Rory Gallagher - Original Album Classics CD

Original Album Classics songs A surprise best-seller when it was first released, this mostly improvised pairing of singer/keyboardist/producer Al Kooper with two major guitar heroes of the day sounds fascinating all these years later precisely because of the distance of time--nobody makes records like this any more. The material runs the gamut from folk pop (covers of Donovan and Dylan), to blues ("Albert's Shuffle," "You Don't Love Me"), to heady jams ("His Holy Modal Majesty"), to big-band jazz ("Harvey's Tune"). All the tunes make effective templates for the kind off-the-cuff music-making that in less capable hands might have resulted in simple noodling. In fact, although Bloomfield and Stills don't play together on any of the cuts (Bloomfield played on one side of the original LP, Stills on the other), all three principals get off lots of good licks and producer Kooper has some interesting tricks up his sleeve, as in the over-the-top phasing he lavishes on "You Don't Love Me." The only real disappointment here is that Stills, a far better singer than Kooper, never opens his mouth. Those familiar with the Live Adventures album these two recorded at the Fillmore West know how brilliant they could be on stage, and here's another gem, recorded at the Fillmore East this time and featuring 'One Way Out,' 'It's My Own Fault' (with Bloomfield trading licks with Johnny Winter...Johnny was signed to Columbia after this gig!). Newly remastered & now with 4 bonus tracks, 'Albert's Shuffle' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Season of the Witch.' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Blues For Nothing' (Studio Outtake) & 'Fat Grey Cloud' Previously Unreleased Live Track). Features 12-page booklet with unpublished photos from the recording session, new liner notes by Al Kooper & the Rolling Stone Hall Of Fame review by David Fricke. 60 scintillating minutes! 13 tracks. Colunbia/Legacy. 2003. Includes liner notes by Al Kooper, Michael Thomas. Includes liner notes by Michael Thomas. Full performer name: Mike Bloomfield/Al Kooper/Steve Stills. Personnel: Mike Bloomfield (electric guitar); Al Kooper (vocals, 12-string & electric guitars, piano, organ, ondioline); Steve Stills (electric guitar); Barry Goldberg (electric piano); Harvey Brooks (bass); Eddie Hoh (drums). Personnel: Mike Bloomfield (electric guitar); Al Kooper (piano, organ, ondioline, vocals, 12-string & electric guitars); Steve Stills (electric guitar); Barry Goldberg (electric piano); Harvey Brooks (bass); Eddie Hoh (drums). Reissue producer: Bob Irwin.

Original Album Classics CD music Recorded in 1971, shortly before guitarist Peter Frampton left the band, ROCKIN' presents Humble Pie live at New York City's Fillmore East. The British blues-rock group charges through a sweaty, high-octane set (originally released as a double LP) that includes the blistering stompers "Four Day Creep," "Stone Cold Fever," and "I Don't Need No Doctor." Although the entire ensemble is in top form on this seven-song disc, the record is a showcase for the astoundingly powerful vocals of former Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott (who, in his hard-rock mode, prefigures AC/DC's Bon Scott) and the heavy-blues riffage of Frampton (surprisingly enough, the guy could wield an axe), who would, of course, go on to record his own wildly successful concert album later in the decade. Originally released on LP as a double album. Recorded live at The Fillmore East, New York. Personnel: Steve Marriott (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Peter Frampton (vocals, guitar); Jerry Shirley (drums). Audio Remixer: Eddie Kramer. Photographers: Joel Brodsky; Randy Alpert; Shepard Sherbell. Arranger: Humble Pie.

Original Album Classics buy CD music On its third album, Wishbone Ash doesn't mess with its formula--as before, this long running British rock institution purveys a mix of blues, folk, and Yes- style riffs mated to endearingly cosmic lyrics. The songs here, however, are considerably more focused and well crafted than on the band's previous efforts, and the harmony singing is delightful. As always, the band's basis is the tag team guitars of Andy Powell and Ted Turner. Fans of this duo's mix of Yardbirds- and Allman Brothers- style harmony licks and dueling solos will find much to admire here, particularly "The King Will Come" and "Time Was," a folk-ish epic in several contrasting sections. All in all, ARGUS is one of the best guitar albums of the early '70s. Includes liner notes by Leon Tsilis. Digitally remastered by Erik Kvortek. Additional Tracks Producer: Derek Lawrence. Reissue producers: Andy McKaie, Leon Tsilis. ARGUS: EXPANDED EDITION contains bonus tracks from LIVE IN MEMPHIS, a 1972 promotional EP. Wishbone Ash includes: Ted Turner, Andy Powell (gutiar); Martin Turner (bass); Steve Upton (drums, percussion).

Original Album Classics album for sale The Jeff Beck Group's debut, 1968's TRUTH remains a stunner, probably the best work of the guitarist's long career. Perhaps energized by the bust-up of the Yardbirds, Beck is positively overflowing with ideas throughout the entire album, which pointedly starts with a completely different recasting of the Yardbirds hit "Shapes of Things." TRUTH then continues through an impressively varied set of tunes, ranging from an achingly slow, bluesy version of the Broadway standard "Ol' Man River" to a technically astounding acoustic solo version of "Greensleeves" and a killer pair of Willie Dixon covers including a take on "You Shook Me" that shreds Led Zeppelin's contemporaneous version. Throughout, the then-unknown Rod Stewart sings his heart out; he's as important to the album as Beck himself, and it's unsurprising that when Stewart and bassist Ron Wood left to form the Faces, the Jeff Beck Group never recovered. Includes liner notes by Jeff Beck. Additional Tracks Reissue producer: Bruce Dickinson. Personnel: Jeff Beck (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar); Jeff Beck; Jimmy Page (electric 12-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Mysterious Scottish Bloke (bagpipe); John Paul Jones (organ, bass guitar); Ron Wood (bass guitar); Keith Moon (drums, timpani); Mickey Waller (drums); Ken Lewis , Ken Lewis (background vocals); Rod Stewart (vocals); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Aynsley Dunbar, Clem Cattini (drums); John Carter , Madeline Bell (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Peter Mew. Audio Remasterer: Peter Mew. Recording information: Abbey Raod Studio 3 (07/12/1966-05/26/1968); Abbey Road Studio 3 (07/12/1966-05/26/1968); De Lane Lea (07/12/1966-05/26/1968). Photographer: Baron Wolman. Arranger: Jeffrey Rod. Personnel: Jeff Beck (guitar, bass); Rod Stewart (vocals); Nicky Hopkins (piano); John Paul Jones (Hammond organ); Ron Wood (bass); Mick Waller (drums). Producer: Mickie Most.

Original Album Classics CD music Gov't Mule's live New Year's Eve shows are the high point of the year for fans: they usually last for four hours-plus, and include loads of guests who help to create some inspiring musical moments. Two early Mule live releases were also recorded on NYE -- Live at Roseland Ballroom (1995) and Live with a Little Help from Our Friends, recorded at Atlanta's Roxy in 1998 -- released twice, in two-disc and four-disc versions. The triple-disc Mulennium was recorded December 31, 1999, also at the Roxy, but has remained in the can until now. In its way, it is the definitive document of the original Gov't Mule power trio: guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (this was his last NYE show with the band, he died eight months later), and drummer Matt Abts. Disc one covers the concert up to midnight. It includes seven Mule originals, among them are truly burning versions of "Bad Little Doggie," "Life Before Insanity," and "Blind Man in the Dark." But this is a preliminary: after midnight comes the first surprise: a stellar -- and fitting -- cover of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" followed by the Who's "We're Not Gonna Take It" and Led Zep's "Dazed and Confused." Disc two begins with a six-song blues set with legend Little Milton on vocals; highlights here are "When the Blue Come Knockin'," "I Can't Quit You Baby," and "It Hurts Me Too." Before the disc closes, however, newly minted Black Crowes' guitarist Audley Freed joins the band in covering Alice Cooper's "Is It My Body" and Jimi Hendrix's "The Power of Soul." Freed remains for pretty much the rest of the show. The final disc in the package is highlighted by killer readings of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter," the Black Crowes' "Sometimes Salvation," and Humble Pie's "Thirty Days in the Hole," which morphs into "I Don't Need No Doctor." Guitarist Johnny Mosier and pedal steel player Mark Van Allen (the latter two are members of Blueground Undergrass) join Mule and Freed on the encores: Tony Joe White's "Out of the Rain," Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man" close the show. Ultimately, Mulennium is a truly special Gov't Mule gig. Though it was never meant to be released, the remixed sound is full and present, and it showcases the band at its raw, hot, improvisationally spontaneous best. ~ Thom Jurek Recording information: Roxy Theatre, Atlanta, GA (12/31/1999).

Original Album Classics buy CD music This three-disc box combines Ten Years After's principle albums from the late '60s and early '70s, including 1969's Ssssh, 1970's Cricklewood Green and Watt, 1971's A Space in Time, and 1972's Rock & Roll Music to the World, as well as single edits of 1970's "Love Like a Man" and 1972's "I'd Love to Change the World," which means one gets pretty much all of the essential stuff from the band's peak years. It's an awful lot of TYA, which is either perfect if you're a devoted fan or plenty too much if you're not -- either way, it's all here. ~ Steve Leggett 2010 three CD release featuring albums plus rare tracks all recorded during their time on Chrysalis Records. Their fourth album, Ssssh., issued in August 1969, coincided with their breakthrough appearance at the Woodstock festival, a definite highlight of the subsequent film and LP of that show. Fifth album Cricklewood Green, issued in April 1970, featured their biggest UK chart hit with 'Love Like A Man'. 1971's A Space In Time showed a change in direction, no doubt inspired by the more acoustic sounds prevalent in the States at the time. As well as producing their biggest Stateside hit with 'I'd Love To Change the World', this set is completed by Rock & Roll Music to the World from 1972, a classic mix of the blues and rock 'n' roll that made the band such a successful live draw, with lead guitarist Alvin Lee hailed as one of the fastest players in the world. This set also includes rare b-sides and single edits, appearing on CD for the first time. EMI. Recording information: Cap Ferrat, South France (06/1969); Isle Of Wight Festival (06/1969); Morgan Studios, London, England (06/1969); Olympic Sound Studios (06/1969); Olympic Studio 1 (06/1969); Olympic Studios, London, England (06/1969); Cap Ferrat, South France (1970); Isle Of Wight Festival (1970); Morgan Studios, London, England (1970); Olympic Sound Studios (1970); Olympic Studio 1 (1970); Olympic Studios, London, England (1970). Photographers: Brian Cooke; Ed Caraeff; John Fowlie; Graham Nash; John Fowler; Alvin Lee . Personnel: Alvin Lee (vocals, guitar, electronics); Chick Churchill (piano, organ, keyboards); Ric Lee (drums); Alan Black (balloons). Liner Note Author: Alvin Lee .