Vinyl Rips

John Wetton ‎- King’s Road: 1972-1980 (1987) [Original US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 27, 2015 · Comments off

This collection, marking the end of John Wetton’s association with E.G. Records, is a somewhat skewed compilation of his work in the seventies. Five songs by U.K., five from his first solo album, one track listed as coming from the one album from his seventy-nine one-off band Jack-Knife (the track isn’t listed on sites I can find for the album, so I presume it was left off of the LP), and, strangely, only two tracks by King Crimson (and only one of these was on the original LP version). For the most part, the sonds tend toward Wetton’s pop side, a direction he was heading in when U.K. was declining. At least the U.K. songs have a small amount of prog in them. The songs from “Caught In The Crossfire” are just a small hair better (for the most part) than the AOR drivel Wetton created in Asia.
The better songs are In The Dead Of Night, from U.K.’s debut, and Starless (the track not on the LP) dfrom King Crimson’s “Red”.
Eyesight To The Blind by Wetton’s Jack-Knife (which also included Richard Palmer-James) is worth hearing just because it’s so different from any other version I know of, but only adds slight value to this collection.

Review by Evolver, progarchives.com (more…)

Jesus Jones – Liquidizer (1989) {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 27, 2015 · Comments off

Jesus Jones – Liquidizer
Vinyl Rip | Size: 898 MB | 3% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: EMI Electrola # 7 93238 1 | Country/Year: Germany 1989
Genre: Electronica, Pop, Rock | Style: Breakbeat, Leftfield, Pop Rock, Downtempo

This is the first Jesus Jones Album and is a diary of the band conception to…This! “Liquidizer” was made under the influence of: Turntable Orchestra, The Byrds, Napalm Death, The Chamen, Neneh Cherry, Star Trek, Public Ennemy, Mel and Kim, Sonic Youth, Bomb The Bass, Tapeman, Todd Terry, Cookie Crew, Prince, Allen Konigsberg, S’Express, World Domination, Enterprise, Sonny Boy, Williamson, Jimi Hendrix, The Jungle Brothers, Them Mysterious Bulgarian Voices, Head Of David, For A Few Dollars More, A Guy Called Gerald, Malcolm Young, Leigh “Scratch” Fenlon, Dinosaur Jnr, Sweet T, Joe Smooth, Black Sabbath, De La Soul, Faith No More, Erik B + Takim, Apocalypse Now, The The, Big Black, The Evil Dead and the news and views of 1988 / 1989.

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Jean-Luc Ponty ‎- Open Mind (1984) [Original FR Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 27, 2015 · Comments off

Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.
Jean-Luc Ponty plays himself some really modern keyboards here, creating very atmospheric textures, rather urban, often flirting with a jazz-New Age style. To enhance the modern aspect of the music, Ponty plays a VERY “bottom” synth bass, which gives very much color, personality and depth to the music. Ponty is so much involved in the keyboards that it seems his electric violin almost becomes a secondary instrument here: his electric violin is however still very present, but it seems to be less monolithic and to merge more with the rest of the music: sometimes, it participates to the rhythm itself, or it is just simply played with less speed, focusing more on the sound or on the ambience itself. Chick Corea plays some good & nervous keyboards solos! The overall sound is very clean, fresh and modern. The complex keyboards exploration on “Orbital encounters” is absolutely impressive. The echoed atmosphere created with the violin sound on “Intuition” is really breathtaking! Every track is at least very good, so that this record is among his best ones.

Review by greenback, progarchives.com (more…)

Jean-Luc Ponty ‎- Imaginary Voyage (1976) [1977 US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 27, 2015 · Comments off

Jean-Luc Ponty reaches a musical peak by releasing this excellent fusion record. Looking at the new line-up here, the talent and reliability of the musicians is not questionable: Mark Craney (Jethro Tull’s “A”) plays very fast and EXTREMELY elaborated drums. Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa) plays a restless, complex and very melodic bass. Daryl Stuermer is absolutely majestic, playing a beautiful acoustic guitar in unison with Ponty’s VERY melodic electric violin. Stuermer shows here that he can also be a decent electric guitar player, as reveals his light wah-wah solo on “Tarantula”: however, we feel here his solo sound still not comparable to David Gilmour’s “Money” solo. However, he is an EXCELLENT acoustic guitar player, and he should stay in that department. Allan Zavod, on keyboards, does an honest job, although he rather stays in the background.
On side 2, the high-speed recordings in “Imaginary Voyage Part 1” are absolutely breathtaking: the comparison with Yes’ “Sound Chaser” is inevitable. The epic track “Imaginary Voyage” may be uninterruptedly listened without any problem, although Stuermer’s electric guitar solos have nothing really spectacular.

Review by greenback, progarchives.com (more…)

Richard Clayderman – Vinyl Collection (17LP, 1978-1985) {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/192khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 20, 2015 · Comments off

With his lush and sophisticated instrumental approach to pop music, Richard Clayderman (born Philippe Pagès) is, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, “the most successful pianist in the world.” Clayderman’s albums routinely sell millions of copies and his concerts are quickly sold out. In a review of his 1985 Carnegie Hall concert, Variety wrote, “(Clayderman’s) main appeal lies in his youth and boyish good looks…coupled with his gentlemanly charm and his thick French accent, they promise to rope in the romantically inclined middle-aged Yank ladies who cotton to this ilk of soothing entertainment.” Nancy Reagan referred to Clayderman as “the prince of romance.” Instructed in classical piano by his father, Clayderman enrolled in the Paris Conservatory of Music at the age of 12. Four years later, he placed first in a piano competition at the school. Despite his classical background, Clayderman opted for popular music when he launched his professional career. A tour as opening act for French rock musician Johnny Hallyday introduced him to an international following. Clayderman’s debut album, Ballade Pour Adeline, recorded at the urging of producers and composers Oliver Toussaint and Paul De Senneville in 1977, sold more than 20 million copies and was distributed in 38 countries. Clayderman, who took his stage name from his Swedish grandmother, has continued to tour throughout the world to enthusiastic audiences. A live concert broadcast on Chinese television in 1987 attracted more than 800 million viewers.

Romantique His vast discography of well over 200 albums, released on and licensed to many different labels worldwide, has seen him record everything from light classics to Andrew Lloyd Webber love songs, Bollywood movie soundtracks, and the folk music of Germany, Turkey, and Japan. While this willingness to turn his hand to anything fueled his worldwide popularity, it is the unthreatening homogeneity of his output that won him a loyal, late-middle-aged fanbase similar to that of another European titan of light classical music, André Rieu. In the early 2010s, Clayderman enjoyed an upsurge in mainstream popularity, perhaps partly as a kitsch nostalgia act, but also on the part of canny marketing men who positioned him as part of that era’s classical crossover explosion. His 2013 album for Decca, Romantique — arguably his highest-profile release ever — featured a mélange of film music, pop and light classical standards, and a re-recording of his best-known tune, “Ballade pour Adeline”.

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Fuhrs & Frohling ‎- Ammerland (1978) [Original DE Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 20, 2015 · Comments off

This rare LP is made by 2 German musicians: a guitarist and a keyboardist. The style of this instrumental music is very varied: we can talk about a mix of progressive folk, New Age and an emulation of classical music. There are omnipresent sophisticated acoustic guitars a la Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips or Jan Akkerman, combined with tons of melodic and symphonic keyboards. there are no drums and the bass is rather rare on this record. There are many moog and floating mellotron parts: sometimes it sounds like Genesis’ “Wind and wuthering”, Focus and Vangelis. The sound is really pure and modern. The music is really well recorded, relaxing and beautiful. The ensemble is rather symphonic. The last track on side 1 is oddly strange: there is a man who expresses pathetic laughs and/or cries: this is the only weak point on this album.

Review by greenback, progarchives.com (more…)

Francis Cabrel ‎- Carte Postale (1981) [NL Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 20, 2015 · Comments off

The melancholy title track that opens Carte Postale announces that Francis Cabrel will not be content to churn out bottomless clone albums. It’s not the melancholy tone of the song (he’d done that before), but rather the way he sings it and uses all possible resources to reinforce the mood that point up Cabrel’s more intense approach. He continues to reach for different effects with his voice and instrumentation on the first half of the album as he moves through different styles. It is true some of the vocal affectations may be missteps, but it is always rewarding to hear an artist move with emotion and confidence. Interestingly enough, the second set of songs on the album is very solid (no fillers here), making this the most consistent album of Cabrel’s career to date. Standout songs include “Ma place dans le trafic” and “Comme une madone oubliee.

Review by Samuel Johnson, allmusic.com (more…)

Dire Straits ‎- Love Over Gold (1982) [Original US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

Adding a new rhythm guitarist, Dire Straits expands its sounds and ambitions on the sprawling Love Over Gold. In a sense, the album is their prog rock effort, containing only five songs, including the 14-minute opener “Telegraph Road.” Since Mark Knopfler is a skilled, tasteful guitarist, he can sustain interest even throughout the languid stretches, but the long, atmospheric, instrumental passages aren’t as effective as the group’s tight blues-rock, leaving Love Over Gold only a fitfully engaging listen.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.com (more…)

Dire Straits ‎- Communique (1979) [Original UK Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

Dire Straits ‎– Communiqué (1979)
Vinyl Rip 24/96 | 879 Mb | FLAC | Artwork
Vertigo ‎– 9102 031 (Original UK, 1979) | Rock

Rushed out less than nine months after the surprise success of Dire Straits’ self-titled debut album, the group’s sophomore effort, Communiqué, seemed little more than a carbon copy of its predecessor with less compelling material. Mark Knopfler and co. had established a sound (derived largely from J.J. Cale) of laid-back shuffles and intricate, bluesy guitar playing, and Communiqué provided more examples of it. But there was no track as focused as “Sultans of Swing,” even if “Lady Writer” (a lesser singles chart entry on both sides of the Atlantic) nearly duplicated its sound. As a result, Communiqué sold immediately to Dire Straits’ established audience, but no more, and it did not fare as well critically as its predecessor or its follow-up.

Review by William Ruhlmann, allmusic.com

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Dave Mason ‎- Very Best Of Dave Mason (1978) [Original US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

The third time around in constructing a Dave Mason compilation, Blue Thumb Records (which had been acquired by ABC Records, and which in turn would be swallowed by MCA Records) finally made a worthy selection of its cache of Dave Mason recordings from 1970-71. The Very Best Of Dave Mason was a ten-track album collecting the most memorable songs from Alone Together–“Only You Know And I Know,” “Sad And Deep As You,” and “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave”–and live performances of such well-known Traffic songs as “Feelin’ Alright?” and “Pearly Queen.” While the label was still to be criticized for endlessly repackaging Mason recordings, at least this one was done right–and it’s the one that remains in print. (Originally released by ABC/Blue Thumb Records as ABC/Blue Thumb 6032, The Very Best Of Dave Mason was reissued by MCA Records as MCA 715 and reissued on CD in 1987 as MCA 31169.)

Review by William Ruhlmann, allmusic.com (more…)

Clannad ‎- Macalla (1985) [DE Promo Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

1985’s Macalla is one of Clannad’s strongest albums. The songs are mainly mid-tempo or slower, and combine the poignant beauty of Irish balladry with the immediacy of a rock band line-up. Traditional Irish instruments come and go, along with touches of sax and on “In a Lifetime,” soulful guest vocals by fellow Irishman Bono, of U2. Macalla is a well-rounded album of melodic folk pop, infused with that beautiful warm sadness that seems to pervade Irish music and culture.

allmusic.com (more…)

Clannad ‎- Legend (1984) [Original DE Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

Clannad started out like many traditional folk bands of Ireland; its early material for Gael-Linn Records could be considered traditional Irish folk, and most of the lyrics were in Irish. However, the band’s signing to RCA Records and its 1982 hit “Theme From Harry’s Game” catapulted it to the top of the UK pop charts. Most importantly, Clannad was one of the first Irish bands to truly delve into ambient music, an idiom that may be the modern counterpart to the traditional slow air. This 1984 release finds Clannad at the height of its career. LEGEND is essentially the soundtrack to the television show, ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, and opens with the theme music, “Robin (The Hooded Man).” Other songs such as “Herne” and “Now is Here” retain the ambient (soaking wet with reverb) sound, though the theme for “Lady Marian” harks back to more traditional harp music. While the ’80s synths are dated-sounding, most of the music here represents Irish pop at its finest.

allmusic.com (more…)

Clannad ‎- Dulaman (1976) [Original DE Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

This is one of Clannad’s traditional music recordings. The liner notes include a brief paragraph on each of the songs and instrumentals.

Dúlamán is both the name of the recording and the title of the first song. The word is Irish Gaelic for “seaweed”. In Ireland certain men made their livings by collecting and selling different types of seaweed, and were frequently nicknamed for the particular types in which they dealt. Dúlamán gaelach is a seaweed used in dying cloth, while dúlamán maorach is an edible variety. The song, sung by the band in Gaelic, records a conversation between two seaweed collectors. Dúlamán Gaelach has a beautiful daughter whom Dúlamán Maorach wishes to marry. Gaelach is not exactly thrilled with the idea of having Maorach as a son-in-law, but Maorach elopes with his daughter anyway.

Owen Roe O’Neill (Eoghan Ruadh O’Neill) was the great military leader of the Irish rebellion of the 1640’s, and was the rebels’ best hope of independence. He was a first-rate tactician, and had learned his trade both at home and on the continent. Shortly after Cromwell personally invaded Ireland, O’Neill died of a sudden illness (1649). Whether or not he could have defeated the vastly superior forces brought to Ireland by Cromwell, the British leader’s subsequent savagery has led the Irish to lament O’Neill’s loss ever since, and has inspired numerous laments. The second track is a melancholy instrumental version of one of these1.

“Two Sisters”2 is an old folk song that exists in English in many versions. The gist of this version is the rivalry of two sisters for the attentions of a young man, who prefers the company of the younger sister. The elder sister takes adavantage of an opportunity to rid herself of her rival by pushing her into a river. The miller’s son rescues her long enough to steal the girl’s ring, then pushes her back into the river. Both the miller’s son and the elder sister are apprehended and executed for their crime. Máire Brennan sings the first verse a cappella, and the succeeding verses to accompaniment.

Vain love is a common theme of traditional music from Ireland. “Éirigh Suas A Stóirín” (“Rise Up, My Darling”3) tells the story of a young man who goes to bargain with the parents of a girl he loves for her hand, as was the custom in the poorer parts of Ireland. He is refused, and the remainder of the song tells of his sorrow at this loss. Sung in Gaelic by Máire Brennan.

“The Galtee Hunt” is a lively dance tune. The group begins with the flute and harp, then later adds guitar and bass.

“Éirigh Is Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh” (“Arise and Dress Yourself”4) is, according to the liner notes:

Another Donegal love song where the composer longs desperately to elope with his loved one to a place where he is surrounded only by nature’s undisturbed beauty.
Well, yes and no. I found the lyrics to this tune in an old book of folk songs, and the version sung by Clannad is somewhat altered. Specifically, they sing only the first two verses. In its entirety, this is a folk song about a young man who did not marry the girl he loved in his youth, but instead married an older woman with considerable property. Now he bitterly regrets the choice he has made. The young man dreams one night that his former love visits him, and urges him to elope with her – the first two verses are her words. The remainder of the song is the young man’s lament for his decision: he disparages his wife rather cruelly, and blames his family for the advice that led him to the match. He resolves at last to leave his wife and find a younger girl. Sung in Gaelic by Máire Brennan. The group has inserted an instrumental bridge of variations on the tune.

“Siúil A Rún” (“Come, Oh Love”5) is the lament of a young woman who pines for her absent lover. The song comes from the time of the Flight of the Wild Geese; that is, the Irish Brigade, composed of young men who left Ireland following the Williamite War to serve in the French Army, during the years 1691 to 1745. Sung in English by Máire Brennan, with a Gaelic chorus.

Of the background of the remaining selections on this recording, I know little save for what was written in the liner notes: “Mo Mháire” celebrates the beauty of a girl named Máire, and for this reason perhaps appealed to the band’s sense of whimsy. “dTigeas A Damhsa” is a children’s dance song sung a cappella in Gaelic by Máire Brennan and one of the men. The last selection is two instrumental pieces bridged by a Gaelic phrase sung by the group; “Cucanandy” is a slip jig, and is followed by “The Jug of Brown Ale”.

Review by Tim, stmoroky.com

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Art Garfunkel ‎- Watermark (1977) [Original US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

The original idea was for Art Garfunkel to record an album of songs written by Jimmy Webb. But when the leadoff single, “Crying in My Sleep,” failed to make the charts, Columbia Records withdrew the album and induced Garfunkel to put together a cover of Sam Cooke’s “(What A) Wonderful World” with Paul Simon and James Taylor harmonizing. The single and a revised version of the album then made the Top 40. But Watermark is still a Garfunkel-Sings-Webb album, except for one song. And the initial idea was a good one: Garfunkel handles Webb’s wistful pop songs well, and he has made good choices from Webb’s songbook, dating back to the ’60s, though avoiding his big bits. The result is Garfunkel’s most cohesive solo album. [The original version of Watermark, on test pressings and only a very few commercial copies, was available briefly in October, 1977. The revised version, containing “[What A] Wonderful World,” was released in January, 1978.]

Review by William Ruhlmann, allmusic.com (more…)

Al Di Meola ‎- Scenario (1983) [Original US Pressing] {Vinyl Rip 24Bit/96khz}

Vinyl Rips By admin · August 19, 2015 · Comments off

This was an interesting phase for Mr. Di Meola. It was the 1980s after all, not an easy time for any musician who’d been around as long as he, and he found himself adapting to that brave new musical world the best way he could. The result was ‘Scenario’, and it turned out to be quite a tasty little album. The line up for the session was also an asset; Jan Hammer on keys, Fairlight CMI, piano, Linn and Roland drums, and Moog bass. As well, Bill Bruford and Tony Levin guest on a track, and Phil Collins appears. This didn’t produce a prog supergroup for the 80s but it did make for one of the better synthetic projects of that often garish period. The winds of the East and an Indian Bansuri, all electronic, open the desert pictures of ‘Mata Hari’, a track that showcases fluid rhythms from Hammer’s Linn drums and Fairlight with Di Meola’s cool plucking on top. The obligatory Adult Contemporary pap follows with ‘African Night’ and the record is further diminished by the dreadful ‘Island Dreamer’. Luckily, these two maestros snap out of it and give us the superb title cut, a lovely and passioned duet of Al’s Flamenco strings with Hammer’s alternating piano and synth. A diamond in the rough and one of the things worth admission. ‘Sequencer’, in many ways the flagship of this project, is a bright electro-rocker where the blend of high-tech with hard rock is best illuminated and features one of this guitarist’s best, most elegantly fierce staccato performances. ‘Cachaca’ slows the pace a bit but the guitar still cuts like a knife as it does in ‘Hypnotic Conviction’. The eerie ‘Calliope’ develops into an odd-metered romp with melodic solos and the album finishes with the racing and clipping ‘Scoundrel’, an exercise in instrumental prowess. And please note the hats-off to Jeff Beck’s ‘Blue Wind’ at the end, a well-deserved homage to that rock fusion giant.

Review by Atavachron, progarchives.com (more…)