| | Ian Gillan Scarabus CD Ian Gillan Discography of CDs
All tracks have been digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.
Ian Gillan never sounded entirely comfortable in the first incarnation of the Ian Gillan Band, quite likely because his colleagues were more interested in progressive rock than he was. Not that Gillan was adverse to prog -- after all this was the Ian Gillan Band, and if he didn't want to move in this direction, he wouldn't -- but he never sounded entirely comfortable with it. That much was certain from Clear Air Turbulence, a full-fledged exploration into jazz fusion and prog rock where the band sounded at ease and the singer sounded tentative, which was perhaps the reason IGB did a 180 for their third album, Scarabus. Released a mere six months after Clear Air Turbulence, Scarabus rocks considerably harder than its predecessor, but there are still flourishes of their more experimental inclinations, particularly how they easily fall into a funk fusion groove. Their presence only emphasizes how Gillan sounds best when he's simply rocking. And he does get the occasional chance to do that here, but too often the riffs are transparently complicated, not catchy, or the music breaks into contrived jazzy instrumentals. Compared to Clear Air Turbulence, Scarabus does sound like unadulterated hard rock, but it never rocks with abandon; it always sounds self-conscious. That self-consciousness is only enhanced by the lack of strong material -- "Mad Elaine" does come close to being memorable, but most of the songs sound like excuses to rock. Even if Scarabus is a failure, it is interesting for longtime Gillan fans, since it does offer proof that IGB were talented musicians who just couldn't quite deliver the hard rock their singer craved. Listening to Scarabus in retrospect, it's little wonder that he disbanded IGB after this album. [The initial Virgin CD reissue of Scarabus contained a live version of "My Baby Loves Me" as a bonus track; Eagle/Spitfire's 1999 reissue retained the bonus track.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Includes liner notes Michael Heatley.
Re-Issue Ian Gillan Scarabus Songs | 1. | Scarabus |
| 2. | Twin Exhausted |
| 3. | Poor Boy Hero |
| 4. | Mercury High |
| 5. | Pre-Release |
| 6. | Slags to Bitches |
| 7. | Apathy |
| 8. | Mad Elaine |
| 9. | Country Lights |
| 10. | Fool's Mate |
| 11. | My Baby Loves Me - (live) |
|
Scarabus Review
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Purchase Scarabus CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Ian Gillan Clear Air Turbulence CD (1977)
Scarabus album
 $10.05   
All tracks have been digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.
When Ian Gillan was recording his solo albums in the late 1970s and early '80s, Deep Purple's influence never went away. But Gillan did make an effort to try different things, and he was at his most experimental on Clear Air Turbulence. Enjoyable, if uneven, this album illustrates Gillan's willingness to take some chances. While the singer favors an aggressive hard rock groove on "Money Lender," the jazz fusion-influenced touches of "Over the Hill," "Goodhand Liza" and the title song could lead you to believe that you'd been listening to Weather Report and Return to Forever. Had Chick Corea formed an alliance with Deep Purple, perhaps it might sound something like "Over the Hill." Heavy metal and hard rock are in short ...
| | Firm Mean Business CD (1986)
Scarabus CD music
$8.39 
Instead of copying the finely crafted riffs of "Radioactive," The Firm's second and final album ...
| | Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow CD (1975) Remastered
Scarabus music CDs
$6.55  
After British maestro guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1974, he recruited Purple Records signees Elf as his backing band. And although Rainbow's 1975 debut was only a hint of future greatness, the album more than holds its own.
Elf was led by dramatic metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who seemed to connect with Blackmore in quite a chemical fashion. "Man on the Silver Mountain" is prime material, as is the six-minute blues-metal classic "Catch the Rainbow." Dio's shining vocals, shown to great effect here, have been emulated by hard rock vocalists throughout the years. "The Temple of the King" is another highlight, showcasing Blackmore's emotional guitar licks. "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is the group's ode to medieval times. "Still I'm Sad" is an instrumental jam that closes the album. Blackmore's fretwork, while speedy, comes from the heart. Although Rainbow's incarnations would change through the years, the drive and energy of the original lineup holds a special place in hard rock history. A worthy purchase for the connoisseurs of the genre.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Shoshana, ...
| | Rainbow Rising CD (1976) Remastered
Scarabus songs
$7.29
As the drums kick into the fierce opener "Tarot Woman," it's obvious that RISING delivers directly to your door. It is the band's second release, and a vast improvement over RICHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW. With a revamped lineup that sounds like it had been touring together for years, the album takes no prisoners. "Starstruck" is a classic groove reminiscent of guitarist Blackmore's ex-band Deep Purple. Blackmore replaced everyone from the first album's lineup except vocalist Ronnie Dio with Jimmy Bain (bass), Tony Carey (keyboards), and Cozy Powell (drums). Dio shows what he's got with a stellar performance on "Do You Close Your Eyes." "Stargazer" is the band's "Kashmir," an epic eight-minute track that could stand as its signature song. "A Light in the Black" features the skin bashing of the late, great Mr. Powell.
RISING is a must-have for any fan of Dio, Blackmore, or classic metal. Five musicians came together for a one-shot moment that won't be duplicated. The album is magic.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore ...
| | Deep Purple - Come Hell Or High Water DVD (2001)
Scarabus album
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A mixture of psychedelic rock, prog rock, and heavy metal, England's Deep Purple are generally known as one of the loudest bands to top the charts. The highly influential band are captured performing on this intense two hour concert film, which serves as evidence for Deep Purple's reputation as an amazing live act. Of the 15 tracks performed, hits like "Anya," "Woman From Tokyo," ...
| | Deep Purple Who Do We Think We Are? CD (1973) Bonus Tracks; Remastered
Scarabus CD music
$9.65
After establishing itself as a hard-rock giant, thanks to endless touring and the release of such milestone records as MACHINE HEAD and IN ROCK, Deep Purple was in a state of turmoil when it went into the studio to record 1972's WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE? Despite all the infighting, the band pulled together long enough to record seven tracks that only bolstered the band's reputation.
The best-known song, "Woman From Tokyo," boasted a riff as memorable as the one that defined "Smoke on the Water" and was later admitted by Ritchie Blackmore to have been cribbed from Eric Clapton's "Cat Squirrel." Although Blackmore's always-impressive riffing stands out on such songs as "Mary Long" and "Place in Line," this album also spotlights how far Jon Lord's contributions on organ went toward defining the band's sound. Lord's mastery was such that in addition to the impressive solos on "Place in Line," his sweeping runs are the highlight of the stop-and-go "Rat Bat Blue." On this roller coaster ride of an album, the members of Deep Purple come together best on "Our Lady," a five-minute-plus epic driven by Lord's churning organ and Ian Gillan's Wagnerian vocals.
Deep Purple had kicked off the '70s with a new lineup and a string of brilliant albums that quickly established them (along with fellow British giants Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath) as a major force in the popularization of hard rock and heavy metal. All the while, their reputation as one of the decade's fiercest live units complemented this body of work and earned them almost instant legendary status. But with 1973's disappointing Who Do We Think We Are -- the fourth and final studio outing by the original run of Purple's classic Mark II lineup -- all the fire and inspiration that had made the previous year's Machine Head their greatest ...
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Scarabus music CDs
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| | Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Swingin' Till The Girls Come Home CD (Import) Import; Denmark
Scarabus songs
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Tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis is in top form during this European quartet set (put out domestically at one time by Inner City) with pianist Thomas Clausen, bassist Bo Stief and ...
| | Deni Hines Definitive Collection CD (2004) (Import) Australia
Scarabus album
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"HINES, DENI", "THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION", "FESTIVAL RECORDS", "CD", "RHYHTM AND BLUES" This 2004 release features 16 tracks from the former lead singer of the Sydney-based rhythm and blues group the Rockmelons.
16 track collection for Aussie artist whose breakthrough ...
| | Madder Mortem Desiderata CD (2006)
Scarabus CD music
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| | Cruachan Morrigan's Tale CD (2006) (Import) United Kingdom
Scarabus music CDs
$28.89
Cruachan is the creation of ...
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