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Wednesday, 16 September 2026

The Neon Judgement - General Pain & Major Disease (1989)

The Neon Judgement is a Belgian new wave band, formed in Leuven in 1981 by Dirk Da Davo (born Dirk Timmermans, keyboards/vocalist) and TB Frank (born Frank Vloeberghs, guitarist/vocalist). They have often been cited, alongside fellow Belgian band Front 242, as the pioneers of electronic body music (EBM), an electronic dance genre from the early 1980s combining industrial and electro music."General Pain & Major Disease" is a compilation album by The Neon Judgement, a pioneering band in the Electronic Body Music (EBM) and electro scenes. 
Released by Play It Again Sam Records, this CD brings together a selection of the band's influential tracks that capture the raw energy and innovative spirit of the 1980s electronic music movement. With songs like "Kid Shyleen" and "Chinese Black," The Neon Judgement weaves dark, synth-driven soundscapes that are both danceable and thought-provoking. 
This compilation serves as an essential snapshot of the band's contribution to the genre and their lasting impact on electronic music.1989's General Pain & Major Disease is actually a compilation of some of the best tracks from the group's 12" singles and EPs, beginning with 1981's live "Factory Walk" and continuing through to 1987's "Miss Brown" (another version of which had appeared on the duo's misleadingly titled U.S. debut, Horny as Hell). Like Ministry, the U.S. group whom the Neon Judgement most closely resemble, T.B. Frank and Dirk Da Davo started life as a simple electro-pop group in the style of the early Human League. 
The earliest tracks here are simple, Krautrock-inspired synth ditties that wouldn't sound out of place on an early Depeche Mode album. 
Later material shows the duo starting to incorporate bits of industrial noise and advanced sampling techniques, but they remain in the basically polite disco-pop vein of Nine Inch Nails or later Depeche Mode rather than crossing over into the far more assaultive and interesting Test Department/Einstürzende Neubaten school of industrial. Still, this is a handy sampler for Neon Judgement fans.


Tracklist

1.  Kid Shyleen - 4:56
2.  Tomorrow In The Papers - 6:19
3.  Miss Brown - 3:56
4.  Factory Walk (Live) - 3:59
5.  Chinese Black - 3:29
6.  Awful Day - 4:30
7.  TV Treated (New Version) - 4:11
8.  The Man (Remix) - 3:58
9.  The Fashion Party - 5:16
10.  I Wish I Could - 4:29


Companies, etc.

Track 1 & 5 from the 12" EP A Man Ain't No Man When A Man Ain't Got No Horse, Man... BiaS 65, June 1987.

Track 2 from 12" single Tomorrow In The Papers BIAS 14, 1985.

Track 3 from 12" single Miss Brown / Hot Sally BIAS 77, 1987.

Track 4 recorded live, from the first 7" on Antler Records Factory Walk Antler 009, 1982.

Track 6 to 8 originally released as 12" single Awful Day · TV Treated (New Version) · The Man (Remix) Bias 38, 1986.

Track 9 from the 12" EP Cockerill-Sombre on Anything But Records ABR 002, 1983.

Track 10 from the mini-album MBIH! on Anything But Records ABR 011, 1985.


Notes
Released: 1989
Genre:  Electronic
Style:  Industrial, EBM, Electro
Runtime:  
Label:  Play It Again Sam Records 

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition) (2026)

2x GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, commemorate 40 years of her monumental sophomore album, True Colors, with the release of a deluxe edition. 
The digital deluxe edition is out today here and the 2LP is available for pre-order here.
The deluxe digital edition includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks, “The River Cried” and Lauper’s version of “Across The Universe,” giving longtime fans new material from the True Colors era. 
The 2LP will be available on December 4 in a limited-edition rainbow sprinkle variant and is available to pre-order now here. 
The freshly pressed 2LP will feature “The River Cried,” a never before released track, and select performances from Lauper’s Live at Le Zenith Paris show in 1987.
Said Lauper, reflecting on True Colors, “I’m grateful to the fans for embracing the range on the True Colors album – from ‘True Colors’ to ‘Boy Blue’ to ‘Change of Heart’ and my ‘What’s Going On’ cover. Yea, I took some risks. 
I wanted to grow. I was always hoping to become a great artist. To be remembered as someone who tried to push the boundaries a little. I’m lucky to have had partners and fans who embraced what I was doing. 
You start out wanting to make good music and you hope, also, to make a difference in people’s lives and do something forward in music. 
I didn’t know if I could, but I tried and people heard me. Thankfully.” 
Lauper continued, “The 40th anniversary of the True Colors album gave me an opportunity to go back and finish ‘The River Cried,’ a song by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly that we had to leave off the album in 1986. 
I also found the mastered version of ‘Across the Universe’ that Lennie Petze and I did. 
And then I started thinking about how great it would be to have a live album and I remembered our Live in Paris show. 
Then I went back to the Annie Leibovitz shoot and pulled images that no one had seen. 
We made art and it was very intentional. 
Having lost both Lennie and Billy this year, this project is especially meaningful to me.”
True Colors was originally released on September 15, 1986, the album reached #4 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide. 
In the United States, the True Colors album has been certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. 
The RIAA has certified the “True Colors” single platinum as of October 14, 2021. Two tracks from the album earned Grammy Award nominations: “True Colors” for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and “911” for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
With Lauper providing lead vocals and arrangements, True Colors features contributions from guest artists including Nile Rodgers (guitars: “Change of Heart”); Rick Derringer (guitars: “Calm Inside the Storm,” which he co-wrote with Lauper, and “The Faraway Nearby”); Adrian Belew (guitars and arrangements: “What’s Going On”); The Bangles (backing vocals: “Change of Heart”); Billy Joel (backing vocals: “Maybe He’ll Know”); Ellie Greenwich (backing vocals: “Calm Inside the Storm”); Aimee Mann (backing vocals: “The Faraway Nearby”) and others.


Disc 1                                            
1.  Change of Heart - 4:25
2.  Maybe He'll Know - 4:27
3.  Boy Blue - 4:47
4.  True Colors - 3:48
5.  Calm Inside the Storm - 3:55
6.  What's Going On - 4:39
7.  Iko Iko - 2:10
8.  The Faraway Nearby - 3:00
9.  911 - 3:16
10.  One Track Mind - 3:42
11.  The River Cried - 4:03
12.  Across the Universe - 4:44

Disc 2                                            
1.  Change of Heart   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 5:30
2.  The Goonies 'R' Good Enough   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 3:37
3.  Boy Blue   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France -  March 12, 1987) - 5:47
4.  All Through the Night   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:23
5.  What's Going On   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:56
6.  Iko Iko   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:00
7.  She Bop   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 5:31
8.  Calm Inside the Storm   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:14
9.  911   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 3:26
10.  One Track Mind   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France March 12, 1987) - 3:30
11.  True Colors   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:07
12.  Maybe He'll Know   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:11
13.  Time After Time   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 4:24
14.  Money Changes Everything   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 5:56
15.  Band Introduction   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris,  France - March 12, 1987) - 3:47
16.  Girls Just Want to Have Fun   (Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 7:25
17.  True Colors   (A cappella - Live at Le ZΘnith, Paris, France - March 12, 1987) - 3:48             


Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes
Released: 2026
Genre:  Pop Rock, Synth-pop
Runtime:  2:05:28
Label:  Epic/Portrait 

Monday, 14 September 2026

Soundtrack - Heavy Metal (Music From The Motion Picture) (1981)

Heavy Metal is a 1981 Canadian adult animated science fantasy anthology film directed by Gerald Potterton (in his directorial debut) and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine, which was the basis for the film.
The title Heavy Metal is somewhat misleading. Sure, this terrific soundtrack from the 1981 animated cult favorite features heavy metal and hard rock numbers. 
But the title refers to National Lampoon's sci-fi/fantasy magazine on which the film is based. Musically, Heavy Metal offers more than the title suggests, and the songs fit perfectly with their respective film segments. 
Heavy Metal was originally a double album, but at 62 minutes it fits just fine on one CD. 
Sixteen songs are contributed by Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Don Felder, Grand Funk Railroad, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Nazareth, Stevie Nicks, Riggs, and Trust; Cheap Trick, Felder, and Riggs each provide two. 
Most songs are exclusive to this soundtrack. The best-known song here is Journey's ballad "Open Arms." Blue Oyster Cult's darkly menacing "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" is a haunting gem. 
Devo's quirky, new wave interpretation of the Allen Toussaint-penned "Working in the Coal Mine" was a minor hit. Black Sabbath's blistering "The Mob Rules" is a fine example of the underrated Ronnie James Dio era. Felder's "Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)" and "All of You" are well-crafted, and they make a good argument that he was the Eagles' secret musical weapon. 
Fagen's "True Companion" is a delightful jazz-rock song that would have fit nicely on a Steely Dan album. 
The odd thing is this five-minute tune is practically an instrumental; Fagen doesn't start singing until 3½ minutes in. Nazareth's "Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)" has a hypnotic rhythm. 
Stevie Nicks' "Blue Lamp" is clean, upbeat pop/rock. Cheap Trick's "Reach Out" and "I Must Be Dreamin'" rely more on synthesizers than power-pop guitars. Riggs' "Radar Rider" is basic, catchy hard rock.


Tracklist

1. Sammy  Hager – Heavy Metal  (Jim Peterik; Sammy Hagar) - 3:52
    Bass Bill Church
    Drums - David Lauser
    Guitar - Gary Pihl
    Vocals, Guitar - Sammy Hagar

2. Riggs – Heartbeat  (Jerry Riggs) - 3:51
    Bass Dave Ridarick
    Drums - Steve Carlisle
    Vocals, Guitar - Jerry Riggs
    Guitar - Jeremy Graf

3. Devo – Working In The Coal Mine  (Allen Toussaint) - 2:51
    Bass - Gerald Casale
    Percussion, Drums - Alan Myers
    Guitar, Background Vocals - Bob Mothersbaugh
    Background Vocals, Guitar - Robert Casale
    Vocals, Synthesizer - Mark Mothersbaugh
    Synthesizer - Robert Casale

4. Blue Öyster Cult – Veteran Of The Psychic Wars  (Eric Bloom; Michael Moorcock) - 4:49
    Bass - Joe Bouchard
    Drums - Albert Bouchard
    Guitar - Buck Dharma
    Vocals, Guitar - Eric Bloom
    Keyboards - Allen Lanier

5. Cheap Trick – Reach Out  (Robert James; Pete Comita) - 3:39
    Bass, Background Vocals - Pete Comita
    Drums, Percussion - Bun E Carlos
    Keyboards, Guitar - Rick Nielsen
    Vocals, Guitar - Robin Zander

6. Don Felder – Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride)  (Don Felder) - 4:59
    Bass - David White
    Drums - Claude Pepper
    Vocals, Guitar - Don Felder
    Synthesizer - Ian Underwood
    Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
    Background Vocals - Don Henley
    Background Vocals - Timothy B Schmit

7. Donald Fagen – True Companion  (Donald Fagen) - 5:08
    Bass - Will Lee
    Drums - Steve Jordan
    Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Steve Khan
    Fender Rhodes - Don Grolnick
    Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Kalimba - Donald Fagen
    Synthesizer - Ed Walsh
    Percussion - Crusher Bennett
    Background Vocals - Zachary Sanders

8. Nazareth – Crazy? (A Suitable Case For A Treatment)  (Dan McCafferty; Darrell Sweet; Manny Charlton; Pete Agnew) - 3:27
   Bass, Background Vocals - Pete Agnew
   Drums - Darrell Sweet
   Guitar - Manny Charlton
   Vocals - Dan McCafferty

9. Riggs – Radar Rider  (Jerry Riggs; Marc Jordan) - 2:46
    Bass, Guitar - Dave Ridarick
    Drums, Percussion - Steve Carlisle
    Vocals, Guitar - Jerry Riggs
    Guitar - Jeremy Graf

10. Journey – Open Arms  (Jonathan Cain; Steve Perry) - 3:20
      Bass - Ross Valory
      Drums, Percussion - Steve B Smith
      Guitar, Synthesizer, Background Vocals - Neal Schon
      Keyboards, Background Vocals - Jonathan Cain
      Vocals - Steve Perry

11. Grand Funk Railroad – Queen Bee  (Mark Farner) - 3:14
      Bass, Background Vocals - Dennis Bellinger
      Drums, Background Vocals, Percussion - Don Brewer
      Vocals, Guitar, Piano - Mark Farner
      Synthesizer, Keyboards - Lance Duncan Ong

12. Cheap Trick – I Must Be Dreamin’  (Rick Nielsen) - 5:41
      Bass - Pete Comita
      Drums, Percussion - Bun E Carlos
      Guitar, Keyboards - Rick Nielsen
      Vocals, Guitar - Robin Zander

13. Black Sabbath – The Mob Rules  (Geezer Butler; Ronnie James Dio; Tony Iommi) - 3:15
      Bass - Geezer Butler
      Drums - Vinny Appice
      Guitar - Tony Iommi
      Vocals - Ronnie James Dio

14. Don Felder – All Of You  (Don Felder) - 4:22
      Bass - Abraham Laboriel Sr
      Drums - Mike Baird
      Vocals, Guitar - Don Felder
      Electric Piano, Organ - Paul Harris
      Synthesizer - Albhy Galuten
      Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
      Background Vocals - Mickey Thomas
      Background Vocals - Ricky Washington

15. Trust – Prefabricated  (Bernie Bonvoisin; Norbert Krief; Jimmy Pursey) - 2:54
      Bass - Raymond Manna
      Drums, Percussion - Jeannot Hanela
      Guitar - Norbert Krief
      Vocals - Bernie Bonvoisin

16. Stevie Nicks – Blue Lamp  (Stevie Nicks) - 3:46
      Bass - John Seigler
      Drums - Andy Newmark
      Guitar - Davey Johnstone
      Piano - David Adelstein
      Vocals - Stevie Nicks


Liner Notes
Producer – Roy Thomas Baker (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, 12)
Producer – Devo (Track 3)
Producer – Martin Birch (Tracks 4, 13)
Producer – Don Felder (Tracks 6, 14)
Producer – Donald Fagen, Elliot Scheiner (Track 7)
Producer – John Punter (Track 8)
Producer – Kevin Elson, Mike Stone (Track 10)
Producer – Bob Destocki, Thom Panunzio (Track 11)
Producer – Trust (Track 15)
Producer – Jimmy Iovine (Track 16)
Arranged By – Donald Fagen (Track 7)
Engineer – Ian Taylor (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, 12)
Engineer – Michael Boshears (Track 3)
Engineer – Martin Birch (Tracks 4, 13)
Engineer – Joel Moss (Tracks 6, 13)
Engineer – Elliot Scheiner (Track 7)
Engineer – Calum Malcolm (Track 8)
Engineer – Mike Stone (Track 10)
Engineer – Jim Scheffler, Thom Panunzio (Track 11)
Engineer – Steve Parker (Track 15)
Engineer – Shelly Yakus (Track 16)
Engineer (Second) – Bobby Gerber, Stuart Furusho (Track 11)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bruce Hensal, Matt Forger (Tracks 6, 13)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Jim Scheffler (Track 11)

Art Direction – Jeff Adamoff
Illustration – Chris Achilleos, Richard Corben

Mastered At A&M Mastering Studios
Mixed At Studio 55, LA
Recorded At Cherokee Studios
Recorded At Kingdom Sound
Recorded At Automated Sound Studios
Recorded At Castlesound Studios
Recorded At Fantasy Studios
Recorded At A-Square Studio
Recorded At Can-Am Recorders
Recorded At Westlake Studios
Recorded At Criteria Recording Studios
Recorded At Studio Pathé Marconi EMI
Recorded At Power Station
Remixed At Goodnight LA Studios
Remixed At Criteria Recording Studios
Phonographic Copyright Asylum Records
Phonographic Copyright The David Geffen Company
Phonographic Copyright CBS Disques
Phonographic Copyright Epic Records
Copyright The Guardian Trust Company

Notes
Released:  Jul 1981 
Genre:  Rock, Stage & Screen 
Style:  Hard Rock, Arena Rock 
Runtime:   1:01:23
Label:  Full Moon

Sunday, 13 September 2026

Nickelback - Greatest Hits (2CD) (2009)

Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, comprising lead guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, and bassist Mike Kroeger. 
It went through several drummer changes between 1995 and 2005 before Daniel Adair joined.
The band signed with Roadrunner Records in 1999 and reached a mainstream breakthrough in 2002 with the single "How You Remind Me", which reached number one in the United States and Canada. Its parent album, Silver Side Up, was certified eight-times platinum in Canada. 
Nickelback's fourth album, The Long Road (2003), produced five singles, including "Someday", which reached number one in Canada and number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In 2005, Nickelback's best-selling album, All the Right Reasons, produced three top-10 and five top-20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Photograph", "Far Away", and "Rockstar", the latter of which was their biggest success in the United Kingdom. 
Nickelback released eight singles from their sixth album Dark Horse (2008), including the United States top-10 track "Gotta Be Somebody". 
Nickelback is one of the most successful Canadian rock bands, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. 
In 2009, Billboard ranked it the most successful rock group and the seventh-most successful artist of that decade; "How You Remind Me" was the best-selling rock song and the fourth-best overall. 
In 2023, Nickelback were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
An unofficial bootleg titled Greatest Hits was released in Russia by Star Mark in 2009.


Disc 1
1.  Something In Your Mouth - 3:38
2.  Follow You Home - 4:18
3.  Never Again - 4:20
4.  Gotta Be Somebody - 4:13
5.  Photograph - 4:16
6.  How You Remind Me - 3:42
7.  Someday - 3:26
8.  Hero - 3:16
9.  Just For - 4:02
10.  Animals - 3:03
11.  Never Gonna Be Alone - 3:47
12.  Because Of You - 3:30
13.  Breathe - 3:58
14.  If Everyone Cared - 3:36
15.  Too Bad - 3:51
16.  Feelin' Way Too Damn Good - 4:14
17.  Leader Of Men - 3:29
18.  Rockstar - 4:13
19.  Throw Yourself Away - 3:54
20.  Left - 4:00
21.  Deep - 2:47

Disc 2
1.  Shakin' Hands - 3:39
2.  Side Of A Bullet - 2:59
3.  Savin' Me - 3:39
4.  I'd Come For You - 4:24
5.  Woke Up This Morning - 3:50
6.  Slow Motion - 3:32
7.  If Today Was Your Last Day - 4:10
8.  Do This Anymore - 4:04
9.  Old Enough - 2:47
10.  Believe It Or Not - 4:09
11.  Hollywood - 3:03
12.  Cowboy Hat - 3:57
13.  Far Away - 3:58
14.  See You At The Show - 4:04
15.  Should've Listened - 3:43
16.  Saturday Night's Alright - 3:42
17.  Flat On The Floor - 2:03
18.  Good Times Gone - 5:19
19.  Figured You Out - 3:49
20.  Curb - 4:51
21.  Little Friend - 3:50


Companies, etc.
  • Bass – Mike Kroeger (tracks: all tracks)
  • Drums – Brandon Kroeger (tracks: Disc 1: 19, 20 Disc 2: 19-21), Matt Cameron (tracks: Disc 1: 6), Mitch Guindon (tracks: Disc 1: 10, 15, 21 Disc 2: 7, 10), Ryan "Vik" Vikedal (tracks: Disc 1: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12-14, 16, 18 Disc 2: 4-6, 8, 9, 12-18)
  • Drums, Backing Vocals – Daniel Adair (tracks: Disc 1: 1, 3, 8, 11, 17 Disc 2: 1-3, 11)
  • Lead Guitar – Dimebag Darrell (tracks: Disc 2: 2 (posthumously), 15)
  • Lead Vocals – Kid Rock (tracks: Disc 2: 15)
  • Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Josey Scott (tracks: Disc 1: 6)
  • Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar – Chad Kroeger (tracks: all tracks)
  • Rhythm Guitar – Tyler Connolly (tracks: Disc 1: 6)
  • Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ryan Peake (tracks: Disc 1: 1-5, 7-21 Disc 2: all tracks)

Notes
Released:  2009
Format:  2 x CD, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Digipak
Genre:  Rock
Style:  Country Rock, Pop Rock
Runtime:  
Label:  Star Mark, Roadrunner Records 

Saturday, 12 September 2026

Stars - Stars (1976)

Stars were formed by guitarist/singer songwriter Alan Ross, keyboardist John Cook, the drummer of ex-Atomic Rooster Ric Parnell,Simon Lait (vocals) and Peter Matthews (bass). 
A guitarist/singer who led his own guitar/vocals group Ross and The Alan Ross Band. 
In the early 1970s, he was a technical guitarist who was sometimes called along with Eric Clapton , partly because he belonged to the same label as RSO.
1971, after working in Love Affair's predecessor bands Soul Survivors and Tangerine Peel, formed Ro Ro with bassist Warwick Rose, and released "Meet Me On The Water", a hidden folk-rock masterpiece and the only highly rated album for Regal Zonophone.
Later the same year, he participated in The Who 's bassist John Entwistle 's solo album "Whistle Rhymes" and acted as a member of the touring band Rigor Mortis. 
He also participated in Entwistle's next solo album, Rigor Mortis Sets In.1973, he formed his own leader group Ross with former Indian Summer keyboardist Bob Jackson , who had worked with Rigor Mortis and Pete Brown on sessions, and obtained a contract with RSO. 
Released two albums, "Ross" and "The Pit And The Pendulum", which mixed elements, but disbanded without achieving great success.In the second half of the same year, he was also enrolled with Babe Ruth.
In 1976 Stars released one album in the same year, but they soon disbanded.This one and only album os a nicemix bag of funk and psychedelic rock.


Tracklist

1.  That Was Yesterday - 4:54
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross, Mike Finesilver 
2.  Nothing Ever Comes That Easy - 5:33
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross, Mike Finesilver 
3.  Going Down (For The Third Time) - 4:17
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross 
4.  Heart Of Stone - 5:17
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross, Zoe Kronberger 
5.  Platform Soul - 4:38
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross, Phoebe Weatherfield 
6.  Mr Push-Me-Pull-Ya - 4:40
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross 
7.  Punishment Park - 6:24
     Peter Matthews, Ric Parnell, Lance Dixon, Simon Lait, Alan Ross, Mike Finesilver 
8.  Not Fade Away - 4:00
     Charles Hardin, Norman Petty 


Credits
  • Bass [Fender, Fretless] – Peter Matthews
  • Drums, Percussion – Ric Parnell
  • Lead Guitar, Percussion – Simon Lait
  • Lead Guitar, Vocals – Alan Ross
  • Piano [Fender Rhodes], Organ [Hammond], Clavinet, Other [Mini-moog], Other [Freeman Symphoniser], Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Percussion – Lance Dixon
  • Technician [Cut By], Mastered By – Melvyn Abrahams

Companies, etc.

Recorded summer 1975 at Majestic Studios London


Notes
Released: 1976
Genre:  Rock, funky prog rock
Runtime:   39:43

Label - Barclay 

Jean-Michel Jarre - AERO (2004)

AERO (Anthology of Electronic Revisited Originals) is a 2004 compilation album by electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre, newly recorded in 5.1 surround sound and released by Warner Music on 20 September 2004. 
In addition to the re-recorded classic tracks, the album contains three new tunes (the title track which is a rework of "Je Me Souviens", from Jarre's 2000 album Métamorphoses, using the same main melody but with no vocals) and a bonus live track. 
All tracks are sewn together through surround-sound "Scenes".
Feeling both his cultural cachet and compositional skills starting to slip, Jarre decided to re-record a bunch of his back catalogue in order to form a new album of sorts. 
It is sort of like Kraftwerk's The Mix in that it attempts to bring a bunch of old electronica up to date (without changing the sounds much), but there is a bit more going on here conceptually. 
In between tracks you hear what sounds like a person walking through rain and opening doors, after which you sometimes hear brief snippets of Jarre tracks that didn't make the cut. 
This plays into the album's central feature/gimmick, the 5.1 surround recording which pans all over the place. Admittedly this is pretty cool on the right system but at the same time it gives the music a sort of holographic quality which messes with my brain.
As with Kraftwerk these re-recordings do beg the question of what you can really do with compositions that were pretty much done perfectly in the first place, especially since the "vintage" analogue sound was a huge part of what makes them so endearing in the first place. 
To Jarre's credit the 'updates' are generally pretty tasteful - most radical perhaps is an overlaid drum part on "Equinoxe 4". 
Nothing that'll make you throw away your old CDs but they're still quite nice. 
There are also three new tracks, mostly done in the style of his recent ambient trance stuff - these tunes are better than the bulk of Sessions 2000 and Geometry of Love but I suppose that ain't saying much.
"For AERO, I wanted to revisit in 5.1 some existing tracks in order to give them that space I had imagined when I originally composed them, and also to compose some new tracks for this new technology. 
All of the existing tracks in AERO have been performed with the original instruments, re-recorded and spatially arranged/spatialised for this new dimensional sound experience without betraying their very essence." - Jean-Michel Jarre, August 2004.


Tracklist

1.  Aero Opening / Scene 1 - 0:50
2.  Oxygene 2 / Scene 2 - 7:41
3.  Aero - 3:09
4.  Equinoxe 8 - 1:24
5.  Oxygene 4 / Scene 3 - 5:05
6.  Souvenir of China / Scene 4 - 4:46
7.  Aerology / Scene 5 - 3:40
8.  Equinoxe 3 / Scene 6 - 6:33
9.  Equinoxe 4 / Scene 7 - 6:46
10.  Last Rendez-Vous / Scene 8 - 5:08
       Saxophone - Eric Seva
11.  Zoolookology / Scene 9 - 3:54
12.  Aerozone / Scene 10 - 4:56
13.  Magnetic Fields 1 / Scene 11 - 5:59
       Theremin - Jean Michel Jarre
14.  Chronology 6 - 4:55
15.  Rendez-Vous 4 (Live Version) (recorded at the 2002 AERO concert) - 7:34
       Featuring [Special Appearance] – Safri Duo


Companies, etc.
All tracks specially performed, produced and recorded in 96 khz/24 bits for Aero 5.1 surround and super-stereo at JMJ Studio France


Notes
Released:  20 September 2004
Recorded:  2004 at Croissy Studio
Genre:  Electronic
Length: 73:42
Producer:  Jean-Michel Jarre

Label - Warner Music

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Roaring Silence (50th Anniversary Edition) (2026)

In 2026, the legendary album *The Roaring Silence* by Manfred Mann's Earth Band celebrates its 50th anniversary. 
The album, which features the American number-one hit "Blinded By The Light," stormed the charts worldwide. 
This anniversary edition includes the original album and an exclusive bonus album featuring three brand-new tracks by the band, alongside live versions of songs from the album—recorded both at the time of its original release and during recent concerts.
"The Roaring Silence (50th Anniversary 2CD Edition)" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a lavishly curated anniversary release of one of the most important rock albums of the 1970s. 
Issued in CD format by Creature Music Ltd., this 2-disc edition celebrates five decades of an album that fused progressive rock, melodic songwriting and inventive arrangements into a distinctive sound. The centerpiece is the band's iconic take on Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light", which became a major international hit and still stands as one of the defining rock singles of its era. 
Across the album, Manfred Mann's Earth Band balance atmospheric keyboards, powerful guitars and expressive vocals, creating songs that move between expansive soundscapes and tightly written hooks. The 50th Anniversary 2CD Edition typically adds bonus material such as alternate versions, live tracks or rare recordings that shed new light on the creative process surrounding the original album, making this set appealing both to long-time fans and new listeners discovering the band's work. 
The remastered sound highlights the depth and dynamics of the original production, allowing the intricate details of the arrangements to come to the fore.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band, formed by South African-born keyboardist Manfred Mann, built their reputation throughout the 1970s and 1980s with a series of successful albums and striking reinterpretations of other artists' songs. 
Beyond "Blinded by the Light", they scored international recognition with tracks such as "Davy's on the Road Again" and further sophisticated rock releases that cemented their status on the European and global rock scene. 
Known for combining progressive rock, pop sensibilities and thoughtful lyrical themes, the band has maintained a loyal following and a respected place in rock history.
Creature Music Ltd. is a specialist music label and catalog-oriented company focused on high-quality reissues and carefully assembled editions of classic recordings.
With an emphasis on sound quality, archival material and respectful presentation, Creature Music Ltd. aims to preserve the legacy of key artists and albums while offering added value to collectors through expanded editions, detailed booklets and thoughtfully curated bonus content. 
This 50th Anniversary 2CD Edition of "The Roaring Silence" reflects that philosophy, presenting a landmark album in a way that respects its original impact while enriching the listening experience with additional material and updated audio fidelity.
Whether you are returning to "The Roaring Silence" after many years or encountering it for the first time, this anniversary edition offers a comprehensive and immersive way to experience one of Manfred Mann's Earth Band's most celebrated works, reaffirming its place as a touchstone of classic and progressive rock.


Disc 1
1.  Blinded by the Light - 7:08
2.  Singing the Dolphin Through - 8:19
3.  Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear - 5:38
4.  The Road to Babylon - 6:52
5.  This Side of Paradise - 4:47
6.  Starbird - 3:09
7.  Questions - 3:59
 
Disc 2
1.  Bird On The Wire - 2:56
2.  Stronger Than Me - 3:33
3.  Solos Compilation (Part 1) - 2:18
4.  Captain Bobby Stout (Live 2025) - 6:55
5.  Davy's On The Road Again (Live 2025) - 6:21
6.  Martha's Madman (Live 2025) - 7:21
7.  Blinded By The Light (Live 2025) - 8:41
8.  Mighty Quinn (Live 1976) - 10:25
9.  Captain Bobby Stout (Live 1976) - 6:56
10.  Time Is Right (Live 1976) - 6:55

The Earth Band

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Manfred Mann's Earth Band – producers
  • Laurence Latham – engineer
  • David Culpan, Margaret Wood, Tony Rowell, Edwin Cross – assistant engineers
  • Shirtsleeve Studio – design. Modelled by artist Derek Goldsmith
  • Martyn Goddard – photography
  • Re-mastered by: Robert M Corich and Mike Brown

Notes
Release:  2026
Genre:  Progressive Rock
Runtime:  1:42:13

Label - Creature Music Ltd. (Edel)

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Il Était Une Fois - Pomme (1978)

Joëlle Mogensen, the group's lead singer, was born in 1953 on Long Island, New York. 
In 1969, she moved to France with her parents, settling in Grimaud in the Var region. 
While on holiday in Saint-Tropez, she met two musicians from Michel Polnareff's band: Richard Dewitte (drums, vocals) and Serge Koolenn (guitar, vocals. 
A connection was formed, and the trio settled in Colombes, near Paris. 
Leaving Michel Polnareff's band behind, Serge Koolenn and Richard Dewitte struck out on their own. 
They began touring the club circuit: Richard handling the sound system, while Serge and Joëlle worked behind the bar.
French group that existed from 1972 to 1979. Their biggest hit was ''J'ai encore rêvé d'elle'' in 1975.
Il Était Une Fois is the self-titled fourth and final studio album by the French variety-pop group Il Était Une Fois, released in 1978. 
The album is sometimes released under the title Pomme.  
The album was written during a period of high emotional tension. 
Many of the songs reflect the real-life romantic separation between lead singer Joëlle Mogensen and primary songwriter Serge Koolenn. 
This gave the record a noticeably more melancholic, mature tone compared to their earlier upbeat radio hits. 
Recorded in the United States at the Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana, the album serves as a poignant farewell from the band.


Tracklist

1.  Pomme  (Serge Koolenn; Richard Dewitte) - 2:57
2.  Elle, Delta  (Serge Koolenn; Richard Dewitte) - 3:15
3.  Moi, Si J’Étais Toi  (Serge Koolenn; Lionel Gaillardin) - 3:52
4.  Mes Aventures  (Serge Koolenn) - 3:04
5.  Tant De Choses  (Serge Koolenn; Lionel Gaillardin) - 1:52
6.  Le Droit De Rêver  (Serge Koolenn; Richard Dewitte) - 3:55
7.  Mon Cœur  (Serge Koolenn; Richard Dewitte) - 3:30
8.  Il A Bon Goût  (Serge Koolenn; Lionel Gaillardin) - 3:12
9.  Et Les Deux, Pourquoi Pas?  (Serge Koolenn; Lionel Gaillardin) - 2:44
10.  Rock And Escrock  (Serge Koolenn; Jean-Louis Dronne) - 2:40


Band
Joëlle Morgensen
Richard Dewitte
Serge Koolenn
Lionel Gaillardin
Satoshi Nakamura
Jean-Louis Dronne

Musicians
Bass - Klaus Voormann
Drums, Pertcussion - Jim Gordon
Guitar - Amos Garrett
Synthesizer, Hammond Organ, Piano - Bill Payne
Guitar- Lionel Gaillardin


Liner Notes
Producer – Philippe Rault
Arrangement By (Horns) – Lon Price (Tracks 1,3,6)
Engineer – Bobby Thomas
Engineer (Assistant) – Brad Aaron, David Craig, Dave Farrell

Art Direction – Laurent Thierry-Mieg
Photography By – Tony Frank

Mixed At Westlake Studios
Recorded At Studio In The Country
Phonographic Copyright Pathé Marconi EMI
Copyright Pathé Marconi EMI
Cover Design – Lemonart, Munich

Recorded at Tom’s Studio
Recorded at Jeff’s Studio
Recorded at Rick’s Studio
Recorded at Marks Studio
Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles, CA


Notes
Released: 1978
Genre:  Franstalig Pop
Style:  Pop Rock, Vocal, Ballad
Total time:  30:43

Label - Pathé 

Ping Pong - From Exile (1982)

Sophistopop - a synthy substrata of mid/late '80s Top 40 pop practitioned by well-coifed, debonair European acts who tamped down ever so slightly on New Romantic affectations in exchange for a more genteel approach, often bumping up against yacht rock (i.e. adult contemporary) and downtempo R&B.  
You may not have heard of the genre before, but you're certainly familiar with the bevy of groups that ran it up the charts (perhaps to your chagrin): Curiosity Killed the Cat, Johnny Hates Jazz, Breathe, Swing Out Sister, and let's not forget Double. 
An export of Switzerland, their lone U.S. hit, the sax-laden "Captain of Her Heart" batted a swanky run all the way to the 16th slot onto the Billboard Hot 100 circa 1986.  
To be honest I had barely thought about this song since, save for it's ubiquitous afterlife as piped-in music at department stores.  
Yet even if you were an ear-to-the-ground music snob binging on the likes of the Replacements and Cocteau Twins the tune (and those churned out at a rapid clip by several of the aforementioned) was generally respectable.  
Perhaps out of sheer boredom I looked Double up to get the skinny on them.  
Turns out they spun-off another Zurich aggregation dubbed Ping Pong who were responsible for the 1982 album I'm sharing.  
As is the case with most non-phenomenon outfits pre-internet, details are scarce on this trio, but despite the group's faint footprint what they were peddling music-wise was worthy of a few spins.  
Not straight up new-wavers, P/P would have blended in fairly seamlessly with the mainstream modern rock set, with frontman Kurt Maloo approximating a mild mannered hybrid of Michael Hutchinson, Mick Jagger, and even a speck of Stan Ridgeway.  
Soncially on par with the likes of the Police, albeit half as innovative, white-boy reggae rhythms pepper numerous forays on From Exile.  
On a more overarching basis however I find myself persuaded by the tranquil, chiming guitar fills allotted perfectly virtually wherever the needle lands here.


Tracks

1.  Euronet-Diane - 3:57
2.  Pictures - 4:22
3.  Mayday - 3:27
4.  I Want Your Love - 3:30
5.  Rhythm Walk - 4:07
6.  Willie - 3:35
7.  (I've Been) Waiting for You - 3:55
8.  Pedro - 3:39
9.  Crocomation  3:55
10.  Joe Doe - 5:44


Companis, etc.

Notes
Released:  1982
Genre: Electronic, Jazz, Rock
Style:  New Wave
Total time:  40:37

Label - Big Mouth