You are an aficionado, so am curious to hear your thoughts. Some days I think Oldfield is my favourite of all and love from TB to Discovery including Amarok. It's quicker for to mention the few things I don't love about Five Miles Out. The drumming and drum sound. Morris Pert was a superlative percussionist but not a great drummer. The Fairlight. It's such primitive sampling that it actually sounds unique, but the sampled "do's" and cello grate after a while. That sixteenth note riff played with those sounds is not a bit of his writing I especially like. Family Man is a fine song, but I like Moonlight Shadow so much more ; ) Mount Teidi is awesome and Palmer really, really shines here. Amazing single stroke rolls, and the jangly vocoder. As you so nicely said "Orabidoo" is sublime and has a similar effect on me. Wonderful album cover and have stared at the pictures inside the gatefold many times.
The descriptions say two sleeves - usually replicas original UK and original Japanese sleeves if they are different I bought the Japanese Discovery set. One disc has the original Discovery outer and inner replicas the other two discs were in a gatefold of the special 1984 Suite album sleeve. It's one of my favourite Mini LP sets.
Here are a few additional minor thoughts. Regarding Morris Pert, the only album I have with him playing drums is Zim Zim by Suntreader, and I think his drumming there is pretty good. But is Pert playing drums here? He's credited with precussion and keyboards. Also credited with percussion is Mike Frye. The only credit for drums is Graham Broad on the title track. I guess it's fair to assume that Pert and Frye split drumming duties across the rest, but do we know who's doing what? Could be ONLY Frye. But anyway, having said that, the drumming on the whole album is pretty non-descript, and I imagine that was intentional. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike wanted straightforward drums. The drum SOUND is quite dry, which is something I normally don't care for, but I like the way it works here. About "Moonlight Shadow", I don't actually recall the song except to say that I didn't enjoy Crises overall. And I used to enjoy Amarok but the Thatcher bit towards the end became more annoying to me with each listen, and eventually ruined the entire album for me.
Same here. It was a "difficult album" but that bit made it so much worse. A remix without that (or just chopping off the last 10mins) would make me repurchase.
I am not really a compilation guy but sometimes I like to spin this one from Yes. Mastered by Barry Diament in the 80’s, catalog Atlantic CD 19320. SQ is excellent.
"Thrak" by King Crimson. Not listened for a few years, but I have my little office to myself this afternoon and thought something loud on the headphones wouldn't annoy anyone. A lot more melodic than I remember. The current line up tend to play the heavier instrumental tracks (Thrak and Vrooom) and I tend to remember the album for those tracks, but the songs are a different beast altogether. It's also an overlong "lets fill the whole damn CD" album that could do with a trim, for example by ditching all the songs that were copied over from the Vrooom EP. I can't imagine wading through the box set of this. They played a pretty consistent setlist. The 40th Anniversary CD/DVD set and the 2 CD Vrooom Vrooom live album should satisfy most people (including me).
CD1 of Vrooom Vrooom was recorded in Mexico CD2 in New York B’boom is all from Argentina and the story about its release is quite interesting. I also agree with you. I was tempted more than twice about aquiring these massive KC boxsets but after considering the amounts of redundant live material and quality, I’ve opted for the CD/DVD combos plus some selected live from here and there + the Element tour sets. That will satisty my KC appetite.
Etude is beautiful. I haven't heard songs of the distant earth. Sure it's a mixed bag. Glad to see you keeping the fall Oldfield sessions alive. I'll join in this week end.
I will go as deep as I can in my MO collection until December 21st. I will probably finish the race with TB or Exposed. I acquired Songs of a Distant Earth about 6 years ago and was very surprised with it. Not so much a mixed bag IMO. You tell me later on.