Sweet – the ’70s glam-pop act that’s almost as famous for its hairdos as its music – is today actually two bands touring under the name. The U.S. version that recorded this disc is led by original bassist Steve Priest, while another, led by guitarist Andy Scott, mostly tours the U.K. On guitar, Priest has…

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The idea of a straight jazz album from Steve Howe might bring out the skeptic in proggers and beboppers alike, but Travelling is a pleasant surprise. Certainly, Howe’s jazzflavored leads were prominent in the early Yes years and his penchant for big Gibson archtops like the ES-175D and Switchmaster provided another clue – but with…

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An icon of Britain’s famed “Canterbury Scene” of the late ’60s and ’70s, Steve Hillage made his mark mixing psychedelia, pop, and Hendrix-fueled guitar solos with thrilling abandon. Thirty years after his heyday, the guitarist made an appearance at this festival for his old band, Gong, and delivered a burning set. Included here are six…

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Foghat guitarists “Lonesome” Dave Peverett and Rod Price have both passed on, but the band’s blues-boogie legacy is being carried forward by drummer (and co-founder) Roger Earl and singer/ guitarist Charlie Huhn, who worked with Ted Nugent for many years. Joined by slideman Bryan Bassett, the new Foghat is bluesier than ever, cranking out roadhouse…

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Coinciding with ELP’s recent reunion show is this quadruple-CD box set containing 40 years of unreleased live tracks. The anthology is nicely arranged and annotated with one distinct era per disc – early-’70s, late-’70s, the ’90s, and a CD devoted to bootleg recordings. Disc one opens with the band’s debut gig at the Isle of…

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Despite the title, the focus of this “unauthorized” Stones documentary is not directly on Mick Taylor nor his guitar playing, but a general analysis of the band’s heyday. That said, there’s a lot to learn from The Mick Taylor Years, especially about the political and cultural environment of the day and the role of Taylor’s…

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Do you like Queen, Boston, and other purveyors of ’70s rock anthems? If so, check out the debut from singer/ guitarist Hasse Fröberg, who’s best known as co-vocalist for Sweden’s Flower Kings. Hasse (pronounced Hah-see) holds down the heavy rhythm riffs on his trademark Les Paul goldtop, while leadman Anton Lindsjö adds fretboard-scorching leads that…

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Released in the fall of 1970, Black Sabbath’s Paranoid was the shot heard ’round the world. As Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler ref lects, it’s been 40 years since the LP’s release, and metal is still an enormously popular rock genre, partially thanks to this epic album. Every member of the original Sabbath is interviewed in…

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Dubbed “The Best British Rock Concert of All Time,” the June, 1990, event featured most of the superstar U.K. acts of the day – Genesis, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Tears for Fears, Elton John and Robert Plant… even ol’ Paul McCartney showed up. Depending on your views of ’80s rock, it…

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One of the best fusion bands around today, Garaj Mahal is rife with virtuoso players who care only about a loose, funky groove. Here, the playing of guitarist Fareed Haque is just sick – whether he’s playing electric or one of his sitar-acoustics, he can lay back with a tasty melody, or drop in a…

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