Rock Of Ages

Benjy says...

Dear Rock of Ages subscribers ... what a keyboard extravaganza on Thursday with the snapshot of prog masters, Emerson, Lake and Palmer - I apologise for not playing all of your recommendations but the length of the special itself mitgated against that, not helped of course by the fact that ELP didn't exactly write 3 minute pop songs! Not to worry 'tho as you will hear the 'works' on Rock of Ages over the coming months and years, along with all the other great classic bands and artists

Before I tell you about this week's special I wanted to let you know that the following two shows (5th and 12th July) are prerecorded as I am in the final stages of packing up and moving to Joburg - I will be back with you live on the 19th July, in the interim there will be no newsletters for those two weeks but the playlists will be posted up on the site for you to view.

This coming week's special will feature a band that sadly didn't stick around too long but nonetheless made 2 superb albums, one of which undoubtedly would make most classic rock fans Top 50 list. Their melting pot of brassy tinged hard rock, folk, blues and progressive influences has made them one of the most requested groups on the show ..... so tune in for the best of The Greatest Show on Earth.

The Greatest Show On Earth

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH were originally formed in 1968 by guitarist Garth-Roy and his bass-playing brother Norman. The original line-up included organist Mick Deacon, drummer Ron Prudence and three horns players, Dick Hanson, Tex Phillpotts and Ian Aitcheson. The band's first vocalist was black American Ozzie Lane but he returned to his native New Orleans a year later and was replaced by Colin Horton-Jennings, not only a strong gravel-voiced singer but also quite adept on the guitar, bongos and flute. The group's mixture of R&B soul, jazz and prog rock brought them to the attention of EMI's progressive label Harvest Records, who signed the band and issued, in February 1970, the single, "Real Cool World" / "Again And Again" which, though not a hit in the UK, gave the band a medium-sized hit across Europe where they were also an in-demand live attraction. Both tracks featured on their March 1970 debut LP, "Horizons" which was housed in a distinctive sleeve designed by Hipgnosis and coincided with a Radio One session for Mike Harding on which they played three new songs: "Borderline", "Mountain Song" and "Time". A second session for Harding, in November 1970, featured "The Leader" and "Check Me Into Your Life", the latter of which has never officially been released. "Tell The Story" / "The Mountain Song" had failed to chart when released in September 1970, and the same fate awaited the band's second album "The Going's Easy" though one track from the LP, "Magic Woman Touch" was later released by The Hollies.

Horizons

The lack of chart success contributed to the band splitting in mid-1971. Ron Prudence, Ian Aitcheson and Tex Phillpotts quit music altogether, whilst Horton-Jennings joined Chaser and later turned up in Tagget, releasing one self-titled album for EMI in 1974. Dick Hanson turned to session work and recorded with the likes of The Blues Band, Graham Parker, Dave Edmunds and Kirsty McColl. Mike Deacon joined Vinegar Joe and then became a member of both the Suzi Quatro Band and Darts. Norman Watt-Roy formed Glencoe releasing two albums for Epic, "Glencoe" and "The Spirit Of Glencoe". He then formed Loving Awareness, releasing one self-titled LP in 1976 for More Love Records, before the band eventually evolved into The Blockheads, the backing band for Ian Dury. Today he is a member of the Wilko Johnson Band. Garth Watt-Roy joined Fuzzy Duck before undertaking session work for the likes of East of Eden and Bonnie Tyler.

The Going's Easy

Discography

Horizons (1970)
The Going's Easy (1970) *

* Recommended listening

NB The special for the 12th will be psychedelic guitar rangers, The Quicksilver Messenger Service - one of the first bands who pioneered the twin harmony guitar sound ..... so join me for a 'trip' down the early days of psychedelic rock music.

Rock of Ages presents "Footstomping Music"

The distribution problems that plagued the initial release seem to have been rectified, however if you do have a problem finding the album please email the information to me so that I can take it up with the distributors. In the meantime you can securely order the album via the Rock of Ages website. Click on www.rock.co.za/rockofages for details.

click to buy this CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages Presents Footstomping Music

Grand Funk Railroad - Footstomping Music
Deep Purple - Burn
Uriah Heep - Look at yourself
Black Sabbath - Sweat Leaf
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
Robin Trower - Too rolling stoned
Mountain - Never in my life
Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
Foghat - I just wanna make love to you
Budgie - Baby, please don't go
Santana - Toussaint l'Overture
Alice Cooper - Muscle of love
Nazareth - Go down fighting
Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & the Black
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme back my bullets
Free - The Hunter
Taste - What's goin' on

Buy this 'Footstomping Music' CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages News
Zeppelin Return?
There are reports that Led Zeppelin are to re-form for a memorial concert, in honour of Ahmet Ertegun, the man who founded Atlantic Records, who died last December. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones are said to have agreed to do this show, with drummer Jason Bonham standing in for his father, the late John Bonham - and it's being speculated that it'll lead to a full-scale re-union tour.

New Queen
Queen members Brian May (guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) have recorded nine songs together for a planned album. They intend to work on more tracks in the near future, with a release expected in 2008.

More rock (and reggae)
on your radio...

Tune in to the many other great music shows on RADIO 2000 ..... Wake up every morning with Ray White and Nichole de Silva on the funky, vibey Rise 'n Rock Breakfast Show (6-9am) - news, weather, 2010 updates, comedy, competitions and tons of cool tunes - no 'superstar DJ ego bull...' just fabulously entertaining radio ..... Women on the Move with Celeste and Carol (9-noon) features interesting issues, guest interviews and more of the music that you like to hear ..... From 12 to 3pm it's the Empress of Cool Radio - Michelle Constant and The Lucky Packet - a daily dose of unmissable radio, a virtual melting pot of entertainment, interviews, documentary stuff, news, cultural issues, addictive music and much more ... lots of fun, fun, fun .... Tuesday nights 8 to midnight get ready to crank it up with the mighty Barney Simon on the SA Rock Show - wall to wall music, news, demos, gear reviews and some straight talking from the rock radio legend ... Sundays it's skanking time on Bongolution between 1-3pm with da man Bongani who spins the finest in roots reggae. Later you can chill with host Eric Allan's Jazz Rendezvous between 5 and 8pm where he spins the cream of classic and smooth jazz as well as some interesting fusion music.....

Keep the rock real...

Benjy

Contact Rock of Ages

Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 782022, Sandton 2146
Studio phone: 089-1102003

Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.

Latest Playlist

All the playlists are available in the
Playlist Archives.

Live Gigs

Boulevard Blues Band
7th Che Latino Cafe and Lounge,Brackenfell CT
8th Berties Mooring, Gordons Bay
15th Justwine Sunday Blues Night
18th Berties Mooring, Gordons Bay
22nd Kirstenbosch winter sessions Silvertree Restaurant.
27th Kunskafee Durbanville, CT
10th August Oppikoppi Festival, Gauteng
1st September Cape Farmhouse, Scarborough CT
22nd September Harley Davidson Rally, Colesberg

Dirty Skirts
6th July Berties Mooring, Gordon's Bay
7th July The Bang Bang Club, Cape Town

Jim Neversink
6th July 88 Lounge, Norwood JHB

Michael Canfield
3rd July Back2Basix, Westdene JHB
7th Tanz Cafe

The Slashdogs
7th July Café Arc, Pretoria

Sssssh
4th July Waenhuis Theatre, Bethlehem
6th Rambler's, Bloemfontein

Violent Femmes (UK)
6,10,11 August-Venues tba

Concerts
Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' Tribute
Every Thursday-Saturday 15th June - 7th July BMW Pavilion, Cape Town Waterfront

Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
July 12th and 13th Piet Botha and Neill Solomon @ Thunder Road Diner Durban, KZN

July 14th Jack Hammer @ "Landmine Rock" Benefit show @ Wolmer Events Arena, Akasia, Pta North

July 21st Jack Hammer @ The Knight and Dragon, Boksburg

July 28th Piet Botha and Johnathan Martin @ Pierneefteater, Rietondale, Pta.

You say it's your birthday...

July 2
Pete Briquette - Boomtown Rats - 1954
Johnny Colla - Huey Lewis & The News - 1952

July 4
Ralph Johnson - Earth, Wind & Fire - 1951

July 5
Robbie Robertson - The Band - 1943
Huey Lewis - Huey Lewis & the News - 1950

July 6
Rik Elswit - Dr. Hook - 1945
Bill Haley - 1925

July 7
Ringo Starr - 1940

July 9
Bon Scott - AC/DC - 1946

July 11
Richie Sambora - Bon Jovi - 1959

July 12
Christine McVie - Fleetwood Mac- 1943
Eric Carr - KISS - 1950
Phil Kramer - Iron Butterfly - 1952

July 13
Roger McGuinn - Byrds - 1942
Stephen Bladd - J. Geils Band - 1942

July 15
Marky Ramone - Ramones - 1956
Linda Ronstadt - 1946
Jeff Carlisli - .38 Special - 1952
Joe Satriani - 1956

July 16
Stewart Copeland - Police - 1952

July 17
Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath - 1949
Chet McCracKen - Doobie Brothers - 1952
Mick Tucker - Sweet - 1947
Spencer Davis - Spencer Davis Group - 1939

July 18
Cesar Zuiderwijk - Golden Earring - 1950

July 19
Brian May - Queen - 1947
Bernie Leadon - Eagles - 1947

July 20
John Lodge - Moody Blues- 1943
Carlos Santana- 1947

July 21
Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) - 1947

Courtesy of
About ClassicRock

Birthday Archives

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All the playlists are available in the Playlist Archives.

Stay tuned every Thursday 8-12pm for the best in classic rock on RADIO 2000.

Your Host

Benjy Mudie

Then	Now

Benjy Mudie is a self confessed 'rockaholic' with little chance of recovery... a music obsessive whose entire life has been spent in search of the lost chord... from discovering Jimi's "Are you experienced" at 13, he has constantly devoured music through lp's, singles, tapes, cds, dvds, books, magazines, film, concerts, radio, tv and the internet. His entire working life has also been music related: from running a record store and later joining WEA Records in the mid 70's through to his 21 year A&R/Marketing stint at Tusk Music where he signed some of the biggest names in South African rock and pop. The last 8 years have been spent nurturing new talent at his indie label Fresh Music and reissuing classic albums as part of it's ongoing Retro series.... To say that 'music is his first love' (to paraphrase John Miles's classic song) is somewhat understated.

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