Vinyl Rips

Tony Banks – A Curious Feeling (1979) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 9, 2013 · Comments off

Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks has made several stabs at a solo career since 1978, writing and recording in various styles and occasionally under different group names. However, none of his attempts have been very commercially successful, a sore point for the man many deem responsible for a large portion of the Genesis sound. For many observers, Banks is one of the more undeservedly underrated keyboard players in progressive rock — while flashier figures such as Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, with their extroverted personalities, long ago gathered the press coverage needed to earn the admiration of starstruck listeners from the 1970s (and enjoy instant name recognition even 30 years later). Banks’ work was so subsumed into the output of Genesis for so long that he never quite achieved the profile of his slightly older rivals, despite playing an essential role in shaping the sound of his group, which, along with Yes, was one of the two most successful prog rock bands of the 1970s. “Enjoy this beautiful atmospheric album with impressive vocals of the relative unkwown Kim Beacon”.

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Shakti ‎- Shakti With John McLaughlin (1976) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 9, 2013 · Comments off

Believe me, I am not joking when I saw awesome, because it really is. Think about one suberp guitarist , who again show us what he can do with that strings and that fingers, and a superb violin, a superb tabla, so after all it could be a super band no?
I really like John Mclaughlin, I think he is one of the best guitarist ever, so the fact of Mclaughlin here, is one extra point, in this music, you will remind some Mahavishnu Orchestra ( but forgot electric guitars and focus on acoustic), because of the excellent musicianship, and because some passages are very fast, guitar – violin oriented, with tabla and a very particular south indian percussion instrument called mridangam making Raga music, indian music, which could sound a bit rock.
It is a live album which consist in 3 tracks, 2 “epics” and one mid tempo and slow second track. “Joy” is the first track, an 18 minute song showing us how great are the musicians, fast fingers, fast music, all instruments gathered together, and tehy don’t let you go, it is a bit repetitive, but you can’t leave it, you can’t get tired of it, it is awesome because it`s a concert, so that lucky people could appreciate the complexity of the sound, it is full of scales, but you can listen how fine can play the musicians, 18 minutes of an indian trip, which you will enjoy.
“Lotus Feet”, is the shortest song, and is the slowest of them all, i mean, it is not a fast song, it is beautiful and show us the quality of the music, with a more reserved sound, violin is precious, and percussion background beautiful, after this, prepare yourself for the last song.
“What Need Have I for This – What Need Have I for That – I Am Dancing at the Feet of My Lord – All Is Bliss – All Is Bliss “, what a name no?, the name is so long, and the song is longer I think, the best way to end this album is this almost 30 minutes masterpiece, which is full of joy and a ridicoulous (in the good sense of the word) musicianship, is simply awesome, it can’t be 30 minutes of the same way, so you can imagine some changes, I use to listen to this with eyes closed , letting my mind reveiving it, and it is really a pleasure, a can’t say another word, it is simply beautiful, guitar in one hand, violin in other, suddenly both in one hand, it is a tremendous track, I’d love to see something similar until die, I have no words to describe the feeling when I’m listening to it, in fact I don’t open my mouth, only my ears and mind.
After all, Raga – Prog Indo -Prog is my less familiarized genre, but when I listen to this, I have the will to get more of this, not sure if the name of masterpiece of progressive rock is the best for this album, but it clearlydeserves 5 stars, and of course, I highly recommend it to all of you, maybe it is not everybody’s cup of tea, but if you like it the first time, you will love you ever.
5 Stars !

progarchives.com

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Ofra Haza ‎- Galbi (1986) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 9, 2013 · Comments off

Ofra Haza ( born Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza; 19 November 1957 – 23 February 2000) was an Israeli singer of Yemenite Jewish origin, an actress and international recording artist.
Her voice has been described as mezzo-soprano, of near-flawless tonal quality, capable of lending itself to a variety of musical styles with apparent ease. Inspired by a love of her Yemenite and Hebrew culture, the appeal of her music quickly spread to a wider Middle Eastern audience, somehow bridging the divide between Israel and the Arab countries. As her career progressed, Haza was able to switch between traditional and more commercial singing styles without jeopardizing her credibility. Her music fused elements of Eastern and Western instrumentation, orchestration and dance-beat. She became successful in Europe and the Americas; during her singing career, she earned many platinum and gold discs.

wikipedia.org

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David Sylvian – Secrets Of The Beehive (1987) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 9, 2013 · Comments off

Secrets of the Beehive is the fourth solo album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian and was released in 1987. Produced by Steve Nye and David Sylvian, the album features Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Torn, Mark Isham and Steve Jansen among others. “Enjoy this beautiful melancholy album with the brilliant vocals of David Sylvian; a perfect album to listen in the late evening.”

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Steve Howe ‎- The Steve Howe Album (1979) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Steve’s second solo album is a really nice record, presenting to the listener a palette of guitarist’s styles in a honest and enjoyable way. The music is mostly instrumental, which is a good thing as Steve is not as good in singing as he is with playing guitar. One tune “All’s a Chord” give us an example of this, though the fragile song is not totally ruined by the honest vocal interpretations. There are also few quite jolly rags here, “Cactus Boogie” and “Meadow Rag” which are technically good of course, but perhaps too light-minded rants for my appreciation. Then the rest of the album is really great stuff; the opener “Pennants” is an interesting rock track with complex details, carrying forward the progressive legacy of Yes, which already had started the slow disintegration process concluding at the end of 1970′s. “Look over Your Shoulder” is a calm piece for lady singer, and then the rest of songs are in constructed in European classic music style, ranging from solo guitar works to orchestrated pieces. I like classical music very much, so these song pleased me certainly. The orchestrations are done in a very professional way, and the detailed arrangements are created as essential element of the composition, so these are not typical wallpaper fillers done with the strings. “Double Rondo” is the longest of these classical tunes, and it leads to an arrangement of Antonio Vivaldi’s 2nd Movement of his Concerto for guitar and orchestra in D, melodically really beautiful number also used by Peter Sinfield on his “Song of The Seagoat”. I would recommend this album of course for fans of Yes and the performer himself, but also anybody enjoying elegant and light classical music with art rock crossover blending. The gatefold vinyl covers with Roger Dean’s design and photographs of Steve’s guitar collection make this as a nice object for any vinyl collector too.
progarchives.com

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Shocking Blue – The Best Of Shocking Blue (1986) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Shocking Blue – The Best Of Shocking Blue (1986)
24bit/192Khz Vinyl Rip | Flac(Image) + Cue | Scans | 2.02 Gb
Rock / Blues Rock | Victor Records, VIL-6211

Formed in 1967 by former Motions guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen, the Dutch quartet Shocking Blue originally had a lineup of VanLeeuwen on guitar, lead vocalist Fred DeWilde, bass player Klaasje Van der Wal, and drummer Cornelius Van der Beek, and the initial configuration of the band had a minor homeland hit with “Lucy Brown Is Back in Town” a year later in 1968. Things really got moving, though, when DeWilde was replaced by sultry singer Mariska Veres, whose sexy presence and solid singing brought the band a second Netherlands hit, “Send Me a Postcard,” and then a huge international smash with “Venus” in 1970 after the group had signed to Jerry Ross’ Colossus Records imprint. Although Shocking Blue’s albums (1968’s Shocking Blue, 1969’s At Home, 1970’s Scorpio’s Dance, 1971’s 3rd Album, 1972’s Inkpot, 1972’s Attila, 1973’s Dream on Dreamer, and 1974’s Good Times) featured progressive rock elements and inventive arrangements thanks to VanLeeuwen’s writing and production skills, the band was essentially marketed as a pop singles unit, and while they scored several subsequent hits in their homeland, none of the group’s releases approached the massive saturation success of “Venus.” Veres left Shocking Blue in 1974 to pursue a solo career, and while there have been various reunions and different touring incarnations of the band over the years (including a version fronted by Veres in the ’90s), its creative history ended then. VanLeeuwen later re-surfaced in the folk/jazz group Galaxy-Lin, while his most famous composition, “Venus,” continued to see play on oldies stations. Veres died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 59.

by Steve Leggett

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Scientist v Prince Jammy – Big Showdown (1980) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Scientist burst onto the reggae scene in the early 80s with a reckless mixing style that seemed to outdo even King Tubby’s wildest extravaganzas. He began his career as an engineer at King Tubby’s Studio. Shortly afterwards he became a protégé of King Tubby, and swiftly gained a reputation with his fresh mixing style. In 1980 the UK-based record company Greensleeves began to release the productions of top Jamaican producer Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes. Lawes, finding success with new singing sensation Barrington Levy, used Tubby’s studio for his voicing and final mix-downs and offered Greensleeves a couple of dub albums mixed by Tubby’s sensational young engineer. Scientist v Prince Jammy (1980), mostly consisting of dub mixes of Barrington Levy tracks, was presented as a ‘Big Showdown’ between the two dub-masters. The combination of heavyweight Roots Radics rhythms pitted against one another. Greensleeves followed this with an album proclaiming Scientist to be the Heavyweight Dub Champion, a similar brew of Roots Radics/Barrington Levy rhythms Dub albums mixed by The Scientist soon began to appear with bewildering regularity from various sources. Greensleeves, in particular, continued to issue album after album. From the introduction to an interview with Hopeton Brown (Scientist) which can be found here.

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Scientist – Heavyweight Dub Champion (1980) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

If maybe you’re already into reggae and finding yourself drawn more into the ‘roots & culture’ area of dub, then there can’t be a better place to start than with Scientist. This is an awesome collection of dubs from 1980, done in the Scientist way. Tracks 1 and 8 are just sublime but in my opinion, track 4 is the ‘Kidney Punch’ that will knock you out ! If your hi-fi can handle these basslines, you should be into furniture-moving territory. Secure your crockery and glassware and turn it up ! D. Williams, amazon.co.uk

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Renaissance – Turn Of The Cards (1974) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Those who happen to enjoy Classical music almost as much as Prog-Rock will find joy out of “Turn Of The Cards” “This is one of their best albums with great compositions, that will give you much listening pleasure; enjoy this attractive album!”

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Renaissance ‎- Ashes Are Burning (1973) (1st UK Gatefold Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Rennaissance are a group formed in England in 1969 by former Yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty with the goal of experimentation between rock, folk, and classical forms. Over the next few years, the group would go through several line-up changes until they completed what most fans regard as the classic five-piece line-up, which would remain together through six studio albums including this one “Ashes Are Burning”. It was the first of several Renaissance albums to feature an orchestra playing along with the band on some songs, with a symphonic template similar to the sounds produced by Genesis, and a focus on haunting and beautiful female vocals. Andy Powell (of the group Wishbone Ash) guests as electric guitar soloist on the final title track, which became the band’s anthem piece. The album became the band’s first to chart in the US, and is regarded as the most fully formed and best album by the classic five-piece band line-up.

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Neil Diamond – Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Neil Diamond puts himself into the shoes of a character, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, writing and singing music beautiful and rich in texture and melody, to fit the portrait perfectly in a movie under the same name.
This 40 years old album may should not be missed in your collection; compelling music and wonderful recorded.. Perfectly suited for the late evening and in a romantic mood 😉 . Enjoy this n.m. vinyl version!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (1972) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Filled with multi-layered harmonies and complex arrangements, this, unfortunately overlooked, album of beautiful, flowing, and wonderfully recorded Irish folk-rock (originally released in 1972) has been a favourite of record collectors for years. Luckily, the strength of the music holds up beyond its scarcity.
Not merely electric updates of lost traditional numbers, the album works because it establishes a voice and a sound that is truly compelling. The arrangements range from the zigzagging light progressive bent of the opener, “Heaven Heath,” to the more storming tempo changes of “Dan the Wing.” Strewn across the record is some truly remarkable guitar work, with the blanks filled in with lush violin and piano fills. The high-toned, occasionally strained interplay of Alison Williams and Clodagh Simonds may not always reach the notes as they ought to be reached (this rings especially true on the bombastic “The Poet and the Witch,” an otherwise fine song), but their voices have their own peaceful rewards. The vocals see most of their limitations during the more up-tempo numbers — which is fine, seeing that this record is able to soar on the quieter moments. On “Silversong” (the one track that was actually released as a single with “Dan the Wing” during Mellow Candle’s short tenure at Decca’s Deram Records offshoot), the band falls into a mid-paced ethereal haze, within which it finds its strongest points. Gliding guitars and equally haunted vocals wrap around each other in a fog of vaguely mystical lyrics. The crystal clear recording and the lack of reliance on overly fantastical lyrics make Swaddling Songs sound remarkably current. Anyone who is able to track down the CD or LP reissue will be more than pleased with this lost treasure. Jon Pruett, allmusic.

Please note: this Acme white-label, test-pressing, came without a cover. I have photographed the cover of a late 80s counterfeit copy also in my collection.

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Lindisfarne – Nicely Out of Tune (1970) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 8, 2013 · Comments off

Easily the best album the group ever recorded, Nicely Out Of Tune is one of the prettiest folk-rock albums of the late 1960s. If Lindisfarne had never recorded anything else, they’d be one of the most fondly remembered acts of their era just for this album. “Lady Eleanor” is a very pretty tune that manages to incorporate elegant mandolin over some heavy rock riffing. “Road To Kingdom Come” is closer in spirit to the group’s usual pub-rock sound, a singalong-type number with lots of really crunchy harmonica, mandolin, and fiddle, and a really catchy chorus — “Jackhammer Blues” is pretty nearly as good a rocker. But “Winter Song” is one of the gentlest, most haunting folk ballads of its period, almost too pretty to have come from a rock band, and “Alan In The River With Flowers” isn’t far behind. The rest is in the same class and league. Bruce Eder, allmusic. (more…)

Jack Bruce Band – How’s Tricks (1977) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 7, 2013 · Comments off

Jack Bruce’s fifth studio album, How’s Tricks, is a masterpiece, and it ranks with “Songs for a Tailor” and “Harmony Row”.

“This is a strong album with great instrumental work, attractive compositions and the very special magnetic voice of Jack Bruce himself. The clear recording (36 years old) has a big, open and warm soundstage.. Enjoy!”

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Horslips ‎- The Book Of Invasions ‘A Celtic Symphony’ (1976) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · March 7, 2013 · Comments off

With this LP, I finish my pilgrimage through the extensive discography of Horslips, because they discography are long.
“The Book Of Invasions” is a collector’s item, oriented more progressive-rock genre. Anyway, my love for this group is reflected in his two early works, for me is worship: good rock, good folk.
Fran Solo, MMXIII
After the lacklustre Unfortunate Cup of Tea, the next album was going to be a watershed for Horslips. In the end, they returned broadly to the formula that had brought them so much acclaim for The Tain and produced a concept album based on Irish mythology and full of great songs based on Irish traditional tunes. And it works just as well as The Tain, having brought them enormous critical acclaim. If anything, they show their amazing musicianship off even more, with Charles O’Connor’s fiddle and mandolin swopping riffs with Johnny Fean’s scything lead guitar and Jim Lockhart’s flute,whistle, pipes and keyboards. The vocals of bassist Barry Devlin and drumming of Eamonn Carr have improved beyond recognition from their first album. Fean also contributes some of the best rhythm guitar licks on any album. Sword of Light is another classic in the broad style of Dearg Doom and there are no fillers or low spots. The Rocks Remain is a beautiful song, Trouble with a Capital T and The Power and the Glory are powerful anthemic songs and the whole second side is simply magical. This is Celtic Rock at its best. It isn’t really true prog rock: it’s too traditional and actually far, far better than all but the very best in the prog rock field. It is also one of only 3 concept albums which really work, along with their own The Tain and Camel’s wonderful Snow Goose. If you haven’t got this album, you really are missing out – big time. It really deserves 6 stars.
progarchives.com

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