No comments about Then and Now: The Very Best of Petula Clark.

2 comments about Percy.

1. Although there are several nice numbers (`Moments', `Dreams', etc), and some rock solid Dave Davies guitar licks, think of this as an extended CD single for the great `God's Children' and `Willesden Green' [both of which are available on `Kink Kronikles']. Grab this for sure if you don't have that. If you're Kinky, grab this anyway.
   Unfortunately, Amazon's track listing is inkomplete (sorry, English teachers). Indeed, the extra tracks are the same as the earlier (2000) Castle release - see that disc for further reviews. The bonus tracks are all mono mixes from the film :
   
   14) Dreams
   15) Moments
   16-18) The Way Love Used To Be



2. This is the soundtrack to the quirky 1971 film "Percy" that saw Ray Davies and bandmates contribute all of the music to the film. If you're a fan of the 60's and early 70's music by The Kinks then you will surely find much to love here on this album. There are a few instrumentals including a great version of "Lola" combined with many new full songs with lyrics. They include my personal favorites "Moments", "Dreams", "Animals in the Zoo", and "God's Children".
   
   I'm overstating the star rating slightly (this is probably more of a 4 star album) but because it's so overlooked and there are no other reviews I wanted more fans to take notice of this forgotten piece of the Kinks catalog.
   
   This album is also part of the great remastered re-issue Sanctuary series, so you'll get great sound, great packaging, and great liner notes with some really great background info on the album and that period of the Kinks career.
   
   Don't miss out. Help celebrate the entire career of one of the best bands of all time.
   
   Long live The Kinks!

5 comments about Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 2).

1. I'm shocked these guys weren't more popular (maybe they were I'm just too young to know). Catchy tunes performed with trippy, ethereal instrumentation and vocals. Reminds me a bit of early 70's Bowie at times, but more jazzy/jammy and sometimes dark. For me this was the band's studio pinnacle. Their live recordings from this period of the band are also outstanding.



2. The trilogy moves well one into the other, if you like one you will like them all



3. First let me say, this is one of my favorite albums in the world. Second, this is one of the best remastering jobs I've ever heard. The high end is clear and sharp, the low end is tight and punchy, and there is no annoying 'bump' in the high mids that mars so many progressive rock remasters. Hand it to the dutch for using their ears instead of their meters and dials. If you remember the old Virgin vinyl lp, then you know how good this album could sound. If you owned the Charly CD, you know how bad it could sound. The follow-up release, You, has also been remastered and it, too, sounds better than the lp. Now when will they get to The Flying Teapot. My old Charly CD never sounded so bad.
   
   Hats off also for the four bonus songs. Two of them are single edits. The Other Side Of The Sky, I believe, was the French b-side to I Never Glid Befoa, but I could be wrong. Ooby Scooby Doomsday used to be on the vinyl Gong Live etc. I've heard it said this song is a waste of time. I think it's one of the great lost Gong songs and it deserves to be in any comprehensive library of the band's recordings. Another is Blues For Findlay from the soundtrack to Continental Circus, which was made around the time of Camembert Electrique. I wish we could get that on CD again.



4. A TON of fun - superbly executed and clearly remastered sounds!!
   
   This is like early Pink Floyd - if Sid had remained in the group!
   This is like King Crimson WITHOUT the technical chip on Fripp's shoulder - (...must...play....faster....)
   This is like Zappa on mescalin!
   
   This is post-Floyd psychedelia of a 'very high' calibre ;-)



5. This excellent 1973 release by Gong was the second installment in the Radio Gnome Trilogy. The lineup on this album is absolutely classic Gong and includes Tim Blake (VCS3 and mini-moog synthesizers); Pierre Moerlen (drums); Mike Howlett (bass); Daevid Allen (guitar, vocals); Didier Maherbe (woodwinds); Steve Hillage (guitar); and Gilli Smyth (space whisper, vocals). A great deal of the music on Angel's Egg is very spacey, which is driven largely by Tim Blake's atmospheric synthesizer work, along with Gilli Smyth's cosmic and heavily-echoed "space whisper". On the other side of the coin however, is some seriously virtuosic drumming by Pierre Moerlen and alternately spacey and heavy guitar work by Steve Hillage. Bassist Mike Howlett is no slouch either and his thunderous playing really drives everything along. As a general rule, this band was always comprised of superb musicians and their ability to swing from jazz rock, to space rock, to spacey free-form and back again always impressed me. In addition to virtuosity, this music exhibits the quintessentially whimsical Canterburian sense of humor, which is expressed through the surreal and "dadaist" lyrics of Daevid Allen. EMI did a great job of remastering this album, and the 14 page booklet features liner notes that "explain" the premise underlying the Radio Gnome Trilogy (up through Part II at least), and discusses topics including the Planet Gong; Master of the Spheres; Octave Doctors; Pot Head Pixies and the like. In addition to the original album, there are five bonus tracks including a single version of Other side of the Sky, the outtake Ooby-Scooby Doomsday or the D-Day DJ's got the DDT Blues, a vocal mix of Love is How Y Make It, and an early version of Eat that Phone Book Coda. Overall the bonus tracks are OK, and with the exception of the excellent Ooby-Scooby, do not add too much to the original album. Fortunately, EMI did not use copy control technology on this album, so playback problems should not be an issue. This album is very highly recommended along with Magick Brother (1970); Camembert Electrique (1971); Flying Teapot (RGI Pt. 1) (1973); and You (RGI Pt. 3)(1974).

5 comments about Deep Purple - Come Hell Or High Water.

1. Besides Blackmore acting like a Weirdo, I really enjoyed this DVD. It gave some insight into what was going on with the band. If you liked Deep Purple back in the day, I would buy this DVD. Getting Steve Morse into the band later, must have been like a breath of fresh air for the guys!



2. Hi I'm 50 years old if your a true Deep Purple fan you will love this dvd even though richie is an nut case the music is A+++++++++++ the band is tight and never miss a lick.
   
   Daryl



3. WOW! That is all I can say initially. Ritchie Blackmore and crew made this concert the best they ever did! If you have ever wanted to see Ritchie do his legendary riffs (he usually hid them from camera shot in the early years concerts) this is the DVD for you. All the guys excelled in this performance. They had it together.
   
   Interestingly, as this was a "reunion" concert. When the band left the stage, Ritchie exited on one side and the rest left on the other...
   
   Again, FANTASTIC CONCERT. I encourage you to get it - you will NOT be disappointed.



4. I approached this DVD "Come Hell Or High Water" with a certain amount of apprehension after hearing about this Birmingham show and Ian Gillan recently wanting the live album (audio only) not to be released. But let's face it, even the average Deep Purple show is a little special, and to me, this DVD wasn't bad at all. I'll admit that Ritchie Blackmore's antics made it hard at first, but the overall performance still comes across pretty well. Drummer Ian Paice shines in some of the later songs, and the rest of the band (Lord, Glover and Gillan) all try to make up for Ritchie's lack of dedication you might say. Some of Gillan's expressions are a treat, and the overall uniqueness of a Deep Purple happening is captured well on video. Technically it's excellent, nothing too flashy. It's a treat to watch something done by people you know have a feel for Purple's work, which doesn't come off routine looking or full of gimmicks. Overall, this is a pretty good resemblance of the 25th Anniversary tour, just not one of the best moments. The interviews between some of the songs are cleverly done, but after a few viewings I wished I could have passed on them, but no such luck. All things considered, the DVD doesn't make a bad addition to the ever growing Purple memorabilia.



5. Only 3 stars for Come Hell or High Water is almost being harsh. But Blackmore's behavior during the concert is so outrageous that I was embarrassed for the band just watching the show. I feel sorry for the fans that actually paid to attend the concert who were probably very excited to see a Deep Purple show where all 5 members participated.
   
   But really only 4 participated. Those 4 being Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, and Jon Lord. Those guys must have huddled before the show and said, "let's give these fans a musical performance that they'll never forget." Whether Blackmore was in the huddle with them or not, one thing is for sure, Blackmore agreed to also give the fans an experience that they'll never forget, but the experience that he provided was how to be a complete jackass...not the experience of the guitar performances that he is legend for.
   
   The back jacket of the DVD reads, "No one who has heard Deep Purple kick off a show with Highway Star will ever forget it...." Well, I sure won't forget how it was done on this DVD. The band comes out on stage, starts the song, but something's missing...Blackmore is missing! The first minute of the song goes by, but there's no Blackmore; there's no guitar playing; only vocals, keys, bass and drums. At first I thought it was a some sort of prestaged thing where Blackmore would appear with much fanfare. Well, he finally does appear where the guitar solo is supposed to come in, but not with much fanfare. Blackmore is clearly pissed about something and is determined to let everyone in the band and audience know it. He walks on stage, saunters over to the amps, grabs a cup of water that is sitting there, flings it through the air, looks at the other guys in the band as if to say, "take-that!", and then he feebly proceeds to play a horrible version of the Highway Star solo. The other guys in the band are visibly exasperated and just roll their eyes.
   
   After Highway Star, the DVD breaks to a quick video interview with Gillian, Paice, Lord and Glover where they comment on how something wasn't working between them that night at the Birmingham NEC, UK, on November 9, 1993, and that Blackmore, as he was known to often do, acted "like an angry little child when he didn't get his way about something".
   
   Clearly, Blackmore indeed didn't get his way about something for the recording of this DVD. The tension on stage was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Blackmore was conspicuously absent from the stage and absent from playing throughout the whole show, and that really took away from the performance. Instead of rocking out through the DVD, I'm sitting there the whole time going, geez what a shame. To be fair, things were working with everyone in the band except just one guy. Gillian, Paice, Lord and Glover did indeed play like it was 1972...they were on.
   
   The song list was terrific. They play:
   
   1-Highway Star
   2-Black Night
   3-Talk About Love
   4-Twist in the Tale
   5-Perfect Strangers (Blackmore almost looked as if he njoyed being there for this song.)
   6-Beethoven
   7-Knocking at Your Back Door
   8-Anyone's Daughter
   9-Child in Time
   10-Anya
   11-The Battle Rages On
   12-Lazy
   13-Space Truckin'
   14-Woman from Tokyo
   15-Paint It Black
   16-Smoke on the Water.
   
   Blackmore couldn't wait to get off the stage. He walked right off after Smoke On The Water...exit stage left; the other guys took some bows and exited stage right.
   
   For a 1993 recording, the picture was above average and the sound was very good. You get a superb Dolby 5.1 mix. But the picture quality was brought down a bit by the lighting choice throughout the show; it was as if consideration the night of the show was not given to the fact that the show would be recorded for DVD. The editing was great; you really got to take in each angle before the shot changed.
   
   With the short interviews (spliced in between songs instead of as an extra feature which kind of took away from the live performance illusion) the DVD is an even 2 hours long. There were no Blackmore interviews.
   
   It was great to reminisce and watch a Deep Purple show. The performances were a 5 by Gillian, Paice, Lord and Glover; Blackmore gets a 1. Sound is a 4. Picture is a 3. The long shots of the band in action before changing angle makes up for the choice to put the interviews between songs instead of at the end or as an extra...so the editing is a 3. Hence, 3 stars overall.

3 comments about The Move.

1. I love this album. Great for fans of The Move, and maybe as good to become familiar with their British prog-rock, quirky, psychedelic sound. Melodic and catchy with witty lyrics. If you love early ELO, you'll love this too, though this has a flavor of it's own. (Roy Wood style).
   
   The band Sparks (Ron and Russell Mael) cite The Move as being one of their influences, and being a Sparks fan as well, I can hear that.



2. This set is a wonderful release for serious Move fans, containing newly discovered songs and stereo remixes. Unfortunately, the mastering is horrible. It's too loud, shrill, and they used noise reduction on the intros and outros of the songs, so it sounds like the songs are going underwater at the end. They even used NR on the stereo remixes! You would think that it wouldn't be necessary when you're using master tapes, but apparantly, the people who mastered this set think that it was. Also, two or three songs are INFERIOR to past releases, most notably "Walk Upon The Water". It supposedly took years for them to find the original tapes. Unfortunately, it's all for naught. Salvo/Fly need to find better people to master their releases, and they need to stop bragging on the back of their releases how great the remastering is. In my opinion, they failed on almost every level.



3. This wonderful reissue is the first by the reorganized Fly Records, using the SALVO label.
   
   Disc 1 is the complete first Move album in mono, followed by "Vote For Me" (in stereo), (the first two singles); "Disturbance", "Night Of Fear", "Wave The Flag And Stop The Train" and "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" (all in mono). Crisp, clean sound.
   
   Disc 2 - Wow, all stereo! Here's the rundown:
   1 & 2 Move Intro & Move - a newly found song!
   3 Cherry Blossom Clinic - new stereo remix
   4 Fire Brigade - 1st time stereo
   5 Kilroy Was Here - 1st time stereo
   6 (Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree - new stereo remix
   7 Weekend - new stereo remix and longer ending!
   8 Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart - new stereo remix
   9 Don't Throw Stones At Me - a newly found song!
   10 Mist On A Monday Morning - 1st time stereo
   11 Vote For Me - newly found alternate version!
   12 Night Of Fear - 1st time stereo, but doesn't quite sound like the 45
   13 The Girl Outside - standard stereo version
   14 Walk On The Water - standard stereo version
   15 Useless Information - standard stereo version
   16 Flowers In the Rain - new stereo remix, punchier and fades later!
   
   The package is terrific....useful, well written booklet.
   
   Consider that The Move were the best, most popular UK band of the 1960's (and early 1970's) that were huge everywhere but in the US, this material is essential and (for many US buyers) all new and fresh.
   
   For Move fans, you can't live without this.
   
   100% terrific...all around! (Only "Night Of Fear" doesn't sound like it used to....)

5 comments about Forty Licks.

1. Forty Licks just has so many of my favorite Stones songs that the two cd's are among my must-haves for tunes for a road trip!



2. Ok this is a good stones compilation. If you ever listen to any classic hits station you have most likely heard all these songs.



3. Fantastic journey through the blues soaked soul of the greatest rock band of the 60's through 90's. Amazing to see how their sound evolved through time- maintaining a tight signature sound that seems to always remain fresh. Truly a band- in that the sum of their parts far exceeds the contributions of each Rolling Stone! Simply Delicious...
   
   For a band with such far reaching influence, catalog, and musical tastes- a two disc set can't possibly comprise their musical genius. For those wishing to put together a Rolling Stones Career Retrospective of their most enduring tracks- I humbly submit you add the following MP3 downloads to this fine two disk set:
   
   
   As Tears Go By
   Get Off of My Cloud
   Harlem Shuffle
   Heart Of Stone
   Heartbreaker: Doo Doo Doo Doo
   Midnight Rambler
   Moonlight Mile
   Play With Fire
   Rock and a Hard Place
   Sway
   Time Is On My Side
   Ventilator Blues
   
   Hope you don't get Sticky Fingers as you enjoy what assuredly is not a
   "Beggar's Banquet!!" Goats Head Soup for All....



4. Forty Licks is probably one of the most listenable Stones collections available. Worth getting but sorely missing one of my favourite tracks: Time is On My Side. This is a poppier upbeat collection rather than the ballads route. Most importantly, it does a good job of mixing the old with the newer tracks - not an easy feat, but tracks like "You Got Me Rocking" and "Don't Stop" blend in well. Agree that this could've and should've probably been 3 discs. But it's a nice punchy mix as it is. There will probably never be a perfect Stones collection, but this works for me. Viva Rock and Roll!



5. Forty Licks is an excellent sampler of the Stones' long and varied career. Anyone who loves the Stones or just wants dip the toe into their history will love this collection.

2 comments about You'll Never Walk Alone: The EMI Years 1963-1966.

1. This set is the latest in a series of boxes that compile complete (or nearly complete) classic discographies of EMI artists from the '60s. The first was released several years ago and was apparently available only in the UK; it contained the EMI masters recorded by the original Animals. More recently, EMI released the superb "Down the Road Apiece", containing everything you'll ever need by (the original) Manfred Mann.
   Gerry and the Pacemakers were friendly competitors of the Beatles, and their early hits are just as lively and entertaining as Beatles music circa 1962-1964. Gerry Marsden had a sweet tenor voice that was a kind of Brit equivalent to Roy Orbison, so that pure pop like "How Do You Do It?" (turned down by the Beatles, incidentally) and ballads like "You'll Never Walk Alone" and especially "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" stand up remarkably well today. The band was less successful with rockers--their version of "Slow Down", for instance, can't hold a candle to Lennon and company, and the mangled Franco-Spanglish of "Jambalaya" is unwittingly comic.
   Unfortunately, in the years after 1964 or so, the Pacemakers were essentially side-lined as Gerry was groomed as a singer of pop standards; backed by the kind of saccharine orchestrations that do nothing to enhance either the song or the singer, this produced versions of "Strangers In the Night" and "Who Can I Turn To", among others. This dreck appears twice, in mono and in stereo, so that the full horror of the overkill can be enjoyed(?).
   Luckily, though, disc 4 also includes stereo masters of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" and "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey"; more important is the inclusion of both the original EP (in mono) and the full recording in stereo of a series of songs recorded live in Oakland, CA. Since the scream level is less than that evident on, say, "The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl", the songs themselves--including "Don't Let the Sun", "How Do You Do It?" and "I Like It"--are perfectly audible. The kind of energy and enthusiasm typifies the Pacemakers at their best.
   The overall excellence of this set makes it self-recommending to anyone who already loves this music, and the later stuff can safely be sampled once and then forgotten. I hope the series will continue, perhaps with sets for The Hollies, and how about the full Monty for the Nashville Teens?



2. Good time music by one of the best of the British Invasion era bands, Gerry & the Pacemakers!
   Most of the collection is in terrific sounding mono. Everything recorded by the group for EMI between 1963 & 1966 is included. Some solo Gerry Marsden is also included.
   You know the hits, but so many of the other tracks are just as tuneful melodic, energetic, well written & performed, its staggering!
   To top it all off, an entire concert from 1964 recorded in pristine stereo takes up much of disc 3!!!! This was a rockin little combo!!!
   Disc 4 contains stereo versions of many hits & interesting lp & b sides.
   This 4 disc retrospective of one of the greatest British groups of the 1960's is more than worth the money!
   Heres hoping a similar collection is one day issued for Herman's Hermits, Freddie & the Dreamers & the Dave Clark Five!

5 comments about Over Under Sideways Down.

1. This great track on this compilation, surprisingly hard to find in something resembling the version that got a lot of airplay in the 1960s, features a strong backbeat, driving rhythms and a consistent message. If you feel down, play this and feel better.
   
   Well, yes, it's admittedly shallow, sexist and juvenile. Joni Mitchell it ain't. But for sheer playability and youthful joy, what was its equal?
   
   "I'm not searching for a reason to enjoy myself, it seems it's better done, than argued with somebody else."
   
   When will it end? Hopefully never.



2. Pick any of the Best of the Best ever. I mean the all time greats: Court of the Crimson King, Dark Side Moon, Quadrophenia, Exile on Main St, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Days of Future Past, Freak Out, Safe as Milk, Spirit #1, Pet Sounds, Village Green Preservation, Aqualung, Velvet Underground and Nico. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch, whatever... This one is up there with any of them. Amazingly, for a band basically known for their singles, there is not one hit single on this whole album, yet any one of these tracks could have been one, it's that tightly put together. Wow!



3. if, like me , you realize how the 60's were like no other time, and the window has closed, this is an album full of songs that opens that window on the best era of music to come along scince the classical time. the yardbirds defined a type/style of the time. blues, rock, and psychedelic swirling around in one grand mix to create a unique stew. jeff beck shines on this album, as does the entire group. if at first listen, it sounds dated, give it a little time. it's raw and full simultaneously. if you are into the 60's, this is essential.



4. Don't be fooled by the fact that this CD is packaged under the US title of the LP which is commonly known as "Roger the Engineer": this is, bar none, THE best reissue of this indispensible Yardbirds set. Repertoire has always had a reputation for quality, and this CD is another example of that sterling reputation. What they have done is give us BOTH the US and UK covers! Great idea! The original Chris Dreja cover is reproduced on the inside booklet, with a nice essay on the genesis of the LP and the tracks contained therein. As to those tracks: nothing more need be said about how good this album is. Critical essays abound everywhere, so check 'em out. The main thing that makes this reissue the BEST are the TEN, count 'em, TEN bonus trax! "Over Under Sideways Down" and "Jeff's Boogie" in their original 45 Mono mixes; the non-LP single "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" and "Psycho Daisies" in Stereo; the alternate take of "Hot House..." which was issued on the Mono UK edition of "Roger"; and FIVE Keith Relf solo trax! Here goes: "Mr. Zero" and "Knowing", both sides of his first Columbia UK 45; "Shapes In My Mind" and "Blue Sands", his second Columbia UK 45; and, finally, a previously unreleased alternate version of "Shapes In My Mind". Outstanding! THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY ! Thank you to Repertoire for another great, well thought out reissue!



5. "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" or "The Yardbirds" or "Roger the Engineer" was the Yardbirds` first real album released in 1966. They had released two albums in America in 1965 "For Your Love" and "Having a Rave Up", but they were merely a compilations of singles, EP`s , live-recordings or obscure recording which were included to fill up the albums to reach an acceptable playing-time.
   
   For the first time they were given the opportunity to record a real album. The were not given unlimited studio-time; on the contrary; the album was recorded during a very short time-period; I believe it was about 2 weeks. This makes the result even more impressive. It`s no exaggeration to call this album one a the greatest of the mid-sixties. Very tight playing by everyone, impressive and innovative guitar-work from Jeff Beck, solid vocals and great songs.
   
   In my opinion there is no doubt that it`s Jeff Beck who makes the difference. I love the sounds he can get out of his guitar. It`s not difficult to imagine how he stunned people listening to his guitar back in 66. The great mixture of traditional blues and the new psychedelic sounds has never been surpassed.
   
   Even classic 12 bar blues tracks like "Lost Woman","Over, Under, Sideways, Down", "The Nazz Are Blue", "Rack My Mind", "Jeff`s Boogie" and "What Do You Want" sounded (sounds) new; and these recordings still sound uplifting and full of energy today.
   
   On songs like "Ever Since The World Began", "Turn Into Earth", "Hot House" and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" showed a purer progressive side of the band. In fact "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was not originally included on the album, as it was recorded shortly after, at a time when Jimmy Page had also joined the group. "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was released as a single with "Psycho Daisies" as the b-side. These two songs have been featured on most re-releases of the album, and can almost be considered as originals. The moving "Farewell" is a another favourite; makes you think of the sad destiny of Keith Relf who died electrocuted in 1976 by his own guitar while practising at his home.
   
   Unfortunately this 2 lead-guitarist period would last very short, as Jeff Beck soon left. As far as I know, they only recorded 3 songs; with "Stroll On" from the movie "Blow Up" as the third.
   
   The bonus tracks make the CD an even better buy. The Keith Relf solo tracks a all solid; in fact they are really the Yardbirds backing singer Relf. "Mr Zero" is not far from later Yardbirds recordings like "Little Soldier Boy".
   
   If you`re even the least interested in the music that came out of the 1960`s this milestone is a must buy!

4 comments about About Time! Definitive Mod-Pop Collection 1966-68.

1. I am a big fan of sixties music--well, really, 65 to 75--with an emphasis on psychedelic stuff out of England and harder rock from wherever. Therefore, I regret to say I had not even heard of this band. I'm not sure how I could have missed them. These guys have a great sound, very distinctive, very hip. I actually think their sound is closer to Paul Revere and the Raiders than The Who. It is full of very cool predatory attitude, and as a previous reviewer noted, there are some great bass lines. I rarely even notice the bass, but here I kept saying "Oh, Yeah! That sounds great!" Don't worry, there are also great guitars riffs and neat lyrics. I'm telling you, Motorhead needs to do a cover of "Try It." That song needs to be perpetuated throughout the generations. This is definite rock music, not pop. Any type of "lite" sound is the death knell for me, and The Attack are not lite. These guys really deserve a more notable place in musical history. My respect may be new but it is now iron-clad.
   
   I buy about a dozen CDs a month, and this is the single most satisfying CD I've bought in over a year. I usually listen to any new CD once or maybe twice and then I file it away to be listened to some other day. This CD I've replayed about 20 times now over the past week and I still get a great vibe from it every play. I now move on to "Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends," but those fellows have a hard act to follow, because The Attack really set a mod mood which compliments my evening cocktail.



2. A superb nineteen track compilation of The Attack's unreleased gems, Decca singles and radio sessions. About every cut here is truly out-standing, like "Anymore Than I Do", "Feel Like Flying", "Try It" (I saw the Grassroots perform this song live out on the oldies circuit many moons ago), the awesome "Go Your Way", the total groovin' "Colour My Mind", "Lady Orange Peel" (great guitar licks), their happening Stones cover "Sympathy For The Devil", the uptempo "Neville Thumbcatch" and so on. Only tune here I didn't care for was the corny "Created By Clive". Several line-up changes took place during the Attack's existence but the most vital personnel seems to have been Richard Shirman-vocals, Geoff Richardson-guitar, George Watt-organ, Kenny Harold-bass and Chris Allen-drums. Comes with a nicely assembled 14-page booklet packed with plenty of info, pics, complete discography and art work. Sure to appeal to fans of the Action, Open Mind, Q 65, early Who, the Creation and Les Fleurs De Lys. Essential UK '60's psych. Another upside to this CD is that it has a nearly all-different track listing than The Attack's 'Early Daze' released on the Angel Air label a few years ago (see my review).



3. My first reaction to this CD was being captivated by the infectious bass lines, far more than any of the rest of the instrumentation. In much the same way that Keith Moon's drumming stood out to me when I first heard the Who (the "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" 45). The material is very strong, witness the fact that the lead track, "Any More Than I Do," was a B-SIDE when originally released. I had originally heard "Created by Clive" as performed by The Syn, but The Attack's version is far stronger, peppier and enlivened by the mallett percussion. Well, it says it's a mod collection but, at the risk of alienating purists, I would surely suggest that the psych and freakbeat minded would all find much to enjoy.



4. This band should have been as Big as The Who! For sheer originality within the English rock of the late 60's these guys are second to none. This music's right up there with "Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Who sings My Generation and The Move". Now's your chance to hear how "The Attack" pay homage to"The Standells" with this excellent version of the first rock record to get banned in the U.S. Because of it's "filthy" lyrics which amounts to "Try it". How times have changed. The worse fears expressed by 'Lou Reed's Berlin' have been realized. Let this excellent group take you back to a much simpler time when Rock n Roll was new and thousands of super creative bands roamed the US and London. And people still believed that "Rock Music" could save your soul.

5 comments about Our Music Is Red - With Purple Flashes.

1. The Creation, the obscure band which only existed for about 3 years in the 1960's, has somehow become a legend in British pop-art psych-rock and an inspiration to many later bands.
   
   The group recorded less than thirty songs in the sixties and the majority of them are included on this collection. The only recording I'm aware of that's not included is the instrumental "Sylvette" which was originally released on a French EP.
   
   Their records were produced by Shel Talmy and their earliest recordings do have a lot in common with the early Who, which Talmy also produced.
   
   The two first singles released in 1966 were very strong, but unfortunately only "Painterman" became a minor hit in their home-country. In several European countries they were more successful and in Germany they actually released two albums during 1967-68.
   
   Tensions with the band led to leadsinger Kenny Pickett leaving the group in early 1967 and bass-player Bob Garner took over as lead-vocalist. The group wrote the majority of their material themselves, with guitarist Eddie Phillips as the most prolific. The singles released in 1967 with Garner in front were ambitious but uneven and none of them managed achieve the relative success of "Painterman".
   
   The album "We are Paintermen" was released in 1967 including their singles, a couple of new originals and some pretty uninspired cover versions.
   
   The line-up of the band became unstable and though experienced musicians like Ron Wood ( Faces / Stones ) were in the band for a brief period in 1968, most of their later recordings lacked the excitement of their 1966-67 material.
   
   Oddly enough some of their best recordings like "I Am the Walker", "Ostrich Man" and "Sweet Helen" were not released long after the group had disbanded.
   
   Apart from the tracks already mentioned "For All That I Am", "Life is Just Beginning" and "Through My Eyes" are songs that justify the band's legendary status.
   
   The group re-united in 1991 and recorded an album which was released after the death of lead-singer Pickett in 1996.



2. If you're a HUGE Creation fan, look no further: this collection gathers all the recorded output of the late 60s U.K. "freakbeat" (insider record fan genre that basically means power pop with psych touches) band in 1 disc. As an extra, you also get rare singles "Ostrich Man" and "Sweet Helen".
   
   The band did innovate in its guitarist's use of viola bow to play and the use of "paint bombs" in their onstage performances. Performance art, though, translates to video and DVD...not CDs. What they'll be judged on HERE is their music.
   
   HIGHLIGHTS:
   "Making Time" comes charging out of the gate with an insistent riff. The Who-like "Painter Man" details the saga of an art school grad who discovers no ones cares about his work. (That is, until he begins to draw nude postcards.) "Try and Stop Me" is in the Hollies mode..a nifty pop nugget, while "Can I Join Your Band?" is a witty Brit version of "So You Want to be a Rock and Roll Star" featuring this lyrical gem: "Can I join your band?/My new guitar/my coat is suede...I'm a hippie guy/Always stoned and 8 miles high."
   
   LOWS:
   The biggest curse of albums of this vintage is a profusion of cover songs to pad out albums. Often, this was done without regard to whether the tunes fit the band well. On here, the most egregious examples are the pallid remake of "Like a Rolling Stone" and the limp "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" which won't have anyone getting rid of their Buckinghams CD.
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   Diehard 60s "acid/garage rock" heads will probably find this a must but for the rest of us, it's hit and miss. If you find it in a bargain bin (as I did), definitely get it...the great stuff is worth having. But do NOT pay the hefty import price.



3. If you like mid '60s garage, freakbeat, Mod, British Invasion stuff, get this. Its something of a must have for aficionados of '60s mod rock. I've been in many bands that covered Creation songs and really feel at home with much of this material. Most people will recognize "Making Time" from the movie Rushmore.
   Not every song works but there are enough good ones to merit the price. It has the first use of a bowed guitar, before Jimmy Page even. Lots o fun.



4. The ultimate Mod album.

   PS - "Biff! Bang! Pow!"'s opening chords are identical to The Who's "A Legal Matter." They only closely resemble "My Generation"'s opening chords. But only a fanatical spoilsport would mention this. :-)




5. This collection of the short lasting , British , not to mention Brilliant, mid 60's garage group,"The Creation", are by far one of the great unknown legends of rock n roll. With over 20 tracks of melodic ,acidic, arangements with eye brow raising lyrics, "Our Music is Red with Purple Flashes" is by far my favorite album at the moment. The Creation could of easily been taken into high acclaim in the mid to late 60's ,alike The Who The Yardbirds,The Pink Floyd(with Syd Barret not the overated Dave) and The Animals, they were unknown and brilliant which is why buying this album is a really great idea, if your into the eary 60's garage sound, and the sort of "pyscadellic" phase, buy this!!!!! My favorite tracks include, "Making Time" (currently famous from the soundtrack of Wes Anderson's Rushmore)
   "life is just begining" , "painter man" (later coverd by The Television personalties, along with making time) "The girls are naked and they dance"