history

THE VERVE – Stellar Second Album ‘A NORTHERN SOUL’ Released 25 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

20 June 2020

Band: The Verve (Wigan, UK)
Active: 1990–1995 / 1996–1999 / 2007–2009
Album: A Northern Soul – second LP
The title is a reference to the popular soul
movement in Britain during the 1970s.
Released: 20 June 1995 – 25 years ago today
Score: No 13 in the UK

NME wrote: “A knife-twisting snapshot of a band on the brink… The Verve
exude such a sense of astounding self-belief that they can almost convince you
that even their more nonsensical moments should be cast in gold, carved in
stone and treated with the utmost artistic respect.”

Keywords: Drugs in motion, towering anthems, doped reveries,
Richard ‘Mad’ Ashcroft, handclaps by Liam Gallagher on ‘History
Key tracks: A New Decade / History / On Your Own / Life’s An Ocean

– HISTORY –

– ON YOUR OWN –

Full album…

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THE VERVE: Facebook – All Albums


Back sleeve

T.REX Scored No 1 Album In The UK 48 Years Ago Today With ‘ELECTRIC WARRIOR’…

Posted on by JL

18 December 2019

48 years ago today, on 18 December 1971, legendary glam rockers T.REX scored their first No 1 album in the UK with their sixth release ‘ELECTRIC WARRIOR’. The LP was a huge hit as it became the best-selling longplayer of that year in Great-Britain. Here are the two successful singles off the record…

– GET IT ON –
(No 1 on the UK Singles Chart)

– JEEPSTER –
(Peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart)

Album in full here…

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T.REX: Discography

THE CLASH Released Their Double Masterpiece Album ‘LONDON CALLING’ 40 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

14 December 2019

Legends THE CLASH released LONDON CALLING, their best album – a double one – on
14 December 1979, 40 years ago today. A monumental record with the band mixing a
lot of different musical genres such as reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop and lounge jazz. Lyrically, the songs were about social issues like inequality, unemployment, racial conflicts, drug abuse and our climate’s ugly future. The final result was a bold, multi-faceted and overall astonishing achievement. The double longplayer scored big time, worldwide, with sales of over five million copies.

Three of the many highlights…

– LONDON CALLING –

– GUNS OF BRIXTON –

– CLAMPDOWN –
(Live version)…

THE CLASH: Facebook

Album in full…

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THE CLASH: Facebook


Back sleeve

THE JAM Played Their Final Gig In Brighton 37 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

11 December 2019

On 11 December 1982, 37 years ago today, THE JAM played their last ever concert in Brighton, UK. It was frontman and songwriter Paul Weller who wanted to move on and start other musical projects. Between 1977 and 1982 the band released six triumphant albums – with the 1977 brilliant LP ‘All Mod Cons‘ as my absolute favourite – and no less than 19 hit singles. Although The Jam formed in the 70s punk era the trio’s work was more influenced by R & B, 60s beat music and ‘angry young man‘ rock ‘n’ roll. To celebrate one of the best British groups ever Turn Up The Volume selected three of their standout crackers. Here we go…

– IN THE CITY – 1977

– DOWN IN THE TUBE STATION AT MIDNIGHT – 1978

– THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT – 1981

THE JAM: Discography

25 Years Ago THE STONE ROSES Released Their Second And Final Album ‘SECOND COMING’…

Posted on by JL

5 December 2019

Today 25 years ago, on 5 December 1994, Manchester’s legends THE STONE ROSES released their second and final album titled biblically’ SECOND COMING‘. It came more than 5 years after their sensational self-titled debut LP, their magnum opus, all killers no fillers. The delay was due to a lengthy legal dispute with their first record label Silverstone Records, the fact that they were too busy spending the big advance money they got from their new, major label Geffen Records, but most of all there was the immense pressure
on the band to make another masterpiece.

Despite top tracks such as ‘Driving South’, ‘Ten Storey Love Song’, ‘Love Spreads’, ‘Your Star
Will Shine’ and ‘Begging You’ the longplayer failed to meet the high musical expectations and the critics weren’t impressed. Yet the record peaked at #4 on the UK Chart and sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

Here are the three singles…

– LOVE SPREADS –

– TEN STOREY LOVE SONG –

– BEGGING YOU –

Album in full…

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THE STONE ROSES


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THE ROLLING STONES Released Their Top Album ‘LET IT BLEED’ 50 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

4 December 2016

THE ROLLING STONES released ‘LET IT BLEED’ one of their best albums on 5 December 1969, 50 years ago. They rocked harder than before and lyrically they explored sexual
and demonic territories where they had never been before. Rolling Stone wrote, “Whether
it was spiritual, menstrual or visceral, the Stones made sure you went home covered in blood.”. The record topped the UK Chart and peaked at #3 in the US.

Mick Taylor had joined the band as Brian Jones was fired in the midst of the recording sessions. He only played on two tracks and passed away 5 months before the LP came
out. Eventually, it was Keith Richards who did almost all the guitar parts.

Key Tracks: Gimme Shelter / Love In Vain / Midnight Rambler / Country Honk (actually another title for their hit single ‘Honky Tonk Woman’ / ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’

Album in full…

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THE ROLLING STONES: Website

THE BEATLES Released Their Top Album ‘RUBBER SOUL’ 54 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

3 December 2019

THE BEATLES released one of their best albums ‘RUBBER SOUL’ on 3 December 1965,
54 years ago. It was their sixth longplayer with almost every track a winner and several standout pieces such as ‘Nowhere Man, ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)‘ (with George Harrison for the first time on sitar), ‘Drive My Car‘ and ‘Girl‘. It was the LP on which The Fab Four assisted by the sonic creativity of producer George Martin started to experiment with all kinds of studio techniques. The record topped both the UK and the US Chart.

AllMusic wrote: “While the Beatles still largely stuck to love songs on ‘Rubber Soul’, the lyrics represented a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and complex ambiguities. Musically, too, it was a substantial leap forward, with intricate folk-rock arrangements that reflected the increasing influence of Dylan and the Byrds. The group and George Martin were also beginning to expand the conventional instrumental parameters of the rock group…”
Full review here. Score: 5/5

Album in full right here…

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THE BEATLES: Website – Facebook


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THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE Released Second Album ‘AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE’ 52 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

1 December 2019

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE released their second longplayer ‘AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE’ on 1 December 1967, 52 years ago today. It came out only 7 months after the critically praised and triumphant debut LP ‘Are You Experienced’ but it didn’t hurt the record’s sales. It peaked at #5 in the UK and #3 in the US where it was issued later.

Rolling Stone wrote at the time: “Jimi Hendrix sounds like a junk heap, very heavy and metallic loud. Rock’s first burlesque dancer, superman in drag, his music is schizophrenic. Axis: Bold as Love is the refinement of white noise into psychedelia, and (like Cream) it is not a timid happening; in the vortex of this apocalyptic transcendence stands Hendrix, beating off on his guitar and defiantly proclaiming “if the mountains fell in the sea, let it be, it ain’t me.” Such cocky pop philosophy shall not go unrewarded.”

Album in full here…

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JIMI HENDRIX: Website – Facebook


Back sleeve

THE BEATLES Scored Their 18th No 1 Hit In The US 50 Years Ago With ‘SOMETHING / COME TOGETHER’…

Posted on by JL

29 November 2019

The Liverpool legends scored their 18th Number One Hit in the US with double A-side single ‘SOMETHING/COME TOGETHER’ on 29 November 1969, yes, that’s 50 years ago today! Both songs came from the ‘Abbey Road’ album. ‘Come Together‘ was the opener
of the LP, written by John Lennon and the magical ballad ‘Something’ was an ode to his then wife Patti Boyd by George Harrison who died today 18 years ago, only 58.

Here are the two pearls…

– SOMETHING –

– COME TOGETHER –

THE BEATLES: Website