Return of the Roughnecks, d1: Code: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 over -11.61 dB 01 Silence, Sea and Sky.wav DR7 over -8.76 dB 02 Swamp Thing.wav DR6 over -7.75 dB 03 In Shreds.wav DR8 over -10.15 dB 04 Home Is Where The Heart Is.wav DR8 over -10.24 dB 05 A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days.wav DR7 over -7.54 dB 06 Mad Jack.wav DR9 over -10.20 dB 07 Don't Fall.wav DR7 over -8.88 dB 08 Caution.wav DR7 over -8.56 dB 09 Second Skin.wav DR7 over -9.46 dB 10 Perfume Garden.wav DR9 over -10.90 dB 11 Tears (Original Version).wav DR8 over -11.55 dB 12 Monkeyland.wav DR6 over -7.86 dB 13 Nostalgia.wav DR10 over -12.02 dB 14 View From A Hill.wav ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 14 Official DR value: DR8 ============================================================================================== D2: Code: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR7 over -8.88 dB 01 Is It Any Wonder.wav DR6 over -7.33 dB 02 Free For All.wav DR7 over -8.91 dB 03 The Healer.wav DR7 over -8.38 dB 04 Denims And Curls.wav ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 4 Official DR value: DR7 ============================================================================================== Nice. Dreams in Celluloid is more dynamic!
Any thoughts on Dali's Picture and the Fan and the Bellows, vs Dreams in Celluloid? I'd normally gravitate to the earlier releases like Dali's Picture and the Fan and the Bellows for sound quality, but there is some overlap there too. ??
I don't have Dali's Picture, but I've got FATB on both CD and vinyl. Nearly all the tracks on FATB are also on DIC. The mastering is different but not necessarily better on FATB. Keep in mind the band never even wanted FATB to be released. If you are a completist, buy both FATB and DIC.
i want OP @bettesaj to let us know if they have Strange Times yet, and if their mind is blown...? I think I paid more for it than that 15ish years ago!
Yes, the Nostalgia 7" is only on TFATB, along with Endlessly Falling. Did you notice this one: Less Than Human 2:31 on Dali's Picture 4:10 on SotB 4:35 on TFATB and DiC I need to figure out about those too now.
I haven't played Dali's Picture for quite a while. It's mostly demos from 81 or maybe 82. For completists only I would say. DIC is the preferred choice over TFATB for me.
Of course I have Strange Times..... And Stripped on picture disc signed by Mark, the Script remaster double LP also signed, and Why Call It Anything, I have to confess i'm not a huge fan of Strange Times, I do love Soul in Isolation though, and of course Swamp Thing. My favourite album is What Does Anything Mean?... Basically. Love that album, and I'll be seeing them do the whole thing later this year. Here's my son a few years back having been pulled up onto stage by Mark playing Bass on Second Skin. Filmed at the Garage in Islington, London. And before the gig at the pub, with the band who are all out of shot.
Sorry! I was thinking of @bherbert who was saying that they were going to get Strange Times upthread. Note to self: don't post after coming home from the pub.
I think the John Peel Session versions of those tracks on the second album are far better than the eventual album versions, which sound overproduced to me. Script of the Bridge is their masterpiece by a long way, the second album was seen at the time by fans to be a bit of a let down after the classic debut, and the third album sounds too much like one of those Steve Lillywhite 80's albums to appeal to a US market. Although Swamp Thing is an immense tracks. So my recommendations for a complete novice would be: 1. Script of the Bridge 2. The Peel Sessions 3. The Fan and the Bellows 4. Tony Fletcher Walked On Water EP.
I believe I have to part with the consensus and put in a big plug for Strange Times, which is easily my favourite Chameleons LP. In Answer, Time, Swamp Thing, Ever After ... In Answer, with is awe-inspiring bridge: Honestly, in almost any incarnation of Mark Burgess, you're going to find some amazing songs: From the Tony Fletcher EP, Denims and Curls From The Sun and the Moon album, The Price of Grain From Zima Junction, Up On the Hill From Invincible, Only You Could Save Me ... and so it goes ...
Strange Times also gets my vote for the best that they'e done. (Haven't yet listened to the Tony Fletcher EP though, that's in the queue.) I like Why Call it Anything too. Doesn't seem to get high marks on Amazon at least, but I like it more than most I guess ... I have DiC on the way, kind of hoping it sounds good. I'm listening to the Fan and the Bellows and Dali's Picture, and while I love the material, the CD mastering is a little thin and trebly. Could use more balance and low end. Ok, maybe Dali's Picture sounds a little better than TFATB ...
I have and love the CHERRY RED live d.v.d.....I highly recommend this for sound and close camera work.
If you can find the 1992 Here Today...Gone Tomorrow compilation, snatch it up. If for no other reason than the inclusion of the sublime Sally:
I wanted to comment on some of this because I've now done some listening of my own. All of these Less than Humans are different ... and good. The two 4+ min versions are similar, but they are either a different mix, or more likely, a different take. For the Peel Sessions CD, I like the early CD for all 3 sessions. The remaster pumps up both the low end and highs, and, the dynamics are pretty drastically reduced. I got DRs of 13 and 14 for the few songs I looked at from the original CD, and 8's or 9's from the remaster. That's too big a difference imo. The tonality isn't bad for the remaster, but I still like the original better. I thought maybe they used a different tape for the 2nd session on the remaster, but doesn't seem like it. Just eq'ed/mastered differently. I am still deciding on the early stuff. I am doing a shootout between Dali's Picture, TFatB, and DiC. Honestly, there is some commonality between all 3. For example, the songs Nostalgia and TFatB sound almost identical between TFatB and DiC, whereas DP sounds like a different mix or take. And then for Everyday I'm Crucified and Love Is, the other two songs common between all 3, one is better on Dali's Picture, while the other two sound very similar, and one is better on TFatB, while the other two CDs are similar. I should have brought my notes with me to work! I'll clarify that later. Most likely, I'll go through all the commonality that's there, and just pick the best version from each of DP, TFatB, and DiC. In general though, DP has the best dynamics, and TFatB and DiC are more similar than different, but reduced. And ... the Tony Fletcher EP is indeed better on DiC. Neat stuff. Even though I've been listening to the Chameleons since Strange Times came out in 1987, I still have the "double" album (lp) of it, this is the first real in depth comparisons I've done. I wish they could have stayed together longer for more studio stuff, but when you consider all the compilations and live CDs available, there is quite some material out there. They are/were quite a special band!
The Chameleons are back... Reg Smithies has rejoined Mark Burgess to peform What Does Anything Mean... Basically on it's 35th annivarsary. No sign of Dave Fielding though
Big Cams fan here. Managed to see them on their first reformation tour at the Witchwood (2000?) and still see them at the annual Manchester Christmas gig which is a joyous occasion . The crowd singalong to Second Skin is spine tingling. Probably, overall I’d go for the 3rd album proper Strange Times as a whole entity but the first two aren’t particularly shabby! The 4th studio album, when they reformed, is ok. I absolutely love the Tony Fletcher eps and paid silly money for it even on its release, Should have had U2 levels of success imho but they didn’t really have an image. Glad Reg is back!
It looks like Music On CD is reissuing a 2 CD set of Strange Times in March. Maybe that's old news though: The Chameleons Strange Times [Import] on DeepDiscount
Music On CD is the CD pressing arm of MOV. They typically release straight clones of earlier pressings, using whatever audio and artwork files they were given by the label/license holder. Unlikely to be a new remaster. Glad to see it back in print though.
I remember being unaware that Tomorrow Never Knows was a Beatles tune hide until I found the LP for Strange Times and spotted it in the song credits on the LP label. I rushed out and got Revolver, and was very disappointed when I heard the original after hearing The Chameleons take first. Several years ago I was telling this anecdote to Reg and he laughed and looked at me like I was crazy and shook his head.