RAISING THE BAR

Welcome…

At the height of his phenomenal powers, a typical touring

NOTHING COMPARES 2 PRINCE

Prince’s estate releases original version of Nothing Compares 2 U found in the vault, and launches new, in-depth discography and pop-up shop websites for fans

Simon says

The magical music and the creative mechanics behind our columnist’s former band, Cocteau Twins, defy explanation – particularly by the band members themselves…

Vinyl Dublin Show Report

Described in its pre-publicity as a ‘unique culture

#14 In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

Having conceived the artwork for debut album On Avery

JENNY WILSON

The Swedish singer-songwriter confronts horrific experiences through her music

IAN PEEL’S LINER NOTES

In my recent Liner Notes on double-groove records, I spotlighted artists from the A-list (Kate Bush) to the Z-list (Westworld) who had adopted this bizarre format. But it seems I only just scratched the surface…

WILSON PICKETT & DUANE ALLMAN

Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 1968

BERNARD BUTLER

The guitar hero, producer, solo artist and collaborator, who hit the charts with Suede, McAlmont & Butler and The Tears, tells Jennifer Otter Bickerdike about the first single he ever bought…

ASYLUM PARTY BORDERLINE

This album from a French synth band just missed the ‘cold wave’ at the end of the 80s and, as a result, is a fascinating and collectable rarity…

ANALOGUE OCTOBER RECORDS CHICHESTER

Craig Crane already has a hugely successful career in special FX for blockbuster movies – and he’s even had a hand in George from Rainbow. Gary Walker heads to Chichester on the hunt for Analogue October, Crane’s new vinyl-only shop…

Belfast

Collector Mark Elliott takes a trip to the Northern Irish capital and finds a varied selection of vinyl stockists and great prices

DIGGING FOR VICTORY

Hunting down record collections in Brixton in the 1990s, Mark O’Shaughnessy comes across a haul of the unexpected kind

THEBIGREISSUE Habibi Funk

This label ferrets out and compiles Middle Eastern and African sounds from the 70s and 80s, which slam together soul, funk, rock, pop and more into a compelling and exotic blend. Chris Parkin talks to label founder Jannis Stürtz about his Arabian odyssey…

Present-day jazz

Chris Parkin delves into the contemporary-jazz scene and finds the genre being morphed by forward-thinking and intensely creative sounds springing up across the globe…

BRIAN JONES

With an impressively organised array of over 10,000 records focusing in on the 50s to the 70s, reader Brian Jones collects rock ‘n’ roll, Americana, Motown and soul – and has an affinity for the honeyed tonsils of Nancy Wilson, Brenda Lee and Barbra Streisand…

1978 A VINTAGE YEAR

It was a time of plenty, and of unbridled creativity, in the pop world. Ben Wardle revs up the DeLorean to revisit an amazing year that was pivotal in the development of music as we know it

1978 – 10 UNSUNG CLASSICS

Recently divorced from Anna Gordy, Gaye had made no

DISCOGS’ TOP 10

MOST COLLECTED ALBUMS 1978

MADE IN MANCHESTER

Since The Smiths dissolved, Johnny Marr has travelled the world, bringing his guitar-superstar chops to a host of bands’ records and finding his voice as a solo songwriter. Third album Call The Comet, though, was forged in his home city. Richard Purden meets Marr to talk about embracing rock music, record shopping with Morrissey and being influenced by HG Wells…

WIRE

”WHEN WE MADE PINK FLAG, WE WERE PRETTY HAPPY. WHEN

RAISING THE BAR

Texan singer-songwriter Josh T. Pearson has enjoyed a warm reception in Europe, yet he’s struggled to peddle his art back in his home country. But with the release of his second album, The Straight Hits!, that could all be set to change. Laura Williams finds out more

PRINCE THE DAZZLING DECADE

From his prodigious teenage years to his untimely death in 2016, Prince proved himself to be one of the most staggeringly talented and prolific artists that the music world has ever seen. The 10 albums he released from 1978 to 1988 contain his most stunning creative work. On what would have been his 60th birthday, Neil Crossley salutes a singular genius…

COVER ART

Andrew Dineley looks at Prince’s sleeve-design highlights, largely from the earlier part of a close to 40-year career. Befitting an astonishing catalogue of music, the designs were as diverse as the music they packaged…

THE ESSENTIAL Prince

His tragic passing in 2016 left behind a rich, enormously complex canon of material and releases to sift through. Rik Flynn presents a guide to Prince’s rarest and greatest moments

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY 3 ISSUES FOR £3 IN OUR FANTASTIC

Classic Album CAROLE KING TAPESTRY

From late-60s Laurel Canyon came a singer-songwriter who had honed her craft the hard way, creating hit after hit in the cramped confines of a Broadway publisher’s office. As a new decade dawned, Carole King emerged with an album of her own – and it was one that would resonate with a whole generation, as Neil Crossley explains…

COVER STAR VAUGHAN OLIVER

As the visual mastermind of the 4AD label, Vaughan Oliver designed some of the most artful sleeves of the 80s and 90s. Murray Stassen finds out how the label’s organic aesthetic evolved…

CLASSIC COVERS VAUGHAN OLIVER

“It’s the same photograph as the single (Monkey Gone

WE BUILT THIS CITY

Since 1989, Drag City has risen to become one of the world’s most prolific independent labels – with an eclectic roster featuring Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Ty Segall and many, many others. Murray Stassen gazes inside the world of this Chicago music institution…

The Rolling Stones

THE STUDIO ALBUMS VINYL COLLECTION 1971-2016

Otis Redding

DOCK OF THE BAY SESSIONS

Black Sabbath

SUPERSONIC YEARS – THE SEVENTIES SINGLES BOX SET

Simon And Garfunkel

GREATEST HITS

Carole King

HER GREATEST HITS: SONGS OF LONG AGO

Calvin Harris

I CREATED DISCO/ READY FOR THE WEEKEND

David Sylvian & Holger Czukay

PLIGHT & PREMONITION/ FLUX & MUTABILITY

Mansun

ATTACK OF THE GREY LANTERN

Dave Evans

THE WORDS IN BETWEEN

Wire

PINK FLAG/CHAIRS MISSING/154

Johnny Marr

CALL THE COMET

Jim James

UNIFORM DISTORTION

Danny Goffey

SCHTICK

Geniuser

I AM

Morcheeba

BLAZE AWAY

Richard Hawley & Ollie Trevers

FUNNY COW OST

Jenny Hval

THE LONG SLEEP

Let’s Eat Grandma

I’M ALL EARS

Wooden Shjips

V.

Kamasi Washington

HEAVEN AND EARTH

Dance Gavin Dance

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION

Oneohtrix Point Never

AGE OF

The Orb

NO SOUNDS ARE OUT OF BOUNDS

TURN TABLE UPGRADES

Want to make more of your turntable? Paul Rigby looks at a number of ways you can do just that…

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Upgrades from the brand who made the original turntable in the first place

GENERAL UPGRADES

Useful upgrades that will work across a broad range of designs

THIRD-PARTY UPGRADES

Bespoke upgrades from independent manufacturers

JADIS THALIE TURNTABLE

In our series showcasing high-end hi-fito die for, Paul Rigby encounters the Thalie turntable – a precision-tooled marvel with only four rotating mechanical parts…

FUNK FIRM RAGE II TURNTABLE UPGRADE KIT

Happy with your Planar 3 turntable, but wouldn’t mind giving your Rega a regal makeover? Well, send it to The Funk Firm and they’ll do the upgrades for you. Paul Rigby pimps his ride…

EAT C-MAJOR SUPER PACK TURNTABLE WITH ORTOFON CARTRIDGE

Austrian turntable maker EAT offers a different variation on the C-Sharp model. Paul Rigby reviews this turntable-and-cartridge offering…

Q ACOUSTICS 3010i BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS

John Pickford finds out whether Q Acoustics’ attractive new bookshelf-format speakers punch above their weight…

VINTAGE TURNTABLE DIY PROJECT

Our Garrard 301 restoration reaches its conclusion as we complete the mechanical work – and make a vital decision about the plinth. Huw Price rumbles on…