Editorial Review

With the massive success of the single "Light My Fire" and their initial two albums, L.A.'s the Doors quickly built a sizable reputation for edgy, often over-the-top musical drama. Perhaps wary of stereotyping, or simply worn out from their grueling early success, the band took a decided left turn into softer sounds here, from the pop-drenched "Hello, I Love You" to the flamenco guitar wash of "Spanish Caravan." Even gentle ballads (by the band's standards, anyway) were a part of the Doors' new sensibility, as witnessed by "Love Street" and "Summer's Almost Gone." But lest one think the band had gone a little too soft, the antiwar diatribe "The Unknown Soldier," the edgy "Five to One," and the deliciously strange "Not to Touch the Earth" were there to remind listeners that even if the band had mellowed a bit, they were still a long way from Jay and the Americans. Read more

Reviews (107)

the shaman lives
Since my youth I have had an ear for roots music, whether I was conscious of that fact or not. The original of that interest first centered on the blues, then early rock and roll and later, with the folk revival of the early 1960's, folk music. I have often wondered about the source of this interest. I am, and have always been a city boy, and an Eastern city boy at that. Nevertheless, over time I have come to appreciate many more forms of roots music than in my youth. The subject of the following review is an example.
It's difficult to know
what to make of the Doors, as they have to be one of the most inconsistent bands of the late '60s, early '70s. They started off so promisingly with 'The Doors' release in 1967, and then 2 years later came up with this dubious effort.
The wost album bya major band
I was Doors fan in the 1980s. I liked their debut, Strange Days, LA Woman, Morrison Hotel etc. But when I brought this album home (on vinyl no less) and played it, I was speechless. It was terrible.Gone was the old slightly menacing Doors and here was the middle of the road lounge act Doors. The change from darkand mysterious to sugar coated twee was shocking. The electric organ now sounded horrible, they were already rehashing Break On Through and they seemingly had forgotten how to get their instruments in harmony with each other. And they totally ripped off The Kinks with Hello I Love You. I initially thought that maybe I was just not in a receptive mood for the music so I gave it a rest and came back to it a few days later. It still sounded dreadful. I've listened to this album a fair amount in the intervening20 years and I *still* think it's one of the worst albums ever made.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Proto-Punk    6. Psychedelic    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Import

Reviews (3)

All-time great album, inessential bonus tracks
I don't know what more I can add to the Paris 1919 discussion.It's arguably the best work by arguably the most unfairly obscure popular music genius of his time.If you don't already own it, stop reading and buy it! Make that twelve!
There is an unlisted 21st track-- an instrumental version of 'Macbeth' featuring some fine slide guitar from Lowel George!

OMG....12 more parts of an absolute classic
I couldn't be more excited than if George Martin announced that more previously unknown parts of "Sgt. Pepper" had been found!
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Experimental    3. Experimental Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    7. Proto-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Singer/Songwriter   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (53)

Goin' against the grain, the way it should be...
I don't know how Dr. Gonzo can even compare the solo in "Marquee Moon" to such great solos by Jimmy Page (Stairway to Heaven) and David Gilmour (Comfortably Numb).I know it's easy to downplay such solos just because they also happen to be popular, overplayed, and overhyped over time.But it's not the song's nor the artist's fault.And comparing it to a solo like this doesn't even warrant an argument.I also think Gilmour's solo is great but not the best, but still it ranks much higher than this one, namely for its melody.Also, on the contrary, Page does not rely on fuzz pedals to carry/make his solos...leave that to today's guitarists.He's the man, especially in the studio, and should not be trivialized along with other arena rockers that couldn't make 1/10 of quality songs or riffs as him.They made it, played it, and paved the way for the inferiors to copy them; thus, Zeppelin and Page should stand apart from the punk cliche/ideology that Zeppelin sucked (though I'm not implying that is what Dr. Gonzo is saying).The Verlaine solo was okay, but nothing more than similar solos done countless times, namely in the 60's.The Peanut Butter Conspiracy's lead guitarist Bill Wolff comes to mind when I hear the solo.
I am the Marquee Moon
Television's "Marquee Moon" is in my opinion the greatest guitar rock album of all time. It took what punk would turn out to be and made into a shot of new wave, rock and jazz. Tom Verlaine composing the songs with a serious attitude, Richard Lloyd jamming at light speed, Fred Smith jazzing up his bass structure and Billy Ficca pounding at the drums as if he was running for his life. Marquee Moon is simply put, the must own album for "guitar god" lovers. It transcends you into a world of innocence, pain, beauty and love. And that is why Marquee Moon should be on everyone's list of favorite albums.

looking for something great?
looking for a great punk album? looking for a great rock album? looking for a great album from the '70's? looking for an album with epic tracks and lyrics that match? looking for an influential album that the critics raved about yet is sadly underrated at the same time? looking for something that doesn't sound commercial, but isn't a bunch of noise? wanna hear great guitar work? tired of hearing opera singers?
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Bass    3. Drums    4. Guitar    5. New York Punk    6. Pop    7. Proto-Punk    8. Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. United States of America    12. Vocals   

Editorial Review

After the success of the dance hits "Fame" and "Young Americans" (both off 1975's Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording reissued

Reviews (95)

Incredible
Like all his other works, David Bowies Station to station album is sensational. From Station to station, a masterpiece about the thin white duke. All the way to Wild is the wind, a perfectly executed ballad. Station to station is not only an incredible imprint of theman's soul but of Earl Slick's. To this day every time I hear "Stay" I feel something incredible.
The Return Of The Thin White Duke
David Bowie may have been all a clutter in the mid 70's but as is the case with 'Station To Station' some brilliant music came out of it.This music is special becauses it's funky,rocking and dramatic all at the same time and flows end to end with six extremely well written tunes.The title tune really does have the feeling of an epic-part is very dramatic 'kraut rock' with spiky guitars and part is very R&B/dance oriented."Golden Years" of course goes more in that direction-a very clinical funk tune that was deservadly a huge hit for Bowie."Word On A Wing" and "Wild Is The Wind" are both big dramatic ballads but with far more thought put into the writing then any of the album cuts on 'Young Americans'."TV-15" is a great rocker off of the album-well more of a pop rocker and "Stay" takes another great turn on a funkier side of town but this time with a tad of the Philly taste of yore.Big difference is that on 'Station To Station' there is a slight lack of warmth.But even though Bowiewas working his way through relationship,drug and management problems his music certainly wasn't suffering the worse for it.This is one of David Bowie's best albums and one more then worth investigating.

Two GREAT songs, four lame ones
I can't believe the 5 star reviews this album gets.(Well, it probably deserves it more than Yoko Ono and Syd Barrett's albums, which also get mostly 5 stars.)"Golden Years" is an excellent track, one of Bowie's best (wa-wa-wa)..The title track is pretty catchy too.But the rest of it is just depressing, dull songs with little of the originality that marked his Hunky Dory/ Ziggy / Aladdin Sane era.He just ran out of ideas I guess.I can believe he doesn't remember making this album - he sounds detached and bored with it all.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blue-Eyed Soul    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Popular Music    6. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    7. Proto-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

On her 1975 debut, Smith was full of piss and vinegar, seriously interested in bringing together high art and low three-chord rock & roll.As a result, her free-form poetry meshes with covers of "Gloria" and "Land of a Thousand Dances," and the album centers on two long, highfalutin' pieces, including the three-part suite (warning! warning! art!) "Land." (The CD version appends a messy live take on The Who's "My Generation.") Led by Richard Sohl's piano, the arrangements don't exactly rock, and some of Smith's songwriting gets buried in its stylistic affectations (there's a great song under "Redondo Beach"'s fake reggae). But the point of Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (52)

Horses
When it opens with a line like, "Jesus died for someone's sins but not for mine", you know you're in for something good. Sure enough, that one line launches you into a forty-five minute album filled with graphic descriptions of sex and violence. (Listen to my personal favorite, Land, if you want proof). She sings her dark verses with so much intensity, so much feeling that it makes Jim Morrison look like a raving drunk. Yes, it's that intense, people. And she somehow manages to turn a brutal tale of murder into the R&B nugget Land of a Thousand Dances, not to mention an even rawer version of Gloria, the album's signature song.
The Grandmother Of Alternative Female Rock
This is one of the greatest debuts of all time, Patti Smith is a true legend, despite no RIAA certified albums and one charting single. She has shaped much of the female music we hear today, everyone from Alanis Morissette to PJ Harvey have obvious influences from her music and prescence in the industry.
one of the original alternatives
In the 1970's I owned two of Patti Smith's vinyl releases, 'Wave', and this disc, her debut LP, released in 1975.Though artist's such as Smith were part-punk, part-post psychedelia, the heir's apparent to hippie-inspired rock and roll, they still maintained a direct connection to the Baby Boom Generation, as evidenced by the non-Patti Smith compositions chosen for this disc, Van Morrison's 'Gloria', Chris Kenner's 'Land of a Thousand Dances' (previously recorded by Wilson Pickett), and on the remastered CD, Pete Townshend's 'My Generation'.Of course Patti Smith's versions, though possessing all the intensity and passion of the original versions (and then some), also lack the relative innocence of those renditions.In part, Smith's interpretations serve notice that that crown of rock's royalty has been passed to a new genre, if not a new generation.That new generation, perhaps more of an addendum to the Baby Boom Generation, included a greater openness to alternative lifestyles, as Smith sings love songs to 'Gloria' and 'Kimberly' in her uncompromising manner.
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Subjects:  1. New York Punk    2. Pop    3. Popular Music    4. Proto-Punk    5. Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

In 1972, when rock & roll was all but dead in Manhattan, five cross-dressing glam punks from the boroughs convened and began hammering out crude, sub-Chuck Berry rock for the downtown in-crowd. It took another year before a record company dared to sign them, thus foisting Read more

Reviews (63)

New York Dolls - self-titled (Mercury)
Review number 63.Originally unleashed to an unexpected public in summer of 1973,this was of course the glam rocker's very first record.If you think the Stooges were great,step aside,this CD reissue is ALSO a true Proto-Punk classic. Every one of this album's slamming tunes 'practically' pulls you in,like "Personality Crisis", the radio friendly(?) "Looking For A Kiss", "Lonely Planet Boy" (one of my personal favorites), "Bad Girl", "Pills" and "Jet Boy". So glad they've recently reunited,aren't you? Highly recommended.

What more can really be said?
I'm a big fan of Bowie, Iggy, T. Rex and other bands of that glam/early punk era. This album provides a perfect mix of those genres. It's really hard to listen to this album and not hear how their influence spread to a lot of bands that would proceed them.
Something Happened in Lower Manhattan
I had pretty high expectations for this CD when I first listened to it way back when. I understood that it was a recording of high historical importance and influence, and the fact that Morrissey endorsed it as his favorite CD - and does to this very day - certainly bode well for it.Besides, I couldn't help but be drawn in by a bunch of guys dressed as red light district Barbies playing trashy, menacing rock 'n roll in a brew of Rolling Stones-style blues and reckless proto-punk abandon.Moreover, in the wake of the glam rock of T. Rex and David Bowie, the New York Dolls imitated their fashions so as to flatter them, but took it to the extreme and gave it an irresistibly kitschy quality. Image was very important at the time, and the Dolls were wise enough to embrace it.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Glam Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. New York Punk    5. Pop    6. Proto-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

With 1970's Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording reissued

Reviews (63)

Bowie's First Classic
This is the album where Bowie first hit his stride.After a forgettable and debut and the well-intentioned but lackluster(except for the title track) "Space Oddity" album, Bowie roared back with "The Man Who Sold The World".
Guitar Oriented David Bowie
This is David Bowie giving himself a less synthy and more guitar oriented sound. And who better to do that for him than the legendary Mick Ronson? The title track was famously covered by Nirvana but the first four tracks are the best. There are a few songs on here that that are only good, but they can't spoil the stellar first four tracks, nor the second to last, "The Man Who Sold the World." I have no doubt in my mind that this is a must own for any Bowie fan, if for no other reason, because these are good songs of his that you don't hear very often. Underplayed Bowie goodness will be refreshing from some of his more famous songs that you have heard your whole life. This ranks in my top 5 favorite Bowie albums. For me, it goes like this:
The Man who Sold the World: David Bowie
It is been told that this album was David Bowie's heavy metal attempt.Although the guitar in this album probably did influence later heavier material of other artist, this is not a "heavy" album.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Glam Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Popular Music    7. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    8. Proto-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (39)

Higher Than The Milky Way
From the opening dissonant synthesizer riff, Phil Manzanera's alternately 'walking' and shrieking guitar lines slithering through it and Bryan Ferry's excited crooning in "Street Life" to the gorgeous poetry and subtle piano/violin interplay at the end of "Sunset", this is my favorite Roxy Music album. The wild "Street Life" is followed by "Just Like You", a luscious ballad with astoundingly dreamy/surrealistic lyrics Ferry mostly sings in a sweet falsetto. Then out of left field (way,way out!) comes the Ferry/Manzanera-composed "Amazona"- partly funky, partly spacey, totally unique. I love Phil's treated guitar solo on this one. The marching rhythm of "Psalm" features a strange lyrical analogy of trying on different clothes with seeking religious faith. "Serenade" features some wonderful oboe and sax work by Andy Mackay. Next is the towering "A Song For Europe", an ode to the Olde Country that veers from the majestic to the subtle and back again. The astonishingly original "Mother of Pearl" starts off like a schizophrenic rocker ("Have you a future? Yes,yes,yes, nooo!"), transforms into a semi-ballad after a little over a minute and slowly starts rocking again after a bit. "Mother" segues right into the final track, "Sunset", a song so beautiful, so melancholy yet serene that I cried the first few times I listened to it. Again, here Bryan's lyrics are unparalleled in their subtlety and wit. ("Sunburst fingers you raise, one last sigh of farewell".) Glorious!
Ahhh, the girl with blue hair !!
This is simply the best Roxy album ever. I went to see them live in 1973 (?) in Coventry, and was stunned. All of us were huge Roxy fans at the time, and i still consider most of it to have been the best time of my life. all the albums were incredibly innovative, and got everyone away from mainstream rock'n'roll.
VENUS on the HALF SHELL is an AMAZON
The first song "Street Life" the stunning personal rocker, redefines the new ROXY MUSIC as a great ensemble.The second is the perfect and brilliant singer/songwriter "Just Like You" which redefines the director of ROXY MUSIC as Bryan Ferry.The third track "Amazona" is what should be this throw away little ditty that I have the most to write about (he he he) "...in Amazona everything is nice...little one, come take my hand, I'll try to take you there..." which gets weird like a horrible cloud of gnats that you can't escape and can't help but get under your skin and Phil Manzanera does, but distortion is not song content and here might ENO contribute.It is probably my favorite track, and annoying, but also probably the weakest one on the album (he he he)."Psalm" is warranted and shocking in its day, but not one I rarely skip."Serenade" however is another one of those tuneful ROXY marvels I write about, surprising and insightful."A Song for Europe" is another long theatre piece, Byronesque, as in Lord Byron.Some love it, some don't."Mother Of Pearl," like the Venus-on-the-Half-Shell record album cover, is protracted.But, it has such an electrifying opener, poignant lyric, and lush tune, that I can't fault it.The album closes with the gorgeous "Sunset" which is one of those perfectly set ROXY MUSIC songs that, when you sleep, haunt your dreams...
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Glam Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    6. Proto-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (7)

anything less than 5 stars is absurd!
David Bowie may have written the "hit" on this album and may have helped the band in any number of ways but it sickens me to hear so many comments in the literature implying Bowie's contribution is responsible for this band's success. Certainly he helped them at a crucial time when they may have passed on to anonymity but the talent was all theirs. When one listens to the bonus Bowie track where he sings "All the Young Dudes" even though he wrote it, it is obvious Mott the Hoople made it their's. Mott is a perfect example of how the media can destroy a band. Lord knows what may have come from these guys if Allen and Ralphs had hung around for another two or three years. As a musician and song writer this is one of my all-time favorite early seventies albums. I am also a Bad Company fan but I'll never understand why anyone liked B.C.'s version of Ready For Love more than Mott's...at best its a fair imitation. Like many bands during this time they were phenomenally talented and creative but only maintained their edge for a short while. Give them the credit they deserve!

a good piece of music, but not groundbreaking
David Bowie wanted to work with this band because he felt that they had talent, and transformed Mott the Hoople into a real group with this album. But these 5 star reviews are a bit too much. I like All the Young Dudes, but opening a record with a less than great cover of "Sweet Jane" is just not how an album should be opened up. You'd enjoy this album a lot more if you ate up all of David Bowie's music. But this is no Ziggy Stardust, or even half of that.

Launch Code Enabled
By now, the story of David Bowie throwing Mott The Hoople a bone with glam anthem "All The Young Dudes," in turn preventing their career from swirling down the crapper faster than last night's dinner, is a part of rock and roll lore damn near on par with Robert Johnson brokering his soul to Beelzebub down at the crossroads.Of course Johnson never had to deal with Guy Stevens, so draw your own conclusions as to who got the short end of the stick.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. England    3. Glam Rock    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Proto-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Roxy Music appeared to have beamed in from another planet when they appeared in the early '70s. Impossibly alien and exotic, they bucked trends by being kitschy, avant-garde, and unashamedly pop. Bryan Ferry was the sensual frontman, Brian Eno threw his deconstructionist spanner into the works, and they played songs that sounded like demented, sexy logarithms. After Eno left in 1973, frustrated that Ferry was marginalizing his input, Roxy became a different beast entirely, developing a suave, sophisticated pop-soul sound and abandoning the art-rock niche to enlist a wider audience. This lush compilation, released to accompany their reunion tour (minus Eno), captures both sides of Roxy and, true to the subversive spirit that informed their early years, does so in reverse order. This anti-chronology means they open with the languid, supper-club croon of 1980s hits "Avalon" and "More Than This," plus the beauteous cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy," then peel back the years through midperiod gems such as "Dance Away" and "Love Is the Drug," before closing with the hyperventilating, superbly twisted bubblegum of "Pyjamarama" and "Virginia Plain." The sequencing may be bonkers, but this is an essential souvenir of a band in a million. Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (22)

Jugot 2 B kidding
Best of ? ,,, A John Lennon song in a Best of Roxy Music ...
Terrific Overview of Roxy
For those curious about this group, this is the album to get for a good introduction.It features the more recent works first, then works backward to the oldest material.
A half decent effort
Roxy had two careers:
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Glam Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    6. Proto-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Long considered one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, the Who's Read more

Features

• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (98)

Young Man Blues
Young Man Blues might be the best live Who song recorded. This song alone makes the CD worth the price.The Who at their best! This CD really captures their energy.Nice and raw.

Signed Original Live at Leeds
I have what is probably the original copy of Live at Leeds signed by Mike along with original contracts, pay receipts, a letter refusing to let The Who play at Lacarno Ballroom, Swindon on April 15th 1965 because they feltthat "THE WHO are not the type of Group that would go well in his Ballroom." and signed Barry Perkins from King's Agency (Variety) Limited 22nd March, 1965...jcollard1@houston.rr.com

deluxe live at leeds
i'm sorry i can not review this product since i cancelled order and received a refund.please feel free to ask for a review of my other purchases. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. British Invasion    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Mod    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    9. Proto-Punk    10. Rock    11. Rock & Roll    12. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

With startling, boundless creativity, Roxy Music's juiced-up debut record put a subversive spin on mid-'70s conventions, embracing glam-pop and artsy electronics while harboring a deep love of classic rock songcraft. Brian Eno's stamp is all over the record, driving songs like "Re-Make/Re-Model" down strange, atonal avenues. Bryan Ferry's nightclub glamour-boy persona and wandering vibratos help make timeless epics out of molehills like the (originally non-album) track "Virginia Plain." Eno stuck around for one more record, 1973's For Your Pleasure, leaving Ferry and the band to embrace their less avant-garde leanings. This unpredictable, dangerous record might be a shock for those who associate Roxy Music with the silky sounds of later records such as Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (44)

Hudu Templiss
I'm not too experienced with listening to music, so if any of this is cheesy, blame me!
electronic super-glam art
This is hard music to classify - easy music to enjoy! The first two albums of Roxy with Brian Eno are soooo good - believe the hype. This is experimental rock at its finest!

Oo-oo Show Me!ROXY MUSIC debut the MISSING LINK
Oo-oo Show Me!ROXY MUSIC debut the MISSING LINK
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Britain    3. Glam Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    7. Proto-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Iggy's torturous, red-lined remix puts the claws, violence, and danger back in grooves first cut in '73 (and supposedly botched in David Bowie's far more tame--and somewhat more listenable--original mix).Result: Sublime Motor City mayhem. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (132)

Freedom Through Primal Instinct
Unfortunately, the only people who listen to the Stooges are the type of people who are concerned with the history of rock music more than music itself.The type of people who've spent more time reading about rock music than actually listening to it.The kind of people who organize their record collections by relevance.In other words, rock snobs.
Meet Rock & Roll
Another reviewer on Amazon, discussing a different album, stated that the album he was reviewing would be the one he would use to introduce an alien to Rock & Roll music for the first time. That is an interesting question, and to my own surprise, one I immediately had my own answer to.
Most Influential Album of the 70's
You can love this album, you can hate this album, but don't even try to downplay it's importance.This is the album that single-cockedly kicked off the punk revolution.This is the album that solidified Iggy Pop as the world's forgotten boy.This is the album that can't be turned down, no matter how low you set your speakers.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Detroit Rock    3. Glam Rock    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Proto-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America