Procol Harum - Something Magic (1977)

*Year:* 25 February 1977 (CD 2001)
*Label:* Repertoire Records (Germany), REP 4918
*Style:* Progressive Rock, Art Rock
*Country:* Essex, England
*Time:* 43:58
*Format:* Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
*Size:* 278 Mb

Electing to work with producers Ron and Howie Albert when Leiber and Stoller (who had produced the band's preceding album) were not available, Procol Harum flew into Miami with more than enough material for their album. However, the Alberts rejected more than five of these tracks, leaving only four from the material the group had intended to use. Vocalist/composer/piano player Gary Brooker then offered up the epic "The Worm and The Tree", a piece by lyricist Keith Reid that Brooker had been toying with on and off for several years. Under mounting pressure to complete the musical composition and orchestral arrangements for the 19-minute epic (which according to Reid was about "how the press tried to break up the band") Brooker turned to local Miami arranger Mike Lewis to complete the orchestral arrangements for the title track "Something Magic", and band member Chris Copping to complete the woodwind arrangement for "Skating on Thin Ice".

With work completed on "The Worm and The Tree", Brooker previewed it for co-producers Ron and Howie Albert who approved of the piece (a surprise, given that it had a lot in common with the epic orchestral/progressive rock piece "In Held Twas I" from Shine on Brightly). Guitarist Mick Grabham offered up his only composition, set to Reid's "The Mark of the Claw", to help fill out the album (on the 2009 Salvo reissue, Grabham is incorrectly credited with writing the single "Wizard Man" with Reid). The Alberts insisted that the band's steady drummer B.J. Wilson use a click track for the album, an unusual demand given his work on the band's previous releases. After this album was released, Copping left the band. Dee Murray (Elton John's bassist) replaced him for the North American tour promoting this album.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Magic)

01. Something Magic (03:37)

02. Skating On Thin Ice (04:49)

03. The Mark Of The Claw (04:38)

04. Strangers In Space (06:06)

05. The Worm & The Tree - Part One (07:50)

06. The Worm & The Tree - Part Two (05:29)

07. The Worm & The Tree - Part Three (05:22)

08. Wizard Man (02:40)

09. Backgammon (03:24)

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Astrud Gilberto - Look To The Rainbow (1966)

Year: 1966 (CD 1984)
Label: Verve Records (Germany), 821 556-2
Style: Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz
Country: Brazil (March 29, 1940 - June 5, 2023)
Time: 45:24
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 229 Mb

Astrud Gilberto, known as "The Girl from Ipanema" and often referred to as "The Queen of Bossa-Nova", is an artist with roots firmly planted in Brazilian music. Her music has become an interesting combination of the sensual rhythms of Brazil and American Pop and Jazz.

Born in the Northeast of Brazil, in the state of Bahia, one of three sisters of a German father and a Brazilian mother, Astrud grew up in Rio de Janeiro. She immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s, where she resides since then.

Astrud was first introduced to the World at large in 1964 through "The Girl From Ipanema", the Grammy-winning recording with Stan Getz and her then-husband Joao Gilberto (the father of Bossa Nova). The fact that Astrud seldom grants interviews made it possible for many untruthful versions on how her guest appearance in the Getz & Gilberto album came about to be printed here and there, such as that she was "discovered" by Creed Taylor, or by Stan Getz, or yet, by Jobim, when the only truth is that she was invited to participate in the album by Joao Gilberto, who has great admiration for her singing talents.   

Astrud's recordings exposed the nations of the World to the sensuality of Brazilian music and to her unique vocal interpretations of American music, such as "The Shadow of your Smile", "It Might as well be Spring", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Look to the Rainbow" (from her album of the same title, with Gil Evans), "Love Story", etc... 

Following the hit with "Ipanema", her recording career quickly took off. Her first solo effort, "The Astrud Gilberto Album", was an immediate best-seller and was itself nominated as album of the year. Her next albums were all chart-toppers and were released on a yearly schedule. Her talents were much in demand in other areas as well as she appeared in two motion pictures, "The Hanged Man" and "Get Yourself a College Girl" and also recorded the soundtrack for "The Deadly Affair", arranged by Quincy Jones. She made appearances in all of the popular US television shows of the time, and had TV specials built around her in Europe, Japan and Africa. For many years she was the voice of Eastern Airlines, having recorded award-winning commercials.

In the early seventies Astrud revealed another facet of her talents, her songwriting, which was introduced on the albums "Astrud Gilberto Now" (1972) and "That Girl From Ipanema" (1977). On the "That Girl from Ipanema" album Astrud recorded one of her songs, "Far Away" (with lyrics by Hal Shaper), as a duet with the legendary Chet Baker. As she has revealed in interviews, this was one of the most rewarding events of her career, since Chet has been one of Astrud's idols dating back to her teenage years. In 1976, one of her compositions, "Live Today" (co-written with Jerome Schur), received an award at the Tokyo Music Festival.

(astrudgilberto.com/biography.htm)

01. Berimbau (02:26)

02. Once Upon A Summertime (03:04)

03. Felicidade (02:47)

04. I Will Wait For You (04:41)

05. Frevo (02:25)

06. Maria Quiet (Maria Moite) (01:55)

07. Look To The Rainbow (03:29)

08. Bim Bom (01:52)

09. Lugar Bonita (Pretty Place) (03:19)

10. El Preciso Aprender A Ser So (Learn To Live Alone) (03:23)

11. She's A Carioca (02:29)

12. A Certain Smile (01:29)

13. A Certain Sadness (03:11)

14. Nega Do Cabelo Duro (02:20)

15. So Nice (Summer Samba) (02:38)

16. Voce Ja Foi A Bahia (02:18)

17. Portuguese Washerwoman (01:30)

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Frumpy - Frumpy 2 [Japan Ed.] (1971)

Year: August 1971 (CD 2021)
Label: Arcangelo Records (Japan), ARC-7357 (PROI-1131)
Style: Art Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: Hamburg, Germany
Time: 38:50
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 280 Mb

Inga Rumpf's Frumpy was among the most startling bands on the entire German rock scene of the early '70s, an act so diametrically opposed to the Krautrock boom beloved by critics elsewhere that first impressions of their music always leave listeners scratching their heads. If Frumpy has any role models, it is a collision between Meddle-era Pink Floyd and a less-precocious Uriah Heep. Frumpy 2, unsurprisingly their second album, features just four tracks, but all are soaring slabs of emotive guitar and keyboards, deeply progressive of course, but unquestionably pop as well. Even at a shade over ten minutes, "How the Gypsy Was Born" sounds like a hit single, while the churning Hammond organ brings Deep Purple to mind in full on "Black Night"/"Woman From Tokyo" mode. Rumpf herself, meanwhile, has a range and depth comparable to Curved Air's Sonja Kristina, with an emotive strength which seems all the more remarkable when you remember that English is not her native language. The shifting, complex "Take Care of Illusion" brings the best out of her in every way imaginable, while the lengthy instrumental break during the closing "Duty" allows her bandmates to shine with equal aplomb. The guitar and keyboard solos and duels which take place above the tumultuous rhythms are as spectacular as anything else in the genre. But even while you're sitting slack-jawed in awe, it is very difficult to play favorites. Frumpy, like Rumpf's Atlantis after them, has antecedents aplenty, and their influences peep out behind every corner. But the manner in which they've been sewn together owes little to any Anglo-American role models and little to any Krautrock basics, too. Quite simply, Frumpy 2 is the prog album you'll be returning to long after the others have all dulled into wallpaper.

(allmusic.com/album/frumpy-2-mw0000348255)

01. Good Winds (10:10)

02. How The Gypsy Was Born (08:51)

03. Take Care Of Illusion (07:36)

04. Duty (12:11)

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Czerwone Gitary - Czerwone Gitary 3 (1968)

Year: 1968 (CD 2008)
Label: Dogtoire (Russia, Unofficial Release), DGTR CD003
Style: Soft Rock, Pop Rock, Psychedelic Pop
Country: Gdansk, Poland
Time: 49:49
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 284 Mb

Czerwone Gitary (lit. The Red Guitars) is one of the most popular rock bands in the history of Polish popular music. The band formed in 1965 and achieved its greatest success from 1965 to 1970. Often considered the Polish equivalent of the Beatles, many of their hits are now classics in Poland. The group toured extensively outside Poland (in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, United States, Germany and Soviet Union) but had mostly disappeared from the Polish scene by the 1980s. The band reformed in the 1990s.

Their 1966 debut album To wlasnie my (It's us) sold 160,000 copies, and their May 1967 follow up, Czerwone Gitary 2, sold a then-record (for Poland) 240,000. In the same year Krajewski received a special award at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole (Krajowy Festiwal Piosenki Polskiej w Opolu). In 1967 Kossela left the band. The band's 1968 third album sold 220,000 copies, and the group received an award in Opole for their song Takie ladne oczy (Such Pretty Eyes). In 1969 the band received a MIDEM award in Cannes for the largest number of discs sold in Poland up to that date; this was the same year that the Beatles received this award. Thereafter the Czerwone Gitary would be known as the Polish Beatles (see also Beatlesque). The same year the group received a special award from Billboard magazine, and in Poland, another award from Opole festival for Bialy krzyz (White cross).

Klenczon left in 1970, the year of the band's acclaimed LP Na fujarce (On the flute). Krajewski then took lead as the group turned to mainstream folk-tinged pop in the 1970s.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czerwone_Gitary)

01. Moda I Milosc (02:27)

02. Takie Ladne Oczy (02:25)

03. My Z XX Wieku (04:11)

04. W Moich Myslach, Consuelo (02:54)

05. Jesli Tego Chcesz (02:05)

06. Ballada Pasterska (03:02)

07. Dozwolone Do Lat 18-tu (02:23)

08. Kwiaty We Wlosach (02:14)

09. Chcialbym To Widziec (03:11)

10. Gdy Kiedys Znow Zawolam Cie (03:56)

11. Jedno Jest Zycie (04:20)

12. Nie Licz Dni (02:20)

13. Anna Maria (bonus track) (03:51)

14. Wrocmy Na Jeziora (bonus track) (03:48)

15. Bialy Krzyz (bonus track) (03:17)

16. Deszcz Jesienny (bonus track) (03:18)

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Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado [Japan Ed.] (1974)

Year: September 1974 (CD Nov 21, 1987)
Label: Jet Records (Japan), 28DP 1076
Style: Progressive Pop, Pop Rock
Country: Birmingham, England
Time: 39:11
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 241 Mb

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) made a huge leap forward with Eldorado, the first complete concept album by the group. Rich melodies with various rock and classical influences made this album highly accessible and well received by mainstream audiences making this ELO’s commercial break through. Composed by vocalist, guitarist, and group leader Jeff Lynne, the tune sequence loosely follows the story of a dreamer trying to escape reality. Along the way there are plenty of mixed metaphors using various classic stories and characters from Robin Hood to William Tell to Lancelot to The Wizard of Oz and, of course, Eldorado.
When formed in 1969, ELO declared its purpose as to “pick up where the Beatles left off with ‘I Am the Walrus’.”. The idea came from Roy Wood, formerly of the band, The Move, who had the idea to form a rock band that would regularly use orchestral instruments. He recruited Lynne from fellow Birmingham group, The Idle Race. The debut ,The Electric Light Orchestra, was released in 1971 but tensions between Wood and Lynne led to Wood’s departure during the recordings for ELO 2, which spawned the group’s first US hit, a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven”. Released in late 1973, On the Third Day, featured the hit single, “Showdown,” and continued the band’s rise in popularity.
On those early albums, Lynne would overdub the strings during recording. However, on Eldorado a 30-piece orchestra and choir was hired, with Louis Clark brought on to arrange and conduct the strings (Clark would later become a full group member). This inclusion limited the group’s three resident string players to a few lead sections on scattered songs. Also during the recording of this album, bassist Ike de Albuquerque quit the group, leaving Lynn to also take on those duties. The inspiration for this ambitious record came from Lynne’s father, a classical music lover.
(Full version: classicrockreview.com/2014/08/1974-elo-eldorado/)

01. Eldorado Overture (02:12)
02. Can't Get It Out Of My Head (04:22)
03. Boy Blue (05:19)
04. Laredo Tornado (05:29)
05. Poor Boy (The Greenwood) (02:55)
06. Mister Kingdom (05:30)
07. Nobody's Child (03:56)
08. Illusions In G Major (02:37)
09. Eldorado (05:17)
10. Eldorado - Finale (01:30)



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Three Dog Night - Captured Live At The Forum [Japan Ed.] [Live] (1969)

Year: October 16, 1969 (CD Apr 24, 2013)
Label: Universal Records (Japan), UICY-75564
Style: Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock
Country: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Time: 38:34
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 271 Mb

Legendary music icons, THREE DOG NIGHT, celebrating nearly 5 decades, claims some of the most astonishing statistics in popular music. In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than THREE DOG NIGHT.

THREE DOG NIGHT hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio where they are heard day in and day out, in TV commercials or in major motion pictures -- songs like “Mama Told Me (Not To Come)”, “Joy to the World”, “Black and White”, “Shambala” and “One” serve to heighten our emotions and crystallize THREE DOG NIGHT’s continuing popularity.

This Grammy-nominated band is not content resting on its legacy alone. Always working to expand its audience, THREE DOG NIGHT has embraced and been embraced by 21st century music technology.  New and existing fans buy THREE DOG NIGHT’s music on iTunes as well as at record stores.  In fact, releases from this decade alone have sold well over a million copies.

Recently, THREE DOG NIGHT began adding new songs to its arsenal by releasing its first double-A sided single in nearly 25 years.  The blistering performance of "Heart Of Blues" and the timely, beautiful a-cappella ballad "Prayer of the Children” are available online at iTunes, Amazon.com and other digital retailers as well as through the official band website (www.threedognight.com).  

THREE DOG NIGHT also pushed boundaries by recording with the London Symphony Orchestra, giving fans new and old a chance to experience its dynamic performances of the hits as well as several new songs.   The project, recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios in London and released to coincide with the band’s 35th Anniversary, added exciting new orchestral arrangements to THREE DOG NIGHT’s signature sound.

THREE DOG NIGHT maintains an aggressive, year-round touring schedule of over 70 dates a year.   The hit filled concerts are performed for generation-spanning audiences  by Danny Hutton (founder/lead vocalist) and Michael Allsup (guitar), Paul Kingery (bass/vocals), Pat Bautz (drums), Howard Laravea (keyboards) and David Morgan (vocals). The band’s now-famous name refers to native Australian hunters in the outback who huddled with their dogs for warmth on cold nights; the coldest being a “three dog night”.   

Boasting chart and sales records that are virtually unmatched in popular music, THREE DOG NIGHT had 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, including 3 #1 singles, 11 Top 10’s, 18 straight Top 20’s, 7 million-selling singles and 12 straight RIAA Certified Gold LPs. The hits appeared on best selling charts in all genres (pop, rock and country).  Its records continue to sell around the world, reaching beyond the borders of the U.S. into Japan, Canada, Holland, England, Germany, Spain and elsewhere. Tens of millions of THREE DOG NIGHT records have been sold through the years.

THREE DOG NIGHT recorded the music of the best (and mostly undiscovered) new songwriters of that time including Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Elton John, Laura Nyro, Paul Williams and Hoyt Axton among many others. The group’s eclectic taste, combined with its ability to recognize and record hits in a unique, distinctive and appealing style, resulted in THREE DOG NIGHT dominating the charts for years.

(threedognight.com/bio)

01. Heaven Is In Your Mind (03:22)

02. Feeling Alright (04:54)

03. It's For You (02:02)

04. Nobody (03:03)

05. One (03:41)

06. Chest Fever (07:09)

07. Eli's Coming (03:45)

08. Easy To Be Hard (04:25)

09. Try A Little Tenderness (06:09)

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Bee Gees - Horizontal [Japan Ed.] (1968)

Year: January 1968 (CD Sep 25, 2013)
Label: Reprise Records (Japan), WPCR-15262
Style: Pop
Country: England
Time: 37:00
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 227 Mb

After Bee Gees 1st, the Bee Gees went straight into their next album. Horizontal has a much bigger sound than 1st and, with more use of electric guitars, it has a much harder edge. There is also less reliance on strong melodies and more on abstract lyrics. This is perhaps best illustrated by the hit single 'World', which mixes swooping guitars with haunting organs and lyrics that make the listener think just a little. Songs such as 'Lemons Never Forget', 'Harry Braff' and 'The Earnest of Being George' are good examples of 1960s rock (and wacky titles), but are more forgettable than much of the Bee Gees later work.

The album has two haunting Robin solo works, 'And the Sun Will Shine' (an album track which would remain on the Bee Gees' tour itinerary until the 1990s!) and 'Really and Sincerely' (reportedly written after the Hither Green train crash of earlier in the year, in which Robin was involved). And, of course, the album features the first ever Bee Gees number one single, the anti-flower-power tour de force 'Massachusetts'. It is worth buying for this alone.

Overall, this album is less enjoyable then the previous album, and in some ways less polished, but it is certainly never boring. It showcases the group moving forward and experimenting with new ideas, with ultimately mixed results.

(beegeesreviews.info/reviews/horizontal.htm)

01. World (03:14)

02. And The Sun Will Shine (03:38)

03. Lemons Never Forget (03:05)

04. Really And Sincerely (03:31)

05. Birdie Told Me (02:26)

06. With The Sun In My Eyes (02:42)

07. Massachusetts (02:28)

08. Harry Braff (03:20)

09. Day Time Girl (02:36)

10. The Earnest Of Being George (02:45)

11. The Change Is Made (03:37)

12. Horizontal (03:32)

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Aardvark - Aardvark (1970)

Year: 1970 (CD 2011)
Label: Esoteric Recordings (UK), ECLEC 2286
Style: Progressive Rock, Art Rock
Country: UK
Time: 43:04
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 285 Mb

A prog act without a guitar player? That's exactly what this early 70's British foursome is. Originally, they became known mainly because Paul Kossof and Simon Kirke played in the band before leaving to form legendary band FREE. From then on, AARDVARK were mostly a studio act and by the time they recorded their only album, the line-up consisted of Stan Aldous (bass), Frank Clark (drums), Steve Milliner (keyboards, recorder, vibraphone) and Dave Skillin (vocals). Comparisons are not easy but one could probably say their music has the power of EMERSON, LAKE & POWELL mixed in with a little R&B a la PROCOL HARUM and early MOODY BLUES. Shades of GRYPHON, GREENSLADE and PINK FLOYD are also present.

As is to be expected, AARDVARK's material is highly keyboard oriented, the brunt of the music being carried by the fuzzed-up Hammond organ which more or less simulates the job of a distorted guitar. The soaring vocals by Skillin are pleasant and the music, although not highly original and somewhat lacking in variety, is quite melodic - nice 60's sounding melodies. The album contains some ear-friendly piano/keyboard interplay as well as some good R&B guitar riffs and harmonic choruses. The low points: following the fashion of the early 70's, many tracks drag on far too long. Also, possibly because the dominant Hammond did not stand the test of time, the album unfortunately sounds quite outdated. Finally, the cuts that work best tend to be the less progressive ones. Overall, AARDVARK is an honest musical effort for the times, an interesting early art rock experiment with a slight progressive edge.

Recommended strictly for collectors of early 70's, heavy organ-dominated prog. Fans of SPRING, CRESSIDA or FIELDS should also give them a try.

(progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1180) Review by Lise (HIBOU), CANADA.

01. Copper Sunset (03:18)

02. Very Nice Of You To Call (03:38)

03. Many Things To Do (04:23)

04. The Greencap (06:05)

05. I Can't Stop (05:29)

06. The Outing-Yes (09:39)

07. Once Upon A Hill (02:55)

08. Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It (07:34)

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Top Gun - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986)

Year: May 15, 1986 (CD 1988)
Label: CBS Records (Austria), CDCBS 70296
Style: Soundtrack, Pop Rock, Synth Pop
Country: U.S., Canada
Time: 38:43
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 274 Mb

U.S.: 9x Platinum; Australia & Canada: 5x Platinum; France, Japan, Switzerland & UK: 2x Platinum; Germany & Hong Kong: Platinum.

The Top Gun soundtrack is one of the most popular soundtracks to date, reaching 9? Platinum certification and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for five non-consecutive weeks in the summer and fall of 1986. Harold Faltermeyer, who previously worked with both Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson on Beverly Hills Cop, was sent the script of Top Gun by Bruckheimer before filming began. Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock worked on numerous songs including the Oscar-winning "Take My Breath Away". Kenny Loggins performed two songs on the soundtrack, "Playing with the Boys", and "Danger Zone". Berlin recorded the song "Take My Breath Away", which would later win numerous awards, sending the band to international acclaim. After the release of Loggins's single "Danger Zone", sales of the album exploded, selling 7 million in the United States alone. On the re-release of the soundtrack in 2000, two songs that had been omitted from the original album (and had been released many years before the film was made), "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers, were added. The soundtrack also includes "Top Gun Anthem" and "Memories" by Faltermeyer, with Steve Stevens also performing on the former.

Other artists were considered for the soundtrack project but did not participate. Bryan Adams was considered as a potential candidate but refused to participate because he felt the film glorified war. The band Toto was originally meant to record "Danger Zone", and had also written and recorded a song "Only You" for the soundtrack. However, there was a dispute between Toto's lawyers and the producers of the film, paving the way for Loggins to record "Danger Zone" and "Only You" being omitted from the film entirely.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun#Music)

01. Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins) (03:34)

02. Mighty Wings (Cheap Trick) (03:50)

03. Playing With The Boys (Kenny Loggins) (03:56)

04. Lead Me On (Teena Marie) (03:45)

05. Take My Breath Away (Love Theme From 'Top Gun') (Berlin) (04:12)

06. Hot Summer Nights (Miami Sound Machine) (03:38)

07. Heaven In Your Eyes (Loverboy) (04:04)

08. Through The Fire (Larry Greene) (03:43)

09. Destination Unknown (Marietta) (03:46)

10. Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens) (04:10)

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Scorpions - Blackout [50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. 4 bonus tracks] (1982)

Year: March 1982 (CD 2015)
Label: BMG Records (Germany), 538159322
Style: Hard Rock
Country: Hanover, West Germany
Time: 53:40
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 435 Mb

Absolutely classic. Sometimes I wonder why I feel the need to review this CD, as so much has been said by the world that little praise can be seen as anything more than repetition. Sadly, the world often forgets it's best creations so I will contribute to making sure that a younger audience knows that this CD is a MUST HAVE for any metal fans collection. The tight as a button production, perfect vocals and ten-ton hooks leave anyone into metal feeling vibrant and alive. Rarely is "feel good" metal something I would dignify, but even I can't put this record down when it sinks it's fangs (or stinger as it may be) into my mind.

The songwriting is mostly flawless, hit-driven and muscular. Never before had a band has a hit single that sounded so strong and intense. "No One Like You" is heavier than one might first imagine due to it's popular place in the metal world. The rest of the CD is eqaully intense and interesting. I could drop track names, but that would simply miss the point I am trying to make. This CD is a "beginning to end" listen that few bands ever came close to capturing. It may be fun, but it's hardly dumb. Those pesky Germans proved for the first time that they WERE the land of the damned genre.

The Scorpions may have since sullied their timeless reputation with strange records that make little sense (even though the band HAS fairly been evolving drastically from it's origins) but this record is any bit as good as "Screaming for Vengence" or "Number of the Beast". The hooks are tight, the performance amazing and the band at the top of their game.

The Scorpions may have never topped the amazing mix of fun and total metal mayhem like they did on this platter...but in one moment they were the PERFECT band.

SCORRRRPPPIOOONSSSS!!!

(metal-archives.com/reviews/Scorpions/Blackout/35042/) Review by Snxke. July 2nd, 1982

01. Blackout (03:50)

02. Can't Live Without You (03:48)

03. No One Like You (03:58)

04. You Give Me All I Need (03:40)

05. Now (02:35)

06. Dynamite (04:14)

07. Arizona (03:56)

08. China White (06:59)

09. When The Smoke Is Going Down (03:51)

10. Blackout (Demo Version) (04:05)

11. Running For The Plane (Demo Song) (04:10)

12. Sugar Man (Demo Song) (04:27)

13. Searching For The Rainbow (Demo Song) (03:59)

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Steppenwolf - At Your Birthday Party [Japan Ed. 4 bonus tracks. SHM-CD] (1969)

Year: March 1969 (CD )
Label: Universal Music (Japan), UICY-75556
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock
Country: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Time: 54:06
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 271 Mb

The album's cover was designed by art director Gary Burden. The original LP was a gatefold with a punched-out front cover; the punchout revealed a photo of the band which comprised the inner sleeve's recto. This photo of the band was shot by Henry Diltz, and it shows the band sitting in the remnants of amplifiers and equipment in a charred house which had belonged to Canned Heat. (A 1969 fire ripped through Canned Heat's house and rehearsal studio on Lookout Mountain Ave in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California.) Original lead guitarist Michael Monarch did not show up for the photo shoot. Steppenwolf producer Gabriel Mekler bore a physical resemblance to Monarch, and it was decided that Mekler would take Monarch's place in the photo. Mekler was able to hide himself all the more in the photo by sporting a pair of sunglasses. Initially, not too many noticed. Monarch was still in the band, however. (A dispelled myth is that Monarch was no longer in the band at the time of the photo shoot; he was in the band until the latter part of 1969, and the album came out in early 1969.) The LP was reissued on CD by MCA in late 1980s. MCA decided to not use the photo for their CD re-issue and opted only for the original unfinished war mouse painting, originally intended as the LP's cover. The resulting CD artwork indeed looks bare as a result. The surrounding black-and-white image of the LP's gate-fold sleeve was made by importing images of cartoon mouse heads onto the bodies of soldiers within an image of a U.S. Civil War trenched battlefield. The black-and-white portion of the album art was a collage made by Gary Burden, who planned to enlist Rick Griffin to paint a final version of the album art, but Dunhill Records declined to pay for the painting and so used Burden's black-and-white prototype.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Your_Birthday_Party)

01. Don't Cry (03:10)

02. Chicken Wolf (02:58)

03. Lovely Meter (03:10)

04. Round And Down (03:19)

05. It's Never Too Late (04:07)

06. Sleeping Dreaming (01:09)

07. Jupiter Child (03:28)

08. She'll Be Better (05:31)

09. Cat Killer (01:37)

10. Rock Me (03:44)

11. God Fearing Man (03:56)

12. Mango Juice (03:00)

13. Happy Birthday (02:21)

14. Rock Me (Mono Single Version) / Bonus Track (03:41)

15. Jupiter Child (Mono Single Version) / Bonus Track (03:15)

16. It's Never Too Late (Mono Single Version) / Bonus Track (03:10)

17. Happy Birthday (Mono Single Version) / Bonus Track (02:23)

  

TurboBit            KatFile

The Monkees - Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones LTD [Deluxe Edition 2CD] (1967)

Year: November 6, 1967 (CD July 10, 2007)
Label: Rhino Records (US), R2 77767
Style: Rock, Pop
Country: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Time: 59:40, 56:51
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 385, 231 Mb

In 1967 it seemed every rock band was putting out a psychedelic album and this is what the Monkees offered.  Really its only half psychedelic, that being the second half of it. The best Psychedelic song found on this album, "Star Collector", is also one of the best ever Psychedelic songs. A Gerry Goffin/Carol King song written about groupies. It was the second rock song to feature the newly invented synthesizer, which would soon boot out the old mellotrons. Yet the best part of this song is the frenzy organ. The very first rock song to use a synthesizer is also found on this album on "Daily Nightly". Michael Nesmith wrote this song but it was Micky Dolenz who played the synthesizer and sang the lead vocals. One hell of a great job at it, I might add. The synthesizer was a hit and here to stay.

"Words" is another excellent number and the third best song on the album, mainly because of Dolenz's great lead vocals, along with some well placed vocal samples added in, sung by Peter Tolk.

This album is also part Country-Rock and clean Pop. The overall best song on the album is "Pleasant Valley Sunday". I could identify with this one as a kid since it described the street I grew up on. Turns out lots of other baby boomers could identify with it too, as it was a smash hit that year. I would call the song true Pop but yes, there is a little bit of Psychedelic Pop to it, especially with its spaced-out ending. "Cuddly Toy"  was another song that seemed on the surface to be clean Pop too. But it wasn't at all. Written by Harry Nilsson (before anyone really knew who he was), the lyrics weren't what they seemed to be. The song was really written about the aftermath of a Hell's Angel's gang bang.

The Country-Rock songs are all sung by Nesmith and he does a real good job with them. "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" is the best one. Overall, this album is perhaps their best one, as far as a group/band effort goes, it is their best. They may have played most of the instruments on Headquarters, as there is a bit more help on this one from session players, but this is still a better album than Headquarters

Note: On the reissued CD by Rhino Records, there are a few added tracks. One of them is "Goin' Down". A great little number that was supposed to be on the album but taken off and replaced with the album's weakest song "Love Is Only Sleeping". Why? Because "Goin' Down" was the 'B' side to the hit single "Daydream Believer" which also at first was meant for the album and not used. When it was determined that they didn't want the hit single on the album, they also dropped it's flip side too. Too bad, the album would have been that much better with these two songs.

(keno.org/classic_rock/album_reviews/pisces_aquarius_capricorn_and_jones_ltd.htm)

01. Salesman (02:36)

02. She Hangs Out (02:58)

03. The Door Into Summer (02:50)

04. Love Is Only Sleeping (02:31)

05. Cuddly Toy (02:39)

06. Words (02:57)

07. Hard To Believe (02:36)

08. What Am I Doing Hangin' Round (03:09)

09. Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky (00:27)

10. Pleasent Valley Sunday (03:15)

11. Daily Nightly (02:33)

12. Don't Call On Me (02:52)

13. Star Collector (04:31)

14. Goin' Down (04:27)

15. Salesman (03:08)

16. She Hangs Out (03:35)

17. Love Is Only Sleeping (02:31)

18. What Am I doing Hangin' Round (03:21)

19. Star Collector (05:02)

20. Riu Chiu (01:32)

01. Salesman (02:28)

02. She Hangs Out (03:07)

03. The Door Into Summer (02:52)

04. Love Is Only Sleeping (02:33)

05. Cuddly Toy (02:39)

06. Words (02:55)

07. Hard To Believe (02:36)

08. What Am I Doing Hangin' Round (03:09)

09. Peter Percival Paterson's Pet Pig Porky (00:26)

10. Pleasent Valley Sunday (03:07)

11. Daily Nightly (02:32)

12. Don't Call On Me (02:54)

13. Star Collector (04:32)

14. Special Announcement (00:39)

15. Salesman (02:35)

16. Cuddly Toy (03:01)

17. Goin' Down (04:24)

18. The Door Into Summer (02:53)

19. Daily Nightly (02:30)

20. Star Collector (04:50)

CD1:     TurboBit            KatFile

CD2:     TurboBit            KatFile