Led Zeppelin IV (Zoso) - Deluxe Edition CD Review (Rhino)

I’m generally suspicious of reissues as, too often, it seems as an excuse to sell the musically obsessive a second copy of a disc by slapping on some random bonus tracks on to the end of the album. Putting my pre-conceived bias aside, I found the reissue of Led Zeppelin IV to be somewhat of a mixed bag – though I may in a small minority with this opinion as this disc is currently #7 on the Billboard sales chart.

The 2CD deluxe edition of Led Zeppelin IV is similar to many of the other Zeppelin reissues where the original album is on Disc 1 and an ‘alternate’ version of the album is on Disc 2. In comparing the original album to a previous version of this CD, this new release sounds brighter. One of the key differentiators with this new release is that the instruments and separation between the instruments sounds clearer - the crisp sound of the bass and drums is immediately noticeable.

My reservation with this reissue is the bonus disc as there just isn’t a “wow” factor. This second disc runs 41 minutes (as compared to the main disc’s 43 minutes) which is comprised of 6 full-band alternate versions of songs from the main disc and two instrumentals. I can’t figure out the point of the instrumentals as why would someone want to listen to “The Battle of Evermore” and “Going to California” without Plant’s vocals? (Karaoke anyone?) Aside for 1+ minutes being chopped out “The Battle of Evermore”, there really isn’t a noticeable difference between these versions and the finished versions. Things get a bit more interesting with the Sunset Sound mix of “Stairway to Heaven”. This version was recorded at Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Recorders during the summer of 1971 and the mix brings out some subtle nuances in the instrumentation.



The demo version of “Four Sticks” is noticeably different than the finalized version as this demo version ‘pops’ with an energy and rawness. While the differences aren’t quite as noticeable, this same rawness can also be heard on “When the Levee Breaks”. The basic take of “Black Dog” is also noticeable different than the final studio version as this version is clearly unmixed, has a different, more sustained guitar line and seems to include some additional vocals (including some bum notes). For the remaining songs, my ears couldn’t tell the difference between the two versions.



Links:
Led Zeppelin

The Doors - "Live at the Bowl '68" CD Review (Rhino)

"What the world needs now is another folk singer
like I need a hole in my head." - "Teen Angst" by Cracker

Over the last decade, there has been overabundance of archival live material from The Doors so the key question with this release is whether the world needs yet another Doors' live album.

While the other Doors live albums have all been previously unreleased (commercially), Live at the Bowl has an interesting heritage as this July 5, 1968 performance was originally released as a 22 minutes / seven track mini-album in the late 80's and appeared to be just a teaser for the fourteen track VHS recording of the same show. This new release takes the show to 66 minutes / twenty tracks but there are a couple of caveats that need to be noted. First is that listing twenty tracks is somewhat deceiving as some of these tracks are spoken word/poetry interludes within a song ("Horse Latitudes", "A Little Game", "The Hill Dweller") and other tracks are just song snippets: "The End (Segue") is a nice intro to "The End" but certainly not a stand-alone track, "Light My Fire (Reprise)" is just a few brushed keyboard notes as the band moves into "The Unknown Soldier" and "The Wasp (Texas Radio and The Big Beat)" never gets past Morrison's spoken word intro before going into "Hello I Love You". Lastly, audio purists may cringe that Morrison's vocals on "When The Music's Over", "The Wasp (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)" and "Hello I Love You" weren't recorded due to technical difficulties so vocals have been cut in from the Absolutely Live recordings.

On a positive note - the band sounds in top form and the recording is crystal clear. The 'sonic brilliance' immediately caught my ear and the separation between the individual instruments and vocals allows you to clearly hear every note and every nuance. Each of the band members have their moment to shine and Morrison, for the most part, stays on point and delivers spot-on vocals without heading into any of the ragged, free-form rants that made some the band's other live albums (Live in Pittsburgh 1970 comes immediately to mind) sound like complete train wrecks. This isn't a 'by the books' recording though as the band adds some great improvisations and flourishes to the songs. Morrison apparently took LSD before going on which seemed to kick in toward the end of the set and he seems to have some fun with "Unknown Solider" and god only knows if he truly confused a grasshopper and a moth during the free-form section of "The End".

(Note: this are old YouTube video which, given their age, have to be from the original release of "Live at the Hollywood Bowl". This new release is supposed to look infinitely better.)




Getting back on point to my opening question - this album offers something different to Doors' fans so it doesn't look like a "cash grab" rehash. Most of the recent Doors archival material has been from the band's 1970 tour and I couldn't find any shows in the band's Wikipedia discography that were from 1968. Lastly, the sound quality is amazing...if the LA Woman reissue sounded this good, I might have written a different review.

Links:
The Doors

Alvin & The Chipmunks - The Squeakquel CD Review (Rhino)

STREAM: The Chipettes - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

My five year old thought I was the coolest Dad in the world after I was sent a review copy of the soundtrack to Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel. Strangely enough, he never got this excited over any of the Southern Lord or Metal Blade CDs that I've recently reviewed.

This fifteen track - 50 minute - disc has The Chipmunks and Chipettes covering an eclectic mix of current pop hits, 70's disco songs, recent R&B hits and there are even a couple of classic rock tunes thrown in for good measure. Most of the songs are reinterpreted as pulsing, high energy dance mixes that feature the voices of The Chipmunks / The Chipettes but musicians Honor Society, Queensberry and Charice Pempengco add guest vocals on three of the tracks.

Here is the track list:

"You Really Got Me" feat. Honor Society (Kinks Cover)
"Hot N Cold" -(Katy Perry Cover)
"So What" - (Pink Cover)
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" - (Dead or Alive Cover)
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" - (Beyonce Cover)
"Bring It On" - (Ali Dee Cover)
"Stayin' Alive" - (Bee Gees Cover)
"The Song" feat. Queensberry - (Unknown)
"It's Okay" - (Unknown)
"Shake Your Groove Thing" - (Peaches & Herb Cover)
"Put Your Records On" - (Corrine Baily Rae Cover)
"I Want to Know What Love Is" - (Foreigner Cover)
"We Are Family" - (Sister Sledge Cover)
"No One" feat. Charice Pempengco - (Alicia Keys Cover)
"I Gotta Feeling" - (The Black Eyed Peas Cover)

Even though my son is five, he is already starting to embrace the whole iPod/mix tape culture and he skips around on this CD so that he can listen to his favorite songs over and over. His favorite songs to sing along with are "You Really Got Me", Stayin' Alive", "Shake Your Groove Thing" and "I Gotta Feeling".

All-in-all, Alvin & The Chipmunks - The Squeakquel is a cute disc. It also meets my key criteria for kids music as it doesn't annoy me after the 100th play. While this disc isn't anything that I would play while by myself, if it keeps the kids interested in music and playing an instrument, more power to The Chipmunks.



Links:
Alvin & the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel

Genesis Live 1973 - 2007 Box Set Will Be Released Sept. 29th (Rhino)

STREAM: Genesis Live 1973 - 2007 (9 tracks from the Box Set)

I always loved the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis and I stuck with the band until the 1983's self-titled Genesis LP.

Next Tuesday (Sept. 29th), Rhino is coming out with a 10-CD live box set that includes the four live albums recorded by the band from 1973 to 1992 along with some rare archival material from the 1973 (Selling England by the Pound) and 1975 (Lamb Lies Down on Broadway) tours.

The first (in chronological order) CD is a stereo/5.1 reissue of Genesis Live, which was originally recorded in February 1973. As this was a single LP, five tracks from a Lamb show recorded live at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles 1/24/75 have been added to the disc. This later show was allegedly recorded live for Dutch radio and selections from this show are on the 30+ year old bootleg As Through Emerald City. For long-time collectors, the good news is that only one song ("Anyway") overlaps between this release and the bootleg.

The next CD is Seconds Out which was recorded in Paris in 1976/7. This is a straight-forward stereo/5.1 reissue.

The next CD is Three Sides Live which was recorded in Germany in 1981. I hadn't realized that the original US pressing (3-live sides + a studio side is out of print. This reissue (which is only in stereo) is the old UK version of Three Sides Live, which features a fourth live side with the tracks "One for the Vine", "The Fountain of Salmacis" and "It/Watcher of the Skies". "Watcher of the Skies" is an instrumental version from the 1976 tour with Bill Bruford.

The next CD, The Way We Walk, was recorded at Earls Court, London in 1992. This reissue (stereo only) contains both The Longs and The Shorts along with the previously unreleased track "Turn It On Again".

The final CD, Live at The Rainbow 1973 (Stereo/5.1), was recorded on 10/20/73 at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Part of this show was originally aired on the KBFH and five of these nine tracks were included in the Genesis Archive 1967 - 1975 box set.

Here is the complete track listing for this disc.

1. Watcher Of The Skies (5.1 version only)**
2. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
3. The Cinema Show**
4. I Know What I Like(In Your Wardrobe)
5. Firth Of Fifth
6. The Musical Box (5.1 version only)**
7. More Fool Me
8. The Battle Of Epping Forest**
9. Supper’s Ready

**Previously unreleased

Foreigner Release New 2CD/1DVD Set "Can't So Down" on 9/29/09 (Rhino)

STREAM: Foreigner - Seven Tracks from "Can't Slow Down" (Rhino)

I lost track of Foreigner for a number of years but they came back onto my radar when they opened for Led Zeppelin's reunion show in late 2007. The reconstituted band has been getting some great reviews for their live shows over the past few years and seem to be regularly selling out 1,000 - 1,500 capacity auditoriums.

Later this month, Foreigner is putting out their first dic of new material since 1994's Mr. Moonlight. The band is releasing the 2-CD/1-DVD set, Can't Slow Down, exclusively through WalMart on 9/29 for the price of $12. (Getting off-track for a moment, I have to applaud the band for the price point for this set. The iTunes AppStore has sold a ton of apps by keeping the price point low and it is nice to see some parts of the music industry follow suit.)

Can't Slow Down contains thirteen new songs (disc one), ten remixes of Foreigner's greatest hits (disc two) and a live DVD with performances from the band's recent European tour.

For anyone who hasn't been keeping with Foreigner, principal songwriter/guitarist Mick Jones is still the driving force behind the band. For the last few years, Kelly Hansen (from the late-80's blues/hard rock band Hurricane) has been on vocals and he hits the old and new material perfectly.

Foreigner is in town for a couple area shows in early October:
10/1/09 -- Westbury, NY, Capitol One Bank Theatre
10/2/09 -- New York, NY, Nokia Theatre
10/3/09 -- Lakewood, NJ, FirstEnergy Park
10/4/09 -- Torrington, CT, The Warner Theatre
10/6/09 -- Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Center

Links:
Foreigner

Chris Bell (Big Star) - Rhino Releases 2-CD Version of "I Am The Cosmos" on 9/28

STREAM - Seven Tracks from Chris Bell - "I Am the Cosmos" Re-Issue (Rhino)

Following right on the heels of the Big Star box set, Keep An Eye on the Sky, that came out last week, Rhino Handmade is releasing a limited edition 2-CD pressing of Chris Bell's solo disc I Am the Cosmos.

I am the Cosmos has been out of print for a number of years having first come out in 1992 (14 years after Bell's death) on the Rykodisc label. The Rhino re-issue builds on this original release and adds a second disc which contains thirteen previously unissued songs from Chris' pre-Big Star bands, Icewater and Rock City, along with alternate versions from I am the Cosmos sessions and post-Big Star tracks.

Among the wealth of unissued recordings are eight alternate versions and mixes of album tracks, including "You And Your Sister" with Mellotron in place of the original's string arrangement, and a later version of "Get Away" featuring Big Star's Alex Chilton on guitar, Ken Woodley on bass and Richard Rosebrough on drums.

The collection also gathers up a number of unreleased songs Bell recorded that did not appear on I AM THE COSMOS, including two songs by Icewater (a precursor to Big Star); collaborations with Memphis songwriter Keith Sykes ("Stay With Me") and singer Nancy Bryan ("In My Darkest Hour"); and "Clacton Rag," an instrumental recorded in 1976 that features Bell solo on guitar.

The only solo material that was released during Chris' lifetime was a 1978 Car Records single featuring Bell's "I Am The Cosmos" b/w "You And Your Sister." The first 1,000 orders for this new 2-CD set will receive an exclusive reproduction of the original 7”.

Links:
Big Star's MySpace Profile

Woodstock: 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm - Rhino Releases 6-CD Box Set from the Original Woodstock Festival

STREAM: Woodstock: 40 Years On - Selections from the Box Set (Rhino)

On Tuesday (August 11th), Rhino is releasing a six-CD box set of performances from the original Woodstock Festival. This celebration of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock includes 38 previously unreleased tracks and a detailed booklet within the box set that provides, for the first time, complete and accurate set lists for all performances.

This box set marks the first time that the performances have been sequenced to flow in chronological order. In addition to the music, this new box set includes stage announcements, Max Yasgur's complete address to the crowd, a cameo appearance from Abbie Hoffman, and general psychedelic babble which help capture the overall ambiance of the festival.

Here is the complete track listing:

Disc 1
1. "Handsome Johnny" ‹ Richie Havens
2. "Freedom (Motherless Child)" ‹ Richie Havens
3. "Choppity Choppity"‹ John Morris
4. "Look Out" ‹ Sweetwater
5. "Two Worlds"‹Sweetwater *
6. "Jennifer" ‹ Bert Sommer *
7. "And When It's Over"‹ Bert Sommer *
8. "Smile" ‹ Bert Sommer *
9. "There Goes Marilyn!"‹ John Morris
10. "Hang On To A Dream" ‹ Tim Hardin *
11. "Simple Song Of Freedom" ‹ Tim Hardin *
12. "Flat Blue Acid"‹ John Morris
13. "Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital" ‹ Ravi Shankar *
14. "Momma Momma" ‹ Melanie *
15. "Beautiful People" ‹ Melanie
16. "Birthday Of The Sun" ‹ Melanie
17. "Coming Into Los Angeles" ‹ Arlo Guthrie ***
18. "Wheel Of Fortune" ‹ Arlo Guthrie *
19. "Every Hand In The Land" ‹ Arlo Guthrie *
20. "All You Funny People"‹ John Morris

Disc 2
1. "Joe Hill"‹ Joan Baez
2. "Sweet Sir Galahad"‹ Joan Baez
3. "Hickory Wind" ‹ Joan Baez *
4. "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" ‹ Joan Baez w/Jeffrey Shurtleff
5. "Bring Scully His Asthma Pills"‹ John Morris
6. "Insulin" & Quill Intro‹ John Morris
7. "They Live The Life" ‹ Quill *
8. "That's How I Eat"‹ Quill *
9. "I Understand Your Wife Is Having A Baby"‹ Chip Monck
10. "Donovan's Reef" ‹ Country Joe McDonald *
11. "The 'Fish' Cheer"/"I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" ‹ Country Joe McDonald
12. "Persuasion" ‹ Santana
13. "Soul Sacrifice" ‹ Santana
14. "How Have You Been"‹ John B. Sebastian
15. "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" ‹ John B. Sebastian
16. "I Had A Dream" ‹ John B. Sebastian
17. "The Letter" ‹ Incredible String Band *
18. "When You Find Out Who You Are" ‹ Incredible String Band *
19. "She Is Lost"‹ Chip Monck

Disc 3
1. "We're In Pretty Good Shape"‹ Chip Monck
2. "Going Up The Country" ‹ Canned Heat
3. "Woodstock Boogie" ‹ Canned Heat **
4. "The Brown Acid Is Not Specifically Too Good"‹ Chip Monck
5. "Blood Of The Sun" ‹ Mountain ***
6. "Theme For An Imaginary Western" ‹ Mountain ***
7. "For Yasgur's Farm" ‹ Mountain *
8. "For Those Of You Who Have Partaken Of The Green Acid"‹ Chip Monck
9. "Green Acid Advice"‹ Jerry Garcia & Country Joe McDonald
10. "Dark Star" ‹ Grateful Dead *
11. "Green River"‹ Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. "Bad Moon Rising"‹ Creedence Clearwater Revival *
13. "I Put A Spell On You" ‹ Creedence Clearwater Revival

Disc 4
1. "Work Me, Lord" ‹ Janis Joplin
2. "Ball And Chain" ‹ Janis Joplin
3. Medley: "Dance To The Music"/"Music Lover"/"I Want To Take You Higher"‹Sly & The Family Stone
4. "The Politics Of The Situation"‹ Abbie Hoffman
5. "Amazing Journey" ‹ The Who *
6. "Pinball Wizard" ‹ The Who *
7. Abbie Hoffman vs. Pete Townshend
8. "We're Not Gonna Take It" ‹ The Who **
9. "The Other Side Of This Life" ‹ Jefferson Airplane *
10. "Somebody To Love"‹ Jefferson Airplane
11. "Won't You Try"/ "Saturday Afternoon"‹ Jefferson Airplane
12. "We Got A Whole Lot Of Orange"‹ Grace Slick
13. "Volunteers" ‹ Jefferson Airplane
14. "Breakfast In Bed For 400,000"‹Wavy Gravy
15. "It Just Keeps Goin'"‹ John Morris
16. Max Yasgur Speaks

Disc 5
1. "Feelin' Alright"‹ Joe Cocker *
2. "Let's Go Get Stoned"‹ Joe Cocker
3. "With A Little Help From My Friends" ‹ Joe Cocker
4. The Rainstorm
5. "Rock & Soul Music"‹ Country Joe & The Fish
6. "Love" ‹ Country Joe & The Fish *
7. "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine"‹ Country Joe & The Fish *
8. "Summer Dresses"‹ Country Joe & The Fish *
9. "Silver and Gold"‹ Country Joe & The Fish *
10. "Rock & Soul Music" (Reprise)‹ Country Joe & The Fish *
11. "Leland Mississippi Blues" ‹ Johnny Winter *
12. "Mean Town Blues" ‹ Johnny Winter
13. "You've Made Me So Very Happy"‹ Blood Sweat & Tears *

Disc 6
1. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" ‹ Crosby Stills & Nash
2. "Guinnevere"‹ Crosby Stills & Nash
3. "Marrakesh Express" ‹ Crosby Stills & Nash
4. "4 + 20" ‹ Crosby Stills & Nash
5. "Sea Of Madness" ‹ Crosby Stills Nash & Young
6. "Wooden Ships" ‹ Crosby Stills Nash & Young
7. "No Amount Of Loving"‹The Butterfield Blues Band *
8. "Love March" ‹ The Butterfield Blues Band
9. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" ‹ The Butterfield Blues Band
10. "Get A Job" ‹ Sha Na Na *
11. "At The Hop" ‹ Sha Na Na
12. "Get A Job" (Reprise) ‹ Sha Na Na *
13. "The Star Spangled Banner"‹ Jimi Hendrix
"Purple Haze"‹ Jimi Hendrix
"Woodstock Improvisation"‹ Jimi Hendrix
14. "Woodstock Farewell"‹ Chip Monck

*Previously Unissued = never before released
**Previously Unissued Full-Length Version = previously released on a Woodstock title in edited form.
***Previously Unissued Woodstock Recording = presenting the actual Woodstock performances here for the first time.

Graham Nash - "Reflections" CD Boxset Review (Rhino Entertainment)

STREAM: Graham Nash - Selected Tracks from Reflections

With the 'death' of the LP, most record companies seem to have forgotten the importance of the album cover art, lyrics that can be read without a magnifying glass and innovative packaging. Rhino obviously hasn't forgotten this as the packaging alone on Graham Nash's 3-CD retrospective is impressive. Reflections is designed to look like a weathered and well-loved book and this book folds open to reveal the three CDs nestled in full color art. The discs are accompanied by a 150-page book of photos and Graham's notes about each track.

The sixty-four tracks on this set follows Graham's career chronologically from The Hollies to Crosby, Stills and Nash (and C,S,N&Y) to Graham's solo recordings and his work with David Crosby. This is an impressive collection and die-hard Graham Nash fan who already own Graham's prior releases will likely want to pick up this box set as thirty-two of the sixty-four tracks are previously unreleased. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Graham said “I went through 44 versions of the set before I settled on this one...It was painful for me because I’m not for introspection or resting on my laurels. A lot of the musical soundtrack to my life is on this box set.”

While most of the unreleased tracks are alternate mixes or unreleased versions of familiar songs, one of the highlights of this box set is six previously unreleased songs. One of these songs includes an unreleased Crosby, Stills & Nash song from 1984 called "Lonely Man". Some of the other highlights include a new mix of "Cathedral" (originally on the 1977 "CSN" LP) and a solo version of the little heard "Right Between the Eyes" (originally on the 1971 live LP "4 Way Street").

This isn't just a greatest hits collection as all of Graham's work is given equal attention. Disc One serves as a "greatest hits" collection with songs from the original CSN(&Y) lineup and Graham's first two solo discs. Disc Two takes the listener through the Crosby/Nash partnership, various CSN reunions (and "almost" reunions - check out the track notes for "Mutiny") and tracks from Graham's two solo discs from the 80's, Earth & Sky and Innocent Eyes. The third disc brings the listener to the present and covers the more recent CSN work along with Graham's 2004 outing with with David Crosby. There are a number of unreleased Nash tunes on this last disc and the disc closes with the poignant "In Your Name". For this last song, Graham writes in the track notes "[t]he killing of human beings by other human beings in the name of their respective "God" has always seemed most unholy to me...this song is a small prayer."

Links:
Graham Nash

Led Zeppelin Limited Edition Box Set Comes Out Tuesday (Rhino)

The definitive Led Zeppelin box set is coming out on Tuesday.

Rhino Entertainment and Atlantic Records are releasing a limited edition box set that contains Japanese imports of all 10 of Zeppelin's discs (Led Zeppelin I through Coda). The discs are packaged in mini-LP sleeves and include all of the artwork from the original UK LPs. To keep true to the original LP artwork, Zeppelin's debut disc uses turquoise ink on the cover for the band’s name and the Atlantic Records logo and the set also includes all six covers released for In Through the Out Door.

Click on the picture above to go directly to the Rhino store.

Links:
Led Zeppelin's Website