The recent vinyl reissue is 3 tracks. The 6 track version is still available on CD. Used 1990 vinyl is expensive.
They're not the same tracks, though. The '77 reissue EP (actually released in '79) features Elton and Clive Franks' remixed versions, where they took out The Spinners backing vocals. The '89 Complete version restored the original backing vocals and tracks as done in the original sessions.
I think you can still find originals on vinyl of the Complete sessions. They're kind of rare, but I've seen them out there. I agree - I prefer to listen to the entire session as originally mixed by Bell.
I swear this is true. I dreamt last night that Blue Moves came with a 3rd record, because Elton felt anyone that purchased the album must really be a fan of it, and deserved bonus cuts. It was great, it had live stuff.
EJ had a great voice and feel for that Philly Soul material - it's a damn shame he and Bell didn't see eye-to-eye.
Trigger warning! Haven't played it yet but it's g-d gorgeous. Last copy at Amoeba Hollywood this morning--I'm assuming the rest sold yesterday or they consulted Mazzy to gauge demand
Just got my copies of Empty Sky, Blue Moves and The Big Picture. Haven't played any yet - but it's nice to see they replicated the original sleeves and label of BM.
Haven't had much time to compare pressings yet but I did spend about 20 minutes with "Chameleon" last night. The new LP is definitely a darker presentation compared to original US MCA. EJ vocals sounded kinda recessed compared to the MCA--not bad, just different. Piano sounds lovely on both. BG vocals seemed more spread out on MCA but another listen or six is necessary. Gobs of gooey bass on both but on first blush it was easier to hear distinct notes on the MCA. What I don't know is how this album really should sound--if my MCA was the 10,345,987th one stamped then maybe the new one is more representative. I'd be happy with either, so far. Of course the biggest problem with the original MCAs is--news flash!--vinyl quality suckage. The new one had a handful of tickies here and there (more noticeable of course on quieter tracks like "Tonight") but what a pleasure to not be mentally anticipating and then annoyed by all the surface noise on my MCA pressing.
Interesting - I had a Rocket pressing of Blue Moves. It's a tough album, so many quiet songs, plenty of places to hear ticks, etc - anxious to play the new release.
It sounds great but every pressing I have bought (sealed only) has been noisy as hell. It's virtually impossible to get a clean sounding version. Truly hoping the reissue rectifies this.
I no longer have my original UK copy of Empty Sky somehow (maybe I purged it at some point?), but my memory said the sleeve was textured. Was that actually the case or am I remembering wrong? The new version definitely isn't textured...
Wish I had known. I actually had a clean quiet copy several months ago but got rid of it. Would have sent it to you gratis.
It was definitely textured. I have a copy. The sound is OK on that, but his next album (S/T) was a big advance, sound-quality-wise. I am curious if anyone has compared the new Empty Sky remaster/vinyl pressing to the original. I really dig the album, and played it many many times when I first got hold of an import copy in the early 70s.
Okay, glad I wasn't imagining that. Still hoping my original is somewhere around here, because I would like to compare the two. The new one sounds quite nice.