Live At The Blue Note Cafe Paris 1961 [Remastered] - Bud Powell

Advantages: Technically very good, virtuoso performances, good prog
Disadvantages: A little dated, won't make you look trendy

...Ash don't seem to have dated as well as other bands: they did the twin lead guitar thing and combined rock, folk and blues long before Thin Lizzy but while Lizzy are perennial favourites Ash are largely forgotten. The Allman Brothers are revered but say "Ted Turner and Andy Powell" and people would probably say: "Television guy? Radio One DJ?" Originally released in April 1972, "Argus" is said to be the crowning moment of the recording career of Wishbone Ash. Fans and critics see it as the definitive Ash album yet I bet it hardly ever figures in those "best 100 albums of all time polls" you get when magazines and newspapers need to fill space. If you've never heard of Ash, they're a bit like Jethro Tull or Yes: prog rock combined with jazz, blues and folk, with quite delicate vocals. In fact the whole sound is quite delicate... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent all-round Moody's album
Disadvantages: Short by modern standards but recompensed by additional material

...I have to admit that my first view of the Moody Blues playing 'live' was on BBC television's "The Lulu Show" back in 1970 when they performed the title track of this album. I had of course experienced their previous studio offerings and was well versed in the Moody sound. "Question of Balance" remains a firm favourite from their early years and is a good introduction to their musical style. It also demonstrates the distinctive vocal styles of each of the group. The lyrics are less "acid" than some offerings but still plumb the depths (the "Whats", the "Whys") of man's condition in life. "Question of Balance" was the Moody Blues fifth studio album and recorded in 1970. In 2003 Universal Music embarked on a project to re-master all five of these early Moody Blues albums from the original tapes using modern production techniques. They... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Sumptuous sound, great production, typically offbeat
Disadvantages: An overdone electro beat, corny in places

...-section before ending with a lush mixture of synth and voices. The lyric seems to be about Ancient Rome as a metaphor for the USA. This song is musically complex, like a number of the others, and is a testament to the skills of keyboard-man Dave Greenfield, a superb musician and clearly a master of his electronic toys. The sumptuous layers of sound that fill this album were virtually all down to him. 8) Blue Sister - An up-tempo and light song that welcomes the addition of an electric guitar, a rarity on Feline. There is yet another lengthy intro that eventually settles into an enjoyable melody. However, that is broken up frequently by some complex key changes and jarring stop-start sequences. What the lyric is about is anyone's guess. The excellent crisp sound of this album, brought about by digital remastering, allows the listener to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful