Rhythm & Blues Vinyl & CDs

Review: .Straight out of Lincoln Park, Michigan, circa 1963, MC5 are one of those incredible rock & roll bands that people should be talking about more, still to this day. And we really, really do mean rock & roll, a genre in which they rank among the finest bands of all time, falling somewhere between proto-punk, hard rock, garage, blues and heavy bits, helping set the sonic foundations from which outfits such as AC/DC could go on to thrive and, to some extent at least, commercialise. Live In Europe presents nine tracks originally recorded for German and Finnish TV, and it offers both cover versions - which MC5 were renowned for - and originals. For collectors, it's worth noting in particular that 'Let It Rock' and 'Black To Comm' have never been been included on any release from the group, and, like much of what's here, serve as reminders of the incredible connection between the twin axe men, Wayne Kramer and Fred 'Sonic' Smith.

Review: Rhythm & Blues follows on from the success of its Mott The Hoople at the BBC 1970 release - well worth a look (or listen) - with another retrospective compilation that makes a convincing case for us all diving headfirst into the band's full back catalogue to marvel at what's there. A collection of broadcast tracks from Top Gear, Sounds of the Seventies, and The John Peel Sunday Concert are included, and all sound gritty, growly, raw and vital. Among the highlights are versions of Like A Rolling Stone and When My Mind's Gone, which the release notes argue are "rare-as-hens-teeth", and we're not in position to argue, while the take on 'What'd I Say' feels soaked in enough spilt whisky and blues you could probably get loaded on the fumes alone. Ultimately, though, there's no point picking individual parts here. Instead, think wall-to-wall reasons why the Hoople were such a rare breed.