This review is part of my Series "SOUNDS
GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available
to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software
to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my
Author's Page for this and other related publications:
"…It’s Here That I Want
To Stay…"
UK released February 2011 -
Edsel EDSS 1051 (Barcode 740155105136) is a straightforward mid-price CD
reissue of Steve Miller’s 10th studio album – the brilliant "Book Of
Dreams" - and the big old Jet Airliner breaks down as follows (38:05
minutes):
1. Threshold
2. Jet Airliner
3. Winter Time
4. Swingtown
5. True Fine Love
6. Wish Upon A Star
7. Jungle Love [Side 2]
8. Electro Lux Imbroglio
9. Sacrifice
10. The Stake
11. My Own Space
12. Babes In The Wood
Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP
"Book Of Dreams" released May 1977 in the USA on Capitol Records
SO-11630 and in the UK on Mercury 9286 453 (it peaked at number 2 on the US
charts and at number 12 in the UK). Six of the album's 12 tracks were issued
across three 7" singles in both the USA and the UK – this CD will allow
you to sequence them all as follows:
1. "Jet Airliner"
b/w "Babes In The Wood"
April 1977 USA 7" on
Capitol 4424 – April 1977 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 811
2. "Jungle Love"
b/w "Wish Upon A Star"
August 1977 USA 7" on
Capitol 4466 - September 1977 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 812
3. "Swingtown" b/w
"Winter Time"
November 1977 USA 7" on
Capitol 4496 - January 1978 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 813
This new EDSEL reissue comes
in a very fetching 3-way foldout card digipak featuring expanded artwork on
both the front and rear – all of it in the same colour scheme as the original
vinyl album. Inside the tri-gatefold - each member of the band is pictured and
named for the first time - and there’s a new 16-page booklet with comprehensive
liner notes by JOEL SELVIN of the San Francisco Chronicle. Even the CD bears
the now famous flying-horse logo that’s become synonymous with the band (aping
the labels of the original American album). There’s several snaps of rare
foreign picture sleeves for the 3 singles, photos of the group and Steve in the
studio and playing live, the Capitol Picture Disc of the entire album is
pictured and Lyrics are provided for the first time too. The packaging is very
tasty indeed. But the real fireworks lie in the sound…
I’ve had the 1998 Eagle
reissue for years just to have the album on CD – but this new 2011 sonic
upgrade is truly superlative. Remastered by BARRY GRINT at Alchemy in London,
the sound quality is massively improved on every track – and not just trebled
up to the nines for effect. This is not a 'loud' CD for 'loudness' sake – it
has power and muscle and great 'presence'.
Right from the synth intro on
the instrumental opener “Threshold” through to the guitar and bass of "Jet
Airliner" (a cover of a Paul Pena song – lyrics above) – the remaster is
light, clear and wonderfully produced. There isn’t hiss nor is there a feeling
of over-compression – the instruments have air around them and sound 'live'.
But Track 3 – the swirling and lovely "Winter Time" really ups the
game – you can suddenly hear Norton Buffalo’s harmonica playing more clearly
and Lonnie Turner’s bass – so sweet. "Swingtown" slides into
existence with that fantastically tight drumming and when the guitar chords
finally kick in – it’s fabulous. The
whistling synth intro of "Jungle Love" almost blows your out your
speaker cones (but in a good way) while the acoustic guitar harmonics of
"Sacrifice" give way to a great Les Dudek electric guitar solo
complimented by Byron Allred’s slinky keyboard touches swirling all around the
entire song. The synchronized-guitars of "The Stake" are just huge
now – irresistibly great rock written by band guitarist David Denny - while the
3rd instrumental and album finisher "Babes In The Wood" is a lovely
and understated way to finish the record.
So there you have it – a
great Seventies Radio-friendly Rock album given a properly cool makeover, good
packaging, top sound and sporting a pittance of a price tag. Tremendous stuff…
The 2011 and 2012 STEVE
MILLER BAND 'Special Edition'
CD Reissue Series from Edsel Records of the UK
are:
1. Children Of The Future
(April 1968) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5003 - Barcode
0740155500337
2. Sailor (October 1968) –
released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5004 - Barcode 740155500733
3. Brave New World (June
1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5005 - Barcode 740155500535
4. Your Saving Grace (November
1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5006 - Barcode 740155500634
5. Number 5 (July 1970) –
released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5007 – Barcode 740155500733
6. Fly Like An Eagle (July
1976) – released 11 October 2010 on Edsel EDSX 3010 (with Bonus DVD) – Barcode
740155301033 – see REVIEW
7. Book Of Dreams (May 1977)
- released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1051 – Barcode 740155105136 – see
REVIEW
8. Circle Of Love (October
1981) – released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1052 – Barcode 740155105235
9. Abracadabra (June 1982) -
released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1053 – Barcode 740155105334
10. The Steve Miller Band
Live! (April 1983) - released 4 April 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1056 – Barcode
740155105631
11. Italian X-Rays (November
1984) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1054 – Barcode 740155105433
12. Wide River (July 1993) -
released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1055 – Barcode 740155105532
PPS: Could someone please get
to Remastering long-standing holes in the Steve Miller back catalogue - October
1971's "Rock Love", March 1972's "Recall The Beginning...A
Journey From Eden" and especially October 1973's "The Joker" –
that way fans and the curious would have access to a 'near' complete run in
decent Audio...
