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Benjy says...

What an eclectic mix of artists and music on the latest show, everything from metal, prog and blues to SA psych-rock, alt-country and classic rock ... you hear it all on Rock of Ages! ... Richard Filmer and I were stoked to beat off all rock trivia contenders on the subject of Uriah Heep so the prizes will go into next week's show. First prize should have gone to the listener who insisted that Uriah Heep were the first 'gay band'!!! Judging by the on-the-road / backstage reports of the 'Heep through the years it's highly unlikely ... anyway who cares? It's all rock 'n roll!!

Of course I am hanging my head in shame after insisting that Blue Oyster Cult were Canadian when, as you all subsequently pointed out to me, they were in fact from New York. Thanks to my pigheadedness I now owe Master Filmer a lunch or at worse a case of Amstels (which is worse? Ed). Thank you for the tons of phone calls, I really do appreciate your support and suggestions and welcome any exchange of views as long as they rock!

Personally I enjoyed doing the South African psychedelic rock special last night, if one compares the music that this country was producing back in the 'dark days' with what was happening internationally at the same time I am convinced that we can hold our collective rock heads high. The great news is that the classic albums by the likes of Freedom's Children, Hawk, Otis Waygood, Circus, Suck and Falling Mirror are all available on the remastered Retro series at CD Wherehouses around the country. If you can't locate them try Richard Filmer at rf2@cdwherehouse.co.za.

Next week's special will be the work of Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young), all their classic songs like "Wooden Ships", "Suite Judy Blue Eyes", "Almost Cut My Hair" plus a few tracks not heard on radio for years so tune in ... lots of albums and DVD's to give away, courtesy of Gallo Music. The following Thursday (18th August) we will be reliving the original Woodstock Festival ... the 36th anniversary of the world famous 1969 festival that, through the medium of film, drew the world's attention to the power of rock .... So hey man break out the patchouli oil, don your tie-dye shirt, turn on the lava lamp and help me celebrate the music of Jimi, Janis, Santana, Ten Years After, The Who, Richie Havens, Sly, Canned Heat, Mountain and many more.

Rock of Ages's recommendations

Being a fan of all things ROCK I also have a soft spot for good original South African music and the new Karen Zoid album is pretty impressive. Although I haven't in the past been a huge fan I've always respected her no-shit attitude to making music and hey that's what rock 'n roll is about, not so? Karen has certainly upped the ante with "Media", teaming up with ex Nudie guitarist turned producer Theo Crous and guitarslinger Albert Frost plus her her regular live band she's created an album that quivers with menace ... raw, uncompromising rock and roll at it's best. I can highly recommend "Lift me up" for openers ....

If electric guitar blues in the vein of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Leslie West is your thang then please, please grab yourself a copy of Joe Bonamassa's "Had to cry today". He is an amazing guitar player who rips and snorts his way through this album like a runaway stallion. His interpretation of the Stevie Winwood penned title track is worth the money all by itself! ....

Finally like many millions around the globe I was enthralled by Alanis Morissette's debut album "Jagged Little Pill" when it was released in 1995. Her blend of classic rock riffs with some of most cynical and hard hitting lyrics around really hit the spot for me. Her subsequent albums failed to achieve the heady heights of the debut record and for the past few years she has been on a bit of a slide careerwise. Alanis has just released a 10 Year Anniversary Commemorative Edition of the album, redone entirely acoustic. When you strip away the drums, electric guitars and all the studio chicanery that modern rock records employ these days you are just left with the bare song itself ... in most cases it leaves you wondering just what the fuss was about ... Not so in the case of "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic" ... both the songs and her voice outshine the original versions and enhance the clear reality of just what a great singer-songwriter she really is...

That's all for now ... catch you next time on Rock of Ages.

Benjy

Benjy
Studio numbers: 021-4342523/2525

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.

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Stay tuned every Thursday 8-12pm for the best in classic rock on RADIO 2000.

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Your Host

Benjy Mudie
Then	Now

Benjy Mudie was inducted into the South African Rock Hall Of Fame on 14th August 2002. Of Scottish origin, Mudie started out in the music industry working in record shops. He later became the A&R man for WEA records, signing such luminaries as Lesley Rae Dowling, Baxtop and Falling Mirror. He has ventured briefly into the realms of songwriting, getting co-writing credit for Little Sister's song 'You Got My Heart', but it is mainly for his running of record labels, notably Tusk and more recently Fresh and Retro Fresh that he is honoured. With these labels he has tirelessly dedicated himself to putting South African music out there, showing an unshaking belief in the quality of SA music.

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