Record Reviews

FIRE ~ THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER ESOTERIC 2117 (Barcode: 5013929721722) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2009 Only album by the short-lived British Prog band FireFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist Dave LambertFind albums by this artist, who also wrote all the music as well as played keyboards and sang, with bassist Dick DufallFind albums by this artist and drummer Bob VoiceFind albums by this artist. A typical concept album, based on a fairytale, this release is a wonderful example of early Prog, with elements of Psychedelia, Folk and Rock. For many years the album was a rare collectors´ item and this new edition of this gem should delight many Prog fans, who waited to add it to their collection. Lambert would of course later join the legendary StrawbsFind albums by this artist, a band of which he is still a member today. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

LAMBERT, HENDRICKS & ROSS ~ SEVEN CLASSIC ALBUMS REAL GONE JAZZ 415 (Barcode: 5036408153128) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1957 - 1962 Released: 2013 This is a reissue of all the recordings by the legendary American vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & RossFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Dave LambertFind albums by this artist, Jon HendricksFind albums by this artist and the British born Annie RossFind albums by this artist. This set collects recordings made between 1957 and 1962, which present the trio shaping the future of Jazz vocals for generations to come. The seven albums included here are: "Sing A Song Of BasieFind albums with this title" from 1957, "Sing Along With BasieFind albums with this title", from 1958, "The SwingersFind albums with this title" from 1958, "Lambert, Hendricks & RossFind albums with this title" from 1960, "Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Sing EllingtonFind albums with this title" from 1960, "The Real AmbassadorsFind albums with this title", a soundtrack of a Jazz musical which also features Dave BrubeckFind albums by this artist and Louis ArmstrongFind albums by this artist, from 1962 and the final album they recorded "High Flying With Lambert, Hendricks & RossFind albums with this title" from 1962. The trio´s usage of vocalese (i.e. wordless singing) advanced the idiom of Jazz vocals considerably, contributing to the voice being recognized as having instrumental abilities equal to those of traditional instruments used in Jazz. Although they were undoubtedly pioneers, they were almost immediately overshadowed by the French vocal group Les Double SixFind albums by this artist, which pushed the innovative vocal concepts to the next level and beyond, later followed by The Swingle SingersFind albums by this artist and many other vocal ensembles. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great vocal Jazz music performed by the best vocalists at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true vocal Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 29/09/2016

CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STRAWBS ~ NOMADNESS (EXPANDED EDITION) A&M 5302822 (Barcode: 600753028223) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2008 10th album by the legendary UK Folk-Rock group StrawbsFind albums by this artist led by Dave CousinsFind albums by this artist, who is still in the helm 40 years later enjoying the renewed interest in the band, Strawbs were definitely one of the most successful and brilliant UK Folk-Rock outfits. This album was the last of the albums released by the A&MFind albums on this label label and marks a certain attempt to produce music, which is less complex and more accessible. There are no epic tracks here, but the material is very strong, written, as usual, mostly by Cousins, with a couple tracks by other band members. The band at the time of the recording was a quartet, with Cousins, Dave LambertFind albums by this artist, Chas CronkFind albums by this artist and Rod CoombesFind albums by this artist, but many famous musician friends participate in the recording, including keyboardists Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist and Tommy EyreFind albums by this artist. In retrospect this is still an extremely solid release, which makes the fact that it remained unreleased on CD until now a complete folly. High time to grab it now!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend