The Kinks - Preservation Act 1 (1973)

The Kinks - Preservation Act 1 (1973) SACD

  I grew up a huge Kinks fan so anytime you can pick up a SACD remaster of these classic Kinks albums you just have to go for it!  The problem with the Kinks is that all their albums are good....and Preservation Act 1 and 2 are simply great albums.  "Daylight" has been a favourite song of mine for a long long time and finally I can hear it is pure SACD sound dynamics....they way they heard it in the studio.

The Kinks - One For The Road (1980)

The Kinks - One For The Road (1980) SACD

  I remember sitting in my friend's house on Dane St. in North Bay spinning this 2 LP set thinking how awesome Live the Kinks would have been.    I ran out and bought myself a copy of this on vinyl right away and to this day "One For The Road" is one of my favourite live albums of all time.   A timeless classic and a recording of pure energy and power with the band nicely performing songs from all their great albums.   A stirring version of "Celluloid Heroes", a potent opening with "The Hard Way" and the famous Lola teaser.........and of course the necessary hits like "You Really Got Me" and "Till The End of the Day" which sound so alive and vibrant.
  Considering my love for this live album I had to hunt down Konk Records SACD release which brings a whole new level of sound to this gem.
  Absolutely essential live album..............

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.  

Procol Harum (1967)

Procol Harum - S/T (1967)

  Here is the start of it all.......Procol Harum's debut album blossoming with their organ-drenched symphonia and the timeless vocals of Gary Brooker.   Procol had only been together a wee while before they hit success....in fact A Whiter Shade Of Pale went #1 and was the fastest selling single in the history of Decca Records.  But there is so much more to this album that "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" .   Conquistador and Cerdes are 2 of my favourite songs from the 60's.   What a stunning debut album.......absolutely essential listen ! 

Herman's Hermits - retrospective SACD (2004)

Herman's Hermits - retrospective SACD, 2004 ABKCO Music & Records Inc.

  The music of Herman's Hermits is that of a lifetime.....and a band that never got the recognition they deserved....clearly were overlook by the British Invasionaries......The Kinks, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Animals etc.... But having said that this SACD compilation on ABKCO (the same Company who did the great Rolling Stones SACD remasters) is absolutely essential.  The sound on this SACD makes all the songs sound just so fresh and alive again.   
  There are sonic dimensions going on here that I have never heard before.....listen to the guitar strumming clarity on "Hold On" with it's very "beatle'esque harmonies, or the heavy foot tapping bass/drumming interplay on "I'm Henry The 8th".   Peter Noone never sounded so good and I would recommend this SACD to anyone who is a big fan of Herman's Hermits..........essential 

The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

The Beatles - Rubber Soul, Apple Records (1965)

  `baby you can drive my car......yes I`m gonna be a star``........

Wow what a band and what an album......I am sure there are not too many people out there that do not own this classic bit of English pop history !   This album is just a real dooozie....and really showed a whole new side of the Beatles and signalled the change for the 4 mop tops.   Rubber Soul was one of the BIG albums for me growing up and songs like ``Nowhere Man and ``In My Life`` were then and are now a part of my life.   Mr Lennon I miss you terribly and thank you for the music of a lifetime!