Category Archives: VARIOUS
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert 2CD Set
Gone but not forgotten, Ronnie Lane’s music is still a reason to be cheerful. ****1/2
DMME.net (December 2014)
…Rock luminaries such as Ronnie Wood, Pete Townshend and Paul Weller joined forces to revisit some of the timeless ditties that Ronnie helped to create during his time with The Faces and Small Faces as well as some charmingly bucolic excerpts from his subsequent solo career led by ‘The Poacher’, ‘Harvest Home’ and Lane’s infectious 1973 hit, ‘How Come’.
Kevin Bryan, Regional Newspapers (November 2014)
Some of the main highlights include riveting performances by Pete Townsend on the catchy acoustically flavoured ‘Stone’ and on the rousing ‘Heart To Hang On To’. Other notables include the Rod Stewart classic ‘Maggie May’, lovingly reimagined by Jones Gang but staying true to the song’s classic roots and the massive hit ‘Tin Soldier’, also redone by the Jones Gang. Listening to these live versions it is clear the player’s hearts were in the right place this night in April, 2004 at the Royal Albert Hall.
The booklet includes a short essay by John Hellier, shedding light on the evening and delving briefly into Ronnie Lane’s history.
Every so often I have a feeling I will play this disc if only to keep the memory of Ronnie Lane alive and well. He truly deserves at least that much.
Sea Of Tranquility (November 2014)
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
…the many musical highlights aside, what delights here most is the warm vibe, for Lane was obviously a man who was much loved by his former colleagues as well as someone who was a hero for so many in the audience.
Blues In Britain (October 2014)
Ronnie Lane was truly one of rock’s unsung heroes. This production isn’t about flashy photography and over the top stage shows, it’s just about the man and his music. One For The Road is a fitting tribute to someone whose life was cut far too short. Released on Angel Air Records.
Sea Of Tranquility (September 2014)
This concert allowed old rockers and earnest imitators to belt out 40 or so of the Faces man’s most memorable tunes. Lane’s band, Slim Chance, reconvened for the occasion, and provide fine backing for some of the choicest moments – Pete Townshend doing “Stone” and Paul Weller’s lovely “The Poacher”…
Uncut Magazine (September 2014)
A fitting salute to a much-loved man, and a powerful reminder of the extraordinary music he left behind.
Record Collector Magazine (September 2014)
Pete Townshend and Paul Weller seized possession, by their very presence, of a good-natured capacity crowd that, fading into the Kensington twilight afterwards, agreed generally that it had participated in one of the ‘greatest nights anyone could ever remember’.
R2 Magazine (September 2014)
This DVD is a wonderful way to remember a great evening at the Royal Albert Hall and a fitting souvenir for those who were there. Those who could not make it will enjoy hearing and see the concert for the first time. Great fun. Let’s do it all again one day.
Making Time (August 2014)
A memorial concert worthy of Ronnie Lane for sure, and expertly captured on this DVD.
Music-News (August 2014)
Ten years on, a very well-filmed DVD running for more than three hours ensures the concert’s standing as both a raucous piece of entertainment and a genuinely affectionate memorial event…
The Beat Magazine (August 2014)
Ronnie Wood, Pete Townshend, Paul Weller and sixties icons Steve Ellis and Chris Farlowe all played their part in the success of a lengthy set as they helped to breathe new life into memorable Lane creations such as ‘Itchycoo Park’, ‘How Come’ and the beguilingly bucolic ‘The Poacher’.
Kevin Bryan, Regional Newspapers (July 2014)
VARIOUS – Hooked On Number Ones
When the focus is on the ’60s or memories are cast even further back, like “Lovesick Blues” with Mike Berry’s yodel, the artists involved apply their best interpretative skills, but there’s not much zest in the latter stuff, so thankfully, the ’80s output is boiled down to the opener “Uptown Girl”, “Relax” and closer “Karma Chameleon” that slip out and into the “Hooked On Number 1′s” theme delivered by the creme de la creme of session singers including Sue and Sunny, Tony Burrows and Vicki Brown. Her other half, Joe, shines on “Bad Moon Rising” yet fails to blow life into “Imagine” as marred by a homogenous rhythm track as is “Michelle” in which Lonnie Donegan’s brilliantly repaying The Fabs all their admiration; the skiffle master’s keening voice feels perfectly suited for this tune but, surprisingly, can’t hold “Sailing” above the water he treads in his own “Puttin’ On The Style”. By the same token, MUNGO JERRY are inimitable when it comes to “In The Summertime”, although they deliver “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” and “Sweets For My Sweets” just as infectiously.
…the real star of the show is an unknown vocalist, Bogdan Kominowski whose attack lends a new quality to “Maggie May”, whereas GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS prefer to stay in the comfort zone of “How Do You Do It” – unlike THE FORTUNES updating “If You Leave Me Now” or MUD who throw away their saccharine for zippy harmonies of “Oh Boy” before exorcising all the sarcasm from “Out Of Time”. But that’s the emotion which gets in the way of dancing, a goal this album hits in style. ***
www.dmme.net (March 2012)
It’s fascinating to hear a familiar voice on a chorus or verse of a song that’s not usually associated with that particular voice. The more unexpected examples include ‘Michelle’ and ‘Sailing’, performed by Lonnie Donegan; ‘San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)’ by Craig Douglas…
The Beat (March 2012)
…Featuring an all star cast, including original artists, and produced in 1984 by Geoff Morrow, the 100 track CD features snippets of songs everyone knows and loves and breaks it all down into four medleys.
On hand are much revered artists including members of The Fortunes, Mungo Jerry, Marmalade, Lonnie Donegan, Joe Brown, Helen Shapiro and more. As documented on previously released Angel Air titles – including CDs from Ammo and Butterscotch – Morrow’s work in the pop field is never less than exemplary.
Touching on a hundred different tracks, it’s all a bit karaoke, but nevertheless, Hooked On Number Ones makes for 65 minutes of nonstop listening fun.
MWE3.COM (April 2012)
VARIOUS – War Horses – Angel Air Rocks!
Eclectic it may well be but ‘War Horses’ is all the better for it and as a starting place this is a perfect introduction to an excellent label.
Fireworks magazine (May 2011)
This compilation features lots of good stuff that Angel Air are now putting out or re-issuing; and although retro is a good sampler of some top musicians. 3/5
Mark Woodhead, www.getreadytorock.com (April 2011)
This is the second excellent compilation from Angel Air Records I’ve reviewed…this compilation takes in everything from Southern Fried Boogie, to proggy classic rock, poppy AOR and straight Heavy Metal…with a gloriously funky version of Free’s ‘Wishing Well’ by the phenomenal vocal talents of Maggie Bell…things just keep getting better.
www.rocktopia.co.uk (June 2011)
VARIOUS – This Is Progressive Rock
Among the best known names here are Atomic Rooster … and the Ian Gillan Band, whose Child In Time is a beautifully restrained version of a song Gillan first and most famously cut with Deep Purple.
Music Week (December 2010)
…it also demonstrates, first and foremost, the progressive width of the label’s scope
www.dmme.net (January 2011)
A suitably pretentious title for an anthology exploring the delights of prog-rock, drawing on extracts from some of the vast array of CDs that have been released by Angel Air over the years
Kevin Bryan, various regional papers (January 2011)
…a timely reminder of just what an excellent roster Angel Air have amassed… an impressive collection and one that contains more than a few welcome surprises of the highest order.
Fireworks magazine (January 2011)
…weirdly wonderful…all in all, this is a fab album for those who were oriuginally around and can remember, and those curious enough to give it a shot
www.music-news.com (February 2011)
… a huge collection of talent spanning the 14 year career of the Angel Air label, featuring artists like, Damage Control, Stray, Robin George, Notorious, Heavy Metal Kids, Gillan, British Lions, Bullet, Krokus, McCoy, Maggie Bell, Quatermass II, David Byron Band, Nobody’s Business, Gerry McAvoy Fandango and Freedom. It’s a great compilation that truly showcases some of the labels artists.
This CD is a great way to check out some long forgotten gems, and get a taste for what the label has to offer.
Well worth checking out!
www.glitzine.net (January 2011)
…Carmen surprise with the bi-lingual Bulerias, which effortlessly syncs flamenco guitar and the sort of soaring Moog work you might recognise from a selection of sci-fi TV shows that aired in the early 70s…Seek it out, but give The Ian Gillan Band’s run at Child In Time a miss.
Classic Rock magazine (May 2011)
VARIOUS – The Best Of Homegrown Music 1968-1980
…if you don’t have the Factory and Five Day Rain stuff already, go and grab this…
Shindig magazine (August 2010)
Angel Air Records, like they’ve done so often in the past, have done a bang up job putting together this compilation of long lost treasures…if you’re a fan of somewhat obscure British classic and progressive rock, then this one is definitely worth checking out.
www.seaoftranquility.org (October 2010)
VARIOUS – Do You Dream? UK Pop & Psychedelia 1965-1970
Plundering the Angel Air archives for what, thanks to the label, aren’t rarities anymore, it welcomes in a few previously unreleased tracks to tie up the loose fringe of the almost underground scene with quite a few family connections…
www.dmme.net (June 2010)
…half-forgotten gems that also benefit no end from the rather nifty remastering…an eminently playable set which doesn’t work on paper but sounds great to these ears.
Shindig magazine, (June 2010)
I dare you to listen to this CD without breaking into Austin Powers-style dancing…this is the real deal-authentic, groovy, trippy, dippy hippy music from the late 1960s from British bands…
www.e-gear.com (July 2010)
…an intriguing collection that brings together twenty one rare and classic pop and psychedelic nuggets recorded between the years of 1965 and 1970…a very solid overview of a particular period of music from the Angel Air archives…excellent introduction to what the folks over at Angel Air are all about.
www.seaoftranquility.org (July 2010)
…Angel Air has built a sturdy catalogue of lesser-known psych and 60s pop, from which this 21-track collection compiled by Stefan Granados is drawn…
Record Collector (July 2010)
Devotees of the obscure and unjustly overlooked should find much to entertain them in this fascinating new Angel Anthology…
Kevin Bryan, Stirling Advertiser (July 2010)
VARIOUS – The 25th Anniversary of the Marquee Club
A great classic rock DVD with great performances and a nice history of the Marquee Club.
www.musicknockout.net
VARIOUS ARTISTS The 25th Anniversary of the Marquee Club DVD
In summer 1983, the Marquee Club in London held two days of celebration for its 25th anniversary. On this DVD are snapshots of those nights and the bands and artists who have played there.
The most poignant is the appearance of Alexis Korner with an all star band that included Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. This was one of his final appearances, at a club where he recorded his r and b at the Marquee album in 1962.
Also appearing on the DVD are a rockier Status Quo and Welsh band Man, sitting alongside the New Orleans legend Dr John and 1960s pop star Dave Dee. This DVD encompasses all the styles of music you would find at the club, enhanced by reminiscences with some of
the artists.
Nigel Filby, Diss Express (September 2007)
Some of Britain’s most popular rock acts are given an opportunity to strut their stuff during the course of this one and a half hour DVD…
Kevin Bryan, Houderness Gazette (September 2007)
…the footage is fine, with Welsh rockers Man putting in a powerful performance on C’Mon, while Nazareth rock out with an incendiary version of Joni Mitchell’s This Flight Tonight…
Music Week (15.09.07)
…this enjoyably dated film makes for good entertainment, being informative of period, revealing of participating artists and (albeit unintentionally) amusing.
Peter Muir, www.getreadytorock.com (November 2007)
…it is great to revisit the history of a legendary club where bands plied their trade to become great live acts…
Classic Rock Society (Dec 2007)
Some of Britains’ most popular rock acts are given an opportunity to strut their stuff during the course of the one and a half hour DVD…
Kevin Bryan, Stirling News (Dec 2007)
VARIOUS Hits And Angels – The Stowmarket Sound DVD
…there are some wonderful performances on here…an interesting collection, and certainly an easy way to check out what Angel Air have to offer.
Feedback (September 2004)
…live performances from an interesting and diverse list of artists…a fine compilation of archive footage.
Classic Rock Society (September 2004)