The Who,Whos Next,180 gram vinyl from back to black

Back to Black is another record distributor from Universal music I absolutely love!,here they've resurrected The Who's Who's Next in it's original glory,but with the exception this is heavier vinyl then the original 1973 MCA release. Back to Black has artists like Elton John,Kiss,Iggy Pop and Black Sabbath in it's catalog to name a few,and their prices can't be beat.I bought this off of Amazon brand new for 12 bucks,the sound is superb!,the only annoying aspect is records cover is protected by a clear plastic cover,with a plastic seal using glue to close,and loses its adherence,so ends up getting stuck to other record covers when you try to remove it,so just replaced it.

Album has no outtakes or bonus material,has the original repo of the rainbow MCA label,and is without a doubt the groups absolute best album. Baba O'riley,the first cut was written by Townsend based on the bands experience at Woodstock,a gorgeous rock tune with a fiddle conceived by Keith Moon. Bargain is the albums shining star,with Daltry giving us his best vocals second to ''Who are you?'',only Paul Rodgers rivals Daltry as rocks best vocalist.

Entwhistle contributes his strained but still listanable vocals in his self penned song ''My Wife'',an incredible rocker with fantastic drumming by the idiosyncratic Keith Moon.For those who are curious about the cover,it isn't real pee on the slab,lol,but was rainwater from a film container photographer Ethan Russell splashed in 3 places.
If you want to go back in time,this is a great album to do it,I give it a firm 10.

Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow,Sundazed Music 180 gram vinyl

Sundazed re release of the 1967 classic

At the time of this review only the mono version is available from Sundazed,the stereo is now out of print,but can still be found for around 12 to 17 dollars on Ebay,or Amazon.

Surrealistic Pillow released Feb of 1967 was one of the soundtracks to the summer of love along with The Monkees's Headquarters,The Beatle's Sgt. Pepper and The Door's debut album. Despite what it Say's on the back cover Jerry Garcia being the music and spiritual advisor,Captain ''Trips'' had nothing to do with this albums creation. The album was conceived while the band lived in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco with it's mix of folk rock,and psychedelia pioneered by The Byrds,Mamas and The Pappas [one band I absolutely loath with the exception of Mama Cass] The Seeds,and Love [a band genius Arthur Lee had formed].

Now,enter Grace Slick,the absolute cohesiveness of the band,and who without,the group would have gone nowhere. Grace contributes 2 of the albums highlights ''White Rabbit,and ''Somebody To Love'' she penned herself along with her ex husband she had previously recorded with her band The Great Society.Marty Balin is a great vocalist,but sounds a bit strained at times,and should have turned most of the songs over to Grace's pipes,including the gorgeous song ''Today'. Drummer Skip Spence who was considered to be American rock music's version of Syd Barrett had left the band at this point to form Moby Grape,and would be replaced by Spencer Dryden.

Pillow is not perfect,but contains gorgeous songs,a few sounding very dated,but still fun,I never cared for ''Plastic Fantastic lover'',the title is self explanatory,and found it tacky ruining the albums serious content.

Glad to see this brought back again,and 4 stars to Sundazed for a beautiful re release.

The Beatle's Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2012 remastered vinyl

After the 2009 Beatles catalog was released on compact disc in a mono and stereo box sets,it was also announced vinyl would follow shortly,this resulted due to the successful sales of Abbey Road released in 2007 and took two years for the magic to happen. The one problem with the vinyl revival are that new records that don't have their stamps checked and cleaned can leave pieces of vinyl lodged between a new records groove wall,and encountered this problem with Magical Mystery Tour I was able to fix.

Sargent Pepper changed the direction of rock music,though heavily influenced by The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds released a year earlier it's style makes it one of the most innovative album ever recorded. All the Beatles's 2012 vinyl are taken from the original master tapes using 16 bit,fans are anxious for the mono versions and want to give my opinion on that as it is not my preferred format. Stereo was avoided by many recording artists because of the high cost of the recording equitment at that time,plus,there was a fear it would just be a fad,so many avoided it.Most 60's groups once they saw it caught on re recorded the album a second time to win over those fans,an expensive mistake. The mono version of Sargent Pepper is quite different from it's stereo predecessor,indeed interesting,but lacks the excitement and depth.

The sound?,absolutely incredible!,though parts of the album seem a bit subdued,an improvement over the 2006 cd. The album is printed from original source art,a painstaking process,includes the original cardboard cutout as contained in the 1967 release. This is a ''total'' Paul album John Lennon would jeer in his song ''How do you sleep''? [So Sargent Pepper took you by surprise]. I had the original 70's copy of the LP,and can tell you,this is a great improvement.

So my review?,a splendid time is guaranteed for all!,lol

Simon and Garfunkel,Bookends from Sundazed

My copy of the album reviewed

I remember taking  $20.00 out of my wallet, approached the cashier at the Music Factory here in New Orleans,placed this album on the counter as I was purchasing it for $ 18.00 and exclaimed ''absolute masterpiece!'',he firmly agreed and a masterpiece it is! Paul Simon can rival Paul Mccartney in his songwriting tour De force,although approaching his subjects with a darker take.Bridge over troubled water far exeeds Let it Be if you were to place both songs back to back  as being exceedingly more beautiful,there was even talk on Larry King during a McCartney interview of both geniuses collaborating on an album together called ''The 2 Pauls.

This is Sundazed Music at their best,the packaging and vinyl are top quality,and even includes original poster [pictured].Originally released in 1968 from Columbia Records,Bookends remains one of my altime favorite albums,though did not sell as well as Bridge over troubled water,I would consider this the duos absolute best effort.



Poster contained in album,try getting this with a compact disc,lol


Opening with the poignant ''Save the life of my child'' filled with haunting background screams you won't forget and America,the ultimate ''seeker's song'' and lyrically brilliant! The 5th cut of side one is called voices of old people,this is Art's contribution.Art had visited several Jewish nursing homes and interviewed their residents who discuss their hardships of aging,and fits perfectly into the theme of this classic.

Side two rocks with the witty ''Fakin it'',AND,the albums highlight ''Mrs Robinson'' also the soundtrack from the 1968 coming of age film of the same title starring Dustin Hoffman.. Paul teases us with the ambiguous lyric ''hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes [an I.U.D,lol?,or perhaps her vibrator?],put it in your pantry with your cupcakes.

In closing,this is an album no collection should do without,I had the original pressing stolen along with my entire record collection during an apt break in while I lived in Dallas,so great to have this back!

ABBA ,The Visitors 180 gram vinyl

Love Revisited 180 gram vinyl from Sundazed Music

ABBA The Album

Now,you might ask ABBA?. These Swedish Delights sold more albums then the Beatles,Elvis and Michael Jackson in the 1970's,and excluding their saccharine disco period that to me was unbearable,these masters of pop released some of the most gorgeous songs in musics history,rivaling even The Beatles in some cases.

Re released in 2008,this 180 gram vinyl LP is one of the groups best efforts,with no disco to spoil it's charm. Opening with The Eagle with leas vocals by Anni,a beautiful song inspired by Richard Bach's Johnathon Livingston Seagull that singer Neil Diamond made a soundtrack to the motion picture a few years earlier.

Now,the second song ''Take a chance on me'' stayed at #1 for 3 weeks on the UK's charts,then side 1 ending with ''The name of the game'',in my opinion,ABBA's greatest song. ABBA is defiantly an acquired taste,and not for everyones musical palate. The Album [the lp's title] falls at # 3,The Visitors being my personal fav,and their last before the group called it quits. It's unfortunate that they had to ruin the magic during their disco period,guess they wanted to compete with their competitors at the time The BEE GEES,but that aside,this is a gorgeous recording on high quality vinyl in stirdy packaging. All of ABBA's recordings have been re released on vinyl,theres even a boxset that sells for close to $ 200.00,and my advice with sets is if you have 1 album thats defective,it's hard to return entire package,plus the heavy disco lp Voulus Vous and Waterloo are two albums you could do without.

This band will be missed,a great shame they disbanded in 1982,and highly recommend this album.

The Beach Boys Smile sessions

The Beatle's Magical Mystery Tour 2012 EMI vinyl remaster

Let me start this off by saying I hate CDs,the 2009 remaster couldn't hold a candle to this gem's sound.Now!,let me take you down cause' I'm going,lol.......

Magical Mystery Tour was not originally concieved as an album,but a collection of songs originally released in the U.K. as an EP to a sountrack of a film of the same name that was a total turkey complete with stuffing including horrid acting,and a nonesensicle plot.

In the United States,it was issued in LP form containing a booklet that was sort of a press book of the film,and remains my favorite Beatle album second to Abbey Road,and this album has to be heard to be believed!. Remastered from the original tapes and MUCH better sounding then the Mobile Fidelity's 80's half speed master release,but insinuated that this is nothing but a vinyl CD as the same tapes used in 2009 for the compact discs were used here,only a more painstaking process was employed for the vinyl,the holdup?. The vinyl releases were slated for 2010 release,but EMI wanted all the original artwork used for the original releases before they said all systems go as all 80's release covers and inserts were from second hand copies,like taking a picture of a picture if you will.

Album contains original booklet on a heavier stock paper then the original,and is contained loose,not glued to the gate fold like the original 1967 version. The 2009 CD  doesn't have nearly the details of this LP,has a lousy channel separation meaning it is not as wide ranged or lively as the vinyl version. Ringo's drumming is as alive as being there in the studio while it was recorded,John's I buried Paul statement is loud and clear at the end of Strawberry Fields,and while on the subject,want to clear a myth,it is said he is actually saying cranberry sauce,and this is true on other recordings of the song,as on past masters,but on the final cut,not so,listen for yourself. The title song of the album is the greatest delight,with the reverberation of ''roll up'' [the songs chorus] heard beautifully clear. Though songs like Baby Your a rich man,and Flying can be considered ''fillers'' as these songs are not the boys at thier best,this is a Beatles masterpiece,a step above Sargent Pepper in my opinion.

My conclusion,highly recommended,an absolute 10 hands down!

Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Elvis Costello This Years Model Original master recording

During the late 1980's,Mobile Fidelity had an impressive catalog of half speed masters from artists ranging from Tangerine Dream to The Beatles. The Beatle LP's fetch quite a fortune on EBay,Magical Mystery Tour can cost up to $ 300.00 sealed,BUT,many are unaware that these bass heavy albums were NOT taken from the original master sources,but second hand American Capital Record's vault tapes,SO,these are not original master recordings.

Mobile Fidelity was not the only company to produce half speed masters during the 80's,nor were they the best. CBS Masterworks takes their crown and at  half the cost,though not as elaborately packaged,there was also Nautilus.

Now,back to Elvis. Record comes packaged sandwiched between heavy cardboard just like MF's albums of the 80's and early 90's with a high quality sleeve,is pressed on top notch virgin vinyl and uses the alternate original U.K. cover photo.

This Years Model  produced by Nick Lowe was recorded to be very bass heavy as it was in it's initial release in 1978,something VERY lacking in MF's mastering,and is almost absent entirely,a big minus,also,this was mastered at low output,so you have to torque the volume on your receiver quite extravagantly,another minus. Filled with amphetamine driven songs like Lip Service,and the masterpiece Lipstick Vogue,TYM is regarded as one of rocks greatest albums,though does not contain extra song bonuses like The Rydo disc CD release.

The sound though is outstanding with crisp highs and sharp details,you can actually hear instruments not heard in the regular pressings.,so is it worth $ 30.00?,you betcha!,though not what I expected,well worth the price. Also available are Armed Forces and My Aim Is True. This album my friends along with The Car's Candy 0 I regard as the absolute greatest close of the 70's albums period.

http://www.mofi.com/

The Left Banke Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina from Sundazed Music.

Though not as innovative as Pet Sounds, but better than The Byrd's Younger than Yesterday also released the same year,this 1966 baroque masterpiece has to be heard to be believed !. Sundazed Music is not my favorite record company,as they could do a tad better in their packaging and vinyl quality,BUT,did a superb job remastering what I consider to be one of the best albums ever recorded.

Sundazed Music's re release of The Left Banke's 1966 materpiece.

Bear in mind,this was released a year before The Summer Of Love that heralded such greats as Sgt Pepper,and Love's ''Forever Changes'' [Also released by Sundazed,but now out of print,and selling for as high as $150.00 on EBay] and The Jefferson Airplanes ''Surrealistic Pillow'',another title available by sundazed. It's unfortunate that this band only recorded 2 albums,their contentions with the control freak member Michael Brown distroyed the groups cohesiveness,their second album The Left Banke Too which included a young Steve Tyler on backup vocals released two years later minus Brown was a solid effort,but the magic was goneat this point.

Songs such as Barterers and their Wives,and I've got something on my mind are the albums highlights and beautifully composed. The packaging is good as is the vinyl quality,but Sundazed could put more effort into thier products as the asking price of $ 17.00 for this lp is a bit steep.

Interesting to note the compact disc released in 1992 now out of print ''Theres gonna be a storm'' the bands complete works fetches a small fortune on EBay.

The Monkees Head soundtrack,180gram vinyl from Rhino Records

After the cancellation of the Monkees TV series,Bob Rafelson had a brainstorm to make a full feature film,but much to the surprise of their dwindling audience,it was more adult oriented,and indeed a perfect ploy to pull the plug on a band who's polarity had waned to a point where even using the word Monkees was uncool. The teenyboppers had gotten tired of them,the film was aimed at a last ditch attempt to win over a maturer audience,but the hippies hated them.,so this was Mick,Peter,Mike and Davy's form of suicide..

Now,the soundtrack.Rhino did a commendable job of remastering this,with a reproduction cover as close to the original 1968 original release as possible,the idea of the reflective cover was to view your own face,originally,this reflective coating destroyed Colgems pressing plates. Rhino records is the absolute best new release vinyl manufacturer hands down with top quality vinyl,original packaging duplicates.

Edited by non other then Jack Nicholson who added the collage of film soundtrack clips between songs after exhausted Mike Nesmith just gave up at the sound board,Jack insisted he take over,Mike happily obliged that can be annoying with first listen,but fits the atmosphere impeccably after you break into it.

Starting with the Carol King masterpiece The Porpoise Song,a gorgeous almost angelic tune that's sounds like a cross between a slowed down version of The Beatles Hello Goodbye,and I am the Walrus sung by Micky with musicians including Neil Young who also played acoustic guitar on side b's As we go along.

Another powerhouse is Mike Nesmith's poignant anti war song Circle Sky recorded live in Australia with screaming fans in the background practically drowning out the song,Peter contributed 2 of his own songs he penned himself,Do I have to do this all over again being the albums strongest moment,with relentless guitar riffs followed by a gorgeous organ. Davy sings Daddy's song,and might add Jones's best Monkees song. As we go along,penned by Carol King opens up side two,and Micky's best vocal effort,a gorgeous song that's hard to forget.

This is a major improvement over Rhino's 1986 release,that also sounds fantastic,but this is mastered much better.

Head is an album no Monkee's fan should be without.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKmPmZoKeP0