Reviews (33)

Sophisticated, inventive, ambitious, intelligent. Classic.
I like the entire City to City album. I think every single song on it is great, not a bad one in the bunch.

Of course I love Baker Street. There is a lot going on in that track, sophisticated and excellent. Comparing it with the (obscenely bad) Foo Fighters cover shows both the weaknesses of the Fighters' arrangement as well as the talent, polish, intelligence, and diligence of Rafferty's producer.

I personally don't like solo sax much and so it doesn't touch me as much as it seems to touch others, but even so I can see that the sax intro and other sax parts are electrifying. I respect this production choice because for so many people the sax is the only part of the song they identify and according to some reviews the sax bought most of that copious radio air-time in 1978. On the other hand, it's a shame to see this overstated sound overshadow the rest of the beautiful song in peoples' minds.

The swooping guitars are awesome and yet subtle and fill a crucial spot in the intro melody. The guitar solo is masterful. Much of the time in the solo is taken up with only a few sustained and repeated notes and the bulk of the solo is made up of bends, trills, and inventive tremelos. Each note of the minimal note count speaks out to us in important ways. It reminds me of lyrics that say volumes with only a few words. It's one of my all time favorite guitar solos.

The two featured analog synthesizer sounds are way cool. The synth during the verse sounds like falling leaves or water. The bass synth sound that counterpoints the vocal during the chorous, again, is inventive: an interesting, unusual sound, delightful instrumental melodic counterpoint to the vocal, a melodic sound in this region of the bass territory is also unusual in pop. You usually have the bass drum and the bass guitar in the bass region and that's about it.This synth sound and melody is something like a `cello line, lending an orchestral feel while still using pop instruments.

The lyrics to Baker Street are good, but I wouldn't say great. They give an overall impression of loneliness, futility and yearning for something better in the future. What's there is good but it's not great because the song does not tell a complete story. The album is a concept album and every lyric address these issues of loneliness and itinerant living on the road. Just reading over 4 of them I see they are all similar, not telling a complete story but lending these impressions. Considering the entire album's lyrics as a whole pushes them up a notch as ambitious, intelligent, very good, and maybe you could consider the whole as a complete story. They fall short of something blisteringly great like "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles) or "She Always a Woman" or "AllenTown" (Billy Joel).

Regarding the Foo Fighters' cover version: The Foo Fighters skip the swooping guitars during the intro melody and you can hear it as dead space, causing a drop in intensity there resulting in an undesirable volume pumping effect. The Fighters copy the guitar solo note for note, what's the point? We've heard that already, and much better, so why bother? Granted I'm not that familiar with post 1989 Pearl Jam clone musical styles so I might be missing something, but to me the Fighters' guitar version of the sax intro melody is just plain wrong. The rhythm is wrong and corny, the accents are in the wrong place, and the guitar sound is so anemic when compared to the sax. Why would a band of the Fighters' stature cover a song anyway? The whole thing is just wrong.

A career album, but with only one thing missing
I remember clearly the day I first heard "Baker Street", Gerry's quintisential hit. I was totally drawn in by the picturesque imagery of both the music and the lyrics.As I listened, my heart resonated with what he was saying, and then it came...probably one of the top ten guitar solos I've ever heard...and I've heard nearly all of them.Suddenly, all the forlorn feelings and longings for things to go straight in the story of the song just came bleeding out of that electric guitar.I was hooked.The first chance I had to get the album, I did.There is only one thing on the album that I didn't like at first listen, and that was the opening of "The Ark"...that became a very small issue suddenly as the remainder of the song made it's indelible statement on my heart.Once I had hear the entire album, I realized both that I'd just heard one truly amazing compilation, but also that one very important thing was missing, and still is to this day.Before I owned the album, I had the single of Baker Street, which had the most incredible b-side I've ever heard!It was called "Big Change in the Weather", and I've always wondered why it wasn't on the album (other than time constraints), but also why it didn't show up on "Night Owl", his next release.It could've easily been the next big hit for Gerry.Gerry, if you ever read this, please release this song on a re-mastered "City to City".The only other thing that doesn't impress me about the cd is the compressed sound in comparison to the vinyl I owned.This was truly a remarkable recording originally, with great dynamics and a nice clean, full sound.

Now, as to others calling some of the music on this album 'filler' or saying it 'doesn't hold up' like the rest...I would say this.Every song on this album has it's own real story, and they are all equally beautiful.Waiting for the Day is one of the most hopeful songs I've heard, as well as Home and Dry.I just love Island.It makes me think of being on Bora Bora.How a break away can give you clarity and focus. Whatever's Written...is truly powerful, starkly communicated love.From beginning to end, this is an amazing album.If you haven't heard it, but love "Baker Street", it will not dissapoint...if you aren't sure...trust me...there's a song for everybody on it.

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Reviews (37)

A helluva soundtrack
I've never seen the film, but I can't count the number of times I've listened to this soundtrack.Curtis Mayfield did a lot more with funk music here than just deliver a danceable beat.This music expresses anger, sadness, and just plain coolness.One of the best soundtracks I've ever heard.

Ouch!
This one will hit you.If it's not the waa waa guitar, it's the killer basslines.If it's not the killer basslines, it's the jungle drums in the background.If it's not the crazy jungle drums, it's the incredible socially relevant lyrics.This set came out a good 15 years before I was born, but I can still relate to the problems presented tracks like "Freddie's Dead" and "Pusherman".This album is a classic, ridiculously good.Hats off to the late, great Curtis Mayfield on this one.

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1)

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Reviews (18)

EBTG: A Style Council Protegé?
I decided to come to Amazon.com tonight to look up a group whose music I came in contact with some years back & that I have in my collection (my fav is Confessions of a Pop Group), but no stores sell them & not too many people seemed to have even heard of them. When I typed in their name, I was surprized to see so many album titles! So, I was just listening to the samples on this Café Bleu album, and lo & behold, when I listen to Paris Match, I am CERTAIN the voice belongs to Tracey Thorn! I skimmed through the other reviews, looking for some mention of her, or her & Ben Watt, or EBTG, but nothing! They are, by the way, another of my favs. Long story short, I'd recognize that voice anywhere -- it's one I've come to know & love! So, after dropping each of these fabulous finds into my shopping cart, I'll type in EBTG to view their collection (at least, unlike with the Style Council, I have more than two of their lps!)

Foreplay for Eurotrash girls
It's 2005 and I still enjoy listening to every single song on this CD.A wonderfully diverse set of songs ranging in styles and themes.A must for a sunny day with a couple of cigarettes and some strong coffee.Long live the Cappuccino Kid.

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Reviews (25)

THE BEST GROUP FROM THE '80'S
I recently picked this cd up in Virgin records and it is wonderful. I'm not crazy about every song, "Black Comedy" sounds too much like "Spice Up Your Life" from the Spice Girls for my tastes. But when itis good, it is great. "Cold Shoulder", "Strange Voodoo", "Fat Cat", "I Just Wanna Be Loved", and more rank among the bands best work. Since this came out in 1999, and their website is not updated I really doubt we'll hear anything new from them anytime soon. I'll just have to listen to this and my old CC albums.

Excellent album, Excellent Culture Club!
This is becoming one of my favorite records. They sound as good as they did in 'Waking up with the house on fire' (my fav. CC album). This is a must buy if you like british pop and the old sound of Boy George and Culture Club, its worth every penny. I truly love this album! A great surprise indeed! Buy it now.

AMONGST THEIR BEST WORK..... EVER !
DON'T MIND IF I DO is the lost CD ranking with Culture Club fans as their best collection of original material assembled on one compilation.

If you've been a CULTURE CLUB fan in the past, I strongly suggest that you purchase this rare jewel.

This CD was unreleased domestically in North America.
Most titles remain obscure and unknown with North American fans, nevertheless this CD is worth purchasing.

The songs include strong hooks (as did most of their songs released during their prime) plus the BOY assists the band with a solid vocal performance on all of the tracks.

Reviews (8)

An OK album
I'm sorry to say that this album spawned no Top 40 hits. That's why none of these tracks appeared on 2004's ULTIMATE DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES. What's hard to believe is there's a track entitled BIGGER THAN THE BOTH OF US and that was the title of the album preceding this one. That was probably an outtake. Like H&O's 1972 debut WHOLE OATS,this album had a very low sales record. But it's an OK album.

It's Only rock and roll, and I like it
"Beauty On A Back Street" found Darryl Hall and John Oates veering way far away from the blue eyed soul that gave them their first handful of hits, and it took everyone by surprise. Radio stations shunned it upon release in 1977, and it became one of the very few H&O albums to not produce a Top 40 single. Not like there weren't any contenders here. "Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts" and "Love Hurts/Love Heals" had hooks for days. It also contains one of John Oates' best (and saddest) ballads, "The Girl Who Used To Be." But the focus seemed to be on the fact that a couple of the songs on "Beauty" sounded more like the Rolling Stones or Led Zepplin than what was expected from Hall and Oates!

In particular, the lyrically mythic "Winged Bull" was a direct rip from "Kashmir," right down to the quirky strings and time signature. "You Must Be Good For Something" was Mick Jagger misogynist, and the six minute rocking opus "Bad Habits and Infections" was the hardest song the duo had recorded since the Todd Rundgren experiment (and inexplicably out of print) "War Babies." This wasn't your big sister's blue eyed soul pin-up record, and sales slumped accordingly. As for me, it remains one of my three favorite H&O CDs, and I snatched it up when it was reissued in 1996. If you wonder where that "Rock and Soul" tagline that got applied to Hall and Oates' career came from, this is an overlooked album to check out.

Reviews (40)

MORRISSEY - Bona Drag
I first bought 'Bona Drag' on tape in 1990 without the liner notes or the case. My best buddy Rico searched long and hard in the trash bin for this piece of jem. 100% classic wave action here everyone. Cmon', you can't go wrong with song titles like "ouiji board, ouiji board" now can you. Check my other reviews and dicover happiness.

wave!

Best Morrissey Album
In my opinion, the best of all of Morrissey's solo albums. If you were lucky enough to see him during the Bona Drag tour in 1990, this is a true reflection of those great songs. Highly recommend for your 80s alternative collection.

Editorial Review

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Reviews (3)

Little Known Masterpiece
Most general rock fansknow Surrealistic Pllow is a fantastic album, but this album is almost as good. This is the perfect folk-rock album- the first 9 songs are outstanding.Tobacco Road has some great guitar and is sung much more heartfelt than , I think it was The Nashville Teens? that had the hit, & many artists have covered it, but this is the best version I've heard.It's No Secret the single is classic '66 in moody mid-tempo atmosphere. . Their cover of Let's Get Together is sung maybe a little better than the Yopungbloods, though it doesn't have that haunting guitar on it. Blues From An Airplane & the beautiful Come Up The Years are other highlights.

Sounds Dated Now, but Lots of Fun
When Grace Slick joined the Jefferson Airplane their sound changed.This album with Signe Anderson captures the orignina sound, which was more like the Byrds.Lots of folks were doing Tobacco Road at the time and theirs is one of the best.Come Up the Years forshadows the sound of the Next album, Surrealistic Pillow, and is one of the best on the album.In contrast Grace Slick (and every other woman in "pop music" at the time, except Janis) Signe Anderson wasn't cool as she sang.She grabbed the mike and danced and shook.I'm sorry they didn't add Fat Angel (a Donovan song)as a bonus track.The Airplane was singing it allot at the time they recorded Takes Off.(Gract sings it on the Pointed Head live album.)

The Forgotten Masterpiece
Jefferson Airplane's debut album is usually not acknowledged, but nonetheless, it's a stunning work of art.And not many people seem to know about Signe Anderson, their original singer before Grace Slick.She's not quite as good as Grace (then again, nobody is), but her voice is still VERY powerful and downright stunning at times."Chauffeur Blues", her only solo spot on the album, is the best example.Listen to her wail at the end of the song and you'll see what I mean.And I love the line "I'm gonna steal me a pistol and shoot my chauffeur down".Signe was awesome!And look at the pictures of her in the booklet.What a doll she was.Anyway, the rest of the album is spectacular as well.Myfavorite is the killer "Bringin' Me Down", in which the vocals are irresistable and euphoric.Excellent song."Let Me In" (is it sex-related?) is one of Kantner's best performances ever; "Blues From An Airplane" is breath-takingly spooky; "Run Around" is mediocre; "Tobacco Road" is a fabulous blues tune and the album closer, "And I Like It", is an emotional epic.The hippie anthem "Let's Get Together" is good, but not really a highlight."Come Up The Years" and "Don't Slip Away" are simply two of the greatest romantic rock songs EVER recorded.The latter features a wonderful guitar line, too.So that leaves Marty's famous "It's No Secret".It's a very good song, but the band would eventually do it better in concert with Grace.
Most of the bonus tracks are phenomenal, too."High Flyin' Bird" is wondrous, and there's also a great tune called "Runnin' Round This World".Then there's an alternate version of "Chauffeur Blues", however it's more or less the same as the original.A longer, better version of "And I Like It" is also included.

Reviews (10)

Artistic and Spiritual Integrity
"Seeds of Change" remains one of my favorite albums since its release in 1980.Kerry Livgren managed to produce a sound almost devoid of Kansas influence at the zenith of that band's career.His tasteful inclusion of several musicians he always admired unfolded like a well-cast movie.The risk he took in departing from the lengthier opus format for which he was so well known was gutsy, and resulted in underscoring his versatility in writing shorter, more "patatable" tunes.

Mr. Livgren presented his Christian faith with an integrity and honesty often missing in similar efforts.Avoiding the confrontational religious jargon frequently rewarded as "bold" in evangelical circles, he deftly built a tenable bridge to those who might be honestly searching for truth by remaining true to his own intellect and refusing to indulge in divisive, self-indulgent preachiness.

The album is not without controversy.The presence of Ronnie James Deo (at the time, the lead singer of Black Sabbath) troubled some within the Christian community, while its undeniably credible approach to spiritual matters left many unbelievers with a lingering sense of conviction.As a result, the album found itself in a nether-world between the church and the secular communities, with too much unadulterated honesty and too little partisan self-engrandizement to be widely celebrated by a majority in either camp.

None of this should stop anyone from listening to an album with some really good music on it.The subtlety of Mr. Livgren's lyrical approach leaves room for the spiritually unaffilliated to enjoy the material without fear of a forced audio-baptism.Christian listeners, on the other hand, might allow themselves to enjoy the album if they consider that having Ronnie James Deo sing Christian lyrics might be just what the Doctor ordered, and that his presence does not curse the recording or those who listen to it.

Not His Best
As someone who enjoyed Kansas and Kerry's later Christian efforts in AD I was disappointed in this work.While I was much more conservative in what I considered Christian at that time, I still find it strange that Kerry, at a time when Dio was emphasizing satanically images he would want a brooding Dio singing "Live For The King."The pain in his voice in this song makes you wonder who his king is.Down to the Core is a good song but the rest are mediocre at best and below his Kansas/AD standards IMHO.

Reviews (12)

irresistible--another classy blend of R&B, soul, & pop-rock
Boz Scaggs followed up his commercial blockbuster "Silk Degrees" with 1977's "Down Two Then Left".This album probably hasn't sold a fourth of what "Silk Degrees" has, but don't let that fool you.It's not hard at all to see why many of the listeners familiar with "Down Two Then Left" would claim it to be even better than "Silk Degrees".As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life, and as great of a song as "Lowdown" is, it's not hard to see why people would simply be sick of it since, even after 29+ years, it's such a hard song to escape just by going out to certain public places, as are many of the other songs from "Silk Degrees".I'm not aware of any of the songs from "Down Two Then Left" having 'suffered this fate', so if you're looking for something a bit fresher, so to speak, I think this should hit the spot.All that aside, "Down Two Then Left" is simply a superb album that puts Boz's super cool suaveness on full display, not to mention his highly unique and arrestingly passionate vocals.A big change with this album is that Boz's key songwriting collaborator on "Silk Degrees", keyboardist David Paich, is gone.However, "filling in" for Paich is Michael Omartian, a talented dude in his own right and he himself co-wrote 5 of the 10 tracks on here with Scaggs.However, as with "Silk Degrees", "Down Two Then Left" was produced by Joe Wissert, plus the late great Jeff Porcaro is still on drums, and in the end, if you love "Silk Degrees", you can't go wrong here."Still Falling For You" and "Whatcha Gonna Tell Your Man" are splendidly catchy tunes with that good ol' irresistibly lush soft rock sound.The funky, infectious "Hollywood" is an absolute hook-fest with great female background vocals & cool orchestration, not to mention the vibraphone played by the late Victor Feldman.The stomping, tormented "Hard Times"; the rousing, very Steely Dan-ish "Gimme The Goods"; the breezy, splendidly tuneful "A Clue" with its great guitar solo from Steve Lukather that sounds uncannily like a Larry Carlton solo from Steely Dan's "The Royal Scam" (which is no coincidence--Lukather was and is a huge SD & Carlton fan); & the soulful ballad "Then She Walked Away"--these are all great songs."1993", with its "Lido Shuffle" style rhythm, is a very strong track as well.There are some minor gripes such as the fairly dull, extended coda on "We're Waiting" with its annoying, excessive use of those syndrums that were state-of-the-art at the time.Overall though, "Down Two Then Left" is tasteful, excellently performed and produced, and has catchy hooks galore--it's definitely a must-have.

Kind as bigger since Silk Degrees
This is defintiely a good easy-listening album to help deepen your soul into. I luv this album since the day I purchased Silk Degrees on CD and then the greatest hits compilation Hits. If those that were into "Silk Degrees" which is a classic, you highly recommend getting into Steely Dan's album entitled "Aja" which I have on LP but not on CD yet.

Yeah, this is 'mos definitely a must-have classic since the beginning of his recent album which he put out a year before this one.

Go Boz, you're the "Lowdown" man. Check out DIG too. It's good though.

Cool as an ice statue
This album had a hard battle when it came to pleasing anyone after the brilliance - and success - of "Silk Degrees". But aside from the fact that Michael Omartian isn't quite the composer that David Paich (who was responsible for the music to all of the best known SD songs)is this set is just as good.

The late Jeff Porcaro returned to play drums on the entire album, and it's some of his best work ever, the quality of the musicanship throughout (including a couple of superb guitar solos from Scaggs himself)is of the highest standard possible.

It yielded two minor chart entries with "Hard Times" and "Hollywood" - a tune that should never have been left off the "My Time" anthology, but was, and while they are great songs so are the rest..."A Clue" is my personal favourite, but it's just so hard to find fault with any of Scaggs's best releases...and this is one of them.

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Reviews (21)

AL STILL DELIVERS THE GOODS!
I have been a huge Al Stewart fan since my adolescent years.I was turned on to Modern Times in 11th grade and to this day it remains my all time favorite album."Down in the Cellar" seems to be a natural progression of a man who went through all of the traumas and dramas of living life ( Not the One, Next Time, What's going on?, Modern Times)and has found life to be interlaced with a passion that should last as long as his life (this being wine).SOHO is absolutely haunting much like songs such as "Next Time" and "Broadway Hotel".He may not have written it but Al surely put his brand onto it."Waiting for Margeaux" gave me that "Apple Cider Reconstitution" feeling.

But there is no sense to compare AL Stewart albums.We all have our favorites for very personal reasons.Like old loves, we never compare them until something new and improved comes along.Like a wonderful book sitting on a book shelf just screaming to be read, this album may not be a "classic" per se, but it is a darn good wine from a year that just may not be vintage.and who cares? It still numbs the senses!

Like fine wine, Al Stewart improves with age.
This is Al's latest release and, from beginning to end, possibly his greatest ever.The songs ALL have a reference to wine in the story (Al is an accomplished wine collector - many times decorated by France).The tunes are all catchy, the storylines pull the listener in - as Al has always done.The instrumentals are fabulous.Al Stewart is, and for almost 40 years - has been, the BEST storyteller.Best Tracks: Franklin's Table, The Night That the Band Got The Wine, Tasting History.If this is your FIRST Stewart album, it will lead to your purchasing his collection (I've never heard of an EX-Al Stewart fan).If it is your latest, it just slides right in - like a puzzle piece - to the rest of the collection, never missing a beat.Vive La Al Stewart!!!

Reviews (27)

Voices, Anyone?
They never did really disappear, they just sort of faded away for a while.When they decided to make a comeback, they enlisted Arif Marden as producer and never looked back.'Charade' is a lush ballad with sultry clarinet embellishment, and is the perfect opener.From then on, it's a brilliant procession of strength-to-strength songwriting and production.I mean really - - not a clinker in sight (except maybe 'Give A Hand, Take A Hand' which is as smarmy as its title).To say the Bee Gees were feeling reinvigorated is an understatement.There were no hits from MR NATURAL but as everyone knows, that would change with the next album, MAIN COURSE. Too bad, because MR NATURAL's better:edgier, more experimental, and with better songs.'Voices' is one of the best things these guys ever did, with a gorgeous melody and a primaly irresistable chorus with lots of mellotron from Maurice; the alternating verse/chorus vocals between Robin and Barry is ingenious.The title track is a (Philadelphia) soulful ballad with yet another irresistable chorus.And who could forget the closer, 'Had A Lot Of Love Last Night'?Not me, buddy.No, if you want to see what's so great about the Bee Gees, you could start here and work your way around.The have a massive catalogue that never ceases to amaze, and this is one more.

BARRY ROBIN MAURICE ARE GREAT SINGERS & SONGWRITERS
BARRY ROBIN MAURICE ARE GREAT SINGERS & SONGWRITERS THIS ALBUM IS GREAT I LIKE THE WHOLE ALBUM MY FAVORITE SONG ON THERE IS CHARADE BARRY & ROBIN VOICES ARE GREAT TOGETHER!

I GIVE THIS ALBUM A 5 STARS!

FROM A BIG BEE GEES FAN KIRSTEN

Reviews (18)

A WOMAN OF HER OWN SUBSTANCE.........
I find it so disheartening to find how anyone can find any fault in anything about Cass Elliot or her music.This woman was one of a kind.She was an original, and the best in my eyes.
Although I am more her daughter's age, actually I will be 39 on 11/1/04, I have been researching the life and legacy of this great legend.I grew up with this kind of music, and as an adult in this time I find it very difficult to relate to, and even understand any of today's music.The culture now is different.Back then it was the talent of the musician's.People tended to focus on the lyrics, and the songs.But nowadays all these new singers want to do is come out half dressed, and sell sex.
People are always mentioning Cass's weight, and talking about she had choked on a sandwich.......please get real.Her cause of death was a heart attack due to her weight so please get this right.That just goes to show how much of a fan you aren't.She was a little over weight yes, but she was herself, and didn't focus on her weight.She used her talent, and I think she was a very beautiful woman.
The real purpose of this review was to rate the album......... although it's on hold for me at a record store I am still going through the samples.But from the songs that I do know and from the one's that I have sampled, I would have to say that this was a very well put together album.You do feel what she is singing.It just uplifts you so much.When I listen to her I think of her, her life, what she went through and how talented she really was. Cass Elliot......this is indeed your album, and I am behind your spirit, memory and music 100%.You were way before my time.But I love you dearly and appreciate the music you left behind.Thank You for giving us this beautiful music.And thank god for your daughter for helping to keep your music, and memory alive.
I am a true fan!Niecey Colette -Cheektowaga, New York

Good, but could have been better!
There are 18 tracks on this CD but don't expect to hear 18 songs.Two of the tracks are dialogue, very brief dialogue at that.The big hits are here but some of the tunes just keep you wondering, "Wasn't there anything better to choose from?".The song "California Earthquake" with lyrics about the faultline is a waste of time and a talent."Disney Girls" is better but still nothing to write home about.Were it not for Cass's great vocals, close to half of these songs would have wound up in a trashbin.But that said, Cass Elliott herself gives that special something that makes it worthwhile.(But never pay list price for this compilation.)

Good Collection, Great CD
No "Greatest Hits" collection ever has all of the songs that all of the fans want, so I really don't think it is fair to criticize what's not on the CD.Personally, I think it is a great shame that 'The Room Nobody Lives In' has never been put on CD.But if we are just looking at this CD, I'd have to recommend it.It does have a large number of the songs that her fans want to hear and I really enjoyed the ones I had never heard before.I still have my record player and two Cass albums, Dream and Little Dream and Make Your Own Kind of Music.I feel that this CD does represent the best from those two albums (except for the song listed above).Oh, and the insert is great.I never expected the picture in the inside of a nude Cass laying on her belly in a field of daisies.Quite a shocker initially but it is tasteful and made me giggle.

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• Original recording remastered
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Reviews (9)

Best Sound Track Ever
I just love bond movies and being able to listen to the music from them is just ausome

Live and Let Delight
The remastered release of LIVE AND LET DIE is much improved.The previous issue was no different than the track line up on the original 1973 vinyl record -- or eight track tape, depending on your antiquated stereo.Not only does this release include additional superb tracks, some of the original cuts have also been lengthened and more closely correspond the the film soundtrack. George Martin, the Beatles producer, took the helm from John Barry in scoring the eighth James Bond film soundtrack.Though no one has yet equaled Barry's compositions for Bond films, which we have not heard since 1987's THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, Martin's soundtrack was perfect for launching Roger Moore's first outing as Bond.Let us not forget Paul McCartney's brilliant theme of the same name.

The musical chemistry between McCartney and Martin is obvious as the title theme music is blended throughout the soundtrack.As a matter of trivia the movie producers originally planned to use McCartney's title theme with a female vocalist before the former Beatle showed his mettle as a negotiator.In the end, Paul McCartney and Wings performed the title track.LIVE AND LET DIE also proved to be a hit Apple/Capitol single as well.

There are a couple things missing from the CD.When some of the James Bond soundtracks were re-released a couple years ago they included selected soundbytes and an analog movie trailer.Apparently the remastered LIVE AND LET DIE soundtrack did not rate these extra features.

Oh well, Live and Let Die.In the meantime, live and go buy.

Why weren't these tracks included in the first place?
Yes, that is my sentiment....in fact, it seems in all the other re-mastered Bond soundtracks, the best music is left out, and Live and Let Die was no exception.

George Martin took over from John Barry to write the score for Live and Let Die and he more than admirably did the job. First of all, (take note David Anrold), is that he incorporate the theme song into the score even though it wasn't written by him...thus continuing the tradition of Bond music set by John Barry. Second, he wrote another piece for Solitaire which is also used extensively throughout the score. In all, George Martin wrote a score worthy of Barry himself....

Which is what makes the original release such a disappointment because many of the best music was left out. The re-master remedied that and includes virtually the entire score: the music for the pre-title sequence (gun barrel/snakebit), other notables are Bond and Rosie, The Lovers, Bond to New York, and many of the cues for action/chase sequences. There is an alternate cue for San Monique which I think is better than the one on the original release.

Reviews (23)

One for the desert island
There aren't too many perfect pop/rock records:this is one of them (it belongs on the same shelf as Revolver, OK Computer, Hunky Dory, Superfly....).All ten songs are great and, as with the other masterpieces mentioned, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.The album *sounds* unlike anything else ever released, and the songs collectively conjure up their own very specific, haunting and haunted landscape.A "ghost car on the freeway" of the 80's to use one of Neil Finn's stunning images, _Temple_ is a cd to live with, to always have with you on a long drive, and should you be banished to a desert island....

Utter Brilliance
Look there is always going to be those that argue over which crowded house album is the best, they made 4 great albums.

I divide this into two, Woodface and Crowded house have the best singles but Together and Temple are the better albums, more cohesive units and singles sell albums so this is why they are the lowest selling of the 4 albums

Temple is amazing, how could capitol let this fall through the cracks (a quote from the boss B Springsteen)The album is brimming with great songs (Love this life, in the lowlands, sister madly) hell the whole lot.

I still believe to this day if the right singles were released from this album it would have been as big as the josua tree (Singles, In the lowlands, never be the same and Into Temptation) When you come and better be home are good songs but not the dynamic singles that radio stations play

I own nearly 3000 cd's in my collection ranging from Eminem to Joni Mitchell to Neil Finn to Kieth Urban and let me tell you this album is my favourite cd amongst the lot. For these reasons

1.It features neil's best song (Into Temptation)The string bit sends me away in the clouds
2.The harmonies are amazing
3.Songwriting and lyrics from the heart
4.Fantastic from Start to finish

Go and buy this record it is amazing

Start your journey in the 'Temple'
For years this was my favorite Crowded House {CH} album.Like most of the other reviewers, I'm a huge fan of Neil Finn and all things Finn in general, but this album stood out as the diamond among all their other precious gems.It was quirky, instantly accessible, it sounded great and Neil Finn really came into his own as a writer and a vocalist in a way he hadn't (in my opinion) yet on `Crowded House', the first CH album which only made the 35-40 minute LP length because they included a cover of one of his older Split Enz songs ("Can't Carry On" from Split Enz' 'See You Around' CD).

In fact, while their first album has the big radio hits we still hear (albeit in supermarkets), Temple of Low Men seems more consistent in tone and flavor.The songs are quirkier perhaps, but with the possible exception of 'Kill Eye' there isn't a dodgy track on the disc.

Why only 4 stars?Because I'm grading on a Crowded House curve and this album suffers a bit from when it was produced and a bit in comparison with its soul mate 'Together Alone'.Like their self-titled debut, 'Temple of Low Men' was recorded for vinyl and is therefore mastered at a lower level (not always a bad thing) and has fewer songs than most modern releases. The saving grace is that the production still mostly holds up and doesn't sound particularly dated or '80's-ish.Their last CD 'Together Alone' takes up where 'Temple of Low Men' leaves off and breaks new ground not only for the band, but for the rest of us as well and it's in comparison with that strength that 'Temple' seems to suffer. But that's grading on a curve.

Should you start with 'Temple of Low Men' to see if Crowded House is for you?I did and in a sense it gave me a truer expectation and better appreciation of the rest of Neil Finn's work than I think either 'Woodface (co-written with his brilliant brother Tim Finn)' or 'Crowded House' would have done.

There is NO good reason not to buy this CD. In all honesty, all their albums are great (or nearly great in the case of their debut) and you can't really make a bad choice.Best of all, once you've assimilated the Crowded House catalog you can check out the stunning solo careers of both Neil and Tim Finn, their collaborations together and the whole Split Enz discography.

These guys are the best.

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Reviews (36)

I think he tried too hard to make a good first impression
With this album the first one on the Geffen label where he would release the next 6 albums actually. This one was pretty good, but it's disorganized. He starts out with a good rocker that sounds like it could very well had been released in the 70's with "Breaking Down The Barriers", but then there's the techno flavored "Nobody Wins", and then the hard rocker "Facist Faces", and the sound quality isn't too remarkable either. Still a decent outing, but it showed that he needed work to get to the status he enjoyed in the 70's. Let's face it starting over again at 34 probably wasn't the easiest thing for him to do, so give him credit it's not a bad album.

Rating 100%
Elton's "Fox" album was looked upon poorly by many, as it was judged on the fact that it had left over material from his previous two albums; 1979's "A single man", and 1980's "21 at 33".

Simply throwing the CD in and playing it...... I LOVE IT.It kicks off with it's bright dazzling piano sounding "Breaking down the barriers"."Heart in the right place" takes you back briefly to the sounds of "Yellow brick Road"."Fascist faces" gives a similar feel, but with it's moderately paced build ups to it's explosively rocking chorus, blows me out of my flat (apartment), every time I hear it."Nobody wins" switches the album briefly into a jumping 80's synth pop mode.The well conceived "Carla/elude-fanfare-Chloe" shows another variation to Elton's song writing talent."Just like Belgium" is O'kay but nothing to write home about."Heels of the wind" kicks along with the same dazzling feel as "Breaking down the barriers"."Elton's song" was well crafted melodically, but lyrically deals with some of his personal issues.Album finishes off with the modest sounding title cut, which sounds very much like"Country comfort", which was a moderate hit off his early 70's album; "Tumbleweed connection".

Another great selection of tracks from his Geffen years.

I definitely like the original pressing much better....oddly these new 24 bit remasters sound flat with no real punch.

Editorial Review