England [Import]

Product Description:
Reissue of classic Blondel album featuring Traffic's Jim Capaldi on drums along with Simon Kirke of Bad Company & Free fame. Originally on Island in 1972. Eight tracks: 'Seascape', 'Afterglow', 'Landscape', 'A Spring Air', 'Cantus Firmus To Counterpoint', 'Sinfonia For Guitar & Strings', 'Dolor Dulcis' and 'Lament To The Earl'.

England,Amazing Blondel,Edsel Records UK,British Folk-Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock

Average customer rating: McCartney Pop Gem Memory Almost Full The hits just keep on coming! Almost Full / Almost Great Harsh and Grating

Memory Almost Full Paul McCartney Manufacturer: Hear Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD) Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur Live In Dublin Lost Highway It Won't Be Soon Before Long ASIN: B000P2A242 Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Dance Tonight
2. Ever Present Past
3. See Your Sunshine
4. Only Mama Knows
5. You Tell Me
6. Mr. Bellamy
7. Gratitude
8. Vintage Clothes
9. That Was Me
10. Feet In The Clouds
11. House of Wax
12. The End Of The End
13. Nod Your Head

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

More Paul McCartney

Band on the Run

Ram

Wingspan: Hits and History

Customer Reviews:

McCartney Pop Gem.......2007-07-16

This is an excellent example of Paul's lyricism and inventive melody making. If you like the Beatles, you will like this one.

Memory Almost Full.......2007-07-16

This cd is great! I love to listen Paul sing. He has a wonderful imagination and voice is still the same. I hope to hear more in the future.

The hits just keep on coming!.......2007-07-15

This is a great CD! Much better than the last one he turned out. I guess he got rid of the 'bad karma' that was holding him back. Looking forward to more great songs from this great artist!

Almost Full / Almost Great.......2007-07-15

While this is clearly not McCartneys best work ever, I doubt anything ever will be. Blame it on nostalgia, or the fact that I am growing older myself, but it will never be what it once was. Still, it is very good. Every bit as good as Chaos, perhaps better in some ways. I found the "single" Dance Tonight ,to be in my opinion the weakest track on the album. Er sorry disc, see I am growing old. Tracks like Vintage Clothes, and The End of the End found their way into my personal favorites on the i Pod. Ever Present Past is by far the strongest song McCartney has recorded in years. He has finally come to grips with the fact that it is ok to be a Beatle, a frontman for Wings, a guy that loves to make music, and most of all, it appears he has found comfort with being Paul. Sure it's not Abbey Road, but then I'm not sneaking in through many bathroom windows anymore myself. Thanks Paul, a fine album overall.

Harsh and Grating.......2007-07-14

My wife and I grew up with the Beatles. We like Paul McCartney's songs. We both found the music on this album harsh and grating (nearly every song). In addition, the songs find no new ways to say anything. Same old stuff, not nice to listen to. We regret the purchase.

Average customer rating: what can I say? Ridiculously overrated Yuck Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Genius of the Beatles

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Abbey Road The Beatles (The White Album) Magical Mystery Tour Rubber Soul Revolver [UK] ASIN: B000002UAU Release Date: 2002-07-15

Tracks:

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With A Little Help From My Friends
3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing A Hole
6. She's Leaving Home
7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
8. Within You Without You
9. When I'm Sixty-Four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day In The Life

Amazon.com essential recording

Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with "A Little Help" from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon's evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the carnival-like "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite") and McCartney's music hall-styled "When I'm 64," to Harrison's Eastern-leaning "Within You Without You," and the avant-garde mini-suite, "A Day in the Life," Sgt. Pepper was a milestone for both '60s music and popular culture. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

what can I say?.......2007-07-16

There's not much to say really, except: this is music history and anyone who claims to know anything about popular music needs to own this album.

Ridiculously overrated.......2007-07-16

Sgt. Pepper is a good, border-line great album, but it is NOWHERE NEAR Revolver (the greatest album of all time IMO), Rubber Soul, or The White Album, let alone even close to it's billing as the greatest album of all time. While Sgt. Pepper is an enjoyable album, with many good tunes, it only has one great song ("A day in The Life"), along with two average songs by The Beatles' standards ("When I'm 64" and "Within You Without You") and IMO, the two worst Beatles songs ("Good Morning Good Morning" and "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"), which The Beatles definatley should of not included. They should have put "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" in their place. That would of made this a great album.

Don't get me wrong, each and every one of the songs I haven't already talked about on Sgt. Pepper are very good, but none of them are good enough to help "A Day in the Life" make this album live up to the hype.






Oh, and for the record, I'm not excpecting very many people to say I have a helpful review, I'm just saying what I believe.

Yuck.......2007-07-11

Sounds worn and dated. Sounded good maybe when you were on drugs in the sixties but now, it's drek.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.......2007-07-03

Good to hear this again after so many years. So many familiar songs on one album.

The Genius of the Beatles.......2007-07-02

I can't decribe how much I love this album. I strongly believe that this is the groups best album and the best album that's ever been released. It's meant to be a studio album and not played live cause the guys were just so sick of touring, and it just was the only way with this new direction they were going in.

Paul came up with the concept after hearing about Elvis' Car went "On Tour." He thought that Sgt.Pepper would be an interesting concept to have these alter egos, so the music "wouldn't be songs that they necessarily wrote, but Sgt.Pepper did." The opening track "Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and " the Reprise are really the only songs that directly match up with the concept, but the songs inbetween are just as close to perfect as one could get them to be.

With a little help from my Friends is great, but I personally like Joe Cocker's version better (the one from the Wonder Years.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was written after a drawing Julian lennon did and commonly thought of to be a drug song. It's one of my favorite Lennon songs. I love the intro with Paul's Bass, it's so simple but it just hits my ear drums the right way.

Getting Better is about the time when John was really falling for Yoko.
I love George's guitar in Fixing a Hole. It sounds a lot like (Ticket to Ride)

She's Leaving Home is a sad song that's got McCartney written all over it.
The following track has that weird surreal circus sound that's very fitting for the album. George Martin was great at helping the group come up with new sounds.

Within You Without You often goes unnoticed i think. It's a great song by George, that I think is great, the sound, the lyrics, etc.

Lovely Rita and When I'm Sixty four are nice little tunes but not very fitting i don't think, I would have liked to have seen Strawberry Fields be on this album cause it was the first track recorded during the sessions and because it's a great lennon song.

I like the randomness of Good Morning Good Morning. The title comes from a Corn Flakes commerical that John overheard when he was writting one day.

A Day in the Life is right after the reprise. I love how John and Pau tied in their separate parts with a great orchestral crescendo. Everything just goes together and it just works.

Definitely pick this album up if you haven't or download it or check it out at your library cause it's a must have for any music fan or art fan cause this is such an important album in music history and it changed music forever, no joke.

Average customer rating: Coloring with Bob......... A Not So Simple Twist on Dylan Unbiased opinion Knowing me, Knowing you If you love Bob Dylan...

Dylanesque Bryan Ferry Manufacturer: Virgin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Twelve Sweet Warrior My Name Is Buddy Easy Tiger Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur ASIN: B000LPR0SE Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

1. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
2. Simple Twist Of Fate
3. Make You Feel My Love
4. The Times They Are A-Changin'
5. All I Really Want To Do
6. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
7. Positively 4th Street
8. If Not For You
9. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
10. Gates Of Eden
11. All Along The Watchtower

Amazon.com

Long a Bob Dylan fan, Bryan Ferry remade "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" for his 1973 self-titled album of covers. This time around, the celebrated Roxy Music leader turns in Dylanesque, recasting 11 Dylan classics during a single live-in-the-studio week that leaves the album sounding vibrantly faithful to the original numbers. Far be it for the imaginative contrarian to retrace Dylan's steps, and sure enough--despite an omnipresent harmonica--Ferry does just the opposite. The raw rocker "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" becomes a seductive British pop song, while despair and loneliness turn into effervescence for the driving "Simple Twist of Fate." Ferry's ageless tenor injects a modern momentum into early Dylan imprints "Positively 4th Street" (with strings!), "All I Really Want to Do," and "The Times They Are A-Changing," and gloriously respects the more recent "Make You Feel My Love" (from 1997's Time out of Mind). But the best is yet to come, as the oft-covered "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" may never have received better treatment and "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" loses not a beat of its original knock-down luster. The record closes with "All Along the Watchtower," a twin tribute to Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, the visionary for this adaptation. --Scott Holter

Amazon.com

Bryan Ferry Photos

More from Bryan Ferry

Boys and Girls	As Time Goes By	The Foolish Things
The Platinum Collection	Let's Stick Together	Bryan Ferry in Concert

Customer Reviews:

Coloring with Bob................2007-07-18

We all know that Bob Dylan is one of the world's best songwriters; he has given us breathtakingly, beautiful melodies. Bob doesn't need anyone to improve on his works of Art.....and no one is trying to do that here. Whereas Bob foxtrots inside the lines and colors in dark neutral shadows, Bryan colors outside the box in electric pinks and blues all while doing the jitterbug......

Taking a fabulous song and making your own rendition of it, is greatly inspiring and the dream of any musician. You can tell by this CD that Bryan truly enjoyed himself and was honourably creative and sensitive with the wealth of song before him......Bryan's voice is soothing and chilling just as his rhythm and blues make us stand up and dance. There are a few songs which sound like he was channeling Elvis and a few more, Warren Zevon....Perhaps he did get help from the other side.. it certainly sounds heavenly.....Thanks, Bryan.....you're incredibly delightful......

A Not So Simple Twist on Dylan.......2007-07-17

Bryan Ferry has always been a fairly confounding character. His youthful days with the original Roxy Music seem light years removed from the music he made with the latter-day version of the band. Meanwhile his solo material displayed a similar range of ideas, veering from whacky cover versions to recycled Roxy tunes to original compositions that easily could have fit onto a Roxy Music collection (and often did). Taking all of this into context, "Dylanesque" is no big surprise, and neither is its haphazard approach to Dylan's catalog of tunes.
From the start, "Dylanesque" is a wild ride, handling some songs as precious gems, while tearing through others with an oddball slant that could only have been topped by Dylan himself. "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" is a perfect album opener, not only because Ferry nails it dead on, but also because the lyrical theme addresses how it feels to be lost and alone with "sweet Melinda", and how hard it is to find your way back home. When the going gets tough, the tough get weird (thanks for the paraphrase, Dr. Thompson...), and Ferry proceeds to do just that. He bends "Simple Twist of Fate" into a melancholy rocker, and sings "All I Really Want to Do" as if he were channeling the Turtles. For the way Ferry handles it, "The Times They Are a-Changing" might be a sardonic commentary on how nothing ever really changes. "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" is another strange choice, mostly because Dylan didn't write it, but also because Ferry's interpretation sounds dated on arrival.
"Make You Feel My Love" does nothing that Dylan's version didn't already do (or Billy Joel's, for that matter), nor does "Knocking on Heaven's Door." His versions are both straightforward and predictable. He also drains all of the anger out of "Positively 4th Street," making it feel more like the sad lament of a hurt lover than the vicious diatribe of a friend betrayed. "Gates of Eden" may be the second best interpretation here, full of spooky atmospherics that suggest just the right amount of otherworldly presence, only to lapse into the world's 500th version of "All Along the Watchtower." The world may not need this, but Ferry's album is just weird enough to survive beyond what is essential. You don't need to hear it, but nevertheless, "Dylanesque" will probably make you wonder why you want to hear it all over again. B+ Tom Ryan

Unbiased opinion.......2007-07-13

I was neither a fan of Bob Dylan or Bryan Ferry prior to listening to this CD.
My previous opinion of Bob Dylan was that he was overated... and I rarely gave a thought to Bryan Ferry.
However, I now have a new respect for both artists.
The Times They Are A-Changin is one of the best, unique, covers that I have ever heard. I would love to hear him sing a full version.
I can understand why hard core Bob Dylan fans would not like this CD.
The songs are vastly different to the Bob Dylan originals, but it would be a pointless CD if they sounded the same wouldn't it?

Knowing me, Knowing you.......2007-07-11

I find the vitriol hurled at this CD to be especially appalling. This is a fine work. I've shared it with many friends, Dylan fans, and they all love it. Anyone who knows anything about Dylan knows that he constantly reinterprets his songs live, so what's the beef that Ferry follows Dylan's lead? Here, Ferry teases out the melodies that Dylan often only implies--which is Dylan's way, and that's totally cool, not meant as a criticism at all. The playing is subtle and informed. Ferry's harmonica is especially interesting, since it owes more, I think, to his keyboard articulation than to the traditional player's guitar in terms of phrasing.

There is not a duff track on this CD. You all know the songs and the arrangements already from previous reviews. The hostile criticism brings to mind a Dylan concert long ago, when he appeared with the Band and was booed for going electric. Some people need to grow up. Ferry is moving atmospherics and subtlety into arrangements in new ways, interesting ways. And guys, there is no connection whatsoever to Manilow. Clearly, this fine CD is not intended for the tone deaf. The rest of us will have it in their players for months and years to come. It's superb.

If you love Bob Dylan..........2007-07-10

You're gonna hate this album. As we all know most of the world was not ready for Dylan back in the day and I'd say that most of the world is still not ready so you have to wonder what people will think when they hear this latest Bryan Ferry effort "Bob Dylan And The Amazing Pink Bubble Gum Machine"

A friend of mine gave me a copy of this album and when the first track "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" started I too thought it was a joke.

The album is filled with a mixture of flavors from "The Pina Colada Song" to "Jimmy Cracked Corn" add a touch of Terry Jacks (Seasons In The Sun) & Barry Manillow (Pick one) and you'll get the picture.

"All Along The Watchtower" is not horrible but who really cares if Robin Trower played acoustic on the track since it's a totally electric number and you can't hear him anyway. Poor production pure and simple but that makes the whole thing consistent.

Honestly I think the only people that should be allowed to cover Dylan songs are struggling garage bands that have very little chance of ever being heard except by their really drunk and stoned friends and then I think it's cool....

Save yourself some money and buy an old Cowsills album at a second hand store.

Average customer rating: I am buying a new copy Great songwriting and production of Romantic Pop Rock If I could pick only one Beatles CD to play this would be it My personal favorite Fab Four's True Swan Song

Abbey Road The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles (The White Album) Rubber Soul Revolver [UK] Let It Be ASIN: B000002UB3 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Come Together
2. Something
3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer
4. Oh! Darling
5. Octopus's Garden
6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)
7. Here Comes the Sun
8. Because
9. You Never Give Me Your Money
10. Sun King
11. Mean Mr. Mustard
12. Polythene Pam
13. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
14. Golden Slumbers
15. Carry That Weight
16. End
17. Her Majesty

Amazon.com essential recording

The Beatles' last days as a band were as productive as any major pop phenomenon that was about to split. After recording the ragged-but-right Let It Be, the group held on for this ambitious effort, an album that was to become their best-selling. Though all four contribute to the first side's writing, John Lennon's hard-rocking, "Come Together" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" make the strongest impression. A series of song fragments edited together in suite form dominates side two; its portentous, touching, official close ("Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End") is nicely undercut, in typical Beatles fashion, by Paul McCartney's cheeky "Her Majesty," which follows. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

I am buying a new copy.......2007-07-13

This is my favorite album (well, one of them), so I have wrecked mine by listening to it on the beach.... Number 10 to the end are totally WRECKED. So here I am, buying a new copy. I haven't heard the second half of the album in a loooong time!

Great songwriting and production of Romantic Pop Rock.......2007-07-12

If you are a fan of angry music, this ain't for you (sorry). In the context of the times it had a certain charm and still retains much of the original charm. If you are not a romantic, don't try to understand this album or band. Because the Beatles were, if nothing else, hopeless romantics who used music to find love. On that level Abbey Road works quite well. For the segment of the population that enjoys romantic rock you will find this collection of songs rewarding.

If I could pick only one Beatles CD to play this would be it.......2007-07-08

The Fab Four were at the top of their form and their work was varied and adventurous on "Abbey Road". While murder wasn't a totally unknown topic in rock, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" with its bright instrumentation blew our minds back in the day.

Odd and sad that "Come Together" opens this CD and it was the last of their big hits together. I've rearranged this one on my iPod so that "Golden Slumbers" and is the last of this offering. Just seemed fitting to me.

My personal favorite.......2007-07-08

I was a college freshman in 1963 when the Beatles burst upon the scene in the United States. For the next 7 years, my friends and I waited with baited breath for each new album release. By 1970, the party was over for the Beatles, but their music lives on and has been embraced by each succeeding generation. What has always amazed me is how their music could be so diverse, innovative and flat-out wonderful and at the same time be so commercially successful. One does not usually associate high artistic quality with mass popularity.

I will avoid the unproveable assertion that "Abbey Road" is the group's best album but will state unequivocably that it is my all-time favorite. The music is truly inspired, particularly the medley on the second side. I am truly grateful that the Beatles stayed together long enough to record this masterpiece.

Fab Four's True Swan Song.......2007-06-28

'Abbey Road' is the last Beatles album, although 'Let It Be' was released afterwards. After all these years and listening to this record on vinyl, I got to say this is one of the best sounding albums of all time. Despite the fact that sound quality technology has been refined over the last 40 years, no one could do it better then the Beatles.
"Come Together" begans this album and always has been one of my Top favorite Beatle songs. Another favorite and beginning side two is "Here Comes the Sun" which I believe is George Harrison's best song out of all of the fab fours catalog. One of his best loved songs.
Sure, there are rather silly songs like Paul's "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (which I truly enjoyed growing up, still do) and Ringo's "Octopus' Garden" - but I believe these songs add surrealism and fun to one of The Beatles' best.
'Abbey Road' truly is the last Great Beatles album. The band with this release provides a very cohesive sound, working together, although they were on the verge of splitting up.
Ringo Starr's drumming is at his best on this record, especially on tracks like "Oh! Darling" and "The End"
To me, 'Abbey Road' sounds Worlds ahead of 'Let It Be'-which is still a great album. On 'Let It Be' is the album that the Fab Four sound like independent members, rather then what they do best - working together.
- A perfect end to the World's Greatest pop band.

Average customer rating: Good music, poorly engineered recording Time to retire and rest on your laurels Paul is still on top ! Dreadful! Sad! Memory may already be full...

Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition] Paul McCartney Manufacturer: Hear Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition) Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD) Paul McCartney - The Space Within US Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur The U.S. vs. John Lennon ASIN: B000PMLFRU Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Dance Tonight
2. Ever Present Past
3. See Your Sunshine
4. Only Mama Knows
5. You Tell Me
6. Mr. Bellamy
7. Gratitude
8. Vintage Clothes
9. That Was Me
10. Feet In The Clouds
11. House of Wax
12. The End Of The End
13. Nod Your Head

Tracks:

1. In Private
2. Why So Blue
3. 222
4. Paul talks about the music of Memory Almost Full

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

Album Description

The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

This beautifully-packaged, deluxe limited edition also comes with a 2nd disc that contains 3 unreleased bonus tracks and audio commentary by Paul McCartney describing the music, 6 foldout color postcard-sized photos, and full lyrics.

More Paul McCartney

Band on the Run

Ram

Wingspan: Hits and History

Customer Reviews:

Good music, poorly engineered recording.......2007-07-18

I must admit that I'm somewhat surprised by the number of negative reviews I've seen for this album. I thought Paul came up with some good melodies here. The musicianship is first-rate. Paul's voice is in pretty good shape. Sure, there are times when the lyrics could've been better, but that's typical McCartney. Folks, if you didn't like this album at first, try listening to it a bit more. I think it's a heck of a lot better than most of the pop/rock being produced today. And let's not even talk about rap and hip-hop (yuck). This CD set contains songs that are fun to sing, complete with melodic twists and variations in tempo. You wouldn't think those would be such rare qualities in today's music, but they are.

I agree with the reviewer who was critical of the recording. One of the worst examples is "Only Mama Knows". Most of the song is pushed to the absolute limit of CD volume. There's no actual clipping indicated when the track is viewed on a good audio editing program, but it sounds like there was clipping at some stage of the recording/mixing process. The effect of this is distortion and almost no dynamic range. I suspect a remastered version of this album will be issued years from now, and the volume problem will be fixed. And, yes, I'll probably be foolish enough to buy it.

Time to retire and rest on your laurels.......2007-07-18

To say that I am disappointed in this compilation of McCartney music is an uderstatement. What was Sir Paul smoking when he conceived this idea? He has written these stupid essays and sung them into songs. And the essays are terrible and mindless.

Sir Paul, you are 64 and I will still send you a valentine, if you stop writing trashy music. And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. This one is sad.

It is time to retire and rest on your laurels.

Paul is still on top !.......2007-07-16

Paul is still on top of his game !
Excellent music !!!
Recommend to all.

Dreadful! Sad!.......2007-07-16

The first two tracks are the only ones I can stand to listen to. The rest, I tried once but kept fast-forwarding about 30 seconds into each song. I was listening to this in the kitchen and my husband came in and said, "GOD! Is THIS the new McCartney CD? Pretty sad!" I couldn't have said it better.

Memory may already be full..........2007-07-14

I've been humming the melody to "Dance Tonight" since I first heard it. Then it came to me...I've heard it before!
Take a listen to John Lennon's "Dear Yoko" and see what you think.

Average customer rating: 2 Song CD Jossing Around The girl has funk and soul! First, but not the last! I like this girl, and this album is good from 1st track to the last

Introducing Joss Stone Joss Stone Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Back to Black Not Too Late Corinne Bailey Rae Mind, Body & Soul The Soul Sessions ASIN: B000MTPAGI Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

1. Change (Vinnie Jones Intro)
2. Girl They Won't Believe It
3. Headturner
4. Tell Me `Bout It
5. Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now feat. Common
6. Put Your Hands On Me
7. Music feat. Lauryn Hill
8. Arms Of My Baby
9. Bad Habit
10. Proper Nice
11. Bruised But Not Broken
12. Baby Baby Baby
13. What Were We Thinking
14. Music Outro

Amazon.com

In the run-up to this, her third album, Joss Stone told a phalanx of glossy magazines that the difference between this disc and the two that preceded it was a newfound clarity of vision. Whereas the other records--their gold status notwithstanding--represented the fumblings of a huge-voiced kid being bossed around by experienced music-biz types, this one, she promised, would reveal the real her. Thus, the titular "introduction." To which anybody who spins the 14 groovy and fully unbuttoned tracks herein will wish to reply not "nice to meet you"--far too lame a sentiment for so fully realized a disc--but "Where have you been all my life?" As good as Joss Stone's previous efforts are, Introducing Joss Stone represents a giant step forward: there's a freshness to these songs that suits her age (19 as of the album's release) and a funkiness that suits modern pop sensibilities. There's also a cross-hatching of visions with artists like Lauryn Hill and Common that will rightly advance her reputation as an artist who can sling disco, R&B, and rock almost as convincingly as soul. Splicing girl-group harmonies with blaxploitation-style funk with Joplin-esque and, at times, Shelby Lynne-reminiscent vocals, Stone works these Raphael Saadiq-produced beats with the stealth and steadiness of a '70s-era legend who's still going strong. "Girl They Won't Believe It," she wails against the tight hoo-hoo harmonizing of talented backup singers on the opening track; get a load of how much she's accomplished in the space of three albums, and you won't believe it, either. --Tammy La Gorce

Amazon.com

Joss Stone Photos

More from Joss Stone

Mind, Body, & Soul

The Soul Sessions

Mind, Body, & Soul Sessions [DVD]

Customer Reviews:

2 Song CD.......2007-07-17

There are two 5-star songs on this CD: "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now" and "Girl They Won't Believe It". The other songs bring this CD down to 4-stars.

Jossing Around.......2007-07-17

I think this is the 5th review I have written today, so I guess you will have to deal with the silly puns. What you don't have to deal with is some lame R&B album. Joss Stone is squarely on the map with this effort. Buy this thing baby!

She has a rich voice and knows how to turn a phrase. Her style is not indicative of Joss turning 20 this year. If she is this good now, I can't wait to see what she has produced over a 20 or more year career.

Get this one because it she has a lot to offer, and this I think is only the beginning.

Kevin

The girl has funk and soul!.......2007-07-17

I put the CD on at work and declined to tell anyone who was singing until it was over. They had never heard of her but they were fans now. They were all dancing in their seats and wanted to buy the CD! They did not imagine a 19 year old British girl singing with so much funk and soul.

This an ALBUM. You truly can listen and enjoy from beginning to end. It wasn't created to just release one or 2 hit singles. She just keeps getting better and better. Cant wait to see her in concert!

First, but not the last!.......2007-07-12

This is my first Joss stone album, but I0m sure it won't be the last.
Excellent music, warm voice, the right rithm to dance all the night.
Thanks Joss

I like this girl, and this album is good from 1st track to the last.......2007-07-09

The thing about amazon reviews is that in the end you'll never really know a CD, book or anything else until you listen to or read it for yourself. Though most of the reviews for this CD are positive, as is mine, I understand everyone doesn't have the same taste. With that said, I cannot believe some of the cruel and blatantly racists negative reviews. One guy seems more upset about her having a picture with a black guy on her album than any of the music. Others say she's "trying to be black". The white/black thing is obsurd. No matter how many stereotypes get blown away people still hold onto them. Jimi Hendrix, Eminem anyone. Someone else talked about her face not being as cute as Norah Jones??? Review the music will ya. This girl can sing, period. Maybe some of her lyrics aren't the deepest but she's only 20. Comparing her to Amy Winehouse makes no sense. Amy is Amy, Joss is Joss. I own both and think they're both good collections of songs, just different, because they are DIFFERENT PEOPLE! This CD is smooth, enjoyable, has great production and I look forward to more from her.

Average customer rating: Tremendous Where are the listening samples? love the love cd Beatles in a higher dimension LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Love The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Duets: An American Classic James Taylor at Christmas Modern Times Abbey Road The Road to Escondido ASIN: B000JK8OYU Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

1. Because
2. Get Back
3. Glass Onion
4. Eleanor Rigby/Julia (Transition)
5. I Am The Walrus
6. I Want To Hold Your Hand
7. Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing
8. Gnik Nus
9. Something/Blue Jay Way (Transition)
10. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
11. Help!
12. Blackbird/Yesterday
13. Strawberry Fields Forever
14. Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
15. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
16. Octopus's Garden
17. Lady Madonna
18. Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light (Transition)
19. Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry (Transition)
20. Revolution
21. Back In The U.S.S.R.
22. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
23. A Day In The Life
24. Hey Jude
25. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
26. All You Need Is Love

From Amazon.co.uk

It begins with a twittering of birdsong lifted from "Across the Universe." And once the triple-tracked a capella harmonies of "Because" enter, followed by snatches from "A Hard Day's Night" and "The End," leading into a fired-up "Get Back," it becomes obvious that this is far more than just another Beatles compilation. This is Love, conceived by the Fabs' former producer George Martin and son Giles as a stageshow soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil's Las Vegas spectacular of the same name, but appears to have taken on a life of its own. Whereas the Beatles' last release, 1, delivered the (over?) familiar hits in a nice, simple package, Love is a mélange of the familiar and obscure, all literally mixed together in one 78-minute audio collage which succeeds in reminding the listener just why the Beatles truly are, as Lennon put it, "toppermost of the poppermost." There's no new Beatles material per se, but the songs are all approached differently--some are cut together in a flawlessly mixed medley (check out "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You/Helter Skelter"), some reassemble different backing tracks and vocal performances to create new spins on old classics; but all the songs are revitalized considerably. Even in its weakest moments (which probably work better in the context of the show itself), Love is still a formidable prospect, and one has to admire Martin's willingness to go out on a limb with such a project. While purists may complain that the cut 'n' paste nature of the project is simply tampering with perfection, at the very least it'll make them reach for the originals and enjoy them all over again. For newcomers and everyone else, it makes a fine listen, both in its sonic clarity (the actual tracks are the best they've sounded on CD) and audacious nature. --Thom Allott

More from the Fab Four

The Capitol Albums, Vol. 2	Revolver	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Anthology 1	Anthology 2	Anthology 3

Customer Reviews:

Tremendous.......2007-07-19

First things first, Love by the Beatles, features music that is all from the Beatles original recordings. That said, the starting point for this CD is very strong. If you can get past the fact that there are what amounts to remixes of many of the recordings. I am a firm believer that any music by the Beatles is great music. Love by the Beatles is no exception to that belief. The sound hear is outstanding. There are many of the classic Beatles songs hear, with some eerie renditions and some excellent. There is an ethereal quality to Strawberry Fields and I am the Walrus sounds excellent. This is a must have for Beatles fans. I rate it a strong four stars.

Where are the listening samples?.......2007-07-18

I agree with the many others who are displeased that Amazon etc did not offer consumers listening samples of this album. I agree with those who feel that Sir George Martin and son should have taken it even further, wilder. I'd like to hear the Beatles FUNKED up! Bring in (sir) George Clinton on the next Beatles remix project!

love the love cd.......2007-07-15

always loved the beatles..this rendition is great great mixes just another way of listening to my favoret band

Beatles in a higher dimension.......2007-07-10

I was 15 years old when the Beatles hit. I have been a super fan from the start.

These tracks are superior in their quality and you can hear the harmonies better in both the vocals and instrumentation.

In many tracks the music is interwoven with music from other Beatles songs, making them..in my opinion..better. George Martin should definetly go into the vault and do more of the same. I am hearing things I have never heard before. Strawberryfields was terrific. This CD is a must have.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.......2007-07-10

SO I purchased, Love on Amazon
I love this album, still.
I wish there was more of black bird and dear Prudence.
Other wise fun little take along to the park...

Average customer rating: Breaking the Barriers Some of the Beatles Best Work It's Four Solo Albums & Still Great The Beatles (The White Album) My second-favorite Beatles' album

The Beatles (The White Album) The Beatles Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Abbey Road Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Revolver [UK] Rubber Soul Let It Be ASIN: B000002UAX Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Back in the U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Wild Honey Pie
6. Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Happiness Is a Warm Gun
9. Martha My Dear
10. I'm So Tired
11. Blackbird
12. Piggies
13. Rocky Raccoon
14. Don't Pass Me By
15. Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
16. I Will
17. Julia

Tracks:

1. Birthday
2. Yer Blues
3. Mother Nature's Son
4. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
5. Sexy Sadie
6. Helter Skelter
7. Long, Long, Long
8. Revolution 1
9. Honey Pie
10. Savoy Truffle
11. Cry Baby Cry
12. Revolution 9
13. Good Night

Amazon.com essential recording

Better known as the "White Album," this was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even McCartney could still rock, and the amazement on "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. From Beach Boys knock-offs to reggae and to the unknown ("Revolution #9"), this has it all. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Breaking the Barriers.......2007-06-29

This was the album where the Beatles grew up and moved into a more mature and less organised sound. That road had begun with "A Day In a Life" and "Within You Without You" and "Good Morning" in Sgt Peppers - but the Beatles were still a smart pop rock band then.

In the White Album, there is a wonderful sense of a loss of control - and yet this is still the Beatles at their creative peak. Not caring what people think, they're just playing to the maximum of their abilities. And shattering barriers.

The power of their varied personalities comes through. And different sides of their personality. Who cares about anything except the music I'm feeling now? seems to be the prevalent thought here. The White Album is the Beatles Matured - who would have imagined that the Beatles would create "Helter Skelter"? or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"...Epic stuff that certified that the Beatles could rock. "Dear Prudence" and "Sexy Sadie" and "Blackbird" are eminently listenable. In fact - apart from some ditties and departures - the album is strikingly distinctive as a playground of sounds - it is dynamic from one end to the other and still eminently listenable and deep.

How do you define genius? This is one hard album to ignore.

Some of the Beatles Best Work.......2007-06-27

Wow...this brings back great memories. The songs are so diverse and unusual, showing their true talent and creative song writing abilities. The songs are fun and strange all at the same time. It is one of my favorites of the Beatles. When you can have "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Rocky Raccoon" and "Blackbird" in one package....what more can you ask!

It's Four Solo Albums & Still Great.......2007-06-23

This was on sale way Back in November 1968, for $5.00. That was the best five Bucks I ever spent. By 1968 after Eight years Together, The Beatles had just about seen it all, and they were very close to imploding. But, Lucky for all of us John, Paul, George & Ringo were on top of their Game and with the "White Album" they Presented their Best Songwriting and their greatest Playing over the Span of the 30 Tracks Here.
From: "Back in the USSR" all the way thro' to "Goodnight" and my favorite Track in reverse: "Revolution #9" you get a Beatle Album So Different & so Bold in it's Scope and Range from anything else they Gave us. We were Very Lucky to Have this band on the Planet from: 1964-70. It will never happen again in our Lifetime, But here it is, in all it's Glory...

There are almost 1,000 reviews posted here and About 95 Per-Cent of those Reviews are Gonna tell you how GREAT this is, and it is, Don't waste your Time Reading About this Record, BUY IT NOW.

The Beatles (The White Album).......2007-06-13

Good luck on locating this exceptional recording, sound, material stereo separation.

My second-favorite Beatles' album.......2007-06-12

This has long been my favorite Beatles' album second only to 'Revolver.' Due to its massive length, there are numerous different musical genres represented, enough to please every type of fan. It also seems to be their album with the least amount of songs played on the average oldies or classic rock station. Since there were no singles drawn from this album, these aren't songs the casual or new fan is likely to be very familiar with due to their lack of radio representation. And while some people do feel that it would have been a lot tighter and more manageable had it been just a single album, the problem is that no two people can agree on just what should have been excluded and included. (Probably my top vote for what should have been left off is the inane rubbishy "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.")

The songs range from rough hard rock such as "Yer Blues," "Helter Skelter," and "Everybody's Got Something to Hide, Except Me and My Monkey," poppy songs such as "Martha My Dear" and "Don't Pass Me By" (the first song Ringo wrote entirely on his own), country-western-style songs like "Rocky Raccoon" (though I usually skip this one now), softer songs like "Long, Long, Long" (one of my favorites), "Julia," and "Blackbird," and songs that are just plain weird, like "Wild Honey Pie," "Glass Onion," and "Revolution 9." Being very into the avant-garde, I've always loved "Revolution 9" and have even listened to it on repeat a number of times. While it's obviously not to everyone's tastes, one has to admit that this is a fascinating musical collage. (The placement of "Good Night," the final track, right after this song has also got to be the biggest juxtaposition on any Beatles' album ever!) And since a lot of these songs were not recorded with all four bandmembers together in the studio, it often feels like a collection of their solo songs instead of a team effort by a real band. However, this also serves to demonstrate how they had grown as musicians since the early Sixties, with a unique musical style emerging for each of them. In particular we can hear how George had grown by leaps and bounds, proving he had come into his own as a great singer and songwriter. Additionally, the often stripped-down sound can feel kind of refreshing after the overproduced songs of the previous year, whose core essences had been smothered by layer after layer and overdub and overdub, which also gives a lot of them a more dated feel instead of sounding truly classic and timeless.

Above all, this is doubtless in the Top 5 of their greatest albums, and with enough musical styles to keep everyone happy, should be highly recommended to anyone interested in branching out and exploring songs that are less pop-oriented and radio-friendly than the songs on their more-widely-played albums. It's also very special to me since it was almost the last album I ever heard in this lifetime, having played it the night before I was almost killed in a very serious car accident.

Average customer rating: Literate, poetic...great pop/rock 4.5 out of 5 Best rhythm section in rock. Excellent compilation that could have been perfect with some additional songs...4 1/2 stars Another Greatest Greatest Hits.... Must have Police Set

The Police (2CD Anthology) The Police Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur Memory Almost Full The Warmth of the Sun Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD) ASIN: B000PHX4VA Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next To You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole In My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message In a Bottle
9. Reggatta De Blanc
10. Bring On the Night
11. Walking On the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close To Me
13. Driven To Tears
14. Canary In a Coalmine

Tracks:

1. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits In the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking In Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King Of Pain
13. Murder By Numbers
14. Tea In the Sahara

Album Description

The Police celebrate the 30th anniversary of their recording debut with their first double-disc CD "best of" collection entitled, The Police. The 28 songs bring together the biggest hits from the band's five original studio albums and includes their very first single, 1977's "Fall Out."

From that rarity to one of the most-remembered and most performed rock ballads of the `80s, 1983's "Every Breath You Take," The Police spans the group's six-year journey from sweaty clubs to sold-out stadiums - establishing them as one of the definitive and most popular rock groups in the world.

Customer Reviews:

Literate, poetic...great pop/rock 4.5 out of 5.......2007-07-13

I'm not giving this cd 5 out of 5 because of some issues about the sound...the first cd seems to lack presence in the sound and there is some distortion in the first track of disc 2 [I listen to cds on good quality headphones and I feel that these sound issues could be eliminated if people did the same prior to releasing cds].

Anyway, The Police are perhaps THE major British band of the 1980s. Looking at the credits in the double cd, it seems that lead singer "Sting" pretty much did everything himself...from writing the songs to arranging the music.

Many of the songs on this compilation show Sting to be the former English teacher that he was...from his superior way with words, to his literary allusions.

The highlights of the first cd for me are:

Can't stand losing you-a song about breaking up. The 'voice' of the song sounds like a pouty teenager and is amusing for its melodrama. Suicide is mentioned in this song. This topic seems fertile for rock. E.g. Metallica have the beautiful and absolute classic song "Fade to black", with its adult sensibility; and Megadeth have "A tout le monde", which, like this Police song, seems to have a teenage 'voice' singing. Both latter songs have melodrama, but The Police give their song a nice dose of humour.

Roxanne-perhaps the song which broke the band, especially in the UK. It's about the boyfriend of a prostitute, I think. Along with the song above, it is one of the strongest songs on the first cd. It has a nice mixture of a vulnerable 'voice' doing the singing, and the pounding, repetitive lyrics of the chorus.

Two other songs from the first cd which take my fancy are "Message in a bottle" and "Walking on the moon". Both songs are more towards the "ballad" end of the pop/rock spectrum. The latter song, particulary, illustrates Sting's great lyrical imagery...i.e. he likens walking, when one is in love, to walking on the moon...brilliant use of lyrics and imagery.

The second cd contains most of the songs that I particularly like from this band. "De do do do, de da da da" is a terrific song about how the powerful use language for their own benefit. Many years ago I wasn't very keen on this song, as it SOUNDED like non-sense [and going on the title too]. Listening to this song years later, you appreciate the depth of meaning it has behind it. Nice turn of phrase "Poets, priests and politicians, have words to thank for their positions". Sting doesn't seem to include pop/rock stars!

"Invisible sun" has a terrificly eerie opening [not unlike Synchronicity II...in fact, the intros could just as easily be used to introduce darker themes and music, but settles for terrific pop/rock]. I'm not so keen on the chorus of Invisible Sun, but I really like the verses and the ambiance of the introduction.

"Spirits in the material world" is another highlight from the second disc.
It exemplifies an attractive trait of this band...mixing up the hooks in one song. The song is catchy from the start, with nice melodies [vocal], but it really picks up when a NEW melody [keyboard] is introduced in the latter part of the song. This song may be the one where Sting's glib political views are at the fore ["Our so called leaders speak. With words they try to gaol you. They subjugate the meek, but it's the rhetoric of failure"]. That's a VERY nice turn of phrase, but, like I say, rather glib and lacking in hope for the political process.

Perhaps the band's biggest hit is "Every breath you take". This song isn't one that has ever really grabbed me. To me it's like the curate's egg...good in parts. An Australian equivalent would be Mondo Rock's "Come said the boy"-both bands had monumentally great pop/rock songs, but their most successful songs were not the ones I rated as great. Anyway, The Police's ballad is perhaps growing more on me now...it's 'good' bits are making the song gel better now, for me, perhaps.

"Wrapped around your finger" is another very good Police song, and which has those literary allusions I spoke of earlier "Caught between the Scylla and Charibdes". Perhaps my favourite Police song of all is "King of pain", which also has some literary allusions that I know of "There's a king with his eyes torn out" and some that elude me "There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread". Both these songs illustrate the great thing about Police songs...how they change gears, so to speak, by changing tempo or pitch or melody. The bit in King Of Pain where this happens is where Sting raises his voice higher and starts the line about the King. Reading the lyrics, I saw that it was more gruesome than I remember, but nonetheless beautiful to listen to.

"Synchronicity" is one of the band's more adventurous sounding rock songs but they carry it off with aplomb.

I do remember hearing somewhere about the song "Murder by numbers" causing controversy in the US and the band's response to this. Having read the lyrics that come with this cd, I see that the band is right to defend the song, but perhaps they only have themselves to blame by making the point of their song towards the end, making it difficult to come by, perhaps. It is also another politically glib song by Sting, though perhaps containing a germ of truth.

Lastly, I did find "Walking in your footsteps" to be a lyrically interesting song. Perhaps it is Sting likening humans to dinosaurs...with us heading for extinction too, like the dinosaurs, if we keep toying with nuclear power.

In conclusion, this is a terrific buy for people into lyrically sophisticated music with catchy pop/rock that is also sophisticated. I do find the drumming sound by this band to be satisfying and their melodies gorgeous when they're at their best. It's just a pity though that on occasion it sounds like the master tapes are in fact LP records...with dust or scratches on them.

P.S. if you like poetic music, I recommend and have reviewed:

Patti Smith's album Horses.

If you like political music, I recommend and have reviewed numerous albums by Midnight Oil here [highly recommended are their albums "10-1" and "Diesel and dust".

I've reviewed Metallica and Megadeth albums here too.

Best rhythm section in rock........2007-07-08

I wouldn't give you more than 50 cents for Sting, but listening to Copeland and Summers on this compilation confirms that they are/were the best rhythm section in rock - or, at the very least, one of the best. Focusing on their playing throughout these 28 tracks is a real delight. I don't know of many other bass/drum duos who can make so much happen so economically.

Buy and get a master class in how to make a rock rhythm section work to perfection.

Excellent compilation that could have been perfect with some additional songs...4 1/2 stars.......2007-07-06

A perfect excuse to exploit their catalog again, A&M/Universal (or whatever the congolmerate is called now)has put together a terrific compilation of the band's album tracks and hits. It appears that the masters used for the album reissues from a couple of years ago are the source here as they sound excellent and exactly the same as the previous set. This is a huge improvement over the various single disc sets released since 1986.

"Fall Out" was their first single and has only appeared on their four disc anthology on CD before this. We get 6 songs from the band's first album "Outlandos d' Amour" 4 tracks from their second album "Regatta De Blanc" their second album, 5 tracks from "Zenyatta Mondatta" their third album, 4 tracks from their fourth album "Ghost in the Machine" and a whopping 8 tracks (most of the album!)from "Synchroncity". We don't get anything from their soundtrack album "Brimstone and Treacle" (which includes the terrific song "I Burn For You") nor anything from their live album. Also missing are b-sides to most of their singles some of which are outstanding.

With 14 songs on each disc there was some room for additional tracks some of which might not have been big hits but deserved a larger audience. "I Burn For You","Bombs Away", "Darkness", "Nothing Achieving" and "Visions of the Night", "Low Life", "The Bed's Too Big Without You" (which they are playing on the tour) are among the songs that probably should have been included.

This is a very good set for fans looking for the bulk of the best album tracks and hits. The packaging includes a one sheet with some credits on it that folds out into a replica of an early concert poster for the band. The slip case is kind of cool as well. When you slide the holder out of the slipcase the band's songs are listed on the yellow cover (and you can see them when you hold it up to the light).

Another Greatest Greatest Hits...........2007-07-03

The Police were and still are my all-time favorite band. But the last thing I need is another hits collection. I think we're up to four greatest hits packages with this band. C'mon guys! Break out the rarities and unreleased stuff. I know there's a ton. Perhaps this collection was put together to help booster this summer's reunion tour - like they needed any help with that. I still give it 5 stars - these songs are some of the best ever recorded in my opinion. Andy, Stewart and Sting will always rock!

Must have Police Set.......2007-07-01

back in the day I was a Big time Fan of the Police. I always dug there Jams and Grooves. "Every little thing she does is magic", Canary in a Coalmine" was my jam back in the day. Spirits in the Material world, Every Breath you take,Roxanne,etc.... are all here. the Grooves and Versatility Highlighted by the songwriting of Sting and the chemistry of the Musicianship truly made for some tight Jams. the Police in some ways were the link between the Clash,U2 ,Red Hot chilli Pepers and No Doubt on some levels. they Bridged quite a few themes and styles that worked. this is the best overall set that best Highlights there Greatest Hits.

Average customer rating: Cool new album Sweet Warrior - Fantastic!!!! Thomo Does It Again! As good as his best... WOW !

Sweet Warrior Richard Thompson Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Sky Blue Sky West Easy Tiger Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) Richard Thompson - 1000 Years of Popular Music (2 CD & 1 DVD Set) ASIN: B000OQDS18 Release Date: 2007-05-29

Tracks:

1. Needle And Thread
2. I'll Never Give It Up
3. Take Care The Road You Choose
4. Mr. Stupid
5. Dad's Gonna Kill Me
6. Poppy-Red
7. Bad Monkey
8. Francesca
9. Too Late To Come Fishing
10. Sneaky Boy
11. She Sang Angels To Rest
12. Johnny's Far Away
13. Guns Are The Tongues
14. Sunset Song

Amazon.com

Back in the '80s and '90s, Richard Thompson could be depended upon to release a well-crafted collection of Celtic-influenced folk-rock every few years. But when he left Capitol after 1999's Mock Tudor, Thompson headed off on side projects, all of typically high quality, but not the solo albums his established cult expected. Those fans can now rejoice, because on Sweet Warrior Thompson roars back with his first electric set of originals since 2003, and it's a winner. As the disc's title implies, he revisits the familiar territory of love as a battlefield in these 14 originals. The concept is emphasized by a liner photo of the singer/songwriter in army gear and camouflage flanked by two beautiful women planting kisses on either cheek. Supported by longtime backing cohorts, the guitarist adds to his six-string talents with occasional mandolin, autoharp, accordion, and even organ, all used as icing on a cake of tunes that further refine his established style. Perhaps the most startling song is the viciously anti-war "Dad's Going to Kill Me," about a soldier stationed in Baghdad (the "Dad" of the title), wondering if he will survive another day. "Guns are the Tongues" finds Thompson telling the tragic tale of a young man enticed by a woman's charms ending up as a suicide-bombing terrorist. Thompson's dramatic guitar solos are kept on low boil, occasionally bubbling up but never hogging the spotlight. They are, along with his distinctive vocals, actors in a play of characteristically classy tunes that will thrill Thompson's fans, who have been waiting for just such a set of literate and challenging music from a musician who never delivers less. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

Literate rocker Richard Thompson's new album, Sweet Warrior, is a return to his classic electric sound, his first plugged-in album since 2003's The Old Kit Bag. Filled with 14 songs of stories of loss and betrayal, the album also contains one of Thompson's most overtly political songs to date, "Dad's Gonna Kill Me," told from the perspective of a nervous young soldier stationed in Baghdad (abbreviated as "Dad" in the song). Richard Thompson is a consummate singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career stretches back to the late '60s, when he was a founding member of the British folk-rock Fairport Convention. In the late '70s, with his then-wife, Linda, he recorded Shoot Out the Lights, which regularly makes critics' lists of the best records of all time. In the '90s, he experienced another career renaissance with the album Rumor & Sigh and he remains an elder-statesman of alternative rock.

Customer Reviews:

Cool new album.......2007-07-15

Have been listening to it for a week. More up-tempo than his last album--Front Parlour Ballads--and overall, better. Also more consistent than 2003's The Old Kit Bag. Cool album.

Sweet Warrior - Fantastic!!!!.......2007-07-14

Sweet Warrior allows you to be in your own "private" concert - captures his muscianship - must have!

Thomo Does It Again!.......2007-07-11

Another superlative CD from Richard Thompson. Lyrically and instrumentally he is without peer. I keep expecting the odd bad record, but they just don't come from this genius of folk-rock. Together with Neil Young and possibly Van Morrison, he is the only artist whose CD I would buy unheard.

As good as his best..........2007-07-04

Wow! I was turned on to Richard Thompson only about 8 years ago, but have since become an ardent fan and I've been picking up anything I could by him ever since.

I generally don't like a heavy dose of political opinion mixed in with my music, but RT pulls it off here without being annoying, and considering the state of worldwide affairs it's actually pretty timely anyway. His anger in I'll Never Give it Up makes me wonder if he's dissing Bush or Blair, but one's own interpretation of the lyrics is what can make a song so delicious. His guitar playing continues to send shivers down my spine, especially on the track Take Care the Road You Choose. And who cannot feel sharp pangs of sorrow for the poor soldier in Dad's Gonna Kill Me ? Wow. RT's ability to elicit such emotion (through his lyrics or playing) are part of what make him such a treasure.

All of the songs are at least good, and most are outright great. In my opinion, this album will stand with RT's all-time bests.

WOW !.......2007-06-24

A truely great album oops I mean CD. I still can not get used to saying that. Every track is great !

Music Album:

1. Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings
2. Fierce Traditional
3. First Light Over the Cove
4. From the Inside
5. Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band, Vol. 1
6. Gems of Celtic Story: Three
7. Happy as We Are
8. House Full [Live] [Import]
9. Hunting the Hedgehog
10. I'd Rather Dance With You [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Music Album