"the Cruel Sea"

The Legendary Pink Dots exist in the fields of experimental and psychedelic music. The band is fronted by Edward Ka-Spel, who doubles as singer and chief lyric writer. Phil Knight (The Silverman), Erik Drost, and Raymond Steeg make up the current lineup of the band…

Limited Edition 2009 three CD set from the Australian rockers containing their first three releases: The Axman's Jazz (1984), Sour Mash (1989) and Black Milk (1990). Over their lifetime, the Beasts Of Bourbon have delivered seven albums of excoriating low-life Rock 'n' Roll and have carved their name indelibly in Australian folklore cementing themselves a one Of Australia's true supergroups…

The first sonic blast from this Austral indie supergroup was recorded in one afternoon by members of the Scientists (Kim Salmon, Boris Sujdovic, and James Baker), Salamander Jim (Tex Perkins and Salmon), the Hoodoo Gurus (Baker), and the Johnnys (Spencer Jones). Although several hailed from remote Perth, the band was actually formed in Sydney, where all were based by the early-'80s (Perkins had migrated from Brisbane)…

One of the most popular Merseybeat singers, Billy J. Kramer (born Billy Ashton) was one of the most mild-mannered rockers of the entire British Invasion. He wasn't that noteworthy a singer, either, and more likely than not would have never been heard outside of northern England if he hadn't been fortunate enough to become a client of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Even more crucially, he was gifted with several Lennon-McCartney songs in 1963 and 1964, several of which the Beatles never ended up recording. That gave him his entrance into the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, but Kramer couldn't sustain his success after the supply of Lennon-McCartney tunes dried up. Significant? No. Enjoyable? Yes. Even tossing aside the considerable value of hearing otherwise unavailable Lennon-McCartney compositions, his best singles were enjoyably wimpy, melodic pop/rock, offering a guilty pleasure comparable to taking a break from Faulkner and diving into some superhero comics.

The Ventures - Live Box, Vol. 2 (1992) {4CD Set, Liberty ‎Japan TOCP-7149~52 rec 1971-1973}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) -> 1.55 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 560 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 84 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1971-73, 1992 Liberty ‎/ Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-7149~52
Rock / Pop / Rock & Roll / Surf Rock

Box set containing 4 jewel case CDs (TOCP-7149, TOCP-7150, TOCP-7151, TOCP-7152) and two booklets. The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar in the United States and across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).

Artaxerxes, premiered in London in 1762, was the first full-length opera seria sung in English. It proved a great success and helped to revive the fortunes of Thomas Arne, whose career had been in the doldrums. The opera featured his new protégée and mistress Charlotte Brent in the role of Mandane and Arne lavished attention on her music. Mandane’s arias and those of the hero Arbaces provide many of the opera’s high points, with their rich orchestrations, virtuoso vocal parts and captivating tunes. Though based on the Handelian model, Artaxerxes shows both Arne’s talent at the later galant style and his penchant for folk-like, pastoral airs. The results are mostly a delight (if a tad lightweight for the libretto’s blood ’n’ thunder deeds), with a variety of attractive arias further enhanced by Arne’s deft use of woodwind. Christopher Robson in the title role and Catherine Bott, thrilling as Mandane, head a fine team of singers: my only complaint is that Patricia Spence’s forceful Arbaces too often slips into shrill and strident mode.

The CDs in See for Miles' The EP Collection series are odd hybrids that don't often quite function as either greatest-hits collections (though they usually have quite a few hits) or rarities anthologies (since they include too many hits). Billy J. Kramer's entry into the series is no exception. All 25 of the tracks were used on EP releases from the mid-'60s, and they do include all half-dozen of his major chart hits, as well as his Lennon-McCartney B-side covers of "I'll Be on My Way" and "I'll Call Your Name."…

The Ventures - Live Box, Vol. 1 (1992) {4CD Set, Liberty ‎Japan TOCP-7125~28 rec 1965-1968}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) -> 1.59 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 565 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 81 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965-68, 1992 Liberty ‎/ Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-7125~28
Rock / Pop / Rock & Roll / Surf Rock

Box set containing 4 jewel case CDs (TOCP-7125, TOCP-7126, TOCP-7127, TOCP-7128) and two booklets. The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar in the United States and across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).