Paul Lester

Paul Lester

Paul Lester is the editor of Record Collector. He began freelancing for Melody Maker in the late 80s, and was later made Features Editor. He was a member of the team that launched Uncut Magazine, where he became Deputy Editor. In 2006 he went freelance again and has written for The Guardian, The Times, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph, Classic Rock, Q and the Jewish Chronicle. He has also written books on Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Bjork, The Verve, Gang Of Four, Wire, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, the Spice Girls, and Pink.

Latest articles by Paul Lester

Lenny Henry
So What's Lenny Henry Got To Sing The Blues About?

By Paul Lester Published

Comedian, actor, political activist, knight of the realm… bluesman?! Sir Len has gone and made a politically-charged blues album. And the best thing? It sounds nothing like Hugh Laurie.

Interviews
The Replacements The Sire Years album cover
The Replacements: The Sire Years

By Paul Lester Published

The Mats’ 1985-90 output, in 180g vinyl form.

Albums
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Strawbs live in London

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Prog reviews Strawbs live in London.

Concerts & Shows
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Electric Light Orchestra: Where Are The Former Members Now?

By Paul Lester Published

Jeff Lynne is still steering the good ship ELO, with faithful lieutenant Richard Tandy.

Interviews
The Coral black and white arty band shot
The Outer Limits: How Prog Are The Coral?

By Paul Lester Published

The Coral are just a bunch of chart-bothering, jaunty-tuned Britpoppers, aren’t they? Yet the Liverpool band are committed to prog punk and inspired by classic Hawkwind.

Interviews
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‘Nice planet – we'll take it!’: how ELO took over the known universe

By Paul Lester Published

ELO’s ascent was unstoppable and incredible. Jeff Lynne recalls working with Roy Wood in The Move and hanging out with The Beatles

Interviews
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King Of The Universe: Jeff Lynne On ELO's Unlikely Comeback

By Paul Lester Published

Following a rapturously received comeback show and a smash hit new album, Jeff Lynne has returned ELO to the top of the prog pop pantheon. Music’s most modest frontman reveals all about this m

Interviews
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The Heavy: Hurt & The Merciless

By Paul Lester Published

Fourth album from sync-ers’ favourite funk-soul brothers.

Albums
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Cheap Trick: Bang Zoom Crazy... Hello

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Back with a bang: meta-metal legends’ first album since 2009’s The Latest.

Albums
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Love: Reel To Real

By Paul Lester Published

First appearance on CD of Arthur Lee’s seventh album.

Albums
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Theo Travis' Double Talk Live In London

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

The sax player and Fripp collaborator brings his live show to the capital.

Concerts & Shows
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Todd Rundgren & Utopia: Live At The Old Waldorf

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Fourth in the in-concert Todd Rundgren Archive Series.

Albums
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Davy O'List Live In London

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Davy O'List party like it's 1967!

Concerts & Shows
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Kula Shaker: K 2.0

By Paul Lester Published

Fifth album from often reviled sitar rockers.

Albums
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Deep Purple: The Vinyl Collection ’72-’87

By Paul Lester Published

Seven albums from Head to House.

Albums
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London Orion Orchestra: Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here Symphonic

By Paul Lester Published

The Floyd get the finished-symphony treatment.

Albums
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Phil Collins: Reissues

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

His second and sixth albums, in expanded form.

Albums
John Mitchell from Lonely Robot gurning on stage
Lonely Robot Live In London

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

The not so Lonely Robot brings a galaxy of friends to seasonal show

Concerts & Shows
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Immersion: Analogue Creatures

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Wire man meets Minimal Compact woman.

Albums
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Comedy Of Errors: Spirit

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Glaswegian prog meditation on hope and despair.

Albums
Hexvessel When We Are Death album artwork
Hexvessel: When We Are Death

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

Third album from Finnish cult rockers.

Albums
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Limelight: The Anchoress

By Paul Lester Published

This Kate Bush-influenced singer-songwriter pens self-proclaimed “revenge pop”…

Tracks & Singles
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Sky: Toccata: An Anthology

By Paul Lester Published

Classical rock in excelsis.

Albums
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TR+ Extended Version – Welcome Back: Anthrax

By Paul Lester Published

The thrash pioneers return with a new album, proving that being a married dad hasn’t curbed Scott Ian’s fury.

Albums
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Uriah Heep: Vinyl Reissues

By Paul Lester Published

Not yet rated

A whole heap of Heep: the first 16 albums, as God intended them. On plastic.

Albums
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