Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti

First released as a double vinyl album in February 1975, Physical Graffiti went on to 16x Platinum, selling over eight million copies in the USA alone. Many consider Physical Graffiti Led Zeppelin’s finest hour.

Jethro Tull – Bursting Out – Live

With an awesome reputation live, it was decided that it was time for the essential live double album. So, during their European concert tour to support the latest release, Heavy Horses (1978), all of their concerts were recorded, and the best bits, in Ian Anderson’s opinion, put together for this release.

Buddy Guy – Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues

For those of you wanting to hear some genuine ‘Blues’ music recorded in a modern studio with all the sound quality that this gives, this is the album for you. It was unanimously voted Blues Album of the Year by the Grammies in 1992. This album just reeks of class.

Flash – Flash

“Flash” had a vibrancy and optimism that transcended all the stereotypes of seventies rock music. They really loved their music and it always showed. They were Flash – their life was short but burned bright. They came and went in a Flash.

Classic Rock

Jimmy Barnes – Barnestorming

Jimmy Barnes put together the cream of Australian musicians on tour to support the albums to show things off. The band included Johnny Diesel and Dave Amato on guitars, Chris Bailey on bass guitar, Tony Brock on drums and Peter Kekell on keyboards. These recordings were released on a double album as Barnestorming at the end of 1988 and naturally roared up the charts over Christmas, staying at number one for three weeks.

Hard Stuff – Bulletproof

The musicianship is never anything but superb; for that alone, the album cannot be faulted. The best and heaviest thing on the album is the John Gustafson-written ‘Sinister Minister’ with its crunchy guitar licks and bass-heavy driven rhythm.

Concerts & Live Recordings

Greg Lake In Concert – King Biscuit Flower Hour

Recorded on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5th, 1981, this concert was certainly full of fireworks. Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, England, during the world tour for his first solo album (simply titled “Greg Lake”), the show presented Lake on a London stage for the first time since the demise of his previous band “Emerson, Lake and Palmer.”

Ten Years After – Essential

“Essential” by Ten Years After is something of a rarity as I find it faultless in collecting together on one CD what are the “Essential” recordings. In other words, a true “Bests Of” Ten Years After.

Gary Moore – We Want Moore

The songs from the main set don’t let up for a second, and in true eighties tradition Moore just blazes his fingers over them. All of the songs are over seven minutes long with extended solos.

The Who – Live at the Isle of Wight 1970

No other recording shows The Who in the entirety of their talents. Listening to Pete Townshend, at his most explosive leading the band through the shattering rock ‘n’ roll medley at the end of the set is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Heavy Metal

Gary Moore – We Want Moore

The songs from the main set don’t let up for a second, and in true eighties tradition Moore just blazes his fingers over them. All of the songs are over seven minutes long with extended solos.

Aerosmith – Nine Lives

From the opening squally feedback and Steve Tyler’s trademark caterwauling, there’s no mistaking whose album this is; there are some true stormers here.

Budgie – Bandolier

Budgie, the three-piece heavy metal band from Cardiff in Wales, were far more influential than anybody dared think at the time of their self-titled debut album in 1971. Both Iron Maiden and Metallica showered them with praise and recorded their songs, giving the band much-needed royalty revenue.

Van Halen – Van Halen

One of the greatest party albums of all time by one of the greatest party bands of all time, these young tearaway Americans knew how to rock and enjoy themselves to the limit and beyond.

Progressive Rock

Flash – Flash

“Flash” had a vibrancy and optimism that transcended all the stereotypes of seventies rock music. They really loved their music and it always showed. They were Flash – their life was short but burned bright. They came and went in a Flash.

Hawkwind – Space Ritual ‘Live’

Fortunately for us all, several Hawkwind shows were recorded, and the best of two from Liverpool and Manchester have been spliced together to give the complete experience, all done in the correct running order. This was first released as a double album in 1973 at the price of a single album, Hawkwind being Hawkwind and always giving value for money. As well as a poster-size foldout cover, you also got two booklets, one telling the story of the Space Ritual joining the dots between songs, the other giving you all the information you could possibly want about the tour.

Hard Stuff – Bulletproof

The musicianship is never anything but superb; for that alone, the album cannot be faulted. The best and heaviest thing on the album is the John Gustafson-written ‘Sinister Minister’ with its crunchy guitar licks and bass-heavy driven rhythm.

Threshold – Legends of the Shires

It’s impossible to pick out highlights on Legends of the Shires as the album is best served to be listened to in its entirety. But after a brief introduction, the second song, Small Dark Lines, shows off Threshold’s combined power. Heavy riffing over a pounding beat with determined vocals—an aural battering.

Guest Posts

Caravan – It’s None of Your Business

“It’s None of Your Business” is Caravans 15th album and amongst their finest. All Caravan fans look forward to learning the band’s album titles, and this one is no different. My favorite title goes back to 1975 – “Cunning Stunts.”