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This Weeks Essential Purchase

GazzaBTFC

By GazzaBTFC
in St. Albans City Forum

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GazzaBTFC Newbie

GazzaBTFC

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Since the St. Albans forum has become the "point of call" for us that appreciate music (in any shape or form), I thought I'd post something about a surprising purchase I made yesterday.

 

Steve Winwood's "About Time" was relaeased last year and pasted me by. In my opinion, he has had an indifferent career of late, the odd album with a reformed Traffic hinting at past glories, so that would be the reason I had ignored this album. A new "re vamped" version is released this week with a bonus disc (a record company ploy to boost sales and piss off those of us who buy the original) and I decided to take the plunge, so to speak. It is playing at the moment for the 3rd time this weekend and all I can say is, he is back to his best. Very Traffic influenced, very soulful, his voice is as good as it ever was. It includes a version of "Why Can't We Live Together", which does the original justice.

 

I mention this album 'cos it has taken me totally by surprise. It is very rare for me to go over the top over an album but this one is a goodie.

 

My other purchases also included the George Harrison "Dark Horse" box set. For a moment I forgot my Beatle history and with great anticipation couldn't wait to get it home and play "Extra Texture (Read All About It)" - George's best solo album in my opinion (Sorry Zealster, I think I can predict you'll vote for "All Things Must Pass". A great album but it is too long to be taken in in one listen and George's lyric's and subject matter can be a bit serious for a double album). The box set contains George's Warner brothers albums from 1976 to 1992, which sadly does not include "Extra Texture", which was his last album for EMI, on the Apple label and therefore, I was dissapointed (the album is difficult to get hold of in the UK as it has been pulled pending re mastering and can only be bought from Japan). For completists only, the box contains all the albums from "33 & 1/3" to "Cloud 9", both being the most enjoyable of the set. The box also includes a SCAD of his last concert in Japan and a DVD of all his videos for Warners. Both of these are exclusive to the box and only the original albums can be bought seprately, all being full price (I'm sure Warner brothers will eventually make the two "exclusive" discs available in time, as, again, that is what record companies do). I have only played the first cd this weekend daring myself to get to "Gone Troppo" which, if memory serves, isn't really up to a standard that any "ex" Beatle would be proud of (I see another arguement coming here).

 

George Harrison was a top guitarist in the most essential band ever to exist on this planet. Inventive, ground breaking and musical (those of you that play guitar, like me, will knaow what I mean), his song writing could always be mediocre with flashes of brilliance (you could blame Lennon and McCartney for not encouraging him as he was the baby of the group and his songs were always thought as "fillers" until Abbey Road) and this shows on some of his solo releases but the box set is a welcome addition to any Beatles collection. Now, can we have the EMI remasters, PLEASE!!!

 

Phew...this reads as a proper review....Anyone wanna give me a job? <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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mala_D Newbie

mala_D

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That was enjoyable, reading that Gazz!

 

Yesterday [no pun] I decided to do a Beatles Marathon - playing all their albums back to back.

I only got as far as Magical Mystery Tour [ok, only an album in USA]. I'd started too late and beddy-byes called.

 

If I wanted to do it properly I would have dug out the singles A & B's and played them in the order they were released...where's me anorak? What would you do? Abbey Road or Let It Be last?

 

Me and me mate tried it with The Smiths last year, but were so moshed in the end we crashed out when The Queen Is Dead was playing.

 

Anybody else done/attempted this before??

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YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~ Newbie

YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~

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What would you do? Abbey Road or Let It Be last?


Always stumble upon that one myself, Mal! I tend to do Let It Be last, finishing up with "You Know My Name" - b-side of the last single.

Should really do Abbey Road last, I suppose, and finish up with The End, but I think I'm right in saying that one or two tracks on Let It Be were actually completed after the release of Abbey Road? I Me Mine perhaps??

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mala_D Newbie

mala_D

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Zealster EFM 10k said:
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What would you do? Abbey Road or Let It Be last?

but I think I'm right in saying that one or two tracks on Let It Be were actually completed after the release of Abbey Road? I Me Mine perhaps??


Just checked the Complete Recording Sessions...

Abbey Road released Friday 26th September 1969.

Last time all four Beatles were in the studio together was Saturday 3rd January 1970 - Recording takes 1-16 of I Me Mine!!

10/10 Colin!!
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GazzaBTFC Newbie

GazzaBTFC

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Zealster EFM 10k said:
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Sorry Zealster, I think I can predict you'll vote for "All Things Must Pass".


I'm impressed! How did you know that!!?



Mr Zeal...a typical Beatle fan mate will always go with the flow. I like to be controversial and my Beatles "taste" is just that. They were brilliant but given to their excesses, flawed. But that made 'em even better!!!

Also, in my opinion, "Ram" is a better album than "Band On The Run"....
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mala_D Newbie

mala_D

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That's the only way I suppose...but I like to "chart" the band's musical development, shall we say! I like to see how they got from one point to the next.

I haven't heard extra texture for years...had a nice orange-peel cover if I remember [?]

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mala_D Newbie

mala_D

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What do you two think of Back to the Egg - with its galaxy of stars guesting on it. Or Venus and Mars?

 

I admit, as much as I love Das Beatles, I'm not a massive fan of Maccas solo stuff. And to be honest, the last Macca album that I deliberately sought out was McCartney II [Temporary Secretary..uh oh! Been at the spliffs again, I think!]

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YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~ Newbie

YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~

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Back To The Egg and Ram are both really underrated Macca albums.

 

And along with Venus & Mars, you've actually named my two favourite Wings albums.

 

Can't get into Speed Of Sound, Red Rose Speedway or London Town at all (bar 2 or 3 quality tracks on each).

 

McCartney II is my least favourite of his albums.

 

Flowers In The Dirt (1989) was superb - a real return to form after a disappointing 80's.

 

 

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Claire! Newbie

Claire!

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Are we still on about Beatles albums?

 

I have Sergent Pepper on the black record. I remember you having a book once Zeal that said that McCartney had died and was replaced by an imposter. There are loads of clues to this on their covers of their albums, and especially Sergent Pepper's album!!!!!Wierd!!!!!!!!

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