INTO THE MILLENNIUM & BEYOND
In 2000, encouraged and invited by Ron Sanchez, Malcolm played on the Donovan’s Brain album ‘Tiny Crustacean Light Show’ together with Richard Treece and Ken Whaley.
In 2001, Malcolm released ‘Aliens’ – a solo album of new compositions recorded at his home studio in London. Newly energised, he set about searching for tapes of his unreleased 1976 album, which were thankfully discovered and issued in 2002 on Hux Records as the appropriately titled ‘Lost and Found’.
This musical activity revived interest in Help Yourself, and the final sessions the band made in the 1970s were augmented by new playing by Malcolm, Richard Treece and Ken Whaley – with Kevin Spacey on drums. Dave Charles, sadly, had other commitments and could contribute. The resulting alum was entitled ‘5’.
Help Yourself fans were further rewarded in 2010 when ‘The Amazing ZigZag Concert’ was released as a 5-CD set. The Helps set at the gig – on 28 April 1974, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of ZigZig magazine – had long taken on legendary status, which this fine boxed set only serves to maintain. This remains the only official Help Yourself live recording. For further information click here.
Another treat was to come in 2014, when Esoteric compiled a ‘best of’ Help Yourself entitled ‘Reaffirmation’. This 2-CD set featured the rare Christmas single and the Helps set from Christmas at the Patti. It can be purchased directly from the Esoteric / Cherry red website here.
Later in the year, Malcolm’s fans were pleased to hear of a new solo release, Raw, which has been exclusively pressed on vinyl by Shagrat Records. There will be no CD, although those those who purchase the 10 inch vinyl will get a download code of digital files.