This month the cover stars are Genesis– the prog legends as they were circa summer 1974, captured at Headley Grange, the rundown manor house in Hampshire where they convened to write much of their sixth album, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway“, their final LP with Peter Gabriel. We speak to band members and associates about this crucial period in their evolution.
Elsewhere this month we continue with RC’s ongoing celebration of our 45th anniversary with Chime A Dozen, in which RC’s staffers each pick their favourite 12 singles since the magazine was founded in 1979. Alison Moyet is in the RC Interview hot-seat, discussing her solo career and brief tenure with successful synth duo, Yazoo. There are further close encounters with Vegas veteran Engelbert Humperdinck and 60s soul-psych outfit The Rascals as well as features on The Byrds’ Gene Clark and Talk Talk and their creative mainstay Mark Hollis.
In our authoritative Album Reviews section, our writers examine the latest releases (both From The Vaults and New) from Bob Dylan & The Band, Paul Williams, Mercury Rev, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Ezra Collective. In Books there are new tomes on Suicide’s Alan Vega, Wishbone Ash and Robyn Hitchcock among others, while JR Moores assesses the best new Singles including ones from Lone Justice and The Clientele and in Lives there are reports on gigs by Foo Fighters, Love and Idles (plus attendant Gig Guide).
Our numerous sections are having a busy month. In News we focus on The White Label Auction, and we find out where Fairground Attraction’s Mark Nevin has been these past 37 years. The Vinylist has all the release dates you need. RC Investigates takes readers on music-themed holidays. The Collector is Harlem Apollo archivist Brad San Martin. Value Added Facts is a special on harpist Dorothy Ashby. Diggin’ For Gold finds out what happened to 80s synth duo 50/50 (and makes a connection between the latter and the Genesis of The Lamb Lies Down…). The 10 Of The Best this month is on New Zealand punk. Marco Pirroni of Adam & The Ants picks his life-changing records. We spend 33 1/3 minutes in the company of Ian Hunter. David Quantick waxes lyrical about farewell songs. Alan Parsons, among others, is in Talking Heads. We go Under The Radar with French rock band Indochine and into The Engine Room with Francis Monkman. In Competitions & Crossword you can win Tony Iommi/Glenn Hughes and Fanny vinyl/CDs. Finally, we pay tribute to godfather of British blues, John Mayall, who recently died.
The sun is shining for what appears to be a bit of an Indian Summer but already we’re working on our November issue aka RC 563 with articles on our usual wide range of artists from Bryan Ferry and Laurie Anderson to Magazine and Focus, as well as a new regular feature on British cities’ best-ever single releases, starting with Liverpool 45s.
Don’t forget the RECORD COLLECTOR Presents, special editions: Hawkwind and King Crimson are out now with Siouxsie & The Banshees following soon.
COVER STORY – GENESIS – It’s 1974 and the prog pioneers reconvene at a country house in Oxfordshire to start work on their most ambitious project yet: a double concept album. However, personal problems and musical differences are threatening to spell the end of an era for the band
CHIME A DOZEN – We’re still celebrating our 45th birthday, so here’s the RC staff’s favourite 12 singles from the last 45 years
ALISONMOYET – The formidably voiced Essex chanteuse takes us through the many personal and professional challenges that have brought her to her current career renaissance
ENGELBERTHUMPERDINCK – Still touring at 88, the Leicester crooner born Arnold Dorsey also still takes pride from keeping The Beatles off the No 1 spot
GENECLARK – Why the man who played a key role in birthing The Byrds’ inimitable sound is belatedly being recognised for his often outstanding solo work
TALKTALK – Five years since his passing, we present new glimpses of the band’s enigmatic leader Mark Hollis via a series of revealing photos from an acclaimed biography
RASCALS – These New Yorkers found chart success with colourful beat pop but their heart was in more adventurous, progressive material – and that’s where the trouble began…
FROMTHEVAULTS – Reissues and box sets from Dylan & The Band, Paul Williams and Johnny Marr dissected and assessed
NEWALBUMS – Mercury Rev, Ezra Collective and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have new LPs to bend an ear to
BOOKS – Volumes by and about Alan Vega, Wishbone Ash, Robyn Hitchcock and others
SINGLES – including Lone Justice
LIVES – Performances by Foo Fighters, Love and Idles are among those witnessed
The Fat Angel Sings 