21/03/2025
The new issue of Record Collector Magazine includes a 5/5 lead album review for Pentangle's upcoming boxset on Svart Records and there's an interview with Envy of None's Alex Lifeson too.
Welcome to the April 2025 issue of Record Collector (569) - in shops now or available here: shop.recordcollectormag.com
On the cover this month is Bob Dylan, photographed in 1965, the year he released – unleashed – Like A Rolling Stone and appeared at the Newport Folk Festival, where he wielded electric instruments and in so doing changed, or at the very least effected some changes to, the world of music, and indeed the world. Over 12 pages (with the addition of a two-page 1965 Dylan discography), Richie Unterberger homes in on ’65, magnifies Dylan’s movements, and decides that there were early tremors of his seismic transformation some time before that incredible year.
Elsewhere, Dionne Warwick is in the RC Interview hot-seat, the legendary singer of all those era-defining Bacharach-David hits offering an entirely different view to Dylan of the early-to-mid-60s. We cast back to the early 80s, when synthpop duos – and, more specifically, Blancmange – ruled the airwaves: frontman Neil Arthur tells their tale. Chuck Prophet Official, formerly of Green On Red, talks us through his solo career. We spend time with two founder members of symphonic soul stars The Stylistics, the biggest band in Britain in 1975, statistics fans. The latest instalment of our 45 x 45s series this month looks outside of Britain and chooses the best-ever Parisian 7” singles, from Edith Piaf to Daft Punk, and we spend 33 1/3 minutes in the company of Rush’s Alex Lifeson.
Other cool stuff to read about this issue: News is full of info about Record Store Day, Peter Hooton of The Farm is welcomed back, we examine Gen Z’s vinyl-buying habits, and much more while The Vinylist features all the data and dates regarding the latest vinyl. RC Investigates investigates the phenomenon of rock’n’roll stamps, North American style. Andy Bell, of Ride and Oasis fame, is this month’s Collector. Value Added Facts observes the reunion of punk obscurities Trash. Diggin’ For Gold talks to Roger Glover, remembers Stuart Damon and watches Kate Bush on TV. Most Wanted includes a Beatles contract and an original Monterey Pop Festival poster. Catherine AD talks cover versions. Anoushka Shankar and Vicki Peterson are among the Talking Heads. New (“new” and new-new) albums from Bowie, S*x Pistols, Pentangle, Kraftwerk, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Edwyn Collins and more are reviewed. There are also reviews of the latest Singles (from Swervedriver to The Mad Professor) and the best gigs (from Mike Berry to Mogwai). The Shop Of The Month is Chelmsford’s Intense Records. We go Under The Radar with Suzanne Ciani, and into The Engine Room with Omar Hakim, Vashi Bunyan picks her life-changing records. We pick 10 Of The Best by mind-bending noughties/”tens” LA rap renegades, Odd Future. You can win a Tangerine Dream box set and a Paul Weller soul compilation on our Competitions & Crossword page. Finally, in Not Forgotten, we say a sad farewell to Rick Buckler of The Jam, Roberta Flack, Jerry Butler, David Johansen, Mike Ratledge, Joey Molland, Bill Fay, Chris Jasper, Gwen McCrae, and Angie Stone…
We’re already hard at work on our next issue, May 2025, RC 570: the cover story tells the beery, bleary story of Pub Rock, the movement that enlivened the UK music scene, bands and attendant venues, ahead of punk. On the inside are features on, and interviews with, Smokey Robinson, Opeth, Blue Aeroplanes, Peter Tosh, Lotti Golden and Southend 45s.
Meanwhile, check out our latest Record Collector Presents special editions - Coldplay and The Moody Blues are out now – with a Deep Purple special on the way. The Rare Record Price Guide 2026 is also available.
Keep collecting and many thanks for your continued support of Record Collector
