beccabear67
Ikon Class
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Location
- Canada
How about a thread for off-the-cuff reactions on CDs with previously unavailable on CD material? I find that's mostly about all I'm interested in where CDs are concerned these days. I'm hoping for advice back on navigating many new rereleases/boxsets hyped as coming with unreleased tracks, like how unreleased? Just an alternate mix or a version barely distinguishable from a well known recording? So far have resisted the newer Seeds, Small Faces, Action packages...
Newest item for me is Happy Feeling on the Super Oldies label. This collects all the Norman Petty studio stuff including singles and the one album by the Calgary combo 1968-73. This would be more for the sunshine-pop fan, or if you think Staccatos (Capitol), or later Hollies (Parlophone/Epic) recordings were pretty awesome even after Graham Nash. Some really interesting touches instrumentally with unique sounds, but those may have been Petty's contribution? He also is credited with writing one of the songs here. 25 songs (plus a free download of two other tracks) gives you your money's worth I think, but am never totally happy with the enviro sleeve formats without plastic tray (I just supply my own anyway as sliding a disc in and out of paper causes scuffing). Great graphics and brief (two pages) text on the group. I did have a couple of these tracks already on some compilation or other (sorry so many to try to remember from which one), though I think one was a little different mix or take. Sound quality seems as good as any from master tapes to me and some in stereo for the first time. Glad to have this and a keeper. Your mileage may vary.
Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Barbara is a tribute from Alan Brackett to Barbara Robison's vocals with the group (Ashes and PBC and soundtrack variations of same). Of the twleve tracks I recognize four as being on the spreading From The Ashes CD on Big Beat, and one from the Columbia LPs. Some are from hard to find film soundtracks (although I did have one of those already from trading), and all are top drawer performances. Brackett and John Merrill wrote some tremendous stuff for her voice. Someone mentioned Karen Carpenter but I don't see that so much as Cass Elliot and sometimes even a touch of Astrud Gilberto. Total top class although sometimes the lyrics are dated (but in a fun way) as very '60s. The Shindig review seems to have things wrong about this not being a pro CD, mine is indistinguishable from anything any number of small labels release with full color printing on the disc and inserts and a full jewel case. The sound quality to me is above average having been curated by Brackett. Essential for a complete PBC.
Also got a wonderful collection of The Queen Annes with all their early '80s stuff in one place and sharp liner notes, but again in the square enivro card sleeve with a pocket to slide the disc in and out of. Sound quality is excellent. The first Girl Trouble album Hit It or Quit It was rereleased on CD and sounds very very good! A true modern classic (like Tee & Thee Crumpets if anyone remembers them). Nutty liner notes the same as the original LP. Pretty essential for a PNW/'80s collection.
The Stained Glass (and The Trolls) - A Scene In-Between on Big Beat is another recent fave. Some stuff has been on amateur comps, but there are still some worthy recordings that haven't been and it's all in the best sound quality here. Nice thick book with Alec Palao to tell the story. Almost a Calif. version freakbeat sometimes like Butch Engel & The Styx, and maybe a bit of Left Banke sprinkled in? Naturally The Trolls were a bit tougher and more garage so this really is a two bands in one kind of thing... kind of like that great Timebox CD on RPM which was split between mod and psyche 'sides'. I love the squirrely-headed and insanely catchy Mediocre Me and My Buddy Sin (both RCA singles in the '60s) which are now branded on my grey matter forever I'm sure.
Grateful Dead - Family Dog Live At The Great Highway (Rhino/Dead.net) is another shizo affair... live acoustic shit circa Workingman's dug up by 'mountain girl'... absolutely necessary for any bluesy Pigpen followers for a brace of six solo tracks of him... and the only acoustic set outside a Festival Express train car by the other guys for the rest (eleven tracks). I had read complaints about the sound quality but I say it sounds pretty f-ing good! I'm no deadhead but some of these cover tunes I haven't run across by these particular people before, I have a few live tapes, but love that Candy Man version unplugged most of all. If you hesitated you probably should get it. Fits nicely with that big black coffinish set of studio albums.
Thanks for the outlet, hope others will have some good tips (and warnings)...
P.S.: Oops, forgot to say the eponymous Queen Annes set was on Green Monkey, and the Girl Trouble on K Records (like the vinyl was). And just say no to pay for play... :p
Newest item for me is Happy Feeling on the Super Oldies label. This collects all the Norman Petty studio stuff including singles and the one album by the Calgary combo 1968-73. This would be more for the sunshine-pop fan, or if you think Staccatos (Capitol), or later Hollies (Parlophone/Epic) recordings were pretty awesome even after Graham Nash. Some really interesting touches instrumentally with unique sounds, but those may have been Petty's contribution? He also is credited with writing one of the songs here. 25 songs (plus a free download of two other tracks) gives you your money's worth I think, but am never totally happy with the enviro sleeve formats without plastic tray (I just supply my own anyway as sliding a disc in and out of paper causes scuffing). Great graphics and brief (two pages) text on the group. I did have a couple of these tracks already on some compilation or other (sorry so many to try to remember from which one), though I think one was a little different mix or take. Sound quality seems as good as any from master tapes to me and some in stereo for the first time. Glad to have this and a keeper. Your mileage may vary.
Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Barbara is a tribute from Alan Brackett to Barbara Robison's vocals with the group (Ashes and PBC and soundtrack variations of same). Of the twleve tracks I recognize four as being on the spreading From The Ashes CD on Big Beat, and one from the Columbia LPs. Some are from hard to find film soundtracks (although I did have one of those already from trading), and all are top drawer performances. Brackett and John Merrill wrote some tremendous stuff for her voice. Someone mentioned Karen Carpenter but I don't see that so much as Cass Elliot and sometimes even a touch of Astrud Gilberto. Total top class although sometimes the lyrics are dated (but in a fun way) as very '60s. The Shindig review seems to have things wrong about this not being a pro CD, mine is indistinguishable from anything any number of small labels release with full color printing on the disc and inserts and a full jewel case. The sound quality to me is above average having been curated by Brackett. Essential for a complete PBC.
Also got a wonderful collection of The Queen Annes with all their early '80s stuff in one place and sharp liner notes, but again in the square enivro card sleeve with a pocket to slide the disc in and out of. Sound quality is excellent. The first Girl Trouble album Hit It or Quit It was rereleased on CD and sounds very very good! A true modern classic (like Tee & Thee Crumpets if anyone remembers them). Nutty liner notes the same as the original LP. Pretty essential for a PNW/'80s collection.
The Stained Glass (and The Trolls) - A Scene In-Between on Big Beat is another recent fave. Some stuff has been on amateur comps, but there are still some worthy recordings that haven't been and it's all in the best sound quality here. Nice thick book with Alec Palao to tell the story. Almost a Calif. version freakbeat sometimes like Butch Engel & The Styx, and maybe a bit of Left Banke sprinkled in? Naturally The Trolls were a bit tougher and more garage so this really is a two bands in one kind of thing... kind of like that great Timebox CD on RPM which was split between mod and psyche 'sides'. I love the squirrely-headed and insanely catchy Mediocre Me and My Buddy Sin (both RCA singles in the '60s) which are now branded on my grey matter forever I'm sure.
Grateful Dead - Family Dog Live At The Great Highway (Rhino/Dead.net) is another shizo affair... live acoustic shit circa Workingman's dug up by 'mountain girl'... absolutely necessary for any bluesy Pigpen followers for a brace of six solo tracks of him... and the only acoustic set outside a Festival Express train car by the other guys for the rest (eleven tracks). I had read complaints about the sound quality but I say it sounds pretty f-ing good! I'm no deadhead but some of these cover tunes I haven't run across by these particular people before, I have a few live tapes, but love that Candy Man version unplugged most of all. If you hesitated you probably should get it. Fits nicely with that big black coffinish set of studio albums.
Thanks for the outlet, hope others will have some good tips (and warnings)...
P.S.: Oops, forgot to say the eponymous Queen Annes set was on Green Monkey, and the Girl Trouble on K Records (like the vinyl was). And just say no to pay for play... :p
