Big Band Recordings 1956-1957 - Peanuts Hucko

Advantages: Interesting, eclectic list of guests and collaborators
Disadvantages: A few so-so tracks

...Sting, George Harrison, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Jamiroquai, David Gilmour, all on one record? What unites them? The common factor is that all have either appeared on ‘Later With Jools Holland’ on TV, or worked with the former Squeeze keyboard player turned bandleader on previous projects. Now he, his piano and 30ish-strong big band get to accompany a bunch of friends on songs old, new (seven co-written by the guest performer with JH himself), borrowed and blue(s) (and jazz). Sting’s ‘Seventh Son’, an old Willie Dixon standard which gave Georgie Fame (who was probably the Jools Holland of the 70s) a hit in 1969 gets things off to a full-blooded start. The ex-Policeman is too often a byword for dullness these days, but you’d hardly recognise him on this lively jazz workout. The same goes... Read review

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Advantages: Pretty far out stuff, I ain't never heard anything like it before
Disadvantages: Hard to get into, will need to see live to get full experience

..., “Superhero Music” came out some time later. They’re with the Manchester-based Grand Central record label and they’re a two-man band consisting of DJ Peter Parker (who some of you may know if you’re Mancunian and keep your ear to the Manchester music circuit) and Sneaky who is known by a more sensible and real name but for the life of me I can’t quite remember. Anyway, they debuted their latest album “Fingathing and the Big Red Nebula Band” halfway through the Mr. Scruff gig, as well as playing some of their older stuff for two hours. And what a stonking two hours it was. In hindsight its probably easier to appreciate Fingathing if you’ve seen them live like I have. Its not just the music, but in a similar manner to bands like Bjork or Goldfrapp, but they put on a great visual show as well. Peter Parker has under his control a scratching deck... Read review

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Advantages: Filled with the best songs, from one of the best ever Punk bands.
Disadvantages: Not really any, except for the odd weak track.

..., Rudi were. Rudi were also the first band to release a single on the famous ‘Good Vibrations’ label, and “Big Time” proved a great success. After gigging their Asses off for a few years and supporting bands like the Adverts and the Jam, Rudi were about to be signed the Jams record label, but out of the blue the Jam split and the record label had to fold. The lads from Rudi saw this as a sign and decided to call it a day, never releasing a full LP. Although they never released a full LP, they had many great tracks recorded. And although time had forgotten the band – their fans lived on. And in 1996 due to popular demand Anagram Records added a Rudi compilation to their ‘Punk Collectors Series’, and so this CD was born. This CD is brilliant, anyone who likes Punk, Pop-Punk etc. will love this, it truly does map out Rudi’s greatest hits... Read review

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