2 comments about 21st Century Live.

1. This really is a good album. I know that Dennis DeYoung isn't on hear and that really bums me out but I do believe that Lawrence Gowan does a good job considering the shoes he has to fill in. I really appreciated Styx doing Tommy Shaw's Damn Yankees colaberation "High Enough" I thought that that was really cool. It has a lot of their hits on it. Unlike a lot of their other live albums. I mean this is the greatest band of all-time only band in the histiry of the world to have Top Ten's in 4 different decades. So if you want to hear what styx is like with Lawrence Gowan on the mic well get this cd. It is actually is surprisingly good.



2. why in the world this cd and dvd isn't sold in canada? I bet alot of Styx fans would buy in a heart bit like me. Is there any way I could get my hands on it?

No comments about First US Tour.

5 comments about A Night at the Marquee.

1. If I could hear it I'd probably like it, but the sound it just SO bad, SO muddly it's impossible to enjoy. A waste of money.



2. There are some 'facts' that need to be put right regarding this recording. Firstly it is 'Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac' without the 'Mac' in it - John McVie was not in this line-up as he was still playing with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and was replaced by Bob Brunning on bass. Secondly, the concert date is known and it was performed on 15 August 1967. This is indeed a piece of 'history' for Fleetwood Mac collectors, as it is only 2 days after their debut at the Windsor Blues and Jazz Festival, which makes it their first recording!
   I agree with Carlton's comments (see above) - the recording is poor, yet, as the sleeve notes state, 'These recordings were taped on the sound desk on the night of the concert and although they may lack the technology of full studio recordings they nonetheless capture the live excitement of a 'Peter Green Fleetwood Mac' gig'.
   Don't buy this album if you want a studio reworked live album, buy it and enjoy it for what it is - the real thing as you would have heard in 1967, had you been there!



3. Come on, come on folks.....this is for Mac purists only....although no one seems to know the date of this recording, it was about the time they first hit in the UK, so probably 1968 or maybe late 67. If you bought the DVD or VHS The Early Years, you will love this CD because it's the same period but without the horrible studio setups of that era.....which really damped the playing and made it almost impossible for the real band to come across....at least they are playing without restrictions at the Marquee....the sound is not great, but you buy this for the soul in the playing, which *does* come through just fine.....this is one of the world's great bands at a time when they had a genuine chemistry going.....take it for what it is, not what you want it to be.

   Having said that, the Boston Box set is much better....also later after they had hit in the US.....and it was remastered by Mick recently so if you want decent sound that still has the chemistry.....buy it as well. Realize that the individual Boston CDs were not yet remixed by Mick.....only the later box set was.




4. I've never spent so much money on a lousey quality cd in my LIFE!!! I've owned bootlegs that had better sound quality than this!!!! Even played in a set of headphones, this thing is barely audible. STEER CLEAR OF THIS ONE!!!



5. The sound quality on this release is awful. Most bootlegs sound better than this garbage. If you want some quality live Fleetwood Mac (circa Peter Green), check out "Live at the Boston Tea Party Vols. 1, 2 & 3." These are much better performances and the quality is excellent.

2 comments about Live [Collectables].

1. This was their first album as a duo and it is not bad, but I thought it was over produced by George Martin. It was America's first commercial flop, failing to crack the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart in 1978 despite including live recordings of many songs that had been big hits just a few years ealier. I think they would have been better off without the backing orchestra and tried for a more "classic rock" style performance which was more typical of their live shows.
   
   This import release is kind of expensive and you should be able to find other editions that cost less.



2. This was their first album as a duo and it is not bad, but I agree that it was over produced by George Martin. It was America's first commercial flop, failing to crack the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart in 1978 despite including live recordings of many songs that had been big hits just a few years ealier. I think they would have been better off without the backing orchestra and tried for a more "classic rock" style performance which was more typical of their live shows.

1 comments about In Concert.

1. This is a re-issue of their 1985 In Concert CD with a different cover. Despite the cover picture, America was a duo in 1985 when this was recorded not a trio (Dan Peek left the group in 1977). But this a very good CD. The performances are sharp and solid. America can rock!

5 comments about Live at Max's Kansas City.

1. God, listen to those introductory chords...the almost hymn-like chant of "It's the beginning of a new age"...the solo. The majesty of The Velvet Underground's music is evident even on an audience recording like this. (Yes, the quality of the recording is relatively poor when everything else you listen to is digital and razor-sharp, but I've heard worse. Much worse, actually.) Both versions of 'Sweet Jane' retain the beautiful introduction found on the studio recording, which is another plus. 'Who Loves the Sun' is unfortunately incomplete.
   You should know by now whether or not you're going to like this album. It's not a suitable introduction if you're new to the Velvets, but it's great if you've heard the studio albums a million times and are curious about what the band sounded like during its summer 1970 residence at Max's.



2. This was one of the first VU albums I heard as a kid. A classmate (who I was in a garage band with) had it and we damn near wore out the grooves. It inspired us to get a different bass player and do most of the songs on that record. It sounded great until my buddy's mom said we couldn't play with him 'cause she didn't like his look.
   
   I just recently got this record on CD and had forgotten how great it is. Yeah, the sound quality blows. But, keep in mind, it IS the Velevet Underground. Playing's great. Energy's fantastic. Lou's singing is top notch. And best of all, a fan yells out a request for "Heroin". Lou flatly responds, "We don't do Heroin". You can't write that kinda stuff.



3. Those new to the Velvet Underground or looking for good live material should first purchase both volumes of the "Live 1969" collection. The 1969 sets were professionally recorded and also feature drummer Mo Tucker, who was not on stage for the Max's KC gig. After digesting Live '69, this disc is worth exploring for a couple of reasons. First, this concert, recorded on a hand-held cassette recorder on 8-23-70, would prove to be Lou Reed's last appearance with the VU until the 1990's. (The band performed additional concerts at Max's KC without Reed and over the next couple years was "led" by Doug Yule. This version of the band, which also included Tucker, released a 1973 import-only album "Squeeze" before disbanding.) So despite the fact that the sound quality is not of the highest fidelity and the foundation of the band is missing, its still a good addition the the VU discography. The setting is intimate and Reed seems relaxed performing before a hometown audience. The set also features songs from the 1970 "Loaded" album which was recorded in the spring and early summer. In summary the relaxed playfulness of "Live At Max's KC" provides an interesting contrast to the focused intensity of the "Live 1969" discs.



4. I just wanted to add this little factoid: poet/musician Jim Carroll, best known for *The Basketball Diaries* and his song "People Who Died," held the microphone for this recording. It is he, doing his best Andy Warhol immitation, you hear asking for Pernod between songs.



5. I know of the recording you talk about where Lou was performing for a small crowd in NY. He was asked, "Where is Doug Yule these days", and Lou replies, "dead, I hope". That recording is available on CD and is titled "Lou Reed, American Poet (Live)". It was recorded at an FM radio station in NY in 1972 and is available through Amazon for under $15.00. To other readers, we highly recommend picking up a copy of this CD. Very Velvetish with a great set of popular songs.

No comments about Back to the Trenches.

5 comments about Come Hell or High Water.

1. This is the first DP release I've ever heard in my life, but it didn't take me long to get into them..I'm also not a big fan of metal, not that they're overly metal-sounding. It took me a song or two to get used to the singer's voice, but once I did, the music was perfect.
   
   Deep Purple is great at creating an atmosphere, blending heavy rock guitar with great organ/keyboards and some quality drumming. They're also good at creating more subtley melodic (i.e. the keyboards) and organic music (see Anyone's Daughter), and I enjoy the structure of their songs, the back-to-back solos (on Child of Time the guitarist and keyboardist get into it like a duel--stunning). Very great rock music.



2. I have been a devoted Deep Purple fan for 30 years, but I tell it like it is. Trust me when I say that this live performance, recorded mostly in October 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany, is absolutely stunning. After countless listenings in recent years, I never tire of the dramatic power and delicate nuance brought forth with such virtuosity by Blackmore, Gillan, Lord, Glover and Paice. The whole atmosphere of the recording is so encompassing that it makes me feel as if I'm standing wide-eyed on stage with the band. Given the exceptional performance, flawless sound quality, and historical significance of this scintillating concert (being one of Blackmore's last with Purple), this CD is simply essential.



3. I hate most live albums because the recorded sound is bad, but this live album sonically amazing, I suspect it has been retouched in studio. Any info?



4. I guess the thought of another live album by the classic Mk II line-up of Deep Purple tends to create higher expectations than the quality of the results. Although the music itself is pretty good, the quality of the overall package leaves a little to be desired. For example, the cover lists a set of tracks. However, my CD player tells me that there are several more on the actual disc than appear on the cover, including "Lazy", "Woman From Tokyo" and "Space Truckin". Is there something ironic about the fact that this album only includes three tracks from the reunion period? Maybe they were starting to feel a little uncomfortable with this. Well Ritchie obviously was! Unlike some people I always liked "Anyone's Daughter" as a studio track, but the live version included here makes me wonder whether it was worth dusting it off after all these years. On the positive side it was good to hear the band actually rocking out - but was the souvenir of the era worth it? A must for Deep Purple completists like me, but for the casual listener, go for "Made In Japan" or even the 2CD "In Concert" set.



5. This is a surprisingly tight performance considering the known history of the group at this time (1993) or more to the point the ongoing Gillan-Blackmore rift. The playing by all concerned is very proficient and a joy to listen to. I never got to see MkII in concert so this, Made In Japan & Nobody's Perfect are the closest I'll get and while nothing matches Made In Japan, it's still a big improvement on Nobody's Perfect. The great thing is the use of new material like "Anya" & " A Twist Of The Tail" and less obvious tracks like "Anyone's Daughter" (from Fireball) which I've never heard live before. Even Ritchie sounds like he's enjoying himself! That's the beauty of the group now - pulling out older, rarely heard classics for a new audience. I do recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear what a live performance should be all about with the crowd responding incredibly to the opening chords of familiar songs such as "Child In Time". But then Europe (and particularly Germany) have always loved their Purple no matter what lineup. Another special moment is the short blast of the "Burn" riff during "Speed King". Uncredited bonuses are quick fire, incendiary versions of "Lazy", "Space Truckin'" & "Woman From Tokyo". If you love Purple live - GET IT!!

4 comments about Sabotage/Live.

1. Sabotage/Live is a seriously underrated album in Cale's oeuvre. Deranged, paranoid, vicious, dangerous--all these adjectives adequately sum up the songs on one of Cale's most visceral recordings. Think of the whole album as a grim obituary for the cold war era, as many of the songs--"Mercenaries (Ready for War)," "Dr. Mudd," and the elegiac "Chorale" all share a vision of nuclear annihilation. Cale's songs here are timely and--surprisingly--hardly dated at all.



2. From the opening chords of "Mercenaries (Ready for War)" it's obvious somebody's there to make a point. By the time Cale and his band get to the second piece ("Baby You Know") it's obvious they're not letting up (or letting anybody off the hook easily either--anyone at CBGB that night HAD to listen). Cale's band (Marc Aaron on lead guitar, Joe Bidwell on keyboards, George Scott on bass and Doug Browne on drums) are tight and play as if they're on fire. Cale sounds as if he's trying to devour the mike. His songs are cutting-edge material that explore things we don't like to think about. He doesn't paint pretty pictures but has a sense of humour, albeit a dark one ("my rifle is my friend"?). Not all of the songs are great. The title track is more of a rant with arpeggios than a song. "Dr. Mudd" and "Walkin' the Dog" aren't bad but don't stand well alongside the best works in the set. The best here more than makes up for the weaker spots though. "Mercenaries (Ready for War)" is a chilling and brilliant work. "Baby You Know" subtly suggests an understanding that things didn't have to be grim. The lovely ballad "Only Time Will Tell" is bittersweet and haunting. Deerfrance sings this one beautifully. Her voice isn't strong but it has a ethereal quality that suits the piece. Cale put a viola line into this one that he must have been playing with his heart. "Captain Hook" is a masterpiece on all levels. The song is brilliant piece of writing. The arrangement doesn't have a wasted note and the band executes it magnificently. The lead guitar line Marc Aaron came up with really sounds threatening and ominous. That doesn't happen often enough, at least not in this age of canned product. "Chorale" (intentionally or otherwise) comes off as a sort of a "wake" celebrating the evening. It's the perfect finish.
   
   The extra tracks are a mixed bag that offers an insight into the different styles Cale delves into. Trying to judge any of them as "good" or "bad" is impossible (not many of us really have the vision to fathom all the places where a mind like Cale's will end up). Personally, I enjoyed "Hedda Gabler" and "Memphis", could have done without "Chickenshit" and am still trying to make up my mind about "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores". It has something about it that's intensely interesting.
   
   This live set was a breath of fresh air in 1979 and it still is now. It was well recorded, well played and the material made you think. Its content is valid for all times because it's about things that keep happening. It's raw, raunchy and not always pretty but it's musically solid on all fronts. The sound quality on the reissue is just as good as was on the vinyl.
   
   This is a must for anyone who likes their rock with a bite, a tender heart and a deep intelligence.



3. If you like John Cale, and John Cale live with a punk band(and new material) then by all means get this cd! The sound is crisp. The music bombastic and John is at his sneering, nasty best. Note: this also includes the Animal EP as additional tracks.
   It is...the perfect cd for the current times with a looming war with Iraq on the horizon "Mercenaries(Ready For War)" is suitably chilling, lyrically. "Captain Hook" which clocks in over 10:00 minutes is jocular. This cd sums up the FEAR, SLOW DAZZLE, and HELEN OF TROY trilogy of mad, erudite, and paranoic Cale compositions. This is a keeper.



4. I saw one critic characterize this as a strange decade late response to Lou Reed's "Rock N Roll Animal". Interesting thought, but whereas Reed relied heavily on Velvet Underground classics and produced a record that sounds hopelessly dated, Cale produced a vibrant and timeless recording of all new material. (To my knowledge, no studio versions of these tracks exist.)

   While "Rock N Roll Animal" is a highly polished generic 70's arena rock record, "Sabotage Live" is an honest one take, no overdub blast of sonic fury, gloriously sloppy. This is so raw that Cale stumbles over the spoken word intro to the first song, then blows out his voice screaming during its climax, but just keeps going. All the worts are left in place.

   Cale's voice may be shot after that first song, but no matter. His band of young unknowns plays with tremendous energy and his voice, even hoarse, is fully emotive as he delivers his left-wing diatribes. My favorites here are the opening "Mercenaries (Ready for War)", and the slow moody "Captain Hook", a haunting story of the decline of British colonialism. Other highlights are the angry avant-garde title track and Deerfrance's vocal spotlight on "Only Time Will Tell".

   The sound quality on my previous edition of this album was quite good, so I assume this version will sound at least as good. (Don't actually have this new edition.) Also, the last four tracks are new for this edition, so I cannot comment on them. (I am wondering if this is the same version of "Hedda Gabler" that turned up on "Seducing Down the Door". . .)

   This is a must for any Cale fan's collection. I would also recommend it as a good first purchase for those wanting to explore. Cale has hit on too many different styles in his solo career to call any one album representative, so this is as good a place to start as any.

1 comments about Live for Today.

1. I enjoy this disc. It's demos and alternative versions of some good Sweet tracks.
   The home demo of Fox on The Run shows that these guys had the talent.
   Not one of these tracks was a bummer.
   I really like the early version of Action; the insight I now have to this song gives me a laugh in a good way.
   
   The liner notes are brief and I don't know who wrote them but there is a line or 2 about each song.
   
   This is for the serious fan. Don't make this you're first Sweet CD because you'll just not understand.
   
   Long time fans---Buy this now!