Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week’s CD releases The Cult,”Born Into This” (Cherry Red)- Cherry Red’s latest CD re-issue focusses attention on the eighth studio album from the reformed Cult,first released on Roadrunner Records and expanded here with the inclusion of a bonus disc featuring an assortment of demos and hitherto unreleased tracks from the band. This muscular exercise in back to basics hard rock represented a welcome return to form for vocalist Ian Astbury, guitarist Billy Duffy and their recently recruited cohorts and ranked as the finest Cult album in many a long year when it first saw the light of day in 2007. “Dirty Little Rockstar” and “Diamonds” capture the essence of this riff laden gem.

Mike Hurst,”In My Time (1962-1985)” (Cherry Red)- This all embracing 4 CD set explores the lengthy recording career of songwriter, singer and producer Mike Hurst,running the gamut from his early sixties hits with The Springfields,” Silver Threads and Golden Eagles” and “Island of Dreams” to Mike’s subsequent solo work and collaborations with everyone from Samantha Fox to The Move and The Spencer Davis Group. Many of the tracks featured here have become highly sought after collector’s items in vinyl form, and a more eclectic assortment of hits and obscurities would be hard to imagine.

John Carter with Martin Barre,”Spirit Flying Free” (Talking Elephant)-This interesting CD re-issue from Talking Elephant focusses attention on an undeservedly obscure 1997 collaboration between singer-songwriter John Carter and demon guitarist Martin Barre of Jethro Tull fame. The two men had apparently been firm friends during their formative years in Birmingham but gradually drifted apart as fame and fortune beckoned for Barre.This belated musical reunion found the duo working with mutual friends from Tull and Fairport Convention in a polished celebration of the delights of melodic rock,with Barre excelling on guitar and the occasional flurry of flute.”Don’t Mess Around With Me” and “The Student” are two of the stand-out tracks,