The first thing I have to say to potential buyers (of whom I was one for 10 years++) is pay no heed to the simply DREADFUL cover artwork. The music contained herein bears no relation to the 80s style mess that it is. Janie Hendrix needs scolded for that alone.

Having said that, the music inside is surprisingly good. Historically I have always avoided anything other than the 3 'proper' studio albums, never having even been much of a fan of Band Of Gypsys. My first Hendrix album, believe it or not, was actually Live at Winterland (which is pretty good).

The first track, Freedom, really seems to be the highest quality track on the CD. I say CD on purpose, because second guessing what he was going to do LP-wise, is almost impossible, given Hendrix' level of creativity, he could have ended up canning the lot!! As the CD goes on we move in and out of Hendrix's searching, through wild freakouts and bluesy mellow skits.

To me, the music on this 'Hendrix Family sanctioned' CD is the sound of Hendrix trying to break free of the constraints of the 60s. There is very little wah-wah, lots of high-pitched-bending solos - almost as if he is fighting with his guitar to find a new sound, wrestling the devil of the 60s out of his axe. His sound is frequently flanged, and full of arpeggios. There is a distinct lack of melody throughout, and it feels quite disjointed for obvious reasons.

Having said all of this, I was pleasantly surprised to hear what would have been the Hendrix of the 70s. Its a crafty glimpse at what could have been, but ultimately the Gods never meant to be. Who knows, Hendrix may well have (like oh so many of his fellow musicians who actually made it to the 70s) become dull as dishwater, trading on past glories and producing bloated concepts for a bloated decade. Also, Its too exciting to imagine how he may have reacted to punk, or Kraftwerk, and we can only surmise what him and Miles Davis may have done together. At least we were spared the 80s Hendrix, all big drums and huge shoulder pads.

So all we have is the First Rays Of A New Rising Sun, and its damn good, but nothing more than a sketchbook. Albeit a much higher quality one than most fully fledged product of the era.

I must admit to being quite confused about the vitriol this album receives. I have been aware of it for years but have never listened to it until this morning in the car on the way to work.

Yes, performance-wise, it really is of its time. But you cant hold that against them, they were there (man), and they were, as the stock review says, totally at the zenith of their careers. It IS imperfect to say the least, but in my head CSNY/CSN/CN were never about perfection, and all about the feel (man). I'm not familiar with the original pressing, so I have no feelings about original sound and/or running order.

I always go back to the story Crosby (I think Hotel California: Singer-songwriters and Cocaine Cowboys in the L.A. Canyons 1967-1976) tells about being at Mama Cass's house in Laurel or Topanga Canyon, and she introduced Nash and Stills to him, and when they sang to together it was so incredible they fell about laughing, presumably in shock and wonder.

So, in conclusion if you want to listen to those gorgeous harmonies and lovely, hippyish lyrics, in a warm friendly atmosphere (even though it was probably recorded in huge barn-like 3000 seater arenas!) buy this, wait for a warm summer day (I'm told they do exist) sit on a stoop if you have one, light one if you got one, and enjoy.

I feel the need to clarify to potential purchasers - that this is the single disc mono edition (at least - thats what i received last week!) - so it is as close to the original as you'll ever get!
I wasnt there in '65 when the needle first hit the vinyl - so it is impossible for me to imagine what an impact this album had on people. For me, its very rudimentary Who. Yes, My Generation is incredible, but a lot of the motown/r&b covers on here, with the passage of time, sound fairly awful and vaguely incompetant. I know i'm offending people, but its just what I hear. I am a HUGE Who fan (honest!!) but this album has never done it for me, so fans of the purple patch 1969-73 - could be dissappointed.
However, the sound is crisp, clear, explosive and mono!!! As it should be. So its an essential part of my collection.

I've become quite slack with all things Who in the last few years, so when i first saw the pre-order for this i thought it was going to be disappointing, but knowing what we know about Live At Leeds and its relationship to Hull, it really isn't.

The first thing that strikes me about this set, is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to listen to it and not compare every second to the same moments of LAL. That classic album has had many permutations over the last 40 years, but in my opinion, the original 6 track version still kicks like a mule. I discovered it from a Kerrang 100 albums you must own list from about 1989/1990, and could. not. believe. it. when i first heard it. So LAH has a lot of listening history to live up to.

There is a lot less banter on LAH, whether this is by design or not i don't know, but it does detract a bit from the perceived intimacy of LAL. However, the other differences are striking. Moon's drumming is, unbelievably, even more incendiary on LAH. It could be the fact that the mix is slightly different, but he just seems to be on fire. The songs are punchier, and although timings are similar, they seem shorter and more direct. The singing isn't as good, but The Who live was never about perfection. It is fascinating to hear the differences in Townshend's playing, and the surprising lack of repetition between the two sets. The production also seems to ramp up The Ox's playing, and on Young Man Blues his bass growls like I've never heard before.

One minute complaint, the inside sleeve of the 2cd set has a photo of Leeds, from the rejected set that Chris McCourt did. Weird. Maybe there aren't any of Hull.

This is an essential set. Buy it. Turn it up. And for you experienced listeners, maybe feel a tiny bit of the excitement you felt the first time you heard Live At Leeds.

I would be a big fan of Alessi stuff - but when this arrived - I wasn't sure if things hadn't gone horribly wrong for them...
It is made to hold sugar - and yet the object is obviously manufactured in two mouldings - and the join didnt match up at all. You could see daylight through the gap, so obviously sugar would fall through it too.
I have ordered a replacement in the hope that I can delete this review.

I have been forcing myself to listen to some hip new tones recently - and I have purchased Cease To Begin, Dark Was The Night (Red Hot Compilation) and a few others. This album constantly came up as a 'also purchased recommendation' so I thought I'd give it a go. I like beautiful melancholy as much as the next 39 yr old who is bored of all the music in the world at the moment. But this is just rather cardboardy, tinny, dark for darks' sake (to suits the singers voice?). I have tried and tried with it, but its off to Oxfam with it.
If I want dark, I'll listen to In The Flat Field, if I want melancholy I'll listen to Nick Drake.
Sorry guys - nothing personal - just my preference.

I bought One Day It'll All Make Sense when it came out - and was a big fan. There was such a jazz influence it made it stand out from the usual dumb bling-rap out there. Over the years - Common has seemingly (and sadly) become more and more commercial and less and less interesting. But - following the reviews of this album I thought I'd give it a go. What a disappointment. To much stereotypical language being used, some great beats and samples but I cant get past a lot of the phrasing.
Shame. Anyone got any recommendations?

This series had me transfixed when it was first broadcast by the BBC in 1995/1996.

The stylized introduction shots of the stars sitting in chairs in random places like a boxing gym (Lou Reed) art gallery (David Bowie) Mo Tucker (empty room) were one of the first things that drew me in. Then there were SO many interviews with legends now gone. Particularly in the 1st Episode with all the R'n'R pioneers. Some wonderful footage with Sam Philips! Amazing stuff with Spooner Oldham. Wonderful stuff with Steve Jones looking tanned but overfed!

I won the VHS box set in an MTV competition and I have since transferred them to DVD's to preserve them. However after extensive research I have discovered that Episode 2 'Be My Baby' is missing off the box due to licensing problems - and that the whole series (in this form anyway) will probably NEVER get a DVD release due to the same licensing problems, that whilst they were ok at the time of broadcast - have since been rescinded. So treasure your VHS copy!!!

Worth the 2nd hand price alone for the film of Mick Ronson playing the Hang On To Yourself riff sitting in an aisle seat in the Hammersmith Odeon not long before he died.

This is without doubt one of Miles' most overlooked and under-appreciated albums.

Certainly it is his last truly straight-ahead 'jazz' (as most people know it) albums - and there really isn't any sign of what was to come - but it is, as the other reviewers have stated, an absolutely peerless, top quality collection of cool ballads and standards.

I find it hard to believe as I have read in other places that Miles was at a crossroads or transitional stage, my feeling this album is that he enjoyed himself, but knew where he was going next, so this was kind of the last cocktail party.

The players all work beautifully together, and Miles' muted horn is beyond compare.

If you were looking for a first step into Miles Davis, these 7 steps are a brilliant place to start. But be warned. If you LOVE this - if you go to his next album E.S.P., it is an altogether different beast totally. Better to go back to one of the other truly understated masterpieces like Someday My Prince Will Come or - of course - Kind Of Blue.

I have my Sister to thank for my enduring love of Dire Straits. She is 4 years older than me, and had Alchemy - Dire Straits Live - Two CD Set when it came out. I was 12 - what on EARTH was a 12 year old doing listening to this Dadrock?!?! Well its been one of those pleasures I have NEVER felt guilty about.
Most regular folk cite Brothers In Arms as the greatest moment - but really its the album before that Dire Straits hit their peak (Love Over Gold) - and rightly so.
But my Sis' bought me a (bootleg I think) copy of Communique on cassette - and I played it to death. I have never understood the bad rap it gets. Its an album that is the sum of its parts. Works from beginning to end soo well, and I used to LOVE drifting off to Follow Me Home... it was never long enough! News is a great track, referring (I assume) to Knopfler's life as a journalist. Portobello Belle magic, Lady Writer propels along like a train.
I remember being so excited when Money For Nothing came out (I had a Sting fixation at the time as well) & Dire Straits Live Aid performance cemented it for me.
But I ALWAYS go back to Communique. So should you.