Live Aid: The Day Heard Around the World

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On July 13, 1985, the world witnessed the first global musical event of its kind. The planet’s biggest and brightest musical artists banded together in unison for a day of camaraderie and caring with the purpose of ending famine in Ethiopia, and what a day it was. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Live Aid.

The event was the brainchild of Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (Ultravox) who created a global jukebox of artists including: David Bowie, Alison Moyet, Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Sting, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams and many more.

Live Aid went down in history for many reasons, including the unfortunate Led Zeppelin reunion debacle, and Duran Duran’s final performance (until 2003) by the five original band members, which unfortunately included an unintentional off-key falsetto note by Simon Le Bon. The incident was notoriously referred to as “The bum note heard round the world.” Those fiascos aside, the day’s three most deliberated moments were performances by Madonna, Queen, and U2. [Read Full Feature]

Phil Collins: ‘Take a Look at Me Now’

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Whenever you think of Phil Collins today, it’s all too easy to write him off or simply box him into the overhyped persona that saturated MTV and Top 40 radio during the 1980s and beyond. In fact, it takes quite a bit of effort to recall his early days as a member of Genesis, when he was an avant-garde, prog-rocker and lauded musician. Collins’ avoidance of the spotlight came as an unexpected surprise when he reluctantly stepped up to the mic as Peter Gabriel’s stand-in. In addition to adapting to his new role as front man, Collins began a successful solo career and concurrently earned a reputation as a proficient record producer, crafting international hits as he helmed the board for Eric Clapton, Howard Jones, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

With an illustrious recording career that spans four decades and contains timeless classics including “You’ll Be in My Heart,” “Another Day in Paradise,” “One More Night” and “In the Air Tonight,” now is the perfect time to revisit and rediscover the true genius of Phil Collins. Rhino has recently completed an extensive reissue campaign, which includes Collins’ solo studio albums in deluxe 2-disc remastered editions. The 16-disc box set Take a Look at Me Now contains Collins’ eight original albums, all of which have been impeccably remastered by Grammy-nominated sound engineer and producer Nick Davis. Each title (also available individually) includes newly updated cover art and a bonus disc of demos, B-sides, and live recordings. The original remastered albums have also been released on 180-gram vinyl for the very first time.

Collins personally curated the supplemental material contained in this collection himself, with an emphasis on live recordings he feels shows the evolution of many of his favorite compositions. He has also hinted at the possibility of releasing new material in the future, as well as recently performing his first concert in five years. At last, Collins’ solo catalog, with sales of over 100 million records worldwide, has received the much needed sonic upgrade it so richly deserves.