Magazines — All Formats  

Chicago Soul/New York Underground issue. Songwriter/manager Bernice Williams recalls the early days of Gene Chandler/The Du-Kays, and the true story of "Duke of Earl"; Northern Soul legends the Conquistadors tell tales of 1960s West Side Chicago teenage R&B (plus the first soul Jesus concept album); Do "The Chimp" with Chicago 60s garage rocker/R&B singer Jerry Mundo; H. Dwight Thompson tells tales of 70s NYC punk with the Heat and Klaus Nomi's first band! Relive the early Hip Hop parties of the Disco Fever nightclub; Nardwuar meets Jay-Z and N*E*R*D*; plus great interviews with Chris Montez and Doug Randle, and amazing tributes (by those who knew them) to Lux Interior, Michael Jackson, Billy Lee Riley, Sid Lavarents, Sky Saxon and (sadly) more. And amazing comix about Lennon, Danzig, Hagar, record store clerks, hot dogs, riots, and much more by the best underground cartoonists on earth! 120 pages.

The Chicago R&B coverage includes an in depth exploration of Chicago's local after school TV show Soul Train show – which ran from 1970-1979 – and a conversation with Chicago's radical Sounds of Black. Plus 30 pages exploring all aspects of truck driving music including lengthy interviews with Jerry Reed and Joe Stampley. Also features Dave Dudley, Red Sovine, Del Reeves, Red Simpson, Stompin' Tom Connors, CW McCall, Starday Records, Sweet Charles Sherrel and more. Plus Flavor Flav interviewed by Nardwuar, Incredible Stage Wrestling, Joe E., and tons of comix and countless reviews.

Bubblegum kings Kasenetz-Katz interviewed. Edie Adams, widow of Ernie Kovacs and 50s pop diva and cigar girl tells tales of the Nairobi trio and more. The Cramps meet Ratso. Tremendous David Allan Coe interview, that involves prison, Branson and illegal porno. Includes gigantic listeners guide (over 50 Coe albums reviewed). Carl Perkins remembered. 10 seconds with Moe Tucker and Annabella (Bow Wow Wow) lwin. Black metal classical soundtrack composer Mortiis, a man who performs in full satanic elf makeup, lays his heart and soul out for Roctober's readers. The Make*Up interviewed. Plus Skip Spence, the Spice Girls, and tons of comics.

New wave opera space elf Klaus Nomi (Bowie collaborator), remembered by friends and fans. The story of Sylvester ("Mighty Real", "Do Ya Wanna Funk"), with listeners guide, bibliography and amazing fotos. Esquerita centerfold. Chicago r&b eccentric Bo Dudley interviewed. Mayo "Red Crayola" Thompson talks at length. Shonen Knife interviewed. Acid jazz legends Pharaohs tell it like it is. Sammy Davis Jr. Chili mix reviewed by Mark Robinson. Plus: Eazy E, Fountains of Wayne, eight shining Shebrews, Ricky Wilson, Queen, Peter Allen, Liberace.

"Sex! Drugs! Mellotrons!" This issue of Prog has a cover feature on the Moody Blues – plus an Alan Parsons exclusive, Focus on their classic Moving Waves (and turning down George Martin!), Richard Thompson, on his new work, Greg Lake on the relationship dynamics of ELP, plus Marillon, Caravan, Family, Blue Oyster Cult, Nick Harper, Umphrey's McGee, Thumpermonky, Neal Morse, Jethro Tull, Todd Rundgren and much more! Also includes a free CD with over an hour of contemporary prog – woth Amplifier, Giltrap/Wakeman, Gandalf's Fist, Aeon Zen, Big Big Train, Sanguine Hum, Von Hertzen Brothers and more.

A hefty issue of one of the grooviest magazines around – a great publication that we can really trust to cover all things trippy! The cover feature is a big article on Shocking Blue – a long one that really gets at the full details of the group, with lots of vintage pix, too – and other nice features include the Bevis Frond Family Tree, a look at Sundazed Records, 20 Questions with Richard Thompson, and the cool Simon's Record Challenge – filled with rare vinyl from around the world! Also includes articles on The Rolling Stones, Jelly Fish, and Ian Matthews – and loads of reviews and news!

An eye-grabbing cover, and plenty to grab you inside, too – some great features Cymande, London's Kiss FM, UK Record Stores, Keith Mansfield, Carroll Thompson, Sticky, Mala, and hip UK labels – more than enough different slices of the British underground to get you packing up and taking the next plane east! Shook does a really great job of carrying the torch that used to burn brightly for Straight No Chaser – that unique British blend of jazz, funk, soul, world, hip hop, and more – summed up here in succinct writing, beautiful images, and even some nice record reviews and ads for new releases, too!

Songlines remembers Ravi Shankar – plus pieces on Goran Bregovic, Joe Boyd, Cerys Matthews, Anais Mitchell, Carmen Souza, Wara, Richard Thompson and more! Also includes a wealth of diverse reviews, plus a free CD – with 10 tracks from Songlines-approved new releases and five more selected by Joe Boyd – featuring Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Frigg, Youssou N'Dour, Forro In The Dar, Carlos Gardel, Toots And The Maytals and more!

Uncut's cover feature this time out is the untold story behind Tom Waits's Closing Time – his classic debut and the birth of his legend – and other features include an interview with Sinead O'Connor, Tony Visconti on Bowie and the birth of glam, Brian Wilson and Mike Love on their half century as Beach Boys, the making of Status Quo's mid 70s classic Down Down, the enduring genius of Richard Thompson and more! Also includes 40 pages of reviews – and a free CD titled The Heart Of Saturday Night – with tracks by Richard Thompson, Villagers, Karl Bartos, Matthew E White, Arboretum, Purling Hiss, Endless Boogie and more.