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  | DR. JOHN ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES
RHINO 081227983673 (Barcode: 081227983673) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock
Recorded: 1968 - 1973 Released: 2009
This Box Set collects five of the first six albums recorded by the American vocalist / songwriter / pianist / guitarist Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist) and released between 1968 and 1973. The decision to skip the third album (called "RemediesFind albums with this title") is completely beyond me. With a wonderful throaty voice and a superb musical sensitivity Dr. John firmly established a position of one of the most original and influential American music personalities.
Dr. John managed to create a unique musical amalgam by mixing his original New Orleans roots with Blues, Jazz, Rhythm And Blues and Soul. The first two albums in this set are both completely zany Psychedelic trips, so unusual and far-reaching that they are considered as milestones of alternative music to this very day. The remaining albums are much more conventional and present Dr. John establishing his more mainstream approach, which mixes his New Orleans influences (Zydeco) with Blues, Soul, Boogie Woogie and Rock, which characterize his career to this very day.
In many respects Dr. John always was a musician´s musician, earning respect and admiration from many of his peers. This explains the fact that many legendary musicians take part in these recordings, including Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist, Graham BondFind albums by this artist and many others. This Box Set is an excellent opportunity to get familiar with the Dr. John universe by those who managed to miss it until now, but also to revisit familiar ground by old fans, which don´t have these albums on CD. Warmly recommended!
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: 08/05/2023Posted: | CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MANFRED MANN ~ DOWN THE ROAD APIECE: THEIR EMI RECORDINGS 1963-1966
EMI 094639721528 (Barcode: 094639721528) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1963 - 1966 Released: 2007
This wonderful Box Set compiles all the recordings Manfred MannFind albums by this artist made for the EMIFind albums on this label label, documenting the first chapter of their illustrious career. The music covers everything from the first demo session they did as a group till the very last recordings done before the first lineup folded with the departure of their lead singer Paul JonesFind albums by this artist. The group would then continue with a new lead singer (Mike d`AboFind albums by this artist) and a new label (FontanaFind albums on this label), but that is another story.
What is fascinating about this Box Set is the fact that is shows not only the historical development of one of the most important UK groups, but in fact the entire history of the early to mid 1960s UK music scene. It clearly shows the main influences that went into the incredible music of the Golden Era – Jazz, Blues, Rhythm And Blues and Rock And Roll.
Most of the tracks include the stable lineup of the group, which includes the founding members Manfred MannFind albums by this artist (piano and organ), Mike HuggFind albums by this artist (drums and vibraphone), Mike VickersFind albums by this artist (guitar, saxophone and flute), Tom McGuinnessFind albums by this artist (bass) and Paul Jones (harmonica and vocals). Mann, Hugg and Vickers came from a solid jazz background, which is very evident throughout all their music and would eventually lead to the switch to Jazz-Rock Fusion in the late 1960s (Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist). The other members, especially Jones, had a solid Blues background. The result was a unique blend of Blues-Rock, which rather then featuring guitar as the lead instrument (as did most of the groups at the time) had the sax / flute / piano up-front. Jones was of course one of the most potent singers of the era, a serious competitor even to Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist. This was also the reason why the group recorded so many instrumental tracks, which were as important in their repertoire as the songs.
Although the group managed to score quite a few major hits on the charts, it seems that they never made music, which was particularly ‘likeable” on purpose and their success was manly due to their talents rather than pursuit of popularity. There is so much great music on these CDs that I hardly feel a need to convince anybody to get them. This is a first class document of the music scene at the most interesting formative period and listening to it is not only a most pleasurable experience but also a fascinating course in music history. A must!
| | Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: | CD 4 Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLLING STONES ~ BLUE & LONESOME (DELUXE EDITION)
POLYDOR 602557149463 (Barcode: 602557149463) ~ UK ~ Blues
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is the twenty-third British studio album (and twenty-fifth American studio album) by The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, separated by eleven years from their last studio effort "A Bigger BangFind albums with this title" form 2005. It features twelve covers of Blues standards, which makes it the first Stones album to comprise entirely of covers. In addition to the quartet Stones lineup: vocalist and harp player Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist, guitarists Keith RichardsFind albums by this artist and Ronnie WoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Charlie WattsFind albums by this artist, several other musicians participated in the recording sessions, which took place in London during just three days in December of 2015: bassist Darryl JonesFind albums by this artist and keyboardists Chuck LeavellFind albums by this artist and Matt CliffordFind albums by this artist. Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist plays guitar on two tracks and Jim KeltnerFind albums by this artist plays percussion on one track. The Deluxe Edition contains no additional music in comparison to the standard edition, but is beautifully packaged and includes a hardcover book about the sessions and the origin of the songs and glossy photographs of the band.
For The Stones this album is a symbolic closing of a circle. They always were and never stopped to be a Blues band, even when they ventured into other territories, some closer to the Blues like Rhythm And Blues and Rock And Roll and others more remote, like Psychedelic Rock and Pop. But overall, they always had the Blues deep inside their musical guts, which probably is the main reason why they managed to survive and carry on for all these years, now in the sixth decade of their odyssey.
The album presents all the "usual" qualities every Stones´ album is blessed with: honesty, directness and no bullshit attitude, which made them always different from most other superstar groups, who came and went away over the years. As Jagger says in the album´s book, The Stones could have recorded this album in 1963 or 1964, and I wish they would have done so, as we would now have that recording to compare with the one made over fifty years later. But listening to the early Stones albums today is good enough to reach the conclusion that five decades made them better in many ways, but more importantly did not blemish any of their basic qualities, which make them what they are.
Although "white men can´t jump" might apply to some areas of life, but The Stones phenomenon is a living proof that white musicians can play the Blues with the same emotional and spiritual depth as the forefathers of the idiom. After all it´s not about the color of your skin, but about the color of your soul!
And the rest is history…
| | Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 10/03/2017 | CD 1 Digibook Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLLING STONES ~ HACKNEY DIAMONDS
GEFFEN 602458122565 (Barcode: 602458122565) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 2019 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the 24th studio album by the iconic British Rock group The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist. Reduced to a trio following the death of their drummer Charlie WattsFind albums by this artist, this is the first album of original material since the 2005 album “A Bigger BangFind albums with this title”. Vocalist Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist and guitarists Keith RichardsFind albums by this artist and Ronnie WoodFind albums by this artist carry on the torch, supported by Rock stars like Elton JohnFind albums by this artist, Lady GagaFind albums by this artist, Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist, ex-Stones bassist Bill WymanFind albums by this artist and numerous others. The album presents twelve songs, eight of which were written by the Jagger-Richards team, three were co-composed with the album’s producer Andrew WattFind albums by this artist and one is a Blues standard by Muddy WatersFind albums by this artist.
The music is exactly what one might expect from a classic Rolling Stones album, full of great songs and excellent instrumental performances, superb recording quality with a retro sound and a timeless atmosphere of Classic Rock, showing clearly that six decades of music making definitely did not manage to take Stones off their path. They have more stamina, talent and balls than any contemporary Rock outfit, if there are any real Rock groups out there at all these days.
The Stones really define the Classic Rock idiom better than any other musical group in history, not only because they managed to last all this years, but mostly because they managed to stay relevant all these years both a recording artists and phenomenal live performers. Their music has been an important part of the Soundtrack Of My Life for almost as long as I can remember, and never let me down since.
Overall, if you are a Stones fan, this album is a true joy from start to finish, which can be cherished minute by minute and savored repeatedly, staying on the favorites list probably forever. If you are not a fan, it’s probably too late for you to save your sanity ;)
| | Updated: 05/12/2023Posted: 05/12/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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