David Bowie | Bowie At The Beeb – Los Gem

David Bowie emerged during the late 60s, gangly and fresh-faced amongst his more bohemian, paisley-powered contemporaries. And while his delivery was deeply steeped in a sort of transcendental folk/mod...

Van Morrison | Astral Weeks – Lost Gem

When he made Astral Weeks, Van Morrison finally tore away the mask he wore during his days as the angry young front man for Them. Released in 1968, Morrison's...

Warren Zevon | My Ride’s Here – Lost Gem

Warren Zevon's life reads like a comical send up of almost tragic proportions. His sporadic career was derailed by bouts with alcohol, pessimism, and a tinge of laziness. On...

Blind Faith | Blind Faith – Lost Gem

In the late 60s, the term 'supergroup' was hardly a part of the English lexicon. Some individuals used to think that Led Zeppelin and The Jeff Beck Group were...

Big Brother & The Holding Company | Cheap Thrills – Lost Gem

Cheap Thrills is the first and only album for a major label Janis Joplin made with Big Brother & The Holding Company. Personal and contractual problems deferred its release,...

Renaissance | Scheherazade And Other Stories – Lost Gem

Among the truly important progressive rock albums on the 70s, Renaissance’s Scheherazade And Other Stories is a high watermark of songwriting, production and playing. This album features arguably the...

Supertramp | Crisis? What Crisis? – Lost Gem

Supertramp's Crisis? What Crisis? rates right up there for me with their mega 1979 hit Breakfast In America. I know that comparison might not be so very logical — sorry —...

Marillion | Clutching At Straws – CD Review

In those dim, dark days of the early 80s, in the face of the Haircut 100's and MTV, when it seemed all our heroes were rendered mute or producing...

Natural Gas | Natural Gas – CD review

The flurry of musical chair one-offs surfacing seems unstoppable in this age of let’s-see-how-deep-we-can-go-to-uncover-stuff-you-thought-was-lost-forever…Of course, if it’s just now getting to CD, you have to wonder how long it will be before...

Heaven & Hell | The Devil You Know – CD Review

Reunion albums are not typically built for endurance. They can summon fond memories, hint at the greatness that was, but rarely do they live up to the lofty expectations....