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Hergest Ridge.....Mike Oldfield.....Virgin Records.....UK first pressing Benelux sleeve.
....
This is close to a first pressing and as such contains the original mix of Hergest ridge which is significantly different to the later issues. Mike remixed the album for the “Boxed” release and as such abandoned the original mix until it’s recent reissue in his Mercury reissues. Mike was never really comfortable with Hergest Ridge at times he has said that he was uncomfortable with it and “bored” during it’s recording. It was the follow up to the highly successful “Tubular Bells” which was always going to be a difficult act to follow.
Hergest Ridge is the name of a beautiful place just on the Welsh border and it was the place Mike withdrew to when he tried to escape the publicity and notoriety of his early success. It is a wild desolate place which has great natural beauty which is captured in this record.
The original mix has a rawer quality about it than the remix(es), which somehow reflects more the feel of the landscape of Hergest Ridge. In addition there are instruments and sections that are more prominent in this mix and this is lost in the remixes.
Sadly, Hergest Ridge was produced in 1974 and to get a good clean copy is a difficult. This was the height of the oil crisis and as such many of the pressings are on poor recycled vinyl. The copy I have although cleaned well and in good shape visibly is still quite noisy. However, an early 1974 copy is well worth seeking out so that you can enjoy the beauty and rawness of the original mix.
It is easy to see that CD benefited Hergest Ridge....it is an album which sadly was a classical based piece of music which had been subject to poor quality vinyl which at times is quite intrusive. CD brought silence to it’s background which help to allow access to the more subtle areas of it’s score.
So , go out and look for an early UK copy of this album (or maybe the original mix on CD ) and sit and enjoy its raw and expressive nature.......enjoy listening also to the remix and indulge in the game of compare the two mixes!
( For the audiophile who wants a special treat..... The Japanese release uses the SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) manufacturing process and I believe it contains the original mix too !
Kauan - Sorni Nai
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http://theartofsound.net/forum/attac...3&d=1480668582
Songwriter.......Justin Hayward........Deram SDL 15.....English Copy
A solo album, from a member of The Moody Blues published 1977. Justin had worked on several projects outside the Moody’s notably with John Lodge. His song writing talents, were producing not only contributions to the Moody Blues themes but also, he had material that he wanted to develop more for himself. The style of the album defiantly reflects the Moody’s sound but he develops themes and idea that reflect his own thinking and personality .Some of these solo works, would not fit on a Moody’s album.
When I first owned this album, I found it a bit light weight and I didn’t really get into it. However my original copy is long gone but, in the last few days, I have acquired a second copy and began listening to it again and realised that I had misjudged it somewhat .The first thing I noticed, was the commonality between Justin’s sound and writing style to that of Clifford T Ward. In fact, they tackle common themes and go about it in a similar way. There is also a common aspect in the sounds of their voices. Further both artists have the ability to observe situations and report on them in song. Of course there are differences Justin appears to compose musically in a different way to Clifford who always favours piano based composition with his own self taught chord structures and with a view to orchestration.
So what is in the package “Songwriter”? Ten tracks (on the vinyl version) exploring themes from being a “Song writer” to Nostradamus. Most are vocals with Justin’s vocal being foremost and his guitar work too. It’s soft rock and easy on the ear. It takes a few plays before the music and lyrics come into focus but, when they do it is good listen and one that you would enjoy over again.
The pressing I have is a good clean and largely silent one, reflecting Decca’s high standards at the time.:)
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Nathaniel Ratcliff
The Style Council
The Ultimate Collection
CD
Putting the Sony SA S1's through their paces :eek:on the La Scala system :eyebrows:
Where to put it all......:scratch:
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Quid for a double lp from charity shop & was still in shrink wrap
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Great album..
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Testing the Sony TAE S1 Preamplifier
Otis Rush - Right Place Wrong Time
Vinyl
Very good phono stage.....:D
http://theartofsound.net/forum/attac...1&d=1481103077
This album is where jazz opera and fledgling pop music collided in the early 60s. Add to that Shakespeare and New York City and the recipe for a classic album was born. With Music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim the ability to capture the feel and emotions of one of the world’s classic stories was assured. The film score is as many were at the time , not a true reflection of the talents of the actors and actresses who stared in the film .Instead they were dubbed using the finest vocalists from the film studio’s roster. Sadly , they are not credited on the album sleeve and it is only in recent years that their true stories have been told. I am told that at the time, these great vocalists were only given session fees for their work, despite this album going on to sell over three million copies.
The film was ground breaking for it’s ability to create the atmospheric setting for the story and much of this transfers to the album. There are great audio pictures of the gangs involved in the play and the emotions of love a beautifully portrayed in “ Tonight” and “Somewhere”. There is social comment on the problems facing immigrants , youth and the everyday struggle to survive. Dreams and aspirations are debated in “America” and later we are tempted to see the vision of how divided communities might come together. It was relevant in 1961 and it still is today !
Vinylwise? I think I have a late 60s Dutch copy which was acquired for peanuts but, it is as quiet and flat as you could wish for. Sonically it is excellent and can challenge most cartridges as it is well cut.
To my mind this album was an excellent way to blow a Euro and will be enjoyed for many years to come!
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Ryan Adams - Gold
Good choice, I'll have to dig my copy out now!Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy S
America - Homecoming.
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Stephen Cummings - Lovetown
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Adding to the Scottish theme today, some ally bain in usa
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Courtesy of spotify
Geting down to JB's latest.
Quite Zeppelin in parts, great recording too.
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Looks good Gaz. Not heard that yet. Funny im listening to going to california...what with u mentioning zep
Spinning some Vinyl - Richie Cole – Popbop
Just put the Tannoy 615MK2's on for a run as they have been sat for a couple of months
Ive bought a disco light which is not suitable for dimmer switches so ive had to make do with this little lamp :lol: suits the mood....
The Doors. La Woman!!
What an amazing album [emoji7]
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Joan Armatrading - Into the Blues
Garbage - Garbage.
Ah Shirley, you vixen!
You can't beat a bit of Joan :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Canetoad
Sunday starts with some jazz..
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(Bought for me as an anniversary present, imagine the thinking was "it's on vinyl, he'll like it" but it's really not bad, good production)
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(More charity shop vinyl)
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Pink Floyd - Obscured by clouds (Vinyl)
Eliminator remaster stream
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^ Had just the same spinning here but from vinyl. Moved to the Tres Hombres.. :)
Enjoyed it. Not heard for a while.. now on toQuote:
Originally Posted by Mika K
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Augustus Pablo - The Essential Collection
CD
Just Playing some gut wrenching Dub....the active Sony's go very low indeed....
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Saga - Heads or Tales (LP, Maze Records Canada, 1983)
loves a bit of Gussie, as far as I'm concerned the dude walked on water. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by dantheman91
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Yello - 80-85 The New Mix In One Go (2LP, Vertigo Canada 1986)
playing in the background
Carlos Garnet : Black Love
Roy Ayres _ Various
Asha Puthli - Devil is loose
Redman - various
g
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Before that was John Mayer live in LA.
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Nik Bärtsch's Ronin - Stoa (16/44.1 FLAC, ECM 2006)
This really is something else! :) I like it!
And now
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Cast to stereo, and sounds very good, from spotify premium
Just set up the Quad 33 & 303 - FM4 after a couple of months in their boxes.
Paired with the Teac LS 8XMK1 Speakers
Listening to a variety of CD's while testing 2 Sony CD players i bought yesterday evening...
On now
Yazoo - You and me both.....
http://youtu.be/jusaci34o1U
Jamaican legends feat Sly & Robbie, Ernest Ranglin, Tyrone Downie.
Watching this, thinking about being in a sunny warm place.
Why is the drummer wearing a hard hat :scratch:
Currently on rotation
Gayle Adams - lets go all the way
Starvue - body fusion
Phyllis Hyman - various
Jones Girls - various
Patrice Rushen - various
G