MuzikMan's Reviews And News: Reissued Music

Showing posts with label Reissued Music. Show all posts

9/26/2018

Star-Studded Salute To Hard Rock Legends KISS Receives A Very Special Reissue With New Title And All New Artwork!

Produced by Bob Kulick and Bruce Bouillet with guest performances by Bruce Kulick, Tommy Shaw, Lemmy Kilmister, Doug Aldrich, Dee Snider, Steve Lukather, Chris Jericho, C.C. DeVille, Dug Pinnick, Page Hamilton, Buzz Osbourne, and more!

Los Angeles, CA - An incredible line-up of world-class musicians and vocalists gathered together, under the helm of Grammy award-winning producers Bob Kulick and Bruce Bouillet, to recreate 11 classics from the catalog of one of music’s greatest, best-loved bands, the icons of theatrical shock rock, the mighty KISS! Originally released as Spin The Bottle in 2004, the resulting album has received a complete makeover this year and will be reissued October 19 with all new artwork. Now titled, Pure Fire - The Ultimate KISS Tribute, the album features unique combinations of A-list performers including former KISS member Bruce Kulick plus some of the bands biggest friends and fans including Tommy Shaw (Styx), Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Steve Lukather (Toto), Chris Jericho (Fozzy), Buzz Osbourne (The Melvins), Dug Pinnick (King's X), C.C. DeVille (Poison) and so many more!

This special multi-media edition also comes with a bonus making-of DVD that features interviews and stories from the artists, including those who are no longer with us, recorded 14 years ago - it’s like a beautifully preserved time capsule showing what these artists looked like, sang like and played like, and what they thought about KISS back then. Hear producer Bob Kulick, Tommy Shaw, Tony Franklin, Aynsley Dunbar, Robin McAuley, Robben Ford , Lemmy , Greg Bissonette, Doug Aldrich, Kip Winger, Carmine Appice, Mike Porcaro, Fred Coury, and many others share their personal stories and recollections about Paul, Gene, Ace & Peter. No self-respecting KISS fan should be without this release!

Track List:
DISC 1: CD
1. Detroit Rock City - Dee Snider, Doug Aldrich, Marco Mendoza, John Tempesta
2. Love Gun - Tommy Shaw, Steve Lukather, Tim Bogert, Jay Schellen
3. Cold Gin - Mark Slaughter, Ryan Roxy, Robben Ford, Phil Soussan, Steve Riley
4. King Of The Night Time World - Chris Jericho, Rich Ward, Mike Inez, Fred Coury
5. I Want You - Kip Winger, Paul Gilbert, Greg Bissonette
6. God Of Thunder - Buzz Osbourne, Bruce Kulick, Blasko, Carmine Appice
7. Calling Dr. Love - Page Hamilton, Mike Porcaro, Greg Bissonette
8. Shout It Out Loud - Lemmy Kilmister, Jennifer Batten, Bob Kulick, Samantha Maloney
9. Parasite - Dug Pinnick, Bob Kulick, John Alderete, Vinnie Colaiuta
10. Strutter - Phil Lewis, Gilby Clarke, Jeff Pilson, Bobby Rock
11. Stole Your Love - Robin McAuley, C.C. DeVille, Tony Franklin, Aynsley Dunbar

DISC 2: BONUS DVD
Interviews and stories with:
Paul Gilbert, Bob Kulick, Tommy Shaw, Tony Franklin, Aynsley Dunbar, Robin McAuley, Robben Ford, Lemmy, Greg Bissonette, C.C. DeVille, Doug Aldrich, Kip Winger, Carmine Appice, Mike Porcaro, Fred Coury, Jennifer Batten, Bobby Rock, Mark Slaughter, Page Hamilton, Tim Bogert, Steve Lukather, Samantha Maloney, Chris Jericho and Bruce Kulick

Pre-order the CD here: https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Fire-Ultimate-Tribute-Various/dp/B07G228VJT/

“After being friends with KISS, knowing them for years, playing on Paul’s solo record, it was my pleasure to play on this tribute CD. And also working with Bob Kulick was great fun. I thought it came out great. It ROCKS!” - Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/ Beck, Bogert, Appice)

“I really liked the new arrangement they had and we screamed through it pretty fast. Wild combinations of players and singers, and in the end a very new twist to some KISS classics.” - Steve Lukather (Toto)

“KISS is and forever will be the most exciting band in the land!” - Kip Winger (Winger)

“What fun it is to do anything with Bob. Giving KISS some love. I tried to do Gene proud. We’re all parasites, baby!!” - Dug Pinnick (King’s X)

“I was thrilled to play on this record, especially with Mark Slaughter and Ryan Roxie, with whom I have played before. The song ‘Cold Gin’ was special for me because of one morning back in 1990 when I was awoken by a phone call from Gene Simmons inviting me to come up on stage to play a song with them that night. It was indeed a great moment for me!” - Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne)

“Such an honor to be included then and now, in this list of immensely talented musicians on this KISS tribute. Put your KISS face on and turn it up. Enjoy!!!” - Robin McAuley. ( MSG )

“Some seriously great performances by an insane bunch! Being involved on many of the assorted songs, I had the pleasure of enjoying all the different folks and the cool and varied interpretations they all were bringing to the table.” - David Glen Eisley (Giuffria/Dirty White Boy)

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

DEADLINE MUSIC, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.
Facebook @DeadlineMusicRecords
https://www.facebook.com/DeadlineMusicRecords/
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Youtube @Deadline Music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjP8yb8fuCEQoDu91qPuigg
Deadline Music Store
https://cleorecs.com/store/product-category/record-label/deadline/

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

6/15/2018

Wetton Downes' iCon Trilogy of Studio Albums Re-Released with Bonus Tracks – OUT NOW !

London - The John Wetton Estate and Geoffrey Downes are pleased to announce the re-release of the iCon Trilogy of albums, now remastered with bonus tracks in six panel digipacks.

The re-releases have been personally overseen by Geoff Downes and are intended to be a return to the marketplace of individual albums for fans who may wish to purchase a definitive edition.

Of his song-writing relationship and the formation of iCon, Geoff Downes says, “Throughout my entire career, there is no doubt in my mind, that some of my proudest achievements have been the songs that I wrote with the late John Wetton. Not only were we great friends, but also blood brothers in the song-writing department. His magic rubbed off on me immensely, and outside of the hugely successful Asia template, we decided to step out together with our Icon project. It was a 'bromance' made in heaven, because here we had the chance to expand our innermost thoughts and variety of influences, without interference. It was effectively 'us'. We also had the luxury of working with some of the finest musicians in the world who were willing participants in the project.”

For fans of the whole iCon legacy, a box set is being planned out featuring these albums and all the other recordings of the iCon duo, including previously unreleased material.

Geoff Downes continues,“The Wetton Downes Icon catalogue spans across some 4 studio albums, this trilogy plus a prequel album called Zero and various live releases, and incorporates some of our greatest collaborations I firmly believe, and I am happy to impart the news that this entire body of work is being re-released with all of the bonus tracks and some previously unheard renditions of our classic songs. It is in fact Icon in its entirety. If you appreciate the music of John & I, then I sincerely hope you will appreciate these re-issues. Please sit back and enjoy. I know John would be equally proud to see these projects back on the market. All of these recordings mark special periods in our personal and creative lives.

“'Icon 1' was the foundation of the Asia reunion. 'Rubicon' is thronged with the mysticism, symbolism and multi layers that illuminate John's lyrical prowess, virtually unrivalled in any era of creativity. John married events occurring in both our personal lives with Classical events in Roman History, crossing the Rubicon, the die is cast and some intensely personal reflections. His vocal performance is astounding. I look forward to discussing this amazing period in our lives at greater length in the box set planned for Christmas 2019.

“'Icon 3' was a further milestone for us, with Dave Kilminster reuniting with John, a Japanese tour and possibly the most fulfilling DVD I have ever been involved in, Urban Psalm, filmed in St Mary Le Bow Church. I could reflect for hours and hours, take up the entire booklet, but for now...May our music live on forever.”

The albums are OUT NOW on the duo's own Epicon Records via Cherry Red.

To purchase:
iCon: http://geni.us/iCon1
iCon II Rubicon: http://geni.us/iCon2
iCon 3: http://geni.us/iCon3

A previous re-release of the Wetton/Downes recordings of the 1980s, re-vitalised and re-packaged as iCon Zero continues to be available on Amazon ( http://geni.us/icon0 ) and iTunes ( http://geni.us/icon0dig )

Official Websites: www.johnwetton.com and www.geoffdownes.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Wetton Downes' iCon Trilogy of Studio Albums Re-Released with Bonus Tracks – OUT NOW !

5/09/2018

Bass Legend Jeff Berlin To Release 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch Vinyl "Joe Frazier - Round 3" Feat. Steve Vai & David Sancious!

Joe Frazier - Round 3 smokes because the players are smoking. They took a wonderful piece of music and lit a fuse under it! - Jeff Berlin

Nashville – Legendary bassist Jeff Berlin will be releasing on May 11th a 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch vinyl of his signature song “Joe Frazier.” The EP “Joe Frazier - Round 3” will include a newly remastered version of the original song from his critically acclaimed 1987 album “Pump It!” and a completely re-imagined version, composed and performed by Jeff, Steve Vai (lead guitar), David Sancious (keys), Keith Carlock (drums) and Tom Hemby (rhythm guitar). This limited-edition EP will be available as signed audiophile vinyl, signed CD, or digital release, with collector's editions including an autographed chart of the new arrangement. Digital “mix minus” tracks of the single will also be offered so you can play along with these iconic musicians.

Says Jeff, “'Joe Frazier' is a song that has remained with me throughout my career. No matter where I am in the world, people ask to hear this song. 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of the rendition that I recorded on my second solo record, 'Pump It!' While chatting about the tune with producer John McCracken, we thought to come up with a new version, calling it 'Joe Frazier - Round 3.' For me, this new song is almost entirely different from the previous two renditions and, quite honestly, I think that this is one of the best tunes I ever wrote.”

Musicians:
Bass and Keyboards: Jeff Berlin
Guitar Solo: Steve Vai
Additional Keyboards: David Sancious
Drums: Keith Carlock
Rhythm Guitars: Tom Hemby
Shakers: Gabriela Sinagra

Says Jeff, “Steve Vai's guitar solo was searing. He showed why he is one of the greatest of the great guitarists in the world. David Sancious' keyboards put color and style into JF. The man is a legend and helped to put the 'orchestra' into 'Joe Frazier.' Keith Carlock’s drumming is like a train clicking down the tracks. He instantly grabbed the quarter note and never let it go for over seven minutes of musical percolating. Tom Hemby is one of Nashville's top studio guitarists. But on 'Joe Frazier,' he sounded like the guitarist for James Brown and AC/DC.”

Photo by Arnie Goodman Photography

Credits
“Joe Frazier – Round 3”
Written and Arranged by Jeff Berlin
© 2018 Sejavi Music BMI

Produced by: John McCracken for Headstrong Media Group
Engineered and Mixed by: John McCracken @ Studio 225 Brentwood, TN
Drums Recorded at: Velvet Cinema Studio, Franklin, TN
Mastered by: Randy Merrill @ Sterling Sound, NYC

Jeff's Equipment:
Markbass “Jeff Berlin” and “Players School” bass cabinets
Cort Rithimic bass
Babicz Bass Bridge
DR Bass Strings
Steinberg-Cubase

Release date: May 11, 2018.

Five options, all accessible for purchase at: https://www.jeffberlinmusicgroup.com/jbmerch/

I. The Collector's Package
1. Signed 180g audiophile 12” vinyl EP with a newly remastered version of the original (“Joe Frazier - Round 2”) and a completely re-imagined version (“Joe Frazier - Round 3”) written and performed by Jeff and an all-star group: Steve Vai (guitar), Keith Carlock (drums), David Sancious (keys), and Tom Hemby (rhythm guitar)
2. Signed CD of both songs, and
3. A signed and dated print of the full score for “Joe Frazier - Round 3”
All of Jeff's signatures will be original!
Available July 2018 (pre-order bonus!!: digital bundle sent to you FREE on May 11, 2018)
$39.95 + shipping and handling. International shipping available

II. “Joe Frazier” 30th-Anniversary Edition CD
This signed, special-edition CD will include a newly remastered version of “Joe Frazier - Round 2” and the all new “Joe Frazier - Round 3”
$14.95 + shipping and handling. International shipping available

III. “Joe Frazier” 30th-Anniversary Digital Bundle
This packed special-edition digital bundle will include:
1. the newly remastered “Joe Frazier - Round 2”
2. the brand new “Joe Frazier - Round 3”
3. an extra bonus track: the original “Joe Frazier - Round 2” demo
4. a digital download of the full “Joe Frazier - Round 3” score
$7.99

IV. “Joe Frazier - Round 3” “Music Minus One” Alternate Mix Bundle
This interactive “Music Minus One” digital bundle will include alternate mixes of “Joe Frazier - Round 3” that allow you to play along with Jeff Berlin, Steve Vai, Keith Carlock, David Sancious, and Tom Hemby. This bundle includes the full digital score and 4 alternate mixes:
1) Minus drums
2) Minus bass
3) Minus guitars
4) Minus bass solos and guitar solos
$14.99

Each of these “Music Minus” mixes is available for individual purchase ($4.99) and will also include the full digital score along with the alternate mix.

Pre-orders accepted now at: jeffberlinmusicgroup.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Bass Legend Jeff Berlin To Release 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch Vinyl "Joe Frazier - Round 3" Feat. Steve Vai & David Sancious!

Joe Frazier - Round 3 smokes because the players are smoking. They took a wonderful piece of music and lit a fuse under it! - Jeff Berlin

4/10/2018

UK's Debut Album To Be Released On Limited Edition 180 Gram Vinyl

Exclusively To Record Store Day Participating Retailers

Los Angeles - Celebrating the 40th anniversary of UK's critically acclaimed self-titled debut record released on Polydor in 1978, Eddie Jobson is making this seminal album available on vinyl for the first time since its original release. It will be released on April 21st, and available exclusively to Record Store Day participating retailers worldwide. The record is pressed on 180 gram vinyl, and includes an 8 page full color booklet designed exclusively for this release. The album is remastered from the original tapes located at Abbey Road Studios in London, which is the same master that was used in the now out of print “Ultimate Collector's Edition” box set that compiled all the works of UK's 3 albums, along with rarities, live material and 5.1 versions across 18 discs.

“I'm pleased to recognize the 40th Anniversary of this seminal album with this carefully remastered vinyl release. This is now a legacy recording, made even more significant with the recent passing of both Wetton and Holdsworth, that I hope will represent a benchmark for future musicians.” - Eddie Jobson

The Music
In October 1977 the new supergroup featuring Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, John Wetton and Allan Holdsworth entered the rehearsal room, each armed with a panoply of musical ideas. Each song, theme, part or riff was logged in, like a jigsaw piece, and so the organizing and arranging of the individual pieces began. External expectations were high, not just for what these four individual innovators might create together, but because Trident Studios in Soho was already booked to record the results of their highly anticipated collaboration.

The music of UK would be developed over several weeks. Wetton would reintroduce “Thirty Years,” a song first tried out with the Wakeman trio; Bruford brought in some harmonic, but mostly rhythmic ideas. Holdsworth's contributions revolved around his distinctive chord voicings, forming the foundation of such tracks as “Nevermore” and “Mental Medication.” Meanwhile, Jobson - the more formal composer of the group - brought in pages of musical notation that included the entire “In The Dead of Night” suite, minus vocal melody lines, but including “By The Light of Day” and the Zappa-influenced “Presto Vivace,” along with a complete version of “Alaska,” the verse of “Time To Kill” and half of “Nevermore.” The myriad musical ideas were painstakingly stitched together, mainly by Bruford and Jobson, but it would be Wetton's melodic and lyrical sense that would ultimately glue the disparate stylings into something resembling cohesive songs. Notwithstanding the considerable stylistic contributions of Holdsworth and Bruford, with a full sixty percent of the new album material emanating from Jobson's compositions, and with the addition of Wetton's vocal melodies and lyrics, the first UK album truly marked an auspicious beginning to the highly symbiotic Jobson-Wetton writing partnership.

Trident Studios, December 1977
The “U.K.” album was recorded over a six-week period. Holdsworth's classic guitar solo on “In The Dead of Night” was created on the fly. Wetton's dense harmonies were carefully overdubbed over the course of many hours. Jobson created the entire electronic section of “Nevermore” on the studio's massive ARP 2500 modular synthesizer. An amalgam of classical, jazz, rock and electronic, the first UK album was considered truly groundbreaking; Rolling Stone magazine called it “The great white hope of progressive music.”

In 2016 Rolling Stone selected the “U.K.” album as one of the Top 30 “best progressive-rock albums of all time.” Though, in a burst of collaborative brilliance, this towering lineup recorded only one album together, the pioneering musicians known as UK have still carved their place in rock history as one of the greatest progressive-rock bands of all time, and have left this classic recording as an exemplary standard for future musicians.

For more information
www.recordstoreday.com
#RSD18
@recordstoreday Twitter
@recordstoreday Facebook
@recordstoredayus Instagram

Eddie Jobson
http://www.zealotslounge.com ;
https://www.facebook.com/EJ.UK.fanpage/

The album is available exclusively from Amped Distribution/Alliance Entertainment. For more information contact alex@ampeddistribution.com and phone 954 255 4505.

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

UK's Debut Album To Be Released On Limited Edition 180 Gram Vinyl

Exclusively To Record Store Day Participating Retailers

11/08/2017

King Crimson To Release "Earthbound - 40th Anniversary Edition" Expanded CD & DVD!

Now available for pre-order - to be released November 17, 2017

King Crimson's “Earthbound - 40th Anniversary Edition” expanded CD & DVD is now available for pre-order and wll be released on November 17, 2017! “Earthbound,” originally released in 1972, was one of the earliest (if not the first) “official bootleg” released by a major rock band, consisting of a series of deliberately lo-fi live recordings of King Crimson's “Islands” era line-up on tour in the USA. When issued, because of its mid-price it was excluded from the main album charts in the UK but topped the mid-price charts rubbing shoulders with Jim Reeves & Mantovani. Atlantic in the USA didn't even bother to release it. By then, the band had broken up and the label had already been alerted to the likelihood of a new King Crimson line-up promised for later in the year. Like the later live album, “USA,” “Earthbound” remained unavailable in the early CD era, with both finally being released in 2002 on CD. Ironically this non-availability served to enhance interest in the album while DGM's live releases made fans aware that there was a larger story to be told of this line-up's history.

When Robert Fripp was asked to guest on the second Grinderman project, Nick Cave noted: “I wanted to work with Robert Fripp because he has done some of the most uniquely unsettling guitar work I have ever heard along with some of the most delicate and finessed. I grew up listening to a lot of the King Crimson stuff. The vinyl copy of the phenomenal live album 'Earthbound,' is one of my most treasured possessions.”

Featuring:
Boz Burrell: Vocals, Bass
Robert Fripp: Guitar, Mellotron
Mel Collins: Saxes, Flute
Ian Wallace: Drums

The new version of “Earthbound” features an expanded version of the original album on CD & DVD. As a series of stereo only/low-fi recordings, a 5.1 edition was neither possible nor appropriate. However, also included on the DVD of this release is the full performance from Summit Studios, captured on the same US tour in 1972, appearing in both new stereo & quadraphonic mixes, providing the only live surround recordings of this line-up. This release also features 15 minutes of material not included on the original mail order only CD of Summit studios as issued by DGM in 2000. The DVD also features the “Schizoid Men” sequence from the “Ladies of the Road” live album & a transfer of a 1972 vinyl edition of the “Earthbound” LP.

• “Earthbound” – is the twelfth release in the acclaimed King Crimson 40th anniversary series.
• The album has been expanded ON CD & DVD
• CD features an expanded 12 track version of the original 5 track album.
• DVD features the 12 track expanded album in 24/96 hi-res stereo audio.
• DVD also features the Summit Studios performance in a new stereo mix & in quadraphonic.
This is the only surviving multi-track performance from the 1972 tour.
• DVD features the album length “Schizoid Men” sequence of edits of 21st Century Schizoid Men taken from the “Ladies of The Road” live album
• A transfer of the original vinyl album completes the audio selections.
• Presented as a 2 x digi-pack format in a slipcase with new sleeve notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith along with rare photos & archive material.
• Continues the highly collectable King Crimson series.

To pre-order King Crimson's “Earthbound - 40th Anniversary Edition” Expanded CD & DVD:
http://shop.schizoidshop.com/king-crimson---earthbound--40th-anniversary-series-p1700.aspx
( Distributed via Alliance Distribution)

DGM website: www.dgmlive.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

King Crimson To Release "Earthbound - 40th Anniversary Edition" Expanded CD & DVD!

Now available for pre-order - to be released November 17, 2017

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

6/05/2017

French Music Legends Magma Release Remastered "Wurdah Ïtah" Featuring Unreleased Material!

Featuring 25 minutes of previously unreleased material!

Paris, France - French music legends Magma have released a new remastered version of their critically acclaimed 1974 album “Wurdah Ïtah” on CD! The release includes for the first time, “Wurdah Ïtah Prima Materia,” the Original Demo used for the soundtrack to the film “Tristan & Iseult.”

“Winter 1971. Between two series of concerts, we are pacing in circles like caged animals. Georgio Gomelsky senses the tension in the air and decides to book the little Chappell studio for us for a few days in order to release our pent-up energy. On 3 January 1972, Klaus Blasquiz, Jean-Pierre Lembert, René 'Stundëhr' Garber and I enter the studio. Despite the many imperfections of this recording, it remains an essential document to understand the origin of 'Wurdah Ïtah' and to feel our frenzy at the time.” - Christian Vander 1974

“Wurdah Ïtah” was recorded in April 1974, just one month before the sessions which produced “Kohntarkosz.” It forms the second movement of “Theusz Hamtaahk,” an epic work in three movements of which “Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh,” recorded a year earlier by Magma, forms the final part. Performed by the core players in Magma at that time - Christian Vander (piano, drums, vocals), Jannick Top (bass), Klaus Blasquiz (vocals, percussion) and Stella Vander (vocals) - “Wurdah Ïtah” is music stripped down to its bare essence. Although a total contrast to the splendour and orchestral power of “M.D.K.,” it nevertheless has just as great rhythmic power and surprising vocal lyricism, unquestionably marked by the claws of Magma!

Recorded and mixed April 4th, 5th& 8th 1974 at Studio de Milan (Paris) by Jean-Pierre Bameulle

New booklet – Lyrics included!

To purchase: http://www.seventhrecords.com/en/magma-19/wurdah-itah-remastered-25-mn-unpreviously-1263.html

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

French Music Legends Magma Release Remastered "Wurdah Ïtah" Featuring Unreleased Material!

Featuring 25 minutes of previously unreleased material!

2/28/2017

Grand Funk's all the girls in the world Beware!!! Released On Limited Edition Hybrid SACD

A rock/pop/R&B mainstream hit album... includes the HITS “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “Bad Time”

Camarillo, CA - Grand Funk Railroad fans rejoice! Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity has released Grand Funk's hit album all the girls in the world Beware!!! on Limited Edition Hybrid SACD. all the girls in the world Beware!!! is Grand Funk Railroad's ninth studio album. The 1974 album was the group's second album released that year.

First there was the heavy metal power trio, then the powerful hard rock quartet and then after years of loud, in-your-face rock albums and tours, Mark Farner, Don Brewer, Mel Schacher and Craig Frost went into the studio and made an album that has a lot more R&B and a lot less rock than ever before and way ahead of its time.

" 'all the Girls' was a bit of an experiment for Grand Funk. Disco had raised it's ugly head in 1974 and if you wanted radio airplay you needed to go in that direction. Grand Funk, not being a 'Disco Act', decided to do R&B which was really what GFR was all about. R&B pumped up on steroids. Enlisting veteran producer Jimmy Ienner, I think Grand Funk came up with the best rendition of the soul classic 'Some Kinda Wonderful' in history. Still played today in heavy rotation and probably every wedding reception in the world. Once again Audio Fidelity has done a great job on this SACD Hybrid. ENJOY!" - Don Brewer

The album's combination of high-gloss production and the band's energy resulted in some impressive hits: “Some Kind of Wonderful” is an exuberant, organ-drenched soul song that highlights the group's strong harmonies while “Bad Time” mixes a delicate, string-laden melody with a pulsing beat from the rhythm section to create a one-of-a-kind power ballad. all the girls in the world Beware!!! has many inventive moments. The seven-minute “Good & Evil” is fascinating for Brewer's strange, processed lead vocal. “Look At Granny Run Run” is sheer R&B fun and “Memories” is a serious stab at out-and-out balladry.

all the girls in the world Beware!!! was recorded at the Swamp, a studio owned by Mark Farner and located on his farm in Parshallville, MI. The recording sessions were engineered by Shelly Yakus with assistance from Kevin Ayers and Rod O'Brien. The album's producer was Jimmy Ienner, who had also worked with artists such as Three Dog Night, The Raspberries and the Bay City Rollers. All but two of the songs on the album were written by members of the band. Grand Funk Railroad continued to move further into the pop/rock mainstream with this hit album. In support of the release, the band embarked on an immensely successful worldwide tour in early 1975.

The album's artwork included taking the faces of the band members and manipulating them onto the bodies of famous body builders Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbo. The body builder photos are used on the front and back of the booklet. The center spread art is a Neal Adams illustration of the body builders surrounded by a crowd of young female fans.

TRACKS
1 Responsibility
2 Runnin'
3 Life
4 Look At Granny Run Run
5 Memories
6 All The Girls In The World Beware
7 Wild
8 Good & Evil
9 Bad Time
10 Some Kind Of Wonderful

Produced by Jimmy Ienner
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio / SACD Authoring: Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering

Grand Funk Railroad's official website: http://grandfunkrailroad.com/
Mark Farner's official website: http://www.markfarner.com/

For more information: www.audiofidelity.net

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

10/19/2016

Audio Fidelity To Release Two Jazz-Fusion Classics on Hybrid SACD By Weather Report and Return To Forever

Camarillo, CA - Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be releasing Weather Report, “Tale Spinnin'” and Return to Forever, “Musicmagic” on Hybrid SACD. Both recordings are considered essentials from the jazz fusion era of the mid-'70s.

Recorded in early 1975, “Tale Spinnin'”, Weather Report's fifth studio album is filled with sunny textures of Latin and African flavors. The album stands with anything recorded during the period for the range of fresh, intriguing originals by the band's co-founders and principle composers, the keyboardist Joe Zawinul and the saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Zawinul's pioneering interest in world music is in full evidence with the exotic percussion, wordless vocals, sandy sound effects and Middle Eastern and North African musical spices. His synthesizer sophistication is growing along with the available technology of the day. Wayne Shorter's work on soprano sax is more animated than on their previous albums and Alphonso Johnson puts his melodic bass more to the fore.

“Musicmagic” is Return to Forever's final studio album and one of the best jazz recordings released in the fusion genre. The album contains the final line-up of the band with only founders Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke returning from the earlier recordings. This 1977 release was the first Return to Forever album in five years to contain vocals, performed here by Gayle Moran and Stanley Clarke. This album also marked the return of original member Joe Farrell on saxophone and flute, along with several new members making up a killer five-piece horn section.

The sound is remarkably more orchestral than anything the group had previously done, a cross between fusion, jazz vocals, big band and grassroots accoustic jazz. Musicmagic celebrates the pure joy of music.

Both releases are mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and the SACD Authoring was done by Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering.

Weather Report “Tale Spinnin'”
Produced by Wayne Shorter, Josef Zawinul

TRACKS:
1-Man in the Green Shirt
2-Lusitanos
3-Between the Thighs
4-Badia
5-Freezing Fire
6-Five Short Stories

Return To Forever “Musicmagic”
Produced by Chick Corea - Co-produced by Stanley Clarke

TRACKS:
1-The Musician
2-Hello Again
3-Musicmagic
4-So Long Mickey Mouse
5-Do You Ever
6-The Endless Night

For more information: www.audiofidelity.net

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

6/01/2016

Rage Against the Machine Debut Album To Be Released On Limited Edition Hybrid SACD

“The first album to successfully merge the sounds of rap and heavy metal”

Camarillo, CA – Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be releasing the critically acclaimed debut album by Rage Against the Machine on limited edition Hybrid SACD. Rage Against the Machine's first album is a mix of punk, metal, hardcore and politically resonate rap. Every song is full of energy with smart lyrics and plenty of slam-dancing potential. In 1992, the band released its self-titled debut album, which became a commercial and critical success. The album went to #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and #45 on the Billboard 200 chart. Rolling Stone magazine named it as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2001, Q magazine named it as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time.

This album is relentless, from the opening track “Bombtrack” all the way to the last blast of “Freedom,” every tune is a highly explosive ball of energy, none of which is clearly superior to any of the others. The lyrics, while full of blunt and pure anger, are very passionate and well-written in the sense that they actually stand for something.

This album like no other changed the landscape of '90s music. The “guilty parties”: Zack de la Rocha's vitriolic and angst-ridden words fueled by the heaviest rhythm section on the planet featuring drummer Brad Wilk and the exciting and dynamic bass of Timmy C and of course, RATM's signature sound, Tom Morello's belligerent, aggressive guitar riffs and turntable-esque noise that make this the best debut album of all-time.

The “Know Your Enemy” track features Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan on “additional vocals” and also features Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins on trashcan percussion. The liner notes claim, “No samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this recording.” This is, and always will be, considered Rage Against the Machine's most important work.

“Distinctly groundbreaking and original...a landmark in musical history.”

Track list:

1. BOMBTRACK
2. KILLING IN THE NAME
3. TAKE THE POWER BACK
4. SETTLE FOR NOTHING
5. BULLET IN THE HEAD
6. KNOW YOUR ENEMY
7. WAKE UP
8. FISTFUL OF STEEL
9. TOWNSHIP REBELLION
10. FREEDOM

Produced by: Garth Richardson, Rage Against the Machine
Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering

For more information: www.audiofidelity.net

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

4/22/2016

Celebrate The Debut Album Of Metal Giant THOR With A Special 3 Disc Reissue Plus & A Spectacular NY Concert Event!

Los Angeles, CA - Get ready for one of the biggest metal reissues of the YEAR - a super deluxe edition of the legendary, underground classic, the 1977 debut album Keep The Dogs Away from metal icon THOR! This landmark release has become revered among music aficionados of every generation as one of the most explosive debut albums of any era with such ultra catchy rock anthems as “Keep The Dogs Away,” “Sleeping Giant,” “Thunder” and more. The CD version comes in a deluxe 6-panel digipak CD with alternate cover art, liner notes from longtime fan Brian Kehew (co-author of Recording The Beatles), 22 rare and unreleased bonus cuts on a separate disc PLUS a vintage 1980 concert DVD. The vinyl version meticulously recreates the original pressing with a foldout poster and printed inner sleeve. Both formats will officially hit the streets on May 13, courtesy of Deadline Music.

To celebrate this landmark reissue, THOR, in association with famed radio personality and metalhead Eddie Trunk and Fabio Productions, has put together a spectacular 4-hour multi-media event at the Highline Ballroom in New York City on May 14th. The event includes a first time EVER full concert performance of the entire KTDA album, plus a theatrical screening of the I Am Thor documentary, a special THOR Museum display, as well as another concert performance of THOR’s most popular songs with tons of special guests! This is the ULTIMATE THOR experience - a metal extravaganza unlike any BETHOR! https://www.facebook.com/THOR-A-Rock-Odyssey-Live-in-New-York-1016591135046207/

Track List:
1. Keep The Dogs Away
2. Sleeping Giant
3. Catch A Tiger
4. I'm So Proud
5. Tell Me Lies
6. Military Matters
7. Superhero
8. Wasted
9. Rosie
10. Thunder

BONUS TRACKS (CD ONLY)
1. Asgardia
2. All Nite
3. Atomic Vibrations
4. Do The Muscle (1975 Version)
5. Away From You
6. Touch Me
7. You Tried My World (No Time)
8. Do The Musicle
9. We Got The Power (Brian Kehew Mix)
10. Hey Tonight (Brian Kehew Mix)
11. Everybody Needs A Hero
12. We Are Body Rock / Start The Show
13. You Have Too Much
14. Just For You
15. Give Me The Green Light
16. She Sings The Body Rocker
17. Tears In My Soup
18. Who's Better? (You Haven't Got A Chance)
19. Best Built Man Alive (Live)
20. Land Lover
21. Open Sky
22. Keep The Dogs Away (Demo)

Buy the CD: http://flyt.it/ThorKTDACDAmazon
Buy the Vinyl: http://flyt.it/ThorKTDALP
Download the digital version: http://flyt.it/ThorKTDADig

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

11/16/2015

Audio Fidelity To Release Alice Cooper's “Muscle of Love” On 4.0 Quad SACD

“Alice returns to a pure rock sound...one of his most revered albums ever.”

Alice Cooper fans rejoice! Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be releasing the final Alice Cooper group album on 4.0 Quad SACD. Muscle of Love is the seventh studio album by Alice Cooper and it was the last album to feature the entire original band, and it was a true grand finale at that. Cooper stated in an interview at the time that the album marked a return to fundamentals. “It's not complicated in any sense...It's very basic rock & roll throughout.”

The two best-known tracks are undoubtedly the Top 20 anthem “Teenage Lament '74,” which features none other than Liza Minnelli, Ronnie Spector, Labelle and the Pointer Sisters on backing vocals, and the rollicking title track. But other tracks are just as good - the Led Zep-stomping opener, “Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo),” the gentle “Hard Hearted Alice” (a precursor to Cooper's future ballad-oriented direction), the raging “Working Up a Sweat,” and “Man with the Golden Gun.”

The 1973 return to the band's more hard rock roots was a successful creative choice and catapulted Muscle Of Love into Billboard's Top 10 Album Chart. That sound, complete with the prog-rock/heavy metal workouts, has proven over the years to be a significant piece of the Alice Cooper legacy.

“One of the best albums of the genre...a hard rock classic!”

INCLUDES: Miniature replica of the Institute of Nude Wrestling book cover

TRACKS:
1. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)
2. Never Been Sold Before
3. Hard Hearted Alice
4. Crazy Little Child
5. Working Up a Sweat
6. Muscle of Love
7. Man with the Golden Gun
8. Teenage Lament '74
9. Woman Machine

Produced by Jack Richardson, Jack Douglas
Mastered: Stereo CD, SACD & 4.0 Analog to High Definition DSD Digital Transfer: Steve Hoffman & Stephen Marsh

For more information: www.audiofidelity.net
Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

9/09/2015

Progressive Rock Review: Magellan-Double Feature

Release Date:10^th July 2015

Label: Magna Carta

Website

I initially thought that Magellan was another example of the “new” bands that The Ancient One had simply missed out on, but on doing a little digging, I found that they were formed 30 years ago in 1985. The album that had arrived, Double Feature, is indeed as the title states, being the packaging together of the first two releases by the band, Hour of Restoration (1991) and Impending Ascension (1993).

Magellan has released 7 studio albums since the debut, Hour of Restoration in 1991, up to Innocent God which was the last full album release in 2007. Since that point, the band has been fairly quiet with the release of some singles, including cover versions of Kansas (“Dust In The Wind”) and Chicago (“25 or 6 to 4”).

The members of the band at the time of the debut recording were the brothers Gardner, Trent and Wayne, playing keyboards and guitar respectively, with Trent also supplying lead vocals and Wayne supporting with backing vocals, as well as Hal Stringfellow Imbrie, on bass and backing vocals, and one I suspect might be an alias, Magellan on drums. There was a slight change of personnel on the recording of album No 2, Impending Ascension, with the Gardner brothers and Hal still present, but the drum stool had Magellan and Doane Perry sharing and also the presence of a female vocalist, Hope Harris, appearing on one track.

A nod to the style of Magellan would probably be to imagine a band with the “over the top” style of Yes, the gentler touch of Genesis, power a la any power trio and the slightly heavier side of bands such as Kansas. There is a distinct leaning towards keyboard led tracks with the guitar certainly not used much as a lead instrument. I should also point out, as an aside, that I do like the band, Yes, very much, but I do think they were a little “pompous” at times, such as on Tales From Topographic Oceans.

The Double Feature release has a total playing time of around 95 minutes, with disc 1 (Hour of Restoration), running for around 44 minutes and disc 2 (Impending Ascension), slightly longer at around 50 minutes. The longest track on offer is the opening track on disc 1, “Magna Carta” with a playing time of 15:09 minutes and the shortest track, also on disc 1 and the final track, “Turning Point” lasts just under a minute and a half (1:26).

The opening track on this new release by Magellan, is “Magna Carta” (15:09), and mention should be made that the album is a concept album basically dealing with a chunk of English history, hence this opening title, which coincidentally also happens to be the original record label the band released on. This is the longest track across the 2 discs and after many listens, the band do seem much more at ease allowing the longer tracks to build and evolve. “Magna Carta” highlights the excellent keyboard work of Trent Gardner, and the intro to the track just builds and builds prior to a quirky time signature change, and this is where my doubts start to creep in. Across this track there are some sublime keyboard based passages, but there are some time signature changes which verge on the discordant as the whole track abruptly does an about turn. What also becomes much clearer is that Magellan, the alias of the drummer, is the name given to their drum machine, and there are examples of the metronomic drumming style, of which I am not a fan. This is a real mixture of an opening track, but there were enough positives to make me look forward to the rest of the album.

The next couple of tracks, “Winner” (2:10) and “Friends of America” (3:34) are at best pleasant, but not outstanding nor memorable. ”Union Jack” (9:23) is a different kettle of fish, as the length again allows the track to build and flow. There are neat bits of narration, excellent keyboard work and the voice is more than adequate, although I felt that some of the lyrical content didn’t scan very well and seemed to be too forced.

Tracks 5 through 8, “Another Burning” (5:12), “Just One Bridge” (2:18), “Breaking These Circles” (5:25) and “Turning Point” (1:26) are similar to the earlier shorter tracks by being a little interesting, but their lengths never allow the tracks to build on any potential shown.

Disc 2 commences with “Estadium Nacional” (11:38) and shows the bands’ maturity and confidence with a much harder hitting sound, but also a much better flowing musical thread. There seems to be much more depth to the music which carries the listener along, sharing the superb keyboards, that are a Magellan trademark, and the vocals seem to suit the music better. The time signature changes work well and this is an excellent opening track.

A piano passage and a very different style for the band, opens “Waterfront Wierdos” (11:25), before the reassuring keyboards enter. Swinging from gentle piano sections to heavier keyboard motifs, this track is another very good slice of progressive music.

The shorter songs on disc 2 all seem to have more happening within them and generally seem to shed the “filler” description from the disc 1 examples. The final track, “Storms and Mutiny” (12:13) isn’t quite as successful as the other longer examples although the long keyboard/ symphonic ending was both terrific, and, unexpected.

Magellan have taken the best bits from the debut, Hour of Restoration and evolved the sound for the second album, Impending Ascension, and although nothing earth-shattering, there is enough on this release to get prog fans interested. Give Double Feature a few listens and see what you think.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Magna Carta, Estadium Nacional, Waterfront Weirdos

Tracks:

Disc 1
Magna Carta
Winner
Friends Of America
Union Jack
Another Burning
Just One Bridge
Breaking These Circles
Turning Point

Disc 2
Estadium Nacional
Waterfront Wierdos
Songsmith
Virtual Reality
No Time For Words
Storms And Mutiny
Under The Wire

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

September 9, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk