Classic Rock Special – 29 September 2021

The limited, deluxe edition of Tina Turner’s classic album FOREIGN AFFAIR, featuring 4CDs, a DVD, a special, commemorative passport, booklet, and art card.

Crocodiles age well.So it comes as no surprise that the band, named after the primeval reptile with the killer instinct, is, once again, back in the game. Over 50 years after forming the group in Zurich, and 45 years after their break-up, Düde Dürst, drummer, band leader, graphic designer and archivist of the first Swiss “supergroup”, decided to take another stab at it. In the midst of working on a rerelease of Krokodil’s psychedelic masterpiece «An Invisible World Revealed» (1971) he couldn’t help himself but get inspired. His latest vision? Recording an album that unites Krokodil’s pioneering creative spirit with the zeitgeist of the 2020s. Together with the two founding members Walty Anselmo (guitar, sitar, vocals) and Terry Stevens (bass, vocals) as well as two younger and gifted musician friends, Adi Weyermann (guitar, vocals) and Erich Strebel (keys) Düde embarked on his latest, bold undertaking.

This is no time for faint hearts. The pandemic might have silenced the music scene, shuttered the live circuit and divided artists from their fans. But with Heart Of Fire, Texas’s favourite new gunslinger Ally Venable is coming off the ropes swinging. Defying dark times and rolling up the amps, this fourth release from the acclaimed singer-songwriter is a record to rattle your speakers and signpost better times ahead. “My vision was to really spread a positive message of love,” says Venable. “The world needs that right now.” If Heart Of Fire finds Venable giving the globe some much-needed love, then the feeling is entirely mutual. Still in her early twenties, the guitarist’s breakneck two decades have moved as fast as her fingers, her path winding from childhood church choirs to the teenage influence of local heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Miranda Lambert.

Siren's Song is the second studio album by The Union, the English rock band formed by ex-Thunder guitarist Luke Morley and Peter Shoulder (formerly of Winterville). It was released on 3 October 2011. The Union was formed by guitarist Luke Morley and vocalist/guitarist Peter Shoulder after Luke’s twenty-year career with Thunder came to an end in 2009. Peter Shoulder was the vocalist, songwriter and musical rudder of Winterville. In 2006 he won The W.C Handy Blues Foundation award, presented to him in Memphis for co-writing the American Blues Song of the Year, ‘Think of Me’. The song was performed by blues legend Little Milton. At the time of winning there were only two other British artists to have received that particular award, the others being Eric Clapton and Peter Green.

Electric Light Orchestra's 2012 concert album Live brings together tracks Jeff Lynne and his band recorded for a PBS special at CBS Television City in 2001. This is the ensemble that toured in support of ELO's 2001 studio album, Zoom, and appeared on VH1 Storytellers. Lynne has always been an avowed studio rat, more comfortable crafting his rock productions behind a soundboard than playing them in front of a live audience. This is partly the reason that the Lynne-helmed version of ELO stopped touring after 1981's Time. Subsequently, there haven't been very many proper ELO concert albums. Which is not to say that the band doesn't sound fantastic here, because it does. Lynne is a musical perfectionist who never fails to deliver on the grand, orchestral rock aesthetic he crafted on so many classic albums. All of which makes this 2001 collection a welcome addition to ELO's discography.

2021 release, the final studio album by the British singer/songwriter, keyboard player, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Ken Hensley. On 5th November 2020 it was with great sadness that Ken Hensley, former Uriah Heep keyboard player and songwriter passed away peacefully following a very short illness. Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half-a-century. His work with Uriah Heep in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. He also collaborated with bands such as Blackfoot, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer he was responsible for such classics as ‘Lady In Black’, ‘Easy Livin”, “July Morning” and ‘Look At Yourself’. Few artists can claim to have had a musical career and pedigree as long, varied and impressive.