5 comments about Abandon.

1. After Purpendicular, it was clear that Deep Purple could basically do whatever the hell they wanted to do with Steve Morse on the guitar. Abandon brings back the heavy style that was epitomized on Deep Purple In Rock. The only problem is that most of the songs and riffs just aren't as memorable as classic Purple or other Morse era favorites (Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, Ted the Mechanic, Rapture of the Deep, Picture of Innocence). Any Fule Kno That is a pretty good opener, but most of the album is like The House of Blue Light and The Battle Rages On: solid and a little underwhelming. Seventh Heaven is good; Fingers to the Bone and Don't Make Me Happy are too. The last three tracks pick it up more. The riff to '69 is catchy and the lyrics (Your ma said you slept real good in your food last night/You couldn't hold it down but you broke up a real good fight) are pretty amusing to me. Evil Louie also has a neat rhythmic riff and again, the words, which I usually don't pay much attention to, are neat. Finally, we have a remake of Bloodsucker from In Rock. I'm not sure why. They could have put this out without it and had 11 songs...but whatever. It's a pretty good take, though Gillan's screeching isn't what it was in 1970.
   
   Maybe it's not the first Morse album you'd give to a Purple newbie, but after awhile, it begins to catch on.



2. If you are a Fan of DP, you will really like this album, it's very Heavy and sounds just like Classic Deep Purple. This was Steve Morse's second Album with DP and it's much more in line with old DP then his first effort.



3. musically the songs are harder than Purpendicular 1996
   Almost Human is a heavy track, heavy drumming beat, good guitar-riff and keyboard solo.
   Seventh Heaven is a heavy track, heavy drumming beat, good guitar-riff and highpicthed voice of Ian Gillan.
   Watching the sky is a slow but heavy track either, heavy drumming beat, hard guitar-rhythm and nice vocal of Ian Gillan.
   69, jack ruby, whatshername, evil louie are absed on traditional Purple sound, heavy keyboard and hard hitting guitar riff.
   
   the highlight is the remake of Bloodsucker (originally was recorded in Deep Purple In Rock 1970).



4. Band Personnell:
   Ian Gillan - Vocals
   Steve Morse - Guitars
   Roger Glover - Bass
   Ian Paice - Drums
   Jon Lord - Organs and Keyboards
   
   This album ain't as good as many expected, "Any Fule Kno That" and the remaking of the classic "Bloodsucker" have to be the best tracks.



5. After being amazed by Rapture of the Deep, I had to get the other three Steve Morse albums. Not having any preconceptions, I have to say I have found myself rather impressed with this album. These days, any album that has at least five songs that I like has to be pretty darn good. There are few modern albums that have all four and five star songs in my opinion. So this album sounds pretty good to me. Since I got it along with Perpendicular and Bananas I can only say that I think I like this one the best, simply because after one week I find this album has the most songs of three that I find myself playing over and over again. Probably my favourite is Seventh Heaven which seems to be the among the heaviest tunes DP has ever put out. Excellent guitar sound. When I was a teenager, guys Jon Lord's age said metal was nothing but racket. What does Lord think as he rocks away with Morse on this song? She Was is an interesting heavy tune that seems just beyond the borders of DP's previous stuff but fits nicely into their repetoire. One of the joys of having Steve Morse in the band is the use of more melodic and acoustic guitar which was rare under the Blackmore banner. The opening to '69 and the folksy sounding parts of Work Your Fingers to the Bone are a real pleasure to listen to. Lyrically, Work Your Fingers... is a wonderful new step for DP. There are a couple of other memorable tracks like Any Fule Kno That and Watching the Sky, the latter again combining hard rock guitar with experimental sounds and a softer touch. The whole album starts to come across as a stage for a variety of guitar sounds that are played excellently. The big surprise was to hear Bludsucker, one of my all-time favourite DP songs. Gillan is hard pressed to deliver the vocal performance he did back in 1970 but he pulls it off nicely, albeit with a few variations to accomodate his 'mature' vocal talents. I was starting to write him off after The House of Blue Light and the live performances on Nobody's Perfect but on this album Gillan proves that a man in his fifties can still scream to a hard rock guitar and do it well.
   
   Though some people give this album a poor rating, I am overall very pleased with it.

5 comments about The Seekers Complete.

1. There are several songs missing from this 'complete' collection, many of which I first heard during their 1990s revival. Notable absentees are 'It's Hard to Leave', 'Bush Girl', and 'Guiding Light'. To hear these and some others, you'd have to purchase the 1997 'Future Road' album, currently not available at Amazon (but I paid $50 on E-Bay for it...).
   
   That said though, this is still a collection worth having, if you're a fan of supremely elegant feminine vocals. If you like any or all of Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Eva Cassidy, Karen Carpenter, Priscilla Herdman or Kate Bush, you'll surely like this collection, if for no other reason than Judith Durham's classic - and very versatile - voice.
   
   I've heard it said that 'In Canada, Celine Dion is liked; in Australia, Judith Durham is loved'. I can attest to that, having lived in both Britain and Australia during the 60s, when The Seekers actually rivalled both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in terms of sales during 1965. Most Seekers' fans will surely agree that her voice was by far the band's biggest attraction, though that's not to take anything away from the boys. In this same regard, it's worth mentioning this quote from Sir Elton John: "Judith Durham, like Eva Cassidy and Karen Carpenter, possesses the purest voice in popular music".
   
   Even though incomplete, this was a great find for me, and well worth the five stars.



2. I always liked listening to "I'll Never Find Another You", "Georgy Girl" and "A World of Our Own", all of which were made before I was two years old, but thanks to YouTube, I learned that the Seekers sing a lot more than just those songs. I also learned that the group is a conglomeration of extremely talenting musicians, singers and song writers. And what can I say, the group has got to be one of the most wholesome and well grounded groups ever to hit the music scene, past and present.
   
   Between Bruce Woodley's song writing and musical instrument playing abilities, Keith's guitar playing skills, Athol's cool looks and Judith Durham's awesome singing (and let's not forget how well she plays piano), this group's music is a must for anyone who appreciates the Folk, Gospel and easy listening Rock sound.
   
   The Seeker's had the ability to take mundane songs and turn them into tunes that can be listened to over and over again. And since I've been able to see a lot of their film footage on YouTube as well, I'm able to appreciate and admire this group even more than before.
   
   This CD set is a must for anyone who enjoys and appreciates real musical talent. Too bad The Seekers still aren't performing.



3. I purchased this box set thinking I'd like maybe half of the songs and would up liking 95 per cent of them . It is unfortunate that US fans think of the Seekers as the group that sang Georgy Girl, not ever hearing their definitive version of The Water is Wide or Judith Durham's Lady. There are also several other exhibitions of Ms. Durham's talents in this set.
   
   Why they omitted the Paul Simon song, When Will I see you again, is a mystery. It did appear on the Capitol Collectors Series CD of their best hits and is a good song.



4. Five disks of The Seekers with everything they ever did is almost too much but still worth the investment for someone semi-stuck in the 60's folk scene. You definitely don't want to put all five disks in the changer and listen to them back-to-back--maybe doing the shuffle with them would work.
   
   It is an uneven collection with some of the early tracks fading in and out a little and some of the audition tracks aren't really worth having or listening to beyond the first time. After that, well, there's not much point in going back.
   
   All in all, because I love Judith's voice, not another one in the world like it (some come close) all the big hits and the lesser ones are worth having and I come back to them often when I need my 60's fix.
   
   The collection is worth having - a four disk set without the auditions and b sides would have worked just as well for me.



5. Now if you are a Seekers fan and dont have this,its real value for money.You get it all here,rare recordings,the works.
   I bought this a few years back.Some recordings are demo's,and are a bit scratchy as you would expect.But anything Judith did in those days was spot on.She still has a great voice,and there is lots of new stuff on here also.
   All the hits are here such as Georgy Girl,Another You,A World Of Our Own,Morningtown Ride,The Carnival Is Over etc.As well as the "B" sides to all their singles.I love those gospel songs like We Shall Not Be Moved,Open Up Them Pearly Gates,oh the list goes on.
   Although they tried to get a replacement for Judith,it never worked.Even though they did have some success,it never sounded the same.
   They had a reunion in 1993,and have been doing tours right up to 2004.I saw them in 2003 and 2004,and they still have that great sound.
   This is a real trip down memory lane here for Seekers fans.

5 comments about "The Kinks - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1".

1. This disc brings together 18 songs from the early phase of the Kinks' career, when they were still primarily a singles band. The recordings range from 1964's "You Really Got Me" to "Sunny Afternoon," which came out in 1966. As such, it's an ideal snaphot of a great rock band in its rawest, grittiest incarnation, bashing out two-and-three chord ravers with boundless energy and ample power. The afformentioned "You Really Got Me" is simply one of the greatest rock 'n' roll songs of all time, a propulsive pounder with an electrified vocal and a guitar solo that paints the sky. And it's not the only great recording here: "All Day And All Of The Night" is relentlessly catchy and unmistakeably cool, with its grinding guitars and salivating vocals. There's also the explsive "Come On Now," the melodic rush of "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy," and the oddly touching "Set Me Free." The biting sarcasm of "A Well Respected Man" shows off Ray Davies' early talant for social commentary, and "Till The End Of The Day" is a rollicking ode to rock 'n' roll rebellion. Basically, it's a great collection of rock songs from a great, great group in its early, rockin' prime. Rock fans, pick this baby up!



2. The best compilation out there capturing the Kinks in their early manic singles heyday...just before their emergence as "serious" songwriters and their turn into one of the greatest album bands ever..great package,hard to find now but great for the casual listener and those Kink heads...Rhino quality like always is there.



3. How can you miss with tunes like YOU REALLY GOT ME and ALL DAY AND ALL THE NIGHT?! True, they do seem a bit childish now, but still as wild and crazy as ever! Their unique slurring chord bridging gave their early songs a really brazen style. My personal favorite is SUNNY AFTERNOON, one of the funniest descriptions of a lazy, burnt out Englishman ever (even if not quite Graham Green or Oscar Wilde)..So definitely worth checking out,even if the over raucous style does get a bit much after a while.



4. This is called Greatest Hits, but it only contains songs from 1964-66. This is great stuff, though, so I don't have a problem with that. The Kinks were one of the top bands of the era, and Ray Davies was a great songwriter. A lot of his songs have a wicked sense of humor; like "A Well Respected Man", "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "Sunny Afternoon". With all the attention Ray gets for his songwriting, the rest of the band often gets overlooked. They were a really good group, especially Dave Davies on guitar. The odd thing about this CD is that the songs are in mono, except for "Stop Your Sobbing", which is in stereo. I think they should have used the mono version of that song too, just for consistency. I would highly recommend this CD for British Invasion fans.



5. if only I could obtain the Kinks Greatest hits CD, I thoroughly enjoy listining to them and being part of that generation. Many thanks to the publishers keeping this part of the age of rock n' roll alive in the late 60's and early 70's.

   Davey Jones

5 comments about Into the Afterlife.

1. This CD is for Zombies fans who have all of the other Zombies' CDs. If you don't have the other CDs, buy the 4 CD box set, one of the greatest hits CDs, or their masterpiece, Odyssey and Oracle first.



2. "Into The Afterlife" provides a further glimpse into the transitional period between the Zombies aborted "R.I.P." album and Argent, as well as Colin Blunstone's "pre-solo" career. Although some of the tracks are demos, a recording of a Rod Argent belch can be a breath of fresh air these days. The tracks that represent Colin's "Neil MacArthur" persona are interesting, particularly his reading of "She's Not There". Overall, I wouldn't say that the contents of the CD are all that mindblowing, but the Zombies alumni have always been capable of transcendent moments in pop music. This product is recommended for fans of the Zombies, Argent and Colin Blunstone, if only to complete your collection. It is also a worthy purchase for fans of so-called "chamber pop".



3. I think this collection was made for the "hardcore" zombies fan. It contains basically demos for the band Argent and Out Of Print singles released by Colin Blunstone as Neil MacArthur. But if you're just a casual fan, I would skip this collection. It doesn't showcase the band (The Zombies) at all. But it's so awesome to finally have that Neil MacArthur version of "She's Not There" in english and italian to boot on CD! I'm really glad as a "hardcore" fan of the zombies to have this collection, but again, if you're a casual fan. Skip this cd!



4. I have loved the Zombies for many years and was excited beyond belief when I heard about this cd coming out. Now, after giving this collection many chances I wish I could send it back. It's utter trash--unless you are a diehard Zombies fan. (Note: I am a diehard Zombies' fan, and I most definitely could do without this collection....so, noodle that one)
   
   Anyway, I really don't get these other reviews and the constant praise... The Neil MacArthur stuff is slow, soft, wimpy, garbage--go for the early solo Colin Blunstone records instead. The Argent/White demos are quite lacking and a bore--with the exception of "Unhappy Girl" which happens to be the best track in the collection...try and just get this and you're set. And the "Zombies" tracks are just recycled from Zombie Heaven--they call them "Orchestral Tracks"...they are just basically bad mixes from the originals...nothing special here for sure.
   
   So my advise, well, is to avoid this cd...it's a waste of money...I learned the hard way after reading all these positive reviews on here.



5. Here is an "odds and sods" album from the Zombies. Some of the tracks were recorded by the band, but most of it came out after their lauded 1968 release, "Odessey and Oracle," which was their last LP. Zombies fans of any stripe will like this CD. But for those who own the box set, Zombie Heaven, and have worn out the discs with repeated plays, many of these tracks (such as "If It Don't Work Out," "She Loves the Way They Love Her") will be more than familiar. On the down side, some of the songs are half-finished demos ("Unhappy Girl" and version one of "Mr. Galileo"), and the inclusion of some tracks--such as the orchestral mixes and the Italian version of "She's Not There"--are pure filler. The real pleasure for Zombies fans are the Neil MacArthur (aka Colin Bluntstone) tracks. Those songs contain Blunstone's trademark perfect vocals, and the arrangements are often done bossa nova style. Blunstone's style was always "breathy," and his version of "Without Her," done just above a whisper, is terrific. Worth buying for those who love the Zombies, but those looking for a great introductory CD should check out the fantastic As and Bs side disc or one of their many compilation albums.

No comments about Solid Bond.

5 comments about The Beatles 1.

1. Well, this album definetely left an imprint on me the after listening to it the first time. I am only fourteen, so, like another reviewer said, I am a new age Beatles fan. But there's nothing wrong with that, right? Right. These four men ultimetely changed music forever. Paul, George, John, and Ringo have changed the face of the planet as we know it.
   
   
   My personal favorite tracks are 1-19, but the other eight are also just as great! I personally like "Ticket To Ride" the best, at the moment. Whenever I hear that opening guitar, it always puts a smile on my face! Heck, whenever I hear a Beatles song, I always have to sing along. They were SO GREAT!!! Buy this album. You won't be sorry!!
   
   Zachary Hunt



2. Way below average band, that makes corny music. Arn't they all dead now anyway?? Or close to it??? Most of their fans are gone too. So who cares about their music anyway.



3. I know I am in the minority...but the Beatles' success was a product of their era; overrated! They would never make it today! A couple good songs that are only good because they remind me of a good movie or commercial. Don't bother if you were curious like I was.



4. Prompt delivery and very secure wrapping. Great condition. Could not have asked for a better service for the money.



5. Appart from a couple 4-star cuts, this record is just amazing. It has all The Beatles' singles that went up to #1, in US and UK charts, arranged chronologically.
   
   You may like it more or less, but you can't deny all the songs here defined the whole sound of contemporary pop/rock music, even till today, no matter how hard the critics are.
   
   It may still lack a few other excellent songs from the band deserving to be on a greatest hits collection, but you may still try to get them sepparately by looking for the career albums.
   
   These are just #1s. Not more. No less.

5 comments about Beatles: From Liverpool to San Francisco.

1. There are some really fine clips of Beatles antics and snips of interview materials that were new and interesting to me. Yet I found there to be far too many airport longshots of screaming teenaged fans, which after the fifth scene of screaming fans it becomes pretty dull!
   The "documentary" does an OK job of covering the early history, utilizing many chronological lists of things like singles releases and drug experimentation.......... I was left wishing that it dug deeper..... worth a watch, only purchase if you are a Beatles fanatic!



2. Like all Beatle fanatics, I'm always on the hunt for rare archival footage, and for the cheap price, this is a pretty good buy. You have to skip through the majority of boring year-by-year commentator narration, but the clips of choice are the '63/'64 interviews/awards, Ringo's interviews after his tonsil operation, the MBE interview, Yellow Sub comments by Paul and George, Paul and Linda post-wedding clips, and the '66 interviews and newsreel footage.
   
   Contrary to another review here, there isn't much more of the 'bigger than Jesus' footage. I recall a PBS station in the mid'80s running LOADs of unseen footage, with follow-on questions to Paul and John by the media at the same hotel press conference; I had it on Beta, but who knows where it ended up. It's in someone's possession, but it's not here.. Just pretty much the same stuff you'll see on Anthology. The '66 interview with the group prior to a concert was pretty good (mentioned elsewhere), but George and Ringo didn't necessarily look 'happily stoned'.
   
   All in all, I agree with others, that for the price, it's an excellent value for the 10 minutes of accumulated rare footage time you do get. Just buy a bunch of these cheap DVDs, don't expect too much, keep the ones with the must-have, hard-to-find footage, store 'em in your Beatle archive and toss out all the rest.



3. This was bought as a gift but I'm told the DVD was very well done. Much enjoyed.



4. Having purchased nearly everything Beatle related out there, I can tell you that this is a good DVD, but not great. Let me put it to you this way, if you have the Anthology DVD set, think of this as the bonus features for it. Many of the same interviews are duplicated in this DVD from the Anthology but most are extended so you get to see more of the interview that the Anthology cut away from.
   
   If you're a Beatles nut, this is excellent. If you're a casual Beatles fan, this is not for you, the Anthology is. As for the interviews on this DVD, be aware there aren't that many. It's not like the an hour of back-to-back interview/news footage. In fact, most of the DVD is just file footage as a narrator talks to take up some time and space.
   
   I give this DVD 4 stars. It's more like 3 1/2. If you're a Beatles enthusiast, I would try to rent it first because I don't really believe you'll want to watch this over and over again.



5. This DVD is wonderful.Filled with footage of interviews,press conferences, etc.Some of them pretty rare.Some are included in Anthology but they were edited down.Here they are shown more complete ,maybe even in thier entirety.The video is excellent.Great preservation job.The only disappoinment is,and others have said this,that there is no Beatles music or concert footage.Guess they had problems with getting permission.Instead you hear this generic,psuedo-rock,muzak throughout.The footage makes up for that however.An interesting addition is the Feb.1964 Heathrow Airport press conference when the boys returned from America.Unlike Anthology, here is shown a much longer,uncut version.Not very good for Paul because he seems to either fart or burp(you can't tell which)while answering a question.Very surprising and funny.The best part that stands out in my mind,is a very long expose' on the Jesus controversy.A British reporter is seen in America interviewing southern,teenagers in a record store.One can't decide whether she likes the group anymore because she's just so hurt by what they said,and another can't wait to start burning all of his Beatle records.Strange and riveting stuff. He goes on to interview the record shop owner then the DJ who started the controversy.During the interview the DJ says three times that he doesn't know if "they" (The Beatles)are black or white.So I guess in addition to being an incredibly cranky,creep of a stuffed shirt,he is also... NEAR SIGHTED.The British reporter finishes his expose' with a lengthy interview in what looks like a bathroom of all places,with the Beatles.John and Paul dominate with their views.It's interesting to note the change in the boys from 1964 to 1966.The biggest change is in Paul.In 1964 he is very much a young boy excited by fame,giddy almost,and charmingly unsophisticated.By 1966,he has turned into a serious,somewhat jaded,seasoned celebrity.Actually they all undergo this change but it's very obvious in Paul.This video actually covers their entire career from 1963 to 1970 with a voice over telling the story.Having been a fan for 37 years,I mentally blocked out the voice over but even if you know nothing about the fabs,you probably don't need it.You should just read the Anthology and buy the accompanying DVD boxed set and you're good to go.Then buy this DVD.

5 comments about The Very Best of the Easybeats.

1. The lead singer, Steve Wright, deserved international stardom as he was a charismatic, energetic performer who also wrote some of the best pop music of the sixties (Check out his performances on You Tube). All talented musicians, this group is barely known in the USA but deserved to be famous. Excellent.



2. I've been putting together a playlist on my MP3 player of my favorite songs of all time. "Friday On My Mind" had to be among them! These guys were unique in a time when every new band wanted to be The Beatles. They were technically excellent musicians with a great sound! This is a great collection - most of which I'd never heard before. Whether you're into nostalgia or discovering them for the first time, I recommend this to anyone who loves the sound of the '60s!



3. I've always dug The Easybeats, they're one of my favorite bands. This is one of my fravorite CDs, I play it constantly. It has a good mix of stereo album cuts, mono single versions, and an Australian EP cut. The CD cover, and booklet, has some very cool pictures of the group. It doesn't matter if you're home or in your car, when you put this CD on you'll find yourself turning this up, tapping your foot, and singing along to every song. I know, because I do everytime!



4. THE Aussie answer to the beatles , could rant and rave for line after line , but i won't because best way to find out is buy it NOW!!!!



5. What an amazing band. Brother to the AC/DC guys, early straightforward rock that makes you shake it. St. Louis is the jam of life. Rock is what they do, and they do it well. It will make you do the rocking things and rock hard. I am seriously flabbergasted that I am the only person to review this jam. It's a piece of freaking art.

3 comments about Storyteller.

1. I have nothing to add to the other reviews except my very positive vote. It's all about the song selection and the sound quality. Remastering jobs like this may portend the survival of Sony SACDs, which sound every bit as good as LPs. However, DVD-Audio sounds as good or better than SACD, and DVD-Audio is far more popular (DVD-A capable players outnumber SACD players by more than 50 to 1), so be careful--Sony's SACD copy-protection format is likely to turn out to be the next "Beta", as in the VCR/Sony Beta battle. Fortunately, this disc is hybrid, so the CD layer on it will always be playable, and very nice sounding, too.



2. Donovan is a musician that SACD really enhances. He does alot of acoustical stuff and you can here the clarity and the warmth of the tones in his music with SACD. It sounds like he is right in the living room playing his music. I can only hope that this format continues to expand because it sounds too cool.



3. This review is for the SACD layer of this disc, although the redbook CD layer also sounds very good. I will say it right off the bat, THIS IS THE BEST SOUNDING DISC I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!!! The music sounds real, you will swear that Donovan is right there in the room with you. There are portions of Hurdy Gurdy Man that sound so real, the instruments are alive and you can hear every little nuance, every little brush stroke, every little breath. And ATLANTIS, oh boy, this song sounds so real, every timbre is accurate, every note is clean, every nuance is alive, you really have to hear this disc to believe. I have been listening to digital music for almost 20 years, but this new DSD technology is something right out of the caveman days, it is so analog sounding, you would swear that there is no digital element to this music. And really, there isn't. It is mastered direct from the original master tapes by Steve Hoffman to the direct stream digital realm, 2,880,000 bits per second. And it was mastered on tube equipment to give this music extra warmth. I could go on for days, but you really have to hear this disc. Buy it fast, it is a very limited edition disc, and they are selling out fast.

5 comments about Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan.

1. I have always been a fan of the Scottish Singer/Songwriter Donovan, so I knew this boxset, "Try for the Sun" would bring something new to my music collection. When my order arrived, I waited until the weekend to give it a listen. Early on a Saturday morning I awoke with a craving to delve back into the past, where music, artistic and spiritual awakening all converged. Say what you want about the 1960's and early 1970's, but one can not deny that during this time the creative juices were flowing in every area, most notably in the music scene.
   I lite some incense and drew back the curtains to let the morning sun in. Begining with disc one, I realized immediately that the music sounded clean and fresh, thanks to the marvelous job of the studio engineers in their task of remastering these lovely songs. The old favorites came alive with a fresh appeal, starting with his early songs such as "Catch the Wind". As there are a number of unleased songs in this boxset, I enjoyed them as if it was this was a new release from the artist.
   As Donovan takes you on his musical journey from his early songs to more recent, you feel as though you are peeling through the layer of time. You also begin to realize that Donovan was truely a gifted songwriter and musical arranger. He was ahead of his time, a true innovator. He showcases his talent through a variety of styles, growing and experimenting along the way. I particularly enjoyed the songs with a celtic sound to them, for I had not heard this side of his music, drawn from his Scottish roots. Aye boyo!
   The DVD on disc four was great fun to watch and illustrates Donovan's mindset at the time. I enjoyed his grecian sailing adventure, producing a longing to return to Greece myself later this year. Opa!
   This boxset is a real gem for any Donovan fan or for anyone that allows themself to take a childlike, wonderous journey through his music and story telling.
   Best Wishes Sir Donovan, and to all who played a part in making this boxset.
   
   In Friendship,
   Kevin James Devine
   Miami, Florida
   July 22, 2008



2. Amazon.com did me a real favor with the better together offer. I had bought the Donovan Box Set "Try For the Sun" and the Autobiography "The Hurdy Gurdy Man". The combination was fantastic and worth every penny. But let's talk about the box set. I believe they did a fantastic job. The sound remaster quality is fantastic. It covers a huge time frame. I'm very satisfied with it. The only problem song wise is 1) it would have been nice to present all the `B' sides. 2) There is one charting single that did not make the set, though it did not break the top 100 it still is a charter, the song `Summer Day Reflection Song'. The book that came with it was not bad but I would recommend getting the autobiography for the real info. Hint for Sony and Donovan you'd be better of if you did a special edition that would include the book. So my recommendation buy the Box Set and The book.



3. Popular forms cast that curious net comprised of the music itself and -- often more important to most listeners -- the way that music sounds. Donovan has always covered both bases exceedingly well: interesting and memorable melodies, distinctive sound. His voice, in both his lyrics and singing, is as capable of defining an era as few others are -- gratefully he's still here, still sharing his work with the world.
   
   In terms of the past, though, this is an exceedingly well assembled collection. There are plenty of alternate takes and live versions of familiar parts of the catalog, but the re-mastering is a wonder to hear. That very particular character of early-ish analog recording, seemingly eccentric decisions about the stereo mix, early amplification and electric instrument design which many now strive to recreate in the digital domain is on display in remarkable detail and feel on every track. The presence, especially voice, is often startling in detail and power.
   
   And in addition to demonstrating Donovan's talent, this collection does us the important service of demonstrating that not every example of popular musical forms are intrinsically transient and, as is so important to maintaining sales today, ultimately and rapidly disposable. Certainly much of the music here, and many of the ideas within and behind it, deserve and seem to be achieving sustained interest and longevity.
   
   This is a great set, a perfect complement for his recent book, "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" and the equally recent and excellent EMI remasters of his early lps. You'll even get a sampling from "Sutras" which, it's hard to believe, somehow finds itself out of print...



4. The packaging made the item even more special, as it was a gift for someone. Very pleased. Great price. Thank you.



5. What a Magical boxed set, thoughtfully arranged, The perfect Donovan collection, I'll keep mine forever.