Monday, July 16, 2007
STEPHEN STILLS….JUST ROLL TAPE
For the record, my honorable readers, I have been a Stills (and any permutation of CSNY) fan for decades…and this CD just out, of a demo tape, with 12 of 13 cuts from April 26, 1968, although that date is in dispute, is of at most acceptable audio quality, and yet it’s still a smash in my headphones. Why? OK, glad you asked.
Remember the last time your mom brought out your baby pictures and everyone there went all "goo goo" on you? On JUST ROLL TAPE we are given a look at the ultrasound (nonexistent in 1968, it’s a metaphor dude) of the first fetal snapshots of masterpieces like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Wooden Ships," and "Helplessly Hoping." It was recorded in the Spring; the boys started on the first CSN album that Fall of 1968.
We also get a look into the proverbial womb to experience an even earlier version of the Manassas tune "The Love Gangster" which appears on this CD as "Bumblebee (Do You Need A Place To Hide?)." Stills must also have had more than just a little thing for Judy Collins, besides the Suite, there’s a nice little ditty called simply, "Judy."
If a CSN(Y) fan, you will find yourself filling in (badly in my case) the harmonies as the 40 minutes of "Tape" rolls along, and playing the guessing game, which song did that line end up in finally? And asking yourself why "So Begins the Task," and "Change Partners," were not originally released on a CSN album?
And then there’s the bonus track, "Treetop Flyer," which keeps Stills' promise (at least to the crowd at his 2007 solo show in Pennsylvania) to "put Treetop Flyer on every album from now on!" This rendition is clearly a demo, and features Stills most recently sounding vocal (a la MAN ALIVE! ). This is the only track with any overdubs; Stills on at least guitar and Dobro. It sounds like it was recorded in 2007 with the gruff raspy blues voice of contemporary Stills in fact, but from the CD sleeve, this is unclear. And again this track is clearly a demo, not of "release" quality.
The package was produced by Stephen Stills himself, with assistance from both Joe Vitale, and Joe Vitale, Jr. You will recall the senior Vitale (scroll down for the review) is on drums for the Stills 2007 solo USA tour. The inside photos on the simple CD cardboard case (in B&W), all pithy and compelling are by Graham Nash, no less. And it was Nash that apparently played a huge part in getting Stills to release this CD after one Joe Colasurdo kept the tape in such good condition for 40 years (gasp!).
A few words of warning:
First, these are demos at best; Stills asked the engineer to "Just Roll Tape," and he banged the songs out on acoustic guitar, period. The endings of the tunes are abrupt. The songs are NOT comparable to their later appearance (on the first CSN album for example); the lyrics are a bit different…whole sections of the tunes had not apparently been "born" yet. For example, the doo-doo’s in "Suite: Judy," or the opening lyrics of "Wooden Ships," will not cross your auditory path.
Next, the sound quality is not good; the tape hiss is evident despite what must have been state-of-the-art analogue to digital transfer. The minimal liner notes do mention a team of mastering and engineering taskmasters, in a variety of studios. I must admit a tad of disappointment with the tape hiss, not at all evident on so many digital versions of late sixty’s music (like the Beatles) I have purchased (or re-purchased!) on CD.
So, this is not for the casual fan, looking for a few new (yet very old) songs. It is indeed for real fans, analogous to what the Beatles did in the 1990s with Anthology (over THREE double CDs) to give you a look into the creative process, and truly appreciate the genius of many of these iconic songs. I think I will play this one from time to time on CD. I don’t think it will ever make my most played list; the studio (and live) releases that were chronologically later than this collection are simply far superior, AS THEY SHOULD BE.
Bottom Line: for super-fans 5/5 stars for historical value; for casual fans at most 2/5.
Zeph, out.
PS: Thanks again, Stephen for decades of great great music. Hearing you in concert this year having the unmitigated gumption to perform "Suite: Judy," SOLO after all these years was a highlight of my life. I am so glad I own the "Roll Tape" version thereof, so that I can continue to relive that joyful moment. Long may YOU run!
For the record, my honorable readers, I have been a Stills (and any permutation of CSNY) fan for decades…and this CD just out, of a demo tape, with 12 of 13 cuts from April 26, 1968, although that date is in dispute, is of at most acceptable audio quality, and yet it’s still a smash in my headphones. Why? OK, glad you asked.
Remember the last time your mom brought out your baby pictures and everyone there went all "goo goo" on you? On JUST ROLL TAPE we are given a look at the ultrasound (nonexistent in 1968, it’s a metaphor dude) of the first fetal snapshots of masterpieces like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Wooden Ships," and "Helplessly Hoping." It was recorded in the Spring; the boys started on the first CSN album that Fall of 1968.
We also get a look into the proverbial womb to experience an even earlier version of the Manassas tune "The Love Gangster" which appears on this CD as "Bumblebee (Do You Need A Place To Hide?)." Stills must also have had more than just a little thing for Judy Collins, besides the Suite, there’s a nice little ditty called simply, "Judy."
If a CSN(Y) fan, you will find yourself filling in (badly in my case) the harmonies as the 40 minutes of "Tape" rolls along, and playing the guessing game, which song did that line end up in finally? And asking yourself why "So Begins the Task," and "Change Partners," were not originally released on a CSN album?
And then there’s the bonus track, "Treetop Flyer," which keeps Stills' promise (at least to the crowd at his 2007 solo show in Pennsylvania) to "put Treetop Flyer on every album from now on!" This rendition is clearly a demo, and features Stills most recently sounding vocal (a la MAN ALIVE! ). This is the only track with any overdubs; Stills on at least guitar and Dobro. It sounds like it was recorded in 2007 with the gruff raspy blues voice of contemporary Stills in fact, but from the CD sleeve, this is unclear. And again this track is clearly a demo, not of "release" quality.
The package was produced by Stephen Stills himself, with assistance from both Joe Vitale, and Joe Vitale, Jr. You will recall the senior Vitale (scroll down for the review) is on drums for the Stills 2007 solo USA tour. The inside photos on the simple CD cardboard case (in B&W), all pithy and compelling are by Graham Nash, no less. And it was Nash that apparently played a huge part in getting Stills to release this CD after one Joe Colasurdo kept the tape in such good condition for 40 years (gasp!).
A few words of warning:
First, these are demos at best; Stills asked the engineer to "Just Roll Tape," and he banged the songs out on acoustic guitar, period. The endings of the tunes are abrupt. The songs are NOT comparable to their later appearance (on the first CSN album for example); the lyrics are a bit different…whole sections of the tunes had not apparently been "born" yet. For example, the doo-doo’s in "Suite: Judy," or the opening lyrics of "Wooden Ships," will not cross your auditory path.
Next, the sound quality is not good; the tape hiss is evident despite what must have been state-of-the-art analogue to digital transfer. The minimal liner notes do mention a team of mastering and engineering taskmasters, in a variety of studios. I must admit a tad of disappointment with the tape hiss, not at all evident on so many digital versions of late sixty’s music (like the Beatles) I have purchased (or re-purchased!) on CD.
So, this is not for the casual fan, looking for a few new (yet very old) songs. It is indeed for real fans, analogous to what the Beatles did in the 1990s with Anthology (over THREE double CDs) to give you a look into the creative process, and truly appreciate the genius of many of these iconic songs. I think I will play this one from time to time on CD. I don’t think it will ever make my most played list; the studio (and live) releases that were chronologically later than this collection are simply far superior, AS THEY SHOULD BE.
Bottom Line: for super-fans 5/5 stars for historical value; for casual fans at most 2/5.
Zeph, out.
PS: Thanks again, Stephen for decades of great great music. Hearing you in concert this year having the unmitigated gumption to perform "Suite: Judy," SOLO after all these years was a highlight of my life. I am so glad I own the "Roll Tape" version thereof, so that I can continue to relive that joyful moment. Long may YOU run!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
SPICE GIRLS....not so live?
According to contactmusic.com the reunited Spice Girls (pluh-leese!) are going to use a state-of-the-art sound system that will instantly switch from their live vocals to pre-recorded vocals to keep their vocals "perfect," on their newly announced reunion tour. Of course they are not their live vocals at that point then, are they?
Save your money....wait for the DVD with the fake vocals!
Zeph, out
According to contactmusic.com the reunited Spice Girls (pluh-leese!) are going to use a state-of-the-art sound system that will instantly switch from their live vocals to pre-recorded vocals to keep their vocals "perfect," on their newly announced reunion tour. Of course they are not their live vocals at that point then, are they?
Save your money....wait for the DVD with the fake vocals!
Zeph, out
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
LIBERTAD.....Velvet Revolver...simply great!!!
When was the last time you popped a CD into the player (or downloaded via www) a new album, heard it for the first time beginning to end, and then HAD to hear it all (every note) again immediately? Well, prior to LIBERTAD, for me, the album was vinyl, on a turntable, and had to be flipped over half way through the thing...might have been Deja Vu (by CSNY of course).
I had the need-to-hear-again-NOW experience with the new Velvet Relvolver CD. Their previous, CONTRABAND was good, mainly hard rock, and memorable. In fact I spun that one first, and let LIBERTAD play and was amazed at the lack of the proverbial sophmore slump. Indeed, the rockers rock, the ballads soar, and despite what USA TODAY said about the cover of ELO's "Can't Get It Out Of My Head," the solitary cover is compelling and I think is an improvement on the original. It sounds like it was recorded to please someone special in your life!
It clocks in at just under an hour...hardly short. Hope most artists realize an hour is propper these days; 70 or more minutes (of decent tunes) is better.
Without chopping up this CD song-by-song, leave it as, a great effort, by a serious group, who clearly has earned the chops by simply surviving. Rocking out they way VR does, makes this 2nd effort a bottom line 5/5 stars. BUY IT!
Zeph, out
When was the last time you popped a CD into the player (or downloaded via www) a new album, heard it for the first time beginning to end, and then HAD to hear it all (every note) again immediately? Well, prior to LIBERTAD, for me, the album was vinyl, on a turntable, and had to be flipped over half way through the thing...might have been Deja Vu (by CSNY of course).
I had the need-to-hear-again-NOW experience with the new Velvet Relvolver CD. Their previous, CONTRABAND was good, mainly hard rock, and memorable. In fact I spun that one first, and let LIBERTAD play and was amazed at the lack of the proverbial sophmore slump. Indeed, the rockers rock, the ballads soar, and despite what USA TODAY said about the cover of ELO's "Can't Get It Out Of My Head," the solitary cover is compelling and I think is an improvement on the original. It sounds like it was recorded to please someone special in your life!
It clocks in at just under an hour...hardly short. Hope most artists realize an hour is propper these days; 70 or more minutes (of decent tunes) is better.
Without chopping up this CD song-by-song, leave it as, a great effort, by a serious group, who clearly has earned the chops by simply surviving. Rocking out they way VR does, makes this 2nd effort a bottom line 5/5 stars. BUY IT!
Zeph, out
