The Final Cut

Bucks Fizz - A second collection of Bucks Fizz archive material is scheduled for release sometime during 2008. Once again this is taken from the original master tapes handed over to Dean Murphy by Andy Hill. Looks like I'd better get some revision in then...

The Eagles - Making the gaps between Kate Bush albums seem like a blink of an eye are The Eagles, who release their first album in 28 years (!!) in October. The album "The Long Road Out Of Eden" is preceded by a single "HowLong".

John Wetton - Love and best wishes go out to Asia vocalist John Wetton after his triple heart bypass operation earlier this month. Get well soon mate...

Sparks - "Dee Vee Dee: Live At The London Forum", filmed during their last tour, now has a release date of 1st October.

Pink Floyd - 3rd September sees the 40th Anniversary 3 CD edition of "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn". Disc one and two feature the mono and stereo mixes of the album and disc three rounds up some period singles and their flipsides.

One Two - Claudia Brucken (formerly of Propaganda) has teamed up with Paul Humphries (ex-OMD) for a project called One Two with a debut album called "Instead". More details on my myspace page (see links) where I've addded them as a friend!

Some of my friends are on the Facebook internet site and I now have a page there too! I have to say that it is MUCH better than myspace in that it is more secure, more private and allows a much greater scope to be creative, both in what you add to your site and the ways in which you interact with others. So... if you're in the neighbourhood, stop by and say "Hi!"

The First Cut Won't Hurt At All...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Has a new single "Today The Sun's On Us" released on 13th August but what's really of interest here is the bonus track - which is a cover of the Propaganda classic 'Duel', which is already available on i-tunes.

Def Leppard - Who are currently touring in America supported by Styx (!) are reportedly working on an album with Mutt Lange called "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge"

James Whild Lea - Or Jim Lea, formerly of Slade as he's known around these here parts, has released his debut solo album entitled "Therapy". It's actually been out since February but it's only now that the music press seem to be sitting up and taking notice! Anyway it's now available on i-tunes or from his website here http://www.jimleamusic.com/

Lisa Scott-Lee - It's taken nearly four years to get here but Lisa Scott-Lee's debut album "Never Or Now" is available to download from i-tunes! Still no word on when there might be an actual CD version, although last time I checked Amazon were taking pre-orders.

Abba - "The Album: Deluxe Edition" is released in October in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Much like last year's deluxe edition of "Arrival" it's a CD/DVD package. The CD feaures six bonus tracks "Eagle (Single Edit)", "Take A Chance On Me (live)", "Thank You For The Music (Alternate Version)", "Move On (Spanish Version)", "I Wonder (live)" & "Thank You For The Music (Spanish Version)".

The DVD features clips from Star Parade (ZDF), Am Laufenden Band (Radio Bremmen), Abba Special (TBS), Mike Yarwood's Christmas Special (BBC) news reports from various sources and TV adverts from the UK and Australia.

Rilo Kiley - The rather good Rilo Kiley make their major label debut with "Under The Blacklight" on August 20th. Worth getting for "Dreamworld" alone

ELO - I went to see an ELO tribute band at the Robin 2 earlier this month called The ELO Experience. They have their own website here: http://www.elotribute.com/

Whilst we're on the subject I came across a dance remix of "Do Ya" by Lenny B on his myspace site http://www.myspace.com/lennybproductions

And this mad (but informative) anglo-French site here: http://elodiscovery.com/