Allan Blocks

Allan Taylor is one of England's most-respected singer/songwriters. His songs have been covered by artists on both sides of the Atlantic, including Don Williams, Frankie Miller, Fairport Convention, Dick Gaughan, the McCalmans, the Fureys, the Clancy Brothers, and De Dannan. Folk Roots praised him for his "ability to crystallize a mood and evoke an era with the ease of a computer memory access, crafting perfect songs with dramatic changes in the spirit of Brecht, Bikel, and Brel." The Oxford Book of Traditional Verse felt as strongly, writing that Taylor was "one of the most literate and sensitive of contemporary songwriters in terms of words and music and one who is capable of exploring more complex subjects than most of his contemporaries."

Tales of Mystery and Imagination is an extremely mesmerizing aural journey through some of Edgar Allan Poe's most renowned works. With the use of synthesizers, drums, guitar, and even a glockenspiel, Parsons' shivering effects make way for an eerie excursion into Poe's well-known classics…

Dare To Dream is a tour de force of Onaje Allen Gumbs' talents as a composer, producer, arranger and keyboardist. Co-produced by V.Jeffrey Smith of The Family Stand,the opening track,"No Question," is propulsive funk in the style of The System and Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon." The mellow Sunday afternoon groove of "Second Thoughts," is led by the tenor sax of Roger Byam,the engaging interplay of drummer Buddy Williams,the shaker,tambourine and soft conga of Steve Thornton and gently,plucked bass of Oscar Carataya as Gumbs interweaves tasty piano solos and lays down warm,sustained digital piano.

Allan Taylor - The American Album & Cajun Moon
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 438 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Beat Goes On Records # BGOCD488 | Country/Year: UK 2000, 1970s
Genre: Folk Rock, Acoustic | Style: Folk, Singer/Songwriter

Allan Taylor is one of England's most-respected singer/songwriters. His songs have been covered by artists on both sides of the Atlantic, including Don Williams, Frankie Miller, Fairport Convention, Dick Gaughan, the McCalmans, the Fureys, the Clancy Brothers, and De Dannan. Folk Roots praised him for his "ability to crystallize a mood and evoke an era with the ease of a computer memory access, crafting perfect songs with dramatic changes in the spirit of Brecht, Bikel, and Brel."…

This beautiful box set has been produced with the full co-operation of Eric Woolfson’s family and Alan Parsons and is a landmark release for the album that launched the Project.
The 40th Anniversary deluxe edition of Tales of Mystery and Imagination comprises 3 CDs, 1 Blu-Ray and 2 vinyl LPs. The 3 CDs present the original 1976 mix, the 1987 remix plus a whole CD of over 70 minutes of previously unreleased bonus material.The set is complete with a stunning 60-page coffee table book with photographs and new interviews about the making of the album, with Alan Parsons, Hazel and Sally Woolfson, David Paton and Stuart Tosh.
The debut album by The Alan Parsons Project, Tales of Mystery and Imagination was released in 1976 and comprises eleven tracks based on the works of the great American gothic writer, Edgar Allan Poe…

Progressive rock usually takes its inspiration from litterature, especially when it comes to science-fiction or fantasy. Edgar Allan Poe is usually regarded as the father of these two genres, especially with his famous novels, translated in French by Charles Baudelaire in 1856 under the title "Histoires Extraordinaires". The American author was the perfect subject for this project by the Musea label and the Colossus fanzine. A mountain to climb as well… Here are the artists that rose up to the challenge: Marco La Muscio, Senogul, La Théorie des Cordes, Oracle, N.O.T., Dunwich, Guy Leblanc, Jinetes Negros, Karda Estra, Jukka Kulju, Anima Morte, Blank Manuscript, Areknames, Little Tragedies, Armalite, Chansonoir, Magnetic Sound Machine and Daal. Mission accomplished!

Johnnie Allan - Promised Land (2011) {Ace Records CDCHD380 rec 1961-1983}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 305 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 148 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961-83, 2011 Ace Records | CDCHD 380
Swamp Pop / Cajun / Folk / World / Blues / North American Traditions

The best of Johnnie Allan’s swamp pop performances for Jin and Viking dating from the late 1950s through the 80s, featuring his all-time classic ‘The Promised Land’ and the local anthem ‘South To Louisiana’. A glance at the release number indicates that Johnnie Allan’s ‘Promised Land’ dates back to the early days of Ace’s CD releases, 1992 in fact. Remember, this was the time before full colour reproduction, even label scans. Some 20 years later, this set has been given a welcome facelift and generally freshened up; note the new cover design for a start.

This 1992 release features Holdsworth in conversation with usual compatriots Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wackerman, and Gary Husband. Keyboards are provided not only by Steve Hunt, but also by both Wackerman and Husband. Husband in particular demonstrates that his facility on the keyboards is equal to his skill on the drums. Despite the all-star cast of characters, there are certain peculiarities to Wardenclyffe Tower that prevent it from being numbered among Holdsworth's best work.