2009’s ‘Escalator’ was a re-emergence album of sorts for this British hard rock act, founded in 1969 with a self-titled debut on the legendary Deram label. Fast forward almost four decades and original vocalist, Lynden Williams and guitarist, Bob Cooke decided to record a new album after Sony Music (Japan) reissued Jerusalem’s self-titled debut in its popular Rock Legend Series.
Big thanks for the reviews out there of for THE YARDBIRDS - 'MAKING TRACKS'.
Martin Wakeling remembers 'Lady' June Campbell-Cramer, Kevin Ayers, Eno, Pip Pyle and the Canterbury-infused 'Linguistic Leprosy'.
Marking the welcome return of a unique and whimsical 1974 album debut for Kevin Ayers' London apartment's landlady, this is Lady's June's 'Linguistic Leprosy'.
On the reissue of Neil Ardley’s 1973-recorded compendium of compositions by Mike Taylor, we look back with Dave Gelly at the only too brief life of one modern British jazz’s most original, if elusive masters …
The 'Syd Barrett of jazz,' British composer, pianist, songwriter, Mike Taylor died tragically young, leaving just two albums, as well as co-writes with Ginger Baker for Cream’s Wheels Of Fire album, to his name. Taken from Neil Ardley’s master tapes, this is their critically-acclaimed tribute to a master of his art by friends and colleagues, themselves representing a cross-section of the cream of modern British jazz talent of the day.
Fronted by composer/performer Pierre Tubbs and recorded by him and friends at his parents’ garage in leafy Surrey in the late '60s, The Jeeps had clearly been listening to the embryonic Surf Sound of The Beach Boys along with other US acts such as The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Four Seasons when the faders were pushed up on this catchy set.
One of the most important figures in modern British jazz comes to Singsong Music this month via three critically-acclaimed releases bearing his name and imprimateur.
Recorded live on tour in the United States between 2010 and 2011, ‘Making Tracks’ features 19 songs including The Yardbirds’ hits “For Your Love”, “Five Long Years” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor” together with later numbers. Original members Jim McCarty (drums) and Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar) are in fine form along with lead guitarist Ben King, vocalist Andy Mitchell and bassist Dave Smale.
“… the album radiates contented, heavy-lidded decadence baked into inertia under the Majorcan sun and implicitly underwritten by empty wine bottles rolling down the drive.” Record Collector ****
