What does it sound like?:

Perhaps this album is the unexpected hit of Christmas 2015, with over 500.000 copies already sold to date, making it the fourth biggest seller of 2015.

This album takes a simple premise – remove the original backing tracks from some classic vocal performances and replace them with orchestrations masterfully performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

You only have to listen to the first track, Burning Love, to know they are on to a winner with this.

It’s pleasing that the selection of material hasn’t simply stuck to the tried and trusted obvious hits (although there are plenty of these) – instead the producers have included some lesser known songs such as Steamroller Blues, If I Can Dream and one of my late dad’s favourites How Great Thou Art.

I must confess to being initially sceptical about this album, but I have been proved wrong because this is top quality stuff!

What does it all *mean*?

Quality is timeless! When this album made the number one slot, Elvis became the only solo artist to have achieved this feat in five different decades.

Goes well with…

This makes a great last minute present – no-one » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Fish continues his programme of reissues with this 3 cd expanded version of his 2001 effort Fellini Days.

This is a somewhat neglected album from a rather sticky period of his solo career, but it does warrant a reappraisal all these years down the line.

As with the other albums in this series, the 3 cds are split between the original album, demos and live recordings.

The original album is the strongest of the three, with the lengthier songs like 3D, Pilgrims Address, Tiki 4 and Clock Moves Sideways standing out in particular.

The demos on cd 2 are mainly instrumentals this time round, while there are some good live renditions of the material on the third cd.

The package comes with a very good booklet with extensive notes on the album’s recording and lyrics etc from the man himself.

What does it all *mean*?

Not perhaps one of the strongest Fish albums, but it’s interesting to hear it again and to be able to trace the development of the songs through the various demos.

Goes well with…

Other Fish albums – although this is maybe more one for the completists, who » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

As most readers will be aware by now, this box set comprises 4 cds and 3 dvds plus a lengthy book. Unfortunately the dvds and book weren’t available for review, so this article relates just to the cds.

The first two cds are a reissue of the original ‘The River’ double album from way back in 1980, always something of a mixed bag but presumably anyone interested has heard it long before now. For me the most interesting pieces were always the more introspective ones, Point Blank being a personal favourite, but it’s an album with something for everyone really – ballads and out and out rockers abound….take your pick!

The more interesting parts of this set come on cds 3 and 4. The first of these is the album usually referred to as ‘The Ties That Bind’ that was the original proposed follow up to ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ in 1979. Of the ten songs on this single album, seven finally made it onto the eventual release of ‘The River’, although some appeared in slightly altered form, with different arrangements, extra verses etc. The album would still have been a » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Readers of a certain age will remember this show being broadcast as an OGWT special live on Christmas Eve 1975. A mere forty years have somehow slipped by since then, but finally, after being mooted for a number of years, the full show finally surfaces, remixed and restored in state of the art quality sound and vision on this cd/dvd combo set.

The gig captures Queen in their mid 70s prime, touring after the release of there then new A Night at The Opera album, and Christmas spirit is in evidence in abundance throughout proceedings as the band career through a selection of prime cuts from their first four albums.

After the first encore the BBC camera crew knocked off, so as with the TV broadcast on the night, the dvd of the show ends at that point. Fortunately the sound man kept the tapes rolling, and thus the cd also includes the long lost second encore of Seven Seas of Rhye and See What A Fool I’ve Been.

Bonus features on the dvd include three songs recorded on the Japanese tour from earlier in that year, plus a twenty minute documentary featuring Messrs » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Another strong contender in the Xmas stocking filler stakes, this 3 cd set is the latest tie in with ITV’s ‘The Nation’s Favourite…..’ series.

This is actually a very good set; pretty much everything you’d expect to find on an album like this is present and correct, and more besides.

Whether you like the old classics by Otis, James, Aretha and co or prefer more contemporary material by the likes of Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie and Womack and Womack, there really is something for everyone here.

Sometimes compilations such as this run out of steam by the third cd, but this is certainly not the case with this one – great value for money really!

What does it all *mean*?

Christmas is coming – fast!

Goes well with…

A Christmas party obviously , but this is a compilation you can easily return to and play at any time of the year.

Might suit people who like…

There’s always a debate with musical genres as to what should or shouldn’t qualify, but putting aside what exactly the criteria for ‘soul music’ are, this is a very good and reasonably priced set – if you’re stuck » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

This is the two cd version of these shows – there are various other cd and/or dvd sets that are available .

Basically, it is a distillation of the concerts performed in Chicago last July, with the four surviving members of the Grateful Dead being augmented by Trey Anastasio of Phish, Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti in an attempt to fill the Garcia shaped hole in proceedings..

This package does a very good job in capturing the essence of those performances , although you will need the full sets to get the real deal of course.

It does include a couple of personal favourites though – a lovely China Cat Sunflower > I know You Rider on the first disc, and a sublime Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain on the second.

Any album that kicks off with Box Of Rain and progresses through songs like The Music Never stopped and Truckin’, before ending with a poignant Attics Of My Life must be doing something right!

What does it all *mean*?

Well it was obviously never going to be the same without Garcia, but his spirit looms large over all these songs, and » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Anyone who saw the live show in the last couple of years, or indeed is familiar with the classic Pink Floyd album, will know pretty much what to expect here.

A mournful trumpet introduction signals the beginning of this seminal work, the only changes from the original album being the addition of ‘The Ballad of Jean Charles De Menezes’ after ABITW Part 2, and of course the tracks omitted from the original 1979 Floyd recording such as What Shall We Do Now and The Last Few Bricks.

This is a classic album given a reboot for the 21st century. No longer the tale of a disintegrating rock star, the mandate has been extended so it is now a broader statement about what is happening in the world today.

As you’d expect from Waters, the production by Nigel Godrich of Radiohead fame is superb. the sound quality is state of the art, and the musicianship is flawless.

A great package – DVD review coming soon….watch this space!

What does it all *mean*?

Still a great album after all these years – Waters may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s a great lyricist » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

When I was growing up, Sinatra was the soundtrack to my early years as both parents were big fans of Old Blue Eyes. This lavish 4 cd collection therefore brings back many memories. Over a hundred tracks have been lovingly restored from radio broadcasts and rehearsals covering a twenty year formative period of Sinatra’s career, to commemorate the one hundredth birthday of the man in December. Most of the recordings showcased here have been unheard since their original broadcast. and they have really done a great job restoring them into pristine twenty first century sound quality. As well as the old favourites, there are many rarities on offer here – songs that were never officially recorded and numerous ‘one-off’ duets. The cds are accompanied by a great sixty page book, which rounds off the whole package beautifully.

What does it all *mean*?

Quality never goes our of style !

Goes well with…

Classic easy on the ear music capturing an all time great while still in his younger years and on the verge of world wide success. This whole set of vintage historic recordings captures the spirit of those long gone years pre and » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Can it really be 16 years since this album was first released. Well, it’s back now with a vengeance, in full 3 cd expanded form.

As well as the original album remastered in 2015, there is a cd’s worth of ‘variations’ (two lengthy demos and a live version) of the album’s centrepiece ‘A Plague of Ghosts’, plus a live cd containing demos, bonus tracks and live material, concluding with an epic 34 minute rendering of the aforementioned ‘Plague’, recorded live in 2000. Among the bonus tracks are the rarely heard ‘Mr Buttons’ and ‘Chasing Miss Pretty’, which originally appeared as the two new songs on the ‘Kettle of Fish’ best of album some years back.

The original album, although dominated by ’Plague of Ghosts’, also contains some other worthy originals such as ‘Tumbledown’ and ‘Rites of Passage’, plus a cracking cover of Alex Harvey’s ‘Faith Healer’, which wouldn’t have been out of place on the ‘Songs From The Mirror’ album from much earlier in the Fish solo career.

As with the ‘Sunsets on Empire’ release, the whole thing is very well packaged and accompanied by a super book of sleevenotes, lyrics, photos etc.

» Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

This 1997 album by Fish is given a deluxe 3cd reissue.

It features extensive contributions from Steven Wilson as producer, co-writer and guitarist.

The first disc features the original album in remastered form, while the second disc concentrates on bonus tracks and demos, and the third showcases live performances of the songs.

The whole package is rather beautifully presented with a lavish book containing sleevenotes, lyrics, photographs and illustrations.

This is an album that didn’t enjoy great success on its original release, but it’s certainly worth reappraisal as it includes standout pieces such as Goldfish and Clowns, Brother 52 and of course the epic title track.

The demos of the album included provide interesting listening, showing the development of the songs.

The sound quality really is superb, and this is just the first of a series of reissues of the Fish solo catalogue in this deluxe 3 cd format over the coming months.

What does it all *mean*?

An album that is often overlooked, this is well worth checking out. Well written, well played songs and the whole thing expertly produced by Mr Wilson.

Goes well with…

Proggish type rock, other albums in the » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

More on the stocking filler front….these are three triple cd sets, each aiming to cover the relevant decade. A tough task, but actually these compilations make a pretty good attempt at fulfilling the brief. Quite often sets like these seem to run out of steam on the third cd, but that certainly isn’t the case here – every cd is all killer and no filler – well, very little anyway. I can honestly say there was a hardly a song on these nine discs that I didn’t know, which is just what the doctor ordered for this type of thing, intended as a Christmas gift or for playing at festive parties!

What does it all *mean*?

Inevitably that the festive season is once again nearly upon us, good folk of The Afterword…..

Goes well with…

These cds are great value for so many good listener friendly songs, and no doubt will be found lurking in many a stocking on Christmas morning – and rightly so!

Might suit people who like…

There’s something for every age group here, depending on which decade encompasses your formative musical years. Everyone’s a winner!