Angels Against The Sun

It was one of the more unlikely major-label releases of 1992: it had nothing to do with grunge, and was certainly not a last holdout from '80s mainstream sludge. On the flipside, it wasn't really the incipient alternative country/No Depression sound, either; for all that, there was a clear influence from the likes of Gram Parsons and fellow travelers throughout the grooves. This wasn't a sepia-toned collection of murder ballads or the similarly minded efforts that were almost overreactions to Nashville's triumphalism throughout the '90s. At base, Hollywood Town Hall found a finely balanced point: accessible enough for should-have-been success (sclerotic classic rock station programmers were fools to ignore this while still playing the Eagles into the ground) but bowing to no trends. Its lack of variety tells against it a bit – while there are certainly stronger moments than others, most of the songs do have a tendency to blend into each other – but the core strengths of the group come through. George Drakoulias fleshed out the sound just enough, with the side help of performers like Benmont Tench and Nicky Hopkins adding fine extra touches without swamping the identity of the group.

Plenty of Blondie compilations have appeared over the years, but the band endorsed Against the Odds: 1974-1982, a comprehensive complete chronology available in four separate incarnations: a Super Deluxe Collectors' Edition containing ten vinyl records (plus bonuses) and a Deluxe eight-CD set that both contain newly remastered versions of Blondie's first six albums plus 52 bonus tracks, then a Deluxe four-LP set and a triple-CD version that solely feature the non-LP bonus material. Some of the bonus tracks cover B-sides and single mixes that have been in circulation for some time, but there are a grand total of 36 unreleased tracks, most taken from the personal collection of guitarist Chris Stein, who is also the source for much of the memorabilia and pictures seen in the two hefty sets of liner notes accompanying the box. The bonus material runs the gamut of Blondie's career, ranging from edgy early demos from 1974 – they had the basic elements of "Heart of Glass" in place even then, here heard as "Once Had a Love" – to some stray synth mixes Stein commissioned for a project in 1982.

3CD 57 track release that features every A and B side issued by Glam Rock legends The Glitter Band. National Chart hits include 'Angel Face' (UK No. 8, Germany No. 8, Australia No. 2), 'Just For You' (UK No. 10, Germany No. 35), 'Let's Get Together Again' (UK No. 8, Germany No. 19), 'Goodbye My Love' (UK No. 2, Germany No. 32), 'The Tears I Cried' (UK No. 8, Germany No. 35, Australia No. 5), 'Love In The Sun' (UK No. 15) and 'People Like You And People Like Me' (UK No. 5, Germany No. 14). Of particular interest to collectors will be the inclusion of rare 45's like 'Until The Next Time', 'Heartbeat To Heartache' and 'Nothing At All' plus the previously non CD 1989 re-workings of band anthem 'Angel Face'.. Seven rare studio tracks from the 1980's have been added as a bonus as is the inclusion of the band's one and only 'In Concert' release, the 1985 "Live At The Marquee" album.

Jephtha was the last full-length composition that Handel wrote. (The Triumph of Time and Truth of 1757 was almost entirely made up of pre-existing music.) Given this fact, and also that the actual writing of it was an inordinately laborious task for Handel as he fought with rapidly failing eyesight, it's incomparable depth of expression and personal commitment make the whole work a profound and magnificent conclusion to his life's output. Based on a story from Judges XI, it tells of Jephtha leading the Israelites against the Ammonites and his ultimate sacrifice.