UMR Vinyl & CDs

Review: This CD compilation brings together four decades of this iconic charity anthem, showcasing its evolution across generations while maintaining its heartfelt purpose. Featuring the original 1984 version by Band Aid, this release captures the raw urgency of the collective's mission to combat famine in Ethiopia. The 2004 rendition by Band Aid 20 introduces a modernised arrangement with a fresh lineup of artists, while Band Aid 30's 2014 version incorporates contemporary production and voices, reflecting the ongoing relevance of the cause. The 2024 version offers a reimagined take, balancing the classic's spirit with current musical sensibilities, ensuring it resonates with a new audience. Closing the collection is a powerful live performance from Wembley Stadium in 1985, a moment steeped in history and emotion that amplifies the song's legacy. Spanning generations of talent and commitment, this release is a celebration of unity and a reminder of the enduring power of music to inspire change.

Review: A pivotal moment in Bon Jovi's career, propelling them into international stardom. The album features a dynamic blend of hard rock and melodic hooks, with tracks like 'You Give Love a Bad Name' and 'Livin' on a Prayer' becoming anthems of the era. The 2xCD edition offers remastered versions, providing enhanced audio quality that brings out the energy and craftsmanship of the original recordings. This release is a must-have for both long-time fans and new listeners seeking to experience the band's classic sound.

Review: Eno is a new and groundbreaking documentary that explores the multifaceted career of musician, producer, artist, and activist Brian Eno. Compiled from extensive footage, music, and interviews, each screening of the film is different as it delves into Eno's music, art, and ideas. Accompanying this cinematic journey is a soundtrack spanning Eno's illustrious career, from early solo works to recent collaborations. Released on CD, the album features tracks from 14 different albums, including three previously unreleased recordings. 'Lighthouse #429, the first track from Eno's Sonos radio station, offers a glimpse into his extensive archive and overall this album celebrates Eno's influential legacy.

Review: The long-awaited 6CD super deluxe edition of The Police's iconic 1983 album Synchronicity is finally here, offering fans a bountiful deeper exploration of works around the making of the album as well as previously unheard material. The band's final studio album, featuring hits like 'Every Breath You Take,' 'Wrapped Around Your Finger,' 'King of Pain,' and 'Synchronicity II,' sold 15 million copies globally, solidifying its place in rock history. This meticulously crafted reissue, created with the band's involvement, includes a remastered version of the original album, bonus tracks, and unreleased alternates, outtakes, and demos. Highlights include early versions of Andy Summers' 'Someone To Talk To' and Stewart Copeland's 'Brothers on Wheels,' as well as covers of Eddie Cochran's 'Three Steps To Heaven' and Chuck Berry's 'Rock and Roll Music.' The live recordings from their September 1983 concert at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum are a standout, capturing the band's electrifying stage presence. Accompanied by a 60-page hardcover book with new sleeve notes by Jason Draper and four art prints, this box set is a comprehensive celebration of Synchronicity.

Review: Nowadays regarded as the stuff of punk legend, the chaotic and ill-fated jaunt undertaken by the Sex Pistols across the US in January of 1978 was hindered by so many differing factors, it was almost as if they were set to fail. Plagued by poor management while trapped on a label with no real idea how to market such a tumultuous roster outlier, the band found themselves performing for those there out of mere curiosity more than their targeted audience or genuine fans, culminating in severe burn-out in real time, captured on these recordings. Finally, for the first time, several of these shows have been retooled to their correct sequencing with this collection reflecting the debaucherous live sets in all their feral glory that took place on January 5th at the South East Music Hall in Atlanta, Georgia, January 10th at the Longhorns Ballroom in Dallas, Texas, and January 14th at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. Boasting all of the essential anthems from 'God Save The Queen' to 'Pretty Vacant' and 'Anarchy In The UK', behind the energy is the sound of a band imploding, while today not all wounds have healed with the surviving members currently enjoying a celebration of their iconic Never Mind The Bollocks LP with former Gallows frontman Frank Carter stepping in for MAGA man Jon Lydon, who continues to lob barbs at his former bandmates whenever given half the chance.