top 40 singles between 1981 and 1984, yet never had a number one single. ‘Vienna’ was famously kept of the top spot by Joe Dolce’s ‘Shaddap You Face’ (a song that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Brian J Robb, Chris Cross, Classic Albums, electronic, electronic pop, melodic, Midge Ure, pop, review, rock, Sonicbond Publishing, Ultravox - Every Album Every Song | Leave a comment

Gig review: SIR TOM JONES – Heritage Live, Audley End House, Saffron Walden, 6 August 2023

Posted on August 8, 2023 by jason

SIR TOM JONES – Heritage Live, Audley End House, Saffron Walden, Sunday 6 August 2023

The scene is set for the third night of Heritage Live’s Audley End. The likes of Miss Disco, Boney M, The Real Thing and Bjorn Again were followed on Saturday by adverse weather but the Britpop movement was in full … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Audley End House, Classic Albums, gig, Heritage Live, pop, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Saffron Walden, Sir Tom Jones, Sunday 6 August 2023 | Leave a comment

Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson

Posted on July 3, 2023 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23] Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia), six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Darren Johnson, Dave Hill, Don Powell, glam, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, review, rock, Slade, Slade in the 1970s (Decades), Sonicbound Publishing | Leave a comment

Book review: QUEEN in the 1970s by James Griffiths

Posted on April 17, 2023 by jason

‎Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.03.23] This book scores highly on two counts. Firstly, the author is a big Queen fan and that comes through in the writing, as opposed to a dry biography written by a jobbing writer. Secondly, in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Brian May, Classic Albums, classic rock, Freddie Mercury, James Griffiths, John Deacon, live albums, pop rock, Queen, Queen in the 1970s, review, rock, Roger Taylor | Leave a comment

Gig review: BOTH SIDES NOW: Homage to the Songs of Joni Mitchell – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Wednesday 8 February 2023

Posted on February 13, 2023 by jason

Both Sides Now - A Tribute To The Songs Of Joni Mitchell

Without doubt one of the finest and most influential songwriters and performers of the past six decades, Joni Mitchell has a unique style that has seen countless music fans fall under her spell. Since her debut performing in local clubs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged Both Sides Now: Homage to the Songs of Joni Mitchell, Bury St Edmunds, Classic Albums, classic pop, folk, gig review, MIM GREY, The Apex, tribute, Wednesday 8 February 2023 | Leave a comment

Book review: MOTORHEAD (Duncan Harris), BLACK SABBATH (Chris Sutton)

Posted on May 22, 2022 by jason

MOTORHEAD – On Track … every album, every song by Duncan Harris Sonic Bond Publishing [Publication date 15.04.22] Two more books that give an insight into these legendary classic rock bands, and like others in the series they act as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, book, Classic Albums, Doom Metal, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, metal, Motorhead, On Track, Ozzy Osbourne, review, rock n roll. Lemmy, Sonic Bond Publishing, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

Interview: Mark Kelly (Marillion) – In Conversation with my Uncle

Posted on May 13, 2022 by jason

MARILLION - Manchester Academy, 8 November 2017

You all know him as the keyboardist of Marillion, his solo project Mark Kelly’s Marathon, and as of this year, published author of his autobiography Marillion, Misadventures and Marathons: The Life and Times of Mad Jack. I knew him, before … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged book, Caitlin Kelly, Classic Albums, classic rock, interview, keyboards, Marathon, Marillion, Mark Kelly, melodic, prog rock, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: Loud ’n’ Proud – 50 Years Of Nazareth by Martin Popoff

Posted on August 9, 2021 by jason

Wymer Publishing [Publication date 06.08.21] Scottish rock legends have been recording for 50 years now, and a book on the band and their fantastic legacy has been long overdue. Their charting days be over (they were chart and Top Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 50 Years Of Nazareth, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Dan McCafferty, Loud ’n’ Proud, Manny Charlton, Martin Popoff, Pete Agnew, review, rock, Rodney Matthews, Zac Cleminson | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Sabotage (Super Deluxe Edition)

Posted on May 16, 2021 by jason

BMG [Release date 11.06.21] Following finely in the footsteps of the recent Paranoid and Volume 4 reissues, Black Sabbath’s 6th album Sabotage gets the full expansion works. And what a wonderful package it is. And much like its predecessors, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, Classic Albums, classic rock, Geezer Butler, metal, Ozzy Osbourne, reissue, review, Sabotage. super deluxe edition, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

Book review: Limelight: Rush in the 80’s by Martin Popoff

Posted on December 5, 2020 by jason

[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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Limelight, Martin Popoff, melodic, prog rock, review, rock, Rush | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – Marillion in the 1980’s by Nathanial Webb

Posted on November 16, 2020 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Fish, Marillion, Marillion in the 1980’s, Nathanial Webb, prog rock, review, Sonic Bond Publishing, Steve Hogarth | Leave a comment

Album review: GREG LAKE – The Anthology

Posted on October 18, 2020 by jason

BMG [Release date 23.10.20] Famously, the late Greg Lake was an integral part of King Crimson and more substantially, of Emerson Lake and Palmer. Both bands have had such a deep impact on progrock and indeed rock music generally, that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Carl Palmer, Classic Albums, classic rock, ELP, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, prog rock, review, The Anthology | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL SABU – Heartbreak & Only Child

Posted on September 7, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy Records Remasters [Release date 07.08.20] From the moment he burst onto the disco music scene in the late seventies, the legend that is Paul Sabu has been inundated with accolades… “best this…”, “best that…”, but he never truly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Classic Albums, classic rock, Heartbreak, melodic rock, Only Child, Paul Sabu, review, Rock Candy | Leave a comment

Book review: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music by Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff

Posted on April 16, 2020 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | 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 | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT

Posted on March 31, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Albert Bouchard, An Introduction, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, Call Collect, Classic Albums, classic rock, Eric Bloom, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: MOTLEY CRUE – Dr Feelgood

Posted on January 9, 2020 by jason

(30th Anniversary Edition) Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music [Release date 29.11.19] “Dr. Feelgood” was originally released in 1989, the fifth studio album from Motley Crue, it is also their bestselling to date having sold over six million copies (and who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 30th anniversary edtion, album, Classic Albums, classic rock, Dr Feelgood, hair metal, Mick Mars, Motley Crue, Nikki Six, review, sleaze, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil | Leave a comment

Book review: ELTON JOHN – Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979 (On Track) by Peter Kearns

Posted on August 15, 2019 by jason

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 16.08.19] This book is nicely timed what with ‘Rocket Man’ recently being shown in cinemas and the DVD release in August, plus of course Elton John is currently on his worldwide farewell tour. The book covers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, Bernie Taupin, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Elton John, Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979, On Track, Peter Kearns, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MARK BAKER – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be

Posted on July 11, 2019 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 26.07.19] The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognizable to many, but he is the man behind the classic Signal ‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs for the likes of .38 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bill Champlin, Chicago, Classic Albums, hard rock, House of Lords, James Christian, JK Northrup, Marcie Free, Mark Baker, Mark Free, melodic rock, MelodicRockRecords, reviews, Signal | Leave a comment

Book review: THE ROLLING STONES 1963-1980 – On Track by Steve Pilkington

Posted on June 14, 2019 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 27.06.19] Over the years I have read a number of these types of books, each telling the story behind well-known artists albums and songs, and the trouble is that a song can easily be interpreted differently … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, On Track, review, rock, Steve Pilkington, The Rolling Stones | Leave a comment

Album review: NAZARETH – coloured vinyl reissues (July 2019)

Posted on June 9, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 05.07.19] Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, Nazareth are still going, albeit with just founder member and bassist Pete Agnew at helm. Last year BMG issued the amazing Loud And Proud box (33CDs, 3 7” 45s, LP, picture disc … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues rock, Classic Albums, classic rock, coloured vinyl, Dan McCafferty, LP, Nazareth, Pete Agnew, re-issue, review, rock, Zal Cleminson | Leave a comment

Album review: AMERICA – Classic Album Collection

Posted on May 13, 2019 by jason

Caroline International [Release date 24.05.19] Formed in London, UK in 1970, this Anglo American group originally consisted of Deway Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley, who met as of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, where they began performing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged America, box set, Classic Album Collection, Classic Albums, classic rock, melodic, pop rock, review, soft rock, Steve Lukather | Leave a comment

Album review: NAZARETH – coloured vinyl (reissues)

Posted on March 26, 2019 by jason

Razamanaz (yellow vinyl LP, gatefold sleeve) Loud’n’Proud (orange vinyl LP, gatefold sleeve) Rampant (blue vinyl LP, inner sleeve) Hair Of The Dog (white vinyl LP, inner sleeve) Expect No Mercy (pink vinyl LP, inner sleeve) No Mean City (green vinyl … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues rock, BMG, Classic Albums, classic rock, coloured vinyl, Dan McCafferty, Nazareth, Pete Agnew, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Interview: VINCE CONTARINO (Led Zeppelin Masters)

Posted on March 15, 2019 by jason

Marking fifty years since the release of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album – and its follow-up, ‘Led Zeppelin II’ – Australia’s Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters will return to the UK for ten-dates in April 2019 as part of their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Black Dog Orchestra, Classic Albums, classic rock, gigs, interview, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin Masters, Robert Plant, rock, Tour, Vince Contarino | Leave a comment

Gig review: JEFF LYNNE’S ELO – Arena, Birmingham, 13 October 2018

Posted on October 17, 2018 by jason

To say I was excited at seeing Jeff Lynne and ELO play his home town of Birmingham would be an understatement! I have only see the Jeff Lynne fronted ELO once back at his comeback gig at Hyde Park in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Lockett, Birmingham, Classic Albums, classic rock, ELO, gig, Jeff Lynne, Jeff Lynne's ELO, music, pop, pop rock | Leave a comment

Interview: JULIAN LITTMAN (STEELEYE SPAN)

Posted on September 27, 2018 by jason

Next year iconic folk rockers Steeleye Span celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. 2019 will see a brand new album and associated tours as the ever-evolving band mark their half century. More immediately, however, there is the matter of an autumn tour. … Continue reading →