Tag Archives: Classic Rock

Porcupine Tree: Fear of a Blank Planet

On April 16, 2007, “Roadrunner” label released “Fear of a Blank Planet”, the ninth Porcupine Tree studio album. It was recorded October – December 2006, in London and Tel Aviv, and was produced by Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin and Gavin Harrison. In 2007, “Fear of a Blank Planet” won the “Album of the Year” award at “Classic Rock” magazine awards. In 2015, “Rolling Stone”  ranked it at number 39 on its list of the “Best Progressive Rock Albums of all Time.

Personnel:

  • Steven Wilson– vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, mixing, audio mastering, string arrangements
  • Richard Barbieri– keyboards and synthesizers
  • Colin Edwin– bass guitars
  • Gavin Harrison– drums
  • Alex Lifeson– guitar solo
  • Robert Fripp– soundscapes
  • John Wesley– backing vocals
  • Orchestra – London Session Orchestra
  • Dave Stewart– string arrangements
  • Steve Price – engineer
  • Lasse Hoile– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steven Wilson, except where noted.

  1. Fear of a Blank Planet
  2. My Ashes – music by Richard Barbier, Steven /Wilson
  3. Anesthetize
  4. Sentimental
  5. Way Out of Here – music by Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, Gavin Harrison, Steven Wilson
  6. Sleep Together

Procol Harum: Same

In September 1967, “Regal Zonophone” label released the debut, self-titled Procol Harum album. It was recorded in June 1967, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Denny Cordell. “Classic Rock” magazine included it in its list of the “50 Albums That Built Prog Rock”. It 2007, “Rolling Stone” magazine included it in its list of the “The 40 Essential Albums of 1967”.

Personnel:

  • Gary Brooker– vocals, piano
  • Robin Trower– guitar
  • Matthew Fisher– organ
  • Dave Knights– bass
  • J. Wilson– drums
  • Ray Royer– guitar
  • Bill Eyden– drums
  • Eddy Offord, Frank Owen, Gerald Chevin, Keith Grant, Laurence Burridge – engineer
  • Simon Platz – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, except where noted.

  1. Conquistador
  2. She Wandered Through the Garden Fence
  3. Something Following Me
  4. Mabel
  5. Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)
  6. A Christmas Camel
  7. Kaleidoscope
  8. Salad Days (Are Here Again)
  9. Good Captain Clack
  10. Repent Walpurgis – Matthew Fisher

Marillion: Misplaced Childhood

Marillion - Misplaced Childhood

On June 17, 1985, “EMI” label released “Misplaced Childhood”, the third Marillion studio album..It was recorded March – May 1985, at “Hansa Tonstudio” in  Berlin,  and was produced by Chris Kimsey. “Classic Rock” magazine ranked “Misplaced Childhood” was ranked at number four on a list of the “30 Greatest Concept Albums of all Time”. In the special edition “Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock” of “Q” magazine, the album was ranked number 17 on its list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”. “Misplaced Childhood” was certified Platinum in the UK by the “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • Fish– vocals, cover concept
  • Steve Rothery – guitars
  • Mark Kelly– keyboards
  • Pete Trewavas– bass
  • Ian Mosley– percussion
  • Thomas Stiehler – recording
  • Chris Kimsey– mixing
  • Mark Freegard – mixing
  • Mark Wilkinson – design, illustration
  • Julie Hazelwood – collage

Track listing:

  1. Pseudo Silk Kimono
  2. Kayleigh
  3. Lavender
  4. Bitter Suite
  • Brief Encounter
  • Lost Weekend
  • Blue Angel
  • Misplaced Rendezvous
  • Windswept Thumb
  1. Heart of Lothia
  • Wide Boy
  • Curtain Call
  1. Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)
  2. Lords of the Backstage
  3. Blind Curve
  • Vocal Under a Bloodlight
  • Passing Strangers
  • Mylo
  • Perimeter Walk
  • Threshold
  1. Childhoods End?
  2. White Feather

 

Deep Purple: In Rock

In_Rock

On June 3, 1970, “Harvest” label released “Deep Purple in Rock”, the fourth Deep Purple studio album. It was recorded October 1969 – April 1970, at “IBC Studios”, “De Lane Lea Studios” and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan. In 2005, “Classic Rock” magazine  awarded “In Rock”, with the “Classic Rock and Roll of Honor Award” in the category “Classic Album”.

Personnel:

  • Ian Gillan– lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
  • Jon Lord– keyboards, organ
  • Roger Glover– bass
  • Ian Paice– drums, percussion
  • Andy Knight – engineer
  • Martin Birch– engineer
  • Phil McDonald – engineer
  • Peter Mew– remastering
  • Tom Bender, Jason Butera – additional studio work
  • Nesbit, Phipps & Froome – artwork
  • Edwards Coletta Productions – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

  1. Speed King
  2. Bloodsucker
  3. Child in Time
  4. Flight of the Rat
  5. Into the Fire
  6. Living Wreck
  7. Hard Lovin’ Man

Led Zeppeilin: Physical Graffiti

Led_Zeppelin_-_Physical_Graffiti

On February 25, 1975, “Swan Song” label released “Physical Graffiti”, the sixth studio Led Zeppelin album. It was recorded July – December 1970, January and March 1971, May 1972, January and February 1974, at multiple locations, and was produced by Jimmy Page. The album included unreleased tracks from earlier recording sessions: one outtake from “Led Zeppelin III”, three tracks from “Led Zeppelin IV”, and three tracks from “Houses of the Holy”, including the unused title track. “Physical Graffiti” was certified 16× Platinum in the US by “RIAA”, and 2× Platinum in UK by “BPI”. In 1996, “Mojo” magazine ranked the album at number 47 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made”; in 2000, “Q” magazine ranked the album at number 32 on its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”; in 2001 “Classic Rock” magazine ranked the album at number 5 at its list of  “100 Greatest Rock Album Ever”; in 2003, the TV network  “VH1” named it the 71st “Greatest album ever”; in 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Physical Graffiti” at number 70 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2006 “Guitar World” magazine ranked the album at number 9 at its list of “Reader’s Poll: 100 Greatest Guitar Albums”.  In 1976, the album won “Grammy Award for Best Recording Package”.

Personnel:

  • Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar
  • Jimmy Page– electric, acoustic, lap steel and slide guitar, mandolin
  • John Paul Jones– bass guitar, organ, acoustic and electric piano, mellotron, guitar, mandolin, VCS3 synthesiser, Hohner clavinet, Hammond organ, string arrangement
  • John Bonham– drums, percussion
  • Ian Stewart– piano
  • Peter Corriston– artwork, design
  • Mike Doud – artwork, design
  • Dave Heffernan – illustrations
  • Elliot Erwitt, P. Fallon, Roy Harper– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, except where noted.

  1. Custard Pie
  2. The Rover
  3. In My Time of Dying – John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  4. Houses of the Holy
  5. Trampled Under Foot – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
  6. Kashmir – John Bonham, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  7. In the Light – John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  8. Bron-Yr-Aur – Jimmy Page
  9. Down by the Seaside
  10. Ten Years Gone
  11. Night Flight – John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  12. The Wanton Song
  13. Boogie with Stu – John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ian Stewart
  14. Black Country Woman
  15. Sick Again

Marillion: Brave

Marillion - Brave

On February 7, 1994, “EMI” label released “Brave”, the seventh Marillion, studio album. It was recorded November 1992 – August 1993, at “Marouatte Castle” in France, and was produced by Dave Meegan. In 2000, “Classic Rock” selected “Brave” as one of the “30 Best Albums of the 90s”, and in 2003 as one of “Rock’s 30 Greatest Concept Albums”.

Personnel:

  • Steve Hogarth– vocals
  • Steve Rothery– guitars
  • Mark Kelly– keyboards
  • Pete Trewavas– bass
  • Ian Mosley– drums
  • Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Nial Flynn – engineer
  • Dave Meegan –  engineer
  • Andrea Wright – engineer assistant
  • Laughing Boy – engineer assistant
  • Bill Smith Studio – design

Track listing:

All music by Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery, Mark Kelly, Pete Trewavas and Ian Mosley. All lyrics by Steve Hogarth except where noted.

  1. Bridge
  2. Living with the Big Lie
  3. Runaway – Steve Hogarth, John Helmer
  4. Goodbye To All That
  5. Goodbye To All That (continued)
  • Wave
  • Mad
  • The Opium Den
  • The Slide
  • Standing in the Swing
  1. Hard As Love – Steve Hogarth, John Helmer
  2. The Hollow Man
  3. Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury
  • Now wash your hands
  1. Paper Lies – Steve Hogarth, John Helmer
  2. Brave
  3. The Great Escape – Steve Hogarth , John Helmer
  • The last of you
  • Falling from the moon
  1. Made Again – John Helmer
  2. The Great Escape – Steve Hogarth, Helmer
  3. Unlisted Water Noises – John Helmer

Freddie Mercury

On November 24, 1991, Freddie Mercury died aged 45. He was musician (piano, guitar) singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and front man of the band Queen. He wrote some of the band’s best known songs featuring “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” and “We Are the Champions.”As a singer he had powerful vocal with over a four-octave range, and had unique stage appearance. In 1992, Mercury was awarded the “Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music”; in 2001,as a member of Queen, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; in 2002 Mercury was ranked at number 58 in the BBC’s poll of the “100 Greatest Britons”; in 2003 he was inducted in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”; in 2005 he was inducted in the UK “Music Hall of Fame”; in 2005, in “Blender” and “MTV2” pool, Mercury was voted the “Best male singer of all time”; in 2008, editors of the magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked Mercury at number 18 on their list of the “100 greatest singers ever” and in 2009, “Classic Rock” poll elected him the best rock singer of all time.