Utopia - Deface The Music (1980)

Utopia - Deface The Music, 1980

Imitation of the highest order of flattery ............and without question Rundgren knew what he wanted to risk and accomoplish with an album inspired and born in the spirit of Beatlemania.   Too many people have literally slagged or ignored this album and really has miss this one!   Todd Rundgren and Utopia wrote this album totally in the style of those four mop tops (1964-1967) and the end result is an album that you may just love if you give it a chance......cause all we are saying.........is give this a chance...............(ooops).
  I bought this album on cassette back in the early 80's purely for the album cover......hope you never did that!   After hearing this cassette I became a fan of Utopia.   

Shania Twain - Up! (2003)

Shania Twain - Up !  (2003) SACD

  Well I am not sure what happened to me......but I am in love with Shania Twain.........wait......i mean her music!     Up!   is a great pop album.....and way better then her "Come on Over" album which I found a little too "New Country" for me, but this album really is solid from start to finish!
  I could not believe my ears when I heard her obvious allusion to Pink Floyd's Money on "Ka-Ching!" which is a very powerful song that really makes you think about the money and credit card world we live in.

   I am not sure what happened to me but this weekend I became a Shania Twain fan !

Uh Oh !

hey for all those who are laughing at me ....take the Up! Challenge......put this album on your stereo and watch what happens......

I am definitely UP !

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971) Remaster

  You must love Joni!   Hard to pick what album is my favorite but "Blue" is certainly right up there which seems to carry a deep emotional factor for me.   The album itself is pretty quaint and unassuming and pretty much is themed around the feelings of sorrow and loneliness.......a rich and wholesome album if I could suggest.   The remastered HDCD version of this album is very well done and offers a nice and clean version of this gem.
   The title song "Blue" is one of my favorite songs she has ever done and it was a toss up for my wedding whether I'd play this track or "Both Sides Now" from 1969's Clouds album........well the only way you will know what I picked is if you were there !   (LOL).
  Legendary rock band Narareth made a million off her song of "This Flight Tonight" which remains a centre piece of this album.  
  Joni is joined by Steven Stills and James Taylor on this album as guest musicians as well.
"acid, booze and ass........needles, guns and grass.........lots of laughs......LOL's...

XTC - Mummer (1983)

XTC - Mummer, 1983 Remastered

  Mummer was the 6th album released by England's Alternative Psych-Rock Popsters and was the comeback album for Andy Partridge who had previously suffered a mental breakdown and led to XTC's retirement from touring in fact!   Mummer was an album that sounds very much like a more pop-friendly album with tons of soothing type sounds and songs.  "Wonderland" was the song and "Deliver Us From The Elements" that really made me at first take notice of this album which I bought way back when as a delete vinyl album !

  I dont think Mummer is the album that most fans of XTC will cite as their fav, but for me it is a great bit of pop and rock for my ears.  I think in many ways the band really had a complete album in Mummer and had some awesome musical moments.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)

Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)

  Heavy Metal guru's Black Sabbath rocked the world in 1970 with Paranoid......and left in place some of Rocks most immediately identifiable riffs in metal history.      Paranoid features three classic metal tracks with "War Pigs", "Iron Man" and "Paranoid".    Ozzy Osbourne's crazed vocals wrapped around Tony Iommi's lead guitar punctures your mind in a way that few metal album can.
  My favourite song on the album is "Planet Caravan" with it's psychy/progressive bits and outer worldly aspects. 
  I am not a huge metal fan in general but I have always loved this album and think that it was the best thing Sabbath ever did.

The Bloody Hollies - Yours Until The Bitter End (2011)

The Bloody Hollies - Yours Until The Bitter End (2011)

Holy crap these guys are good !   Fans of the heavier side of the music spectrum will love this album..aka the Black Keys, Radio Moscow......  The Bloody Hollies are a Buffalo based indie band that have released a number of albums that straddle metal, garage rock and punk genres and seem to just crank out great number after number.   On "Yours Until The Bitter End" they added a fourth member ....enter bassist Erik Norgaard and wham what an album.    This album is a fair dose of high energy heavy reverb with some pretty catchy and cool tunes.  Highly recommended if you are looking for a good kick -ass album !

Nat King Cole - Just One Of Those Things (1957)

Nat King Cole - Just One Of Those Things, 1957 Analogue Productions (SACD)

  Brace yourself.........the huge symphonic brilliance of Billy May mixed with the mild mannered and hauntingly silky smooth voice of Crooner Nat King Cole.   In 1957 Cole shifted from Gordon Jenkins to Billy May to finally get the Sinatra experience which he always had wanted.   The end result is simply a magnificent album full of huge orchestration and soothing energy that really never stops bopping about.   Hoffman and Gray have done a awesome job on all the Nat King Cole SACD remasters and this one really swings !

"Cottage For Sale" is simply a masterpiece of cronnership' as Nat King Cole simply hits your heart dead on....

For those are too caught up in the modern music to really appreciate the good old stuff have simply missed out..... The mid 50's Nat King Cole albums are amazing !    

Frank Sinatra - Come Dance With Me (1959)

Frank Sinatra - Come Dance With Me, 1959

  I grew up listening to Frankie.....and my mom must have played this album 3 million times.....But for me this was the defining example of crooning and everything else seemed to pale in contrast to this album.   Sinatra was  THE Crooner......and 1959's "Come Dance With Me" represents the genius of  Sinatra with that of Billy May.  Take Schwartz and Dietz's "Dancing In The Dark" or Irving Berlin's "Cheek To Cheek" or maybe Johnny Mercer's "Day In Day Out" add the dynamic orchestra of May and the genius of Sinatra and you have something very extra special.  

Hound Dog Taylor - Natural Boogie (1973)

Hound Dog Taylor - Natural Boogie (1973)

  Hound Dog (Theodore) Taylor grew up in Mississippi but moved to Chicago where for well over 10 years played his boogie styled slide guitar with mates Brewer Phillips (guitar) and Ted Harvey (drums).    Natural Boogie was his second album and a follow up to his well received debut album that featured "Give Me Back My Wig" which is his best known song.  Phillips plays guitar along side Taylor but does so often more like a bass guitar than a rhythm section.    This is great toe tapping music and if you have never heard Hound Dog Taylor then you are missing out on some great blues slide music !

Keb Mo (1994)

Keb Mo , Mobile Fidelity 1994, SACD

  I first heard Kevin Moore aka Keb'Mo' a number of years ago and was immediately drawn to his playing and his creativity....Keb is way more than just a R&B artist.   Keb Mo is a blues guitarist and vocalist who draws heavily on this debut album on the approach and work of blues legend Robert Johnson who clearly had a major influence on his music.    What makes Keb Mo stand out for me on this album is his integration of callsic blues with soul and folk genres and all wrapped around his own sense and interpretation of his music.
   The folks at Mobile Fidelity have done a great job in remastering and presenting Keb MO's debut album is glorious SACD emitting great clarity and tones.  

Ray Charles + The Count Basie Orchestra (2007)

Ray Charles + The Count Basie Orchestra (2007) SACD

  Oh What A Beautiful Morning emotes Ray Charles to open up this fantastic album right off with a wonderful bang !   Soul and Big Band.....wow..........this is a stunning recording created from the vaults of Fantasy Records using demos of Ray Charles and musically adapted by the Count Basie Orchestra.   This wonderfully soulful album rocks with a little old and a little new.....a bit crooner...a bit soul...a bit Big Band and a whole lot Ray Charles.  The song "Every Saturday Night" is complete with Butter Beans and the most delicious harmonic back up singers that you have ever heard.
  A great album for those who like to really roll ..........

Foreigner - Foreigner (1977)

Foreigner - 1977, Mobile Fidelity SACD Remaster


When I was just a young lad my brother and I bought this album and it became one of the albums that defined our musical childhood! It still remains to this day one of the GREAT rock albums in my household and I was so excited to order this MoFi SACD........and what a great un !

First the album (if there is anyone who has never heard this) is a beautiful album full of great songs and huge rock sound without any cliches. It was an album that set the stage and helped define 70's rock music (1977).

Foreigner's debut album was IMHO their defining musical moment with contribution of King Crimson's Ian McDonald and the powerful vocals and lyrics of a young Lou Gramm. "Starrider" was THE song for me while I grew up and you can not count the number of times I played this album.

I have the redbook CD, Vinyl, remastered CD and now SACD of this album and must say the definitely this IS THE version of this album you must hear.

Wow.......deeply defined vocal harmonies and a wide pane of tones that stretch from one side of my music to the other. At times the acoustic guitar sounds like it was right beside me!

I would say honestly that until you hear the SACD version you really have not ever heard this album.

Rock music never got any better than the first Foreigner album .

...and why not One day be a Starrider !

Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Step (1989)

Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Step , Mobile Fidelity SACD (1989) Remaster

I am caught in the Crossfire !

  In Step was Vaughan's 4th and final album with the Double Trouble lineup and is a wonderful album that all fans of blues MUST hear.  And what way to hear better than on Mofi's SACD!  This has to be one of my personal favorite Blues rock albums of all time.....clearly I am caught in the Crossfire !  Vaughan lets it all go on this album with some of his best R&B moments and a guarantee that your toes will never stop tappin '

   As usual the folks at MoFi have done a great version in presenting this well balanced album in glorious SACD !  Like most of the MoFi releases this album at higher volumes just leaps out at you unlike most standard CD, Vinyl or 8-Track will !   (kidding about the 8-Track).   I believe originally this was a pure digital recording and yet it carries many of the characteristics of the great analog era.   Without a question Stevie Ray's vocals just leap out at you on this remaster and sound just so clean and distinctive.   This master has a nice full dynamic sound that albeit less dynamic as other SACD releases still sounds nice and warm and very well produced (thus the analog reference earlier).

  This SACD release is simply amazing and THIS is the reason why I love the pursuit of the audiophile  

Santana - Caravanserai (1972)

Santana - Caravanserai (1972), Mobile Fidelity SACD Remaster

For me this IS the Santana album ! 1972's Caravanserai is the prefect mix of Latin American, Rock, Jazz, Fusion and Progressive Rock elements. Joining Carlos is Gregg Rolie (Journey), guitar legend Neal Schon, bassist Doug Raunch and the great drumming of Mike Shrieve who really excels on this album !

And what a great job MoFi did on this SACD remaster. The instrumentation is nice and clean and feels perfect in presentation for my ears. The vocals, guitars, bass, keys and percussion are well balanced across the depths of this recording. This album is also better played at slightly elevated volume levels too where the musical prowess feels more alive and accentuated.

I also really noticed the sonic separation of the hand percussion on this recording and some of the backing vocals where a few times i actually looked behind me as I listened to this recording.

This album is a gem and I have never heard it sound sooooo good....

Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (1972)

Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (1972)

  One of the albums that turned me onto Progressive Rock !   Really ......this was a magnet for me and I could not get enough of Genesis and PFM for many years,,,,,,,,and still can't !   To my grave this will be one of my personal favourite albums of all time.   They just dont make em like this anymore folks!  Gorgeous melodies and huge jazz/psych folk/ prog elements with both electric and acoustic interludes.    Check out the work out on the first 2 mins of Generale which is one of the most complex yet subtle Prog Rock moments.    An album that if you have not heard then you have clearly missed out on one of the great ones !

The Beatles - The Beatles For Sale (1964)

The Beatles - The Beatles For Sale, Mono Remaster (1964)

  Well ok......who doesnt love this album !  But surprisingly this is not the best known of the Beatles and and oft overlooked album.  Beatles For Sales was their 4th album in less than 2 years and it comes in a time when these 4 mop tops were pretty exhausted with all the touring and media craze.....they really had nothing left to give.....but somehow they managed to squeeze out this little gem of an album.
  Songs like "I'll Follow the Sun" and "Eight Days a Week" are some of my fav Beatles songs too which both come on this album.  

Acqua Fragile (1973)

Acqua Fragile (1973)

  The debut album from Italy's Acqua Fragile is truely one of the great Ital-Prog rock albums IMHO.  Drawing on characteristics from Gentle Giant, CSN&Y and Genesis this little gem is a treasure!  Huge vocal harmonies, excellent songs that carry a real theatre-like vibe and strong instrumentation.  This album was released in both English and Italian so depending on your preferences you can go for it.
  In many ways this album feels like a PFM release and in fact not only was this produced by PFM but Bernado Lanzetti would actually join them later on his his career.

Judy Garland - The London Studio Recordings (1957 - 1964)

Judy Garland - The London Studio Recordings (1957 - 1964) 2 CD Set

  Here is one of my favorite CD sets of the past few years......The Abbey Road Session finally see the light of day from the unbelievable and timeless Judy Garland !

  This extraordinary 2 cd set from First Hand Records captures Judy at the height of her career and is taken from multiple different sessions while she was visiting London.  Included in this set is one of her great songs that was only released live during one of her concerts "It's lovely to be back in London" which is a magical mono recording.

  Each song has been carefully remastered from the original masters and carries a superb sound quality.

On CD two is very cool with some never before released version of songs recorded for musicals and a nice chunk of Judy in the studio in Abbey Road.....

 Her version of "over the rainbow" absolutely made me cry.......and it will to you too !

Brilliant stuff

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here 1975 (SACD)
  
WOW ! I got the same wow-factor when I heard the SACD version of Dark Side ! The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I smiled ear to ear ! Really!  

  This deluxe SACD reissue from APO of Pink Floyd's masterpiece Wish You Were Here was mixed for both 5.1 surround sound and 2-channel stereo from the original analog master tapes by Pink Floyd's Producer/Engineer James Guthrie
This recording is far superior to the redbook standard CD version IMHO. You are presented here with a high res - high depth recording where you will hear things you never heard before...and if you are like me then feel things like you never felt them before. 

Two things that did take me a few listens to absorb and get used to are both the vocals vs the instrumentation and the placement of the really low bass frequencies. The vocals are sometime not where I would have expected them and i find them a bit less pronounced than I have heard in the past. This took me a bit to figure out...i don't know why but it just was not what i was used to i guess. For example, the vocal placements are in sharp contrast to the Nat King Cole AP SACD releases which take center stage and almost sit on your lap. The second difference is the insertion of the low bass frequencies. Those beloved deep low bass gut-wrenching frequencies are used sparingly and are highly noticeable when they kick in versus being on all the time.


   I found myself almost waiting for the low end to really kick in and wondered where they would happen. I have the same thing when I listen to the dark side and other SACD's too. The truth is I learned a lot about this recording as I did the Dark Side from the SACD version.

Sonically Guthrie and team did a wonderful job, but It will take your brain a while to get used to this version.