The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet (50th Anniversary Edition)
❉ Not to mince words, this is the most Brexit package of extras for a major album reissue in living memory
Articles by Martin Ruddock
‘State Of The Union – The American Dream In Crisis’
❉ St Etienne’s Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs round up an impeccable collection of cuts by middle-aged artists coming to terms with the late 60s.
Countdown to Major Tom: Notes on a rocket launch
❉ Unravelling the genesis of David Bowie’s Space Oddity, released on this day in 1969.
Procol Harum: ‘Still There’ll Be More – An Anthology 1967-2017’ reviewed
❉ Martin Ruddock on the band ‘that sounded like they could kick your head in, but do it in a very clever way’.
‘The Invisible World of Beautify Junkyards’ reviewed
❉ A fifteen-track journey into something mesmerisingly otherworldly and out of time.
‘When The Day Is Done – The Orchestrations Of Robert Kirby’ reviewed
❉ The arrangements of Drake’s Admiral, curated by Bob Stanley.
‘Jon Savage’s 1965: The Year The Sixties Ignited’ reviewed
❉ Garage rock, powerpop, bubblegum pop, girl-group angst, gnarly R&B, proto-Americana, and a large serving of soul.
Goin’ Back: ‘The Notorious Byrd Brothers’ at 50
❉ In 1967, a hippie king, a punchy drummer, a country rocker, a gadget-crazed folkie and a man afraid of flying made their best album, but only just.
Cosmic Christmas – ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’ at 50
❉ ‘Satanic Majesties’ documents a traumatic year in which the Stones went from edgy pop stars to Public Enemy Number One.
The best worst album ever – The story of ‘Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends’
❉ Martin Ruddock dusts off a true cult album, by the eccentric media figure and shock-rock pioneer.