NOVEMBER /
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SPIRIT |
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE |
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND |
JOHNNY CASH |
TWIST |
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YES Tales From Topographic Oceans (Elektra / Rhino / WSM) When
Yes released their magnum opus Close To Edge in
1972 they took their place as the premier progressive rock group of
the era. After sharpening their musical edge to the max on their
first four albums, their fifth, Close To Edge turned out, as
incredible as it seemed then, to be the bands last ever studio
album with founding drummer Bill Bruford. Following the release
of the 72 classic, Bruford turned over the Yes drum sticks, to
legendary John Lennon drummer Alan White. The emergence of Alan
White into the Yes ranks, just in time to record the eventual January
1974 double Lp release of Tales From Topographic Oceans was
nothing less then a stroke of genius and pure luck for the celebrated
Yes quartet of Squire, Anderson, Wakeman & Howe. White was
already celebrated as the drummer who played on the John Lennon
anthem Imagine. His quite demeanor yet stormy and explosive
drumming skills gave Yes a bold new sound, the likes of which the band
explored to the max on their sprawling, existential 73 masterwork,
Tales From Topographic Oceans. Reflecting back on those incredible
Tales times, one of the albums chief architects Steve
Howe, from his 2003 interview with 20th
Century Guitar and mwe3.com editor Robert Silverstein recalls,
Its kind of a great joy to me that Tales never got
deleted and it was never the failure that so many people thought it
should be. And it rose and rose in peoples view. And when we play, as
we do sometimes, Ritual or Revealing then we
take them to that place thats called Topographic and they
seem to like it. Both Close To The Edge and Tales From
Topographic Oceans are given the deluxe CD reissue treatment by
Rhino along with top form Rhino reissues of Relayer
(1975) and Going For The One (1977), both of
which are also featured in this latest round of 2003 Yes CD remasters.
Even if you already have these four, the selection of bonus tracks and
incredible new packaging and liner notes makes each one a worthwhile
investment. www.wmg.com/wmg/wsm.html
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SPIRIT Feedback (Collector's Choice) Just
at that point when Jimi Hendrix died in 1970, 20th Century American
rock culture was at its zenith. Another great American band from
that critical juncture in history that spoke the same musical language
of Hendrix was Spirit, who prematurely split in 1971 following an unfavorable
review of their all time classic, Dr. Sardonicus in Rolling Stone.
With Spirit guitar savant Randy California leaving the group
after this incidentand with the power-house team of singer Jay
Ferguson and bassist Matt Andes moving on with Jo Jo Gunneit
was up to Spirit sound shaper Ed Cassidyamong the greatest
American rock drummers everand Spirit alchemist / pianist John
Locke to carry on for the bands final album on Epic Records.
In 20/20 hindsight, this particular Spirit album / story offers a first
hand view of just how wild and crazy the music scene was back then!
Anyway, following the original Spirit split-up, Cassidy and Locke wound
up joining forces with Texas rockers, renowned guitarist Christian
Staehely and his brother Al Staehely (bass and vocals) for
Spirits overlooked Feedback album. It comes to light in
the liner notes of this first ever CD reissue of Feedback, that
Locke and Cassidy were looking to broaden the Spirit sound back then,
adding in atmospheric, jazzy fusion instrumentals, serving as the ultimate
musical counterweight to the Staehelys compelling Texas-style
rock and roll savvy. Its safe to say that this short-lived version
of Spirit, at that point in time, was one of the most underrated rock
lineups of the era. Having witnessed this particular incarnation of
the band first hand at their now fabled Carnegie Hall show following
the Feedback Lp release in early 72, I will just briefly
note just how sensational this particular lineup proved to be live.
Produced by the late, great David Briggs (of Neil Young fame)who
also helped make Dr. Sardonicus sound so spectacularFeedback
sees its first ever reissue on the Collectors Choice
labeland an excellent choice it is for fans of classic early
70s rock. With a newly discovered bonus track from the sessions,
this Collector's Choice CD adds in all the original Lp artwork
and the informative liner notesfilled with new interview bits
from Lockepresents an enduring snapshot of a certified album classic
from the golden years of early 70s rock. www.ccmusic.com
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JEFFERSON
AIRPLANE Ah the 60s... The heyday of the 66-68 period of intense music making is brought back to life again in 2003 by RCA Records with new CD reissue releases of the first four albums from 60s psychedelic rock superstars Jefferson Airplane. Prefacing the superb liner notes on each, written by the esteemed writer Jeff Tamarkin, are foreward notes by the groups then manager Bill Thompson. Hearing Thompsons first hand memories is truly eye-opening stuff. Interestingly, the group gained little attention with their breakthrough 66 album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. A decent enough debut it was, yet when the groups new lead singer Grace Slick stepped up to the mic on November 3rd, 1966 to record the lead vocal to her song White Rabbit, the next to last track on their second album Surrealistic Pillow, she more or less put the band on the map and on the road to rock superstardom. Of course having the future Hot Tuna guitar tag team of Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady and the songwriting powerhouse team of Paul Kantner and Marty Balin in the band didnt hurt either! After the immense success of Surrealistic Pillow, the Airplane proved the skeptics wrong with After Bathing At Baxter's and Crown Of Creation (1968). All four titles are given the first class reissue treatment by RCA, packing in loads of authentic info and pictures and ample bonus tracks, making them the definitive versions of these rock classics. www.jeffersonairplane.com
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THE
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND At Fillmore East (Mercury / Chronicles) Atlanta International Pop Festival (Epic / Legacy) Following the release of their fabled, self-titled, 1969 album debut on Capricorn Records, The Allman Brothers took their place as the premier southern rock band of the era. Fueled by the guitar work of the late, great Duane Allman and Dickey Bettsand the vocals and songwriting of Gregg Allmanback then, the Brothers could do no wrong. In the words of the groups producer Tom Dowdwho also engineered the groups famous four show appearances at NYCs Fillmore East on March 12-13, 1971They were at their absolute peak. When Duane and Dickey played together, it was frightening. Youre talking about two people that had feather fingers. Dowd did a superb engineering job those nights and the proof can be heard on the 2003 deluxe edition double CD cd of The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East. Featuring over two hours of recordings that recaptures the original Allmans at their zenith, the newly remastered double CD set on Chronicles is further enhanced by six bonus tracks and an eye-opening, photo-filled CD booklet that really does justice to the original July 1971 double Lp set. Coinciding with the release of At Fillmore East, Epic Legacy have also released a double CD set from The Allman Brothers entitled The Allman Brothers Band Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival. That now fabled Summer 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival took place over the July 4th weekend in 1970. Featuring a number of the biggest rock acts of the eraincluding Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain, Ten Years After, Spirit and Jimi Hendrix, the festival ended in the dawning hours after an early Monday morning performance from The Allman Brothers. Predating the recordings on At Fillmore East, the double CD Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival features over 150 minutes of prime, mostly unreleased Allman Brothers music, with a sound quality and choice of material that just about equals their legendary 1971 Fillmore East shows. The whole Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival event is recalled with clarity in the detailed CD booklet by the Allmans long time associate Kirk West, who adds Thank the Lord those tape machines were loaded and rolling, that and the fact that I made it home in one piece. The Brothers all made it home fine; the front porch was only fourteen miles away. www.legacyrecordings.com / www.universalchronicles.com
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JOHNNY
CASH Johnny Cash At Madison Sq. Garden (Columbia Legacy)
Over
the past year Sony Legacy have reissued so many classic albums
from late, great country-rock superstar Johnny Cash, including last
years double CD The Essential Johnny Cash. High among the list
of Columbias fine 2002 Cash reissues is a first ever CD release
entitled Johnny Cash At Madison Sq. Garden. Recorded on the evening
of Friday, December 5th, 1969, the recording captures Cash and company
in fantastic form. Reflecting back on that historic concert at the Garden,
Cashfrom the CD liner notesadds, It was a magic night!
The air was electric and felt good. The audience responded beautifully.
Performing to a sellout crowd of twenty thousand fans, Cash was joined
by his legendary entourage featuring guitarists Carl Perkins and
Bob Wooten, Tommy Cash, The Statler Brothers and
the entire Carter Family. Adding, it was almost like performing
for friends in my living room, Cash was mesmerizing that night,
romping through 26 tracks including all time favorites such as Folsom
Prison Blues, A Boy Named Sue and Big River.
Hearing Carl Perkins, in his own spotlight moment performing his Blue
Suede Shoes, and the great Statler Brothers doing their cool 60s
pop smash Flowers On The Wall only adds to the magic of
that classic NYC night. The CD bookletadding in tons of extras
including extensive reviewer clips of that electrifying night and b&w
photos galoreonly adds fuel to the notion that Johnny Cash
At Madison Sq. Garden ranks among the great live albums of the 60s.
www.legacyrecordings.com/johnnycash
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VARIOUS
ARTISTS Twist (HVE) Chicago-based Home Vision Entertainment are leaders when it comes to classic film and documentary DVD reissues. Case in point are two recent HVE titles from Canadian film maker Ron Mann. First off, the 2002 HVE DVD reissue of Manns 1992 documentary, Twist, is a fascinating DVD documentary detailing the rise of the Twist dance craze that overtook America (and the whole world) at the dawn of the 60s. Written in the late 50s by Hank Ballard, the song The Twist was taken to new heights in 60/61 by rock and roll pioneer Chubby Checker and shortly thereafter again by NYC Twist legend Joey Dee. Featuring fascinating, in depth interviews with Ballard, Chubby, Joey Dee, and a host of other early 60s scene-makers, the 78 minute Twist DVD, even more importantly, reexamines the social ramifications the Twist dance craze had on Americaand to a somewhat lesser degree, on the worldwide music scene, which was about to be overtaken by The Beatles, the English pop legends who were primed to free us (and the world) from the incipient pop blueprint of American 50s rock and roll. HVEs Twist is simply put, essential viewing for pop historians. Another Ron Mann 2000 documentary, reissued in 2002 as an HVE classic DVD, Grass takes a fresh look at the way America demon-ized marijuana throughout much of the 20th Century. An 80 minute 2002 HVE DVD release, Grass blows the lid off Americas war on marijuana and reexamines how ordinary citizens were criminalized simply for having another hit of fresh air. As with his Twist documentary, Manns production and direction skills are in prime form on Grass. HVEs new high definition transfer of Grass for DVD is enhanced by 5.1 surround sound, theatrical trailer, movie poster, original score by Guido Luciani, more music by Devo honcho Mark Mothersbaugh and the sage narration of noted pot advocate Woody Harrelson. www.homevision.com
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