First released in 2014, ‘Big Music’ marked a significant chapter in the Simple Minds’ legacy. Next month, the band will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special limited edition reissue.
For the first time, ‘Big Music’ will be available on 140g opaque orange double vinyl, alongside a deluxe double CD edition featuring bonus tracks, cover versions, and remixes by Johnson Somerset. Simple Mind’s 2014 Album “Big Music” is the sound of a group in retrospection to their artistic heyday, drawing upon irresistible, hook-laden synth-pop and riotous glam rock. Their first release for five years, “Big Music” signalled a triumphant return to form and referenced the group’s core influences through covers of The Doors, Patti Smith and The Stranglers.
Out now to celebrate National Album Day, Simple Minds’ 2014 album “Big Music” has been reissued for its 10th anniversary. Remastered by Phil Kinrade at AIR Studios, the album features key tracks including ‘Blindfolded‘, ‘Midnight Walking‘ and lead single ‘Honest Town‘.
Some of the greatest Minneapolis musicians of the late 1980s would pass through the band Golden Smog, though you might not know it by reading the credits; for contractual reasons, Soul Asylum vocalist Dave Pirner, Jayhawks guitarist Gary Louris, Replacements drummer Chris Mars and others all appear under pseudonyms on the band’s 1992 debut EP.
The group took their name from a nickname given to Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones episode “Hot Lips Hannigan”, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Tormé’s nickname (The Velvet Fog).
With a name drawn from a Flintstones episode and a penchant for all-covers set-lists, the loose-knit group began as talented friends just having a good time, and that spirit pervades “On Golden Smog“, whose five songs include alt-rock and alt-country takes on Bad Company (“Shooting Star”), The Rolling Stones (“Back Street Girl”), Thin Lizzy (“Cowboy Song”) and more. For Record Store Day 2022, this rousing collection will be available on vinyl as a limited edition 12” with an etching on the B-side.
A chronicle of the history of Jethro Tull from1964 to the present day and compendium of memorabilia, rare photographs and a worldwide discography, Additional material is being added to the books. Vol 1, ‘Spin me back down the years’, a fan’s eye view of the band and Vol 2, ‘The Boy Scout Manual’, will be extended.
Much to the excitement of Jethro Tull fans worldwide, a new two-volume book ‘Spin Me Back Down The Years! A Comprehensive Guide to the History and Pre-History of One of the Greatest Rock Bands of the 1960’s, 70’s and Beyond!’ written by Pat Kent is now available.
“As a lifelong Jethro Tull fan I was approached to consider writing a book about the band at a press conference for the dance group Pan’s People in 2014. The publisher at the time was looking for a book of around 200 pages. It didn’t take long to realise that would not be sufficient to tell the story of a band that was soon to span 50 productive years playing around the world and selling well in excess of 60 million records. The book has been a labour of love for the three of us, myself, Charlie Kenney and Erin Ward, dedicated to a band that has provided the soundtrack to our lives.” – Pat Kent, author
Book Editions The books are unofficial documents containing a fan’s eye view of the history of the band looking at the contributions of the musicians as a collective. They also contain a compendium of memorabilia, photographs and a worldwide discography.
The history covers the pre-Tull days of Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond, John Evans, Barrie Barlow and Glenn Cornick’s involvement in those early line-ups in Blackpool of ‘The Blades’ and the ‘John Evans Band’ through Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker’s time in and around Luton in ‘McGregor’s Engine’; as well as chronicling Martin Barre’s progression through various bands and musical styles in ‘The Noblemen’, ‘The Motivation’, ‘The Penny Peeps’ and ‘Gethsemane’ before fate, chance, luck and talent brought them together in the eventual guise of ‘Jethro Tull’.
The book will be released in three editions, each containing two volumes. The standard edition will be available in hardback and paperback.
Volume One – ‘Spin me back down the years’ – a history of the band as recounted by Pat Kent with contributions from Charlie Kenney, Erin Ward and other fans who detail some of their recollections. Lengthy interviews with Martin Barre and Dee Palmer and further input from Peter John Vetesse, DonAirey, Eddie Jobson, Andy Giddings, Clive Bunker and more.
Volume Two – Volume Two – ‘The Boy Scout Manual’ – will contain, additional images of rare memorabilia, photographs, many previously unseen, selected from our own collections, as well as from renowned photographers across the years, including, Carl Dunn, Joe Astromowicz, Tom Holsclaw, Chris Fenger and Martin Webb. This volume will also incorporate biographies of some of the key members, and an insight into the post-Tull art work of Jeffrey Hammond along with a comprehensive look at the worldwide singles collection of Charlie Kenney along with other discographies and listings of filmed performances.
The Deluxe Edition Same as above but it will come in a presentation box housing two 12”x12” volumes along with reproduction handbill, poster, passes and photographic memorabilia. The edition will also contain a vinyl pressing of an acetate belonging to Clive Bunker of a 1968 recording featuring ‘Clive Bunker & Friends’.
Pre-order now on Music Glue and Gonzo Multimedia. Pre-order links will also be advertised via The Jethro Tull Group Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/tullgroup). A link to the pre-order will also be added to this updates page.
Simple Minds’ 1984 album “Sparkle in The Rain” was reissued back in 2014 as a 4CD+DVD super deluxe edition. Long out of print, that box set is being made available again, newly presented, but without the DVD. Long regarded as one of the jewels in the band’s catalogue, 1983’s “Sparkle in The Rain” kicked off a run of three consecutive Number 1 albums in the UK for Simple Minds and delivered the classic hit singles ‘Waterfront’, ‘Up on The Catwalk’ and ‘Speed Your Love to Me’.
The box set features the original album on CD 1, a selection of B-sides and rarities on CD 2 and then what was a previously unreleased Glasgow Barrowlands concert across the last two CDs.
“Sparkle in the Rain” will be released on 22nd November 2024, via Virgin/UMR.
Plasticland is an American Neo-Psychedelic and Garage rock (revival) band, formed in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, in 1980 with two members of Arousing Polaris, Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic.
Several guitarists and drummers would rotate in and out of the band over time, but Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic have remained the core of the band. Dan Mullen was the second guitarist for most of the 1980s recordings and live appearances. Brian Ritchie, later of The Violent Femmes, played guitar briefly with the band on early recordings. Multiple singles, EPs, compilation appearances, studio and live albums appeared in the 1980s and early 1990s. Several compilation CDs chronicle the band’s earlier years.
“Color Appreciation” (1984), their first album, was on the French Lolita label. Enigma Records in the US reissued the album in 1985, self-titling it, with track alterations and substitutions. Enigma subsidiary label Pink Dust released the next two albums, “Wonder Wonderful Wonderland” (1985) and “Salon” (1987).
For “Wonder Wonderful Wonderland” the label wanted the band to use Paul B. Cutler, a producer and guitar player with The Dream Syndicate, but the band “generally ignored his advice”. German label Repulsion issued their final studio album, “Dapper Snappings” in 1994, though it was recorded several years earlier.
Two very different live albums were also released. “You Need a Fairy Godmother” (1989) and “Confetti” (1990) were both issued by Midnight Records. The former was recorded with Plasticland backing one of their musical heroes, Twink, legendary drummer of The Pretty Things and The Pink Fairies. “Confetti” consists of various live performances edited together.
The duo of Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic, with new bandmates, are still performing, having opened for Blue Cheer last in November 2007. In January 2008, John Frankovic and Victor Demichei retired their services from the group.
The group has been sustained by Glenn Rehse and new guitarist Leroy Buth (previously of the legendary Milwaukee punk rock group The Lubricants). In 2024, Plasticland released “Spree”, which was recorded in 2006 and 2013. The 2006 session featured Frankovic and original drummer Victor Demichei. The 2013 session featured Andy Kaiser on bass and Mike Koch on drums.
In 2015, Plasticland were inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame, “Plasticland” (Enigma – 1984 – “Color Appreciation” French version by Lolita Records)
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Charlatans’ third album “Up To Our Hips“, comes an expanded edition of the album. The set features the original album in addition to 10 bonus tracks comprised of live session recordings, rare mixes and more, all curated by Tim Burgess. The special package has brand new reimagined artwork by Nik Void and the LP is pressed on petrol blue bio vinyl.
Released in 1994, “Up To Our Hips” was a new direction for the band. It leaned slightly away from the lighter pop songs of their previous two albums and is darker, heavier and organ led. At the time, they were listening to a lot of Small Faces, Beatles, and Dylan and watching David Lynch films all while navigating internal band stress, and many of the lyrics on the album reflect the stress of the band at the time. The tracks that have been added to the release include two live tracks recorded for the Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley Show, plus B-sides, alternate mixes and more.
On November 8th, Beggars Arkive will release a 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition of The Charlatans third album “Up To Our Hips”. The edition features the original album in addition to 10 bonus tracks, and it’s all been curated lovingly by Tim Burgess.
One of the truly special bonus tracks is “Don’t Let It Stand AKA Can’t Get Out of Bed (demo version)”
The Charlatans – easily recognized by their hallmark sound of driving Hammond organs, northern UK soul and house-influenced rhythms, swaggering guitars and Tim Burgess’ sunny yet yearning vocals – are one of the most consistent British pop bands of the past 3 decades. The band has released an album every few years since 1989, each of which landed in the top half of the UK music charts, 3 of them hitting #1 and spawning 22 top 40 singles. The band has over- come obstacles from nervous breakdowns to addiction to near bankruptcy to the heartbreaking deaths of two founding members, all the while adapting, transforming and producing new music in spite of it all.
The Sherlocks return with a brand-new album following the release of last year’s “People Like Me and You” – representing a bold evolution in their sound, the record was the best set of their career to date.
Over recent years The Sherlocks have become one of the most exciting live bands in the UK. Selling out tours across UK and Europe, the band have also achieved chart success with x3 Top #20 albums. Yorkshire brothers Kiaran and Brandon Crook joined up with band members Alex Proctor and Trent Jackson. With an incredibly passionate, loyal fan base, their fans have followed the band’s journey from pubs/clubs to selling out venues out all across the world, as well being asked to tour in arenas/stadiums with the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chief, The Libertines and many more.
On the first single from the album, ‘Death Of Me’, The Sherlocks capture the excitement of their live energy. ‘Everything Must Make Sense!‘ continues to find them reaching for brand new sonic highs & capturing the excitement of their live energy. This album follows the release of 2023’s ‘People Like Me & You’, which represented a bold evolution in their sound.
The band – comprised of brothers Kiaran and Brandon Crook as well as Alex Procter and Trent Jackson
20 years of The Go! Team’s “Thunder Lightning Strike“, 20 years of lasers through tracing paper, orange tone oscillations, cable access hangover, music made through sunburnt circuits, a K-tel dream sequence, a haunted vision mixer, station wagon-core, straight to video, VHS in distress, something in the fog, fluff on the needle, chromakey constellations, a hovercraft on the fret board, maxing the minute maid, faxing a car alarm, a Morse code pep talk, etch-a-sketch jackknife, a daily Haley’s comet, light sound colour motion, a holiday from yourself.
This final reissue is a celebration of a record that sounded out of time in 2004, dripping in future nostalgia, and which twenty years on still sounds as unique and uncategorisable as it did when it arrived.
RT LP – Comes with an exclusive 7”, featuring new versions of “Hold Yr Terror Close” by The Pastels and The Orielles and a recreation of the original CD-R demo version of the album which stands up as a document of band leader Ian Parton’s unique method of working.
The LP – Comes with a recreation of the original CD-R demo version of the album that stands up as a document of band leader Ian Parton’s unique method of working.
Video to the track “Buy Nothing Day” featuring Bethany from Best Coast and The Girls At Dawn. From the album “Rolling Blackouts“
Indie folk singer Haley Heynderickx has shared a bare-bones, bluesy new track from her upcoming album “Seed of a Seed”.
Haley Heynderickx is back! Six years after her acclaimed debut album “I Need to Start a Garden” the folk singer-songwriter returns with a brand-new album. Known for her emotive voice and intricate guitar work, Heynderickx’s latest release promises to capture the same heartfelt storytelling and unique sound that won her a dedicated fanbase.
Haley’s musical journey continues to explore deep, personal themes with authenticity and grace.
The forthcoming album ‘Seed of a Seed’, due out November 1st, 2024 on Mama Bird Recording Co.
The Fat Angel Sings 