![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/morse10.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/gillan2.jpg)
All the best
Our contributor Gert Bak Pedersen has published a book about his collection of signed records with foreword by Ian Gillan.
From the author:
For many years I have tried to get my most important album covers signed by the musicians. Among them are numerous Deep Purple albums. The collection has now turned into a book called ‘All the best’ and Ian has been so kind to write the foreword. The book includes photos of lots of signed Purple-records and some handwritten lyrics. Even though the book is in Danish the foreword by Ian and the afterword by Steve Hackett (Genesis) are in English.
The book contains reproductions of lyrics for Smoke On The Water and Child In Time, handwritten by Ian.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
And the last word goes to Steve Hackett !!
November 15th, 2023 at 09:47Very cool if only i could understand the German language¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 15th, 2023 at 15:20@timmi bottoms – I’m a native German speaking, but it doesn’t help much in a Danish book. :-b
November 15th, 2023 at 20:28Yo,
It “is” an interesting story really, to have your LP collection mostly signed by the artists that made them, so I suggest bits & pieces of the conversation & event location etc etc at the time are printed-up.
“Lulu” is an independent book publisher, that has branches world-wide, That would likely have the ability to not only republish the book, but translate it too…
https://www.lulu.com/
Perhaps the author can check-these-people out, strike a deal, & have world-wide publishing available. They facilitate e-books & regular books, & print-up your personal order on demand, so there’s no printing outlay involved…
Peace !
November 15th, 2023 at 23:22Now that you mention, yes, I would love it if Steve Hackett & Ian Gillan collaborated.
November 16th, 2023 at 04:02Timmi, not quite German, but let‘s settle for “Germanic origin” before Gert starts throwing things at us!
Gert, how many signed records from the Purple Family do you have? I never got any farther than a copy of Rainbow Rising signed twice by Tony Carey – roughly 40 years apart.
November 16th, 2023 at 04:18Uwe, I don’t have the exact amount but all Mark2-albums are signed (unfortunately not by Ritchie). The front of ‘Made In Japan’ also has the complete ‘Child In Time’-lyrics. Small lyrics extracts from ‘Speed King’ and ‘Fireball’ on the front of ‘In Rock’- and ‘Fireball’. My book also includes the handwritten lyrics to ‘Smoke On The Water’ and 2nd Movement from ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ given to me by Ian Gillan. Plus lots more of Purple-stuff.
From the Purple-family Tony Ashton (‘First of the Big Bands’) is also included – as is Nazareth (‘Razamanaz’ produced by Roger Glover).
Gregster, thanks for the ideas about a world-wide publishing! We’ll see in the future.
If interested the book can be ordered from the publisher at https://www.forlaget-roed.dk/
All the best,
November 16th, 2023 at 13:31Gert
Interesting thought about Steve Hackett & Ian Gillan collaborating. Hackett is a poor songwriter to my ears & has somewhat of a reputation for that & he needs to work with someone who has a knack for strong song melodies etc. He is a fine guitarist who I like very much, however some people cannot give away his solo albums quick enough. I had four of them given to me decades ago & I already knew why this chap was getting rid of them. I did try to get into them but alas. Hence why these days Hackett is concentrating on Genesis ‘revisited’ concerts & has been for a long time now. One of his main gripes with that band back in the 1970’s was that he couldn’t get enough of his material on their albums. Their may have been other reasons for that also as he & Tony Banks did not get along apparently. He is a crafty instrumentalist & has delivered some memorable guitar solos in his time. Cheers.
November 16th, 2023 at 20:52Aber Herr MacGregor, since those days when someone dumped his Steve Hackett albums on your poor self, Steve‘s songwriting has improved in the leaps and bounds of a – now how shall I put this for a vivid picture? – red kangaroo 🦘 ! Do give him another chance, the guy is good. PROG with feeling.
https://youtu.be/-KLnVcWg3nw
November 17th, 2023 at 00:15“… all Mark2-albums are signed (unfortunately not by Ritchie) …”
It’s nothing personal, Gert, I bet he’s dyslexic! Lots of artists are.
November 17th, 2023 at 02:28@ 9 – I remember watching & listening to that song when it was released. I do think his instrumentation is wonderful, always have. I own his very first solo album Shadow of the Hierophant, he was still in Genesis then & Rutherford & Collins are on that & it is good, very Genesis like in many ways. I always have a listen to some of his newly released music online, he does release albums regularly, however I do think, what if he was writing & working with someone who really knew how to bring out those melodies better. Plus he isn’t a great vocalist, but they are solo albums so good luck to him. Those 4 albums gifted to me were 1980’s albums. I also own the Howe & Hackett GTR album 1985 & that is really good songwriting there with Howe. A good band also, Max Bacon lead vocals, Phil Spalding on bass guitar & Jonathan Mover on drums.. A pity about Geoff Downes 80’s production but good songs over ride that. One album I haven’t listened to is the Hackett & Chris Squire one, don’t know why I haven’t thought to look it up & listen. I will now do that. Hackett is a superb player & he has wonderful instrumentals & very good musicians backing him. I also own the Tokyo Tapes concert on DVD, mid 1990’s concert with two past Crimson & one touring Genesis member. John Wetton lead vocals & bass, Ian McDonald on flute & sax & Chester Thomson drums & Julian Colbeck on keys. That is a superb concert & he does a couple of solo songs on that along with all the progressive early 70’s classics. I do support him in places, just get a little frustrated at times with the feeling of what could be. Cheers.
November 17th, 2023 at 07:39Wot???!!! Not know Squackett? I thought you were an unabashed YES-boy and Chris Squire-floozy!
That album is a jewel. Both their songwriting skills and their voices matched extremely well. You must make amends, ginger!
https://youtu.be/ByZHl1NK_Jo
https://youtu.be/ai4KnHqpOcU
https://youtu.be/gg5bnzMJn6I
Truth be told, it was only that album which first acquainted me with Steve Hackett (other than his work with Genesis of course). And whenever I think of Chris Squire, I think of the phrase “He played with aplomb.” His bass style was nothing less than commanding. Live, he’d assume musical leadership within the YES sound with the first note he’d play. Needless to say, I loved that.
I agree, Steve’s voice is pleasant, but Jon Anderson (or even Chris Squire vocally) he ain’t.
November 17th, 2023 at 14:38Talking of books, any idea when Barry Plummers Deep Purpla live 1971-1974 book will be due out?
November 17th, 2023 at 21:31Or the looooooooong awaited Machine Head book?
That 1975 Steve Hackett album is titled Voyage of the Acolyte, memory eh? I mistakingly named the album after a song on it. Cheers.
November 17th, 2023 at 21:32Yes it is sad isn’t it, I cannot believe I have let that Squackett album slip through the cracks. I did try upon it’s release & couldn’t find it at that time & since then it has just slipped into another realm, until now. It does sound better vocally which isn’t a surprise & as you said Chris Squire has always had a good voice. I will need to give it a few listens to get into it. Thanks for the links. Cheers.
November 18th, 2023 at 04:35