Vinyl Rips

Gene Page – Hot City (1974) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

The first of two albums arranger/conductor Gene Page (1939-98) waxed for Atlantic Records, Hot City dates from 1974 and was made at the height of Barry White and Love Unlimited Orchestra’s success. Page, who had already scored the funky Blacula (1971) and helmed many Motown sessions as well as any number of others for The Everly Brothers, The Righteous Brothers (You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling), Barbra Streisand, The Mamas and the Papas and Dionne Warwick, was providing the ultra-lush arrangements for White and his various groups at the time, when they were scoring their biggest hits. White repays the favour by providing Page with half an album’s worth of songs – including a slightly rougher edged take on Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “Satin Soul” – and front-page production (“Gene Page Produced by Barry White”). Hot City features much of what makes so much of the composer and arranger’s work so interesting. While Page could get unnecessarily syrupy – particularly on soulful ballads – his arrangements, more often than not, spring forth with dynamic ideas, inventive counterpoints and some of the most deliciously jazzed-up flourishes heard in popular music. It’s a majestic combination of everything from R&B and jazz to orchestral soul and classically-influenced easy listening – something Page was doing before those folks in Philadelphia got famous for the same thing.

On board here are many of the same musicians who played on Stanley Turrentine’s Pieces of Dreams (Fantasy, 1974), which was produced the same year by Gene and Billy Page, and include Ernie Watts on flute and sax solos; Clarence McDonald, Gene Page and Barry White on keyboards; Ray Parker Jr., Dean Parks, Melvin (Wah Wah) Ragin and David T. Walker on guitar; Wilton Felder (of The Crusaders) on bass; Ed Greene on drums; Joe Clayton on congas; Gary Coleman on percussion; and strings arranged and conducted by Gene Page. Doug Payne, Sound Insights.

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Galliard – Strange Pleasure (1969) (2007 EU Reissue) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

Galliard were formed in Birmingham, in the summer of 1968. They cut two albums, “Strange Pleasure” and “New Dawn”, both of which were produced by Phil Wainman, drummer and future Bay City Rollers manager. In my humble opinion these are two of the best, most powerful, most vibrant albums of the era.

Much of Galliard’s albums are like a Happening. A pop band who’ve gone progressive are performing at the same time as a brass section who were soul but have now got into free-style jazz; or like listening to two radios, one tuned to pop, one tuned to jazz (but without the discordance). It’s a great mix. A friend of mine once summed them up with the following words after seeing them live for the first time: “Like Blood Sweat & Tears meets the Soft Machine.” I hear no reason to change this.

Galliard have very much remained a prog-rock collectors preserve, although they are much loved by real music lovers: knowledgeable jazz freaks, and sampling DJs, but truly open minded fans of psychedelia will also find much to admire and enjoy. This is not formulaic psychedelia, that’s not what Galliard were about, but if you appreciate horns whilst not taking your eye off the ball marked Nirvana then you’ll dig them. And be warned: if you’ve been listening to too much lite-pop then these will hit you like a ten ton truck doing 80mph. Dave Thubron, Sweet Floral Albion Issue 36.

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Galliard – New Dawn (1970) (2012 EU Reissue) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

Galliard were in on the ground floor of the British progressive rock movement, releasing their debut album, Strange Pleasure, in 1969 and mixing jazz, rock, folk, and psychedelic influences. The following year, New Dawn pretty much picked up where its predecessor left off, with one key exception. The band had initially featured two wind players, Dave Caswell and John Smith; though Smith was absent from New Dawn, a whole brace of additional horn players had been brought in to augment the sound. This was during the period when the likes of Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears (and their British equivalents) were starting out, and brass-rock was all the rage. That’s not to suggest that Galliard were trying to ride the brass-rock gravy train — their work is too skilled and varied for that — but simply that they were right in time for the Zeitgeist. Some cuts, like “New Dawn Breaking” and “Open Up Your Mind,” make full use of the horn section, coming off like a cross between early Chicago and jazzy U.K. prog rockers Colosseum, but that’s far from the dominant sound on this eclectic outing.
Lead guitarist Richard Pannell’s sitar work on “Ask for Nothing” contributes to a swirling Eastern atmosphere that seems soaked in a kind of psychedelic afterglow from the late ‘60s. “Winter — Spring — Summer” is an ambitious suite full of shifting dynamics and settings, while the gentle, acoustic-based “And Smile Again” echoes Jethro Tull or the more folk-oriented moments of Traffic. “Premonition” is a straight-up jazz-rock instrumental pushed along by Tommy Thomas’ congas, where Pannell and the horns get to stretch out a bit. Closing track “In Your Minds Eye” opens with a couple of minutes of atmospheric, otherworldly tones before bringing things home with a blast of bold-faced, brass-filled prog rock. The striking thing is just how good Galliard were at all of the varied styles they attempt on New Dawn, but sadly, it was to be their last album. James Allen, Allmusic.

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Focus – Hamburger Concerto (1974) (Original US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

Focus had well proven their ability to write rocking instrumentals by the time of this release. Their catalog, although consisting of four albums, rarely had a dull moment between them. Hamburger Concerto is equally consistent, much of it being prime Focus material. The Akkerman-written “Birth” and “Early Birth” are examples of Focus fully flexing their muscles, featuring superb guitar work and amazing all-round musicianship, as well as sporting some superb riffs. The usual lengthy instrumentals are present also, as well as some manic vocals from the manic but genius Thijs Van Leer. Although Hamburger Concerto is not as unerring as Moving Waves or Focus III, anyone who enjoyed the previous releases would undoubtedly find great satisfaction from this album. (Allmusic) (more…)

Barclay James Harvest ‎- Octoberon (1976) (German Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

For me this album is fantastic, a summa of Barclay James Harvest kind of music. It opens with a classic with an optimistic note from the pen of Les Holroyd titled “The World Goes On”. This is the first use of the orchestra from Moonwater (1972). Other two Holroyd’s’ contributions are Believe In Me and Rock’n’Roll Star which is a beautiful live classic for the band, with an obvious reference to the Byrds “So You Wanna Be A Rock’n’Roll Star”. It was also compared to the Eagles “One Of These Nights”. John Lees’ pieces are all very good, expecially the explosive Polk Street Rag, inspired by the porno film Deep Throat, starring Linda Lovelace (Polk Street is in San Francisco’s red light district). The final song Suicide? is simply one of the best songs for John Lees. This beautiful ballad, in predominant acoustic guitar, ends with sounds effect of the death of the character of the songs, falling from the top of a building. The question, marked in the titled, underline the central point: did he jump or was he pushed?. Stuart “Wooly” Wolsteholme composition is the epic of ancient Egypt “Ra” wich demonstrates the high synphonic ideas of this great composer.
Octoberon (only n.19 in the U.K. charts) is a title that combine the fact that is the eight album for Barclay James Harvest and the shakespearen character Oberon.
I highly recommend this pearl to all the people who love melodic/symphonic/prog.
progarchives.com

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Barclay James Harvest – Live Tapes (1978) (Double LP German Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

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

This originally 2-LP is my introduction to Barclay James Harvest. I was searching for progrock in a record store and my eyes felt on the inner sleeve of that 2-LP.
I read Woolly Wolstenholme: Hammond C3 organ (including 2 Leslie boxes), Mellotron Mk3 and MK4, ARP Pro Solist synthesizer, ARP String-ensemble and Minimoog. In my opinion this wide range of vintage keyboards would contribute to a wonderful progrock sound without any doubt .. and it did! The sound of BJH is almost beyond the complex and varied sound from ELP, Genesis, Pink Floyd and King Crimson. It also has been nailed as a blatant ripp-off from The Moody Blues. Nonetheless, this band evokes so much progrock pleasure with their warm and melodic sound on this 2-CD. It contains simple but very melodic, harmonic and pleasant compositions, layered with wonderful Mellotron, sensitive, often slightly distored electric guitar, a decent rhythm-section and warm vocals. Highlights are “Child of the universe” (this could have been an UNICEF anthem!) featuring wonderful piano, Mellotron and moving guitar, “Mockingbird” (beautiful twanging guitar and then bombastic Mellotron), the emotional “Suicide” (great compelling atmosphere) and “For no one” (moving blend of fiery, distorted electric guitar, violin- and choir-Mellotron and dramatic vocals).
If I compare this one to my “BJH Live” review (five stars), I award “Live tapes” with four stars because some tracks sound a bit too polished (like “Rock ‘n’ roll star”, “Hard hearted woman” and “Polk street rag”).

BUT STILL THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO EVERY TRON- MANIAC IN THIS GALAXY!!

progarchives.com (more…)

Pentangle – Pentangling (1975) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Pentangle (or The Pentangle) are a British folk rock band with folk-jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and a later version has been active since the early 1980s.
“Pentangling” is a best of ‘late’ 60 – ‘early’ 70 album by Pentangle. It was released in 1973 on Transatlantic TRASAM29. It was issued on Pickwick SHM924 in about 1975. Enjoy this beautiful compilation album; Pentangle has a unique sound!

Note: > No silence was deleted; please burn gapless..

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Pretty In Pink – Soundtrack (1986) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Pretty in Pink is a 1986 teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a “Brat Pack” film. The film was directed by Howard Deutch, produced by Lauren Shuler and written by John Hughes.
The title song by the Psychedelic Furs was the actual inspiration for the film and was re-recorded for this soundtrack. It had been released in 1981 for the album Talk Talk Talk. “Left of Center” was also re-recorded. The first track, “If You Leave”, was written in 1985 in advance specifically for the film. In addition to their song “Shell-Shock”, New Order also had the “Thieves Like Us” instrumental and “Elegia” appear in the film but not on the soundtrack. The Rave-Ups, who do appear in the film performing “Positively Lost Me” and “Rave-Up/Shut-Up” from their Town and Country, do not have any songs on the soundtrack. Nik Kershaw’s “Wouldn’t It Be Good” appears as re-recorded by former Three Dog Night vocalist Danny Hutton’s band, Danny Hutton Hitters.
I have included full scans.

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Pet Sematary – Soundtrack (1989) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Pet Sematary (sometimes referred to as Stephen King’s Pet Sematary) is a 1989 horror film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert and written by King, the film features Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed, Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed, Miko Hughes as Gage Creed, and Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall. Andrew Hubatsek was cast for Zelda’s role. Author King has a cameo as a minister.
In 1978, King returned to his alma mater, the University of Maine at Orono, to teach a year in return for the education he had received there. During this time his family rented a house on a busy road in Orrington. The road claimed the lives of a number of pets, and the neighborhood children had created a pet cemetery in a field near the Kings’ home. King’s daughter Naomi buried her cat “Smucky” there after it was hit, and shortly thereafter their son Owen had a close call running toward the road. King wrote the novel based on their experiences, but feeling he had gone too far with the subject matter of the book it became the first novel he “put away” on the advice of his wife Tabitha and friend, author Peter Straub. King reluctantly submitted it for publication only after Doubleday insisted on receiving a final book due on his contract.
Elliot Goldenthal’s score to the film Pet Sematary was his first mainstream score. Its style is sometimes compared to Jack Nitzsche’s score to The Exorcist while the theme is inspired by Lalo Schifrin’s score to The Amityville Horror.
I have included full scans.

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Stir Crazy – Soundtrack (1980) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Stir Crazy is a 1980 comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as down-on-their-luck friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after being framed for a bank robbery; while in prison they befriend other inmates and ultimately escape. The film was directed by Sir Sidney Poitier. In 2000, Total Film magazine voted it the 22nd greatest comedy film of all time. The film ended up grossing $101,300,000, making it the third largest grossing film in 1980, behind The Empire Strikes Back and Nine to Five.
This soundtrack has never been released on CD. A number of the songs are exclusive to this release. One of the most notable songs on the album is the acapella version of “Down In The Valley”. In the film the singer is Erland Van Lidth De Jeude cast for the role of the mass murdering cell mate of Harry & Skip. The actual recording is by Dorian Holley. Holley would later go on tour with Michael Jackson as a back up singer and vocal director.
Another interesting track is the song “Crazy” as performed by Gene Wilder. The song is played over the opening credits of the film.
I have included full scans.

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Sixteen Candles – Soundtrack (1984) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Sixteen Candles is a 1984 film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. It was written and directed by John Hughes. The original soundtrack was released as a specially priced mini album containing only 5 songs. However, the movie actually featured an extensive selection of over 30 songs.
Never released on CD, the 5 track mini LP is the only soundtrack release for the film.
In December 1984, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall both won Young Artist Awards as “Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture” and “Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture” for their roles in the film respectively, becoming the first and only juvenile performers in the history of the Young Artist Awards to win the Best Leading Actress and Best Leading Actor awards for the same film (a distinction the film still holds as of 2012). In July 2008, the movie was ranked number 49 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of “The 50 Best High School Movies”.
I have included full scans.

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St. Elmo’s Fire – Soundtrack (1985) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

St. Elmo’s Fire is a 1985 coming-of-age film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film, starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham, is a prominent movie of the Brat Pack genre, and revolves around a group of friends that have just graduated from Georgetown University and their adjustment to their post-university lives and the responsibilities of encroaching adulthood.
The theme song “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” was written by Canadian composer/producer David Foster and performed by John Parr. This hit song was written for the Canadian athlete Rick Hansen who, at the time, was traveling around the world via his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. His journey was called the “Man in Motion Tour.” The song did not appear on any John Parr album until Letter to America was released in July 2011.
“St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for two weeks in September 1985, and “Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire” (the instrumental theme to the movie by David Foster) reached #15. Another version of the “Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire” with lyrics, titled For Just a Moment was performed by Amy Holland and Donny Gerrard, and was included as the final song on the soundtrack album.
A note about the scans: the labels of my copy were misprinted, or actually, not printed. They are just blank Atlantic Records labels with no text printed anywhere on them. I didn’t scan them for this reason. However, the covers are included.

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Shadowfax – Watercourse Way (1976) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

The legendary first pressing of Shadowfax is that I present today. He became legendary because Shadowfax, was a silence of about 7 years! When Windham Hill welcomed them, reissued this album, but Windham Hill style: cover new, changes in the original recording … what a mistake! The original cover is a art piece.
I have the reissue on CD, when you hear the LP and to compare the songs altered of the CD (‘Petite Aubade’, ‘Watercourse Way’ and ‘Song for my brother’), will be eliminated instrumentation (this edition brings passages with Mellotron and harpsichord). ‘Watercourse Way’ totally new … by God!
Returning to this album, I find it a masterpiece. There is no denying the influence of different groups that cultivate the Jazz-Rock, Jazz-Fusion and some classical music. Influences like ‘Mahavishnu Orchestra’, ‘Return to Forever’ and ‘Oregon’.

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The Breakfast Club – Soundtrack (1985) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 teen coming of age comedy-drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers (each a member of a different high school clique) as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes. Critically, it is considered to be one of the greatest high school-teen films of all time, as well as one of Hughes’ most memorable and recognizable works.

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The Return Of The Living Dead II – Soundtrack (1988) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Vinyl Rips By admin · February 1, 2013 · Comments off

Return of the Living Dead Part II is a zombie horror comedy film that was released in 1988. It was written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn. The film was released by Lorimar Motion Pictures on January 8, 1988, and was a minor box office success, making over $9 million at the box office in the United States against its $6 million budget. It is the first of four sequels. Though this film and its predecessor shared the same rating (“R”), this film had a lighter tone as it was partially aimed at a teenage audience. However the misleading trailer suggested it was darker. The main protagonists, Jesse and Lucy, share the last name ‘Wilson’, giving the cult fans a clue that they are the children or nephew and niece to Burt Wilson, the main protagonist of the first film.
The soundtrack has a great collection of 80′s metal bands including “Anthrax”, “Zodiac Mindwarp”, & “Leatherwolf”. One of the most notable songs on the album is a very cool rendition of “Monster Mash” performed by “The Big O”.
I have included full scans.

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