RECORD COLLECTOR / MAY 2025 No.570 / 書籍

On the cover this month are Dr Feelgood, the Canvey carousers, prime movers of the early 70s pub rock scene. But was it a scene, a movement, coalescing around myriad groups with a coherent, specific sound, look and agenda? Or was it just a bunch of varied, prodigiously hairy, busy, gigging bands who happened to play the same venues around the same time, fuelled by rhythm and booze? Over 14 pages, we tell the story of pub rock. We talk to some of the musicians who were there, examine how music returned to small venues after the stadia of the progressive “dinosaurs” and eschewed multipartite rock suites and interminable slothful jamming for brevity and hi-energy thrills, paving the way for punk. To cap it all, there’s a sizeable discography that will help separate the Ducks Deluxes from the Roogalators.

Elsewhere, we have an audience with none other than soul laureate Smokey Robinson, we meet prog-metal overlords Opeth and cult Bristol indie band Blue Aeroplanes, we present a 60s blues icon photo gallery, and RC’s Essex expert picks the best singles to emerge from the Thames Delta. Jon King of Gang Of Four reveals the records that have soundtracked his life, we spend 33 1/3 minutes in the company of Carlos Alomar, we present 10 Of The Best of the Harvest label, Dr Strangely Strange appear in our brand-new column about returning musicians, and we review Scaffold, Tangerine Dream, Hawkwind, Bon Iver (Albums), The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and The Jam (Books), John Lodge, Laura Cannell and Tindersticks (Singles), Jack White and Green Day (Lives).

In News, Led Zeppelin artwork goes up for auction. RC Investigates features a tour of Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. This month’s The Collector is Australian vinylist Brant Inderberg. Value Added Facts homes in on American Clash releases while Margo Thunder is in the spotlight. Diggin’ For Gold unearths treasures by Gloria Jones and Basil Kirchin. Most Wanted includes a Japanese Bowie release and Chris Rea’s Mini is up for auction. Our columnist David Stubbs takes a look at the latest Zeppelin and Sly Stone biopics. Among the Talking Heads getting rigorously quizzed this month are Raging Speedhorn and Deerhoof. Our reader services include our subscription special offers, our list of stockists (which includes Shop Of The Month), RC’s classified listings, and our Gig Guide (including a Q&A with Cy Curnin of The Fixx on his favourite touring habits). Finally, our Competitions & Crossword page offers readers the opportunity to win Slade and Horslips goodies, and Not Forgotten features obituaries of, among others, Brian James of The Damned and jazz-funk avatar Roy Ayers.