Issue 590 – December 2026
Some music scenes are over before you’ve had a chance to blink – one thinks here of “romo”, the early 90s attempt to revive 80s new romantic pop including such “stars” as Orlando and Plastic Fantastic, or even punk which lasted no more than 18 months in its purest, original form – while others are rather more enduring.
In fact, one of the longest-lasting movements didn’t even have a name, not a snappy, memorable one, anyway; still doesn’t. Yet it endured for most of the 1970s and was still going in some way, shape or form in the 80s: the 50s revival whose genesis can be traced back to the late 60s and metamorphosised a good decade later into neo-rockabilly and then to “psychobilly”.
In this month’s Record Collector Simon Goddard remembers the days of Sha Na Na and Showaddywaddy, Mud and Wizzard, American Graffiti and That’ll Be The Day, when 50s rock’n’roll infected music, TV, cinema, and fashion.
Elsewhere, we meet Teenage Fanclub to discuss their 13 albums of Glaswegian guitar-pop classicism; Bernie Taupin, famously Elton John’s other musical half, talks collaborations and his nautical-themed new album; Faust relate how they defied all logic (and intra-band tensions) to create four solo records for release on the same day; 80s glam-goth outfit Gene Loves Jezebel ponder the problems of sustaining success in a band of brothers; and Leo Sayer recalls the days when he was one of the biggest pop stars in Britain (and, indeed, America).
We also speak to Kenney Jones of the (Small) Faces, as well as Bryan Ferry about the revamped version of Roxy Music’s For Your Pleasure and review new archival releases from 10cc and Tom Petty and actual new long-players from Fontaines DC and Diiv.
It’s an even-busier-than-usual issue. News features a new Pearl Jam photo book and a new Eno/eco project. RC Investigates looks at record sleeves. The Collector is Island aficionado Neil Storey. In Value Added Facts we answer readers’ letters on Byzantium and Lyn Christopher. Diggin For Gold tells the story of British sax-led sextet, Sounds Incorporated. In Most Wanted Whitney Houston’s stage jacket and a Tony Bennett painting are among the items at auction.
In Not Forgotten we pay tribute to Conrad “Cronos” Lant, Jackie Jackson and others. Our columnist Catherine Anne Davies ruminates on the relative costs of touring small and middle-size venues. James Acaster, Joe Satriani and Emma Anderson are among those quizzed in Talking Heads. There are books on Bowie, ABBA, Jeff Beck, The Beatles and The Shadows reviewed. Tony Iommi leads the singles reviews. Our intrepid reporters review concerts by Bon Jovi, Sigur Ros, White Denim, Richard Thompson, The Waterboys, Judas Priest and Graham Parker.
Things are still lively at the back of the mag. Stockists includes Shop Of The Month. There are our regular Gig Guide and Classified Listings. In Competitions & Crossword you can win Fall and Northern soul vinyl. We go in The Engine Room with drummer Mark Sanders and Under The Radar with ex-Adorable frontman Pete Fij. We remember 80s hitmakers Wang Chung in Heard Ya Missed Us. Ex-XTC man Colin Moulding picks his life-changing records. The Creeping Bent label is the focus of 10 Of The Best.
Meanwhile, with only this issue between us and the glorious, 164-page Christmas issue – which will include a Beatles discog mini-guide as well as a re-assessment of the classic 1966 albums by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding et al, not to mention interviews with and articles on everyone from Martha Reeves to The Mission, The Beach Boys to The Slits – you might want to think about subscribing to Record Collector: see http://shop.recordcollectormag.com/dec590
Paul Lester
