MICHAEL DES BARRES: Rock and Roll Santa

Download via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rock-n-roll-santa-single/id578405214?uo=4
A prominent figure in both the British rock scene and the Hollywood acting community, Michael Des Barres is presenting this song as gift to music fans of all ages. The track is a message of health and happiness with a playful, guitar-heavy and hip-swiveling edge.

"Santa looks great... Santa lost weight... he's a rock n' roll Santa and he's gettin' in shape!"

The music of Michael Des Barres celebrates the pure, uncomplicated joy that has gone missing in contemporary rock n' roll, a loss mirrored by the commercial and dietary over-consumption synonymous with the winter holidays. With over 30 years of clean living under his studded leather belt, Michael Des Barres has become a spokesperson for a fascinating new breed of healthy and happy rock stars and an all-around, multi-media force of nature.

A recent guest on KROQ's "Love Lines" with Dr. Drew, Des Barres has a feature role in the film "California Solo" coming out next month, has appeared on countless hit television shows such as NCIS, The Finder, and McGyver, appeared in music videos for Maroon 5 and Rihanna and is currently celebrating a first-round Grammy nomination for his latest album, "Carnaby Street."

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Carnaby Street LIMITED EDITION with BONUS DVD CD - £9.99

Carnaby Street CD - £9.99

JUDY DYBLE WRITES....

There's a US internet radio station called the Dividing Line which has a 3hour Prog prog called 'Prog'opolis' once a month.. the presenters - Vince and Daisy Font - have always been very kind to me and played 'Harpsong' on their programme on Saturday and gave a plug for TWS's release on Gonzo MM. I have been told that the release date is 29th Jan 2013 so they mentioned that as well...

http://www.thedividingline.com/p.html

They have in the programme's special archive an interview that I did with them in 2009 (need to scroll down to October 2009 :-)) mainly talking about what I did and the release of TWS

http://www.thedividingline.com/archives.html

 

I haven't done any more recent interviews for ages, so this is all a bit old news stuff..:-)

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

I GO WHERE THE STONES SPEAK

in pictographs and pictograms and hieroglyphs and formations

stone circles standing to attention,focusing upon Solstices

Seasons of Light and Darknesses,portals of changes

even when those rocks themselves are neither moved nor moving

Somehow they defied all gravity to make such monumental monoliths 

Weather has aged them,yet not diminished their powers

Alignment with forces outside ours,they speak in ways we have yet to learn

Ask Napoleon about that stolen Rosetta Stone!

Little stones -to skim on surfaces.Larger rocks -to throw against tanks.

"there will not be a stone left upon a stone"in such a Holy Land

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"."Roll Back The Stone!"

We still pilgrimage to Sacred Mountains,rock formations,memorials and Pyramids

They do not wait for us.They never did..

'Epizootics!' is the first track to be aired in full from Scott Walker's new album

EXCLUSIVE: SONG BY SONG WITH THE ATKINS MAY PROJECT (Part One)

I have been a rock and roll journalist for more years than I can remember, and it is always a treat to discover artists of whom I have never heard. It is even more of a treat to have access to them and allow them to explain the creative process behind their work. The Atkins May Project is a synthesis of two remarkable talents; Christian guitarist Paul May and former Judas Priest and Holy Rage singer Al Atkins. In this multi-part series we go through the twenty songs which have appeared on their two albums so far, and let Al and Paul tell us the secrets behind the sounds.

The liner notes of the first album, Serpents Kiss are by Neil Daniels who described the music as “solid, honest working-class heavy metal” and goes on to praise the “fine axework and killer choruses”. It is hard not to agree.

Check out Part One Here

Signz (May/Rowley)
This epic ballad about avoiding the pitfalls and temptations of life is based around a riff so thundering that it could have built Stonehenge. There is a nifty rhythm change on the fourth beat on every bar, which wrong-foots the listener and puts them in just the right frame of mind for this cautionary tale.

AL...another meaningful one by May and Rowley and that nifty rhythm change you mentioned Jon threw me a few times on first hearing until I got into it.

Fight (Paul May)
This is the most modern-sounding track on the album so far. There is a tremendous bass drum sound on the introduction, and a dashingly contemporary prog metal drum pattern which, together with the insistent guitar riff, perfectly complements another astonishing rocker. Again it’s difficult to know whether this song is secular or religious; when Al sings “You can’t break me, you won’t shake me” is he singing to a human adversary, or to the Lord of Darkness himself?
PAUL ; We chose this as the video, a commercial rocker with "Macho" imagery. and yes well spotted!!

Al....we chose this for the video which was recorded in the South of Wales which we really enjoyed doing with the help of Vic and Tom from 'Back Pocket Prophet' . This is pure rock and roll and again a very commercial song which has gained around 15, 000 hits on
YouTube so far.

Judge (May/Rowley)
This apocalyptic mid-paced rocker is – from where I am sitting – the forthcoming Armageddon set to another arrangement vaguely reminiscent of Deep Purple Mark IV. As I am very fond of Deep Purple Mark IV this is no bad thing. It is interesting to hear Paul’s guitar lines playing the sort of figures one would normally have expected being produced from a Hammond organ by the late Jon Lord.

PAUL; Judge is certainly an apocalyptic view, with a weird 7/8 tempo which kind of adds to the tension of the subject. Its a riff fest!!

Al ..like you say Jon you can sometimes feel and expect Hammond organ sounds any minute but we decided against them, Paul double tracked and triple traced all the harmonies to keep it more metal sounding...Paul and Dave again coming up with another classic.

Betta than Twisted (Paul May)
Here the album takes a completely unexpected twist. With a rhythm section that never does quite what you expect and a very clever but disarmingly simple riff Al sings another song of bitterness and betrayal. This is probably my favourite track on the album.

PAUL : It’s song about the betrayal of trust, the malice that is inflicted from that bitterness and the legend that is created when that story is embellished and retold overand over until the lies become ‘truth’ in a twisted mind! Ha, not for the faint hearted! cool riff though :) And storming vox from Al again!

Al...two words 'Killer Track'

Cold Gin (Ace Frehley)
It takes a lot of guts to tackle a song by Kiss, but much to my surprise Paul and Al get away with it and put their own inimitable stamp all over it. It fits perfectly into the cohesive whole of the album and makes perfect sense within the Serpents Kiss setting.

PAUL: I took a lot of stick for putting this on the album!! lol!! most people think its song that promotes alcohol, but if they actually read up on it they'd find out a little more!! I like it!! I don't think we should be frightened to approach subjects that others see as taboo! Wait 'til we cover Jumping Jack Flash!!! Ha!!

Al ...i thought it would be a good idea to record a cover for our debut album which would catch peoples attention and also might get us more air play but having trawled through endless rock/metal songs from various artists from AC/DC to Lizzy we couldn't come up with one that would sit with the rest of our songs. Then Paul come up with an old Kiss song 'Cold Gin' he altered the middle guitar section ,put on his trademark guitar sound and 'Bingo'....i then laid down on my gritty vocals and we got it....

Theatre of Fools (Paul May)
Opening with a lyrical and melodic lead guitar passage overlaid upon an unyielding bass riff makes you feel that the marauders are at the gates. The world-weary lyrics cast a mirror at society as a whole and don’t like what they see. What a way to bring this classic album to a close.

PAUL: “Theatre of Fools” my favourite track for several different reasons. It is an epic at just under 9 minutes!! It’s a controversial subject! There's loads of light and dark moments, as the song progresses and builds to its climax. Al’s vocals were fabulous and we knew that this had to be the finishing track on the album! It was quite “prophetic” in its nature.” “It’s about dictators, tyrants and the fall of their regimes! It was written with the Iraq situation and conclusion still in the media’s eye and the public’s heart. I just felt that there was much more to come. And sure enough within a short space of time we saw the further demise of several tyrants and world dictatorships! The song tells about the role of madness that causes devastation, by men who try to act like they are "gods", with their only eventuality being their own destruction!

Al ...this one is my favorite of all the songs on the album, it's a big epic song and it needed a big vocal and I think I just pulled it out the bag, another progressive/metal track by Paul …..warlords , battle scenes, blood and guts this one!!!!

This record should be played loud. Very loud. Rodney Matthews’ stunning cover art perfectly complements this package, and I am very much looking forward in a few day’s Rodney Matthews’ stunning cover art perfectly complements this package, and I am very much looking forward in a few day’s time to doing it all again with their second album, 2012’s Valley of Shadows.

BUY IT NOW AT GONZO:


The Serpents Kiss
CD - £9.99

Jefferson Starship’s Slick Aguilar Needs a Liver Transplant, Is Seeking Help with Medical Expenses

Longtime Jefferson Starship guitarist Mark “Slick” Aguilar is in need of a liver transplant and an online campaign has been started to help him raise funds to pay for the bills he expects to incur because of the operation.  According to a message posted on his official Facebook page, the veteran musician has been suffering from hepatitis C and his doctors have given him a 50-percent chance of surviving for two years if he doesn’t get the transplant.

Aguilar tells ABC News Radio that, at the suggestion of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh — who underwent a liver transplant 14 years ago — he plans to have his operation in Florida, where the wait for a donor likely will be shorter than in other areas of the U.S.  While Slick does have health insurance, it won’t pay for all his medical bills or his out-of-state living expenses, which is why the initiative has been launched.  The guitarist stressed to ABC News Radio the importance to get checked for hepatitis C, and also strongly suggested that people consider becoming organ donors.

Read on...

LINK: Barbara's 'Pride of Scotland' award

PRIDE of Dunfermline Barbara Dickson is now also officially the 'Pride of Scotland' after she picked up a prestigious award in recognition of her achievements. At the glitzy Tartan Clef Awards in Glasgow singing great Barbara received the Sir Reo Stakis Pride of Scotland Award.  Her long singing career started as a pupil at Woodmill High and she later joined the local folk music scene. She hooked up on the circuit with other folk singers of the time like Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty before going on to break into the charts with hits like 'Answer Me', 'Caravan Song' and 'January Song'.

Read on...

AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH GONZO:

B4 74 - The Folkclub Tapes 2CD - £14.99

Nothings Gonna Change My World CD - £9.99

Full Circle CD - £9.99

Into The Light DVD - £12.99

Time And Tide  CD - £9.99

COMING SOON: A Magick Brothers live album

Australian poet and musician Daevid Allen, born in 1938, moved to Europe in 1960, inspired by the writings of the ‘Beat Generation’. After a year or so in Paris, he arrived in the UK in 1961. After meeting William Burroughs, and discovering the peculiar music and philosophy of free-jazz maverick Sun Ra, he formed The Daevid Allen trio with his landlady’s son Robert Wyatt.

Some years later they teamed up with Mike Ratledge and Kevin Ayers to form Soft Machine (William Burroughs’ name for the human body). After a European Tour in 1967, Allen was refused entry to the UK because of a visa irregularity, and moved back to France, where he became involved in the famous student insurrection of 1968. He then moved to Deya, Majorca where he, and partner Gilly Smyth began to assemble a loose-knit collection of musicians who began recording under the name Gong. One of these musicians was Didier Malherbe (latter dubbed Bloomdido Bad-De Grass by Daevid), a tremendously gifted saxophonist and flautist, who Daevid claimed to have found living in a cave on the estate of poet Robert Graves.

In 1971, in Daevid’s own words..."It was now three years since my deportation from the mum country so I was now able to legally re-enter England for the first time since 1967.” One of his first appearances when he returned to the UK, was a performance at a benefit concert at The Roundhouse in aid of Release. (Release was founded in 1967 by Caroline Coon and the late Rufus Harris. It is a charity which provides assistance to those people who have been charged with drugs offences. According to Wikipedia: “Today Release is the oldest independent drugs charity in the world and continues to provide a range of services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drugs users and those who live and work with them”.)

As well as being vocalist, Daevid Allen plays acoustic guitars, glissando guitar, and - together with Graham Clark on violin and guitar, whom Daevid met in 1988 in London at the last concert of Invisible Opera Co., UK,, and Mark Robson on vocals and keyboards, didgeridoo, flute and Irish whistle – who spent much time in Australia with the Invisible Opera Co. and his own band Kangaroo Moon - they make up Magick Brothers (named after Gong’s 1969 album).

Magick Brothers’ acoustic format  provides what is perhaps the most organic setting for Daevid Allen’s surrealalchemical soundscapes.  This early live recording is a delightful insight into the  modus operandi of this lovely little ensemble.  The accompanying video footage makes this already desirable package unmissable!

The DVD comes out in January next year. Watch this space...

EXCLUSIVE: SONG BY SONG WITH THE ATKINS MAY PROJECT (Serpent's Kiss, Part One)

I have been a rock and roll journalist for more years than I can remember, and it is always a treat to discover artists of whom I have never heard. It is even more of a treat to have access to them and allow them to explain the creative process behind their work. The Atkins May Project is a synthesis of two remarkable talents; Christian guitarist Paul May and former Judas Priest and Holy Rage singer Al Atkins. In this multi-part series we go through the twenty songs which have appeared on their two albums so far, and let Al and Paul tell us the secrets behind the sounds.

The liner notes of the first album, Serpents Kiss are by Neil Daniels who described the music as “solid, honest working-class heavy metal” and goes on to praise the “fine axework and killer choruses”. It is hard not to agree.

So here we go – hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Serpents Kiss (2011)


The Shallowing (Paul May)
Starting off with a multi-layered guitar soundscape, this song, which appears to describe a crisis of conscience or – if you were - a dark night of the soul, sets out the band’s stall perfectly. The layers of guitars are slightly reminiscent of Achilles Last Stand by Led Zeppelin back in 1975, but with a glossy modern edge! The instrumental soundscapes conjured up by maestro May are alternately exhilarating and frightening, and the descending bass line gives you a sense of dread. What a way to start!

PAUL: I wanted to create a kind of an "overture" to the album with the intro on this track, to create a kind of a tension before exploding into action with the guitar riffs, I like this track. we also covered this song again in completely different way on the new album "Valley of Shadows" . The intro will probably end up being the intro music to any live shows:) I love the vocals Al does on this track particularly towards the end with the multi layers we put down to give us that haunting effect.

AL: ...this just had to be the opener, a great song by Paul and what I call progressive metal. Classic!!

Traitors Hand (Paul May)
This relentless song begins with frenetic hammer ons, which soon give way to an out of control sonic juggernaut. The words are bitter and venomous, and I for one would like to know what they’re about.

PAUL: Pure Metal. Its a bit like a runaway train this one, and dramatic lyrics that cover not only the betrayal of Christ but a message of warning to be aware of the tactics of the devil! Sensitive stuff huh?!

AL:...this one is an “'in your face song”', I double tracked the vocals by screaming out the other in unison at one time thought about taking out the lower pitch vocal but in the end we decided to leave it in.

Dream Maker (May/Rowley)
Wittily reference a 1931 hit single Dream a Little Dream of Me, this mid-paced rocker opens with an impressive Middle Eastern guitar figure which flawlessly leads into the sort of grit which would have not have been out of place on a Coverdale era Deep Purple album. The lyrics appear to be inspired by Paul May’s faith, and he should be congratulated for sharing his religious beliefs with his fanbase.

PAUL: Its the track with the gong!! I wanted to use that as a kind of announcement, lyrically it’s content is fairly blatant, it’s really a modern day Psalm and Prayer calling on God for a plan and purpose and the guts to see it through . “Classic” Hard Rock sound like old school metal.

Al: this is one of my favorites, a very commercial and well written song by Dave Rowley and Paul.

Can you Hear Me (Paul May)
Another religious song built around an infectiously catchy, almost funky, riff. This is the perfect example of Al singing Paul’s heartfelt lyrics, clearly to the Almighty for forgiveness. Or at least it’s the Almighty, I might have got it wrong, and if so it’s about some chick.

PAUL: This is a bit more nu-metal type, a metal prayer ! I love the gravel in Als voice on this one proper metal.

Al: I thought all Paul's songs were about some chick? 'just kidding' saying that, when we talk of filming videos for some of the songs I often think of the lyric content in a different way to what Paul's actually wrote. Another great song!!

BUY IT NOW AT GONZO:

The Serpents Kiss
CD - £9.99

ABWH German review translated

http://rocktimes.de/gesamt/a/anderson_bruford_wakeman_howe/live_at_the_nec.html

"An Evening of Yes Music Plus ..." was the motto of the 1989 UK tour of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Today we would use the term 'supergroup', but at the time was this word not yet so familiar.You wanted (but could not) the crowd-pulling names Yes use, although this line-up would have been probably more right to do so, as the Yes -formation about the same time by Chris Squire was led by the U.S.. 

Over the four protagonists need probably lose no more words. Whose artistic focus and many classics created things have a profound impact in music history. Viewed from the reputation they had quietly Tony Levin can integrate into the signature - but it was limited to the Yes -members.

"Live At The NEC" on 24 October 1989 recorded during the said UK tour by the BBC. The deluxe set offers both CDs are a bonus DVD, which, however, is hardly worth mentioning. Additional keyboardistJulian Beck Cole is for the black and white amateur footage responsible, showing the band (completely free commentary) in the backstage area and the sound check and some live clips. After the gig you can Jon Anderson in blowing out the 45 candles watching his birthday cake, the only halfway spectacular moment of just over 26 minutes playing DVD.

The evening begins purely acoustic caused in the first twenty minutes once a deep frown. "Time And A Word", "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" and "Teakbois" are cobbled together more bad than good to a medley - 'fit' does little here. Then get Steve Howe with two acoustic numbers from his Yes'between early stage, "Clap" and "Mood For A Day", but an enchanting solo performance, but as with the following "Wakeman Solo", one misses a common act of the band initially painful . It seems that would be considered here three exceptional musicians playing side by side ... With an OF Yes -popular song, "Long Distance Rounaround" seem Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe to reflect on their common concern, this hope is, however, already after just over three minutes by an - admittedly brilliant - Bruford 'sches drum solo once nullified . 

But one finds yet another - and how! With "Birthright", the first common Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe Number of eponymous album, the first highlight is celebrated. And after two monumental works from the same end a monolith "Close To The Edge" (1972), "And You And I" and the title track, one after the botched launch reconciled only once halfway.

On the second CD of live pimped to a septet of four then pulls out all the stops of his skills and makes use of mainly the songs of more than three months before released "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe". The very catchy and melodic "Themes" is crowned by a giant bass drum duel.Bruford and Levin draw here the very large, artistic cutlery! 'Fit' at an advanced stage of a concert including those just solo deposits better than at the beginning. 

With "Brother Of Mine" one uses much more convincing modern elements than at the "90,125" times.The quiet ballad "The Meeting" is more of an interlude before one with "Heart Of The Sunrise" again a moody Yes classics (from the 1971 "Fragile") intake of material. The four-part "Order Of The Universe" - a new number - impressed with feather-light melodies with powerful keyboard with fanfare. Is there any prog fan who "Roundabout", the opening track of "Fragile" is not revered, deeply?This nearly fourteen-minute epic ends the regular set befitting. The rousing encore "Starship Trooper" agrees a strange launched, but perfectly enhancing live set.

The question of whether the bonus DVD of the deluxe edition of "Live At The NEC" really needs and the double CD is not quite enough, is quite justified and needs to the interested reader to answer for themselves. 

Despite remarkable weaknesses at the beginning, this Triple-pane but taken as a whole a rather pleasing historical document of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe , the half a year later, and 74 shows around the world were already history.

Line-up:

Jon Anderson (vocals) 

Bill Bruford (drums), 

Rick Wakeman (keyboards), 

Steve Howe (guitar), Tony Levin (bass) Julian Beck Cole (keyboards) Milton MacDonald (guitar) 

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO:

Live At The NEC 2CD - £11.99

Live at the NEC Deluxe Edition (3 Disc) 2CD1DVD - £19.99

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe 2CD - £11.99

An Evening of Yes  CD - £7.99

An Evening of Yes  DVD - £9.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

RELATIONSHIPS

Where do you devote your counted meter time?

Some have a close relationship with their phone

They text they Tweet they speak  they access email 

They spend more time online than off

Some have a relationship with their car

They drive like ON THE ROAD,notching miles like kisses

Some adapt to flying,and never come down

Their Frequent Flying affair has double upgraded love

Some shop for love in time(Black Friday,CyberMonday)

get killed in the crush of WALMART affections

I know of one who spends her life in gardens

another with those dying-still more with broken  hearts and minds

mending,healing,annealing half-loves empty harbors

I look at all who fell in love with Art(she has many lovers-

they discover Muse jealousy when widowed in dark nights.

Music ,too,has those who love through adulation

Adoration from a distance like as for TV,parents,gods,causes,goddesses

And then there is you-who do you give your love to?

Relationships are time shares-evictions,repossessions,sales,returns..

Every love has a hidden tale to learn..

BARBARA DICKSON: A sneak preview of the new album

For decades, the lovely Barbara Dickson has been a familiar figure on stage and television, often singing songs by people like Andrew Lloyd-Webber. But before her life changed and she hit pop stardom in 1974, she was a well-known figure on the folk club circuit. Many of her folk club appearances were recorded, and the best of them have been collected together on a new album.

She explains: "Well, it’s deliberately called Before '74 which actually is exactly what it is. It is what it says on the cover. It is a set of recordings prior to 1974, 1974 being significant in my career in that that is the year that I went off to work in the theatre in a show called John, Paul, George, Ringo... and Bert, which was the first big show written by Willy Russell. And it was such a success I found myself being whisked from folk clubs into the West End, and so 1974 being the date that everything changed for me and I went from working in folk clubs to being a pop star basically in the space of two year.

So these recordings are a set of recordings – there’s 40 tracks – and they are from various sources. But they are all to do with my work in folk clubs, every single one of them is from that time.

There are some duets, with Rab Noakes, who is one of the people on it, there’s a Scottish band called The McCalmans and Mike Whellans, he‘s a Scottish artist still going strong, so I’ve got duets with these people – there’s a track with Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick and there’s – as I say – three tracks with Rab Noakes with whom I’ve worked on the album and he’s the producer. So the rest is stuff that I was performing in folk clubs so they are all basically recordings of me singing live from the days that I was in folk clubs, from various sources. One set of songs is from a place in Leeds, one is from Leicester, there’s some recordings from The Elbow Room in Kirkcaldy and there is some from Leith Town Hall in Edinburgh and just general right across the board – recordings which Rab has compiled for me into an archive and I’ve decided to put it out, so that people who are interested in me can hear what I was doing prior to when I became famous. It’s an archive.”

For an artist who has been active for so long, it must be strange to go back over material recorded so many years ago. She revealed:

“I was astonished as to how quality some of it was. Some of the recordings are not very high quality but the performances are of a high quality and actually I was surprised because even when you hear yourself that time ago, you don’t expect… I don’t want to be pompous here … but I really was surprised at how assured the performances are and my friend Rab Noakes, who has helped me put it together has said there was so much charm in the recordings and in the introductions to the songs as well, because a lot of them are on there as well, we have left the introductions to the songs on there because like a lot of folk clubs, introductions to songs, they are quite interesting in themselves, you know we were trained to talk to the audience. I don’t know who trained us, but we just knew how to do it, to talk to the audience about the tracks and songs. We just did it, you know, so they’re really good….. so I think that for people who are interested in me and who think that I’m Elaine Paige, I think it is going to be a real shock to the system because it is nothing like what people know me as a pop star or a person who sang I Know Him So Well would expect from me, so that’s another reason to put it out really”. But Barbara was never a typical folk singer, even back in the beginning… “…most of the songs are traditional, but significantly some of the songs, the 20th Century songs, which were contemporary at the times I was recording them.

There’s a song by Gallagher and Lyle, there’s James Taylor, there’s a lot of songs that I chose to sing at that time, because I was never entirely committed to singing traditional music. A lot of people I knew only sang traditional music, but I didn’t feel that way, I just had a fairly Catholic taste in music and I think it comes over in the choices of the songs on this double CD. I’m very proud of the choices I made and the songs that I chose to sing. There’s nothing really naff there at all that I’m thinking ‘oh dear I wish I hadn’t done that’. They are all good songs and well executed, so I think they have a place”.

Tracks: CD1 False Lover Won Back , International , Something's Wrong , The Poachers , Fit Can a Young Lassie? , The Laird o' the Dainty Dounby , Jamie Raeburn , Steamboat Row , Jock o' Hazeldean , Ythanside , Fareweel tae Whisky , Fareweel tae Whisky pt2 , A Parcel of Rogues , Johnnie Cope , Dainty Davie , The Rigs o' Rye , Lord Franklin , Call on Me , CD2The Plooman Laddies , The Early Morning Rain , Do Right Woman , Love of My Life , Something's Wrong , Spoken word/Bob White , Highland Harry , The January Man , The Enniskillen Dragoons , O'er the Water tae Charlie , The Dreadnought , I am Lonely, I am Lost , The Blacksmith , Gartan Mother's Lullaby , The Band o' Shearers , The Seeds of Love , Westron Wynd , The Shipyard Apprentice , The Foggy Dew , Spoken Word/NK , Sullivan's John , Spoken Word/Bob White.

JUDY DYBLE AT REAL WORLD

"I've been singing since I was eight or so, but not in public (except for one local talent contest which my mum bribed me to enter with the promise of a bright green plastic handbag. I came about 9th I think)."

1964 was the era of Judy And The Folkmen and the revelation of acquiring an autoharp. That meant I could disguise my forgotten words and wrong notes with a noisy, yet beautiful swish of the strings. Me and my harp were persuaded to join Fairport Convention in 1967, them needing a singer and me thinking it might be a bit of jollity. None of us really realising what oaks would grow from that little acorn.

I went from Fairport to meeting up with Ian McDonald and Pete Sinfield and thus to joining with Peter and Mike Giles and Robert Fripp and having a bit of a sing with them. They hatched into King Crimson, while I joined up with Jackie McAuley to form Trader Horne in 1969. That lasted for a short while and then I virtually gave up music for 30 years, occasionally singing at the odd Cropredy Festival with Fairport in their anniversary years.

I was finally persuaded back into singing in 2002 where I worked on various songs that I had written with Marc Swordfish from Astralasia and have released three albums and I accidentally came across Rob from Real World who became my publisher.

So. I have been a part of some fantastic bands in the past and have been called back into making music in the present. All by accident and all with huge enjoyment.

I am now working on yet another new album this time in collaboration with Tim Bowness and Alistair Murphy who are also producing and arranging me, and I am finding wonderful new pathways to travel musically and meeting wonderful new musicians and wonderful old friends to travel with."

http://www.realworldmusic.com/composers/judy-dyble

Listen To Tracks Featuring Judy Dyble

• Darkness To Light by Judy Dyble
• Final Hour by Judy Dyble
• Shining by Judy Dyble

GORDON GILTRAP: November 2012 news update

Original post

November 2012 News Update

What an amazing month this has been. MANY highs, so many I really can’t recall them all now but suffice to say, things are moving along quite nicely thank you.

The main news for this month is of course theRavens and Lullabies tour, and it would be unfair to pick out specific dates as they have all been special in their own way. Special because of the friends and family who have made the effort to come and see this fledgling duo of ours.

There have already been over 1100 views of the taster video on YouTube

I remember saying at the outset that this new venture had put a lot of pressure on this old brain of mine, but I’m delighted to say that I‘m handling it quite well, but that’s not to say that it’s an easy gig, far from it, and each night represents a brand new learning curve for me, but I like to think that I’m rising to the challenge. 

You will already have read some cracking reviews of the shows from various folk, Keith Meredith for example, but here are a few more for your delectation, cherry picked by our beloved Sue Holton.... over to you Sue!

Excerpts from Ravens and Lullabies reviews

Keith Meredith

I must admit that I didn’t quite know what to expect of this gig - but in very short order I was captivated and mesmerized by the sounds presented to my grateful ears. The music bounced from calm and relaxing to stimulating and exciting and then back again – this new collaborative venture richly deserves success and a much wider audience.

Individually, both Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman are exceptionally gifted musicians and composers – capable of producing joyous, thoughtful, emotional and exciting music. When their talents are combined in the way they are in this collaboration, then the results far outshine the sum parts. Each complements the other’s talents to produce a unique performance. 

Brad Carter 

What a wonderful evening and experience to have been entertained by such consummate musicians who know exactly how to reach their audience and, clearly, enjoy themselves as well.

I read a couple of days ago of the imminent Rolling Stones concerts and the ridiculous prices being asked for tickets - that is from official sources. If you enjoy quality music, quality performers and, simply, a magical evening, you can do that at a tiny fraction of the cost with Gordon & Oliver's 'Ravens & Lullabies'.

Graham Hunt

Great night out, two super musicians in complete harmony with themselves, the sound was excellent and the album is now on my wish list and I await it with great anticipation.

Roger Drew

The set seemed to go from strength to strength and everything about the concert worked extremely well, Gordon and Oliver’s playing together, the solo pieces and of course the excellent banter and interaction with the audience. Also, no egos here, just great mutual respect between two great musicians which led to many moments of unforced musical magic during the evening.

The Ravens and Lullabies page now has a collection of all the reviews HERE

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Double Visions CD - £5.99

As It Happens DCD - £11.99

Secret Valentine  CD - £9.99

Sym Hall  CD - £7.99

A Testament Of Time  CD - £7.99

Live At Ambergate  CD - £7.99

Midnight Clear  CD - £7.99

Remember This  CD - £7.99

Band Live 81 CD - £7.99

The Peacock Party CD - £7.99

Elegy  CD - £7.99

Perilous Journey  CD - £7.99

Live At Oxford CD - £7.99

Collection  CD - £7.99

Janschology  CD - £7.99

Acoustic Troubadour  DCD - £11.99

Under This Blue Sky  CD - £7.99

Shining Morn CD - £7.99

LINK - 40 YEARS AGO: HAWKWIND RELEASE ‘DOREMI FASOL LATIDO’

United Artists Records

It’s been 40 years since legendary space rockersHawkwind released what many fans consider their finest album, ‘Doremi Fasol Latido.’ Though merely a footnote here in the US of A, Hawkwind reign supreme throughout the galaxies of underground rock and roll fans everywhere.

Formed in 1968, Hawkwind began life playing blues-based rock and roll. That path didn’t last long as the band began to stretch the boundaries of their approach, ultimately hitting on a winning formula. Combining hard-charging rock and roll and spaced-out psychedelia, Hawkwind created their own signature sound, forever to be known as “space rock.” While that’s selling the beast a little short, the tag sticks to this day.

After releasing a relatively subdued debut album (produced by Dick Taylor of the Pretty Things), things fell into place on the band’s second effort, the 1971 release ‘X In Search Of Space.’ Then, in the summer of 1972, the unexpected happened. These long haired, greasy dope heads found themselves riding high in the singles chart with a song called ‘Silver Machine.’ Sung by their new bass player, who you might know better as Lemmy Kilmister, the song took off and became a surprise hit, riding up to No. 3 on the UK charts. The band continued to work on their third album, which was released in late November of 1972.

Read on...

HELEN McCOOKERYBOOK AND MARTIN STEPHENSON IN DARWEN

http://mccookerybook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/darwen.html



...and check out Helen's Gonzo artist page
Check out the Martin Stephenson artist page on the Gonzo site, and also the Martin Stephenson and the Daintees artist page, and the Martin Stephenson and Helen McCookerybook page...

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

OTHER WORLDS

Age deals cards the young have never seen as yet

There is no repetition of experience.Only remembering

(and it gathers random data like desultory selected edited Kodak moments

you store some in books/most are lost and do not wish to be repeated

every body knows you can not glow back(but you can!-in dreams

that gild each memory with an aura it did not have in the hard ship of rowing up

this takes time-the persistence of forgetfulness shields us

If everything happened at once(as it does in Spirit Worlds-

where there is no separation nor sequence /only simultaneity

awareness would be universally shared-like internal empathic internets.

We find it easier to fog forget /then have to repeat repeat repeat until

the pin of pain reminds us not to pass this way again.Life exists-

in stages and pages and plays and movies,books,art ,speech

It lasts as long as we can sustain it.we must breathe,and move,work,play

Share these most human processes until the grave

separates us into ashes and bones,memories that others must carry home

like jars of relatives upon their mantelpiece.We remind them of what comes next.