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