TRUTH has always been a head-scratcher for me. It sounds like 10 different songs recorded over a period of 10 years by 10 different engineers. Hard to figure out how to integrate it into a solid whole. Some of the songs have NO midrange whatsoever and a piercing top end. Others, no top end and an overbearing unnatural midband. It's a fun project to work on.
Sounds like a real doozie, so hang in there Steve, we trust you that you will do a good job. Through out the years you have had several complicated music endeavors like this one and they turned out great! Can't wait to hear it!!!
I have this cut and pasted into my notes: fwiw I do have the TOCP's for this one and Beck-Ola, and they are very nice sounding.
I know remixes are somewhat controversial among some music collectors, but I would love to hear a remix of Truth and Beck-Ola.
Is Truth still set to be released in Oct? This thread seems to have stalled. I am really looking forward to it!
Me too. The whole "piano on the left, drums on the right" thing is really tough to listen to on headphones.
Was this released today? I saw today's date by this title on deepdiscount.com. Any early impressions?
That is optimal, but realistically 80+% of my listening is on headphones, either while working or late-night after my normal-person-hours girlfriend goes to bed. With all the artists releasing mono mixes lately, it'd be nice if we could have both.
You are correct, I couldn't believe that original post you quoted. Listen to the original vinyl, that is the way its supposed to sound, I love it.
I don't believe this has been released yet. Audio Fidelity still has it listed as an upcoming release and my Amazon order says it'll be released on November 24.
I don't know about Beck-Ola... I think it's pretty good as is. But yes, Truth could definitely benefit from a good remixing. The singles that were remixed for the 2005 CD sound great. Imagine the whole album mixed like them
Do you know if this is also the case for the tracks from Truth that are on the UK EMI compilation The Late 60's With Rod Stewart [CDP 7 46710 2]?
A head-scratcher for me also. Understandable in some ways as Mickey Most was the producer, however Ken Scott was the engineer and I've always had great respect for his work.
Yes, no NR on this comp. I'm guessing. I have the only other CD pressing so I'm guessing they would be from the same source.
I listened to Truth (for the umpteenth time) this evening. It's a brilliant album, featuring great musicians giving it their all. Rod, Ronnie, Micky, along with Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Nicky Hopkins. And of course Jeff Beck, giving a master class in guitar god performance. So, why then, would they ever think to include Blues De Luxe? This has to be an example of filler if ever these was one. The band is playing the most generic blues, with the finesse of local pub band. Nicky is playing away at the keys, but it quickly becomes all flash and no substance, a major disappointment from his typically inventive style. Rod is singing and wailing some basic blues lines, but with little passion. And Jeff spends most of the song barely there. Rod could probably step in on guitar and play just as well. Finally, he does let loose, but it's all wankery, near worthless when backed by the near comatose band. And to add insult to injury, we get some canned applause clumsily faded in and out, as if the only way to get cheers for this song was to play that tape. It's not just that the song is boring. It's that it comes at the end of such an amazing album. Thankfully the world is set right once more with Ain't Superstitious, in case anyone forgot, after seven minutes of dreck, how great this album is. And then there's the remaster with bonus tracks. And what bonus tracks they are. All the singles (some original mixes, some remixes), take 1 of You Shook Me, and... Blues De Luxe AGAIN. Compare Blues Deluxe to Sweet Little Angel (a bonus track on Beck-ola but featuring Micky Waller.) Both are basically BB King songs (Blues De Luxe based on Gambler's Blues). On Sweet Little Angel, the band is again firing on all cylinders. There is drama, tension, suspense, excitement. Rod sings like his life depends on it. THAT is how you do a slow burning blues. I got a little worked up there
I like both and I find nothing wrong with the version on Truth. I don't take it as seriously as you do, which there's nothing wrong with that. Sweet Little Black Angel, the JBG version is more like the Howlin' Wolf version, especially Rod's delivery. I crank both up.
I just wanted to rant about something! I do think it's a weak spot on an otherwise consistently incredible album. Here's another excellent blues cover with Rod, from his brief and unintentional tenure with Python Lee Jackson: