Wait For A Proper CD Reissue, Folks!
Mark Carlin | Oxford, England | 03/03/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Alas, what a disappointment. After 20 years' familiarity with my increasingly scratched antique vinyl version of this Brit jazz-rock classic, I was looking forward to having a pristine and cleaned-up version on CD. But goodness knows in which river the master tapes have been lying for the last 30 years - the sound warbles almost completely throughout the CD, and there is wow and flutter with pitch variation. Apparently Beat Goes On Records have promised to try to find a better source to master this album from in future. It's a pity, because in its proper form this is a masterpiece of jazz-rock fusion - or, more accurately, collision! - everything that "Septober Energy" attempted to be but didn't quite succeed (even though many of the same musicians play on it), and would without question have received 5 stars from me under any other circumstances. Try to hunt out the original RCA Neon vinyl if you can."
4stars to its artistic value;1star to the weak production
Lethe | Milan, Italy | 03/27/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Well honestly this re-issue is a disappointing version (remastered CD format) of the original vynil, characterized by an horn-driven jazz with orchestrations ...Mike Westbrook, pianist, composer and arranger too, performed such an interesting suite in the late 60's,divided into 9 parts,with a full array of sax-solos,balanced clever riffs and a fine piano as well(so much atmospheric in the last part),completed by means of several horns excursions too. Such instruments,played with great intensity and energy and, moreover, a remarkable final trumpet solo, represent the catharsis of the whole soundtrack, thanks to the already mentioned -sweet and pleasant- piano,which creates a relax mood!! The problem is connected with the low-mixing of the remaster, which doesn't let us appreciate such intensity or also the beautiful mood of the original opera...The RCA vynil version is recommended,instead the present remastered CD is not equal to the original Neon l.p., unfortunately ..."
Improved remastering
Scriveyn | Europe | 11/01/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The record has been newly remastered by BGO Records and you get now the really fabulous music in the sound quality it deserves!
BGO have done a great job and commendably have exchanged my flawed erly copy for free.
A must buy now!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1