Long Walk To Freedom [Hybrid SACD] - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Advantages: Beautiful a cappella, strong voices.
Disadvantages: Lanuage may be a bit of a barrier.

...Most of you will know Ladysmith Black Mambazo from the record-breaking Graceland album by Paul Simon, the 'Heinz Baked Beans' advert that did the BBC circuit about a year ago, and the 'Landrover Discovery' advert that was aired about six months ago. If you are still unsure what I am referring to, it is the sound of fifteen male voices singing a cappella in Zulu, and sometimes in English. I know that it may be difficult to be tempted to buy an album that is largely sung in a language that defies understanding, because admittedly, not an awful lot of people in the UK speak or understand Zulu. But don't allow that to put you off. These gentlemen have the unique talent of being able to sing, and very beautifully too, completely unaccompanied by musical instruments, and with such goose-pimply harmonising that the sounds will conjure... Read review

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Advantages: The first Moody Blues concept album. Is this what started prog rock?
Disadvantages: Perhaps a little dated - but it is 40 years old!

...there is enough new material and an excellently updated recording to make this a strong recommendation for the firm fan who already owns the album. AVAILABILITY There are several varieties of CDs of this album on offer now including a recently remastered Hybrid SACD deluxe edition which comes on two discs and has an additional eleven tracks of alternative arrangements, "B" sides and live performances. Many of these additional tracks can be found on the Moody's compilation album "Prelude" from 1987. DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED - Initial vinyl release DECCA RECORDS 1967 Days of Future Passed [Deluxe Edition] [Sacd/CD Hybrid] Amazon.co.uk £8.65 (sourced from Amazon Jersey) Days of Future Passed [Original recording remastered] Amazon.co.uk £ 5.97 Samples of six of the tracks are available at: http... Read review

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Advantages: Foretold their development and their record label
Disadvantages: Perhaps not of immediate appeal but it will draw you in

...as separate entities. 16 has an alternative voice part by Ray Thomas. 19, 20 were recorded live for John Peel's programme "Top Gear" from February 1969. 21, 22 were a session recorded for the BBC programme "The Tony Brandon Show" in April 1969. THE TECHNOLOGY As before I now have copies of both versions of this album in my collection. The disc is a dual layer hybrid CD. The universally accessible layer contains the Stereo CD mix. I have to admit that even this version played into the inputs of a Dolby 5:1 capable amplifier produces a remarkable clarity of sound and a pleasing three dimensional ambiance to the performance. My current equipment, a Denon 2800 player, is not equipped with SACD circuitry. The SACD layer has the version from the 1972 quadraphonic master tapes remixed into a full surround sound output. I have my SACD... Read review

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