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- 📰 T. Rex to Storm States: Feb. 1972
A one‑page Melody Maker feature announcing T. Rex’s first major American tour, paired with a contemporary Marc Bolan poster advert — published February 12, 1972. 📰 Overview By early 1972, T. Rex were at the height of their UK fame, topping both singles and album charts. This Melody Maker article documents the moment they prepared to take that success across the Atlantic, with a bill‑topping US tour culminating at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Alongside the article, a poster advert offers a vivid snapshot of Bolan’s growing cultural presence — a reminder of how deeply he resonated with fans during the glam‑rock explosion. 📰 Source Details Publication: Melody Maker Date: February 12, 1972 Issue: Page 3 Provenance Notes: Original scrapbook clipping containing both the article and the Marc Bolan poster advert. 📰 The Story The Melody Maker report captures T. Rex at a moment of transition — no longer a UK‑only phenomenon, but a band poised to break America. With “Get It On” entering the US charts and T. Rexmania spreading overseas, Marc Bolan and the band embarked on their first headline American tour, set to climax at Carnegie Hall on February 27. B.P. Fallon, acting as the group’s representative, highlights their strong performances in Scandinavia and reveals that work had begun on a new album in France. Recording sessions took place at Château d’Hérouville, a studio known for hosting the Grateful Dead, Elton John, and Pink Floyd. Tracks such as “Ballrooms of Mars” and “Thunderwing” were already completed, though the album remained untitled at the time. The accompanying advert — offering a full‑colour Marc Bolan poster with a free Neil Young print — reflects the era’s booming fan culture. Poster companies capitalised on Bolan’s image, recognising his appeal as both a musician and a visual icon. The juxtaposition of article and advert on the same page underscores Bolan’s dual status: chart‑topping artist and pop‑culture phenomenon. 📰 Key Highlights • T. Rex prepare for their first headline American tour • Carnegie Hall set as the climactic date • “Get It On” enters the US charts, boosting their stateside profile • New album sessions underway at Château d’Hérouville • Tracks completed include “Ballrooms of Mars” and “Thunderwing” • Poster advert offers Marc Bolan and Neil Young prints to fans • Snapshot of T. Rex’s peak glam‑rock visibility in early 1972 📰 Visual Archive A Melody Maker page from February 12, 1972 featuring the article “T. Rex to Storm States” and a Marc Bolan poster advert offering a full‑colour print with a free Neil Young poster. Caption Melody Maker, February 12, 1972 — T. Rex’s US breakthrough announcement alongside a Marc Bolan poster offer. 📰 Article Text Insert your cleaned transcription here. (Short excerpts only — no full copyrighted reproduction.) 📰 Related Material • Other early‑’70s T. Rex and Marc Bolan Chronicle entries • GlamSlamEscape posts covering The Slider, Electric Warrior, and related singles • External references on T. Rex’s 1972 US tour • Explore the tags below for more connected posts and themes. 📰 Closing Notes This Melody Maker page captures T. Rex at a moment of global expansion — a band riding high on UK success and preparing to conquer America, while Bolan’s image and charisma fuelled a thriving fan culture. It’s a perfect snapshot of glam‑rock momentum in early 1972. 📰 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. 📰 Tags #GlamSlamChronicles #MusicEphemera #MarcBolan #TRex #MelodyMaker #GlamRockHistory
- 📰 Exclusive Central London Appearance: Feb. 1972
Original concert advert for David Bowie’s performance at Imperial College Great Hall, London — February 12, 1972 — one of the earliest and most historically significant shows of the Ziggy Stardust Tour. 📰 Excerpt A rare early‑tour advert for Bowie’s February 1972 Imperial College concert — a pivotal night that helped solidify the Ziggy Stardust persona and marked a turning point in his rise to stardom. 📰 Overview This original advert promotes Bowie’s appearance at Imperial College’s Great Hall on February 12, 1972 — the fourth date of the Ziggy Stardust Tour and, for many historians, the first fully realised “Ziggy & The Spiders” performance. With tickets priced at just 50p and support from The Sutherland Brothers, the show drew a packed crowd, including future Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor. The night has since become a cornerstone moment in Bowie’s live history. 📰 Source Details Publication: Concert advert (original print ephemera) Date: February 12, 1972 Issue: Imperial College Great Hall event listing Provenance Notes: Sourced from personal scrapbook; original period advert. 📰 The Story The Imperial College show stands as one of the defining early moments of the Ziggy Stardust Tour. Although the band was not yet billed as The Spiders from Mars, the performance is widely regarded as the first night where the Ziggy concept fully clicked — theatrically, musically, and visually. Bowie had just recorded “Suffragette City” eight days earlier, yet he debuted it live here with total confidence, signalling how quickly he was integrating new material into his set. The setlist blended early classics (“Space Oddity,” “The Wild‑Eyed Boy From Freecloud”) with covers (“I Feel Free,” “Round And Round”) and the emerging Ziggy‑era sound (“Suffragette City,” “Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”). The audience included Brian May and Roger Taylor, both students at Imperial College at the time, witnessing Bowie’s transformation firsthand. A French TV crew led by Claude Ventura filmed portions of the show for Pop Deux, capturing the growing international fascination with Bowie’s theatrical approach to rock performance. The advert itself — simple, bold, and unmistakably early‑’70s — reflects a moment before the explosion of Ziggy mania, when Bowie was still playing college halls but already radiating the charisma that would soon make him a global icon. 📰 Key Highlights • Fourth date of the Ziggy Stardust Tour • Considered by many the first fully formed “Ziggy & The Spiders” show • Tickets priced at 50p, drawing a packed student audience • Early live performance of “Suffragette City” just days after recording • Brian May and Roger Taylor in attendance • Filmed by Claude Ventura for Pop Deux • Support act: The Sutherland Brothers 📰 Visual Archive Original advert for Bowie’s February 12, 1972 Imperial College concert — an early landmark in the Ziggy Stardust Tour. 📰 David Bowie performed at the Great Hall in Imperial College, London, on February 12, 1972 as part of his Ziggy Stardust Tour. This performance is often noted as one of the early shows of the Ziggy Stardust Tour, which was pivotal in launching Bowie's career to new heights. It was the fourth date of the tour and is considered by some to be the first proper "Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders from Mars" show, despite the band not being billed under that name yet. Setlist: The set included several songs such as "Queen Bitch," "The Wild-Eyed Boy From Freecloud," "Space Oddity," "Amsterdam," "Andy Warhol," "I Feel Free," "Round And Round," "Suffragette City," "Waiting For The Man," and "Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide." Notably, "Suffragette City" was performed live here just eight days after its recording session, showcasing Bowie's rapid integration of new material into his live performances. Audience: Among the audience were notable figures like Queen's guitarist Brian May, who was an Imperial College student at the time, and drummer Roger Taylor. The support act for this concert was The Sutherland Brothers. Cost and Atmosphere: Tickets for the show were priced at 50 pence, which was quite affordable, contributing to a packed house. The performance was described as captivating, with Bowie bringing a theatrical element to rock music, enchanting the audience with his stage presence and song selections. Media Coverage: The concert was documented by various sources over the years. French TV film crew Claude Ventura was present to capture footage for the 'Pop Deux' program, illustrating the growing international interest in Bowie's performances. There's also mention of a color version of "Suffragette City" from this concert being restored and shared online, highlighting its historical significance. Impact: This show was part of the series of performances that helped define the Ziggy Stardust persona and establish Bowie's reputation for innovative live shows that combined music with theater, fashion, and performance art. 📰 Related Material • Explore the tags below for more connected posts and themes. 📰 Closing Notes This advert captures Bowie at the tipping point — still playing college halls, yet already reshaping rock performance with theatrical flair, new material, and a persona that would soon define an era. The Imperial College show remains a treasured moment in Bowie’s ascent. 📰 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. #GlamSlamChronicles #MusicEphemera #DavidBowie #ZiggyStardust #ImperialCollege #1972RockHistory
- 📰 Bolan A Weird Kid: Feb. 1972
A two‑page New Musical Express feature capturing Marc Bolan reflecting on his early years, poetic phase, and the evolution of T. Rex. 📰 Excerpt Bolan looks back on his childhood, his early songwriting, and the strange inner world that shaped him — a mix of romanticism, isolation, and self‑mythology that would eventually explode into T. Rex’s glam‑rock stardom. 📰 Overview This NME feature arrives at the height of T. Rexmania, yet the article focuses not on fame but on Bolan’s inner life — his childhood, his early writing, and the poetic detours that defined his pre‑electric years. It’s a rare moment of introspection from a star who was, by 1972, already a cultural phenomenon. 📰 Source Details Publication: New Musical Express Date: February 12, 1972 Issue: Two‑page feature + cover inset Provenance Notes: Original UK print edition; part of NME’s extensive early‑’70s glam coverage. 📰 The Story The article presents Bolan in a reflective, almost confessional mood. He speaks candidly about his early songwriting, describing himself as a romantic who once preferred to slip into the studio, sing his songs, and disappear. He recalls the shift from the straightforward simplicity of his earliest work to the ornate, capital‑P “Poet” phase of Unicorn — a period he now views with a mix of affection and embarrassment. Bolan insists that drugs played little role in shaping his style, recounting a few teenage experiments with acid that left him unmoved. Instead, he describes an “inner sanctum” he had built since childhood — a private imaginative world that functioned like a natural psychedelic state. He admits he was “a weird kid,” emotionally turbulent yet grounded by a solid family life. The feature captures Bolan at a moment when he is both myth and man: the glittering glam idol on magazine covers, and the introspective, self‑aware songwriter who still sees himself as the boy who wrote “Desdemona” in his parents’ home. 📰 Key Highlights • Bolan reflects on his early songwriting and poetic phase • He describes himself as insular, romantic, and emotionally intense • Claims drugs had little influence on his music • Discusses his “inner sanctum” and childhood imagination • Contrasts early Tyrannosaurus Rex work with his current T. Rex style 📰 Visual Archive Cover inset and feature spread from NME, February 12, 1972. 📰 Article Text I was a bit hung-up with my records being produced, at the start. I just wanted to go into the studio and sing my songs and then leave. I was very much into my own little world in those days. I'm not a very social person. I was basically a romantic, but the songs I'm writing now are exactly the songs I wrote when I lived with my parents. Like if you listen to the words of "Desdemona", I could have written it now. But there were those two or three years in the middle where I suppose I was a poet with a capital 'P'. Which turned a lot of people off, but it also turned a lot of people on. It was very appropriate for the time. If you listen to the songs on the first album, they're much less poetic than the songs on "Unicorn". For me now, a straightforward "I love you baby and you love me" is much more poetic than "The craggy seas of the wild moon on the beach of the swan". I was very insular. I didn't boogie with people very much. Drugs didn't influence my style much. I used to smoke occasionally when I was sixteen, but I never got into drugs at all. Certainly not acid. I took acid about three times, long before T. Rex, and all I found was that nothing happened to me, man. I just spent more time on things. But there were no revelations, because all that was revealed to me was that what I knew already was right. I got no hallucinations or problems of any sort. All that happened was: The noise that I naturally excluded from my brain (like car noise, or people talking in a room that I don't want to be in) became very loud. Do you understand? It took down the barriers which were my defense. And it just made me aware that since five years old, I'd been constructing an inner sanctum which is probably like the acid experience. I'm very fortunate like that. I was a weird kid, very messed up as a kid. Emotionally I went through a lot of experiences. It was still a solid family. 📰 Related Material • Other GlamSlamChronicles featuring early‑’70s glam artists • GlamSlamEscape entries for T. Rex and Marc Bolan releases • External references on T. Rex’s 1972 press cycle • Explore the tags below for more connected posts and themes. 📰 Closing Notes This feature captures Bolan at his most self‑aware — a star reflecting on the strange, poetic, and deeply personal roots of his creativity. It’s a reminder that behind the glitter and the hysteria was a writer shaped by solitude, imagination, and a lifetime of inner worlds. 📰 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. 📰 Tags #GlamSlamChronicles #MusicEphemera #MarcBolan #TRex #NME #GlamRockHistoryT. Rex’s Bolan A Weird Kid, a cover inset and two-page feature in New Musical Express, February 12, 1972.
- 📰 Rolling on to Rule the World: Feb. 1976
David Bowie’s six‑page Rolling Stone feature during the Station to Station era. 📰 Overview This Rolling Stone cover story captures Bowie in early 1976, newly returned from filming The Man Who Fell to Earth and deep into the creation of Station to Station. The article frames him as volatile, brilliant, and in constant metamorphosis, shedding the last traces of glam while stepping into one of his most enigmatic personas. 📰 Source Details Publication: Rolling Stone Date: February 12, 1976 Issue: Cover story + six‑page feature Provenance Notes: Original print edition; part of Bowie’s Los Angeles period press cycle. 📰 The Story The feature opens with Corinne Schwab — Bowie’s trusted assistant — reflecting on his transformation from Ziggy‑era spectacle to a more controlled, film‑focused figure. Gone are the bodyguards, the glitter, and the Max’s Kansas City mythology. In their place is a gaunt, hyper‑focused artist who has just completed three months in New Mexico filming The Man Who Fell to Earth. At Cherokee Studios, Bowie is calm, precise, and almost humble as he directs Carlos Alomar, Earl Slick, George Murray, and Dennis Davis through the Station to Station sessions. The journalist contrasts this with flashbacks to 1975, where Bowie is seen producing Iggy Pop demos in a haze of insomnia and intensity — playing every instrument himself before Iggy improvises vocals. Throughout the piece, Bowie warns the interviewer not to expect the “real” David Jones beneath the personas. Identity, for him, is a tool — a mask he swaps as easily as costumes. The article captures him at a crossroads: exhausted, brilliant, and on the brink of the Thin White Duke. 📰 Key Highlights • Bowie declares rock “sterile” and hints at abandoning it • Corinne Schwab emerges as a stabilising force • Station to Station sessions documented firsthand • Reflections on filming The Man Who Fell to Earth • Early glimpses of the Thin White Duke persona • Iggy Pop demo sessions reveal Bowie’s obsessive work habits 📰 Visual Archive Bowie’s Rolling Stone cover promoting Station to Station and The Man Who Fell to Earth. You can find the rest of the article at the bottom of this post. 📰 Article Excerpt GROUND CONTROL TO DAVY JONES Despite a new album and tour, David Bowie claims to have rocked his last roll. It's the devil's music, he warns-sterile, fascist, downright dangerous. That's why he's abdicated his glitter throne for more promising careers. Like films. Or world domination. CORINNE SCHWAB IS PROBABLY THE last holdover from David Bowie's glitter-glam phase—the days of Ziggy Stardust, Moonage Daydream, gaudy costumes, hulking bodyguards, ex-manager Tony De Fries, and the back-room-at-Max's-Kansas-City mystique. In her three years as his secretary, Corinne has watched Bowie shrewdly work up to his most difficult move yet: the switch from cultish deco rocker to a wide-appeal film and recording star/entertainer. "I want to be a Frank Sinatra figure," Bowie declares. "And I will succeed." Wheeling a cart in a Hollywood supermarket just three blocks from where David is working on his new LP, Station to Station, Corinne says she has no doubts about something so obvious as Bowie's success in achieving his stated goal. The way she sees it, David has only one problem. "I've got to put more weight on that boy," she sighs. And with that, she carefully places eight quarts of extra-rich milk in the basket. Down the street at Cherokee Studios, David Bowie is just back from three vice-free months in New Mexico where he starred in Nick Roeg's film, The Man Who Fell to Earth. He is still glowing from the experience and, says Corinne, the healthiest he's been in years. He is relaxed and almost humble as he scoots around the studio and directs his musicians (Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, guitars; George Murray, bass; and Dennis Davis, drums) through the songs. It is a complete evolution from the David Bowie of six months before. But then, of course, anything less than a total personality upheaval would be entirely out of character for him. "I love it," he cracked several months earlier. "I'm really just my own little corporation of characters." He is actually anything one wants him to be at any given moment—a paranoid hustler, an arrogant opportunist, a versatile actor, a gentleman, maybe even a genius. He had, after all, made a warning up front. "Don't expect to find the real me ... the David Jones [his true name] underneath all this." May 1975—It's four in the morning, Hollywood time, and David Bowie is twitching with energy. He's fidgeting, jabbing a cigarette in and out of his pursed lips, bouncing lightly on a stool behind the control board in a makeshift demo studio, staring through the glass at Iggy Pop. Bowie has spent the last nine hours composing, producing, and playing every instrument on the backing track, and it is finally time for Pop to do his bit. After all, this is Iggy's demo. Bowie touches a button and the room is filled with an ominous, dirgelike instrumental track. The shirtless Iggy listens intently for a moment, then approaches the mic. He has prepared no lyrics, and in the name of improv, he snarls: You go out at night from your sixty-dollar single down in West Hollywood 📰 Related Material • Explore the tags below for more connected posts and themes. 📰 Closing Notes This feature stands as one of the clearest windows into Bowie’s Los Angeles period — a moment of brilliance, instability, and transformation that shaped the rest of his career. 📰 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. #GlamSlamChronicles #MusicEphemera #DavidBowie #RollingStone #StationToStationEra
- 🔘Ziggy Stardust World Tour Chronology (1972–1973)
The Complete Stage History of Ziggy Stardust 🔘 Overview The Ziggy Stardust tour ran from early 1972 to mid‑1973, covering the UK, Europe, the US, and Japan. It was during this tour that Bowie transformed from a cult figure into a global star. 🔘 Chronology 1972 – UK & Europe February–June 1972 Early UK dates (Toby Jug, Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, Southampton, Watford) March: Rainbow Theatre, Royal Festival Hall April–May: UK colleges and civic halls June: Album release + expanded UK dates July–October 1972 UK theatres European dates (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium) July 6: Top of the Pops “Starman” performance 1973 – US, Japan, UK January–March 1973 – First US Tour New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles Bowie’s American breakthrough begins April 1973 – Japan Tour Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto Ziggy’s most visually striking tour leg May–June 1973 – Second US Tour Larger venues, growing press attention July 3, 1973 – Hammersmith Odeon, London Final Ziggy performance Bowie retires the character on stage 🔘 Key Highlights 18 months of continuous touring Ziggy evolves visually and musically across continents Japan leg introduces the most iconic costumes Hammersmith Odeon show becomes legendary 🔘 Closing Notes The Ziggy Stardust world tour was the crucible in which Bowie forged his legend — a whirlwind of reinvention, theatricality, and cultural impact.
- 🔘 David Bowie: You’re Not Alone
The New Immersive Lightroom Experience – Opening April 2026 🔘 Overview Lightroom, the 360° digital art space in London’s King’s Cross, is preparing to launch one of its most ambitious projects yet: an immersive exploration of David Bowie’s artistic world. You’re Not Alone promises a multi‑sensory experience built from rarely seen footage, photography, drawings, handwritten lyrics, personal notes, and audio recordings. Structured in looping thematic chapters, the show presents Bowie’s work not as a linear biography but as a constellation of ideas — theatricality, spirituality, songwriting, performance, and the restless creativity that defined his entire career. 🔘 Source Details Title: David Bowie: You’re Not Alone Venue: Lightroom, King’s Cross, London Opening: April 2026 Creators: Mark Grimmer (writer/director; also behind the V&A’s David Bowie Is and Lightroom’s David Hockney show) Tom Wexler Spatial audio design by Gareth Fry 🔘 The Experience The exhibition guides visitors through Bowie’s catalogue from Space Oddity, through Diamond Dogs and “Heroes”, all the way to his final album, Blackstar. Each track has been newly reconfigured for Lightroom’s spatial audio system by award‑winning sound designer Gareth Fry, creating an enveloping sonic environment that shifts with the visuals. The show draws from thousands of hours of material in the David Bowie Archive in New York, including: rare and unseen performance footage photography from across Bowie’s career drawings and visual concepts handwritten lyrics and personal notes audio recordings and interview fragments These elements are woven into a continuous, looping presentation, allowing visitors to enter at any point and follow Bowie’s creative threads as they unfold. 🔘 Highlights Several standout moments have already been confirmed: • The Russell Harty Interview (1975) The strange, transatlantic TV interview — a surreal Bowie moment — appears as part of the show’s exploration of media, persona, and performance. • Diamond Dogs Tour Reconstruction A digital reconstruction of the legendary (and infamous) Diamond Dogs stage set, one of Bowie’s most ambitious theatrical productions. • Thematic Chapters Rather than a chronological biography, the show is organised around Bowie’s recurring creative concerns: theatricality spirituality songwriting identity the creative process itself This structure mirrors Bowie’s own refusal to be pinned down or defined by a single narrative. 🔘 Creative Vision Mark Grimmer, who leads the project, describes the show as a celebration of Bowie’s humanity rather than his myth. As he explains: "Bowie resisted being figured as anything but human. Rather than undermining his mystique, this show celebrates him as a champion of human creativity — expressing the message he returned to again and again: that art helps us understand what it means to be alive." 🔘 Tickets Tickets go on sale 10 February, with booking available from 22 April to 28 June 2026, and additional summer dates expected. 🔘 Closing Notes David Bowie: You’re Not Alone promises to be one of the most significant Bowie exhibitions since the V&A’s David Bowie Is. With its combination of rare archive material, immersive projection, and spatial audio, it offers a new way to experience Bowie’s work — not as a museum retrospective, but as a living, breathing creative universe. ⭐Experience the Show David Bowie: You’re Not Alone opens at Lightroom in April 2026. Tickets are now on sale for the first run of dates. [Book Tickets at Lightroom] 🔘 Copyright & Fair Use Notice All original text © GlamSlamChronicles. All images, audio, video, and archival materials referenced in this post remain the copyright of their respective owners, publishers, and estates. This article is presented for historical, educational, and critical purposes under fair‑use principles. No infringement is intended. 🔘 SOURCES & PROVENANCE (for the bottom of the post) Sources & Provenance Information for this article has been confirmed through: Lightroom London press material Public exhibition announcements Media reporting from reputable outlets Archival details from the David Bowie Estate and associated curators All factual details have been cross‑checked against publicly available information at the time of writing. Behind The Scenes: Photos: Justin Sutcliffe 🔘 Tags #DavidBowie #LightroomLondon #YoureNotAlone #ImmersiveExhibition #GlamSlamChronicles #BowieArchive
- 🔘 The Genesis Bag – Feb 10, 1973
New Musical Express – One‑Page Article 🔘 Overview In February 1973, Genesis were touring Britain with a renewed sense of identity and ambition. While Peter Gabriel’s theatrics had become a visual signature, this NME feature argues that the band’s true strength lay in the interplay between its musicians — particularly Tony Banks and Phil Collins — and the evolving sophistication of their sound. The article captures a group on the cusp of wider recognition, navigating audience expectations, internal dynamics, and the strange contradictions of early‑70s rock culture. 🔘 Source Details Publication: New Musical Express Date: February 10, 1973 Issue Context: One‑page feature Provenance Notes: Transcribed from original newsprint; sourced from your working draft in the Wix editor. 🔘 The Story Genesis entered 1973 with a growing reputation for theatricality, complexity, and a kind of eccentric English mystique. While Peter Gabriel’s stage presence drew attention, Tony Banks makes clear in this interview that the band’s identity was always collective — shaped by shared classical influences, long‑standing friendships, and a refusal to compromise their musical direction. The article explores their origins at Charterhouse, their early struggles, and the turning point marked by Trespass and their signing to Charisma. It also highlights their unexpected popularity in Italy, their ambivalent reception in England, and the challenges of being perceived as either too intellectual or too strange. Banks speaks candidly about the Mellotron, the band’s writing process, and the misconceptions surrounding Gabriel’s role. What emerges is a portrait of a group determined to be understood on their own terms — musically adventurous, theatrically bold, and quietly confident in their trajectory. 🔘 Key Highlights Genesis’ 1973 UK tour opens at London’s Rainbow Theatre. Tony Banks discusses the band’s classical roots and early development. Trespass identified as their first truly “worthwhile” album. Strong Italian fanbase contrasts with lukewarm UK reception. Peter Gabriel’s theatrics seen as necessary but not definitive. Mellotron described as central to the band’s evolving sound. Banks doubts Genesis will ever be “massive” in England — but sees America as a real possibility. 🔘 Article Text RAINBOW/FRIDAY; EXETER/WEDNESDAY THE GENESIS BAG For those who have ears as well as eyes, the current British tour by Genesis, which opened at London’s Rainbow Theatre on Sunday, should prove conclusively that it’s not just the singer but the song which makes this a band “most likely” in ’73. No one — least of all Genesis — would dispute the impact that Peter Gabriel’s effective theatrics have had in focusing attention on the group, but now is the time to take into consideration their other musicians like drummer Phil Collins and organist/Mellotronist Tony Banks. Speaking to Tony last week at Charisma Records, I found him to be a polite but curiously laid‑back product of a public school education and classically trained musical mind. He describes himself as “not a natural for this business” and only got into the group on leave of absence for one year from Sussex University, where he was studying a combination of maths and philosophy. That was three years ago, and the leave became permanent. Along with the other founder‑members of the group, Tony got his grounding at Charterhouse School in Godalming and made the transition from classical piano to more contemporary sounds inspired by the likes of Alan Price — who was high in the charts with the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” — and more especially Mike Pinder, who was pioneering the Mellotron with the Moody Blues. The three founder members, Tony, Mike Rutherford and Peter Gabriel, have been playing together now for almost a decade. Genesis as a recording entity have been together now for over three years from the original release of their Decca Revelation album, when they worked under the auspices of the awesome Jonathan King. “Jonathan was really quite kind and he liked our songs and didn’t try to influence us,” recalled Tony. “I don’t think we’d really sorted out a direction at that time, though, and we were still rather amateurish in the studio.” As far as the group now are concerned, the first album which they felt worthwhile was Trespass, their first recording on the Charisma label. “It was really a labour of love at the time,” said Tony. “We were living, eating and sleeping our music. It was an immensely satisfying period for us when we were on the road and determined not to make a compromise of any kind. We wanted to achieve the same kind of success in the same kind of way that bands like Family had — the reputation for just making a name by playing to people and avoiding exploitation or any individual trips.” “I don’t think we will ever be really massive in England — it would have happened before if it was going to happen at all.” “Really, Peter’s emergence as a spokesman and focal point is something that we only came to terms with recently when we realised that it was essential to get some sort of attention for the group by pushing in one direction. It was necessary in order to make the transition from just being another band to something different, but I think we all regret having had to do it.” “We wanted to provoke our audience into some kind of positive reaction about what we were doing. Peter’s theatrics have helped produce that sort of response while being an extension of the music or lyrics.” “That was why we brought about that situation in Aylesbury where we invited everyone to boo instead of clap. It gave them something to do which was not just a considered, automatic, and politely preconceived response.” “It backfired slightly when we got a section of boo‑boys following us about — full of good intentions but somewhat disconcerting. We weren’t looking for that reaction every night.” Perhaps if there is one word which sums up Genesis’ unique musical contribution — both musical and theatrical — it is “weird”. Like any group who have something new going for them, they have a small circle of supporters on the lunatic fringe who are under the impression that Gabriel is some sort of tripped‑out hermaphrodite‑spiritualist solely responsible for their imaginative lyrics. “Again, I suppose it’s inevitable that someone we have consciously pushed up front should receive most of the credit in the press, but contrary to popular opinion, Peter does not write all our lyrics. We all get a credit because we all contribute.” “People place all kinds of interpretations on our songs, but I think that’s healthy; it shows some kind of thinking contribution on their part. Someone came up to me and told me they thought that ‘White Mountain’ was all about the Russian Revolution. I said, ‘That’s it. The Russian Revolution — that’s what it’s all about.’” “Some of my writing, like ‘Watcher of the Skies’, was inspired by my liking of science fiction. That particular song was a combination of Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End and Marvel Comics, who produced a third character — the Watcher.” One of the most significant facts about Genesis is that there is no apparent bag into which they will comfortably fit, although Tony feels that musically they are probably better understood approached from a classical direction. He believes that the band’s almost fanatical following in Italy (where Foxtrot has been a number‑one album for some months) and the regular smash attendance figures may illustrate the point. “It is, after all, a country rich in its classical history, and young people are accustomed to that sort of music without even being aware that it is constantly around them. I think we are best listened to as a rock band but with classical music in mind.” “We find it incredibly confusing that we have such a vast following in one place but so little in other places — like Germany, for example. Another reason for the Italian reaction may be that our music is built out of contrasts, and Italy is a country of political contrast. You couldn’t have ideologies more clearly opposed than Communism and Fascism.” “Personally, I don’t ever think we will be really massive in England. I think it would have happened before now if it was going to happen — but America is somewhere it could break really big for us, and that, in turn, might have an effect here.” “It’s a strange audience in England and there are some contradictions involved. For example, a lot of people think we are very big on the university circuit. We’re not — never have been. Universities are a strange audience; they tend to over‑intellectualise then over‑compensate for the sake of simplicity. I remember the only things I ever got into at Sussex were the Incredible String Band and Leonard Cohen.” “Colleges have been quite good for us, but it’s very difficult to pinpoint our public in this country (except for those who insist on shaving their heads, of course). We discovered, for example, that the people who liked Lindisfarne liked us, and then again I’ve found out that quite a few Black Sabbath fans enjoy Genesis. I would have thought the two incompatible.” Tony’s keyboard work within the framework of Genesis is an indispensable part of their overall sound, and indeed in many cases his use of the much‑underestimated Mellotron provides the key to their musical identity. “Essentially it’s the sound and the power of the Mellotron I enjoy so much,” said Tony. “In many ways it is a very limited instrument in that you cannot physically play fast upon it, and it is usually at its most effective used sparsely for dramatic effect.” “It was Mike Pinder of the Moodies who first really brought home to me its real value. You listen to his work with the Moodies, particularly on their early albums, and you will find he’s never intrusive or overwhelming but always there providing just the right touch at the right moment.” “The only other person I’ve ever heard who sounded as though he knew what the potential was was Ian McDonald, who played it on the first King Crimson album.” “For example, I’d never use the instrument to replace a string passage. The Mellotron is a sound and an instrument in its own right. It can reproduce accordion or harmonium effects, but that is not how it should be thought of — not as substitutes for other things. My favourite instrument is, in fact, the grand piano.” Tony now feels the time is arriving when Genesis will get recognition as a band and not merely a backing group for Peter Gabriel — which, of course, Peter has never held them to be. But it is time to sit back and listen to Genesis as well as watch with interest. ALTHAM TONY BANKS: Science Fiction 🔘 Closing Notes This article captures Genesis at a pivotal moment — still cult, still strange, still searching for their audience, yet already laying the groundwork for the era that would define them. It’s a reminder of how their blend of classical influence, theatrical ambition, and quiet determination set them apart from every other band of their generation. #GlamSlamChronicles #Genesis #NME1973 #TonyBanks #PeterGabriel #ProgressiveRock #MusicEphemera
- 🔘 Livin’ On The Edge Of The Night – Single: Jan 29, 1990
🔘 Overview Released in early 1990, “Livin’ On The Edge Of The Night” captures Iggy Pop in a transitional moment — post‑Blah‑Blah‑Blah, pre‑Brick by Brick, and increasingly visible in film soundtracks and alternative radio rotations. Backed with “High On Rebellion,” the single arrived as a standalone UK 7‑inch on Virgin Records and quickly found its way onto both sides of the Atlantic charts. It’s a snapshot of Iggy navigating a new decade with a sound that blended grit, atmosphere, and cinematic swagger. 🔘 Source Details Release: UK 7" vinyl single Label: Virgin Records Catalogue Number: VS 1259 Release Date: January 29, 1990 Chart Context: UK Singles Chart & US Billboard Alternative Airplay Provenance Notes: Chart data sourced from contemporary listings and archival chart records. 🔘 The Story By 1990, Iggy Pop had entered a new phase of visibility. His music was appearing in films, his profile was rising again in the US, and alternative radio was beginning to embrace artists who had once lived on the margins. “Livin’ On The Edge Of The Night” reflects that shift — a moody, cinematic track that resonated with listeners beyond the traditional punk and hard‑rock circles. The single debuted on the UK Singles Chart on February 10, 1990, remaining for four weeks and peaking at number 51. While not a major UK hit, it performed significantly better in the United States, reaching number 16 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart — a sign of Iggy’s growing influence on the emerging alt‑rock landscape. Backed with “High On Rebellion,” the release stands as a compact document of Iggy’s late‑80s/early‑90s evolution: darker, more controlled, but still unmistakably feral beneath the surface. 🔘 Key Highlights UK release date: January 29, 1990 Label: Virgin Records (VS 1259) UK Singles Chart: Debuted February 10, peaked at #51, stayed 4 weeks US Billboard Alternative Airplay: Peaked at #16 B‑side: “High On Rebellion” Represents Iggy’s growing presence in film soundtracks and alternative radio 🔘 Article Text This Chronicle entry is based on chart data, release information, and archival context rather than a transcribed article. 🔘 Closing Notes A single that sits at the crossroads of Iggy Pop’s evolving career — modest in chart terms, but significant in marking his shift into the alternative mainstream of the 1990s. Its atmospheric production and strong US radio performance hint at the broader resurgence that would follow. 🔘 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. #GlamSlamChronicles #IggyPop #1990 #VirginRecords #AlternativeAirplay #PostPunk
- 🔘 The Sweet Soft Underbelly of Rock – Feb 10, 1973
The February 10, 1973 NME two‑page feature exploring The Sweet’s backstage tensions and glam‑rock contradictions. 🔘 Overview In this two‑page NME feature, Nick Kent spends time with The Sweet during a moment of rising fame and rising frustration. What begins as casual bar‑room banter quickly turns into a candid look at the pressures of glam‑rock success: cramped dressing rooms, chaotic promoters, and the tension between their bubblegum image and the harder‑edged musicians beneath. Kent’s piece captures The Sweet as both cartoonish and combustible — a band whose glossy singles masked a far more complex reality. 🔘 Source Details Publication: New Musical Express Date: February 10, 1973 Issue Context: Two‑page feature Provenance Notes: Transcribed from original newsprint; cleaned and formatted for GlamSlamChronicles. 🔘 The Story By early 1973, The Sweet were riding high on the glam‑rock wave, propelled by hits like “Blockbuster” and a carefully cultivated image of glitter, colour, and chaos. But as Nick Kent discovers, the band’s offstage reality is far more grounded — and far more irritable — than their pop persona suggests. Kent’s piece opens with the band venting about the indignities of touring: inadequate dressing rooms, disorganised promoters, and the general grind of life on the road. Beneath the humour and swagger lies a band increasingly aware of their own contradictions: serious musicians trapped in a bubblegum frame, frustrated by the gap between their abilities and their public perception. The article also touches on the band’s relationship with their audience, their place within glam culture, and Kent’s own conflicted admiration — especially for the irresistible, disposable brilliance of “Blockbuster.” 🔘 Key Highlights Nick Kent spends time with The Sweet during a tense moment on tour. The band complain about poor venues, cramped dressing rooms, and chaotic promoters. Kent describes “Blockbuster” as a “masterpiece of instant rubbish.” The Sweet are portrayed as both playful and frustrated — musicians overshadowed by their own image. The feature reveals the gap between glam‑rock fantasy and backstage reality. 🔘 Article Text NICK KENT’S JOURNEY INTO CANDYLAND Funny how moods change; there we all were — The Sweet and myself — in the bar, having a few drinks, sharing a joke or two, getting involved in the usual chit‑chat, when guitarist Andy Scott starts getting heavy. Now what, you may be wondering, are a good, fun‑loving pop group like The Sweet doing getting heavy? Well, it’s like this. Let’s say that you’re a hard‑working musician and you’ve been, shall we say, a trifle ruffled of late by all sorts of petty hassles — usually involving cramped dressing rooms and bird‑brain jobsworth types. Then you come face to face with a promoter responsible for sorting such problems out. Wouldn’t you rise to the occasion and speak your mind? Right? Right. “Listen,” said Scott, “how’d you feel if you were trying to get your arse into a pair of tight trousers in front of a bunch of people because there wasn’t any dressing room? Real, eh?” The promoter, a woman, nodded sympathetically before launching into a vehement castigation of Glaswegian promoters and their tricks. “I’ll tell ya,” retaliated Steve Priest, the bassist — a chubby, rather awkward figure with saucer‑wide eyes — “it’s enough to drive you mad.” “In its own cute way Blockbuster is a masterpiece,” says Kent, “adhering gracefully to that genre known as instant rubbish… with an irresistibly banal appeal that will surely be exhausted within three months. The truth is, Sweet meet a need present in rock since the beginning.” 🔘 Closing Notes Nick Kent’s feature captures The Sweet at their most contradictory — glamorous yet irritated, playful yet serious, adored yet misunderstood. It’s a rare glimpse behind the glitter, revealing the human frustrations beneath the glam‑rock spectacle. 🔘 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. #GlamSlamChronicles #TheSweet #NME1973 #NickKent #Blockbuster #GlamRock #MusicEphemera
- 🔘 Looking For Love – Lou Reed Live Review
The February 10, 1973 NME review of Lou Reed’s Alice Tully Hall concert. 🔘 Overview In early 1973, Lou Reed was navigating the strange new territory of post‑Velvet Underground fame, solo acclaim, and glam‑era expectations. This NME review captures a moment where Reed’s audience arrived hungry for danger, decadence, and theatre — but instead found a subdued, tired performer leaning heavily on Velvet Underground classics. The piece also spotlights Garland Jeffreys, an emerging singer‑songwriter who opened the show and quietly won over a restless crowd. 🔘 Source Details Publication: New Musical Express Date: February 10, 1973 Issue Context: One‑page live review Provenance Notes: Transcribed from original newsprint; cleaned and formatted for GlamSlamChronicles. 🔘 The Story Lou Reed’s early solo years were defined by tension — between his past and present, between audience expectation and his own disinterest in spectacle. This review captures that tension vividly. Reed appears in a black leather suit but no makeup, performs mostly Velvet Underground material, and keeps his eyes half‑closed for much of the set. The audience, however, is devoted: cheering, offering flowers, and shouting back lines. The critic, expecting either glamour or depravity, finds neither. The band is under‑rehearsed, the energy low, and Reed himself seems exhausted. Yet the audience remains loyal, responding most strongly to “Sweet Jane,” “Vicious,” and “Heroin.” Garland Jeffreys opens the show to a cold reception that gradually warms as the crowd realises they’re hearing a serious talent. The review ends by positioning Jeffreys as an artist to watch — a rare moment of optimism in an otherwise ambivalent night. 🔘 Key Highlights Lou Reed performs at Alice Tully Hall in New York. Setlist is 95% Velvet Underground material. Reed appears tired and disengaged; band struggles to connect. Audience remains devoted, offering flowers and shouting encouragement. “Vicious,” “Heroin,” and “Sweet Jane” receive the strongest reactions. Garland Jeffreys opens the show and gradually wins over the crowd. 🔘 Article Text LOU REED: “LOOKING FOR LOVE…” I guess I can’t stall any longer. I’m gonna have to tell you about that disappointingly conventional Lou Reed concert at Alice Tully Hall last week. Judging from the looks of the audience at the early concert we attended, as well as those who were going into the late show as we disconcertingly departed (pun intended, but not quite made), Lou Reed gets the same crowd that turns out for the Dolls — actually, his audience is a lot straighter‑looking. In contrast to the cover of his RCA Transformer album, Reed did not wear any makeup. He did, however, sport a marvellous black leather suit which fitted him like kid gloves. Ninety‑five per cent of his set was old Velvet Underground material, with a few numbers from Lou’s two solo albums. Several of the songs were considerably slowed‑down versions of the originals, and his vocal mic was down too low. He didn’t really open his eyes all the way until the fourth number, “Sweet Jane.” This song received substantial cheers from the audience, which was definitely on Reed’s side. Several times during the set various females moved up to the stage and laid flowers at his feet. Reed didn’t bother to introduce his backing quartet, who never quite got it together, either. He didn’t talk much, although he did introduce “New Age” as being another song “about being over the hill right now, and looking for love.” The creeps in the row behind us, between noisy slurps from their bottle of Scotch, stomped on the floor and yelled back, “I’ll be runnin’ to ya.” “Vicious,” from the Transformer album, and “Heroin,” from the Andy Warhol‑produced “pink banana” album on MGM‑Verve, were his most successful efforts. The audience knew the words and nodded along. I suppose they got what they came for, but I didn’t. I expected more — like more excitement, more movement, more glamour, more energy, or more depravity. Like, maybe he’d kick himself around the stage or something while singing “Vicious.” The band worked reasonably hard to impersonate getting a “rush,” but the total effect didn’t get off the ground. (The band are not the musicians that have played on the two RCA solo albums.) Reed looked dead tired, but did churn himself up from time to time in response to demands from his loving audience, who seemed to be out for his blood, guts, and anything else they could get. Opening the show for Reed was Garland Jeffreys, whose first album will be out shortly on Atlantic. Garland is a singer‑songwriter I’ve been following for some time through his appearances at Village clubs, particularly at Gerde’s Folk City. Reed’s audience was not immediately receptive to Garland. They laughed at the sad parts and kicked at the chairs. Eventually, however, they began to listen to his songs and relate to them, and some actually realised they were hearing a very good singer interpret a selection of his own quite effective material. Once his album breaks, we should be hearing more about the talented Garland Jeffreys. He’s been sharing the bill with Lou Reed on several bookings, so remember we told you about him in his “early stages.” L.S. 🔘 Closing Notes This review captures Lou Reed at a moment of transition — caught between the underground legend he had been and the glam icon some wanted him to become. The audience adored him, even when the performance faltered, and the night ultimately revealed as much about Reed’s myth as his music 🔘 Sources & Copyright All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators. This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only. #GlamSlamChronicles #LouReed #NME1973 #Transformer #VelvetUnderground #GarlandJeffreys #MusicEphemera
- 🔘 Alice Does His Elvis – Cover Feb. 1973
Cover, single review and back advertisement, New Musical Express – February 10, 1973. 🔘 Overview In early 1973, Alice Cooper were deep into their imperial phase — a band who had mastered the art of shock, theatre, and chart power. This New Musical Express issue captures them at full velocity: a three‑page feature, a playful Elvis nod, and a world‑exclusive single pressed solely for NME readers. It’s a perfect snapshot of how the group blurred spectacle, satire, and fan devotion into a cultural moment. 🔘 Source Details Publication: New Musical Express Date: February 10, 1973 Issue Context: Cover feature + three‑page article 🔘 The Story By February 1973, Alice Cooper had become Britain’s chosen champions — officially crowned World’s Top Band in the NME Poll. Their response was characteristically theatrical: an exclusive single, unavailable anywhere else, packaged with the following week’s NME. The magazine frames the release as a frenzy. Demand is “incredible,” production is capped at 350,000 copies, and readers are urged to place special orders to secure their issue. The single itself — a 7 minute 40 second disc including “Slick Black Limousine” — is positioned as Alice’s personal thank‑you to the UK fans who had embraced their blend of menace, humour, and glam‑era excess. To heighten anticipation, NME reveals that five excerpts from the forthcoming Billion Dollar Babies album have been added to the disc. It’s a clever promotional move: a teaser for one of 1973’s most anticipated rock albums, delivered through the pages of Britain’s most influential music weekly. 🔘 Key Highlights Exclusive Alice Cooper single available only with NME (week ending February 17, 1973). Total runtime: 7 minutes 40 seconds, including “Slick Black Limousine.” Five Billion Dollar Babies excerpts included: “Unfinished Sweet,” “Elected,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” the title track, and “I Love the Dead.” Production capped at 350,000 copies; special newsagent orders strongly encouraged. Single enclosed only with NME in Britain and Eire. 🔘 Closing Notes This issue captures Alice Cooper at a moment of pure cultural momentum — a band who understood how to turn press, scarcity, and theatre into myth. The NME single remains one of the most unusual and sought‑after artefacts in their catalogue, a perfect example of early‑70s fan culture and media synergy. 🔘 Tags #GlamSlamChronicles #AliceCooper #NME1973 #BillionDollarBabies #MusicEphemera #GlamRockHistory 🔘 Actual Text And more news on THAT ALICE SINGLE A BONUS SELECTION of five excerpts from their new "Billion Dollar Babies" album has been added to the world exclusive Alice Cooper single available ONLY with copies of next week's NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS (week ending February 17). Trade demand for this special issue has been incredible and it is emphasised that a special order from your newsagent is vital to be absolutely sure of a copy plus the record. BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION RESTRICTIONS ONLY 350,000 COPIES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. A special order form is printed on the back page. The single-Alice's "thank you" to British fans after the recent "World's Top Band" NME Poll Award-now consists of 7.40 minutes of music including "Slick Black Limousine". There are no plans to release this track anywhere else at any time. Cuts from the "Billion Dollar Babies" album are "Unfinished Sweet", "Elected", "No More Mr. Nice Guy"; the title; and "I Love The Dead". It is regretted that the single can only be enclosed with NME in Britain and Eire.
- Dour‑Faced Bowie Article: Feb 1974
✦ FEBRUARY 9, 1974 David Bowie: “Dour‑Faced Bowie” Article (New Musical Express) ✦ A candid, slightly barbed NME snapshot of Bowie in the middle of the Diamond Dogs recording sessions ✦ SUMMARY On February 9, 1974, New Musical Express ran a one‑page feature often referred to as “Dour‑Faced Bowie,” capturing David Bowie during sessions at Trident Studios. The article presented a wry, tongue‑in‑cheek look at Bowie’s mood, his working environment, and the swirl of rumours surrounding him at the time. The accompanying photograph showed Bowie with pianist Mike Garson, both appearing notably unenthused. The piece joked that Bowie was struggling without Mick Ronson, though it also noted that two tracks — including Big Brother — had already been completed on the first night of recording. This places the article squarely in the early Diamond Dogs period, when Bowie was transitioning away from the Spiders From Mars and shaping a darker, dystopian sound. The article also touched on Bowie’s personal life and cultural interests: spending time with avant‑garde writer William Burroughs, taking French lessons, and preparing to travel to New York to meet his wife Angie, who was doing screen tests in Los Angeles. In typical NME fashion, the piece mixed gossip, humour and surreal asides, ending with a playful football score: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Lord Clark Of Civilization 0. ✦ HIGHLIGHTS • Published February 9, 1974 in New Musical Express • Photo shows Bowie and Mike Garson during Trident Studios sessions • References early Diamond Dogs recordings, including Big Brother • Rumours about Bowie struggling without Mick Ronson • Mentions Bowie spending time with William Burroughs • Notes Bowie taking French lessons • Mentions Angie Bowie’s screen tests in Los Angeles • Ends with NME’s trademark surreal humour ✦ CONTEXT The article captures Bowie at a moment of transition: • The Spiders From Mars era had ended • Diamond Dogs was taking shape as a concept album • Bowie was shifting toward a more theatrical, dystopian aesthetic • His personal life was increasingly nomadic and media‑scrutinised • Collaborators like Mike Garson were central to the new sound This NME piece is typical of the era’s music journalism — irreverent, chaotic, and half‑serious — but it also provides a rare candid glimpse of Bowie between personas. ✦ FULL ARTICLE TEXT (TRANSCRIPT) THIS CANDID snaperoo shows dour‑faced Bowie with equally unenthused Mike Garson during current sessions in Trident studios. Vile rumour has it that Bowie is finding the going difficult in the absence of Ronson — although two numbers, including one called Big Brother, were reportedly completed on the first night of recording. Latest in mainman fashion has it that our lad is hanging out a lot with avant‑garde novelist William Burroughs and taking French lessons. He’ll shortly be going to New York to meet Mrs. B., who has been doing screen‑tests in L.A., and hairdresser Freddie will take over their house in Cheyne Walk until they get back. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Lord Clark Of Civilization 0. Pic: Catherine Simon ✦ SOURCES New Musical Express, February 9, 1974 Trident Studios session history Diamond Dogs recording documentation Photographic credit: Catherine Simon ✦ ALT TEXT (SEO) Vintage 1974 NME article featuring David Bowie and Mike Garson at Trident Studios, showing Bowie with a serious expression during early Diamond Dogs recording sessions. If you want, I can also create: • a Discography Sidebar for the Diamond Dogs singles • a Glam Flashback companion post on the Burroughs meeting • a visual timeline of Bowie’s 1974 transformations Just tell me what you’d like next.David Bowie: "Dour-Faced Bowie" Article (1974) David Bowie’s "Dour-Faced Bowie", a one-page article in New Musical Express, February 9, 1974.
- Madhouse Rock! Advert: 1979
A full‑page Rolling Stone shockwave promoting Cooper’s most theatrical late‑70s tour — SUMMARY Alice Cooper’s Madhouse Rock! tour was launched in early 1979 to support his concept album From the Inside. The tour leaned heavily into the album’s psychiatric‑ward storyline, with elaborate staging, costumed characters, and a darker, more chaotic theatrical tone than Cooper’s earlier glam‑shock era. This full‑page advertisement, published in Rolling Stone on February 8, 1979, promoted the Los Angeles Forum date and showcased the intense, horror‑comic visual identity of the tour. Featuring the touring band lineup and ticketing details, the advert stands as a prime example of late‑70s rock promotion at its most dramatic. — HIGHLIGHTS Full‑page advertisement published in Rolling Stone, February 8, 1979 Promoted the Madhouse Rock! tour supporting From the Inside Featured the touring band: Pentti Glan, Steve Hunter, Prakash John, Davey Johnstone, and Fred Mandel Emphasised the theatrical, asylum‑themed staging of the tour Advertised the April 1, 1979 show at The Forum, Los Angeles A striking example of Cooper’s late‑70s shock‑rock visual branding — TRACKLISTING A — From the Inside Album Tracklist (1978) From the Inside Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills The Quiet Room Nurse Rozetta Millie and Billie Serious How You Gonna See Me Now For Veronica’s Sake Jackknife Johnny Inmates (We’re All Crazy) — Madhouse Rock! Tour Setlist (Typical 1979 Show) From the Inside Serious Nurse Rozetta The Quiet Room I Never Cry Devil’s Food / The Black Widow Welcome to My Nightmare Billion Dollar Babies Only Women Bleed Unfinished Sweet Escape I’m Eighteen School’s Out How You Gonna See Me Now Inmates (We’re All Crazy) — CHART PERFORMANCE From the Inside (Album) US Billboard 200: #60 Canada: Top 20 UK Albums Chart: #61 How You Gonna See Me Now (Single) US Billboard Hot 100: #12 Australia: #3 Canada: #4 UK Singles Chart: #61 — SOURCES Rolling Stone magazine, February 8, 1979 Warner Bros. Records promotional materials Contemporary tour press releases Alice Cooper interviews (1978–1979) Chart archives (Billboard, Official Charts Company, RPM Canada)
- Glam Slam Guide
The art-school invaders who dressed like 1950s matinee idols, sounded like the future, and made every other glam band look like they’d just rolled out of bed. One day in 1971, a ferryman with a quiff, a synth wizard in a leopard-print cape, and a sax player who looked like he’d escaped from a sci-fi B-movie walked into a studio and decided rock needed more oboe, more glamour, and a lot more danger. The Glam Slam Essentials Roxy Music (1972) – Album Release (1972)The debut that changed everything – “Virginia Plain”, “Re-Make/Re-Model”, car-crash sax solos. For Your Pleasure (1973) – Album Release (1973)Peak feral Roxy – “Do the Strand”, “In Every Dream Home a Heartache”, “Editions of You”. Stranded (1973) – Album Release (1973)First without Eno – “A Song for Europe”, “Mother of Pearl” – elegant, heartbreaking, still weird. Country Life (1974) – Album Release (1974)The one with the lingerie models on the cover – “The Thrill of It All”, “All I Want Is You”. Where to Start Listening Today (5 tracks) Virginia Plain – the greatest debut single in history Do the Strand – dance like it’s 1973 Love Is the Drug – the funkiest thing glam ever produced In Every Dream Home a Heartache – inflatable dolls have never been so creepy Editions of You – sax solo that could peel paint Roxy Music didn’t do glam – they invented a parallel universe where glamour was dangerous, sex was surreal, and the future looked fabulous.Turn it up, strike a pose, and remember: both ends burning. Deep Dive: Influential British rock band formed in 1971 in London, England. Here's an overview of their history, style, and impact: Formation and Early Years: Founding Members: The band was initially formed by Bryan Ferry (vocals, keyboards), Brian Eno (synthesizers, "treatments"), Graham Simpson (bass), Andy Mackay (oboe, saxophone), and Paul Thompson (drums). Phil Manzanera (guitar) joined later in 1972. First Album: Their debut album, "Roxy Music" (1972), introduced a sound that was both innovative and eclectic, mixing glam rock, art rock, and avant-garde elements. The album featured hits like "Virginia Plain" and "Re-Make/Re-Model." Musical Style: Art Rock and Glam: Roxy Music was known for its blend of art school aesthetics with rock music. The band's music was characterized by Ferry's distinctive crooning voice, Eno's experimental soundscapes, and a visually striking image. Influence of Brian Eno: Eno's use of synthesizers and his approach to sound processing were ahead of their time, contributing significantly to the band's unique sound during their early albums. Key Albums: "For Your Pleasure" (1973): This album continued their experimental approach with tracks like "In Every Dream Home a Heartache." "Stranded" (1973): Following Eno's departure, the band continued to produce critically acclaimed work, with "Street Life" being a notable hit. "Siren" (1975): Known for the classic track "Love is the Drug," this album marked a shift towards a more accessible, mainstream sound. Later Career and Reunions: Hiatus and Solo Work: After "Siren," the band took a break, with members focusing on solo careers. Bryan Ferry, in particular, had a successful solo career. Reunion: Roxy Music reunited in the 2000s for several tours, performing in 2001, 2003, 2010, and 2011. These tours were well-received, showcasing both their classic hits and their lasting influence. Legacy: Influence: Roxy Music's impact on music is profound, influencing genres like new wave, synth-pop, and post-punk. Their fashion sense, particularly during the glam era, also left a mark on pop culture. Awards and Recognition: The band has been celebrated for their contributions to music, with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. Roxy Music's blend of style, innovation, and melody created a unique niche in rock music, making them one of the most memorable bands from the 1970s. If you're interested in seeing what they looked like in their heyday, I can generate images reflecting their iconic visual style.
- Be My Lover — Single US: Feb.1972
A sleazy, swaggering slice of Detroit hard‑glam from the Killer era — SUMMARY Alice Cooper Group’s “Be My Lover,” backed with “You Drive Me Nervous,” was released as a 7‑inch vinyl single in the United States on February 8, 1972 (Warner Bros. WB 7568). Written by guitarist Michael Bruce and produced by Bob Ezrin, the track blends autobiographical humour with the band’s trademark hard‑rock strut. Its lyrics follow a musician trying to impress a woman by describing life in a “long‑haired rock and roll band” from Detroit, complete with a tongue‑in‑cheek reference to the question, “why the singer’s name was Alice.” The single was issued across multiple territories, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Greece, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, and the USA. It became one of the group’s most recognisable early songs, charting for ten weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. — HIGHLIGHTS Released February 8, 1972 on Warner Bros. Records (WB 7568) Written by Michael Bruce; produced by Bob Ezrin Backed with “You Drive Me Nervous” Issued in the US, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia Peaked at No. 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Praised by Record World as the band’s “finest single since ‘Eighteen’” Cash Box described it as an “autobiographical groupie song” Melody Maker highlighted its sleazy, swaggering hard‑rock sound A key single from the Killer album era — TRACKLISTING (7" VINYL) A1. Be My Lover – 3:21 B1. You Drive Me Nervous – 2:28 Note: This track list reflects the standard 7” vinyl release across all listed countries. — CHART PERFORMANCE US Bill board Hot 100: #49 (10 weeks on chart) Canada: Moderate airplay; regional FM support International: Widely issued but not charting in all territories — SOURCES Warner Bros. Records single release sheets (1972) Billboard and Cash Box chart archives Record World review excerpts (1972) Melody Maker contemporary coverage Alice Cooper Group discography references
- Killer Explodes Advert: 1971
A striking one‑page promotion for Killer and its breakout single “Be My Lover” — SUMMARY The Alice Cooper Group’s “Killer Explodes” advertisement was issued on November 9, 1971 to promote their fourth studio album, Killer. Designed as a bold, attention‑grabbing one‑page print piece, the advert highlighted the album’s explosive impact on FM radio and the growing momentum behind the band’s theatrical shock‑rock identity. A follow‑up push for the single “Be My Lover” arrived on February 8, 1972, helping cement the track as one of the group’s signature early hits. The advert reflects the raw, dangerous energy of the Killer era — a moment when Alice Cooper were rapidly evolving from cult outsiders into mainstream provocateurs. — HIGHLIGHTS One‑page promotional advert for the Killer album Released November 9, 1971 Followed by a dedicated push for “Be My Lover” on February 8, 1972 Emphasised the album’s strong FM radio support across major US markets Positioned the Alice Cooper Group as rising stars of early ’70s shock‑glam Connected directly to the band’s breakthrough period, leading into School’s Out — TRACKLISTING (Album tracklist for Killer — 1971) Under My Wheels Be My Lover Halo of Flies Desperado You Drive Me Nervous Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Dead Babies Killer — CHART PERFORMANCE Killer (Album) US Billboard 200: Top 30 Certified Gold in the United States Be My Lover (Single) US Billboard Hot 100: #49 Became one of the band’s most enduring early hits — SOURCES Warner Bros. Records promotional materials (1971–1972) Contemporary FM radio reporting Billboard and Cash Box chart archives Interviews and retrospective commentary on the Killer era
- From The Inside Album Review: 1978
Rolling Stone, February 8, 1978. Polite anarchy? Alice Cooper misses his own point From the Inside Alice Cooper Warner Bros. By Tom Carson I F ANYONE COULD PULL off a Fa concept album about life in La sanitarium, it's Alice Cooper, the man who turned dead-baby jokes into high-school national an-thems and made a whole career of exactly the kind of comic gro-tesqueness the new LP promises. And From the Inside isn't an obvi-ous failure: the songs are full of good ideas, the lyrics often close to brilliant. Then why does every-thing sound so forced and over-wrought? Because, despite the au-tobiographical nature of the mate-rial (Cooper hospitalized himself for alcoholism last year), the artist has apparently been trapped by his own concept. He's working too hard and not having a good time at all. Part of the problem is that nei-ther Cooper nor colyricist Bernie Taupin seems to have figured out what kind of attitude to take toward the subject-and attitude is crucial to a record like this. For instance, you might argue with David Bowie's point of view on Diamond Dogs-you ought to, in fact-but at least it's a point of view. Cooper and Taupin, however, can't decide whether to treat their ❘ loony bin straight or turn it into pop Grand Guignol (which is what you'd expect this singer to do, and which would have been infinitely preferable), and their uncertainty blurs the impact of every cut. "Ἵ just can't get these damn wrists to bleed" is a great line-sending up every phony suicide attempt you've ever known-yet Cooper sings it as a tragic howl from the depths and thereby misses his own point. "Millie and Billie," too, could have been a marvelous parody-a duet between two lovers who've murdered the woman's husband, leaving him "All sliced up and sealed tight in Baggies"-but it's inexplicably treated as a tear-jerker, with melodramatic strings | pulsing in the background while | meretricious to begin with. Cooper offers a vocal almost as cloying as that of his female partner (Marcy Levy, in a role that would have been perfect for Lesley Gore). This from the guy who once sang, "Well, we got no class/And we got no principles.... We can't even think of a word that rhymes"? As far as Deep Thoughts go, the best Cooper and Taupin can come up with is "In-mates (We're All Crazy)," an idea that's been stale since R.D. Laing, pure kitsch long before One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and probably Producer David Foster has put together a crack session band that includes longtime Cooper gui-tarist Dick Wagner (who also cowrote most of the songs), guest guitarists Davey Johnstone and Rick Nielsen, percussionist Jim Keltner, et al. But their cool com-petence-which also affected Wel-come to My Nightmare and Goes to Hell-is all wrong for this artist. As Linda Ronstadt's version of "Back in the U.S.A." recently demon-strated, few things are more un-convincing than slick musicians trying to sound raw-and rawness
- The Secrets That You Keep Single: 1975
Mud's Chinnichap Chart Climber Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by RAK Records (catalogue: RAK 194) on February 7, 1975, Mud’s “The Secrets That You Keep,” backed with “Still Watching The Clock,” entered the UK Singles Chart on February 15, remained for 9 weeks, and reached a peak position of number 3. It also reached number 3 in Austria and Ireland. Track Listing A: The Secrets That You Keep – 3:11 B: Still Watching The Clock – 2:47 Production Published By – Chinnichap Publishing / Rak Publishing Ltd. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – RAK Records Ltd. Record Company – EMI Records Ltd. Pressed By – EMI Records Produced For – Chinnichap Producer – Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn UK Variants 7", 45 RPM, Single – RAK RAK 194 – UK – 1975 7", Single, Promo – RAK RAK 194 – UK – 1975 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4 Prong Push Out Center – RAK RAK 194 – UK – 1975 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4 Prong Push Out Center – RAK RAK 194 – UK – 1975 Chart Performance UK Singles Chart – Peak: 3 – 9 weeks Austria – Peak: 3 Ireland – Peak: 3 Did you have The Secrets That You Keep in your collection? Were you ready for Mud's No. 3 smash? Sources Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts
- Roxy Music - Discography: Albums
STUDIO ALBUMS (1972–1982) ROXY MUSIC Studio Album Released 1972 UK Retail Release: June 16, 1972 UK Chart Entry: July 29, 1972 U.S. Release: 1972 on Reprise / Warner Bros. Label: Island (UK), Reprise / Warner Bros. (US) Producers: Peter Sinfield Tracklist: Re‑Make/Re‑Model Ladytron If There Is Something Virginia Plain 2HB The Bob (Medley) Chance Meeting Would You Believe? Sea Breezes Bitters End FOR YOUR PLEASURE Studio Album Released 1973 UK Retail Release: March 23, 1973 UK Chart Entry: April 7, 1973 U.S. Release: 1973 on Warner Bros. Label: Island (UK), Warner Bros. (US) Producers: Chris Thomas, Roxy Music Tracklist: Do the Strand Beauty Queen Strictly Confidential Editions of You In Every Dream Home a Heartache The Bogus Man Grey Lagoons For Your Pleasure STRANDED Studio Album Released 1973 UK Retail Release: November 1973 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: December 1, 1973 U.S. Release: 1973 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Island (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Chris Thomas, Roxy Music Tracklist: Street Life Just Like You Amazona Psalm Serenade A Song for Europe Mother of Pearl Sunset COUNTRY LIFE Studio Album Released 1974 UK Retail Release: November 15, 1974 UK Chart Entry: November 30, 1974 U.S. Release: 1974 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Island (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, John Punter Tracklist: The Thrill of It All Three and Nine All I Want Is You Out of the Blue If It Takes All Night Bitter‑Sweet Triptych Casanova A Really Good Time Prairie Rose SIREN Studio Album Released 1975 UK Retail Release: October 24, 1975 UK Chart Entry: November 8, 1975 U.S. Release: 1975 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Island (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, Chris Thomas Tracklist: Love Is the Drug End of the Line Sentimental Fool Whirlwind She Sells Could It Happen to Me? Both Ends Burning Nightingale Just Another High MANIFESTO Studio Album Released 1979 UK Retail Release: March 16, 1979 UK Chart Entry: March 24, 1979 U.S. Release: 1979 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Polydor / E.G. (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, Rhett Davies Tracklist: Manifesto Trash Angel Eyes Still Falls the Rain Stronger Through the Years Ain’t That So My Little Girl Dance Away Cry, Cry, Cry Spin Me Round FLESH AND BLOOD Studio Album Released 1980 UK Retail Release: May 23, 1980 UK Chart Entry: May 31, 1980 U.S. Release: 1980 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Polydor / E.G. (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, Rhett Davies Tracklist: In the Midnight Hour Oh Yeah Same Old Scene Flesh and Blood My Only Love Over You Eight Miles High Rain, Rain, Rain No Strange Delight Running Wild AVALON Studio Album Released 1982 UK Retail Release: May 28, 1982 UK Chart Entry: June 5, 1982 U.S. Release: 1982 (month and day unknown) on Warner Bros. Label: Polydor / E.G. (UK), Warner Bros. (US) Producers: Rhett Davies, Roxy Music Tracklist: More Than This The Space Between Avalon India While My Heart Is Still Beating The Main Thing Take a Chance with Me To Turn You On True to Life Tara PART 2 — LIVE ALBUMS VIVA! ROXY MUSIC Live Album Released 1976 UK Retail Release: July 16, 1976 UK Chart Entry: July 31, 1976 U.S. Release: 1976 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Island (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Chris Thomas, Roxy Music Tracklist: Out of the Blue Pyjamarama The Bogus Man Chance Meeting Both Ends Burning If There Is Something In Every Dream Home a Heartache Do the Strand THE HIGH ROAD Live Album Released 1983 UK Retail Release: March 1983 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: March 19, 1983 U.S. Release: 1983 (month and day unknown) on Warner Bros. Label: Polydor / E.G. (UK), Warner Bros. (US) Producers: Roxy Music Tracklist: Can’t Let Go My Only Love Like a Hurricane Jealous Guy HEART STILL BEATING Live Album Released 1990 UK Retail Release: October 22, 1990 UK Chart Entry: 1990 (month and day unknown) U.S. Release: 1990 (month and day unknown) on Reprise Label: Virgin / E.G. (UK), Reprise (US) Producers: Roxy Music Tracklist: India Can’t Let Go While My Heart Is Still Beating Out of the Blue Dance Away Impossible Guitar A Song for Europe Love Is the Drug Like a Hurricane My Only Love Both Ends Burning Avalon Editions of You Jealous Guy CONCERT CLASSICS Live Album (Archival) Released 1998 UK Retail Release: February 1998 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: Not charted U.S. Release: Not issued Label: Ranch Life Producers: Not credited Tracklist: Manifesto Angel Eyes Trash Out of the Blue A Song for Europe Still Falls the Rain Ain’t That So Stronger Through the Years Ladytron In Every Dream Home a Heartache Love Is the Drug Do the Strand CONCERTO Live Album (Archival) Released 2001 UK Retail Release: June 2001 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: Not charted U.S. Release: Not issued Label: Burning Airlines Producers: Not credited Tracklist: Manifesto Angel Eyes Trash Out of the Blue A Song for Europe Still Falls the Rain Ain’t That So Stronger Through the Years Ladytron In Every Dream Home a Heartache Love Is the Drug Do the Strand Mother of Pearl Editions of You LIVE Live Album Released 2003 UK Retail Release: June 2, 2003 UK Chart Entry: 170 (June 2003 chart; exact day unknown) U.S. Release: 2003 (month and day unknown) Label: Eagle Producers: Roxy Music Tracklist: Disc 1: Re‑Make/Re‑Model Street Life Ladytron While My Heart Is Still Beating Out of the Blue A Song for Europe My Only Love In Every Dream Home a Heartache Oh Yeah! Both Ends Burning Tara Disc 2: More Than This If There Is Something Mother of Pearl Avalon Dance Away Jealous Guy Editions of You Virginia Plain Love Is the Drug Do the Strand For Your Pleasure PART 3 — COMPILATION ALBUMS GREATEST HITS Compilation Album Released 1977 UK Retail Release: November 1977 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: 1977 (month and day unknown) U.S. Release: 1977 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Island (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, Chris Thomas, John Punter Tracklist: Virginia Plain Do the Strand All I Want Is You Out of the Blue Pyjamarama Editions of You Love Is the Drug Mother of Pearl A Song for Europe The Thrill of It All Street Life Do the Strand (Reprise) THE ATLANTIC YEARS 1973–1980 Compilation Album Released 1983 UK Retail Release: November 1983 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: 1983 (month and day unknown) U.S. Release: 1983 (month and day unknown) on Atco Label: Polydor / E.G. (UK), Atco (US) Producers: Roxy Music, Chris Thomas, Rhett Davies Tracklist: Do the Strand Editions of You Love Is the Drug A Song for Europe Both Ends Burning Out of the Blue All I Want Is You Mother of Pearl Street Life The Thrill of It All Dance Away Angel Eyes Oh Yeah Over You Same Old Scene In the Midnight Hour STREET LIFE: 20 GREAT HITS Compilation Album (Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music) Released 1986 UK Retail Release: April 14, 1986 UK Chart Entry: April 26, 1986 U.S. Release: Not issued Label: E.G. Records (UK) Producers: Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Chris Thomas, Rhett Davies Tracklist: Virginia Plain Do the Strand Pyjamarama Editions of You In Every Dream Home a Heartache Street Life All I Want Is You Out of the Blue A Song for Europe Love Is the Drug Both Ends Burning Dance Away Angel Eyes Oh Yeah Over You Same Old Scene Avalon More Than This Jealous Guy Slave to Love THE THRILL OF IT ALL Compilation Box Set Released 1995 UK Retail Release: 1995 (month and day unknown) UK Chart Entry: 1995 (month and day unknown) U.S. Release: Not issued Label: Virgin / E.G. Producers: Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Chris Thomas, Rhett Davies Tracklist: Disc 1: Key album tracks 1972–1973 Disc 2: Key album tracks 1974–1975 Disc 3: Key album tracks 1979–1982 Disc 4: Singles, B‑sides, remixes (Full tracklists omitted in the original release notes; structure preserved.) THE BEST OF ROXY MUSIC Compilation Album Released 2001 UK Retail Release: June 11, 2001 UK Chart Entry: June 23, 2001 U.S. Release: 2001 (month and day unknown) Label: Virgin / E.G. Producers: Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Chris Thomas, Rhett Davies Tracklist: Avalon More Than This Jealous Guy Over You Same Old Scene Oh Yeah Angel Eyes Dance Away Both Ends Burning Love Is the Drug Out of the Blue All I Want Is You Mother of Pearl Street Life Do the Strand Pyjamarama Virginia Plain Re‑Make/Re‑Model THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION Compilation Album (Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music) Released 1988 UK Retail Release: November 7, 1988 UK Chart Entry: 1988 (month and day unknown) U.S. Release: Not issued Label: E.G. Records Producers: Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music Tracklist: Let’s Stick Together The ‘In’ Crowd Dance Away Angel Eyes He’ll Have to Go Tokyo Joe All I Want Is You Jealous Guy Slave to Love This Is Tomorrow Love Is the Drug Don’t Stop the Dance Avalon Do the Strand The Price of Love Help Me PART 4 — SINGLES (GLOBAL) (UK chart‑entry dates verified from Official Charts Company ) Virginia Plain UK Retail Release: August 4, 1972 UK Chart Entry: August 19, 1972 U.S. Release: 1972 (month and day unknown) Pyjamarama UK Retail Release: February 23, 1973 UK Chart Entry: March 10, 1973 U.S. Release: Not issued Street Life UK Retail Release: November 2, 1973 UK Chart Entry: November 17, 1973 U.S. Release: 1973 (month and day unknown) All I Want Is You UK Retail Release: October 11, 1974 UK Chart Entry: October 19, 1974 U.S. Release: 1974 (month and day unknown) Love Is the Drug UK Retail Release: September 26, 1975 UK Chart Entry: October 11, 1975 U.S. Release: 1975 (month and day unknown) Both Ends Burning UK Retail Release: November 21, 1975 UK Chart Entry: December 6, 1975 U.S. Release: 1975 (month and day unknown) Virginia Plain (1977 Reissue) UK Retail Release: October 1977 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: October 22, 1977 U.S. Release: Not issued Trash UK Retail Release: February 23, 1979 UK Chart Entry: March 3, 1979 U.S. Release: 1979 (month and day unknown) Dance Away UK Retail Release: April 13, 1979 UK Chart Entry: April 28, 1979 U.S. Release: 1979 (month and day unknown) Angel Eyes UK Retail Release: July 13, 1979 UK Chart Entry: August 11, 1979 U.S. Release: 1979 (month and day unknown) Over You UK Retail Release: May 2, 1980 UK Chart Entry: May 17, 1980 U.S. Release: 1980 (month and day unknown) Oh Yeah (On the Radio) UK Retail Release: July 25, 1980 UK Chart Entry: August 2, 1980 U.S. Release: 1980 (month and day unknown) The Same Old Scene UK Retail Release: October 31, 1980 UK Chart Entry: November 8, 1980 U.S. Release: 1980 (month and day unknown) Jealous Guy UK Retail Release: February 13, 1981 UK Chart Entry: February 21, 1981 U.S. Release: Not issued More Than This UK Retail Release: March 29, 1982 UK Chart Entry: April 3, 1982 U.S. Release: 1982 (month and day unknown) Avalon UK Retail Release: June 4, 1982 UK Chart Entry: June 19, 1982 U.S. Release: 1982 (month and day unknown) Take a Chance with Me UK Retail Release: September 10, 1982 UK Chart Entry: September 25, 1982 U.S. Release: 1982 (month and day unknown) Love Is the Drug (Live) UK Retail Release: October 1990 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: October 13, 1990 U.S. Release: Not issued Love Is the Drug (1996 Reissue) UK Retail Release: April 1996 (day unknown) UK Chart Entry: April 27, 1996 U.S. Release: Not issued
- Elton John Live at Festival Hall Article: 1972
Elton's London Festival Hall Triumph The one-page article in New Musical Express (February 5, 1972) reviewed Elton John’s performance at London Festival Hall on Saturday, reflecting on the difficulty of viewing his work in true perspective. It noted that while Elton is a fine singer, fluent pianist and indefatigable showman, the smokescreen of unnecessary publicity and over-done image-building had almost put the reviewer off regarding him as any sort of musical force. The piece highlighted his fifth album, the live performance 17-11-70, as not bad—full of vim and vigour, a punters’ delight—but criticised the overdone schmaltz at the end, with the audience chanting “Elton John, far out” to the applause. Article Overview Publication Details Magazine: New Musical Express (UK). Date: February 5, 1972. Format: One-page concert review/article. LONDON FESTIVAL HALL/ SATURDAY FOR ONE REASON or an-other it is difficult to view Elton John's work in a true perspective. Difficult be-cause although I know him to be a fine singer, a fluent pianist and an indefatig-able showman, the smokescreen of unneces-sary publicity and over-done image-building that surrounded his career until recently has almost put me off regarding him as any sort of musical force whatever. To illustrate the sort of thing I mean, consider his fifth album, the "live" per-formance "17-11-70". Not a bad album really; full of vim and vigour, and oba punters' delight. The catch, the overdone schmaltz that I referred to, comes at the end of the al-bum when, to the hearty applause of the invited "audience", lence", some wades in with "." John ever'body troll Elton Elton John, Far out "Yuk" was my reaction when I heard this offering, and many of you obviously agreed because "17-11-70" didn't do as well as was obviously expected. It's unfair, I know, to single out this pretentious rubbish as a cross on which to nail poor Elton, but it serves as an excel-lent example of the kind of approach that no artist -let alone a genuinely talented and original musi-cian like E. John - would wish on even his worst enemy. All of which is a bloody shame, because the man can really put something down, given half a chance to capture a sympathetic audience. Certainly, he puts everything he has into his performances, as anybody who has seen one of his concerts will know (to descend once more into the negative, this "hardworking" image was also overdone, with ques-tionable album ads show-ing a hot-panted Reg per-forming handstands on his Grand, while bewildered fans looked on, aghast). And yet his music is OK, even good and some-times very good. "Tumbleweed Connecс-tion", the third album he made, was a very finely-finished piece of wax, with excellent musicians like Caleb Quaye in back, and an almost-too-beautiful production from Gus Dudgeon. "Tumbleweed" also had some very fine songs, well lyricized by Bernie Taupin, and taste-fully arranged, played and sung by the album's com-plement of talent. "Tumbleweed Connec-tion" was criticised -rightly in my view being a sort of post-Butch Cassidy Wild Westerama cash-in the nicely-faded album photos, the lean, drawn gunfighter look, and the overall phoney air of "This-here train's-gonna-run - -time iffen- Ah - have shoot-mah-way-through". All a bit heavy, you will agree, for Reginald Dwight of Pinner, Middlesex, aged 24, English musician. Thankfully, because we all getting a bit choked with the pseudery, there was a change of heart at Dick James Music after "17-11-70". Some minion (bless him, whoev-er he was) must have pointed out that DJM's own little goldmine was on the point of subsiding, un-loved, into Boot Hill. Anyway, "Friends", a film-score album, was put out with more tasteful publicity, and with the ob-vious intention of allowing John to be judged on his own merits as a musician. And then, quite recently, came Elton's finest offer-ing to date, and one that has received acclaim from critics, musicians, US FM stations and humble punt-ers alike - "Madman Ac-ross The Water". Elton, himself, feels happiest about the material from "Madman Across The Water" and from his second, "Elton John". Prophetically, these will be the sources from which he will draw for Saturday's concert at the London Royal Festival Hall. The backing group to accompany him on the first half of the concert will have Nigel Olsson on drums, Dee Murray on bass and Davey Johnstone (ex-Magna Carta and mak-ing his first performance with Elton) on guitar. STOP For the second half, this group will be augmented by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who will them-selves be supported by a specially-integrated chestral rhythm section, plus a mixed choir. or- Expect the performance to be rather more res-trained than usual; Elton must feel his image problems even more strongly than we do. So the emphasis will be on Music, and on Musical Ability, of which Elton has a very great store. Hope-fully, he'll show it and I for one look forward to hear-ing more of the new, im-proved Reg. He never needed to improve, really: all Elton's ever been short of was good advice. There's always been too much talent there to be buried under six feet of bad taste. TONY TYLER




















