Journey - Original Album Classics 3 CDs & 5 CDs (update)

* * * * *

 

I explain in the post below about the odd decisions Sony has made in its releases of Blue Oyster Cult albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  Similarly, odd things have happened for releases by the band Journey.  I reviewed the first "Original Album Classics" 3CD box by the band here.  That box covered the albums "Departure", "Escape" and "Frontiers".  My suspicion is that this release is now going out of print.  Instead Sony has released a 5CD box featuring the albums "Infinity", "Evolution", "Escape", "Frontiers" and "Raised On Radio".  Also released is another 3CD box (also called "Original Album Classics"!) featuring earlier jazzier albums "Journey", "Look Into The Future" and "Next".  These pre-date Steve Perry joining the band as lead vocalist.  I'm very tempted to buy the latter release as these early albums are really great and have been very hard to find in the past.  At a bargain price, typically less than a full price CD, this set strikes me as being unmissable.

Earlier release - if you want it get it now in case it goes out of print!

Blue Oyster Cult - Original Album Classics 5 CDs (update)

* * * * *

In a widely anticipated move, CBS/Sony have released another box of five BOC albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  This time we get live albums "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" and "Some Enchanted Evening", later studio gems "Cultosaurus Erectus" and "Fire Of Unknown Origin" and oddity "The Revolution By Night".  As a bit of a fan, I regard this as an essential purchase.

"On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" was to a large extent the album that made BOC aim for the stars.  A big seller, and a metal classic of sorts, it captured live versions of their early masterpieces.  The later live album "Some Enchanted Evening" builds on this and of course features "Don't Fear The Reaper".  The latter album is presented here in unexpanded form, which is disappointing.

Now things get weird.  The earlier 5 CD box, also called "Original Album Classics" and reviewed here by me seems to have been deleted.  If you want a copy start hunting now!  Thanks to correspondent "alientool" for alerting me to this.  That also probably explains why that review has been one of the most popular here lately, I guess people are trying to figure out what the hell Sony is playing at!  Maybe these boxes are limited editions after all?

Out of time or out of print?

Can - Landed (Hybrid SACD)

* * * * *

This sleeve caused the facial recognition software in my camera to go bananas!

Continuing this month's unplanned '70s theme, I purchased a copy of this Hybrid Super Audio CD (playable on all CD players) a couple of weeks ago.  It is still listed at UK distributor Mute Records , as is a digital download.  Such is availability of early "Krautrock" bands like Neu!, Can, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Faust and Amon Düül II that you are best buying the product when you see it as this stuff tends to be in and out of print. 

Packaging is rather different to my old LP copies!

This is my third copy of this album.  A guy at school gave me his copy as he didn't much care for the album.  That LP was on Virgin, but my copy soon wore out and eventually I bought a replacement import copy on the Harvest label.  This is a fine remastering of a terrific album and is now on Can's own Spoon label.  It's far from the band's trendiest release, but I love it.  It kicks off with the warped pop of "Full Moon On The Highway" and disturbed gems "Half Past One" and "Hunters And Collectors".  You can find these on YouTube if you fancy trying something extraordinary.  Many of the instruments are treated and distorted.  The imagination used in this process means there are sounds here that you won't hear on releases by other bands.  The album descends into hypnotic jamming by the time of the final track "Unfinished".  

Remarkably after this release, the band went on to achieve a hit single with the disco parody "I Want More".  All credit to Virgin for getting that one into the Top 30!  Can finished as a band some time ago, and with the untimely death of guitarist Michael Karoli a decade or so ago, we are unlikely to see any further group activity.

The Comsat Angels - Time Considered As A Helix Of Semi-Precious Stones The BBC Sessions 1979 - 1984

* * * * *

That must be the longest album title ever!  Anyway this seems to be going out of print so if you want a copy hurry up, as it won't be around forever.  This is a re-issue on the Renascent label.  The company bragged about the quality of  their cardboard gatefold sleeves.  Well, I can't say I rate them as they seem to be on the small side which makes extracting the disc perilous.  I have put my CD in a plastic sleeve to avoid the danger of it becoming scratched.  Maybe that's why this label no longer seems to be issuing CDs.  Even a digipack would have been better than this rubbish packaging.

The album itself is excellent.  It's by no means all their BBC session tracks, but it is the cream of them.  Hard to find songs and classics such as "Eye Of The Lens", "Total War", "Independence Day" and "Waiting For A Miracle" are here in versions subtly different from the original Polydor recordings.  There is a Rolling Stones cover in the shape of "Citadel" (originally on "Their Satanic Majesties Request").  There are 19 tracks on the CD, so it offers outstanding value as a mid-price release.

Musically, vocalist Steve Fellows does sound like fellow Sheffield man Phil Oakey, and the band sound a little like Korova bands Echo & The Bunnymen and (Lori &) The Chameleons.  It's a fantastic mix of dry sardonic vocals and staggeringly subtle riffs over a solid rhythm section.  The band were press darlings at the time but sadly this never translated into sales and popularity.  I have some of their stuff on vinyl (and even mid-period Jive label albums like "Land" were great), and will be exploring their final albums "The Glamour" and "My Minds Eye" if I can afford to buy them before they become unavailable!  The band played a handful of gigs a year or two back but are not really a unit at present.  What a pity, as I would love to see them.  

Don't forget the Comsats because they were and are a really special band.

Be Bop Deluxe - Futurist Manifesto (5 CDs)

* * * * *

I predicted that we might get this release when I was reviewing the 5CD Barclay James Harvest set here.  And what a delight this is!  5 CDs for the price of one full-price CD!  Watch out for variable pricing as HMV were advertising it for almost twice the price of some other retailers.  Way to go HMV!  I don't have a copy yet (unlike most of the stuff I review here) but I intend to correct this soon.  

In this set you get all the Be Bop Deluxe studio albums plus bonus tracks on 4 CDs.  A fifth CD has rarities and live tracks, so this is an essential purchase for all Be Bop fans.  It's not the full story of course.  The outstanding live album "Live! In The Air Age" is not here, neither are early single "Teenage Archangel" and the previously unreleased stuff featured on earlier compilation "The Best Of And The Rest Of".  What you do get is an outstanding bargain, so buy it before EMI come to their senses...and finally, where's the Cockney Rebel set to match?

Not included here...

P.S. Bill's website is at: http://www.billnelson.com/home.php

Darts - Double Top (2 CDs)

* * * * *

Back to the '70s again!  This is a fantastic compilation of the first two Darts albums  "Darts" and "Everyone Plays Darts" plus loads of bonus tracks.  As such it features the singles "It's Raining", "Don't Let It Fade Away", "The Boy From New York City", "Daddy Cool/The Girl Can't Help It", "Come Back My Love", "Get It", "Duke Of Earl", "Reet Petite", "Let's Hang On" and er, "White Christmas". 

In best Rhino tradition there are informative notes and evocative packaging.  "Don't Let It Fade Away" is listed twice but appears only once, of course.  There are 46 tracks in all.  There is one small fault on the penultimate track "Goodbye Brenda" where there appears to be a single jump in the master tape used.  But this is barely noticeable and not bad enough to dock any of the five stars I have given this fun release. Here is the full track listing:

DISC 1 - DARTS
1. DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (2.29)
2. YOUNG BLOOD (2.44)
3. TOO HOT IN THE KITCHEN (2.23)
4. SOMETIME LATELY (2.38)
5. ZING WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART (3.04)
6. SHOTGUN (2.45)
7. COME BACK MY LOVE (2.30)
8. BELLS IN MY HEART (2.09)
9. SH-BOOM (LIFE COULD BE A DREAM) (2.37)
10. STAY AWAY (FROM THEM GIRLS) (2.32)
11. I'M MAD / FANCY MAN / FRAMED / RIOT IN CELL BLOCK NO.9 / TROUBLE (4.42)

BONUS TRACKS
12. DON'T LET IT FADE AWAY (3.22)
13. GET IT (2.56)
14. DUKE OF EARL (3.42)
15. CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE (3.27)
16. REET PETITE (2.53)
17. LET'S HANG ON (3.13)
18. PEACHES & CREAM (2.47)
19. COOL JERK (3.31)
20. RUNAROUND (2.48)
21. MESSING SHOE BLUES (2.44)
22. NAFF OFF (2.49)
23. WHITE CHRISTMAS (2.27)

DISC 2 - EVERYONE PLAYS DARTS
1. THE BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY (3.03)
2. HONEY LOVE (2.19)
3. MY FRIEND'S WIFE (2.58)
4. IT'S RAINING (3.44)
5. MAKE IT (2.24)
6. HAMMY'S BOOGIE (2.35)
7. WHO'S THAT KNOCKING (2.00)
8. MY TRUE STORY (2.41)
9. LATE FOR WORK (2.35)
10. BONES (2.56)
11. LATE LAST NIGHT (2.33)
12. I GOTTA GO HOME (2.57)
13. WHY I CRY (1.55)

BONUS TRACKS
14. DON'T SAY YES (2.34)
15. CUCKOO (3.27)
16. ONE OFF THE WRISTS (2.09)
17. DON'T HANG UP (2.30)
18. HONEY BEE (1.58)
19. DON'T MESS AROUND WITH LOVE (3.47)
20. DON'T LOOK BACK (3.53)
21. THIS IS THE NIGHT (1.56)
22. GOODBYE BRENDA (2.56)
23. WHY I CRY (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSION) (3.09)

Expanded versions of the first three Darts albums have been issued recently.  But this compilation is outstanding value and should not be overlooked.  Fortunately, it is still in print.

The band still play very occasionally.  You can find out more at their website http://www.amazingdarts.com/index.html

Dr. Feelgood - Going Back Home (CD & DVD)

* * * *

 

When I saw this release listed, I just knew I had to get a copy.  This is Dr. Feelgood's stunning "Stupidity" live album plus bonus tracks such as the 7" that accompanied early copies of the LP.  All together, 24 live tracks on one CD!  All the early Feelgood classics are here: "Back In The Night", "Roxette", "She Does It Right" and all those prime R'nB classics they covered.  Moreover, there is a 9-song DVD filmed at the same 1975 Southend Kursaal show that most of the CD was recorded at. The DVD is PAL format, All Regions and there is an insert with photo memorabilia.

So why have I given it only 4 stars?  Well, I have to admit I find the sound of the CD a little too clean - it lacks the ambiance of a good vinyl copy of the album.  I was surprised by this, but I think the same applies to the DVD.  Here the super clean audio doesn't quite gel with the grainy '70s footage.  So by all means get a copy, it's a bargain, but perhaps feed it through a valve amp for a dirtier sound!