Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

In 1989 Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe released their sole self-titled album. It came at a very special time in my life, a time of personal and spiritual renaissance, and it contains a couple of songs that were (and are) special to me: "Brother Of Mine" and "The Meeting".

All these years later it's been released as a remastered 2CD deluxe edition. Disc One features the original nine track album and Disc Two features three live tracks recorded on their 1989 UK Tour (which I went to!), numerous edited version and a track called "Vultures In The City" which wasn't on the original album.

Further details and a full track listing can be found here:

ABWH Deluxe Edition 

It's not all about reissues though, as Jon Anderson has a brand new album out called "Survival & Other Stories" which Jon wrote in collaboration with musicians from all over the World via the internet. Further details on this album can be found here:

Jon Anderson - Survival & Other Stories

And via Jon Anderson's Official Website here:

Jon Anderson Official Website

Cheryl!

It probably hasn't escaped your notice that Cheryl Baker is taking part in the current season of Popstar To Operastar on ITV.

Most online resources I've read say that Cheryl is 57 (which is a bit confusing to me as all the Bucks Fizz literature back in the day used to say that she was born on 8th March 1955, which would make her 56!) Whatever her birthdate is - Cheryl looks fab-u-lous doesn't she?!

This enables me to pass on a bit of Bucks Fizz related news that you may not be aware of. Firstly The Original Bucks Fizz - that's Cheryl, Jay & Mike - are perfoming at The London Palladium on 11th July to celebrate the 30th anniversary of winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Support comes from Abba tribute band Bjorn Again. But don't just take my word for it - go and have a look at the Promo Film here:

Bucks Fizz London Palladium Promo

Also released to coincide with the gig is a new album, called "Fame & Fortune?", which will feature six reworkings of Bucks Fizz songs and six new tracks. One of the new tracks is "Everlasting Love", which originally appeared on Jay Aston's "Alive & Well" album back in 2002. I'm not expecting another "Hand Cut" or anything like that but it will be nice to hear some new stuff just the same.

Also worth looking into is an album called "What's Inside Your Head Volume 4". It's a compilation of work from the students at the Brighton & Bristol Institute of Modern Music. Track 11 on this CD is by Kyla Stroud and is called "Lucky One". Kyla is Cheryl's daughter and she is an emerging talent in her own right. If you get chance have a listen to her track via this website BIMM Students CD (click on the headphones icon) because it's well worth three minutes of your time...

Finally, you may be long enough in the tooth to remember that Bucks Fizz were sponsored by Sharp during 1985-86. Well, last night I stumbled across this rather excellent blog that pulls together all the various promotional ads that the group did during that time. I love the internet sometimes!

http://lessbucksmorefizz.wordpress.com/about/

Tell Me Something New: CocknBullKid

Anita Blay hails from Hackney in London but is better known under her professional name of CocknBullKid. Last year she signed to Island Records and supported Marina & The Diamonds on her Autumn tour, which is where I first heard her music.

Not only is she very good live but she also has some excellent songs to back it up. Her debut album "Adulthood" was released last month. She should be hugely successful if there is any justice!

Worth checking out are the videos to her two most recent singles:

CocknBullKid - Hold On To Your Misery (Video)  

CocknBullKid - Asthma Attack (Video)

Further details can be found on her official website here:

CocknBullKid Official Website

Hot Space

The next wave of Queen remasters arrives later this month, encompassing the years 1977-1982. Bonus tracks for each release are as follows.

News Of The World (1977)

1. Feelings Feelings (Take 10, July 1977)
2. Spread Your Wings (BBC Session, October 1977)
3. My Melancholy Blues (BBC Session, October 1977)
4. Sheer Heart Attack (Live In Paris, February 28 1979)
5. We Will Rock You (Fast) ([Live In Tokyo, November 1982)

Jazz (1978)

1. Fat Bottomed Girls (Single Version)
2. Bicycle Race (Instrumental)
3. Don't Stop Me Now (With Long-Lost Guitars)
4. Let Me Entertain You (Live In Montreal, November 1981)
5. Dreamers Ball (Early Acoustic Take, August 1978)

The Game (1980)

1. Save Me (Live In Montreal, November 1981)
2. A Human Body
3. Sail Away Sweet Sister (Take 1 With Guide Vocal)
4. It's A Beautiful Day (Original Spontaneous Idea, April 1980)
5. Dragon Attack (Live At Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)

Flash (1981)

1. Flash (Single Version)
2. The Hero (October 1980...Revisited)
3. The Kiss (Early Version, March 1980)
4. Football Fight (Early Version, No Synths! - February 1980)
5. Flash (Live In Montreal, November 1981)
6. The Hero (Live In Montreal, November 1981)

Hot Space (1982)

1. Staying Power (Live At Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)
2. Soul Brother (B-Side)
3. Back Chat (Single Remix)
4. Action This Day (Live In Tokyo, November 1982)
5. Calling All Girls (Live In Tokyo, November 1982)

It's worth noting that the remastered edition of 'Hot Space' doesn't include any of the 12" remixes that it could have done (e.g "Back Chat", "Staying Power"). It will be interesting to see if these and other original Queen remixes - of which there are many - get a release of their own at some point.