News

Album Premiere: “Metal” Mike Chlasciak — 'The Metalworker'

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:41:58 +0000

Halford guitarist and Guitar World columnist “Metal” Mike Chlasciak is streaming his new album, The Metalworker, for free, and you can hear it below.

The album will be released June 4 through C.M.M. Entertainment, LLC. Fans can buy an exclusive pre-sale package including a signed CD and postcard, plus a guitar pick, at metalmike.net.

“I am excited to finally release The Metalworker," said Chlasciak, who also has worked with Testament and Sebastian Bach. "I am very proud of it. I must confess it is everything I wanted it to be not only as a musician, but also as a fan of heavy metal. It was an ambitious undertaking because I wanted to make the absolute best album that I could make with no compromises or filler.

"I also did it old-school, meaning nothing is pro-tooled to death or auto tuned, no direct guitar sounds, no re-amps or studio ninjas making a song out of a 20 second guitar riff. What you hear is Marshalls cranking and me striving to make the best release that I can.

"Ultimately, I believe I was able to paint a great picture of who I am as a metal player and songwriter in a context of what I hope others will find to be a great, beginning to end, very likeable and great sounding record”, commented Mike.

The Metalworker features a guest appearance by former Outworld vocal siren Carlos Zema, plus a superb rhythm section — Kevin Talley (Daath, Hate Eternal, Six Feet Under) on drums and Mike LePond (Symphony X) on bass.

For more about Chlasciak, check out his columns on GuitarWorld.com and visit metalmike.net.

Former Nine Inch Nails Guitarist Robin Finck Rejoins Band

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:48:28 +0000

Trent Reznor has announced that former Inch Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck is back in the band.

"I am proud to announce that the tour lineup now includes the incredible Robin Finck," wrote Reznor on the band's Facebook page. "The addition of Robin to the mix of players I’ve assembled makes this band incredibly powerful and versatile. We are deep in the rehearsal process and it feels exciting and great to be back at this. Lots of information, surprises and sweat headed your way. Stay tuned!"

Last week, Nine Inch Nails bassist Eric Avery announced said he was leaving the band because he was feeling a bit "overwhelmed" after a recent tour with Garbage.

"It's with very mixed emotions I tell you all that I'm pulling out of NIN," wrote Avery, a founding member of Jane's Addiction. "I know. It's been a tough call and I don't know if it's the right one. But I really want to focus on my musical life here in LA, on film work in particular. As the tour dates kept growing … I just got overwhelmed."

Finck can be heard on several Nine Inch Nails albums, including Closer to God (1994), Further Down the Spiral (1995), And All That Could Have Been (2002), The Downward Spiral (2004) and The Slip (2008).

Nine Inch Nails are scheduled to play Lollapalooza in Chicago and Jay-Z's Made In America Festival in Philadelphia this summer, with more tour dates to be announced soon.

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Behind-the-Scenes Video: Creating the Cover Art for Black Sabbath's New Album, '13'

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:23:47 +0000

Black Sabbath have revealed another behind-the-scenes video related to their upcoming album, 13. This time, the band shows fans how the distinctive album cover art was shot.

Check out the video below, and be sure to tell us what you think in the comments.

13 will be released June 11. For more about the album, check out the next issue of Guitar World!

Black Sabbath will kick off a North American tour July 25 in Houston, Texas.

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Queens of the Stone Age Premiere Music Video for "My God Is the Sun"

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:11:57 +0000

Queens of the Stone Age have released another new music video for a track off their upcoming album, ... Like Clockwork.

This time, it's for a song called "My God Is the Sun," which starts off like a kick-ass modern surf-rock song (in case any surf bands out there are looking for new ideas). The video, which you can watch below, continues the storyline from the band's four previously released videos for "I Appear Missing," "Kalopsia," "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" and "If I Had a Tail."

If all the recent QOTSA videos and song premieres aren't quite enough for you, head over to the band's new website, Likeclockwork.tv, which offers fans creepy phone calls as part of the promotion for the new album.

Stay tuned for more new-album previews from Queens of the Stone Age. Apparently, they can — and do — strike at any moment!

Rare Beatles Vox Guitar Sells for $408,000

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:03:38 +0000

A rare Vox guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $408,000 Saturday, May 18, in New York City.

The guitar, which was auctioned by Julien's Auctions at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, brought in considerably more than its pre-sale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

The striking custom guitar has a special place in Beatles history. It was built by Mike Bennett with electronics by Dickey Denney of Vox in 1966 and presented to the group the following year while they were at work on Magical Mystery Tour. Harrison played the guitar while practicing “I Am the Walrus” during the Magical Mystery Tour sessions, and Lennon used it while recording a video session for the song “Hello, Goodbye” from the same period.

Lennon later gifted the guitar to Beatles pal “Magic Alex” Mardas, whom the Beatles had hired to design their Apple Studio in Savile Row. A plaque on the back of the guitar reads “To Magic Alex / Alexi thank you for been [sic] a friend / 2-5-1967 John.” Mardas says the date is a reference to his 25th birthday, which preceded the date on which he received the guitar.

The guitar is notable for its unique scroll design. It features a mahogany hollow body with a single f-hole, a 24-fret rosewood fretboard with rectangular inlays, and electronics that include six pushbuttons for treble, bass, top boost, mid-boost, fuzz and repeat. The headstock is labeled "Vox Custom.” Though the guitar was not originally designed as part of the Vox Kensington line, it has since become known as such.

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Photo Gallery: Top 10 Weirdest Custom Guitars

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:50:26 +0000

Most guitarists at one point or another in their development have gone through some sort of “I want a custom guitar” phase.

Whether it’s a funky paint job or a radical new shape, a custom ax presents the opportunity to express yourself. Or, in the opinion of some, the opportunity to say, “Hey, look at me, I’m a horse’s arse!”

Here, we celebrate 10 such opportunities. We’ll let you categorize them as you see fit.

10. Les Paul’s “The Log”

Les Paul’s original “Log” was a 4x4 block of wood with strings, and it went over with the audience, well, like a log. So he added traditional sides to it, and electric guitar was transformed forever.

09. Prince’s “Love” guitar

The “Instrument Formerly Known as Guitar.”

08. Uli Jon Roth’s “Sky Guitar”

Sure, it’s shape, paint job, and six-octave range combine to scream “pretentious,” but Uli makes it sound simply jim-dandy.

07. ZZ Top’s Spinning Fur Guitars

Little did you know that the “F” in Billy F. Gibbons stands for “Furry.”

06. Bo Diddley's square-body

When you consider that Bo Diddley was instrumental in defining the sound of rock ’n’ roll, it makes his choice of axe a little less, um, “square.”

05. Steve Vai's heart-shaped three-neck

Who says shredders don’t play with heart?

04. Linda Manzer Pikasso guitar

You think playing it would be the biggest challenge, right? Yeah, try tuning it!

03. Michael Batio's quad-neck

You ask, “Why?” We say, “Because he can.”

02. Rick Nielsen's “Uncle Dick”

Nielsen’s five-neck Hamer may be ridiculous, but this is just plain “Dick-ulous.”

01. Charlie Deal’s Toilet Seat guitar

Excuse me. I suddenly feel the need to read a newspaper.

La Grunge: The Top 10 Blues-Approved Overdrive/Distortion Pedals

Chris Gill — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:33:04 +0000

The origin of guitar distortion goes back to the earliest electrified blues guitarists.

They didn’t care that their primitive tube amps were breaking up and distorting, as long as they were loud. Soon, blues guitarists grew quite fond of those nasty, gnarly distorted tones, and they sought to replicate them by any means necessary.

Enter the overdrive pedal. Designed to push an amp to the brink, the overdrive pedal allows players to summon singing sustain, compelling crunch, and glorious grit at any volume level, giving guitarists the bite and balls they need for genuine blues-approved tone. While a handful of purists prefer to plug a guitar straight into an amp, most blues guitarists these days have a handful of overdrive, distortion and even fuzz boxes in their rigs.

Thanks to the proliferation of boutique pedal builders over the past 20 years, there are easily more than a thousand distortion devices available to help guitarists find their signature blues sound. The following pedals are the top 10 classics and modern marvels that get our mojo working when we spank that plank and crank up the volume.

10. Way Huge Pork Loin

By blending modern soft-clipping BiFET overdrive and classic clean “British” preamp tone pathways, the Pork Loin allows players to dial in raw, raunchy tones that never lose bottom-end clarity or definition. The Pork Loin plays a massive role in Joe Bonamassa’s bigger-than-life modern blues sound.

9. Klon Centaur

The Klon Centaur’s legendary clean boost transforms a guitar’s natural tone the same way a livestock farmer turns a piglet into a prize-winning porker—by making it bigger, fatter, juicier, meatier and more muscular. Centaur designer Bill Finnegan discontinued production several years ago, driving prices for used Klons well above $1,000, but he’s trying to bring a similar pedal to the market again with the same hand-selected parts, attention to detail and signature sound that the numerous “klones” have failed to match.

8. PaulC Audio Tim

Thanks to its impressive tonal range and expressive touch sensitivity, the Tim is a favorite of tube amp aficionados who don’t want to sacrifice the dynamic response of their favorite amps but need more gain and tonal-shaping capabilities. With the EQ controls set at 12 o’clock, it provides some of the most transparent clean boost and overdrive tones available.

7. Fulltone Full-Drive 2

Fulltone makes an impressive variety of incredible overdrive, distortion and fuzz pedals, including the OCD, PlimSoul and Fat-Boost FB-3, but when it comes to the blues, most guitarists choose the Fulltone Full-Drive 2. With separate overdrive and boost footswitches and mini toggle switches for selecting clean boost, midrange emphasis, MOSFET clipping and more, the Full-Drive 2 is a versatile overdrive pedal that makes it easy to dial in your own signature blues tones.

6. Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer

Thanks to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s use of an Ibanez Tube Screamer (he replaced the TS-808 with a TS-9 and TS-10 later in his career), this pedal has gone on to become the best-selling and most copied overdrive pedal of all time. The Tube Screamer’s output boost and signature midrange hump, along with a characteristic warmth that the TS-808’s successors lack, make it ideal for playing fat, aggressive solos that destroy everything else in its path.

5. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff π

Most staunch traditionalists think that the raunchy fuzz tones of a Big Muff π are a little too furry and furious for the blues, but that hasn’t stopped a new generation of blues-inspired players from using one. The Big Muff is a key element of 21st century blues as envisioned by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and Jack White of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather.

4. Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster

Eric Clapton’s alleged use of a Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster on John Mayall’s legendary Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton album remains the source of much controversy, but the Rangemaster was also a key element of Rory Gallagher’s late-Sixties rig that similarly redefined blues guitar tone during the British blues revival, thanks to its marvelous midrange and gritty germanium transistor grind. Numerous clones are available today, including the Analog Man Beano Boost and Keeley Java Boost.

3. Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

Not since the late Seventies, when the Ibanez Tube Screamer and Boss OD-1 made their debut, has a mass-produced overdrive pedal won over the great unwashed and cork-sniffing tone snobs alike. The BD-2 delivers a wide variety of overdrive tones, from creamy to crunchy, with personality that ranges from retro smooth to modern blues-rock raunch.

2. Blackstone Appliances MOSFET Overdrive

This pedal’s nameplate and crinkle finish may have the retro-cool vibe of a Thirties toaster, but underneath the hood lies a modern circuit that uses small-signal MOSFETs and an unconventional input stage to cook up distortion and overdrive with rich harmonic overtones that will melt your face off like a million-watt microwave. “It’s heavy stuff, not the sound of a popcorn machine,” says Billy Gibbons, who used the Blackstone in tasteful excess on several new ZZ Top tunes.

1. Analog Man King of Tone

With a two-year waiting list, the Analog Man King of Tone is one of the most sought-after overdrive pedals, and for a very good reason: it provides a clean boost that preserves a guitar’s tone, making it sound bigger, badder and more bodacious, with just the right amount of natural-sounding distortion. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Gary Clark Jr. and Buddy Miller are just a handful of the pros who have discovered that the King of Tone truly rules.

Exclusive Song Premiere: Golden Youth — "On Wings"

Damian Fanelli — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:17 +0000

Today, GuitarWorld.com presents the exclusive premiere of "On Wings," a new song by Golden Youth. The track is from the band's upcoming album, Quiet Frame; Wild Light, which will be released May 28 via Slospeak Records.

Golden Youth is the product of two singer/songwriters — Stephanie Lauren (vocals, keys) and Kyle Monroe (guitar) — from separate bands, who got together to see what would happen if their creativity collided. “Golden Youth is based on a friendship,” Monroe says. “It just so happens that we all really enjoy playing music together.”

“This record is so special to me because it seemed to come out of nowhere," Lauren says. "I could feel my life growing in a new direction and this album will always be a beautiful reminder of that time. Music has been a safety net for me when it comes to dealing with things I don't understand. When I get lost in life, I try to just write my way out! I hope listeners can relate to the hints of new life and adventure in these songs! I just want to encourage them with; what is ahead of you is always better than what you're leaving behind!”

For more information about Golden Youth, visit golden-youth.com or the band's Facebook page.

Track Listing:

01. Life Through A Keyhole
02. We Are Alive
03. Brother In The Morning Light
04. You
05. Seven Seas
06. I Was A Lark
07. On Wings

June 2013 Guitar World: Megadeth Talk 'Super Collider,' Dave Grohl, Tool's Adam Jones, Epiphone's '60s Axes and More

Guitar World Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:00 +0000

The all-new June 2013 issue of Guitar World magazine is available now! This month's cover stars are none of than Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick of Megadeth!

As Megadeth hit the big 3-0, Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick sit down to reminisce about the group's rebellious history and discuss the making of Super Collider, the band's high-energy new album. lso, Dean Guitars' Dave Mustaine Signature Series features some of the most visually striking guitars on the market. Here, Mustaine gives his views on three of the new-for-2013 models.

A host of other music giants trace the history of metal in the new book Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl teams up with Paul McCartney, Trent Reznor and other greats for Sound City: Real to Reel, a multimedia celebration of rock music's former glory.

Guitar World pays tribute to epic guitarmaker Epiphone with a look at the coolest and craziest axes from its extraordinary 140-year history.

Jerry Cantrell tells how Alice in Chains buried their past with The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, a monster of an album unlike anything they've made before. Cantrell also shares the tales behind some of the most treasured pieces in his arsenal.

Adam Jones of Tool talks about the limited-edition reissue of the group's 1992 debut EP, Opiate, with new artwork and collectibles.

Four Songs with Tabs for Guitar and Bass!

• Foo Fighters - "Rope"
• Extreme - "Get the Funk Out"
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Down on the Corner"
• Megadeth - "Sweating Bullets

The June 2013 issue of Guitar World is available now at newsstands and at the Guitar World Online Store!

Additional Content

Deep Purple Premiere Music Video for "Vincent Price"

Damian Fanelli — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:47:23 +0000

At 1 p.m. EST today (May 17), Deep Purple premiered the music video for "Vincent Price," a track off their new album, Now What?!, which was released April 30 in North America via Ear Music. The "Vincent Price" clip, which you can watch below, is the band's first music video in more than 20 years.

The song will be released on June 7 as a download, CD single and 7-inch transparent vinyl. Here's what you'll get with each configuration:

7-inch single: "Vincent Price" / "First Sign Of Madness" (2013 non-album track)

CD single/digital download: "Vincent Price" / "First Sign Of Madness" (2013 non-album track) / "The Well Dressed Guitar" (from Rapture Of The Deep limited-edition CD) / "Wrong Man" (Live) (from Rapture Of The Deep limited-edition CD) / The "Vincent Price" video.

Steve Morse's guitar solo on "Vincent Price" begins at around the 2:50 mark. The band is rounded out by Roger Glover on bass, Ian Paice on drums, Ian Gillan on vocals and Don Airey on keyboards.

Ah, yes. Vincent Price!

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Jeff Beck Featured on New LeAnn Rimes Album, 'Spitfire'

Damian Fanelli — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:36:46 +0000

Not that anyone can blame him, but Jeff Beck really seems to enjoy recording and performing with female musicians.

It was recently announced that Beck, 68, will be featured on a track on LeAnn Rimes' upcoming album, Spitfire, which will be released June 4.

The song, a cover of Buddy and Julie Miller's "Gasoline and Matches," also will feature Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas on vocals. Other guests on the album include Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski.

Since I'm a Beck completist — someone who buys every available recording featuring Beck's guitar work (It's a disease) — I guess I'll be downloading a LeAnn Rimes song on June 4, something I honestly didn't see coming.

However, this collaboration shouldn't come as a complete surprise. In recent years, Beck has appeared on albums by Cyndi Lauper, Joss Stone and Beth Hart, to name just a few. And, of course, he's recorded and/or performed with Imelda May, Rhonda Smith, Olivia Safe, Tal Wilkenfeld, Jennifer Batten, etc.

Here are a few examples of Beck's recent work with the ladies:

... with Tal Wilkenfeld ...

... with Joss Stone ...

... with Rhonda Smith ...

... with Jennifer Batten ...

... with Beth Hart ...

... with Imelda May ...

... with Joss Stone again ...

... with Imelda May again ...

... with Cyndi Lauper ...

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Watch Video Highlights from 2013 Golden Gods Awards: Metallica, Anthrax, Danzig, Dillinger Escape Plan and More

Guitar World Staff — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:40:46 +0000

The biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal rocked Los Angeles on Thursday, May 2, at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show.

As always, the event featured the once-in-a-lifetime collaborations that America’s only hard-rock and heavy-metal show has become known for.

The event featured appearances by Gene Simmons, Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Jason Newsted, Zakk Wylde, Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D, Kerry King of Slayer, Munky and Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, David Ellefson and Chris Broderick of Megadeth, Heaven’s Basement, Testament, In This Moment, John 5, Queensrÿche, Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Rudy Sarzo, Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction, Orianthi, Butcher Babies and many more. Also in attendance were UFC legend Chuck Liddell and actor Danny Masterson.

And, of course, there were lots of great performances by Metallica, Anthrax, the Dillinger Escape Plan, Danzig, Halestorm, Five Finger Death Punch and Stone Sour. Check out performance highlights from the event RIGHT HERE.

Videos include:

• Metallica - Disposable Heroes"
• Metallica - "Seek & Destroy"
• Metallica - "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
• Metallica with Rob Halford - "Rapid Fire"
• Anthrax - "This Love and Raining Blood Intro"
• Danzig - "Death Comes Ripping"
• Best Guitarist Award, Presented by Epiphone
• Stone Sour - "Children of the Grave"
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Prancer"
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - "When I Lost My Bet"

Head here for more Golden Gods highlight videos.

Additional Content

Video: Sample Guitar World's New 'Mastering Scales' DVD

Guitar World Staff — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:29 +0000

Guitar World has released a new DVD we think you'll enjoy: Mastering Scales.

The DVD, which is available now at the Guitar World Online Store, is a deluxe crash course in guitar theory, with more than 80 minutes of instructional video to help you reach the next level.

The DVD features everything you need to know about the pentatonic, hexatonic and blues scales, plus exotic scales, monster shred patterns, moving through the cycle of fifths.

Your Instructor on the DVD is Jimmy Brown, author of Guitar World's best-selling DVD, Mastering Fretboard Harmony. Over the last 24 years, Jimmy has built a reputation as one of the world's finest music editors through his work as transcriber, arranger and senior music editor for GW. He's also a busy working musician, performing regularly as a solo acoustic guitar/vocal act and rocking out with a full band at taverns, restaurants, resorts, weddings and private parties.

Here's the complete list of chapters:

• Chapter 1 – C Major, A minor, G major, E minor pentatonic scales.
• Chapter 2 – Two-notes-per-string pentatonic box patterns.
• Chapter 3 – Moving through the cycle of fourths and fifths.
• Chapter 4 – “2+3” and “3+2” fretboard patterns.
• Chapter 5 - Two-note-per-string and three-note-per-string pentatonic box patterns.
• Chapter 6 – Pentatonic “modules.”
• Chapter 7 – A minor, C major, E minor, G major blues scales.
• Chapter 8 – More blues scale exercises, the “monster shred” pattern, E minor hexatonic scale.
• Chapter 9 – E minor, D major, C Lydian, A minor, and G major hexatonic scales.
• Chapter 10 – Alternating between hexatonic scales.
• Chapter 11 – Obscure but cool-sounding hexatonic scales.
• Chapter 12 – Comparing back to back hexatonic scales, and the “Iberian” hexatonic scale.

The Mastering Scales DVD is available now at the Guitar World Online Store for $14.99. NOTE: This product includes a PDF booklet on the DVD and can be retrieved by opening the DVD on your computer.

Queens of the Stone Age Premiere Music Video for "If I Had a Tail"

Guitar World Staff — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:44:16 +0000

Queens of the Stone Age have released another new music video for a track off their upcoming album, ... Like Clockwork.

This time, it's for a song called "If I Had a Tail," a live version of which the band began streaming for free last week.

The new animated video, which you can watch below, follows the storyline that began in the (also animated) video for "I Appear Missing," which the band released on May 6 (and which you can watch here).

If all these new QOTSA videos and song premieres aren't quite enough for you, head over to the band's new website, Likeclockwork.tv, which offers fans creepy phone calls as part of the promotion for the new album.

Stay tuned for more new-album previews from Queens of the Stone Age. Apparently, they can strike at any moment!

Listen: Blackmore's Night Premiere New Song, "The Moon Is Shining (Somewhere Over the Sea)"

Damian Fanelli — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:43:29 +0000

Today, GuitarWorld.com presents the premiere of "The Moon Is Shining (Somewhere Over the Sea)," a new track by Ritchie Blackmore's band, Blackmore's Night.

The song is from the band's new album, Dancer and the Moon, which will be released June 11 by Frontiers Records.

Good news for Blackmore fans: Dancer and the Moon, the band's eighth studio album, features several instrumentals, including "Galliard" and "Carry On… Jon," which Blackmore wrote as a tribute to the late Jon Lord of Deep Purple.

Dancer and the Moon will be released June 11 in North America and June 14 in Europe in regular CD configuration and deluxe edition in digipak, including a bonus DVD featuring a 40-minute "making of" documentary and acoustic versions of "The Spinner's Tale," "Somewhere Over The Sea/Moon Was Shining," "The Ashgrove" and "Queen For A Day".

For more information about Blackmore's Night and Dancer and the Moon, visit blackmoresnight.com.

Dancer and the Moon Track Listing:

01. I Think It's Going To Rain Today
02. Troika
03. The Last Leaf
04. Lady In Black
05. Minstrels In The Hall
06. The Temple Of The King
07. Dancer And The Moon
08. Galliard
09. The Ashgrove
10. Somewhere Over The Sea (The Moon Is Shining)
11. The Moon Is Shining (Somewhere Over The Sea)
12. The Spinner's Tale
13. Carry On... Jon