The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK Series...
1972
TUMBLING DICE
Your All-Genres Guide To
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s
Over 2,350 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
302 Reviews from the discs themselves...
302 Reviews from the discs themselves...
* 2,352 E-pages of
info, 302 in-depth reviews for quality CD Remasters - March 2021 Draft
* Formats included - CD,
SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and
Japan Platinum SHM-CD [Super High
Materials]
* Major Label Box Set
Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/Legacy, Universal and WEA
* Best Independent Reissue
Labels highlighted – Ace, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On, Big Break
Records (BBR), Cherry Red, Earth, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O
Select, Lemon, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Raven, Repertoire, Rev-Ola,
Rhino, Salvo, Soul Music Records, Sundazed and Panegyric
* Technical data from the
discs themselves (total playing times and more)
* Release Date, Catalogue No
and Barcode to locate the correct issue
* CD Track lists and Details
on Bonus material (if any)
* VINYL Discographies
referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the
discs – huge number of record labels covered
* UK and US catalogue
numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7” singles and EPs within
each review
* Remaster/Tape Transfer
Engineers highlighted
* Packaging descriptions,
size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro
artwork explained
* Reference to the Audio
Quality of the CD - analysis of songs
* Guest Musicians
highlighted – Cover Versions noted
PREFACE
N
|
ot too many Music Books (let
alone a review tome concentrating on 1972) contain slots for artists like
Mordicai Jones, Pamela Polland or Miroslav Vitous – but this one does! I make a
point of showcasing Artists and Titles you probably don’t know but deserve your attention…music that’s
worth getting into your life in other words. Price tag isn’t a factor either. Many
entries in this large and unique book cost less than £10 while others are under
a fiver. And even if certain Box Sets and Deletions have acquired a bit of an
unsavoury price tag since release - because they’re the best, I’ve included
them for your (audio) culinary delight.
And just what is the right
issue to buy? It’s always a subjective argument when it comes to Audio I know –
but in today’s marketplace of multiple format reissues, those kinds of
decisions can be a bit of a minefield to navigate. I worked as the Principal
Rarities Buyer in Reckless Records in Soho’s Berwick Street for nearly 20 years
(one of the best secondhand record shops in London). So as you can imagine, I came
across hundreds of CD reissues – some better than others. This book (like most
of my Sounds Good series) is about highlighting those reissues that creep to
the top of the pile.
Major label retrospectives
are in here from Universal UMC, Sony/Legacy and WEA etc. The best Independent
Reissue Labels (defunct or not) are also highlighted throughout the text and
include – Ace Records, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On (BGO Records), Big Break Records (BBR), Cherry Red,
Earth
(Record Label), Edsel, Esoteric
Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Lemon, Light In The Attic, Mobile
Fidelity, Raven Records
(Australia), Real Gone
Music, Repertoire, Rev-Ola, Rhino, Salvo, Soul Music
Records, Sundazed and Panegyric to name but a few.
There are 302 titles
reviewed - CD reissues and remasters beginning in the 1990s and continuing
through to 2021 (March 2021 Update). If the album was issued in 1971 in the
USA but didn't arrive until 1972 in the UK (or vice versa) – I've included
these too. Compilations that carry 1972 singles or rarities or interesting
album tracks are also in there. In fact there's a huge 2,352 E-Pages...so
plenty to read and for a good price. Genres include Pop and Rock, Blues Rock,
Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Kraut Rock, Avant Garde, Folk, Folk Rock,
Singer-Songwriter, Soul, Funk, R n B, Reggae, Ska, Soundtracks and a few
other points in-between.
Each entry focuses on decent
remasters with factual info that helps a purchase decision. You get catalogue
numbers, barcodes to identify correct issues, track lists including info on
original issues like album and 7" single catalogue numbers, total playing
times, packaging and liner notes descriptions, what important guests played on
what, cover versions highlighted, remaster engineers named and a lot of info on
the original album. I provide a Discography for Box Sets and these lists also
include Imports, some Audiophile Titles and Japanese SHM-CDs too where relevant
or exclusive.
Enjoy the reads... MARK
BARRY (2021)
