Mike Batt - Six Days In Berlin (1981)

©1981 Epic EPC85149

320 Kbps

-

For 40 years Mike Batt has been at the forefront of popular music, as a performer, producer, songwriter, conductor and now record company chairman. He invented the Wombles band, wrote big hits for Art Garfunkel, Alvin Stardust, Cliff Richards, Katie Melua, Bond, Vanessa Mea and for himself. He also is responsible for the soundtrack of the movies Caravans, A Merry War and the Dreamstone. Well, he did much, much more, too much to write it here but you could visit Mike's homepage.

-

Now about the Six Days In Berlin. It is a strange album and, although it was a commercial low point in Mike's career, heavenly underrated. The music isn't classical nor pop or rock but all those elements are there. The Trans-Seberian Orchestra comes in mind but Six Days is more surprising. It's released in the highdays of punk music and in a way you could say this is a rebellion album but no way it's punk. On the album are some big names in music like Mel Collins, B.J. Cole and the Berlin Opera Orchestra.

-

Part Three is one of the finest instrumentals I know with a good build up and great rythm. The titles are easy to remember :-)

-

Tracks: 1. Part One / 2. Part Two / 3. Part Three / 4. Part Four / 5. Part Five / 6. Part Six

-

Aviator - Aviator & Turbulence

©1979 EMI LP 17012

256 Kbps

AVIATOR was founded in 1978 by Jack Lancaster (saxophone, flute, lyricon, synthesizer) and Mick Rogers (guitar & lead vocals) together with Clive Bunker (drums) and John G. Perry (bass & vocals). All four musicians already had an impressive background in different bands. Jack Lancaster had played with Blodwyn Pig, the Mick Abrahams Band and the Soul Searches, Mick Rogers with: Manfred Mann's Earthband, Clive Bunker played with Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig and Steve Hillage and John G. Perry with Caravan and Quantum Jump.

-

In early 1979 AVIATOR released their first record named "Aviator". The tracks are all different styles ranging from straight forward rock to jazz-rock and pop. They went on a European Tour as a support act for Steve Hillage in 1979. After the tour Jack Lancaster left the band.

-

Tracks: 1. Your Loving Is My Home (3:30) / 2. Keep Your Heart Right (6:21) / 3. Evil Eye (3:20) / 4. Time Traveller (2:59) / 5. Silver Needles (6:07) / 6. Cleveland Ohio (5:01) / 7. Country Morning (6:14) / 8. Greed (3:02) / 9. Morning Journey (6:58)

__________________________________

©1980 Harvest LP 4107

192 Kbps

-

The remaining trio recorded their second and last record "Turbulence", released in 1980, with the help of Vivienne McAuliffe, Carol Stocker and Betsy Cook on background vocals. Again all tracks but one, a Dylan cover "get your rocks off", were written by the band. It is more straightforward rock, but less interesting without the sound of Lancaster's sax-playing. All four musicians played together again on Lancaster's 1981 Solo Record "Skinningrove Bay" wich I posted a year ago here.

-

tracks: 1. Way Of The World (4:53) / 2. The American (4:40) / 3. Turbulence (6:44) / 4. Ovation (4:54) / 5. Fallen Star (7:22) / 6. Track Eleven (1:33) / 7. Get You Rocks Off (5:01) / 8. Strange Worlds (7:01)

Various Artists

Beyond the Wildwood - A Tribute to Syd Barrett

©1987 Imaginary Records

320 Kbps CD-Rip

-
A collection of covers written by Pink Floyd's original guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter Syd Barrett and played by young indie rock artists. The songs featured come from Pink Floyd's singles; the albums The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets; and Barrett's two solo albums: The Madcap Laughs and Barrett.

-

Although Barrett's productive recording career had only lasted from 1967 though 1970, his music had a great influence on the development of psychedelic rock, alternative rock and indie rock music. Not many Pink Floyd fans know about this album.

-

tracks: 1. NO GOOD TRYING - The Mock Turtles / 2. OCTOPUS - Plasticland / 3. ARNOLD LAYNE - SS-20 / 4. MATILDA MOTHER - Paul Roland / 5. LONG COLD LOOK - Fit And Limo / 6. LONG GONE - The Shamen / 7. IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE (ADAPTATION OF JUGBAND BLUES) - Opal / 8. BABY LEMONADE - The Ashes In The Morning / 9. WOLFPACK - The Lobster Quadrille / 10. GOLDEN HAIR - The Paint Set / 11. NO MAN'S LAND - Tropicana Fishtank / 12. APPLES AND ORANGES - The T.V. Personalities / 13. TWO OF A KIND - The Soup Dragons / 14. SCREAM THY LAST SCREAM - The Green Telescope / 15. SEE EMILY PLAY - The Chemistry Set / 16. RATS - What Noise / 17. GIGOLO AUNT - Death Of Samantha

-

Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush

Tales Of The Unexpected

©1979 CBS AL35753

224Kbps Clean Vinyl Rip

-
This is both a live album and a studio album. Tales of the Unexpected consisting four studio recordings on side one and four live performances on side two. There are great covers of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" and Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" but his own compositions are very good too. A unique mixture of 70's heavy metal, hard rock, blues and even some jazzfusion.

-

tracks: 1. Sister Change / 2. All Along the Watchtower / 3. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) / 4. Tales of the Unexpected / 5. Down, Down, Down / 6. Door of Illusion / 7. Woman / 8. Bottom of the Barrel

-

TWANG! A tribute to Hank Marvin and the Shadows

©1996 PANGÆA

320Kbps CD-rip

The title says it all. A bunch of the worlds best guitarists playing a Hank Marvin tune. Even Hank himself does a track. You must be a living legend to appear on your own tribute album. A real must for fans of the art of the electric guitar.

-

tracks: 1 Ritchie Blackmore - Apache (3:14) / 2 Brian May - FBI (3:13) / 3 Tony Iommi - Wonderful Land (4:43) / 4 Steve Stevens The Savage (5:05) / 5 Hank Marvin - The Rise & Fall Of Flingel Bunt (4:17) / 6 Peter Green & The Splinter Group - Midnight (2:42) / 7 Neil Young & Randy Bachman - Spring Is Nearly Here (4:32) / 8 Mark Knopfler - Atlantis (3:09) / 9 Peter Frampton - The Frightened City (4:08) / 10 Keith Urban - Dance On (2:54) / 11 Andy Summers - Stingray (3:50) / 12 Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - The Stranger (3:47)

-

Femme Fatale

Femme Fatale

-

©1988 MCA records MCAD 42155

CD rip 320Kbps

-

Femme Fatale was an American hard rock band fronted by rockchick Lorraine Lewis. They were active from 1987 till 1990 and managed to release one studio album only before disbanding. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988, peaked at #141 on the Billboard 200 the following year. MTV gave heavy airplay to the videos for "Waiting for the Big One" and "Falling in and out of Love". LP and CD are both very hard to find and when you find one in mint condition you have to pay about $150,00
-

Right now Lorraine is working with Roxy Petrucci (Vixen) and can be found at www.myspace.com/roktopuss.

-

Tracklist CD: 1. Waiting For The Big One / 2. Falling In And Out Of Love / 3. My Baby's Gun / 4. Back In Your Arms Again / 5. Rebel / 6. Fortune And Fame / 7. Touch And Go / 8. If / 9. Heat The Fire / 10. Cradle's Rockin'

-

MTV clips: 1. Waiting For The Big One / 2. Falling In And Out Of Love / Interview with Adam Curry

-

CD

Clips