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New Musical Express

New Musical Express

 New Musical Express, or NME,  is a British weekly music journalism publication, published since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s and 90s, changing from newsprint in 1998. An online edition, nme.com, was launched in 1996. In 2000 it absorbed its principal competitor, Melody Maker.

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Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, The Shadows: Tony Meehan: Why I Left The Shadows

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 13 October 1961

I AM A FIRM believer in following the policy which maintains that, since life is so short, it is most important that one should do ...

Sandy Nelson: Life-lines of Sandy Nelson

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 26 January 1962

Real name: Sander L. Nelson. ...

Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt: Alan Smith Welcomes — Ella and Eartha

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 February 1962

WELCOME BACK, Ella! Yes, the world's "First Lady of Jazz," Ella Fitzgerald, will also be in this country at the weekend, commencing her tour with ...

Rolf Harris: Rolf-Of-Every-Trade

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 21 February 1962

ROLF HARRIS, the man who currently makes with 'Sun Arise' one of the most interesting noises in the hit parade, was tired. He had been ...

Chubby Checker, Joey Dee & the Starliters: As Twist Hits the Chart Top Chubby Checker and Joey Dee Reveal How They Started To Do It — And Why!

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 23 February 1962

C'MON EVERYBODY, let's do the twist! Did I hear someone say they don't know how to do it? That's ridiculous. Anyone can do it, I ...

Shirley Bassey: Can Shirley Bassey Make It Three Show Hits In A Row?

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 February 1962

NO DOUBT about it, show tunes seem to have hit written all over them for Shirley Bassey! Her latest is 'Tonight', now in its second ...

George Martin: The A&R Manager Behind The Comedy Successes Forecasts...

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 March 1962

...Cribbins, Drake, Sellers, Milligan, Bentine Have Bright Disc Futures ...

Pat Boone: Why I Became A Beatnik

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 March 1962

PAT BOONE fans who saw last week's NME pictures of him at the Royal Film show won't see him looking so clean-cut in his latest ...

Doris Day: Doris Looks Younger Every Day

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 March 1962

REMEMBER THOSE not so far off days when the charts were aglow with Doris Day numbers like 'Sentimental Journey', 'Que Sera' and 'Secret Love'? They ...

The Four Freshmen, Matt Monro, Jeri Southern, Danny Williams: The Four Freshmen, Jeri Southern, Matt Monro: Gaumont State, Kilburn, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 March 1962

PLENTY OF TALENT IN THIS SHOW ...

Nina & Frederik: Gaumont, Watford

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 April 1962

New programme from Nina and Frederik ...

Cliff Richard, Helen Shapiro, The Shadows: First It Was Mrs. Kenny Ball, Now Norrie Paramor's Wife Picks A Hit For Her Hubby

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 April 1962

PUZZLING, isn't it, that no one has thought of an award for the wives of hit parade stars — to be presented when they inspire ...

Ketty Lester: New to the Charts: Ketty Lester Sang 'As Herself' To Notch Hit

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 April 1962

A SUDDEN decision to sing "in my own style" has brought instant success for chart newcomer Ketty Lester, whose 'Love Letters' stands at No. 27. ...

Johnny Burnette, Adam Faith, The Ted Heath Band, Brenda Lee, John Leyton, Bob Miller & the Millermen, Cliff Richard, The Springfields, Bert Weedon, Danny Williams: Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Brenda Lee, John Leyton: NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 April 1962

At the NME's sensational Poll Winners' concert — CLIFF, SHADOWS, HELEN, BILLY, ADAM GIVE THRILL OF LIFETIME ...

Rick Nelson: Ricky Nelson: Now Ricky's Name Change Is Official!

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 April 1962

'YOUNG WORLD' is probably the last disc by Ricky Nelson you'll see in the NME Charts – but don't panic. At 21 Ricky has no ...

Lonnie Donegan: Palace Theatre, Manchester

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 4 May 1962

RIP-ROARING DONEGAN! ...

Cliff Richard, Eden Kane, The Shadows: Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Eden Kane: Our Friends The Stars Charity Concert, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 11 May 1962

NEW SHADOW MAKES LONDON DEBUT ...

Winifred Atwell: Win Gets In Trim For Hit!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 May 1962

WINIFRED ATWELL is determined to bounce right back into the hit parade with her first disc for Pye, 'Game Of Chance'. ...

Anthony Newley: I'm Worried About My Discs: I Still Need Hits admits Tony Newley

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 July 1962

ANTHONY NEWLEY smoothed out a crease in the trousers of his tuxedo suit, sipped from a large mug of Shepperton film studio tea and looked ...

John Leyton Phones Alan Smith From Munich To Say: Filming In Germany Is Dangerous

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 July 1962

(But It Could Make Me A Star In America) ...

Frank Ifield, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Helen Shapiro, Norman Wisdom: Ed Sullivan Says Cliff Right To Avoid Oxford Accent

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 August 1962

THE NEWS that Cliff Richard is being sought for American TV's world-famous Ed Sullivan Show this autumn couldn't be more appropriate than it is right ...

Connie Francis: Connie Will Rock For Britain!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 August 1962

THERE'LL BE no more weepie-weepie songs from Connie Francis once her current hit 'Vacation' leaves the charts... for Connie is to record special future releases ...

Frank Ifield: It Was All The Better For That Ifield Smile!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 August 1962

Recording manager NORRIE PARAMOR reveals a secret behind the No. 1 hit ...

Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk: Acker Bilk; Kenny Ball: Alan Smith Goes Sailing With Two Of Britain's Top Disc Stars

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 August 1962

Acker's Happy With His Vocal Success ...

Ray Charles: Mother Taught Ray Charles To Cope With Blindness

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 31 August 1962

THOUGH HE has been blind since the age of six, one of Ray Charles' biggest hates is to be treated as a blind person. It ...

Anthony Newley: On the eve of his great U.S. adventure — Tony Newley says 'I Don't Want To Stay Too Long'

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 14 September 1962

ANTHONY NEWLEY had every reason to look a little worried as he boarded a Philadelphia-bound airliner at London Airport on Sunday morning. And no wonder. ...

Bobby Vinton Replies To Ronnie Carroll

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 September 1962

...and reveals a secret to ALAN SMITH ...

Lonnie Donegan: Lonnie takes 'Dustman' to U.S.

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 September 1962

I MANAGED to catch Lonnie Donegan — but only just! — before he left this country for his third visit to America on Sunday. ...

The Springfields Think U.S. 'Stunning'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 September 1962

SAID TOM Springfield (of the Springfields): "You've no idea how stunned we were when 'Silver Threads And Golden Needles' got into the U.S. Hot 100. ...

Nat King Cole, George Shearing: George Shearing is very happy about Nat Cole's hit

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 October 1962

WHEN 'Ramblin' Rose' leapt high into the NME Charts last week, nobody was happier than George Shearing, in London for the start of his tour. ...

Sam Cooke: Sam Ploughed Money Into Act

Profile by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 5 October 1962

SAM COOKE is currently one of America's hottest disc properties. Since he scored his first hit with 'You Send Me', Sam has had a pretty ...

Elvis Presley: Dates With Elvis

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 October 1962

Presley's Follow That Dream co-star ANNE HELM talks to Alan Smith ...

Joe Brown Joins Elite!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 October 1962

He talks to Alan Smith about having two albums in the charts ...

Pat Boone: Royal Welcome Awaits Boone

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 October 1962

ONE top American star you can't accuse of neglecting his British fans is Pat Boone, who'll be flying into London next week for his third ...

B. Bumble & The Stingers: Cavern Club, Liverpool

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 October 1962

Thumper Bumble ...

The Beatles: Newcomers To The Charts: Liverpool's Beatles Wrote Their Own Hit

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 October 1962

MAKING THEIR NME Chart debut with 'Love Me Do' this week are the Beatles, a vocal-instrumental group who hail from Liverpool, the birthplace of such ...

Acker Bilk Picks 'Desert Island Discs' — And Talks About Others He Wanted

Report and Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 16 November 1962

MR. ACKER BILK found himself on a desert island this week — recording his part as a castaway on the BBC's long-running Desert Island Discs ...

Acker Bilk, Beryl Bryden, The Temperance Seven: Acker Bilk, Beryl Bryden: Hammersmith Gaumont, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 16 November 1962

ROCK INSTRUMENTS INVADE TRAD ...

Adam Faith: Alan Smith Learns About Adam Faith's Far East Joy And Agony

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 November 1962

TIRED BUT tanned, Adam Faith flew into Britain on Sunday after his first tour of Australia and New Zealand — and then went straight back ...

The Everly Brothers, Phil Everly: Phil Everly says Thanks

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 November 1962

PALE AND drawn after his four week tour of Britain without brother Don, Phil Everly slumped into a deep armchair in his dressing room at ...

Frank Ifield: With Yodelling Becoming Ever More Popular — Frank Ifield Gives Some Tips On How To Do It

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 November 1962

WE WERE sitting in Frank Ifield's dressing room at Liverpool Empire on Sunday — the last night of his triumphant tour with the Phil Everly ...

Dave Brubeck, Ronnie Scott: Near-in Brubeck

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 30 November 1962

IT WAS a new Dave Brubeck on tour in Britain this time. ...

Patsy Cline Overcame Grave Car Crash Injuries

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 7 December 1962

PERSONAL tragedy is nothing to Patsy Cline, who sings of 'Heartaches' on her first big hit disc in Britain. Her fast-rising career was interrupted last ...

Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline: Grand Ole Opry Show: Carnegie Hall, New York NY

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 December 1962

C-and-W invades the New York concert world ...

The Crystals, Phil Spector: The Crystals: New to the Charts — Six Girls With Two Names!

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 December 1962

SO VAST is the American disc scene that quite often an artist or group can get high into the charts without anybody here knowing much ...

Mel Tormé: Now Mel Gets With The Beat!

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 4 January 1963

HALF-WAY through 1961 Melvin Howard Tormé was moaning that "there were no songs being written that were worth singing. ...

Duke Ellington, Odetta: Ian Dove Gives a Big NME Welcome to Ellington and Odetta

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 11 January 1963

COME SLUMP or boom, war or peace, fad or fashion, Duke Ellington has gone on leading a big band. For 37 years, to be precise! ...

Johnny and The Hurricanes: Gaumont State Ballroom, Kilburn, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 18 January 1963

HURRICANES IMPRESS ...

The Limeliters: Alan Smith invites you to meet The Limeliters

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 January 1963

INTO THE Limelight this week come... the Limeliters. This lively American folk trio arrive today (Friday) for their first-ever visit to Britain. ...

The Four Seasons: Old Movie Has Inspired Four Seasons' Latest Hit

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 25 January 1963

'BIG GIRLS don't cry' — current hit for vocal group the Four Seasons — owes it all to film stars John Wayne and Joan Crawford! ...

Brian Hyland: Welcome Brian Hyland

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 January 1963

THE BLOND, blue-eyed singer who emerged as Bobby Vee's biggest rival in 1962, Brian Hyland will come slap-bang into a controversy when he arrives for ...

The Rooftop Singers: *New to the Charts* — Rooftop Singers Start Moving Here

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 1 February 1963

'WALK RIGHT IN', by the Rooftop " Singers — the disc that starts off like a folky guitar instrumental and then turns into a vocal ...

Little Eva: Alan Smith Says 'Welcome, Little Eva'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 February 1963

THE GIRL who put a new twist into the twist – Little Eva – arrives in London today (Friday) for her first tour of Britain. ...

Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk: Bilk Courts 'Twins': Ball Sticks to Band

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 1 February 1963

Ian Dove talks to two trad giants and finds different outlooks ...

The Bachelors: Astor Club, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 February 1963

Debut At Astor ...

The Beatles: You've Pleased-Pleased Us Say The Beatles

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 February 1963

THINGS ARE beginning to move for the Beatles, the r-and-b styled British group which crashed back into the NME Chart this week at No. 17. ...

Tommy Steele, The Tornados: Alan Smith On Film Sets With The Tornados and Tommy Steele

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 February 1963

A HAUNTING theme-tune echoed across the stage of a dingy London theatre on Tuesday morning, as film cameras turned on that "Globetrotting" hit group, the ...

Mike Berry Takes Things Smoothly

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 February 1963

ALAN SMITH talks to a new Top Ten singer ...

Erik Darling, The Rooftop Singers: 'Walk Right In': The Man

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 15 February 1963

ERIK DARLING, musical director and organiser of the Rooftop Singers — "We're a folk music group," he insists — has a hit on his hands ...

Billy Fury, The Tornados: NMExclusive: Billy Fury by the Tornados

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 22 February 1963

IT IS NOW almost fifteen months to the day that our group — itself only about six months old — played an audition to Billy ...

Ella Fitzgerald: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 1 March 1963

Ella Throws 'Loop De Loop' Away ...

Judy Garland: Judy Cried At Herself

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 March 1963

"BRITAIN IS A home from home to me," said Judy Garland recently. "I remember my career was at a low ebb back in 1950 and ...

The Beatles: Beatles Almost Threw 'Please Please Me' Away

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 March 1963

THE BEATLES opened a copy of the NME and gazed proudly at the Charts when 'Please Please Me' hit the top recently. It was a ...

Patsy Cline Killed In Air Crash

Report by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 8 March 1963

A TRAGIC air accident again struck a cruel blow at the pop music world this week. Four years after Buddy Holly's death, country-and-western star Patsy ...

The Bachelors: The Bachelor Boys Are Happy!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 March 1963

THE HAPPY Bachelors, celebrate their ninth week in the NME Chart today (Friday), standing at lucky No. 13 with their hit disc 'Charmaine'. ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: New to the Charts: Gerry, Pacemakers from Beatle-land!

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 March 1963

CRASHING into the NME Chart this week comes another beat name from Beatle-land, Liverpool's Gerry and the Pacemakers. Gerry is featured vocalist on 'How Do ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Gerry And The Pacemakers Reveal Their Success Secret: 'We Let Go!'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 April 1963

"UND JETZT," said Gerry (of the Pacemakers), "ein wünsche für..." The rest of his announcement was drowned by a burst of good-natured jeering from the ...

Hank Locklin on Newcomers' TV Show!

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 April 1963

ONE OF America's biggest country-and-western stars, Hank Locklin, is arriving in London today (Friday) for his first visit to this country. Regrettably, most of his ...

Roy Orbison: Janet Martin Describes to Ian Dove Roy Orbison's Home-Life

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 12 April 1963

ROY ORBISON may live just outside Nashville, Tennessee — in Hendersonville, to be exact — and he may record his hit discs in the celebrated ...

Kenny Ball, The Kingston Trio: Kenny Ball talks about the Kingston Trio

Profile and Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 12 April 1963

JAZZMAN KENNY Ball is happy about appearing with America's top folk group, the Kingston Trio... a group he saw on his recent American tour. ...

Ruby & the Romantics: New to the Charts: Ruby, Romantics Make It At Last!

Profile by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 12 April 1963

'OUR DAY Will Come' couldn't be a more appropriate disc title for Ruby and the Romantics, who enter the NME Chart this week. Their record ...

The Chiffons: New to the Charts: Tokens aid Chiffons

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 19 April 1963

'HE'S SO FINE', the disc by the Chiffons — a coloured, all-girl group with a Shirelles-type sound — looks set to confirm the prophecy of ...

The Beatles: Throat Sweets Keep Us Going Say Beatles!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 April 1963

A NEVER-ENDING supply of throat sweets is one of the secrets behind the continued success of the Beatles, who come crashing into the NME Chart ...

Skeeter Davis: Alan Smith Conducts a Transatlantic Question-Time with Skeeter Davis

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 April 1963

A MODEST, charming person who's far from being as sad as she sounds on her first British hit, 'The End Of The World'! — that's ...

The Beatles, Mike Berry, The Brook Brothers, Joe Brown, Cliff Richard, The Shadows, The Tornados: Cliff Richard, The Beatles, The Tornados, Joe Brown et al: NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 April 1963

MIKE BERRY burst into the second half to the throbbing beat of 'La Bamba'. Close on its heels came his current release 'My Little Baby' ...

Gerry Mulligan: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 26 April 1963

Melodic Mulligan ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: Beaty Welcome for Jerry Lee Lewis

Report by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 3 May 1963

JERRY LEE LEWIS looks like getting a wild welcome when he arrives to start his British tour at Birmingham Town Hall on May 6. At ...

The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer: Billy J. Kramer Adds To Liverpool Chart Invasion!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 May 1963

FIRST THE BEATLES, then Gerry and the Pacemakers. Now a new Liverpool name, Billy J. Kramer, looks set to take the NME Chart by storm ...

Billie Davis, Duffy Power, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, John Leyton, Mike Berry, Mike Sarne: John Leyton, Mike Sarne, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan et al: Essoldo, Brighton

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 3 May 1963

LEYTON PACKAGE FEATURES NEW MIKE SARNE ...

The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, The Shadows, The Tornados: Top Acts Explain The Beat-Boom

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 3 May 1963

IAN DOVE quizzes SHADOWS, TORNADOS, BEATLES, JET & TONY, and GERRY & PACEMAKERS ...

Andy Williams Explains Why He Didn't Do A Palladium TV

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 May 1963

ANDY WILLIAMS settled back into a deep armchair at London's Dorchester Hotel. "I couldn't appear on Sunday Night At The Palladium," he said, "because of ...

Eddie Cochran: Fans Prove Label Wrong About Cochran

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 May 1963

EDDIE COCHRAN'S chart entry 'My Way' is only one of several previously unissued discs the U.S. star left behind after his death in April, 1960. ...

Heinz, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent: Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Heinz: Town Hall, Birmingham

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 10 May 1963

Two 'houses' shouted 'We want Jerry'! ...

The Beatles: From You To Us Inspired 'From Me To You'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 May 1963

according to THE BEATLES who told Alan Smith ...

Ray Charles: Welcome to Ray Charles

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 10 May 1963

THE GENIUS... Messiah... Prophet... High Priest. Big words, and strange words to apply to a singer! But all have been used with religious fervour describing ...

Billy J. Kramer: Singing Was Forced On To Me!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 May 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER sat back in his manager's London office and looked thoughtful as the bubbles settled on top of his cup of hot tea. ...

Ray Charles: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 17 May 1963

Too hard a job for Ray Charles? ...

Ray Charles: "I Don't Know What Is The Real Me," Admits Ray Charles

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 24 May 1963

"CARY GRANT, the film star. You know, he's a friend of mine and he used to tell me to come to England. He told me ...

Bobby Rydell's British Recording Hits The Bull's Eye!

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 24 May 1963

BOBBY RYDELL came from America in March to appear on Sunday Night At The London Palladium. While here he said: "Just lately I haven't been ...

Paul & Paula: Paul and Paula Make a Frank Statement About Marriage

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 24 May 1963

PAUL AND PAULA, the "Young Lovers" who sing simple songs of love and tenderness to each and project the same kind of image, received poor ...

Freddie & The Dreamers: The Hilarious Account Of How Freddie 'Floated' From Milk To Hit

Profile and Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 7 June 1963

MR. FREDERICK GARRATTY has it all worked out exactly when he became just plain Freddie, a full-time professional entertainer with a backing group called the ...

Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly: Buddy Holly Scores Fourth 'Bo' Hit!

Report by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 14 June 1963

ONCE AGAIN, 'Bo Diddley' is a hit — the fourth time it has been in the pop music charts, this time steered there by the ...

Lesley Gore: Parties Are Lucky For Lesley

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 14 June 1963

MAKING HER chart bow this week with 'It's My Party', attractive Lesley Gore actually owes her disc success to the occasion she sang a song ...

Kenny Ball, Heinz: Kenny Ball and Heinz on the Film Set

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 June 1963

ONE HOUR'S worth of story, 20 minutes of music (including Kenny Ball's new hit 'Rondo') is the way they've planned Britain's latest pop film, Live ...

Jim Reeves: Long-lasting Jim Reeves Takes Things Very Calmly

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 21 June 1963

JIM REEVES comes from Texas, has that celebrated lazy Texan drawl and a relaxed attitude towards singing and his audience. Everything appears to be taken ...

The Everly Brothers: Phil And Don Everly Put Up A Fight

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 June 1963

NOBODY could say the fortunes of the Everly Brothers have been at their highest just lately, but the boys are determined to put up a ...

The Isley Brothers: Beatles Make Isleys' Hit

Report by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 28 June 1963

THREE brothers, O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald — the surname is Isley — have to be very thankful to Liverpool's Beatles. For if the Beatles weren't ...

Connie Francis Returns to Sing for our Queen

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 June 1963

CONNIE FRANCIS must hold some kind of record for the number of times she's visited Britain in the past few years! She'll be adding another ...

Lesley Gore: The Singing Rebel

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 June 1963

IT'S THE BEATLES' favourite disc of the moment and it's sung by a 17-year-old American girl who had a genteel upbringing in the sedate neighbourhood ...

Sophie Tucker: The Talk Of The Town, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 28 June 1963

Same Old Sophie ...

The Swinging Blue Jeans: Blue Jeans Swing into Chart

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

THE SWINGING Blue Jeans have been swinging for a long time. Back in 1957, when they were first formed, the line-up was typical of those ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Just Say 'Didn'I' To Get The Pacemakers Laughing

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

GERRY AND the Pacemakers staggered into their dressing-room, glistening with perspiration as each fell into a chair and sipped an ice-cold drink. "Like it?" grinned ...

The Tremeloes: New to the Charts: Brian Poole & Tremeloes

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

IT'S FIFTH time lucky for Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, who make their chart bow this week with 'Twist And Shout'. ...

Nat King Cole: Welcome Back to Nat 'King' Cole

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 5 July 1963

INCREDIBLE — but in December, 1940, in a Hollywood recording studio, Nat "King" Cole made the first of many hit discs, 'Sweet Lorraine'. It is ...

Billy Fury: My Top Ten by Billy Fury

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 12 July 1963

'DESTINY' by Johnnie Ray. — Before the days of rock 'n' roll, I was a great Johnnie Ray fan, following his career and records closely. ...

The Searchers: Searchers Paid £40 To Make LP

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 July 1963

THE SEARCHERS might not be in the NME Top Ten this week – making an amazing jump from No. 24 to No. 5! – if ...

Bobby Rydell: Experiment Worked After Two Years Says Bobby Rydell

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 July 1963

BOBBY RYDELL is head over heels at the success of his British-made disc 'Forget Him' — his first record to hit the NME Chart since 'Sway' almost ...

Mickie Most: Newcomer to the Charts: Mickie Most Goes Right Back...

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 19 July 1963

MICKIE MOST may be a newcomer to the NME Top 30 with 'Mr. Porter', but he's had one of the longest careers in beat music ...

The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, The Tremeloes: The 'Twist And Shout' Battle Hots Up! (And How The NME Helped)

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 July 1963

THERE'S A long and fascinating story behind the big come-back success of 'Twist And Shout' (now with three versions in the best-sellers) — and it's ...

The Dakotas, Billy J. Kramer: Billy J. Kramer Talks About the Dakotas

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 9 August 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER stood in the wings at Southend Odeon at the weekend, clicking his fingers to the rhythm of the Dakotas. A spotlight penetrated ...

The Beatles, Paul McCartney: Close-Up on Paul McCartney, a Beatle

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 August 1963

I WENT roof-climbing with the Beatles – up a rickety wooden ladder, over drainpipes, and past the huge chimney-pots of London's plush Washington Hotel. The ...

The Caravelles: Two Smart Girls

Profile by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 9 August 1963

THE CARAVELLES sound "like so many Peggy Lees all singing at once," said one entranced listener when he heard their debut disc 'You Don't Have ...

Gene Pitney, The Supremes: Gene Pitney's 72 Days With The Supremes

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 2 October 1964

GENE PITNEY recently took a bus journey with the Supremes. They shared front seat views — FOR 72 DAYS AND OVER 30,000 MILES. Gene, who ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers: Newcomers to the Charts: Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers

Profile and Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 2 October 1964

FOR CLIFF Bennett it's seventh record lucky! Cliff has finally made it with 'One Way Love' at No. 29 in the NME Chart. ...

The Hollies: Through? Not The Hollies!

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 2 October 1964

LOTS OF PEOPLE said that the Hollies were through because they were taking too long issuing another record. So the Manchester group agreed "We're Through" ...

The Beatles: What We Bought At Harrods

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 December 1964

CHRISTMAS COMES but once a year... and when it comes it brings special problems for the Beatles. Those four famous faces can't just nip into ...

Cilla Black: Cilla Is Knocked Out By New Disc!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 January 1965

KEITH ALTHAM meets a sun-tanned singing star and discovers... ...

Chuck Berry, Graham Bond, The Moody Blues, Simon Scott: Chuck Berry, the Moody Blues, Graham Bond Organisation, Simon Scott: Lewisham Odeon, London

Live Review by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 15 January 1965

Olé, it's Chuck 'Crazylegs' now! Ian Dove covers latest Berry tour ...

The Moody Blues: Moody Blues Are Really Quite Happy!

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 15 January 1965

I DONT KNOW why they are called the Moody Blues. They aren't moody or blue. ...

The Animals: Animals In America

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 February 1965

ERIC BURDON v. Cassius Clay might sound like an unlikely title bout but Eric informs me that it was almost reality when the Animals were ...

The Seekers: Seekers Are Goon Fans

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 February 1965

"HELLO Folks!" That Spike Milligan salutation would seem highly appropriate to open an article about Australian folk singers, The Seekers, who attribute a great deal ...

The Hollies: Hollies Get Into No 1 Hit Mood

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 February 1965

"IT'S GREAT to be Number One – you can't get much lower than that!" shouted Graham Nash, as the Hollies invaded the NME offices on ...

Gene Pitney: Flashback for Gene Pitney to The Most Ridiculous Session Ever

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 5 March 1965

WORD WENT around very quickly about the "most ridiculous recording session ever." Accountants blanched as they put the cost in their account books. Heads of ...

The Rolling Stones: Startling Stones Discovery!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 March 1965

I DISCOVERED the secret of the Stones act last weekend at the Edmonton Regal. It is — THEY DON'T HAVE ONE! ...

Dave Berry, Goldie & The Gingerbreads, The Hollies, The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Dave Berry, Goldie & The Gingerbreads, The Checkmates: Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 March 1965

FOUR NEW TUNES IN THE ACT ...

Tom Jones

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 March 1965

STRAIGHT from his long run up the North Pier, Worthing, Tom Jones arrived bleary-eyed and bewhiskered in his dressing room at Ready, Steady, Go! to ...

The Contours, Earl Van Dyke, Kim Weston, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes: A Warning To The Tamla-Motown Visitors From Their Biggest Fan!

Interview by Ian Dove, New Musical Express, 19 March 1965

BRITAIN'S Mr. Tamla-Motown — he's Dave Godin, organiser of the Tamla-Motown Appreciation Society — was walking around warning the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, the ...

Marianne Faithfull

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 March 1965

MARIANNE FAITHTULL frightens me to death. She is cool, confident, clever and highly successful. The kind of beauty you meet at a party, regulate yourself ...

Sandie Shaw: Unsure Sandie

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 March 1965

BACK from a hectic five-day promotional tour of France I found Sandie Shaw and composer Chris ('Long Live Love') Andrews seated at a piano in ...

Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw: Sandie Shaw and Adam Faith

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 April 1965

ADAM GOT the Rolls out and with Sandie Shaw and I in the back we drove along Tooting Bec Broadway searching for a fish and ...

The Kinks' Peter Quaife

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 April 1965

THERE IS a touch of the "Paul McCartneys" about Peter Quaife of the Kinks. Like Paul he plays bass, and like Paul he is the ...

Unit 4+2

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 April 1965

MY NEW disc will be issued in mid-April! I'm being backed by Buster Meikle, Humble Garwood, Pigmy Halliday, Lem Lubin, Count Moules and Sweat Moeller. ...

Marianne Faithfull: Marianne Never Does What A Pop Star Should

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 April 1965

SHE HAS a pert, child-like face which darts out at you from a cascade of fine, fair hair. The face seems to be concentrated into ...

Dave Berry: Surfing, What's That?

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 April 1965

"SURFER" DAVE BERRY, as his publicist Andy "Wipeout" Wickham is now pleased to title him, phoned me from his home in Manchester. Needless to say, ...

The Animals, The Bachelors, The Beatles, Cilla Black, Donovan, Dusty Springfield, Freddie & The Dreamers, Georgie Fame, Herman's Hermits, The Ivy League, The Kinks, The Moody Blues, The Rockin' Berries, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, Sounds Incorporated, Them, Tom Jones, Twinkle, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones et al: NME Poll Winners' Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 April 1965

IT WAS THE GREATEST POP SHOW ON EARTH ...

The Kinks: Kinks' Ray Davies

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 April 1965

RAY DAVIES is the King Kink. He composed all their hits and although there is no official leader in the group, Ray is the driving ...

Donovan: I'll Quit After Two More Years

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 April 1965

GIPSY DAVE sat in Donovan's dressing room playing a strange instrument – a leg off a Queen Anne chair strung with one guitar string. ...

The Animals: Eric Burdon, Animal Trainer

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 April 1965

CLAD in a black track suit, zippered to the neck, and still wearing his carpet slippers, the chunky figure of Eric Burdon lay writhing on ...

Françoise Hardy: One Girl Music Organisation!

Profile by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 April 1965

AT TWENTY-ONE, Francoise Hardy is undoubtedly the most attractive musical organisation in the world. She is her own accompanist, agent, manager and composer. For that ...

Peter and Gordon: Peter & Gordon Are Poles Apart

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 April 1965

BEFORE THEIR trip to Japan and the Far East I lunched with Peter Asher and his sparring partner Gordon Waller, and a more unlikely combination ...

Manfred Mann

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 May 1965

MANFRED MANN (not to be confused with the group) is often cynical, outspoken and sometimes frank to the point of being rude. He is also ...

Marianne Faithfull: Marianne Meets Dylan And Baez

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 May 1965

THE COLOURFUL combination of Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithfull, Joan Baez, John Mayall and "a nice fat man called Albert" (Dylan's manager) met to dispose of ...

Them

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 May 1965

I CAN'T say that it came as a surprise to find that – after three cancelled appointments with Them – they were not at the ...

Peter and Gordon: Peter & Gordon Push Elvis, Everlys

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 June 1965

SQUATTING in my waste-paper basket, crunching a wafer biscuit and gulping a carton of cow juice, last Friday evening, sat the finest unpaid publicity man ...

The Yardbirds: Yardbirds Don't Like Own Hits

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 June 1965

IN THE middle of a field in Windsor sat Yardbirds' vocalist Keith Relf dressed as an Elizabethan page with plumed hat and a huge silk ...

Françoise Hardy: Françoise Sweeps In

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 June 1965

FRANCOISE HARDY swept into London's Savoy Hotel in a red jacket, boots and bell-bottom trousers. It had been quite a day for the French star ...

The Kinks: Kinks Back To Abnormal

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 June 1965

FOLLOWING Dave Davies' recent cymbolic headache and the Kinks withdrawal from their tour, there's been wild speculation about their future. I met them last Friday ...

The Walker Brothers: American Walkers Love Wild Wild Fans

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 June 1965

THERE are fifteen mirrors in one bedroom; a cavalry sword on the wall; a marble bust of nobody in particular on the mantelpiece; an enormous ...

Elvis Presley: More Old Songs: Tickle Me

Film/DVD/TV Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 June 1965

Tickle Me isn't the GREATEST film Elvis has ever made, but it isn't the worst, either. ...

Manfred Mann, The Rolling Stones: Stones and Manfreds: Jones Boys Talk About Chart-Making EPs

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 June 1965

FOR THE first time two EPs have crashed into the NME Chart simultaneously. They are the Rolling Stones' 'Got Live If You Want It' and the Manfreds' ...

The Who Use Force To Get The Sound They Want!!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 June 1965

HE SAT TENSED against a hard-backed chair, dressed in a Carnaby Street blue jacket and with a blond, Mod hairstyle that showed dark at the ...

Donovan Gambles On Anti-war Song About Vietnam

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 2 July 1965

DONOVAN doesn't wear his faded denim cap any more. But this isn't the only change in the life of the young curly-headed folk singer whose ...

The Hollies: Hollies Get Into No. 1

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 July 1965

...and tell Keith Altham about it ...

The Everly Brothers, The Rolling Stones: When Everlys joined Stones

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 2 July 1965

I SUPPOSE you could have called the act the Rolling Everlys — or the Stones Brother! But whatever the name, there's no mistaking the terrific ...

Bob Dylan, Dana Gillespie: Bob Dylan's Not A Singer At All — Says His Friend Dana

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 July 1965

"HE'S NOT really a singer at all. He just writes poems and sings them because he thinks a narrative would bore people. Donovan's voice is ...

The Everly Brothers: Everlys Thrilled Over British Tour

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 9 July 1965

"WE'RE looking so much forward to going back to Britain," exclaimed Don Everly on the phone from Decorah, Iowa, to my office in California. "We're ...

Joan Baez — Big Surprise

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 July 1965

HOW MANY people thought that Joan Baez would be seen back in the NME Chart again, once 'We Shall Overcome' had faded into the distance? Not many, ...

The Yardbirds: Yardbirds Question Time

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 July 1965

THE YARDBIRDS were in no mood for pulling punches when I called on them in their dressing room at the Ready, Steady, Go studios in ...

Adam Faith, Jackie Trent, Sandie Shaw, Val Doonican: Eve Taylor: Queen Bee Of Show Business

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 July 1965

EVELYN TAYLOR – affectionately, respectfully, jealously and irreverently known as the "Queen Bee of Show Business" – has a loud voice, grey hair and the ...

Donovan: Hollywood Not So Hot — say Donovan and Baez!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 July 1965

"I WASN'T exactly knocked out with it, man," said Donovan, having "done" Hollywood and in the process of "doing" a large plateful of ravioli in ...

P.J. Proby: I'm Still The Greatest

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 July 1965

LOOKING rather like a refugee from a Biblical nightmare, P.J. Proby – with beard and shoulder-length hair – loped down the corridor from Top Of ...

The Pretty Things: Scotland's Really Wild Report Pretty Things

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 July 1965

APART FROM being banned from swimming pools, finding their dressing-room in the middle of the girls' cloakroom, and being pulled off stage with alarming regularity, ...

Dusty Springfield: Tired Dusty Raves Over Next Single

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 July 1965

IT WAS 2.30 in the afternoon and Dusty Springfield was still sound asleep when I rang her at her London home. There was a slight ...

The Ivy League: Ivy League Are Inspired By Life

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 July 1965

"MIDNIGHT... neon signs bursting into life and winking out... theatres with names in fire... Sammy Davis in Golden Boy... your first time walking down Broadway... the ...

Manfred Mann: Manfred plays the "Baiting" Game

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 July 1965

...AND VENTS HIS SARCASM ON REPORTER KEITH ALTHAM ...

The Dave Clark Five: Dave Clark is Plane Unlucky

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

DAVE CLARK arrived back in Britain on Tuesday from America six hours late. His original plane had to return to Kennedy Airport with a damaged ...

The Animals: John Steel — The Forgotten Animal

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

JOHN STEEL is a very rare Animal. Seldom seen with the pack (Messrs. Rowberry, Chandler, Burdon and Valentine) and seldom heard. He remains the background ...

Jonathan King: New to the Charts: Jonathan King No. 19

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

THE TWENTY-one-year-old verbal machine-gun, by name Jonathan King, who entered the NME Chart at No. 19 with 'Everyone's Gone To The Moon' sat down in ...

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs: Sam The Sham Has Sung In Opera!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

Special from Tracy Thomas in Hollywood ...

Joan Baez, Dana Gillespie, Paul Simon: Two Views on Baez, by Paul Simon and Dana Gillespie

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

A SMALL, dark, intense man from Greenwich Village (home of his folkship, Bob Dylan) came to my office last week and talked about Joan Baez. ...

The Yardbirds: Yardbirds Lash Out

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 July 1965

THE YARDBIRDS are bristling with hurt anger this week — at Thank Your Lucky Stars Summer Spin; at their manager, and at a pop promoter who ...

Tom Jones: From Tom Jones In New York: New release is STUPID!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

JONES THE Pop sounded dull and unhappy when I rang him at the Gorham Hotel in New York this week. He thinks it's "damn stupid" ...

Georgie Fame : Will I be Flop of the Year?

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

THE BLUE Flames had gone home, and Georgie Fame stood in the middle of a recording studio, reaching up to the mike and belting out ...

Marianne Faithfull: Baby Halts Marianne's Plans

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

"BABIES are taking over," Marianne Faithfull informed me. "My little 'third party' is going to prevent me going to the U.S. or Mexico as I ...

The Beatles: John Lennon Slams The Critics

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

JOHN LENNON shouted for food, then turned to me in the vast, near-deserted auditorium of Blackpool's ABC theatre. In two hours he and the rest ...

The Fortunes: Fortunes Have Got Their Own Troubles

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

'YOU'VE GOT YOUR TROUBLES' and the Fortunes have certainly got their own as I found out when I spoke to them recently. "Our greatest problem ...

The Rolling Stones: The Stones Hit Back

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 August 1965

I WENT to see the big, bad Rolling Stones during their first-ever performance at the London Palladium last Sunday. ...

Joan Baez, Donovan: It's School-Marm Joan Baez Now!

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 August 1965

JOAN BAEZ has turned school-marm. In a Californian town she has started an unusual "School For Non-Violence", where children turn up to sit in silence. ...

Sonny & Cher: Sonny Became Singer Giving Cher Courage

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 August 1965

"I NEVER intended to be a singer," confessed Sonny, when I found him squatting on the stairs in the corridors of a BBC Theatre in ...

The Animals: Eric Burdon Turns Author

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 August 1965

STAND by for Eric Burdon, author. I've just been going over some of the roughs that Eric is preparing for his first book (publisher wanted). ...

The Animals, The Beatles, Steampacket: Wild Richmond Festival — and Meeting Two Unexpected Guests

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 August 1965

FROM A STEEL tower out in the middle of Richmond Athletic Ground the anxious voice of an American cameraman crackled through a walkie-talkie set held ...

The Kinks: Kinks' Room Had Iron Gates!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 August 1965

BACK FROM a weekend trip to Germany at London Airport on Monday, I met four hungry Kinks — three pale (Dave, Ray and Pete) and ...

Elkie Brooks, The Byrds, Donovan, Kenny Lynch: The Byrds, Donovan, Kenny Lynch et al: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 August 1965

Byrds' Weak Stage Act ...

The Righteous Brothers: Brothers Riding High!

Report and Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 20 August 1965

"BILL and Bob are thrilled about their New York stay," Karen Medley, wife of Righteous Brother Bill Medley, revealed to me in a telephone conversation. ...

The McCoys: New to the Charts: The McCoys on New Label

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 August 1965

IT'S IMMEDIATE success for the Andrew Oldham-Tony Calder "Immediate" disc label — and a first NME Chart entry for the American group the McCoys! The label's debut ...

Sonny & Cher Take Over Three Chart Spots! Including the Top!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 August 1965

Keith Altham spent four days with them to write this revealing article ...

The Walker Brothers: Walkers Make It Sound Easy — But It's Not!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 August 1965

TORN, TATTERED, but triumphant — the Walker Brothers have got the big hit they needed with their second record, 'Make It Easy On Yourself'. Hysterical ...

Brenda Lee: Brenda Really Means Those Sad Love Songs

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 September 1965

MARRIAGE CAN be a dodgy business when you're a pop star — as I found when a sad-voiced Brenda Lee phoned me from Nashville, Tennessee. ...

Horst Jankowski: Janie Marden Talks About Her Friend Horst Jankowski

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 September 1965

LOOK AT his picture and if you didn't know he was in the charts right now you might visualise Horst Jankowski as a bank clerk ...

The Rolling Stones: Now They're World-Wide Stones

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 September 1965

THE NEWS OF the big Stones shake-up broke in the Ready, Steady, Go! canteen last Friday evening as Bill Wyman and I sat chatting about ...

The Dave Clark Five: Question time with DAVE CLARK

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 September 1965

Conducted by ALAN SMITH ...

Billy Fury: Billy's New Outlook

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 September 1965

HE WORE a small-brimmed leather trilby and a dark grey jacket, and in the palm of his hand he flicked a king-sized cigarette lighter. Like ...

The Beatles, Ken Dodd: Ken Dodd Champions The Beat Groups

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 September 1965

"YES!" CACKLED Ken Dodd as he stood there in his dressing room at the London Palladium, wearing big boots, baggy trousers, a yellow daisy and ...

The Animals, Manfred Mann, The Rolling Stones: Stones Take Over!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 September 1965

ON THE TV monitor was Andrew Oldham, clad in bobcat waistcoat, miming to Cher's voice singing "I don't care if your hair's too long" and ...

Sonny & Cher: NMExclusive: Transatlantic phone call reveals... Sonny's Collapsed!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 September 1965

BUT THEY'VE BROKEN RECORDS ACROSS U.S. ...

Cher: All I Really Wanna Do (Liberty)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 September 1965

CHER'S LP — Track-by-track ...

Manfred Mann: Paul Jones says — No Smut In Latest Hit

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 September 1965

"SUGGESTlVE," "Blatant" and "Embarrassingly obvious" are just some of the harsh words being levelled at Manfred Mann's new hit 'If You Gotta Go, Go Now'. ...

The McCoys: McCoys Are America's Wildest Group

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 September 1965

...says ALAN SMITH ...

Billy Fury: Long Wait For Billy's Next Disc

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 September 1965

IT WILL BE only a week or so to Christmas before Billy Fury records the follow-up to his current hit, 'Run To My Lovin' Arms' ...

Dusty Springfield: Dusty: New Sound, New Look

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 September 1965

LOOK CLOSELY at this picture of Dusty Springfield. To me it is one of the liveliest and brightest shots of her I have ever seen. ...

Ken Dodd, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Hedgehoppers Anonymous, The Hollies, Barry McGuire, Peter, Paul & Mary, Dusty Springfield: Protest Songs: How sick will they get? asks Alan Smith

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 September 1965

SING A SONG of protest — and you, too, could find yourself there in the charts. Suddenly a whole flood of these let's-put-the-world-right numbers has ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones Tour: WILD! that's the scene for the next four weeks, says MICK JAGGER

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 September 1965

IN THE SPACE of four weeks 100,000 people will sit, and stand, and scream. More than 90,000 ice-creams and hysteria-cooling drinks will be sold. Hot, ...

Barry McGuire... Protests About Protests

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 1 October 1965

"I LEFT to be myself. I felt there were better things to be said. If I can't have fun then I'm not real, and if ...

James Brown: 95 Per Cent of Credit

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 1 October 1965

IT COULD have been James Brown, professional boxer or baseball player. Instead he chose to enter the world of entertainment and became a giant, playing ...

Wilson Pickett — Stones, Tom Jones Fan!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 1 October 1965

"I WAS SITTING on the front porch picking at my guitar and singing. This neighbour boy came up and asked me to play some more. ...

Dusty Springfield: Sunday Paper Scared off Dusty's Man

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 15 October 1965

THE DELECTABLE Miss Dusty Springfield was in candid mood when I spoke to her this week — about wigs, her nose . . . and ...

Andy Williams: Delighted Andy Williams Says Proudly Now I'm a British Pop Star!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 22 October 1965

NMExclusive interview in Hollywood byTRACY THOMAS ...

The Yardbirds: Our Emotional Experiences in Sound! — by the Yardbirds

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 October 1965

IT COULD be the flop of the year — or it could be the biggest thing in package shows since the invention of the electric ...

Sonny & Cher Get Even

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 October 1965

SONNY struck back last week! When I phoned him at his home in Los Angeles recently, I got him out of bed at five o'clock ...

The Walker Brothers: The Scott Walker Interview

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 October 1965

HIS MOTHER CALLS him "the madman." His manager, agent and publicist call him all kind of things when he disappears for days without telling anyone ...

The Fortunes: Fortunes Admit It: They Use Session Boys!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 October 1965

THE FORTUNES go on record as the first group I have met who have had the honesty to admit they use session musicians on their ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Hit Back

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 October 1965

TEATIME with the Rolling Stones in the Ready, Steady, Go! canteen proved most entertaining. David Jacobs was the conversational target to start with. Keith Richard ...

Peter and Gordon: Peter & Gordon Kill Split Rumours

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 November 1965

IF PETER and Gordon look just a little untidy when they appear on your TV screens in the Lennon-McCartney Spectacular at Christmas, you can put ...

The Animals: Animals Want to Wax a 'New Tracks' EP

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 November 1965

I PICKED up Eric Burdon at the BBC Maida Vale studios at 11 last Friday morning. ...

The Who: Smashing Time Costs WHO Fortune!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 November 1965

ANYONE WHO has ever seen a demolition gang smashing down a building will know what it's like when the Who get up steam. Their music ...

Len Barry, The Dovells, Bobby Vee: NMExclusive Interview with Len Barry

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 19 November 1965

...who talks about the disc nobody thought would make it! ...

The Toys: 'Toy June Is So Cute You'll Bite Her' says Toys' Manager!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 November 1965

LONDON-NEW YORK INTERVIEW by ALAN SMITH ...

Cliff Richard: Cliff Never Has To Worry About Material For His Next Single Or LP — He's Got Plenty In The Can

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 December 1965

"CHUTCHY-FACE." That would have been comedian Bernie Winters' name for Cliff Richard only a few months ago, when Cliff was a chubby-cheeked character who could ...

Tony Bennett Has Yo-Yo Hit

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 December 1965

PROBABLY the oddest chart story of the year lies behind 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco' — the silky, sophisticated Tony Bennett disc which ...

The Beatles: ALAN SMITH goes on tour with THE BEATLES!

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 December 1965

LIKE SOMETHING from the world of James Bond and international intrigue, a sleek Austin Princess with black tinted windows headed out of London in the ...

Spencer Davis Group: New to the Charts: Spencer Davis Group Makes Stones Happy

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 December 1965

THE GROUP that every other group — from the Stones to the Animals — wanted to have a hit, that's the Spencer Davis Group, and ...

Sandie Shaw: Sandie's Set To Act!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 December 1965

"'ELLO, IS THAT you? This is me. I've been trying to get through to you for over 20 minutes. What are you — a god ...

The Beatles, The Moody Blues: Odeon, Glasgow

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 December 1965

Beatles terrific... and rest of bill ...

The Who: Who Admit They're Feuding

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 December 1965

WHAT'S WRONG with the Who? Rumours that all is not well with the group have been circulating in show business circles for some weeks. ...

George Harrison, The Hollies: Hollies' Graham Nash Blasts back at George

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 December 1965

GEORGE HARRISON is probably the friendliest and most easy-going member of the Beatles. But something he said in the NME last week has brought him ...

Fontella Bass: Life-Lines of Fontella Bass

Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 17 December 1965

Real name: Fontella Bass. ...

The Beatles: London Turns On The Beatlemania

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 December 1965

Another tour special by ALAN SMITH ...

The Walker Brothers: Thrown Out!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 December 1965

WALKER BROTHERS GET FLAT SMELLING 'FUNKY' THEN THEY'RE THROWN OUT! ...

The Kinks: New Sounding Kinks

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 December 1965

WHEN I SAW Kink Ray Davies last week he was wearing a blue suit, white ankle socks and a weak smile. He was playing a ...

The Animals, Cilla Black, Herman's Hermits, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Who: On Christmas Eve... RSG Goes Out of its Mind!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 December 1965

Reports KEITH ALTHAM who previews the show ...

The Beatles: What They Bought At Harrods

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 December 1965

CHRISTMAS comes but once a year... and when it comes it brings special problems for the Beatles. Those four famous faces can't just nip into ...

Cilla Black: Little Red Riding Hood, Wimbledon Theatre, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 31 December 1965

Cilla a most vital 'Red Riding Hood' ...

Spencer Davis Group: 'Keep Running' was Originally the Flip Reveals Spencer Davis

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 31 December 1965

APPARENTLY BATH was flooded on Monday morning and, following this momentous news, Spencer Davis decided he had time at last to come to the NME offices for ...

The Four Seasons: Seasons Hate Miming

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 31 December 1965

ANN MOSES talks with BOB GAUDIO ...

Otis Redding: Tracy Thomas discovers Stones Knock Otis Out!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 31 December 1965

THEY call James Brown, "Mr. Dynamite," Roy Head is known as "Mr. Rubber Legs." But the title "Mr. Soul" belongs exclusively to Otis Redding, one ...

The Walker Brothers: We're Sure Glad We Came Here, Say Walker Brothers

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1966

THEY ARRIVED in Britain in February, 1965, because they felt that to achieve success in Britain was more important than doing so in the States. ...

Roger Miller: Coppers on Bikes Got Roger Miller Swinging!

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 7 January 1966

"England swings like a pendulum do. 
Bobbies on bicycles, two by two. 
Westminster Abbey, the Tower, Big Ben; 
The rosy-red cheeks of the little children."
(Part ...

Gary Walker (Leeds), The Walker Brothers: Gary Walker

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 January 1966

"EVERYONE IN the Business will hate it," Gary declared. "And especially the good singers. It should sell about two million copies — at which point ...

The Kinks: Kinks Go For Spider Sound

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 January 1966

THE MYSTERIOUS Spider Korner who plays "seven" string guitar and "roams the world", is the musical influence behind the Kinks' next single, Dave Davies revealed ...

Fontella Bass: British Trip Caused Heartaches For Fontella

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 January 1966

AS A RESULT of her recent British visit I found that sensitive "soul" Fontella Bass suffering from a big back-ache and a little heartache just ...

The Beatles, George Harrison: Wedding Belles: George Pities Paul

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 28 January 1966

"I PITY Paul," said George Harrison, with a wry grin, "'cos now he's the only Beatle left, you lot will hound him all over the ...

Spencer Davis Group: Spencer Davis: He's Deep, Very Deep

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 February 1966

SPENCER David Nelson (his father was a paratrooper!) Davis soared in my estimation last Friday when he sent the Rolling Stones' chauffeur-driven Austin Princess to ...

Nancy Sinatra: AWFUL For A Boy, JOKE For A Girl — That's The Argument Nancy Sinatra Used To Wax 'Boots' Hit

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 11 February 1966

HER BOOTS may have been made for walkin'! But Nancy Sinatra's 'Boots' also jumped, ran and scrambled up the pop charts in both America and ...

The Rolling Stones : Neurotic Bird Song

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 February 1966

AN INTERVIEW with the Rolling Stones is something to go to with mixed feelings. The prospect of being confined in a small office off Baker ...

Spencer Davis Group: The Spencer Davis Group: Steve Winwood — Modest Wonder Boy

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 February 1966

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Steve Winwood "the boy wonder" in the Spencer Davis group (lead vocals, guitar, piano, vibes and drums) is a modest – but "colourful" character! ...

The Walker Brothers: Walkers' Great Bodyguard!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 February 1966

IN STRODE the most enormous pair of grey jeans in the World and stood next to Scott Walker (a mere six foot) making him look ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boys' Fame Just Grew and Grew!

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 18 February 1966

THE FIVE Californian Beach Boys – Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine – began their music career with little intention of ...

Spencer Davis Group: Muff Winwood: Shy Guy

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 February 1966

BASS guitarist Muff (in memory of "Muffin The Mule") Winwood is the Spencer who hides in the toilet when the photographers are about! ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces: Big Problems!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

STEVE MARRIOTT said: "Me muvver and farver kept on at me to get a decent job." ...

Sonny & Cher: Sonny, Cher back in the NME Chart

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

"TOO MANY records, too soon and too often." That was the verdict of the critics when Sonny and Cher slipped from the charts last October ...

Spencer Davis Group: Spotlight on the Spencers: Useful Pete

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

PETE YORK, 23-year- old drummer with Spencer Davis, is the one who quit and came back. ...

The Animals: Animals Took Liberty With Prison Song

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

"WE TOOK A terrible liberty with 'Inside Looking Out'," admits Eric Burdon. "It's the first number we've recorded without a tune. It originates from a ...

Jonathan King, The Mindbenders, Sandie Shaw: The Mindbenders: Danger From Clippy!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

AS I APPROACHED the Mindbenders' dressing room down in the vaults of the BBC-TV Centre, a young lady hurtled out of an adjacent ladies' room ...

The Mindbenders: Danger from Clippy!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

AS I APPROACHED the Mindbenders' dressing room down in the vaults of the BBC-TV Centre, a young lady hurtled out of an adjacent ladies' room ...

Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Mindbenders: Wayne Fontana talks about the triumphant Mindbenders

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 February 1966

THE MINDBENDERS have come a long way since the days when they were backing group to Wayne Fontana — and Wayne, believe it or not, ...

James Brown: Two Sides of James Brown

Report and Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 4 March 1966

JAMES BROWN. Such a plain name – they call him Mr. Dynamite. They are one person. But there are two faces to the entertainer. Thousands ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boy Brian Solo — Has Stand-In With Group!

Report and Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 11 March 1966

IMAGINE THE Stones planning their next British tour, knowing that Mick was going to stay in London and write songs! Or what if Spencer Davis ...

The Animals, Scott Walker, The Walker Brothers: Eric Burdon & Scott Engel: Scott Smarts After Burdon's JBJ Slamming

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 March 1966

AN INTENSE person, who is over sensitive to criticism of his work, I found Scott Engel (Walker) more than a little irked by Eric Burdon's ...

The Yardbirds: Yardbirds Split!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 March 1966

THE YARDBIRDS ARE to split – but only on disc! In the group's dressing room at Ready, Steady Go last Friday I spoke with manager ...

The Kinks: Kinks Don't Mind 'Formby Quartet' Tag

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 March 1966

IN A LARGE WHITE house in East Finchley with an orange door (which he says is "red"), in a room with orange walls and an ...

The Who: Who Are Going Around In 'Circles'

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 March 1966

FOLLOW this closely – this is the saga of the group that is running around in "Circles" – who else but the Who? ...

Paul McCartney, Peter and Gordon: Paul McCartney did write 'Woman', but DON'T BLAME US, PLEASE! say PETER and GORDON

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 March 1966

LAST WEEK NME revealed that Bernard Webb, writer of Peter and Gordon's latest hit, 'Woman', was no less than Paul McCartney. The reason for the ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones Have Reached Peak At Home

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 March 1966

BRIAN JONES returned last week from his Australian-American exploits with innumerable albums by Ravi Shankar (an Indian citarist) and wearing his full-length Kangaroo coat. He ...

The Walker Brothers: Great To Be Alone At No. 1

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 March 1966

"IT'S GOOD to have it all to ourselves at the No. 1 spot this week," said Scott Engel when I spoke to him on Tuesday. ...

The Yardbirds: Yardbirds slam "live sound" critics

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 March 1966

NME READER Robin Segulem really lashed out in our "From You To Us" columns last week... and it was the Yardbirds who felt the sting. ...

The Rolling Stones: In Paris with the Rolling Stones

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 April 1966

Keith Altham finds there's never a dull moment! ...

The Rolling Stones: Olympia, Paris

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 April 1966

IN PARIS Keith Altham (flying as Keith Richard!) reports BILL STOPS BOMB EXPLOSION! ...

Simon & Garfunkel: New to the Charts: Enter the intellectual S & G!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 8 April 1966

"LIFE IS like a game. Everyone keeps trying to find out how to win. If you stopped trying to discover this, life would be nothing." ...

The Rolling Stones: Aftermath (Decca)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 April 1966

NMExclusive track by track review of STONES NEW LP ...

The Who, The Yardbirds: With Who And 'Birds At Paris Allez-Oop!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 April 1966

READY, Steady, Allez-oops, from the Locomotive in Paris last Friday, was largely held together by the efforts of the Who and the Yardbirds, who were ...

Spencer Davis Group: 'Somebody' Makes No. 1 — But Too Quickly For Spence!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 April 1966

THAT WELL-known chart topper and expectant father ("If it's a bloke I'm going to call him Gregory") and man about Potters Bar – Spencer Davis, ...

The Walker Brothers: Walker Hostility On The Wane

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 April 1966

BEING misunderstood is a full-time occupation for Scott Engel. As the Walker Brothers' reputation soars, so Scott manages to over-exercise his incredible talent for putting ...

Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel: Paul Simon: Now They All Want Paul Simon Songs!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 April 1966

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT influence in popular music today, since the emergence of that well-known Lennon-McCartney firm, seems to be the mini-sized music-maker Paul Simon, who ...

The Lovin' Spoonful: Nice, Abnormal Spoonful!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 April 1966

JOHN SEBASTIAN, twenty-one-year-old composer and singer of the Lovin' Spoonful's latest hit 'Daydream', which is currently No. 4 in America, arrived at the group's Pye ...

Manfred Mann: NME Chart Proves Manfreds Wrong

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 April 1966

DOWN AMONG the devil worshippers at the BBC Top Of The Pops studio last Thursday afternoon was Paul Jones, that disturbing combination of schoolboy charm ...

The Beatles, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Fortunes, Herman's Hermits, Roy Orbison, Crispian St. Peters, Alan Price, Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, The Shadows, The Small Faces, Sounds Incorporated, Spencer Davis Group, Dusty Springfield, The Walker Brothers, The Who, The Yardbirds: All About The World's Greatest Pop Show: 1966 NME Concert Mightiest Ever!

Live Review by Keith Altham, Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 May 1966

THOUSANDS upon thousands of fans converging on the massive Wembley Empire Pool for the biggest pop show in the world on Sunday... the staggering, the ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich: Dave Dee Laughs, Too — All Way To The Bank!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 May 1966

DAVE DEE, DOZY, Beaky, Mick and Tich are a gift to mediocre comedians who fall about making "unpunny" remarks like: "Oh, yes, 'Wavy Lee, Drunken, ...

Bob Dylan: Dylan's Press Reception

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 May 1966

HAIR BRISTLING about like a Fijian suffering from a severe electrical shock, wearing a blue suede jacket and white striped trousers, Bob Dylan meandered into ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich: Focus on BEAKY and DOZY

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1966

BEAKY (real name John Dymond) is the gaunt-faced rhythm guitarist with the group whose sinister looks contradict his "matey" nature. He has a fund of ...

Percy Sledge: Blues Singer's Gamble Paid Off

Profile by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1966

TIME WAS when the biggest stars of show business had names like "Rock Stone" or "Lex Treason" — strong, rugged names that helped to give ...

The Small Faces: Steve Marriott: I'm A Raver, Not A Singer

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1966

THE SMALL ("ah! – aren't they cute?") Faces are doing BIG things on the pop scene. Their third big hit, self-penned and called 'Hey Girl', ...

The Animals: Animalisms (Decca) ****

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1966

ERIC RAVES ON "ANIMALS" NEW LP ...

The Beach Boys: Complex and Intricate

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1966

"THE BEACH Boys' ambassador in tennis shoes," as their publicist Derek Taylor so aptly describes new group member Bruce Johnston, surfed into the Waldorf Hotel ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Focus on MICK…and TICH

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1966

MICK began his musical career banging about on biscuit tins, inspired by Bill Haley records like 'See You Later Alligator'. "I just listened to the ...

Roy C: NMExclusive: ALAN SMITH has a Transatlantic Interview With ROY C

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 May 1966

'Shotgun' ended dire poverty ...

The Rolling Stones: Stoned Again! That was the fate of Keith Altham when he interviewed Mick Jagger & Keith Richard

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1966

Mick Will Be Ernie In New Film ...

The Troggs: Troggs Politeness

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 June 1966

THE TROGGS, who have a monster hit with 'Wild Thing', are still new and enthusiastic enough to be excited by the glamour and attention injected ...

The Animals: Could 'Don't Bring Me Down' Be Last Animals' Disc?

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 June 1966

Out of chaos came their 'best technical' recording, but Keith Altham gets a feeling – quite unofficial – that it might be, but hopes it ...

The Beatles, George Martin: The Beatles: Ringo Played Cards As Others Sang 'Paperback'!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 June 1966

...reveals GEORGE MARTIN, the Beatles' recording manager, in an interview with Alan Smith. ...

The Kinks: Kinks Keep To Humour On Discs

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 June 1966

WHAT with the new tattooed Kink; Ray Davies sniffing aesthetically into a brown paper bag; Bongo drums, metronomes, flute pumps and golf balls being bandied ...

The Beatles: My Broken Tooth — by Paul McCartney

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 June 1966

I HAVE interviewed Paul McCartney travelling in a car at speed. Battling up a crowded flight of stairs. In a smoky billiards room. On the ...

The Mamas and The Papas: The Mama and the Papas: The Morning after the Beatles' Night Before

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 June 1966

THE FIRST THING you discover about the Mamas and Papas is that they are not – although Papa John is married to Mama Michelle. The ...

Jonathan King, The Walker Brothers: Scott Walker: Scott Walker Hits Out Again

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 July 1966

FRANK SINATRA is back in the pop pillory, but the big surprise is that chucking the rotten eggs is not Mick "Paint Him Black" Jagger, ...

The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Chad & Jeremy, The Lovin' Spoonful, Percy Sledge: The Beach Boys, Lovin' Spoonful, Percy Sledge, The Byrds, Chad & Jeremy: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 1 July 1966

SOUND MARS SPECTACULAR ...

The Troggs: From Nowhere The Troggs (Fontana)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 July 1966

Troggs' first LP — Track-by-track review by Keith Altham  ...

Elvis Presley: Paradise Hawaiian Style

Film/DVD/TV Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 July 1966

Presley's usual (Hawaiian) style ...

Percy Sledge: EXHAUSTED! — That's The Price Percy Sledge Is Paying

Profile and Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 8 July 1966

Special from Tracy Thomas in Hollywood ...

The Kinks: Kinks Calm Over No. 1 News

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 July 1966

RAY DAVIES lifted the plastic lid covering his salad and viewed the mayonnaise disgustedly. "Oh, no – I hate ketchup!" he sighed and probed disdainfully ...

Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: The Yardbirds: Why I Left and Why I Joined

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 July 1966

"I'M A BIT TOO old at twenty-three for all those screaming kids leaping about. I don't really think I'll be missed in the group – ...

Elvis Presley: Paradise Hawaiian StyleNME Readers Reply

Readers' Letters by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 15 July 1966

B. UYDER, Sheffield: Why should Alan Smith (NME last week) have to apologise to Elvis fans for saying what he thinks of his new film ...

Simon & Garfunkel: Too Many Releases 'Kill' Simon And Garfunkel 'Rock' Single

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 July 1966

IN AUGUST, 1965, an album titled The Paul Simon Song Book was released by CBS featuring the composition 'I Am A Rock'. In September a ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Tina Turner Peels Potatoes as She Raves Over 'River Deep'

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 15 July 1966

"I WAS knocked out by 'River Deep' the first time I heard it," exclaimed Tina Turner, peeling potatoes over the sink of her Los Angeles ...

The Troggs: Troggs Have A Lot To Go Wild About

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 July 1966

REG PRESLEY and his band "barn" into the NME Chart this week with the highest entry — 'A Girl Like You' (No. 19) composed by ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis, Usually Surrounded By Girls, Is Now Encircled By Controversy

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

SOME Of Elvis' staunchest British fans want to boil me in oil again. Another suggests I lower myself into a spin-dryer and turn it on. ...

James Brown Shined Shoes Here!

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

"SHINE, MISTER?" a tiny shoeshine boy called after a passing businessman, who dismissed him with a shake of his head. The young Negro sighed and ...

James Brown: Brown Excitement

Report and Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

THERE WAS excitement both inside and outside of the Los Angeles Sports Arena on Sunday, when the James Brown Show played to an audience of ...

The Beatles: John Lennon: 'A Subconscious Urge To Get Above People'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

Beatle Dreams by Alan Smith ...

The Rolling Stones: Jagger Phones From America

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

LAST FRIDAY Mick Jagger, the suppressed Stone, rang me at home from Missouri, where the group is in the middle of their U.S. tour. ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Tracy Thomas, in Hollywood, visits the Exciting Turner Family

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 22 July 1966

THE TINY stage is packed; ten musicians in sleek, blue suits; the three young, pretty Ikettes in pop-art dresses; Ike Turner in more casual, but ...

The Beatles: Paul McCartney: 'I Get Caught Out In Street In Underwear!'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 29 July 1966

Beatle Dreams by Alan Smith ...

The Troggs: Troggs Went Wild Over Fan Slur

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 July 1966

THE TROGGS are "wild things" this week and the man responsible for raising the wrath of the West Country group is singer-journalist-composer-student and good all-round ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: ? Time with Beach Boy Brian Wilson

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 5 August 1966

THE Beach Boys — in demand for appearances all over the world — used to be one of the most difficult groups to track down. ...

Alan Price: 'Lili' Is A Fun Tune

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 August 1966

HAVING proved that it takes a worried man to sing a worried song with 'I Put A Spell On You', Alan Price has accomplished a ...

Andrew Loog Oldham, The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stone Oldham: Talented, Insulting, Outrageous

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 August 1966

ROLLING STONES manager Andrew Loog Oldham is on the move and as usual with this ubiquitous personality ("The Beach Boys' new single is not dedicated ...

The Rolling Stones: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 5 August 1966

Stones a hit at Bowl ...

Cream, Georgie Fame, The Who: The Who, Cream et al: National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 5 August 1966

Who 'wreck' festival ...

Paul and Barry Ryan: Ryans Feel Established

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 August 1966

I ARRIVED nearly an hour late at Harold Davison's Regent Street office for my interview with Paul and Barry Ryan due to freak monsoon weather ...

The Troggs: Double-Top Troggs In America And Britain!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 August 1966

LAST WEEK the Troggs were in the enviable position of being No. 1 in England with 'With A Girl Like You' and No. 1 in ...

The Beatles, George Martin: George Martin: Make Them Top Here!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 August 1966

NMExclusive: 'Submarine' recording hilarious recalls A&R manager GEORGE MARTIN to Alan Smith ...

Manfred Mann: New Mann d'Abo Hungry For Success

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 August 1966

IN SPITE OF certain visual evidence to the contrary — the differences between the new "Mann," Michael d'Abo (Cambridge University "sent down") and the old ...

The Temptations: The Trip, Los Angeles, CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 19 August 1966

Temptations go well at Los Angeles' Trip club ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers: Cliff Bennett: Paul McCartney Produced Hit Disc For Happy Cliff Bennett

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 26 August 1966

CLIFF BENNETT, that well-known Cockney about Uxbridge, has made a welcome return to the NME Chart, courtesy of Lennon and McCartney's 'Got To Get You ...

The Lovin' Spoonful: Flashback For Lovin' Spoonful — To Days When They Were Just Kids

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 26 August 1966

Special from ANN MOSES in Hollywood ...

The Four Tops: Four Tops Kept Trying and Won!

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 August 1966

"IF AT FIRST you don't succeed, try, try again." A tired old saying, but it gets new life this week as the Four Tops climb ...

The Beatles: Shea Stadium, Queens, New York NY

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 26 August 1966

THE BEATLES THRILL 45,000 AT SHEA'S ...

The Walker Brothers: Portrait (Philips)

Review and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 26 August 1966

The Brothers produce a super Portrait album ...

The Beatles: Beatle Bravery Worth More Than Money

Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 2 September 1966

A FEW days after the tornado, we're still recovering from the Beatles visit! The concert is over, and so is the tour. The amount the ...

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Sonny & Cher: Sonny & Cher, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds: Astoria, Finsbury Park, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 September 1966

Communication means everything for Sonny & Cher ...

The Beatles: Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle WA; Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles CA; Candlestick Park, San Francisco CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 2 September 1966

Meanwhile, back in California... ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker Makes Fans Sit Up

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 September 1966

IT DIDN'T mean a thing in Britain ...but a record called 'Shotgun' was the one that blasted Junior Walker and the All-Stars to hit parade ...

Sonny & Cher: They're Pop's Most Lovable Couple

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 September 1966

IT'S THAT 'Little Man' again and bouncing back into the NME Chart this week at No. 18 comes popdom's most lovable couple, Mr. and Mrs. ...

The Small Faces: Steve Marriott: Everyone's 'Luv' And 'Mate'

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 September 1966

SHOULD Steve Marriott ever chance to meet royalty it would be safe to assume that within five minutes he would be calling them "luv" and ...

The Troggs: The Astonishing Troggs Do It Again!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 September 1966

THOSE astonishing Troggs have done it again! At the little Olympic studios, concealed in a small mews off Baker Street, during an incredible session Larry ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers: Cliff Bennett

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 September 1966

AS CLIFF Bennett and the Rebel Rousers rocket their way up the NME Charts courtesy of Lennon and McCartney we questioned the leader about his ...

Lee Dorsey: Panel-Beating Gave Him Rhythm

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 September 1966

LEE DORSEY is a small, flyweight ex-boxer who always looks as if he doesn't know where his next dime is coming from. ...

The Small Faces: Small Face Kenny Keeps Quiet

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 September 1966

KENNY JONES is the lost Face. Like a great many group drummers he has been placed in the background and prefers to remain there. ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces: Mystery Man 'Plonk' Lane

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 September 1966

RONNIE PLONK LANE, bass guitarist and grand old man of the Small Faces at the age of 20, is the group's "Mysteryman." "Mystery" is Plonk's ...

Jim Reeves: Jim's First Number One

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 September 1966

From Tennessee Mrs. Mary Reeves says thanks for Jim's first number one ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Reveal Secrets

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 September 1966

LAST THURSDAY I went to see "Molly Richard" and "Sarah Jagger" – names Keith and Mick have been called since their famous photograph advertising the ...

The Small Faces: Mac's Flu Is Permanent!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 September 1966

"MAC"-FACE (Ian McLagan) says he was born in "Houns-low-on-mud" on May 12, 1946. of an Irish mother and a Scottish father, and he and his ...

The Walker Brothers: A Clever Singer Never Loses His Voice

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1966

THE WALKER-Troggs-Dave Dee popathalon (33 dates must make it a marathon tour) starts running at East Ham Granada tomorrow (Saturday), so last Monday I taxied ...

The Who: Drummer Moon On Zither, Double-Track Tuba, On Who LP

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 October 1966

IN AN Italian restaurant off London's Soho last Thursday, which boasts on the menu, "hilarious waiters and spaghetti alla vongole on Sunday" there was baby ...

Sonny & Cher

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 October 1966

ACTION stations for Sonny and Cher. In a transatlantic phone call from his home in Encino, Sonny told me that their first film, Good Times, ...

The Rolling Stones: New Pop Generation's Revolution Is At Hand

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 October 1966

IN FLANAGAN'S bar off Kensington High Street, Keith Richard, Brian Jones and I were being watched – by two bartenders in Edwardian dress and grey ...

The Four Tops: NME Chart News Woke Up The Four Tops In Record Time!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 October 1966

THE PHONE rang eleven times in Room 3055 at New York's Hilton Hotel before Lawrence Payton roused himself from his slumbers and dragged it towards ...

The Rolling Stones: Come Into Brian Jones' New Hideaway!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 October 1966

A ROLLING STONE in his own environment is a revelation. Brian's new home incorporates his liking for the dramatic with his taste for the antique. ...

The Troggs: Troggs: Trogg-Men Ridicule Song Ban

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 October 1966

FOLLOWING AUNTIE BBC's policy of giving The Troggs' new single, 'I Can't Control Myself' the cold shoulder with only restricted airplay, that land "down under" ...

Cream Are The Very End!

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1966

"THE First is last and the last is first but the first, the second and the last are the Cream," so reads the perplexing handout ...

Graham Nash, The Hollies: Hollie Graham Nash Finds His Face!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1966

THE HOLLY WHO has found his face is Graham Nash. For too long the Hollies have been written about as "the faceless wonders of pop" ...

The Animals, Chris Farlowe, Geno Washington, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band: The Animals, Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Geno Washington, Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1966

Eric Burdon Beats The Hecklers! Geno An Earthquake ! ...

The Troggs: Chris The Charmer

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1966

THE TROGGS' lead guitarist, Chris Britton looks at women because he likes them — smiles at strangers as though he had known them all his ...

Chris Farlowe, Mick Jagger: Chris Farlowe: The Art Of Chris Farlowe

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1966

TRACK BY TRACK OF THE ALBUM ...

Cliff Richard: Empire Theatre, Liverpool

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 4 November 1966

ON HIS LATEST TOUR CLIFF CHANGES DYLAN'S WORDS ...

Chris Farlowe, Mick Jagger: Jagger Talks About Farlowe LP

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1966

MICK JAGGER'S latest line in telephone impersonations misfired last week when he rang to talk to me about the Chris Farlowe LP he has just ...

The Animals: Burdon's New Animals Not Set Yet

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1966

SPEAKING this week to Eric Burdon, that well-known "Freak-about-town" (since "Freak-out" music is having a considerable influence on our Animal), he revealed to me that ...

The Troggs: Soft-hearted Reg Presley

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1966

REGINALD MAURICE BALL is a soft-hearted ex-bricklayer born in Andover on June 12, 1943, who reads the Daily Mirror, is particularly sensitive to anything which ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boys Sensational Visit

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 November 1966

MY FIRST MISTAKE was trying to escape from London airport on Sunday morning, through approximately a thousand fans, with drummer Dennis Wilson, whom I later ...

Spencer Davis Group: Feuding Spencer Davis Group

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 November 1966

LAST Thursday at Shepherd's Bush Top Of The Pops studio there was the strange case of the group who did not appear to be talking ...

The Beach Boys, Lulu: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 November 1966

SCREAMERS SILENCED! ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boys' Crazy Last Night!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 November 1966

AMONG those getting in each others' way in the Beach Boys' dressing room at Hammersmith Odeon on Monday night were publicist Derek Taylor (minus moustache), ...

The Beach Boys: Meanwhile... What's BRIAN Doing Back at Base?

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 18 November 1966

WHILE THE Beach Boys are rocking Europe, BB-mastermind Brian Wilson, has not been resting on his and their laurels! ...

The Troggs: He's Got A Grip On Their Money

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 November 1966

THERE IS the air of a surprised cocker spaniel about Trogg drummer Ronnie Bond who uses his hands to communicate what his conversation lacks. He ...

The Hollies: For Certain Because (Parlophone)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 26 November 1966

HOLLIES MIX MOODS ON LP ...

The Easybeats: Easybeats Didn't Copy The Beatles

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 December 1966

THE EASYBEATS are new and young — all teenagers — and so are vital in a slightly sagging pop scene that was given a shot ...

The Animals: Eric Burdon Meets New Lennon And Harrison

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 December 1966

EVERYONE is talking about the new Animals. But few have spared a thought for the new Eric Burdon with "bluesynite," the wonder ingredient which enables ...

The Kinks: Kinks Have Problems

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 December 1966

CONSIDER, if you will, the disturbing fact that Ray Davies wants to be Walt Disney; Dave Davies is turning into a saxophonist; Pete Quaife is ...

The Troggs: Troggs Caged In Berlin Zoo!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 December 1966

ERIC BURDON, who is so devoted to the birds in London's St. James's Park, would love it here on the twelfth floor of the Berlin ...

Jimmy Ruffin: Profile in Words (by Alan Smith) and Picture (by Barry Peake) of JIMMY RUFFIN, Former Rootes Car Worker

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 December 1966

JIMMY RUFFIN is a tall, sad-looking figure, who looks as if he's speaking from experience when he asks: 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted?'. He doesn't ...

Spencer Davis Group: The Spencer Davis Group: Spencer Davis Played On Church Steps!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 December 1966

HERR SPENCER DAVIS is a top pop person in Germany, firstly because the young people like the group's earthy, exciting sound, and secondly they like ...

The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson: The Beach Boys: Danger Spice Of Dennis' Life

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 24 December 1966

A Beach Boy a Day by Tracy Thomas ...

The Who: Who's For A Merry Xmas!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 December 1966

WHO'S FOR a merry Christmas, then – if we are to judge by their seasonal bounce up into the NME Top Twenty this week with ...

Paul and Barry Ryan, Dusty Springfield: Dusty Springfield, Paul and Barry Ryan: Merry King Cole, Empire, Liverpool

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 31 December 1966

Dusty wakes 'em ...

The Kinks: Future Of The Kinks

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 31 December 1966

BUSY DOING "nothing much" just prior to Christmas was Kink Mick Avory (an occupational hazard with this group at present) at his home in West ...

Donovan: All Things Bright and Beautiful

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 January 1967

At new Wimbledon home DONOVAN talks about shape of things to come ...

Jimi Hendrix: New To The Charts: Wild Jimi Hendrix

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 January 1967

THE MAN for whom the words "Wild One" were invented has hit us! Jimi Hendrix, 22, from Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., courtesy of ex-Animal Chas Chandler ...

The Rolling Stones: Between The Buttons (Decca)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 January 1967

The STONES' LATEST ALBUM, reviewed track-by-track by Keith Altham with special comments by Mick Jagger ...

Scott Walker, The Walker Brothers: Scott Walker: Chaos For Scott

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 January 1967

SCOTT ENGEL, the man likely to be more miserable than most in 1967, was in the highest spirits when I found him at his apartment ...

The Troggs: Trogg-Maker Reveals Secrets

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 January 1967

LARRY – "Lawrence" to his friends – Page is the one-man organisation behind the phenomenal success of the Troggs. Lawrence is the group's business manager; ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Beach Boy a Day: Brian — Loved or Loathed Genius

Profile by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 28 January 1967

IF YOU should ever meet Brian Wilson, you would either take to him or despise him immediately. His continual drive for a new "kick" would ...

The Rolling Stones: Jagger Scorns Critics

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 January 1967

THOSE naughty Rolling Stones – the ones who write wicked things like 'Let's Spend The Night Together' – wouldn't go on the nice man's roundabout ...

Cream Cut Loose

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 February 1967

THIS IS THE Cream interview which got loose in London – ran wild over their publicists' office – finally plunging from the depths of Mao ...

Madeline Bell, The Four Tops, The Merseys: The Four Tops, The Merseys, Madeline Bell, Remo Four: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 4 February 1967

FOUR TOPS HAD US ALL ON OUR FEET reports Alan Smith ...

The Rolling Stones: Our Fans Have Moved On With Us

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 February 1967

LET US consider that unique phenomenon – the Rolling Stones' public image! ...

Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye: Marvin and Kim: Swingin' Twosome!

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 11 February 1967

SIX FEET high, aged 27, songwriter, athlete, ballad singer and rock 'n' roller — this is Marvin Gaye. Attractive, intelligent, married to a producer and ...

The Troggs: Trogglodynamite (Page One)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 February 1967

Keith Altham tracks down an undiluted pop album ...

Elvis Presley: A Word Picture Of Elvis

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 18 February 1967

His girl friend lives with his granny in here ► says next-door neighbour ...

The Monkees, Michael Nesmith: I Was Hungry, Ugly, Skinny, Poor! By MIKE NESMITH

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 18 February 1967

IT'S VERY hard for me to write about my life, since I can't remember farther back than two years! I don't think there's much of ...

Elvis Presley, Johnny Rivers: Johnny Rivers Knows the Sporty Elvis

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 February 1967

THE MAN called "the best handled myth in the world" is once more back in the NME Top Twenty with 'Indescribably Blue' — Elvis Aaron ...

Jim Reeves: Mary Reeves Tells Alan Smith About Jim's Greatest Tribute

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 February 1967

"THE MOST loyal people in the whole world" — those were the warm words with which Mary, widow of the late Jim Reeves, described British ...

Gene Pitney, Sounds Incorporated, The Troggs: Gene Pitney, The Troggs: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1967

Gene Captures Audience Despite Sitdown! Says Keith Altham ...

The Hollies: Elvis Inspired Hollies Hit

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1967

INFLUENCES behind the latest Hollies hit, 'On A Carousel' include Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and "Doddy". At least these were some of the inspirations which ...

The Monkees' Front Man

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 February 1967

DAVY JONES – the little Monkee with a big heart – arrived via Nassau last week wearing a battered black top hat, purchased from a ...

The Animals, The New Vaudeville Band: Burdon Animals Toast of the Town

Report and Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 26 February 1967

THIS WEEK was chat time with the new Animals, following their absolutely sensational, shattering opening night at Hunter College, New York City. It was also ...

Lester Flatt, Hearts & Flowers, Earl Scruggs: Flatt & Scruggs, Hearts & Flowers: Troubadour, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 26 February 1967

Down in the dumps ...

Tom Jones: One Hit A Year Will Suit Me says Tom Jones

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 February 1967

"'ANG ON a minute," cried Tom Jones briskly, "telephone call." He and his skintight houndstooth trousers fought a valiant battle for survival as he bounded ...

Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Doors, Hugh Masekela, Peter, Paul & Mary: Peter, Paul & Mary, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield: Valley Music Centre, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 4 March 1967

P, P & M protest ...

The Monkees: Monkee Davy Talks About The Beatles

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 March 1967

"GEORGEP AULJOHNRINGO," our very own pop monster, has now grown to that exalted position where it is a kind of sacred cow whom none may ...

Donovan: All Is Friendly

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 March 1967

WHENEVER returning from interviewing Donovan these days I feel that I've been the subject of a Sunday School treat. He surrounds himself with such nice ...

The Everly Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Herman's Hermits, Kim Weston: Marvin Gaye Is The Nicest Tamguy

Interview by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 11 March 1967

MARVIN GAYE has got to be one of the nicest performers to come out of Motown headquarters in Detroit, which is famous for sending out ...

Petula Clark, Julie Felix, the Fortunes, Helen Shapiro: Palladium, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 11 March 1967

PET SMASH HIT ...

The Animals, Roy Orbison, The Who: Roy Orbison's Tour May Be Last

Report and Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 11 March 1967

June Harris in New York ...

The Troggs: Trogg Reg Reveals Success Secret

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 March 1967

THERE WAS a touch of the "Ready Steady Ooops" about the Troggs' new single, 'Give It To Me', after it leapt high into the NME ...

John's Children: First Of The Anti-Lust Groups

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 March 1967

JOHN'S CHILDREN, who make their chart debut this week with their own composition 'Just What You Want' (Columbia) are described by their manager Simon Napier ...

The Hollies: We're As Psychedelic as a Pint o' Beer wi' t' Lads!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 March 1967

I HAVE NEWS for Hollies fans who think the whole group has suddenly become all psychedelic and way out of sight, baby! It hasn't. The ...

The Four Tops, The Temptations: Tamla Keeps Hits Rolling

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 March 1967

Wives taught us to dance — FOUR TOPS ...

The Royal Guardsmen: School-Going Guardsmen Still Sparetime Hitsters

Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 25 March 1967

SNOOPY HAS turned out to be worth a cool three million discs for the Royal Guardsmen, but as far as the group's concerned, they're now ...

Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers: Walker Brothers/Cat Stevens/Engelbert Humperdinck/The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Finsbury Park Astoria

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 April 1967

WE WERE WELL and truly blitzed with "mini-happenings" on the Walker Brothers’ tour opening night, at Finsbury Park Astoria last Friday, when Jimi Hendrix literally ...

Otis Redding: A Talk With Otis Redding

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 15 April 1967

BIG OTIS REDDING tugged a comb through his wiry hair, wiped a trickling bead of perspiration from his glistening face, and sat edgily on a ...

Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix IS Out Of This World

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 April 1967

EVEN HIS EX-ANIMAL MANAGER NEEDS A SPLIT PERSONALITY! ...

Eddie Floyd: When's 'Wood' Gonna Lay Down and Die?

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 April 1967

ROLY-POLY Eddie Floyd beamed a big banana-sized grin. "Man," he said, "When am I gonna get a chance to get another record in the charts? ...

The Four Tops: Four Top A Week: Laurence Payton, The Quiet One

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 May 1967

LAURENCE the Top has a homely round face, honest, open eyes, and a liking for big shirts with big collars. He sits with his dark ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis' Wedding Secrets

Report by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

IT WAS 9.40 am on the morning of May 1 that Elvis Presley, the highest salaried male movie star in the world married Priscilla Ann ...

The Four Tops: Four Top A Week: How I Got Out Of The Ghetto by Renaldo Benson

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

TOP RENALDO is the most instantly likeable man I ever met. Happiness was made for Renaldo. It sparkles out of his honest eyes. It gleams ...

Helen Shapiro: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

HELEN SHAPIRO ON BEACH BILL ...

P.P. Arnold, The Nice: New to the Charts: Top Team Gives P.P. Her Debut

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

P.P. ARNOLD, from Los Angeles, makes her NME Chart debut this week with 'The First Cut Is The Deepest' (Immediate), aided and abetted by a talented team ...

Jimi Hendrix: Question Time with Jimi Hendrix

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

THE REAL JIMI HENDRIX is now beginning to emerge from behind that skilfully placed publicity screen of early days when success was too fragile to ...

The Beach Boys, Cream, The Dubliners, Georgie Fame, Paul Jones, Lulu, The Move, Alan Price, Cliff Richard, The Small Faces, Spencer Davis Group, Dusty Springfield, Cat Stevens, The Tremeloes, The Troggs, Geno Washington, Steve Winwood: The Beach Boys, Small Faces, Dusty Springfield et al: NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

POLL SHOW THRILLS ALL THE WAY ...

Scott Walker, The Walker Brothers: The Walker Brothers: Why The Walker Brothers Split Up

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 May 1967

"I WANT to make it clear that it was not solely my decision to break up the Walker Brothers, but for the first time in ...

The Four Tops: Four Top A Week: Easy-Going Abdul Fakir

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 May 1967

TOP ABDUL is the one the others call Duke — why, he doesn't quite know. Maybe it's his air of royal dignity. ...

Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced (Track)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1967

Track-by-Track on Jimi Hendrix debut album ...

The Who: 'Lily' Isn't Pornographic, Say Who

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1967

THE LUGUBRIOUS looking Pete Townshend with the mincer-like mind ground up an interesting selection of subjects for attention over a lemon tea in London's Act ...

Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra: Nancy Sinatra: Nancy Sets The Record Straight About Frank

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 May 1967

"I had to drag dad bodily into the studios to record 'Stupid'." ...

The Monkees: Colour Monkees Are Terrific

Film/DVD/TV Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

DAVY JONES is sitting in a chair facing the camera. His face has a rich brown tan, and his brown eyes and brown hair stand ...

The Four Tops: Four Top A Week: Levi The Leader

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

MUSTACHIOED LEVI Stubbs is the undoubted leader of the Four Tops — the man in front, the quiet man of influence, and a singer with ...

Jeff Beck Not Nearly So Wicked As He Thinks He Is!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

JEFF BECK gets a somewhat perverse satisfaction from having a "wicked" reputation in the pop business. At his best, he is a talented, guitar-perfectionist with ...

Procol Harum: Procol Crash In At No. 11!

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

WATCH OUT for Procol Harum. This British group with that beautiful, beautiful record called 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' is going to be one of ...

The Monkees: Monkees' Headquarters

Review by June Harris, Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

MONKEES' NEW LP TRACK-BY-TRACKFrom June Harris & Tracy Thomas in America ...

The Beach Boys: Two Things Make Beach Boys Sad

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1967

ONE OF the Beach Boys seemed very pleased about their new single when I visited their dressing room before a concert and their eventual departure ...

Mel Tormé: Talk of the Town, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 June 1967

CRISP, CRACKLING, sharp, superb, swinging, casual, brilliant, completely at ease, masterly, humorous, likeable — I could run out of superlatives for Mel Tormé, who opened ...

Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back (dir. D.A. Pennebaker)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 17 June 1967

BOB DYLAN'S first and only movie (so far) called Don't Look Back is currently being screened at an "underground" theatre in San Francisco, where it ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: No Beards for Dave Dee & Co!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 June 1967

ROLLING Stone Brian Jones once described himself as "a straight Ernie." And the same might be said of Dave Dee. An "Ernie," I was assured ...

The Hollies

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 June 1967

TONY HICKS is the young Hollie (21) who has just move into a neat new little mews house of Knightsbridge. ...

The Animals, The Association, Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Blues Project, Booker T & The MGs, Buffalo Springfield, Electric Flag, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Mamas and The Papas, Lou Rawls, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who: Keith Altham Planes West to Cover America's Monterey Pop Festival and Cables This Day-By-Day Report

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 June 1967

WE DROVE to London Airport in Animal manager Mike Jeffery's Rolls-Royce while he dictated a few last minute instructions to assistant Tony Garland — "Ring ...

The Monkees, Ike & Tina Turner: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 24 June 1967

WELCOME MONKEES! And here is a preview of what you may see at Wembley... ...

Jimi Hendrix, The Mamas and The Papas, The Who: Mamas & The Papas, The Who, Jimi Hendrix et al: Monterey Pop Festival, Monterey CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 1 July 1967

Who, Jimi win high praise ...

Procol Harum: I Knew Procol Would Be A Success

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 July 1967

says KEITH REID the man who created the group – to ALAN SMITH ...

The Mamas and The Papas, Scott McKenzie: The Mamas and The Papas: Mamas And Papas Have A Feud On Their Hands

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 July 1967

"SOMEONE has just shot our gardener – I can't speak to you just now. Come up tomorrow," invited a harassed John Phillips, of the Mamas ...

Scott Walker: Scott Keeps One Step Ahead

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 July 1967

AND SO THE moving singer, having moved — moves on. Scott Walker is still one jump ahead of the fans in his pursuit of privacy. ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boys 'Heroes' leaps in at No. 16 and Bruce's trip pays off!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, August 1967

WELL, THAT was Bruce Johnston, that was! The Beach Boys' all-purpose, all-weather, swing-winged auxiliary and unpaid publicist promoting 'Heroes And Villains' in England last week. ...

Scott McKenzie: I'm No Professional Flower Child

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 August 1967

"I AM NOT A professional flower child," stressed Scott McKenzie over the transatlantic phone wire. "I'd rather carry a flower than a gun. But I ...

The Monkees: Bob Rafelson: Man Behind The Monkees

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 August 1967

Why I picked THESE four ...

Dave Davies: Kink Dave Embarrassed by 'Clown' Hit

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 August 1967

WITH THE solo success of 'Death Of A Clown' times are a changing for Dave Davies. He is both delighted and nervous over the success ...

Gladys Knight & The Pips: Glad Loses Pip!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 August 1967

IT WAS ENOUGH to give Gladys Knight the pip, the tough struggle this attractive Tamla singer had in getting a hit in Britain. For a ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Interviews with Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 August 1967

THE NEW MUSICAL Express versus Michael Philip Jagger – Friday, August 4,1967 in his managers' chambers of high appeal – New Oxford Street, London, – ...

The Rolling Stones: 'We Love You'

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 August 1967

MICK JAGGER gave me the preview of the new Stones single, 'We Love You'/'Dandelion' last Friday in manager Andrew Oldham's office and looked enquiringly across ...

John Lennon: How I Won The War (Dir. Richard Lester, United Artists)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 August 1967

HOW DID JOHN LENNON WIN STAR BILLING? asks ALAN SMITH ...

Alan Price: 'Jack' a Now or Never Hit

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 August 1967

"IT WAS really a question of now or never," was how Alan Price referred to his composition 'The House That Jack Built', over lunch in ...

Lee Hazlewood, Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra: Nancy Sinatra: Nancy talks on the transatlantic phone to Alan Smith about... Little-Boy Elvis!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 August 1967

"ELVIS," SAID Nancy Sinatra, as she drew back the curtains and looked out at the sun shining down on Los Angeles, "is at once a ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces: Youth has saved Faces

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 26 August 1967

IT HAS been an Immediate success story for the Small Faces this year — at No. 15 in the NME Chart with 'Itchycoo Park' — ...

The Doors, Jefferson Airplane: Jeffersons, Doors are Tops

Profile by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 2 September 1967

LET ME TELL you about the two groups which are currently the most popular in America: the Doors and Jefferson Airplane. Both have been playing ...

Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix Admits Lamp Is A Bit Smoky

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 September 1967

TIME TO TUCK the tiny tots up and put them safely abed with a nice Monkees' record! Why? Because "the electric bogeyman" is back in ...

Traffic: Uncontrollable Traffic

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 September 1967

KEITH ALTHAM pins down a highly elusive group... ...

Marianne Faithfull, The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones Starting To Mellow

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 September 1967

THE TIMES THEY have a-changed, as Bob Dylan predicted – and with them – the Rolling Stones. There was a time when one approached a ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces Fun World

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 September 1967

A FUNNY THING happened to me on the way through Chiswick Park recently to meet the Small Faces. For "starters" there were printed placards pinned ...

The Righteous Brothers: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 23 September 1967

AS YET ANOTHER of the many examples of how extensive is rock 'n' roll's acceptance by the adult world, the Righteous Brothers are currently packing ...

Herman's Hermits, The Who: The Who, Herman's Hermits: Anaheim Convention, Anaheim CA

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 23 September 1967

Who steal the show from Hermans Hermits ...

Frankie Vaughan: I'll Never Change Now Says Frankie

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 September 1967

It's top hat and cane for ever ...

The Monkees: It's Monkeeteers Now! — all forone and one for all

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 September 1967

Says MONKEE friend, SAMANTHA JUSTE to ALAN SMITH ...

Scott Walker Hides Away In A Gloom-World

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1967

BIG LOUIE is the first person you meet when calling at the secluded terrace house, off London's Regent's Park — the latest home of Scott ...

The Animals: Question Time With....Eric Burdon

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1967

IT SHOULD, OF course, be Eric Burdon and the "anything but the Animals," because this new group has about as much connection with the original ...

Traffic's British Stage Debut Was Well Worth Waiting For

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1967

TRAFFIC HAVE been a long time getting it all together but last Sunday's debut at the London Saville proved that it has been well worth ...

Traffic's Dave Mason — Pop Face Of 1967

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 October 1967

REMEMBER the teenage idol – all liquid eyes, milk teeth, Cupid's bow and simply oozing with the wonder ingredient, sex appeal? Eyes right and you ...

The Move Don't Care About Top Billing

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 October 1967

THANK goodness for Carl Wayne of the Move! It is a long time since I have found anyone new to the scene so pleasant, co-operative ...

The Small Faces: Travel is A Nightmare

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 October 1967

THE SMALL FACES – most often through no fault of their own – find great difficulty in getting from place to place, i.e. interviews, photographic ...

The Mamas and The Papas: The Big Mamas And Papas Mystery

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 October 1967

NOW YOU see them – now you don't! The Mamas and Papas have cancelled their projected concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 30. ...

The Herd Take Over As Screamers' New Idols

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1967

MY CONTENDER as the man "most likely to get ripped to pieces by hysterical females" in 1967 is Peter Frampton, the seventeen-year-old vocal-guitarist with the ...

The Who: Who Ready To Hit You With New Ideas

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 28 October 1967

AFTER six weeks with "the last Schmaltz" it is good to find the Who back in the charts with a new single, 'I Can See ...

The Kinks, Ray Davies: Ray Davies

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1967

THERE is something of the smoking volcano about Ray Davies. Six foot of suppressed quietly spoken, quietly smiling and quietly watching! It is what some ...

Sandie Shaw: Her Anatomical Assets

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 November 1967

PROVING quite conclusively that she has legs right up to her shoulders, Sandie Shaw wearing her self-designed string mini dress (or was it a vest?) ...

Bonzo Dog Band, Cream: Taking the Saville By Storm: Cream

Review by Nick Logan, New Musical Express, 4 November 1967

THE soaring, singing guitar, the elegant artistry of Eric Clapton... a tortured Jack Bruce jerking out the blues like a puppet stitched by machine ...

Aretha Franklin: Philharmonic Hall, New York NY

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 11 November 1967

ARETHA IS great — Aretha is sensational! Aretha is the finest girl blues singer in this country, bar one, and she proved it beyond any ...

The Herd, Traffic, The Who: Traffic, The Who, The Herd: Danger: Who At Work!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 November 1967

THE WHO-TRAFFIC-Herd-Tremeloe tour, while proving to be a sell-out attraction, has caused a certain amount of anxiety among those people whose job it is to ...

The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes: The Supremes: Psychedelic Tamla!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 November 1967

Brian Holland, one of Motown's famous composing team, speaks to Alan Smith, and tells about PSYCHEDELIC TAMLA! ...

The Troggs: Love Saves Troggs

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 November 1967

HERE COMES the pop phoenix again! Arising from what so many cynics thought were their own ashes, the Troggs now have their sixth smash hit ...

Sandie Shaw

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 November 1967

I WENT several rounds with Eve Taylor and Sandie Shaw over dinner last Friday, where among other things we discussed her performance at last week's ...

Jimi Hendrix: The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis: Bold As Love (Track)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 November 1967

UFO COULD BE JIMI! ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 December 1967

KINDLY RAISE YOUR hands in the air. Empty your mind on to the desk and your brains into the ash-tray. Now let us see what ...

Traffic: Mr Fantasy

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 December 1967

TRAFFIC IN the City may have come to a stand-still due to the recent rail dispute, but Traffic in the charts is still moving full ...

Traffic: Dave Quits?

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 17 December 1967

THE BIRTH of the Traffic was this year after months of planning and searching and getting themselves together.  ...

The Beach Boys: 1968 Will See Better Things From The Beach Boys

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 December 1967

DESPITE THE fact that the Beach Boys new single, 'Wild Honey' is having a sticky time in the charts, the group is still able to ...

The Beach Boys: Wild Honey (Capitol)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 December 1967

THE BEACH Boys new album, Wild Honey (Capitol), to be released in late January, is the antidote for all those who were confused and a ...

The Rolling Stones: The Banned Stones Cover

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1968

It is ‘We’ against ‘Them-and They’ time again in the Rolling Stones’ life, as they run head-on into another fracas with the ‘oldies’. This time ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces star Steve Marriott Declares 'Tin Soldier' The Real Us

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 January 1968

ONCE MORE unto Andrew Oldham's inner sanctum off Oxford Street to interview his group — the Small Faces — and discuss the fate of 'Tin ...

Paul Butterfield Blues Band: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: The Troubadour, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Tracy Thomas, New Musical Express, 6 January 1968

Butterfield come-back ...

Traffic: Traffic Without Dave

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 January 1968

TRAFFIC is now on the move again but as a trio. So it was that I scaled the eight flights to drummer Jim Capaldi's Earl's ...

Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (Columbia)

Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 20 January 1968

DYLAN'S NEW LP IS GIGANTIC WINNER ...

Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (Columbia)

Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 20 January 1968

DYLAN'S NEW LP IS GIGANTIC WINNER ...

The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts: The Rolling Stone Charlie Watts Takes Over Mansion of First Archbishop of Canterbury!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 January 1968

A ROLLING STONE, having rolled, has come to rest in a magnificent, centuries old manor house, just outside Lewes in Sussex, which was reputedly used ...

Plastic Penny: Put Scratch On Record

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 January 1968

A PLASTIC penny for your thoughts then, or to be more precise, tuppence-worth in the shape of vocalist Brian Keith and organist Paul Raymond who ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces Shatter Old Image

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 January 1968

THAT'S my body you're laughing at!" said Ronnie Lane indignantly, having removed his shirt to reveal a torso which could have given Charles Atlas a ...

The Supremes: Supremes Live It Up In London

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 January 1968

THE SUPREMES didn't sleep for two days at the weekend, then they flew from the warmth of Cannes to the chill of London, after which ...

The Supremes: Talk of the Town, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 January 1968

A WHO'S WHO of British show business made up most of the audience (note I didn't say sat in the audience; half of 'em were ...

The Moody Blues: Moody Blues Deserve Much Greater Success

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 February 1968

AT A TIME when the charts do not testify to any great composing originality — except for Lennon-McCartney — there is one disc staggering about ...

The Supremes: Supremes Heart Chat!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 February 1968

YOU COULD see it: the Supremes were overwhelmed. They sat there in the room and hit back with answers as best they could. Reporters and ...

Alan Price: Fought Back

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 February 1968

THERE ARE few people in pop who deserve as much respect as that truculent Geordie with the big baby face, who speaks through his nose ...

The Foundations: Alan Smith Finds Foundations An Unusual 'Bunch'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 February 1968

THE BEATLES had it. So did Gerry "Engelbert Humperdinck" Dorsey, the Four Tops and Tom Jones. I'm talking about faith — an artist's faith in ...

Mike D'Abo, Manfred Mann: Manfred Mann's Mike d'Abo

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 February 1968

MICHAEL D'ABO is anxiously searching for Michael d'Abo. At his London home he and I looked everywhere for him with the assistance of a beautiful ...

The Bee Gees: Anaheim Convention Centre, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 10 February 1968

BEE GEES TRIUMPH ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces Sink Australia

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 February 1968

THE ABOVE head-line was sarcastically suggested by Ronnie Lane, who declared after the group's recent trip down under –"they would even have accused us of ...

The Scaffold: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 February 1968

THANK U SCAFFOLD ...

The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, The Monkees: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Eric Burdon & the Animals: Anaheim Convention Centre, Anaheim CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 24 February 1968

Peter Tork gives party guests healthfood ...

Tom Jones: Copacabana, New York NY

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 24 February 1968

Tom Jones took my advice! ...

Blue Cheer

Profile by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 2 March 1968

IMITATORS and/or carbon copies of top groups seldom make it big in the business of pop. But a probable exception may be Blue Cheer, who ...

Cream: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 2 March 1968

THE CREAM met great success here. when they played before 300 people a night at the Whisky-a-Go-Go last year. This trip they got equal acclaim ...

Otis Redding: Otis New Hit His Greatest Tribute

Comment by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 2 March 1968

DURING HIS all-too-brief lifetime, Otis Redding was respected by the world of music — and virtually ignored in his own home town of Macon, Georgia. ...

The Foundations: Foundation Clem Reveals Popland's 'Black Spots'

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 9 March 1968

MENTION SCOTLAND to Clem Curtis and he grimaces. Mention Ireland and you get an "Oh man" reply, with an anguished expression. But mention Amsterdam and ...

Jeff Beck: What Do The Fans Want From Me? Pleads Jeff Beck

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 9 March 1968

TO THOSE who remember the raving old days at the Richmond Crawdaddy with "geezers" hanging from the rafters in ecstasy whenever Eric "Slowhand" Clapton did ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Are On The Rampage Once More

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 March 1968

NME's Keith Altham finds to his cost! ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boys Meet Elvis

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 March 1968

THE BEACH Boys meet Elvis! Beach Boys tour with London Philharmonic Orchestra? Bruce Johnston sings Lennon and McCartney! Beach Boys to do rock 'n' roll ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Dave Dee: Dave Dee Whips Up Fans

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 March 1968

ALL this "Marquis de Sade" and "Kiss of the Whip" bit is somewhat wasted on Dave Dee! He's about as kinky as a pint of ...

1910 Fruitgum Company: Simon's not our bag, says Fruitgum Co.

Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, April 1968

I HAD A wonderful chat with two members of the 1910 Fruitgum Company this week about the success of 'Simon Says' in the U.K. and ...

The Bee Gees, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Foundations, Grapefruit: Big Night For The Bee Gees: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 April 1968

Concert review by Keith Altham ...

Esther and Abi Ofarim: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 April 1968

MEMORABLE NIGHT FROM ESTHER & ABI ...

The Beach Boys, The Beatles: Maharishi links Beatles and Beach Boys

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 April 1968

NME helps find World Peace venue ...

Arthur Conley, Otis Redding: Conley Cuts Tribute to Otis

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 April 1968

A RECORD tracing the deep bond of friendship and artistic respect between Otis Redding and himself has been waxed by Otis' "Soul Protégé" Arthur Conley. ...

Reparata & the Delrons: Sets of Three

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 April 1968

'Captain' hit big surprise for Reparata ...

The Small Faces: At Home With Face Steve...What An Experience!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 April 1968

TO VISIT the Thameside abode of Small Face Steve Marriott is something of an experience — to put it mildly! Come with me and you'll ...

Bobby Goldsboro: Before 'Honey' I Had Almost Given Up Hope, Says Bobby Goldsboro

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 4 May 1968

HIT AFTER HIT has been written by Bobby Goldsboro, but for other people as far as Britain is concerned. His own songs have taken him ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces Thought ‘Sunday’ Too Much Of A Joke

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 4 May 1968

ONCE more unto the magic cave – better described as Andrew Oldham’s emporium from whence all things Immediate happen – and the office where I ...

The Monkees, Michael Nesmith: The Monkees: Here is the most amazing article EVER-WRITTEN about a MONKEE

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 4 May 1968

Mike Nesmith wanted me to expose how rude he is reveals Ann Moses in this NMExclusive from Hollywood. ...

Otis Redding: A Sad Reminder Of The Great Otis: Otis Redding: Dock Of The Bay

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 11 May 1968

ALMOST EVERY TRACK of Otis Redding's new Dock Of The Bay album is a constant and sad reminder of the sheer soul — there is, ...

Honeybus Not A One Hit Wonder

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 May 1968

ONE-HIT-WONDER groups have been coming and going ever since pop music began but one group likely to stay the pace are the four Londoners called ...

The Hollies, Graham Nash: Graham May Split The Hollies

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 May 1968

He talks about this... his ego... the future... his faith in God... and the Hollies, Scaffold, Paul Jones tour ...

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap: Californian Union Gap Spurn The Psychedelic

Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 25 May 1968

Want second hit before trip here ...

The Small Faces: Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, June 1968

The Small Faces new album Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (Immediate), apart from being encased in the first circular sleeve I have ever seen, is a ...

The Animals, Zoot Money: Eric Burdon & The Animals with Zoot Money: The Revolution, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 June 1968

POWERFUL ERIC ...

Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra: Flag-Waving Nancy Sinatra Admits Chemistry Between Elvis And Me Is Great!

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 1 June 1968

NANCY SINATRA is a flag, waver and you know it the minute you walk into her brand new Boots Enterprises office above the Sunset Strip. ...

The Rolling Stones: The Stones In-Session

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 June 1968

OUTSIDE THE recording studio there were two little teeny-boppers from a by-gone age, sheltering from the rain in a shop doorway in the hope of ...

Aretha Franklin: Houseproud Aretha Loves To Get Home

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 June 1968

"SIDDOWN," said the Queen of Soul. So I saddown — on a plush settee in a room at the Dorchester — and Lady Aretha excused ...

The Equals: Rehearsal track gives the Equals hit

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 16 June 1968

I HAVE NEWS for groups and singers who consider it's always necessary to do about 50 "takes" before they get their records to the right ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Set Studio On Fire!

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 June 1968

First film gets off to a blazing start ...

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap: Union Gap Play Only Own Songs On Stage

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 22 June 1968

THE SUPREMES, the Animals and Union Cap have one thing in common — they all now feature the name of their lead singer before that ...

The Equals: Equals Stunned By No. 3 Hit

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 29 June 1968

EVEN THE Equals can't believe an old half-forgotten track like 'Baby Come Back' could have boosted them from nowhere right up into the big money-earning ...

The Herd, Scott Walker: Scott Walker, The Herd: The Dome, Brighton

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 June 1968

GREAT SCOTT! That's my immediate reaction after seeing and hearing Scott Walker break through the scream barrier last Friday evening at the Brighton Dome. The ...

Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart: Standing Ovation For Jeff Beck

Report by June Harris, New Musical Express, 29 June 1968

THE GREATEST thing happened in New York last Friday. On his first performance in this country, Jeff Beck became a star. Even in his Yardbird ...

Dusty Springfield: Dusty Says 'I Want To Hit Back'

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 July 1968

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD would, I was informed, like to "hit back!" Now this did not sound like the fun-loving lass I knew of old. A skilfully ...

Gene Pitney: Variety Club, Batley

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 6 July 1968

VERSATILE PITNEY ...

Pentangle: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 6 July 1968

Pentangle's big debut ...

The Monkees: Question Time With Monkee Davy

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 6 July 1968

BEFORE Davy Jones completed his famous disappearing trick and returned to America, I joined the hordes of reporters and photographers waiting to see "Mighty-Monkee" at ...

Jimmy Webb, Richard Harris: Richard Harris Talks About Jim Webb

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 July 1968

On transatlantic phone to NME's Keith Altham ...

Tiny Tim: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 13 July 1968

TINY TIM IS BIG ENJOYMENT says ANN MOSES from Hollywood ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Nine Hits In A Row

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 July 1968

WHEN I arrived at the Lime Grove TV studios it was to find that Tich, Mick, Beaky, Dozy and Dave Dee (how about that for ...

Elvis Presley: In TV-Film Show With Elvis!

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 20 July 1968

On steps five feet from him ...

Jimmy Webb, Richard Harris: Richard Harris: A Tramp Shining (Dunhill)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 July 1968

RICHARD HARRIS-JIM WEBB LP MUST BE BEST SELLER ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces: We're Getting Better Ideas

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 July 1968

HAVING nipped smartly into the No. 1 best selling album slot with Ogdens Nut Gone Flake, the Small Faces are now deservedly considered big wheels ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Clubs Give Sly And Family First Hit

Profile by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 July 1968

ANOTHER example of discotheques and clubs turning a little-known group into a hit outfit comes in the shape of Sly and the Family Stone who ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis Takes Off Tiny Tim And Richard Harris

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 27 July 1968

The continuing story of ELVIS and ANN MOSES (Editor of Tiger Beat) ...

Jimi Hendrix: Jimi Brings Manager's New Club Roof Down!

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 July 1968

JIMI HENDRIX literally brought the roof down on the opening night at his manager's club, Sergeant Peppers in Majorca by the simple expedient of ramming ...

The Equals: Thwarted Fans Threaten Equals With Bomb!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 27 July 1968

TAKE THREE distinct styles of music — out-and-out Soul, happy-to-be-in-de-sunshine Calypso, and straight commercial Pop — and the chances are you'll find three distinct sets ...

Tommy James & The Shondells: The Chart Toppers Phone NME From New York

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 July 1968

TOMMY JAMES and the Shondells are going into the studios this week to record some new Beatle songs and one of them may be their ...

Dusty Springfield: Dusty Feels Like Two People

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 August 1968

ALAN SMITH discovers during a late-night QUESTION TIME ...

Herb Alpert: My 'Guy' Called For No Great Vocal Pipes!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 August 1968

Says Herb Alpert to Alan Smith ...

O.C. Smith: Tired But Amiable O.C

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 3 August 1968

THE COLOUR problem in America is, of course, far worse than it is here. Pop music, however, has alleviated some of the tension, according to ...

Richard Green Takes You Out To An In-Party! At The Revolution In London

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 3 August 1968

GO DOWN TO the Revolution, we thought. Take a photographer and get some pictures of the star names. And what a night we picked! It ...

The Small Faces: Faces Shatter Country Calm

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 August 1968

...in their Bucks hideaway invaded by Keith Altham ...

Roy Orbison: Talk Of The Town, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 August 1968

Orbison needs do no more than sing ...

The Beatles: "Beatles' Loose Habit Of Recording"

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 August 1968

Paul McCartney in a no-punches pulled interview with NME's Alan Smith ...

Arthur Brown, Ginger Baker, Jeff Beck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joe Cocker, John Mayall, Marmalade, The Nice, Spencer Davis Group, Tim Rose, Traffic, Tyrannosaurus Rex: NME Reporters Cover the Weekend's Major Event — the Eighth National Jazz and Blues Festival

Live Review by Keith Altham, Richard Green, New Musical Express, 17 August 1968

STARS, SUNSHINE and a SHAMBLES ...

The Animals, Blue Cheer, Jefferson Airplane, Sonny & Cher: Jefferson Airplane et al: Newport Pop Festival, Orange County Fairgrounds CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 17 August 1968

NEWPORT FESTIVAL FAILURE ...

Sly & The Family Stone: Sly Buries Underground And Has Fun!

Profile and Interview by June Harris, New Musical Express, 24 August 1968

YOU'LL JUST love Sly and the Family Stone when you see them next month. They're what I call a fun group, who get a kick ...

The Kinks: The One-up Kink: Raymond Douglas Davies

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 31 August 1968

RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES, as he now insists on being referred to, is one who excels in the unexpected and the slightly bizarre. He is probably ...

The Animals, Tommy James & the Shondells, The Rascals: The Rascals, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Tommy James and the Shondells: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 31 August 1968

RASCALS ARE FINEST! ...

The Doors, Jefferson Airplane: The Doors/Jefferson Airplane: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Derek Grant, New Musical Express, September 1968

THE RUMOURS were flying. Doors drummer John Densmore was missing. The groups were arguing as to who would go on first. There was some speculation ...

Aretha Franklin: Alan Smith Discovers That Aretha (26) Feels She's A Lot Older

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 7 September 1968

...because she's lived such a hard life ...

Johnny Nash: Rock-Steady is Coming

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 September 1968

JOHNNY NASH arrived in London on Tuesday for six days to promote his hit single, 'Hold Me Tight', with the message that Rock-Steady is on ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Topless Dancers Drove Me Out says Sly of the Family Stone

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 September 1968

TOPLESS DANCERS and the resultant craze in San Francisco became so too much for a young musician that he left his job, became a record ...

Traffic Lights a Big Success

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 September 1968

Observe four old young men known just as Traffic/Suffer their tedious setting the stage/Then hark to their magical music and live it/And when the fuzz ...

Amen Corner: Amen Andy Is New Teen Idol

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 September 1968

JUST as everyone was beginning to think that the day of the teenage idol was over, another young 'god' has come quietly and modestly upon ...

Canned Heat: Revolution, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 14 September 1968

"IT'S A LOW-down... dirty shame," sang big Bob Hite, lead singer with Canned Heat, when the American blues group in the NME Chart with 'On ...

Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall: Mayall Helps Mac Break Into Singles

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 September 1968

ACE BLUESMAN John Mayall went to a concert given by super ace bluesman B.B. King in America, took a tape recording of it and later ...

The Rolling Stones: The Banned Stones' LP Cover...

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 September 1968

Mick Jagger protests against 'Dylan offensive' charge ...

Traffic: Traffic (Island)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 September 1968

GREAT TRAFFIC LP ...

Canned Heat Have Sunflower, Bear & Tree Man!

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 September 1968

THIS IS the story of Canned Heat, a young lady, myself and the Incredible Sliding Bed (in fact, two Incredible Sliding Beds). You are invited ...

The Rolling Stones: Our Live Shows More Subversive Than 'Street Fightin' Man'! admits Keith Richard

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 September 1968

Part two of the Jagger-fights-on story. ...

The Nice: Richard Green goes afloat with Nice

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 September 1968

And nearly goes down with them! ...

The Kinks: The Village Green Preservation Society (Pye)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 September 1968

KINKS REMINISCING ON THE VILLAGE GREEN ...

Fat Mattress, Jimi Hendrix: In the name of pop music NME's RICHARD GREEN suffers a... NOEL REDDING EXPERIENCE

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 5 October 1968

IT IS VERY unlikely that the Editor will send me to Biafra to cover the war for the NME or that I shall be asked ...

The Herd: After Big Split Herd Out Of Exile

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 October 1968

YOU MAY NOT have seen much of the Herd recently since their self-imposed retreat following a dispute with managers Howard and Blaikley, but I have ...

Aretha Franklin: Philharmonic Hall, New York NY

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 12 October 1968

ARETHA FRANKLIN, the first lady of soul, appeared at Philharmonic Hall last weekend and was the guest of honour at a huge dinner party thrown ...

Joe Cocker: John And Paul Send Their Thanks To Joe

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 October 1968

"WITH A Little Help From Our Friends" Lennon and McCartney, 23-year-old Sheffield born, Joe Cocker makes a welcome appearance in our charts this week with ...

Jose Feliciano: Jose Makes Old Very Avantgarde

Profile and Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 12 October 1968

IF, AS THE cynics say, there is nothing new in the world, then the mark of the truly creative performer is one who can make ...

Joe Cocker: I'm Not A Pop Pin-Up... I'm Gruesome

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 26 October 1968

NME's Keith Altham quizzes a happy JOE COCKER who this week leaps to No 6. ...

Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones: I Miss Mick's Bath Scene

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 9 November 1968

...moans KEITH ALTHAM but catches up with Jagger later ...

The Beatles: The Beatles (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 November 1968

BEATLES DOUBLE-LP IN FULL The Brilliant, the Bad and the Ugly — Track-by-Track review of 30 songs ...

Bonzo Dog Band, Joe Cocker, Tiny Tim: Tiny Tim, Joe Cocker, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 November 1968

TINY'S BIG HIT ...

Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back (Dir. Don Pennebaker)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 16 November 1968

Evil genius? Volatile? Merciless? Hydra headed Monster? Film shows other side of Bob Dylan ...

The Rolling Stones: One Plus One (Dir. Jean Luc Godard)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 November 1968

COMING NOT-too-shortly, I hope (the official London premiere is at the National Film Theatre on November 25) — the Rolling Stones in One Plus One ...

Aphrodite's Child: Greek Chartsters

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 November 1968

'RAIN AND TEARS' is one of those songs with a prickle at the nape of the neck moving to a shiver down the spine, and ...

The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet (Decca)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 23 November 1968

I KEEP changing my mind about Beggars Banquet which is the Rolling Stones new album in the sleeve which has now been passed fit for ...

Jeannie C. Riley: A Wild Jeannie

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 November 1968

PARAGON PUBLICITY use a Rolls and a chauffeur to get me to Jeannie C. Riley ("it belonged to the Beatles," says the man proudly, "but ...

Joe Cocker: Hit Single Was Just A Fluke

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 November 1968

New LP is much more important he tells RICHARD GREEN ...

The Beatles: The Beatles (The White Album)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 November 1968

BEATLES CHART HISTORY BY GETTING DOUBLE LP IN. ...

The Beatles: Paul Recalls Inspirations Of LP

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 30 November 1968

PAUL McCARTNEY has been talking about The Beatles' new double-album and he is understandably and humanly chuffed at the cover versions of his songs. He ...

Love Sculpture: Amen's Andy Tipped Love Sculpture

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 December 1968

AMEN CORNER'S Andy Fairweather-Low has recently been bending my ear about a Welsh trio called Love Sculpture who, he felt sure, were going to be ...

The Beach Boys, Barry Ryan: Palladium, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 December 1968

Beach Boys' magic ...

Crosby Stills and Nash: Crosby Stills & Nash: Splitting Holly Graham Forms Group That Isn't

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 14 December 1968

TO THE MOSCOW Road, London W.2., where Mr. Graham Nash had news and views and also the company of Mr. David Crosby and Mr. Stephen ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis (NBC Television Special)

Film/DVD/TV Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 14 December 1968

Elvis television triumph ...

Eric Clapton, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, The Who: Rolling Stones: The Greatest Show On Earth

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 December 1968

THE ROLLING STONES put in some overtime last Wednesday when they spent 17 hours working on their telethon production of The Rock and Roll Circus ...

Simon & Garfunkel: Film Graduation For Simon, Garfunkel

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1969

"THE Graduate, the film which features ‘Mrs. Robinson,’ has given Simon and Garfunkel the kind of status in America that the Beatles have now," their ...

Scott Walker: Scott His Own Worst Enemy

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1969

SCOTT WALKER is a super talent who will probably never become a Super-Star because he will defeat himself or maybe more simply he will deliberately ...

Booker T & The MGs: Booker T. puts hits before tours

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 January 1969

SOUL is a much maligned word which tends to bring a sneer to the lips of the musical cynics, probably because there has been so ...

Lulu: No Time For Lulu

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 January 1969

LULU IS finding that twenty four hours are not enough to cope with her string of commitments which includes a television series, the Eurovision Song ...

Hair: Not a Show for the Sqeamish — for Audience or the Cast!

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 February 1969

WHATEVER the Lord Chamberlain may have thought about Hair, its message and content, the cast agree on one thing — it is not a shocking ...

Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield: Jerry Wexler: 'Team Work Is Secret Of Atlantic's Soul Success'

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 February 1969

Label chief JERRY WEXLER talking to Alan Smith ...

Canned Heat Fight Blues Prejudice

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 February 1969

LIBERTY RECORDS took their time releasing Canned Heat's 'Going Up Country', follow-up to 'On The Road Again', and frankly I had thought that the heat ...

Stevie Wonder: Two Sides of the Great Stevie Wonder

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 February 1969

Stevie champions the under dogs; Musically he's only at the beginning ...

Wilson Pickett: "I'm tired — I ain't doing no TV"— but he does!

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 15 February 1969

Alan Smith welcomes to England an unhappy WILSON PICKETT ...

Sam & Dave: Sam and Dave — soul brothers on stage — but not off

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 March 1969

SOUL BROTHERS on stage... but not so brotherly in real life. That seemed to be the implication by Sam Moore, of Sam and Dave, when ...

Marv Johnson: Marv still works as Tamla clerk

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 March 1969

And he gave label its first ever hit! ...

Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Georgie Fame, Simon & Garfunkel: Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan: Mind blowing duo

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 March 1969

NME's Richard Green talks to their producer, Bob Johnston ...

Joe South: I'm Proud To Be Schizophrenic!

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 12 April 1969

JOE SOUTH is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and record producer and self-confessed schizophrenic. But first he is a poet. His publicist told me this in ...

Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline

Review by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 19 April 1969

DYLAN HAS CHANGED again. His latest album, Nashville Skyline, the 14-month-later follow-up to John Wesley Harding, presents the folk-rock star in a completely new guise. ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker: A Hit For Junior — Because He Couldn't Sit Still

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 19 April 1969

AROUND THE Tamla Motown offices, Junior Walker became something of an oddity. Instead of sitting around, biding his time like the rest of the artists, ...

Blind Faith, Bob & Earl, The Caravelles, Joe Cocker, Millie, Spencer Davis Group, Traffic: Blind Faith: They're no group

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 April 1969

Island Records boss CHRIS BLACKWELL talks to Richard Green ...

Bob & Earl Are Many Stars

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 April 1969

WHEN BOB and Earl fly into Britain next week I'll be fascinated to find out if they now call themselves Bobby Garrett, Bobby Day or ...

Desmond Dekker: Dekker Dekkos* London

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 April 1969

IT WAS going to be one of those "day-in-the-life " adventures, with photographer Stuart Richman and I showing excited tourist Desmond Dekker the sights of ...

The Beatles, John Lennon: Beatles Music Straightforward On Next Album: An Interview with John Lennon

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 3 May 1969

"IF I COULD ONLY get the time to myself right now, instead of all this Monopoly and financial business with Northern Songs, I think I ...

The Pretty Things: Tamla invest in Pretty Things

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 May 1969

ONE OF the most astounding pieces of news recently has been the signing by Tamla Motown of the Pretty Things, a group famed for its ...

The Who: Tommy (Track stereo 613 013/4; 76s 1d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 May 1969

WHO'S SICK OPERA ...

Otis Redding: Bound To Be A Big Hit: Otis Redding: The Dock Of The Bay (Atco)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 June 1969

IT'S ALMOST a waste of time to review an Otis Redding album: everybody already knows how great he was. ...

The Beatles, John Lennon: John Lennon: Ringo's Right, We Can't Tour Again

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 7 June 1969

JOHN LENNON, over here in Canada with his wife Yoko, revealed for the first time that there had been considerable disagreement between him and Paul ...

The Lovin' Spoonful: Revelation: Revolution '69 (Kama Sutra)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 June 1969

MY, HOW THE Spoonful have changed since the days of John Sebastian and the lunatical Zalman Yanovsky. ...

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger Talks To NME About The New Stone, The Ex Stone, And Two Albums

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 June 1969

"WE'D KNOWN for a few months that Brian wasn't keen; he wasn't enjoying himself and it got to the stage where we had to sit ...

Sam & Dave: Sam and Dave: Double Trouble (Atlantic)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 June 1969

ANYONE who's ever seen Sam and Dave on stage will appreciate just how hard the dynamic duo work. ...

Blodwyn Pig, Led Zeppelin, The Liverpool Scene: Led Zeppelin, Blodwyn Pig, the Liverpool Scene: Town Hall, Birmingham

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 June 1969

ZEPPELIN FLY HIGH ...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Question-Time with Smokey of the Miracles

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 21 June 1969

KNOWING THAT Smokey Robinson is one of the five vice-presidents of the fabulously successful Tamla Motown label, I expected him to be a bustling businessman, ...

Thunderclap Newman, Pete Townshend: "I'm gonna make you a star" said Pete Townshend to Thunderclap Newman... and he meant it!

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 28 June 1969

NOBODY REALLY expects anything connected with the Who to be quite normal, but with Thunderclap Newman, Pete Townshend has come up with a gem. Apart ...

The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson: Love, Respect Binds The Beach Boys

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 28 June 1969

By RICHARD GREEN — the sixth Beach Boy ...

The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker: Newport '69 Pop Festival: Rock Festival Fiasco

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 5 July 1969

NOW THAT the Newport '69 Pop Festival (called that to borrow a little of the fame from the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, but actually ...

Blodwyn Pig, The Nice, Ten Years After: The Nice, Blodwyn Pig, Ten Years After: Bath Festival, Somerset

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 5 July 1969

RICHARD GREEN says ROCKING NICE HIT ...

Billy Preston: Billy's a Natural

Profile by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 12 July 1969

IF EVER there was a "natural" for the charts, Billy Preston's 'That's The Way God Planned It' — which enters this week at No. 19 ...

Desmond Dekker: Sister's Fall Inspired Des' 'It Mek'

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 19 July 1969

AS A CHANGE from Which came first, the chicken or the egg? — which came first, the 'Israelites' or the 'It Mek'? ...

The Beach Boys: Beach Boy Mike Would Love To Convert You

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 July 1969

Richard Green Tries A Spot Of Meditation ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence Perkins Fans

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 26 July 1969

CREEDENCE Clearwater Revival are at the top of America's pop group list. They are No. 12 this week in the NME charts with 'Proud Mary', ...

Desmond Dekker: Sweetened Ska Beat Could Sweep The Country Claims Desmond Dekker's Producer

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 26 July 1969

ARE DESMOND Dekker's 'Israelites' No. 1 and his latest release 'It Mek' only flashes in the proverbial pan, man... or could a hybrid mix of ...

Johnny Cash: At San Quentin (CBS mono and stereo 63629; 37s. 6d )

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, August 1969

CASH RECORDS SMASH IN JAIL ...

The Isley Brothers, John Peel: Isleys and Peel 'Do Their Thing'

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 2 August 1969

THERE IS no obvious connection between John Peel and the Isley Brothers. Both are in a different "bag," yet both have one thing in common ...

Elvis Presley, the Sweet Inspirations: International Hotel, Las Vegas NV

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 9 August 1969

SENSATIONAL LIVE SHOW COMEBACK! ...

Conway Twitty: Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie (MCA mono and stereo MUP 386; 37s 6d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 August 1969

COUNTRY TWITTY ...

Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg: Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg: Jane Sighs Her Way To Charts!

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 August 1969

IT'S ALL VERY well for people to scream and shout that the BBC won't play their records enough, thus giving them no chance of becoming ...

Muddy Waters: After The Rain (Chess mono and stereo CRL 4553; 37s 5d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 August 1969

NEW ALBUM FROM MUDDY ...

The Nice: Nice (Immediate mono and stereo IMSP 026; 38s. 6d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 August 1969

NICE WORK AND YOU CAN GET IT ...

Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie, Free: Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie & Friends, Free: Inglewood Forum, Inglewood CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 30 August 1969

CLAPTON ADORATION ...

The Band, Bob Dylan, Bonzo Dog Band, Fat Mattress, Joe Cocker, The Moody Blues, The Nice, The Who: Bob Dylan et al: Isle of Wight Festival

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 September 1969

200,000 roar approval including John, George, Ringo and wives! But Dylan didn't quite sink Isle of Wight, reports Richard Green ...

Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg: Deep Breathing: Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg (Fontana)

Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 6 September 1969

THE DEEP-BREATHING GIRL, Jane Birkin, gets the boys breathless with her panting contributions to the lovely tune and deep-voiced singing of Serge Gainsbourg in 'Je ...

Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson Wrote Music For Next Tull Album On U.S. Tour

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 September 1969

MOST GROUP members, when they visit America, spend all their spare time looning about clubs and generally having a rare old time. Not so Ian ...

The Temptations: Can You Put A Name To The Temptations?

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 13 September 1969

I'VE ALWAYS had the feeling that although the Temptations have enjoyed good record sales in this country, they've never quite made it as people with ...

Cher: 3614 Jackson Highway (Atco mono and stereo 228 026; 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 September 1969

WITH THREE Bob Dylan songs, one by Steve Stills and another by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper, Cher has a pretty good mixture — and ...

Elvis Presley: International Hotel, Las Vegas NV

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 13 September 1969

SECOND LOOK AT ELVIS ...

Johnny Cash: Country Boy

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 20 September 1969

Hard life of the legendary folk star ...

The Beatles: Abbey Road Album Track-By-Track

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 September 1969

A YOUNG lady wrote to Radio One's Scene and Heard at the weekend, her heart full of hate, her pen dipped in vitriol, and her ...

Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg: At Home with Sounds of Love star Jane

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

IT'S ALL VERY well to have a public image of a fun-loving, "anything goes" girl about town, but in private life things can be very ...

Chicken Shack Full Of Clucking Sounds

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

STAN WEBB was grinning evilly as he strode into a pub, but no maniacal deeds were going through his mind, he was just dead chuffed ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Crosby, Stills, Nash Fantastically Together

Report by June Harris, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

CROSBY, Stills, Nash and Young arrived in New York last week for performances at the Fillmore East. Needless to say, all four shows resulted in ...

The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder: Motowners have Racial Problems

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

SINCE SO many Motown artists are currently in the British charts, I thought I might pass on some things about them that have been circulating ...

The Nice: Nice: Good Music & Showmanship Is Their Formula For Success

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

MUSICAL COMPETENCE and showmanship rarely go hand-in-hand. At least, if they do, one often takes precedence over the other and the overall effect is one ...

Ten Years After: Ssssh (Deram mono and stereo DML 1052, 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 September 1969

TEN YEARS AFTER VERY ADVANCED ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Fillmore East, New York NY

Live Review by June Harris, New Musical Express, 4 October 1969

THE START of this week's column should be called the continuing story of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I know that from the English point ...

The Temptations: Making Hits Is As Easy As Pie says Temps Dennis

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 4 October 1969

"MAKING HIT records," claims Dennis Edwards, lusty lead singer of the Temptations, "is like making cakes. You just need the right basic ingredients and you're ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: Sings The Country Music Hall Of Fame Hits Vol. 1 and 2 (Mercury)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 11 October 1969

Jerry Lee's good examples ...

The Kinks: Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (Pye mono and stereo NPL 1837; 37s 5d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 11 October 1969

KINKS WITH POP OPERA ...

Radha Krishna Temple, London: Are You Getting Krishna's Message?

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 October 1969

...wonders ALAN SMITH ...

The Four Tops, Diana Ross, The Supremes: Four Tops Hoping For British Tour, Diana Splits Next Year

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 October 1969

ALAN SMITH reports the latest views from DETROIT, A CITY PACKED WITH NATURAL MOTOWN TALENT. ...

Harry Nilsson: Nilsson — The Complete Opposite of a Pop Star

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 25 October 1969

NICE GUY Nilsson remains — as ever — a nice guy... And in a pop world which occasionally tends to suffer a little too much ...

The Nice: A Nice A Week: 1 — Keith Emerson Wants Classical Music To Survive

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 November 1969

ONE OF the highspots of Keith Emerson's career occurred only a fortnight ago, when the Nice played with the London Symphony Orchestra at Croydon's Fairfield ...

The Beatles, George Harrison: Beatle Single — By George!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 November 1969

1969 WILL END up being George Harrison's year. He's waited a long time for real recognition, has George, but his composition 'Something' is released as ...

John Mayall: Turning Point (Polydor mono and stereo 583 571; 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 November 1969

MAYALL MINUS DRUMS ...

Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Harry J All Stars, The Pioneers: Three New Entries Give Reggae (all on Trojan) Strong Hold on the Chart

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 November 1969

JUST HOW firm a hold reggae is taking on the charts is demonstrated this week by the arrival in the NME Top Thirty of three ...

Holland, Dozier, Holland: This Song Team Wrote 7 Million-Sellers On The Trot!

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 15 November 1969

No. 2 IN THE LP CHART THIS WEEK IS MOTOWN CHART BUSTERS, VOL 3. THREE HITS ON THIS ALBUM WERE BY HOLLAND DOZIER HOLLAND ...

Joe Cocker, Leon Russell: Leon's 'Lady' lucky for Joe Cocker

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 15 November 1969

Transatlantic interview by RICHARD GREEN ...

Stevie Wonder: Stevie Sees Very Clearly

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 November 1969

IN A WORLD of darkness, sound has obviously become almost Stevie Wonder's chief guide and consolation... so I was hardly surprised to hear this week ...

The Rolling Stones: Forum, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 22 November 1969

Stones terrific ...

Gene Vincent, The Wild Angels: Gene Vincent, Wild Angels, the Nashville Teens: Palladium, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

BACK 12 YEARS WITH ROCKER GENE VINCENT ...

Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker! (Regal Zonophone stereo SLRZ 1011, 37s. 5d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

CREDIT TO ALL FOR JOE COCKER'S U.S. LP ...

Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells, Kim Weston: Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells: Marvin Gaye and his Girls (Tamla-Motown, mono and stereo TML 11123; 37s 5d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

THE PERSONABLE Mr. Gaye is in top form on this album, which teams him up with Mary Wells, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell. Marvin has ...

Mighty Baby: Mighty Baby (Head stereo playable mono. HDLS 6002. 39s. lid.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

MIGHTY BABY comprises five young men who have been playing in various groups for a number of years and who have now combined to produce ...

Pacific Gas & Electric: Pacific Gas And Electric: Pacific Gas And Electric (CBS stereo playable mono 63822; 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

THIS ALBUM is obviously a collection or the group's newest recordings, as the sound has changed out of recognition. Gone has the rock and roll ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed (Decca mono and stereo SKL/LK 5025; 37s 6d, Released December 5)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 November 1969

GREAT STONES ALBUM! Declares RICHARD GREEN ...

Elvis Presley: From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis (RCA)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 December 1969

PRESLEY FANS WANT TO SPEED UP ISSUE OF THIS ...

The Band, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Blind Faith, Blood Sweat & Tears, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: Keith Richard on Mick, Beatles, Led, Faith, Tull, Gees

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 6 December 1969

THE NEWS that the Rolling Stones have resumed personal appearances must have gladdened the hearts of pop fans everywhere. The Stones always were the most ...

Jimmy Cliff: Jimmy Cliff (Trojan stereo TRLS 16; 37s. 5d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 December 1969

JIMMY CLIFF has done well out of reggae after a couple of years without much activity and he's following up his hit, 'Wonderful World, Beautiful ...

The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie, George Harrison: George And Eric Inspire Each Other

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 December 1969

Friendship and a mutual love of music brought George Harrison and Eric Clapton together for the recent Delaney and Bonnie tour. At a stopover In ...

The Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono: John Lennon: Bore, Fool or Saint?

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 December 1969

THEY SAY John Lennon is insane, a fool, and a bore. They call him an embarrassment, a joke, and a man too interested in his ...

Plastic Ono Band: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 December 1969

Oh, no to Ono, 1984 ...

The Beatles, Delaney & Bonnie, George Harrison: Question Time With George Harrison

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 December 1969

Roy Carr concludes his exclusive Question-time with George Harrison, taped in the lounge of a Liverpool hotel during a break in the recent Delaney and ...

The Move

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, Fall 1969

THE MOVE are a sometimes thing. In the past three years the group have given us precisely one album and seven singles which can hardly ...

Tony Joe White: Tony Joe, Elvis, and Polk Salad Annie

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1970

TONY JOE WHITE was one of the first of the new school of Southern singer/songwriters – along with Jerry Reed, Joe South, Leon Russell, Dough ...

James Burton, Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley's Lead Guitarist, James Burton, Talks About Working With King

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 3 January 1970

Special QUESTION-TIME conducted by ANN MOSES IN HOLLYWOOD ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 January 1970

SUPER CONCERT! ...

Taste: On The Boards (Polydor stereo 583 083. 37s 6d).

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 January 1970

IF MY memory serves me correctly, Taste is an Irish group I first saw playing in Harrods Way In boutique a few months back. The ...

David Ackles: Subway To The Country (Elektra stereo EKS 74060; 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 17 January 1970

DAVID ACKLES seems to have a preoccupation with gloom, doom and disaster when writing songs, but it usually turns out that numbers written in that ...

Badfinger: New to the Charts: Badfinger Make Apple Feel Rosy

Profile by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 January 1970

IT'S BIG smiles and happy heads at Apple this week, where the once much-maligned label now has a further chart name — BADFINGER — to ...

The Supremes, The Temptations: Super Star Diana Right To Quit Supremes Say Temptations

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 January 1970

ONLY THE absence of 'flu-bound Eddie Kendricks took the edge off the Temptations' arrival in Britain at the weekend, but the rest of them were ...

The Bar-Kays: Soul Finger (Atco stereo 228 030; 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 17 January 1970

THE INFLUENCE that Booker T. and the MG's have had on this five-piece outfit is obvious, but the Bar-Kays haven't quite got it together in ...

Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys: Fillmore East, New York NY

Live Review by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 31 January 1970

Hendrix joins the friends bandwagon ...

The Nice: RICHARD GREEN spends a hectic weekend with NICE In Paris

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 31 January 1970

WHAT DO you have to do to have 'Granada' sung in your left ear by three Spaniards at 5.30 on a Sunday morning and a ...

Top Of The Pops: Are These The Two Most Frighteningly Powerful Men In Pop?

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 February 1970

PROBABLY ONLY one in a thousand teenagers have the vaguest ideas who Mel Cornish and Stanley Dorfmann are, but in the pop record business they ...

Elvis Presley: International Showroom, Las Vegas

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 7 February 1970

KING ELVIS RULES VEGAS AGAIN. New songs and old in his act after his first night including 'Proud Mary', 'Walk A Mile In My Shoes', ...

The Temptations: Temps Aren't Puppets of Motown

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 7 February 1970

ARE SOME of Tamla Motown's artists "Monkees of Soul"... professional acts who seem so puppet-like and programmed that they hardly come across as real people? ...

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires: Byron Lee is Jamaican Idol

Profile by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 February 1970

RELATIVELY unknown in this country, except to West Indians, Byron Lee is one of Jamaica's biggest attractions. In fact, he is to the Jamaicans what ...

Lee Marvin Now Top 20 'Star'!

Profile by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 February 1970

IT'S ALL very well to go round saying pigs can't fly, but who can honestly say that they expected to see Lee Marvin in the ...

The 5th Dimension: Love Keeps Us 5th Dimensions Together says Marilyn

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 14 February 1970

AT A PERIOD when groups come and go and musical moods change quickly, the lasting power and dependable good vibration sounds of the 5th Dimensions ...

The Band: Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 14 February 1970

MAGNIFICENT BAND ...

The Nice: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 February 1970

NICE VERSATILITY IS LIMITLESS ...

Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash — The Man, His World, His Music (Dir. Robert Elfstrom, Verité Production)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 February 1970

DON'T MISS THIS JOHNNY CASH FILM advises RICHARD GREEN ...

Rod Stewart: An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (Vertigo stereo VO4; 37s 6d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 February 1970

ROD IN TOP FORM ...

The Band, Ronnie Hawkins, Levon & the Hawks: Ronnie Hawkins: Arkansas Rock Pile (Roulette mono RCP 1003, 19s. 11d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 February 1970

Rockin' Ronnie ...

Ronnie Hawkins: Mid-Rock Man Hawkins Found John & Yoko Silent Guests

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 28 February 1970

JOHN LENNON spent several days as a guest at Ronnie Hawkins' secluded country house in Canada prior to, during and following the peace concert. Yoko ...

Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (Reprise stereo RSLP 6356; 40s 8d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 7 March 1970

WIDE RANGE FROM ZAPPA ...

Chicago: Chicago (CBS stereo 66233; 49s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

TOO MUCH SOUNDS SAMEY ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy And The Poor Boys (Liberty stereo LBS 83338; 38s 7d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

CREEDENCE REALLY IS A ROCK BAND ...

Hank Williams Jr.: Hank Williams, Jr.: Live At Cobo Hall (MGM stereo MGM-CS- 8116; 37s. 5d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

IT WOULD be silly to try and compare Hank Junior with his late father, so a review must be done with a completely open mind. ...

Island Records

Profile by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

WHAT HAVE Spooky Tooth, Traffic, King Crimson, Free, Renaissance, Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, Nick Drake and Fotheringay in common? They all are, or ...

The Nice: Nice and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

NICE UNITE CLASSIC AND POP FANS ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper: ROY CARR, who joins NME this week, conducts an Ask-in with... STEVE CROPPER

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

Guitar ace with Booker T, Stax producer and formerly with Otis Redding's show ...

Syd Barrett: Syd Speaks Out — At Last!

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

IT WOULDN'T BE as far-fetched as it sounds to say that what Bo Diddley was to the rock and roll scene, Pink Floyd were to ...

Bob and Marcia: 'Why Marry? Our Way's Okay' says Bob Smiling While Marcia Frowns

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 21 March 1970

Reggae stars in London ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: An 80 Buck Bummer Made Us Start Learning

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 21 March 1970

ANN MOSES INTERVIEWS JOHN FOGERTYlead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival ...

Fairport Convention, the Humblebums: Lyceum Ballroom, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 21 March 1970

ANY DOUBTS about the future of the new-look Fairport Convention since Sandy Denny's departure were immediately shattered after their opening number at the Lyceum on ...

Pickettywitch Take Up Dancing!

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 21 March 1970

ONE GROUP which really seem to have a most positive and realistic approach to their future in the highly competitive record game are NME chart ...

Renaissance: They Want You To Listen

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 March 1970

FOR PURELY personal reasons I think the nicest thing about Renaissance is Jane Relf, but as as a music journalist I must own up and ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: John Fogerty (continued): I Gave Up Note-making a Year Ago

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 28 March 1970

The second part of Ann Moses' long rap with John Fogerty, lead singing star of Creedence Clearwater Revival, takes the form of a frank Ask-In ...

Taste: Trio Gives Taste More Challenge

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 28 March 1970

TASTE ARE just starting to become a very hot property in England and on the Continent, already having conquered the Irish fans. All the trappings ...

Yes: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 28 March 1970

LAST SATURDAY saw the solo debut by what must surely be one of the next major concert attractions in this country... Yes. Before a capacity ...

Arthur Brown: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

ARTHUR BROWN MAD AS EVER! ...

Led Zeppelin: ASK-IN with a LED ZEPPELIN a week: Bassist JOHN PAUL JONES

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

Part one of an exciting New Series by RITCHIE YORKE ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Back To School For Jr. Walker!

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

DROP INTO any discotheque you care to mention in any city or holiday resort in Europe and you can bet safely that at least three ...

Black Sabbath Have Nothing To Do With Spooks! says Lead Guitar Tony

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

A NUMBER of pop groups seem to have decided that it's the in-thing these days to meddle in black magic and present their version of ...

Bob and Marcia Take Plenty Preparation Time

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

DON'T BELIEVE all that stuff about black artists just jumping up on a stage and doing their thing without a moment of preparation. It happens... ...

Jimmy Ruffin Forecasts Motown Sound Chances

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

"WITHOUT A doubt there is going to be a big change in the Motown sound as we know it. And many of today's 'happening' names ...

Woodstock (Dir. Michael Wadleigh, Warner Bros.)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 11 April 1970

WOODSTOCK FILM IS WORTHWHILE ...

Led Zeppelin: ASK-IN with a LED ZEPPELIN a week: Robert Plant

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 11 April 1970

LAST WEEK, I reported the sayings of bass player John Paul Jones. Continuing NME's four-part series on Led Zeppelin, I turned to lead singer Robert ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence's "Band" Tribute To Rock Stars

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 April 1970

"IN THE States, they tell us Creedence Clearwater Revival are the stop-gap between the Beatles and the 'next Beatles — whoever the next Beatles may ...

Led Zeppelin: ASK-IN with a LED ZEPPELIN a week: JOHN BONHAM drummer extraordinary known as BONZO

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 18 April 1970

THE THIRD member of Led Zeppelin to be interviewed in-depth in our four-part Ask-In profile of the group is drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham, surely the ...

Dionne Warwick: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 April 1970

DIONNE DAZZLES ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: In Europe With Creedence

Report by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 18 April 1970

SCARY GERMAN FUZZ-FAN SCENE! ...

Norman Greenbaum: 'Sky' Star Hits At Showbiz Phonies

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 April 1970

I'm not religious but I live a pure life says Norman Greenbaum ...

Paul McCartney: McCartney (Apple)

Review and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 18 April 1970

McCartney is a warm pleasure PAUL TALKS ABOUT LP TRACK BY TRACK ...

The Flock, It's a Beautiful Day, Taj Mahal, Santana, Steamhammer, Johnny Winter: Johnny Winter, Flock, Steamhammer, Santana, It's A Beautiful Day, Taj Mahal: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 April 1970

ROCKERS TAKE OVER FOR A NIGHT ...

Pentangle: Carnegie Hall, New York NY

Live Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 25 April 1970

ENCHANTING PENTANGLE ...

Blodwyn Pig: Blodwyn's Mixed Audiences Means They Sometimes Get Mobbed

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 2 May 1970

AND THEY LIKE IT, ADMITS JACK LANCASTER ...

Stevie Wonder: Invite Me To Britain pleads "homesick" Stevie Wonder, who says he may marry in six months!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 2 May 1970

ALAN SMITH talks to Tamla's most consistent solo hitmaker ...

Joe Cocker, Leon Russell: Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen: Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 2 May 1970

COCKER SURVIVES AND TRIUMPHS ...

Simon & Garfunkel: Simon and Garfunkel's Amazing Reaction to London Concert

Comment by Miranda Ward, New Musical Express, 2 May 1970

AUDIENCE HYSTERIA DISMAYED THEM ...

The Beatles: Let It Be (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 9 May 1970

NEW LP SHOWS THEY COULDN'T CARE LESSHave Beatles sold out? asks NME's Alan Smith ...

The Who: Live At Leeds (Track stereo 2406 001; 42s 6d).

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 16 May 1970

BRILLIANT WHO ...

The Beatles: Let It Be (Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg, United Artists)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 May 1970

Unusual, fascinating Beatles documentary ...

Woodstock (Dir. Michael Wadleigh, Warner Bros.)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 May 1970

WOODSTOCK — BEST FILM EVER MADE ABOUT POP ...

Buck Owens And His Buckaroos: Tall Dark Stranger (Capitol stereo E-ST 212; 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

BUCK OWENS is regarded very highly by country-and –western people, performers and customers alike, and his albums sell consistently well. Unfortunately, he has never had ...

Amen Corner, Fair Weather: Fair Weather: Andy Pleads, Don't Scream At Me Any More

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

WHEN DOZENS of emotional young girls screamed and hysterically rushed the stage in a vague attempt to grab hold of Andy Fairweather Low, the singer ...

Christine Perfect/McVie: For Christine, Hard Work Hasn't Made Perfect

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

HARD WORK is not always rewarded, as Christine Perfect is unfortunately finding out. Since leaving Chicken Shack to spend more time with her husband, Fleetwood ...

Ginger Baker, Black Sabbath, Colosseum, Family, Jose Feliciano, Grateful Dead, Screaming Lord Sutch, Traffic, Tony Joe White: Grateful Dead, Traffic, Black Sabbath, Jose Feliciano et al: Hollywood Music Festival, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

PEACEFUL FESTIVAL OF GOOD MUSIC ...

The Nice: Five Bridges (Charisma, stereo CAS 1014; 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

End of Nice ...

Various Artists: Woodstock (Atlantic, stereo 2663001; 150s)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 May 1970

Monster albums from Woodstock ...

Glen Campbell – Former Beach Boy and Elvis Guitarist!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 June 1970

IT MAY NOT be generally known that Glen Campbell is a former member of the Beach Boys... that he was once a brilliant session guitarist ...

Taste, Toe Fat: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 June 1970

London likes raving Taste ...

Audience, Van Der Graaf Generator: Van Der Graaf Generator, Audience: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 June 1970

CONCERT SUCCESS OF TWO GROUPS ...

Black Sabbath: Black Magic Is Not Our Scene Say Black Sabbath

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 June 1970

We're fed up with the confusion, they tell ROY CARR ...

The Beatles, Booker T & The MGs: Booker T-MGs Invade Beatle Land

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 June 1970

THINK YOU recognise the album cover on the right? Well, just look again! It's the sleeve to Booker T & the MG's new album McLemore ...

Free Out-Draw Leading Groups

Profile by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 June 1970

THEY MAY be new to the charts, crashing in at No. 18 with 'Alright Now', but Free are by no means newcomers on the scene. ...

The Who: Who Rehearsed Live Album During American Tour

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 June 1970

KEITH MOON, a little more serious these days, talks to RICHARD GREEN ...

Ashton, Gardner & Dyke, Derek & The Dominos: Derek & the Dominos, Ashton, Gardner & Dyke: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 June 1970

Clapton leads — and sings his heart out ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence John's Convictions Landed Him In Prison

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

For 20 years I was in a 'dungeon' ...

Free: Fans make it a Free for all

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

TO MANY wide-eyed, starstruck groups, a hit record is the culmination of their career; they can see no further. It is, for them the be-all ...

Led Zeppelin, Screaming Lord Sutch: Happier than ever — says Zep's John "Bonzo" Bonham annoyed by rumours of a break-up...

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

JOHN BONHAM is an incredibly happy person. But if there is one thing that's apt to annoy Led Zeppelin's powerhouse drummer and arch-raver, it's the ...

Jimi Hendrix: Band Of Gypsys (Track stereo Super. 2406.002; 42s. 6d.)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

JIMI HENDRIX is one of the very few true originals in music. He is a power unto himself and perhaps the only person to whom ...

Roger Miller: Roger Miller 1970 (Mercury stereo 6338 001; 30s. 11d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

BECAUSE ROGER Miller is such a good songwriter it's odd that only one of the tracks here is his own composition. It would be much ...

Steppenwolf: Steppenwolf Live (Stateside stereo SSL 5029; 39s 11d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 June 1970

HERE COMES THE WOLF ...

Diana Ross Doesn't Miss Supremes

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 4 July 1970

DIANA ROSS is a supremely confident person. She has progressed from being a member of just another Tamla Motown group called the Supremes, to making ...

John Entwistle, The Who: John Entwistle: I Nearly Quit Top Of The Pops

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 4 July 1970

A bass player who objects to being ignored by TV cameras: That's John Entwistle of the Who. He told his troubles to NME's Richard Green ...

Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant: Sexy? It's all a bit of a giggle says Zeppelin's Robert Plant

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 July 1970

THERE IS no denying that Robert Plant is bestowed with the contemporary handsomeness and poise of which pop heroes are made. Subsequently, and without any ...

Ten Years After a Week: Alvin Lee

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 July 1970

WOODSTOCK FILM BIG BOOST FOR ALVIN ...

Blues Image, John Sebastian, Leon Russell, The Who: The Who, John B. Sebastian, the Blues Image, Leon Russell: Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim CA

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 4 July 1970

WHO HEAT UP SUMMER ...

Deep Purple: Lyceum Ballroom, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 July 1970

Deep Purple at riotous best ...

Free: Fire and Water (Island stereo, ILPS.9120. 37s. 5d.)

Review and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 July 1970

FREE'S FASTEST-SELLER Roy Carr's track-by-track with vocalist Paul Rodgers ...

Colosseum, Steppenwolf: Steppenwolf, Colosseum: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 July 1970

Roy Carr at Wolf's concert ...

Humble Pie: NME Crashes in on Stevie...

Review and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 18 July 1970

...to do a track-by track on Humble Pie latest album ...

Black Sabbath, Yes: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 25 July 1970

WITH CHAMPAGNE in hand, Herr Klook re-emerged before a capacity crowd to present his new series of Friday night scenes at the Lyceum. ...

Kevin Ayers, The Edgar Broughton Band, Lol Coxhill, Formerly Fat Harry, Roy Harper, Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers & the Whole World, the Edgar Broughton Band et al: Hyde Park, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 25 July 1970

I THOUGHT I'd just wander down to Hyde Park, lay under a tree and quietly listen to the music. However, it seems that Blackhill organisers ...

Taste: the Marquee, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 25 July 1970

NOT ONLY were there some incredible scenes going on inside the Marquee on Tuesday when the Taste completely shattered the all-time box office record held ...

Free's chart success makes it tough on the fans

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 1 August 1970

'But its the only thing that bothers us' says SIMON KIRKE ...

Tony Joe White: Tony Joe Declares — Ah'm Aginst Unhealthy Things!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 August 1970

LISTENING TO Tony Joe White speak is like taking an excursion deep into the man's boots via the steamy swamps of his native Louisiana, where ...

Traffic Rarin' To Grow

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 August 1970

WHATEVER analytical terms are used by people in attempting to define Traffic's music, however many superlatives are attached to the group and among the hundreds ...

Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die (Island stereo ILPS 9116; 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 August 1970

THE FIRST Traffic album for far too long consists of a mere six tracks. This is not a bad thing though because each one is ...

Jeff Beck: Strange Scene at Tamla

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 August 1970

...reports Mickie Most ...

Nicky Thomas Digs Our Tom

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 August 1970

NICKY THOMAS came to town the other day, all happy and rarin' to reggae. He smiled a lot and laughed a lot and sat in ...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Smokey and Miracles Used To Record Two Songs in Three Hours

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 15 August 1970

BOB DYLAN once referred to Smokey Robinson as "America's greatest living poet," a statement which is not quite so bizarre as it might at first ...

Hotlegs' hit more atmosphere than songs says Lol Creme

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

"I SUPPOSE you could say that 'Neanderthal Man' is really a freak record... Well, it's hardly a song, is it?" ...

Jimmy Cliff, Cat Stevens: Jimmy Cliff Has No Plans To Do Another Stevens Song

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

WHEN I ARRIVED at Island Records' outpost, which is just a stallholder's cry off the colourful Portobello Road street-market in West London's Notting Hill Gate, ...

Nancy Sinatra, The Osmonds: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas NV

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

FRANK SINATRA played host to 500 members of the Press to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Caesar's Palace and his daughter Nancy's opening. ...

Elvis Presley: One More Time with Feeling! Elvis Presley: Showroom Internationale, Las Vegas

Live Review by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

ANN MOSES GOES TO THE LATEST PRESLEY FIRST NIGHT, THIS TIME FILMED FOR THE WORLD TO SEE, AND REPORTS ...

Deep Purple: Rock Album Solved Deep Purple Rift

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

RECORDING AN album of rock did Deep Purple a lot more good than most people realize. It solved a lot of personal problems that arose ...

Blodwyn Pig: Why Mick Decided He Had To Jilt Blodwyn

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

THE VARIOUS antics of Mick Abrahams ceased to amaze me months ago. The lad is a natural comedian with a wide range of goonish voices ...

Yes: Time And A Word (Atlantic stereo, 2400.006; 42s. 6d.)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 August 1970

YES, IT'S SUPERB! ...

Bread Aim to be One of the World's Top Five Groups

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 29 August 1970

DAVID GATES FLIES IN AND CHATS TO RICHARD GREEN ...

Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishmen (stereo A&M SP 6002; 59s. 11d.)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 5 September 1970

Fantastic, fiery Cocker ...

Canned Heat: Alan Kept Balance

Obituary by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 12 September 1970

THE DEATH of Alan Wilson at the weekend left more than a musical gap in the line-up of Canned Heat. Up against the earthiness and ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Sly Slips The Questions

Interview by Roy Carr, Richard Green, New Musical Express, 12 September 1970

Put to him by Richard Green and Roy Carr ...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Smokey Can Do All The Tamla Jobs —

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 12 September 1970

– but still finds time for his golf! ...

The Mothers of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 12 September 1970

IF YOU'RE A Frank Zappa fan eagerly awaiting the album with the new line-up, don't be fooled into thinking that Weasels Ripped My Flesh is ...

Dusty Springfield: Dusty, Singer At Crossroads

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 19 September 1970

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD is the latest recruit to the British pop business's newest in-thing, conveyor belt interviews, and I therefore joined a queue of fellow-journalists the ...

Eric Burdon, War: Eric Burdon & War: Hyde Park, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 19 September 1970

BURDON AND WAR: BEST LIVE BAND WE'VE EVER SEEN ...

Black Sabbath Win Struggle Against Black Magic Tag

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 September 1970

BY RICHARD GREEN WHO ALSO REVIEWS PARANOID LP ...

Desmond Dekker Is To Reveal His Two Sides On Double LP

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 26 September 1970

THE WHOLE economical structure of pop music is to seek out an acceptable format and then market it for mass appeal and consumption. So what ...

Jimi Hendrix: Goodbye, Jimi

Obituary by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 September 1970

A tribute by Richard Green, who once worked with him ...

Deep Purple: Single Success Puzzles Deep Purple

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 September 1970

3 months to make chart, but now, by leaping 15 places it's the week's fastest climber ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 26 September 1970

Sly and Family Stone send Lyceum ravers berserk ...

CCS, Alexis Korner, The Rolling Stones: Alexis Korner Couldn't Afford Jagger As Radio Vocalist So Mick Started Stones!

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 2 October 1970

Blues pioneer thinks Union out of date ...

Charles Aznavour: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 3 October 1970

BROODING AZNAVOUR ...

The Carpenters: Right Song Saved The Carpenters

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 3 October 1970

TODAY THE Carpenters are soaring from requests to make in-person concerts and television appearances, and record fans are buying their discs like crazy! ...

Hot Chocolate, Music Chocolate!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 October 1970

Just the job for a cold night indoors ...

Bread: Quick-Rising Bread

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 10 October 1970

AS WITH the legendary knights of old, reputations or a fair damsel's heart were either won in the lists or on the field of honour. ...

The James Gang, The Who: The James Gang: They lift audience to 'pow' level

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 October 1970

WE BORROW THE JAMES GANG FOR TOUR WITH WHO ...

Humble Pie: We May Lose Humble Pie: "We're not having to do the walking on the water bit"

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 10 October 1970

STEVE MARRIOTT PHONES FROM PHILADELPHIA ...

Bob Dylan: New Morning (CBS)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 October 1970

DYLAN'S NEW LP NOT UP TO EXPECTATIONS — but it's still good! ...

James Brown — Outrageous Extrovert

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 October 1970

PERHAPS ONLY the outrageous James Brown could get away with a single like 'Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine', which stands at ...

Black Sabbath: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 31 October 1970

PAGANINI WOULD turn in his grave if he even thought that a group like Black Sabbath were playing at the Royal Festival Hall, and if ...

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 31 October 1970

IT MUST have been around 10.30 p.m. on Monday night at the Royal Festival Hall, when Keith Emerson proved beyond all fear of contradiction that ...

The Jackson 5: Jackson 5 Still Do Chores At Home

Profile and Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 7 November 1970

OUTSIDE THEIR back window, the lights from the steel mill flashed as the molten metal poured into the waiting moulds, while the incinerators belched out ...

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Emerson Lake And Palmer: Emerson Lake And Palmer (Island stereo ILPS 9132, 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 November 1970

ANYONE WHO still thinks that Emerson Lake and Palmer are a cheap imitation of the Nice should give this album a spin and be proven ...

Johnny Winter And: Johnny Winter And (CBS stereo, 64117, 39s 11d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 21 November 1970

I THINK IT'S about time that certain people stopped getting themselves hung-up on what they figure to be Johnny Winter's somewhat bizarre appearance and got ...

Merry Clayton: Gimme Shelter (A&M Ode 70 series, stereo, AMLS 995, 39s 11d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 21 November 1970

OVER THE last year or so Merry Clayton has graduated in status to the almost royal ranks of the fashionable clique of international sessioneers. Her ...

George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 5 December 1970

Loads of talent, and yet... ...

Free: Highway (Island, ILPS 9138, 39s 11d)

Review and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 19 December 1970

Free have never felt so close before Paul and Andy talk to Roy Carr about the new album ...

MC5: Back In The USA (Atlantic stereo SUPER 2400 016. 42s 6d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 19 December 1970

STUDIO DRIVE ...

The Move: Looking On (Fly, FLY 1; 39s 11d)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 19 December 1970

MOVE PACK IN SEVEN ROCKERS FOR FLY DEBUT ...

Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper: Al Kooper, Blood Sweat & Tears creator and Dylan sideman, brought brass and jam sessions back

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 16 January 1971

WHEN IT comes to the subject of owning-up-time, I suppose we've all got to admit to having a dusty, decaying skeleton hanging up in our ...

Black Sabbath, Curved Air: Guild Hall, Southampton

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 16 January 1971

BLACK SABBATH are about as subtle as an enraged mule kicking down a stable door, yet it is this controlled use of sheer physical brute ...

McGuinness Flint — We're Not Out To Prove Anything

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 16 January 1971

THE FURTHEST thing from the minds of members of McGuinness Flint when they first started recording was to release a single, they felt that their ...

Soft Machine: Robert Wyatt — an out of work singer currently on drums with Soft Machine

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 16 January 1971

WHEN SOFT Machine aren't packing concert halls across America and Europe, their extremely good humoured drummer Robert Wyatt, and part-time Centipede luminary, can often be ...

Eric Burdon, War: Burdon Led The Wildest War Party In Paris

Report and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

FOR ONCE, the fashion writers have got it right — women's shorts are catching on, in Paris at least. And while the birds are gettin' ...

Chicago: Chicago III (CBS stereo. 66267. 59s 10d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

Disappointing Chicago ...

Delaney & Bonnie: To Bonnie From Delaney (Atco, stereo, Super, 2400, 029, 42s 6d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

DELANEY & BONNIE — AN ESSENTIAL BUY ...

Grand Funk Railroad: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

AMERICA'S Grand Funk Railroad were virtually unknown in Britain until a few weeks ago and let's hope they revert to this former state. It was ...

Johnny Johnson & the Bandwagon: Johnny Johnson Likes To Feel Lively And Gay When He's On Stage

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

THE ULTIMATE experience for Johnny Johnson right now would be to appear in cabaret at the Talk of the Town. He's an unashamed seeker of ...

Allman Brothers Band: The Allman Brothers Band: Idlewild South (Atco, stereo. Super. 2400, 032, 42s 6d)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

Bros across the ocean ...

Yes move into the gap left by Nice

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 January 1971

SOME CHEERFUL dullard in his misguided wisdom recently asked Yes, (quote) ..."When are you chaps going to happen?" To which he was promptly and most ...

Santana: Elusive Santana phone from California

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 30 January 1971

WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME A BAND OF GRINNING STARS ...

Eric Burdon, War: Eric Burdon & War: The Black-Man's Burdon (Liberty stereo LDS 84003/4. 69s)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 30 January 1971

Burdon whips up a storm ...

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder, Martha & the Vandellas: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 30 January 1971

THE MAGIC Motown formula, an amalgam of glamour, professionalism and good, driving music brought excitement to dark and dreary Finsbury Park last week when the ...

Free: Fairfield Hall, Croydon

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 13 February 1971

A HUNDRED or so enegetic dancers had surrounded the stage by the end of Free's concert at Croydon's Fairfield Hall on Saturday but I don't ...

Stevie Wonder: Stevie: British Audiences Prevented Me From Giving Up Singing

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 13 February 1971

"IN THE PAST I've occasionally thought about giving up singing," said Stevie Wonder. "But what happened at Hammersmith last week was something I'll never forget. ...

War: Big Apple, Brighton

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 February 1971

OVER THREE hundred fans queued for their money back at Brighton's mammoth Big Apple on Saturday night when promoter Brian Mason announced that War would ...

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Elvis Presley: Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup: No Payment For My Elvis Songs Says Crudup

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

SIXTY-FIVE year old blues-man Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, whose songs 'That's Alright Mama' and 'My Baby Left Me' were hits for Elvis Presley back in ...

The Equals: 'Black Skins' Could Be Equals' Biggest In The States

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

LEADER-SONGWRITER Eddie Grant lives and breathes the Equals, whose fat, pumping 'Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys' single is at No. 19 in this week's NME ...

Buddy Miles: We Got To Live Together (Mercury, stereo, 6338028; £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

YOU CAN'T be non-committal about that big black boogalooin' buddah of rock... Buddy Miles; you either dig him or you don't. It's as simple as ...

Grand Funk Railroad: Live (Capitol, stereo, E-STDW.1/2, £3.10)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

NEVER TAKE sweets from a stranger and never accept albums from a grinning assistant editor. For, with almost Machiavellian delight, our beloved John Wells, walked ...

Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band: Pearl (CBS 64188; £2.25)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

JANIS, THE ROCK TRAGEDIENNE An in-depth review of her last album by ROY CARR ...

Twink: Think Pink (Polydor Standard stereo 2343 032; £1.49)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 20 February 1971

A MOST ODD offering from the boisterous Twink who is known to almost all and sundry as one of the Pink Fairies' two drummers. For ...

The Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr: The Beatles: It's Open Warfare

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 March 1971

Why Beatles ended in a sordid mudbath.It isn't coincidence that these solo singles have just been released, says Alan Smith ...

James Brown the Cassius Clay of Music

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 March 1971

JAMES BROWN — broad and stocky — America's Soul Brother Supreme, with a warm smile etched deep into his granite face — perhaps the very ...

James Brown: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 March 1971

"I WANNA know... do I you feel alllllrrriiiigggght?" "Yeaaaaahhhh," roared the audience in reply. "Did yaa bring your sex machine with you?" The affirmative cry ...

James Brown: The Cassius Clay of Music

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 March 1971

JAMES BROWN — broad and stocky — America's Soul Brother Supreme, with a warm smile etched deep into his granite face — perhaps the very ...

Lynn Anderson: Pssst! Don't tell the British that Lynn sings Country!

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 20 March 1971

SUCH IS THE stigma attached to country music by a large number of people in Britain that before Lynn Anderson left America she was warned ...

Ray Stevens: 'Bridget The Midget' Man Says Religious Lyrics Will Be Next Big Thing

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 20 March 1971

People are getting sick to death of the 'put-the-world-to-rights songs' ...

Mott The Hoople: America's druggies scared Mott to death

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

"IF PEOPLE want revolution then they should join an organised party en block instead of sitting on their backsides bemoaning their fate. It's absolutely no ...

Deep Purple, Ian Gillan: Deep Purple: commercial without compromise

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

FOR DEEP Purple fans the end of an era is approaching. After late April or May, familiar numbers like 'Speed King', 'Child In Time' and ...

Jimi Hendrix: The Cry Of Love (Track stereo 2408 101 £2.40)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

Not the best Hendrix ...

Osibisa: Meet the Band: Osibisa

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

AS AUDIENCES get cooler — almost listening to music has now become a kind of intellectual exercise — it is good to see a group ...

Melanie: Given Up All Hope Of Making It Here

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

Within minutes I felt I was talking to an old friend ...

Olivia Newton-John, Toomorrow: Olivia Newton John: Olivia Emerges from Shambles of Toomorrow

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

"EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! James Bond man launches new supergroup! Toomorrow tipped for the top!" Remember all that carry-on a few months ago ...

The Groundhogs: After Stones, Back To The Grind

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

AFTER THE excitement and ballyhoo of the Rolling Stones tour the Groundhogs, the supporting group, now have to go back to playing the draughty halls ...

Yes: From groups' group to people's band

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 March 1971

"THEY OUGHT to play Frank Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia' on Two-Way Family Favourites instead of constantly churning out 'Land Of Hope And Glory', because it ...

David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name (Atlantic stereo deluxe 2401005; £2.40)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 3 April 1971

DAVID CROSBY SOLO: WITH MANY FRIENDS! ...

Hot Chocolate's Errol Brown owns up... The Lady Is A Nympho!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 April 1971

"NO MESSIN' about," chuckled Errol Brown, that shiny-domed Hot Chocolateer who co-wrote 'You Could've Been A Lady' — "it's a song all about a nymphomaniac." ...

Eggs Over Easy: Meet the Band: Eggs Over Easy

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 April 1971

WHEN AN invitation to a cultural evening at the American Embassy dropped on my desk my first thought was that someone was playing a merry ...

Mott The Hoople: Wildlife (Island, ILPS 9144; £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 10 April 1971

WILDLIFE CAN WIN MOTT WIDER FAME ...

Deep Purple: A compromise in five parts

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 April 1971

RICHIE BLACKMORE talks to RICHARD GREEN ...

Yes Mustn't Sit On Their Backsides

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 24 April 1971

REAL PROS, the ones who last, take a little longer than "overnight" before they find mass appeal. In the case of Yes it was three ...

Dave and Ansell Collins: 'Double Barrel' — An Attempt To Create a Different Sound Say Dave and Ansell

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 1 May 1971

NME's Alan Smith endeavours to interview this week's chart toppers ...

The Byrds: ? — Time with the Byrds

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 8 May 1971

conducted by Richard Green ...

Deep Purple: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 8 May 1971

THIS COULD easily be a review consisting entirely of superlatives, but it wouldn't be so easy to understand unless you were actually at the Roundhouse ...

Family, Sam Apple Pie: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 8 May 1971

ON A GOOD night at the Roundhouse there is always a nice, free and easy atmosphere in the air. It was like that on Saturday ...

Black Sabbath: Following Recent Sensational London Concert Black Sabbath Admit...

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 8 May 1971

...U.S. tour got us together we're into some nice things now ...

Rita Coolidge: Scene Needs Male Groupies

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 8 May 1971

YOU'VE SEEN her with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, you've seen her with Eric Clapton. You probably think you saw her with Joe Cocker, too, ...

Chicago: 3000 To Be Turned Away But Chicago Defend London Concert Cancellation

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 May 1971

"UNDERGROUND IS now Overground," said Chicago's Terry Kath... "and Overground is commercial." We were on a transatlantic phone line at the weekend and he was ...

Paul McCartney: Paul And Linda McCartney: Ram (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 22 May 1971

Alan Smith assesses the McCartney Ram album and sums up with... PAUL, WHAT A MESS YOU'VE MADE OF IT! ...

The Jackson 5: Jackson 5: Jacksons Give Teenyblacks Hope

Report by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 29 May 1971

FROM THIS SIDE of the Atlantic it may seem somewhat difficult to appreciate the Jackson-mania — and there is no other word for it — ...

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Emerson, Lake And Palmer: Tarkus (Island I LPS 9155; £2.15)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 12 June 1971

'ELP OUR EARDRUMS ...

Fleetwood Mac, Tea & Symphony: Fleetwood Mac, Tea and Symphony: Kinetic Circus, Birmingham

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 June 1971

LESSER BANDS might have given up the struggle to survive after going through so many setbacks, so close to each other, but not Fleetwood Mac. ...

Free: Live (Island ILPS 9160. £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 12 June 1971

Free's last album — their finest ever? ...

Tami Lynn Hit Cost £5 A Copy

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 12 June 1971

In true Mickey Spillane style, Roy Carr investigates the case of the six-year-old hit. ...

Labelle, Laura Nyro: And Laura Nyro Captivates, Too!

Report by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

says Nancy Lewis from New York ...

Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Lindisfarne: Bob Johnston: The most envied man in pop

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

Roy Carr talks to the man who records Dylan, Cash and Cohen ...

Carole King: Look Out For Carole

Report by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

YOU'LL BE hearing the name Carole King a lot very soon, so be prepared. Quietly her album Tapestry was released on Ode Records in the ...

Deep Purple, Rupert Hine: Deep Purple Celebrate Year In LP Chart

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

"I'M VERY proud of In Rock. We knew it was going to sell because we'd done six months of concerts and we knew it would ...

John Kongos: Point Blank Refusal To Cash-In On Hit

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

YOU'RE NOT going to find John Kongos suddenly rushing around the country on a quickly arranged, nationwide tour just because his single 'He's Gonna Step ...

B.B. King: Question & Answer with B.B. King, legendary guitarist

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

IT'S NOT every day of the week that one gets the rare opportunity of meeting a legend, let alone a childhood idol. For that is ...

Traffic: Stevie Winwood Talks About The Future Of Traffic

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

SLUMPED IN a chair, Steve Winwood looked tired. ...

Tami Lynn Is All Woman

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 19 June 1971

And ROY (Humphrey) CARR is very glad about it! ...

Deep Purple: Iceland Gives Deep Purple (and our Richard Green) a Hot Reception!

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 26 June 1971

There may be snow on peaks but there's fire down below! ...

The Beatles, Hurricane Smith: Beatles Were Awful... They Talked Their Way Into A Recording Contract

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 10 July 1971

...says their former soundman NORMAN 'HURRICANE' SMITH to ALAN SMITH Former Beatles' sound engineer Norman "Hurricane" Smith talking about the world-dominating group with whom he worked ...

Bread: Manna (Elektra EKX 74086; £2.15).

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 July 1971

BREAD AN OPEN QUESTION ...

The Edgar Broughton Band: Edgar Broughton Band: Edgar Broughton Band (Harvest SHVL 791; £2.40)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 10 July 1971

Lighter Broughton ...

Fillmore Exit Music

Report by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

IT'S ALL OVER now. The Fillmore East closed its doors at approximately 5.0 a.m. recently — after a strenuous and occasionally sentimental night of action. ...

Grand Funk Railroad, Humble Pie: Shea Stadium, Queens NY

Live Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

Beatles Still Hold Record ...

Jo Mama, Carole King, James Taylor: James Taylor, Carole King, Jo Mama: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

FROM THE outset you just can't but help having a warm affinity for James Taylor. Seemingly all arms, legs and baggy trousers, Taylor shyly lopes ...

The Doors, Jim Morrison: Jim Morrison, Dec. 1943-July 1971

Obituary by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

AMERICA DIDN'T have a Jagger. It did have Jim Morrison... the first major American male sex symbol since James Dean. ...

Mott the Hoople: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

WHEN MOTT the Hoople took the dear old Albert Hall by storm on Thursday evening it was like a return to the halcyon days of ...

Slade: Bovver Boys Who Grew Their Hair And Got A Hit

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

SLADE, BRITAIN'S first skinhead band — were launched just over a year ago in the true tradition of eye-catching pop publicity. But the implications of ...

The Four Tops, The Supremes: Supremes and Tops aren't Puppets of Motown

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 17 July 1971

NME's Alan Smith on the phone to Supreme Jean Terrell in Los Angeles. ...

Humble Pie: America Makes a Cookin' Pie, Britain the Humble Crumble

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

STEVE MARRIOTT in U.S. talks to RICHARD GREEN ...

The James Gang: James Gang Ride On Their Own

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

IT WAS through the auspices of Pete Townshend that the James Gang toured Britain with the Who last year. They made some impact, but suffered ...

Jonathan King: My Ego? Its Still Huge Says Jonathan King

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

Each week Roy Carr puts an In-The-News name in the NME Hot Seat ...

The Doors: L.A. Woman (Elektra EKS.75011; £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

CONTROVERSIAL DOORS ...

The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (Threshold THS5; £2.19)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

FROM STAR TREK TO THE POWER OF LOVE ...

Medicine Head: The Warmth And Magic That Make The Medicine Go Down

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

"WE ARE NOT," said Medicine Head's John Fiddler, caught betwixt a meal of rich dark chunks of bread and butter and mellow yellow hunks of ...

The Doors, Jim Morrison: Why Manager Kept Silent About Jim Morrison's Sudden Death

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 24 July 1971

Ann Moses in Hollywood ...

John Lennon, Yoko Ono: John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Doing The Rounds For Publicity

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 31 July 1971

He knows it, I know it – the next Lennon album is the greatest says Alan Smith ...

The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter (Dir: Albert and David Maysles, Cinema V)

Film/DVD/TV Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 31 July 1971

STONES' FILM TERROR ...

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Plastic Ono Band: At Home With The Lennons, Part 2

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 7 August 1971

In which
 John burns down the Beatles 'cause he loves 'em ...

Eric Burdon, War: Eric Burdon: War Was Too Soft For Me!

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 7 August 1971

ERIC BURDON ANSWERS QUESTIONS FOR ANN MOSES IN HOLLYWOOD ...

Badfinger, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar et al: Concert for Bangla Desh, Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 7 August 1971

GEORGE CREATES GREATEST ROCK SPECTACLE OF DECADE ...

Medicine Head, Status Quo: Lyceum, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 7 August 1971

THE RIGHT MEDICINE ...

Black Sabbath: Master Of Reality (Vertigo 6360 050; £2.30)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 14 August 1971

BLACK SABBATH were rightly pleased when, at their Royal Albert Hall concert a few months ago, they were presented with a gold disc for sales ...

David Bowie: The Space Oddity Comes Down To Earth

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 14 August 1971

AT ONE TIME singer/songwriter David Bowie used to write songs because, "I truly believed we songwriters were going to change the face of the world." ...

The Jackson 5: In New York It's Jackson Power: Jackson 5: Madison Square Garden, New York

Live Review by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 14 August 1971

THE Jackson Five, school
 exams behind them, are now on tour in America, storming their way round and playing to packed audiences. ...

Heads Hands and Feet: Heads, Hands & Feet: Heads, Hands & Feet (Island ILPS 9149; £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 21 August 1971

THIS DEBUT album has been a long time in coming, but it has been well worth the wait. With foresight the group have held off ...

Rory Gallagher: The Influences Behind His Unique Guitar Playing

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 21 August 1971

HARDLY a day goes by without someone or other phoning the NME and saying: "I've got the next Hendrix" or "My band's gonna blow your ...

The Who: Music Hall, Boston

Live Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 21 August 1971

THE WHO, in America after a year's absence, are creating a bigger sensation than ever. Statistics don't lie. They completely sold out two New York ...

Mick Farren: Rock Rebel with a Cause

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 28 August 1971

TWENTY-SIX-year-old Mick Farren, ex-singer with the Deviants, writer, political activist and spokesman for the underground, has been called many things. However, he prefers to define ...

King Crimson, T. Rex: BP Fallon: He can't do our press, he doesn't wear socks

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

IT WOULD have been so easy and so obvious to give the third degree treatment to one of these hard-sell publicists who daily hog the ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Free Trade Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

ANY DOUBTS as to the impact of the new streamlined Creedence Clearwater Revival were completely erased from people's minds by the time they had roared ...

Deep Purple: Too Much Work — But It's Not For The Money

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

RICHARD GREEN talks to DEEP PURPLE'S RITCHIE BLACKMORE ...

East of Eden, Phillip Goodhand-Tait: East Of Eden, Philip Goodhand Tait: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

IT WAS a shame to find London's Queen Elizabeth Hall not completely full for East of Eden's concert on Monday. The band really do deserve ...

Jack Bruce, Roy Harper, King Crimson: Hyde Park, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

AFTER THE confusion that reigned at Weeley, it has become quite apparent that you don't need every band that lives, breathes and plugs in to ...

Jefferson Airplane: Bark (Grunt Records. FTR 1001. £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

Airplane: One of year's best LPs ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: John Fogerty: I've always wanted to be a rock 'n' roll star

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

IF THERE has been one solitary factor which has completely dominated John Fogerty's lifestyle, it has been his insatiable desire to be a successful rock ...

John Lennon: Imagine (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

JOHN SINGS LONG TRACK ABOUT PAUL ...

Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson (CBS 70089; £2.19)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

FOR WELL over two decades of music, trumpeter Miles Davis has remained as one of the few unchallenged innovators and to this day he still ...

Mott The Hoople: This Group Means T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

...or that's what some promoters think as Mott The Hoople face the same hang-ups that the Rolling Stones once experienced It's unfair, as any fan knows, ...

Traffic: Welcome To The Canteen (Island 12TS 9165; £2.15)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 11 September 1971

TRAFFIC MUSICAL HISTORY ...

Deep Purple: Guildhall, Portsmouth

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

LITTLE DID the capacity crowd at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday night know just how new Deep Purple's opening number 'Highway Star' really was. On the ...

Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra: Lee Hazlewood: We Only Record For The Fun Of It

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

THREE YEARS ago, Lee Hazlewood tired of writing and producing Nancy Sinatra – split to Stockholme to carry on his interest in film work – ...

Sandy Denny: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

PERHAPS I was expecting too much from Sandy Denny, or maybe I wanted too much, but I'm afraid her concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall ...

Shirley Bassey: State Of The World Means 'Kids' Can Now Relate To Me Says Shirley Bassey

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

UNEXPECTED, but marvellous – and Shirley Bassey puts down her latest recording success, 'For All We Know' down to a change of style, which she ...

Terry Reid: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

OH, WHAT a good 'un Terry Reid has become. I hadn't seen him for something over a year until his Queen Elizabeth Hall concert last ...

The Groundhogs: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 September 1971

OUT Of the many gigs I've seen Groundhogs play, their concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Saturday was easily one of the best. Perhaps ...

Johnny Cash: Cash Conference

Report by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 September 1971

Sun Records have Cash, Presley, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins tapes locked in vault ...

The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, The Statler Brothers: Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 September 1971

THE LEGEND that has grown up around Johnny Cash got its first in-person airing in Britain for three years at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on ...

The Bay City Rollers: New to the Charts: Bay City Rollers from Scotland

Profile by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 September 1971

NEXT IN the line of Scottish groups to make it South of the Border, called the Bay City Rollers, this week enter the NME charts at No. ...

Traffic: The Gaumont, Worcester

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 September 1971

TRAFFIC: THEY NEVER PLAY THE SAME TWICETour review by TONY STEWART ...

Led Zeppelin: Zeppelin: More Solid Than Ever

Report and Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 25 September 1971

Ritchie Yorke, in Canada, attends a Led Zeppelin concert and, with Jimmy Page, previews the group's next album ...

Cat Stevens: Coliseum, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 2 October 1971

LOOKING UNUSUALLY relaxed, perhaps with more confidence than he has previously had, Cat Stevens took the stage at the Coliseum on Sunday, with the house ...

CCS, Alexis Korner: CCS: Alexis Kornered

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 2 October 1971

CCS: with 21 people it needs to be commercial ...

Peter Frampton, Humble Pie: Not So Umble Pie

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 2 October 1971

Frampton Always Been The Odd Man Out ...

Led Zeppelin: Page's Rages — And in this Led Zeppelin blast-off it's the Press and critics who catch a cold

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 2 October 1971

Part two of RITCHIE YORK'S interview in Canada ...

The Carpenters, Labi Siffre: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 2 October 1971

MUSICALLY THE Carpenters are a very pleasing group and the selection of numbers they played at their Royal Albert Hall concert on Friday were well ...

Curved Air: Second Album (Warner Bros. K46092 £2.15)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 October 1971

Curved Air: No need for gimmicks ...

Stoneground: Good Time Stoneground

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 October 1971

AS PART OF the travelling Great Medicine Ball Caravan, Stoneground hit this country last year, and now they are back, but on their own, and ...

Sandy Denny: The North Star Grassman And The Ravens (ILPS 9165 £2.15)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 October 1971

SANDY'S VOICE CARRIES IT ...

Al Green, The Bill Black Combo: Al Green: Now Green Smashes The Big Memphis Monopoly

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 16 October 1971

MEMPHIS HAS long been accepted as capital city of rock 'n' soul, but to the casual fan this means just Elvis on the rock side ...

Stone The Crows: Teenage Licks (Polydor Super 2425 071 E2.15)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 October 1971

FROM THE first track on this third album from Stone The Crows it is obvious where their roots lie, in good time rock and R&B; ...

John Sebastian, The Who: The Who: Surrey University, Guildford

Live Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 16 October 1971

OO'S GOT THE most exciting stage act in the world, then? The 'Oo, that's 'oo. And 'ow do I know? 'Cause I know all about ...

Carole King: How Carole King Became Queen...

Profile by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 23 October 1971

IN MANY ways, and for many reasons, it took Carole King a long time to record her first album, Writer, in 1970. As a writer ...

Pentangle: The Five Sides of Pentangle

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 23 October 1971

PENTANGLE'S RISE in popularity has been unobtrusive but definite. They play a unique and compelling blend of styles spanning the world of jazz, blues, country, ...

Judy Collins: "Music Reminds Us That We're Human Beings"

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 30 October 1971

LIKE A CHILD Judy Collins posed for photographers at a special reception held for her this week to welcome her back to Britain for the ...

The Velvet Underground: Velvet Underground: Lowdown on the Underground

Profile and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 30 October 1971

Tony Stewart reports on the 'mysterious' Velvet Underground – a super-hip cult based on four reluctant 'intellectuals' ...

Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Larry Williams: Larry Williams and Johnny Guitar Watson: The Two Who Weren't 'Revived'

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 November 1971

DESCRIBING Larry Williams as a "great unknown" might raise a few eyebrows for he had a hit with 'Bony Moronie', a rock 'n' roll classic, ...

James Brown: Hot Pants (Polydor 2425086 £2.15p)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 6 November 1971

IF YOUR big turn on is leapin' n' boogalooin' about in stuffy, sweatin' coalbunker discotheques while having your ears and mind blown by a thundering ...

Richie Havens: A State Of Mind (Verve)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 6 November 1971

DON'T CONFUSE this with the soon-to-be-released Havens album, The Great Blind Degree. ...

The Beach Boys: Surf's Up

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 6 November 1971

COULD THE BEACH BOYS actually be doing a Moody Blues? The whole theme of this is: the world might be in a pretty dismal state ...

Allman Brothers Band: At Fillmore East (Atlantic T659005, £3.45)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 November 1971

WITH THE current output of albums at saturation point, it is extremely hard for a reviewer to devote more than just one brief hearing to ...

Ann Peebles: Will Princess Ann Be Queen

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 13 November 1971

ON THE distaff side, soul music has produced a long run of superb girl singers and these soul sisters have found it far easier to ...

B.B. King: 'I Owe My Popularity To The Beatles. They Started The People Towards Really Listening...'

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 13 November 1971

GUITARIST-SINGER B. B. King, at 45 the toast of many young musicians, arrives at London Airport next Friday (19) to appear in London and Bristol ...

Slade: How Slade's image caused them bovver

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 13 November 1971

THE SKINHEAD era worked two ways on Slade — who had become the first group of the skinhead kind. It brought them to the attention ...

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic Deluxe, 240.1012 £2.35)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 November 1971

A GUARANTEED million seller well before it's release, perhaps in theory even before it was recorded, this, the long-awaited fourth album from Led Zeppelin is ...

Mountain, Wishbone Ash: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 November 1971

WISHBONE ASH are without  a doubt one of our finest new bands — they make good albums, and their ever-increasing following is loyal. However, at ...

Quintessence: Peace... Love... And Success Without Sell-Out

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 November 1971

FOR QUINTESSENCE, 1971 must go down as one of the most successful years in their history – they have been going through a period of ...

Wings: Wild Life (Parlophone PCS 7142; £2.15)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 20 November 1971

TWO SIDES OF McCARTNEYS ...

Isaac Hayes: Good Hayes music, but a flat film!

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 27 November 1971

"JUST ONE moment please. Mr Hayes will be right with you," said the voice at the other end of the transatlantic phone. Fifty minutes later ...

Jimi Hendrix: Rainbow Bridge (Reprise. K44159, £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 November 1971

THIS IS the second album of hitherto unreleased Hendrix material put out by different companies in as many weeks, three if you count the duplications ...

Led Zeppelin, Stone the Crows: Empire Pool, Wembley

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 November 1971

Zeppelin circus roars into town ...

Marc Benno: Minnows (A&M, AMLS 64303; £2.30)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 November 1971

DURING 1968/69 Marc Benno was part of the Asylum Choir with Leon Russell, then he came over here with Rita Coolidge and was picked up ...

Humble Pie, The Who: The Who: Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy (Track 2406 006; £2.15); Humble Pie: Performance Rockin' At The Fillmore (A&M AMLH 63506; £2.29).

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 27 November 1971

THE REASON I have for linking these two albums together is to try to demonstrate the right way and the wrong way to do it. ...

Mott The Hoople: Brain Capers (Island ILPS 9178, £2.15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 1 December 1971

MOTT: NEAR PERFECTION ...

New Riders Of The Purple Sage: New Riders Of The Purple Sage (CBS 64657, £2.08p)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 1 December 1971

"Unknown" Riders will please you ...

Steve Miller Band: Rock Love (Capitol E-SW 748; £2.15)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 December 1971

TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the Sailor album, which remains to date the best offering from the Steve Miller Band. This is more of the loose rock ...

Status Quo: Bubblegum Has Stuck To Status Quo, And It's A Stain They Need Ridding Of

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

IMAGES FOR bands are acquired, changed, but seldom forgotten – and such is the case with Status Quo. Underrated yet very talented, over a period ...

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Pictures At An Exhibition (Island, HELP. 1; £1.50).

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

"HANS, IS das cheering on zee stereo gramafunken for zee Furhrer at zee 1937 Nuremburg Rally?" ...

Family: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

IT WAS A Family affair on Friday evening, when the Fearless Five doubled the size of their personnel to perform a diverse selection of their ...

Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead (Warner Bros. K66009. 2-album set, £3.75).

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

IT'S A SAD but true fact. There are not many people in this country who have had the enviable pleasure of actually seeing THE Great ...

Humble Pie: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

THE STARK black and white posters for Sunday's Humble Pie London concert boldly proclaimed, "Humble Pie Performance, Rockin' The Roundhouse," and that's exactly what the ...

Melanie: Gather Me (Buddah 2322 002 £2.35)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

IT WOULD appear that everyone I Know is in love with Melanie. And once you've seen her you realise that she is the enigmatic image ...

Mott The Hoople: Mott, Working Class Heroes

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

IF IAN HUNTER'S vision becomes a reality, then we are about to witness the first generation gap within the new rock culture. For Hunter states ...

The Faces: Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

FANTASTIC FACES DRIVE NEW YORK WILD! ...

Traffic: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (Island ILPS 9180, £2.15)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

FRANKLY I am more than a little disappointed with the new Traffic album, mainly because I had put so much faith in the new line-up ...

Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey (Warner Bros. K.46114; £2 15)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1971

THERE ARE those albums which one enjoys so much that one doesn't want to review them, but just play continuously. This, Van Morrison's latest epistle, ...

Al Green: You're Never Alone With Al

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 11 December 1971

THERE WAS no chance of Al Green getting tired of being alone when Decca Records welcomed him to Britain with a turkey and Christmas pud ...

B.B. King, Freddie King: B.B. King and Freddie King: Kings Of The Blues

Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 11 December 1971

Two bluesmen who have become living legends talk about their careers and the state of the blues today. And B.B. King and Freddie King both ...

The Bill Black Combo, Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Bill Withers, O.V. Wright: Willie Mitchell: Sounds like it's Memphis

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 11 December 1971

IF ANY one man personifies the solid beat of Memphis soul then surely it's Willie Mitchell. Not only has he turned out 14 hit albums ...

Al Green: Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 18 December 1971

DESPITE the counter-attraction of the Buddy Rich big-band downstairs there was a packed house for Al Green "Upstairs" at London's Ronnie Scott's including many big ...

Grand Funk Railroad: E Pluribus Funk (Capitol EA-SW 853; £2.40)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 18 December 1971

NOT ENOUGH FUNK! ...

Stray: Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 December 1971

ANY LONDON gig for Stray is a gas, I was informed. So just to see how good the band are in other venues, I visited ...

Yoko Ono: Fly (Apple SAPTU 101/102 £4.30)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 December 1971

ELECTRIC YOKO MISSES OUT ON MUSIC ...

Little Richard: King Of Rock 'n' Roll/Various Artists: This Is How It All Began

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 25 December 1971

PERHAPS IT'S just that I'm a bit too fussy, but basically I don't like going to see live gigs of the artists I admire. Too ...

Big Mama Thornton: The Hound Dog Howler Who Inspired Janis

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 1 January 1972

IN THE DEEPEST depths of Transatlantic's Marylebone High Street (London) headquarters there's a wire cage which looks like Death Row in your favourite neighbourhood prison. ...

Rufus Thomas: Rufus and The Funky Penguin

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 1 January 1972

RUFUS THOMAS was half-way through a busy tour the last time we met. This time round I caught up with him just two days before ...

Bloodstone: The Bloodstone Sound Spectrum

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 January 1972

THERE'S BEEN a growing flood of black American artists to these shores over the past few years, and more and more of them have decided ...

Ginger Baker, Fela Kuti: Ginger Baker and Fela Ransome-Kuti: Ginger Baker Backs This Fela's Afro-Rock

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 15 January 1972

WITH AIRFORCE, Ginger Baker succeeded in providing the rudiments of the Afro-beat. Consciously he wanted to go back to the roots of highly percussive music, ...

Sandy Denny Breaks Her Silence

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 15 January 1972

After playing a Greta Garbo role for three months, the leading lady of British folk comes out of her shell to talk to Tony Stewart ...

Traffic: The Grech Traffic Report

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 15 January 1972

A RECENT trip to America proved to be a traumatic period for Traffic. ...

America: If We'd Spent Years Playing Clubs, Our Music Could Hardly Be Fresh

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

AMERICA talk to James Johnson ...

Stevie Wonder: Audiences Will Accept New Things From Me, Says Stevie Wonder

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

MUSICAL BARRIERS are tumbling down – that's the reckoning of Stevie Wonder, currently on another 20-date European tour. "Audiences used to have a pre-conception of ...

Dave Mason Gives New Meaning To That Old Cliché 'Doing My Own Thing'

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

DAVE MASON arrived at Heathrow Airport last Wednesday about a quarter of an hour earlier than planned, and even if the TWA chick hadn't tipped ...

Jefferson Airplane, Papa John Creach: Papa John Creach: Papa John Makes It With Rock

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

THE ONE-TIME phenomenon of young white rock musicians playing on records by old black blues musicians has become a commonplace thing. ...

Stevie Wonder: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

STEVIE WONDER is the first artist to make Motown work for him rather than vice-versa. He has full control over his music and has acquired ...

T. Rex: Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincs.

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 22 January 1972

REXMANIA At the Boston Gliderdrome on Saturday, T. Rex turned the musical dock back to the early sixties. In scenes of hysteria and confusion unparalleled since ...

Bloodstone, Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield, Bloodstone: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 29 January 1972

WITH THE Curtis Mayfield/Bloodstone show, the Rainbow Theatre proved conclusively that the Albert Hall has lost its place as the capital city of bad acoustics. ...

David Bowie: "I'm Not Ashamed Of Wearing Dresses... But Unfortunately It's Detracted From The Fact That I'm Also A Songwriter"

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 29 January 1972

ON THE DAY I was to meet David Bowie at his home in Beckenham, Kent, I really didn't know what to expect. I had heard ...

David Bowie: Hunky Dory (RCA Victor)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 29 January 1972

Bowie at his brilliant best ...

Donnie Elbert: The Mystery Of The Vanishing Chart Star

Report by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 29 January 1972

Wanted: DONNIE ELBERT to contact numerous, and despairing record company executives ...

Pink Floyd: Electric Chaos, But Just Great

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 January 1972

Tony Stewart at the debut of Pink Floyd's new masterpiece. ...

America: "Stale" America Need A New Act — And They May Extend Their Line-Up

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

IMPERIAL COLLEGE, London, was America's last gig before their current tour of the States. Backstage it was more than a little chaotic, with the dressing ...

Can Can... And They Will

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

OF ALL the heavy German bands Can are perhaps the most interesting and could prove the most influential. Next month they tour Britain and, judging ...

Captain Beefheart: The Spotlight Kid (Reprise)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

THE CAPTAIN is back with this latest album of Space Blues and poetry in motion. ...

Edwin Starr: Involved (Tamla Motown)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

THIS ALBUM'S title is Edwin Starr — Involved, but somehow it comes across as being a token gesture. Black white soul at its most blatant ...

Frank Zappa: Zappa On Rock, Porn And Blues

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

HE LOOKS a bit like an identi-kit picture of our own most infamous anarchist Guy Fawkes, this much-vaunted, often-maligned rock guitarist who more than anyone ...

Isaac Hayes: Black Moses (Stax)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

HAYES SPREADS IT THIN ...

Grateful Dead: Jerry Garcia: A Rare Interview

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

Roy Carr in New York: the problems of making the Dead NOT happen ...

Lonnie Mack: The Hills Of Indiana (Elektra)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

ONLY RECENTLY did Lonnie Mack turn to the word of God and leave pop for an indefinite period. It's such a shame because this LP ...

Jan & Dean, Carole King, The Mamas and The Papas, Scott McKenzie, Johnny Rivers: Lou Adler: A Music Giant

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

LOU ADLER is a music giant behind the scenes. He started his career writing songs with Herb Alpert, but the partnership split up because Alpert ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: Hendrix Said I'd Be Big, But I Don't Give A **** As Long As I Can Boogie

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

Outspoken Danny Holloway series ...

The Chi-Lites: Roy Carr in Harlem sees the Chi-Lites

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

IT HAS TAKEN the Chi-Lites ten years to become an overnight success. A decade of dues playing on the Chitlin' circuit which helped justify their ...

Hawkwind: The Truth About Hawkwind

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 5 February 1972

LIKE THEM or not, you must admit that Hawkwind are honest. Guitarist Dave Brock is not loath to admit that most of the band's musicians ...

Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, Billy Preston, Slade, The Roy Young Band: Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, Slade, Billy Preston, Roy Young Band: Lanchester Arts Festival, Locarno, Coventry

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

ONE OF THE MOST ADVENTUROUS BILLS EVER ...

Chuck Berry: Berry Magic

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

RON WOOD would have swept the floor of Pye's No. 2 studio as he boogied round during the Chuck Berry super-session during Saturday. He saw ...

The Archies, Carole King, The Monkees: Don Kirshner: I Discovered Carole King

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

THEY MOST often call Don Kirshner the King of Bubble-gum. But he's not worrying. Sitting high in his suite at the Dorchester he has the ...

Frank Zappa on Death, Rock Writers, Money

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

ZAPPA IS NOT renowned for his appreciation of rock writers and their work, and he makes his point quite forcibly on the subject. ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: A Weird Kid With No Friends

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

Outspoken Danny Holloway series ...

Pink Floyd (part 1): 'Things Just Somehow Happen To Us — We Don't Plan'

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 February 1972

SIX YEARS ago an evening with Pink Floyd resembled a riot, with bottles, glasses and verbal abuse being hurled in their direction. ...

Stevie Wonder, Bags Of Chips And Clapton

Report and Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 17 February 1972

NME calls in at all-night recording session ...

Free: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 19 February 1972

THE AUDIENCE WENT mad from the moment Free were introduced on Thursday at the Albert Hall. Nearly every number was greeted warmly with hoops and ...

Pink Floyd (part 2): Simple But Not Banal

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 February 1972

LAST WEEK, NICK Mason talked at length about the evolution of Pink Floyd up to the Atom Heart Mother stage. The policy of the band ...

MC5: The MC5 on Shock Rock

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 19 February 1972

OF ALL THE groups who have dabbled in politics over the last few years, the MC5 seem to have gained the reputation as one of ...

Joe Cocker, Glyn Johns, Paul McCartney, Steve Miller, The Rolling Stones: The Producers: Glyn Johns — Why I'm working on Paul's album

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 26 February 1972

"IT'S ALL BULL. Having offices and secretaries and all the moodies and the phones. It's just crap. It's nothing to do with making records. Making ...

Joe Cocker, Leon Russell: Cordell, the Coaxer Behind Cocker

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

DENNY CORDELL roamed around the music business in London during the early sixties before discovering the Moody Blues and consequently becoming their producer. He assisted ...

Deep Purple: Orchid Ballroom, Purley

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

FORGET ABOUT chart placing and record sales for just one moment. The true testing point of any big group is its drawing capacity at the ...

Mountain’s Pappalardi: Hell-Bent On Becoming A Rock Legend

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

"And the cold winds blow,He was brave but he's laid lowBy her body in the island mist,I saw him give her one last coldkiss...one last ...

Chicory Tip: Progressive and Pop Narrow the Gap — Chicory Tip

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

Chart's No.1 pop band ...

Steve Miller Band: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

Miller's night to remember ...

Tommy Hunt: A Black Tom Jones

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 March 1972

TOMMY HUNT is a name you'll be hearing a lot of if the best laid plans of the entertainment business don't go astray. More than ...

T. Rex: Bolan and the Future

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 11 March 1972

I HAVE KNOWN Marc Bolan for several years now and have never thought of him as being, well, completely normal. By that I don't mean ...

Jeff Beck, Heaven: London College of Printing, Elephant and Castle, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 11 March 1972

IN SPITE of heavy criticisms of audiences recently the one at London College of Printing, Elephant and Castle, on Friday night to see Jeff Beck, ...

Randy Newman: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 11 March 1972

ANYONE WHO considers sarcasm the lowest form of wit has not heard the heights to which Randy Newman has raised the art during a live ...

Isaac Hayes: The Aloof Mystique of Isaac Hayes

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 11 March 1972

...but he's part of the people in his gold-plated Rolls Royce ...

The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson: Schmaltz or Genius?

Comment by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 18 March 1972

In his day perhaps they thought Mozart was a hype ...

America, Judee Sill: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

America — simply so successful ...

Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted & Black (Atlantic)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

THIS NEW album once again illustrates Aretha as one of the finest interpretive artists of this era and the diverse material — beautifully arranged by ...

Harry Nilsson: Come Out, Harry, The Time Is Right

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

NILSSON filled Trident studios with old people to help record 'I'd Rather Be Dead' for his album. The song is a "lively, up-tempo number about ...

Joe Cocker: Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Lenny Kaye, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

Cocker On Stage – A Big Let-Down. A Disillusioned Lenny Kaye Reports New York Opening ...

Slade: Slade Alive! (Polydor)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

SLADE: BRASH, RAW, FLASHY — AND GREAT ...

Wilson Pickett: Don't Knock My Love (Atlantic)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 March 1972

SINCE THE mid '60s when Pickett came up with such goodies as 'Midnight Hour' and 'Mustang Sally' his voice has changed very little. And now ...

Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr: Concert for Bangla Desh (Dir. Saul Swimmer; 20th Century Fox)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Nancy Lewis, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

BANGLA FILM RELEASED ...

Brinsley Schwarz: Silver Pistol (United Artists)

Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

THIS CAPTURES much of the easy-going feel that makes this band such an entertaining outfit on stage. Recorded at their home in Northwood, London, the ...

Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

AS A PRELUDE to the good captain, a ballerina dressed in white, with a crown to match, did her stuff, followed by a belly dancer ...

Captain Beefheart: A Trip Into The Mind Of The Spotlight Kid

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

RECENTLY MOVED FROM his desert domain in Lancaster to the remote forests of oceanside Eureka in Northern California, The Captain, at a comfortable 31, is ...

Colin Blunstone: For Sale: A Singer

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

Despite his talent, there was a suspicion of hype in the air, writes Keith Altham ...

Deep Purple: Machine Head (Purple)

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 1 April 1972

Purple: what we've got is a lot ...

Sandy Denny: Sandy and Band, Coping Cheerfully

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 5 April 1972

FROM THE outside the Denny residence in Fulham looks a place of tranquility. Inside, though, a different story prevails. As Watson the huge Airedale lumbers ...

Deep Purple: Victims Of Their Own Fame

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 8 April 1972

DEEP PURPLE'S new album Machine Head comes to you courtesy of the Rolling Stones' redoubtable studio manager Ian Stewart who saved their famous mobile recording ...

Judee Sill

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 8 April 1972

ACCORDING to Judee Sill: "Out of the mud grows a lotus". In other words something beautiful comes from something unpleasant. The phrase applies well to ...

Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead: The Dead

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 8 April 1972

GARCIA stabs at the record business — 'We want to get out' ...

Al Green: Let's Stay Together (London)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

WHILE SUPER Spade and Mighty Whitey have been down in the alley battling it out to see who has the most soul n' funk, Al ...

Linda Lewis, Jimmy Webb: Jimmy Webb, Linda Lewis: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

THERE MAY BE something extremely valid in a composer performing his own highly successful material in concert, and though Jimmy Webb accomplished this to a ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Dead Come Alive

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

IT'S TAKEN a long time for the Dead to get themselves back over here. They probably made it more by good luck than good judgment. ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

SINGIN' AND BOPPIN' WITH THE DEAD ...

Carla Thomas, The Temptations: The Temptations, Carla Thomas: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

IF ELVIS himself had stepped onstage at the Hammersmith Odeon on Friday he could hardly have created more excitement than the Temptations stirred up with ...

Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything? (Bearsville Records)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

ENTER, ONE lanky fair-haired youth called Todd Rundgren weighed down with an armful of instruments, a clear head filled with sun-blessed songs 'n' sounds, a ...

T. Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex: Took Talks! about T.REX

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 15 April 1972

SINCE HE LEFT T. Rex, Steve Took says he's spoken to Marc Bolan just twice. The last time was about three months ago at Boston ...

Allman Brothers Band: Allman Brothers: Duane is dead, but his spirit lives on everytime the band goes on stage

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

TALKING TO the Allman Brothers at their overnight camp in a palatial hotel in Hollywood, it soon became obvious that everyone still thinks and talks ...

Fairport Convention: With no original members remaining Fairport back to square one, says Dave Pegg

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

DAVE PEGG looked puzzled. Adjusting the rim of his giant hat, he mused the question over. He wasn't too sure whether Fairport should continue to ...

Hot Tuna: Burgers (Grunt Records)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

DESPITE THE fact that Hot Tuna are a direct off-shoot from the Jefferson Airplane hanger, they have managed with discretion to avoid any obvious hype, ...

James Brown: Revolution Of The Mind (Polydor Double-Album).

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

SOMETIMES IT'S hard to separate James Brown the entertainer from James Brown the social voice of the down-trodden American negro, but in Brown's case he ...

Jim Capaldi: Oh How We Danced (Island)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

Capaldi hits a new creative peak ...

Valerie Simpson: Exposed (Tamla Motown)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 April 1972

THIS DEBUT album is one of those rare and very beautiful moments when an artiste is completely successful. ...

Dr. John From Way Down Yonder in New Orleans

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 29 April 1972

DR. JOHN'S contributions to pop music have been highly original and creative. Even if he claims that all the credit is due to the music ...

The Rolling Stones: Eight Stone Exiles

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 April 1972

IT COULD TAKE the Rolling Stones' new double-album Exile On Main Street, says NME's ROY CARR, to awaken those members of the rock nation so ...

Led Zeppelin: Gassin' With Zeppelin

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 April 1972

HOW ROBERT PLANT STAYS FRESH ...

The Band, Todd Rundgren: Raving Over The Runt, Alias Todd Rundgren: Rock Whiz-Kid

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 April 1972

THE NAME Todd Rundgren may sound more like a catarrhal growl than the monicker of an aspiring 23-year-old young musical whiz-kid. ...

The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street (Rolling Stones Records)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 April 1972

And here, a track by track of the upcoming Exile On Main Street set three weeks before release ...

America: Following a Remarkable Year, America Take Stock

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 6 May 1972

THE LAST THREE weeks have been something of a resting point for America. After returning from the States each of them split for a holiday, ...

Gilbert O'Sullivan

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 6 May 1972

THE MUSIC MAN sits there sipping tea and talking music.  Although he has always been a bit of a loner, he is certainly not an ...

Stone The Crows: Les Harvey — A Rock Tragedy

Obituary by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 13 May 1972

LIFE AS a rock star isn't all glamour. It's a hard, gruelling existence which too often can end in tragedy. ...

Wilson Pickett On African Soul

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 13 May 1972

WILSON PICKETT is back — as big and brash as ever, and if his press reception this past week at WEA Records (nee Kinney) is ...

Jackson Browne: Vanishing Minstrel

Profile and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 20 May 1972

JACKSON BROWNE is no new name to pop. He's been here all the time. He's one of those guys who used to just appear at ...

The Faces: Kenny Jones: The Face in the Shadows

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 20 May 1972

THE FACES phenomenon started eight months ago when they supported T. Rex at the Weeley Festival. They followed that appearance with another crowd pleaser at ...

Joe Cocker: The Joe Cocker Ritual Sacrifice

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 May 1972

WE APOLOGISE for the slight reduction in Cocker-power but it now looks as though normal service has been resumed following the one year strike (respite) ...

The Temptations: Behind The Slick Veneer

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 20 May 1972

TALKING TO the Temptations can at times smack of talking to a tape-recording. So many of the answers are stock phrases, learned in Tamla Motown's ...

Dr. John: Dr John: The Mind And Music Of A Delta Voodoo Rocker

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

ACCORDING to Dr. John almost everything started in New Orleans, from rock and rail to rhythm and blues to himself. ...

Free: Free For All (Island)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

Free fall through being too complacent ...

Grateful Dead: Dead Grateful

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

PERHAPS MORE than anything else the recent appearances of the Grateful Dead in this country at Wembley and Bickershaw and more currently the Lyceum, have ...

Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones: Jagger: Solo Without Splitting

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

JUST LIKE the thrill-seekers who attend a bullfight in the hope of seeing the handsome matador gored or the daring young man on the flying ...

Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds (Harvest)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

FLOYD JOY FOR ALL ...

Ry Cooder: The stars' star steps out

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

RY COODER is a familiar name to groups like the Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills and Nash who regularly utilised — I sometimes wonder whether ...

The Osmonds: They're Enough To Make You Scream…

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 May 1972

LAST FRIDAY at High Noon it was 'teen time' at London's Churchill Hotel, where those Beetle-haired Monkee-faced and indecently wholesome Osmond Brothers (You have probably ...

Johnny Winter

Profile by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, June 1972

THE BEST NEWS of last week was that Johnny Winter, after a year in medical exile, was once again alive and functioning, and due to ...

Badfinger: beating a bad image

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

IN AMERICA, Badfinger are respected musicians. In Britain they are nothing more than another singles-producing tin of baked beans. It's weird how wide the Atlantic ...

Electric Flag, Jimi Hendrix, Wilson Pickett, Santana: Buddy Miles: Big black hunk of funk

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

BUDDY MILES ON SANTANA, HENDRIX ...

Dr. John: Gumbo (Atlantic)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

A survey of New Orleans, by Dr John ...

Peter Frampton, The Herd, Humble Pie: Frampton: the Musician Who Beat a Pretty Face

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

PETE FRAMPTON has seen a lot of changes in his 22 years. There was a time when the pretty Face of '68 was showered with ...

Arthur Conley, Inez Foxx: From The Soul: Inez Foxx and Arthur Conley

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

INEZ FOXX is currently engaged on her 18th British tour — the fifth of sixth since she split from brother Charlie. ...

The Rolling Stones: Going into Exile — Producer Jimmy Miller talks about the Stones' new album

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

The degree of enjoyment is the only yardstick to use ...

Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

I SAW the first night of the Dead's four concerts at the London Lyceum last Thursday. where they were ever so good for ever so ...

Steve Miller Band: Recall The Beginning... A Journey From Eden (Capitol)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

MILLER HAS improved by leaps and bounds over Rock Love, his last offering. This is much more cohesive, and the songs reach back to the same ...

The Beach Boys: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

I AM, it should be emphasised, a Beach Boys freak from way back, to 'Wendy' and 'Surfin' U.S.A.', through Pet Sounds to Surfs Up, and ...

Yes: Confessions Of a Musical Idiot

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

JON ANDERSON OF YES TALKS TO TONY NORMAN ...

The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Richie Havens, Melanie, Sha Na Na: Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Richie Havens, Melanie, Sha Na Na: Crystal Palace Bowl, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

Soakin' At The Palace: TONY STEWART reviews the Garden Party that should have been a lot better ...

Byzantium, Buddy Miles, Nazareth: Buddy Miles Express, Byzantium, Nazareth: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

I MAKE NO apologies for the fact that I was fast asleep during the first number of Buddy Miles' set at the Lyceum's Midnight Court. ...

David Bowie: The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (RCA)

Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

Bowie at his best ...

Electric Light Orchestra, The Move: Move Over For The ELO

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

THE FIRST love in Roy Wood's life is obviously his new 10-piece mini-orchestra, the ELO, but meanwhile the Move are apparently still alive and very ...

Dr. Ross, Muddy Waters: Muddy Waters, Dr. Isiah Ross: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

IF AUTHENTIC blues music really is dying on its feet, perhaps someone should inform the thousand enthusiasts who packed the 100 Club to see Muddy ...

The Chi-Lites, The Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis Group, Spooky Tooth, Traffic: Stones Producer Jimmy Miller Part Two: The tracks I like best

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

In this final part of his interview with Ritchie Yorke, Miller talks about the many artists he has recorded, and in particular about tracks which ...

The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Stylistics: Stylistics sock it out sweetly

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

THOUGH THE music of Detroit, Memphis and Muscle Shoals receives more publicity over here, the East Coast city of Philadelphia, just over 100 miles south ...

The Beach Boys: With Love And Good Vibes part 1

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 June 1972

THE BEACH BOYS are the most successful and oldest working rock and roll band on the road today and this is a crucial year in ...

The Rolling Stones: Andrew Loog Oldham: Behind the Shades — The Stones, and Other Stories...

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

ANDREW OLDHAM, THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED THE STONES ...

David Bowie & the Spiders From Mars: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

THE LAST time I saw David Bowie was six months ago when he was playing a purely acoustic set. And although I'd heard his new ...

Frederick Knight: Freak Hit for Knight

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

PROVIDED HE isn't burdened down with a surfeit of bills and tax demands, the arrival of the postman is one of the brighter moments in ...

Lou Reed: A Voice From The Underground

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

ONCE HE wore black, tinselled clothes and was a human screen for movies. He sang and wrote about evil characters; sometimes happier ones. But always ...

The Beach Boys: With Love And Good Vibes part 2

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

THE FINAL part of Keith Altham's interview with Beach Boy Mike Love. Last week Love talked about the group's involvement with transcendental meditation. Now he ...

The Rolling Stones: The Forum, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

WEEKS PRIOR to their Los Angeles date, the entire population in L.A. was struck by Stones fever. Tickets went quick and 350,000 people had to ...

The Staple Singers: Soft Sounds That Burn Deep

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 17 June 1972

JAMAICAN SINGERS have yet to follow up their undoubted success in Britain with a similar impact in the States but neverthelless reggae is making a ...

Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson: Richard Thompson: The Session Great That Nobody Knows

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 22 June 1972

THE TERM "GUITAR hero" is used with increasing regularity. Pete Townshend's splintering aggressive antics have won him the tag; Alvin "up and down the fretboard ...

American Spring: Mrs Brian Wilson

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

MARILYN WILSON and her sister Diana Rovell, are American Spring, and their first album is very much a family affair, because her famous husband Brian ...

The Rolling Stones: Andrew Oldham: Last Part of the Tony Norman Series

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

LAST WEEK, Andrew Oldham talked about his life with the Rolling Stones. Like Brian Epstein, Oldham seemed to be more than just an ordinary manager. ...

Cliff Richard: The Peter Pan of Pop

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

POOR OLD Cliff is still a bit too good to be true for most people – the Peter Pan of pop, and a Christian to ...

Fleetwood Mac: Bare Trees (Reprise)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

The Fleetwood formula ...

Gladys Knight and the Pips: From the Soul: Gladys Knight

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

EXACTLY a week after leaving the employ of Music For Pleasure Records, and on the eve of departing for a much needed holiday, I received ...

"Mama" Cass Elliot, The Mamas and The Papas: Mama Cass: Why 'Unprofessional' Mamas, Papas Had To Break Up

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

IN TOWN TO RECORD HURRICANE'S HIT, AND KNOCKED AND ROBBED IN A LONDON STORE, MAMA CASS TALKS TO FRED DELLAR ...

Roberta Flack: First Take (Atlantic)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

AFTER BEING around for three years, this suddenly shot to number one in the American charts in the wake of the single cut 'The First ...

The Chi-Lites: The Windy City Sound

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 24 June 1972

IF ANY outfit holds serious aspirations to usurping the Temptation's crown as the world's leading soul group then it must surely be Chicago's Chi-Lites who ...

Jeff Beck: Jeff Beck Group (Epic)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 1 July 1972

Beck doesn't make it ...

The Flamin' Groovies, Man: Man, The Flamin' Grooves: Lyceum, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 1 July 1972

IT'S EASY TO sympathise with the aims of the Flamin' Groovies. All they want to do is play rock and roll and get people dancing. ...

Joe Cocker: Cocker: When The Strain Begins To Show

Report by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 8 July 1972

JAMES JOHNSON reports on the EUROPEAN TOUR ...

Deep Purple: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 8 July 1972

THE RAINBOW came back to life on Friday night with a snarl, a cheer and a smile. The near-capacity crowd had come to see Deep ...

Led Zeppelin: The Forum, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 8 July 1972

LED ZEPPELIN appeared in concert at the Los Angeles Forum on Sunday night without a support act. It was definitely for the better as far ...

Smith, Perkins & Smith, The Sutherland Brothers: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 8 July 1972

ONE HELL OF a band called Smith, Perkins and Smith, played the Marquee last week. Now, they're not your ordinary run of the mill band. ...

Brewer's Droop, Brinsley Schwarz, J. Geils Band: The J. Geils Band, Brinsley Schwarz, Brewer's Droop: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 July 1972

WHEN THE J. Geils Band team up with Brinsley Schwarz and Brewer's Droop for a night's rockanroll, you can be sure that you're going to ...

Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ravi Shankar: The Concert for Bangla Desh (Apple/Twentieth Century-Fox)

Film/DVD/TV Review by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

A SPECIAL PREVIEW BY JOHN PIDGEON ...

Alexis Korner: Kornering The Market

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

ALEXIS KORNER has been for so long at the heart of rhythm and blues in Britain, and touched off so many groups who have gone ...

Love Unlimited, Barry White: Love Unlimited Bring Deep Soul to Britain

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

SOUL ENTHUSIASTS used to call it "deep-soul", the kind of sound which usually didn't even get released over here, and when it did, sold in ...

Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Smokey Robinson: Motown And Mafia, And Why He's Quitting The Miracles

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

SMOKEY ROBINSON is a hell of a lot more than just a giant of soul or Motown. For more than a decade, his original and ...

The Eagles: Eagles (Asylum).

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

BY WORD-of-mouth reputation alone, this debut album by the Eagles — born out of Poco and the Burritos — has suddenly become one of the ...

The Impressions

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

FOR MORE than a decade, the Impressions have been a legendary soul name, besides having produced two fine solo performers — Jerry Butler and Curtis ...

Yes on Edge

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 15 July 1972

Will they burn out, or blast through the time barrier? ...

Jimmy Cliff: The Harder They Come (dir. Perry Henzell)

Film/DVD/TV Review by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 22 July 1972

"The oppressors are trying to keep me downMakin' me feel like a clown" ...

David Bowie: David at the Dorchester: Bowie on Ziggy and other matters

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 July 1972

THREE CHANGES of dress and a kiss from Lou Reed. The waiters were horrified. ...

Brinsley Schwarz, Gnidrolog, Lou Reed: Lou Reed, Brinsley Schwartz, Gnidrolog: King's Cross Cinema, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 July 1972

THIS WAS one of the few gigs I can remember where all the acts deserved a full-length review to themselves. The teaming of Reed, Gnidrolog ...

Rod Stewart, T. Rex: Rod Stewart: Never A Dull Moment/T. Rex: The Slider

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 July 1972

TEENAGE TEARDROPS... Or, would you buy a used riff from these men? ...

America, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills, Neil Young: This is David Geffen, by Gentlemen's Agreement Manager to the Superstars

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 22 July 1972

Will CSN&Y ever re-unite and find true happiness? ...

Iggy Pop, The Stooges: An Initiation Into Iggy Pop

Profile by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 July 1972

For those who think Bowie a trifle lame... ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Not Only Sly, But Sometimes Just Plain Damn Evasive

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 July 1972

ROY CARR talks to Sly Stone — why he missed Bardney and other tales ...

Stone the Crows: Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 July 1972

MAGGIE'S MIRACLE — THE SURVIVAL OF STONE THE CROWS ...

Todd Rundgren: Todd the Whizz Kid

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 29 July 1972

EVEN THOUGH his name may not mean much to the general public, Todd Rundgren is undoubtedly a success. ...

Arthur Lee, Love: Arthur Lee: On Life and Love

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 5 August 1972

IT WAS easy to see that the sands of time had shaken this poor boy pretty hard. Twenty-seven-year-old Arthur Lee strolled into A&M's Hollywood offices ...

Emerson Lake And Palmer, Free: ELP Plus Tull in Dirty Raincoats, and How Free May Drop the Name

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 August 1972

WATCHING EMERSON, LAKE and Palmer play a concert with Free in the middle of a raging typhoon in Tokyo with Carl Palmer performing an incredible ...

Roberta Flack: Young Gifted and Black

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 5 August 1972

James Johnson talks to the reluctant Queen of Soul ...

Bill Withers, Superstar

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 August 1972

WITHIN a year of its composer Bill Withers taking it high up the American chart, 'Ain't No Sunshine' has become firmly established as a soul ...

Jackie DeShannon: Jackie (Atlantic).

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 August 1972

ONE OF THE few white singers ever to get convincingly into soul-music and be accepted even by purist fans. ...

Little Richard: What Richard Said

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 August 1972

"UH, HOWdo you do. Mr. Penniman, it's a great..." "HALLELUJAH BROTHER it's great to be here in your wunnerful country. I want y'all to know ...

Randy Newman: Sail Away (Reprise)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 August 1972

RANDY NEWMAN AND ACID OBSERVATIONS ...

Roxy Music: Foxy Roxy

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 12 August 1972

A menace to society ...

Aretha Franklin (with James Cleveland and the South California Community Choir): Amazing Grace (Atlantic)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 19 August 1972

Aretha at her greatest ...

T. Rex: Marc Bolan: On Love, Hate and the Press

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 August 1972

MARC BOLAN may not be one step ahead of the shoe-shine, but he has certainly been slandered, libelled, heard words you've never heard in the ...

Sam Cooke: Who Remembers Him Now?

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 19 August 1972

"NOT 'ALF Sam Cooke's been an influence on me," Rod Stewart was saying in his NME interview last week, adding that the inclusion of 'Twistin' ...

Van Morrison: Where Is The Restless Lion Now?

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 19 August 1972

I'M AFRAID that the Van Morrison you know, may not be quite the same person as the one I envisage. ...

Rev. James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin: Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace (Atlantic)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 26 August 1972

THOUGH IT HAS received wide critical accalim Aretha Franklin's latest album, the double set Amazing Grace, is far and away the least commercially orientated she ...

David Bowie, Roxy Music: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 August 1972

GOING TO THE Rainbow these days is definitely an outing, an excursion, something of a treat. Unfamiliarity breeds respect, and though the cheerful hippies who ...

Bo Diddley: Hey! Bo Diddley: The Man Whose Sexuality Was Too Much For America

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 August 1972

Diddley Freak Charles Shaar Murray, in the presence of the main man... ...

Cecil Womack, Mary Wells: Mary Wells And Her Guy Still Making Hits

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 August 1972

IT WAS PAST five in the afternoon but Mary Wells was still fast asleep, recovering from the rigours of her whistle stop British tour and ...

Bill Withers: Morale Music For The People In The Ghetto

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

A TELEPHONE CABLE that runs off the edge of Britain, down under the Atlantic, and up again into the heart of North America to St. ...

Frank Zappa: Fearless Frank Tells What He'll Lay On You At The Oval Concert

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

IT'S THE Frank Zappa show ... starring Larry The Dwarf with his guests Suzy Creamcheese, Ruben Sano, and Willie The Pimp. ...

James Brown: There It Is (Polydor)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

WHERE JAMES BROWN IS AT ...

Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

DO YOU FEEL all right? I mean, are you ready to put yo' hands together one time and say yeah? Louder, I wanna hear you ...

Lindisfarne: Suffering from a Surfeit of Kindness

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

IF IT WERE ever possible to kill a group with kindness then Lindisfarne might be the first victims of their own success. Their new album ...

Jackie Edwards, Harry J All Stars: Various Artists: Tighten Up Volume 6 (Trojan)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

THIS CONSISTS mainly of the pop side of reggae. Tunes like Isaac Hayes's 'Do Your Thing', Dandy Livingstone's 'Suzanne, Beware Of The Devil' and the ...

Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 2 September 1972

Meaningless magnificence from Yes? ...

Leo Sayer: Who's like Dylan, Cocker, Rodgers And Rod? Leo Sayer

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 16 September 1972

LEO SAYER is Patches — Patches is Leo Sayer — described by his mentor as "the Huckleberry Finn of Rock", but fortunately he is good ...

Roxy Music: The kind of example we wish to set our parents?

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 23 September 1972

THE CHAMPAGNE was flowing freely when I interviewed Phil Manzanera, guitaring personality of Roxy Music, in freefall at twenty thousand feet over the English Channel ...

Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard: Keep On Rockin': Interview with film director D. A. Pennebaker

Report and Interview by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

KEEP ON ROCKIN' is in town, and so is the rock film revolutionary who created this celluloid spectacle of Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice, Steeleye Span: Great Caledonian Express Festival, Grangemouth, Scotland

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

Mr. Beck we salute you ...

Brinsley Schwarz, The Flamin' Groovies, Stackridge: Brinsley Schwarz, Stackridge, the Flamin' Groovies: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

FIRST THE facts: Greasy Truckers are basically two people who wish to be known as Melvin and Fanny Hotrock (We all have our problems, I ...

Hawkwind

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

HAWKWIND ARE ONE of the very few "Underground" bands to make the big time almost entirely on their own terms, without any real concessions to ...

Hawkwind, The Pink Fairies, The Pretty Things: Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, The Pretty Things: Windsor Free Festival, Berkshire

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

THE SIGNS were there once again at what was in effect just another one-day festival that a bummer was to be had by one and ...

T. Rex: Marc Bolan

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

PUTTING MARC Bolan into perspective is no easy matter because he refuses to fit into any recognisable category. On the surface it could seem that ...

Matching Mole: Cosmic Music and a Weird Fripp Trip...

Report by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

INSIDE THE control-room of CBS Number One, Whitfield Street, producer Robert Fripp leans forward in his swivel chair and addresses the studio in general: "This is ...

Steeleye Span: Below The Salt (Chrysalis)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 September 1972

THERE'S A very select coterie of bands who give off an aura of total peace. Listening to their performance gives you a sense of security ...

Allen Toussaint, Jerry Butler: Jerry Butler and Allen Toussaint: The Spice Of Life

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 7 October 1972

IT'S NOT so long since soul albums were merely collections of singles, plus a few make-weight tracks. ...

Johnny Cash: Hard Cash To Cleanse Your Soul

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 October 1972

IT'S 7.30 P.M. at the backstage entrance of the Albert Hall and strange things are happening. It's Wednesday, the second of Johnny Cash's performances at ...

Phillip Goodhand-Tait, Lou Reed: Lou Reed: Edmonton Sundown, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 October 1972

EDMONTON IS NOT exactly the rock capital of the world, and when Phillip Goodhand-Tait took the stage, the auditorium was somewhat underpopulated. This was somewhat ...

T. Rex: Marc Bolan

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 7 October 1972

JUST WHEN IT seemed that all the excitement, glamour and sparkle were going out of rock – along with the anger, vulgarity and vitality which ...

Procol Harum with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 7 October 1972

IF THERE'S ONE band with the class and elegance to successfully combine on equal terms with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra then it has to be ...

Roxy Music: Ferry Interesting Roxy

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 October 1972

BRYAN FERRY, stunning in gold trimmed black pyjamas and matching shades, greeted me from where he reclined, half-submerged beneath a heap of scented fanmail, on ...

Manassas: Edmonton Sundown, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 October 1972

I DON'T THINK I've ever heard so much good music and so much bad from the same group at the same time as when I ...

Lou Reed: The Stones, Bowie, Roxy and Mott. And What They Owe To The Inspiration of This One Man

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 14 October 1972

NICK KENT analyses the growing influence of America's LOU REED ...

10cc, Hotlegs: 10cc: a Hot Property from Old Hotlegs

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 21 October 1972

BY NOW YOU probably know that 10 c.c. are more or less a reincarnation of Hotlegs, who scored a hit around two years ago with ...

Family: Back Home

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 October 1972

JUST BEFORE THEY left for their current U.S. tour, NME took the three founder members of Family on a nostalgia-tinged trip back to their Leicester ...

Santana: Caravanserai (CBS)

Review by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 October 1972

I'M STILL TRYING to unscrew my head after listening to Santana's new album, Caravanserai (CBS). One side features sheer technical brilliance. The other side, wow... ...

Black Sabbath: Satan, The Bomb And Geezer's Dreams

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY looking for flames ...

Chairmen of the Board: Long Wait for a seat on the Board

Report by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

AFTER WAM-bam-slamming onto the soul scene with a run of hit singles of which 'Give Me Just A Little More Time' was the real biggie ...

Jeff Beck: Beck Looks Back (part 1)

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

Page and Zeppelin, Stewart, the old band and the new... ...

Melanie: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

CLEARLY, A Melanie concert is no place to be for a boozed up, doped out degenerate to sit chain-smoking and picking his nose. The vast ...

Pink Floyd: Empire Pool, Wembley

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

Quadraphonic Smokebombs ...

The Kinks: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 28 October 1972

THE KINKS returned to their native stomping ground, North London, on their Rainbow gig last Saturday night. At first without the brass, they plunged awkwardly ...

Jeff Beck: Beck Looks Back (part 2)

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 4 November 1972

Beck, Page and bad vibes ...

The Stylistics: Stylistics: Who Has The Talent?

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 November 1972

IN THIS technological age it's sometimes said producers and arrangers are more important than artists. ...

Hawkwind: Cosmic Calypso And Sonic Surprise

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 November 1972

UNLESS YOU'RE DEAF, dumb and blind, or alternatively haven't been keeping up with the music press, you will know that Hawkwind embark this week upon ...

Liberace: Magic Moments In Showbiz Schmaltzville

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 November 1972

Mean teen NICK KENT (along with Abe and Ruby from Wisconsin and Tom and Ethel from Phoenix) meets LIBERACE ...

Alice Cooper: Green's Playhouse, Glasgow

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

BROKEN RIBS AND FAKE BLOOD — SPECIAL REVIEW OF THE ALICE COOPER CONCERT BY NICK KENT ...

Curtis Mayfield: Curtis the Crusader

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

FIGHTING A DRUG MENACE IN AMERICAN GHETTOES ...

Hawkwind: Queensway Hall, Dunstable

Live Review by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

THE SECOND gig of Hawkwind's Space Ritual tour was at the Queensway Hall, Dunstable, last Thursday. The previous night at King's Lynn — the opener ...

Joe Cocker: They Put Me In The Same Cell As A Bank Robber And A Murder Suspect

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

IT SEEMS that life is still intent on batting Joe Cocker about the head with all the subtlety of a navvy driving a tin-tack into ...

Little Richard: A Bizarre Interview With The Amazing, Self-Styled King Of Rock 'N' Roll

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

HE CALLS HIMSELF the Georgia Peach, the Bronze Liberace and the King of Rock and Roll. Little Richard calls himself a lot of things. Some ...

Roxy Music: All This and Eno Too… How Can They Fail?

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

T.S. ELIOT, MUSING upon a takeaway Chinese meal once asked "Is true art dead?", while over at the pinball machine Little Richard picked his nose ...

Roxy Music: City Hall, Newcastle

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 November 1972

IT'S DEFINITELY a chic wasteland at the Newcastle City Hall. There wasn't even a platform boot in sight when I went down there to see ...

Claire Hammill

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 November 1972

DRIVING OUT of London in his sparkling red Citroen, bound for Manor Studios, Oxfordshire, John McCoy talked about his girl Claire Hamill in a manner ...

Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page: NME's Festivals Fight Was Excellent, But Some Rock Critics Ego-trippers, Says Zep Man

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 25 November 1972

IT SEEMS THAT, despite a few "huns in the sun", that good old heavier-than-air machine Led Zeppelin is still flying high. And with their first ...

Amon Düül, Tasavallan Presidentti: Amon Düül II, Tasavallan Presidentti: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

A CULTURAL ANECDOTE: It's early 1967 and The Soft Machine are having a little trouble getting it together — particularly Mike Ratledge. Finally, Daevid Allen ...

Carly Simon: No Secrets (Elektra)

Review by Robin Katz, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

CARLY SIMON possesses a great cross between charisma and class. She looks just like Mick Jagger; but never photographs the same way twice. She changes ...

Amon Düül, Can, Faust, Kraftwerk, Nektar: Krautrock: Germany Calling

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

TIME WAS WHEN a sudden loud crash around West Germany was probably just an other F-One-Eleven. These days it's more likely to be the local ...

Millie Jackson: Millie's Mojo Soul

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

AMONG THE better girl artists to emerge from America's R&B charts of late is Millie Jackson, who's been creating no small action over here in ...

Captain Beefheart, Ry Cooder, Randy Newman: Ry Cooder

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

On himself, BEEFHEART and RANDY NEWMAN — and backing JAGGER by remote control. ...

Allman Brothers Band, Otis Redding: The Allman Brothers: A Rock Tragedy

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

WHEN BERRY Oakley died two hours after crashing his motorcycle on November 11, another chapter was added to the succession of tragedy which seems to ...

The Jackson 5: The Jackson Five: Five Pranksters Puppets

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

TAUNTS THAT the Jackson Five are nothing more than carefully manipulated puppets just aren't borne out by the facts. Five minutes in the company of ...

Amon Düül, Ash Ra Tempel, Can, Guru Guru, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Tangerine Dream: Krautrock: Germany Calling #2

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 16 December 1972

BOMB BLASTS AND THE BEAT: PART TWO OF IAN MACDONALD'S DEFINITIVE SURVEY OF GERMAN ROCK ...

Lou Reed: Transformer (RCA)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 December 1972

LOU REED WITH COLOURED GIRL DAVID BOWIE... ...

The Pink Fairies: Pink Fairies: Pink Finks

Profile by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 December 1972

NICK KENT charts the rise and astonishing survival of the Pink Fairies. ...

Amon Düül, Faust, Popol Vuh: Krautrock: Germany Calling #3

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 23 December 1972

From Amon Düül to Faust's new sound-world ...

Led Zeppelin (part 1): A Whole Lotta Rock 'N Roll

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 December 1972

IT'S WAY past the midnight hour and the room at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, is starting to look a trifle the worse for wear since ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones In The Sun (part 1)

Report and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 23 December 1972

All-night rock; drug rumours; new album. Danny Holloway reports. ...

Led Zeppelin (part 2): Hail Hail Rock 'N Roll

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 December 1972

Nick Kent on the Zeppelin on-stage spectacular ...

Merry Clayton: The Triumphant Acid Queen

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 30 December 1972

MERRY CLAYTON is the girl who stopped the show at the London Rainbow performance of Pete Townshend's rock opera Tommy earlier this month. Even the ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones In The Sun (part 2)

Report and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 30 December 1972

JAMAICA IS a country of convenience – which means nobody's going to put themselves out for you, unless it's convenient for them. ...

Kevin Coyne: New London Theatre, Drury Lane

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 1973

Without doubt one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever attended. When it was over Kevin was drained, his band was drained, the audience was ...

King Crimson: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 1973

IT'S A ROCK concert evening and the stalls are filling to the accompaniment of music played over the public address system. A review-functionary takes his ...

David Bowie & The Spiders from Mars: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 January 1973

ZIGGY PULLS THE SQUEALERS ...

J. Geils Band: Live — Full House (Atlantic)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 January 1973

THERE COMES a time in each man's life when he needs to have his brain tissues reduced to absolute smouldering wreckage. ...

Joni Mitchell: A Tender Dignity

Guide by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 January 1973

ONE DAY, many years ago, Al Kooper went home with a blonde Canadian chick who used to hang out with the Blues Project. In the ...

Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, Traffic: Steve Winwood: Winwood (U.A. Import).

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 6 January 1973

WHAT A strange world it is. A couple of years ago this same double set was released in America, and swiftly withdrawn following objections – ...

Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend: Eric Clapton & Pete Townshend: Go Get 'Em Eric

Interview by Bill Phillips, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

BILL PHILLIPS previews the CLAPTON comeback concert – and talks to PETE TOWNSHEND ...

Focus: Hardrock, Manchester

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

ALTHOUGH OUR entry into the European Economic Community is being saluted with umpteen art forms and rock concerts in the capital, perhaps the greatest – ...

Loudon Wainwright III: Album III (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

YOU'LL PROBABLY never meet anyone less like a star than Loudon Wainwright III. G.I.-short hair with the stubble of his next beard, scruffy clothes that ...

Marvin Gaye: Trouble Man (Tamla Motown)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

THE GAYE JAMES BOND ...

Michael Nesmith: The Hits Just Keep On Comin' (RCA)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

IT'S LITTLE known information, but Stephen Stills auditioned for the Monkees. So it follows illogically that CSN&Y was just Steve's ambition to be a Monkee ...

Poco: A Good Feelin' To Know (Epic).

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

I KNOW a lot of city-boy cynic rock writers like to put down this band, pointing out how lightweight they are and how they come ...

Stevie Wonder: Talking Book (Tamla)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

LAST YEAR, Wonder achieved overdue recognition for his first solo album, Music Of My Mind — which was, simply, the most overrated album of '72. ...

Traffic: Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory (Island)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 January 1973

COME ON NOW, put away the hammer and nails and the coffin; save them for a much lesser band than Traffic. Agreed, over the last ...

Archie Bell and the Drells: Archie Bell & the Drells: Here I Go Again (Atlantic)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

BELL HAS been not a little embarrassed by the rather belated success here of 'Here I Go Again'. Not that he isn't extremely pleased with ...

Blue Mink: Out of Preaching Bag

Profile and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

UNTIL THE advent of Blue Mink and hits like the current 'Stay With Me' and 'Melting Pot' — which established them a couple of years ...

Chuck Berry: Green's Playhouse, Glasgow

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

TONY STEWART REPORTS FROM GLASGOW OH THE FIRST BERRY CONCERT ...

Nina Simone: Emergency Ward (SF 8304)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

LOGGING A BIG pop hit sometimes does more harm than good to artists who previously had a rather specialist appeal. ...

Prince Buster: Reggae Part 1: Jamaica

Report by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

WHENEVER I've gone home to America in the past couple of years, the question I'm always asked is "What's happening in England?" And okay, I ...

The Faces, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart: The Scarecrow Harlequin

Overview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

STRANGE AS it may seem, there was a time when Rod Stewart used to hide behind Jeff Beck's amplifiers and only come out front if ...

Roxy Music: The Man Who Put Sequins into Middle Eights

Interview by Nick Kent, Ian MacDonald, Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

The BRYAN FERRY interview, in which the Roxy mastermind meets IAN MacDONALD, CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY and NICK KENT ...

Silverhead

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

IF YOU TAKE a certain measure of pride in staying fully in touch with the Music Press (where trends bend and fashions flourish), the question ...

Suzi Quatro: Tipped For Success This Year

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

[NOTE: This uncredited piece was included in a Radio Luxembourg promotional special inset entitled the 208 Times.] ...

J. Geils Band: The J. Geils Band: Hard Drivin' Sweet Soundin' Rock and Roll

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

TAKE A LOOK at the cover of the first J. Geils Band album on Atlantic. The sleeve itself simply contains two plain, no-nonsense black-and-white photographs ...

Valerie Simpson: Valerie Simpson (Tamla-Motown)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

SOME FACTS about Valerie Simpson: yes, she is a good songwriter and has been responsible for such fine numbers as 'And If You See Him', ...

Yoko Ono: Approximately Infinite Universe (Apple)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 20 January 1973

IN AS MUCH AS the Lennons have spent four years trying to turn self-dramatisation into an art-form, the criticism of indulgence so often aimed at ...

Billy Paul: Nostalgic Chart Topper For Paul

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

Keep a check on Billy Paul. Before long, he's going to top the British chart, repeating his two million selling number-one in America with the ...

Deep Purple: Sometimes I Feel There's a Conspiracy Against Us...

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

IAN PAICE talking to JAMES JOHNSON ...

Elton John: Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player (DJM)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

WELL, WHADAYA know – another fine Elton John album. Despite sneers, calumny and general foulness, the former Reg just keeps on writin', playin', singin' and ...

Family

Discography by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

ONE OF THE best of a large number of good British bands to emerge in 1967, Family were for about 18 months the most exciting ...

David Bowie: Goodbye Ziggy And a big hello to Aladdin Sane

Review and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

Two days in the life of David Bowie - A rare interview and a preview of his new album... ...

Joe Cocker

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

SO WHAT'S this? Joe Cocker talking to the Press? Can it be Sheffield's own recluse-superstar, the man who returned from the Godforsaken land of Rock'n'Roll ...

Johnny Paycheck: Somebody Loves Me (Epic)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

FOR QUITE A few years, black American singers have milked Nashville for meaningful ballad songs. Joe Simon, Esther Phillips, Joe Tex and O.C. Smith are ...

Lynsey De Paul: "Peel called me a bloody idiot... I was quite pleased, he doesn't talk to many people."

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

LYNSEY DE PAUL is a Gemini, which she thinks explains a lot. ...

Greyhound: Reggae Part 2: Reggae in Britain

Report by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

WHEN LABOUR IN England was becoming hard to come by during the 1950s, enticing proclamations were urgently sent to the West Indies. "Your Mother Country ...

The Rowan Brothers: Rowan Brothers: Rowan Brothers (CBS)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

THESE TWO caballeros made their first appearance of note with the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore West: two downy-cheeked youths on acoustic guitars with Uncle ...

Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley: Scotty Moore: The Man Who Launched A Thousand Licks

Interview by Norman Jopling, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

PEOPLE AROUND at the time Elvis first made it claim that guitarist Scotty Moore was the musician most responsible for "The Elvis Presley Sound". Moore ...

The Beach Boys: Holland (Warner)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

DESPITE MY better judgment, I temporarily dropped my rock n' roll-cynic persona, used when confronting 90 per cent of what is going down in music ...

Bill Bruford, King Crimson: Under the Influence — This Week: Bill Bruford of King Crimson

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

JOHN McLAUGHLIN: 'Pete The Poet'. From Extrapolation. Fantastic — well, that whole album is. Very fast, tight bop playing and some great drums from Tony ...

Traffic: Waiting For Traffic

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

ONE ONLY HAS to mention the name Traffic these days and somebody'll grunt, groan and lower their eyes, dismissing the subject. Undeniably, the group have ...

Walter/Wendy Carlos: Walter Carlos: Sonic Seasonings (CBS Quadraphonic)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

HERE'S ONE for Tangerine Dream freaks. ...

Brian Eno, Roxy Music: A Flight of Fantasy: Eno

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

ENO'S PLAYBOY bachelor flat in mystical Maida Vale possesses a decor that is God's own gift to a journalist caught for a good opening paragraph. ...

Elton John: They Laughed When He Played The Piano

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

FOR MANY MOONS it has been ever-so-chic to take pokes at Elton John. To admit to a considerable admiration for the man and his work ...

Isaac Hayes: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

ISAAC HAYES, they tell me, is the leading light of the new black life-style. Black Moses, yet. ...

Louisiana Red, Taj Mahal: Louisiana Red: It's All Blues

Report and Interview by Peter Kent, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

"I AM LOUISIANA Red and I come from behind the sun" — those words, belting out of a cheap mono record-player, introduced me to the ...

Roberta Flack: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

MAJESTIC, CERTAINLY, with a voice as clear as crystal – but I'm afraid to say that Miss Roberta Flack, in concert, is something of a ...

Roy Harper: The Original Hippie

Report by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

"I'LL COME back and see you, but I'm not getting smashed. I'm 24 and feeling it.""That's all right Robert, neither am I. We'll stand in ...

The Kinks: Drama On The Village Green

Report and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 3 February 1973

IN A SMALL tearoom in BBC's Shepherd's Bush Theatre, Ray Davies sits resting between rehearsals for an In Concert TV show which will eventually hit ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

WERE LOTS TO be drawn for the identity of the world's most crazed rock guitarist, you better believe the result would contain the name of ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice: Rock 'n' Roll Vandals

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

"HEY," SAID Jeff Beck a trifle slyly, tilling his head to one side and allowing a patently nasty leer to edge its way across his ...

Derek & The Dominos: In Concert (RSO)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

QUESTION NUMBER One: how do you follow up a masterpiece? ...

Doug Sahm: Doug Sahm and Band (Atlantic)

Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

DESPITE WHAT some people may say to the contrary, the most significant thing about it is NOT the fact that Bob Dylan crops up for ...

Genesis: The Genesis Bag

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

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 ...

Isaac Hayes: The Man They Call Moses

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

IMAGES DON'T come much heavier than that surrounding Isaac Hayes. But take away the dark shades, the heavy chains, the robes, the immense mink coats, ...

Sweet: The Sweet Soft Underbelly of Rock

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

FUNNY how moods change – there we all were...the Sweet and myself...in the bar, having a few drinks, sharing a joke or two y'know, getting ...

Uriah Heep: The Heep Bombard Frankfurt

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 February 1973

SATURDAY IN FRANKFURT, Western Germany, and Hans and Monika have pooled their Deutsche Marks to go and see Uriah Heep in concert. It's been a ...

Bette Midler: Just A Working Class Girl Living Out Her Fantasies

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

BETTE MIDLER, the Divine Miss Bette Midler, is a star. Ahmet Ertegun, man of wealth and taste, and head of Atlantic Records, believes it; Aaron ...

Bobby Charles: Bobby Charles (Bearsville, EMI import)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

IT'S BECOMING increasingly fashionable for session musicians to produce albums which highlight their own talents, and to employ on them the people who in turn ...

Chuck Berry: Go Chuck Baby Go

Report and Interview by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

CHUCK BERRY. To a fan, the name sparks off a warm smile. After that depending on how old he or she is, the first song ...

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show: Sloppy Seconds (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

NOW DON'T get me wrong. I ain't no weenybop, but I have to admit that I really dig this Dr. Hook album here. Hell, I ...

Judy Collins: True Stories And Other Dreams (Elektra).

Review by Robin Katz, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

Springtime with Collins ...

David Bowie: Lookin' Back, David Bowie: Sinister Odyssey Through a Treacherous Landscape

Overview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

RIGHT NOW David Bowie's albums are the subject of more close and obsessive study than anybody else's since the days when hippies all over the ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra: Birds Of Fire (CBS)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

THE INNER Mounting Flame was a very extreme record: extremely fast, extremely dazzling, extremely lyrical, extremely passionate. If you go along with Robert Fripp's "Head ...

Miles Davis: On The Corner (CBS)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

I WAS LYING around listening to Miles Smiles the other day, thinking about how it's a great record. And then I remembered the 30-odd other ...

Stevie Wonder: The New Wonder Ingredient

Interview by Tony Norman, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

BLACK AND PROUD, MUSIC FROM THE SOUL ...

The Faces: Natty Mac, Incidentally

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

IAN McLAGAN talks to JAMES JOHNSON ...

Elton John: The Fightin' Side of Elton John

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 17 February 1973

ELTON JOHN SITS cornered on his sumptuous settee, talking about the comic strip character he portrays. And as if to emphasise the image, he's wearing ...

Alice Cooper: Billion Dollar Babies (Warner)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

YOU'VE GOT to hand it to Alice Cooper and the boys – they know just when to pump out another album for the kids to ...

Back Door: Just Who Do Back Door Think They Are?

Profile and Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

ONE OF the peripheral pleasures of a thriving music scene is being able to tell your friends about this great unknown group you've just discovered. ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice: Beck, Bogert & Appice: Edmonton Sundown, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

EVER BEEN totally numbered by the hero of your adolescence? Viz: "What did you think of the gig?" asked Jeff Beck. "Tremendous," I gushed. "Really great. You really ...

Can: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

THE STAGE WAS filled with manic, shadowy figures: three guitarists, two drummers, two singers, and a saxophonist. Through the barrage of noise, one could distinguish ...

Chuck Berry part 2: How Many Comebacks?

Interview by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

AS WE TALKED, Berry looked over a copy of Golden Decade Vol. 2 and ran his eye down the sleeve discography, commenting on some of ...

David Bowie: Gay Guerillas & Private Movies

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

ALRIGHT, SO you're a rock singer out of Beckenham, Kent called David Bowie and you're hotter than a stolen atom bomb packed with pictures of ...

Focus, Jan Akkerman: Jan Akkerman: A Poor Relation Comes Good

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

IN A SMALL OFFICE at the Manchester Hardrock, reeking of stale beer and dirty ashtrays, Jan Akkerman is struggling to light a cigarette. Outside, where ...

King Crimson: Marquee, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

THE MARQUEE MAY be an ace gig as far as groups are concerned but, for audiences, it can be most uncomfortable – particularly when the ...

Led Zeppelin: The Zeppelin Road Test

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

"ROBERT PLANT QUITS showbusiness and joins National Dairies. There's a good headline for you. Print that as a news item in your paper, O.K.?" ...

David Bowie: Lookin' Back Part 2, in which Murray looks at Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust

Overview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

AFTER MAN Who Sold The World came Hunky Dory (RCASF 8244), with its Garbo cover-pose and its extraordinary range of mood and sound. The hard ...

Eric Clapton, The Who: Pete Townshend part1: The True Saga Of Clapton's Rainbow Gig

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

IF YOU TURN up at the famous Track office in Soho's historic Old Compton Street, you're sure of a big surprise – there's a glitzy ...

Rita Coolidge: The Lady's Not For Sale (A&M)

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

ONE OF the bright young kids in the NME office played 10 seconds of each cut on side one, heard not a sound, and chucked ...

Slade: Superyob

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

HE COMES ON stage with Slade like an over-decorated, perambulating Christmas tree – smothered in silver-stars, gold and glitter from head to toe – but ...

O'Jays: The O'Jays

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

WHEN THE O'JAYS fly in for an extensive British tour next month it'll be the fulfillment of a longstanding ambition. It will not be their ...

Traffic In The States

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 24 February 1973

WHEN FOUR people have given rock one of its biggest facelifts, it's natural they should never be far apart. So in the same way that ...

Billy Paul

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

IT'S EASY TO detect a strong jazz influence in Billy Paul's vocal on 'Me And Mrs. Jones'. The reason is simple enough. Paul, now 35, ...

Faust: The Sound of the Eighties

Comment by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

A LOW buzzing sound, at first almost subliminal, emanates from a position somewhere between the twin stereo speakers. It wavers, hesitantly, from side to side ...

Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Paul Butterfield's Better Days: Better Days (Bearsville); Original Soundtrack: Steelyard Blues (Warner Brothers)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

IT'S BEEN nearly 18 months since we heard anything new from Paul Butterfield. In 1971 he released Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' which was, ...

The Who: Pete Townshend part 2: If The Who Split We'd Really Have To Own Up

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

PETER TOWNSHEND is an amiable sort of dude. He sits in Track Records' office, with booze and dog to hand, and talks about anything that ...

The Birds, The Faces, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood: The Complete Works of Ronnie Wood

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

REMEMBER A BAND called the Birds? Nope friend, I do not mean the Byrds, Bobby Dylan's old honchos from Los Angeles, nor am I alluding ...

Timmy Thomas: The Timmy Thomas One-Man Show...

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

'WHY CAN'T We Live Together?' asks Timmy Thomas on his sensationally different million-selling American hit. But, ironically, it turns out that the record itself is ...

Curtis Mayfield: Things Go Better With Coke: Curtis Mayfield's Superfly soundtrack

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

Charles Shaar Murray previews SUPERFLY ...

Traffic: Dear Mr Fantasy

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 3 March 1973

THE FIRST ENCORE at the Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, started with Jim Capaldi up front, his face pressed hard against a microphone to ring out ...

Clyde McPhatter: Atlantic Masters (Atlantic)

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

WELL, IS SINGING coming back or not? The signs are, maybe yes. Billy Paul, for instance, and the Chi-Lites, Stylistics, and Detroit Emeralds. ...

Cornell Dupree: The Boss Guitar of Cornell Dupree

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

CORNELL DUPREE's name will mean nothing to the general public, but those who scan LP sleeve credits will recognise him as one of America's busiest ...

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Help Me Make It Through The Night (Tamla Motown)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

THOUGH IT'S packaged to make you think it's that way, this isn't an all-new album, the title track being the only recent cut. The rest ...

James Brown: He Ain't Slowing Down

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

SOUL BROTHER Number One leaned back in his chair, adjusted his robe, and expounded: "Back in 1969 King Records didn't want to know. They said ...

James Brown: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

SOUL BROTHER Number One's in town, and the James Brown Revue's gettin' down and gittin' it on at the Rainbow. Bop through to the stalls ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: London Sessions (Mercury).

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

IN SOME ways, it hardly matters what this record sounds like. It's the idea that counts. If everything works out more or less to plan, ...

King Crimson: Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Island).

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

A NICE RECORD of pleasant, middle-of-the-road music which should prove a great favourite with everybody's mum and dad this Easter. Bill Bruford's whistling has improved ...

Hawkwind: Stacia, Happy Amazon of the Cosmic Trailways

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

"SO THERE I was on the planet Saturn dancing naked with my body painted, and this weird craft loaded with strange degenerates landed near me ...

Steeleye Span Versus The Time Warp

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

SOUND TECHNIQUES studios in Chelsea is not exactly the most luxurious of settings for musical activity. Boards, speakers and tape reels are scattered fairly haphazardly ...

The Eagles: Takin' It Easy

Profile and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

IN A COMFORTABLE Chelsea flat, Texan Glenn Frey is looking a bit depressed as he sits surrounded by a pile of the latest rock albums ...

The Incredible String Band #1: Eight Years On

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

THE INCREDIBLE String Band, in various forms, have been playing for eight years and have recorded 13 albums, including two doubles and solo sets by ...

The Osmonds: Ever Thought Of Stringing Jimmy Up On Stage?

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

HAVE YOU heard? Donny Osmond's in town – along with big brother Alan – and the secret weeny bopper jungle telegraph knows where he's going ...

Thin Lizzy: And Now A Drop Of The Real Hard Stuff

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

THIN LIZZY would like it known that while they're delighted with ther hit single 'Whisky In The Jar' it shouldn't be confused with the 100 ...

Brian Eno, Roxy Music: Under the Influence: Eno of Roxy

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

Velvets & Beethoven ...

David Bowie: The Revolution Is Here

Essay by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

IN THE NINE months since he broke through to mass recognition, David Bowie has had more written about him than most rock artists will in ...

Deep Purple: Who Do Purple Think They Are?

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

IN CONTEXT, WE'RE AS VALID AS ANYTHING BY BEETHOVEN. ...

Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon (Harvest).

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

SINCE THEIR performance of this work at the Brighton Dome last year, when, due to technical hitches, the piece fell apart half way through, the ...

The Coasters: Atlantic Masters (Atlantic).

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

HOW CRUEL fate is. At the very moment that Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are proving themselves to be perfectly tuned in to 1973, with ...

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: The Funny Side of Dr Hook

Profile and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

DR. HOOK were unexpectedly thrust to popularity via their international hit 'Sylvia's Mother' last summer. The strange thing is, people were buying the song and ...

The Incredible String Band #2: Scientology and the Incredibles

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 17 March 1973

MacDONALD: Was there any consistent philosophical or spiritual attitude behind the group's work during the Elektra period, or were you just tossing in anything you ...

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen: Hot Licks, Cold Steel and Truckers Favorites (Paramount)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

IT WAS like driving through an infinite oven, the sun dancing in cool water-mirages across the four-lane asphalt. Wayne wiped the sweat from his brow. ...

Dr. John: Dr John: In The Right Place

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

Out of the swamp, into the chart? ...

Claire Hamill, King Crimson: King Crimson/Claire Hammill: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

ON SUNDAY night, at that big weird place in Finsbury Park, Messrs. Derek Moss, Bart Brassert, Don Wilton and Rodney Frock most certainly did not ...

Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

THERE ARE A large number of people in the music business who would be delighted to hear that Roxy Music had blown it. Their sudden ...

The Beach Boys #1: The Perfect Wave

Discography by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

"I love to make records that my friends like to hear." – BRIAN WILSON ...

The Pretty Things: Still As Strong As Bo Diddley's Guitar Arm

Report and Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 24 March 1973

FEEL THE svelte red leather. Take in the expensive walnut dashboard surrounding the precision instruments; the speedo flicking between 70 and 80. Experience the full ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

THE BECK, BOGERT and Appice album is completed and virtually upon us, and it leads us to two inescapable conclusions. The first is simple: man ...

Elton John: Sundown, Edmonton, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

I WAS counting the number of fainting chicks pulled up out of the audience. After the 38th, I gave up. ...

The Temptations: Following Darling David, it's the Temptations Sensation

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

ROGER ST. PIERRE ON THE BIG SOUL TOUR ...

Gram Parsons: GP (Reprise)

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

WELL NOW, there's country music, and there's country music. And this here's the second of the two. The first is what you would hear at ...

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Lake the Strongman

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

EVERY SO OFTEN, Greg Lake refers to the music of Emerson, Lake and Palmer as art. He chooses the word quite deliberately. Everything he speaks ...

Led Zeppelin: Houses Of The Holy (Atlantic)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

Zep make masochism worthwhile ...

Little Feat: Dixie Chicken (Warner Bros.)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

SINCE SAILIN' Shoes, the group's last album, asthmatic Pachuco bass-player Roy Estrada, formerly of The Mothers, has departed to join Captain Beefheart under the pseudonym ...

The Faces, Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart: Oo La La

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

I AM DEATH. Huddled in my anorak. Alone and palely loitering in the stalls of the empty Rainbow Theatre. I am miserable with cold in ...

Sutherland Brothers and Quiver: Shaw Theatre, London

Live Review by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

IRONICALLY the Sutherland Brothers' first 'major'' London gig since teaming up with Quiver was opened by an acoustic duo, as if to remind the audience ...

The Beach Boys #2: The Exiles Return

Discography by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 31 March 1973

THE SECOND and concluding part of Jonh Ingham's retrospective look at the Beach Boys covers the '66 to '73 period. ...

Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Best Of… (Vanguard)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

BUFFY SAINTE-Marie is one of the special ones. She's one of the few performers guaranteed to move me to tears, and side two of She ...

Detroit Emeralds: Smooth-Cut Emeralds

Report and Interview by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

"I DON'T THINK we're what people expect us to be," James Mitchell of the Detroit Emeralds explained after receiving a lukewarm reaction from a music ...

Harry Nilsson: Nilsson Schmaltzson

Report and Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

STUDIO ONE at De Lane Lea studios in Wembley is a massive room; big enough to hold close to a 50-piece orchestra. Most of the ...

Henry Cow: Just Happy Playing Their Music

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

HENRY COW, a quintet formed at Cambridge University five years ago, are probably best known — though the group themselves would rather forget it — ...

The Faces: Private Lives, Public Faces

Report and Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

JAMES JOHNSON DROPS IN ON A FACES PARTY, AND FINDS THE BAND ITCHING TO GO ...

Procol Harum: So Who Loves Procol Harum?

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

WHO LOVES Procol Harum? Not England, it seems. Apart from a tough faction of loyal devotees, this isle has said cheerio boys. ...

Spirit: California Saga

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

ATTENTION PLEASE. For the next few weeks, Britain will have the chance of witnessing 'live' one of rock's most creative and significant guitarists. ...

Sweet: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

I'M STILL trying to work this one out, but here's a brief rundown of what basically happened at the Sweet's Rainbow gig. ...

The Faces: Ooh La La (Warner Bros.)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 April 1973

FIRST THERE'S this rolling piano lick, then in comes Ronnie Wood's guitar. Nice tough chording, anchored down with a bent note descending to the root ...

Black Sabbath: To Knock OR Not To Knock The Rock

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

WHEN IT COMES to obvious targets for critical assassinations, then Black Sabbath are sitting ducks – very loud, very basic, very brash. And now at ...

Captain Beefheart: The Beef Of The Matter

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

DON VAN VLIET and his orchestra are here for their third British tour. The current line-up of The Magic Band features Zoot Horn Rollo (first ...

David Bowie: Aladdin Sane

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

Bye-bye, Ziggy. It was nice seeing you, and I hope you'll keep in touch. Hello, Aladdin Sane, make yourself at home. David Bowie's new album ...

Diana Ross: Rapping with Lady D

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

THE DISTINGUISHED-looking old gentlemen in the red braided uniform accepts my coat with an expression of mild distaste and ushers me into the Pine Room ...

Roger Daltrey, The Who: Roger Daltrey: Who Does What In The Who

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

WHAT'S HAPPENED to the Who? Pete SHOULD be writing and recording for the Who. John Entwistle SHOULD be concentrating on the Who's future, but he's ...

Steeleye Span: Parcel of Rogues (Chrysalis)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 April 1973

IT WOULD be considerably more than a pity if Steeleye Span, that most English of bands, have to become superstars in the States before really ...

Don Covay: Are You Reggae For Don Covay?

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

AMERICA JUST had to catch on to reggae. After all, the roots of Jamaican music lie in the '50s out-put of Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis ...

David Bowie in the USA

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

THE MAN from the customs – a surly-looking Negro – eyed me suspiciously for a full ten minutes, and checked and rechecked my baggage and ...

Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page, the Mild Barbarian

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

JIMMY PAGE'S slightly timid, mild-mannered exterior is of course, deceptive. There's no need to explain how Led Zeppelin come across on stage, while in between ...

Roxy Music: The Dome, Brighton

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

GROUPS TOURING Britain are expected to put on that little bit extra for their London dates on the simple score of the probable presence of ...

Steeleye Span A Wooing Wend

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

BACKSTAGE at Bristol, and everything is panic and turmoil. Steeleye Span's support act hasn't arrived half-an-hour before show-time. Jo Lustig, Steeleye manager, is standing with ...

Steve Miller: Miller's Hard Grind

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

STEVE MILLER'S concerts at London's Rainbow theatre last year were two of the most pleasant gigs of 1972. Since he'd never played here before, Miller ...

Traffic: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 21 April 1973

DEAR MR. FANTASY played us some tunes, something that made us all happy. No, it was more than that. All of us at the London ...

Fanny: Mother's Pride

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

BY NOW, most people know that Fanny are one of the best rock bands currently functioning. Their albums, particularly Charity Ball (their second, but the ...

Fats Domino: The Fat Man

Profile by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

IF YOU asked someone who, apart from Elvis, has contributed the most to rock and roll, he'd probably say Chuck Berry, Little Richard or Jerry ...

Lou Reed: The Sinatra Of The 70's

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

LOU REED SURE is a card. The day before this interview was supposed to take place, an associate of mine phoned up the Reed management ...

Roberta Flack And All That Jazz

Interview by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

DANNY HOLLOWAY talks, in New York, to the lady who made the big transition from jazz to mass acclaim. ...

Roxy Music: The Roots

Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

"I'D BEEN nursing the idea for Roxy since my last band," says Bryan Ferry, "since 1964-65. Obviously, when I stopped with the other band I ...

Roxy Music: Ultra Pulp Images On The Video-Cassette Of Your Mind

Profile and Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

THE FIRST COSMIC rock law of the seventies is this: "Everybody is a star". To which the answer is: "So what?". Roxy Music, undeniably, have ...

T. Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex: T. Rex: Where Now, Elemental Child?

Comment by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 April 1973

ONCE UPON A time there was Tyrannosaurus Rex. In the days immediately following flower-power, rockanroll music was getting very sweaty around the edges. What with ...

Dory Previn: Madness, Fear and the Demons Inside

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

AT THE END of the Dory Previn concert at Carnegie Hall, a couple of New Yorkers are standing near the exit, one whispering to the ...

Cream, Jack Bruce: Jack Bruce

Profile by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

CREATOR OF one of rock's two most distinctive bass styles (the other being Paul McCartney's), Jack Bruce has, during the course of a long and ...

New York Dolls, Wayne County & The Electric Chairs: New York: The Dark Side Of Town

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

THE GRAFFITI IN the toilets at Max's Kansas City is abysmal. It's the only word that comes to mind – there's not one subversive scrawl, ...

Doug Sahm, Paul Butterfield's Better Days: Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Doug Sahm: Philharmonic Hall, New York NY

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

HERE'S A TEASER for you to masticate the ole' brain molecules on: pretend you're a big record corporation and you've got these two acts, one ...

Speedy Keen: Speedy Words and Speedy Keen

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

JOHN 'SPEEDY' KEEN is the rock and roll war-horse who wrote 'Something In The Air' for Thunderclap Newman. He's recovered from that – scarred of ...

Tempest: Sound Of The Tempest

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

JON HISEMAN is sitting in a Viennese coffeehouse on a bright Sunday morning, and talking about the four-piece rock band he formed earlier this year. ...

Uriah Heep: Live (Bronze)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 5 May 1973

IT BECAME Friday night in Birmingham on a Friday morning in London – when I listened to this live Heep set. ...

David Bowie: Aladdin Seine

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

ANGIE BOWIE is a gas. She really is. She's sitting between Cherry Vanilla and an ice-bucket at a table in the colossally elegant main dining ...

Focus: Focus And The American Hell

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

MIDNIGHT was our cue to quit the Swiss restaurant and return, like five Cinderellas, to our hotels. It wasn't a case of trembling at the ...

Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man (Philips 6369 415)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

Heron, with the sound of the black revolution ...

The Miracles, Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: No stop for Old Smokey, all ready to go

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

LOS ANGELES: If we hadn't been formally introduced by a super cool hip slingin' secretary I very much doubt that I'd have recognised Smokey Robinson. ...

The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, International Submarine Band, Gram Parsons: Parsons the Country Preacher

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

This is the man Presley's musicians turn to when they're sick of those Las Vegas riffs. ...

Paul Simon: There Goes Rhymin' Simon (CBS)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

LISTENING TO an album twice through the No. 1 studio sound system at CBS is not the best way to hear a new set. Nor ...

Dada, Vinegar Joe, Geno Washington: Pete Gage, The Man Who Drives Vinegar Joe

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

WHEN VINEGAR JOE are on stage Pete Gage is probably the last person you notice. He stands towards the back, almost out of sight, adding ...

Sly & The Family Stone: Fresh (Epic)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

SLY IS AN interesting enigma. Top soul dj-turned-musician, he singlehandedly influenced the course of soul music with a sound that owed more to acid than ...

The Beach Boys: California Dreamin'

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 May 1973

IT WAS ALL a California Vision come to life. Pure and simple. Speeding down from the Hollywood Hills, leaving behind all the emaciated refugees on ...

Alice Cooper: Alice, Nixon and Batman at LA Party

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 19 May 1973

ALICE COOPER was introduced by a fake President of the United States at a reception at the Coconut Grove to mark the group's appearance at ...

David Bowie: Aladdin Distress

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 May 1973

"AND WHEN he arrived they screamed and they cried, and they rushed, and gushed forth and beat their feverish feminine fists into..." FORGET IT! This ...

Hatfield And The North: New Band on the Old Road…

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 19 May 1973

PIP PYLE, Phil Miller, Dave Stewart, and Richard Sinclair have been on the road a few years between them. ...

Hawkwind: Space Ritual Alive At Liverpool Stadium And Brixton Sundown (United Artists)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 May 1973

WELL, THESE COSMIC tacos ain't about to make you wet yourself, but it's still a fact that, contained on these four sides, are the very ...

Roy Buchanan: The Guitarist's Guitarists' Guitarist

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 May 1973

THE WORD is out and the message is self-explanatory. Buchanan, they say; Roy Buchanan, they mean. And if you've missed this paean that's currently ringing ...

David Bowie: Images 1966-1967

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

"I'M AGELESS," said David Bowie in a recent interview – and these 21 tracks from the very earliest days of his career point up the ...

David Bowie: Total Sensory Overload

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

Following the controversial London Earls Court gig, Charles Shaar Murray and photographer Joe Stevens check out Bowie on tour – and find a riot goin' ...

Flo & Eddie: Flo and Eddie: Flo & Eddie

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

MR. HOWARD KAYLAN and Mr. Mark Volman are a somewhat literal-minded pair. When they originally left the protectve aegis of Frank Zappa to strike out ...

Jeff Beck The Dare-Devil

Profile by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

WHEN HE'S playing nice, you couldn't possibly hope to hear more creative or more exciting rock guitar playing than that of Jeff Beck. He was ...

Judge Dread: Working Class Hero And The Robin Hood Of Reggae

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

NICK KENT SPECIAL interview (snigger, snigger) with the man who's rude (snigger) but heaven forbid – not crude ...

Liza Minnelli: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

LUREX 'N ADULATION — OR, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN FLAME TORSO (with a T) REVIEWED LIZA MINNELLI'S RAINBOW GIG ...

Steeleye Span: So Who ARE These Limeys Playing Folk Music?

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

IT TAKES approximately 11 hours to fly from London to Los Angeles. You get off the 'plane, and the heat fills your lungs like a ...

The Eagles: Desperado (Asylum)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

IT IS ARGUABLE that the test of a fine example of any genre is to consider the extent to which it transcends its category. Our ...

The Wailers: Speakeasy, London

Live Review by Danny Holloway, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

IF YOU FOUND the Wailers' debut Island album, Catch A Fire, an uncomfortable sidestep to your usual tastes, I'd strongly advise you to witness a ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Tina Turner: Get Your Eyes Off... and Listen

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

THE MAKING of Tina Turner — was it the singer or the song? Well, we all know the answer to that one don't we? The ...

Led Zeppelin: Zeppelin Take The States By Storm

Report by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 26 May 1973

THE LATEST Led Zeppelin tour is taking America by storm, proving yet again that this is the top rock 'n' roll band in the world. ...

Eric Burdon: Back On Stage… The Charlton Heston of Rock

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

Eric Burdon has been absent from the rock scene — but never gone. He’s made more comebacks than Jesus... and now he’s making another. And ...

Fanny

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

LEON WANTED US TO LIVE IN HIS HOUSE...WE WEREN'T INTERESTED NEEDLESS TO SAY ...

Faust: Town Hall, Plymouth

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

I'VE NO CLEAR idea of what was going on at this concert at all. Faust, hardly the most publicised of bands, appear suddenly at Plymouth ...

Gladys Knight & The Pips: A Day With Miss Knight

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

IF GLADYS Knight took time off to reminisce there's no doubt she could come up with a few interesting tales about the record business. Simply ...

Jefferson Airplane: 30 Seconds Over Winterland

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

THERE'S REALLY nothing quite as dead as the recent past – for further proof just dig out those old Jefferson Airplane albums currently collecting dust ...

Loudon Wainwright III: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

PERHAPS THE most refreshing thing about Loudon Wainwright's concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall last Monday was that there was a songwriter who was more ...

Suzi Quatro, Sweet: Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman: The Dynamic Duo Of Plastic Pop

Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

Nicky Chinn is an ex-public schoolboy, Mike Chapman a one-time waiter. Together they're... The Dynamic Duo Of Plastic Pop ...

Slade in the USA

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

Will Slade break America or will America break Slade – that was the question being resolved by the Noddy Holder Experience as they ...

Suzi Quatro: This Is Suzi Quatro. She's Heavy

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 2 June 1973

ON THE HORIZON of Charles Street, London, or more precisely in the RAK Record Company offices, is a Star. Her name is Suzi Quatro. Five ...

Lou Reed: A Walk On The Wild Side Of Lou Reed

Comment by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 June 1973

"I HAVE ALWAYS thought it would be kinda fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn't met before, or hadn't wanted to meet, y'know. ...

Thom Bell, The Spinners: Detroit Spinners: Memories of the Brown Beatles

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 June 1973

SINCE LEAVING Motown the Detroit Spinners have changed considerably, largely because of the recording direction of Philadelphia genius Thom Bell. ...

Roxy Music: Last Tango In Amsterdam

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 June 1973

BEING A ROCK writer isn't so bad. Quite often you get to go down to a nice hotel, get a few drinks, maybe even a ...

Silverhead Training For The Heavyweight Stakes

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 June 1973

THE SIGN on the marquee outside the Continental Hyatt House on Sunset Blvd., L.A., read: "Welcome Silverhead." Well, not quite: the 'a' was missing after ...

David Bowie: The Bowie Experiment

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 June 1973

THIS IS ONE OF those restaurants where quiet good taste just screams its presence. You just know that they have pheasant under glass, and that ...

Fleetwood Mac: The Fleetwood Mac of Today

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 16 June 1973

FLEETWOOD MAC have been through a lot of changes since the club days. What began as a straight blues band has progressed into new musical ...

Gilbert O'Sullivan: Gaumont, Ipswich and Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 June 1973

Big G and the Scream Machine ...

John Entwistle: Rigor Mortis and the Happy Funeral

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 June 1973

THE ROOM is deathly silent, apart from the occasional rumble of a stomach going by. We are gathered together on this day for a belated ...

Johnny Nash: My Merry Go Round (CBS)

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 16 June 1973

LISTENING TO this record the first time through is as frustrating as trying to see a beautiful woman through a steamed-up window. But the third ...

Led Zeppelin: Zeppin' Out

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 June 1973

"I DON'T EVEN like Led Zeppelin," the girl in the black velvet jacket and hotpants said petulantly as she bummed a cigarette off an acquaintance ...

Bill Withers: Live At Carnegie Hall (A&M — double album)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

SOUNDS OF applause, opening bars or lazy stereotyped black funk, then a hoarse voice yelping out "I don't mind you're using me — uh! — ...

Cat Stevens And A Revolution In Athens

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

THE shining white block of the King George Hotel stands imposingly on Constitution Square, Athens. It's dauntingly grand in the true sense of the word: ...

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Gladys Knight & the Pips: Neither One Of Us (Tamla Motown)

Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

SINCE GLADYS Knight and the Pips have now joined the Buddah label this will be their last album released on Motown, unless the company chooses ...

The Jackson 5: J5 Kick Harder Than Ever: Jackson Five: Skywriter (Tamla-Motown)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

BOISTEROUS young Charles Shaar Murray wrote a more-than-adequate appraisal of this fine album before it was released and I can only restate his enthusiasm for ...

Jefferson Airplane: Just An Exercise At Being Repulsive?

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

"WE ARE all outlaws in the eyes of America," sang Grace Slick from the stage at Woodstock. God, it must be fun to be a ...

Junior Campbell, Marmalade: Junior Campbell: Hallelujah Campbell

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

JUNIOR CAMPBELL is one artist with a hit single who you won't find on stage. After 10 years with Marmalade, he's content to take things ...

Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant — And That Below-The-Belt Surge

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

A HOT AND sticky Friday afternoon in L.A. Nine stories over Sunset Boulevard, Robert Plant takes Roy Harper's Lifemask off the stereo in his hotel ...

Medicine Head: The Unknown Celebrities

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

AT A DELIGHTFUL pub in Twickenham on Saturday eve, Medicine Head's Peter Hope-Evans sat drinking a glass of Lowenbrau. The perpetual grin across his face ...

Sparks: A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing (Bearsville)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

I ONCE found myself involved in a curious argument with one of Detroit's more-respected rock writers concerning his contention that Sparks were dangerous to the ...

Carole King: Subtle, Intense: Carole King: Fantasy (Ode Import)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT of Rhymes & Reasons, I found myself approaching this album with a certain degree of trepidation. For, having failed to ignite any ...

Suzi Quatro

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

"KING EDWARDS are a really heavy smoke," the publicist is saying, "but Manikins and things like that are all right". The advice is aimed at ...

The Temptations: Masterpiece (Tamla-Motown).

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

AND SO it came to pass, dat one day de Nazz summoned Norman Whitfield — de man dat dotted de most funkiest of crotchets — ...

Todd Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 June 1973

BOY, IS THIS a great record. I love it and that's saying a lot seeing as I don't seem to like that much of anything ...

Alice Cooper: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 June 1973

LET'S ASSUME, just for the purpose of arguement, that you're a sensitive soul filled with love for your fellow humans, and that you really get ...

Jimmy Helms: Helms In Need Of A Direction

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 30 June 1973

JIMMY HELMS is at a cornerstone of his career. 'I'm Gonna Make You An Offer (You Can't Refuse)' wasn't just a hit record — it ...

Sweet Little Sixteen making out on Sunset Strip

Report by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 30 June 1973

FROM ROY CARR A KEYHOLE GUIDE TO THE GROUPIES OF L.A. RESEARCH: CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY, NICK KENT ...

Cymande, making it with West Indian "Rasta" soul

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

WHATEVER BRITISH fans think about homebred groups, blue-eyed or otherwise, it seems Americans are prepared to listen to them with enthusiasm. ...

Dr. John, The Meters, Allen Toussaint: Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, the Meters: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

VOODOO CHILE ...

Dr. John's Casebook

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

SEX, DRUGS, VIOLENCE AND THE MAFIA? FORGET IT. THIS GUY'S THE SAVIOUR OF NEW ORLEANS. ROY CARR reports from Montreux. ...

Fairport Convention: Fairport And The Mysterious Lady

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

"FOTHERINGPORT CONFUSION", states Trevor Lucas with a wry smile. That's his pet description of the present Fairport Convention. After all, the band comprises part of ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE ...

Slade: The Kidz Are All Right

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

Far more so than all the Bowies, Bolans and Roxies... Slade are easily the most important British band of the '70s. ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin: The Captain Kirk in John McLaughlin

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

PART 1: IAN MacDONALD CHARTS THE RISE AND RISE OF THE COLOSSUS OF ELECTRIC GUITAR ...

Faust: The Helmet of the Policeman is on the Head of the Musician: Faust In Britain

Report by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 July 1973

FAUST WERE bored. Bored with the set they'd been playing on tour, feeling that they'd much rather lounge around all day in their London flat ...

Allen Toussaint, Producing the New Orleans Feel

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

QUESTION: What could Alvin Lee, Frankie Miller, Mac 'Dr. John' Rebennack, Robbie Robertson and Lee Dorsey possibly have in common? Answer: Allen Toussaint. ...

Brinsley Schwarz: Beware of the Rock Machine: Brinsley Schwarz

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ are playing nice clean rock 'n' roll these days – but they're wary of getting caught up in that rock 'n' roll machine. ...

David Bowie: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

THERE ARE crowds of kids outside the hall, waiting for Stardust to limousine into view. And for them this is all three times as real, ...

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Dr Hook: Sylvia's Mother Meets Durty Cindy Lou…

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

WE ALL KNOW the famous American rock venues, don't we? We've all heard of the Forum in L.A., the Academy of Music and Madison Square ...

Family: Fighting For Respect

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

SEEMS LIKE only yesterday that Family returned from America, wheezing and coughing about the sheer enjoyment of their tour. And quite a number of Family ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin: John McLaughlin: Gimme Dat 11/8 Time Religion

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

PART 2: IAN MacDONALD ON THE SPIRITUAL McLAUGHLIN ...

Professor Longhair: Longhair, the man who started it all

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

ROY CARR MEETS PROFESSOR LONGHAIR, THE WORLD'S MOST RIPPED-OFF LEGEND ...

David Bowie: The Case For and Against Bowie: Shrewd Publicity Stunt Or Necessity?

Interview by Roy Carr, Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 July 1973

AFTER CALLING Jeff Beck on stage to climax last week s final night of his British tour, David Bowie reappeared alone before the curtain to ...

John Martyn: The Stormbringer Comes Into The Sun

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 21 July 1973

"Love me with your head and heart.Love me from the place it starts;Love me from your head and heart.Love me like a child." ...

War: The Battle Against 'Unlove'

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 21 July 1973

THIS IS the story of war declared but not yet unilaterally. Approximately two years ago, when the American 'jazz-rock-blues-soul' band appeared in the U.K. with ...

10cc: 10cc

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

SINCE THE Beatles re-created the album market with Sergeant Pepper we've become used to the idea that the best of rock'n'roll is invariably found in ...

Edgar Winter: Just A Friendly Texan

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

STEVE PAUL'S in a good mood right now. He's just been informed that West Side Story is playing somewhere in London and already he can ...

Brian Eno: Eno: Of Launderettes And Lizard Girls

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

...and things that go bump in Ladbroke Grove. Nick Kent stakes out Eno's closet ...

Horslips: Well You See, There Was These Five Irishmen...

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

TONY STEWART reports the long, involved story of Horslips    ...

Joe Simon: Country Joe

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

SOUL MAN Joe Simon has scored a long run of American hits — with country songs. And now his 'Step By Step' currently climbing the ...

The Pointer Sisters: The Pointer Sisters

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 28 July 1973

ANITA, RUTH, JUNE and Bonnie Pointer come to us with the fervent recommendations of seemingly everybody in America. But with the best will in the ...

Albert Hammond: Moroccan Strip Clubs To All American Boy

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

DESPITE THAT rich, drawling brogue and songs like 'It Never Rains In Southern California', Albert Hammond is no American. As it happens, he was born ...

The Osmonds: Br-r-r-ring... Hi, this is Alan Osmond

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

WIMP ROCK AND WEIRD CITY. IT'S THE OSMONDS GROWING UP. IAN MacDONALD REPORTS ...

David Bowie: Bowie-ing Out at The Chateau

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY WITH THE MAIN MAN IN FRANCE. WORK ON NEW PROJECTS, REPORTS MURRAY, IS GOING AHEAD DELICIOUSLY IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT ...

Greenslade and the Trumpet Maniac

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

THE WAYS bands are born vary immensely. Like, the idea may be only two hours old when Phantom Balloon hits the stage, but other outfits ...

King Crimson: Latest Shade of Crimson

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

SOME REPORTS from America suggested that King Crimson's recent tour had bombed completely. Others maintained that everything had gone according to plot and that audience ...

Smokey Robinson: Miracles And Meditation

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

IT'S JUST on a year since Smokey Robinson split from the Miracles to spend more time as an executive of the Motown Corporation. Now, he ...

The Faces, Nazareth: Strangely missing that barrow boy stagger: in Frankfurt with the Faces

Report and Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

IT'S EARLY Sunday evening and three large Mercedes limousines are skimming through the outskirts of Frankfurt in rather regal convoy. In one, Keith Moon reclines ...

Van Morrison, Them: Van Morrison: Early Them and all the vocal fire of Tarzan with a hernia

Retrospective and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 August 1973

BUT WITH CONTROL, MAN, WITH CONTROL ...

Genesis: The Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 10 August 1973

IT'S A LITTLE dishonest using the same strokes to hammer Genesis as are periodically used against Yes. But there you go. Such is the nature ...

10cc: Ying Tong Iddle I Po

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 11 August 1973

CAN YOU AFFORD TO LAUGH – AND MISS OUT ON 10CC? ...

David Bowie: Tight Rope Walker At The Circus

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 August 1973

THE CHATEAU D'HEROUVILLE is probably the only recording studio in the world boasting a resident chef who does Charlie Chaplin impressions at suppertime. Trouble is, ...

Status Quo: Enjoying A New Status

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 11 August 1973

TONY STEWART GOES SWISS WITH STATUS QUO, WHO ARE BIG BUSINESS THERE ...

The Who: Bang A Gong The Who Get It On

Report by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 11 August 1973

THE MAN across the road didn't really understand why Keith Moon was standing in the pouring rain, beating on a Paiste gong outside the Who's ...

Alice Cooper: School Days

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

...

Alice Cooper, Lou Reed: Bob Ezrin: The Square And The Faggots

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

"DETACHMENT. Yes, that's it exactly. We were both talking about that. Lou said last night: 'This album is an exercise in detachment and apathy'. I ...

Carly Simon, James Taylor: Carly and James: The Taylors in Paris

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

WITH CARLY MAKING OLE LONESOME JAMES SMILE (WELL ALMOST) — IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF TRUE LOVE GUARANTEED TO THREATEN THE DEFENCES OF THE MOST HARDENED ...

Earth, Wind & Fire, Isaac Hayes: Isaac Hayes: Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

Brilliant Hayes: the bald facts ...

Stackridge: Lummy Days Are Over, Stackridge Move On…

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

ONCE BILLED as the Almost Greatest Show On Earth, those remarkable young men from the West Country known collectively as Stackridge are currently at work ...

Manu Dibango: Apollo Theater, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

MANU DIBANGO'S appearance at the Apollo was the capper for a frenzied week of concert-going in New York and the East Coast. ...

Nazareth: So You Wanna Stay A Rock 'N' Roll Star?

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

DAN McCAFFERTY has no pretensions. As he sits chain smoking in his manager's flat – a mere Rolls Royce-throw away from London's Hyde Park Corner ...

Roger McGuinn: Roger McGuinn

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

NOW THIS is a little more like it. Of course, it would be ludicrous to expect a sudden reconciliation with the original classic Byrds feel ...

Allman Brothers Band: The Allman Brothers: Brothers And Sisters

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

IT MUST have been just at the point where the Grateful Dead has started to tarnish their once peeless charisma as the magic band that ...

Tony Joe White: Home Made Ice Cream

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 August 1973

I'VE HAD a healthy respect for the work of Tony Joe White for quite some time now, and it is because of the excellence of ...

Commander Cody: Country Casanova

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

I'VE GOT to admit I was thrown when I first saw the cover of this album. The dude in the cowboy shirt leaning next to ...

Frank Zappa: God Mother

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

"ZAPPA'S IN TOWN," they said. "Wanna go along and talk to him?" Oh sure, sez I, always glad to have a chat with Frank. So ...

Genesis: The Man Behind The Mask

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

THE MUSIC world rarely awakens before noon, but I met Peter Gabriel at the unlikely hour of 9.30 a.m. Genesis, having finished their Selling England ...

Hot Chocolate: Chocolate Brown

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

THERE IS absolutely no getting away from the fact that it was an excessively hot and sticky afternoon. Sweaterama incarnate. Clothing stuck unpleasantly to the ...

Medicine Head

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

SO YOU'RE a dues-paying rock 'n' roll star with a couple of weeks to kill and you decide to flit off to Ahmadnagar and hang ...

Mott The Hoople, New York Dolls: New York Dolls/Mott The Hoople: Felt Forum, NYC

Live Review by Michael Gross, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

THE EVENING SIMPLY reeked of promise. Mott the Hoople, the Anglo glamour band of the moment, billed with New York's very own Dolls. ...

New York Dolls: The Guys In The Dolls

Report by Michael Gross, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

THE BACK room of Max's Kansas City is generally bathed in a pink glow of lighting effects. Depending on how much liquor you've consumed, it ...

Genesis: No Exodus Yet for Genesis

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

"OBVIOUSLY we're out of the public's attention – but we come back that much stronger; some bands seem afraid to take time off; they feel ...

Robert Fripp, King Crimson: Robert Fripp: Head, Heart and Hips

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

ROBERT FRIPP doesn't give many interviews – which is silly because he's a shrewd, witty, and engrossing man who, when he's not sitting on a ...

New York Dolls: The New York Dolls: The New York Dolls (Mercury Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 August 1973

THE NEW YORK Dolls are trash, they play rock 'n' roll like sluts and they've just released a record that can proudly stand beside Iggy ...

Dobie Gray: Drift Away

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, September 1973

I COULDN'T find the name 'Dobie Gray' in any of the rock encyclopaedias. Presumably after 'The In Crowd' he became one of those half-forgotten names ...

Babe Ruth: Oh Babe

Report and Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

BARBARA CHARONE TAKES THE HIGH ROAD WITH BABE RUTH. ALL THE WAY TO WICK, CAITHNESS – A MERE CABER-TOSS FROM JOHN O' GROATS. AND DISCOVERS ...

Black Sabbath: Sabbath Days Of Rest

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

Forget witchcraft, forget heavy metal – Tony Iommi is laying back in his luxury pad, listening to the Carpenters and Sinatra ...

Funkadelic, Mandrill, Osibisa, Rare Earth: Black 'Woodstock': A Violent Fiasco

Report by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

IT COULD have been the biggest event of the summer. For many of us trapped in the iron heart of the city, it promised to ...

Frank Zappa: Penguins in Bondage and Other Perversions

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

WHERE WERE WE? Oh yeah, Frank Zappa. Anyway, ol' Frank is sitting in his hotel room above Kensington, discoursing on this and that and demonstrating ...

Jaki Whitren: The I Don't Want To Be A Star Star

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

NOT THE USUAL pub or press office for interviewing this newcomer. Oh no. For Jaki Whitren — CBS have put their money where their faith ...

Kilburn & The High Roads: Kilburn and the High Roads: Hardened Criminals Plan Big Break-Out

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

AT LEAST, THAT'S THE WAY THEY LOOK. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE BIG: NICK KENT ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS WITH KILBURN AND THE HIGH ...

Robert Fripp, King Crimson: Robert Fripp: The Sexual Athlete

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

ROBERT FRIPP paused in a virtuoso display of cross-picking on Francisco Tarrega's 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra', the interlude music he'd chosen between the two parts ...

Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds: Session Star: Jimmy Page

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

JIMMY PAGE is as wary of discussing his formidable past as he is talking to the press in the first place. ...

Allman Brothers Band: Allman Explosion

Report by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

IT'S THE speed of the thing that's been most memorable – the way the Brothers And Sisters album literally exploded across North America. Within the ...

Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music: Bryan Ferry: Party Fun From an Old Poseur

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

AT NOON PRECISELY, on a colourless day, I pressed the bell-push of Bryan Ferry's chic Earl's Court flat. Fifteen minutes later I was still ringing. ...

Howard Tate, Lou Courtney: Howard Tate and Lou Courtney: The Blues and Dance Men

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

TWO ARTISTS of widely different appeal, Howard Tate and Lou Courtney both deserve inclusion in this series because although only modestly successful even in the ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Goat's Head Soup (Rolling Stones Records)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

Stones: you can sometimes get what you want... ...

Toots & The Maytals: The Maytals: From The Roots (Trojan)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

IF EVER a group deserved recognition beyond the realms of its chosen music form, then it's the Maytals. ...

The Rolling Stones: Goat's Head Soup

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

FIRST COMES the riff. It's like 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' 'cept it's slowed down so it sounds like it's being played on horse tranquilliser. Ominous and ...

Uriah Heep

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

THIS INTERVIEW had the most ordinary of beginnings. David Byron and Uriah Heep's Press Miss and myself left the other four members of the band ...

ZZ Top: Tres Hombres (London, Import)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 8 September 1973

THERE'S A huge spread of all-American grub dominating the sleeve of this album. ZZ Top are a three-piece Southern fried chicken band from Texas, and ...

Candi Staton: Foxy Lady Of Soul

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 September 1973

RIGHT FROM the days when Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Ida Cox and later the ladies Holliday, Vaughan, Fitzgerald and Washington ruled the blues/jazz roost there ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra, Santana: Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin: A Pair Of White Pants Will Never Let You Down

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 15 September 1973

THIS PIECE might easily be subtitled "How to operate with ice-cool expediency without ruffling your cosmique mantle." But that would definitely be rushing things. ...

Alan Price: That Lucky Old Price

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

THERE'S still much of the flat cap rocker about Alan Price. At his best he's a kind of cross between Randy Newman and Jackie Charlton ...

Alice Cooper: Alice Shows His Muscle

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

"YA WANNA SCOOP?" grins Shep Gordon, the inimitable manager of Alice Cooper, a paragon of virtue in his rust-coloured brushed velvet jacket. "Sure" hisses the ...

Billy Preston: God Planned It Good

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

AFTER YEARS spent as a session man for an astonishing roster of star names the Beatles, the Stones, Barbra Steisand, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Sam ...

The Delfonics, Eddie Kendricks: Eddie Kendricks, The Delfonics: Apollo Theater, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

Hot night at the Apollo ...

Jethro Tull: The House That Jethro Built

Comment by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

IT NOW SEEMS rather incongruous to think back on Jethro Tull as veterans of the Great 1968 Blues Boom, right out of the same scene ...

Slade

Report by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

Keith Altham gets a sneak preview at the next original Slade Album ...

The Carpenters: Summer Sweethearts

Overview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

If it's muzak you're looking for, look no further... ...

Jimmy Hughes: The Great Unknowns: Jimmy Hughes

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

"I NEVER FELT more like singing the blues," sang Guy Mitchell and Tommy Steele a long while ago, and both did a lot of business ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones-On-The Road Special

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

THE LADY behind the amps, staring hazily at Billy Preston and his band performing on stage, looked elegantly damaged. Half of her face was covered ...

Yoko Ono

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 22 September 1973

IF ALL THE world were a movie set, the Japanese artist could have married her rock star and lived happily ever after in the East ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice: The Axeman Cometh

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

IT JUST GOES to show that things ain't always what they seem. Bopping down Savile Row in the general direction of Apple Studios (ah, Apple! ...

Deep Purple: Purple, Introducing The…Err…Unknown Mr. Coverdale

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

PURPLE RECORDS took the press down to Clearwell Castle on the Welsh-English border last week to meet their new singer boy. The name of this ...

Diana Ross: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

ANYONE WHO doubts that Diana Ross is a star in the old-fashioned sense of the word should have been at the Albert Hall last Tuesday. ...

Focus: At The Rainbow (Polydor)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

LIVE ALBUMS basically attempt to recreate a concert atmosphere with favoured musical pieces by the band in question and sycophantic noises from the audience. ...

Genesis: Selling England By the Pound (Charisma)

Review by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

GENESIS FANS unite, stand proud and be counted; get ready to say 'I told you so' to all those people who have been doubting your ...

John Martyn: Inside Out (Island)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

YOU COULD SAY that the post-decadence rock scene is structured rather like the society of ants: a hangover of old drones twittering away behind last ...

Judy Collins: In Through The Other Door

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

TRANSATLANTIC phone calls can be a precarious undertaking at the best of times. But on this grey Wednesday afternoon, as successive international operators tried vainly ...

Back Door, Beck, Bogert and Appice, Blue (Scotland), Golden Earring, Lou Reed, James Taylor, Tony Joe White: Lou Reed, James Taylor, Beck Bogert & Appice, et al: Crystal Palace Bowl, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

  LOU REED and James Taylor on the same bill? What a masterstroke of pure gonzo rock n' roll strategy! ...

Slade: Sladest (Polydor)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

THE FIRST TIME I saw Slade I thought they were dreadful. It was that memorable night at the Lanchester Arts Festival when Chuck Berry cut ...

Sweet: Queens of the Hop

Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

THE SWEET'S BALLROOM BLITZKRIEG GOES ON. BUT BEHIND THE ONSTAGE MINCING AND MAKE-UP, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE IN THE AIR. IN FACT, THE ROCK PARIAHS NOW ...

Roberta Flack, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Etta James, Louis Jordan, The Pointer Sisters, War: The Pointers: Sign of a Wasted Rock Culture

Profile by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

ANYTIME THE American media welcomes a new act with such an overt display of scraping and bowing for superlatives, it's time to be suspicious. ...

The Righteous Brothers: Two By Two (MGM)

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

INCREDIBLE, They may not have been black, they may not even have been soul music (though to my mind they were), but nobody could deny ...

Mick Taylor, The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones: Dead Goats And Other Delicacies

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 September 1973

THE CURRENT European tour has again given us all the opportunity to dogmatically state that the Rolling Stones are indeed the greatest rock 'n' roll ...

Brenda Lee: Mmmmm…Sweet Nuthin's

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA, Monday: "To make the most of the things you were born with...Think Big." ...

Fairport Convention: Nine (Island)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

I'VE BEEN trying for some time not to like a Fairport Convention album. After the endless catalogue of disaster and misfortune, it seemed vaguely unnatural ...

Gilbert O'Sullivan: I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

ANYONE WHO IS a regular reader of this paper will be aware that in the past I've criticised Gilbert O'Sullivan quite strongly, and yet I've ...

Gram Parsons: The Superstar Who Didn't Quite Make It

Obituary by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

GRAM PARSONS somehow never quite got to be the nationally-touted superstar he deserved to be, which is possibly as much his own fault as anyone ...

John Denver: Farewell Andromeda (RCA)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

Y'KNOW IT'S somehow comforting to know we've got a guy like John Denver to kick around. ...

Lou Reed: Berlin (RCA)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

JUST WHEN you think your ex-idol has slumped into a pitiful display of gross terminal self-parody, Lou Reed comes back and hits you with something ...

O.V. Wright: Wright Man In The Wrong Place

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

MANY SUPPOSEDLY great soul singers are, in truth, only as good as their current producer and/or writer. O.V. Wright's reputation however is solidly based on ...

Sutherland Brothers and Quiver: Sutherland Brothers & Quiver: Sutherlands, Shakin' 'Em With the Rock Liberace

Report and Interview by John Pidgeon, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

John Pidgeon reports as, ever so slightly, America begins to quiver... ...

Suzi Quatro : You Don't Have To Be A Dyke…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

I FIRST ran into Suzi Quatro late last year. She was a nice, bouncy little American chick who played bass, wrote songs, was forming a ...

Roger Daltrey, The Who: The Who: Triumph And A Threat

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

IT HAPPENED TO THE BEATLES, BUT IT WON'T AFFECT THE WHO. AND ROGER DALTREY NOW PREPARES TO DO THREE YEARS HARD LABOUR ...

Bruce Springsteen: Was Bob Dylan the Previous Bruce Springsteen?

Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 6 October 1973

"RANDY NEWMAN is great but he’s not touched. Joni Mitchell is great but she’s not touched. Bruce is touched... he’s a genius!" Manager Mike Appel ...

Brian Eno: Happiness Is A Warm Jet

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

...BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATEST RECORDED WORK OF MR. BRIAN ENO, LATE OF ROXY MUSIC, AND FEATURING BLANK FRANK, FRIEND OF THE MASSIVE MASSIMO ...

David Cassidy: Real Cool Cassidy

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

I ALWAYS FIGURED secretly that David Cassidy was a cool guy. ...

Faust: Faust IV (Virgin)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

FAUST IV is the chronological successor of So Far (The Faust Tapes being from the period of the transparent album) and, as such, represents the ...

Genesis: Peter Gabriel Talks

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

THE MUSIC world rarely awakens before noon, but I met Peter Gabriel at the unlikely hour of 9.30 a.m. Genesis, having finished their 'Selling England ...

Lindisfarne: How Wee Wee Music Went Down The Drain

Report and Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

LAST WEEK I heard the new Lindisfarne album, provisionally titled Don't Rip It...I'll Take It By The Yard with sleeve complete and scheduled for release ...

Neil Young: Time Fades Away (Warner-Reprise)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

NEIL YOUNG didn't really have too much to say after the days with the Buffalo Springfield. ...

The Kinks: Ray Davies: Doggie Tricks And Bizness Licks

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

THIS IS THE TRUE STORY of a street dog and his best friend – an incorrigible pair who get to see each other only on ...

Rory Gallagher: Full Blooded Gallagher

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

DURING A RECENT trip to America I was able to watch Rory Gallagher work at that musical pit of iniquity known as 'The Whisky A ...

Status Quo: Hello (Vertigo)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

I GUESS I ought to be grateful to Status Quo. If I hadn't heard this album, I wouldn't have thought of writing the "Heavy Metal" ...

Suzi Quatro: Quatro Lib

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

"WE GOT a great new single comin' out," says Suzi Quatro from the depths of a rather predatory-looking brown armchair in Mickie Most's office at ...

James Carr: The Great Unknowns No. 9: James Carr, the Memphis Master

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

JAMES CARR has never had a hit record in this country and has now disappeared from the scene. Yet at one time he was seriously ...

The Lovin' Spoonful: Golden Spoonful (Polydor Twosome)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

JOHN SEBASTIAN was the best P.R. man that hippies ever had. ...

Donny Osmond, The Osmonds: The Osmonds Fan Club

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

TONY STEWART meets a mother to 60,000 gymslips ...

The Persuasions: Big Legs 'n' Bad Asses

Profile and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

WE'RE BACKSTAGE at Birmingham's Odeon, logjammed into a feeble grey van – a constable and sergeant at the controls – and now we're going to ...

Traffic: On The Road (Island)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 October 1973

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW ...

David Bowie: Pin-Ups

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

THE GOLDEN AGE Of Rock is almost universally assumed to have been in full swing between about 1954 and 1959, following which, according to every ...

Don McLean: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

AFTER RECEIVING one of the warmest receptions that it's possible for a sepulchral Albert Hall audience to give there can be no doubt about either ...

Garnet Mimms: The Mysterious Fade-Out Of Garnet Mimms

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

JIMMY HELMS has a fair rendering of 'I'll Take Good Care Of You' competing in the chart stakes right now, but soul freaks who can ...

Judy Collins: Easy Times Come Hard

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

JUDY COLLINS TALKS TO BOB WOFFINDEN ON MUSIC, FILMS, PEACE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT ...

McGuinness Flint: McGuinness Is Still Good For You

Profile and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

McGUINNESS FLINT should now be regarded as an emerging new band – and an exceptionally good one at that. But instead they're being cautiously measured ...

The Moody Blues: Moody Blues: Saints Or Sinners?

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 20 October 1973

SO THE Moody Blues have just finished then cathedral-rock tour of Europe and Britain – their first British dates for over a year. As usual ...

David Bowie, The Troggs: David Bowie: Zigs and Troggs and Backless Nuns

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

IT DOESN'T MATTER who's playing. The Marquee's always a drag on Saturday nights. It's hot, crowded, uncomfortable, and noisy, and it poses a severe visibility ...

Don McLean: Playin' Favourites

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

AN ALBUM of other people's songs from someone who's written a few celebrated ones of his own? Yes, this is Don McLean laying bare his ...

Faust, Henry Cow: Faust: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

I SENSED something weird was in the offing the moment I was met in the foyer of the Rainbow by a lady dressed as a ...

Brian Eno, Robert Fripp: Fripp and Eno: No Pussyfooting (HELP)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

Sex of one, Eno of the other ...

Maria Muldaur: Maria Muldaur (Warner Brothers, Import)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

Maudlin Maria malady of rock ...

Stephen Stills: Behind The Malicious Rumours

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

EVER SINCE he wrote 'For What It's Worth' Stephen Stills has had his share of criticism. And oddly enough it's often been more personal than ...

The Rolling Stones: Up Against The Wall and Other Seedy Tales

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

WEST BERLIN has to be the absolute lowest, scuzziest dive sprawled out within the bounding perimeters of Western Capitalist Society. ...

The Who: Four-Way Pete

Review and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

TOWNSHEND'S Quadrophenia is a rather daunting proposition. Another Who double-album rock opera? About a kid called Jimmy? With a massive booklet of grainy monochrome tableaux ...

Thin Lizzy: Civic Hall, Gravesend

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

THE GRAVESEND Civic Hall is a remarkable institution featuring a different event nightly — everything from wrestling to old time music hall. Sunday night is ...

The Groundhogs: Tony McPhee: Who Will Save McPhee

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 October 1973

What makes a respected guitarist ditch his axe for the complete Rick Wakeman multi-keyboards trip?Tony (T.S.) McPhee tells Tony (T.J.) Stewart... ...

Faust: Guildhall, Plymouth

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, November 1973

"I NEVER EXPECTED anything like this," exclaimed a small enthusiastic person who occupied the seat next to mine in Plymouth's famous Guildhall on May 19 ...

Al Stewart: Of Simon, Seers And Ages Past

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

IF YOU'RE in New York at the end of the seventies, don't drink any water – because it's liable to be poisoned. ...

Don McLean: One Of Mammy's Boys

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

DON McLEAN on the traumas of 'instant' success and the virtues of Al Jolson's act...not to mention, of course the incredible Perry Como and Bing ...

Duke Ellington: Westminster Abbey, London

Live Review by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

IF DUKE ELLINGTON was responsible for the banal lyrics accompanying his new composition Sacred Concert which was premiered at Westminster Abbey last week he should ...

Ellie Greenwich: Leaders of the Pack

Interview by Roy Carr, Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

Ten years ago the American pop scene was dominated by two opposing song factories — KIRSHNER'S Krazy Kids and the Behemoths of the BRILL BUILDING. ...

Faust: "We're Just Trying to Be Here Now"

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

FOLLOWING A PAPER TRAIL, IAN MacDONALD TRACKS DOWN FAUST TO A DISUSED CAR LOT OUTSIDE SOLIHULL WHERE THEY REVEAL DRAMATICALLY... ...

Manu Dibango: Joining Soul With Its Afro Roots

Interview by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

THINGS HAVEN'T improved much in the last few weeks. The Apollo, the main showcase for black talent in the New York area, continues to run ...

Neil Young: The Naked Cowboy Fresh Out Of Beans

Essay by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

EXPERIMENTS IN college dormitories with electrodes, erectoids and heat-meters show that the most consequential moment of a stripper's act is just prior to the panties ...

Pete Townshend, The Who: Pete Townshend: Who's Jimmy?

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

IN THE SECOND LEG OF THE TOWNSHEND-MURRAY TALKABOUT, PETE TELLS ALL...AND MORE. ...

The Osmonds: The View From Seat T39

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

He thought it would be good clean fun… Safe family entertainment. He was wrong. Now Charles Shaar Murray reveals the full horror of the night ...

America, Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Steve Miller: West Coast Rock: Get Your Wooden Noses 'Ere

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 November 1973

Grateful Dead: In the Wake of the Flood (Grateful Dead records, Import) New Riders Of The Purple Sage: The Adventures of Panama Red (CBS, Import)America: ...

Ace in the Hole

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 10 November 1973

ROY CARR in Wandsworth with another of those up'n coming pub bands. ...

Bettye Swann: Still Waitin' for a Swann Song

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 November 1973

IT WAS indirectly through Joe South that I first got turned on to the delectable Miss Bettye Swann. I'd done an interview with the white ...

Focus: Queen Juliana and the Boys Nextdoor

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 November 1973

TONY STEWART goes Dutch and finds FOCUS in the painful throes of an identity crisis. Get your paranoia here, folks. ...

Roxy Music: Stranded (Island)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 10 November 1973

IN A WAY, Roxy Music's original ambiguous stance – the Chinese Box thing that was probably their most enticing quality – always fought against their ...

Slade's Better Class Of Kidz

Report and Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 10 November 1973

THIS TIME around, Slade are making a dent in the American market. Armed with a new record company and determined to knock 'em dead, the ...

Fleetwood Mac: New Singer and A New Sound

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 January 1974

NEW FLEETWOOD MAC singer Dave Walker says his move to the group from Savoy Brown has given him a feeling of liberation. He claims it ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Alex Harvey: 'Ladies And Gentlemen, This Is What A Rock'n'roll Band Is All About'

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the importance of ritual.Most rock bands have a certain schtick that's always part of the show, something the audience knows that it's gonna ...

Alice Cooper: Muscle Of Love

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

WOWEE, that Alice Cooper is certainly a funny fellow an no mistake. ...

The Band, Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan & The Band: Night of the Zimmerman

Report by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

CHICAGO, ILLINIOS – land of Lincoln, booming metropolis of the Mid-West, heart of Middle America. Not as sophisticated as New York, nor as small as ...

Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music: Bryan Ferry

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

"I TELL ya, mate, just wait till Bryan Ferry gets onstage – 'is face is goin' to look like a fuckin' cancered lung". ...

Hank Ballard and the Midnighters: Hank Ballard: The Man Who Twisted Himself

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

COVER VERSIONS have long been the bane of the rhythm and blues field of music. During the 'Fifties, the major record companies kept their ears ...

John Lennon: Please, Your Majesty, Can Our John Have A Free Pardon?

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

Heavy breathing over the phone as ANDREW TYLER gets the lowdown from LENNON in L.A. Genius is police harassment, says the Walrus ...

Mott The Hoople: Memoirs of a Street Punk

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

IAN HUNTER knows a thing or two about being a rock 'n' roll star. ...

Ringo Starr, Wings: Paul McCartney: Band On The Run/Ringo Starr: Ringo

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

RINGO STARR is a wonderful person. His new album proves it. ...

The Faces: Rod Stewart & The Faces: Live Coast To Coast/Overture And Beginners (Mercury)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

LADIES AND gentlemen, a study in disintegration.When the Faces began their current incarnation, their boozy looseness helped to add some riotous vibes to a tight, ...

Santana: Welcome

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

SANTANA WERE always a good group, even though debs and deadheads liked them and played 'Soul Sacrifice' endlessly at boring Friday night Strand-ups. ...

The Band: Moondog Matinee

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

WHATEVER REASON you might tender to explain the artistic atrophy that has overtaken Dylan, it's beginning to seem as though his old cronies, The Band, ...

The Beach Boys: The Beach Boys On Tour (Warner Bros. Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 January 1974

WELL NOW, there are live albums and there are live albums. ...

Can: Future Days (United Artists)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

I'VE HAD MY paltry reservations about Can in the past, but their previous album, Ege Bamyasi, allayed most of them and this, the group's fourth ...

Carly Simon: Hotcakes (Elektra)

Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

SINCE SHE recorded her No Secrets Carly Simon has been through a huge change in status, becoming widely recognised and appreciated through 'You're So Vain' as well ...

Cockney Rebel: The Human Menagerie (EMI)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

JUDGING FROM the mass of press coverage that Cockney Rebel are currently grabbing for themselves, it would appear that their verbose frontman Steve Harley is ...

Elton John

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

THERE WAS a curious smell in the Belle Vue Hall, Manchester. ...

Golden Earring: New Wax From Earring

Profile and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

"WE'RE JUST AVERAGE REALLY", SAYS GEORGE KOOYMANS, GUITARIST WITH GOLDEN EARRING. TONY STEWART LENDS AN EAR TO A TOUCH OF DUTCH ...

Jobriath: Jobriath (Elektra)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

YOU WILL soon be told that this cat is going to be the big breeze in 1974. Receive this piece of information with sceptical, though ...

Little Milton

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

SOUL MUSIC and the blues have boundaries which are largely indefinable — a factor which has allowed many artists to straddle the two. ...

New York Dolls: Dead End Kids On The Champs-Elysées

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

"NOW JOHN LENNON... y'know, that song 'Gimme The Truth'?" The Dolls' David Johansen's cracked Brooklyn drawl appears from the side of his mouth while a ...

Queen: Queen (EMI)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 January 1974

MAKES YOU SICK how desperate some folks are getting when it comes down to basic rock 'n' roll hype. ...

Bonnie Raitt: Takin' My Time

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

THE COVER of this album has real style. Bonnie Raitt is photographed in one of those cavernous early-twentieth century railway stations, slumped in a large ...

Bruce Springsteen: The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle (Columbia Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce ...

Brian Eno: Everything You'd Rather Not Know About Eno

Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

IT WAS WITH a certain apprehensive curiosity that I first noticed the brown lace-up shoes. He displayed a normalcy that I just couldn't trust. After ...

Gladys Knight: Imagination

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

COME TO THINK about it, I always did rate Gladys Knight very highly. ‘Take Me In Your Arms and Love Me’ especially was one of ...

Marianne Faithfull: As Years Go By

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

EVEN THOUGH it's so bloody cold, everyone wants to know what happens to John Osborne's loathsome soldier hero in the end. ...

Allman Brothers Band: The Allman Bros. Band: Dead Or Alive?

Essay by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

IS IT ENOUGH TO LOVE YOUR MOTHERS, HATE FAGGOTS AND RIDE A MOTOR CYCLE? WELL, PLAYING A LITTLE MUSIC OCCASIONALLY HELPS, SAYS NICK KENT, WITH ...

The Isley Brothers: 3+3 (Epic)

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 2 February 1974

BLACK MUSIC is currently well entrenched in the process of mixing recent rock forms into the standard sound of soul, a process in which the ...

Bob Dylan: Planet Waves

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 February 1974

Planet Waves has so far been received with resounding critical acclaim. Robin Denselow in The Guardian describes it as "an album that ranks with Blonde ...

Charlie Rich: Behind Closed Doors (Epic)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 9 February 1974

IT HAS taken Charlie Rich all of twenty years of concentrated recording and innumerable kick-backs to become the kind of big star his devotees always ...

Joni Mitchell, Tom Scott: Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott: Lost Innocence with a Rock and Roll Band

Report and Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 9 February 1974

JONI MITCHELL, no longer an innocent folkie, has turned her back on the garden for rockier pastures. Yep the times certainly are changing. ...

Man: This Is The Man Band. In 6 Years They've Had Six Lineups. It Looks Like This One May Do It

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 February 1974

TRANSLATED FROM THE HERO'S TONGUE BY CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY, WHO'S ABOUT AS WELSH AS A NICE JEWISH BOY CAN GET THESE DAYS... ...

Bob Dylan: Remember Those Fabulous Sixties? An NME Consumer's Guide to Bob Dylan

Guide by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 February 1974

Enigma, prophet, fink or sell-out? MICK FARREN looks back over Dylan’s recorded career at a time when argument over the artistic worth — or lack ...

10cc: Have You Seen A More Boring Picture Of A More Bored Looking Bunch Of Creeps?

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

WOW, HEAVY STUFF, MAN. BUT LOL CREME, THE SMALL ONE, SAID IT. NICK KENT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS NEITHER BORED NOR BORING — IN ...

Bob Dylan: An NME Consumer's Guide to Bob Dylan, Part 2

Guide by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

CONTINUED FROM PART 1 ...

Can: Ve Give Ze Orders Here

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

NICK KENT slinks unobtrusively into the back-room for something a little stronger ...

Deep Purple: Burn

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

NEW LINE-UP time, folks. As all you well-informed young people will have been aware for nigh on a full season, Ian Gillan has left to ...

The Edgar Broughton Band: Edgar Broughton

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

SHED A TEAR or, if you will, a small sympathetic whimper, for The Edgar Broughton Band. ...

Linda Ronstadt: Ronstadt Country

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

TIME WAS when being a country music fan was difficult going. You could secretly dig people like Dolly Parton or Charlie Rich but it wasn't ...

The Carpenters

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 16 February 1974

PEOPLE ARE always saying that the real modern age miracle is how you can fly London to Furt-frank and stand a penny on a table, ...

Al Green: Call Me 
(London), Livin' For
You (London)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

THESE TWO ALBUMS have been released here in the last three months, in uncomfortably close succession, mainly because Decca procrastinated over issuing Call Me by which time Livin' ...

Gram Parsons: Grievous Angel (Reprise import)

Review by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

WHEN YOU'RE sitting in a trailer at 2 a.m. somewhere out in 'Last Stopsville', and there's just you, one more hit of apple wine, the ...

Loudon Wainwright III: Attempted Mustache (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT'S a mean son of a bitch. Maybe his bark is worse than his bite, but his bark is still pretty nasty. ...

Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon

Essay by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

IF YOU'D played this to an average record-company executive at the beginning of '73 and told him it would become the year's best-selling rock LP ...

Roger McGuinn: Spacemen in my garden

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

ROGER McGUINN has been around a long time. Way before the Byrds, he was with the Chad Mitchell trio – superstars of the Peter, Paul ...

Roy Harper: Valentine (Harvest)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

THIS ALBUM is going to sell a lot of copies, and not just because Jimmy Page and Keith Moon are on it, either. It's going ...

Steely Dan: Walking Slow, Drinking Alone, And Moving Swiftly Through The Night…

Profile and Interview by Wayne Robins, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

WERE SITTING drinking Campari in the Angry Squire in Seventh Avenue on a dull sweltry Sunday night, watching the sippers and swallowers drift through a ...

Suzi Quatro: A Rap In The Loo With Suzi Q.

Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

CHRISSIE HYND, who's got this thing about black leather, snuggles up to SUZI QUATRO for an intimate girl-to-girl tête-à-tête in the Ladies' toilet ...

Van Morrison: A Van For All Seasons

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 23 February 1974

LET'S talk about the albums, starting with Hard Nose The Highway. ...

Greenslade: Olé… Greenslade Rock The Spanish Inquisition

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, March 1974

ADMIRAL BLANCO'S assassination could have caused a big clamp-down in Spain. But luckily for the developing life-style based on British rock, the Espana government don't ...

Black Oak Arkansas, Blue Oyster Cult: Blue Oyster Cult/Black Oak Arkansas

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 March 1974

THIRD TIME down 52nd and 6th, and this guy from The Process is still trying to accost you with his pamphlets and spectre-of-doom rap. ...

Brian Eno, The Winkies: Eno, the Winkies: Greyhound, Croydon, London

Live Review by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 2 March 1974

IN THE CAR travelling back to London, Eno was making some excuses. The acoustics of the hall were terrible, he said, and the heat put ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow (EMI)

Review by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 2 March 1974

I WAS HOPING the spangled dwarf was going to pull off something approaching musical competence just so as I could do my small bit to ...

Todd Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star and Todd

Essay by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 2 March 1974

SHOO AWAY, Todd, and stop filling my head with this blue vinyl trash because it turns my head to glass and I'll never see light ...

Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

CHILLI WILLI and the Red Hot Peppers are gonna save your soul. They're the only band in the country specialising in funky country, an area ...

Kool and the Gang: Kool The Brand Leader In Funky Stuff

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

KOOL AND the Gang are just about the biggest thing on the Southern (of England that is) soul scene at the monent, and they're even ...

Lou Reed: A Stumble on the Wild Side

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

A sort of... uh, you know, interview with... uh, LOU REED, who's lost three stone but still has problems ...

Magma: Walthamstow, London

Live Review by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

Music to build empires ...

Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

A FINE RECORD. And that sentence goes first because the fact that a band as perfectly poised as Steely Dan can reach their third album ...

Dr. John: Tell me, Dr. John... Dr. John? Dr. John? Wake up Dr. John!

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

THE KING OF VAUDEVILLE FUNK NODS OUT ON NICK KENT ...

Todd Rundgren: Todd (Bearsville Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

Rundgren's musical jungle ...

Van Morrison: ...It's Too Late To Stop Now... (Warner and his wonderful Brothers)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 9 March 1974

Hey, the caravan is on its way... ...

Blue Oyster Cult: Tyranny And Mutation (Columbia Import)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 16 March 1974

WELL, HERE it is then: volume two of Sandy Perlman's boys' collective voyage in the S.S. "Cosmic Greaser Speed-freak" towards strange new worlds of murk ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Stephen Stills: CSN&Y: Euphoric Acoustic Good Guys Hit The Dylan Trail

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 16 March 1974

"WELCOME AMERICAN Dairymen" read the hotel display-board and beneath it, in smaller letters, "Welcome Stephen Stills Group". Upstairs, overlooking Chicago in just another hotel room, ...

David Bowie, Elliott Murphy, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones: Farewell Androgyny n. hermaphroditism (Gr. Gyne, woman)

Overview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 March 1974

Is it time to shut the closet door? OUR HERO SEES THROUGH THE SEE-THROUGHS AND COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ELEGANCE IS MORE THAN A LIMP ...

Genesis Is The Start Of Something?

Report by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 16 March 1974

ARRIVING AT THE seedy looking Capitol Theatre, New Jersey's lower middle-class palace of rock, you could tell something good was going on inside. With even ...

Vinegar Joe: King's College, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 March 1974

Over and out.. ...

Aretha Franklin: Apollo Theater, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 23 March 1974

Aretha: a Queen with no dignity? ...

Gladys Knight: Anthology

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 23 March 1974

Seven years in the shadow of Diana Ross ...

Hatfield And The North: Hatfield And The North

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 23 March 1974

TO BE BLUNT, Hatfield And The North have missed the boat. What they're doing on this record, admirable as it may be in itself, is ...

New York City: Birmingham

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 23 March 1974

'I'M DOIN' Fine Now' was a great pop soul single. 'Quick Fast In A Hurry' their current, much played, 45 is a disco and a ...

Hatfield And The North, Return to Forever: Return To Forever, Hatfield and the North: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 March 1974

STRANGE THING about the Return To Forever gig at the Rainbow, and that was that the place seemed fuller than I've ever seen it before. ...

Elton John, Marc Bolan, The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, Slade, Sweet: Fashion: The Politics of Flash

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 6 April 1974

NICK KENT traces the Rise and Fall of The Satin Jacket...and generally walks it like he talks it into the land of 'Rock Chic.' ...

Ashford & Simpson, Graham Central Station, The Spinners: Graham Central Station, the Detroit Spinners, Ashford & Simpson: Academy of Music, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 13 April 1974

Central Station soul special ...

Hawkwind: Trippin’ USA

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 13 April 1974

The Hawkwind 1999 party rolls across the plains of America, dealing in cosmic vibes and - more important in the eyes of the Chicago denim ...

Country Gazette, David Wiffen, The Dillards, The Kentucky Colonels, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/Dillards/Country Gazette/David Wiffen/Kentucky Colonels Albums

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 April 1974

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends: Will The Circle Be Unbroken (United Artists)Dillards: Tribute To The American Duck (United Artists)Country Gazette: Don't Give Up Your ...

Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd: The Cracked Ballad of Syd Barrett

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 April 1974

The summer of '67 went up like a psychedelic mushroom-cloud – and some of the fall-out's still coming down. Brian Jones was casually snuffed out, ...

David Bowie: The Scruffy Little Failure who became David Bowie

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 18 April 1974

Ken Pitt, Bowie's former manager and the only man In the world who's lived with both Bowie and James Dean, reflects on the days before ...

Eddie Cochran: He Shouldn't have Used The Car 'Cos He'd Been Workin' Late

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 April 1974

But he did – and, fourteen years ago this Easter, EDDIE COCHRAN died of multiple injuries when a tyre blew out. MICK FARREN traces the ...

Graham Nash: Return of the Manchester Mind Wrestler

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 20 April 1974

CONSIDERING the wastage rate in the higher echelons of rock 'n' roll, it's not difficult to accept as the norm a situation in which an ...

MC5: Kramer Climbs Back From MC5 Wreckage

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

NEW BAND AND A NEW IMAGE: Mick Farren in Detroit ...

Grateful Dead: Lookin' Back: The Grateful Dead

Retrospective by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

Whatever happened to the Cosmic Dream? Part 45 (13th Hexagram) ...

Ten Years After: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

TEN YEARS AFTER just don't cut the bread. I find it hard to recall just when I heard a more boring, bored and listless performance. ...

New York Dolls: The New York Dolls: Too Much Too Soon (Mercury)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

Sloppy seconds ...

The Velvet Underground: 1969 Live

Review by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT. I'm alone and all I don't wanna do is keep leafing through this copy of Vogue I got in my mits - ...

Emerson Lake And Palmer: Welcome Back, My Friends, To The Show That...

Report and Interview by James Johnson, New Musical Express, 27 April 1974

… requires 40 tons of equipment, 18 humper/loaders, seven personal roadies, six sound crew, five trucker/drivers, four spot manipulators, three heavy musicians two outside coordinators and (we guess) a man to make the ...

Au Bonheur des Dames, The Frenchies, Jim Morrison, Magma, Nico: Last Drongo In Paris

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 4 May 1974

FRANCOIS MITTERAND… GUY CHABAN DELMAS… GISCARD D'ESTAING… YOU WILL BE AS RELIEVED AS US TO LEARN THAT NONE OF THESE TURGID FRENCH DEMAGOGUES APPEAR IN ...

MFSB: set for a smash despite the slagging?

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 May 1974

A NUMBER one album and single in the American pop charts, with strong chances of rivalling the success of 'Love's Theme' in the UK, make ...

The Groundhogs: Groundhogs: Groundhogs Best 1969-1972

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 May 1974

FATHER, I HAVE sinned. Though the words may echo through my remaining days on this doomed planet, though I be haunted through eternity by these ...

Dr. John: Dr John: Anytime, Anyplace

Review by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 18 May 1974

Chance discovery yields delightful work ...

Sparks: Kimono My House

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 18 May 1974

ONE WAY or another, 1974's turning out to be quite a year for rock 'n' roll. ...

Monty Python's Flying Circus: Monty Python: Hi There, Tiger!

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

THE DUNBLANE HYDRO bestrides a cemented hillock just five miles across freeway and dale. ...

New Riders of the Purple Sage: Home Home On The Road

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

IT WAS Greil Marcus who founded what has since become known as the "What-is-this shit?" school of rock criticism. ...

Scott Joplin: The Great Pianoforte In The Sky     

Retrospective by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

IT WAS ALMOST as hard as getting to Dylan – but, eventually aided by an agent called Godwin, who knew everybody worth knowing, I was ...

Sparks: Nouveau Riche Sweet Young Brats Strike Sparks

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

TALK ABOUT BEING short changed! The way I heard it, these Sparks whizz-kids take great pride in escorting the press cognoscenti to the finest hostelries ...

The Beatles: Silly Charlie and the Not-So-Red-Hot Pepper

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

Will Ringo get the mums? Can George hold the mystics? Who was the Walrus? Is Charles Shaar Murray a loony? Only the last question need ...

Graham Bond: The Death Of Graham Bond

Obituary by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 May 1974

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS before his death two weeks ago, Graham Bond phoned the NME offices. He sounded purposeful, optimistic, enthusiastic, and full of energy. ...

Focus: Hardrock, Manchester

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 1 June 1974

Super Euro group developing super ego ? ...

Kiki Dee, Steely Dan: Steely Dan, Kiki Dee: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 1 June 1974

Thumbs down for the Dan ...

The Rock'n'Roll Way of Death

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 June 1974

Death has always been big business as a perverse form of entertainment. In the 18th Century, public hangings had similar pulling power to Emerson Lake ...

Black Oak Arkansas, Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath/Black Oak Arkansas: Black Power

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

IF JIM DANDY'S PANTS were any tighter they'd have hair growing out of them.Fringed suede jacket, fringed suede boots, and those white satin pants. Now, ...

Cockney Rebel: The Psychomodo

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

ONE THING you gotta admit about Steve Harley, and that is that he does the funniest interviews since Marc Bolan. He even opens up Cocky ...

David Cassidy: Terminal Fandom

Report and Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

IN "FREE" ADULTS, mass frustration breeds war. In "free" teenagers, mass frustration breeds rock phenomena. ...

Deep Purple: Monsters of the Deep

Report and Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

I'M SITTING on Deep Purple's jet waiting to take off from Detroit Metro. The accommodations are luxurious and the general mood is a Saturday afternoon ...

J.J. Cale: JJ Cale: Okie

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

YEAH, KING of the Laid-Back and all that bananas, but it goes a little deeper than that – cos, even though he probably spends more ...

Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno, Nico: Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Nico, Eno: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

Ayers puts the A in ACNE ...

Lou Reed: Olympia, Paris

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

Resuscitated zomboid wows Gallic crowd ...

Randy Newman: Enter the Cynic

Live Review by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

Randy Newman: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London ...

Tim Buckley: How a Hippie Hero became a sultry Sex Object...

Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

...and had a simply devastating effect on the glands of a certain Chrissie Hynd [sic]. ...

Uriah Heep

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 June 1974

"IT GETS ON my tit when people start talking when I'm listening to music, so when I'm at 'ome I always turn the sound right ...

Elton John: Caribou

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

Take a holiday, Elton. Take two. ...

Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: Keith Richards: It's Only Rock 'N' Roll But I Like It

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

ROUTE 66 REVISITED By NICK KENT ...

Randy Newman: Aw, forget it. Just ask me my favourite colour…

Profile by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

Randy Newman says he’s not an over-indulgent cynic. He also says he’s sick of folks asking him silly questions. After all, Dylan’s said he likes ...

Richard Thompson, Richard and Linda Thompson: Richard and Linda Thompson: Life without Fairport

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

RICHARD THOMPSON wrote 'Meet On The Ledge', in case you'd forgotten. On that basis alone the man would be due a certain portion of immortality. ...

San Francisco: Who needs music when we've got the Zebra?

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

IT WAS A bad times for San Francisco. It was spring, but whereas in most places this is greeted with some joy – with snows ...

Stomu Yamashta: Stomu Yamash'ta: He Say "Not Really"

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 June 1974

A VERY CURIOUS thing happened to me about 15 months ago. There I was, coming on home about two o'clock one Saturday morning feeling a ...

Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight: Gladys Knight: Claudine (Original Soundtrack)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 22 June 1974

IT MUST have seemed a good idea. Amalgamating the talents of Buddah stablemates Gladys Knight and Curtis Mayfield for the sound-track of Claudine. ...

The Heavy Metal Kids: Heavy Metal Kids: Heavy Metal Kids

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 June 1974

THERE WAS a time, way back in the middle of the sixties, when the British mod-Motown bands were all growing their hair and going psychedelic, ...

Pharoah Sanders has been here and gone

Retrospective by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 22 June 1974

BRIAN CASE delves back into the jumping New York scene of the '60s, to a time when avant garde musicians like Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, ...

Rock on TV: Old Grey Whistle Test

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 June 1974

Meanwhile, in a small, cramped studio, dedicated men wrestle desperately with obsolete equipment in a noble attempt to produce meaningful rock TV for 800 quid ...

The Butts Band, The Kinks: The Kinks; The Butts Band: The Palladium, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 22 June 1974

GIVE THE Kinks album a review and you bear the responsibility for Ray Davies' crying for the next three days, I'm told. ...

10cc: Viability Of New Marketing Techniques Illustrated

Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

What's this? A band with no image. They'll never shift the vinyl, insists STEVE TURNER firmly. But 10cc prove that there's more to the art ...

The Band, Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan: Before The Flood

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

AN APPOSITE QUOTE from Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles (the town preacher talking): "Oh Lord, can we truly accomplish this great task – or are we ...

Boz Scaggs: Slow Dancer

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

WHY DO people make albums? There are probably three reasons: ...

Leonard Cohen: Depressing? Who? Me?

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

Nervous? Tense? So’s Leonard Cohen. In fact, he’s so miserable he’s even given up suicide. Steve Turner attempts to pin down the Beautiful Loser himself, ...

Dr. Feelgood: Doctor Feelgood: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

IT'S NOT often that the jaded, booze-soaked crowd that throng Dingwalls dancehall bring an almost unknown band back for three encores. ...

Tangerine Dream: Exclusiv interview mit Tangerine Dream

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

They were in Oxfordshire, mixing it at the Manor and sunbathing with scantily clad ladies in the presence of fully clad FRED DELLAR, who here ...

Laura Nyro: The Five-Year, Five-Album Span Of High-Pressure Creativity

Overview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

"Nights in New York street angels running down steps into the echoes of the train station to sing..." ...

Budgie: Rapping with a Burke from Budgie

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

...is extremely difficult, seeing as he's not the slightest bit interested that The Album has made the charts. In fact, he couldn't care less. What's ...

Uriah Heep: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 June 1974

Heep howl out at Hammersmith ...

Al Green, Laura Lee: Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

Uptight Green holds it all back ...

Albert Ayler: The Holy Ghost

Retrospective by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

Gothic horror, funeral processions, The Exorcist ten years early on a crazed tenor. The critics loathed it. Audiences stayed away in droves. ALBERT AYLER. Have ...

Andy Mackay: In Search Of Marcel Proust

Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

IN TERMS of the rock machine they were chronologically burned out from the start. Who but a pack of literary looneys could have survived falling ...

Be-Bop Deluxe: Be Bop Deluxe: Axe Victim

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

IT'S GREAT to be right in there on the first still-to-be-perfected artistic utterance of A Truly Great Group To Be. That old warm self-congratulatory glow ...

Elton John: The Short Hello

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

OL' COCONUT Bonce is back. Elton Schmelton himself in the too, too solid flesh, still opening up interview sessions by walking into the room at ...

Hawkwind: Dorkwind in Dutchland

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

JUST OVER a year ago I went up to the Cambridge Corn Exchange to get my first ever taste of Hawkwind live. ...

Kiki Dee: Kooky Over Kiki

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

ALL THE New York City rockers had come down to the Bottom Line to check out Rocket Records' latest entry, Kiki Dee. Elton John and ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie: Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lynyrd Skynyrd/Wet Willie: Drippin' Wet/The Marshall Tucker Band: The Marshall Tucker Band

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

EVER SINCE the Allman Brothers came howling out of Macon, Gorgia, and Texas graciously gave Johnny Winter and Janis Joplin to the world, Southern rock ...

Mose Allison

Interview by Chrissie Hynde, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

The cool gentleman above is MOSE ALLISON. Among others, he penned 'Young Man Blues', 'Live The Life I Love', and 'Parchman Farm'. Randy Newman's spiritual ...

The Supremes: Anthology

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

I NEVER COULD understand why so many Rock Critics (sic) couldn't stomach The Supremes. ...

Todd Rundgren, Utopia: Todd Rundgren: Thank God for Todd

Live Review by Michael Gross, New Musical Express, 6 July 1974

Todd Rundgren: Central Park, NYC ...

Gong: Mysticism Before Noon

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 13 July 1974

FRED DELLAR. Nothing strange about that name is there? It's sort of, well, homely, Comforting. And he lives in Badger's Walk, too. A far cry ...

Johnny Cash: Ragged Old Flag

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 July 1974

I'VE ALWAYS HAD me suspicions about Johnny Cash. ...

Rick Derringer

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 July 1974

Take one midget, add a small guitar, wind him up and hear him talk ...

Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 July 1974

COUNTING MATCHING Mole's first album, this is Robert Wyatt's third solo record. It echoes his previous ventures in being a strong statement of mood, but ...

Robert Wyatt: Join The Professionals, Form A Rock Band…

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 27 July 1974

YEAH, WELL – Robert Wyatt (fact) drummed with Soft Machine, led Matching Mole, and fell from a fourth-storey window in Maida Vale early last year, ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: A Stadium Fulla People An' Neil Young's Dog An' No Fist Fights

Report and Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 3 August 1974

TIME DOES indeed fade away. Four years and lots of solo albums later, 52,000 fans are sitting in the Milwaukee baseball stadium on a Sunday ...

Be-Bop Deluxe: 1974 was Last Year’s Thing

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 August 1974

...so what about the Sound of ‘75, man? Could it even be BE-BOP DELUXE, already? (We knock ‘em down and then we build ‘em up ...

Grateful Dead: The Exhumation of The Dead

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 3 August 1974

They've been slagged, slated, abused, and misused – most often in these very pages. But Hell hath no Fury like a Dead fan scorned, and ...

The Kinks: Preservation Act 2

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 3 August 1974

THE MAIN OBSTACLE between a rock song-writer and Major Form (as ye olde musickologists have it) is Objectivity. ...

Gryphon: Medieval Knight Jousts At Rock Press Knaves

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 10 August 1974

RAY HARRYHAUSEN, as anyone who's seen The Golden Voyage of Sinbad will attest, knows all about strange creatures. So if he says that a Gryphon ...

Jefferson Airplane: Jefferson Airplane Takes Off

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 August 1974

Birth-pangs of the acid monster ...

Mickey Baker: l00 Club, London

Live Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 August 1974

THE EPITHET "Living blues legend" has been much overworked. but in Mickey Baker's case it doesn't even begin to be adequate. He's that, and so ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Alex Harvey

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

Pain-wracked Glasgow octogenarian fights tooth decay, endorses anarchy ...

Jimmy Buffett: Living And Dying In 3/4 Time

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

JIMMY BUFFETT will never be a rock'n'roll star. ...

The Fugs: Lookin' Back at The Fugs

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

... a word of thanks to the guys who made all this decadence, vulgarity and debauchery possible. ...

Neil Young: On The Beach

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

RIGHT NOW NEIL YOUNG is in kind of an invidious position. On The Beach is his equivalent of Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album in terms ...

The Osmonds: Our Man in Lost Wages

Report by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

The man to the right of this announcement is ANDREW TYLER: He's a hippie. And he's on the loose in YOUR neighbourhood. Parents, protect your ...

Eric Clapton, Yvonne Elliman: Yvonne Elliman

Interview by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, 17 August 1974

How come a lady who'd never played rock music in her life has recently been doing so with RSO record star Eric Clapton? ...

Nico: I Was a Hausfrau from Hanover — Until I Discovered Heroin...

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 August 1974

...the effect is shattering NICO confesses to NICK KENT ...

John Cale, Phil Manzanera, Roxy Music: Phil Manzanera: Snake-Eyed Latin Lothario Goes Pan-Tonic

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 August 1974

...And that's not all, as NICK KENT discovers after conversations with none other than marimboid Roxyite PHIL MANZANERA. (P.S. John Cale is involved in this ...

Dr. Feelgood: Doctor Feelgood: Rocking at the Canvey Island Oil Refinery Claimants Union Ball

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

NICK KENT probes the aesthetics of DOCTOR FEELGOOD's chisel-toe chic. ...

Harpers Bizarre: The Best Of Harpers Bizarre

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

THE TRADITION of the American pop/soft-rock interpretative/performing outfit, apparent now in the Pointer Sisters and Three Dog Night, goes back into the '60s (and ultimately ...

Harry Nilsson: Pussy Cats

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

Rock verite — the Beatrix Potter way ...

Henry Cow: Gerroff An' Milk It

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY wanted to call it 'How I listened to HENRY COW – and lived' ...

Robert Palmer: Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

I ALWAYS felt more than a little sorry for Robert Palmer when he was in Vinegar Joe. ...

The Drifters: Drifting With An Endless Identity Crisis

Report by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 31 August 1974

"BELL RECORDS and Henry Sellers Ltd., on behalf of Faye Treadwell, manager of the Drifters, wish to make known that Charlie Thomas and the Drifters ...

Alice Cooper: Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

Alice's absurd achievements ...

Annette Peacock: Primitive Bird Tries New Thing

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

ANNETTE PEACOCK, erstwhile prisoner in the Bowie/DeFries camp, reveals big plans for what you've all been waiting for... Yes folks, it's THE NEW MUSIC. Here ...

Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: So Far

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

Gormlessly groping ...

Hawkwind: In The Hall Of The Mountain Grill

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

DON'T TELL anybody, but yours adoring thinks that he's finally got this bunch sussed. ...

Jimmy Cliff: Skanking In Exile

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

I'VE BEEN living in Stoke Newington for about six months. The area's one of the most cosmopolitan in North-East London, with an immigrant population that ...

John Mayall: Empty Rooms/The Turning Point

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

WHAT WE HAVE here is a shrewd exercise in marketing. Two deleted albums reissued as one double package for the apparently reasonable price of £2.99. ...

Lorraine Ellison: Lorraine Ellison

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

THE STORY so far: in 1966 Lorraine Ellison made one vast contribution to popular mythology with 'Stay With Me, Baby', unquestionably a classic (maybe this ...

Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias, Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, Julie Felix, Roy Harper, Kokomo, Roger McGuinn, Toots & The Maytals: Roger McGuinn, Roy Harper, Julie Felix, Toots & the Maytals et al: Hyde Park, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

Peace and paranoia: The Metropolitan Police Force's Gala Weekend Outing at Hyde Park ...

The Byrds, Roger McGuinn: Roger McGuinn: A Man's Gotta Do...What A Man's Gotta Do

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 September 1974

NIK COHN seemed to have it pretty well summed up in his Byrds caption for Rock Dreams: "The Byrds weren't so much a band as ...

Billy Preston: The Busiest Soul In Showbusiness

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

THANKS TO his prodigious session-work, as well as his own tours, Billy Preston is one of the most frequent American soul visitors to our isle; ...

Can: Limited Edition

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

Can in Curio City ...

Miles Davis: Young Man with a Horn

Retrospective by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

THE EARLY YEARS OF MILES DAVIS: on the bandstand with Bird where changes came fast and tricky... to keep fools away. ...

Robert Wyatt: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

EVEN THOUGH the gig was due to start at 8.30, Drury Lane had started to clog up with earnest-looking hippies nearly two hours before the ...

Roxy Music: Discovery Of Amazing Corporate Hippie

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

EDDIE JOBSON is quite a cute little cookie. ...

Todd Rundgren, Utopia: Todd. Wizard? Or Silly Sod?

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

Genius is paid — and none more highly than T. Rundgren, ace gelding of the New York Production Stud. Count his teeth! Hear him neigh! ...

Toots & The Maytals: Toots and the Maytals: In The Dark

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 September 1974

This, Toots, was made for dork-ing ...

Grateful Dead - How the hell do ya play them five-hour sets without slinkin' off for a leak?

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

Yes, it's an interesting one isn't it? I mean, five hours...that's a long time, and well...camels are different of course, so really it must be ...

Jefferson Airplane: Don't Just Do Something, Stand There…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

UP GOES the window and out comes the head. ...

The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Jimmy Castor: The Everything Man

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

SUBTLE ONE, that title. See, in the centre of the sleeve there's a picture of the dude who is presumably Jimmy Castor wearing a standard ...

Carole King, Leonard Cohen: Leonard Cohen: New Skin For The Old Ceremony; Carole King: Wrap Around Joy

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

THE LATEST saga in the Great American Singer/Songwriter Conspiracy, Jewish Division, in which Cohen and King are chief protagonists. ...

Scott Walker: We Had It All

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

WE HAD IT ALL is the country album Walker's been planning for sometime. And it's country the Walker way, sophisticated and on velvet. Del Newman ...

The Small Faces: Small Faces: Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 21 September 1974

UP IN EAST HAM, Stratford and, in fact, all the way out to the end of the Liverpool Street suburban line, they liked their acid ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

FORGET THE Yardbirds, forget J. Geils. Last Thursday, Dingwalls had the real demolition men in. Name of Dr. Feelgood; they're what rhythm and blues is ...

Fairport Convention: A Society For The Preservation Of Fairport Convention Will No Longer Be Necessary

Report and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

Sickness and diseases may bring you down, and FAIRPORT CONVENTION have had more than their share, but they always come back for more. BOB WOFFINDEN ...

Johnny Bristol: Hangin' Out with the Other JB

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

PRODUCER/SONGWRITERS turned artists are an increasingly common feature of the soul scene. ...

Lou Reed: Sally Can't Dance (RCA Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

"Life is such monotony/Without a good lobotomy" – Roy Harper ...

Love: Forever Changes

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

IN 1965 Jac Holzman, then head of Elektra and master of good taste, pulled a young man and his group out of an L.A. club, ...

Miles Davis: Not Waving But Drowning?

Retrospective by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

Miles Dewey Davis, Part Two...in which the temperamental Frank Sinatra of jazz swings a pugnacious blow at the faithful by blowing a little jazz-rock ...

Neil Diamond: Gold Diamond Vol. 2

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

ALTHOUGH IT'LL never get to the situation where the ramifications of his use of Room 109 are being discussed, the time is probably just about ...

Neil Merryweather: Space Rangers

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

THIS GUY'S got to be kidding. ...

Beck, Bogert and Appice, Vanilla Fudge: Vanilla Fudge: From Pizza to Fudge

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 September 1974

SO WHAT did happen to Beck, Bogert and Appice?. ...

Frank Zappa: Roxy And Elsewhere

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

CAPSULE REVIEW for the Busy Reader: if you like Apostrophe and Over-Nite Sensation better than any of Uncle Frank's other efforts, then ooze into your ...

Frank Zappa: Relax, Frank. We Ain't No Liggers. A Few Of Us Just Came To Join In…

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

WHY IS Stephen Stills not smiling? To be more precise, why are those noble, rugged features sporting an expression roughly equivalent to that of a ...

John Lennon: Walls And Bridges

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

IT'S A FINE, warm day here in London, Johnny. What's the weather like in New York? ...

Kiki Dee: The Life Story Of A Hot Girl

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

I'LL SHOOT you a few names. Dusty Springfield – okay on that one? Susan Maughan – yeah? Then how about The Caravelles? Louise Cordet? Ethna ...

King Crimson: Red

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

THE PREVIOUS two albums by this final King Crimson lineup have never been as hysterically self-conscious in their obvious adventurousness as the first four studio ...

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Junior Walker & the All Stars: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: Anthology/Junior Walker & The All Stars: Anthology

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

MARTHA AND The Vandellas never really made the grade. ...

Mick Greenwood: Midnight Dreamer

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

THERE ARE a large number of musicians who make music that's always eminently listenable though hardly likely to send record companies' sales-graphs climbing like a ...

Randy Newman: Good Old Boys

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

"A VINDICATION of the South?" Hey Randy – y'all gon' lay A CONCEPT ALBUM on us? Yeeee-haw! ...

Robert Fripp: Something Is Stirring Down At Wimbourne

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

IT'S NOTHING to do with egos, you know, this final dissolving of King Crimson. No, there's something of a much grander design — somewhat rather ...

Steeleye Span: Hark The Village Wait

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 5 October 1974

IN THE BEGINNING there was Ashley Hutchings, he of steadfast purpose, leaving Fairport to form a group dedicated to the preservation of English folk-song in ...

Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: Jimmy Page: After All, It's Just a Piece of Wood With Strings...

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

JIMMY PAGE talks about guitars he has owned, the development of his style and reminisces on those early Yardbird and Led Zep days ...

Johnnie Taylor

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

THOUGH HE had a massive hit here some years back with 'Who's Making Love' and has consistently been one of the top-selling Stax artists, Johnnie ...

Johnny Bristol: Hang On In There, Baby

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

HEY, THIS cat's a whole lot better than Barry White. ...

Maggie Bell, The Pretty Things: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

OKAY, FIRST things first. When Maggie Bell's done a few more gigs (and maybe even a couple more rehearsals) with her new band, then there's ...

The Rolling Stones, Mick Taylor: Mick Taylor: But I Still Love Him...

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

...admits a "thoroughly reasonable," or maybe just "resignedly realistic," MICK TAYLOR as he lets us in on what it's like to be a Secondary Stone in this year of Our Lord 1974... ...

Roxy Music: Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

Fairbanks triumph at ersatz Nuremburg rallies ...

Steeleye Span

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

"ON OUR first American tour," says Ricardo Kemprini, famed Italian bass player, "the agents put us on the bill with everybody and his dog, right? ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: The Impossible Dream

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

ALEX HARVEY has just released the first rock and roll comic book. ...

Utopia: Todd Rundgren's Utopia

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 12 October 1974

OF THE presumably few people who ignored the charges of self-indulgence and pretentiousness generally levelled at Rundgren's last effort (the double-album Todd) and, despite everything, ...

Black Oak Arkansas: Hot And Nasty

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

ACTUALLY Atlantic are taking a hell of a chance with this album. In case you haven't yet glommed the cover in your local, it's a ...

Alice Coltrane, Santana: Carlos Santana & Alice Coltrane: Illuminations (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

SO WHAT did you expect he'd do next? Open a macrobiotic restaurant in Marin County? ...

Curtis Mayfield: Sweet Exorcist (Buddah); Move On Up — The Best Of Curtis Mayfield (Buddah)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

IF CURTIS Mayfield had started out with the intention of riding squarely astride every bandwagon that was rolling he couldn't have done better than 'Sweet ...

Doug Sahm: Groover's Paradise (Warner Bros.)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

OL' UNCLE Doug sure is a goodtimer. Take a whole chunk of that Johnny Rivers Boogie Band feel, dilute with a touch of pure Mike ...

Elvis Presley: There Is No Truth In the Rumour that Elvis Is Losing His Marbles

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

ELVIS AARON PRESLEY, one time truck driver and supreme rock-and-roll superstar, has been taking some pains of late to allay a host of false rumours ...

LaBelle, The Pointer Sisters: LaBelle: Nightbirds (Epic, Import); The Pointer Sisters: Live At The Opera House (Blue Thumb)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

AN IRRATIONAL prejudice: Given a choice between the sound of New York and the sound of New Orleans, I'd always go for the former. If ...

Pete Atkin: Secret Drinker

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

IT MUST BE something of a bringdown for Pete Atkin that so much of the critical interest in his albums is focused on his collaborator, ...

Tim Buckley: Look At The Fool (Discreet Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 October 1974

SO WHAT'S all this fuss about Tim Buckley all of a sudden, already. ...

Buddy Holly: Legend

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

IF YOU WANTED to be crass you could say that the main features that made Buddy Holly a legend were that, first, he was the ...

David Bowie: David Live

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

IS THERE life on Uranus? Dunno. Things were pretty quiet last time I looked. On the other hand, Tony Defries' little redhead has a new ...

Gong: Look! There's A Pothead Pixie Arriving

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

THERE'S A lot of musicians around that are going to be kissing Mike Oldfield's dirty underpants. The success of Tubular Bells has almost certainly uncovered ...

Robert Wyatt: I Played Robert Wyatt At 78rpm And Saw God

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

THERE'S SOMETHING extra special about green suede boots. A certain devil-may-care attitude, a touch of fearless dandyism combined with a sense of the earthy and ...

Ivor Cutler: Dandruff (Virgin)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

I REMEMBER the time when you got seven tracks on each side of an album. Over the years, the quantity has been steadily decreasing and, ...

Keith Christmas: Brighter Day

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

DON'T WORRY. This is not as that first peek at the multi-stellar sleeve credits may have suggested, the Greg Lake contribution to the Arts for ...

Sparks: Propaganda

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

PEOPLE WHOSE tastes are rooted in the Blues did not, apparently, find what Ron Mael was doing with rock on Kimono My House either interesting ...

Supertramp: Crime Of The Century (A&M)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

OWN UP – you'd written Supertramp off, hadn't you? ...

The Commodores: Machine Gun

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

THE COMMODORES, a sextet who compare roughly with Kool And The Gang and the Ohio Players, appeal to me in a limited way. ...

The Meters: Funk From The Crescent City

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 26 October 1974

THERE'S ALWAYS been something unique about New Orleans music, whether it's the jazz of Louis Armstong, the boogie-woogie blues of Champion Jack Dupree, the lopping ...

Bobby "Blue" Bland: Bobby Bland: Dreamer

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, November 1974

ONE DAY last week I tuned into Noel Edmunds and I heard it – and fell back into bed. ...

Can: They Have Ways Of Making You Listen…

Profile by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 9 November 1974

ONE NIGHT IN NOVEMBER 1969 the phone rang in Irmin Schmidt's Cologne home. Schmidt got out of bed to answer it and found himself talking ...

Eddie Holman: Holman's Recurring Revived 45

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 9 November 1974

REVIVED 45s are a familiar part of the British pop scene, but Eddie Holman's '(Hey There) Lonely Girl' is somewhat special in that it's now ...

Jeff Beck: Music And Cars And Sex…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 November 1974

A DIGESTIVE BISCUIT is poised, somewhat uneasily, a few inches away from Jeff Beck's celebrated nasty leer. ...

Roxy Music: Country Life

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 November 1974

SO THE BARON displayed a certain lack of sartorial "chutzpah" in his last choice of onstage image-tackle. So blame his tailor. Country Life is so ...

Sparks

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 9 November 1974

THINGS COULDN'T really have got off to a worse start for Sparks. First their coach broke down in Barnsley – of all places – which ...

Blue Magic, Aretha Franklin: Aretha Franklin, Blue Magic: Radio City Music Hall, New York

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

ARETHA FRANKLIN ascended into the firmament that was always hers by right anyway with a spectacular Radio City Music Hall series of concerts that would ...

Barry White - Can't Get Enough

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

THE TITLE TRACK has just left the British and American top thirty. The album itself is resting at No. 1 on the US album charts ...

David Bowie: Mr. Bowie Has Left The Theatre

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

NEW YORK'S Radio City Music Hall, with its elaborate art deco Thirties interior, must be the ideal place to present a David Bowie show. Unfortunately ...

Hatfield And The North: Hatfield & The North

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

IN A LAND and a business where quickfire hype and quickfire playing are adjudged almost twin brothers, Hatfield And The North are very much on ...

Frank Zappa: How To Write, Sub, And Lay Out A Frank Zappa 'Lookin' Back', part 1

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

"LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING. You've got our recordings, you've seen us work a few times, you interviewed me three or four times, you've read a ...

James Brown: The Apollo Theater, New York NY

Live Review by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

UPTOWN AT the Apollo, an eager audience is wondering when The King of Soul will make his appearance. ...

Maria Muldaur: Waitress In A Donut Shop

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

MARIA MULDAUR'S got class – no argument about it. It may have been a long, hard climb, but she is now receiving the attention she ...

Tangerine Dream: Is This The End Of Rock As We Know It?

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 16 November 1974

EVER HEARD of a group who would rather not be visible to their audience and let the music work on its own? Seems peculiar even ...

Al Green: Explores Your Mind

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

CAN AL GREEN recover his credibility and save the world after all?, is the theme of today's programme. ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Hall & Oates: War Babies

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

DARYL HALL and John Oates are acquiring something of a cult following in this country. ...

Frank Zappa: How To Sub And Lay Out A Frank Zappa Lookin' Back Part 2

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

"PERHAPS THE most unique aspect of the Mother's work is the conceptual continuity of the group's output macrostructure. ...

B.B. King, Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash: The Junkie And The Juicehead Minus Me (CBS); B.B. King: Friends (ABC)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

IN WHICH two culture heroes find themselves well and truly on the artistic skids. ...

Ringo Starr: Goodnight Vienna

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

ONE GOOD album deserves another, they say — but that's as maybe. What we have here is John Lennon's maxim of "never change a winning ...

The Pretty Things: Silk Torpedo

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 23 November 1974

IT GIVES you faith to know that through all the impermanency and transience of this beast we call rock, The Pretty Things soldier on. ...

Can: Imagine 20 bulls and cows going up a hill...

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

...or learn guitar the avant garde way! MICHAEL KAROLI of Can, talking to CHRIS SALEWICZ ...

Elton John: Ms. Streisand & The Pants of John

Report and Interview by Richard Cromelin, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

LOS ANGELES. – It was a busy week for Elton John: a couple of hours in the DJ chair at KMET radio, a tennis game ...

Fanny: Unnnghhh! Grunt, Slurp…

Report and Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

LETS BE SEXIST for a coupla paragraphs. ...

Hawkwind: The Regular 'Wind Miracle

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

NEW YORK just doesn't seem to be the place for Hawkwind. ...

Frank Zappa: How To Complete The Subbing And Layout Of A Very Long Frank Zappa Lookin' Back, Part 3

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

THE ALBUM and movie of 200 Motels erupted late in 1971. Both received near-unanimous critical meat-axe jobs and both were ignominious commercial failures. United Artists, ...

Jefferson Starship: Dragonfly

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

HONESTLY, HAVING even to think about Jeff Airplane/ Starship/whatever these days is getting to be a bore. ...

John Sebastian: Speak Up Ya Creep!

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

THERE ARE certainly more than one or two among us who suspect that John B. Sebastian has long since gone right over the top; that ...

The Delfonics: Developments In The Delfonic Dilemma

Profile and Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974

MENTION THE Philly sound, and people will start thinking about The O'Jays, Billy Paul, The Intruders or The Three Degrees. ...

Brian Eno: ANNOUNCEMENT: Texans like steak, oil-wells, large hats and Eno…

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

WELL, I SUPPOSE we should start as we intend to continue. So come along, Eno, how does it feel to be just regarded as Good ...

Cornell Dupree: Teasin' (Atlantic)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

THE COVER sums this one up: a comfy sofa and an old electric fan and a Coke machine that's about fifteen years old, with the ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

BACK IN JUNE I made one of my regular midnight creeps to Dingwalls in Camden Town with the main purpose of getting drunk. ...

John Lee Hooker: Free Beer And Chicken (ABC)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

ANYBODY WHO'S ever listened to a fair amount of John Lee Hooker will have realised that recording him with a band is a task on ...

Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (Swansong/Atlantic)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

Quintessential doyens of the kamikaze dizzbuster game Exclusive preview by Nick Kent ...

Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page: Led Zeppelin: The Graffiti of the Physical...

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

...and the Exploration of the Metaphysical. A candid interview with Led Zep. ...

Love: Reel to Real

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

A LOT OF people are going to be highly disappointed with this album, Lee's first with the new but not improved Love. Not that he ...

Moby Grape: Great Grape

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

COINCIDING with their decision to reform comes this compilation of Moby Grape, not a greatest of hits but a personal faves number allotted to Bill ...

Steeleye Span: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

IT WAS not one of Steeleye's better gigs – perhaps the Rainbow doesn't suit them. ...

The Beach Boys: Hello Bruce, this is Bruce, Bruce

Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

GIVE BRUCE Johnston credit; he isn't put off his chosen path easily. ...

Thelma Houston: Sunshower (ABC)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

IF I REMEMBER correctly, this is the third time that Sunshower has appeared in this country — not that I'm complaining, I just think it's ...

Barry White

Profile by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 14 December 1974

Some things turn me on...like the way you might say a word or the way you wear your hair and have a certain smile on ...

Don McLean: Homeless Brother

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 14 December 1974

UNEASY PREAMBLE: I don't really know what to make of this album. Bits of it seem to me very good, other bits leave me unconvinced, ...

Eric Clapton: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 14 December 1974

THURSDAY NIGHT marked the final gig in the third of Eric Clapton's post-hibernation tours and in conjunction with the Wednesday night concert, the first time ...

MC5, The Stooges: MC5/Stooges: Panic in Detroit

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 14 December 1974

THOSE FUN lovers from the motor city, the Stooges and the MC5, are winding up for another rampage. Of course, we've heard tales like this ...

Electric Light Orchestra, The Move, Wizzard: The Move: California Man; Electric Light Orchestra: Showdown; Wizzard: See My Baby Jive

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 December 1974

IN WHICH it begins to look disturbingly like influences are dangerous toys indeed. ...

Bryan Ferry: Tired of that same old anorak?

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

Achieve the Country Life look in a Komfi-twede blazer. By Ferrari of South Kensington. ...

George Harrison: Dark Horse

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

THERE'S NOTHING more disappointing than finding one's teenage heroes crumbling ineluctably into middle-aged mediocrity. Hari Georgeson (as he often refers to himself) is on a ...

Gong: You See A Lot Of Frenchmen With Berets... But Not Too Many With Fried Eggs On Their Heads

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

GONG'S HOTEL in the Avenue de Wagram in Paris is directly opposite the Salle Wagram where they are due to gig tonight. It should take ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wally: Lynyrd Skynyrd/Wally: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

CLOSE ONE, you know. I mean, after Lynyrd Skynyrd had played their first few numbers it was decided that this might have to be a ...

Otis Redding: A Legend During His Lifetime, Or Only After His Death

Retrospective by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

The former, argues ROGER ST. PIERRE, in this appreciation of OTIS REDDING, who died seven years ago this month – the Boss Man soul music ...

Rick Wakeman: Beers of the World

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

"ON OUR rider for the tour of America – for the seven of us – we had twelve six-packs of Budweiser, two bottles of tequila, ...

Sparks

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

CONTRARY to popular belief, Santa Claus – alias Saint Nicholas – is alive and well and living in Amsterdam. ...

Johnnie Allan: The Promised Land …… And How To Get There: Oval Records

Report by Charlie Gillett, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

Inside looking out; CHARLIE GILLETT, who has started his own record label, Oval Records, reports from the other side of the fence on the processes ...

The Rolling Stones, Mick Taylor: The Rolling Stones: Melodrama in Munich

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 December 1974

Blockaded in a Hilton cocktail bar the Rolling Stones bathe their wounds in whisky... while Jagger recounts the events that led to Mick Taylor quitting ...

Alvin Lee: Alvin Thrills the U.S. Army Freaks

Report and Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

ALVIN LEE is a deceptive character. He's never really worked at making his presence felt in the way Rod Stewart or Elton John have done, ...

Bryan Ferry: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

THE ALBERT HALL is teeming, brim-full with the beautiful awaiting the first solo airing of his master's voice in the Capital. ...

Edwin Starr: The Thespian Anglophile And The Motown Machine

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

EDWIN STARR has a rather special place in the British soul scene, since none of America's top soul acts can match his record of some ...

Fumble, Rock Bottom: King's Road Theatre, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

ON SUNDAY, at the ratty end of Chelsea, the King's Road Theatre opened its doors for a double bill of rock'n'roll; pretty disastrous it was ...

Gary Glitter: Ballroom Dancing With The Big G

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

GARY GLITTER is sensibly ensconced in a very old fashioned smart hotel where the only thing liable to disturb his peace-of mind is a nutty ...

Dr. Feelgood, Hawkwind: Hawkwind and Dr Feelgood On Tour

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

THE START OF a tour is never really any great cause for rejoicing. It's the end of a tour that is usually all fun and ...

Santana: Latin Limbo Dancing Over Hot Coals

Retrospective by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

OF ALL the really big American bands perhaps Santana remain the most enigmatic, the least publicised – yet, ironically, enduring the test of time and ...

Alan Stivell, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span: Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Alan Stivell: The New Face Of Ethnic Music

Overview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 28 December 1974

Are Steeleye Span last year's thing? Is Alan Stivell just a Celtic showman? And where is Richard Thompson now that Bob Woffinden needs him most ...

Buddy Holly: Never Mind The Lubbocks, Here’s Buddy Holly & The Crickets : 20 Greatest Hits

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1975

THE ROCK and roll of the ‘50s produced three incomparable all-rounders equally adept and influential as signers, composers and guitarists. ...

New Soul Compilation Albums

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 1 January 1975

Black is busting out all over ...

Brian Protheroe: Pinball

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

IF YOU LIKED the instant, stylised commercialism of 'Pinball', with its dilettante finger poppin'; then the album of that name might be just up your ...

Bryn Haworth: Let The Days Go By

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

SO UNASSUMING IS Bryn Haworth's Let The Days Go By that I was initially tempted to dismiss it as just another singer/songwriter effort, but having ...

Hound Dog Taylor, Junior Wells: Chicago: Big City Blues

Report by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

How ya gonna pull a black chick, honkie baby? The answer: Don't try. You could get wasted — BRIAN CASE prowls round the rough, tough blues joints ...

Donovan: Portrait Of The Artist As A Desert Rat

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

– a small, furry, herbivorous animal, which possesses the happy knack of elusiveness. Just like DONOVAN, in fact, who's so elusive that even CHRIS SALEWICZ ...

Gladys Knight: I Feel a Song

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

RELUCTANTLY, ONE MUST admit that Aretha Franklin has now lost her crown as America's top female singer to Miss Knight. Gladys and her Pips have ...

Mott The Hoople: Ian Hunter: 'I Have Nothing To Say'

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

THERE IS a certain poetic irony in the fact that Saturday Gigs and Mott The Hoople Live turned out to be Mott's farewell recordings anyway, despite the addition of ...

Cher, LaBelle: LaBelle: It Happened In Hollywood

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

IT HAPPENED in Hollywood.To be precise it happened on The Cher Show. ...

Mick Ronson - Play Don't Worry

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

DUNNO ABOUT YOU, but from where I'm sitting it seems as though you can't go on saying that someone has potential for too long unless ...

Scafell Pike: Lord's Rake

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

SCAFELL PIKE ARE a four-piece, three guitars and piano, who confine themselves to British traditional song and seem to specialise in sea shanties. Given that, ...

The Delfonics: Alive And Kicking

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

THE REAL SOUND of Philadelphia belongs to the Delfonics, who started not only the Philly sound but almost the whole black vocal-group syndrome back in ...

The Doors: Strange Days

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

WAS THIS ALBUM WEIRD? You bet yer snakeskin mitts it was. ...

The Faces: Kilburn State, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

"YES, MY PEOPLE, you make me strong," sighed the Golden Catarrh with a de rigeur flexing of the neck muscles as The Faces knocked into ...

The Faces: Kilburn State, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

"YES, MY PEOPLE, you make me strong," sighed the Golden Catarrh with a de rigeur flexing of the neck muscles as the Faces knocked into ...

The Faces, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart: The Faces: The Episodic Adventures of Rod Kool & The Tartan Gang

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

OR, CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR... BUT, FOR ROD STEWART, EVERY BLEEDIN' NIGHT (jammy git) Being a crisp resume of three nights in the life ...

The Righteous Brothers - Give it to the People

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 January 1975

ANOTHER ILLUSION SHATTERED. ...

Ace gotta play their cards right

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

When you've spent your life on the breadline, one hit single doesn't mean a financial freakout. Our economics correspondent ROY CARR reports. ...

Baker-Gurvitz Army, John Mayall: Baker-Gurvitz Army: Baker Gurvitz Army and John Mayall: The Latest Edition

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

I CANNOT THINK of any legal way in which the Baker-Gurvitz Army can be prevented from Becoming Huge, so maybe there's something to Adrian Ben ...

Blaxtravaganza: Soul Train

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

That’s SOUL TRAIN, a TV showcase not only for the cream of US soul acts, but for the stuff-struttingest most fashion conscious kids on the ...

Gloria Gaynor's 'Goodbye'

Report and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

POSTING HER way to a real left-field hit is Gloria Gaynor with 'Never Can Say Goodbye' which sounds like a revived 45 but isn't. ...

Jan & Dean: Jan and Dean: You Don't Come Back from Dead Man's Curve

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

Mick Farren talks to Dean Torrence ...

Joni Mitchell

Essay by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

Question: what well-known biped possesses an upper-register vocalic system, is pleasant to look upon, and is almost universally misunderstood and/or patronised? Answer: any Rock 'n ...

Kiki Dee: I've Got Music in Me

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

THIS ALBUM RIDES out with a crescendo of powerful, robust rock, as the band and Kiki pull out all the stops. The song in question, ...

Mike Oldfield and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Tubular Bells

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

AS IT ALREADY appears that every other person in Great Britain possesses a copy of this much-venerated work, I doubt if it's necessary to explain ...

Osibisa: Osibrock

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

IT'S JUST ANOTHER of the great Woodstock fallacies. Let's face it, aside from the Who, Havens, and lovable John B. Sebastian it was those nice ...

Ozark Mountain Daredevils: It'll Shine When It Shines

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

THINGS ARE STIRRING in Jefferson City, Missouri. It'll Shine When It Shines is The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' second album and mighty fine it is too. ...

Soul (Style): Baggy Trousers Will Not Be Admitted

Report by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

THE STYLISTIC rivalry between soul fans in the North and South of England has been well publicised. But what magazine odes to regional soul tend ...

Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Art Ensemble of Chicago: Like Hi Man, I's Yo New Neighbour

Report and Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

Yep, it's a tough town and the music fits like a glove. BRIAN CASE meets The Art Ensemble of Chicago on their home patch. ...

Wally

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 11 January 1975

A CURIOUS ONE indeed is Wally's first album. You know, I listened to it the appropriate five or six times and each play only highlighted ...

Billy Swan: I Can Help (Monument)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

CRUNCH. THAT'S my pick-up going down for the hundredth time on 'Don't Be Cruel', unbelievably placed second track in on side two — a killer ...

Dave Cartwright: And Now, Half An Hour Of Masochism

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

BY THE TIME this article gets into print, Dave Cartwright will have bitten his fingers down to the knuckle or gone prematurely grey. He worries, ...

Donovan: 7-Tease

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

NOW THE FACTS are these: 7-Tease is a concept album; 7-Tease is a massive made-in-Nashville production; 7-Tease is also The Album Of The Stage Show. ...

Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, Dr. Feelgood, Kokomo: Dr. Feelgood, Kokomo, Chilli Willi: Eat Your Heart Out, Arthur Howes

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

Which is a slick way of saying The Package Tour She Lives She Breathes She Is Reborn. You remember the Package Tour, eh kids? It ...

Eric Burdon Band: Sun Secrets

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

THE ONLY THING wrong with Sun Secrets is that Eric Burdon should have made it six years ago. ...

Grand Funk Railroad: Grand Funk - All the Girls in the World Beware

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

...I GOT TAR on my teeth but I don't care/I got dark brown stains in my underwear... ...

Kinky Friedman: Kinky Friedman

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

ONE LEARNS FROM the customary reliable sources-from-which-one-learns things that Kinky Friedman's original ideas for the title of this album included "Come Back Little Kinky" and ...

Lady June: Lady June's Linguistic Leprosy

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

FILE THIS ONE under Everybody Is A Star. ...

P.F.M.: Cook

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

HERE'S A NICE fresh pizza, straight from our favourite Italian baking firm, manufactured live and steaming at gigs in Toronto and New York, last August. ...

Peggy Lee: Let's Love (Atlantic)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

"The landing lights of the jetliners flickered in the night sky. The smell of hashish wafted across from the hippy section." ...

P.F.M.: PFM: Cook (Manticore)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

HERE'S A NICE fresh pizza, straight from our favourite Italian baking firm, manufactured live and steaming at gigs in Toronto and New York, last August. ...

Phoebe Snow: Phoebe Snow

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

HMMM...NOT BAD. Quite a jazz lady actually – mind you she's got her sights on that kind of bluesy, folksy, nostalgia-filled hinterland that's proved so ...

Queen: Helpful Boy Scout Transforms into Werewolf

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

Well, perhaps that's putting it a little strongly... let's just say he transforms into a demon who pushes old ladies under oil tankers. But WHO ...

Richie Havens: Mixed Bag II

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

ONE DAY WHEN it was raining, I swore a great and terrible oath. ...

Allman Brothers Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Black Oak Arkansas, Charlie Daniels, Kinky Friedman, Hydra, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jerry Reed, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, ZZ Top: The South Gon' Rise Again

Overview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 18 January 1975

"Oh yeah, who says?" asks a sceptical ROY CARR who, after swigging hard on the Confederacy's brew of Redneck Rebel Rock, remains stubbornly unintoxicated. ...

Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

Fate on the Skates ...being an exclusive peekaboo into the head of R. ZIMMERMAN via his latest LP of pop songs. Consultant Psychiatrist: NICK KENT ...

Dr. Feelgood: Down By The Jetty (United Artists)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

BOYS, BOYS now what did I tell you about being "too 
ethnic"? ...

Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like A Wheel (Capitol)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

LINDA RONSTADT is a remarkable Country Rock singer who sells plenty of records, with Capitol reportedly shifting 150,000 copies of this new one in the ...

Little Beaver: Beaver's Blues

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

STUDENTS OF the currently emergent Miami Sound will have noticed the proliferation of album credits, both as writer and musician, for one Willie Hale. ...

Roy Wood, Wizzard: Roy Wood: Yeah Roy, But What Do You Sound Like?

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

THERE WAS the time that Roy Wood shoved his jeans in the washing machine and ended up with one very wet, very tattered and very ...

Soft Machine, The Wilde Flowers: Soft Machine, part 1

Retrospective by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

CLASS OF '61 at the Simon Langton School, Canterbury – an exclusive, private establishment for the sons of local artists and intellectuals. Very free, emphatically ...

Suzi Quatro: For Your Information, She Happens To Be A Lady

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

"ALISTAIR...CAN YOU go through your solo again and count exactly how many bars you need for it?" ...

John Coltrane: The Trane now waiting on p.30...

Retrospective by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

...was no cheap day-excursion, bub. This guy went all the way — heap far out, kemo-sabe. JOHN COLTRANE, him make mighty spirit music. BRIAN CASE, ...

Three Dog Night: Greatest Hits

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 January 1975

IT WOULD BE an amusing little taskenheimer indeed for some rock-oriented socio-anthropologist to work out exactly why Three Dog Night were at one time The ...

Bob Pegg: The Strains Of The Life Of A Non-Superstar

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

IN 1972 Bob and Carol Pegg parted company and their band, Mr. Fox, one of the most individual folk-rock outfits, terminated its existence. ...

Bruce Springsteen - The brilliant, the awful and the bumfluff shuffle

Comment by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IS an excellent rhythm guitarist, which just about compensates for the fact that he grows a terrible beard. ...

Doobie Brothers: In Defence Of The Doobie Brothers…

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

IT IS, PRIMARILY, totally incorrect and irrelevant to give the Doobies an out-of-hand dismissal simply because their role as bill-toppers over Little Feat at the ...

Jay Dee: Come On In Love

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

IF YOU'RE a pal of Babbling Barry's you gotta have a Theme. Love Unlimited have got one — so has Gene Page — and Jay ...

John Holt: Reggae In The Moonlight

Review by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

ETHNIC REGGAE'S TRADITIONAL image has been of rough raw-edged sounds, but Jamaica has always had just as strong a strain of ultra-smooth ballad-styled sounds. ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin: John McLaughlin: Phew! — This is a Jolly Interesting Article!

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

— And BOY! has it got a lot in it! First, there's the full gen on Miles Davis, plus all the top-secret stuff about In ...

Little Milton

Profile by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

"LIFE BEGINS AT forty," they say, so 1975 maybe the year in which Little Milton finally breaks out of the Chitlin circuit – that long ...

The Ohio Players: Ohio Players: Fiery, Freaky and Funky

Profile by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

CURRENTLY THE HOTTEST item on Billboard's album chart is The Ohio Players Fire (Mercury). Phonogram must have burnt their fingers in the rush get it ...

Soft Machine, part 2: The End of an Ear at the Proms

Retrospective by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

IN LAST week's issue, Part One recounted the history of the Softs from their schooldays to the break-up of the group following the recording of ...

Steeleye Span: Commoner's Crown

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

STEELEYE SPAN ALWAYS deliver on time. Commoner's Crown is the fourth offering from the Mk. III line-up in a little over three years, and they've ...

Thin Lizzy: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 1 February 1975

IT WAS WITH thunderous welcome that the dynamic Thin Lizzy returned to London last Saturday, winning many new fans and "wowing" old ones in a ...

Bo Diddley - Bo's a Lumberjack!

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

THE WHOLE THING about Bo Diddley was that he was by far the weirdest and craziest musician ever to come out of either blues or ...

Chick Corea, Return to Forever: Chick Corea: Playing the Harmonics of a Hotel Ass Cushion

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

...among other harmonics of course. The piano man describes the development of his new outlook to BRIAN CASE ...

Don Covay: Hot Blood

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE Don Covay made with this album was in making 'It's Better To Have' track one, side one. ...

Elvis Presley: The Promised Land

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

IT HAS ALWAYS been accepted as an article of faith by ladies and gentlemen in the critical profession that Elvis Presley is not dead. ...

B.T. Express, Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, Kool and the Gang, Sly & the Family Stone: If You Don't Believe Sly's Sinking...

Report by Vernon Gibbs, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

...Look what a hole he's in. From New York VERNON GIBBS reports on the man's present crises, and on funk acts Kool, BT Express, and ...

John Cale: Cale and Eno Horror Story…

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

CO-STARRING ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL CHOIR ...

Graham Central Station, Sly & the Family Stone: Larry Graham: With Sly as a friend you don' need enemies

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

SO GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION RUNS TO SCHEDULE... ...

Nick Drake: Requiem For A Solitary Man

Obituary by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

ON OCTOBER 25th, 1974, at approximately six in the morning Nick Drake, a 26-yearold singer/songwriter, died from an overdose of Typtasol, an antidepressant, in the ...

Mike Heron, Nico: Nico/Mike Heron: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

NICO DOES RATHER have an ability to polarize her audiences, you know. ...

Mike Oldfield: Tom Newman: The Man Who Taped the Tubular Bells

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 8 February 1975

WHEN IT COMES to tape, who better to talk to than the guy who did the 2,000 over-dubs on Tubular Bells, engineer Tom Newman? ...

Millie Jackson: "Ah'll meet ya tonite — after you're through with the wife." Two-timing with Millie Jackson

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

  WHILE RADIO and club exposure sells a whole lot of records, it's easy to overlook the importance of word-of-mouth recommendation, which is the medium likely ...

Albert King: I Wanna Get Funky

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

I WANNA GET Funky is the best album I've heard all year. ...

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

The very serious business of trying to be funny: An assessment of ALBERTO Y LOST TRIOS PARANOIAS by MICK FARREN ...

Blue Öyster Cult: That's Right, Another Bunch Of Neo-Fascist Heavies

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

"We're pain, we're steel, we're a plot of knives...we're obsessed with the technology of matter...our symbol is a swastika substitute..." ...

Ducks Deluxe: Man in the Moon, London

Live Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

THE DUCKS ARE one of the few '70s bands that have the power to redefine rock and make it a vibrant life force once more, ...

Essra Mohawk: Essra Mohawk

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

AHA! ESSRA Mohawk, formerly plain ol' Sandy Hurvitz. You may remember her as the original Uncle Meat in F. Zappa's late sixties circus until she ...

Gene Vincent: Po' White Punk from the Pool Hall

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

MICK FARREN traces the career of GENE VINCENT, the Rock 'n' Roll star who didn't sell out his audience or his origins. ...

Leiber and Stoller: Jerry Leiber And Mike Stoller: By Royal Appointment

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

THE SCENE IS the Dorchester Hotel, one of the last vestiges of Britain's Imperial splendour and we've just been refused admission to the restaurant for ...

Montrose, Rapping with the Ring of Confidence

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

RONNIE MONTROSE hates doing interviews. When I arrive at Warner's hideout I'm apologetically informed that Ronnie is too shattered to talk after driving down from ...

Flying Burrito Brothers: Sneeky Pete Kleinow

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

SNEEKY PETE KLEINOW looks like you'd expect a veteran pedal-steel player to look. Green shirt with an elaborate marijuana-leaf motif emblazoned there-on, neatly pressed, white ...

Syl Johnson: Barbarella's, Birmingham

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

MOST OF the soul artists who do the one-nighter round of the UK and USAF bases have some kind of hit going for them, or ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Grease; Alive Forever! (More Grease)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

SOME OF YOU may remember The Flamin' Groovies. ...

Alice Cooper: The Man Who Ate Alice Cooper

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 February 1975

Yes, once again CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY, Regius Professor of Logic, Rhetoric, Trash Aesthetics, and Hohner Super Vamper, leaps forth with a mouthful of scintillating verbosity ...

Elton John: The Life And Times Of Elton John, part 1

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

Part one: how the sand kicked in his face turned to gold-dust after all ...

Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

ETHYL'S FRIGID AS an eskimo pie, she's cool in bed/she oughta be, 'cuz Ethyl's dead... ...

Bobby Womack: I Can Understand It

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

CALLED IN America Greatest Hits, this album simply illustrates the unsatisfactory position that Bobby Womack finds himself in in England. Hitless. ...

Larry Coryell: Coryell and Spam... (With Not So Much Miles In It)

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

"I'm always secretly happy when somebody comes to me after a concert and says 'I didn't like it because it was too commercial.' It means ...

Dionne Warwick: Best Of

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

ONLY ONE OBJECTION to this album, so let's put it right up front. ...

Kiss: Kiss (Casablanca)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

UP UNTIL Max Bell gave us his reasoned defence of Kiss a couple of weeks ago, I had assumed they were simply an also ran ...

Kokomo: Kokomo

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

THE AVERAGE WHITES broke the ice with their second album and Kokomo will be the first of the beneficiaries. ...

The Chi-Lites

Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

IT'S A SOMEWHAT perplexed Chi-Lites who recently embarked on their second and most extensive UK tour of Clubs and Cabaret. ...

The Kursaal Flyers: Today Central Poly – Tomorrow The World?

Report by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

"I'VE ONLY GOT the five shirts, so I just take 'em off and leave them to dry. It's no good washing them too much, they ...

Raspberries: The Raspberries - Starting Over

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

I DON'T KNOW why but it always seems odd when American groups try to sound English, although the reverse is quite acceptable. ...

Tom Rush - Ladies Love Outlaws

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 February 1975

IN THE PAST Tom Rush has been hailed as a great interpreter, someone who can lift a number by nuance and feeling. His latest album ...

Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions: Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: Big Sixteen

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, March 1975

IT'S PLEASING to see Anchor pushing out this classic compilation, as it's been unavailable for several years. It was originally issued on the old HMV ...

10cc: The Original Soundtrack

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

AIN'T NO GETTING round it: 10cc make brilliant records. ...

Betty Wright: Do Me Wright

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

BETTY WRIGHT IS, as they say, a lot more than just a pretty face. She's also got a voice that's stacked with burning southern soul, ...

Claire Hamill: Stage Door Johnnies (Anchor)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

CLAIRE HAMILL'S AGED 24 if you take notice of the inaccurate bumf from Anchor Records, but considerably younger than that – about 20 – if ...

Elton John, part 2: They Laughed When I Stood Up To Play The Piano

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

NME: Earlier, you said that when you first met Taupin his lyrics were somewhat influenced by the Flower Power fad. It was a period when ...

Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, Dr. Feelgood, Kokomo: Money Doesn't Talk — it Mutters out of the Side of its Mouth

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

THE NAUGHTIES OF THOSE NAUGHTY RHYTHMS ...

Chuck Berry: Rancid and Smutty (Apologists Only)

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

Chuck Berry: Lewisham Odeon, London ...

The Kids Are Not Necessarily Alright

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

Or how the '70s has seen a limp-wristed sell-out of the ideals of the 60s. MICK FARREN discusses the way the Uncle Toms of Teendom ...

Tim Buckley: Greeetings From L.A.

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

WAY BACK in the dim and distant, old Tim had to sing for his supper, along with the likes of Steve Noonan and Jackson Browne, ...

Tim Buckley: Greetings From LA

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 March 1975

WAY BACK IN the dim and distant, old Tim had to sing for his supper, along with the likes of Steve Noonan and Jackson Browne, ...

Chuck Berry: Chuck Has Been Leaving The Stage For 20 Years

Report by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

They weren't complaining – they were awestruck ...

Elton John part 3: Maybe It's Because I'm A Socialist…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

TELL US, El, what is Rock all about? Having a bloody good time. When I was a kid and went to see those Larry Parnes-Billy ...

Jack The Lad

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

"STEELEYE ARE A jumped-up lot – we've had a standing challenge with them for six months now and they've never taken it up." ...

Kiki Dee at Drury Lane

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

THIS WAS THE one that mattered for the Kiki Dee Band, and they made sure it counted. ...

LaBelle: Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi Ce Soir?

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

"THE RE-VO-LU-SHUN...will not be televaaaaaazed," declaims Patti LaBelle, staring into the audience from the stage of the Congressgebouwe in the Hague. ...

George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Lou Reed, Ronnie Wood: Lou Reed: Ladies and gentlemen... the interview of the year (already)!

Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

"Lou Reed is a completely depraved pervert and pathetic death dwarf — a wasted talent living off the dumbell nihilism of a '70s generation that ...

Milk 'n' Cookies: Mlk'n'Cookies: Sweetness & Light With Milk & Cookies

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

IF I TOLD you that the latest band to ride the grapevine from New York to London, Milk'n'Cookies, are three guys from the affluent suburban ...

Richard and Linda Thompson: Do You Wanna Be A Star?

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

IT WAS ONE of those large Edwardian houses in London's Hampstead, just off the main road. Like most of the others, it had been converted ...

Tavares: Hard Core Poetry

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 8 March 1975

LOVE THAT title, Hard Core Poetry. Unfortunately the album does not move me as much. ...

10cc: The Punk And I or Two Jews Blues

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

...In which two nice young men of Hebraic extraction (LOL CRÈME and CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY) engage in heated debate about 10 c.c.'s collective attitude. Or ...

David Bowie: Young Americans

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

WHERE have all poppa's heroes gone? Living in New York, every one. A hard city by reputation, but presumably it has its compensations for someone ...

Franco Battiato: Clic

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

READING THE CREDITS and titles to Franco Battiato's Clic you'd be forgiven for thinking that here was just the latest example of technoflash absurdia masquerading ...

Genesis: Gabriel's Cosmic Juice

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

"I believe in getting art out of the galleries and onto the streets. Status Quo are so cultural, so Wagner..." ...

Paul Kossoff, John Martyn: John Martyn: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

YES, THAT'S right, "Koss" turned up for the final couple of numbers. ...

LaBelle: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

THE PROVERBIAL BREATH of fresh air. ...

Alice Cooper, Lou Reed: Nick Kent – A Limey in LA #1: Hey Man, You With A Gwoop?

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

Speech impediments are the thing in Los Angeles this year. There are quite a lot of naked men jumping out of bushes – whereas more ...

The Moments, Shirley & Company: Shirley & Company and The Moments: The Carpenters Are My Real Faves

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 15 March 1975

Al Goodman, A & R man for All Platinum label. So what are you doing on the Soul page with Shirley & Co., Al? ...

Blue Oyster Cult: On Your Feet Or On Your Knees

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

FIRST OF ALL let me tell you about the art work that John Berg has concocted for the Blue Oyster Cult's most extreme venture to ...

God is Alive and Well and Living Off Rock'n'Roll...

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

Unfurling his roadmaps for the soul, MICK FARREN, Bachelor of Divinity of this parish, slumps grimly over his flea-ridden Olivetti to bang out the sandwich-luncher's ...

Ian Hunter - Ian Hunter

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

IAN? IAN? ...

Jonathan King: A Rose in a Fisted Glove

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

WHEN JONATHAN KING first manifested his presence upon this already sufficiently troubled planet he was able to masquerade as a genuinely provocative presence, mainly because ...

The Chieftains: How to record 4 albums in 18 years, and still sell out the Albert Hall

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

"HE'S LIKE ONE of the little folk – a lovely, lively leprachaun, with an enormous musical talent and sense of humour to match." ...

King Crimson, Uriah Heep: Uriah Heep: Ex-Crimson Bass Man Seduced

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

JOHN WETTON JOINS HUMBLE WEALTHY HEEP ...

Wally at Fareham

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 22 March 1975

PETE SAGE'S FUR-TRIMMED cap and hunched stance give him something of the aura of a demented Moroccan camel trader as he relaxes into the flow ...

Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim: Dollar Brand: Improvisations on Life

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 29 March 1975

DOLLAR BRAND don't take music lightly. No sir! So fasten your seat-belts please for a guided tour of Allah, the meaning of life, Africa, the ...

The Mighty Clouds of Joy: Hey You, Get Onto The Mighty Clouds Of Joy…

Comment by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 29 March 1975

...and discover the undiluted gospel fervour and emotional commitment you thought black music had lost. ...

Ronnie Lane: Seedy Lad Discusses Tent Collapse

Interview by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 29 March 1975

SOMEWHERE IN the hinterlands of this once-proud isle, in a medieval pub which has beams wallpapered with matchbooks proclaiming the existence of "Joe's Cafe", Ronnie ...

Gloria Gaynor: I just love your British discos

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

ROGER ST. PIERRE talks to GLORIA GAYNOR, the girl who sums up what the disco boom is all about ...

James Brown: Reality and Breakin' Bread

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

A WORD OF advice. Never attempt to review James Brown product whilst the records are actually playing. It's impossible either to write or type when ...

Johnny Mathis - The Heart of a Woman

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

JOHNNY BRISTOL'S RISING reputation as an ace producer hasn't, as far as I can see, resulted in any really solid product to back up the ...

Lou Reed at the Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

THERE'S AN ILLUMINATED sign outside the Hammersmith Odeon that says: "It's all too much. Lou Reed in Concert." Wry humour or someone taking a subtle ...

Bob Dylan, The Who: Nick Kent – A Limey in LA #2: The Day I Shook Bob Dylan's Hand And Other Weird Tales

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

ALSO INCLUDES: The Dog That Ate The Dog That Ate Los Angeles ...

Rick Wakeman: The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

The Cadbury capers, part 1: the management requests you leave your brain at the door ...

Steely Dan: Katy Lied

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

THIS ALBUM worries me. It worries me because so much of the music here is so blatantly lacklustre compared with the exhilaratingly high standards already ...

Swamp Dogg

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

"WHERE ELSE BUT in America could a person own a Rolls-Royce, an Eldorado Mark IV, a Mercedes limousine, an estate in Long Island, an apartment ...

Tangerine Dream: Rubycon and Alpha Centauri

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

IF I'VE ASSESSED the vibe correctly, it would seem that the appropriate critical response to Tangerine Dream is to dismiss Edgar Froose, Chris Franke and ...

Tom Paxton

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 April 1975

"WHAT DO YOU think of the new album then?" ...

Alphonse Mouzon: Meet the Seaside Landlady's Nightmare

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

Your delicate NME representative cowers under his seat in the hotel lounge while Alphonse Mouzon ('my real name's Manny Finkelbaum') lives up to his heavy rep as ...

Charlie Rich - The Silver Fox

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

IN WHICH CHARLIE Rich, understandably exhausted after a twenty year struggle to Make It, manages to record one side of an album and then runs ...

Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson: Hunter Ronson at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

SHUCKS. TO THINK it's well over a year now since I last saw Ian Hunter and the whole Hoople caboodle in this very same theatre ...

Iron Butterfly - Scorching Beauty

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

SEEMS LIKE 1968 all over again, doesn't it? ...

Lee Dorsey, Labelle, Allen Toussaint: Marshall Sehorn: The Night They Drove Lee Dorsey Down...

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

MARSHALL SEHORN had to get him out of jail. ROGER ST. PIERRE raps to one of the mainmen of New Orleans soul. ...

The Faces, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones: Nick Kent – A Limey in LA #3: What did Rod Stewart, Bobby Womack and Mick Jagger sing...

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

...in a tune-up room on the last night of the Faces' 1975 LA gigs? Why, the closing aria in D from 'il Cavalleria Rusticana', of ...

Ringo Starr: Everyone One Of Us Has All We Need…

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

SOMETIMES your friendly neighbourhood interviewer is allowed to conduct his interview in a small room with only the interviewee and a tape, recorder for company. ...

Rock and Western Films: My baby useta love western movies...

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

OVER CHRISTMAS THE BBC showed The Magnificent Seven – and gave us a very forcible reminder of how great an effect western movies have had ...

Tangerine Dream: 1983 — A Synthesiser I Will Be

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

Do TANGERINE DREAM, wizzkids of organic electronic rock, play their instruments?Or do the instruments play them? ...

The Dictators - The Dictators Go Girl Crazy

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

PSSST. WANNA BUY a dirty record? ...

Upp: Upp

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

THE VERY Famous Tony Williams once included on one of his albums a track entitled 'Some Hip Drum Shit'. ...

The Winkies: Winkies - Winkies

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 April 1975

AND SO, AS if to pinpoint that they'd stuck a ring through the collective nose of every other pub rocker when it came to osmosing ...

The Byrds, David Crosby, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash & Young: David Crosby

Profile by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 April 1975

IT STARTED with trademark objects, really. When The Byrds got their hit with 'Mr Tambourine Man', Jim McGuinn established himself as the one with those ...

Loudon Wainwright III - Unrequited

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 April 1975

THE WORST THING that ever happened to Loudon Wainwright III was being branded The New Dylan, kiss of death to any self-respecting artist who hopes ...

Phil Manzanera: Head hunting in darkest Acton

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 April 1975

YOU'VE GOT TO be quick to catch a Manzanera. No sooner has it left America than it's off to sunny Hawaii to sojourn, returning home ...

Ben E. King, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Sister Sledge, The Spinners: Sister Sledge; Jimmy Castor; Ben E. King; The Spinners: Return of the Soul Package

Report and Interview by Bob Fisher, Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 19 April 1975

From the great lost soul label of Atlantic it came, writhing with synchronized funk, its many black heads chanting and wailing. Nothing like it had ...

Steve Harley at the Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 April 1975

INSIDE THE HALL you could tell it would be one of those nights. Row upon row of bowler-hatted disciples clutched onto their Harley scarves in ...

Al Green: Eaten Something Funny Al?

Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

"L.O.V.E. SPELLS LOVE," says Al Green on his current NME chart rider of the same name, while according to Jimmy Witherspoon's current US hit, it's ...

Allen Toussaint: Southern Nights

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

IF ALLEN TOUSSAINT ever wants to make the great album he's obviously capable of, he'd be best advised to first take a year's sabbatical from ...

Anne Murray: Victoria Palace, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

THE DIFFICULTY OF categorising Anne Murray as a singer – is she pop, country, soul or strictly MOR? – was probably the main reason for ...

The Edgar Broughton Band, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd: British Psychedelia: More Zits Than Hitz…

Guide by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

It's dream-time in Compilationsville once again, amigos. This week CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY does his worst to induce EMI into issuing Volume Two in his discocartography ...

Carla Bley: Arrangements for the Death Dance

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

The socio-musical thoughts of Carla Bley ...

Frank Zappa:

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

Mothers albums nestle amongst the legal papers. A stereo system has been set up in front of The judge. The scene is Law Court Seven. ...

Grand Funk Railroad: Grand Funk at Wembley Stadium

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

LORD, LORD, WHY hast thou forsaken me? ...

J. J. Barnes: The Groovesville Masters

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

DESPITE A couple of very successful tours of the Midlands and the North, JJ seems dogged by bad luck. ...

Jet (UK): Jet: Jet

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

AT LAST the 1972 show! ...

Judy Collins - Judith

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

JUDY COLLINS HAS recently completed a movie about a female symphony conductor. ...

Kansas: Kansas

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

KANSAS ARE THE latest group to hoist the Dixie flag, though thankfully they don't seem anxious to broadcast the fact that "the South is gonna ...

Pete Atkin And Clive James: From Little Atkins Great Oak Trees Grow

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

A fearsome encounter between two of the foremost minds of a Generation...uh...two of the most cerebral Rock Critics afloat...um, two of the most Accomplished Raconteurs...the ...

Syl Johnson: A Whole Lot Of Whiplashes And Scars…

Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

NOT MANY artists hot on the US Soul charts have had the apprenticeship of Syl Johnson. ...

The Pink Fairies: Looking Back

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

A thrilling tale of Ladbroke Grove, loose aggregations, hanging out, and falling about – recounted in loving detail by an actual participant in those glorious ...

Sweet: The Sweet: No Longer Unfashionable

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

ROCK SNOBBERY. THAT'S what it is. A prevailing attitude that anything commercially successful in terms of the charts must therefore be top-twenty hype, not suitable ...

Steely Dan: Yes, it's Steely Dan Versus the Fifth Ice Age

Interview by Richard Cromelin, New Musical Express, 26 April 1975

A meteorological report from stalagmite-encrusted California, U.S.A. ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Alex Harvey - Thou shalt have no other punk before me…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

AND NOW, ALEX Harvey, your starter for ten. What is rock and roll? ...

Arthur Brown - Dance

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

LET'S GET ONE thing straight right up front. ...

Bees Make Honey: The Kensington, London

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

BACK AT THE Kensington, the pub they first opened up to rock music, Bees Make Honey gave a storming set as usual. ...

Billy Joel: Piano Man

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

THE GRAPEVINE WHISPERS Billy Joel is going to be a superstar. ...

Chairmen of the Board

Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

IT WAS THE Chairmen of the Board's umpteenth tour of the UK, but this time round, the venues were a little classier, with week long ...

Emmylou Harris: Pieces of the Sky

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

THIS IS AN album that has been quite eagerly anticipated, mainly because of the reputation Emmylou Harris built for herself with her participation as co-vocalist ...

Iggy Pop, The Stooges: Iggy Pop: The Mighty Pop vs. the Hand of Blight

Special Feature by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

Never before told! The story of a brilliant monster called IGGY POP, whose life and countless near-demises have provided Rock with one of its most ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Nuthin' Fancy

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

WELL, IT LOOKS as though they're here to stay. ...

Man: Recall the Beginning! A journey from Eden, cert U

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

"Director Andrew Tyler and stars The MAN Band together produce a moving enconium for a dying lifestyle. I wept"William F. Buckley ...

Mickey Jupp: The Lost Legends of Southend Rock

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

Down where the fag-end of London slopes into the sea, there lies the forgotten land of Southend, home of the whelk stall and source of ...

Smokey Robinson: Quiet Storm

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

HOW MUCH SUGAR do you take? ...

Steeleye Span at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

THIS WAS STEELEYE'S loudest gig, a fact which may or may not indicate the shape of things to come. ...

The Amboy Dukes - Journeys and Migrations

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

THIS MOST RECENT collection of The American Amboy Dukes, taken from the first three albums, is strictly one for masochistic archivists. Amusement value only. If ...

Albert King, Big Joe Turner, Champion Jack Dupree, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker: Various Blues Albums

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 May 1975

If you're a living blues master, are you better off dead? ...

The Beatles: Apple Corps: They didn't have to be so nice... (We would have liked them anyway)

Report by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

Inquest by ROY CARR ...

Arthur Lee, Love: Arthur Lee: 'I've been black all the time,' admits controversial star

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

He also admits to a severe case of baldness. Otherwise it's still ARTHUR LEE, back in Britain with a new Love ...

Bachman Turner Overdrive: Bachman-Turner Overdrive - And this isn't all they do

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

"WHEN I'M TRYING to do a solo, I'll try and play what Jeff Beck would play, or I'll try and play what Eric Clapton would ...

Ben E. King: Supernatural

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

'SUPERNATURAL Thing Pt. 1' marks the first occasion on which Ben E. King has hit the American Top twenty since 'Don't Play That Song' in ...

Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind and Fire: 'Turn on the funk motor'

Profile by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

...ordered Godfather James Brown, and the welter of street-funk bands has been unstoppable. EARTH WIND AND FIRE are this month's chart faves. BOB FISHER examines ...

The Band of Holy Joy, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds: Everything you never wanted to know about Led Zeppelin ...and had no intention of asking...

Special Feature by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

Hey, punk! — Didja know that... ...

Geno Washington: Ram Jam Thankyou Ma'am

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

In other words GENO WASHINGTON is back. And proud. And Bald. ROGER ST. PIERRE talks to the veteran soulster on his return from the Amazon ...

John Cale: Slow Dazzle

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

THE FIRST TRACK on John Cale's Slow Dazzle is so excellent that I played it eight times before I could bring myself to continue. ...

Ronnie Scott: The East End whizz kid who copped the bop

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

FEATURING THE RONNIE SCOTT STORY, IN GLORIOUS BRIANCASERAMA ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 May 1975

Slicker and rougher ...

Barry White: Villa Park, Birmingham

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 24 May 1975

THERE'S BEEN some controversy about the prices on Barry White's English gigs – £5 was the top price at Birmingham. ...

Bill Monroe: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 24 May 1975

BILL MONROE IS the main-man of bluegrass music, a veteran innovator whose recording career spans 40 years. ...

Don McLean at The Albert Hall

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 24 May 1975

WHY SHOULD DON McLean have chosen to open his Albert Hall-concert – and with it his first British tour for eighteen months – with his ...

Love: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 24 May 1975

COVENT GARDEN HAD its second major rock venue re-opened last Thursday for a series of regular concerts by bands not big enough to warrant an ...

Cecil Taylor: Ladies and gentlemen, please adjust your re-entry goggles

Profile and Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

...CECIL TAYLOR has left the Stanford-Binet scale and is still climbing fast. The treble clusters are zipping into the stratosphere. The memory banks have blown. ...

Yes: Chris Squire - Interview

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

I'M HUNTING THROUGH the cartridges in the glove compartment of Chris Squire's '63 Rolls Royce as we head out of Liverpool towards the M62 and ...

Patti Smith, Television: Down In The Scuzz With The Heavy Cult Figures

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

C.B.G.B. is a toilet. An impossibly scuzzy little club buried somewhere in the sections of the Village that the cab-drivers don't like to drive through. ...

Frank Sinatra: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

Forever doobeedoobee beedoobeedoo ...

Henry Cow: In Praise of Learning

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

IT HAS been said that rock has lost its vision. It has also been suggested that the current drought of spectacular things to behold in ...

John Cipollina, Man, Quicksilver Messenger Service: John Cipollina

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

JOHN CIPOLLINA, he's the real thing. Smallish, wiry, hair tied back, nicotine stains up to his elbow and the confident loquaciousness of a man who ...

Sailor - No sex please we're Russo-Nordic

Profile by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

TWO HAIRDRESSERS, a parachutist and a tortured poet; a band called Sailor, dressed in nautical gear, including a Ruskie prince and a member of the ...

The Beach Boys: Wild Honey and Friends

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

IN THE GRAND old tradition of milking every last drop from The Beach Boys' catalogue comes this double coupling of the '67-'68 albums Wild Honey ...

The Exciters - Dark Clouds Over the Black Country

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

INTERNAL DISSENSION IS the bane of any cult, and though the Northern Sounds soul movement might seem healthy from the outside, in reality it's torn ...

Yes

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 June 1975

There is no mention of brown rice on this page. Persian rugs and health food in general? Well, OK...yeah, but not in any harmful quantity. ...

Candi Staton, Bettye Swann: Candi Staton and Bettye Swann: Broken Hearts, Do Right Women

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

EVERY TIME I hear Bettye Swann's pained 'Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me' I'm so moved I want to go and punch that ...

Curtis Mayfield: America Today

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

THREE YEARS AGO, Curtis Mayfield was one of the golden boys of New Wave soul, having broken with marketing formats (The Impressions) and joined the ...

Eddie Cochran: The Very Best of Eddie Cochran (15th Anniversary Album)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

I SUPPOSE WITH Showaddywaddy up in the singles chart with 'Three Steps to Heaven', and the 17-year-old version of 'C'mon Everybody' once again bubbling under ...

Billy Swan, Eddy Mitchell, The Jordanaires: Eddy Mitchell/Billy Swan/The Jordanaires: Olympia, Paris

Report and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

Vegas on 8 cheeseburgers a day...or a bitch-in with Nashville's men of steel in Gay Paree. Which would you prefer? ...

Brian Eno, Robert Fripp: Fripp & Eno: Palladium, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

"IT'S NOT just an ordinary loop system. In fact, it's very complex. I invented it. Why don't you come and see me tomorrow and I'll ...

Georgie Fame: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

WHILE APPRECIATING THAT what George Fame and his occasional Blue Flames are delivering is white rhythm'n'blues and not soul, it's perhaps unfortunate that he chose ...

Loudon Wainwright III - at Victoria Palace, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

YOU MIGHT HAVE noticed that Loudon Wainwright III has been in Great Britain recently, completing the second lap of his tour; you might have noticed ...

Pavlov's Dog: Pampered Menial

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 June 1975

UNLESS PAVLOV'S DOG prove to be a figment of Sandy Pearlman's crazed imagination, then their debut album must make them great white hopes for the ...

Smokey Robinson: Smokey's Backatcha

Profile and Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 15 June 1975

MOTOWN announced the retirement of William "Smokey" Robinson in January 1972. ...

Al Kooper - Al's Big Deal and Unclaimed Freight: An Al Kooper Anthology

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

AL KOOPER IS good at lots of things. ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson: The Last Beach Movie part 1

Retrospective and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

THE INCIDENT MUST HAVE occured a little over a year ago. Paul McCartney, complete with the inevitable Linda, had just flown into Los Angeles – ...

Cher, Tammy Wynette: Cher: Stars/Cher's Greatest Hits; Tammy Wynette: The Best Of Tammy Wynette

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

IN MANY WAYS Cher and Tammy Wynette make up the two facets of the Cosmopolitan philosophy, that candy coated version of feminism that seems to ...

John Coltrane, Elvin Jones, Sonny Rollins: Elvin Jones: This Is The Surgeon Who Pared The Flab

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

His name? ELVIN JONES — the man who dissected drum technique, put it together with new muscles, and has been demonstrating the product at Ronnie ...

Gay and Terry Woods: Backwoods

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

AFTER BEING INITIATORS in the early development of English folk/rock – a period which culminated in their helping to form the Steeleye Span's first cup-winning ...

Jackie Wilson said... 'Reet Petite'. And the mothers of Harlem said 'No'

Retrospective and Interview by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

BOB FISHER traces the sometimes controversial career of 'Mr. Excitement,' currently stomping his way across Britain. ...

Johnny Cash - John R. Cash

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

IN WHICH JOHNNY Cash meets up, quite casual-like, with the '70s and discovers that even though they don't really have a whole lot in common, ...

Todd Rundgren: Initiation

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 21 June 1975

"I WAS BORN to fly higher, born to stand where I'm standing now/Basking in the light of the neon fire/As it burns my useless body ...

Neil Young: Tonight's the Night: Play It Loud and Stay in the Other Room!

Interview by Bud Scoppa, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

NEIL YOUNG isn't out to win any popularity contest. Just as he reached the top of the heap three years ago with the huge-selling Harvest, ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson: The Last Beach Movie part 2

Retrospective and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

PET SOUNDS was about to be released when Derek Taylor was taken on The Beach Boys' pay-roll. 750 dollars for dealing with the group's publicity. ...

Hamilton Bohannon: The Great Disco Mystery

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

H. BOHANNON DISCOVERS WHERE IT'S AT ...

Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

THIS ALBUM REPRESENTS Joan Baez's volte-face; after the years of diatribe and tireless dissemination of political views by every available channel, her records included, she's ...

Pete Seeger: Together In Concert

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

PETE SEEGER HAS just about every credential it's possible for a folk singer to have without actually being dead. ...

Stax - The Stax Story - Volumes I & II

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

SINCE THE 32 tracks collected here were cut after the 1968 Stax/Atlantic split it would be unwise to take the over-all title of this two-record ...

The Beach Boys, The Eagles: The Beach Boys and The Eagles at Wembley Stadium

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

"HI, WE'RE THE Eagles from Los Angeles." Well that was a fact as predictable as the set those five gentleman dished up, a kind of ...

The Rolling Stones - Made in the Shade and Metamorphosis

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

ECONOMICS: When a famous big-time rock and roll band reaches that particular special point in its year when it's time to pack the clean socks ...

Van Der Graaf Generator: In and Out of The Box

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 28 June 1975

INTROSPECTION. THAT'S WHY your face is on the floor and you're listening... doo dee dum doo. The French are good at it. French rock crowds ...

Elvin Bishop: Juke Joint Jump

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, July 1975

ELVIN BISHOP'S place in the scheme of post-Beatles US Rock has been pretty much undervalued over the years. This is probably owing to his uncanny ...

The Band, Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan & The Band: The Basement Tapes (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 July 1975

A drunkard's dream (Nos. 13 & 35) EIGHT years after they were first recorded with The Band in Woodstock, Bob Dylan's "lost" basement tapes have finally ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson: The Last Beach Movie part 3

Retrospective and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 July 1975

EARLY MARCH 1975: The clapper-board reads "The Last Beach Movie – The Brian Wilson Story" Take 96, and our camera zooms in on the exterior ...

Larry Coryell: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 July 1975

YOU COULD tell it was Jazz night at Dingwalls. ...

Little Richard: Lewisham Odeon, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 12 July 1975

THE DEBUT DATE of Little Richard's UK tour at the half empty Lewisham Odeon was little short of a disaster. Possibly the person least to ...

Dionne Warwick: Worries of the Warwick sisters

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 12 July 1975

WE'RE A LONG way on from 1964 and 'Walk On By' but, despite the profusion of instantly forgetable records Dionne Warwick has turned out since ...

Captain Beefheart - Interview

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (AKA Don Van Vliet) moves in sufficiently mysterious ways for me to believe that Zoot Horn Rollo (aka Bill Harkleroad) may just possibly ...

Frank Zappa - One Size Fits All

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

THE FIRST WORD of this review is "deteriorate." It means to Lose Your Magic. ...

10cc, Man, Steeleye Span: Man, Steeleye Span and 10cc at Cardiff Castle

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

DEKE LEONARD IS getting incoherent. ...

Moonrider: Moonrider

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

MENTION THE name Keith West to anyone and odds on they'll say "Teenage Opera" and not much else. ...

Gong, Henry Cow, Robert Wyatt: Robert Wyatt and Henry Cow, Gong: Piazza Farnese, Rome

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

The Roman Spring Of Mr. Wyatt Thrill to the chariot racing. Dice with death in the streets of the Italian capital. Listen to the music. Special ...

Ronnie Wood - Now Look

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

MY H.A.L. PRINT-OUT on Ron Wood sez that his guitar-playing veers from the sublime to the ridiculous (i.e., his playing on Rod Stewart's solo albums ...

Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan: Skunk Hunting In W1

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

THERE'S A delicately detailed brass rubbing of Burlington House above the bed-head in room 420 at the Inn On The Park. Some rock musicians would've ...

The Righteous Brothers - Sons of Mrs. Righteous

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

IT REALLY DOES seem that the greater part of the Righteous Brothers was their uncle Phil Spector. ...

Todd Rundgren: Man, Myth Or Rabbit?

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 July 1975

THE BOY FROM Upper Darby is pressed into the corner of a Blake's Hotel settee. He looks so much like a very glum rabbit that ...

Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

TOYS IN THE Attic, is Aerosmith's third record. No one here knows that much about Aerosmith, except that they're a straight-ahead Eastern seaboard band with ...

Billy Cobham: When This Man Plays Drums, He Thinks Of A Box Trying To Roll

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

BRIAN CASE interviews BILLY COBHAM, the Buddy Rich of the seventies. ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

"HEY, MON... WHAT are all these whites doin' here? They not here last time the Wailers play..." ...

Bobby Womack - I Don't Know What The World Is Coming To

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

FROM 1964, FOLLOWING the death of his mentor Sam Cooke, to 1969, when he finally began to record under his own name, Bobby Womack was ...

Decameron: On The Eve Of A New Album

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

DECAMERON lyricist and front-man Dave Bell is articulate but quietly spoken. ...

John Lennon's battle with the US Immigration Department

Report by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

JOHN LENNON, IN his battle of wits with the US Immigration Department, is looking less like the stoical pre-doomed crazy of old, and more like ...

Lenny Bruce: The Law, Language And Lenny Bruce (Phil Spector International)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

ABOUT EIGHTEEN MONTHS or so before Lenny Bruce died, he formed a loosely defined business relationship and a close friendship with Phil Sector. On the ...

Wings: Paul McCartney: …No Not Really In A Way Actually As It Happens…

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

VENUS AND MARS ARE LATE. The sandwiches don't care, though. Even though they're the same day's vintage – fresh, soft white bread-triangles housing excerpts from ...

Press Receptions

Overview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

NME raises its bleary-eyed head to peer at the wacky world of Press receptions. Or how to get some not-so-cheap publicity. ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Tour Of The Americas 1975

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

The Usherettes at the Los Angeles Forum all wear short Roman tunics, and calf-length, white mid-sixties style boots. The outfit gives them the looks of ...

Tom Scott: Tom Scott In LA

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

NAT HENTOFF really should know better. Having, in the past, written liner-notes for the very best (Davis, Trane) he now finds himself eulogising the "scope ...

Wilson Pickett: Join Me and Let's Be Free

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

FIRST OF ALL you have to picture the scene. There he stands, up to his elbows in stagnant water, a faraway look in his eyes, ...

David Bowie: Watch Out Mate! Hitler’s On His Way Back

Interview by Anthony O'Grady, New Musical Express, August 1975

"WE THINK WE'VE got an audience," says the spokesperson in the Bowie suite. "We're pretty sure the operator will be listening in." ...

Armageddon: Armageddon

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

THE NAME GIVES it away, really. ...

David Bowie: Did We Use Him? Did We Abuse Him?

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

Well, he's acting like we did, so maybe there's something in it. Two recent and much-maligned Bowie albums are herein re-evaluated for your reading pleasure... ...

Gil Scott-Heron

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

THERE'S NOTHING NEW about black anger. It's run through the whole of black music from the blues onwards, finding perhaps its most forthright expression (in ...

The Commodores, Hamilton Bohannon, James Brown: James Brown: Sex Machine Today, Hamilton Bohannon: Insides Out, The Commodores: Caught in the Act

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

"WHITE ROCK", OBSERVED CSM last week in his Wailers review, "lays its beat on you; the Wailers' music allows you to find your own rhythm ...

Larry Parnes

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

"Marty Wilde was managed by Larry Parnes – 'They don't call me Parnes, shillings and pence for nothing' – who entered rock as Tommy Steele's ...

Maria Muldaur: The Effect Is Underwhelming

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

Maria Muldaur: Ronnie Scott's, London ...

Speedy Keen - Interview

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

"BASICALLY, YOU'RE TALKING about a lorry driver who was thrust into it because he had a number one for seven weeks." ...

Steve Hillage: On The Banks Of A Fish Dinner

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

"The fish really get off on it man...it's their whole trip"... New angle on Gong's STEVE HILLAGE – the world's leading exponent of Fish Rock. ...

The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, Junior Walker & the All Stars: Tamla albums round-up

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS. The Supremes' new LP is a winner. ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Acid Hurt My Brain

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

WHEN, TOWARDS the tail-end of 1969, the Flamin' Groovies' first Epic single 'Rockin' Pneumonia' crashed the American Hot 100 at No. 27 (with a bullet), ...

The Kursaal Flyers - Chocs Away

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 August 1975

THE KURSAAL FLYERS' entry into the Wonderful World Of Wax is neat, tidy, restrained, unobtrusive, and extremely well-behaved, more like a third album than a ...

Be-Bop Deluxe at Aylesbury

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 August 1975

THE FIRST THING that hits you when you see Be-Bop Deluxe in their current incarnation (or, for that matter, listen to said incarnation's Futurama album ...

Camel, Michael Chapman: Fairfield Hall, Croydon

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 9 August 1975

KUH-RAAAACKKK!!!! ...

The Heavy Metal Kids: 'I Useta Strong It…'

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 9 August 1975

'But we're much tighter now.' ...

Ben E. King: The Ben E. King Story

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

ATLANTIC, YOU'RE NOT fooling anyone. ...

Bob Dylan: The Basement Tapes (CBS)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

Leonardo's sketch-book? Something eventually got delivered. ...

James Brown: Live at the Apollo Vol.1

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

EVERY SO OFTEN an album comes along that is more than just another good, bad, or indifferent release from the artist concerned. ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

CONSIDERING THAT THEY'D only checked in at 4 a.m. that morning – that they hadn't been notified of our appointment for an interview – and ...

KC & the Sunshine Band, Junior Walker & the All Stars: KC & the Sunshine Band, Jnr. Walker & the All Stars: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

YOU KNOW when you're frantically searching for a specific waveband on a cheap pocket transistor radio, and no matter how hard you try to tune ...

Procol Harum: The London Palladium, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

One senses that Gary Brooker could well fancy his chances with Joan Bakewell. ...

The 101'ers: Hope & Anchor, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

THE CELLAR OF Islington's Hope and Anchor is hardly the place to keep cool, calm and collected on one of the hottest nights of the ...

The Kinks: The Kinks Live at Kelvin Hall

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 August 1975

IT'S AMAZING. BY now, Pye must've incorporated virtually every track The Kinks ever cut into one or other of their multifarious compilation albums, and in ...

Caravan, Climax Blues Band, Ike & Tina Turner, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Soft Machine: Ike and Tina Turner, Caravan, John McLaughlin et al: Startruckin' 75

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 August 1975

WHERE THE HELL is Lou Reed?Good question, if a trifle academic, but eminently suited for whiling away times in the coach by discussing. ...

Major Harris: My Way

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 23 August 1975

WANDERING HOMEWARD WITH this album tucked under my arm I was unexpectedly accosted by three ripe young ladies who seemed to want to get to ...

Max Merritt: It's Almost Like Art…

Profile and Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 23 August 1975

IT'S GOOD to be sitting in a pub courtyard with the pleasingly craggy Max Merritt. ...

Stevie Wonder - Blind, Gifted and Loaded

Report by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 23 August 1975

THERE HAS BEEN an official silence about Stevie Wonder's plans since he publicly announced in March last year that he was to retire in 1976 ...

The Brecker Brothers: Everythin's All White

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 23 August 1975

...

Andy Pratt: Nobody Knows My Name

Profile by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

HAVE your albums been deleted? Do they even refuse to take them at second-hand shops? Are you even now living off the dole, wondering where ...

Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins: Johnny Cash: Riding the Rails and Marty Robbins: Gunfighter Ballads

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

OKAY, SO HERE are two special double album packages from CBS that feature two of the world's greatest exponents of country and western melodrama. ...

Leo Kottke

Report and Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

LEO KOTTKE'S come a long way from St. Louis – now he's got more stories to tell than British Rail has stale rolls... ...

Roger McGuinn - Roger McGuinn and Band

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

IT'S BEEN A fair old while since anyone pointed the finger at Roger McGuinn and accused him of pumping out high energy rock and roll. ...

Roger McGuinn: Urban Spaceman Metamorphoses Into Plumber

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

ROGER McGUINN’S return to the Los Angeles Troubadour could be described as something of a minor triumph. With Steve Love, Richard Bowden, Greg Attaway and ...

The Isley Brothers: Churnin' of Fraternal Funk

Retrospective by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

From mock gospel to hypnotic energy, via an engagement with Jimi Hendrix and a 16-year track record that few groups can emulate; CLIFF WHITE charts ...

The Selling Of Reading Festival

Report by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

THE SUN was westering in a haze of towering cumulus, fire-orange against midnight black, filling the still air with speckled light, as we came over ...

Wild In The Streets

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

MICK FARREN visits the Notting Hill Carnival ...

Windsor/Watchfield Festival: The Smallest Story Ever Told

Report by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 30 August 1975

Meanwhile...out west on Windsor's High Chaparral, a wandering hippie couple in search of the Ultimate Alternative Festival are waylaid by a pack of journalists hungering ...

Duane Eddy: Bailey's, Leicester

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, September 1975

YET ANOTHER rock 'n' roll legend is stalking the stages of the club circuit and on July 14 he trod the stage of Bailey's, Leicester. ...

The Fatback Band: Yum Yum

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, September 1975

"MY NAME is Yum Yum, Gimme some!" ...

Andy Fairweather Lowe, Starry-Eyed And Laughing: Andy Fairweather Lowe, G. T Moore and Starry-Eyed and Laughing at the Roundhouse

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

AS SUNDAYS GO, this promised a real party. Wake up for Charlie Gillett's Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London and then down to the Roundhouse ...

Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run (CBS Import)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

Roy Orbison makes big comeback ...

Daevid Allen

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

DAEVID ALLEN GOT out of it this year. Out of the VAT-race, to be more precise – and let's keep the double-entendres under control, eh? ...

Joe Simon: Get Down

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

LEAPING ONTO THE dance floor of American's all-pervasive disco, Simon recovered from a slump in popularity by intoning "Get down, get down" about fifty-nine times ...

Kraftwerk: The Final Solution To The Music Problem?

Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

In the beginning there was feedback: the machines speaking on their own, answering their supposed masters with shrieks of misalliance. In the music of KRAFTWERK we ...

The Chi-Lites, The Moments: The Chi-Lites: Half a Love and The Moments: Sharp

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

IF IT WERE ONLY for All Platinum's second certifiable classic – The Moments' 'Dolly My Love' – this group's new album would need to be ...

Dennis Brown: Various Artists: Live At The Turntable Club/Reggae Hit The Town/20 Tighten-Ups/20 Reggae Disco Hits

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

"DENNIS BROWN," announces Trojan manager Webster Shrowder From the sleeve of the man's album, "is one of my favourite artists, who I put in the ...

Wigwam: In Finland They Get Drunk

Profile and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 September 1975

When the sun won't set and you can't get to sleep, what do you do?In Norway they play the violin.In Sweden they kill themselves. ...

Buddy Holly: The Rocker Next Door with the Mail-Order Axe

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

IN A frame of reference where you might think of Elvis Presley as an idol and Little Richard as a hero, Buddy Holly has to ...

Dave Mason and Streetwalkers at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

SOME NEED WIRES and some need strings, but Dave Mason don't use none of those things. Instead he hitched himself onto the back of his ...

Frank Sinatra: The Reprise Years

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

YEARS IS JUST one enormous sampler really – a fifty-track, four album, boxed set containing cuts from nearly every album Sinatra's made for Reprise since ...

Hamilton Bohannon: Leicester

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

WHY IS it that audiences will dance all night to records, but stand round and drum their fingers to the real thing even when it ...

Howard Werth And The Moonbeams: King Brilliant

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

AUDIENCE WERE ALWAYS a band which threatened massive stardom. That they never made the final breakthrough wasn't for want of trying. They made four excellent ...

Jive Bombers: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

THERE'S ALWAYS A good time to be had at the 100 Club. ...

Johnny Nash: Tears On My Pillow

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

ANYONE WHO CAN cheerfully sing "be careful how you hold her, please don't even scold her, she's my cream puff" either deserves a hefty kick ...

Natalie Cole: Meet Nat Queen Cole

Profile by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

WITH 1975 almost certain to establish itself as a most uneventful year for soul, it's refreshing to come across a 45 by a newish singer ...

Orchestral Soul: So When Was the Last Time You Saw a Black Cello Player?

Overview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

SOUL: the emotional part of man's nature, or the seat of the feelings or sentiments.SOULFUL: of, or expressive of, deep feeling or emotion. ...

Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana: Santana, Earth Wind and Fire: Hippodrome, Birmingham

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

Lift-off on schedule for Santana tour ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Single Of The Year — Bob Marley & the Wailers: 'No Woman, No Cry'/'Kinky Reggae' (Island)

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

Marley No Woman No Cry No Opposition Mon ...

Supercharge: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

SUPERCHARGE CERTAINLY HAVE something to celebrate. They've just signed a five year record contract, and are probably hoping to be very rich one of these ...

The Chi-Lites at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

AFTER AN HOUR or so of the kind of entertainment that tempts freeloading reviewers to demand their non-existent money back, any halfway-decent act is a ...

The Supremes at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 13 September 1975

NEXT TIME YOU have the opportunity, check out Motown's Anthology of Diana Ross and the Supremes' Greatest Hits. Unless you're an avid fan whose every ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Alex Harvey: Delivered From The Jaws Of Death

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

...We proudly present the intrepid ALEX HARVEY, fresh from being restrained from swimming in the shark tank and currently engaged in entertaining the young people ...

Bob Seger: Beautiful Loser

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

THE LATEST IN a long line of good albums from the largely ignored Bob Seger sees him returning to Muscle Shoals, scene of the Back ...

Budgie, Hobo: County Rock, Northampton

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

NORTHAMPTON DOESN'T exactly welcome poster prolificacy. Here and there you might spot one that extols the virtues of the latest production at the Rep, but ...

Santana: Carlos Santana: I Can Almost Materialize... If I Think Real Hard…

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

...be still for I bring peace, love, and a new Santana line-up. ...

Disco-Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes, Susan Cadogan: Leicester

Live Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

APART FROM the flash of inspiration provided by the Birmingham band Muscles, the evening ranked as one of the most musically boring I have ever ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Earth, Wind, Fire, Dry Ice and Conviction

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

MAURICE WHITE, of the above qualifications, talks to CLIFF WHITE (no relation) about the New Thing in soul music. ...

Jimi Hendrix

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

On the fifth anniversary of his death (Sept. 18, 1970) a personal view of the Titan Axeman ...

Labelle: Phoenix

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

FOR ALL PRACTICAL purposes, Phoenix is Labelle's third album. Forget anything prior to Pressure Cookin': those albums were by some other people and are of ...

Max Merritt And The Meteors: White Hart, Willesden

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

A FEW YEARS ago, when I was employed in a South London certain department store, I worked with a couple of globetrotting New Zealanders who ...

Robert Calvert

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

"ANYONE WHO KNOWS my work" said Bob Calvert earnestly, "would realise that however bad they might think it is, it's all intentional." ...

The Rolling Stones: Robert Greenfield: A Journey through America with the Rolling Stones

Book Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

I FEAR THIS book may be the one that could finally O.D. the reader on rock writing, particularly that flat, conscientious, detailed, post-Truman Capote style ...

Earth Wind and Fire, Santana: Santana and Earth Wind and Fire at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

ONE OF THE ironic features of Columbia's prestigious double billing, Earth Wind And Fire/Santana is that in America right now the kudos for star spot ...

The Ohio Players: Honey

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 September 1975

EARLIER THIS YEAR Ralph 'Pee Wee' Middlebrook, trumpeter with The Players, admitted in an interview "now we've made it after all that scuffling I suppose ...

B.T. Express: Non-Stop (EMI International)

Review by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

SIX MONTHS ago, with an album called Do It — Till You're Satisfied, The B.T. Express produced the major work to emerge from the ongoing ...

David Bedford

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

"THE THING ABOUT concept albums is that they're never done successfully except mine of course," So speaks modest avant garde composer David Bedford, Virgin luminary ...

Felix Cavaliere: Destiny

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

BACK IN 1965 there was this group called the Young Rascals who, along with Vanilla Fudge and the Lovin' Spoonful, formed the big "New York ...

Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac (Reprise)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

Have the Mac lost the knack of attack? ...

Fungus: Vlaardingen, Holland

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

ONSTAGE ARE FUNGUS, five beards in search, of folk-rock fame... and they're singing in Dutch. ...

Gentle Giant, Hustler, Thin Lizzy: Gentle Giant: Free Hand (Chrysalis); Hustler: Play Loud (A&M); Thin Lizzy: Fighting (Vertigo)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

The Great 8-Furlong Three-Year-Old Handicap: Giant a cert at Newmarket ...

George Jones, Wanda Jackson: George Jones and Wanda Jackson at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

THE FOYER OF the Hammersmith Odeon was like Middle America gone London town, except the folks were mostly British and there wasn't a stetson to ...

Grateful Dead - Blues for Allah

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

DEPENDING ON WHERE you part your hair, the Grateful Dead are either the finest rock'n'roll band in the world bar none... or else they are ...

Howard Werth And The Moonbeams: Howard Werth

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

"SEE, THE 'THE' is actually a joke, an abbreviation of the first word. It's not really 'King Brilliant' it's '...King Brilliant' that we ever got ...

John Cipollina, Man: Man and John Cipollina: Maximum Darkness

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

WHEN JOHN Cipollina's visit to England was announced earlier this year I made a conscious effort not to check him out. ...

Starry-Eyed and Laughing - Thought Talk

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

WHILE AMERICAN COUNTRY Rock bands seem to spring up from everywhere, there has yet to be one from these shores who really convince. ...

The Doors (part 1): The Hunting of the Lizard King

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

Visionary? Poet? Revolutionary? Or was he simply a narcissist with a drink problem? Either way he created a considerable legend. In the first of a ...

Tyla Gang - Peckham

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1975

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT Sean Tyla, late of Ducks Deluxe, is one of the finest and most distinctive rhythm players in town. ...

Shirley Goodman, Sylvia Robinson: All Platinum Records: My Wife, The President…

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

IT'S NICE AND cool and dark in the back room of the bar, and you can sit in your booth and nurse a beer and ...

Johnny Cash: The Gospel According to J.C.

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

IF I'D never heard of Johnny Cash and someone came up and described him to me, I can't think of any other entertainer, short of ...

Paul Simon: Still Crazy After All These Years

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

INSTANT OPINION: BLOOD On The Tracks apart, Still Crazy is the best album you're likely to hear all year. ...

Steeleye Span: All Around My Hat (Chrysalis)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

Now Steeleye got a brand new bag ...

The Doors (part 2): Incident in Miami

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

...and JIM MORRISON'S FINAL DECAY. Fame may have made him crazier but the money hardly affected him – all it meant was he could buy ...

The Doors Consumers' Guide, Part 1

Discography by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

"There are things that are known and things that are unknown; in between are the doors." ...

The Kursaal Flyers: Kingston Polytechnic, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

THIS WEEK THE Kursaal Flyers waved a fond farewell to the London pubs with two rip-roaring nights at the Newlands in Peckham, and now the ...

The Who: The Who By Numbers (Polydor)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

Once upon a time Pete Townshend was young and full of hope. That was then. ...

Victor Jara

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 4 October 1975

VICTOR JARA sang songs for the people of Chile. In 1973, in the Santiago boxing stadium, a soldier cut off Jara's fingers before six thousand ...

Al Green: Al Green Is Love

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

REMEMBER WHEN YOU were young, listening to Radio Luxembourg under the bedclothes by torchlight? ...

Black Sabbath - Sabotage

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

I THINK IT was Lester Bangs who put forward the proposition that people who went to Black Sabbath concerts derived their pleasure from ingesting massive ...

Bruce Springsteen: The Sprucing Of The Springbean

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Man, Myth or Monster? CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY reports from Houston, Texas ...

Esther Phillips: Laissez-Faire in Bouffant Hair

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

ESTHER PHILLIPS doesn't get too knocked out when she scores with a hit single. ...

Sparks: Indiscreet

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

OKAY, SO YOU'VE heard it all before: ...

The Crickets: Back In Style

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

BUDDY HOLLY SO overshadowed The Crickets that one tends to forget that they went on to produce some very creditable work on their own after ...

The Doors Consumers' Guide, Part 2

Guide by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

"This is the strangest life I've ever known" ...

The Road To Wigan Casino

Report by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 11 October 1975

Up T’NORTH, they don’t like London journalists snooping about. Still, this was a special occasion at the shrine of the " Northern Soul Scene". ...

Bert Jansch: 'Bert Jansch? Not Still Going, Is He?'

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 18 October 1975

Certainly he is, still alive and well and producing records; rumours of his retirement have been exaggerated. ...

Jimi Hendrix: Crash Landing

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 18 October 1975

THE SLEEVE of this album, unhelpfully enough, doesn't give the history of these tracks, which are taken from the 500 plus hours of 16-track tape ...

Baker-Gurvitz Army: Watford Town Hall, Watford

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

THE HONEYMOON MAY have ended for the Baker-Gurvitz Army at the end of their first British tour in the early Spring. ...

Betty Davis: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

WITH THE Viking Warrior Case fresh in every mind, punters packed Ronnie's for the Betty Davis exposure. A threat to the moral health of the ...

Blue Oyster Cult, Motorhead: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

Heavy metal fatigue ...

Elton John: Rock Of The Westies

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

FACT: ELTON JOHN is one of the nicest people ever to touch ground while walking. ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd: I See The Bloodbath That Was Hamburg

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

When a band start slashing each other's wrists before gigs you know they're confident. TONY STEWART applies the tourniquet to LYNYRD SKYNYRD on the eve ...

Roxy Music: Wembley, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

IT BEGINS LATE, of course. ...

The Hope & Anchor

Report and Interview by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

During this week and next week London's Second Pub-Rock Festival is being held at the Hope And Anchor, Upper Street, N.1. CHAS DE WHALLEY examines ...

Dr. Feelgood: The Slaughterhouse 4: Dr Feelgood and Mr Freud (Cert X)

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 25 October 1975

MICK FARREN in the Abattoir with The Greatest Local Band In The World ...

Ginger Baker: “People Thought We Were Only Good For One Album. But We Made Another. So There”

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

Yes, success is getting a little nearer ever year for the BAKER GURVITZ ARMY! Report by CHRIS SALEWIZ ...

Al Jarreau: We Got By (Reprise)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

HERE WE have a black singer/songwriter who's into heavy introspective lyrics which he puts across in a distinctly original manner. We'll get to his singing ...

Brewer and Shipley: Welcome to Riddle Bridge

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

MIKE BREWER AND Tom Shipley are just plain lads at heart, from Oklahoma and Ohio. ...

Burning Spear: Marcus Garvey

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

THIS ONE'LL SORT out the liggers. ...

Camel: Bath University

Report and Interview by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

SO WHAT ABOUT The Snow Goose at the Royal Albert Hall, then? ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: CSNY: Graham Nash & David Crosby

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

It’s hard to pin down the seventies. We're already half-way through and still there’s no significant characteristic about which we’ll be able to reminisce in ...

Freddie King: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

A NIGHT TO remember. "It's Blues time, ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome Freddie King." ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Ike and Tina Turner: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

WELL, TO BE quite frank I thought they were fairly dreadful. ...

John Lennon: Shaved Fish

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

SHAVED FISH is all of John Lennon's post-Beatle singles scooped up and dumped onto one album, spiced up with a few relevant album tracks and ...

The Outlaws - The Outlaws

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 November 1975

CLIVE DAVIS COULD sell Chesty Morgan a subscription to Mark Eden. Consider previous adventures of his with Copperhead and the Rowan Brothers, two acts who ...

Art Blakey: "All This Rock Noise. It's Gotta Go. It's Not True."

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

Sez who? Sez ART BLAKEY. Art's got an opinion on most subjects. So d'you wanna hear a discourse on world problems? Drummers who use huge ...

Betty Davis: Nasty Gal

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

THIS IS IT funk y'allThis is it right hereThis is it do ya hear me girlsAnd well they can't do it forya no nastier than ...

Cliff Richard: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

A GIANT TUPPERWARE party. ...

Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa: Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart: Bongo Fury

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

THE STORY SO far. ...

Blondie, David Johansen, The Ramones, The Shirts, Talking Heads, Television, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, Tuff Darts: New York: The Sound Of '75

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

"BEAT ON the brat, beat on the brat, beat on the brat with a baseball bat..." ...

Ozark Mountain Daredevils: The Car Over The Lake Album

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

FOR A BUNCH of guys who are supposed to be averse to leaving their country ranch in Missouri for the hustle of the cities, the ...

The Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, The Searchers: The Sound Of '64

Retrospective by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 8 November 1975

WHEN 'GLAD All Over', the third single by The Dave Clark Five, hit number one in Britain in January of 1964 it offered the media ...

Bob Dylan: Plymouth Memorial Hall, Mass. USA

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

BOB DYLAN'S ROLLING Thunder Revue hit the Plymouth Memorial Hall at 8.20 p.m. on Tuesday November 4.That's Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, by the way, and it ...

Bruce Springsteen

Report and Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN says he just writes down his impressions of stuff whereas here in Hollywood, Calif., there are people in from New York who believe ...

Dr. Feelgood: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

DEFINITELY a weird one. ...

J. Geils Band: Hot Line

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

THERE WAS a time, I guess it must have been a couple of years ago now, when the J. Geils band were being hailed as ...

Jimi Hendrix: Midnight Lightning and For Real

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

AND THE GHOST walks once more. ...

John Cale: Paradiso, Amsterdam

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

EUROPE'S MOST DECADENT capital: inflatable paramours dangling like trussed chickens in the windows of the sex shops, hookers in their shop windows, the smack centre ...

The 101'ers, Kilburn & The High Roads, Mickey Jupp: Pub Rock Proms: For Those Who Like Their Rock Hot And Sweaty…

Report by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

IT'S SATURDAY night, a good ten minutes after closing time. Down at the Hope and Anchor in Islington landlord Fred Granger is going quietly berserk, ...

Spud

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

FRESHERS' WEEK IS a great time to visit Dublin's Trinity College. ...

Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd: Syd Barrett: Is It Possible, Too, That Syd Has Risen From The Grave?

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

THOUGH IT'S been something like a year and a half since yours truly and the NME brought you all the harrowing "Saga of Syd" (ne Roger Keith Barrett) ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolled Gold

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 November 1975

DECCA RECORDS, even though their past form on the subject of Rolling Stones albums is not immaculate, have now produced what is undoubtedly the definitive ...

Captain Beefheart: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

DON'T BELIEVE WHAT your mother tells you kids, there really is a Legion of Super Heroes. ...

Doris Duke: Woman (Contempo)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

ONE THING about Doris, she can't be confused with any of the other soul girls around at the moment. ...

Emmylou Harris: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

THE OTHER ROLLING thunder revue stole into town last week. ...

James Booker, Bo Diddley, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Johnny "Guitar" Watson: European Blues and R&B Festival

Report by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

TEN YEARS AGO Britain was set to become the R&B capital of the world. Between 1962 and '67 we were visited by so many legendary ...

Gong: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

THE HALL was packed. It was the kind of audience that likes to jostle like mad for the first half of the set, blast a ...

Héctor Lavoe Orchestra: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

And you thought Latin music meant Edmundo Ros... ...

Patti Smith: Horses

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

FIRST ALBUMS THIS good are pretty damn few and far between. ...

Queen: A Night At The Opera (EMI)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

Studio shares rocket as Queen connect ...

Rory Gallagher: Against The Grain

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

DO YOU realise that Against The Grain is Rory Gallagher's seventh album since he split Taste? ...

Sassafras: Top Rank, Cardiff

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

WHEN SASSAFRAS FIND the right single, they are going to be huge. ...

Supertramp: Crisis? What Crisis? (A&M)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

SUPERTRAMP AREN'T the type of recording band who demand immediate attention; they're very much an acquired taste. ...

The Faces

Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 22 November 1975

In 1975 the economy ground to a halt, the potato crop failed and suicides were more in vogue then ever before. The Faces aren't feeling ...

Dr. John: Cut Me While I'm Hot and Hollywood Be Thy Name

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

"DOCTOR JOHN THE Night Tripper, he's the King of New Orrlins". ...

Frank Sinatra: Palladium, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

ENFORCED AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION – that's what this "black tie" demand on the ticket is. Imagine reading "gauche gaucho" on Roxy tickets or "sequined jockstrap" on ...

Johnny Cash: Look At Them Beans

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

I FEAR JOHNNY Cash has turned his back on progress once again. ...

KC & The Sunshine Band: Los Angeles

Live Review by Todd Everett, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

K.C. AND THE Sunshine Band, operating out of the T.K. Records complex in Hialeah, Florida, are at once one of the oddest and most commercial ...

Nosmo King: Northern White Soul: Nosmo King

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

A TALK WITH Steve King... er no... Nosmo Jameson... er... oh, Nosmo King, that's it. A talk with Nosmo King.* ...

Roxy Music

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

There is no truth in the rumour...that there is any truth in the rumour. So, alright you guys, what's to look so glum about? ...

Supertramp: Winter Gardens, Bournemouth

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

Are you ready for the breathtaking visual dynamism of Supertramp? ...

Tangerine Dream

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

YOU WON'T GET all sweaty or break a leg while listening to Tangerine Dream, but you will not be unmoved. You see, they haf vays ...

The Temptations: House Party

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

IT'S COMFORTING TO have a few acts that you can rely on to keep supplying the goods, and The Temps certainly do deliver. ...

Tom Waits: Not So Much a Poet, More a Purveyor of Improvisational Travelogue

Profile and Interview by Todd Everett, New Musical Express, 29 November 1975

Could TOM WAITS really be The Next Big Thing? TODD EVERETT, in Los Angeles, finds out. ...

Back Street Crawler: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

SOME UGLY MOMENTS here. ...

Elvis Presley: Pictures Of Elvis

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

THERE CAN BE little doubt that the Elvis Presley Sun collection was a compilation of some of his finest work. ...

Eric Gale et al: Negril

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

IF EVERYONE HAD a pair of disco turntables as well as a telly, this record might sell a million. ...

Little Feat

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

ONCE UPON a time in the early '60s when everybody suddenly started getting paranoid about advertising men, and half the people you met were convinced ...

Queen: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

MAYBE QUEEN'S act is just the dry-ice run for America. ...

The Band: Northern Lights — Southern Cross

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

I'M UP AGAINST a deadline on this one, having to hurry – which is bad enough without having to respond fairly to a group operating ...

The Pretty Things: Greatest Hits 1964-1967

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

FOR A SHORT time, around the London clubs and art school dances, back in 1964, it seemed as though the Pretty Things might just unseat ...

The Staple Singers: Let's Do It Again

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

IF MAYFIELD'S lyrics are anything to go by, this film must be whole lots of scenes of funky loving in which they do it again ...

Yvonne Fair: Ths Story of Y: Yvonne Fair

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

That's "Y" for "Yvonne." YVONNE FAIR that is, Soul Veterenne and Dominatrix. Cringin' CLIFF WHITE listens to some old sounds, discovers a new kick and ...

Weather Report: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 6 December 1975

TO MYSTERIOSO OR not to mysterioso – that was the question facing Weather Report last Thursday at nine p.m. ...

Brand X: LSE, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

JIGS AND reels and the Albion Country Band at the LSE? What??? Danny Cohn-Bendit, I feel for you, man. ...

Burning Spear: Marcus Garvey

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

HERE COMES ONE of the strongest reggae albums of this year, lately available only on import in specialist shops and now rushed out in Britain ...

Climax Blues Band: Stamp Album

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

I'M SICK AND tired of bloody good bands. ...

Neil Young: Sooner or Later it All Gets Real...

Essay by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

The greening of the lean American: NICK KENT attempts a critical reappraisal of the work of NEIL YOUNG ...

Pavlov's Dog: Walking The Dog

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

WANT TO HEAR a shaggy dog story? O.K. Once upon a time there was a completely unknown band who were so exciting that ABC Records ...

The Miracles: City Of Angels

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

WHAT A LETDOWN. ...

Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Weather Report: Wayne Shorter: From Mr. Weird to the Hollywood Hills

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 13 December 1975

Here's WAYNE SHORTER taking care of business. TCB. And what business — taking in the days with Maynard, the Messengers, and Miles right through to today's WEATHER ...

Roogalator: A More Satisfying Musical Climax With... ROOGALATOR

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

NICK KENT feels the hot breath of London's hottest new band brush his ear, and appraises the fine and diverse arts of Roogalation. ...

Cat Stevens: Bingley Hall, Stafford

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

THE HEROIC singer-songwriter begins solo: a white-shirted, dark-trousered speck of religious experience at the end of the cattle barn. The Laura Ashley winsome-ness of 'Moon ...

Chris Farlowe: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

HE'S REALLY ONLY back on the road to squeeze every last drop of success from his reactivated hit 'Out Of Time'. That's what you're expecting ...

Paul Simon: Palladium, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

LAST TIME PAUL Simon toured in Summer '73, he used a South American group, Urubamba, and an American gospel quartet, the Jessy Dixon Singers (Jessy ...

Santana: Lotus

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

OVER ONE HUNDRED Santana fans coughed up the full twenty pounds for this triple live album when it first appeared on import. ...

Steeleye Span: Making Sense Of Original Sin...

Report and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 20 December 1975

IN BRITAIN we voted to stay in. In Eire and Denmark they voted to go in. In Norway the public answered the call to European ...

Bob Dylan: DYLAN does his first radio interview in eight years, and still manages to say nothing

Report by Miles, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

THE NEWS OF A RADIO interview with Bob Dylan, who rarely does such, caused Dylanologists, fans and degenerates to take up their trannies recently to ...

Fungus: Dutch Folk Go Dutch

Profile by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

THERE WAS A time when the Dutch folk scene just mirror-imaged that of Britain. For every traddie rendering 'Lord Randall' or 'Twa Corbies' at Loughborough ...

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: Harold Melvin: Wake Up Everybody

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

WHEN IS A group not a group? ...

James Brown: Everybody's Doin' The Hustle/Dead On The Double Bump (U.K. Polydor)/Hot (U.S. Polydor)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

J.B. reforms the Famous Flames, says hello to '57 ...

Kilburn & The High Roads: Hope & Anchor, Islington, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

AMONG CERTAIN CIRCLES, Ian Dury has gained a reputation as one of rock'n'roll's losers. ...

Linda Lewis: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

IT WAS A cold foggy night and there was a brass monkey sheltering in my hallway as I went in search of a Hansom to ...

Meet The Hit Makers Of '75

Overview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

We kid you not.What else happened?Remarkably little actually. ...

Mr. Big: Mr Big: A Yob In A Support Band Is Something To Be

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

BIRMINGHAM – DICKEN IS your archetypal hardcase punk. Shortish. Face slightly disrupted from the original mould. Oxford accent. ...

The Faces, Rod Stewart: The Faces Dossier: An Everday Saga Of Mick&Rod&Keef&Ron&Mac

Report by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 December 1975

MARCH, 1973. ...

Emmylou Harris: Emmylou's Four Star Hotel

Review by Barbara Charone, New Musical Express, January 1976

THE ELITE HOTEL is a swell place. It's best to travel there by car on a hot, sunny day with the windows rolled down, a ...

Brian Eno's Discreet Music

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

EXPERIMENTAL AND AVANT-GARDE music, by its very nature, exists mainly in the fringe area of private pressings, such as the Musica or George Avakian productions ...

Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa: Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart: BLLLAAAaaaaahhhhh

Memoir by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

Actually, it didn't work. However, something that did work was the re-uniting of THE CAPTAIN and FRANK ZAPPA a few months ago for a tour ...

Bob Dylan, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Bruce Springsteen: Is Rock 'N' Roll Ready For 1976?

Comment by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

What has all this to do with all this? Does anyone care? MICK FARREN'S IS THE VOICE FROM THE GALLERY ...

Ringo Starr: Blast From Your Past

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

THE REASONS WHY Ringo has chosen this moment to release a Greatest Hits album are perhaps two-fold: ...

The Rumour: Rumour: Newlands Tavern, Peckham

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

ARE THE Rumour really Pub-Rock's first Supergroup? Some people would tell you so, and they would have their reasons. ...

The Strawbs: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

AFTER AN ABSURDLY dramatic entry, this much loved male sextet took their places with a white suited Dave Cousins in the limelight. ...

Van Dyke Parks: Clang Of The Yankee Reaper

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 January 1976

VAN DYKE PARKS is one of those people who are usually regarded as either genius or idiot. ...

Cat Stevens: A Cat Stevens Spiritual Tours Vacation

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 10 January 1976

RONALD BIGGS, the last of the Great Train Robbers still not in captivity, was finally run to ground by the Daily Express in a Rio ...

Bob Dylan: Desire (CBS)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 10 January 1976

THE RECORD came into the office round about lunchtime. At approximately three forty-five, I went into the review room, turned on the stereo and put ...

David Bowie: Station To Station

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 January 1976

"A sixty thousand word novel is one image corrected fifty-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine times"– Samuel R. Delaney ...

James Brown, Silver Convention: Disco: "Who's that on the jukebox?" "Who cares?"

Overview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 January 1976

ROGER ST. PIERRE considers what the disco boom has done for soul, and reviews forthcoming action on the soul scene. ...

Todd Rundgren - Another Live

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 10 January 1976

POOR OLD TODD'S taken a lot of stick of late, not least in this paper, for adhering to his mystical mind games in the face ...

Hawkwind: Lock, Edmonton

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 17 January 1976

IT'S ALL A far cry from Alfred Jarry. ...

Keith Moon, The Who: Keith Moon: The Chancellor and the Drummer Boy

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 17 January 1976

Is KEITH MOON The Biggest Loony in the World? Or is DENIS HEALEY Even Dafter? ROY CARR tells the heart-tugging tale of The Chancellor and ...

Queen: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 January 1976

IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU know, keeping up with all the fickle shifts in credibility and acceptability. ...

Ronnie Lane: Can Rock Survive The Holocaust?

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 January 1976

RONNIE LANE'S up in town today. Been up from the farm in Monmouthshire for about a week now. ...

The Kinks: Schoolboys In Disgrace

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 17 January 1976

I LIKE THE KINKS a lot, but have to say that this album is a pretty uninspired collection of product. ...

Howlin' Wolf: ...Howlin’ for The Wolf

Obituary by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

"I was just a country boy, glad to get some sounds on wax" ...

Alan Price: Performing Price

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

SINCE HE split with The Animals and the Rock 'n' Roll mainstream to home in on the craftsmanship of Randy Newman, Price's career has seen ...

Bobby Bare: Hard Time Hungrys

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

In which BOBBY BARE, country singer of the '60's re-emerges with a bunch of Shel Silverstein songs and a socialism as potent as Keir Hardie's; ...

Country Joe & The Fish: Country Joe McDonald: Paradise With An Ocean View

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

Gimme a W, gimme an H, gimme an A, gimme an L... ...

Decameron: Greenwich Borough Hall, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

THE GREENWICH BOROUGH Hall is on Peyton Place, and inside Decameron, have a problem. ...

Ace, Graham Parker: Graham Parker: Southampton University, Southamption

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

YOU CAN PICTURE the scene – it's the same one that goes down on the first night of every major college tour; equipment trouble, late ...

Ian A. Anderson: The Curse of the Lone Grinner

Profile and Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

IF YOU bought a copy of a 1969 Island sampler called You Can All Join In, you'll probably remember the cover shot, which depicted most ...

Lou Reed

Interview by Lenny Kaye, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

HIS HAIR IS short, coloured black and closely cropped, though not unnaturally so. He wears a red T-shirt and his body, which has fluctuated from ...

Lou Reed: Coney Island Baby

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

ARGUABLY, THERE IS no more exciting rock artist to listen to than one whose time has come; one whose art (not to mention attitude, appearance, ...

Elvis Presley: Okay, Kids... Which Twin is the Real Elvis?

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

"I'm gonna go infiltrate the International ELVIS PRESLEY Fan Club Convention", said MICK FARREN. ...

The Kursaal Flyers: Brunel University, London

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 24 January 1976

THE ONLY REASON I KNOW for the Kursaal Flyers not to be as popular as sliced bread is that their first album was so badly ...

Kraftwerk: Exceller-8, Radio-Activity

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 31 January 1976

EXCELLER 8 IS a 'best of album taken from the three Vertigo albums that Kraftwerk have released in this country and it's a good selection ...

Osibisa: Welcome Home

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 31 January 1976

Too many holiday brochures getting you down – let some real sun into your home... ...

Ron Geesin: Cockpit Theatre, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 31 January 1976

DRESSED IN RED shorts and jersey with white sneakers, Ron Geesin looks like a combination of Elton John and Alexander Solzhenitsyn but has the crazed ...

The Fania All Stars: Live

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 31 January 1976

A TERRIBLE HANGOVER and a record comes under the front door. I pluck up the courage to put it on (the cover has such loud ...

Sweet: The Sweet: Top of the Pops

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 31 January 1976

OH, YOU know, it gets so very confusing. What with the fickleness of all these rock writers and the constant need to come across with ...

Be-Bop Deluxe: Arty Smarty Or Just The Guitar Hero Next Door?

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

THE SAME sign as Hendrix: Sagittarius. Into Hank Marvin, Duane Eddy, Wes Montgomery, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and BB King. And Jimi Hendrix. ...

Boxer: College Of Food Technology, Weybridge

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

BOXER'S WARM-up gig, one of a few, prior to their major tour which starts shortly…and the hall was about a third of the size which ...

Carole King: Thoroughbred

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

I DON'T UNDERSTAND it. Carole has gone back to recording demo discs again. ...

Commander Cody and The Lost Planet Airmen: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

Commander Cody: Good timin' in the Ozone zone ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Earth Wind & Fire: Gratitude

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

PROOF AT LAST that EWF deserve all the acclaim that's been heaped on them in the last couple of years. ...

Henry Cow: London School of Economics, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

SOMEHOW HENRY Cow all seem slightly amused to be on stage. This is one of the many communications going on between them, but mostly they ...

Joan Baez: From Every Stage

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

LAST AUTUMN, IN a move that marked a complete departure from previous practice, Joan Baez went out on the road in the States with a ...

Junior Byles: From the Dread Depths of Despair

Report by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

JUNIOR BYLES emerged as the supreme talent of the year, if not of the decade. His moving 'Bur O Boy' was without peer. ...

The Kursaal Flyers: Kursaal Flyers: Surely This Band Is Too Young To Die?

Profile and Interview by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

PAUL SHUTTLEWORTH'S Secret Ambition is to become a member of Equity, the Actors' Union. "Trouble is though," he told me, "You can't just pay your ...

10cc: The 10cc Fine Art Collection

Interview by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

In which the Fab Four pick their Fabbest Fourteen to illustrate the ascent of sweetness, light, and the Technological Aesthetic to the neanderthal world of ...

The Blackbyrds: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 February 1976

BETCHA DIDN'T know there's such a thing as Black-byrdomania. Neither did I until this concert, when a quietly slumbering stalls suddenly became a heaving sea ...

Gladys Knight: The Best Of…, A Little Knight Music, Gladys Knight And The Pips

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

DON'T BE MISLED – The Best Of... actually refers to the best of Gladys and the 'Pips' Buddah output, but such is the strength of ...

Julie Tippetts: Sunset Glow

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

IN 1970 Julie Driscoll married Keith Tippett, the modern composer, and entered the mysterious other world of contemporary music. ...

Quicksilver Messenger Service: Solid Silver

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

YOU MAY REMEMBER Quicksilver Messenger Service as one of the most enigmatic West Coast bands from the acid-soaked sixties, and not just because they never ...

Ronee Blakley: Welcome

Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

RONEE BLAKLEY was the star of Robert Altman's Nashville, if you remember, the film that was universally condemned by the inhabitants of Music City U.S.A. ...

The Fania All Stars: The Fania All-Stars: It's Skinny [OLÉ] It's Dangerous [OLÉ OLÉ] And It Drinks Cheap Spanish Wine...

Overview by Miles, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

With a rose clenched between his teeth, the man they call EL MILES infiltrates the heady, exotic world of the Strand Lyceum, where trousers are ...

The Isley Brothers: Twist And Shout, Super Hits

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

SOME RECORDINGS CRY out to be reissued. In fact they never should have been deleted in the first place. Others should never even have been ...

The Salsoul Orchestra: The Salsoul Orchestra (Epic)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 14 February 1976

I ASKED Paul Atkinson, who decides these things at CBS, why he was releasing this album here. ...

Clancy: Kingston Polytechnic, London

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

FOR A BAND which has been going for something like two-and-a-half years, which has survived the pub circuit and come out the other side, and ...

Gong, Steve Hillage: Gong: Demise Of Teapot Heralds New Obscure Era

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

We proudly present GONG Now, in which assorted Gauls and other Foreigners explain (sort of) certain radical changes and new concepts which may extend the ...

James Last: Last of the MORicans

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

Forget that Kaspar Hauser. JAMES LAST – or "Hansi" if you prefer – is the real Enigma of modern Germany. TONY STEWART investigates. ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

WE ALL KNOW about Lynyrd Skynyrd. As barroom brawlers go, they don't come quite as gross as these six Southern redneck bruisers wired on Coors, ...

Speedy Keen: Y'Know Wot I Mean?

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

ONE IF THE many things of which any court of law would instantaneously acquit Speedy Keen (along with singing in a thunderous bass voice and ...

Toots & The Maytals: Toots Hibbert: The Man Who Would Be God

Profile and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 21 February 1976

Rasta revelations courtesy of FREDERICK "TOOTS" HIBBERT of Toots and The Maytals, who'd rather incarnate here and now than talk about old times with PENNY ...

10cc: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

THE MUSIC IS exactly as you'd expect it really. More or less. ...

Ann Peebles: Tellin' It

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

IN 1968 IN Memphis, Tennessee, Willie Mitchell succeeded to the board of an ailing record company called Hi. ...

Johnny Clarke: Where are the songs of Spring?

Profile by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

Ay, where are they? PENNY REEL looks at the erratic career of JOHNNY CLARKE, the star should have been. ...

Kokomo, The Kursaal Flyers: Kokomo/Kursaal Flyers: Guildford

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

A VERY strange billing, Kokomo as support to the Kursaal Flyers. Now that seems to say something about relative popularity and the length of time ...

Maria Muldaur: Sweet Harmony (Warner Brothers)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

"BECAUSE OF the eclectic nature of her thing Maria goes through a lot of different styles – that's her thing, that's what she does, that's ...

National Health: LSE, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

I LIKE GOING to concerts at L.S.E. because the audiences there are such fanatics. Such was the case with National Health, the audience being exceedingly ...

Sex, Drugs And Violence In Rock: The Sexual Language Of Rock Part 1

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

"Eddie please write me one line,Tell me your love is only mine,Please Eddie, don't make me wait so long,You left me last September,To return to ...

David Bowie: Spiders from Mars

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

"We've still got the Bowie costumes. We can wear those.""Yeah, Dave was really into duffle coats for a hour and a half in them days." ...

T. Rex: Lyceum Ballroom, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 28 February 1976

BORN TO BOOGIE, or born to Waltz? The story of an ageing teendream with the cheek to book himself into London's Lyceum Ballroom, without a ...

Climax Blues Band

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

Big in the States. Still trying to breakthrough on the home turf. CHRIS SALEWICZ chews on a 'cheese and tomato' ...

Eddie & The Hot Rods: Eddie And The Hot Rods: Imperial College, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

FIRST DUKE DUKE and the Dukes, now Eddie and the Hot Rods – Kursaal Flyers' manager Paul Conroy knows how to pick support bands. ...

Gil Scott-Heron: And now, for a fascinating and demanding dialogue...

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

Learn more about yourself and about the problem facing our society today in this week's... GIL SCOTT-HERON LECTURE ...

Gong: Shamal

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

THE LINEUP CHANGES have been so substantial and the musical direction has altered so drastically since their last album (You), that Gong might have changed ...

Julie Tippetts, Isaac Guillory: Kings College, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

"I'M NERVOUS." ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Warner Brothers)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

"THERE’S A song of Kate McGarrigle’s, which Maria Muldaur sang on her first LP, called ‘Work Song’, which is about all the old songs that ...

Phil Spector: Upstairs, downstairs and in my mixing chamber

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

DATELINE: MARCH 31, 1974. ...

Sex, Drugs And Violence In Rock: The Sexual Language Of Rock Part 2

Essay by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

"I'm gonna pick you up nowAnd carry you away,So you'd better pack up now, baby,Packin' up today,Here I come, just a big bad man,When I ...

The Everly Brothers: Songs Our Daddy Taught Us

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 March 1976

IN A QUIET sort of way, 1975 saw an Everly Brothers revival of sorts. Warner Brothers released their magnificent Walk Right Back With The Everlys, ...

King Crimson: A Small Mobile Intelligent Independent Double Album???

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

King Crimson: A Young Person's Guide To King Crimson (Island) ...

Bill Wyman: Stone Alone

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

WELL, HERE HE comes again. Bill Wyman, on face value the least likely Stone to strike out on his own account and yet, apparently, the ...

Bobby Womack: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

POLE-AXED BY SKIN-CRAWLING hot and cold flushes, with a head full of demented panel-beaters, the last thing I wanted to do was travel 50 miles ...

Deep Purple: Empire Pool, Wembley

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

AT THE Empire Pool, Deep Purple rule. The roaring audience of ten thousand or so press their hands to their heads as their ears get ...

Jess Roden: Victoria Palace, London

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

DRESSED IN the remains of a particularly dapper three-piece suit and with straight hair stretching to his collar and no further, British country-soulster Jess Roden ...

Paul Butterfield, KGB: KGB: KGB (MCA): Paul Butterfield: Put It In Your Ear (Bearsville)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

"I saw young Vanderbilt playing down at the tennis club and he doesn't hit the ball any better than a fellow without money " — ...

Laura Nyro: Smile

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

LAURA NYRO: fringed red velvet shawl over a lamp, candlelight, one line of cocaine on a mirror, a half-empty glass of red wine on the ...

The Beatles, Dion, George Harrison, John Lennon, Darlene Love, Phil Spector: Phil Spector Again

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

Flourishing a revolver our weird hero enters his dark, refrigerated room to recount strange tales the likes of which may never before have been heard ...

Steve Gibbons Band, The Who: Who, Gibbons Face the Hog Butcher Vibe

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 March 1976

The Who/Steve Gibbons Band: Pavillion de Paris ...

Bobby Womack: BLAM! Bobby Womack Calls The Shots

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

CLIFF WHITE hits the floor and runs the tape as the soul veteran pulls the trigger. ...

Bobby Womack: Safety Zone

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

IF YOU WANT to do Bobby Womack a favour, you'll ignore this album. ...

Horslips: Guildford

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

HORSLIPS ARE CURRENTLY between record companies, apparently by their own choice, but unlike thespians, who rest, the group are doing a series of gigs in ...

Kevin Coyne: Coyne, The Unfrozen Currency

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

KEVIN COYNE kicks and stamps his feet outside the Atlantic Hotel in Aarhus, Western Denmark, as we waits for a taxi to take us to ...

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Richard Hell, Television: New York: Plug in to the Nerve-ends of the Naked City

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

In downtown Manhattan the rock 'n' roll war rages on as potential crown princes of Punkdom battle for recognition.. NICK KENT interprets the action ...

The Twinkle Brothers: Rasta Pon Top

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

EVER SINCE ITALIAN propagandists began spreading false rumours concerning the demise of the Emperor, Negus Ras Tafari, Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Conquering Lion ...

The Yardbirds: The Yardbirds Featuring Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds Featuring Jeff Beck

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 March 1976

STRANGELY ENOUGH, the thing that hits you first about these albums is not so much the excellence of the two gentlemen named in the titles ...

Bonnie Raitt

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 April 1976

AT FIRST SIGHT, Bonnie Raitt isn't the world's most startling human being. In fact, she seems pretty damn ordinary. Quiet; medium height; plain; unkempt red ...

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Sweet America

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 April 1976

IT TOOK ME a while to figure out where Buffy Sainte-Marie was at with Soldier Blue. ...

Camel: Guildhall, Portsmouth

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 3 April 1976

IT'S MY IMPRESSION that Camel are becoming a band to reckon with. ...

Eddie & The Hot Rods: Tasty, Urban Tension Classics…

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 April 1976

MAX BELL says, "Kids, you gonna drive me to drinkin'. If you can't get next to HOT ROD thinkin'" ...

Man: Apollo Theatre, Glasgow

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 April 1976

THE KID was good. I have to hand it to him: he was good. ...

Al Jarreau: Jarreau Gig At La Coupole Goes Molto Bene

Report and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

"THERE'S NO reason for my deserving this interview any more than the man out there pouring drinks, except that I try to say something through ...

Boxer: The Nude, The Boxing Glove And The Wooden Box

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

...a slightly misleading headline heralding an informative article on BOXER which does in fact refer to nudes, boxing gloves and wooden boxes. ...

Fats Domino: New Victoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

WHAT CAN I do? What can I say? How exactly can I prostrate myself? I guess there's no excuse for a rock critic who goes ...

Kevin Ayers - Revived 35

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

Headline contributed by the Mediterranean boatman lui-meme. Actually he was born in 1944. Fascinating, isn’t it? ...

Led Zeppelin: Presence

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

M'lawds, ladies 'n' gennelmen, presenting the new album by... ...

Man: The Welsh Connection

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

IRRATIONAL SCHMIR-RATIONAL; it still don't seem right to see a Man album without a United Artists logo on the label. ...

Mike Dorane: The Lone Arranger

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

"Say, stranger...who's that masked man who just wrote those songs, played all the instruments, sang all the harmonies, mixed the tracks in his home studio ...

Roy Wood: The Roy Wood Story

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

"WHEN YOU'RE NUMBER two, you try harder." ...

The Bothy Band: Guinness Brigade in Nescafé experiment

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 10 April 1976

FOR SOME considerable time now, a new "underground" music situation has been developing. Not one concerned with any aspect of rock, but rather one that's ...

Global Village Trucking Company: Global Village Trucking Company (Caroline)

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

THIS IS not so much an album, more an epitaph; the GVTC disbanded during last summer, largely due, I suspect, to the fact that they ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Her Man, His Woman

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

RECORDED AND FIRST released as the Get It, Get It L.P. on the L.A. Cenco label circa 1965, this album was snapped up by Capitol ...

John Denver: Palladium, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

WILL JOHN SWOOP down to the stage on the back of a pantomime Golden Eagle? Will his teeth be clean in time for the new ...

Pavlov's Dog: At The Sound Of The Bell

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

Condition your reflexes the Pavlov way! ...

The Moody Blues

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

It all seemed as though it should have had some connection with what I was there for. ...

Third World: Third World (Island import)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 April 1976

THIRD WORLD were the support act at Bob Marley and The Wailers' Lyceum concerts last summer, where they provided the kind of pleasant surprise that's ...

Abba: Oompah?

Profile and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

What’s squeaky-clean, exquisitely produced, Scandinavian and goes OOMPAH? The answer to the riddle is ABBA ...and here’s MICK FARREN to ask it. ...

Tammy Wynette: Boots, Brandy, Boots, Bouffants + Buffy

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

THERE WERE more Stetson hats than you could shake a stick at in Wembley last weekend. ...

Brook Benton: This Is Brook Benton

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

THIS MONTH'S MIND-BLOWER: The Benton basement tapes surface after 18 years in the can and turn out to be a bag of fun for all ...

Johnnie Taylor: Eargasm

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

THAT THIS ALBUM has already been such an overwhelming success in America must surely be due to US Columbia's marketing techniques rather than the music, ...

Kevin Coyne: Heartburn

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

THIS IS KEVIN COYNE'S seventh album in as many years, and I find it the most satisfying record he's made since the second (and final) ...

Kiss: Destroyer

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

IF EVER A GROUP have made it huge in America by carefully manipulated saturation in terms of records, concerts and promotion then Kiss are that ...

Magna Carta: Funky Folk Deliver Body Blow To Public Transport

Profile and Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

IT WAS late, pretty late. And it was in an era where public transport seems loathe to operate when darkness falls. ...

Osibisa: Fairfield Hall, Croydon

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

ONLY CRITICAL SNOBBERY could deny Osibisa the distinction of having played one of the finest sets I have seen this side of Christmas. On this ...

The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Black And Blue

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

"THE ROLLING STONES are a really good band, but, like, I consider them like a boys' band because they don't play mens music. They don't ...

Dr. Alimantado: The Curious Case of Dr. Alimantado

Profile by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

"Ere Jah Man!""Ites!""Whadda word Babylon mean, dread?" ...

The Kursaal Flyers: The Great Artiste

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

I'VE BEEN PLAYING this album to the exclusion of all else over the last couple of weeks: it comes as something of a shock to ...

Brook Benton, The Stylistics, The Three Degrees: The Stylistics: 'Chitlins In A Basket' Special

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 April 1976

Stylistics/Brook Benton/Three Degrees: The Palladium, London ...

Aztec Two Step: Second Step

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

A MEANINGFUL title. Three years ago, the duo of Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman made a very good album for Elektra, which received critical acclaim ...

Bill Bruford, Genesis: Bill Bruford

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

ARE YOU quite sure that you're definitely not joining Genesis full-time? ...

Willie Nelson, Billy Swan: Billy Swan, Willie Nelson: New Victoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

The majesty of Nelson's column ...

Bootsy Collins, Swamp Dogg, Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Bootsy's Rubber Band a snappy little number

Report by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

KEEP YOUR ears pimmed back for Bootsy's Rubber Band, a nifty little album soon to be released by WEA. ...

Horace Silver: Phil T. McNasty, Hippy Dippy outa Detroit, and other characters

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

HORACE LOOKED like a greyhound in a basket. Knees pulled up to his chin, high shoulders canted up under the lobes of his ears, hands ...

Kevin Coyne: New Theatre, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

WITHOUT DOUBT ONE of the most powerful presentations I've ever attended. When it was over Kevin was drained, his band was drained, the audience was ...

Louis Jordan: The Best Of Louis Jordan/Choo Choo Ch'Boogie

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

SUFFERING FROM HEAVY metal fatigue? Bunions on your disco feet? Are you too pooped to pop, too puked with punk rock, rasta'd rigid by reggae ...

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Never Argue With A Pregnant Indian: Buffy Sainte-Marie

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

CARL PERKINS looks glazed. Teeth, eyes, toupee, rhinestoned double-knit denim-look casuals: all veneered with the same hospital-tile finish as the off-white Tele-caster that Perkins is ...

Premiata Forneria Marconi: PFM: Civic Hall, Guildford

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

PFM fan injures hand in blaze ...

Rick Wakeman: Art with a Capital F***

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 May 1976

RICK WAKEMAN on the aesthetic of bodily functions, as applied to rock concerts. "We'll have none of that thank you, we're English." ...

David Bowie: Heil and Farewell

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

THE PERSON now arriving on Platform 8 is David Bowie. ...

Gladys Knight & the Pips: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

HORACE SILVER to Brain Case, NME, May 1st 1976. "I'd prefer just reports on concerts rather than a critique." Quite right too, Horace. O.K. then. ...

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Gladys Knight: Things happen when you're a disciple of Buddah...

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

... but it helps if you're GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS. Here's how things are going, as told to CLIFF WHITE. ...

Johnny Walker: The Rock Assassination Takes Place On Tuesday Between 11 .30 And Four

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

JOHNNY WALKER has seen a lot of bloodshed, and a poor disc jockey can only take so much... To cut a long story out, he's ...

Marvin Gaye: I Want You

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

A COUPLE of weeks ago our very own Mr. Murray suffered a bitter anti-climax after waiting nigh on two years to hear the latest ...

Steely Dan: The Royal Scam

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

DEFINITION: SCAM – THE scenario for a confidence trick. The lowdown on same. The stage preparatory to the heist or sting. ...

Jimmy Buffett, Steve Goodman: Steve Goodman: Jessie's Jig And Other Favourites; Jimmy Buffett: Havana Daydreamin'

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

JIMMY BUFFETT and Steve Goodman seem to have a lot more in common than the fact that their names have the same number of letters. ...

Sex Pistols: Terrorise Your Fans The Pistol Way

Readers' Letters by Neil Tennant, uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

GOSH, BLIMEY, what's going on ere? Relax, it's just a friendly Friday night down at the local — the Nashville, Kensington to be precise — ...

The Rolling Stones: Too Rolled To Stone

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976

THE NICE THING about the law of gravity is that it applies to everybody. ...

David Bowie: The Man Who Fell Into Sinatra's Suit

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

IT'S HALF PAST five on Sunday afternoon and I still don't know how to start this thing. Only David Bowie could return like the Prodigal, ...

Ian Hunter: An American Alien Boy

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

THERE EXISTS A subtle difference between a tax exile and an expatriate. ...

Jesse Winchester: Learn To Love It

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

THIS IS BOTH Jesse Winchester's third album and his third good album. ...

Nils Lofgren: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

I SAW LOFGREN'S gig at the same theatre at the end of last year. It was duff. His band didn't gell and the sound was ...

Pink Floyd: Games For May

Retrospective by Miles, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

TEN YEARS AGO THE PINK FLOYD were a semi formed idea in the mind of one SYD BARRETT. Nine years ago they were the darlings ...

Shirley Bassey: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

SLIDE UNDER the floating haze of perfume, cigar and flower fumes. Duck from the champagne bottle corks bulleting through the air, and join me in ...

The Ramones: Ramones (Sire — Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 May 1976

A WEEK back, if you'd asked me nicely, I'd have dogmatically opined that Ramones – SASD 7520 – was absolutely the most grievous hot rock ...

Caravan: Blind Dog at St. Dunstan’s (BTM/Arista)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

WHEN THE members of Caravan pulled down their trousers, bent over, and revealed the name of their last album spelt out on their white English ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis: Well, Bless-uh Muh Soul, What's-uh Wrong With Me?

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

WHEN AN artist hasn't produced anything of note for something like 14 years, the world begins to judge him on just about anything but his ...

Kiss: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

THE LADY on the door was most persuasive. "Would you take a Kiss mask? Please...go on have a couple, we're trying to get rid of ...

Lee Garrett: Born A Loser

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

Meet the man who put dues-paying into the big league: LEE GARRETT. Born blind into a poor family and a drifter by his teens, Garrett ...

Patti Smith: At Last, The Lower Manhattan Show

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

Patti Smith at the Roundhouse, facing fans, friends, fungoids and straightforward weirdos – Britain's first live chance of checking out the 'legend'. MILES went as ...

Steve Miller

Profile and Interview by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 22 May 1976

"I WASN'T disturbed by having a hit – I was exhausted! Before The Joker became successful we'd done 220 concerts in the previous year. Then ...

Chuck Berry, 49, Denies Knowledge of the Previous 48

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

Chuck (Crazy Legs) Berry, top ten contender for the title "King of rock and roll", has been referred to as the greatest black folk poet ...

Mighty Diamonds: Right Time

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS emerged in the wake of the resurgence of interest in Burning Spear – "I and I, son of the Most High – ...

Sonny Rollins: Outlook Sonny

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

SONNY ROLLINS. Mister Big. BRIAN CASE'S main man on a bad line. Case fumbles the introductory bouquet... emerges with a satisfied smile. ...

The Bellamy Brothers: Let Your Love Flow

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

YOU MUST have heard the single which gives this its title, and there's little doubt that the Bellamy Brothers are a distinctly classy addition to ...

Joe Higgs: The Fastest Left Hook in Rock Steady...

Profile by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

...was not JOE HIGGS. He was the one on the receiving end of Coxsone Dodd's mighty fist. But then that's all in a day's work ...

The Rolling Stones: The Rock 'N' Roll Circus Hits Town

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

THE ROLLING STONES first night at Earl's Court, back in the ol' U.K. NICK KENT was there. Need we say more? ...

Todd Rundgren: Faithful (Bearsville)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 May 1976

I NEVER REALLY gave up hope on Todd Rundgren. Even when the maestro was seemingly irreconcilably immersed in expounding his slant on poe-faced spiritualist dogma, ...

David Bowie: Changesonebowie

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 5 June 1976

I GUESS that one of the main functions of any greatest hits album is to explain to anyone who isn't a hard core fan exactly ...

Jesse Winchester

Profile and Interview by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 5 June 1976

CERTAIN QUALITIES seem to be needed for a musician to become a hero to the man in the street who buys a lot of records ...

The Meters: The Battle of New Orleans Re-visited...

Retrospective and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 5 June 1976

It's a battle ART NEVILLE of THE METERS is still fighting. He's happy about being on the Stones tour – but angry at never having ...

Tom Waits: Would you say this man was attempting to convey an impression of sordid Bohemianism?

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 June 1976

I CAME IN on the southbound flyer, then hoofed it halfway across town to see Tom. From a nearby window drifted the sound of Billie ...

Millie Jackson: Free And In Love

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 June 1976

OOWEE, LORD HAVE mercy. This girl just turns me to jelly every time she opens her mouth. ...

Steve Goodman: Words We Can Dance To

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 12 June 1976

AFTER A three year gap since his two Buddah albums, this is Steve Goodman's second LP in less than a year, which presumably means that ...

Tom Waits: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 12 June 1976

HE TAKES the stage with what he describes as his don't care-a-shit shuffle. Very apt ...

Steve Winwood, Stomu Yamashta: Winwood & Yamashta: GO GO GO

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 12 June 1976

MILES, our resident Grand Master of cosmic funk, unscrews the inscrutable and accompanies STEVIE WINWOOD and STOMU YAMASHTA into the infinite as they discuss, rehearse ...

Bonnie Raitt: Bonnie Raitt; Give it up; Takin' My Time (Warner Bros.)

Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

IT'S ALL very well Warner Bros. making magnanimous noises about re-releasing these albums, Bonnie's first three. ...

Boz Scaggs: Silk Degrees

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

THIS BOY certainly eats up producers. ...

Genesis: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

IF YOU take the trouble to embroider "Genesis" in fancy letters on the back of your pressed denim jacket, or if you are prepared to ...

Roger McGuinn: Cardiff Rose

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

ABOUT EIGHT OR nine months ago I was preposterously drunk in the Bottom Line club in New York watching the Roger McGuinn Band. ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Sly Stone: Sly and the Devil Was Walking Side by Side

Overview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

...and on a clear day you could even tell which was which. NICK KENT reads Sylvester Stewart's musical palm and sifts out the rumours behind ...

Ted Nugent: Ted Nugent

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

ONCE UPON A TIME the idea of liking Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes was considered remarkably unhip. Poor old Ted and his boys were ...

Michael Chapman: The Body In The Lake and Other Stories

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

SO THERE we were sitting in the studio drinking wine and talking rock and roll talk when Rick Kemp shouldered in, slammed the door and ...

The Titanic Sails at Dawn

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 June 1976

AS YOU CAN all quite well-imagine, the letters that get themselves printed in Gasbag (or Dogbag or Ratbag or Scumbag or whatever jiveass name we've ...

William Bell, Margie Joseph, Frederick Knight, Mavis Staples, Little Johnny Taylor: Albums from Frederick Knight, William Bell, Margie Joseph, Mavis Staples and Johnny Taylor

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

The Sorry Stax story ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

RIOTS LAST NIGHT they said, marauding hordes of smart, mean kids swarming around getting illegal all over the place with property and the concession stands ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

THERE WERE EXACTLY four things wrong with the final show by the Wailers at Hammersmith last Friday. ...

Dr. Feelgood: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll... But it's Crowded

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

MICK FARREN bares armpits and gets sweaty (and drunk) with DR. FEELGOOD ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Flamin' Groovies: Shake Some Action (Sire)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

MAX BELL provides sleeve-notes for the new album ...

Jeff Beck: Wired (Epic)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

Rock'n'Roll? Nah, that's kids' stuff ...

Little Feat, The Outlaws: Little Feat/The Outlaws: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

THE OUTLAWS ARE really pretty much your standard ranch stash. Three lead guitars primed to shit-kicking yee-ha, mighty purty 'n' all but lame beneath the ...

Michael Chapman: Savage Amusement (Decca)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

ABOUT THE only thing that Michael Chapman has in common with Laura Nyro, apart from vast merit, is that a lot of people find the ...

Michael Chapman: Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

IT'S TERRIBLE HOW people sometimes get the wrong idea, it really is. ...

Robert Wyatt: The Wild Spume of His Hair Broke Over My Bowsprit

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

...and I felt the tape line tauten on my cassette recorder as ROBERT WYATT plunged forward into the waves. ...

The Faces, Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart: It's My Party... And I'll Pose If I Want To...

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

TONY STEWART visits Rod and Britt's (retch!!) love-nest. A Time-Life and Vogue special. Exciting revelations (no, really!!). ...

Tangerine Dream: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

T-DREAM HAVE BEEN described as everything from 'the most advanced development of progressive rock' to 'electronic muzak'. The band generates controversy probably because people are ...

Brothers Johnson: The Brothers Johnson: Look Out For Number One (A&M)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

TWENTY-YEAR-OLD session bassist Louis "Thunder Thumbs" Johnson and his elder bro, guitarist George "Lightning Licks", leap from the striking cover of this album like two ...

The Runaways: The Runaways (Mercury, Import)

Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 26 June 1976

Falling foul of Fowley? ...

Aerosmith: Rocks

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

AEROSMITH HAVE GOT the whole situation psyched. ...

Spirit: America: The Titanic Might Be Sinking, But There Are Plenty Of Lifeboats Left

Essay by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

BACK IN this very spot, Mick Farren pulled out his critical cudgels and delivered a sorely needed attack on the current state of rock'n'roll. ...

J. Geils Band: J Geils Band: Blow Your Face Out (Atlantic)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

FOR A BAND who've been as ludicrously misrepresented by their critics as the incomparable J. Geils Brew, Blow Your Face Out must be the best ...

Kevin Ayers: Yes, it's make it or break it time again...

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

This week: well known pataphysician KEVIN AYERS — Fortune teller: MILES ...

Mr. Big: Mr Big: Oh No…Not Another Geezer With Hooter Problems!

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

THERE'S A bleedin' ennui OD here in the audience tonight. Not that they're into being-super-blase or super-arrogant. It's just that this is the hottest day ...

Bootsy Collins, Parliament: The Amazing Disco-Man from Planet X

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

PARLIAMENT: Mothership Connection (Casablanca)BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND: Stretchin' Out (Warners) ...

The Beach Boys: 15 Big Ones (Reprise)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

WHAT THE little deuce coupe is goin' on round here? ...

The Outlaws: Southernly Last Summer...

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

I'M SITTING in a dressing room at Celtic Park football ground. In the distance the Glasgow crowd is rootin' for Alex Harvey, but as the ...

Soft Machine: The Soft Machine: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

IT WAS a surprise to see so many people in the heat and the gloom of the Hamersmith Palais to see Soft Machine, because in ...

The Ohio Players, War: War & The Ohio Players: Say It Loud, I'm Black an' My Bank Manager's Proud

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 3 July 1976

WAR and THE OHIO PLAYERS fall into a similar category –- two flash, young(ish) outfits with artistic and financial freedom and an interesting line in ...

Alan Parsons: Tales Of Mystery And Imagination

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

A bearded, disembodied head appeared in the darkness. My blood ran cold. It was PARSONS I saw... ...

Eric Burdon As Savage Messiah

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

ERIC BURDON'S notorious reputation as an abusive boozed-up Geordie ruffian might only have been part of rock's mythology, but at the moment it appears to ...

The Flamin' Groovies, The Ramones, The Stranglers: Flamin' Groovies/The Ramones/The Stranglers: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

MAYBE IT WAS no accident that the hottest, steamiest, dirtiest night of the year was reserved for July 4. It's not every day that we ...

Joe Cocker: Stingray (A&M)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

SPEAKING AS someone who knows little more about Joe Cocker than he does about me, I am perhaps not the most fitting person in the ...

Shades

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

WHEN ALL AROUND YOU is brown, burnt, pink or peeling and you're tired of squinting in the glare it's time to consider... ...

The Modern Lovers: The rarefield talents of Jonathan Richman: The Modern Lovers

Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 10 July 1976

David Hepworth reviews the most in-demand album in London ...

Tony Wilson: So It Goes: A TV breakthrough or tubular balls?

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

IT'S A LITTLE weird when you see something that is obviously well intentioned, is very close to what you and your own personal colleagues and ...

Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band: Live Bullet

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

I GUESS YOU could say that Bob Seger and Ted Nugent are the last of the Michigan cowboys. ...

The Crusaders: Crusaders: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

THE HELL WITH it, let's be dogmatic and lay down a truth that was already manifest before their historic visit. When it comes to pumping ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Flamin’ Groovies: It Ain't Much Fun Bein' In The Import Bins' Blues

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

SOMETIMES DEJA VU gets to choke you up. After ten years of trying to prove themselves the Flamin' Groovies must be wondering just what the ...

James Taylor: In My Pocket

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

MOST OF US drift into comfortable mediocrity; in the end it's hard to avoid, particularly if your career had dumped wads and wads of money ...

Jefferson Starship: Spitfire

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

IT WAS FUNNY, though, wasn't it? ...

Jesse Winchester: New Victoria, London

Live Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

JESSE WINCHESTER certainly didn't have things easy for his British concert debut last week. For a start, the combination of heatwave and Bonnie And Clyde ...

The Ramones: 'Waitin' for World War III' Blues

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

JOEY RAMONE is wandering around the empty Roundhouse, looking vacant and clutching a brand new camera under his arm like a teddy bear substitute. A ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: SAHB Stories

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

ROUND ABOUT THE third revamp of Captain Marvel (that's Marvel's Captain Marvel, not the other one), they changed his billing from The Sensational Captain Marvel ...

Wings: The Forum, Los Angeles

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 July 1976

CURIOUS BUSINESS, this intercontinental jet travel. High altitude transportation appears to have a spectacularly adverse effect on Britrockers' vocal chords. Old Jagger, now: there are ...

The Crusaders: After a Quarter of a Century, Yes, It’s Overnight Success

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

Yup, it's taken a little time. Uhhuh, that's right – 25 years of bein' hot stuff. But for THE CRUSADERS worldwide acceptance does at last ...

Back Street Crawler: Leaving Coffins Outside Dressingrooms is Sick

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

Just one of the problems Back Street Crawler have had to contend with since the death of Paul Kossoff. Terry Slesser explains. ...

Mel Tormé: Velvet Peasouper Blankets West End

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

MEL TORMÉ talks LIKE THIS. He has VERY STRONG OPINIONS and also DOESN'T LIKE cigarette SMOKE. ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Steal Your Face

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

SURPRISE, SURPRISE. THE new Dead album is coming in for the most monumental panning. Seems that for the past four years (at least) they've been ...

The Runaways: And I Wonder…I Wah Wah Wah Wah Wonder…

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

THE CORRAL lies maybe midway down Topanga Canyon, between Ventura Freeway and Malibu Beach. Maybe it's just the Romantic in me but visually – and ...

The Meters, The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Island)/ The Meters: The Best Of ... (Reprise)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

WILD TCHOUPITOULAS extend an invitation to all those who've ever loved New Orleans music... ...

Twiggy: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 24 July 1976

I GUESS they popped the champers at Phonogram after this glitzy shindig at the Home of Fest. For hadn't Mike Harding, had 'em clutching at ...

Automatic Man

Profile and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

Something with Integrity has descended among us (from California as it happens). It's AUTOMATIC MAN. It landed in the Marquee. MILES was there ...

Deep Purple: Why The Purpling Had To Stop

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

In which TONY STEWART listens patiently while IAN PAICE and DAVID COVERDALE explain (within the limits of decent reticence and Not Ratting On Mates)... ...

Fleetwood Mac

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

THE YELLOW CAB has taken me just over half the distance down to 6565 Sunset Boulevard before I notice the driver look in his rearview ...

John Prine: Regent's Park, London

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

IT MUST have been a terrible choice between seeing John Prine (and perhaps Steve Goodman?) at Regent's Park, and checking out the first British gig ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Victoria Palace, London

Live Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

And yet more folksiness as Kate & Anna McGarrigle BLITZ OVER LONDON ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Kate And Anna McGarrigle: Kiss Me Till My Mouth Gets Numb

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

The harrowing tale of two sisters who narrowly missed getting typecast as nuns when their real thing is foolin’ around in bathrooms... Seriously though, we ...

Marianne Faithfull: Kenneth Anger: My Boyfriend Left Me For Charlie Manson!

Profile and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

Hi! I'm KENNETH ANGER. Marianne Faithfull plays a demon in my new movie. This is a picture of me when I was three and a ...

Martha Velez: Escape from Babylon

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

WHATEVER HAPPENS, no way can Martha Velez bitch about never getting the breaks. ...

Spirit: Farther Along

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

How Kapt. Kopter kept coming back California, a bona fide genius guitar hero. Who says so? Max Bell says so. ...

Status Quo: Cardiff Castle

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 31 July 1976

ALTHOUGH I IMAGINE it could be a disaster area if it rained, Cardiff Castle on a fine day is an ideal spot for a one ...

Cannonball Adderley, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Sun Ra: OK, smarty, so how do y'shift the whole world off its axis?

Report by Brian Case, New Musical Express, August 1976

Simple. SUN RA knew that one way back. Every musician on the planet just gotta play a C7th — all at the same time. While ...

Don Covay: Travelin' In Heavy Traffic

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 August 1976

AN APPRAISAL OF THE VIRTUES OF MR. DON COVAY ...

Joan Armatrading: Joan Armatrading (A&M)

Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 7 August 1976

Joan puts on her sailin' shoes ...

Luther Allison: Luther Dusts His Broom

Report by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 August 1976

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW that Motown had a blues man on their books? Yeah that's right, blues. Amazing, is it not? Luther Allison's his ...

Sam Cooke: Twistin' The Night Away

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 August 1976

BETWEEN 1960 and 1963 more Twist albums hit the market than the total spinoff products from Elvis, The Beatles and Jaws. ...

Weather Report: This Man Is Watching Out For Custard Pies

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 7 August 1976

It seems most successful artists participate in the ritual — with Presley coming to mind as a particularly adept dodger. Right now, though, we're watching ...

Boz Scaggs: Central Park, New York

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 August 1976

STROLLING THROUGH New York's Central Park on a hot and sultry Friday afternoon was pretty much like reliving a David Peel song. The paths and ...

Blue Oyster Cult

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

Nectar of strychnine! Seminal psychedelic trip-wire rock'n'roll! Geometric chaos! Neo-nuclear Pearl Harbour precision! Flash-pod explosion! Blood-on-snow controlled fury! Boot-heeling dangerous! ...

Country Joe & The Fish: Country Joe MacDonald: The Essential Country Joe McDonald

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

ALTHOUGH THERE have been three compilations of his work with the Fish, this is the first collection covering Country Joe's seven solo albums. ...

Bootsy Collins, Funkadelic, Parliament: It's a PARLIAFUNKADELIC-BOOTSYMENT THANG!!

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

"THERE'S a lot of chocolate cities around. We got Newark, we got Gary, somebody told me we got L.A. And we're working on Atlanta. But ...

Linda Ronstadt: Hasten Down The Wind (Asylum)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

LINDA RONSTADT has taken a tip from Carly Simon and taken off her bra for an album sleeve – not that she ever did wear ...

Loudon Wainwright III: Open Air Theatre, Regents Park

Live Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

IT'S A LITTLE disturbing to discover yourself in the minority, the camp who really didn't much like the star. But that was the way it ...

Stax: Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)...

Report by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 21 August 1976

CLIFF WHITE charts the fall of Stax Records ...

The Real Thing

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 September 1976

THE REAL THING seems to be an apt name for a trio who are determined to succeed on their own merits and not as a ...

Arthur Brown: Live at Speakeasy, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

THE LAST time I saw Arthur Brown work he perpetrated one of the most numblingly embarrassing performances I can recall, one that still festers in ...

Bobby Womack: B.W. Goes C&W (United Artists)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

RECORDED BEFORE Safety Zone last year, this is the set that Bobby had intended to call Black In The Saddle. UA wouldn't release it at ...

Burning Spear: Man In The Hills

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

NEXT TO THE current crop of wild-eyed wired-op weird-asses coming out of JA these days, Burning Spear sound almost conservative. ...

Can: Unlimited Edition

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

CAPITOL RADIO are blitzing Can's top-40 commercial rock number 'I Want More' right now; it is typical that the band would choose to issue it ...

Derek & Clive: The Worst Job I Ever 'Ad

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

Derek and Clive and the rich panorama of sub-human life ...

Diga Rhythm Band: Diga

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

AFTER MY initial listening to this album I was going to take the easy way out, fob off with a few jokes about the Raga ...

Dr. Feelgood: Hope & Anchor, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

REAL CASE of dejaja vuvu it was, the night the Feelgoods played the Hope. To readers outside London the Hope and Anchor may just be ...

Bryan Ferry, Uriah Heep: John Wetton: I Have Nothing To Hide Shock

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

John Wetton reflects on past problems with Uriah Heep – and on his future plans which, among other things, involve working with Ferry. ...

Mighty Diamonds, U-Roy: Mighty Diamonds/U-Roy/Delroy Washington: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

The Lyceum rockers wore dreadlocks, the Aldwych wouldn't do the Strand; the rude bwoys were on a ballroom blitz; and PENNY REEL reports on a ...

The Equals: Born Ya!

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

Support your local Spades!! ...

Buzzcocks, The Clash, Sex Pistols: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Buzzcocks: Screen On The Green, Islington, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1976

Our Islington correspondent mingles with the Sex Pistols' portable audience looking for Johnny Rotten's toof. It's incisive stuff… ...

Kevin Ayers, Soft Machine: Kevin Ayers/Soft Machine: Edinburgh Playhouse

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 18 September 1976

AN INTERESTING booking, Kevin Ayers – one of the founding members of Soft Machine – playing on the same bill as their present, 14th, line-up ...

Jefferson Starship: Skate Board Grounds the Starship

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 18 September 1976

I WAS WOKEN up by the phone. I had some trouble working out where I was. It took a few seconds to realise that I ...

The Band: ...Mounties, Maple Syrup: The Band at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

RUMOURS HAD BEEN circulating (the way rumours always do) for some months. They claimed that there was some kind of rift between The Band and ...

Bob Dylan: Hard Rain

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

AS SOME OF you regulars out there have probably long suspected, I have a certain difficulty in being strictly objective about the work of Bob ...

Dr. Feelgood, The George Hatcher Band: Dr Feelgood: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

HERE IN Sheffield there's a local aphorism along the lines of "Tha' works 'ard, so bloody well play hard". It fits. Most of the concerts ...

J.J. Cale: Troubadour

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

THERE ARE only a few things you need to know about J.J. Cale. ...

Bob Dylan: Mother, Old Glory, Apple Pie, Bob Dylan

Comment by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

Lester Bangs pours down like scalding rain on the Dylan documentary due to be screened on BBC2 next Tuesday, and coincidentally (fight fans) on the ...

Rick Derringer: This Man Is Aiming To Kill

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

Excuse the pun – it's Rick Derringer, of course, knockin' 'em down with hardnose rock'n'roll. ...

The Band: The Best Of The Band

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

ANYTHING THAT allows The Band to maintain their self-imposed torpor should be actively discouraged, and it is with this sentiment in mind that I proposed ...

The Bay City Rollers: The View From Seat A6

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

"Then one day I found a perfect plan,I shake my ass and sing in a rock and roll band,From now on there'll be no compromisin'Rock ...

Don Harrison Band: The Don Harrison Band

Interview by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 25 September 1976

HERE'S A question that's been puzzling me: just how did the Don Harrison Band, who are rather less than a familiar name, get on the ...

Ben E. King: Camden Lock

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

MY LAST VISIT to the quaint, cobbled pavements of Camden Lock was to see Eddie Floyd knocking on wood in standard mid-60s soul routine. Ben ...

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Blues-type Situation With Relative Roots: Johnny 'Guitar' Watson

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

"I'M SO excited man, I don't know, Jesus Christ, everything is really so grand, the company seems to be so together and I think I'm ...

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen: Hot Licks, Cold Steel And Truckers' Favourites

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

We've Got A Live One Here ...

Dorothy Moore, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds: Dorothy Moore, Jimmy James & Vagabonds, Wild Honey: The Palladium, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

IT'S 1 A.M. and I've just about survived a ludicrous Sunday, beginning at some ungodly hour I never knew existed and exercising patience I never ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: 'Ere, who you screwing, John?

Report and Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

Once again our halls of entertainment echo to the banshee wail of urban youth. Here BRIAN CASE, always the man to spot the first robin ...

Joan Armatrading, Moon: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

MOON GET better weekly. Disciplined, tight, colourful but most important eager to please. They got an encore. Between their leaving the stage and Joan Armatrading ...

June Tabor: Sensuous Librarian Reveals All

Interview by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

SUDDENLY MY HEART STARTED TO POUND. ...

Kool And The Gang: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

DO YOU ever feel out of touch? Secure in the calm of your own head while all about you are losing theirs. It's a disquieting ...

Kris Kristofferson: Surreal Thing

Review by John Tobler, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

THERE APPEARS to be a ridiculously large number of "established" artists making records which, were they by an unfamiliar name, would not only sell zero ...

Marvin Gaye: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Cliff White, Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

WELL, IT finally happened. After much speculation, confusion and gnashing of teeth, the rehirsuted one arrived in Britain for the first time in 12 years, ...

Stevie Wonder: The Selling of Stevie

Report by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

MAYBE I'M just a cynic... but from where I'm standing it appears that, in terms of pushing as much product as humanly possible, the 13 ...

Buzzcocks, Eater: The Buzzcocks, Eater: Holdsworth Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

YOU CAN count on Manchester to be 48 months behind apparent national trends. Like, reggae is largely frowned upon: crunching hard rock bands employing predictable ...

The Gladiators: Trenchtown Mix Up

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

RED HOT IN BABYLON OR MAUVE IN THE GROVE ...

The Meters: Trick Bag

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

DAY ONE: can't get past the third track. Before reaching it, 4.08 mins of 'Disco Is The Thing Today' revealed a commercial, characterless leap onto ...

The Runaways: From Jailbait to Jes' Plain Bait

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 2 October 1976

Q: How do you persuade five young LA Teen Queens to clean up their act?A: Put 'em in a group and make 'em famous ...

Be-Bop Deluxe: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 9 October 1976

AT £2.50 a ticket I was expecting to hear the words, particularly from a group whose lyrics are so important, but the thousand or so ...

Natalie Cole, Tavares: New Victoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 9 October 1976

NATALIE COLE is an MOR sophisticated lady, right? An exceptional singer in the mould of Aretha Franklin who's chosen to, or been persuaded to, don ...

Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 9 October 1976

RUMOURS THAT the New Musical Express has deliberately pursued a course of hostility towards Stevie Wonder are, of course, utterly without foundation; but (even at ...

Marvin Gaye: The Marvin Gaye Interview: Earthly Fights and Mystic Flights

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 9 October 1976

"HOW ARE you? I must say you have the patience of Job." ...

Waylon Jennings: Are You Ready For The Country

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 October 1976

Waylon breaks thru' Nashville's blanket defense ...

Barclay James Harvest: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

BARCLAYS BANK ON CORN HARVEST ...

Hawkwind: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

TIGER OPENED to a leaden audience who failed to be moved even by big Nicky Moore, twisting and turning through the vocals like a giant ...

Iggy Pop, The Stooges: Iggy & The Stooges: Metallic K.O. (Skydog)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

Iggy — still burning his brain at both ends. ...

Kraftwerk, National Health: Krautwerk: This is what your fathers fought to save you from...

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

Kraftwerk, National Health: The Roundhouse, London ...

Lone Star, Mott The Hoople: Mott, Lone Star: Salford University, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

…and here's what they fought to save you for: MOTT ...

The Dictators: The Handsomest Man In Rock And Roll

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

You may have been ready for Patti 'n' the Pistols 'n' the Ramones, but are you as ready as MAX BELL for The DICTATORS and... ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Teenage Head

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 October 1976

I MUST confess that when I was first confronted with the Flamin' Groovies, I was not impressed. ...

Aerosmith: Gonna Have Me A Real Wild Time…I'm Going To Harrods

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

BRAD WHITFORD wears a grey roll-neck sweater and faded jeans. He looks slightly insecure up there on the stage of the Liverpool Empire. Tom Hamilton ...

Aerosmith: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

He likes 'em... or does he? Well, kind of. NICK KENT vacillates before the... AEROSMITH BEHEMOTH ...

Demis Roussos: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

MUZAK OF THE GODS ...

Black Sabbath: Ozzy Osbourne: I Got Sensitive Didn't I

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

BLACK SABBATH'S Ozzie Osbourne has changed his personality since we last met. He is no longer vulgar and ingenuous. Instead, he is composed and carefully ...

Patti Smith: Radio Ethiopia

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

NOW HERE'S what you do for openers. You get someone to blindfold you, put boxing gloves on your hands, tie a maddened rhino to your ...

Patti Smith: Welcome To The Monkey House

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

"IT'S LIKE...I'm not ever gonna be a hundred per cent cool, y'know...I mean, for you to like even try to be a hundred per cent ...

Ry Cooder, Flaco Jimenez: Ry Cooder: Chicken-Skin Music (Reprise)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 October 1976

With the pound tottering, Kissinger's Rhodesian settlement crumbling, and Revie's team a complete shambles... it's nice to know there are still things you can rely ...

Albert King: Truckload Of Lovin'

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 October 1976

HOT DAMN! Way it looks to this white boy, Albert King just has to be to the blues what John Wayne is to cowboy movies, ...

Gary Wright, Peter Frampton: Peter Frampton: Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 October 1976

Rock genius...or just another biodegradable pretty boy? C. SALEWICZ sinks his nashers in P. FRAMPTON's persona and finds it... ALL SMILE AND NO TEETH! ...

Spirit: If You Value Your Life, On No Account Read This Headline...

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 30 October 1976

...because if you do you'll have to read the feature which is about RANDY CALIFORNIA of SPIRIT. He's a very far-out person. He says so. ...

Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (Capitol)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

WHEN YOU'VE just made one of the year's classic live albums, following it can be a bit of a problem. ...

Max Romeo & the Upsetters: War In A Babylon

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

I WAS a soft-porn-skankin' rude boy in a mohair suit until I discovered RASTAFARI!!!! ...

Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Muddy Waters: Muddy Waters, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins: New Victoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Brian Case, Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

GETTIN' BACK TO IT: MUDDY WATERS, McCOY TYNER & SONNY ROLLINS brought Newport to London's New Victoria Theatre on Saturday. CSM & BRIAN CASE went ...

Sun Records reissues: Rock’n’Roll – first dinosaur still extant

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

CLIFF WHITE examines a major re-packaging of Sam Philips' Sun catalogue. ...

Tapper Zukie: High Wycombe

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

I-CENSE IS SWEET, but rockers is sweeter yetter; as the good brother I King Tapper Zukie would say. The man from Bosrah came to High ...

The Clash: Institute of Contemporary Arts, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

A ROW OF PARKED Vivas, Consuls and Zephyrs indicated that the ICA had an audience a little different to the usual. It was "A Night ...

The Doctors Of Madness: Live in Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

THE DOCTORS of Madness have shot disjointed from dissident Velvet Underground empty emotions and heavy-eyed exasperation, the Bowie of Diamond Dogs admission that conventional revolution ...

Aphrodite's Child, Vangelis: Vangelis: The Moans And The Stares, An Ouzo And Thee

Profile and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 November 1976

I THOUGHT I was in for a real treat. ...

Blondie Cometh

Profile and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

THE SENSUOUS POUT FROM CBGB ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley and the Wailers: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

THERE WERE EXACTLY FOUR things wrong with the final show by the Wailers at the Hammersmith last Friday. ...

Boz Scaggs: Bar-Room Brawls Are Out Man — I've Gotten Sophisticated

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

Yes, this is one for the, err, cognoscenti. It's BOZ SCAGGS man – but coming on strong like Bryan Ferry's wardrobe. Admirer MAX BELL talks ...

David Essex: Manchester Palace, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

CLEAN ROCK from the super slick, sadly lackadaisical David Essex Band at the plush Manchester Palace is a harmless way to waste a few hollow ...

Graham Parker: Believe Everything You Hear

Profile and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

IT'S LUCKY for Graham Parker that he's come along at a time when the Jack Nicholson Academy of professional Beautiful Losers is providing the most ...

Lol Coxhill, Henry Cow: Henry Cow, Lol Coxhill: Lindisfarne Centre, Southend

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

THIS WAS only the fourth concert that Cow have done in this country all year — they have been touring Europe all through the summer. ...

Dr. Feelgood: It's only Rock 'n' Roll ...But it's crowded

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

MICK FARREN bares armpits and gets sweaty (and drunk) with DOCTOR FEELGOOD ...

Jonathan Richman: Town Hall, New York City

Live Review by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

THE FUNDAMENTAL things apply, as time goes by. Like Sister Ray, for instance. It had only been out for a couple of years when Jonathan ...

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same (Warner West End/ABC Shaftesbury Avenue)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

ZEP BLOW IT ...

Lynn Anderson, Ronnie Prophet, Steve Young: Nashville

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

An Englishman's adventures in the city of the rhinestone kings. Mick Farren was that Englishman. ...

Ringo Starr: Rotogravure

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

RY COODER isn't the only person using a Mariachi band at the moment. ...

Steeleye Span: The Universalisation Of Steeleye Span

Report and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 13 November 1976

SALLY JEAN IS DARK, demure and very attractive. Though well-dressed, well-spoken and well-meaning, she is alas also well dull. For over two hours now she ...

Abba: Arrival

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

How they made a billion while still in their twentiesWITH THE POP MUSIC OF TODAY ...

AC/DC: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

THE EMCEE only just ducks into the wings and out of the firing range when the Odeon stage explodes deafeningly. Bruised about the head, their ...

Captain Beefheart: Beefheart Discovers “World's Greatest Band” Sensation

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

I CALLED Captain Beefheart the other day. His huge voice came booming down the phone even though I'd probably woken him up. ...

Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page: The Roaring Silence

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

I WAS IN New York when they last asked me to write a thing on Led Zeppelin. An American magazine, it was, with strict deadlines ...

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson: Newcastle Polytechnic

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

AFTER THIRTY interviews in two days Johnny Watson's throat was as raw as fresh beefsteak. So for the first two gigs of his European tour ...

Man: Bristol

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

THERE ARE several possible ways to review this gig. ...

Nashville - Part Two

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

In which Mick Farren doesn't talk to Chet Atkins, visits Opryland, views the tourist spots from the OAP's bus and, (quiver, quiver....), converses with Dolly ...

Tom Waits: Small Change (Asylum, Import)

Review by David Hepworth, New Musical Express, 20 November 1976

Waits refuses to face his critics (to his lasting credit...) ...

Buzzcocks: Band on the Wall, Electric Circus, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

MANCHESTER MADMEN ...

Brian Eno, David Bowie: Eno: "Zing!" Go the Strings of My Art...

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

...as Thin and Serious People gather to make music. The luscious but committed BRIAN ENO has been in recording with the skinny and deranged ...

George Harrison: Thirty-three & 1/3

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

WHEN I tell you that the first line of the song with the most memorable hook on the album is. "I was so young when ...

Jim Croce: Photographs And Memories

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

JIM CROCE was a witty, adroit songwriter with a dual penchant for sharp, good-humoured barroom-jive badman songs and love songs which ranged from the genuinely ...

Joan Baez: Gulf Winds

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

THESE ARE heady days for Joan Baez. ...

John Otway: Live in Dunstable

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

IT WAS a delight to witness those old school chums John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett play Dunstable on Thursday night. ...

Joni Mitchell: Hejira (Asylum)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

Joan travels on; Joni travels back ...

Malcolm McLaren, New York Dolls, The Sex Pistols: Malcolm McLaren: Meet The Colonel Tom Parker of the Blank Generation

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

MEET MALCOLM McLAREN. He runs a shop called "SEX". He manages a group called THE SEX PISTOLS. He sincerely believes that he and his band ...

Robert Palmer: How To Get Rid Of The Nude In Your Bedroom

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

ROBERT PALMER, who's Big In America, finds his musical progress rather cluttered with scantily clad femininity. TONY STEWART murmurs disapprovingly. ...

Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Sha Na Na: Sha Na Na: Madison Square Garden Rock & Roll Spectacular, New York City

Live Review by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

THERE ARE some memories we have which are straightforward memories, but then there are other memories which are more like memories of memories and we're ...

Cherry Vanilla, Mink DeVille, Pere Ubu, The Shirts, Suicide, Tuff Darts, Wayne County & The Electric Chairs: Various Artists: Live At CBGB's/Max's Kansas City 1976

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 27 November 1976

YOU KNOW what these albums remind me of: The This Is Mersey Beat collections that Oriole put out after the first wave of Liverpool bands had gotten ...

Fabulous Poodles: UMIST, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

PURE, UNDISGUISED entertainment from a crackerjack fun quartet of sly, sleazy, 'appy crups who played like the Beatles never happened — a major reason why ...

Frank Zappa: Any Resemblance is Purely Conceptual

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

MILES SCOOPS THE POOP ON UNCLE FRANK ...

Jess Roden Band: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

RIDE ON RODEN: MILES finds the JRB in fine form ...

Leo Sayer: Endless Flight

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

ALTHOUGH A lot of recorded music is impersonal (not necessarily a bad thing, it's quite possible to enjoy a record for its own sake without ...

New York Dolls: Meet The Boys In The Band: The New York Dolls

Retrospective by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

Prime movers of P**K, this gang of poseurs were wearing safety pins when they were still in diapers. ...

The Alpha Band: The Alpha Band

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

THERE MUST be something about playing with Bob Dylan that turns musicians a bit...well, shall we call it strange. ...

The Kursaal Flyers: Sarfend, Sarfend, It's A Hell Of A Town…

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

The smell of coins and oil and penny arcades; of fish 'n' chips; of salt and wave against pebble and promenade; of wide boys and ...

Luther Allison, Eddie Boyd, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters: Woke Up This Mornin', Blues Gone Down The Drain

Report and Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 4 December 1976

The Blues is getting old, and young black kids ain't taking over where the old-timers are leaving off. BRIAN CASE talks on the subject with ...

City Boy: Top Rank, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 December 1976

ON ONE level, this gig (the second of City Boy's current tour) could be whiled away by playing "spot the influence" – 10cc, Roxy, the ...

Eddie & The Hot Rods: Eddie and the Hot Rods/The Pirates: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 December 1976

THE HOT RODS are careering through 'Get Out Of Denver' at a speed so close to the velocity of sound itself that the song seems ...

Frank Zappa: Zoot Allures

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 December 1976

THIS ALBUM is neither Bizarre nor DiscReet, but that's neither here nor there. ...

Tangerine Dream: Palais Des Sports, Paris

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 11 December 1976

T-DREAM had no support and so they started cold, but soon as the lights dimmed the Palais Des Sports audience roared and cheered and lit ...

The Clash: Eighteen Flight Rock...

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 11 December 1976

...AND THE SOUND OF THE WESTWAY ...

Can: Free Trade Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

IN ONE OF the most glorious cases of mismatching ever seen on a British stage, Can are preceded tonight by an agonisingly kitsch comedy jug-band ...

Queen: A Day At The Races

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

THE OFFICE outside has been a-buzzing of late with the latest report concerning the whole punk conspiracy – the to-ings, and fro-ings, of the Sex ...

Santana: God Flows from Every Mouth

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

AND THAT DON'T MEAN GOBBIN' ON PEOPLE, WARNS SANTANA ...

Split Enz: Live in Brighton

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

A TRIP to the sea end of Wardour Street is always fine by me, so Tuesday found me on the Chrysalis bus to Brighton to ...

The Eagles: Hotel California (Asylum)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

On the border? They go straight down the middle ...

Thin Lizzy: How the Laid-Back Californian met the Drunken Scot and the Heavy Black Irishman…

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 December 1976

IF LEW GRADE ever gets round to planning a rock 'n' roll soap opera he could fill the first fifty-two weeks (at least) with The ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson: After The Sand Box

Report by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

The zany, madcap world of Brian Wilson, episode 98 ...

Ike & Tina Turner, Phil Spector: Ike and Tina Turner

Profile by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

THAT THE Tina Turner-Phil Spector combination should have produced one isolated tour-de-force 45 was perhaps not surprising; after all, Tina more than anyone else was ...

Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon: New Victoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

WARREN ZEVON hits the stage an hour and five minutes late. This is not without significance. ...

Bob Dylan: Journey To The Centre Of The Psyche: Blonde On Blonde

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

IT'S AN almost impossible opening sentence. ...

The Clash, Sex Pistols, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers: Sex Pistols, The Clash, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers: Electric Circus, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

THREE DANCE bands playing the Electric Circus for the second time in ten days. They're back because the Circus is one of the very few ...

The Rolling Stones: Aftermath

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 December 1976

AFTERMATH CATCHES the Rolling Stones in transit: somewhere in between pissing on garage walls and the mass dope busts, after their first long spell on ...

Jimmy Page: Anger Rising: Jimmy Page and Kenneth's Lucifer

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1977

LED ZEPPELIN guitarist and leader Jimmy Page has been fired as composer for the soundtrack of the film Lucifer Rising by its director, Kenneth Anger. ...

The Stranglers

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1977

Beneath this middle class suburban casual wear lurk a bunch of REALLY NICE GUYS. So why are they banned from Top Of The Pops? ...

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Shelter, import)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 January 1977

DONT KNOW much about these guys except that they breeze out of Los Angeles, have a great image and play very good '70's rock'n'roll which ...

Tower Of Power: Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 January 1977

THIS IS essentially transitional meat from Oakland, Soul City's finest. ...

James Brown: Git Down! Git Down! Git Down!

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 8 January 1977

Is Britain ready for the return of the Godfather of Soul? On the eve of JAMES BROWN'S fourth visit to the UK, Cliff White reveals ...

Average White Band: The Average White Band: Person To Person

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 8 January 1977

WELCOME BACK the musically credible and eminently excellent Average White Band with this defiant poke in the ear for all those people who seven months ...

Ace: It's An Ace Life In The Low-Key Whacky World Of Los Angeles

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

SEVEN OF US leave the Ace ranch in Hidden Valley and go late night cruisin' in drummer Fran Byrne's '69 Pontiac. Fran heads for ex-Chilli ...

Elvin Bishop: Hometown Boy Makes Good

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

YES INDEED I do believe we've got ourselves a good one here. Elvin Bishop has resisted the slightly formulaic limpness of Struttin' My Stuff ...

Emmylou Harris: Luxury Liner (Warner Bros.)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

While the Hot Band get hotter, Emmylou just gets better... ...

Gladys Knight & The Pips: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

THERE IS AN unwritten guarantee with every ticket for a Gladys Knight & The Pips concert. A guarantee of aural, visual and emotional satisfaction. I've ...

Jermaine Jackson: My Name Is Jermaine (Tamla Motown)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

COULD BE that marrying the boss's daughter has caused Jermaine Jackson a few problems. Not only is the boss' son-in-law expected to try that much ...

Kiss: Rock And Roll Over (Casablanca Import)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

The Red Carpet, but no Heat Treatment ...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Kirk's Works

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

In spite of a stroke, multi-instrumentalist RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK is still hangin' in there, copying carpets and capturing the sound of the sun. ...

Starz: Starz

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

PREDICTABLE BOYS from the Rock Steady stable with Jack Douglas production. ...

Suzi Quatro: Aggrophobia (RAK)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

FOUR AND A HALF YEARS since Suzi Quatro scored jackpot and replay with 'Can The Can', and it's only now that she's made an album ...

The Jacksons: The Jacksons (Epic/Philadelphia International); Joyful Jukebox Music (Tamla Motown)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 15 January 1977

The red carpet, but no heat treatment ...

Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias: Not Only The Whole Story Of Rock But A Killer Whale Too…

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 22 January 1977

"DA HIPPY Church" is what my Dutch cab driver calls it. As regular readers will know, the Paradiso is a converted church in the centre ...

David Bowie: Low

Review by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 22 January 1977

YOU'RE JUST a little girl with grey eyes and you never leave your room. ...

David Bowie: Low

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 January 1977

AND YOU'RE profile to profile with The Man Who Fell To Bits. Against an incandescent orange background, the cover of David Bowie's new album reprises ...

Babe Ruth: Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

TYPICAL OF A Sheffield gig is the way in which the dancing section of the audience settles down crosslegged in front of the stage to ...

Bootsy Collins, The Undisputed Truth: Bootsy's Rubber Band: Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! (Warner Bros); The Undisputed Truth: Method To The Madness (Warner Bros)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

'Dock Of The Bay' was never like this! Soul Music shifts a gear ...

Christine Perfect/McVie, Paris: Christine McVie: The Legendary Christine Perfect Album (Sire Import); Paris: Big Towne, 2061 (Capitol)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

SUCCESS BREEDS success, states a music biz maxim, and under the altruistic banner of Services To The Public, any record company which has old or ...

The Blackbyrds, Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit (CBS); The Blackbyrds: Unfinished Business (Fantasy)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

Cliff White on recent soul ...

The J.A.L.N Band: J.A.L.N. Band: Life Is A Flight (Magnet)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

THIS BRITISH based band are closer to the mark than our previous two contestants, especially on stage where they cut a deeper groove than many ...

Joan Armatrading: If Only They Knew She Had The Power...

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

If you've got a taste for terror, take NICK KENT to interview JOAN ARMATRADING... ...

The Runaways: Queens Of Noise

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 January 1977

THE MAIN thing that's wrong with this album can be summed up in two words. They are Kim Fowley. Yes that's right. Fowley appears to ...

Buzzcocks: Teen Rebel Scores £250 From Dad

Profile by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

This feature bears the New Wave Seal of Quality ...

Chet Atkins, Les Paul: Chet Atkins and Les Paul: Chester And Lester (RCA)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

WELL NOW, this isn't exactly the kind of record that you hear every day of the week. ...

Gong, Allan Holdsworth: Gong: Gazeuse! (Virgin); Allan Holdsworth: Velvet Darkness (CTI import)

Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

THE PRESENT Gong lineup includes only three of the members of the line up on the last album Shamal. They are Didier Malherbe, Mireille Bauer ...

Elvis Presley: In Search of the Real Elvis

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

Otherwise known as an interview with FELTON JARVIS (Felton who???) ...

Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green: Peter Green Committed

Report by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

CHRIS SALEWICZ details the sad story of PETER GREEN, which last week culminated in a court-order committing him to mental hospital... ...

Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra/Asylum)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 February 1977

CUT THE crap, junior, he sez and put the hyperbole on ice. ...

Jerry Butler, Bobby Womack: Bobby Womack: Home Is Where The Heart Is (CBS); Jerry Butler: Suite For The Single Girl (Motown)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

Womack & Butler: Soul Survivors ...

Funkadelic, Parliament: Funkadelic: Hardcore Jollies/Parliament: The Clones Of Funkenstein

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

In the last 12 months no less than eight albums have escaped from this mind-bending menagerie and yet only one (Parliament's Mothership Connection on Casablanca) ...

Has Disco Soul Sold-Out?

Report and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

"I TELL YA, man, the blacks have sold out. Listen to the music. No meanin', no feelin', it's all about one thing... dance, dance, dance. ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Dancer With Bruised Knees (Warner Bros.)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

THE DIFFICULTIES of following an album not simply outstanding but universally acclaimed as such are only too apparent. Even a demonstrably first-class work could not ...

Utopia: Rundgren: Democratic Offal — Utopia: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

NICK KENT finds the brainiac kid wallowing in a four-way blitzkrieg bog. Deafened and demoralised, the only conclusion is: he was better on his Todd... ...

The Manhattans, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: The Manhattans vs The Blue Notes: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 February 1977

THEORETICALLY this bout should have provided at least a points-win decision in favour of Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, although, owing to recent personnel upsets in ...

Bandit: Bandit (Arista)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 February 1977

THE MIGHTY John Alcock, the producer who brought Thin Lizzy their success, performs here the most masterly musical illusions, which assist Bandit to deliver an ...

Procol Harum Triumph Over Worms

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 February 1977

That seems to be the gist of it. Like, if you're attacked by worms, here's some good news from a bunch of lads who've suffered ...

The Shadows

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 February 1977

Hank B. Marvin, Bruce Welch and Mick Farren chew the cud... ...

Frank Zappa: Torture Mama & Open Brain

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 19 February 1977

Frank Zappa: Hammersmith Odeon, London MILES gets his time organised ...

Frank Zappa: O.K. Frank, Let It Roll…

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 5 March 1977

IS THE CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY of your output macrostructure still operative? "Yes," nods Frank Zappa solemnly. ...

The Darts, Jerry Lee Lewis: Jerry Lee Lewis/The Darts: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 5 March 1977

"WANKER" "RUBBISH", "R o c k 'n' ROLLL!!!!!" screamed the frustrated bopper just behind my right eardrum. He wasn't the only one. A distinct rumble ...

Johnny Cash: The Last Gunfighter Ballad

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 5 March 1977

THE PICTURE on the cover shows Cash, head and shoulders, in a beat-up cowboy hat that looks like the one he wore in the movie ...

Iggy Pop: Iggy Said It, Iggy Had The Power, Iggy Had The Disease

Comment by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 March 1977

THINKING BACK, IT WAS almost a year ago to this very day when I last ran into Iggy. An assignment had got me holed up ...

Stuff: Stuff (Warner Bros)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 March 1977

STUFF CONSISTS of Cornell Dupree and Eric Gale (guitars), Stephen Gadd and Christopher Parker (drums), Gordon Edwards (bass), and Richard Tee (keyboards). ...

Ted Nugent: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 12 March 1977

WE'VE HEARD a great deal lately about how Ted Nugent abjures drugs and alcohol. Perhaps that's his mistake. The occasional soul searching high might have ...

Graham Parker, The Rumour: The Rumour: 'I Believe In Graham Parker'

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 March 1977

As The Rumour plan their own group LP, guitarist MARTIN BELMONT reaffirms his faith in Big G and the solidarity of the Parker/Rumour operation ...

Grateful Dead: Wake Of The Flood/From the Mars Hotel

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

THE GRATEFUL DEAD have always been a band whose work formed into waves and troughs. Wake Of The Flood is unfortunately one of the low ...

James Booker: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

SOME FOLKS need two tons of equipment, the LSO, and a bunch of chorus girls or a performing elephant to justify their reputation. James Carroll ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: Son Of Magical Pouting Panache

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

Yep, Here we go again. But this time it promises to be different. BOLAN MARC TWO makes his come-back on tour with The Damned, and ...

Spirit: Future Games — A Magical Kahauna Dream (Mercury Import)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

THE RETURN of Tab, Hunk and Dr. Sardonicus — more outrageously smooth than ever before. A new Spirit album is not only becoming a frequent ...

Buzzcocks, The Clash, The Slits, The Subway Sect: The Clash/Buzzcocks/Subway Sect/The Slits: Harlesden Colosseum, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

NICK KENT comes out of hiding to offer himself as a 'punk' sacrifice to the ritualistic 'beat' of THE CLASH, THE BUZZCOCKS, THE SUBWAY SECT ...

The Damned

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 March 1977

THE KID IN THE PUB doesn't believe I'm me. "You a roadie?" "I'm a writer." "Yeah?" He's already dubious. "Who do you write for then?" ...

Jan Hammer, Jeff Beck, Mike Bloomfield: Jeff Beck/The Jan Hammer Group: Live; Michael Bloomfield: If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

BECK IN Ongoing Fusion Situation (he blows it). Bloomfield Simply Plays The Blues (he makes it). ...

Pink Floyd: Eyeless In The Galaxy

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

Depressed? Anxious? Hung-up, man? Don't just sit there, bozo – get out and make money out of it! FREEWHEELIN' FARREN winds up out on the ...

Roger McGuinn: Bottom Line, New York City

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

A FLURRY of movement on a darkened stage then a sudden hit of déjà vu – that voice and the song and the long jangling ...

The Band: Islands (Capitol)

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

IT IS no accident that The Band have been the most bearded outfit in the rock business. They entered the public arena, when at all, ...

Richard Hell, Television, Tom Verlaine: Tom Verlaine: How Pleasant (?) To Know Mr Verlaine

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

OPINION: Tom Verlaine is a great songwriter, the next seminal rock charismatic, a genius.OPINION: Tom Verlaine is an egomaniac, a back-stabber, a thankless paranoid. ...

Tapper Zukie: Who is Tapper Zukie? And why are Patti Smith, Lenny Kave, and Penny Reel saying such nice things about him?

Profile and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 26 March 1977

Unfortunately, we don't have Patti or Lenny here to tell us. We DO have Penny Reel, who INSISTS he use this space to lord the ...

Alex Chilton: CBGBs, New York NY

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 2 April 1977

ALEX CHILTON is known for two things: 'The Letter', which he did when he was with The Box Tops, and his work with the legendary ...

Flying Hearts, Arthur Russell: Flying Hearts: Other End, New York NY

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 2 April 1977

WHEN JONATHAN Richman went acoustic, the other members of The Modern Lovers tried really hard to play with him but it just didn't work out. ...

Iggy Pop, The Stooges: IG and Super IG — Iggy Pop: The Idiot (RCA); The Stooges: The Stooges/Fun House (Elektra)

Review by Max Bell, Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 April 1977

Igs past and present collide in sonic fury as NICK KENT & MAX BELL once more grasp for the identity of the enIGma, quest for ...

Talking Heads: CBGBs, New York NY

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 2 April 1977

Yes, but who nicked the bog door? ...

Asleep at the Wheel

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

CAN AN ELEVEN-PIECE WESTERN SWING BAND EVER FIND WEALTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE WORLD OF ROCK'N'ROLL? ...

Dave Edmunds: Get It (Swan Song)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

FOR SOME TIME NOW, Dave Edmunds has been nearly legendary. He started as the minor league guitar king of Love Sculpture's 'Sabre Dance' fame, then ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: The Truth Behind The Break-up…

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

AS REPORTED in the news pages Dr. Feelgood have come apart at the seams, with Wilko Johnson going one way and the rest of the ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Dancer With Bruises

Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

THERE ARE three sisters altogether. Jane, the eldest, who sometimes plays organ on her sisters' records, lives a happily married life in California, and the ...

Mumps: Max's Kansas City, New York

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

...meanwhile MILES catches THE MUMPS New York style – and enjoys it ...

Ronnie Spector: Hi There, Big Boy! Wanna "Interview" Me?

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

Mmm-mm. Eighty-eight pounds of compact yumminess on parade for all you heavy guys out there. CLIFF WHITE, hot from New York, on delectable RONNIE SPECTOR's ...

Roy Harper: The Malady Lingers On

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

Not since Uncle Lou's days as The Zombie From Beyond The Grave has a rock show held such a morbid fascination. ...

The Beach Boys: The Beach Boys Love You (Warner-Reprise)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

A Psychology Today Special in which NICK KENT diagnoses a steady recovery for the Wilson muse. ...

The Stranglers: Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 April 1977

These young chaps have an album out soon. It would be strange if they didn't ...

Blondie: Max's Kansas City and The Palladium, NYC

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 16 April 1977

MAX'S KANSAS CITY has become a tourist rip-off joint – $5 admission and no way to see anything unless you booked a table. ...

Roy Harper: What Now For Roy Harper?

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 April 1977

IT'S UNLIKELY that Roy Harper would be admitted to a health and happiness club. Because of his seemingly chronic illness he is facing a real ...

The Boys, John Cale, Generation X: John Cale, Generation X, The Boys: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 23 April 1977

WILD WELSH ROCK: Lush valleys and terrifying peaks ...

Talking Heads: This Is A Minimalist Headline

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 23 April 1977

...for MILES' neo-structuralist look at New York hotshots Talking Heads ...

Cherry Vanilla, The Jam, The Stranglers: The Stranglers/The Jam/Cherry Vanilla: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 April 1977

THE JAM WERE scarcely halfway through their set at half past six when the geezer at the door of the Roundhouse told the 300-plus still ...

Van Morrison: A Period Of Transition (Warner Bros)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 April 1977

A MOST DISTRESSING set of circumstances is what we have here. ...

Atlanta Rhythm Section: Baby You Can't Drive My Car

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

THE ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION don't really get on well enough to travel in the same vehicle. There's a personality clash between the sober, introspective section ...

Fats Domino: Diamonds and Mr Domino

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

"I went on a two-week trial to Las Vegas... and stayed there for seventeen years" ...

John McLaughlin & Shakti: The Bottom Line, NYC

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

"McLAUGHLIN LOOKS GOOD with long hair," said Nancy. ...

Muddy Waters: The Blues Had A Baby… And They Called It Rock 'N' Roll

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

"THE KIND OF BLUES I play there's no money in it. You makes a good livin' when you gets established like I did, but you ...

Supertramp: Even In The Quietest Moments (A&M)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

SUPERBLAND ...

The Dead Boys: UK in the USA '77

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 30 April 1977

The Dead Boys: CBGBs, NYC ...

Deniece Williams: Don't Mess with the Celestial Hitman...

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

DENIECE WILLIAMS, whose amazing rise to fame began when she was removed from a nursing college to work with Stevie Wonder and tour with the ...

Eric Clapton, Ronnie Lane: Eric Clapton: Clapton God Again

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

Eric Clapton/Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Irma Thomas: Live

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

RECORDED at the 1976 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, from which a live double-album of various acts was recently reviewed by Roy Carr, this ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: Nuggets

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

NOT CONTENT with unearthing far more previously unissued recordings from the Sun vaults than those that were released during the label's prime time, and recycling ...

Slade: Ar The Kidz Owt've Site Shock Probe

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

BANDS DON'T readily admit to being yesterday's heroes...so Slade, not long ago one of Britain's most celebrated bands, will only acknowledge that they've been through ...

The Chi-Lites: Theatre Royal, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

THE HOUSE LIGHTS dimmed and the musicians took their places. There was a buzz of activity on the darkened stage for a minute or so ...

The Jacksons, Wild Cherry: Convention Arena, Fort Worth, Texas

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

A LABEL CHANGE and a substitution of brothers doesn't seem to have harmed the famous five some's charisma any. Michael's still up front and he, ...

Valerie Wilmer: "Art is a luxury. Music is a functional thing."

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 7 May 1977

Photographer-writer VALERIE WILMER opts for unlearning and the sovereignty of the heart ...

Asleep At the Wheel: The Wheel (Capitol)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

I'D BEEN beginning to think there wasn't that much happening on the live front until I saw Asleep At The Wheel at Hammersmith last week. ...

Joe Tex: Bumps 'n' bruises in Fayette, Mississippi: On tour with Joe Tex

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

THE SUN burns out of a clear blue sky like in all the best travel brochures; the air is warm and moist and heavy with ...

Chuck Berry: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

THERE'S NO BETTER indication of the pervasive and thorough influence of Chuck Berry than the fact that he could go almost anywhere and the chances ...

Delbert McClinton: Love Rustler

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

IN THE grand tradition of Elvis and Tony Joe White this is white, southern r'n'b. ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: Sneakin' Suspicion (United Artists)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

Is there a doctor in the house? CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY thinks the FEELGOODS might just need one… ...

Elton John: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

THE SOCIAL division between rock star and audience is usually more obvious than it was at the Rainbow last Monday night. ...

Ian Hunter: What A Hunter He Turned Out To Be

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

ONE THING YOU GOTTA HAND to Ian Hunter: the old bastard knows how to make an entrance. ...

Tom Waits: Sound Circus, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 May 1977

APTLY ENOUGH, since he lives in hotels for ten months of every year, Tom Waits was born in the back of a taxi. His description ...

David Peel, John Lennon: Beatle Freak: Lennon Talks

Report by Miles, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

DAVID PEEL and the Apple Band have released an album dedicated to that all-American cause of re-uniting The Beatles. ...

Denny Laine, Wings: Denny Laine: Holly Days

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

THERE ARE some people who can do it, and there are others who can't. It's as simple as that. ...

Dr. Feelgood: Exeter University, Exeter

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

NO FLASH hyperbole, no frills on this one, reet, because, contrary to more than one sneaking suspicion, this new-fangled Feelgoods practice is in fine fettle ...

Elliott Murphy: Just A Story From America (CBS)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

A FEW years ago, Rolling Stone printed a sizeable review of the first albums by Elliott Murphy and Bruce Springsteen, assessing them as contenders for ...

David Byron, Ian Gillan: Ian Gillan: Clear Air Turbulence (Island); Rough Diamond: Rough Diamond (Island)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

WHAT KIND of future can Heavy Metal orphans really look forward to once they fall from grace? ...

John Mayall: Falkshaus, Zurich

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

AS A TALENT scout John Mayall is a shrewd, calculating operator with few equals. Now with 26 albums to his credit and almost as many ...

Little Feat: Time Loves A Hero (Warners)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

MIGHT AS WELL jump in at the deep end and ask you to indulge in some consumer advice research. ...

Mink DeVille: Mink DeVille

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

THE WORD from over there was that Mink De Ville were probably the tightest and best musically organised outfit in the whole of the C.B.G.B.'s ...

The Ramones: Notes on Minimalism (or Learning To Live With The Ramones)

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

THERE'S BEEN A LOT of loose talk, and it has got to stop. Ever since The Ramones blundered into the blinding spotlight of international rock ...

Split Enz: Sheffield University, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

THE IDEA that a rock band from New Zealand should possess any merit whatsoever strikes many as ludicrously funny; the idea that such an antipodean ...

Talking Heads: Rock Garden, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 May 1977

AS FAR AS I'm concerned, this last week has been a monumental one for live rock. ...

George Benson: Benson Hedges His Bets...

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 28 May 1977

When 'jazz guitar' rises on the Dow-Jones Index you know there's been a crossover. GEORGE BENSON made the switch from beret to broader base but ...

Bob Marley & The Wailers: Exodus (Island)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 May 1977

THE REVOLUTION may not be televised, but sure as death and taxes it'll be packaged... the sleeve of this album looks like a Cecil B. ...

Grateful Dead: My Night With The Dead

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 28 May 1977

IT'S LIKE GOING back home."Acid!""Acid, black beauties!""Acid!""You got any pot to sell?""No, man, all I got is acid and black beauties."What else could it be ...

Herbie Hancock: V.S.O.P.

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 28 May 1977

WHEN THIS was recorded in June 1976 as part of the Newport jazz festival, it came from an evening grandly titled a 'retrospective of the ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: Now You See Him. Now You Don't.

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

The goods on the Feelgoods: did Wilko fall or was he pushed? ...

Elliott Murphy: Bottom Line, NY

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

I WAS HALFWAY through my cheeseburger when Elliott Murphy hit stage. He was greeted by the kind of applause that is reserved for unknowns who ...

Millie Jackson, Minnie Riperton: Feminism Is, Uh, Like Skinning Cats...

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

...or something like that, so it says here, in this double-date interview with Mss MINNIE RIPERTON and MILLIE JACKSON ...

George Duke: From Me To You

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

AFTER MORE than six years and eight albums with Frank Zappa (which must be something of a record), after five solo albums for the small ...

MC5: Kick Out The Jams (Elektra)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

‘BROTHERS AND sisters...the time has come for each and every one of you to decide whether you are going to be the problem or whether ...

New York: Suddenly It's A Hell Of A Town Again…

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

And why? Because folks have got nothing to lose. Because it's happening, it's exciting, life is fun again and people aren't ashamed to have a ...

The Sex Pistols: Rotten Is Mum's Boy Shock

Report by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

NO MATTER how much criticism a young boy incites by his allegedly outrageous behaviour there's always somebody who will lovingly stand by him. His mum. ...

Tony Joe White: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 4 June 1977

IT'S MIDNIGHT, and I'm still dazed from a bolt out of the blue which hit me some time around 1.15 this afternoon. Completely unexpectedly, Tony ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: Jahve, Mon

Comment by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 June 1977

We know where we're going,We know where we're fromWe're from Babylon Bob Marley – 'Exodus' ...

Dickey Betts: Movin' On Out Of The Macon Mess

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 June 1977

I GUESS it's fair to say that Dickey Betts was the one member of The Allman Brothers to come out of the convoluted saga of ...

Neil Young: American Stars'n'Bars (Reprise)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 June 1977

Neil: bad judgment...or just a bad liver? ...

Rush: The Rush Phenomenon

Report by Paul Morley, Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 June 1977

This band has fans. Lots of them. They sold out the Free Trade Hall and surprised even the promoter. PAUL MORLEY asks why, PAUL RAMBALI ...

Al Jarreau: Look To The Rainbow — Live

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

OF THE twelve songs here, four are from his first two albums, two are throwaway versions of show-tunes and the remaining six are new material. ...

Buzzcocks, John Cooper Clarke, Joy Division, Penetration: Buzzcocks, Penetration, John Cooper Clarke, Warsaw: Electric Circus, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

THERE IS undoubtedly a great deal of refining and cleaning to be done on Buzzcocks' material before the album they can so definitely record comes ...

Queen: Freddie Mercury: Is This Man a Prat?

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

FREDDIE MERCURY has always liked to dance the Millionaire's Waltz. There's a story about him, dating back to his days as an impoverished student, which ...

Greg Kihn, The Rubinoos: Greg Kihn: Again; The Rubinoos: The Rubinoos (Beserkley)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

JOHNNY RAMONE recently pointed out that, if they had come out now instead of the mid-60’s, 'You Really Got Me' and 'Doo Wah Diddy' wouldn’t ...

Ian Hunter: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

Mutton dressed as lamb ...

Taj Mahal: Music Fuh Ya (Musica Para Tu) (Warner Brothers); A Taj Mahal Anthology Vol. 1 (CBS import)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

Taj Me In The Morning ...

The Heavy Metal Kids, Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

Rainbow rub out ...

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, The Ramones: The Ramones: So The New Wave Have Scruples Too

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 June 1977

JOHNNY RAMONE is quite definitely pissed off. ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Alex Harvey: The Meat Of The Matter

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

A discussion of the respective virtues of sheep's brains, raw mince, or monkey's brains sucked through a straw. Plus a bit about ALEX HARVEY. ...

Aretha Franklin: Sweet Passion

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

WHAT to do with Aretha Franklin? The question must echo around Atlantic's New York offices whenever it's time for her to make another record. ...

Crosby Stills and Nash: Crosby Stills & Nash: CSN (Atlantic)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

PREDICTABLY IT'S a creeping disease on this waterfront. After all everyone knew that Crosby, Stills and Nash would have to get back together sooner or ...

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: Anthology

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

IF MARTHA and the Vandellas had never made another record 'Dancing In The Street' would still have assured them of a hallowed place in pop ...

Tony Joe White: Still Going Strong - Polk Salad Annie: It (and She)

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

THERE'S AN intangible something about Tony Joe White that puts me in mind of Elvis; but whoever he looks like, he is disgustingly handsome. ...

Talking Heads: Are These Guys Trying To Give Rock A Bad Name?

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

TALKING HEADS: it's a term they use up in the high-rise skyscrapers that house all the cogs in the corporate machinery cranking out network television ...

The Commodores: Zoom

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

THIS ALBUM has caused me I more brain damage than my love life and if I didn't think it was worth the hassle I'd have ...

The Police: The Table, The Police: Music Machine, Camden, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 June 1977

A BAND THAT calls itself The Table must, at the very least, lack sound commercial principles — and will hopefully have something novel to offer. ...

Demis Roussos: A Shadow Darkens The Sun...

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 2 July 1977

TONY STEWART sights DEMIS ROUSSOS off Beachy Head. ...

Bob Dylan: For Dylanologists Only (Otherwise v Boring)

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 2 July 1977

LAST YEAR Thrills (NME's news pages – RBP Ed) ran a transcript of Bob Dylan's first interview. It was done by Billy James of Columbia ...

999, The Saints: The Saints, 999: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 2 July 1977

THERE IS A TEMPTATION to regard The Saints as comic. This stems from a number of idiosyncratic things about them, not least of which is ...

Bad Company: Earl's Court, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE 15,000 DISGUISED PUNKS ...

The Bay City Rollers, The Sex Pistols: GLC v Punk: Move Over, Sid Vicious

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

GLC Tory jumps on "Good Kickin'" bandwagon ...

Laura Nyro: Season Of Lights (Live)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

THERE'S something about Laura Nyro that inspires devotion in her followers. ...

Alternative TV: Life after punk?

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

Alternative TV: The Roxy, London FROM A MOVEMENT to a fashion. Johnny Rotten said in a recent interview that "the whole idea of our band ...

Michael Jackson: Show You The Way to the Infirmary

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

MICHAEL JACKSON proves you don't have to be a punk to get the benefits of the health service. ...

The Isley Brothers: Go For Your Guns (Epic)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

"YOU GET some writers saying, 'Why don't you do something like you did before?' They think they really want it but at the same time ...

X-Ray Spex: Plastic table cloths in the UK '77

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 9 July 1977

X-Ray Spex: Man In The Moon, Chelsea ...

The Rolling Stones: Advance Warning of New Meisterworks Department

Report by Miles, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

Stones: Got Duff Chord Changes If You Want THE ROLLING STONES — even Bill and Charlie — have all been in New York this ...

Detective: Detective

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

WHEN MICHAEL Des Barres was sojourning in London, going through the motions of Silverhead and other assorted, third division glitzkid antics, I always got the ...

Johnny Nash: New Victoria, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

FOR HIS first appearance on a British theatre stage (I think he once toured the USAF bases) in over 20 years of recording, Johnny Nash ...

KISS: Pinocchio Reversed

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

From human beings to cardboard cut-outs. Kiss defy orthopaedic surgery... ...

Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann, Tangerine Dream: The 120 Decibel Dream - Warning: This Page is Heavy

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

TANGERINE DREAM have released an album — Stratosfear — written a movie score for Friedkin, completed a successful American tour and two members have released ...

Frankie Miller: The Everything's-Coming-Up-Roses-For-Frankie Miller Headline

Report and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

ONLY SOMEONE as talented as Frankie Miller could have afforded to be so profligate with his gifts. He's a survivor, sure, but it's been a ...

This Heat: Chelsea College Of Art, London

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

THERE ARE weird gigs, and there are weird gigs, but this one stands as the weirdest I've attended since the memorable time Faust caused a ...

XTC: Music Machine

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 16 July 1977

ONLY A FEW NIGHTS EARLIER there'd been a brawl in the Music Machine involving the Boom Town [sic] Rats, but in the cold atmosphere while ...

Woody Guthrie: Growin’ Fat on the Grapes of Wrath

Retrospective by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 23 July 1977

LAST YEAR they tried it with Leadbelly, the year before it was Lenny Bruce, this year they're doing it with Woody Guthrie. It seems like, ...

Pink Floyd: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 23 July 1977

THE FLOYD sure picked a fine week to appear in New York. Not only was it the eve of July 4th, but also it was ...

The Mamas and the Papas: The Best Of The Mamas and The Papas

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 23 July 1977

REMEMBER THOSE fabulous '60s? The protest marches? The draft card burnings? All those wandering boot heels? You had to swat the little bastards before they ...

Mink DeVille: Willie the Mink: Street Elite, Just Cruisin’ on the Neat Beat

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 23 July 1977

Mink DeVille: Bottom Line, NYC ...

Average White Band, Ben E. King: Ben E. King/Average White Band: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

THIS ISN'T an original thought but it bears repeating: Ben E. King is an excellent singer, and highly individual with it – unmistakeable in a ...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Island Records, Hammersmith, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

THE KING ARRIVES ALIVE ...

Generation X, The Lurkers: Generation X/The Lurkers: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

YOU KNOW THAT immense sense of relief that hits you when you get through the one album in every twenty or so that you might ...

Grateful Dead: Terrapin Station (Arista)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

Dead Still Riding The Rods of the Celestial Train ...

Little Richard: Is This the Start of A WOPBOPALOOBOPALOPBAM BOOM?

Report and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

(Or... will the real Little Richard please stand up) ...

Kiss: Love Gun

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

"Hey, Gene.""What, Peter?""What are we doing in one of Farren's record reviews?" ...

Buzzcocks, Howard Devoto, The Fall: Manchester: They Mean It Maaanchester

Overview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

MANCHESTER as a Rock and Roll town just didn't use to exist. It fed dutifully off London, and there were frequent visits from groups to ...

Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Rockpile: The Rockpile Tapes

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 July 1977

DAVE EDMUNDS HAS had his definitive quote on Nick Lowe's talents down pat for a long while now. "There are loads of guys around in ...

Big Star: Big Star Burns Real Slow

Overview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

For almost ten years now, Alex Chilton has resolutely resisted successive attempts by the rock press to deify him. ...

The Beach Boys: CBS Convention: Beach Boys Party

Report by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

BEACH BOYS PARTY FOR CHOSEN 1,600 ...

James Taylor: J. T. (CBS)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

BACK IN 71, it seemed that the Sweet Baby was every body's favourite. He'd already had a massive hit with 'Fire And Rain', while a ...

Little Feat: Free Trade Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

FEAT HEAD OFF FOR FRAMPTON ZONE?!! ...

Patti Smith: Roll Over, Rimbaud (tell Marc Bolan the news)

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

Patti Smith: The Village Gate, NYC ...

Squeeze: The Albany, Deptford

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

THE ALBANY is one of those places – and there aren't many – that can get packed to the rafters, sweaty and messy, and still ...

The Beach Boys: The Brothers

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

A long-running family saga continues: California fnurgs dump on U.K. public... ...

The Sex Pistols: The Social Rehabilitation of the Sex Pistols

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

THE PROSPEROUS CYBORGS at the next table in the backroom of this expensive Stockholm eating-place are sloshing down their coffee as fast as they possibly ...

The Vibrators: Marquee, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

THE TWO-FINGER salute put in a surprise appearance at The Vibrators' gig on Sunday. Whether the dozen pairs of arms frantically waving V signs were ...

Wayne County & The Electric Chairs: Wayne County: Electric Circus, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 August 1977

UPSTAIRS IN THE tiny Electric Circus dressing room Wayne County fussily fumbles and fidgets; he's got to look just right. He's wearing a crisp fawn ...

Bootsy Collins: Space Bass Reveals Plans for Planetary Domination

Report by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

Bootsy's Rubber Band, Funkadelic: On video, from... Houston, Texas ...

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers: Rock 'n' roll with The Modern Lovers (Beserkley)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

A FRIEND of mine who has seen The Modern Lovers reckons they're the best band he's seen in about ten years, since The Who in ...

Mink DeVille: Just Another Tough'n'Tender Street Poet Outta New Yawk

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

Now Spanish music plays in my hallway And the wind blows through my door And my mind is out on the corner And my eyes ...

Ry Cooder & The Chicken Skin Revue: Show Time (Warner Bros.)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

Cooder tat no Coup d'etat (geddit?) ...

Steely Dan

Retrospective by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

While the poor people sleep-in with the shade on the light While the poor people sleepin' all the stars come out at night – 'Show ...

Betty Wright, KC & the Sunshine Band, Latimore: The Miami Transfer: Florida Soul

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

AFTER SEVERAL year's of British release through President Records, earlier this year Henry Stone's Miami-based TK conglomerate switched outlets to RCA who have ...

Ultravox Brave Evil Rumours

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 13 August 1977

THE THING about Ultravox is that they're ultra-confident — and cynical observers haven't failed to point out that confidence comes easy when it's backed by ...

Eric Clapton: The Bullring, Ibiza

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 August 1977

IBIZA IS A VERY LONG way from the high pressure world of first division rock and roll. From the ancient Spanish women shrouded in all-concealing ...

Supertramp

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 August 1977

Whaaat? we hear you gasp. Supertramp? Guess you thought the punks had it all sewn up, huh? Well, you ain't heard nothin' yet. The war ...

MC5, Wayne Kramer: Wayne Kramer: Broke, Busted, Disgusted, Agents Can't Be Trusted

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 20 August 1977

Former MC5 guitarist WAYNE KRAMER live from Lexington Penitentiary, talks to MAX BELL about times past and time passing ...

Elvis Costello

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

IT'S BEEN a rough old week for Elvis Costello. Last weekend he was right up there in the play lists with his 'Red Shoes' single ...

Elvis Presley is Dead

Obituary by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

IT WAS ONE OF THE worst storms to hit London since God knows when. The thunder rolled, lightning flashed and the rain hammered into the ...

Iggy Pop: Lust For Life (RCA)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

GOG AND MAGOG?! No, Dog And Maindog. A Pure Pop Person Pleads Sanity. MAX BELL Was At The Hearings. ...

Johnny Winter, Nils Lofgren: Nils Lofgren, Johnny Winter: University of Texas, Dallas

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

THE UNIVERSITY of Texas auditorium was packed and standing with 3,300 big people. Some were seven foot tall, wearing Stetson hats, cowboy boots and chewing ...

The Slits, Steel Pulse: Slits, Steel Pulse: Clouds, Brixton, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

Once more the NME asks the question on the lips of thousands: Is this woman a prat? Yup, 'fraid so says PENNY REEL ...

Ted Nugent: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

WHY AMERICA is anxious to develop the Proton Beam Weapon, when they already have Megadecibel in the shape of Ted Nugent, is a question perhaps ...

The Meters: New Directions

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

SINCE THIS album was recorded it's reported that The Meters have succumbed to the clash of personalities and aspirations that's dogged their career for several ...

The Only Ones: I Have Seen The Future Of…etc. pt 52

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

"FLARED TROUSERS...FLARED TROUSERS...", the audience at the Marquee taunt brightly. On stage, the Only Ones are sticking together the kind of set that makes most ...

Gong: UFOs Over The UK '77 — Gong: Gong Live, Etc. (Virgin)

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 August 1977

Old H*pp**s Never Die — They Just Release Live Albums ...

Ultravox: Patchy Enough, But Powerful

Live Review by Chas de Whalley, New Musical Express, September 1977

ULTRAVOX HAVE come in for their share of criticism since Island Records launched them with a bang eight months ago and amidst the flashing lights ...

Ash Ra Tempel: Regents Park, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 3 September 1977

IT WAS a warm, moist evening — ideal for sitting on damp grass and peering at laser beams through your wineglass. A perfect bring-along-the-doggie-and-the-kids hippie ...

Lowell George, Little Feat: Fear and Loathing in Little Feat?

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 September 1977

LOWELL GEORGE IS NOT HAPPY. BILL PAYNE IS BEING DIPLOMATIC. THRILLS IS ALL EARS. ...

The Clash: God, What A Bummer! Stuck Here With Joe Strummer!

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 3 September 1977

THE CLASH AT BELSEN... 'ALL JOURNALISTS ARE SWINE' BY CHRIS SALEWICZ, WHO DUCKS AND RUNS. ...

Diana Ross, The Supremes: Diana Ross and the Supremes: 20 Golden Greats

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 10 September 1977

IF THEY weren't the highest form, they sure as hell were the most refined. The three-piece girl vocal group is almost a dying art. Only ...

John Cale: Fan Fare for the Uncommon Man

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 10 September 1977

AARON COPELAND DIDN'T know what he was letting the world in for when he sent John Cale a letter authorising the young Welshman's scholarship at ...

Thin Lizzy: A Peep Into The Soul Of Phil Lynott

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 10 September 1977

A black Irishman – the son of a Brazilian seaman; a Roman Catholic of uncatholic lifestyle; a bass playing poet in a rock 'n' roll ...

Aerosmith: Quest For The Man In Glitter Wellies

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 September 1977

AEROSMITH get stuck in European mud. And NICK KENT, picking his way carefully around the problem, concludes that the U.S. giants may be bogged down ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: Be Seeing You

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 September 1977

MAYBE IT'S FREUDIAN. The Feelgoods have picked up on a motif from The Prisoner for the title of this album and, in some ways, they're ...

The Jam: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 September 1977

THE NEW WAVE scene is arguably more interesting now than ever, as the big five or six bands are being forced to consolidate their first ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: A Fan's Tribute

Comment by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 September 1977

IT'S DULLY strange — just a few fast days after reading and hearing the effect on so many lives that Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' had — ...

Nona Hendryx, Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel/Nona Hendryx: Live in Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 24 September 1977

NONA HENDRYX possesses all the lumps and bumps, (in abundance), in all the right places, and flaunts her curvacity in a performance which promises sexuality ...

Marc Bolan, John's Children, T. Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex: Rock and Roll Heart: Marc Bolan 1947-1977

Obituary by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 24 September 1977

MARC BOLAN was born on September 30, 1947, in Hackney Hospital, East London, the second son of Sid and Phyllis Feld. ...

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes: Southside Johnny: If You Can't Take The Heat

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 September 1977

A BRIEF NATTER over a can of beer in a tent that's tripling as a refreshment bar, dressing room and rehearsal area is not the ...

The Rolling Stones: Love You Live (Rolling Stones Records)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 September 1977

JUST UNDER a minute into the first side – there's been the usual audience mayhem, a snippet of exotic percussion, cannons firing, about four bars ...

Ian Dury: New Boots And Panties!! (Stiff)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 1 October 1977

WHAT WE have in New Boots And Panties!! is a long overdue solo album from one of Britain's most unique and uncompromising talents. ...

Jonathan Richman Melts An Old Cynic's Heart

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 October 1977

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Maze: Maze (Capitol)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 1 October 1977

ALTHOUGH THIS is the seven-piece group's first album as Maze they've each paid dues in various guises for years. It shows. With one concerted effort ...

Sham 69 Shake Down 77

Report by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 1 October 1977

AFTER A WEEK of cloud-sealed gloom the sun shone down on London on Friday pushing the lunchtime temperature to 63 degrees. The vibes seemed auspicious ...

Genesis, Peter Gabriel: The Re-Genesis Of Peter Gabriel

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 1 October 1977

For someone who once accepted the Noble Order Of The Pension Book, this chap is rather lively. TONY STEWART saw him knocking out audiences at ...

Dire Straits: Hope & Anchor, Islington

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

NOT AN obvious little band, this. ...

Dwight Twilley Band: Twilley Don't Mind (Shelter)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

ALL THE OMENS seem up there in the ascendant for Dwight Twilley. All the rock critics love him to death and even the most austere ...

Magazine: This Man Is Not A Minor Writer!

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

For a start he's dispensed with words! ...

The Slits, The Subway Sect: Subway Sect, Slits: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

Some-of-us-take-this-seriously Productions present: THE CAVORTINGS OF CREATIVE PEOPLE ...

Richard Hell, Talking Heads: Talking Heads: Talking Heads '77; Richard Hell & The Voidoids: Blank Generation

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

LAST MONTH the more alert London habituee got the chance to compare England's new wave inner-workings with those of its fore-runner over in New York ...

Dr. Feelgood, Wilko Johnson: Wilko Johnson: Wilko Not Buried Yet

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 8 October 1977

WITH DOCTOR Feelgood moving into the charts and just embarked on a headlining nationwide tour, one question still hangs around the street corner waiting to ...

Brothers Johnson: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 October 1977

AS BONES OF contention go, there is currently none more fat and juicy than the one being wrestled between the main pack of legit music ...

Deniece Williams / Lenny Williams: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 October 1977

REGULAR PATRONS of theatre gigs in Britain have become so wary, not to say weary, of suffering rent-a-stooge warm-up acts that many now don't bother ...

Elvis Presley: Junk, junk food junk prose (pulpitations for all)

Book Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 15 October 1977

Red West, Sonny West, Dave Hebler, as told to Steve Dunleavy: Elvis – What Happened? ...

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger Hits Out At Everything In Sight!

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 October 1977

IF ONLY IT HADN'T all been so damnedly, unrelentingly...uh...amicable. ...

Weather Report: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 15 October 1977

JOE ZAWINUL's mob are the one band I would never expect to let me down – and although Weather Report didn't quite do that, they ...

Bob Seger: Palace Theatre, Manchester

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 22 October 1977

THAT IT should have taken Bob Seger so long to receive his just reward is in itself one of the more disgraceful cases of rock ...

Graham Parker, The Rumour: Graham Parker: Shades Of The Pink Parker

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 October 1977

NINE WAYS TO AVOID THE HEAT TREATMENT ...

Leo Sayer: The Palladium, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 October 1977

THE VERY idea of Leo Sayer trotting about the hallowed stage of the Palladium is enough to have him executed by any gang of rock ...

801: Phil Manzanera / 801: Victoria Palace, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 29 October 1977

THERE IS something to be said for the notion that Phil Manzanera's music, as such, doesn't exist. Listening to it is like watching a chameleon ...

Santana: Moonflower

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 29 October 1977

YOU HAVE to hand it to him. Carlos Santana may only know a handful of licks, but at least they're attractive — like the moment ...

Sleaze: The '70s

Overview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 October 1977

THE MUTANTS, the dwarfs and the all night girls (that's right, the ones who still brag about escapades out on the D train, despite the ...

The Tubes: What is Our Role in the Universe?

Profile and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 29 October 1977

These young people are pondering the question that has perturbed all the great philosophers since time immemorial and beyond: WHAT'S the barbed wire doing over ...

Blue Oyster Cult: Spectres

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 5 November 1977

SINCE 1971 this band has been one of the few HM perpetrators worth listening to. Since 1974's Secret Treaties it has been only one. If ...

Iggy Pop, The Ramones: Iggy Pop: Cobo Arena, Detroit

Live Review by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 5 November 1977

Iggy suffers metallic KO, Ramones rule OK? ...

The Jam: This Is The Modern World

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 5 November 1977

SO THIS is the modern world. I'm glad they told me. For an instant I'd thought I'd been transported back to 1965. Flashback on flashback ...

Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe: The Stiff Tour: Stiffs Drugs And Rock 'N' Roll

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 November 1977

"SEX AND drugs and rock and roll...sex and drugs and rock and roll...sex and drugs and rock and roll..." Hot damn, m'man, Leicester University is ...

Bob Seger: The Michigan Marvel

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

ON THE covers of several of Bob Seger's albums there's this curious production credit to "Punch". ...

David Bowie: Who Was That (Un)masked Man?

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

CHRIST, HOW LONG has it been? Four years, man, and I set up the tape machine – Bowie attempting to balance the microphone on top ...

Burning Spear: Dry and Heavy in the Ozone: Burning Spear at the Rainbow

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

IN THAT it (a) got me truly into reggae, and (b) has continued to stand as a symbol of the truth and beauty that all ...

Gong: Magik Brother, Mystic Sister; Gong Est Mort — Vive Gong!

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

TWO CHAPTERS in the life of Daevid Allen, space dingo and nomad of nonsense. ...

Joan Armatrading: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

AS ANY regular user of London's Underground rail network can testify, not all of the strolling troubadours who jostled for recognition in the balmy '60s ...

Tyla Gang: Sean Tyla: Beserkley Badass Braggadoccio

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

ISN'T THIS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS? ...

Sham 69: Don't Follow Leaders

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

JIMMY PURSEY bursts upon you. He is a natural. A natural natural. Distortion in the media can colour reputations wrongly, especially the reputation of fulsome ...

Smokey Robinson: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 12 November 1977

BILL-TOPPERS usually command a bigger stage area and more musicians than opening acts, but on this occasion the position was reversed for Viola Wills with ...

Ben Sidran: The Doctor Is In (Arista)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

IN SOME ways Sidran is an anachronism. Though he's got something of a rock pedigree after paying his dues as side man with Steve Miller, ...

Weather Report: Boing

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

DOWNSTAIRS AT Newcastle's City Hall, Josef Zawinul has just made a very astute point. "All the originators are always great," he repeats, looking inquisitively close ...

LaBelle: Chameleons Rising

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

Nona Hendryx and Patti Labelle unveil their new aspirations ...

The Darts: Darts: Darts (Magnet)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

THEY PROBABLY won't thank me for saying so, but there's no getting around the fact that there are marked – if only coincidental – similarities ...

Levon Helm: Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars (ABC)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

LEVON HELM was the kid who went north in the late 50s with a rockabilly singer called Ronnie Hawkins, whose talents were dime-a dozen in ...

Little Richard: Little Richard Now (Creole)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

AT IRREGULAR intervals throughout the 20 years since he cut about a dozen of the greatest rock'n'roll records ever made, Little Richard has re-re-recorded the ...

Rod Stewart: The Latest Rod Stewart Album

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

TONY STEWART makes the Atlantic Crossing to queue up for a Night On The Town down Millionaire's Row (oops, sorry, Gasoline Alley) with ol' Smiler ...

The Hollywood Binliner: L.A. Punk

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

THERE ARE 70 PUNKS IN L.A. – HERE'S MOST OF 'EM... ...

The Motors: The Motors Show

Profile by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

STUCK FOR a suitable opening gambit? You could start with the name, I guess. ...

The Tubes: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 19 November 1977

THE TUBES recorded their two debut London gigs for a live album. This was indicative of either supreme confidence or supreme folly – ...

Brian Eno, Roxy Music: Eno Part 1: Before and After Science — Accidents Will Happen

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 26 November 1977

Thinking about music with BRIAN ENO. Some monologues recorded and compiled by IAN MacDONALD. ...

Richard Hell, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Richard Hell & The Voidoids, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 26 November 1977

THERE IS something about the Music Machine in Camden Town that severely dulls one's capacity for enjoyment of an evening of live rock. ...

Stan Getz: You Getz what you deservz

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 26 November 1977

...Says Stan the Tenorman, with no time for hard luck stories and strong opinions on everything. He talks to BRIAN CASE ...

Brian Eno, David Bowie: Eno Part 2: Another False World — How to Make A Modern Record

Interview by Ian MacDonald, New Musical Express, 3 December 1977

Thinking about music with BRIAN ENO. Some more monologues recorded and compiled by IAN MacDONALD. ...

Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne: Ozzy Osbourne: Beyond Black Sabbath

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 3 December 1977

IN THE PAST Ozzy Osbourne has often over-dramatised the state of both his mental and physical health, but as he now relates his reasons for ...

The Commodores: Live (Motown)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 3 December 1977

So this is Christmas: The Voice of Young Amerika! ...

Wilko Johnson: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 December 1977

THERE WAS something almost malevolently horrible about the atmosphere in Dingwall's when Wilko Johnson's band debuted there last Thursday. ...

Generation X: Roundhouse, Chalk Farm

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

THE FIRST TIME I encountered Generation X (or at least their lead singer/figurehead Billy Idol) it left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. ...

Nina Simone, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

YOU CAN'T keep tabs on everybody all the time. It wasn't until this concert was announced that I realised there hasn't been much heard from, ...

Bob Dylan: Renaldo Zimmerman and the Cubist Movie

Report by Miles, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

WHEN THE ROLLING THUNDER Revue ended two years ago, Bob Dylan took the 400 hours of film footage that had been shot during the tour ...

Stevie Wonder: Anthology

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

ON AUGUST 5th, 1975, Stevie Wonder signed an historic contract with Motown. Apart from the little matter of a $13 million guarantee, the deal reputedly ...

The Modern Lovers: Modern Lovers Live (Beserkley)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

JONATHAN RICHMAN reminds me irresistibly of Fotherington-Thomas in the old Nigel Molesworth books: forever skipping about burbling "Hello sun, hello trees, hello sky." ...

The Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious: The Sid Vicious Guide To London Hotels

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

IT WAS AT THE A&M Sex Pistols press conference, convened early this year, that newly appointed group bassist Sid Vicious gave his brusque views on ...

Burning Spear: Winston Rodney is Burning Spear

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 10 December 1977

Is The Man In The Hills, is The Sound Of The Present Age ...

Aerosmith: Draw The Line (Columbia Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

AEROFLOP! ...

The Dictators: Dictators Debunk New York Chic

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

SO WHY IS DICK Manitoba nicknamed Handsome? ...

Greg Kihn: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

BY WAY of introduction, says Greg Kihn, short, smiling, bopping, "We're from Berkeley; that means we don't give a shit about nothing". ...

Lonnie Donegan: The Lonnie Donegan File (Pye)

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

TAKES YOU back a bit, doesn't it? I'd almost thought the world had forgotten about Lonnie Donegan. Which was really a crying shame since Donegan, ...

The Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious: Never Mind The Sex Pistols, Here Comes The Wrath Of Sid!

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

IT WAS the last day in November when the whole ugly mess finally exploded. Sid Vicious, the bass player of The Sex Pistols, had once ...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Requiem For Rahsaan

Obituary by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

THE DEATH of Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the age of 41, shortly after playing two concerts with his group, The Vibration Society, at Indiana University ...

Rick Danko: Rick Danko (Arista)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

IT'S ODD that the least prodigious songwriters in The Band should be the quickest to deliver solo goods. First Levon Helm and now, hot on ...

Thin Lizzy: Gobi Gobi Hey!

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 17 December 1977

AN ANECDOTE: hopeful young Irish band up in London for the first time. Their bass player – Philip Lynott by name – is exploring the ...

Johnny Winter: Dis Man am de Saviour of de Blues. An’ Dis am no Joke...

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 24 December 1977

Live from Fort Worth, Texas: JOHNNY WINTER talks to Miles ...because it seems like the world's whitest blues player is really getting it together after ...

John Martyn: This Man Is A Walking, Playing Bag of His Own

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 24 December 1977

"ACTUALLY," ADMITS John Martyn, as he gives in to one of the great groundswells of spluttering, infectious laughter that carry along his speech, "I see ...

The Ramones, The Rezillos: Market Hall, Carlisle

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 December 1977

THE WORD used all day was surreal. ...

J. Geils Band: Sanctuary

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1978

"TAKE OUTCHA false teeth, mama...I wanna sssssssssuck on your gums!" ...

Ray Charles: Renaissance (London)

Review by Mick Brown, New Musical Express, 1978

TO SEE a Ray Charles album on the London label is to experience a flash of nostalgia. For in his greatest hour – the mid-1950s ...

Dr. Alimantado: Doctor Alimantado Meets His Duppy Uptown

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

A DIAGNOSIS OF NEAR-DEATH ...

Gil Scott-Heron: Bridges

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

DID THEY really get what they wanted? They being black Americans. Gil Scott-Heron doesn't think so. He thinks that what they got came only on ...

Joan Baez: Joanie returns as Bobby: Joan Baez at the Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

JOANIE BROUGHT the audience right up on stage with her at the Odeon – two rows of them, mostly her guests, sitting rather self-consciously behind ...

John Otway: Beware of the Underdog

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

JOHN OTWAY to be precise. The madman who's been falling around on your TV screen. The background story is interesting. TONY STEWART reports. ...

Pere Ubu: Weird City Robomen

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

THEY SAY ENVIRONMENT determines character, and when it comes to American music, they're probably right. ...

George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Funkadelic, Parliament: The Creation of Dr Funkenstein

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

The scene: Maggotropolis, Hollywood. The target: the infamous Mr. GEORGE CLINTON High Priest of a Black Unholy Trinity. Enter a reporter clutching a clove of ...

The Damned: The Torments of The Damned

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 January 1978

(a somewhat sobering cautionary tale of our time)Charles Shaar Murray asks, is that a light at the end of the tunnel – or another oncoming ...

Black Slate: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

HAVE THE Black Slate group been taking their cue from Glitterbest Promotions? ...

Boz Scaggs: Portrait of The Image as a Reality

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

The elusive BOZ SCAGGS picks up the phone in deepest America and suavely refutes all allegations of artifice. 'My image is no pose man – ...

Keith Hudson: A Better Brand Of Dub

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

YOU MAY recall reading, a couple of years ago, an NME recommendation of Keith Hudson's Pick A Dub LP, on the now sadly defunct Atra ...

Parliament: Funkentelechy vs. The Placebo Syndrome

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

Clinton's Clones Hit Ass & Funny Bone ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie and the Banshees: A World Domination By 1984 Special

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

This is Siouxsie and the Banshees/They are patient/They will win/In the end. ...

Dwight Twilley: The Dwight Twilley Band: Just Another Bunch Of Hairdressers' Dummies Out Of Hicksville, USA

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

(AND YES, THEY DO WANT TO BE TEEN IDOLS...) ...

The Last Poets, Merger: The Last Poets/Merger: Acklam Hall, Notting Hill, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

CHANCES OF seeing The Last Poets I would have thought were only marginally better than those of seeing The Beatles. ...

The Last Poets: Wake Up Limeys, The Last Poets Are Among You

Profile and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 14 January 1978

"Wheat's characteristics and nature make it wheat. It differs from barley because of its nature. Wheat perpetuates its own characteristics just as the white race ...

Clover: Love On The Wire

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

TRY AS I might I never could nestle up to Clover's last album (their English debut). There were several ingredients missing, elements that jarred on ...

Johnny Clarke: Don't Stay Out Late (Penguin)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

THIS IS the second album from Johnny Clarke since the sudden termination of his Virgin contract, and it marks the general decline in standard and ...

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson: Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty (DJM)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

NUMBER THREE in an open-ended set of however many the market will take before the law of diminishing return starts operating. ...

Ozark Mountain Daredevils: Don't Look Down

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

Second Cut is the Lowest ...

Slaughter and the Dogs: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

NINTEEN seventy-seven happened pretty fast. ...

Split Enz: College Of Art, Maidstone

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

'THE DAMBUSTERS March' (at double speed, natch) fades away as Split Enz vocalist Neil Finn ("Actually, we're New Zealanders not Australians") plunges through the murky ...

The Who: Quadrophenia

Retrospective by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

The Department of Cryptic Headlines presents a retrospective view of THE WHO's Quadrophenia, noting that Mr Pete Townshend's Mod vision is as valid now as ...

Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band: Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 January 1978

AND WELCOME back the Bosstown Sound! That's Boston USA, spelled B-O-S-S-T-O-W-N, home of the J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, The Modern Lovers (sort of) and now…Willie ...

Allen Toussaint: Toussaint

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

SO NOW the whole Toussaint catalogue is available again, enabling listeners of taste to trace for themselves the development of the New Orleans man's approach, ...

Blues Incorporated, Graham Bond, Colosseum, Cyril Davies, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Alexis Korner, John Mayall: Dick Heckstall-Smith: He Didn't Make A Million...

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

Although he paid a lot of dues — with Korner, Bond, Mayall, Colosseum and a handful of Rolling Stones — veteran R 'n' B tenorman ...

Frank Zappa: Stern Words in Knightsbridge

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

…when cynical ol’ Uncle Frank knocks punk, record companies and U.S. presidents, and reveals the CIA plot to spike San Francisco… ...

Iggy Pop and James Williamson: Kill City (Radar Records)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

WELL, IT'S finally out and yup, disregarding the shoddy cover, it's a great album. ...

Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters: Muddy Waters: I'm Ready

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

"If you're watching me and Johnny Winter, the show is MEANT to be in black and white." ...

Dire Straits, Talking Heads: Talking Heads, Dire Straits: Sheffield University, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

How 77 moves smoothly into '78 ...

The Equators: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

DURING RECENT months we have been witness to increasing media interest in the indigenous UK reggae scene, especially as focussed upon Matumbi, Black Slate, Steel ...

The Osmonds: The Osmonds' Greatest Hits

Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 28 January 1978

I HAVE this theory that they're a totally separate (and probably hostile) species. They breed and multiply in hidden canyons of the American South West. ...

The Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious: An Evening with Sid and Nancy – The Odd Couple Behind Closed Doors.

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

SWAYING CRAZILY, Sid Vicious clambers up off the bed. He manages the three or four steps to where, obeying live-in-lover Nancy's instructions, he removes the ...

Frank Zappa: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

"FRANK ZAPPA is the leader and musical director of the Mothers Of Invention. His performances in person with the group are rare. His personality means ...

Hirth Martinez: Big Bright Street

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

APART FROM its notoriety for encouraging idle hedonism, California also seems to breed an unusually high percentage of oddballs. ...

Lonnie Donegan: Will The Circle Really Be Unbroken?

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

LONNIE DONEGAN'S life seemed to have completed such a perfect full circle that it could almost prove even the dumbest hippy's half-assed theories of a ...

Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

EXCESS AND incongruity seem to be the key factors at work here. An abundance of diverse stylistic elements piledriven and packed high into what must ...

Millie Jackson: Odeons Birmingham And Hammersmth

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

Millie's preoccupations, said The Guardian, are sex, sex and more sex; can't argue with that. ...

Talking Heads: The Heads Case

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 February 1978

An investigation of the theory behind TALKING HEAD music. ...

Adam & The Ants: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

Termites devour part of New Wave ...

Art Pepper, Before And After Life

Profile and Interview by Roy Carr, Brian Case, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

And still going strong. The alto legend is working again after beating heroin addiction and 12 years in jail. ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire: All 'n All

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

CBS HAVE A problem. To be sure, it's the sort of ticklish little teaser that most record companies would be glad to scratch, but a ...

Eddie & The Hot Rods

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

What do all these bands have in common? ANSWER: They're all EDDIE AND THE HOTRODS, slidin' on the moment and trying not to fall off. ...

Millie Jackson: Another Day, Another Dollar

Report and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

A COLLEAGUE FROM another paper and I were swopping reactions about Millie Jackson. He'd interviewed her in London; I'd caught up with her a couple ...

Tapper Zukie: Man Ah Warrior

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

FAITH, HOPE AND HIP ...

Ted Nugent: Double Live Gonzo

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

"Anybody wants to get mellow better turn around and get the fuck outa here." ...

Tom Waits: Foreign Affairs (Asylum)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

A RUMOUR IN HIS OWN TIME ...

XTC: Sheffield Polytechnic, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 February 1978

IT WAS pointed out, some while ago, that a large number of punk outfits preface their name with the definite article, as compared with the ...

999: Paradiso, Amsterdam

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 February 1978

999 ARE A heavy-pop quartet signed favourably to United Artists. They are, in effect, on the verge of some kind of breakthrough. A likeable bunch ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: A Lickle Love An' T'ing

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 February 1978

Interview CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY. From the Court of the Ranking Dread. ...

Little Feat: Waiting for Columbus

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 February 1978

IF IT'S DEAD, IT'S SIX FEAT UNDER ...

The Residents: Meet the Legendary Residents, Alias the Cryptic Corporation

Profile and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 18 February 1978

...alias Pore-No-Graphics, alias Pale Pachyderm Publishing, alias Ralph Records. Maybe. Or maybe not. Some people think they're The Beatles. Hell, anybody who makes Ku Klux ...

Tina Turner: If This Is Vegas, Give Me More

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 18 February 1978

JANUARY, Millie Jackson; February, Tina Turner; soon to come, Gladys Knight...gee whizz, can it all be too much for this white boy? No, no, no; ...

Be-Bop Deluxe, John Cooper Clarke: Be-Bop Deluxe and John Cooper Clarke: Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

The Dangers Of Being Likeably Listenable ...

Big In Japan: From Little Idiots Big Idiots Do Grow

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

"BIG IN JAPAN...BIG IN JAPAN...BIG IN JAPAN..." ...

The Clash: Cult Figure Cuts Clash To Suit American Dream Machine

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

SANDY PEARLMAN IS A BRISK and lively talker. He can probably offer an animated dissertation of any number of irregular topics, ranging from advancements in ...

Dillinger: Central London Polytechnic, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

ON THIS opening night of his first full-length tour of the UK college circuit, Lester Bullocks better-known as Dillinger maintained an impressive, large and volubly ...

Karla Bonoff, Kate Bush: Kate Bush: The Kick Inside; Karla Bonoff: Karla Bonoff

Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

THOUGH ON the surface just another member of the incestuous West Coast singing/songwriting sisterhood, Karla Bonoff is different in one crucial respect — she isn't ...

Howard Devoto, Magazine: Magazine: Howard Devoto's Enigma Variations

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

HOWARD DEVOTO gives good face. Unlined and triangular, topped with a vast expanse of forehead; the kind that popular folklore maintains is the unmistakeable dead-giveaway ...

Nick Lowe: Jesus Of Cool

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

THERE'S NO-ONE lower than Nick, it's been said, and here's the booty to bear that out. ...

The Adverts: Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

ONCE UPON a time, the fastest way of revealing yourself as an Old Fart Who Didn't Understand The New Wave was to allege – in ...

The Rezillos

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 February 1978

They came out of the mists of Hibernia... They were wild, weird, and whacky...They were the first Rock-A-Hula Beat Combo to hit Scotland since 1961...They ...

Blue Oyster Cult: The Cult Occult And The Disco Nightmare

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

ALLEN LANIER sits down for a pleasant chat about bikers, Burt Bacharach and band ideology. ...

Bryan Ferry: The Prisoner

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

The 1978 edition BRYAN FERRY ‘These Four Wall of my Prison I Have Come to Love.'Byron said that. ...

Hilly Kristal (CBGBs)

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

"CBGB & OMFUG" is what it says over the door of Hilly Kristal's rock and roll dive down on New York's Bowery. That's the club ...

Ian Dury & the Blockheads: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

Mighty Dury, due to be mightier ...

Patti Smith: Easter

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

I'M AN AMERICAN ARTIST , I HAVE NO GUILT, I TRUST MY GUITAR ...

Rush: Is Everybody Feelin' all RIGHT? (Geddit...?)

Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

The gist of this being that H.M. tourist RUSH are all RIGHT-er than most, as MILES discovers ...

The Subway Sect: Bernard Rhodes Great Unknowns Payola Special

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 March 1978

SUBWAY SECT have been together in some form or another since the semi-legendary 100 Club punk festival in September 1976. The line-up on that date ...

Buzzcocks, The Slits: Thames Polytechnic,Woolwich, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

Buzzcocks turn pro ...

Elvis Costello: This Year's Model (Radar Records)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

THERE'S ONLY one real problem facing the reviewer assessing this, our El's second album, but if it's tricky enough to deal with then at least ...

Bryn Haworth, Gallagher & Lyle: Gallagher & Lyle, Bryn Haworth: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

We used… to believe… in rock'n'roll ...

Jacob Miller, Tapper Zukie: Jamaica: Peace Conference In A Western Kingston

Report by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

ON JANUARY 10 of this year, Samuel Dreckett — JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) Councillor for the Western Kingston district of Tivoli Gardens — entered the ...

Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

WRECKLESS UBU: Waiting For The End ...

Roy Brown: New London Theatre

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

HALFWAY through, this chaotic gig had all the makings of one of the Great Disasters Of Our Time. ...

The Only Ones

Profile by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

IT WAS AN EVENT of no great consequence. In a swoop on EMI's press department back in spring 1974, intent only on plundering as much ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: Palladium, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

How the old wave is coming to terms with post-"77 existence. Meeting the challenge of '78: Alex Harvey hired an orchestra, a pipe and drum band, ...

Wreckless Eric: Wreckless Eric

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

IT'S RATHER appropriate that you can buy a hideous dung coloured version of Wreckless Eric's first album. Like the person who reminds you that the ...

Wreckless Eric: Sheffield Polytechnic

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 March 1978

A YOUNG lady appears on the stage and proceeds to shout something about today being her birthday, saxist John Glyn accompanying her (less than diplomatic) ...

Bethnal: Sheffileld Polytechnic

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

More of a ripple than a wave? ...

Devo: Free Trade Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

SUDDENLY.....Devo! ...

Elvis Costello: Holocaust In Microcosm

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

"HEY ELVIIIIIS!!!" There's this blonde gumdrop down the front, see, shaking it down in that demure stoned way that hippie girls seem to favour, and ...

Devo: Hi! We're DEVO and We've come to get your toilet ready for the 1980's

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

THE TRUTH ABOUT DE-EVOLUTION AND OTHER PLANETARY MODES. ...

Nick Lowe

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

EVERYONE GETS that glazed marzipan look in make-up. Maybe it's some weird chemical that they put in the booze in the Artists' Bar at Television ...

Spirit: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

DO YOU BELIEVE in magic? Me, I'm still dreaming, lost in the welter of sensory impressions that seeped into the Rainbow the minute Spirit dripped ...

John Lydon, The Sex Pistols: The Poolside Pronouncements Of Johnny 'No-Tan' Rotten

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

JOHN ROTTEN likes dressing up. Seeing him stuck away under a parasol by the side of the Olympic-sized pool of the Kingston Sheraton at eleven ...

The Soft Boys/The Brakes: The Nashville, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 March 1978

Why it's safer to lack discipline than imagination ...

The Bee Gees, John Travolta: Saturday Night Fever (X)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

Directed by John Badham. Starring John Travolta (CIC) ...

Elvis Costello: Disgust! Irritation? Revenge! Obsession?

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

NICK KENT — whose 1977 interview with ELVIS COSTELLO was internationally quoted as the definitive piece on The Man In Glasses — goes back for ...

Joe Ely: Honky Tonk Masquerade

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

'T FOR Texas, T for Tennessee' sang Jimmie Rodgers back in '28, cementing the blues alongside country music, thus helping himself to a million-seller. ...

Kansas: Buffalo huntin' in Hamburg

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

A species threatened with extinction suddenly gains a new lease of life, and causes a big stir in the world of natural history... in this ...

Reggae Regular: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

CONSIDERING THE brevity of its existence, seven-piece outfit Reggae Regular has caused considerable stir in this man's town in recent months. ...

Whirlwind: Blowing Up A Storm

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 25 March 1978

IN THEIR infinite wisdom, Chiswick first pressed five-sixths of this rocking package on a 10-inch album. ...

Generation X: Generation X

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 1 April 1978

ON PAPER Generation X have their credentials for being The Now Sensation all present and correct. They've had them for a long time too. ...

Joe Sample: Rainbow Seeker (ABC Import)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 April 1978

SEARCH AND DEPLOY ...

Leroy Smart: Ballistic Affair

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 1 April 1978

The Love Story Of Leroy Smart ...

Patti Smith: A Woman's Place…

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1 April 1978

ARTHUR RIMBAUD, the late 19th Century French poet who dreamt of 'recreating life through his words' and whose work helped inspire poetic Symbolism, Dadaism and ...

Jane Aire & The Belvederes, Devo, Pere Ubu, Tin Huey, The Waitresses: The American Midwest: Akron and Cleveland

Overview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 1 April 1978

Exploring alternative hives of industry in Akron, City of Rubber, and Cleveland, City of Steel. ...

Captain Beefheart

Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

THE KOOK WHO FEEL TO EARTH. ON THE 8th DAY HE BOMBED OUT. ON THE 9th HE WAS RESURRECTED. ...

Cheap Trick

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

Meet Tricky Ricky and the Denim Deliverers. Ricky Neilson and CHEAP TRICK, to be more precise, who're currently wowing the Heavy Metal Hordes and MAX ...

Cheap Trick, Johnny Moped, The Stukas: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

ON SUNDAY night at the Roundhouse, Cheap Trick showed how it should be done. ...

Frank Zappa: Live In New York

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

Not Funny But Frankly ...

Generation X: Generation Rock & Roll Soul

Profile and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

MIDNIGHT IN THE basement console room at Advision Studios, London W1. As Generation X bassist Tony James avidly demands of producer Martin Rushent that he ...

The Bush Fire That Ate Bogville, Arizona

Overview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 April 1978

Oh-no-not-another-fanzine-survey (goes West) ...

Dead Fingers Talk, Fabulous Poodles: Fabulous Poodles, Dead Fingers Talk: Charing Cross Road Astoria, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

FIRST OF all: a public service announcement: the Charing Cross Road Astoria is one terrible gig. ...

Graham Parker: Gram Parker: The Parkerilla

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

YEAH, WE know: just what the world needs is another double live album, right? ...

Ian Dury & The Blockheads: Billericay Dickie vs. Uncle Sam

Report and Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

Two Cultures Collide: BRIAN CASE on IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS' U.S. tour ...

Kevin Coyne: Matching girth & vision!

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

In both cases, the operative term is "broad". At a time when the unique worldviews of Elvis Costello and Ian Dury have become chartbound sounds, ...

Professor Longhair: Ronnie Scotts, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

I HAVE immense admiration for Professor Longhair ...

Professor Longhair: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

I HAVE immense admiration for Professor Longhair. ...

Tavares: City Hall, Newcastle

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

ANGELA IS a slim, pretty, 16-year-old blonde with the kind of Camay complexion and wide-eyed innocent appeal that drives randy old journalists into that wretched ...

Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey: The Meat And The Motion

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 April 1978

Allen Toussaint: Motion (Warner Brothers Import)Lee Dorsey: Night People (ABC) ...

Brian Auger, Julie Tippetts: Brian Auger and Julie Tippetts: Encore

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

AS REUNION albums go, this is considerably better than The Byrds' album, Booker T and the MGs', The Small Faces' or The Animals', but that's ...

Graham Parker: The On-Going Story Of Little Men In Glasses

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

Graham Parker, in this instance — who reflects on the vagaries of the rock power struggle while socking it to 'em in Ireland. When you're ...

The Real Kids, Scruffs, Shoes: Real Kids: The Real Kids/Shoes: Black Vinyl Shoes/The Scruffs: Wanna Meet The Scruffs?

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

THERE IS nothing especially new about this power pop hullaballoo, y'know. As a sub-genre it has existed in a succession of shapes and guises for ...

The Only Ones, Television: Television, The Only Ones: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

LAST YEAR, Television arrived in Britain under a shower of gilded prose and hyperbole claiming that they were the hottest thing since the invention of ...

The Band: The Last Waltz (Warner Brothers)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

The second feeding of the 5000... And lo, the leftovers filled six sides of vinyl. And the people marveled. ...

Todd Rundgren: Hermit of Mink Hollow (Bearsville)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

AND JUST when we all thought that Todd Rundgren had finally disappeared into the darkest recesses of his cosmological inner sanctum he comes back at ...

Motorhead: Various Artists: Long Shots, Dead Certs And Odds On Favourites (Chriswick Chartbusters Vol. 2) (Chiswick)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 April 1978

NO MORE GOOD GUYS ...

Bootsy Collins, Raydio: Bootsy's Rubber Band, Raydio: Felt Forum, NYC

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 April 1978

SELF-STYLED Player Of The Year, Bootsy Collins is hip to the dynamics of Showtime. As his music is a fantastic flight from bases built by ...

Kraftwerk: The Man Machine (Capitol)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 April 1978

IT IS RATHER unfortunate that Kraftwerk's current popularity is based, to a large extent, on the chic appeal of David Bowie's favour. True, such favour ...

Kraftwerk: Terminal Weirdness à Paris

Report by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 April 1978

(Airport terminal, that is. Meanwhile somewhere up in some posey skyscraper, KRAFTWERK are boring everyone stiff...) ...

Wings: The Trial of James Paul McCartney

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 29 April 1978

IMAGINE THAT Paul McCartney didn't bury himself in hermit-like seclusion in Liverpool after the assassination attempt by Jack Ruby that followed the break-up of The ...

Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 6 May 1978

That was the title of one of the influential, flamboyant R'n'B man's hits, for you punks too young to remember. But nowadays, believe it or ...

Climax Blues Band: Shine On

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 May 1978

THE ONE thing more annoying than a duff album, by a duff band is a duff album by a good band. ...

Jerry Garcia Band: Cats Under The Stars

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 May 1978

UNCLE JEROME'S fourth foray into the solo light gets some of that old Dead sound back to base. Just in time I guess. ...

The Clash, Tom Robinson Band, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex: Rock Against Racism Carnival: Victoria Park, Hackney, London

Report by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 May 1978

AS HE STOOD at the top of Whitehall at 10.35 last Sunday morning gazing impassively towards Nelson's Column, the optimism of Commander Walker of Scotland ...

Aswad: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

ALL ROADS LEAD to the 100 Club in London's West End every Thursday night, where – "in tune to Silver Camel Sound" – the weekly ...

Horslips: Heard The One About Irish Band And The Green Beer?

Report by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

No? Read on then, bro'. This is a story of amazing weirdness. You obviously haven't heard about the green underwear either. Or the green Chicago ...

The Gladiators, Reggae Regular: Rafters, Manchester

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

OF LATE, I and I have been nursing a nagging ambivalence towards reggae. ...

The Only Ones: The Only Ones (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

Not Only but... ...

The Tubes: New Theatre, Oxford

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

I DIDN'T see this exotic troupe last time around but I do recall one particularly purple review of them; words to the effect: "Would you ...

Wire: Limit Club, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

TO USE an alimentary analogy, punk can be seen as a kind of musical laxative, clearing away all that stodgy stuff that was blocking the ...

X-Ray Spex: Poly Styrene Is Still Strictly Roots

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 May 1978

SUNDAY NIGHT in Croydon, and Poly Styrene's voice is shot. Flu goes for the throat like a cornered rat: when the victim's a singer, the ...

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Stranger In Town

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

Meanwhile BACK IN '78 ...

David Bowie: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

IT WOULD make a great parlour game were some enterprising company to formalize rules. A game this writer has been known to play over the ...

Meat Loaf: New Hope for the Heavier Man

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

CLIFF WHITE, who thought he had a weight problem, suddenly feels emaciated. Thanks to Slender? No way. Thanks to MEAT LOAF. Say it loud, I’m ...

Tangerine Dream's Grey Days

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

EDGAR FROESE reflects on days of hope and dissipation, and wonders why the photographer's hiding behind a pillar. ...

The Cimarons: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

FIVE LIVE Cimarons is generally cognate with an agreeable evening's entertainment, such as this duly proved. ...

The Darts: Gaumont Cinema, Southampton

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

CLIFF WHITE CRIPPLES THE STARS! (No. 3 in an exciting, if tasteless, new series) ...

The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman: The Jonathan Richman Colouring Scrapbook

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

Fun for all the family in the Modern World as No.1 citizen J. RICHMAN holds court in a rare and candid interview with our own ...

UK: UK

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

Less Pop, Less Style ...

Adam & The Ants, X-Ray Spex: X-Ray Spex, Adam & The Ants, The Automatics: The Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 20 May 1978

AS MS. POLY'S strychnine air-raid voice shreds the encore and all present, the audience front-line snaps. ...

Camel: A Live Record

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

Why (Not) A Camel? ...

Cheap Trick: Heaven Tonight

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

Heaven On The Cheap ...

Dexter Gordon: The Exile's Return

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

Fashion and fate have dealt a few blows — but now DEXTER GORDON is cutting in, recapturing America and standing CBS on its head. The ...

Junior Murvin, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Tapper Zukie: Jamaica: The Young Lion Roars, part 1

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

"WELCOME TO REMA," reads the spray-can graffiti down by 7th Street in Trenchtown. "Peace, Love And Unity". Over on the other side of the Calamite ...

Plastic Bertrand: "My Bird Has Thrown Up..."

Report and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

The French produce Punk's Greatest Hit (eat your heart out, Pistols!) ...

The Flamin' Groovies: Rafters, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

ABOUT BEFORE 12.15...I don't want to talk about it. ...

Thin Lizzy: Live And Dangerous (Vertigo)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 May 1978

LIVE, DANGEROUS, AND AS HOT AS IT GETS ...

Brass Construction, Rokotto: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 3 June 1978

...CLIFF WHITE sounds his Funky horn about what he sees as a lack of critical perspective... ...

Culture, Peter Tosh: Jamaica: The Young Lion Roars – The JA Connexion Part 2

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 3 June 1978

SURROUNDED on three sides by a raw, harshly primal terrain that combines austere Bronte-evoking moorland with a dense near-Northern Californian verdancy, the Jamaican Tourist Board ...

Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds, Joy Division, V2: Nosebleeds, Snyde, Joy Division, V.2.: The Ritz, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 June 1978

DROPPING INTO 1977 was 'easy'. ...

Styx: Top Rank, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 3 June 1978

STYX, AS you'll doubtless be aware if you're familiar with the curious musical predilections of our American cousins, are a disgustingly successful five-piece band of ...

Wilko Johnson — To Hell And Back Via The M1 Caff

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 June 1978

THE MARQUEE'S jammed up jelly tight; foot on foot, elbow in kidney, spilled drinks and apologies – or not, as the case may be – ...

Bruce Springsteen: Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

So where you been, Bruce? ...

Peter Gabriel: Gabriel: The Image Gets A Tweak

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

The Crazy Baldhead of Bath Meets NME's Sublime Subterranean— NICK KENT to you. ...

Rockpile, Willie "Loco" Alexander: Nick Lowe's Rockpile, Willie Alexander: The Bottom Line, New York NY

Live Review by Ira Robbins, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

THE HEAVY rain outside did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the audience inside. With a majority of those in attendance being press and record ...

Randy Newman: Randy Takes The Fifth Amendment

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

RANDY NEWMAN talks to BRIAN CASE...but BRIAN CASE does the talking ...

Steel Pulse: Black Pride Don't Mean Black Racism... Meet — The Handsworth Klan

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

Steel Pulse guitarist DAVID HINDS talks to ROY CARR about the joys and vexations of a British reggae band. ...

Styx

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

BY DAY, DENNIS DE YOUNG WAS A REGULAR GUY WITH A PONCEY NAME, LACQUERED HAIR, AND A PENCHANT FOR GAUDY FAKE ANTIQUE FURNITURE... BUT BY ...

The Cramps: Psychobilly and Other Musical Diseases

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

I SEARCHED HIGH and I searched low. I scuffled around garbage cans, looked under cars and peered in doorways. ...

The Rolling Stones: Some Girls

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 June 1978

THESE LAST two or three years, the Stones haven't really been that important to rock and roll. ...

Jefferson Starship: Grace Slick's Superstarship

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 17 June 1978

Planet minders turn platinum miners ...

Heatwave: West Runton Pavilion, Norfolk

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 17 June 1978

Waiting for the Getdown gestalt ...

Howard Johnson, Taj Mahal: Howard Johnson: He's Got His HoJo Working..

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 17 June 1978

HOWARD JOHNSON has played with everybody — from Mingus and Taj Mahal to Lennon and The Band. And he won't hear a word against his ...

Suicide Is Not The Answer

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 17 June 1978

Form a band instead and drive others to it. PAUL RAMBALI Checks Out The Odd Couple From The Big Apple ...

The Band: Ten Years of Stage Fright: The Life And Times Of Robbie Robertson & The Band

Retrospective and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 June 1978

ALTHOUGH AT the time individuals may tell you different, it's no big deal for a band to break up. It happens almost every week and, ...

Alternative TV: The Image Has Cracked

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

MARK PERRY has been a confused person and, through that, confusing. ...

Bob Dylan: The View From Seat BB59

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

THE FIRST NIGHT it rained, and it seemed that the atmosphere would be nostalgic to the last: all of us in our massed thousands gathered ...

Bootsy Collins: Bootsy: Developments in the Popcorn Industry

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

...a.k.a. A Visit To The funk Factory a.k.a. A Meeting With A Black Man In Daft Glasses a.k.a. PAUL RAMBALI talks to superfunkster BOOTSY COLLINS ...

Iggy Pop: Pure Pop……For Iggy People

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

Iggy Pop: Music Machine, London ...

Rush: The Rush Archives

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

Power, Pomp, Purity, Pretention, Popularity... The RUSH Problem ...

The Commodores, Platinum Hook: The Commodores: Natural High (Motown); Platinum Hook: Platinum Hook (Motown)

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 24 June 1978

MOTOWN GETS on its good foot again. ...

Alternative TV: The World At Once…Dateline: Stonehenge

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

I FOUND myself re-reading Colin Wilsons' prodigal slice of philosophical mythmaking The Outsider the other week. During the time I spent submerging myself gleefully into ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: Bingley Hall, Stafford

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

BETWEEN I AND I, a writer's relationship with his reader is a balance of equal power: the former dictates terms, but only at the latter's ...

Bootsy Collins: Bootsy's Rubber Band: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

A MESSAGE from the Mothership: "If you ain't gonna get it on, take your dead ass home." Some did...some of those dead asses...they couldn't cope ...

George Thorogood & The Destroyers: Ain't Nuthin' But The Blues Band

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

LOOKED AT MY watch and it was almost one, and George Thorogood And The Destroyers are just sloping on stage for their third set of ...

Slaughter and the Dogs: Do It Dog Style

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

UNFORTUNATELY, A posthumous debut album. Quite something, not even the anti-Christ (Sex Pistols) managed to pull that off. But it is a rather sad, inevitably ...

The Stonehenge Summer Solstice Festival: Hippies — Will This Sinister Cult Catch On?

Report by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 29 June 1978

NME's fluid druid, BRIAN CASE gets unhinged at Stonehenge, meets strange young people with long hair, observes weird rites and inexplicable occurrences and stands in ...

Boney M: By The Rivers (well…sands, beaches, coves, quays and bays) Of Babbacombe

Report by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 8 July 1978

TORBAY OR NOT Torbay – that is the question! I am standing at the barrier of Platform 2, Paddington, one chilly Saturday morning expressing Brandoesque ...

David Bowie: Earl's Court, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 July 1978

BRILLIANT BOWIE... WITH ONE RESERVATION ...

Laura Nyro: Nested

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 July 1978

THERE IS a particular type of songstress who feels the need, once a year, to commit her emotional diaries to vinyl. The purpose and merits ...

Spirit: Spirit Live

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 July 1978

Goodbye To Rock And All That (For Another Year At Least) ...

The Undertones: Queen's University, Belfast

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 8 July 1978

ON A NIGHT when one of the world's top bands, Ireland's favourite sons Thin Lizzy, were packing them in at the Ulster Hall, it was ...

Black Slate: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

THE ACCOMPLISHED Black Slate roadshow has reached just about the limit of its capabilities without coursing a drastic change of direction. ...

Can: Out Of Reach

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

Reach Out, We'll Be There (Ha, Ha – Fooled You) ...

The Beatles: The Beatles: The Authorised Biography, Hunter Davies

Book Review by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

FIRST PUBLISHED in 1968, Hunter Davies' official biography of The Beatles had just been reissued, for the most part in its entire, original form. ...

Big Star: The Big Star Story, Take 4

Retrospective by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

THE BIG STAR story seems to have taken up a considerable part of my writing life. This is the fourth time in three years that ...

The Cars: The Cars

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

I'M NOT at all sure about this band. Their roots place them in the Boston, Massachusetts region which, not being New York or LA, guarantees ...

The Clash: Clash On Tour

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

IT'S AS IF THE Clash's 'Police And Thieves' stage backdrop has suddenly transmogrified into moving 3-D. ...

The Prefects, The Subway Sect: The Prefects, Subway Sect: A Tale Of Two Bands

Profile by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

TWO GROUPS, both of whom have to some extent followed their instincts. Prefects have always been aware of the area they were aiming for; Subway ...

Tom Waits: The Bad Liver and Broken Heart Brigade

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 July 1978

The gent pictured on the left has quit the organisation listed below, at least as far as vocally viewing life through the bottom of a ...

The Pop Group, This Heat: The Pop Group/This Heat: Collegiate Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 17 July 1978

TWO SEEMINGLY unconventional, superficially 'bleak', jagged modern-music outfits. Both engineer music suggesting radical departure, still somehow quaint. ...

Annette Peacock: X-Dreams

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

WITH HER first album for six years, Annette Peacock softens the fabric. Glancing curiously and greedily at the rhythms and advantages at the tip of ...

Etta James: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

THEY PROBABLY don't realise it but The Who once dedicated an album to Etta James. Meaty, Beaty, Big And Bouncy it was called, and by ...

Jilted John

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

MANCHESTER, 1977: the picture of a period stutters erratically to a docile completion. The picture is inconclusive, blotchy, but considering circumstances the best possible. ...

Buzzcocks: Rock Against Racism's Carnival Of The North: Chaos & Concern

Report by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

THE ANTI-NAZI LEAGUE and Rock Against Racism were formed specifically as a reaction against racism. ...

Talking Heads: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT ...

The Ramones: Ramones Go Gold?

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

TOMMY RAMONE don't wanna be a pinhead no more (that's assuming you thought he was a pinhead in the first place – in which case ...

The Rezillos: Can't Stand The Rezillos

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

FINALLY, AFTER telling wrangles, we have Can't Stand The Rezillos, 13 quick cuts lustily shot through with cheap culture combinations. Tanners, annuals, Stan Lee, beatpunk ...

The Shirts: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 22 July 1978

DO NOT BE fooled by New York New Wave. New York Punk is mainly the product of the small, highly incestuous Soho arts scene. Jimmy ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Banshees Make The Breakthrough: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 July 1978

IF PUNKS ARE currently being brushed off by "official sources" as a speedily-becoming-extinct species, why then is it damn near impossible to find a comfortable ...

Stiff Little Fingers: The Harp Bar, Belfast

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 29 July 1978

THE HARP Bar is packed for the return of Ulster's most popular and notorious modern rock band, Stiff Little Fingers. ...

Culture: Support the New Ministry of Culture

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 29 July 1978

Better Living Through Roots Reggae! Harder Than The Rest! ...

The Human League, Vice Versa: The Human League/Vice Versa: The Now Society, Sheffield University, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 July 1978

THE NOW Society, a university-based organisation, has been putting on gigs featuring local, predominantly experimental bands (such are the local mores) for some time now; ...

Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: "I've Only Fallen Over Twice In Fifteen Gigs..." The Keith Richards Interview

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

  CONTRARY TO legend, out on the road the Rolling Stones attempt to lead as normal a life as one can expect when living out of ...

Boney M: Nightflight To Venus

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

IN THE words of the legend inscribed on t-shirts won by WEA pinheads at the time of the Hansaettes' second album, Love For Sale – ...

Buddy Guy, Junior Wells: Buddy Guy and Junior Wells: Why Are These Guys Grinning?

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

...They've been 'between contracts' since 1969, there's hardly any such thing as a black audience for their music and on their recent visit to London ...

Cabaret Voltaire: Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

CABARET VOLTAIRE performances, if I can make a sweeping generalisation, are always interesting but never satisfying. Interesting because they're prepared to probe, often at the ...

Independents Day Revisited

Report by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

Last September, in our extraordinarily collectable NME Collectors Issue, we looked at the seemingly unstoppable explosion of independent record labels. Times change, though. Rebels become ...

Magazine: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

MAGAZINE, MYTHS AND MIRAGES ...

Raydio: Raydio & A Moon In June Reality

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

RAY PARKER Jr., creator and main man in Raydio, the American sextet who recently toured with Bootsy and are just scoring their second British hit ...

Sham 69: Pursey's Down The Dogtrack

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

Sham 69's leader blows his wages, ponders his role, and has a few larfs. DANNY BAKER goes to see an old mate about a dog. ...

Smiley Lewis: I Hear You Knocking

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

WHEN FATS Domino first bounced out of the bayou with his bronze voice, gold rings, pumping piano and infectious grin, half a pace behind him ...

The Adverts: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Miles, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

Gobba Gobba On Gaye ...

The Clash, Suicide: The Music Machine, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

TIME HAS come today. Third of four Music Machine gigs and – surprise! – the ritual bottling of Suicide appears to have been omitted for ...

The Hollies: 20 Golden Greats

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

OVER THE years, The Hollies' records have tended to fall into one of three categories: the bright, snappy early '60s pop put together from the ...

The Band: The Last Waltz: Time Gentlemen Please

Film/DVD/TV Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

The Last Waltz (United Artists)Directed by Martin ScorseseStarring The Band, Bob Dylan etc. etc. ...

Wigwam: Dark Album; Jim Pembroke: Corporal Cauliflowers Mental Function

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 August 1978

OUTSIDE THE range of rock's organised trendy-treats industry, alien settlements and sentiments remain. Resolved. ...

Annette Peacock: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 12 August 1978

ONE OF THOSE musical experiences devised as a tape-loop for the Pavlov Institute, Pekin, the oddly assorted fare at the Lyceum drew a deservedly tiny ...

Asleep at the Wheel: Collision Course (Capital)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 August 1978

STRANGE TO relate but not everything that emerges in the new release racks this week will bear the mark of androids in overalls. And disco ...

Gregory Isaacs: Presenting Mr Isaacs

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 12 August 1978

PRIOR TO the glorious advent of soulful lover Pat Kelly in more recent weeks, lean, laconic crooner Gregory Isaacs was recognised as possibly the most ...

The Only Ones: The Bristol Community Free Festival, Ashton Court, Bristol

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 August 1978

ANOTHER BOY, ANOTHER BLOODY GUITAR HERO ...

Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Barraclough: Elizabeth Barraclough: Elizabeth Barraclough; Carlene Carter: Carlene Carter

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

BUFFY SAINTE MARIE used to have this song called 'I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again', but you won't find Elizabeth Barraclough or Carlene Carter ...

Roy Brown: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

AT ABOUT 3 pm the Sunday before last, one American rhythm 'n' blues pioneer and six British beer 'n' peanut-circuit musicians got together for the ...

The Residents, Snakefinger: Snakefinger: Meet the Latest New Wave Cult Figure

Profile by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

YOU’VE SEEN the ads. You've been enticed, or not by the quirky graphics. Perhaps you've even bought the record, itself as quirky and improbable as ...

Etta James: Soul Punk Etta: Superstardom the Hard Way on a Dollar a Day

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

"THANKSGIVING DAY in November will be my silver anniversary: 25 years since I cut my first record and I haven't become a superstar yet. It ...

The Fall

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

REEL-TO-REEL life: patt-ur stagg-urs on... In bu-tween the s-o-n-g-s... ...

The Only Ones: Peter Perrett Picked A Peck Of Pickled Peppers

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

LAST MONTH, Peter Perrett won himself a Concorde ticket to Brazil. The loot for the trip came not from playing rhythm guitar but poker. ...

The Sex Pistols Interview: The Life & Crimes Of Two Simpleton Workin' Class Tossers

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

THE SCENE: A modern four roomed flat situated somewhere near the Edgware Road. Its two inhabitants, Messrs Paul Cook and Steve Jones, are holding forth ...

The Who: Who: Who Are You

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 August 1978

Say Goodbye To Angry Songs For Kids Say Hello To Angry Songs For Grown-Ups ...

Freddie Hubbard: Chokin' On The Eezi Spred...

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 26 August 1978

FREDDIE HUBBARD tried a slice garnished a la Creed Taylor but the taste proved unsatisfactory. Here's how. ...

Kiss: Is This Man A Prat?

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 26 August 1978

TWENTY-EIGHT year-old Gene Simmons of New York City, New York, is sitting in his hotel-room near Marble Arch. It's four o'clock on a humid Friday ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Bansheed! What's In An Image?

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 August 1978

JOHN MCKAY, the Banshees' guitarist, has a pale, ashen look constantly playing about his features and talks in measured, serious tones. ...

The Charts and the 12-inch Limited Edition Single

Comment by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 26 August 1978

NME's LAST chart-hyping piece concluded with a statement to the effect that the twin threat of both exposure in the press and the greater number ...

The Human League, The Rezillos: The Rezillos, The Human League: Music Machine, Camden, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 August 1978

REZILLOS CAN'T STAND THE AUDIENCE And that goes for all you liggers in the bar, too ...

Blondie And The Beast

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 September 1978

DEBBIE HARRY: a few more brisk calculations in the dry equation, and she will be a star. A household name. An object. An illusion. Well ...

Dave Edmunds: Trax On Wax

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 2 September 1978

EVERYBODY'S FAVOURITE cult – and an even bigger cult than Nick Lowe, his erstwhile companion in the reversible Rockpile – is the little Welsh rock'n'roller, ...

The Commodores: Motown's Black Beatles

Profile by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 September 1978

HOW'S about it, Expressways Moosik? We're broadcastin' at ya from the command module, Commodore Steamship, Commodore Country, sitting right down town, Tuskogee, Alabama, modulatin', right ...

Ultravox: Vee Hav Vays Of Makink You Experiment

Report and Interview by Miles, New Musical Express, 2 September 1978

Unfortunately, this piece is not about Germans. It's about ULTRAVOX. However, it does take place in Germany. Will that do? ...

Blondie: Parallel Lines (Chrysalis)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 September 1978

WOOPS — BLONDIE SHOWS ROOTS ...

Cabaret Voltaire: Sheffield – This Week's Leeds

Profile and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 9 September 1978

UNTIL LAST YEAR, Sheffield was undoubtedly the most musically inactive city in Britain. For a city with over half a million people, the paucity of ...

Joy Division: Band On The Wall, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 September 1978

THOSE FAMILIAR with this young quartet. mainly through their excitable appearance on the "Short Circuit" pretty package, and to a lesser extent with their self ...

The Stranglers: Really Nice Guys

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 9 September 1978

So why are they banned from Top of the Pops? ...

Ultravox: Systems Of Romance

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 9 September 1978

The Further Decline And Fall Of The Western World ...

Mac Curtis, Matchbox: St. Helier Arms, Carshalton

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 16 September 1978

TIME HAS seldom dealt lightly with '50s rock'n'rollers. Be they the white country-based variety or the black R 'n 'B guys, the majority of survivors ...

Patti Smith: Breaking The Shackles Of Original Sin

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 16 September 1978

The White Niggah, Biblical Obsession, and The Mutant Army witnessed at Cardiff – where discussions encompass the sexiness of Prince Charles and the pressures of ...

The Fall: Marquee, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 September 1978

I AM A commentator in a Consumers' Guide. This week I guide you towards entertainers The Fall, as I always have done. ...

Wire: But Obviously It Isn't

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 September 1978

"Well it's alright just listenCan't wait for 78God those r.p.m.Can't wait for themDon't just watchHours happenGet in there kidAnd snap them."– Wire, 'It's So Obvious' ...

Yes: Tormato

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 September 1978

YES, YES, YES — BUT SO WHAT? ...

Annette Peacock: A Rock & Role Alternative

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

"I THINK what happened was, after I left New York all the anger and the toughness and the hostility seemed to dissipate – and in ...

Chas And Dave: What We Want Is Rockney

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

...an ethnic feature which eschews 'plastic fantastic kharzis', refers frequently to 'geezers', and acknowledges virtue by repeated use of the colloquialism 'bleedin' great'. Subject: CHAS ...

Dave Edmunds: Never Say Dai

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

Mister DAVE 'Are You Sure Chuck Played It Thaat Way?' EDMUNDS, the celebrated Welsh lickologist, persevered and learned those classic solos note for note. So ...

David Toop: Gorilla Noises & Mains Hum

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

Free musician DAVID TOOP fingers the West while Lol Coxhill unleashes a gorilla tape in the toilet. ...

Larry Carlton: Larry Carlton

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

LARRY CARLTON, super side-man should need no introduction. The weeping, fluid style that Carlton rings from his 335 has become a definitive sound on albums ...

Rachel Sweet

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

THAT AKRON ALBUM took its listeners by surprise. Simultaneously old, new and current, it was fashioned – like any good adventure playground – from whatever ...

The Ramones: Ramones Go Depresso

Interview by Lester Bangs, New Musical Express, 23 September 1978

Hanging out on Second Avenue Eating chicken vindaloo Hanging out all by myself Cause I don't want to be with anybody else I just want ...

10cc: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

"YOU CAN touch the magic tonight," claimed guitarist Eric Stewart. ...

Annie Nightingale Joins The Old Grey Whistle Test

Profile and Interview by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

WHY THE BBC MAKES YOUNG WOMEN CARRY OUT THIS HIDEOUS ANCIENT RITUAL ...

Frank Zappa: Studio Tan

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

STUDIO TAN drops into the industry's autumn orgy unheralded. ...

Linda Ronstadt: Living In The USA (Asylum)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

LINDA RONSTADT – oh my God, she's so hunky. Those long, bronzed legs, that Ms Piggy face, those capable fingers – is it any wonder ...

Mick Farren: Is There Life After Dingwalls?

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

DESPITE THE SILK shawl wrapped about its neck to prevent its head falling off, there is a dignity, a pride, even a sense of all ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead's First Annual Pyramid Prank

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

"There were no sets. Sometimes we'd get up and play for ten minutes and all freak out and split. We'd just do it however it ...

The Pop Group

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

PARDON ME if I've misunderstood, but amongst all those pretty speeches and petty let-downs didn't somebody once ask for 'new music night and day'? And ...

Wazmo Nariz

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 September 1978

How to almost drown your way to a name and fame ...

Blue Oyster Cult: Some Enchanted Evening

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

NOW THAT Blue Oyster Cult have a patented studio style of their own, neatly quashing any lingering doubts that they had softened up in the ...

Dr. Alimantado: Dr Alimantado: Best Dressed Chicken In Town

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

INTRODUCING THE august surgeon of ital nourishment on a ten track album of selected singles dating from 1973-6. ...

The Slits: Girl Trouble with The Slits

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

NICK KENT on the wildest waifs in town ...

Mickey Jupp: Micky Jupp: Juppanese

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

MICKEY JUPP has always been nearly famous, and even then it's been by default. ...

Rose Royce, Stargard: Odeon, Birmingham

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

IT SURE WUZ A GREAT PAAAARTY... ...

The Clash: Problems with The Roxy

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

I'D CALLED Mick Jones last Friday night The parsimonious Bernie Rhodes – who, though a replacement manager has yet to be found (and it is ...

The Crusaders: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 7 October 1978

ON STAGE, as on record, The Crusaders an elusive synthesis of assorted musical elements which, although generally bonded in a cohesive sound that is unmistakably ...

999: Separates

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

AND YES, this unfortunately is where it separates. 999's second album – always a fateful thing – and the illusory packaging hides a regression. ...

Brian Eno: Music For Films

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

"I'M NOT really interested in the quality of the film, what they furnish is an excuse to do some music...they're areas where I can experiment ...

Buzzcocks: The Lust Train Stops Here

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

LOVE… Ain't that something to be proud of? Isn't it a bitch? Don't the waves crash, the trumpets roar and the planet split? Doesn't the ...

John McLaughlin & The One Truth Band: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

THIS WAS A celebration of John McLaughlin's 25th anniversary as a guitar player — an event similarly rnarked by the recent Electric Guitarist album, which ...

Keith Hudson: A Dread Tale

Report by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

ONE NIGHT I AM standing outside the Jamaican pattie shop in Portobello Road partaking of the same when a car pulls up on the street ...

Neil Young: Comes A Time

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

NELLIE YOUNG COMES A CROPPER ...

Penetration: Moving Targets (Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

THIS YEAR A LINE formed. At one end Penetration, and from there through Joy Division, The Mekons, The Slits, The Fall, The Passage, The Pop ...

Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones Dump On Rolling Stone

Report by Bob Woffinden, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

THE CHANGES which the imaginary magazine depicted in Between The Lines goes through — from radical underground to counter-culture to hip capitalist establishment — is ...

Sid Vicious: Max's Kansas City, NYC

Live Review by Ira Robbins, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

ON AN unusually busy New York rock night, the attraction of an ex-Pistol was apparently sufficient to pack Max's out for a couple of sets ...

Skip James: I'm So Glad

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

SKIP JAMES scares me. ...

Wayne County & The Electric Chairs: Music Machine, Camden Town, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 October 1978

OCTOBER SEES the inevitable recognition of two of the greatest rock'n'roll performers of all time — Bette Midler and Wayne County who, even before Wayne ...

B.B. King: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

IF ONLY B.B.King had let his fingers, and not his likeable but oversized ego, do the talking then I would have enjoyed his return to ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich: Dingwalls, Camden

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

HIPSTER PANTS held up with two-inch-wide white belts, op-art shirts with bloody great monstrous collars that hang down to armpit level and then button down ...

pragVEC: Another Strange, New And Enticing Pop Group

Profile and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

A NEW extended play record to enthuse about. A new band to sell to you. Their name is pragVEC; the four tracks they've recorded are ...

R. D. Laing: Vinyl Head Shrinker Tells Of Life Before Death…

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

R. D. LAING – psychologist, psychiatrist, author, lecturer, institutional therapist and now rock star? ...

Red Krayola: Red Crayola: Hope & Anchor, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

AN EARLY psychedelic legend came to roost unexpectedly last weekend in the none-too-appropriate environs of the Hope and Anchor. ...

Rose Royce: Socio/Political Conscience? Waal, Ah'm Rilly Into Chutney

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

"SO HOWS about up at number two, we have the one and only Rose Royce with 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'...goodness gracious yes..." ...

The Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious: Sid and Nancy: Life In The Vicious Circle

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

SID VICIOUS (born John Simon Ritchie — though his mother's remarried name is Mrs. Ann Beverley) may hold the all-time record for building up an ...

Dr. Feelgood: The Bad...

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

Dr Feelgood: Sheffield City Hall ...

Buzzcocks: The Buzzcocks: Top Rank, Shefield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

Who, exactly, is gobbing on whom? ...

The Clash: Queens University, Belfast

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

THE LAST time The Clash tried to play The Ulster Hall a combination of big business insurance moguls and local bureaucratic bullshit caused the gig ...

Cabaret Voltaire, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Nico, The Pop Group: The Pop Group/Nico/Linton Kwesi Johnson/Cabaret Voltaire: An Appraisal Of 'Next Year's Thing'

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

The Pop Group/Nico/Linton Kwesi Johnson/Cabaret Voltaire: Electric Ballroom, London ...

Weather Report: Mr. Gone

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 21 October 1978

WEATHER REPORT are suffering an identity crisis which has completely mitigated the potential of Mr. Gone. Their unwillingness to pursue the avenues of progression opened ...

Barclay James Harvest: XII

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

POOP GO the wizened wastrels! The starry, clammy curtain rises once again, and here they are, still waiting. ...

Leo Sayer: London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

A NIGHT distinguished for me by the worst support set I've ever heard and the most tuchus-licking tolerant audience ever assembled in one Vaudeville room. ...

Jona Lewie, Lene Lovich, Mickey Jupp, Rachel Sweet, Wreckless Eric: Stiff Records: Be A Killer Or Be A Real Stiff…

Report by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

W. C. FIELDS would have hated the "Be Stiff" tour. A sixteen year child star who toured with Mickey Rooney? A performing punk dwarf called ...

The Jam: All Mod Cons

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

THIRD ALBUMS generally mean that it's shut-up-or-get-cut-up time: when an act's original momentum has drained away and they've got to cover the distance from a ...

The Lurkers: Strange Daze In Sheffield (Or Maybe Halifax)

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

SOMEONE MUST have been spreading lies about me, for without doing anything wrong I was told to write a feature about The Lurkers. The Man ...

Weather Report

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 28 October 1978

THIS YEAR'S Weather Report is twice as nice as last year's. And doubly dodgy. ...

Captain Beefheart: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

OUR FRIEND makes its long overdue appearance, a record of fragments that has a bewildered Beefheart crawling out of the messes of '74/'75 and trying ...

The Undertones: Crash Course in Corruption with The Undertones

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

Their record's bubbling under......so why aren't they bubbling over? ...

Cabaret Voltaire, The Doctors of Madness: Doctors of Madness, Cabaret Voltaire: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

CABARET VOLTAIRE appeared first. A trio, I caught the final 20 minutes of their performance, and was fairly absorbed. ...

Sham 69: That's Life

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

JIMMY PURSEY'S Ulysses – a day in the life of 'a working class kid'. A shrug of the shoulders. ...

Status Quo: If You Can't Stand The Heat

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

WHAT IS beyond Status Quo, I often wonder? What is beyond tracks with titles such as 'I'm Givin' Up Worryin'', 'Gonna Teach You To Love ...

Steel Pulse: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

THE RAINBOW Theatre seemed a poor venue for Steel Pulse's Big London Gig, but reconsidering during this performance, it was probably second choice only to ...

The Clash: Black'n White Drop Outasite

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 4 November 1978

The Clash: Roxy Theatre, Harlesden ...

Bethnal: Crash Landing In N17

Report and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

BETHNAL, who by virtue of their multi-national background can't help accumulating 'political' overtones in these Rock Against Racism days, talk to PENNY REEL about the ...

George Thorogood & The Destroyers: Move It On Over

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

THE BOTTLENECK that ate Delaware returns to your hearts and turntables: no steps forward, no steps back. Move it On Over is this or any ...

Edwin Starr, Isaac Hayes: Isaac Hayes And Edwin Starr: Live In Manchester

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

Two men with but one single thought: Which way is up? ...

John Cooper Clarke: This Year's Esperanto

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

JOHN COOPER-CLARKE, the poet who came in from the cold ...

Judas Priest: Killing Machine

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

"YOU ARE not in touch with the modern world, sucker," hissed the obnoxious little voice in my ear. 'Today's kids don't give a flying one ...

Patti Smith: Babel

Book Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

WHAT HAS rock and roll got to do with poetry? What is a poetess doing with rock and roll? What am I doing reading and ...

Penetration

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

"Every night before I go to sleep/Find a ticket, win a lottery/Scoop the pearls up from the sea/Cash them in and..." ...

Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (Chrysalis)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

Pop the Ubu ...

The Residents: Residents Leave Home

Report and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

Those of you who follow the regular propaganda turns of those San Mateo obscurantists, The Residents, will have noticed of late certain odd developments in ...

Roy Brown: Cheapest Price In Town

Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

ALTHOUGH AT 53 going on 25, Roy Brown is relatively young for an R&B star who first recorded just after the war, there's no getting ...

Santana: Inner Secrets

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

HOLY KRISHNA! His beneficence returns to the fold of lesser mortals for the annual Santana lesson, that quest whose purpose is boundless, ineffable. Wondrous Santana, ...

Santana: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

A THREE-NIGHT sell out for sluggish pop group Santana is apparently natural and predictable but seems entirely ludicrous. They function, they churn, they exist – ...

Steve Reich: Music For 18 Musicians

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

A MAJOR new work by Steve Reich, a 42-year-old composer and performer from New York. Music For 18 Musicians was conceived in May 1974 and ...

The Clash: Give 'Em Enough Rope (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

White Punks On Rope ...

Gang of Four, The Human League, The Mekons: The Human League, The Mekons, Gang Of Four: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

AN EVENING of Fast Product at which Saturday night anticipation could be discerned in the expectant chattering of the throng outside — no slowcoaches amongst ...

The Residents: Not Available

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 November 1978

MORE SO than anything else they've done, when Not Available's weirdness wears off, its "merry tunes" become an indelible stain on one's day-to-day existence. After ...

Bob Marley & The Wailers: Babylon By Bus

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

ALL THE points are easily made. You have your join-the-dots special Christmas present package. Bob Marley and The Wailers skank in and out the Western ...

Funkadelic, George Clinton: Funkadelic: The Noble Art of Rhythm'n'Biz

Profile and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

WARNER Brothers' New York Office on East 54th is only two blocks across and three up from the Taft Hotel on West 51st; close enough ...

Duane Eddy, Jerry Lee Lewis: Jerry Lee Lewis, Duane Eddy: Live in Margate

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

WHEN A promoter carts a journalist and photographer off to the opening night of a European tour he obviously wants to get a suitably rave ...

John Martyn: London School of Economics, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

YOU DON'T need me at all – you know what happened, what will happen. ...

Julie Covington: Julie Covington

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

MOVING BACK from stage to a studio, Ms Covington neatly avoids the cliches offered by the potentially drear and damaging Solo Album. ...

Oregon: Out Of The Woods

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

IT'S GOOD to hear that Oregon's music remains pure and fresh despite the possible clumsy patronage of a large label. Using a number of combinations ...

Pere Ubu: Unique Ideas Lead To Prison

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

WE'S home, Huck!" The large, bulky frame squashed into the seat next to me delivers his quote from Mark Twain's fables of a more naive ...

The Cimarons, Sham 69: Sham 69 & The Cimarons: The West Country Invasion Starts Here

Report and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

IT WOULD appear that someone's got it in for Jimmy Pursey and Sham 69. You see they're planting stories in the press to the effect ...

The Cars: M'Cadillac's Goin' 'Bout 104

Interview by Toby Goldstein, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

THE CARS have picked up speed in America. Will they pick up here? TOBY GOLDSTEIN sends a few hand signals from New York. ...

Third World: Now That We've Found A Hit

Profile and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

BY JAMAICAN STANDARDS, Third World are pretty unique. Going against the run of the studio-dominated JA music scene, founder members guitarist Stephen "Cat" Coore and ...

X-Ray Spex: X-Ray-Spex: Germ Free Adolescents

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 November 1978

SMASH THE barriers and the truth shall make you free (as long as stocks last, anyway): barriers between humans and objects, between the natural (sic) ...

Emerson Lake And Palmer, Mike Oldfield: Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Love Beach; Mike Oldfield: Incantations

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

JEAN-PAUL Sartre took mescaline once, to prove to himself that he wasn't necessarily the institution people thought he was, and as a result became convinced ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: Meet The Killer

Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

Women, liquor, the devil and me – JERRY LEE tells CLIFF WHITE a torrid tale ...

Pure Hell: Just Another Bunch Of Middle Class Kids With Silly Names And Spiky Haircuts: Pure Hell

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

"H-E-E-EYY..." Pure Hell drummer Spider Blaze tousles his Rita Hayworth red crop and slaps his right palm down on mine, giving me one of those ...

Kate Bush: Lionheart

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

Grrrrnrrhhhh!!! Repressed reviewer laments a bird and her bush ...

Lou Reed: Live – Take No Prisoners (Arista Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

AH, LOU, we meet again. How long it's been. Ah, of course, don't tell me – Rock 'n' Roll Heart, wasn't it? A right piece ...

Flying Lizards: Penseur in Patchy Light: David Cunningham…

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

is either a 3-time loser looking for a way out, OR......An entrepreneurial polymath looking for a way in. ...

Philip Rambow: Whatever Happened To Philip Rambow?

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

Whatever happened to Philip Rambow? A year ago it finally seemed that his time was imminent. ...

Scritti Politti: Reflections On In(ter)dependence: Scritti Politti

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

MEET SCRITTI Politti: three or four young musicians (one is a floating member), and equally important, a large circle of close friends who provide help, ...

Robert A. Johnson: Got Mah Ego Workin'

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

When the Buffalo of Immodesty stomps the tender talent-plant 'neath its cloven heel, the result, as Confucius noted, is "rampant megabullshit, and I don't mean ...

Third World: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

IT IS surely not coincidental that now Island seem to have relegated Bob Marley and company to the status of lampoonery with joke titled albums ...

Tom Waits: Blue Valentine

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

Waits and measures ...

Bonzo Dog Band, Vivian Stanshall: Vivian Stanshall: Afloat!

Interview by Brian Case, New Musical Express, 25 November 1978

Yes, it's the tang of the salt spray in a Force 9 from Finisterre with regard to this one, hipmates; A rollicking tale which tells how Silver's parrot changed his ...

The Clash: Clash

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

What, THEM again? Fraid so. No apologies... On The Road Fax by NICK KENT: Biro & Quiz ...

Howard Devoto, Magazine: Howard Devoto: Calm And Confusion

Interview by Paul Morley, Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

WERE YOU a wimp at school?I wouldn't say I was a wimp. I think I did get bullied. ...

James Brown: OOOP! YAAA! UNNGH!

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

(That's right, this is a James Brown review.)James Brown: Odeon, Hammersmith ...

Boyfriends, The (US): The Boyfriends: Totley College, Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

TOTLEY TEACHERS Training College stuck out on the edge of Derbyshire gives The Boyfriends' gig there the atmosphere of a village hop, and it suits ...

The Cars: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

THE CARS took the stage to a backing tape of revving engines, the principal mode of presentation for this Boston-based five piece. The house was ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Shakedown Street

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 2 December 1978

Sorry to interrupt your reverie, Jerome. But then, this far along, not much could. ...

Aerosmith: Live! Bootleg

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

THE INEVITABLE live double from Aerosmith rolls inexorably into the American "Christmas like a fat Thanksgiving turkey". ...

Devo: Spud Wars

Report and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

They came from Outer Akron...Their purpose – Conquest.Their methods – Unpleasant.This was...Spud Wars ...

Olivia Newton-John: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN'S last night of an eight-week trundle through Japan, Australia and Europe was pretty poor. ...

Public Image Ltd.: Public Image Ltd. (Virgin)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

"THE PUBLIC Image is Limited", or so claimed John Lydon in a recent interview with his customary flair for a good, splenetic quip. Well, so ...

Art Bears, Funkadelic, Rush: Rush: Hemispheres (Mercury); Art Bears: Hopes And Fears (Re Records); Funkadelic: One Nation Under A Groove (Warner Brothers)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

Systems of resonance ...

The Shirts: Shirts Appeal – Loosen Your Choler

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

THE SHIRTS from Brooklyn reckon they've been mistreated. Right from the moment their name went on CBGB's lavatory wall. They are angry. But not beaten ...

The Subway Sect: War Poet of The Modern World

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

Old conceptions justifiedTradition stays in tuneYou make guitars talk informationThat tells you what to doThe lines that hit meAgain and againAfraid to take a strollOff ...

Todd Rundgren: Back To The Bars

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 9 December 1978

THE ONE obstacle between Todd Rundgren and a successful live album comes at the stage when he has to rely on other musicians. ...

Boomtown Rats: Today: Top Of The Pops, Tomorrow: The World

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 December 1978

The Day After: Top Of The Pops Again ...

Hawkwind, Robert Calvert: Hawklords: Leisure-Wear Of The Timelords

Report and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 December 1978

Actually, BOB CALVERT'S mystic dressing gown is not what this feature's about: what we have here is an appraisal of the new Hawkind, sorry, HAWKLORDS ...

The Brides of Funkenstein, Parliament: The Brides of Funkenstein: Funk Or Walk; Parliament: Motor Booty Affair

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 December 1978

IF ROCK stars had the kind of union that insisted on overtime bans and frowned on over-productivity, George Clinton would undoubtedly be the subject of ...

James Chance & the Contortions, DNA, Brian Eno, Mars, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks: Various Artists: No New York (Antilles Import)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 16 December 1978

I WAS wearing headphones. My teeth were aching again, and the lump behind my left ear was still as bad as ever. All 16 of ...

Gruppo Sportivo: Back to 78

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

DIPPING LUSTFULLY and deep into your public pocket, the simulated and soiled Gruppo Sportivo transparently dart from nursery rhyme tinsel to uncivilised sexual slang with ...

Ian Dury: New Challenge For Esperanto

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

JUST OUT of Holland, about ten miles from the Dutch/Belgian border, the coach pulls into the Flemish equivalent of a Motorway Chef. There's four hours ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: In Defense of Siouxsie and the Banshees

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

"Have a competition in the NME. In less than a hundred words, what do they get out of Siouxsie and the Banshees?" (Siouxsie Sioux) ...

Muddy Waters: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

FAST TALK/hard bargain: as Mr Muddy Waters was spending a few days of his 64th year in Great Britain in the faintly congruous role of ...

The Brides of Funkenstein, Funkadelic, Parliament: Parliament/Funkadelic/Parlet/Brides Of Funkenstein: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

THE "MOTHERSHIP" arrives. Everybody gets on out of it and has a "party". And I dance. And slump. And dance and slump. ...

Public Image Ltd: Johnny's Immaculate Conception

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

Putting The Nation On The PiL ...

Singles in 1978: The Ones That Got Away

Overview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

1978 was a classic year for singles. But most of the best were released on small labels with little chance of airplay, erratic distribution, and ...

The Doors: The Morrison Legacy

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 23 December 1978

JIM MORRISON'S body may lie a-moulderin' in his grave but his soul goes marching on. ...

Elvis Costello, John Cooper Clarke, Richard Hell: Elvis Costello, Richard Hell, John Cooper Clarke: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1979

Are you ready for the fiiinal soluuuuuuuuuuuuuushun (oh yeah)? ...

Elvis Costello: Elvis' Armed Forces

Comment by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1979

ELVIS COSTELLO is Superman's fantasy of what Clark Kent should have been. He is Buddy Holly reincarnated as an axe-murderer. He is a nasty Woody ...

Frank Zappa, Richard and Linda Thompson: Frank Zappa: Joe's Garage ; Richard and Linda Thompson: Sunnyvista

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1979

ROCK AND ROLL survives on an illusion of dynamism built upon critical inertia, upon endlessly repeated truths such as the oft-heard oppositions of 'old/new wave' ...

Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead: Live at The Rainbow, London

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 1979

SO LET'S suspend time and disbelief for a moment and stare through the haze at the West Coast's longest running institution called The Grateful Dead. ...

Elvis Costello And The Attractions: with Richard Hell and the Voidoids

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

WELCOME TO to the working week, seven nights of Elvis Costello at London's Dominion Theatre, virtually opposite the location of the Elvis musical.Will the real ...

Elvis Costello: Armed Forces

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

IN The Devil Finds Work, James Baldwin opined that white people's hatred of blacks is based on terror, while black people's hatred of whites is ...

Marvin Gaye: Here, My Dear (Tamla Motown)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

IF THE LANGUAGE is clearly familiar, the filling clear, the concept perhaps a little cloying then at least, at length, the soul is back to ...

Linton Kwesi Johnson, Public Image Ltd: Public Image Limited; Linton Kwesi Johnson: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

ON THE FIRST day of Christmas bondage bretheren and neon siteren children of the Rainbow – pace Aswad – left their parents' turkey tables en ...

Richard Hell: Who Says It's Good To Be Alive?

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

To Hell and back (it's located on a houseboat near Cheyne Walk)... in which the head Voidoid expounds on life in manner both humorous and ...

Roky Erickson, 13th Floor Elevators: Roky Erickson: Darkness at the edge of your mind...

Profile by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

...and other remembrances of psychedelic times past and future. ROKY ERICKSON, the Martian Van Morrison, will be visiting your town in "person" next month with ...

The Clash: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

LIKE THE few other rock bands that occasionally verge on genius – such at The Rolling Stones and the original Roxy Music – The Clash ...

Gang of Four, The Jam: The Jam, Gang of Four: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 January 1979

DOZING AT the back of the lower layer of the multi-tiered Music Machine I couldn't help wondering what it is to be charming, chillingly nostalgic ...

Burning Spear: Social Living (1 Stop)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

Majestic, Mysterious: Burning Spear's Celestial Music Shimmers On ...

Generation X: All The Young Dudes

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

GLEAN WHAT you will from the shapes of things that came to pass during 1978, but one commodity that was rejected with an almighty vengeance ...

Israel Vibration: The Same Song (Top Ranking)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

CURRENT CULT item on the local reggae scene, this debut album from the Israel Vibration trio augurs well for Jamaican music in 1979, with an ...

Jimmy Cliff: Give Thanx (Warner Bros)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

THIS RETURN to commercial visibility from the fated Mr Cliff has been well-received in certain corners, but unfortunately seems little more than a muddled, embarrassing ...

Joy Division, The Passage, Spherical Objects: New Stirrings On The North-West Frontier

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

The Underground sticks its Collective head overground to explain how the rest of the world went wrong. Please fasten your safety helmets now. Words: PAUL ...

The Jacksons: Destiny (Epic)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

EACH YEAR, when the popularity polls roll around, way down in the best vocalist section we can find Bowie, Dylan and even Cornwall whilst my ...

Throbbing Gristle: D.O.A. (The Third And Final Report Of Throbbing Gristle) (Industrial Records)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 13 January 1979

P. Orridge Bowls A Grisly Throb — P. Enman Ducks ...

Charles Mingus: Charlie Mingus: April 22, 1922 — Jan 5, 1979

Obituary by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 January 1979

SOME TIME back a 'friend' borrowed a large number of my jazz albums — and sold them. All I can say is that the rip-off ...

Marvin Gaye: Stand Up For Your Rights, My Brothers: Marvin Gaye’s Here, My Dear

Report and Interview by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 20 January 1979

WHILE TOURING Britain last September, the Temptations were not shy about slagging off their former record company, Motown. Numerous quotes from my interview with the ...

The Runaways: And Now…The Runaways (Mercury)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 20 January 1979

THE TERMS are at once familiar and bizarre, charged with meaning and strangely vacuous: 'street,' 'action,' 'hungry and hot,' 'rock 'n' roll,' 'teenage,' 'weekend,' 'queen.' ...

Chic: Up Chic Creek

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 27 January 1979

THERE WERE so many good singles last year that when it came to deciding what I thought were the best 45s to show out, I ...

Elvis Costello: Elvis Army Is Here To Stay

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 January 1979

CHAPERONED in the back of a hire car, taking in the sights, partaking in entertaining chit-chat about the industry with fellow passengers, I shouldn't feel ...

15, 16, 17, Brown Sugar, Dennis Brown, Cassandra, Roland & Carolyn Catlin, The Cool Notes, The Heptones, Pat Kelly, Louisa Mark, Revelation, T.T. Ross, The Tamlins: Lover's Rock Rools OK

Overview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 January 1979

Say hello to the schoolgirl revolution and the shortest cut to cleaning up in UK reggae. And ya thought reggae was all about guns, ganga, ...

Rock Mortality: They Gave Their Souls For Rock 'n Roll

Essay by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 27 January 1979

THE WRITER can eventually put down his pen, close the book and turn on the TV. The actor can take off his makeup and go ...

The Pointer Sisters: Pointers To The Future

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 January 1979

NOSTALGIA, so the old song hath it, ain't what it used ta be. ...

Joe Jackson: Look Sharp!

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 February 1979

JOE JACKSON is a contender: he's fast, tough and he doesn't mess around. At a time when the orthodox powers-that-be in the rock business are ...

Kevin Coyne: Music Of A Different Coyne

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 February 1979

And my message to the people Is don't tie me to the steeple Don't put me with the stocks and in your market square. ...

McGuinn, Clark & Hillman: McGuinn, Clark and Hillman: McGuinn, Clark & Hillman

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 February 1979

IF WATCHING someone you once admired attempting to be inspired is the most pathetic sight imaginable, as some bloke maintained in last week's ish, then ...

Joe Jackson: Crisp. In A Huge In America Sort Of Way

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 February 1979

THE HANDS spell nerves: balled into fists and rammed into the pockets of the pinstripe jacket. The elbows jerk and the knees twitch, the face ...

Essential Logic, The Normal, The Raincoats, Red Crayola, Stiff Little Fingers: Rough Trade: Beat, Activity and Conversation

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 10 February 1979

Terms For An Industry In The '80s... IAN PENMAN reports on the artistic and commercial concept of ROUGH TRADE, recorders, distributors and promoters of new ...

Sham 69: I Quit

Report by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 10 February 1979

ON WEDNESDAY, January 31, Sham 69 played their last ever gig. ...

Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material (Rough Trade)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 10 February 1979

I WAS HARDLY expecting it but...even more so than Never Mind The Bollocks – which turned out to be comedy – much more so than ...

Cheap Trick: Live At The Budokan (Epic)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 February 1979

GIVE THE Nips their due – when they latch on, they latch on fast, and in teeming multitudes, to boot. ...

Simple Minds: Strangers In A Strange Land

Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 17 February 1979

SIMPLE MINDS were fidgety as they sat around the kitchen table, some of them exhaling long streams of cigarette smoke while the others rattle boiled ...

Village People: The Annals Of Disco

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 17 February 1979

DANNY BAKER tests the dancefloor action 1979 from uptown Manhattan to downtown Rotherhithe, interviews THE VILLAGE PEOPLE people, lays on a historical overview of Disco, ...

The Pretenders: Moonlight Club, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 February 1979

THE NEWS is already out all over town about this bunch; and while one can only reiterate all the raves (so far usurped principally by ...

Doll By Doll: How To Change The World In Ten Easy Stages

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 February 1979

"For a long time now I have felt the Void but have refused to hurl myself into the Void.I have been as cowardly as everything ...

Dennis Brown: The Cool Runnings Of Dennis Brown

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 24 February 1979

Never far from reggae charts and hearts, Dennis Brown wakes up the UK's frozen airwaves. ...

The Stranglers: Live —X Certificate (United Artists)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 February 1979

THE OFFICIAL line on this enterprise is that it represents, in the words of one J.J. Burnel, "The end of an era…a compilation of the ...

Frank Zappa: Sheik Yerbouti (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

THE MODERN-day composer refuses to die and, sadly, so too does Frank Zappa. ...

Graham Parker: Journey To The Centre Of Your Spine

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

A CONCRETE BARN with a stage at one end: cables, cases, dust. A hyper-active dog in the grip of irresistible sexual forces is scooting around ...

John Cooper Clarke, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Merger, The Pop Group, Public Image Ltd: Public Image Ltd., The Pop Group, Merger, Linton Kwesi Johnson , John Cooper Clarke: Kings Hall, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

RACE TODAY magazine/organisation, acknowledging the central importance of Manchester in the struggle of black people, launched their northern campaign with a fund raising "Creation For ...

The Inmates: City Rhythms and Jailhouse Blues

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

BILL HURLEY, lead singer with The Inmates, was definitely built for the job. Bill Hurley clocks in six foot solid from the ground, a hard ...

The Mekons: The Group Who Fell To Earth

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

THE MEKONS step down from the space ship of idealism and come face to face with Rock Reality. Can they and the cult of British ...

Van Morrison: Whitla Hall, Belfast

Live Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

FOR THE WAR children of Belfast, Van Morrison's homecoming after 12 years was an emotional celebration, creating an atmosphere in the Whitla Hall equal to ...

Velvet Underground: 1969 Velvet Underground Live (Mercury)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 March 1979

THE VELVETS, specifically Lou Reed – maybe even this 'invisible' live double – say more about rock'n'roll, its implications and complications, than anyone else. ...

Bad Company: Desolation Angels (Swansong)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

EVER TRIED shooting ducks in a barrel? It's almost as easy as doing the old aesthetic pistol-whip on Bad Company. It's so damned easy trashing ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

WOW!!! SHEER excellence!!! You weren't there? You are square!!! (you thought it was the other way round? You still living to those snobby chic guidelines? ...

Graham Parker and The Rumour: Live in Belfast

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

GRAHAM PARKER hasn't changed much – the small guy with the high forehead sporting an Oxfam jacket, T-shirt, drainpipes and tinted specs – but his ...

Roxy Music: Manifesto (Polydor)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

EXACTLY SEVEN years ago — March 1972 — something stirred in the basement at Command Studios. ...

The Tubes: Remote Control (A&M)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

YOU DIDN'T know Todd Rundgren had a new album out, did you? He has. ...

Tom Robinson Band: TRB Two

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

THIS IS the diligently prepared and acutely-self conscious follow-up to that shaky first collection which naturally ended everyone's excited and premature self-congratulation over a singularly ...

Van Morrison: When Irish Eyes are Scowling

Report and Interview by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 March 1979

"If you want me to sit here and talk about my emotions you've got to be out of your MIND!" ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: A Day Out At The Gun Court

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

SET IN maybe half an acre of ground, 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6 is a sprawling, wood-fronted, two-storey detached house, its flaking cream paint seeming ...

Chrome: Half Machine Lip Moves

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

THE TITLE OF Chrome's second album Alien Soundtracks perfectly describes one level on which their music can be taken: the evocation of a fantasy world ...

Graham Parker: Squeezing Out Sparks

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

WHEN YOU PLAY this album for perhaps the tenth time, when you return to 'You Can't Be Too Strong' and listen to that one song ...

Sparks: No. 1 In Heaven (Virgin)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

COME OUT, come out wherever you are! It safe now! Those critics'll love yez all again! ...

The Jam: Dies' Ist Der Modernische Welt

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

AND IN THE beginning there was darkness. Then, it has been written, the Mood formed the Pistols, Clash, Damned, Stranglers, Vibrators and the Jam and ...

The Only Ones: Something Slithery This Way Comes

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

THE DRESSING room at Hurrah's is buzzing with electricity – reason being that inside this converted New York discotheque it's damn near as cold as ...

The Pretenders: Let's Pretend…

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

"ISN'T IT incredible, my dears, what some people will do when they get a hit? I'm appalled to hear that journalist-for-a-day Chrissie Hynde, lead singer ...

Toto: Toto (CBS)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 17 March 1979

WILL THESE people never learn? In the time-honoured Hollywood tradition of foisting ambitious super-sessioners upon that large portion of the American public bereft of a ...

Iggy Pop: Dr Iggy and Mr Pop

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 March 1979

"I am totally into corruption." ...

Tom Robinson Band: Across Our Grey And Troubled Land

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 March 1979

HERE HE COMES now just-a-walkin' down the street. From street-level upwards: white plimsolls, faded levis, fawn sweater with the collar-points of a white shirt peeking ...

Magazine: Second-Hand Daylight

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 31 March 1979

"Whatever your feelings about Howard Devoto are, they're no doubt strong" – the opening salvo of the last feature penned on the subject in these ...

The Fall, Gang of Four, The Human League, Stiff Little Fingers: The Mekons/The Fall/Human League/Gang Of Four/Stiff Little Fingers: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 March 1979

AND THE STARS look very different today... For all practical rock purposes, we may as well own up that we are now living in the ...

Jean-Jacques Burnel: J.J. Burnel: Euroman Cometh (United Artists)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 7 April 1979

IT WAS THE 19th Century Italian poet Leopardi who put it best: "Great truths are discovered only by a faculty of reason in a condition ...

Lowell George: Thanks I'll Eat It Here (Warner Brothers)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 April 1979

THE REAL name of this album is 'Thank You! I'll Eat It Here!' which was the original name of Little Feat's Sailin' Shoes and applied, ...

Graham Parker And The Rumour: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 April 1979

WHILE NO ONE was looking, Graham Parker has nimbly and single-mindedly stepped through his inner tangles and finally balanced purpose with expression and also brought ...

Lou Reed: I Love It When You Talk Dirty

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 21 April 1979

WHY DOES SUCH A MAN LIVE? ...

Buzzcocks, Magazine: Howard Devoto: The Compleat Fatalist

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

LATE THURSDAY afternoon. I am angry, very angry, for reasons that form too personal a tale but revolve around a head-on collision with hysterical illogicality. ...

Iggy Pop: New Values (Arista)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

WHAT WE have here is James Osterberg in control. What we have here is the cunning Osterberg using the sensual Iggy, isolating personal standards and ...

Kate Bush: The Palladium, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

TWO MEMORIES: recalled first are the days when rock and roll was swamped with failed classical pianists and violinists who knew that they could make ...

Lou Reed: The Bells (Arista)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

AH, THE BELLS, the bells…somehow I don't think this is what Victor Hugo had in mind all those years ago. However, what Slick Vic had ...

Robert Fripp: Exposure (Polydor)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

A LESSON IN priorities might have been as apt a title. For this, the first record bearing his own name, the idiosyncratic Mr. Fripp has ...

The Pop Group: Y

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 28 April 1979

THE POP GROUP. An enigmatic name. Not so much ironic as is often claimed, more plain cheeky. ...

M: Talkin' about POP MUZIK; Singin' about POP MUZIK; Gettin' rich offa POP MUZIK

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

ANDYGILLYPENNY takes dictation from M. ...

Misty In Roots: Misty: One more victim of the Southall riot

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

  "The scale of the violence in Southall, where 340 were arrested and more than 40 people were injured, has ensured that whichever party wins the ...

Popol Vuh: Nosferatu

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

POPOL VUH'S extended title for this soundtrack to Werner Herzog's remake of Nosferatu is 'On The Way To A Little Way'. That says a lot ...

Ted Nugent: The Nugent Interview

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

IT'S APPROACHING midnight, and in an empty, echoey dressing room, so bright it seems to have no ceiling, deep in the lifeless body of an ...

The Soft Boys: A Can Of Bees (Two Crabs)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

TAKE THE "mystery" out of rock'n'roll and you're left with an evaluation of current rock'n'roll that relies upon the recognition of traditional principles or objects. ...

The Undertones: The Undertones (Sire)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

"So you think you're so clever/you're never in doubt". ...

Wayne County & The Electric Chairs: Things Your Mother Never Told You (Safari)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 May 1979

THRASHING SUSPICIONS against all considered expectations, this is a mobile and intimidating masterpiece. ...

The Cure: Three Imaginary Boys (Fiction)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 12 May 1979

AAAH! MORE alert and anguished young men chalking up more sanctioned and sanctimonious marks. Do not applaud them. ...

The Ramones: Joey finally gets the girl

Report by Ira Robbins, New Musical Express, 12 May 1979

The Ramones' first feature film, Rock'n'Roll High School, had its world premier last week at a Texas drive-in. Will a touching tale of teen romance ...

Donna Summer: Bad Girls (Casablanca)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 19 May 1979

I'M SITTING here, the music is actionably loud, the bass is hitting right into the back of my neck, squarebashing on the spot, and – ...

J. Geils Band: Return Of The Hard-Drivin' Man

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 May 1979

"I'm a creature of the night. I don't wake up till it gets dark. D'ja wanna drink?" PETER WOLF of the J. GEILS BAND is ...

Penetration in Five Easy Stages

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 19 May 1979

ONCE UPON a time there was an impetuous eight-year-old girl living in a dark Durham corner and influenced greatly by the fashionable doings of a ...

Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music: Roxy Music: Still Raining Still Posing

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 May 1979

SEVEN YEARS. Is it really that long a time? That short a time? Yes, it is indeed, and the fact that Roxy Music have actually ...

The Cure: A Demonstration Of Household Appliances

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 19 May 1979

THE OFFICES of Fiction Records are located a stone's throw from Willesden High Street — a handy five-minutes stroll from the tube station — sequestered ...

New Barbarians: A Tale Of Two Rock 'n' Roll Addicts

Report by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 May 1979

AWWWWWW MAMA! I wanna tell ya 'bout Texas radio and the big beat. ...

Ronnie Wood: Ron Wood: Gimme Some Neck (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 May 1979

GOOD OLD Honest Ron Wood!! What a nice geezer, what a lad. Always a goofy smile with the everpresent Marlboro hanging from those humble lips, ...

The Undertones: The Reluctant Debutantes

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 26 May 1979

"When the group first started I suppose it's like a phase, y'know, ye want to be a fireman or ye want to be a policeman. ...

Ian Dury And The Blockheads: Ludwigshafen, Dusseldorf, Germany

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 June 1979

IMAGINE THE tattiest curtain material, maybe the type your gran's got covering an old sofa; a couple of awful patterns flung together to make a ...

Nick Lowe: Labour Of Lust

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 June 1979

PERSONS FAMILIAR with Nick Lowe in his recent incarnation as cynical-old-Basher, the man who'll steal any lick that isn't nailed down, disguise himself as anything ...

Patti Smith: The Palladium, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 2 June 1979

SITTING ALONE on the side of the stage, Patti Smith intones a rap that mixes passages of 'Wave', her latest failed-mystic monologue, with protestations of ...

Ian Dury: The Ian Dury Interview

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 June 1979

"Beetroot juice and prune juice help the regular of the bowels...""If somebody's looking at me with rapture all over their face I want to throw ...

Dire Straits: A Poor Man's Guide To That First Million

Report and Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

ROY CARR gives DIRE STRAITS a lesson in market forces. But M. Knopfler Inc. need no telling. ...

Elvis Costello: Murder on the Liverpool Express

Report by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

SO THERE I was at Euston station, seated comforably in the 1st class compartment waiting for the Inter City to speed me to my destination ...

Nina Hagen: The Euro Woman Cometh

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

THE LOBBY OF Blake's Hotel in Kensington is a hive of useless activity. As I walk through the open glass doors with the just-so scrolling ...

Judy Nylon, Penetration: Penetration, Judy Nylon: Hurrah, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

PAULINE KEEPS having her sentences completed for her. She'll say, "This is our current single in England, it's called..." and someone in the audience will ...

Rickie Lee Jones: Cocktails for Kerouac and an appointment with the Hype Machine

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

ABOUT THE crassest tag anyone has tried to hang on Rickie Lee Jones is that she’s "the female Tom Waits". It is also the kind ...

The B-52s: Hot Pants Cold Sweat And A Brand New Beehive Hair Do

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

"Y'AHL WANT gumbo?" Kate Pierson peers around the kitchen door, tea-cloth slung across a sunburnt shoulder. Her deep southern accent tells us ahl that her ...

The Who: The Kids Are Alright (Polydor)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

"The whole thing about rock and roll dynamism, in many ways, is the fact that if it does slow down, if it does start to ...

Tubeway Army: Looking Through Gary Numan's Eyes

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 June 1979

THE LIST went something like: 2.00pm – Jackie, 2.30pm – My Guy, 3.15pm – Patches, 4.00pm – Record Mirror, 4.45pm – Smash Hits, 5.30pm – ...

Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers: Max's Kansas City, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 16 June 1979

THE HEARTBREAKERS have abandoned the conceit of billing each of their now regular appearances at Max's as a 'farewell' gig and it looks a safe ...

Nils Lofgren: Nils (A&M)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 16 June 1979

COME ON, let's talk about girls. Let's talk about Lofgren, the bruised heart. ...

Public Image Ltd.: The Odd Combo

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 16 June 1979

Danny Baker goes on the PiS with PiL ...

Sylvester: Mighty Real (Fantasy)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 16 June 1979

Dead Duck? ...

The Cramps: Marquee, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 16 June 1979

Look Out! The bogey men are coming… ...

James Chance, James White and The Blacks: James White and The Blacks: Off White (ZE)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 23 June 1979

JAMES CHANCE, alias James White, leader of The Contortions aka The Blacks, has been making something of a name for himself this past year or ...

James Chance, James White and The Blacks: James White and the Reds

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 23 June 1979

A comparative study (sort of) of aggressive American nihilism and French anarchists with beer cans. IAN PENMAN adjudicates on matters moral and philosophical. ...

McFadden and Whitehead: The Rise and Rise of McFadden, Whitehead and Ward (Anita)

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 23 June 1979

EVEN THE Johnny Pearson Orchestra on Top Of The Pops couldn't ruin a song as strong as 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now'. ...

Ted Nugent: State Of Shock (Epic)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 23 June 1979

Ted On Arrival ...

The Cramps: Tales Of American Gothick

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 23 June 1979

THE TITLE OF the film escapes me, but the scene itself has remained indelibly stained on my brainplate for all of nine years. A strange ...

Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones: Brian Jones: 28, February 1944 — 3 July, 1969

Retrospective by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

Ten Years after his death, a re-appraisal of the life and times of the Rolling Stone who was crushed by success ...

Blondie, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Philip Glass, Michael Nyman: Crits fiddle while public burns...

Report by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

Fripp, Eno and others debate the future of a species ...

Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps (Reprise)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

GOD KNOWS, you're at liberty to draw your own conclusions as to why Rust Never Sleeps is the masterpiece it so obviously is, but the ...

Nick Lowe, Rockpile: Nick Lowe: Whatever Gets You Through The Daze

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

I'VE LOST track of time, but Lew Lewis and Reformer are on stage at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion blowing base boogie that the Hemel Hempstead audience ...

KISS, Queen: Queen: Live Killers (EMI)/KISS: Dynasty (Casablanca)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINMENT! It's the best, it never quits, there's nothing like it. It's the real thing! It's sound and light and colour and spectacle to ...

The B-52s: The B-52s (Island)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

ANYONE WITH even half an ear cocked to the dialogue that surrounds the music must have heard by now that they're living in some sort ...

The Clash: Yes It's Strummer In The City

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

HOT TOWN! Strummer in the city: walks into the Kings Road pub that serves as his temporary local while he's staying in Fulham dead on ...

The Pop Group: Idealists in Distress

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 30 June 1979

They are young. They are talented. They are committed. They are now without a record company. "So what seems to be the problem, boys?" asks ...

Blue Oyster Cult: Mirrors

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 7 July 1979

DEMOCRACY IS A wonderful thing in theory, even if the practice is not always assured of success. And that self-same philosophical trait is a rare ...

Lowell George: Hard Rock Cafe, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 7 July 1979

LOWELL GEORGE didn't so much leave Little Feat as fade out of it, gradually reducing his writing for the group and his participation in the ...

Wire: Reluctant Rock Stars: A Nation In Crisis

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 July 1979

PAUL RAMBALI looks at the young people the Social Services have failed. The kids who must face the ever-present threat of Fame, the horror of ...

The Cars: Candy-O (Elektra)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 July 1979

THE CARS, Jesuit rock critics harangue, are the new wave at its most specious, manufactured and thus calculated to appease those ultra-reactionary brutes ruling the ...

Van Halen: Glory Or Rupture

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 7 July 1979

GIVE THE Yanks their due: when it comes down to being straight-ahead 'dunced out' almost beyond the realms of the hyper-crass, they take the old ...

Devo: In the Terminal Zone

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 July 1979

IT'S OUT of the blue and into the black. A place is left somewhere behind where the front pages of the daily newspapers comment hysterically ...

Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (Factory)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 14 July 1979

JUST WHEN the year's vitality was threatening to be expunged by a non-stop parade of rehashed fashions, 'ordinary geezers' with French Riviera yachts and the ...

The B-52s, Fashiøn: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 14 July 1979

SUNDAY WAS hipper-than-hip night at the Lyceum, which meant that the girls plastered up their curls into various bouffant permutations and wore their tightest fitting ...

Bo Diddley, Ray Campi: This Here's The Review Of Bo Diddley

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 July 1979

Bo Diddley/Ray Campi And The Rockabilly Rebels/Whirlwind: Lyceum, London ...

Weather Report: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 July 1979

Driving with a devil in their tank ...

Neu!: Neu: Neu '75

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

IF I WERE to tell you that a record you've probably never heard of was the album that David Bowie's been trying to make these ...

Red Crayola: "...THE IDEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ANY WORK AS A FUNCTION OF CONSUMER RELATIONS...

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

...AS OPPOSED TO DEMOCRATIC ORGANISATIONAL IMPERATIVES; SECTIONAL MILITANCY AS OPPOSED TO PRIVATISED MILITANCY, OF WHICH YOU FIND A GREAT DEAL IN POP MUSIC — THE CRITICAL ...

Ry Cooder: Bop Till You Drop (Warners Import)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

RYLAND P. Cooder is a most reliable fellow. Ever since the days when he was laying down that stinging bottleneck guitar behind the likes of ...

Squeeze: Fun City Sweet Hearts

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

I'M JUST about to make the name change official; my new name is to be Paul Pop. You're the first to hear about it. ...

The Pretenders: Sheffield University

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

Duty Now For The Past? ...

The Residents: Nibbles! (Virgin)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

MEET THE Residents!!! ...

Van McCoy, Minnie Riperton Cut Down in Their Prime

Obituary by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 21 July 1979

WHEN LOWELL George died, a kind of half-hearted black joke about 'the season starting' was popular on many lips. In the brief space since his ...

Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers: Heartbreakers Live at Max's Kansas City (Beggar's Banquet)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 July 1979

GOING TO have to make this one brief. Brief, because this wretched excuse for a live album is such a shameful affair that to dwell ...

B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters: Muddy Waters, BB King, Chuck Berry: Woke Up This Mornin'…

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 July 1979

...Blues Giants All Round My Bed. NICK KENT meets the Three Wise Men of the Blues. ...

The Sex Pistols: Sex Pistols: Some Product: Carri On Sex Pistols (Virgin)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 28 July 1979

THIS IS getting silly. ...

Talking Heads: Les Talking Heads a la Carte

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 28 July 1979

THE SCENE: Paris, France, July 10. Bastille Day looms, Talking Heads and their 'guests' The B52s have just completed a mini-European jaunt minus Great Britain. ...

Chic: Risqué

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 4 August 1979

THIS TIME I really feel entitled to smile. ...

Led Zeppelin: Smiling Men With Bad Reputations

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 August 1979

OF ALL THE old superfart bands it is certainly Led Zeppelin who have been and still are the most reviled by the New Wave. ...

Angelic Upstarts: Teenage Warning (Warner Brothers)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

NEWCASTLE'S Upstarts are already, for obvious and not so obvious reasons, being prepared by the vulture voyeurs as the successors to Sham. I'm not sure ...

Commander Cody, Led Zeppelin, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Todd Rundgren: Ghosts Of Progressive Rock Past: Led Zeppelin et al at Knebworth

Report by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

EVENTS LIKE KNEBWORTH, the promoter Freddy Bannister had wanly predicted in Saturday's Guardian, cannot continue for much longer. The reasons for the inevitable decline and ...

James Brown: The Original Disco Man (Polydor Import)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

THERE HE SITS, a sly grin splitting up his face to show a set of teeth worthy of a prize nag, his hair dixie-peached to ...

Joy Division: Take No Prisoners, Leave No Clues

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

LET ME DRAW BACK the curtains on a probably wet and no doubt freezing night last winter. A mid-week night of no special significance, save ...

Led Zeppelin: In Through The Out Door (Swansong)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

THREE LONG years has it been? Let's me see now. Ah, yes Presence, released in April 1976, was the last shot of new Led Zeppelin ...

Ry Cooder: Ry And Related Stuff

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

"Me and my wife, Went all over town, And everywhere we went, The people turned us down, Lord, in a bourgeois town, In a bourgeois ...

Taj Mahal: Recycling the Blues

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 11 August 1979

"I'm goin to the river goin to sit down on the ground/I'm goin to the river goin to sit down on the ground/And let the ...

Ian Dury: The Cuddly Cosy Comfort Of A Tame And Trusted Teddy

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

Ian Dury And The Blockheads: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Led Zeppelin, New Barbarians, Todd Rundgren: Led Zeppelin/New Barbarians/Todd Rundgren: Knebworth, Hertfordshire

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

WELL, THAT'S OVER. No more Led Zeppelin front covers for a good while; no more wondering whether Mick would appear with the New Barbarians; no ...

Patti Smith: The Boarding House, San Francisco

Live Review by Michael Goldberg, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

THERE WAS more 'poetry' scrawled across the bathroom walls of the Boarding House than Patti Smith delivered during a two hour show there. Still, the ...

Talking Heads: Taking Heads: Fear Of Music (Sire)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

TOM WOLFE ONCE wrote a book called The Painted Word, a thin volume of accomplished iconoclasm. In it he traces the rise and rise of ...

The Mo-dettes: Fast, Loud, Pretty

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

MET THEM ON A Monday, the Coca Cola spilt over the tape machine, and my MRX2 Oxide 45 mins each side @ 1 7/8 i.p.s. ...

XTC: Drums And Wires (Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 August 1979

Something Like The Best ...

Al Green: The Record Mogul In The Sky

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 August 1979

WHO CAN DENY that the Lord moves in mysterious ways? In this week of Mammon in hyperdrive – Quadrophenia, the rejuvenation of mods v. rockers ...

Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 August 1979

THE RELATIONSHIP between rock and religion has always been fraught and filled with tension: back at its Southern rural roots, there was always a serious ...

Motorhead: Oy Lemmy, Is It True?

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 August 1979

AH, the sheer classicism of the three-piece rock band. ...

Van Morrison: Into The Music (Mercury)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 August 1979

CAN THIS BE coincidence? Three of rock's most vaunted troubadors choose the very same week to unveil their newest fare, their last of the spiritually ...

AC/DC, Nils Lofgren, The Stranglers, The Who: Who, Stranglers: Laser Laser On The Wall Who Are Complacent After All

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 August 1979

THE MIDDLE OF the evening and it's getting quite dim. The Who are playing a new song; at least, I take it to be a ...

Curtis Mayfield: Heartbeat (RSO)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

IT'S ALWAYS been my contention that Curtis Mayfield doesn't really sing but rather squeezes his voice out over a song. And because I'm a squeeze ...

Dr. Alimantado: Doctor Alimantado: King's Bread (Ital Sounds)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

Doc 'Tado I&I Presume ...

John Fahey: The Passage Of Time In Open G And Other Stories

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

A FEW WEEKS ago, in the middle of a full week for me and a nice Saturday for Shepherds Bush, I met John Fahey, who ...

The Police: The Long Yarn Of The Lore

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

ALONGSIDE THE habitually garish or else just plain boring film posters that currently besmear the walls of London, the advert for Quadrophenia stands out like ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Slits: The Slits: Cut (Island); Siouxsie & The Banshees: Join Hands (Polydor)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

AS THE Slits sing-song: don't take it seriously. ...

Tom Verlaine: Tom Verlaine (Elektra)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 1 September 1979

Mr Verlaine Unwraps ...

Aswad: Hulet (Groove)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

IT'S EASY TO feel alienated by certain aspects of reggae, not the least of which is the idolatry afforded it by impressionable whites: 'Milky Bar ...

Cheap Trick: Wake Up, Rick – You're The First Superstar of the '80s

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

LET'S NOT mince words. The basic premise here is the why, wherefores and whatevers backing up the simple contention that within the next 12 months ...

Bob Dylan: Dylan’s Conversion: We Name the Guilty Men

Essay by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

Nothing guarantees more scorn in rock’n’roll circles than a man who gets religion. I mean, we pay these guys to visit hell and bring us ...

Gary Numan: The Pleasure Principle

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

AND PEOPLE seethe at the Golden Boy. Let's forget the threadbare rock'n'roll bitch that it's all been done before by 'proper' artists — Bowie this, ...

The Kinks: Low Budget (Arista)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

The Kinks and the ‘70s have not enjoyed the most harmonious of relationships. ...

The Selecter: They Still Bear The Skas

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

BLACK SHOES, bright socks, black shades, white shirt, black trilby, irridescent trousers a tad too short and chest-hugger jackets...Stepping down from the inter-city train to ...

This Heat: This Heat (Piano)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 8 September 1979

FOR MUCH of This Heat's album, it's difficult and at times impossible to decipher which instrument is playing what. This is some indication of their ...

James Brown: Get Up, I Feel Like Being A Rap Machine

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

JAMES BROWN is late for our appointment. But then it would almost be heresy on his part were he not a regal 45 minutes behind ...

A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Fall, Hawkwind, Joy Division, The Monochrome Set, The Only Ones, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, pragVEC, Public Image Ltd, Punishment Of Luxury, Scritti Politti, Spizz, The Teardrop Explodes, Tymon Dogg: Joy Division, Pil et al: Futurama '79 Festival — Set The Controls For The Squalor Of Leeds

Live Review by Andy Gill, Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

The World's First Science Fiction Music FestivalWords: Ian Penman and Andy Gill. Pix: Kevin Cummins ...

Nils Lofgren: Rock 'n' Roll's Great Lost Hero

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

ONE: FINGERNAILSNILS LOFGREN is a small man with a lovely face. One chocolate brown eye is smaller, almost lazier, than the other; this gives his ...

Patti Smith: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

WEDNESDAY WAS an unusual day. ...

Pere Ubu: New Picnic Time (Chrysalis)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

PERE UBU is the type of band that enjoys banging its head against a concrete art-form – it makes an interesting sound and a crazy ...

James Brown: Sweat, Power And Expensive Perfume

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 September 1979

TALKIN' 'BOUT The Venue...and people, it's bad. There is no way that something the size of a small theatre can pretend to be an intimate ...

Blondie: Eat To The Beat (Chrysalis)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

BLONDES have more fun. They also sometimes sell more records. This puts our subject in a rather invidious position. ...

Cheap Trick: Dream Police (Epic)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

BRIEFLY, THIS is the fifth time in four years that Cheap Trick have vented their prodigious energies. Dream Police was made before Live At The Budokan made Cheap Trick ...

The Clash: Clash Take The Fifth

Report by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

WHEN THE CLASH is in Chicago, there's enough people there to suggest America is waking up, even if the band still fall the wrong side ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis Still Dead Shock

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

Drugs Probe — Doc Probe ...

Joan Armatrading: Steppin' Out (A&M)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

THE AUTHOR of the song is individualised out of all proportion in rock culture. The singer/songwriter subject is built up in such a way that ...

Judas Priest: Unleashed In The East (CBS)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

WHAT IS this thing called Judas Priest? A heavy metal band? Who says? If this is really Judas Priest live they'd be hard pushed to ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Night Of The Long Knives

Report by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

IT'S IRONIC that Siouxsie and the Banshees' latest album bears the title Join Hands when half the group just ran away two dates into their ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: There Was I Waiting At The Church

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

NICK KENT feels the wrath of Siouxsie Sioux and Steve Severin ...

Buzzcocks, Gang of Four: The Buzzcocks, Gang of Four: Club 57, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

THIS IS AN interesting juxtaposition: Buzzcocks work on a high energy formula, a formula that works; Gang Of Four work away from formula – they ...

The Crusaders: It's A Street Life In The Crusaders

Profile and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

IT'S THE MID-1950s in Houston, Texas, east of Galveston Bay and west of the River Colorado, and some of the local folks are having themselves ...

Wire: 154 (Harvest)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

WIRE WERE from the very outset a conceptually intriguing collective, even though they bristled with a potential that was all too often offset by niggling ...

XTC, The Yachts: XTC/The Yachts: Sheffield

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 22 September 1979

THIS IS POP? THIS IS POP?? ...

Siouxsie & the Banshees: De Montfort Hall, Leicester

Live Review by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

"HOPE YOU like the new band." ...

Dynasty, Lakeside, Carrie Lucas, Shalamar, The Whispers: Solar Records: Pretty People, Pretty Music, Pretty Vacant

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

THE MUSIC BIZ BLACK AMERICAN STYLE — DANNY BAKER NAMES THE FACES OF FACELESS DISCO ...

The Darts: One of these Men Is a Fitness Fanatic

Profile and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

ALONG A LONELY Somerset lane a man from West 68th St. Manhattan is making good time. Twelve miles behind him and eight to go, he ...

The Eagles: The Long Run (Asylum)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

THE DOMINANT rumour being touted around The Eagles' camp to explain the three year gap between Hotel California and The Long Run was, I recall, that this project was ...

The Police: Reggatta de Blanc (A&M)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

IF PEOPLE weren't so busy establishing joyless divisions of rock acceptability, creating slums of fashion and – ha! – credibility, then people wouldn't hesitate to ...

Don Cherry, Creation Rebel, The Slits: The Slits, Don Cherry & Happy House, Prince Hammer & Creation Rebel: New Theatre, Oxford

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 29 September 1979

THE LAST time I talked about the Slits was centred around a disorientating weekend in Liverpool at the beginning of this year — a shaky ...

Bruce Springsteen: The Springsteen Syndrome

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

Musicians United For Safe Energy: Madison Square Garden, NYC ...

Buzzcocks: Hey Mac Are You Some Kind Of Limey Pop Star?

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

SAT RANDOMLY around a small table are four young men each with dark hair. When they grin, their faces show they see things differently. ...

Gang of Four: Entertainment! (EMI)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

ENVELOPED AS we seem to be by such backward times, Gang Of Four could hardly have picked a more awkward moment to foist their collectivist ...

Joe Jackson: I'm The Man

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

SUCCESS success success! (Does it matter?) ...

The Human League: Reproduction (Virgin)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

EVERY TV appearance Gary Numan makes must be like a dagger to the heart of The Human League, every radio-play a bit more salt in ...

The Residents: Eskimo (Ralph)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

I'M NOT altogether sure quite how to convey the magnitude of The Residents' achievement with Eskimo. What I am sure of is that it's without ...

The Kinks: The Rise And Decline Of The Kinks

Profile and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

A CUT PRICE PERSON IN A LOW BUDGET LAND ...

Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Toast

Profile and Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

WITH TRINITY, Clint Eastwood, Prince Hammer, Jah Lion and Prince Far I here in London town it's like a DJ Jambo-r-r-r-r-r-ee and the chance to ...

The Clash: Clash USA '79

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 October 1979

Details: The Scene ...

Lene Lovich: A HIt Ms That Refuses To Fit

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 13 October 1979

LENE LOVICH, five foot nothing of old lace, obscure ancestry and pigtails, is what in old showbiz parlance they call a trouper. She can take ...

Sister Sledge: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 13 October 1979

Shrink-wrapped cabaret ...

Status Quo: Whatever You Want (Vertigo)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 13 October 1979

"On again/No I never knew we could go on and on/They never thought we would be rockin' on/No we never thought we — could be ...

Television, Tom Verlaine: Tom Verlaine: Happiness Is A Guitar Called Fender...

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 13 October 1979

...And how to make original rock & roll with it in the late '70s is your problem. It's also TOM VERLAINE'S ...

Boomtown Rats: The Fine Art Of Surfacing (Ensign)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

The Rat Who Would Walk On Water ...

Boston: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

GOAL! ...

Cabaret Voltaire: Mix Up (Rough Trade)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

WITH MIX UP, Cabaret Voltaire transcend being simply the blueprint for a genre – the drummerless synthesizer trio – and finally get down to business. ...

Chic: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

HAVING BEEN present at more disco live shows than any one mortal is entitled to or deserving of, I naturally feared the worst. ...

Fleetwood Mac: Tusk (Warner Brothers)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

ALMOST EVERYONE, barring the inevitable elitist bores blinkered by their own super-hipness, seemed to have a soft spot for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. In late '77, ...

Kate Bush: "Wow, Wow, Wow, Amazing, Amazing, Ama—"

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

EMI: THREE LETTERS that have come to represent "the enemy" in rock'n'roll's war games. EMI House rambles like a country home with a thousand warrens ...

The Adverts: Cast Of Thousands

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

THE ADVERTS, with unforeseen stamina, have substantially matured since their early days. No longer can technical inadequacy or limited vocabulary be criticisms – just the ...

The Clash: The Fastest Gang In The West

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

DETAILS: THE FIFTH MEMBER Micky Gallagher turned up in Boston. Four or five dates into the Clash itinerary and The Blockheads' jumpy Irish keyboardist slips ...

The Specials: Specials (Two Tone)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

YOU JUST can't shake the tunes out of your head, can't stop beating your feet to the heat as The Specials' unique excitement surges through ...

XTC: Making Plans for Andy Colin Terry and Dave

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 20 October 1979

"I FEEL GREAT antagonism towards the press we've all too often received. They always seem to end up never actually talking to you, they just ...

Madness: One Step Beyond (Stiff)

Review by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 27 October 1979

Blue Feat ...

Annette Peacock: The Perfect Release (Aura)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

ANNETTE PEACOCK is, I am reliably informed, very well thought of in bohemian circles. This is unsurprising, the surprise being only that her work is ...

Aspects of Superpop: It Will Stand

Retrospective by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

The Minit label of New Orleans flourished during the period 1960 to 1962 and consolidated one of the cornerstones of the Superpop era. Allen Toussaint ...

Sly & the Family Stone: Sly Stone: Back On The Right Track/Sly & the Family Stone: Ten Years Too Soon

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

FILED SIDE by side, those titles read like the bookends of a wasted decade. In their predictably loud, plain language they seem to say that ...

Boomtown Rats: The Boomtown Rats: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

THURSDAY NIGHT at the Hammersmith Odeon demonstrated Neil Young's recent lyrical contention that "The King is gone but he's not forgotten": The Boomtown Rats utilised ...

The Jam: The Revolution Will Start When Paul Weller Has Supped His Pint

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

"I WOULDN'T say I'm a very articulate person, but I seem to be able to articulate when I write lyrics..." ...

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Damn The Torpedoes (Backstreet)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 3 November 1979

IT'S BEEN a good two years since Tom's last sortie into the vinyl jungle, but even then You're Gonna Get It! was released to widespread critical apathy. ...

Bob Marley & The Wailers: Apollo Theatre, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 10 November 1979

BOB MARLEY had to change his approach. He had a virtual patent in the international arena on the stance of the mad-shaman reggae icon, the ...

Dolly Mixture: Sugary Sweets Can Cause Youth Decay

Interview by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 10 November 1979

Baaa! Baaa! Baaa! We are poor little lambs who have gone astray. ...

Marianne Faithfull: Broken English (Island)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 November 1979

BEFORE WE get started on the music... ...

The Jam: Setting Sons (Polydor)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 10 November 1979

CHANGE. IT'S something Paul Weller wrote about on 'To Be Someone', that sour story on All Mod Cons about the kid who wanted to be famous and ...

Wilson Pickett: Land Of A Thousand Libels

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 November 1979

IN GUY PEELAERT'S Rock Dreams tome of some six autumns back, one of the artist's strongest slices of visualized popular music imagery went under the ...

The Who: The Ace Face’s Forgotten Story: Pete Meaden

Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 17 November 1979

I’m the face babyIs that clear?I’m the faceIf you want it.All the others are third-class tickets by me babyIs that clear?– Pete Meaden for the ...

Mink DeVille, Willy DeVille: Willy DeVille: Sacked!

Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 17 November 1979

Wille Deville in "services no longer required" shock! ...

Madness: Nice Band, Shame About The Fans

Report and Interview by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 24 November 1979

Deanne Pearson puts the cat among the pigeons and scotches some nasty rumours. ...

Neil Young: Live Rust (Reprise)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 24 November 1979

"My, my, hey hey, rock and roll is here to stay/Hey hey, my my, rock and roll can never die." ...

The Pop Group, Scritti Politti: University Of London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 24 November 1979

THE TRADITION of the angry young idealist, full of righteous fervour, self-righteous condescension towards those at odds with his or her volatile beliefs, and a ...

Annette Peacock: A British Rail Breakfast With The Artbreak Kid

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

TIMING: a while ago someone asked Bob Geldof — famous vocalist and composer with the extremely well-known Boomtown Rats pop group — for his definition ...

Fleetwood Mac: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

YOU ENTER the stream of bodies pouring through the portholes of Madison Square Garden. You get caught up in the tide. Into the awesome space ...

George Clinton: Mutiny On The Mothership — Uncle Jam Wants Out

Report and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

Drummer Jerome Brailey and Horny Hornsman Fred Wesley have already quit Funkadelic – and now George Clinton is giving up live performances. Richard Grabel reports ...

Pink Floyd: The Wall (Harvest)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

FOREMEN OF the apocalypse Pink Floyd are still alive, four lost men in a popular music eclipse. ...

The Jam, The Vapors: Apollo Theatre, Manchester

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

FIRST NIGHT out on tour: welcome back to another edition of So Who Really Is The Best Group In The World? Down in Manchester Apollo ...

Tom Waits: The Skid Row Drunk Goes Legit: Tom Waits live in New York

Live Review by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

BECAUSE of circumstances too dumb to relate here and now, I had never seen Tom Waits doing a live show, unless, of course you count ...

The Skids: A Loser's Quest For Survival

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1 December 1979

"I'm going to lose. It's like admitting defeat before I start. But I'm going to do as much as possible in that period before I ...

Randy Newman: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

RANDY NEWMAN was wandering around backstage at the Dominion gazing disconsolately down. "Why doesn't anyone like my ELO song?" he kept asking no one in ...

Randy Newman: Standing Up For The Small Man

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

THERE ARE hotels and there are hotels. And then there are hotels like Claridge's, an elegant art deco reminder of the pre-war age of luxury ...

Robert Palmer: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

THAT THE Odeon was full for two nights running leads me to think that Robert Palmer's followers form some kind of secret society. I don't ...

Dan-I, Dynasty, Electric Light Orchestra, Kool and the Gang, Sheila B. Devotion, The Sugarhill Gang: Singles Charts: Quick! Before They Vanish!

Overview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

DANNY BAKER checks out the singles charts. ...

The Beat: Don't Call Me Ska Face

Interview by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

"It's just The Beat having a Punky Reggae party," says Deanne Pearson of the latest 2-Tone tornadoes. 'Check' them out... ...

Adam & The Ants, Throbbing Gristle: Throbbing Gristle: 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Industrial); Adam & The Ants: Dirk Wears White Socks (Do It)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 December 1979

ADAM AND The Ants and Throbbing Gristle are shadowy extremes, lurking in dark corners, lethargically scratching through their overscrubbed private parts, grinning sweetly at anyone ...

Joe Jackson: Just Joe

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 December 1979

EYES RIGHT! Talking Heads are playing the Electric Ballroom tonight, and clearly visible above all the twitching cerebella is one head, as instantly noticeable as ...

The Clash: London Calling

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 December 1979

"...the wit of the city's urchins is as sharp as the finest conversation of the rural lord; the vulgar speech of the street arabs is ...

The Selecter, The Specials: The Specials, The Selecter: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 15 December 1979

TWO TOP FIVE two-tone bands in one night. The message comes through loud and clear: rude bwoy can't fail. ...

Dire Straits: Whitla Hall, Belfast

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

IN THE foyer they flog T-shirts, programmes and all the paraphernalia of a rock band's promotional department bar embossed wellingtons and inflatable underwear. Rumours that ...

The Clash: Guy Stevens: “There Are Only Two Phil Spectors In The World And I Am One Of Them”

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

Selected tableaux from The Guy Stevens Story. ...

Madness: Hurrah, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

THERE'S NO tradition of ska being popular in America. Millie Small and Desmond Dekker each had one novelty hit a piece, and that's it. But ...

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark: In The Future All Groups Will Be Built Like This

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

LIVERPOOL'S Lime Street station opens onto a typically drab cityscape. ...

Talking Heads: Talking Head First

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

A HIRE CAR draws up at an address in Soho, and three members of Talking Heads troop into the Cine-Lingual building, Berwick Street. ...

Tim Buckley: The Fantastic Voyage of a Starsailor

Retrospective by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 22 December 1979

"I'm as puzzled as the newborn child I'm as riddled as the tide Should I stand amid the breakers Or should I die with death my bride? Come hear ...

U2/Soul Boys: Moonlight Club, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1980

TWO NEWCOMERS playing in NW6 either side of the Xmas go slow. Plenty of gaps in the gathering for the U2 show, but of the ...

George Jones: My Very Special Guests (Epic)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

A VETERAN OF over 50 albums, second cousin to the Nashville addiction, cheap booze, paid dues and bad blues, George Jones continues his flirtations with ...

The Clash, Ian Dury, Matumbi: Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Clash and Matumbi: A Concert for the People of Kampuchea

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

It could only be cold comfort to them, but this isn’t the first time rock ‘n’ roll has played a distant part in the lives ...

Janis Ian: Night Rains (CBS)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

FIRST THE vital question — has marriage cheered up our ever-ailing heroine and caused her to cease spilling teardrops on the Steinway? On the evidence ...

David Bowie, Can, Brian Eno, Faust, Lothar and the Hand People, Neu!, Silver Apples, Suicide, Tangerine Dream, The United States of America: The Concise NME Guide To Electronic Music & Synthesised Sound

Guide by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

"Progress in the physical and mechanical sciences determines a progress in art." — Carlos Chavez, 1957 ...

James Chance & the Contortions: The Contortions: Buy The Contortions (Ze Records)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

LIGHTBULBS FLASH dutifully o'er our heads, signifying but an insufficient brightness. We go sleepily about our business. Flashbulbs slash daily at our eyes, fulfilling narcissism. ...

The Fall: All Fall Down

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

JUST ABOVE my typewriter on the mantlepiece is an eye-catching tube of 10 orange flavoured effervescent tablets. Each tablet contains 1g orange flavoured concentrated Vitamin ...

The Ramones: End Of The Century (Sire)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 5 January 1980

1-9-9-9 Phil 'N' Da Brudders Do Just Fine ...

John Cale: Sabotage/Live (Spy Import)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

THE COVER of this, his first album in almost five years, shows John Cale wearing the only sensible accessories for the true cold war ...

Millie Jackson: Live And Uncensored

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

A COUPLE OF NIGHTS back I was re-discovering Millie Jackson's Caught Up/Still Caught Up albums and wallowing in the ecstasy of what arguably were the ...

Pink Military: Post-Modernist Pop Music

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

HOW WAS IT in Liverpool last year? "Liverpool has been great! It really has. All these ace bands coming through. A lot of the best ...

Walter/Wendy Carlos, Chicory Tip, The Chipmunks, Devo, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Fad Gadget, The Human League, Jean Michel Jarre, M, Giorgio Moroder, Gary Numan, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Todd Rundgren, Donna Summer, Telex, Tonto's Expanding Head Band, The Tubes, Frank Zappa: The Concise NME Guide To Electronic Music & Synthesised Sound PART TWO — Synthesisers

Overview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

POMP THE trouble with synthesisers is actually playing them, accepting their status as sound-generators and starting from scratch. Mechanical keyboards were included in early synth ...

The Durutti Column, Jorma Kaukonen: The Durutti Column: The Return Of The Durutti Column (Factory); Jorma Kaukonen: Jorma (RCA Import)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

West Coast comeback shock ...

The Pretenders: Pretenders (Real Records)

Review by Tony Stewart, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

The pop games people play ...

The Bodysnatchers, The Selecter: The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

THE LAST thing I heard in 1979 and the first thing I heard in 1980 were rocksteady ska rhythms from two bands connected with what ...

The Slits: Hurrah, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 12 January 1980

ANOTHER American debut of another new British band at Hurrah's. But this is New Year's Eve and the ticket is 25 bucks – probably a ...

M: The International Motel Conspiracy

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 19 January 1980

Deep inside the National Gallery two 'moles' talk of music, muzik, muzak, and other aspects of modern man... DANNY BAKER meets ROBIN SCOTT of M. ...

Mikey Dread: Who's The Dread At The Hub Of Dub? Michael Campbell

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 19 January 1980

"Zzzzzz-z-z-z pheeeww zzzzz-z-z-z pheeeeww zzzzzzzzzz-z-z-z" "Wake up Jonathan, wake up!!" "Cho 'lef me nuh, can't you see I man waan sleep?" "Wake up nuh man, ...

The Pretenders: Only A Hobo Only A Star

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 26 January 1980

THE PRETENDERS are number one, top of the pops. But where there's 'Brass' there's sadness and Chrissie Hynde regrets some of the changes and new ...

Utopia: Adventures In Utopia (Bearsville)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 26 January 1980

The no longer implacable but apparently un-stoppable Todd Rundgren releases his first blow to the forward aspirations of the new decade, a concept album. But ...

Bobby Rush: Rush Hour (Philly International Import)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 2 February 1980

WITH A FEW honourable exceptions, the satin sounds of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's branded Philadelphia International label usually leave this writer's mojo idling. But ...

The Durutti Column: the Emaciated Line Between Art and Ambience

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 2 February 1980

Max Bell spends a day at the Factory with The Durutti Column ...

The Flying Lizards: The Flying Lizards (Virgin)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 2 February 1980

CHEWING ON a typically hilarious John Cage memoir, digesting the Formalist perfection, the Formalist splendour, I realise that absolutely nothing is demonstrated beyond the demonstration ...

Japan: Discovering Japan

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 February 1980

Are Japan just a bunch of pretty boy remnants of glamrock. Or do they know something that the rest of rock 'n' roll is yet ...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Get Happy!! (F-Beat)

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 16 February 1980

ON AN otherwise typical day late last October, Elvis Costello strolled through the door of London’s Rock On record shop in Camden Town, the oldies ...

Joy Division: University Of London, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 February 1980

I DIDN'T KNOW which way to turn. In every corner of the second floor of the anonymous university building there seemed to be some group ...

The Beat, Laurel Aitken: The Old (Rude) Boy Network: The Return Of Laurel Aitken

Profile by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 1 March 1980

SUNDAY NIGHT at the Lyceum and Laurel Aitken, the 'high priest of reggae' (remember that one, boot boys?) the king of Jamaican blues, whose musical ...

Elvis Costello: Eivis Costello and the Attractions: Pavilion, West Runton

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 8 March 1980

Fly me I'm Elvis! ...

Joe Ely: The Venue, London

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 8 March 1980

THEY BOP, they hop, they bounce like rampaging 'roos. They sing songs bearing titles as profound as 'She's My Baby, She's My Girl' and 'Do ...

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Call Tom Petty The New Springsteen And He'll Cut You!

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

THE PICCADILLY Hotel in Manchester is an anonymous modern structure slipped neatly inside a multi-storey car park — an injection of glass and concrete at ...

Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim: Dollar Brand: Camden Town Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

A LITTLE South African night music; Dollar Brand — or Abdullah Ibrahim as he now prefers — and two 50 minute sets of solo piano, ...

Killing Joke

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

Suddenly everything's gone only rock'n'roll again. Punk, mod, ska, HM – it's the same old escape route in a different make of limo. Down in ...

The Feelies: The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

Boys simply don't come more next door then the Feelies, four model citizens of Haledon, New Jersey. Richard Grabel takes an outing to the home ...

The Knack: …But The Little Girls Understand

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

When the little girls do understand, you boys have had it ...

The Knack: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

And they brought their own audience too ...

The Pop Group, The Slits: The Slits, The Pop Group: Roll On, Sartre's Marbles!!

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 15 March 1980

THE SLITS: 'In The Beginning There Was Rhythm'/THE POP GROUP: 'Where There's A Will There's A Way' (Rough Trade) ...

U2 Can Make it in the Rock Business

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 March 1980

"BUT CAN YOU trust it?!" Bono, the insurgent, irrepressible singer for Dublin quartet U2, finishes making a hard point using a typically animated gesture. I ...

U2, The Virgin Prunes: U2, Berlin, Virgin Prunes: Acklam Hall, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 29 March 1980

ITS ENERGY spent, its citizens content to lapse into style, to consume and give tacit consent, its insatiable media meanwhile ever needing fresh supplies, London ...

Au Pairs, Girlschool, The Mo-dettes, The Passions, The Raincoats, The Slits: Women in Rock: Cute, Cute, Cutesy Goodbye

Interview by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 29 March 1980

Exploited for the last two decades as dumb but pretty decorations in rock, some girls now demand and deserve musical respect — but some girls ...

Battle Of The Sound Systems: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 5 April 1980

PERSONALLY, I have seen more wonderful sound system contests playing out of a freezing November evening at the Stratford Municipal Hall. ...

Ian Hunter: Welcome To The Club

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 April 1980

THIS IS a double live album and as such is prone to all the problems that such vinyl is heir. Problem (1): the cover is ...

Sister Sledge: We Are Family (Entertainment)

Report by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 5 April 1980

Greatest dancer: DANNY BAKER ...

The Crawling Chaos, Joy Division, Section 25: Joy Division, The Royal Family, Crawling Chaos, Section 25: Moonlight Club, London

Live Review by Adam Sweeting, New Musical Express, 19 April 1980

THE 1980 FACTORY ACT ...

Pete Townshend, The Who: Pete Townshend: Conversations With Pete

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 April 1980

On an up with britain's longest serving honest man of rock ...

The Bellamy Brothers, Commander Cody, Phil Everly, Emmylou Harris, Joe Sun: Various artists — Marlboro Country Festival: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 19 April 1980

MONDAY AT Wembley. Contemporary country night, give or take a few lower-order stetson-tilters. ...

Dennis Brown: Venue, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 26 April 1980

BASSIST LLOYD Parks carries a superior band of musicians to these shores on every occasion of his visit. As leader of Skin, Flesh & Bones ...

Pete Townshend: Empty Glass (Atco)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 26 April 1980

WHAT IS the trouble with these song and dance men who have had their day but won't admit it? They get above themselves, as Parsons ...

Sugar Minott: Youthman Promotion

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 26 April 1980

Sugar Minott leads JA's younger generation forwards. ...

Devo: Freedom Of Choice (Virgin)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 14 June 1980

Some of us out here are still Devo ...

Diana Ross, Jermaine Jackson: Diana Ross: Diana (Motown); Jermaine Jackson: Let's Get Serious (Motown)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 14 June 1980

The hit factory calls in the new technology ...

Public Image Ltd, James Blood Ulmer: Public Image Limited, James "Blood" Ulmer: Palladium, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 14 June 1980

NOBODY EXPECTS Public Image Limited to sell massive amounts of vinyl to the American public. So to see the "Sold Out" sign on the Palladium ...

The Beat: I Just Can't Stop It (Go-Feet)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 June 1980

Are you ready for post-2-Tonism? ...

The Police: City Hall, Newcastle

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 June 1980

Rock Law... ...

The Pop Group, The Slits: The Slits, The Pop Group: Rough Justice in the Court of the Purple Paragraph

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 21 June 1980

Following a more-than-rigorous analysis of the last Slits/Pop Group single, the twin terrors of Rough Trade challenged Ian Penman to a verbal showdown. This is his ...

A Certain Ratio, Blurt, The Durutti Column, Section 25: A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, Section 25, Blurt: ICA, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 28 June 1980

THE FACTORY roadshow has taken to bringing their own clown to put on between acts, his name's Kevin Hewick and he attacks his dopey revelations ...

Fleetwood Mac: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 28 June 1980

SAT IN THE Grand Tier South of Wembley Arena it's hard not to feel both a hardening and softening of the old cultural corpus. One's ...

The Clash, Holly & the Italians: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 28 June 1980

Myth Man In The Hammersmith Palais ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley and the Wailers: Uprising (Island)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 5 July 1980

"But even without the forceful pressures of the slaves, the slave system was collapsing surreptitiously from within..."(The Caribbean: Franklin W Knight: Oxford University Press) ...

Public Image Ltd: Corporation Executive Report to Shareholders

Report and Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 5 July 1980

PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED and America hardly seemed made for each other. Yet having successfully defied Britain's star caste systems and ugly myth makers, earlier this ...

Graham Parker, The Rumour: Graham Parker: Going Down On The Up Escalator

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 July 1980

Nick Kent investigates the rise and abrupt fall of Graham Parker And The Rumour's commercial success and smells a rat. ...

The Human League: LADIES, GENTS, ANDROIDS, MUTANTS & BIOTRONS A BIG HAND For The Human League

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 July 1980

THE HUMAN LEAGUE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING. The first slide appears on the top left-hand screen. It is rapidly flanked by another: A LONG TIME AGO IN ...

Lou Reed: Growing Up In Public (Arista)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 12 July 1980

GROWING UP IN PUBLIC finally spells out what Lou Reed's records since 1976's Coney Island Baby have been murmuring in varying dissonances: that the inspiration ...

Joy Division: Closer (Factory)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1980

Closer to the edge ...

Buzzcocks, John Cooper Clarke, The Invisible Girls, Joy Division: Phantom of the Factory — It's Martin Hannett! A legend in his own town!! Didsbury!!!

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 19 July 1980

Bassist with Arnie Prole's Blues Band! Founding member of John Cooper Clarke's Curious Yellows! Close friend of Eric the Ferret! Producer of Spiral Scratch, Jilted ...

Brian Eno: Into The Spirit World

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

The White Man's Grave Look to Africa ...

Cristina: a Queen for Today?

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

JIVE OF THE JADED ...

Misty In Roots: Live At The Counter-Eurovision ‘79

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

IT SEEMS POINTLESS to divorce Misty's music from their well-known context as Southall youth organisers whose People Unite self-help organisation was badly damaged by the ...

Vic Godard: So, What is the Matter, Boy?

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

After all, two singles in three years isn't exactly prolific... and when you do get an album out you don't even like it. Vivien ...

The Kinks: One For The Road (Arista)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

WITH ITS predecessor Low Budget having finally catapulted The Kinks into the American Top Ten after what seems a lifetime of cult status, what could ...

The Pop Group: We Are Time (Y/Rough Trade)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 26 July 1980

THIS COULD have been a great record. On paper, it seemed to be a handful of The Pop Group's strongest suits. ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: The I Three: The 3 Wise Is

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 9 August 1980

VIVIEN GOLDMAN checks out the Rastafarian way of feminism with the I Three ...

Pink Floyd: The Wall, Earl's Court, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 16 August 1980

Brick by Brick, Nick Kent demolishes Pink Floyd's The Wall at Earls Court ...

The Associates: The Affectionate Punch

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 August 1980

RUMOURS have been dripping down from Scotland about a diverse horde of determined post Skids/S. Minds/Scars groups all ready to shift our attention. Positive Noise, ...

Pere Ubu: The Art of Walking (Rough Trade)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 30 August 1980

1. PERE UBU IS haywire, rudimentary, and patiently documentary. It operates on a yield of snared and shared rhythms, on symptoms that have been stitched ...

Roky Erickson: The Creature With the Atomized Brain, or I Talked With A Zombie

Report and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 30 August 1980

Are you ready for the Thirteenth Floor Elevators revival? Roky Erickson, cult and occult figure from the swirling mists of psyechedelia, takes time out from ...

A Certain Ratio: Failed CSE Rock!

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

WE LEAVE the grubby Hulme human hutch where some members of A Certain Ratio live. The view from this particular section of hutches is not ...

Gary Numan: Telekon

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

AH, THE shimmering dust-free corridors, the pleasure machines, the limitless possibilities opened up by microtechnology, the disturbing effects of cybernetic leisure upon the fragile human ...

The Bongos, Bush Tetras, The dB's, The Fleshtones, Material, The Revelons, Secret Rocker: Greetings from NYC: My Week As A Worm In The Big Apple

Report by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

AS LUCK would have it, my plane ticket to New York City's JFK Airport is open and coincides with the two major jawing topics obsessing ...

Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons: Return of the Maltese Falcon

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

THE OTHER WEEK top Oz band Jo Jo Zep And The Falcons broke the house record at Hammersmith's Clarendon Hotel when they played their first ...

Robert Palmer: Clues (Island)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

WHY 'CLUES'? I mean to say, Robert old chap, it's not as if there's some burning question to all this despite the wacky covershot of ...

Pink Military, Simple Minds, The Skids: Skids, Simple Minds, Pink Military: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

Bowled over by a Skid ...

The Fleshtones: Pleasures of the Flesh

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 6 September 1980

THE FLESHTONES have the spirit that has always moved great pop music. They have the raw enthusiasm, the exuberance, the slight touch of madness. They ...

Blue Oyster Cult: Night Of The Locusts

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

THE GOLDEN AGE of hotrod and dragster racing is over but the USA is still littered with its mythology. One such relic is Lebanon Valley ...

Ultravox: Forever And Ever Ultravox

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

WHEN GARY NUMAN was talking to the press every day of the week, unsurely basking in the cold sunshine of a sudden fame, a lot ...

Gillan, Tygers of Pan Tang: Gillan: Glory Road; Tygers Of Pan Tang: Wild Cat

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

IN OTHER music papers, Heavy Metal has been irresponsibly ghettoised. Melody Maker, Sounds, Record Mirror all have their HM specialists who drily serve a facile, ...

Secret Affair: Behind Closed Doors

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

THOUGH MOD never got as far as its second summer, it served Secret Affair's purpose. Seeing the movement coming, Ian Page used its momentum to ...

Simple Minds: Empires and Dance

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

I'M DANCING as fast as I can! Empires And Dance, an LP of terror-songs, vigilance and vanity, starts with 'I Travel', one of the great ...

XTC: Black Sea

Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 13 September 1980

XTC'S FOURTH outing, called, for no apparent reason, Black Sea, greets the reviewer like nothing so much as a bowl of Frosties on a wet ...

Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band: Doc At The Radar Station

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

IN THE Beefheart Universe, you see everything that you see in other places, but it always seems different. ...

David Bowie: Scary Monsters (RCA)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

LEARNING to live with somebody's depression: the man in the clown suit stops running, finds self in back-against-wall situation, attempts to deal with same. Scary ...

Chic, Diana Ross: DIANA stop DIANA stop DIANA stop DIANA

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

THE DPRESS CONFERENCE versus YOUR POCKET ...

Kiss: Empire Pool, Wembley

Live Review by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

AWWWRIGHT LONDON!! ARE YA STARTING TO SWEAT?! ...

Altered Images, Clock DVA, Echo & The Bunnymen, Robert Fripp, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Soft Cell, U2, Wasted Youth: Siouxsie & the Banshees, Robert Fripp, Echo & the Bunnymen, U2, Altered Images, Clock DVA, Soft Cell: Futurama Festival, Queens Hall, Leeds

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

The squalor show goes on ...

T. Rex: The Unobtainable T.Rex

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

AND SO, it appears, we are on the brink of a new T.Rex faith. Well, as one who defended the Bolanian right at school in ...

Marc Bolan, Tyrannosaurus Rex: The NME Consumers' Guide To Marc Bolan, part 1

Retrospective by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

INDEPENDENT TELEVISION are currently repeating five shows from the three year old Marc series. Marc Bolan was star in and presenter of a pop show ...

The B-52s: The Guide to Cult Status with those Wild! Wacky! B-52’s!

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

The B-52’s are a "clever" jokey dance combo. Before they achieved their current commercial success, they were a gang of pals hanging around in Athens, ...

The Skids: The Absolute Game

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

BUBBLEGUM'S BACK and it sounds wonderful. In contemporary terms the Skids are to The Clash and the post-modernists what Sweet were to Slade and Bowie: ...

The Specials: More Specials

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

YOU REMEMBER the scene from Hollywood: overnight the lovable brat grows up into the most compelling person in the room. Suddenly – you're beautiful! ...

XTC: Last Exit To Catalonia

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 September 1980

XTC ARE BITING their nails backstage of an open air gig at a soccer ground in the Madrid suburbs – the equivalent of an English ...

Dead Kennedys, UK Subs: Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables; UK Subs: Crash Course

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

SPOT THE DIFFERENCEStudy these two pictures carefully. At first sight they may seem identical, but there are at least twelve small but significant differences between ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: A Case Of The Shakes

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

YOU HAVE to admit that Dr Feelgood know their own measure – no kowtowing to trend from this lot. Would you believe this record was ...

Delta 5, Echo & The Bunnymen, U2: Echo & Bunnymen, U2, Delta 5: The Lyceum, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN dwell in the magical land between life and art that is the territory of great rock'n'roll. Making music alone isn't enough ...

Gregory Isaacs: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

TAKE ANY moderate gathering of citizens intent on peaceable pursuit and out comes the Babylon in force. I am growing altogether more and more disgruntled ...

Phil Spector, Ronnie Spector: 'I Wasn't Even a Housewife': Ronnie Spector's true confessions

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

SHE WAS supposed to be promoting her album, but Ronnie Spector’s first solo album isn’t the kind of thing that’s about to stop the world ...

Jimmy Cliff: A Lion Out There

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

VETERAN JAMAICAN singer Jimmy Cliff finally achieved international status for his leading role in the seminal reggae film The Harder They Come in the early ...

Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

LIKE, A Rolling Stone picnic or something more in touch with these headachey contemporary days? ...

The Plastic People Of The Universe: Plastic People: Passion Play; Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

THE RECENT correspondent to Gasbag who used Czechoslovakia's Plastic People as a stick with which to beat NME's supposed ignorance of domestic repression was himself ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: The NME Consumers' Guide To Marc Bolan, part 2: The Rise And Fall Of Bolanmania

Retrospective by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

BOLAN WENT electric and it was deemed, astoundingly, that he'd 'sold out'. For wanting to reach young people with vibrant pop music at a time ...

The Associates: Boys Keep Scoring

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

THERE'S SOMETHING a little odd about Billy Mackenzie. When he was younger, he says, his friends used to think that he was crazy. Mental. ...

The Specials: Stop The Tour, I Want To Get Off

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 27 September 1980

IN ST AUSTELL, Cornwall, it is only a few minutes since the pubs have opened for Sunday lunchtime. The red-faced moustachioed police sergeant and the ...

Black Uhuru: Last Exit to Brooklyn

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Brooklyn is definitely a dread neighbourhood. A neighbourhood of brownstone buildings and trees, Selassie’s Herbal Groceries store and the Cool Runnings Candy Store. ...

Elvis Costello, The Stray Cats: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Smile Elvis, you're in a frontlash situation ...

Josef K: Four shadows in search of a sunny day

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Paul Morley talks to Josef K, a soul group who define the alienation effect, it says here. ...

Led Zeppelin: Bonzo's Last Bash – Is It The End For Zeppelin Too?

Report by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

EARLY LAST Thursday afternoon Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones went up to one of the guest bedrooms in Jimmy Page's £900,000 Windsor house, where ...

Madness: The Mad Hatter's TV Party

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

THE TV PARTY ...

Orange Juice: The Sneer That Says Wish You Were Here

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

THERE'S SOMEONE knocking on my door. A loud rap. I'm woken up with a start. I open the door. ...

Rico Rodriguez, The Specials, Eddie "Tan-Tan" Thornton: Rico Rocks Tout Soul

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Big day for JA precludes Specials occasion ...

Simple Minds: Travel Broadens Simple Minds

Report and Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

ONCE YOU get onto the European mainland, it's hard not to be infected by the virulent strain of fatalism sweeping the continent. En route to ...

Kurtis Blow, The Commodores, Bob Marley & the Wailers: The Commodores, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Kurtis Blow: Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Cross-over cupboard love ...

The Teardrop Explodes: Kilimanjaro

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

OF COURSE putting four singles on an LP is cheating, even if two are re-done. And the cover's pretty bad as well. But if you're ...

A Certain Ratio, New Order: Hurrah, New York NY

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

Factory whistle blows in New York ...

Au Pairs: Every Home Should Have Four

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

"THE TROUBLE with conversations like this," declares Pete, nodding sagely, knitting his eyebrows, as he refers to the complex peculiarities of a pop group who ...

Cabaret Voltaire, Eric Random, Take It: Clarendon Hotel, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

IN CABARET Voltaire's live spectaculars, the valuable process of disorientation begins with the uncompromising drumbeat that fires the music. No matter if you've seen them ...

Comsat Angels: Miracle Workers

Report and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

"MILKY WAY – the gig you can do between tours!" Steve Fellows, singer, guitarist and lyricist with The Comsat Angels is right. There's very little ...

Joe Jackson Band: Beat Crazy (A&M)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

WITH SOME albums, constructive criticism's more a case of wishful thinking. With others, you just don't bother. ...

Kurtis Blow: Blow by Blow

Report and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

MY STORY — BY KURTIS BLOWAs rapped to Richard Grabel ...

The Ruts: Ruts: Grin And Bear It (Virgin)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

AT THEIR best The Ruts embodied the virtues of second division punk without resorting to the Bash Street antics of third generation comics like the ...

The Ramones: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

"Despair of nothing you would attain, Unwearied diligence your point will gain!" – Men Who Have Risen, John Hogg, 1847. ...

The Raybeats: Danceteria, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

Smooth surfers of the dance floor ...

Tom Waits: Heartattack & Vine (Asylum/WEA)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

American stars and bars ...

Toots & The Maytals: Toots And The Maytals: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 11 October 1980

Toots Comes Home To Roots ...

Colin Newman: A-Z (Beggars Banquet)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 18 October 1980

AFTER THE flawed experimentalism of Gilbert and Lewis's Dome and Cupol projects, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Colin Newman's first solo outing ...

Fela Kuti: The Rascal Republic Takes On The World

Report and Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 18 October 1980

FELA ANIKULAPO-KOUTI PLANS TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA IN 1983. HE'S ALREADY AFRICA'S MOST POPULAR MUSICIAN, WITH OVER 100 LPs TO HIS CREDIT. HE ALSO HAS ...

The Pretenders: The Benefits Of Hynde Sight

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 October 1980

Perched on the edge of a bleak Bronte-like heath overlooking Bradford is the hotel in which The Pretenders are staying. In the forecourt, next to ...

The Passage: Pindrop

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 October 1980

THE PASSAGE have been a part-time group, on an interminably unfashionable label, whose agitating, pent-up seven inches have disappeared into the nowhere. With the disquieting ...

Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel: Chaz Jankel: Is There Life After Blockheadism?

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

When Chaz Jankel left The Blockheads last year, Kosmo Vinyl described him as "a brave lad who's going to come a cropper." But instead of ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Faces

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

ANY GROUP can only pack so much stuff. The stuff that oils and inspires their moves, greases songs, a magic stuff that flows through a ...

Ornette Coleman, James "Blood" Ulmer: James Blood Ulmer and Ornette Coleman: The Adventures of Captain Blood

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

"Being poor is not because money doesn’t exist and being rich doesn’t mean you know everything. But in America, art has more to do with ...

Poly Styrene: Poly Unsaturates

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

Dazed and crumpled in the tumble-drier of fame. Poly Styrene has now ironed out the creases of her frayed psyche. Is she still hung-up? Is ...

Talking Heads: Remain In Light

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

THE DESIRE to (re)discover the African continent has been burning deep in the bowels of curious imagination ever since the New York Herald packed Mr ...

Toyah Wilcox: The Girl Who Would Be King

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

When Toyah Willcox talks, it's like a time-bomb ticking over...and Toyah's time gets closer every second. So what does make Toyah tick? Paul Morley sounds ...

U2: Boy

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 October 1980

I LOVE U2. I worry about U2. Hearing their debut single 'Out Of Control' and seeing them play in Ireland, I fell for their undismayed ...

Captain Beefheart: Tales Of Transmutation From The Mojave Magic Man

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 1 November 1980

"GOD-DAMN THAT BEAT!" Don Van Vliet slams out a foursquare tattoo on the dashboard of his blue Volvo estate. "That mama heartbeat. That bom...bom...bom! Why ...

Stevie Wonder: Hotter Than July (Motown)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 November 1980

Blastin' back. Hello roots, bye bye geraniums ...

The Skids: Schizophrenia On Skid Row

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 November 1980

"I've no desire to push myself into being a media figure. I'm quite happy with my cameras and my wife and my guitars."– Stuart Adamson ...

Talking Heads: Free Your Ass And Your Head Will Follow

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 8 November 1980

Doctor Byrne discovers Africa and funk but makes the natives restless ...

Robert Palmer: The Deb's Delight Takes FRIGHT!

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 8 November 1980

THREE TIMES I got out of my warm bath to answer the telephone. The first call was a few seconds of silence and down. The ...

Altered Images, Nick Lowe, The Polecats, Rockpile, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie & the Banshees: Siouxp

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 November 1980

ROCK'S FAVOURITE SITUATION COMEDY RETURNS TO YOUR PAGES AND STAGES. SCRIPT: PAUL MORLEY ...

Bush Tetras: The Bush Tetras: Outsiders in a Sexual Jungle

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 8 November 1980

Meet the Bush Tetras They're a New York rhythm and paranoia band. ...

The Sound: Jeopardy

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 November 1980

THIS COULD BE a starkly calculated cash in on the seamier, dreamier trends and tendencies of these our favourite post-punk days. Certainly its approach to ...

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Kid Creole & The Coconuts: August Darnell: From Dr. Savannah to Kid Creole

Profile and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 15 November 1980

"To try to write love is to confront the muck of language: that region of hysteria where language is both too much and too little, ...

Public Image Ltd: Image Publique S.A.: Paris Au Printemps (Virgin)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 15 November 1980

Lydon says he hates live albums. Paris Au Printemps – PAP – the best of two nights recorded in Paris this spring, is a consumer ...

Killing Joke: The Killing Of Brother Paul

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 November 1980

IF I HAD heard how Jaz had let Youth know that I'd arrived, I wouldn't have bothered with the interview. Photographer Ray Stevenson told me ...

Neil Young: Hawks & Doves

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 15 November 1980

SOME TIME ago. Neil Young produced American Stars And Bars – originally intended as a concept album which would offer one set of songs about ...

Linx: There's a Brand New Dance Going Around... FUNKIN' FOR BRITANNICA — Get Down & Stay Up

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 15 November 1980

Hi there! I'm Chris Hill, main man and DJ to the sweating legions of British funkateers. NME have asked me to introduce this piece by DANNY BAKER, ...

Blondie: Autoamerican

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

IT WAS late in the '30s when New York cemented its claim as America's most energetic and insistent symbol of urban eroticism and urbane careerism. ...

Bruce Springsteen: Los Angeles Sports Arena, California

Live Review by Sylvie Simmons, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

IT'S EASY to see why the girls go so much on him. You got the excitable adolescent of 'Rosalita', 'Crush On You' – hey hey ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Welcome To The Bunnyhouse

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

WHEN ECHO And The Bunnymen end their British tour with a date at Liverpool University, the Mad Hatter photographer (Joe Stevens) and I travel up ...

Ian Dury: Oi! Oi! Anchors Aweigh

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

Ian Dury And The Blockheads: Hope & Anchor, London ...

John Lennon, Yoko Ono: John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy (Geffen)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

IN THE cocoon, something stirs. John Lennon – one of the people who used to be in The Beatles, a group reckoned to be hot ...

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Men Of Mystery And Imagination

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

ANDY McCLUSKEY and I are the last two of the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark party left in the Edinburgh hotel bar. ...

Steely Dan: Gaucho

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 22 November 1980

THE COVER to this, the seventh Steely Dan album (discounting the Greatest Hits compilation), features a painting or anaglyph of a dancing couple of presumably ...

John Martyn: The Exorcism

Profile and Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 29 November 1980

After the breakdown of his marriage, John Martyn spent seven months on a complete bender, but the result of that desperation was his finest album for years. Nick Kent ...

Spandau Ballet: Talking Threads: Spandau Ballet

Profile and Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 29 November 1980

Five young men from Islington make a short story shorter about the ballet-hoo surrounding the group most likely to – Spandau Ballet. ...

Cabaret Voltaire: The Heart and Soul of Cabaret Voltaire

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 29 November 1980

CATCH A TRAIN into the dark depths of the North again. Flee the wonderland. A million miles away from London town, the conditioning centre where ...

Bow Wow Wow: > C•30 > C•60 > C•Shanty Go!

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 6 December 1980

Max Bell charts an old sea dog's a blinga a blanga a bippity bop ...

Fad Gadget: Art of work but not redundant

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 6 December 1980

Fad Gadget's Fireside Favourites A doleful tale of a sweet and sickly apocalypse ...

Angelic Upstarts, Jimmy Pursey: Jimmy Pursey: The Cockney Kid Is Innocent

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 6 December 1980

So who are you gonna be today then, Jim? The new Messiah or the little boy lost? Robespierre or the Urban Spaceman? An all-round good ...

Method Actors, Pylon: Pylon, the Method Actors: The Post Bouffant Bop

Interview by Roy Carr, Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 6 December 1980

Athens, Georgia, apres the B-52's: still weird, but definitely not wacky ...

Grace Jones: The State Of Grace

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 13 December 1980

GRACE JONES. Grace Jones is a nice lady who loves Japanese food. But how does the name Grace Jones figure in your code book? ...

Ian Dury: How Not To Get Lumbered

Report and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 December 1980

IT'S DARK and it's cold and it's raining: a wind with a grudge against warm flesh knifes through the clothing and the matted thing behind ...

The Clash: Sandinista! (CBS)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 December 1980

OK, OK, they're a jolly prolific bunch always about to give their audience more than their money's worth, but – Christ, let's not mince words ...

ABC, Essential Bop, Restricted Code: Bristol Bop! Glasgow Pop! It's As Easy As ABC!

Profile and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 December 1980

LEMON SUCKING refers to the practice of sucking in the cheeks to affect the 'rock'n'roll' wasted look. Chewing, or neck bending, refers, I would suppose, ...

Roy Orbison

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 December 1980

"I MADE my first money at a medicine show. I didn't know there were such things except in movies or in films until I was ...

The Slits: And Lo, "Three Wise Slits Take Their Temple To The West"

Report and Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 20 December 1980

GAMES ON TRAINS ...

Alan Vega: Collision Drive (Celluloid)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1981

AS THE mercurial ‘Jukebox Babe’ starts to makes its steady impact as a 12-inch, here is an even grittier reinterpretation of The Great American Rock ...

B.B. King: There Must Be A Better World Somewhere

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1981

IN 1966, B.B. King put out a live album entitled Blues Is King, and – as far as the major U.S. labels are concerned – ...

James Chance: James White & the Contortions: Second Chance (PVC)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1981

IT ALL depends how deranged you are to start with. James Chance – née White, née Black – makes impossibly futile, dead music, fit only ...

Meat Loaf: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1981

THEY'VE ASKED me to make this as short as the Loaf in question is large – but there’s a painful amount to be said. The ...

Eric Random: Random Holds His Own

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 1981

ERIC RANDOM concerts these days aren't the personal health hazards they once were when he, Pete Shelley and assorted Mancunians used to kick up an ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Maurice White: How the Black Man Bleached his Soul…

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, January 1981

... or how Earth, Wind & Fire guru Maurice White deserted Memphis to achieve Nirvana in Hollywood. ...

The Police

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, January 1981

IN NEW YORK CITY it is the coldest day of the winter. Later that night the temperature drops to zero degrees Fahrenheit. The woollen-enshrouded Sting ...

Bob Dylan: Getting in Touch with Christ (You Know It Ain’t Easy)

Interview by Steve Turner, New Musical Express, 3 January 1981

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T preach in between numbers during his recent West Coast concerts and because he sang ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ and ‘The Times They ...

The B-52s: The B-52’s: Hair Today Gone Tomorrow?

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 3 January 1981

The Bouffants That Broke The Box Office: A Boffo Success Story by Cynthia Rose ...

The Police: Tooting Bec, London

Live Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 3 January 1981

JUST BECAUSE The Police have played in India is no reason to turn their Tooting Bec tent concert into a simulacrum of the Black Hole ...

Burning Spear: The Venue, London

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 10 January 1981

I CAN REMEMBER literally crying with feeling at only one concert, and that was Burning Spear at the Rainbow in '78. That kind of high ...

Smokey Robinson: Warm Thoughts; Where There's Smoke (Motown)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 10 January 1981

Waiting for a Miracle: NICK KENT reappraises the latest works of the doyen of '60s soul, SMOKEY ROBINSON ...

Nick Kent, The Subterraneans: The Almost Legendary Nick Kent Story

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 10 January 1981

The modest (if a mite incestuous) tale of the celebrated NME writer who is now on the threshold of becoming a bona fide rock star ...

The Fall: The Wit And Wisdom Of Mark Smith

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 10 January 1981

DID YOU KNOW?That Andy Gill discovered all these pearls of wisdom – and more – while talking to The Fall. ...

Mikey Dread: The Dread Man Tells His Tale

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 17 January 1981

From radio star to toaster to production
 and recording star, Mikey Dread
 Campbell is still well in control ...

Bunny Wailer: Original Bunnyman Echoes His Roots: Bunny Sings The Wailers

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 17 January 1981

AS TO WHY Bunny Wailer has chosen this moment to come down from the hills and ransack the files of old Wailers material – well, ...

Dennis Bovell's Dub Band: Commonwealth Institute, London

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 24 January 1981

"DUB," SAID Dennis Bovell, dubmaster, "you just — do it. Spontaneous. That's the effect I wanted to create onstage." ...

Aswad, Linton Kwesi Johnson: Aswad/Linton Kwesi Johnson/New Regulars: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 31 January 1981

MONDAY NIGHT in the Palais: forward and upful all the way. Aswad's 'Warrior Charge' as featured in Babylon and Brinsley Forde's performance in the principal ...

Duran Duran: Just Fine And Dandy

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 31 January 1981

THE NAME of Birmingham group Duran Duran has no connection with Japanese covers of Chiffons songs. ...

The Belle Stars: Rock Garden, London

Live Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 31 January 1981

THE BELLE Stars are five-sevenths of the former Bodysnatchers: Stella, Penny, Judy, Sarah-Jane and Miranda. The new girls in the key places taken by founding ...

Jim Carroll: The Jim Carroll Band: Catholic Boy (Atco)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 31 January 1981

BLOND, FLESHLY-FACED and 30 years old, Jim Carroll was slated for status as a rock poet back in '71. Meant to be the other half ...

Bette Midler

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 7 February 1981

SATURDAY NIGHT ended at seven o'clock on Sunday morning with one last bottle of Veuve Cliquot and Sunday began at four in the afternoon with ...

Marvin Gaye: In Our Lifetime (Motown)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 7 February 1981

SOMEHOW ONE forgives the sermonising in Marvin Gaye that irritates in other soul stars. Visually he fits the bill – he might almost be the ...

Elvis Costello, Squeeze: the Palladium, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

WHAT DO Squeeze value? Professionalism. Tightness. Songs of classic construction. Entertainment. Making the little girls smile and yell. ...

Joy Division, New Order: New Order: Heaven, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

THE HAUNTING OF HEAVEN ...

The Roots Radics, Scientist: Scientist and The Roots Radics Band: Scientist Meets The Space Invaders (Greensleeves)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

SPACE INVADERS STYLEEEE! In every arcade throughout the land, the youth just shake that mechanical hand, they like to see the meteors shatter, they just ...

The Congos: Heart Of The Congos (Go-Feet)

Review by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

ONE OF THE seminal reggae albums of the late 70s, Heart Of The Congos has been available in this country on pre-release since early 1978, ...

Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, Throbbing Gristle, Z'EV: Throbbing Gristle, Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

A FETISH night out! A visit to the new school of modern music — art, avant garde and all those words. No doubt fancy terms ...

U2: Kings of the Celtic Fringe

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 February 1981

BONO VOX, a.k.a. Paul Houston, the frontman and driving force behind U2 is huddled in the back of a small van, wrapped in a fur ...

Jah Shaka: Hail Brethren And Sistren: A Big Big Sound System Splashdown

Special Feature by Paul Bradshaw, Vivien Goldman, Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 21 February 1981

WHERE REGGAE really begins — in tune to the sound system. Here is the heart of the music: groups of youth, each with their different philosophies, ...

Burning Spear: The Spear Guide to Higher Stepping

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

Burning Spear on tour. In the dressing room at the Birmingham Odeon, certain thick-set members of Spear's Burning Band mutter that they want to kill ...

Bush Tetras: Taking Liberties from New York, Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

BUSH TETRAS will be a New York legend. They steal/save/ARE the show. They pile disorientating meditative repetition upon sparse improvisation upon tangled rhythms upon inscrutable ...

Gang Of Four: Solid Gold (EMI)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

FINALLY GANG Of Four agree among themselves long enough to record a set of seven new songs, add on three already-released-in-some-other-form originals, come up with ...

The Comsat Angels, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie & The Banshees, Comsat Angels: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

SIOUXSIE AND The Banshees are now one of the great British bands. There is no way to conceive just how radically they have been transformed ...

Marvin Gaye: The New Age Metaphysics Of Marvin Gaye

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

Music, Love, Divinity, & The Shape Of Things To Come...The Motown Marvel feels The Force. ...

The Raybeats: Taking Liberties from New York, Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

THE RAYBEATS, uniformed and partly choreographed, the second on. Greeted by a small crowd huddled at the front of the seatless stalls, they are brave, ...

Musical Youth: Under-Age Culture Shock

Report and Interview by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 28 February 1981

These kids have just done their first tour. Their average age is 11... Report: SHERYL GARRATT ...

Postmark: Austin, Texas — The Demise of the Armadillo and the Rise of Garagelend Punk

Report by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 7 March 1981

IF YOU PAID to survive The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and saw it as anything other than a blackly anarchic polemic in favour of vegetarianism, then ...

The Beach Boys: The Capitol Years (World Records)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 7 March 1981

LET'S NOT kick around the sand-dunes: this boxed set is, quite simply, the finest Beach Boys offering ever released. ...

Eurythmics: We're Not Tourists, We Live Here

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 7 March 1981

HUNCHED OVER scrambled eggs in his mother's airy flat, Dave Stewart looks more like the late John Lennon than the D'Artagnan-style dandy familiar from The ...

Public Image Ltd: Company Lore and Public Disorder: The PiL Memorandum

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 March 1981

WHILE ENGLAND GOES down the plughole, the firm of Lydon, Levene and Lee set up to prove that enterprise is not dead. They press boldly ...

The Stray Cats: Hot Cats & Lying Dogs!

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 14 March 1981

The Pressures And Pretence Of Popabilly Success ...

Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, John Martyn: At Home With The Stars Special: So Tell Us Phil, How Do You Feel About Solo Success?

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 March 1981

The remarkable Mr. Collins stays awake long enough to cure NICK KENT of his insomnia. ...

Dynasty, Millie Jackson: Millie Jackson/Dynasty: Apollo Victoria, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 21 March 1981

MILLIE JACKSON was back at last, with the most uncompromising sex show I've ever seen. The Apollo tends to be a haven for flabby executives ...

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Hard Promises (MCA)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 23 March 1981

WITH THE release of 'American Girl' back in '76, Tom Petty asserted that ability to articulate a native territory – both inherited and imagined – ...

Fela Kuti: Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70: Hippodrome, Paris

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 28 March 1981

FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI is probably the unlikeliest of candidates to win the dubious honour of being the Great African Dance's Bob Marley – popularizer to ...

Grateful Dead: What A Long Predictable Trip It's Become

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 March 1981

This Week The Grateful Dead trucked back into Britain. In America they're more successful than ever – and even Jerry Garcia can't work out why. ...

Tom Waits: London, Victoria Apollo

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 28 March 1981

TOM WAITS, sad to say, has now joined the illustrious pantheon of artistes whose performances have driven me to sleep. Sad, because this is the ...

Tom Waits: The Beat Buff Speed Poet Home Booze Hayseed

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 28 March 1981

Or: the ten-piece Tom Waits jigsaw puzzle. As manufactured by Ian Penman ...

Material: When Is A Band Not A Band?

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 4 April 1981

When it's Material, who are sort of several New York bands who are always sort of coming and going in all sorts of wonderful ways. ...

Pere Ubu: 390 Degrees Of Simulated Stereo

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 4 April 1981

SUBTITLED Ubu Live: Volume One, this LP contains recordings made by the Ubu of Modern Dance days between May 1976 and March 1979 in Cleveland, ...

Michael Jackson, The Jacksons: The Jacksons: The Great Greenland Mystery

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 4 April 1981

For years, scientists have been baffled by The Great Greenland Mystery. What is it that makes Greenland the only territory on earth where The Jacksons ...

Culture, Far Image: Friars, Aylesbury

Live Review by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 11 April 1981

BRINGING CULTURE TO THE MASSES ...

Bush Tetras, Gang of Four, Pere Ubu: Gang Of Four, Pere Ubu, Bush Tetras: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 April 1981

FOUR BETTER OR WORSE? ...

James Brown: Prisoner Of Love Meets The Prisoners Of Hate

Report and Interview by Michael Goldberg, New Musical Express, 11 April 1981

"Those black kids ain't ever seen a black president – and they won't ever see one. This country is no better off than it was ...

Black Flag, Circle Jerks, The Germs, X: LA Punk

Report by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 11 April 1981

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA is always preceded by its own legend. There is no way you can avoid that legend if you grew up with the price ...

John Cale: Rock's Honourable Psychotic

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 18 April 1981

Welsh-American wizard John Cale and Stratham scribe Paul Rambali look over their shoulders at each other and talk history and paranoia. ...

Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom / Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 April 1981

THE REAPPEARANCE of Robert Wyatt's two Virgin albums (1974-5 vintage), now in a double package, is as welcome as a spring day after a relentless ...

UB40: UB4O: Unfortunately, We Were At The Woolwich

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 18 April 1981

UB4O: Woolwich Odeon, London ...

Velvet Underground: The Lost History of the Velvet Underground: An interview with Sterling Morrison

Retrospective and Interview by Mary Harron, New Musical Express, 25 April 1981

THE VELVET Underground were the first avant-garde rock band, and the greatest. ...

Dolly Mixture: These Are The Dollies Who Mixed It With The Macho Music Biz And Lost

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 2 May 1981

Cynthia Rose meets some '80s girls who've suffered rock sexploitation. ...

Girlschool: Black Leather at St Trinians

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 May 1981

GIRLSCHOOL FRENZY GRIPS THE COUNTRY AS ADOLESCENT BOYS DISCOVER THEIR VERY OWN ROCK'N'ROLL SEX SYMBOLS. PAUL MORLEY TAKES A MANLY LOOK AT THIS CRAZY PHENOMENON. ...

Mute Speak

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 2 May 1981

Vivien Goldman meets Daniel Miller, the man who brought you The Silicon Teens, The Normal and Depeche Mode. Though only one of these exists – ...

British Electric Foundation, Heaven 17, The Human League: The Human League: In the Battle for Gallactic Supremacy — Humans Beleaguered

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 May 1981

Life in the League with only one haircut between them ...

Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground: Mo Tucker

Interview by Mary Harron, New Musical Express, 2 May 1981

LIKE STERLING MORRISON, Maureen Tucker went in the opposite direction when she left the Velvet Underground in 1971. She moved back to Long Island, became ...

Chaka Khan: What'cha Gonna Do For Me (Warner Bros)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 9 May 1981

Chaka gotta lotta ...

Misty in Roots: Must It Be Total Destruction

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 9 May 1981

...brimstone, fire, death in a Sodom and Gomorrah?... Reasoning with Misty In Roots By Penny Reel ...

ABC: Moonlight Club, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

ABRACADABRA! ABC show up in London. Another banal crew of slight white boys clumsily revising their dance style for the sake of summer attention? A ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: A Personal Remembrance

Memoir by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

"I don't believe in death – neither in flesh nor in spirit..." ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: Miami, Florida — 12.30 pm Monday: Bullets Couldn't Kill Him — Cancer Did

Report by Richard Grabel, Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

CHRIS SALEWICZ in London and RICHARD GRABEL in New York chronicle the events leading up to Monday's tragedy ...

Carl Wilson: Heaven (Caribou)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

CARL WILSON has been waiting years to do this. "I love to play good, straightforward rock'n'roll", he says, and since acid cured the Beach Boys ...

Dennis Brown: Foul Play (A&M)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

MR. DENNIS Brown is a distinctive voice in reggae this past decade and longer, and is regarded as such by all and sundry and many ...

Robert Fripp, The Lounge Lizards: Discipline, Lounge Lizards: Her Majesty's Theatre, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

IN THE LOBBY OF THE LIZARD KINGS ...

Kraftwerk: Computer World (EMI)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

COMPUTER-WORLD is the first Kraftwerk LP for over three years, an inordinate period of silence for most groups, but no surprise in their case. Indeed, ...

Matumbi: Matumbi (EMI)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

IN WHICH we welcome back to these pages that perennial guest: the vexed question of white attitudes towards black music. More specifically, the expectations brought ...

Spandau Ballet: Spandaus Invade America!

Report by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

Robin Hadley and his Merrie Men take Sherwood Forest futurism to a very small but extremely chic club in New York. RICHARD GRABEL joins the ...

Teddy Pendergrass: Attractive — Moi? Sexy — Moi?

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

Sex symbol Teddy Pendergrass shrugs off the impertinence of reporter Barney Hoskyns ...

The Cure: Brood — Don't Sulk

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

FROM PUNK TO POMP? THE CURE PONDER THE PITFALLS OF FLOYD'S SOUND SYSTEM. CHRIS BOHN LISTENS FOR THE FLAWS ...

The Birthday Party, Modern English, Theatre of Hate: Theatre Of Hate, Modern English, The Birthday Party: London University

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 May 1981

LATE AGAIN, so I missed most of the Birthday Party — who I was looking forward to the most, as it happens. Theirs is the ...

Peter Tosh: A Tiff with Tosh

Report and Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 21 May 1981

AFTER A wait of nearly a quarter of an hour, I was admitted to the hotel room to find the subject of my journey loudly, ...

Black Uhuru: Red (Island)

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 23 May 1981

Tolerance, Peace, Life ...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Coconut Kid as Cruise Caruso: Kid Creole

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 23 May 1981

KID CREOLE And The Coconuts release their second long player, title Fresh Fruit In Foreign Places, in a couple of weeks' time. A 12-song 'concept ...

E.S.G.: ESG: No Guile or Wile, Just Wallop

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 23 May 1981

THESE DAYS, a lot of bands glorify the appearance of being what they are not. ...

Soft Cell: Would we soft-soap you about... Soft Cell

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 23 May 1981

(1) We Intend to sing the love of danger, the habit of energy end tearfulness. ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley's Final Return Home

Report by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 30 May 1981

King of Reggae laid to rest in Jamaica ...

Japan: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 May 1981

Heaven must have scent you ...

Funkadelic, Parliament: Parliament-Funkadelic: The Ritz, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 30 May 1981

P-FUNK DO FOR the modern funk show what The Grateful Dead did to the rock show in the late '60s. They alter the time frame ...

The Beat: Locarno, Birmingham

Live Review by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 30 May 1981

THE WAY to tell how well a Beat gig is going is by Saxa's smile, and tonight he was grinning so wide the ends nearly ...

The Funky Four + 1, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: The Funky Four + 1: Rap, Rap, Rap

Report and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 30 May 1981

Young South Bronx unwraps the rapping revolution ...

DAF: D.A.F.: The Venue, London

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

'ALLES IST Gut', for sure, ist gut: there's an almost imagistic pointedness to DAF's musical progressions, just simple sequencer patterns stripped bare of "musicianly" encumbrances ...

Defunkt: Embassy Club, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

Make my funk the D-funkt ...

Motorhead: Scumbags Over USA

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

Mick Farren and Motorhead Lemmy, long time partners in slime and former Ladbroke rogues, meet up in a bar in Passaic, New Jersey, to discuss ...

Prince: Strutting With The New Soul Monarch

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

THIS FELLOW sitting across the table from me in an uptown Manhattan Holiday Inn room may be a Prince but he ain't no Charlie. ...

The Raincoats: Odyshape (Rough Trade)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

Revelations chapter II ...

Lakeside, Carrie Lucas, Shalamar, The Whispers: The Whispers, Shalamar, Lakeside, Carrie Lucas: Solar Galaxy of Stars, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

THE CONCERT is billed as the Solar Galaxy of Stars, and it's no idle boast. ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer: The Words and Works of Bob Marley and the Wailers

Special Feature by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 6 June 1981

THE DEATH of Bob Marley last month robbed reggae music of its foremost ambassador, the man who more than any had turned outside ears and ...

Kraftwerk: A Computer Date with a Showroom Dummy

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 13 June 1981

And we'll fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n auf der Autobahn — until big daddy takes our Volkswagen away. Chris Bohn and Anton Corbijn do the Spanish hustle with Kraftwerk ...

Motorhead: No Sleep Til Hammersmith (Bronze)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 June 1981

AXES ON their shoulders, blood on their palms, grease in their hair, gaps in their teeth, something or nothing on their mind, squeezing the universe ...

Prince: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 13 June 1981

HISTORY SHOWS us the horrible roster of agonising tortures which the human mind has devised in pursuit of the ultimate cautionary pain: bodies roasted over braziers, heads ...

The Birthday Party: Abbo — The Album

Profile and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 13 June 1981

WHEN THE Birthday Party were recording their Prayers On Fire LP back "home" in Melbourne, Split Enz were recording Waiata in the studio next door. ...

Pink Floyd: Another Pinkie Hogs The Limelight: Pink Floyd's The Wall: Earls Court, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

PART ONE ...

Crass, Poison Girls: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

JUST CRASS ...

The Clash: How The Clash Fed The Wonderbread Generation, Made The Mountain Come to Mohammed - And Other Miracles

Report and Interview by Mick Farren, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

The winner of NME's Flatter The Clash competition checks out the ramifications when an English band's world is at Bonds. ...

James Chance: Save The Last Chance For Me!

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

Sax and drugs and contorted soul – Ian Penman meets his hero in another instalment of conversations with James Chance. London 1981. ...

Linx, Light of the World, Spandau Ballet: Light Of The World, Innervisions: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

WHILE JAZZFUNK is fine late at night with the volume low, it's a strictly background sound to my ears, and so tedious live. Take Innervisions, ...

DJ Kane & the Millionaires, Toyah Willcox: Toyah, DJ Kane & the Millionaires: Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

A WALKING POSTER POSER ...

Van Halen: Fair Warning

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

The worst thing about labels is their sticky side. But the next worst thing about them is that they attract flies, and that can put ...

Was (Not Was): A Subtle Fabrication Not of the Norm

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 20 June 1981

Imagine Vivien Goldman’s surprise to discover that the brains behind Ze’s hottest American soul act are not black but two nice middle class Jewish boys. ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Long Day's Journey Into Oslo — Tales From A Norwegian Wood

Report and Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 27 June 1981

MAX BELL TRAVELS TO NORWAY WITH THE BUNNYMEN ...

AC/DC, Blue Öyster Cult, Whitesnake: Fantasy Castle: Monsters of Rock!

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, July 1981

BARNEY HOSKYNS straps on his breastplate, girds his loins and takes his sword to the HM Monsters Of Rock joust at Castle Donington. ...

Lee "Scratch" Perry: Lee 'Scratch' Perry: Curse of the Vampires

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, July 1981

Legendary Jamaican producer Lee "Scratch" Perry raps and rants in New York. Richard Grabel listens to his method and madness. ...

David Bowie: Bowie For Breakfast: Angie Bowie’s Free Spirit

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 4 July 1981

David’s golden years get shredded as Angie spills half baked beans. ...

Duran Duran: Duran Duran (EMI)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 4 July 1981

D'RONE D'RONE ...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Kid Creole: He No Popi

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 4 July 1981

And she no Olive Oyl – but Vivien Goldman still meets August Darnell in New York City to learn about the Coconuts' brand new cha ...

Bruce Springsteen: Springsteen Forged Passports To A Promised Land

Comment by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 4 July 1981

"What my band and I are about is a sense of responsibility. If you accept it, that makes you responsible for everything that happens. People ...

Cameo, The Fatback Band, General Kane, Prince Charles & The City Beat Band: The Fatback Band, Cameo, General Caine II and Prince Charles & the City Beat Band

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 4 July 1981

Slicing through the funk fat: The Fatback Band: Tasty Jam (Spring); Cameo: Knights Of The Sound Table (Chocolate City); General Caine II: Get Down Attack ...

The Ramones: Pleasant Dreams

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 11 July 1981

It's been a long, long wait since the Fab Four from Forest Hills foolishly put their genius into the mono-maniacal hands of noted has-been Phil ...

The Congos: Fighting In The Congos

Interview by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 18 July 1981

ALTHOUGH Black Uhuru's Red will most probably come out top, Heart Of The Congos is definitely one of the finest reggae albums to be released ...

Iggy Pop: Iggy: Always a Sucker for a Good Party

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 18 July 1981

IGGY POP, American entertainer and war poet, has just issued an eleventh album, and the day we met he'd weathered ten promotional interviews. "So much ...

Sly & Robbie: The Reggaedelic Experience

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 18 July 1981

A.K.A. SLY 'N' ROBBIE, THE ALMOST LEGENDARY DREADLY RHYTHM TEAM BEHIND THE SOUND OF BLACK UHURU, GRACE JONES AND THEIR OWN TAXI LABEL. WORDS CHRIS ...

Duran Duran: Ice Cream the Body Electric!

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 July 1981

Teenybop takes a trite turn for the better. Paul Morley compares socks with DURAN DURAN ...

Grace Jones: In Between The Bumpers

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 25 July 1981

Chris Salewicz goes behind the public face of Grace to discover that in the tall, exotic frame of a former model there's a little girl ...

Miles Davis: Kool Jazz Festival, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 25 July 1981

Miles behind ...

The Cramps Guide to Teenage Monster Movies

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 25 July 1981

Movies nowadays are all high technology and no brains, no imagination. What do you call it when you do something real good and you didn't ...

Stimulin: Moonlight Club, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1 August 1981

TO HAVE and het up! The sweat poured out of them! Stimulin aren't stupid, to put it wildly. Stimulin are no charity — see them, ...

Depeche Mode: Systems Muzak: Depeche Mode at The Venue, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 August 1981

THOSE ARBITERS of modern taste who would wish on you the indecencies of things like Spandau Ballet are generally the same people who can be ...

Wire: Document And Eyewitness At Notre Dame Hall And The Electric Ballroom (Rough Trade)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 1 August 1981

OUT OF SHEER perversity, it would seem, Wire stopped functioning 18 months ago. Going by their chronology of events we shouldn't have been surprised, as ...

Arthur Lee, Love: Arthur Lee: The Daily Planet Revisited

Interview by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 8 August 1981

ARTHUR LEE, THE PSYCHO OF '60s PSYCHEDELIA AND FORMER LEADER OF LOVE, BREAKS HIS SILENCE TO KEEP A RARE APPOINTMENT ON PLANET EARTH ...

Ian Dury: Danny Baker presents Ian Dury: A Turn For The Verse

Report and Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 8 August 1981

"There's a cock-eyed yellow poodle to the North of Gongapooch There's a little hot cross bun that's turning green, There's a double jointed wop-wop ...

Dennis Bovell: Brain Damaged Goods

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 15 August 1981

THE FINAL, apocalyptic scenes of Franco Rosso's excellent Babylon are based on a 1976 police raid on Cricklewood's Carib Club during a sound system session ...

Aztec Camera, Josef K: Josef K, Aztec Camera: The Venue, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 15 August 1981

WHEN I entered The Venue, I expected to be bestowed with an endless soul. I wasn't, but I got a ticket instead. A choice of ...

8-Eyed Spy, Lydia Lunch: Lydia Lunch: Out To Lydia

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 15 August 1981

Richard Grabel lays on the red carpet treatment for his Lunch date ...

Grace Jones: The Savoy, New York NY

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 22 August 1981

THE FANFARE hardly pronounced itself...when out folds a larger-than-our-life toy monkey with a grass skirt on its bandy thighs and a big tin drum, swinging ...

Chic: Grandmasters of Chic

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 22 August 1981

Rodgers & Hart... Rodgers & Hammerstein... Rodgers & Edwards... The new age directors of organised rhyme get a witness in DANNY BAKER. ...

Black Uhuru: Black Sounds Of Freedom The Wailing Souls: Firehouse Rock Toyan: How the West Was Won

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 29 August 1981

THE Greensleeves label, tucked under the concrete arm of the motorway at Hammersmith Roundabout, seems to still be carrying the swing – chart-wise too, now ...

Dead Or Alive, The Decorators: I.C.A., London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

I MISS The Room — put it down to the usual punctuality of the Jubilee Line. The Decorators are surprisingly palatable to the cool, coiffeured ...

The Chefs, Depeche Mode, Tarzan 5: Depeche Mode, the Chefs, Tarzan 5: ICA Rock Week, the Institute of Contemporary Art, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

THE SECOND day of the ICA Rock Week sees the immaculate combination of the Chefs, Tarzan 5 and Depeche Mode. The Chefs are high-grade Peelie ...

Gary Numan: Dance (Beggars Banquet)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

"These New Romantics are oh so boring I could swear I've been there once or twice before" ('Moral') ...

Robyn Hitchcock: Black Snake Diamond Role (Armageddon)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

THOSE OF us who never could see all that much of worth in Syd Barrett's music, either solo or with that group he used to ...

Simple Minds: Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (Virgin)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

AFTER THREE LPs and a label switch, Simple Minds really should know better than to be persisting with an "innocents abroad" strategy. While they might ...

Black Roots, Stimulin: Stimulin, The People, Black Roots: ICA, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

STIMULIN ARE going to have to blow it pretty drastically if they are to avoid becoming massively popular in the near future. Last Sunday night ...

The Rolling Stones: Tattoo You (Rolling Stones Records) 

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 September 1981

HERE WE are! The Rolling Stones have made another album! Depeche Mode and Soft Cell join more established names like Duran Duran at the top ...

Altered Images, Modern English, The Event Group: Heaven, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 12 September 1981

ALTERED IMAGES at Heaven draws a crowd large enough to stretch a queue almost to Charing Cross station. Semi-dead pop stars gathering dust around the ...

Soft Cell: Sleeping Partners

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 12 September 1981

Chris Bohn investigates some strange happenings with Soft Cell and Top Of The Pops ...

Michael Jackson, The Jacksons: The Jacksons: Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 12 September 1981

BEST FOOT FORWARD ...

Tom Verlaine's Question Time

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 12 September 1981

NOTWITHSTANDING a certain amount of nervous chuckling, Tom Verlaine seems a nice enough fellow as he sits with his feet up on the desk in ...

Beggar & Co: Work Till You're Muscle Bound

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 19 September 1981

Lloyd Bradley encounters Beggar & Co and discovers how they avoided flunking the funk. ...

Heaven 17: Penthouse and Pavement (BEF/Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 19 September 1981

YES, THERE'S plenty of use! Sometimes you can wonder why you're so enthalled by pop's maze: it would be easy to break out in that ...

Taj Mahal: A Calypso Now!

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 September 1981

Taj Mahal, Desperadoes: Hammersmith Odeon, London WITH VIV Stanshall confining himself to introductions, we were given two personalisations of black music, and an expected ...

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: Grandmaster Flash: Flash is Fast, Flash is Cool

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 26 September 1981

THE SOUTH BRONX lies just across a thin stretch of the Harlem River from Manhattan, but it could be worlds away. ...

Junior Giscombe: "Britfunk Saved Me from a Life of Crime!"

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 26 September 1981

TRUE CONFESSIONS TALK-IN WITH MAMA'S BOY JUNIOR GISCOMBE ...

Marianne Faithfull: Dangerous Acquaintances (Island)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 26 September 1981

FAST COMPANY, slow daze... Marianne Faithfull was once merely an incandescent 'inspiration' to the men and the merchandisers of rock. Now she has become one ...

The Hollies: Cheap Hollidaze in Your Own Back Catalogue

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 September 1981

THE 'CARRIE-ANNE' BOYS CARRY ON ...

John Martyn: Johnny Done Badly

Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, October 1981

DRINKING CHAMPAGNE and orange juice, a belated present for his 33rd birthday two days previously, the bright-faced John Martyn flails every way about his end ...

The Clash: Clash Credibility Rule!

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 10 October 1981

YES, IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO REACH INSIDE THE NME CLOSET, BLOW THE DUST OFF THE OLD CLASH RULER, AND SEE HOW THE LADS ARE ...

Grateful Dead: Rainbow Theatre, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 10 October 1981

IT MUST be a resurrection year if the San Franciscan pensioners come over twice to play. No danger of saturation for the faithful, though. Saturday ...

Sylvester: Too Hot To Sleep (Fantasy/Honey import)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 10 October 1981

I COULD never really take Sylvester seriously, I had him filed away as an instantly disposable product of the confusion of the late Seventies. Now, ...

The Twinkle Brothers: It Dread, It Dread, It Dread But... It Gwine Dreada

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 10 October 1981

THE RURAL RUNNINGS OF THE TWINKLE BROTHERS. LIFELONG COUNTRYMAN NORMAN GRANT TALKS TO PENNY REEL, COUNTRYMAN OF SIX WEEKS STANDING ...

U2: October

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 10 October 1981

WHEN U2 first hit England in the twilight of 1980, a dull cry of relief rose up from rock's murky depths. U2 were "just what ...

Grace Jones: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

GRACE: UNFAVOURED ...

Joy Division: Still (Factory)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

FEATURING: 'Ice Age', 'Walked In Line' and The Kill' (from '77 sessions), 'Glass' (from Factory Sampler) 'Exercise One' and The Sound Of Music' (John Peel sessions), ...

Laurie Anderson: Riverside Studio, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

PERFORMANCE HEART... ...

The Birthday Party, Nick Cave: Sometimes Pleasure Heads Must Burn - A Manhattan Melodrama starring the Birthday Party

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

IT'S A CHILL, exposed night in New York City. The East Coast has only just recovered from a week of torrential rains, and winds sweeping ...

The Human League: Dare (Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

SURPRISE! ...the love of human MOR-als ...

The Slits: Return Of The Giant Slits (CBS)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 October 1981

SO SOMEONE else gives up their all to the beat of the drum. Bongos clump, shakers rattle and roll, the bright ching of bells and ...

ABC: A-Z Club, Bayswater, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 24 October 1981

THE LEXICON OF LOVE ...

Black Uhuru, Mink DeVille, The Undertones: Black Uhuru, Mink De Ville, The Undertones: Roackpalast, Essen, West Germany

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 24 October 1981

THESE BIENNIAL all-night Rockpalast bloat-ons are comically close to the idea of a festival mentality geared to Germanic efficiency: You vill be entertained! The groups ...

The Clash, Stimulin: The Clash and Stimulin at The Lyceum: The Parody Lingers On

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 24 October 1981

THE PATH of Joe Strummer is, as we know, lined with well-intentioned, golden-hearted errors, and the first of tonight's was Stimulin, whose sound mix was ...

Was (Not Was): Mudd Club, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 24 October 1981

WAS CRAWL OUT THE WOODWORK ...

Mink DeVille: A Son-of-a-bitch Interview with Willy DeVillle

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 31 October 1981

Richard Cook gets threatened by a real life American rock 'n' roll star. "oh, there ain't nothing that I wouldn't doJust to walk that ...

The Fall: Anti-Social Workers: The Fall at North London Poly

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 31 October 1981

UNLIKE MOST other Angry Young Singers, usually by proxy, Mark E. Smith is not a rhetorician. He does not reduce the obscenities of the English ...

The Sound: From The Lion's Mouth

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 31 October 1981

THE SOUND'S second LP carries on where Jeopardy, their first, left off, with a search for contact or (non-religious) communion of some kind. It's a ...

Scritti Politti: Where Radical Meets Chic: Scritti Politti

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 31 October 1981

"SCRITTI POLITTI" – didn't you always wonder where their "political writings" were? I did. I always wondered whether their hearts were in their music or ...

Louis Moholo, Archie Shepp: Archie Shepp, Louis Moholo: Camden Jazz Week, the Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 November 1981

GET DOWN, SHEPP! ...

Carla Bley Band: Camden Jazz Week, the Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 November 1981

PERCHED AT the organ and squinting through her big spectacles at the music, Carla Bley faced the horn players in her group like some loopy ...

23 Skidoo, Defunkt: Defunkt, 23 Skidoo: The Venue, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 November 1981

Closer to the Bone ...

The Beat: Heartbeat & Strangelove

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 7 November 1981

Vivien Goldman witnesses the subversive pop of The Beat at work in New York against the nuclear age. ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Raise! (CBS)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 November 1981

RAISE HIGH THE COSMIC BOOTY ...

The Fall: Hip Priest: The Mark Smith Interview

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 November 1981

"WE WILL FALL," sang Iggy Stooge to the accompaniment of John Cale's viola, but he might have continued, "When we dead awaken..." ...

Prince: Controversy (Warner Bros)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 14 November 1981

SOME DAY MY PRINCE WILL COME... ...

The Stray Cats: Tattoo Vous?

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 14 November 1981

LES STRAY CHATS RENDEZVOUS WITH LES HELLS ANGELS. PAUL RAMBALI PUTS ON A TRANSFER TATTOO FOR A ROCKABILLY EXCURSION TO PARIS. ...

The Beat: Beat Drowning in Confusion

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 21 November 1981

A SHAKY YEAR for The Beat so far was compounded last week by a mix-up over their new single, 'Hit It'. The twelve-inch copy that ...

Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind and Fire: Living On A Met-Plane

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 21 November 1981

EARTH, WIND & FIRE'S MAURICE WHITE GETS METAPHYSICAL. BRINGING QUESTIONS OF HIS OWN DANNY BAKER ASKS: DO YOU BELIEVE MY FRIEND IN WHAT YOU CLAIM? ...

Japan: Tin Drum (Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 21 November 1981

Once upon a record there was a wonderful land where nothing nasty happened and sad beautiful boys lived... ...

The Ramones: The Thinking Men of Pop

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 21 November 1981

NO TEMPO FUGIT FOR THE FOUR RAMONES — JUST BUSINESS UNUSUAL AS USUAL "Four tickets to the Ray-mones is it, dear?" enquires the little lady ...

The Stray Cats: Gonna Ball (Arista)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 21 November 1981

FOR A trio so preoccupied with a style summed up in a quiff. The Stray Cats can make a pretty mean music. With tough-baby roller ...

James Blood Ulmer: Jazz Gets a Blood Transfusion: James Blood Ulmer

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 28 November 1981

JAMES BLOOD ULMER seemed faintly bemused by it all. Sat square in his little hotel chair like some Great Panjandrum surprised by a person of ...

The Outcasts: Culture Shock Rock!

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 28 November 1981

Barney Hoskyns and survives a night in Belfast with the town's longest surviving punk band, the Outcasts. ...

Why is This Man Hip But a Complete Failure?: Michael Zilkha and ZE Records

Interview by Paul Rambali, New Musical Express, 5 December 1981

Paul Rambali meets Mr. ZE, Michael Zilkha and learns how the music on his label has made him fashionable but broke. ...

Adam & The Ants, Grace Jones, Spandau Ballet: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall... What Aspect Of 1981 Does It Pain You Most To Recall?

Essay by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 19 December 1981

Overdressed twits taking Polaroids of one another in posey little clubs? Or the stern soapbox caterwauling of commentators who got themselves into a blue funk about everyone else's ...

Nico, Velvet Underground: In The Nico Time

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, Spring 1981

HEY-HO, is it really that time of the decade already? Once again Nico has surreptitiously floated into the public consciousness – just when she was ...

The Only Ones, Original Mirrors: The Only Ones/Original Mirrors: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, Spring 1981

"YOU LITTLE London boys..." The last of this city’s great rock’n’roll junkies is parting company with his other ones. One can’t put your arms around ...

Aswad: Black Flag: Aswad

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, Summer 1981

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE RAINBOW ...

Devo: New Traditionalists (Virgin)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1982

NOW THAT Jerry Casale has seen the Devo concept actually take root in the California psyche – now that his theory of America has been ...

Fear: The Record

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1982

QUITE WHY Fear have created such a stir on the L.A. punk scene is far from apparent from this Record. Smarter they may be than ...

Kool And The Gang at the Apollo Theatre, London

Live Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 1982

WHEN THE American Funk Band Of The Month comes to town it doesn't really matter who they are as long as they're on the Robbie ...

Stevie Wonder: Original Musiquarium I

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 1982

FOUR MONTHS late, four sides long, only four tracks new but fortunately containing enough sterling old stuff to make it a realistic proposition (economicswise) comes ...

Transistor Sisters: Alan Betrock's Girl Groups - The Story Of A Sound

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1982

"Conform to norm society; won't stand for impropriety; In the extreme of which you dream, you must always join the team . . . " ...

UB40: UB44

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1982

CAN I TELL you something? I don't want to depress you by dumping my current state of mind on you, but I feel really awful ...

Adam & The Ants: Adam's Xmas Antomime

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

Adam & The Ants: Theatre Royal, London ...

David Sylvian, Japan: David Sylvian: Melancholy Baby

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

MELANCHOLY PROPS up his head and whispers, half to himself and half to me... ...

Dollar in Wonderland

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

Paul Morley meets the drunk white rabbit and a bully who looks in the mirror to ask why their narcissistic pop has suddenly been blessed with credibility ...

Dr. Feelgood: Dr Feelgood: Meanwhile, Back At The Feelgoods

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

MADE IT THROUGH another day and here we are! The students of the fair city of Leeds play host to the band that defined British ...

New York Dolls, Suicide: Suicide: Half Alive/New York Dolls: Lipstick Killers — The Mercer Street Sessions (Both ROIR import cassettes)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

Tart, amoral, stupid, crass, vulgar… and nearly very famous ...

The Police at Wembley Arena

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 2 January 1982

THE LAST night of a residency can be many things: a blow-out, a piss-up, a tired release, a last lunge for the heights. I don't ...

Carroll Thompson: Simply, hopelessly in love...

Profile and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 9 January 1982

A post-Christmas Carroll by PENNY REEL ...

Steve Hopkins: Mercurian Man

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 9 January 1982

AT THIS CRUCIAL moment in pop history, when everyone seems to be telling you that the ultimate cream of pop-soul is The Human League's slight ...

The Subway Sect: Subway Sect: Vic the Vague

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 January 1982

A PIECE ON VIC GODARD BY PAUL MORLEY SAUCILY ENTITLED VIC THE VAGUE. Paul says: "I wish to be referred to at the heading of this ...

Pere Ubu, David Thomas: UBU!

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 9 January 1982

Small American journalists and stout American singers... we confront the issue most music papers shy away from. In the shadows of the city of Meatloaf, ...

A Certain Ratio: Sextet (Factory)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

THE A CERTAIN RATIO anatomy of melancholy breaks down to a curdling rattle of bones, distant whistles, a few whispered words and a trickle of ...

Adam & The Ants: Adam Ant: True Confessions: Brando, De Niro and Bruce Lee. Lennon-McCartney And Yours Truly

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

DO YOU believe in Adam Ant? ...

Bunny Wailer: Tribute (Solomonic import)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

"...and we know we shall win because we are confident of the victory of good over evil." ...

Fun Boy Three, The Specials: Fun Boy Three: Why?

Report by Fred Dellar, Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

FRED DELLAR and ANDREW TYLER report on the vicious race attack that put Lynval Golding in hospital ...

M: **Page D — Ready** International Language: Robin Scott

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

Chris Bohn hears some famous last words ...

Pete Shelley: Homosapien (Genetic)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 16 January 1982

SO LET'S consider the evolution of Pete Shelley from would be schoolboy glam pop poet, to starstruck love besotted voyager at the helm of the ...

Fad Gadget: Fadfoolery and Frank Confessions

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 23 January 1982

Paul Morley encounters Frank Tovey on the verge of failure, and Fad Gadget on the point of hysteria. So why is this a succesful combination? ...

James Brown: Twilight Of The Godfather

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 23 January 1982

APART FROM several Arsenal players, James Brown was my first hero. ...

The Virgin Prunes: Virgin Prunes: The Venue, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 23 January 1982

THE VIRGIN Prunes are Irish. This has got nothing whatsoever to do with the comically inept state of their performance art, but it might explain ...

Derek Bailey, Steve Lacy, George Lewis, Misha Mengelberg, Jamie Muir, Evan Parker, John Zorn: Derek Bailey, John Zorn, Evan Parker et al: Company, Round House, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 30 January 1982

UNLIMITED COMPANY ...

Modern Romance: The Venue, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 30 January 1982

THERE WAS one thing that happened over the weekend that really made me realise just how deep down into the rotten scabby depths some people ...

New Order: North London Polytechnic, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 30 January 1982

CRIES AND WHISPERS ...

Black Flag, Tav Falco's Panther Burns: Black Flag: Damaged (Unicorn/SST, import)/Panther Burns: Behind The Magnolia Curtains (Rough Trade)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

AS GUN Clubs and Blasters abound and multiply from the original Slash stock of X’s and Flesh Eaters, the LA hard punk core gets back ...

Afrika Bambaataa, Fab 5 Freddy, Jazzy Jay: Bucking the Bronx with the B-Boys

Report by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

"B-BOYS, ARE you ready, are you ready, are you ready?" ...

The Four Tops: Four Tops Don't Walk Away Ever!

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

MY FIRST TASTE of Motown music was many summers ago as I mulled away my school holidays in a sort of passive ignorance, more interested ...

Haircut 100: Kilburn National, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

One Hundred reasons to be cheerful ...

Simple Minds: Celebration (Arista)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

DEAR JIM, ...

The Stranglers: Playful Mates

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 6 February 1982

The Stranglers: Hemel Hempstead PavilionAS A LIVE proposition, The Stranglers have eluded me until now. The exceptional crunch of this show made me wonder why. ...

Altered Images: The Altered State Of Pop Art

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 February 1982

Altered Images: Hammersmith Palais, London ...

J. Geils Band: Freeze Frame (EMI America)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 13 February 1982

THE AMERICAN rock show business appears to have discovered some uncanny knack of bringing wilderness-bound rock groups back into the limelight. No one could have ...

The B-52s: Mesopotamia (Island)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 February 1982

A BRIEF encounter between two of the most deceptively insidious forces in new American music – David Byrne's irresistible art scalpel and The B-52's immovable ...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band: The Faith Healer

Obituary by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 February 1982

"Good evening, boys and girls. My name is Harvey..." ...

Depeche Mode: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 February 1982

FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE! ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo And The Bunnymen: A Promise of Rock Re-Born

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 20 February 1982

THE DAY AFTER THIS venerable paper's hardcore readers have enjoyed their brief, communal moment of glory in the polls, all-round prize guys Echo And the ...

Can, Holger Czukay: Holger Czukay: Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 February 1982

AN AMBIENT tape is burring in the background. "I made a special cassette for a new kind of radio programme," explains Holger Czukay as we ...

Orange Juice: You Can't Hide Your Love Forever

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 20 February 1982

SOME PEOPLE are irritated by Orange Juice. Onstage, they're relaxed and unrehearsed, and execute their clear-cut sound with such disregard for criteria such as tightness, ...

A Certain Ratio, Maximum Joy: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

RATIONAL RATIO ...

Bo Diddley: University of East Anglia, Norwich

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

BO DIDDLEY, as we all know, spans a 27 year career permutating a single riff to a sole conclusion: he is Bo Diddley! ...

Thelonious Monk: Round Midnight: Thelonious Monk 1920-1982

Obituary by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

AFTER BEING in a coma following a stroke Thelonious Monk died last week, and jazz lost one of the most timeless giants, a pianist and ...

Killing Joke: The Hoax That Joke Built: Killing Joke

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

"There was a place that wasn't a place,There was a race that wasn't a race..."– 'The Pandys Are Coming' ...

Theatre of Hate: Woodville Hall, Gravesend

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

LAST OF THE GREAT EAR-OS! ...

U2: A Dreamboat Named Desire

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 February 1982

"THEY WENT right through it. Took out every sock. Squeezed every tube of toothpaste. Then this guy says to me 'You – come with me. ...

ABC: Romancing Tongue In Chic

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 6 March 1982

FOLLOWING IN the footsteps of Barbara Windsor, The Professionals' Martin Shaw and Crossroads' Benny Hawkins ABC are tonight making a Public Appearance at Sheffield's Top ...

David Bowie: Brechtfast In Bed

Report by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 6 March 1982

IN BAAL, DAVID Bowie finally shed his skin and played the part of someone else. ...

Lou Reed: Clean Living And Dirty Looks

Report by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 6 March 1982

FLANKED BY his wife Sylvia to his right and his management on his left, Lou Reed lords it over the press gathering from a sofa ...

Pigbag: Dr Heckle And Mr Jive (Y)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 March 1982

THE ACREAGE of cloth in Pigbag's collective trousers has been measured and, I'm afraid, found wanting. This is, apparently, an issue of some importance in ...

Fun Boy Three: Fun Boy Three

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

THERE NEEDS to be good reason for breaking up an outfit like The Specials, their heyday happened so fast, ended so soon and was tied ...

Gil Scott-Heron: The Homeland Is Where The Hatred Is

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

JUST ONE CHANGE of buses, and the sound stages of Century City, Ca., where platinum-plated cowboys bite the props department dust, are replaced by the ...

Graham Parker: Another Grey Area

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

OH, DEAR. Talk about unfortunate titles... ...

Haircut 100: Sunshine Superboy

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

I ASK NICHOLAS Heyward, the singer with Haircut 100, if he thinks that he is a lucky boy. He allows me a look so cheeky, ...

The Birthday Party, Nick Cave: Primal Pain at the Psychos' Party: The Birthday Party at the Venue, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

WHEN The Birthday Party last desecrated this tabernacle of modern nightlife, a generally sloppy show produced the intemperate engorgement of Drunk On The Pope's Blood, ...

Hamilton Bohannon, Slave: Slave, Bohannon: Palladium, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

HEAVENLY GAMES AND BODY HEAT ...

Boomtown Rats: The Boomtown Rats: Enter The Drag

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

THE ASTOR CINEMA is an old style movie emporium painted in ugly pastel shades and shoddily decorated with the poor likenesses of Meryl Streep and ...

The Fall: These Fallish Things: Hex Enduction Hour (Kamera)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

"Everyone gets too serious about The Fall."Mark E Smith, November 1981 ...

Suicide, Alan Vega: Viva Alan Vega!

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 13 March 1982

Still controversial, still reviled — and still unsuccessful, Alan Vega discusses life after Suicide, politics and rock. ...

Bauhaus: Breaking Down The Walls Of Art-Ache

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 20 March 1982

"When we heard that you were going to interview us, we came up with two possibilities: a, being physical violence, and b, being a reasoned ...

Earth Wind And Fire: Ecstasy At The Dawn Of Creation!

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 20 March 1982

Earth Wind And Fire: Wembley Arena, London ...

Spandau Ballet: Last Dance Of The New Romance: Spandau Ballet’s Diamond

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 March 1982

IT SEEMS like Spandau Ballet are having trouble, and they're not sure how to face up to it. The concept of Spandau has grown ...

Pigbag: Snouts 'n' Snails 'n'Pigbag Tales

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 March 1982

"WELL, I BEGAN with alto sax. Then I started playing more and more guitar and less sax; then I did more percussion because we ...

The Jam: Fair Deal, Brixton, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 20 March 1982

"See me walking around – I'm the boy about town that you've heard of..." ...

Maze: A Funk-Lite Labyrinth: Maze

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

FRANKIE BEVERLY’S eight-man Maze could have come to Europe at any time in the last two years and met with the same phenomenal response they ...

Blue Rondo A La Turk: Southgate Royalty, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

1/ WHAT IS not news is that I had a hell of a time.  ...

Boomtown Rats: V Deep (Mercury)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

I HAVEN'T bothered with this group since the awful 'I Don't Like Mondays', which made me douse most of the fonder memories for minor excellences ...

Bow Wow Wow: Empire Ballroom, London

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

DANCING BLOW, 1-30! ...

The dB's: Sophisticated Jukebox Music

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

THE APPEARANCE OF The Great American Pop Band on these shores hasn't exactly caused a stampede to the nation's box offices. But the dB's are ...

Van Morrison: AWESOME!!!

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 27 March 1982

Van Morrison: The Dominion, London ...

Al Green: Higher Plane (Hi/PRT)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 3 April 1982

OH, HAPPY man...You can tell Al Green is truly saved from a quick glance at the cover, from the way his Daz-white shirt blue-airbrushes its ...

Dave Edmunds: "The Human League? Which Ones Are They?"

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 April 1982

"IT WAS a very weird thing that happened in 1954 or '55 or whenever it was. It was very special and I don't think I'll ...

Joan Jett: Whomping The Suckers With A Superball

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 10 April 1982

"IT'S SO HARD to even think of being famous, of having that responsibility. It's really weird, I mean – me!! – a rockstar! Hey, are ...

Rick James: Blowing Out Tinsel Town

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 10 April 1982

Not So Long Ago:THERE WAS a time when nearly everybody in the world owned a Motown record. Motown was like a baby's security blanket, warm, ...

Tom Browne: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 10 April 1982

SWEET THUNDER OF A JIVE JAZZ CAT ...

The Funky Four + 1, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, The Sequence, The Sugarhill Gang, West Street Mob: New albums from Sugarhill Records

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 17 April 1982

The West Street Mob: The West Street Mob (Sugarhill) The Sequence: Sugarhill Presents (Sugarhill) The Sugarhill Gang: 8th Wonder (Sugarhill) Various Artists: Greatest Rap ...

Robert Palmer: Maybe It's Live (Island)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 April 1982

ROBERT PALMER'S roguish dilettantism will get the better of him one of these days. It might have been anticipated that the pre-set routines of a ...

Squeeze: The Crackerjack Days Are Over

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 April 1982

Squeeze's new LP is ready — and if last year's East Side Story is any indication, Sweets From A Stranger will be the best collection ...

Imagination: The Imagination Master Class

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 April 1982

LEEE: YOUR NAME'S Barney Rubble. How long have you been interviewing? A year? So you're young, a spring chicken?BH: Why, do I look well-seasoned? ...

Tina Turner: Past The Point Of No Returner

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 17 April 1982

Tina Turner: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Chic, D-Train, T-Connection: Palladium, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

FUNK ALWAYS has its conventions, routines and common signals. The difference between great funk and bad is in how they are applied. Funk needs a ...

Brian Eno, Talking Heads: Eno: The Soul Inside The Shades

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

Richard Grabel practises the pussyfoot with Brian Eno, the father of electronic pop. ...

James White and The Blacks: Danceteria, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

FLINGING THE FUNK IN YOUR FACE ...

Laurie Anderson: Big Science

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

AS A PERFORMER, Laurie Anderson is little short of phenomenal: a slight Chaplinesque figure, she's as much vaudeville as she is artist, in that she's ...

Madness: Complete Madness

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

(LOVELY!) ALTHOUGH people are snobby about just about everything except disease, I can think of no one who is snobby about the great and not ...

Ry Cooder: The Slide Area (Warner Bros.)/The Border – Original Soundtrack (MCA)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

THE MORE things remain the same, the more they change: after more than a decade of recording as a featured artist, Ry Cooder has finally ...

The Residents: Mark Of The Mole and The Tunes Of Two Cities (Ralph)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

The Residents Going Underground ...

Todd Rundgren: Utopia in Woodstock: Todd Rundgren

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 April 1982

IF I AM THE LAST writer about pop music of any standing, Alfred G. Aronowitz was the first. He was matchmaking, twitching and joking from ...

Culture Club: The Boy's Own Club

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

PAUL MORLEY MEETS A BOY CALLED GEORGE — FORMER MODEL, BOW WOW WOW SINGER AND NOW FOUNDER OF A NEW MUSICAL EXPERIENCE, THE CULTURE CLUB. ...

Killing Joke: Revelations (EG)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

SO WHERE'S THE PUNCH LINE? ...

Miles Davis: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

I HADN'T EXPECTED too much. These are Miles Davis' Twilight years. There are younger and cooler cats to torch the way: Miles took the major ...

Paul McCartney: Tug of War (EMI)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

MACCA MAKES GOOD ALBUM — WELL, ALMOST ...

Steel Pulse: Steel Pulsing After All These Years

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

Lloyd Bradley takes the temperature of Handsworth's long distance dreads. ...

The Blasters: The Blasters (F-Beat)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

THE BLUSTERERS ...

Vic Godard, The Subway Sect: Vic Godard & the Subway Sect: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 May 1982

...

Iron Maiden: The Metal Masquerade

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

THE UNSMILING but unthreatening Iron Maiden are being photographed in the bright white tiled shower room of a compact sports stadium in Offenbach, near Frankfurt ...

Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings (Antilles)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

JUST ONE ORNETTO! ...

Robyn Hitchcock: Phantom of Psychedelia

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

RICHARD COOK follows the Robyn Hitchcock guide to transport — physical, mechanical, mental and musical. ...

Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Taking The Mick Mick Mick Mick Mick

Report by Andrew Tyler, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

Andrew Tyler joins the Jagger press gang and finds the man won't fade away ...

Black Uhuru, The Police: The Police, Black Uhuru: Byrne Arena, East Rutherford NJ

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

IT LOOKS intriguing from a distance, the Byrne Arena, glowing in the darkness of the New Jersey Meadowlands. But it starts to look scary as ...

Van Halen: Diver Down (WEA)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 8 May 1982

HEAVY METAL has one of the longer and more honourable traditions as a "musical influence" in rock, yet its recent renaissance is by and large ...

Flipper: Album Generic Flipper (Subterranean)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

DOLPHINS IN ROCK (PART 6) ...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: The Rake's Progress

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

One singer sacked, bad vibes with the vibes player, a dodgy new LP, and a frankly suspect panama hat – Richard Grabel battles through the ...

Lester Bangs: Ballad of a Loudhearted Man

Obituary by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

"Lester Bangs is the rock critic's rock critic, a man gifted verbally in much the same way that James Brown is gifted as a dancer. ...

Nick Lowe: The Man Who Tuned Up While The Falklands Burned

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

RICHARD COOK hears how Nick Lowe's "turned into Zager and Evans — busy making misses". ...

Stevie Wonder: Original Musiquarium I (Motown)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

A WONDER DOWN MEMORY LANE ...

The Associates: Sulk (Associates/WEA/Beggars Banquet etc.)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

BUTTERFLY BAWLS ...

The Blue Orchids: University of London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

PETE WYLIE travelled the length of greater England to see them, so why weren't you there? ...

Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age Of Wireless (Venice In Peril)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 May 1982

THE NOISE REDUCER ...

New York Dolls, Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunders, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers: Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders: Lonely Planet Boys

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 22 May 1982

Two of the original New York Dolls are in London. BARNEY HOSKYNS charts their destinies. ...

Captain Sky, Bootsy Collins: William Bootsy Collins: The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away (Warner Bros Import); Captain Sky: Return Of The Captain (AVI Import)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 22 May 1982

WATER-WALKIN' ...

Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Urban Bushmen (ECM)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

BURNING BUSHMEN ...

Dead Or Alive: Return of the Alien

Interview by Paul Mathur, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

Mummy's boys beware — Pete Burns has resurrected Dead Or Alive and he's gunning for your chart positions. PAUL MATHUR reckons he's on target at ...

Defunkt: The Life and Death of Romance

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

Neo-realist funkt, anyone? Joe Bowie describes his big city reggae to Richard Cook. ...

Eric Clapton: Timepieces

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

IN A SENSE, it doesn't really matter whether one thinks of Eric Clapton as the man whose pioneering plagiarism helped black artists ranging from B.B. ...

Junior Giscombe: Ji (Mercury)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

ANYONE WHO is counting on Ji being our very own home-grown Off The Wall had better prepare for an anti-climax. That Junior (ne Giscombe) can ...

Funkapolitan: Shooting The Breeze

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

As Britfunk fly-guys Funkapolitan tool up for a chart assault, six-gun Barney Hoskyns runs them to ground in Notting Hill. ...

Sun Ra: Strange Celestial Road (Y)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

HEAVEN UP HERE ...

The Clash: Up The Hill Backwards

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

HALF PAST ONE on Portobello Road. Past the chippy, opposite the bookshop, within earshot of a man with an amplified mouth-harp honking and scything through ...

Tom Verlaine: Words From the Front (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 29 May 1982

TOM VERLAINE is one of the last great rock musicians to come out of America; and the neglect he's suffered, after two brilliant records, is ...

B.B. King: Love Me Tender (MCA)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

"HE HAS one musical ambition as yet unfulfilled: to make a series of classic albums. These consist of one album with a big band, one ...

Bobby "Blue" Bland: Bobby Bland: The Best Of (MCA)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

FIRST time I've heard Bobby Bland and it's obvious – the man's a star. ...

Cabaret Voltaire: 2X45 (Rough Trade)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

WHAT IS least novel – and perhaps least satisfying – about the ascendancy of synthi-pop is its dependence on romantic humanist elements. Kraftwerk's love of ...

Joe Cocker: Sheffield Steel (Island)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

LIFE IN THE upper echelons of Island Records would currently seem to be taking on a pleasingly surreal texture. One can just imagine the dialogue: ...

John Cooper Clarke: Zip Style Method (Epic)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

NO MADNESS IN THIS METHOD ...

New Order: Manifesto

Essay by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

NEW ORDER REVISED. BY PAUL MORLEY — WHO JUST COULDN'T RESIST THE... ...

Bobby "Blue" Bland, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King: Talkin' Blues: John Lee Hooker/B.B. King/Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Retrospective and Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

THE BLUES speaks haltingly at first, haltingly and quietly in a darkened room. The curtains are drawn to shut out whatever passes for daylight during ...

The Rolling Stones: Still Life (Rolling Stones Records)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

STILL LIFELIKE, AFTER ALL... ...

Todd Rundgren: The Venue, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 5 June 1982

EVERYTHING YOU remember about rock music is secreted somewhere on some Todd Rundgren record. The synthetic flash, the bullet-browed machismo, the candywisp sentimentality, the filibuster's ...

Colin Newman: Not To

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 6 June 1982

I miss Wire. I was always partial to the austere subversiveness, their brittle sense of editing, their hybrid of ghoulish chants and Byrdsy chiming. Though ...

23 Skidoo — Don't Play Funky For Me!

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

"You see, the people who constantly listen to pop have their ears degraded by wrong style and reiteration, senseless reiteration..."– Unity Mitford, taped on 'Porno ...

The Doors: Jim Morrison: An Hour For Magic

Book Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

"BY THE TIME he left for Paris in March of 1971", Jim Morrison: An Hour for Magic tells us, "the friends he could depend on ...

Kim Wilde: Select (RAK)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS. ...

Rip Rig and Panic: Rip Rig & Panic

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

"OH NOOOO! Look at this one! Look at Springer's head!" ...

Ry Cooder: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

RY COODER spent the '70s with his shoulder to the grindstone and his heart in the right place delivering a series of albums which spanned ...

The Pleasure of the Pain

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 June 1982

Various Artists: Lost Soul, Vols. 1-3 (Epic, import) ...

Herbie Hancock: Herbie Goes Lite-weight

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 June 1982

NOW LOOK — I am not a purist. it doesn’t bother me that Herbie Hancock effectively quit the most testing areas of jazz for fusion, ...

Rip Rig and Panic: Rip Rig & Panic: I Am Cold (Virgin)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 19 June 1982

RIP, RIG & PANIC definitely ARE a manifestation of something obscene: music as an expression of HEALTH. Like the kind of swarthy boor who practises ...

Television, Tom Verlaine: Tom Verlaine: The Venue, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 19 June 1982

WE YOUNG Rimbauds came for diamond spears and the licks of an icepick and went away with a few mangy cardboard boxes. I hope that ...

Art Pepper Dies

Obituary by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

ART PEPPER, one of the true greats of modern jazz saxophone, died from a cerebral haemorrhage last week, three months short of his 57th birthday. ...

Ashford & Simpson, Bobby Womack: Bobby Womack: The Poet (Tamla Motown)/Ashford & Simpson: Street Opera (Capitol)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

TWO SOUL products from the mainstream, one of which, The Poet, has been on import since last year, the other being the latest album from ...

Buzzcocks: Looking Back

Retrospective by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

Proto-punk, pure pop and other bites and scratches. Richard Cook assesses the career and impact of "the world’s first modern pop group". 1 April ...

J. Geils Band

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

DAZED AND sweltering in the blazing afternoon sun thousands of young Dutch people make their way around the edge of the huge Feyenoord Stadium. ...

Joe Jackson: Night And Day (A&M)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

JACKSON IS the kind of nice guy people admire rather than warm to. He has the right sort of moves and an unimpeachable humanitarian streak; ...

Laurie Anderson: Adelphi Theatre, London

Live Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

FIRSTLY, OF course, Laurie Anderson is a woman. ...

Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack: Randy Crawford: Windsong (WEA)/Roberta Flack: I’m The One (Atlantic)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

ALAS FOR these voices: they are neither souls crying in a wilderness of sorrow, nor the sensuous claimants of a pathway to the inner sanctum ...

The Exploited: Troops Of Tomorrow

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 26 June 1982

APART FROM its marvellous cover, which depicts "an Escape From New York vision of a desolated city where punk can express its essential nature of ...

Black Uhuru: What's Up Ducks?

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

The Black Uhuru dilemma — they're hard, but is their militancy also a weakness? ...

Elvis Costello: Imperial Bedroom (F-Beat)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

ONE THING Elvis Costello has never learnt is good manners. I don't want to go to Chelsea! I don't want to be a goody-goody ! ...

Dexys Midnight Runners: Kevin Rowland: A Folk Hero Of The '80s

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

THE RAIN POURS down and the traffic piles up along London's Notting Hill Gate as Kevin Rowland and myself make our way through the grey ...

Pete Townshend: All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

HERE IS Pete Townshend: born again. And again, and again, and again, and again... ...

The Human League, The League Unlimited Orchestra: The League Unlimited Orchestra: Love And Dance (Virgin)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

LOVE'S THEME, YOUR MAGIC SPELL IS EVERYWHERE ...

The Rolling Stones: Tiers Are Not Enough

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

The Rolling Stones: Wembley Stadium, London ...

ABC, Buggles, Dollar, Yes: Trevor Horn: Clever Trevor!

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

TREVOR HORN IS A ROARING SUCCESS. HE WAS BUGGLES, PLAYED WITH YES, GAVE DOLLAR THEIR HITS AND HAS NOW PRODUCED ABC AND THEIR DEBUT LP, ...

X: Under The Big Black Sun (Elektra)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 3 July 1982

X ARE a southern Californian punk-style foursome who, since their debut album Los Angeles, have done everything within their power to show that they are ...

Ornette Coleman: On Human Feeling

Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 10 July 1982

Ornette Coleman's harmolodics brought about the musical change of the century. After his New York comeback last year, the legendary tenor man talked to Vivien ...

Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club: Quiet Americans in Paris

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 July 1982

Will Talking Heads survive? Is the family in jeopardy? What is this bastard offspring Tom Tom Club? ...

The Clash: Three Convictions on the Road From Hell

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 July 1982

The Clash: Fair Deal, Brixton, London ...

Womad

Report by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 24 July 1982

VIVIEN GOLDMAN takes a trip around the WORLD OF MUSIC AND DANCE and discovers that even the beauty of ethnic cultures can be a victim ...

Jackson Browne: Ramblin’ on Empty

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 31 July 1982

RICHARD COOK meets JACKSON BROWNE, the California dreamer who spends his time being sensitive — especially when he gets heckled. Post-Woodstock ...

Rickie Lee Jones: Sheet Music

Essay by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 31 July 1982

IS EVERYTHING AS wonderful as it seems in the current reiteration of the Song? ...

Larry Graham: The Sly Sound Of Success

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 7 August 1982

THE SOFA is sumptuous, the clothes casual; Larry Graham sits swathed in both, the epitome of affluent black America. We're in a hospitality suite in ...

Sun Ra: Space Is The Place

Profile and Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 7 August 1982

Last week the legendary SUN RA, who claims to come from the planet Saturn, beamed down to earth to play two sell-out concerts at London's ...

Lene Lovich

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 14 August 1982

"You know who I've been digging a lot lately, not as a performer but as a singer? Lene Lovich. I really dig her music."— Iggy ...

The Raincoats: Raincoats Off The Peg

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 14 August 1982

IF ORDER is considered the new subversion, then what becomes of the untidy old subversives? They're redefined as anachronisms, treated affectionately as museum pieces or ...

Human Switchboard, Scientific Americans: Scientific Americans: Load And Go!; Human Switchboard: Coffee Break and other ROIR tapes

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 14 August 1982

TIME FOR another recharge from my choice in chutzpah-driven indies: Neil ‘Let’s Get This Party Started’ Cooper’s Reach Out International Records (ROIR). Former booking agent ...

Aswad: Stepping Across the Front Line

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 21 August 1982

Lloyd Bradley finds out why Britain's foremost reggae rockers still aren't satisfied. ...

The Go-Betweens: The Gentle Three-Headed Monster

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 21 August 1982

Treading carefully among the Go-Betweens – these Aussies bite! ...

Flipper: "Hello children. Our name is Flipper and we'd like you to try some of our MANIC DISRUPTION — we think it'll do you good."

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 28 August 1982

I'D JUST been thinking about Haircut 100 — lovely boys, polite as can be — making cheerful, playful music. But I'd had enough of candy, ...

Rod Stewart: Britt Ekland: True Britt

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 28 August 1982

WHAT BUT the magic of cassette (and the greed of the Decca Corp) could possibly bring you "True" Britt Ekland, Svedish accent und all, whispering ...

Wynton Marsalis: Darting Into the Stratosphere

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 28 August 1982

Teenage trumpet major WYNTON MARSALIS lights up another admirer ...

Joe Tex: Ain't Gonna Bump No More

Obituary by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 28 August 1982

Soul legend Tex is dead ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Hall & Oates: H2O (RCA)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, September 1982

DARYL HALL and John Oates are potentially a formidable partnership. 'I Can't Go For That' was the slickest snappiest ditty the wrong side of the ...

The Damned: Strawberries (Polydor)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, September 1982

YOU DIDN'T really think they'd gone, did you? After all, it's only four years since their 'farewell' gig, and looking at Jimmy Pursey's Hams 69 ...

Billy Idol Is A Star: live at the Stone, San Francisco

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

"BILLY IDOL IS A STAR": a startling revelation that emerged at The Stone in San Francisco last week. Sure, it's yer old Billy alright, but ...

Gregory Isaacs: Night Nurse (Island)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

IT'S SINGULAR how Gregory Isaac releases a better number of tunes as good as 'Night Nurse' over the past decade and longer, and as good ...

John Martyn: Well Kept Secret

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

I LIVE WITH THE constant nagging worry that my house will soon burn down. ...

Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets (SST/Thermidor)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

PHOENIX, ARIZONA may or may not be the baking asshole of the universe, but one thing is certain: music of this almost otherworldly nature could ...

Scritti Politti: Songs To Remember (Rough Trade)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

HERE IT IS: Scritti Politti's greatest hits. Let me assure you that this isn't a problem (I like albums with lots of singles on) and ...

Scritti Politti: Natty Design Or Grand Illusion?

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

THE WEEKEND before our final confrontation, Scritti Politti's Green went shopping for clothes for his debut Top Of The Pops appearance, its confirmation depending on ...

The Four Tops: One More Mountain (Casablanca)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 4 September 1982

WHEN MARVIN Gaye recorded What's Going On in the early '70s it was part of an important transition for the Motown label, its mixture of ...

A Return Not a Discovery

Report by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 September 1982

The New African Music, part one: "More difficult to cage than reggae. It leaps and sprawls... It can go on and on because nobody wants ...

Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band: Ice Cream For Crow (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 September 1982

THE TIME has come and gone for Captain Beefheart to evade the confines of 'criticism'. If we posit Trout Mask Replica and Lick My Decals ...

Captain Sensible, Gary Numan: Gary Numan: I, Assassin/Captain Sensible: Women And Captains First

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 September 1982

A PAIR OF FUNSTERS from the charts: Sensible in his new role as the nation's favourite lovable loony and Numan in his old one as ...

Kate Bush: The Dreaming (EMI)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 11 September 1982

KATE BUSH LPs are not the kind of thing duels are fought over up in the NME office, so when a hopeful-looking Andy Gill handed ...

Peter Gabriel: Four (Charisma)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 11 September 1982

DEEP IN the heart of England something stirs..."Smash the radio/No outside voices here / Smash the watch / Cannot tear the day to shreds / ...

Gil Scott-Heron: Moving Target (Arista)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 September 1982

GIL SCOTT-HERON is one of the most quietly effective performers currently working in popular music: his cool, firm underplaying makes the listener want to move ...

John Cale: Music For A New Society (Island)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 September 1982

A STRONGER, loving world... The fulcrum of John Cale's work is its granite paradox, a loathsome ugliness garbed in the colours of rhapsody. Cale's abiding ...

Mighty Movers of Mombassa

Report by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 September 1982

The New African Music: part two. Continuing our musical trek... to Mombassa, where we meet Mazembe — the voice of Kenya, and discover the talk ...

Arthur Baker, Rockers Revenge: Rockers Revenge: The Big Bang Theory

Report and Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 18 September 1982

Or... how a crate of records fell onto producer Arthur Baker's head and created a new jazz music and the beginning of Rockers Revenge ...

Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 September 1982

ONETHIS RECORD is something of a glow. Whatever your preference you will find it memorable and instructive. Find its qualities and fix your place. Be ...

Steve Beresford: Everywhere Man: Steve Beresford

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 September 1982

You name it, Beresford had done it. He'd played bass, played piano, played trumpet...he'd composed music, improvised music, organised music, he'd written about the damn ...

Pere Ubu: Song Of The Bailing Man (Rough Trade)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 September 1982

SONGS OF THE BORING MEN ...

The Psychedelic Furs: Psychedelic Furs: Forever Now (CBS)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 25 September 1982

ONCE UPON a time, the Psychedelic Furs were everyone's epitome of the vulgarity and pretence of rock music. ...

Sylvester: Woofers And Tweeters

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 25 September 1982

HAD I BEEN expecting some shimmering trans-sexual diva to sweep into the room like a hostess into her salon, the rotund, maternal figure who welcomed ...

The Beat, Fleetwood Mac: The US Festival: Us & Them

Report by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 25 September 1982

That Woz the Fest that Woz! Barney Hoskyns takes a bite of the rotten Apple and hangs his head in despair ...

Billy Idol: Heaven, London

Live Review by Graham K. Smith, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

FALLEN IDOL ...

Kool and the Gang: Kool & The Gang: As One (De-Lite)

Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

GANG FARE BORE ...

Neil Young: A Bad Case Of The Shakes…

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

Neil Young: Birmingham NEC ...

Orange Juice: From A Postcard To A Postage Stamp

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

HATE – WITHOUT wanting to sound faddish about such a thing – is once more where the heart is. ...

Survivor: Progress and Survive: Survivor

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

THE NEW ETHIC of survival in America, with its Survivalists and all, is enabling rock groups to get to the top by singing about what ...

Genesis, Peter Gabriel: Rhythm Of The Pete

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

After the ambitious WOMAD Festival, the bailiffs cometh and PETER GABRIEL has decided to get himself out of hock – even if it means a ...

Ronald Shannon Jackson & the Decoding Society: Mandance (Antilles)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

LOOKING FOR CLUES ...

Billy Childish, The Milkshakes: Shake Some Action! The Milkshakes

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

Cynthia Rose gets all shook up with the Milkshakes, as Wild Billy Childish puts the froth on the garageland daydream. ...

Southern Death Cult: The Last Tribe

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 2 October 1982

Post punk comes the last tribe, SOUTHERN DEATH CULT, a Bradford group who attack the centralisation of media and political power in London. PAUL MORLEY ...

Aretha Franklin: Telephone Hang-Ups

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

Aretha Franklin keeps LLOYD BRADLEY hanging on the transatlantic telephone — the new Duchess of Disco fails to 'Jump To It'... ...

DAF: Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft: Fur Immer (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

ONCE AGAIN we're suspended in that intangible vacuum, between idea and realisation, between the bursting theory and grey actuality of DAF. ...

The Associates, Billy Mackenzie: Disassociate!: The Associates

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

THE WHIPPETS have pissed on the carpet of Chris Parry's Office. Billy Mackenzie grins, a little wickedly; there's a nice little stain that should be ...

Dollar: Wimbledon Theatre, London

Live Review by Graham K. Smith, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

WHAT DO YOU GET IF YOU CROSS VAL DOONICAN WITH PAUL MORLEY? ...

Neil Young: When Does a Dinosaur Cut Off Its Tail?

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

"I don't know if I can be classed as a contemporary songwriter. I'm like a dinosaur with a large tail – I'm so big I ...

The The: The Definitive Article

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

THE THE? An agitated stutter? No, the definitive article, boasts The one and only The Matt Johnson with a cheeky, if none too convincing grin. ...

The Time: What Time Is It? (WEA)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 9 October 1982

TIME IT WAS AND WHAT A TIME IT WAS ...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 October 1982

God's a Creole – No Kidding! ...

The Gun Club: The Venue, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 October 1982

IF YOU'VE ever heard Charley Patton's 'Mississippi Boll Weavil Blues' then you'll be aware of the kind of high lonesome wail that blows through the ...

The Teardrop Explodes: Brunel University, Middlesex

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 16 October 1982

TEARS ARE NOT ENOUGH ...

Donald Fagen: The Nightfly

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 October 1982

AHEM. WHERE were we? Steely Dan go out on the worst album of their entire career, Walter Becker gets involved in one of those stupidly ...

Buzzcocks: Flag Of Convenience: a C.H.A.I.N. R.E.A.C.T.I.O.N.

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 23 October 1982

Is there life after Buzzcocks? Steve Diggle and John Maher are trying again. After the passive disintegration of Buzzcocks in the spring of 1981, the ...

Kate Bush: "My music sophisticated? I'd rather you said that than turdlike!"

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 23 October 1982

A modern, multi-media, adult-orientated entertainer or a wild and wuthering heroine who's been dreaming since a brilliant start to her career......Richard Cook plays Heathcliff to ...

Bauhaus, David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust: From Bowie To Bauhaus… The Key To Decades Conceits

Essay by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 23 October 1982

So you've seen Bauhaus performing 'Ziggy Stardust' on TV and you still don't believe in reincarnation? Ziggy, who entered the material world via David Bowie, ...

Michael (Mikey) Smith, Mutabaruka, Oku Onuora: Dub Poets Of The Eighties

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 30 October 1982

Jamaica '82: the DJs rule the nation's charts and hearts but alternative voices are making themselves heard in the roots poetry of artists like MUTABARUKA and MICHAEL SMITH. PAUL ...

John Martyn: Sunday's Child Tame 'n' Tired

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 30 October 1982

John Martyn: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie and the Banshees: A Kiss in The Dreamhouse (Polydor)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 6 November 1982

IT'S RARE for a group to make their fourth LP and still be provocative, still be interested in themselves, let alone break any substantially new ...

Cocteau Twins: The Cocteau Twins: Fun From Falkirk - Fat Chance?

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 6 November 1982

FRIDAY night is cardboard-box-kicking night. ...

R.E.M.: REM: Chronic Town

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 12 November 1982

A TOWN IS CHRONIC because we are fated to revisit it time and time again. A chronic town might also be a carny town, jammed ...

Blondie: Animal House: Chris Stein, Blondie, and Animal Records

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

MUSICIAN/PHOTOGRAPHER Chris Stein has spent the last four years becoming what some Americans consider "a compulsive over-achiever", and others call 'an enthusiast'. ...

Eddy Grant: Killer On The Rampage

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

HE'S A very admirable figure, is Eddy Grant; he's got the whole business sussed, sewn up, he really has. Each year he releases a few ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Hall & Oates: Bedroom Politics — the Acceptable Sound of Young America

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

THEY DON'T get up when I come in, but then despite their slight physical stature Daryl Hall and John Oates are big men now. After ...

James Blood Ulmer: Black Rock (CBS)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

BLACK AND BLOOD! ...

Millie Jackson: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

VOICE: robust and versatile, unique among name entertainers for its dynamic revitalisation of R&B and soul intonations of yesteryear. Humour: sardonic, self-deprecating, ego-crushing, uplifting; more ...

Orange Juice: Rip It Up

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 November 1982

I JUST played Buddy Holly's version of 'Rip It Up' to remind me, although Edwyn Collins gives the impression he is unfamiliar with such iconography. ...

Black Flag in the California Scum

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 20 November 1982

  WHEN BLACK FLAG came to England last winter, they felt more than the ice and snow – they felt the cold studs on leather jackets, ...

Jah Wobble: Invader of the Lost Art

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 November 1982

Richard Cook meets the musical Nomad Jah Wobble who has now found the Arab in himself but not stardom. "I'll never be a big pop ...

Malcolm McLaren: The Man Who Ran Into Ideas

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 20 November 1982

"I'M AN artist, I am. I always was and I always will be." ...

Musical Youth: Youth Of Today (MCA)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 20 November 1982

AND SO in the wake of a government that's introduced the repressive British nationality bill, caused Britian to become involved in her first war since ...

The Go-Go's: Go Agog A-GoGo!

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 20 November 1982

The Go-Go's: Lyceum, London ...

Can, Holger Czukay, Irmin Schmidt, Neu!: A Trance In Tatters: Krautrock und Beyond

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 November 1982

Can: Delay 1968 (Spoon); Holger Czukay: Canaxis (Spoon); Irmin Schmidt: Filmmusik Vol 2 (Spoon); Neu!: Black Forest Gateau (Cherry Red) ...

Eric Burdon: Rocco The Rockist

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 November 1982

IN THE final frame of Comeback, rock hero Rocco is shot dead as he leaves a Berlin stage, which is to begin at the end ...

Joni Mitchell: Wild Things Run Fast

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 27 November 1982

A YEAR before her 40th birthday, the great romantic of rock music undoes her locket once more. Three years have passed since Mingus and ...

Kim Fowley: Tycoon Of Trash

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 27 November 1982

"Only the mice and the great ones are happy when I arrive." ...

A Certain Ratio: I'd Like To See You Again (Factory)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 4 December 1982

I REALLY wanted to love the new A Certain Ratio LP. After countless plays I've accepted it's not going to click the way I'd hoped. ...

Abba: The Singles, The First Ten Years (Epic)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 December 1982

HOW TO do everything, and how to do nearly everything right. In the rack of Christmas compilations everything else is a non-starter beside this one. ...

Marshall Crenshaw: Marshall's Law

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 December 1982

ELVIS COSTELLO LOVES HIM... BUT NOBODY ELSE HAS EVER HEARD OF HIM! WE BRING YOU MARSHALL CRENSHAW – THE MOST ANONYMOUS NAME IN POP. SNAP: ...

Michael Jackson: Thriller (Epic)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 4 December 1982

ALMOST FOUR years ago Michael Jackson (ably assisted and abetted by producer Quincy Jones) unleashed the scorching fury of Off The Wall. It was the ...

The Birthday Party, The Virgin Prunes: The Birthday Party/The Virgin Prunes: Ace Cinema, Brixton

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 December 1982

WITH CHANNEL 4's cameras peering over their shoulders, both sets of Wild Men of Pop felt a little inhibited. Mindful of television's cold, reducing stare, ...

Funkadelic, George Clinton: George Clinton: Computer Games (Capitol)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 11 December 1982

A GEORGE Clinton solo album? Not a bit of it. Right down to Pedro Bell's quirkily barbed sleeve artwork, this is a Funkadelic record. The ...

Led Zeppelin: Coda

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 December 1982

THAT THERE is no appreciable difference between 'We're Gonna Groove' from 1969 and 'Wearing And Tearing' from 1978 – the opening and closing tracks in ...

Marvin Gaye: Mr Midnight In The City Of Angels

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 11 December 1982

DON'T WALK along Sunset Boulevard, otherwise you'll end up as part of the freakshow on the sidewalk rather than a spectator at The Last Great ...

Television: The Blow Up (ROIR)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 11 December 1982

BACK IN the mid-'70s then-rock journalist Patti Smith penned the following valentine to Tom Verlaine's Television: "Boycott rock and roll on TV – who wants ...

The Rap Machine Turns You On

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 11 December 1982

Various: Rapped Uptight (Sugarhill) ...

Donna Summer: From Sex Goddess to Superwoman

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 18 December 1982

Donna Summer, once the siren of the G-spot, has grown up to become a wholesome American woman with a religious conscience. Now she's searching for ...

ABC: The Power of the Imagination

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 25 December 1982

MARTIN FRY, a shy but conspicuous grammar school boy from Bramall, Stockport, shuffles into the bookshop where I sell second hand records. He buys the ...

Yellowman: Meet The Years Most Unlikely Sex Symbol

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 25 December 1982

"I THINK I know what's coming..." ...

Maria Muldaur: Ave Maria (And Three Hosannas!): Maria Muldaur at Ronnie Scott’s, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1983

FIVE YEARS ago New Year’s Eve, I watched Maria Muldaur seize a packed house at the closing of the gigantic Armadillo World Headquarters – last ...

Gladys Knight And The Pips: Visions

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1983

SEEMS LIKE everyone is going Solar. Light to the touch but good to the bone, it's the radio sound of now. The perfect pop-soul marriage, ...

Howard Devoto, Magazine: Howard Devoto: Jerky Versions Of The Dream (Virgin)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1983

I NEVER CARED much for Magazine. They were a group without a style, or at least a group whose style consisted in a profound lack. ...

John Hiatt: Riding With The King

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1983

SOMETIMES I think nuthin iz new in this old rock music, and every time it seems I have to turn to John Hiatt to shake ...

Sisters of Mercy: Razor Shock: Sisters of Mercy

Report and Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 1983

HOW ODD this all looks, reflected in the opaque black lenses of Wayne Hussey's absolutely Ian Hunter shades. ...

The Meteors, The Morells: The Meteors: Wreckin’ Crew (I-D); The Morells: Shake And Push (Borrowed)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1983

LIKE THE bourbon and Benzedrine which fuelled it, rockabilly never really fades from popularity despite its repressive formula, but it often seems to suffer the ...

The Ramones: Subterranean Jungle (Sire)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1983

THE RAMONES have been responsible for two truly great albums (The Ramones and Rocket to Russia) and they have yet to produce a single longplayer ...

The Residents: George & James (Korova)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1983

IT WOULD appear that the San Mateo four can't think of a way to end the Mole Trilogy they began in 1981. Instead, they've launched ...

Neil Young: Trans

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 5 January 1983

HOW TO follow The Birthday Party's The Bad Seed with Neil Young's Trans? How to link the electronic transmigration of Neil Young with the last ...

Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band: The Distance (Capitol)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 January 1983

THE RECENT US chart successes of Springsteen, Geils and relative newcomer John Cougar demonstrates that American worship of the great god Raaack 'n' Rawl continues ...

Depeche Mode, Fad Gadget: Ace Cinema, Brixton

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 January 1983

SOME OF the many moods of Mute were on show tonight. Label mates Depeche Mode and Fad Gadget would appear to be polar opposites, but ...

The Passions, Stiff Little Fingers: Stiff Little Fingers, The Passions: Ace Cinema, Brixton, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 January 1983

GUNG-HO-HUM ...

The Human League: Phil Oakey's Five Minute Plan

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 January 1983

WHEN PHIL Oakey was a hospital porter, people used to be dying all around him, and he somehow became immune. It didn't upset him more ...

ABC: The Ritz, New York, NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

THE BLAND PLAYED ON ...

Frank Zappa Goes Straight

Report by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

"OH GAWD! Can anyone tell me the way to London Wail?"The fat flustered city gent looks like he's been stuck in the middle of the ...

George Clinton: The Return Of Doctor Funkenstein

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

Two years ago, George Clinton was freeing the galactic ass at the head of an unparalleled funk troupe – Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Sly Stone, ...

Soft Cell: The Art Of Falling Apart

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

YOUTH IS skin deep in a sleep... and out of work. Some pop stars accept this and let it go, some drone in statistics. Other ...

The Fall: The Curse Of The Fall

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

THIS IS SPLENDID Fall country. From the bricked ugliness of the Victorian railway buildings the crawl of streets pitters up slopes, entwines a town centre ...

Yello: A Genuine Swiss Cuckoo

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 January 1983

THE PAUL MORLEY PROFILES — NUMBER FOUR IN A SERIES OF FOUR... Dieter Meier is an international traveller and eccentric, a performance artist and ...

David Bowie: Rare

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 18 January 1983

NEITHER RARE nor particularly well done, the latest Bowie collection of alternative cuts, outtakes, live run throughs, flipsides and flops is hardly likely to endear ...

Donald Fagen: A Nightfly Up Against The Wall

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

RICHARD COOK meets the urbane spokesman of cool, DONALD FAGEN who, for 14 years, partnered Walter Becker in Steely Dan. A celebrated eccentric, Fagen is ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Porcupine (Korova)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

PERHAPS IT WAS inevitable, even decreed in some heaven up "there". Maybe it’s just the third time unlucky. But if Porcupine isn’t good it isn’t ...

Imagination: The Glam Gladiators Fight Back

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

AT THE BOTTOM end of London's Marylebone Road, going towards the station, you pass numerous beauty salons, the type of establishment that's emerged in many ...

Joe Jackson: An Ordinary Joe

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

Joe Jackson: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Laughing Clowns: Laughing Clowns (Red Flame)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

"YOU SHAKE your head, you can't believe..." ...

Dennis Bovell, Matumbi: The Dennis Bovell Dub Band; Matumbi: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

DUB AT THE BLACKBOARD ...

The Gladiators: Commonwealth Institute, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

THE INSTITUTE repays a visit. A central space enclosing stage and with surrounding access on tiered levels subdivided into small areas pertinent to the respective ...

Frank Zappa: Zap It To ‘Em, Frank!

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 January 1983

Frank Zappa/London Symphony Orchestra: Barbican Centre, London ...

Adele Bertei: Vortex — The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Neutral)

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

NOIR HEAT ...

Arthur Alexander: A Shot Of Rhythm And Soul (Ace)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

THIS IS a welcome and important collection bringing together for the first time on one LP all the famous and not so famous songs recorded ...

King Sunny Ade: King of Kings

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

King Sunny Ade and his African Beats: Lyceum, London ...

Nico: When The Peroxide Fades

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

Nico: The Venue, London ...

Randy Newman: Laughter in Paradise

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

Punk, people, performing and parenthood – Randy Newman talked about his life, work and hates to Richard Cook ...

Richard "Dimples" Fields, Chaka Khan, Skyy (US), The SOS Band: S.O.S. Band: S.O.S. lll; New York Skyy: Skyyjammer; Chaka Khan: Chaka Khan; Richard 'Dimples' Fields: Give Everybody Some!

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

TWO CREWS, two solo artistes, SOS and Skyy occupy the amorphous middle ground between Clinton and Kool — no coke psychosis on the one hand, ...

Soft Cell: Tawdry Latenight Weepies

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 29 January 1983

IMITATION OF life or bigger than life?When Marc Almond and David Ball breeze into their record company's press office for this meeting, they're immediately swept ...

Frank Chickens: Ain't No One Here But Frank Chickens

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

Kasuko, Kasumi and Noriko cabaret's Japanese Mafia. ...

Black Sabbath: Live Evil (Vertigo)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

THE ORIGINAL BLACK Sabbath was a primal slum punk band, a scummy brummie leather-and-crucifix reaction to middle-class flower power. Now they're just another Stateside stadium ...

Luther Vandross: Bland, Dull and Vandross

Profile and Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

LUTHER VANDROSS' world could be cut out from the pages of Jackie magazine. ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo and Bunnymen: Per Omnia Scallia Scalliorum

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

Echo and Bunnymen: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Einstürzende Neubauten: Let's Hear It For The Untergang Show

Profile and Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

"The destructive character is cheerful," boast Berlin's new cold stars Einstürzende Neubauten (Collapsing New Buildings) who have armed themselves with road drills, sledgehammers and axes ...

Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

WHEN ANNIE LENNOX and Dave Stewart opened for Roxy's 'comeback' as two-fifths of The Tourists, I thought there was definitely something there, but I never ...

James Blood Ulmer: The Bottom Line, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

DEMOLITION BLUES ...

The Belle Stars: The Belle Stars (Stiff)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

WOMEN IN ROCK – a further note. It must be hard being a Belle Star. Not only do you have to squeeze your soles inside ...

The Birthday Party: The Bad Seed EP

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

"IF, LOVING a woman more than anything in the world, or anticipating the possibility of such a love, one were suddenly to see her chained ...

The Gap Band: Star Spangled & Starry-Eyed

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 February 1983

Gavin Martin meets The Gap Band, three of America's fortunate sons who just want to party and make people happy. ...

Prince Charles & The City Beat Band: Big Bad Prince Charles

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

Richard Grabel comes face-to-face with a studied image of comic-book cool steaming off the streets of New York. ...

The Commodores: Commodores: Foil Wrapped Turkeys

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

The Commodores: Hammersmith Odeon, London ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire: Powerlight (CBS)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

I SAY, let's not groove tonight. Sometimes Earth, Wind & Fire get down on a groove and flashily mess it around. Sometimes they just lie ...

Indeep and... chart high

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

SHE IS trapped in a vortex of conflicting emotion, torn between loss, desire and anger; left at home, alone, hanging on the telephone. ...

Pat Benatar: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

LIKE THE rest of the full house on Friday night, I was actually looking forward to seeing Pat Benatar, despite our previous encounters on vinyl. ...

23 Skidoo, Pigbag: Pigbag: Lend An Ear (Y)/23 Skidoo: The Culling Is Coming (Operating Twilight)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

BOTH OF these docile records stand or fall as assemblages: their creators propose to be organisers of sound, something more than itinerant pop musicians. ...

Rickie Lee Jones: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

IT'S ALREADY well known how the great Casting Director in the sky limited women to a few suffocating roles in American popular culture: the mother ...

Syl Johnson: Ms Fine Brown Frame (Erect/Import)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 12 February 1983

FINE BROWN FATBACK FRAME ...

John Cale: A Stronger Music to Die In: John Cale’s New Society

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 19 February 1983

"The great Welsh singer, pianist, guitarist, composer and arranger, who in 1967 was responsible for the most significant structural change in rock since Elvis's Sun ...

Linda Ronstadt: Confessions of an LA Bunnywoman

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 February 1983

IN THE MOUNTAIN of scorn heaped on the Los Angeles musical community, nobody has been maligned more than Linda Ronstadt. The vapid esteem she was ...

Sex Gang Children, Southern Death Cult: Positive Punk: Blood And Roses

Overview by Richard North, New Musical Express, 19 February 1983

PART ONE "Don't dream it, be it." — Rocky Horror Show ...

Ric Ocasek : Richard Ocasek: Beatitude

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 19 February 1983

WITH THE Human League's American success, Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' now the longest-lasting single in the history of Billboard's Hot Hundred, and MTV deluging the ...

Angry Samoans: Back From Samoa (Bad Trip — US import)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

SPLUTTER, SPLATTER SEX SHOCK HORROR ...

Luther Vandross: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

LUTHER KING! ...

The Minutemen: Minutemen: What Makes A Man Start Fires? (SST)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

GETTING BETTER BY THE MINUTE ...

Rockers Revenge: The Harder They Fall

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

ROCKERS REVENGE FIND THEMSELVES WALKING OUT OF SUNSHINE WITH THEIR COVER VERSION OF 'THE HARDER THEY COME'. PAOLO HEWITT GETS HIS REVENGE IN NEW YORK ...

U2: War

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

"If people come along expecting the world from U2 then they're gonna get it. I'm not afraid we won't be able to give it to ...

Amazulu: Daughters of the Nation

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

So what's an (almost) all girl reggae combo from London with a fake African name doing singing about Egypt? Lloyd Bradley finds out. ...

Fun Boy Three: Funboy Fundamentals

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

PAOLO HEWITT GETS DOWN TO SOME SERIOUS REASONING WITH THE FUN BOY THREE AND CONCLUDES THE FUN'S NO FAKE AND THE CONCERN'S NO CON. ...

Julie London: Cry Me A Cult Figure

Retrospective by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

ONCE THERE was a girl, a bass and a guitar. Together they made a record called 'Cry Me A River', which turned the singer into ...

Laurie Anderson: The Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

IF YOU expected an overview of American civilization from the vantage point of a New York City loft, you would have got both more and ...

Marianne Faithfull: Child's Adventure (Island)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

THE NEOPSYCHE portrayed in the skirmishes related here is quite that which an unprejudiced layman – having perhaps some passing memory of tears gone by ...

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark: Dazzle Ships (Virgin)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

THIS IS Radio Bohn calling, bringing you news of a bloodless mutiny aboard the good ship Dazzle, which has put the helm in the hands ...

Rank and File: Rank & File: Sundown (Slash Records)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

RANK & FILE are a rather unusual four-piece: a Commie punk country band who've accrued a national reputation in America with record speed. Mind you, ...

Spandau Ballet: True (Chrysalis)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

I CAN'T see Spandau Ballet when I play this LP. I can't see their forced smiles, their indelible pretty boy we-are-and-can-be-a-part-of-the-pop-parade smiles, their Top Of ...

The Stray Cats: Cat People: The Stray Cats take Florida

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 March 1983

IF HE'D LIVED, maybe Eddie Cochran would have been as big as the Stray Cats. ...

Divine: The First Lady of Filth

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 12 March 1983

Divine pits his 300lbs of solid glamour against Elizabeth Taylor, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler. Don Watson referees. ...

Pete Townshend: The Unimportance Of Being Townshend

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 12 March 1983

BEFORE I begin my latest erratic arrangement I must state my position, of which I'm certain. I have never thought that if Peter Townshend cut ...

Tears for Fears: The Hurting (Mercury)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 12 March 1983

THE STORY so far...Roland and Curt are two everyday morose ex Joy Division fans. Sullen, sad and ashen faced they do not feel a part ...

Blancmange: Stuck In The Mould

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

Paolo Hewitt attempts to cultivate a taste for Blancmange but finds their electronic packet mix still leaves him cold... but not freezing. ...

Eurythmics, Eddi Reader: Eurythmics: Haçienda, Manchester

Live Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

THE CHOIR are one of those support acts guaranteed never to outshine the headliners; a Playwright For Today's idea of a Top Rock Band. Strident, ...

Weather Report: High Wind In Birdland: Weather Report's Procession

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

I DON'T BELIEVE IT, but they've done it again. Just when it seemed that the tuneless roar of last year's Weather Report had permanently iced ...

Lou Reed: Legendary Hearts (RCA)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

What made The Blue Mask Lou Reed’s watershed album was his choice of musicians, a new wave super-set of them – Fernando Saunders on bass, ...

Pink Floyd: Over The Wall And Into The Dumper: Pink Floyd's The Final Cut

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

LIKE THE poor damned Tommies that haunt his mind, Roger Waters' writing has been blown to hell. Although The Final Cut is "performed by Pink ...

Ronald Shannon Jackson: Breaking the Dance Code

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

Richard Cook unscrambles the music of Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society — a muzak so mean it could make an everyday breakfast in America quake... ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: The Altar'd Boys: Echo and the Bunnymen

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

The beleagured King Rock is on its discredited throne again, and Echo And The Bunnymen rule supreme. RICHARD COOK finds them holding court in ...

Black Flag: Everything Went Black (SST)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

HERE WE GO GATHERING NUTS IN L.A. ...

Gil Evans: Still Smiling After All These Years

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

Gil Evans is 71-years-old and a prominent jazz arranger who during his 35 year career has worked with Miles Davis and Hendrix. Richard Cook meets ...

Madonna: In Time with the Perfect Beat

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

THE WEEK Madonna arrived in London was the same week that the winter we thought had forgotten us called in. In circumstances like this, most ...

Marine Girls: Lazy Ways (Cherry Red)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

YO HO HO IT'S THE NEW SENSITIVITY ...

The Birthday Party: The Sound and The Fury

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

Reared under the hothouse conditions of Melbourne, London and Berlin, The Birthday Party's bad seed has finally blossomed into a magnificent demon flower. On one ...

The Go-Betweens: Before Hollywood (Rough Trade)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 March 1983

ABSOLUTELY SWEET BETWEENS ...

Bucks Fizz: Hand Cut (RCA)

Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 2 April 1983

PASSING THE BUCK ...

Carroll Thompson: First Lady of Lovers Rock

Interview by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 2 April 1983

SHERYL GARRATT FINDS OUT JUST WHAT MAKES CARROLL THOMPSON'S WORLD GO ROUND ...

Dolly Parton: In Gloss We Trust: Dolly Parton at the Dominion, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 2 April 1983

HOWEVER MUCH YOU take righteous liberal umbrage at the mass of contradictions Dolly Parton presents, you lose. As surely as the lonely waifs and ...

Prince: A Second Coming Thru Purple Haze

Report by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 2 April 1983

A MONTH ago, in Minneapolis, mecca of absence, I had time on my hands – all over my body, actually – to consider the idea ...

The Ramones: Ramones: Subterranean Jungle

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 2 April 1983

THE RAMONES have been responsible for two truly great albums (Ramones and Rocket to Russia) and they've yet to produce a single longplayer that couldn't ...

Joan Armatrading: Front Door Woman

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 April 1983

DO YOU believe in romance? ...

Marillion: Bournemouth Winter Gardens

Live Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 9 April 1983

THIS HAPPY breed came to town with Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy emblazoned on the back of their jackets. Patches, denim and undyed hair were ...

The Go-Betweens, Orange Juice: Orange Juice/The Go Betweens: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 9 April 1983

THERE COMES a time in every upwardly mobile popster's career when he/she is faced with the almost inevitable prospect of playing the Lyceum. The ...

SPK: Sound Stalkers

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 9 April 1983

Maniac cab driver Chris Bohn takes you on a ride to the terminal zone with the New Zealand / Chinese alliance called SPK ...

Bush Tetras, The Raincoats, Johnny Thunders: The Raincoats: The Kitchen Tapes/The Bush Tetras: Wild Things!/Johnny Thunders: Too Much Monkey Business

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 9 April 1983

THE LATEST trio of ROIR cassettes expands the label's category of historical documentation – a division which offers some excuse for the fact that Reachout ...

14 Karat Soul: Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

SUBLIMENESS ...

David Bowie: Let's Dance

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

"Put on your red shoes and dance the blues to the song they're playing on the radio..." ...

David Bowie: Merry Christmas Mr Bowie

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

I: The Missing YearsDavid Bowie's new film, The Hunger, opens not with the focus fixed firmly on the star but with a cameo sequence of ...

New Edition: Editions Of Youth

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

HERE'S SOMETHING that can't miss. Five young and cute boys (ages 14 and 15) who can sing and dance, including one outstanding lead singer whose ...

The Ramones: Pal Joey

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

Cynthia Rose Gabbas on the blower to the punk with subterranean Ramone (SIC!) blues. ...

Pete Shelley: Let Your Fingers Do The Talking

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

PETE SHELLEY STRIKES UP A DIALOGUE OF HIS OWN ON THE LINE TO MARTIN RUSHENT'S COUNTRY STUDIOS. RICHARD COOK PLAYS TELEPHONE OPERATOR AND LISTENS IN. ...

Prince: Radio City Music Hall, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

SEX BEAT ...

Matchbox, Tammy Wynette: Tammy Wynette: Wembley Conference Centre, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

DANG MA POONS!* * Lit: Make mine a whiskey sour and a marriage on the rocks. ...

The Barracudas, New Race, The Saints: The Saints: Out In The Jungle (Flicknife)/The Barracudas: Mean Time (Closer)/New Race: The First And The Last

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 16 April 1983

I MUST applaud the mysterious Tony D for his live review of The Barracudas (12/2/83) – the gig excited me in exactly the same way. ...

Culture Club: The Culture Vultures Gather

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 30 April 1983

THE YOUNG girl walks hesitantly through the foyer of the Dominion Theatre; amidst all the colour and excitement she strikes an uncertain, rather nervous figure. ...

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 30 April 1983

ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES In The Dark are a triumph of packaging over content. The same principle that determines the lavishly striking sleeves by Peter Saville extends ...

Robert Palmer: Pride

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 30 April 1983

WHEN HE gets up in the morning his muscles ache and his emotions are strange, far off, unrecognisable things, but the fine jets of water ...

Bananarama: Banana'd

Interview by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

LIFE IS A BANANADRAMA FOR THIS BUNCH OF GIRLS. LLOYD BRADLEY UNZIPS A SOB STORY. ...

Coati Mundi: The Former 12 Year Old Genius (Virgin)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

MUNDI BLOODY MUNDI ...

The Gun Club: For Hire: The Gun Club

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

Last year Jeffery Lee Pierce was a chronic depressive and a shithead full of venom. But since then he's sorted out his personal life, and ...

Heaven 17: The Luxury Gap (Virgin)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

A Luxury You Can't Afford ...

Miles Davis: London, Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

MILES RUNS the voodoo down down down ... and here I am, somewhere way up in the high heights of the Odeon (gee I hate ...

Rip Rig and Panic: Rip Rig & Panic: Rip Rig It Up And Start Again

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

Their commercial failure was rigged, but they didn't panic. Now Don Watson discovers Rip Rig & Panic's new attitude. ...

The Creatures: All Creatures Great and Small

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 14 May 1983

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE BANSHEES AND WHO ARE THE CREATURES? WELL, THE WATERMARKS ARE SIMILAR WITH IMAGES OF THE DIABOLIC, THE FANTASTIC AND THE ...

Muddy Waters 1915-1983

Obituary by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 14 May 1983

CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY SALUTES THE MAN WHO ELECTRIFIED THE BLUES AND PUT THE RHYTHM INTO ROCK'N'ROLL ...

The Smiths: Crisp songs and salted lyrics

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 14 May 1983

WHY CHOOSE a name like The Smiths? "It's a very stray kind of name, very timeless," explained the colourful Mancunian Morrissey, who gives words and ...

Arthur Baker, John "Jellybean" Benitez: Burn This Disco Out

Report by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 21 May 1983

THE BEST DISCO IN NEW YORK IS THE FUNHOUSE WHERE SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER IS ENJOYING A RENAISSANCE WITH AMERICA'S TEENAGERS. RICHARD GRABEL INVESTIGATES THE NEW ...

Prince Charles & the City Beat Band: The Venue, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 May 1983

CHARLES FLAUNTISM — FUNK OR FAKE? YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY PAOLO HEWITT ...

Xmal Deutschland: Fetisch (4 AD)

Review by Richard North, New Musical Express, 21 May 1983

GERMAN GOTHIC ...

David Bowie: Live Bowie!

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 May 1983

David Bowie: Brussels Voorst National, Belgium ...

The Police: Junger than Stingtime: The Police's Synchronicity

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, June 1983

THE POLICE are much like Gods to their pop universe, not only in their worship rating but in their omnipotent attitude to their work. They ...

Marvin Gaye: Radio City Music Hall, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

THERE IS a video tape circulating around Black Rock (CBS corporate headquarters) that is a five-minute demonstration of Marvin Gaye's pure genius. It records a ...

Motorhead: Another Perfect Day (Bronze)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

THE SPIRIT of this group was probably born in a flop single made Screaming Lord Sutch in 1964. It was called ‘Jack The Ripper’, and ...

Nico/1919: Brixton Ace, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

ALL'S BEEN quiet on the Killing Joke front for quite a while now, and it was only a matter of time before someone else got ...

Robert Wyatt: When The Boat Comes In

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

Well, Robert Wyatt's boat has certainly come in with the surprise success of his single 'Shipbuilding' on its re-release. In this interview Richard Cook talks ...

The B-52s: The B-52's

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

Today's environment – a dizzying mélange of neon, advertisement, slum detritus and 'junk culture' – has fascinated artists and poets since the 1950s. But not ...

The Go-Betweens: King's College, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 4 June 1983

DON WATSON SEES THE GLINT ON THE EDGE OF THE GO-BEES' POP KNIFE ...

Indeep: Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Sound Of New York)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 11 June 1983

IN AT THE DEEP END TOO SOON? ...

King Sunny Ade and his African Beats: Synchro System (Island)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 June 1983

IN A THREADBARE year for outstanding pop records, Synchro System is something to set excitement aflame – a torch song for the powers of rhythm. ...

Kajagoogoo: Puppy Love In The Plasma-Glow: Kajagoogoo at Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 June 1983

AS PHENOMENA GO, Kajagoogoo seem like the nastiest end of a train that starts in Boy George's inspirational and self-sufficient glamour and ends in the ...

Talking Heads: Speaking in Tongues (Sire)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 June 1983

DAVID BYRNE is a man with a moon in his throat, is an intellect nervously filling out a fool's cap and greasepaint, is the writer ...

Angry Samoans: The Angry Brigade: Angry Samoans

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 11 June 1983

ONE OF the singular charms of Back From Samoa by L.A.'s Angry Samoans is that it's over before you even realise you've put it on ...

Glenn Branca: Riverside Studios, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

ACCORDING TO his UK press release, Glenn Branca's work "demands (and always receives) superlatives". Hyperbole would be more accurate, but given the avalanche of attention ...

Nick Cave, Exene Cervenka, Lydia Lunch: Lydia Lunch: Listen with Lydia

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

Settle back in your couch and listen to Lydia Lunch — former New York No Wave sewer queen, would-be agony aunt, chanteuse, the Bette Midler ...

Ray Charles: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

RESPECT, WE CAME to the massive Hall and paid respect to the blind man who helped shape black music, lived a life of (partly self-inflicted) ...

Wham! Teen Dreams Come True

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

A sense of humour? Clubs, parties and late nights? Five months to write 'Bad Boys'? What is with these WHAM! guys? PAOLO HEWITT steps into ...

Rickie Lee Jones: American Pirate On The Rocks: Rickie Lee Jones

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

On a rare visit from her new home in France, Rickie Lee Jones lays down her cutlass and beret to discuss the songwriter's art, dissect ...

The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield: So Proud — The Moral Standard of Soul

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

Regarded by many people as the first conscience of American Black music, CURTIS MAYFIELD's illustrious career now spans 20 years — from being a teenager ...

David Bowie: Milton Keynes Bowl

Live Review by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

WHO'S PUSHING back there, someone shouts, as another poor girl falls to her knees, tangled up inside blue breathless bodies. Probably Bowie — today's turn, ...

Killing Joke: Fire Dances (EG)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

AT LAST, the return of the Joke of the Wild Frontier... ...

King Sunny Ade and his African Beats: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

THERE'S ONLY one thing wrong with King Sunny Ade And His African Beats: they make nearly everything else sound drab and mean-spirited. But that malaise ...

Stephen Stills: Crazy After All These Years

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

MR STILLS and I are watching a video of some playing by Crosby, Stills And Nash. The composer leans back in his chair, a whisky ...

The Isley Brothers: Between the Sheets (Epic)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

SOME SOUL groups have their own continuum. If a senior vocal unit like The Temptations has to suffer a producer's — and hence a popular ...

The Members: Going West (Albion)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

ONCE UPON a time I thought The Members fell between the stools of The Clash and The Boomtown Rats. Little has changed, except you ...

The Residents: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

EPIC MOLES ...

Cabaret Voltaire: Taxi To The Terminal Zone

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

"The way I see it is capitalism's a sponge – consider yourself to squeeze it. Squeeze it while it's here, be prepared to pick up ...

Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Jerry Butler: Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler & The Impressions: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

FEW THINGS in this amorphous and inchoate universe are so perfect as ‘I’m So Proud’ or ‘Woman’s Got Soul’ – or very nearly any of ...

Diana Ross, Donna Summer: Donna Summer: She Works Hard For The Money/Diana Ross: Ross

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

DONNA SUMMER has adopted a succession of irresistible role models – the sex Goddess of Moroder's sensual motorik disco, the modern day Cinderella of 'Once ...

James Blood Ulmer: Brixton Ace, London

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

Sound and loving fury from Blood, ambling aimlessly about the stage, like a giant teddy bear who’s somehow laid his paws on a guitar. Big, ...

George Benson: Kingsize Benson

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

So just how did this work a day guitarist called GEORGE BENSON sidestep the critical vitriol of the jazz and soul purists to become one ...

Sisters of Mercy: Sisters Under The Scales: The Reptile House EP

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

DEEP IN the woods a funeral is swinging ... ...

The Blasters: Non-Fiction (Slash)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 16 July 1983

OVER THE past three years, white American music’s been getting a real recharge from several California couples: John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X, Chip ...

B.B. King: Blues 'N' Jazz

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 23 July 1983

A FEW years ago, B.B. King let it be known that there were three albums that he had always wanted to record: one album of ...

New Order: When There's No More Room in Hell: New Order Prowl the New York Streets

Report and Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 23 July 1983

In the three years since they emerged from the shadow of Joy Division, New Order have become the world's leading and most wilfully independent group. ...

Yellowman: Pickett's Lock, Edmonton, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 23 July 1983

...

Richard Thompson: Hand Of Kindness

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 30 July 1983

From a maker of acclaimed albums, something that is more of the same, as dependable as any itching in the heart, toothache, telephone bill: it ...

The Commodores, DeBarge, Finis Henderson, Rick James, Michael Lovesmith, The Mary Jane Girls, Bobby Nunn, Syreeta, Monalisa Young: There's No Town Like Motown

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 30 July 1983

25 years on the dancefloor, Tamla Motown is still the black music label. In the '60s, their motto was 'The Sound Of Young America' — then hard ...

Einsturzende Neubauten: Acklam Hall, Notting Hill

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, August 1983

IT IS THE professed aim of Einsturzende Neubauten to exhaust music, to drain it until it implodes into a single catastrophic moment. This, however, is ...

Paul Young: No Parlez

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, August 1983

SIMPLY FOR not being Kevin Rowland or Paul Weller or Martin Fry, Paul Young fully deserves his Number One. And 'Wherever' is more than a ...

Chaka Khan, Mtume: 44th Street Pier, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

Chaka Works The Crowd But Doesn't Wear The Crown ...

Marc Almond: Give This Man An Oscar: The Wilde Side of Marc Almond

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

MARC ALMOND is very screwed up about being a pop star, which is what comes of hanging around Nick Cave and Genesis P. Orridge. ...

Herbie Hancock: Herbie Rides Again!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

So how come a 43-year-old muso who's worked with Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis has only just cut his first scratching record? Doesn't he know ...

Lita Ford: Out for Blood (Phonogram)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

LADY ROCKERS who hurl the epithet "sweet thang" at their listeners do everything for me that over-friendly taxi drivers accomplish — or Chrissie Hynde live ...

Louis Jordan: Going For The Long Jump!

Retrospective by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

The last of the swingers, the first of the rockers, altoist Louis Jordan's influence stretches through BB King and David Bowie to the '80s jive ...

New Model Army: Great Hall, Bradford

Live Review by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

BRADFORD IS a city of dead mills, lousy poets, psychopaths and pigeons. There's a lot of shit about, including a thick morass of cotton wool-gobbed ...

Eek-A-Mouse, Yellowman: Yellowman: Zungguzungguguzungguzeng (Greensleeves); Eek-A-Mouse: The Man And The Mouse (Greensleeves)

Review by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

Of Mice and Yellowmen ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Timothy White: Catch A Fire: The Life Of Bob Marley Stephen Davis: Bob Marley

Book Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 August 1983

YES MI FRIEND, mi good friend, them set me free again... ...

Gasper Lawal Band: Cricketers, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 13 August 1983

IN THE TROPICAL heatwave of Afro-beat addiction it is unjust that Gasper Lawal should remain in the shade. ...

The Cramps: Zip Guns In The Junkyard!

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 13 August 1983

GEEK MAGGOT BINGO IS THE film that trade Bible Variety characterised a "one geek, few maggots and no bingo". A lot they know! ...

The Pogues: Mahone Ranger's Handbook

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 13 August 1983

GAVIN MARTIN meets the punks who turned to Irish folk music and became the Pogues with the brogue ...

The Armoury Show, Virginia Astley: Armoury Show/Eyeless In Gaza/Virginia Astley: The Venue, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

RICHARD JOBSON had expected a handful to turn up tonight and thus was pleasantly surprised by a near – capacity crowd who were so indulgent, ...

Bad Brains: Rock For Light (Abstract)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

BAD BRAINS are an idea bursting full-tilt from a terminally fevered cortex. Rock For Light is the attempted rationalising of the notion, and it so ...

Carmel: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

CARMEL IDOLISES Edith Piaf, and Serge Clerc's sleeve for 'Bad Day' depicts her as a transatlantic chanteuse crooning those midnight blue notes for Rive Gauche ...

Killing Joke: He Man and All That Jaz: Killing Joke

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

AND JUST when you thought the laughter had died down, Killing Joke are back. 1983 sees a new LP, Fire Dances – not only their ...

Jackson Browne: Lawyers In Love (Asylum)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

JACKSON BROWNE is beginning to remind me of Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome or Missing: a secure and successful man provoked into action traitorous ...

MC5: Babes In Arms (ROIR cassette)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

IDEALLY VLADIMIR Mayakovsky should be sitting down to this review, because never before or since has there been a band quite like the MC5 – ...

Neil Young: Everybody's Rockin (Geffen)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

AT LEAST Neil Young has yet resisted rejoining Crosby, Stills and Nash, although this foray into rockabilly pastiche is hardly much less regressive than that. ...

The Cimarons, Winston Reedy: Winston Reedy: Reedy Steady Go

Profile and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

GIVEN ALL antecedents the renaissance of Winston Reedy during the past 18 months is a remarkable tale of the prodigal. ...

ZZ Top: TOP KATZZ

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 20 August 1983

TEXAN WEIRD BEARDS REVEAL THE FACE OF MODERN METAL. RICHARD GRABEL FINDS THAT HIRSUTE IS CUTE AND HAIR AIN'T SQUARE. ...

Depeche Mode: Construction Time Again (Mute)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

"LOTS OF surprises in store/This isn’t a party/It’s a whole lot more," sings Dave Gahan in ‘More Than A Party’. It’s a song from Construction ...

Michael (Mikey) Smith: Dub Poet Michael Smith Murdered

Report by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

MICHAEL SMITH, Jamaica's foremost dub poet, was murdered last week, stoned to death by thugs suspected of being activists from the ruling Jamaica Labour Party ...

Katie Kissoon: Soul Survivor

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

OUTSIDE IN the wide tree lined avenue the birds are singing and the sun is shining. Inside, Katie Kissoon – relaxed and ra ...

Larry Levan, Peech Boys: Peech Boys: Muscle Peech Party

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

Paolo Hewitt checks for the Peech Boys' Console Companions Larry Levan and Michael "Mafia" Benedictus. ...

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Texas Flood (Epic)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

DAVID BOWIE didn't discover Stevie Ray, the power blues specialist who by the sound of this solo LP was sorely tempered on Bowie's tepid Let's ...

Talking Heads: All Mouth and Trousers!

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

TALKING HEADS ARE BURNING DOWN THE MOTIONS AND BEING WILLINGLY DRAGGED INTO THE ROCK MACHINE. A TONGUE-TIED DAVID BYRNE SQUEAKS UP FOR HIMSELF. BARNEY HOSKYNS ...

The Clark Sisters: Is The Lord Bored With Disco?

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

GOD MUST be tired of pop music. The most popular female gospel act in America, Detroit's Clark Sisters, have the first gospel record in a ...

Van Morrison: Odeon, Birmingham

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, September 1983

I LOST VAN Morrison's wavelength on the album of the same name, and my feelings about the last four are decidedly mixed. This misanthropic mystic ...

AC/DC: Flick Of The Switch

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

FOR THOSE about to cry "Oh No Not AC/DC", I refute you. I'm really sorry about this, but they've made some fine records and remain ...

Level 42: Standing In The Light (Polydor)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

BRITFUNK... THERE'S a lot of it about. From the half-Bakered whine of 'AEIOU' to the anonymous disaster that is David Grant, these isles are responsible ...

Aswad, Neneh Cherry, Rip Rig and Panic: Notting Hill Carnival '83

Report by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

CARNIVALS ARE crucial — all the best cultures have 'em. But the world has a way of perverting the simplest pleasures, and since 76, Carnival ...

R.E.M.: Murmur (IRS)

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

R.E.M., LIKE THE B-52's, come from Athens, Georgia, but it must be the other side of town. Where the Bs are flamboyant, emblazoning their borrowed ...

Simple Minds: Taking Kerr of Business

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

SIMPLE MINDS: on the banks of a new gold dream? Or simply wet? DON WATSON fathoms it out with Jim Kerr ...

The Mekons: Hot Club, Brixton, London

Live Review by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

NÜE VAVE! ...

The Stray Cats: Rant 'n Rave (Arista)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

THAT BRIAN Setzer and his Stray Cats set out to become the perfectly sculpted and exquisitely meaningless rockstar icons of their dreams could never be ...

UB40: The Stance Is Dance

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

"I'D JUST love somebody to do an interview or review that had naff all to do with politics..." ...

XTC: Mummer

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 3 September 1983

I DON'T THINK "England" means very much to me any more, although I do have some sympathy with Andy Partridge's particular affection for a country, ...

Fab 5 Freddy: Wild Style! Director: Charlie Ahearn, Starring: Freddie Braithwaite, Patti Astor, Lee Quinones, Pink Pabares (ICA)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

HIPPITY HOP! ...

Suicide, Alan Vega: Alan Vega: '77 Suicide Strip

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

A VEGA PERSPECTIVE ON GHOST RIDERS, KUNG-FU COWBOYS, AYLER WAILERS AND LIFE AFTER SUICIDE. ...

Big Jay McNeely, Young Jessie, Chuck Higgins, Willie Egan: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

I DOUBT WHETHER I am sufficiently qualified to pronounce on the merits or otherwise of the foregoing concert, considering I involve a substantial proportion of ...

Gang of Four: Hard (EMI)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

THESE DAYS the barricades are thinly manned. Back in '79 Rock was Against Everything and The Gang Of 4 provided a soundtrack of surgical firepower ...

James White and The Blacks: James White: James White's Flaming Demonics (ZE)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

A PALER SHADE OF WHITE ...

Kid Creole & the Coconuts: Doppelganger (Ze/Island)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

BETWEEN OFF The Coast Of Me and Doppelganger lies an interval of only three years, yet already the odyssey of Kid Creole's search for his ...

Rick Springfield: Are You Ready To Rick?

Profile and Interview by Annene Kaye, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

"All my girlfriends talk about is, like, how it would be to meet Rick and y'know, they talk about making out with him and stuff... ...

The Associates, Billy Mackenzie: Spoilt Brat, Silly Prat Or Visionary Genius?: Billy Mackenzie

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

ONLY A YEAR AGO The Associates seemed to have the world at their feet; with three hit singles behind them and their first tour in ...

The Stray Cats: Stray Cats: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

BACK FROM the fruited plains of America, where their wide wardrobe selection and the videos which enshrine it have snatched the preteen population from the ...

The Fleshtones: Hexbreaker! (IRS)

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

RESOLUTELY UNFASHIONABLE, the stalwart Fleshtones keep making their good-time party records and getting better at it each time out. ...

Barry Manilow: There's Nose Business Like... Barry Manilnose. The Fairy Prince Holds Court at Blenheim Palace.

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 10 September 1983

BARNEY HOSKYNS GOES BARMY OVER THE MUSAK MONSTER AT BLENHEIM. ...

The Cult: Death Cult: Trinity Hall, Bristol

Live Review by Richard North, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

OH QUEL CULT! ...

Dennis Brown: The Prophet Rides High

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

WITH THREE singles constantly bubbling in the reggae charts, and The Prophet Rides Again riding high in the soul charts as well as being the ...

Gary Numan: Warriors (Beggars Banquet)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

NUMAN — OLD HAT... ...

Culture Club, Helen Terry: Helen Terry: Hellenic Culture

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

CULTURE CLUB'S 'BOLSHIE' MEMBER — HELEN TERRY — LETS RIP ...

John Hiatt: Half Moon, Putney, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

FOR THE SECOND time in a matter of weeks this body-choked backroom played host to a mislaid American master. In John Hiatt’s territory he has ...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: City Hall, Newcastle

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

A KICK IN THE NUTS ...

The Shangri-Las: Leaders of the Teen Beat

Retrospective by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

Remember (walkin' in the sand) with the Shangri-Las ...

Nils Lofgren: Wonderland

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

This LP — Lofgren's first since 81 — sails off on a gritty, catchy duet with Edgar Winter, then slides into a loner ballad ('Into ...

Slim Gaillard: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Sheryl Garratt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

FOR ABOUT the tenth time that evening, Slim Gaillard spotted a camera pointing in his direction and stopped a song mid-way to pose. "Yes, I'm ...

Talking Heads: Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

THE ESSENTIAL Talking Heads identity has always had David Byrne as its focus, no matter how much he may theorize about creating some sort of ...

Michael Jackson: The Boy Who Would Fly: Michael Jackson

Profile by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

I'VE BEEN feeling strange about Michael Jackson since I was 11 years old. I remember lying in bed with a transistor radio the size ...

The Mighty Clouds of Joy: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

SANCTIFIED! ...

UB40: Labour Of Love (DEP International)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

DREAD DREAD WHINE... ...

Bette Midler: No Frills (Atlantic)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

OK, FORGET the drip through the roof. Forget the mortgage and the DHSS snoop halfway through the letterbox. Imagine a night out on the town ...

Action Pact, The Bay City Rollers, Bone Orchard, The Cult, Flesh For Lulu, Holy Toy, Killing Joke, Lavolta Lakota, Ligotage, New Model Army, Pink Peg Slax, Pleasure and the Beast, The Three Johns: Killing Joke, The Three Johns, New Model Army, Bay City Rollers et al: Futurama 5, Queen's Hall, Leeds

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

POCKET BILLIARDS ...

The Pogues: Pogue Mahone: Bull And Gate, Kentish Town, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

AT THE delightful Bull And Gate public house in Kentish Town, Pogue Mahone played their usual blisteringly wonderful set. Containing some of the most evil-looking ...

Rick James: Cold Blooded (Motown)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

IN THE freak funk stakes, high-livin’ devil-may-care Rick James rates as a bit of a clown. As you’ll know if you caught his Rockpalast TV ...

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: The Venue, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

SIX MONTHS ago Stevie Ray Vaughan couldn't have sold out a telephone box east of the Azores. Now, a comfortably full Venue has gathered to ...

The Gymslips: Smelly Socks And Belches

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

GIRLS! FEEL FEEBLE? LISTLESS? FIGHT ANOREXIA THE RENEES' WAY! THE GYMSLIPS explain the benefits of pie 'n' mash to MAT SNOW. ...

Graham Parker: Tired and Feathered: Graham Parker - The Real Macaw

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

IT WOULD BE very tempting to take a withering look at this LP’s horribly punning title and matching sleeve, and crack an equally feeble witticism ...

Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones (Island)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

NOW, BEFORE I step before you again to review some music, and then have to face an old familiar tune (videlicet: guilty of obscurantism), I ...

August Darnell, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Gichy Dan, Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Tropic of Creole: The Indiscretions of August Darnell

Memoir by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 24 September 1983

The story so far... We are about to meet SUSANDRA MINSKY, who could be described as August Darnell's first wife, although they never did get ...

Culture Club: Brighton Centre, Brighton

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

IF EVER there's a tune crying out to symbolise the genius of Culture Club, it's the final encore of tonight's set, an uplifting, clapalong version ...

Gang of Four: Four Get Out Their Trees

Interview by Annene Kaye, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

ANNENE KAYE opens a branch account with the GANG OF FOUR. ...

Ian Dury: Too Much Noddy Business

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

WHERE HAS IAN DURY BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND WHY HAS HIS LONG-AWAITED NEW LP, 40,000 WEEKS HOLIDAY BEEN DELAYED UNTIL JANUARY? GAVIN ...

Madonna: Madonna (Sire)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

LAZY MADONNA ...

Paul Young: How to Make a Mint by Being Ordinary

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

Just six months ago Paul Young was a struggling British soul boy, hacking out a living. But with the sudden success of 'Wherever I Lay ...

The Go-Betweens, The Smiths: Ridiculous and Wonderful: The Smiths/The Go-Betweens at the Venue, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

TWO STRANGELY jarring acts from Rough Trade, one increasingly abstruse, t'other ever more open, engaging. ...

Violent Femmes: Haçienda, Manchester

Live Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, 90 miles north of Chicago. Famous... for bad beer... over there... and over here. Not so famous over here for the Violent Femmes. ...

Art Of Noise: a Spanner in the Works

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

ART OF NOISE IS THE FIRST RELEASE ON TREVOR HORN'S AND PAUL MORLEY'S ZANG TUUM TUMB LABEL. NOT DISCO. NOT POP. YET NOT UNTUNEFUL. CHRIS ...

Culture Club: Colour By Numbers (Virgin)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

TOP OF THE LOOKING CLASS ...

The Everly Brothers: Devoted: The Everly Brothers at the Royal Albert Hall

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

THERE'S THIS certain tension which exists between the Everly Brothers that is the genius of their music. It's as if the lyrics of such as ...

Elvis Costello: Master Blaster

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

WHEN IT COMES TO SOUL, THIS MAN BEATS ALL YOUR WELLERS AND ROWLANDS HANDS DOWN — BUT FOR ELVIS COSTELLO PASSION HAS NEVER BEEN JUST ...

Eurythmics

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

Stroud Green Road is one of London's more depressing thoroughfares. Noisy, dirty and deprived, it looks as if the buildings which line this lead-perfumed thruway ...

Fad Gadget, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie & the Banshees, Fad Gadget: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

YOU MAY BE A NIHILIST BUT YOU AIN'T NO F*@!KIN' ...

The Commodores, Michael Lovesmith: The Commodores: 13 (Motown); Michael Lovesmith: I Can Make It Happen (Motown)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

MOTOWN HAPPENING AGAIN ...

The Three Johns: Johnnies Be Bad

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

Blarney Haskyns Shoots The Apeshit With The Evolutionary Creators Of 'Men Like Monkeys' ...

War: Life (Is So Strange) (RCA)

Review by Lloyd Bradley, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

THERE IS a shroud of controversy over this release. Rumour was that the group were far from satisfied with it, didn't want it put out ...

Kate Bush: The Barmy Dreamer

Interview by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 15 October 1983

Kate Bush has moulded herself in an icon of pop erotica — so much that suburban couples claim her breasts stimulate their love making. Yet ...

Strawberry Switchblade: ICA, London

Live Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 15 October 1983

THE ECLECTIC confines of the ICA's well-organised Pop-Goes-The-Easel Week once again played host to developing talent. In amongst the unlikely mixture of intellectual behemoths and ...

Eek-A-Mouse: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 22 October 1983

UNEEK! ...

Lionel Richie: Can't Slow Down (Motown)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 October 1983

LIONISING LIONEL ...

The The: Soul Mining (Some Bizzare)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 22 October 1983

DIGGING FOR VICTORY ...

Was (Not Was): Back Come the Freaks

Interview by David A. Keeps, New Musical Express, 22 October 1983

Was (Not Was)'s major problem was that they could never sing. Their voices would always come out sounding freaky. To overcome this they've brought in ...

Gary Numan: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 29 October 1983

BARBIE'S BOYFRIEND IN BONDAGE GEAR ...

The Dils, Rank and File: Life After Punk: Rank and File

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 29 October 1983

Rank and File’s Founders Chip and Tony Kinman walked out on hardcore punk stardom to take up their "white trash’ influences in country music. ...

Waylon Jennings: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 October 1983

'Nylon' Jennings Sings Silky Jus' For You ...

Wham!: What Simon Says: Simon Napier-Bell

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 October 1983

MODESTY, TACT AND DISCRETION ARE NOT THE QUALITIES OF '60s POP ENTREPRENEUR SIMON NAPIER-BELL. BARNEY HOSKYNS FINDS OUT WHAT ARE. ...

R.E.M.: Marquee, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, November 1983

IF YE Smythes are anything to go by, rock's set-piece quartet of voice and guitar, bass and drums is making a decided comeback. Witnessing R.E.M.'s ...

Oliver Cheatham, Madonna: Cheek to Cheatham: Madonna/Oliver Cheatham

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

FROM CHIC TO STREET: BARNEY HOSKYNS FINDS OUT HOW FAR MADONNA AND OLIVER CHEATHAM HAVE MOTORED SINCE QUITTING DETROIT VIA THE DANCE STUDIOS OF NEW ...

Paul McCartney: Pipes Of Peace (Parlophone)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

CONTRARY TO current feeling here at the NME and elsewhere, I personally nurture no antagonism towards Paul McCartney, nor regard him with any of my ...

Philip Glass: Glass of '83

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

ANDY GILL talks to avant composer, soundtrack svengali and arty type PHILIP GLASS, and finds that life as one of the most pervasive musical influences ...

R.E.M.: Making Loud Murmurs

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

TAKE R.E.M. POP VITAMINS FOR A HEALTHY MUSICAL DIET! ...

The The: Working In The The The Soul Mine

Interview by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

MUCH CONFUSION SURROUNDS THE NAME OF MATT JOHNSON. LEYLA SANAI DOES SOME UNSCRAMBLING. ...

Wham!: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

HEY, SUCKER — welcome to the George Michael Show... ...

Quando Quango: When To Quando And When To Quango

Profile and Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

MANCHESTER'S HONKY TONKIN' DISCO EXPORT ...

ZZ Top: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 5 November 1983

AS A WARM-UP – or should I say boil-up – bash for an imminent global over-haul, the three cosmic-hillbilly stooges of ZZ Top last week ...

Was (Not Was): Was Not Was: Born To Laugh At Tornadoes (Geffen)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 6 November 1983

AMERICA HAS been dressed by improper minds. Corralling the year's important American records – Swordfishtrombones, Girl At Her Volcano, Burlap And Satin and Born To ...

The Fleshtones, The Plimsouls: Trash on Delivery: The Plimsouls and The Fleshtones

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 November 1983

EVERYONE VISITS the ’60s, but who brings anything back? Who brings them up to date? LA’s Plimsouls do. ...

Fela Kuti: He Who Has A Quiver In His Underpants

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 26 November 1983

Fela Kuti — also known as He Who Has Death In His Quiver (and a shiver in his Y-fronts) — last week descended on London ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker: The Shotgun Sherriff Rides Again

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 November 1983

A Motown soul veteran for all seasons, Junior Walker has taken his sax appeal from small American clubs in the '50s to the heart of ...

The Go-Betweens: Up From Down Under

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 November 1983

HOW TOUCHINGLY ENGLISH this all is. Outside in the late autumn Notting Hill Gate landscape shoppers shuffle through the leaves, surprised at the novelty of ...

The Police: Princes of the City

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, December 1983

PRINCES OF THE City. There's nothing like an American stadium show to make you feel small and alone. ...

John Martyn: Philentropy (Body Swerve)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 3 December 1983

THERE ARE those – and they are many in today's athletic Popular-hypertrophic music field – who can impress a vocal line upon a certain heavily ...

Cocteau Twins: The Cocteau Twins: Twindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 10 December 1983

Robin and Elizabeth are the Cocteau Twins. They live together in London's Muswell Hill and have created an enormously successful musical partnership. PAUL MORLEY attempts ...

Husker Du, Omega Tribe: Omega Tribe: No Love Lost (Corpus Cristi)/Hüsker Dü: Metal Circus (SST)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 17 December 1983

"People talk about anarchy / and taking up a fight / Well I'm afraid of hings like that / I lock my doors at night" ...

Marilyn: Some Like It Hot

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 24 December 1983

Prince or showgirl? Paul Morley tussles with Marilyn on a soft sofa and wonders if the seduction of pop has a more explicit meaning. ...

Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels (4AD)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, Fall 1983

THE COCTEAU TWINS are innocents aboard the jolly roger of "positive-punk" specimens, blushing songbirds amidst the mascara'd goth macaws of Gene Loves Jezebel and Xmal ...

D.O.A. - Megadecibel Minstrels

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1984

BY MY RECKONING, Vancouver's D.O.A. is the best hard rock band in the world. I say this on the basis of their many excellent ...

Fad Gadget: Grok! Fad Gadget at the Lyceum, London

Live Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 1984

NOW THAT Martial Law has been declared in rock by such jail guitar banner-waving bores as U2, Big Country and The Alarm, Fad Gadget’s appropriation ...

Otis Redding: Otis Blue (Atco)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1984

AS WITH SUCH iconic records as Forever Changes and Anthem Of The Sun, time has eroded the stature of Otis Blue. ...

Simply Red: Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1984

IT HAS to be said that this plumpish, carrot-mopped bloke stomping around like a kid in a playpen hardly looks the part of STAR. And ...

T Bone Burnett: Trap Door and Behind The Trap Door

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1984

THIS LONG TALL TEXAN is a perplexing, sometimes infuriating contributor to the annals of rockin' psychology. As a maverick composer and player to various courts ...

The Flamin' Groovies, The Ramones: The Flamin' Groovies and The Ramones: London Roundhouse

Retrospective by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1984

AS SPRING turned into the long, hot summer of '76, the '60s in the bloated shape of the Rolling Stones self-parodied itself up its own ...

The Kinks: Kinks, Kinda Kinks, The Kinks Kontroversy and Face To Face

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1984

NOT THAT any of this is actually important, but the kurrent kinks reissue programme abounds with small ironies. ...

The Style Council: Cardiff, St. David’s Hall

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 1984

FIRST OFF, SOME striking things. The man who used to specialise in doing soul songs really badly is now fond of doing funk standards reasonably ...

Viv Broughton: Black Gospel: An Illustrated History Of The Gospel Sound (Blandford Press)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1984

IT’S ONLY TOO easy to take that vicarious pleasure in the religious antics of folk who are not of one's own race, nationality or (non-) ...

Aztec Camera: I'm Gonna Live Forever

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

SCARCE ON the ground these past months, Roddy Frame is the new Boy Wonder, a precocious 19 year old currently calling all the shots. ...

The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson: Dennis Wilson

Obituary by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

THE OFTEN tempestuous career of Dennis Wilson ended last Wednesday, when the Beach Boys drummer drowned in the waters of LA's Marina del Rey. ...

T Bone Burnett: T-Bone Steak, Rattle and Roll

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

November 21. A cool, inky evening in Fort Worth, Texas – the kind of town where a lonesome moan from the Mystery Train still pierces ...

The Police: Nottingham City Hall

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

RICHARD COOK’S extraordinary vision of The Police (NME, 2nd Dec.) prompts one to reconsider the profound difference between The Police – those awful sing-a-long-a-suicides ‘So ...

The Who, The Yardbirds: The Who, Yardbirds books

Book Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

Before I Get Old: The Story Of The Who by Dave Marsh Yardbirds by John Platt, Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty ...

Alexis Korner: Blues For Mr Korner

Obituary by Bob Fisher, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

BOB FISHER, who worked with Alexis Komer on a TV history of rock, pays tribute to the man who was the chief architect of British ...

Billy Bragg: Big Ben vs Little Billy

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

AFTER NEARLY two years of playing the relentless troubadour all around this curious, fragmented isle, Billy Bragg and his guitar are starting to get noticed. ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers, Bunny Wailer: Bunny Wailer: The Bright Soul of the Blackheart Man

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

From his boyhood friendship with Bob Marley and the foundation of The Wailers, to a solo career that's produced a wealth of inspired (and under-rated) music, BUNNY WAILER remains ...

Einsturzende Neubauten: Driller Thriller

Report by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

METAL MARAUDERS IN THE MALL ...

Fela Kuti: Resurrection Shuffle

Report by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

ABOUT 200 PEOPLE turned out last weekend at the Country Club in North London, for a benefit to prevent its closure. Entertainment was provided by ...

Hüsker Dü: Iron Tamers: Hüsker Dü send out distress signals

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

HÜSKER DÜ, signed to Black Flag’s SST label, are one of America’s mightiest hardcore trios. From Minneapolis, aching heart of the Midwest, they’ve sent out ...

John Hiatt: Riding With The King (Geffen)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

KING JOHN, ASSUREDLY ...

Hurrah!, Prefab Sprout, Martin Stephenson & The Daintees: Prefab Sprout, The Daintees, Hurrah!: ICA, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT... ...

Ronald Shannon Jackson & the Decoding Society: Barbecue Dog (Antilles)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

GOOD ROASTIN' TONIGHT ...

The Pretenders: Learning To Crawl

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

...

Billy Bragg, Bronski Beat, The Redskins: The Redskins, Billy Bragg, Bronski Beat: Institute of Contemporary Art, London

Live Review by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

...THE POWER... THE GLORY... THE RED HARRINGTON!!! ...

X: Leader Of The Pack

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 14 January 1984

IT'S ALMOST like standing with my stilettoes planted on the very threshold of Club Yes. ...

George Clinton: You Shouldn't Nuf Bit Fish (Capitol)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

WHATEVER faults there may be in George Clinton's music, a limited horizon is not one of them. ...

Grand Mixer D.ST: A Cut-Up Above The Rest

Profile and Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

PAUL BRADSHAW ASKS GRAND MIXER D.ST HOW TO BE MIXED-UP AND SUCCESSFUL ...

Bernard Fowler, Grand Mixer D.ST, Herbie Hancock: Herbie Hancock: The Venue, London

Live Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

HOLLERIN' SOME HEAVY URBAN SHIT! ...

James Blood Ulmer: Odyssey (CBS)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

WITH THE unprecedented challenges of his earlier records taken up by nobody, and with his own position of fringe acclaim at a nebulous standstill, Blood ...

Luther Vandross: Busy Body (Epic)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

MY DADDY warned me about fellers like Luther Vandross. He gave me, rest his soul, two sage sayings: "Never run after a bus or a ...

Madness: Adventures in Madonia

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

With Mike Barson' departure from Madness are Camden's finest now fast approaching the pop parody stakes? or will a three day trip to Poland, fighting ...

The Sex Pistols: Nancy Spungen: If You Knew Nancy…

Book Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

IF ANYTHING CAN PUT THE LID on the Romeo and Juliet myth that has enshrined Nancy Spungen in the post-punk hagiography, it will be a ...

Quiet Riot: Cum On Feel The Boize

Report and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

"CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE!! GURLS RAAACK YOUR BOIZE!! WE'LL GET WILD WILD WILD!!!" ...

R.E.M.: Rock City, Nottingham

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

REM's presence as a genuine group staunchly committed to rock's most crucial attitude, this being the simple desire to play a little honest loud-hearted music ...

Soft Cell: Farewell My Lovely!

Report and Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

Don Watson witnesses Soft Cell's glorious farewell concert and listens to Marc Almond kiss 'n' tell about his future plans to travel the world. ...

Aswad: Conquering Lions Of The Concrete Jungle

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

IF REGGAE is dying, how curious that my interest in it is just coming to life. Years of comparative indifference (and ignorance) pass and suddenly ...

Billy Idol: Rebel Yell (Chrysalis)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

WHOOPS! ...

Holger Hiller: Poltergeist In The Machine

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

Hiller's alive to the music of sound. Holger, a genial Hamburger, has spent the years since leaving Palais Schaumburg completing a remarkable LP of Dada ...

Johnny Thunders: Hurt Me (New Rose)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

PAIN! ...

Nina Simone: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

NINA SIMONE finishes another song, totters to the front of the stage and stands, fixing the audience with a gaze that's as intent as it ...

John Cale: Rebel Without a Sanity Clause: John Cale’s Caribbean Sunset (Ze/Island)

Review by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 28 January 1984

HARDBOILED GOING on soft-headed, John Cale as chronicler of the man of action invariably topples over into drunken, unremitting and participatory relish of the deeds ...

Dr John: The Brightest Smile In Town (Demon)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

THERE WAS an interview with Mick Jagger in some magazine or other recently in which the ageing plutocrat titteringly told of how Dr John had ...

Jackie Wilson: A Tribute

Obituary by Cliff White, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

WHAT DO YOU think of it so far: 1984? No, neither do I. ...

James Brown: Roots Of A Revolution

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

YAAAOOWWW . . . Witchaw bad self! A few years ago Polydor issued a deluxe double album commemorating the first 21 years of James Brown's ...

Millie Jackson: E.S.P. (Extra Sexual Persuasion) (Spring)

Review by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

I RESPECT Millie Jackson the way I respect a hooker who succeeds in booting out her pimp and buys a computer to do the accounts ...

Nina Simone: Diary Of A Princess Noir

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

GAVIN MARTIN DELVES IN BETWEEN THE SHEETS WITH NINA SIMONE – A SOULFUL PUSSYCAT WHO PRETENDS SHE'S AN ANGRY TIGRESS ...

The Smiths: These Disarming Men: The Smiths

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 4 February 1984

"...the touching and bewitching songs that open hearts and purses. Art. Great Art." – Jean Genet, Funeral Rites ...

Millie Jackson: How To Talk Dirty and Influence People

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 February 1984

WHAT'S HAPPENED to the great soul singers? ...

Orange Juice: Bridge on the River Clyde

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 11 February 1984

Sour grapes over The Smiths? Sound of Young Scotland four years late? Juicy new tunes squeezed? EDWYN COLLINS unzips his lip! Purple prose: MAT SNOW. ...

Simple Minds: Sparkle In The Rain

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 11 February 1984

Give The Kerr A Bono ...

Womack and Womack: Love Wars (WEA)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 11 February 1984

"ABSENCE MAKES the heart grow fonder", sing Cecil (brother of Bobby) and Linda (daughter of Sam Cooke) at the start of their epic 'Love Wars' ...

John Lennon, Yoko Ono: Yoko Ono: We Are Only One

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 February 1984

How does the widow of John Lennon face up to a world that won't leave her husband's memory alone, three years after his death? In ...

Julian Cope: World Shut Your Mouth (Mercury)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 18 February 1984

I FEAR WE might shut our collective gob for the rest of time and we still wouldn’t get a good Julian Cope album. I didn’t ...

Lou Reed: Live in Italy

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 18 February 1984

GROWING UP in public (a further instalment). ...

Subbed Culture: The Meaning of Bile

Essay by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 18 February 1984

Should the rock press only reflect what's happening, or has it the power to make things happen? With the proliferation of teen pop glossies, which ...

Art of Noise, Frankie Goes to Hollywood: ZTT: Who Bridges the Gap Between the Record Executive and The Genius? Me

Essay by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 18 February 1984

PAUL MORLEY, the man who took FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD to Number One, takes a long day's journey into night where he wonders whether he ...

ABC, Sex Pistols, Ultravox: Julian Temple: From a Dandy to a Rogue

Interview by Chris Bohn, New Musical Express, 19 February 1984

PORTRAIT OF THE CAMBRIDGE FOP AS FILM MAKER Julian Temple, a Cambridge history graduate, was rescued from the National Film School, by The Great Rock ...

Burning Spear: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

BURNING! ...

Kool and the Gang: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

KOOL AND his men personify the exhilarated and bloodless heart of pop-soul. For some reason they are always celebrating: they stand us up for the ...

Madness: Keep Moving (Stiff)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

I'M TOLD Madness are in decline, and for someone who found 'Grey Day' and 'House Of Fun, to be the only tracks he wanted to ...

The Clash: Pop Will Die... And Rebel Rock Will Rule

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

"YOU DON'T TREAT your enemies better than you treat your friends." ...

The Gun Club: The Birth, The Death, The Ghost (ABC)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

BLOOD, BOOZE, and Host: midway through a mess of ‘Preachin’ The Blues’ on this sub-bootleg memento of pre-Fire Of Love Gun Club, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, ...

The Smiths: The Smiths (Rough Trade)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 25 February 1984

"And if you must go to work tomorrow Well, if I were you I wouldn't bother" ('Still Ill') ...

Jah Shaka, The Mad Professor: Jah Shaka: Commandments Of Dub: Chapter 2 (Shaka Music); Mad Professor: Escape To The Asylum Of Dub (Ariwa)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 3 March 1984

SHAKA ALL OVER ...

Laurie Anderson: Mister Heartbreak (WEA)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 3 March 1984

Somewhere Over Gravity's Rainbow ...

Whitesnake: Just A Load of Old Cobras

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 3 March 1984

DAVID COVERDALE, the professional peacock of puerile penile dementia rock has landed. ...

Dr. John: A Shot of Rhythm 'n' Snooze

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

BACK IN New Orleans in the '50s, when he was one of the few white people involved in one of the last great watersheds in ...

John Cale: Cale Force Nine

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

"WHAT THE HELL else have I got but that spell?" roars John Cale onstage in a performance of ‘Leaving It Up To You’. ...

Millie Jackson: Dominion, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

WHY IS this woman not in the movies? ...

Orange Juice: Texas Fever (Polydor)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

TO MAKE things clear from the start, Texas Fever arouses an excitement I thought I may be in danger of forgetting, at least in connection ...

George Clinton: P-Funk Allstars: Urban Dancefloor Guerillas (Epic Import)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

P-FECTION! ...

Scritti Politti: Say A Little Prayer For Green

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

DEEP END, feet first. Is it true you're Mr Paranoid? ...

Van Morrison: Live At The Grand Opera House Belfast (Mercury)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

AS SOMEONE not over-exposed to Van Morrison's music, this is an extremely useful record. It acts both as a good compilation album (all the songs ...

Josey Wales, Yellowman: Yellowman versus Josey Wales: Two Giants Clash (Greensleeves)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 10 March 1984

EGOS ON TOAST ...

Prefab Sprout: Couldn’t Bear To Be Precious: Prefab Sprout

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

THE BOY'S a natural born charmer. ...

Hot Chocolate: All Because The Lady Loves Hot Chocolate

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

FRESH FROM his evening shower and now only half an hour away from facing 2,000 of his most ardent supporters, Errol Brown, a white towel ...

Johnny Osbourne: The Musical Chopper

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

I AM USHERED into Johnny Osbourne's dressing room just as he is winding down an interview with someone else. "Exactly how old are you anyway?" ...

Scott Walker: Climate Of Hunter

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

So this is how he reappears... with a genuinely astonishing collection of the most terminal songs ever written. ...

Scott Walker: The Original God-Like Genius

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

"I LIKE to watch people throw darts." ...

The Style Council: Cafe Bleu (Polydor)

Review by Hector Cook, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

ME AND my ever-changing moods. One minute I hear 'Strength Of Your Nature' and think Paul Weller's cracked it, next I'm hearing some snippet of ...

Womack and Womack: Love Warriors

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

IT SHOULD really be no surprise that Cecil and Linda Womack's Love Wars LP is the most compulsive and acclaimed soul outing since the Marvin ...

X: Marquee, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

XXX ...

Bobby Womack: The Poet II (Beverly Glen import)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

AN OLD-FASHIONED man in the midst of a booming, disordered black music, Bobby Womack's journeyman career comes to a glorious peak with The Poet II. ...

Carmel: The Drum Is Everything (London)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

CARMEL KNOWLEDGE ...

Carmel: Smooch Don't Mooch

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

Manchester trio Carmel claim the press hyped them into early cult status — as hangers-on in the torch song zone. Meanwhile, they have embarked on ...

Gil Scott-Heron, John Cooper Clarke: Gil Scott-Heron/John Cooper Clarke: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

SCOTT-HERON OF THE ANTARCTIC ...

Gil Scott-Heron: Beam Me Up (Scotty)

Interview by Lynden Barber, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

HIS BEARD a jungle of burnt spaghetti and his clothes an apparent assortment of ill-fitting jumble bargains, Gil Scott-Heron cuts a less than (shall we ...

The Weather Girls: Fat Is Where It's At

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

TWO TONS of fun, indeed! ...

Tune In If You Rankin': Night Of The Living Dread

Report and Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

A ROOFTOP RENDEZVOUS WITH THE DREAD BROADCASTING CORPORATION ...

Black Flag: My War (SST)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 31 March 1984

TO SAY that Black Flag's Damaged was the punk LP of 1981, is tantamount to (if I may be allowed to lapse for a moment ...

Frank Chickens: Enter The Ninja

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 31 March 1984

"HAVE YOU read Winnie The Pooh?", asks Kazuko Hohki. I admit I have. "And Mary Poppins? And The Borrowers?." Kazuko, one half of Frank Chickens, ...

Hugh Masekela: Blazing In The Bush

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 31 March 1984

AT A TIME when Western attention is once more turned on the evil and cunning of the South African government, it couldn't be more appropriate ...

Jeffrey Daniel, Shalamar: Jeffrey Daniels: Popping Off The Rails

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 31 March 1984

Is Jeffrey Daniels on the right track? Gavin Martin has his doubts when he finds out that the king of the body poppers has been ...

Johnny Thunders, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, Patti Palladin : The Heartbreakers, Patti Palladin: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 31 March 1984

Smacked Bottoms ...

Marvin Gaye: Death Of A Midnight Lover – A Tribute To A Trouble Man

Obituary by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 April 1984

The romantic spirit of rising young black America in the '60s, Marvin Gaye evolved into a radical voice testifying pleasure and protest. A brilliant artist, ...

Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw: Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones: Identikit Pop

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 7 April 1984

And the mediocre shall inherit the earth... Or at least the charts. RICHARD COOK fits out the faceless folk of pop. ...

Dennis Bovell: Running Off Copies, Blackbeard Treads The Boards: Dennis Bovell — Dub Juice On The Loose

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 7 April 1984

BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH DENNIS BOVELL AND THE DUB BAND, BLACKBEARD IS HUNGRY TO PLAY, PAUL BRADSHAW READY TO LISTEN ...

Ultravox: Lament

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 April 1984

The Vox Pox ...

Barrington Levy: Electric Ballroom, Camden, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

DEADLEE! ...

Etta James: Empress In Exile

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

MOST EVERY year now Ms Jamesetta Hawkins – Etta to you – will at the behest of Dingwalls Boss (Goodman, that is) fly over ...

Lamont Dozier

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

HE LOOKS tired now, as if all that time spent playing, writing and dreaming up words and sound had finally drained him of life and ...

Marvin Gaye: Into the City of Angels

Report by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

GAYE FUNERAL REPORT • FATHER CHARGED ...

Rick James: A Rant

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

BARNEY HOSKYNS dials a late night dateline to RICK JAMES at Motown's LA offices. ...

Trouble Funk: Trouble A Go Go

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

Hip-hop? Hell no, go-go! RICHARD GRABEL keeps up with TROUBLE FUNK, grand masters of the D.C. sound. ...

R.E.M.: American Paradise Regained: R.E.M.’s Reckoning

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

WHEN I HEAR word ‘plangent’ I reach for my applause button. Which is why Reckoning and its predecessor, last year’s Murmur, confirm R.E.M. as ...

Charlie Parker: Bird on Verve Vols 1-8

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

RETURNING TO Parker, after any kind of sabbatical, is electrifying. The memory always recalls the timbre of that cutting wall, that matchless tone; what can ...

Dennis Brown: Mr Brown Enters The Promised Land

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

JAMAICA'S WARMEST VOICE AIMS FOR GLOBAL HEIGHTS! SEAN O'HAGAN ROOTS! ...

Elvis Costello: 10 Bloody Marys And 10 How's Your Fathers

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

10 AND 10 is 20 postaged stamps of the left-out-of-mainstream Costello: mislaid or temporarily missing 'B'-side moves, free 45s that got lost on the Press, ...

Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five: Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five: Venue, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

IT'S DODGY! ...

Jason & The Scorchers: Jason and the Scorchers: Fervor

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

EVEN ALLOWING for the Women's Wear Daily pop-corn which often passes as critical comparison in rock I can't help but loathe this catchall term "cowpunk". ...

R.E.M.: Four Guys Bucking For The Sainthood

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

"THERE'S TWO SCHOOLS OF MUSICIANS" argues guitarist Peter Buck. "One just digs playing and is in it for fun, the other wants to get rich ...

Eek-A-Mouse, Yellowman: Yellowman: King (CBS); Eek A Mouse: Mouseketeer (Greensleeves)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 21 April 1984

AIN'T NUTHIN' BUT A MOUSE PARTY ...

Bananarama: Mean Streaks and True Confessions

Interview by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 28 April 1984

WHACKING THROUGH the poster-rack at Woolworths. Staring back at the faces of the semi-famous packaged like slabs of bacon. ...

Marillion: Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back Into The Water

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 28 April 1984

Along comes megajaws FISH, big fry with heavy rockers Marillion in search off "a clash off the titans"...in other words, a confrontation with NME. Shy, ...

Yellowman: Colour Me Yellow

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 28 April 1984

"Jamaica jus' an island in the Caribbean, and Jamaica produce a lotta champion, like Bob Marley and I Yellowman." — 'Jamaica Nice' ...

Count Basie

Obituary by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

Richard Cook pays tribute to the man whose Kansas City swing band conquered the world – a jazz aristocrat for 50 years. ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain (Korova)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

IS IT possible to hear Echo And The Bunnymen anymore for all the noise? ...

B.B. King: King B Stings: B.B. King: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

A GIANT of a man and a giant of the post-war blues boom, B.B. King is the figure most prominently placed to express the essential ...

Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets II (SST)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

WHAT I know abot ol' time country music could be written on the back of a gnat's fart, but I ain't so pixillated (yes you ...

Nena: The Girl From C&A

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

Suddenly it really is Deutschland, Deutschland Über Alles. As the whole world turns Teuton, BIBA KOPF meets NENA, the queen of German high street pop. ...

Jason & The Scorchers: Rhinestone Ploughboys: Jason and the Scorchers

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

Blues, country and heavy metal!...Can this really be the lethal cocktail that has gained The Scorchers Nashville respectability? CYNTHIA ROSE settles down to a ...

Richard H. Kirk: Sound Tracked

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

IT DOESN'T take too long to suss that Richard Kirk's medium is The Image – here's a man who's ill at ease with The Word. ...

Roger Waters: The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking (Harvest)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 May 1984

THERE IS a latent longing in many an English mega-rock star to become an intellectual seer, to splash garish helpings of philosophy and instructive comments ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers: Bob Marley: Legend

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

ONE STRANGE THING. Naturally, we group Bob Marley with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Dennis Brown, Michael Jackson: black music-makers with the stature of giants. Yet ...

Holger Czukay: The Lunatic Has Taken Over The Asylum

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

"WHEN I WAS 39 it was a very special year for me," reminisces Holger Czukay. ...

Lloyd Cole: What's All The Commotion About?

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

LLOYD, I asked, are you in love? ...

The Birthday Party, Nick Cave: Nick Cave: If This Is Heaven I'm Bailing Out

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

THE ENIGMA of The Birthday Party, like that of Kaspar Hauser, begins with grunts in the darkness and ends in murder. ...

The Blue Nile: I Can See For Niles

Profile and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

BECAUSE DELICACY and good manners are so disgustingly commonplace in today's pop, it's hard to spot something deeper and more diverse when it comes cloaked ...

The Human League: Hysteria (Virgin)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

THIS IS what you've got when you haven't got style: no more masks to hide behind. ...

Sonic Youth: This Savage Breed: Sonic Youth: Kill Your Idols (Zensor, German Import)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 12 May 1984

"KILL YOUR IDOLS/With Sonic Death" — scrawled across the label and screamed across the searing noise, the statement of intent on the latest release by ...

Cameo: She's Strange (Casablanca Phonogram Import)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 19 May 1984

Blackmon's Burden ...

The Psychedelic Furs: Malice Through The Looking Glass: Psychedelic Furs: Mirror Moves (CBS)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 19 May 1984

THE RETURN of the underdogs. Castigated, laughed at… they flew to New York, where Butler quit drinking, attacked the museli bowl and kissed his girlfriend. ...

Nick Cave: From Her To Eternity (Mute)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 19 May 1984

NICK CAVE'S From Her To Eternity is one of the greatest rock albums ever made. Now read on... ...

The Go-Go's: Talk Show (A&M)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 19 May 1984

WEIRD HOW male listeners have to go through this whole process of Coming To Terms with the GoGos' musically simplistic, sentimentally sophisticated hybrid of high ...

Was (Not Was): Was Not Was: That Was The Freak That Was

Interview by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 19 May 1984

O Dialectic, says the philosopher, when he notices that perhaps the true philosophy laughs at philosophy. ...

Run-DMC: It's Like That, Is It?: Run DMC: Danceteria, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 26 May 1984

RAP'S STILL going strong, because all of what has to be said has not yet been said. Street kids have got to get over, and ...

Dead Or Alive: Pete Burns: Confessions Of A Former Dickhead

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 26 May 1984

PETE BURNS bares flesh like he's got plenty to spare. Some claim he has, but far be it from me to say it. ...

The Cure: Top Cat He's Intellectual

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 May 1984

CATERPILLAR, lovecat, fatcat, catamite, catatonia – it was a mean word-association game I played on the way to meet Robert Smith of The Cure. ...

Black Flag: Wheel Me Out Flagging!: Black Flag: Marquee, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 May 1984

"SEARCH AND DESTROY" is the tattoo emblazoned across the sweat-rivuleted, hawser-taut shoulders of Henry Rollins. ...

Youssou N'Dour: Youssou N’dour Et Le Super Etoile De Dakar: London Venue

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 26 May 1984

SINCE I BOUGHT Etoile de Dakar’s Thiapathioly LP two years ago, the band have become ‘Super’ and the lead singer has achieved star status, making ...

Working Week: Hot News for Cool Cats!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, August 1984

As a new jazz scene begins to blow hot, SIMON BOOTH and LARRY STABBINS get hip with PAOLO HEWITT, rappin' about their new musical adventure ...

Alison Moyet: Ode To An Invisible Man

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

ALISON IS waiting for me outside her publicist's office. ...

Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

IN BRUCE Springsteen's 1984, America – the original big country where dreams stay with you – has contracted; it is now a very small country ...

Change: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

AT SOUL/FUNK celebrations like this it's a temptation to review the audience whose performance, in the service of adulation, is as spectacular as that of ...

David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

ANY WHO expect David Sylvian's sheaf of essays to present wafery, neutral music must be confounded by the diversity and strength of Brilliant Trees. This ...

Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo and the Bunnymen: Warren Peace

Report and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

NOTHING IS REAL ...

Elvis Costello: Goodbye Cruel World (F-Beat)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

"WHY MUST I be so lonely...?" ...

Everything But The Girl: Eden (Blanco Y Negro)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

CONCEIVED IN the bedroom (as was much great music) Eden has been hermetically sealed so none of its sensitivity should leak out in transit, and ...

John Mellencamp: John Cougar Mellencamp: Radio City Music Hall, New York

Live Review by David A. Keeps, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

JOHN COUGAR Mellencamp has a big old heart and one helluva nerve. First he has his buddy (and band hairdresser) warm up the crowd with ...

John Dowie, Gary Glitter, Marillion, Nazareth, Status Quo: John Dowie: Finborough Arms, London; Status Quo, Nazareth, Marillion, Gary Glitter: Milton Keynes Bowl

Live Review by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

QUO: A NATION MOURNS ...

Miles Davis: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

BLOWIN' HOT AND COOL ...

Prince: Purple Rain

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

THE PROBLEM with major league soul is not a lack of 'good' music. What has been lost is the ability, possibly the desire, to make ...

Public Image Ltd.: This Is What You Want, This Is What You Get (Virgin)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

DEAR JOHN, the big kiss off: ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Hyaena (Wonderland/Polydor)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

THE NIGHT Siouxsie wore her hyaena suit and made mischief of one kind and another God called her "Wild Thing!" and she threatened to engulf ...

Smiley Culture, Papa Levi, Asher Senator: Smiley Culture, Papa Levi and Asher Senator: Three Baad DJ

Profile and Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK BRITISH TOASTERS ARE SETTING THE PACE OF REGGAE RUNNINGS. SMILEY CULTURE, PAPA LEVI AND ASHER SENATOR TALK IN DOUBLE TIME TO PAUL BRADSHAW. ...

The Jacksons: Victory (Epic)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

NO-ONE SHOULD be too surprised that Victory is not a triumph. What's happened to the Jackson household since young Wacko came of age would screw ...

The Special AKA: In the Studio (2 Tone)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 4 August 1984

MOST LISTENERS who would snap up In the Studio own the majority of it already, as singles or B-sides. And with the release of its ...

23 Skidoo, Shriekback: 23 Skidoo: Urban Gamelan; Shriekback: Jam Science

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

I DON'T KNOW whether it was the film of African boys being circumcised or the self-important and gimmicky drone that accompanied it, but back in ...

Billy Idol: Whatever Happened To Bloated Rock Stars

Profile and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

THERE WAS a time when the idea of Billy Idol one day becoming a megaplatinum punk-rock superstar would have made me choke on my nutburger. ...

Bronski Beat: St James Church, Piccadilly, London

Live Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

THE BRONSKIS have a knack of being roped in to playing unconventional venues but they always manage to cut through the atmosphere. ...

David Sylvian, Japan: David Sylvian: Journeys Into The Interior

Profile and Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

FOR ONE who seems so still David Sylvian is constantly on the move. ...

Davitt Sigerson: Falling In Love Again (Ze Records)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

I'M HAPPY to announce this is The Worst Record I've Ever Listened To, not so ecstatic to say that it's on Ze Records, the reason ...

The Fall, Neil Innes, Jonathan Richman: Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, the Fall, Neil Innes: Elephant Fayre, Port Eliot, Cornwall

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

JUMBO NUTBURGERS! ...

Nashville Revisited

Report by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

This summer an 82 year-old former boxer, shoeshine boy and burlesque costumier from Brooklyn died in Los Angeles. His name was Nudie Cohen and he ...

Peter Hammill: Bloomsbury Theatre, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

A SCHOLAR comes out of his cell. Peter Hammill's art has been obsessively documented by records but less so by performance. This solo show looked ...

Sade: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

THE SOHO Brasserie nightly fêtes a love-in of the young, hip and would-be photographed who are busy even now recreating the good times myth of ...

The Jacksons: Meadowlands Stadium, New Jersey

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

SCARCELY HAD I touched down Stateside last week when I found myself bound in a bus for Meadowlands in a humid pocket of endless, endlessly ...

The Last Poets: The Last Poets (Celluloid)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

THEY CAME, SORE... ...

The Membranes: 1 in 12 Club, Bradford

Live Review by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

BULLSHIT DETECTOR! ...

The Pogues: For A Few Ciders More

Interview by David Quantick, Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

A TABLE littered with the debris of an early evening's drinking, three Pogues attempt to justify their existence. ...

The Waterboys: Scott Yet Another God Like Genius

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

"I SOMETIMES thought that in the old days the young men of the tribe would want to grow up to be great warriors. In our ...

William Bell: Do Right Man (Charly)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 11 August 1984

‘YOU DON'T Miss Your Water’ was only the fifth single on Stax. That was 1961, and pipe-smoking William Bell was there not only to see ...

Sly & the Family Stone, Bobby Womack: Bobby Womack, Sly Stone: Beacon Theatre, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

SOUL SONIC FORCE ...

Dr. John, The Meters: Dr. John/The Meters: I Been Hoodood

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

THERE ARE GROOVES and there are grooves: that which is laid down by the Meters is definitely one of the latter. ...

Evan Parker: Riverside Studios, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

I'VE WITNESSED dozens of Parker's improvisations and learned something on each occasion from this complex work. The singular applies, for every time he plays alone ...

Heaven 17: Three Steps To Heaven

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

INITIATION ...

James "Blood" Ulmer: James Blood Ulmer: the Venue, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

HIGHLY STRUNG ...

Test Dept.: Beating The Retreat (Some Bizzare)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

THE WORK of Test Dept – and this is work, for sure, not playing – is inextricably cabled to a rhetoric of 'action'. ...

Box, The (UK): The Box: Great Moments In Big Slam (Go! Discs)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

WHEN THE old DVA clocked out in late '82, the name went one way, the spirit the other. While the new DVA went on to ...

The Special AKA: 26,732 Hours In The Studio with Jerry Dammers

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

JERRY DAMMERS didn't have much sleep last night. Well into the small hours of the morning he'd been labouring over a hot Hammond organ in ...

Violent Femmes: Hallowed Ground (Slash/London)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

MILWAUKEE IS Dullsville by any other name, so little wonder that the three superbuskers who comprise The Violent Femmes munch upon the tastiest feast Americana ...

Big Mama Thornton: Willie Mae ‘Big Mama’ Thornton 1926-1984

Obituary by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 18 August 1984

ONE OF the founding careers in rock and roll ended on Wednesday, July 25, when a heart attack took the life of Willie Mae ‘Big ...

AC/DC: Clap, It's AC/DC!

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

JUST OCCASIONALLY Robert Wyatt gets elbowed off my turntable in favour of something a little more...lycanthropic. Something to transport me away from the pristine confines ...

Esther Phillips: Alone Again

Obituary by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

ESTHER PHILLIPS died on 7 August. I read this somewhere in the small print of a national newspaper. "LOS ANGELES – Blues and jazz singer ...

King Kurt: Oh, You Pretty Things!

Interview by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

Someone's mother is a friend of these enemies of the people, KING KURT. SUSAN WILLIAMS asks — is beauty vital to pop success? (And she ...

Fred Maher, Robert Quine: Robert Quine and Fred Maher: Basic (Editions EG)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

NOT LONG ago, someone asked me if the 'EG' in EG Records stood for Egghead and I foolishly told them no. Now Egghead Records have ...

Sade: Educating Sade

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

FOR THE way she sang words and music, the way she interposed herself in the lyric, the way she could swing a line and stay ...

Sheila Chandra: Quiet! (Indipop)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

A STAR IN 384 TAKES ...

Angel Corpus Christi, Suicide: Suicide, Angel Corpus Christi: Irving Plaza, New York NY

Live Review by David A. Keeps, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

BACK FROM THE DEAD ...

Richard "Dimples" Fields, Teddy Pendergrass: Teddy Pendergrass: Love Language (Asylum); Richard 'Dimples' Fields: Mmm... (RCA)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

FAR TOO STEADY TEDDY ...

The Men They Couldn’t Hang: The Men They Couldn't Hang: George Robey, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

'JUST LIKE Eddie', 'Whiskey In The Jar', 'A Boy Named Sue', 'Rawhide', 'The Green Fields Of France'... is it, dear reader, one of your witty ...

Accept, Gary Moore, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Y & T: Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne et al: Monsters of Rock, Castle, Donington, Leicestershire

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

I WAS A TEENAGE GRISTLEBURGER! Trampled underfoot: BARNEY HOSKYNS and MAT SNOW. ...

Apollonia, Morris Day, Prince: Purple Rain; starring: Prince, Morris Day, Apollonia (Warner Bros.)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

So just whose tongue is in whose cheek! ...

Shriekback: Beyond Care, Thank God: Shriekback

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

Are Shriekback’s polyrhythms just polytechnic or is their dance stance entrancing? ...

Cristina: Sleep It Off (Ze Records)

Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

ZE DROP A Z... ...

Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade (SST double — US import)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

ZEN AND THE ART OF GOING ULTRANOVA! ...

Afrika Bambaataa, James Brown: James Brown (and Afrika Bambaataa): Sex Machine Today

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

WHAT DO you think of when you think of James Brown? A stretcher case raddled with emotional pain dragging himself back from endless encores of ...

Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Lizzy Mercier Descloux (CBS)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

LIZ — BACK AND BOUNCY ...

Peter Hammill: The Love Songs

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

PETER HAMMILL is one of our stranger voyagers. Alone at a piano last month, he put most of the music we cover to shame. He ...

Elektrobus, Extempore, Jasná Páka, Letadlo, The Plastic People Of The Universe, Pražský Výběr, Švehlík: Prague: The Death of the Merry Ghetto

Report by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

Earlier this year, BARNEY HOSKYNS visited Prague to find out if Czechoslovakia's heavily repressed rock scene could have any effect on loosening the European blocs. ...

Rank and File: Long Gone Dead (London/Slash)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

AN LP FILED PAST ME... ...

Tom Verlaine: The Foolish Heart of Tom Verlaine

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

TALKING WITH Tom Verlaine, as legend has it, is one of the less entertaining or productive options available to the interested party. A teeth-pulling exercise. ...

Tom Verlaine: Cover (Virgin)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

IN 1976 TOM Miller aka Verlaine ended a published poem with the line "I shall contrive an envy so strong that its object will disappear". ...

Wreckless Eric: Reconnez Eric

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 1 September 1984

IT WAS 1977. Remember? All those big guitar noises? And the number of indie labels could be counted on the ears of Vincent Van Gogh? ...

Spinal Tap: This Is Spinal Tap

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

Director: Rob Reiner; Starring: Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer ...

10,000 Maniacs: 10,000 tensions relieved!!

Interview by David A. Keeps, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

DAVID KEEPS finds 10,000 MANIACS happy at home. ...

Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim: Dollar Brand: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

A LONG TIME ago, Dollar Brand recorded an album called African Space Programme: the cover's landscape interpreted space as being something which is not up ...

Culture Club, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Malcolm McLaren, Wham!: Into Battle: Declaring War On The Pop State

Essay by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

IAN PENMAN goes over the top, typewriter at the ready, and asks, Can one speak of the state of pop without protecting the interests of ...

Marc Almond: Revenge Of The Sleazebag

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

AS LONDON swelters, there's one back alley in Soho's underarm narrow enough to escape the sun's onslaught. Damp and dingy it seems to seep moisture ...

Robert Wyatt: Mongrel Musics

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

Nobody could have told me how Robert Wyatt's cover of Cuban pop star Pop star Pablo Milan´es' 'Yolanda' was going to capture my ear more ...

Spinal Tap: The Spinal Solution

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

Cynthia Rose shares a wake-up cuppa with Derek Smalls, Nigel Tufnel and David St Hubbins, the unlikely rockers who made it from New York back ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Living Room, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

ATTIRED IN the standard tatty black outfits and tatty black haircuts of today's young folk, The Jesus And Mary Chain play their tatty white music ...

Wah!: The Mighty Wah!: Waaaugh!

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 8 September 1984

WHAM! The door opens and it's Wah! The mighty WAH! There he is! ...

Black Flag: Heart of Darkness

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

RUN! THIS can't be happening! The headlights of the car bearing down on Greg Ginn and Bill Stevenson capture two slack-jawed faces, stark with astonishment, ...

Rick James: Reflections (Motown)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

ACCEPTING THE press stereotype of Rick James as a total prat whose releases served only as excuses for another dig, I completely ignored the man ...

Robert Cray Band: Bad Influence (Demon)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

LOOKS LIKE a blues album, but this is some of the tightest, earthiest soul music of the '80s. A beautiful record, originally out on the ...

Stevie Wonder: The Woman In Red (Motown)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

SO HERE'S a new Stevie Wonder album, but not THE new Stevie Wonder album, the one we've stopped holding our breath for (makes Aswad and ...

The Clark Sisters: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

WE WATCHED two of London's larger choirs and remained cold. Mattie Moss Clark, the sister's mama and musical director of the huge Church of God ...

The Durutti Column: Riverside Studios, London

Live Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 15 September 1984

SIXTY FOOT up in the Riverside gantry, amongst the clutter of microphones, lights, and soundmen, we witness the return of The Durutti Column. A grand ...

Davitt Sigerson: AOR? Write On! An Interview with Davitt Sigerson

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

DAVITT SIGERSON insists he isn’t smarting from the NME review which described Falling In Love Again as ‘The Worst Record I’ve Ever Heard." ...

Culture Club: Boy George: It's An Odd Boy Who Doesn't Like Sport #1

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

"Where can you find pleasure?/Search the world for treasure?/Learn science technology?/Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true?/On the land or on ...

Donna Summer: Cats Without Claws (Warner Bros)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

LOOKING DARKLY into her TV's eyes and chastizing it as media plasma, Donna sings of its ruptured picture: "From the next apartment we hear music/Bleeding ...

Frank Sinatra: Songs For Young Lovers and other Capitol reissues

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

BECAUSE SINATRA has lasted so long, has outlived his own legend – to the point where he can make a record with Quincy Jones and ...

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, Experience Unlimited (EU), Trouble Funk: Go-Go: Drop The Bomb On The Love Boat

Report by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

Go-go's got a godfather and a group in every area!! RICHARD GRABEL goes ga-ga in Washington as he uncovers the biggest show in those suburbs. ...

Lee "Scratch" Perry: Lee Perry: Presents Megaton Dub 2 (Seven Leaves)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

PUT THIS IN YOUR PIPE, COCK! ...

The Blow Monkeys: Wag Club, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

69 RED BABOONS ...

Everything But The Girl, The Style Council, Wham!, Working Week: Wham!, Style Council et al: Miners' Benefit Finale, Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 22 September 1984

SLAG! ...

Adele Bertei, Culture Club: Adele Bertei: Contorted Into Culture

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

This is ADELE BERTEI, the new one in that Club. DON WATSON files the scoop. ...

Aztec Camera: Knife (WEA)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

RARELY IS the 'singer-songwriter' allowed any natural patience to heed the rushing waters of emotion and experience; and in the current singer-songwriter boom, it seems ...

The Blow Monkeys: Blow Monkeys: Do The Atom Drum Bop

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

I KNOW the dismay and disgust with pop music is getting a mite predictable round these parts, but it does seem that new nadirs are ...

Bobby Womack: Something Special (Liberty/EMI)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

ONE OF soul music's great iconclasts, recently repopularised and rediscovered with his two Poet sets, Bobby Womack's marvellous legacy from the late '60s and early ...

Culture Club: Boy George: It's An Odd Boy Who Doesn't Like Sport #2

Interview by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

LAST WEEK Boy George recalled his earliest memories and the slow dawning on him that he was apart from his contemporaries in many ways. ...

David Bowie: Tonight

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

IT MIGHT be foolish to conjecture on which are David Bowie's public and which are his private records. ...

David Bowie: Sermon From The Savoy

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

When David Bowie recently visited Britain he agreed to do one ‘official’ interview — with NME’s Charles Shaar Murray. In this exclusive story he gives ...

Heaven 17: How Men Are (Virgin)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

YOU KNOW the pokerwork proverb in every chippy/cab firm/newsagent in the country: "You don't have to be mad to work here…but it helps!" ...

The Chameleons, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Redskins, Sisters of Mercy, Spear Of Destiny: Sisters Of Mercy, Redskins, Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap: York Racecourse

Live Review by Susan Williams, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

HEY HEY WE'RE THE CRAPEES!!! ...

The Minutemen: Double Nickels On The Dime (SST double — US import)

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 29 September 1984

60 SECONDS THAT EMOTION ...

Rickie Lee Jones: The Magazine (Warner Bros)

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, October 1984

For song, as sung by you, is ... notWooing of something finally attained.Far other is the breath of real singing.An aimless breath. A stirring in ...

10,000 Maniacs: Marquee, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

LOONIES FROZE MY BIRD-BATH!!! ...

Bobby Womack: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

YEARS AGO when Bobby Womack bought his raw but stylised music to this same venue it was more a case of disintegration than any cause ...

Bobby Womack: The Last Great Soul Man

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

Who's that stepping briefly into the limo – and life of – Bobby Womack? Why, it's blushing Barney Hoskyns, who, in the next 5,000 words, ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bayou Country/Green River/Willy and the Poorboys/Cosmo's Factory and more

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

ANCIENT BEAT journalist and hippie doyen Ralph J. Gleason, who could be a daft old coot at the best of times, got it completely wrong ...

Depeche Mode: Modeahead? Uh-Uh… But How Do You Rate The Review, Lads?

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward (Mute) ...

Microdisney: Half Moon, Herne Hill, London

Live Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

ZIT HITS! ...

The Roots Radics: Roots Radics: Cheque It! (please!!)

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

The ROOTS RADICS — the session trio — talk about run (how they never seem to run into any pay) All ears, SEAN O'HAGAN ...

The Cult: The Cultivation Of A Better Noise

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

The tribal panavisuals of The Cult have rallied hordes. But CYNTHIA ROSE discovered the true extension chords lurking in the minds behind the war-paint. DEREK ...

The Mekons: Living Room, London

Live Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

IS THIS the way to say goodbye? The last night at the Living Room, proprietor moving on to greater things, hopefully (water-bombs in Tottenham?!?), the ...

Screaming Blue Messiahs: The Screaming Blue Messiahs, Rhythmic Itch: Rock Garden, London

Live Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

WHAT A grotty emporium is the Rock Garden! What does the name conjure up but images of a pile of stones where there should be ...

WASP: Lyceum, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

THEY DON’T MAKE metal mutants like they used to. Whilst WASP obviously consider themselves the baddest muthas to walk this earth, many of their audience ...

Derek Bailey: The Guy Who Found The Lost Chord

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

The guitarist DEREK BAILEY has been one of the leaders of improvised music for 20 years. As a generation of guitar heroes has come and ...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

WHETHER one wishes to take into account the possible home truths gleaned from 'rumour' or not – the tittle-tattle here centring on contentions of marital ...

Microdisney: Paul Mathur discovers that in Microdisney... everybody is, well, um, relatively ok!...

Interview by Paul Mathur, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

IF JAMES Joyce had been in a pop group, he would have been in Microdisney. That is, if he'd come over from Cork to spend ...

SPK Riot at ICA

Report by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

ARMED WITH arc-welders, paint sprays, sculpture gear, drills and various other odd-bod instruments, metallic industrialists SPK were due to take the ICA stage last Thursday ...

The Go-Betweens: Money Can't Buy You Love

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

THERE'S NOTHING quite like a love affair to shake you out of an autopilot trance and put you back in touch with your feelings; feelings ...

Art of Noise, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda: ZTT: The Morley & Horn Show present How To Make A Spectacle of Yourself

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 13 October 1984

The first year of ZTT has been a spectacular success, with Frankie Goes To Hollywood singles 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes' becoming respectively the fourth and ...

Ben E. King: Here Comes The Night

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 October 1984

WHEN, IN 1967, Ben E King asks What Is Soul?, the answer is properly Ben E King himself, although not on What Is Soul?! And ...

Johnny Mathis: Play Misty For Me

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 20 October 1984

JOHNNY MATHIS stands still long enough to move PENNY REEL at the Hammersmith Odeon. ...

The Cars, Ric Ocasek: The Cars that ate America

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 October 1984

AND NOW THEY'RE GAS-GUZZLING UP OUR OWN CHARTS. BUT TOP DRIVER RIC OCASEK IS MORE THAN JUST THE CARS' MAN IN THE FRONT SEAT — ...

Screaming Blue Messiahs: The Screaming Blue Messiahs: Second Coming?

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 20 October 1984

Well not really. But while DAVID QUANTICK screams about the BLUE MESSIAHS, they relate a re-discovery of Captain Beefheart, Hank Williams and... America. ...

Laurie Anderson: Missus Heartbreak

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 27 October 1984

CYNTHIA ROSE lends an ear to a jetlagged LAURIE ANDERSON and hears the call of the riled from a multi-media star whose fame has induced ...

Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense

Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 27 October 1984

WHAT, WITHOUT wandering, is here? A company move, accompanying live movie (directed by Jonathan Demme), a record – another live LP, so soon? Where's the ...

The Higsons: Who Hig?

Profile and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 27 October 1984

People don't believe them when they claim to have been around four years. Can DAVID QUANTICK quantify the Curse of the HIGSONS to reveal the ...

Tom Verlaine: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 27 October 1984

WHY-OH-WHY has it consistently appeared to be solely rock critics plus these terribly self-absorbed young chaps who currently populate Britain's new ruling (middle) class of ...

U2: Call Us Unforgettable

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 27 October 1984

EARLIER THIS year one of rock's newest messiahs U2's Bono appeared onstage alongside one of its oldest, Bob Dylan at an outdoor Dublin festival in ...

Teena Marie: Starchild (Epic)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, November 1984

MARY CHRISTINE BROCKERT is a tiny white California gal who makes big, beautiful black music. Her speciality is exuberantly sassy and happy music for the ...

Art Of Noise: (Who's Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise! (ZTT)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

FIRST: A disclaimer. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone at NME wished ZTT well. I regarded ABC as one of the more horrible aspects of ...

The Fall: Before and after the Fall

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

"I THINK the difference is in the mechanical sounds of our time. Like the sound of the airplane in the '40s was a rmoooooaaaahhhhhhhh sound ...

Clint Eastwood & General Saint: White Bread Toasters

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

Wha 'appen to give Clint Eastwood & General Saint so much chart action? Sean O'Hagan asks is this a sell-out or are they just starting ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Pastels: Creation Records: Lions In Our Own Garden

Report and Interview by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

BRUCE DESSAU rustles the roster of London's pop-punk indie, CREATION RECORDS ...

Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasure Dome

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

IT IS, of course, brilliant. And nothing more so than the last glittering shards, the final breaths taken in this pleasure dome. ...

Janet Kay: Do Actors Sing Better Lovers?

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

JANET KAY comes offstage to talk to PAUL BRADSHAW ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Three Johns, Islington, London

Live Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 3 November 1984

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SEING... ...

Alison Moyet: Alf (CBS)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

AS THE blue dawn pours in through the shutters, Alison Moyet stares from the cover of her first solo LP with a look that immediately ...

Bronski Beat: Bronski Beefs

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

SUNDAY, 'ROUND about lunchtime, and Jimi Bronski is scurrying around his small council flat in a vain attempt to clean up the mess. I stand ...

The Ramones: Too Tough To Die (Sire, import)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

AS THE legendary Nick Kent once remarked of the Stones, The Ramones don't do, they simply are, monsieur, even if they can't get a UK ...

The Ramones: Now I Wanna Play My Five-Iron!!

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

It had to happen. The hardcore epidemic sweeping America has re-inspired punk godparents the Ramones to make a GENUINE BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM more original (and more ...

U2: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

THE MOST boring band in the world. There can now be no question of U2 avoiding such a title. There may be groups equally as ...

Wham!: Make It Big (Epic)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

LET'S START with Barry White. Now there was a man that I loathed. At the height of his success, I used to watch his videos ...

Cabaret Voltaire: Rock With The Digital Cavemen

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

AS ONE Voltaire remarks, it's good weather for journalism: weary skies stuffed with rainclouds over Sheffield and its hills. After London the gentle pace of ...

Duran Duran: Arena (Parlophone)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

AND THE APHIDS CRIED/THROUGH THE DRIFTING HAZE/"NAFF LP, LADS!" ...

Eurythmics: 1984: For The Love of Big Brother (Virgin)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

WAR IS Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength and this soundtrack LP with the logo of Radford's 1984 on its cover is not the ...

Force MD's

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

It's hip-hop in the barber's shop, it's the FORCE MD's!! The scourge of other buskers on the Staten Island ferry jam down with SIMON WITTER. ...

ZZ Top: The Cats' Whiskers: Down Home with Z.Z. Top

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

HOUSTON, OCTOBER: THE MONSOON SEASON in this blandly corporate boomtown. I descend through hot storms over a chrome metropolis built on flat sand and oil ...

Madonna: Virgin On The Ridiculous: Madonna: Like A Virgin (Sire)

Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 17 November 1984

WATCHING A TALENT as genuine and grounded as that of Cyndi Lauper pull off those pop Partonisms necessitated by the nature of today's marketplace is ...

Boy George, Culture Club: Boy George and the War On Pop

Essay by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, December 1984

2003 note: I don’t know about this: "this" being the original 2,000 words I handed in at the very last minute to a poor, frazzled ...

Diamanda Galás: Diamanda Galás (Metalanguage)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

PEOPLE KEEP bursting in looking pained, which must have something to do with this record. Admittedly at a distance it could be mistaken for a ...

Everything But The Girl: Take The Melancholy Strain

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

PUT SIMPLY, I wanted more than just a musical chit chat. ...

Japan: Exorcising Ghosts (Virgin)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

THIS WAS, after all, one of the stranger groups of musicians who went the route of pop's long march. ...

Prince & The Revolution: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit

Live Review by Bill Holdship, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

IT TOOK The Star over 55 minutes to make his grand entrance following new paramour Sheila E's rhythmically exciting but lightweight opening set. The lights ...

Sylvester

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

NOT EVEN the New York cool that infests a group like The Force MD's can prevent the obvious excitement that sweeps through them as Sylvester ...

The Everly Brothers: Roger White: Walk Right Back – The Everly Brothers (Plexus Books)

Book Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 6 December 1984

THANKFULLY THIS is not as I had feared – yet another yawn-provoking paste-up job, fashioned merely to cash in on the Everlys’ recent reunion tour, ...

Talking Heads: Cents and Sensibility: Talking Heads

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 8 December 1984

You may find yourself...the leader of a rock band (of sorts)! ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Vile Evil From East Kilbride!

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 8 December 1984

NEIL TAYLOR suffers a collision with THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, a smash'n'grab gang from Scotland who're terrifying audiences and dopey record biz types everywhere. ...

Depeche Mode: Deconstruction Time Again

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 20 December 1984

You thought they were prissy pinkos. But no! They drink, talk to girls, wear leather mini-skirts! Don Watson walks tall with Depeche Mode, the new ...

Bruce Springsteen

Essay by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 December 1984

TO ANYONE who wasn't born in the USA, America is still defined by the clutter of images it sends us: television, cinema, music, cars, fast ...

Culture Club: NEC, Birmingham

Live Review by Ian Penman, New Musical Express, 22 December 1984

WHEN, EXACTLY, did this creature stop aspiring to be like Bo Diddley, and want to turn into Barbara Streisand? ...

John Martyn: Tha Man Who Put The Sap In Sapphire

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 22 December 1984

COSMIC JOHN MARTYN at the Dominion a fortnight ago was the first time I’d seen this beer-swilling beat hippie since I snuck in the back ...

The Smiths: Morrissey A Suitable Case For Treatment

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 22 December 1984

THE RECORDING of the new Smiths LP has been one of the season's better kept secrets. ...

Van Halen: Monsters of Rock, Castle Donington

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, Summer 1984

I'D BEST COME clean, 'fess up that the Edward Van Halen Four were the sole reason I schlepped up to this denim'n'leather version of Dante's ...

Bobby Womack: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1985

HE CAME to paaaarteee, and he came to prove it all night. ...

George Clinton: Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends (Capitol)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1985

IF THERE'S nothing more pathetic than an ageing crazy person, then why is George Clinton still able to make music as passionate, ...

John Fogerty: Centerfield (Warner Bros.)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1985

TIME STANDS still in Fogertyville. It’s ten years since the old Creedence leader made a record and nothing much has changed. There’s a few syndrums ...

Doug Sahm, The Sir Douglas Quintet: Sahm Enchanted Evening: Sir Douglas Quintet at London’s Mean Fiddler

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 1985

THE LONG Ryders, Lone Justice, Blasters and the rest? Forget ‘em! Sir Doug has returned to show these punks how good "rock and roll from ...

The Flamin' Groovies, The Ramones: The Flamin' Groovies/The Ramones: Live At The Roundhouse, London, Summer 1976

Retrospective by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1985

AS SPRING turned into the long, hot summer of '76, the '60s in the bloated shape of The Rolling Stones self-parodied itself up its own ...

Cameo: Tied Up In Notts

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1985

Cameo: Nottingham Rock City ...

Josey Wales: Josey "The Colonel" Wales: No Way No Better Than Yard (Greensleeves)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 5 January 1985

WHEN IT comes to yard style repartee — hard, fast and brutal lyrics bouncing off equally persuasive riddlms — Josey Wales has staked a place ...

Malcolm McLaren: Fans (Charisma)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 5 January 1985

THERE'S NO BIZET LIKE SHOW BIZET ...

The Triffids: Roses, Knives, Dead Bodies

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 January 1985

MAT SNOW hails the twisted poetry of THE TRIFFIDS while the rest of us wonder — do all the great new bands come from Australia, ...

Thomas Mapfumo: The Lion of Zimbabwe

Profile and Interview by Vivien Goldman, New Musical Express, 5 January 1985

Inspiration to freedom fighters and creator of the Zimbabwean sound, THOMAS MAPFUMO is ready to conquer the world. VIVIEN GOLDMAN talks to Africa's Bob Marley. ...

The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, J.D. Steele Singers: Various Artists: The Gospel at Colonus (Warner Brothers)

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 5 January 1985

OEDIPUS — SING TO YOUR MUM ...

Horace Andy, Bobby "Blue" Bland, James Brown, Burning Spear, Tyrone Davis, The Drifters, Al Green, Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, George Jones, Linda Jones, Janis Joplin, Joy Division, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Michael McDonald, Van Morrison, Aaron Neville, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Bettye Swann, Ted Taylor, O.V. Wright: The Voice Squad

Overview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 January 1985

From the raw to the pure, from the sublime to the meticulous — BARNEY HOSKYNS sings the praises of 24 of music's most glorious voices. ...

The Sid Presley Experience: Going Cold Turkey with the Sid Presley Experience

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 19 January 1985

Why reheat ‘Cold Turkey’? BARNEY HOSKYNS TALKS TO THE SID PRESLEY EXPERIENCE about their protest against council block smack. ...

Imagination: Lost in Muzak?

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 January 1985

Or, great headlines revisited. PAOLO HEWITT puts IMAGINATION in his typewriter and asks — are they on the way out? ...

Slim Gaillard: Voutie O Roonie O Scoodilaroosimoe

Interview by Paul Bradshaw, New Musical Express, 19 January 1985

THE HILARIOUS hallucinatory view of consumer America that sprang from the songs of dashing young 'fashion play' Slim Gaillard earned him national notoriety during the ...

Frank Chickens: Why did the chickens cross the globe

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 26 January 1985

To get to Milton Keynes! Cath Carroll finds out that fact is stranger than fiction and how canaries relate to chickens. ...

If It Don't Go, It Ain't Go-Go!

Report by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 2 February 1985

IT'S RARE FOR AN excellent musical style to remain unknown for long, yet Washington's Go-Go scene has done just that despite us running Richard Grabel's ...

Smiley Culture: 1st Offender

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 2 February 1985

NAME: Smiley Culture CHARGE: Dread Bodily Harm SENTENCE: A Spell in the Charts REPORT: Sean O'Hagan ...

The Neville Brothers: A Tiptoe Through The Tchipitoulas

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 2 February 1985

Fame has never courted the NEVILLE BROTHERS, but RICHARD GRABEL is pleased to report that the veteran culcha soulsters are at last getting their due. ...

Coil: Scatology (K422)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 9 February 1985

MINED LIKE A SEWER ...

Evan Parker: The Magnificent Evan

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 February 1985

The siren song of the saxophone — Evan Parker's been looking into this mystery for 20 years.  The master of free music talks to Richard ...

Leonard Cohen: Various Positions (CBS)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 February 1985

VATICAN 69 ...

The Replacements: Howling Trade Winds From Minneapolis

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 9 February 1985

The Replacements tell how the wonderful world of pop has saved them from gutters! crime! Sympathetic hearing, Richard Grabel. ...

Barrington Levy: The Mellow Canary

Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 16 February 1985

Here comes Barrington Levy... Penny Reel listens to the sense and sensibility, trials and tribulations of a man on the verge of international stardom. ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Jesus & Mary Chain: Chapter, Verse and Worse

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 16 February 1985

Nine months in the making, the far from immaculately conceived Jesus And Mary Chain, from Glasgow, have alternately been heralded as new messiahs or dismissed ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Jesus and Mary Chain: Chapter, Verse And Worse

Profile and Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 16 February 1985

I: BLAST! ...

The Ramones: Ain’t No Stoppin’ The Cretins From Boppin’!

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 16 February 1985

ONE! Joey...TWO! Dee Dee... FREE! Mat... FOUR! Barney... THE RAMONES revisited in a teenage tag-match ‘tween two of the scuzziest pairs of sneakers in the ...

Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground: VU

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 16 February 1985

"IF YOU PLAY the albums chronologically they cover the growth of us as people from her to there, and in there is a tale for ...

David Johansen: Sweet Revenge (10 Records)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

BUSTER POINDEXTER WHERE ARE YOU? ...

Don Henley

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

"No, I don't have any sensational stories to tell. And I don't have anything to say about drugs." ...

Jason & The Scorchers: Lost And Found (EMI America)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

We're sorry, but the headline has to be...PHEW! WHAT A SCORCHER! ...

Junior Giscombe: Junior Showtime

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

Now's the time lor Junior to put up or shut up. Having sold himself two years ago as the nice black kid from Streatham, he ...

Ludus: Linder: Bicepsuality

Report and Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

CATH CARROLL tweaks the growing muscles of Ludus' LINDER and learns about the joy of weight training for women. ...

Run-DMC, Whodini: Run-D.M.C.: King Of Rock (Profile/Island); Whodini: Escape (Jive)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

DMC: DMX + HM = OTT! ...

The Men They Couldn’t Hang: The Men They Couldn't Hang: Noose On The Loose

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 2 March 1985

A FEW YEARS BACK, if someone had told me that an English pop group would record Eric Bogie's 'The Green Fields Of France', that it ...

Gene Loves Jezebel, The Ramones: The Ramones/Gene Love Jezebel/Restless: Lyceum, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 2 March 1985

HALF OF WESTERN CIVILISATION is here tonight; there are men in the toilet talking about Black Sabbath, there are Gary Holton and Rat Scabies and ...

The Tremeloes: Brian Poole And The Tremeloes: Stoke Newington Town Hall, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 9 March 1985

DRESSED DASHINGLY in a detergent white jerkin, black shirt and slim black slacks, wearing a white knitted tie and white plimsolls, black belt and black ...

Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 9 March 1985

THESE ARE fast times that we live in, something that dawned upon Hüsker Dü long before New Day Rising glimpsed the light. ...

James, The Smiths: Meaty Marr-Might Sandwich: The Smiths/James: Brixton Ace, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 9 March 1985

JAMES ARE POISED on the cusp of something that might be new, that's certainly afloat with ideas. It was too short a set to say, ...

Run-DMC: Run DMC

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 9 March 1985

Run DMC are two New Yorkers who set their raps to a raw rock backdrop and talked their way up the charts. Paolo Hewitt meets the ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Jesus And Mary Chain! A Riot

Report by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 16 March 1985

Neil Taylor witnesses yet more violence at a Jesus And Mary Chain concert. ...

Bobby Day, Larry Williams, Little Richard: Little Richard/Larry Williams/Bobby Day albums

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 March 1985

Little Richard, Here’s Little Richard (Ace)Little Richard: Little Richard Volume 2 (Ace)Little Richard: The Fabulous Little Richard (Ace)Larry Williams: Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Ace)Bobby Day: The ...

Marilyn: Bridesmaid Revisited

Report and Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 16 March 1985

Has he let the bouquet slip through his fingers? Richard Cook sees Marilyn's stage debut turn into disaster in New York and talks to the ...

Fela Kuti: Army Arrangement (Celluloid)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 18 March 1985

WITH MORE more pep in his step, and Bill Laswell by his side, Fela is back, up for the downstroke. Yes, that's Fela Anikulapo Kuti, ...

Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 23 March 1985

YOU CATCH sight of him across the Hilton's gaudy foyer, an ordinary enough black man in track-suit top, tuxedo pants, and matted wet-look coiffure. ...

Robert "Bumps" Blackwell

Obituary by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 23 March 1985

ROCK LOST another legendary face-moulder on 9 March, when Robert "Bumps" Blackwell died at his home in Hacienda Heights, near LA. ...

Tina Turner: Tina Foiled! Tina Turner: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 March 1985

SOMEHOW, WHEN THAT first inevitable round of thunderous applause erupted and Tina Turner stood there, bathing in a lone spotlight, you couldn't help but feel ...

Luther Vandross: The Night I Fell In Love

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 30 March 1985

[2004 note: It makes me wince to look back and see my jejune critical self dismissing ‘The Other Side of the World’ as "tediously soupy". ...

Redds And The Boys: Groovin' To A Go Go

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 30 March 1985

CHUCK BERRY boogied on his finger, wiped it on the wall, and outraged America's upright citizens. ...

Boyd Rice, Frank Tovey, Sonic Youth: Sonic Youth/Frank Tovey & Boyd Rice

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, New Musical Express, 30 March 1985

AAAAH! CATHARSIS time again! ...

Elvis Costello, Lash Lariat & the Long Riders, The Pogues: The Pogues, Elvis Costello, The Swamps, Lash Lariat & the Long Riders : Clarendon Hotel, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 30 March 1985

SAINT PATRICK'S NIGHT the occasion and The Pogues the attraction; in a very large room, the world congregates. Crowds a mile wide inside the lavatories ...

Luther Vandross: Labours Of Love Made Easy

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 April 1985

LUTHER VANDROSS used to sing jingles for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now he licks his voice round painful love lyrics. PAOLO HEWITT hears his confessions about ...

Philip Bailey, Phil Collins, Earth, Wind & Fire: Philip Bailey: Labours of Love Made Easy

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 April 1985

PHILIP BAILEY used to sing with Earth Wind And Fire. Now he's teamed up alongside Phil Collins to reach Number One with 'Easy Lover'. SIMON ...

Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 13 April 1985

"HALLO HAHMMERSMITH...we are U2!" Holly say. Some say, ha ha, very funny; I say, many a true word spoken in jest. ...

The Last Poets: Bardcore!

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 13 April 1985

THE LAST POETS were the first rappers — the voice of ghetto anger and fiery jazzoetry. Their "exile" over, they're back with a new LP ...

Coil: The Soil And Spoil Tactics Of Coil

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 20 April 1985

WHEN YOU'RE up to your nose in shit, goes the Spaghetti wisdom, keep your mouth shut. ...

Eddie Cochran: The 25th Anniversary Album

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 20 April 1985

He was a tough-looking man, hefty square shoulders above turned-up sleeves and keg fists; the voice was an Oklahoman baritone that could hiccough with determination ...

The Judds: Of Mums & Grammys: The Judds

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 20 April 1985

Part deep country and part cosmopolitan, this mom and daughter team have lived a Cinderella story which stood even Nashville on its ear. Now, No ...

Gram Parsons: We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning

Retrospective by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 21 April 1985

"Death is a warm cloak. An old friend. I regard death as something that comes up on a roulette wheel every once in a while."Gram ...

Alton Ellis: Skabeana in Soho: Alton Ellis at Gossips, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 27 April 1985

ROCKING STEADILY to the dogged rhythms of Studio One spiced with ska, the crowd tonight are in appreciative mood to welcome Alton Ellis onstage, where ...

Augustus Pablo: The Kitchen, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

PIPING HOT! ...

Bryan Adams: Canada Bry On The Rocks!: Bryan Adams: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

IT IS WITH some horror that one realises that Bryan Adams had chosen to call his current LP Reckless. Implied tributes to Go-Discs' second most ...

Helen & the Horns: Helen & the Horns (Rockin' Ray)

Review by Leyla Sanai, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

THE DISC THAT MADE 1,000 YAWNS ...

Modern Romance: Burn it! (RCA)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

WASN'T THERE once some bloke in Modern Romance who said "I'm mean/I'm clean/I'm Geoffrey Deane"? Absolutely great stuff, and so it's with great regret that ...

New Model Army: Marquee, London

Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

FROM THE AUDIENCE (predominantly young, male, long-haired and rather ugly) to the band (older, male, longhaired and rather ugly) there is the kind of mutual ...

Prince: Around the World in a Day

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

The Return Of The Acid Reign ...

Richard Thompson: Across A Crowded Room (Polydor)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

DICK GETS DULL ...

The Fat Boys: Wag Club, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 4 May 1985

PLUMP IT UP! ...

Paul Hardcastle: Leytonstone Now!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 11 May 1985

Paul Hardcastle was watching a TV show on Vietnam when he learned that the average age of American soldiers who fought there was just 19. Now ...

Fabulous Thunderbirds: The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 11 May 1985

I SUPPOSE it’s a good time for these sons of America to renew their acquaintance with these shores ("Hi, shores!"), since every other denizen of ...

Elvis Costello: A Man Called Uncle: Elvis Costello

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 18 May 1985

What is the Elvis Seal Of Approval worth? Mat Snow asks for a few words of wisdom from pop’s Uncle Brian. ...

Lone Justice: A Tale Of The New West

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 18 May 1985

EIGHT YEARS on and it's official — we are no longer bored with the USA. ...

Divine Retribution

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

Just when you thought it was safe to watch Top Of The Pops again... along comes the monumental DIVINE, determined to get his own back ...

Husker Dü: Camden Palace, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

If they played like they looked, Husker Du’s music would be a slobbering mastodon rock without grace or curves or beauty. But from these angry ...

Jason & The Scorchers: Jason And The Scorchers: Blazing Saddles

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

"SEE, UP to this point – this record, this tour – I fought with the fact that I was 'a rock and roll singer'. ...

Bronski Beat, The Communards: Jimmy Somerville: The Age of Dissent

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

In his first major interview since quitting pop stardom with Bronski Beat, Jimmy Somerville talks candidly to Paolo Hewitt about the political dilemmas success brings, ...

Tom Waits: Marlowe Of The Ivories

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

DID HIS wife die in the fire? ...

Madonna: Virgin Pruned!: Madonna: Convention Center, Dallas

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

MULTI-MEDIA SUCCESS has made Madonna America's first generic pop star — and her first foray into live performance brought forth a capacity house of young ...

Scritti Politti: Psyched Out

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, June 1985

THE TWO singers, a tall fresh-faced Welshman and a soft spoken bleary-eyed Mancunian, felt trapped. ...

Barrington Levy: Top Rank, Brighton

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 1 June 1985

INSIDE THE Barrington Levy coach to Brighton everything is bubbling. Bubbler plays dominoes with Bassie and Bertie. Benson makes short work of a box of ...

Eek-A-Mouse: Eek A Mouse: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 1 June 1985

EVERYTHING ABOUT The Eek is a little weird: his name, his height (6' 6"), his dress sense and, of course, his unique vocal style. One ...

Rick James: Glow (Motown)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1 June 1985

POOR RICK has never been taken very seriously - a self-obsessed prima-donna of sophistifunk, as lascivious as Richard Pryor’s ear-screwing monkey. But the slick Dick ...

That Petrol Emotion: Thames Polytechnic, Woolwich

Live Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 1 June 1985

PUMP IT UP! ...

Robyn Hitchcock, Rain Parade: The Rain Parade, Robyn Hitchcock And The Egyptians: Clarendon, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 June 1985

SOAK IT UP! ...

Double Dee & Steinski: Masters Of Mixed Fortunes

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 8 June 1985

2009 NOTE: hip hop, humour and catholic taste collided in a cloud of mad skills on Double Dee & Steinski's mastermixes. ...

Husker Dü: The Thrash Aesthetic

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 8 June 1985

IN ONE OF HER more perceptive Time Out columns recently La Burchill took a hefty sideswipe at the video popsters' incessant flirtation with outsiderdom – ...

Robert Plant: Percy Pulls It Off !

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 June 1985

Yes, the one-time wild man of rock Robert ‘Percy’ Plant in "interesting solo album" shock! And now he tells it like it is, jumps to ...

The Beach Boys: The Beach Boys (Caribou)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 12 June 1985

ON THE back cover Brian Wilson looks genuinely happy, his eyes are clear, his smile is contented one. To some degree the music echoes this ...

John Coltrane, Miles Davis: Miles Davis: You’re Under Arrest (CBS)

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 June 1985

THIS YEAR, Miles Davis is 59 years old. However, if it’s round numbers that appeal to you, it’s worth mentioning that 1985 marks the 40th ...

R.E.M.: Fables Of The Reconstruction/Reconstruction Of The Fables (MCA)

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 June 1985

SOPPY FABLES ...

Scritti Politti: Cupid & Psyche 85 (Virgin)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 15 June 1985

A BUNCH of words such as can be found on the new Scritti Politti album: heart, her, girl, baby, word, reason, love, boy, hurt, sugar, ...

Sonny Rollins: Sonny Side Up

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 15 June 1985

Sonny Rollins: Dominion Theatre, London ...

Womack and Womack: Womack & Womack: Radio M.U.S.C. Man (Elektra)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 15 June 1985

YOU'LL BE hearing a lot of this on the wireless in the coming weeks if the Womack scam pays off. Radio M.U.S.C. Man "salutes all ...

Maxi Priest: The Mini Rise Of Maxi Priest

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 20 June 1985

Hot shot of Lovers Rock and inventor of "new vogue reggae", MAXI PRIEST is poised to breakthrough to pop success. SEAN O'HAGAN joins the priesthood. ...

Ashford & Simpson: Ashford and Simpson: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

THE WORD 'classy' perfectly sums up this show. As in superior, stylish, staid and conservative. The A&S seal of musical quality guaranteed a packed Odeon, ...

Grace Jones: Bond Age Woman: Grace Jones

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

First only a face, then an image, a singer and now a film actress, GRACE JONES has always been A Star. RICHARD COOK interviews her ...

U2: Flags And Penance: U2'S American Dream

Report and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

IT IS SOME WAY into a U2 set at the vast Veterans' Coliseum in Hartford, Connecticut, and the place is strewn and bedecked with the ...

John Cooper Clarke, Gil Scott-Heron: Gil Scott-Heron, John Cooper Clarke: Greenwich Festival, Borough Hall, Greenwich, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

WORLDLY RAPPING HOODS ...

Lone Justice, Marquee, London

Live Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

TWICE I see this group in a couple of weeks and both times I wind up more exhausted than exhilarated. Lone Justice are trying so ...

Marc Almond: Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

BREL OF ST. MARC! ...

Slim Smith: Memorial

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 29 June 1985

"Slim was a builder, soul singer, and a very good entertainer, and I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, Slim had to leave us, leave us ...

Crime & The City Solution: Crime Wave: Crime And The City Solution

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 6 July 1985

From the fragments of The Birthday Party comes a new resurrection called CRIME AND THE CITY SOLUTION. BIBA KOPF finds them in sore need of ...

Jack Kerouac: Hit The Road, Jack: A Man Called Kerouac

Retrospective by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 6 July 1985

AMERICAN RHAPSODISTS come thick and fast, frenziedly spurtspraying words across the broad continental canvas by way of leaving traces, eager to fill in every dingly ...

Kraftwerk: Autobahn

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 July 1985

THOUGH NOT a patch on their four subsequent albums, Autobahn has enormous historical significance as the album that introduced the world to Kraftwerk, one of ...

Adam & The Ants: Adam Ant: Metamorphosis of a Narc

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 13 July 1985

"I DON'T THINK I'm an intelligent person. But I think I have a common sense that allows me to have an instinct about what people ...

Bruce Springsteen: At Wembley Stadium

Live Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 13 July 1985

I HAVE seen the future cast as a rock'n'roll song. I do not much like what I see: Bruce Springsteen everywhere confirmed as the way ...

Miles Davis: Miles Runs The Voodoo Down

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 13 July 1985

The man with the horn, MILES DAVIS, whose silvery trumpet lines have embellished jazz for 40 years, is back in action with a new band ...

Duke Ellington: Duke 56/62 Volume One ; Duke 56/62 Volume Two ; Featuring Paul Gonsalves and more

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 July 1985

...

Miles Davis: Still Miles, Time After Time

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 17 July 1985

Richard Cook takes two Davis records, a quarter-century apart, into custody. ...

Bob Geldof: Life After Live Aid? Keeping Pop's Conscience In Focus

Comment by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 20 July 1985

Can Live Aid really be more than a cosmetic exercise, a massive sop to the conscience of the West, or at best a temporary solution ...

Bob Geldof: Live Aid: Transmission Of Mercy

Comment by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 20 July 1985

JUST ABOUT the time that the 70,000 in the centre of the mediarena were filing, as instructed, towards the exits, I was emerging from the ...

Black Flag: 9.30 Club, Washington DC

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 27 July 1985

THE INTENSE energy with which they maliciously rioted across the grooves of Damaged inevitably doomed them to an early burn out, and tonight's show was ...

Mathilde Santing: Singing Against The Current

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 27 July 1985

Dutch vocalist MATHILDE SANTING's new LP Water Under The Bridge could bring her career into full flood but she's in no hurry as BIBA KOPF ...

Manu Dibango: Montreux Jazz Festival, Casino de Montreux

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

IN MUCH the same way that reggae ultimately required the charismatic presence of Bob Marley to give it international focus, the Modern Music of Africa ...

Miles Davis: Montreux Jazz Festival, Casino de Montreux

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

DADDY COOL! ...

Nico: "Watch Out, The World's Behind You"

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

From the mists of time steps a pale, haggard figure with a handful of memories and a single like a photo of the '50s. NICO, ...

Rubén Blades: Casino de Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

FLASHING BLADES! ...

Johnny Copeland, Stevie Ray Vaughan: Stevie Ray Vaughan: Montreux Jazz Festival, Casino de Montreux

Live Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

AS WITH limpid Blue Eyes there's always a ready-made market for or'nery-looking electric guitar slingers. The sight of devotees in the audience holding aloft large ...

The Associates, Mathilde Santing: St. James' Church, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

ALTAR EGOS ...

Bodines,The, Primal Scream: The Bodines/Primal Scream: Young, Loud & Snotty

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

Times up! NEIL TAYLOR puts his typewriter where his gripes are and pleads on behalf of new, young punk-rock style groups (like PRIMAL SCREAM and ...

The Nightingales, The Riotous Hues: System, Liverpool

Live Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

GALE WARNING ...

James, Wire: Wire, James: Bloomsbury Theatre, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 3 August 1985

SPARKLY JAMES HARVEST ...

Madness: A Serious Case Of Madness

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 10 August 1985

No longer just Nutty Boys, MADNESS have grown into troubled and doubting pop commentators on the English way of life. DON WATSON traces the Four ...

Cameo: Debunking the Funk

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 10 August 1985

CAMEO? Not funk? ("When you think of funk you think of guys who don't take baths...") SIMON WITTER learns the art of staying a cult ...

Shriekback: Pearls Before Spine: Shriekback: Embassy, London

Live Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 10 August 1985

WHENEVER I used to hear the name Shriekback, my imagination would immediately thrust out a picture of Kalahari bushmen bedecked in Walkmans. ...

Al Green: The Pre-Godlike Genius Of Green

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 10 August 1985

Let's Stay Together (Hi)I'm Still In Love With You (Hi)Call Me (Hi)Precious Lord (Hi) ...

Amanda Lear: Queen Lear

Review and Interview by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 24 August 1985

Amanda Lear, ex-model, disco star and androgynous friend of the famous, has revealed all about her 15-year dalliance with Surrealist painter, Salvador Dali. Jane Solanas ...

Dexys Midnight Runners: Dexy's Midnight Runners: Don't Stand Me Down (Mercury)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

YOU'D THINK three years silence might have dimmed the man's burning rage, but no, Kevin Rowland is back with a resharpened axe to grind. Chapter ...

Doug Sahm: It's The Sahm Old Song

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

DOUG SAHM, Tex Mex rocker from San Antonio to Stockholm, is still fighting fit at 40. GAVIN MARTIN hears the secrets of his rock'n'roll survival. ...

The Hoodoo Gurus: Hoodoo Gurus: Coogee Bay Hotel, Sydney

Live Review by Lynden Barber, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

GURUS MISSILES ...

Alton Ellis, Prince Lincoln Thompson & the Royal Rasses: Notting Hill Carnival: Calypso Factor

Report by Nick Coleman, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

Hustling herbman NICK COLEMAN ventured into the red-striped fog and filed this emotional report on the frenzied Notting Hill Carnival. ...

Primal Scream, The Tractors: Mardis Gras, Liverpool

Live Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

THE TRACTORS apologise. Too much to drink. Something about an unprofessional performance. No need! Ooop in St Helens, agricultural machinery is apparently fuelled by lager. ...

The June Brides: Bridal Suite

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 7 September 1985

Always the bridesmaid, blushing MAT SNOW skips down the aisle to the positive noise of THE JUNE BRIDES. Will this bunch of boy scouts save ...

Einstürzende Neubauten: Heaven, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 September 1985

COLLAPSING NEW Virus Spreaders, Volcanoes Still Active, Last Few Day's Sounds capers — Einstürzende Neubaten: more than all this. Whispering in Heaven brings you closer ...

Hüsker Dü: Marquee, London

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 14 September 1985

I WAS going to sign this piece off, "Once more Hüsker Dü prove themselves to be the most primally exciting group on the surface of ...

Jerry Lee Lewis: No Sinner Like An Old 'Un

Interview by Jim Sullivan, New Musical Express, 14 September 1985

Not for JERRY LEE LEWIS the cosy trail from rocker to rocking chair. Last year a rollercoaster life and career hit a new low when ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Jesus And Mary Chain: Unchained Melody

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 14 September 1985

Fourth single and an LP coming up? Surely THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN aren't becoming veterans? DON WATSON chronicles the rise of the best bit ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Uncle Sam's Revenge: Red Hot Chili Peppers at London’s Dingwalls

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 14 September 1985

FROM THAT catastrophe-fraught fusion chamber where funk meets guitar noise comes the world’s most crazily perfect punk-funk band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tonight Husker ...

Bobby Womack: Live at the Dallas Arcadia

Live Review by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

"BLACK MUSIC is being broken down. It's no longer black music. This is not a discussion or argument...what I'm saying is that it's a reaffirmation ...

Diana Ross: Diana

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

Diana by J. Randy Taraborrelli TALKING TO Gerri Hirshey a couple of years back, Diana Ross explained (in language not gleaned from Motown's etiquette ...

Kate Bush: Hounds Of Love (EMI)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

KRUFTS ORIGINAL! ...

Marc Almond: Mother Hen In Love

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

MARC ALMOND drops an egg or two on fame, success, romance, and the little "chicks" who dog his sequinned tootsie-steps. CATH CARROLL adds them up. ...

Steve Wright: Radio Ga-Gagging

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

Mister Angry from Bradford, STEVEN WELLS, paints a colourful portrait of hip, sensitive Radio One DJ STEVE WRIGHT. ...

The June Brides: There Are Eight Million Stories... (Pink)

Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

JUNES BUSTING OUT ALL OVER ...

The Waterboys: This Is The Sea (Ensign)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 21 September 1985

GOING DOWN FOR THE THIRD TIME ...

Bobby Womack: The Great Provider

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 September 1985

"They call me a living legend/But I'm just a soldier who's been left behind/And now my heart can't take it/My feet won't make it/I'm the ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Red, White & Blue: The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 28 September 1985

2004 note: In August 1985 I got a phone call from George Clinton, saying that the P-Funk All-Stars show at Hammersmith Odeon that weekend had ...

The Neats, The Replacements: The Replacements, the Neats: Irving Plaza, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 28 September 1985

YUM YUM! ...

Colonel Abrams: A Taste of 'Trapped'

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 5 October 1985

COLONEL ABRAMS wishes to make it clear that he's not affiliated to any fast-chicken enterprises. SIMON WITTER's verdict: ear-lickin' good! ...

Suzanne Vega: Vaguely Seeking Suzanne

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 October 1985

I'D NEVER BEEN to a coffee-shop in New York's Greenwich Village before, but the Paradise was just as I'd imagined such a place to be ...

The Waterboys: Big Sound Authority

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 October 1985

Mike Scott is definitely Trying To Tell Us Something, and he doesn't believe in whispering. With THE WATERBOYS' third album out, DAVID QUANTICK tries to ...

Felt: Primed Canons

Interview by Bill Prince, New Musical Express, 12 October 1985

"I just love beautiful things..." BILL PRINCE interrogates Lawrence on the immortal carvings and primitive future of FELT. ...

Millie Jackson: Caught Up /Still Caught Up

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 12 October 1985

MILLIE JACKSON is an astonishingly powerful and resourceful singer. It is easy to overlook her immense vocal skills particularly in the light of her current ...

Tom Waits: Rain Dogs (Island)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 12 October 1985

NICE PEOPLE wear their hearts on their sleeves. The soiled souls peopling Tom Waits' songs have theirs tattooed on their arms. His cast of characters ...

Tom Waits: Hard Rain

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 19 October 1985

"I told you I was sick" ...

Alex Chilton: London, Mean Fiddler

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

ALEX CHILTON – one-time Box Top, Big Star, Cramps producer, etc. – is possibly rock’s greatest cult hero. Like many, I’ve been aware of this ...

Art Blakey, Horace Silver: Blue Note Records: The Rolls Royce of Jazz

Retrospective by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

For 30 years the Blue Note label was the premier outlet for jazz. Now its catalogue is being made available again. ROY CARR breathes a ...

Hüsker Dü: Flip Your Wig

Review by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

I'VE GIVEN THIS some thought. Let's suppose – and it's not a weak notion – that four groups bond together the one significant play in ...

J.G. Ballard: Closely Observed Trains

Profile and Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

He never listens to music but he inspired the writing of 'Warm Leatherette' and Magazine's 'Motorcade', his trilogy of Crash, High Rise and Concrete Island ...

Tom Waits: Reigning Hats And Dogs: Tom Waits at the Dominion, London

Live Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

COME INSIDE, the finger beckons and the man with the stubble breaks out a grin and leans in your direction... ...

Stevo: The Man Whose Head Exploded

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

If you can't please yourself, you can't please your soul cries STEVO, head of happy family Some Bizzare. MAT SNOW, our man in black with ...

Butthole Surfers: The Butthole Surfers: Beach Bums

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 October 1985

Taller than Jesus, ferociously noisy, militantly gay and quite probably off their trolleys, THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS are coming to get ya, ready or not. Blubbering ...

Brilliant: The Day The World Turned Day-Glo

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 2 November 1985

Former fuzzy funk mess BRILLIANT have slimmed down to rake in the acclaim. MAT SNOW dips his ears in their direction and finds himself occasionally ...

Grace Jones: Slave To The Rhythm (ZTT)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 2 November 1985

THE SCENE: An unwashed and impolitely dazed Paul Morley stumbles into the ZTT offices one day. "But Trevor, the people are hungry for imagination, stimulation, ...

Trouble Funk: Professors Of Funk

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 2 November 1985

IN WASHINGTON DC, a city that has its fair share of fast-buck entrepreneurs and exploitable kids, Trouble Funk's understanding of the music machine marks them ...

New Order: Out Of Order

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 16 November 1985

NEW ORDER'S ethereal movement away from Division and denial, through temptation and confusion, has finally arrived at the classical creations of Low-Life and the emotional ...

Richard Lloyd, Television: Richard Lloyd: The Well-Tempered Guitarist

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 16 November 1985

When RICHARD LLOYD turned off the Television, he switched to drug and alcohol abuse. A nervous breakdown followed... RICHARD GRABEL hears how the new Field ...

Stanley Jordan: Have Fingers, Will Fly!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 16 November 1985

When STANLEY JORDAN straps on his guitar, he can play rhythm, lead and the other fiddley bits all at once! PAOLO HEWITT, disbelief in his ...

Street Sounds: E-Khan-Omics

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 16 November 1985

MORGAN KHAN is the financial wizard behind the phenomenally successful Street Sounds label, whose panache at marketing soul has helped to transform the Top 50. ...

Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew: Show Stoppers

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 30 November 1985

A show? Well, DOUG E. FRESH and The Get Fresh Crew ain't got the energy to do much more than nod off in the company ...

Pere Ubu: Terminal Tower: An Archival Collection (Rough Trade)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 30 November 1985

BY 1975, THINGS had begun to look a little pale around the Rock'n'Roll gills (no relation); had begun to fade away, in fact. ...

Robert Wyatt: Old Rottenhat (Rough Trade)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 30 November 1985

CAN POLITICS and music mix? Are songs about matters commonly deemed to belong in the political sphere not really songs at all, but rather singing ...

Big Joe Turner: Exit Big Joe

Obituary by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 7 December 1985

LAST WEEK we lost Big Joe Turner: he died in California at the age of 74 after decades of contributions to the popular music of ...

Carmel: Air Of Defiance

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 14 December 1985

CARMEL are back in business and strangely grown-up, claims CATH CARROLL. ...

Half Man Half Biscuit: Tough Cookies

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 14 December 1985

"Next week will solve all your problems/But now, fish fingers all in a line/The Milk bottles stand empty/Stay glued to your TV Set." (‘Ex-Lion ...

Alan Hull: Hull's Teeth: An Interview with Alan Hull

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 14 December 1985

HARD TIMES on Tyneside. So what's new, pussycats? There's snow storms, there's no jobs (30% unemployment), and worst of all, the by-election bigwigs – Brittan, ...

Fine Young Cannibals: Wedged Down The Throat: Fine Young Cannibals

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 December 1985

ONE OF THE truly Great Bores Of Today is the "politicised" pop star who remarks that what was really bad about the riots (or whatever) ...

Stevie Wonder: Ever Decreasing Circles

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 21 December 1985

Is STEVIE WONDER's giant talent exhausted or just sleeping? GAVIN MARTIN seeks the truth, but finds the man cocooned from the nitty gritty by an ...

Falco: Brahms, Lizst and… Falco?

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1986

"Sophisticated" schmuck FALCO keeps the bottle from his lips just long enough to entertain Simon Witter, who (heh, heh) understands these Austrian insults.... ...

ZZ Top: David Sinclair: Tres Hombres - The Story Of ZZ Top

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1986

YOUR HUMBLE reviewer is quoted in Tres Hombres as stating that ZZ Top are "the only hip boogie band in the entire universe", and it's ...

Dusty Springfield: Dusty In Memphis

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1986

ONE OF THE pleasures of the recent rerun series of Ready Steady Go Starring The Dave Clark Five was the opportunity to be reminded that ...

Mantronix: Heaven, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1986

WE WENT to Heaven, and it looked like the Bronx. Wall-to-wall black B-boys, hoods, whistles, and two unprettified lads doing their thing against a tinsel-rain ...

The Soul Stirrers: Various Artists: Father And Sons (Spirit Feel)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1986

IF YOU'VE any interest in gospel music at all, this should be an essential purchase. Compiled by Anthony Heilbut, author of seminal tome The ...

Colonel Abrams: Finger Lickin' God

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 January 1986

Is Colonel Abrams trapped in the black ghetto of religion and air conditioned fame or is he a genuine soul crusader? Paolo Hewitt meets the man ...

Hurrah!: Boxed (Kitchenware)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 4 January 1986

BOXING CLEVER ...

The Cramps: Pet Cemetery

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 4 January 1986

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, Los Angeles, may well be the freakiest street in the Western World. ...

Twisted Sister: Come Out And Play (Atlantic)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 4 January 1986

THE FILM Spinal Tap so brilliantly nailed the HM ritual (as if it wasn't funny enough anyway) that it has been impossible to view purveyors ...

Debbie Harry and Andy Warhol: Parallel Lives

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 11 January 1986

FRANK TALK WITH DEBBIE ...

The Beastie Boys, Slayer: Def Jam Records: Men Or Beasties?

Report and Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 11 January 1986

IN CRUMPLED, jeans, trainers and an AC/DC T-shirt Rick Rubin represents the current hippest record company in New York, Def Jam Records. ...

Frankie Paul: Ripe Mango (Blacker Dread)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 11 January 1986

OF THE GLUT of fine new singers to have emerged from the Jamaican dancehall sound during the past few years, Frankie Paul is probably the ...

The Replacements: Hits From The Sticks

Profile and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 11 January 1986

"THEY TRY to teach you everything they think you should know and none of the things you want to know. There wasn't a class on ...

Tommy Tate: Singing For The Soul Of It

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 11 January 1986

BARNEY HOSKYNS meets Mississippi soulman TOMMY TATE, whose 'What gives You The Right' is one of the "Sweetest, saddest black pop records of all time". ...

Billy Bragg: Bill of Rights

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

Can RED WEDGE kick new life into old Labour? Will our lovable lefty pop heroes transform Kinnock's party into a stylish outfit prepared for government? ...

Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew, LL Cool J: LL Cool J, Doug E. Fresh, Kurtis Blow: Krush Groove Party, Madison Square Garden, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

RUSH PRODUCTIONS, an organization with the best intentions, conceived this event to be a celebration of the success of the film Krush Groove and of the consolidation ...

Mayo Thompson: Corky's Debt To His Father (Glass)

Review by Richard North, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

APPARENTLY THIS "legendary" and rare LP was first released in Texas in 1972 with only 500 pressed. Hats off to Glass for resurrecting it. One ...

The Bloodfire Posse: Are You Ready? (Synergy)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

POSSE POSES ...

The Winans: The Divine Music Of Protest…

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

SIMON WITTER has a new calling – to spread the word about THE WINANS, a hot Gospel sound that just won't let go. ...

Zapp: The New Zapp IV U (Warner Brothers)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

SAPS ...

Barry Manilow: Conan The Pipe Cleaner: Barry Manilow with Anthea From Cheshire: NEC, Birmingham

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 25 January 1986

A STRANGE BLEND of a thousand perfumes wafts its way across the aisles, but further back by the souvenir stalls there is a much stronger ...

The Pastels: Suck On The Pastels

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 25 January 1986

Five singles old and The Pastels aren't as funny as Lloyd Cole. Nonplussed NEIL TAYLOR wonders why. ...

Punk: I Fought The Biz And The Biz Won (How We Got Here From There)

Overview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 1 February 1986

PUNK: IT MADE OUR DAY...It's been ten bleak winters since...well, we look back in hunger at the years youth reclaimed rock and for a while ...

Simply Red

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1 February 1986

SCENES OF decay and destruction: cracked streets, derelict warehouses, disused railways, a forsaken synagogue and – cloaked by walls of racist graffiti – the burnt-out ...

John Lydon, Public Image Ltd: John Lydon: This Is What You Get

Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 February 1986

THIS IS the beginning of an interview with the John Lydon who has drunk seven cans of Red Stripe lager, after breakfasting on oysters. ...

Public Image Ltd: PiL: Album

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 8 February 1986

THE WEST Coast News Dateline 2030 AD: ...

Punk and Reggae: Rip Bam Bam Bye Yeah

Retrospective by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 8 February 1986

"Black and white, unite and fight" was the call; The Clash sang of 'Police And Thieves', Johnny Rotten found he was 'Born For A Purpose'. ...

Ruby Turner: Jewel In The Crown

Profile and Interview by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 8 February 1986

IT MIGHT be late to break nationally but in this man's town at least Ruby Turner's beefy update of 'If You're Ready (Come Go With ...

Wet Wet Wet, live

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 February 1986

TONIGHT WILL be one of Wet Wet Wet's last gigs before they step from cultdom's pastel spotlight into the full glare of major-league pop-stardom. Only ...

Charlie Sexton: C S Gas

Interview by Bill Prince, New Musical Express, 15 February 1986

THE EARLIEST known sighting of Charlie Sexton in the British music press occurred almost exactly two years ago when a frothing live review from Dallas-based ...

Simply Red: Punk in Manchester: Oh, How We Laughed

Essay by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 15 February 1986

BE OFF with you! Little Red, it is said, is not happy at the hollow allegations that suggest he has 'sold out' by leaping from ...

Patti Smith, Television: Punk in New York: Blitzkreig Bop

Retrospective and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 15 February 1986

"And one fine morning she turns on a New York-station / And doesn't believe what she hears at all / She started dancing to that ...

B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf: Various Artists Sun Records: The Blues Years 1950 — 1956

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 15 February 1986

"The blues is a chair, not a design for a chair, or a better chair… it is the first chair. It is a chair for ...

Annette Peacock: Colour Tails: Annette Peacock: I Have No Feelings (Ironic)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 20 February 1986

NOTHING YOU CAN pin down here. Nothing you safely stick a label on and file for easy access. ...

Charlie Sexton: Pictures For Pleasure

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 February 1986

WHAT THE world needs now, as I'm sure you'll all agree, is a whippy 17-year-old Texan rock'n'roller with leather-sheathed buttocks waggling provocatively like two pigeon ...

Elvis Costello: King Of America

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 22 February 1986

IN BROCADE and jewelled crown, Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus stares out from the sleeve of King Of America, his beard and spectacles framing an unsmiling ...

Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: Keith Richards: An English Werewolf in London

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 February 1986

WHAT BECOMES a legend most? So exactly how I'd imagined it was the scene that I wouldn't have dared make it up. Before we enter, ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie and the Banshees: The Howling

Retrospective by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 22 February 1986

SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES: "a great whirlpool of noise, pulling the future down." Many moons later DON WATSON recalls the dawn of the great Sioux ...

The Cramps: A Date With Elvis

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 22 February 1986

THE CRAMPS' rampant gurning and soft-focus sleaze has been shaped into an institution of sorts. Transcending and fusing tribal instincts – goth's dumb brooding and ...

Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum: Irving Plaza, New York

Live Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 1 March 1986

SOUL ASYLUM are lean, scrappy, hungry. they play with a determination to make their mark quickly. They play to win. ...

Cheap Trick, Mötley Crüe: Mötley Crüe, Cheap Trick: Odeon, Birmingham

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 1 March 1986

CHILLY WILLIES AND THE RED HOT PECKERS ...

We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It: Big Fuzz From The Jungle

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 1 March 1986

We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're
 Gonna Use It. What more can you
 say? Neil Taylor gets a word or two 
in edgeways. ...

John Martyn: Piece By Piece

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 8 March 1986

ONLY A HEARTLESS bastard would knock old John. I mean. 20 years of love-drugged poetry, dedicated to ideal earth mothers, cossetted in an Arcadian atmosphere ...

Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Starry-Eyed & Laughing

Report and Interview by Paul Morley, New Musical Express, 8 March 1986

YOU FIND yourself reading about them...It's been a long day, and it isn't over yet. The two juiciest members of Sigue Sigue Sputnik – pronounced ...

Swans: Dead Heat

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 8 March 1986

"The ultimate manifestation of power and authority is torture and rape" – the SWANS take it from there, to the ear of BIBA KOPF ...

The Bangles: Manic Impressives

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 8 March 1986

"VICKI ALWAYS tells me that I always used to sit in, the back of the car, a big Buick station wagon, when I was three ...

Ewan MacColl, Paul Weller, Tom Robinson Band: A Concert For Heroes: Paul Weller, Tom Robinson, Ewan McColl at the Royal Albert Hall

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 15 March 1986

A WORKING-CLASS hero is something to be; it gets more difficult by the day. Under a Government that puts Profit and Progress before People (don't ...

James: Four Imaginary Boys

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 15 March 1986

"I'D LIKE TO put a disclaimer in at this point: Mat Snow is using very long word and drawing us into an academic discussion of ...

Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Reading

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 15 March 1986

AHA! IT's the most reviled band in the world!Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Reading were not a marriage made in Heaven. When one is the subject ...

Audrey Hall: Dance Hall Revolution

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 22 March 1986

"WE'VE HEARD what the men can do, it's time to hear the women. You can't keep us in the background for ever. There are loads ...

Garry Bushell Ate My Hamster

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 March 1986

Soaraway Sun scribe GARRY BUSHELL finds himself on the other side of the fantastic fact-finding fence. STEVEN 'Scoop' WELLS digs a grave. ...

Prince: Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 22 March 1986

GET A load of this guy. Five-foot-two in high heels, his tight black toreador pants stretch up to a fraction above his crack, hence a ...

The Pogues: The Sweet Smell Of Success

Report by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 28 March 1986

TODAY THE WORLD, TOMORROW THE WORLD ...

Half Man Half Biscuit: System Club, Liverpool

Live Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

WARNING: PACEMAKERS TO BE SHOWN ...

Psychic TV: National Club, Kilburn, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

THIS IS THE STORY OF GENESIS P, HE'S THE BLOKE IN PSYHIC TV. ...

Swans: Greed

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

WHAT IS the sound of a Swan in love? ...

The Pogues: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

NO SLEEP AT HAMMERSMITH! ...

The Rolling Stones: Dirty Work

Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

IN THE 1970s, The Rolling Stones were a distinctly unlovely proposition: fronted by a jet-setter and a junkie and churning out a series of tedious ...

Violent Femmes: Dangerous Visions

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 29 March 1986

The VIOLENT FEMMES are, in deed, weird fish. Bagpipers, Bolan and Wild Billy Burroughs all seem to stagger blindly into their orbit. ANDY GILL herein ...

Culture Club: From Luxury to Heartache

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 April 1986

TODAY'S SHY, retiring George is to be found downgraded to the top-left quarter of a scrupulously democratic sleeve photograph. Nobody smiles. We are no longer ...

The Nightingales: Nightingales: We Spit In Your Gravy

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 5 April 1986

So say the reanimated NIGHTINGALES, who've found a new lease of life — on the fiddle. NEIL TAYLOR hears about country life and the strings ...

Art Blakey, Courtney Pine: Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Shaw Theatre, London

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

BLAKEY'S ZERO-degrees activity is so blazingly exciting that it transforms everything round it, even when he's laying out completely. And these Messengers, mob-handed in suits ...

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Shaw Theatre, London

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

BLAKEY'S ZERO-degrees activity is so blazingly exciting that it transforms everything round it, even when he's laying out completely. And these Messengers, mob-handed in suits ...

Cocteau Twins: Victorialand

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

A PRE-RAPHAELITE beauty sweeps through trailing fronds and hothouse blooms... ...

George Jones: Wembley Arena Country Festival, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

THE GREATEST "NO SHOW" ON EARTH ...

Prince: Parade (Original Soundtrack - Under The Cherry Moon)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

I TOOK 'Kiss' as a signal that we were being ushered back into the compressed, airtight funkworld of Dirty Mind. Didn't flip over the song ...

Johnny Cash: The Johnny Cash Show: Country Festival, Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 12 April 1986

THE PILL POPPIN' POPE OF POP ...

Funkadelic, George Clinton: George Clinton: Fried Brains To Go

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 19 April 1986

"GEORGE WILL be with you in a minute, he's just playing with a raygun." (Clintonesque PR person). ...

Sheila E.: Sheila E

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 19 April 1986

WHEN THE wheels of celebrity are set in motion the limousine windows are tainted; bystanders can see in but the star is blinded to life ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie and The Banshees: How Many LPs Is It Now? "Fifteen, Love."

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 19 April 1986

Have SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES successfully lobbed another one over the net or are they finally out of deuce? DAVID QUANTICK engages in a love ...

Sweet Honey in the Rock: Sting in the Tale

Profile and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 19 April 1986

SEAN O'HAGAN makes a journey to the land of SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK where heavenly voices have their say. ...

Test Dept.: Freedom is Frightening

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 19 April 1986

On the abandoned building sites of Britain, a new life is stirring. TEST DEPT. sound the charge on scrap metal and bugle, waging a war ...

Anita Baker: Mouthful of Rapture

Interview by Nick Coleman, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

ANITA BAKER is the soul voice of the '80s. NICK COLEMAN rings LA to chat about her new LP Rapture. ...

David Thomas, Pere Ubu: David Thomas: Monster Walks The Winter Lake

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

DAVID THOMAS sees things differently. He sings things differently too. Sometimes he sees/sings things like a child, other times like a Martian. Often he'll submerge ...

Dwight Yoakam: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

IF IT'S careening kick-start country, a whisky wise distillation of old forms you need, come round here. Boisterous fiddle, the pound and pounce of six-string ...

It's Immaterial: Driving Force

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

In the past IT'S IMMATERIAL have lived up to their name only too well. Now, as their new single hits the charts, they reveal to ...

James Brown at Wembley Arena: Back And Proud

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

IT'S A tribute to the unbelievable power of James Brown's music that it has always managed to overwhelm our reservations about this dodgiest of superstars. ...

Rosanne Cash: Blues From The Pink Bedroom

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

ROSANNE CASH'S latest LP Rhythm And Romance lays bare both her turbulent marriage and a lengthy struggle with drug abuse. GAVIN MARTIN meets the woman ...

Sam Cooke: The Man And His Music

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

I SUPPOSE any Sam Cooke record is a gift from God, even an LP which fundamentally belies its title in the way this album does. ...

Velvet Underground: Oh God, Not The Bloody Velvets Again!

Report by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 26 April 1986

Fingers on the "Record" button… Rock's most name-dropped group, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND have finally arrived in the high brow world of The South Bank Show. ...

Julie Burchill: Woolly Bully

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 3 May 1986

It's point and counterpoint in this bout of champions; in the camel pen, bile scribbler JULIE BURCHILL, defending her high-profile prose against the red trunks ...

Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground Boxed Set (Polydor)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 3 May 1986

WHEN POP-JOURNALISTS say "classic", we mean a record that we’ll still be playing in ten years. Marketing sharpies, however, have a far surer handle on ...

Screaming Blue Messiahs: Gun-Shy

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 10 May 1986

THE COVER of The Screaming Blue Messiahs' first mini-album/EP Good And Gone captures their music perfectly: a posse of WW2 Grumman fighters cruising above the ...

That Petrol Emotion: The Petrol Emotion: Oil On Troubled Waters

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 10 May 1986

WHAT'S IN A NAME?(1) ...

The Ramones: Bombing Out!

Interview by Bill Black, New Musical Express, 10 May 1986

Tenth album time finds the RAMONES in a curiously pro-Bonzo mood and talking of solo projects. BILL BLACK adjusts his hearing suitably... ...

Aurra, Slave: Aurra: Mix 'N' Match

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 17 May 1986

AURRA have left their days of Slavery and hit the charts with 'You And Me Tonight'. SIMON WITTER takes off the raps. ...

Suzanne Vega: A Darker Shade Of Pale

Interview by Bill Prince, New Musical Express, 17 May 1986

WHO ARE the Dark People? We're told with typically elliptical detatchment by The Face that they're young Italian fatalists, spotted at parties in Turin and ...

The Band of Holy Joy: Band Of Holy Joy: The Big Ship Sails

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 24 May 1986

AND SO the shock of the new continues to give way to the celebration of the old. ...

Five Star: Sibling Soul

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 May 1986

FIVE STAR are one of Britain's most successful chart acts, but their Dad still keeps them firmly in line. PAOLO HEWITT meets the stars who ...

The Ramones: Ramones: Animal Boy

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 24 May 1986

THERE ARE but two reactions to a Ramones record. When it mumbles something like 'I Need Psychiatric Treatment', as they do here, you will either ...

Youssou N'Dour: Voix d'Afrique

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 31 May 1986

2005 note: My very first full-length music piece for NME? I so much wish Youssou had not let himself be kidnapped by P.Gabriel. Marcello Carlin ...

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, Experience Unlimited (EU), Redds And The Boys, Trouble Funk: Go Go Not Gone!

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 7 June 1986

Go Go all gone? Washington DC all fini? Not on your Nelly, argues Simon Witter, Go Go guru of the King’s Roadeo. The deaths of ...

Laurie Anderson: More Blank Than Frank

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 7 June 1986

AS SHE confides to us in her live show, Laurie Anderson was a bird in a previous incarnation. ...

Pet Shop Boys: Suburban Stardom

Essay by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 7 June 1986

England swings to the yawning sound of the suburbs, where Dynasty kids dream of escape and fortune. DON WATSON reflects on the hit and myth ...

Erasure: Rubber Band Men

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 14 June 1986

"AAAAAAAABBOTT!" – Lou Costello ...

Lovebug Starski: Nightmare On Beat St.

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 21 June 1986

SIMON WITTER goes to the house on the hill to see what's bugging LOVEBUG STARSKI but he can't get a fix on the man from ...

Sonic Youth: Noise: Sonic Youth

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 21 June 1986

SONIC YOUTH chortle to CATH CARROLL on the expressway to your hearts. ...

The Triffids: Born Sandy Devotional

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 21 June 1986

THE MID-'80s motto is that irony has gone mainstream. Self-confidence and hope for the future have evaporated in glittering, actressy despair, to be replaced by ...

Big Country: The Seer

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

MORE "BIG MUSIC". More heroics. Another call-to-arms for the down to earth drummers who landscape their adolescence via Bono, Jim Kerr, Mike Scott and Stuart ...

Blood On The Saddle: Hoedown At The O.K. Corral

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

GLENN MILLER was the first, I guess, and then there was Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Eight years later Otis Redding ...

David Bowie: Labyrinth

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

MOST OF us are familiar with David Bowie from his role as Vendice Partners in the sparkling musical comedy Absolute Beginners, but how many I ...

George Michael: Mein Whampf!

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

"ALTHOUGH I AM honest, I will deal with an interview with the confidence of GEORGE MICHAEL, POP STAR. And the way I deal with people ...

Pop Will Eat Itself

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

POP WILL EAT ITSELF drink tea, say "GRRrrr!", play live sets atrocious enough to necessitate post-gig disguises, and make faces at the Mary Chain, Siouxsie ...

Sting: Bring On The Night

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 28 June 1986

RENEWED ENTHUSIASM may have been the spur for Sting's world tour and mating with pedigree jazzers last year, but the release of this live double ...

Cherrelle: Positive Touch

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

CHERRELLE's dream of soul stardom has come true, thanks to the trans Atlantic success of 'Saturday Love'. PAOLO HEWITT tunes in and turns on. ...

Eurythmics: Revenge

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

THEY PICK dreams like they were pockets, these market research trained thieves, respray them in glitter and, even before the paint's properly dry, they're selling ...

Heaven 17: Endless

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

EIGHTY-FIVE minutes of cassette, 68 of compact disc and no record – Heaven 17 continue the aspirations of the ironic yuppie with their Greatest Hits ...

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes: Southside Johnny: Under The Rotting Boardwalk

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

Away from the air conditioned ivory towers of LA and NY, America's recession has thrown together pop and populous. Latest formal link is Jersey's Artists ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Jesus and Mary Chain: Paint It Black

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

"IT IS A bit of rock'n'roll cliche. I like it, but you are open to a slagging." ...

The Sonics: Here Are The Sonics

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

MUDDY WATERS, he said, "I'm smokin' TNT, I'm drinkin' dynamite/I hope some schoolboy will start a fight." Maybe Washington's The Sonics were the answer to ...

The Woodentops: Walk Tall

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

"...walk straight and look the world right in the eye." Giant-sized babythings THE WOODENTOPS have given birth, at last, to their first bouncy, long-playing offspring. ...

Black Flag: My War (Continued)

Report and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

FRIDAY NIGHT at New York's Irving Plaza, filled to the rafters with punks letting their freak flags fly. Tattered, dazed and confused kids line the ...

Madonna: True Blue

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

"SO I'M HERE looking through an old picture frame/Waiting for a perfect view/I hope something special will come into my life/Another fine edition of you" ...

Primal Scream: St. Paul's Arts Centre, Oxford

Live Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

MORE MOMENTS to cherish: Primal Scream live in Oxford. The tremors and treasures of vulnerability; waking up and realising that life isn't all excitement and ...

Sandie Shaw: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

SHAW? POSITIVE! ...

The Band Of Holy Joy: Joy Of Man’s Desiring

Report by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

SOME DAY, absolutely nobody in Absolute Beginners said, there will rise up in Soho a band who will be coarse yet clear-sighted, hard but infinitely ...

The Beach Boys: Capitol reissues

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

NOW IS this poetry, or what? ...

Wham!: The Final

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

RONNIE BARKER: "What's it all about, then? Life, I mean. What's it all about, eh?" Ronnie Corbett: "Something to do, I s'pose." ...

Zapp: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 12 July 1986

YOU'D EXPECT the diehards who shelled out and showed up to see Zapp, on one of London's culturally busiest weekends, to dance holes in The ...

Gil Scott-Heron: Word War Fighter

Report by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 19 July 1986

Prophet, poet and rap pioneer GIL SCOTT-HERON was calling for sanctions against South Africa a decade ago in his hit ‘Johannesburg’. Currently due to appear ...

Peter Guralnick: Sweet Soul Music

Book Review by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 19 July 1986

FA-FA-FA-FA-FA-FAB ...

Run-DMC: RUN DMC: Raising Hell (Profile/London)

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 19 July 1986

A SEOUL diversion — RUN DMC coming up, fast food and sweet music ready to go. ...

Nick Cave, Screamin' Jay Hawkins: Screamin' Jay Hawkins: The Man Who Ate Nick Cave

Interview by Lynden Barber, New Musical Express, 19 July 1986

The bats screech, and inside a rockin' coffin, something stirs...up fly the nails and out pops SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS, longtime voodoo swamp beast back to ...

Boy George: From Culture Club To Vulture Club

Comment by Paolo Hewitt, Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 July 1986

Boy George's romance with the Fleet Street scandal sheets came to an abrupt end when they turned on him in an hysterical anti-drugs campaign. But ...

Joe Strummer: Good Ol' Joe

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 July 1986

THIS WAS the big one, the final shoot-out, his last chance but... ...

Van Morrison: No Guru, No Method, No Teacher

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 26 July 1986

ALTHOUGH VAN Morrison has long since ceased to surprise, there have been enough scattered moments throughout his recent work to point to a singer content ...

Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction: This Is The Dawning Of The Age Of Hilarious

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 26 July 1986

Hot rats!! Twin overhead foxtailed speed machine and paranoiac ZODIAC MINDWARP wraps his twisted thoughtgear round the silver-tongued questioning of our psychedelic snake snake MAT ...

Anita Baker: Heaven Scent

Interview by Nick Coleman, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

NICK COLEMAN catches his breath after his first encounter with sweet songstress ANITA BAKER, who wowed London crowds last weekend. ...

The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson: Strange Bedfellow

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

The Beach Boys are 25 years old and, to mark the occasion, that great white whale BRIAN WILSON has finally got up, cleaned up and ...

Cherrelle, The Human League, Janet Jackson, Alexander O'Neal, Prince, The SOS Band: Jam & Lewis: Double Funk

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

"Sorry Lionel, but right now, we're busy with The Human League..." To turn down a job with Mr Richie these days you'd have to be ...

Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Flaunt It

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

AS STUPID as they are, the British public can take a joke if you give them a punchline to go with it. They bought Malcolm ...

The Smiths: Newcastle Mayfair

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

WE'RE HUDDLED together (2000 of us) in the home of heavy metal, witnessing the early disturbed sound of 'Bigmouth'. But thankfully they're just warming up; ...

Ted Chippington, The Nightingales, We've Got a Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It: We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It, the Nightingales, Ted Chippington: Fuzzed Among Equals

Report and Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

The Vindaloo roadshow blitzes Britain with firm-hold hairspray, firm-hold Fuzzbox parents, lobbed bunnies and drape jackets. Entertaining FUZZBOX, THE NIGHTINGALES and TED CHIPPINGTON are the ...

Nick Drake: Drake's Progress

Review and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 9 August 1986

NICK DRAKE was one of Britain's finest folksingers. Now Hannibal Records have re-released his complete works – and included some previously unavailable songs. LEN BROWN ...

Gwen Guthrie: Inflated Rent

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 9 August 1986

"BIG? I WASN'T prepared for just how big Gwen Guthrie is. Unkempt too...hair straggly, dressed in just a white wraparound bathrobe, she's been bustled straight ...

Icicle Works: The Drips Who Turned To Rock

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 9 August 1986

Four years ago, ICICLE WORKS' hit single 'Love Is A Beautiful Colour' branded them as wimps. But now they're back, harder and happier, with the ...

Queen: Inside The Royal Family

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 9 August 1986

David Quantick travels to Hungary as a representative of notorious bastard rock rag NME, and Queen pick up the tab! Not that they consent to ...

On-U Sound System, Adrian Sherwood, Tackhead: Adrian Sherwood: Ministry of Dub

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 August 1986

Producer ADRIAN SHERWOOD has spent a decade deconstructing and rebuilding music dubwise, from Ministry and New Age Steppers to Mark Stewart, Tack Head and Keith ...

Atlantic Records: Label Of 1,000 Dances

Essay by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 16 August 1986

ATLANTIC RECORDS was the supreme R&B label among many which flourished during the music's pre-eminence from shortly after the Second World War up to the ...

R.E.M.: Lifes Rich Pageant (IRS)

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 16 August 1986

THE ONLY BAND that mutters, as an American commentator wittily described REM, are back, and not before time, too. The past few years have seen ...

David Sylvian: Blonde On Blonde

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 23 August 1986

TWO YOUNG men, once blond, face one another and indulge in the absurd activity of taking music seriously. "Almost too seriously," says David Sylvian. The ...

Everything But The Girl: Tracey Goes To Dollywood

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 23 August 1986

"Rob, our drummer, turned up to the first rehearsal with the idea we were vaguely bossa nova-ish. The first thing I said was, 'D'you like ...

Nick Cave: Prick Me Do I Not Bleed?

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 23 August 1986

AMONG NICK Cave's most prized possessions is a hardcover green book stuffed with press cuttings and private observations written in his painstakingly spidery hand. ...

Prince: The Flesh And The Soul

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 23 August 1986

Prince And The Revolution: Wembley Arena, London ...

Ozzy Osbourne: A Very Excessive Man

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 30 August 1986

The Road of Excess, said William Blake, leads to the Palace of Wisdom, but in OZZY OSBOURNE'S case it led to Castle Donington and endless ...

Art of Noise: The Big Kiss-Off: Art Of Noise: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 30 August 1986

THEIR TIME, like the strained smile on celibacy's face, is desperately short. Like the tame, trained, caged bear all their disregard is now marshmallow; their ...

The Fall: Revolting Soul

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 30 August 1986

Welcome back Mr Contrary Bastard. Who else but the demonic MARK E SMITH would complete a mass anti-everything grumble with "Give me the Queen anyday"! ...

David Byrne, Talking Heads: David Byrne: A Talking Head's Guide To The Big Country

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

COMING SOON to a cinema near you is one of this year's funniest yet most thought-provoking films. It is called True Stories, and is a ...

David Sylvian: Gone To Earth

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

THE THIRD person entered store after store, priced nothing, spoke no word, and looked at all objects with a wild and vacant stare – having ...

Dwight Yoakam: Kicking the Horseshit out of Nashville

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

Guitars, Cadillacs, and a needle nose cowboy boot up the ass of Nashville slush. DWIGHT YOAKAM bigmouths his way top Britain with the cuntry 'establishment' ...

Dwight Yoakam: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

AN IMPARTIAL lady friend had been clean bowled over the previous night at Dingwalls. This tall, lean Kentucky hunk may be coot-like beneath his hat ...

Jaki Graham: Rubber Soul

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

JAKI GRAHAM, Wolverhampton's wandering soul singer, meets CATH CARROLL across a coffee table. ...

Little Feat, Ry Cooder: Little Feat: As Time Goes By — The Best Of Little Feat; Ry Cooder: Why Don't You Try Me Tonight? — The Best Of...

Review by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

DURING THE early/mid-'70s, Warner Brothers were the envy of their major corporate rivals for their unparalleled hip-act market-share. Partly, one suspects, for the way their ...

Notting Hill Carnival '86: Everybody Wet Wet Wet

Report by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO I back up on my first Carnival almost by accident. ...

George Clinton, Parliament: Parliament: Uncut Funk — The Bomb

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

GEORGE CLINTON is one of the great people of the 20th century. Probably you know this already. He took the funk legacy of James Brown ...

Roger Troutman, Zapp: The House Of Zapp

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

Ohio is a soul city, home of Bootsy, the Ohio Players and now the Troutman family alia the Human Body alias ZAPP. Mainman Roger tells ...

Tippa Irie: The Double Life

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

TIPPA IRIE, wide boy wonder and cultural chameleon, now finds himself torn between reggae's dub-swamped dance-halls and the glitterdome. SEAN O'HAGAN risks an ear in the rapid fire ...

Tom Robinson Band: Tom Robinson: Rising Cramp

Report and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 6 September 1986

TOM ROBINSON enters stage left to add his musical and emotional weight to John Godber's Cramp. LEN BROWN meets the DJ, anti-coke campaigner and gay ...

Camper Van Beethoven: Ludwiggin' Out!

Profile and Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

WHAT'S A Camper Van Beethoven? Actually, I forgot to ask. But check what I heard when I asked about its role models. ...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Blood And Chocolate (Imp)

Review by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

ONE DECADE and 11 albums into a brilliant career, pop's most persistent moniker-monger is still playing the name game: having buried Brother Coward and killed ...

Jean Carne: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

O, EXTRA JOY! ...

Paul Simon: Graceland

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

OF COURSE Paul Simon has always been blessed with a remarkable facility for penning eminently hummable melodies, but since the heyday of his association with ...

Steve Earle, George Strait: Steve Earle: Guitar Town (MCA); George Strait: #7 (MCA)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

FOLLOWING HOT on the heels of Mr Yoakam, here is another applicant for the position of '80s country-rock messiah. ...

Pop Will Eat Itself, Stump, That Petrol Emotion: Stump, That Petrol Emotion, Pop Will Eat Itself: Bay 63, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

SWAMP THINGS ...

Swans: Holy Money

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

HAS THE vocabulary been conceived, reduced or minimal enough to transmit the gravity or even sonority of those emotions laid bare on this, this, this ...

LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Schoolly D: Yo Boys: Boys Keep Killing

Report by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

The pervasive sound of hip hop becomes punctuated by an altogether more sinister noise — the bark of hand-guns — as, on the streets of ...

Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, The Pogues: A Fistful Of Pesetas

Report and Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

In the badlands of Spain, a strange scenario... JOE STRUMMER is shooting everyone in sight, SHANE MACGOWAN has been killed, ELVIS COSTELLO is serving coffee... ...

Asha Bhosle: The Celluloid Singing Star

Interview by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

ASHA BHOSLE is India's best known singer of film soundtracks. CATH CARROLL meets the woman with 40 million record sales who began her career with ...

Farley "Jackmaster" Funk , Darryl Pandy: Darryl Pandy: Man About The House

Profile and Interview by Deanne Pearson, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

DARRYL PANDY, featured vocalist on Farley Jackmaster Funk's 'Love Can't Turn Around', greets me at his hotel room door, resplendent in shimmering midnight blue dressing ...

Miles Davis: Man of many colours

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

Miles to work with Prince? Maybe. Sinatra? Possibly. Wynton Marsalis? Splatch! Forty years on there's Tutu, and the hues and cries of MILES DAVIS — ...

My Bloody Valentine: Bull & Gate, London

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

(AND PLEASURE-heads must burn...). So here they are in matching mop-tops and lurex star-trek jerkins, and here I am breaking myself on their urge for ...

The Human League: Flesh And Blood

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 20 September 1986

Born to make mistakes? THE HUMAN LEAGUE, CLASS of '81 veterans, saved Phil Oakey from a life on the bins. Jon McCready talks to the ...

Billy Bragg: Talking With The Taxman About Poetry

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 27 September 1986

SUBTITLED 'THE difficult third album', this is Billy growing into a Big Boy. Decorating the sleeve with Mayakovsky's poem, Bragg takes seriously his role as ...

Drugs: Out Of Our Heads

Overview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 27 September 1986

AFTER TWO false starts due to bad weather, the wide-eyed and jittery paratroopers swallowed their third load of benzedrines in three nights and flew off ...

New Order: Brotherhood (Factory)

Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 27 September 1986

ART OF THE STATE ...

The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Whodini: Run DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 September 1986

RUN LIKE HELL ...

The Mighty Lemon Drops: Happy Head

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 27 September 1986

THEY'VE GOT to give it to us now. They can't hold on anymore. The first of the Class of '86 to really go the distance, ...

Cameo: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 4 October 1986

DOCTOR MY EARS ...

Iggy Pop: Blah, Blah, Blah

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 4 October 1986

"I'M A real wild one." Iggy Pop, 1986. ...

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark: The Pacific Age

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 4 October 1986

OH TO put aside the racehorses, to forget Morley's G-Mex intro ("two rich bastards from LA") to ignore the cobalt-coated doughboys who adorn the inner ...

The Band Of Holy Joy: The Ship Sails Into Soho

Report and Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 4 October 1986

JOHNY BROWN was a soldier until they discovered he couldn't march in step with the others. ...

Augustus Pablo: Man from the Hills

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

For over a decade, and through the endless changes in the music's style, the melodica musings of AUGUSTUS PABLO have drifted across reggae, haughty and ...

Cameo: Word Up (Phonogram)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

WISE UP! ...

Felt: Forever Breathes The Lonely Word (Creation)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

...(ROCK IS dead?) I think we can do better than that. The thing about Felt (which was that they sounded like everyone else) hasn't changed. ...

Jackson Browne: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

A SUITABLY large number of Americans turn out to sample Jackson Browne's Californian confessional. Sunshine, bleeding hearts, airbrushed emotions, existentialist romances lost in the night ...

Jerry Butler: The Ice Man Cometh

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

JERRY BUTLER – Chicago crooner, beer businessman and local politician – meets cool SIMON WITTER ...

Loose Ends: Zagora (Virgin)

Review by Nick Coleman, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

"THE GORGEOUS thunk of BMW doors, Jacob, like electric windows' reptilian blink on buttocks clenched in bucket seats, are signals too malodrous to be dismissed ...

Miles Davis: Tutu (WEA)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

SO, THE last two, troubled decades of Miles Davis — from Voodoo to Tutu, from the blistering frustration of On The Corner to the comfortable ...

Smiley Culture: Tongue In Cheek (Polydor)

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 11 October 1986

FROM CHRONICLING his days playing conkers at Tulse Hill Secondary School to running up against police officers Smiley has always been the charmer cheeking his ...

James Brown: Stay On The Scene Like An Answerin' Machine

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 18 October 1986

MARK SINKER talks to God – alias JAMES BROWN – on the great black telephone. ...

a-ha: Scoundrel Days

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

HERE THEY are again. Norway's finest and the group who cleaned up after the chart fragmentation of Culture Club, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran, a-ha ...

Billy Idol: Whiplash Smile

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

THIS IS an ode to peroxide. Bottle Blonde spikes and matted hair. Gel by the ton. A sneer, a whiplash smile, a surly pout. The ...

Bruce Hornsby: The Virginian

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

THERE'S THIS big guy sitting two seats down the table from me at The Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, and he's blocking my view. ...

Curtis Mayfield: Piccadilly Theatre, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

PAUL WELLER knows his place. Despite meaning a lot of things to a lot of people, he was more than reluctant to share the stage ...

Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Liverpool

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

WHAT DO you do when you've made a completely excessive double album which made history as highly moderate filler? How do you feel when everyone ...

Freddie McGregor: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

THAT FREDDIE McGregor has been the best and the most consistent reggae artist working in a traditional vein outside the strictures of the dancehall since ...

Girlschool: Nightmare At Maple Cross (GWR)

Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

WHEN THE metal messiah Lemmy recently stated on the radio that Heavy Metal was all about tunes, and that vocals, lyrics, and accessories were unimportant, ...

Iggy Pop: Decline Of The Dork

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

BACK IN the bleak wastes of the early ‘70s – when, of course, things were really no more bleak than they are now – there ...

Peter Case: Shaw Theatre, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

CASE OF NERVES ...

Fela Kuti: The Great Pretender: Fela Kuti

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

So, who is this FELA KUTI? An African musician just out of jail and now threatening to run for President of Nigeria? A polygamist in ...

The Pretenders: Get Close

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

PRETENDERS LPs were always crap. Get Close is no exception. Having said that, though I have quite a bit of time for Chrissie Hynde, her ...

Whitney Houston: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 25 October 1986

A TASTE OF ECSTASY ...

The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde: We Are All Prostitutes

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

"I CAN SIT down with someone who is shooting up heroin; I can talk to a woman who is about to have an abortion because ...

Cyndi Lauper: The Bop Don't Stop

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

THE BIG BOPPER was a huge slobbering lech, bursting out of his suit drooling ungodly lust. Squeezed into a phone booth he called Chantilly Lace, ...

Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy: Lester Bowie: Miles Davis Meets Donald Duck

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

LESTER BOWIE'S white lab coat and mischievous trumpet have fronted The Art Ensemble Of Chicago's ironic jazz, From The Roots To The Source's revivalist gospel ...

Lone Justice: Maria McKee: Sweet Heart Of The Radio

Report and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

So, what's it to be then? Is MARIA McKEE of LONE JUSTICE last year's pretty thing or next year's Queen of the airwaves? MAT SNOW ...

The Chords: Live At The Rainbow 1980 (Unicorn)

Review by Penny Reel, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

IT WAS QUITE laughable to see how pathetically misinformed were all parties concerned in the great mod revival swindle of 1980. But then it was ...

The Smiths: London Palladium

Live Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

IN THE FOOTSTEPS of such music-hall and variety greats as Tommy Trinder, Ted Ray and Jimmy Tarbuck, tonight The Smiths tread these venerable boards to ...

Trouble Funk: Say What! Live In London

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

JUST THE other night I achieved a tiny slice of immortality when radio-jock Andy Kershaw played a 1960s Texan garage nugget of which he knows ...

ZZ Top: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1 November 1986

WHERE IS Tushmobile? On the basis of this show I'd guess it got lost somewhere in the mix. Lord knows I've waited to see ZZ ...

Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Mad Bastards

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

WITH A LITTLE help from his friends, Frankie went to Number One. He found that Number One was more exciting than Hollywood ever could be. ...

Hurrah!: ULU, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

SWEET HONEY IN THE R**K ...

Kraftwerk: Electric Café

Live Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

IT BEGINS with a word that sounds like BOING! The BOING! Triggers a controlled BOOM!, blanketed by a downbeat TSCHAK! In case you didn't catch ...

Kurtis Blow: Kurt's Kingdom

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

WHAT ARE WORDS WORTH? ...

Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy: Town And Country Club, London

Live Review by Cath Carroll, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

SOMETHING REMARKABLE would surely happen at this hallowed electric tabernacle. You could sense the impending presence of a, ahem, 'jazz' legend — his shadow leant ...

Nick Cave: Your Funeral…My Trial

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

MANSON KILLED a woman. Burroughs killed a woman. Nicholas Cave, performance artist, amoral Baal-like poet and tortured balladeer, sings of killing a woman. ...

Suicide: Camden Palace, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

A LITTLE hipper than they were when Clash fans bottled them a decade ago, the cult New York duo Suicide have reformed for some select ...

The Residents: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

VAUDE-VILE ...

The Residents: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

IF YOU often wondered what fate befalls ex-members of that most teenage of teenage groups, Menudo, don't. Their hearts are left in San Francisco where ...

The Weather Prophets: Diesel River

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 8 November 1986

I'M TOLD Diesel River is designed specifically for our teutonic friends. But considering that many of our "biggest record stores in the world" are hotching ...

Bruce Springsteen: Live/1975-85

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 15 November 1986

GAVIN MARTIN rummages through his pre-Christmas stocking and uncovers the heavyweight Broooce, a five-album set of Springsteen live, including mucho unreleased material. ...

Christy Moore: Ireland In An Acid Bath

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 15 November 1986

The magic of old Ireland meets burning political insight in the music of CHRISTY MOORE, former Planxty/Moving Heart mainstay turned extraordinary solo man. GAVIN MARTIN ...

Patti Labelle: Labelle Of The Ball

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 15 November 1986

"I LOVE Madonna. I do. I just don't like the way she stepped on my feet. We were at the American Music Awards, in the ...

Kate Bush: The Whole Story

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 22 November 1986

IT WAS Mark Smith of top pop group The Fall who, in a typical broadcast of dedicated anti-trendiness, announced that vegetarianism helped one leave the ...

Mantronix: Will Hip Hop Eat Itself?

Report and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 22 November 1986

Where is it? New York city. How is it? Bloody hot in here. Why is it? Because MATRONIX, pure-steel technologists of studio and vox, have ...

Smiley Culture: Word Party, Y'all

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 November 1986

Rabbit on, SMILEY CULTURE! STEVEN WELLS ties tongues wiv the mouf movin' fast frew the language barriers. ...

Alexander O'Neal: Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

IT SEEMS TO be ladykiller month in the UK. Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson both have releases, while big Alex O'Neal's 1985 Epic album is ...

The Beastie Boys: Beastie Boys: Licensed To Ill (Def Jam)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

SLOW AND LOW AND SICK AND FAB ...

Bob Geldof: Deep In The Heart Of Nowhere

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

WELL, SAINT Bob, here we are again. Doubtless you're expecting a right royal slagging in these pages, but that's not what I want to do. ...

Camper Van Beethoven: Camper Van Beethoven (Rough Trade)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

CAMPER VAN Beethoven occupy the leftovers of Americana. Others have claimed the broader fields of country music and rock and punk, and the great subjects ...

China Crisis: What Price Paradise (Virgin)

Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

CHINA CRISIS are a polite band. Worried about jagged edges, loose chords and jarring vocals, they airbrush their songs with a vapid wash which makes ...

Elvis Costello: Royalty Theatre, London

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

HALFWAY THROUGH 'Watching The Detectives', there is a small fight. When it has been amicably concluded, the thin man in the Buddy Holly specs, striped ...

Holger Hiller: Oben Im Eck (Mute)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

A SAMPLER IS always back-to-back with an array of possibilities. At her/his index finger. The choices: to either steal in an indiscriminate manner without discretion ...

Jesse Johnson: "Prince Is An Asshole"

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

OF ALL THIS last decade's superstar black bands, which do you think has spawned the most solo success stories? The Jacksons? Earth Wind & Fire? ...

Madness: Utter Madness

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

IT WAS almost as if they were trying too hard to convince themselves. With all the zip his curiously glum voice could muster, Suggs sings, ...

Throwing Muses: Grannie Takes A Trip

Profile and Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 29 November 1986

MAT SNOW is much taken with THROWING MUSES a faith-healing four from Massachussets. ...

The Fall Play Hey! Luciani: Riverside Studios, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, December 1986

THERE'S A PLAY in every one of us, even Ernie Wise. And perhaps Mark E. Smith. In fact, most of the ingredients are here, maybe ...

Dexter Gordon: Bertrand Tavernier on Round Midnight

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 December 1986

THE DIRECTOR of Round Midnight is extremely un-Bebop in appearance. His supine bearing and serene features suggest a cross between Roland Barthes and Claude Chabrol, ...

Bobby Womack: Womagic

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 December 1986

BOBBY WOMACK's second album for MCA sees him reunited with Chips Moman, the Memphis producer who has spent the last decade cutting country records in ...

LA Dream Team: California Dreamin'

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 December 1986

WHEN AN unknown band like The LA Dream Team put a single out on their own label, and 250,000 people buy it, they've got to ...

Michael McDonald: I Survived The Doobies

Profile and Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 6 December 1986

ON THE FACE of it, Michael McDonald is the kind of West Coast AOR "artist" who has been reviled in NME circles since time – ...

UB40: Salt Of The Earth

Report and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 8 December 1986

"My life is like a joke but to me it isn't funny..." ('All I Want To Do') ...

Lindisfarne: Dance Your Life Away

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 13 December 1986

IT'S PHENOMENAL. Soon a whole city will be swinging together. Every Christmas, like clockwork, a bunch of hairy, balding middle-aged men take the stage and ...

Madonna: The Crucifixion Of A Junkyard Angel

Comment by Lucy O'Brien, John McCready, New Musical Express, 13 December 1986

Madonna: The Crucifixion Of A Junkyard Angel, part 1Lucy O'Brien ...

Cameo: Product Of America

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 20 December 1986

His codpiece was banned from TOTP, his new single 'Candy' has been banned by Radio One, but LARRY BLACKMON has still led Cameo to the ...

The Band Of Holy Joy: The Loneliness Of The Late Night Drinker

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 20 December 1986

1986 was the year that Englishness made a comeback, and no one caught its multi-faceted moods of gloom and nostalgia better than THE BAND OF ...

The Housemartins: If You Love Jesus

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 20 December 1986

FOR GOD'S SAKE, stop and think. When Christmas Day first strikes again – when you're reeling in the aisles, cock-eyed and carolling, desperate for a ...

Sandy Denny: Who Knows Where The Time Goes (Island)

Review by Nick Coleman, New Musical Express, Summer 1986

WHEN SHE DIED I was still preoccupied with the politics of holey jeans and why the Ramones were the perfect emblem of the beast Modern ...

Percy Sledge: 501 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

Percy Sledge: Town & Country Club, London ...

Husker Du: Warehouse: Songs And Stories (Warner Bros)

Review by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 1987

THERE ARE several reasons why I’d like to backtrack a decade to my teenage years, but right now I can think of none better than ...

James Carr: At The Dark End Of The Street (Blue Side, import)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

"THE WORLD'S Greatest Soul Singer", boasts the cover of this magnificent album, and I ain't about to argue. In fact I have long regarded the ...

Johnny Adams: The Tan Nightingale (Charly)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

CHARLY FOLLOW-UP their 1978 reissue of Johnny's Heart And Soul album with a wider-ranging retrospective on the man also known as the Tan Canary. (Given ...

Aaron Neville, ZZ Hill: Stateside Booty: ZZ Hill, Aaron Neville, Jimmy Holiday and Early Motown

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

THE FLOOD of soul reissues and compilations continues with four more from the vaults of EMI's Stateside subsidiary. First off, an album of mid-period (early ...

The Neville Brothers: Treacherous - A History Of The Neville Brothers 1955-1985 (Rhino)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

WHAT a nice surprise: a double album of material from what is virtually a one-family history of New Orleans R&B, tastefully packaged and annotated by ...

Tom Waits: Frank's Wild Years

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 1987

SUBTITLED "Un Operachi Romantico In Two Acts", Frank's Wild Years is effectively the final part of a trilogy that began in 1983 with the extraordinary ...

Van Morrison: Live At Liverpool Empire.

Live Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 1987

"Didn’t I come to bring you a sense of wonder.Didn’t I come to lift your fiery vision brightDidn’t I come to bring you a sense ...

Christy Moore: Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, January 1987

WHILE OUR pubs become youth clubs (16-30s), where communication is broken by mindless muzak, and while our elders are alienated from our "social" lives, the ...

Faust: Return of a Legend: Munic & Elsewhere

Review by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, January 1987

MEPHISTO CALLING. Good news – Faust are back. Released from a devil's pact with silence, they're noisily celebrating the repossession of their souls. A new ...

The Durutti Column: Durutti Column: Valuable Passages (Factory)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 January 1987

SOMETIMES, WHEN you're kept rooted at one spot by something, you stay. None the more sure about what it was that pushed you there, yet ...

Muriel Gray: Don't Touch That Dial, Sassenach!

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 3 January 1987

Sick of Jools? Fed up with Paula? Well, the only saviour for you on The Tube must be MURIEL GRAY, who's now branching out into ...

Simple Minds: Jim Goes To Hollywood

Interview by Lynden Barber, New Musical Express, 3 January 1987

SIMPLE MINDS, and Jim Kerr in particular, always seem to be "out" when we phone... funny, that. But LYNDEN BARBER got a good connection, from ...

A Certain Ratio: Ten Years on the Factory Floor

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 10 January 1987

Can you feel the 'force'? A CERTAIN RATIO's decade of inconsistent, meandering flight between trash and flashes of brilliance may well have come to an ...

B.B. King: King of America

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 10 January 1987

300 nights a year, Lucille-loving BB KING is the world's premier blues ambassador, still carrying the standard for black heroes long gone. GAVIN MARTIN swings ...

Microdisney: Crooked Mile (Virgin)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 10 January 1987

PLEASE EXCUSE my pretentiousness, but William Morris wrote in The Earthly Paradise: "Dreamer of dreams, born out of my time, why should I strive to ...

The Gap Band: Zibble Zibble Drivel

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 10 January 1987

THE GAP BAND'S music-by-numerals approach to the dancefloor has brought them steady success in Britain, most recently with the single 'Big Fun'. SIMON WITTER probes ...

The Membranes: Love and Fury for Export

Report and Interview by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 10 January 1987

With the multinational dross-spreaders and the candyfloss radio stations celebrating another year with their boot-heel on the throat of popular music, THE MEMBRANES — godfathers ...

The Beastie Boys, Run-DMC: Beastie Boys: Ritz, New York NY

Live Review by Rob Tannenbaum, New Musical Express, 17 January 1987

BUILDING THE PERFECT JERKS! ...

Full of Philly!

Retrospective by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 17 January 1987

Before disco there was Philadelphia International Records, the Soul label of the '70s. Now it's been documented in a boxed set of albums. BARNEY HOSKYNS ...

Paul Johnson: Revelation from Paradise

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 January 1987

No one illustrates the depth and talent of UK soul more than PAUL JOHNSON, who's arrived at the doorstep to fame via gospel singing. Will ...

The Beastie Boys: Rap Around The Cock

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 January 1987

THE BEASTIE BOYS take a long, slow ride into the sewers of their minds, accompanied by a fascinated hack, one STEVEN WELLS. They do it ...

General Kane: Slamming The Crack

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 24 January 1987

Crack may have killed Applejack but GENERAL KANE leader Mitch McDowell won't touch the stuff: "I'm no saint, I've done a lot of things in ...

Van Morrison: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 24 January 1987

NOT UNREASONABLY I've always associated middle-aged corpulence and material over-indulgence with the death of desire to develop; we witness the long drawn-out demise of our ...

Elvis Costello And The Attractions at the Royal Albert Hall

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 31 January 1987

STEVEN THE computer programmer is in his element. In black and white stripes with red kipper tie, he's sweating, shaking and singing all the words ...

Double Dee & Steinski: Steinski: Remix the Apocalypse

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 31 January 1987

Turn it up! Crank up the bass! Take a break listening to crazy Cronkite's commentary of president Kennedy's assassination! Whizz-kid adman turned master-mixer STEINSKI — ...

The Style Council: Style Council: The Cost Of Loving (Polydor)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 February 1987

LISTEN TO the wordly-wise Cappuccino Kid: "...this affair of the heart, once it began, dispelled all the bitternenss I felt at the world, and gave ...

Billy Bragg's record collection

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 14 February 1987

A HARE-BRAINED afternoon in the warmest room and things are not quite what they seem. The bookshelves may be burdened with Mayakovsky and miner's lamps; ...

Megadeth: Deth Sells: Megadeth

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 14 February 1987

MEGADETH are the cream of the new Speed Metal crop. ‘Deth squaddy Dave Mustaine discusses life in HM’s fast lane with souped-up SIMON WITTER. ...

The Judds: Palladium, London

Live Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 February 1987

ONLY COUNTRY, as glitzy and airbrushed as it’s become, could give us something as apple-pie downhome as a mother-daughter harmony duo. A Nashville fairy tale ...

Mick Karn: Dreams Of Reason Produce Monsters (Virgin)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 21 February 1987

MICK'S HIT upon hard times since the fall of Japan and his forgotten Titles. Perhaps the demise of the miscellaneous/multi-instrumentalist category in the Readers' Poll ...

Lone Justice: Marquee, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

MARIA McKEE bites yer lugs. Sometimes it's a sensual experience; a shiver in the stirrup, a tickle on the lobe. Sometimes it's excruciating; the yelp ...

Mel & Kim: Shop Girls Of The World Unite!

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

Out of the shops and into the charts come MEL AND KIM – friendly, forthright, but kept strictly in line by their manager. PAOLO HEWITT ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: Tel-star

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

Plenty of others have made the same journey from gospel to soul, via boxing; rather fewer have taken detours through the Army of the Rhine ...

Tom Verlaine: Words from the Front

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

TOM VERLAINE, the blank generation’s very own Neil Young, is sitting on the floor of a Phonogram press suite devouring a croissant. I’d expected someone ...

Julian Cope: Saint Julian (Island)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 March 1987

THERE HAVE been four Saint Julians. One, Julian of Toledo, persecuted the Jews; Julian the Hospitaller murdered his mum and dad by mistake; and three, ...

Level 42: Level Best

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 7 March 1987

"I pre-empted the Doctor Martens thing, you know." ...

Jennifer Warnes, Leonard Cohen: Lenny and Jenny Sings Lenny

Interview by Biba Kopf, New Musical Express, 14 March 1987

A LEONARD COHEN song is the dark disaster that brings on the light. A slow and irresistible force, the rich laval flow of his voice ...

Percy Sledge: Gone Fishin'

Report by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 14 March 1987

The only definite sighting of PERCY SLEDGE in recent weeks has been in the UK Top Ten. BARNEY HOSKYNS reviews the career of the elusive ...

U2: The Joshua Tree (Island)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 14 March 1987

OUT OF LITTLE ACORNS... ...

Metallica: Masters Of What?

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 March 1987

First and biggest! METALLICA stumbled across the secret of speed-metal and threw open the door for the hairy hordes that followed. In the process, they've ...

Slayer: To Hell And Back: Slayer

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 21 March 1987

Not all the old Heavy Metal cancers have been cured. SLAYER - erstwhile thashers, now adopted by the speed-metalists - have been forced to deal ...

The Weather Prophets: Singing In The Rain: The Weather Prophets

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 28 March 1987

Songs?! Poetry?!! Something's very wrong here; THE WEATHER PROPHETS are making a splash as a high profile rock band, but there's no mention of metal ...

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers: Chuck Brown: Take The Money And Go-Go

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 4 April 1987

CHUCK BROWN'S in Britain to stick up the go-go scene with his pioneering blast of bum-pin'. But as SEAN O'HAGAN finds out, he didn't get ...

Paul Simon: The Boy in the Boycott

Report by Mark Sinker, Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 4 April 1987

Is PAUL SIMON "a genius and a loathsome coward"? Does the lack of anti-apartheid statements on Graceland amount to condonation of Botha's regime? Or has ...

Cookie Crew: The Cookie Crew: Bite This

Profile and Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 11 April 1987

B-girls behave! THE COOKIE CREW call for unity on the homegrown hip-hop scene. LUCY O'BRIEN watches them clear the decks. ...

Paul Simon: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 18 April 1987

LET'S NOT beat about the bush. This is a celebration of black South African music with an anti-apartheid spirit mixed into its magic. And it ...

Hüsker Dü: Dü You Believe In Magic?

Interview by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, 25 April 1987

Hüsker Dü, major-label guys, zoom on with their finest LP yet and an affirmation of their world view. RICHARD GRABEL is still a true believer ...

Christy Moore: Unfinished Revolution (WEA)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, May 1987

SURELY CHRISTY Moore, the demi-god of Irish folk, can't have produced another masterpiece in the mould of Ride On and Ordinary Man? ...

Concrete Blonde: Concrete Blonde (IRS)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

CONCRETE BLONDE have pushed themselves up towards the sun from a long ugly crack in the sidewalk called Hollywood. They're a gangly looking weed, with ...

Curiosity Killed The Cat: Keep Your Distance (Phonogram)

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

BOREDOM: THE SCRATCH MIX ...

Labi Siffre: No Stool Pigeon

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

LABI SIFFRE is off his stool and back on the charts, singing against apartheid. LUCY O'BRIEN joins him on the fence. ...

Living In A Box: Boxing clever

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

They came from nowhere to take the Top Ten by storm. But who were the mystery men of LIVING IN A BOX? Were they black? ...

Slayer: Cash from Genocide

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

OK, SLAYER. So you're the world's top death-metal thrash outfit, and you're playing to thousands all over Britain. But now you must justify your appalling ...

Sly & Robbie: Rhythm Killers (Island)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

BONDED BRILLIANCE ...

Suzanne Vega: Solitude Standing (A&M)

Review by Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

SUZANNE VEGA's first album I found promising but irritating: the Joni/Rickie Lee persona presented with a knowing, sickly coyness. As a harbinger of the singer-songwriter ...

The Railway Children: Wigan's Chosen Few

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

As their LP chugs into the charts, THE RAILWAY CHILDREN appear to be on the fast-track for pop stardom. JOHN "Beeching" McCREADY however, reckons it's ...

Wire: The Ideal Copy (Mute)

Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

THE QUESTION is: should there really be a question at all? Many people hold no truck with reformations; more often than not they tarnish precious ...

The Beastie Boys, The Cult, Oran "Juice" Jones, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Slayer, Tashan: Dawn of the Def

Overview by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

The wit and wisdom of DEF JAM as captured in the NME. From Rick Rubin as hipster to Beastie Boys as Sex Zeppelin and beyond. ...

The Beastie Boys, Oran "Juice" Jones, Run-DMC, Slayer: Def Jam: Baaad Company

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

With their label gone mega, and even greater triumphs planned, Def Jam mainmen RICK RUBIN and RUSSELL SIMMONS currently combine the Midas touch with the ...

Happy Mondays: "Everything Else Is Foreign, Innit?"

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

HAPPY MONDAYS box ears as Factory's rhythm frenzy new boys. DELE FADELE is welcomed to their working week. ...

Shelleyan Orphan: Helleborine (Rough Trade)

Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

SHELLEYAN ORPHAN are composers Caroline Crawley and Jemaur Tayle, who both love classical instruments, and have a thing about the poet Shelley. ...

The Stupids: Stupidity Maketh The Men

Interview by Cynthia Rose, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

Not dumb, maybe a little deaf by now...UK thrash stylists The Stupids step off their skatin’ wheels and entertain Cynthia Rose with tales of ordinary ...

That Petrol Emotion: Babble (Polydor)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

ROCK BEAST ROARS ...

The Blow Monkeys, Curtis Mayfield: Rejoice!

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

Surgery's open, and here's busy Doctor Robert of THE BLOW MONKEYS: banned by the BBC, co-singing with Chicago soul legend CURTIS MAYFIELD and activating with ...

The Replacements: Pleased To Meet Me (Sire)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 9 May 1987

THE WELCOME return of the world's most talented buncha winos. This time the noise that Minneapolis's finest are making sounds like a celebration of sorts. ...

Gaye Bykers On Acid: Camden Palace, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

THO' THEY dilly dally mightily with the inherently sloppy imagery of psychedelic flip-foppery, the Bykers are in reality as hard and as disciplined as a ...

Public Enemy: The Enemy Without

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

PUBLIC ENEMY are the latest hard rap attack from Def Jam's box of tricks, but very different from all that's gone before. Toting Uzi machine ...

Cookie Crew, Schoolly D, The Three Wise Men: Schoolly D, Three Wise Men, Cookie Crew: Holloway & Royal Bedford College, Egham

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

COLT 45 ...

Schoolly D: Saturday Night Jive

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

Yo! and pass the fun-size Mars Bars! Eating lemon sherbets instead of lead death, JOHN McCREADY asks cutting edge B-boy SCHOOLLY D how he got ...

Sly & Robbie: Murder!

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

Legends of world rhythm SLY & ROBBIE have responded to advances in all musics by making a technological masterpiece of an LP. SEAN O'HAGAN meets ...

The Proclaimers: Twin set and pearls

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

Those sons of Auchtermuchty, THE PROCLAIMERS, charge their silver throats with LUCY O'BRIEN and identify the Scots pysche and climate that rumbles through their songs. ...

Chumbawamba, Class War, Conflict, Crass, Flux of Pink Indians: Anarcho-Punk: Veg Wedge

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 23 May 1987

With Crass, Poison Girls and Flux in either retirement or a state of change, and Conflict in trouble, the anarcho-punk movement is in tatters. STEVEN ...

Sweet Honey In The Rock: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 23 May 1987

VOX NECTAR ...

The Cradle, Easterhouse: The Cradle: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 23 May 1987

Following the acrimonious break-up of Easterhouse last year, guitarist Ivor Perry has put together a less rigidly militant combo called THE CRADLE. LEN BROWN hears ...

The Mighty Lemon Drops: Drop in the ocean

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 23 May 1987

Last year THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS crossed the Great Rubicon between indie cred and chart expectations. This year America beckons but there's still no sign ...

Deacon Blue: Light Macs: Deacon Blue: Raintown (CBS)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

RICKY ROSS— it's the type of name that must determine your destiny. Like Reed Richards: Reasonable Superhero or Bruno Brookes: Burly Deejay or Dickie Davies: ...

LL Cool J: Bad Man Bites Back

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

Woah, boy. This is LL COOL J, sitting behind the wheel of an automobile, sensing disrespect! Our man in the wraparounds and the probe-stick: DELE ...

Maceo Parker: Hot Cross Fun

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

Years of sweating his butt off for The G.F.O.S. James Brown have told on Mr Maceo. And now that his own MACEO AND THE MACKS ...

Randy Newman: Lonely At The Top (WEA)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

"Let's drop the big one..." ...

Sonic Youth: Sister (Blast First)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

FLOWERS IN THE DUSTBIN ...

The Lounge Lizards: No Pain For Cakes (Antllles)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

LURIE SAYS he's got stuff to make Tom Waits weep. And this collection, has a verve and nerve to justify his sly pride. Something to ...

The Cure: Two-Headed Monster: The Cure: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (Fiction)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

HEAD FOR THE HILLS, it's the return of the double album! ...

Well Red: Motion (Virgin)

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 30 May 1987

WITH THIS debut album Well Red, a pointy nosed white boy and a black Lovers rock-head, prove they're the best of Britain's fresh funky little ...

Prince: Sign O' The Times

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 June 1987

Prince isn't a star, he's an event. And so is the release of his new double LP. Paolo Hewitt is let to the subterranean bunker ...

The Band of Holy Joy: "Bertolt Brecht, my arse!"

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

THE BAND OF HOLY JOY go to Tynemouth and back to say 'we're not a bunch of art poseurs, ta very much' Bag-man: LEN BROWN ...

David Bowie, Nona Hendryx: Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam, Holland

Live Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

CACKY ACTOR ...

Davy DMX: Now the beat is dope

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

New York — urban hell special!: DAVY D, Run DMC/Beasties support star and longtime New York DJ, entertains DELE FADELE with a shot of drug ...

The Beastie Boys, Run-DMC: Run DMC, The Beastie Boys: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

FRIGGIN' AND SWIGGIN! ...

U2: The Band of Holy Joy

Profile and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

Riots greet U2 in Italy! Bono is bigger than Il Papa! Rock is not dead! Sean O'Hagan gets an audience with the holy man of ...

Whitney Houston: Whitney (Arista)

Review by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 6 June 1987

WHITNEY HAS been coached and coutured through the artistic school of MOR showbiz professionalism until, at 23-going-on-40, she has reached the height of airbrushed fantasy ...

The Replacements: Taking Out The Trash

Report and Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 13 June 1987

Yup, THE REPLACEMENTS, infamous Kiss fans cum tack rock merchants, have cleaned up and become, in their own words, a respectable "showband", with a brilliant ...

Jennifer Warnes, Leonard Cohen: Jennifer Warnes: Famous Blue Raincoat (RCA)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 20 June 1987

THE TOTAL exhumation and resurrection of Leonard Cohen gathers alarming pace. Here Jennifer Warnes, one-time backer to ole grumble guts, runs through nine of laff-a-lifetime-Len's ...

JM Silk: Moving House

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 20 June 1987

2008 NOTE: It's a cruel irony that JM Silk now seem like a footnote in music history, given that they were the act that broke ...

Nona Hendryx: Let's get metaphysical

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 20 June 1987

NONA HENDRYX, ex of Labelle, has called her new LP Female Trouble — but LUCY O'BRIEN finds she's now a "big gun" having "big fun", ...

Sonic Youth: Super Sonic Sisterhood

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 20 June 1987

2005 note: Mostly what I read in this piece is what a fight it seemed to get anything said about "rock" in 1987, in the ...

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 27 June 1987

THINK OF Peter Green, trapped in his chosen career archetype, degenerating from world-famous pop-star blues-man to dirty old tramp terrorising Richmond. The bluesman-as-outlaw-loner takes its ...

Luther Vandross: Forever, For Always, For Love (Epic)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 27 June 1987

ON THE soft focus cover shot, the transformation is complete: Luther the beige mannequin with compulsory wet look is a world away from the roly ...

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees: Martin Stephenson and the Daintees: Town and Country Club, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 27 June 1987

PRESERVE US from Daintee girlies. They squeal, they stamp on my feet, they swoon "he's got lovely hands" about Stephenson's unremarkable mitts, and they feign ...

Trouble Funk: Trouble With Your Dancing Feet?

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 27 June 1987

TROUBLE FUNK are going where no go-go has gone before, to radio-land. JOHN McCREADY supports this funky plan. ...

The Associates, Yello: Yello: Shirley and Company

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 27 June 1987

2005 note: Easily my favourite NME piece. Kudos also to the sub who chose the original caption: "Helvetica Bold" ...

Felt: Poem Of The River (Creation)

Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 4 July 1987

THE MOST FASCINATING aspect of the band Felt is Lawrence's insatiable urge to constantly free-fall the perimeters of his creative ability. ...

Crazy Horse, Neil Young: Neil Young And Crazy Horse: Life (Geffen)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 4 July 1987

YOU WON'T SEE Neil Young on the cover of your modern NME, but this album is worth a whole lot more than Suzanne Vega's entire ...

Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour: Earls Court, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 4 July 1987

THE '70S DINOSAURS are dying out; either through lack of brain, excess of dosh or both. ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: Genuis Steals: Terence Trent D'Arby: Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby (CBS)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 July 1987

WITH HIS usual flourish of verbal arrogance, Terence Trent D'Arby has already proclaimed his LP the most outstanding debut of the '80s. Fine. The only ...

Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One, MC Shan: Boogie Down Productions/DJ Scott La Rock/KRS One: Criminal Minded (B Boy Records) / MC Shan: Down By Law (Cold Chillin' Records)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 11 July 1987

IN NEW YORK, there's a war going on. Television ignores it, the papers don't speak of it. It's a war where most of the bloodshed ...

Trouble Funk: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 July 1987

SOME CLAIM Angel Dust is a one-way ticket to oblivion that brings out the random psycho in you. Forget it. These bona fide purveyors of ...

Stock Aitken Waterman: Money, Love And Fun

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 18 July 1987

Million-selling marketing men STOCK, AITKEN and WATERMAN wouldn't know a political point if one hit them on the head, but, boy, can they get a ...

Eric B. & Rakim: Eric B & Rakim: 
Paid In Full

Review by Richard Grabel, New Musical Express, August 1987

THE BOY Rakim has a helluva style on the mike. ...

The Christians: Rock On Commie: The Christians In East Berlin

Report and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1 August 1987

WHERE AM I? The hotel receptionist says, "Have a nice day". There's Gershwin muzak in the lift. There's Sade on the radio. There's no bugging ...

The Fall, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wire: Siouxsie And The Banshees/The Fall/Wire: Finsbury Park, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1 August 1987

AND DARKNESS fell over all the earth. Well, only a teensyweensy bit of it actually, but it turned into the arse-end of Pandemonium. A plethora ...

Terence Trent D'Arby, Prince: Terence Trent D'Arby: Storm in a T-Shirt; Prince: Prince of Darkness

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 August 1987

"RACIST" D'ARBY T-SHIRT ROW... DEMONIC PRINCE IS "SATAN'S TOOL"... STEVEN WELLS INVESTIGATES ...

Wet Wet Wet: Scream! Scream! Scream!

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 8 August 1987

Lock up your pop-stars, Glasgow's daughters are on the rampage. Thankfully the police have got the situation under control. Wet Wet Wet may be trapped ...

Derrick May, Frankie Knuckles: Back To Jack

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 15 August 1987

2008 NOTE: One year after the big bang of house hype, I was back in Chicago to investigate the latest developments – among them Acid ...

New Order: Substance (Factory)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 15 August 1987

WE CHUCK words at New Order. Words like funereal and ethereal and classical and awesome. ...

Roxanne Shanté: The Queen Rocks On

Interview by Lucy O'Brien, New Musical Express, 15 August 1987

B-boys beware! ROXANNE SHANTÉ has returned from bambino bearing with a hit 'Have A Nice Day'. LUCY O'BRIEN meets the Queen Bee. ...

AR Kane: A Steak Knife In Your Ear

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 22 August 1987

2005 note: NME had become a prisoner of its late 70s success legitimising punk: terrified of being caught in the lee of whatever the "next ...

Momus: Lusts of a Moron

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 22 August 1987

IS MOMUS perverted, introspective, or just more candid than most? LEN BROWN meets the man whose songs are a poison heartache. ...

Anthrax, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Dio, Metallica, W.A.S.P.: Bon Jovi, Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P., Cinderella: Monsters Of Rock, Castle Donington

Live Review by Steven Wells, Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 29 August 1987

THRASH TRASH ...

Crazyhead: Abbey Park Festival, Leicester

Live Review by Bob Stanley, New Musical Express, 29 August 1987

BEER CANS ahoy! It's festival time in Leicester and a decent sunny day has brought all the young dudes out of their houses. After a ...

Hothouse Flowers: Savoy, Limerick

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 29 August 1987

THE HOTHOUSE Flowers kinda live up to their name, burning bright one minute, descending into shiny plastic showbiz the next. The first thing they should ...

Madonna: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by James Brown, New Musical Express, 29 August 1987

THE HORDES of topless Brooooce and Bono-philes who have come here before us have received nothing but the flabby hopes of two ugly old men ...

Alice Cooper, Status Quo, The Stranglers: Alice Cooper, The Stranglers, Status Quo: Reading Festival

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, September 1987

WELCOME TO my nightmare. "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! It's been five years but it's good to be back. . . Awwwwwwright! . . . We f—kin' ...

The Damned, Doctor and the Medics, Gaye Bykers on Acid, Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, The Pink Fairies, Pop Will Eat Itself: Hawkwind, Gaye Bikers on Acid et al: Acid Daze, Finsbury Park

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 September 1987

SPORTS DAY IN HELL ...

Johnny Cash: Peterborough Country Music Festival

Live Review by Bob Stanley, New Musical Express, 12 September 1987

THE WHOLE town seems to have been waiting for this moment all week... "Hello. I'm Johnny Cash." ...

Michael Jackson: Bad

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 12 September 1987

Michael Jackson doesn't live in the real world. I read my Sun and Star every day. I know that the boy from Gary, Indiana is ...

Stevie Wonder: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 12 September 1987

I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER! ...

The Smiths: Strangeways, Here We Come

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 12 September 1987

"MAN THAT is born of woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down ...

Einstürzende Neubauten, Showaddywaddy: Kilburn National, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 19 September 1987

SAY WADD? ...

Einstürzende Neubauten: A Berlin of the Mind

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 September 1987

As EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN return from their two years of self-imposed exile, group-face Blixa Bargeld tells DELE FADELE why they remain the best burst on the ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Motorcycle Boy: The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Motorcycle Boy: Rock City, Nottingham

Live Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 19 September 1987

KICKSTART ME, JESUS ...

Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Bob Dylan/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers /Roger McGuinn: Modena Autodrome, Turin

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 26 September 1987

ROCK HACKS aren't allowed near Bob. He's got no time for the press. In fact, someone who once met his grannie's dog-minder tells me Bob ...

Boogie Down Productions: Scott La Rock: Wasted in the Zoo

Interview by Frank Owen, New Musical Express, 26 September 1987

Less than a month ago, the Bronx rap supremo SCOTT LA ROCK was tragically shot dead in a street brawl, the very day he'd signed a ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: The G.I. Blues of Terence Trent D'Arby

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 September 1987

TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY reveals the dark side of his pre-pop star life: the army experience that nearly crushed him, and the realisation that a square ...

The Housemartins: The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death (Go! Discs)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 26 September 1987

A NATION waits, breath caught in the throat with tension; the world's most commercial political pop group has released a second album, and who can ...

The Oyster Band: Wide Blue Yonder (Cooking Vinyl)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 28 September 1987

ONCE UPON a time, admitting to a fondness for English folk was akin to confessing a savage case of crabs. Then came The Oyster Band, ...

Depeche Mode: Basildon Bondage: Depeche Mode: Music For The Masses (Mute)

Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 3 October 1987

PERSONALLY, I couldn't care less whether The Pet Shop Boys are gay or not. What I want to know is, are Depeche Mode perves? ...

On-U Sound System, Lee "Scratch" Perry: Lee Perry: Revenge Of The Totally Bananas

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 October 1987

Dub President LEE SCRATCH PERRY holds court with DELE FADELE, and predicts the apocalypse. ...

Bruce Springsteen: Bruce Springsteen: Tunnel Of Love (CBS)

Review by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

Tunnel Vision ...

Cameo: Empire Pool Wembley, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

TRAPPED BY THEIR UNDERPANTS ...

Eric B. & Rakim: Eric B and Rakim: The Rap Payback

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

SEAN O'HAGAN chills out, cuts the ice and pumps it up with rap's sharpest rhythm-monger ERIC — "all the best music has a bad image" ...

Public Image Ltd: John Lydon: I Cry Alone

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

DAY-GLO PINK mini-dreads erupt from his scalp like antennae made of candyfloss. Iceberg blue eyes stare from cigarette ash skin. A smirk. A belch of ...

Public Image Ltd: PiL: Astoria, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

HITLER'S SEXY DAUGHTER ...

Public Enemy: Rebels With a Cause

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

They understand Malcolm X and they dig James Brown. Right now PUBLIC ENEMY are making all the noise and SEAN O'HAGAN is ready to take the rap. ...

The Bhundu Boys: Hip Hip Harare

Profile and Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 10 October 1987

The small man with the enormous moustache who examines passengers' bags for terrorist devices at the Air Ethiopia check-in desk has a problem. Every time ...

David Rudder: When the Hammer Falls

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 October 1987

Calypso is the music and voice of Trinidad and DAVID RUDDER looks set to give it international appeal. PAOLO HEWITT meets him. ...

Guns N' Roses: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 17 October 1987

"THIS SONG is my favourite," screams part-man-mostly-dog guitarist Slash, Guns N'Roses' mascot pimple. "It's for all you thrashers out there and it's dedicated to BLOW-jobs ...

The Stranglers: Fey Bikers On Azur

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 17 October 1987

THE PHONE RANG. It was the chief. "Be at the airport tomorrow morning. The Stranglers. Marseilles. Bikers' convention. JJ Burnel burning up the track on ...

The Sugarcubes, The Very Things: The Very Things/The Sugarcubes: Camden Workers Social Club, London

Live Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 17 October 1987

IT WAS A pretty respectable turnout considering that the Camden Workers Social Club is hardly a familiar location for gigs. ...

Guns N' Roses: Animal House

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 24 October 1987

GUNS 'N' ROSES get mad with BARBARA ELLEN ...

Pepsi & Shirlie: When Did You Last See George Michael's Trousers?

Interview by Neil Taylor, New Musical Express, 24 October 1987

You've heard the phrase 'All mouth and no trousers' — but does it refer to George Michael and his vanishing keks? To Top Shoppers PEPSI ...

The La's: The La’s

Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 24 October 1987

"WE CAN'T really play but we’re having ago. And we love music, that’s why we’re having a go... our songs are just dead catchy tunes ...

Motorhead: Corn Exchange, Cambridge

Live Review by Ben Thompson, New Musical Express, 27 October 1987

"IF WE moved in next door to you your lawn would die" Lemmy once proclaimed gleefully. To a 12-year-old HM fan like myself, Motorhead always ...

Pepsi & Shirlie: All Right Now (Polydor)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 31 October 1987

PEPSI AND SHIRLIE would like to be taken seriously, but their past is working against them — the fact that they once danced behind The ...

Eric B. & Rakim, LL Cool J, Public Enemy: LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Eric B & Rakim: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 November 1987

SOFA, SO GOOOOOOD! ...

Cash Money and MC Marvellous, Cool C, DJ Bones and Malika Love, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Jewel-T, Lord Supreme and DJ Groove, Master Vic and Exotic Don, MC Breeze, Yvette Money, Schoolly D, Steady B: Philly Busters: The Rappers That Ate New York

Report and Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 7 November 1987

After ten years in the shadow of New York Flash and Cool, Philadelphia is fast becoming the City of Brotherly Rap. A new generation of ...

Coldcut Get Hot

Profile and Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 14 November 1987

SONGS HAVE become fragile. The things that held them together – the value of the individual voice, the neat edges of recorded product – are ...

Tom Waits: I Just Tell Stories For Money: Tom Waits

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 14 November 1987

SOMETIMES YOU CAN get a pretty good idea about someone's music just by checking out their appearance. If clothes maketh the man, they also speak ...

M/A/R/R/S: Life on M/A/R/R/S

Report and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 14 November 1987

This is a journey into sound. A journey into the hip-slanging, writ-wrangling, song-stealing, dub-dealing world of sampling. It is also fast becoming a journey to ...

Nina Simone: Moody Dues

Interview by Richard Cook, New Musical Express, 14 November 1987

JAPANESE TOURISTS frantically snapping photographs of each other is a recurring scenario common to the lobbies of Europe's grandest hotels. Today is different. Stepping from ...

The Beastie Boys: The Beastie Bit

Report by John McCready, New Musical Express, 21 November 1987

JOHN McCREADY on the Beastie Boys court case... ...

Mary Coughlan: Palladium, London

Live Review by Bruce Dessau, New Musical Express, 28 November 1987

WHEN YOU'VE swiftly established yourself as a cult singer of pretty impressive status there's only one direction you want to go, and that's mainstream. It's ...

Cabaret Voltaire, The Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cabaret Voltaire: The Limelight, New York NY

Live Review by Frank Owen, New Musical Express, 28 November 1987

TEN YEARS ago, Cabaret Voltaire gave the appearance of being needed on the principal that today's avant-garde is tomorrow's ready-to-wear. These days there's nothing as ...

Roger Waters: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Richard North, New Musical Express, 5 December 1987

WELCOME TO the latest in Roger's line of grand political concepts, Radio KAOS. An ever proliferating network of seductive allusions, provocative hints, suggestive cross-references. ...

Krushed With The Reels Of Industry

Report and Interview by Ben Thompson, New Musical Express, 12 December 1987

As the East Midlands house of KRUSH arrests a nation with its jack-knife beat, BEN THOMPSON meets FON's latest sampling superstars. ...

Loop: Paradise Postponed

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 12 December 1987

With A R Kane and Dinosaur Jr, Croydon noiseniks LOOP are busy reviving indie white rock fortunes. JACK BARRON asks how long before these bands ...

T-Coy: Union Jack: The British House Boom

Report by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 12 December 1987

If you thought House music was an imported irritation that would jack off as quickly as it came, your worst nightmare is about to become ...

Rick Astley: The Jimmy Tarbuck Syndrome

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 19 December 1987

Is 'When I Fall In Love' the vinyl voice of God? Or does it herald the golden age of the bathtub crooner? The apple of ...

Stock Aitken Waterman: Stock, Aitken and Waterman: Let the Kids Decide

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 19 December 1987

Messrs. STOCK, AITKEN AND WATERMAN were this year's answer to Swain and Jolley, only (surprise surprise) they don't see it that way. SEAN O'HAGAN hears ...

Kid'n Play : Kid'n Play: Rap Without The Crap!

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1988

Lean, mean and squeaky clean, the bullshit-free beats of Kid'n Play have earned them plenty of dubious accolades, from "the yuppies of rap" to "Salt'n'Pepa ...

Cowboy Junkies: Saddled With The Blues: Cowboy Junkies

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1988

JOHN WAYNE on smack? Is that what you expected and outfit who call themselves Cowboy Junkies to sound like? Wild country and western shoot-outs and ...

The Fall, Madness, The Smiths: England: Look Back In Anguish

Essay by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 2 January 1988

"Oh, grassy dale and lowland scene/Come see, come hear the English Scheme!" (The Fall)"You might sleep, but you will never dream/Oh, Manchester! So much to ...

Tony Terry: Forever Yours (Epic LP/cassette)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 2 January 1988

WONDER FULL ...

Arthur Baker, New Order: Arthur Baker: Legends of Arthur

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 9 January 1988

What do current chart hits by New Order and Wally Jump Junior have in common with a new House version of John Coltrane's masterpiece 'A ...

Fields Of The Nephilim: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 16 January 1988

NEPHI-PHLEGM ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Lust In Space: The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 16 January 1988

Stardate ’88.Warp factor 10. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are preparing to pervert the planet, "hit it to hell in the bread-basket", and, er, do ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (EMI America Import LP only)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 16 January 1988

EXPLODING PARTY PEPPERS ...

Pussy Galore: Total Hot Babe-dom

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 30 January 1988

"LAST NIGHT we were onstage, and it was like people were screaming and stuff, thrashing around – I don't know, it's like my initial reaction ...

Spoonie Gee: The Wag Club, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 30 January 1988

UNDER PLAIN RAPPING ...

Morrissey: Desecrating Wildly

Report and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, February 1988

"How could they do this to Oscar Wilde's grave?" Len Brown asks of Morrissey, but finds his genitals reduced to paperweights. (Oscar's that is...) ...

Jamie Principle: Acid House: New Acid Daze

Report and Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 6 February 1988

As our charts bulge with British House, so its big American brother trips off in a new direction. Spacier and racier, mesmeric and dis(c)oncerting – ...

Enter The Acid House

Report by John McCready, New Musical Express, 6 February 1988

As our charts bulge with British House, so its big American brother trips off in a new direction. Spacier and racier, mesmeric and dis(c)oncerting – ...

Ennio Morricone: Il Maestro

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

Sampled by such hombres as Cameo and B.A.D., and the creator of a bandolier of classic film themes, ENNIO MORRICONE is a master of his ...

Morrissey: Borne To Be Wilde - interview part 1

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

"WE HAVE a warrant here, Mr. Wilde, for your arrest on a charge of committing indecent acts." "Where shall I be taken?" "To Bow Street." ...

Paul Haig: European Sun (Les Disques Du Crepuscule LP/CD)

Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

PAUL HAIG has always been an annoying blur across the face of post-modernist consumer pop music. Splitting up one of the finest Morley-era guitar groups ...

Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance (Fontana)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

IF PUNK was an ugly kid's crazed revenge on old age, an obliterating mayhem, there were other ways the clogging and the arrested adolescence of ...

The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu: Who Killed The JAMs (JAMs LP only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

MILKING THE MU MU ...

The Mighty Lemon Drops: World Without End (Chrysalis/Blue Guitar LP/cassette/CD)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

WITHOUT BEING patronising I kind of feel sorry for this lot. Anybody who was fortunate enough to be involved in C86 — the 'movement' that ...

Woody Guthrie: Columbia River Collection

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

THE LEGEND dwarfs the artist. His tragic life, his hard times have somehow cast his potent roots music into the shadows; if you can lay ...

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Holly Johnson: Frankie Went To Hollywood And All I Got Was This Stupid T-Shirt

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 20 February 1988

When two tribes go to war... As the Great Frankie Case ends, MICHELE KIRSCH talks to the victorious HOLLY JOHNSON ...

Morrissey: Born to be Wilde - interview part 2

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 20 February 1988

"I THINK that very strong intelligent artists should dictate practically everything, but they don't. If we talk about Tiffany and Belinda Carlisle and the whole ...

Gladys Knight: All Our Love (MCA)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 27 February 1988

SINCE WINNING the Ted Mack Amateur Hour TV show at the age of eight and picking up $2000 for her rendition of Nat 'King' Cole's ...

The Pixies: Surfer Rosa

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, March 1988

PIXIES QUOTE The Fall (a mangled snatch of 'Stephen Song' in 'I'm Amazed'), so we can: "They pass my home at night/oh they are NOT ...

Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow: Barry Manilow: Swing Street (Arista LP/Cassette/CD); Tony Bennett: Bennett/Berlin (CBS LP and cassette)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 5 March 1988

ARISTA'S SWING Street hails the return of Bazza the jazzer. The man who once put more bums on the grass at Blenheim than Churchill had ...

Jean Carne: You're A Part Of Me (RCA LP/cassette/CD)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 5 March 1988

IT'S A SECRET inland sea, this late-nite soul: and Jean Carne's voice is an inlet in that sea, away from the wrong of the world. ...

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (CBS LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Richard North, New Musical Express, 5 March 1988

OSTENSIBLY LENNY has that kind of graceless seriousness which makes the more frivolous amongst us uncomfortable. He's been dismissed by a multitude as an old ...

Madness: You Only Live Twice

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 March 1988

Madness are dead! Long live THE MADNESS. Without Woody and Bedders and Barson's ghost, the Mad Four – Suggs, Carl, Chris and Lee – charge ...

Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté: Cold Chillin' Records: Licensed To Chill

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, John McCready, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

Cold Chillin' Records was started in 1986 by Tyrone Williams. As manager of Marley Marl — a 23 year old producer, writer, arranger, and renowned New ...

Nanci Griffith: Little Love Affairs

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

SHE'S THE very picture of vulnerability. The little girl stands – bobby sox, blazer, hair-band, sprig of blue bonnets in hand – by the window, ...

The Trio Bulgarka: Never Mind The Balkans: The New Bulgaria

Report by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

Not exactly Bananarama, perhaps, but 4AD's LE MYSTÈRE DES VOIX BULGARES and TRIO BULGARKA and other Bulgarian artists are shifting a surprising number of units ...

Prefab Sprout: From Langley Park To Memphis

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

FROM THE raw-wrestling flesh of Swoon to the black-faced greasy bikedom of Steve McQueen, the sleeves of Sprout albums have refused to reveal or hint ...

Iron Maiden: Welcome To The Machine: Iron Maiden

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

MUCH AS WE may laugh at the blustering antics of its ambassadors, HM is no joke. As a kind of musical Rollerball, exorcising taboos and ...

T'Pau: Crystal Tipps, Kicks to Kill

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 March 1988

All hail t'purveyors of t'power and t'glory that is T'PAU. STEVEN WELLS meets up with Caz Decker in Berlin. Swoon. ...

Voice Of The Beehive: Where Angels Fear to Tread

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 26 March 1988

Walking the earth, stalking the fringes of the chart, VOICE OF THE BEEHIVE go five rounds with a Beaujolais-addled BARBARA ELLEN on the set of ...

Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman (Elektra)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, April 1988

SHE COMES from the wilderness, as prophesised, with a voice like molasses, hair like an ink blot and a heartful of tears. She comes with ...

Ultramagnetic MCs: Ultramagnetic MC's

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, April 1988

THE EXPLANATORY enthusiasm of New York's most impressive, left-field rap newcomers cuts the crisp late-winter air like a drum solo in a public library. ...

Salt 'N' Pepa: Cookie Cruets

Profile and Interview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 2 April 1988

Rap moves fast. Blink and you'll miss a ship-full of 12-inch singles each one pointing in a dozen new directions. With almost ten years or ...

Aswad: Distant Thunder

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 9 April 1988

DEEP JOY is in my heart that Aswad have had a giant hit single, a corking little pop reggae soul tune of some upliftingness. However, ...

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees: Gladsome Humour & Blue (Kitchenware/London)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 9 April 1988

STEPHENSON BUILDS bridges. Between love and hate, between cradle and grave, between folk and pop, between the past and the present. He surveys the world ...

Butthole Surfers: Riding The Shock Wave

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 16 April 1988

IN TEXAS, even daylight isn't ordinary. You can stay indoors and sleep, hide from the noon-time sun that way, but the overlit world outside is ...

Ofra Haza: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 16 April 1988

NOT A hip-hop victim in sight, and still Ofra Haza sold out the QEH. Israel's most successful pop star drew a crowd which consisted of ...

Rick Rubin: The Devil's Disciple

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 16 April 1988

Beelzebub or Midas? Def Jam supremo RICK RUBIN walks the fine line between brilliance and stupidity. JACK BARRON joins him on the tightrope and enters ...

Living Colour: Black Rock Coalition: Living Colour’s Vernon Reid

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 23 April 1988

2005 NOTE: This piece is a mess, though the underlying concept was good, and besides, the whole paper was a mess at this stage. I ...

Janice Long: The Long Goodbye

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 23 April 1988

From presenting the only four nights a week show to play the Primitives next to Prince, JANICE LONG has felt the cold shoulder from the ...

James Blood Ulmer: Pied Bull, Islington, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 30 April 1988

DRUNK ON BLOOD ...

Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One: KRS-1, Boogie Down Productions: By All Means Necessary (Jive US Import)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 30 April 1988

LOVE AND BULLETS ...

Teena Marie: Naked To The World (Epic LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 30 April 1988

THE WILD white girl of Motown (rtd.) links up with Rick James again, and reminds us of a whole slew of things we were forgetting ...

Was (Not Was): Disco Infernal

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 30 April 1988

WHIPPED CREAM ON A BARBED WIRE PIE ...

Danielle Dax: University of London Union

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

DAX IN WAX ...

Derek B: Rapping for the Yankee Dollar?

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

DEREK B is Britain's first serious contender for the crown of international rap. JAMES BROWN bows to the boy from Bow but wonders whether the ...

Penelope Spheeris: Last of the Mohawkans

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

PENELOPE SPHEERIS is the West Coast punk auteur whose movies have traced the decline and fall of hard core culture. Dudes completes her trilogy of ...

The Men They Couldn’t Hang: The Men They Couldn't Hang: Hip Ahoy!

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

Shiver yer timbers and splice yer mainbrace! THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG have just spirited up their first long player Waiting For Bonaparte. LEN BROWN ...

The Primitives: International 2, Manchester

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

OH TRACEY Tracey, we drool in unison. How did we get here. From Morrissey's T-shirts to the foaming lips of Steve Wright, from the indie-ghetto ...

Bastard Kestrel, The Shamen: The Shamen, Bastard Kestrel: Notre Dame Hall, London

Live Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

HALF-SPEEDO half chuck-it-on-the-floor-jump-up-and-down-scarily-and-hope-that-something-happens, these Bastard Kestrels are the wedgeheads' dream answer to Cricklewood Broadway's grim surrounds: four youths down the local disco with but an ...

Thomas Dolby: Town And Country Club, London

Live Review by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

THOMAS DOLBY is a musical Fagin. In his top hat and gutter-sweeping coat he has to pick a pocket or two but has this small ...

Whitney Houston: NEC, Birmingham

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 7 May 1988

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, SORTA ...

KRS-One: KRS-1: Brixton Fridge, London

Live Review by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

DEAF NOT DEF ...

Ofra Haza is Goldfinger

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

Already a star in her native Israel, OFRA HAZA has broken out of the 'world music' ghetto thanks to a sample of her remarkable voice ...

Prefab Sprout: Extracting the Michael

Interview by Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

Though inspired by dreams of Wacko Jacko, PREFAB SPROUT'S mainman PADDY McALOON has little time lor most rock legends — Talking Heads and Bruce Springsteen ...

Prince: Lovesexy (Paisley Park)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

"The best pop music does not reflect events so much as it absorbs them".– Greil Marcus on Sly Stone's There's A Riot Goin' On ...

Rush: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by The Legend!, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

RUSH ARE the present-day equivalent of Woking's own, the Jam. Sounds 'Readers' Poll Winners 1979, the very same year that our fave floppy-fringed trio walked ...

New Order: Tell Me, How Does It Feel? New Order and the 'Blue Monday' syndrome: the NME Factory remix

Report by Len Brown, David Quantick, New Musical Express, 14 May 1988

The best-selling 12" of all time! Two million copies worldwide! Five years on from its original release (four spent in the Top 200), NEW ORDER'S ...

KRS-One: KRS-1: View From The Bridge

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 21 May 1988

KRS-1, tough turned thinker, raps for condoms and chillin' against crack and killin'. And yet he's seen toting a gun and posing a la Black ...

Public Enemy: Hummingbird, Birmingham

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 21 May 1988

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! ...

Public Enemy: Too Black Too Strong

Interview by Jack Barron, James Brown, New Musical Express, 21 May 1988

PUBLIC ENEMY — simply the most creative rappers around? Or a dangerous game with the politics of race? JAMES BROWN and JACK BARRON lay it ...

The Weather Prophets: Judges Juries & Horsemen (Creation)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 26 May 1988

WELCOME TO The Pete Astor Experience. ...

Soul Asylum: The Thin White Nose-Candy Line

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 28 May 1988

2005 note: I don’t think I ever played one of their records ONCE in all the years since I interviewed them (haha a "sensible Clash" ...

Joni Mitchell: Idol Talk: Joni Mitchell

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 4 June 1988

"THE POET is the vainest of the vain, even before the ugliest of water buffalo doth he fan his tail." ...

Alexander O'Neal: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 11 June 1988

"GUESS WHAT? I went to see Alexander O'Neal at Wembley tonight. It was brilliant. The seat I'd bought was dead expensive. None of your rubbish. I ...

James Brown: I'm Real (Polydor)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 11 June 1988

HE ISN'T, of course. He's Mr James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, the Funky President, the Original Disco Man. He's a numbing backbeat tightened to ...

AR Kane: Dream Baby Dream

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 18 June 1988

As their debut LP floats in on a cloud of DREAMPOP A.R. KANE tuck SEAN O'HAGAN into beddy-byes and sing him to sleep. ...

Gary Glitter, The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu: The JAMS: Wizards of Scam

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 25 June 1988

While hundreds of hippies besieged Stonehenge, three mysterious cloaked figures slipped through the security net to pay their own strange homage to the Summer Solstice. ...

Bros: "Bros Not Dross" Shock: Bros: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 2 July 1988

WHAT IS IT about Bros? ...

Eric B. & Rakim: Eric B & Rakim: The Motormouths Speed On!

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 2 July 1988

With the American music biz finally embracing hip hop, Eric B & Rakim – contract expired – have been able to cash in their uncompromised ...

Morrissey, The Smiths: Hate Male

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 2 July 1988

The Smiths were "like a life-support machine" to Morrissey. Without STEPHEN STREET – co-writer/producer of Viva Hate – it's conceivable that Les Miserable himself would ...

David Bowie, Kronos Quartet, Microdisney, The Woodentops: David Bowie, The Woodentops, The Kronos Quartet, Microdisney: ICA Benefit, Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 9 July 1988

FRIDAY NIGHT. Time to take in a show. Support the arts and all that, old bean. Arriving early at the Dominion Theatre the singer from ...

David Byrne, The Durutti Column, Hugo Largo: David Byrne, Durutti Column, Hugo Largo: ICA Benefit, Cambridge Theatre, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 9 July 1988

SATURDAY NIGHT, time yet again to support the arts at the second gig of the weekend to support the ICA and celebrate its 40th birthday. ...

Pink Floyd: A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 9 July 1988

No band has ever been simultaneously as popular and as hated as Pink Floyd. Their latest album, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, has spawned three ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Salt 'N' Pepa: Scratching with Thatcher

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 July 1988

SALT 'N' PEPA and Spinderella, those crazy female purveyors of the street beat meet Mrs T for tea in Downing Street. STEVEN WELLS asked them ...

The Darling Buds, The Wonder Stuff: The Wonder Stuff, The Darling Buds: London University

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 9 July 1988

THE CHUNDER STUFF ...

Al Green: “I May Be From Another Planet…”: Al Green

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 16 July 1988

2005 note: I was in New Orleans in April/May 1988, filming items for German TV, when I heard that Al Green would be playing at ...

Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson: Techno: Don't Fear the Robot

Overview by John McCready, New Musical Express, 16 July 1988

TECHNO – a new Detroit sound vibration – is rocking the House of the future. John McCready checks out the credentials of the Third Wave ...

Beats Workin': Turn On, Drop Out

Report and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 16 July 1988

Methylenedioxymetheamphetamine, aka Ecstasy has been described as a "love drug" and "a new age mind bender". Whatever, there is no doubting its effect on a ...

Electra, Paul Oakenfold: Electra: Age of Chants

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

Club DJ makes record shock! PAOLO HEWITT talks to PAUL OAKENFOLD, the man behind ELECTRA'S 'Jibaro', about his faith in the new Balearic Beat. ...

JVC Force: Can you feel the force?

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

Blasting the Bronx from their offshore base "Strong Island" come JVC FORCE, making hits but not taking any. MICHELE KIRSCH survives the barrage ...

Nico, The Velvet Underground: Nico: Last of the Bohemians

Obituary by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

NICO, HIGH priestess of Teutonic angst, died in Ibiza last Monday night of a brain haemorrhage. She was found unconscious by the side of her ...

The Dinner Ladies, The Oyster Band: The Oyster Band and The Dinner Ladies: A Total Oyster Time?

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

Is the New Wave of British Folk going anywhere, or is it just the old stuff tanked up and recut? ...

The Residents, Snakefinger: The Residents: The eyes of the Lord are upon us

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

From eyeball lashing to Bible bashing THE RESIDENTS are back and inviting you to come spend a fright night at the opera with them. Their ...

Momus: CV of Mortal Sins

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 6 August 1988

Is MOMUS (aka NICK CURRIE) a voyeur, ex-rent boy and semi necrophile? Or is he merely writing a rock'n'roll bad reputation for himself? DON WATSON ...

Prince & The Revolution: Camden Palace, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 6 August 1988

TWICE IN my life I've shouted "It's better than sex", and twice I've been wrong. First time I was chasin' Pop Rocks exploding candy with ...

Tiffany: Trouble At T'mall

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 August 1988

Thrill to the Ultimate Confrontation as Teen Queen TIFFANY kills The Acne Ridden Rotter of T'Pennines STEVEN WELLS. Watch in horror as Swells is eaten ...

Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave: The Needle And The Damage Done

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 13 August 1988

NICK CAVE – the voice of desperation; singer, writer, actor, junkie! JACK BARRON, branded by the Bad Seed a "filthy little prick", gets to grips ...

The Jungle Brothers: Burning Bright

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 13 August 1988

Fearing the worst JACK BARRON penetrated the steaming undergrowth of New York to reach THE JUNGLE BROTHERS and finds not red-eyed monsters but fresh-faced missionaries. ...

Scritti Politti: That Obscure Object of Desire

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 20 August 1988

THE MEPHISTO of sophisto, GREEN GARTSIDE, and his slightly cool vehicle SCRITTI POLITTI have once more pulled into view with their new single 'First Boy ...

The Lemonheads: Creator

Review by Martin Aston, New Musical Express, 20 August 1988

IF AMERICAN post-hardcore is the definitive mix of musical sour and sweet – sour, the sound of fractious guitars, melting, and sweet, the coils of ...

3 Mustaphas 3: Fez Fair!

Report and Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 10 September 1988

2005 note: Collapse of post-comm Balkans into internecine war hinted at, kinda. Well, only if you read WAY between the lines I think. Another submerged ...

Ciccone Youth: Youth Programming (Bastards)

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 10 September 1988

THE LAST THING I remember before unconsciousness descended like a gun-butt to the head was Thurston Moore's evil grin and his instruction, "Relax, nothing bad ...

Billy Bragg: Workers Playtime (Go! Discs LP/Cassette/ CD)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

YOURS SINCERELY ...

Frank Sidebottom: 5/9/88! (In Tape Double LP/Cassette only)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

THE VERY existence of 5/9/88! is a triumph of art over antagonism. Like The Smiths at Strangeways… and The Beatles during Let It Be, Sidebottom's ...

Living Colour: Astoria, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

"IF YOU'RE black, it's OK to be two things, a crooner in a fairisle sweater or a bad ass B-Boy... look at the history of rock music, ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thelonious Monster: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thelonius Monster: Mishas, Hollywood

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

CHILI TO GO ...

Suicide: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Jane Solanas, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

THE THING about this alarming trend of 'rock comebacks' is that the term can mean anything from the return of a bankrupt geriatric to the ...

The Jungle Brothers: Zap Club, Brighton

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 17 September 1988

BUNGLE BROTHERS ...

Anthrax: State Of Euphoria (Island LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 24 September 1988

LAD TIMING ...

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Tender Prey (Mute LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 24 September 1988

LET US PREY ...

Stetsasonic: A Giant Stet

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 September 1988

New York's STETSASONIC are pushing forward the frontiers of rap, way beyond girls, cars and gold, into politics and social awareness. Definitely a Stet in ...

Harry Crews: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

TONIGHT — If past reports of her live shows are to be believed — Lydia Lunch is not quite herself. Nor is she alone. Harry ...

Henry Rollins: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

THE GRAND old illustrated man of US hardcore grips the stage with his toes and hangs ten. Henry Rollins has just rolled into town again ...

James: Strip-mine (Blanco Y Negro LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

THE FIRST thing to say is that this is not the LP that James are capable of. By today's standards certainly it's excellent, but it's ...

Fields Of The Nephilim, Jane's Addiction, Under Neath What?: Jane's Addiction, Under Neath What?: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

GOTH NIGHT in South London has brought out all the silly cowboy hats, floppy bandanas and Wayne Hussey lookalikes in full force. The crowds of ...

The Fall: Michael Clark & Company v The Fall — I Am Kurious, Oranj: Sadler's Wells, London

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

M.E.S. IN TUTU DRAW ...

EPMD, Stetsasonic: Stetsasonic, EPMD: International 2, Manchester

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

SONIC BOOM BOYS ...

Hugo Largo, That Petrol Emotion: That Petrol Emotion, Hugo Largo: Hummingbird, Birmingham

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

IF CRITICAL plaudits were big bucks then, whilst erstwhile chum Feargal busked for small change at Leicester Square, That Petrol Emotion would be laughing all ...

Tom Waits: Big Time (Island LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1 October 1988

START MAKING SENSE ...

Bunny Wailer

Interview by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

"Bunny had fashioned a guitar out of a large sardine can with a bamboo stalk and electric wires. Another friend, Peter MacIntosh, obtained a real ...

Falco: Wiener Blut (WEA LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

THE RELEASE of a new album from Austria's best-loved pop eccentric always sees me bid my beating heart be still, particularly when it's this unexpected. ...

Keith Richards: Talk Is Cheap (Virgin LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

CHEAP AND NASTY ...

Luther Vandross: Any Love (Epic LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Mark Sinker, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

NO LOVE MACHINE ...

Michael Nyman: Drowning By Numbers (Virgin/Venture LP/ Cassette/CD)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

WE DON'T want to know about Michael Nyman, they said. We want to hear about genuinely talented people like Kylie Minogue and the Godfathers. Well ...

Todd Terry: Royal House: Can You Party? (Idlers Records Import LP Only)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 8 October 1988

TERRY IS the 21-year-old enfant terrible of House, a sci-fi producer who has turned the rules of the game on their heads and left a ...

Gary Numan: "I'd love to carry a gun. If some nutter comes at me with a gun I'd like to be able to shoot him."

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 15 October 1988

"IT'S COLD outside" sang GARY NUMAN nine years ago during 'Are Friend's Electric''s wintery grip on the charts. None of Gaz's more recent attempts have ...

Derek B, EPMD, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Stetsasonic: Run DMC, Public Enemy et al: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 15 October 1988

LONDON BRIDGE is falling down, Big Ben has struck one minute to midnight and had his hand's burned. And all is not well in this ...

The Wedding Present: Town And Country Club, London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 20 October 1988

DAVID GEDGE, six foot plus of gangly manhood in a vile paisley shirt, steps through the balloon infested stage and grabs the microphone with a ...

U2: 'In Ireland People Are Scared of Success...'

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 20 October 1988

THE FULFILLMENT of any U2 project will always set tongues a-wagging in Dublin. Aside from being one of the country's major industries, the quartet are ...

Paul Oakenfold: "Acid is going underground. It's got to go that way because of all the fuss. The media are out to kill it"

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 October 1988

So where do we go from here, matey? Acid guru PAUL OAKENFOLD talks to Paolo Hewitt ...

Pop Will Eat Itself: Brielport, Dienze, Belgium

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 October 1988

RAP OVER THE KNUCKLEHEADS ...

Pop Will Eat Itself, Public Enemy: Pop Will Eat Itself (and Public Enemy): Scrapping With Rap

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 29 October 1988

AS DEF JAM'S happy rap panto rolls through Europe, Pop Will Eat Itself and Public Enemy are getting on fine. Unfortunately the hordes of Belgian ...

Derek B, Pop Will Eat Itself, Public Enemy: Pop Will Eat Itself: Scrapping With Rap

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 29 October 1988

As DEF JAM'S happy rap panto rolls through Europe POP WILL EAT ITSELF and PUBLIC ENEMY are getting on fine. Unfortunately the hordes of Belgian ...

The Fall: I Am Kurious Oranj (Beggars Banquet)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 29 October 1988

"When I was at the Witch Trials of the 20th Century, they said: 'You are white crap. You are an aesthetic anesthetic. Your repetition will ...

Todd Terry: All On His Todd

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 5 November 1988

TODD TERRY, the name if not the face of 1988, is possibly the ultimate producer, refusing to become a performer or even enter a "proper" ...

Kate Bush: Down At The Old Bul and Bush

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 12 November 1988

Kate Bush and Yanka Rupkina sit on a bean-bag couch and sing to me, Bulgarian style; Rupkina bleating high and joyous above Bush's harmony. ...

Tom Tom Club: The Borderline, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 12 November 1988

TINA WEYMOUTH has been fidgeting behind a bass guitar for 11 years, just waiting for a chance to shake her long blonde hair about like ...

Phil Collins: Well Chuffed

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 17 November 1988

Does PHIL COLLINS keep up the tradition and slot into the file alongside Ringo and Keith Moon – tub-thumpers and "silly" actors both? LEN BROWN ...

Acid Crackdown: Get Right Off One Chummy

Report by Paolo Hewitt, Sean O'Hagan, Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 November 1988

With the hysteria now reaching fever pitch and questions being asked in the (non-Acid) House, NME calls a time out to assess the damage in the tab-mad ...

Acid Crackdown: Sunrise III, Greenwich

Report by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 19 November 1988

2003 note: Sunrise III, which took place in November 1988 on an industrial wasteland that would later house the Dome, was a pivotal event in ...

The Dave Howard Singers, Spacemen 3: Spacemen 3, The Dave Howard Singers: University of London Union

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 November 1988

THE PROBLEM with most purveyors of ersatz electronic soul is they invariably forget the random element while building citadels of software perfect pop. Dave Howard ...

Kym Mazelle And The Post-Acid World Of DEEP HOUSE

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 November 1988

With Acid House — the music not the lifestyle — being phased out after a summer of madness, what's next for the turntable terrors? Deep House, ...

T'Pau: Springsteen in a Split Skirt

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 26 November 1988

Still reeling from 15 rounds with Steven Wells, T'Pau's Carol Decker now faces the ultimate challenge — five Bimbo-detecting questions posed by Gimlet-eyed airhead-hater BARBARA ...

Neneh Cherry: Cherry On Top

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 3 December 1988

After spells in the hyper-trendy but hit-starved Rip Rig And Panic and Float Up CP, NENEH CHERRY is about to burst into the charts with ...

Yazz: The Benetton Skeleton Gets It On

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 3 December 1988

Who is this seaweed munching ex-clothes-horse YAZZ person? And why am I covered in bark? asks STEVEN WELLS. ...

Bomb The Bass: The Hawth Centre, Crawley

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 December 1988

PUMP UP THE CONCEPT ...

Marshall Jefferson: Let's Get Spiritual – Deep House

Report by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 10 December 1988

As House approaches its third birthday, and the classical club sound of Deep House and Garage Music asserts itself on Acid-fatigued dancefloors, SIMON WITTER reports ...

My Bloody Valentine: Dream Demons

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 10 December 1988

THE JOURNALIST, immobilized by a massive student demonstration in Central London, is late. A couple of miles up the road in a Kentish Town bar ...

Cardiacs: The Cardiacs: Town and Country Club, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 December 1988

THIS THING IS out of control. A twiddly organ introduction induces mass hysteria amongst the huge Cardiacs cult following, a bizarre range of pigtailed princesses ...

The Cold Crush Brothers: Cold Crush Brothers: Troopers (B-Boy/Westside LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 17 December 1988

SQUASHED OFF in the opposite direction are the Brothers. While hip hop in general is surfing on a newfound musical sophistication, with crews like The ...

K.T. Oslin: This Woman (RCA LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 17 December 1988

FOR THE lack of money pretensions, K.T. Oslin and her band of devout followers is, collectively, a good thing. Slightly overrated, certainly overproduced, but never ...

Pussy Galore: Paw Little Rich Kids

Interview by Don Watson, New Musical Express, 17 December 1988

Using horrendous production and brattish titles PUSSY GALORE are fast and thrashing on the heels of The Buttholes and Sonic Youth. DON WATSON (clenched fists) ...

Rick Astley: Apollo, Manchester

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 24 December 1988

IS RICK merely a driplet of festering pus oozing from a seeping SAW inflicted on the slashed side of the crucified pop-christ by the very ...

Bon Jovi: Yankee Noodle Dandies: Bon Jovi

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 24 December 1988

HE'S ONLY NINE months older than me, but last year Jon Bongiovi - a 26-year-old American of Sicilian extraction - made more money than you ...

Earth Wind and Fire: Elemental: Earth Wind & Fire

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, Fall 1988

Monarchs of mind expansion and celestial 70s grooving, EW&F were the world's biggest pre-Wacko black superstars. Now they're back, as a 'people band', with a ...

Chaka Khan: Life Is A Dance - The Remix Project (Warner Brothers)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 1989

THIS ALBUM IS simply staggering, as magnificent in finished form as its conception is bizarre. Imagine, if you will, the highlights of a singer's career ...

Dusty Springfield: Scandal In The Wind: Dusty Springfield

Report and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 1989

As the sex-in-high-places Profumo Scandal returns to this nation's screens, Dusty Springfield (with the Pet Shop Boys) brings us the single soundtrack. Len Brown met ...

KRS-One: The Rap Trap

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 January 1989

And the kids keep dying. Armed with only a Sony Walkman and a pen, PAOLO HEWITT goes looking for the solution to Rap's vicious side, ...

The Darling Buds, The House Of Love, The Wonder Stuff: The House of Love, The Darling Buds and The Wonder Stuff: Tomorrow Belongs To Us

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 January 1989

AT THE DAWN OF 1989 I'm confronted by Guy House Of Love Chadwick, Andrea Darling Bud and Miles Wonder Stuff. The first, an anorexic Brian ...

Nelson George: Soul Destroyer

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 14 January 1989

As a columnist for Billboard and The Village Voice, Nelson George has been America's most incisive commentator on the changing face of black music culture. ...

Jane's Addiction: On Tender Hooks: Jane’s Addiction

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 14 January 1989

From beneath the bloated carcass of LA rawk crawl Jane's Addiction, kissing to be clever and determined to prove that Metal can be different. Simon ...

Diamanda Galás: Sometimes Words Are Not Enough: Diamanda Galás: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 January 1989

SELF-CENSORSHIP destroys our richest dreams before they're executed. Just as redneck hysteria is the last refuge of the foul-mouthed scoundrel, so does restraint cast doubts ...

Throwing Muses: Hunkpapa

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 21 January 1989

WAS SITTING BULL a Hunkpapa or an Oglala Sioux? And how come one of these two strands of the Sioux nation has emerged as a ...

Jane's Addiction: ICA Rock Week, ICA London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 28 January 1989

ABSENCE DULLS the memory of just how wrong the ICA is as a rock venue. It's not a matter of artsiness — give me designer ...

Jean-Paul Gaultier: Club Couture

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 28 January 1989

After years of being afforded the status of pop star in his native France, fashion designer JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER has gone and done it his way ...

MCA Records: Strip Mining

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 28 January 1989

OVER THE PAST 12 months Universal City – the five square miles of North Hollywood dominated by the MCA/Universal studios – has yielded a crop ...

Sheena Easton: The Prime of Miss Sheena Easton

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 January 1989

A star in the States and yet either a twee girlie singer or second-string Prince collaborator in her home country, SHEENA EASTON, courtesy of that ...

Bryan Ferry: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 February 1989

SENT TO review a man who looks like the squinting lion out of Banana Splits, who sings like a garrotted donkey and dresses like a total ...

Ten City: New Soul Children

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 February 1989

Spurning the sampler and the radio-friendly fast buck, Chicago's TEN CITY are committed to rekindling the spirit of classic soul. With 'That's The Way Love ...

Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead: Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead: Dylan and The Dead

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

THIS COULD be a marriage made in heaven or hell, depending on which side of the critical fence you might be sitting. The majority of ...

Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians: the New Marquee, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

DAY DREAM RELIEVER ...

Fine Young Cannibals: The Raw And The Cooked (London LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

WHERE'S THE BEEF? ...

Ice-T and the Rhyme Syndicate: The Pink Toothbrush, Rayleigh

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

GUNS AND BOZOS ...

Tone Loc, Young MC: Lip-Smacking LA: Delicious Vinyl

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

New Yorkers, the creators of hip hop, have never been receptive to outside beats, and in the past only the Philly scene has given them ...

The Lilac Time, Love and Money: Love and Money, the Lilac Time: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

I'M ASHAMED of myself, as usual. For having missed the tea-time set by Andy Pawlak — the post-Sprout troubadour who feeds ice cream to rattlesnakes ...

Ministry: The Land Of Rape And Honey (Sire LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

BRIAN JOURGENSEN and Paul Barker, the men from Ministry, work together in a world of seemingly self inflicted pain and torture. A ceaseless metal-machine beat ...

Souled American: Fe (Rough Trade)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

STILL TRAPPED in the much-vaunted US grassroots revival's clutches, Souled American are floudering. It's no surprise that the search for authenticity petered out, as the ...

The Wolfhounds: Drummonds, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

BJÖRK E SMITH! The manic mongrel fronting the Wolfhounds resembles the offspring of some furtive Fall/Sugarcubes coupling, as he squeaks and stomps through jagged jumping-jack-flash ...

Voice Of The Beehive: Marquee, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 February 1989

PRIVATE PARTY, gargantuan guest list, a friendly farewell full of in-jokes for in-people. On the eve of their US tour, the Beehives bid bye-bye to ...

Elvis Costello: And So To Bedlam

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 18 February 1989

If 'you're nobody 'til everybody thinks you're a bastard' then, logically, the universal acclaim received by ELVIS COSTELLO's Spike LP must make him one of ...

Marshall Jefferson: Marshall Lore

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 February 1989

Over the last three years, former post office worker MARSHALL JEFFERSON's work as producer, writer and arranger, has resulted in some of the best House ...

The Judds: Dominion, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 18 February 1989

MAMA'S FROCK is straight out of the best little top shop whorehouse in Texas. Daughter goes for a more conservative tailored black suit. Mama could ...

Throwing Muses: Portsmouth Polytechnic

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 February 1989

BIG PAPA GIRL ROCKERS ...

Dusty Springfield: Scandal In The Wind

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 25 February 1989

"IT'S AMAZING when you consider how many people have croaked. Looking back at some of those old Ready Steady Go! Shows, 'Jesus, she's croaked, where's ...

Elvis Costello: Spike (Warners)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 25 February 1989

THE DOUR, BEARDED man wearing a crown who stared out from a record sleeve three years ago was an unhappy monarch. An emperor in new ...

The Fall, Nick Cave, The Pogues, Shane MacGowan: Mark E Smith, Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan: The Three Horsemen Of The Apocalypse

Interview by James Brown, Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 25 February 1989

For its second pop summit of the year, NME lent SEAN O'HAGAN and JAMES BROWN £10 each to buy SHANE MACGOWAN, MARK E SMITH and ...

Buckwheat Zydeco: The Gospel Accordion To Buckwheat

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 4 March 1989

Down in New Orleans SIMON WITTER met squeeze-boxer Stanley 'Buckwheat' Duval ...

The Beastie Boys, Slayer: Def Jam: Def On The Rocks?

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

Formerly the most formidable crossover label in existence, DEF JAM has been out of the limelight since a split in the ranks saw Rick Rubin ...

Nick Drake: Deja Vu: Nick Drake

Retrospective by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left ...

Bolt Thrower, Extreme Noise Terror, Napalm Death: Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, Bolt Thrower: ULU, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" ...

Papa Wemba: Papa's Got a Brand New Wardrobe: Papa Wemba

Profile and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

Film-star, superhero, total poseur, Zairean PAPA WEMBA brings his brand of designer World Beat to town, with a swish of posh cloth and a creak ...

Massive Attack, Smith & Mighty, Soul II Soul: Smith & Mighty and Soul II Soul: Anyone Who Had A Sound

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

Here PAOLO HEWITT gets on the Voice Beat with SMITH & MIGHTY and SOUL II SOUL. ...

The Style Council: The Singular Adventures Of The Style Council: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Polydor)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

THE COVER OF The Style Council's most blatantly angry single, 'Walls Come Tumbling Down', bears not a picture of rioting or the Prime Minister on ...

De La Soul: Three Feet High And Rising (Big Life LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 18 March 1989

ARE YOU ready for Martian hip-hop? Can you handle the new nutty boys of rap, the maddest, baddest bunch on the block? Can you imagine ...

Adult Net, The , The Bluebells, The Smiths: I Was A Juvenile Axe-Attacker: Craig Gannon

Retrospective and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 18 March 1989

From THE SMITHS to THE ADULT NET, THE BLUEBELLS to THE COLOURFIELD and not forgetting AZTEC CAMERA… CRAIG GANNON has played with them all, and ...

The The: The Boy Looked at Johnny

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 25 March 1989

"Johnny (Marr) probably understands what I'm doing more than anybody else I've ever known. It's been an absolute revelation, melodically we're like twins..." So says ...

The Pixies: Doolittle

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, April 1989

THAT LITTLE MONKEY with the halo hot-wired to its tiny skull – the central image for both the Pixies' latest single and this, their second ...

De La Soul: Soul Deep High and Rising

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 April 1989

They're Public Enemy's favourite band and their debut LP 3 Feet High And Rising is the world's first psychedelic Rap album mixing Day-Glo, Disney, dance ...

The Jungle Brothers: Pure Righteousness

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 1 April 1989

Can the creators of powerful positive Afro-rap THE JUNGLE BROTHERS also be true believers of Islamic fundamentalist, black separatist Louis Farrakhan? SEAN O'HAGAN explores the ...

Coldcut: What's That Noise?

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 8 April 1989

First grabbing the world's ears with their remix of Eric B And Rakims 'Paid In Full' the COLDCUT crew of Matt Black and Jonathan Moore ...

Kym Mazelle, Ten City: Ten City, Kym Mazelle: Town and Country Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 April 1989

KISS IT BETTER ...

A Guy Called Gerald: Voodoo Guru

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

Despite the praise heaped on A GUY CALLED GERALD'S hypnotic first single, 'Voodoo Ray', nothing much seemed to happen. Then the single hit the clubs ...

Band of Susans: Love Agenda (Blast First LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

AS DOYENS of the New York post-everything underground scene and inheritors of the glistening mantle once worn by Television, Band Of Susans never clutch at ...

N.W.A: NWA: Straight Outta Compton (Ruthless import LP)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

COMPTON DOES not sound like the kind of area you want to move to. Judging by this LP, most of its inhabitants seem to bear ...

The Triffids: The Day Of The Triffids

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

WINDING ITS WAY down the Swan River to the Indian Ocean, Perth is the sort of paradise most of us only get to dream of. ...

Gerald Alston: Jazz-Soul-Funk Weekender: Cala Gran Holiday Park, Fleetwood

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 22 April 1989

BLACKPOOL HALLUCINATIONS ...

Stevie Wonder: Breaking The Square Circle

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 April 1989

Perhaps the most innovative musician of the '70s, STEVIE WONDER has enjoyed mixed fortunes in the '80s, dividing his time between duets with Dionne Warwick ...

The Pixies: Talking With The Animals

Interview by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 22 April 1989

Some weird shit here, fans, as THE PIXIES attempt to explain themselves and their new album to our elflike HELEN MEAD. ...

Just-Ice: Hardhead

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 29 April 1989

JUST-ICE is not a man to cross, for a start he carries a gun and his favourite role model is The Godfather. SEAN O'HAGAN took ...

The Stone Roses: Stone Roses: Stone Roses (Silvertone)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 29 April 1989

THIS IS Rain Parade at ease after the storm. This is Dream Syndicate going through a recurring nightmare. This is an aural Big Mac laced ...

Cookie Crew: The Cookie Crew: Kooky Crew

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 29 April 1989

South London's finest female rappers THE COOKIE CREW walk proud and talk tough, threatening such pillars of the Establishment as 'Fatch' and DLT in their ...

Big Daddy Kane: Raw Like Sushi

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

Christened The Grasshopper Of Rap for his black belt lyrics, Big Daddy Kane is a hero to rap's hard core followers. With hits for Roxanne ...

James Brown, Bobby Byrd: Bobby Byrd: Rare Byrd

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

Over the years, BOBBY BYRD has been an integral part of JAMES BROWN'S career. PAOLO HEWITT spoke to him about his hot-and-cold relationship with the ...

Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time (Capitol LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

NICK OF Time, the LA slide blues songstress' 10th album, is a peach and a half. Ripened to perfection through years of cultivation. There is ...

The Cure: Disintegration

Review by Chris Roberts, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

ROBERT SMITH reckons Disintegration isn't a miserable record at all. "At all," he says. Right. Meanwhile Van Gogh says Starry Night was a cartoon, Francis ...

Todd Terry, T La Rock: Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

ONE MOMENT you're doubled up with paroxysms of laughter, the next you're seized with rhythmic convulsions. Suddenly, everything makes sense — Todd Terry isn't past ...

Yazz: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

THE BANANA FROM OUTER SPACE ...

Alyson Williams: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 13 May 1989

SEX 'N' SALVATION UNDER THE LASH ...

Chaka Khan: Vivid And Real

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 13 May 1989

CHAKA KHAN, the smooth voice of early '70s soul, has been thrust back into the limelight with a new dance cut of her hits I'm ...

Elvis Costello: Palladium, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 13 May 1989

GETTING HIGH ON E ...

Ozzy Osbourne: Big Oz I Love You

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 May 1989

Why does MR OSBOURNE bite the heads off small animals? Ozzy can. Get it? Is Oz a fat geriatric bastard who'd be better off playing ...

Dr. John: Dr John: In A Sentimental Mood (Warner Bros LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

FUNNY OL' game the record business! First, we have the triumphant return of the Neville Brothers to the A&M stable after a ten year absence ...

Happy Mondays: Haçi*nda, Manch*st*r

Live Review by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

THAT MONDAY FEELING ...

A Guy Called Gerald: Journey To The Centre Of House (In Search Of A Guy Called Gerald): High On Hope, MFI, The Jayne Parade, Sin; London

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

HOUSE SEARCH ...

Lucinda Williams: Walking The Line

Profile and Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

LUCINDA WILLIAMS was caught just in time, the singer/songwriter was just about to head off into the hills when somehow Rough Trade pulled her back. ...

Swans: The Burning Word

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

On their new album The Burning World the SWANS have discovered their volume control goes down as well as up and have left the harsh ...

Swing Out Sister: Kaleidoscope World (Fontana LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

THE SAFEST way to keep ahead of the pack is to reinvent yourself every time. Swing Out Sister are aware of this; from their debut ...

The The: Mind Bomb (Epic/Some Bizzare LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 20 May 1989

BRAIN STRAIN ...

Hue and Cry: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 May 1989

YOU HAVE to admire Pat Kane for at least attempting to combine rhetoric with rhythm, message with melody. I am sure Hue And Cry succeed ...

Mudhoney: Put Mud In The Music

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 27 May 1989

Thanks to an extensive European tour, a vinyl collaboration with Sonic Youth and their own indie-chart hit LP, Seattle's MUDHONEY find themselves the latest US ...

The Bangles: No Sex Please, We're Bangles

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 27 May 1989

Amsterdam, city of 1,000 vices and venue for a party to honour all-American girls THE BANGLES. All-British girl BARBARA ELLEN joins them and, between sex-shows, ...

Johnny Marr: What Is Johnny Marr Playing At?

Report by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 27 May 1989

SINCE THE SMITHS split in 1987, MORRISSEY has gone on to bigger if not necessarily better things, while JOHNNY MARR has been living the 'have ...

Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour: Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos

Report and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 3 June 1989

YOUSSOU N'DOUR and PETER GABRIEL, the pair that have set so many causes alight, have combined again, this time to champion female emancipation. LEN BROWN ...

Neneh Cherry: Ma Cherry Amour

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 3 June 1989

NENEH CHERRY is a different style of woman, a popstar determined to be real, not plastic, positive and above all herself. With her single 'Manchild' ...

Peter Gabriel: An Alien In The Real World

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 10 June 1989

Although he's never appeared in the Sunday Sport, PETER GABRIEL has achieved enough for anyone else's lifetime. In part two of this interview, he talks ...

Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi (Circa)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 10 June 1989

CHERRY-OH BABY ...

Guy, Teddy Riley: Teddy Riley: The Life of Riley

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 June 1989

At 22 TEDDY RILEY is the most sought-after producer in America. His mixture of R&B and rap has created a new sound, dubbed New Jack ...

Queen Latifah: The Royal Flavour

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 June 1989

All hail the new king and queen of Rap — namely hotshot producer DJ MARK THE 45 KING and his latest righteous rhymester, QUEEN LATIFAH. ...

Chaka Khan, D Mob: D Mob: Mixing With The Mob

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 24 June 1989

From DJ to A&R man, to the mixmaster behind D MOB's summer of '88 hit 'We Call It Acieed', DANNY D has moved on to ...

Prefab Sprout: Protest Songs (Kitchenware LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 24 June 1989

THIS SPRING, I spent a very pleasant afternoon in a bar with Paddy McAloon and, inevitably, the conversation got around to Protest Songs, the Sprouts' ...

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Tom Petty: Full Moon Fever (MCA LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 24 June 1989

HAVING LIVED next door to the Tom Petty Experience — a guy who strapped himself into his Strat to make up new solo parts for ...

Tone Loc: Raising the Tone

Report and Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 24 June 1989

Wild Thing! You make my bank account sing. In the last six months West Coast rapper TONE LOC has sold over six million records. His ...

Transvision Vamp: Velveteen (MCA LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 24 June 1989

THE VELVET BLUNDERGROUND ...

Bobby Brown: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 1 July 1989

SEX AND HUGS AND RIGMAROLE ...

Jesus Jones

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 July 1989

THERE IS a sound where pop meets chaos and rides its fury and when I heard it I fall in love... ...

Band of Susans, Throwing Muses: Throwing Muses and Band Of Susans: Loving The Aliens

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 July 1989

THROWING MUSES, BAND OF SUSANS: GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL, SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY, BIRMINGHAM HUMMINGBIRD ...

James: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 July 1989

SO WHY AREN'T James chartbusters both sides of the Atlantic? The nascent uplifting strains of the new songs are certainly well-crafted enough. And they're no ...

Cynthia Plastercaster: This Woman Has Handled The Biggest Things In Rock

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 July 1989

Twenty years ago The Plastercasters of Chicago were the most infamous groupies in America. Now, hardened professional CYNTHIA PLASTERCASTER is back with tales of naked ...

Nirvana: Bleach (Sub Pop import US LP only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 8 July 1989

REAL ROCK music should hurt. Like being too near an exploding plate glass window, it should get under your skin and cause you to writhe ...

The Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin, Wolfsbane: Rick Rubin: Fang of Def

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 8 July 1989

Five years ago RICK RUBIN was the 21-year-old student behind Def Jam — the label that brought you the twin rock-rap assault of Licensed To Ill and ...

Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One: KRS-1: We Are 1

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 22 July 1989

Metaphysics... conspiracy theories...the harmony of the Universe...and YOU thought KRS-1 was just a hot rapper! JACK BARRON gets philosophical with the boss of Boogie Down. ...

Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One, Redhead Kingpin: Boogie Down Productions/KRS-1, Redhead Kingpin: Town And Country Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 July 1989

SURVIVAL OF THE BRUTISH ...

Club Scene: New York City

Report by Richard North, New Musical Express, 29 July 1989

"IN NEW YORK, you don't need a reason for murder, just an occasion," says one clubber. He's talking about the recent shooting at THE WORLD ...

Spacemen 3: Spacemen E

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 29 July 1989

THE TRAIN TO Rugby rattles down the track. On my lap lies an inch-thick collection of press on Spacemen 3. One quote in particular leaps ...

Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P.: The Decline of Western Civilization Part Two: The Metal Years (Dir: Penelope Spheeris)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

NEON NIGHT, LA. Clad in leather and flashing skull'n'dagger tattoos, Chris Holmes of WASP — the Peter Sutcliffe of heavy metal — is lounging on ...

Prince, Mavis Staples: Mavis Staples: My Prince Has Come

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

After years in the doldrums MAVIS STAPLES, one of the female voices is back. A phone call from Prince resulted in a new album Time ...

Primal Scream: Primal Solution

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

Indie heroes of yore PRIMAL SCREAM are back, straining at the leash with a harder, greasier, rocking new single 'Ivy, Ivy, Ivy'. STUART MACONIE hears ...

Soul II Soul: The Palladium, New York

Live Review by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

SQUEEZED BETWEEN the hard core Hip-hop of Red Alert and DJ Mark The 45 King, the US dance remix of 'Keep On Movin'', holds its ...

KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison, W.A.S.P.: Spheeris of Influence

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

The macho world of Heavy Metal is not the most likely place to find a female film director, but PENELOPE SPHEERIS took her camera and ...

Bros, Debbie Gibson: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 26 August 1989

BROTHERS GRIM ...

The Stone Roses: Northern Soul

Report and Interview by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 26 August 1989

THE STONE ROSES: BLACKPOOL EMPRESS BALLROOM ...

Boy's Own Party: East Grinstead

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

BY THE time we got to Grinstead we were... oops! Wrong summer of love...No wallowing in mud here, no bad acid, no teds and no ...

Adeva: Wild Thing

Interview by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

THE STARE came first, the voice second. ...

Nirvana, Tad: Hard On: Nirvana and Tad

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

This week EDWIN POUNCEY gets on the trail of Sub Pop, the label that brought you Mudhoney and who are about to unleash the ungodly ...

Richie Rich: Brixton Fridge, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

RICHIE'S RICH PAGEANT ...

Schoolly D: Am I Black Enough For You? (Jive LP only)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

SOMETHING'S CREPT up the stairwell and shat on your perfectly-formed oriental rug. Schoolly D has just moved in, and, as the old adage says, your ...

Bon Jovi, Europe, Vixen, Wolfsbane: Small really is beautiful: Bon Jovi, Europe, Vixen: Milton Keynes Bowl; Wolfsbane: Marquee, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

BON JOVI's backstage booze fountain runs dry halfway through the evening. A metaphor for their coming performance? An omen for the career of Noo Joisey's ...

Andrew Weatherall: Terry Farley, Danny Rampling, Dave Dorrell, Andy Weatherall: Boy's Own Party, East Grinstead

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

BY THE time we got to Grinstead we were...oops! Wrong summer of love...No wallowing in mud here, no bad acid, no teds and no people ...

The Rolling Stones: Steel Wheels (CBS LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 2 September 1989

STERLING MOSS ...

Barry White: King Shag Is Back

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

Bombing around The Riveria in a convertible BMW screaming abuse at the rich are STEVEN WELLS and lensman KEVIN 'O'GRADELY' CUMMINS. The soundtrack that roars ...

BoDeans: Home (Slash/London LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

SLASH RECORDS were one of the first American labels to offer an alternative selection of new artists to an industry bloated on feeble rock clichés. ...

Eurythmics: We Too Are One (RCA LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

'TOO' THE POWER OF TWO ...

Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers: Jerry Nolan and Syl Sylvain: City Continental Divide, New York

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

PRETTY UPMARKET for a rent party, or a money for drugs party, or a money for a new pair of trousers for building site bottom ...

N.W.A: Niggers With Attitude: Straight Outta Compton (4th And Broadway LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

PAINT IT BLACK ...

The Blue Nile: Hat's Entertainment

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 9 September 1989

Five years after their highly acclaimed debut LP A Walk Across The Rooftops, THE BLUE NILE are back, to the sound of much rejoicing and ...

24-7 Spyz: Subterrania, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 16 September 1989

FINGERSTICKIN' GOOD ...

Digital Underground: Wutchyalike?

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 16 September 1989

California's DIGITAL UNDERGROUND have crashed the national charts with their first single 'Doowutchyalike', breaking through the walls of Daisy Age hip-hop like a sledgehammer. On ...

Happy Mondays: Thieves Like Us (and so do the police)

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 16 September 1989

Just back from their first trip (sic) into the Satan-worshippin' heart of Amerika, HAPPY MONDAYS tell JACK BARRON how they proved more than a match ...

Nick Cave: Scala Cinema, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 September 1989

THIS IS a remarkable, grandiose conceit. The idea of Nick Cave reading from his first novel, The Ass Saw The Angel, is initially as antiquated ...

Inner City: Paradise Postponed

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 23 September 1989

I CAME TO see 'Paradise'. I heard it, looked at it, sniffed it, and thought that I was in Kentish Town. In short, I was ...

Ecstasy: Easy Does It

Report by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 30 September 1989

This week NME devotes its Dance/Club page to a cool and unsensational look at the drug Ecstasy. Report by JACK BARRON ...

Soul II Soul: Funki Bold Demeanour

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 30 September 1989

• Current king of British clubs JAZZIE B is preparing to launch SOUL II SOUL even further ahead of the opposition-the summer soundtrack on both ...

"I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives"

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

PETER JENNER epitomises the 'fifth Beatle' school of pop management, guiding the ill starred careers of the early Pink Floyd, Marc Bolan and Topper-troubled Clash ...

EPMD: Corporation of Two

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

Within three weeks of it's release, EPMD's first album had reached the No. 1 spot on America's black chart. With its follow up Unfinished Business ...

Kate Bush: In The Realm Of The Senses

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

The essence of sensuality and child-like wonder or screeching wood nymph? KATE BUSH steps back into the spotlight after four years of reclusive recording and ...

Roxanne Shanté: 'I Have Never Seen A Man Talk To An Ugly Woman. Never.'

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

There is nothing that ROXANNE SHANTE won't rap about and no limit to who she disses. Here she talks to PAOLO HEWITT about men, music ...

The Blue Nile: Hats (Linn)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

WHAT A romantic tale is The Blue Nile’s. I mean, you’re probably sick to the privy parts of hearing how they made an LP for ...

The The: Armageddon Outta Here!

Report and Interview by Helen Mead, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

CASINO DE PARIS, FRANCE ...

Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 14 October 1989

GLORIA ESTEFAN is a goddess. While popular music searches for something to pep up its ailing corpse and, typically, picks on rock music — I ...

Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys: Liza Minnelli: Results (Epic)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 14 October 1989

THE LAST time Ms Minnelli did anything of note was at the start of the decade. Her portrayal of shoplifting Linda, the object of Dudley ...

Richard Thompson: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 14 October 1989

"IT'S TAKEN me a long time to clamber my way back to the top of showbiz," announces Richard wryly, "see under Wyman, Bill." Although he ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Automatic (Blanco y Negro)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 14 October 1989

"Don't let your life be the butt of the joke/Get your lips round a pure black Pepsi Coke" – 'Here Comes Alice' ...

Bryan Powell, Betty Wright: Betty Wright, Bryan J Powell: ICA, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

THE CURRENT dance mania, welcome as it is, may have obscured quality soul to a large degree, but the attitude it has engendered in ridding ...

Buffalo Tom: Fulham Greyhound, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

BUFFALO TOM don't trade on their American ancestry, it's just there. Immobile, inviolate. Watching them burn bright and spark off tonight, one wonders why we ...

De La Soul: Brothers From Another Planet

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

HIPPIES!?! Never! No sirree! Ignore the paisley, the peace signs, the flowers, the speccy Lennonisms, DE LA SOUL are truly brothers from another planet, extra ...

Kate Bush: Let Them Eat Kate: The Sensual World

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

FOUR YEARS TO produce one LP works out at ten minutes per year of The Sensual World, with an extra three minutes 48 for cassette ...

Black Box, Loleatta Holloway: Loleatta Holloway: It's My Record (And I'll Cry If I Want To)

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

You might not know the name, but you'll have heard the voice of LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY. It was her earth-shaking vocal on Dan Hartman's 'Love Sensation' ...

Stereo MCs: Werner Seelinbinderhalle, East Berlin

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

FEAST IN THE EAST ...

Marc Almond, The Beautiful South, Edwyn Collins, The La's, The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses, Marc Almond, Edwyn Collins, the Beautiful South, the La's: Les Inrockuptibles Festival, La Cigale, Paris

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

LA VIE EN ROSE(S) ...

David Byrne: Rei Momo (Sire-WEA)

Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 28 October 1989

PURISTS AND cultural segregationists must be reaching for the suicide pills. There's Acid Bhangra, African House, Japanese ska, Brazillian Hip-hop, Yemenite disco, Turkish rap, Kate ...

Debbie Harry: Deborah Harry: "Wendy James? Isn't She In The Primitives?"

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 28 October 1989

Life's a bleach and then you dye. Bouncing back into the fray with her current hit single 'I Want That Man' DEBORAH aka DEBBIE HARRY ...

Billy Bragg: Is Billy Bragg Pissing In The Wind Or What?

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 4 November 1989

Highway Through Hellas: a Greek tragicomedy in sex acts and three comic benefits. Starring Billy Bragg as Flash Gordon (protest singer, planet saviour and aspiring ...

Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, White Lion: Crüe To Be Kind

Report and Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 18 November 1989

Lock up your heated rollers, here comes Metal mayhem. Into the heart of dorkness strode our very own rock monster EDWIN POUNCEY armed with only ...

The Residents: Cube E Show, Sadler's Wells, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 18 November 1989

SOME CLASSY joint! No beer slop pit of a venue for The Residents... Nosiree! Instead, the paying customers are treated to seats, opera glasses and ...

Breaks For The Border

Report by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 25 November 1989

In search of Die Neue Deutsche Tanz (New German Dance) JACK BARRON travelled to Berlin to meet the artists behind the Teutonic Beats label — ...

Cat Glover, Prince: Cat Glover: Cat O' Fine Tales

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 November 1989

You know her as the legs-akimbo sex kitten playmate of Prince, the undisputed star of the Purple One's lascivious shows and a fine singer to ...

Mary Margaret O'Hara: Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Interview by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 2 December 1989

Gawky Canuck MARY MARGARET O'HARA unfit for Irish TV shock! So should we be flinging her magical-pop-with-freaky-dancing at our kids? Most deffo, reckons MICHELE KIRSCH. ...

Trevor Miller: Tripping Yarns

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 2 December 1989

I FIRST meet novelist Trevor Miller at 5am outside a London rave called Method Air after a night of dancing so manic and intense it ...

The Band of Holy Joy, James: Band of Holy Joy, James: Manc Magic Majestic

Live Review by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 9 December 1989

Band of Holy Joy, James: Cambridge Corn Exchange ...

Grace Jones: Ladies And Gentlemen, Disgrace Jones

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 9 December 1989

GRACE JONES is a living, laughing legend. She's wrestled with James Bond, battered Russell Harty, and now she's back once again to sit on the ...

Kym Mazelle: Hell, Brixton Fridge, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 December 1989

HELL IS FOR HEROES ...

Neneh Cherry: Send In The Clowns

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 9 December 1989

After the huge trans-Atlantic success of 'Buffalo Stance', NENEH CHERRY has established herself as one of the Pop world's most creative and exciting mainstream acts. ...

Alexander O'Neal: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 December 1989

THE LIFESTYLE stemming from competent professional soul is utterly despicable. Ostentatious displays of wealth inherent in the flashy cars and gaudily overpriced fashions turn my ...

Neil Young: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 16 December 1989

OUTSIDE IT'S thronged, tickets £60 a throw, there's a buzz in the air you seldom find at gigs these days. Inside there's two Crazy Horse ...

Nirvana, Tad: Tad, Nirvana: Astoria, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 16 December 1989

"CHECK!... CHECK!..." This is one little improvisation that the fans freezing outside were missing as Sub Pop stalwarts Nirvana struggled valiantly to balance the sound ...

U2: Rockin' in the Not So Free World (Part 1)

Report by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 16 December 1989

Yen will I see you again?!!...In the first of an exclusive two part report on the band that more than any other has found a ...

The Jungle Brothers: Guerillas in the Mix

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 December 1989

Commanding the corner where spiritual meets the street, "conscious rappers" THE JUNGLE BROTHERS are ready to lead hip-hop into its second decade with their landmark ...

U2: Rockin' in the Not So Free World (Part 2)

Report by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 23 December 1989

BONO'S OSAKA Plaza hotel room is littered with the ephemera of a rock 'n' roll traveler. There are Japanese picture books for his baby daughter ...

A Tribe Called Quest: Questin' Time

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

THEY TROOP into the hotel foyer. The New Soldiers Of Rap are jet lagged from eight hours on a plane but the assault on Britain ...

Butch Hancock: Own & Own (Demon LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

OUT OF the Texas troubadour tradition croaks the least famous former Flatlander (early '70s cult Country band — write a letter to Fred Fact for ...

Criminal Element Orchestra: Locked Up (Epic LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

ARTHUR BAKER is generally credited with having several parts of his anatomy in touch with the living pulse of modern dance music. If this is ...

David Byrne: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

I'M NOT saying the first sign of rain should have you reaching for the Leonard Cohen Sings Joy Division album, but in the dazzling depression ...

The Almighty, Dangerous Toys, Faster Pussycat: Faster Pussycat, the Almighty, Dangerous Toys: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

DANGEROUS TOYS wind up their set with a no-sweat rendition of their first 45, an aimless rocker entitled 'Teas'n, Pleas'n' that merely acts as a ...

The Chimes: Sign of the Chimes

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

Did you hear the one about the two Scotsmen and the London singer who may well be Britain's top soul band? Well PAOLO HEWITT has ...

He Bans The Drums — This Man Thinks You Are A Moron!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 January 1990

Rock is bad for you — OFFICIAL! According, that is, to DENIS VAUGHAN, top classical conductor and author of a virulently anti-pop blast in this ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: The World, New York NY

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 13 January 1990

THERE'S A nice little joke doing the rounds of the London headquarters of CBS in Soho Square, which goes something like this:"Knock knock.""Who's there?""Terence.""Terence who?""That's ...

The Quireboys: Not The Hoople

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 13 January 1990

• From working on building sites to recording in Hollywood, THE QUIREBOYS have had the sort of change in careers that most hard rock bands ...

Coldcut, The Fall: Coldcut: Ring The Noise

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 20 January 1990

• And they said it wouldn't last! In the pop marriage of the'80s, COLDCUT producers Jonathan Moore and Matt Black invited Mark E Smith to ...

Loop: A Gilded Eternity (Situation Two LP/ Cassette/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 20 January 1990

NEW GOLD DREAM ...

Michael Nyman: The Nyman/Greenaway Soundtracks (Virgin Venture LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 20 January 1990

NYMAN'S LANDSCAPES ...

New Kids On The Block: Hangin' Tough (Epic)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 20 January 1990

TWO SINGLES in the Top Ten! The nation drivelling at their feet! And they don't even play on their own records! ...

The Cramps: Creatures From The Black Leather Lagoon

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 20 January 1990

Self-confessed "Norma Desmonds of rockabilly", THE CRAMPS are cheering the demise of a less-than-world-beating '80s and looking forward to a well-rockin' '90s. With their new LP ...

Die Kreuzen: Islington Powerhaus, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

PERHAPS IF more people knew about Die Kreuzen they wouldn't undergo such sweeping stylistic changes. From hardcore freaks to metal maniacs, from purveyors of soft ...

Divine Styler featuring the Scheme Team: Word Power (Syndicate LP/ Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

STRAIGHT OUTTA Los Angeles from Ice-T's new label, Syndicate, the Divine Styler's long and intense LP puts to shame most of the artists that Ice-T ...

James "Blood" Ulmer, John Zorn: James "Blood" Ulmer: Knitting Factory, New York; John Zorn: Puck Building, New York NY

Live Review by Nick Hasted, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

IF THE Who were Prince's band at the apocalypse, they would make this noise. It's an almost psychedelic, thumping mash. The drummer is driven by ...

D Mob: Married To D Mob

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

PAOLO HEWITT lays his hands on D mainman of D Mob, Dancin' Danny D ...

DJ Chuck Chillout & Kool Chip, MC Hammer: MC Hammer: Let's Get It Started (Capitol); DJ Chuck Chillout & Kool Chip: Masters Of The Rhythm (Phonogram)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

THE FIRST general rule of hip-hop is that most albums contain a couple of killer club cuts and a dozen cardboard fillers. Just to be ...

Ministry: The Ritz, New York NY

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

REMEMBER MINISTRY? That hot Dance act from Chicago who influenced House and soaked up exclusively European acts? Well, they've changed. It's 1990 and all that, ...

The Beloved: They Wanna Be Loved

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

THE BELOVED may have started life as dodgy New Order copyists with that ubiquitous Peel session under their studded leather belts, but now they're Dance ...

Timbuk3: Edge Of Allegiance (IRS LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

TIMBUK3 MIGHT be singing for the patriots or potheads of America; depends how much you swallow their irony, and if you believe you can love ...

Warren Zevon: Transverse City (Virgin America LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

WARREN ZEVON is one hell of an American songwriter with a brilliant — albeit sometimes cynical — eye zoomed in on the way both his ...

The Fatima Mansions: Fatima Mansions: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 February 1990

PULPIT UP!!! ...

Ice-T, Donald D, Everlast, Spinmasters: Top Rank, Brighton

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 February 1990

IS CHIPPING Sodbury in the house? How about Hastings? Is the Crawley posse chilling out tonight? Everybody make some goddam N-O-l-S-E... ER, please? ...

They're Raving Mad!

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 10 February 1990

Rave promoters gathered with Dance fans in London's Trafalgar Square last week to protest against proposed legislation to outlaw all-night parties. JACK BARRON joined the ...

George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 17 February 1990

GEORGE CLINTON once said, explaining his orchestration of an 18-piece band, "Offer great musicians the possibility of order and anarchy on the same plate, and ...

Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones: Quincy Jones: The Mighty Quince

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 February 1990

QUINCY JONES, producer of everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, is now mixing jazz and hip-hop and working with Jesse Jackson and New Order. ...

The Cramps: Barrowlands, Glasgow

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 3 March 1990

I SHOULD BE SO LUXY ...

Phil Collins: Ugly Bald Bastard Speaks (to Phil Collins)

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 3 March 1990

• He leaves the toilet seat up! He does stuff in the privacy of his own house! He's worth 22 million! He's not a rich ...

Ride: In The Land of The Riding Sons: Ride: Boardwalk, Manchester

Review and Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 10 March 1990

"TALLULAH GOSH and some bloke from Supertramp" — this is the grim musical history of Oxford according to Ride. ...

Sinead O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Ensign LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 10 March 1990

THE FIRST ONE had O'Connor screaming in a storm of icy blue. This one has a sleeve that looks like a Phil Collins album, all ...

Tangerine Dream: Quiet Please! Musicians Sleeping!

Report and Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 10 March 1990

2019 Note: Tangerine Dream were the first band to play in East Berlin after the fall of the Wall. It had been ten years since ...

Guns N' Roses, Frankie Knuckles, Tone Lōc: Friend or Phobic?

Comment by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 March 1990

STEVEN WELLS investigates American rock's backlash against gays ...

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.: The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.: To Live And Die In L.A.

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 March 1990

The Devoux brothers have learned the rules of survival the hard way. In LA there are now 92,000 gang members, and mercy is not in ...

Camper Van Beethoven: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 March 1990

SWOOPING IN from a nostalgic and sun-nourished California that never even existed, Camper Van Beethoven touch down in London with mature and majestic grace. In ...

Oleta Adams, Tears For Fears: Tears For Fears: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 24 March 1990

WOTCHA, MY name's Dave. Usually I enjoy my work as a tout, but tonight's Tears For Fears gig at the Arena is looking decidedly untasty. ...

The Roches: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 24 March 1990

YOU HAVE to understand, weird was not always marketable. Here we have three sisters from New Jersey who've been standing on a stage with acoustic ...

Happy Mondays: Homage to Catatonia

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 31 March 1990

It's just another manic HAPPY MONDAYS, as the Manc scuzz bags-made-good wreak havoc in a nab-it-all frenzy through Europe on their way back to a ...

Professor Griff: 100 Per Cent Prof.

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 31 March 1990

Accused of anti-Semitism, dissing the President, condoning Idi Amin and generally being a bit of a foam-flecked Rottweiler, Public Enemy's Minister Of Information PROFESSOR GRIFF ...

Suzanne Vega: Godmother Of New Age

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 14 April 1990

Suzanne Vega was brought up as a Puerto Rican, attended the neo-legendary New York School Of Performing Arts and went on to become the sensitive ...

Happy Mondays: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 21 April 1990

IN THE ARE(N)A! ...

My Bloody Valentine: The Artery Of Noise

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 21 April 1990

After an 18-month gap MY BLOODY VALENTINE are back on vinyl making a right bleedin' racket with their new EP Glider. STUART MACONIE discovers Creation's ...

Billy Idol: This Charming Ham

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 28 April 1990

BILLY IDOL has got plastered! He's got God! He's got dead! Rumours about the blond Bromley bombshell blast through the ether of Transatlantic rockgossip! Is ...

John Cale, Lou Reed: Lou Reed/John Cale: Songs For Drella

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 28 April 1990

DETERMINED TO reclaim the remains of their sometime friend and one-time manager Andy Warhol from the beady gaze of the culture vultures, John Cale and ...

Black Box: Dreamland (RCA/DeConstruction LP/ Cassette/CD)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 5 May 1990

WHILE LOLEATTA Thingy languishes in some cell reserved for Great Pop Moaners, El Boxo as every Spanish child calls them have been off penning great ...

The Beautiful South: Scallifornia Dreamin'

Report by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 12 May 1990

THINK CALIFORNIA and you'll think Beach Boys, suntanned nymphets in cut-offs, surf, soda and the therapy industry. Oh and possibly raisins. You won't be thinking ...

Joy Division, Tony Wilson: Division On: Joy Division

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 19 May 1990

"FUNNY. I WAS IN the car with Barney the other day and I just hit Unknown Pleasures into the CD. And Barney shouted, 'Get that ...

New Order: Love Will Terrace Apart

Report by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 19 May 1990

Have a word, Ref! What's this — top disco situationists NEW ORDER in top "positive vibe" England World Cup squad anthem shock! A winning combination, ...

Soul II Soul: Volume 2: 1990 A Brand New Decade (10 Records L/Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 May 1990

JAZZIE'S DREAM ...

Mazzy Star: She Hangs Brightly (Rough Trade)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 26 May 1990

DAVID ROBACK, who with singer Hope Sandoval makes up one half of the Mazzy Star project, probably likens himself to the US equivalent of ace ...

N.W.A.: Some Muthas Do 'Ave 'Em

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 2 June 1990

Rubbing white America's nose in its own racism or blagging big bucks by glorifying gangsterism, NWA are not the FBI-pigs' favourite people. STEVEN 'Wild West' ...

The Darling Buds: Older Bud Wiser

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 2 June 1990

Gone are the days when peroxides-in-Pampers Ramones soundalikes cut the Coleman's in Groovyland, so THE DARLING BUDS have come back from a long manager-dumping lay ...

Was (Not Was): Motown Brothers

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 2 June 1990

WAS (NOT WAS) make perfect pop (not poop). They also know the names of several philosophers! STUART MACONIE wants to lick the barbequed goat pizza ...

N.W.A: NWA: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 June 1990

BAAAAAD ATTITUDE ...

Betty Boo: Betty The Devil You Know

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 June 1990

She-rapper BETTY BOO is kickin' ass and wreaking revenge with her killer single 'Doin' The Do'. STEPHEN DALTON suffers Boomania ...

Coldcut: Some Like It Cold (Big Life LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 June 1990

RUNNING HOT 'N' COLD ...

The B-52s: Greening Insanely

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 16 June 1990

All roads lead to 'Roam'! They used to be totally crackers but now they prattle on about saving the planet and looking after the old ...

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.: Boo-Yaa Tribe: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 23 June 1990

EVEN IF they don't realise it, the Boo-Yaas are a big joke. But it's a funky, larger-than-life laugh-attack with a killer punchline, and that's the ...

Roy Harper: Peace, Love and a Punchup with Ginger Baker: The Saga of Roy Harper

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 23 June 1990

After 25 years on life's acoustic stage, ROY HARPER is undoubtedly King Of The Hippies. In a moment of good karma, NME let the man ...

Robert Plant: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 23 June 1990

AT ONE point during his performance this evening, Robert Plant throws back his golden locks and lets loose what sounds like an Islamic call to ...

Sun Ra Arkestra: ULU, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 23 June 1990

WORD OF mouth has drawn a near sell-out (To a free gig? — Ed) crowd to catch the legendary Sun Ra. Amidst rumours that he'll ...

Mudhoney: Dweeb Will, Dweeb Will Rock You!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 July 1990

Diseased drugvom and dogs! MUDHONEY cut through STEVEN WELLS' spunk encrusted C60 to give us the bald and rotting bare facts about the inadequacy of ...

The Farm: Ibiza '90!

Live Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 14 July 1990

IBIZA THE ACTION ...

The Rolling Stones: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 14 July 1990

AS THE Stones plodded through crap recent album track after crap recent album track we became restless. We started shouting abuse at the fans. They ...

Silverfish, Soundgarden, Swervedriver: Soundgarden, Silverfish, Swervedriver: Astoria, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 21 July 1990

ARRIVING HALF way through Swervedriver's set I canter expectantly to the front hungry for my first encounter with Thrash Metal Sub Hardcore Pop Noise. I ...

The Pixies: Bossanova

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, August 1990

THE EVER-SO-ARTY lyric book that accompanies the new Pixies album contains the words to a song that you will not find on the record itself. ...

Dread Zeppelin, Robert Plant: The Bong Remains The Same: Led Zeppelin Meet Dread Zeppelin (Almost)

Report and Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 4 August 1990

"After half an hour Elvis' bodyguards motioned that it was time to go. As they were leaving Robert gushed, 'Elvis, you're my idol. Thanks for ...

Bim Sherman: Subterania, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 August 1990

BIM SHERMAN'S reputation precedes him: either as the slinky-voiced singer on a host of Jamaican 45s in the 70s, his numerous collaborations with Adrian Sherwood ...

Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder: Berry Gordy: The Tracks of My Years

Interview by Michael Goldberg, New Musical Express, 18 August 1990

BERRY GORDY, the man who invented the "Sound of Young America", has seen the story of his monumentally influential Motown label told in a succession ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Salt 'N' Pepa: Shakin' Sweet

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 25 August 1990

Is this the end of rap's top pumptresses SALT 'N' PEPA? Bored with making millions and being reviled by all the hard rappin' 'bitches' they ...

The Lemonheads: Lovey

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 25 August 1990

IT'S PROBABLY too ironic that, just when the Lemonheads were getting somewhere, things started to abruptly shake apart. ...

Anthrax: Persistence Of Time (Island LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 1 September 1990

TICK TOCK, tick tock begins this album. Predictable or what? Then the bowels of the earth open up and you are farted via geetars and ...

Crime & The City Solution: Paradise Discotheque (Mute LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 September 1990

THE WAY Crime And The City Solution have transgressed rock's outer limits for the last five years hasn't registered with pundits who only know them ...

George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice Volume One (Epic LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 1 September 1990

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ...

KISS 100 FM: The Embrace Is On

Report and Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 1 September 1990

WHEN KISS 100 FM starts broadcasting legally on September 1, sending the freshest of dancebeats into the ether around London, it will be the final ...

Napalm Death: Harmony Corruption (Earache LP/CD)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 September 1990

WHAT DO you do when you've reached the outer limits of the known universe? That's the question that haunts the makers of the Star Trek ...

Aswad: Too Wicked (Mango LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 22 September 1990

ANYONE FAMILIAR with the sussed militancy of Aswad's early 'Three Babylon' period would never have expected them to take an easy option and 'go commercial'. ...

LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 September 1990

LL SYSTEMS GO! ...

Soul II Soul: Brighton Centre

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 September 1990

SOUL LAAAARGAAAAH! ...

Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, Filip Kutev Ensemble: Various Bulgarians: Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares — Volume 3 (Fontana LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 22 September 1990

MARCEL CELLIER first began assembling his library of haunting folk recordings after visiting Bulgaria in 1950. Shrewdly, the Swiss businessman seems to have retained copyright ...

Happy Mondays: Afro Divvy Act

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 6 October 1990

Get your hands on your handbags HAPPY MONDAYS are back. After a long hard summer recording in Los Angeles, the ugliest band in Britain have ...

Pop Will Eat Itself: Canoe Dig It?

Report by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 6 October 1990

All Hands on Dick as Dave 'Chippolata' Harper of RCA goes canoeing with Pop Will Eat Itself done up in rubber in downtown Staines, home ...

Londonbeat: Mammal We're All Crazy Now

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 October 1990

Rubberwear! Snorkels! Four-foot sexual organs! Real chart acts! We aim to please... Gasp in astonishment as LONDONBEAT give STEVEN WELLS a sense of porpoise and ...

The Stone Roses: Fools' Gaoled (almost!)

Report by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 13 October 1990

THE STONE ROSES may face a £3 million libel suit from their former record company, unless they pay for the damage they caused to the ...

The La's: This Could Be The La's Time

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 20 October 1990

It took three years to make, it cost an unfeasibly huge sum, it's stuffed with great songs – but THE LA's still hate their new ...

Killing Joke: I Came, I Warsaw, I'm Bonkers!

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 27 October 1990

Push! Struggle! They're living in the '90s!! Steven Wells joins Killing Joke as they storm Poland, and finds Jaz Coleman recovering from playing with "chaotic ...

Lisa Stansfield: The Lisa of Two Evils

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 3 November 1990

"All around the world and ah, ah, ah, can't find my luggage." Yep, it isn't all first class and fingerbowls in the high-flying world of ...

Lush: Fire Lighters

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 November 1990

"I DON'T like words," says the erstwhile centre of attention with the shock of bright red hair. "Why?" Inquires the journalist querulously. "Oh, I'm gonna ...

Professor Griff, Public Enemy: Material World: Professor Griff

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 November 1990

REAL NAME Richard Griffin ...

Public Enemy: Black Appeal in the Hour of Power

Report and Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 3 November 1990

JAMES BROWN catches PUBLIC ENEMY'S spectacular show in San Diego and speaks to CHUCK D. ...

Betty Boo: Bootiful Mouth

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 November 1990

Luscious, pouting, loud-mouthed, lambasting BETTY BOO is asking 250 million screaming teen hordes 'Where Are You Baby' in her day-glo, bobbed and blushered bid to ...

The Afros, EPMD, Intelligent Hoodlum, Public Enemy: Public Enemy, EPMD, The Intelligent Hoodlum, The Afros: Docklands Arena, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 17 November 1990

DOCK OF THE BOYEE ...

The La's: 20 Questions: The La’s

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 November 1990

Thought of anything nice to say about your album yet? ...

808 State: State of the Manc Union

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 24 November 1990

The Haçienda's half full and "you have to go out of town on a Saturday night to have fun"... so can 808 STATE survive the ...

Donovan: Wordy Gurdy Man

Interview by Len Brown, New Musical Express, 24 November 1990

IT'S BIN A long time comin'. Twenty-five years since his first Top 20 hit ('Catch The Wind' in '65) and over 20 since his last ...

The Small Faces: Where Are They Now?

Profile by Martin Aston, New Musical Express, December 1990

SHA LA LA La Lee! Pioneers of mod-psychedelia and decisive hair-parting strategies, The Small Faces. ...

Julee Cruise: Cruise's Peak

Interview by Jack Barron, New Musical Express, 1 December 1990

"Sometimes a wind blows/And the mysteries of love come clear" – 'Mysteries Of Love', Julee Cruise ...

Marc Almond: Stray Hello Waif Goodbye

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 8 December 1990

Nine years on from 'Tainted Love', MARC ALMOND is back working with Soft Cellmate Dave Ball on his new single 'Waifs And Strays'. BARBARA ELLEN ...

A Tribe Called Quest: Why Are You Being So Treasonable Now?

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 15 December 1990

Our reigning monarch scores as highly on the diss-o-meter as pop rapper Vanilla Ice for hip-hop hotheads A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. But a spot of ...

The Doors: John Densmore

Interview by William Higham, New Musical Express, 1991

THE DOORS avalanche begins here! Word Up corners the band's drummer and chronicler JOHN DENSMORE, reviews his book and checks out an investigation into Morrison's ...

Billy Idol: Crockabilly!: Billy Idol: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

THE HEADY STRAINS of pulsating drums and long-forgotten African chants fill the cavernous room: "Zumbayeh, Aikobayeh". Billy Idol's intro tape is 'Cult Of Snap' by ...

Lunachicks: Mammary Weer All Crazee Now!

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

Yowza! It's ladeeez night every night in the weird 'n' wunnerful world of American underground rock 'n' roll, with the totally outrageous LUNACHICKS leading a ...

Manic Street Preachers: Manic On The Streets Of London

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

"SMASH HITS is more effective in polluting minds than Goebbels ever was…" ...

Omar: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

THE HAIRCUT speaks volumes. A multi-storeyed do with the sides shaved, it confirms Omar's refusal to exchange street fashions for something more upmarket. His has ...

Tippa Irie: Original Raggamuffin (Mango LP Only)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

FORTUNE HASN'T exactly smiled on Tippa Irie recently. After falling victim to the biggest tragedy the pop charts can offer — reggae toasters having novelty ...

ZZ Top: We Are Beard

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 5 January 1991

From out of the Texan desert they came, with recycled riffs, "ironic" sexism and grotesque amounts of facial hair… the Middle Aged Mutant Guitar Heroes! ...

Blur: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

THE HYPE and shoddy promotional tactics surrounding Blur would surely stifle a lesser group. ...

Dinosaur Jr.: Enter the Wagon

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

After a fallow few years, slug rock sensations DINOSAUR JR are back with a worthy successor to 1988's Freak Scene in The Wagon and a ...

Front 242: The Number of the Beat

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

We are coming to your House! Paradise crumbles to the sound of FRONT 242's tyrannical Techno ...

Maria McKee: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

Written off by the LA rock cattlemarket following the demise of neo-Country nearly men Lone Justice, MARIA MCKEE was left licking her wounds amongst famous ...

East Village, Flowered Up, Manic Street Preachers, The Moonflowers, Saint Etienne, Andrew Weatherall: Saint Etienne, Flowered Up, Manic Street Preachers et al: Heavenly Records Night, Underworld, London

Live Review by Susan Corrigan, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

HEAVENLY RECORDS gave 1990 some of its finest moments. A winning combination of happy housers, hippy haircuts, and hopped-up hyacinth heroes, their vibe generated fleeting, ...

Johnny Marr, Stex: Stex — It's that Marr again

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

AFTER COUNTLESS big ­name collaborations, Johnny Marr found unknown London funk band STEX appealing. Barbara Ellen sees them all forming a mutual appreciation society. ...

Vanilla Ice: To The Extreme (SBK LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 12 January 1991

MENTION VANILLA Ice to most "serious" music fans, especially elitist connoisseurs of rap, and their reply will most likely be brief and unprintable. Have they ...

Anthrax, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Iron Butterfly, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Napalm Death, Saxon, Sepultura, Slayer, UFO, Uriah Heep, Van Halen, Vanilla Fudge, Whitesnake: Cod Piece In Our Time

Overview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 19 January 1991

Bring your good taste to be slaughtered! To mark Iron Maiden's ground-breaking success (any bleedin' excuse — Ed), STUART MACONIE investigates the subtle and many-faceted ...

David Lee Roth: A Little Ain't Enough (Warner Brothers/All formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 19 January 1991

DAVID LEE Roth is a flash git. When not playing golf or making videos in which he smiles too much, the man with the stupid ...

Manic Street Preachers: Royal Holloway College, Egham

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 19 January 1991

ONE OF the debates raging around selected corners of the NME office currently is: Are the Manic Street Preachers thrashing in the fizzy waters of ...

My Life Story: Powerhaus, London

Live Review by Michele Kirsch, New Musical Express, 26 January 1991

THE JAMES Bond theme 'You Only Live Twice' fills the air with its dense, muzak-y glamour as we spy the mermaid decopaged music stands swaying ...

The Orb, Rebel MC, The Shamen: The Shamen, The Orb, Rebel MC: War And Peace ('91 Mix), Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Susan Corrigan, New Musical Express, 26 January 1991

GIVE PEACE A DANCE ...

Ween: Borderline, London

Live Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 26 January 1991

"THIS SONG is called 'Squelch The Weasel'," announces vocalist Gene as he straps on an acoustic guitar. "By Ween," reminds his partner Dean, plugging in ...

Caron Wheeler: Got a Life, Thanks

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 2 February 1991

CARON WHEELER'S acrimonious departure from the Soul II Soul posse is the stuff of music biz legend. But rather than 'chat fart' from the sidelines ...

Motorhead: Don't Lemmy Be Misunderstood

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 2 February 1991

Where would today's corpse-violating moshing madmen be without grebo gurus MOTORHEAD? Where indeed, cackles decent, fun-loving working class Tory and all-round smart geezer Lemmy and ...

Throwing Muses: Serious Shrinking!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 2 February 1991

Having gone 'kooky' at 14, KRISTIN HERSH now has command of the voices in her head and channels the demonic energy into making unnerving yet ...

Bomb the Bass: Tim Machine

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 February 1991

War broke out just as BOMB THE BASS released their first single for two years and the censors swooped. Now TIM SIMENON goes under his ...

Deee-Lite: Trio De Janeiro

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 9 February 1991

Pop music isn't all lying around the pool with GUNS N'ROSES, frugging with PRINCE and getting pissed (on) with the MONDAYS. Except, that is, in ...

Gang Starr: Gangin' Tough

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 16 February 1991

Utterly splendid eclectic rap duo GANG STARR have sympathy for Saddam and Farrakhan, dis Vanilla Ice and think Mötley Crüe are dope, but were too ...

Gloria Estefan: Into The Light (Epic/All formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 16 February 1991

THE TRUE Empress of Pop is among us once more. The other pop stars are fine, but in comparison resemble cartoon characters. Neither Prince (boggly ...

808 State, Björk: 808 State plus Björk: Lido, Reykjavik

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 23 February 1991

CUBIK ICELANDIK ...

Kim Appleby: Can I Play With Gladness

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 23 February 1991

Don't worry! KIM APPLEBY'S return to the charts has been one of the most satisfying sights of recent months, after the tragic end of Mel ...

Butthole Surfers: Piouhgd (Rough Trade/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 March 1991

PIOUHGD — WHAT A SCORCHER! ...

Morrissey: Kill Uncle (HMV/All formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 2 March 1991

BETTER RELATE THAN NEVER ...

Rick Astley: Free (RCA/All formats)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 2 March 1991

RICK ASTLEY's new album is called Free. What can this mean? Surely, Rick is not implying that he was once merely a performing surf to ...

The KLF: It's All White: The KLF: The White Room (KLF)

Review by James Brown, New Musical Express, 9 March 1991

IS IT A strength or weakness to be versatile to the point where consistency becomes an alien concept? There's a hell of a lot of ...

Perry Farrell, Jane's Addiction: Perry Farrell: Goodbye To Jane?

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 9 March 1991

Basking in the glory of their Ritual de lo habitual album, are JANE'S ADDICTION about to hit the self-destruct button? As their US tour ends ...

Happy Mondays: Mardi* Grass!: Happy Mondays: La Cigale, Paris

Live Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 16 March 1991

(*That's French for the day after Monday) ...

Scritti Politti, Shabba Ranks: Scritti Politti: Do The Gart, Man

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 16 March 1991

THE DANCEHALL FOUNDATIONS are shaking and there's outrage in the ragga ranks. A white pop star has plundered their culture with the aid of Lennon ...

808 State, Björk: Björk & 808 State: In Yer Glacier!

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 23 March 1991

I love the smell of God's farts in the morning... It smells of Reykjavik to me! Deep in the Icelandic countryside, surrounded by vile-smelling sulphur ...

Sting: Help The Caged!

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, April 1991

Who is rock chameleon Sting today? High priest of Jungian jazz rock? Rain Forest warrior? Posing Thespian? Geordie homecomer? Bruce Springsteen's mate? On one matey? ...

Massive Attack: Blue Lines (Wild Bunch/Circa)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 April 1991

IMMENSE AT WORK ...

Johnny Cash: Old, Gifted And Black

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 27 April 1991

A C&W star for longer than most people have been alive, you'd expect JOHNNY CASH to be a down home, redneck good ol'boy. Hell no! ...

Teena Marie: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 April 1991

EVEN IF you frequent arthouse cinemas like others do toilets, sometimes you can't avoid the craving for glitzy Hollywood entertainment. By the same token, anyone ...

Bananarama: Sisters Undie The Skin

Interview by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

After the gold-disc rush of SAW, BANANARAMA are doing the Dobbie, rediscovering Youth, preparing for their tenth anniversary as The Greatest British All Girl Group ...

Christy Moore: Smoke And Strong Whiskey (Newberry/All formats)

Review by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

"WELCOME TO the cabaret", chortles Moore, as he ladles out a poteen made from pure booze, vitriol and the tears of centuries. "Your wife says, ...

EMF: Schubert Dip (Parlophone/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

NO DIPPY HICKS! ...

Swans: White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity (Young God/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

WHITE LIGHT, WHITE BLEATS ...

The Wendys: Where Gleneagles Dare

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

KEEN GOLFERS and new sound of young Scotland, The Wendys have got post-Mondays pop down to a tee. Stephen Dalton putts the questions to the ...

MC Hammer: Trousers Of The Holy: All You Ever Wanted To Know About MC Hammer But Didn't Have The Time To Ask

Report and Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 4 May 1991

His voluminous trews tell only part of the story. MC HAMMER may well be as huge as the cut of his keks saleswise, but at ...

Northside: It's Dim Up North

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 May 1991

IN NOVEMBER 1989, Manchester's Free Trade Hall opened its doors to a host of spivs, reprobates, ecstasy-casualties, groovy people and businessmen, unwittingly becoming the focus ...

Tad: Powerhaus, Islington, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 May 1991

THE LARDER THEY COME... ...

Tad: Tub Pop

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 11 May 1991

Tubby, or not tubby? Erm...tubby actually. TAD may not be the biggest band around, but they're certainly the biggest band around (the middle). In full combat gear, STEVEN ...

Sonic Youth: They Tried With Their Boots On: Sonic Youth

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 11 May 1991

TEN-YEAR VETERANS of American clubland, Sonic Youth were on the brink of going overground. We were meeting them at a crosspoint in their career. They ...

Bomb The Bass: Subterania, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 May 1991

THE TRANSFORMATION is now complete. Tim Simenon has finally shaken off the last vestiges of novelty-type pop stardom and embraced a glorious future-funk noise. Anyone ...

Curve: Bend Of An Era

Profile and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 May 1991

CURVE may now be the drop-dead coolest group in indie rap-dom, but life-patterns weren't always so sweet for Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia. DELE FADELE ...

Curve: Psykik Dancehall, Windsor

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 18 May 1991

BEND SINISTER ...

Morrissey Comes Out! (For A Drink)

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 18 May 1991

Shock! Horror! Girls throw themselves at his feet! Luridly manicured skinheads fling bouquets! Europe quivers beneath his majesty! MORRISSEY talks to the NME! As his tumultuous ...

John Zorn: There's John Zorn Every Minute

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 May 1991

Zorn to boogie! From his New York avant-garde garret, JOHN ZORN is busy invigorating the slumbering corpse of jazz with hardcore shock therapy. STEVEN WELLS ...

Coil: Love's Secret Domain (Torso)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 May 1991

FROM THE provocative cover which displays a severed penis ejaculating capsules of Ecstasy to the way the title track wryly quotes Roy Orbison's 'In Dreams', ...

Ice-T: O.G. Original Gangster (Sire)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 May 1991

FOR ALL the descriptions of graphic violence, sexism and general anti-establishment stances, Ice-T is a committed moralist at heart. Not for nothing did he portray ...

Steve Hillage, The Orb: The Orb: Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 25 May 1991

AN ORB tour is already a pretty Zen concept without letting veteran hippy guitarist Steve Hillage out on a one-off day pass from Hillage Village. ...

Grateful Dead: One From The Vaults

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, June 1991

FOR DEVOTED Dead Heads, this release is a dream come true as (not to be outdone by Dylan) the Grateful Dead open up their tape ...

James Brown: Star Time (Polydor/CD Box Set)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, June 1991

SOONER OR later, all 20th Century music has to reckon with The Godfather. Before him there were be-bop revolutionaries blowing down the city walls, shamanic ...

Bleach (UK): Bleach: Camden Underworld, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 1 June 1991

THE NAME may seem sufficiently undemanding on the syllable front to vouchsafe dodgy contents within, but taken literally it speaks volumes about the nature of ...

Kraftwerk: Robopop

Interview by Simon Witter, New Musical Express, 6 June 1991

In Düsseldorf back in ’68, a clean-cut combo of besuited squares were unaware that they were destined to change the face of dance music forever ...

Pet Shop Boys: Opera House, Blackpool

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 8 June 1991

"WELL, MY mother would agree with you," says Neil Tennant after. "She doesn't like the first half either." ...

Chesney Hawkes: A Block Off The Old Chip

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 15 June 1991

Indecently radiant post-Jason Golden Boy of pop and Son of Chip Tremelo, CHESNEY HAWKES has plenty on his mind: worrying about the attack of the ...

Anthrax, Public Enemy: Anthrax and Chuck D: Noise From The Black Stuff

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 June 1991

Five years after Run DMC's groundbreaking rap reworking of Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way', rock is finally repaying the compliment with ANTHRAX'S astonishing take on Public ...

Babes in Toyland: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 22 June 1991

AS YET ANOTHER lame-brain shuffles nervously before taking the plunge, the anti-stage-diving lobby have a point for once. In the context of Babes In Toyland's ...

Seal: Seal (ZTT)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 25 June 1991

SEAL CLUBBING seemed an attractive option to many last year after the leather-clad lothario ascended our charts atop a naggingly crap Adamski riff and steadfastly ...

Babes in Toyland: Wench Warfare

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 29 June 1991

Championed by Sonic Youth and John Peel, hot-blooded all-girl 'foxcore' grunge-rockers BABES IN TOYLAND are coming to your house, sneezing explosively, dissing moms and men ...

Cher: Spare ribs, anyone?

Report by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 29 June 1991

Hungry for publicity for her new album, CHER says "Let's do lunch!" A dramatic TERRY STAUNTON puts on his best bib and tucker, but proves ...

Cher: Love Hurts (Geffen/All formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 July 1991

STRONG POP-women ditch bastard men to make it big time. Mad Donna slung out stroppy Sean to become Number One Rock Goddess whilst mighty hewed ...

Elvis Costello: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 13 July 1991

This Year's Muddle  ...

Sepultura: Who Wants To Be A Brazilian Air Guitarist

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 13 July 1991

Stuart Maconie goes autograph hunting with Latin America's biggest thrash band ...

Paula Abdul: Spellbound (Virgin America/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 27 July 1991

THIS RECORD is plainly a miracle of self-belief and positive thinking, a triumph over adversity. Paula Abdul always knew she could dance, but all those ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Salt 'N' Pepa: My Condiments To The Chef

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 July 1991

The most successful female rap group ever, SALT 'N' PEPA have come a long way since the cartoon innuendo of 'Push It'. Now they're busy ...

Massive Attack, Smith & Mighty, Mark Stewart, Tricky: Various: The Hard Sell (Earth Recordings/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 July 1991

NO CELL OUT ...

The La's: Some Mavers Do Have ’Em: The La’s in America

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 3 August 1991

The La's are sat outside a cafe in New York's Chelsea district with their manager Rob, [photographer] Tim Jarvis and me.They are relaxing before tonight's ...

Professor Griff: Kao's II Wiz 7 Dome (Luke/All formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 10 August 1991

GRIFF IS the liberal's worst nightmare. A young black radical who is something of a lyrical and musical whiz and who's made anti-Semitic and anti-white ...

Mudhoney: Astoria, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 24 August 1991

IF YOU want a creative and intellectually stimulating evening, go seek out RW Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears Of Petra Von Kant. Mudhoney are experts at ...

EMF: Sombrero Guys Have All the Luck

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

Call the copse! America's favourite "alternative" group EMF are Number One and on one, naughty rock 'n' roll Bash Street Kids taking full advantage of, ...

Harold Budd: By The Dawn's Early Light (Opal/Warner Bros/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

TAKE A REST from the rigours of following popular music — those who rave, chill; those who contemplate their shoes, do it to your navel ...

Nine Inch Nails: A Bang On The Gear

Report and Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

SAN FRANCISCO, city of peace and love. Perhaps the last refuge of the beautiful people who advocate making babies, not bombs. But, hey, get out ...

Orbital: Corn Circle Jerks

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

Techno-slaphead alert! Bow-tie-wearing aliens with enormo-ears from planet Proper Dance Music are writhing in our cornfields and masquerading as ORBITAL. Beam me up, Rotty, screams ...

Ice-T: Power To The Peebles

Interview by Ben Thompson, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

The success of the visceral New Jack City has made Blaxploitation movies a thing of the past and debuting director MARIO VAN PEEBLES a hot ...

Babes in Toyland, Chapterhouse, Dinosaur Jr, Iggy Pop, Nirvana, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sonic Youth: Reading '91: Reading, Writhing And Riffmatic

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 7 September 1991

FRIDAY: IT WAS obvious, really – he had to say it. Who better than His Supreme Iggyness Of Pop, the Godfather of (s)punk rock, to ...

Dire Straits: On Every Street (Vertigo/All formats)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 14 September 1991

SO HERE it is, Slowdive fans, the most important LP ever made. If you see what I mean. It is six years since the last ...

Hole: Pretty On The Inside (City Slang/All formats)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 14 September 1991

TOP HOLE! ...

Lloyd Cole: Don't Get Weird On Me, Babe (Polydor/All formats)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 14 September 1991

WEIRD BARD ...

Robert Wyatt: Dondestan (Rough Trade/All formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 14 September 1991

IT'S BEEN six years since Robert Wyatt last made a record, the wayward and twisty Old Rotten Hat. Before that, Wyatt spent a decade making ...

Nine Inch Nails: Bierkeller, Bristol

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 September 1991

NINE DANKE! ...

Nirvana Be In My Gang?

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 21 September 1991

We're talking sublime here. NIRVANA are the greatest band to emerge from the American post-hardcore meltdown since Sonic Youth, they sound nothing like Hüsker Dü ...

Pulp: March of the Modules

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 21 September 1991

PULP have waited a very long time to become overnight sensations with their space age disco anthem 'Count Down', but in a world of footwear-fixated ...

Robert Wyatt: Wheelie Saying Something

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 September 1991

Beardy-weirdy radical ROBERT WYATT may have ended up in a wheelchair pursuing rock 'n' roll Nirvana with '70s experimental cases Soft Machine, but he refuses ...

Soundgarden: Badmotorfinger (A&M/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 21 September 1991

TWO YEARS ago, Seattle's Soundgarden were poised for a big-time putsch very similar to Nirvana's impending success story. A&M had spotted the obvious sales potential ...

Kylie Minogue: A Wallaby Adored

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 28 September 1991

Be very afraid, indie saddos, for the Queen God-Empress of the Known Universe, KYLIE MINOGUE, will now transform into a Perv Rock Temptress before your ...

Primal Scream: Chicks With Everything

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 28 September 1991

Bacchanalia in the USA! Well, Kentish Town actually, but then the true spirit of rock 'n' roll has always been in the mind, reckons PRIMAL ...

A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, PM Dawn: De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, PM Dawn: Wembley Hall, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 October 1991

DIRE STRAITS fans are huddled in masses in the near vicinity, oblivious to the fact that the real revolution is being televised in this makeshift ...

Kirsty MacColl: Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 October 1991

"SO THAT'S what you look like!" Kirsty MacColl exclaims, faced with an altogether too respectable crowd of 30 and 40-somethings, then launches into an eerie, ...

Prince & The New Power Generation: Diamonds And Pearls (Paisley Park/Warner Brothers)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 October 1991

THERE WAS a time when Prince seemed to be the vital force acting on pop music's zeitgeist. A wily provocateur, the greatest singles artist of ...

Shabba Ranks: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 October 1991

LIKE THE herbsman grassed upon by his neighhours, some nasty rumours have been circulating recently about Shabba Ranks. To wit: that he's completely lost the ...

Digital Underground: Sons Of The P (Big Life/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

YOU'RE TUNED in to the mutant descendants of P-Funk. Digital Underground are updating George Clinton's '70s blueprint to reflect much more worrying times. The larger ...

Kylie Minogue: Let's Get To It (PWL/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

IT'S REALLY not that surprising that Kylie (Coy be-ribboned Girl- Next-Door) metamorphosised into SexKylie (Slinksome Vamptress and Pop-Dance Empress), although it's probably safe to say ...

Miles Davis: Miles Dewey Davis III (1926-1991)

Obituary by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

"Jazz is ignored because the white man likes to win everything. White people like to see other white people win – and they can't win ...

Morrissey: Victoria Hall, Hanley

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

VICTORIA HALL, Hanley is what happens when ambitious architects attempt to cross Edwardian wedding cakes with youth clubs. A three-tier pyromanlac's fantasy of dusty, overstuffed ...

Public Enemy: The Boy-Ees are Black in Town

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

1991, and PUBLIC ENEMY — purveyors of The Noise — are busy flexing their new, improved mainstream muscle. Fresh from 'that' Anthrax collaboration, Chuck 'n' ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Warners/All formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

TOOLS YOU CAN TRUST ...

Rudolph Grey, Sonny Sharrock: Sonny Sharrock: Ask The Ages (Axiom/All formats); Rudolph Grey: Mask Of Light (NewAlliance/Ecstatic Peace/LP/CD)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 12 October 1991

THE JAZZ noise made here is powerful and alluring enough to snare the unwary punter into its ever-thrilling web of sound. ...

Marc Almond: Tenement Symphony (WEA/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 19 October 1991

A PLUCKY '80s survivor, Marc Almond is now on his tenth life. Having had dealings with almost every major label in the land, he's now ...

Crazy Horse, Neil Young: Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Weld/Arc-Weld (Reprise/All formats)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 19 October 1991

SOLDER OF FORTUNE ...

2 Live Crew: Sports Weekend (As Nasty As They Wanna Be Part II) (Luke Records/All formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

YO! DIDDLEY! ...

Happy Mondays: Renting and raving

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

SHAUN RYDER Is suing News Of The World after they alleged he was a rent boy before he was a singer. JAMES BROWN hears the ...

The Adverts, The Clash, Sex Pistols, X-Ray Spex: Jon Savage: "I Remember Punk Rock..."

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

He was a bored public schoolboy, then JON SAVAGE heard the Pistols and the Clash and the strings of his heart went ping. He's now ...

Lush: Tubular Belles

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

Are LUSH the new Mike Oldfield? Does the old Mike Oldfield reckon his fans are "twats"? Is STEVEN WELLS picking on their gurly petal rock ...

Moby: Shave the Whale

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

He once sang with Flipper, but now MOBY — aka straight-edge Techno DJ RICHARD MELVILLE HALL — is having a whale of a time out ...

Mötley Crüe: Decade of Dickheadedness

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

Grand old dames of Heavy Metal MÖTLEY CRÜE have just signed a record deal worth a cool £35 million. Not bad for a band that ...

Primal Scream: Barrowlands, Glasgow

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 26 October 1991

GROOVIN' ON UP ...

Hole: Camden Underworld, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, November 1991

YOU KNOW WHEN you're feeling elated, lost in wonder, not out of your cranium but wondering why there seem to be continents on the moon, ...

Pet Shop Boys: Heaven, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 2 November 1991

"WE'VE PLAYED 17 times," beams Neil Tennant, "and this is the first time the computers have gone down." While programmers rush round looking under lids, ...

Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque (Creation! All formats)

Review by James Brown, New Musical Express, 2 November 1991

O STUPOR-MEN! ...

The Shamen: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 2 November 1991

SYNERGY IS dead, long live Progeny. Kicked into a different dimension by the untimely demise of bassist Will Sinnott, The Shamen's travelling rave-show finds itself ...

My Bloody Valentine: Loveless

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 November 1991

RECENTLY SOME DEEP-SEA divers stumbled on an underground cave thousands of feet below sea level. Stalagmites, stalactites and mini-icicles greeted their brave entrance, almost too ...

Happy Mondays: Working Class Zero

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 16 November 1991

1990 was the year HAPPY MONDAYS could do no wrong. But this year they've made more headlines than records — Ronnie Biggs, editing Penthouse, the ...

Hole: The Berlin Independent Days Festival: Don't Mention The Wall!

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 23 November 1991

Swells Uber Alles! STEVEN WELLS takes his war on Jingly Jangly Wank to the Berlin Independent Days festival, where he shouts at Indie Kids, Europop ...

The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, New Order: Anthony Wilson: Renaissance Manc

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 30 November 1991

FACTORY: aloof, elegant, misunderstood Mancunian home of Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, possibly the coolest record label in the world — but there are ...

Michael Jackson: Dangerous (Epic/All formats)

Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 30 November 1991

JACKSON BOLLOCKS ...

N.W.A: NWA: Efil4Zaggin (4th & Broadway/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 30 November 1991

BLAXPLOITATION OF MILLIONS ...

2 Live Crew, Skid Row: Skid Row and 2 Live Crew: Let's Shock!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 30 November 1991

So just who is the most outrageous of them all? Is it SKID ROW'S SEBASTIAN BACH — banned from Wembley Stadium for life for using ...

The Cult: NEC, Birmingham

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 30 November 1991

IN DIN COUNTRY ...

Spinal Tap: This Much Talent!

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, December 1991

2013 NOTE: This piece is slightly longer than the version that appeared in NME, since I took the liberty of reinstating a small handful of ...

Curve: McGonagle's, Dublin

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 7 December 1991

GLAMOUR OF THE GOTHS ...

Wayne Kramer, MC5: MC5: Young, Powerful and Full Of Sperm

Retrospective and Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 7 December 1991

It wasn't all flowers and freedom in the '60s for Detroit's finest rock'n'revolutionary band the MC5, whose legendary 1968 debut LP Kick Out The Jams, ...

Nirvana: 'Nevermind' — The Bolognese!

Report and Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 21 December 1991

THE RAIN-sodden streets of Muggia (a secluded town in Northern Italy that acts as the border with civil war-torn Yugoslavia) are seemingly empty. Nirvana bass ...

PM Dawn: Midnight Mass

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 December 1991

Praise the Lord and pass the platitudes! PM DAWN may be worshipped as 1991's brightest, dippiest new rappers, but they're keener to be set adrift ...

Babes In Toyland, Gallon Drunk, Leatherface: Astoria, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

THOUGH FRANKIE Stubbs later said he found the football field-sized stage spaces "too tiring", Leatherface appeared to thrive on this bigger platform. Guitarist Richie Hammond's ...

Babes in Toyland, Bitch Magnet, Boss Hog, Cows, Crust, The Didjits, Drunks With Guns, Dwarves, Fudge Tunnel, God Bullies, Halo of Flies, Helios Creed, Helmet, Hole, The Jesus Lizard, King Snake Roost, L7, The Membranes, Mudhoney, Nirvana, Pain Teens, Pavement, Pigmy Love Circus, Poison Idea, Skin Yard, Slowjam, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Superchunk, Surgery, Tad, Tar, Therapy?, The Thrown Ups, U-Men, Unsane, Urge Overkill: Grunge Hell

Overview by Keith Cameron, Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

It's the dawning of a new earache! Jakki Brambles is playing Daisy Chainsaw! Your parents have heard of Nirvana! Geffen are chasing Mudhoney! Madonna's into ...

Manic Street Preachers: The Junction, Cambridge

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

THE MANIC kampfwagen rolls on, picking up speed, one album to total oblivion, wannabe girl-boys with Welsh haircuts and purple scarves and blue blouses and ...

Mercury Rev: Nice Merc If You Can Get It

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

THE FRIDAY afternoon rendezvous with Mercury Rev isn't quite going as planned. Police have cordoned off a large stretch of Harrow Road, West London because ...

Napalm Death: End of an Earache

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

Two weeks ago STEVEN WELLS parachuted into Moscow to witness first hand the mega f— off potential of born-again frash warriors NAPALM DEATH. Today, the ...

The Sugarcubes: Sugarcubes: Shout To Lunch

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

"It is too cold in this country," sighs Einar Orn. "Cold and damp." He sips at his warming Guinness. Bjork Gudmundsdottir giggles to herself over ...

The Pogues, Joe Strummer: The Pogues and Joe Strummer: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 4 January 1992

THE EVENING starts, bizarrely enough. In a pub which is not only playing the whole of The Best of The Pogues but whose bar is ...

Daisy Chainsaw: Drivin' Miss Daisy

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 11 January 1992

In less than eight years, Daisy Chainsaw will be crushed to death by a giant rock from outer space. So shut up! Listen! We haven't ...

Lou Reed: Magic And Loss (Sire/All formats)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 11 January 1992

LOU REED may have abandoned his 'Phantom Of Rock' image long ago, but the search for his creative mainline has continued unabated. ...

Shonen Knife: Shonen is a Punk Locker!

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 11 January 1992

LAST YEAR in America a tribute album devoted to SHONEN KNIFE came out, with all the usual suspects like Sonic Youth on it. ...

Therapy?: Medicated Followers Of Thrashin'

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 January 1992

Warning: a steady diet of wan-faced doodlers and U2 wannabes can seriously damage your health. Solution: get some THERAPY?, Irish shitkickers with a bottom-baring fetish ...

Tori Amos: Ginger Nut

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 11 January 1992

She's a Grade A, Class One, Turbo-driven Fruitcake, but Southern belle TORI AMOS might just be the antidote to all those cloying bottle blonde bimbettes ...

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien: I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Elektra/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 January 1992

THE GROOVY, art-directed cover image finds Del Tha Funkee Homosapien in repose: scared stiff and crouching in a forest, hounded by numerous disembodied eyes. Like ...

Lush: Spooky (4AD/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 18 January 1992

FILLY SPECTRES ...

Meat Puppets: Meat Is Murmur

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 18 January 1992

Darlings of the critics for more than a decade, the MEAT PUPPETS have finally signed to a major and made their "first" album. A battered ...

Juan Atkins, Inner City, Kraftwerk, Derrick May, Gary Numan, Kevin Saunderson: Techno: Watts Going On

Retrospective by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 18 January 1992

AND SO, we hear you say, tell us more about the origins and development of this exciting music you call Techno. ...

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Henry's Dream (Mute)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 25 January 1992

HAVING LONG sneered and sped past the 'Buffoon Goth' pigeonhole reserved for him when he first arrived on these shores, the Nick Cave who thrives ...

Négresses Vertes, Les: Les Négresses Vertes: Famille Nombreuse (Circal All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 1 February 1992

NOW WE are all stars in the Euro firmament (at least, that's what Mick Hucknall tells us), perhaps it's time to reappraise our attitude towards ...

Primal Scream: Elysée Montmartre, Paris

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 1 February 1992

"QU'AVEZ VOUS donc envie de falre? On veut ete libre, libre de falre ce qui nous plait, s'en mettre plein la lampe et falre la ...

Silverfish: Acid Louse Revival

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 February 1992

Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, punk rock and sex. SILVERFISH have snogged everyone in pop music, and dreamt that they've snogged everyone else. STEVEN WELLS ...

Smashing Pumpkins: Smells Like Halloween Spirit

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 1 February 1992

With Nirvana a copper-bottomed rock phenomenon, the race is on to discover the Next Big Thing amongst America's 'alternative rock' ranks. Despite an acclaimed album ...

The Wedding Present: Single Sell Organism

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1 February 1992

IN THE finest novel ever written by an Englishman, Keith Waterhouse's Billy Liar, our adolescent hero fantasises about leaving a thinly-disguised Leeds for London's bohemian ...

Jimi Hendrix: Stages (Polydor/CD box set only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

SINCE HIS untimely death in 1970 guitar god Jimi Hendrix has been lauded as 'The Greatest Guitarist Of All Time'. His name has been inducted ...

Manic Street Preachers: Generation Terrorists (Sony)

Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

THE FIRST thing to acknowledge about Generation Terrorists is that the Manics have done it, they've pulled it off, they've released the debut double album ...

PJ Harvey: Powerhaus, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

LAST NIGHT A PJ SAVED MY LIFE ...

Ride: Sex And The Singles Band

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

They are the model '90s pop group; sensitive young men with floppy hair and languid tunes, displaying cherubic belligerence laced with existential angst. But surely ...

The High Llamas: Apricots (Plastic Records/LP/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

SEAN O'HAGAN and his fellow Llamas must be sick of references to their past life in Microdisney by now, but this latest mini-album undoubtedly invites ...

Tori Amos: I Wanna Sell You A Tori

Report by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

Six months ago she was nobody, today TORI AMOS is well on the way to becoming a household name. The former LA 'rock chick' has ...

American Music Club, ULU, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 15 February 1992

ONE SONG in, and the unthinkable appears to have happened. A young woman is dragged from the throng and placed on the stage, flat out ...

Manic Street Preachers: It Takes An Advance Of Millions To Hold Us, Bach

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 15 February 1992

Glammed up gobshites from the arse-end of nowhere, the MANIC STREET PREACHERS have, in a few short months, achieved their hearts' desires — a Top ...

Massive Attack: Herb Crawlers

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 15 February 1992

When MASSIVE ATTACK released their debut LP last year, it was hailed as a masterful collage of rap, soul and reggae with a cinematic feel. ...

PJ Harvey: Scrumpy's Trusted Nut

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 15 February 1992

Way out West Country! Cut off from television, newspapers and all your favourite bands, PJ HARVEY is brewing up an intense, sexual storm that's set ...

The Cult: Bill and Ian's Excellent Adventure

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 15 February 1992

Free-wheelin' through the Deep South, peddling their Bible Of Dangerous Rawk to innocent kids and getting chased by magnum-toting sheriffs...Yeah, THE CULT are still up ...

Chic: Sauce of the Nile

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 20 February 1992

READ THIS! READ THIS! READ THIS! CHIC, the band who soundtracked 1,001 euphoric late-'70s Saturday nights and gave rock cred to disco music, are back ...

Curve: Never Mind The Parabolics

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 22 February 1992

Are Curve the manic, desperate and unhinged prince and princess of post-Mary Chain doom pop, or just a couple of old chancers out to make ...

The High Llamas: You Can Call Me Alpaca

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 22 February 1992

Former Microdisney man SEAN O'HAGAN is busy keeping that band's wry popsmithery alive in his new outfit, THE HIGH LLAMAS, mellow practitioners of the lost ...

Big Star, Chris Bell: Big Star: Live; Third/Sister Lovers; Chris Bell: I Am The Cosmos (All Rykodisc)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 29 February 1992

SINCE THEY faded into obscurity in 1975, shortly after recording the sessions for the Third/Sister Lovers LP, Memphis pop/rock band Big Star have been lauded ...

Manic Street Preachers: Cardiff University

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 29 February 1992

"All revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door"J K Galbraith ...

N-Joi: I'm To Essexy for the Charts

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 29 February 1992

Burn all your bootlegs, your boxed sets and Live At The Budokan deletions, and embrace Live In Manchester — a Techno record by N-JOI with ...

The Beastie Boys: Beastie Boys: I-Beam Club, San Francisco

Live Review by James Brown, New Musical Express, 7 March 1992

TEASED BY the DJ's dose of Sugarhill, the audience at the I-Beam aren't so much eyeing up the imminent performance as gagging for it. ...

Billy Bragg: Malcolm Essex

Report and Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 7 March 1992

OH DEAR. I am going to marry Billy Bragg. It's like this; Billy and I are in a tacky sort of '50s retro gift shop ...

Cowboy Junkies: Steers Beers and Pointy Ears

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 March 1992

Q: Who killed John Wayne?A: Burt Lungcancer.– Cowboy drug joke, trad. ...

Nirvana: Bleach (Tupelo/All formats); Hormoaning (Japanese CD only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 7 March 1992

WHAT'S ON offer here are Nirvana's (bleached) roots, a raw-throated and perhaps over-fussy sounding debut LP that would eventually spawn a phenomenon. Bleach – with ...

Orbital: Fission Blips

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 7 March 1992

IT'S GRIM down south. Suicidally so on the remote escarpment of lunar terrain where the Dungeness nuclear reactor hums its menacing mantra out across beaches ...

Ride: Blank Re-Generation: Ride: Corn Exchange, Cambridge

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

YOU KNOW the future has arrived early when Ride make mincemeat of the whole sorry teen-pop equation. ...

Buffalo Tom: Of Bison Men

Profile and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

DESPITE BEING a rusting theme park 40 subway minutes from downtown New York, Coney Island has a lot going for it. ...

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Buffy St Marie: Coincidence And Likely Stories (Ensign/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

A CRASH course in Buffy history reveals that she has made 14 albums since the start of her career in the early '60s, when she ...

L7: Whisky-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

BEWARE the curse of the flying TV camera. LA might be Rock City but tonight its high priestesses of dissolute turbo-grunge are ruefully bemoaning their ...

Pearl Jam: New Oyster Cult

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

PROBLEM: A man knocks on the door of a Manchester hotel room and hands me a note which says: "Band been held up at knife-point. ...

Right Said Fred: Testicle Dept

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

DATELINE, NEW YORK. Right Said Fred have just topped the US charts with 'I'm Too Sexy' and their witty, zippy video squeezes itself gingerly into ...

The Fall: Code Selfish (Cog Sinister)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 March 1992

"THOUGH PROUD of the way I've avoided prison.../When the cell door slams/I walk to the wall.../These are the words of success expectation/These are the words ...

k.d. lang: Ingénue (Sire/Warner Bros)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

SOFTEN THE focus, put the total twang out to seed, put away the hard edge and the sharp suits for another day; k.d. has fallen ...

Nirvana: Smells Like Chlorine Spirit

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

IT'S 9AM IN Tacoma and Nirvana bassist Chris Novoselic has just got up. He's got things to do, cats to feed, a house to move ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Red Hot Chili Peppers: See You Later Ejaculator

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

THINK OF one word to sum up the Red Hot Chili Peppers. COME ON! COME ON! Sex, right? Right. ...

The Boo Radleys: Everything's Alright Forever (Creation/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

OF COURSE, they said it would be this good. And while The Boo Radley's stout-hearted self-opinion was a cheering presence in 1991's (complacen)sea of mumbles ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Honey's Dead (blanco y negro)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

WOULD WE have thought, seven long years ago, when news of The Jesus And Mary Chain swept the land like an ugly rumour, that we'd ...

The Nymphs: Nymphomania!

Interview by James Brown, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

Destined to rock the bones of the hard rock circuit, THE NYMPHS have already made a name for themselves in America by pissing on desks ...

The Sugarcubes: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 March 1992

HIT THE NORTH ATLANTIC ...

808 State: Club Citta, Kawasaki

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

FLASH IN JAPAN ...

Blur: Blast Of The Famous International Game Boys

Report and Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

It's not all Calpis Walter, Pocari Sweat and smoking Keiths while on a rock 'n' roll jaunt in Japan, y'know. Sometimes you rediscover BLUR, completely ...

Cameo: Emotional Violence (Reprise)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

WELCOME TO the parallel cosmiverse of Larry Blackmon, where time stands still, and real guys wear codpieces and sport gravity-defying barnets, safe in the knowledge ...

Groupies: Stars In Their Thighs

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, David Quantick, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

NME'S LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT GO HUMP IN THE NIGHT ...

L7: L's Belles

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

Don't be fooled by the lighter side of award-winning (and not-the-female-Nirvana) LA grunge gals L7 – they may delight in the trash aesthetic of Hollywood, ...

The Sugarcubes: Nordic By Nature

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

Hamsters of the gods, inventors of hip hop, Phil Collins fans extraordinaire… life's still too good for reality on the planet of The Sugarcubes. Stephen ...

The Beautiful South: Wake Up… Time To Dial: The Beautiful South: 0898 (Go!)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 28 March 1992

"The perfect love song it has no words, it only has death threats/And you can tell a classic ballad by how threatening it gets." ...

Primal Scream: It's Only Choc 'N' Roll: Primal Scream: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 4 April 1992

"ALIEN INVASION, what on earth are we going to do?/Alien Invasion, what on earth are we going to do?" ...

Blur, Dinosaur Jr, The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine: Rollercoaster: Will and Jim's Excellent Misadventure

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 4 April 1992

The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr, Blur: Glasgow SECC ...

The Bay City Rollers, Judge Dread, Mungo Jerry, The Rubettes, Suzi Quatro: Suzi Quatro/Judge Dread/Mungo Jerry/Les McKeown's '70s Bay City Rollers/The Rubettes: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 4 April 1992

MAYBE IT'S for the best that Marc Bolan didn't take that bend as well as he'd have liked back in '77. Otherwise we might now ...

Soundgarden: Whole Allotment O'Love

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 April 1992

Sweet soil music! Somewhere between the excess of Heavy Metal and the austerity of alternative rock — in Seattle, in other words — lie SOUNDGARDEN, ...

Afghan Whigs: Congregation (Sub Pop/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

YOU THINK the world is f—ed? Take time out for a long, hard constitutional inside your own heart, friends, and chances are things won't look ...

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: Telly It Like It Is

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

Prime your remote controls for the anger and eloquence of powerful San Franciscan panthers of polemic rap, THE DISPOSABLE HEROES OF HIPHOPRISY, telling it like ...

Recoil: Bloodline (Mute/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

ALAN WILDER is the John Major of Electro. A nice chap — if every member of the public could spend ten minutes with him, he'd ...

Soul II Soul: Volume II Just Right (Ten/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

THE SOUL II Soul collective is undoubtedly a shining example of enterprise culture at its best; this culture, of course, being of the Caribbean roots ...

The Beastie Boys: Check Your Head (Capitol/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

MOW BETTER BLUES ...

Ultramagnetic MCs: Funk Your Head Up (ffrr/All formats)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 18 April 1992

IT'S NEARLY five years since Ultramagnetic MCs released their debut Critical Breakdown, but you only get nine minutes into the follow-up before 'Blast From The ...

Metallica, Queen: Metallica: Het's Induction Hour

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 2 May 1992

JAMES HETFIELD likes weapons, Queen, women who aren't brain-surgeons, hates rap and looking like Lemmy, doesn't know all the words to 'Bohemian Rhapsody' but feels ...

Saint Etienne: St Etienne: Clubber Soul

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 May 1992

Stop farming your hair for an instant and smell those flowers! Perfect pop is back and ST ETIENNE will be drifting it blissfully up to ...

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy: Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury (4th & Broadway/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 May 1992

GREATEST AMERICAN HEROES – In-Disposable! Rono and Michael take their message to the streets ...

Dinah Washington: Mad About The Boy (Mercury)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 9 May 1992

IF THE LIFE STORIES of Billie Holiday, Loretta Lynn and Pasty Cline were interesting enough to inspire major Hollywood movies, it's surely only a matter ...

N-Joi, Orbital, The Shamen: The Shamen, the Prodigy, Basti, Orbital, N-Joi: Sound City '92, Norwich

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 May 1992

FRIDAY ...

Babes in Toyland, Curve, Daisy Chainsaw, PJ Harvey, Lush, Silverfish: The Witch Report

Report and Interview by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 9 May 1992

HIPS, LIPS, TITS, POWER! Meet the new breed of enchantress, the spell-binding women who are taking the male bastille and giving it some earthily female ...

Ronald Shannon Jackson, Bill Laswell, Sonny Sharrock: Bill Laswell: Mad Maxim

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 16 May 1992

Laughing in the face of musical categories, Manhattan's AXIOM label smashes through Techno stomp, space bass boogie, classical gas, Islamic rap'n'thrash, ferocious free-form jazz and ...

The Smiths: Sever Little Children: Morrissey And Marr: The Severed Alliance by Johnny Rogan (Omnibus Press)

Book Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 16 May 1992

A FANATIC, they say, is someone who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim. The Smiths spawned many fans — I know, I ...

Fugazi: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 23 May 1992

LIVE AND LET DIET! ...

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 23 May 1992

ARE YOU ready to have your heart skewered on a grill? Just remember, if you will, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' cover version of ...

The House Of Love: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 23 May 1992

RAFTERS GROAN as House Of Love devotees stack themselves floor to ceiling for this live Radio XFM broadcast, sucking most of London's most unlikely demographic ...

Faith No More: Haircuts That Kill (a.k.a. Faith No More): The Marquee, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 30 May 1992

WAKE UP, IT'S TRIM TO DIE! ...

L7: Strip Sleaze Artists

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 30 May 1992

Ranting, shouting, swearing, spilling conspiracy theories, spitting food in faces — L7, that is, not STEVEN WELLS (for once)! Gag, vom and die laughing as ...

Seam, Yo La Tengo: Yo La Tengo, Seam: Borderline, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 30 May 1992

"A FUNNY thing happened to us on the way to the gig." Whereupon Seam's Sooyoung Park demonstrates that the US/UK cultural gap still occasionally yawns ...

Kiss: The Tongue Remains The Same

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 6 June 1992

Wise up puckers! Are Neanderthal Moz-bashers KISS born-again rawk monsters or lip-smackin' duds? Ironic or moronic? Sexy or sexist? DAVID QUANTICK trades, ahem, licks with ...

Deee-Lite: Infinity Within (WEA/All formats)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

LYCRA DISNEY ...

Eric B. & Rakim: Eric B & Rakim: Don't Sweat The Technique (MCA/All formats)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

SWEAT SOUL MUSIC ...

Pete Rock & CL Smooth: Mecca & The Soul Brother (Elektra/All formats)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

FOR A DEBUT LP, Mecca & The Soul Brother has some serious expectations to live up to. Pete Rock has earned himself a reputation as ...

Phish: A Picture Of Nectar (Elektra/All formats)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

YOU'VE NEVER heard of them... right? But, believe it or not, Phish (from Vermont) are very big fry in the States right now and no ...

Prince: Nuremberg Power Generation

Report and Interview by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

There's a little guy in there somewhere… As PRINCE powers into Europe with yet another all-singing, all-dancing, all-peach sex-spectacle, experienced Prince-hound BETTY PAGE takes up ...

Wilson Phillips: Shadows and Light (EMI/Far too many formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 20 June 1992

FROM SUNNY California comes the new Wilson Phillips LP, eager to taste our salt tears. Tears, that is, of boredom, for there is no entity ...

Alex Chilton: Like Flies On Sherbert (Great Expectations/CD only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 4 July 1992

WHEN BIG Star finally went under after their Sister Lovers (aka Third) LP failed to receive the attention it deserved at the time, a disgusted ...

Unmen: Love Under Water And Other Motion Picture Music (Some Bizzare/All formats)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 4 July 1992

I KNOW bugger all about Unmen save that they're called Giles Perring and Nick Cash. About Giles Perring I know nothing, but I know Nick ...

James, Public Image Ltd: Memories of a Freezing Festival… James/PiL: Alton Towers, Staffordshire

Live Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 10 July 1992

IT WAS NEVER really on the cards, was it, after a perfect Glasto, all sun and good vibes. There, James were last-minute bridesmaids; this was ...

The Lemonheads: It's A Shame About Ray

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 July 1992

Ray To Go, Dando! ...

Boogie Down Productions: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 18 July 1992

BDP ARE one of few constants in the fast-moving, ever-changing hip-hop world. Since 1986 they've put out hardcore classics without concession to passing fads, earning ...

Mary Margaret O'Hara: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 July 1992

THE NIGHT is only three songs old when a lone, drunken heckler decides he's had enough. "Stop singing, Margaret," he admonishes. "You'd better stop that ...

Earth, Green Magnet School, Sick & Wrong, Six Finger Satellite, Supersuckers: Sub Pop: Espresso Way To Your Skull

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 July 1992

Smells like (oh yes) caffeine spirit! Brash, thrashy, bursting with attitude, irony and a shameless desire to make a mint out of countless 'intellectual redneck' ...

Michael Jackson: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Danny Baker, New Musical Express, 8 August 1992

DANNY BAKER was the last man to interview MICHAEL JACKSON before the fences went up and the llamas moved in. Now, some ten years later, ...

Babes In Toyland: A Fête Worse Than Death

Report and Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 15 August 1992

Rumble rumble rumble... whizz "WHAAAAHH!"And that's just listening to the new BABES IN TOYLAND album, long before EDWIN POUNCEY went anywhere near a rollercoaster with ...

Kylie Minogue: She Came, She S.A.W., She Conquered

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 22 August 1992

In the great theme park that is the British Popular Experience, KYLIE MINOGUE represents a national treasure, which is not bad going for an Australian. ...

Morrissey, The Smiths: Morrissey: Caucasian Rut

Essay by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 22 August 1992

POP STARS are especially strange creatures when it comes to giving that all-important 'image' an overhaul. ...

Babes in Toyland: Pieces Of Hate: Babes In Toyland: Fontanelle (Southern/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 22 August 1992

JUST AS THE word "love" is now virtually meaningless, its intensity sapped by decades of everyday misuse, so too has "hate" become an emotion too ...

Charles Manson: Die Flayed Alive! Charles Manson

Report by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 29 August 1992

Many reckon the swinging ‘60s ended the night followers of deranged hippy guru CHARLES MANSON broke into the home of Roman Polanski and brutally murdered ...

Nirvana: Love Will Tear Us Apart

Report and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 29 August 1992

As Nevermind zoomed past Bono & Jacko, so the rumours started: Kurt Is Dead ...Kurt & Courtney & heroin ...As the bulldozers continue to gather ...

Babes in Toyland: Marquee, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 September 1992

SHRIEK LIKE A CHILD ...

Suede: The Brettish Movement

Interview by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 5 September 1992

They're grandly egocentric, they're glad to be fey, they think they're God's gift — and they might be right. Heaven knows, they're visceral now, and ...

The Fall, I, Ludicrous: Mark E. Smith and I, Ludicrous: Notebooks! Lout! Plagiarists!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 12 September 1992

• Which scabrous, sarky interviewer could give Fall-derivatives, football-obsessive and all-round smart alecks I, LUDICROUS a good going-over as their Idiots Savants LP sneaks out? ...

Screaming Trees: Powerhaus, Islington, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 12 September 1992

THOSE OF the opinion that rock 'n' roll is a soft option are advised to cast a cynical glance at the Screaming Trees. Singer Mark ...

Sinead O'Connor: Am I Not Your Girl? (Ensign/All formats)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 12 September 1992

TORCHED BY YOUR PRESENCE, DEAR ...

Sister Souljah: Empire, Liverpool

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 12 September 1992

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE Bill Clinton wants to be President of the world's only superpower — a nation capable of swatting any other off the globe at ...

Big Audio Dynamite, The Tyrell Corporation, The Wolfgang Press: Bad II, The Wolfgang Press, Tyrell Corporation: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

CHARITY GIGS are decidedly advantageous in that they encourage strange bedfellows to share a stage; there's none of the usual persecution of support acts to ...

Buffalo Tom: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

CONSIDER CHRIS. Indeed, consider Chris Colbourn, bass-player from the excellent Boston three-piece Buffalo Tom, a man for whom nerves are a no-no. ...

Cabaret Voltaire, On-U Sound System, Jah Wobble: Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart, Gary Clail's On-U Sound System, Cabaret Voltaire: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

IN THE grey area between barrow-boy techno and lumpen flannel-rock, there exists a community of enthusiasts who refuse to let their output be dictated by ...

Screaming Trees: Bark Psychotics

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

Are these guys for arboreal? Nursing an enviable collection of broken bones, SCREAMING TREES are pulling away from their Seattle roots and branching out into ...

Television: Return of the Valve Heads

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

HUNCHED AROUND a huge table which dominates the fancily decorated room that their new record company, Capitol, has allocated to them for interviews, the four ...

The Blue Aeroplanes: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

"ARE YOU now, or have you ever been, a member of the Blue Aeroplanes?" The T&C foyer merchandise stall is surrounded by hundreds of puzzled ...

Throwing Muses: Leicester University, Leicester

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 19 September 1992

IT MAY BE a tad predictable to criticise Throwing Muses for not being so good without Tanya Donelly, but there's something missing from their sound ...

Madonna: Non-Stop Erotica Cabaret

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 26 September 1992

Few papers get to interview MADONNA. Hardly anyone gets to see her home. Now — exclusively, natch — the NME charm their way into the ...

Spiritualized: Manchester University, Manchester

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 26 September 1992

HEY! SCREECHER! LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE! ...

The Prodigy: Experience (XL)

Review by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 26 September 1992

WHEN THEY BURY the time-pod to enable future generations to get a handle on what happened in 1992, The Prodigy's debut album will be a ...

Madonna: Dominatrix Of The Trade

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 3 October 1992

In Part Two of our sexclusive interview, GAVIN MARTIN reveals how an increasingly in-control MADONNA plans to conquer the '90s with her multi-media conglomerate Maverick, ...

EMF: I've Got You Under My Foreskin

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 10 October 1992

Once they were young, pretty and sexy pop stars riding on the frenzied rock-shag monster with a diet of dangerous drugs and sex. Now EMF ...

Radiohead: FM and Blinding

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 10 October 1992

Neurotic, paranoid, alienated, personally inadequate (sound familiar?) — RADIOHEAD's THOM YORKE could well be the new British lyricist to claim the King Of Glum's songwriting ...

Guns N' Roses, Metallica: Metallica: High on Iron Scion

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 October 1992

The streamlined, black-clad resistance fighters of METALLICA are poised for a surgical strike on Guns N' Roses' hard rock throne. STEPHEN DALTON discovers the truth ...

Mudhoney: Academy, Manchester

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 24 October 1992

AFTER ALL the earache, the broken promises, the mad mullahs chasing after dollar signs and the sheer Zen apathy of the times we're dying through... ...

Paul Weller: Apollo, Manchester

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 24 October 1992

SEARCHING FOR THE OLD SOUL REVELS ...

The Verve: Verve: Mill At The Pier, Wigan

Live Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 24 October 1992

IT'S USUALLY Sunday supplement journalists who go to Wigan to hang around the notorious King Street area, sneer at the pier, observe the fights in ...

Flowered Up, Right Said Fred: Flowered Up: Sex Pistils

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 31 October 1992

  YOU HEAR all these outrageous rumours about Flowered Up. About lavish parties which degenerate into Roman orgies where whole mansions get trashed while Kylie and ...

Right Said Fred: This Ain't Rock'n'roll...This is Spermicide!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 31 October 1992

Oo-er! Sex rears its ugly Fred this week, as those saucy HEAVENLY artistes release a charidee EP of rubber soul classics, namely RIGHT SAID FRED ...

Right Said Fred, Saint Etienne: St. Etienne: Saint Misbehavin'

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 31 October 1992

POP QUIZ! Which band have covered a Neil Young song, a Fall song, and a Right Said Fred song? St Etienne — who else but, ...

Björn Again: Academy, Manchester

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 7 November 1992

THE '70s WERE fantastic, weren't they? Everyone was sort of daft, really. They ate all this weird food like Salt 'N' Shake crisps. They wore ...

Juan Atkins: On Juan

Profile and Interview by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 7 November 1992

JUAN ATKINS, Godfather Of Techno, returns in style ...

Neil Young: Rustic Never Sleeps

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 7 November 1992

"GEE, IT'S LIKE being in a waiting room, the doctor will see you now." Neil Young has just taken a three-minute break between the arrival ...

Sebadoh: 'Doh What A Lovely War

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 November 1992

Sick of plaid-toting, attitude-brandishing, Seattle-worshipping corporate rock wannabes? Then seek a cure with SEBADOH, who speak the unspoken and think music is a huge and ...

Ice Cube: Cube Missive Crisis: Ice Cube: The Predator (4th & Broadway)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 21 November 1992

YOU ARE NOT going to believe this. ...

Shonen Knife: Dagger Dagger Hey!

Profile and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 November 1992

Do SHONEN KNIFE have some sinister masterplan to conquer Planet Pop or are they just a happy freakshow? STEVEN WELLS pulls on his combat fatigues ...

The KLF, Tammy Wynette: Stand By Your Van: Tammy Meets the KLF

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 23 November 1992

Welcome to Mu Mu Land, where hooded figures drive ice-cream vans and nothing is quite like it is in Tennessee. Which is a welcome change ...

Leonard Cohen: The Future

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 28 November 1992

THIS RECORD HAS taken its creator, poet/songwriter/musician Leonard Cohen, four years to complete. A collection of seven originals and two cover versions that Cohen and ...

Ice Cube: The Predator's Decision is Final

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 5 December 1992

The nigger you love to hate is now The Predator. As the controversy over Ice-T's 'Cop Killer' dies down, ICE CUBE — rapper, film star ...

The Word: The Titillate Show

Report by John Harris, New Musical Express, 12 December 1992

So is THE WORD the prole art threat made flesh, or a load of amateurish toss? JOHN HARRIS travels to darkest Wembley to spend an ...

Sonic Youth: Dirtysomething

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 12 December 1992

As the Godparents of punk, SONIC YOUTH have seen their children break into the mainstream during the past year, signing major label deals and attempting ...

ABBA, Bjorn Again: Bjorn Again: You Saab Bastards!

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 December 1992

Are BJORN AGAIN the camp, knowing, so-bad-it's-good good-time covers band it's OK to like? Or the malignant cancer eating away at real rebellious new rock ...

Radiohead: Smashed!, Islington, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 19 December 1992

BY ALL accounts — primarily their own — Radiohead are Angry Young Men. And with good cause. Gig convention has it that the band's-mates-down-the-front scenario ...

Huggy Bear, Pavement, Sonic Youth: Sonic Youth, Pavement, Huggy Bear: Rainbow Club, Bristol

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 December 1992

SONIC THE HEADSHOCK 3 ...

Blur: Mother’s Litter Helpers: Blur's Modern Life Is Rubbish

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 1993

AND THE FOOLS laugh loudest. Blur’s rise and fall has all the comic nuances of Reginald Perrin’s. Two years ago they were pop’s champagne Charlies: ...

The Boo Radleys: Giant Steps (Creation)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 1993

TIME FOR a rethink. At some point (just between the dreamy acoustic sway of ‘Wish I Was Skinny’ and ‘Leaves And Sand’ I think, but ...

Leonard Cohen: Hello! I Must Be Cohen

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 9 January 1993

THE SPLENDID LUNCHTIME repast lies before us, Leonard Cohen is gobsmacked by plenitude, overcome by abundance. ...

Spiral Tribe: You Can't Beat The System!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 9 January 1993

Back to the future! SPIRAL TRIBE set out on the road to Stonehenge two years ago and never came back, lost in a world of ...

Brand New Heavies: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 16 January 1993

THE STAGE is awash with reflected light from a dozen mirrorballs and the back wall is bedecked in enough gold lame to keep Moz in ...

Cornershop: This Sitar Kills Fascists

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 16 January 1993

Out to smash Asian stereotypes, shit on racists and slaughter every half-assed predictable indie band on the planet — CORNERSHOP might not be able to ...

Apache Indian: Big Bhangra Theory

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 23 January 1993

He's been called the voice of Asian youth, the pop Gandhi and a politician but, according to APACHE INDIAN, his music just reflects the sound ...

Belly: Rough Trade Shop, Covent Garden, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 23 January 1993

THE STARLIGHT EXPRESS ...

Einstürzende Neubauten: Apocalypse Neu!

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 23 January 1993

Be honest, you missed the sheer noise terror, the rampant metal-bashing, the power drills and the quite literally explosive live show didn't you? Well now, ...

Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet: The Juliet Letters (WEA/All formats)

Review by Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 23 January 1993

SINGING OF a cynic's world-view in 'A Sad Burlesque', Elvis Costello mentions 'The pitying smirk'. Funny, a pitying smirk is exactly what the young and ...

Julian Cope, The Fall, Pop Will Eat Itself, U2: Ground Control To Major Labels

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 30 January 1993

Unattached, paranoid, fancy working your ass off and seeing five gigs a night, listening to 400 tapes a week and shouldering the blame when the ...

Pop Rules!

Comment by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 6 February 1993

So we all know the Brits Awards are a farce. So damn well nearly all of our favourites have been overlooked in favour of a ...

Rage Against The Machine: Rage Against The Machine (Epic/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 6 February 1993

THE RAP-rock crossover is a long-cherished ideal that has invariably tarnished the credentials of its various practitioners and collaborators. Just as Run DMC were consigned ...

Seven Year Bitch: Smashed!, Islington, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 February 1993

BOYS ARE BORING. The tedious parade of middle-class white males desperately trying to persuade us that they 'hurt', that they 'suffer' ...YAWNO YAWNO! But listen ...

Digable Planets: Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) (WEA/All formats)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 13 February 1993

DIGGERS WITH ATTITUDE ...

Rage Against The Machine: Livid In The Material World

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 February 1993

From Comershop to Consolidated, politics is most emphatically back on the pop agenda. And throwing up the high-wire act between semtex and spandex to beat ...

Radiohead: Pablo Honey (Parlophone/All formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 20 February 1993

GLOW FREQUENCY BAND ...

The Auteurs: Auteur Magic For The People

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 20 February 1993

Fed up of noisy, brutish Brit bands ripping off tired ideas from the Yanks? Nothing to excite you in the modern, cutting-edge of music? Then ...

Nirvana: Never Mind The Bullets

Interview by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 27 February 1993

Deep in the woods of Minnesota, a sleepy CHRIS NOVOSELIC is just finishing a major magazine article on the Bosnian/Croatian conflict, while Steve Albini helps ...

Radiohead: Turn On, Tune In, Rock Out: Radiohead at the Richmond, Brighton

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 27 February 1993

WE COULDN’T have waited much longer really, could we? What with Suede so colossal, and the likes of The Auteurs and Kinky Machine still rubbing ...

808 State: Town and Country Club, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 March 1993

THE COMPUTER-DRIVEN orchestral score that is Moby's opening gambit comes as a blessed relief. After two hours of beat-fascism courtesy of the hardcore DJ that ...

Huggy Bear: Ready, Teddy, Go!

Special Feature by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 March 1993

You've seen HUGGY BEAR smash up mainstream complacency on The Word, you've been baffled by a load of biased ranting on some kind of new ...

Pulp, Saint Etienne: St Etienne, Pulp: Mayfair, Glasgow

Live Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 6 March 1993

A MIRRORBALL of confusion spins and sparkles over the hall. Blank faces stare at the stage where Pulp are playing. Is this pop? ...

American Music Club: Join Our Club

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 13 March 1993

"I SAY A lot of stupid things," Mark Eitzel stares directly into Boy George's eyes and for a moment is very sombre. ...

Ice-T: "Bring Me The Head of Charlton Heston"

Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 13 March 1993

America's most wanted... public enemy one... ICE-T's reputation is just about as real as he wants it to get right now. Ever since the 'Cop ...

Naughty By Nature: Hooray Homies

Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 20 March 1993

They're huge! They're massive! NAUGHTY BY NATURE are the rap equivalent of Nirvana, catapulted to success by the unstoppable 'OPP'. But as they hold promotional ...

Arrested Development: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 27 March 1993

THE DEGENERATION GAME ...

Suede: Suede (Nude)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 27 March 1993

A VERY BRETTISH COUP ...

Levitation, Spiritualized: Spiritualized, Levitation: Hackney Empire, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 17 April 1993

A BALD man in a silver suit is pumping plumes of silver smoke from the balcony in between playing mood-altering ambient tape-loops. Below him, the ...

PJ Harvey: Rid Of Me (Island)

Review by Betty Page, New Musical Express, 24 April 1993

THE FIRST time, it gave me third degree burns. I was driving when the title track's soft murmur exploded into a rocket-thrusted motorcycle roar and ...

Andrew Loog Oldham, The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces: Andrew Loog Oldham: "Charlie's Good Tonight, Innit?"

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 1 May 1993

Cancel room service! The man who styled and managed those grubby pop hopefuls The Rolling Stones — forever staining the world with the concept of ...

Stereo MCs: Birch Placidy and the Fun Dance Kids

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 15 May 1993

Beaut mutants THE STEREO MCs, the first great British rap band, are making cowboys clench their buttocks in the achy-breaky Texas heartland and dispensing mellow ...

Anthrax, Angelo Badalamenti, Public Enemy: Anthrax: Rap Metal Dealers

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 22 May 1993

Once upon a time, there was a super-competent trad-thrash band with a poodle-headed singer. They boldly entered the rock/rap crossover zone, collaborating with the cred-worthy ...

Blur, David Bowie, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, The Clash, Gallon Drunk, The Jam, The Kinks, Madness, Pet Shop Boys, The Pogues, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Small Faces, Suede, The The, The Who: London: Ditty Old Town

Overview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 22 May 1993

From The Kinks to Carter, Bowie to Blur, the Small Faces to Suede, British pop groups have eulogised, mythologised, criticised, glamorised, immortalised, romanticised and agonised ...

Gallon Drunk, PJ Harvey: PJ Harvey, Gallon Drunk: Rock City, Nottingham

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 22 May 1993

LIKE IGGY said, all aboard for Fun Time. The pat preconceptions hanging around this inspired pairing suggest that chuckles will be thin on the ground. ...

Radiohead, Strangelove: Leicester University

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 22 May 1993

GUITAR VERY MUCH! ...

Pet Shop Boys: The Smiths You Can Dunce To: Pet Shop Boys

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 29 May 1993

WELL, HONESTLY! They're like an old married couple at times: Neil Tennant will poke fun at Chris Lowe, and Chris will get mildly stroppy in ...

The Velvet Underground: Velvet Underground: Some Velvet Moaning...

Comment by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 5 June 1993

  TRUE STORY: I'm at the Smash Hits Christmas party, the disco is blamming out non-stop teeny-pop fun stuff and the joint is bopping with the ...

Slowdive: Pitta And Twisted

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 June 1993

Be gone with your rich kid, shoe-gazing, dilettante prejudices about SLOWDIVE, for the kebab-loving, apolitical enemy of the Manics are shaking off those untrendy pigeon-hole ...

The Velvet Underground: Playhouse, Edinburgh

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 12 June 1993

WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HAIR ...

Depeche Mode: Hanover Garbsen Stadium

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 19 June 1993

IN A marquee in the middle of a German field, Martin Gore is being cross-examined about the quasi-religious imagery of his lyrics by a frizzy-haired ...

Naughty By Nature: Hammersmith Palais, London

Live Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 19 June 1993

ALL THE WHITE LIBERALS in the house go: "Uh oh!" ...

U2: Animal Lightweight: U2: Zooropa (Island)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 July 1993

SO THE intergalactic rock megastar reclines on his Virtual Reality waterbed at the Hotel Zooropa with multiple TV screens blasting 24-hour infotainment from every wall. ...

Bad Boys Inc: Naughty By Nurture

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 3 July 1993

It's easy to be cynical about 'manufactured' Pop Stars, how it's all so easy for talentless young upstarts to get fame and fortune beyond their ...

The Chameleons: Dali's Picture/Auffuhrung In Berlin

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 3 July 1993

IT NEVER quite happened for The Chameleons. While such kindred angsty spirits as Echo & The Bunnymen had the lips, the charisma and the odd ...

Blaggers ITA, Credit to the Nation, Manic Street Preachers: Manic Street Preachers, Blaggers ITA, Credit to the Nation: Eclectic Riot Orchestra

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 10 July 1993

It's the most exciting and important tour to take place this year. In the last six months, politics has roared back onto the musical agenda ...

Cypress Hill: Black Sunday (Ruffhouse/Columbia/All formats)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 24 July 1993

THE GRIM REEFERS ...

Funkdoobiest: Which Doobie U B? (Epic/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 July 1993

CARTOONS ALL over the sleeve. Distorted snapshots and stupid-fresh pseudonyms for the band: Tribal Funkster, Son Doobie and Tomahawk Funk. Goofball LA trio Funkdoobiest seem ...

The Pharcyde: Jazz Cafe, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 31 July 1993

HIP-HOP may have gained mass acceptance and corporate approval over recent years, but somewhere along the road it lost its sense of humour. Thankfully, the ...

Nirvana: Beyond The Thrash-hold Of Cobain: Nirvana: Roseland Ballroom, New York

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 7 August 1993

IT'S DEAFENING. Thurston Moore has his fingers in his ears. Lee Ranaldo's son Cody is wearing ear muffs. Even Courtney Love looks a little taken ...

Depeche Mode, Sisters of Mercy: Depeche Mode, The Sisters Of Mercy: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 August 1993

GOOD VIOLATIONS ...

Prince: Birmingham National Indoor Arena

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 7 August 1993

THE TINY FIGURE in silky lemon and black trouser-suit and Spanish heels is talking. ...

The Breeders: Credit to the Gestation

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 7 August 1993

Attention Pixies fans! You've muddled through the, erm, muddled Frank Black album, but now here is the true heir to the Pixie throne, the real ...

The Pharcyde: Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (East West)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 August 1993

"DADDY, WHAT does 'crossover' mean?" ...

Buju Banton: Young Slack Teenager

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 14 August 1993

Two years ago, BUJU BANTON caused a furore with his single 'Boom Bye Bye', advocating the killing of homosexuals, a controversy further fuelled when his ...

Buju Banton: Voice Of Jamaica (Mercury/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 August 1993

THE FURORE provoked by Buju Banton's virulently anti-gay lyric to 'Boom Bye Bye' last year has had lasting repercussions on music in general and raggamuffin ...

U2: Welcome to Empty-V: U2's Zoo(ropa TV)

Comment by Stephen Dalton, Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 August 1993

Is Zoo(ropa/TV) a subversive, ironic multi-media bombardment and situationist statement or a two-hour post-modernist Pot Noodle advert made by politically naive, culturally unaware squares with ...

Bill Laswell: Super Barrier Brother

Profile and Interview by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 4 September 1993

Respect and admiration this week go out to AXIOM label boss BILL LASWELL, breaking down multi-cultural barriers and making perfect musical marriages. ...

Curve: Cuckoo

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 September 1993

GOSH, DIDN'T we all lose sleep worrying whether Curve were the genuine indie article when they arrived with an almighty belch called 'Ten Little Girls' ...

One Dove: Morning Dove White (Boys Own/London/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 September 1993

BEAKY REALISTIC ...

Radiohead: Creeping Up With The Joneses

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 11 September 1993

Their album outsells Suede's by 15 to 1, their single is in the Top 50 and MTV can't play their video enough times — in ...

The Orb, System 7: Trekroner Fort, Copenhagen

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 11 September 1993

SOMETHING'S ROCKING IN THE STATE OF DENMARK ...

2 Unlimited: Maastricht Bleepy

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 18 September 1993

For Holland's 2 UNLIMITED, purveyors of mindless Euro techno-pop (without lyrics) it's business as usual; flights to exotic destinations, endless interviews and their nth appearance ...

Huggy Bear: Taking The Rough With The Smooch (Wiiija/All formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 18 September 1993

PUCKER LIPS NOW ...

Shed Seven, Sleeper: Sleeper, Shed Seven: Smashed!, London

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 18 September 1993

HOW WE laughed. There is something delightfully absurd about York band Shed Seven's guitarist carrying on like a 15-year-old square trying to impersonate Bernard Butler, ...

The Wonder Stuff: Irish Centre, Digbeth

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 September 1993

BRUM UNDAUNTED EVENING ...

Collapsed Lung, Credit to the Nation, Elastica, Tiny Monroe: NME On-Stage featuring Credit To The Nation, Elastica, Collapsed Lung, Tiny Monroe: Canal Cafe Bar, Manchester

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

HOW THE NORTH-WEST WAS ON ...

Afghan Whigs: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

HIP LIBS... IT'S POWER! ...

Grant Lee Buffalo: Manchester University

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

ALL SUMMER, Grant Lee Buffalo have been critically lauded, thrown into the requisite festival slots and had their pictures shoved in the windows of record ...

KRS-One: Return Of The Boom Bap (Jive)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

HIP-HOP pioneers have always found it difficult to get respect in any true sense years down the line. ...

The Rockingbirds, Saint Etienne, Whiteout: St Etienne, The Rockingbirds, Whiteout: Haçienda, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

SO THIS is how the other half live. It's a drizzly Sunday night and nine quid to get in, but the Haçienda is bulging under ...

Stereolab: Esquires, Bedford

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 25 September 1993

STEREOLAB ARE now just about the perfect indie art rock band. That's not necessarily a compliment. It means they don't sell millions of records, you ...

Buffalo Tom: Borderline, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 October 1993

OLÉ TRINITY ...

Buffalo Tom: Borderline, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 October 1993

OLÉ TRINITY ...

Madonna: Girlie In A Coma: Madonna: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 October 1993

8.25PM: SHE'S HERE. Heads swivel and mouths gawp as her Royal Raunchiness makes an entrance few could hope to emulate. "I saw her! I saw ...

Mazzy Star: So Tonight That I Might See (Capitol)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 October 1993

WITH THEIR debut album, 1990's She Hangs Brightly, Mazzy Star ensured their place in that corner of rock's honour roll reserved for the enigmas and ...

The Wonder Stuff: Midlands Blank: The Wonder Stuff: Construction For The Modern Idiot (Polydor)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 2 October 1993

"Here's a question for you: are The Wonder Stuff still a credible band?" — Miles Hunt, NME, May 1990. ...

Afghan Whigs: Gentlemen (Blast First/All Formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 9 October 1993

MANNERS FROM HEAVEN ...

Bad Boys Inc, Take That: Take That and Parody

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 October 1993

Pop is being manufactured like never before — especially cute-white-boy pop. As the war between champs TAKE THAT and challengers BAD BOYS INC hots up, ...

Teenage Fanclub: Norman's Song Quest

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 9 October 1993

TEENAGE FANCLUB have unleashed their new album, Thirteen, already resigned to a critical savaging — because it's not the latest word in designer grunge. TED ...

The Breeders, Luscious Jackson, Urge Overkill: The Breeders, Urge Overkill, Luscious Jackson: The Plaza, Glasgow

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 9 October 1993

RAWK! THIS WAY... ...

The Lemonheads: Come On Feel The Lemonheads

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 9 October 1993

FIRST, THE good news; this album will drive people mad. For Evan Dando, deeply dippy, crack-smokin’, high priest of slackerdom, has actually managed to create ...

PJ Harvey: 4 Track Demos (Island)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 October 1993

ROCK'N'ROLL EXISTS in a parallel universe to straight society. In this kaleidoscope of pleasures, people with suss, savvy and imagination are allowed to re-invent themselves, ...

Eric Clapton, The Clash, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Selecter, The Specials, Steven Van Zandt: RAR! RAR! Disputin'! The History of Rock Against Racism

Retrospective by John Harris, New Musical Express, 16 October 1993

  ON APRIL 16, 1990, a proud man who'd spent 27 years in the custody of a vicious racist regime arrived in London. He'd come to ...

Shed Seven: Marquee, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 23 October 1993

SOME LIKE IT HUT ...

Spiritualized: Shirk, Rattle & Roll-up

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 23 October 1993

Jason Pierce — supposedly SPIRITUALIZED's miserable junky control-freak layabout — has been completely misunderstood… and so have his band. TED KESSLER finds that Mr Glum ...

The Posies, Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub: Teenage Fanclub, Superchunk, The Posies: The Institute, Birmingham

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 23 October 1993

WILD, KEEN, HAIRY HIP KIDS ...

Kate Bush: Plimsoll Asylum: Kate Bush: The Red Shoes (EMI)

Review by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 6 November 1993

"WE THINK you'd better wake up captain," suggests the crew of Kate's ship on 'Constellation Of The Heart'. "There's something happenin' up ahead." "What am I ...

Suede: Fan Fare for the Common Room

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 6 November 1993

Recently returned from their second American tour, SUEDE have decided the US is their sort of place and they want out of cynical, self-consuming Britain. ...

John Lydon, Leftfield: John Lydon and Leftfield

Interview by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 27 November 1993

IT'S ONE NIGHT in June '92, long past midnight at the Brixton Academy. The Orb have finished washing the cerebral nether regions of the full-on ...

Snoop Doggy Dogg: Muttley Crude: Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle (East West)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 4 December 1993

CULTURE ALIENATION, boredom and despair: such are the imperatives of Snoop Doggy Dogg's world. ...

Sepultura: Rio Speedwagon

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 December 1993

With Nirvana and Metallica now deemed radio-friendly, someone had to supply a new soundtrack for rebellion — and Brazilian rockers SEPULTURA have taken up the ...

Pulp: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 11 December 1993

JARVIS COCKER stands on a little raised section of the stage, one finger pointing a la Travolta to the heavens, the other holding the mic ...

Oasis, Saint Etienne: St Etienne, Oasis: Birmingham Institute

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 11 December 1993

HIP POP... HOORAY! ...

D:Ream, Take That: Take That, D:Ream: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 11 December 1993

PIN-UP... AND COMING ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Too Live Cruet

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 18 December 1993

From girls to women, SALT-N-PEPA have moved on from their Svengali-led days to create their own agenda of single motherhood, sex and answering back to ...

The Lemonheads: Evan Dando

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 25 December 1993

THE BOX HELPS. Men are, on average, taller than women, and at least it brings Her nearer to Him, thus conferring a little more credibility ...

Apache Indian, Chaka Demus and Pliers, General Levy, Shabba Ranks, Snow: Shabba: Arrival — Ragga's Born Again

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 December 1993

Just as grunge crossed over from the streets to the catwalk, RAGGA made the shift from underground to mainstream in 1993. Laying siege to the ...

Paul Weller: Wild Wood (Go! Discs)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 1994

SOMETHING TO mull over. Paul Weller has been having hit records for 16 years. Wild Wood – the follow-up to his wildly-underrated debut solo outing ...

Suede: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 January 1994

Figgy Star Lust ...

Fool Britannia

Essay by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 15 January 1994

Is the current wave of Little Englandism just a mask for the fact that Brit rock is becoming increasingly irrelevant? STEVEN WELLS looks at the ...

Therapy?

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 15 January 1994

Quietly, stealthily, THERAPY? have crept up on the rock world to become the "indie" band it's OK for Beavis & Butthead to like. Even stranger ...

Urge Overkill: Jesus Urge Superstar; Americruiser (both Touch & Go/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 22 January 1994

IF YOU were wondering what Chicago's strutting cockerels of flame-grilled dude-rock were doing before last year's acclaimed Saturation opus, the answer is in these two ...

S*M*A*S*H: Family Club, Welwyn Garden City

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, February 1994

WELWYN GARDEN CITY. Always sounded horrible. Not as horrible sounding as Bletchley, Goole or Grimethorpe, admittedly, but more representative of the respectable blandist terrorism that ...

Garth Brooks: In Pieces (Liberty/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 5 February 1994

A GENUINE multi-platinum crossover phenomenon in the US, Brooks has yet to make any serious mark over here. Raised on Kiss and Queen, the 31-year-old ...

Sister George: Queercore: Come Out Feel The Noise!

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 5 February 1994

Alienated by the white, middle-class, mostly male gay scene and spurred on by riot grrrl, the exponents of QUEERCORE are young, working class, politically motivated ...

Royal Trux: Twin Infinitives (Domino/CD only)

Review by Edwin Pouncey, New Musical Express, 5 February 1994

"NOW THAT I can get outside of myself, I can see how that record has something that might not catch on immediately," admitted Royal Trux's ...

The Fugees: Emigration Terrorists

Profile and Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 19 February 1994

Fact: like it or lump it in with the nastier things in life, hip-hop is still growing like the tumour from hell. Fittingly, as the ...

Blur: We Can Be Eros… Just For One Day

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 5 March 1994

Breaking out of the Camden bootboy mould that brought more bovver than they’d bargained for, BLUR are back with more songs about penile dementia, lager ...

Charlatans, The (UK): The Charlatans: Melkweg, Amsterdam

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 5 March 1994

IT'S VALENTINE'S weekend in Amsterdam, love is in the air (and indeed, in the area), made all the more blissful by the dizzying aroma of ...

Beck: Mellow Gold (Geffen/All formats)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 19 March 1994

INGOT'S DREAMING ...

Gang Starr, Jeru the Damaja: Gang Starr: Respect is Duo

Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 19 March 1994

Four albums down the line, GANG STARR are on the verge of promotion to the Premier League with their unique brand of rap. ANGUS BATEY ...

Elastica, John Lydon, S*M*A*S*H, These Animal Men: Speed: Sinus Of The Times

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 March 1994

Hey, you! Are you trying to coat your lungs with a half-pound bag of baking soda mixed with industrial-strength heroin and dealer's dandruff? STEVEN 'Just ...

Primal Scream, ZZ Top: ZZ Top: Can't Get Out Of Beard

Interview by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 19 March 1994

They were poor, humble boogie-woogie Texan boys. And then ZZ TOP discovered beards!, buffalo!, babes! and car seat covers! so they could take over the ...

Jeff Buckley: A Son's Star Trip: Jeff Buckley: Borderline, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 April 1994

"I NEED A Guinness," murmurs Jeff Buckley, after completing one of his many audacious sorties on the collective heartstring this evening. "And I really mean ...

The Beatles and Astrid Kirchherr: They Loved Stu Yeah Yeah Yeah

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 2 April 1994

They weren't always old men owning half of Scotland and giving all their money to spiritual motor racing gurus. On the eve of a Beatles ...

Tim Buckley: Mourning Glory

Retrospective by Fred Dellar, New Musical Express, 2 April 1994

TIM BUCKLEY died at 28. He never had a Top 40 album. But two recent live album releases and the emergence of his son, Jeff, ...

Hole: Live Through This (City Slang/All formats)

Review by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 9 April 1994

HOLE ON THE RAGE ...

Jeff Buckley: Live at Sin-é (Big Cat)

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 9 April 1994

TALENTS sporting the imprint of famous genetic forbears inspire suspicion and derision in equal measure; look no further than Julian Lennon's career for elucidation. ...

Oasis, Whiteout: Respect is Dune: Oasis/Whiteout: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 9 April 1994

THERE IT IS, the new sound of young Scotland, wiggling its corduroy-wrapped hips, pursing its lips and clapping enthusiastically into the mic in a basement ...

The Auteurs: Haughty by Nature

Interview by Andrew Mueller, New Musical Express, 9 April 1994

Yup, it's six-gun 'n' ten-gallon — from Odd bins — fun all the way. as THE AUTEURS release their second album, Now I'm A Cowboy. ...

Primal Scream: You Can't Always Take What You Want: Primal Scream: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

Live Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 9 April 1994

BOBBY GILLESPIE yells something victorious and completely unintelligible into the mic, waves a bottle of champers at the ecstatic throng at the front and falls ...

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana: Kurt Cobain: "We Just Cannot Realise How Troubled This Soul Was..."

Comment by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 16 April 1994

I FIRST MET Kurt Cobain on the night of December 3, 1989. His band had been on the road for weeks, touring the European toilet ...

Primal Scream: Dancing with Mr. G

Report by Kris Needs, New Musical Express, 16 April 1994

Are you ready for rock-trucker blues — the PRIMAL SCREAM way? Can you handle misplaced underwear, Jacuzzi romps, leather shorts and shenanigans in gay clubs? ...

The Chemical Brothers, Death In Vegas: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 19 April 1994

"E'S, COKE, anything you want..." Yeah, you gotta admit it: Brixton knows how to party. No sooner have you navigated your way around the slurring ...

Counting Crows: Abacus:Arrival

Interview by Andrew Mueller, New Musical Express, 23 April 1994

They've gone from COUNTING CROWS to counting dollars in the space of one album, but rook leader ADAM DURITZ still has to avoid the questions ...

Oasis: The Bruise Brothers

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 23 April 1994

The Kinks did it. The Who did it. But no-one does it like OASIS, five lads who won't waste words when a punch will do, ...

Saint Etienne: Cats Eyes and Legless

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 30 April 1994

You know Saint Etienne as the flop band living within the pages of Kay's Catalogue and fronted by Emma Peel's understudy. But their pals reckon ...

The Only Ones, Peter Perrett: The One Featuring Peter Perrett: London, Camden Underworld

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, May 1994

ELEGANTLY WASTED, stylishly dissipated.... it is far too easy to wrap the debilitating effects of heroin addiction in the prosaic flippancy of 1970s rock journalese. ...

Black Sabbath: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 7 May 1994

HE LOOKS for all the world like a 1970s catalogue model, with his snake-hipped flares. Shoot! Annual 1975 hairstyle, and rakish Zapata moustache. He has ...

Killing Joke: Astoria, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 7 May 1994

JAZ COLEMAN, if you didn't know already, has spent half a lifetime redefining the word 'intensity'. His all-encompassing passion borders on madness and his commitment ...

Pulp: Riverside, Newcastle

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 7 May 1994

GESTURE GIGOLO ...

Buffalo Tom, Kurt Cobain, The Lemonheads: The Lemonheads: Come On Feel The Suedehead

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 7 May 1994

EVAN DANDO has been marketed as teen sex symbol, scagged out hippy doper and serious artiste, but now THE LEMONHEADS' main squeeze is trying to ...

Dr. Dre, The Lady of Rage, Snoop Doggy Dogg: Paw Coarse Men Of The Apocalypse: Doctor Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 May 1994

A HOT South London night. The air is a heady mix of sweat, liquor, perfume… and bomb-ass skunk. Inside the Academy, a veritable ceremony is ...

Dr. Dre, Snoop (Doggy) Dogg: Snoop Doggy Dog and Dr Dre: Every Dogg Has His Dre

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 May 1994

They called him an "evil bastard", said he shouldn't be allowed in the country, that there would be riots outside his hotel and gigs. But ...

Erasure: I Say I Say I Say I Say (Mute/All formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

DURING THE recent furore over the homosexual age of consent, nobody saw fit to introduce into the debate the on-going 30-year-old love affair between straight ...

Fun-Da-Mental: Hub Club, Bath

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

IT IS the night before the local elections, the one chance to hit the BNP where it really hurts... and Bath is sound asleep. Down ...

Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart: Take Me To God (Island/All Formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

BE ON YAHWEH! ...

The Melvins, Napalm Death: Melvins, Napalm Death: Garage, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

THIS MUCH we know: having long since rejected such trifling notions as tunes, melody and coherent vocals, Napalm Death have concentrated their efforts on creating ...

Napalm Death: Fear, Emptiness, Despair (Earache/All Formats)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

WHAT CAN you say about a band who defined the very genre of which they are a part? ...

Sleeper: Kipping Against The Pricks

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

Tired of being safe? Fed up with worrying about the ozone layer? Bored with modern life? Then you need SLEEPER. The last of the dirty, ...

The Beastie Boys: We Clamorous Beasties

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

The Beastie Boys, icons to the sunstruck, tattooed youth of California have set up every American boy's dream empire — clothes, fanzine, record label and ...

Violent Femmes: New Times (Elektra/All Formats)

Review by Andrew Mueller, New Musical Express, 21 May 1994

IN A SANE world, every child on earth would be issued with a copy of the Femmes' 1985 debut the moment they reached puberty — ...

The Fatima Mansions: Fatima Mansions: The Garage, Highbury, London

Live Review by Andrew Mueller, New Musical Express, 28 May 1994

THE FIRST hundred through the doors are issued with oranges — satsumas are out of season — and a free single ('Humiliate Me') in a ...

Brand New Heavies, Corduroy, Galliano, Jamiroquai, The James Taylor Quartet: Galliano: Sandals Messiahs

Report and Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 28 May 1994

Five years ago GALLIANO was just a sticky Mediterranean drink. Now they're a band on the verge of major success, spearheading the movement that's the ...

Manic Street Preachers: Siamese Animal Men

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 28 May 1994

MANIC STREET PREACHERS were once provincial PC lads, but give them a sniff of Bangkok's infamous Pat-Pong district and morality flies out the window. BARBARA ...

The Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against The Machine, Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys: Los Angeles Velodrome, CA

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 28 May 1994

SHIRT UP AND DANCE ...

D:Ream: Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 4 June 1994

PETER CUNNAH cannot dance to save his life. Of course, he knows this full well. Not for him the thrust of the hips to send ...

Lush: From Despair to Mayfair

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 4 June 1994

Beneath the all-quaffing, lager-frenzied, dreamy-weamy indie muso LUSH there's a band bristling with resentment, heartbreak and anger. Visiting MIKI BERENYI's nightmare childhood and EMMA ANDERSON'S ...

Nine Inch Nails: Barrowlands, Glasgow

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 4 June 1994

IN HIS dreams, Trent Renzor is the last great warrior of industrial culture. As the Nine Inch Nails lynchpin. he wants to scare the living ...

Ride: Garage, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 4 June 1994

RIDE STRIPPED BARE ...

The Boo Radleys, Oasis, Ride: Creation Records: Rehabsolutely Fabulous

Interview by John Harris, Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 9 June 1994

A decade on from its inception, Creation rules the British rock underground. The 'Undrugged' party at the Royal Albert Hall, and the random singing of ...

The Beastie Boys: Beastie Boys: Rough Trade Shop, Covent Garden, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 June 1994

'SECRET GIG' — Arf! Despite premature talk of fan mayhem and rioting in the plazas of Covent Garden this is a secret gig that isn't ...

Ash, The Cranberries, Crowded House, D:Ream, The Fatima Mansions, Shane MacGowan: Crowded House, The Cranberries, et al: Fleadh '94, Finsbury Park, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 June 1994

BLARNEY ARMY! ...

Rage Against the Machine: Marx Out Of Tension

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 June 1994

All festival trails lead to Glastonbury. At least they do for RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, stall angry, still shouty and still not talking about their ...

The Lemonheads: Lemonheads: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 June 1994

HOW HAS EVAN Dando managed to survive the Russian roulette games and hoop-jumping required of a heart-throb by the shark-infested music industry? How does he ...

L7: Old Trout, Windsor

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 25 June 1994

SANITARY CONFINEMENT ...

Glastonbury: Three-Day Passout

Report by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 2 July 1994

Glasters — a total experience for mind and body… and awesome fun besides. JOHNNY CIGARETTES folds his tent and steals away to the outer extremities ...

Nas: Illmatic For The People

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 July 1994

MOST OF THE people Nas looked up to during an eventful adolescence in Queensbridge, New York City, are either dead or in jail. His DJ ...

The Breeders

Report and Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 9 July 1994

"AAAARGH! F*** YOU ASSHOLE! GET OUT MY FACE!" ...errrrrrk!..."YEAH I'M DOIN' A F***IN' U-TURN – WHAT'S THE GODDAMN PROBLEM?!" errrrrrrk! "Oh jeeezuuus! We've been past ...

Pete Townshend: Parka Life

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 23 July 1994

PETE TOWNSHEND, Broadway hit musical owner and destroyer of 1001 guitars, is lounging in the shade of a Twickenham afternoon like a man who's just ...

A Tribe Called Quest, The Beastie Boys, The Boredoms, The Breeders, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, George Clinton, Flaming Lips, The Frogs, L7, Rollerskate Skinny, Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve: It's The 'Looza Baby, Why Don't You Kill It?

Report by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 30 July 1994

LOLLAPALOOZA once had the chance to be the greatest rock'n'roll circus the planet had ever seen. But, in spite of the live spectacle of VERVE, ...

Suede: While My Guitarist Swiftly Leaves

Report by John Harris, New Musical Express, 30 July 1994

What a guffing idiot, eh readers? You're the genius guitarist in SUEDE, you've just finished your second album and then... you bugger off amid rumours ...

Public Enemy: The Dogma Pound

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 6 August 1994

PUBLIC ENEMY were once unerring occupiers of the moral high ground, but guns, drugs, liquor and arrests have shown them to be as fallible as ...

Public Enemy: Flavor Flav: Coke Adds Strife

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 13 August 1994

While PUBLIC ENEMY have been lying low for the past two years, errant rapper FLAVOR FLAV has been having very personal, and very public problems ...

Neil Young: Sleeps With Angels

Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 13 August 1994

PETE TOWNSHEND got it right when he said, "Neil Young? Neil's the leader – the rest of us just follow him." Young may have started ...

Portishead: Dummy (Go Beat/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 13 August 1994

POOR PORTISHEAD. The town, I mean, not the slo-mo sound sculptors who have made this innocuous seaside hideaway sound so relentlessly tragic. For this is, ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Jesus And Mary Chain: Stoned and Dethroned (Blanco y Negro)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 13 August 1994

WHEN YOU ARE the Jesus and Mary Chain and your life is willingly bounded by certain influences – let's rise once more from our orthopaedic ...

Sebadoh: Lou Guru

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 20 August 1994

The scene: Dublin, or the London Underground, or a vomit-strewn bathroom. The props: beer, lots of it. The time: time to wake up to the ...

Tony Bennett: This Smarming Man

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 20 August 1994

He left his heart in San Francisco in 1962 and it won him two Grammies, confirming his status as the cool crooner. Three decades later, ...

Jeff Buckley: Son Arise

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 27 August 1994

Born with a voice to die for and a runaway father who follows him everywhere, JEFF BUCKLEY's wish not to discuss the late, great old ...

Aerosmith, Allman Brothers Band, The Band, Joe Cocker, The Cranberries, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Jane's Addiction, The Orb, The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Woodstock II: Sodden Life Is Rubbish

Report by John Harris, New Musical Express, 27 August 1994

Take 250,000 hippy children (Please! — Ed) and baby boomers reliving the 'glories' of the '60s, stick them in a sea of mud and charge ...

Aswad: Shiny Natty People

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 September 1994

From their early militant days to today's mellowed-out elder statesmen, ASWAD have hauled British reggae into the '90s, sidestepping genres and influencing everyone from Ace ...

Green Day: The Dookies Of Hazards

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 3 September 1994

Smothered in mud, wrestling with bouncers, GREEN DAY are The Monkees, The Kinks, The Banana Splits and The Ramones in one handy million-selling punk rock ...

Kylie Minogue: A Wallaby Together

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 3 September 1994

It's been a difficult gestation, but the world looks set to witness the rebirth of KYLIE MINOGUE as she emerges from the cocoon with colourful ...

Coolio: Con Voyage: Coolio: Camden Underworld, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 10 September 1994

SOME PEOPLE with hidden agendas berate Arrested Development and Public Enemy endlessly for touring with rock bands. ...

Dinosaur Jr.: Mad Slackers Tee Party

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

Like... um... fore!, man. There's no better way of relieving the stress of being America's official guitar god than a good 18 holes. Just ask ...

East 17: C'mon Feel The Boys

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

Hard-lad hoodlums in a world of antiseptic pop fodder, EAST 17 are the credible alternative to the usual pec-flexing pin-ups that try to storm the ...

Ice Cube, Public Enemy: Ice Cube & Public Enemy: Patinoire De Malley, Lausanne

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

Yodel, Bum Rush The Show ...

James: No Folk on the Wah Tour

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

They laugh! They drink! They 'partake' of nitrous oxide! Is this the JAMES of indie-folk wibble dancing legend? No! This is the About To Be ...

Massive Attack: The Three Racketeers

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

With the follow-up to their 1991 monster Blue Lines in the can, MASSIVE ATTACK are out to prove that homegrown soul fusion can take on ...

Flaming Lips: The Flaming Lips: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 17 September 1994

YOU MIGHT regard the hirsute scruffball demeanour as proof of their berth on the now ritually condemned HMS Slacker, but in fact The Flaming Lips ...

Catatonia: Sleep Smell of Success

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 24 September 1994

"ECHOBELLY, THESE Animal Men, all those groups... they've got the gift of the gab, they know what to say, they live in the right places. ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Jesus and Mary Chain: Sporran Co-Despondents

Profile and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 24 September 1994

After ten years on the road, the Jesus and Mary Chain find themselves in pretty much the same place they've been for years: on licensed ...

Spearhead: Don't Spear the Rapper

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 24 September 1994

MICHAEL FRANTI, the man behind The Beatnigs' post-industrial clatter and key shouter with agit-rappers Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, has adopted a mellower vibe for his ...

The Clash: Clash/Subway Sect/Slits/Prefects: Chancellor Hall, Chelmsford

Retrospective by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, October 1994

BORED TEENAGERS – SUBURBAN HICKS with soap-stiffened Sid Vicious barnets and bleeding earlobes gape in awestruck, whey-faced wonder. Chelmsford, anonymous epicentre of NOWHERE is playing ...

Suede: Dog Man Star (Nude/All formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 1 October 1994

DIAMOND 'DOG'! ...

Radiohead: March Of The Modulations: Radiohead: Garage, Glasgow

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 8 October 1994

LET'S GET straight to it. Radiohead are fundamentally a very good group. They have a guitarist with space alien good-looks and the natural swagger of ...

Brand New Heavies: Mississippi Earning

Report and Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 15 October 1994

Audiences across the Atlantic have taken to THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES like their long lost brother/sister, seduced by the glamour of these sharp-dressed poppy funksters. ...

Shane MacGowan: Adder Few Drinks

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 20 October 1994

One of them's the stumbling genius who used to front The Pogues, the other's a chisel-jawed Hollywood superstar actor. They are drinking buddies SHANE MACGOWAN ...

Transglobal Underground: Trans-Global Underground: 24 Hour Liberal Party People

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 October 1994

TRANS-GLOBAL UNDERGROUND are the ultimate in multi-ethnic, politically correct entertainment and they've never been guilty of thinking non-PC thoughts about anyone. Ever. At least, not until STEVEN ...

Meat Puppets, Nirvana: Nirvana: Unplugged In New York (Geffen/All formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 29 October 1994

WAKE OF FIRE ...

Suede: Meet the New Boy

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 29 October 1994

Dartmoor, Devon, and the mist-shrouded figure wrapped in a Victorian great-coat playing the role of Flashman can only be BRETT ANDERSON. But how is Housewife ...

Jamiroquai: Cardiff University, Wales

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 11 November 1994

Champignon, The (Stevie) Wonder Hoarse ...

Body Count, Ice-T: Ice-T: Seine In The Membrane

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 November 1994

It's not all being grim and Malcolm X when you're ICE-T. You also get to go on the road with your mates, play metal and ...

Echobelly, Elastica, Gene, Oasis, Shed Seven: Oasis/Shed Seven/Elastica/Echobelly/Gene: EC Raiders

Report and Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 19 November 1994

Sacre bleurgh! Parisian hoteliers flee through the boulevards as la creme de Brit indie culture — i.e., OASIS, SHED SEVEN, ELASTICA, ECHOBELLY and GENE — ...

The Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique (Capitol)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 19 November 1994

JUST CHILLIN', like Bob Dylan. Paul's Boutique, five years on from its release way back in August '89, is still an electrifying blast of cool. ...

Beck: The Slack and Bright Minstrel

Profile and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 26 November 1994

In the boho East Village cafes he listened to Woody Guthrie's back catalogue and shouted along to his acoustic guitar. But that was before 'Loser' ...

Pearl Jam: Mo' Vedder Blues: Pearl Jam: Vitalogy (Epic)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 26 November 1994

NOSTALGIA MIGHT BE the last refuge of the scoundrel, but is it too late to turn back the clock? Can we return to a time ...

Urge Overkill: Cocktail of the Unexpected

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 3 December 1994

Supersuave trashlords with cocktail lounge tendencies, 
Chicago's URGE OVERKILL are finally surfing the British chart 
on the back of a surprise hit, taken from the ...

Beck: Water Rats, King's Cross, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 10 December 1994

WOOLLY HATS off at the door, please. Now, put out that spliff and stand up straight, you silly people. This is Beck, and he's too ...

M People: Swing Out Citrus

Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 10 December 1994

M PEOPLE make timeless pop songs, have a genuine cool soul singer and a classic album that won them the Mercury Music Award — and ...

The Stone Roses: Second Coming (Geffen/All formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 10 December 1994

ANTI-CLIMAX BLUES BAND ...

The Sabres of Paradise, Andrew Weatherall: Andrew Weatherall: Sabre as a Judge

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 17 December 1994

ANDREW WEATHERALL was a wanker, but he's alright new. At least that what he tells TED KESSLER in the wake of his girlfriend ditching him ...

Blur, Elastica, Oasis, Pulp, Sleeper, Suede, Supergrass: Britpop: Modern Life Is... Brilliant!

Overview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 7 January 1995

It was the year grunge died, the year of jungle... arses. It was the year that BRITISH POP found its feet again, and what's more, ...

Blackstreet: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 January 1995

MODESTY might not be Teddy Riley's strongest suit, but he's certainly earned the right to project himself as a streetwise megalomaniac from the forgotten projects ...

R Kelly: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 14 January 1995

"IF YOU'RE 16 or under, don't try this at home." ...

Suede: Horse and Hounded

Report and Interview by John Harris, New Musical Express, 14 January 1995

Has it all gone wrong for SUEDE? Dog Man Star not accorded the status they wished for, doubt over Richard Oakes' ability to better Bernard, ...

Belly: Garage, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 4 February 1995

TUMMY GUNS ...

Sleeper: PJ and Bunkum

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 4 February 1995

The meteoric rise of SLEEPER is matched only by the meteoric speed of singer LOUISE WENER's gob. Anti-feminism, anti-PC, anti-voting but pro shagging, drinking and ...

Tricky: Maxinquaye (4th & Broadway)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 February 1995

THE SEVERN ALLIANCE ...

Manic Street Preachers: From despair to... where?

Report by John Harris, New Musical Express, 25 February 1995

The disappearance of RICHEY EDWARDS has rekindled all sorts of fears and rumours, from the possibility of suicide to the seemingly inevitable split of the ...

Radiohead: Apollo, Oxford

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 25 February 1995

"THIS SONG'S about Oxford, I s'pose," says Thom Yorke, managing to sound like a spiteful 25-year-old adolescent. Then he starts singing: "I can't afford to ...

Gravediggaz: Rock City, Nottingham

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 March 1995

THE HITMAN AND HEARSE ...

PJ Harvey, Tricky: Town & Country Club, Leeds

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 18 March 1995

THE REBIRTH OF GHOUL ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates: The Voice Of Young America

Interview by Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 23 March 1995

Daryl Hall is the sweet soul voice in the Hall & Oates duo, whose "black-white" music has made them America's hit single champs of the ...

Ash: Boys Who Like Hurls

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 25 March 1995

ASH may be fresh-faced teens but they're hardly naïve kids. The Irish striplings are currently the coveted prize in a US bidding war involving such ...

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: Cardiff University

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, April 1995

THIS YEAR, amazingly, Wales just might become the world capital of cool. And look who's making it happen: Welsh pop's most unlikely candidates for crossover ...

Vic Chesnutt

Profile and Interview by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, April 1995

"I DRANK as much as anybody, but I'm not drinking now... except tonight." ...

Jon of the Pleased Wimmin, Andrew Weatherall: Liverpool's Cream: Bag Company

Report by Bethan Cole, New Musical Express, 8 April 1995

TRAVELLING TO Liverpool by train, passing through the industrial landscape of warehouses and factories that once made Britain 'Great', you're reminded of the North's 19th ...

Nirvana: "I Don't Believe In Closing Off Options"

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 8 April 1995

Back in August 1991, NIRVANA were just the latest in a long line of US rock hopefuls. Newly signed to Geffen, Nevermind was about to ...

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana: Washington's State

Report and Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 8 April 1995

If Cobain's death shook the rock world, its impact on his hometown went off the scales. BARBARA ELLEN visited Seattle to find out how much ...

Moby: LA2, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 15 April 1995

WHEN COURTNEY LOVE tries it on, people think she's the defiant survivor shrugging the weight of the world off her shoulders. Yet, when Moby decides ...

The La's: There He’s Gone: Lee Mavers

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 15 April 1995

Simple as. When Lee Mavers talks, in that cracked-up Mersey drawl of his, he talks. ...

Method Man: Method in the Madness

Report and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 April 1995

Welcome to Florida, land of Disney, Dayton Beach and glorious Orlando. And paranoia, machine-gun toting security guards and camcorders shoved up strangers' crutches. METHOD MAN, ...

Vic Chesnutt: Is Vic All There?

Profile and Interview by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 29 April 1995

"I DRANK as much as anybody, but I'm not drinking now... except tonight." ...

The Boo Radleys: Zeleste 2, Barcelona

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, May 1995

IT IS 4.42 AM. Martin Carr and Bob Cieka of the Boo Radleys are, um, "relaxing" at the Hotel Sol in Barcelona after a suitably ...

Hole: Oxford Street Virgin Megastore, London

Live Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 6 May 1995

PETTY ON THE OUTSIDE ...

Pulp: Anson Rooms, Bristol

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 6 May 1995

THERE'S A new spring in Pulp's stride. Maybe it's the afterglow of romping to victory in the Sound City pop quiz earlier today, but Jarvis ...

Marion, Menswear: Passage Du Nord Ouest, Paris

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 13 May 1995

VIVE LA PRANCE! ...

McAlmont & Butler: Drag Man Star

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 13 May 1995

Charged up by men in frocks, with a voice like Al Green meets Liz Cocteau, there's no mistaking McALMONT. But who's the reticent guitarist? BERNARD ...

Paul Weller: Woking Back To Happiness: Paul Weller

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 13 May 1995

It’s taken over a decade, but with his new album PAUL WELLER has finally gone back to his roots, the part of his life that ...

Cornershop: Water Rats, King's Cross, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 20 May 1995

WHO COULD have foreseen a re-birth on this grand scale? The basic struggle for Cornershop has always been one for identity and, while they've been ...

Elvis Costello: They Think It's All Covers... Er, It Is Now!

Interview by Terry Staunton, New Musical Express, 20 May 1995

After 18 years of being either a sneering young turk or cumudgeonly old bugger, ELVIS COSTELLO has decided it's time for a change – he's ...

McAlmont & Butler, Edwyn Collins: Hanover Grand, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 20 May 1995

THE LEGACY of the ampersand in rock is, frankly, mixed. For every Lennon & McCartney you can bank on the lurking presence of a Foster ...

Reef: Army & Navy, Chelmsford

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 20 May 1995

FOREVER BLIGHTED by the indie kids as 'that bunch of arse who supported Paul Weller', Glastonbury's Reef are universally condemned for their multifarious crimes against ...

Shed Seven: Astoria, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 20 May 1995

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN ...

Babes In Toyland: Garage, Glasgow

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 May 1995

THEY MAY be down, but the Babes come out fighting. Battling lukewarm reviews for their patchy new album and general indifference to grungular yank yowling, ...

Tricky: Clapham Grand, London

Live Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 27 May 1995

SUPER GRASS! ...

Black Grape: Pips Out For The Lads

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 3 June 1995

If you expected old fruit SHAUN RYDER to come back as reconstructed new man you were pissing in the wind. PAUL MOODY discovers that the ...

Peter Andre, East 17: East 17, Peter Andre, Deuce, J-Pac: SECC, Glasgow

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 3 June 1995

COCKNEY REVELS ...

Portishead: Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 June 1995

TORCH ME I'M SLICK ...

Royal Trux: It's All Chauffeur Now

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 June 1995

They're the most notorious rock band on the planet. They're wilder than a starving lion. So how come ROYAL TRUX are afraid of pre-teen Washington ...

Elastica: Atlantic Quaffing

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 10 June 1995

Suede, Blur, Oasis… all have slumped at the Breakthrough Bar, unable to make it big in America. So what makes ELASTICA think they will succeed? ...

Foo Fighters: King Foo: Foo Fighters: King's College, London

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 10 June 1995

TRUE, THE FACT THAT the hall is christened "Tutu's" is something of a giveaway, as indeed are the alarmingly generous bar tariffs. But if this ...

Michael Jackson: HIStory (Epic/all formats)

Review by John Harris, New Musical Express, 17 June 1995

HISTERICAL! ...

The Verve: Manchester Roadhouse

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 17 June 1995

SO THAT’S what it sounds like. A long, curdled up intro, all ghostly pyrotechnics and a death rattle of drums, then suddenly, whoosh! And the ...

Therapy?: Infernal Love (A&M/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 17 June 1995

SOME PEOPLE work down in the sewers. Others dispense hard-earned wisdom to spotty adolescents in the name of hard rock. Which job would you prefer? ...

The Chemical Brothers: Apothecary Now: The Chemical Brothers : Exit Planet Dust (Junior Boys Own)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 June 1995

THINK OF THE truly great, era-defining albums of the last 18 months. Definitely Maybe would be in there. Ill Communication and Dummy, too. ...

The Prodigy: Tor De False

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 24 June 1995

Can't make it to Glastonbury this year? Mum wouldn't allow you near the place, huh, or is it, as you've told your friends, you were ...

Dodgy, Menswear, The Prodigy: Glastonbury: "Like Croatia with a bit of music"

Report by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 1 July 1995

So, apart from ace music, what was it actually like "out there" on the fringes of Glasto's thrilling fields? SYLVIA PATTERSON ventured far to bring ...

Primus: Tales From The Punchbowl (Interscope/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 July 1995

AS THE cerebrally challenged Austrian King in Amadeus would have no doubt averred, there's but one simple problem here: "too many notes". ...

Fun-Da-Mental: Bummer Holiday

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 July 1995

The last time FUN-DA-MENTAL took a journalist to Pakistan, the writer came home a jibbering wreck and the band split. A return trip anyone? Bribes/blackmail/strict ...

Laurie Anderson: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 8 July 1995

PATRON SAINT of art zombies everywhere, Laurie Anderson's come a long way from playing her violin while standing on blocks of ice on street corners ...

Kyuss: ...And The Circus Leaves Town (Elektra/All formats)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 15 July 1995

FOR THOSE about to rock, we salute them round these parts, and no-one rocks heavier than Kyuss, the thinking mammoth's metal muthas. ...

Seal: The Culler of Money

Report and Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 22 July 1995

Camera-shy SEAL is poised for pan-global success with his latest 'Bat' single and new album, but can he balance a beachball on his nose? JOHNNY ...

Björk: Venus As A Joy: Björk: SFX City Theatre, Dublin

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 22 July 1995

"SIX YEARS AGO," gasps Björk in her decidedly over-affected five-year-old-geisha-girl voice, "I was here in this very room with Sugarcubes. Nostalgic but true. Thank you, ...

Goldie: You Can't Beat A Bit Of Bullion!: Goldie: Timeless (Metalheads/ffrr)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 August 1995

TO VENTURE INTO Goldie's world you must suspend conventional notions of time. Double-speed breakbeats fly past at irregular intervals; solemn strings swell, as if for ...

Blur: The Great Escape

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 9 September 1995

DON'T PRETEND you saw it coming. In fact, don't even bother going back and combing the grooves looking for it. ...

Cath Carroll: True Crime Motel (Teenbeat/CD only)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 September 1995

TO SOME people, Cath Carroll needs no introduction. Tony Wilson, the situationist supremo behind the sadly-defunct Factory Records, is certainly aware of her, having bankrolled ...

Lenny Kravitz: Circus (Virgin/All formats)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 9 September 1995

CIRCUS TO REQUIREMENTS ...

Blur: Graham Coxon: I'm Completely at Odds With Everything

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 23 September 1995

He hated the 'Country House' video and had doubts about it as a single. He thought of sabotaging his band's attempts to win that coveted ...

Pulp: The Dandy Man Can

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 23 September 1995

Wow! Grab your shades, pull on that glitter top and slip into your favourite brown nylon flared trousers 'cos PULP'S JARVIS COCKER is in the ...

Green Day: Insomniac (WEA/All formats)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

SLEEPY JOE ...

Green Day: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

THEATRE OF MATES ...

Menswear: Nuisance (Laurel/LP/CD)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

IF YOU are over the age of 21 and read the NME, you should hate Menswear. And you should hate them, essentially, for being young, ...

Nick Cave, Kylie Minogue: Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue: The Devil and Miss Bones

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

Together at last — two great antipodean, pop phenomena who have, in their individual ways, made a unique contribution to the business called show. NICK ...

Shara Nelson: Friendly Fire (Cooltempo/All formats)

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

SHOT FROM THE HEART ...

Superchunk: Here's Where The Strings Come In (City Slang/CD/LP)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 7 October 1995

HARD TO believe, but Superchunk are maturing. Sure, they're still dealing in their trademark angst, and Mac McCaughan's desperately fragile falsetto still teeters on the ...

Eternal: Inc. God We Trust

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 14 October 1995

They're gorgeous, they're currently Britain's most successful girl group and they're very bloody nice. So how come nobody's ever asked ETERNAL what they think before? ...

Bis: Bis and Shake Up

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 21 October 1995

DARLING, they're the young ones — but only just. With two-thirds of their group now contemplating life on the wrong side of 18, Bis, Glasgow's ...

McAlmont & Butler, David McAlmont: McAlmont & Butler: Nil communication

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 21 October 1995

Acrimonious split alert! McALMONT AND BUTLER have come to a sticky end and all that's left is an embarrassing silence. David, meanwhile, can't get laid ...

Sleeper: Anson Rooms, Bristol University,Bristol

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 October 1995

THE KIPS ARE ALRIGHT ...

Rocket From The Crypt: Cats With Nine Knives

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 28 October 1995

They mean it, maaan. Punk from the States is so often tame, familiar and predictable, but that looks set to change with the imminent success ...

The Chemical Brothers: Astoria, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 28 October 1995

OH NO, not the eyelids again... Nurse! ...

Tricky: Vampire of the Sensi

Report and Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 28 October 1995

Forget all you may have read about TRICKY. Forget that he once admitted being the father of MARTINA's child. Forget that he and Björk, at ...

Eternal: Power Of A Woman (EMI/CD/Cassette)

Review by David Quantick, New Musical Express, 4 November 1995

YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACKLISTED ...

Menswear: Preston University

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 4 November 1995

CLOTHES ENCOUNTERS ...

Cypress Hill: Prophets of Boom

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 November 1995

Welcome, disciples, to the Temple Of Boom (temporarily relocated to Baker Street). Marijuana monks CYPRESS HILL are in attendance, ready to dispense sacred knowledge on ...

The Bootleg Beatles, Oasis: Oasis, Bootleg Beatles: Earls Court, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 18 November 1995

THE STARDUST BROTHERS ...

Pulp: Sorted For Freezing Gigs!

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 November 1995

Phew!!! It may be bloody cold outside (minus three degrees, actually) but in the frozen expanse that is Norway, things are definitely hotting up for ...

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine: Carter USM: Tattoo Little Boys

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 November 1995

CARTER USM have been held back by their following's anti-pop element — a minority who can't accept that their heroes don't want to kill pop. ...

Foo Fighters: The Foo Epidemic

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, December 1995

IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR for Foo Fighters, shaking off the ghosts of the past and confounding the expectations of those who consider Dave Grohl ...

Madonna: Meanwhile Back at the Raunch

Interview by Barbara Ellen, New Musical Express, 2 December 1995

Phew!!! Hold on to your seats because MADONNA is about to reveal all... NOOOOOO!!! she's not stripping off again, but she IS telling all to ...

R Kelly: R Kelly (Jive)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 2 December 1995

HE SELLS HIMSELF as some kind of rampant stallion from Shagsville central, yet produces the most impotent swingbeat shite known to modern man. His nauseating ...

The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Slayer: Russell Simmons: Def Shepherd

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 9 December 1995

Yeah Boyee! DEF JAM, the record label that put the ROCK in hip-hop and brought you the likes of Public Enemy and Beastie Boys, is ...

Teenage Fanclub: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 December 1995

SHOULD YOU happen to care about affection and chrysanthemums and heartache and damp bedrooms lit with a warm glow, then Teenage Fanclub will not only ...

Eazy-E, N.W.A: E Bygone!: Eazy-E: Eternal E (Virgin)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 January 1996

THE BIBLE says that, in the last days, men will actively seek death and death will flee from them. So, as sad and ultimately preventable ...

The Congos: Heart Of The Congos (Blood And fire/LP/CD)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 20 January 1996

THAT WAS the mother lode year, 1977, set in timeless stone for reggae, and the year that, as Rastafarians would have it, two sevens clashed. ...

The Wedding Present: Mini (Cooking Vinyl/LP/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 20 January 1996

ON RADIO recently, David Gedge claimed that the most hurtful press comment he'd ever read about himself was that he had hairy ears. Well, Dave's ...

Goldie: Saturnz Return (London/All formats)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 January 1996

RiNGS LEADER ...

Add N To (X): On The Wires Of Our Nerves (Satellite/CD/LP)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 31 January 1996

ADD N TO (X) have heard the future, and it sounds old. These three merry pranksters inhabit a dimension dedicated solely to unearthing the most ...

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Murder Ballads (Mute/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 3 February 1996

HOW DO you prevent any rational person from committing murder? ...

Denim: Denim On Ice (Echo/All formats)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 17 February 1996

SICK AND SATIRED ...

Shed Seven: Hanover Grand, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 17 February 1996

WITH EACH passing year, the attention span of the average punter is becoming shorter and shorter. Racing brains honed to razor-sharpness by a steady diet ...

Flaming Lips: The Flaming Lips: Vote Labia!

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 17 February 1996

Twelve years and seven albums down the line and only now are Oklahomans THE FLAMING LIPS making their presence felt. At last we can let ...

The Mike Flowers Pops: Anson Rooms, Bristol University

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 February 1996

TOUPEE AWAY! ...

Madonna: Ray Of Light (WEA/CD/Tape)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 28 February 1996

HOW TIME flies. Four years, one child and the rise and fall of the most successful female-led uprising since the suffragettes and the lady Madonna ...

Ride: Tarantula (Creation/All formats/Available for one week only)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 2 March 1996

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOILS ...

Bruce Springsteen: Hey Joad, Don't Make It Sad... (Oh, Go On Then)

Interview by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 9 March 1996

HE'LL BE REMEMBERED as the most unbounded performer in rock'n'roll history. His records took you inside a world of naked honesty and passionate conviction and ...

The Dandy Warhols: First Avenue, Minneapolis

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 23 March 1996

IT MAY NOT BE entirely inappropriate that The Dandy Warhols (yes, dreadful name, I blame the parents) are performing tonight at the very venue where ...

The Prodigy: House Of The Razing Arson

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 23 March 1996

The Prodigy, those Beztastic cartoon ravers with the bonkers tunes and child-scaring hairdos, are mutating! Yup, they are evolving, gulp, into a scary fire-snorting funky ...

Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, The Stone Roses: That's Another Fine Messiah You've Got Me Into

Comment by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 6 April 1996

John Lennon thought The Beatles were bigger than IT, some people think Elvis is/was IT and Michael Jackson seems to think he is IT. So ...

The Stone Roses: The Rise and Fall of the Roses Empire

Retrospective by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 6 April 1996

They were the greatest band of a generation and seemed invincible. At the height of their powers, their downfall seemed an impossibility. But now that ...

LTJ Bukem: Various: LTJ Bukem Presents Logical Progression (ffrr/Good Looking/All formats)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 April 1996

FLOCK OF AGES ...

Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers: Larry Heard: Alien Dex Fiend

Profile and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 April 1996

WHO IS HE? LARRY HEARD ...

Black Grape: Monster Bunch!: Black Grape: Empress Ballroom, Blackpool

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 13 April 1996

BLOODY HELL. Seven years since The Stone Roses played a legendary show in this very building, and seven days after they split, it's like Madchester ...

Tortoise: MichaelangeLo-Fi

Profile and Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 13 April 1996

Like Michaelangelo and his Ninja mates, they're mutant crossover crazies in a half shell! They are Chicago's TORTOISE and, supporting ver 'Lab on their British ...

Northern Uproar: Concorde, Brighton

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 27 April 1996

THE WONDER BUMFLUFF ...

Dick Dale: Lord of Loud

Interview by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, May 1996

29 PALMS is hardly the most hospitable place on earth. It's a half-horse town located in the heart of the Californian desert and it's perpetually ...

Cypress Hill: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 4 May 1996

INANE IN THE BRAIN ...

Everything But The Girl: Walking Wounded (Virgin/All formats)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 4 May 1996

MISSING INACTION ...

Mark Morrison: Return Of The Mack (WEA/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 4 May 1996

AND YOU never realised this pint-sized package of prefab perv actually was a mack or that he'd been away, correct? No matter. Disregard the harsh ...

Mark Morrison: Le Big Mack!

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 4 May 1996

'The Return Of The Mack'? OK, so it might be all trendy trenchcoats round your way, but we're talking MACKS proper — the Mr Bigs ...

Manic Street Preachers, Oasis: Oasis: ...And Noddy Holder Came Too

Report by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 May 1996

What a weekend! The parties! The stars! The footballers! The, er, free candyfloss! Yes, we were there at those exclusive do's held in honour of ...

Charlatans, The (UK): Rockfield: Searching For Console Rebels

Report and Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 11 May 1996

Rockfield: you know, the legendary Welsh studio where Oasis, the Roses, Iggy et al record amid scenes of mayhem. Sort of. Well, it seems Bebop ...

Sleeper: PC in our Time

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 May 1996

So what does it take to provoke SLEEPER'S LOUISE WENER into spouting those liberal-baiting, feminist-hating statements of old? What about old fave, political correctness? Oasis? ...

Manic Street Preachers: Everything Must Go

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 18 May 1996

IMAGINE ONLY good things. Imagine that after checking out of the Embassy Hotel in London on February 1, 1995, Richey James drove to his flat ...

Soundgarden: Down On The Upside

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 May 1996

WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ask what they did in the grunge cred wars of the early '90s, Soundgarden will claim that they were conscientious objectors. ...

George Michael: Older (Virgin/All formats)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 25 May 1996

VICTORY MATURE ...

Geto Boys: Southern Discomfort

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 May 1996

Deep in the heart of the redneck Bible Belt, squillion-selling rap supergroup GETO BOYS are living up to their paranoid bad-boy reputation. Bushwick Bill has ...

Jeff Mills: The Detroit Spinner

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 May 1996

IT'S 3AM AT The End, London's state-of-the-art nightclub. The apocalyptic sound system rams an earthquake beneath every kick-drum; the warning signs on the walls scream ...

Thin Lizzy: Wild One -The Very Best Of Thin Lizzy (Polygram)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, June 1996

THE LONG hot summer of 1976 was not a great time to be a pop kid. Brotherhood Of Man and Showaddywaddy (ask your dad) dominated ...

Ben Folds Five: Grease Is The Word

Report and Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 1 June 1996

LET'S SEE: Mike Flowers is the polyester-wigged new James Last of the cheesy-listening plague that's, erm, "sweeping the nation". So that must mean that Ben ...

Gloria Estefan: Destiny (Epic/All formats)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 1 June 1996

SO WHAT'S so glorious about Gloria? How come every time the woman delivers a casually conceived catalogue of choice cuts to her record company, she ...

Grant Lee Buffalo: Copperopolis (Slash/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 June 1996

SOME MIGHT fiddle while America burns. Grant Lee Phillips, however, has seen the writing on the wall. A vague premonition of disaster troubles him very ...

Ice-T: Subterania, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 June 1996

GANGSTER'S PARADIGM ...

Rancid: Blast of the Mohicans

Profile and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 June 1996

Punk's not dead, kids! Not real stinking-mohawk-gobbing punk rock anyway, because that's alive and spitting with RANCID, America's coolest (and richest) revolutionaries. So stuff yer ...

Moloko: SW1 Club, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 June 1996

DO MOLOKO have something to hide? Is there something missing from their kooky take on trip-hop that can only be disguised by a vast dollop ...

Beck: Odelay (Geffen/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996

MR BOHO RISING ...

De La Soul: Subterania, Ladbroke Grove, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996

SUMMERTIME AND inside west London's Subterania, at least, the living is far from easy. There is no air, no space, no escape; just raging heat ...

Electronic — Joggers

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996

ANY BAND THAT HANGS OUT with George Michael, forsakes drugs for jogging and spends five years on that difficult second album must be completely arse, ...

Me'shell Ndegeocello: Peace Beyond Passion

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996

IT'S NOT just rock that's gone retro, as Peace Beyond Passion clearly demonstrates. Confrontational jazz diva and soulmate of Madonna, Me'Shell Ndegeocello (that's N-day-gay-O-cello to ...

The Fugees: Forum, Kentish Town, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996

THE 'GEE-FUNK ERA ...

Elvis Costello: A Good Year For The Composer

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 29 June 1996

HE IS THE Music Man, he comes from down your way. And he can play. Oh, he can play pretty much anything you care to ...

M People: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 June 1996

HAIRDO WELL! ...

Nas: Ticket To Scribe

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 29 June 1996

Having adopted the moniker of one Pablo Escobar, NAS ESCOBAR set about creating vivid lyrical depictions of life in his native New York tenement slums. ...

Björk: Lunatic Ginge

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 20 July 1996

Of course, us pop kids have always known BJÖRK was a nutter, but when she battered a journalist in Bangkok she became tabloid property and, ...

Busta Rhymes, Shyheim: Club UN, Tottenham, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 27 July 1996

POPPED-UP TOASTER ...

Moby: Water Rats, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 July 1996

THE POCKET-SIZED Henry Rollins must be insane. He's clearly gone stark raving crucifix-tattoo-on-the- back-of-his-neck bonkers. ...

The Sultans of Ping FC: Le Zenith, Paris

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 27 July 1996

EEK! FOUR years from the end of the millennium and there's still hundreds of scrawny, scrag-haired boys in trouser-sized pipecleaner jeans wanting to be The ...

Peter Andre, Pato Banton, Belinda Carlisle, Cathy Dennis, East 17, Gabrielle, Mark Morrison, Shed Seven, Spice Girls, Robbie Williams: Broadcast Snooze — Robbie Williams, Spice Girls, Belinda Carlisle, East 17 et al: Capital FM Summer Jam '96, Clapham Common, London

Live Review by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, August 1996

IF YOU came all the way from Arbroath, which you probably didn't, you'd be calling it Bairns' Glasto. Only without the sex and drugs, but ...

Beth Orton: Go Orton!

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 24 August 1996

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE singer-songwriters, then: fiercely independent, forever marketed as several colours short of a full palette and ever-prone to massive crossover success care of the ...

Lewis Taylor: Lewis Taylor (Island/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 24 August 1996

THINGS COULD be a lot worse, of course. Lewis Taylor could turn out to be the new George Michael. Either that or his renaissance soul-man ...

Curve: Arc Psychosis

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 September 1996

HOLLYWOOD IN THE 1930s wasn't the ideal environment for a feisty, independent actress with an inquiring mind who couldn't stomach the iniquities of the studio ...

Foxy Brown, Heltah Skeltah, Jamiroquai, Montell Jordan, The Jungle Brothers, Tim Westwood: Foxy Brown, Montell Jordan, Jamiroquai et al: Notting Hill Carnival, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 September 1996

HOW THE WESTWAY WAS WON ...

Kenickie: It's Great When You're Straight 'A'... Yeah!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 7 September 1996

They're impossibly young, they're most definitely 'free', they are KENICKIE and they've got A-levels coming out of their ears! And their lo-fi three-girl-one-boy punkoid action ...

Bobby Brown, New Edition: New Edition: Houston? We Have No Problem

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 7 September 1996

The Rolling Stones? Pah! The Beatles? Forget it! They're nothing compared to NEW EDITION (remember '80s classic 'Candy Girl'?). Or so founder member Bobby Brown ...

808 State, Björk, Underworld: Björk, Underworld, 808 State: Irvine Beach '96, Irvine Beach Park, Scotland

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 14 September 1996

BEACHED WAILS ...

Josh Wink: Check Your Hedonism

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 14 September 1996

He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs, he goes down the gym, never loses his temper and asks himself lots of deep life questions. Is ...

Evan Dando, The Lemonheads, Oasis: The Lemonheads: "I guess I got a little lost there for a while..."

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 14 September 1996

It was all going so well for EVAN DANDO and THE LEMONHEADS. Following their 1992 breakthrough album It's A Shame About Ray, Evan was hailed ...

John Peel: Radio Head!

Interview by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 21 September 1996

Thousands, if not millions, owe their pop sensibilities to JOHN PEEL, indie's very own godfather. But at 58, IAN FORTNAM asks the "old feller" if ...

Kula Shaker: They Camelot, They Saw, They Conquered

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 21 September 1996

They rave about King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table, elevated consciousness and all things mystical. They predict — oh lordy! — imminent, ...

Skunk Anansie: Skin Complaints

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 September 1996

Skunk Anansie are a rock band with a difference because the 'Nansie are a rock band who actually ROCK! Like a bastard, in fact… and ...

Tupac Shakur: "Tupac always gave you something with his music"

Obituary by uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

TUPAC AMARU Shakur, the US 'gangsta' rap star and actor shot in an ambush in Las Vegas on September 8, has died after a five-day ...

Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, New Order, Rockers Revenge: Arthur Baker: Baker Groove

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

This week Vibes hops across to the Emerald Isle to hook up with one of the founding fathers of modern dance, the fabulous ARTHUR BAKER ...

Beth Orton: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

OH ALRIGHT, Beth ain't quite this big on her own terms yet (tonight's mini-set is as special guest to grim old folkie John Martyn) but ...

Peter Andre, Boyzone, East 17, Michelle Gayle, Gina G, Louise, The Outhere Brothers: East 17, Louise, Peter Andre et al: Top Of The Pops Weekend, Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

ENGLAND'S SCREAMING ...

The Boo Radleys: Kilburn National, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

EXPERIMENTAL EVERYTHING ...

The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur: Tupac Shakur: War Of The Words

Report by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996

TUPAC SHAKUR's death has once again highlighted the feud between the East Coast and West Coast rap communities. ANGUS BATEY takes a look at hip-hop's ...

Sheryl Crow: Carrion up the Charts

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 5 October 1996

SHERYL CROW doesn't torture small furry animals with big eyes or sponsor international terrorism. In fact, she's a smart and charming lady. OK, so she ...

Soundgarden: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 5 October 1996

DESPAIR-SHAPED ...

Super Furry Animals: Astoria, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 5 October 1996

BAD BOYS MINK! ...

Manic Street Preachers: Cool LA Shakers!

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 12 October 1996

It should have been great Supporting Oasis in the US. But the Gallaghers' squabbles also meant that the MANIC STREET PREACHERS had to fly home ...

The Power Station: Power Station: British* Nuclear Fools (*er, well one of them's American, actually)

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 12 October 1996

One of THE POWER STATION used to be in Duran Duran and one of them is Robert Palmer. It's not a promising start, is it? ...

Aphex Twin: Teddy or Not

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 9 November 1996

Techno's eccentric ginger prince APHEX TWIN likes to make noises that upset people. Incredible, then, that he's sold tons of records and made a wad ...

Kula Shaker: So Here It Is, Merry Krishna!

Report and Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 9 November 1996

...Everybody's having fun, look to the future... OK, enough of the poor-quality pun already, and on to KULA SHAKER, those lads who've turned their backs ...

Tricky: Things That Go Bumpkin The Night

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 9 November 1996

After his darker than dark period, West Country imp Tricky comes back from the other side with a new LP, Pre-Millennium Tension, proclaiming New York ...

Johnny Cash: From Rags to Ostriches!

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 16 November 1996

Speed, booze, burning mountains, then, of course, the killer ostrich. Country legend JOHNNY CASH has had them all (plus a heap more) and still lived ...

Screaming Trees: Rock City, Nottingham

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 16 November 1996

TAKE A BOUGH ...

The Black Crowes: Astoria, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 30 November 1996

A DOZEN CRIMSON rugs strewn across a stage; the waft of incense burning sweetly from the monitors; an anaemic band clad only in the finest ...

No Way Sis, Oasis: No Way Sis: Faker Makers!

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 December 1996

• Tipped for the Christmas Number One spot, besieged by groupies, plagued by demented fans — yup, Oasis copyists NO WAY SIS have made it ...

Prince: "I feel like this is my last time on earth..."

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 14 December 1996

He's The Artist Formerly Known As Bonkers. That's right, PRINCE is back, free of that pesky Warners (hence the title of his new album 'Emancipation'), ...

Blackstreet, Nate Dogg, Snoop (Doggy) Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Blackstreet: Nynex, Manchester

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 14 December 1996

IN THA DOGG HOUSE ...

Billy Mackenzie: Beyond The Sun

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1997

BILLY MACKENZIE was narcissism made flesh, the Devil's grin on his dimpled face and the best white pop voice of the last 20 years gushing ...

Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa: Pamela Des Barres: Supergroupie

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 4 January 1997

Legendary supergroupie PAMELA DES BARRES has toured the dark side of rock'n'roll and lived to tell the tale. But what does she make of young ...

Cat Power: What Would The Community Think (Matador)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 10 January 1997

IT'S A LITTLE KNOWN FACT, but it is now a legal requirement that every single independent album released in the United States of America must ...

Dodgy: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 January 1997

SOME ARE born happy, some achieve happiness and some have happiness thrust upon them. Dodgy were born happy. In their minds they're the antidote to ...

Symposium: Pogo! Discs

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 11 January 1997

Feisty teen poppers SYMPOSIUM may've pelted NME with snowballs in the past, but we forgave them. Hey, we're professionals (stop sniggering!). So professional that we've ...

Depeche Mode: Dave Gahan: Dead Man Talking

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 18 January 1997

IN AN UPSTAIRS lounge at Abbey Road Studios, a man perched on the edge of a large black sofa stares at the video images on ...

Nas: Smoker's Wild

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 January 1997

With gangsta rap getting just a tad too "real" of late, NAS ESCOBAR comes as something of a relief. His last album, It Was Written ...

Daft Punk: Ready, Study, Go!: Daft Punk: Homework (Virgin)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 January 1997

AS A RULE, the better a country's cuisine, the worse its pop music. Hence the illustrious rock'n'roll lineage of Great Britain, land of lardy stodge ...

Bush: Valise of the Dolts: Bush: Razorblade Suitcase (Interscope)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 January 1997

OK. WE ADMIT IT. We're shit. Culturally, politically, militarily, economically, morally, socially, athletically and aesthetically, Britain is rubbish. We can't win at cricket any more. ...

The Beatles, Black Grape, Boy George, Paul McCartney, Oasis, The Rolling Stones: ...And The Arrest is History: Great Rock'n'Roll Drug Busts Through the Ages

Retrospective by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 25 January 1997

Liam Gallagher's caution for possession of cocaine is the latest in a long line of rock'n'roll drug busts. STUART BAILIE remembers those other pop stars ...

Curtis Mayfield: New World Order (Warner Bros/All formats)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 25 January 1997

HE SAW his people endure hard times and dedicated his life to evangelising alternative paths. He was a soul singer, a streetwise prophet, one of ...

Daft Punk: Going for Gaul

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 January 1997

ONE SOUND rings out above all others in DAFT PUNK's uncluttered office in Paris' beautiful Montmartre district. Not music but... whirr! A fax machine working ...

Depeche Mode: Synth and Sensibilities

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 25 January 1997

Last week Dave Gahan flabbered your collective 'gast with his terrible tale of all-round narcotic foolishness. In the second part of our DEPECHE MODE exclusive ...

Blind Melon: Nico (Capitol/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 February 1997

IT'S EVIL to speak ill of the dead... Therefore, any suggestions that late Blind Melon vocalist Shannon Hoon got cheated by Lucifer when he went ...

David Bowie: Drum 'N' Bass Oddity

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1 February 1997

Forget the '80s. Forget Let's Dance and Tin Machine. Forget the mullets. 'Cos DAVID BOWIE'S discovered jungle and he's back with a vengeance. STEPHEN DALTON ...

Offspring: The Offspring: Spawn To Be Wild

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 February 1997

• Californian punk rockers THE OFFSPRING are hated by the American 'underground'. Why? Well, they love 70s disco, one of them is saving for his ...

Wilco: Being There (WEA/All formats)

Review by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 1 February 1997

THE UNBELIEVABLE MIGHTINESS OF BEING... ...

Wilco: Being There (WEA/All formats)

Review by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 1 February 1997

THE UNBELIEVABLE MIGHTINESS OF BEING... ...

Mansun: Rocket From The Cryptic

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 February 1997

It's a mighty strange world that MANSUN inhabit — stripping vicars, bend-your-brains surrealism, anti-religious ranting and, of course, songs about chickens. STEVEN WELLS takes the ...

Pavement: Brighten The Corners

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 8 February 1997

OI, DAMON! Got that limited-edition, ultra-rare, one-sided King Kong seven-inch remixed by John McEntire? Whaddyamean, "No"? ...

Daft Punk: Act De Triomphe: Daft Punk: The End, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 February 1997

NO QUESTION, it is the hottest ticket in town. A night on the tiles with Paris' new dance sensations — at a party hosted by ...

Take That: Mark Owen: Pretty Verdant

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 15 February 1997

He was known as the cute one, the member of Take That most likely to adorn pubescent girls' bedroom walls, the one who sang and ...

No Doubt: Ska Defaced

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 15 February 1997

• What's with America, eh? First they make Bush megastars, then they take our beloved ska, add saccharine to it and sell it back to ...

Bush: Forum, Kentish Town, London

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 22 February 1997

THICKET TO DERIDE ...

The Orb: Orblivion (Island)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 22 February 1997

AFTER FIVE years of squandered promise, wrong turnings, bitter splits and experimental muck-spreading, how much can we honestly expect from Alex Paterson? Five years in ...

The Roots: Jazz Café, London; Effenaar, Eindhoven; Nighttown, Rotterdam

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 22 February 1997

HOLD THE front page! Rap band in 'turns up' shock! Punters left reeling after American rappers successfully tour Europe... ...

Pizzicato Five: Caught In A Von Trapp! Pizzicato Five

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, March 1997

PIZZICATO FIVE look like the coolest band on Earth, a stylish visual remix of every trash cultural icon from the past four decades. They are ...

Eels: The Freak Shall Inherit The Earth

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 March 1997

The EELS are the band currently treating Britain to the joys of geek power with their hit single, 'Novocaine For The Soul'. And leading their ...

Jay Z: Jaÿ-Z: Z Top!

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 1 March 1997

SOME PEOPLE, eh? They're never satisfied. Incredibly, not even vast pop success is enough for these blighters. ...

Republica: The Spice Girl

Profile and Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1 March 1997

AMERICA SNEEZES, the saying goes, and Britain catches a cold. Well wrap up warm and get the Night Nurse in, because America has got the ...

Ash: TFI Friday, Saturday, Sunday...

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997

They've been on the rock'n'roller coaster since they were bagging off school to play gigs but there's just the little matter of five sell-out shows ...

De La Soul: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997

LIZA MINNELLI and Liberace don't even come into it. Once a long-serving band become a parody of themselves and start trawling around in ever-decreasing circles, ...

Jay Z: Jaÿ-Z: Cabaret Club, Stockholm

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997

"YO! Give it up for Jaÿ-Z! Onstage for the first time in Sweden!" ...

Reef: Bristol University, Bristol

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997

THRUST NEVER SLEEPS ...

U2 Part One: 'Only Now Do We Look Cool'

Report and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997

But that's not all that's changed. Yes, you read it here first...U2, those hoary old rock behemoths, have gone dance! Sort of! ...

Death In Vegas: Dead Elvis (Concrete/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 15 March 1997

FOR SUCH trendy purveyors of Londoncentric dance music, Death In Vegas are surprisingly steeped in rock'n'roll lore. ...

Eternal: Before The Rain (EMI/CD/Tape)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 15 March 1997

IN THEIR Louise days, Eternal looked set to be the Spice Girls in negative, thanks to their upbeat pop-soul tunes and post-fem sauce-bomb image. The ...

The Notorious B.I.G. (1972-97)

Obituary by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 15 March 1997

NOTORIOUS BIG, born Christopher Wallace, had risen from poverty to become one of the most influential figures in the hip-hop world in an incredibly short ...

U2 Part Two: 'I Feel Caught Between the Bootboy and the Ponce'

Report and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 15 March 1997

Ah, the problems of being the biggest band in the world. In the second of a two-part special, Keith Cameron keeps up with U2 as ...

Wu-Tang Clan: Unity Church, Compton CA

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 March 1997

SO THIS is what they mean when they say that going to gigs is like attending church. In LA's most notorious district, 800 souls are ...

Pet Shop Boys, Suede: Neil Tennant, Brett Anderson and Vic Reeves: Twentieth Century Blues

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, April 1997

WHAT A SIMPLY spiffing party. The glint of expensive a jewellery, the waft of exotic perfume, the tinkle of erudite conversation "More cocaine, vicar? Help ...

The Notorious B.I.G.: Life After Death (Arista)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 April 1997

THE UNFORTUNATE and tragic death of Christopher Wallace in the early hours of March 9, 1997 will leave a bitter aftertaste in the mouths of ...

Fatboy Slim, The Housemartins: Fatboy Slim: The Norman Conquest

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 April 1997

In the beginning, he was a Housemartin. In between, he's been Pizzaman and a Mighty Kat. Now he's FATBOY SLIM. But no matter what NORMAN ...

The Roots: Tuber Soul

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 19 April 1997

THE EARNEST young man sitting in a corner of London's empty Colombia Hotel bar on this late March afternoon doesn't look like a difficult customer ...

DJ Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theodore: DJ Kool Herc and Grand Wizard Theodore

Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, May 1997

DJS KOOL HERC and Grand Wizard Theodore, who recently played in London as support to the Chemical Brothers, may not be up there with yer ...

The Jam: Direction Reaction Creation

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, May 1997

IF WE ACCEPT pop as the religion of youth in the last quarter of the 20th century, then there can be no more striking example ...

Mansun: Attack Of The Grey Matter: Mansun: Kilburn National, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997

FOUR SILHOUETTES stand perfectly still, statuesque, shrouded in red and blue light and strange, unearthly clouds of smoke. ...

Bentley Rhythm Ace: Blue Note, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997

BRUM PUNCH ...

Blackstreet: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997

GIANT VIDEO screens above the stage are showing two members of Blackstreet rendered as puppets, and they're having a bit of a row about something. ...

Squarepusher: Hard Normal Daddy (Warp/CD/LP)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997

TOM JENKINSON, the one-man band who is Squarepusher, has no doubt inherited many fine things from his Hard Normal Daddy. But being normal is most ...

Bentley Rhythm Ace: Bentley Rhythm Ace (Skint/LP/CD)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 May 1997

WILD IN THE BLACK COUNTRY ...

Kenickie: Socialist Smirkers Party

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 10 May 1997

Tory-bashing, loads of shouting and plenty of swearing. Enough about STEVEN WELLS, 'cos here's KENICKIE. And they've brought their cracking debut LP At The Club ...

Mansun: Attack of the Japanese Lantern!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 May 1997

OK, so top pop fashion monkeys MANSUN may not have exactly been bombarded by lanterns while touring Japan and environs, but they were: Besieged by ...

Warren G: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 17 May 1997

SNOOZE IN DA HOUSE! ...

Spiritualized: Astral Peaks: Spiritualized: Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (Dedicated)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 24 May 1997

THAT SNORING SOUND you can hear throughout the 69 minutes and 16 seconds of Ladies And Gentlemen…? Why, that's the sound of a young Brian ...

KRS-One: I Got Next (Jive)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 24 May 1997

AFTER 11 years as a recording artist, surely even the gargantuan ego at the heart of KRS-One must have been surprised when 'Step Into A ...

Wu-Tang Clan: "Give us a chance to be truly wicked and we'll blow the whole shit up"

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 31 May 1997

So here we are in the wonderful and frightening world of Staten Island's Wu-Tang Clan. A formidable collective of renegade rappers well versed in everything ...

Alabama 3: Testament Department

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 June 1997

Yea, verily, it is written. Theatrical preacher types ALABAMA 3 will meet STEVEN WELLS in a Brixton restaurant. They will shout at him about about ...

Hanson: Middle Of Nowhere (Mercury/All formats)

Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 14 June 1997

MMM PEOPLE ...

Wyclef Jean: Logical Procession: Wyclef Jean Featuring Refugee Allstars: The Carnival (Ruff House)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 21 June 1997

A LOT OF RUBBISH has been written about the Fugees since 'Killing Me Softly' elevated them to the dizzying pinnacle of pop stardom, and Wyclef ...

Radiohead: Viva La Megabytes!

Profile and Interview by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 21 June 1997

WHAAAH! SCREECH! Yakka yakka! They're incoming from all sides. Fierce noises from the right, altercations from behind. Just now there's a stormy advance on the ...

Wu-Tang Clan: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 June 1997

ALL TOO FAMILIAL ...

Ash: Staying Out Of It For The Summer

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 28 June 1997

As the world prepares to get ripped to the tits on cheap cider and mung bean noodle bake at GLASTONBURY, NME indulges in a series ...

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones: Live Art

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, July 1997

PERIPATETIC FOOTBALL manager and TV raconteur Ron Atkinson once memorably berated an errant striker's inability in front of goal by claiming that "he couldn't hit ...

No Doubt: Ska-Spangled Banter!

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 5 July 1997

Why has Beavis & Butt-head country gone mad for NO DOUBT's peculiar brand of ska-pop-funk-type-thing? And how has singer Gwen ended up as a feminist ...

Michael Jackson: King of Pap: Michael Jackson: Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 19 July 1997

IT'S 5PM on anovercast Wednesday in Sheffield and the Most Famous Man On Earth is late. ...

Super Furry Animals: Scream! Latvia! Scream!

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 July 1997

 ...that's right, Latvia, 'cos SUPER FURRY ANIMALS are heading your way, and they've got new single 'The International Language Of Screaming' and STEVEN WELLS with ...

Puff Daddy: Smalls Wonder: Puff Daddy & The Family: No Way Out (Bad Boy Records)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 26 July 1997

IN LIFE, only death is certain. For the religious, the prospect of paradise beyond the great divide provides an energising, vital motivation. For the cynics, ...

Belle and Sebastian: Trop Belle Pour Toi!!

Report and Interview by David Hemingway, Ian Watson, New Musical Express, August 1997

Once again, Glasgow has provided the world with something special. Belle and Sebastian will become one of the most important bands of the '90s. Oh ...

Chumbawamba: Tubthumper

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 30 August 1997

DOES ANYONE think it remotely strange, in an age when the biggest rock star in Britain goes for drinks at Number 10, and sings at ...

Coolio: My Soul (Tommy Boy)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 30 August 1997

THE MAN christened Artis Ivey is back with his third opus, having conquered the pop cosmos with 'Gangsta's Paradise' two years ago. He's still got ...

Future Pilot AKA

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 30 August 1997

SHE REDUCED Nick Cave to a pool of molten Vegemite, then persuaded James and Sean Manic to write her back into the realm of pop ...

Marilyn Manson: The Afterlife Of Brian

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 30 August 1997

You may think that MARILYN MANSON (or Brian to his mum) is just a spooky goth who smokes human bones and sings about scabby angels ...

Ultramagnetic MCs: Critical Beatdown (Roadrunner/Next Plateau)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, September 1997

KOOL KEITH is Liam Howlett's favourite rapper. And this relic from an age before 'Diesel Power' and Dr. Octagon shows why. ...

David Holmes: Let's Get Killed (Go! Beat/All formats)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 6 September 1997

AS FAR AS career opportunities go, being a top-level DJ in the '90s is on par with being an early-'70s rock star... More money than ...

Nick Cave, Michael Hutchence, Kylie Minogue: Kylie Minogue: "I'm a drag queen trapped in a woman's body"

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 6 September 1997

Crikey! Has KYLIE gone mad? Has working with Nick Cave, the Manics and associating with Shaun Ryder finally pushed her over the edge? And has ...

Primal Scream: International Language of Screaming

Report and Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 6 September 1997

So what if Primal Scream have cancelled tour dates, lost a band member and played a shaky live performance? They're just minor glitches which cannot ...

Mark Morrison: "They're gonna have to kill me to stop me and maybe one day they will"

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 September 1997

So did he really cry in court? Was he really petrified in jail? Or was it just all tabloid baloney? Self-proclaimed "Bad Boy of Pop" ...

Stereolab: Dots And Loops (Duophonic)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 20 September 1997

STEREOLAB ARE running dogs of bourgeois revisionism who, come the revolution, will be hunted down and shot like the lowly vermin they are. ...

The Rolling Stones: Bridges To Babylon (Virgin)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 20 September 1997

TO CALL the Stones dinosaurs three years from the end of the century is to put tyrannosauraus rex and his Jurassic associates to shame. It ...

Robbie Williams: Just Williams: Robbie Williams: Life Thru A Lens (EMI)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 27 September 1997

RARE IS THE POP STAR who finds his true vocation. That's because they're a bunch of moaning, jealous malcontents who always want what everyone else ...

Roni Size and Reprazent: Victoria Park, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 27 September 1997

SIZE MATTERS! ...

Toni Braxton: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 10 October 1997

WHEN a church-woman goes bad, she really goes bad. ...

Roni Size and Reprazent: Pet Projects Win Prizes

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 October 1997

RONI SIZE and REPRAZENT's Mercury Prize-winning brand of soulful drum'n'bass has made them the most successful junglist crossover act yet... NME finds out why. Breakbeats ...

Jay Z: Jay-Z: In My Lifetime Volume 1 (Northwestside)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 25 October 1997

THE FIRST WORDS you hear are spoken by Jay-Z himself, assuming a parodic Italian-American accent, imagining himself as a dying Al Pacino in Carlito's Way, ...

Firm, The (Hip Hop), Foxy Brown, Nas: The Firm: Funky Mafia!

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 October 1997

It's an offer you can't refuse. The chance to meet Mafia-inspired hip-hop outfit THE FIRM – namely mobsters Nas, Foxy Brown and AZ — and ...

Rakim

Profile and Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, November 1997

THERE'S A shadow across Rakim's face, but his brown eyes are shining. The man who is for many the greatest rapper ever to have picked ...

Spice Girls: Spiceworld (Virgin/ALL formats)

Review by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 1 November 1997

GIRL SOUR! ...

The Cure: Galore: The Singles 1987-1997

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 1 November 1997

IN AN UNGUARDED moment, Mick Jagger once admitted that there came a point in the mid-'70s – once the Stones had made Exile On Main ...

DJ Shadow: Oxford Brookes University

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 November 1997

IT'S ASKING a lot, of course, to hope that tonight, amid a boozed-up, loudmouthed, zany shirt-wearing crowd of freshers, DJ Shadow will come close to ...

Will Smith: Yuppify Guy!: Will Smith: Big Willie Style (Columbia)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 November 1997

HE'S COMIN' AT YA, loud and proud, mean and lean — straight outta, well, a palatial uptown apartment overlooking Central Park, probably. Heck, and he ...

All Saints: Well, haloooo...

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 22 November 1997

What's got more sauce than Spice, better tats than Eternal, and are gonna save R&B swingbeat from death by blandness? Why, crown princesses of sex-soul, ...

Tupac Shakur: Shakur Moneymaker: 2Pac: R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (Jive)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 November 1997

WHEN LIAM GALLAGHER sees fit to offer out the likes of Damon Blur and George Beatle, he's risking… ooh, you never can tell, really. A ...

DJ Shadow: Camel Bobsled Race (Q-Bert Mega Mix) (Mo'Wax/CD/Tape)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 December 1997

ALL THIS SCRATCHING'S MAKING ME BITCH! ...

Meredith Brooks: LA2, London

Live Review by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 6 December 1997

OH, THE CONDESCENSION. The sheer mock-heroic nature and undue gravitas of the introduction, "Ladies and gentlemen, Meredith Brooks and her band", carefully engineered to dupe ...

Missy Elliott: Supa Woman!

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 December 1997

She writes Number Ones! Makes "wacky" videos! Is, like, totally fly! And MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT, rap's brightest new talent, has come to save us… ...

Busta Rhymes: Bump'N'Grundies!

Report and Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 13 December 1997

Pants! Lewdness! Spinal Tap-esque shenanigans! Yes indeedy, it's rap megastar BUSTA RHYMES giving it his inimitable 'Woo hah!' on a Stateside hip-hop extravaganza. On the ...

The Chemical Brothers: Octagon Theatre, Sheffield

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 13 December 1997

THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS: A couple of girly-haired posho Oxbridge medieval language student chancers who claim that their 'big beat' mobile disco can knock any rock ...

Flaming Lips: Zaireeka (Warner Bros.)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 3 January 1998

IN THE REALM OF musicological discourse, the term 'genius' has been overused virtually to the point of obsoletion. So it bears stating at the outset ...

Louise: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 3 January 1998

SINGLE TRITE FEMALE ...

Morrissey: Battersea Power Station, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 January 1998

OLD POWER VENERATION ...

Spice Girls: The Spice Is Right: The Spice Girls: Spiceworld: The Movie

Film/DVD/TV Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 3 January 1998

DIRECTOR: Bob Spiers STARRING: Sporty, Posh, Ginger, Scary, Baby, Richard E Grant, Roger Moore, Michael Barrymore ...

Arab Strap, Dawn of the Replicants, David Holmes: David Holmes, Arab Strap, Dawn of the Replicants: Twelve-Inch Angry Men

Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 10 January 1998

It's Sunday night and DAVD HOLMES, ARAB STRAP'S AIDAN MOFFAT and DAWN OF THE REPLICANTS' PAUL VICKERS are in a Brixton pub getting trousered and ...

Air: How ELO Can You Go?

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 17 January 1998

Qu'est-ce que c'est? Music that sounds like ELO jamming over a porn flick soundtrack — on the moon!? Oh yes indeedy, prepare to enter the ...

Mark Hollis: Hi-Elegy: Mark Hollis: Mark Hollis

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 17 January 1998

BEFORE WE GET to the heart of the matter: Mark Hollis used to be the singer in Talk Talk, a group who began their career ...

Insane Clown Posse: Coco Pop!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 January 1998

Politicians hate them, Christians hate them and, since they beat him up, Thom Yorke probably does too. But those bonkers kids in America just love ...

The High Llamas: Cold And Bouncy (Alpaca)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 24 January 1998

IT'D TAKE A lot to knock the chief Llama off course. Sean O'Hagan could probably stand at the end of a runway listening to Death ...

Les Rythmes Digitales: Vibes: Ooh, You Are Eiffel!

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 24 January 1998

VIBES PLAYS TRICOLORE OR TREAT WITH WALL OF SOUND'S ONE-MAN BIG-BEAT FACTORY LES RHYTHMES DIGITALES... ...

Aphex Twin, Death In Vegas, Goldie, The Prodigy: Big Brother Is Watching Your Video!

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 31 January 1998

Seen that Prodigy video yet? What about the promo for Aphex Twin's 'Come To Daddy' single or Death In Vegas' 'Dirt'? Nah? Well, why not? ...

Catatonia: Feds And Rockers!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 7 February 1998

Mulder & Scully. Horses' heads in people's beds. Selfish genes. Blimey what are those crazy cats CATATONIA singing about? Well, don't bother asking the band. ...

The NME Awards: You And NME We're History...

Retrospective by Ian Fortnam, New Musical Express, 7 February 1998

So which future James Bond handed out the awards in 1963 and '68? Who played their last UK show at 1966's do? And who sparked ...

Add N to (X): Equation Plug Foundation

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 14 February 1998

They take their name from a mathematical formula, think electricity is God, want to form a 1,000-strong synth orchestra and play a millennium gig from ...

Propellerheads: Chelsea Bridge Studios, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 14 February 1998

FUSSY LOGIC ...

Dubstar: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 21 February 1998

IF A BUILDING could 'Tsk' the 'Tsk' of having seen it all before, this one would surely be doing it now. The Empire, after all, ...

Cornershop: Academy, Manchester

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 February 1998

MAGIC MASTERY TOUR ...

The Hybirds: The Hybirds

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, March 1998

SOMETIMES THE simplest words are the most powerful. Plain statements. Single syllables. Don't pull your punches – hit 'em hard. ...

The Beta Band: Letter Men Show

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 7 March 1998

The music biz may be salivating over THE BETA BAND'S thrilling musical pot-pourri but the music biz can go whistle as far as the Beta ...

Shack: Shed Heaven

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 14 March 1998

Smack addiction, tragic death and a clueless music biz may have conspired against the fortunes of genius singer-songwriter MICK HEAD and his band SHACK, but ...

CappaDonna: The Pillage (Razor Sharp/Epic/All formats)

Comment by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 March 1998

THE 'DON IS the raspy-throated Wu-Tang junior partner who provided most of the standout raps on the Clan's disappointing second group album last year. This ...

Garbage: Return of the Muck!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 March 1998

Take some scary spiders, a few mad mutts, a sound akin to the Pet Shop Boys on downers and, er, eye of SHIRLEY MANSON, and ...

Garbage: Return of the Muck!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 21 March 1998

Take some scary spiders, a few mad mutts, a sound akin to the Pet Shop Boys on downers and, er, eye of Shirley Manson, and ...

Groove Armada: Northern Star (Tummy Touch/CD/LP)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 March 1998

JUST ONE of the trade names of Tom Findlay and Andy Cato, London club promoters and jazz-funk veterans, Groove Armada's debut album is an oddly ...

Suicide: Garage, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 March 1998

The OD couple ...

Cappadonna, Wu-Tang Clan: Cappadonna: Wu Who?

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 March 1998

Keep up! It's CAPPADONNA. You know, the latest of the Wu-Tang Clan to keep up the rapid onslaught of solo LPs from that camp. And ...

Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page/Robert Plant: Page & Plant: Help! The Aged!

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 28 March 1998

Hey! Come back! Haven't you heard? Old blokes are cool, the past is the future and prog rock is back. In fact, the perfect time ...

Pulp: Talkin' Lewd

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 28 March 1998

...But it's not just rude things JARVIS COCKER and PULP are talking about. They're also chatting about the new album, losing a band member, losing ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: Water Rat, London

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 28 March 1998

THREE YEARS AWAY from the fray, denied the Mercury Prize, shunted off their major label deal and back in the bosom of Creation, can the ...

Beenie Man: Many Moods Of Moses (Shocking Vibes/CD/LP)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 11 April 1998

TO CALL Beenie Man a prolific artist is an understatement. The self-styled 'ghetto president' normally records singles in the time it takes others to have ...

Gang Starr: Moment Of Truth (Cooltempo/All formats)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 11 April 1998

IN HIP-HOP'S world of oversized egos and spiralling sales, few dare to admit weakness. So for veteran New York-based duo Gang Starr to return after ...

Busta Rhymes: The Temple, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 April 1998

AND WHAT sort of name is 'Busta Rhymes' anyway? Sounds like a character from the Whizzer & Chips comic circa 1978. No, but seriously, the ...

Massive Attack: Mezzanine (Virgin)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 18 April 1998

FLOORED GENIUS ...

A Guy Called Gerald, Bomb The Bass, Happy Mondays, Paul Oakenfold, Oasis, Orbital, Primal Scream, Danny Rampling, T-Coy, Andrew Weatherall: Acid House: '88 State

Retrospective and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 April 1998

Disco biscuits, gurning, raves, sartorial bonkersness, and, um, Guru Josh! The ACID HOUSE scene brought us many things when it exploded in 1988; it also ...

The Fall: Totale's Turns/Slates/A Part Of America Therein, 1981 (Essential/Castle)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, May 1998

"I DON'T PARTICULARLY like the person singing on this LP," opines Roman Totale XVIII in his sleevenotes to Totale's Turns. "That said, I marvel at ...

Arab Strap, Asian Dub Foundation, Bedlam Ago Go, Campag Velocet, Norman Cook, Lo Fidelity Allstars, Regular Fries, Scott 4: Arab Strap, Campag Velocet et al: Breezeblock Rockin' Beats

Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998

Take an assorted bunch of like-minded skunk rockers, big beaters and eclectic groovers, ply with brain-curdling tequila'n'ale cocktails, and then put them out LIVE! on ...

Garbage: Version 2.0 (Mushroom)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998

IN OUR post-Prodigy, post-Marilyn Manson times, it feels almost churlish to criticise Garbage's impeccably tailored cybergoth rocktronica. So maybe they are the Disco Tin Machine ...

Money Mark: Hanover Grand, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998

"MULLET!" YELLS a gobby punter, pointing at the member of Money Mark's band who sports the offending locks. "You've got a mullet!" And so begins ...

Company Flow, Talib Kweli, Mos Def: Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow: Ladbroke Grove Subterania, London

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998

COMPANY FLOW are the future of rap. Their schizoid debut LP, Funcrusher Plus, is the biggest thing yet from Rawkus, arguably the most influential NY ...

Shed Seven: The Great White Shack Hunt

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998

So you thought SHED SEVEN were boring? Hah! Well that was before the band's first ever interesting interview. Hold on to your seats, you're in ...

Insane Clown Posse: Greasepaint's The Word

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 16 May 1998

Insane Clown Posse — it's the greatest show on earth (according to Beavis & Butt-heads across America). Featuring! Silly make-up! Fizzy pop! Two fellas with ...

Mogwai: Kicking A Dead Pig (Eye Q)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 16 May 1998

THE FABULOUS BACON BOYS ...

The Lightning Seeds: Three Lions '98: They Shoot, They Roar!

Report and Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 16 May 1998

Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land! Oh yes, we're gonna win the World Cup. Why? Because FRANK SKINNER, DAVID BADDIEL & IAN BROUDIE have updated Three Lions' — ...

Ultramagnetic MCs: Gone — The Essential Guide To Yesterday's Heroes: Ultramagnetic MCs

Retrospective by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 3 June 1998

WHO THEY? Revered underground hip-hop pioneers from the late-'80s, Moe Luv, TR Love, Ced Gee and Kool Keith have long been consigned to the penury ...

Rakim: Ladbroke Grove Subterania, London

Live Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 6 June 1998

HE CALLS himself "God". ...

Common: Camden Jazz Café, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 13 June 1998

OLD FEUDS die hard. While Common takes great pains to point out his argument with Ice Cube has been settled, it's still with some relish ...

Underworld: The Rocket, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 27 June 1998

WE GOT NO 'Born Slippy' with its killer "lager lager lager" chorus tonight because sensitive artist Darren Emerson is "fucked off with it". Well excuse ...

The Beastie Boys: Sonic Yo!: Beastie Boys: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 4 July 1998

THEY BOUND ONSTAGE in boiler suits — Ad-Rock and Yauch in industrial orange, Mike D in laboratory white with a tackily fashioned synthetic sheet on ...

Manic Street Preachers: The Manic Street Preachers: "Despair, inspiration, happiness, despair, work, inspiration. Sport. That's the crux of it."

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 1 August 1998

The secret world of the Manic Street Preachers revealed. Part One of a two-part exclusive. ...

PJ Harvey: Homecoming Queenie: PJ Harvey: Arts Centre, Bridport

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 15 August 1998

PERCHED ON A rocky coast in deepest Dorset, sleepy Bridport is Polly Harvey's home turf. Approaching this outpost of rural Britain on humid summer nights, ...

Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim: Ibiza: Big Beach Boutique

Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 August 1998

When Radio 1 decamped to Ibiza for a weekend of daft dancing, super funky anthems and celebs behaving badly, it seemed only polite for NME to join them. ...

Snoop Doggy Dogg: Snoop Dogg: Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told (No Limit)

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 29 August 1998

IT'S ONE OF THE most depressing stories in pop music. ...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, theaudience: theaudience: Sophie's Choice

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 29 August 1998

First she was a grunge slacker, then an Adidas-clad Britpopper, but nowadays it's not so clear. Is THEAUDIENCE's glamourpuss Sophie Ellis Bextor "showbiz royalty" or ...

A Tribe Called Quest: How The Quest Was Gone

Report and Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, September 1998

Say it ain't so! A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, one of the most loved and respected hip-hop bands ever, have bitten the dust. Here, they reveal ...

The Bury Crew, Gunshot, The Mud Family, Scratch Perverts, Supernatural, Ty & Shortee Blitz: Old-Skool Assembly

Report by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 September 1998

THE CURRENT economic boom may have transformed large swathes of London's East End, but not Stratford. As the queue for FRESH '98 snakes around the ...

Burzum, Darkthrone, Mayhem: Varg Vikernes: This is the Most Evil Man in Rock

Overview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 5 September 1998

STEVEN WELLS reports on the BLACK METAL scene, where various bands have been linked to church burnings, neo-Nazism and even murder. ...

Korn: This is Hard Skin

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 September 1998

OK, Yank metalheads Korn might not be named after a foot complaint, but they are definitely hot-blooded hetero rawk muthas, right?! Why else would they ...

PJ Harvey: A Desire for Life

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 October 1998

Welcome to Pollyworld, a world in which David Beckham, South Park and The Big Breakfast don't exist, but fun, relationships with Nick Cave and therapy ...

Stereophonics: ­Stereophonics: Cwmaman Overboard

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 October 1998

Since shifting 300,000 albums, Stereophonics have been schmoozing in London's trendy Met Bar and hanging with Kevin Spacey and Robbie Williams. So, kids, have the ...

Fatboy Slim: You've Come A Long Way, Baby (Skint)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 17 October 1998

A FEW SHORT years ago, Quentin 'Norman' Cook was staring poverty, divorce and imminent nervous breakdown in the face. Despite a string of inspired chart-pop ...

Placebo: Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 17 October 1998

FLACCID HOUSE ...

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Blast Rites

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 October 1998

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. They're a blues band, right? Wrong! They're the living, breathing embodiment of fizzing rock'n'roll. And soul. AND blues. And if ...

Elvis Costello: Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello at the Royal Festival Hall

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 14 November 1998

The stage is in darkness and from somewhere in the wings Elvis sings the opening verse of 'Baby It's You'. It is one of the ...

Natalie Imbruglia: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 November 1998

WHOLESOME LOTTA LOVE ...

Tony Bennett: The Croon Prince

Interview by David Stubbs, New Musical Express, 21 November 1998

He wowed all at Glastonbury and is revered by everyone from Jarvis to Elvis Costello. Here's your ten-point guide to why you young whippersnappers should ...

Shut Up And Dance

Interview by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, December 1998

IN A SPARTAN East London front room, two of the '90s most innovative dance music pioneers are attempting to explain where they've been these past ...

Cradle Of Filth: This Is My Uncouth

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 December 1998

It was a meeting made in hell — quite literally. A gathering of the forces of evil — namely Cradle Of Filth — and the ...

Nine Inch Nails: An Interview with Trent Reznor

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1999

THE PRINCE of pain has a severe case of the sniffles. Imprisoned in a swanky London hotel, Trent Reznor has been laid low by a ...

The Prodigy: Prodigy: Chat Of The Landowners

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 1 January 1999

In the second of this two-parter with PRODIGY'S LIAM HOWLETT, NME has a word, Hello!-stylee, about his new country home, his pal Keith and his ...

Bob Marley & the Wailers, Lee "Scratch" Perry: Lee Perry: Lost Treasures Of The Ark (Jet Star)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 2 January 1999

BOOTY RECALL ...

Redman: Doc's Da Name 2000 (Def Jam)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 January 1999

A PSYCHE AS twisted as Redman's would be hard to find in a psychiatric hospital, let alone on the streets of New Jersey. But here ...

Pete Waterman: The Puppetmasterplan

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 9 January 1999

Pete Waterman: scourge of the majors, champion of the people and the most wonderful man in Britain? Or just the tosser who brought us Jason ...

The Fall: LA2, London

Live Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 10 January 1999

BACK AT GROUND Zero, having sacked/been deserted by the foot soldiers of his old Rythm Revue, riffmeister General M Smith returns to the London stage. ...

Jay-Z: Volume 2... Hard Knock Life (Northwestside)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 16 January 1999

Z TOP! ...

Beck, Goldie, Ian Brown, Kylie Minogue, PJ Harvey, Pulp, R.E.M.: Pete Waterman: Style Counsel

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 January 1999

Last week, Pete Waterman the Brian Clough of pop, stoutly defended his new teenpop cadets Steps and his revitalised label PWL. Here Doctor Waterman offers ...

3 Colours Red: Revolt (Creation)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 February 1999

OVERTHROWING MUSES ...

4 Hero: Two Pages — Reinterpretations (Talkin' Loud)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 February 1999

JUNGLISTS AND wannabe jazz cats 4 Hero issued an album which veered from brilliant to noodly to downright dire last year. Here comes the inevitable ...

Gene: Beast Boys

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 February 1999

Gene — bunch of weedy, sensitive fops, right? Wrong! For they have returned and this time they are a no-nonsense, well-hard fighting machine. So just ...

Everlast: the Neverending's Story

Interview by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 13 February 1999

EVERLAST, THE former lead rapper in House Of Pain, has never seemed more humble. The arrogant extrovert on the Irish-American crew's worldwide Number One pop ...

Big Daddy Kane: Veteranz Day (Blakjam)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 20 February 1999

THOSE WITH CD-ROM capability get an added bonus on Big Daddy Kane's latest comeback effort: the chance to visit 'Kane's Lair', a place of unconvincing ...

Robert Wyatt: EPs

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 20 February 1999

ROBERT WYATT has been a ghostly presence in progressive British pop for the last 30 years. ...

Sleater Kinney: Sleater-Kinney: The Hot Rock

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 20 February 1999

The Ember Strikes Back ...

The Beautiful South

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, March 1999

BLASTING INTO Munich airport for 24 hours on the road with the Beautiful South, the band’s publicist offers some sage advice: "Just don’t try to ...

Stereophonics: OK Composers: Stereophonics: Performance And Cocktails (V2)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 6 March 1999

WE NEED bands like Stereophonics. Or so the cynical consensus would have you believe. Because, even if you couldn't pick them out of a post-Britpop ...

Blur: 13

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 10 March 1999

TWO-AND-a-half minutes into the tenth track on his band's sixth album Damon Albarn is heard to ponder: "Where is the magic?/I've got to get better". ...

The Roots: Things Fall Apart (MCA)

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 23 March 1999

ERUDITE, LITERATE and keenly aware of their surroundings, Philadelphia's the Roots have become an anomaly in hip-hop – even though they arguably stay truest to ...

Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wu-Tang Clan: Ol' Dirty Bastard: America's Most Wanted

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 April 1999

Ol' Dirty Bastard's rap sheet pisses on Mark Morrison's. But are the cops really out to get him? Are gangstas gunning for him? Or is ...

Electronic: So I Took Her, And That's My Bet Lynch Story

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 17 April 1999

Electronic's Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr may have a new album out but – heck – we've just got to hear about that Bet Lynch ...

Eminem: The Slim Shady LP (Aftermath/Interscope)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 April 1999

MMM, LET'S TALK about sweeties! M&M's are the grey squirrels of the confectionery world, driving the indigenous British Smartie to the verge of extinction. A ...

Cast: Calm Down, Calm Down!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 24 April 1999

Cast's John Power may be older, cutting down on the 'chong' and, um, less frantic but, don't worry, he can still talk bollocks for England... ...

Arab Strap: Mad For Sadness (Go! Beat)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 1 May 1999

Live Aidan! ...

Barry Adamson: The Murky World of Barry Adamson (Mute)

Review by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 1 May 1999

TEN YEARS ago, Barry Adamson put out Moss Side Story to a bemused audience. While the Brit scene was hailing house and baggy acts, Barry ...

Elliott Smith: Pretty Barfly: Elliott Smith

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 1 May 1999

ELLIOTT SMITH is a philosopher, a jocular barroom buddy, but he's also a loner, the Bukowski-esque malcontent with a great American sadness etched into his ...

Suede: Head Music (Nude)

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 1 May 1999

Loaf-fi Allstars! ...

The Roots: Astoria, London WC2

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 1 May 1999

YEAH, THE Roots are live hip-hop, but that ain't what makes 'em special. What makes The Roots special is just how good their itchy, firebrand ...

Atari Teenage Riot: 60 Second Wipe Out (Digital Hardcore)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 May 1999

There's A Riot Going On... and On ...

Atari Teenage Riot: 'I Would Die For This'

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 8 May 1999

...And Atari Teenage Riot's Alec Empire means it. So away, you doubters, and come on feel the mid-frequencies! ...

Basement Jaxx: Remedy (XL)

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 8 May 1999

CAMBERWELL CARAT! ...

Reef: Bad Rock!: Reef: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 15 May 1999

"I LIKE TEQUILA!/It mek me happy!"No, sorry, that's Terrorvision. This is Reef — the other mighty-biceped bunch of lantern-jawed provincial troglodytes who bring us lumps ...

Macy Gray: Embassy Rooms, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 15 May 1999

SHE STANDS apart, unmistakable. It's like she's from another planet, another dimension, she's so different. Different from her vacu-formed backing band, who look and sound ...

Shack: Talking Heads

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 15 May 1999

This is a story of highs and lows. Of drug addiction, of long lost albums, wasted opportunities and ultimately — perhaps — much deserved success. ...

Snoop Doggy Dogg: Allez G!: Snoop Dogg: Top Dogg (Virgin)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 29 May 1999

WHEN SNOOP DOGG released his Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told album last autumn, more than just the Doggy part of ...

Gay Dad: "All I'm Asking is for People to Trust Us, Let Go Of Your Cynicism, and Believe"

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 29 May 1999

YOU JOIN us in the darkest depths of the Mississippi Delta, at the crossroads rumoured to be the very location upon which Robert Johnson, Godfather ...

Regular Fries: 2000 and on one! On a mission with Regular Fries

Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 12 June 1999

A SUNNY DAY and therefore not a bad one to get conscripted into the Regular Fries' newly-formed supporters network, the Space Military. Though NME isn't ...

Lauryn Hill: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 12 June 1999

WE DO NEED MiSEDUCATION ...

Lo Fidelity Allstars: Lo-Fidelity Allstars: Refugee Allstars

Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 June 1999

Lo-Fidelity Allstars claim to be the most jinxed band in the universe. Pah! Their singer may have quit, but they're back from the brink and ...

Fatboy Slim, Armand Van Helden: Fatboy Slim Vs Armand Van Helden: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1999

SATURDAY FiGHT FEVER! ...

Jah! Glastafari!

Report by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 June 1999

When the Glasto Green Field vibes work their magic, we all come over a bit hippy. But for the good folk of Glastonbury, being a ...

Mr. Scruff: Mr Scruff: Keep It Unreal (Ninja Tune)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1999

WITH A four-year trail of often brilliantly wayward 12"s behind him, it's taken Manchester's Andy Carthy ages to release his debut album. He's no perfectionist, ...

Chuck D

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 24 July 1999

Once he was undisputed heavyweight champion of the rap universe, booming apocalyptic conspiracy theories from some of the most earth-shattering hip-hop albums of the last ...

Melanie C: Mel C: C99 Go!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 August 1999

She looks a bit like Iggy, she's been hanging around the Viper Room of late and now Mel C is stepping out of Spiceworld to ...

Mary J. Blige: The Mary Changed: Mary J. Blige: Mary (MCA)

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 21 August 1999

THE LATE-'90S HAVE BEEN something of a golden period for female-fronted soul/R&B music. ...

Puff Daddy: Bentley Rhythm Not So Ace: Puff Daddy: Forever (Arista)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 28 August 1999

HIS DAD was a hustler, his mother a model, he went to private school and he drives a Bentley convertible. If he were British, Sean ...

Flat Eric: Eric Idol

Interview by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 28 August 1999

He's got no ears and is a fetching shade of yellow. Who cares?! Just one of his fuzzy little paws is more rock'n'roll than all ...

Sneaker Pimps: The Brilliant Corner: Sneaker Pimps: ICA, London

Live Review by David Stubbs, New Musical Express, 28 August 1999

SNEAKER PIMPS originally swept up on a crest of post-Portishead bands. Photos of them always marked them as standard trip-hop — singer Kelli Dayton posing ...

Basement Jaxx, Coldcut, Carl Cox, DJ Shadow, Gang Starr, Goldie, Grooverider, Leftfield, Paul Oakenfold, Pet Shop Boys, Scratch Perverts: Basement Jaxx, Pet Shop Boys et al: Creamfields, Old Liverpool Airfield

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 4 September 1999

THE SCOUSE THAT JAXX THRILLED ...

Martine McCutcheon: You Me & Us (Virgin)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 4 September 1999

THE TIFF GET GOING ...

Megadeth: Risk (Capitol)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 September 1999

SCIENTISTS SEEM to be forever discovering hideously ugly living examples of supposedly extinct prehistoric animals. One experiences a similar frisson of excitement upon discovering that ...

Robbie Williams: Slane Castle, Dublin

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 September 1999

OVER 80,000 people stand for hours in the baking sun wearing alternately flashing red devil horns, KISS make-up and the occasional latex Homer Simpson mask. ...

Leftfield: "We Waited. That's What We Did."

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 September 1999

...And eventu-bloody-ally, after four long years, Leftfield have got their she-iiit together on another mighty fine album. Or is it arse?! Have your say! ...

Mobb Deep: Murda Muzik (Loud/Epic)

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 11 September 1999

IN QUEENSBRIDGE, NYC, when someone gets shot, they generally don't get up. Your homey isn't out drinking 40s and smoking blunts; he's laying on a ...

Buena Vista Social Club, Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González: Buena Vista Social Club (Director Wim Wenders; Starring: Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez, Omara Portuondo, Eiiades Ochoa)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Gavin Martin, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999

RY COODER'S tireless musical explorations hit unexpected paydirt when he visited Cuba in 1996 and recorded the sessions for the brilliant Buena Vista Social Club ...

Moloko: Beefa: How Low Can You Go?

Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999

Ibiza — sun-kissed vibes central or merely an over-commercialised supermarket for disco dudes 'n' dollies? With the help of Balearic housers Moloko, NME went in ...

Leftfield: Rhythm & Stealth (Hard Hands/Higher Ground)

Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999

PHATS WALLOW ...

Supergrass: Supergrass

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999

CALL IT PRE-MILLENNIAL psychosis, call it nervous exhaustion or call it self-pity, but you can count the pop people who haven't battled some kind of ...

Bernard Butler: Utterly Butlery: Bernard Butler: Zodiac, Oxford

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999

IT'S BODY LANGUAGE that gives the game away as much as anything. The way he wears his fringe over his eyes, like he's saying "You ...

Faithless: Dig the New Creed

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 25 September 1999

From Euro-disco trance nutters to Mercury-friendly rock'n'soul pluralists finally getting the respect they deserve — you've heard the word, now come worship in the house ...

Idlewild: Arts Theatre, Kirkwall

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 25 September 1999

ORKNEY LOVE ...

Mortiis: "Boy. I'm really nervous!"

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 25 September 1999

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the real Mortiis ...

Stereolab: Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night (Duophonic)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 25 September 1999

GANE OVER ...

Tom Jones: Reload (Gut)

Review by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 25 September 1999

DUD ELVIS ...

Arab Strap: Pachyderms of Endearment

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 October 1999

You're not going to believe this but Arab Strap are in love. Yes, the band who always look on the shite side of life are ...

Gang Starr: Astoria, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 October 1999

LIVE HIP-hop is such a rare occurrence it's almost a duty to disregard the actual quality. However, Gang Starr don't need any excuses made for ...

Idlewild: Where the Idlewild Things Are

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 2 October 1999

And where are Idlewild? In the bleedin' Orkneys, as far away from the cynical London music biz as possible, honing their new 'acoustic' direction in ...

Kid Rock: At Last! Could Kid Rock Be The Saviour Of Rock? Oops. Sorry.

Report and Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 9 October 1999

"HEY, SCATLAND! R U ready for some medal!? How many of you guyz are gonna getta 'shag' tonite!?" ...

Feeder: "Sixth-Form Poetry? We Didn't Even Get To Sixth Form."

Interview by Stuart Bailie, New Musical Express, 9 October 1999

Ooh bloody hell, Feeder, eh? All they wanna do is big-boy rock...Text: Stuart Bailie ...

The Bluetones: Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 9 October 1999

UNHIP HOORAY! ...

Beck: "Postmodern Irony Is Like A Bad Smell In The Bathroom"

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 October 1999

Has he who smelt it dealt it? Beck answers some burning questions. ...

Muse: Showbiz Kids

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 October 1999

Oh, the angst! The pain! Searching for truth in a meaningless world… Such is life in Teignmouth. Just ask Muse, three lads who've escaped small-town ...

Travis: Barrowlands, Glasgow

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 16 October 1999

THE MAN POO! ...

Mogwai: Ferry Pranksters

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 23 October 1999

Life with Mogwai has always been a strange whirl, but after 27 hours on a ferry to Norway with them, a karaoke, a skate video ...

Asian Dub Foundation: Forum, Kentish Town, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

PUNK IS DEAD! LONG LIVE, ERM, PUNK! ...

Can Solo Projects: Barbican, London

Live Review by David Stubbs, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

KRAUTROCKERS CAN'S influence on modem music has been more profound perhaps even than Kraftwerk's. Way back in 1973, with 'Moonshake' they were making prototype techno, ...

Foo Fighters: There Is Nothing Left To Lose (Roswell/RCA)

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

NOTHING left to lose? Oh, I wouldn't say that. This reviewer for one wouldn't mind mislaying the notion that the artist formerly known as Grunge ...

Guided By Voices: Fleece & Firkin, Bristol

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

YOU KNOW the drill by now: 30-something schoolteacher, obsessed equally with The Beatles, The Who, and Budweiser, bashes out neo-psych nuggets with similarly wasted wastrels ...

Spearhead: Jazz Café, Camden, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

...

Charlatans, The (UK): The Charlatans: Music Hall, Aberdeen

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999

BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME ...

Badly Drawn Boy: King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 November 1999

SHAMBOLICALLY DRESSED and scowling at his keyboard as if he hates its electronic guts, Damon Gough is supposedly a man with much to prove tonight. ...

The Auteurs: London School of Economics

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 6 November 1999

HE'S AGED well. In the six years since the Auteurs first waltzed into the fray, Luke Haines seems to have grown into his scowling, petulant ...

Shack: Head Masterful: Shack: L2, Liverpool

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 13 November 1999

BACKSTAGE, the band's name is being wielded as a verb — to get "Shacked". As in to be drawn into Shack's chaotic, hedonistic tailwinds. To ...

Death In Vegas: They're Satanic Majesties: Death In Vegas: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 November 1999

HALLOWEEN has been and gone. So has Guy Fawkes' Night. But Death In Vegas don't care. ...

Beck: Midnite Vultures (Geffen)

Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 20 November 1999

LOVE SEXXY! ...

Mos Def: Black On Both Sides (Rawkus)

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 20 November 1999

DESPITE HIP-HOP being commercially and creatively stronger than ever, the political content of rap is at an all-time low. ...

Eminem: The Magic Cuss: Eminem: Academy, Manchster

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 20 November 1999

"YOU ALL KNOW Dr Dre is one of the greatest MOTHERF—IN' producers in hip-hop, right?" asks the DJ warming up the crowd before the first ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, Primal Scream, Super Furry Animals, Teenage Fanclub: The Dawn of Creation (and the middle and the end)

Report by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 11 December 1999

SO THE party's over. Alan McGee has picked up his ball and moved on, to pastures new — multimedia and, no doubt, highly lucrative. Although ...

Spice Girls: Aromatic For The Little People: Spice Girls: Earl's Court, London

Live Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000

NEWS JUST IN: David Beckham has had a clause inserted in his contract with Manchester United which says he can become a free agent and ...

Chicks on Speed: International punky art rockers: Chicks On Speed

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000

Three Chicks On Speed stand statue-still onstage dressed in leather rags while a giant robo-voice intones "CHICKS ON SPEED" over a demented dustbin techno loop. ...

Sigur Ros: Iceland's Magical Visionaries

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000

ASK PARENTS on Iceland's northernmost shore, and they'll say the kids are alright when Sigur Ros arrive. Their trademark mix of gently persuasive confidence, humble ...

Slipknot: Sinister Masked Rap-Metallers

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000

JOEY (No 1): "We have enough hatred and anger to fucking fuel fucking ten fucking records!" Shawn (No 6): "We're pretty angry." ...

Macy Gray: There's Something About Macy: Macy Gray: Academy, Manchester

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000

WELCOME TO SONGS ABOUT "crazy love and all that shit". Dressed in electric blue, with her trademark wind-tunnel hair, flailing arms, happy-mad countenance and dance ...

Mos Def: Are You Def Or Somefink?

Interview by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 20 January 2000

Er, yes, actually. Mos Def, Brooklyn rapper, dontcha know… ...

D'Angelo: Voodoo

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 12 February 2000

OF ALL practices displaced Africans brought to the New World, voodoo remains the most potent. ...

Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan: Ghostface Killah: Supreme Clientele

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 19 February 2000

AND SO THE return of the Wu-Tang Clan's most gifted wordsmith is as mysterious and unheralded as all his compadres. No fuss, no build-up, no ...

Oasis: Fan-ish Inquisition, Pt. 1

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 19 February 2000

Go Letter It Out. The New Oasis. Your Questions! Their answers! Oh no, it's…the fan-ish inquisition. In the first of a two-part interview with Oasis, ...

The Bluetones: Bolt From The Blue

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 February 2000

Take one top Rottweiler, introduce it to an indie band, throw in some irresponsible comments about the "dilution of English culture" and await the inevitable ...

Tommy Lee, Methods of Mayhem, Mötley Crüe: Tommy Lee: Tommy Knockers…

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 March 2000

…well we were, but now we're willing to give former Mötley Crüe drummer and lo-fi porn star Tommy Lee the benefit of the doubt. 'Cos ...

Yo La Tengo: All Hail Melodic Lo-Fi Mavericks Yo La Tengo!

Interview by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 11 March 2000

TEN-GALLON FACTS (YES, IT'S THE BIG ONES!) ...

The Bloodhound Gang: A Question of Sportz

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 11 March 2000

Juvenile and offensive, do Bloodhound Gang represent the bona fide arse end of sportz meddle? ...

Common: Like Water For Chocolate

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 6 April 2000

IT WEREN'T ALWAYS multiple Wu-pseudonyms and verbose flights of mystical lyrical fantasy down hip-hop's way. Back in the day, rappers wove their rhymes from the ...

Eminem: "Let's Get Raping You!"

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 22 April 2000

Yup, no need to worry about Eminem going "soft", he's as angry and fucked up as ever — threatening to rape NME, railing against boy/girl ...

Belle And Sebastian: Belle & Sebastian: The Lo-Fi Who Came In From The Cold

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 20 May 2000

After years of refusing to speak to the press, Belle & Sebastian mainman Stuart Murdoch finally faces up to his fiercest critic. ...

Doves: Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Live Review by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 3 June 2000

THE MUSIC IS ace. It's all true. But it's easy, when you're desperate, to get carried away. So let's be gentle with the gentlemen of ...

Travis: Fran's across the ocean

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 3 June 2000

Drawing to the end of a US tour that's outlasted even their tourbus, and gearing up for their biggest UK hit, Travis reveal how they ...

Bon Jovi: Don't Mention The Hair!

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 17 June 2000

Tousled, crimped and teased to perfection, how can NME not mention poodle rock's most celebrated barnet? So Bon Jovi, hair we go! ...

King Biscuit Time: What's Up Duck

Profile and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 17 June 2000

After "losing it big time" around the release of the Beta Band's ill-fated alburn, Steve Mason is back with another King Biscuit Time EP and ...

Bright Eyes: On Band: Bright Eyes

Report and Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 1 July 2000

AT THE RIPE age of 20, Conor Oberst is a little long in the tooth to be properly termed a prodigy, but his talents are ...

Gene: They Have A Dream – A California Dream

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 6 July 2000

… On their uppers after parting company with Polydor, the ever-resourceful Gene decamped to L.A., where a three-gig residency turned into a hugely successful webcast ...

My Vitriol: Summer of Som

Interview by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 15 July 2000

Som Wardner is no ordinary rock star-in-waiting — his granddad has a road named after him! — but then My Vitriol are no ordinary class ...

De La Soul: "You may not know this but a long time ago we made an album called 3 Feet High And Rising…"

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 29 July 2000

Sit down, De La Soul want to tell you the greatest hip-hop story ever told… ...

Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age: Queens of the Stone Age make an offer you can't refuse

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 29 July 2000

"SOME OF YOU DRUGGERS, SOME OF YOU SOBER PEOPLE, SOME OF YOU SEX FIENDS, SOME OF YOU VIRGINS. COME TO OUR CLIQUE. YOU JOIN THE ...

Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Doggy Dogg: Suge Knight: Death Wish

Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 5 August 2000

His rise and his fall has been a story of violence, pig-headed machismo and ruthless determination. Currently biding his time in jail, Death Row boss ...

Sleater-Kinney: Three Times A Ladyman!: Sleater-Kinney: 13th Note, Glasgow

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 5 August 2000

MAKE NO MISTAKE. Sleater-Kinney are incandescent. In the three years since their breakthrough third album, Dig Me Out, saw this corrosive power-trio progress from local ...

Eminem: America's Most Wanted

Special Feature by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 12 August 2000

Y2K has been something of an annus horribilis for Eminem (discounting the ten million album sales, that is). Faced with a lawsuit from his mum, ...

Imperial Teen: Seasick

Review by Johnny Cigarettes, New Musical Express, 19 August 2000

AMERICANS, EH? Need a good slap, if you ask me. They can't even make a chirpy, tuneful collection of three-minute pop songs without getting all ...

All Saints: Poor Shore: All Saints: Renaissance@Privilege, Ibiza

Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 August 2000

YOU'RE SUFFICIENTLY IMPORTANT that a huge illuminated cross adorns the stage this evening. You're on after the not-strictly-eye-grabbing Pete Tong; posters have been advertising your ...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Spiller Queen

Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 August 2000

Once the pouting princess of indie pretension, is former Theaudience singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor really set to become the new diva darling of the Ibiza club ...

Daphne and Celeste: Daphne & Celeste: "If you stick your tongue out, after a while it tastes like a condom!"

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 2 September 2000

Daphne & Celeste — social commentators, teen girls bringing a breath of fresh air to the testosterone-charged air of the Carling Weekend. Of course not ...

Sizzla: Bobo Ashanti

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 2 September 2000

PEOPLE HAVE KEPT a safe distance from Sizzla in recent times. Since he made remarks at an open-air concert to the effect that he doesn't ...

Sizzla: And You Will Know Him By His Trail Of Dreads

Interview by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 2 September 2000

Meet Sizzla, Rastafarian musical missionary and the biggest star to emerge from Jamaica in years. He does what he does, and if anyone emigrates to ...

Tim Westwood: Westwood Yo!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 9 September 2000

Word up homie, knowwhatI'msayin'? Tim Westwood may talk like a herbert, but his contribution to hip-hop is unsurpassed on this side of the Atlanic. Now ...

Peaches: The Teaches Of Peaches (Kitty-Yo)

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 16 September 2000

THE MUSIC — harsh shards of electronic fuzz, coupled with unforgiving whiplash beats — sounds like ATR's Alec Empire playing lounge music for a San ...

Doves: On-Seine Posse!: Doves: Batofar, Paris

Live Review by Keith Cameron, New Musical Express, 23 September 2000

EVER SINCE not winning the Mercury Music lash-up thingy, Doves have clearly decided to obliterate their disappointment amid a flurry of activity. So it is ...

Limp Bizkit: Mardy Gras!: Limp Bizkit: Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water (Interscope)

Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 14 October 2000

ARSE AND PISS. Gerrit? Crap, innit?  ...

Eminem, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Xzibit: Eminem Takes The Bizkit!

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 28 October 2000

What happens when America's two biggest antiheroes share the same stage? Join NME at Anger Management, the climactic enormodome showdown between Eminem and Limp Bizkit. ...

Rage Against the Machine: Zac De La Rocha: "Every song I've ever written is a love song!"

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 11 November 2000

…but now that Zack De La Rocha has penned his last for legendary polemic rockers Rage Against The Machine, will anyone fill the hole in ...

Amen: "I don't know if I'll be around in five days, let alone five years"

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 18 November 2000

Don't put your son on the stage, Mrs Chaos. Not unless you want him to form the most vile, heathen, nihilistic, hedonistic rock 'n' roll ...

Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 27 November 2000

IT BEGINS WITH AN ARGUMENT. Surprisingly, Ryan Adams and his bandmate aren't arguing about some dusty Gram Parsons track, but a Morrissey record. And, surprisingly, ...

Dr. Dre: Doctor At Large

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 16 December 2000

Straight outta Compton, Dr. Dre shaped the future of gangsta rap with NWA and lived to tell the tale. Now, the man responsible for giving ...

OutKast

Profile and Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 6 January 2001

They claim to be outsiders, but psychedelic southern playas Big Boi and Dre are already two million LPs ahead of the rap competition. ...

Papa Roach

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 January 2001

They're Yanks, they rock, but, dude, this infestation of ass-kickers aren't jumping on any bandwagon — they're pissing all over it. ...

Common: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 13 January 2001

HEADY ON A diet of wigga-impressing gangsta-rap and wall-to-wall Eminem, some critics have a tendency to write off Chicago's master of the 'conscious' rhyme as ...

Massive Attack: 24-Hour Arty People

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 13 January 2001

Two years and one near implosion later, Massive Attack are back; their new material is ready and everything's as it should be. But what's with ...

Life Without Buildings, The Strokes: Bowery Electric: The Strokes/Life Without Buildings: Camden Monarch, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 17 February 2001

THE SOUND BEGINS as a whisper, builds into murmur, stretches into a babble. ...

Shaggy

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 24 February 2001

He's boombastic, totally fantastic, he'll do anything for love but he won't do that. Re-introducing Shaggy, the '90s pop dancehall king whose rude rhymes are ...

Daft Punk: Romocops: Daft Punk: Discovery (Virgin)

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 10 March 2001

FOUR YEARS after Homework redefined dance music, turned handbag house into High Art and landed every disco chancer in Paris a record deal, can Thomas ...

The White Stripes: SXSW, Austin Fat Tuesday's, Austin, Texas

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 31 March 2001

THE WHITE STRIPES are quite a sight. ...

Black Eyed Peas: Mean Fiddler, London WC2

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 21 April 2001

NOW THAT hip-hop is a global lingua franca, anyone with the slimmest of credentials can lay claim to authenticity. ...

The White Stripes: De Stijl (Sympathy For The Record Industry)

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 21 April 2001

Two-piece brother and sister band kick up fine rock'n'roll ruckus ...

Elbow: Asleep In The Back

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 5 May 2001

HOORAY! MANCHESTER has delivered its first great album of the millennium. Others will doubtless follow, but few will conjure up magic as brooding as Elbow ...

Four Tet: Pause

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 26 May 2001

FOUR TET's second album is a voyage of warm, ambient loveliness. It is its author Kieran Hebden's best work to date and confirms the prolific ...

Pulp: Postcards From The Hedge

Profile and Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 2 June 2001

Galloping stallions, shagging on a mountain top and perhaps a spot of weeding. Welcome to the all-new pastoral pastimes of Pulp. ...

Lil' Kim: Hello Nasty: Lil' Kim: Kentish Town Forum, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 7 July 2001

THERE'S SUCH A thing as hip-hop time. It doesn't generally apply to gigs, more to long-suffering journalists kept waiting for hours on end for an ...

N.E.R.D.: N*E*R*D: The New Statesmen

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 4 August 2001

If Uber-producers N*E*R*D ruled the world there'd be no guns, no drugs and we'd all wear our STDs on our sleeves. ...

The White Stripes: White Noise, White Heat: The White Stripes: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 4 August 2001

HE'S THE don of Detroit, the god of garage, the man reclaiming rock'n'roll from false-hearted cheats and whining, hollow charlatans. ...

N.E.R.D.: N*E*R*D: In Search Of...

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 August 2001

AS THE NEPTUNES, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are the only serious rivals to fellow Virginia Beach native Timbaland's studio dominance over the smart end ...

NSYNC: Celebrity

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 18 August 2001

ADIEU, BACKSTREET BOYS: your retirement awaits you. With Celebrity, NSYNC have cooked the boyband goose, and none will feel the heat more acutely than the ...

Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Tupac Shakur, Snoop (Doggy) Dogg: Suge Knight: Knight's Tale

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 15 September 2001

INCARCERATION, CORRUPT LA COPS, FEUDS WITH DRE AND SNOOP, DEATH ROW RECORDS, GOD AND POLITICS: THE GODFATHER OF GANGSTA RAP SUGE KNIGHT IS OUT OF ...

Depeche Mode: Waldbühne, Berlin

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 22 September 2001

STILL GAHAN STRONG ...

Oasis: "We're punk rock – none of that weird fooking Radiohead bollocks"

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 29 September 2001

Over the last ten years, Oasis have maintained their position as Britain's most controversial rock'n'roll group. Since giving them their first front cover in June ...

Jay-Z: The Blueprint

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 6 October 2001

THE NUMBER ONE rapper returns. ...

The Streets: Fast-moving UK Garage Geezer

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 6 October 2001

EVERYONE KNOWS THE future of dance music always comes from the streets. ...

Radiohead: I Might Be Wrong

Review by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 11 November 2001

THERE ARE FEW GROUPS who can successfully support the twin burdens of leftfield artistic endeavour and big-time bankability. We know one such group, though. A ...

Steps: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 22 December 2001

EXACTLY 70 PER cent of this audience are fluffy pink deely-boppered weeny-poppers. About 20 per cent are benignly smiling mums and dads. And the remaining ...

Super Furry Animals: God Rest You Furry Gentlemen

Interview by Sylvia Patterson, New Musical Express, 22 December 2001

Super Furry Animals Aren't Happy Talking About Christmas. Not When There's A War On And Clubs Full Of Scandinavians To Bemuse ...

Simon Cowell: "The White Stripes? Heard of them. Wasn't blown away."

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 26 January 2002

He makes kids cry, hates fat people and he gave us Westlife. Now Pop Idol villain Simon Cowell turns his evil gaze on some NME ...

Usher: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 20 March 2002

USHER RAYMOND IV sure has his priorities right. This R&B heavyweight and MTV posterchild understands his hormone-obsessed teenage fanbase. That's why tonight, spectacle is all. ...

Pink: Go Ahead Pink, Make Our Day!

Comment by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 4 May 2002

Be afraid Britney, Gwen and Kylie: there's only one candidate to be the new Madonna ...

Busta Rhymes: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 18 May 2002

BUSTA RHYMES is massive. Not necessarily in a physical sense — though he cuts an imposing figure — but in a metaphysical kinda way. ...

Foxy Brown: Stratford Rex, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 1 June 2002

ON A BILL heavy with London-based garage crews, motormouth MCs and well-dressed ruffnecks striking thug poses, Foxy Brown is the main attraction. ...

Rammstein: Docklands Arena, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 1 June 2002

WHOOOOMPHF! The mad bastards are wearing 20ft long napalm-flame spewing fuckmasks. This is great! ...

Boredoms: Never a Dull Moment

Report and Interview by Chris Campion, New Musical Express, 13 July 2002

EYE YAMANTAKA, founder and creative visionary of Japan's Boredoms, is one of rock's great eccentrics. His band churn out a cosmic slop for kids with ...

The Polyphonic Spree: Polyphonic Spree: Songs Of Praise

Interview by Ian Watson, New Musical Express, 27 July 2002

LAST MONTH, London was invaded by the strangest musical gathering the capital has ever seen. ...

Primal Scream: Evil Heat

Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 August 2002

SCREAM'S MULTI-WARHEAD DISCO-PUNK LOVE MISSILE OF A SEVENTH ALBUM ...

Radiohead: Subterranean Homesick Aliens

Overview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 3 August 2002

How five bookish Middle Englanders became the world's most vital band ...

The Sex Pistols: Crystal Palace Sports Centre, London

Live Review by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 6 August 2002

We Might As Well Be Proud Of Them ...

Beenie Man: The Forum, London

Live Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 5 October 2002

ARTISTS ARE usually content with whatever audiences they attract. Not so Beenie Man, a former child prodigy turned dancehall reggae veteran at the age of ...

Craig David: Any Flava You Like!: Craig David: Slicker Than Your Average (Atlantic)

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 9 November 2002

SOUTHHAMPTON'S SOULMAN COVERS ALL BASES IN BID FOR SERIOUS STATESIDE R&B WEDGE ...

Tenacious D: D-linquent, d-generate and d-praved!

Interview by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 16 November 2002

Leaders of the satanic rock revolution, cult spunk guzzlers Tenacious D have already lured Dave Grohl, Weezer and Tool into their sleaze-sodden underworld where orgies ...

The Music, The Vines: Highly Involved! The Vines/The Music: Newport Music Hall, Coloumbus/Bogart's, Cincinnati

Live Review by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 21 December 2002

IN THE concrete catacombs beneath Bogart's, a barn-like venue in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, a home-made rock'n'roll ornament takes pride of place on the ...

The Libertines: Englishmen Abroad

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 21 December 2002

Those respected gentlemen of Albion, The Libertines, chose to limber up for Christmas with a typically debauched tour of mainland Europe. And, considering they fully ...

Common: Electric Circus

Review by Dele Fadele, New Musical Express, 16 January 2003

IN THE LATE 1960S, civil rights struggles, and demonstrations against the Vietnam war in America, gave birth to heavy psychedelia and searing soul music. 2002 ...

Eminem: The Most Hotly Anticipated Movie Of The Year!

Report by Stephen Dalton, New Musical Express, 18 January 2003

…but is it any good? NME gives you the ultimate lowdown on Eminem's forthcoming blockbuster 8 Mile ...

The Libertines: Sun, Sea, Sangria, Skag… The Libertines: Roxy Discoteca, Valencia

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 18 January 2003

Is Spain ready for the sex and drugs-fuelled invasion of The Libertines? ...

Evan Dando: Baby I'm Back

Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 8 March 2003

FEW ROCK'N'ROLLERS have crashed from such a spectacular height as Evan Dando. Fewer still live to tell the tale. In 1992, he was primed to ...

The Coral: Roll Up! Roll Up!

Interview by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 21 June 2003

The Coral may have recently performed in Utah to a crowd of eight, but their giant New Brighton circus tent bash will bring them triumphantly ...

Beck, Blur: Beck: Main Stage, Reading, Saturday 6.35pm; Blur: Main Stage, Reading, Saturday 9.30pm

Live Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 30 August 2003

Battle of the Old-Timers: Funky robots take on a chaotic Blur ...

The Libertines: The decline and fall of the Albion Empire

Profile and Interview by Ted Kessler, New Musical Express, 20 September 2003

THE LAST TIME Pete Doherty and Carl Barat played on the same stage together was at the summit of the Libertines' explosive career in May. ...

Foo Fighters: "Us or Nirvana? I'm prouder of us!"

Interview by Ian Winwood, New Musical Express, May 2005

DAVE GROHL IS SITTING in a spacious room with his band the Foo Fighters. They're seated in a ragged semi-circle, and at the moment the ...

cLOUDDEAD: cLOUDDEAD

Review by Stevie Chick, New Musical Express, 12 September 2005

Fresh US hip-hop on a bucolic tip ...

The Bravery : The Bravery

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 12 September 2005

THE BRAVERY, THEN: priapic quiff-rockers about to de-flower(s) the Killers-obsessed indie-nation, or calculating chancers set to self-destruct in their own tsunami of hype? ...

Dirty Pretty Things: Waterloo To Anywhere

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 21 April 2006

Carl's new gang put the past — and Pete — behind them on their classic debut ...

The Gutter Twins: Saturnalia

Review by Paul Moody, New Musical Express, 29 February 2008

WELL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT — Adele? Putting former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan — not so much human as a walking medicine cabinet — ...

Black Lips: 200 Million Thousand

Review by Pat Long, New Musical Express, 14 March 2009

Even without all the pissing in each others' mouths, they still warrant your attention. ...

Editors: In This Light And On This Evening

Review by Luke Turner, New Musical Express, 10 October 2009

Mild beasts: Neither Tesco angst fish nor dark art fowl ...

Esben And The Witch: Madame JoJo's, London

Live Review by Luke Turner, New Musical Express, 12 January 2010

THE MERCURY might be heading towards zero and the radio crackling with dire warnings of apocalyptic snowfall, but in the heart of Soho the pimps ...

Liars: Sisterworld

Review by Luke Turner, New Musical Express, 5 March 2010

YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A UNIVERSE you've never before been to. Be prepared... ...

New Young Pony Club: The Optimist

Review by John Doran, New Musical Express, 12 March 2010

WHEN NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB first released 'Ice Cream' on Tirk Records in 2005, it felt like they were destined to become Favourite New Band ...

Azari & III: Heaven, London

Live Review by Luke Turner, New Musical Express, 18 February 2012

Filthy, fabulous and downright f… f… f...freezing, the sexy foursome realise dreams of disco utopia ...

Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Review by Angus Batey, New Musical Express, 26 October 2013

REGULARLY CITED AS one of the greatest albums ever made more or less since the day it was released, perhaps the most striking aspect of ...

Tame Impala's Danceable New Album Currents: Track By Track First Listen Review

Review by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 23 June 2015

"I REALISED we'd never seen people dancing to our music," Tame Impala's Kevin Parker told NME earlier this year. ...

Tame Impala: Inside the mind of a psych-pop shaman

Interview by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 14 July 2015

"I THINK five years ago," says Kevin Parker, the man who to all intents and purposes is Tame Impala, "the thought of sitting in a ...

Battles On Their "Next Level" New Album La Di Da Di

Interview by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 27 July 2015

"I DON'T KNOW… I keep coming back to the word technique…" In a pokey pizza place in Hackney, Ian Williams is failing to explain the ...

Beach House: Depression Cherry

Review by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 19 August 2015

"MAKING THE SIMPLE COMPLICATED is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity." Not our words but those of jazz colossus Charles Mingus, which ...

Foxes: All I Need

Review by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 23 January 2016

Foxes' second album is the pop belter Britain needs ...

David Bowie Biographer David Buckley Reflects On A Life Immersed In His Colourful World

Essay by David Buckley, New Musical Express, 11 February 2016

Author David Buckley has spent years chronicling the life and work of David Bowie, in academia and in books such as Strange Fascination: David Bowie, ...

Banks & Steelz: Anything But Words

Review by John Calvert, New Musical Express, 2 September 2016

THE RAP-ROCK fusion album is a hard one to get right. Examples of success in this weird little corner of music do exist — Dälek's ...

Sky Ferreira hits out at label after being "forced" out of her own Soundcloud

Report by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 28 July 2018

SKY FERREIRA HAS posted a lengthy attack on her own record label, saying she has been "forced/told I had no choice" to hand over her ...

Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd: The Weeknd denies stealing a Yeasayer sample for Kendrick Lamar collaboration 'Pray For Me'

Report by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 1 May 2020

Yeasayer are taking legal action against the stars ...

Toots & The Maytals: Toots And The Maytals: Got To Be Tough

Review by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 25 August 2020

The influential band's first album in more than a decade is rarely subtle, but Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert remains an inspirational force for change ...

Bad Bunny to compete at WWE's WrestleMania

Report by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 23 March 2021

A feud between the rapper and former WWE champion The Miz has been building for weeks ...

Raye: Polydor records respond after RAYE says she hasn't "been allowed" to release her debut album

Report by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 30 June 2021

RAYE has expressed her frustration that she's yet to release her debut album, despite having been signed on a major label deal with Polydor for ...

Consequence, Kanye West: Consequence shares new Kanye West-produced single 'Blood Stain'

Report by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 10 June 2022

Consequence calls it "beat of the year" ...

Black Thought, Danger Mouse: Danger Mouse & Black Thought: "You can't name a classic song that's not sad"

Interview by Patrick Clarke, New Musical Express, 9 August 2022

It's long been mooted that the fêted producer and The Roots' lead MC had a stellar collaboration in them. Now Cheat Codes is finally here ...

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