5 comments about 1967 Singles Sampler (Limited Edition).

1. Floyd started out as a psychedelic outfit, and one of the finest, in the late 60's.
   This CD contains a clutch of their early singles, almost predominantly written by legendarily troubled first frontman Syd Barrett. "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Layne" are Barrett at the top of his game. The songs are charming and accessible, similar to and probably influenced by the likes of the Beatles in their own psychedelic period. "Scarecrow", lifted from Floyd's "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" album, has always been one of my favorite Barrett tracks, with it's rambling structure and beguiling organ lines. Barrett's "Apples and Oranges" doesn't (and didn't) fare as well. Roger Waters himself said that it was a good song ruined by the production.
   
   The real gem for me here is the ever-sophisticated Rick Wright's "Paintbox" with it's nimble beat and too many chords, but somehow it works, and it's the best thing Wright ever wrote and sang on in Floyd. It's sort of like "Smile"-era Beach Boys.
   
   So at $35.00, this set is pretty steep at just 6 songs. For the Floyd completist, these are entirely essential. It would be great if the Floyd people would just cave and release a bulging box-set of all the rare singles, rare songs ("Lucy Leave", "Vegetable Man", "Scream Thy Last Scream", Water's "Bitter Love"), experiments that never made it to tape (the 'household objects' project) and all the stray material that still hasn't seen the light of day, instead of the nth best-of boxes and album re-releases. Please give us something we haven't already heard and already paid for a half-dozen times.



2. this is a great album i dont need to buy it because i bought early singles. now if your thinking about buying this i think you'd be better off getting that plus this is only singles form 1967 its only 6 songs for 31 bucks! buy early singles im not saying this is bad but the price is way too much!



3. I have had this particular cd in my collection about 8 years now. It is a good sample of the early works of floyd with Syd Barrett. Now that Syd has passed one into the Great Gig In The Sky, this is even more important to have in the collection because it keeps his music alive. The songs "candy on a currant bun", "apples and oranges", and "paintbox" are all difficult to find, and not on any of the official releases that i know of, so buy this album to help complete your collection.



4. Syd Barrett will be greatly missed. His whimsical songwriting style was unique and greatly influenced many famous musicians like David Bowie. This cd is an essential purchase for those wishing a taste of genius.



5. This is a must-have for any and all true fans of early Pink Floyd.Either get this or the actual full length hard-to-find 'Singles' CD.For those of you who might still think 'The Wall' was Floyd's second album(I've come across a few),you have plenty of great music to catch up on.Welcome,my friends!You get Floyd's first three 7" singles on this CD reissue,both A+B sides.Tracks that are sure to please are "Arnold Layne",the catchy "Scarecrow",the obscure but nicely penned "Apples And Oranges" and "Paintbox".How about the cover?Isn't it priceless?Highly recommended.

No comments about This Sporting Life.

1 comments about Gerry & Pacemakers - Greatest Hits.

1. Well mastered and a quality compilation of tunes... Great for anyone wanting a general overview of their career...

1 comments about Live -- Studio and Stage.

1. If you are not familiar with the group, or are curious because "Friday on My Mind" is such a great song, then I recommend you get the CD of the same name, about $10 from Amazon. It is first rate and you will not be disappointed, a prime slice of mid 1960's rock.
   
   This CD is for the true fan, not because the sound quality is poor, or any such thing. Here's the deal:
   
   Tracks 1-12 are from UK radio broadcasts 1967-1968. These recordings are fine, but don't have the verve of the studio versions. These recordings would have most likely been recorded live in the radio studio for later broadcast. This is how the BBC did it anyway, (check out "The Yardbirds Live at the BBC" for a great example).
   
   These tracks on this CD are lackluster, get the "Friday on My Mind" CD instead
   
   The CD does get more interesting with tracks 13-15, a live recording from Melbourne, Australia in 1967. This is very good, and the best reason to buy the CD. You can hear why the Easybeats were so popular, they really do the job on these three songs.
   
   The remaining tracks are from a reunion show in 1986. The Easybeats sound good here, with the caveat's one would expect: The singer's voice is deeper and a bit raspy, but still good, given that he was not 20 years old anymore. Guitar playing has a bit of a more modern heavier sound. The band is tight and do a good job.

3 comments about The Singles Plus.

1. Uno de los mejores grupos de toda la decada sesentera, es sin duda THE ANIMALS; originarios de Newcastle, marcaron un gran paso en el rock y el Rhythm and Blues...la voz de Erick Burdon es simplemente desgarradora, fuerte, impactante y como pocas para el genero del Blues; mi tema favorito, HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN es simplemente unica y una verdadera obra maestra en su genero, destacando temas muy pegadizos como BABY LET ME TAKE YOU HOME, LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL y I'M CRYING, sin olvidar otro gran clasico increible como lo es DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD (soberbia), el fascinante dinamismo de WE'VE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE (a bailar!) y grandes piezas "blues" como BRING IT ON HOME TO ME, FOR MISS CAULKER, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT y las "rocanroleras" como CLUB A GOGO y BURY MY BODY...Una coleccion muy valiosa y como pocas, donde, a pesar que el sonido no es estereofonico (es MONO), se puede apreciar una muy buena calidad sonora y una excelente digitalizacion de lo mejor de THE ANIMALS!



2. This collection brings back a lot of memories. It's been ages since I've heard some of these, including "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "Don't Bring Me Down", and the powerful anti-war song, "Sky Pilot".



3. Despite the fact that this compilation was released in 1987 (or perhaps because of it) this is still by far the best sounding compilation of The Animals EMI/Mickie Most sides. No noticeable noise reduction or compression and more or less straight transfers for the masters - another Steve Hoffman forum favourite.

1 comments about 60's Mix.

1. Each song melts very nicely into the next. Shuffleing will cause a choppy sound. Mostly good choices here with an emphasis on The British Invasion. The Roy Orbison numbers although well done are not the originals. I have always been a fan of Jeff Beck but his song Hi-Ho Silver Lining is pretty obscure. I never heard it before however his 1967 guitar solo is the highlight of the song. Another song by the Yardbirds that charted would have been a better choice. Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers doing Got To Get You Into My Life? Who are They? Adding more British and American Artists would have made this a great 2 CD set as to much ground is attempted here.

1 comments about No Milk Today.

1. This seems like it must be a great album, but it is in NO WAY the original Hermits album in America. In fact, "No Milk Today" is from one of their later albums, "There's a Kind of Hush" released in America in the spring of 1967, by which time the Hermits were near the end of their chart run and had a half dozen albums including Best Of released.

1 comments about '73-Live at the Reading Festival.

1. If you like Rory Gallagher and Greenslade, you'll be drawn to this CD, but beware. The CD is basically transferred from the LP, so one only gets 47 minutes of music from eight artists - no one gets much coverage. Rory's is "Hands Off," clocking in at 8 minutes, and is quite good. Greenslade's track is "Feathered Friends" and is really interesting, but seems to have something clipped off at the end, running to 5 minutes. The other find on the album is two tracks by Tim Hardin, whom I know nothing about. Otherwise, the rest is throwaway, with the possible exception of the last Faces concert, represented here by a 7 minute version of "Losing You" - a great tune, though Rod's voice seems strained. Caveat emptor overall - with all the remastered Rory coming out, this disc is an expensive addition for the completist fan. Does anyone know if the full performances from Reading '73 are available? PS: the liner notes are extensive and quite interesting.

5 comments about Amplified.

1. I have collected a great number of CD's and vinyl's over the years and I have to say I have a very eclectic collection. But (...here's the "but"..) AMPLIFIED is the best investment I have ever made to add to my collection of classic rock. It just doesn't get any better than the original recordings of the Kinks, Spencer Davis Group, Jefferson Airplane with the fabulous Grace Slick!! "Love Hurts" by Nazereth and Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" brought back soooooo many memories. Cat Stephens "Peace Train" always makes me shed a tear of joy. "American Woman" just rocks!!! Lenny Kravitz did a good job re-recording it, but no one will ever touch the original "Guess Who" recording. If these are the songs you love and wouldn't mind hearing them over and over and over (you could do much worse..), then you must by this 2 CD set. It truly represents some of the very best of classic rock. It's timeless. You won't regret it!



2. While not exactly "the definitive double CD of classic rock" advertised on its cover, UTV Records' "Amplified" is near-perfect background for the next baby boomer barbecue or road trip. Clearly remastered by Suha Gur (who worked on UTV's more focused, superior "Classic Years" Motown set) this CD unpretentiously gets to the riff-heavy rock dominating pop culture for most of 20 years.

   Sequencing is haphazard; the Kinks-into-Who-into-Spencer Davis Group opening captures a taste of British Invasion before stumbling embarassingly into Rare Earth's lame "Get Ready." Disc One ends on too mellow a note with the Cat Stevens, Elton John and Don McLean tracks. (Elton could well have been represented with the more rocking "Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting.")

   Similarly, two rousing anthems from Steppenwolf and Thin Lizzy start Disc Two, followed quickly followed by a southern rock suite including genre classics "Ramblin' Man" and "Free Bird." But Styx's "Too Much Time On My Hands," released in 1981, is lighter, faster and wittier than the set's other ponderous anthems, and thus is a poor set closer.

   Some songs seem stale, hard if sweet donuts out of their original albums' context. Boston's gentle, jangly fadein on "More Than A Feeling" was and remains electrifying on their debut CD, but seems all too familiar as Track 11 on Disc 2. Yes' "Roundabout," unusual in compilations, still thrills but fits better as one piece in 1972's prog-rock classic "Fragile." This also explains why the Who's "Can't Explain" won over "My Generation," and why Eric Clapton, arguably classic rock's central solo figure, is represented only by the Cream track and not Derek & The Dominoes' "Layla."

   But for once the lack of liner notes on "Amplified" is a positive. We needn't hear one more interpretation of "American Pie" or rehash of the Guess Who's "American Woman." The music speaks its outdated but reassuring language for itself. Despite obvious omissions (Atlantic's 4CD classic rock set is still available and fills many gaps), "Amplified" draws well from parent Universal's deep rock (Polygram/MCA) catalogue and peppers it with enough outside tracks for a satisfying, nostalgic and affordable rock sampler. Recommended for those too young or stoned to enjoy the music the first time, with essential tracks found on the artists' original sets.




3. I usually wouldn't recommend a compilation cd, or even a greatest hit cd, and if you're a classic rock fan you probably have these songs already. If OTOH you're not that big of a classic rock fan and don't want to spend lotsa money on dozens of cd's or listen to crappy mp3 quality (even @ 320 kbps it doesn't sound quite the same) this cd is for you. All of these songs are great. Definitely worth the money



4. amplified is a well put compilation of lassic rock.it has some well known songs like "born to be wild","american woman" and other great classics of the rock n roll era. other artists in this double cd are the kinks.the who,cream,spencer davis group,among others. this cd is well worth it and it's a good starting point for new classic rock fans.



5. this is the best ever if u dont buy it ur a fool

1 comments about Singles Box Set.

1. Beautifully designed and packaged 6 CD single set from Essential UK. Each CD comes in it's original picture sleeve. As if this were not enough it also includes a beautiful poster. It's also a limited edition. This is prime period Small Faces '67-'69 at the height of Psychedelia which they were tops!