Playlists
As always, thanks to
webmaster Brian Currin, who wastes no time in
posting the
playlists on the website. You may find, however, that the full
write-ups
for a particular week may take a bit longer than normal to appear. This
is
purely due to time constraints, as it takes a while to compile all the
info. The
actual featured playlist for the week will be up as soon as
possible,
though, so you will still at least be able to see what was featured in
the
meantime.
Gigs
If you have details of any forthcoming
gigs or
happenings, please let us know and we'll do what we can to help by
punting
them for you. If you are a venue owner/manager, please provide us
with
address and contact numbers, as well as band/artist line-ups, dates,
cover
charge, etc.
If you're in a band and would like your
gigs
mentioned on the show, please email me your details/dates, etc at
least a
week, if possible, before the gig(s). (leon@rock.co.za)
Gig info can be
found on the
RockIt Scientist website's newly designated "Gigs" page.
New
Releases
The following are just a SNIPPET of
the many
new or recent releases/re-issues you can hear on The RockIt
Scientist.
CDs
Salas - Salas (2006 - Salas 3359)
Salas is vocalist/guitarist Jerry Salas, previously with US
Latin
Rock outfit El Chicano, who he joined in the early to mid 70's. This is
his
first solo album and it features the likes of Bob Robles on guitar,
Louie Ruiz
on bass, Sal Rodgiguiz, Dave Lopez, Jerry Angel and Jeramy
Burchett on
drums and percussion, Fred Mandel and Vick Buxton on keyboards, with
horns and
reeds by Dan Osterman, Rick Keller and Todd Simon. Salas' daughters
Amanda
and Sara are on backing vocals and Cisco Deluna (related to El Chicano's
John
Deluna?) is on slide guitar.
Jerry Salas' guitar playing and vocals with El Chicano were
fantastic and the tradition has continued with this great album. He has
a very
accessible, fluid style of playing and his songwriting is second to
none. The
album kicks off with the powerful Latin sounding horn-tinged "Drive" and
moves
on to some very tasteful ballads and rockers, with the stand-out
tracks
being ''Shut Up (And Let Me Love You)" with it's reggae-esque feel,
"Blood To
Blood", "Hiding My Emotions" (which was featured on The RockIt Scientist
on 24
and 28 February, and again on 03 March), "Best Of Your
Life"(with
stunning lead vocals by Sara Salas) and "Because Of You".
All in all, a fantastic effort from a very talented and
gifted
individual who is certainly worthy of international acclaim and
recognition. The CD can be purchased via www.jerrysalas.com or www.cdbaby.com
Jackson Browne - Running On Empty (2005 - Elektra
Entertainment Group - Elektra/Rhino
8122-78283-2)
Undoubtedly one of the best re-issues of 2005. This
very famous and legendary album, which was originally released in
1977, and
which featured well known musicians such as Lee Sklar (bass), Craig
Doerge
(keyboards), Danny Kortchmar (guitars) and Russ Kunkel (drums), who were
collectively known as The Section, has been re-issued in a double
CD/DVD
combo, with the DVD featuring the entire album in 5.1 Surround
Sound,
plus video montages of "Running On Empty" and "Tour Photo Album",
together with
lyrics, weblink and photo gallery.
As far as classic albums go, this is one of the most
important ever
released, and this fantastic re-issue has done justice to an album that
did very
well on the charts and which is still highly regarded
today.
Jade Warrior - Released (2005 - Repertoire Records -
REPUK
1052)
On the subject of re-issues, you could do a lot worse than
get hold
of the fantastic limited edition classic album
cardboard
replica re-issues that've been released by the German
Repertoire Record label.
Many people feel that, whilst the advent of CD has enabled
those
who missed out on these albums when they were first released back
in the
70's to finally hear all this great music, the regular CD
issues don't
have the impact, visually, of the sometimes stunning artwork that went
into
classic albums such as Beggar's Opera's
"Pathfinder", Ramases' "Space
Hymns", "Dr. Strangely Strange's "Heavy Petting", Nucleus's "Elastic
Rock", both May Blitz albums, and many more, most of which,
incidentally, were released on the collectible Vertigo "swirl'' label.
Albums such as Humble Pie's self titled third album
(originally
released on A & M Records), Spooky Tooth's "It's All About",
"Two",
"The Last Puff" and ''You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw" albums
(all
originally released on Island Records), and a whole bunch of others,
have also
been released by the label. The limited edition cardboard replicas,
complete with original poster-covers, are stunning, and are highly
collectible.
Repertoire have done an excellent job in releasing
around 40 to
50 collectible classic albums, all of them remastered and, in most
cases, with
bonus tracks, in their original form.
Jade Warrior's "Released" album, originally issued on
Vertigo
in 1972, was the second album from this incredible UK progressive rock
band
which featured Tony Duhig on guitar, Jon Field on percussion, congas and
flute,
Glyn Havard on bass and vocals, Allan Price on drums and Dave Conners on
saxes
and flute. The album was originally issued on CD by the now defunct
Line
Record label in 1988. The Repertoire re-issue is a masterpiece, complete
with
full-on poster cover, lyric sheet, band history and original
Vertigo label.
Musically? You don't need to ask - just get the album - only 2,500
copies have
been issued! The band's self-titled debut album has also been given the
re-issue
treatment, by the way.
Tony Martin - Scream (2005 - MTM Music
0681-149)
Regular RockIt Scientist/Dinosaur Days listeners will be
quite
familiar with Tony Martin, formerly of Black Sabbath fame. Undoubtedly
one of
hard rock's finest vocalists, he joined the Sabs in the mid to late
80's,
appearing on their "Eternal Idol" album in 1987. Ever since Ozzy left
the band
in the late 70's, Sabbath had mixed fortunes with vocalists, with the
likes of
Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen, Jeff Fenholdt
(ex-
Joshua) and Rob Halford joining the band at various times and
appearing on
albums such as "Heaven and Hell", "Mob Rules", "Live Evil" and
''Dehumanizer"(Dio), "Born Again" (Gillan) and "Seventh Star" and
"Eighth
Star" (aka "The 1996 Dep Sessions")(Hughes). Ray Gillen, Rob Halford and
Jeff
Fenholdt didn't feature on any Sabbath albums.
Tony Iommi really found a gem in Tony Martin. He was
arguably the
best vocalist Black Sabbath ever had, and he appeared on further albums
such as
"Headless Cross" (1989), ''Tyr" (1990), "Cross Purposes" (1994), "Cross
Purposes
Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995). Martin released his first solo
album, the
difficult-to-find "Back Where I Belong" in 1992 (featured recently
on The
RockIt Scientist), and he has also worked with the likes of Italian
guitarists
Dario Mollo and Aldo Giuntini in The Cage and in The Giuntini
Project,
amongst others.
This second solo album is Tony Martin at his
best! With his
son Joe Harford on guitars (a serious talent if there ever was one!) and
ex-Quartz and Sabbath buddy Geoff Nichols on keyboards, Martin handles
bass,
drums and violin himself, which alludes to the fact that we're dealing
with a
highly skilled and talented all round musician (although the late Cozy
Powell is also featured on some drum patterns that were recorded
back in
the early 90's when Martin and the now sadly late Powell worked
together in
Cozy Powell's Hammer).
Tony Martin has few equals in the
vocal
stakes and his songwriting is superb. "Scream" is an essential
addition to
the collection of any serious hard rock
aficionado.
The Eighteenth Day of May - The Eighteenth Day Of
May (2006
- Transistor Records)
This London-based folk-rock outfit who play "heavy
traditional
music", are a revelation! Think of a combination of Fairfield
Parlour,
Mostly Autumn, Wolfstone, Blue Horses, Pentangle and of
Fairport
Convention, and you have TEDOM (short for The Eighteenth Day of May).
The band
is comprised of Ben Phillipson on guitars, Mark Nicholas on bass,
Richard Olson
on guitar & sitar, Allison Brice (Cotton) on vocals & flute
and
Karl Sabino on drums & percussion. They're one of the most exciting
folk-rock bands around today and they've been attracting praise from
many
quarters. A band to keep an eye out for.
Astral Daze - Psychedelic South African Rock 1968 -
1972
(2005 - Fresh Music - FreshCD148)
This single CD compilation, which was produced by
Benjy Mudie
and RockIt Scientist webmaster Brian Currin, features 18 tracks
of long lost gems from some of the best and best known bands
in South
Africa during the late 60's and early 70's. Featured bands include
Suck,
Freedom's Children, Abstract Truth, Otis Waygood, The Flames, Buzzard,
Hawk,
Third Eye, The Invaders and others.
Fresh Music has been instrumental in releasing classic
albums by
many of these bands, complete with rare photos, extra tracks and
comprehensive liner notes, during the course of the past
seven years
or so.
G3 - Live in Tokyo (2005 - Sony BMG - Epic
82876742442)
Hardly hot-off-the press stuff, that's true, but this
fantastic
double cd deserves a mention purely by virtue of the fact that many
RockIt
Scientist listeners have expressed an interest in it. Joining guitarists
Joe
Satriani and Steve Vai is Dream Theater's John Petrucci (and not Eric
Johnson,
as a few people thought!). Satriani and Vai are seasoned and
respected professionals in their own right and both have released
many
excellent albums. Berklee College of Music graduate Petrucci is a
fantastically
talented guitarist who co-founded Dream Theater in the late
80's.
CD 1 features individual performances from Petrucci
and Vai,
whilst CD 2 features Satriani on his own, with the three of them doing
great
versions of "Foxy Lady", "La Grange" and "Smoke On The Water", as G3.
Other
featured musicians are Mike Portnoy, Jeff Campitelli and Jeremy Colson
on drums,
Billy Sheehan, Dave LaRue and Matt Bissonnette on bass, and Dave Weiner
and
Galen Henson on rhythm guitars. Tony MacAlpine, on guitar and
keyboards, features with Vai.
DVDs
War - Live in Concert (2005 - MRA Entertainment -
D0667)
Not the best recording in the world, but as video/dvd
material from
this great band is pretty scarce, this is the best you'll get.
Recorded in
Halifax, England on April 9th, 1980, some of the featured tracks include
"Spill
The Wine", ''Low Rider", "Cisco Kid", "Gypsy Man" and "Why Can't We Be
Friends".
And no, Eric Burdon doesn't appear with the band! Incidentally,
this is
the same Australian label that brought out the Blood, Sweat & Tears
"Live in
Concert" DVD.
Carl Verheyen Band - Live in L.A (2005 - Provogue
PRDVD 7159
7)
Carl Verheyen is an excellent blues/rock guitarist who's
been
around for quite a few years. Essentially recording under his
own
name, he's also featured with Supertramp, although he seems to be far
more
comfortable as a soloist, having released a number
of albums.
One of the better players around, he has a pleasant,
flowing
style and he has a great voice. His band, which is comprised of
Cliff Hugo,
Bernie Dresel and special guest Jim Cox, is also very
good.
Various Jazz Artists - The Music Of Jimi Hendrix
(2005 -
EuroArts DV-JJHTRIB)
If the idea of jazzed-up versions of classic Hendrix
numbers
such as "Voodoo Chile", "Manic Depression", ''Third Stone From The Sun"
and
others fires your jets, then you need to get this DVD! Recorded at
The Jazz
Open in Stuttgart in July 1995, this great DVD features the
likes of
Jack Bruce, Cassandra Wilson, Terry Bozzio, Victor Bailey, Trilok Gurtu
and a
host of others.
Steve Winwood - Live in Concert (2005 - Koch Vision
-
KOC-DV-6247)
One of rock's most professional and respected musicians,
recorded
live at Soundstage in 2003. Steve Winwood's career spans well over
thirty five
years. He's worked with The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic,
Stomu
Yamash'ta and many others, and he's also released quite a few solo
albums. He's
an accomplished and very recognizable vocalist and a mean Hammond B3
player to
boot, and he positively cooks on this great DVD, the recording of which
is
flawless!
Bits and
Pieces
Magazine
The UK's prestigious
monthly Classic Rock magazine is
undoubtedly one of
the classiest and finest music magazines in the world. It's packed
with
expertly written new CD/DVD/Music Book reviews, articles,
special
offers, gigs, adverts and the like. The magazine has been
around
for a number of years and it's built up a reputation as being THE
most
respected music mag amongst music
aficionados.
Tel: 0207 317
2600
Fax: 0207 317
2686
Book
Rock Record
7, by Terry
Hounsome, is
possibly the most comprehensive and informative music reference book
you're
likely to find anywhere. Visit www.recordresearcher.com for
downloads
and more information about ordering this unbelievable piece of
work
that's invaluable to any record collector/music lover. You'll be
astounded as to
the amount of effort and research that's gone into his work.
RockRom
10 CD-ROM is also now available.
Music/DVD
Stores
Visit Look & Listen
stores
nationwide for a fantastic range of cds, dvds gaming, MP3's and
accessories.
They are the leaders when it comes to service and range of products, and
if they
don't have what you're looking for, they can order it for
you.
Contact Wayne Hampton at Compact Discovery, Edenvale (011)609-0624
or
0837980525 for the more obscure and hard to find music you'll hear on
The RockIt
Scientist.
Mabu Vinyl is one of
Cape Town's
best music stores and is situated in the city opposite the Long Street
Baths at
the top of Long Street. Here you can find a wide range of new and second
hand
LP's, 7" and 12" singles, CD's, DVD's, videos, music cassettes,
magazines, books
and more. Mabu also stocks a full range of the RetroFresh catalogue, some
Rhythm
Records titles (i.e. Fokofpolisiekar), as well as
harder to
find SA CD's like Sharkbrother, Off The Edge, BlueScream and a large
range of
current releases by SA independent artists like The Wild Eyes, Captain
Stu and
the Llamas, Mind Assault, Polstar, Lark and others. We also buy records,
CDs and
DVD's. Contact Stephen Segerman of Sugar
Music with any requests or questions at the shop
(021
423-7635) or email mabu@sugarmusic.co.za
Collectible/rare cd junkies in
the Knysna
area can visit The CD Hut, Shop
27/28,
Pledge Street Square, 48 Main Road, Knysna. Contact Steve and Anne De
Meuse on 044-382-5939 or stephanne1852@yahoo.com.
If you happen to
visit this
beautiful part of the country, The CD
Hut is a
great place to browse through if you're looking for that
elusive CD or DVD. Steve, Jeff and Anne are very
knowledgeable
and friendly and will no doubt be able to introduce you to some
great
music.
(Note: the store opens at 9.30am and
closes at
around 4.00pm, Mondays thru Fridays. Saturdays until around
1.30pm).
If you're in Cape Town, visit "Vibes
Vinyl". This is
a vinyl-only shop, run and owned by Alan
Hilton, a respected and very knowledgeable vinyl and
music collector. Alan also owns "Vibes",
one of the country's best music stores.
For great second hand and new CD's,
DVD's, LP's
and Videos, visit "MicOgram" in
Northcliff (Pick 'n Pay Centre, Beyers
Naude Drive
& Milner Street, Northcliff, Gauteng. Tel: (011) 782-4275 -
Derek) or
at FNB Bank City, shop C11, I First
Place, FNB
Bank City, Simmonds Street, Joburg City, Gauteng. Tel: (011) 492-2975.
or
0833013234 - Jeff)
(CD's/LP's/DVD's/Videos also urgently
needed!)
Radio
Benjy
Mudie
("Rock of Ages" on Radio 2000), on
Thursday
evenings between 20H00 and midnight).
Shiloh
Noone
("Blues and Variation" on Fine Music Radio
101.3fm), in the Cape area, on Wednesday evenings
between 22H00
and midnight). Check out Shiloh's book, ''The
Seeker's Guide To The Rhythm of
Yesterday".
Barney Simon ("Night Zoo")
on Tuksfm.
If you'd like to hear music from
bands/artist
that generally don't get airplay on other stations, why don't you email
the
various stations and ask them to consider playing music you'd like to
hear?
Here are some contact
emails:
And lastly, of course, please remember
to tune in
to The RockIt Scientist Show on
1485 Radio Today, every Friday
evening
between 10.00pm and midnight, with the show repeated on
Tuesdays between
11.00pm and 01.00am. If you have DStv, it's also
available
on Audio Channel
70.
Cheers.
Leon
