rpk (02/14/83)
For those of you who lament the music of today, or just want to listen
to the orginal sounds on which your favorite new wave group was weaned,
or find out what cool jazz was all about, there is some good news for
you. Usually, trying to get interesting 60s rock records and 50/60s jazz
(I mean REAL jazz, not fusion) was tough -- either you settled for
scratchy used records, or spent oodles of money on Japanese or European
re-issues. However, some American record companies are finally getting
on the ball and noticing the great music by American artists that has
been sitting neglected in the vaults.
In the jazz arena, Fantasy has reissued many classic artists' records
that appeared on its various affiliated labels (such as Riverside).
Included are Gerry Mulligan, Art Blakey, Coltrane, Monk, and Stan Getz.
The records list for $5.98 and are pressed acceptably. The packaging is
just like the original issue, giving the record a pleasing
``time-capsule'' quality.
Things are less coherent with pop, but if you look hard enough, you can
find some real values. Polygram has reissued the first Velvet
Underground album (you can't peel off the banana, though), on the Verve
label. Elektra has reissued the MC5 album (with ``Kick Out the Jams''),
the Stooges ``Funhouse,'' and Love's ``Forever Changes.'' I had been
looking for that last album for three years, seeing only a $15 Japanese
pressing at Capital Records, a very impressive shop in Hartford,
Conneticut. The American version was only $6. I grabbed it
immediately, of course.
Now, if Frank Zappa can end his lawsuit with his old manager, maybe we
can see new copies of ``Freak Out,'' ``Absolutely Free,' and ``We're
Only In It For the Money !''
``Bob'' ARPA: RpK @ MC
UUCP: ...!genradbo!mitccc!rpktw (02/16/83)
#R:mitccc:-31600:hp-pcd:7900004:000:545 hp-pcd!tw Feb 16 01:00:00 1983 Speaking of Love's Forever Changes, does anyone know if any of their other albums are as good? I have False Start and Four Sail, but they aren't nearly as good as Forever Changes. I occasionally see others float by in used bins, but have hesitated after being disappointed by those other two. I heartily recommend Forever Changes to anyone, though. Tw hp-pcd!tw twc@hplabs (csnet) P.S. - I've seen all four of the Velvet Underground's studio albums in stores recently, so I suppose they reissued more than just V.U. and Nico.
tom (02/18/83)
References: hp-pcd.675 Regarding Love's "Forever Changes": I have most (all?) of Love's albums, and although I like them, none are as melodic as "Forever Changes". The one which comes closest in style I think is "Four Sail" and if you found that disappointing you should probably skip the rest. They are decidedly more rock-n-roll. The first 2 (I forget the names, one has "My little red book" and the other "7 and 7 is") are more typical of very early San Francisco rock. Arthur Lee (Arthurly) put out a solo album several years ago which was more modern acid-rock oriented. VERY Hendrix-sounding in vocals and guitar (in fact Hendrix played guitar on one track). - duke!mcnc!rlgvax!tom
tom (02/18/83)
References: hp-pcd.675 regarding Velvet Underground reissues: I have even seen one or two released as Japanese audiophile disks. Considering the poor quality of the original recordings, this seems quite a waste. - duke!mcnc!rlgvax!tom