"MoFo" is half reissue, half archival release, something that (somewhat curiously) has never quite happened with a Zappa album before. It's also an absolutely fantastic thing, and it's a great buy if you're even marginally interested in the album or its author.
During the winter months of 1978, Bob Dylan conducted rehearsals for his upcoming 115-date world tour in downtown Santa Monica's aptly named Rundown Studios. Captured for posterity by engineers Arthur Rosato and Joel Bernstein, the Rundown tapes represent a remarkably panoramic window into Dylan's creative process as he reinvents his classic songs via improvised lyrics and arrangements that gradually transform the raw, fiery melodies into larger-than-life pop fantasias seemingly earmarked for the casino ballrooms of Las Vegas. The four-CD bootleg box set The Rundown Rehearsal Tapes is an embarrassment of riches for the serious Dylan enthusiast, encompassing virtually every landmark in his storied songbook as well as some new compositions and a handful of traditional blues standards that never made it past the rehearsal stage.
George Martin is one of the world's most famous record producers and yet, despite a long and varied career, he is most celebrated for his era-defining work with the Beatles. The six-CD box set Produced By George Martin commemorates his 50 years behind the desk. The discs are in chronological order and loosely themed–early years, comedy recordings, 60s hits, orchestral, etc. While generally presented in a chronological fashion, each disc is likewise aptly subtitled. Disc one – "Crazy Rhythms" – features pre-rock & roll big band ("High Society"), skiffle ("Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O"), and dance music ("Scottish Polka" and "Saturday Jump"). In addition, there are tracks from other well-known yet rarely heard artists such as Jimmy Shand ("Bluebell Polka") and Rolf Harris ("Sun Arise"). The "Transports of Delight" on disc two highlight spoken-word and comedy sides produced by Martin in the '50s and '60s.
For the first time ever EMI Classics are making available, in two handsome sets, the complete recordings that Karajan made for EMI between the years 1946 to 1984. The first set of 88 CDs comprises all the orchestral and concerto recordings and the second set, of 72 CDs, the Choral and Opera recordings. Both sets can be acquired at bargain prices, presenting a rare opportunity to add these historically important recordings to your collection. The last discs in each set (88 & 72 respectively) contain all the libretti, sung texts, a selection of photographs and a series of interviews with musicians who knew and worked with Karajan.
For the first time ever EMI Classics are making available, in two handsome sets, the complete recordings that Karajan made for EMI between the years 1946 to 1984. The first set of 88 CDs comprises all the orchestral and concerto recordings and the second set, of 72 CDs, the Choral and Opera recordings. Both sets can be acquired at bargain prices, presenting a rare opportunity to add these historically important recordings to your collection. The last discs in each set (88 & 72 respectively) contain all the libretti, sung texts, a selection of photographs and a series of interviews with musicians who knew and worked with Karajan.