Mr. Big Japanese Shm CD Collection (1989 1996) [japanese Remastered Reissue 2009] RE UP

The most commercially successful pop group of the 1970s, the origins of the Swedish superstars ABBA dated back to 1966, when keyboardist and vocalist Benny Andersson, a onetime member of the popular beat outfit the Hep Stars, first teamed with guitarist and vocalist Bjorn Ulvaeus, the leader of the folk-rock unit the Hootenanny Singers…

Infusing traditional gospel music with Memphis soul, Detroit-based singer Rance Allen helped pave the way for the secularized gospel sound of the '80s and '90s. After signing with Stax in 1969, Allen and his group proceeded to bring their hip brand of gospel to the masses by scoring several chart hits and opening concerts for the likes of Isaac Hayes. This hits package covers the group's successful run in the '70s, spotlighting Allen's incredibly flexible and powerful voice (one listens to cuts like "Ain't No Need of Crying" and "Gonna Make It Alright" and it's easy to figure out where Prince picked up his misty falsetto from). The selections include Allen's biggest Stax hit, "I Got to Be Myself," the spiritually reconfigured cover "Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation)," and modern gospel pioneer James Cleveland's "That Will Be Enough for Me." Allen contributes a handful of slick and spirited groovers, like "I Give My All To You" and "I Belong to You," and even goes in for a little disco on another original, "Smile" (considering Allen's devout nature, it's hard to tell if the more commercial elements in the music came from him or hit-minded producers).

Future Legends (1973). Originally released in October 1973 on Pye's Dawn label, Future Legends was the debut release by these Northern Irish Progressive Rock masters. A wonderful exercise in Symphonic and Melodic rock, the album was highly acclaimed upon release launching the band on a live career that saw them share the bill with such luminaries as Genesis (with whom they were often compared). Future Legends is now remastered from the original tapes and includes the track 'On a Clear Day' which only featured on the first 100 copies of the album…

The album, originally released in 1977, was Dave Brock and Robert Calvert's masterpiece that perfectly embraced the influence of the musical New Wave to deliver one of the most effective albums released during Calvert s tenure with Hawkwind. This expanded edition features a bonus CD featuring studio session alternate takes and live recordings by The Sonic Assassins from 1977. Including such classic tracks as Spirit of the Age, Hassan I Sabbah and Damnation Alley , this reissue has been remastered from the original master tapes (a first for any CD issue of this album).