5 comments about Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits (Volume 1).

1. At least three essential, MUST have Beach Boy's songs: "The Warmth Of The Sun", "In My Room", and "Don't Worry Baby", are missing from Vol.1. They are found on Vol.2, as well as the great classic "Endless Summer" CD.
   
   "Vol. 1" is not even close to a complete Beach Boy's collection...get "Vol. 2" with it, or BETTER YET.. forget "Vol.1" and "Vol. 2" and just get "Endless Summer" along with "Pet Sounds" and you will have a great collection of Beach Boys songs.
   
   If all you have is "Vol. 1", you are not at all getting the full picture. It would be like buying only part one of a two part movie DVD.
   
   (By the way, I also happen to think "Surf's Up" from 'Smile" is essential. That one song ALONE is worth the price of "Smile".)



2. Yes yes... I am back. There is no rest for weary Seers when it comes to public devotion (or self promotion). Anyway, summer is here once again, and the hovering egg yolk in the sky sends it's warm waves to everyone. Fortunately for me, my devoted fans sent me enough money to go to Malibu. So, a few days ago I caught a Seer jet (play on words there people - Lear Jet, get it?) from London. So, I arrived in California expecting the red carpet treatment. You know what I mean, a limo with a t.v. and wet bar, some beautiful woman to laugh at all my jokes, and a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel. You can imagine my surprise when they threw me into a taxi with a driver that looked like Columbo and had a woman that looked like Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies be my tour guide. We won't get into the accomodations. However, I must ask, how many of you have lived in a tent city with no running water? Please raise hands!
   
   Anyway, despite all that, my first day at the beach was most interesting. I went with a generous supply of zinc oxide on my nose to protect me from harmful rays, looked ever so sauve with classic sunglasses (you know the ones, from the 60's), and had the coolest swim trunks on that had prints of palm trees and barracudas on them. I was ready folks!
   
   So I sat out on my beach chair, and before you know it, the Norwegian Woman's Volleyball League set up shop right next door. Yes. I met them all and marvelled on how good they were when they started to play. Especially Ingrid and Helga. Their form, their defensive technique, their jumping up and landing! I didn't know volleyball could be so enjoyable. ;)
   
   But, let me get to this review before you all start throwing beach balls at me. As I'm there, I hear music coming out of my old transistor radio. On a day like today, what would be more appropriate than Beach Boys music?
   
   What we have here is part one of their greatest hits. And, if I must say so, it is quite the collection. Do remember, the Beach Boys virtually invented the surf craze in America. They were bearers of the American dream via the California dream. It was definitely youth oriented, and through the sixties they were the premiere American band.
   
   Why were they so successful you might ask? Well, they hit upon themes that were part of the youth experience for that time. The theme of sand and surf certainly with the offerings of "Surfin'Safai", "Surfin' U.S.A.", "Surfer Girl" and "Catch a Wave", just to name a few. Livin' life was an exhuberent joy to these guys. Within their songs you also get the main motifs of fast cars (i.e; Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "I Get Around")young love heartache (i.e; "Help Me Rhonda") and girls, girls, girls (i.e, "Surfer Girl", "Barbara Ann", "California Girls" and the inimitable "Good Vibrations"). In fact, as we speak, Helga is giving me an eye flirt. Talk about good vibrations!
   
   Brian Wilson was genius in how he wrote these songs, how he arranged them, and peppered them with their trademark harmony. Crystal clear rock music, thoughtful ballads, done with the aura of the beautiful California coastline. Did I forget to mention the most perfect pop tune in rock history "God Only Knows?" That's included here as well.
   
   In conclusion, The Beach Boys are as essential as the sun in the summer when it comes to that season. These tunes are ingrained into our consciousness with an indelible stamp. Nowhere will you find better music to covey the joys and trials of youth and the search to find that perfect wave. Now, I must go. Seems a terrible fight has erupted between Helga and Ingrid and it's getting ugly. Seems they both want me. Of course, this is the effect I have on women. Let me go see if I can convince them to share me. ;)
   
   I get around. cheerio -- Metamorpho



3. If you love listening to the Beach Boys or know of someone that does and need to get them a present, than this is for you. I bought this for my mom for Christmas along with some Elvis and she listens to it every week. It is kept in her car so she can listen to it on the road. A very excellent purchase.



4. This album I bought in middle school at BJ's in exchange for a mistakenly received duplicate gift for my birthday. This CD is the first of a three volume set of Beach Boys songs. These are digitally remastered so they sound great. This has most of the popular songs by the Beach Boys, but there are others spread out on the other two CDs. If you are a die-hard Beach Boys fan you'd want all three, if not you could probably just get this one for the basics.



5. When I picked this one up years ago I did so thinking I was getting the original hit single renditions of all 20 tracks. Only when I got it home, opened it, and pulled out the fold-out insert (which contains no liner notes whatsoever), did I find out that only tracks 1-3, 6,7, 9, 10, 12, and 14-17 were the hit single versions. The rest are either album cuts or alternate takes.
   
   The insert does provide a discography of the contents, but while it's a nice, clean compilation, it is still misleading in its title.

5 comments about The Essential Electric Light Orchestra.

1. The songs on this CD are so well-known that I really have very little to add to what has already been written about them. I was a bit disappointed that "Rockaria" was not included. Otherwise, for folks not acquainted with ELO, the lyrics on most songs are drivel while the melodies are tough to beat.



2. Hold On Tight To Your Dreams just popped up again in a car commercial, but it revived the Electric Light Orchestra and get's my blood moving. Let this affirmation ring in your head while you reopen some cans of dreams you may have put in your mental root cellar. This, like fine wine , has aged well. Take a sip and expect to relaunch a few dreams into the current stream of time. After all, now is always now. So "be here now".
   
   Gypsy Nick



3. Rec'd the CD in new condition, exactly what I ordered. No Complaints and received in a timely manner.
   Thank you very much.
   AnneMarie



4. Like some of the previous reviewers I bought this cd mainly for the Honda commercial song. Being unfamiliar with this group, I relied on the many favorable reviews. In fact, I have to thank Honda for making me aware of ELC. What a shame having missed out all of these years listening to them. Believe me, I'm making up for lost time now. Great cd and group!!



5. I ordered this CD mainly to get the number "Hold on Tight to Your Dreams", which is featured in a Honda commercial. After getting the CD, discovered that there were several other numbers that are great also. Worth the money, for sure.

5 comments about Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon.

1. Literally blinding, when I was listening to it, my eyes melted. But seriously, a collection of some of the more popular John Lennon numbers and ridiculously easy to listen to



2. this is a great album to have in your collection as it really is the very best of Lennon and his brilliant work - i think i got this used - and it was in excellent condition - all the favorites on it -



3. Outstanding words and music from the Man who made us all think about the finer things in life. I also recommend "Across the Universe", on DVD, for all you diehard Lennon fans. Great story and music. Thanks very much. Ron Caylor



4. ... your appreciation of lennon's solo output cannot be complete until you listen to/possess two of lennon's best albums : imagine and jl/plastic ono band.
   
   there are only two tracks from each of the two albums in this collection.
   
   with these two albums and this collection which also incidentally favors (6 tracks!)lennon's other great album "double fantasy", you will have a strong representation of lennon's best solo work.
   
   btw i cannot comprehend how anybody can leave out such a beautiful number like "hold on" from any lennon best of/collection.



5. The title of this album speaks for itself, the very best of John Lennon. It is the very best, I loved all the songs on this C.D. the price is definitely very good. It is very sad that this legend is no longer with us. It is not fair he didn't even have a chance to be knighted as Sir John Lennon like Sir Paul.

5 comments about Anthology: Through the Years.

1. This is the only true collection to buy , unlike there greatest hits this is complete , it has all of there great songs on 2 cd's , so if your a true Tom Petty & the heartbreakers fan then this is the collection for you.



2. Can't go wrong with this CD purchase... bought to prepare for the upcoming 2008 tour..!



3. only a few good songs.
   should have made this a single cd, not a double.



4. This is an outstanding collection of songs. Every song is excellent. Tom Petty rocks. If you like Tom Petty, you will love this set.



5. A great compilation, but it'd be hard to fail, with such a great catalog to choose from.

5 comments about Hotel California.

1. I'm not going to compare Hotel California to any other album. This is simply their greatest album. Nearly flawless but, like the subject, not quite perfect.
   
   I love the concept of California being heaven and hell. I bought this album in December 1976, and then left for California right after Christmas. That trip was planned, by the way, not a result of listening to the album. I believed in the concept of California as heaven on earth. Everything about SoCal was so great in 1977. It was the place to be. But of couse it really wasn't. I saw it in awe, with eyes wide open, and missed or overlooked some things. And that's the concept of this album, almost a warning that things aren't all they're cracked up to be.
   
   I can easily see the direct connection to the "California Concept" in most of these songs. Wasted Time, Victim of Love and Try and Love Again, maybe not so direct. There was so much radio airplay on the first three songs of side one but they really delivered the message. Maybe the more casual fans didn't realize what else they were missing. At that time there were plenty of radio stations that played deep album tracks and even the entire album. So there was ample opportunity to hear the other songs, and I think some people missed out on great music by not hearing the rest of the album.
   
   To this day I think that The Last Resort is the best song the Eagles ever released. Glenn Frey supposedly said that this song is Don Henley's best work. I think this song speaks volumes about the virtues and promises of California, and how it was ruined by greed. I mean, to be in Southern California at that time was fantastic beyond words. It was where I wanted to be. It was, to me, paradise. A few years ago, a friend of mine said, "LA isn't what it used to be. Know what I mean?", and I did. I did know what he meant. It's sad, because I guess I just have this fond remembrance of what things were like in LA when Hotel California was a new release.
   
   I've always liked Victim of Love better than Life In The Fast Lane. It's recorded live in the studio. On the record, there's even an inscription in the vinyl around the label that reads, "V.O.L. is five piece live". It's refreshing to hear something so raw when everything else on the album is so polished. But polished is good, too. Wasted Time is so soulful and heartbreaking, and may be my second favorite song of the album. It's lush and polished and it works. Even the brief Wasted Time Reprise (which seemed way out of place the first time I listened) works on this album.
   
   New Kid In Town is also great because it's all about "What have you done for me lately?", which was so LA at the time and even more so now. It's delivered so smoothly that it shows how subtle the change is from being on top of the world one day to being a nobody the next. Of the singles released from the album New Kid In Town has to be the most pop-oriented song. It's really more like their previous singles than Hotel California and Life In The Fast Lane. To this day I like New Kid In Town better than those other 2 songs.
   
   Another reviewer said this was a rather dark themed album for the late 70's. That's probably true because the late 70's were all about doing anything you could get away with just to have the right amount of fun. Hotel California as a whole was saying that a good time wouldn't last forever, we're gonna run out of land and resources and it will be too expensive to enjoy. Maybe it was too dark, but that lifestyle got out of control and further ruined Paradise On Earth.
   
   I still love visiting, especially Southern California. This will sound goofy, but it truly does give me energy that I don't get anywhere else. But, for me, it really isn't the same as it was. That's what Hotel California was saying way back when.



2. Bought DVD audio because of a new Acura. Excellent sound but the concept of DVD-Audio has never caught on.



3. not only is this album great musically but this dvd-a sounds amazing with terific surround. better sound than my LP.
   
   get ready to relax with this one.



4. I was 21 when this came out but was not a big Eagles fan since I was a musical snob and they were a comercial success. When the title track hit the airwaves, I heard a plagerized version of "We Used to Know" by Jethro Tull. It has an almost identical chord progression. But then again, I was a musical snob. Now, in my aged wisdom, I have dropped all the snobbery and have given this "album" a second listen. While it's not in my top 10, it's up there on my list of great albums. I actually always liked "The last resort" for it's message and sonic appeal. I was also a Joe Walsh fan from his James Gang and early solo work (FM radio only!) but never liked his squeaky voice. His brilliat guitar work made up for it. So Walsh on guitar with the other Eagles professionals made for flawless rockin riffs. I also have changed my opinion of "Victim of love". In my snobby days, I scoffed at it's simplicity, being more attracted to complex musical forms, but now.... it has become one of my favorite songs BECAUSE of it's simplicity! (The excellent guitar work helps, too!) Anyway, this old non-fan is now a new fan. I may even go out and get tickets to see the old geezers before they expire!



5. I bought the Hotel California album sometime back and I must say since then this album has been one of the most preferred albums I have.
   The channel separation on the compilation is simply awesome. It seems you are not only listening to music but sitting with the band and listening to the music.
   Technically, the frequency of the the instruments is too perfect. My player has never sounded so good as it sounds with this album..
   Cheers

5 comments about Obscured by Clouds.

1. This cd is truelly this band's best, I wish they had migrated to Africa's BushBush after this, the world would have been a better Place.
   
   Bridges burning, mudman, the gold its in the, wots the deal, absolutely curtains all songs are among my favorites as they out shine the ugly Side of the moon album and the atrocious animals and the wall/
   
   Denise Whitlock, aged 11



2. This cd is truelly this band's best, I wish they had migrated to Africa's BushBush after this, the world would have been a better Place.
   
   Bridges burning, mudman, the gold its in the, wots the deal, absolutely curtains all songs are among my favorites as they out shine the ugly Side of the moon album and the atrocious animals and the wall/
   
   Ignace Denner, aged 10



3. This cd is truelly this band's best, I wish they had migrated to Africa's BushBush after this, the world would have been a better Place.
   
   Bridges burning, mudman, the gold its in the, wots the deal, absolutely curtains all songs are among my favorites as they out shine the ugly Side of the moon album and the atrocious animals and the wall/
   
   Ignace Denner, aged 10



4. The music contained on this album was made for the French movie La Vallée. I haven't seen the movie but all I know, is that the ten songs that make up this LP are fantastic! It was recorded in March, 1972 at the Château d'Herouville and it finally came out in June of the same year. The line-up featured is the classic one: Roger Waters on vocals/bass, David Gilmour on guitar, Rick Wright on keyboards/vocals, and Nick Mason on drums.
   I still remember when I decided to buy the first Pink Floyd album, it was in early 1999. I went to the music store and as I was glancing at all the albums that they had on the shelf, I just couldn't decide which one to pick. Eventually I chose "Obscured By Clouds" mostly for it's cover! It really caught my attention with those strange colored circles against that bluish background...It turned out to be very enjoyable!
   
   There are four instrumentals included and the first song, the title track, is one. It's an atmospheric piece thanks to Wright's usage of an early synthesizer, his newly acquired VCS 3 that makes a thick sound. Mason keeps a steady drum beat while Gilmour throws some moody slide guitar fills until the fade out. Quickly, the second number (also an instrumental) comes in and it's called "When You're In". It's the shortest song on the album clocking in at two minutes and a half. A pair of catchy hard rock riffs are repeated throughout until it slowly begins to fade out.
   Now it's time for "Burning Bridges", the first song to feature vocals. It goes in a prog-rock direction with inventive chord progressions plus a melodic slide guitar solo from Gilmour. The album takes a quick turn in "The Gold It's In The..." as it is a pure hard rock number! One of the very few songs they done in this style. It's one of my favorites! As expected, killer rhythm and lead guitar is showcased and the verses and chorus are catchy as well.
   
   "Wot's...Uh The Deal?" is one of the few popular songs off this record. Definitely, an album highlight that seems to go in a folk direction. Wright's piano sounds very good here. For the verses, a descending chord progression is employed, but the chorus stands out too while Gilmour manages to squeeze a cool solo that uses his trademark slide playing. The third instrumental "Mudmen" follows and it's a reprise of "Burning Bridges", therefore it follows the same chord structure. The difference is in the sound of the instruments, notably the keyboards. The soloing from Gilmour has a much more prominent sound too, as opposed to the earlier version.
   
   An hypnotic hammond organ wall of sound introduces the next song "Childhood's End". However, it quickly changes and the main body of the songs turns out to be a mid-tempo funky number that happens to be a favorite of mine! "Free Four" is another folky song that managed to gain some radio airplay back in the day. The melodies and the singing are quite catchy but the arrangement also makes room for Gilmour to play some killer lead guitar parts. After it's fade out comes the Wright-sung ballad "Stay". One of the most overlooked songs from their catalog! The dominant instrument is the piano, but I liked Gilmour's guitar sound here, filtered through a wah wah pedal. The final song "Absolutely Curtains" is the longest cut almost reaching the six minute mark and without a doubt, the most unusual on the album. It also starts with an hypnotic hammond organ sound that gradually gives way to the final section: a tribal chant! Quite an experiment to say the least!
   
   This is a highly recommended album if you like rock with an experimental edge and prog-rock. It also includes some touches of hard rock and folk as well. Well worth checking out!
   Thanks for taking the time to read!
   Later...



5. This album has some good moments and a lot of smooth numbers with David Gilmours voice and trademark guitar in the background. However, for me it's not a great Pink Floyd record. In my opinion the best of the pyscadelic Floyd was on Syd's albums. He had something unique and his vocals and guitar work were ground breaking. When Pink Floyd continued on without him they were searching for a while although I DO like the Meddle album, It's the best 60's Floyd album without Syd Barrett. Of course after A Saucerful Of Secrets, Pink Floyd revolutionized head music forever with Dark Side Of The Moon. Not only was it a masterpiece, but it is one of the best selling and popular albums of all time! And it was a group effort! Pink Floyd really found themselves with a little help from Alan Parsons. Than came Wish You Were Here (my personal favorite), Animals, and The Wall. Now the way Syd lead the band in the beginning, Roger Waters took over and lead them throughout the mid 70's and early 80's. Who would have thought he was even capable of such song writing and compositions? And with David Gilmours smooth vocals and lead guitar work, they were a band for the ages. But A Saucerful Of Secrets was still in their experimental period. It is very interesting to hear this album in comparison with what was to come. You can hear the potential that was just about to be reached. A Saucerful Of Secrets has much more of a60's sound and feel to it and more laid back. It did not take chances with it's sound the way they would do with Dark Side. You wonder how did they ever come up with such an album in 1972? They were sitting in a gold mind in their heads with those ideas and musical concepts. Rarely does it all come together the way it did with that album and the albums that came after. They all sell right up there with The Beatles best selling albums and as the best catalogue albums in history!

5 comments about Something to Be.

1. Love the voice. Love the way when he performs on stage, too. He looks better with light blond hair I think.



2. The first time I noticed his wonderful, extremly catchy was when he performed "Smooth" with Santana. His voice is so masculine and eager that can bring people to high emtion!
   No wonder they (Santana and him earned the Grammy).
   I tried Matchbox 20 eversince but when I saw him broke out with his own record, I was really impressed. I admit that I am not a regular Rock fan. My taste is very ecclectic and this is exactly what I like about this album: it has some Rock songs and also some Soul/Latin/RB ...what ever you define it but ithas it all in here. Bravo. Rob!



3. I thought this would have been a great cd, but it was a little dissatisfying.



4. This can be played on one side as a cd and the other as a dvd, but we just play it in our car and it has a hard time reading the cd. The music is excellent though.



5. This is an interesting debut album that explores other styles of music that he normally doesn't touch when fronting MB20. He has a remarkable voice and is a dynamic singer. Highlights include "Lonely No More," "This is how a heart breaks," and for my money, the best song on the disc ..."Streetcorner Synphony."

5 comments about Days of Future Passed.

1. Okay, so it's not the grand double disc set that's available from the U.K., but it is a long-overdue upgrade on the domestic front. And if you already own "Prelude" and are planning to buy "Live at the BBC", then the U.S. upgrades of "Days" through "Every Good Boy" will do just fine. To begin with, I was blown away by the sound quality, but buyer should also know that the re-mix has some differences, so you might want to hold on to your originals. It does, however, open us up to a whole new world of possibilities of how this album might have sounded like in the first place. In the booklet it states that the purpose of Decca Records bringing the new Deram imprint was to give the rock bands' stereo recordings more depth. (If this were true, why wasn't Procol Harum's first album given this treatment?) Having injected that question, we can now move on...
   First off, MB fans everywhere know the pitfalls and failures of the new line-up from late 1966. We are also familiar with how this album came to fruition. The bonus tracks are not new to a lot of us, i.e. the first three singles. Missing from the bonus cuts however, is the 45 version of "Nights in White Satin", although the BBC chestnut "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is included. Imperfect though it may be, it's a great run through with Justin taking lead vocal and Ray doing an equally great job of holding the whole thing together on the interludes. The alternate mixes of "Tuesday", "Dawn", "Sun Set" and "Twilight Time" are exceptional as well as the original album cycle. Can't wait to hear the rest in this series. What I'm most grateful for, is the time and energy spent by Justin and all to see to it that these new remasters were done with the highest integrety. Great work, guys!!



2. I don't know where this CD was made, but it is a terrible recording. Not worth the free shipping.



3. ESSENTIAL ALBUM!!! On the heels of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's came the Moody Blues Days of Future Passed. Days of Future of Passed hasn't aged quite as well as Sgt. Pepper's but this album had a concept that tied together much better than the other. Released in 1967 Days of Future Passed was the third Moody Blues studio album. This album had a new lineup that featured Justin Hayward (Lead guitar, vocals) & John Lodge (bass, vocals). Gone was Denny Laine who later be Paul McCartney & Wings rhythm guitarist. Another interesting fact about this album was it peaked at #3 on the charts in 1972, five years after it was originally released! The new & more talented version of the Moody Blues was ready to take off.
   
   Two singles were released from the album; "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" climbed to #24 on the charts in 1968. The most famous single "Nights in White Satin" went to #2 on the charts in 1972. It was belatedly released, the story behind it being a very interesting one. As legend would have it (I'm not able to actually verify this tale) a DJ located somewhere in the Northwest of the U.S.A. was working the night shift, he wanted to take an extended break (can you guess why?), so he checked his playlists to find the song that had the longest time length, he found "Nights in White Satin", supposedly a B-side at that time, & put it on. If we believe this tale then it's obvious that the song spread over the airwaves like a wildfire out of control until the label was forced to release it as an A-side & you know the rest of the story.
   
   Actually only about half of the album is the Moody Blues. The other half belongs to the London Festival Orchestra which was an orchestra in name only, it didn't actually exist except for the recording of this album. Conductor/Arranger Peter Knight was the man behind this part of the album. Decca records actually wanted the Moodys to record Dvorak's "New World Symphony" in order to showcase the new sound technology they had developed. Of course, we know that didn't happen. The Moody Blues put their concept together & with the help of Peter Knight they would complete it. Knight was responsible for the orchestral sections, in most cases he scored the Moodys songs into orchestral arrangemnets using them os intros, outros & bridges between the songs. When Decca records got the finished product they didn't know what to do with it; it wasn't quite classical music nor was it quite pop music. They released it anyway (thank you) & though it didn't quite catch on initially, it would do so later.
   
   The songs "Tuesday Afternoon" & "Nights in White Satin" are now considered classic & are the best on this album. They've dated better than the rest of the album because their music & arrangements are timeless; they're just as good now as they were back then. "Nights in White Satin" I would consider one of Rock's Top 100 songs. It's unfortunate that the rest of the album is more of a sign of the times, psychedelic & hippie-oriented lyrics being the cause. The rest of the proper Moody Blues songs are merely average. The marriage of rock to an orchestra was a good one though, in that sense, this a groundbreaking album. It deserves its recognition & status.
   
   The additions of Hayward & Lodge improved the Moody Blues immensely, they went from being an ordinary R&B group to one of the leading psychedelic/pop bands in the world. None of these musicians (Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge) will ever be considered among the best at their respective instruments but, very much like the Beatles, the sum was greater than the parts.



4. The history of this albums speaks for itself. As one of the earliest concept albums to be made, it set the standard to which all others inspire. This is one of those pieces that should be common to everyone's collection. It is mellow, sweeping, deep, and powerful.



5. This may still be, of all their albums, the best in terms of sheer melodic line and lush orchestration, plus timeless subjects not the dated subjects of subsequent albums. This is a very nice album by the famous group.

5 comments about Live at Radio City Music Hall.

1. Title: Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City
   Format: Blu-ray
   Version: U.S.A / Region Free
   Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
   VC-1 BD-50 (Main feature)
   Running time: 2:49:02
   Movie size: 42,27 GB
   Disc size: 43,46 GB
   Average video bit rate: 19.93 Mbps
   Dolby TrueHD 5.1 24-bit/96kHz
   LPCM 2.0 2304Kbps 24-bit
   DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps
   English Lyrics
   
   Disc Two BD-25 (Extras)
   ***********************
   #Documentary: So Damn Lucky - 46 minutes
   #Photo Montage - 4 minutes



2. If you like Dave Matthews, this CD is a must have. The acoustic performance by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds is nothing short of astounding.



3. Watching this DVD is an almost transformational experience. I am very new to Dave Matthews and the DMB, but this DVD is absolutely wonderful. I would expect that almost anyone would enjoy this DVD. I was initially put off by some of the reviews that were peeved about Dave talking too much between songs. I was actually afraid to buy this DVD because I thought that too much talking would be a bad thing. I went ahead and bought the DVD and was VERY happy that I did!
   
   I agree that he can get wordy, but there is only one place in the concert that is a bit distracting; when he talks about his 'African' experience. Even this story is fine within the context of this particular concert. This concert DVD has such a nice atmosphere and actually draws you into the music. Now that I've seen the DVD several times, the talking is not distracting, but part of the concert experience. Of course, seeing this live would have been an absolute treat because it is really cool when musicians tell the audience what is on their mind.
   
   I have the music CD of this concert and the 'African' story is deleted. This is much better when listening to only the music. I wholeheartedly recommend both the DVD concert and the CD. I own a lot of DVD concerts and this might be my favorite.



4. This is one of my favorite live CDs from Dave Matthews. But of course they are all great! :]



5. Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds always put on a great show, this performance is no different. What makes this so fun to watch over and over is the quality of the video/sound. It's fantastic. You see so much detail, it's almost like being there. Minus the wonderful aromas... Blu-Ray was meant to deliver high quality video and audio. This one does. You will not be disappointed.

5 comments about Band Of Gypsys.

1. This is one of the most important rock/soulful CD's you can have in your collection. It's like a beautiful and intense painting that you have to engage with. A rock mantra. For all guitar players to enjoy.



2. Growing up, I loved Jimi Hendrix's Experience. I had never tried his Band of Gypsies vinyl back in the day. I bought this on sale to add to the Hendrix collection and I'm not sure if it will stay. This album is the first after his breakup with them and it's a live recording from 1969.
   
   Some say it's the beginning of the end, I cannot say that. It's good, solid blues, but I prefer hearing Hendrix rocking.
   
   This is a six song collection, that is almost 46 minutes long. You get a lot of live jamming on this CD, which is mostly worth hearing. Vocals on "Who Knows" just annoy me; however, "Machine Gun" is excellent--good strong playing and one of my favorites of all his work.
   
   I don't regret hearing this CD, but I think I'd rather remember Jimi rocking with the Experience than bluesing with the Gypsies.
   
   Rebecca Kyle, May 2008



3. I yield to no man when it comes to admiring Jimi Hendrix - indeed, watching and listening to him perform in a tiny club, way back in '67, was one of the highlights of my life. It was transformational. That said, let's be honest about Band of Gypsies - it's a mess. Of course, the failures of Hendrix transcend the triumphs of mortals, but still.
   
   Hendrix freely admitted that he was no great singer, and his limitations have never been more evident. Even Buddy Miles, who was better, sounds awful. Perhaps the live concert environment meant they couldn't hear themselves. Indeed, this album would have been much better had there been no vocals at all. The jams, naturally, smoke like a southbound train, Hendrix is in great form. But play the CD again and imagine how much better it would sound purely instrumental.
   
   Swapping out Mitch Mitchell for Buddy Miles was like trading in a Rolls Royce for a Yugo, Miles is particularly unexceptional here. The bass contribution by Billy Cox could have been handled just as well by a table lamp. Most egregious of all is the material itself. From a song-writing point of view there is little to cheer, particularly when it comes to lyrics. This would be more palatable if the singing were expert; unfortunately, the awkward vocals Hendrix delivers draw attention to the inadequacies of the lyrics.
   
   Of course it's worth owning and listening to, but, for a variety of reasons, it is just not up to the standards of the 3 "Experience" albums.



4. Jimi Hendrix-Band Of Gypsys *****
   
   Complete with ex-Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles and old army buddy Billy Cox on bass and the man himself Jimi Hendrix on guitar at a loose New Years Eve concert at Bill Graham's Fillmore East jam Band Of Gypsys is the essential Hendrix recording, as well as his best.
   
   The rhythm section of Miles and Cox is in my opinion better than that of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Also I must say, that to me this is the best Hendrix ever played, nothing I have ever heard from him on any other release even comes close to this, maybe 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' from Electric Ladyland comes close but nothing else. His songwriting is also amazing here. I am not going to say it is better then on his other recordings though because I feel that Jimi was an amazing songwriter his entire career.
   
   'Who Knows' kicks things off on this blues-fusion album and does so greatly. 'Machine Gun' is perhaps the greatest thing Hendrix ever did. The guitar work is breathtaking, and the Vietnam conscious lyrics are heartfelt. Buddy Miles' 'Changes' is killer. The guitar and vocal work is some of the best and most raw blues ever recorded. 'Power To Love' and 'Message To Love' go hand in hand and should only be listened to back to back in succession. 'We Got To Live Together' closes the album and does so with a bang. The group vocals really get the message of the song across, and Hendrix's guitar sound on this track is head scratching, and Cox's bass playing on this track owns anything by the Experience.
   
   Band Of Gypsys was Hendrix's anti-celebrity album. He wanted to get away from the showmanship of his earlier recordings and performances because he and his black audience felt it was demeaning much like it was for the fantastic Louis Armstrong. I think he achieved what he set out to with Band Of Gypsys and so much more. This is a fantastic record that should be heard by everyone.



5. To make it short and sweet.Just listing to Machine Gun with all those war sounds coming out his guitar shows me Jimi Hendrix was and still thousand ahead of any computrize sounding guitar player of today.Hendrix is god !