Squeeze - 2005 - Spot the Difference

Squeeze - 2005 - Spot the Difference @256

The very title of Spot the Difference suggests there are notable variations between this collection of re-recorded hits and the originals, but a quick listen reveals that Squeeze are taunting their audience to differentiate these painstaking re-creations from the originals. Apart from the fact that Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are several years older -- a fact they take no pains to disguise -- these 15 re-recordings could pass in a pinch for the originals, the arrangements and instrumentation uncannily mimicking the classics. While this hardly supplants those originals, Spot the Difference is a fun spin for the devoted and a good advertisement for Squeeze’s reunion tour, proving they still have the knack to entertain.(AllMusic)

ANDY

 

Squeeze - 1993 - Some Fantastic Place

Squeeze - 1993 - Some Fantastic Place @320

The band's tenth proper album reunites the core of Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford with former member Paul Carrack and adds drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & the Attractions). Their classic sound is still there through the melodic power pop of "Third Rail" to the blue-eyed soul of "Loving You Tonight" (nearly a rewrite of "Tempted"). Another in a series of commercial sleepers, but definitely worth a listen. (AllMusic)

ANDY

 

Rob's Reggae Mix - Tracks 901 to 1000 @320

 1000. Freddie McGregor - Roots Man Skanking

999. Frankie Paul - Hot Number

998. Vin Gordon & The Revolutionaries - Cobra rock (extended)

997. Jah Woosh - African People

996. Skin Flesh & Bones - Slavery dub

995. Eek-A-Mouse - Modelling Queen

994. Gladiators - Jah Works

993. Don Carlos - Knock Knock

992. Dennis Bovell - Yo' Love (Can't Get By Without Cha)

991. Zion Train  - Words Of Wisdom

990. Ras Michael, The Sons Of Negus - None A Jah Jah Children (No Cry)

988. Jacob Miller-Augustus Pablo - Baby I Love You So

987. Danny Tucker - Changes

986. The Congos - Judgement Day

985. Partiet - Problemformuleringsprivilegiet

984. U-Roy - Peace And Love In The Ghetto

983. Leroy Smart - Jah Is My Future Guide

982. Michael Rose - Plastic Smile

981. Lee Perry - Son Of The Black Ark

980. Culture - Can They Run Version

979. Culture - Can They Run

978. Claude Fontaine - Play By Play

977. Sly & Robbie & Roots Radics - Mind Your Own

976. Inner Circle - Tired Fe Lick Weed In A Bush

975. U Brown - Natty Dread On Montain Top

974. Mighty Diamonds - Right Time

973. Gladiators - Bless Our Soul

972. Devon Russell - Life Is

971. Bantaba - When I Cry

970. Little John - Sweet Reggae Music

969. Philip Smart - Full Up Dub

968. Corey Harris - Fire Go Come

967. Ares & The Tribe - Marcus Say Ares & The Tribe

966. Delroy Washington - Generation Game

965. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Get Up, Stand Up

964. Third World - Dreamland

963. Black Slate - Reggae Everytime

962. Leroy Brown - Color Barrier

961. Black Uhuru - Natural Mystic

960. Gregory Peck - Oversize Mampie

959. Yabby You - Beirut Massacre

958. Lee 'Scratch' Perry & the Upsetters - Underground Root (feat. The Full Experience)

957. Zion Train - Durban Poison

956. Lambsbread - International Love

955. Admiral Bailey - Me Head a Hurt Me

954. Lee Perry - Camp

953. Terry Blaine & The Gideon Band - Riding On

952. Talisman - Greetings And Salutations

951. Freddie McGregor - Walls Of Jericho

950. Barry Brown - Fittest Of The Fittest

949. Bunny General - Played By This Ya Sound

948. Zion Initation - Jah Light

947. Culture - Mister Music Version

946. Black Roots - What Them A Do

945. Fire Rises - The Rockers Disciples Meets The Producers

944. LKJ - Sonny's Lettah (Anti-Sus Poem)

943. The Uniques - Never Give Up

942. Horace Andy - Government Land

941. Albert Griffiths and The Gladiators - Valley Of Decision

940. Half Pint - Freedom Fighter Dub

939. Half pint - Freedom Fighter

938. Earl Zero - No Change

937. Dub Syndicate - God Is A Man

936. Big Youth - Hot Cross Bun

935. Tony Tuff  - Rumours Of War

934. Marcel - Salem - Mayma Sama Baat

933. Delroy Washington - Freedom Fighters

932. Flo & Eddie - Stop

931. Black Slate - Boom Boom

930. Black Uhuru - I love King Selassie

929. Prezident Brown - Micro Chip

928. Ken Boothe - Is It Because I'm Black

927. Carl Bradney - Slipping Into Darkness

926. Sound Dimension - Drum Song

925. Reggae Regular - Jah Bring Them Come

924. Zion Initation - Conquering Lion

923. Cocoa Tea - Babylon Get Rude

922. Lee Perry - Raving Guitar Dub

921. UB40 - Broken man

920. Carlton Lewis - Small Talking

919. Black Uhuru - Sorry For The Man

918. Jah Cure - Ghetto Life

917. Michael Rose - Black Maria

916. Drumbago, The Dynamites - Dulcemania

915. Gregory Isaacs - (Let Me Be Your) Special Guest

914. Errol Strength - Errol's Love

913. Errol Strength - Oh What a Saturday Night

912. Blackbeard - Electrocharge

911. The Blenders - Decimal Currency

910. Native - Rockstone

909. Ras Midas - Rain and Fire

908. Third World - Freedom Song

907. Earl Sixteen - Going To Africa With Dub (Extended Version)

906. The Viceroys - We Must Unite

905. Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Jungle (Urban Breakdown)

904. Hugh Griffith - Stuck On You

903. Wailing Soul - Babylon Back Against The Wall

902. Jr. Delgado & Ranking - Captive

901. U-Roy - I Got To Tell You Goodbye

So we have made it to the thousand mark of the re-posting of Rob's mix, two thirds of this mix are now housed here on Vibes. The last third will be here soon, and we will house and maintain this mix. 

The next posts will be Sunday 1001 to 1100, Tuesday 1101 to 1200 and then Friday 1201 to 1300, the link will be in the comments below.  

Burning Spear – Rocking Time (1974) Studio One CD reissue @320

Reb - Discogs - Link👇

The White Stripes - My Sister Thanks You And I Thank You - The White Stripes Greatest Hits (2020) @320

Reb - Discogs - Link👇

Rob's Reggae Mix - Tracks 801 to 900 @320

900. Matumbi - Guide Us Jah

899. The Equators - If You Need Me

898. Eek A Mouse - Ganja Smuggling

897. Clancy Eccles - Freedom

896. Jimmy Cliff - World Upside Down

895. Sister Nancy - Coward Of The Country

894. Revolutionary Dub Warriors - Centenary

893. The Paragons - Judgement Day

892. Cocoa Tea - We Must Be Free

891. U-Roy - Jah Son Of Africa

890. Ghetto Priest - Dry Bone

889. Ghetto Priest - Shadow Dub (Adrian Sherwood Mix)

888. Horace Andy - Mr Bassie

887. We The People Band - Strike Part Two

886. Lloyd Parks & We The People - Strike

885. Bunny & Ricky - Bushweed Corntrash

884. George Fullwood - Natty Dread A Weh She Want (12” mix)

883. Alton Ellis - What Does It Take To Win Your Love

882. Alton Ellis - Alton's Groove

881. Willi Williams - Before Old Pirates Came

880. Rod Taylor - In The Right Way

879. L.K.J. - Reality Poem

878. Dry & Heavy - Mr. Blueflame [Long Version]

877. Johnny Clarke - Peace And Love In The Ghetto

876. Jah Free - Hear Me Dub

875. Jah Free - Hear Me Calling

874. Matthew McAnuff - No Segregation

873. Willi Williams - Rock On

872. Cornell Campbell - Natty Dread In A Greenwich Town

871. Alton Ellis & The Flames - Cry Tough

870. The Meditations - Pattin' On Shoulder

869. Dillinger - Jah Show Them The Way Dub

868. Dillinger - Jah Show Them The Way

867. Clinton Fearon - Poor Nana

866. Gregory Isaacs - Feeling Irie

865. Hugh Mundell - Great Tribulation

864. Linton Kwesie Johnson - Brain Smashing Dub

863. Linton Kwesie Johnson - Fite Dem Back

862. I-Roy - Hot Stuff

861. Bob Marley - Concrete Jungle

860. Bunny Rugs - Be Thankful (Discomix Version)

859. Reggae Regular - Ghetto Rock

858. Lee Perry - Stay Dread

857. Bunny Wailer - Rastaman

856. Dandy And The Brother Dan Allstars - Tears In My Eyes

855. Capital Letters - Roots Music

854. The Upsetters - Dubbing in the Back Seat

853. Bunny Scott - Be Thankful (For What You’ve Got)

852. Rita Morar - Meri Awaaz Suno (Hear My Voice)

851. Dubblestandart - Chase The Devil (feat. Lee Scratch Perry - Adrian Sherwood Dub)

850. Carlton Bryan - Gridlock

849. Dennis Brown - Joy In The Morning

848. Michael Smith - Mi Feel It

847. Keith Hudson - Fight Your Revolution

846. Big Youth - Screaming Target

845. Dennis Bovell - Brain Damage

844. Harry J Allstars, Karl Bryan - Soul Special

843. Don Carlos - Young Girl

842. Blackbeard - Steadie

841. Black Uhuru - As the World Turns

840. Audio Active - Free the Marijuana

839. King Tubby - Population Dub

838. Johnny Clarke, U-Roy - Every Knee Shall Bow

837. Horace Ferguson - Jah Order

836. The Slickers - Give Us A Break

835. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kinky Reggae

834. Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston

833. Scientist - Mohamed Ali

832. Leroy Brown - Don't Give Up

831. Revelation Rockers - Jah Praises

830. Israel Vibration - Unseen Bullet

829. Jah Lloyd - Cocaine

828. Lee Scratch Perry - Zion's Blood

827. Wayne Smith - Life Is A Moment In Space

826. L.K.J. - Independant Intavenshan

825. Leroy Brown - Money Barrier

824. Alton Ellis - It's True

823. Alton Ellis - Again

822. Manjul - Human Being

821. Earl 16 - Slavery Version

820. Earl 16 - Modern Slavery

819. Max Romeo - One Step Forward

817. Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey

816. L.K.J - Dread Beat an' Blood

815. Dillinger - Cokane In My Brain

814. Mutabaruka - Junk Dub

813. Yabby You - Conquering Lion

812. Big Youth - Cool Breeze

811. UB40 - Tyler

810. Black Roots - Juvenile Delinquent

809. Burning Spear - Old Marcus Garvey

808. Bob Marley - No More Trouble

807. Dillinger - Cup Of Tea

806. Jah Shaka - Creation Dub

805. Dennis Bovell Meets Dubblestandart - Im No Robot (dub)

804. Dennis Bovell Meets Dubblestandart - Im No Robot

803. Clinton Fearon - The Hunter

802. G.T. Moore - Reformation Dub

801. G.T. Moore - Utopia

Yeah today 801 to 900, if you think you have missed some posts then click Here it will show you all the posts for this mix. Shared so far are 2001 to 3000 (these were never shared on Rob's Site) and 1 to 900. Still to come 901 to 2000. Download link is now housed in the comments below.

1994 - Idiosyncratic Path The Best Of Van Dyke Parks

1994 - Idiosyncratic Path The Best Of Van Dyke Parks @320

With the word "idiosyncratic" right there in the title, it should be no surprise that a compilation of the recordings of Van Dyke Parks should represent someone's individual taste. In this case, that person is Alan Price, who is given credit for "compilation," which presumably means the selection and sequencing of the tracks. (There are also brief liner notes, which are uncredited.) But other factors may be at work. The album's 19 tracks are drawn from only three of Parks' five studio albums, Song Cycle (1968), Discover America (1972), and Clang of the Yankee Reaper (1975), with nothing from Jump! (1984) or Tokyo Rose (1989). They are "issued under license from Van Dyke Parks," which may indicate that the artist has gained ownership of his master recordings for his first three LPs, while the subsequent two are still the property of Warner Bros. Records, and thus not available for licensing. In any case, Parks' albums are conceptual entities, so they don't lend themselves readily to sampling. Price has chosen to emphasize Discover America, which contributes ten tracks, with four from Song Cycle and five from Clang of the Yankee Reaper, and to mix the material up into a new sequence. So, for instance, the pairing of "Vine Street" and "Palm Desert" that leads off Song Cycle turns up here as tracks 10 and 11. By de-emphasizing Song Cycle, Price puts the focus on the Caribbean styles that dominated the second and third albums. Parks has a great affection for xylophones, marimbas, and steel drums, and many of the tracks here feature those instruments prominently, with his inventive horn and string charts added. The sampling tends to give greater attention to individual songs, notably the lovely instrumental arrangement of, as Parks called it, "Donovan's Colours" (another track from Song Cycle, here used as the lead-off track), and the light-hearted version of the Little Feat song "Sailin' Shoes." Any random selection and sequencing of 19 Parks songs from the three albums would be worthwhile, and, in effect, that's what this is. If it causes anyone to seek out the albums in full, it will have served its purpose.(AllMusic)

ANDY

 

Various Artists

The Sun Shines Here The Roots Of Indie-Pop 1980-1984

(2021)

 

 

Active for 2 months 320

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them!!

Otis Redding

The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul - Complete & Unbelievable

(1966) [2017]

 

 

Active for 2 months 320

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them!!

Marine Girls

Lazy Ways

(1983)

 

 

Active for 2 months 320

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them!!

Five Or Six

Acting On Impulse: The Best Of Five Or Six

(2008)

 

 

Active for 2 months 320

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them!!

Marine Girls

Beach Party

(1997)

 

 

Active for 2 months 320

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them!!

Rob's Reggae Mix - Tracks 701 to 800 @320

800. Dennis Bovell Meets Dubblestandart - Hypocrite (dub)

799. Dennis Bovell Meets Dubblestandart - Hypocrite

798. Zimbabwe Dread - How Long Jah

797. Johnny Osbourne - Trying To Turn Me On

796. Yellowman- Mr. Chin

795. Wailing Souls - Up Front

794. Hugh Mundell - Can't Pop No Style

793. Don Carlos - I'm Not Crazy

792. Tristan Palmer, Jah Thomas & Ranking Toyan - Entertainment

791. Ranking Joe - River Jordan

790. Barrington Levy - River Jordan (Crucifixion)

789. Wailing Souls - Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall

788. Tony Tuff - Come Fe Mash It

787. John Holt - Sweetie Come Brush Me

786. Barrington Levy - Mary Long Tongue

785. Johnny Osbourne - Ice Cream Love

784. General Echo - Bathroom Sex

783. Wailing Souls - Firehouse Rock

782. Barrington Levy - Shine Eye Gal

781. Johnny Osbourne - Fally Ranking

780. Wailing Souls - Who No Waan Come

779. Wayne Wade - Poor & Humble

778. Wayne Jarrett - Chip In

777. Johnny Clarke - Jah Love Is With I

776. Barrington Levy - Bounty Hunter

775. Junior Delgado - Love Tickles Like Magic

774. John Holt - Ghetto Queen

773. Ranking Toyan - Spar Wid Me

772. Linval Thompson - Look How Me Sexy

771. Ranking Toyan - How the West Was Won

770. Michael Prophet - Gunman

769. Ranking Dread - Fattie Boom Boom

768. Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Another One Bites The Dust

767. Barrington Levy - Look Youthman

766. Yellowman - Morning Ride

765. Simple Simon - Revolution Fighters

764. Mighty Diamonds - Pretty Woman

763. Ansel Collins - Black Out

762. The Interns - Nothing is Impossible

761. Winston & Ansel - Zion I

760. Techniques All Stars - Don't Mock Jah (Version)

759. Donovan Adams - Don't Mock Jah

758. Techniques All Stars - Who is the One (Version)

757. I-Roy - Who is the Man

756. Horace Andy - Love is the Light

755. Big Youth - All Nations Bow

754. Techniques All Stars - Prophecy (Version)

753. Jimmy Riley - Prophecy Reggae

752. Johnny Osbourne - Purify Your Heart

751. Dave Barker - Your Love is a Game

750. Burning Spear - Slavery Days

749. King Tubby & The Aggrovators - Knock Out Punch

748. The Dynamites - Joe Louis

747. Prince Far I - Natty Champion

746. Derrick Morgan - The Great Musical Battle

745. Clancy Eccles - Fight

744. Dennis Alcapone - Muhammad Ali

743. Trinity - Muhammad Ali (Blackbeard Version)

742. Trinity - Muhammad Ali

741. Dennis Alcapone - Cassius Clay

740. The Aggrovators - Black Superman (Muhammad Ali) Version

739. Derrick Morgan - Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)

738. Charlie Ace - Superchamp

737. Dennis Alcapone - Joe Frazier Round Two

736. Big Youth - (Foreman Versus Frazier) Round Two

735. The Upsetters - Sunshine Showdown

734. Big Youth - Foreman Versus Frazier

733. Big Youth - Big Fight (aka Joe Frazer)

732. Harry J. All Stars - George Foreman Version

731. Bacca - George Foreman

730. Cultural Roots - Thief, Liars, Criminals

729. Phil Pratt - Safe Travel

728. Love Lala - River

727. Hortense Ellis - I'm Still In Love

726. Junior Byles - The Long Way

725. The Afriques - Cool It Brothers

724. Roy Shirley - Israelites Leave Babylon

723. Horace Andy - I Don't Want To Be Left Outside

722. Dennis Walks - Navel String

721. Black Uhuru , Jah Grundy - Rent Man , Resident Area

720. Earl Zero - The Lion Dubs Again

719. Carlton Bryan - Jah Children

718. Devon Russell - Prison Life

717. Barbara Jones - Watching You Grow

716. George Nooks - Tribal War

715. John Holt - Street Jam Dub

714. Dub Syndicate - Lion King

713. Alpha & Omega - Whole World's Gone Mad

712. Dennis Brown - On The Rocks

711. Delroy Washington - Rasta

710. Cultural Roots - Hell A Go Pop

709. Creation Rebel , Ian Smith Rock (Dub)

708. Bim Sherman - Exploitation Dub

707. Dennis Brown - It's Magic

706. Tonto Irie - It A Ring

705. Johnny Osbourne - People Are You Ready

704. Sugar Minott - Reggae Dub

703. Sugar Minott - Reggae Warriors

702. Beres Hammond - Putting Up Resistance

701. Horace Andy - Do You Love My Music

 So today we have 701 to 800, 801 to 900 will be shared on Tuesday, 901 to 1000 on Friday and 1001 to 1100 next Sunday. Links are now in the comments. So will should have the whole mix of 3000 tracks posted on Vibes, by the last weekend in February. You find find any links not active, just ask in the comments and I will add a new link for you. 

Enjoy Reb

ZuZu's Petals – Kicking Our Own Asses: The Best Of ZuZu's Petals (2208)

Reb - Discogs - Link👇

Rob's Reggae Mix - Tracks 601 to 700 @320

 700. Barry Brown & Ranking Toyan - Peace And Love + Judgement Time

699. Phillip Fraser, Peter Ranking & General Lucky - Bad Boys + Jah Standing Over Me

698. Augustus Pablo - Ital Stew Dub

697. Hugh Mundell - Time Has Come

696. Ras Levi - Haile Selassie I

695. Rockers All Star - Dub City

694. Icho Candy - Babylon

693. Rockers All Star - Changing Dub

692. Augustus Pablo - Revelation Time

691. Spliffy Dan - No Justice Place

690. Hugh Mundell - Stop Them Jah

689. Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Tribute To General Echo

688. The Heptones - Way Of Life (Dub)

687. Attack Records Present - Two Face Rasta Dub

686. Philip Smart - Nuclear Weapon

685. Max Romeo - What A Cute Man

684. Lee Perry - Run For Cover

683. Horace Andy - Mek It Bun

682. Freddie McGregor - Out Of The Valley

681. Iftin Band - Ruuney Reggae

680. General Echo feat. Barrington Levy - Eventide Fire A Disaster

679. Bushman - Nyah Man Chant

678. Alpha & Omega - The Living Dub

677. Alpha & Omega - The Living Word

676. Bunny Wailer - Battering Down Dub

675. Big Youth - Waterhouse Rock

674. Augustus Pablo - Mount Of Olives Dub

673. 10Ft. Ganja Plant - Jah Will Go On

672. Alpha Steppa - Advanced Peace

671. Micah Shemaiah - Black Black

670. Linval Thompson And The Revolutionaries Rock Me In Dub

669. Ras Teo - Greedy Dog

668. Junior Byles - Jah Will Be Mine

667. Juice - Burning Both Ends

666. Gladiators - Bongo Red

665. Cornell Campbell, Errol Scorcher - People Cruel

664. Errol Brown - Tracking Dub

663. Dread Lion - Ganja Rules

662. Judah Eskender Tafari - Rastafari Tell You

661. Yellowman - The Ark

660. Sugar Minott - Dem Ah Rush Me

659. Badoo - Me and Janet

658. Simple Simon - Bawling

657. Johnny Ringo - Rub-A-Dub

656. Freddie McGregor - Roman Soldiers

655. Mighty Diamonds - People Are Crying

654. Dennis Brown - Rain From The Skies

653. Jackie Edwards - Come Dub Me Girl

652. Gregory Isaacs - Nobody Knows

651. Bob Marley - Mr. Chatter Box

650. Don Carlos, Purpleman - Spread Out (Purpleman a Go Boom It Up)

649. Donovan Phillips - Gun Fever

648. Frankie Jones - Gun Fever

647. Professor - Lay Down Flat

646. Devon Wedwards - Lay Down Flat

645. George Nooks - Greatest Love

644. Devon Edwards - Babylon No Badda Haul and Pull Me

643. Simple Simon - Geroge William Gordon

642. Cornell Campbell - Exterminator

641. Trevor Castell - Too Popular

640. John Holt - The Burning Sun

639. Dennis Brown - Black Magic Woman

638. The Paragons - A Place Called Zion

637. Neville Brown, John Wayne - The Right Time (Boogie Down)

636. Cornell Campbell, Scientist - Bandulo

635. Papa Tullo - Every Half Is a Fraction

634. Johnny Clarke - I Man Come Again

633. Don Carlos, Papa Tullo - Lazer Beam

632. The Paragons - Know Yourself Mankind

631. I Kong, Max Romeo, The 18th Parallel - Just Like The Rainbow

630. Big Youth - Tell It Black Reggae

629. P.P All Stars - What About The Half Version

628. Dennis brown - What About The Half

627. U-Roy - Real Cool

626. The Heptones - Sweat For You Baby

625. Phil Pratt All Stars - Summer Version

624. Pat Kelly - Summer Time

623. Phil Pratt All Stars - Talk About Version

622. Dennis Capone - This A Butter

621. Pat Kelly - Talk About Love

620. Barrington Spence - Where Must I Go

619. Carl Moore - Our Forefathers Died In The Sand

618. Phil Pratt All Stars - Strange Mood Version

617. Phil Pratt All Stars - Strange Mood

616. John Holt - Strange Thing

615. Phil Pratt All Stars - My Heart Is Gone Version

614. Dennis Capone - Picture Or No Picture

613. Gaudi - Therermin Memoir

612. Gaudi - Theremin In Hand

611. Horace Andy - Watch Over Them

610. Trinity - Three Piece Suit

609. Marcia Aitken - I'm Still In Love With You Boy

608. David Isaacs - Place In The Sun

607. Dennis Brown - Hooligan

606. George Nooks - We're In This Love

605. Joy White - Sentimental Reasons

604. Dobby Dobson - Words

603. Hugh Porter - Tonight  Is The Night

602. The Itals - You Don't Care

601. Pat Kelly - I'm In Love With You

As promised another 100 tracks today, will post 701 to 800 on Sunday and then 801 to 900 next Tuesday. The link is now posted in the comments, makes it easier to keep the links in future updated and active. I have moved all the zip files for tracks 1 to 3000 into mega, so in the future, if someone reports a dead link, then will be quick and easy to renew the link.

VA - The Celtic Circle 3 (More Legendary Music From A Mystic World) (2004) @320

Reb - Discogs - Links👇

VA - The Celtic Circle 2 (More Legendary Music From A Mystic World) (2003) @320

Reb - Discogs - Links👇

VA – The Celtic Circle (Legendary Music From A Mystic World) (2003) @320

 

Reb - Discogs - Links👇

Scott Walker - 1969 - Scott 4

Scott Walker - 1969 - Scott 4 @320

Walker dropped out of the British Top Ten with his fourth album, but the result was probably his finest '60s LP. While the tension between the bloated production and his introspective, ambitious lyrics remains, much of the over-the-top bombast of the orchestral arrangements has been reined in, leaving a relatively stripped-down approach that complements his songs rather than smothering them. This is the first Walker album to feature entirely original material, and his songwriting is more lucid and cutting. Several of the tracks stand among his finest. "The Seventh Seal," based upon the classic film by Ingmar Bergman, features remarkably ambitious (and relatively successful) lyrics set against a haunting Ennio Morricone-style arrangement. "The Old Man's Back Again" also echoes Morricone, and tackles no less ambitious a lyrical palette; "dedicated to the neo-Stalinist regime," the "old man" of this song was supposedly Josef Stalin. "Hero of the War" is also one of Walker's better vignettes, serenading his war hero with a cryptic mix of tribute and irony. Other songs show engaging folk, country, and soul influences that were largely buried on his previous solo albums. (AllMusic)

ANDY

 

Scott Walker - 1969 - Scott 3

Scott Walker - 1969 - Scott 3 @ 320

Scott 3 introduces a new side of Scott Walker. It's a much more conceptual album. His two previous musical endeavors, Scott 1 and Scott 2, were merely a collection of songs that explored a variety of concepts and styles. Scott 3, on the other hand, has a very distinct theme that seems to exude from every song. The music expresses itself with such overwhelming dismalness. Utterly weary and faint in sound, Scott 3 seems to wallow in its own melancholia. Completely infatuated with reminiscing of past regrets and illustrating gloomy scenes in the mind. In other other words, this is a moody album meant to serve as a kind of soundtrack for our less than optimistic moments in life.

Although Scott Walker has often touched on dark lyrical themes in the past, they've often been delivered in an ambiguous fashion. Evasively decorated with poppy musical textures that gave his songs an almost ironic sense of optimism. But here, his darkness is much more lucid, as there are no euphonic melodies to spoil the listener. Scott 3 is our true acquaintance with the cynical and morbid side of Scott Walker's psyche, and quite frankly, he's become almost too comfortable with this particular aspect of his personality, which will certainly surprise anyone who was hoping to be met with the elegant romantic of the pervious albums. The opening piece, "It's Raining Today", exhibits a rather haunting ambience that lies underneath Scott Walker's soothing baritone voice. There's a typical Baroque arrangement in this song as well, from the gentle guitar playing that carries us along, to the violin and cello melodies of the midsection, but it's the eerie soundscape behind all of the instruments that really distinguishes this particular piece. And as ghastly as it may appear, the sound is very inviting. It's hypnotic, and because its so contrasting to Scott Walker's rather oddly sanguine tone of voice, it makes it an all the more intriguing listen.

"It's Raining Today" is one of the main highlights in Scott 3, and it also introduces the recurring concept of the album. Most of the songs here, particularly ones like "Rosemary" and "Two Weeks Since You've Gone", have a dreary gloom that coats their music in darkness. Both songs have a rather simple baroque orchestration of dominating bowed string instruments, but it's within their lyrics that their sorrow is expressed. Each song seems to lament over some kind of loss, whether it be a past romance or a sense of innocence and pride, but there is a constant yearning for the past, a simpler time when the world looked much brighter. "Big Louise" is yet another song that falls under this category, but it's a much more eminent one because it portrays some of the characteristics of Scott Walker's subsequent experimental efforts. The song opens with an abrasive drone sequence that sets up a rather ominous atmosphere, but as the other instruments begin to flourish in prominence, the music fluctuates into a more mellifluous style. Its lyrics, on the other hand, exude a much more forlorn attitude. "Big Louise" references a discovery instead of a loss. It's about a promiscuous woman who realizes that her life, now coming down from the intoxicating high of hedonism, is left with nothing more than the bitter aftertaste of shame and regret.

"We Came Through" and "Funeral Tango" are the only two pieces to deviate from the gloomy calm of the other songs, but only in their sound are they different because their lyrics are just as lurid as the rest. We really get to see Scott Walker's whimsical sense of humor in these two pieces as we find him critiquing the political state of the world, as well as reciting one of Jacques Brel's poems of the macabre, all while accompanied by overly blithe melodies. At the time of its release, Scott 3 was met with less enthusiasm than his previous albums. Lacking the romantic atmospheres and extravagant classical arrangements of his first two efforts, Scott 3 can easily be considered a grower. It's a step backwards in appeal, but a big step forward artistically. This is Scott Walker relinquishing practically everything that made him a rising star in the 1960's pop scene, to follow his own creative ambitions as an up-and-coming musician. It's not just admirable to see him exploring new musical approaches, but also a reward for us fans to not hear yet another replica of Scott 1. Making the gentle and dreary sound of Scott 3 a welcomed breath of fresh air. Its ominous atmosphere and haunting sounds exude a rather spellbinding effect on the listener, alluring us deeper and deeper into a world of inescapable darkness. But there is a mild sense of optimism that glimmers behind all of the sorrow. One of the techniques that recurs throughout the album is the combination of melancholic orchestrations with Scott Walker's usage of a soothing vocal tone, adding a sense of hope to all of this emotional anguish. Scott 3 may not offer the accessibility of its predecessors, but it does prove that Scott Walker can go beyond the capabilities of the average pop artist. As we find him shifting his venturous instincts into different and utterly dashing shapes. (SputnikMusic)

ANDY

 

Scott Walker - 1968 - Scott 2

Scott Walker - 1968 - Scott 2 @ 320

Although Walker's second album was his biggest commercial success, actually reaching number one in Britain, it was not his greatest artistic triumph. His taste remains eclectic, encompassing Bacharach/David, Tim Hardin, and of course his main man Jacques Brel (who is covered three times on this album). And his own songwriting efforts hold their own in this esteemed company. "The Girls From the Streets" and "Plastic Palace People" show an uncommonly ambitious lyricist cloaked behind the over-the-top, schmaltzy orchestral arrangements, one more interested in examining the seamy underside of glamour and romance than celebrating its glitter. The Brel tune "Next" must have lifted a few teenage mums' eyebrows with its not-so-hidden hints of homosexuality and abuse. Another Brel tune, "The Girl and the Dogs," is less controversial, but hardly less nasty in its jaded view of romance. Some of the material is not nearly as memorable, however, and the over the top show ballad production can get overbearing. The album included his first Top 20 U.K. hit, "Jackie." (AllMusic)

ANDY