By Steve Newton For those horror freaks out there who just can't get enough of a masked guy in overalls stabbin' folks, here's some good news. Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that on September 23 it will release 10- and 15-disc editions of Halloween The Complete Collection, which gathers up all the Halloweens together on Blu-ray … Continue reading Halloween Blu-ray box sets on the way from Anchor Bay
Category: sound and vision
Fans of early Queen will flip for Live at the Rainbow ’74
By Steve Newton I f***in' love early Queen. That crazy guitar tone Brian May had on the band's self-titled 1973 debut album was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. It kinda freaked me out, in a wonderful way. The fantasy elements and heavy prog stylings of the 1974 Queen 2 concept album also won me over big time, and … Continue reading Fans of early Queen will flip for Live at the Rainbow ’74
Yee-haw! Allman Brothers to release southern-rock masterpiece At Fillmore East as box set
By Steve Newton Southern-rock fans saddened by word that the Allman Brothers will perform their final concerts this year should brighten at the news that an historic deluxe-edition box set is on its way. Yesterday the band announced on its website that a six-disc package titled The 1971 Fillmore East Recordings will be released by … Continue reading Yee-haw! Allman Brothers to release southern-rock masterpiece At Fillmore East as box set
Quadrophenia: Live in London gets primo packaging in a collector’s edition
By Steve Newton I've long posited that the Who's Quadrophenia is the greatest rock album of all time. The 1973 double-disc captured the British rock quartet at its creative peak, firing on all cylinders, and—thanks to Pete Townsend's songwriting skills—told a thoroughly engrossing tale of a young man's struggle for identity amid the Mods vs. Rockers turmoil … Continue reading Quadrophenia: Live in London gets primo packaging in a collector’s edition
Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight to be released on Blu-ray
By Steve Newton As if the news about Brian Setzer's upcoming rockabilly CD weren't enough to keep guitar freaks satiated today, now comes word from Sony Music that its Legacy Recordings imprint will release Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight on Blu-ray on June 17. In August of 1970 the legendary guitarman performed … Continue reading Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight to be released on Blu-ray
Brian Setzer returns to a Stray Cats vibe with Rockabilly Riot: All Original
By Steve Newton Universal Music Canada has announced that former Stray Cat and current shit-hot guitar slinger Brian Setzer will release a straight-ahead rockabilly album on August 12. Titled Rockabilly Riot: All Original, the disc will feature 12 Setzer-penned tracks performed in the company of pianist Kevin McKendree, bassist Mark Winchester, and drummer Noah Levy. That … Continue reading Brian Setzer returns to a Stray Cats vibe with Rockabilly Riot: All Original
Pink Floyd’s Division Bell gets the 20th anniversary box set treatment
By Steve Newton Those folks down at the Pink Floyd boxed-set factory are at it again. Two years ago they put together a deluxe Immersion edition of The Wall that was to die for, and now comes news that the band's last studio album, 1994's The Division Bell, will be released June 30 in a 20th anniversary set … Continue reading Pink Floyd’s Division Bell gets the 20th anniversary box set treatment
Rush gives John Rutsey his due on ReDISCovered box set
By Steve Newton The Pete Best of Canada finally gets his due. John Rutsey, the drummer who played on the very first Rush album before being replaced by Neil Peart, will get some of the credit he deserves with today's (April 29) release of the Rush ReDISCovered LP boxed set. If you don't understand how important Rutsey … Continue reading Rush gives John Rutsey his due on ReDISCovered box set
This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 15, 2010 By Steve Newton Several years ago I was combing the CD stacks at Zulu Records—back when they were located on the other side of Fourth and a little further east—and came across the 1995 tribute album Rattlesnake Guitar: The Music of Peter Green. Man, what a find that … Continue reading This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green
Iron Man 2 compiles some of AC/DC’s best, if not biggest
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 16, 2010 By Steve Newton In advance of the May 7 release of the superhero action sequel Iron Man 2 comes a collection that's sure to please anyone who's ever banged a head or tapped a toe to AC/DC's irrepressible brand of boogie-blues raunch. "This album is the hard loud … Continue reading Iron Man 2 compiles some of AC/DC’s best, if not biggest
Live in London Blu-ray shows the Pretenders in killer form
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 5, 2010 By Steve Newton The last time I saw the Pretenders in concert was in 2007 on a bill with the Stray Cats and ZZ Top, and they definitely held their own with the rockabilly hepcats and the bearded boogie-bluesmen. Though pushing 60, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chrissie … Continue reading Live in London Blu-ray shows the Pretenders in killer form
David Bowie’s A Reality Tour could have used some Aladdin Sane
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 5, 2010 By Steve Newton The first time I saw David Bowie in concert was at the Pacific Coliseum in early ’76 on the Station to Station tour. While it was an entrancing show—all blinding white light and Earl Slick’s biting, feedback-laden guitar—the Thin White Duke’s performance was clinical and … Continue reading David Bowie’s A Reality Tour could have used some Aladdin Sane
Past Masters reissue brings sweet Beatles nostalgia in stereo
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 2, 2009 By Steve Newton I’ll never forget the day I got my very first record. I was six or so, visiting my grandparents at their home in Point Grey, and my mom took me on a walk to a music store on 10th Avenue. I came back with a … Continue reading Past Masters reissue brings sweet Beatles nostalgia in stereo