Bryan Ferry - These Foolish Things (1973)

Year: 5 October 1973 (CD 1989)
Label: E.G. Records (UK), EGCD 9
Style: Pop Rock, Glam Rock, Art Rock
Country: Washington, County Durham, England (26 September 1945)
Time: 43:59
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 235 Mb

These Foolish Things is the debut solo studio album by Bryan Ferry, who at the time was still Roxy Music's lead vocalist. The album was released in October 1973 on Island Records in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States. It is considered to be a departure from Roxy Music's sound, because it consists entirely of cover versions, mainly of standard songs. These Foolish Things was a commercial and critical success, peaking at number five on the UK Albums Chart. It received a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry in May 1974.
Most of the tracks on the album were personal favorites of Ferry's, and spanned several decades from 1930s standards such as the title track through 1950s Elvis Presley to Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" was released as a single and reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1973.
Speaking about the album in 1973, Ferry said: "It's a very catholic selection, I've given up trying to please all of the people all of the time. Some will like it for one reason, some for another. And some will presumably dislike it for the wrong reasons though I hope the general point of it will be understood. It's amusement value. I think."
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/These_Foolish_Things_(album))

01. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (05:20)
02. River Of Salt (01:49)
03. Don't Ever Change (02:15)
04. Piece Of My Heart (03:06)
05. Baby I Don't Care (01:50)
06. It's My Party (02:00)
07. Don't Worry Baby (04:14)
08. Sympathy For The Devil (05:51)
09. The Tracks Of My Tears (03:05)
10. You Won't See Me (02:32)
11. I Love How You Love Me (03:02)
12. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever (03:07)
13. These Foolish Things (05:42)

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1991 (1991)

Year: June 11, 1991 (CD 1991)
Label: Atlantic Records (U.S.), 7 82258-2
Style: Southern Rock, Blues Rock
Country: Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Time: 51:49
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 346 Mb

Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 is the sixth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the band's first new studio album since 1977's Street Survivors and the first following a 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of three members of the band.
Lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and lead guitarist Steve Gaines died in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi, and Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 is the first album to feature their replacements, vocalist Johnny Van Zant (Ronnie's younger brother) and guitarist Randall Hall. It also marks the return of original guitarist Ed King, who parted ways with the band while touring in support of Nuthin' Fancy in 1975. It was also the final Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature drummer Artimus Pyle, who survived the crash. Guitarist and founding member Allen Collins also survived the 1977 plane crash but died in 1990 from chronic pneumonia.
"Smokestack Lightning" was released as a single with an accompanying music video and was met with moderate success.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynyrd_Skynyrd_1991)

01. Smokestack Lightning (04:29)
02. Keeping The Faith (05:19)
03. Southern Women (04:18)
04. Pure & Simple (03:10)
05. I've Seen Enough (04:23)
06. Good Thing (05:30)
07. Money Man (03:47)
08. Backstreet Crawler (05:32)
09. It's A Killer (03:55)
10. Mama (Afraid To Say Goodbye) (06:45)
11. End Of The Road (04:34)

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Mirage - Tomorrow Never Knows - Singles And Lost Sessions 1966-1968 (2006)

Year: 1966-1968 (CD Sep 18, 2006)
Label: RPM Records (UK), RPM BC 319
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Beat, Pop Rock
Country: Hertfordshire, England
Time: 55:12
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 214 Mb

As already proven quite a few times, being at the right place at the right time, doesn’t always mean instant success, or for that matter, any kind of success at all.
As if they had foreseen it themselves, for this bunch of Hertfordshire based lads, it remained a “mirage” for as long as they kept the name. For example, for bassist Dee Murray, it took to join Elton John’s backing band in the ‘70s, while some of them at least felt a taste of it, during their short time within Spencer Davis Group’s final line up.
Even though about half of the content has already been available through the not exactly legal, to say the least, CD release titled You Can’t Be Serious, this one’s more than worthy enough, comprising first ever remasters of their three Phillips singles, and no less than 17 (!) previously (officially) unreleased recordings (11 of which weren’t included on the boot either).
On the other hand, unlike this one, You Can’t Be Serious includes the second (Clarke-Nash produced) of the first two 1965 CBS singles, pairing up an unreleased Hollies tune, Go Away, (here present in it’s acoustic demo, featuring Graham Nash) with a similar harmony fueled beat number called Just A Face, as well as 4 more unreleased recordings, 5 live-on-BBC’67 ones, as well as the post-Mirage Portobello Explosion single from 1969, so considering all of the above, however happy I am with this new (and sound-wise way superior) one, I’m keeping the boot as well!
Anyway, for all of you without any of these, Tomorrow Never Knows should be a natural starting point, and of course a MUST for any harmony fueled mod stomp fan! As far as the singles go, their only claim to (not really) fame, was their pretty competent cover of Tomorrow Never Knows, with the band, thanks to their Dick James Music Publishing association, getting hold of Revolver before it was actually released, backed by a much superior blue-eyed soul mod stomp of You Can’t Be Serious, finding them halfway between The Action and The Creation.
They retained the laters vibe for Hold On, the follow up single’s A-side, which was a pretty cool mod-ish Taxman rip off, with The Hollies stepping in for the chorus, coupled with a kinda Rubber Soul-ful ballad Can You Hear Me, followed by The Wedding Of Ramona Blair, which might’ve been described as a groovy little “pocket symphony” that wouldn’t sound out of place on Billy Nicholls’ Would You Believe album, while it’s flip, Lazy Man, takes it back to the mod-ernistic pop approach, by way of the early Who, with the unreleased pair of Gone To Your Head and I Want Love, sharing the exact same formula.
Of the other unreleased stuff, One More Time and That I Know clearly display the presence of The Hollies on the band’s earliest sessions, while it’s the later ones from ‘67/’68, that find them swing along with the times, throwing in some quirky popsike vibes, along with “fresh” phasing effects in the Lennon-ish whimsy Ebaneezer Beaver, or backward drum loops in Mrs Busby, while I See The Rain and See My World find them in a more dreamy, slightlydelic vibe.
That The Mirage were capable enough of churning out tunes just as commercial as any of their more successful contemporaries, can be heard in either Lonely Highway, Hello Enid or Is Anybody Home, all sounding kinda like Tonny Hazzard-through-Bee Gees, as well as the acoustic demo of Katherine, being another piece of pure Hollie-pop, and the Kinky-Vaudeville sounding How’s Your Pa, with just an occasional nod back, towards the earlier mod-ish aesthetics of What Do I Care, with an extremely groovy acoustic arrangement.
So, considering all the heavy weight references, such as Dick James, The Hollies or Larry Page (releasing two post-Philips singles), record contracts with CBS and Philips, as well as sessions backing Caleb Quaye and early Elton John, it just “can’t be serious” for a band like The Mirage to remain just a “mirage” in pop history isn’t it?!
(popdiggers.com/the-mirage-tomorrow-never-knows/)

01. Tomorrow Never Knows (02:36)
02. You Can't Be Serious (01:59)
03. Gone To Your Head (02:05)
04. I Want Love (02:24)
05. Hold On (02:22)
06. Can You Hear Me (02:58)
07. One More Time (01:59)
08. That I Know (02:18)
09. The Wedding Of Ramona Blair (02:14)
10. Lazy Man (02:23)
11. Ebaneezer Beaver (02:22)
12. Mrs Busby (02:33)
13. I See The Rain (02:06)
14. Lonely Highway (02:44)
15. Hello Enid (02:12)
16. Is Anybody Home (02:43)
17. What Do I Care (02:11)
18. How's Your Pa (02:59)
19. Lazy Man (03:01)
20. See My World (02:52)
21. Katherine (02:07)
22. Ebaneezer Beaver (02:02)
23. Go Away (01:52)

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Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - The Mirror Man Sessions (1971)

Year: April 1971 (CD 1999)
Label: Buddha Records (Europe), 74321 691742
Style: Blues Rock, Art Rock, Avantgarde
Country: Glendale, California, U.S. (January 15, 1941 - December 17, 2010)
Time: 76:23
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 458 Mb

The Mirror Man Sessions
In 1999, Buddha Records (which had renamed itself to correct the earlier misspelling, 'Buddah') reissued the album under the title The Mirror Man Sessions,[12] which was released with a newly expanded track list and a 12-page booklet explaining the history of the recordings. The additional tracks included on this release are also taken from the abandoned Brown Wrapper sessions, and thus yield a track listing which is somewhat closer to the original concept. Other tracks from these sessions are included as bonus material on Buddha's 1999 issue of Safe as Milk.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_Man_(Captain_Beefheart_album))

01. Tarotplane (19:08)
02. 25th Century Quaker (09:50)
03. Mirror Man (15:46)
04. Kandy Korn (08:06)
05. Trust Us (take 6) (07:14)
06. Safe as Milk (take 12) (05:00)
07. Beatle Bones n' Smokin' Stones (03:11)
08. Moody Liz (take 8) (04:32)
09. Gimme Dat Harp Boy (03:32)

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Miroslav Vitous - Music of Weather Report (2016)

Year: 2016 (CD Jun 10, 2016)
Label: ECM Records (Germany), ECM 2364 377 2956
Style: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Country: Prague, Czechoslovakia (born 6 December 1947)
Time: 52:47
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 297 Mb

Born in Prague, Vitous began the violin at age six, switching to piano after about three years, and then to bass at age fourteen. As a young man in Europe, Vitous was a competitive swimmer. One of his early music groups was the Junior Trio with his brother Alan on drums and Jan Hammer on keyboards. He studied music at the Prague Conservatory under Frantisek Posta, and won a music contest in Vienna that gave him a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music.
Miles Davis saw Vitous playing with Clark Terry in 1967 and invited him to join his group in New York City.
Vitous recorded his debut album Infinite Search for Embryo (later issued on Atlantic as Mountain In The Clouds) in 1969 with Joe Henderson, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, and Joe Chambers. In 1970, he also recorded Purple for Columbia with McLaughlin, Billy Cobham and Joe Zawinul.
In 1970, he was a founding member of the group Weather Report. Vitous was replaced by Alphonso Johnson in 1973, later stating "I enjoyed the beginning of it very much, but it turned into a little bit of a drag in the end because Joe Zawinul wanted to go in another direction. The band was seeking success and fame and they basically changed their music to go a commercial way into a black funk thing". He also felt aggrieved financially, commenting "I was an equal partner and basically, I didn't get anything. We had a corporation together that was completely ignored. If you have a company and three people own it, and then two people say 'Okay, we don't want to work like this anymore. It's just two of us now', normally, they break down the stock and pay off the third person".
In 1981, Vitous performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio, and in 1984 he collaborated with Stanley Clarke. In 1988, Vitous moved back to Europe to concentrate on composing but nonetheless continued to perform in festivals.
In 2001, Vitous reunited with Chick Corea and Roy Haynes, with whom he had recorded Corea's album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs in 1968, for a concert in a series entitled "Rendezvous in New York" in celebration of Corea's 60th birthday. The album of the same name came out in 2003 and earned Corea a Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for the composition "Matrix".
He has also worked with Larry Coryell, Jan Garbarek, Jack DeJohnette, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Mann, Michel Petrucciani, Terje Rypdal, and Wayne Shorter.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroslav_VitousC5%A1)

01. Scarlet Woman Variations (05:59)
02. Seventh Arrow (06:42)
03. Multi Dimension Blues (01:30)
04. Birdland Variations (09:58)
05. Multi Dimension Blues 1 (02:05)
06. Pinocchio (06:34)
07. Acrobat Issues (05:32)
08. Scarlet Reflections (02:46)
09. Multi Dimension Blues 3 (04:55)
10. Morning Lake (06:44)

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Southern By The Grace Of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour (Live) (1988)

Year: Recorded Live: October 15, 1987 - November 1, 1987 (CD 1988)
Label: MCA Records (U.S.), MCAD-8021
Style: Southern Rock, Blues Rock
Country: Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Time: 72:21
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 426 Mb

Charts: US Billboard 200 #68
Southern by the Grace of God is a live album by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, recorded during the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour in 1987. These live concerts were a 10-year anniversary tribute by Lynyrd Skynyrd to the members of the band who had died in a 1977 plane crash. The plane crash killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick.
The band's lineup for the concerts was re-worked into a second-generation Skynyrd. The changes include: Johnny Van Zant, younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, taking over on vocals, Ed King, who departed the band during a 1975 tour and Randall Hall, who replaced the paralyzed Allen Collins. The three (King, Hall along with founding member Gary Rossington) re-form the famous triple-lead guitar attack of the original band. New background vocalists Carol Bristow and Dale Krantz-Rossington were added to take the place of the original Honkettes.
This is the first album of new recordings produced by the band after the '77 plane crash. The last track is an instrumental version of the band’s iconic song “Free Bird”, having a much longer running time of 14:51 compared with the original 1973 studio recording (from (Pronounced 'Leh-'nerd 'Skin-'nerd)) of "Free Bird" (timed at 9:08). Rather than sing the lyrics himself, Johnny Van Zant directed the concert crowd to sing along with the music in tribute to his older brother Ronnie Van Zant.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_by_the_Grace_of_God)

01. Introduction By Lacy Van Zant / Workin' For MCA (06:04)
02. That Smell (06:33)
03. I Know A Little (04:58)
04. Comin' Home (06:36)
05. You Got That Right (04:33)
06. What's Your Name? (03:59)
07. Gimme Back My Bullets (04:57)
08. Swamp Music (03:51)
09. Call Me The Breeze (07:29)
10. Dixie / Sweet Home Alabama (08:29)
11. Free Bird (14:48)

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Lipps, Inc - Funkyworld: The Best Of Lipps, Inc (1992)

Year: 1992 (CD 1992)
Label: Casablanca Records (U.S.), 314 512 969-2
Style: Disco, Dance-Pop
Country: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Time: 74:22
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 474 Mb

Before hard funksters like Prince and the Time hit the national stage, before groundbreaking alternative rockers Husker Du and the Replacements, Minneapolis was barely a blip on America's musical radar -- that is, until Lipps, Inc. broke out with one of disco's most monumental singles, the number one smash "Funkytown." The brainchild of producer/songwriter Steven Greenberg, Lipps, Inc. (meant to be pronounced as a pun on "lip sync") wound up as one-hit wonders, but that one hit still stands as one of disco's all-time classics; its computerized feel and lean, spare arrangement contrasted sharply with the perceived excesses of most disco music, yet its longing for escape (specifically, from Minneapolis, whose music scene was still in its infancy) fit the spirit of the era perfectly, sending it to the top of the charts for a full month in 1980.
A multi-instrumentalist, Greenberg had played in several bands and had been trying for some time to secure a production deal. He finally caught the Casablanca label's interest with a disco track called "Rock It," which became something of a hit locally. Casablanca asked Greenberg for a full album, and he gathered a cast of session players that initially included guitarists David Rivkin and Tom Riopelle, keyboardist Ivan Rafowitz, and bassist Terry Grant. Most importantly, he recruited lead vocalist Cynthia Johnson, the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota, who had been performing with an early version of the Time. Released nationally in late 1979, "Rock It" failed to catch on. The group's debut album, Mouth Music, was released in early 1980 and when "Funkytown" was pulled as a second single, it was an instant hit, climbing to number one just a couple months later and spending four weeks on top. In the wake of its success, "Rock It" was re-released, but flopped again. The six-song release Pucker Up followed, featuring a disco remake of the British pub rock group Ace's hit ballad "How Long," which reached number four on Billboard's club chart. The next Lipps, Inc. full-length, Designer Music, didn't attract much attention. Johnson was already decreasing her involvement with the group, with Melanie Rosales picking up some of the slack; Johnson left for good in 1983, the year the group released their final album, 4. By the time Lipps, Inc. threw in the towel, though, they'd begun to open things up on the Minneapolis music scene, not to mention giving valuable early experience to several future members of Prince's band the Revolution. Greenberg eventually moved into web design, and owns a profitable company based in Minneapolis.
(allmusic.com/artist/lipps-inc-mn0000243932/biography?1654270675542)

01. Funkytown (07:49)
02. All Night Dancing (08:20)
03. Rock It (05:41)
04. How Long (05:37)
05. Tight Pair (08:32)
06. Jazzy (03:58)
07. Designer Music (05:42)
08. Hold Me Down (05:26)
09. Addicted to the Night (06:48)
10. Choir Practice (05:56)
11. Does Anybody Know Me (04:21)
12. Hit the Deck (06:07)

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Argent - Ring Of Hands [Japan Edition] (1971)

Year: February 1971 (CD Jun 25, 2008)
Label: Epic Records (Japan), EICP 1014
Style: Rock, Progressive Rock, Glam Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 42:50
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 272 Mb

Ring of Hands is, more often than not, overshadowed by the albums that surrounded it. Argent's debut included Russ Ballard's "Liar," and 1972's All Together Now was the album that yielded their Top Five hit "Hold Your Head Up," while 1973's In Deep produced "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You," which became a bigger hit for Kiss in 1992. But Ring of Hands is one of Argent's most progressively oriented albums, with most of its energy and dynamics coming from Rod Argent's keyboard playing. This album shines the spotlight a little brighter on Rod Argent than on Ballard, and its weight lies more on the band's ability to produce some impressive progressive rock than to create lyrically based rock & roll. Argent himself is spectacular throughout most of the album, lending his lone, rich keyboard solos to tracks like "Lothlorien," "Cast Your Spell Uranus," and "Sleep Won't Help Me." The album does wander into pop familiarity from time to time, but only mildly, like on "Chained" or "Where Are We Going Wrong," and, even so, Rod Argent's playing appropriately protrudes through most of songs to give Ring of Hands an independent feel from all of the albums that followed. In 1999, Sony's Collectables reissued the album with a bonus track; Rod Argent's "He's a Dynamo," which was written one year after the release of the original Ring of Hands album.
(allmusic.com/album/ring-of-hands-mw0000255250?1662275048231) Review by Mike DeGagne

01. Celebration (02:55)
02. Sweet Mary (04:07)
03. Cast Your Spell Uranus (04:32)
04. Lothlorien (07:52)
05. Chained (05:20)
06. Rejoice (03:46)
07. Pleasure (04:53)
08. Sleep Won't Help Me (05:11)
09. Where Are We Going Wrong (04:10)

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Ozzy Osbourne - The Essential Ozzy Osbourne 3.0 (3xCD) (2009)

Year: 2009; Recorded 1980-2007 (CD 2009)
Label: Epic Records / Legacy (U.S.), 88697 36836 2
Style: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Country: Marston Green, Warwickshire, England (3 December 1948)
Time: 77:59, 69:24, 26:08
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 559, 508, 192 Mb

The Essential Ozzy Osbourne is a compilation album by British heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released in 2003. It reached No. 81 on US charts and No. 21 in the UK. Tracks featured here from the first two albums are the re-recorded versions from recent reissues (see Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman) as well as the remixed Bark at the Moon tracks. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on 5 February 2005 with an excess of 500,000 copies sold, then certified Platinum by the RIAA on 3 March 2016. This compilation was re-released in 2009 as a Limited Edition 3.0 package with an additional disc of bonus songs that were not on the original release.
The album tracks from Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are from the 2002 remasters, for which they were partially re-recorded. The original drum and bass tracks were replaced with recordings by Osbourne's then-current bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Mike Bordin, as a management response to legal action by original bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake for unpaid royalty fees.
It does not feature any material from 1986's The Ultimate Sin.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Essential_Ozzy_Osbourne)

01. Crazy Train (04:50)
02. Mr. Crowley (04:55)
03. I Don't Know (Live with Randy Rhoads) (05:02)
04. Suicide Solution (04:18)
05. Goodbye To Romance (05:32)
06. Over The Mountain (04:32)
07. Flying High Again (04:38)
08. Diary Of A Madman (06:13)
09. Paranoid (Live with Randy Rhoads) (02:53)
10. Bark At The Moon (04:15)
11. You're No Different (05:49)
12. Rock 'n' Roll Rebel (05:22)
13. Crazy Babies (04:14)
14. Miracle Man (03:44)
15. Fire In The Sky (06:24)
16. Breakin' All The Rules (05:13)

01. Mama, I'm Coming Home (04:12)
02. Desire (05:46)
03. No More Tears (07:23)
04. Time After Time (04:20)
05. Road To Nowhere (05:09)
06. I Don't Want To Change The World (Live) (04:06)
07. Perry Mason (05:53)
08. I Just Want You (04:56)
09. Thunder Underground (06:28)
10. See You On The Other Side (06:10)
11. Gets Me Through (05:05)
12. Dreamer (04:45)
13. No Easy Way Out (05:06)

01. The Ultimate Sin (03:45)
02. Lightning Strikes (05:14)
03. That I Never Had (04:15)
04. I Don't Wanna Stop (04:01)
05. Black Rain (04:44)
06. Changes (with Kelly Osbourne) (04:06)

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Still Life - Still Life [Japan Edition] (1971)

Year: 1971 (CD 28 March 2001)
Label: Vertigo Records (Japan), UICY-9053
Style: Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: UK
Time: 41:40
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 261 Mb

Still Life was an English progressive rock band characterized by expert Hammond organ playing, intricate and original vocal harmonies, and an agile and precise rhythm section. They had one self-titled album that was originally released in 1971, and later re-released in 2003. The album credits kept an aura of mystery about their membership. Martin Cure, Graham Amos, Terry Howells and Alan Savage were actually involved.
Bassist Graham Amos and vocalist Martin Cure began their musical experience in 1963 in a Coventry based band called The Sabres. They later formed The Peeps in 1965. The other two members of the band were Roy Albrighton (guitar) and Paul Wilkinson (drums). The Peeps recorded five SPs for Philips Records (1966–68). In 1968, they recruited Terry Howells on organ (ex-Ray King Soul Band). Their drummer, P. Wilkinson, left the band in 1968 (he joined a band called Flying Machine). With a new drummer, Gordon Reed (ex-Vampires), the group's name was changed to Rainbows. They recorded two singles for CBS Records. The Rainbows also had some gigs in Hamburg, Germany, and when they were finished there their guitarist, R. Albrighton, decided to stay in Germany (later, he formed a band called Nektar). When Rainbows came back to England, Reed left the band. The three remaining musicians: Amos, Cure, and Howells, changed a band name to Still Life. Alan Savage was recruited at short notice prior to the new line-up recording their debut album. It was recorded at Nova Sound Recording Studios, near Marble Arch, London.
Savage was involved with the recording on the following dates: 1, 2, 5, 6 and 13 October 1970. The album was mixed on 26 October. Stephen Shane produced the album, which was released through Vertigo Records. The Allmusic journalist, Richie Unterberger, noted "The record was early organ-dominated progressive rock, its lyrical themes dwelling upon uneasy doubt and sadness, the melodies colored with the gothic classicism prevalent in much of the genre during the period". The band had a recording contract to produce six such albums, but they drifted apart.
Amos was living in England, but he died in June 2003. Howells now lives in Switzerland, and in April 2012 recorded a solo album, Tangerine Puddles. The album is solo piano, with all composition by Howells. Savage lives in Northampton, and still plays the drums. Martin Cure joined Cupid's Inspiration in 1971, and in 1980, he and his friends from Cupid's Inspiration formed a group called Chevy. In 1981, they had a record deal with Avatar Records and recorded one album and three singles. In 1983, Cure played with the group Red on Red. He now has his own PA company but still does occasional gigs with Cupid's Inspiration and The Rouges.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_Life_(1970s_UK_band))

01. People In Black (08:21)
02. Don't Go (04:37)
03. October Witches (08:05)
04. Love Song No. 6 (I'll Never Love You Girl) (06:37)
05. Dreams (07:33)
06. Time (06:25)

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Van Der Graaf Generator - Still Life (1976)

Year: 15 April 1976 (CD 1987)
Label: Charisma Records (UK), CASCD 1116
Style: Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Art Rock
Country: Manchester, England
Time: 44:56
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 259 Mb

In retrospect, it seems highly unlikely that one of the most respected British progressive rock bands of the 1970s would serve as an inspiration for the likes of the Sex Pistols' singer Johnny Rotten, but Van der Graaf Generator is unlike most bands in its category. Formed during the 1967 Summer of Love, the band broke up before recording their first album, but reunited as support musicians for a solo album by lead singer Peter Hammill. The result was an auspicious debut album that inaugurated the British progressive rock boom that included such bands as King Crimson; Yes; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; and Soft Machine. Van der Graaf Generator, however, possessed a sound that differed greatly from their guitar-based progressive rock progeny. Instead, their sound resembled more closely the art-rock experimentations of German bands Can, Faust, and Amon Duul II, with a decidedly more avant-garde orientation bolstered by the drumming of Guy Evans, the atmospheric organ playing of Hugh Banton, the addition of saxophone and flute player David Jackson after the first album, and the edgy vocals and cryptic yet disturbing lyrics of Hammill.
Van der Graaf Generator began as a trio featuring Manchester University students Hammill, drummer Chris "Judge" Smith, and organist Nick Pearne. Smith devised the original concept for the band after visiting the musically vibrant San Francisco of 1967. He gave the band its name from a device that creates static electricity, and drafted Pearne and Hammill as members. They recorded the single "The People You Were Going To" before going their separate ways. Hammill re-formed the group in 1968, with Smith moved to vocals and saxophone, Hugh Banton on organ, and Guy Evans on drums. Smith left before the band finished its debut album, and the band collapsed after his departure. Hammill soldiered on, determined to make a solo album with Banton and Evans. The trio drafted Keith Ellis on bass, recording what eventually became Van der Graaf Generator's first album, The Aerosol Grey Machine.
Once again, the band drifted into dissolution. "Peter was supposedly doing a solo album for Mercury," Evans told ZigZag magazine writer Andy Childs. "We ended up playing on it, and that really gave us the idea to get the band back together again. We decided we wanted another instrumentalist, we didn't know quite who, and were on the verge of getting Nic Potter in the band. Chris Smith had meanwhile formed a band called Heebalob which had Dave Jackson in it. That was just about to break up as we were getting back together, so we asked Dave to join us." For the group's sophomore effort, 1970's The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, Nic Potter replaced Ellis on bass, and Jackson was added on saxophone. The album produced the group's only legitimate single, "Refugees," an anthem similar to David Bowie's later single "Heroes," in that it called for an emotional connection between individuals on the brink of despair. According to a London International Times review quoted by Childs, "'Refugees' is without doubt one of the most emotive pieces of music ever recorded. It escalates from a patient opening through the vision of freedom the lyrics provide into a nostalgic finale that really is beautiful." The release established the band's subsequent sound and mood---vaguely apocalyptic lyrics with occult overtones sung in Hammill's distinctively anguished style, Banton's swirling organ fills, solid jazzy drumming, and a noticeable absence of lead guitar.
In 1970 the group also released its third album, H to He Who Am the Only One. Nic Potter had by now departed, and was replaced on the album by moonlighting King Crimson lead guitarist Robert Fripp. The album provided the impetus for the group to tour with their Charisma label mates Genesis, who were quickly ascending Great Britain's throne of progressive rock. Fripp also provided guest guitar responsibilities on the 1971 set Pawn Hearts. The album's release faced serious competition from the nearly simultaneous release of Hammill's solo release, Fool's Mate. Predictably, the band broke up before they could tour their latest effort. Hammill continued to employ Van der Graaf Generator personnel and road crew for his burgeoning solo career for the next four years. In the meantime, the group reformed without Hammill to record the instrumental The Long Hello.
In 1975 Hammill returned to the fold, and the group toured France and released Godbluff. The band continued its musical and lyrical explorations while dividing attention equally between the band's instrumental acuity and Hammill's charismatic performances. After two more albums, Still Life and World Record, Jackson and Banton left the group. Replacing them was violinist Graham Smith, who appeared on the group's 1977 release The Quiet Zone: The Pleasure Dome and on 1978's live album, Vital.
Although Van der Graaf Generator called it quits in 1978, public clamor for material continued unabated. For the most part, they were forced to content themselves with Hammill's solo releases. In 1993 a compilation album, I Prophesy Disaster, gathered together much of the group's finest early material. In 1994 a compact disc was released of the group's BBC Radio 1 sessions from the years 1971 through 1976, Maida Vale. The group reunited in the studio to record an unreleased Judge Smith concept album, tentatively titled Curly's Airships. They reunited for an encore at a 2003 Hammill concert. A heart attack suffered by Hammill later that year convinced the band that their opportunities for reuniting might be dwindling. In a press release on the band's website, Hammill explained: "I was getting constant offers regarding a reunion, including one from the South Bank. Until then I had never taken them seriously; but now it seemed as though there might be some interest. We talked and we realised that we met more often at the funerals of former members of our road crew. So if it was to be undertaken, it should be while all four of us were still alive!"
Hammill regrouped with Banton, Evans, and Jackson for the 2005 release Present. According to Uncut critic Nick Hasted, "They sound eerily similar to the last time this quartet recorded, in 1976; this isn't their crunk record. Instead it's a restatement of old strengths, and far from quaint." The double album featured one album of new songs and another of improvisations. The latter album, according to Hasted, "fulfills its function as a once-only insight into the band's inner workings. Not yet quite reaching peak wattage, it's still a worthy return from these peerless English dreamers."
by Bruce Walker (musicianguide.com/biographies/1608004757/Van-der-Graaf-Generator.html)

01. Pilgrims (07:12)
02. Still Life (07:24)
03. La Rossa (09:52)
04. My Room (Waiting For Wonderland) (08:02)
05. Childlike Faith In Childhood's End (12:24)

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Joe Walsh And The James Gang - The Best Of Joe Walsh And The James Gang 1969 - 1974 (1997)

Year: 1969 - 1974 (CD 1997)
Label: Spectrum Music (UK), HMNCD 007
Style: Rock, Hard Rock, Funk Rock
Country: Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Time: 77:24
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 463 Mb

Formation of James Gang
In Cleveland, Ohio, the James Gang was formed with founding members Jim Fox (drums), Tom Kriss (bass), Ronnie Silverman (guitars), Phil Giallombardo (keyboards) and Greg Grandillo (guitars). Grandillo was immediately replaced by Dennis Chandler, who was then also replaced by Glen Schwartz who happened to be Fox’s and Kriss’ schoolmate at Kent State University.
However, Schwartz left the band as he moved to California and formed Pacific Gas & Electric. Joe Walsh came along to replace him. Giallombardo also quit, rendering the James Gang to a quartet. But in 1968, Silverman left the band too, leaving only Walsh, Kriss and Fox.
The trio released their first album Yer’ Album in March 1969; despite not yielding any hits, the album nevertheless had a crack on the Top 100 albums at #83. Before the group went to the studios to record their second album, Kriss left. He was replaced by another bassist Dale Peters. Peters’ inclusion would prove the group’s classic lineup.
The newly revamped group released their second album James Gang Rides Againin the summer of 1970; its single “Funk #49” reached #59 on the Hot 100. The track would become one of rock’s finest tunes, highlighted by Walsh’s extraordinary riffs. The album itself would also become one of the most revered rock classics. James Gang opened for the Who in their UK tour; the Who’s Pete Townshend, in fact, became a fan of Walsh’s guitar work.
The trio also released Thirds (1971) — which yielded their highest-charting single, “Walk Away” at #51 on the Hot 100 — and the live album James Gang Live In Concert (late 1971).
Walsh left the group in 1971 to form his own group Barnstorm. He then later joined The Eagles, who would go on to become one of the biggest bands of the decade.


James Gang after Joe Walsh’s departure
Despite Walsh’s absence, Fox and Peters were still determined to keep the group going. They hired new members Roy Kenner (vocals) and Domenic Troiano (guitar), expanding James Gang into a quartet. Despite their successive 1972 releases Straight Shooter and Passin’ Thru, the group had been obviously struggling since Walsh’s departure. Troiano left to join another group The Guess Who, and was replaced by Tommy Bolin, formerly of Zephyr. Bolin was already a popular figure as a guitarist, and he proved to be an exceptional songwriter as well. His presence injected some fresh perspective into the band. With Bolin, James Gang released two underrated LP’s Bang! (1973) and Miami (1974). Following the album’s release however, Bolin quit. He pursued a solo career as well as played for Deep Purple before dying in 1976 of substance abuse. He was only 25 years old.
Despite the situation James Gang was going through, Fox and Peters tried one more time to resurrect the group. They recruited Bubba Keith (vocals) and Richard Shack (guitars). With the new lineup, James Gang released another LP New Bornin 1975 and 1976’s Jesse Come Home before finally calling it quits for good the following year.
(mentalitch.com/history-of-james-gang/)

01. Funk No. 48 (02:48)
02. Collage (03:58)
03. Take A Look Around (05:54)
04. The Bomber (07:03)
05. Funk No. 49 (03:53)
06. Tend My Garden (05:29)
07. Ashes, The Rain And I (04:52)
08. Walk Away (03:35)
09. Midnight Man (03:28)
10. Yadig (02:33)
11. Mother Says (05:54)
12. Comin' Down (01:54)
13. Here We Go (04:59)
14. Rocky Mountain Way (05:16)
15. Bookends (02:46)
16. Meadows (04:39)
17. Turn To Stone (03:50)
18. Time Out (04:25)

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