My Favourite Albums of 2024: An Assortment of Albums

 Here's a few more of My Favourite Albums of 2024. These ones I have already posted about on the Blog so I will just include the link to the particular posts I put up. It's a mixed bag of the new and some reissues as well as a really compilation spotlighting the songs of Tom Petty.

Depending on if I have the time I might get to do a couple more posts on My Favourite Albums of 2024.

Here we go then:

Hand On Heart - Cock Sparrer  (5th April) 

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty - Various Artists  (21st June)

Louis In London - Louis Armstrong (12th July)

Will Anything Happen (2024 Remaster Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants (July 26th)

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton (11th October)

1985 - The Waterboys (23rd February)
 

Gospel According To Al Green (1984 Film)

 I had noticed recently on Al Green's You Tube Channel that they had uploaded the excellent Robert Mugge film 'Gospel According To Al Green', which is celebrating its 40th Year. It's also available on Amazon Prime to watch.

The film combines a three-fold insight into the life of the Soul Man with an excellent interview, a live performance at a very small venue in Washington D.C. and a spotlight on the Reverend Al Green in action from his pulpit.

As far as I'm aware it is still avaible on Blu-ray DVD and you can probably pick it up at quite a decent price if you go searching.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November)

 Studio Album #14 from The Cure and their first since '4:13 Dream' back in 2008. 'Songs of a Lost World' provided a lot of joy on the opening day of November (I realise how odd that must read seeing that we are considering a pretty dark album from Robert Smith and gang, but it actually was a day of celebration with  joy and happy tears).

Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November 2024)
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Fiction Records
1st November 2024

LISTEN HERE.

Also to celebrate the release, The Cure put on a live streamed concert that began with a full live performance of the album from start to finish and then after a short Intermission they gave a superb second set of fan favourites and singles.

Live at The Troxy Theatre 1st November 2024

01. Songs from a Lost World Set

02. 2nd Set

Victoria Segal Review for Mojo

My Favourite Albums of 2024: VOWS - Hot Water Music (May)

Founded in October 1994 in Gainesville, Florida, Hot Water Music released their 10th Studio Album, VOWS, earlier this year. Chuck Ragan (lead vocalist) and the chaps rarely disappoint.

VOWS - Hot Water Music

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Equal Vision Records (USA & Canada)/ End Hits Records (UK & Europe)
10th May 2024

LISTEN HERE. 

 The Album features members of Thrice, Amy Interrupter, Dallas Green and Brendan Yates.

The Soundboard Review by Luke Nuttal.

 "Without a single dud track and a sound so self-evidently brilliant in everything it strives for, you can’t really ask for more in a Hot Water Music album, let alone one that’s not had its back broken by three decades of prior history. And when even the wear-and-tear contributes positively to an already colossal achievement, that’s when you know a band is on a good path." - Luke Nuttal

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Because there some total music nerds out there who like these types of things and some crazy collectors who want everything and enjoy the challenge of findind them all, I'll include this list I found on Discogs.

Vinyl pressing history:

US: 1st Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
?? - White Label, Custom Color
50 - Clear w/ 8mm Film Inlay (Equal Vision Store Exclusive)
250 - Rose, Red & Pink Ripple (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Clear Black w/ Metallic Red Splatter (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Red w/ Black Splatter
250 - Clear Turquoise w/ Black Splatter
250 - Marbled Grey/ White w/ Red Ripple
250 - Half Rose Stem Green/ Half Rose Pink w/ White Splatter
250 - Clear w/ Black Splatter (US Tour Variant)
300 - Orange (Florida Retail Exclusive)
500 - Light Brown w/ Black, White & Grey Splatter
500 - White w/ Green Splatter (Cooking Vinyl Australia Exclusive)
500 - Clear (US Indie Retail Exclusive)
1500 - Transparent Black (Retail Exclusive)

US: 2nd Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
400 - Silver & Black Marble

250 - Clear w/ Tan, Pink & Green Splatter (Hot Water Music Webstore Exclusive)

EU: 1st Pressing, End Hits Records (5/10/2024):
35 - Test Press
35 - Super Deluxe - Clear w/ Enclosed Pulmonary Artery Trace (End Hits Exclusive)
100 - Red/ Yellow Swirl (Devil Dog UK Exclusive)
150 - Deluxe - White w/ Screenprinted Cover (End Hits Exclusive)
200 - Deluxe - Mushroom/ Toffee Pinwheel (End Hits Exclusive)
210 - Yellow w/ Black Splatter (Flight 13 Exclusive)
250 - Deluxe - Green/ White Quads (End Hits Exclusive)
300 - Transparent Green/ Clear (JPC Exclusive)
1000 - Cherry Red (Retail Version)

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Teach Yself WAH! - A Best Of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie (March)

Some folks can get a bit overly precious about adding a Reissue or a Compliation to the their Favourite Albums of the Year Lists mainly for the reason "it's not new" or "it's unnecessary". I thought about this very thing quite frequently and to a degree I understand. I get fed up with labels that seem to constantly be reissuing the same albums time and time again with the only difference being the colour of the vinyl. or the label that just seems to rehash a "Greatest Hits" album two years after the previous one came out and there's either one or two different songs on it or the tracklist has just been swapped around. Hopefully I was able to point out how annoying also this practice is when it came to the release of a recent Springsteen Compilation and a deep dive into a number of the totally unnecessary releases that came before it (CLICK HERE TO READ THAT POST). 

I don't believe we are dealing with an "unnecessary release" here because, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a new Pete Wylie Compilation for 24 Years! For many this might be a good introduction to the music by one of  Liverpool's modern day musical greats..

Teach Yself Wah! - A Best of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie
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Chrysalis Records
1st March 2024

One of the coolest wee collections of the music of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! (and a couple of other named Wah! bands or is it brands?) since the excellent 'The Handy Wah! Whole : Songs From The Repertwah!: The Maverick Years 2000' (2CD set on Castle Music, 2000). Included are of course a few of the classic Singles (I'm guessing the licensing of the other tracks was problematic, hence their exclusion) and freshly Remastered tracks from 'Songs of Strength & Heartbreak' (2000) and the long spoken of but finally appeared, 'Pete Sounds!' (2017).

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Veritas - P.O.D. (May 2024)

 

Veritas - P.O.D.
Mascot Records
3rd May 2024

 01. Drop (feat. Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God)
02. I Got That
03. Afraid to Die (feat. Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer)
04. Dead Right
05. Breaking
06. Lay Me Down (Roo's Song)
07. I Won't Bow Down
08. This Is My Life (feat. Cove Reber of Dead American)
09. Lies We Tell Ourselves
10. We Are One (Our Struggle)
11. Feeling Strange 

The Links in the above Tracklist are for the Promo Videos

 Line Up
Sonny Sandoval – vocals
Marcos Curiel – guitars
Traa Daniels – bass

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'Veritas' is the 11th studio album by San Diego Rockers P.O.D. (Payable On Death), and was their first album since 'Circles' in 2018.

My Favourire Albums of 2024: Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists (September 2024)

I don't think you are going to find a more artistically stacked album than this album which celebrates the songs of one particular artist. To name a few of them will give you an idea of what I mean: Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dinosaur Jr., Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello, Susanna Hoffs, Graham Parker, The Hold Steady, Ian Hunter, Willie Nile and Rancid. I think that in itself is a good reason to grab a copy.

The purpose of the album is twofold. Firstly to celebrate the songs of Jesse Malin, and he's written some absolute gems. Secondly to raise money for the ongoing treatment for Jesse Malin as he recovers from a rare spinal stroke that left him paralysed in 2023 check out the Sweet Relief Artist Fund.

Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists

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Glassnote

 Released 21st September 2024

1 Bleachers – Prisoners Of Paradise
2 Counting Crows – Oh Sheena
3 Bruce Springsteen – She Don't Love Me Now
4 Billie Joe Armstrong – Black Haired Girl
5 Dinosaur Jr. – Brooklyn
6 Frank Turner – About You
7 Alison Mosshart, Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Steve Van Zandt, Mike Watt, Joey C. – Turn Up The Mains
8 Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Ray Kennedy – Room 13
9 The Wallflowers – Don't Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day)
10 Spoon – The Way We Used To Roll
11 Rocky O'Riordan – Shane
12 Butch Walker – In The Modern World
13 Susanna Hoffs – High Lonesome
14 Graham Parker – Greener Pastures
15 Alejandro Escovedo – Meet Me At The End Of The World
16 The Hold Steady – Death Star
17 Tommy Stinson, Ruby Stinson – Riding On The Subway
18 The Walker Roaders – St. Mark's Sunset
19 Ian Hunter – Dead On
20 Danny Clinch, Daniel Donato – Almost Grown
21 Aaron Lee Tasjan – Shining Down
22 Low Cut Connie – When You're Young
23 Willie Nile – All The Way From Moscow
24 Rancid – No Way Out
25 Gogol Bordello – You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start To Pray
26 Agnostic Front – God Is Dead
27 Murphy's Law – Frankie

 

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Ian Corbridge Review on Louder Than War.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Girl Friends - Dion (March)

Two of my favourite pieces to work on this year for Soundtrack4Life are both Dion related:

Firsty, an interview with Mike Aquilina from back in March. Mike has been writing songs with Dion for many years now and kindly gave up some time to answer a few questions for The S4L Interview. You can read that HERE.

Secondly, a deep dive into the musical career of Dion called 'Dion DiMucci - The King of the New York Streets Into The 21st Century'

Girl Friends - (Listen Here) -
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Keeping The Blues Alive Records
8th March 2024

 

Legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dion delivers a new album that transcends generations: Girl Friends. His latest from KTBA Records sees him collaborating with a stellar lineup of female artists including the soulful Susan Tedeschi, powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, icon Carlene Carter, virtuoso Joanne Shaw Taylor, and the versatile Maggie Rose, among others. Dion's timeless voice, and the distinct styles of these acclaimed artists, create a fusion celebrating the rich tapestry of American music.

1 Soul Force - Featuring Susan Tedeschi*
2 I Aim To Please - Featuring Danielle Nicole*
3 Stop Drop And Roll - Featuring Valerie Tyson
4 Do Ladies Get The Blues - Featuring Christine Ohlman & Debbie Davies
5 An American Hero - Featuring Carlene Carter*
6 Don't You Want A Man Like Me - Featuring Rory Block
7 Sugar Daddy - Featuring Christine Ohlman
8 Endless Highway - Featuring Randy Fishenfeld
9 I Got Wise - Featuring Maggie Rose
10 Hey Suzy - Featuring  Sue Foley
11 Mama Said - Featuring Shemekia Copeland*
12 Just Like That - Featuring Joanne Shaw Taylor

 

Tracks with * next to them have Music Video Links 

 

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My Favourite Albums of 2024: Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon - (May)

I thought I would begin sharing some of My Favourite Albums of 2024. It's certainly going to be a very varied collection and I make no apologies for that. It is worth repeating that these are My choices and not what might be considered to be the Best Albums of 2024 by the music press or the critics (you have to go and look elsewhere if you want that sort of thing). I've listened to a lot of albums throughout the year but due to a lack of money in the pocket I haven't bought loads (at least one per month) so they have had to be pretty good for me to go out of my way to buy them.

They will not be in any particular order, like a chart, but rather the fact that they appear under the banner of My Favorite Albums of 2024 should be enough to let you know how they are regarded by me.

My first choice is a "Folk" album, definitely not something I ever could have seen me saying, but I really like the whole "concept" behind the creation of this album and how a lot of research and discussion has gone into the subject before a song had ever been recorded.

Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon

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17th May 2024
Available on BANDCAMP £7 for Download or £10 for a CD


Tracklist    
1 Dear Polly 02:58
2 Press Gang Song 02:50
3 Grace will lead me home 04:18
4 Turn Round Newton 01:54
5 The President Sang Amazing Grace 03:23
6 Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme 03:16
7 I'm going to hear John Newton Preach 04:29
8 The choir still sings Amazing Grace 03:16
9 Sorry 03:13
10 Amazing Grace (Jesu Thy Words) 03:55
11 Eyes on the prize 02:34
12 Amazing Grace 05:05

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Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

Jon Bickley headed a partnership between Invisible Folk, the Arts Council and the Cowper & Newton Museum in a project entitled 'Grace will lead me home.' It explored the love that people have for Amazing Grace including those who are descended from the slaves that Newton shipped across the Atlantic. Interviews covering every aspect of Newton's life, the slave trade and the evolution of the beloved hymn was undertaken (including Judy Collins) and these were turned into a series of podcasts that can be found HERE.
 

Cohen and Angeline were invited to join the project, review the research, meet the folks at the museum and write new songs and the end result is this album.

The majority of the information above is taken from the Bandcamp Page for the album.

MOVING TARGETS RE:CALIBRATED - Penetration (1st November 2024)

 It's been a few weeks since I last did a post here so I better rectify that with this one that spotlights (in my mind at least) one of the finest Debut Albums by a band that I have a fond affection for since buying their Debut 7" "Don't Dictate" in 1977.

There are links to the music below just click on the coloured titles.

 

 MOVING TARGETS RE:CALIBRATED - Penetration
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Polestar
1st November 2024
Limited Edition of 250 on Red Vinyl (Now Sold Out)
Available on Streaming Services Also

Side 1
A1 Future Daze 3:05
A2 Life's a Gamble 3:17
A3 Lovers of Outrage 4:10
A4 Vision 3:32
A5 Silent Community    3:04
A6 Stone Heroes    3:49

Side 2
B1 Movement 3:17
B2 Too Many Friends 3:32
B3 Reunion 3:54
B4 Nostalgia 4:10
B5 Free Money 4:19

Penetration have a couple of dates left on their UK Tour with Essential Logic (London tonight, 17th November and on the 18th November in Brighton) celebrating 45 years since the release of their magnificent debut album 'Moving Targets'. This new re-recording of the album was actually done back in 2007 during rehearsals for a gig at the 100 Club in London. It's the first time it has been released on Vinyl and is only limited to 250 copies which is a bit of a shame. It has been remixed and remastered for this release.

There was a very limited edition of 100 copies self- released on a CDR in 2008 of this by the band, so I am assuming that it is from this recording that has been remixed and remastered for this new vinyl release .

The Debut Album was released in October 1978 on Virgin Records and there was a limited edition of 15,000 on Glow In the Dark Luminous Vinyl.The album reached #22 on the UK Albums Chart.

The band had beefed up their sound for the album with the addition of the twin guitar attack of  Neale Floyd and Fred Purser (he would go on to play with Tygers of Pan Tang).

Moving Targets Tracklist
Side 1
A1 Future Daze
A2 Life's a Gamble
A3 Lovers of Outrage
A4 Vision
A5 Silent Community
A6 Stone Heroes    
Side 2
B1 Movement
B2 Too Many Friends
B3 Reunion
B4 Nostalgia
B5 Free Money

 

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton (11th October 2024)

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton

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EMI

Produced by Ian Broudie

11th October 2024

 

Paul Heaton is the "Musical Champion of the People!" He probably would decry such a statement being attributed to him, because, unlike many of the current crop of "Pop Stars", he comes across as quite a humble fella. He looks out for the best interests of his fans, especially when it comes to the cost of concert tickets. He could charge a lot more than £35 a ticket but realizes that not everyone has big money to spend and is always on the lookout to keeping costs down. At previous shows he's placed a tab behind the counter at pubs close to the venues in order that fans can have a drink on him. He has also provided help for various towns and city foodbanks by having fans bring items to stock the shelves. 

Here's Paul on BBC Breakfast almost a week ago talking about the new album and ticketing etc.:

After five very successful albums with Jacqui Abbott, 'What Have We Become' (May 2014 #3), 'Wisdom, Laughter And Lines' (October 2015 #4), 'Crooked Calypso' (July 2017 #2), 'Manchester Calling' (March 2020 #1) and 'N.K-Pop' (October 2022 #1), Heaton finds himself "Solo" again, sort of. This time he has a few guest vocalists (Yvonne Sheldon and Danny Muldon who appear on a couple of tracks) including current back up and at times lead vocalist when the band play live, the wonderful Rianne Downey (a good Scottish lass and solo artist in her own right), you can see Rianne in action alongside Paul at the 2023 TRNSMT Festival Glasgow in the video below (a better and more confident performance from her was at Glastonbury this year. The full set is no longer on the BBC iplayer. otherwise I would have shared the link).

My favourites on the album, after a week of listening, are "National Treasure", "Quicksand", "After The Sugar Rush", "H Into Hurt", "Pull Up A Seat", "The Blues Came In", "Couldn't Get Dead" and "Walk On, Slow Down".

I wondered if Paul Heaton would still be able to pull it off without Jacqui Abbott by his side but he does, and that's all down to the quality of his songwriting and various musical styles. He manages to bring things of everyday life, like a husband supposedly bringing home a "Fish 'N' Chip Supper" and all of a sudden it becomes like an episode of a Soap Opera. He gets political as well, attacking people’s anger about immigrants arriving via boats and dinghies on the song "Small Boats" (sung by Danny Muldoon, an Irish-Mancunian Heaton found in a pub singing Blues Covers). On "National Treasure" he directs the spotlight on who he considers to be the real heroes in our society, namely those who work in the NHS and the thousands of volunteers who serve their communties week in and week out.

The album has had a lot of good positive reviews in the press (not that they always matter):

"Five solo LPs in, The Mighty Several vouches for his continued worth, fostering unity and empathy in divided times."  (Four Star Review in MOJO.)

"It’s Heaton through and through, as are cultural reference points including Bovril, bus drivers, 50p bets, Deirdre and Ken Barlow, and pubs. Lots of pubs. It’s a bit of a musical picnic." (Four Star Review in The Telegraph)

"It all adds up to another reliably excellent state of the nation from Heaton – there may be no real surprises on The Mighty Several, but it confirms his national treasure status, whether he likes it or not.." (Music OMH Four Star Review.) 

"That dance between light and shade is assisted by an Ian Broudie production which juxtaposes the jaunty with the jaundiced. All human life isn’t here – not quite – but the life that’s here is wonderfully human." (Record Collector)

 

The Soundtrack Of Your Life - 2024 National Playlist Day

Today is National Playlist Day 2024. I have to confess to not knowing about this particular day before but I wholeheartedly endorse the reasons behind it, helping people living with Dementia. The theme, The Soundtrack Of Your Life, is difficult to contain within one playlist because my playlist would end up easily containing a couple of thousand songs!

I think I remember mentioning here on the blog that I use music as a form of therapy in order to help with my memory because due to my Epilepsy I do struggle at times from forgetfulness. Music has the ability to switch a light on and shine it in the dark places and with the aid of a song a picture can emerge of a memory - an event, a person, a place or the circumstances in which that song, tune or lyric can be put into. Now, I'm no medical authority on such matters and probably don't even use the right terminology, but hopefully you get what I mean. 

Down below is a new Playlist I put together to celebrate the day. Each of the 20 songs point to memories in my own life where the songs have been there in that moment and serve as a reminder. I won't go into the reasons for picking each song, as you might find that a bit tiresome. On my iTunes, my YouTube Channel and my Phone I have loads of Playlists that I make use of when I'm having a really tough time.

Playlist For Life encourage folks to make their own Playlists using Spotify (the link is at the bottom of the page), but I don't use that particular platform because I also like visual images as well, so My Playlist is on YouTube,

My Playlist
01 Unsafe Building - The Alarm
02 Don't Lose Your Dreams - Pete Wylie & Wah The Mongrel
03 In A Big Country - Big Country
04 Born For A Pupose/Reason For Living - Dr Alimantado
05 Call Of The Wild - Die Toten Hosen
06 Lion & The Lamb - TV Smith
07 1976 - The Boys
08 I Will Be Your Shield - Billy Bragg
09 Love Shine Bright - Culture
10 Let The Day Begin - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
11 I Fought The Law - The Clash
12 Polaroid Picture - Frank Turner
13 The Weight - Mavis Staples & Levon Helm
14 Out Of Hand - The Mighty Lemon Drops
15 Title Holder - The Interrupters
16 My Love Will Not Let You Down (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
17 Hour Of Need - Madness
18 Not Dark Yet - Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
19 Hymn To Him - Dion (Featuring Patti Scialfa & Bruce Springsteen)
20 I Wish You Were Here - Dropkick Murphys

 

GO HERE TO MAKE YOUR OWN PLAYLIST.

This Machine Rising - Dropkick Murphys and the Songs of Woody Guthrie

The aim of this particular post is not an examination of the lyrical content of the Woody Guthrie songs that the Dropkick Murphys have written the music for but a rather a bringing together in one place of the albums, the new documentary and a recent live show from Hellfest 2024 to enjoy, play loud, dance, sing-a-long and marvel that songs written so long ago have the ability to speak into our lives decades after Guthrie first put pen to paper. Because we have no idea how Woody Guthrie himself would have created the music for these songs, we are left in the hands of a band from Boston who are largely known for their Celtic Punk sound to do it for us. The fact that they have created two excellent albums from their sessions and barely lost sight of their own unique sound is a testament to the quality of the songs and their own desire to show musically that Guthrie still has something to say.

A couple of days ago the Dropkick Murphys relased their documentary 'This Machine Rising' that spotlights the making of their albums 'This Machine Still Kills Facists' (2022) and 'Okemah Rising' (2023) that feature the lyrics of Woody Guthrie.

 "This Machine Rising tells the story of the acoustic songs we wrote around a pile of Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics. These songs get to the core of what the band believes in — and what we’ve always stood for...Acoustic folk and protest music has always been one huge chunk of the puzzle that makes up Dropkick Murphys. We were trying to find lyrics to hit the same areas that were important to us – social and economic injustice, organizing the working class, standing up to fascism or conservative values that we don’t agree with, fighting for the working class people…There are a lot of similarities in the band’s mindset. To read these lyrics that were written in the ‘30s or ‘40s that are so apropos to today, it’s kind of scary and powerful at the same time because it’s so relevant now."  Ken Casey (Lead Vocalist)

Listen and Watch Videos from the album

 

Listen and Watch Videos from the album

The lyrics of Woody Guthrie were not new to the Dropkick Murphys, they had first used them on the 'Blackout' album in 2003 with the song Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight:

Also on 'The Warriors Code' album (2005) with I'm Shipping Up To Boston: 

One of the things I love about the Dropkicks is that they have a bond with their community and a love for the working man and any injustice done to workers. When they were last in the UK they took the song All You Fonies and rewrote parts of it in support of the Union workers:

"In support of all our Union friends in the UK fighting the good fight against the elitist Tory political party we made this music video in association with the RMT (The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers). On our recent UK shows we changed the words to the song All You Fonies (Bound To Lose) to All You Tories in support of the striking railroad and transit workers, nurses , fire fighters, teachers, postal workers, ambulance staff and health workers . The song is recorded Live at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff Wales and the live video footage is from Cardiff and the Wembley Arena show in London. Animation provided courtesy of the RMT. Best of luck in your struggle friends. Yours in Solidarity, Dropkick Murphys"

 The band will be out touring the UK in 2025, here's the dates:

Feb 04: Birmingham O2 Academy
Feb 05: Glasgow O2 Academy
Feb 06: Manchester Academy
Feb 07: Cardiff Utilita Arena
Feb 08: London Alexandra Palace

If you have never seen them live then their recent set at Hellfest 2022 will be a good introduction (the 2024 show I can't embed but you can watch it here)

 

Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) - Oasis

 Unless you have been hiding under a rock the past few days it will not have escaped your attention that Oasis have annouced they will be touring in 2025 (dates are at the bottom of this post). News of this has had wall to wall coverage on all Social Media platforms, TV & Radio, Newspapers and of course the Music Press. 

This announcement came three days before the 30th Anniversary reissue of their Debut Album 'Definitely Maybe' (which is released today) and a couple of days after Liam Gallagher had completed his tour celebrating the album. Coincidence? Possibly. 😏

The album has been reissued a number of times since first coming out on 30th August 1994 and it's probably worth mentioning a few of them before getting stuck into this latest version:

1994 Vinyl had the added track "Sad Song" to make it a 12 track album, the CD, MiniDisc & Cassette had only 11 Tracks.

2005 American DualDisc contained  all 11 songs found on normal CD releases but on the DVD side they were in Enhanced Stereo. Also included were the 'Definitely Maybe Documentary' plus "Live Forever (Live at Glastonbury 1994)" and "Columbia (Live From Hammersmith Palais, London 13th December 1994)".

2006 Japanese Limited Edition CD Vinyl Replica included "Sad Song" and "Cloudburst".

2014 CD under the title  "Definitely Maybe: Chasing The Sun Edition". This was a 3CD set that included the album Remastered on CD1. CD2 included B-sides and Extra Tracks and CD3 was made up of Unreleased Demos, Outtakes & Live Recordings. The Vinyl version included a Download Code for all the Bonus Material. The Japanese Edition of the CD included "Shakermaker (Slide Up Mix)" and "Bring It On Down (Monnow Valley)".

2015 There were Yellow, Red, and Silver Vinyl versions released on Creation. 

2019 Limited Edition 25th Anniversary 2LP Picture Disc exclusive to the Oasis Official Store.

2020 Vinyl Reissue (it was basically the 2014 Remastered Edition)

2020 Japanese Reissue Limited Edition (2000 copies) Ivory Coloured Vinyl

Now we come to the most up to date reissue of the album,  'Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)':

2024 The Vinyl is just the 2014 Remastered Edition and the 4LP set also includes the Monnow Valley Studio version of the album on LP 3 recorded in late 1993 in Wales that was rejected by both the band and label. Back into the studio, Sawmills Studio in Cornwall, in February 1994 where seven of the eight tracks on LP 4 are Outtakes from these sessions recorded between February - April 1994. Links to all the songs on this new reissue are included below. The 2CD set brings the Monnow Valley and Sawmills Studio sessions on the second CD and the 2014 Remastered album on CD1 doesn't include "Sad Song" as part of the album (as the Vinyl version always has done) rather than as an extra track (only the 2006 Japanese version had done this previously) and on this set only a 1992 demo version of the song is included as the final track.

From a personal perspective I think Oasis could have done better on the CD set by including a complete live show from 1994. It's not as if none exist because they have used songs from various live performances on a couple of the previous reissues (2005 American DualDisc and the 2014 CD set for example). That would have piqued my interest into possibly buying a copy.

 My overall impression of 'Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)' is that it is aimed at those who are "the completists", who must have everything ever released by the band. To add to their collection with this new reissue they are also going to have a healthy bank balance (and that's not even thinking about the cash needed to grab a ticket for one of the reunion shows, which are pretty pricey as well)! 😉 I have included below some of the prices I've found for the various formats down below also just incase you are counting the pennies and pounds and fancy grabbing a copy.

 

Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Edition)

Big Brother
Released 30th August 2024

 Formats:
4LP Boxset (£64.99 HMV & Amazon UK, £62.99 Rough Trade UK)

2LP £35.00 Blue & White Marble (Oasis Webstore Only) 

2LP £35.00 Exclusive Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl Numbered 15,000 from Blood Records
 

2LP £37.99 Strawberries & Cream (Rough Trade UK, Amazon UK and HMV) 

 

2CD (£17.99 Rough Trade UK, £19.99 Amazon UK & HMV)

Cassette £12 (Oasis Webstore Only)

  Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Edition)
Tracklist
LP1
A1 Rock 'n' Roll Star
A2 Shakermaker
A3 Live Forever

B1 Up In The Sky
B2 Columbia
B3 Sad Song
LP2
C1 Supersonic
C2 Bring It On Down
C3 Cigarettes & Alcohol

D1 Digsy's Dinner
D2 Slide Away
D3 Married With Children

LP3 - Definitely Maybe Monnow Valley Version
E1 Rock 'n' Roll Star (Monnow Valley Version)
E2 Shakermaker (Monnow Valley Version)
E3 Live Forever (Monnow Valley Version)
E4 Up In The Sky (Monnow Valley Version)

F1 Columbia (Monnow Valley Version)
F2 Bring It On Down (Monnow Valley Version)
F3 Cigarettes & Alcohol (Monnow Valley Version)
F4 Digsy's Dinner (Monnow Valley Version)

LP4 Definitely Maybe - Sawmills Outtakes
G1 Rock 'n' Roll Star (Sawmills Outtakes)
G2 Up In The Sky (Sawmills Outtakes)
G3 Columbia (Sawmills Outtakes)
G4 Bring It On Down (Sawmills Outtakes)

H1 Cigarettes & Alcohol (Sawmills Outtakes)
H2 Digsy's Dinner (Sawmills Outtakes)
H3 Slide Away (Sawmills Outtakes)
H4 Sad Song (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov '92)

*********

(Liam & Noel Gallagher Photo by Simon Emmett)

In a joint statement, the band said: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”

The dates for the 2025 UK and Ireland tour are:
4, 5 July, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
11, 12, 19 and 20 July, Heaton Park, Manchester
25, 26 July, 2, 3 August, Wembley Stadium, London
8, 9 August, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
16, 17 August, Croke Park, Dublin.

Tickets Go Sale 9am Saturday 31st August

December - We Made A Promise EP Out Now!

You may recall that back on the 12th March this year I did an interview with December (if you haven't read it, then CLICK HERE to do so).

December are well known for their cover versions of U2, Big Country and The Alarm and a nice addition to that body of impressive covers comes the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Over the past few years the band have recorded and released a number of covers of songs written by Bruce Springsteen. Today they have brought them together on a 6 Track Digital EP called 'We Made A Promise'. It is available from lots of digital platforms. Videos for five of the six songs have been issued (see below) with the latest, "Ghosts", released this week. I purchased mine from Amazon Music this morning. I do hope you enjoy this.

 

1 Reason To Believe

2 Stolen Car

3 Tougher Than The Rest

4 No Surrender

5  One Step Up

6 Ghosts

 For More Videos by December check out their You Tube Channel by Clicking Here.

Will Anything Happen (Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants (26th July 2024)

I was very excited to find out yesterday that the debut, and only album by the Shop Assistants was reissued on the 26th July, I ordered it right away and it arrived this afternoon. The album of course was first released in November 1986 on Blue Guitar (a sub-label of Chrysalis Records). It had its first reissue on CD in 1997 (Overground Records), 2008 & 2012 (Cherry Red) and the only Vinyl reissue came in 2012 on American label 4 Men With Beards.

If you like Vinyl, then all you'll get is the 2024 Remaster of the album, but if you want more then it's best to go for the 2CD Expanded Version which includes the 2024 Remaster, B-sides of the only single released from the album, Instrumental Demos, Rough Mixes, Alternate Versions, tracks from two concerts in October 1986 and their second John Peel Session. Thirty-seven tracks in all.

Hopefully this new Remaster might open up some new ears to the wonderful sound of the Shop Assistants, one of Edinburgh's finest Indie Bands of the 1980s. I highly recommend it and I have no doubt it will feature highly on my end of year list of Reissues of the Year.

Will Anything Happen (2024 Remaster Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Chrysalis Records
26th July 2024

Produced by Mayo Thompson, John Ryan & Shop Assistants
Released on Vinyl & 2CD Digipack

 

 The Band:

 Alex Taylor - Vocals & Tambourine
David Keegan - Guitar & Noise
Sarah Kneale - Bass & Backing Vocals (Lead Vocals on "What A Way To Die")
Laura MacPhail - Drums & Percussion

 Tracklist for 2CD Expanded Edition

 Disc 1: Will Anything Happen (20024 Remaster)/B-Sides/Demos
1-1 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
1-2 All Day Long
1-3 Before I Wake
1-4 Caledonian Road
1-5 All That Ever Mattered
1-6 Fixed Grin
1-7 Somewhere In China
1-8 Train From Kansas City
1-9 Home Again
1-10 Seems To Be* (Missing)
1-11 After Dark
1-12 All Of The Time
1-13 What A Way To Die
1-14 Nature Lover
B-Sides    
1-15 Looking Back
1-16 All Day Long (Slow Version)
Instrumental Demos    
1-17 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
1-18 After Dark
1-19 A Million Miles From Home

Disc 2: Studio Outtakes/Live/Peel Session
2-1 Looking Back (Rough Mix)    
2-2 Caledonian Road (Rough Mix)
2-3 What a Way To Die (Rough Mix)
2-4 Fixed Grin (Roundhouse Version)
2-5 Train From Kansas City (Roundhouse Version)
2-6 Before I Wake (Roundhouse Version)
2-7 All That Ever Mattered (Alternate Take)
Live In London 03/10/1986    
2-8 Seems To Be
2-9 Nature Lover
2-10 Something To Do
2-11 Switzerland
Live In Deinze 05/10/1986    
2-12 Home Again
2-13 It's Up To You
2-14 Safety Net
John Peel Session 11/11/1986    
2-15 Fixed Grin
2-16 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
2-17 Ace Of Spades
2-18 Before I Wake

********************** 

Single Released on 7" & 12"

A-Side: I Don't Want To Be Friends With You

B-Side: Looking Back / All Day Long (Slow Version) - 12" only

UK Chart #77

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Shop Assistants Bonus

Shop Assistants BBC Sessions:
John Peel Session 8th October 1985
Safety Net
All That Ever Mattered
Almost Made It
Somewhere in China

John Peel Session 11th November 1986
Fixed Grin
I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
Ace of Spades
Before I Wake

Janice Long Session 16th February 1986
All Of The Time
Home Again
Looking Back
Nature Lover
What A Way To Die

 The Shop Assistants Live 3rd October 1986 University of London.

 

Louis Armstrong - Louis In London (Released 12th July 2024)

In May 1968 Louis Armstrong was in the studio making his final trumpet recordings on the album 'Disney Songs The Satchmo Way'. A couple of months after this he was in London to perform and film for the BBC TV "Show of the Week". The video of that performance is included below. It was filmed 2nd July 1968 and first broadcast 22nd September 1968 and is considered one of his last great live performances. The filming of the show came hot on the heels of Louis Armstrong reaching the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart (and stayed there for four weeks) with "What A Wonderful World". 

I mentioned it is considered to be one of his last great live performances and that was because by 1968 (not sure of dates on this matter) his poor health (heart and kidney issues) had forced him off the road. He wouldn't play live again until 1970 when he had to curtail his live shows due to a heart attack. Against medical advice he would take to the road again in March 1971 but after a two week stand in Manhattan he had another heart attack. He was still hoping to get back on the road again but on 6th July 1971 he died in his sleep from a heart attack, he was aged 69.

I'm no expert on the music of Louis Armstrong (Jazz is not really my thing) but his voice I remember as a kid was something I felt comfortable with, even if it was just him singing the songs of Walt Disney or the childish safety blanket I experienced thinking everything was going to be okay when I heard "What A Wonderful World".

It may appear a bit odd of me to post a piece like this but the way I look at it is the world is even crazier now than when I was a five year old kid in 1968 and sometimes there's nothing wrong in finding a shelter in the storm of the madness and listening to a voice you sense you can find consolation in.

Louis In London - Louis Armstrong
Verve Records
12th July 2024 

 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Here is the actual BBC Footage and below that are links to the audio and a few High Defintion videos that have become available leading up to the release of the album.

1  When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
2  (Back Home Again) In Indiana
3  A Kiss To Build a Dream On
4  Hello, Dolly!:

5  Mame
6  You’ll Never Walk Alone
7  Ole Miss
8  Blueberry Hill
9  Mack The Knife

10 Rockin’ Chair
11 The Bare Necessities:

12 What a Wonderful World:

13 When The Saints Go Marching In

Louis Armstrong - Vocals & Trumpet
The All Stars:  
Tyree Glenn, trombone
Joe Muranyi, clarinet
Marty Napoleon, piano
Buddy Catlett, bass
Danny Barcelona, drums

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A Wee Bonus

Disney Songs the Satchmo Way - Louis Armstrong
Beuna Vista Records
1968

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