By Jim Stewart As the 60th anniversary of entering a recording studio for the first time approaches, Phillies legend Darlene Love releases her best album of her long career. ‘Introducing Darlene Love’ returns Darlene to the capable hands of Steven Van Zandt, who created the perfect mix of Spector and Springsteen with ‘Alone At...
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THE LINDISFARNE STORY Fans of North-East legends Lindisfarne may be bemoaning the fact that the band itself never tours these days, content to perform their traditional Christmas Show in Newcastle’s City Hall during the festive season, but – thanks to two former members, the music will be echoing around the theatres of Britain from...
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A few sixties – and even eighties – packages are doing the rounds these days, but apparently not many from the seventies. However, that omission is being corrected as the latest ‘Glitz, Blitz and 70s Hitz tour is set for November and December. This is the fourth of the tours, which celebrate the ‘Glam’ rock era....
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There are rumours flying around that there is a superb tribute band to Fleetwood Mac doing the rounds. For once, the rumours are, in fact – er – fact, and the celebrated Rumours of Fleetwood Mac are touring their acclaimed show in an exhaustive 26-date UK tour. The original Fleetwood Mac had a string of hits from ‘Albatross’...
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By Martin Hutchinson After more than 50 years, the highly-influential band The Zombies are in the midst of a very productive and busy period. Not only are they gearing up for a five-week tour of the US, performing their iconic album ‘Odessey and Oracle’ (sic) which will be followed by shows on the continent, and then a tour of the...
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By Pat Murphy When I first started to buy albums more than 50 years ago, “greatest hits” compilations were a particular attraction. After all, you could get a whole whack of favourites in one package, most of which you hadn’t been able to afford as separate singles. It seemed like a perfect deal. Of all the hit collections around...
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By Jim Stewart ‘The Voice’ was one of The Moody Blues biggest hits and to their legion of fans worldwide JUSTIN HAYWARD is The Voice. Since joining the band late 1966, he has enjoyed incredible success both as a band member and a solo artist. In 2015 he is touring the UK in both guises, with promoting a new eight-disc box set ‘THE...
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By Pat Murphy The music industry historically awarded Gold Discs for sales of a million or more, but the overwhelming bulk of the discs were for performance in the American market. Relatively speaking, Britain was too small to compete in that league. Indeed, throughout the 1950s, it’s estimated that only three records – Rock Around...
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By Martin Hutchinson Veteran Scot-rockers Nazareth are undertaking a short UK tour in January, their first British dates with the bands’ new lead singer Linton Osbourne. After the retirement of co-founder member and singer Dan McCafferty, due to ill health, the band decided to continue and recruited Linton, who has been settling...
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By John Firminger Continuing with our look back at the mixed fortunes of British rocker Terry Dene, we look at the more positive side, namely his recorded work. As a vocalist he had managed to copy some of the vocal style he’d heard by a young singer from Tupelo, Mississippi. This may have been as a result of him working as a...
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From Takeovers to good Vibrations By Paul Francis WHILE working as a professional musician for many years, and playing in bands since the early 60s, I went through many highs and lows. When working with certain musicians you know straight away when it clicks and everything just seems to gel. When I put The Paul Francis Band...
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Back in 1957, singer Terry Dene (real name; Terry Williams) looked like being the ‘golden boy’ of British pop. With hit records, a film star and appearances on stage and TV he was riding high, before it all went pear-shaped. It was actually in a wrestling ring, in between bouts I might add, that Terry had given an impressive...
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By Jim Stewart For the past 50 years Bill Medley has had the respect and admiration of his fellow artists and fans worldwide, and, when you look at just some of his achievements, it is easy to see why. He formed The Righteous Brothers with Bobby Hatfield in 1963, giving a whole new take on R&B that made the music...
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By John Firminger When it comes to a musical career, Buzz Cason has done it all – singer, songwriter, musician, sideman, recording artist, record producer, song publisher and author. In the late 50s James E ‘Buzz’ Cason was a member of The Casuals, Nashville’s first young rock’n’roll combo. They subsequently became...
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By Pat Murphy The summer of 1964 was a personal watershed, as it was the first time I ventured outside of Ireland. As a university student on summer break, I lived and worked in London for three whole months. While it may not sound very daring by today’s standards, it was quite an adventure for a hitherto cloistered 20 year-old...
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By Ralph Gowling “Many thanks to everyone who has been to a Move show since that debut show at the Belfry on January 23, 1966, and to all of those who are coming along to these last few shows.” Bev Bevan has announced the current Move UK tour is their last because he and fellow original Trevor Burton are embarking on separate...
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Fun The good old days with the fans – Joe Meek ‘Special’ – Borderline London April 27 A special concert to remember the work of legendary record producer Joe Meek at London’s West End Borderline Club was a great reunion night for artists and fans. Artistes appearing included Cliff Bennett, Chas Hodges, Billie Davis, Danny...
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Dave Davies makes a courageous return to performing in the UK after a decade of battling to overcome a stroke when he stages a concert at London’s Barbican on April 11. The concert follows a highly popular and critically acclaimed series of shows in the US last year which announced to the world that The Kinks’ lead guitarist and...
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