Gimme Vinyl & CDs

Review: In August 2003, German synth icons Kraftwerk released Tour de France Soundtracks, their first album of new material since 1986's Electric Cafe. Even before the album's release, the band embarked on the extensive Minimum-Maximum world tour in January 2003 to great acclaim and much fan delight. By February 2004, the pioneering group had taken the tour to Scandinavia to perform in Helsinki, Finland, on the 6th and at Stockholm's Cirkus venue on the 8th and 10th. The Stockholm shows are still considered among the best of the tour and they are, luckily, all recorded for live FM radio broadcast. That exceptional concert is now available in its entirety on this new two-part set on translucent red vinyl.

Review: In August 2003, legendary musical futurists Kraftwerk released Tour de France Soundtracks, their first album of new material since 1986's Electric Cafe. Before the album's release, the band began their extensive Minimum-Maximum world tour in early 2003 and by February 2004 they had reached Scandinavia. They played in Helsinki on the 6th and at Stockholm's Cirkus on the 8th and 10th and these Stockholm shows are now widely celebrated as some of the finest of the tour. They were recorded for FM radio broadcast in Sweden and now come pressed up to a limited edition double gatefold album that features classics like the 'Computer World/It's More Fun To Compute/Home Computer' medley.

Review: In October 1999, the Black Crowes joined Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist Jimmy Page for shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Worcester, and that resulted in the live album Live at the Greek on TVT Records. Due to contractual issues with Columbia, however, the album didn't include any Crowes songs performed with Page. This collaboration led to a summer 2000 tour with Page and The Who and on July 10, 2000, they performed at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York, and served up what was considered one of the tour's standout shows. Featuring sixteen Led Zeppelin classics, Black Crowes tracks, and blues covers, this FM broadcast recording is a real must for fans of these rock icons.

Review: In October 1999, the Black Crowes performed with Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist Jimmy Page in New York, Los Angeles and Worcester, leading to the live album Live at the Greek on TVT Records. However, due to contractual issues with Columbia, the album omitted Crowes' songs performed with Page. This collaboration sparked a summer 2000 tour with Page and The Who, highlighted by a standout show on July 10, 2000, at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York. Featuring sixteen Led Zeppelin classics, Black Crowes tracks, and blues covers, this FM broadcast recording is a must-have for fans of these rock legends.

Review: In June 1985, British synth-pop duo Tears For Fears aka Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, recorded a live set for the King Biscuit Flower Hour while at the peak of their success. Their acclaimed sophomore album, Songs from the Big Chair, had just launched, and the promotional tour included a great performance at London's Hammersmith Odeon. This concert recording features highlights from their debut album, The Hurting, alongside new tracks from their then-current hit release and it very much captures the essence of their mid-'80s new wave style. It is all enhanced by a bonus set from a 1983 Palais show nearby.

Review: If you deep dive into online information about this somewhat mysterious Tool live release, you can start to piece together some facts from the mythology. The thing we are most certain about The Pepsi Challenge: Colorado Broadcast 2002 Volume One is that there are many theories pertaining to what it is and whether it's a bootleg or not. Certainly this has nothing to do with the Pepsi Challenge per se, but rather the title refers to where the album was recorded. The year was 2002, the place Denver's Pepsi Center, now known as Ball Arena. Here, mighty metallers Tool stopped by on what was a mammoth tour and delivered what several fan forum posts suggest was the best date of the lot. We're not sure how many of the shows the OPs attended to make that assertion, but we do know that this LP sounds like it was an incredible night.

Review: Trying to find reliable information about The Pepsi Challenge: Colorado Broadcast Volume Two isn't easy. In fact, it's almost like the Holy Grail search. That's if the Holy Grail was a quest for details about one of very few live recordings by almighty US rock dons Tool. Definitely rarer than the steak you still dream about from that time you spent far too much money on a mains, but it was worth it, other than that we're coming up short on certainties. One thing we do know is this was recorded at Denver, Colorado's Pepsi Center, now Ball Arena, home of the Denver Nuggets basketball team and an 18,000 capacity venue. According to several fan forums, the show took place in 2002 and is remembered as one of the best on the band's tour that year. Recorded live for FM radio, it's now made its way onto wax, and reflects the power and majesty of these guitar icons.