Comments for Collectors Music Reviews

Comment on news and new releases by cgil

cgil — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:56:09 +0000

the stones hampton show is being called having “truly amazing sound” once again.

Comment on new John Lennon by solly

solly — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:19:42 +0000

The sound quality of HMC’s previous Lennon sets alone makes this one to seek out.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by pookie

pookie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:44:47 +0000

What a can of worms; we have opened here!! As far as talent goes: Brian Jones was far superior to Woody & Taylor.
The bulk of Stones live shows to this day still are comprised of many songs from the Brian era.
The melodic influences he gave the band have been sorely missed; never replaced.
Taylor is an excellent player although woody fits the band much better. Just my 2 cents worth.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by Lordbud

Lordbud — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:09:58 +0000

All the comparing of apples and oranges aside, the flac download of the Brussels material on the official site is NOT available to those of us living in the U.S. period. I don’t do MP3 period. Only alternative I have is to buy the bootleg. Either open the archives or don’t. Don’t open them half-*ssed like this. Make available entire concerts to all fans.

Comment on new John Lennon by Stuart

Stuart — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:02:37 +0000

At last some of the out-takes from the “Mother” LP appear around 2 years after the fact. Takes 26 – 27 of “Love” don’t seem to have appeared though which makes one wonder if HMC are planning another oddities set already including the missing parts?

Comment on news and new releases by classicrawker

classicrawker — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:40:11 +0000

So the next official download release is a properly mixed 81 Hampton PPV audio. Once again the Stones site only offers the U.S. the MP3 version so I am guessing it won’t be long before the no name label pirates the FLAC for this show as well.

Wish they would release the PPV video of this show. As good as the bootlegs are it would be nice to have a clean copy from the broadcast masters

Comment on news and new releases by classicrawker

classicrawker — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:05:45 +0000

I see your point kads but the cost of the bootleg silver discs will be 2- 3X the cost of the official downloads and the production runs will be tiny so I don’t see this hurting the bands bottom line much…they will see much more losss of revenue from illegal file sharing of the FLACs then they ever will from pirate copies the bootleggers create. Lets face it our hobby is dodgy to begin with.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by classicrawker

classicrawker — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:47:01 +0000

I agree with you bim in that IMHO the Mick T era produced some of the most dynamic performances in the Stones long and storied history but I don’t think Woody era live shows were bland by any means. Woody brought a different dynamic to the band and I feel he actually meshed with Keef’s playing better.

And GS I have to disagree that Mick T’s playing was soul less. For example, his solos in YCAGWYW and Midnight Rambler are full of soul and feeling and are some of the best versions of those songs the Stones ever played are with Mick T. IMHO.

I think we are splitting hairs here and there is no right or wrong as it is all just opinion after all. I am just happy the Stones are finally opening the vaults and I will take any live shows they are willing to share.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by gsparaco

gsparaco — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:12:56 +0000

Your original points … fair enough … but why did you bring up Ron Wood?

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by bim

bim — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:01:16 +0000

I come back to my original points:-

1. recordings from the Rolling Stones Classic Live period deserve to be treated with more respect than downloads.

2. If exclusively downloads they should be complete as possible recordings for collectors

3. It is perfectly clear on the evidence of surviving 1969-73 recordings why these performances are so dynamic in comparison with what came afterwards.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by gsparaco

gsparaco — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:49:46 +0000

I’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is, Mick Taylor’s talent as a guitarist AND his contribution to the Rolling Stones’ sound, especially when compared to Ron Wood, is grossly exaggerated. While I generally enjoy Taylor’s soloing, I find the high pitched tones he often chooses to be whiny and unpleasant. Not to mention his playing is often technically proficient, but lacks any kind of soul.

Ultimately, I find all these comments about Taylor’s superiority in the Rolling Stones compared to Wood to be idiotic and, ultimately, useless. They each brought their own talent to the dynamic of the band. Ron Wood, after being in the band for almost forty years, should be given SOME credit.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by bim

bim — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:40:54 +0000

gsparaco’s comments miss the point;
I’m not comparing Taylor with the Rolling Stones, I’m comparing his contribution to Woods. Woods lack of ability resulted in a loss dynamism. I cannot recall other guitarists playing backup with the Stones between 1969-73, because Taylor’s playing ability enabled them to deliver live performances that the Stones have never subsequently surpassed. Just listen to his crunching Gibson in the film Gimme Shelter against the thin tinny repetetive playing of Wood.
Vintage recordings with Taylor deserve better than downloads. Taylor is a superior player and contributed more to the Stones live than Ron Wood is capable of.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by solly

solly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:15:19 +0000

The Stones have now released the rarely heard 1981 PPV concert from Hampton Roads Virginia as their next download. For anyone wanting a nice Ron Wood era 1981 boot, The Ride like the Wind box from Rattlesnake is a great sounding set and has just one track from Hampton.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by gsparaco

gsparaco — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:52:56 +0000

yeah right. When Mick Taylor left the Stones, he went on to sell multiplatinum after multiplatinum album and a string of sold out tours and redefined the rock and roll artform as we know it.

Meanwhile the Rolling Stones lapsed into relative obscurity with new guitarist Ron Wood, never producing any meaningful music again. They sometimes tour to play some of their old hits, but can only sell out smoked filled bars and only the diehards really know about it.

Mick Taylor was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame on the first ballot and is regularly named top guitarist in polls, routinely beating out Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton.

Do I have the history right? Did I leave anything out?

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by classicrawker

classicrawker — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:43:42 +0000

Agree with you I wish the Stones would have released this on silver disc, and I grabbed a copy of this and can live with the minimal packaging, but to be honest it is more cost effective for them to offer this as a download so while I was dissapointed I am just happy they are finally opening the vaults for us fans. Hopefully we will eventually get a complete 69 and 72 tour show..

That being said IMHO you are being a little hard on Woody as, he may not have been as talented as Mick Taylor but, he was more than adequate and he also played intruments, pedal steel for instance, Mick did not. He also was the perfect complement to Keef and was the band diplomat. I would welcome some official bootlegs from the 75/76, 78 and 81/82 tours with Woody

Comment on Kiss – Wet Wild Rockin’: The KISS Kruise (The Godfather Records G.R.702/703) by aleebee

aleebee — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:36:33 +0000

I’d love to, if it were not for Shrieking Woman and Loud Man. ;-)

Comment on The Rolling Stones – The Brussels Affair ’73 (RS731017) by bim

bim — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:31:45 +0000

You could have added that collectors are once again at the mercy of poorly packaged boots if they want this in silver.
Its difficult to understand the Rolling Stones’ thinking. The recording has obviously had attention paid to it by editing two performances and adjusting the sound. This suggests it might have been considered as an official release. Whilst we should be grateful for this download, why isn’t it being made available on an official silver?. Alternatively, if it is strictly download, why didn’t they release both Brussels performances complete. This would have been a more attractive proposition for the kind of people who will want this download.
1969-73 contain the greatest, most defining performances by the Stones that deserve to be appropriately packaged and released to the public.
Instead, the marketplace is crowded by a succession of lavishly packaged progressively bland CD/DVD and 4DVD box sets featuring Ron Wood whose lack of ability is plainly and painfully apparent. It would be better to make stuff like Love You Live downloadable rather than anything with Mick Taylor on it.

Comment on The Rolling Stones – Party Down (no label) by solly

solly — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:20:04 +0000

The Fox Theatre in Atlanta was another small venue played on this tour.

Comment on Kiss – Wet Wild Rockin’: The KISS Kruise (The Godfather Records G.R.702/703) by kads

kads — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:26:10 +0000

You should focus on the instruments and vocals instead? ;-)

Comment on The Rolling Stones – Party Down (no label) by Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:24:42 +0000

Fantastic review. Thanks G! I’m looking forward to hunting this down & giving it a spin as I’m on a real stones kick at the moment.