Rumour has it that Deep Purple and Uriah Heep are coming to South Africa in 2010
Friday, 27th November 2009
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Posted by Brian Currin
SA Rock Digest Archives (1999-2004)
Wednesday, 25th November 2009Back Issue Archive
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African Dope, Afrikaans Rock, Brian's Best, Charts, Deep Purple, Favourites, Festivals, Fresh Music, Golden Oldies, Labels, Mabu Vinyl, Marketing, Music, Music Magazines, Online Marketing, Playlists, Rhythm Records, Rodriguez, SA Music, SA Nostalgia, SAMP3 Charts, Shifty | Tagged: charts, Deep Purple, Facebook, Fans That Rock, Major Labels, Marketing, MP3, Music, Online Marketing, Playlists, Rodriguez, SA Music, SA Rock Digest, SAMP3, Saron Gas, Seether | 
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Posted by Brian Currin
My Favourite Rock Albums Of The Decade, 2000-2009
Sunday, 22nd November 2009As a teenager in the 70’s, the album was the ultimate thing. I would spend long hours listening to Dark Side Of The Moon, Made In Japan, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Tommy, etc in their entirety and without interruption … except for turning over the vinyl, of course.
Over the last while albums have become less important to me, and the quick access to any tune in my iTunes library has changed the way I listen and enjoy my music. I also embrace the randomness of Smart Playlists.
However some great rock albums have managed to catch my ear this past decade, so here they are.
- Jack Hammer – The Pilgrim
- The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
- Black Mountain – Black Mountain
- Tokyo Dragons – Give Me The Fear
- Operatika – The Calling
- Deep Purple – Rapture Of The Deep (Special Edition)
- Wolfmother – Wolfmother
- Uriah Heep – Wake The Sleeper
- Bigelf – Cheat The Gallows
- Alter Bridge – Blackbird
Disclaimer: I have decided to limit myself to only ten albums, so of course some of my other favourites have been omitted.
Operatika - The Calling
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Posted by Brian Currin
Rock Of Ages Radio – Playlists for 5th & 12th November 2009
Saturday, 14th November 2009- Playlist – 12th November 2009
Benjy Mudie
12 Nov 2009Artist Track Album Label Year Motley Crue Kickstart my heart Dr Feelgood Universal Music 1984 Europe Gonna get ready Last look at Eden Next Music 2009 Chickenfoot Turning left Chickenfoot Edel Records / Next Music 2009 Mountain Mr Tambourine Man Masters of War Big Rack Records 2007 Mastodon Crack the skye Crack the skye Reprise Records / Gallo Music 2009 Living Colour What’s your favourite colour? Vivid Epic Records / Sony Music 1988 The Isley Brothers Climbin’ up the ladder Go for your guns Epic Records / Sony Music 1977 Eric Gales Cut and run The story of my life Blues Bureau Records 2009 Jon Butcher Axis Writing on the wall King Biscuit Hour Live King Biscuit Records 1987 The Headpins Breakin’ down Turn it loud Solid Gold Records 1982 Coverdale / Page Shake my tree Coverdale / Page Geffen Records / Universal Music 1993 Rush Limelight Moving Pictures Universal Music 1987 Scatterbrain Down the road Scamboogery Elektra Records / Gallo Music 1991 Wishbone Ash Vas Dis Wishbone Ash MCA Records 1970 Big Brother & The Holding Company Joseph’s coat Be a brother Evangeline Records 1970 Cream World of pain Disraeli Gears Polydor Records / Universal Music 1967 Atomic Rooster I cant take no more Death walks behind you Sanctuary Records 1970 Rhinoceros When you say you’re sorry Rhinoceros Elektra Records / Gallo Music 1969 Otis Waygood Blues Band Fever Otis Waygood Blues Band Fresh Music 1970 Humble Pie I don’t need no doctor Rocking the Fillmore A&M Records / Universal Music 1971 AC / DC The Jack If you want blood you got it Epic Records / Sony Music 1978 Blodwyn Pig See my way Getting to this BGO Records 1970 Wild Turkey Butterfly Battle Hymn Mason Records 1971 Jethro Tull Nothing is easy Stand Up Chrysalis Records 1969 Blossom Toes Kiss of confusion If only for a moment Sunbeam Records 1969 The Moody Blues Legend of a mind In search of a lost chord Decca Records / Universal Music 1968 Caravan C’lu Thlu For girls who grow plump in the night Decca Records / Universal Music 1973 Boys Club A whiter shade of pale Live from California Next Music 2008 Creedence Clearwater Revival As long as I can see the light Cosmos Factory Fantasy Records / Universal Music 1970 Dan Patlansky Namaste / Love City Move my soul Next Music 2009 John Lee Hooker Funky Mabel Face to Face Eagle Records 2006 Jeff Beck A day in the life Live at Ronnie Scotts Eagle Records / Next Music 2008 Farryl Purkiss Man of alibi Fruitbats and crows Sheer Music 2009 
- Playlist – 5th November 2009
Benjy Mudie
5 Nov 2009Artist Track Album Label Year King’s X Looking for love Ear Candy Atlantic Records / Gallo Music 1996 Deep Purple Bloodsucker Deep Purple in Rock Harvest Records / EMI Records 1970 Led Zeppelin Whole lotta love Led Zeppelin 2 Atlantic Records / Gallo Music 1969 Mountain Mississippi Queen Climbing Columbia Records / Sony Music 1969 Jericho Featherbed Jericho A&M Records / Universal Music 1972 Budgie Crash course in brain surgery In for the kill MCA Records 1974 Buckcherry Highway star Rock Songbook Vol.2 Classic Rock 2009 Lynyrd Skynyrd Skynyrd Nation God and Guns Roadrunner Records / DGR 2009 Skunk Anansie Tear the place up Smashes and Trashes Just Music 2009 Frost Welcome to nowhere Experiments in mass appeal SPV / Inside Out Records 2008 Dream Theater A rite of passage Black Clouds and Silver Linings Roadrunner Records / DGR 2009 Pink Floyd Money Dark side of the moon Harvest Records / EMI Records 1974 Vanilla Fudge Shotgun Psychedelic Sundae Rhino Records 1968 Triumph Be my lover In the beginning Universal Music 1978 Freedoms Children Seahorse Galactic Vibes Fresh Music 1972 Iron Butterfly In-a-gadda-da-vida In-a-gadda-da-vida Rhino Records 1968 Badlands High Wire Badlands Atlantic Records / Gallo Music 1989 Cinderella Shake me Rocked, Wired & Bluesed Universal Music 1986 Fastway Misunderstood All fired up Columbia Records / Sony Music 1984 Rainbow All night long Down to earth Polydor Records 1979 Ted Nugent Cat Scratch Fever Great Gonzos Epic Records / Sony Music 1984 Soundgarden Spoonman Superunknown A&M Records / Universal Music 1994 The Black Crowes Hard to handle Greatest Hits Sony Music 1990 The Rolling Stones Brown sugar Hot Licks Universal Music 1970 The Fixx Saved by zero Greatest Hits MCA Records 1983 Harry “The Hipster” Gibson Who put the Benzedrine …. Chemical Components Mojo Music 1946 Ronnie Montrose Heads Up Open Fire Warner Bros / Gallo Music 1978 Mike Slamer Perfect Circle Nowhere Land Frontiers Records 2006 Proto-Kaw Melicus Gladiator The Wait of Glory SPV / Inside Out Records 2006 Camel Sahara Rajaz Toff Records 1999 Anthony Gomes Music is the medicine Music is the medicine Adrenaline Records 2006 Dion Hoodoo Man Blues Son of Skip James Verve Records 2007 The Hootchie Kootchie Men Lonesome traveller blues Live at The Basement Next Music 2008 The Steepwater Band No good for me Brother to the snake Evangeline Records 2005 Fairport Convention Meet me on the ledge Unhalfbricking Island Records 1969 Santana Europa Amigos Columbia Records / Sony Music 1976
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Posted by Brian Currin
From The Vaults: SA Rock Digest, this week 10 years ago
Thursday, 22nd October 2009SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE NUMBER 37
[24th October 1999 - edited, 22nd October 2009]
———-*********———–
The South African Rock Music Digest
is a free, subscription e-mag, edited
by Brian Currin and Stephen “Sugar”
Segerman and delivered direct to your
e-mailbox.
Established January 1999
———-*********———–
INTRODUCTION
————————–
This e-mag is a discussion forum for rock and pop music –
South African and International — past, present and future.
As we hurtle towards the end of the year/decade/century/millennium
(pick one or all of the above), the Digest will become more erratic,
less regular, still irreverent and always éRocking!
Please note: All e-mail contributions to the SA Rock Digest need to be in plain
text, and with no attachments. Also, all e-mails in HTML format, in lowercase, or
all in CAPITALS, tend to take quite a while to fix, so will often be ignored.
__________________________________________
APOLOGIES
———–
Sincere apologies to the Rage website for the wrong address last issue.
Here’s where to find them:
http://www.rage.co.za
__________________________________________
REVIEWS
———
FOUNTAIN OF TEARS
As promised last issue here is some info on US prog-rockers, Fountain of Tears.
I’m writing about this band and their new independently released CD for 3 reasons:
1. They sent me their CD and I really like it.
2. To show South Africans that excellent bands all over the world struggle to get recognition, its not a uniquely South African malaise.
3. To show Digest readers that self-promotion through the Net is a viable proposition.
WHO ARE THEY?
Jeff King
From its birth, the vision of Fountain of Tears has been to write original music that is refreshing, inspiring and stimulates the creativity and imagination of the listener. Founded in 1995 by Erik Ney and Jeff King, the success of this vision would require the perfect blend of personal, creative, and musical elements. This blend was achieved through the additions of Joe Daub and Mike DiDonato. While the music was initially written as instrumental, the members believed that by adding the right vocalist they would be able to reach a broader market. It wasn’t until December of 1997 that Anna DeRose was found as the voice that would compliment their sound.
Although the success of their former bands, Believer, Sacrament and Sardonyx had won them world-wide recognition in the thrash and metal genres, the members of Fountain of Tears had not fully tapped their musical potential. In order to retain creative control and to work at a relaxed pace, they began to write for their first independent release. This unique album features not only the vocal versions of the songs, but also the instrumental versions as they were originally written.
Like many groups consisting of talented and driven individuals, dedication to the project was tested through periods of hardship and uncertainty. Family commitments, careers, school, circumstances of life and conflicting schedules prevented the members from meeting more than once per week, and set-backs had considerably lengthened the writing and recording process. Final editing and mastering for the album was completed in early 1999, and the band, relieved and somewhat exhausted, held a listening party for a very enthusiastic audience.
As Fountain of Tears promotes its self-titled CD, Erik is married and in medical school; Joe is married, has a two year old son and races on a pro mountain bike team; Jeff holds a degree in Philosophy and is a provider of web and music services; Mike builds computers, manages a specialty printing shop and plays ice hockey; and Anna pursues her degree in textile sciences. Together they continue to write music that is emotional, powerful and memorable.
WHAT DO THEY SOUND LIKE?
Brian Currin
Their sound is 90s progressive-rock/metal with female vocals. Haunting atmospheric keyboards swirl around the soaring vocals of Anna DeRose and are punctuated with sizzling guitar work. My only complaint is that the vocals seem a bit subdued in the mix, I really would have liked to hear Anna’s voice more clearly.
This CD has 10 tracks, the last 5 being instrumental versions of the first 5.
Album opener is ‘Survive’. Fans of SA band Fetish will love this one. Strong vocals and even stronger instrumentation.
‘She Wants To Be’ is a thundering piano-driven rocker with some stunning guitarwork.
‘The Sleeper’ is the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, narrated by Sheree Kunkle over a perfectly matched aural soundscape (the atmospheric keyboards I spoke of earlier). The tolling bell adds to feeling of eerieness. Don’t listen to this one late at night on your own.
‘Carousel’ starts with some gentle guitar then picks up speed and races along with no apparent end in sight…and then it ends far too soon (after 5 and a half minutes). Anna sounds very like Kate Bush on this track.
‘Real’ is a powerful rocker with determined drumming and pounding piano, similar in places to early Renaissance.
The instrumental versions also sound great in their own right. Jeff King’s piano is really incredible. Fountain of Tears are a group of talented musicians who deserve to do very well.
Listen to MP3s and buy the CD on their website:
http://www.fountainoftears.com
———————
R.A.H. IN PURSPECTIVE
Roger Glover
Last issue we posted Garry Smith’s review of the Deep Purple and Friends concert at the Royal Albert Hall on the 25th September.
Here is an insight from Deep Purple bassist, Roger Glover, reprinted here with his kind permission…
It has been a few weeks now, and time enough to put some perspective on
things. The two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall were, in a word, bloody great.
(yes, I know, that’s two words, so there’s no need to start threading about it, I’m a bass player, and Welsh, so I don’t know any better!) None of us could really have anticipated the feeling that we experienced together on those nights. What a joy. Thank you all, the most loyal and intelligent bunch of bananas any band could ask for. To stand there on that stage and be given the welcome that we received was truly unforgettable. We do love you, especially all you that work so hard on our behalf on the Net.
As you know, I am a fan of IP, SM, JL and IG, and I think that everyone
put in a stellar performance. I loved all the solo pieces. Working with
Ronnie [James Dio] after all these years was such a treat as well. In particular I would like to say how proud I am of Jon, who was not only inspired enough to write the Concerto in the first place, but to devote all his time and energy over the months before these dates to ensure that it all went swimmingly, as they say. Great job.
The five days of rehearsals were super; a lot of concentration, laughs,
nerves, memories, old friends, new friends, pizza. Big accolades for our trusty crew, along with various unsung heroes, all part of the team; Charlie Lewis deserves a special mention, a giant among men, talk about grace under pressure. Colin Hart, who has been with us since 1971, did a superb job under intense stress. Alison Hussey was indispensable. Moray and Louie, our sound and lights, and Rob on monitors, all did wonderful things. We stand in the spotlight but all the crew, every single one of them (including the ones that weren’t there but were with us on the tours over the last couple of years) deserve your applause. If it wasn’t for either you or them we’d still
be in a rehearsal room somewhere.
The other day I was recounting the events that led to the Concerto being performed again thirty years on, to someone who doesn’t know much about us, and as I related it I realized what a fantastic tale it is. The circumstances and coincidences that culminated in the shows on 25th and 26th September 1999 are quite magical; the manuscript for the Concerto being lost for all those years and then Marco De Goeij approaching Jon in Rotterdam last year after having spent two years of laborious detective work on the score and writing it out again; Paul Mann, Colin Hart’s nephew, who as a young boy grew up listening to the Concerto and dreaming of one day becoming a conductor; the LSO, one of the busiest orchestras in the world, having a free weekend; The Royal Albert Hall, just as busy, finding a free weekend; Ronnie Dio, Sam Brown, Miller Anderson, Graham Preskett, Steve Morris, Eddie Hardin, Dave LaRue, Van Romaine, all the singers, the Kick Horns, all being available and willing to offer their services in the name of the charity; and Deep Purple, a band in need of a special event to round off this touring season and a kick off towards the next album. Serendipity, a word that was invented for such occasions.
Anyway. When’s the next one?
Good luck,
RG
{Editor: boy, I wish I had been there…
Maybe DP will come to tour South Africa again sometime?}
Visit The South African Deep Purple Website at:
http://www.deeppurple.co.za
________________________________________
FORUM
——-
SPOKEN WORD SONGS (CONTINUED)
I think WE SALUTE YOU by Reg de Beer was a spoken word song.
Trumpeter Murray Campbell (normally known for instrumental tracks) also roped in various people to record spoken vocal parts for his songs.
Chris Kimberley
——————
CONNECTING PEOPLE
A number of people have told me about meeting up with old friends, and making new ones, thanks to the Internet, e-mail and in some cases, this Digest.
Stephan Forster and Nigel Walsh got together in London and swopped LPs, CDs and tapes.
Stephan also met up again with Craig Ballen in San Diego recently. And Rene Mullenders and Bas Mollenkramer have met in Holland. Read on…
GOING DUTCH
Last weekend I went to visit Bas Möllenkramer, the guy with the Flames website. He has quiet an amazing record collection including LP’s of Freedom’s Children, Hawk and Otis Waygood. On his Flames site he mentions the different pressings of each Flames album, he in fact owns a copy of each pressing. He has different pressings of various other LP’s as well including about 8 copies of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. He moved from the then Rhodesia in 1975 so he missed the whole Rabbitt hysteria though he’s quiet an admirer of Trevor Rabin’s guitar work. He actually saw him perform on stage with Yes (with the complete line-up). Well, I brought my ‘Rabbitt – The Hits’ CD along and introduced him to Rabbitt and he was impressed. I also brought along my ‘Best Of SA Pop’ CD’s and that brought back a lot of memories. He’s been looking for the Staccatos’ ‘Cry To Me’ for years. He was also impressed with Lesley Rae Dowling’s first LP with ‘Grips Of Emotion’ on it. Another interesting LP he has is one of Jeremy Taylor with Spike Milligan. We didn’t listen to it but it must be quite something. I can go on and on and on about what I saw (and I didn’t even go through all his LP’s, that would take days).
Rene Mullenders
{Editor: I have that Spike Milligan and Jeremy Taylor LP. It was recorded at Cambridge University in December 1973. The funniest part, among a double LP of very humourous songs, stories and poems, is Jeremy explaining the words of ‘Ag Pleez Daddy’ to his English audience.}
—————
RADIO FAN – POLAND
I love the music from Africa. I have all the albums by Johnny Clegg,
I love Trevor Rabin (as I am Yes fan)…I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Oyaba.
Lately I ordered soundtrack from the TV series Shaka Zulu…
I told you already about my Treasure Island on the radio, it would be great if I could have news about music from South Africa weekly.
Thank You
Lukasz
{Editor: Now thats the type of “may I subcribe” letter we really like! Lukasz is a DJ on a radio station in Poland and he plays “beautiful music from all over the world”}
—————–
DOG DETACHMENT
For my money, “Dog Detachment” and “Asylum
Kids” were THE business in the early 80’s.
Any idea of what ever happened to the Armstrongs? I’m sure Barney Simon would know. I used to work with them at CSIR in Pretoria. One of them was an MSc aeronautical engineer, and the other was working on a PhD in radar technology….if I remember correctly.
I’m in SA every 6 months or so. Do you know if their albums have been
re-released on CD? I would certainly buy!!
Mark Pratz
Prague
—————–
THE DYNAMICS
After numerous requests for info on the Dynamics, the Digest made contact with keyboardist Jimmy Florence (thanks to Jonathan Handley).
Jimmy is not yet on-line, but as soon as he is, we should receive some e-mails about the Dynamics, Extremist and all the other things he has been involved in. Watch this space!
—————–
NOSTALGIA RULES, OK?
During the past weekend I went on one of my regular nostalgia trips and came upon a recording I made of an interview which, after the re-release of ‘Astra’, Robin Clark of the then Radio 5 had with Julian Laxton. In it they play tracks off the album and Julian gives some very interesting information regarding the recording of ‘Astra’. After Julian’s mention of Mel, Mel and Julian, I just had to listen to the album again and as always found it a very good early Simon and Garfunkel (‘Wednesday morning 3:00 AM’ era) imitation. It is difficult to imagine Julian walking out of M. M. and J. into Freedom’s Children.
During the interview Robin Clarke mentions that he met Colin Pratley at a Hawk/Freedom’s Children concert at Durban City Hall and that by pretending to be the drummer of a fictitious band, got access to the concert via Collin. The mention of Colin Pratley in turn triggered Wildebeest and I was compelled to listen to the whole of ‘Bushrock 1′ recorded live at Upstairs (Sunnyside, Pretoria) on 28 Feb and 1 March 1981. One tends to forget the great sounds Wildebeest produced with the interaction between the frentic violin of Dave Tarr and driving lead guitar of Boet Faber. Can someone tell me where Dave and Boet were/are before/after Wildebeest? I couldn’t believe that I had forgotten that ‘Bushrock 1′ features ‘Slowly towards the North’ (as ‘Pofadder’), ‘The kid he came from Nazareth’ (as ‘Russian and Chips’) and ‘Tribal Fence’.
I often find myself using the stereotyped expression *they were well before their time* when referring to some SA talent in general and Freedom’s Children and Hawk in particular. But then what time would have suited them best to have entered the spotlight?
Greetings
Dave Malherbe
Visit the Freedoms Children website at:
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/freedomschildren/
and Hawk is at:
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/hawk/
and just to round it all off, Otis Waygood is at:
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/otiswaygood/
All part of the SA Rock Legends website
http://www.rock.co.za/legends
Where South Africa’s rock legends still live
——————
JOHNNY CLEGG
I didn’t know Johnny Clegg is South African. I’ve heard (not seen) him & Savuka live back in 1988 somewhere in France while interrailing with Maarit (my wife). We were outside a big tent where he was performing, so we couldn’t see him, but the music was really relaxing. There were lots of people outside that tent, so the atmosphere wes great there, too.
And Trevor Rabin. I know Yes, too.
Heikki Heino
Finland
—————-
FALLING MIRROR
Now the good news is that I have been in touch with Tully McCully about the Mirror and he given me the go ahead to remaster the ‘Zen Boulders’ album for a release in early 2000…if this goes OK then it will see the emergence of ‘Storming of the loft’, ‘Fantasy Kid’, ‘Johnny calls the chemist’ and hopefully sometime in the not too distant future a new version of ‘Shattered’ (perhaps a title change) on CD.
One of the most pressing problems that I have is accessing the original album artwork, I’m going to try my old compatriots at Tusk (Gallo) but I’m not holding out too much hope. If I can’t find it I’m going to have to rescan a virgin cover (if that is possible….lets see…)
I’m also desperately trying to get hold of my fellow Brakpanian Lucien Windridge of éVoid in London.
Benjy Mudie
mailto:fresh@icon.co.za
Fresh Music
http://www.freshmusic.co.za
Falling Mirror on the web at:
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/fallingmirror/
________________________________________________
REQUESTS
————-
SPIRITS REJOICE
Let me introduce myself. My name is Paul Petersen. I am from Cape Town, South Africa but currently living in Kentucky, USA. I came across your website last night and decided you might be the person to help me.
In the early 80’s, I was a member of the band Spirits Rejoice. I sang the song ‘Shine On’. I am now looking for a copy of the video that was made of this song by the SABC. Would you happen to know where I might get a copy? I tried the SABC a while back, and they were not able to help me.
Please let me know if you can help. I would appreciate it very much.
Paul Petersen
________________________________________________
HIDDEN GEMS
——————
SHE – McCULLY WORKSHOP
This superb Beatlesque track, recorded by the reformed McCully Workshop in 1998, would not be out of place on any Oasis album. That begs the question why Oasis sells millions of CDs and this track is ignored? Even by South African radio programmers!
‘She’ is one of 6 new songs on the 12-track ‘Buccaneer’ compilation CD released in 1998. The McCully brothers (Mike and Tully McCullagh) decided to rework some of their classic songs and record some new ones. They went into Tully’s renowned Spaced-Out Sound studios in Cape Town in 1998 and a while later they emerged with a freshened-up ’98 version of their 1978 chart-topper ‘Buccaneer’. The original late 70s band members, Richard Black (lead guitar and vocals) and Rupert Mellor (keyboards and vocals) were recalled to help flesh out these songs. Mike McCully played drums and Tully handled the guitar, bass and vocals while Kevin Gibson (drums) and ex-Falling Mirror guitarist Allan Faull helped out as well.
McCully Workshop have lost none of the spark that made them one of SA’s greatest pop/rock bands and ‘She’ is a great example of how good they still are at writing and playing catchy, listenable pop/rock songs.
Visit the McCully Website at:
http://www.mccullyworkshop.co.za
________________________________________________
ON THE NET
————
PROMOTE YOURSELF!
Brian Currin
Think you can’t afford to have your own website? Think again!
It is actually very easy to design and host a website for very little cost using Internet magazines (like OTI and .Net) and some superb websites.
I am not a computer genius and basic HTML is about my speed, so I need all the help I can get. Here are some of the websites that supply free hosting of different web resources, if you don’t mind a banner ad or two.
Free Vote
http://www.freevote.com
Voting booths with very easy-to-use functions for both the booth owner and visitors.
BeSeen
http://mysearch.looksmart.com
a website search engine…brilliant…
Inside The Web
http://www.insidetheweb.com
message boards…you choose the colour scheme so it matches your site
The Counter
http://thecounter.com
free visitor tracking, even invisible counters are available
Crosswinds
http://www.crosswinds.net
webhosting – free and unlimited space…no pop-ups or adverts on your pages…I read about this in .Net mag and its really great. The SA Rock Digest back-issues are archived at Crosswinds.
Angelfire
http://www.angelfire.com
another great host site…adverts only appear on index page, not like those horrible Geocities pop-ups…ugh!
Listen.to
http://listen.to/
redirect addresses for those of us who can’t afford our own domain names.
Examples:
http://welcome.to/sarock
http://talk.to/glorydays
Arachnophelia
http://www.arachnoid.com
a superb HTML editor
Hotmail
http://www.hotmail.com
Free e-mail…and you can even check your normal POP mail through them.
There are a lot of others, but these are the ones I use the most…
Also Internet Cafés are great and reasonably priced so you don’t even have to own a computer or have a dial-up connection.
Café Vodacom in Milnerton Cape Town charges R15 an hour and the staff are very helpful and friendly and I go there often.
And don’t forget…
Backstage
http://www.backstage.co.za
Gareth Sherwood, SA musician and computer nut, offers a design and hosting service for a very reasonable fee.
Use the Web, it’s the future of self-promotion…
________________________________________________
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Posted by Brian Currin
Top Ten Tunes: Deep Purple
Sunday, 18th October 2009Ten of my favourite songs by my all-time favourite group, Deep Purple.
- Smoke On The Water (live 1972, from Made In Japan) the song and album that started it all for me!
- When A Blind Man Cries
- Highway Star
- Child In Time
- Mistreated (incl Rock Me Baby) (live 1975, from Made In Europe)
- Strange Kind Of Woman (live 1972, from Made In Japan)
- Speed King (piano version)
- Burn
- Pictures of Home
- Black Night (unedited remix 1995)
Disclaimer: I have decided to limit myself to only ten tunes, so of course many (many!) more of my other favourites have had to be omitted.
Yes, I know all these songs come from between 1970 and 1975 and feature Ritchie Blackmore … so?
Leave a Comment » | Brian's Best, Deep Purple, Favourites, Music, Playlists, Top Ten Tunes, Virtual Collections | Tagged: Deep Purple | Permalink
Posted by Brian Currin
Deep Purple On The Road
Sunday, 18th October 2009
A 4CD box set compilation of live tracks from around the world and through the years, compiled by The Deep Purple Appreciation Society and released in September 2001.
‘On The Road’ is a 4CD compilation of Deep Purple’s on stage history from the early days of the first Mk II line-up up to the Mk II re-union tour in 1993. Rather than dwell on what isn’t here (no Mk I stuff, nothing from the short-lived Joe Lynn Turner or Joe Satriani eras nor the much-longer and still current Steve Morse era), I have decided to take this box set track-by-track and try to give some perspective for the novice buyer and maybe even some interesting info for the serious collector (c’mon you know who you are).
The first song on disc one is ‘Hush’ which was the set opener for the September 1969 ‘Concerto’ concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. ‘Hush’ was a #4 US hit for the Mk I line-up in 1968 and was originally written by Joe South of ‘Games People Play’ fame. ‘Hush’ has been in and out of Deep Purple’s set lists for years and has always been a popular song with the audience. The live version on this box set was previously released on the ‘Powerhouse’ compilation album in 1977. It was only previously available on CD on a Japanese compilation ‘New, Live & Rare’ released by Metal Mania in 1989.
‘Child In Time’ and ‘Wring That Neck’ come from a concert recorded on the 19th February 1970 at the BBC Studios in London for the BBC ‘In Concert’ series. The concert was broadcast on “The Sunday Show” on the 22nd February 1970. Both these tracks were previously released on the ‘In Concert 1970-1972′ album in December 1980 and on CD in April 1992. ‘Wring That Neck’ is an instrumental also sometimes known as ‘Hard Road’ and is extended here to over 18 minutes with some wonderful organ improvisations in the middle.
‘Into The Fire’ and ‘Black Night’ are taken from the ‘Scandinavian Nights’ CD released in October 1988 (also known as ‘Live & Rare’ in some countries). This concert was recorded at the Stockholm Konserthus 12th November 1970. ‘Black Night’ was the encore and is a wonderful version especially considering this song wasn’t even a year old at the time. Great guitar/vocal interplay near the end.
‘Machine Head’ opening track ‘Highway Star’ was a work-in-progress-at-the-time song performed for the German Beat Club TV show on 1st September 1971. This version with some different lyrics was previously released on the Ritchie Blackmore retrospective album ‘Rock Profile Volume 1′ released in October 1989. The sleeve notes for ‘On The Road’ say that this is a longer version previously only available on the vinyl version of ‘Rock Profile’, but it is actually exactly the same length as previously released on CD and fades out early. ‘No No No’ is from the same German TV source and is the only official live recording released of this song from the ‘Fireball’ album and also fades out early, though the full-length song appears on the vinyl version of that ‘Rock Profile’ album and also on the ‘Shades (1968-1998)’ 4CD box set from Rhino in 1999.
Moving on to Disc 2 which opens with a raucous version of ‘Speed King’ from the 1970 Stockholm concert mentioned above. “A speed king is somebody who can sing at 100 miles an hour” says Ian during this song and we believe him! The next 3 tracks, ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’, ‘Lazy’ and ‘Fireball’, are true rarities as they have never appeared on an official album release before. They are taken from the soundtrack of the ‘Scandinavian Nights’ video, which has nothing in common with the CD of the same title except the name! This video was filmed at KB Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark on 1st March 1972. ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’ moves along nicely and includes a vocal/guitar interplay which would become the trademark of this song in concert. ‘Lazy’ starts off lazily enough and then turns into a harmonica-driven R&B romp. ‘Fireball’ is done fairly straight and fast, but its nice to hear a version from this period as it had left the setlist by the time of the famous Japan concerts in August that year.
We jump forward to the 1987 World tour and some more rareish tracks, though less rare now since the release in November 1999 of a 2CD version of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ (previously only available on vinyl and as an edited single CD). First up is the pounding ‘Perfect Strangers’ from California 23rd May 1987. Ian adds that closing line “I don’t want to taste your poison” from the ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ album which he had sang on in 1970. This live version of ‘Perfect Strangers’ was previously released on the ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ live album, both on vinyl and CD in 1988.
‘Bad Attitude’ opens with Ian reciting “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic”. This nursery rhyme seems very popular with the band as they have used it a few times in concert, sometimes even as an instrumental interlude (Listen to ‘Space Trucking’ from ‘Knebworth ‘85′ for example). ‘Bad Attitude’ from the ‘House Of Blue Light’ album, was recorded live in Phoenix, Arizona on the 30th May 1987 and was on the original vinyl album but not on the 1988 CD version of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’.
‘Space Trucking’ is disappointingly short for those of us who grew up on the epic version from ‘Made In Japan’, but this version recorded in Olso, Norway on 22nd August 1987 rocks, none-the-less. Not on the first CD release of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’, but it did make a CD appearance on the ‘Knocking At Your Back Door’ CD compilation in 1991.
‘Dead Or Alive’ with its great blues-y intro was recorded in Milan, Italy on 4th September 1987 and was not even on the original vinyl, but only on the cassette version of ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ and as a b-side of the ‘Hush 88′ single. By the way, ‘Hush 88′ was not actually a live version even though it appeared on the live album. It was a rehearsal recording from Hook End Manor in February 1988. ‘Dead Or Alive’ is a driving version with a brilliant organ solo and powerhouse drumming from Ian Paice.
‘Anya’ was recorded in Stuttgart, Germany on 16th October 1993 and was available on the ‘Come Hell Or High Water’ CD and video (and now DVD) releases. A strong and powerful song from ‘The Battle Rages On’ album before Ritchie decided to leave for good. Could have been a theme for a James Bond movie.
Disc 3 is dedicated to Mk III and opens with the opening track from the ‘Live In London’ album, a rousing version of ‘Burn’ which was previously released on ‘The Compact Disc Anthology’ CD in 1991. ‘Live In London’ has only ever be released on CD in Japan (on Metal Mania in 1989), so ‘Burn’ and ‘Mistreated’ are at this time rare on CD (though a 2CD re-release is being planned). Both tracks were recorded 22nd May 1974 at the Kilburn Gaumont in London. ‘Mistreated’ really captures a blues feeling and David Coverdale’s voice is very emotional while Ritchie’s guitar is wonderfully melodic.
‘Smoke On The Water’ is up next; this and the next 2 songs ‘Going Down’ and ‘You Fool No One’ were recorded in April 1975 and are taken from the ‘Mk III: The Final Concerts’ double CD which is a companion set to 1976’s ‘Made In Europe’. ‘Smoke…’ is sung well by David and then Glenn Hughes gets into the act with some vocal warbling whilst Jon plays a snippet of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’. ‘Going Down’, a Don Nix song recorded by Freddie King in 1971, was used as an encore number by both Mk III & IV and led into ‘Highway Star’, but ‘Highway Star’ is edited off here and instead the track segues straight into ‘You Fool No One’. ‘You Fool No One’ has a drum solo from Ian, and the song then leads out of the drum solo into the riff from ‘The Mule’ before closing off with a bit of blues guitar.
Disc 4 features the Tommy Bolin-era Deep Purple aka Mk IV. The first 5 songs on this CD are all from the under-rated ‘Come Taste The Band’ album which is also the only Deep Purple studio album to feature Tommy Bolin. ‘Last Concert In Japan‘ was a sad attempt to document a live performance featuring Tommy Bolin from 15th December 1975 in Tokyo. ‘Last Concert…’ was not widely released on vinyl (strangely enough it was released in South Africa) and only ever in Japan on CD. In mid-2001, however, the full concert from which that album was taken was remixed, remastered and restored to its proper running order. Entitled ‘This Time Around – Live In Tokyo 1975′ it is a far better tribute to the memory of Tommy Bolin (who died 4th December 1976) and his contribution to the Deep Purple legacy. ‘You Keep On Moving’ and ‘Wild Dogs’ on this disc are taken from the ‘This Time Around’ CD and were also originally included on ‘Last Concert in Japan’.
‘On The Wings Of A Russian Foxbat’ is a double live CD recorded at Long Beach California on the 27th February 1976 and is sub-titled ‘Live In California 1976′. 5 tracks from ‘Foxbat’ are included here: ‘Lady Luck’, ‘Love Child’, ‘Getting Tighter’, ‘This Time Around’ & ‘Stormbringer’. ‘Lady Luck’ rocks whilst ‘Love Child’ is really funky and features a Jon Lord synthesizer solo. ‘Getting Tighter’ is over 13 minutes long and includes some jamming in the middle which owners of the ‘Days May Come – The California Rehearsals’ studio outtakes CD will recognize as ‘Dance To The Rock & Roll’ and ‘If You Love Me Woman’.
Though not credited on the CD cover, the instrumental coda to ‘This Time Around’ known as ‘Owed To G’ (“G” being George Gershwin) is actually included here. ‘Wild Dogs’ was a song on Tommy Bolin’s solo album ‘Teaser’ which had just been released when this live version was performed in Japan with vocals by Tommy. ‘Stormbringer’ rocks and then goes funky with a snippet from Sly and The Family Stone’s ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again) with a slight lyric change to “thank you for letting us be with you”.
The packaging is a hard slipcase containing the 4 CD’s and 12 collectors cards with photos of a band member on one side and a biography on the other. The booklet that comes with the set has been superbly written by Matthew Keen and is based on an article he wrote for Record Collector magazine in February 1998. Matthew goes through each of the live album releases in detail, even albums where tracks are not included on this box set, and all the album covers are shown. He also gives great info on how the set lists have changed through the years and around the world.
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Posted by Brian Currin
Deep Purple: Space Truckin’ Round The World Live 68-76
Sunday, 18th October 2009Info from The Highway Star: Classic Rock magazine reports that there is a new live compilation in the works by Purple Records, to be released in November 2009.
Track list:
CD 1
1 Hush (Inglewood 1968)
2 River Deep Mountain High (Inglewood 1968)
3 Hey Joe (Inglewood 1968)
4 Wring That Neck (Aachen 1970)
5 Into The Fire (Stockholm 1970)
6 Mandrake Root (Montreux 1969)
CD 2
1 Child In Time (Granada TV 1970)
2 Lazy (Denmark 1972)
3 Strange Kind Of Woman (Denmark 1972)
4 Burn (San Diego 1974)
5 Mistreated (San Diego 1974)
6 The Gypsy (Paris 1975)
7 Lady Double Dealer (Paris 1975)
8 Wild Dogs (Tokyo 1975)
9 Love Child (Tokyo 1975)
An eclectic compilation to say the least, it has ‘Space Truckin’ in the title, but this song is not included. Seems to be compiled mainly from albums released as part of the Sonic Zoom series.
‘Wring That Neck’ (all 20 plus minutes of it!) includes extracts and snippets from Lazy, Three Blind Mice, In The Hall Of The Mountain King, Rhapsody in Blue, White Christmas and Jingle Bells, in among the general noise and mayhem that I love so much from Deep Purple. The inclusion of the Christmas snippets is even funnier when you realize this show was recorded in July!
In February 2009 I compiled a similar type of collection for PT Music in South Africa, but they were not able to get the licencing sorted, so it will have to just exist as an iTunes playlist on my computer. I have listed it here as part of my Virtual Collection series.
Deep Purple – Down The Road Of Golden Dust
Live Across The World And Through The Years
Single CD:
1 Hush (Royal Albert Hall Sept 1969)
2 Black Night (Stockholm 1970)
3 Strange Kind Of Woman (Copenhagen 1972)
4 Fireball (Copenhagen 1972)
5 Burn (Graz 1975)
6 Mistreated (incl Rock Me Baby) (Paris 1975)
7 Smoke On The Water (Paris 1975)
8 Love Child (California 1976)
9 Highway Star (incl Not Fade Away) (California 1976)
Double CD:
Disc One
1 Hush (Royal Albert Hall Sept 1969)
2 Black Night (Stockholm 1970)
3 Speed King (Stockholm 1970)
4 Child In Time (London 1970)
5 Into The Fire (Stockholm 1970)
6 Strange Kind Of Woman (Copenhagen 1972)
7 Fireball (Copenhagen 1972)
8 Burn (Graz 1975)
9 Stormbringer (Graz April 1975)
10 Mistreated (incl Rock Me Baby) (Paris 1975)
Disc Two
1 Smoke On The Water (Paris 1975)
2 Lady Double Dealer (Paris 1975)
3 Space Truckin’ (Graz 1975)
4 Lady Luck (California 1976)
5 Lazy (California 1976)
6 Love Child (California 1976)
7 Highway Star (incl Not Fade Away) (California 1976)
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Posted by Brian Currin
Deep Purple – The Complete BBC Sessions
Monday, 22nd June 2009
Mark 1:
18.06.68 BBC Radio, Studio 1, Picadilly:
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25.06.68 BBC Radio, Studio 5, Maida Vale: 08.01.69 BBC Radio: 14.01.69 BBC Radio, Studio 4, Maida Vale: 11.02.69 BBC Radio, Studio 4, Maida Vale: 24.06.69 BBC Radio, Studio 5, Maida Vale: 30.06.69 BBC Radio, Studio 5, Maida Vale: Mark 2: 29.08.69 BBC Radio, Studio 1, Picadilly: 28.09.69 BBC Radio, Studio 5, Maida Vale: 31.10.69 BBC Radio, Studio 4, Maida Vale: 21.04.70 BBC Radio, Studio 5, Maida Vale: 23.09.70 BBC Radio, Studio T1, Shepherds Bush: |
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Posted by Brian Currin
70’s Compilation Albums that helped shape my music tastes
Saturday, 2nd May 2009Growing up in the 70s, I discovered a number of bands, and their back-catalogues, through compilation albums. It surprises many people when I tell them my favourite Beatles album is the Red Album, for example.
The Rolling Stones – Hot Rocks 1964-1971
The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971
The South African version had a different track listing to the US release. Included ‘Little Red Rooster’ and ‘Under The Boardwalk’ for example, and omitted ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Wild Horses’.
Track list for South African Album
- Time Is On My Side
- Little Red Rooster
- Under The Boardwalk
- Tell Me
- Heart Of Stone
- Play With Fire
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
- Get Off Of My Cloud
- As Tears Go By
- Mothers Little Helper
- 19th Nervous Breakdown
- Paint It Black
- Under My Thumb
- Ruby Tuesday
- Let’s Spend The Night Together
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash
- Street Fighting Man
- Sympathy For The Devil
- Gimme Shelter
- Honky Tonk Women
- Midnight Rambler
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want (single version)
The Beatles – The Red And The Blue Albums
The Beatles - The Red Album
The Beatles - The Blue Album
Two double albums, with every song a masterpiece. When these were re-released on CD in 1993, I bought them the day they came out. And though the whole of the Red Album could have been fitted onto a single CD, I didn’t mind paying full double album price. How many double CDs have so many classic chart-topping and million-selling songs on them? Worth every cent.
American Graffiti (soundtrack)
American Graffiti
My introduction to rock ‘n roll history.
The Who – Pinball And Other Wizards 1965-1975 (SA only release?)
The Who - Pinball And Other Wizards '65-'75
Actually only goes up to 1971, despite the title, but a great collection, nonetheless.
Deep Purple – Mark I and Mark II
Deep Purple - Mark I & II
Brilliant collection, and this was the only place to find ‘When A Blind Man Cries’ for many years.
Music Of Our Time
A CBS sampler from 1971, that sold for 99c. Amazing collection. Still one of my favourites. I’ve made an iTunes playlist with all these songs on.
Golden Earring – Hearing Earring
Golden Earring - Hearing Earring
This was a compilation only released in South Africa and Holland, I think, which featured the best tracks from ‘Together’ and ‘Seven Tears’.
Jimi Hendrix - Sound track recordings from the film Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix - Sound track recordings from the film Jimi Hendrix
A compilation of various live tracks and interviews. My main introduction to the live experience that was Jimi Hendrix
Track listing (interviews excluded)
- Rock Me Baby from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
- Wild Thing from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
- Machine Gun I from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)
- Johnny B. Goode from Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, California (May 30, 1970)
- Hey Joe from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
- Purple Haze from Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, California (May 30, 1970)
- Like a Rolling Stone from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
- The Star Spangled Banner from Woodstock (August 1969)
- Machine Gun II (Band of Gypsys) from Fillmore East (January 1, 1970)
- Hear My Train A Comin’ (acoustic) from London (1967)
- Red House from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)
- In From the Storm from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)
Revelations
Triple album collection from Glastonbury Fayre in 1971. A strange mixture of artists and genres that introduced me to bands like Gong, Pink Fairies and The Grateful Dead.
The Continuing Saga Of The Aging Orphans
Thin Lizzy - The Continuing Saga Of The Aging Orphans
Great album, that helped me discover the early years of Thin Lizzy, though I already knew Vagabonds Of The Western World, which is still one of my all-time favourite albums.
The Moody Blues – This Is The Moody Blues
This Is The Moody Blues
A double compilation album with all the songs crossfading into each other. Like Pink Floyd’s Echoes collection many years later.
Suck It And See
Suck It And See
Double album sampler from Vertigo, this time. From Folk (Magna Carta) to Metal (Black Sabbath) and most places in-between. The South African pressing had a different track listing to the overseas version.
Honourary mention
Let The Good Times Roll (soundtrack)
Let The Good Times Roll
Not really a compilation but the soundtrack to a film of a live rock and roll revival, that I saw over and over again. Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chubby Checker and others just blew me away. And the sampled soundbites from old TV shows, backstage comments and DJ introductions made it even better.
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Posted by Brian Currin
