After doing time as vocalist for pioneering metal band Mercyful Fate, King Diamond broke out solo in 1986. The singer's multi-octave range, theatrical, corpse-painted face, and highly conceptual songwriting came into full form with the interweaving story lines of albums like 1987's Abigail and 1988's Them. The Complete Roadrunner Collection 1986-1990 gathers together King Diamond's five earliest albums, including the aforementioned concept albums, a less than stellar debut (Fatal Portrait), 1989's crushing Conspiracy, and 1990's The Eye.
The Eagles original Asylum Records studio albums, including each of the chart-topping albums the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers released between 1972 and 1979, is now on 180-gram vinyl in The Studio Albums 1972-1979, a limited-edition, six-LP boxed set…
More than the compilation series, more than the lovingly organised events, more than the radio shows: "Le Café Abstrait" is a philosophy of lifestyle: relaxed and culturally open-minded.
It was "Le Café Abstrait" and its mastermind, Raphaël Marionneau, who pioneered chill-out culture at Hamburg's internationally renown Mojo club in 1996: "Le Café Abstrait" reinvented nightclubbing in a new relaxing way. Once a month, stylish sofa installations and light projections transformed Mojo's dancefloor into a gigantic living room. There, up to 400 laid-back nightlife connoisseurs indulged in relaxation and Raphaël Marionneau's very special downtempo music selections. A new lifestyle was born: the couch culture…
Manfred Mann released two albums while signed to EMI in the early 1960s but used the EP format to showcase new material, especially tracks which were not considered as singles. These Eps, featuring vocalist Paul Jones, proved so popular that three of them hit the No 1 spot of the EP charts, while 'The One In The Middle' also reached No 10 in the UK singles chart a remarkable achievement for an EP at that time…
Pablo Cruise achieved some measure of success during the latter part of the '70s with their mellow, easygoing California pop. The band was formed in 1973 by former members of Stoneground and It's a Beautiful Day: guitarist Dave Jenkins, keyboardist Cory Lerios, bassist Bud Cockrell, and drummer Steve Price…
Island/Universal Music release a five CD, limited edition collection of the complete Nick Drake catalogue 'Tuck Box'; Five Leaves Left: Nick's debut album from 1969. Bryter Layter: the second album released in 1970. Pink Moon: Nick's final release from 1972. Made To Love Magic: the collection of Island-period recordings, out-takes, off cuts, cast-offs, orphans and the last 5 songs Nick recorded for his proposed 4th album. Family Tree: originally released in 2004 to add to and replace the Time Of No Reply compilation, Family Tree is a collection of recordings made before the Island Records period, from a 9 year old Nick playing Mozart through to spoken word pieces, early songs, cover versions and demos recorded to secure his contract, as well as two recordings by his mother Molly Drake perhaps written in response to her son (Originally released in 2007).
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre…