- B - Herman Brood

Back to Holland for Herman Brood. The first I heard of Brood was the limited edition 1979 UK vinyl release titled Hermon Brood & His Wild Romance that came packaged with a live version of the album pressed on green vinyl. This release is a renamed version of his second album Shpritsz  this record has been voted the fourth best Dutch album of all time in a 2008 poll.

If you're interested the top three were - Golden Earring – Moontan (1973), Bettie Serveert – Palomine (1992) Urban Dance Squad – Mental Floss For The Globe (1989) of which I'm guessing everyone knows Radar Love by Golden Earring, I've never heard of Bettie Serveert but after visiting her website, it sounds like she needs a bit more investigation. Urban Dance Squad were also unknown to me prior to a trip to Holland and picking up one of their albums.

So back to Herman Brood, the standout tracks are Saturday Night, R & Roll Junkie, and Dope Sucks, the first two are also on the excellent My Way: the Hits. Herman is sadly no longer with us after commiting suicide in 2001, jumping off the roof of the Hilton in Amsterdam.

- B - David Bowie

So David Jones, aka David Bowie. Where do you start? there does seem to be an ongoing theme and why change, my first introduction to David Bowie was Space Oddity and it's as good a place as any to start; including Space Oddity and Memory of a Free Festival as stand out tracks. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (30th Anniversary 2CD Edition) is an excellent remastered edition (although the Amazon prices are a little high, if you can't find this edition pick up a standard single disc version). There aren't any weak tracks, it's not easy to pick the stand out ones but Ziggy Stardust, Starman and Five Years are a good start.

Diamond Dogs: 30th Anniversary 2CD Edition again the 30th anniversay edition containing a bonus disc. Diamond Dogs and Rebel Rebel are the essential tracks. The definitive compilation is Sound & Vision I've got the original American RYKO edition that includes a bonus fourth gold disc including three audio and the Ashes to Ashes video. However I've never found a way to play the video track so if any one can let me know what type of player it used to work on let me know.


For reasons unknown, the British music press turned their back on Bowies Tin Machine period which I still think are excellent (I'll eventually give them an airing when I get to 'T').

I'm afraid the most recent Bowie albums have been a strange collection of Drum n Bass, experimental and slightly strange offerings, not necessarily a bad thing, and from an artist who has re-invented himself constantly, probably understandable. I just hope there is still a classic album still to be recorded.

- B - Budgie

Welsh rockers Budgie started back in 1967, I'm guessing they are not on the radar of that many people but really they should be. My first introduction to them was 1974's In for the Kill from the opening In for the kill, to Crash Course in Brain Surgery and Zoom Club these guys really were the start of rock as we know it today.

I've still to pick up the early albums on CD, but the original LPs have pride of place in the collection all signed by the band when I caught them live in Wrexham a few years ago. Debut Budgie features the blistering Homicidal Suicidal and nomination for one of the daftest track titles Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman (it's not the winner - Pink Floyd and Gong are ahead there). But Budgie do get a special prize for album artwork and album titles - Squawk, impeckable and If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules.

Addition

I'm now wondering if this blog was such a good idea.... Pulling out links from Amazon revealed good prices on the Budgie debut including bonus tracks (link above) a new release (well 2006 and their first for many years) You're All Living In Cuckooland and a copy of Impeckable - however the next available copy of the last disc is £25, sorry I just bought the last cheap copy, good hunting. So this blog is certainly costing me a small fortune, but I am a self confessed music collecting addict.

The plus side to this blog is an excuse to re-listen to discs long since put away on the shelf (In For the Kill is playing in the background as I write this) so if no one ever reads this I've still had the chance to listen to some excellent music - so thanks....

- B - Bubble, Buckcherry

This is where collecting takes you, start with one band, in this case Vixen, whose Bass player Share Ross turns up on the Contraband CD and plays for Dogs D'Amour and then fronts Bubble. With me so far? I've always liked female rock vocals (not a surprise if you've been keeping up with this blog). Share is joined by husband Bam Ross from the Dogs D'Amour (and briefly The Wildhearts). The album I've found is Rock 'n' Roll Hell but apparently there are two more albums to be tracked down by the band.

Buckcherry the debut by Buckcherry is another Rolling Stones influenced rocker and non the worse for it. From the opener Lit Up (not a million miles away from Rocks Off) to Dirty Mind. Next look out for the neatly packaged triple disc pairing of 15/Black Butterfly containing the hugely catchy Crazy Bitch.

- B - Blue Oyster Cult

There seems to be a theme emerging that the best place to start with most of the bands featured so far is at the start and unless you're hooked then pass on the later albums. Why mention this now? I'm going to start Blue Oyster Cult with Agents Of Fortune from 1976 that includes the monumental (Don't Fear) The Reaper, followed by 77's Spectres that includes the live favourite Godzilla and R.U. Ready 2 Rock.

When I started this Blog, there was that statement about Live albums (There is a general rule that the live record is the fans only or contractual recording and avoided at all costs). Well Blue Oyster Cult are another exception to this rule and have released some excellent live albums including On Your Feet Or on Your Knees and Extraterrestrial Live. First time I saw the band live was during the Mirrors tour at the Manchester Apollo, second time was at the Manchester Academy in 2006. Can't be easy for a band to go from club to stadium and back to club but for someone who hates stadium gigs, then please keep it up. I've even managed to catch Robert Plant playing in a very small club (although he can go straight back to any size venue he feels like).

The rest of the Blue Oyster Cult catalogue is well worth exploring by the way and if the band tour again, well worth checking them out.

- B - Blondie

Punk, New Wave or Pop? Blondie have been slotted into all of these categories. From the first exposure to the Rip Her To Shreds 12" single back in 1977 I was hooked. The Classic album is Parallel Lines: Deluxe Collectors Edition this version includes a dvd with Debbie at her peak. I caught the Parallel Lines tour when the band added an extra show at the Hammersmith Odeon.

All of the early Blondie albums are excellent, there are the odd tracks that can be forgiven (The Attack of The Giant Ants) on the debut Blondie: Remastered but redeemed by X Offender and In The Flesh. For a pretty definitive hits collection try The Platinum Collection (the packaging on the Amazon version is different from my American version, but hopefully still includes; Out in The Streets, Platinum Blonde, The Thin Line and Puerto Rico demos). So the challenge for Blondie fans - try and find Rodney & The Brunettes featuring Madame X.

Not long to wait for the latest slice of Ms Harry and the band, the new album is out soon Panic of Girls (Fan Pack) and they are touring this summer.