The Rowboat Syndicate: Cover Art Down Under

Courtesy Apple Corps, Ltd./Universal Music Group

The Rowboat Syndicate: Cover Art Down Under: Australia generally replicated The Beatles' UK album releases during the '60s, although there were a couple of oddities along the way. T...

Arena

Arena, 2020. L-R: Kylan Amos, John Mitchell, Mick Pointer, Paul Manzi, and Clive Nolan.

Kajamera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Courtesy Verglas Music/Wikipedia.

 Arena are a band that I have been dabbling with for some time, but unlike some of the related bands, I may not be getting all of the CDs since it gets expensive to go after all these every time I bring someone new into my collection. Mick Pointer, late of Marillion, and Clive Nolan, also of Pendragon, started the band in 1994, and there have been several different lineups ever since, which have included John Jowitt, late of IQ and Jadis; John Mitchell of Frost*, It Bites, Fish, Lonely Planet, and now Asia; and former Landmarq and Threshold frontman, as well Headspace and Rick Wakeman band member Damian Wilson (his joining is what got me to buy their most recent studio album, The Theory of Molecular Inheritance). Unfortunately, other commitments will have him moving on by years end. Paul Manzi left in 2020 to join the Sweet of all people, which some may consider selling out, by going from a complex prog band to a latter day lineup of a glam band from the '70s. However, he will be back for good by next year. Now I know why I used an old photo (Manzi was originally supposed to be on the last album before the split was announced). Pointer still plays his old bands music on occasion in a side project with original bass player Cliff Orsi, proving that he's no Pete Best. Mitchell and Nolan have also worked the late John Wetton of Asia on his 2003 solo album Rock of Faith, and the former on the Wetton (Geoff) Downes Icon series.
 Arenas sometimes dark lyrics and layered sound design resonate with me and many listeners. The band have been independent from the start, managing themselves and running their own label. They have built up a cult following spanning over three decades. Like other artists with simplistic names, they get confused with obscure artists of the same name on Amazon, where I stream them, Spotify and maybe even indie specialists emusic. Look for the Verglas label, or at least what you know is the real Arena on these services, given the generic nature of the name. No word yet on the next studio album now that Manzi is poised to return in one years time. At least I can easily stream the band at home as I can on the go and at home, but that will be the next post, this being the first in 2026. I guess it comes from getting bored of the other bands and despising current mainstream rubbish. I may have even designed the next albums sleeve for them out of sigils, which current bass player and art director Kylan Amos could adapt, even though AI even knows his style. I drew them for something else while playing the band the other week..
    One more live album would be nice from the current lineup. Tracks like "Valley of the Kings" from the latest tour have not been officially recorded or filmed live with Wilson (or even original singer John Carson [no relation to Johnny Carson] for that matter from the first album and tour, if any, since there was little live activity with him, and he imitated Pointers former colleague Fish at times to where they had to play the old guard just to fill the set and seats at the same time). Bootlegs don't even seem to exist of Arena (pirates do, but we've been over that with other people), while shows of different lineups are on YouTube, including some of the oldest from early guitarist and seasoned session player Keith More, who is terminally ill and once worked with Paul and Linda McCartney, sharing an interest in animal rights and the environment. Increasing security at most venues these days make it much harder to film or record most shows, yet one survives from this past year on video (it wouldn't be worth it to try to copy the audio and spend all day trying to split up the tracks, which is why there should just be official soundboard recordings fans can buy, or even what the Grateful Dead allowed when they were still together with a taper section and trading recordings, yet Arena are indie and are more cult than the Bay Area icons by comparison, so it may not be feasible in the current climate).
    I hope to get more from Arena as I can afford. They have been upstaging everyone else, even those I know and love. I know I can build on this as I have for much of the collection I've accumulated.

AI of original album design for next album

George Harrison remasters and Dark Horse Records: 50 Years On

George Harrison at the Princes Trust appeal, 1987.

 George Harrisons family signed a deal last year with BMG to move distribution of his solo label Dark Horse Records and administration of his publishing. His old friend Bob Dylan started the trend (even though he outright sold his work). A few reissues have already come out, primarily on vinyl, such as the first two solo releases Wonderwall Music and Electronic Sound on limited edition picture disc, to straight reissues of the last couple Cloud Nine and Brainwashed. The newest is Living in the Material World 50th Anniversary (albeit a year and a half too late, but it can only "Be Here Now" [where oasis got the names of both that and "Wonderwall"]). Getting more praise now like his former colleague John Lennons solo album from 1973 Mind Games, expanded last year by their Sean, which was underrated when the elder Lennon and Harrison were both still alive ("You know how it is," the former would say).

One reviewer said that All Things Must Pass had been done enough. However, because of the new contract, one must consider that like Paul McCartneys solo and Wings output prior to 1975, it is no longer on Apple (although his first two had licenced it for new LP reissues for old times' sake). Back to Harrison, his triple smash could either do the same thing, or it would be like in 2001 less than a year before his passing when it was remastered with a new design and was neither on Apple or Dark Horse, but on a one-off vanity label called GnOM (you'd have to look it up, and it was the last solo reissue in his lifetime). The more recent edition would be out again with the new information, but Apple could be loaned out just like Parlophone is with Beatles proper reissues for up to 1967 since EMIs sale in 2013.

Late 1974s Dark Horse album may be next. Named to fill the void since Harrisons old deal wouldn't be done until January 1976. Rolling Stone slated the tour and he never lived it down. His voice was a state. I wonder if Peter Jacksons MAL AI technology could be used to do up a live show if a recording made by Harrison himself exists, coming after Get Back and "Now and Then", or if a decent bootleg is available since it technically can be claimed. Live albums used to have studio overdubs in those days, but this is something Live at the Star Club is reportedly getting (that'll be considered for a future post).

1981s Somewhere in England could have an expanded edition because a number of songs were declined by then-distributor Warner Bros./WEA (Warner Music Group), which were only available later as B-sides, remaster bonus tracks, on Sothebys-rare limited edition CD EPs that came with a book, or on bootlegs (the diehards get it). Their Dhani has his work cut out. There may be even more in the vaults.

Then there's the complication of compilations. The Best of George Harrison was supposed to be the best of both worlds (largely the old guard), but was just a sendoff by EMI to compete with Thirty-Three and a Third in November 1976. The Best of Dark Horse: 1976-1989 is the only one he approved of and is long out-of-print and has no Beatles tracks whatsoever. Let It Roll was a posthumous release. It would be having to licence Beatles tracks from Universal, Apple or Sony (Concert for Bangladesh versions outside North America because of Dylans [on Columbia US/then-CBS, yet on sister label Epic] return to the stage and industry policies at the time, as well as for pre-1968 publishing). Even a new collection could be considered.

Dark Horse in recent years returned to its original vision of signing other people. Joe Strummers estate (The Clash) and Billy Idol are two of the latest to join the fray. Reissues of past artists like Splinter, Henry McCullough (Wings), Keni Burke and Stairsteps, Attitudes and Ravi Shankar (we can't forget him, of course) should be explored, although some already are reissued, so I'm just catching up here.

Absolutely no ChatGPT was used. George would be very concerned about AI if he were still with us, I'm quite sure. He probably would have approved of it being to used to clean up the audio, but not to replicate voices and instruments, because that's what people are afraid of, and Ringo had to assure everyone that John wasn't being imitated by a bot, because it's not like the "new" Steve Marriott album (which is a mockery at a level even Yoko wouldn't stoop to, but we won't go there today). I just know that Harrisons legacy is in capable hands and will continue to bring in new generations of fans.

Downsizing in desperate times

Just some of what's left (some empty space)

 Like many people these days, I'm struggling to make ends meet, and have too much at home I don't need anymore. Between bills and taxes, it's hard to keep up on a limited income. I hired a solicitor to look into the tax situation. I don't typically discuss my personal life like this, although one can relate. It's after reading some clickbait article that hit home is when it was time to take stock and decide which of it can go to the shop. What they didn't take went to Atlanta-based app decluttr via UPS, even though they pay twopence since I've used them several times. There are so many CDs I just don't listen to anymore. They are taken off my collection on Discogs of course and it shows how much I've spent over the years. The first two goes barely add up to $100, but it's better than nothing. Also, recent events brought family to town for the time being, and the social are coming over soon to boot, so I have to tidy up, even though I started to before the unexpected occurred. Usually I bring things in for store credit, but I need the cash to whittle down debt. I had been filling up boxes and crates with dozens of titles. Had to channel my inner Suze Orman and Marie Kondo sacrificing what had been sitting around for a year or so. Racks have been filling up the wardrobes. They're obviously not made for that. Trying to break a cycle. Who I have extra of that can go are tagged (even the boys). If I have the LP, then I might not need the CD unless it has bonus material or is rare. I spent a right fortune over the years, but changes in the past few years meant having to transition what I like to do. If I ever have to move house again, I really would have to cull since I would most likely go to a flat or somewhere smaller. Just not how I pictured my life, but no one does having to face challenges everyday. I'll be lucky to get $100 from all of it, since vinyl is a bigger priority now, and I only have so much of that to give up. I may be getting something in the post, but I'm not too sure. We all know there's no such thing as overnight.

You can also support me here and here. The ones who paved the way for that are also tagged. In any case, I know this won't last forever, but you think it will when you're in the middle of it. My grandparents' generation survived the Depression and WWII, so we'll get through this too. Life and the economy has hills and plateaux like anything. I just need to be better with priorities during this midlife crisis of mine. I'm trying to get help from an agency, but it's still not enough and I won't go further.

Tickets, Touts, and Taylor

David Gilmour at the Peter Green Tribute Concert, 25/2/20

 When oasis announced their reunion tour, fans made a mad rush for tickets, even though they were hundreds of pounds, and they were slated for it. Even worse, touts were already reselling them for even more, so the band are putting a stop to it by making the tickets exclusively for who bought them, just as Kate Bush had a decade ago for her rare residency at the Eventim Apollo (formerly Hammersmith Odeon). On the contrary, her old friend and mentor David Gilmour is about to have his own tour, and  when I looked at downstates dates coming after another event in the tri-state I would like to attend (story for another day, but I'd stay at the same hotel to save time, even if I'd be on the tube late at nights, or run into his former colleague), one was sold out, and the other a right fortune. Ironically, when I went to an article on Pearl Jam (who boycotted Ticketmaster in 1996) and there was a link to a third-party reseller, both dates were available and had seats at a remotely doable price and distant location in the arena. Last time I went there or the region was to see Paul McCartney. He and Peter Gabriel (you can connect the dots by now) were at Taylor Swifts concert in London a while ago (the old guard come to her). Swifties seem to spend less by going overseas than trying to see her in the US. I know it's too easy these days to write about missus, but even she's a scapegoat of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly. I'm lucky to get to one name show this year, which is Duran Duran back Upstate at the casino, but I'd have to win the pools well before that since I need time to plan and pay for the lot. I also have to see what they're doing with the Fairfield County do the night of Durans own show at the Garden because it can be too much and they're not that close together since it's a big area. Like most people at this stage, essentials come first in this economy before even considering hols or big shows anywhere.

Denny Laine 1944 - 2023

AI photo of Denny Laine in recent memory

 The music world is in shock over the death of Denny Laine after suffering from pneumonia for the past few months. It's another reminder that much of that generation is getting fewer by the day. It also brings up the fact that most of his solo catalogue is still out of print. I've brought this up when he was alive, and with others who are also gone now where some have theirs reissues and some not yet. It's too soon right now for his family to even consider that at this stage. Also, the rights lay with several different companies, mostly small labels. Most albums and CDs can have hefty prices and now that Laine is deceased, they will likely go up more. I managed to get 1988's Lonely Road at a doable price. I even settled for a US LP of Holly Days for pennies before we learned of his illness. His widow Elizabeth (like John and Lisa Wetton, they were only married a short time) said there was even a new album recorded that could be released in the new year when the time is right. I managed to get a reissue (there are too many, usually tagging Paul McCartneys name on) of Japanese Tears called In Flight signed in 2016 at BeatleCuse: The Deux Over in Syracuse (Beatles tribute concert, one of two he did that year).

Even Jim Diamonds catalogue remains unavailable several years after his passing, yet he's not as well known compared to Laine. Even some limited editions would be enough since having copies made en masse may not be feasible in this economy. Some reissues disappear when interest wanes on both major and indie labels. Streaming services are taking off programmes to cut costs, so it doesn't always bode well for niche artists like this. The demand has to be there before the work can be done as the Facebook group I help run has diehards asking for lesser known people in an age trying to compete with Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Laines work reminds us of a simpler time. There are also several compilations of the original Moody Blues available, sometimes combining with the later era (Mike Pinder is the last surviving founding member). I may now spend the next ten months trying to get everything. It'd be great if I won this competition for a $5,000 gift card for amazon.com so I could get the pricier ones from third party sellers that are there, while I'd have to win lottery tickets or even try my luck at local shops for other titles (they could be gone by the time I get there if there was ever anything left).

Downloading is never enough and Denny would turn in his new grave if we did that (from pirate sites, of course). We should suggest to the original or reissue labels that these albums need to come back and streaming them, even on a legal service is too easy and earns twopence for the estate. Get all this sorted by what would have been his 80th birthday on 29th October (now in the same boat as Peter Green).

Goodbye, Denny. It took a long time to forge your own path and I tried to catch up for thirty years. Hope you and the other original Moodies, Jimmy (McColluch) and Linda can play together now. RIP.

Aerosmith (1973) 50th Anniversary

Courtesy Legacy Recordings/Sony Music Entertainment

By The cover art can be obtained from Columbia / SME / Capitol / UMe., Fair use, Link

 Aerosmith are about to be on their final tour (my sister might go), but without drummer Joey Kramer, who retired from the road in 2020. It's now fifty years on since their first album, and frontman Steven Tyler purposely changed his voice since they were all a right bundle of nerves being new to the studio in early days. Lead single "Dream On", which wasn't a hit until after Toys in the Attic was released, will show you (I recently discovered a cover version with the late Ronnie James Dio and Yngwie Malmsteen on amazon Music from one of those budget compilations). With AI being more than what sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov had ever imagined, it can be used to change ones voice (ex-pat Canadians Drake and the Weeknd being at the centre of AI-gate). What could be done is make Tylers voice sound like it did from 1974-80, and even enhance the others' playing due to their inexperience with a producer in those days (I'm not wholly familiar with the bands work myself). If A&R legend John David Kalodner (who had  appeared in drag in a couple of their videos in cameos and even on The Simpsons in 1991), who signed them, Peter Gabriel, Asia, and possibly Elton John (in the US and Canada) to Geffen still worked with them, he might not have allowed this, but he's a pensioner now. Aerosmith themselves would also have to approve, of course. There could be a remaster with a remix of the original album and a new one with the AI vocals. It could be done, as no one has announced an official release of anyones work with such manoeuvres just yet. It's being considered and already being done for new material. Until then, we all can just "Dream On". More as this develops.

UPDATE (14/2/26): The début album will be reissued on 20 March 2026 by Capitol/UMe, now sister to Geffen of all things. No AI, of course, but digitally remixed and remastered, previously unreleased live recording from Pauls Mall fifty-three years ago to the day of the release to boot and some outtakes. Almost like how future producer Jack Douglas later worked with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on Double Fantasy, which was one of Geffens first releases, spurred by Paul McCartneys live version of "Coming Up", #1 on Billboard, and released on Columbia in the US and Canada, only for both former colleagues to go back to Capitol themselves (Lennon posthumously), while Aerosmith covered "Come Together" in something (no pun intended) that shall remain nameless (you know the story, as John would've said). CBS distributed Geffen internationally from 1982-85. The Offspring moved their Columbia albums to Universal themselves, but these things happen, you know. Aerosmiths other albums from 1974-82 if not 1985-93 or 1997-2012 could transfer, but that has yet to be confirmed. The Capitol deal was signed several months ago, and the band have just worked with Yungblud, who moved around UMG himself, on a new EP.

JMA Dome: Carrier No More

JMA Dome after the new roof was installed

 While other sports and live venues change names every so often, this one is unprecedented (that word is thrown around a lot these days).  The Carrier Dome, as it's been called all my life, will now be the JMA Dome due to a rift between SU and the air con trailblazers.  The local mobile company bought the naming rights as their new plant can see the stadium just over the horizon from their window.  It will take some time for everyone to adjust, though many will never let go, I'm sure (you know how it is).

I'm no sports fan, so I seldom set foot in there, even though the Dome is close to home, and the school is a big part of the local economy.  I tagged who has played there over the past four decades.  Prince closed the place in 1985.  I'll see Paul McCartney once again and Elton John at last later this year (wonder if he knows about L. Frank Baum being from the area when it comes to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road).  Non-Orange events can only be held off-semester or when there are away games during term.

There have been renovations and there will be more.  The new roof reminds me of Wembley Stadium getting done up, changing its character.  The I-81 project just down the hill will also be a game changer (did see Jim Boeheim drive by one time).  Just one sign around the corner needs to have the old guard taken off now.  Another on the new structure at the Loud House has been put on top since then.

Times Union Center

MVP Health Arena

 The Times Union Center on NY 32 in Albany, NY will be changing its name as the newspaper, part of the Hearst conglomerate, decided not to renew the naming rights.  This happens all the time in the business, as this was previously Knickerbocker Arena (owing to the areas Dutch heritage) and Pepsi Arena (they already had other places in North America).  Companies based and/or prominent in the Capital Region should bid on the rights.  I've seen Yes and Paul McCartney there.  I also used to go that way to see family and go to other places there, so I have a good idea who could take over:

Price Chopper/Market 32

Stewarts Shops

TrustCo Bank (rival SEFCU/CAP COM already have a small arena at SUNY flagship UAlbany across town)

St Peters Hospital

Albany Medical Center

Daily Gazette (the Times Unions chief competitor)

General Electric (has longtime presence in Schenectady County)

Death Wish Coffee

Mr Subb (and also have a full location inside to boot to make it easier for locals and visitors alike)

MVP Health (confirmed)

The Beatles on Stargrove

Photo taken in 1963 by Bob Freeman (RIP)

An indie budget label in the Toronto area called Stargrove Entertainment released something too good to be true: cheap budget Beatles compilations. You'd think with ironclad rights, it'd be legally impossible?  However, in Canada, copyrights for older recordings expire after fifty years or so.  A fan club in Québec have a similar release that came out last year, and more releases have been put out in Europe to boot as rights run out there as well.  The Stargrove CDs were mainly sold in Walmart, where I bought three in Niagara Falls, ONT.  Recently, I found a couple more for a dollar each from the bargain bin at FYE in the Mohawk Valley (now owned by Canadian chain Sunrise Records, which I once visited in eastern Ontario, seeing how alike they were).  The Fab Four of all people reduced to this?  Makes what little that they put on their original US label Vee-Jay look fresh (classic David and Goliath story there).  It's only material from 1962-64 which I have anyway.  More for completist and novelty value, I guess.  I had room to spare if not as much cash when I found them.

Universals solicitors however did what they could to put a stop to these poor mans releases.  The sound quality isn't quite what you'd find from the official CDs, sounding like unnecessary needle drops.  I listen to these once since I heard it all a hundred times before and prefer to play it from LPs nowadays like it used to be done.  Other classic artists from the same era also have these cash grab items.

If they put out CDs of bootlegs recorded at the time, that would be a little more imaginative, as a number of different labels have gotten away with CDs of other people in the past several years sold new at small businesses, Amazon and a few chains alike, largely of radio shows from later decades, though a Pink Floyd bootleg LP (only the second one I got so far) says those alone are public domain after a point in the UK.  More on bootlegs another day as that's a world all its own.

I suppose you could call these grey area releases, much like interview discs that are exempt from the contract.  I sent a couple to someone out of state.  If I get back to Canada, I could buy and ship more, but maybe Stargrove could try to reissue material that's been out of print instead worth a bother instead of doing what's been done with Elton John, The Moody Blues, Shirley Bassey (lesser known in North America) and other classic artists who've been recycled to the hilt.  I've talked about who doesn't have these yet, but this is the other end of the spectrum.  It's nothing new, as I have a couple similar EU collections from the '80s or '90s with the same old songs.  As for these newer CDs, neither Walmart Canada or FYE have them on their sites, although Discogs sellers do, some at high prices (not worth it when you can just get the original albums as well as those of the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan or George Jones).  I just know I got there at the right time before they were extortionately priced where I may as well get a butcher cover or early white album pressing.

Emitt Rhodes

1973 publicity photo

The recent passing passing of Emitt Rhodes has brought out new praise for his legacy despite his limited track record.  Omnivore Recordings released his 2016 swan song comeback Rainbow Ends, his first in 43 years.  The label is known for reissuing out of print material, including Roger Taylors solo material in the US.  Rhodes released one album for A&M and three for ABC/Dunhill (all owned by Universal today, but the masters were lost in the 2008 fire).  They could be reissued if copied from Japanese CDs or good condition LPs.  He also had unreleased albums that may now be owned by his estate that also deserve a release.  Rhodes's '70s output brought comparisons to Paul McCartney.  Rhodes shared a birthday with George Harrison to boot.  It's a shame MCA didn't reissue the three ABC LPs when they bought the label in 1979.  A vinyl and CD remaster would allow for a reevaluation of an artist who was forgotten for far too long, but unlike Syd Barrett, managed to return for one last album.  Rhodes was 70 years of age.

Flaming Pie

Pirate edition

31/7/20.

Paul McCartney in Rochester, NY

Back at the Hollywood Bowl

Paul McCartney has been coming to Upstate New York in recent years, and I've gone each time in Albany, Buffalo, and close to home in Syracuse.  The next logical step is Rochester.  Downtown has Blue Cross Arena, where I saw Fleetwood Mac over a decade ago.  He'd close the place as he does everywhere he goes.  Two of his former drummers, Joe English (Wings 1975-77) and Steve Gadd (1982-83 albums) are from the area.  This year, there are no Northeast dates so far, even the tri-state, where I've gone twice, or even Canada, where I went across the lake from Rochester in Toronto.  For open air, there's Six Flags Darien Lake in Corfu (back under that franchise, yet considered part of the Buffalo area) and CMAC in Canandaigua (which is thought of more as an exurb of Kodak country), even though these are small towns and that kind of traffic may be too much for them.  Rochester is easier for me to get to for a show, but I only spent the night once when Asia were in town (one of only two times I saw them outside CNY).  Maybe next year, Maverick Management (Madonnas old company) could have the booking agency look into Monroe County.  I may have to go on my own again as one I used to go with had their fill in Albany of gigs and others have more important things going on right now to come with me.  Just hope I can afford it and can avoid touts after tickets sell out which one expects from this beautiful man that I've grown up with.

WogBlog: Paul sues Sony/ATV

AI photo of Paul McCartney and two huskies

WogBlog: Paul sues Sony/ATV

WogBlog: Flowers in the dirt announced on Amazon

AI photo of Paul McCartney and a husky

WogBlog: Flowers in the dirt announced on Amazon

The first under his reunion with Capitol. I already have the LP and CD but if Party, Party and the First Stone are on here I'll consider (I did get a pirate of rare material from the boxed set).

Vinyl wishlist

Only have the international edition on LP right now.

By the cover art can be obtained from Australian Music Corporation Pty. Ltd., Fair use, Link

    Records have been coming back in recent years, although not quite as en masse as decades past, but still making headway. Later titles and editions are rarer and/or more expensive though I found a few of those. Some titles I don't have on LP, but I do on CD or even tape, and others I don't have at all just yet, so here's what I hope to find in the months to come:

ABBA
The Album (1977) autographed

Live (1986)
Live at Wembley Arena
The Singles: The First Ten Years
Chess singles

AC/DC
High Voltage (Australasia) (pictured)
TNT (most tracks are on international edition of previous album)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australasia)
Let There Be Rock (Australasia)
Powerage
Highway to Hell
'74 Jailbreak
Fly on the Wall
Who Made Who
Blow Up Your Video
The Razors Edge
Ballbreaker
Stiff Upper Lip
Black Ice
Rock or Bust

Power Up

a-ha
Stay on These Roads
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
Memorial Beach
Minor Earth, Major Sky
Lifelines
Cast in Steel
Morten Harket - Brother
Savoy - See the Beauty in Your Drab Hometown and Under
Magne Furuholmen - White Xmas Lies

True North  

Jon Anderson
Change We Must?
3 Ships
In the City of Angels
Invention of Knowledge (w/Roine Stolt)
1,000 Hands

True

Arena

Songs from the Lions Cage

Pride

The Visitor

Immortal?

Contagion

Peppers Ghost

The Seventh Degree of Separation

The Unquiet Sky

Double Vision

The Theory of Molecular Inheritance

Asia
XXX
Aurora
Aqua
Aria
Aura
Symfonia
Dukes of the Orient (2018) and Freakshow

AFJP - Aviana

Tony Banks
The Wicked Lady
Bankstatement (1989)
Still

The Beatles
Not for Sale (bootleg)
Rubber Soul (US)
Revolver (US/UK stereo)
Magical Mystery Tour (stereo)
White album mono
Yellow Submarine (songtrack)
Greatest Hits Vol 1 (Australasia/Southeast Asia)
Various bootlegs
Reel Music
Past Masters Vol 1-2
Love (Cirqué du Soleil)
Live at the BBC Vol 1-2
Anthology 1-3
1 (2000)

Black Sabbath
Forbidden
Technical Ecstacy
Mob Rules
Live Evil
Born Again
Seventh Star
The Eternal Idol
Headless Cross
Týr
13 (2013)

Boy George
Sold
Tense Nervous Headache
Boyfriend
High Hat
The Martyr Mantras (Jesus Loves You)

SE18

Kate Bush
Kate Bush 12"
Hounds of Love 12"
The Red Shoes
Aerial
50 Words for Snow
Directors Cut
The Fellowship Presents Before the Dawn

Bush
Sixteen Stone
Razorblade Suitcase
Man on the Run
Black and White Rainbows

The Sea of Memories

The Art of Survival
Loaded

I Beat Loneliness

Phil Collins
I Missed Again
Thru These Walls
One More Night
Don't Lose My Number
Serious Hits... Live!
Both Sides

Singles

Crowded House
Temple of Low Men
Time on Earth

Dreamers Are Waiting

Gravity Stairs

Culture Club
Mistake No 3
The War Song
This Time

Def Leppard
First Strike
Adrenalize

Retro Active

Slang

X (2002)

Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
Def Leppard (2015)
The Story So Far
Diamond Star Halos

Drastic Symphonies

Depeche Mode
Live in Berlin
Martin Gore and Dave Gahan solo LPs
Some Great Reward
Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985)
The Singles 81>85
Music for the Masses
101 (1989)
Martin L. Gore - Counterfeit EP
Exciter
Sounds of the Universe
Songs of Faith and Devotion live
Playing the Angel
Delta Machine
Spirit

Memento Mori

Jim Diamond
Bandit (1976)
Bacco - Cha Cha Me
PhD - Is It Safe?
I Should Have Known Better
I Sleep Alone at Night(s)
Desire for Freedom
Jim Diamond (1993)
Broadway 12"

Dio

Evil or Divine

Sacred Heart

Dream Evil

Lock Up the Wolves

Strange Highways

Angry Machines

Magica

Master of the Moon

The Very Beast of Dio Vol 2

Duran Duran
Arena
All You Need is Now
Big Thing!
Decade
Liberty
Red Carpet Massacre

Danse Macabre

Elf

Elf (1972)

LA 59/Carolina County Ball

Trying to Burn the Sun

Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Black Moon
In the Hot Seat
Welcome Back My Friends...
Works Vol 1

Eurythmics
The Tourists (1978)
Peace
We Too Are One singles

Agnetha Fältskog
Eyes of a Woman
A+ (2023)

Fish
Internal Exile

13th Star
A Feast of Consequences
Weltschmerz

Fleetwood Mac
English Rose
Black Magic Woman
The Original Fleetwood Mac (1971)
Penguin
Behind the Mask

Before the Beginning Vol 1 & 2

Alternate Live

Rumours Live

Peter Gabriel
Out Out 12"
Shaking the Tree
Us
Up
New Blood
i/o Bright and Dark Side Mixes

Liam Gallagher

As You Were

Knebworth 2022

2024 album with John Squire (Stone Roses)

Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds

First album

EPs

Back the Way We Came Vol 1

Council Skies

Chasing Yesterday

Genesis
From Genesis to Revelation (mono)

A Trick of the Tail autographed
The Story of Genesis
We Can't Dance
The Way We Walk Vol 1-2
Calling All Stations

BBC Broadcasts

Gentle Giant
Acquiring the Taste (US LP to photocopy sleeves)

Geordie
Hope You Like It
Don't Be Fooled by the Name
Save the World
No Good Woman
Strange Man

David Gilmour
David Gilmour (1978)
Rattle That Lock
Live at Pompeii

Luck and Strange

Gowan
Gowan (1982)
Great Dirty World
Lost Brotherhood

Amy Grant
Unguarded

Heart in Motion
Home for Christmas

Steve Hackett
The Night Siren
GTR (1986)
Wolflight

The Circus and the Nightwhale
At the Edge of Light

Surrender to Silence

Steve Harley/Cockney Rebel
A Closer Look
Timeless Flight
Face to Face
Uncovered (solo)
The Candidate (solo)
Greatest Hits

George Harrison
Wonderwall Music
The Best of Dark Horse (1976-89)
Live in Japan
Brainwashed

Annie Haslam
Still Life
Annie Haslam (1989)

Justin Hayward
Night Flight
Classic Blue
All the Way

Roger Hodgson
You Make Me Love You
London
Supertramp - Autobiography
Open the Door

INXS
INXS (1980)
Max Q (1989)
X (1990)
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Full Moon Dirty Hearts

Elegantly Wasted

IQ
Tales from the Lush Attic
The Wake
Nomzamo
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
The Road of Bones
Resistance

Dominion

Eddie Jobson/Zinc 
The Green Album

Elton John
The Big Picture
Made in England
Songs from the West Coast
Sleeping with the Past
The One
Peachtree Road
The Union (w/Leon Russell)
Wonderful Crazy Night

The Lockdown Sessions (w/various artists)  

Jon & Vangelis
The Best of Jon & Vangelis
Page of Life

Kajagoogoo
Islands/Extra Play (Canada)
Kaja - Crazy Peoples Right to Speak
Limahl - Colour All My Days

Nik Kershaw
Human Racing
Radio Musicola
The Works

Oxymoron

King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
In the Wake of Poseidon
Starless and Bible Black
USA

Denny Laine
Holly Days

John Lennon
Sometime in New York City
Shaved Fish
Two Virgins
Live in New York City
Menlove Ave.
Imagine: John Lennon (soundtrack)

Julian Lennon
Mr Jordan
Help Yourself
Everything Changes

Annie Lennox
A Christmas Cornucopia
Nostalgia

Magnum

Magnum II (1979)

Matador

Chase the Dragon

The Eleventh Hour!

On a Storytellers Night

Vigilante

Wings of Heaven

Goodnight LA

The Monster Roars

Here Comes the Rain

Marillion
Marbles
FEAR
Punch and Judy
Brief Encounter
The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)
Holidays in Eden
Brave
Afraid of Sunlight

An Hour Before It's Dark

Paul McCartney
Tripping the Live Fantastic!
Wingspan
Tug of War 7"/12"
MTV Unplugged
Run Devil Run
Figure of Eight 12" (album version)
All the Best!
Off the Ground
Driving Rain
Pure McCartney
Electric Arguments (The Fireman)
Amœba Gig

The Boys at Dungeon Lane

Christine McVie
Christine Perfect (1970)
Christine McVie (1984)

In the Meantine

Buckingham McVie (2017)
Songbird

Freddie Mercury
Mr Bad Guy
Barcelona (w/Montserrat Caballé)

Never Boring

George Michael
Symphonica
Older

Mike & the Mechanics
The Living Years
Word of Mouth
Let Me Fly

The Moody Blues
John Lodge - Natural Avenue
Ray Thomas solo LPs
Keys of the Kingdom

Patrick Moraz
Out in the Sun
Timecode

Alanis Morissette
Jagged Little Pill (acoustic)
Under Rug Swept
Alanis Unplugged
So-Called Chaos
Flavours of Entanglement
Havoc and Bright Lights
Live in Montreux, Switzerland 2012
Such Pretty Forks in the Road

Stevie Nicks
Crystal Visions
The Other Side of the Mirror
Timespace
In Your Dreams
24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault

Stand Back

oasis
Definitely Maybe 30th Anniversary boxed set
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Heathen Chemistry
Dig Out Your Soul
Beady Eye - BE

Ozzy Osbourne
Bark at the Moon
Tribute
No Rest for the Wicked
Just Say Ozzy
No More Tears

Black Rain
Scream
Ordinary Man

Patient No. 9  

Pallas
The Pallas EP
Arrive Alive
The Sentinel
Knightmoves
The Wedge

The Messenger

Anthony Phillips
Wise After the Event
1984 (1981)

Pink Floyd
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (mono)
More soundtrack
Ummagumma
Bootlegs
The Early Years
Works
The Later Years
Live at Knebworth
The Endless River

Live at Pompeii

Live at the LA Sports Arena

Queen
A Day at the Races autographed

Greatest Hits II & III
Flash Gordon
Brian May & Friends - Star Fleet Project
Live Magic
The Miracle 12"
Innuendo
Live at Wembley '86
Live at the Rainbow '74
Queen Forever
A Night at the Odeon Live
On Air: The Complete BBC Radio Sessions/Live at the Beeb

Rabbitt
Boys Will Be Boys
A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
Rock Rabbitt (1978)

Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin (1978)/Beginnings (South Africa)
Face to Face
Wolf
Can't Look Away

Rio

Renaissance
Prologue
Ashes Are Burning
Live at Carnegie Hall (I only have half the UK LP)
Azure d'Or

REO Speedwagon
R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
R.E.O. (1976)
Live: You Get What You Play For
The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken
You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish!
The Hits

Rush
Rush (1974)

2112 autographed
Feedback
Presto
Counterparts
2112 Live
Snakes and Arrows
Rush in Rio
Chronicles
Test for Echo
Moving Pictures Live
Clockwork Angels
ABC 1974
Spirits of the Airwaves
Clockwork Angels Live

Sad Café
Fanx Ta-Ra
Misplaced Ideals UK LP
Façades
Sad Café (1980)
Olé
Live
Whatever It Takes

Split Enz
Frenzy
See You 'Round

History Never Repeats

Nad Sylvan
Courting the Widow
The Bride Said No
The Regal B------

Spiritus Mundi

Monumentata

Talk Talk
It's My Mix
The Colour of Spring
Spirit of Eden
Natural History

Roger Taylor
Strange Frontier
The Cross - Sh--- It!
Fun on Earth
Outsider

Tears for Fears
Elemental
The Seeds of Love
Ready Boys and Girls 10"
The Tipping Point

Rick Wakeman
The Red Planet

Lisztomania
Criminal Record
Cost of Living
Live at Hammersmith
The Time Machine

Softsword
Return to the Centre of the Earth
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (studio version)
King Arthur (remake)

A Gallery of the Imagination

Roger Waters
The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking
Radio KAOS
The Wall: Live in Berlin and new version
Amused to Death
Is This the Life We Really Want?

Dark Side of the Moon Redux

John Wetton
Kings Road
Wetton/Manzanera (1987)
Jack-Knife - I Wish You Would

Wham!
The Final
Music from the Edge of Heaven

Yes
Geoff Downes - The Light Programme
Steve Howe - Beginnings
Keys to Ascension 1-2
Big Generator
Union
Talk
The Ladder
Magnification
Fly from Here
Heaven and Earth
Progeny
Like It Is (Bristol)
Topographic Drama: Live Across America
50Live

From a Page

The Quest

Mirror to the Sky

Aurora

Subject to change.

Paul McCartney Archive Collection

Press to Play cover taken by studio system legend George Hurrell.  I have the UK CD and Canadian LP already.

Here are the possible bonus tracks for solo and Wings McCartney albums that have yet to be remastered (as of 17/8/16, he has moved back to Capitol, now part of Universal, who also distribute his in-between label Concord in an unrelated deal):

Wings Wild Life (1971)

Give Ireland Back to the Irish (single and instrumental versions)
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Little Woman Love
Tomorrow (instrumental)
Mamas Little Girl (although this was recorded in 1972, yet not officially released until 1990)
Breakfast Blues (previously unreleased)
Hey Diddle (fiddle mix)

Red Rose Speedway (1973)

Live and Let Die (single and The In-Laws versions)
I Lie Around
The Mess (live and studio versions)
Wide Prairie (duet version; Linda-only one on her posthumous album of the same name)
Night Out
Thank You, Darling
Soily (studio version)
1882
My Love (live)
Seaside Woman (Suzy and the Red Stripes aka Linda McCartney et al)
B-side to Seaside (same; although both are also on Wide Prairie)
Lucille (live)
Hi, Hi, Hi
C Moon
Best Friend
I Would Only Smile (Denny Laine)
Gotta Sing Gotta Dance (from James Paul McCartney TV special)
Six O'Clock (written for Ringo album)

Venus and Mars (1975) (bought the new version when I thought I lost the old one, which I later gave away once I found it)

Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976) (I do have the new LP but maybe it could have used a few more bonus tracks)

UPDATE: Now available!

London Town (1978)

Café on the Left Bank (demo)
I've Had Enough (demo)
Morse Moose (demo)
Mull of Kintyre
Girls School
Waterspout
Tragedy
Pure Gold (written for Ringos Rotogravure)
Did We Meet Somewhere Before?
Sunshine Sometime

Back to the Egg (1979)

Goodnight Tonight (7" and 12" mixes)
Daytime Nighttime Suffering
Rockestra (live)
Cage
Weep for Love (Denny Laine)
Robbers Ball
Every Night (live)
Got to Get You Into My Life (live)
Wonderful Christmastime
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae

Tug of War (1982) - reissued 2 October 2015; now available.

The Girl is Mine (with Michael Jackson)
Rainclouds
I'll Give You a Ring
Ebony and Ivory (solo version)
The Pound is Sinking (demo)
Something That Didn't Happen
Stop, You Don't Know Where She Came From

Pipes of Peace (1983) - same as above

Ode to a Koala Bear (two versions could now appear on another compilation)
Say Say Say (remix) (with Michael Jackson)
Simple as That (demo)
Average Person (demo)
It's Not On (demo)
Keep Under Cover (demo)

Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)

No More Lonely Nights (12" and playout versions)
We All Stand Together (A and B)
Give My Regards to Broadway
LP edits such as Eleanors Dream

Press to Play (1986) (pictured)

Stranglehold (7" & 12")
Pretty Little Head (7" & 12")
Only Love Remains (7" & 12")
It's Not True (7" & 12")
Tough on a Tightrope (7" & 12")
Press (7" & 12")
Hanglide (instrumental)
Angry (remix)
Simple as That (released on a 1986 anti-heroin awareness compilation and 1993 CD of Pipes)
Spies Like Us (7" & 12")
Once Upon a Long Ago (7" & 12")

Cнова B CCCP (1988)

I Saw Her Standing There
I'm in Love Again
Take This Hammer
Cut Across Shorty
Poor Boy
Lend Me Your Comb
No Other Baby (later re-recorded for Run Devil Run, the other oldies covers album)
I Saw Her Standing There (live at the 1986 Princes Trust appeal with all-star lineup including Elton John, Bryan Adams, Dire Straits and Status Quo)
Long Tall Sally (same as above)

Flowers in the Dirt (1989) - now available
However, some of these are only officially available as downloads through the deluxe boxed set.  Others that were overlooked will just have to wait for another remaster instead.

Figure of Eight (7" version)
Ou est le soleil? (7" & 12" mixes)
Flying to My Home
Back on My Feet
Loveliest Thing
PS Love Me Do (medley)
This One (demo)
Beautiful Night (demo)
Ferry 'cross the Mersey (w/Gerry Marsden)
Party Party (from rare limited edition tour pack)
The First Stone (likely written in response to then-recent televangelist scandals)
Same Time Next Year (B-side to Put It There)
25 Fingers (w/Elvis Costello)
Pads, Paws and Claws (w/Elvis Costello)
So Like Candy (w/Elvis Costello)
Veronica (w/Elvis Costello)

Tripping the Live Fantastic!

All My Trials
Hey Jude (Silver Clef festival in Knebworth Park)
The Long and Winding Road (B-side if different from album)
Sunshine

Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)

Rock Island Line (Leadbelly/Lonnie Donegan cover)
Things We Said Today
Midnight Special (Leadbelly)
Matchbox (Carl Perkins cover)
Mean Woman Blues
The Fool (not to be confused with The Fool on the Hill)

Off the Ground (1993)

Off the Ground (remix)
Cosmically Conscious
I Can't Imagine
Down to the River
C'mon People (single edit)
Big Boys Bickering
Long Leather Coat
Sweet Sweet Memories
Style Style
Kicked Around No More
Hope of Deliverance (remix)
Soggy Noodle

Demos of "The Lovers That Never Were" and "Mistress and Maid" already appear on the new Flowers remaster as they were part of a set of tracks written with Elvis Costello during those sessions.  Demos of other tracks may also exist.

Flaming Pie (1997)

Beautiful Night (demo)
I Love This House
Let Me Hear Your Name Tonight
Looking for You
Broomstick
Love Come Tumbling Down
Same Love

Run Devil Run (1999)

Fabulous
Entire Cavern Club performance

Driving Rain (2001)

Freedom (remix)
From a Lover to a Friend (remix)
Concert for New York City tracks

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005)

She is So Beautiful
Summer of '59
I Want You to Fly
This Loving Game
Comfort of Love

Memory Almost Full (2007)

Why So Blue?
222
In Private

Subsequent solo studio albums from Off the Ground up to Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard have a straight reissue instead even though additional tracks do exist for those sessions as well.  No word from Maccas camp at this time though TOW and POP are slated to be the next ones according to an insert in the latest remastered CDs and LPs that have just been released according to our sources.  Also many tracks I expected to be bonus tracks were not considered so they could fill a boxed set.

World Of Beatles Bootlegs: Paul McCartney live in Philadelphia 2005 - 2CD - S...

AI photo of Paul McCartney and a husky

World Of Beatles Bootlegs: Paul McCartney live in Philadelphia 2005 - 2CD - S...: Paul McCartney 22/09/05 Wachovia Centre; Philadelphia, PA; A Jerseyboy Recording Disk 1 01 - intro 02 - Magical Mystery Tour 03 - Flami...

Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth flag

The Commonwealth of Nations are the successor to the British Empire which includes the flagship UK, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (since 1994) to name a few.  While a tonne of my favourite artists are from Britain, some are from the ex-colonies too (full-time solo in parentheses).

UK:

Asia (John Wetton, Geoffrey Downes, Steve Howe, John Payne)
The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison)
Bandit (Jim Diamond)
Black Sabbath (Ozzy Osbourne)
Kate Bush
Cockney Rebel
Culture Club (Boy George)
Def Leppard
Depeche Mode (Martin Gore, Dave Gahan)
Duran Duran (Arcadia)
Emerson, Lake and Palmer (Greg Lake)
Eurythmics (Annie Lennox)
Fleetwood Mac (Christine McVie)
Genesis (Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford)
Gentle Giant
Geordie (Brian Johnsons band before AC/DC)
GTR (Hackett/Howe supergroup)
IQ (Martin Orford)
Elton John
Kajagoogoo (Limahl)
King Crimson (Greg Lake, John Wetton)
Marillion (Fish, h)
Marilyn (born in Jamaica)
Mike & the Mechanics (Mike Rutherford)
Modern English
The Moody Blues (Justin Hayward, Denny Laine, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder)
Naked Eyes (Pete Byrne)
oasis (Beady Eye, Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds)
Pallas (Alan Reed)
PhD (Jim Diamond)
Pink Floyd (David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Roger Waters, Syd Barrett)
Queen (Freddie Mercury [born in what is now Tanzania], Roger Taylor [including The Cross], Brian May)
Renaissance (Annie Haslam)
Supertramp (Roger Hodgson)
Tears for Fears (Curt Smith*)
Wham! (George Michael)
Wings (Paul McCartney, Denny Laine)
Yes (Jon Anderson*, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Trevor Rabin*, Rick Wakeman)

Canada:

Rush (Cancon kings)
Lawrence Gowan (born in Glasgow, raised in Toronto area)
Alanis Morissette* (favourite Cancon solo)
Mystery (Benoît David was also in Yes)

Australia:

AC/DC (with UK natives)
INXS (have had frontmen from the UK, Canada and New Zealand as well as the US)

South Africa:

Rabbitt (Trevor Rabin*)

*now naturalised US citizens

Life after EMI

Divvied up

Over the past year, the properties of EMI was doled out among four companies as one could not have it all under EU regulations.  Universal received the lions share getting Capitol, Harvest (brought back from dormancy), the EMI label and Virgin; while Warners would get Parlophone which includes Regal, IRS and Chrysalis.  The Beatles, who put Parlophone on the map, will now be with Capitol worldwide, as will solo Robbie Williams (hardly heard of in the States which is the case with his group Take That), who already moved to Universal prior to the merger.  Ironically many pre-2012 EMI refugees now find themselves under UMG distribution, such as The Rolling Stones, Queen, solo Paul McCartney and Mike Oldfield (who moved his catalogue to Mercury only to find it now managed by original label Virgin).  Parlophone artists such as Coldplay, Jethro Tull (on Chrysalis), and Conor Maynard (a newer one) were signed to Capitol in the US but I wonder if Warners' catalogue label Rhino will now be reissuing that material worldwide in future.  Chrysalis US artists such as Pat Benetar and Blondie will now be Capitol ones.  There is some catching up to do.  Some titles may be bought back by the artists and released by indie labels which is possibly the case with some of my prog heroes like Rick Wakeman and Tony Banks.  More as I get it.