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Magic Marmalade 28th Jan 2015
| | Earlier today I remembered I had Strange Brew on 45 Mono single Reaction, which I hadn't gotten around to recording yet (Or listening to), so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do just that, and so grabbed the proverbial fistful of 45s and set about recording.
WOW!
That's more like it!!!
all issues are resolved in mono... guitar and vocal central, bass wrapped around the side of my head... fat, heavy, clear and complsive, and Gingers drums snap and punch the way I hoped they would. The mono brings that unity of sound too, that makes the overall impact of the song very powerful.
I'm sold on the Mono... now just have to scrape together a few hundred pounds to get one!
(Or get ridiculously, and improbably lucky in charity shop or boot fair). |
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Magic Marmalade 21st Jan 2015
| | Just noticed that the B - side of the one goodbear (And I) have has a patent of 1966, whereas BEATLEJOHN's has a Patent of 1967 (as both A - sides do). |
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Magic Marmalade 20th Jan 2015
| | I'll be looking out for that (fat chance I'll get one!)
Just so you know, and want to avoid the press I have, it's the one with the white rectangle on the back sleeve, upper right, as in Goodbear66's back sleeve scan shows... might be different altogether from the other one... who knows? |
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carryonsidney 20th Jan 2015
| | As BJ says I would highly recommend the MONO version of the album. |
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Magic Marmalade 6th Dec 2014
| | Listening to it now on the computer...
Does sound a little better squashed through compression (the same thing happened with Hendrix Smash Hits on Polydor), but the drums are still too quiet and exclusively right channel.
I can see how this would be vastly improved in Mono!
... or maybe a remixed newer stereo press.
I think also I came to this with preconceptions about what Cream are... and when you open album with the two timeless tracks that this does... you kind of set a standard that reinforces that Idea, then feel a little let down with the softer edges and firmly fixed late 60s sound.
When you examine the highlights of Cream like most people are familiar with: The White Room, Crossroads (blindin' version!), the first two here, you expect your face to be ripped off immediately.
It's growing on me as I listen... a little.
Maybe I should lock myself in a room with it for a couple of hours, like a naughty child caught smoking locked in the cupboard under the stairs: "Don't come out till you're addicted!" |
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BEATLEJOHN 5th Dec 2014
| | That's Ginger Baker singing lead on that one (hey, Ringo sang every now and then!)...there is an alternate version with Clapton singing lead....and Swlabr isn't an early "power trio" song?...John |
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Magic Marmalade 5th Dec 2014
| | Ok John, maybe I tend to rush to judgement, and need to give it another listen, but even if I work my may into the music itself, the production is awful...
... My ears actually have to squint to hear Ginger and Jack through the disembodied fug of wumping and fuzchlinging of Clapton from the left. Gave me ear strain!
And as I say, you expect a band with a reputation of providing the template of the basic power trio (first of all to be a trio!) to at least provide some power tunes and virtuosity the equal of the first two tracks.
... And that vocal on Blue Condition... Seriously?!!! |
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BEATLEJOHN 4th Dec 2014
| | Dear great record gods in the sky....disregard Magic Marmalade's opinions about this LP...this happens to be my favorite Cream album.....John...(played to death on the radio in the USA for at least 3 decades!)...by the way if you hate the stereo imaging on this LP...please don't listen to "Fresh Cream" |
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Magic Marmalade 4th Dec 2014
| | yeah, but you could save yourself a pile of cash by simply buying the poster, and an Eric Clapton/Cream Compilation. |
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kimbozw 4th Dec 2014
| | avoid like ebola? Nice colourful front sleeve though. :-) |
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Magic Marmalade 3rd Dec 2014
| | Just got around to recording this on CD for ripping.
What an EPIC disappointment!
This may be one of the most over-rated album ever made.... it's poo.
I first listened to it twenty years ago when I got a mint copy of the second press (goodbear66's Scan), and after the passage of so many years, I though it might have appreciated as I have matured and my tastes broadened and deepened... but no, it really is AWFUL.
With the exception of the opening two tracks (Strange Brew, and Sunshine of Your Love), which of course, are seared into our cultural consciousness as being synonymous with the late sixties, the rest of the album's tracks are experiments in extremely weak songwriting, and other albums that are also firmly fixed in their time like Pink Foyd's Piper At The Gates Of Dawn knock this flat on it's back side!
It doesn't help that this stereo press is appallingly produced... I thought there was something wrong with my stereo, as all I had was Guitars coming out the left speaker, and the vocal floating somewhere in the middle, while Jack Bruce's bass and Ginger's drums (A whole two thirds of the band, and the major reason for listening to Cream in the first place!) are barely audible pathetic dribbles from the right... In consequence all your energy as a listener is spent straining to hear those elements, and wishing Clapton would shut up for a moment or tone it down a bit... I wanted to hear Ginger's Drumming!
I don't know if other presses are different, or if it's worth seeking a Mono copy for some kind of improvement, but even that could not improve the quality of the songs.
Avoid this album, and especially this press, like the plague! |
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BEATLEJOHN 12th Nov 2014
| | Added labels of a (new) copy procured in the mid-70s...note music publishing changes on some tracks (also cover is completely un-laminated....second back cover with info in white box)...John |
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goodbear66 8th Oct 2013
| | Alternative Back Cover image added. |
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carryonsidney 17th Sep 2013
| | This is the stereo copy the mono is 593003 |
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