Krokus 1977-2010 [FLAC]

Switzerland's most successful hard rock band, Krokus enjoyed international popularity in the 1980s and onward for their aggressive, straightforward variety of European metal. Hailing from the Swiss city of Solothurn, Krokus was formed in 1974 by guitarist Tommy Kiefer and percussionist Chris Von Rohr. Initially performing an eclectic and artful brand of prog rock, Krokus released their first album in 1976, with the founders joined by guitarist Hansi Droz and bassist Remo Spadino. Krokus' second album, To You All, found them pursuing a tougher hard rock sound with a revamped lineup: Von Rohr moved from drums to vocals, Fernando Von Arb came on board as second guitarist, and the band had a new rhythm section, bassist Jurg Naegeli and drummer Freddy Steady (the new members were all previously with the group Montezuma). As Krokus moved toward a harder and leaner sound influenced by AC/DC, they decided they wanted a stronger vocalist, and Von Rohr moved to bass while Marc Storace, a former member of Eazy Money, became their new lead singer, joining in time for the sessions for 1980's Metal Rendez-Vous.

1977 - To You All [2001]

1978 - Pay It In Metal [Painkiller]

1980 - Metal Rendez-vous

1981 - Hardware

1982 - One Vice at a Time

1983 - Headhunter

1984 - The Blitz

1986 - Alive and Screamin

1986 - Change Of Address [1995]

1987 - Stayed Awake All Night - The Best Of Krokus [1989]

1988 - Heart Attack

1990 - Stampede

1995 - To Rock Or Not To Be [2002]

1999 - Round 13

2000 - The Definitive Collection

2003 - Long Stick Goes Boom - The Anthology

2003 - Rock the Block

2004 - Fire & Gasoline Live

2006 - Hellraiser

2010 - Hoodoo

Bob Dylan - 50th Anniversary Collection: 1965 [14 CD live, 2015) [FLAC + 320]

Another copyright protection collection not available to the wider public, this time 1965 live. Sheffield concert is complete for the first time, although everything else was previously circulated in the similar quality, obviously from the same sources. The only missing (partial) concert that was circulated and not included here was Arie Crown, Chicago, November 26, plus the rest of Newport Festival set from July 25. Also, in the official notes the personnel were mixed-up: Barry Goldberg played piano, not organ, Al Kooper never played bass but organ, and bass was played by Jerome Arnold.

 

Mick Ronson - Only After Dark : The Complete Mainman Recordings (4 CD, 2019) [FLAC]

 

Mick Ronson is one of the unsung guitar heroes of the 1970's, a man who by rights should be up there in the public conciousness with Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. He shot to fame, of course, as David Bowie's guitar player during the "Ziggy Stardust" era. So when David disbanded the Spiders in 1973, the question arose - what to do next? With matinee idol looks the answer was - launch a solo career. Slaughter On 10th Avenue in 1974 was the result, but the subsequent tour revealed that Mick was not a natural front-man. Play Don't Worry followed in 1975, but worry he did. Preferring to work as a side-man again, he worked first with Ian Hunter and then Bob Dylan before throwing himself into production work.

 

Velvet Underground - White Light, White Heat [45 Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition, 2013] [FLAC]

Curated by Lou Reed and John Cale, the White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition contains remastered versions of the original record in both mono and stereo, alongside bonus material including alternate versions of "Hey Mr. Rain," new mixes of "Beginning To See The Light" and "Guess I'm Falling In Love" and previously unreleased vocal and instrumental versions of "The Gift". Tracks recorded during John Cale's last studio session with the Velvet Underground  also appears.

In addition, the band's live set at the Gymnasium in New York on April 30, 1967 is also included.

 

 

Focus- Hocus Pocus Box [13 CD, 2017] (FLAC + 320)

 

Innovative Dutch rock band Focus see their albums collected in a new and comprehensive 13CD box set called Hocus Pocus Box.

Aside from the very recent Focus 8.5 (issued on their own label in 2016) this new box set collects all ten studio albums from those purveyors of progressive rock/jazz/classical, starting with 1970’s Focus Plays Focus/In And Out Of Focus moving all the way through to 2012’s Focus X.