Jul 14, 2024
Flying Start - Kevin Ayers (1988)
Kevin's solo version of the track he sang for Mike Oldfield one year earlier on his Islands album.
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Malaysia
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from Czechia
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from T1
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Singapore
seen from Italy
seen from United States
seen from Philippines
seen from Brunei
seen from China
Flying Start - Kevin Ayers (1988)
Kevin's solo version of the track he sang for Mike Oldfield one year earlier on his Islands album.
Gentle Giant Co-founder and Bassist Ray Shulman Dies at 73
Ray Shulman, co-founder and bassist of British prog band Gentle Giant, died March 30 “after battling a long illness,” the band said.
He was 73.
“May Raymond Shulman rest in peace and love,” Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony Foundation said.
Gentle Giant released 11 studio albums during its 1970-1980 run. Shulman went on to work as a composer and a producer, contributing to box sets by Tangerine Dream, Steve Hackett, Al Stewart, Chris Squire, the Moody Blues, the Alan Parsons Project and others.
“It’s not exaggerating when I say his input … made each project special,” Esoteric Recordings’ Mark Powell said in a statement.
“He was a very lovely man and I will miss his friendly manner. He made each project a pleasure.”
Primarily a bassist, Shulman also played violin, trumpet, recorder and guitar with Gentle Giant, which included his older brothers Derek and Philip, who survive.
Derek Shulman eulogized Ray as a “genius” and “a kind and caring soul” in a Facebook post.
“To all who knew Ray or know of him, think of him with kindness,” Derek Shulman said.
4/1/23
DREAM RELEASE ALERT!
DELUXE 9 CD / 1 BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION 10-INCH BY 10-INCH BOX SET OF THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS BY KEVIN AYERS FROM 1969 -1973. WI
Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker Dead at 76
- “A brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry,” band says in eulogizing its leader
Gary Brooker, the singer, songwriter and pianist for Procol Harum, has died.
Brooker’s death occurred Feb. 19 while the musician was “receiving treatment for cancer, but (he) died peacefully at home,” the band said.
Brooker was “a brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry,” Procol Harum said in its Feb. 22 obituary.
“So sad to hear that we have lost Gary Brooker,” Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg, the father of Procol bassist Matt Pegg, wrote on Facebook. “I am honored to have played with him. … “R.I.P., Gary.”
Best known for songs like “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Conquistador,” Procol Harum released 13 albums during its 1967-1977 and 1991-2022 runs and launched the solo career of guitarist Robin Trower.
Brooker, who was the band’s only member from beginning to end, composed music to complement non-performing member Keith Reid’s off-kilter, often humorous, lyrics and created a sound that meshed the hard rock of “Long Gone Geek” with the classical of “A Salty Dog,” the music-hall camp of “Mabel” and the progressive rock of “In Held ’Twas in I.”
Between Procol gigs, Brooker made solo records and toured and recorded with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band and other musicians.
“He leaves behind a legacy that will last for generations and will be missed by everyone who knew him and worked with him,” Esoteric Recordings said in a statement.
2/22/22
THE ULTIMATE EARLY '70s CULT BAND WITH A HAMMOND ORGAN AS ITS LEAD INSTRUMENT.
PICS INFO: Mega spotlight on package design for "Quatermass," the only studio album by English progressive rock band QUATERMASS, originally released in May 1970 by Harvest Records, it was re-released with new stereo mixes under the Esoteric Recordings label in 2013. The album was reissued as a two disc set, in a 3-fold (6-panel) digipak, complete with 16-page booklet.
LABEL: Esoteric Recordings – ECLEC 22397
FORMAT: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, New Stereo Mixes, DVD, Multichannel, NTSC, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Reissue
COUNTRY: Europe
RELEASED: 2013
GENRE: Rock
STYLE: Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Art Rock, Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock
ALBUM OVERVIEW: "QUATERMASS' only album is a must-have for prog rock enthusiasts, especially lovers of the keyboard-dominated style which flourished in the early '70s. Although there are only three members of the band, their histories are just as colorful as the music they produced. Keyboard player Pete Robinson and bass man Johnny Gustafson met drummer Mick Underwood and founded Episode Six, a band which included Ian Gillan who later fronted DEEP PURPLE. Underwood was also involved with THE OUTLAWS as well as THE HERD, only a few years before Peter Frampton arrived.
When the band finally formed QUATERMASS in 1970, they had set their sights on a power rock format which would use Robinson's keyboards to shape their sound. Both "Black Sheep" and "One Blind Mice" were released as singles which fell mostly on deaf ears, but the band's sound was equally as moving as THE NICE's repertoire, for example, at around the same time. QUATERMASS' sound is far from sounding hollow, isolated, or directionless, but all of the cuts are rather rock-sturdy and instrumentally voluptuous from all points. The string work that swoops in is encompassing, Underwood's drumming exhibits personality, and the keyboard portions are remarkably striking and distinct.
Even Gustafson's robust vocals work well within the music's structure, subsiding and ascending when called for, and all of the cuts result in worthy examples of well-built progressive rock, in both ballad and power rock form. Following this album, the band broke up, with Gustafson later doing session work for Kevin Ayers, Steve Hackett, and Ian Hunter, among others, while Robinson found new life within the jazz-prog band BRAND X. Beautifully packaged with informative liner notes, Quatermass sounds as resounding today as it did in 1970, and upon hearing it, one can only wonder why it was so overlooked during its release."
-- ALLMUSIC (review by Mike DeGagne)
Sources: www.discogs.com/release/30018958-Quatermass-Quatermass, Allmusic, various, etc...
Spirit: Tent Of Miracles (Expanded Edition) (Esoteric Recordings)
California psych-rock band Spirit should be more highly regarded. A string of classic albums, the powerful lyricism and guitar playing of leader Randy California, as well as an interesting back story about the child prodigy frontman assisted by his stepfather—it’s the stuff of legend. But somewhere along the way, Spirit lost its spirit. Whether it was the bizarre, nonsensical concept albums,…
View On WordPress
Peter Green: The End Of The Game (Esoteric Recordings)
Fleetwood Mac’s history is filled with all sorts of wild characters and unique personalities, none more interesting than founder Peter Green. A young guitar whiz, his path seemed certain with the growing grassroots success of his band. Unfortunately, like a handful of promising young talents of the era, Green soon succumbed to a drug and alcohol hell, exasperated by mental health issues. Soon,…
View On WordPress
Song Of The Day: Djabe & Steve Hackett, "Walking Around"
Several years ago, Hungarian jazz band Djabe met with progressive guitarist Steve Hackett in Sardinia, resulting in the fine album Life Is A Journey: The Sardinia Tapes. Released to critical acclaim, the pair have gathered together again for an album. Though Djabe recorded in Sardinia, Hackett added his contributions after the sessions, but you wouldn’t know it.
Back To Sardiniais the result,…
View On WordPress
