3 comments about Looking On.

1. This is one of the greatest British bands of all time! "Looking On" and "Message From The Country" are their two best albums. Get them both!
   Roy Wood & Jeff Lynne are the two brilliant forces behind the band. Incredible harmonies that would make Brian Wilson sit up and take notice.
   But, that's where the Beach Boys comparison ends. These guys rock!
   Next to The Beatles, The Move would have to be one of my top 5 favorite British bands.



2. I just got this one - my favorite Move LP - my good friend LB introduced this band to me back in the 60's - Night of Fear - I Can Hear The Grass Grow - and the first import LP - then came Looking On - we played this Lp alot - Feel Too Good was a big one - Brontosaurus etc. - we knew about Jeff Lynne being with The Idle Race - of course he now was with the Move - we didn't realize this was pre ELO - more Wood than Lynne at this point - I listen to this cd with M-Audio Studio Monitors connected to an I-Mac - sounds very good - I'm happy - and I first heard it on vinyl in the 60's!



3. Any questions about Salvo's mastering are obliterated by the amazing clarity and sheer power of this! Prepare to be pounded and steamrolled by the massive bass, drums, and guitars, the cascading piano, and soaring voices. The tightness and inner tone of the bass, the distinction between what is recorded in phase and out of phase, and spacing/ layering of instruments/ voices is thrilling! One of the treasures of rock.

5 comments about Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: 1964-1966.

1. the yardbirds are okay but nothin special if you ask me. okay so ya they got a few good songs like, for your love, train kept a rollin, im a man, etc. but they just sing about love and relationships thats it
   dont waste 12 bucks on this



2. In 1966, Michelangelo Antonioni released a highly controversial movie called Blow Up. Set in London, the film starred David Hemmings, Sarah Miles, and a young, and exquisitely beautiful, Vanessa Redgrave. Thomas, (Hemmings), lives a fast, ultra-hip existence and at one point finds himself in a wild, psychedelic nightclub. It's loud, it's cookin', and on the bandstand Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and the other birds are rippin' up a version of The Train Kept A Rollin' which had been slightly altered for copyright reasons. The live energy is absolutely explosive; high voltage, raw electric blues like that was simply unknown back then.
   
   This CD chronicles the most important years in the short, but sparkling, career of a hugely exciting and influential band. When you consider that this music was recorded over 40 years ago it's easy to understand that, at the time, it was as revolutionary as the arrival of Hendrix. More remarkable still, the music sounds as great today as when it was released, full of edge, authority, and bite. Sure, there are clunkers that probably sounded dated even when they were released, You're A Better Man Than I finds the Yardbirds adopting a pious, and highly inappropriate, idealism while Still I'm Sad would have been better left to the Moody Blues or some other clinically depressed outfit. Putty (In Your Hands) is cute - a word that damns it - just too close to early Beatles for comfort.
   
   Pretty much everything else is fast out of the gate and hot as Georgia asphalt in August. I'm Not Talking is a perennial favorite of mine, as are The Train Kept A Rollin', Smokestack Lightning, Evil Hearted You, Heart Full Of Soul, I Ain't Done Wrong. The Yardbirds definitely had their limitations, Keith Reif is a mediocre vocalist - compare him with what the Beck/Stewart match up on Truth sounds like. And this whole "guitar academy" factor everybody likes to cite - Clapton, Beck, Page - actually stood in the way of The Yardbirds ever coalescing as a group. However, they did manage to keep it together for a while, and in doing so, accomplished something artists rarely achieve, they produced music that was genuinely new and good enough to stand the test of time.



3. I seen the Yardbirds live in the early 60's. I could not believe what i was hearing. They were great. This album reminds me of that concert. This is a great album. A must for anyone who loves great talent. I rate the Yardbirds the second greatest group next to the Rolling Stones.



4. I was reading through the reviews I saw where someone called the Yardbirds 'leaning towards pop rock.....I am sorry but were you there in 64 cause I was and when I saw the Ybyrds at the Hulabaaloo on Sunset Blvd there was no Jimi, no Carlos, no Janice, Bealtles there were and Stones there were but put them in club with Ybyrds and you had no contest the Big Boys had singers and writers and genius but blazing ear-shattering blistering blues rock well like I said no contest. Clapton, Beck, Paige was it lucky chance? Not hardly it was the best seeking out the best. Get this CD and you hold the root structure and 'first fruits' of all we treasure today. I recently saw Velvet Revolver in S Fla and I was whipped back 40 yrs blazing searing ROCK great vocals freight train bass and drums but what I saw back then was in club of maybe 150. Own this CD as a show of graditute for those that gave us Hard Rock and remember we too have roots.



5. Being a huge fan of sixties music, I find this CD very appealing in terms of content, originality, and style. This group boasts three of thee greatest guitarists in the world; Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page. Their blues inspired wailings make this group stand out above other groups of the same era.
   
   This music is gritty and raw and because the sound production wasn't really great on this particular album, it sounds a lot darker and moodier than maybe it's supposed to be. I'm not a musician and I have no idea about the technical aspects of music, but having been raised by a musician, I know in my soul how things should sound.
   
   If you're looking to improve your music collection you really can't go wrong with this little gem. I know a lot of people gave it four stars and I'm not trying to disuade you from reading their reviews, but I really think (and feel) that if you want something loud, boisterous and completely cool, this CD is waiting for you.
   
   Peace...

5 comments about Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).

1. Some thirty-nine years after it's original release, Arthur still resonates as an intelligent and insightful concept album. Unlike The Who's Tommy (released the same year), this album tracks what some may consider more mundane matters but I believe it is as compelling (if not more so) as Tommy. Each track shines and the album flows beautifully.
   
   This rock album does not address the concerns of adolescence. Instead, it's about the sense of melancholy of growing older (wiser?. Arthur is not without its sense of whimsy and fun--it has whimsical moments. Mostly, however, it is a passionately performed exposition about growing older and realizing that life has not quite turned out as one might have expected. Coming to terms with the reality of one's life also figures as a theme here. No other track on this album unifies these themes as masterfully as Shangri-La which is probably one of the best rock songs ever composed.



2. The Kinks are known as the best least known pop band for a reason- they are talented, consistent with their excellent material, and capable of writing one memorable song after another. This band really sounds like they were born to write wonderful catchy pop songs, and they succeed quite well. Since the reputation of the Kinks has gone up in recent years as one of the finest pop bands of the 60's, so has the popularity of their albums. Back in the 60's, people didn't listen to these albums as much as people do today, such as this one, Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).



3. Called an opera, a concept album, a TV score, the reality is that 'Arthur' is a daringly ambitious album that proved that the Ray Davies and his band were able to remain at the level of the three previous masterpieces starting with 1966's 'Face to Face'. Even more focused on "concept" than the 'Village Green Preservation Society' album, they pull it off by producing a tremendous range of material, from guitar-based riff rock like "Brainwashed" unheard on their previous several records to elaborate sonic suites on "Australia" and the unforgettable "Shangri-la". Indeed, though more of Dave's stinging lead guitar is evident throughout than on the trinity of previous songwriting epics, there are many songs that show effective use of horn arrangements, chorales, and strong production. The songs are uniformly catchy and the subject matter of past British Empire glory, World War II, and middle class concerns are brought home with some of the Kinks' all-time classics, including "Victoria", "Shangri-La" and lesser known but excellent songs, "Drivin", "Nothing to Say", and two beautiful ballads, "Young and Innocent Days" and "Some Mother's Son". The former sounds like a song from an LP 15 years later than this one; the latter, about a battlefield loss, is a great example of Ray's ability to paint a picture with lyrics. This LP was a critical success, and has stood the test of time as a musical work. It is an uncompromising triumph of British rock music from 1969 that has been and will remain among the best of the Kinks' albums and vibrant for decades to come.



4. It was finding Face To Face in the bargain rack at Woolworth's in 1969 that started it for me. Sure, I'd heard and loved the early singles...even had a few of them. But what to make of this LP? I never expected to find it, and I certainly didn't know anything about it. Lola was still to come, and the Kinks hadn't had a hit stateside in over 3 years. But, hey, at $1.99, I really didn't have much to lose. My instincts told me that I'd made quite a find, but the proof was when I took it home and put it on my new Coronado stereo (ceramic cartridge and all, remember those?). I knew from the first ("Hello...who is that speaking please?") notes of Party Line that I'd indeed found the bargain of my (then) short life. It never let up; one jem after another. I particularly loved Rainy Day In June and Holiday In Waikiki. I was an instant convert. So began the hunt for "the rest of the story", but it wasn't easy. Even a trip to Kansas City didn't uncover new Kinks LPs. But over a year later, lo and behold, digging through an 8-track bargain bin, I hit the jackpot. There were both Arthur and Lola vs. Powerman and the Apes, and again that price of $1.99. I remember turning all my friends on to the Kinks.
   
   I liked Arthur and Lola vs.... even better than Face To Face, largely because they sounded so much better (don't forget that ceramic cartridge), and they rocked a lot harder. 1966 was feeling pretty quaint in 1971. I thought, in terms of "high concept", that Arthur made Tommy look pathetic. Ray's observations were so poignant, and the songs hung together so well. I thought then and still think today that it was a work of genius. Ray was a bit of a cynical curmudgeon when he was the tender age of 25, and I liked it.
   
   However you choose to enjoy this album, it works. It is a literary marvel, but it also rocks and has great melodies and band arrangements. John Dalton and John Gosling really added a lot.
   
   A definite dessert island disc for me.



5. I know this isn't a spaghetti western but this Sanctuary version of "Arthur" is definitely worth more than the readily available Reprise version that's been around for years.
   
   Having owned both copies I can tell you first hand that this version has a much clearer and richer sound. Not only is the mix louder but the bass is deeper and above all it doesn't sound muddy like the older reprise version. On top of all that, you get great bonus tracks like "Plastic Man" , "King Kong", two great songs that were meant to be on a Dave Davies solo album (This Man He Weeps Tonight, Mindless Child Of Motherhood) and some mono mixes of some album cuts.
   
   OK, enough of the technical stuff, this album alone is a classic but then you get some great bonus tracks as well. This in my opinion is the Kinks best album, don't get me wrong I also love Village Green Preservation Society but this album has more kick to it. It features all members on top of their game. Ray is at his absolute best with his writing and voice, "Shangri La" is an under appreciated gem of his. Dave gets to kick his guitar on to high gear and his song "Brainwashed" is one of many highlights on this album. Mick Avory displays great drumming all throughout but for me his highlight has to be on "She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina" and John Dalton makes his full time debut on the bass playing a melodic bass line that McCartney would love on "Victoria".
   
   
   As you've probably read before this album had the bad fortune of being compared to Tommy at the time of it's release but what people didn't know was that this album was recorded before Tommy.
   
   I could go on and on about this album but I'd only be stopping you from getting it sooner.

5 comments about Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2).

1. The Stones in the 60s....awesome classic rock and roll. If you don't feel like spending forty bucks on the extensive Hot Rocks and More Hot Rocks collections then this is the one to go with. Every single song is a winner!



2. Another reviewer, "exileonmainst" has questioned the value in the remastering on the Stones' ABKCO releases. Take it from me, since I actually own this CD. I replaced my old cds with the new remasters, and I can assure you that the remastered versions are FAR SUPERIOR to the old releases, and I do not own an SACD compatable cd player. ABKCO's previous releases have been remixed, making the track less muddy sounding at high volume. The level of clarity is amazing, and the mixes have been opened up to allow for a fuller sound. Definately worth the price of the new CD.



3. This record is one I love best.I had it in vinil (L.P.).Some of the tracks like Honky Tonky Woman and Street Fighting man are not available in the others R.S. compact dics.Besides this record has another layer for super audio c.d. which is very good.



4. When I was about 13 years old I purchased this lp. It was packaged in an octogon cutout jacket. I'll bet it's worth a fortune today. I have no idea what happened to it. This CD is a great trip down memory lane and it also serves up the great singles Jumpin' Jack Flash and Honky Tonk Women. Since I already owned Jump Back I decided to pick this up along with High Tide and Green Grass Volume I. I already own the SACD releases of Let It Bleed and Begger's Banquet so I don't really need the Hot Rocks set. I think this is a better way to go because it "frames" the era.
   
   Enough of that. Through the Past Darkly is almost perfect. The SACD sound is truly amazing, you REALLY will hear things that were previously buried in the lack of fidelity of the Lp release and the original Analog to Digital CD release.
   
   The track selection is great save for one. I'd forgotten how truly ridiculous She's a Rainbow sounds. I just have to laugh at it. The background vocals actually remind of of some of the vocals from Zappa's We're Only in it for the Money. - you know, the vocal tracks where Zappa would speed up Ray Collins voice? It sounds like a bunch of stoned munchkins! This was psychodelic? Oh brother! At first I cringed and winced but then just decided to just laugh at it. It's good fun.
   
   Ruby Tuesday is a very nice treat on this release. You can actually hear the horse hair of the cello bow moving across the strings! Even on a plain ol' CD player!
   
   If you don't own Beggar's Banquet you can hear the terrific Street Fighting Man mix here. I just love that wild ending with the strings, sitar, and the pentatonic piano notes floating above it all. And the drum on the intro to this song... Charlie Watts must be playing the biggest bass drum available. It sounds massive! Ba-Boom!
   
   All of these tracks will sound fresh and new, Mother's Little Helper, Paint it Black, Have You Seen Your Mother? Let's Spend the Night Together - I really am hearing all kinds of new things in the mix. At times it's as if you are standing right in the middle of the session. I love it.
   
   If you want a very good late 60's Stone Collection , this is it. Again, I would go with the SACD releases of High Tide and Green Grass and Through the Past Darkly rather than Hotrocks. Why? Because once you hear these you are going to run right out and buy Beggar's Banquet and Let it Bleed which are must have Stones releases.
   
   Go for it!
   
   Postscript: Ok. I admit it. Two weeks later and She's a Rainbow sounds great, even with the stoned munchkins singing the ooo-la-la-la ooo-la-la-la-laaaaaa in the background. She's a Rainbow is actually a very interesting artifact of the late 60's!



5. What a collection when it first came out...new age octagon shaped cover, heightened sensuality, this release truly captured the Stones at their height despite the uncertainty after Brian Jones passing, the singles of Honky Tonk Women,Jumping Jack Flash found the light of the day on this collection combined with the remaining classics on this CD makes this one to play on your IPOD back to back with High Tide And Green Grass...what great sound.

5 comments about Catch the Wind.

1. This cd of the original release does not contain Donovan's poetic masterpiece, a song with lyric "cat is sleeping in the sun"; the combination of lyrics and guitar is one of the all time great poetic visions.



2. I was born in 1956. My uncle, Walt, lived with us while he went to college in the 60's. He didn't serve in the war & as far as I know, was not a war protester. He was and is, however a true humanitarian.
   
   This album vinyl was in his collection and he played it often. He played guitar, he played in the snow with his nieces and he's playful in life. But in his heart there is a reflective man who continues to make a difference in the lives of all lucky enough to know and love him.
   
   Donovan and this album will forever remind me of the times, the issues and those things that helped mold the man I currently know as "Bink".
   
   Donovan went on to sing during my time, the 70's. Songs such as Hurdy Gurdy Man & Mellow Yellow are still among my favorites but if you really want to feel what was in Donovan's heart and those coming of age during the 60's , then this is the CD you want to get. You won't regret it.
   
   Peace.



3. I have to confess that I've always loved the old Donovan songs and his suggestive slightly imperfect voice.
   If you are like me it is the best CD you can by in the world.



4. This is a folk type record with Donovan accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. Though many people of the day were heralding Donovan as the British Dylan, his music is really quite different. True he does play the harmonica, but Donovan has a melodic voice that Dylan, and most anyone else for that matter, could ever equal. "Josie" is one of my all time favorite Donovan songs. I heard him sing it when I was sixteen at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, California and was really blown away.
   
   Of course, "Catch the Wind" Donovan's first huge single is everybody's favorite (if it's not it should be) and as a bonus the single version is included on this disc as well as the LP version. But one should not overlook "Colours" when listening to Don's early work. It's one of my favorite songs. "The War Drags On," is an anti Vietnam war song and I wish I was alive back in the day to see how people reacted to it. "Candy Man" is simply outstanding. I've heard Bob Dylan's version on the bootleg "Great White Wonder," and believe me, Dylan may have turned out to be the Poet of a Generation, but Donovan beats him hands down when it comes to performing and interpreting traditional songs. Just something about his Scottish voice I guess.



5. i've read in donovan's book "hurdy gurdy man" that he was one of the first singer/songwriters too mix politics with rock or folk
   and suceeded jut like bob dylan did with his first 3 or 4 albums
   anyway donovan is a talent that goes vasely un-noticed due to the sucession of bob dylan..who wrote excellent lyrics in his sleep.....
   donovan also wrote excellent lyrics and beautiful melodies and this album shows where donovan could make abstract songs packed with a punch like "sunny goodge street" and his classic recording "universal solider" this album also features my favorites "the war drags on" "do you hear me now"
   
   a man who had his heart right in the centre of what was going on in the world..a messiah who stands along side bob dylan as a truly great poetic genius

5 comments about Rubber Soul.

1. "Rubber Soul" is a great album. It consists of catchy, unpretentious British Invasion pop songs and you really don't think it would be that good but it is. The only song I dislike is "Drive My Car," but everything else can be listened to over and over. Slower, more contemplative songs like "Nowhere Man" and "Norwegian Wood," sweet love songs like "In My Life" and "Michelle," jangly pop "If I Needed Someone," and more aggressive numbers like "Run for Your Life." This album is just plain solid all the way through.



2. Though they continued to tour through 1966, by late 1965 the Fab Four considered themselves primarily studio musicians, and the two great mid-period albums "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver", even in their abbreviated Capitol versions, reflect this. Gone are the simpler, crowd-pleasing rave-ups that had driven teenaged girls crazy just a short time earlier, replaced by meticulous studio craftsmanship. In its original Parlophone form (the CD reviewed here), "Rubber Soul", from December, 1965, contains fourteen originals, ranging from Paul McCartney's cheery "Drive My Car", to John Lennon's much more complex "Norwegian Wood" (about a brief tryst, a landmark song in the Beatle canon, as it deals with much more adult subject matter than the group had ever addressed before), to George Harrison's rather sour "Think For Yourself"; again, far removed from Beatlemania. Best-known are McCartney's oft-covered "Michelle", a signature love song, and Lennon's "In My Life", which has grown even more poignant since his untimely demise. The four lads from Liverpool had been the best-known pop group in the world for quite awhile. Now they settled down to crafting music.



3. I was amazed to find a couple of songs on here that I didn't remember. This has a lot of my favorites. If you are a Beatle fan, I would definately recommend 'Rubber Soul'.



4. My favorite Beatles album, actually. Others were more experimental, influential, and innovative, but Rubber Soul is really the bee's knees, musically speaking. Chronologically speaking, it captures the Fab Four at a crossroads, bridging the gap between their tenure as the world's smartest teen pop band and rock `n' roll's preeminent celebrity mad scientists. As such, it captures the best of both worlds: The songs are smartly crafted pop classics with perfect melodies, but they're also bold and original. The lyrics are subtly poetic, the instrumentation is rich and complex, and even the most innocuous tracks burble with exciting new ideas.
   
   "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a sepia-toned miracle, full of folk and mystery and parallel-universe pop melodies. It also has some of the best use of a sitar on a Beatles record. "In My Life" is a tearjerker that can really jerk tears, a haunting work that's full of memory and melancholy. "Drive My Car" is really fun and really groovy, and the guitar solo is wonderfully, unbelievably, quintessentially 60s.
   
   But the real draw of this album is the underappreciated gems. Rubber Soul is full of `em. Take "You Won't See Me," for example. It would have been the highlight of just about any other 60s group's career- it's an absolutely flawless pop song, from harmonies to lyrics to chord progressions. It's cool, it's wistful, it's catchy, it's dynamic, and it's fun. Perfect, I tell ya! "I'm Looking Through" is absolutely gorgeous, and "Wait" has one of the most bewitching choruses in history. I even like the much-maligned "Run For Your Life," because it creates a genuine sense of menace and aggression. Marvelous!
   
   To top it off, the cover art is hipper than anything else in existence. Be hip and buy Rubber Soul. Bon Appétit.



5. A lot has been written and spoken about "Rubber soul" It is basically The Beatles coming of age release. Their work takes on a more reflected and personal identity. They sound more mature in their singing, playing and songwriting. At no time though does this CD sound heavy handed or preachy. Some of the pop sheen is still present, but their melodies and subject matter have a very passionate feel to them. They were still writing in a "singles" (45's) mode and so most everything on the CD sounds like it could have been a hit single in 1965. For that matter probably could be a hit record these days too. Really the only true throwaway song on here is Ringo's "What goes on?" Everything else brims with worthy craftsmanship. Imagine how good this album would have been had they included "Day tripper" & "We can work it out" instead of issuing them as a double A side single.

2 comments about Kinda Kinks.

1. 'Kinda Kinks', released in March 1965 is often unfairly slagged for its rushed production and supposed mediocre songwriting. I feel this is unfair, though some of the songs are definitely far below the quality of subsequent Kinks releases. This is where the REAL Ray Davies emerged as an introspective writer. While the debut was a typical British debut with many R&B covers, the second is dominated by originals. As with the first, a major hit single, "Tired of Waiting for You", appeared on the record just as "You Really Got Me" was on the debut. This was rare for British only releases which did not often feature singles. Other standouts include the "Tired" b-side, "Come On Now", another showcase for Dave's wild guitar and vocal style. My favorites are ths quieter tunes such as "Don't Ever Change", probably my fav early album track, "Nothin' in This World" (featured in the film 'Rushmore') and "So Long". Probably the most famous album track on 'Kinda' would be "Something Better Beginning", another great ballad in the tradition of "Stop Your Sobbin'". Lowlights would include a pitiful cover of "Dancing in the Streets", obviously the band was desperate to fill record space, and such subpar tunes as "You Shouldn't Sad" and "Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight". The Castle release includes some of the Kinks greatest singles and their 2nd ep of original album material and for this reason alone does THIS 'Kinda Kinks' get 5 stars as opposed to maybe 3 for the original album. "Set Me Free", "I Need You", "See My Friends", "Who'll Be the Next in Line", "Such a Shame" and "A Well Respected Man" among others display the pop brilliance of Davies and the Kinks circa mid to late 1965. As album artists however the best was yet to come!



2. Though critics often slag the Kinks second album as generic British Invasion, it's the album's look at Ray Davies emergence (rather than arrival) as a songwriter within the confines of the invasion that's so compelling. Musically the Kinks hadn't progressed from the minimalist rock 'n' roll of their 1964 debut, but with ten of the original UK album's dozen tracks penned by Davies, the band was beginning to develop their own unique voice.
   
   The hit single, "Tired of Waiting for You," and its powerhouse flip, "Come on Now" show both sides of Davies' genius. The first is a forlorn plea that points to the personal songs that would become Davies' forte, while the latter is a rave-up with a wicked guitar riff that surely set London dance floors ablaze. Davies' pen sticks to spurned and cheating lovers for the foot-stomping "Look For Me Baby" the confessional "Nothin' in the World Can Stop Me Worryin' 'Bout that Girl," and the bluesy "Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight." His nostalgic and sentimental streaks reveal themselves in the folky "So Long," and he lightens up for the Brill Building styled "Don't Ever Change," the Merseybeat "You Shouldn't Be Sad," and the hesitant, melancholy "Something Better Beginning."
   
   Sanctuary's 23-track reissue adds a full eleven bonus tracks, gathered primarily from UK singles and EPs. "Who'll Be the Next in Line" is as scathing as any kiss-off of the British Invasion, "Set Me Free" is a superb mid-tempo example of the Kinks' beat-era playing and Davies' heartbroken anger, "I Need You" is a grade-A garage-rocker with a classic Dave Davies guitar solo, the droning "See My Friends" adds early Eastern influences, the country-tinged "Wait Till the Summer Comes Along" suggests the band's future Muswell Hillbillies phase, and "A Well Respected Man" is one of the jewels of Davies' songwriting catalog. A previously unreleased demo of "I Go to Sleep" (a song better known in its cover by The Pretenders) closes the CD with Davies accompanied only by piano.
   
   The delicacy and depth that Davies would develop as a songwriter is only beginning to emerge here, but even among the seemingly by-the-numbers lost-love lyrics, his uniquely introspective and nostalgic voice is loud and clear. The production is still quite rudimentary and the arrangements simple (amplified, no doubt, by the speed with which they had to record a second album), but the variety of styles with which the band dabbles suggests the depth of their future efforts. This is a superb introduction to the Kinks early work, and will be an eye-opener for those weaned on their subsequent resurgences as rock opera and arena rock stars. This crisply remastered 23-track mono reissue on Sanctuary (not Rhino as Amazon mistakenly lists it) is the version to get. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

5 comments about Just Another Diamond Day.

1. I actually hadn't heard of Vashti until after that Reebok commercial with "Train Song", I completely fell in love with this album after hearing the song clips. I'm one who likes Donovan and the Incredible String Band, so I enjoy her pastoral themes and traditional melodies more than others might. But even if you're into good singer-songwriters with fantastic voice, I recommend this.



2. For certain people, music is more than some random noise to dance to or listen to while painting the bedrooms. Sometimes it can just stop you in your tracks. Vashti Bunyan does that for anyone that considers themself her fan. You won't find many casual Vashti fans as her music just seems too engaging to turn away. For those who listen to her are likely to love her regardless of anything. Sure, she might be too demure or at first sound too fragile and sensitive for bedrockheads who run through walls, people, and steel to get what they want out of life, let alone music. But others will suddenly sit still and scratch their heads wondering where this marvelous music has been hiding all their lives.
   
   Most may have discovered it through a cell phone commercial in 2006; that would be this albums opening cut. Indeed, the sublime splash of Diamond Day introduces us to a world as provocative to us as it was to Vashti when she left the modern world for a rustic commune in 1967 until the album's recording in 1969. Throughout the album, the lyrics detail 2 years of experiences involving relationships, nature and the sudden happiness she discovered after a depressing and jaded stint through the pop market in the mid 60s. Sure, there is some world weariness sprinkled throughout and her voice can still relay a sense of despondency, but more often than not, as exemplified by songs like Come wind Come Rain, Jog Along Bess, and Where I Like to Stand, she hopes, yearns and quietly celebrates her life while the musicians move the songs in jaunty folk arrangements filled with recorders, Irish harps, mandolins and banjoes without effects or any progressive trappings popular at the time. The music is often a perfect compliment for her songs. Many of the musicians came from Producer Joe Boyd's contingent including the Fairport Convention, ISB and Nick Drake's string arranger Robert Kirby, all of whom Vashti had admitted were unknown to her when she showed up to record this album in 1969. The result is something that transcends its perceived folk genre. It is thankfully impossible to pigeonhole and that's probably what may forever endear it to those discovering her all these years later, whether through commercials or wandering by a club in early 2007 to hear her singing while she toured the world after years in obscurity. It has that much power to stop you on the pavement and check her out.
   
   As a bonus, reissues have added some of her finest singles that she recorded in the mid sixties including her most morose song, a demo of Winter is Blue featuring the payoff lines, "I am alone, waiting for nothing. If my heart freezes, I won't feel the breaking." By the time her last single for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label, I'd Like to Walk Around in You Mind was recorded, it wound up being shelved. This seemed to be the song to bridge the despondency of her sixties recordings with the world weary optimism of this album. She makes for a mischievous ghostly presence here, hoping and determined to cheer up the most iron-hearted cynic. Her delivery starts off tentative then becomes more assured as she finishes the verses. The approach is natural and simply brilliant. It's as assuasive as pop music could get and stands arguably as her greatest song; my favorite to say the least. It may have taken over 30 years for many to discover this, but it's worth it.



3. This is one of the most beautiful albums ever recorded and my personal favorite. Vashti was discovered by the Rolling Stones' producer and pitched as a pop singer, but fled to the country to live alone in a caravan after recording this album of pastoral english folk. Her soft high voice trembles ever so slightly over a collection of beautifully crafted, sweet but never simple songs about sunlight and hay, wind and rain, dogs and horses, frog and birds, cups of tea, muddy boots and romantic longing. Some of the songs are very like nursery rhymes, like Beatrix Potter-ish tales set to music. "Jog Along Bess" is one of my favorites, about rescuing a bunch of psychologically or physically wounded animals and taking them to the country to frolic with her. It's adorable but kind of sad and weird, too. "Rosehip November" is a lyrical masterpiece that would not be out-of-place on Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" album. "I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind" is a touching ode to a reluctant lover. There is a strange tone of High Elizabethan mourning in her voice that echoes the overall wistfulness of Vashti's lovely lyrics. It is said she did not collect one dime off this, and somehow that all just adds to the allure.



4. This album saved me..literally. Tripping as hard as I ever had, I almost called an ambulance because I was so scared. I put the album on and as soon as Vashti started singin "la lalala la la lalala la" on the song "Diamond Day" my bad trip turned into the best one I've ever had as the album progressed. She may have not saved my life, but Vashti saved me huge ambulance and hospital fees, and an explanation for anyone who asked of why I had to go to the emergency room.
   Somebody else said the album seems to transport you to another world. Well in this case vashti brought me back home with her Diamond Day album.



5. Having just returned from seeing Vashti perform at Carnegie Hall in a review assembled by David Byrne, I am amazed that her voice still has that angellic dream quality that owed much to early Joni MItchell and a host of Brit folk-rock earth mothers. If you are familiar with Eric Andersen's BLUE RIVER, you'll have the aesthetic sense of this.
   Discovered by Joe Boyd, but entirely lacking in whatever drive one needs to sustain oneself through the interminable disappointments os a life as a professional musician, Vashti's effort here was considered a one-off until the new wave of folk hippies somehow caught wind of her.
   Hers is a truly beautiful and whispery type of voice, what might have prompted Richard Thompson to write "Beeswing" for example. She had no sense for what to do with her talent, and took after fellow wanderers instead of focuing on what was an ambitious and promising start. Boyd gave up. Bunyan wandered around northern England, the Hebrdides and Ireland in a tinker's caravan after the release of this record. God knows if she even collected a dime.
   But here it is again, and hopefully she has a better focus. She has recorded a follow up, 35 years later, that is also a stellar effort. But in listening to this, in listening to her sing Friday night with Adem Ilhan, I can't help but think of Jack Hardy's "Tinker's Coin." Perhaps she'll stick with it now that new folkies seems to have dragged her back into the spotlight. She is still quite beautiful, with an extraordinarily emotional set of pipes. This is well worth it.

5 comments about Magic Bus.

1. Righfully regarded as the weakest Record that The Who released in The Swinging Sixties, it is a lot of Fun to listen to. Decca USA, wanted something by The Who in the Record Bins for Christmas Time 1968. It was thought that Pete's new project "Deaf,Dumb and Blind Boy", would be ready for the Holidays, but this Epic was still in the early stages of Production. So, they did what Record Companies do, they found Songs from Old records; A Quick One" & "Sell Out". Singles from Sweden, B-Sides and {Well, You get the Idea}. And: "Magic Bus, The Who On Tour", was born. The English Record, was called: "Direct Hits" and is very different from this, it's American 2nd Cousin.
   
   As the Music that The Who was making in the Sixties was so different from everybody else. From The Pop-Art-On-Acid Cover to the 11 tracks inside this is a Strange Little Curio of it's day.
   
   John Entwistle gets Major exposure on: "Magic Bus" with three selections included: "Doctor,Doctor", "Somebody's Coming" and "Dr, Jeckell & Mr. Hyde". Keith gets to live his Surf Fantasy with: "Bucket T" & "Call Me Lightning". Some of Pete's Best is right here as well: "I Can't Reach You","Our Love Was" & "Disguises".
   
   Was this an important Record for the Band? ....No
   Is it everybody's favorite Who Album? ....Nope
   Is it a lot of Fun? ....You Betcha !!!



2. I love The Who more than anyone. I am the biggest fan, but I have a bone to pick with the first reviewer on here who said this is a "classic live" album. It is NOT a live CD, even though many people continue to claim this. Every song on here is a studio version, just like the original 1968 LP and the first CD version released in the 1980s. I wonder if the first reviewer even listended to this CD, or the original LP for that matter.
   
   Peace, and long live the mighty WHO!



3. This Japanese mini-lp replica version of Who, Magic Bus, the most classic live album released by The Who, is simply a work of art! Very beautifully designed with all the lyrics included and with a sound quality remastered 24-BIT to perfection. Wonderful Japanese OBI strip, really a work of art!
   This is by far the best version of this album that is out there; great sound quality, great packaging! A must have in any CD collector's library.



4. Sure it's hard to think of this as being much of an album. But since it wasn't even conceived as one, you can't necessarily just write this off as "Magic Bus" and a bunch of filler, either. Granted,including the already available "Run Run Run" and "Pictures of Lily" isn't helping my argument, but I'd hate to see some of the others lost to the obscurity of some rarities collection -- if ever released at all.
   
   Chief amonst them, for me, has got to be Entwistle's "Doctor, Doctor." Does anyone else not see and hear the genius in this? Recorded in April '67 soon after "Pictures of Lilly" and appearing as its b-side, it's a lovably goofy and psychedelic testament to the way things were back in Mod London in the greatest year in rock history. Townshend's heavily distorted guitar crashes and burns, as it often did literally back then. Entwistle sings the words of this miserable mess of a patient (is it real, or is he just a hypochondriac?) in a wonderful falsetto and, if my ears do me right, I would swear that's Moonie joining in on the doubled parts -- it's the perfect song for him, too.



5. This cd was released after THE WHO SELL OUT did not do for the WHO what it should have. This cd contains some "A" and "B" sides and also songs included on THE WHO s' second and third albums (A QUICK ONE and SELLS OUT). At the moment of its release THE WHO had enough songs recorded for a follow up to SELLS OUT (Faith in Something Bigger, Jaguar, Glow Girl, Dogs, Magic Bus, Doctor Jeckyl and Mr. Hide, Girls Eyes and some others). The story says that Keith Lambert (the Who s' great manager and producer), wanted to release a record with a name like "Who s' for Tennis" (horrible name for an album). So someone at DECCA/MCA (their record company), decided to do "this" including their then new 45 "Magic Bus". This cd includes some songs recorded for WHO SELLS OUT in a different mix. Also 3 John Entwistle compositions: "Doctor Doctor", "Someone is Coming", "Doctor Jeckyl & Mr. Hide, this one has not yet appeared on any other cd, mix or version and is one of his best songs (sadly they never played in concert).
   
   It also includes the horrible "Buckett T" (a number one single in Sweden--they have bad taste there). The also not favorite of mine 45 Who single "Call me lightning" is here (a number 54 in the US charts) and of course "Pictures of Lily" (a number 4 in England), and "Magic Bus" (a number 25 in US charts). From the Who s' second album "Run, Run, Run" and a strage mix of "Disguises" (it sounds as a razor edge in Roger s' mic).
   
   If you are a real WHO fan, then you should have this because of "Jeckyl and Hide) and "Magic Bus", and also the other songs that have different mixes.
   
   
   

5 comments about Animalism.

1. Absolutely excellent cd by a pathetically under-appreciated band. Good song selection, LOTS of gutty blues, excellent interpretations of songs written by the likes of Ray Charles. It was albums like this that made me start loving the blues back when this album first came out. Sadly, this is one of the few original Animals albums that has been released on cd. If you want to hear early Animals, you can't go wrong with this cd.



2. Over twenty years ago, I checked out the Animals' vinyl album, "Animalism", from the library. I recorded the album to a cassette. My favorite song was "Hit the Road, Jack". The library album disappeared, and the quality of my cassette recording left something to be desired, especially after all the times I listened to it. So ten years ago, I set about trying to find a copy of the album, in whatever format, using nationwide searches. I don't know how many music EXPERTS told me condescendingly that I was mistaken, The Animals never recorded "Hit the Road, Jack" and never recorded an album called "Animalism"! And here - FINALLY - it is! Hah! Not every song shines, but this is just a fun introduction to The Animals Blues.



3. Animalism offers no specials or tunes that didn't make the cut the first time around and the album's length is just a bit more than 43 minutes or so. And you won't find "House of the Rising Sun," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "It's My Life," or any of the other well-known Animals' hits on it. So why add it to your collection? For the simple reason that this is one of the most interesting and coherent albums the Animals ever made and also because, as an earlier reviewer noted, it gives Hilton Valentine a chance to show off his talents as a lead guitarist. With keyboardist Alan Price and drummer John Steel leaving the group, Dave Rowberry took over on piano and organ and Barry Jenkins came in as drummer and the group sound changed. Rowberry's organ playing is somewhat more jazzy and laid back than Alan Price's massive R and B and gospel influenced keyboard work. The new group sound comes off very effectively on this album and it's really great that Hip-O-Select has made this recording available on CD. Although there aren't any hit singles on Animalism, there are quite a few highlights especially for blues lovers. For my money, the two best numbers are "Smoke Stack Lightning" (a wonderful rave-up of the old Howlin' Wolf tune) and "Going Down Slow" (an incredible guitar workout by Hilton Valentine). Eric Burdon more than does justice to B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby." It's cool to hear Frank Zappa's guitar work on "All Night Long." Unless I'm mistaken, I think he also plays on The Animals' definitive version of "The Other Side of This Life." Speaking of definitive versions, you won't go wrong with The Animals' take on Donovan's "Hey Gyp" with Barry Jenkins' drumming being a particular highlight. "Outcast" is an interesting cut as well. To these ears, it sounds like the closest Eric Burdon ever came to going the Motown route. Overall, I give Animalism 4 out of 5 stars: as with many albums from this period, there are a couple of throwaway numbers. Bottom line: if you're a fan of Eric Burdon or the Animals, you definitely need to have Animalism in your collection.



4. I just found out & wanted to share that Frank Zappa recorded lots of this LP in L.A. & "probably" played on the 1st tune All Night Long. Just wanted to share. Go Figger . . One of the best albums released in 1966



5. 1. All Night Long
   2. Shake
   3. The Other Side Of This Life
   4. Rock Me Baby
   5. Lucille
   6. Smoke Stack Lightning
   7. Hey Gyp
   8. Hit The Road, Jack
   9. Outcast
   10. Louisana Blues
   11. That's All I Am To You
   12. Going Down Slow