Once Upon A Time In The West Midlands / Various Once Upon A Time In The West Midlands / Various CD

A 3-CD, four-hour celebration of the post-Brumbeat late '60s/early '70s rock scene in the West Midlands. Tracing the evolution and development of that scene as local musicians embarked on an epic journey that embraced mod pop, psychedelia, blues, progressive rock, glam-rock and heavy metal, inspired by the emergence of chief catalysts The Move. Revolving around the area's big hitters, with key selections from The Move, The Moody Blues, The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, The Idle Race, Slade, The Electric Light Orchestra, Roy Wood and Wizzard, Judas Priest and others. When the beat/R&B explosion died out around 1965, so did the influence of cities like Liverpool and Manchester. However, the live scene in Birmingham and surrounding towns went from strength to strength. By the end of the decade, the West Midlands had become the smelting house of the nascent hard rock/metal revolution. Including a bunch of classic cult 45s (The Craig, Locomotive, Medicine Head, The Ghost) and essential cuts from enduring local legends like Steve Gibbons and his band The Ugly's, Denny Laine, The Montanas and Jimmy Powell. Also featuring several previously unreleased tracks, including music from post-World Of Oz outfit Kansas Hook, Big Bertha, Cathedral and the first-ever recording (made in 1967) to feature future Magnum vocalist Bob Catley.

1. I Must Be Mad - Craig 2. Security (Extended Version) - the 'N Betweens 3. Rescue Me - Doc Thomas Group 4. Life's Not Life - the Moody Blues 5 Let Me Get By - the Bobcats 5. 6 Chicken George - Deep Feeling 7 on the Beach - the Extreem 6. Baby Get Your Head Screwed on -Double Feature 7. I Can Hear the Grass Grow - the Move 8. Say You Don't Mind - Denny Laine 9. On Time - Capitol Systems 10. Imposters of Life's Magazine -The Idle Race 11. No Face, No Name, No Number -Traffic 12. Moonshine - the Spencer Davis Group 13. Yellow Rainbow - the Rockin' Berries 14. Don't Leave Me in the Dark -Young Blood 15. An Apple a Day - the U-No-Who 16. Nsu - Ideal Milk 17. Trouble in the Air - Ace Kefford 18. When the Train Comes Back -Chicken Shack 19. I Know What Her Name Is (Demo Version) - Simon's Secrets 20. Cherry Wood Green - Just William 21. Baby I Need You - Giorgio ; Marco's Men 22. Yellow Cave Woman - Velvett Fogg 23. Mr Armageddon (Single Version) - the Locomotive 24. I've Seen the Light - the Ugly's 25. Daughter of the Sun - the Ace 26. Kefford Stand Roundabout - the Montanas 27. Like a Tear - World of Oz 28. Don't Torture Your Mind - the Exception 29. Masochists of Strangulation -Jardine 30. Boredom - Tea ; Symphony 31. The Journey - Gordon Jackson 8 Big Bear Ffolly - Bakerloo 32. Candy - Cinnamon Quill 33. Like Uncle Charlie - the Climax 34. Chicago Blues Band 35. Imaginations - Revolver 36. You've Got Your Troubles - the Californians 37. His Guiding Hand (Single Version)- Medicine Head 38. Goodbye Mary - Paradox 39. A Modern Day Fairy Tale -Galliard 40. It's a Hard Way - Cathedral* 17 Suicide - Trapeze 41. Dance in the Smoke - Kansas Hook 42. Ballad of Marmalade Emma and Teddy Grimes - Hard Meat 43. Donna - Bachdenkel 44. When You're Dead - the Ghost 45. Time of the Season - Big Bertha 46. She Said Yes - Fable 47. Lamp Lighter Man - Sheridan ; Price 48. One Way Hotel - Slade 49. We're Gonna Change All This -Fred's Box* 50. Reminiscing - Luv Machine 51. People - Salamander 52. Brown Girl - Steve Gibbons 53. Ill Wind - Dave Morgan 54. Shadow Bright - Ptolomy Psycon 55. Omnibus - Mail 56. Disheartened and Disillusioned- Possessed 57. Talking Progressive Blues -Jimmy Powell 58. Eve - Jim Capaldi 59. Dear Elaine - Roy Wood 60. Ball Park Incident - Wizzard 61. Roll Over Beethoven (Album 62. Version) - the Electric Light Orchestra 63. Circus - Fairfield Ski 64. Just a Day - Ironbridge 65. The Beast (2021 Remix) - Bedlam 66. Rocka Rolla - Judas Priest 67. Bye Bye Birmingham - Blackfoot Sue