Record Reviews

PENTANGLE ~ THE ALBUMS CHERRY RED BOX 41 (Barcode: 5013929104105) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1972 Released: 2017 This exquisite Box Set presents the reissues of all the six albums recorded by the first incarnation of the legendary British Folk-Rock group PentangleFind albums by this artist, which existed between 1967 and 1973 and recorded the following albums between 1968 and 1972: "The PentangleFind albums with this title" (released 1968), "Sweet ChildFind albums with this title" (released 1968 as a double LP), "Basket Of LightFind albums with this title" (released 1969), "Cruel SisterFind albums with this title" (released 1970), "ReflectionFind albums with this title" (released 1971) and finally "Solomon`s SealFind albums with this title" (released 1972). The first five of these albums were originally released on TransatlanticFind albums on this label Records and the sixth on RepriseFind albums on this label Records. All six albums were reissued on CD by CastleFind albums on this label Records between 2001 and 2003 in expanded versions, adding bonus tracks. This Box Set edition adds a plethora of additional bonus tracks, some of which appeared on the 4CD Box Set compilation "The Time Has Come: 1967-1973Find albums with this title" (released by Castle in 2007), but most are previously unreleased, which of course makes this Box Set even more desirable that it already is. The original Pentangle lineup featured on these albums included the charismatic vocalist blessed with an angelic voice: Jacqui McSheeFind albums by this artist, two exquisite and virtuosic guitarists: John RenbournFind albums by this artist and Bert JanschFind albums by this artist and superbly Jazzy rhythm section: bassist Danny ThompsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Terry CoxFind albums by this artist, which together were unparalleled to any other outfit at the time and presented a brilliant amalgam of British Folk, Rock and Jazz, spiced with virtuosic vocal harmonies and instrumental parts. The music is a mixture of superb original material and fabulous arrangements of traditional tunes, all spotlessly and wonderfully performed by the group´s members. Pentangle basically established the rules of Folk-Rock, Prog-Folk, Jazz-Folk and similar sub-genres, for generations to come and all British Folkies from that time on tried to follow their steps, as the genre flourished between late 1960s and late 1970s. The competition was fierce with such excellent acts as StrawbsFind albums by this artist, Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist, Steeleye SpanFind albums by this artist and others, but Pentangle maintained the leading position until the band fell apart in 1973, only to return by the early 1980s, but that is another story altogether. This Box Set includes hours of exquisite music, which although closely related to British Folk encompasses various other genres and is diverse, elegant, interesting and entertaining. I can hardly imagine any serious music collection not including this music and if someone does not already own these albums on vinyl or earlier CD reissues, this Box Set is the ultimate solution. An absolute must have by any standard!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 19/05/2018

CD 7 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

ERIC CLAPTON ~ UNPLUGGED (DELUXE EDITION) REPRISE 081227963668 (Barcode: 081227963668) ~ UK ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1992 Released: 2013 Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, one of the most iconic musical figures of the 20th Century, epitomizes the history of Rock perhaps in more ways that any other of his contemporaries. The God given talent, the meteoric rise to stardom, the "Clapton is God" status, the hiatus and confusion of fame and fortune, the pressures and personal disasters, the drugs and alcohol addictions and of course the music he created over the years are one complex, intricate and multifaceted amalgamation of what we call life. I am glad to say that the soundtrack of my life was always filled with the music he made, which one way or another made me a happier person, for which I´m eternally grateful to him. "UnpluggedFind albums with this title", recorded in 1992, was one of the early concerts filmed and recorded by MTV under that moniker, which promoted the idea of Rock artists performing an acoustic (or almost acoustic) set in front of cameras and a limited audience, which was intimate and immediate, and musically often dramatically different from their regular set. The idea worked brilliantly in most cases and in case of Clapton even phenomenally, producing not only a superb piece of music but also an immense commercial success and critical acclaim. Clapton and a bunch of accompanying musicians play and sing a selection of songs, ranging from blues classics to original songs penned by Clapton, some of them well known hits already. Clapton plays acoustic guitar and solos sparingly, but when he does play guitar solos he is brilliant, but concise. His singing is far from being sonically spectacular or even impressive, but it is exactly what these circumstances called for. It is difficult to say why this album was as successful as it was. Of course Clapton was immensely popular as a Rock star, but this album is as far from the Rock idiom as can be. And yet Clapton´s honesty, musicality, finesse, intelligence and charm make it work, magically and indisputably. The resulting album became an essential piece of Rock history, which encapsulated at least partially, Clapton´s contribution to human Culture. This is of course a must in every home on this planet. This remastered Deluxe edition adds a second CD of previously unreleased bonus tracks and also includes the DVD of the original concert, expanded with additional footage filmed during the rehearsals, also seen for the first time. Overall this is a much enriched and better sounding package than the original release, ergo definitely worth getting. And yes, Clapton is probably not God, but definitely a Godsend!

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted:

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WYNTON MARSALIS / ERIC CLAPTON ~ PLAY THE BLUES REPRISE 081227975913 (Barcode: 081227975913) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is a live album by two music superstars: American Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Wynton MarsalisFind albums by this artist and British Rock / Blues guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist. They are accompanied by a Jazz combo and perform nine classic Blues standards and one song written by Clapton. Legendary vocalist / guitarist Taj MahalFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The music was recorded at Jazz At Lincoln Center, NYC. All the orchestral arrangements are by Marsalis. The idea behind the album is to show the symbiosis between the Blues and Jazz, or at least the early form of Traditional Jazz, which is sort of “convincing the convinced”, as the relationship is completely obvious to anybody who knows his right from his left in music. Nevertheless, the idea works well and the music is performed my excellent musicians, with Clapton fitting the bill perfectly. The arrangements are all in the spirit of early Traditional Jazz, capturing the sound of the 1920s and 1930s, which Marsalis specializes in, and they are truly faithful to the period. Clapton, although playing electric guitar, keeps his soloing to bare necessity, which is exactly what is expected of him. Overall, this is a wonderful, highly entertaining album, which offers a nostalgic trip to the early days, when Jazz and Blues were completely intertwined. The sound quality is excellent and this is pure fun from start to finish, with educational value for the listeners not familiar with Jazz history.

Updated: 17/01/2025Posted: 17/01/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG ~ LOOKING FORWARD REPRISE 093624743620 (Barcode: 093624743620) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1997 - 1999 Released: 1999 This is the third (and so far the last) studio album by the iconic Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist. The album was initially planned as the next Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist album, but at a later stage Young joined the trio and contributed his playing and material to turn this into a bona fide quartet album. The four singers / songwriters are supported by keyboardist Michael FinniganFind albums by this artist, bassist Donald DunnFind albums by this artist, drummer Joe VitaleFind albums by this artist, percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist and several other guests. The album presents twelve songs, recorded over a period of almost three years between 1997 and 1999, all bar one written or co-written by the group members, with David CrosbyFind albums by this artist contributing two songs, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist three songs, Graham NashFind albums by this artist two songs and Neil YoungFind albums by this artist four songs. The last song was written by guitarist Denny SarokinFind albums by this artist, who also plays on the album. Personal conflicts, ego wars and genuine problems prevented Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from fulfilling their tremendous potential and the fact that they managed to record only three studio albums is a travesty. "Looking Forward" sadly did not become prophetic as far as the quartet was concerned, although they did play several tours as a quartet in the years that followed. If any other group wrote and recorded these twelve songs they would have been considered as excellent, but sadly in comparison to their glorious past these songs, which also suffered from the uneven production, sound somewhat pale and underachieved, which gave both the critics and even the faithful fans plenty of opportunity to bitch bitterly, although it performed better in the charts than its predecessor "American DreamFind albums with this title". To be fair, in retrospect the album is not that bad at all, surely not in comparison to what passes as music these days. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young did not loose their ability to compose superb melodies, write meaningful lyrics and sing sublime vocal harmonies, which can all be found on this album. The album sounds quite nice and surprisingly stands the test of time relatively well, especially so the David Crosby and Graham Nash songs, which are up to par with their usual classics. Overall this is perhaps not the greatest recording by these iconic musicians, but definitely an album worth to be remembered and re-visited periodically, making sure it is not forgotten.

Updated: 02/02/2019Posted: 02/02/2019

CD 1 HDCD Recommend To A Friend

ERIC CLAPTON ~ NOTHING BUT THE BLUES REPRISE 093624906452 (Barcode: 093624906452) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1994 Released: 2022 Almost thirty years after the filming the documentary “Nothing But The BluesFind albums with this title” in 1994, which tells the story of British guitar superstar Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist and his affiliation with Blues Music, capturing his live performances at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, the soundtrack and the film are finally released on CD, DVD and other formats for us to enjoy. The CD presents seventeen Blues classics, performed by a band, which includes, in addition to Clapton on guitar and vocals, also guitarist Andy Fairweather LowFind albums by this artist, harmonica player Jerry PortnoyFind albums by this artist, pianist Chris StaintonFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave BronzeFind albums by this artist, drummer Andy NewarkFind albums by this artist and the Kick HornsFind albums by this artist horn section. There are no surprises herein, which is to be expected. Clapton feels like a fish in the water within the Blues idiom and his deep love of the music is evident all the way through. His vocals are steady and strong and his guitar work is as genuine as they come. Most of the material is close to the Blues tradition, more Blues than Blues-Rock, which finds Clapton reverting almost thirty years back in time to his legendary stint with John MayallFind albums by this artist. The sound is somewhat a bit too dense for a true Blues experience, and a smaller lineup might have served the purpose more accurately, but let’s be honest, Clapton is a Master of the Trade and his understanding of the Blues is truly astounding, which guarantees complete satisfaction to his many fans and followers. Overall, this is a feast to Blues and Blues-Rock lovers the world over, with the right man in the right place to make sure everything works like clockwork. A bit too loud for me, but hay, I must be getting old... Enjoy!

Updated: 23/12/2022Posted: 23/12/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG ~ DÉJÀ VU LIVE REPRISE 093624983910 (Barcode: 093624983910) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008 This is a live album by the seminal Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist, recorded during their 2006 tour (called the "Freedom Of Speech" tour). The tour was initially intended as a Neil YoungFind albums by this artist tour supporting his new (at the time) album "Living With WarFind albums with this title", but Young asked David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist and Graham NashFind albums by this artist to join him and as a result a reunion of the group occurred. The tour produced a film (called "Déjà Vu") and this album, which is basically a soundtrack of the film. The four members of the group are accompanied by guitarist Ben KeithFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Spooner OldhamFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tom BrayFind albums by this artist, bassist Rick RosasFind albums by this artist and drummer Chad CromwellFind albums by this artist. The album presents a mixture of songs from the "Living With War" album and classic early songs by the group, which overall results in a rather strange and inconsistent / incoherent mix, which obviously is more about protest and political activism than about the music. The sound quality of the recording is also problematic, with uneven balance between the vocals and the instrumental work. Young added some studio overdubs to the live material later on. In retrospect, this album has relatively limited artistic value in the overall career of this splendid group. It has a historical value as a document of the tour and a reflection of the group´s political activism, which was always a part of their milieu, but is not something many listeners would probably choose to revisit often.

Updated: 20/01/2019Posted: 20/01/2019

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CREAM ~ ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON MAY 2-3-5-6 2005 (LIMITED EDITION) REPRISE 49416 (Barcode: 093624941620) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 It takes titanium balls to go on stage and try to reproduce a musical legend that happened almost 40 years earlier. Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Jack BruceFind albums by this artist & Ginger BakerFind albums by this artist seem to have these and more, as they come out of this reunion effort with flying colors. Considering they are all in their 60`s now, the energy and sheer physical effort required must have been enormous. There is less fire and wild emotions here compared to the hay days, but perhaps that works in favor for the musicians and the listener - there is much refined and control, which were sometimes missing when they were young. The material spans the entire recording arsenal of CreamFind albums by this artist, from the debut album (Fresh CreamFind albums with this title) to the last studio recordings (GoodbyeFind albums with this title) and any Cream fan can`t help but go through a deeply emotional state of bliss (I know I did) when listening to this stuff. Thank God and modern medicine for Jack`s successful liver transplant, which made all this possible. Don´t even think twice!

CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ 1969 - 1974 REPRISE 603497851300 (Barcode: 603497851300) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1974 Released: 2020 This Box Set includes remastered / expanded CD reissues of the seven studio albums by the iconic British Blues / Rock group Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist, recorded between 1969 and 1974 and a bonus previously unreleased live CD recorded in 1974. The reissued albums are “Then Play OnFind albums with this title” (1969 with four bonus tracks), “Kiln HouseFind albums with this title” (1970 with four bonus tracks), “Future GamesFind albums with this title” (1971 with six bonus tracks), “Bare TreesFind albums with this title” (1972 with three bonus tracks), “PenguinFind albums with this title” (1973 with no bonus tracks), “Mystery To MeFind albums with this title” (1973 with two bonus tracks) and finally “Heroes Are Hard To FindFind albums with this title” (1974 with one bonus track). Those are the group’s third to ninth studio albums. The Box Set shows the transition of the group from the Blues and Blues-Rock idioms, which characterized their early period and the first two studio albums recorded in 1968, with guitarist Peter GreenFind albums by this artist at the helm. That style is still predominantly heard on the “Then Play On” album, which the lineup including also guitarist Danny KirwanFind albums by this artist, bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist. “Kiln House” marks the departure of Green and features guitarist Jeremy SpencerFind albums by this artist in addition to Kirwan, McVie and Fleetwood. “Future Games” marks the departure of Spencer, who was replaced by American guitarist Bob WelchFind albums by this artist and the addition of singer / keyboardist Christine McVieFind albums by this artist. “Bare Trees” featured the same lineup as its predecessor. “Penguin” marks the departure of Kirwan, who was replaced by guitarist Bob WestonFind albums by this artist. “Mystery To Me” was the last album to include Weston. “Heroes Are Hard To Find” was the last album to include Welch and the first album to be recorded in the US. Over the years Fleetwood Mac managed to develop a superb Classic Rock act, with excellent songwriting and perfect musicianship, although their commercial breakthrough was about to happen following the release of their next (tenth) studio album, their second eponymous album “Fleetwood MacFind albums with this title”. Overall, this Box Set is a brilliant collection of great tunes, which are worth being remembered and cherished, despite the fact that they were created before fortune smiled to them Big Time. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 22/09/2023Posted: 22/09/2023

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BEE GEES ~ ODESSA (EXPANDED EDITION) REPRISE 79886 (Barcode: 081227988661) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2009 This magnificent Box Set includes the material recorded for the Bee GeesFind albums by this artist magnum opus "OdessaFind albums with this title", their 4th album recorded since their return to Britain and definitely their most ambitious effort ever. Originally released as a double LP, the album included a set of highly inspired compositions, lushly orchestrated and beautifully produced. Magnificent melodies, which were always the strength of the group, combined with heavy Psychedelic influences and of course their stunning vocal harmonies make this one of the most perfect Pop / Rock and even Prog works of the late 1960s. Unfortunately the group entered a period of personal hiatus following the recording of the album, creating negative publicity, which resulted in poor sales and lack of exposure to this album, which of course deserved much better. It also marks the end of the first period of the group´s career, which would be followed by several years of soul searching, with poor musical results, and eventually the complete downfall into the mindless disco music. Nevertheless in proper historic perspective the band´s 1960s output is the pinnacle of musical perfection and imagination, with this album being the crown jewel. Lavishly packaged in a velvet covered box, the 3 CDs include the stereo and mono mix of the original album and a whole CD of bonus material with alternate versions, outtake and other previously unreleased material. This is an instant collectors´ item and a wonderful testimony of the most inspired period in the music history. Essential listening!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

RANDY NEWMAN ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES WARNER BROS. 081227975395 (Barcode: 081227975395) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1977 Released: 2011 This Box Set collects reissues of first five studio albums by the iconic American singer / songwriter / pianist Randy NewmanFind albums by this artist, originally released on RepriseFind albums on this label Records. label between 1968 and 1977. They are: “Randy NewmanFind albums with this title” (1968), “12 SongsFind albums with this title” (1970), “Sail AwayFind albums with this title” (1972), “Good Old BoysFind albums with this title” (1974) and “Little CriminalsFind albums with this title” (1977). Newman wrote some of the most beautiful Pop songs, which exhibit his idiosyncratic sense of melody and humor, some of which were hits when performed by him but more often became huge hits when sung by other Pop / Rock artists. He achieved also a great success as composer of cinematic soundtrack, and over time he became one of the most awarded American Artist, with scores of Grammies, Academy awards and Golden Globe awards. Newman’s highly unusual vocal performances and theatrical delivery make him stand out as one of the most unique singer / songwriter artists of the 20th Century and a superb storyteller (usually with a moral). He continues, despite his age and at a slower paste, to write new music and songs to this very day. Overall, this is an incredible collection of his early work, which has but a few parallels and lost absolutely nothing of its beauty and depth over time, and in fact seasoned in time, standing out as a perfect example of what songwriting is all about. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 23/09/2021Posted: 23/09/2021

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend