I was really struck by that sense back when the Beatles BBC set came out. That was like the rosetta stone in some ways, showing their ties to/knowledge of what had come before them. That set and the early Cliff Richard & The Shadows and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates stuff (which I discovered even later - and could Hank Marvin and Mick Green ever play guitar!), were the missing links for me between 50's R&R and "Please Please Me". People in Great Britain probably knew this already, but I didn't!
Do I want/need the box the stereo masters come in, or should I save a few bucks and buy them individually at Target? Or should I wait and hope for remixes? At what point do the stereo mixes begin to serve the music well rather than detracting from it? Not feeling quite ready to plunk down my $180 (or $410 if I also were to spring for the mono masters), though part of me wants to.
Perfectly rational thoughts, but for some of us, those early US Beatles albums were literally life-changing experiences, and it's an emotional response we have to them being reissued as opposed to a rational one.
The Moby Grape anthology 'Vintage', released on Columbia Legacy in 1993, contained the entire first album (plus 35 more tracks), in excellent sound for the time that CD set was released, and goes for under $30 on Amazon. It was done by the Sundazed team on a contract basis with Columbia, and may make a good substitute for you. I have it at home, and only really keep it for that debut album (especially "Omaha"). Skip Spence on his own is totally lost to my ears/mind. 'Oar' sounds like a drugged-out mess rather than a resurrected classic to me.
I'd find it a lot more helpful if the reviewers would make sound comparisons between the new sets and the recent "Capitol Albums" sets rather than just comparing to the '87 CD's, which is such a no-brainer. Of course a 2009 remaster which was four years in the making would likely sound a lot better than a 1987 remaster. How much noticably better do they sound than remasters done just a couple years ago on the 63-65 titles?
Everything except the "Ballad of John and Yoko" / "Old Brown Shoe" single, which I believe is not included on the mono Past Masters discs.
Collecting Beatles ain't easy, you know how hard it can be, the way things are goin', they're gonna bankrupt me.
1000 yen = about $10.75 / €7.53 / £6.64 at today's exchange rates. PayPal's rates may differ a bit.
exchange rates
As for Hiroshi's shipping rates, you'd better ask him (today's his day off ). They're much lower than what Amazon Japan and HMV Japan charge.
Thanks Hans!
PM sent on the following:
Blakey, Art - Like Someone In Love (RVG) $3.00
Forrest, Jimmy - All The Gin Is Gone $4.00
Taylor, John - Rosslyn (ECM) $5.00
Young, Larry - Unity (RVG) $2.00
PM sent on the following:
Frank Kimbrough - Noumena (Soul Note) $9
Reuben Wilson - Down With It (Cannonball) $6
Hugh Hopper - 1984 (Cunieform) $9
Cannonball Adderley - Dizzy's Business (OJC) $5 SEALED
Mario Pavone - Song for Septet (New World Records) $7
Mario Pavone - Totem Blues (Knitting Factory) $4
I'm really torn on if I want to bother with any of this at all, even though I'm probably the perfect representation of their target audience. I really like the "Capitol Albums" sets, and wish that format had been followed, and find this to be a ripoff pricewise, especially the mono set. Guess I'll watch here for reviews on the sound quaility and packaging, etc.
Wow, 25 posts and not a single Kenny G crack. Everyone is being sooo well-behaved today! I agree with the Miles Davis 'Kind of Blue' recommendation. I always start with that album as Jazz 101 for people new to the music, based on merit, historicity, and widespread acclaim (John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" is 102, but that doesn't fit the description of what you're looking for). Welcome to the board, and have fun - there's so much great stuff to discover!
Yeah, on MONK, I bought the record, (skipped a cassette, thankfully), then the original CD, then the Monk Prestige box and also the Proper box. Just what I need, an RVG so I can can have opportunity to buy the same material for the fifth time!
PM sent on the following:
Andrew Hill - Eternal Spirit MINT (Blue Note) $10
David Murray Octet Plays Trane $5
Frank Foster & Frank Wess -Two for the blues (OJC) Sealed $4