Fusion accomplished: an energy release from romantic, if down-to-earth, warriors. Projected from atomic physics into a macrocosm, quantum jump may also mean a leap of faith, and that’s what it was for these four musicians. VIAC Quantum Jump – Quantum Jump (1976) Quantum Jump – Quantum Jump (1976)
Quantum Jump
Prog Rock, Jazz Rock
The Electric Record Company
1976
LP
8
CD Esoteric Recordings – ECLEC 2472 /2014/
In a way, it was predictable that a country as set on the Anglo rock culture as Israel would produce a few solid acts. There were few of those, and it’s a shame that JERICHO JONES didn’t make it big. Still, were they any different from many a band on the thriving British scene of the early ’70s? GUN, anyone? VIAC Jericho Jones – Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys (1971) Jericho Jones – Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys (1971)
Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys
Hard Rock
1971
LP
10
CD Repertoire Records – RR 4101-WZ /1990/
Still catching the skin, legacy album of American ensemble snaps out of lethargy. This Pittsburgh group seemed destined to hit the big time but, instead, found themselves doomed, due to the record label’s politics, and hit bottom, having left only two LPs in their wake: 1987’s self-released debut and its self-titled follow-up which more than deserves rediscovery. VIAC The Zippers – The Zippers (1990) The Zippers – The Zippers (1990)
The Zippers
Hard Rock
MCA Records
1990
CD, LP, CASS
10
CD Angel Air Records – SJPCD512 /2018/
Heroes of heavy rock reclaim their rightful place in history and win the day to make their renaissance eternal. A seminal ensemble whose role in the development of popular music must not be underestimated, this band aren’t recognized nowadays on a level they deserve, so the quartet’s invitation to the Sweden Rock Festival should have validated them in the eyes of unbelievers – and it did. VIAC VANILLA FUDGE – Live At Sweden Rock 2016 (2017) VANILLA FUDGE – Live At Sweden Rock 2016 (2017)
Live At Sweden Rock 2016 - The 50th Anniversary
Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock
MIG
2017
CD, DVD
11
Czekhia was always good in terms of rock but FLAMENGO is far from many hard rock formations born there. VIAC Flamengo – Kuře v hodinkách (1972) Flamengo – Kuře v hodinkách (1972)
Kuře v hodinkách
Prog Rock
Supraphon
1972
LP
9
CD: Wydawnictwo 21 – 21.002 /2000, Poland/
Saying, “Scottish rock”, we mean NAZARETH – there’s no better synonym. Four decades into their career, the band still rock hard, so one cannot help but think of the Highlander and his immortality. Still, they’re mortals, and it’s the words that sound rather serious and pretentious, not their music. Of all the merry bunch bassist Pete Agnew is, perhaps, the one who fleshes out the very spirit of the group. Your heard him play, you heard him sing, now hear him talk. VIAC FROM MY ARCHIVE: FEBRUARY 2004 – PETE AGNEW (INTERVIEW) FROM MY ARCHIVE: FEBRUARY 2004 – PETE AGNEW (INTERVIEW)
FROM MY ARCHIVE: February 2008 – NICK SIMPER (Interview)
Here’s a classic case of a legend overshadowing a man behind it. A monster that is DEEP PURPLE wouldn’t be as massive if not for the band’s first line-up’s heavy leanings of bassist Nick Simper and a certain guitar player. But once Simper was out of it, only a few people have followed his career which produced so much great music. Back to his rock ‘n’ roll roots with GOOD OL’ BOYS currently, Nick’s still doing what he does best – locking into the groove with full abandon. Quite like he took it to our conversation. VIAC FROM MY ARCHIVE: February 2008 – NICK SIMPER (Interview)
Shining out of the darkness, British quartet get on with the times and stage a stellar set across the ocean from their new home. For all of this band’s initial brilliance, it took them a few years to establish a pattern different to progressive drift that had always been there, but the difficulty was a result of the change in the musical climate, not the ensemble’s own creative conflicts. VIAC WISHBONE ASH – Live At Rockpalast 1976 WISHBONE ASH – Live At Rockpalast 1976
Live At Rockpalast 1976
Hard Rock
MIG
2019
2xCD, DVD
13
One of the most famous of the most obscured groups reassess their assets and make their trip round and definitive. In the pre-CD era, this British band’s legend was secure thanks mostly to the memorable cover of their second, and last, album, and to some extent to their link, via the drummer, to URIAH HEEP. VIAC CRESSIDA – The Vertigo Years Anthology 1969-1971 CRESSIDA – The Vertigo Years Anthology 1969-1971
The Vertigo Years Anthology 1969-1971
ECLEC 22348
Prog Rock
Esoteric Recordings
2012
2xCD
25
You may think of him as of rock ‘n’ roll prima donna or devout Christian, as of extremely humble person or a raging star – there are two things you can’t deny, one being his music and the other that Ken Hensley is a genius, with a songwriting gift equal to Paul McCartney’s and Brian Wilson’s, and a poetic eloquence to knock off both. “He’s going to return”, was a line of his, and Ken might have been singing about himself, because now he’s back and full-on. VIAC From my archive: November 1999 – KEN HENSLEY (Interview) From my archive: November 1999 – KEN HENSLEY (Interview)
Half-century down the line and no sign of slowing down, one of the greatest German groups cast a glance behind and plan their next steps. Founded in Dortmund in 1969, EPITAPH – who featured local performers and British players – didn’t leave a lasting trace on an international level, but connoisseurs keep them in high esteem and, rather importantly, they still deliver the goods. VIAC EPITAPH – Five Decades Of Classic Rock (2020) EPITAPH – Five Decades Of Classic Rock (2020)
Five Decades Of Classic Rock
Hard Rock
MIG
2020
3xCD
43
The bootleg which was bound to become official – a document of the last-ever public performance by a fallen guitar-hero When a budding radio DJ arrived for an evening with ABB on October 17th, 1971 for an interview with their singer, he could not know the Owings Mills show would see Duane Allman grace and leave the stage to never return, as the artist perished in a motorcycle crash a mere 12 days later, but he felt it wasn’t a regular gig in terms of delivery. VIAC ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – The Final Note (2020) ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – The Final Note (2020)
The Final Note
Blues Rock, Southern Rock
The Allman Brothers Band Recording Company
2020
CD
8
Florida’s finest purveyors of earthly pleasures shoot for the moon and bask in the stage lights. One of the least celebrated, yet immensely respected for their stylistic breadth, Southern rock ensembles, this collective have always been severely underserved on video front, with only a single public outing preserved for posterity on VHS and a couple of their television broadcasts landing on unofficial releases. VIAC THE OUTLAWS – Live At Rockpalast 1981 (2020) THE OUTLAWS – Live At Rockpalast 1981 (2020)
Live At Rockpalast 1981
Southern Rock
MIG
2020
CD, DVD
9
Po Strange Highways a Angry Machines, dvoch nevýrazných pokusoch s doom metalom, sa spevák Ronnie James Dio vrátil ku klasickému hard’n’heavy. Štýlu, ktorý sám pomáhal budovať a kreovať. Keď prišiel s nápadom fantasy príbehu, prizval k spolupráci dvoch starých priateľov – gitaristu Craiga Goldyho a basáka Jimmyho Baina. Skupinu, doplnenú o bubeníka Simona Wrighta, akoby pokropili živou vodou. VIAC Dio – Magica, 2000 Dio – Magica, 2000
Magica
hard rock, heavy metal
Spitfire Records
2000
CD
14
Superskupina odsúdená k neúspechu – s jedným, nie výnimočným, ale veľmi pekným albumom. V polovici 70. rokov došlo veľakrát k tomu, kedy ego jednotlivca prevládlo nad zdravým rozumom a určité spojenia hudobníkov sa ukázali ako nezdravé. Dvaja Liverpoolčania, gitarista Joey Molland a basgitarista Mark Clarke, obaja aj dobrí speváci, si tým hlavu nezaťažovali. VIAC Natural Gas – Natural Gas, 1976 Natural Gas – Natural Gas, 1976
Natural Gas
rock
Private Stock
1976
LP
10
CD - It's About Music, 2010
