Superb set of extended Loving You soundtrack
Marc Haegeman | Gent, Belgium | 02/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not everybody will be lining up to pay for the second "Loving You" release in a year's time. Yet, unlike the 20-tracks BMG release of 2005, this new double-disc set presented by the Follow That Dream collector's label has 32 + 48 tracks, or a total running time of 136 mins.
The new release also boasts the same top drawer audio restoration (courtesy of Kevan Budd), "the new bonus masters" including sterling cuts like "All Shook Up", "One Night" (2 versions), "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "I Beg of You", and on top of that offers some newly discovered outtakes - of which an almost improvised "Loving You" take and a fantastic "Mean Woman Blues" stand out. Disc 2 has the advantage of offering the complete recording session of the title song (12 takes of the `farm version', 21 of the `main version', plus 15 of the same `main version' in binaural). In the past decade numerous takes of "Loving You" have been dispersed over a multitude of CD's, all sounding different. Here you can browse through them on the same disc, including studio banter and bringing you closer than ever to the creative process. Other outtakes that were released earlier do sound like anew: "Blueberry Hill" and "Got A Lot' O' Livin' To Do" taken from acetate source.
The booklet with original cover art has some great pictures and memorabilia, although the designer should be shot for using white fonts on a pale blue background, while the essential info about the recording sessions that produced the "Loving You" album remains rather messy.
So, in the end, collectors won't want to live without this new release, as it offers the complete album in the best possible sound so far and adds a truly delectable collection of extras equally in much improved sound quality.
"
Track Listings (31) - Disc #1