Too Dark Park Review

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(More customer reviews)"Too Dark Park" is the best-loved Skinny Puppy album amongst hardcore fans and certainly a good place to start for the uninitiated. SP's previous effort "Rabies" (1989) is slightly easier to listen to, mostly due to slick production courtesy of Al Jourgensen (please tell me you know who that is). However, unless your mind is of the warped and delinquent variety, you'll find that Skinny Puppy is ANYTHING but easy listening. Skinny Puppy is a horror show for the ears, sonic masochism, a terrible but engaging nightmare that you can't wake from. In that respect, TDP is arguably the most quintessential Puppy album. It's harsh, dense, chaotic, and angry as hell, a culmination of the sound that they had been driving towards since they banded in 1982. (Their next album, 1991's "Last Rights", is a slight departure into experimentalism while 1996's "The Process" sounds like a completely different band.)
But be forewarned. I suspect that most people won't be able to recognize this as music. People who consider industrial-lite fluff like Filter and Stabbing Westward "cutting edge" or "hardcore" are in for a big, big (big) shock. In fact, they'd probably do best to pass on this band; I doubt they'd "get it". But you're probably here because you want something BIZARRE and DIFFERENT!
"Too Dark Park" jerks to life with "Convulsion", probably the most dense and chaotic track on the album. Inter-cut with samples from a documentary on LSD, Nivek Ogre's vocals and lyrics make it clear upfront that he's just about lost it. "Tormentor", the next track, is my favorite. Cevin Key and Dwayne Goettel morph what could've been a relatively standard industrial-dance track into something dark and sinister. "Spasmolytic" is just flat out insane. Phrases and words are strung together in maniacal fashion, suggesting an intense and hellish drug withdrawal whilst living in urban squalor. The single version of "Spasmolytic" gets the minimalist treatment, making it spookier and decidedly better (it should've been on this album, but you can get it on "The Singles Connection"). "Rash Reflection" shares a similar electro-sound with "Tormentor", but is decidedly more claustrophobic and terrifying. I'll stop here, but suffice it to say that every track is its own private nightmare and every one is equally as good as the next.
The lyrics are written in a drug-crazed William S. Burroughs style of free association. It's hard to understand what's going on, but that's all part of the experience. TDP forces you to live the nightmare of drug addiction/withdrawal and the mental chaos associated with it; the music adds emotional and visceral chaos, churning the whole vile mixture out of control. In case you're wondering, you don't have to be an addict or ex-addict to appreciate it - I've never touched a hard drug in my life. Drugs are a central theme, but there's so much more going on here.
As great as this album is, it's not even my favorite Skinny Puppy album. In the beginning they had a lo-fi 80's synth sound that was just perfect, plus they used a lot of obscure horror movie samples = fun times. So while this album is great, it gets even better.
Brap on.

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Abacab Review

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(More customer reviews)Genesis did not "stab their fans in the back" with Abacab. The "fans" who felt this way (like trickoftail and all the rude boo-ers from the Abacab tour) were never really Genesis fans in the first place. They were just progressive rock fans who liked Yes/ELP/Rush etc. and some of the longer epic pieces and concept albums that Genesis did.
Yes, Abacab doesn't sound like early Genesis or other early prog bands...so what? It's still a great album full of fresh, creative ideas. Progressive rock isn't the only good style of music on the planet. To say that this is on the same level as Backstreet Boys or N'Sync is just plain ignorant, just as it is to say that it sounds just like Phil Collins' solo material. The only songs that sound anything like Phil solo on this album are No Reply At All and Man On The Corner, the rest are definitely Genesis songs.
Bottom line: if you only like the prototypical "progressive" side of Genesis, like the 10-minute epics and the long keyboard/guitar solos and the classical-sounding arrangements and the concept albums, then you might not like this album. But if you like bands that aren't afraid to change their sound and experiment with new ideas (which is the REAL meaning of "progressive"), then give this one a chance.

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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING Review

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(More customer reviews)One of three LP/CDs by the Beatles among my all-time top ten, along with "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver". Though not my personal favorite, this recording is essential in any collection of pop/rock recordings. It has been, since its release, a standard by which others are measured. It also marks the high-water mark of the Beatles creativity as a band. After "Sgt. Pepper..." came a directionless time during which the "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine" records were released, followed by the period the band's breakdown, as chronicled in the "White Album", "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road". Though these latter efforts contained plenty of great music, it was clear that the Beatles were increasingly unable to function together as a unit. Individual tracks almost always spotlighted one of the band members while the others worked essentially as a backing group.
During a recent TV special, it wa said that, during the time the Beatles were in the studio making "Sgt. Pepper...", there was a lot of doubt about what they would come out with and many fans were giving up on them. As someone who was around at the time, I certainly don't remember much of that. Of course, the Beatles always had a few doubters and detractors, but most of us were looking forward to their next record. Stories of how much time and effort were going into it only fueled our anticipation. It was like the release of the fourth Harry Potter book when "Sgt. Pepper..." finally came out. Some stores opened early and huge numbers were sold the first day of it's release. I bought a copy that day like many others. Nor was I disappointed. Since then, I have spent many hours listening to "Sgt. Pepper..." and I expect I'll spend many more.
To appreciate the significance of "Sgt. Pepper..." you have to understand the pivotal place of the Beatles in the culture of the time. Quite simply, they changed everything. Before the Beatles, the primary medium of pop/rock music was the 45 rpm single. The Beatles released a flood of good quality songs, many original, so that "albums" became more than just a couple of hit singles packaged with a bunch of throwaway tracks. All of the tracks were good and people began to buy albums because it was the best way to get all the music. "Sgt. Pepper..." took this a step further by making the album a more unified whole. It elevated pop/rock music to the level of art, implying an expressiveness and timelessness beyond anything rock had previously aspired to. But the impact of the Beatles went far beyond music. It entered into fashion, modes of behavior, and popular attitudes in a variety of areas. We were even fed a constant stream of news reports about what the Beatles were doing from day to day or week to week. London became, for a time, THE cultural center of the world.
"Sgt. Pepper..." itself has a timeless quality. Songs such as With A Little Help From My Friends, Getting Better, Within You Without You, When I'm Sixty-four and others have themes that people can relate to just as well today as when they were first released. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and A Day In The Life, while perhaps mored dated lyrically, are among the most interesting pieces in other respects.
For those of us who were around and listening when "Sgt. Pepper..." came out, it is more than just a record or CD. It marks the peak of a time of incredible energy and change. The decline and dissolution of the Beatles is something many of us still feel in a very personal way. Even today, we mourn the end of the Beatles and the death of John Lennon. Those events represent the passing and final end of something we treasured.
"Sgt. Pepper..." is a great record by a great band. Even more, it is a central landmark of its period and of its genre. If you think you like rock music, but you don't have a copy of "Sgt. Pepper...", sorry but you've missed it. Get a copy. You can't really appreciate the Beatles without it. Definitely a favorite of mine, and I expect it will be a favorite of yours, too.

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In 1985 Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MFSL) under a license from EMI issued a special, limited edition pressing of the legendary 'St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' Beatles album. This release was in anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the original release date. All MSFL reissues were unique for the following reasons: 1) The vinyl was the highest quality 'virgin' vinyl that was manufactured to exacting standards of purity; 2) The cardboard and printing paper for the cover was of significantly higher quality than the standard 'run of the mill' LP cover of the time; 3) The inner sleeve was a high quality anti-static polyester protective sleeve; 4) The LP Disc was pressed on ultra-high quality record presses in Japan resulting in the highest quality vinyl pressing possible given the technology of the time; 5) Quality assurance standard were exacting and uncompromising - the discs are without question the best discs on the planet. 6) Last, but certainly not least, the LP mastering was done from the original master tapes not second (or beyond) generation dupes. In the end these discs were the finest mass market pressings available - which explains why they are so in demand by record collectors around the world.

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Black Celebration (Dts) (Dig) Review

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(More customer reviews)The following review has been 21 years in coming as Depeche Mode's 1986 album and crowning achievement of their discography, 'Black Celebration', has steadfastly remained my most favorite and revered artist album of all time.
Following the moderate success of the highly innovative and experimental 'Construction Time Again' in 1983 and then a more resounding achievement, both in terms of the critical acclaim and subsequent tour which followed 1984's 'Some Great Reward', the time had come once again ("Get out the crane...") for the Basildon four to push the creative envelope further still and reach deeper yet, in efforts to broaden their burgeoning, worldwide fan base. In essence, it was time the world took notice of Depeche Mode and the band was ready ready to be taken seriously as a major and credible all electronic act. Who could have ever imagined an album which featured nothing in the vein of 'radio friendly' singles and lyrics which reflected on the darker nature of "The world we live and life in general", would aid in ascending the band to such stellar heights?
'Black Celebration', a dark, moody, sonic epitome of what the band was all about in terms of sound, word, voice and overall aesthetic, saw the creation of what I lovingly refer to as Depeche Mode's own personal, exclusively electronic sister to 'Dark Side of the Moon.' Indeed, the prodcution values and themes present on this 5th studio album were richer, more densely layered and contained combined elements which would demand the band be regarded as a musical force to be reckoned with by fans and critics alike and also as harbingers of a new era in electronic music.
From the moody, darkly atmospheric, sample laden opening of the albums title track, to the industrial yet plaintive longings of 'Stripped', 'Black Celebration' is a seductive soundscape drenched in reverb, angst and an oppressive, foreboding ambience which conjures heady, if not bleak imagery of life, love and lust. The inclusion of a slightly (final) remixed version of 'Fly on the Windscreen' (1985's 'It's Called a Heart' B-side) was an obvious and proper choice, given the fact the track seemed to lend itself perfectly to the overall vibe of 'doom and gloom' ever present throughout the album. Another slightly new and inventive production technique, previously employed on 'Construction Time Again' (though to a lesser extent) was the mixing and sequeing of tracks together without traditional pauses or breaks. This production value is most notably featured on the albums first three tracks, beginning with 'Black Celebration' and concluding with the heartbreaking yet gorgeous strains of 'A Question of Lust.' The mixing of the first three tracks as one extended album intro, remains to this day the most flawless album opening I've ever experienced and has yet to be duplicated. The albums ebb and flow, as well as its overall track arrangement and order, is nothing short of brilliant. Alan Wilder's meticulous attention to every detail is quite obvious in every sound, note and nuance.
Many of the production elements found on 'Black Celebration' bear a striking resemblance to the sounds Wilder would later experiment with on his Recoil project, while Martin Gore's profound, emotionally resonant lyrics are, I feel, some of the best of his career. 'Sometimes', 'Here is the House' and 'World Full of Nothing' are three of the most beautiful Depeche Mode tracks ever produced.
While I enjoy the track 'But Not Tonight' ('Stripped' B-side and included on the US album release), I do feel the decision to excise it from the re-master re-release was a fitting one as the track lends itself to a more 'pop' sensibility and somewhat diminishes the mood and atmosphere created by the albums preceding tracks. Some argue the song allows the album to conclude on a more positive, upbeat note. However, I feel the albums original (UK release) closing track, 'New Dress', achieves the same task but with more pronounced minor chords and haunting lyrics, while still maintaining an air of optimism against gritty realism - 'You may change the world..."
As for the DVD re-master, the sound is fresh, crisp and startlingly bold and the CD version is nearly as impressive. The albums packaging, replete with the embossed logos of the original LP sleeve and which features red tulips before a looming skyscraper draped in European military styled banners (the explanation of the album covers creation and design is especially interesting on the DVD documentary) is both stark, beautiful and visually appealing as ever. And while I regard Anton Corbijn as an accomplished photographer and graphic designer in his own right, I do feel the band's album and single artwork which followed 'Music for the Masses', suffered an artistic defeat of sorts after the band parted ways with photographer Brian Griffin ('A Broken Frame') and Towne and Country Planning.
After the release and critical success of 'Black Celebration', Depeche Mode continued (and continues) from strength to strength, purifying and always evolving their production prowess to the next level with each subsequent album that followed - a sign of true talent for any band wishing to succeed in the music industry. The sonic artwork crafted on this album has yet to be replicated and I doubt it ever will. 'Black Celebration' was the turning point for the band. It was a moment in time, a testament to 'life in the so-called space age' and an indicator that one of electronicas inimitable pioneers were about to take the world by storm. "I'll drink to that..."

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1984's BLACK CELEBRATION is an emotionally intense, anthemicmasterpiece that introduced the classics "Stripped," "A Question Of Time," "Fly On The Windscreen," and the titletrack. DVD boasts three songs recorded "Live In Birmingham 1986" plus eight more bonus tracks includingalternate versions of "Shake The Disease," "Flexible," "Fly On The Windscreen," and "It's Called A Heart."Also includes the DVD film Depeche Mode 1986: The Songs Aren't Good Enough, There Aren't Any Singles And It'llNever Get Played On The Radio. DVD, Album in 5.1 & Hi-Res Stereo.

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A Trick of the Tail Review

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(More customer reviews)1976's "A Trick Of The Tail" was the first Genesis album without lead singer Peter Gabriel, with drummer Phil Collins taking Gabriel's place at the mike on a full-time basis for the first time (Phil had already sung lead vocals on a pair of the band's earlier songs, "For Absent Friends" & "More Fool Me"). "A Trick Of The Tail" was a landmark album for the band, and it still stands today as one of their best. It not only showed the music world that Genesis *could* survive without Gabriel, it also proved to those who thought of Genesis as "The Peter Gabriel Band" that Gabriel was not, in fact, the only talented musician in the group. While Peter is most certainly a musical genius, and he was a fantastic frontman & songwriter for Genesis, ALL of the band members, including Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, and former members including Anthony Phillips, etc., all contributed to the group's musical magic right along with Peter. "A Trick Of The Tail" was the proof of that. Now a quartet, "A Trick Of The Tail" finds Genesis still at the top of their game, with eight marvelous compositions that remain among the best in all of progressive rock, with such band staples as "Dance On A Volcano," "Squonk" (both superb Genesis rockers), the lovely, majestic songs "Entangled," "Mad Man Moon" & "Ripples," the great fun of "Robbery, Assault & Battery" & the title song, and the mindblowing coda, "Los Endos" (a sort of instrumental re-cap of the album's previous songs, with the band bidding a fond farewell to Peter Gabriel at the very end, as Collins sings "There's an angel standing in the sun/Free to get back home"---it's a line from "Supper's Ready," the band's magnum opus from 1972). The band's songwriting & musicianship here is truly sensational, with Banks, Collins, Hackett & Rutherford delivering some of their greatest work ever recorded. And Collins' voice perfectly fits the bill---if *any* singer could take over for Peter Gabriel, it was Phil. Thank God that the band didn't have to look very far for the man for the job! "A Trick Of The Tail" is classic Genesis all the way, and one of the band's greatest accomplishments. Let the dance---and the Phil Collins era---begin!

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Digitally remastered reissue of the 1976 album by the esteemed Prog/Rock band featuring a new stereo mix of the album. This reissue features the new mix of the album's original tracks (sans bonus tracks) yet adds a new breath of fresh air on these classic recordings. Eight tracks including 'Dance On A Volcano', 'Entangled' and 'Robbery, Assault And Battery'. EMI. 2008.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Pyromania Review

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(More customer reviews)Released in 1983 "Pyromania" was the album that broke Def Leppard in America but primarily due to MTV's playing the videos of "Photograph", "Foolin'" and "Rock Of Ages". Again, with Robert John "Mutt" Lange doing the producing as well as co-writing most of the songs "Pyromania" had it's share of great songs starting with the hits "Photograph", "Foolin'", "Rock Of Ages", and "Rock Rock (Till You Drop)", etc. More polished than the band's 1981 album "High N' Dry" (but in my opinion not necessarily better) it was ex-Girl guitarist Phil Collen's debut replacing original guitarist and founder Pete Willis. "Pyromania" seems to have a more commercial sound than the previous albums and the band seems to be getting away from their NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) roots. The remastering on this Deluxe Edition is far superior when compared to the older non-remastered single disc. I hear a crispness and more midrange in this newly remastered version that the older version lacked. The bonus disc (running just over seventy minutes long) from a concert in 1983 at the L.A. Forum is extremely well recorded and is a treat for Def Leppard fans as it includes not only material from "Pyromania" but from "High N' Dry" and "All Through The Night". Songs such as "Rock Brigade", "Wasted", "High N' Dry (Saturday Night)", "Another Hit And Run" and "Let It Go" have never been recorded "live" on cd or dvd for commercial release as far as this reviewer remembers so this is a first. Queen's Brian May even makes an appearance joining the band in playing the Creedence Clearwater classic "Travelin' Band" (the ending mixed with Led Zeppelin's "Rock And Roll"). The packaging of this Deluxe Edition of "Pyromania" is excellent with both discs securely mounted and there's also a fairly lengthy booklet with colorful photos of the band. Highly recommended!

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Pyromania, Def Leppard's third album originally released in 1983, was the album that took the band to the global stage. Produced by Robert "mutt" Lange, the album sold over 10 million copies in the USA alone and spawned the huge singles "Photograph," "rock of ages" and "Foolin'." The Deluxe Edition features a remastered version of the original album and a bonus disc of a previously unreleased 15-track show from the La Forum in 1983.

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Somewhere in Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Iron Maiden's golden age started with "Killers" and pretty much ended with "Somewhere in Time". All of the songs on "Somewhere" are ambitious, adding new elements to Maiden's sound. The guitar synth's found on "Somewhere" are present, but not as overpowering as on the follow-up cd "Seventh Son". Everything Maiden fans enjoy about the band are present on "Somewhere". Steve Harris' bass lines crackle, and Dickinson's urgent vocals really carry the album along. The guitar riffs are catchy, and hook you right away. The thing that always impressed me with Iron Maiden, was that, during the 80's most metal bands like Ratt, Posion, Motley Crue etc, were busy playing and singing about rock n' roll, girls and partying. Maiden often based their music on literature; "Murders in the Rue Morgue", poetry: "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", history; "Aces High", "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills"; religion; "Heaven Can Wait", "Number of the Beast" and mythology "Icarus" and "Poweslave". The great epic metal tunes on Iron Maiden disks defied the conventions of the time, where most bands stuck to radio-friendly, 5 minutes or less rock anthems. Iron Maiden was, and is more than just a standard metal band, and if you are a music fan, you are doing yourself a great dis-service if you don't pick up the disks from the heyday. "Somewhere in Time" features 8 great track, each better than the one before it. Listen to "Alexander the Great" and ask yourself if any other band at the height of their popularity would have been able to put that song on a cd. The guitar riff on "Wasted Years" will be running through your head all day, and you will be humming the chorus of "Heaven Can Wait" for a long time. This is a great album, from a band that always brought a little more to the table than just catchy rock anthems.

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Digitally remastered reissue of their 1986 studio album for EMI. Eight tracks. An enhanced release, it includes the CD-ROM videos to 'Wasted Years' & 'Stranger In Strange Land'. Also includes the original cover art. 1998 Raw Power release.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Magical Mystery Tour Canadian Pressing Review

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(More customer reviews)MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR was a dismal failure as a BBC television special, and justly so. In fact, it was so awful the program was never aired in the United States. Unscriptedly ad-lib and haphazard, the film's occasional musical performance highlights couldn't redeem what was a silly exercise in group personal excess.
Conversely, the American record album of MMT (ironically unavailable in Britain) was a wondrous thing indeed. The entirety and order of its songlist are included on this CD release. Inside the record's foldout cover are several pages of 12" stills taken directly from that strange movie. The LP also contain the complete song lyrics. Best of all, several Top 40 records that weren't a part of that original TV show were used to flesh out this set.
The majority of the songs on this Xmas '67 release received a great deal of American AM radio airplay at the time. No other US Beatles album contain as many chart topping hits as MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. Pretty good for what at the time was considered a letdown for all involved and their fans.
In many ways, MMT holds up better than SGT. PEPPER'S. Musically, if not cinematically, this was the Beatles at their height as a cohesive group.
PROGRAM--
SIDE ONE:
[2:51] Magical Mystery Tour
[3:00] The Fool on the Hill
[2:16] Flying (Instrumental)
[3:56] Blue Jay Way
[2:29] Your Mother Should Know
[4:36] I Am the Walrus
SIDE TWO:
[3:30] Hello, Goodbye
[4:10] Strawberry Fields Forever
[3:03] Penny Lane
[3:03] Baby, You're a Rich Man
[3:48] All You Need Is Love
TOTAL TIME: 36:48

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Caress of Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)This wrongly overlooked album is a treasure trove of early 70's heavy prog rock. The second album with the amazing Neil Peart behind the pen and drum kit, Caress has the raw intensity and sincerity that the band launched their career on. Fast moving tracks like "Bastille Day" and "I Think I'm Goin' Bald" balance the two slower concept pieces, "The Necromancer" (thinly veiled Tolkien, gotta love it!) and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Both of the concept pieces are classic, and preview the band's move into the full-blown, hard rock must-have concept album 2112 (and later, "Hemispheres"). If you're exploring the sonic world of Rush, don't forget Caress of Steel!

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Japanese only paper sleeve SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Warner. 2009.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Faith (2 CD/1 DVD Special Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)The album 'Faith' is a classic/landmark debut solo release by the talented singer-songwriter, George Michael in 1987, having just left his popular band Wham (George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley). The album 'Faith' was a worldwide instant success/smash, selling over 20 million copies & spawning 5 number one chart hits. The album also went to win a Grammy for album of the year. This 'Faith Special Edition' release has 2 CDs, 1 DVD & 40 page hardbound book with exclusive interview as well as rare photos. Disc 1 has 'Faith' album 10 tracks (2010 remastered versions). The production/sound quality is great as compared to that of my original Vinyl LP/Album I bought in 1987. With the hits "Faith", "Father Figure", "I Want Your Sex" (this song reached number one with minimal airplay/videoplay as the song was banned!), "One More Try" & "Kissing A Fool", one can't go wrong. Disc 2 (9 tracks, 2010 remastered versions) has great instrumentals ("Faith" & "Kissing A Fool"), great & rare remixes ("Hard Day", Shep Pettibone Remix, "Monkey", Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Remix), rare versions ("Monkey", great Maxi single, "Monkey", amazing alla cappella version & "Love's In Need Of Love Today, great live performance) & B-sides "Fantasy" & "I Believe(When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever"). The DVD has music videos of hits "I Want Your Sex" (2 versions : censored & uncensored versions, this is my first look as to what caused its banning in 1987),"Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", "Monkey" & "Kissing A Fool", promotional music videos as well as the 1987 Channel 4, UK 60 minutes interview. On overall, this is a great 're-issue' of George Michael's classic/landmark album, a must for his fans & hopefully acquiring new ones as well, a highly recommended listening & viewing.

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When George Michael released his debut solo album Faith in 1987, it instantly caught the imagination of the entire pop world, becoming a milestone in his career and in popular culture. Written, arranged and produced entirely by George Michael, Faith confirmed his status as a songwriter of outstanding ability and emotional depth, instantly propelling him to superstar status. The album produced six Number One singles: Father Figure, Faith, I Want Your Sex, One More Try, and Kissing A Fool. After hitting the Number One spot on both sides of the Atlantic, Faith went on to sell over twenty million albums worldwide and win countless accolades, including the Grammy for Album Of The Year. Over twenty years later, Faith is still a high point in pop music as well as a measure for any artist wanting to cross genres and gain popular and critical appeal. Now remastered and available in new formats, the reissue of Faith is set to become one of the biggest music events of the year. - Original Album & Bonus CD remastered, including single edits, rare remixes, and instrumental versions- DVD includes George Michael and Jonathan Ross Have Words (60-minute 1987 Special Music Money Love Faith (25-minute original EPK) 7 promotional music videos (including uncensored version of I Want Your Sex )- 40-page hardbound book with exclusive interview, rare photos and memorabilia- Black buckram-covered, gold-foiled slipcase with original cover DVD Track Listing:1. George Michael & Jonathan Ross Have Words - 1987 Channel 4 UK television special 2. Music Money Love Faith FAITH promotional video 3. I Want Your Sex [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version) 4. I Want Your Sex [Music Video](Censored Version - 2010 Remastered Version)5. Faith [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version) 6. Father Figure [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version) 7. One More Try [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version) 8. Monkey [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version) 9. Kissing A Fool [Music Video](2010 Remastered Version)

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The Beatles Mono Box Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction: The following is pretty much a full review of both the mono and stereo reissues largely written in real time as a series of e-mails to an old friend who once owned a legendary record store here in Chicago. The story of the reissues really comes down to the technical limitations of two-track, four-track, eight-track, etc. recordings and the relative complexity of the music of the Beatles. Listening occurred on what would be considered an audiophile system with Quad 988's as the speakers. If following reading this review, you wish to read an expanded essay by me on the box sets, please visit The Beatles Wiki site by Hyperarts.
Please Please Me: The sound on the mono is just amazing. You can hear the echo in the room as John sings Anna. The vocals just soar. Ringo was just so good, even at this early stage and so was Paul. They supported and framed the songs so perfectly. And just think, in twenty-one minutes, or so, Twist And Shout! Stereo can't hold a candle to this, if for no other reason than the left/right "stereo" found later in With The Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver.
With The Beatles: As with Please Please Me, the mono sounds so, so, nice. As the stereo has that annoying left/right "stereo," no contest: mono hands down.
A Hard Day's Night: Seems better and more enjoyable in stereo. I think the reason is that they now had four tracks so George Martin could do proper stereo mixes and still have a mostly fresh first generationish sound. Remember, there were only two track available for Please Please Me. However, when they got to Rubber Soul and Revolver, four tracks weren't enough, which required, in some instances, numerous dubs of the four tracks to another four track tape, merging the four tracks to one track, thereby opening up three new tracks. While this degraded the sound somewhat it also made it difficult to back-track and do the after-thought stereo mixes, which is why we have the atrocious "stereo" of Rubber Soul and Revolver. Consequently, the reason the monos of these albums rule has mostly to do with technical limitations. While the mixes on A Hard Day's Night are true stereo mixes, they carry George Martin's idiosyncratic, but really right, decision to put the vocals in the center, the rhythm section to the left and the other instruments to the right. I always have loved how Martin took care to isolate the brilliant work of Ringo and Paul so many times instead of just following the convention of placing the drums in the center. This is why one of Martin's memoirs is entitled: "All You Need Is Ears."
The Beatles For Sale: Comments, preference and reasons for preference similar to A Hard Day's Night.
Help: Well, thank God we have three different versions to compare to make life ever so easy. First, mono is the definitive mix, that's a plus. As a minus, while it sounds richer, it is also a bit muddy compared to the stereo mixes. As for the stereo mixes, the remaster of George Martin's '87 remix does show some limiting in this new incarnation. A bit a hard to dial in the right volume. Sounds fuller, but that's the limiting. Not sure I care for this version too much. As for the `65 stereo version, that comes on the same disc as the mono version, as this album is somewhat acoustic, the absence of the limiting that was done to the new stereo remix/remaster is a plus. The delicacy is there in I Need You. Overall, the "old" stereo is prettier than the "new" stereo. One can argue over whether the "new" stereo or the ""old" stereo is better, I come down on the side of the "old" stereo, I like pretty. But as you get both the mono and the "old" stereo on the single mono disc, the cheapskate in me screams if you had a pistol to your head and only had to purchase one version of Help, it would be the "mono" disc.
Rubber Soul: Mono over stereo, if for no other reason than the left/rt channel mix that plagued Please, Please Me, With The Beatles and Revlover.
Revolver: There is a section of I Want To Tell You where Ringo is just so muscular and explosive in the mono that is missing in stereo and this is before we get to the issue of the left/right "stereo" of the stereo mix. Plus, there is just this overall richness of sound to the mono that is missing in the stereo. That said, it is a bit cooler to hear Tomorrow Never Knows in stereo. But, overall, mono.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The things you have heard are correct about the mono mix, the clarity and control over the notes, instruments and vocals is all there. Overall, it just sounds better, fuller and richer than the stereo, plus it is what the boys intended. Oddly, the thing that was most breathtaking was She's Leaving Home; just a full, gorgeous, sound. In stereo, it just sounds relatively wrong; thin compared to the mono. That said, because Day In The Life is such a mind-f the stereo is the definitive version of this song.
Magical Mystery Tour: While Pepper's sounded better in Mono, MMT sounds better in stereo.
The Beatles (The White Album): Both versions have their merits, you need both. If you can only go for one, it's the stereo.
Abbey Road: The defining moment of these reissues, and why it took four years, may be found on AR's I Want You (She's So Heavy). Because they couldn't take the tape hiss out without compromising the sound, they didn't. But when it came to John's final "yeah" which was over saturated and clipped previously, they were able to take the clipping out, and for the first time, you can hear all of John's vocal. Second side now, Here Comes the Sun and now Because. Wonderful sound throughout. Can't wait for Ringo at the end.
Let It Be: Now that I have had the time to compare three versions of LIB, an original 1970 EMI vinyl, this remastered CD and LIB Naked, it turns out that LIB is one of the more interesting remaster releases. First, LIB Naked has it all. It is true to the original vision of the Beatles for this music. It has clarity, correct dynamics and musicality. One of the places you can hear this best is in the title track and the differences between the Martin and Spector mixes. Martin got the church-like nature of the song. Consequently, you get more organ and the choir-boy harmonies of John and George, which Spector dubbed over with horns, strings and over the top solos by George. And I'm with Sir Paul concerning the damage done by Phil to The Long And Winding Road. As for the 1970 LIB vinyl, it has its problems from a sonic standpoint, particularly as it is a Phil Spector production. This brings us to this remastered CD. It trumps the 1970 standard vinyl in clarity but not LIB Naked. The real surprise is that the compression added to this remaster actually makes this a more Phil Spectoresque production than the original. And surprisingly, I like it, at least compared with the 1970 vinyl. Still, Naked is what you want.
Mono Past Masters: Right now, listening to the The Inner Light, which I hate, but it sounds so, so, so good in mono that I may actually like it. And, look out, Paul's bass piano notes in Hey Jude are right there as is Ringo's tambourine. Can't wait for Revolution plus the mono songs from Yellow Submarine. The mono Past Masters would have been perfection if they had added a stereo Let It Be and The Ballad Of John and Yoko. After all, the "stereo" Past Masters is actually a mixture of stereo and mono.So kids, here's where we end. Your core, oddly enough, should be the mono box set. Augment this with the stereo Hard Day's Night, The Beatles For Sale, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles, Abbey Road, Let It Be and stereo Past Masters.
Addendum: As I live in Chicago, and have access to one of the country's remaining great stereo stores, that also boast three incredibly knowledgeable owners and an original Sgt. Peppers British Stereo pressing, following posting this review I went over there to compare the original vinyl with the two new CD reissues. We listened to the reference system, Naim Audio electronic and Quad speakers. There was total agreement on what we heard. First, Pepper's mono CD had better tonal balance than Peppers stereo CD. Pepper's stereo CD had better coloration than the mono, but this was defeated by the harshness of the sound (more on harshness shortly). Thus, overall, between the two CD's we preferred the mono CD. All that said, the stereo original British vinyl pressing crushed both. It had both tonal correctness and coloration.
Now as to the harshness issue, please be mindful that I have listened to these discs on two audiophile systems. Something like harshness is likely to be more prevalent the higher up you get in the stereo food chain. Thus, someone who doesn't have an audiophile system may not experience the harshness at all, but it really is there. This may render some of the stereo CDs more listenable for these people than they were for me, at least when it comes to Pepper's.
9/12/09 THANKS TO ALL: The past few days, following the posting of my review, have been a lot of fun. So many people have taken the time to write me, quite a number saying the review was flat-out the best review of any sort they have read. Others shared memories and feelings about how important this music is to them. Amazingly, two brother, one in Boston one in Paris, found they were reading the same thread and were kind of amazed by the co-incidence. All in all, it has been a very rewarding experience. I thank Amazon for providing this opportunity, and those of you present and future who have/will take(n) the time to play.

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FEATURES:-Dimensions: 5.75" x 5.38" x 2.63"-Description: ·Hard white glossy slip box ·Limited edition ·CDs packaged as mini LP replicas (replica artwork, sleeves and gatefolds) ·Remastered by Paul Hicks, Sean Magee with Guy Massey and Steve Rooke-Contains:Original Mono version - 11 albums (12 discs) += mono mix CD debut ·Please Please Me ·With The Beatles ·A Hard Day's Night ·Beatles For Sale ·Help! (CD also includes original 1965 stereo mix)+ ·Rubber Soul (CD also include original 1965 stereo mix)+ ·Revolver+ ·Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band+ ·Magical Mystery Tour+ ·The Beatles+ ·Mono Masters (features all of the mono tracks that appeared on singles, EPs. or that never made it onto the 13 albums)-Essay written by Kevin Howlett*note: Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be are not included, as they were originally recorded in stereo.
Beatles Photos
The Beatles Merchandise

The Beatles Rock Band
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1962-1966 (Red) Remastered Review

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(More customer reviews)Commonly known as the "Red Album", the 2LP vinyl set "1962 - 1966" became an instant classic when it was first released in April 1973 (as did its "Blue" counterpart "1967-1970"). When they were finally reissued onto the new CD format in 1993 however, they caused consternation because of their extortionate full price.
So is this newly remastered 2010 mid-priced 2CD reissue on EMI/Apple 5099990675225 any better - the answer is an emphatic 'yes'.
PACKAGING:
The first thing you notice is that the clunky double jewel-case of the 1993 reissue has been dumped for a three-way foldout card sleeve. The centre and right flaps picture the photograph on the inner gatefold of the original vinyl double album (St. Pancras Old Church in London, 27 July 1969, The Beatles with the public looking through the railings). It also houses the two CDs - CD1 has the full Apple label (13 tracks, 31:02 minutes) and the 2nd CD has the half Apple logo (13 tracks, 31:45 minutes). The vinyl set is yet to come, the Digital Download versions are available from 25 Oct 2010 and there's also an issue that lumps both the Red & Blue reissues together as one package in late November.
The left flap houses a new 32-page booklet. The lyrics are intact from the inner sleeves of the original album issue, there's new liner notes by BILL FLANAGAN the MTV Executive and author of "Evening's Empire" (a book on Rock in the Sixties) and there's plenty of superb colour photos from the period - it's impressively done. Downsides - some complained that the 09/09/09 card digipak sleeves for The Beatles reissues were easy to smudge once out of the shrinkwrap and worse - the inner flaps easy to tear as you removed the disc. I'm afraid these are the same. I suppose I would have been naïve of us to think that EMI would actually listen to the complaints of 2009 about packaging, but they haven't - the need for these issues to look the same as the preceding ones has overridden all considerations... Having said that, I still think they look great - substantial even...
PLAYING TIMES:
It doesn't take a particular genius to work out from the playing times provided above that this set could easily have fitted onto 1CD (and even included bonus tracks). But EMI would of course argue that this would fundamentally alter the aesthetic of the original release. At least this time, the reissue is at mid price, so we're not being charged for the privilege. I think the new price pitch makes the 'one' disc argument a mute point. Besides, I like the break, taking out the first disc and putting in the second - it's how the original 2LP issue was. And better, it doesn't actually diminish the listen, if anything it enhances it.
TRACK CHOICES:
The compilation itself is basically the A-sides of all their UK 7" singles releases between 1962 and 1966 in chronological release date order with a few key album tracks thrown in for good measure. Eagle-eye fans would therefore note that as ALL Beatles UK 7" singles for that period were issued only in MONO, so the tracks on the album should reflect that - the MONO single mixes. But EMI did nothing of the sort. In fact the original 1973 albums stated only STEREO on the labels and only the STEREO code was reflected in their catalogue numbers too. At least this time this new 2010 issue notes that Tracks 1 to 4 on Disc 1 are in MONO, while all other are in STEREO ("Love Me Do" is the album mix and not the single version). Bottom line - I would argue that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain, because the STEREO versions used here are awesome.
SOUND:
Although the compilation is copyrighted to 2010 (released Monday 18 Oct 2010 in the UK and 19 Oct 2010 in the USA), the liner notes don't try to hide that these are the 2009 remasters by the same team who did the much-praised Beatles catalogue of 09/09/09. The sound quality is fantastic - breathtaking clarity on instruments - George Harrison's sitar on "Norwegian Wood" - the string quartet on "Eleanor Rigby" and so on.
CONTENT:
But what impresses most is the actual listen itself. Even now, it's truly shocking to hear just how accomplished The Beatles were. Re-listening to each disc in straight order is a gobsmacking experience - and by the time you get to the real song-writing genius of "Ticket To Ride" and especially "Yesterday" (the song that single-handled shut all the begrudgers up) - you're left with a renewed sense of awe. "We Can Work It Out" and "Day Tripper" were a single for God's sake - not on any English album at the time of release! "Paperback Writer", "Ticket To Ride", "Michelle" - track after track of brilliance... Were they really 'this' good - and so early on - the answer is yes - and always will be.
To sum up - the sound on these new reissues is fabulous; the packaging better than the 1993 versions and each is being sold at mid-price - available in most places for less than the price of a single new album. You can't help but think that millions of people globally will take one look at these beauties on a shelf somewhere and slap them straight into their shopping baskets. And rightly so...
I've loved re-hearing these classic Beatles songs in this beautiful sound quality - I really have - and despite some minor packaging quibbles - the 2010 version of the "Red" album is wholeheartedly recommended.

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The Beatles' original 1973 compilation 1962-1966 ("Red") and 1967-1970 ("Blue") have been remastered by the same dedicated team of engineers at EMI Music's Abbey Road Studios responsible for remastering The Beatles' original UK studio albums, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release. Both 2CD packages include expanded booklets with original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan and rare photos."Red" and "Blue" are the first Beatles compilations to be released after the band's 1970 disbandment, the popular collections each feature a selection of singles and album tracks written by the band's members.

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Live European Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)I have just been reading about Billy's death, and felt compelled to share my impressions of this album (now CD). This guy was a world-class rock & roll showman....he milks the music (and the crowd) for all it's worth - pounding away at riffs in extended jams that somehow remain hypnotic, on occasion tetering on the edge of becoming repetitive. He maintains the high energy level throughout the whole set - though he's a bit too reliant on Beatles numbers (really, Billy - I mean, does he need to cover "Day Tripper"??). It's hard not to forgive the guy, though - he injects his personality into songs like "The Bus" and "Let's Go Get Stoned" very effectively. I have not heard the sound on the CD, in all honesty - I have been listening to the vinyl version for a few years now - and I am delighted it's now avail. in digital format. Mick Taylor's playing is always inspiring to hear - if this isn't his finest hour, it's enough that he's there and giving Billy's keyboard workouts some context (as an aside - when I saw Mick in Rhode Island in 1986, he covered "Will It Go 'Round in Circles").
If you like Billy, you'll give this 5 stars for it's "spirit". If you aren't or if you are new to his work - you may only give it 2 or 3 stars (recording is not top-shelf, performances have "balls" but are not flawless - I happen to be fond of this type of live document myself. You may see things differently). It captures an artist at one of their peaks...a moment in time. Perhaps it is not "perfect", but certainly it is "representative". Rock & roll, blues, soulful, and you can dance to it if you like...Billy and co. give you the whole package.

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Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) paper sleeve pressing. Originally released on A & M in 1974. Currently out of print everywhere in the world, outside of Japan. Universal. 2008.

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Beatles Magical Mystery Tour Me Review

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(More customer reviews)Magical Mystery Tour Memories
This newly produced hour long documentary on the making of the Beatle's third film - "Magical Mystery Tour" - can be highly recommended to TRUE Beatles fans who want ALL the inside info. (These are the folks who covet every CD made of news conference interviews with the Fab Four). For those who remember seeing the film once, or have never seen it at all, it's worth an hour to watch, though references made by the interviewees won't mean much.
Show on high quality video, the documentary is "hosted" by Victor Spinetti, the British actor who appeared in all three Beatles films. He is personable. With two or three exceptions, the persons telling their "memories" are individuals who happened to live in Cornwall when MMT was filmed in 1967. There is the man whose father owned the smal newsstand and the local policeman who had his 15 seconds of fame in the film. We learned how the Beatles were just "regular folks.".
The two "names" in this doc are musician Spencer Davis, who tells a few good short stories, and Neil Innes from the Bonzo Dog (Doo Dah) Band, who actually sings a song. (The rest of the music in the film consists of instrument versions of MMT songs - none performed by the Beatles.)Oh yes, we get Paul McCartney's brother, Mike, - who is back to using the family name after many years as "Mike McGear), mostly slumming off of his sibling's reputation.
There are 11 short interviews on the DVD as "bonus material).
A nicely done package, but as I said above, really aimed at the Beatles completist.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"


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