rep>>> Dana Gillespie - Box Of Surprises (1969 uk, fantastic swinging bluesy folkish psych rock, 2008 remaster with extra tracks)

On her ’69 sophomore longplayer, Dana takes over the songwriting credits, taking full advantage of it. With Savoy Brown behind her, and Mike Vernon in the producer’s chair, one would guess that the result must’ve been as blue as blues can get, while it’s just as stylistically varied as Foolish Seasons.

With the above personnel made obvious only by the title tune, there’s also at least two tracks (Like I’m A Clown, I Was A Book) worthy of the mod-stompin’ shoulda-been-a-hit tag , already stuck firmly onto previous year’s You Just Gotta Know My Mind.

She revisits the acid folk of the debut LP’s title tune, and gets even moodier with the pair of ballads recalling The Zombies (When Darkness Fell), or The Swinging Blue Jeans’ take on You’re No Good with and additional Eastern touch to it (I Would Cry).

As a bonus, we get four sides of pre-debut singles, of which Page’s freaked-out fuzz solo in ‘65’s Thank You Boy makes the addition worthwhile on it’s own.

by Garwood Pickjon

Tracks

1. Box of Surprises - 4:26  

2. Like I'm a Clown - 2:16  

3. Taffy - 3:13   

4. When Darkness Fell - 4:21   

5. For David, The Nest Day - 4:29   

6. If You're Dreaming - 2:13   

7. Foolish Seasons - 2:30   

8. Grecian Ode - 3:34   

9. By Chasing Dreams - 3:06   

10.I Was a Book - 2:03   

11.Describing You - 3:04   

12.I Would Cry - 4:41   

13.Thank You Boy (Barry Mason, John Carter, Ken Lewis) - 2:05   

14.You're a Heartbreak Man - 2:20   

15.Pay You Back With Interest (Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks) - 2:50   

16.Adam Can You Beat That - 1:53

All compositions by Dana Gillespie except where stated

Musicians

*Dana Gillespie - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

*Chris Youlden - Guitar, Piano, Vocals

*Lonesome Dave Peverett - Guitar, Vocals

*Kim Simmonds - Guitar, Harmonica, Piano

*Bob Hall - Piano

*Rivers Jobe - Bass

*Tony Stevens - Bass, Percussion

*Roger Earl - Percussion, Drums

*Jimmy Page - Guitar (Track 13)

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rep>>> Lone Star - Lone Star • Firing On All Six (1976-77 uk, heavy riffs, strong melodies soaring keyboards funk bass solid drumming, 2004 remaster)

This traditional UK hard rock quintet was formed in 1975 by Kenny Driscoll (lead vocals), Tony Smith (guitar), Paul ‘Tonka’ Chapman (b. 9 June 1954, Cardiff, Wales; guitar), Pete Hurley (bass) and Dixie Lee (drums). Specializing in dynamic heavy rock, they attracted considerable attention with their Roy Thomas Baker-produced debut, offering an approach and sound not dissimilar to early Queen’s pomp/hard rock formula. Driscoll was replaced by John Sloman in 1977 before the release of Firing On All Six. This album pushed the dual guitars of Chapman and Smith to the forefront and concentrated on heavier material. Shortly after its release the band disintegrated, with Sloman joining Uriah Heep, Chapman replacing Michael Schenker in UFO and Dixie Lee teaming up with Wild Horses. 

The first album was compared to their second album "Firing On All Six" a more progressive hardrock-album with a great touch. This album is even better than their second album that I gave four stars. So this album is worth four strongs stars without any doubts. Roy Thomas Bakers production is really nice and is a mix between the sound of Led Zeepelins rocknroll, the harmonyvocals of Queen and the edge of a young and horny Uriah Heep. It's damn strange that the band didn't break big time cause this album sits on all the ingredients that an album of this era should consist. If you love the boombastic 70's and missed Lone Star... Well buy the album at once. If you loved and still love the band and don't have the Rock Candy-reissues - by them today as they are really nice with a fat bookletand bonustracks. Marvellous album. The song "Lonely Soldier" is one of the best songs in the pompgenre of the 70's.

In1977 the original vocalist Kenny Driscoll was replaced by 20-year old newcomer John Sloman (ex-Trapper). The band's second album, Firing on All Six, produced by Gary Lyons bettered its predecessor and reached No. 36 and the band did high profiles gig on such venues like The Reading Festival. If you havent heard Lone Star before and enjoy the huge "pompesque" arenasound of the 70's this album is a must. The opening track "The Bells Of Berlin" is a killer, "Hypnotic Mover" sounds like a mix between Queen and Uriah Heep and the soft "Seasons In Your Eyes" flirts with the sound of Supertramp. 

by Pär Winberg 2012-10-06

Tracks

1. She Said She Said (Joh Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 8:29

2. Lonely Soldier - 5:09

3. Flying In The Reel - 4:54

4. Spaceships - 6:44

5. A New Day - 5:14

6. A Million Stars - 3:50

7. Illusions - 3:12

8. The Bells Of Berlin - 6:55

9. The Ballad Of Crafty Jack - 3:41

10.Time Lays Down - 4:49

11.Hypnotic Mover - 4:27

12.Lovely Lubina - 3:36

13.Seasons In Your Eyes - 4:13

14.Rivers Overflowing - 4:57

15.All Of Us To All Of You - 4:55

Tracks 2-7 written by Kenny Driscoll, Tony Smith

Tracks 8-15 written by Dixie Lee, John Sloman, Paul Chapman,  Peter Hurley, Rick Worsnop, Tony Smith

Tracks 1-7 taken from "Lone Star" release 1976

Tracks 8-15 taken from "Firing On All Six" released 1977

Lone Star

*Kenny Driscoll - Lead Vocals (Tracks 1-7)

*John Sloman - Lead Vocals (Tracks 8-15)

*Tony Smith - Guitars, Vocals

*Paul Chapman - Guitars

*Rick Worsnop - Keyboards, Vocals

*Peter Hurley - Bass

*Dixie Lee - Drums, Vocals, Percussion

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rep>>> Bill Fay - Time Of The Last Persecution (1971 uk, remarkable prog folk rock, 2005 remaster)

"Enigmatic" was the tag oft-times tossed 'round Bill Fay, whose loyal cult following grew significantly over the years. Signed to Decca, the singer/songwriter and pianist released two albums in the late '60s and early '70s; their haunting, darkly shadowed songs were never meant to appeal to the masses, even at the height of the psychedelia-streaked introspection sparked by the soul-searching of the day. 

While the Beatles flew off to meet the Maharishi, Fay fell under the spell of a 19th century compendium of commentaries on the Biblical books of Daniel and Revelations, which would inspire his second album, Time of the Last Persecution. But before the born-agains jump on to the Fay bandwagon, they should be warned that the artist was equally influenced by the ravaging events of the day. The title track, "Time of the Last Persecution," was written in an immediate and visceral response to the killings of four students at Kent State.

Even in 1971, the intensity of Fay's lyrics -- reflecting his commentaries in their poetical language, their highly introspective nature, the brooding quality of the music, all exquisitely enhanced by Ray Russell's evocative blues guitar work -- left most reviewers cold and confused. In truth, the album would have slotted much more neatly into the coming firestorm that descended on Britain later in the decade, and would have provided a surprisingly supple bridge between the apocalyptic visions of roots reggae and the political polemics of punk. 

The set certainly contains all the fire and fury of the latter movement, as well as the deeply dread atmospheres of the former. By 2005, with the rise of evangelicalism and Christian rock, Persecution no longer sounds so obscure or out of place; it is, however, a personal journey of spirituality, not a platform from which to proselytize. For all its dark vision, it's the possibility of peace and hope that shines through the gloom, and as for all the seeming quietude of the music, it thunders, too, with a power and emotion that speak in volumes as loudly as Fay's striking lyrics. 

by Jo-Ann Greene

Tracks
1. Omega Day - 3:14
2. Don't Let My Marigolds Die - 2:26
3. I Hear You Calling - 2:57
4. Dust Filled Room - 2:03
5. 'Til The Christ Come Back - 3:08
6. Release Is In The Eye - 2:41
7. Laughing Man - 3:15
8. Inside The Keepers Pantry - 2:29
9. Tell It Like It Is - 2:32
10.Plan D - 3:12
11.Pictures Of Adolf Again - 2:27
12.Time Of The Last Persecution - 3:54
13.Come A Day - 2:27
14.Let All The Other Teddies Know - 2:31
Lyrics and Music by Bill Fay

Personnel
*Bill Fay - Vocals, Piano
*Ray Russell - Guitar
*Alan Rushton - Drums
*Darryl Runswick - Bass
*Nick Evans - Trombone

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