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!

2 comments about Dream Babes, Vol. 2: Reflections.

1. While Volume 1 of the DREAM BABES series is more accessible with its very girly girl group pop, sun-shiney vocals - Volume 2 offers a little bit of everything - from pop r&b, girl group vocals, pop, swinging pop & even some very early school grrl rock 'n roll - they might be a little more lyrically serious (hence the subtitle REFLECTIONS) but if anything, that's a good thing. It's nice to hear that women were trying different styles and genres and not just singing about about boys ...
   
   And also know - these are not just timepieces to be admired from a distant - these are all still fun, interesting and downright cool to hear again or for the first time.
   
   If you're a collector, this whole series should be on your checklist.



2. Not my favorite of the "Dream Babes" series after first buying Volume 1 and being delighted by all of the novelty sounds; but there are some good, notable works on this one. The sound of the collection is much more of a "late sixties/early seventies" feel when music got a little less light and took on more seriousness of tone ("Don't Leave Me", "And Now I Cry", "I did Nothing Wrong"). The one tune on it, "People Will Talk" by the Three Quarters struck me as an oddity among more "grown-up" tunes only because of its fun and intoxicating, almost Calypso beat! It honestly took me about two weeks listening to it to finally realize the girls' "Shoo-wop" jargon is "She-ray la-ray la-ray"! Definitely a song that sticks in your head all day! What I also benefited from purchasing this was the "accidental" personal discovery of the AMAZINGLY talented Helen Shapiro ("He Knows How To Love Me"). It made me go on to seek out more of her work which I truly love. I had actually never heard of her before (only getting the "Americanized" versions of standard, biased "oldies") and neither had any of my other collector colleagues! It just goes to show what expanding your horizons a little can turn up sometimes!

1 comments about Face to Face.

1. 
   In 2007, there were two Kinks catalog Japan mini-sleeve releases, one in July and another in September. The July release were JVC K2HD remastered discs. Chronologically, these started at "Muswell Hillbillies" and continued thru the end of the Kinks catalog.
   
   However, the September release, and this is despite the text of at least one Japanese on-line retailer, are NOT JVC or K2/K2HD remastered discs. These were issued by BMG. The discs themselves have a "Made In Hong Kong" stamp on the inner ring.
   
   The BMG titles are: The Kinks (1st album), Kinda Kinks, Kontroversy, Face To Face, Something Else, Live At Kelvin Hall, The Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire, Lola Vs. Powerman And The Money-Go-Round Part 1 and Percy.
   
   After A/B comparison, these are the 1998 Castle/Essential remasters. These also contain the same same booklets as those releases. The Castle discs have the benefit of an absolute plethora of bonus tracks on each, which do not appear on the 2000 Japan K2 remasters.
   
   WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?
   
   Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.
   
   Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 13.5MM X 13.5MM cardboard-sleeve, precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, everything else packaged with the original LP is precisely replicated and included, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and die cuts. An English-language lyric sheet is also included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.
   
   Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have Japan-dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2 or K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.
   
   Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "OBI" ("oh-bee"), a Japan-language promotional strip. The OBI often also lists the original album's release date, the Japan street date of that particular disc, the catalog number, and mastering info. Bonus tracks are always only listed on the OBI, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork.
   
   The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake copies of Japan `sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.
   
   Also, there are older Japan mini-sleeve releases that have been supplanted with newer ones, usually with updated audio (such as JVC-Japan replacing older K2-mastered titles with new K2HD mastered releases).
   
   All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common with some of the Japanese companies (but, again, not always). Mini-sleeve collecting can get expensive quickly, so, if you're a novice, it is highly advisable to seek the advice of an experienced `sleeve collector!

No comments about Rock On 1967.

1 comments about Best 1200.

1. Here is a Moody Blues collection, similar to their other Best Of releases, featuring tracks taken from nearly all of their original albums.
   
   This CD features the mix of "Your Wildest Dreams," from the original CD version of "The Best Of The Moody Blues," where the song goes from stereo into mono for a brief second (At 1:42 in the song).
   
   We also get the 1989 orchestral remake of "Question," which originally appeared on "Greatest Hits"/"Legend Of A Band" ... A shame that this collection didn't feature the orchestral version of "Isn't Life Strange" as well, for something a little different.
   
   The "Classic 7" era, on this compilation, is represented by "Voices In The Sky, the original version of "Isn't Life Strange," "Gimme A Little Somethin'," "After You Came," "Watching And Waiting," "Dear Diary," "A Simple Game," and the non-orchestral version of "Nights In White Satin." Many of these tracks feature the marvelous sound of Mike Pinder's mellotron. :)
   
   There are short versions of some of the tracks (Possibly single mixes), including "No More Lies," which leaves out the extended instrumental ending from the original version, "Driftwood," and "Talking Out Of Turn" (The shorter mixes that were featured on many Best Of collections).
   
   On this occasion, Justin Hayward and John Lodge's "Blue Jays" is represented by "I Dreamed Last Night," one of the major highlights of the album, and an outstanding orchestral track.
   
   Possibly the biggest bonus you get on this release is an extended, remixed version of "Sitting At The Wheel," which I've never heard before until I purchased this CD ... It's over 7 minutes long, and is every bit as energetic and enjoyable as the original mix, from "The Present." This track alone is the main reason to buy this disc!
   
   Two entries from "The Moody Blues Anthology" reappear here, the 4 minute orchestral mix of "Bless The Wings (That Bring You Back)" and "Highway" (Also featured on "Time Traveller").
   
   The only fault I've found, concerning this CD, is that many of the tracks (Most notably "Watching And Waiting," "Highway," and "A Simple Game") fade out a few seconds earlier than on their original releases and appearances on other compilation albums. Maybe this was done in order to fit more tracks on the disc? I would rather a shorter song list with the full length of each track.
   
   On the up side, and to wrap up, this is a fine Moody Blues collection that breaks away (a little bit) from the usual track list of greatest hits ("The Best Of The Moody Blues"/"Gold"). You get some hits mixed with other fantastic tracks not included on many Best Of releases ... A wonderful assortment of classic Moody Blues songs that range from "Days Of Future Passed" to the "Keys Of The Kingdom" era. Thanks for reading. God Bless... :)