Tab in the Ocean [Import]

Product Description
Digitally mastered 1987 reissue on Bellaphon of their 1972album for Bellaphon. Five tracks, including the title cutand 'King Of Twilight'.

Tracks:

A Tab In The Ocean
Desolation Valley
Waves
Crying In The Dark
King Of Twilight

Album Description

Digitally mastered 1987 reissue on Bellaphon of their 1972album for Bellaphon. Five tracks, including the title cutand 'King Of Twilight'.

Customer Reviews:

Nektar's best?.......2004-01-07

Possibly--it's sure close to being their best. Bought this one way back in the mid seventies shortly after it came out and still like it quite a bit. Roye Albrighton's hot guitar is all over this one and the whole disc achieves a kind of ambient calm that's lacking on other Nektar records. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I've always found the open-ended reverb-heavy mix of this album quite distinctive, almost...oceanic?

As Good As Yes But Better Than ELP.......2002-03-17

This is one of those great prog-rock albums that nobody has ever heard... It's one of those few that are perfectly arranged and have solid theme that works with no flaws. The lengthy title track is actually better than Yes's "Close To The Edge" (Nektar is a little harder than Yes). The movements were thought through carefully and it never gets boring no matter how many times you listen to it. Sadly, in it's CD incarnation it hasn't gotten it's dues. The mixing is shoddy, and the quality is sub-par. Maybe one day this will be re-issued in the U.S. (I doubt it) and have better quality.. Not to mention a more decent price.

Another Take on Tab.......2002-03-03

Okay, here is the story on the many versions of Tab. In addition to the cd I own four vinyl copies (yes folks, there's one born every minute) and perhaps can provide some insight.

Tab was released originally in 1972 on the notorious Bellaphon label. Sometime later Tab was distributed on the United Artists (UA) label (remember them?).

In 1976 Tab was released on Passport. The Passport version differed from the previous iterations as it was remixed by Mo Moore (Nektar bassist) and Larry Fast (Synergy). Additionally, the Passort version was the first domestic (USA) release of Tab, the other two of course import.

The complaints about Tab's poor mastering most likely can be attributed to those whom are familiar with the 1976 Passport version. Although Bellaphon butchered Nektar's 'Remember the Future' cd, Bellaphon's mastering of the Tab cd is almost identical to the vinyl 1972 Bellaphon release. Is this a good thing? In my opinion - no. The hope I had was that the 'Tab in the Ocean' track (side one) would get cleaned up on cd as the bass and drum sounded muddy on vinyl and it still sounds muddy on the Bellaphon cd release. All the other tracks on Tab (side two) sounded clean on vinyl as they do on the Bellaphon cd release.

Still with me? Okay, so the folks familiar with the Bellaphon or UA vinyl versions might actually be pleased with this cd version, unless they are also afflicted with the same muddy drum and bass perceptions noted earlier in this review.

Now for the audiophiles that have the Passport vinyl version. The Passport version sounded considerably different than its predecessors. My guess is Passport version Nektar fans will be dissatisfied with the sound of the Bellaphon cd. Although the Passport version sound was certainly cleaner, it also contained flaws (IMHO). For example, guitarist/singer Roye Albrighton's vocals seem to sound sped up throughout Tab, almost Mickey Mouse like, when compared to the Bellaphon or UA versions. I'll stop here, don't want to sound like I'm nit-picking, but you would think Moore and Fast would have got it right.

In regard to vinyl my preference (slightly) would be the Bellaphon or UA releases over Passport. Initial impressions are hard to over come. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

In summary I would recommend this cd because most importantly the source material is very good in regard to the Nektar catalog. If 'Tab in the Ocean' would be remastered on cd again (hopefully with supervision by everyone in Nektar) I would purchase it again. Yes folks, there's one born every minute.

Great music, pathetic CD engineering.......2000-06-24

What a terrible, terrible disappointment this is. In my opinion, this is where Nektar reached their true potential, and the first side of this album, the title track, was their masterpiece. 'Tab' is a really powerful piece, musically and lyrically as well. From the opening organ riff and guitar power chords, through the longer spacey passages and recurring lyrical themes, concluding back to the original theme and exploding in a massive crashing guitar crescendo with the ocean waves pulling the listener out to sea. This was truly an amazing work and it still sounds pretty good on my scratchy old record.

A lot better than this bungled mess of a CD sounds. Whole guitar and keyboard passages are GONE, or reduced so far to the background they can't be heard. Rhythym guitar sections are cranked up while the lead is hardly discernable. The CD has a thin, 'amphitheatre' sound that wasn't there on the vinyl. When I first listened to this (with great expectations, I might add), I thought one of my CD player connections had come loose. All in all, this is just about the poorest 're-engineering' effort that I have ever heard. Given this, I simply cannot recommend it.

Please, please Bellaphon, give it another go. This is simply too fine of a recording to be butchered like this.

The best of the CDs?.......2000-06-15

This Nektar album is one of their all-time best. Unfortunately, this CD release, like the others, suffers from poorly digital mastering. I would say not as bad as "Remember The Future", but still enough to make a difference from the original release on vinyl in 1972. This CD release has been given a more "live" sound to it. That is to say that you may feel as if the music is being performed in a big hall of some kind. Not directly annoying, but it still makes the sound more "blury" than neccesary. And of course some guitar parts are barely noticable, which on the original was more in the front of the mix. This is no reason not to get this release, but please hold on to your vinyl copies too, just in case this is the only CD release of this album. Nektar's music alone speaks for itself. Let there be no doubt about that! For everyone who likes thematic progressive rock; this is a must!

Average customer rating:

Tab in the Ocean
Nektar
Manufacturer: Eclectic Discs
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000BYRACG
Release Date: 2005-09-23

Tracks:

Tab in the Ocean [the Original German Mix 1972]
Desolation Valley/Waves [the Original German Mix 1972]
Crying in the Dark [the Original German Mix 1972]
King of Twilight [the Original German Mix 1972]
Tab in the Ocean [1976 Us Mix]
Desolation Valley/Waves [1976 Us Mix]
Crying in the Dark [1976 Us Mix]
King of Twilight [1976 Us Mix]

Average customer rating:

Not enough music like this left in the world

A Tab in the Ocean
Nektar
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Remember the Future
Down to Earth
Magic Is a Child

ASIN: B000FIHB3Q
Release Date: 2006-07-03

Tracks:

Tab in the Ocean
Desolation Valley
Waves
Cryin' in the Dark
King of Twilight

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Customer Reviews:

Not enough music like this left in the world.......2007-01-29

I bacame aware of Nektar by just taking a chance and buying thier "Remember the Future" album soley because of the cover. I liked it. But for years it was difficult to come across Nektar's albums so I forgot about them.
Years later I ran across a used copy of Tab in the Ocean, and picked it up.
The only thing I can say is as I was driving down the road listening too it, I felt a great surge of energy and joy. Being a fan of seventies acid/prog rock I was amazed and still am at how really great of a record this is. I'd have to put it in my top ten of all time. It is a very short record, about 30-40 or so minutes. But this thirty minutes is truly an enjoyable trip all around. A perfect blend of sunshine like waves and brilliant guitar.
I have several of Nektar's albums but this is my favorite hands down.
I'll own a copy till I'm dead and then leave it to my grandkids so they can hear how once music reached a part of the soul with emotion and life.
Five Stars.
It is now avaliable as digitally re-mastered imports.
It'll be the best money you've spent on music this week.

Average customer rating:

Sophisticated hard rock from 1972 and a proggier sounding 1976 remix.
Amazing as can be!
Finally a superb CD edition of Nektar

Tab in the Ocean
Nektar
Manufacturer: Dream Nebula
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Recycled
Remember the Future
Down to Earth
Journey to the Centre of the Eye
Magic Is A Child

ASIN: B0001IMDSS
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Tab in the Ocean [the Original German Mix 1972]
Desolation Valley/Waves [the Original German Mix 1972]
Crying in the Dark [the Original German Mix 1972]
King of Twilight [the Original German Mix 1972]
Tab in the Ocean [1976 Us Mix]
Desolation Valley/Waves [1976 Us Mix]
Crying in the Dark [1976 Us Mix]
King of Twilight [1976 Us Mix]

Customer Reviews:

Sophisticated hard rock from 1972 and a proggier sounding 1976 remix........2006-02-13

Nektar was comprised of English musicians that took up residence in Germany before moving to New Jersey, United States in 1975 where they worked with electronic composer Larry Fast. This 2004 remastered edition by Eclectic Discs is good and features informative liner notes along with photos of the band (mostly publicity shots). The disc also features the original mix of the album along with a significantly different remix from 1976.

ORIGINAL ALBUM ***

The original album A Tab in the Ocean was released in 1972 and was engineered by Dieter Deirks at Deirks studio in Stommeln, W. Germany. The four tracks on the album range in length from the 4'22 heavy rocker King of Twilight to the nearly 17 minute epic prog hard rock title track. Apparently, the guys were excited by the developments in the English progressive rock scene at the time and A Tab in the Ocean represents their interpretation of progressive rock (with a hard rock twist). The music on the album is generally heavy (loud) although there are some spacey sections, with good Hammond organ work by Allan Freeman, along with decent playing by energetic bassist Derek Moore, guitarist Roye Albrighton (he used both clean and heavily distorted tones - sometimes at crushing volumes), and solid drummer Ron Howden. The lead vocal by Albrighton is quite good, and in combination with the other musicians, provides excellent three-part vocal harmonies. The group ensemble work is also pretty good, the best examples of which are provided on the epic A Tab in the Ocean and Desolation Valley/Waves.

The original album should appeal to fans of Wallenstein (the Blitzkreig album), early Deep Purple (1970-1971), Hawkwind, and Eloy (1973-1974).

1976 REMIXED ALBUM *****

The added bonus on the CD includes a remix of the entire 1972 album (by Larry Fast) that was issued in the United States in 1976. I have to admit that I like the 1976 remix somewhat better than the original mix because the hard rock aspect has been markedly reduced and the album is a bit proggier and much softer - the sound is more in keeping with the Nektar sound around 1975. Furthermore, the sound of the recording is not as harsh and bright, with more bottom end and greater separation of individual instruments. Larry Fast did add overdubs of acoustic guitar, new electric guitar and trebly Rickenbacker bass parts, along with altered vocal parts and tiny bits of synths and mellotron. In summation, the remixed album is completely different and fans of the harder-edged original album may not like the new remix at all.

The remix should appeal to fans of 1973-1975 Nektar and Eloy from 1975-1977.

Amazing as can be!.......2005-04-10

The reson I searched out this album was to hear the original songs that Iron Maiden covered (Crying in the Dark/King of Twilight). Let me tell ya, Tab in the Ocean (main track) has me hooked! Being a fan of some prog rock, this caught my attention instantly. An awesome disc!

Finally a superb CD edition of Nektar.......2004-09-26

(4.5 stars)
Please read reviews on the earlier versions of Tab.
Now that Dream Nebula has reissued the Nektar classic albums, everyone can hear them as they were originally intended--and, it turns out, as mixed for the US release several years later.
Previous editions of Nektar CDs have suffered from poor mastering. This edition, produced by Mark Powell and remastered by Paschal Byrne, who must be a genius, is phenomenally clear and clean. The vocals stand out, the bass and percussion is no longer muddy, and the keyboards soar as they should.
This edition contains the original German mix, as originally released on vinyl, and the US mix by Larry Fast and Mo Moore (1976). There are good things to say about both versions, and a few drawbacks. However, considering how incredibly well this CD is engineered with both versions available to compare, there is no downside.
Definitely 5 stars on the technical side.

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