Maplewood Bar & Grill

AI of Maplewood Bar & Grill in Mattydale Plaza

  Maplewood Inn started as an indie hotel on 7th North St in Liverpool after Days Inn had moved a mile away, in a part of town with lodging off of I-81 and the Thruway with proximity to the airport. Then it became a franchise of Holiday Inn Express after the full-fledged one had left the once-again Randolph House on Electronics Pkwy (previously Sheraton, later Ramada, and now sister chain Wyndham) and the later original Comfort Inn on Buckley Road (previously covered). Either corporate or the franchise shut down the restaurant section over a year ago. Not too far away in Mattydale, the flagship Zebb's in the former kmart Plaza on Brewerton Road (US 11) had closed, so the owners bought it and we're still waiting for it to open. Mattydale, Hinsdale, Pitcher Hill and Northern Lights Plaza have all fallen into decline in recent years like many part of the country as far as business goes. The ongoing I-81 Project has also caused concern for the hotel owners. The economy overall worries everyone these days.

 I went to the original Maplewood once for Halloween a few years ago when looking for somewhere to go on the night (we'll cover that later before then). I've eaten at Zebb's on occasion over the years. That chain once stretched from Rochester to the Mohawk Valley. There isn't much left in that plaza, even with their neighbor across the street making an effort to prove presenter Dave Portnoy wrong. He must have slated Mattydale Plaza as well if he bothered to look at that, but much of these places were nice once. As for Maplewood, their menu is quite good, and they focus more on local artists like Ronnie Leigh, John McConnell, Little Queen (tribute band to Heart, not Queen), and Tom Chick (seen a couple of them at other places, not sure if two have played the old guard, I know about the tribute band being regulars, and I don't typically or specifically see area performers like I would for national artists). My idea is when they have events for specific holidays and annual traditions. After three recent  attempts at Mardi Gras, only to find it's not like the other holiday as in the South with a Cajun twist, maybe the end of Carnival could have some resemblance to Orleans Parish next year, and a Zydeco, Dr John type (he did OCC for Jazz Fest once), or other band could play (I'm not the Bill Graham of CNY, mind, so it's up to them who it is). I'll have to go through the year like Stevie Wonder to determine which ones would work. St Valentines Day, then Fat Tuesday if not the same day, St Patricks Day (perfect for the local), also an Easter Sunday buffet and community-focused get-together for those of us with nowhere else to go and/or no one to go with), Adult Prom (that was inevitable, but it's big enough from what I remember as Zebb's), Fourth of July with this years milestone, even my birthday next year if I'm in town since some people hold a public birthday bash, Labor Day if that's a thing for a show, the H-word, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve. Getting there by bus at nights and weekends may be an issue. Open Jam and something else are going to be a regular occurrence. It's still early days just finishing up everything. I really would like some small-time yet international names to come here once in a while without pushing out CNY ones like Jess Novak, Mark Zane (OCC professor by day), and Paul Davie (seen them too). I love supporting small and local business, even if I go to see hometown people per se to a lesser extent. I'm looking forward to the new Maplewood Bar & Grill and their continued success in future. Not to be confused with any other place called Maplewood, given the generic nature of the name (you know how it is). Nothing new on their Facebook page since June, and it still looks a state there.

Copied from our sister blog with a few edits. Dedicated to the memory of Steve Schad (Childhoods End [Pink Floyd tribute band covered earlier]/Beatlecuse [Davies tribute show]).

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

FloofAid

 

AI group drawing. Website is just as fake, so don't go to it yet.

    I have launched FloofAid, a unique charity to help those in the furry community afford fursuits and furry conventions. This may not be quite what I usually put here, but I haven't had anything in a period and I have the worst luck with these. This is described more on our sister blog, along with sister project Furacuse, which would be a con based right here in Syracuse, so people in the region wouldn't have to go as far for it, being between Albanys Eufuria, Buffalos Fluffalo, as well as far between Ottawas Canfur, Philadelphias Furrydelphia, and the Tri-States Furpocalypse. It would seem counterintuitive to have one thing that gets you to cons around North America (we'll throw in the boys' turf too, despite recent events) tied to one in my area. FloofAid would also help furs connect to each other. It was going to be called FurAid, but the name was already used by a rescue centre, which cons usually raise money for. Furacuse would be split between the local SPCA and FloofAid. If you don't care for GoFundMe, you can send me money directly through PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, or even Zelle (by request). This is not a scam. Just say that it's for FloofAid so I can put it aside. I would put that money specifically aside for either the three or four state regions event if I can't do both, since I'll be lucky to get to one ever, or even get another suit since the ones I have now may not be appropriate or accepted by the diehards, despite basing a lie around my main one, and the other was a cheapie I can't even bring to the charity shop. Once more money comes in, I can pay it forward, reach out to others, and file the paperwork.

    Having a benefit show would just not be feasible. This is too much of a niche market to even get small time artists on board. Maybe my prom deal would work, since people would go for the event more than for the cause in some of these cases. Even established non-profits are struggling right now. The one mainstream current artist that came even close to knowing floof is Lil Nas X with a knockoff Rivolo suit (mine is of Kevon, even though I add to him to make him my own). The Beatles with Magical Mystery Tour in the "I Am the Walrus" segment of the film and the album sleeve may be considered a precedent, yet the fandoms roots may go back as far as Victorian and Edwardian times if not even further.

Second Chance Homecoming

Notsky is dressed for the homecoming dance!

 You've seen how frustrated I've been about finding an adult prom or the like in CNY lately, and I'll be lucky to get one by autumn, when schools have homecoming. I never did that either, nor have millions of other people. One may call it Prom Lite, or even a precursor to prom if you like. Second Chance Homecoming is also held, but is even more elusive than its better known counterpart. Granted that someone does have Prom locally this fall, I would try to hold Homecoming before that not to compete, but rather to compliment, if it happens. I don't think anyone here has ever done a Second Chance Homecoming before. Maybe the S-word could do it, but if they won't do the P-word, what would make them have this instead? I would go through the same list of places on our sister blog. I've even considered having it for my birthday if I don't out to dinner for reasons I won't put here, even though it can't be on the day because it's in the middle of the week (although the latest adult prom in the region in New Hartford is on a Tuesday, which is unorthodox for this sort, yet I won't go now after plans around the Pride one in Rome fell through), and it has to be towards the weekend when people are generally up to a night out. I wasn't going to combine them in the middle of summer or make it a public event, yet I don't know too many people, and I haven't had a party in decades (she won't say how she'll be, mind). Salt City Collectives prom in October has been the one closest to homecoming season, which I put in last years post, yet when it was first held, it was when the pandemic was easing up and I gave up finding anything that year, never mind in spring. That one is still up in the air this year, as waiting is in two parts; waiting for a decision and date, and for the event itself (you know how it is, as John Lennon would say). I would look around for a registered charity, NGO, or someone in need looking for a fundraiser idea and suggest this, hoping they'll take this up, whether they use the homecoming or prom label, as this is all hands on deck, requiring a committee to organise everything as one person can't do it all. I'm not the Bob Geldof, Bill Graham or Harvey Goldsmith of homecoming or prom. Gala sounds more posh, and Met Gala downstate pulls out all the stops every year, but that's different. Bishop Ludden (+ Grimes) use that term instead of prom or ball. I want the event to use the homecoming or prom label because anyone can have a black tie event for charity or whatever. I want it to resemble what it was like in school to a degree (no pun intended) if not in films or on TV (even though I don't watch much of either anymore). We can bring in the drinks, and I'm teetotal. I've been putting floofs in tuxedos on AI as you can see with our mascot. It's been ages since I was in school. I didn't graduate in this area, and the one I did is another animal and has no such ceremony if they ever had in the old days (they did have prom before I went, and the current version does now). However, that place is too far for me, and the only reunion is mostly alums who went before I was even born, but that's for another day. I may be too old to attend either schools homecoming, but like prom, at least we can have something of our own for everyone who missed out, got it wrong then, or just wants to have another go at it to a lesser extent than its older sister, if you like. No AI whatsoever was used to write this post (she did it all on her own).

JULIO: George Harrison - Behind That Locked Door

AI of George Harrison courtesy xAi Grok

JULIO: George Harrison - Behind That Locked Door

A&M Records

Sting in Alachua County on his first solo tour in October 1985

 After writing about Dark Horse Records, I went to Wikipedia and clicked on their original distributor A&M Records and found that the label would be relaunched. However, no sources such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, NME, Variety or the like were cited, making this a mere rumour, as Wikipedia can be unreliable if anyone can just put something up, making Fleet Street look like Utne Reader. A&M has been largely dormant in recent years, especially since the late '90s when PolyGram were sold to Universal. The former bought A&M, Island and Polar a decade earlier. In the US, A&M were clustered with Interscope and Geffen. The split between Universal Studios and Music Group in 2003 changed things further. Octone moved from J/BMG to A&M after the old BMG launched their JV with Sony in 2004 and Maroon 5 would eventually appear on Interscope. Sting has been carrying the torch of A&M since he was in the Police in the late '70s and only a few classical releases are on sister label Deutsche Grammophone (he'll be in Syracuse again in April 2026 with Billy Joel, which was postponed). Rick Wakeman had a solo deal with A&M coming out of the Strawbs, but it complicated what he could do in Yes at first, and A&M didn't always support his decisions, and he left the label and Yes in 1980, despite personal issues at the time.

Polydor UK did relaunch A&M on their end once and signed Duffy (on an equally brief reboot of Mercury [not counting Nashville like with MCA] across the pond). Jim Diamond released his first two solo albums on A&M, yet put out his fourth on Polydor, which could either have been to complete the old deal because an A&R left, or was an unrelated new one. His widow would have to answer that.

Supertramp would work their way up to become of the biggest successes for A&M. Roger Hodgson would stay on his own after leaving in 1983 for the first couple solo LPs before a long hiatus. The Carpenters safe as houses sound brought gold and platinum despite their Karens eating disorder. Amy Grant blazed a trail for the Lord being between A&M and Christian label Myrrh making her catalogue more available and becoming the cross-over queen. The Canadian branch had Bryan Adams, Gino Vannelli, Andy Kim, Susan Jacks, Terry Jacks, Bruce Cockburn, Véronique Béliveau, Jann Arden; Sharon, Lois & Bram; Fred Penner, and Raffi (even the Cancon kiddie scene counts). The boys tried to sign with A&M, but were turned down (their loss). Styx and Supertramp were the biggest international acts at the Toronto arm and overall in Canada since the Beatles and Elvis Presley, I would suppose.

I gave you the Cliffs Notes version of A&Ms history, yet we need something that confirms a new one is about to start. The label has a rich legacy and you'd never think it was technically indie in the old days.

Dedicated to the memory of Jerry Moss, who would have been proud to see the label return, despite the two legal rows he and his former colleague Herb Alpert have had with the two subsequent owners over its corporate culture (Alpert moved his lot to a new vanity label since then).

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.

Ralph Records

Beatles CD-Rs on Ralph Records

 Today at a car boot sale, I came across a box of pirate CD-Rs that were free to take. It had needle drops of artists such as Barbra Streisand, Graham Nash, Focus (I have to get the official one for Boris, of course), Carly Simon, the Mamas & the Papas, Hermans Hermits, and maybe the Bee Gees for that matter just to name a few. They're on a label called Ralph Records, a division of "Antarctica Group, Ltd.", which doesn't exist. There was a real indie label called Ralph Records in the Bay Area known for the cult band The Residents. Not much is known about this other Ralph Records, who make Beatles bootlegger Dr Ebbetts look like Peter Jackson (who worked on Get Back). I picked up Jolly What! with Frank Ifield, who passed away this past May, and The Savage Young Beatles, the first US release of the Tony Sheridan sessions (also not official, while the ones that were came out on two separate labels with lesser known groups mixed in). Like real reissue labels such as Friday Music and Air Mail Archive, Ralph imitate the original label almost to the point of parody. Not much can be found on them. The covers were printed on Kodak inkjet paper. Someone went to great expense to make all of these, only for these to be on the house, making Babs at the charity shop look like a ticket to her fundraisers (she or pretty much any artist would go mad if she saw one of her albums like this). If it was something out of print, maybe, but many of these weren't really that rare. The CD-R seller in Madison County I wrote about some years earlier has nothing on this. Even though I have the Beatles tracks on better sounding official and unofficial CDs and LPs, I never had the original LPs, which were considered cash-ins during Beatlemania in 1964, along with cover albums by other artists and novelty records. As for all the CDs, they have scans of the original sleeves. I am on this sellers e-mail list, so I know where he'll be next, which is likely the record fair I know now held on NY 173 in Taunton, so I could grab a handful more if anyone wants some, since this sort doesn't seem to gather that much interest. These are too good to just donate or even have binned. You can't legally sell them, of course. There were also some CD-R bootlegs, but I just took a couple ELP ones, and only one works. As for Ralph, this may just be some little operation over twenty years too late.

Genesis Reissues

Daryl Steurmer, Mike Rutherford and Nic Collins; 25/3/22, London

 Genesis jumped on the Baby Boom-era buyout bandwagon that began with Bob (Dylan) and sold their publishing and masters to Concord. Just a couple months ago, their back catalogue was reissued on CD on Rhino, which is part of Warners, who own their longtime US/Canada and Phil Collins's solo label Atlantic. While the rights are now under Concords counterpart to Rhino, Craft Recordings, I thought that the indie powerhouse would have the CDs as well as new LPs be distributed by Virgin, once the bands international and Collins's UK solo home and now Universals distribution division for independent labels, of which the original Virgin was until it was sold to EMI in 1992 so Richard Branson could keep his airline from entering administration and compete with British Airways.

 While it takes a period for these buyouts and transitions to bear fruit, I found out when I saw a new CD of A Trick of the Tail at Barnes & Noble. Then saw on Discogs that most of the studio albums are now available on the new label. Now we wait for new LPs, even though I just need the last two because they originally came out in the '90s, when fewer people bought them anymore, and later albums and editions can be expensive, new or used. The first two albums are an exception. From Genesis to Revelation has been reissued a thousand times and was not owned by the band. Trespass is still controlled by Universal in North America as they are the successor to original label ABC (until the sale, it was under the same roof globally). Then the label designs since there's no scans of the new versions available and I have all the old CDs from different parts of the world, so unless the original release had a custom label like Duke, could the Charisma Alice in Wonderland one be used (Universal and Warners have licenced each others labels for Beatles and Syd Barrett reissues since EMIs split in 2013). Then there are the live albums and compilations (including boxed sets), as well as solo releases from the three longtime members. Now we wait and see which of their peers will cash out next.

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.

Katy Perry (née Hudson) 2001 début

Poor quality low res snap of CD for eBay listing

 Katy Perry was one of the first artists ever profiled on the blog.  After she made it, it became known that she recorded an album that Mary Whitehouse would have liked (maybe Katys UK ex-pat fiancé Orlando Bloom has heard of the late conservative activist, who was in her final days in a care home when the album was released in 2001).  Perry may now dismiss this CD as juvenilia as it's a far cry from "Hot 'n' Cold", "Roar", "Firework", and "Hey Hey Hey" just to name a few.  This is no "Teenage Dream".  Rather "The One That Got Away"!  I'm sure she'd probably just say it'll always be a "Part of Me"!  This one is more of a "Dark Horse" (not George Harrisons, of course).  Back then, it was "By the Grace of God".  I sound like Gene Shalit!  I started this "Last Friday Night"!  I could go on all day!

Before she was Katy Perry, before American Idol, she was Katy Hudson (not to be confused with Kate Hudson), who was brought up in a strict Christian home in Santa Barbara County.  At a young age, she was signed to an indie label in Multnomah County (chosen for the location as I took the zip code from the CD), recorded in Davidson County (the epicentre of country and Christian music), and could have been the next Stacie Orrico (a CCM Britney Spears at one time, perhaps), but the label closed down after the CD came out and it sold very few copies.  Katy Hudson changed her name to Katy Perry because of the unrelated new film star at the time, and tried for several years to launch a secular career before starting over the opposite of an Amy Grant (I know this sounds more like a mere review).  Once she was a household name, word got out about this early release, which is sought after, even though it contrasts the hits she's had since 2008s One of the Boys.  A right chancer can make a few bob off this one, God willing (since He is praised on there).  The price could "Rise".  This is "Never Really Over"!

I saw Katy Hudson in the charity shop for pennies, and recognised it straight away, realising it was too good to be there, so I tried at first going to the local record shop to trade it in, but got a low-ball offer.  I get that it's a small business, and they know the story themselves, so I decided to sell it online.  Amazon wasn't feasible because I would have to had several items and pay to set up an account, so it's not on, so I turned to eBay, where some interest was there, and ultimately sold it to a fan in Clark County for much less than what others would.  He won the pools, and he's in Las Vegas, where Pezza has a residency and some Idol auditions to boot (also held in Nashville and [New] Orleans Parish).  I even told missus on Twitter that I found this from early days, even though she was a different girl back then whose initial phase is another animal like Alanis Morissette, Tiffany, and even Mr Conway Twitty, showing that we all must start off somewhere.  It is very unlikely Katy Perry will ever reissue this album herself because of just how far apart from her current career it is.  You have a better chance with early '90s Alanis and KLF at this rate.  Just something the diehards are willing to look and pay for.

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.

Boris 10th Anniversary

Also need the LP for my own collection.

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull):Walk Into Light
                      Rupi's Dance
                      Thick As a Brick II (2012)
Andromeda: Andromeda (1969)
Aorta: Aorta (1969)
Agitation Free: 2nd
                       At The Cliffs Of River Thine
                       Malesh
Amenophis: Amenophis
Anyone's Daughter: Adonis
                              Anyone's Daughter (1980)
                              In Blau
                              Piktors Verwandlungen
Alcatrazz: No Parole From Rock 'n' Roll
                Dangerous Games
Marc Almond (Soft Cell):Fantastic Star
Alphaville: Prostitute
Anaphema: Judgement
                  A Fine Day To Exit
                  Resonance Pentecost III
                  A Natural Disaster
                  The Silent Enigma
                  Eternity
Ange: Caricatures
          La Cimeterie
          Au Dela Du
Atoll: Musiciens Magiciens
        L'Araignee Mal
        Tertio
      
                    
B..................................................................................................................

Black Sabbath: Cross Purposes
                         Forbidden
                         The Devil You Know (as Heaven And Hell band) (2009) 
Graham Bonnet (Rainbow): Line Up
Boomtown Rats: V Deep
                          In The Long Grass
Philip Boa: Aristocracy
                 Hair
                 Hispañola
                 Helios
Carla Bley: Escalator Over The Hill
Barclay James Harvest: Ring Of Changes
                                     Victims Of Circumstances
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: same (1972)
                                            Darwin
                                            Io Sono Nato Libero
Biglietto Per L'Inferno: same (1974)
Birthday Massacre: Violet
                               Walking With Strangers
Bel Canto: Images
                 Dorothys Victory
Berluc: Hunderttausend
Björk: Vulnicura
Tony Banks (Genesis): Soundtracks
                    Strictly Inc. (1995)

C...................................................................................................................
Chic: Chic (1977)
        C'est Chic
Colosseum: Those Who Are About....
                  Daughter Of Time
Colosseum II:Strange New Flesh
Country Joe And The Fish: Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Tony Carey (Rainbow/Planet P Project):The Long Road
                   Coldwar Kids
                   I Won't Be Home Tonight
                   Bedtime Story
                   Boystown Tapes
                   In The Absence Of The Cat
                   Blue Highway
City: Feuer Und Ice
Cockney Rebel: The Human Menagerie
                         Love's A Prima Donna (pictured)
The Call: Modern Romans
Classix Nouveaux: La Verite
                             Secret
Crime & The City Solutions: Shine
The Church: Seance
            Forget Yourself
            Remote Luxury
City Boy: City Boy
              Dinner At The Ritz
              Book Early
              Young Men Gone West
Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers): Beyond Elysian Fields
                        Guilty
                         Hi Fi
                         Nosferatu
                         Wolf
                         Wired
                         Footprints In The Desert
                         Hooverdam
Chicago: VII
              X
              XIV
              XVI
Manny Charlton (Nazareth): Hellacious
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nocturama
                                             Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus

D.................................................................................................................

Udo Dirkschneider (Accept): Animal House
Die Krupps: I
                  Paradise Now
                  III-Odyssey Of The Mind
Dschinghis Khan: Dschinghis Khan (1st album)
Dreamside: Apaika
                  Mirror Moon
                  The Lunar Nature
                  Spin Moon Magic
Damned: Black Album
Dream Of Sanity: Masquerade
                           Komodia
Dal Bello: Whomanfoursays
               She
               Whore
Dali's Car: The Waking Hour
Danielle Dax (Lemon Kittens): Inky Bloaters
                     Blast The Human Flower
DB's: Stands For Decibels
        Like This
        Falling Of The Sky
        Repercussions
        Neverland 
Deaf School: 2nd Honeymoon
                    Don't Stop The World
                    English Boys Working Class
Dresden Dolls: Dresden Dolls
                       No Virginia
Dennis De Young (Styx): Back To The World



E.......................................................................................................................

Edgar Allan Poe: Generazioni
Equipe '84:ID(1977)
                 Casa Mia
                 Dr.Jekill E Mr.Hyde
Eloy: Ra
        Childhood Memories
        Eloy (first album)
        Tides Returns Forever
        Visionary
        The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre-Part I
        The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre-Part II
        
Electra:3
            Ein Tag We Eine Brucke
            Die Sixtinische Madonna
Earth Opera: Earth Opera (1967)
                    The Great American Eagle Tragedy
Electric Family: Tender
                         Family Show
                         Pueblo Woman
                         Icecream Phoenix
                         Royal Hunt
Roky Erickson: The Evil One (or "I Think Of Demons")
                       Don't Slander Me
                       Gremlins Have Pictures
                       Casting The Runes
                        True Love Cast Out All Evil
Eulenspygel: Eulenspygel 2
                     Ausschuss
Eyeless In Gaza: Drumming The Beating Heart
                          Rust Red September
                          Back From The Rains
                          Orange Ice & Wax Crayons
                          Fabulous Library
                          Bitter Apples
Ekseption: Ekseption (69)
                Beggar Julia's Time Trip
                Ekseption 3
Earth & Fire: Earth & Fire
                   Song Of The Marching Children
                   Atlantis
                   Gate To Infinity
                   To The World Of The Future
                   Reality Fills Fantasy
                   Andromeda Girl
Echo And The Bunnymen: Meteorites



F..............................................................................................................


Flying Lizards: Flying Lizards
                       Fourth Wall
Fischer Z:World Salad
               Ether
               Fish's Head
               Destination Paradise
               Kamikaze Shirt
Faust: Faust (1971)
          So Far
          Faust Tapes
(Robert) Fripp (King Crimson) & (Andy) Summer (The Police):I Advance Masked
Focus :In And Out Focus
          Mother Focus
          Focus III
          Ship Of Memories
Funkadelic: America Eats Its Young
                   Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
                   Uncle Jam Wants You
                   The Electric Spanking On War Babies
                   Cosmic Slop
Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac):I'm Not Me

G..................................................................................................................



Greenslade: Spyglass Guest
Godley/Creme: Freeze Frame
                        Birds Of Pray
                        Ismism
                        Goodbye Blue Sky
Gong: Time Is The Key
          Leave It Open
Grobschnitt: Grobschnitt
                    Ballerman
                    Jumbo
                    Rockpommel's Land
                    Merry-Go-Round
(Ian) Gillan (Deep Purple): Mr Universe
           Glory Road
           Future Shock
           Double Trouble
           Clear Air Turbulence
Grand Funk: All The Girls In The World Beware
Gamma Ray: Power Plant
                     No World Order
                     Land Of The Free II
                     Majestic
                     Empire Of The Undead
Roland Grapow (Helloween): Kaleidoscope
Goblin: Roller
            Suspiria
             Profondo Rosso
             Schock
Golden Palominos: Visions Of Excess
                               Blast Of Silence (Axed My Baby For A Nickel)
                               Dead Inside
                                Pure
Gene Loves Jezebel: Love Lies Bleeding
                                  Dead Sexy
                                  Voodoo Dollies
                                  Exploding Girls
Green On Red: Gravity Talks
                        Gas Food Lodging
                         The Killer Inside Me
                         Here Comes The Snakes
                         This Time Around
                         Scapegoats                       
Glove: Blue Sunshine
Giles Giles & Fripp (King Crimson): The Brondesbury Tapes


H.............................................................................................................................

Horizont: Summer In Town (Russian band)
Hatfield & The North:The Rotters Club
Roy Harper: Stormcock
                   Valentine
                   Unknown Soldier
                   Death Or Glory
                   Work Of Heart
                   Whatever Happened To Jugula? (w/Jimmy Page)
                   Loony On The Bus
                   HQ
                   Bullinamingvase
Happy The Man: Crafty Hands
Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep): Proud Words On The Dusty Shelf
                     Free Spirit
                     Running Blind
                     The Last Dance
                     Blood On The Highway
Heaven's Gate :In Control
In The Woods: Omnio
                       Strange In Stereo
Peter Hammill (van der Graaf Generator): Skin
                       Nadir's Big Chance
                       The Future Now

J..............................................................................................................


Jade Warrior: Jade Warrior
                      Waves
                      Kites
                      Released
Jane: Here We Are
         III
         Lady
         Between Heaven And Hell
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin): Zooma
                            Thunderthief

K.....................................................................................................................


Al Kooper (Blood, Sweat and Tears):A Possible Projection Of The Future/Childhood's End-72
                 I Stand Alone
                 Naked Songs
Khan: Sea Shanty
King Crimson: The Power To Believe
                       THRaKaTTaK
Kaleidoscope (US band): Tangerine Dream-67


L.....................................................................................................................

Level 42:Standing In The Light
Lake Of Tears: Greater Art
                       Forever Autumn
                       The Neonai
                       Black Brick Road
                       Moons And Mushrooms
                       Crimson Cosmos
Livin' Blues: Blue Breeze
Jon Lord (Deep Purple): Sarabanda
Locomotiv GT: Motor City Rock
Lacrimosa: Angst
                 Fassade
                 Inferno
                 Ecoes
                 Elodia
                 Revolution
Le Orme: Ad Gloriam
              Collage
              Uomo Di Pezza
              Felona E Sorona
              Contrapunti
              Verita Nascoste
              Storia O Leggenda
              La Via Della Seta
Love Of Life Orchestra: Geneva & Extended Niceties
                                    P. Gordon And The Love Of Life Orchestra
Ian Lloyd & Stories: Travelling Underground
                               Stories
                               Ian Lloyd (76)-solo
                               Goose Bumps
                               Third Wave Civilization
Lucifer's Friend: same (70)
                          Where The Groupies Killed The Blues
                          I'm Just A Rock 'n' Roll Singer
                          Banquet
Lake: Lake (80 or 81)
John Lawton (Uriah Heep): One Over The Eight
                      Heartbeat
                      Still Payin' My Dues
                     
M............................................................................................................


Nick Mason (Pink Floyd): Fictitious Sports
The Move: Move
         Shazam
         Looking On
         Message From The Country
Dave Mason (Traffic): Headkeeper
Mad Max: Rollin' Thunder
Manowar: Gods Of War
                The Lord Of Steel
Magnum: Chase The Dragon
               Sleepwalking
               On A Storyteller's Night
               Goodnight L.A.
               Brand New Morning
               Into The Valley Of Moon King
               Princess Alice & Broken Arrow
               Hard Rain
               Kingdom Of Madness
               Breath Of Life
               On The 13th Day
               Escape From The Shadow Garden
               Lost On The Road To Eternity
               Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies
Metal Church: Blessing In Disguise
Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy): G-Force
                    Dirty Fingers
Manfred Mann's Earth Band: same (1st album)
                                      Watch
                                      Masque
                                      Lone Arranger
                                      2006 (2004)
                                      Soft Vengeance
Metamorfosi: Inferno
                    E Fu Il Sesto Giorno
Matching Mole:Matching Mole
Magazine: Secondhand Daylight
                The Correct Use Of Soup
Mission UK: Blue
             Tower Of Strength
             Brightest Light
             Another Fall From Grace 
Mama's Boys: Power And Passion
Missing Persons: Spring Session M
                            Colour In Your Life
Morphine: Good
                 Like Swimming
                 The Night
Dan McCafferty (Nazareth): Same
                         Into The Ring
                         Last Testament                     


N..................................................................................................................


New Trolls: Concerto Grosso #1
                  Concerto Grosso #2
Nice: The Nice
        As Longa Vita Brevis
Nektar: A Tab In The Ocean
Novalis: Banished Bridge
             Novalis (1975)
             Brandung
Gary Numan (Tubeway Army): Berserker
                     Fury
                     The Plan
                     Sacrifice
                     Exile
                     Pure
Nazareth: Hair Of The Dog (Salvo label's edition)
                The Catch
                Cinema
                Snakes And Ladders
                Big Dogz
                Rock 'n' Roll Telephone
Neoton Family: Bolond Varos-70 



O..................................................................................................................


Hazel O'Connor: Breaking Glass
                         Sons And Lovers
Ric Ocasek (The Cars): Beatitude
                     Negative Theatre
                      Troublising
OMD: Liberator
         Universal
         English Electric



P............................................................................................................



Planet P Project: Go Out Dancing, Part 2: Levittown
                           Go Out Dancing, Part 3: Out In The Rain
Prinzip: Feuer Rock
Anthony Phillips (Genesis): The Geese And The Ghost
                           Wise After the Event
Iggy Pop and James Williamson (Stooges): Kill City
Punishment Of Luxury: Laughing Academy
Parliament: Motor Booty Affair
PFM: Storia Di Un Minuto
        Per Un Amico
        Dracula Opera Rock
        Photos Of Ghosts
Andy Partridge (XTC): Hinges
                         Fuzzy  Warbles, Volumes 1 - 8.
                         Powers
P.R.W.L.: Tales From Other Space
               A New Dawn
               Wanted
               Beyond Man And Time
               A Gentle Art Of Music
               Nine
               World Through My Eyes
               Trying To Kiss The Sun
                God Has Failed
                Stock
                Start The Fire
                Experience
Alan Parsons/Alan Parsons Project: Time Machine
                                  Sicilian Defence
                                  A Valid Path (solo)
                                  The Secret (solo)


Q................................................................................................................


Suzi Quatro: Suzi Quatro (1974)
                    Rock Hard



R.................................................................................................................


Return To Forever: Return To Forever
                              Light As A Feather
                              Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy
                              The Romantic Warrior
Maggie Reilly: Midnight Sun
Rich Kids: Ghosts Of Princes Of Towers
Rockets: Plasteroid
             Galaxy
             Atomic
Red Krayola: Parable Of Arable Land
                    Soldier Talk
                    Kangaroo
Rain Parade: Emergency Third ail Power  Trip
Rhapsody: Rain Of A Thousand Flames
                 Power Of The Dragonflame
                 Dawn Of Victory
                 Symphony Of Enchanted Lands
                 Legendary Tales
Reform: Der Lowenzahn
Rousseau: Flower In Asphalt
                Retreat
Ricci E Poveri: E Penso A Te
                       Mamma Maria
                       Dimmi Quando


                       
S................................................................................................................



Scorpions: In Trance
                 Eye II Eye
Sweet: Off The Record
           Waters Edge
Stratovarius: Elements,Part 2
Seventh Avenue: Southgate
                           Eternals
                           Between The Worlds
                           Terium
Savatage: Dead Winter Dead
                Hall Of The Mountain King
                Edge Of Thorns
Simple Minds: Our Secrets Are The Same
                       Black And White 050505
                       Graffiti Soul
Selecter: Too Much Pressure
              Celebrate The Bullet
Stranglers: Written In Red
                 Coup de Grace
                 About Time
                 Giants
                 Dreamtime (2001 edition with 6 bonus tracks)
Sly & The Family Stone:  High On You
Siouxie & The Banshees: Juju
                                        Tinderbox
                                        A Kiss In A Dream House
Secret Service: Oh Susie
                        Ye Si Ca
                        The Lost Box-12
                        When The Night Closes In
Donna Summer: I Remember Yesterday
David Sylvian (Japan): Nine Horses/Money for All
Sex Gang Children: Song And Legend
                                Blind
                                Medea
                                Bastard Art
Solar Project: In Time
                      Chromagnitude
                      Five
                      Force Major
                      The Final Solution
Stern Combo Meissen: Weisses Guld
                                    Der Weite Weg
                                    Reize Zum Mittlepunkt Des Menschen
Sopwith Camel (1967)/Hello Hello
Sparks: Sparks (Halfnelson) (1972)
            Tweeter In Woofers Clothing
            Balls
            Lil' Beethoven
            Inferior Desighn
            Pulling Rabbits Out Of a Hat
            Introducing The Sparks
            Gratiutuos Sex & Senseless Violins
            The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman
            FFS (with Franz Ferdinand)
Smokie: The Other Side Of The Road
Leo Sayer: Silverbird
Strawbs: Strawbs (1969)
              Dragon Fly
Sad Lovers And Giants: Epic Garden Music
                                     Feeling The Flame
                                     The Mirror Test
                                     Headland
                                     Treehouse Poetry
                                     Melting In The Fullness Of Time
                                     Les Annes Vertes
                                     La Dolce Vita
                                     E-Mail For Eternity
                                     In The Breeze
                                     Total Sound 
Jane Siberry: When I Was A Boy
Shriekback: Care
                   Jam Science
                    Oil And Gold
Specials:More Specials
Special AKA: In The Studio
Slik: Slik
Skids: Days In Europa
          The Absolute Game
          Scared To Dance
Spear Of Destiny: Grapes Of Wrath
                           One Eyed Jacks
                           World Service
                           Outland
                           The Price You Pay
                           Sod's Law
                           Religion
                           Volunteers
                          Morning Star
                          Loadestone
                          Imperial Prototype
                          Omega Point
                          31
Slade: We'll Bring The House Down
          Crackers
          You Boyz Make Big Noize
Skyclad: The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth
              A Burnt Offering For The Bone Idol
              Irrational Anthems
Supermax: Fly With Me
                 Types Of Skin
                 Meets The Almighty
                 Don't Stop The Music
                 World Of Tomorrow
The Sound: Jeopardy
                   From The Lion's Mouth
                  All Fall Down
                  Heads And Hearts
                  Thunder Up
Lee Saunders: A Promise Of Peace
Saga: Saga (1978)
Spooky Tooth: Spooky Two
                       Ceremony
                       The Last Puff
Ringo Starr: Ringo's Rotogravure (1976)
                    Ringo The 4th (1977)
                    Stop And Smell The Roses
                    Liverpool 8
                    Old Wave
                    Choose Love
                    Postcards From Paradise
Steppenwolf: The Second 
Scotch: Evolution
Simone Afric: Ramaya (or Hafanana)

T...............................................................................................................


10cc: Look Hear?
         Ten Out Of 10
         Windows In The Jungle
         Mirror Mirror
TV Smith: Immortal Rich
                Generation Y
                 Rip...Everything Must Go
                 Misinformation Overload
                 In The Arms Of The Enemy
                 Coming In To Land
Teardrop Explodes: Everybody Wants To Shag
Tindersticks: Tindersticks (second album from 1995)
                     Curtains
                     Simple Pleasures
                     Waiting For The Moon
                     The Hungry Saw
Toyah: Kneeling At The Shrine (or Sunday All Over The World)
          The Changeling
           Minx
           In The Court Of The Crimson Queen
           Dreamchild
           Ophelia's Shadow
           Desire
           Mayhem
Roger Taylor (Queen): Electric Fire
Tourists: Tourists (1979)
             Reality Effect
             Luminous Basement
Trace: Trace (1974)
          Birds
          White Ladies
Tomorrow's Gift: Goodbye Future
                          Tomorrow's Gift (70)
The Twins: Until The End Of Time
                 Hold On To Your Dreams
Mayo Thompson (Red Krayola): Corky's Debt To His Father
Richard Thompson: Mock Tudor





U..................................................................................................................



UK:UK (1978)
UB40: Cover Up
         Homegrown
         Twenty Four Seven
         What You Fighting For

V..................................................................................................................




Christian Vander (Magma): Tristan et Iseult
Viva:Dealers Of The Night
Virgin Steele: Invictus
                      The House Of Atreus (Act I & II)
                      Visions Of Eden
                      Black Light Bacchanalia
Visage:Beat Boy
Vangelis: Direct


W...................................................................................................................


Waysted: Vices
              The Good The Bad The Waysted
Lenny White (Buster Williams Quartet): Adventures Of Astral Pirates
                     Streamline
Roy Wood (The Move, Wizzard): Mustard
                 On The Road Again
Robert Wyatt: Nothing Can Stop Us
Wallenstein:Blitzkrieg
                    Cosmic Century
                    Stories Songs & Symphonies
                    Mother Universe
Wolfgang Press:The Legendary Wolfgang Press
                         Standing Up Straight
                         Bird Wood Cage
                         Queer
                         Funky Little Demons
                         The Burden Of Mules
Wax:American English
Victoria Williams (The Creekdippers): Swing The Statue
John Watts: One More Twist
                   The Iceberg Model
                   Quick Quick Slow
                   Thirteen Stories High
                   Bigbeatpoetry
                   Real Life Is Good Enough (or It Has To Be)
                   Ether Music & Film
                   It Has To Be - Their Stories
                   More Than Music & Films  
Wire: Pink Flag
         Chairs Missing
         154
         The Ideal Copy
         A Bell Is A Cup
         Send
         The First Letter
         Manscape
         Object 47
         Red Barked Tree
         Change Becomes Us
         Until It Is Struck
John Wetton (Asia): Sinister/Welcome To Heaven
                     Raised In Captivity
                     Arkangel
                     Battle Lines
Wintersun: Wintersun-04
                 Time I

Eric Woolfson (Alan Parsons Project): Poe-More Tales Of Mystery And Imagination
                       That Never Was





Y...........................................................................................................


Yachts: Yachts (1979)
           Without Radar
Yello: Baby
         Touch Yello
         Motion Picture
         The Eye
         Pocket Universe


Z........................................................................................................


Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention:
                     Studio Tan
                     Lumpy Gravy
Zodiac: Disco Alliance (Soviet band)
            Music Of The Universe

.........................................................................................................