Just a quick message to say that I’ll be back on 27th December with the “Rock Of Ages Best Of 2008″ lists.
Until then, a big thanks to all who read these pages, especially those who take the time to comment whether you agree with my thoughts or offer differing views.
Merry Christmas Everybody….
—–
BL
MAN
Details: 1983, LLM, LP
There aren’t many bass players who have gone on to find solo success after being a player in a group venture but this five track “mini album”, a recent second hand vinyl for me, was presumably John McCoy’s testing of the waters after the demise of the band “Gillan”. And whilst there’s nothing on here that quite warrants a “lost classic” tagging its listenable early eighties rock that has some interesting names pop up in the cast of players.
Everyone will, or should be, familiar with Peter Green’s “Oh Well!“. A fine song and here given a blustery near eight minute work-over that gives an impression of how it may have sounded if the aforementioned Gillan had a go at it. Another ex-Gillan presence, Colin Towns (ever present on this album) helps reinforce that thought and whilst singer “T.Bone” Rees is no Ian Gillan he offers a solid performance throughout, although some online accounts indicates his live presence failed to meet expectations.
In addition to the Fleetwood Mac cover, the same session which produced that song also provides the two numbers that close each side. “Night Lights” is assured if unspectacular fare and “Because You Lied” a quite impressive bluesy rocker but its the albums other two tracks, culled it appears from a different session that throws up a couple of interesting names as well as the albums best track (in my humble opinion).
On guitar for both “The Sound Of Thunder“, not a blueprint for Bowes & Morley but a decent slab of British hard rock all the same, and the especially impressive “Temporary Threshold Shift” is nwobhm stalwart Paul Samson. Also on these tracks is the memorably titled Ron Rebel, otherwise known as Ron Matthews, whose name the Iron Maiden anoraks amongst us (including me!) will recognise as being one of the early occupiers of the Maiden drumstool, although he’d been moved on before the albums started arriving. Realistically it’s those names, especially Samson’s, along with John McCoy’s presence of course that make this an interesting piece nowadays although the music was good enough to enable the project to yield a full length album shortly afterwards.
Ultimately McCoy would get more recognition post Gillan initially as a member of melodic rock heavyweights “Mammoth” and more recently as the “M” in G.M.T. but if you can find this at a favourable price it’s certainly worth having, the unique Hulk styled cartoon cover making it worth a place in my collection even if I hadn’t liked the music.
Highlight: Temporary Threshold Shift
Score: 2.5/5
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BL
Details: 1974, Mercury, LP
Okay, on the face of it you’d perhaps be forgiven for avoiding this one thinking it was the hackneyed old radio hit “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” and eight other tracks making up the numbers. In fact, in reality the Smashie & Nicey endorsed, overplayed down the years, compilation staple which needs no introduction and little further comment actually sits hidden away four fifths through side one indicating that perhaps it was an unexpected success for the Canadians. Indeed much of what surround it proves certainly better than filler and consequently deserving of attention.
Sandwiching “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” are “Roll On Down The Highway” and instrumental side closer “Free Wheelin’“. The earlier track reinforces the bands credentials as no-nonsense, riff heavy rock merchants and is enhanced further by some nifty guitar interplay between ex-Guess Who man Randy Bachman and co-lead guitarist Blair Thornton. The latter track too has appeal and maybe offers a lesson to the latter-day overplaying virtuoso for whom the term “instrumental” means “overplay to nauseous effect”. One for the list of good instrumentals is “Free Wheelin’”.
There are occasional subtleties to the B.T.O. hard rock brand, notably evident on the fine contrast between lighter verses and driving chorus on the presumably autobiographical ” Rock Is My Life, And This Is My Song“. Not the most cerebrally challenging of lyrics, but delivered with some effect and enhanced nicely by a ghostly vocal echo. Look out too for some well appointed slide guitar work on “Blue Moanin’“. Another “g” dropping, apostrophe boasting title, but ultimately a very decent cut over on side two.
Overall though B.T.O. simply deliver unapologetic seventies rock. Witness the crashing opening chords of “Sledgehammer” and try to convince me that that is not how a guitar should sound! It’s a fine song that, to be fair, actually turns out a little more cultured than the title would suggest although it isn’t exactly gentle. Neither is the albums title track and opening number… and the best cut on here even when measured against the classic within the ranks. Ditto “Not Fragile“, another great example of simple but effective riffing underpinning a great song. Asking, and answering, the question of whether they “play heavy music” it lives up to it’s title and is another of the many tracks on here that turn out to be far from filler accompanying the hit single but fine slabs of seventies hard rock. “Not Fragile”… a great album?… “Not ‘arf!”
Highlight: Not Fragile
Score: 3.5/5
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BL
“In the words of the the great Noddy Holder, its Christttmaaasss! 
and on this weeks GTFM Rockshow Wednesday 10-12pm on 107.9 and across the web on www.gtfm.co.uk….we give you…
The traditional Christmas show brings you lots of your favourite Xmas rock tunes, some obvious, some not so! If you would like to make some suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
Put them in the comments on this post or e-mail them to rockshow@gtfm.co.uk.
Added to that we’ll do our famous ‘12 Prizes for Christmas’ competition where you answer a simple question, nominate a number 1-12 and win a prize behind the advent calender number!!!
We’ve got CDs, DVDs, Books, T-shirts and signed stuff… luvly jubly!!!
The Rock Show takes a well earned two week break for Xmas Eve and New Years Eve but…
There’s an extra special programme on New Years Day 6pm – 7pm which is a re-run of our hour long Status Quo special with an interview with Francis Rossi talking about their 40 year career, new compilation album ‘Pictures, 40 Years of Hits’ and their lasting legacy
We’ve got Christmas all wrapped up!”
——
email DJ Andy Fox via rockshow@gtfm.co.uk
Listen live in the Pontypridd, South Wales area on 107.9 FM
or on the Internet by pointing your media player at
The Classic Rock Newswire Forum
I finished up my post on the recent “The Best Of The Michael Schenker Group” by saying that I hoped it would herald a reissue program of each of Schenker’s releases. Now I don’t know if this is the first three of a number of albums or whether they are the only ones currently considered viable but early next year sees “Michael Schenker Group”, “M.S.G.” and “One Night At Budokan” get the reissue treatment complete with digital remastering, numerous bonus tracks and sleeve notes courtesy of Classic Rock’s Dave Ling.
Details: 1980 (2009 remaster), EMI, CD
Originally released in September 1980 and reaching an impressive if surprising number eight in the UK album charts “Michael Schenker Group” remains one of the finest hard rock albums and an impressive introduction into an important phase of guitarist Michael Schenker’s career coming as it did shortly after his departure from U.F.O. The man himself is on sterling form too delivering sparkling solo after solo whilst singer Gary Barden, plucked seemingly from nwobhm near obscurity also acquitted himself well thrust into a wider spotlight.
That five songs out of just the original nine on this album should, in one form or another,make it onto that recent EMI compilation offers a measure of this albums standing in the Schenker catalogue. “Armed And Ready“, “Cry For The Nations“, “Victim Of Illusion“, the grandiouse instrumental “Into The Arena” and the mighty “Lost Horizons” are all essentials. What may have slipped the memory over the years though is that things like the classy guitarist spotlight “Bijou Pleasurette“, the effective commercial rock of “Feels Like A Good Thing” and the oft-overlooked latter part of the album pair of “Looking Out For Nowhere” and the evocative “Tales Of Mystery” are hardly the type of song you can call filler either.
Bonus track wise EMI have dredged up five demo’s, four of which, “Just A Lover“, “Get Up And Get Down“, “After Midnight” and “Breakout” failed to make the final cut. Good collectors fare each, you do sense though that with the possible exception of “Breakout” none would have enhanced the original release. Nice to hear in context though and along with the radio edit of “Cry For The Nations” and a couple of live b-sides to pad thing out further they help keep this album up at the near essential status I’ve always considered it to be.
Highlight: Lost Horizons
Score: 4.5/5
Details: 1981 (2009 remaster), EMI, CD
Released just a year after the debut, by this time M.S.G. the band had evolved from solo project to bona fide rock super-group with the addition of ex U.F.O. keyboard player/guitarist Paul Raymond, former Rainbow drummer extraordinaire Cozy Powell and ex- S.A.H.B. bass man Chris Glen. It’s a release that is somewhat less celebrated than it’s predecessor, and ultimately despite the big names for me it falls maybe a degree or two below in overall quality although nevertheless still has some notable songs certainly worthy of reassessment.
The soaring guitar break that beckons “Attack Of The Mad Axeman” fronts a song that is top drawer and marks the albums first classic following as it does opener “Ready To Rock“, a song I’ve always thought of as an attempt to recreate “Armed And Ready” somewhat, maybe with the live show more in mind than the album. “On And On” impresses though. The acceptable face of early ’80s commercial rock without going into overtly radio courting territory, supporting perhaps Cozy Powell’s assertions that he jumped the Rainbow ship to join M.S.G. as he didn’t want to go down their new, more commercial route.
Once again Schenker is on sterling form. His fluent playing enhancing the Raymond written ballad “Never Trust A Stranger” whilst the heaver cuts like “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” and “Looking For Love” just help justify his continued status among rocks favourite guitarists, even if troubles have ultimately stopped his star rising as far as it should have. Interestingly “But I Want More” stuck me afresh listening to this set too, indicating that the relative fledgling Barden proved perfectly capable of fronting the star studded band. A great song up amongst their best I think.
The bonus tracks on this release are a real treat. All previously unreleased they include six live songs recorded a year earlier than the albums release date, but with the line-up already in place. Among the siz are four tracks dating from Schenker’s U.F.O. days including both the masterful “Doctor Doctor” and “Lights Out”. Whilst maybe not the best sounding recordings ever they do suggest that with the line-up established and a second strong album under their belts it must have been something of a no brainer to follow this with a live release.
Highlight: Attack Of The Mad Axeman
Score: 4/5
Details: 1982 (2009 remaster), EMI, CD
Recorded just before the release of that second album, and a subsequent top five charter upon its release in March 1982 this is perhaps the one to go for if you can’t afford all three. Captured live at the famous Tokyo Budokan it’s the Schenker, Barden, Glen, Powell, Raymond line-up once more and just about every must have song off the first two M.S.G. albums along with a U.F.O. classic to top things off.
This reissue restores tracks to full length and adds material cut from the original double LP stretching this to a double disc release. The first opens with a newly restored “Introduction” leading into a thunderous romp through the excellent “Armed And Ready” and five further tracks that would grace any live show, most impressively the blistering Schenker showcase number “Into The Arena“.
Disc two boasts the newly restored “Tales Of Mystery” and notably Cozy Powell’s drum solo which at this point combined both the “633 Squadron” theme and the “1812 Overture” making for one of the few drum solos that works without having the visuals (and not many work for me with the visuals). Both “On And On” and the finale “Ready To Rock” seem to work better in the live arena too, audience participation in the latter song aside of course, as does “Tales Of Mystery” for that matter with Schenker guitar strikingly melodic. The main set closing pairing of “Lost Horizons” and “Doctor Doctor” should also prove enough to make even the most reluctant listener stick it out to the triumphant conclusion.
Sadly the Michael Schenker Group was never built on the most solid of foundations. Barden would be out before the next studio album would surface and although he would return shortly after the continuity and indeed the quality found on the band’s first two albums would seldom be matched with such consistency making this a fine document of that era.
Highlight: On And On
Score: 4/5
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Yeah! Okay, I disqualified myself from picking “Lost Horizons” again as the highlight of the live set… but what a version it is though! Anyway these are undoubtedly three overdue reissues and strong contenders for reasons to spend those Christmas gift vouchers. Here’s “Armed And Ready” live in concert…
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BL
Sadly, it seems that the days of the Record & CD Fair in South Wales are passed. It’s been a couple of years now since I drove over to Cardiff for a fair that only encouraged about eight dealers, and before that a fair in Mumbles near Swansea attracted just three stalls. However, good fairs are still out there and with this in mind I set off a couple of weekends ago for the two hour drive to Cheltenham and the fair at the Town Hall. Of course, whilst in Cheltenham, it would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to once again visit the excellent Vinyl Vault too.
Cheltenham Record & CD Fair
About fifteen to twenty dealers, and a healthy amount of vinyl means that I will be keeping an eye out for future fairs at this venue. A well attended event by the look of it too and plenty of good music at low prices.
Robin Trower – Bridge Of Sighs… this ended up the only record at the event that I paid what I’d consider a proper price for. £6 damage only though for an album that I’ve been looking out for for quite a while now. It’s been many years since I heard this, and the cassette tape I had it on has long since disappeared.
Rage – Run For The Night, Chevy – Chevy and Michael Schenker – Portfolio… these three were my selections from a “3 for a tenner” section. Two picks from the nwobhm era with Rage being the 80s incarnation of Nutz and Chevy being of note for me anyway as featuring guitarist Steve Walwyn who I’ve seen live a few times recently with Dr. Feelgood. The Michael Schenker one is a decent if unimaginative 2LP compilation featuring his work with UFO, Scorpions and MSG.
Moving down the scale pricewise, I picked up a couple of collection fillers for £2.50 each. Status Quo – In The Army Now was the 1986 comeback album that saw the new Quo line-up continue the run of hits with “Rollin’ Home” and personal favourite “Red Sky”. Not great, but not as bad an album as some would have you think. The same could be said of Black Sabbath – The Eternal Idol. The first Sabbath album to feature the voice of Tony Martin and the beginning of an era of the band I thoroughly enjoy, although appreciate that maybe it would be better remembered if they hadn’t traded as Black Sabbath for this era.
Into the £1 each boxes next and three interesting albums I’ve had probably paid a bit more for…
Drive She Said – Drive She Said… a nice polished AOR album from a band featuring Mark Mangold. A bit dated now perhaps but has some nice memories within it as I also saw the band on the UK tour they undertook to support this release. Remember when AOR bands would do pretty sizeable UK tours eh?
Thin Lizzy – Black Rose… the album that saw Gary Moore returning to the fold, and a release that at times is superb. The title track, “Got To Give It Up”, “Do Anything You Wanna Do” and” Waiting For An Alibi” are all classic tracks with just a couple of ballads letting the piece down. If only they’d combined this with Moore’s “Back On The Streets”.
McCoy – McCoy (mini album)… a five track affair featuring the man-mountain bass player after the dissolution of Gillan. Interesting listen this and I will be doing a post about it soon as there are a couple of good tracks and some interesting names on it.
Amazingly, I also turned up some nice finds in the 50p each box on another stall…
The Flamin’ Groovies – Now… the Peacedogman 1971 feature we’ve been working on has sent me back to the year of my birth and brought a number of bands to the fore of my mind. The Groovies “Teenage Head” album adorns that chart and high up as well so for 50p I’ve little to loose by checking out their 1978 release, an album recorded just an hour away from me at the famous Rockfield Studios.
Status Quo – If You Can’t Stand The Heat… arguably the most uncelebrated release by the “frantic four” line-up and with some reason as it marked a bit of departure from their trademark sound, although perhaps it was also an early measure of times to come. Still, it’s got the hit single “Again And Again” on it and personally I quite like the albums other single “Accident Prone” too but I think I’m in a small minority there.
Finally I unearthed a couple of comedy albums billed as a “Black Country Night Out“. Released in the mid-70s they showcase a comedy show I was unaware of but like a lot of comedy from that era it has a certain appeal. Very broad Black Country accents make this almost unintelligible for some, but for me it takes me back to Saturday afternoons spent at the Molineux in Wolverhampton which can’t be a bad thing. (Wish I could get there this season – at least the football can’t be termed comedy this year!) Any information on this comedy series would be welcome as I’d never heard of it before.
Vinyl Vault
With a good selection already, but importantly money still in the wallet it was off to the excellent basement store Vinyl Vault where I found a couple of albums high on my wanted list and plenty in the budget boxes here too.
Man - Live At The Padget Rooms… I don’t know how many people who read this blog have been following the current Manband shenanigans but it appears that once again, after sterling work re-establishing the name with the “Diamonds And Coal” album, the Man line-up is changing. At this point of upheaval then, where better to go than back to 1972’s Padget Rooms album… released with a line-up that had already splintered by the time the recording came out six months or so after the gig! Some things it seems never change. (£15)
Silverhead – Silverhead… So impressed was I with the “16 & Savaged” album I bought a few weeks back that I was willing to pay £15 for this début album of theirs. Two choices too, although I went for the “early US reissue” of it given a slightly better condition. A band I will be doing a post on in the near future.
Uriah Heep – Salisbury… again I have the Peacedogman article to blame but its had me listening to lots of Uriah Heep and beginning to fill in the gaps in my vinyl collection of their work. I got this Bronze reissue for a fiver, and also picked up an excellent condition copy of Look At Yourself from my Ammanford vinyl source Gwlad Deg recently too, although at £10 that set me back twice the amount “Salisbury” did.
Scorpions – Love Drive and Blackout… still bouyed by their superb live show in Wolverhampton a few weeks ago I’m trying to also get the missing items from the Scorpions back catalogue. These albums captured the band post Uli Roth and post the excellent “Tokyo Tapes” preparing to take over the hard rock world with more commercially oriented music. Still bloody good commercially oriented music though!
Warhorse – Best Of Warhorse… I’ve had Nick Simper’s post Purple outfit on my wants list for a while but the albums and even the CDs, given a nice reissue by RPM a while back I recall, are proving hard to find. Until the day they turn up at the right price this compilation will do nicely for just £5.
Into the £2 box now for three albums by the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar. Three Lock Box is a corker with Remember The Heroes one of his best tracks in my opinion, whilst getting V.O.A. and Street Machine too means that I’ve got the lot now between his leaving Montrose and joining Van Halen. Maybe an article on that period of his career will follow at some point?
Jagged Edge were one of the bands I quite liked who got lost in the mix back in the late 80s. Like so many decent British bands of this era they failed to get the all important attention from MTV and subsequently lasted only a couple of albums before splitting. Trouble was their initial mini album, leading to the very good “Fuel For Your Soul” a year later. Good live I recall, and some of the b-sides on the singles I found cheap at the Record Fair earlier in the day seem to back that up… they were recorded at a good I attended too which was a nice find.
The Black Crowes did transcend the fashion conscious time however and continue releasing excellent albums. Shake Your Money Maker was their very first release and an absolute steal at £2. I had this one on the turntable the day after the Cheltenham trip and it was a pleasure to hear “She Talks To Angels”, “Hard To Handle” et al in their vinyl glory once again.
Which left a few pound coins in the pocket to get three classics. Groundhogs – Thank Christ For The Bomb, the best Rush live album Exit Stage Left and Nazareth’s Razamanaz which I nearly put back for another day until my colleague on the jaunt mentioned that “if your going to own any Nazareth album’s you have to own that one”. He is of course correct… on this occasion.
Other Buys
In addition to the Cheltenham trip I’ve managed to add a few other albums to my shelves recently too. Avoiding the shopping in Ammanford one afternoon I instead had a browse around Gwlad Deg and found Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood for £4. eBay has come up trumps on a couple of occasions too with Bad News‘ Bootleg and Nutz – Hard Nutz both crossed off my list for £10 each including postage as well as finding The Beatles albums Let It Be and Hey Jude together for just over £5.
Christmas shopping in Carmarthen last week and a return to old favourite market stall “Slipped Disc” saw another couple of Uriah Heep albums uncovered, namely Wonderworld and Innocent Victim as well as the ZZ Top classic Deguello and a nice early Canned Heat album Boogie With Canned Heat. Only £14 for all four of those.
Discovery Bookstore in next village, Garnant has continued to be a valuable source too. They are planning a refurbishment soon and selling off the vinyl. I eventually noticed an “all albums £2 each” sign a couple of weeks after it went up in the window (its dark at the moment when I drive past on the way home from work) and was too late for many of the high priced albums I’d been watching for months. I think my disappointment was evident though as they actually rang me on the day before there was a further reduction with everything up for a pound now! Consequently, the past few weeks have seen me hit the shop a few times and buy no less than 82 albums! Too many to list here and remain an interesting read but enough music to keep me going for a while I think.
Obviously, I’ve pushed the budget a bit though with the sale being very much unplanned purchases as far as I am concerned but a chance like that rarely comes. Got to tighten the belt over Christmas now especially as I have the Kings X gig in London to look forward to in January where the plan currently is to stay down in London overnight and relieve a few Camden Market record sellers of some vinyl the morning after. With that in mind, Confessions Of A Vinyl Collector will return in the New Year.
—–
BL
Here it is then, the exclusive interview by GTFM Rock Show presenter Andy Fox with Marillion keyboard player Mark Kelly. Broadcast last night (10th December 2008) within a one hour Marillion special, Kelly talks about all things Marillion past, present and future coinciding nicely with the recent releases of new album “Happiness Is The Road” and the Fish era EMI Box Set “Early Stages“.
The interview is available in full HERE, with the songs edited as usual to observe copyright. Click to open in your media player, or right click to save. Please note, this is a large file of about 27mb therefore there may be a delay before it opens and/or take a little while to download. It’s well worth it though!
—–
BL
(Mark Kelly picture : Brian Schenkenberger)
“There will be an hour Marillion special on the Rock Show tonight.
This includes a recent interview with keyboard player Mark Kelly, who talks about the ‘Happiness is the Road’ album, the tour, being self sufficient, and the old days including the EMI box set, plus much more.
We also include a competition to win Marillion goodies, including the new album, the new EMI box set ‘The Early Stages’ or ‘The Singles’ Box set ‘82-88 signed by Fish!!!”
——
email DJ Andy Fox via rockshow@gtfm.co.uk
Listen live in the Pontypridd, South Wales area on 107.9 FM
or on the Internet by pointing your media player at
The Classic Rock Newswire Forum
Review Ratings.....
5 - Essential
4 - Excellent
3 - Good
2 - Patchy
1 - Avoid
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Best Of 2008
Posted in Comments, Music on December 27, 2008 by rockofagesAmongst my top selections of the year I’ve selected a couple of bands that have been away from the scene for a few years… and they aren’t AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses! Read on for the “Rock Of Ages” picks of the year.
Album Of The Year
“Warpaint” – The Black Crowes
Their first new studio album since 2001’s “Lions” and their best since “Amorica”. A welcome return… just need a few more UK tour dates next time around please!
Second Place
“Wake The Sleeper” – Uriah Heep
Only guitarist Mick Box remains from the bands halcyon days of the early 70’s but this is trademark Heep, chock full of the kind of high quality songs you’d expect after a 9 year break from the last album.
Third Place
“Iron Will” – Grand Magus
We’ve had to wait many years for a metal album to challenge the power and melody of “Heaven And Hell” but here is the finest contender in a long while. Why have too few people taken notice of this superb album?
4. “The Outsider” – Walter Trout
The best blues-rock album of the year. Proves there is life in the genre other than Joe Bonamassa.
5. “Homewreckers And Heartbreakers” – The Quireboys
Britain’s answer to the Black Crowes with their most mature, and possibly best, album to date.
6. “Dig Out Your Soul” – Oasis
Spot the “Beatley” bit it may be but as with “Don’t Believe The Truth”, a fine album.
7. “Animal Instinct” – Tygers Of Pan Tang
Geoff Barton got it right with this release. Three albums… “Sparkle Lounge”, “Good To Be Bad” or this one? Choose this one!
8. “I Loved You” – Big Linda
Unfortunately not the successful début in terms of sales that it deserved to be. Great live band too though with many influences shaping their sound.
9. “Runnin’ Wild” – Airbourne
A January release but an album that’s grown in stature throughout the year. A smokin’ slower blues number away from a classic.
10. “XV” – Kings X
A superbly consistent album from one of rock’s most under-celebrated bands.
Falling just outside this list, but worthy of mention are the likes of Cotton Soeterboek Band – “Twisted”, Tesla – “Forever More”, Jaded Sun – “Gypsy Trip” and Motorhead – “Motorizer” which among many others brought entertainment throughout the year will prove worthy of repeated listens through years to come. A couple of excellent EPs spring forth too; both Glyder’s “Weather The Storm” and Thunder’s “The Joy Of Six” proving superior to each band’s most recent albums in my reckoning.
Archive Release or Reissue Of The Year
“UK Tour ‘75″ – Thin Lizzy
A stunning live set with only the packaging detracting from the releases’ overall impact.
2. “Early Stages” – Marillion
A comprehensive live bootleg set with 6 discs that underline the importance of the band in reviving prog-rock in the eighties.
3. “Medusa” – Trapeze
An element of bias here as I contributed some of the liner notes but its a great album worthy of reassessment any-day. Made more timely given the loss of Mel Galley later in the year.
4. “8+8 : Best Of ‘88-’80″ – Pat Travers
The incendiary live album “Go For What You Know” plus eight of his finest studio cuts. So good even Classic Rock noticed.
5. “This Was” – Jethro Tull
More blues based than flute based. Conclusive proof that Tull post Mick Abrahams were never the same.
Live Gig Of The Year
Scorpions – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
After 20 odd years of gig-going not many evenings leave me walking away thinking “Wow!!!”… this one did.
2. Status Quo – Cyfathfa Castle, Mythyr Tydfill
3. Iron Maiden – Twickenham Stadium, London
4. Man – Milkwood Jam, Swansea
5. British Steel Festival, Camden Town
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As usual, the opinions above are merely those of the author and don’t reflect the opinions of (probably) any other person on the planet. Fortunately though, as happened last year, the world of rock and metal blogging is combining to post our Picks of the Year on or around the same day. For more opinion on the best 2008 had to offer check the following….
Heavy Metal Addiction
Hard Rock Hideout
Heavy Metal Time Machine
Bring Back Glam
Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense
All Metal Resource
Imagine Echoes
Metal Excess
The Ripple Effect
Layla’s Classic Rock
Hair Metal Mansion
The Metal Minute
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BL
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