British ‘60s Psychedelic Legends Nirvana's ‘Songlife’ The Vinyl Box Set 1967-1972 To Be Released by Madfish Music on February 26, 2021

On February 26th 2021, Madfish Music will release Nirvana ‘Songlife’ 1967-72, a 6 LP vinyl Deluxe Box Set housing all 5 of the band’s pioneering studio albums – ‘The Story Of Simon Simopath’, ‘All Of Us’, ‘Dedicated To Markos III aka Black Flower’, ‘Local Anaesthetic’, ‘Songs Of Love And Praise’ - alongside the never before released 1972 LP ‘Secrets’. Nirvana were essentially the duo of Irishman Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Greek Alex Spyropoulos – who, following a chance meeting in London during the summer of 1966, took a long, strange trip together.

It’s the first time the band’s recorded output has ever been collated together on one release and is an engrossing body of work to explore. These albums sit comfortably with some of the other great works of the time – the Zombies, The Kinks and the Pretty Things included. And whilst Nirvana are most famous for their British psychedelic classic ‘Rainbow Chaser’, as the music contained here displays, there was so much more to them than just that celebrated single, for they reached far and wide into the musical strato-sphere with a technicolour vision.

Four of the original albums have been remastered from their original ¼ inch tapes and the box itself comes with a 52-page booklet featuring liner notes from renowned author Peter Doggett, interviews with Patrick & Alex from Nirvana, full discography, rare newspaper clippings, previously unseen pho-tos, posters and sleeves, and an exclusive Gered Mankowitz print signed in-dividually by the band. Of key interest to fans will be the ‘Secrets’ album which was only recently unearthed in its entirety, its origins began as a musical score that Nirvana had planned on bringing to London’s Theatres and stages in the early Seventies.  

Nirvana’s story remains a wonderful tale of artistic ambition and entwined within it lies a roll call of supporting cast heroes that includes The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Chris Blackwell, Salvador Dali, Francoise Hardy, Tony Visconti, and many more.

The enduring beauty of Nirvana is that over 5 decades since their paths crossed, Patrick and Alex remain good friends to this day with both of them residing in Greece. Says Patrick Campbell-Lyons, “Now, as young elderly men, I can say with pride and joy that our friendship is as strong as it was fifty years ago. We see each other often, here in Athens, and respect each other’s creative space. And once in a while we write and record a new song together. Those moments are special, like our friendship.” 

 

Album Pre-Order: https://nirvanaband.lnk.to/Songlife

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/nirvanasonglife
https://www.facebook.com/madfishlabel  

 

“Buffalo Rock City”- Greatest KISS Tribute Album Out December 15

Album Featuring Significant People in "KISStory" Raising Funds to Fight Homelessness

Coming December 15, 2020, on CD, all digital stores and streaming media, will be the best KISS tribute album ever made: "Buffalo Rock City"! The recording’s proceeds are geared to help the Compass House Foundation, a charitable organization which helps the homeless youth in Buffalo, New York. 

Lifelong KISS fan and tribute band, KISS THIS! founder and guitarist, John Jeffrey, assembled the album. He felt it important to have a quality, KISS related release, which was large in part, represented the Western New York music scene.   

Collaborating locally and via remote locations, "Buffalo Rock City" was carefully recorded, to ensure the final product would sound like a complete album of work. To create a solid foundation, ALL the drum and bed tracks were recorded in the SAME studio on the SAME day. 

Being that "Buffalo Rock City" serves a greater purpose, it was decided the songs would, generally, elevate those in need. The choices are all NON-cock rock KISS songs. John Jeffrey says, “While KISS is famous for their tongue-in-cheek innuendo, it made sense to record songs which resonate with the struggles some people may experience, and interpersonal things most people may struggle with, day to day.”

The album presents hits and GREAT B-sides from KISS’ entire history as a recording band. This includes songs from their 1974 self-titled debut, all the way up to the last ever (so far!) KISS studio album from 2012, "Monster."  The album features remakes of songs that were first sung by all FOUR original members of KISS (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley & Peter Criss). It includes songs originally played by all members of the group: all FIVE lead guitarists (Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick & Tommy Thayer) and the focal drummers from the band’s studio recordings: Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Eric Singer, and Anton Fig. 

"Buffalo Rock City" features the "best of the best" musicians from Western New York. In addition to KISS THIS!, there’s DoDriver, an all original act, handpicked by KISS members and their manager Doc McGhee, to open for KISS on the Sonic Boom tour at Darien Lake on August 13, 2010. Contributions to the collaboration album were also made by National/World-wide recording artists, Robby Takac (vocals), Tommy Henriksen (vocals/bass), Tommy Denander (guitar), Deen Castronovo (vocals), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (guitar), Philip Shouse (bass/guitar), Jeremy Asbrock (guitar), Ryan Spencer Cook (vocals) & Mitch Weissman (vocals). These "celebrity guests" have toured and recorded with Asia, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Doro, Accept, Gene Simmons, Guns N' Roses, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, The Hollywood Vampires, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Toto, The Dead Daisies, Paul Stanley, and Beatlemania. 

Mitch Weissman's lead vocals in his “While The City Sleeps” marks a significant note in "KISStory." His song originally appeared on KISS' 1984 release, "Animalize." This is the first time a KISS co-writer re-recorded a new studio version of a KISS song that he wrote with the band!    

Another legend in KISS recording lore is Jay Messina. Messina, who mastered “Buffalo Rock City,” has been working with KISS since 1976, engineering and mixing the band's breakout album "Destroyer." He engineered and mixed 1979’s "Dynasty" and co-mixed the next album, "Unmasked" (1980). John Jeffrey says, “Jay Messina knows what a KISS album should sound like; he did an amazing job in the mastering process of ‘Buffalo Rock City.’"

In tradition with the great KISS album covers, comic artist Kevin Conrad did the pencils and inks for the front cover of “Buffalo Rock City.” A life-long KISS fan, Kevin’s known for his work with Todd McFarlane, who hired him to ink all 31 issues of his "KISS - Psycho Circus" comic book series. The cover art depicts KISS THIS! musicians wearing their favorite era costumes for the KISS member they personify. The band follows the iconic KISS "Destroyer" poses in front of Buffalo's City Hall.

The Compass House Foundation is the charity recipient of proceeds of “Buffalo Rock City." Located in Buffalo, NY, its mission is to provide runaway, homeless and street youth with safe shelter and services, in an environment that supports dignity, respect and self-reliance. 

 

“Buffalo Rock City" tracks:
"Black Diamond"  (Bumblefoot & Deen Castronovo)
"Detroit Rock City" (KISS THIS!)
"Hard Luck Woman"  (Robby Takac)
"New York Groove 78/80"   (Tommy Henriksen & Tommy Denander)
"Dirty Livin'" (Ryan Spencer Cook & Philip Shouse)
"Hard Times"  (Philip Shouse)
"I've Had Enough (Into the Fire)" (Various artists)
"Back on the Streets" (Various artists)
"Street Giveth and the Street Taketh Away" (Various artists)
"Jungle"   (DoDriver)
"It's My Life" (Jeremy Asbrock)
"Freak" (Various artists)
"While the City City Sleeps" (Mitch Weissman) *bonus collector's track*

 

 

The release is available for PRE-ORDER now!!!!  All ordering information can be found at www.BuffaloRockCity.com and more details can also be found at their social media page: Buffalo Rock City - KISS Tribute Album (facebook.com/WNYTribute2KISS) 

 

November 20, 1973 - The Cow Palace - The Who are 70 minutes into a show on the Quadrophenia tour

Firefall - Way Back When

firefallofficial.com

Contemporary Blues Stars Mix It Up With New Orleans Legend DR. JOHN On New Album GUMBO BLUES!

 

Malcom John Rebennack, Jr. - better known as Dr. John, The Night Tripper - was a New Orleans icon. A purveyor of authentic popular music that mixed in blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, funk and soul to create one of the most potent musical concoctions this side of the Mississipi. Dr. John earned numerous Grammy Awards over the course of his 6-decade career and, in 2011, he received the ultimate honor, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and cementing his musical legacy for generations to come. Expectedly, the loss of this phenomenal artist, who passed away just last year, reverberated across the music world with significant force. Yet it also gave many artists and fans an opportunity to rediscover or discover for the first time, Dr. John’s mammoth catalog of albums.

Among the diverse flavors found in Dr. John’s albums is a rare spice from 1974 called Anytime, Anyplace that has become the savory base for a brand new musical gumbo as blues veterans such as Sonny Landreth and Joe Louis Walker along with newcomers Chantel McGregor, King Solomon Hicks and Mike Dawes as well as fellow New Orleans icon Doug Kershaw all join in for a multi-flavored masterpiece! Gumbo Blues takes the original tapes of Dr. John’s vocals recorded in 1974 and blends them with all-new musical backing tracks bursting with brilliant guitar work and subtle flourishes that will have Dr. John fans raving. Gumbo Blues will be available everywhere starting November 20 on digital, CD and vinyl!

Track List:
1. In The Night with Joe Louis Walker
2. Shoo Ra with Mike Dawes
3. Helpin’ Hand with Chantel McGregor
4. Woman Is The Root Of All Evil with Rafael Nasta
5. Just Like A Mirror with Buddy Whittington
6. Bald Head with Sonny Landreth
7. Cat And Mouse Game with Eli Cook
8. Mean Cheatin’ Woman with Doug Kershaw
9. She’s Just A Square with King Solomon Hicks
10. Tipitina with Matt Schofield
11. Danger Zone with Erja Lyytinen

Check out the first two singles:
https://orcd.co/dr_john_erja_lyytinen
https://orcd.co/dr_john_sonny_landreth

Pre-order the full album:  https://cleorecs.com/store/?s=gumbo+blues&post_type=product

 

This show will melt your face off! Jorma Kaukonen jams w/ Brian Auger's Oblivion Express

Jorma Kaukonen's Quarantine Vault Concert #5 presents Rock-Fusion jazz! This Saturday, November 14 at 8 p.m. ET the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp digs deep into their vault where treasures are stored and streams for free a concert featuring Brian 's Oblivion Express and Jorma jammin'!

Brian Auger, renowned English music keyboardist, specializes in the Hammond organ. He formed the ensemble Brian 's Oblivion Express who are one of the greatest bands of jazz-rock fusion. They blew away the Fur Peace Station concert hall a couple of years back when Jorma joined them for a concert May 11, 2014. Watch this incredible show that one member of the audience warns “This show will melt your face off!”

This weeks show will stream for FREE at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2J2Qnss_Z0

Go to the Fur Peace Ranch YouTube Channel to subscribe and receive notifications:
www.youtube.com/user/FurPeaceRanch.

Since the beginning of April Rock and Roll Hall Inductee, guitar legend, Jorma Kaukonen has been entertaining the world with free Livestream concerts on YouTube from his Fur Peace Ranch in the countryside near Athens, Ohio. Due to Jorma’s and Vanessa’s guitar camp concert hall, the Fur Peace Station, the sound of these livestreams, engineered by Myron Hart, is excellent and the filming, by award winning director Andie Walla, make them a joy to watch.

In a career that has already spanned sixty years, guitarist and vocalist, Jorma Kaukonen has been one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy recipient, he is a founding member of two legendary bands, San Francisco’s ‘60’s band, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna. Jorma Kaukonen’s repertoire goes far beyond his involvement creating psychedelic rock; he is a legend; a fine singer-songwriter and “A master in situ, unfurling melodies and savoring every note,” – Rolling Stone Magazine.

 

Follow Hot Tuna's Escapades:
www.jormakaukonen.com
www.hottuna.com
www.furpeaceranch.com
www.jackcasady.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCP7uoIzH4EPxup_Cu-ojgRA

Twitter:
@HotTunaBand
@JormaKaukonen

Hot Tuna - Jorma Kaukonen
 Fan Club:  www.Facebook.com/groups/JormaKaukonen
www.Facebook.com/Jack.Casady.5
Jack Casady Appreciation Society: www.facebook.com/groups/46765384238

Rick Wakeman’s “Return to the Centre of the Earth” Deluxe & Super Deluxe Box Sets Available For Pre-order

 

“Return to the Centre of the Earth” is a studio album released on March 15, 1999 on EMI Classics. The album is a sequel to Wakeman’s 1974 concept album “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”, itself based on the same-titled science fiction novel by Jules Verne. Wakeman wrote a new story of three unnamed travelers who attempt to follow the original journey two hundred years later, including the music which features guest performances from Ozzy Osbourne, Bonnie Tyler, Tony Mitchell, Trevor Rabin, Justin Hayward, and Katrina Leskanich. The story is narrated by Patrick Stewart. Upon release, the album reached number 34 on the UK Albums Chart.

“I AM IMMENSELY PROUD OF RETURN TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, AS WHEN I LOOK BACK, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ALMOST SUICIDAL TO HAVE RECORDED AND RELEASED IT WHEN PROG WAS AT SUCH A LOW STATUS, BUT THANKS TO RICHARD LYTTLETON, THE PRESIDENT OF EMI CLASSICS, WHO BELIEVED SO MUCH IN THE MUSIC, IT WAS RECORDED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD POSSIBLE AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WITHOUT HIM, THE MUSIC WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY.” - Rick Wakeman, UK 2020. 

Rick Wakeman’s official website: www.rwcc.com 

 

 

Return to the Centre of the Earth Deluxe Box Set

All-Star Keith Emerson Tribute Concert Release Announced

In celebration of Keith Emerson's 76th birthday, The Keith Emerson Estate and Cherry Red Records announce the long-awaited release of The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert on March 11, 2021 (the 5th anniversary of Keith's passing). This official 3-disc set brings you the historical 2016 tribute show in Los Angeles featuring a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of musical luminaries performing music from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, Emerson, Lake & Powell, The Keith Emerson Band and the Three Fates Project.

The 2 1/2 - hour concert film features many stellar performances by over two dozen prominent artists in rock, jazz and classical music as well as artist interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, tribute speeches, and a gallery of personal never-before-seen photos from the Emerson estate. The concert will be released on Blu-Ray along with a bonus 2-CD set which features an exclusive audio recording of the show.

Performers include Brian Auger, Eddie Jobson, Jordan Rudess, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Marc Bonilla, Gregg Bissonnette, CJ Vanston, Troy Luccketta, Rachel Flowers, Terje Mikkelsen, Philippe Saisse, Joe Travers, Travis Davis, Ed Roth, Jonathan Sindelman, Mike Wallace, Mick Mahan, Karma Auger, Rick Livingstone, Kae Matsumoto, Aaron Emerson, Dan Lutz, and Michael Fitzpatrick.

This highly-anticipated concert captures the essence of what made Keith Emerson a pioneer of prog rock, a treasure among his many fans and friends, and a legendary keyboardist and composer with the iconic supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

“It was a great honor to be asked to play in tribute to not only a friend but a musical giant and hero to us all.  I hope he smiles from heaven knowing the spirit this was done in. So many unreal musicians and thanks to Marc for putting it all together like that! RIP Keith. You are so missed...” - Steve Lukather, 2020

All proceeds go to the charity The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, which was close to Keith’s heart. Artists, crew and all involved have donated their skills and time gratis for this worthy cause, which afflicts thousands of musicians annually.

For more information and updates on the Blu-ray release, please visit:
www.keithemerson.com  
www.facebook.com/officialkeithemerson
www.facebook.com/keithemersontributeconcert