Record Reviews

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD ~ WHAT`S THAT SOUND? – COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTION RHINO 603497860678 (Barcode: 603497860678) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 - 1968 Released: 2018 This is a Box Set presenting the newly (2017) remastered versions of the three original albums recorded by the seminal American Classic Rock group Buffalo SpringfieldFind albums by this artist. The remastering was done under Neil YoungFind albums by this artist´s supervision and he claims that these remasters offer a superior sound quality better that any previous version of these albums. The box set includes the mono and stereo versions of the first two albums and the stereo version of the last album, on five separate CDs. The eponymous debut album included here is the second version of that album, which includes the single "For What It´s Worth", but drops the song "Baby Don´t Scold Me" from the stereo version. In complete contrast to the "Buffalo Springfield (Box Set)Find albums with this title" compilation released originally in 2001, this Box Set adds no bonus tracks, concentrating on the original versions of the albums. In retrospect the three albums are a spectacular document of the process of turning American Folk music into Classic Rock, under the influence of the British Invasion. Preceded of course by The ByrdsFind albums by this artist, Buffalo Springfield travelled on the same path from Electric Folk to Folk Rock via a brief Psychedelia period, but completed it in a much shorter period of time that lasted less than a couple of years. With the immense songwriting and guitar playing talents of Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist, Neil Young and Richie FurayFind albums by this artist, the band had the potential of becoming a huge and lasting success, but alas as it often happens with to much talent and even more ego within one outfit, the band was over before it reached its peak, which perhaps is all for the better in retrospect. Their recorded legacy offers some of the most amazing songs ever written, which sound as good today as they did at the time of their recording. For the avid Buffalo Springfield fans and followers this Box Set might be redundant to some degree, but it is an excellent opportunity for new listeners to discover this important chapter in American Classic Rock. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 26/01/2019

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BYRDS ~ BYRDS ESOTERIC 2658 (Barcode: 5013929475847) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the 1973 reunion album by the iconic American group The ByrdsFind albums by this artist, which was their twelfth and last album. It was recorded by the original members of the group: lead guitarists / vocalist Roger McGuinnFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Gene ClarkFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, bassist Chris HillmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Michael ClarkeFind albums by this artist. The album presents elevens songs, eight of which were written by the members of the band, two by Neil YoungFind albums by this artist and one by Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist. This newly remastered reissue includes no bonus tracks, but offers an improved sound quality in comparison to the original release. The album was originally released on the (then) newly founded Asylum Records, following the eleven earlier albums that the group recorded for Columbia, all of which were beautifully reissued in the "The Complete Columbia Albums CollectionFind albums with this title" Box Set with a plethora of bonus material. Although the album did not result in any chart material, the songs are up to par with the band´s superb older material, and in retrospect it is an integral part of their recorded legacy. By the time this album was recorded, the transformation of the American music from the Folk to the Rock idiom was already complete and the material was already anachronistic to some extent. But since great music proves to be timeless, this album withstands the test of time without a hitch. Since this album remains mostly forgotten by the Classic Rock fans, it is good to see it back in circulation. The Byrds were instrumental in the process of creating Rock music as we know it, and we should always keep their music alive. For the younger generation of Rock music lovers, who were not around when this music was originally released, this is definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 02/08/2019Posted: 01/08/2019

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BYRDS ~ SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (LEGACY EDITION) COLUMBIA 35238 (Barcode: 886973523827) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 2003 6th album by US most important rock group of the 1960s. After David Crosby left the Byrds almost a year earlier, the group had to be rebuild again and Gram Parsons was chosen as the new member. As the result the Byrds changed their style yet again (for the third time) from Folk / Rock through Psychedelia and now into Country / Rock, largly due to Parson`s influence. This album is often pointed out as the first definitive Country / Rock album. In any case this is a vital piece of American Rock history and this beautiful expanded edition restores the classic work in its full glory.

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

BYRDS ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886978738028 (Barcode: 886978738028) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 - 1971 Released: 2011 The legendary US group The ByrdsFind albums by this artist have in mid-1960s almost singlehandedly transformed the music scene from a bunch of Folkies to a horde of Rockers almost overnight. Brilliantly catching up on the "Bob DylanFind albums by this artist going electric" trend, they recorded a series of absolutely outstanding albums, which remain to this day some of the best music ever recorded on this planet. Using the US Folk tradition to the max, Dylan included, with clever and conscious lyrics and exquisite vocal harmonies, they added the electric guitars and spiced everything with their incredible talents and musical sensitivity. In time they incorporated Psychedelia and other influences (including Jazz), and pioneered other new developments themselves, which earns them a highly respected place on the pedestal of modern music. In retrospect, no other US group matched their achievements, although many tried to do so. This marvelous Box Set collects all the eleven albums The Byrds released on the Columbia label (13 CDs as two albums are double) between 1965 and 1971, beautifully remastered and with a plethora of bonus tracks and a highly informative booklet with detailed information about every track included. This is such a tremendous body of music of staggering importance and beauty that any recommendations would only lessen its true value. Absolutely classic and essential stuff!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 13 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DAVID CROSBY ~ LIGHTHOUSE VERVE 602557238686 (Barcode: 602557238686) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 A couple of years ago (in 2014) legendary singer / songwriter David CrosbyFind albums by this artist of the ByrdsFind albums by this artist and Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist fame, released his fourth studio album ("CrozFind albums with this title") after twenty one years of silence, and forty three years after the release of his debut album, which means that his average output is one album every eleven years give or take a year. And now, against all odds and just two years later, he´s back with another album, his fifth studio effort, with nine great new songs! Although released under Crosby´s name, the album is actually a duo effort, with Crosby co-writing most of the songs and performing them with Michael LeagueFind albums by this artist, bassist, guitarist and the leader of the instrumental group Snarky PuppyFind albums by this artist. Most of the songs feature just Crosby singing and playing acoustic guitar and League accompanying him on various guitars and bass and singing backing vocals. Crosby´s voice, which I had the immense pleasure to listen to live last year (2015), is remarkably steady and clear, although his range is obviously limited by age and he does not use his dramatic falsetto any more. Nevertheless he is still a formidable performer and the intimate setting of this album suits him ideally. The songs are all very good, both musically and lyrically. Although the times when songs had to have a great melody and intelligent lyrics are long forgotten, Crosby still adheres to this golden formula, which is a blessing. His natural melancholy and deep lyricism are still intact and the songs reflect these qualities, as they always did over the years. Considering the fact that the generation of great musicians, to which Crosby belongs, is being depleted on a daily basis, the fact that Crosby is still with us, in spite of his serious heath problems over the years, is a true miracle. For us, mere followers of his musical journeys, this album is like winning a lottery, which makes getting older just a bit easier for a while. Keep on, David! God Bless!

Updated: 18/01/2019Posted: 02/01/2017

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH ~ CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (EXPANDED EDITION) RHINO 081227329020 (Barcode: 081227329020) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2006 This is a reissue of the legendary eponymous debut album by Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist. David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist and Graham NashFind albums by this artist play all the instruments and sing the divine vocal harmonies all by themselves, except for the drum parts played by Dallas TaylorFind albums by this artist. This expanded and remastered edition adds four previously unreleased songs to the ten original masterpieces included on the original album. What can I say about this album that has not been said already? Probably not much other than my very personal experiences, which are some of the most significant parts of the puzzle called "The Soundtrack Of My Life". Upon its release in May of 1969, the album became an immediate favorite of mine, lasting to this very day (almost fifty years now) and I will probably take it with me to my grave. Although all the ingredients that make this album what it is were scattered around for a while, before it was recorded, this particular amalgam of songwriting, vocal harmony, lyrical depth and pure genius was simply unprecedented. Of course The ByrdsFind albums by this artist, The Buffalo SpringfieldFind albums by this artist and The HolliesFind albums by this artist made superb music earlier on, but the magical bond that Crosby, Stills & Nash created was definitely an outcome way more significant than a simple sum of its ingredients. Considering the fact that part of the music on this album consists of vocals accompanied just by acoustic guitars points out that simplicity is definitely a key ingredient. The other songs, which use electric instruments, all played by Stills, are also quite straightforward. The only true complexity is reflected in the vocal harmonies, which are a first of its kind fusion of the American Country & Western vocal tradition and the splendid British Folk vocal tradition, masterly combined to create a new level of vocal virtuosity never previously attempted. Even the album´s cover is perfect; an astounding photograph by the great Henry DiltzFind albums by this artist, which was a mistake (figure it out) which could not be corrected as the house in the photograph was torn down the day after these pictures were taken. Talking about capturing moments in history… A few weeks after this album was released, Crosby, Stills & Nash would appear on the stage at Woodstock, joined by Neil YoungFind albums by this artist, and another piece of musical history would be made. So here it is, an icon of my youth (I wasn´t even eighteen when this album was released), which became an icon of my life, an eternal piece of musical perfection, which grabs me by my throat every time I listen to it, relentlessly after all those years.

Updated: 05/03/2017Posted: 05/03/2017

CD 1 HDCD Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FAIRPORT CONVENTION ~ FAIRPORT CONVENTION (EXPANDED EDITION) POLYDOR 044006829128 (Barcode: 044006829128) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2003 This is the debut album by the legendary British Folk-Rock group Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist, which was one of the pioneering and groundbreaking recordings of that genre in Britain. The group was a sextet at the time and comprised of lead vocalist Judy DybleFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ian MacDonaldFind albums by this artist, guitarist Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist, vocalist / guitarist Simon NicolFind albums by this artist, bassist Ashley HutchingsFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin LambleFind albums by this artist. A band fronted by a female vocalist was a novelty on the British scene. The debut album presented twelve songs, seven of which were originals and five were American Folk-Rock songs. The musical setting of the debut album clearly shows the band influenced by American Folk-Rock, especially early American Electric Folk-Rock bands like Jefferson AirplaneFind albums by this artist, ByrdsFind albums by this artist, Left BankeFind albums by this artist etc., and singers / songwriters like Bob DylanFind albums by this artist, Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist, Tim HardinFind albums by this artist and others. Created at the very peak of Flower Power, the album was also influenced by Psychedelia, Avant-Garde Jazz and contemporary Classical music, as appropriate for the period. These influences are much more subtle that those of the American Electric Fork-Rock, but they are the reason why this album is not a stylistic carbon copy but an original attempt to find their own artistic expression and in many respects is much more complex than albums by their American counterparts. The album was almost completely ignored at the time of its release, which prompted the band to switch to Island Records, where they subsequently released the bulk of their legendary classic material, with Dyble being replaced by the superb Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist. In retrospect the album sounds a bit naïve today, but all things considered it still is a great piece of music and a wonderful document of the times, definitely worth revisiting. This remastered and expanded edition adds for bonus tracks, which include a rare studio track, the band´s first single and a couple of live French TV recordings as well as a nice booklet with rare photographs and informative comments by Hutchings. This is a first rate treat for the band´s many fans.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

STEPHEN STILLS / MANASSAS ~ MANASSAS ATLANTIC 075678280825 (Barcode: 075678280825) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 1996 This is the debut album by the short-lived excellent band ManassasFind albums by this artist led by legendary American Rock icon Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist which also included ex-ByrdsFind albums by this artist / Flying Burrito BrothersFind albums by this artist vocalist / guitarist Chris HillmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Al PerkinsFind albums by this artist, bassist Calvin SamuelsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Paul HarrisFind albums by this artist, drummer Dallas TaylorFind albums by this artist and percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist. Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist bassist Bill WymanFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. The original double LP album presents twenty one excellent songs, split across the four sides of the two LPs with a separate subtitle for each of the sides, all bar one written or co-written by Stills and superbly performed by the band. Stills emerges on the album not only as a first rate vocalist, guitarist and bandleader but primarily as a superb songwriter, cementing his status initiated as a member of Buffalo SpringfieldFind albums by this artist and Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist, where he already contributed some of his finest creations and his material featured on the two solo albums released before forming Manassas. Musically the album epitomizes the best of American Rock, which emerged from the amalgam of Blues, Folk and Country music with electric Rock And Roll. Plenty of heartfelt vocals, excellent vocal harmonies and surging guitar work supported by rock steady rhythm section were the ingredients of the irresistible formula that American Rock knew how to push to the max at the time. In retrospect this album is often considered as one of the top achievements of American Classic Rock in the 1970s, listed side by side such albums as Derek And The DominosFind albums by this artist masterpiece "Layla And Other Assorted Love SongsFind albums with this title". Dedicated to the great and prematurely dead American Rock Heroes: Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist, Al WilsonFind albums by this artist (of Canned HeatFind albums by this artist) and Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, Stills clearly defines his influences and pays tribute to the fallen victims of the demanding Rock careers. An essential piece of the American Classic Rock heritage, this album is a must in any serious Classic Rock collection and definitely worth to be re-discovered by the new generations of listeners.

Updated: 18/01/2019Posted: 18/01/2019

CD 1 HDCD Remastered Recommend To A Friend