Spring 2007
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ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA |
THE FOUR SEASONS |
TRACEY ULLMAN |
JAMES WARREN |
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VARIOUS ARTISTS Forever Changing (Rhino) After checking out Rhinos 2007 5 CD box set tribute to the vaults of Elektra Records, entitled Forever Changing, the question is: what genre of music didnt Elektra make a huge contribution to? And the answer is no branch of pop music went untouched by the house the Jac built. Were referring to Elektra mogul Jac Holzman and the incredible music his label brought to the music world starting in 1963. Elektra, although formed as a rootsy Americana folk label, landed The Doors in 1967 and the rest is history. There are some glowing vault omissions (in addition to tons of stuff that didnt make Rhinos first Elektra installment) over 118 tracks spread over five CDs, yet for the most part Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records - 1963-1973 hits the nail on the head. Theres countless classic folk, blues, rock and pop jewels here that were great when they first came out decades ago, and are still great. With track by track discussion, new interviews with artists and Elektra insiders, Forever Changing offers a fascinating glimpse into the greatest indy record label success story in 20th century American music history. www.rhino.com
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HUGH HOPPER Hopper Tunity Box (Cuneiform) Always
a label on the cutting edge of modern music and specifically Euro-rock
remasters, Cuneiform land a big fish with the 2007 reissue of an album
classic from bass guitar icon Hugh Hopper. Remembered for his brilliant
work on Soft Machine Volume II, Hopper was an early member of
the legendary English jazz / art rock band but he really hit his stride
with his 1977 solo album HopperTunity Box, reissued in 2007 by
Cuneiform Records. With the original Lp cover on the backside of the
CD booklet, the booklet features new cover art, 2006 liner notes by
Hopper with added sheet music arrangements of his melodic arrangements.
Featuring Hopper in rare form with memorable melodies flowing and his
fuzz-bass rockin, Hopper Tunity Box has through
the years maintained its unique status as one the most innovative instrumental
jazz-rock albums of the 70s. A fine addition to their every growing
catalog of Hopper and Softs related remasters, Cuneiforms CD remaster
of Hopper Tunity Box is a major coup for purveyors of classic
U.K. fusion. www.cuneiformrecords.com
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ELECTRIC
LIGHT ORCHESTRA
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THE
FOUR SEASONS The 4 Seasons Entertain You (Collector's Choice) The
musical glue that connected 50s rock to Beatlemania, The 4 Seasons
ruled the radio waves during those great Camelot years of 61-63.
Hit after hit, the Seasons had it all. During my interview with Brian
Wilson in 1998, he spoke a great line saying he wanted his next album
to have Four Seasons inspired vocal sound. A legend of the NY/NJ metropolitan
area, The 4 Seasons had it all including great group vocals and two
illustrious men named BobBob Gaudio and Bob Crewethe
Seasons co-writing keyboardist and behind the scenes producer / arranger/
songwriter, Bob Crewe. Despite having never gained the respect
of the late60s rock crowd, there isnt a classic rock singer
worth his salt that doesnt cite Frankie Valli as an influence.
The original quartet with the four piece vocal lineup of Valli, Gaudio,
guitarist Tommy DeVito and bassist Nick Massi, recorded
a number of rockin' 45s and Lps in the early 60s. Now, in
2007 Collectors Choice has a bunch of late 60s CD remasters
of 4 Seasons recordings. 4 Seasons fans will remember the bands
65 lp classic Working My Way Back To You, named
after the title track smash. That album is paired in a double CD set
from CC with the groups psychedelia Lp, the January 69 release
of The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette. In addition
Collectors Choice offers a double CD pairing of The 4 Seasons
Entertain You with On Stage With The Four Seasons,
two studio titles from 65. A concept album of sorts, On
Stage is actually a studio set with canned studio noise. Out of
the mainstream rock scene, the 4 Seasons kept going over the years and
CC offers a 19 track CD pairing of Half & Half (last
Phillips album from 1970) and Helicon (1977) and another
double CD pairing of Streetfighter (from 85) with
Hope & Glory (1992). Interestingly Valli, Crewe,
Gaudio and song writing ace Sandy Linzer were involved in the
latter years as well. Last of the current CC 4 Seasons remasters is
a 15 track reissue of 1980s Frankie Valli 4 Seasons Reunited
Live, with both Bobs on hand again to produce.
All these 4 Seasons remasters on CC feature excellent sound and historic
liner notes from Bill Dahl. www.ccmusic.com
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TRACEY
ULLMAN You Broke My Heart In 17 Places (Stiff)
Back
in the early 80s, the U.K. based Stiff label was one of the coolest
post-punk bastions of great music including artists like Nick Lowe,
Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Madness and more. In April 2007, the label
is poised to start opening their vaults to reissue some of the prized
music classics on CD here in the U.S. for the first time. High on the
list of Stiff classics coming on CD in 007 include You Broke My Heart
In Seventeen Places by singer Tracey Ullman. If Ullmans
voice and songs dont get you pining for the early 80s then
nothing will. Inspired by classic U.K. singers like Sandie Shaw and
Dusty Springfield, Ullman recorded a certified pop classic in 83
and Stiff have wisely remastered the entire album in all its glory,
complete with a round of excellent b-sides and informative liner notes.
Stiff keeps up the reissue work with a 2007 CD of Fool Around
by U.S. singer Rachel Sweet. Although Sweet was just
16 when Stiff signed her, her good looks and excellent singingnot
to mention fine production work from Liam Sternberg and Pete
Solleymade her a favorite with the post-punk pop crowd. Again,
this Stiff CD classic features original art, a bounty of b-sides and
fine liners. Keep a look out for future Stiff CD reissues coming in
07. www.stiff-records.com
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JAMES
WARREN Burning Questions (Angel Air) Over
in England, Angel Air honor their fellow countrymen with the release
of more archive titles from Stackridge and the bands offshoots.
First off is a reissue of an 1985 title from founding Stackridge singer-songwriter
and guitarist James Warren entitled Burning Questions.
Assisted by his band mate in both Stackridge and The Korgis, Andy
Davis, the pair are also aided by keyboardist Nick Magnus and
singer Eddi Reader, who is here with a non Lp b-side from 1987.
Although quite well established with Anglo-prone audiophiles, Stackridge,
Davis and Warren never made much of a big 'commercial' dent here in
the U.S. That lack of success in and of itself is most unfortunate but
in the case of James, Burning Questions is an excellent period
piece pop artifact from the heyday of the 80s, one that highlights
Warrens penchant for writing great Beatles inspired pop hooks.
Long time Stackridge watchers will also want to see and hear 2007 reissues
of long awaited key CD reissues from the band on Angel Air, including
The Man In The Bowler Hat (1973) and Friendliness
(1972). A definite highlight of this multi-disc reissue bonanza
featuring Stackridge is a straight reissue of the band's follow up to
Bowler Hat, Extravaganzaa 1975 album that saw Warren
replaced by singer-songwriter Rod Bowket, who also made a surprisingly
cool foil for Davis. A great guitarist and singer, Warren of course
would be the one to kick start the Stackridge resurgence, starting in
the late 90s with a newly formed Stackridge capped off with Davis
finally rejoining the fold for the band's brilliant 2005 comeback album
Sex & Flags, also out on CD on AA. Prior to Sex &
Flags, Stackridge actually began their current comeback with the
bands 1999 indy release of Something For The Weekend,
which for some reason didnt include Andy Davis! Nothing much
was said about it for about five years when Angel Air signed Davis and
was primed to re-vault the entire Stackridge catalog with their new
album Sex & Flags. Now, with Angel Airs 2007 CD reissue
of Something For The Weekendincluding fab recent pics of
the original band + some excellent sounding original demo bonus tracks
penned by Davis for possible inclusion before he mysteriously left the
band, Davis, Warren and Stackridge and The Korgis as well, continue
getting excellent reissue treatment from the experts at Angel Air. Each
of these Angel Air Stackridge CD remasters features excellent remastering,
restored art work, pages of photos and loads of detailed liner notes
on each title. www.angelair.co.uk
/ www.stackridge.net
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