Out of the Blue Review

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(More customer reviews)You know those desert island discs people talk about? Those top 10 lists? This CD is one of those for me.
In 1977, I was a teenager, just graduated from high school, working the lightweight job. ELO's previous album "A New World Record" was in the 8-track deck in the Pinto a lot. I adored everything about that project and like a lot of ELO fans anxiously awaited the next release. When I heard it was going to be a double album I was prepared for the worst. After all, how many double album packages were great? OK, the Beatles white album was pretty good but I was afraid Jeff Lynne would produce a mess like the John Lennon "Number 9" thing at the end of the white album. (OK, you can direct the hate mail to me.)
But I was not prepared when I went to the record store in 1977 and plopped down almost four hours wages at the time to buy the 8 track on the day of release. I didn't open it up then, I went immediately home and relaxed a bit, put on the headphones and listened. Holy moley! I listened again. And again. I remember I listened to it 6 times that night. I couldn't get over the fact that there was nothing wrong with this album. Starting off with the single "Turn To Stone" and ending with the fantasy "Wild West Hero" I couldn't find fault. I instantly thought "Sweet Talkin' Woman" was one of the finest singles ever. "Jungle" a song about ALL the world and its inhabitants having one big party, the four song "concerto", "The Whale" one of the finest songs with whales singing the lead.
Each song evokes a different emotion and strong memories for me. This IS Jeff Lynne's masterpiece. I'd recommend buying a greatest hits package if you want ELO's biggies, but if you want to dig a bit deeper and get a sense of what a great composer and producer Jeff Lynne is (hey, he wasn't a "Traveling Wilbury" for nothing), then this 4 sided record on 1 CD is the to buy. Since that initial 8 track, I bought it on LP and now on CD, where it sounds as bright and crisp as the LP and of course 100 times better than the ol' 8 track. Where is that thing anyway?

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Winterland June 1977: The Complete Recordings (9 CD Boxed Set) Review

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Rhino have really outdone themselves in every way possible on this one.
The first thing you notice is the elaborate artwork of the package, which was painstakingly and beautifully done by neo 60s rock poster artist Emek. Each of the 3 CD packages that contains each of the three shows folds out, and when put together, form a new picture.
But the packaging is just the beginning of these great shows. The sound quality is literally mind blowingly unbelievable. Each show was carefully remastered by longtime sound engnineer Jeffrey Norman, who has worked on a long list of previous Grateful Dead recordings.
Over the years, I've amassed somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 or so official live Dead releases, and can confidently say that nothing even comes close to the sound here. I will just stop writing about it now, because words can't describe the clarity and definition.
If you're reading this, you probably already know that 1977 is widely considered among the Dead's strongest. Assuming that to be true, then these 3 shows are the cream of the crop.
So sit back, get yourself properly regulated ahead of time, insert the disc, and you might just feel like you've been teleported three decades back to the legendary Winterland.

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Winterland June 1977: The Complete Recordings presents the legendary 3-night run (June 7, 8, 9) that marked the band's triumphant return from one of the greatest tours in rock 'n' roll history. Winterland's relaxed atmosphere truly brings out the best as the guys deliver six inspired sets of free-flowing creativity and peak musicianship.
Completists rejoice -- 9 full discs, 68 tracks of prime time Dead! Experience all 3 shows from start-to-finish as every note from the analog masters has been brought back to distortion-free, pitch-perfect reality using Plangent Processes. Adding to the bliss, the restored audio has been lovingly mastered to HDCD by Jeffrey Norman.
Winterland June 1977 is the faithful companion to last year's standard-setting set, Winterland 1973. It features archival packaging, cover art by Emek, a 28-page booklet with an insightful essay by Rolling Stone's David Fricke, along with lots of amazing photos and a few surprises.

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Book of Dreams Review

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(More customer reviews)When Miller, Mallaber, and Turner took their chums into the studios to record 'Fly Like an Eagle', they emerged with 22 tracks. Some may have noticed that there are only 12 tracks on '... Eagle'. Rather than release what would have been one of the greatest double studio LPs of all time, Miller decided to release a magnificent single LP there and then, and hold on to the remaining tracks for the next release. No way could the tracks he held onto be considered less outstanding than the ones that made it for immediate release.
If anything, 'Book of Dreams' is an even better album. It has the two excellent singles 'Jet Airliner' and 'Jungle Love'. It also has the wonderful 'Swingtown', which was typically the first pick of many TV and FM radio stations when the album was first released. (In the UK, the Old Grey Whistle Test played the track to one of those marvellous American black-and-white cartoons of the 1920s or 30s.)
But the stand-out track -- the real reason why you cannot just buy the Greatest Hits album -- is the sublime 'Sacrifice', preceded by 'Electro Lux Imbroglio'. Les Dudek's guitar solo on 'Sacrifice' is quite simply one of the most sublime I've heard -- a 1970s peak which has never since been bettered in mainstream rock.
The only question remaining is which version of the CD to buy. Personally I would spend a little extra to get the remastered version from Eagle. I have the 1992 Australian pressing from Liberation Records (manufactured by Disctronics) and though the synthesizers are very sharp, the drum sound on tracks like 'Jet Airliner' is a little dull.
Which you buy, you won't be disappointed.

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24 bit digitally remastered 1998 reissue on Eagle of theirsmash album that reached #2 when first released on Capitolin 1977. Contains the original cover art, new sleeve notes &all 12 tracks, including the top 10 hit 'Jet Airliner', thetop 20 'Swingtown' a--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Foreigner Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the classic Foreigner release that so many of us 30-somethings remember. If you are planning to buy this DVD Audio disk, then chances are good that you listened to the original vinyl release when you were younger. Well, you're in for a treat.
This release reveals vocal and instrumental details that you've never heard. Lou Gramm has an excellent voice...I never knew this before listening to the 96-24 version. If you were a fan of the original album, then buy this (After upgrading your system to fully appreciate the DVD Audio experience).
This disk has an abundance of extras:
You can listen to the disk as Mick Jones and Lou Gramm talk along. They convey their experiences with each song as it plays on your stereo.
The best bonus, however, is the four demo versions included:
"Feels Like The First Time," "Woman oh Woman," At War With The World," and "Take Me To Your Leader," are included here.
If you buy this DVD-A disk (and you should), do yourself a favor...listen to the demo version of "Feels Like The First Time" before you listen to the regular version of the song.
The demo is absolutely horrible! It's fun and interesting to compare the two. My hat is off to Foreigner and the producers for having the guts to release their demos. Many bands will not do this.
I did not give this release 5 stars because I reserve such a rating for sensational, life-altering products. This is a very good addition to any DVD-A collection. Highly recommended.

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Expanded & remastered edition of their 1977 debut with 4added bonus demo versions of 'Feels Like The First Time','Woman Oh Woman', 'At War With The World' & 'Take Me ToYour Leader'.

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