Here we have the new, double compilation album from late singer JOHN LAWTON (Uriah Heep, Lucifer’s Friend) entitled “Celebrating The Life Of John Lawton“. The collection works as a 2-CD Anthology featuring 33 songs, reflecting John’s career from the early 1970s through to 2015, including many rarities only recently discovered.
The set also includes a previously unreleased Uriah Heep live guest recording with the current line-up, and rare outtakes to add a fun element.
John, who passed away June 29, 2021, had been recording for over 50 years, and was best known as the lead singer for German progressive hard rock band Lucifer’s Friend, as well the singer for Uriah Heep in the latter half of the ’70s. He also recorded & toured with The Les Humphries Singers in the ’70s, and later recorded with such bands and projects as Rebel, Zar, Gunhill (a band he formed in the ’90s), The Lawton-Dunning Project, (his own) John Lawton Band, OTR, and The Intelligent Music Project, plus a few solo albums, and various guest appearances (notably with Uriah Heep years after he left). John’s last album was 2019’s Black Moon with Lucifer’s Friend.
”Celebrating The Life Of John Lawton” appears to be a well thought out set, as opposed to something predictable. It is actually more about some of the rare recordings he did, singles, guest appearances, and one-off projects and albums he was a part of, including previously unreleased material. I don’t see any Lucifer’s Friend songs, or too many Uriah Heep titles, but this does touch on most of the bands and projects mentioned above.
So, this will be an essential purchase for fans of John’s career. The man put out so much great music, that this will be an excellent celebration of his work.
There are 33 songs on the two CDs which Jon’s wife Iris Lawton personally selected. And don’t expect the typical ‘Best Of’. Far from that. There are songs which we never heard, some of them Iris found on old tapes. All the music was beautifully remastered and sounds really good indeed.
Especially the tracks on CD1 are a must for ’70s / ’80s classic rock fans. On CD we find 2002 – 2014 tracks, with a more modern sound & style.
The songs show John’s versatility, feeling and huge talent. His name really should be mentioned with the best of the best.
Highly Recommended
Track Listing
DISC ONE
1 Corner Street Girl
2 Little Chalk Blue
3 Out Here
4 Is There Anybody There?
5 Eloise
6 Me And My Harley
7 Stargazer
8 Broadway Nights
9 Heart Of The Night
10 Dirty Tricks
11 Colgate Gel
12 Set The World On Fire
13 Back To The Highlands
14 Someone Sings
15 Come Together
16 Wise Man
17 I Am Alive
DISC TWO
1 Feelings
2 Tonight
3 It’s A Long Way To Go
4 Mama Loo Impromptu Jam
5 I’ll Be Here
6 Written On The Wall
7 Been Away Too Long
8 Mamonama
9 Shine
10 Ride On
11 Salvation
12 River of Dreams
13 Fairytale
14 Rain
15 Rock ‘n’ Roll Is My Thing
16 Things We Can’t Do
John Lawton – Celebrating The Life Of John Lawton 2023 Cherry Red Records 2 CD, MP3+FLAC
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