NORMS BLOG

New Leonard Cohen Album - Full Stream of Old Idea

2012-01-23T22:50:00.002Z

Enjoy!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/jan/23/leonard-cohen-old-ideas-stream?cid=nl%3A192714861&utm_medium=email&utm_source=canada-leonardcohen&utm_campaign=email-canada-leonardcohen-20120123-nl192714861&utm_content=nllink-b7ce3fe-Click%20here%20to%20listen

Leonard Cohen - Show Me The Place

2012-01-19T20:51:00.002Z

The Master!!

http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F28353367&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=d32725</a>" frameborder="0" >

New Springsteen Album - Wrecking Ball

2012-01-19T10:38:00.000Z

The new album is to be released on 6 March. The album is titled Wrecking ball and is produced by Ron Anielo.

Track Listing:

1. "We Take Care of Our Own" 3:53

2. "Easy Money"

3. "Shackled and Down"

4. "Jack of All Trades"

5. "Death to My Hometown"

6. "This Depression"

7. "Wrecking Ball"

8. "You've Got It"

9. "Rocky Ground"

10. "Land of Hope And Dreams"

11. "We Are Alive"

12. "Swallowed Up" (iTunes Bonus track)

13. "American Land" (iTunes Bonus track)

New Springsteen single - We Take Care Of our Own

2012-01-18T23:45:00.004Z

Released 19 January!

First mini listen here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Z20EXK/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_alp_LEWfpb009B6VP
Update to follow

New Springsteen Album

2012-01-14T11:58:00.000Z

Well the very first sketchy details sneak out:

"He gets into economic justice quite a bit,” says an earwitness who's heard some of the music. "It’s very rock and roll."

Bruce Springsteen is gearing up to release a new album with the E Street Band -- his 24th -- and a source tells the Hollywood Reporter it’s The Boss’ “angriest” yet.

“He gets into economic justice quite a bit,” says an earwitness who’s heard some of the music. “It’s very rock’n’roll. He feels it's the angriest album he's ever made. Bear in mind, though, that [Springsteen] wrote and recorded the majority of the album before the Occupy movements started, so he's not just setting headlines to music.”

Produced by Ron Aniello (Patti Scialfa, Jars of Clay), the album, which was recently played for label execs, is described as veering into “unexpected textures -- loops, electronic percussion… an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms.” The as-yet-untitled effort is said to be “terrific.”

While no release date has been set, Springsteen is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the music conference portion of South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 15, fueling speculation that an album may coincide with the appearance. The boss and the E Street Band, who lost two members in 2011, Danny Federici and legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, have also announced a round of UK tour dates set for June.

Tom Petty European Tour 2012

2011-12-07T03:12:00.001Z

Well it looks like at long alst a welcome return to European Shores for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers with the exciting news that the band are to haedline at The Isle of Wight Festival.

I will keep an eye on any additional dates!

And here they are. Not so good I am afraid and I can only hope the gap in the schedule (15th - 22nd)get filled up pronto with some UK dates (i.e Scotland):

April 19: 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

April 21: Verizon Arena, Little Rock, AR

April 24: Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM

April 26: INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

April 28: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA

April 29: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA

May 1: Germain Arena, Estero, FL

May 3: Amway Center, Orlando, FL

May 5: Frank Irwin Center, Austin, TX

June 3: Mile One Centre, St. John's, NL

June 7: 02 Arena, Dublin, IR

June 8: The Marquee, Cork, IR

June 10: 02 World, Hamburg, GER

June 12: Open Air, Horsens, DK

June 14: The Globe, Stockholm, SWE

June 15: Norwegian Wood Festival, Oslo, NOR

June 22: Isle of Wight Festival, UK

June 24: Hallenstadion, Zurich, SWI

June 25: Lanxess Arena, Cologne, GER

June 27: Grand Rex, Paris, FR

June 29: Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, IT

June 30: SAP Arena, Mannheim, GER

Thanks for nothing Letterman!!

2011-12-06T03:36:00.000Z

Live streaming of Ryan Adams from thge Ed Sullivan theatre not allowed in my country. Another sleepless night wasted! Ryan Adams in Edinburgh was one of the best gigs in many a long time and if you get the chance to catch him on his January 2012 US Dates do not miss him...

Well here is a great clip anyway fom the Live At Abbey Road Sessions:

http://youtu.be/ix9g-yW7sCo

Celtic Connections 2012

2011-12-06T03:14:00.001Z

A somewhat belated link to this years Celtic Connections Festival. Have to admit not quite as much grabbing my, or Michaels, attention as in previous years. But there is always someone who you will want to see. Anyway here is the link and a couple of clips of acts that I will see:

http://www.celticconnections.com/

Firstly a very welcome return for Steven Lindsay and The Big Dish. This promises to be a real highlight of the Festival and I would expect you need to get your tickets quickly:

http://youtu.be/SY7ylNTiqRQ

Justin Currie

Billed as a co-headling show with Naomi Bedford readers of this psace will know that any Justin Currie show is a must. Intimate venie I am betting on an acoustic show, hopefully with a couple of new tracks.

http://youtu.be/OVduFCBkfuM

and a terrible audience clip of a great song which I hope he keeps in the set:

http://youtu.be/5gI8owIXtF8

Is There Anybody Alive Out There!

2011-12-05T20:19:00.000Z

Well I am still alive...thankfully, but not had time to update this little corner of the globe!

However the announcement of the upcoming Springsteen Tour has given me some fresh incentive. If you are a European fan chances are The E Street Band are popping bye not too far away from you. As of to days date here is the full list of confirmed shows:

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S 2012 TOUR DATES:

Date	City	Venue	On Sale
13 May	Sevilla	Estadio Olimpico	14 Dec
17 May	Barcelona	Estadio Olimpico Lluis	On Sale
25 May	Frankfurt	Commerzbank Arena	On Sale
27 May	Cologne	Energie Stadion	On Sale
28 May	Landgraf	Pink Pop	3 Mar
30 May	Berlin	Olympia Stadion	On Sale
2 June	San Sebastian	Estadio Anoeta	On Sale
3 June	Lisbon	Rock in Lisbon	On Sale
7 June	Milan	Stadio Meaza	On Sale
10 June	Florence	Stadio Francesco	On Sale
11 June	Trieste	Stadio Trieste	On Sale
17 June	Madrid	Estadio Santago Bernabu	On Sale
19 June	Montpellier	Park & Suites Arena	On Sale
21 June	Sunderland	Stadium of Light	On Sale
22 June	Manchester	Etihad Stadium	On Sale
24 June	Isle of Wight	Isle Of Wight Festival	On Sale
4 July	Paris	Bercy	On Sale
5 July	Paris	Bercy	On Sale
7 July	Roskilde	Roskilde Festival	On Sale
9 July	Zurich	Stadium Letzigrund	On Sale
11 July	Prague	Synot Tip Arena	On Sale
12 July	Vienna	Ernst Happel Stadium	On Sale
14 July	London	Hard Rock Calling	On Sale
17 July	Dublin	RDS	On Sale
18 July	Dublin	RDS	On Sale
21 July	Oslo	Valle Hoven	On Sale
23 July	Bergen	Koegen	On Sale
24 July	Bergen	Koegen	On Sale
27 July	Gothenberg	Ullevi	On Sale
28 July	Gothenberg	Ullevi	On Sale

Remembering Brave Men and Women

2011-11-11T18:28:00.001Z

From all classes, all divides, all nations.

Forgotten Album Friday #23 - Marianne Faithful A Childs Adventure

2011-08-19T16:03:00.000+01:00

When Marianne Faithfull released her comeback album, "Broken English", in 1979, it was widely received by the buying public and critically acclaimed as a "masterpiece". She followed that up in 1981 with "Dangerous Acquaintences" which, though not quite on the par of "Broken English", was deemed an excellent piece of music and a natural follow-up to "Broken English".

Then, in 1983, Marianne released "A Child's Adventure". Of the same musical vein and mold as "Broken English" and "Dangerous Acquaintences" these three albums are often referred to as her "Trilogy". After "A Child's Adventure", Marianne has changed musical directions several times. "A Child's Adventure" is another excellent piece of work from Marianne Faithfull.

It starts off with "Times Square", a true MF classic. The bluesy "The Blue Millionaire" is somewhat of a departure for Marianne, at least up to that point, and gives credence to Marianne as a great musical stylist. "Falling From Grace" is an excellent autobiograpical song about her drug problems/bust. The poignant "Morning Come" and "Ashes In My Hand" shows, once again, the depth of her musical range and style. "Running For Our Lives" is another MF classic and is in close running with "Times Square" as my personal favorite from the CD. Marianne Faithfull is a uniquely gifted and talented artist and song stylist.

One listen to "A Child's Adventure" and the other albums that make up her "Trilogy", and you will see for yourself. The music of Marianne Faithfull is a wonderfully diverse tapestry of folk, pop, rock, punk, show tunes, and cabaret. This one may not be "Broken English", but it is Marianne. Excellent music from a truly great artist!

Key Tracks:

Times Square
Falling From Grace
Running For Our Lives

Thanks to C60!

Achtung!

2011-08-18T05:39:00.000+01:00

U2 fans get your cash out!

Five physical editions of the anniversary edition of Achtung Baby will be available alongside digital only editions.

1. A limited, numbered Uber Deluxe Edition is a magnetic puzzle tiled box which will contain: 6 CDs including the original Achtung Baby album, the follow-up album, Zooropa, B-sides, remixes and re-workings of previously unheard material recorded during the Achtung Baby sessions. 4 DVDs including 'From The Sky Down', 'Zoo TV:Live From Sydney', all the videos from Achtung Baby plus bonus material. There will also be the Achtung Baby double vinyl album plus 5 clear 7" vinyl singles in their original sleeves, 16 art prints taken from the original album sleeve, an 84-page hardback book, a copy of Propaganda magazine, 4 badges, a sticker sheet, and a pair of Bono’s trademark 'The Fly' sunglasses.

2. The Super Deluxe Edition will contain the 6CDs and 4 DVDs, in addition to a 92 page hardback book and 16 art prints in a wallet.

3. The Vinyl Box Set is a limited release containing 4 LPs, two of which are pressed on translucent blue vinyl containing remixes and B-sides. The box includes a 16 page booklet.

4. The Deluxe Edition is a 2xCD set containing the reissue of the original album plus B-sides and rarities.

5. The Standard CD is the original album.

Bob Seger Live Tour Dates and Re-Issues

2011-08-18T05:35:00.000+01:00

Good news that at long last a decent re-issue programme of Bob Seger's long unavailable CD's is about to start with the two live albums being re-released. Not much in the way of additional track sadly but it will be good to see his material available again, I hope the trest of the albums follow quickly.

"Live Bullet," which was recorded in September 1975 at Cobo Hall and released in '76, has 14 numbers including "Katmandu" and "Turn the Page." Its bonus is a live recording of "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home" from the June 1976 concert at the Silverdome (then called Pontiac Stadium). "Nine Tonight," released in 1981, was recorded in Detroit and the Boston Garden. Among its 16 tracks: "Old Time Rock and Roll"; the live bonus track is "Brave Strangers."

He is about to announce a further USA Leg of his 2011 Tour (1 date confirmed at the time of posting) so fingers are crossed for some Europe dates.

New Ryan Adams Lp - Ashes and Fire

2011-08-14T14:16:00.000+01:00

Delighted to hear that Ryan Adams seems to be back on form!

I quote!

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

New Album Out October 11 on PAX-AM/Capitol

Ryan Adams will release his new album Ashes & Fire October 11 on PAX-AM/Capitol in the U.S. Adams’ first solo album to be released via a new U.S. arrangement with his own PAX-AM label and EMI’s Capitol in the U.S. and Canada, the album was recorded at Sunset Sound Factory in Hollywood and produced by Glyn Johns, renowned for his work with the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Who and The Rolling Stones–and whose son Ethan produced previous Ryan Adams albums Heartbreaker, Gold and 29.

Ashes & Fire also features guest turns from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench as well as Norah Jones who contributes piano and backing vocals on several tracks.

The full tracklisting for Ashes & Fire is:

Dirty Rain

Ashes & Fire

Come Home

Rocks

Do I Wait

Chains Of Love

Invisible Riverside

Save Me

Kindness

Lucky Now

I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say

Bob and Knopfler At Braehead

2011-07-16T21:03:00.000+01:00

I really do not know wether to laugh or cry at the news that:

"In a coming together of two of the greatest living songwriters, Mark and his band will be joining Bob Dylan for a series of shows around England and Europe this autumn.

Both artists will be taking a coterie of their own musicians and as usual Mark has assembled a group of players who are the best in their field. The band will consist of Richard Bennett on guitar, Guy Fletcher on keyboards, Jim Cox on piano, John McCusker on violin & cittern, Mike McGoldrick on flute, whistle & pipes, Glenn Worf on bass and Ian Thomas on drums.
Mark has taken a break from recording his next album in order to participate in what is likely to be the must see show of the year. Mark's association with Dylan dates back to 1979 when he played on Dylan's Slow Train Coming Sessions and then produced Bob's acclaimed 1983 release Infidels.
Mark says, "I'm much looking forward to going out on the road with Bob in such a special year. Also, it was an honour to be asked to record one of Bob's songs on the forthcoming Amnesty International 50th anniversary album to mark his 70th birthday"

Anyway all this takes place in a venue WORSE!!! than the SECC at Braehead Arena. 8/9th October, tickets on sale at usual outlets.

You pay your money you take your chances as always with Bob.....see you there..

Forgotten Album Friday #22 - Dave Edmunds

2011-07-15T16:35:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the lack of meaningful updates but hopefully this great lp from Dave Edmunds gets me back into the way of things!

The lp is pretty much what you would expect from Dave Edmunds with some classic rockers together with some new material notably from future producer Nick Lowe. Backed by Rockpile the playing and production are exemplary and there really is not a bad track on the lp.

The first of four cracking lp's on the Swan Song label the standout tracks are:

I Knew The Bride
Crawling From The Wreckage
Back To School Days
Get Out Of Denver

John Mellencamp - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

2011-07-04T23:42:00.000+01:00

Word is that we have been waiting 25 yeras for a John Mellencamp gig in Scotland.

I am not sure if that is qute correct but he delivered an outstanding set last night at the GRCH. The set list was roughly:

1.Authority Song

2.No One Cares About Me
3.Death Letter
4.John Cockers
5.Walk Tall
6.The West End
7.Check It Out

8.Save Some Time To Dream
9.Cherry Bomb
10.Don't Need This Body
11.Longest Days
12.Jackie Brown
13.Easter Eve
14.Jack & Diane
15.Small Town
16.Rain on the Scarecrow
17.Paper in Fire

18.Crumblin' Down
19.If I Die Sudden

20.Pink Houses

21.R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. With guest vovalist!

Gene Clark Re-Issue : Two Sides To Every Story

2011-07-04T23:34:00.000+01:00

Great news that at long last, on August 30th the long out-of-print Gene Clark lp Two Sides To Every Store is hitting shelves again with bonus material, previously unseen photos and new liner notes. The disc features contributions from guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and backing vocals by Emmylou Harris.

k d lang live at Radio 2 Video Clip

2011-04-26T23:30:00.000+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gj2kj

What a treat - enjoy.

I Confess

Helpless

A Sleep With No Dreaming

Hallelujah

The Water's Edge

Matte Kudasai

Perfect World

Western Stars

Habit Of Mind

Heaven

Reminiscing

Constant Craving

Record Store Day 2011 - Massive Brooce Miss-spell!

2011-04-22T18:15:00.000+01:00

Racing In The Sreet! Imagine that I didnt notice!

Anyway I queued from 7:30am and the haul included

The Brooooce 10"

Badlands 10" single of Springsteen Covers (Willie Nile, Danny & The Champions, The Magic Numbers, Billy Franks)

Dylan 7" with Ting Tings remix of subbteranean homesick blues

Queen 7" Stormtroopers In Stilletos

Steve Earle 7" I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

Villagers Live lp

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - 2 x 7"

Dangermouse 7" feat Norah Jones

AC/Dc Live 7"

New Josh Ritter Live lp

2011-04-04T19:00:00.001+01:00

A special release of Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Live at The Iveagh Gardens in Dublin will be available at his forthcoming European Tour. Over a rainy evening last July the wonderful Iveagh Gardens in Dublin City Centre played host to it’s first ever series of music shows and Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band were lucky enough to play the first ever rock show at the venue on Sunday 18th July.

THIS IS A EUROPEAN-ONLY RELEASE! US RELEASE COMING SOON.

This limited edition 2xCD & 1DVD set will be available at Josh’s April Irish shows on 13th (Belfast) and 15th & 16th (Vicar Street, Dublin) and in a limited number of shops/venues for Record Store Day on Saturday 16th April.

Live At The Iveagh Gardens tracklisting:

CD Disc 1

1. Moon River

2. Lantern

3. Minds Eye

4. Right Moves

5. Southern Pacifica

6. Rattling Locks

7. Rumors

8. Bright Smile

9. Lillian Egypt

10.The Curse

11. Lark

12. Long Shadows

CD Disc 2

1. Roll On

2. Me & Jiggs

3. Kathleen

4. Change Of Time

5. Remnant

6. Harrisburg

7. To The Dogs (Or Whoever)

8. Snow Is Gone

9. Wait For Love

DVD

1. Moon River

2. Lantern

3. Minds Eye

4. Right Moves

5. Southern Pacifica

6. Rattling Locks

7. Rumors

8. Bright Smile

9. Lillian Egypt

10.The Curse

11. Lark

12. Long Shadows

13. Me & Jiggs

14. Roll On

15. Kathleen

16. Change Of Time

17. Remnant

18. Harrisburg

19. To The Dogs (Or Whoever)

20. Snow Is Gone

21. Wait For Love

Jayhawks - Oran Mor!!! Wednesday 3rd August 2011

2011-03-30T21:25:00.000+01:00

The Jayhawks were definitely swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minneapolis music scene halfway through the 1980s - a memorable decade that saw the likes of the Replacements, Soul Asylum, Husker Du and Prince put Minnesota on the musical map in a big way. Forging a rootsy sound that wasn't quite rock or country - "Hank Williams on speed" somebody once memorably called it - The Jayhawks quickly turned into one of the most important bands of the post-punk era. Over the course of two decades, several albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while wining the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. Named after "The Hawks" - as in "Levon and the Hawks," the name of Dylan's backing band in the 60s before they became known as "The Band" - The Jayhawks and their fellow travelers even helped make the world safe again for artists who weren't afraid to fuse traditional rock, country and folk influences into something that was both timeless and modern, just like the best American bands always have, and now they're back with their famous, original line up!

The Bible - Glasgow Show late Sept!

2011-03-29T23:17:00.000+01:00

Thats it really. Great news as far I am concerned!!

Hey Boo looks about 14!!

Forthcoming Stevie Nicks Album In Your Dreams

2011-03-26T13:24:00.000Z

Ok she is not fashionable but I think her new lp is going to be a cracker. The Dave Stewart production and writing help is just what she needs to lkick start her solo career again.

Forgotten Album Friday #21 - Gary U.S Bonds On The Line

2011-03-25T15:03:00.000Z

As Broooce has dusted off an overlooked gem from his Darkness sessions, Rendezvous, it is time to remind ourselves of the first official release of this track, and the album On The Line.

This is the second album of Gary US Bonds that Springsteen was involved with, Dedication preceding it, and this time Springsteen provides most of the songs and shares production duties with Miami Steve Van Zandt. The album is basically Gary US Bonds and the E Street band and well worth seeking out.

The album has a much more soulful feel to it and there are several standout tracks including Rendezvous,
Out Of Work and a cracking version of Soul Deep.

Key tracks:

Club Soul City

Soul Deep

Love's On The Line

Rendezvous

Forgotten Album Friday #20 - Lou Reed & John Cale Songs For Drella

2011-03-18T19:16:00.001Z

Songs for Drella (1990) remains a highlight in both Cale and Reed's lengthy careers- it forms part of Reed's strongest trilogy of albums since the Velvets demise (the others being New York, 1988 & Magic&Loss, 1992) Reed & Cale had infamously fallen out when in The Velvet Underground & had not worked together since- this collaboration, along with Moe Tucker's contribution to New York, would lead to the VU temporarily reforming (the resulting live album containing some wonderful takes on classics like Beginning to See the Light & Femme Fatale).

Songs for Drella is one based around a limited musical soundscape (Reed on Vocals/Guitar; Cale on keyboards/vocals/viola) & one that has a sense of improvisation. It was a work primarily written for performance- like Tom Waits recent Alice/Blood Money setz- so perhaps some of the songs are more theatrical than melodic; but I like the whole journey around a fictional take on Warhol's life from people who were once close to him...(the final track on New York leads here...)

The tracks with Cale on lead vocals stand out- Style It Takes (wonderfully performed on Fragments for a Rainy Season),Trouble with Classicists (great guitar from Reed), A Dream & (especially) Forever Changed stand out. Reed also gets to sing some great songs- the amusing Smalltown, the ethos of Work (up there with There is No Time), the spleen-venting I Believe (Valerie Solanis surfacing...) & especially the touching Hello It's Me- which shows that its possible to continue discourse with the dead: "I know it's late in coming but it's the only way I know/Hello it's me- goodnight Andy.../Goodbye Andy"-

Key tracks:

Smalltown

Style It takes

Work

Trouble With Classisiscts

Hello it's Me

New k d lang album

2011-03-17T14:29:00.001Z

Nonesuch Records will release k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang's Sing it Loud on April 12, 2011. Produced by lang and Joe Pisapia, it is the award-winning singer-songwriter's first record made entirely with a band of her own since the pair of albums with the Reclines that launched her groundbreaking career over 20 years ago.

This collection of songs reflects the organic, collaborative nature of the sessions, which took place at Pisapia's Middletree Studios in Nashville. Many of the songs were recorded live in the studio and that energy is palpable. The lead single "I Confess" is one of three songs lang penned with keyboardist Daniel Clarke and Joshua Grange, who plays baritone guitar and dobro. In addition to the original material, Sing it Loud includes a striking version of Talking Heads' "Heaven". Pisapia, who plays numerous instruments and serves as the band's musical director, contributed the title track and co-wrote five songs with lang. Bassist Lex Price (Mindy Smith, Peter Bradley Adams) and drummer/percussionist Fred Eltringham (The Wallflowers) complete the lineup.

Beginning today, fans that sign up for lang's newsletter at www.kdlang.com will receive a free download of "Perfect Word" a track from the new album. Pre-orders of Sing it Loud begin on February 7 on kdlang.com and nonesuch.com and include a manuscript lyric sheet, a limited number of which will be signed by k.d. (The version of the album available from those sites includes four additional tracks.) Sing it Loud is lang's first studio album since 2008's Watershed, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. In 2010, she marked the 25th anniversary of her recording debut with

Bob Seger | Official Site | News > Downtown Train

2011-03-15T12:31:00.000Z

Bob Seger Official Site News > Downtown Train

Record Store Day 2011. Exclusive Springsteen release!

2011-03-14T22:42:00.000Z

Set your alarm clock! 16th April is record store day and as usual The Boss is setting up proceedings with an exclusive release ten-inch featuring two live tracks from the December 2010 carousel performance -- the first and only live performance of these songs to date -- "Gotta Get That Feeling" and "Racing in the Street ('78)." The record will come in a picture sleeve featuring a historical shot from when the carousel itself was up and running in Asbury Park.

Like last year I warned it could be a US only release but lets hope not!

Roxy Music - Glasgow Second Night

2011-01-29T08:53:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to get more or less front row tickets for the second night in Glasgow of Roxy Musics For Your Pleasure Tour.

I was not quite sure how good this gig would be but have to say the whole show was simply outstanding. The band were absolutely superb, Ferry is certainly wearing well and Manzanera and McKay showed what outstanding musicians they are.

A strong set list drawing on less obvious material and a good smattering of the hits. I even enjoyed Jealous Guy which normally makes my skin crawl.

The set list:

The Main Thing
Street Life
Pyjamarama
If There Is Something
Prairie Rose
Just Like You
Amazona
2HB
Like A Hurricane
Tara
Bitter Sweet
Sentimental Fool
To Turn You On
Same Old Scene
My Only Love
Avalon
Jealous Guy
Virginia Plain
Love Is The Drug
Editions Of You
Do The Strand
For Your Pleasure

Teddy Thompson - Glasgow, Archers

2011-01-29T08:40:00.000Z

I have to say this was a very dissapointing gig. The set was very short at just over an hour, the sound was very poor and the audience somewhat underwhelmed I a sad to say. Teddy drew mainly from his as yet unreleased album and of that material only two tracks stood out.

I hope his tour imroves as he gets into it for future audiences....not least those in Inverness!

Forever Young - Celtic Connections Dylan 70th Birthday Tribute

2011-01-25T16:34:00.004Z

Borrowing from the official Celtic Connections blurb:

Robert Allen Zimmerman turns 70 on May 24th 2011, a landmark birthday sure to be celebrated with many a memorable musical party. To kick off the festivities, Celtic Connections has assembled an aptly diverse Scottish and international cast of Dylan devotees, including Tim O’Brien, Josh Rouse, Rosanne Cash, Thea Gilmore, Laura Cantrell, James Grant, Kris Drever, Rab Noakes and Gemma Hayes, with Glasgow’s own Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire as house band for the evening. As well as featuring the singers’ pick of Dylan favourites, the show also highlights the strong Scottish influence over this uniquely seminal artist’s vast and varied oeuvre, in his adaptations and reinventions of such classic traditional ballads as Tramps and Hawkers (’I Pity the Poor Immigrant’), The Bonnie Lass O’ Fyvie (’Pretty Peggy’) and Lord Randall (’A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’).

Well I am pleased to say that in my view this concert was absolutely superb. The house band of Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire were absolutely fantastic and did not put a foot wrong, clearly incredibly well rehearsed and also clearly loving playing both the material and enjoying the opportunity to play with the other artists. James Grant was again in just superb form and it was fantastic to hear Roseanne Cash perform this material.

The highlights for me included:

Roddy Hart - Not Dark Yet
Rab Noakes - Mississippi and Absolutely Sweet Marie
James Grant and Nell Bryden - All Along The Watchtower
Josh Rouse - The Man In Me
James Grant - Simple Twist Of fate
Roseanne Cash - My Back Pages
Ensemble - Like A Rolling Stone

Full set list:

Celtic Connections - Justin Currie ABC

2011-01-25T12:45:00.001Z

Another great gig on Friday 21st at Glasgow ABC where Justin Currie was the headline act.

Fronting a full band Justin was in absolutely superb form and performed the majority of the new album The Great War and a healthy smattering of classic Del Amitri Tracks. A very minor grumble from me was the lack of material from the first solo album with the exception of No, Surrender.

Hopefully someone will post some clips that I can link to, in the meantime an approximation of the set list:

Ready To Be
Cant let Go Of Her Now
Just Like A Man
As Long As You Don't Come Back
Anywhere I'm Away From You
If I Want You
At Home inside of me
Always The Last To Know
Sleep Instead Of Teardrops (new song?)
A man With Nothing To Do
Everyone I Love
Move away Jimmy Blue
Not Where it's At
The Fight To Be human

Encore:

Here And Now
Ain't I A Lucky Guy (new song?)
No, Surrender
Be My Downfall

And a correction! Thanks to "Anonymous" Nothing Ever Happens was played after No, Surrender. many thanks!

New Stevie Nicks Album - In Your Dreams

2011-01-19T16:46:00.000Z

Not sure if I am excited about this or not, but produced at least partly by David a Stewart who can be involved in some pretty interesting stuff.

Due out 3 May, preview track here:

http://stevienicks.warnerreprise.com/

Love and Money, Celtic Connections, Love & Money

2011-01-19T09:50:00.002Z

Love and Money performed a sell out one off reunion show at GRCH on Sunday night and we were lucky enough to have superb seats. I have tried to track down a recent review but without luck....someone has posted this clip on youtube and I hope they don't mind me including it here.

The setlist was :

My Love Lives in a Dead House
Sometimes I Want to Give Up
Cheap Pearls
Pappa Death
Johnny's Not Here
Whisky Dream
Lips Like Ether
Looking for Angeline
You're Not The Only One
Winter

Razorsedge
Axis of Love
Walk the Last Mile
Inflammable
Jocelyn Square
Shape of Things to Come
Strange Kind of Love
Avalanche
Scapegoat
Up Escalator (with Graeme Skinner)
Hallelujah Man (with Graeme Skinner)

Candybar Express (with Graeme Skinner)

Teddy Thompson Bella

2011-01-14T15:45:00.000Z

Teddy's new album is just around the corner with a 8 February release date for Bella. The lead single is an excellent track and if it is a taster of the album it looks like another great album:

Track listing:

1. Looking For A Girl - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson

2. Delilah - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

3. I Feel - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris, Richard Thompson

4. Over and Over - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

5. Take Me Back Again - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Jim Scott, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

6. Tell Me What You Want - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris, Jenni Muldaur

7. Home - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

8. The Next One - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

9. Take Care Of Yourself - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Jim Scott, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

10. The One I Can t Have - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris

11. Gotta Have Someone - David Kahne, Teddy Thompson, Roy Hendrickson, Fernando Lodeiro, Ethan Eubanks, Jeff Hill, Daniel Mintseris, Richard Thompson

Love and Money, Celtic Connections, Love & Money

2011-01-14T14:47:00.001Z

Love & Money announced they are to reform for one night only at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections 2011. They will play the albums Strange Kind of Love and Dogs in the Traffic in their entirety and I am really looking forward to the gig. Last time I saw them I am sure it was in the Pavilion - a long time ago!

Blog Update

2011-01-14T14:44:00.000Z

It has been a quiet spell for the Blog, not much new music news over the festive period. Hopefully things will start to pick up a bit with some promising new albums on the horizon together with some forthcoming gigs as part of Celtic Connections!

Forgotten Album Friday #19 - Maria McKee

2010-12-17T16:14:00.001Z

Universitry days and Lone Justice / Maria McKee provide the happiest of memories, of a new friendhip which would prove to be the longest lasting, a great gig in the QMU whetre Maria and the boys provide a blsitering set with a great cover of Sweet Jane.

A couple of years on and Maria chucks the band and release a superb solo album which is really an extension of the sound and sensibility of Lone Justic, horridly overproduced by Mitchell Froom.....who was everwhere at the time. Great songs though and very much overlooked....great amazon review here:

This album did not change the world. This album did not change my life; it is unlikely to change yours... but you may feel empathy, you may feel heartsick, you may feel like you've been put through an emotional grider, you may feel giddy at the anthemic swoops of 'Panic Beach', you may sense the fragility portrayed by the singer. This is not an album that is best judged by 30 second clips or one straight listen. Take time to get to know it, let it into your soul. 'I've Forgotten...' is a nice reversal of the more common cry from a lover who feels their partner has lost passion - here it is the singer that has lost the feeling... "Oh honey please don't cry, I'm sorry and ashamed" is a pitiful admission that more of us can relate to than would admit. 'To Miss Someone' is lyrically along the lines of 10cc's 'I'm Not In Love' but admits more vulnerability, and has been covered by Feargal Sharkey (Maria wrote his UK number one, too). The next track was covered by The Dixie Chicks, but try not to let that put you off, a cry from the lonely and rejected - "I'm smothered by this emptiness". 'Nobody's Child', co-written by Robbie Robertson puts in an appearance before the glorious epic of struggling performers that is 'Panic Beach'. The album then falls away to merely very good until the exquisite love song, 'Breathe'..."I was scared when you came into my room, the walls became the sea, your voice was the moon"... pause to visualise it. The album originally ended with a Richard Thompson number to which Maria's voice is well-suited, but in the days of adding tracks to make you buy the CD format 'Drinkin' In My Sunday Dress' was added; very good as such added tracks go, but programme your CD player to move it to the middle of the album! This a great album from a singer-songwriter who seemed to be at the peak of her powers, although if you like your music loud try a later album.

Later Show Me Heaven and A Good Heart was written about The Heartbreakers Benmomt Tench who quickly replies with You Little Thief, both classic singles performed by Mr F Sharkey....and soon Ricky Ross was intoning that Maria was a Real Gone Kid!

Key Tracks

I've Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put The Need In Me)
Am I The Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)
Panic Beach
Has He Got A Friend For Me?

Springsteen Webcast

2010-12-15T02:42:00.003Z

I understand that the live film of songs fronm the Promise recorded on the Asbury Park Boardwalk a week or so ago will be broadcast this week.....keep your eyes peeled for information!

Now available here. onl;y 5 trackls, I assume more will be made available at some point:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/dec/15/bruce-springsteen-the-promise

Even if you are Brandon Flowers - what else you gonna play in the Stone Pony

2010-12-02T19:00:00.000Z

Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

2010-12-02T04:17:00.000Z

I have got a serious backlog of cd's to catch up on, including American Slang.

I think the Gasligh Anthem are a great band full of energy and quoting Stuart Baillie "The street corner boys are a bit handy, the girls comb their hair in rear view mirrors and the imperial doo wop gang is singing just fine". I think you get the picture.

But is it just me that is thinking....The Alarm?

The Decemberists - The Kings Is Dead Preview

2010-11-21T21:02:00.003Z

Heroes murdered

2010-11-20T15:17:00.001Z

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004BCVGBU?ie=UTF8&tag=bowiewonderworld&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B004BCVGBU

Springsteen Tour 2011 / 2012

2010-11-20T00:15:00.005Z

Update! 18/03/2011

the word is now a springsteen Solo album this summer, toured, then a E Street tour and possible album.

In the meantime April 16th record store day is next up!

I hear a strong rumour of a stripped down band (Darkness Era) and Arenas only commencing in March 2011 Australia, moving to Europe and then the States.

Watch many spaces......

First updated information:

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will perform tracks from the Promise live in Asbusry Park on 7th December. Not a gig as (for a future webcast) such but it is of note they are rehearsing material and that this will also be in front of a small live audience....

Second Update:

A very small audience was invited inside to watch the loive performnace of songs from the Promise. They were mostly contest winners who entered a drawing through the Springsteen fanzine "Backstreets." David Lindley and Charlie Giordano joined the E Street Band 78 line up (no Suzie, Nils or Patti)

Songs played in front of the audience for the taping:

1. Racing In the Street (1978 version)

2. Gotta Get That Feeling

3. Outside Looking In

4. One Way Street

5. Come On (Let's Go Tonight).

6. Save My Love

7. The Brokenhearted

8. Ain't Good Enough for You

9. The Promise

10. Talk To Me

11. Blue Christmas

also rehearsed Candys Boy.

Update 2: January 14, 2011

The legendary icon of American rock music Bruce Springsteen could be coming to Zagreb’s Maksimir stadium this year. The Croatian news website Dalje lists the singer’s still unconfirmed arrival as one of the main events to look forward to this year.

Bob Ludwig - Mastering Maestro

2010-11-19T15:02:00.001Z

Fascinating interview:

Forgotten Album Friday #18 - The Go-Betweens, 16 Lovers Lane

2010-11-18T20:50:00.003Z

By way of background The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. I think they were in Gl;asgow for a while and maybe recorded there, hopefully someone will let me know. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals, before disbanding in late 1989.

Forster and McLennan reformed the band in 2000 with a new line-up, but sadly McLennan died on 6 May 2006 of a heart attack and The Go-Betweens disbanded again.

Robert Foster has several excellent solo albums but I think his work with the Go-Betweens was where he was at his peak.

16 Lovers Lane is one of the finest alternative pop albums of the mid 80's and as good a set of ten songs put on disc by any group in the late 80's/early 90's. The two songwriters, McLennan and Forster, are in absolute top form, balancing guardedly optimistic upbeat numbers with poetic, soul-searching ballads and duets. The central theme throughout the record deals with the unspoken complexities of growing older with love and friendship, and the sometimes poignant contradictions between melancholic regret and hopefulness for the future.

What also makes this album different from its predecessors is the ease with which it all seems to come together. On the surface, the songs all seem simple and effortless, but there is a more complex sound once you get into the album. Like Cosmic Rough Riders, Lloyd Cole, Aztec Camera they take simple elements of acoustic guitars and major chords and weave them into something so rich.

An under-appreciated band.

A great pop album.

Key tracks

Love Goes On
Love Is A Sign
Streets Of Your Town
Dive for your memory
Was There Anything I Could Do

The Promise

2010-11-16T21:49:00.000Z

I prefer the solo Bruce piano version from 18 tracks.....there. I've said it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkZkcfITuVU

Forgotten Album Friday #17 - Roddy Frame The North Star

2010-11-12T04:53:00.000Z

Ropddy Frame was of course more or less Aztec Camera however in 1998 for some reason he decided to drop the Aztec Camera band name probably because of the poor showing of the Frestonia lp, and this was his first solo album. You will probably have heard the lead track / single Reason for Living which is one of my favouritre Roddy / Aztec camera tracks.

The production on the album is fairly familiar if you like the sound of Aztec Camera with a clean sound typical of his work. The album kicks off with a great track "Back To The One" which sets the tone for an album full of great songs . The North Star, Hymn To Grace, River of Brightness and Bigger, Brighter, Better are all just great Roddy Frame songs.

"Bigger, Brighter, Better" shines with its irresistible hook vand positive lyrics. "Autumn Flower" begins with a piano then carries on with a hypnotic bass line. "Reason For Living" lifts off with the opening bars of Springsteen's "Born To Run" before driving towards a climatic chorus and, finally, "Hymn To Grace" closes the album with the now familiar acoustic farewell. Roddy Frame is in superb form through this album and if you were an aztec Camera fan and this sneaked bye you I would thoroughly recommend this lp.

Key tracks

Reason For Living
North Star
Bigger, Brighter, Better
Back To The One
Hymn To Grace

Lest We Forget

2010-11-11T09:14:00.000Z

The Promise Box Set - Has arrived! First thoughts

2010-11-10T10:34:00.029Z

What a stunning set! I cannot believe the quality of this and certainly well worth the £80 or so you can expect to pay.

I have only done a quick skim through the 21 unreleased tracks and don't really plan to do a big break down track by track as they are pretty much what you would expect - some sound like they would be ideal on a Roy Orbison lp and others would have made great additions to Southside or Gary US Bonds lp's that some of this (and the tracks material) surfaced on. There are some absolute gems over the two cd's and as you can imagine there is the odd track or two that makes you double take being almost familiar but not quite (as an example the opening line in Spanish Eyes being later reworked in I'm On Fire, and the initial write of Factory which is C'mon Let's Go Tonight, the line The Man on The Radio Says Elvis Presley dies which turned up much later in a b side).

Certainly well worthy of release but there is no doubt that the original Darkness lp got the track listing spot on.

Like most people the bits I am looking most forward to are the DVD sections and in particular the live 1978 set. I will write a note on these when I get the chance.

Essential listening:

Racing In the Street ('78)

The Brokenhearted

Save my Love

Wrong side Of The Street

Spanish Eyes

Cmon (Lets Go Tonight)

Breakaway

The Promise

City Of Night

and the hidden track

The Way

New Decemberists lp - The king is Dead

2010-11-09T08:55:00.000Z

As a follow up to the excellent Hazards of Love, The Decemberists release a new album in January and here is the tracklisting.

1. Don't Carry It All
2. Calamity Song
3. Rise to Me
4. Rox in the Box
5. January Hymn
6. Down by the Water
7. All Arise!
8. June Hymn
9. This is Why We Fight
10. Dear Avery

A free download of Down By The water is now available, follow this link:

http://decemberists.com/?utm_source=The+Decemberists&utm_campaign=024cf270b7-The_Decemberists_News_11_26_0911_26_2009&utm_medium=email

Springsteen Stunning Version of Candys room

2010-11-08T23:33:00.001Z

If this does not whet you appetite for the forthcoming DVD portions of the Promise box set, I dont know what will. Bruce and the band are in absolutely searing form here and it is a timely reminder that no matter how good the out-takes prove to be, the original darkness On the Edge Of Town album is his best work.

Great New Manics Video

2010-11-08T12:36:00.002Z

Springsteen The Promise First Listen

2010-11-01T11:33:00.000Z

NPR are streaming 15 of the new tracks from the Promise Box Set.

You can enjoy them here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130858856

Forgotten album Friday #16 - Iris deMent The Way I should

2010-10-29T00:25:00.001+01:00

I am note sure how familiar you will be with Iris DeMent and I think her albums might be a wee bit of an acquired taste, no matter she is an excellent songwriter and performer who got great acclaim for her first two albums Infamous Angel and the Grammy nominated My Life, both of which are pretty firmly in the Country end of Americana.

Both of those albums I would highly recommend.

For her third album Iris went for a bigger sound and moved slightly away from her focus on personal relationships and living in a small town and its values to look outwards dealing with big issues like corporate greed, Vietnam, child abuse and poverty. The album is much bigger in its sound as well with an almost rock feel and pace to the album at times.

The key track on this album is without doubt the superb Wasteland of The Free which is a protest song up there with the very best of them where Iris sears through her damming indictment of businessmen, politicians and the negative influences on youth. John Jennings who you may know through his work with mary Chapin Carpenter is on outstanding form omn this track. Another cracker is the title track which features nice guitar work from Mark Knopfler.

Elsewhere Iris does not lose her touch of connecting with simple emotional songs and her quiet personal faith on songs like When My Morning Comes Around and I'll Take My Sorrow Straight.

A highly recommended lp.

Key tracks:

When My Morning Comes Around

Theres a Wall In Washington

Wasteland of the Free

The Way I Should

Walkin Home

Happy Xmas From The Indigo Girls!!

2010-10-27T23:54:00.002+01:00

http://music.aol.com/holiday-and-christmas-cds/#/6

New Springsteen 7" Single - Save My Love / Because The Night

2010-10-27T05:12:00.000+01:00

Well the good news is that a limited edition 7" single is to be released to support local record stores. Looks like a US only release though so that is the bad news!

If you are in the States and have access to a good local record store the date of release is 26 November, nice artwork...

Celtic Connections 2011

2010-10-19T18:30:00.000+01:00

An outstanding programme of live muisc again for January 2011. Including Justin Currie, Love and Money, A Dylan 70th tribute night, Marty Stuart, Teddy Thompson.....

Check the link here:

http://www.celticconnections.com/

New Kim Richey Video - Wreck YOur Wheels

2010-10-18T21:24:00.000+01:00

From her excellent album of the same name:

Bowie Song to be murdered

2010-10-16T09:51:00.000+01:00

I am still reeling from the news that the karaoke TV contenders are set to murder the classic Bowie song Heroes. That's my Christmas ruined.

Thanks a lot Simon Cowell.

Forgotten Album Friday #15 - Whiskeytown Pneumonia

2010-10-15T11:26:00.001+01:00

Ryan Adams can be a musical genius and his work with his first band Whiskeytown is well worth seeking out. Pneumonia was recorded in 1998 but was not released until 2001 due to some legal hoo ha with the record label and possibly some of the band members. The album is more of a solo Ryan Adams album although he has said in a number of interviews that the album would never be released if he had anything to do with it. Fortunately it was released and seems to have softened his views on the album in recent times.

While Pneumonia may not achieve the classic status of the band's best album Strangers Almanac (1996), it comes close. The songs bounce from the horn-laden "The Ballad of Carol Lynn" to the orchestral sound of "Under Your Breath," a song that would be equally at home on Adams' solo album, Heartbreaker.

The album is produced by Ethan Johns, who produced the early Ryan Solo albums amongst many other things and as you would expect he gives this album a much more polished sound that the earlier Whiskeytown albums.

Essential tracks:

Under Your Breath

The Balld of Carol Lynn

Jacksonville Skyline

Reason To Lie

History Post #1 The River Bruce Springsteen

2010-10-14T11:19:00.014+01:00

The River was released 30 years ago this week (the date varied across the globe). The album was of course pre internet and pre MTV so it was preceding by a huge marketing campaign in the music press (NME, Melody Maker etc.). Accordingly I think this is one of the first lp's I was actively anxious about the release coming.

It is funny thinking back now when I got the lp I literally did not know what to expect. I was amazed and transfixed at the packaging with its mix of straightforward and slightly surreal packaging. I soon realised that this was deliberate, a mix of the exuberant, the dark, the object you yearned for. Just like the album. An exuberant track followed by something much more dark, hope and yearning followed just as quickly by despair.

Spot the difference on my Vinyl copy:

Tom Petty Damn The Torpedoes - Deluxe Re-issue

2010-10-13T20:44:00.000+01:00

On November 9 in North America and November 15 in the rest of the world an expanded and remastered Deluxe Edition of Damn The Torpedoes will be released! The deluxe edition features previously unreleased tracks from the Damn The Torpedoes sessions and will be available with a choice of four formats (1) on two-CDs, (2) on one audiophile quality Blu-ray disc, (3) on 2 180-gram vinyl LPs and (4) as an iTunes LP.

All formats of the Deluxe Edition will come with nine additional bonus tracks not included on the original album. Seven of these tracks are previously unreleased including two studio tracks from the original Damn The Torpedoes sessions: “Nowhere” and “Surrender.”

The never-before-heard “Nowhere” was thought to have been lost in 1979 when the tape boxes were being moved daily to avoid the possibility that court bailiffs would claim them as part of Petty’s assets in the lawsuit at the time. The original 1979 recording of “Surrender” is also included on the bonus disc. “Surrender” was a mainstay of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ concert setlists for many years although this original studio version recorded for Damn The Torpedoes, which includes Stan Lynch on drums, never saw the light of day until now.

Also included on the bonus disc is the original demo for the B-side “Casa Dega” and an alternate take of “Refugee” as well as a trio of live performances at London’s Hammersmith Odeon (March 6, 1980), including “Don’t Do Me Like That.”
Digitally remastered from the original analog master tapes, all formats of Damn The Torpedoes – Deluxe Edition also feature liner notes by noted rock journalist/author David Fricke, rare photos, and lyrics to each track.
The vinyl and Blu-ray versions of the Deluxe Edition also include a free download of the entire album in one of three high quality digital formats.

Here is the Damn The Torpedoes Deluxe Edition bonus disc tracklist:

1. Nowhere (previously unreleased)

2. Surrender (previously unreleased)

3. Casa Dega/B-side

4. It’s Rainin’ Again/B-side

5. Shadow Of A Doubt (A Complex Kid)/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

6. Don’t Do Me Like That/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

7. Somethin’ Else/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

8. Casa Dega (Demo, previously unreleased)

9. Refugee (Alternate Take, previously unreleased)

wee film clip here:

http://damnthetorpedoes.tompetty.com/video.html

Frazey Ford Cover his Bobness on Radio Scotland Anothyer Country Show

2010-10-13T08:31:00.000+01:00

I think this is a great version of the Bob / Emmylou classic One More Cup of Coffee:

New Dar Williams cd Features Gary Louris, Mary Chapin Carpenter

2010-10-08T13:35:00.000+01:00

I dont have much details but here is the amazon blurb:

This October, acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams returns with reinterpretations of her most cherished songs on a definitive double CD release spanning her entire career from 1993 s The Honesty Room through 2008 s Promised Land. This unique two-disc set is comprised of all new acoustic recordings of her most loved songs featuring such luminaries of the folk scene as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Larkin, Gary Louris (of the Jayhawks; Gary also produced the album) and Sara and Sean Watkins (of Nickel Creek), and a greatest hits compilation featuring all the best songs from her nine-album career. This exciting release offers a unique new take on Dar s music, with the two full length discs providing great value for fans new and old.

Disc: 1

1. Calling The Moon

2. If I Wrote You (feat. Gary Louris)

3. Spring Street (feat. Gary Louris)

4. I'll Miss You (feat. Gary Louris)

5. The Christians And The Pagans (feat. Sara and Sean Watkins)

6. What Do You Hear In These Sounds (feat. Gary Louris)

7. The One Who Knows (feat. Mary Chapin Carpenter)

8. The Babysitter's Here

9. As Cool As I Am (feat. Gary Louris)

10. You Rise And Meet The Day (feat. Gary Louris)

11. Iowa (feat. Gary Louris, Sara and Sean Watkins, Motherlode & Mary Chapin Carpenter)

12. When I Was A Boy (feat. Patty Larkin)

Disc: 2

1. It's Alright

2. Are You Out There

3. As Cool As I Am

4. If I Wrote You

5. February

6. The Mercy Of The Fallen

7. The Easy Way

8. The One Who Knows

9. Teen For God

10. After All

11. Book Of Love

12. The Beauty Of The Rain

13. The Babysitter's Here

14. Better Things

15. Spring Street

16. The Ocean

17. Closer To Me

18. Empire

19. End Of Summer

20. When I Was A Boy

Forgotten album Friday #14 Steve Forbert - The Streets of This Town

2010-10-08T11:25:00.001+01:00

This album was released in 1988 by which time Steve's career seemed in a bit of a hiatus and he had not had a release for about 6years. As a result this fine album was pretty much overlooked on its release which is a great shame as it contains some of his finest work.

I don't know much about the band that play on the album but the production is by Gary W Tallent and he had obviously picked up a few tips while working on the Springsteen sessions as the album sounds fantastic and the sometimes fairly sparse sound of Forbert is fleshed out with a fuller band sound. Tallent does not opt for dropping in fellow E Street Band members on the record and I think that is a good thing. Only two cameos - Nils Lofgren plays guitar on Wait A Little Longer and former E Streeter Ernest "Boom" Carter adds a bit of percussion to Don't Tell Me.

From the wonderfully optimistic opener "Running On Love", to the rockin' urgency of "Don't Tell Me (I Know)", the nostalgia of "I Blinked Once", to the bleak border tale of "Mexico", to the pop sounds of "On The Streets Of This Town" and "Perfect Stranger", to the perfectly-placed penultimate cut "Wait A Little Longer", to the nice closer "Search Your Heart" -- this is Forbert's finest hour, from start to finish.

Key tracks

Running On Love
On The Streets of This Town
Wait A Little Longer

BBC4 Songwriters Circle - Boo Hewerdine and Justin Currie Tonight 10:15

2010-10-08T11:01:00.000+01:00

This looks like being a great programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v4kf0

Justin Currie, Chris Difford and Boo Hewerdine are the featured artists as BBC Four combines great singer-songwriters for unique concerts celebrating the craft of the song.

Filmed at Bush Hall on Uxbridge Road in west London, these concerts see three singer-songwriters perform their classic songs in turn, while helping each other out musically with harmonies and the odd guitar part. The artists only meet an hour or two before going on stage and, in between performance, take viewers inside their work, chattng about their songs, their history and background.

The three songwriters - Justin Currie, formerly of Del Amitri, who wrote hits including Nothing Ever Happens; Chris Difford, who mixes his solo work with Squeeze hits such as Up the Junction; and Boo Hewerdine, formerly of The Bible and perhaps best known for writing Patience of Angels for Eddie Reader - compare notes on songwriting, life after Top of the Pops and the male menopause.

Great Springsteen Darkness Re-Issue Interview Clip

2010-10-07T17:31:00.003+01:00

An almost 30minute interview:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Springsteen World Exclusive!! (possibly)

2010-10-05T18:06:00.002+01:00

Listen in to the tremendous Ricky Ross Another Country Radio Show on BBC Radio Scotland this Friday Oct 8th at 8.00pm for what may well be a WORLD EXCLUSIVE first listen of the full track Save My Love from the forthcoming boxset.

You really did hear it first here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hh26l

As always though pleasemake sure you visit the brilliant backstreets.com pages for up to date news. And buy from there too if you can (and as I have done often)

Better Things First Listen

2010-10-02T11:56:00.001+01:00

"BETTER THINGS" FIRST LISTEN

BBC Radio2 has given Bruce and Ray Davies' "Better Things" a spin, and you can hear it online now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00tw3h8/The_Early_Breakfast_Show_29_09_2010

— just click "Listen now," and advance to the 1:24:35 mark.

Ray Davies and Springsteen Duet - Forthcoming Ray Davies Album See My Friends

2010-09-29T12:12:00.002+01:00

Released on 1 November this looks a really interesting release, not least becasue The Boss duets on the best ever Kinks single...

"Ray releases "See My Friends", an album of classic Kinks songs turned into unique collaborations on Universal UK on November 1st. (Europe to be same week, US to follow early next year) There is a new microsite for the album athttp://www.seemyfriends.co.uk/ which will be updated weekly with new information.

On this one of a kind album, Ray collaborates with a formidable selection of artists on tracks from his incredible songwriting career, revisiting his back catalogue and crafting new versions of his classic songs. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Metallica features on this diverse collection of material.

Highlights include 'Days'/'This Time Tomorrow' with Mumford & Sons, 'Better Things' with Bruce Springsteen, 'You Really Got Me' with Metallica and 'A Long Way from Home' with Lucinda Williams and Ray's first choice with the late great Big Star/Boxtops singer Alex Chilton

"This project came about almost by accident," says Davies of the project, which was kick-started when he recorded a version of 'Till The End Of The Day' in the summer of 2009, with Alex Chilton.

"With some tracks I had to appreciate the style of the other artists, otherwise it would have sounded unbalanced. And I wanted the album to work as an entire listening experience but each track had a life of its own," explains Ray.

Ray was happy to go where the music took him, in every sense: Oslo via Denmark, Germany and Belgium to record with Metallica, New York to record with Jon Bon Jovi, New Jersey for Bruce Springsteen, Chicago for Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins and his own north London base, the legendary KONK studios, for much of the rest. "This record is well-travelled already," explains Ray.

Paloma Faith, Jackson Browne, Black Francis of the Pixies, Lucinda Williams, Amy MacDonald and Spoon also feature on the record, which follows Ray's acclaimed tour of North America and the UK plus a stand out set on Glastonbury's Pyramid stage this summer.

The tracklisting for 'See My Friends' is:

1. Better Things - Ray Davies & Bruce Springsteen
2. Celluloid Heroes - Ray Davies, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora
3. Days/This Time Tomorrow - Ray Davies & Mumford & Sons
4. Long Way From Home - Ray Davies, Lucinda Williams & The 88
5. You Really Got Me - Ray Davies & Metallica
6. Lola Ray - Davies & Paloma Faith
7. Waterloo Sunset - Ray Davies & Jackson Browne
8. 'Til The End of The Day - Ray Davies, Alex Chilton & The 88
9. Dead End Street - Ray Davies & Amy Macdonald
10. See My Friends Ray Davies & Spoon
11. This Is Where I Belong - Ray Davies & Black Francis
12. David Watts - Ray Davies & The 88
13. Tired Of Waiting - Ray Davies & Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)
14. All Day And All Of The Night/Destroyer - Ray Davies & Billy Corgan "

Station to Station - Deluxe Re-Issue

2010-09-25T09:18:00.002+01:00

My copy arrived this morning and I have to say I am stunned at the quality of this set.

It is light on unreleased music, bar the live set, but the attention to detail, packaging and sheer quality are a joy.

I'll post some photos later.

Roddy Hart - Road Of Bones

2010-09-24T19:56:00.000+01:00

Very limited edition of a new lp by Roddy Hart has jsut been released. Get yourself sorted...

The album was recorded in Scotland in Spring 2010, and features 10 new Roddy Hart original tracks:

1. Restless Soul

2. If We Should Meet Again

3. Waiting For The Sun

4. Close To The Flame

5. Boxes

6. Girl Called Jo

7. Edge Of Love

8. Day By Day

9. Playing Solitaire

10. Road Of Bones

Forgotten Album Friday #13 - Counting Crows - August And Everything After

2010-09-24T18:10:00.003+01:00

I think that Counting Crows were a bit of a victim of their own success....how do you follow Mr. Jones....well with a cover of Big Yellow Tax I suppose, albeit several years down the line. There is much more to this band than the Hits compilation - and much more so than a cover of a Joni Mitchell song.

Counting Crow's "August and Everything After" is a brilliant debut album. The opening song "Round Here" sets the tone for the entire album, fantastic lyrical story-telling songs accompanied by great hooks and melodies.

While there is no there is no denying that "Mr. Jones" is a catchy pop song, there is way more to this album than that. This is an album of love and loss, of regret and of reaching for a better place. Duritz lyrics are superb and the band create a great sound-track for him. Its a bit like Van Morrison's vision of what he could achieve withe Caledonia Soul Orchestra. Duritz sounds weary a lot of the time on this record....but you have the feeling throughout than things are going to work out fine.

Essential tracks:

Round Here:
Mr. Jones:
Anna Begins:
Rain King:
A Murder of One:

Side note: my friend Michael and I saw the band on this Tour. Barrowlands I think, 6 November 1994. Michael will know for sure! Great gig though.

Darkness on The Edge of Town Boxset - The Promise Video Update and More Views of Packaging

2010-09-23T19:35:00.003+01:00

How good does all this look:

http://www.hbo.com/video/video.html/?vid=1121171&forumId=global&filter=featured&view=null&autoplay=true#/video/index.html/eNrjcmbOUM-PSXHMS8ypLMlMDkhMT-VLzE1lzmcu1CzLTEnNh8k45+eVpFaUsDFyMjKyeZdlppbbZualpFaopWXmlKQW2Sbm5KgauaTkJ5fmpuaVJBZlphazMQIA-NggPA==

Band of Joy - Live Stream

2010-09-23T11:52:00.000+01:00

Hope you enjoying this, courtesy of NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129992517&ps=cprs

Neil Young Le Noise - Full album stream

2010-09-22T14:13:00.000+01:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129955938

David Bowie Station to Station Live at Nassau Coliseum lp Cover

2010-09-21T16:24:00.000+01:00

And very nice it is too:

Springsteen - Darkness Cover Picture

2010-09-19T15:47:00.000+01:00

Never seen before, full length, no typeface. Iconic.

Josh Ritter - Oran Mor

2010-09-19T10:20:00.001+01:00

A great gig last night at Oran Mor in Glasgow with Dawn landes supporting Josh Ritter. I think they are Husband and Wife actually.

I was too busy enjoying myself to take proper mental notes but the new material sounded fantastic live and the set list was excellent mixing in some great songs from his now pretty lengthy back catalouge, I think 6 albums now?

Highlights were:

Wolves
Change of Time
Lantern
Good Man

Darkness Boxset - New Interview Clip

2010-09-17T23:10:00.002+01:00

Tift Merritt - Free Downloads

2010-09-17T12:20:00.000+01:00

Follow this link for a free digital ep including two live tracks.

http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/FreeDownload/freetiftmusic

Darkness re-issue update

2010-09-15T22:46:00.001+01:00

A "sneak peek" of some of the material was given last night in Toronto. Here is an early report:

AUDIO

"Racing in the Street" (rock version) This cut has mostly the same lyrics (although the car was a '32 Ford instead of a '69 Chevy), but the music is radically different. The piano is much more up-tempo, it's flooded with harmonica, and sonically it has a similar feel to "The Promised Land." Danny's great organ melody remains intact, but here it's smothered with a guitar solo.

"Gotta Get that Feeling" Perhaps the most girl group-esque of any song in Bruce's catalogue, this features some great backing vocals (I think it must have been Stevie), and the whole vibe of the song evokes the Ronnettes. Considering how often Ronnie Spector and Bruce crossed paths in '76 and '77, I wondered if this song might have been inspired by Bruce's introduction to her.

"Outside Looking In" Seems obviously inspired by Buddy Holly, with a tempo that evokes "Peggy Sue." A fun song that provides a lot of insight into the range of what the Darkness sessions had to offer.

"Someday (We’ll Be Together)" At one point in the documentary, Bruce noted that Landau was a big gospel fan, and this song might have been written with him in mind. Churchy backing vocals by what sounds like a trio of ladies, and a drum sound that reminds me of the one Jimmy Iovine created with Tom Petty on songs like "Refugee." Also, there's a great guitar solo that sounds like it walked right out of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western.

"Because the Night" In the intro, Landau mentioned that Bruce threw a lot of these songs out when they were still works in progress, so a handful of them needed touching up, and even some finished lyrics (similar to what theStones just did with the Exile on Main Street bonus cuts they issued earlier this year). I wonder if this is one of those songs, because while listening, I really felt like the chorus sounded distinctly like current Bruce instead of '78 Bruce. Is it possible this song was handed off to Patti Smith when it didn't even have a chorus?

"Ain't Good Enough For You" My favorite of the songs previewed. For anyone that's always believed the E Street Band is the greatest bar band ever, this song is for you. Featuring a handclap chorus and plenty of whoa-oohhs in the backing vocals, this is Bruce at his most fun. A good R&B feel, and similar to the work Southside Johnny was doing at the time, this also features one of the most unusual lyric pieces I've ever heard from Bruce, name-dropping his then-engineer: "cool like Jimmy Iovine." Considering how famous Bruce is for creating characters within his songs, he's rarely referenced a real person, let alone a friend.

"Talk to Me" Extremely similar to the well-known version by Southside Johnny, this is, nonetheless, a delight to hear in its original E Street version (though I liked the impromptu Bruce & Stevie version in the documentary even better).

"The Promise" Every bit as good as its legend. While listening to this song, you really gain understanding that it's the missing link. It's the transitory song where the characters from Born to Run became the characters on Darkness. In many ways, this is the moment where young, romantic Bruce became Bruce Springsteen: the man. For those of you who have only heard the re-recorded version from '98, you’re in for a revelation.

VIDEO
"Badlands" & "Streets of Fire" These performances were both taken from a complete performance of the Darkness album the band did in December of '09 in Asbury Park especially for director Thom Zimny to use for this box set. No Patti, Soozie, or Nils on these songs, just the guys that originally recorded the album (and, of course, Charlie filling in for Danny). The band nailed them both, particularly "Streets of Fire," a song I'd never seen in concert. Bruce told a funny story when he addressed the crowd after the sneak peak. Following almost two full years of touring, he and the band went to go record this live version of the Darkness album — but Patti told him he had to be home for dinner by 7. So when he got to Asbury Park for the filming, he told Zimny that he only had time to do two run-throughs; luckily, one of them was more than good enough.

"Candy's Room" Live in the studio from the original sessions, with Bruce shirtless and sporting an amazing afro (looking very much like Brad Delp, lead singer of Boston — it's clear Bruce has been hiding photos of this era from public display). It's unclear what band members are on the session, but Stevie's on percussion ("Miami, lookin’ good!" Bruce shouted right before they began). The song is much slower than what we’re used to, and I enjoyed thinking of an alternate reality Darkness on the Edge of Town where "Candy's Room" was the slowest song on the album and "Racing in the Street" was one of its best rockers. The song is good, but it's so radically different that I found it disorienting. It'll take a few more listens to really decide what I think.

"The Promised Land" & "Prove it All Night" – Two live performances from ’78 (different shows, though), that make clear how good the tour was. "Promised Land" was great, but the real treat here is "Prove It." For anyone that has never heard this song live from '78, it might be the best part of the whole box set for you. The version of "Prove It" I've had on a '78 bootleg from Jersey has, over the years, become my go-to song to play for anyone wondering about the E Street Band in concert. With the long piano/guitar intro that builds the momentum, the song was stretched out to a ten-minute-plus epic that rivaled "Rosalita" in show-stopping intensity. It also showcases, to great effect, the guitar hero side of Bruce that always seems to take the back seat to Bruce the singer and Bruce the songwriter.

Chrissie Hynde - JP, Chrissie and the Fairground Boys new album Fidelity

2010-09-13T23:28:00.001+01:00

Heard and excellent track from this album on Stuart Baillie's radio show. Could be an interesting album, see what you think:

Manic Street preachers - Postcards From A Young Man - Album Stream

2010-09-13T12:05:00.002+01:00

Free music - Postcards From A Young Man

Van Morrison - Soul

2010-09-10T16:05:00.003+01:00

A new lp from Van is long overdue! Hope you enjoy this clip of one of the standouts from his last studio album Keep It Simple, with some outstanding guitar from the late Mick Green.

And while I'm here:

Springsteen - Save My Love

2010-09-10T10:58:00.000+01:00

Folk are now putting together wee clips to accompany the first track from "The Promise". After a few plays I am really quite enjoying this track...

Gary Louris Solo Show mp3

2010-09-10T06:13:00.000+01:00

Follow this link for mp3 files of Gary Louris performing solo at Truck America Festival (with artist permission)

http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=3084

Setlist:

[Total Time 56:43]

01 [introduction]

02 Angelyne

03 D.C. Blues

04 Tailspin

05 Everybody Knows

06 Listen Joe

07 Settled Down Like Rain

08 I Need You Tonight [new song]

09 Poor Little Fish

10 Save It For A Rainy Day

11 She Only Calls Me On Sundays

12 Waiting For The Sun

13 All the Right Reasons

14 I’m Gonna Make You Love Me

15 I’d Run Away

16 Blue

Bryan Ferry - You Can Dance

2010-09-10T06:03:00.000+01:00

I'm quite looking forward to the new Bryan Ferry album Olympia, which promises a return to form. The lead single is You Can Dance which sounds to me like a Bete Noire era track and that is no bad thing. Flea on bass and Nile Rodgers on guitar certainly create a good sound.

Though what on earth he was thinking of with this video I'm not sure:

For more new check out this excellent Roxy Music / Bryan Ferry Site:

http://www.vivaroxymusic.com/index.php

Forgotten Album Friday #12 - Hothouse Flowers Songs From The Rain

2010-09-10T05:49:00.002+01:00

This is an album that I am amazed is not regarded as a classic. I think that the Hothouse Flowers suffered from never quite being one thing or the other, not a folk rock band, not a stadium rock band and not quite a band with an underground following like, say, World Party.

This is the third album from the band and was released in 1993 by which time the band were struggling to make any sort of impact and the slightly curious choice of Stewart Levine as Producer (Commodores, Simply Red) made you wonder where on earth they were headed....fear not though as the band produced a set of brilliantly produced, well crafted songs with a beautiful sound which mixed celtic themes with an atmospheric background.

Comparison with U2 and Waterboys cannot of course be avoided but I think this album in particular sees the band creating a sound of their own.

The key tracks are:

This is It (your soul) - one of my all time favourites
An Emotional Time
Thing Of beauty
Isn't It Amazing
Stand Beside Me

There is not a bad track on this album.....seek it out you will not be dissapointed.

Free Exclusive Live Manic Street Preachers Track - Faster

2010-09-09T13:53:00.000+01:00

Follow this link where Amazon have a free live download of one of the forthcoming tracks from Postcards:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0041RN9ME?ie=UTF8&tag=columbialagr-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0041RN9ME

Available until 27th September

Kings of Leon Single - Radioactive

2010-09-08T19:52:00.002+01:00

I am not a fan and I heard this today on the radio and it sounded a bit like a David Byrne cover! See what you think:

Download frenzy....

2010-09-08T19:43:00.000+01:00

Well a couple of downloads:

Josh Ritter and Dawn Landes - 500 Miles

http://joshritter.com/2010/09/07/500-miles-free-mp3-for-the-european-tour/

Jesse Malin - Burning The Bowery

http://www.backstreets.com/Assets/Audio/JesseMalin_BurningTheBowery.mp3

Vic Galloway Interviews The Manic Street Preachers

2010-09-08T08:11:00.003+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009w2q8

Nor sure how long the link will work for.

Teddy Thompson - Bella

2010-09-07T22:59:00.001+01:00

A fair bit off yet but word is a early 2011 Release from teddy Thompson will be entitled "Bella".

A wee reminder of the last lp! Updates to follow....

Classic Bowie Commercial

2010-09-05T20:44:00.000+01:00

Not sure how this passed me bye - pretty amusing though

Richard Ashcroft - Born again

2010-09-05T20:29:00.002+01:00

Great video for one of the albums standout tracks. Though it sends me checking for the car alarm - listen and you will see what I mean:

New Manics Single - Its Not War Just The End of Love

2010-09-05T19:21:00.000+01:00

Another cracking single from Manic Street Preachers. Journal for Plauge Lovers was an outstanding lp and I am hoping the forthcoming lp "Postcards From A Young Man" will be a big hit.

Manic Street Preachers - (Its Not War) Just The End Of Love

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses - Junky Star

2010-09-05T12:38:00.001+01:00

You may not realise that you know Ryan Bingham but you have probably have heard his song The Weary Kind in the film Crazy Heart and he and the band provide Jeff Bridges backing band in the film.

Anyway...his new album Junk Star is due out on 14 September and it promises to be another essential release. I think this is a particularly good live version:

The lead single is Depression - and I hope you enjoy this live performance.