10/07/2025
Welcome to the August 2025 issue of Record Collector (573) - in shops now or available here: shop.recordcollectormag.com/
On the cover this month are Brian Wilson and Sly Stone. Marking the passing of both while we were midway through putting the issue together, Bob Stanley pays tribute to the former while Kris Needs salutes the latter. Despite nominally operating in different areas – pop and funk – it occurs from reading the pieces that, actually, there were as many similarities between the Beach Boy and the Family Stone man as there were differences. Each started out making deceptively innovative, and rhythmic, good-time music – I Get Around, say, and Dance To The Music – before each became progressively more experimental and drawn to the idea of the studio as instrument and making their audacious, solipsist masterpieces: respectively, Pet Sounds and There’s A Riot Goin’ On. By the time you’ve read Bob and Kris’ homages, you will have a greater idea of how the flawed, troubled yet preternaturally gifted 82-year-old California kings came to revolutionise music within their chosen areas.
Elsewhere this issue we have folk pioneer Martin Carthy in the RC Interview hot seat. Robert Forster talks us through The Go-Betweens and his solo albums. We hear about Canned Heat’s Bob ‘The Bear’ Hite and his extensive blues record collection. We check in with the founder members of prog-jazz 70s Canterbury scenesters Hatfield And The North. We hear the story of Desmond Child & Rouge – effectively the original Scissor Sisters – and our long-running series on the 45 best singles to come out of the world’s various music cities this month pitches up in Tokyo.
In News there’s an article on the record buying habits of Gen Z-ers, plus all the usual release news and a chat with Translator. The Collector this month is singer-songwriter Rob Wheeler. RC Investigates takes a global look at rock statues. Value Added Facts answers readers’ queries re: Syndicats and Ernie Graham. In Diggin’ For Gold a keep-fit Britfunk album and a TV show starring Kiki Dee are among the obscurities unearthed. Most Wanted reveals the cost of a Rolling Stones tablecloth and signed Beatles sheet music. Our columnist David Quantick ponders the value of assorted music genres. Corinne Drewery, Marissa Nadler and Bobby Bluebell are among the Talking Heads quizzed. We spend 33 1/3 minutes in the company of Skunk Anansie’s Skin.
In Album Reviews, the latest platters from The Kinks, Jimmy Webb, Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper, Barbra Streisand and Wet Leg are assessed.
In Books, producer Arthur Baker tells his life story and new tomes on The Stooges and Slayer are scrutinised. New 7”s by The Sweet and The Vultures are given a spin. Gigs by Pixies and Iron Maiden are witnessed. We feature a Record Shop Of The Month, there’s our trusty monthly Gig Guide, you can win Beatles and John Mayall goodies on our Crossword and Competitions page.
We go into the Engine Room with Harold Bronson and Under The Radar with The Peddlers, Britpop-era Smiths-alike Gene explain where they’ve been. Amy McDonald picks her lifelong favourites and we pick our post-disco favourites. Finally, we bid a sad farewell in Not Forgotten to the great Lou Christie, Rick Derringer, James Lowe and others.
We’re already hard at work on our next issue, September 2025, RC 574: for the cover story, we will be speaking exclusively, and at length, to David Gilmour, about Pink Floyd’s, and his own, history of live performing and recording. Elsewhere, there will be features on, and/or interviews with, Bryan Adams, Bill Haley, Chess Records, Cardiacs, Jeffrey Lewis, and M (of ‘Pop Muzik’ 1979 synthpop hit single fame), and Leeds will be the ‘45 singles city’.
Meanwhile, check out our latest Record Collector Presents special editions – Rolling Stones and David Bowie are out now, and note that our Gary Numan special is on its way. The Rare Record Price Guide 2026 is available, too. You can also hear the latest edition of Needlepoint, our new podcast in which Rare Record Price Guide Editor, Daryl Easlea, and RC Editor, Paul Lester, talk about the latest issue of RC and anything else that occurs to discuss from the worlds of pop, rock, funk, metal, jazz, blues and soul.
Keep collecting and many thanks for your continued support of Record Collector
