In this issue

545 June In this issue: Sparks reach new heights; Mick Hucknall grilled; Top Bootlegger busted; Roger Chapman on Family; Paul Simonon’s latest venture; Shakin’ Stevens new cred direction; Paul Simon, Bowie, Noel Gallagher reviews special; and much more

Battling the bootleggers

West Country millionaire’s counterfeit records racket shut down

3 mins

Musician Paul Mayer

Paul Mayer, a creative director and musician, has been collecting “Exotica” music on vinyl since he was just 12 years old. In the 70s, his parents took him to Hawaii where, at a young age, he saw the great Martin Denny perform at the Surf Room in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki.

7 mins

Label of Love

Q & A | AV8 RECORDS – Eastbourne/London

5 mins

maconblack

Ian McCann Stadium gigs? Forget it. And as for live albums...

4 mins

33 1/3 minutes with... Allan Clarke

Allan Clarke co-founded The Hollies with school friend Graham Nash. Between 1963, the year they started, and 1968 when Nash left to form Crosby, Stills & Nash, they notched up nine Top 5 singles including Just One Look, Here I Go Again and I’m Alive, their first of two No 1s.

6 mins

"YOU HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS"

Simply Red’s soulful pop was one of the most familiar sounds of the 90s and made Mick Hucknall a household name. Despite their commercial domination, they were critical pariahs, dismissed for their smoothness and Hucknall’s reputation as a lothario. Truth is, they were steeped in dub, gritty R&B and post-punk, proud working-class peers of ‘soulcialists’ Style Council and Redskins. Three decades on, they continue to sell more albums than there are ginger hairs on his famous head: the work ethic is strong with this one. “We played to a million people last year,” he points out, and with a new album and tour to promote, he’s only going to be stepping up the professional pace. “You can’t take anything for granted,” he tells Lois Wilson.

10+ mins

EUROPEAN UNION

One is the daughter of a psychedelic rock hero, the other played bass in The Clash. As Galen Ayers and Paul Simonon unite for a duets album, Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?, Kevin Harley hears about how they wore their pasts lightly while drawing inspiration from continental adventures and great male-female duos of the past…

10+ mins

RELATABLE CONTENT

Evolving from blues-rock through prog and several different points in-between, East Midlanders Family perhaps don’t get the recognition they deserve these days, possibly because of such wilful refusal to stay in one musical lane. With a clutch of reissues ready to prompt a revision of that reputation, Roger Chapman tells his side of a tortuous tale to Michael Heatley.

10 mins

SHAKIN ALL OVER AGAIN

Even a heart attack in 2010 couldn’t deter Welsh rock’n’roll institution Shakin’ Stevens from returning to fight the good fight. Now, at 75, he has made another highly personal record that might confound those expecting him to fall back on the vintage covers and 50s stylings that made him such a ubiquitous presence on the 80s pop scene. “A lot of people are going to be shocked,” he warns Jack Watkins.

10+ mins

DREAD ALERT

The dub poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson is publishing his first book of prose, a fine addition to his impressive CV that includes music journalist, label owner and punk and post-punk reggae avatar. Man free-lance: Rich Davenport

9 mins

MAEL PATENT BOLDNESS

Ron and Russell Mael – combined age: 151 – should be in the autumn of their career, a heritage act recycling the hits. Instead, more than a half-century since their debut LP, Sparks are enjoying an Indian summer of acclaim and popularity. As they prepare to release their 26th idiosyncratic pop album (including FFS), back with their original label Island after a 45-year break, they take a reverse journey through their body of work while considering their imminent landmark concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and Royal Albert Hall. What kind of shows can we expect? “Sexy and cerebral,” they promise Jeremy Allen.

10+ mins

Weeping Beauty

Anniversary edition of an angst classic, in an atmospheric new mix.

5 mins

Movers And Shakers

A new box set chronicles the “saxophone Colossus”’s late 50s California sojourn.

3 mins

Kick Out The Jams

Brilliant compilation celebrating Liverpool’s cultural heritage.

2 mins

Wish List

A half-speed master holds off time as it waits in the wings.

2 mins

Above And Beyond!

Big brother triumphs by reminding everyone he knows how to write giant tunes.

6 mins

Homeward Bound

Belief and beauty explored with rare grace.

4 mins

Higher Power

Folk icon continues to bridge the past and the present.

4 mins

Read all stories from Record Collector

Record Collector Magazine Description:

Record Collector Magazine is a monthly magazine dedicated to all aspects of record collecting, from the latest releases to rare and vintage vinyl. It is published by Metropolis Group The magazine covers a wide range of topics, including:

* New releases: Record Collector Magazine reviews new albums from all genres, including rock, pop, jazz, blues, and classical music.
* Reissues: The magazine also reviews reissues of classic albums, as well as box sets and compilations.
* Rare and vintage vinyl: Record Collector Magazine features articles on rare and vintage vinyl, including profiles of record labels, artists, and producers.
* Collecting tips: The magazine provides tips on how to start collecting records, how to care for your collection, and how to find the best deals.
* Record collector interviews: Record Collector Magazine interviews record collectors from all walks of life, from celebrities to everyday people.

Record Collector Magazine is known for its high-quality journalism, its informative and engaging articles, and its commitment to providing its readers with the latest news and information about the record collecting world.