Deep Purple,"The Battle Rages On / Come Hell Or High Water" (Cherry Red HNECD 037D)- This muscular marriage of live and studio recordings couples the classic Purple line-up's 1993 album,"The Battle Rages On" with a splendid concert package which was captured for posterity in Stuttgart and Birmingham a few months later ,drawing on two of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's final live appearances with the British rock institution. The latter offering is particularly impressive,showcasing the band at their imperious best as they launch into perennial crowd pleasers such as "Speed King," "Child in Time" and their show stopping finale,"Smoke on the Water."
Chris Spedding,"Backwood Progression / The Only Lick I Know" (Esoteric ECLEC 2433 / 2434)- Chris Spedding is best remembered these days for his quirkily insistent 1975 hit,"Motorbikin'," but this supremely versatile session guitarist was arguably at his creative peak when he released these eclectic albums on the Harvest label during the early seventies. These newly remastered recordings are now available on CD for the very first time and find Chris serving up some of the most intelligently crafted pop-rock that you could ever wish to hear,including distinctive covers of Dylan's "Please Mrs.Henry," Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues" and James Carr's soul classic "Dark End of the Street."
"Soul City : Los Angeles" (Fantastic Voyage FVDD 192)- The latest 2 CD anthology from the good people at Fantastic Voyage explores the flourishing soul scene of late fifties and early sixties Los Angeles ,drawing on recordings culled from the archives of labels such as Aladdin, Liberty, Imperial and Sam Cooke's SAR. Stellar performers such as Sly Stone,Johnnie Taylor and Johnny "Guitar" Watson all make telling contributions to a richly rewarding package,and astute compiler Clive Richardson has also found space for gems such as The Valentinos' infectious "Lookin' For A Love" and Don and Dewey's unusual fiddle led instrumentals,"Soul Motion" and "Stretchin' Out."
