No comments about Collectors Box.

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 British Invasion: 1963-1967.

1. I've longed for a great compilation of British Invasion tunes - from '63 - '67 or thereabouts. I found it in this compilation. I love the mixture from the more rebellious to the simple pop sound that came over to give us all something to stretch even higher from. Great, simply great tunes. I could listen to these for the rest of my life, and hey - I plan to do just that.



2. There are some good songs here, but the third CD is basically a waste. Also, it sounds like some of these selections are not the versions that were played on the radio back then. Some of them are the hit versions, but others do not sound quite right. The third CD should have contained bigger well-known hits from that time, but it just seems to be filler and nothing I care to listened to again.



3. When will someone put only really quality songs on a retrospective CD? This is like every other "history of..." CD I have ever bought: you pay for a bunch of songs to get the few that really matter. A "British Invasion" CD without any of the Beatles early chart-toppers? Kind of silly, really. But I bought it for the few songs I had to have to cover this important era in rock history, and the sound quality did NOT disappoint.



4. This definitive 60s british collection brought back all the memories of growing up in the 60s, which I did. 54 great tunes -- remastered bringing out all of the wonderful music of a simplier time, and a few production defects you can't hear on vinyl.
   
   I loved it and would highly recommend buying this 3-CD collection.
   
   Bruce from Tallahassee



5. This is an excellent compilation of all the top British artists of the 60's and 70's. Great for anyone who appreciates that music era

5 comments about Machine Head.

1. This is one of the top recordings of the day and the sound quality of this release is excellent. I am very pleased with it.



2. I always thought the original album was far too short on vinyl. I even have the quad version of the album but this expanded version is the ticket. Don't waste your time getting the original version and get this one, you won't be sorry. Anyway, most reviewers have already said pretty much what I would have said so what are you waiting for? If you like this one, get the rest of their catalog. Also stop by my small website, google "judemac Forever" and say hello.



3. When I pulled out my old vinyl LP of Machine Head and noticed that the sound quality was worse than a transistor radio, I knew it was time to look for this remastered edition on CD. The sound is pretty amazing, like hearing it for the first time. The intros on "Maybe I'm a Leo", "Never Before" and "Space Truckin'" jump with great clarity and bass, with good punch from the drums as well. Disc 2 is pretty cool, with some alternate takes that make you feel like you're there in the studio. Definitely worth a listen. Extensive liner notes too. One minor detraction from the packaging. I've never liked the 2-CD jewel cases with the little hinges that crack and break so often. Getting the second disc out can be somewhat of a pain. I've never really considered myself a big Deep Purple fan, but this set did it for me. CRANK IT UP!



4. Good value with two mixes of all the songs recorded at Montreux. I really appreciated disc 2 re-mixed by Roger Glover, more complete and exciting even than the original. Well worth the extra bucks for this 25th anniversary edition.



5. Easily one of the defining rock albums of the 70's, Deep Purple's "Machine Head" went a long way towards codifying the sound of British Rock at the time. Hell, just Ritchie Blackmore's iconic riff that kicks off "Smoke On The Water" would set "Machine Head" into the history books. Yet to many die-hards, both Fireball and In Rock were the harder albums. What, then, makes this album the landmark it is revered as today?
   
   For one thing, the original side one roared from the drop of the needle to the final spiral of its inner groove. "Highway Star" to this day conjures up a rebellious freedom that whips the wind through your helmetless motorcycle ride, the naked air slamming your face while speeding in your topless roadster. "Never Before" grinds with undeniable power. "Maybe I'm A Leo" ("...but I ain't a lion...") rocks the blues as only The Purple could. That was only side one.
   
   The old days had you flip that vinyl over for the multiple punches of "Smoke On The Water," "Lazy" and "Space Trucking." These three alone would put "machine Head" into the heavy metal hall of fame. Every teen from 1972 on who picked up their first guitar has probably practiced that riff at least twice. "Lazy" has the terrific Jon Lord organ workout, and "Space Trucking" is the last word in intergalactic rock songs.
   
   The remaster here is stunning, almost digital in its precise sound. It's almost as good as the DVD-A from 2001 (and with that item fetching $50 these days, this double CD is a bargain). The real treat, however, is the bonus CD. Roger Glover exhumes those 25 year old master tapes and gives us a slightly re-imagined entire new version of this classic album. While it won't make you snap the original CD is half, it is a striking curio. There are alternate guitar solos, a little bit of band banter (love the 'whoop!' at the end of "Lazy"), and some alternate endings. There are no 'rough sketches' or goof-offs; this is a working band's triumph against bad odds and they were making the most of it. It is exactly the kind of re-issue package that Rhino made their original reputation on, and they do "Machine Head" proud.

1 comments about Greatest Hits.

1. Chad and Jeremy's Greatest Hits is wonderful. If you like British music from the British Invasion then you will like their harmonious folksy tunes. A Summer song is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Caught Live + 5.

1. Review # 32. I've been wanting this CD for ages. Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on December 12, 1969. 'Caught Live + 5' just shows us how far ahead of their time the Moody Blues actually were. So many fantastic art rock, progressive (whatever you wish to call it) vintage tunes here - several I simply do not remember. It was great hearing the beautifully played "Dr. Livingston, I Presume", the catchy "Never Comes The Day", the inventive "Peak Hour", "Tuesday Afternoon", "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" {great flute playing}, "Nights In White Satin", the trippy "Legend Of A Mind" and "Ride My See Saw". Plus, the five extra studio cuts are nice as well - liked "Please Think About It" and the well played "Long Summer Days" the best. A must have.



2. 'Caught Live' is the only live recording of the Moody Blues made during their late 1960s rise to the heights of British psychedelic pop. As such, collectors are going to snatch it up, and diehards will say very nice things about it. This isn't a bad CD by any means, but it isn't a good one either. The song selection draws from the cream of the Moody's late 60s material and some of the performances are quite good. Unfortunately, as beautiful as Justin Hayward's voice is, his guitar is muddy in the mix and he's sabatoged by some awful harmony vocals. ("Nights in White Satin" and "Ride My See Saw" are ruined!) Too often, there's dead air immediately after some of the very polite applause, which makes this sound like a bootleg of a concert only intended for midnights on FM radio.
   
   Mike Pinder's Mellotron, on the other hand, is given full prominence. It's absolutely amazing what Pinder could accomplish with the Mellotron's unearthly, dreamlike tapes - just listen to him deftly evoke string sections and carefully work the volume and pitchbend controls. I can't think of a single other Mellotron player who could rival the care with which Pinder consistently played that instrument. Pinder's keyboards come across stronger here than on the Moody's studio albums and, if you can get past some of the disc's more annoying moments, are well worth the effort.
   
   As a bonus, there are 5 studio tracks that somehow never made it to the Moody's albums or singles. These are all good and solid songs that will strongly appeal to even the most casual of Moody Blues fans.
   
   If you're just getting into the Moody Blues, I suggest postponing buying this CD in favor of "Every Good Boy Deserves Favor."



3. This is a 'snap-shot' of the Moody's very early on in their long sojourn to Rock and Roll stardom. One must remember that at this time The Moodies had a very small vault of songs to choose from ... and a number of these songs have not been played live since ... if ever.
   
   Yes, there are true Moody Blue's Classics here, and Yes, they sound significantly different than the album cuts, and even somewhat different than way they are played live today. Some start different, some end different, and even some of the harmonies are slightly different. Why ?
   
   At this point, 1969, the Band was still experimenting with trying to do their music 'live'. They were attempting to shed there over-the-top synthesized spacey sound. To their devoted fans, they were known and loved for their lush orchestral and unique sound effects. But here we find them trying to improvise, reproduce, and impress us with their creativity and raw talent. They picked the best tracks from their limited collection (they only had 4 albums [excluding 'Go Now'] and there is only 1 track on here from 'To Our Children' ) and blew us away doing it live ... and this album is a testament to that.
   
   
   In 1970, soon after this concert, 'Question of Balance' was released, and 'Every Good Boy' soon followed. Both albums lacked the lush over-laying and Mellotron heavy tracks of the earlier albums. After these 2 albums were released, many of the songs played on 'Caught Live' quickly dropped off their live show play list ... sadly enough.
   
   The extra Five Studio cuts are great clippings that for whatever reason didn't make it on to the either of the first 2 albums... 2 tracks from '67 (Days of Future Past), and 3 tracks from '68 (Search of the Lost Chord)...these are very good cuts that just didn't get pressed.
   
   This is a true Collector's Choice, a must have because of it's innocence and rawness, which can't be heard on any studio album.
   If you attended an early Moody's concert, you'd understand !~!



4. To start off, what a topnotch remastering job on this splendid release! :)
   
   I was so glad when "Caught Live + 5" was finally released on CD, back in 1996! When I had a copy of the album on cassette, and compared it to the vinyl release, I was shocked at how much material was edited out of the cassette version ... I guess it was a matter of fitting the entire album onto the cassette, but thank goodness the CD featured the unedited full versions of the live songs, as heard on the vinyl release. I was also impressed that all of the material between the two original records fit on a single CD!
   
   For the live portion of the album, "Gypsy" was a great way to open up the act, and it really rocked ... Both the mellotron and lead guitar really grab the listener's attention, here!
   
   "The Sunset" sounded awesome on this release, and since the mellotron was really powerful, on this occasion, I call this the "To Our Children's Children's Children" rendition of the song! :) Notice that, on this track (and also on "The Dream"), Mike Pinder's voice is more audible on the left stereo channel, within the stereo field ... This reminded me of the stereo trick used on the earlier recordings of The Beatles (Ex: "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out"), where the voices were offset to one of the stereo channels!
   
   On "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume," you can hear some amusing screams, here and there, probably by John Lodge!
   
   Both "Never Comes The Day" and "The Voyage" feature magnificent mellotron solos from Mike, near the end of each track. On the latter composition, the mellotron replaced the pianos from the original version, but the piece was played just as well, here!
   
   The harmonies of John Lodge and Ray Thomas are great, as they sing the bridge to "Peak Hour" twice. Mike's mellotron solo is outstanding, once again.
   
   The Moodies really rock well on both the bridge and ending of "Tuesday Afternoon!"
   
   "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" features some well-done flute and mellotron solos.
   
   Mike delivers Graeme Edge's poem, "The Dream," in an enthusiastic way, and I love the way he recreates the wailing sounds of the mellotron for the backdrop, sounding much like the original version!
   
   On both parts of "Have You Heard," I liked the "gust of air" effects in-between the individual lines in the song, as well as the group effort of each of The Moodies chanting in their own way, in unison, near the end of Part Two.
   
   The closing sequence of the live set was nice, featuring "Nights In White Satin" (More great harmonies from John and Ray on the "Oh, how I love you," parts), "Legend of a Mind" (An amusing mellotron track during the "Along the coast..." part of the song), and "Ride My See-Saw" (Featuring powerful drums from Graeme in the intro, as well as an amusing count-in, sounding more like "Fee... Fo... Fee... Fee," rather than "One... Two... Three... Four!").
   
   To me, the "+5" tracks are just as enjoyable as any of the material from the "Classic 7" albums. :)
   
   "Gimmie a Little Somethin'" sounds like it was recorded during the same recording sessions as "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" or "House of Four Doors." There are some nice flute tracks in-between the verses, and I like the ascending notes on the piano and mellotron during the chorus ... Great stereo mix with excellent separation of the different instruments and vocals, too (Best experienced through headphones)!
   
   Both "Please Think About It" and "Long Summer Days" feature wonderful harmonies and piano tracks.
   
   "King and Queen" has a similar rhythm track to "Legend of a Mind," once the chorus kicks in. I enjoy this Justin Hayward track as much as "Voices In The Sky" and "The Actor" ... The acoustic guitars and mellotrons really stand out on this track, as well as Graeme's drumming on the chorus and during the fadeout!
   
   "What Am I Doing Here?" features a lot of layered soaring mellotron tracks, making it sound like a selection from "Children's Children!" I like the piano and additional mellotron pieces during the fadeout, plus Graeme's thunderous drumming, especially near the end of the track, is outstanding!
   
   To finish up, I enjoyed "Caught Live + 5" just as much as the "Classic 7" albums ... That's why I gave it the nickname "Classic 8" in my review title! The album was like an addition to the other amazing albums from the same time period. :) Thanks for reading! God Bless... :)



5. NOTE: This is an edited version of my original.
   
   This is a great collection of early MB's live recordings, tracks 1-14 that is. I thought all the live songs were fantastic, especially Lodge's 'Peak Hour' and 'Ride My See Saw'(awesome version!) and Pinder's 'Have You Heard/ The Voyage'. Hayward's "Nights" is a great one too, almost as good as the Isle of Wight performance. The live versions of these four fabulous songs alone are worth the price of the whole CD in my opinion.
   
   On to a few of the 5 studio tracks. J. Lodge's 'Gimme a little somethin', the lead sung by Hayward, is a short but good tune. John's fab falsetto soars on the chorus parts. 'Please think about it' is one of the most "non-melancholy" tunes I've ever heard by Mike Pinder and I really, really liked it! Pinder's voice sounded so very good on this one. "Happier" tunes suit his vocals, I think. No, it's not THAT upbeat of a song, but it IS for a Pinder tune- lol! The harmonies are fantastic as well, reminds me of the 1950's style. Justin's 'Long Summer Days' is mostly sung by him in that somewhat lower register of his that I have always loved. Harmonies are great as well as the pretty melody. Hayward's 'What am I doing here" is a bittersweet poignant tale of lovers, heroes.... and death. Justin and mates' vocals and playing perfectly suited the tone of the song.
   
   I had read a critique somehwere(maybe here?) that this album sounded like a recording of a Moody Blues rehearsal. I beg to differ with that charge most vehemently. If these live tracks of Prelude are a Moodies rehearsal, then this album REALLY speaks volumes as to just how wonderfully talented these men truly are. I'd love to "catch them live" any day of the week.

5 comments about Legend of a Band - The Story of the Moody Blues.

1. Feeling nostalgic for the glory days of soft rock? "Legend of a Band" is a profile of the Moody Blues that will fit the bill. This was originally a direct-to-video rockumentary released to coincide with the release of the Moody Blues' 25th anniversary and is a companion piece to the greatest hits CD of the same name.
   
   On the positive side are the Moody Blues themselves. All of the four key members of the band are genuinely affable, sincere, friendly, and sensitive sorts who good-naturedly recount their highs and lows without even a trace of egoism. There's also a generous selection of videos from both of the Moody Blues' chief commercial peaks. We get to see vintage footage of the band lip-synching "I'm Just A Singer in a Rock and Roll Band" and "Nights in White Satin" as well as their then-hot (and innovative) late 1980s videos for "In Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere." Justin Hayward also walks us through "Tuesday Afternoon" in a solo gutar performance. It's impossible for me to watch these videos or listen to this music without feeling intensely nostalgic for the Moody's brand of melodic, classically tinged British pop.
   
   On the negative side is that this DVD has no extras, and was conceived not as a true documentary but as a type of lightweight treat for the Moody's fans. So, there's absolutely no vintage live performance clips - not even of the Isle of Wight festival or the famed appearances at the Fillmore ballrooms. No mention is made of the Mellotron (the vintage keyboard whose unique tones helped shape the Moody's sound). Neither original keyboardist Mike Pinder nor replacement Patrick Moraz are interviewed. What little live footage exists are a couple of rushed and sloppy performances from the late 80s. Almost no details are given about the Moody's exceptionally successful string of hit albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s - they go by in a blur. Not surprisingly, there are no details on any behind-the-scenes stories related to the continued storyline in Moody's exceptionally clever retro videos for their late 1980s hits.
   
   If you're a casual Moodys fan, this video will definitely please you. If you're somewhat more interested in the band, the DVD's shortcomings will be more serious to you. As for me, despite its flaws I would not trade this film for anything.



2. I have watched this CD several times already. The music is wonderful and watching the Moodys when they were younger and hearing them talk about the band is great. Although it is from the 1990s it is still worth watching.



3. First see Classic Artists-Moody Blues & then watch this one. I am not saying it is a bad one but where one has interviews with Mike Pinder & lacks any really with Ray Thomas, this one is the opposite & there is not one interview with Mr Pinder on the whole film. Other then that, a must have for the collector of Moody Blues videos.
   Search "Judemac Forever" on google,msn or Yahoo.



4. Although dated, this was a nice documentary of the Moody Blues ranging from the mid-60's to the early 90's. It was a mixture of reminisces and music from the band, and there was an appropriate balance that made it flow well. A particular highlight was an acoustic version of Tuesday Afternoon by Justin Hayward. It was only a verse and a chorus, but it leads one to imagine how nice accoustic arrangements of their music could be. Videos of their songs or live performances were intermixed thoughtfully, so the conversational part of the documentary didn't get too long. It would have been nice to hear from some ex-band members such as Mike Pinder or Denny Laine, but this was clear the story of the four active band members--not necessarily the Moody Blues historically.
   
   I enjoyed their memories of the "old" days, and it was nice to hear songs not typically included in summaries of their work, such as "No More Lies" and "Vintage Wine". It was a beautiful walk down memory lane.



5. I recently purchased Legend of a Band along with the longer and more expensive Classic Artists 3-DVD set. I must say while LOAB doesn't show as much footage as CA, it does seem to tell the story much clearer and without a lot of the superfulous interviews of people that most of us have never heard of anyway. I am a huge John Lodge fan and the segment of him at the site of The Isle of Wight Festival was fantastic and that alone was well worth the price of the DVD! I highly recommend this to any MB fan.

5 comments about Revolver.

1. Classic Beatles. The album that started it all - their own sound, that is. Not one of the cheezy reissue comps...
   Shipper was accurate and prompt.



2. Yet another generic 60's Pop band gone by, just like Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton; none of the bands show any particular talent. They definitely lack guitar talent and song writing skills. But like I mentioned already, with the right promoting any band can be made popular.
   
   For good rock check out Oasis ,Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Default, and Green Day.



3. For my definition of 'classic' albums please refer to my review of 'Heaven Or Las Vegas' by the Cocteau Twins.
   
   If The Beatles had ended their career with the album "Help", they would still remain the best pop and rock band of all time. But that was not meant to be. God wanted more. It was Thursday and God still had one more working day. I was amazed, astonished and stunned with God's creations on the first five days of the week. It was too much to me. But on Friday he seemed to be in a better mood and came up with something half sweet, half weird, called Rubber Soul, an ape losing his body hair and tail and standing on his two feet. And then God said: "I've had enough. I've created human being and a world for him. Now I'm gonna rest and take back something earthly to review. What? I need sometime for myself!" Then on Saturday, God revolved a black vinyl on his player, rolled up a joint, lit it up, relaxed and enjoyed the sound. 1. Taxman. "What's that, man? I can't believe it. Boy George roars and burns like I never heard before! 2. Eleanor Rigby. "Hey, Polly, this is so sober and beautiful. Looks serious and focused like me on my first working day!". 3. I'm Only Sleeping. "Wow, that's cool! What's this Johnny up to? This is just like I'm feeling now, floating up stream!". 4. Love You To. "Now what? Boy George again, going high and going eastern like when I started! 5. Here, There and Everywhere. "Oh that makes me weak in the knees. Polly made it especially for me to hail my omnipresence!" 6. Yellow Submarine. "Hey, Polly is not that serious, he likes to play too, like a child who makes adults delighted with her merry tunes!" 7. She Said, She Said. "Now, that got me rolling, Johnny! It is growing weird, man!" 8. Good Day Sunshine. "Well, I'm so moved with this shining tune! I remember it like it was today when I created a star for the humans". 9. And Your Bird Can Sing. "Johnny is like a magician. He makes the animals rock and sing along. That's my guy"! 10. For No One. "That's Polly again! So serious and gorgeous. He makes me cry out of emotion!" 11. Doctor Robert. "I've said that's my guy! Yeah, you're right, an appot a day keeps the doctor away!". 12. I Want to Tell You "Oh, thank you, Boy George, for the bonus. Your first two tracks were just fine". 13. Got to Get You into My Life. "Hey, Polly, you do not need me anymore. You've done great things. You can be on your own now!" 14. Tomorrow Never Knows. "That's why I told you this is my guy. What do I call that? I think I'm gonna call it psychedelic". And then, on Sunday, God went down to earth again to make something to celebrate this revolving masterpiece his human creation had made. And he made Sgt. Pepper and it became more famous only because it was God's idea!
   
   Alceu Natali, November 7, 2008



4. This is the one. It beats Pepperland, and even Rubber Soul - and Rubber Soul being better than just about anything else in the normal world!! Ladies and Gentlemen, I was there in 1966. 1966 was THE YEAR for music, especially for rock music. Motown, British Invasion, American Rock - especially The Byrds and Dylan were at an all time high. People always wax prolific about the "Summer of Love" in 1967 and all that B.S. but, in 1966 you had Revolver, Pet Sounds and Blonde on Blonde. Beat those albums. Not to mention 5th Dimension by the Byrds, Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel's efforts. 1966 was the last stand. Turtlenecks, black suits,
   Beatle Boots and Brian Jones haircuts were replaced by dirty looking men that looked like Charles Manson. What is cooler? Huh? Revolver was the last time we saw the "mop-tops," but this time, they had an "edge" to their music. There was a little more bite to it. And to those that STILL do not know, Paul played the guitar solo on Taxman!!!! This is their best album. PERIOD.



5. From just three years(1964-1967), The Beatles were "I Want To Hold Your Hand", to, "I'd Love To Turn You On", Just three years and only after three years the band was at there peak and was starting to go into the full relams of psychedelia music. Such songs as "Love You To", and "Tommorow Never Knows", were unheard of as "pop" songs at that time. The Beatles were taking a giant step though Revolver still has a few of there short and snippy love songs it really marked the beginning of a new era for the Beatles. Revolver is probaly one of the first mainstream albums that includes psychedelic music and was just a hint of what was too come in one years and how many great albums would come out and change music forever.

5 comments about The Ultimate Peter & Gordon.

1. This is a great CD that contains every charted hit and some B-sides from these artists. This one CD covers it all. Sound quality is superb. An excellent value purchase if you want to get a complete overview of Peter and Gordon.



2. The Ultimate Peter & Gordon gives us an excellent overlook at the artistry of Peter & Gordon. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.
   
   The album starts off so nicely with their classic hit entitled "A World Without Love." Peter & Gordon harmonize well to this tune and the lyrics are very well written. The drums and guitars make the melody quite catchy and memorable; I predict that you will like this song if you haven't already heard it.
   
   "I Don't Want To See You Again" has a lush musical arrangement while Peter & Gordon sing this sweetly. Their voices are full of masculine warmth and their excellent diction bolsters their performance. The modulations between major and minor keys work well for "I Don't Want To See You Again." In addition, listen for "Love Me, Baby." This middle 1960s tune reflects a somewhat harder rockin' style carried well by the electric guitars; and there's also "I Go To Pieces." "I Go To Pieces" is a beautiful love ballad that places Peter & Gordon squarely in the spotlight as the arrangement makes great use of the guitars, flute and more. Great!
   
   "Don't Pity Me" isn't the strongest song on the album; but it is quite well written; and I really like "To Know You Is To Love You." Peter & Gordon sing this ballad in their fine tenor voices; "To Know You Is To Love You" becomes a masterpiece in their capable hands! For a more playful type of song, listen for "Lady Godiva." "Lady Godiva" has a unique twist to the story and I think you'll get a kick out of this song!
   
   "My First Day Alone" repeats the general formula of the two singers harmonizing to perfection; and they sing this awesome song about their feelings after a breakup with their women. "You've Had Better Times" has a great tempo with a great arrangement; and the CD ends really well with "Jokers."
   
   The liner notes may not be an encyclopedia of information but they are better than nothing; and the artwork is well done.
   
   Overall, this is a fine retrospective CD of Peter & Gordon. Their sound was very professional and passionate; they appealed to your senses in a way few duos ever could. I highly recommend this album for fans of this genre of music.



3. The best of the Mod male duos. With help from a great song from Lennon and McCartney, (Half the Beatles), It is a great 60's soft rock and roll for a look back at the start of the great English Wave when it hit the states.



4. It was wonderful hearing the Peter & Gordon hits of the 60's. Great melodies; awesome harmony. It brought back wonderful and happy memories from my teen years.



5. Hadn't heard this British Merseybeat duo's music in ages. They just remind me so much of Chad&Jeremy. Total of twenty tracks here to check out once again. Some of the cuts I thought were good are "A World Without Love" (possibly their most memorable hit), "Love Me Baby", "I Go To Pieces", "Lady Godiva", "Woman" and the snappy "You've Had Better Times". Didn't REALIZE that Peter&Gordon covered so many other's music,like the Beatles, E.King, Phil Spector, etc. Should definitely appeal to fans of the Seekers, Gerry&The Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits and the Mindbenders.

5 comments about Something Else by the Kinks.

1. When I was in my first semester as a Freshman in college, I was alienated, lonely, going through some terrible trauma and depression. I had loved the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Who since I was little, and they had helped me through such times. Wandering into an record store (this was 1984!) in Boston, I rifled through albums, and saw this one. I had only known the Kinks at that point for You Really Got Me, and a few others, but the cover art and then the titles of the songs made me realize I might be holding a gem I had never discovered.
   
   As I played the album that night, I had one of many revelatory experiences I had only experienced with the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and one of many I would have with the Kinks. This is a masterpiece. And you simply cannot try to interpret or criticize it in the context of the Beatles. They are working with material and ideas very different from most anyone else. There is something both very coy and detached, but intimate in a way that speaks to a wistful mentality, one that knows that life can be terribly painful and lonely, but in the middle of it life can also be beautiful and precious. The Kinks present this shade of life in a manner that is not pretentious. Think of all the groups (the Kinks included) who have made melancholy, whimsy and wistfulness pretentious! This album, along with its precursor Face to Face, and it subsequent Village Greene Preservation Society are three of the quiet but wonderful monuments not necessarily to rock music, but just plain great music in general. The album will never tire on me.



2. Do you like thoughtful, witty Britpop with folky influences? If so, you'll probably want to try 'Something Else' by the Kinks. It begins with 'David Watts,' probably the most upbeat song about envy anyone has ever written, and ends with 'Waterloo Sunset,' possibly the best ballad the Kinks ever recorded and certainly one of the most bittersweet songs of the 1960s. In between, there's lots of jangly guitar, some clever harpsichord runs, and songs that come across as mashups between pub singalongs and Celtic balladry. True, the production values vary a bit throughout and both Ray and Dave Davies aren't the greatest singers on either side of the Atlantic. But the songwriting is first rate, Dave Davies was a criminally under-rated guitarist, and absolutely no one could write lyrics that veered from satirical to compassionate to heartbreaking like Ray Davies did. Simply put, this is an essential CD for anyone who loves the craftsmanship of non-psychedelic late-1960s pop and rock, or the quieter side of alternative rock.
   
   If you're looking for the early 80's hard rock version of the Kinks, you'll probably be better served by 'One For the Road' but 'Something Else' is an unjustly forgotten gem that showcases the Kinks' gentler side.



3. There will always be debate as to this being the 'best ever' by the Kinks. Over 40 years since its' release, it is still vibrant. I personally place the bonus-packed reissue of 'Face to Face' at the same, top, level and slightly above the next album, 1968's 'Village Green Preservation Society' (that said, all the Kinks albums from 1966 to 1971 are very good to excellent).
   This was also Dave Davies' breakthrough as a songwriter-on "Death of a Clown" and "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" and "Funny Face". It is hard to beleive that just two years earlier this band was releasing albums that were two or three singles and a bunch of forgettable filler. Each song, from the strident rocker "David Watts" through the haunting melody of "No Return" and the numerous other catchy hooks in each of stories being told by song on this album elevate it to a level of a classic. There are sing-alongs: "Clown" and "Harry Rag"; tales of ordinary people "Two Sisters", "Situation Vacant", "Afternoon Tea", and the irresistably catchy "Waterloo Sunset". Some consider this (as well as 'Face to Face') to be a 'concept' album about the day-to-day travails of ordinary, British middle class people. The total departure from the hard rock Kinks of 1964 and 65 could not be more complete than the skillfully crafted "End of the Season", "No Return", and "Waterloo Sunset"; these are songs that would not be out of place in a musical from a previous generation. Together with the other strong songwriting throughout, they give 'Something Else' the timeless quality that makes it sound as good 40 years after release as it did in 1967.



4. Something Else by the Kinks furthers shows why the Kinks are largely considered the lost forgotten pop band of the late 60's. Some people put them right up there with the Beatles. I wouldn't go THAT far, but buying four or five Kinks albums wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
   
   One song that immediately catches my attention is "Death of a Clown". An upbeat song with the word "death" in the title? Yes! "Waterloo Sunset" is probably the best song on the album, and anyone who believes this song shouldn't be played on the radio.. guess again! It should have been a huge hit, but it wasn't, and maybe it's for the better really. We don't need radio stations playing the same song over and over. All that would do is end up making people get tired of their music!
   
   So pick up this brilliant pop album and prepare yourself for one fine, pop rock experience.



5. Besides "David Watts," there isn't a listenable song on this album. And that's coming from a big Kinks' fan. Like many great "artists" of the 60's, Ray Davies took his cue from Dylan and Lennon/McCartney and decided to become a poet rather than a musician. What a shame. Boring, boring, boring. And pretentious to boot.