history

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


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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 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


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BECK Released His Seventh Album ‘MIDNITE VULTURES’ 20 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

23 November 2019

Musical centipede BECK released his 7th album MIDNITE VULTURES on 23 November 1999, 20 years ago today. A varied groove and funk party record with the open-minded artist being inspired by artists such as Kraftwerk, Grandmaster Flash, Prince and the Velvet Undergound. A collection of exotic dance dynamics enough to shake your booty to for a while. The LP hit #34 in the US and peaked at #16 in the UK.

The three singles…

– SEXX LAWS –

– MIXED BIZNESS –

– NICOTINE & GRAVY –

Album in full…

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BECK: Facebook


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THE RAINCOATS Released Their Self-Titled Debut LP 40 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Classics from the past…

20 November 2019

40 years ago today, on 21 November 1979, all-female post-punk band THE RAINCOATS released their self-titled debut LP. The London band formed in 1977, while all members were still students, after seeing the awesome The Slits. Vocalist/bassist Gina Birch said
“It was as if suddenly I was given permission. It never occurred to me that I could be in a band. Girls didn’t do that. But when I saw the Slits doing it, I thought, ‘This is me. This is mine.’

Their DIY debut LP was a gloriously crackling, raw, plain-spoken, in your face and snappy record. If PJ Harvey was around at the time she would have definitely been a Raincoat.

Album in full here…

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THE RAINCOATS: Facebook – All Albums

Riot Grrrl Started With THE SUPREMES Topping The UK Singles Chart With ‘BABY LOVE’ 55 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

19 November 2019

Don’t believe the fairy tale that Riot Grrrl started in the early 90s with bands such as
Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Huggy Bear and many more like-minded feminist groups. Oh no, it was actually wonderful Motown trio THE SUPREMES, led by Diana Ross, that was the very first all-female band to score a Number One hit. They did so in the UK with their honey-sweet single ‘BABY LOVE’ on 19 November 1964, yes, 55 years ago today. Hallelujah!

Here we go…

THE SUPREMES: Facebook

babby

 

Third LED ZEPPELIN Album Number One In The UK And THE US 49 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

LED ZEPPELIN III was one of the most anticipated longplayers of 1970. On top of it came the fact that the release date was delayed by 2 months because of technical problems with the design and production of the front, inner and back sleeves. Despite this issue problem, the advance orders in the US alone were close to the million mark. The LP topped the UK as well as the US albums chart on the same day, 18 November 1970, 49 years ago today. By 1999 the blockbuster record went 6 times platinum. The remastered version came out in 2014.

AllMusic wrote: “Led Zeppelin III provided the band with the necessary room to grow musically. While there are still a handful of metallic rockers, III is built on a folky, acoustic foundation that gives the music extra depth. And even the rockers aren’t as straightforward
as before…” . Full review here. Score: 5/5.

Faithful to the band’s day one principle, no single was released in their home country to promote the LP. But, as it did happen before, also this time a single came out in several countries outside the UK, including the United States (peaked at #16). It was the album’s opener, the giant riff monster ‘IMMIGRANT SONG’, that got a 7″ vinyl treatment. Here’s that wall-breaking knockout…

Album in full here…

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LED ZEPPELIN: Website

THE JAM Released Their Fourth Album ‘SETTING SONS’ 40 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Classics from the past…

15 November 2019

THE JAM released SETTINGS SONS, the fourth LP since their 1977 debut In The City on
16 November 1979, 40 years ago. Definitely one of their best, critically and commercially. It peaked at #4 on the Albums Chart while The Eton Rifles, the sole single of the record was their first Top Ten Hit, reaching number 3.

AllMusic wrote about the album: “The Jam’s ‘Setting Sons’ was originally planned as a
concept album about three childhood friends who, upon meeting after some time apart, discover the different directions in which they’ve grown apart. Only about half of the songs ended up following the concept due to a rushed recording schedule, but where they do, Paul Weller vividly depicts British life, male relationships, and coming to terms with entry into adulthood. Weller’s observations of society are more pointed and pessimistic than ever, but at the same time, he’s employed stronger melodies with a slicker production and comparatively fuller arrangements… ‘Setting Sons’ often reaches brilliance and stands among the Jam’s best albums, but the inclusion of a number of throwaways and knockoffs (especially the out-of-place cover of “Heat Wave” which closes the album) mars an otherwise perfect album.” Score: 5/5

Album in full…

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THE JAM: Biography – All Albums


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