The Other Sister 1999

From Spirituals to Swing was the title of two concerts presented by John Hammond in Carnegie Hall on 23 December 1938 and 24 December 1939. The concerts included performances by Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson, Helen Humes, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Mitchell's Christian Singers, the Golden Gate Quartet, James P. Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Terry.

This intriguing Angel Air release spotlights two albums produced in the wake of punk rock and seemingly destined to be overlooked in the history of heavy rock. Fandango developed out of that other seminal seventies heavy rock outfit, Warhorse. Nick Simper, original bassist for Deep Purple, joined with ex-Warhorse guitarist Peter Parks along with drummer Ron Penny and vocalist James Proops. Their first album, “Slipstreaming” was recorded and originally released on a small German label in 1979. The second album, “Future Times”, was recorded and released the following year with Mac Poole, former Warhorse drummer, replacing Penny. Now available for the first time on CD, this release includes two singles and bonus tracks never before available on CD. As ever, this package is completed by comprehensive liner notes and band photographs. The album is a must for any fan of British Rock and a real gem for any collector of Deep Purple related items.

New Zealand born soprano Kiri Te Kanawa is of Maori descent. Her earliest vocal studies were with Sister Maria Leo in Auckland. She won the Melbourne Sun contest and went to London where she studied with Vera Rozsa at the London Opera Center. It was there that she first appeared on stage as the second lady in Die Zauberflöte of Mozart. In 1969, she sang Elena in Rossini's La donna del lago at the Camden Festival.

Finally there it is: Alphaville’s 8-CD-Box, which you have been waiting for since September 1998. 9 ½ hours of wonderful music, that consists of demo-versions, B-Sides, remixes of already released and live-taped songs – definitely a must for every fan! It wouldn’t be right to call "Dreamscapes" commercial, but that probably wasn’t the idea, which hides behind. "Dreamscapes" is a limited edition of 2000 boxes, which aren’t available in any music stores. Alphaville themselves call "Dreamscapes" their own anthology, a mirror of their musical creation during the last 20 years – a present for their fans.

Daevid Allen was one of the founders of the British progressive rock band the Soft Machine in 1966. After recording just one album with the group, he became the founder/leader of Gong, which he left in 1973 to begin a solo career (though his first solo album, Banana Moon, was released in 1971 while he was still in the group). Allen explored his quirky, folky take on rock throughout the '70s and '80s on albums like 1976's Good Morning and 1983's Alien in New York. His solo work also included collaborations with underground rock impresario Kramer like 1993's Who's Afraid? and 1996's Hit Men, which was released on Kramer's Shimmy Disc label. Allen returned in 1999 with Money Doesn't Make It, followed a year later by Stroking the Tail of the Bird. Nectans Glen also followed in 2000.