Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Room To Roam" Is Given A SUPERB 2CD REMASTER and Some Great Bonus Tracks!, 15 Aug 2008
This 11 August 2008 re-issue is part of EMI's "COLLECTOR'S EDITION" series and is a 2CD major overhaul and remaster of the Waterboys much loved 5th album. Here's the breakdown:
DISC 1 (42:43 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 17 are the album "Room To Roam" released September 1990 in the UK on Ensign Records CHEN 16
DISC 2 (49:03 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 17 are "Additional Recordings" - 14 studio outtakes with 3 live recordings
Mike Scott has overseen the song choices, presentation, the booklet. The first half of the excellent inlay produces the original album credits, lyrics etc - the second half does the same for Disc 2 - including full session details, lyrics, photos of the band, a history of the album and their stay in Ireland by Scott, Sharon Shannon and Noel Bridgeman's influence and knowledge of Traditional music - all of it - very nicely done...
The Waterboys Band and Session Players for the LP were:
MIKE SCOTT on Lead Vocals, Guitars & Keyboards (principal songwriter)
ANTO THISLETHWAITE on Baritone Saxophone, Mandolin
COLIN BLAKEY on Whistle, Flute, Hammond Organ and Piano
STEVE WICKHAM on Fiddle, Hammond Organ and Backing Vocals
TREVOR HUTCHINSON on Double Bass and Bouzouki
NOEL BRIDGEMAN on Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals
SHARON SHANNON guest player on Accordion and Fiddle
Recorded in Galway in the West of Ireland over many months, "Room..." follows on from the `Traditional Irish Folk Meets Rock' of "Fisherman's Blues" in 1988; it's simply more of the same. But what's improved most here is the SOUND. The remaster is beautiful, clean and clear - loads of space and warmth around the instruments - my 1990 original CD is a bit haggard compared to this. Steve Wickham's lovely fiddle playing on "A Man Is In Love" sails out of the speakers. The bass on all tracks is warm and backdrops everything with a real sweetness. Many of the songs are now LOUD too, but not in that overbearing way, more live-in-your-living-room - and wonderful for it. Improvements would include the fiddle jaunt of "Natural Bridge Blues" which is now so clear - the sax break on "Something That I Lost" - the whack of the drums on the Traditional Irish Air made famous by Planxty, "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" - all fabulous work done with the master tapes. And the album's best track "A Life Of Sundays" with Noel Bridgeman's great backing vocals is now just HUGE - a wow!
But the biggest surprise is DISC 2, which I feared would be rammed full of worthy but dull filler. It isn't. It does of course have some clinkers - the 3 live tracks are ok, but full of drunken crowd shouts that detract too much and could have been dropped, while the cassette quality of "Florence" in "Danny Murphy/Florence" is unlistenable. But the rest of it is excellent - proper studio out-takes - and some that would make you wonder why they didn't make the finished album. "Three Ships" sounds like something that came off "This Is The Sea" - a trippy instrumental jaunt with Celtic overtones - excellent stuff. "Sunny Sailor Boy" is gorgeous - a genuine bonus track. "A Strathspey In The Rain At Dawn" is simply SHARON SHANNON and her accordion with Irish rainfall and birds tweeting as her backdrop - very pretty. A real rarity, however, is the lovely Irish-Only 1989 single release of "Down By The Sally Gardens" which features the wizened and emotive lead vocals of TOMAS MacEOIN. And as the slow air of "A Song For The Life" draws Disc 2 to a close, it's hard not to be moved.
MIKE SCOTT has always been a magical songwriter to me - an artist who pens a tune that nails you - moves you impossibly - and then you find yourself backtracking - buying up everything that he and his band have ever done.
To sum up, I've come back to this album not expecting much, but this great re-issue is making me love it all over again. Sure, as you can see from the short playing time of both discs, with a bit of judicious pruning on Disc 2, they could've been combined and would have made an excellent single CD thereby saving us punters a few bob. But I won't begrudge THE WATERBOYS a sausage - anything new by them is good news in my book and well worth paying for.
"Room To Roam" COLLECTOR'S EDITION is a nice album made a whole lot better - and with a top REMASTER too. Highly, highly recommended.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mike Scott at his joyful best..., 13 Aug 2008
A beautifully simple and pleasurable album from the great Scott. I'm my opinion it is here that you will find some of the greatest love songs you are ever likely to hear; "How Long Will I Love You," & "A Man is in Love," are just stunning. Other notable tracks are; "Something That is Gone," "Bigger Picture" and "Raggle Taggle Gypsy." The later being a right royal exuberant jig that never fails to raise a smile. The new second disc is a real mixture, early favourites are definitely: "Song for the life" and "Sunny Sailor Boy". If you're thinking of expanding your Waterboys library then you are strongly advised to dip into Room to Roam.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Underrated Gem, 21 Aug 2008
I have just bought this reissued and expanded album. Room to Roam had always been my least favourite Waterboys album but I have really enjoyed this. I have played and played raggle Taggle Gypsy Live version till my family have threatened me with sharp implements.
If you liked this first time round you'll love it this time; if you didn't you may just surprise yourself. If you've never heard it before, give it a go. If you are new to Waterboys probably try This is the Sea or Fishermans Blues first
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