admin's blog

News has reached me that Wigwam vocalist, pianist and composer Jim Pembroke passed away Saturday October 9th, at age 75. Although he had been living in the US for the past few decades he is of course best known for his work with Finnish group Wigwam and solo albums for Charisma. Born in England, he first moved to Finland in 1965. My condolences to his family and friends.

Jethro Tull's 1970 classic Benefit will be celebrated in a brand-new 4CD/2DVD set, featuring remixes by Steven Wilson, an abundance of previously unreleased material, packaged within a deluxe hardback book, containing 100 pages of commentary from numerous contributors alongside hordes of images of the band creating and performing their first million-selling album. After pandemic-enforced delays, Benefit (The 50th Anniversary Enhanced Edition) will finally be out on November 5.

Highlights include:

• Original album and associated recordings remixed by Steven Wilson

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 3 Disc clamshell box edition of the classic album, Scheherazade & Other Stories by RENAISSANCE.

Recorded at Abbey Road studios in May 1975, the album is rightly regarded as one of the band’s finest works, featuring the epic Song of Scheherazade (which dominated the album’s second side on the original LP release) and other classic tracks Trip to the Fair, Ocean Gypsy and The Vultures Fly High. Upon its release the album reached the US Top 50 and was one of the best-selling Renaissance albums.

Unearthed audio and video recordings from legendary progressive rock band Nektar captured live in Switzerland, 1973. Includes an hour-long concert videotaped for Swiss TV's Kaléidospop, unseen since its original broadcast. The two CDs include the audio portion of the TV show as well as a complete show soundboard audio recording from the Pavilion des Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland in May 1973.

"Tony Kaye retired from Yes in 1996, and came out of retirement the week following the events of 9/11 and began to write this album, the power of its music helped Tony to process the day that became the End of Innocence. The album takes you on a journey from the peace of the night before, to the emerging hopeful looking to the future. Tony Kaye met Dani Torchia in the week following 9/11. This album has been interwoven with the growth of their relationship. The artwork is painted by Roger Dean, the artist best known for his work with Yes and Asia.

Sad news received, violinist and vocalist for Kansas, Robby Steinhardt has passed away after a battle with acute pancreatitis at age 71. "Surely heaven waits for you". My condolences to his family and friends.

Van der Graaf Generator are next up with the deluxe box set treatment, this covering their Charisma catalogue, from 1970's Least We Can Do Is Wave through 1978's Vital. Trident/Real World engineer Stephen W Tayler was at hand for the new stereo mixes as well as 5.1 surround mixes of four albums: H to He Who Am the Only One, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life. The box is also packed with Blu-ray of video performances, a 68 page book, and underwhelming cover art. Due in early September.

Vocalist John Lawton passed away suddenly last week in Bulgaria at the age of 74. Best known for his work with Uriah Heep and Lucifer's Friend, he was also a member of the Les Humphries Singers and featured on the 1976 Eurovision awards. My condolences to his family and friends.