The Action - Shadows And Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1964-1968 (4 CD, 2018) [FLAC]

The Action were an English band of the 1960s, formed as the Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. They were part of the mod subculture, and played soul music-influenced pop music. 

The band (originally known as ‘The Boys’) were signed by George Martin after he left EMI in the mid-sixties and the ‘fifth Beatle’ produced the five singles issued on Parlophone between 1965-1967 as well as tracks for a never-released album.

Shadows and Reflections (issued by Cherry Red imprint Grapefruit) is said to be “the most comprehensive tribute” to The Action thus far, with many of the original single mixes getting their debut on CD as part of this set and newly found multi-tracks and rehearsal tapes allowing for a whole disc’s worth of previously unheard mixes and performances.

This deluxe set comes as a bookset and includes a 16,000 words of notes by David Wells in a 36-page booklet.

Disc One - Essential Action: The Parlophone Masters (01:03:35)

Disc Two - The Action At Abbey Road: Stereo Mixes And Outtakers (01:13:48)

Disc Three - Rolled Gold Plus: The Lost 1967-1968 Recordings (01:10:50)

Disc Four - Extra Action (00:55:44)

The Byrds - The Complete Columbia Albums Collection (13 CD, 2011/FLAC)

 

The Byrds were one of the most progressive and exciting band in '60s rock, with no peers outside the Stones-Beatles-Beach Boys triumvirate. This box set, which collects their original Columbia albums, represents over 90-percent of their career, basically everything they released, all 12 albums (aside from their 1973 reunion album recorded for Asylum). This material was frequently astonishing at the time, and still is, ranging from their debut single "Mr. Tambourine Man" through the bracing folk-rock of their first two LPs, growing psychedelia and experimentation during 1966 and 1967, then a sudden detour into country-rock and mellow pop for the rest of the '60s. Whether early linchpins Gene Clark and David Crosby were a part of the lineup or not, the Byrds with Roger McGuinn at the helm always featured tuneful songwriting and accomplished musicianship, qualities which shine through brightly on this collection. Each album comes in a replica LP sleeve, and the package includes all the bonus tracks (plus the liner notes from Johnny Rogan) that were originally included with the mid-'90s expanded reissues; also included is the two-disc Sweetheart of the Rodeo expanded edition, with rehearsals and alternate takes. 

1965 - Mr. Tambourine Man (45:41)

1965 - Turn! Turn! Turn! (49:12)

1966 - Fifth Dimension (62:22)

1967 - Younger Than Yesterday (47:35)

1968 - The Notorious Byrd Brothers (58:27)

1968 - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (55:05 + 61:20)

1969 - Dr. Byrds And Mr. Hyde (52:07)

1969 - Ballad Of Easy Rider (56:50)

1970 - (Untitled) / (Unissued) (71:25 + 49:25)

1971 - Byrdmaniax (46:51)

1971 - Farther Along (46:03)

 

 

Phil Lynott's Grand Slam – Slam Anthems (6 CD, 2023) [FLAC]

When Phil Lynott died in 1986, he was a mere 36 years of age. Lynott founded and fronted one of the most underrated rock bands of the ‘70s, Thin Lizzy, and was the most popular rock singer to emerge from Dublin (prior to the Bono era). When the band broke up in the early ’80s amid struggles with substance abuse, Lynott started working with Magnum keyboardist Mark Stanway as part of Lynott’s live solo band in 1983. By 1984 he would eventually solidify a line-up that included guitarist Laurence Archer, rhythm guitarist Doish Nagle, and drummer Robbie Brennan and change their name to Grand Slam. Although the group never issued an official studio album, they played numerous shows around Europe and cut a series of demos that proved Lynott still had incredible songs in him and a brilliant career ahead.

Now those songs and live performances have been remastered and packaged in a deluxe 6-CD box set, released on June 9, 2023. Slam Anthems, via Cleopatra Records, is a treasure trove of new mixes of Grand Slam songs as well as concert recordings that feature songs from throughout Lynott’s stellar career, including many Thin Lizzy favorites.

Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes - Live At The Greek : Complete Live Masters (4 CD, 2001/FLAC)

 The Black Crowes were dogged with comparisons to the Rolling Stones and the Faces throughout the first decade of their career, so it came as a mild surprise that they teamed with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in late 1999 for a couple of concerts. Zeppelin had a mystique and majesty about them that the Crowes never attempted to emulate. They were an earthy, bluesy rock band and while they found a number of different ways to rework their influences, they never tried the stately grandeur that was Zeppelin's second nature. So, some observers were curious to see how these two approaches worked.

 

 

Fleetwood Mac - Vintage Years (2 LP, 1975) [24-96]

Vintage Years is a 1975 compilation album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac and was released on the Sire Records label. The album peaked at #67 in the U.K. and #138 in the U.S. As of 2012, the album has sold over 75,000 copies in the U.S. alone.