Well, here we are in December already. Where has this bloody year gone I wonder?
It is therefore time to turn my attention to what I consider the best album releases of the year, but the White Room rules clearly state that I can only include new albums, not reissues regardless of how well they have been remixed, remastered or repackaged. So the following represent those albums that cannot feature in my final 'best of 2013' list.
It has been a great year for new albums but likewise it has been pretty wonderful for reissues also.
Early in the year, Family marked their 40th anniversary live reunion with a boxed set of all of their seven studio albums plus a live album from 1970, three singles and two CD's of alternate versions and studio outtakes. All nicely packaged with a 70 odd page book.
You can read my thoughts here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/family-once-upon-time-hands-on-verdict.html
Bob Dylan reissued what many consider one of his worst ever albums, yet 'Another Self Portrait' demonstrated that stripped of all the adornments that helped to ruin the original album, there were some very fine songs there. Additionally this package was boosted by the inclusion of some alternate versions of songs which later featured on 'New Morning'.
And speaking of Dylan, The Band brought out 'Live at The Academy of Music 1971' a four CD set which documented all of their performances at that venue in '71. If you can bear the repeated performances of various songs, there are some absolute gems in there.
In an earlier post which can be read here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/box-sets-7-john-martyn-island-years.html
I reported on the release of an 18 disc box set of all of John Martyn's recordings on the Island label. Plus an additional live DVD. Expensive but wonderful. (And I did grab myself a bit of a bargain with that one).
It has been a wonderful year for Beatles fans what with the voluminous 1st part of 'All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn (I am still working my way through the deluxe edition). Nineteen years after the release of 'Live at The BBC', the second volume, 'On Air' has been issued. While it may not be quite as essential as the first volume, it is still a fascinating piece of history and makes for some great listening. After all it is The Beatles!
However..... the absolute prize for the best reissue set of 2013 just HAS (in my opinion) to go to 'Hidden Masters' a six CD box set covering the career of Jess Roden. You can read my thoughts on that here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jess-roden-hidden-masters.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/box-sets-6-hidden-masters-jess-roden.html
Look out soon for the White Room best albums of 2013.
See ya.
Showing posts with label Mark Lewisohn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Lewisohn. Show all posts
Monday, 9 December 2013
Friday, 8 November 2013
Books#7 - Way Beyond Compare by John C Winn
During my recent reading of 'Tune In' by Mark Lewisohn, my attention was obviously drawn to all things relating to The Beatles. Consequently I found myself repeatedly returning to the book, 'Way Beyond Compare' by John C Winn.
In a little under 400 pages, Winn covers every single recording featuring The Beatles in chronological order between 1957 and 1965. Whereas Lewisohn documented all of The Beatles' Abbey Road recordings in his excellent 'The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions', Winn tackles absolutely everything. Thus he includes home demo recordings, live concerts, interviews, TV and radio performances, field recordings, promotional clips and just about anything else you can think of that has been made available to listen to or view, whether officially or unofficially. In his foreword, Mark Lewisohn himself confesses that he keeps this book constantly on his desk and finds it to be an essential reference work.
Nevertheless, the book is immensely readable though perhaps not something you would necessarily want to sit down and read from cover to cover. Personally I find myself regularly delving into certain sections when I'm interested in a particular period or a particular recording.
As I mentioned, this volume covers the period 1957 to 1965. The second volume covers 1966 onwards and is entitled 'That Magic Feeling'.
If you are reading this post, I suspect that you have an interest in The Beatles. If so, I wholeheartedly recommend these two volumes.
In a little under 400 pages, Winn covers every single recording featuring The Beatles in chronological order between 1957 and 1965. Whereas Lewisohn documented all of The Beatles' Abbey Road recordings in his excellent 'The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions', Winn tackles absolutely everything. Thus he includes home demo recordings, live concerts, interviews, TV and radio performances, field recordings, promotional clips and just about anything else you can think of that has been made available to listen to or view, whether officially or unofficially. In his foreword, Mark Lewisohn himself confesses that he keeps this book constantly on his desk and finds it to be an essential reference work.
Nevertheless, the book is immensely readable though perhaps not something you would necessarily want to sit down and read from cover to cover. Personally I find myself regularly delving into certain sections when I'm interested in a particular period or a particular recording.
As I mentioned, this volume covers the period 1957 to 1965. The second volume covers 1966 onwards and is entitled 'That Magic Feeling'.
If you are reading this post, I suspect that you have an interest in The Beatles. If so, I wholeheartedly recommend these two volumes.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Mark Lewisohn - All These Years: Volume 1 Tune In
Well I have now completed reading the 800 odd pages of this wonderful work by Mark Lewisohn. Despite having read just about every other noteworthy book on the subject of The Beatles, I have still learned an awful lot from what must be the definitive word on the fab four. Yet this is not a scholarly lecture from the author, but a highly entertaining story of all of the characters involved in the lead up to what became known as Beatlemania.
Of course Volume One only takes the reader up to the final day of 1962, so The Beatles had literally only just reached the charts with their first single and were ending the year on what would be their fifth and final trip to Hamburg. Beatlemania and all that followed are still to be covered in what will be Volumes Two and Three. The downside is that we are going to have to wait several years for these to appear. How many of us original Beatle fans will still be around to see them I wonder?
Anyway this is what others have been saying about this book:
‘A game-changing study which raises the bar in the genre . . . Lewisohn, who was born in London in 1958 and whose life has been dedicated to chronicling the Beatles, has done an astonishing job . . . a meticulous piece of work . . . I can’t wait for volume two’ Independent
‘Mark Lewisohn manages to put flesh and blood on the story of the band as never before. He does so with imagination, energy and a gripping plotline . . . Lewisohn’s achievement lies not in mining a single 24-carat scoop, but in the extraordinary depth and scope of his research . . .The raw excitement of the Hamburg period, where the Beatles properly came into being, is conveyed in electrifying detail . . . This volume puts him (Lewisohn) in a different league’ Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Ireland, Mark Edmonds
‘It is the breadth and scope of Lewisohn’s endeavour that are unparalleled’ Observer, Kitty Empire
‘This is a book with a difference, one that ensures all previous rock tomes will gather dust on high, cob-webbed shelves. It’s a work of careful research that turns the legend of The Beatles into a woven history that reads like a work of fiction . . . Sets the benchmark in popular music history that he alone can match’ The Huffington Post
‘To call his biography of the Beatles a labour of love would be something of an understatement’ The Guardian
‘Fills in vital details that had been missing from the existing Beatles canon and corrects mistakes that have been reprinted for years’ Wall Street Journal
‘A remarkable piece of scholarship’ Choice magazine
Of course Volume One only takes the reader up to the final day of 1962, so The Beatles had literally only just reached the charts with their first single and were ending the year on what would be their fifth and final trip to Hamburg. Beatlemania and all that followed are still to be covered in what will be Volumes Two and Three. The downside is that we are going to have to wait several years for these to appear. How many of us original Beatle fans will still be around to see them I wonder?
Anyway this is what others have been saying about this book:
‘A game-changing study which raises the bar in the genre . . . Lewisohn, who was born in London in 1958 and whose life has been dedicated to chronicling the Beatles, has done an astonishing job . . . a meticulous piece of work . . . I can’t wait for volume two’ Independent
‘Mark Lewisohn manages to put flesh and blood on the story of the band as never before. He does so with imagination, energy and a gripping plotline . . . Lewisohn’s achievement lies not in mining a single 24-carat scoop, but in the extraordinary depth and scope of his research . . .The raw excitement of the Hamburg period, where the Beatles properly came into being, is conveyed in electrifying detail . . . This volume puts him (Lewisohn) in a different league’ Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Ireland, Mark Edmonds
‘It is the breadth and scope of Lewisohn’s endeavour that are unparalleled’ Observer, Kitty Empire
‘This is a book with a difference, one that ensures all previous rock tomes will gather dust on high, cob-webbed shelves. It’s a work of careful research that turns the legend of The Beatles into a woven history that reads like a work of fiction . . . Sets the benchmark in popular music history that he alone can match’ The Huffington Post
‘To call his biography of the Beatles a labour of love would be something of an understatement’ The Guardian
‘Fills in vital details that had been missing from the existing Beatles canon and corrects mistakes that have been reprinted for years’ Wall Street Journal
‘A remarkable piece of scholarship’ Choice magazine
Having reached the end, there is now something of a void in my life. One that I hope to fill in a little under two weeks when I shall receive my Kindle version of the super deluxe edition of the book. This is twice the length of the one I have finished so it should keep me busy until Christmas at least.
Happy days.
Friday, 11 October 2013
Paul McCartney - NEW and All These Years Volume 1 Tune In by Mark Lewisohn
Double treats on Friday morning.
First I got hold of Macca's new album which just happens to be called 'NEW'. Having played it straight through twice, I will say here and now that it appears to be his best album for years. I have to confess that I have not been a massive fan of much of his solo work (or Wings for that matter) as I find him inclined to be a bit slushy for my liking. And this album does have a few moments that are too close to pop music (the title track being a prime example). However, overall I am suitably impressed and will continue to give it a spin.
Also delivered this morning was my hard backed copy of the huge new work by Mark Lewisohn. If you didn't know by now, 'All These Years, Volume 1: Tune In' is the first part of three of Lewisohn's definitive story of The Beatles. This volume has over 900 pages and only takes us up to the beginning of the fab four's recording career in 1962.
My first comment has to be on the subject of the cover. Yeuk!
I mean what were they thinking? I wonder what Lewisohn himself thinks of it.
That aside, I have read a selection of extracts from it and found myself wanting more. Well, here it is, so let's get the coffee machine on and get stuck in.
I may be some time.
First I got hold of Macca's new album which just happens to be called 'NEW'. Having played it straight through twice, I will say here and now that it appears to be his best album for years. I have to confess that I have not been a massive fan of much of his solo work (or Wings for that matter) as I find him inclined to be a bit slushy for my liking. And this album does have a few moments that are too close to pop music (the title track being a prime example). However, overall I am suitably impressed and will continue to give it a spin.
Also delivered this morning was my hard backed copy of the huge new work by Mark Lewisohn. If you didn't know by now, 'All These Years, Volume 1: Tune In' is the first part of three of Lewisohn's definitive story of The Beatles. This volume has over 900 pages and only takes us up to the beginning of the fab four's recording career in 1962.
My first comment has to be on the subject of the cover. Yeuk!
I mean what were they thinking? I wonder what Lewisohn himself thinks of it.
That aside, I have read a selection of extracts from it and found myself wanting more. Well, here it is, so let's get the coffee machine on and get stuck in.
I may be some time.
Sunday, 21 July 2013
The Beatles - All These Years Volume 1. - Interview with Mark Lewisohn
If you are interested in The Beatles, then I suspect you will be interested in the forthcoming book by Mark Lewisohn. It is to be spread over three rather large volumes and as I have previously reported, the first volume is due out this October.
Thanks to a friend (cheers John), I have learned about an interview conducted with Lewisohn by Ken Michaels. This is now available to hear in ten parts on the following website.
http://www.kenmichaelsradio.com/
Among the subjects covered are:
I can heartily recommend this interview as Lewisohn reveals some fascinating insights, though he is obviously careful not to give away too much of what is included in the book.
Give it a listen and see what you think.
Thanks to a friend (cheers John), I have learned about an interview conducted with Lewisohn by Ken Michaels. This is now available to hear in ten parts on the following website.
http://www.kenmichaelsradio.com/
Among the subjects covered are:
- The firing of Pete Best
- The Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership
- Controversy regarding certain songs
- George Harrison's frustrations
- The biggest reason for The Beatles breakup.
I can heartily recommend this interview as Lewisohn reveals some fascinating insights, though he is obviously careful not to give away too much of what is included in the book.
Give it a listen and see what you think.
Friday, 10 May 2013
The Beatles - All These Years Volume 1 by Mark Lewisohn - The Cover
A few more details about this forthcoming biography have been issued including details of the cover of Volume 1.
Check out this link.
http://thebeatlesbiography.com/
Check out this link.
http://thebeatlesbiography.com/
Friday, 15 March 2013
The Beatles - All These Years Volume 1 by Mark Lewisohn
Having expressed envy and disappointment at not being able to purchase 'Places I Remember', the fine book of Beatles photographs by Henry Grossman (http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Henry%20Grossman), it appears that there is another fine tome on the way.
The eagerly awaited first volume of Mark Lewisohn's work on The Beatles is now scheduled for release on 10 October 2013. At £30.00 for the hardback book, it would seem to be quite reasonable and should surely be on everyone's Christmas list. However I can see many being tempted by the 'Extended Special Edition Hardback'. I have no idea what that includes but the price is a hefty £120.00! (The book also must be hefty, running to 1,856 pages). Remember that this is only Volume 1 and covers only the early Liverpool and Hamburg years.
No other details have been released yet but rest assured that I will keep you posted as I receive news. I'd also appreciate any tip-offs from you good people out there. Meanwhile I will start saving my pennies.
PS
There's not much info there yet but check out the webpage http://thebeatlesbiography.com/
The eagerly awaited first volume of Mark Lewisohn's work on The Beatles is now scheduled for release on 10 October 2013. At £30.00 for the hardback book, it would seem to be quite reasonable and should surely be on everyone's Christmas list. However I can see many being tempted by the 'Extended Special Edition Hardback'. I have no idea what that includes but the price is a hefty £120.00! (The book also must be hefty, running to 1,856 pages). Remember that this is only Volume 1 and covers only the early Liverpool and Hamburg years.
No other details have been released yet but rest assured that I will keep you posted as I receive news. I'd also appreciate any tip-offs from you good people out there. Meanwhile I will start saving my pennies.
PS
There's not much info there yet but check out the webpage http://thebeatlesbiography.com/
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