Glenn Hughes - Justified Man - The Studio Albums 1995-2003 (6 CD, 2020/FLAC)

 

Glenn Hughes, “The Voice Of Rock”, first came to prominence in Trapeze, a band featuring future Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley, and future Judas Priest drummer, Dave Holland. Following their third album, “You Are The Music, We’re Just The Band”, Glenn joined Deep Purple in 1973 for their “Burn”, “Stormbringer” and “Come Taste The Band” albums. Deep Purple split in 1976, with its members following various solo and side-projects. The first fruits of Glenn’s post Purple career appeared with “Play Me Out” (also available on Purple Records), issued in July 1977. Glenn would go on to collaborate with Pat Thrall in Hughes-Thrall, Joe Lynn Turner in the Hughes-Turner Project, with Tony Iommi in Black Sabbath, plus pursue a prolific solo career through the 1990s and beyond.

Lightnin' Hopkins - The Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings (7 CD, 1991/FLAC)

 This is a seven-CD box set that repackages all 11 LPs that Lightnin' Hopkins recorded for Bluesville and Prestige during the first half of the 1960s: Last Night Blues, Lightnin', Blues in My Bottle, Walkin' This Road By Myself, Lightnin' and Co., Smokes Like Lightning, Hootin' the Blues, Goin' Away, Down Home Blues, Soul Blues and My Life in the Blues. The very prolific Hopkins (who was never loyal to any one label) also recorded for Candid, Arhoolie, Fire and Vee Jay during the period! The bulk of My Life in the Blues is actually a lengthy and rather historic interview that Samuel Charters conducted with Hopkins. A special bonus of the set is 13 often exciting tracks from a previously unissued concert at the Swarthmore College Folk Festival. The music throughout the box covers quite a variety of moods and subject matter (with Hopkins being unaccompanied on 34 of the tracks) and definitively sums up the veteran bluesman's later period. 

Santana - The Ultimate Collection [2 CD, 1998/FLAC]

 There are a couple of Santana best-of compilations out there, and even a few mastersound gold-plated CDs, but this collection is as good a place as any for a newcomer to explore. It contains the band's three essential charters--"Black Magic Woman," "Evil Ways," and "Oye Como Va"--along with some lesser hits. Santana broke barriers, making ethnic-influenced music palatable to the mainstream, but this set doesn't sound like a history lesson. Few bands have ever made better music for driving on a hot summer day, and this CD is ideal for blasting out the windows of your car on a crowded thoroughfare.

Fairport Convention - The Cropredy Box [ CD, 1998]

The Cropredy Box is an album by Fairport Convention recorded at their annual live concert in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, England to celebrate the band's thirtieth anniversary in 1997. Featuring many songs for which the band had become noted, the set also features performances from many former members including violinist Dave Swarbrick, original vocalist Judy Dyble, and Ralph McTell. Commentary is provided by their first manager, Joe Boyd, and Ashley Hutchings.

The album was packaged as three-CD boxed set including a booklet which featured a description of the compilation by Simon Nicol, track listings, and photographs from the concert itself. Extras were a track recorded for a Ken Russell documentary film about traditional music, and a prank phone call to Dave Swarbrick which had circulated on tape amongst the band's fans for many years. 

Queen- Rare Cuts Vol. 1- 6 (6 CD, 2011-2012)

 

Ultimate rarities 1973 - 1995

Rare Cuts Vol. 1 is the first release of a new Queen-dedicated label Master Stroke.  Like QDA a decade ago, their initial efforts focus upon collecting upgrades of very common material and mixing up with much more rare tracks.