Record Reviews

GRASS ROOTS ~ WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU / LET`S LIVE FOR TODAY / FEELINGS / LOVIN` THINGS BGO 1478 (Barcode: 5017261214782) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 - 1969 Released: 2022 This is a reissue / remaster of the first four albums by the American Pop / Rock group The Grass RootsFind albums by this artist, released between 1966 and 1969 on DunhillFind albums on this label Records. On the first two albums most of the songs were written by the songwriting duo P. F. SloanFind albums by this artist and Steve BarriFind albums by this artist and on the next albums the group members wrote most of their own songs. The 2CD album presents a total of forty-seven tracks. The music offers a typical 1960s Pop / Rock sound, with excellent, highly melodic songs, vocal harmonies and clever arrangements, which resulted in chart success, including gold discs. Although they were never as sophisticated as some of their contemporaries, in retrospect these songs are part of a soundtrack on an era, which goes way beyond straightforward nostalgia. The music was simply so much better at the time, that in comparison to contemporary Pop it is simply infinitely more satisfying. Despite numerous personnel changes, the group continued to record three further albums for Dunhill (those are combined on another 2CD reissue / remaster set), before switching labels, and in fact continue to play live even today as an oldies show. Overall, this is a great reminder of the times when Pop / Rock music sounded really cool, and offered satisfaction, which lasts for decades. Revisiting these album was a great fun, bringing back many songs I have forgotten, but which sound as great today as they did when I was a teenager.

Updated: 21/02/2024Posted: 21/02/2024

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GRASS ROOTS ~ LEAVING IT ALL BEHIND / MOVE ALONG / ALOTTA` MILEAGE BGO 1510 (Barcode: 5017261215109) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1966 - 1973 Released: 2023 This is a reissue / remaster of the last three albums (out of seven total) by the American Pop / Rock group The Grass RootsFind albums by this artist, released between 1969 and 1973 on DunhillFind albums on this label Records. Most of the songs were written by the group members. In addition, fourteen bonus tracks (mostly non-album singles) spanning the entire Dunhill era (1966-1973) are also included. The 2CD album presents a total of forty-seven tracks. The music offers a typical late 1960s / early 1970s Pop / Rock sound, with excellent, highly melodic songs, vocal harmonies and clever arrangements, which resulted in chart success, including gold discs. Although they were never as sophisticated as some of their contemporaries, in retrospect these songs are part of a soundtrack on an era, which goes way beyond straightforward nostalgia. The music was simply so much better at the time, that in comparison to contemporary Pop it is simply infinitely more satisfying. Despite numerous personnel changes, the group continued to record further albums, on other labels, and in fact continue to play live even today as an oldies show. Overall, this is a great reminder of the times when Pop / Rock music sounded really cool, and offered satisfaction, which lasts for decades. Revisiting these albums was a great fun, bringing back many songs I have forgotten, but which sound as great today as they did when I was a teenager.

Updated: 08/05/2024Posted: 08/05/2024

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GRASS ROOTS ~ WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU (EXPANDED EDITION) REV-OLA 93 (Barcode: 5013929439320) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 Released: 2005 1st album by US Rock group The Grass RootsFind albums by this artist, formed around the talented team of songwriters: Steve BarriFind albums by this artist and P. F. SloanFind albums by this artist, who co-wrote some of the most notable songs of the 1960s California Sound, performed by many of the top artists of the era. Although initially the group was in fact just the songwriting duo supported by studio musicians associated with their label DunhillFind albums on this label, owned by legendary producer Lou AdlerFind albums by this artist, later on it developed into a bona fide Rock group, which produced a stream of excellent albums and several chart hits. The material is a superb mixture of influences, from Folk-Rock, Garage Rock, British Invasion and early Psychedelia and in retrospect still sounds excellent today. Most of the music is original, but several covers of great songs of the period are also included. This expanded edition includes all three versions of the hit song, which gave the album its name, as well as other non-album tracks. A great trip down the memory lane!

Updated: 21/02/2024Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

COLOSSEUM ~ THE GRASS IS GREENER (EXPANDED EDITION) TALKING ELEPHANT 181 (Barcode: 5028479018123) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2011 "The Grass Is GreenerFind albums with this title" was the second US release by the superb British band ColosseumFind albums by this artist. Founded in 1968 by drummer Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, Colosseum was one of the most important and innovative bands active in the UK in the late 1960s / early 1970s. It combined virtuosic performances and imaginative musical writing way ahead of its time; crossing genres elegantly and skillfully, amalgamating Blues, Jazz and Rock in a way no other band had previously attempted and very few others ever managed to do in the years that followed. This particular album by Colosseum is however especially interesting as far as record collectors and fans of the band are concerned, since it reflects a widely-spread phenomenon, which characterized the record industry at the time. As a result of the "British Invasion", spearheaded by the Beatles and other UK bands in the mid-1960s, the US record market was swamped by UK releases on a regular basis. However, the US record labels often took the liberty to change the UK albums selected to be released in the USA. These changes could involve an alternate cover art and liner notes, a different track order, a different selection of tracks and up to creating new and completely "virtual" albums, which never existed originally, by combining tracks from two or more previously released albums, sometimes even with previously unreleased material. This album is a great example of the above, as it embodies all of the above methods and as a result becomes a true nightmare for collectors and fans, especially the completists among them. Before "The Grass Is Greener" was released in the US on the DunhillFind albums on this label label, the label already released the band´s debut album "Those Who Are About To Die Salute YouFind albums with this title" in US, but that release was also completely different from the original UK release and in fact included about half of material from the "Valentyne SuiteFind albums with this title" album, before that album was released in the UK a few months later as the first release on the new VertigoFind albums on this label label – the legendary home of Progressive Rock and Art Rock for years to come. Therefore, by the time Dunhill was planning the release of the second US Colosseum album; including the "Valentyne Suite" in its entirety was obviously out of the question, since so much of the album´s material had already been used on the debut US release. So the label decided to use the remaining three tracks from "Valentine Suite" and asked for some new, previously unreleased material, which the band recorded in two separate sessions late 1969 and early 1970 (after Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist joined the band, replacing James LitherlandFind albums by this artist). These five new tracks, released only in US on the "The Grass Is Greener" album have made it a much sought after collectors´ item ever since. Those interested in further pursuing these tracks should note, that four of them: "Bolero", "The Grass Is Greener" (which is an alternate version of the 3rd part of "Valentyne Suite"), "Jumping Off The Sun" (with an overdubbed vocals by Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist) and "Rope Ladder To The Moon" were released in UK in 1971 on the Bronze compilation album "The Collectors Colosseum" (ILPS 9173), which also included an unreleased track from the debut album entitled "I Can´t Live Without You". As for "Lost Angeles", one would have to wait another 33 years, until the 2004 release of the "Valentyne Suite" 2CD expanded edition on SanctuaryFind albums on this label (SMEDD 097) or further 2 years after that for the digipak CD version of that album (SMBCD 386). Both these editions include another lost "Valentyne Suite" era track: "Arthur´s Moustache", which had remained unreleased up to that time. And of course Colosseum is still very much alive. After reuniting in 1994, they continued touring and recording right up to the present day but that is a completely different tale. However, if you can get to hear them play, don´t miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the best bands that ever existed on this planet. Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend