The Backbeat

Throughout the 1950s, the concept of the instrumental track was wrestled away from the cloying strings of MOR orchestras and into the hands of screwdriver-wielding guitarists, sleazy saxophonists, primal garage bands and dance craze creators. The teenage generation demanded music with everything and non-vocal versions of the hits sat next to specially created rabble-rousing gems that transcended genres and styles. This was music where words were just not enough.

"Rock Of Ages" was recorded live during The Band's stint at The Academy Of Music in New York City in late December 1971, including a festive New Year's Eve show. The Band is joined for several songs by a horn section (which includes jazz saxophone legend Joe Farrell), arranged by Allen Toussaint, lending a carnival or Dixieland feel to the proceedings at times. All About Jazz ranked this the third best live rock album of the 1970s.

UK jazz ensemble The Jazz Defenders release their third album "Memory In Motion" in April on Haggis Records (home of The Haggis Horns and Malcolm Strachan). The Bristol jazz boppers deliver another quality release of original material that takes in their usual diverse mix of influences and genres, from timeless acoustic jazz referencing the classic sounds of Blue Note Records, to a more contemporary fusion where jazz meets soul, funk and hip-hop.

Released on the heels of the stilted, static Cahoots, the double-album Rock of Ages occupies a curious yet important place in Band history. Recorded at a spectacular New Years Eve 1971 gig, the show and album were intended to be a farewell of sorts before the Band took an extended break in 1972, but it turned out to be a last hurrah in many different ways, closing the chapter on the first stage of their career, when they were among the biggest and most important rock & roll bands.

Arguably Australia's greatest pop group ever, The Go-Betweens seemed to save the best for last when they split in 1989. (They reunited in 1999, and have issued two more studio recordings since that time). 16 Lovers Lane is simply breathtaking; it is a deeply moving, aurally sensual collection of songs about relationships and the broken side of love that never lapses into cheap sentimentality or cynicism. Songwriters Robert Forster and Grant McLennan had always been visionary when it came to charting personal and relational melancholy and heartbreak, but here, their resolve focused on charting the depths of the romantic's soul when it has been disillusioned or crestfallen, is simply and convincingly taut.

Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe edition of the Alt-Rock quartet's 1991 debut album. Features the original album remastered plus a bonus CD consisting of 15 previously unreleased or alternate versions of "Gish" era songs.

Rock of Ages: The Band in Concert is a live album by the Band, released in 1972. It was compiled from recordings made during their series of shows at the Academy of Music in New York City, from December 28 through December 31, 1971. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was certified a gold record by the RIAA.