title: Snap this CD up if you can get it

text: I recently found this CD used on Amazon after literally six years of searching for it. All I can say is, this is hands-down the best recording I have ever heard of either of these concerti. Serkin's pianism is dynamic and assured with no "dead spots"; he's clearly given thought to each note and phrase and is taking no sections of the music for granted. Schneider and the ECO back him up with a solid, sure orchestral accompaniment, really digging in and projecting the notes - not reducing these two concerti to "charming rococo pieces" the way so many others do. What really seals this recording's worth for me is the connection the performers draw between these works and Mozart's operas, and the palpable sense of fun they bring to the whole proceeding. Listen to the dramatic slow movements, their piano line given an almost bel canto style in Serkin's capable hands. Listen to the finale of the 14th concerto and Serkin's daringly relaxed tempo for the final 6/8 variation - one that brings out the jaunty insouciance of the main theme. And listen to the finale of the 15th concerto, where everyone involved is obviously enjoying the heck out of the piece and playing for the joy of it. I've never heard the spirit of Mozart come across as well in any other recording of these works. If you're at all a fan of these concertos or of Mozart in general, buy this CD wherever and whenever you can get your hands on it. It's that good.


title: I have always enjoyed Al. It was through his work that I ...

text: I have always enjoyed Al. It was through his work that I learned to appreciate the use of a horn section in rock and blues music. This CD is heavy on the soul.


title: Bowie interpreted

text: I love tributes to talented songwriters. This one is no exception except that too many of the artists choose to faithfully reproduce rather than make the song their own.


title: Great

text: Great compilation and service.


title: Listen to the Stones instead

text: Sadly enough, the Beatles were never as good as The Rolling Stones. They just never reached their heights in excellence.The majority of the songs recorded by the Beatles were silly and childesh. The Beatles are one of the  most overrated bands in history. Their finished albums are not even very  good so how could their bloopers be any better? This is a dull album from  one of the worst bands in all history.


title: Never quite catches on fire

text: I was tremendously excited when I heard this set, recorded live, was in the pipeline, but actually listening to it left me somewhat disappointed. On paper, the lineup looks just about perfect: a great orchestra, one of the world's most exciting conductors, and *the* best Beethoven pianist alive. Yet the combination never quite catches fire like it's always promising to. The fact is, Rattle -- whose deeply probing musical mind has made many an old warhorse into a fresh new stallion -- doesn't seem quite at home in the Beethoven concertos. Brendel -- whose intelligence, virtuosity and mordant appreciation of wit eminently suits him to old Ludwig -- plays wonderfully, but in the end his earlier (studio) recordings of the works with Haitink are even finer and I'd recommend them over this newer set. This is surely a complete cycle of the piano concertos that has much fine playing and is extremely listenable. Perhaps it's unfair to expect more than that -- but I was.


title: One of the better acoustic cd's I've heard....

text:
I saw Damon and Brother Cane in 1992 and was really impressed with him and the band.  I've picked up all of the Brother Cane releases over the years and came across this cd on his website.  Wow!

Great work from a very talented singer, songwriter, and guitar player.  There's something about his voice that really makes him distinct.  Anyways, do yourselves a favor and pick this one up.  If you are really interested in getting it and can't through Amazon.com, check out Damon's website and there will be a link for it there.

You won't be let down.  Great stuff


title: Five Stars

text: Great start, I hope this group expands it's recording output.


title: A Few Good Songs

text: I bought this CD for one song... Take YouHigher....The rest of the songs are so so.I like the originals better....


title: The Long Hard Ride Of Lonely Men

text: A music score that aptly provides the soundtrack for a lone man of the old west who may be sadly mistaken in his quest for bloody revenge but his drive, determination and the ultimate sentiment of his heart are admirable.  There is a certain melancholy to it that is infectious and reminds us of what a long strange trip life really is.


title: great but missing Besame Mucho?

text: Great music, great package. I would have given it 5 stars except the song Besame Mucho was not included? it's the best version I have ever heard of that song. I was able to buy the song on iTunes but the video is unavailable? After you purchase this great CD/DVD go to iTunes and buy the missing song to make it complete!


title: Awesome !

text: Excellent Release Second Disc Is Nice To Have Also!


title: Excellent

text: I like having the songs from the back end all in one disc love the remaster also!


title: STILL AVAILABLE FOR HALF THE PRICE OF THiS LISTING

text: Great music. Good price from dead.net.  Really good packaging


title: LOVE

text: If you are a real J dilla fan then buy this Ta-Ku tribute album! All the way from Japan, its dope!


title: Wow

text: Genial el disco


title: This is an illegal bootlegging operation producing and selling an artist's work to profit excessivly

text: This is an illegal bootleg being sold without the jerry garcia familys approval this is being sold at an insane price this can be prosecuted for copywriter infringment this shoukd be banned and offender arrested all proceeds should be surrendered as well WHY IS AMAZON BREAKING COPYWRITING LAWS BY ALLOWING THIS. IF SO I'D BE SELLING EM ...CONFISCATE THIS ILLEGAL BOOTLEGGERS FUNDS AND ANY COPIES MADE


title: Essential to a Completionist

text: Contains a track from the MTV Unplugged concert that does not appear on the album.  Dylan has released several of his concerts.  This is my favorite live Dylan album.


title: Five Stars

text: Exactly as described with item sent quickly and packaged well. Many thanks!


title: Five Stars

text: Item as described sent quickly and packaged well Many thanks!


title: Get the Led out!!

text: Released in 1975, high school over and the 18th year of my youth. In a decade of many classics, Zeppelin blesses us mortals with another! Considered by many to be the bands peak. I read up on the record in Wikipedia for more info. I love R n' R history. Found out it's Plants fav. and contains what he considers the ultimate Zepp. tune, Kashmir. And get this, the building on cover. The front doorway and stoop on 96 St. Marks Place is where the Stones started the Waiting On a Friend video!!  Its a classic. Buy one for your nephew to show him how us old folks use to do it. And still do!!!


title: The Real Deal

text: The music ran through the blood of these guys. Committed to their craft as much as any musician could be. When Fillmore East came out I was 14 and born and raised in the South. It was a great period, so much music. It's hard to describe it all.  If you ever come down to Georgia stop and Eat a Peach for peace. We'll drink a toast or 3 to the Brothers...


title: Good Experience

text: Happy with my purchase. CD arrived in perfect condition and was as described.


title: Okay collection

text: Mostly fair to good sound quality for the money. Oddly, a couple of tracks sound like they were mastered way too slow.


title: Despite Rarity & Alt. Arrangements, Marred by Bottom-Heavy Compressed Sound & Some Weak Performances

text: As a longtime fan of Leonard Cohen, I'd really looked forward to listening to this.  However, I must say I'm a little disappointed, on both technical and musical fronts.  First, while I can live with mix issues in the original recording (such as the backing vocal mic set too high), the CD audio is overly compressed, which results in an exaggerated bottom end that detracts from the subtleties in this delicate music.  Second, the cover is cut off-center and has a weird ink smell, which to me screams "bootleg!"  Third, and perhaps most importantly, while Leonard's storytelling and most of the performances are quite nice, and almost all of tunes include a surprise choice of arrangement and/or instrumentation that sometimes differ radically from the album versions, there are quite a few instances where it is clear that more practice was needed.  Leonard hit a few too many bum notes on "So Long Marianne."  Plus, the drummer could not keep time, managed to throw off the entire band several times, and at times appears to have forgotten that they were backing a folk singer and not The Who!  Thus, while this release strikes me as a great one-time listen if a download is available, I'm not sure it's worth dropping $20 for.


title: Authentic Bengali Folk Music

text: According to the liner notes (which echo Robbie Robertson's account in "Testimony"), these guys tried jamming with the Band but it just didn't gel.  So the Band just out of the way and humbly observed as the musicians played for themselves while Garth Hudson manned the dials.  The result was a snapshot of centuries-old oral tradition captured with a combination of both spontaneity and clarity rare for recordings of the time.


title: good cd

text: good


title: wonderful

text: the cd arrived quickly in a  new condition and i love it


title: a lost gem of the seventies

text: i am a seventies kid...i remember when this fine album hit the Fm 'progressive' airwaves way back when. Usually they would play the very catchy 'Wizard of Menlo Park', but sometimes they played whole sections of the album, because it flows together like sgt. pepper or some Yes albums did. I believe the leader of the band was David Beaver, who went on to become a well known and loved member of the Memphis music world. I notice on the cover that the legendary Steve Cropper is given thanks, so i assume he had a lot to do with getting this band signed and recorded. Musically this is vintage 70s fm rock. Think early Yes, todd rundgren, a bright pop sound..and you get the idea. The band is excellent, great players all, and the songs are very well written. it is one of those albums that just flows, song to song, and not a clinker in the bunch. it plays like one long thought..i never think of it in terms of single tracks. i treasure my copy, and know its far too obscure to ever be on cd. Well worth your investment if you've never enjoyed it. Highly recommended!


title: Nice packaging sound quality greatly improved

text: Bought this CD I played disc 2 and 4 was very pleased with sound quality, used to have live at the Sam Houston  bootleg that had horrible sound quality this concert sounds much better disc 2 sounded very good too. If you love the Beatles buy this, packing of all 4 disc very good too nice pictures, very happy with purchase.


title: Milestone Accomplishment - still ahead of it's time!

text:
The following review from Jedd Beaudoin says it all:

"Annettte Peacock, one of the first people and maybe the first woman to own one of Robert Moog's famed synthesizers--crafted an album that bridges with soul, pop, jazz, and a few other genres that still haven't been named. Her [previous first solo album, I Belong To A World That's Destroying Itself a.k.a. Revenge] showcased her imagination for and acumen with the instrument. I'm The One spotlights her abilities as a vocalist, composer, and innovator in a fashion that is seamless and still--40 years after this record's first appearance--breathtaking.

The record opens...with the title track...(T)he dissonant, majestic, and unsettling introduction gives way to a song that refuses to define itself as anything familiar to either the pop or casual--or even sophisticated--listener. More importantly, the technology at her disposal, including vocal treatments via the synthesizer, becomes so fully integrated in the playing and composition that it never calls unnecessary attention to itself.

What does draw our attention is Peacock's unbelievably beautiful voice, displayed most elegantly on the ballad "7 Days" and the funky "Pony", a showcase for her distinct phrasing and equally distinct lyrics. "One Way" is an amalgamation of cabaret, music from outer space, New Orleans parlor tunes, horror film scores, torch songs, and a full-on soul meltdown, traveling the distance between Sun Ra and Dr. John and stopping to pick up Ike and Tina and Janis Joplin along the way. Her take on "Love Me Tender" also showcases her abilities as an interpreter as she renders the song remarkably new, her performance in touch with the sentiments of the original but also transcending and transforming those earlier intentions. (Mick Ronson borrowed Peacock's arrangement for his own version on the 1974 classic Slaughter On 10th Avenue album.)

I'm The One, let's not forget, emerged the same year as Lou Reed's Transformer and while it's certain that Reed and his co-producers David Bowie and Mick Ronson knew a thing or two about Brechtian presentation and melding high art with rock `n' roll, there's plenty of evidence that Bowie respected Peacock's mind and music. He asked her to play on Aladdin Sane (she didn't) and offered to produce her next album (he didn't). He did, however, along with guitarist Reeves Gabrels, give "I'm the One" a nod in 1999 with "Something in the Air", evidence of both her staying power and his appreciation for genius.

But who Peacock influenced and what they borrowed or stole doesn't matter when you're presented with the brilliance of this 37-minute opus, a record that wasn't as much ahead of its time as it was carving out its time, laying the groundwork for what was possible in a still-young decade and a year that still holds power over the heart and imagination of contemporary music. This is a perfect introduction to Peacock's music and, one hopes, a sign that more of her impressive works will be more widely available to an audience that needs to know this important vocalist/keyboardist/innovator/composer."


title: Five Stars

text: Great.


title: Great Seller!

text: Lightning fast shipping - good price!


title: Five Stars

text: Great stuff....


title: Three Stars

text: Unless you are a die-hard collector, I'd pass on this one.


title: Five Stars

text: All Good!


title: If you are a Joni fan, you will hear ...

text: If you are a Joni fan, you will hear her in her youngest musical years.  She sounds so innocent and determined.  Not knowing yet that her music will be rivaled only by Bob Dylan in folk.  This is a fledgling here, and worth a look through that early window!  Just get this one.


title: If you are an EJ fan, get this one.

text: Well, never having saw him back in the day, took in his Vegas gig, and now jonesing anything I can get.  This is worth it.  Methinks.


title: Two favorite classical pieces on one disc.

text: Disc is fine, and delivery was fine as well.  Glad to have these two favorite pieces of music on one CD.  Minus one star only because the prongs that hold the CD inplace had broken on its way to me.  Some sellers place a square of bubble wrap inside of CD and DVD cases, against the disc to act as a kind of a cushion against bangs.  That might have helped a bit.  But, thanks for wonderful service and wonderful item.


title: dont make em any better

text: excellent still after almost fifty years


title: One of my favorite albums of all time!

text: I listen to this cd everyday in my car. It reminds me of my life 52 years ago.


title: Depression -era Jazz done right!

text: I was very pleased with this album. I love Depression-era jazz and this fit the bill. The album was in very great shape, with just a couple of pops. I cleaned them digitally and now sounds new.


title: Not necessarily all hits, but all superb!

text: Superb variety of music! The band performs originals and covers of some of the greatest songs of this era. I thoroughly enjoy this collection!


title: What are you up to?

text: Many of us feel that there is something lacking in our lives. We fall short of happiness but don't understand why. Indeed, we often experience the opposite of happiness—suffering. But why? Who or what has imposed this unwanted condition upon us? In this talk, Adi Da explains how we do it to ourselves. No one else is making us unhappy. And what we do to ourselves we can come to understand and, by degrees over time, we can stop doing it. Then happiness is revealed to be our native State.


title: The jewelbox was broken inside .

text: I had to replace the jewel case . Broken inside .


title: Wowza!

text: I couldn't believe this album was so cheap! I only paid $1 for it at the local Dollar Shop, and my mind has never been blown so quickly. Never has there been a musical act like Russian Ninja. They bring back nostalgia of sitting in my room, listening to my old Zeppelin, Stones, Beatles and Joan Baez LPs. There is nothing I'd rather do than listen to this masterpiece.


title: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs

text: Great sounding CD. Wonderful songs and classics.


Great to work with. Definitely a professional!


text: Great to work with. Definitely a professional!


title: this is a great cd; i love it

text: Oh, this is a great cd; i love it.  Major kundalini sadhana experience, thank you, such a beautiful production, I believe it's done by the same chap who worked with Snatum Kaur's great works.


title: An excellent Church side-project

text: An overlooked gem from members of The Church.  Recorded in 1997 by Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes and Tim Powles.  It sounds like a slow and sensual Church album, full of gorgeous guitars and atmospheric sound effects.  Highlights include languid, dramatic ballads (She Comes in Singing, The Moon and the Sea) and tales of mystery and imagination (Florian Trout, Traitor).  This album is not for Church fans who only like their 80s output - very little jangling guitar-pop on this release.  The end of the disc drags a bit with too many slow songs in a row, but overall, a satisfying disc full of good music.


title: Terrible sound quality!

text: I got the CD in good time. Was excited to hear it. The sound is muffled, as if there was a towel over the recording mic. NOT happy at all. "Satisfied"??? Not in the least!


title: Great

text: Great


title: beatles are un "beatable"

text: I have always loved the Beatles, and to hear some the goings on behind the music is amazing.  A great pair of cd's for a great price.


title: Five Stars

text: Love this music !


title: very happy with product also extremely happy with vendor who went ...

text: very happy with product also extremely happy with vendor who went to a lot of trouble to package, for a safe trip,10/10


title: Five Stars

text: Very superior sound transfer,(particularly, CD1&CD2) Need I say more!


title: "Well, if you're worried about sound reproduction, ..........don't be!"...

text: All-encompassing double CD of the iconic late seventies!Variety and diversity in piles!Everything from the wistfull song"movie Star" by Harpo.And along with other iconic hits by European artists and an interesting selection of "catchy" rather than "red hot hits", which we all know by heart! Both English and American hits are well represented!The music on these CD's are so redolent of this era! Thewy say music lover rarely shift there admiration past a couple of levels, but , too me, these tracks stand the test of time!I have notrouble in recommending to young and old alike! Also, if you are worried about sound quality and reproduction, I have a good enough sound system, to tell you, the reproduction, is just fine!


title: The definitive greatest hits album for Duran Duran

text: Item I received in a prompt manner was as described. Thanks!


title: The Best

text: Well after some searching Forever Blue is the absolute best single Best Of Cd by the Little River Band. It has all of their hits for the casual fan plus some of my favorite more obscure gems like  Days On The Road and Broke Again. The bummer is  It's A Long Way There is cut in half and runs only 4 minutes and 12 seconds the full length version is 8  1/2 minutes. If you could only own one Cd from the LRB make it this one. Forever Blue was only issued in Holland i believe. There are 18 songs on this Cd i had never heard the song Middle Man before but wow what a gem and it is included here.


title: About Time

text: It's about time!!!!! Why Columbia Records did release this on cd way back when cd's first came out is beyond Me. Also why there was a Columbia/Legacy Edition sometime in the late 90's either. Back in 2014 i discovered that a record label from Germany called Lucky Pig had re released this album at a good price. Finally last March i ordered it, i first discovered this ISP back in 2009. These guys had everything going for them being signed to Columbia they had Chicago producer James William Guercio. The ISP were a combo Blues Rock/ Country Rock band fronted by two awesome players. Kal David and Paul Cotton. The album is pretty consistant some songs have some rippin lead guitar. Kal David would later go on to  The Fabulous Rhinestones and Paul Cotton would find a home in the Country Rock Band Poco.


title: Not Cool

text: The title of my review has to do with the fact that both Black Sheep albums are not in print on cd and never have been. Black Sheep was a 1970's Rochester, New York band that featured the great vocals of future Foreigner singer Lou Gramm. Black Sheep's music was on the bluesier side not to mention a little less commercial but still fantastic. Both albums the band recorded are worth owning for any fan of obscure 70's rock and especially if you are a Lou Gramm fan they are both must haves. Why Capitol Records never issued these on Cd is beyond me


title: Impecable Quality Vinyls

text: ColDan45s your vinyls are beyond impecable in quality.Your service is amazing.Thank you thank you thank you!!!


title: The vinyl is perfection!

text: The vinyl is so clean,plays supurbly...hell its near perfection.

attachment_type: IMAGE


title: NOT A SCRATCH!!!

text: I liked that the vinyl plays perfectly.Not a scratch or pop!!!


title: Very Very Happy With My Order!

text: Mint condition INXS.Thanks so very much Piano Man Vinyl.Im very very happy with this record.And it plays perfectly.


title: SO VERY HAPPY WITH THIS ORDER!!!

text: What a great vinyl in perfect condition.Thank you so much MidwestBestVinyl for making me very happy yet again.


title: GREAT CONDITION VINYL

text: The vinyl came in great condition...plays perfectly!!! Thanks


title: VERY IMPRESSED

text: I love love the quality,everything is perfect about this buy,no scratches or nicks and plays with precision.I will surely buy again from this seller!!!


title: Don't think it was actually new

text: The album is great. 3 stars is only because I don't believe it is actually new. It's in really good condition, but as soon as I took off the plastic wrapping I was met with the musky smell of a used record store. Along with that the paper sleeve had started to yellow and was torn. Again, the album is great, but I'm pretty sure it's not new like it was advertised.


title: If you listen closely, you can still hear her pine for Graham Parsons

text: What can you say, "Deeper Well', Hendrix and, Dylan songs on it as well. She's one of the true Muses of the 20th-21st century.


title: Ssssh

text: Great album. All I expected


title: Air guitar yourself to death!

text:
..And bang your head 'til it falls off! I believe I have come upon the "holy grail" of rock guitar. This album is a "guitar player's dream"-the result of what happens when a virtuoso guitarist is unleashed in the studio to write, arrange, produce, and record his own album without any restraint or being held back by the concerns of fellow band members, or anyone else. All he needs is someone to keep the beat, while he ventures off into the 'wild blue yonder' with his guitar. Thus, we have "Population II", a two-man band concept featuring Mr. Holden and drummer Chris Lockheed, and Lockheed takes a real backseat on this project! Simply put, this is as "in-your-face", balls-to-the-wall, coming at you from all sides as guitar playing gets! Randy Holden's style? Combine the rhythm of Tony iommi, the leadwork of Ted Nugent, and the swagger of Robin Trower. While most compare Holden to Jimi Hendrix, I simply don't see it--particularly Holden's rhythm playing, which is certainly not as swift and sure-footed as Hendrix. But that's really an "apples and oranges" comparison, and not to slight Holden in the least, because every guitarist has something that makes them unique.

Now a little background on Holden. As the late-'68/early-'69 guitarist for Blue Cheer, his stint with that band could be easily compared to Jimmy Page's time with the Yardbirds, having joined the group at a time when there was turmoil and conflict over which musical direction to go to. Holden, like Page, wanted to keep the band rockin' hard, and maybe even harder, at the same time his bandmates wanted to mellow out. Seeing this impasse, Holden went his way, while Blue Cheer went their mellow way and eventually folded without a wimper. So "Population II", in a sense, was Randy Holden's "Led Zeppelin".
Now back to "Population II". This being a "guitar virtouso's album", don't look for any enlightening lyrics or beauty in the vocals. Those all take a backseat to the guitar. But it's amazing that there is even any attempt on Holden's part to write lyrics and to actually sing (which he does both!) Most guitarist's projects today are almost exclusively instrumental, or in the case of groups like Santana or Van Halen, a better vocalist is called in to handle those duties. Holden's vocals, which were actually better on his one-and-only album with Blue Cheer, are a little whinier and harder to hear over his guitar on this album, but in a way, they actually work with the music and are kind of quaint--a little reminiscient of the "squeaky" vocals of Burke Shelley from the power trio, Budgie.
Musically speaking, the guitar riffs get progressively better with every passing song. The album opens with "Guitar Song"--probably as close to Hendrix as Holden gets melodically, but weak on riffs, and especially lyrics. The first words to "Guitar Song" are "I love the song, of a guitar player!" Okay, the writing is kind of "first grade" there, but cute, considering it's called "Guitar Song". Then we move onto "Fruit and Icebergs", which is sort of Holden's "Dazed and Confused", a proto-gothic drone that he experimented with in Blue Cheer, but came into "full-bloom" on this album, much as it took Led Zeppelin to develop the Yardbirds' "Dazed and Confused" more fully. Very creatively, Holden inserts a little up-tempo number, almost as a seperate song, called "Between Time", before he closes out "Fruit and Icebergs" altogether. At only 2 minutes long, "Between Time" actually delivers some of the more cohesive, clear, and catchy lyrics of the entire album. As philosophizing about life experiences seems to be Holden's strong suit lyrically, and seemingly autobiographical in nature, "Between Time' seems to convey just where Holden was at that time in his musical career.
The final two songs, "Blue My Mind" and "Keeper on My Flame" are a wild ride through 16 minutes of some of the most inventive guitar riffs you will ever hear! "Keeper on My Flame", in particular, has some twists-and-turns, and the craziest tempo changes that will simply take your breath away! Holden pulls all his tricks out of the bag on this track, doing things no self-respecting lead vocalist would ever let him get away with! 3 minutes into "Flame", Holden slips into a "Tales of Brave Ulysees/Summer in the City"-type groove for a couple of minutes, the whole time breaking out the "wah-wah pedal" and all the "speaker-to-speaker" effects, before finally coming to a full stop. Then going back to the opening riff and slowing it down to a crawl before ending the song. Luckily, Holden didn't have Steven Tyler or David Lee Roth singing for him when he did this, or either one of them would punch his over-indulgent lights out!
But Holden isn't the kind of guy that would let himself be tied-down by a lead singer, or a band, for that matter, and the end result is probably one of the greatest rock guitar albums ever made! Certainly it won't win any awards for flowing poetry, but the guitar playing is SO great, you can easily forget what Holden might be singing about (which the mystery of is great, too.) If you like early-Sabbath, UFO, or Budgie, this music fits in very well with that sort-of early-'70s British-type of Heavy Metal, with the fuzzy power chords, and the weak-but-melodramatic vocals.
With the disc no longer available on import, if you ever do come across a used one (like I did), guard it with your life! This is one precious jewel you never want to lose!


title: Sorry...

text: I bought this due to a review I read. I had an open mind, but it just wasn't a worthwhie purchase. No memorable tunes, nothing memorable to say. Don't do it.


title: Masterboard glitches in 1st minute?

text: I won't start this review with any negativity before saying that the OVERALL sound and the performances and the package are, all, EXCELLENT. This is the live recording I wanted out of "Alive in America", "Northeast Corridor" and a couple radio recordings. The only thing that blows it for me is that the first minute, and a couple of other little spots in the recording, have sound anomalies that aren't pleasant. Did I get a fluke?


title: Five Stars

text: great songs


title: Davy Jones - Getting The Record Straight

text:
The question is: did Davy Jones have the "stuff" to make it on his own? Was/is he a legitimate rock era artist in his own right? Did he deserve the enormous accolades tossed his way between 1966 and 1968?

This album, Jones' first solo album after the Monkees' first breakup, is the first cog in answering those questions.

Peter Tork quipped, after Mike Nesmith left the Monkees in 1969, that either Micky Dolenz or Davy Jones would quit the band, and the other would continue performing as "The Monkee." Well, if there ever were an album by "The Monkee," this would be it. The producers, arrangers, musicians, and songwriters, were pretty much those that had been handed the Monkees mantle in what had been the Colgems team. Relegated to Colgems' new "B-label", Bell Records, Davy was the one stuck with making a record using the same formula.  (Micky Dolenz had a very good solo "Monkee" album, which sounds even more like the Monkees than the Jones album, but it never got released.)

Or, I should say, Jones accepted the formula that had been forced on him and Dolenz in their Monkees duo album, "Changes," that had come out the prior year. Tork and Nesmith refused to be cookie-cutter artists subject to the whims of the suits. Dolenz and Jones were much more willing to follow the producers.

And it shows, in this album - which is not the same as saying the album has no artistic or rock value. It's one single, "Rainy Jane," did little in the Hot 100, which is a shame, as it is a quality pop song. "Welcome To My Love" is one with potential, with a brooding melody and "Hey Jude-like" sustained ending refrain.

Much later on, in Jones' self-distributed series "Just for the Record," we are treated to demos of original songs that he proposed for this album. These songs are more acoustic, authentic, genuine. The album, though bolstered by some focused promotional work on the famous Davy Jones Brady Bunch episode, tanked on the charts. Again, this is too bad, as the album was not THAT bad.

The suits from Colgems/Bell kept trying to replicate the Monkees' successful teen idol appeal to pre-teen girls. They remained stuck in a mid-Sixties pop music sound. But, by 1970, when "Davy Jones" came out, this time had passed. There had been a slight window, where if the record execs had allowed the Monkees to mature with their audience, and supported more of their efforts to stretch their own creative muscles, they may very well have effectively crossed the bridge into new markets, as the Beatles had done.

I give this album three-stars, and hope that this review gets some views. I want to see this album be remastered and made available once again.

Good quality pop, although formulaic, is the best way to describe "Davy Jones." I give Jones credit for hanging in there. There is no way that most people are going to enjoy this album. Most people are too blind to find the artistic silver lining in the Monkees' story. But this truly is "The Monkee" album. As the years pass, we will see Davy Jones continue to make his case. And it is a case worthy of a hearing.


title: Five Stars

text: great cd. so many good songs.


title: great collection. will play many times

text: great collection . will play many times .fave song 2525  zager and evans.


title: WOW!

text: I stumbled upon some of Ms. Frank's material on the net and decided I needed to hear more.  I have not been disappointed!  Kimberly Frank has an absolutely beautiful voice.  Why she hasn't pursued a singing career stateside remains a mystery to me.  The standout tracks on the CD are "1,000 Miles," "I Don't Wanna Cry" and a cover of the Beatles, "If I Fell" (sung as a duet with former Toto lead vocalist, Joseph Williams).  With that being said, there are NO weak tracks on the CD, all of the songs are both beautifully written and beautifully sung.<br />If you want to broaden your musical horizons a little, give this CD a listen, you won't be disappointed.


title: Grab This One...It's Smokin' Hot !

text:
This Milwaukee quintet "Altered Five" is a force to reckon with on their third album "Cryin’ Mercy". Why these guys have not taken the R&B genre over is something I can't understand. They are awesome.

Busting right out of the gates "Demon Woman" takes off with an explosive hard driving rockin’ blues attack. This one has a gritty Savoy Brown sound to it, from the raw vocals to the thundering blues line.

11 songs guaranteed to take you on the ride of your life. There's thundering drums and raging guitar from brothers Scott and Jeff Schroedl, keyboardist Raymond Tevich on the Fender Rhoads shines on the playful intro to “I Got You,” and “Who’s Your Lover” features gritty lead riffs from Jeff Schroedl while Taylor wails the demanding chorus.

 "Cryin' Mercy is an excellent disc of original tunes and musicianship that will certainly please any fan of contemporary blues and soul."
  -- Blues Bytes magazine

“Stay Outta My Business” has Taylor telling his woman in no uncertain terms that he needs his independence. Getting burned in the affairs of love is the theme of “Counterfeit Lover,” there's a lot of cheatin' and double dealin' on this one.

Blues fans who like their music hot, sweaty and soulful with a dash of R&B thrown in will love this one! Taylor’s vocals as always are exceptional, the rhythm section shines,  drummer Scott Shroedl is outstanding, Tevich’s organ work is par excellence and Mark Solveson's backline keeps it all together." The band is in total control from start to finish, each song flows into the next with flawless precision.

There is nothing not to like here on this release, it's solid through and through so go buy this album right away, I guarantee if you enjoy R&B you won’t regret it!


title: Soulful Southern Blues Rock with a Touch of Funk

text:
Justin Murray started the band back in 2007, just another band from Texas. "We were playing blues covers in front of a bunch of cowboys," laughs Murray, reflecting on the tension. The crowds continued to grow, and soon after the band recorded their self titled debut album. The album was well received but shortly after it all ground to a halt in 2011.

The album however did not miss the quality mark, it's all great southern blues rock through and through. The songs are not long but they sound like a jam band, like the Allman Brothers, The Outlaws and The Bridge, with a hint of The Black Crowes.

But when they get a bit funky like on the song "Heinous" they sound a bit like Rare Earth of old. "Ketchup's Boogie" keeps you boppin' with back and forth organ and lead guitar interplay, fabulous.

The band consists of Justin Murray (vocals/guitar), Nick Doe (guitars), Matt Cane (Organ/piano), W.J. Robinson (percussion) and Jimmy Hartman (bass).

10 ass kicking songs, well composed and well written by lead vocalist Justin Murray, but it is the music the band makes as a whole that keeps you coming back for more.

This album should make its way into every blues-rock fans collection.


title: It's a Humdinger

text:
"In the early nineties, from a tiny village in deepest darkest Wiltshire, UK, there came a band with fire in its belly and blues in its heart, and that band was called The Hoax."

Widely regarded as The Hoax's greatest studio work. Originally released in 1998, the album sees the band at the height of their powers.

Hugh Coltman, Jesse Davey, Robin Davey and Jon Amor discovered a shared love of the American Blues greats like Albert King, BB King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and formed The Hoax. After playing a few years with drummer Dave Raeburn they replaced him with their new drummer Mark Barrett at the time of this release.

The Hoax:
Hugh Coltman (vocals and harmonica)
Jesse Davey (lead and rhythm guitar)
Jon Amor (lead and rhythm guitar)
Robin Davey (bass)
Mark Barrett (drums)

This CD is also available as Humdinger 2 which includes a concert DVD, The Making Of Humdinger Documentary, Promo Videos, Unseen Footage, Photo Gallery, Bonus Tracks and more.

The musicianship is excellent with notable SRV influences, with two excellent guitarists sharing lead and rhythm. A well rounded offering which would be a great addition to any blues collection.

For previews of music and videos not available on Amazon, check out The Hoax's "Humdinger" on You Tube.


title: Stoner Rock For The Sober

text:
"Cortez seem to be able to find that middle ground between classic 70's rock, no-holds barred stoner-metal, doom and grunge while not sounding too derivative of any of these styles."
...Doomant

Cortez...
Curtis Caswell - Vocals
Scotty Fuse - Guitars
Tony D'Agostino - Guitars
Jay Furlo - Bass
Jeremy Hemond - Drums

If you like your rock, mid-tempo, sabbathian, sometimes bluesy, but with many variations so to avoid any chance of boredom setting in, then Cortez are the band for you.

I read...

"They offer up a simple six-course meal of no bulls***, thick-as-a-brick heavy rock that's inspired by the usual '70's suspects (Deep Purple, Sabbath), a couple of left fielders (Cactus, Neil Young), and fits squarely in the "stoner" sub-category.
The definition of said genre stretches far and wide these days, but Cortez manages to tie it all together and claim it as their own. Put it this way - "Lost Control" has the menacing, rumbling heft of Orange Goblin whereas the anthemic "Stone the Bastards" brings to mind fellow label mates Generous Maria, and yet in the context of Thunder in a Forgotten Town, it still sounds like five dudes from New England who're banging out some honest heavy. Honestly good too."

Arzgarth
StonerRock.com

"Cortez has solidified their place in the world of underground heavy rock, the new material simultaneously swinging and crushing with hooks for days. These are not just songs, they are war cries and proclamations, letting the world know that Cortez means business and will not stop until their quest for the perfect riff or catchiest chorus is attained." ...less

Never thought that I could appreciate this genre of music. I guess you can find new favorites fashioned after old ones if you can keep an open mind.

Try it, I know you'll like it.

For previews of music and videos not available on Amazon, check out Cortez's "Thunder In a Forgotten Town" on You Tube.

Also give Brant Bjork a listen.[[ASIN:B0033HKCSW Gods & Goddesses]] [[ASIN:B001BELISW Somera Sol]]


title: Fusion God Supernova

text: Miles Davis simply is the Greatest Artist of all Genre's. The 6 cd box set speaks of his greatestness and the fact he literally reinvented himself everytime he picked up his Epic horn. recorded over 4 nights and double sets on friday and saturday. Every second is a different color of funk rock and pure improvisation. Keith Jarrett is supenatural he turns the fender rhodes into a multi-dimensional soundscape of otherwordly mythos.Mahavishnu John Mclaughlin is the show stealer the last night just ripping it up with missles of Pure Fire. This maybe Miles greatest live band but that is debatable. Get it if you can- I know since it's outta print your going to pay bigtime but it's worth every cent. I waited till it was under $200 bucks. So I shelled out a buck 125 but what your getting is a trip from another world recorded the last week of 1970. Get sum serious headphones and watch the Universe trip off it's Axis...


title: My second favorite TYA studio album after the brilliant "A Space In ...

text: My second favorite TYA studio album after the brilliant "A Space In a Time" from a couple of years earlier.  But a solid set of songs for Alvin Lee and Co to hang their bluesy hats, and a little stretching out in the arrangements


title: Not what I thought

text: An oldie wasn't what I remembered


title: Prog Masterpiece From Canada

text: I can't plug this CD enough. I've been through the mill with progressive rock over the past 35 years, scouring the international scene country to country in search of bands that drop the obligatory "noodling" in favor of a strong composition and melody. This band exceeds in both. I've recommended them to the organizers at the yearly "Rites Of Spring" festival and would do so for "NEARfest" if they were still operating. I'd pay anything to hear this cd performed live in it's entirety from beginning to end-- it's just gorgeous. No filler. Pick it up and get the word out.<br /> p.s.- I have no personal ties to the band or it's record company.


title: Best band at Nearfest 2009

text: I was lucky enough to attend this concert, considered by most music critics and rock fans to be the pinnacle of progressive rock festivals, and I can say without question that CDC stole the show for the entire weekend. They were the opening act that year and for me, the other performance save PFM (who closed the show) paled in comparison. Their music is some of the most sophisticated, intelligent, and as the editorial stated "transporting" that I've ever witnessed from a live act. It was absolutely mesmerizing! Over the course of 40 years I've been through the gamut of progressive rock and jazz offerings in the studio and live, and this concert remains among a handful of the best music experiences of my life. It stands out fresh and unclassifiable in a sea of plodding rock and noodling jazz, and the fact that they built many of their instruments themselves is testament to their brilliance. This CD should not be shelved with the likes of "world music" (a category that readily brings to mind casio recorded new age and ethno-beats), as it incorporates at times exhilarating rock/punk passages that are ANYTHING but annoying. How can punk not be annoying, boring to those who lean toward prog/fusion oriented rock and jazz?  Check this out! Unfortunately, sad news surfaced recently that CDC has disbanded, but I'm hoping as the music gains a wider audience, they'll reunite for future performances. These guys are towering, first class craftsmen, technicians and above all- artists! To the band, this reminder-- it took Fleetwood Mac 20 years to gain recognition, but it paid off. PLEASE keep up the work. You have one of the best live shows out there.


title: It's not too late to get the New Year off to a great start !

text: Now that the holidays are over, for those of us here in the northern hemisphere, days are slowly getting longer and while there still exists the possibility of some rough sledding ahead, you know sweet springtime's coming next,  and who can complain too much about the magic of snowfalls ( unless there's too much of it ) and colorful, glorious wintertime sunsets - sunrises too !  With all that said you maybe are thinking...did I get  so and so the right gift ?  Its the regular after season second guessing going on.  An answer may be as simple as contacting your favorite music outlet and ordering some  " Day  Breaks - Exclusive Bonus Tracks "  edition's.  So many buy their music download style, but for gift giving it's hard to beat a CD or vinyl - something the recipient can touch - hold in their hands.  You can add a card, have it sent directly or get 'em and give 'em  in person.  I ordered a few  " Day Breaks "  for birthdays when it came out in the fall.  The reception was tremendous.  Since this deluxe version's available now it's my gold standard for gift giving.  Why ?  Besides being one of the best albums out, The Exclusive Bonus Tracks version offers,  not one, but two selections from the most recent Newport Jazz Festival,  a song recorded live in Vermont,  ( all these extra tracks feature musicians and background vocalists not heard elsewhere on the album )  and certainly one of the biggest songs this century  " Don't Know Why " recorded live - and as popular as the song is and Jones may have performed it umpteen times - it's as sweet - as  soulful  a version ever ! ! !  ...and recorded at the Newport  Folk  Festival. If you're thinking...wish I'd given  so and so  something more / different...something they'd really like / love.... well  Norah Jones'  " Day  Breaks " - Exclusive Bonus Tracks edition's the ticket for happy gifter's and giftee's  alike.  Read the many comments / reviews on  " Day  Breaks " and say  PLUS  with a big ole  +  and you've got  " Day Breaks " - Exclusive Bonus Tracks ...truly a  DELUXE  album.  Between her albums and  appearances on others',  Jones could be on as many records as anyone and would likely enthusiastically green light the gift of music...any type...by any artist....anytime....so brighten up someone's winter with music.


title: Good value!

text: Good value for the price and a great record.


title: Darn funny

text: Bought it for Tennessee Bird Walk, discovered Uneasy Rider by the Charlie Daniels Band.  Ray Stevens sure sounds good again.  Other cuts stir up memories of my Dad and country music on the radio when it was country music.  Why isn't country music as fun anymore?


title: Bon Scott Live? You've Got It!!

text: What a great audio testament to the energetic, powerful, frenetic live performances these guys put forward. Disc 7, especially, highlights how tight the band had become at that point in time (1979). Malcolm Young, on Rocker from that disc, exemplifies the joyful and celebratory aural assault, along with bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd; one of the most spot on rhythm sections in rock 'n roll. That cut ALONE was worth the price of admission. These guys had a combination most bands could only dream of....power, groove, rhythm, a sense of humor, and great songs. No wonder few bands wanted to follow them on tage.


title: great show

text: GREAT SHOW....FROM ONE OF THEIR FORMATIVE PERIODS..........


title: peak feat show....

text: terrific show, at the peak of this band's talent.  the dead, the allman bros. and feat were all west coast bands that defined american rock, in that era....and were all at their best in 76.  that, and lowell george dying 3 years later., make this worth having.  American Beauty is also a great show, from the, same time period.


This is one of the better Dagger cd releases from EH. This is one of the better shows from that 69 european tour and the sound in definitely better from copies that I have had in the past! Pick it up! You won't be dissapointed if you are a Hendrix collector like I am!


This is a nice highlight cd of the Winterland box set! It is well worth the price for the version of Are You Experienced? here within. Just keep the releases as good as this one inthe future!


title: great box set but why didn't they include "I don't ...

text: great box set but why didn't they include "I don't want to be a soldier" from the Imagine L.P ?  Great song with George on the slide, King Curtis of sax.  For this omission I deduct one star.


title: Worth Adding to Your Southside Collection

text:
We’ll go top to bottom reviewing this set of the 3 albums Southside released on Mercury. The best is “Reach Up and Touch the Sky”, a great album capturing the amazing energy of Southside live, recorded at a time when the Jukes were probably drawing their biggest live crowds. Unlike previous CD versions, it includes the wonderful “Stagger Lee” that was on the original double album. Those familiar with the original vinyl may notice a bit of dialogue missing and “Roll Out the Barrel” at the end is gone, but those are quibbles given the overall excellent quality, (P.S. Although not credited, I believe that is Patti Scialfa on back-up on some of the cuts.) Moving on to the next CD, I always thought “Love is A Sacrifice” was pretty mediocre, but they’ve done a great job remastering, and the much improved sound has really elevated it. There is also a bonus track of “On The Beach” in mono. While “Love is a Sacrifice” is improved to bring it to another level, alas, the same cannot be said for “The Jukes”. The remix has resulted in a much brighter sound than the original, but it remains a mediocre album with some pretty good songs, plagued by poor production. Even with the improved mix, it remains a disappointment after the legendary “Hearts of Stone”. Better versions of a number of these songs can be heard on “Reach Up and Touch the Sky”.

The set includes a nice booklet with some of the pictures from the original albums, and liner notes by British Music Journalist Malcolm Dome. The notes provide an interesting history of the Jukes (albeit with some typos!) but for some reason, says nothing about the live album. Verdict: Despite a few shortcomings, if you’re a Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes fan, definitely recommend this to get the full “Reach Up and Touch the Sky” on CD, as well as the improved “Love is a Sacrifice”.


title: High Quality Jersey Soul

text: My fandom with Southside/Jukes goes back many years. Regularly catch their kick butt live shows and had all their initial major Epic releases UP TO this collection. Somehow, the recorded material of their post Mercury years just didn't connect with me although they still can sell some of it live. FINALLY i feel fulfilled with the cd release of the Mercury albums. Having the remastered Epic collection and, now, the equally high quality Mercury set completes me as a fan. In particular, as many fans have noted, finally having the cd availability of the hard to find and expensive "Why is Love such a Sacrifice" album makes it special. Nice packaging and superb remastering of all three albums makes this a MUST HAVE for Jukes fans of that era.


title: Southside, my man!

text: This set has been remastered perfectly. The original CD of the Live! Reach Up And Touch the Sky, had been edited down, so its great to finally get Stagger Lee on CD! Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes have always been a favorite live act of mine. Very underrated! They still never disappoint in their live shows!


title: A Sleek Beast

text: Simply, a great straight-ahead session, hard bop at a high level. It may be a cliché to say that they make it seem effortless, but they do. Because they're masters. It's what they do. If driving an XKE along autumn backroads has a sound, this is it!


title: A New Dimension

text: The LCJO takes the classic by The John Coltrane Quartet and reimagines it for a big band. It's different, and is sturdy in its own right. First, familiarize yourself with the original, if you haven't already. Get to know it, really know it. Then delve into this. This won't replace the original, but offers a fresh perspective.


title: Start Your Engines!

text: The album that launched a great band, a band that mixed and blended genres, from rockabilly to bubblegum, with ease. Kudos especially to guitarist Elliot Easton who tailored his solos to the song in question.


title: love

text: pleased


title: Nostalgic Novelty Tune from the Fifties

text: Although it's been more than fifty years since I've heard this novelty tune, it was completely familiar to me when I played it again.  I first looked for it on CD, but I couldn't find it.  Then I remembered that Buchanan and Goodman had copyright problems (I wonder why?).  So I bought the 45.  If you haven't heard it, and like novelty tunes, I highly recommend it.<br />[[ASIN:B0057H2Y5A The Flying Saucer Part 1 & 2 (VG- 45 rpm)]]


title: Patriotic Songs

text: This CD contains 26 songs, most of which are familiar to you, and some that you probably never heard before.  Good for playing on the Fourth of July and other patriotic holidays.  Originally, Paralyzed Veterans offered to send me this CD if I made a donation to them of $10 or more.  I did so, but I never received the CD from them, so I decided to buy one from Amazon.


title: One Star

text: Way overpriced. WTF???


title: Stimulating!

text: Fantastic! Makes me get up and dance! Not always a great idea in the car!


title: Good 70:s soft rock band.

text: Nice group of songs for relaxing.


title: No track listing

text: Does no good to list the CD if we don't know what tracks are on it!


title: Most exciting McGriff CD

text: If you like Jimmy McGriff you'll love this CD. It's way more exciting than most of his studio recordings. Pretty well recorded too. Yes, you can hear the room reverb, but not bad. It's definitely my favorite Jimmy McGriff CD.


title: Love the look of this album

text: Love the look of this album, the marble blue vinyl is killer. Beats are good, wish there were a couple extra tracks on each side though.. little bit short


title: Charlie also does his great picking along with established bluegrass instrument masters for fiddle ...

text:
Charlie Cushman has been playing over 40 years and is a grandmaster of banjo who I believe is the closest the world has today, to the original master of the bluegrass banjo, Earl Scruggs, with regard to his tone, note spacing, accuracy at any speed, volume dynamics, and technique and innovativeness in certain 'banjo nuance 'licks'.  Superb!!!  In this album, Charlie also does his great picking along with established bluegrass instrument masters for fiddle (Johnny Warren-son of Paul Warren who played with Flatt and Scruggs), bass Terry Smith), guitar (Charlie Collins),
and mandolin (Bobby Clark), .This CD belongs in the collections of every banjo player or fan.  Quite unusual is that Amazon does not maintain current stock of this masterpiece music collection of music from the 'good ole days' when the Flatt and Scruggs band became the #1 group for
crating and recording that fabulous bluegrass music,


title: Five Stars

text: Love it, great work.


title: The titles of Elvis songs and the quality made. Its a good set ...made digitally.

text: Everyone likes Elvis music. He's  alive and doing so well sing new songs.  Look for the new recordings on u tube.  I love his mudic. Especially Elvis gospel.  Wonderful music and wonderful singer.


title: ... bought a couple of Chad Mitchell Trio cd's and love them!

text: I recently bought a couple of Chad Mitchell Trio cd's and love them!!  I remember most of the songs well enough to sing along, from my college days (WAY back in the 60's).  Does anyone know where I can get one of their "Singin' Our Minds" cd's, with "Dubarry Done Gone Again", "Ain't No More Cane On This Brazos", "Four Strong Winds", "Alma Mater", "Willie Seton", "Twelve Days", etc., etc., on it, at a reasonable price??  I'd love to have that one!  M. Davidson, Branson, MO


title: great music

text: nothing love it


title: This really disappointed me.

text: I remember my Dad playing this when I was young and I have always wanted to hear it again on CD. It still sounds magnificent but unfortunately I could only see one African name among the singers. This really disappointed me.


title: Five Stars

text: ok


title: Five Stars

text: Just great


title: 2012 Was Better In 2006... You Blockheads!!!

text:
This is the best remaster of Vince Guaraldi's 'Charlie Brown' Christmas classic. It also has some surprise additions such as a bonus track of the gang humming 'Christmastime Is Here', or the little arpeggio leading into the opening 'O Tannenbaum'.

When this rerelease first appeared in stores, the remaster used an 'alternate' of the perennial classic 'Linus & Lucy', which sounded muffled with a bleeding stand-up bass rumbling throughout the track. Although any version of this signature tune is always a welcome addition to any Guaraldi re-release, this track should never have been wrongly inserted with an alternate, or with any attempt to substitute, particularly as this was the perfect opportunity to include the ultimate remaster of the tune which would be taken directly from the original master reels, like all the other tracks on this 2006 release. A time later, the actual track was re-inserted & corrected on a 2nd release with a proper remastering (I found it in a 3-CD re-issue packaged in a tin can!).

It seems that the Fantasy vaults are full of 1960's master tapes chuck-full of alternate versions which were used in the actual animation programs, known as Guaraldi's 'cues'. In fact, the bridge of that first 'Linus & Lucy' alternate contained the actual segment to which Snoopy does his hilarious dance atop Schroeder's piano! So if this first release of 2006 is still circulating somewhere, it's not the worst addition to your collection. Moreover, one could only wonder what other 'cues' are in the Fantasy vaults, particularly the cue where Snoopy is decorating his dog house. That Guaraldi theme was used under another title in subsequent Peanuts' programs ('Surfin' Snoopy').

The most notable difference with this remaster is best highlighted in the children's vocal tracks, especially 'Christmastime Is Here'. Their voices seem coated in just enough reverb, giving a perfect sound separation to that of the trio. You actually hear the individual children singing as well as every instrument clearly heard, tape hiss nearly all gone. Guaraldi's piano sounds rounder & perfectly placed in the mix. The bass lines don't sound hidden &/or underneath Guaraldi's piano, but rather in unison with the other two instrumentalist. In 'My Little Drum' the children are actually heard so clearly in their vocal drum rolls. It's never sounded so clear!

Some swear that there was an 'alternate' take to 'Christmas Is Coming'. An alternate take of it is included at the collection's end, in the bonus tracks. However, I just don't hear an 'alternate' in the official line-up. Finally, an easier version of 'Hark The Herald' is here as well; the children's voices mixed a bit lower, in some reverb, off-setting their jarring & exuberant caroling, glaringly heard in the other releases.

The first (wrong) 2006 release even used a clever, simulated 'animation cell' (with the yellow background) as the cover art, an odd choice of color for a Christmas cover! In its corrected second pressing the 'cell' was omitted for a regular paper booklet-sleeve version.

To add insult to injury, in 2012 another remaster appeared. It doesn't come close to the 2006 version in its mix & sound. Guaraldi's piano sounds overly equalized & squashed high in the mix. The children's voices are dry & dense amongst the trio. Even the pre-2006 SACD version is superior to the 2012. Listen folks, the 2006 was our great hope for some perfection of this Vince Guaraldi classic. 'Charlie Brown Christmas' is the best Christmas offering in the last 40 years, selling amazingly well every holiday. If there are any more tracks in the vaults, please just add them to this remaster. Don't even try to fool us with another fake remaster from some pre-mixed master tape! The three track reel-to-reels are the best & only way to hear this. And this release says it all! So all I have to say is that 2012 was better in 2006... YOU BLOCKHEADS!!!


title: Absolutely love it 🥰

text: Love this Elvis cd! It is perfect!!


title: Four Stars

text: One song is a favorite of mine.  Others not so much.


title: Elvis was awesome

text: I Loved the music on it.  I will treasure it


title: Five Stars

text: 5 Star CD

user_id: AESJNGNZUILWPOBEDYZCMTMAMFKA


title: The CD skips badly during the end.

text: The beginning of the album was very good but by the middle it starts skipping and keeps getting worse.


title: Sound guality

text: Sound quality average that is all


title: The sound is fantastic also picture quality is excellent barry sings a lot ...

text: The sound is fantastic also  picture quality is excellent barry sings a lot of new songs.Barry has never been better a very lively show .


title: The CD doesn’t click

text: The CD is good it’s just that anytime I open it the CD just falls right out it doesn’t click in place.


title: I paid less than $5 for this and it is ...

text: I paid less than $5 for this and it is exactly what it says...everything the King recorded in 1962.  I wish there was a 1962 photo, but that much music at that quality for less than $5 I can't not give it 5 stars.  I see the price has now gone up A LOT.


title: Five Stars

text: satisfied customer


title: A review of the CD - Pretty good music, absolutely terrible packaging

text:
4 stars for music, 1 star for packaging

The music is good, bordering on great in places. The tracks that really stand out such as "Another Face In The Crowd" are the ones where Williams makes them her own. When she sticks close to Petty's originals, such as "Wildflowers," they become rather ho-hum. Not bad by any stretch, but not stellar. There is a certain grittiness to the songs that lends itself well to this album. Unfortunately, the gain was set too high for a lot of the vocals and the recording comes across as a bit amateurish.

The packaging is awful. The CD comes in a cheap cardboard gatefold sleeve with no liner notes or booklet. The result is a product that comes across as a cheap cash grab. This endeavor really deserves more.


title: Running down a dream

text: Great versions of petty classics


title: Lackluster and indulgent

text: I am starting to think that Greil Marcus has been right about Williams all along. The singing here is terrible, not just because it is musically  poor. It is terrible because the affectation with being "authentic" overwrites every word. This is especially problematic because the words in question are Petty's. The overall impression one gets is that Williams feels it is her place to put her seal of approval on others' music. Not my bag


title: Great cover of Tom Petty's great album

text: Lucinda makes it her own, but she does an amazing job.  If you're either a Tom Petty fan, or a Lucinda WIlliams fan, get this one.


title: One of the best

text: another purchase made to complete my collection. I was unaware of not having this on cd until I wanted to play "Summer Nights" on my radio show. Realized it too languished only in my vinyl collection. Now happily completes my Van Hagar selections. Great stuff!


title: the best collection

text: other collections are for completists ~ this has all the best songs and best sound quality


title: from spring of the summer of love to the summer of 68 this has it all ...

text: from spring of the summer of love to the summer of 68 this has it all ~ wrecking crew, kitchen sink, but especially "L.U.V."


title: Don't Fall For This Scam

text: The outer case lists 5 (FIVE) tracks, two of which are bonus tracks not included on Frank's original masters he intended to release as vinyl. The liner notes make quite the deal out of these two extra tracks being included on the disc. Well, they're NOT there. Only the original 3 tracks are included on this CD. Don't fall for Gail's scam!


title: Five Stars

text: Found out I already had this one with a different cover.


title: Live Music in Edinburgh

text: The recording contains great examples of the music to be heard at the Jazz Bar!


title: Uneven, but overall a good Harrison bootleg

text: This is a bootleg of various Harrison rareties. The sound quality is a bit uneven  -  I think some tracks were mastered off of vinyl and in one case from the B-side of a vinyl 45 single. Some of the other tracks, however have adequate sound quality. Despite this, if you are a fan of post-Beatle Harrison, you will probably enjoy this. It is worth getting. There are some completed tracks that the record company rejected from "Somewhere in England" (they had him record "more upbeat" tracks to replace these, but these tunes clearly would have improved that album). The origin of some of these tracks is not clear to me, but overall if this were an official Harrison release, with better sound quality, it would be on par with any of his other ones (except, in my opinion ATMP [of course], Cloud Nine and Brainwashed  -  these are my favorites).


title: Why is he not a household name?

text: I have seen Vin live twice; why he is not a household name and superstar is a mystery. True, "folk" is not to everyone's taste but Vin offers more than that, humour, emotion, a very distinct (even unique) voice, and very strong guitar plucking style,  great material about subjects that matter.....hey give this guy a listen he really deserves more exposure! He's terrific! Shame the CD inpaid about 6 quid for is such a price! I must put mine in the safe!


title: Great Early Chicago

text: Great live performance that captures Chicago a.k.a Chicago Transit Authority in their early years.  As always, Terry Kath shines on guitar. The only detraction is the last track taken from when Chicago performed on a French TV show; it is a snippet of two songs taken directly from the album (CTA), not a live performance.  Also, good sound on the live performances,  much better than the sound on the many Toronto 1969 Live bootlegs out there.  I would recommend this one for Chicago fans and especially those that have not heard their early work.


title: It was a great live performance

text: I saw this CD briefly advertised on the Chicago web-site in 2015 and then it disappeared.  I wondered whatever happened to it.  I don't know why the Group did not release this CD.  It was a great live performance. They nailed "Introduction" and Keith Howland channeled Terry Kath on guitar on that one.  If you can find this one, I recommend it.


title: Glad to get this

text: I found, actually, that though I once paid to download this album, only one track was still available for me to redownload after I had to replace my computer. It can no longer be found as a download, but thankfully I found a hard CD of the album at your store and you shipped it very fast and in perfect condition. Bonus is a very interesting booklet. I like a lot of this old time future music— two of the tracks here , the Dneiper water power station and the iron foundry, were part of a 78 rpm record album my mom bought in the 1940’s. It’s like heavy metal before its time. Interesting emotional commentary, if you will, on life under Soviet rule.


title: THIS PRODUCT IS GREAT!

text: BEEN HUGE WAYLON FAN FOREVER, THIS PRODUCT IS GREAT!


title: Pretty good early concert given by Joni

text: Pretty good early concert given by Joni.  Her skill as a guitarist and singer were in "early development",. but anyone could hear her incredible skills as a songwriter, even at such a young age.  A "period piece" I am glad to own.  Not a great recording, but it will due.


title: Four Stars

text: Gorgeous recording


title: Let Zig Ziglar help u make 2019 Great

text: The audio was  great even thou it was recorded from different seminars!  The quality of Zigs words are what makes the born to win seminar valueble!  I’d highly recommend!  Great product!


title: AMAZING!

text: I have always loved David Crosby's music but I keep going back to If I could Only Remember My Name....David Crosby because it is such a beautiful peace of art.  The harmonies and flow of the music is so uplifting.  Thank you David for putting out such wonderful bodies of work.


title: Mathis Shines!

text:
I bought this double album in 1970, loved it, and have been waiting for years for it to be released on CD. It was worth the wait for in addition to the original selections there are now five bonus songs included as well. I lean toward the Bert Kaempfert portion because they were recorded all at one

time and have a very consistent feel to them. In the booklet that comes with the CD we learn that Johnny recorded the Kaempfert compositions live in front of a full orchestra instead of just laying down tracks. There is a spontaneous almost concert feel to this portion of the CD, you can almost picture Johnny in front of the orchestra feeding off the immediate energy physically surrounded by musicians. I also am taken again, all these years later, by the lush and gorgeous arrangements of the Kaempfert songs that provide the perfect backdrop for Johnny's young voice. "The Lady Smiles" and "Wonderland by Night" almost take my breath away -- they are that beautiful. The very familiar Bacharach songs, in contrast, are from a wider span of time and don't have that unifying connection with arrangements and production by different people with, in my opinion, varying degrees of quality. For those who want to hear again songs such as "Walk on By" or "Alfie" they are certainly rendered here well although not much differently than previous singers' interpretations.


title: Very good album

text:
A very good album from Elvis released way back in 1975.  Good range of songs.  CD has the original album, songs from the session and a live performance from 1975 on two CDs.

If you like Elvis.....well worth.


title: Great music

text: Andy Williams is simply a joy to listen to. Four albums from his prime years.  Get this.  You will like it!


title: This guy was good. He wrtoe some great songs for Little Anthony

text: Hard to find music by Teddy Randazzo.  This guy was good.  He wrote some great songs for Little Anthony.  He had a very good voice.  An interesting addition to any serious music collection.


title: SUPER

text: SUPER - great sound quality.  Sounds just like the DVD


title: Top Drawer !!

text: Quiet time ... a favorite glass of wine and my problems are GONE !<br />Great way to relax and to see the way things really are meant to be.


title: Good job.

text: CD received much sooner than expected and in excellent condition which is much appreciated.  Thanks.


title: Amazing Sound

text: The full orchestra backing Elvis is fantastic sounding. An excellent edition to add to my Elvis music collection!


title: Amazing music!

text: Another wonderful album from Quichua Mashis! Every year my family and I have the great pleasure of hearing them perform live at the U. District Street Fair in Seattle. It was there many years ago I picked up one of their CDs, and not long afterward sought-out and bought them all! And BY FAR, their BEST song is on this album! Track 10, "Buscandote", oh, it's hard to explain... it nearly brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it, it's so beautiful and haunting and energetic and thought-provoking, wow. I love all their music.


title: Gonzo Britpop from Japan

text:
Prior to their first, self-titled record, Japan's Cigavettes put out two EPs, large chunks of which were re-recorded for albums later on. Of the six songs on "Taste of the Sun," a whopping half were redeployed on either "The Cigavettes" or held over for "We Rolled Again," the band's second (and somewhat lesser) LP.

That being said, "Taste of the Sun" is still worth the ~$8 you'll pay through the Amazon marketplace. The three exclusive tracks--"Candlelight," "And the Boy is Dreaming," and especially the surprisingly dark "Berlin"--are all fantastic. And while the band clearly prefers the uptempo LP rerecordings of "Part of Your Life" and "Taste of the Sun," I happen to think that these more languid and effect-laden versions are the superior ones.

In sum, while "Taste" doesn't come with the nice bonus video content of "Out of the Race" EP, it's still worth a purchase.


title: A solid denoument

text: Komeiji's last-ever release before entering his self-imposed and (as of 2016) ongoing exile from the music business, Kuuhou/Sekai no Hate is an absolutely fantastic single; the B-side, in particular, is one of his strongest songs. Here's hoping that he comes back.


title: A great entry point into the broader TGPM catalog

text: The alias of Japanese musician Yoichi Shiozawa, The Guitar Plus Me has made a run of deceptively brilliant records, based around Shiozawa's acoustic guitar stylings and appealing croon, and with various digressions into chiptune and stunt-covers of unlikely tunes. "Newtown Newtone," Shiozawa's debut on Midi Creative, is an absolute delight, featuring a great set of tracks and his characteristically clever English-language lyrics. Highlights include "Constellation," "Feel Like Eel," and the wonderful "Dawn Defense." "Newtown Newtone" marks a great point of entry into TGPM's deep catalog; give it a spin.


title: Experimental post-grunge left turn. Grower, but a classic.

text:
Released in 1995, El-Malo's III is as unlike its predecessor, "The Worst Universal Jet Set," as that record was unlike the band's debut, "Starship in Worship." "Starship" was a wandering, acid-jazz-dub instrumental album; "Jet Set" was a Cornelius-produced, Beck-like everything-but-the-kitchen-sink party record.

And III? Its cover photo sets the tone. Gone is the colorful, twisted scene from "Jet Set," and the colors adorning the "Fools" EP. III features a monochrome shot of twisted trees in what appears to be sparse marshland. The back cover, meanwhile, has the song titles and little else.

III is, of all things, an experimental post-grunge album, its influences announced in the first few seconds of "Home Bound Blues," which quotes Soundgarden's "Let Me Drown" before zooming off on its own. The band's new (?) rhythm section is a delight—the bassist, who will also stick around through Super Heart Gnome, is a force of nature—and the production, while sometimes abrasive, is quite ahead of its time. Particular standouts include the inaptly named "Calm," "Books," and "Fallin'," whose ending instrumental jam/freakout is among the record's highlights.

(It's worth noting that the selections from III on the band's otherwise sensibly curated best-of, "Malolympic Nominees" misrepresent the album somewhat; the noisy jam "Gimme Back My Wheel" might have its fans, but I don't number among them.)

And, for what it's worth, the bleakness of the album artwork and the earlier tracks falls away somewhat by the midpoint. "Bluebird" is gorgeous, and wouldn't have been out of place on the "Fools" EP, while the song I shall choose to abbreviate "BSOYF" is actually just the band briefly vamping on Frank Zappa's "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?"

In the end, III is the classic transitional album, neither as fun as its predecessor nor as facially adventurous as "Super Heart Gnome." But it's a grower, with a focus that avoids the sprawl of "Super Heart Gnome" and the moments of frivolity on "Jet Set." It abounds in used bins for $5, so if you find it, give it a shot.


title: Solid EP with entertaining bonus DVD.

text:
The Cigavettes's second EP, "Out of the Race" was originally released in 2008 before being reissued with a bonus DVD in 2009 (the red-cover edition has the bonus DVD). At four songs, it's plenty short, and two of its tracks ("Sundowner" and the title track) would be re-recorded for the band's proper, 2011 full-length debut. But the material is solid, and the earlier recordings are a nice variation on the debut's versions.

It's the bonus DVD that's the major draw. Japanese concert DVDs usually cost a mint, so it's nice to receive one as a no-frills addition to a bargain-priced EP. Some tracks get repeated--"Out of the Race" and "Sundowner" each have two airings, and the music video for the former is included, too--but, per Zappa, the band is tight indeed. "Berlin" is a particular standout.

If you like The Cigavettes, consider grabbing this, especially if the price on used copies takes one of its occasional dips below $7. The EP itself is great fun but the DVD really puts it over the top.


title: Two thirds of the way there

text:
Since going on hiatus in 2003, the members of Great3 were plenty busy. Akito Katayose put out a solo record and cut several with his wife, Chocolat. Drummer Kenichi Shirane showed up on everyone else's album, as well as releasing the fantastic "Manmancer." And Kiyoshi Takakuwa, as Curly Giraffe, embarked on an apparently-quite-successful solo career. So news of a Great3 reunion--an un-hiatusing--was quite welcome.

Unfortunately, despite playing with Kenichi Shirane on the Beatniks tour, Takakuwa elected to opt out of the reformation. On "Great3," the first Great3 album in almost a decade, he's replaced by an interesting, elvin creature named "Jan," whom a) is simply too precious to have a last name, and b) was born in, wait for it, 1990, making him 22 years younger than the other two. Well, then.

"Great3" is a mixed bag, but mostly in a good way. It bears remembering that "Climax," the group's 2003 album, was an odd beast in and of itself, representing the single most eccentric collection of songs yet. By comparison, "Great3" is far more normal, abandoning some of the John McEntireisms of the group's later catalog for a more straightforward approach; "Higan" approaches power-ballad territory, even.

The good: "Emotion," "Lady," the fantastic "Red Room" (which reminds me somewhat of YMO's "Neue Tanz"), "Walking a tightrope," the aforementioned "Higan."

The indifferent: Jan will take some getting used to. Apart from being an excellent songwriter, Takakuwa contributed a wonderful low counterpoint to Katayose's higher register. Someone apes his part on "Higan," but his presence is otherwise missed. Although Jan seems to be a perfectly serviceable bassist, his two vocal contributions--acoustic, whispy, and thinly adorned--sound like they belong on another album entirely. Unfortunately, the album's remake of Shirane's excellent "Explosion No. 1" isn't as good as his solo take; it's a pity they abandoned the superior arrangement.

Verdict: An encouraging sign of a band finding its footing after a long break. It's a shame that Takakuwa isn't back, but Jan might grow into his role. "Great3" isn't as *interesting* as most of the group's post-Romance output, but it seems fair to give them time to ramp back up to speed.


title: Smokey jam + Hippie weirdness = pretty fantastic

text:
It says something about the mid nineties that "Inner Space Cowboy" could be seen as a viable single, even from a project as weird as Peace Force's "Mr. Freedom." That album functioned essentially as a soundtrack to a nonexistent sixties road movie, complete with fake vinyl noise and exaggerated hippie weirdness. But even the weirdest projects have obvious singles, and "Mr Freedom"'s was "Don't Let It Bring You Down," a blistering Neil Young cover featuring Monday Michiru.

While "Inner Space Cowboy" is a delightfully spacey jam, it's hardly a peak commercial moment, festooned as it is with Extraordinarily Hippie Poetry composed and very, very seriously recited by one Eric Zay. Zay is also featured on "Road Movie Pt. 2," a highlight of "Mr. Freedom" presented in an identical version, which reveals that he's actually a pretty good singer.

The two additional non-album tracks are interesting curiosities. El Malo's Ryuichiro Yunoki contributes a creative remix of "Inner Space Cowboy," redressing it in a glitchier style, while "Demo #1" sounds like a formative version of the Kouya no Kettou jam from Mr. Freedom.

Mr. Freedom itself is well worth checking out, but its two singles are definitely more in the ephemera category. Still, worth picking up if you see them cheap.


title: Great3 drummer goes electronic

text: "Manmancer" is eight tracks of Great3 drummer Kenichi Shirane delivering on the promise of "Acan" (from May and December). Everything is vaguely categorizable as "electronic dance music," although the emphasis ranges from guitar-based melodicism ("Bigbang Girl") to the more electronic stylings of "Dance Music." "Capital Highway" bubbles abstractly before transforming into an ethereal beat-based workout. Shirane's vocals, when present, are heavily processed and tuned. Great3 this isn't, but as an unexpected side project from a fantastic drummer (whose in-band creativity was not nearly prominent enough), it's both intriguing and captivating.


title: A great single from "New Paradigm"

text:
So I will give this to Wavemaster: if they were in charge of selecting a representative single from "New Paradigm"--El Malo's sorta-in-name-only reunion from 2004--they could've done far worse. "Freeze" is a delight, a slice of eminently danceable electronic pop/funk brilliance that shows the hitherto rock-ist El Malo displaying mastery of the genre. While it's not exactly "representative" of the rest of the album, it's a nice stylistic calling card.

The two B-sides here merit a mention, too, as both are bizarre and appear to be entirely the work of Yunoki flying solo. The first, "King Lear," is the kind of elegiac work that Yunoki usually deployed as a side-closer (think "Lost and Found"). An extended, electronic dirge with some great vocals (and vocoder), it wouldn't have been out of place on "New Paradigm" itself.

The second, "Sweet F' Memories," is even weirder. Also dirge-like, it wholesale swipes the lyrics from the Soft Machine's "Memories," processing them through what sounds like an autotuned text-to-speech program and setting the entire thing to synthesized harpsichord. It's really great.

Verdict: If you like "New Paradigm," you're buying this for the B-sides. I like both, but neither is particularly essential. See if you can grab it for cheap.


title: Interesting but inessential

text:
The history of this release is a bit convoluted. As I understand it, the "Delta" EP was a vinyl-only release from 1999. Although it was released under the El Malo name, it's hard for me to believe that Shigekazu Aida had anything to do with it, as its mixture of laptop-ready dance (? house? I'm genre-ignorant, unfortunately) tracks bore Ryuichiro Yunoki's signature through and through.

"Delta Plus" is the CD release of the EP, augmented with three additional tracks: the instrumental "Voodoo Clone Jim 2," and the vocal "Sugar's Rock #2" and "Drops." The latter two are, from all indications, tracks from the same sessions that spawned "New Paradigm." "Sugar's Rock" even features an Aida vocal, which may be his only appearance on the record. And "Drops" is a radical remix of the track that would later show up on "New Paradigm" as "Drops 911," albeit with a Yunoki vocal instead of an Aida vocal.

Although I adore the two vocal tracks, I'm not a fan of whatever style is on display throughout the rest of the album. I have nothing against electronic dance music, but the longer, repetitive stylings on display don't do much for me. But if you like this sort of thing, you're likely to appreciate "Delta Plus" far more than I do.

Verdict: A fun little diversion, but unless you like more straight-ahead computerized dance music, you're likely to find yourself shrugging your shoulders at most of this. Fans of El Malo writ large will reap only minimal dividends.


title: El Malo's masterpiece.

text:
"Super Heart Gnome" is the kind of album that might ordinarily inspire retrospectives, anniversary editions, and breathless prose from both the deans of critical thought and indie darlings alike. But it does not, because it had and has the misfortune of being sung in a language other than English (and other than one of the few alternative languages deemed acceptable for admittance into the larger rock canon) and produced in a country whose music is often derided for its short shelf life. El Malo are not Yellow Magic Orchestra, and because of that, the number of Westerners who've heard "Super Heart Gnome" can't number more than a handful.

This is a pity, because "Super Heart Gnome" is a great thing, an appropriate magnum opus from a band that, from its very first freshman efforts, had evinced an awe-inspiring sense of creativity. Beginning as an acid-jazz outfit, El Malo took a turn into angular, Zappa and Beck-esque rock with the Cornelius-produced "The Worst Universal Jet Set," before discovering grunge and experimental soundscapes on 1995's "III." Like most double albums, "Super Heart Gnome" has its share of filler, but at its best it brilliantly summarizes everything delightful about El Malo's career thus far--and it doesn't hurt that the band is bolstered by sidemen like Asa Chang, who all bring their A-game to the proceedings.

High points are legion. The three singles--Chase, Color, and Cracker--are all different angles on the mainstream 1990s rocker, and are all fantastic. "Sun Goes Down" and "Nite Patches" continue the theme. On the gentler side, "Somersault" and "Wa-Raku-Zen" showcase both the band's versatility and Shigekazu Aida's astonishing maturation as a vocalist and guitarist. And one has to like the way that the ubiquitous sample from Frank Zappa's "Sheik Yerbouti," which made its debut on "The Worst Universal Jet Set," pops up again in the gorgeous, swirling "Ice Cream."

But the band also indulges in some more experimental outings. "Some Distortion" features the sound of a brass band gone amok that, for those immersed in conceptual continuity, can't help but pre-echo Radiohead's similar efforts on "The National Anthem." And it certainly sounds like "Echoes & Stutter" features Autotune as a vocal effect, beating Cher to the punch by almost a year.

So, "Super Heart Gnome." The lyrics, for all I know, could be mega stupid, and the album's frequent presence in the Internet used bins suggests that it, like so many other 1990s records, was snapped up by the hundreds only to be discarded as time wore onwards. But if you're at all fond of the angular, noisy, and breathtakingly expansive quality of 1990s rock double albums, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Only those allergic beyond belief to non-English lyrics should pass this one up.


title: An unconventional next step

text:
"Love Trio" comes more than five years after the lovely, tranquil "Night People," and represents another fascinating digression for the band. In a way, it's the most stubbornly uncommercial album they've made yet; songs wander, arrangements coalesce, break apart, and coalesce again, and (as the cover hints) there're more than a few stabs of incongruous 1980s-era synths spread throughout the proceedings. But the high points are as superlative as anything the band has put out yet. Highlights include the single "The Sand Cage" (the only thing on the album that remotely sounds like a single--and, somewhat uncoincidentally, the only song that actually rocks in any appreciable fashion, something I wish they'd try more), "Dragonfly Day," and the superlative "Grace Was Gone." Not worth expensive import prices, but a great entry in the band's catalog regardless, and well worth a purchase.

(one star docked for "#9," which does everything but rock, despite trying very, very hard to)


title: Great album, but obselete

text: ...this is a perfectly fine album, but this particular Japanese import version has become obselete (a domestic US version is availible--for far cheaper--from Sundazed).


title: Derivative, with few interesting moments.

text:
Of all of the GS bands, I'm perhaps least impressed by the Carnabeats; their songs are usually provided by outside writers, their musicianship doesn't seem to be terribly spectacular, their chosen musical niche is the sing-song, over-melodramatic melody...seemingly pre-fab in every way shape and form.
This disc (their first album, padded out with quite a few bonus tracks, although--puzzlingly--their collaboration with Gary Walker of the Walker Brothers is absent) largely demonstrates the above. The songs aren't bad, exactly; they just aren't particularly interesting, and if they stick in your head, you're usually not the better for this (the odd, swooping "O.K." is particularly guilty of this). "Chu Chu Chu" and "Give Me Loving" show up on the far better (and far cheaper) compilation "G.S. I Love You, Too" and give the listener a pretty good idea as to what they're in for. There are a few highlights, though. "Sukisa Sukisa Sukisa," a cover of the Zombies song "I Love You," is particularly well performed, and call me crazy, but I really dig their version of the Walker Brothers' "Annabella," even though they completely mangle the lyrics.
Moving onto the extra-musical aspects, the packaging from Teichiku is excellent, as always, with heaps of information provided that I will never--barring a sudden ability to grasp Japanese--understand. The sound quality is typical Teichiku reissue quality, with good sources spoiled a bit by overzealous, "squishy" noise-reduction (there's an earlier Phillips edition of the disc without noise reduction, but that is mastered very bass-light).
The verdict? Avoid. The best tracks are availible on several compilations, anyway...although if you find the old Phillips "Carnabeats collections" discs, you might consider those to be a viable alternative.


title: An unusual--but satisfying--end to a short career

text:
"Encore," the third real Tempters album, is the only one not generally scavenged from by compilations (notably, NOTHING from here shows up on GS I Love You Too). Which is a shame, because it's a good, interesting album, and a fitting send of to their career. By this point, you know the drill: while the Tempters were part of the "GS" boom in Japan of the mid-to-late sixties, they tended to buck trends by writing and playing most of their material. And they were *good*: drummer Oguichi has a very distinct style (that carries over into Pyg and--later--Vodka Collins), and the singing and instrumentation is all top-notch. Their tendency to focus on melodramatic tracks (that emphasize an awful lot of wailing) rears its head a bit more here than on First, but is generally countered by some intriguing melodic ideas and arrangements.
Following Teichiku's general bent, the packaging is outstanding. Unlike most of Teichiku's releases, this one is spared much of the "gauze"-y noise-reduction that plagues many of their releases; NR is still noticable, but not quite in the intrusive manner of the norm. "Encore" *does* violate Teichiku's previously-set guideliens to the Tempters catelogue in one important way, though. This is the only Tempters disc that contains bonus tracks, and they're quite good. One alternate, one new song, and "Aisuru Anita," a cover (?) of the Tigers/Wild Ones track that previously appeared only on a one-off Phillips comp (and, later, on the Phillips entry of the Cult GS CD series).
So if you enjoyed GS I Love You Too, and want to expand out to albums--but don't want to buy First and 5-1 which, while excellent, are mined heavily by that comp--this might be a good decision.
RANDOM NOTE: Teichiku's "GS Ultra Rare Trax" discs include a few "underdubbed" outtakes from this album.


The music is great, of course, but all the currently-availible imports are (mostly from Japan) are just reconfigurations of the remixed tracks from "Storm." Thus, they're completely unnecessary. Look for the original albums either on record, or pick up the Bam Caruso "And Finally" for the original tracks.


title: excellent. nice packaging

text: excellent.  nice packaging.


title: Five Stars

text: excellent


title: Just Wanted To Mention...

text: The final track on this CD is my all-time favorite Ravi Shankar performance.<br />The whole CD goes by so fast, you may want to combine it with a second (volume-compatible) CD.


title: Super CD

text:
For lovers of Z. M. Dagar's unmatched musical gifts, CD releases have been too few & too far-between; thus the wondrousness of two recent releases: this one, a "living room" recording; and another "auditorium" recording.
The recording quality of this, the living-room CD, is very vivid, in fact the best fidelity of any Z. M. Dagar CD I've ever heard.
The low tones from his rudra veena are especially resonant.  (And how about that cool cover photo of him bending the strings?)  The intimate nature of the setting does come with some "incidental" noise, a few bumps, clicks & vocal snippets, but all are welcome as having this master playing right there in the room with you.  Total playing time is 77.18.
FYI: (for those who like to put two CDs in their machines) the co-releases are not volume-compatible.


title: Buyer Beware

text: This review in no way reflects on the greatness of Mr. Khan himself...but the awfulness of this particular 3-CD set.  First of all, to call it a "definitive" collection is (either) deliberate or oblivious false advertising.  No wonder there is not one word, anywhere on the product, of when or where the tracks were recorded, nor is there any booklet or liner notes whatsoever.  Also, (perhaps less importantly) the packaging is extremely shoddy.  The recordings themselves are poor (again, this does not reflect on the wondrous talent of Mr. Khan).  The first track of CD one, for example, is almost un-listenable.  The alaap notes of Mr. Khan sound good, but are faintly recorded, while an extremely repetitive one-note pluck is repeated, loudly & interminably.  CDs two and three are a bit of an improvement, I supposed (though still poorly recorded) but to call this a "definitive" collection is just plain b.s.  Feel free to disagree with me, but what I'm saying (as a fan of Mr. Khan's work in general) is: buyer beware.  Thank you.


title: I Thought I'd Heard...

text: I thought I'd heard the "greatest music ever made" from various other sources, but I'd never truly heard the greatest music ever made until I heard this.


title: This Is More Like It

text: MUCH more listenable than "Metal Machine Music."  This is a fascinating listening experience.  Loaded with nuance, multi-layered melodies & outright indefinable aural soarings.  If the Metal Machine Music album is an attack on the listener's sanity, this performance is a welcome odyssey of truly revolutionary music.  I might give it the alternate title of "Heavy Gliding," or "Palpable Ambiance."  Some of the sax work sounds like an immaculately buzzed Pharaoh Sanders blended with a Love Supreme-ing John Coltrane.  Lou Reed's guitar is a wonder to behold throughout.  So...if Metal Machine Music is like a diseased, bloody carcass hanging on a barbed hook...this performance is a genuinely inspired work of ART.


title: How's The Dark Star?

text: I always purchase any Grateful Dead release that has Dark Star on it. So how is this Dark Star?  I'd say it's beautiful & delicately spacy, with a crisp, clear 1971 sound...but "only" (just under) 15 minutes long.  After the "Sitting On Top of the World" transition, the 2nd section of Dark Star is only around 2 minutes long...and mostly vocal, so I only program for the first part.  Definitely well worth having, but not quite as classic as some other '71 Dark Stars, such as the Road Trips from Austin Texas and the Dick's Picks from Columbus Ohio...  Otherwise, overall, this is a fun & interesting '71 set, where many songs are "new," so tunes like "Ramble On Rose" and "Tennessee Jed" are played at a faster pace.  "The Other One" is a fine jam, mostly thanks to Phil.  It does have a rather long, in my opinion, "drums" section.  For the most part, there's not as much extended jamming on Dave's Picks #3 as I prefer (typical for 1971). But I am pleased to have this Dark Star.


title: Darn Good

text: I always buy Grateful Dead releases that contain the song DARK STAR.  So...how's this particular Dark Star?  It's great.  The only thing "wrong" with it is...it's not a half-hour long!  However, it's still deeply satisfying at just under 19 minutes and very much worth hearing over and over and over again.  Overall, the jamming on this show is super great.  Of the two versions of Turn On Your Lovelight, I prefer the first one (which IS a half-hour long!) but the second one is pretty good as well.  A very pleasant surprise is the ballad "He Was A Friend of Mine," which is played extraordinarily beautifully, with exquisite guitar from Jerry G.  If you happen to own the old bootleg CD "Bear Trap," which contains some tracks from this show, don't let that prevent you from buying this.  The recording quality is way better here, with lots of tracks not on Bear Trap.  Lastly, I found the booklet to be very entertaining, especially the first sentence.  It's interesting to know that Dr. Timothy Leary was very involved in this performance, which took place on Indian land, so Federal law did not stifle the various explorations.  All in all, this is a wonderful addition to the Road Trips series.  It was good to hear The Dead's "humble" reaction to the introduction, where the m.c. describes them as "the greatest band in the universe."  Even though that IS true, it's fun to hear the Dead's response.


title: Vintage Tull!

text: Jethro Tull at the height of its powers.  65% rock and roll, 35% blues--the band with its most original voice.  After 30 years, each of the tracks holds up.


title: Exquisite, elegant, measured, and great.

text:
It's wonderful to return to these works after an absence of 30 years. Familiar, but ... consider the andante con moto of No 23 in F Minor, Op 57... it begins quietly, measured pace, the low notes of the keyboard,
certain in its course, building slowly, then it moves into the middle range, so beautiful, so much beauty, bell like tone of the notes, exquisite touch of the pianist, as if reasoning with us, listen to me, listen to me, a sense of urgency, sensual urgency builds, playfulness, but the inexorable drive to climax, back to the beginning for the resolution, a pause, then ....
If there is anything more beautiful in the piano repertoire, show it to me.
Played by a musicians artist.  A bargain.


title: Five Stars

text: makes one's day


title: Five Stars

text: I like him in the 60's and the songs bring back memories.  Great Cd


title: Listing problem and not a review

text: The listing gives the duration of performance as 273 minutes yet the number of discs is 1.  Is this a highlights recording or the full performance of the opera?


title: Tracks

text: Track list:  I Like It, Have A Good Time, That's What We Like, Mosquito, Zabadak, Take Me To The Voodoo Night, Disco Boogie Boogie, Ginger Red, Moonlight And Dancing, Buona Sera, Agadou, Big Bamboo, Holiday Nights, Pas Pleurer, Rasta Man, Malaika.