What a way to start off! Three classic tracks covered by the most unlikely bands/artists:

01. Helloween - Hocus Pocus, from ''Metal Jukebox", in 1999

Great version of the Focus classic by this famous German metal outfit. The secret to hitting the high yodelling notes is to wear really tight leder hozen! A G-string made out of barbed wire and smothered with Deep Heat could also do the trick. They also cover classics tracks by Montrose, Mahogany Rush, Babe Ruth and others.

02. Therion - Summer Night City, from "A Tribute To Abba", in 2001

Abba? I kid you not! You heard Therion last week - I've since had a few request to play something else from the powerful Swedish operatic metal outfit. This Nuclear Blast release features all the classic Abba tracks performed by some really heavy bands. Very interesting and different!

03. Pat Boone - Enter Sandman, from "In A Metal Mood - No More Mr. Nice Guy", in 1997

Unbelievable stuff from one of the real crooners! This may seem as unlikely as Demis Roussos doing a Sepultura cover, but Boone gives the famous Metallica track, and many other metal classics, the big band treatment. Highly recommended, if you can find it.

His first major band, Trapeze, which he formed with guitarist Mel Galley, drummer Dave Holland, together with vocalist/trumpet player John Jones and guitarist/flautist Terry Rowley, later became one of the UK's best hard/blues rock trios (Jones and Rowley having left after 1970's debut album). Declining an offer to join ELO, Hughes later moved to Deep Purple, and he played an important part in the release of their fantastic "Burn" album. (Many felt that he rivalled lead vocalist David Coverdale in every way. Hear, hear!). After leaving Deep Purple, he worked with Black Sabbath, Gary Moore and a host of other bands/artists, and is still very active today.

The following three tracks are a tribute to a man who certainly deserves the title "Voice of Rock":

A kind of solo album from Tony Iommi. He found a great partner in Hughes on this offering. Iommi, as the only original member of the Sabs, kept the name flying high and proud with this fantastic album. The two would collaborate in the 90's with "Eighth Star", (aka as "The 1996 Dep Sessions") and Hughes would also feature on Iommi's recent solo album, "Fused".

05. Glenn Hughes - Too High, from his brand new solo album, ''Music For The Divine"

06. Jim Peterik & World Stage - Eye Of The Tiger, from "Rock America - Smash Hits Live", in 2004

07. House Of Lords - These Are The Times, from "World Upside Down", in 2006

09. Gordon's Suitcase - Lilly's Peach, from "Good Girls Like Good Music", in 2006

One of the better South African jazz fusion outfits. A very popular live act, and on listening to their album, you can understand why. The band will be interviewed on The RockIt Scientist on Friday, 15th September.

10. Tony Cox - Karoosin', from "China", in 2002

A really classy and respected South African musician. Cox plays a great steel string acoustic guitar. The album features contributions from Joe Arthur, Neil Etteridge, McCoy Mrubata and Bones Brettell (check out his fantastic B3 on the featured track!)

11. Rik Emmett - Swizzle Stick, from "Swing Shift", in 1997

Difficult to believe that someone can master his instrument as well as the ex-Triumph guitarist/vocalist does. Emmett, who is highly regarded by rock, blues, classical and jazz lovers, is the closest you'll get to "the perfect guitarist". This track is from one of his many solo albums.

12. Malo - Momotombo, from ''En Vivo/Live", in 2005

Led by charismatic founding member and vocalist, Arcelio Garcia, who co-founded this famous Latin Rock outfit in the early 70's, together with guitarist Jorge Santana, the modern Malo are sounding absolutely amazing. This live album also features a few new tracks. Check out www.malomusic.com

13. Mandrill - Fencewalk, from ''Live at Montreux 2002", released in 2004

Maybe not as well known as Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & The Family Stone, Santana and others, this jazz/blues/funk/Latin/rock outfit, formed and led by the Panamanian-born Wilson brothers, is equally as good, if not better than their more illustrious contemporaries! The band had been dormant for a while, so you can imagine the utter joy at discovering that they're back, and with a bang! The CD is also available as a fantastic CD/DVD combo. Seeing Mandrill live in concert, even if it's just on DVD, is a dream come true! Awesome stuff, although so far only available via their website (www.mandrillis.com)

14. El Chicano - El Ojo Rojo (The Red Eye), from "Latin Legends Live", in 1997

This hard-to-find double CD features the reformed Malo, Tierra and El Chicano, three of Latin Rock's heavyweights. Oddly enough, both Malo and Tierra occupy the lion's share of the tracks on the album. Although El Chicano are not as well represented as one would have liked, the tracks they perform are out of this world. Guitarist Mickey Lespron is still ridiculously good, and founder member/keyboard player Bobby Espinosa still knows how to get the best out of his B3! (www.elchicanomusic.com)

When Cream split in 1968, Baker joined Clapton, Steve Winwood and Rick Grech in the short-lived Blind Faith. Baker later featured with his own band, Airforce, Atomic Rooster and many others. He's released a number of solo albums, and he also appeared with the reformed Cream in 2005.

The following three tracks are a tribute to one of the truly great drummers.

Baker's trademark drumming give this track by the Masters of the Universe a seriously beefy feel. He replaced Simon King and remained with Hawkwind for a short while, appearing on the band's 1980 tour.

18. Judas Priest - Beyond The Realms Of Death, from "Stained Class", in 1978

Classic Priest at their finest, with some fantastic vocal work from Rob Halford. This is the track that apparently "encouraged" a few spaced out kids to take their own lives. Fortunately the law prevailed (even though Priest were "breaking it!") and the case was thrown out. Sanity prevailed!

Next to Demon, Maiden, Saxon and Diamond Head, the Tygers were one of the best bands of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene. The band featured a young John Sykes, later to join Thin Lizzy and form Blue Murder. Guitarist Robb Weir went on to own Neat Records.

Great German metal outfit fronted by vocalist D.C. Cooper. Fantastic musicianship from a band that unfortunately don't appear to be that well known.

Argentinian blues rock guitarist Norberto "Pappo" Napolitano became one of the country's most famous blues guitarists. He's released quite a few albums. Oddly enough, not that easy to find outside Peron's homeland.

Great blues/prog outfit from Norway, drawing influences from Jethro Tull, Traffic and Zeppelin. They released three albums between 1971 and 1973 before folding. They reformed in the late 70's and again in the 90's.

Powerful stuff from guitarist Vic Vergeat, drummer Cosimo Lampis and bassist Werner Froehlich. This Swiss blues/hard rock outfit's debut album is one of the rarest records of all time. Starting out as a quartet, they slimmed down to a trio and released a further five albums before splitting. They reformed in the 90's. This great cover of the Hendrix classic was taken from this recently unearthed live album, recorded in April 1974, and released on Akarma Records.

Jeff Beck, together with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice (both ex-Cactus), formed this impressive trio in the early 70's. This double live album aside, they only released one studio album before splitting. The circle has turned: Bogert and Appice are back together in the reformed Cactus! Jeff Beck recently stated that he would play with Motorhead, if asked!

One of Holland's best ever groups. Formed in the mid 60's, they were internationally regarded as one of the great blues/rock outfits of the era. Golden Earring's drummer, Cesar Zuiderwijk, was one of the early members of the band. All of their albums are great, but their "Blue Breeze" album is a classic!