4 comments about Fistful of Alice.

1. There are some reviews on here that aren't so flattering regarding this great album. Well, let me be the first to tell you they must be listening to the wrong album. I can only agree that it should have been two discs because he has so much material and that he should've had more new songs instead of the old stanbys, but to say it is without energy and give it a substandard rating is way off. At least he threw in a few songs he rarely does live ("Clones", and "Teenage Lament"). The club atmosphere is perfect and the performace is energetic and in your face. It is better that The Alice Cooper Show by far. It is like two different artists. For a good rockin' time you should buy this import version. The US release is a good time too, but a shorter show.



2. very good best alice cooper album ever



3. A fistful of Alice is suposed to be the live album that the 1977 version wasn't. Alice's mistake in his '77 performance was that he sounded....well drunk and rather rubbish. Instrumentals - great, Alice - not so great. So with a collection of newer hits such as 'Poison' you'd think Fistful would be a dream come true now that he's quit the bottle.

   Recorded in front of a minor audience as opposed to the usual thousands complete with blood-thirsty stage theatrics and over the top guitars, A Fistful Of Alice doesn't have the energy in every track that you'd hope for.

   Sure when Slash, Sammy Hagar and Rob Zombie appear you get something special, but other tracks are quite run of the mill. 'Poison' sounds just 'okay' compared to the 1989 'Trashes The World' video version and the background vocals on 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' are less than adequate. The guitar's sound too 90's for me and are weak compared to the overwhelming steel present on 'Classicks' or 'Freedom For Frankenstein'.

   Whilst it contains highlights I would recomend it only for devotees. Those newcomers to the Alice live experience would be better off seeking out the live versions on 'Classicks' or 'Freedom For Frankenstein', which are truly awesome or the live video's/DVD's. It's a good CD don't get me wrong, I love Ryan Roxie's guitar work, but it's not as over the top as you might expect from Alice. I'd recommend it for fans, but not really for newbies to the Alice live experience.

   What I don't like is the length of it. Alice has enough good material to warrant a double live set like most bands do. But instead we get only a few songs? Why? It could be the club environment this was recorded in, but not including 'Ballad Of Dwight Fry' is just in excusable.

   Oh by the way, devotees seeking a live version of the song 'Steven' will be pleased to know you get about a minutes worth of it as the intro to 'Welcome To My Nightmare'. Top cuts - 'Schools Out', 'Feed My Frankenstein', 'Welcome To My Nightmare', 'Lost In America', 'I'm Eighteen', 'Only Women Bleed' and 'Elected'. They rock!




4. Don't be fooled by the title of this seemingly awesome collection of hits.

   "Fist Full Of Alice" is a live collection of Greatest Hits that would sound a lot better in there original formats. The performances are decent, and even the new song "Is Anyone Home" is OK, but Alice seems like more of an old rock act than a superstar still willing to conquer new territory. The sad thing is that maybe his creative high is behind him. Still with quest like Rob Zombie and the eternal hip, yet aging Slash and Sammy Hagar he is somewhat hip. All the songs are still somewhat convincingly powerful form the ballad "Only Women Bleed" and the '89 classic "Poison" to hard rock staples "I'm Eighteen" and "Welcome To My Nightmare".

   Even with its marginal recommendation you are still better off getting the Greatest Hits of the seventies and finding "Poison" on a compilation or something.

1 comments about Ten White Stones.

1. If most of the Green PJs albums are underappreciated, for some reason this album has gone especially unnoticed. It's certainly eclectic, from the countryish opening track, the fuzzy pop psychedelia of Mrs.Cafferty, to delicate ballads, like She's Still Bewitching Me. And yet for all its variety, this is a routinely strong batch of songs. I bought this over a year ago and find myself going back to it over and over again. It's worth noting that this was recorded live in the studio, which is not to say it is lo-fi, and part of its charm is its first take professionalism. Like most of the PJs work, this deserves more recognition.

5 comments about The Kids Are Alright.

1. I Did not really know who THE WHO We're before I Saw This & Instantly they became one of my top 5 bands.The Musician ship is just unbeleivable & Unmatchable by anybody!Any band can watch this & See How a band Functions on Bad days&Good days & Just How 4 Different Talented People Can Ultamately Create Sonmething Totaly Unorthodox!!!



2. The reason this CD sounds so poor is because it was poorly remastered. The original LP tapes were used because the person who remastered it was too lazy to find the best quality sources for each track like they did with the DVD. So what they did was to use an old LP master, and they bathed it in so much hiss reduction, everything sounds like it's underwater! This might be one of the worst sounding CD's I've ever heard and it's NOT because of the nature of the original recordings. It's because of a poor remastering job!



3. This was the first album I ever bought with my own money when I was a kid. The records would come out of the top of the record sleeve rather than the right side, and it was great to look at.
   
   Although CDs will never be as much fun to look at and play with than LPs used to be, it was great to hear this CD again after all these years. There's a rawness in these performances that reminds you just how dangerous the music of The Who once was (and, in many ways, still is).
   
   Highlights include "My Generation" from the SMOTHERS BROTHERS TV show, live versions of "Young Man Blues" and Entwistle's "My Wife," the rollicking version of "A Quick One" from The Rolling Stones' ROCK & ROLL CIRCUS (for a long time, this album and movie was the only place you could see and hear this performance), and the Shepperton Film Studios live performances of "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again."
   
   There's a really messy version of "Join Together" that doesn't sound at all like the studio version of the song - and yet, I remembered everything about it the minute I heard it again after all these years.
   
   One complaint: I will never believe that this album's version of "I Can See for Miles" was recorded live for the SMOTHERS BROTHERS TV show. There's nothing about it that sounds different from the version recorded by The Who in the studio - unlike "My Generation," which sounds very unique and benefits from a great John Entwistle bass solo. But I think the liner notes are lying to us by saying that this version of "I Can See for Miles" was actually recorded for the SMOTHERS BROTHERS TV show. If Pete Townshend can clarify this for me, I'd be grateful.
   
   Otherwise, a "smashing" good album (yes, you can hear them destroy their instruments). Buy the movie, too, and you can "see" them destroy them too.



4. This soundtrack to The Who's 1978 biopic / concert movie is not quite up to snuff with relases like "Live At The Leeds", "Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970", the performance at The Old Vic on the deluxe edition of "Who's Next" or even the 2000 Royal Albert Hall Show. The performances are somewhat flat at times, and the sound quality is ocassionally dull.
   
   That being said, this is generally a good sampling The Who in concert. You get the hits ("My Generation", "Pinball Wizard" and a sizzlling "Won't Get Fooled Again") as well as some rarities ("A Quick One, While He's Away"). For the most part, the songs are good, though the studio recording "Long Live Rock", while a great tune, seems a bit out of place.
   
   Overall, this isn't exactly a must have (though the movie most definitely is), but it's anice addition to your collection.



5. I remember catching this when it first hit the movie theaters in 1978. This was BEFORE my concert-going days had begun. After seeing the major motion picture release of 'The Kids Are Alright,I knew I had to start attending live shows as soon as I could. This CD serves the purpose of having the flick's most vital music at your fingertips. Total of prime 17 Who classics,with a duration of 70 minutes. Tunes that you'll likely find yourself replaying over and over (like I did) would probably be "I Can't Explain",the semi-mystical "I Can See For Miles","Young Man Blues",bassist John Entwistle's penned "My Wife","A Quick One" and of course those two UNFORGETABLE live snippets of "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". What more can I say? Would make a great gift for a Who fan.

1 comments about Wings Over America.

1. The mid 1980's were not a particularly good time for CD hungry Beatlefans. The actual Beatle recordings would not appear on CD until 1987, and the solo Beatle product avaivalbe was limited, at best. Paul McCartney, who was under contract with Columbia Records at the time, was fortunate enough to see much of his solo catalog released on CD before most Lennon, Harrison, & Starr material was remastered for the "new" digital medium. One of the first Macca CD's Columbia released was a 2 disc version of "Wings Over America." Beatlefans were initially overjoyed to have 2 CD's of McCartney's best "live" solo and Beatles material. Many, however, were disappointed to find that the sound quality left something to be desired.

   When Paul took his catalog back to Capitol several years later, the hope was that new remastering would improve the muddy, hissy sound quality of Columbia's releases. Unfortunately, on Capitol's new "Wings Over America," there was little to no improvement. By the early 1990's, Parlophone/EMI in Europe again remastered Paul's solo catalog, and for the first time, there was finally dramatic improvement over the earlier 2 sets of reissues. However, a new "Wings Over America" was inexplicably left out of the "Paul McCartney Collection" catalog.

   That's all been remedied by the title's entry into EMI Japan's recent "deluxe" McCartney remasters, which present his catalog in replica LP sleeves and remarkable sound. "Wings Over America" has returned to its' album format, and is now spread out over 3 CD's. The sound is clear, bright, and a major improvement over the earlier CD incarnations. The original album graphics (including a great mini-poster) are included, making this the definitive CD edition of his greatest "officially released" live work. If only Capitol would catch on here in the states and give Paul McCartney's underrated solo catalog the respect it deserves, perhaps one wouldn't have to spend nearly $80 on the third pressing of this title. Since it looks like that may never happen, this Japanese import is more than worth the investment. All of the new Japanese remasters are worth checking out, but this one is essential for McCartney and Beatles fans.

No comments about Metallic KO.

2 comments about Rock This Way Live, Vol. 2.

1. When this cd first came out, I wasn't really aware about it. I was with my dad when he drove trucks. At a stop in California by the Redwood Forest, at a truck stop, I was lookin' at the cds/tape collection. The only reason why I bought it was cause I'm a huge Maiden fan. Bruce's 1000 points of light, was probably the greatest track on this entire cd, followed up by Dokken. But Warrent and Styx did a great job as well, but you cannot top Bruce Dickinson. If your a fan of 80's hard rock, and a fan of ELO, then this is for you. I jam to this cd all the time. Especially to 1000 Points of Light.



2. I must admit I first purchased this cd from years of being a huge ELO and Yes fan, boy was I in for a surprise. When I heard the infectious melodies and crunching rhythms of the two Dokken tracks, I was blown away! Probably like many listeners from my era, I wasn't familiar with this band which I simply thought of as another "heavy metal" group, boy was I mistaken. This is serious music! So take heed all you music fans, Dokken is a class act that's very hard for most to follow. I liked the whole disc, but LOVED the Dokken tracks! Hope there's more where that came from!

No comments about Band Of Gypsys (200 Gram).

1 comments about Live!: Extended Versions.

1. People, listen...why is it that America has to rely on import CD's in order for us to procure the original albums? In an abominable amount of cases, this is all too true. When they're sadly outta print in either domestic or imported pressings, the collectors charge exhorbitant amounts of $$ for a used copy! Okay, it's fair, but then again, it ain't. We're screwed either way.
   
   For this reason, you oughta grab on to this CD. The sound quality is as all the EXTENDED VERSIONS are, nearly board-perfect. None of the EV's, however, are in concert-chronological order, but who cares? "Live! Takin The Stage" is the obvious 1st choice, but as one reviewer put it, until RCA makes the time to re-release it, "good luck finding this album on CD" unless eBay has one...AMAZON doesn't. So, great fun, great recording, incredible harmonies pre-Vince Gill. Georg Ed Powell and company pleases the heck out of the crowd who probably paid no more than $8 a ticket 25 years or so to see the show! Here's your chance to re-live the concert you probably never attended...or maybe you did. Either way, unlike most of the EV's, this one's the ONLY live item in print in the PPL catalogue! There's much more to these guy's than Craig Fuller's "Amie." Though it's a fine cut represented here in all of it's glory, the rest of the album is just as heartfelt.

5 comments about Unplugged.

1. This cd is worthy of its reputation, and is the last great recording by Eric Clapton. "Malted Milk", "Walkin' Blues", "Layla", which he was able to successfully alter to fit an acoustic setting, "Nobody Know You When You're Down & Out", the classic made famous by Bessie Smith and later covered by an aged Scrapper Blackwell, and "Tears In Heaven", are all exceptionally great tracks. "Hey Hey" is not one of Broonzy's better songs, so I'm not sure why Clapton chose to record it. "Old Love" is mediocre, but "Running On Faith" is wonderfully done. This disc would have been even better if Clapton would have performed the material solo, much like the legendary Bluesmen he so greatly admired used to do, day in and day out. However, he has admitted in interviews that he is not a good enough musician to do what his idols did. For those of you who doubt this, simply look up interviews with Eric Clapton done by Guitar Player magazine. This is also the reason that his tribute record to Robert Johnson was not done alone.



2. It's Eric Clapton - intimate and unplugged - playing some great blues and acoustic rock. Does life get any better than that? Everyone needs this CD!



3. eric clapton is and always will be considered as a guitar legend. and this shows it.
   
   a soothing and uncomplicated production in a very intimate atmosphere, "unplugged" has a serene sound that will captivate anyone who has ears for good music. i highly recommend listening to it in a good set of stereo system



4. When you find yourself listening hungrily for the nuances of each individual note, when you find that the performances get better each time you listen to them, when you feel as if there is no bottom to the virtuosity and feeling in a performance, then you know that you've made some little connection with the mind of a genius. I am untutored in guitar technique, regrettably spotty on the history of the blues, but I can tell you that this is simply, modestly, great music.



5. Who knew? Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992) was just going to be a treat for Clapton fans, and a chance to see and hear one of history's greatest guitarists show his stuff on an acoustic guitar. But Clapton and Unplugged made history by winning six Grammy Awards including Album Of The Year, Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, and Best Rock Song (Layla). It turned out to be MTV's proudest moment and grandest achievement.
   
   There's a lot to like on Unplugged including this cool laid-back version of Layla. It loses none of it's purpose, has a great guitar solo and some nice piano work from Chuck Leavell.
   
   The deep and personal Tears In Heaven won three of those Grammy Awards, and the fact that Eric managed to bravely perform the song he wrote about his son, Conor, who had recently died, speaks volumes.
   
   The acoustic blues songs, Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out, Before You Accuse Me, San Francisco Bay Blues and Robert Johnson's Walkin' Blues and Malted Milk, all sound great, too.
   
   Two huge standouts on the album are Old Love and Running On Faith. They are personal, soulful and include inspired vocal perfomances, fine acoustic guitar work, and excellent slide guitar. Both songs stand with E.C.'s best work.
   
   Unplugged is really more of a perfect storm, where circumstances came together and fell into place, than a great work of art, but it's still a fine example of how talent, tragedy, and triumph can form an inspiring and wonderful creation. Eric Clapton Unplugged isn't perfect, but it's close.

5 comments about Band of Gypsys.

1. "...Happy New Year, first of all. I hope we have a million or two million more of them."
   
   Recorded live at the Fillmore East on December 31, 1969, Band Of Gypsys (1970) was the last album that Jimi Hendrix personally authorized to be released before he died on September 18, 1970. The Band Of Gypsys was a new group put together by Jimi after he dissolved The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It consisted of Hendrix, Electric Flag drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox (Jimi's old Army buddy).
   
   "...I'd like to dedicate this one to, uh, to the draggin' scene that's going on. All the soldiers that are fighting in Chicago and Milwaukee and New York. Oh, yes...and all the soldiers that are fighting in Vietnam. I'd like to do a thing called Machine Gun."
   
   If for no other reason at all, get Band Of Gypsys for Machine Gun, the twelve minute guitar screaming electric storm that protests the violence in America and Vietnam in the 1960s. The song is really the main reason this album is getting a five-star rating from me. It features rapid-fire drumming and siren-wailing guitar feedback sound effects, and is quite possibly the greatest rock guitar recording ever made. The perspective is from the soldier being hit with machine gun fire.
   
   Machine gun
   Tearing my body all apart
   Machine gun
   Tearing my family apart
   
   The rest of the album features new Hendrix material and two Buddy Miles songs (Changes, We Gotta Live Together). The atmosphere is 1969/70 in-the-streets-hip, socially aware and informally intimate. The opener, the laid-back/funky Who Knows, sounds a lot like a loose jam session with Jimi and Buddy trading lead vocals, and Jimi adding some nice pedal-effects guitar work. The soulful Power To Love and Message To Love highlight the fact that Hendrix was moving into a more thoughtful, and less flamboyant, direction with his music.
   
   I said find yourself first
   And then your talent
   Work hard in your mind
   So you can come alive
   
   Jimi's guitar playing here is fantastic as always, and especially because most of the songs were new material at the time, Band Of Gypsys is essential to any Jimi Hendrix collection. I wouldn't start my Hendrix collection with this one, but don't leave it out, either. There are some classic Hendrix moments here.



2. Hello!
   
   Machine Gun alone is a reason for buying this CD. It is well worth the price of admission!



3. Band of Gypsys was released in the US in 2 CD versions - the first was released in 1995 as the 25th anniversary CD (Capitol 96414 jewel case or the mini-vinyl card version Capitol DPRO 79534). Both contain the same CD as issued under the Alan Douglas control of the Hendrix Estate. In 1997, after the Hendrix family took control of the estate, Experience Hendrix released the Experience Hendrix/Capitol CD release (72434 -93446). The mixes used are the same but they appear to have been remastered from different stereo tapes.
   
   The 25th Anniversary CD issue was sourced from a copy of the master tape, not the original Eddie Kramer-mixed stereo master tape. The original master tape had been marked "Do Not Use" by EMI-Capitol Records (possibly because it was deteriorating while the copy was in good condition), so the copy-master was used for any versions on vinyl after the initial green label Capitol version and the 25th Anniversary edition CD. They sound like it - obvious bass and vocal distortion abounds (especially in Who Knows), along with very slight treble phase shift.
   
   The new version by EH/Eddie Kramer uses the "Do Not Use" tape (the original stereo master) and sounds much better than the Douglas version. The bass is excellent now and the treble and vocals are much clearer. The uneven fade up of the original Bill Graham introduction has been changed to a drop-in, and Eddie Kramer mentioned in an interview with Michael Fremer in Stereophile that some tape splices were retrimmed. A minor caveat is the appearance of occasional soft crackling noises on the new release (e.g. at about 5 and 11 secs into Machine Gun in the left channel). I seem to remember these on the original 1970 Capitol (green label) vinyl (STAO 472 - released in April 1970), and bought several copies thinking - wrongly as it turns out - that they were pressing faults. These noises weren't present on the Australian Polydor vinyl release (2406-002), nor later Capitol (purple or red label) pressings. The copy-master, therefore, appears to have been used for most versions of Band of Gypsys beyond the original US issue, despite its inferior sound. I guess the crackling noises on the original Capitol vinyl release and the EH/Capitol release are sounds caused by the original master tape deteriorating.



4. 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.



5. 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