Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week's CD releases Simple Minds,"Live in the City of Angels" (BMG)- This impressive 2CD set captures Simple Minds in what has become their natural element as they regale their audience at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles with some choice extracts their sizeable back catalogue. Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and company serve up a mildly bombastic celebration of a recording career which now spans more than four decades, reviving perennial crowd pleasers such as "Waterfront," "Sanctify Yourself" and "Promised You A Miracle" in the process.

Fruup,"Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" (Esoteric/Cherry Red)- Belfast prog rockers Fruup may never have been one of the leading lights of the genre during their creative heyday in the early seventies but they assembled a very interesting body of work during their relatively brief existence nonetheless . The quartet of albums that Fruup recorded for the Dawn label are now highly sought after in their original vinyl form and these valuable collector's items have now been reissued by the good people at Esoteric as an attractively packaged 4 CD set, giving the uninitiated an opportunity to sample the delights of the inventive "Song For A Thought," "Gormenghast" and "Garden Lady" to name but a few.

Billy Price,"Dog Eat Dog" (Gulf Coast Records)- Pittsburgh rock'n'roll legend Billy Price is probably best remembered these days for his three year stint as vocalist with the late lamented Roy Buchanan's band but he's also a fine performer in his own right, and "Dog Eat Dog" provides a vibrant vehicle for his stylish blend of soul, blues and r&b. This splendid collaboration with Norwegian blues guitarist Kid Andersen should be required listening for roots music devotees everywhere, with a propulsive horn section underpinning fine tracks such as "Same Old Heartaches," "All Night Long Cafe" and "Working On Your Chain Gang."

Matt Patershuk,"If Wishes Were Horses" (Black Hen Music)- Canadian tunesmith's Matt Patershuk's previous exploits in the singer-songwriter field have prompted favourable comparisons with the likes of Waylon Jennings, John Prine and Kris Kristofferson and the Alberta native certainly has a winning way with an affecting melody and a deceptively uncomplicated approach to the art of lyric writing. Harmonica legend Charlie McCoy lends his invaluable support as Matt delivers timeless ditties such as "Ernest Tubb Had Fuzzy Slippers" and "Let's Give This Bottle A Black Eye" alongside a bluesy revamp of the Grateful Dead's "Sugaree."