Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me) (Rehearsal instrumental) (4:08)
Review: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Steve Harley's iconic hit 'Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)', Chrysalis Records is serving it up on a limited 7" for Record Store Day. The single features the original version backed with a previously unreleased recording from Apple Studios, which offers a different perspective and nice twist on the original. 'Make Me Smile' was a UK chart-topper in 1975 and has sold over 1.5 million copies and is thought to have inspired more than 120 cover versions from artists like Duran Duran and Erasure. However, you can't beat the original, which is a glam-pop classic that continues to get love across generations.
Review: Taken from the album Black Gold, this 7" single comes on limited edition white vinyl and offers up the superb 'What's Happenin'' featuring Method Man and Busta Rhymes on the A-side. It's a beat-driven workout with funk in the drums. The B-side offers an exclusive and rather more stripped-back mix of 'Back in the Game' with Ron Isley, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, GZA, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah all seamlessly blended with the instrumental of 'House of Flying Daggers.' It's not often you get so many iconic collaborations all on one record which is why it is such a big hitter.
Review: You can probably work out what's going on here from the title: a superb collection of reworked Hall & Oates classics inna reggae style. They are the fine work of Black Market Dub who likes to reimagine classic sounds through a 70s Jamaican lens. The techniques used throughout are superbly authentic with hissing hi-hats, lazy tumbling beats and snaking baselines. The vocals remain in their original, often polished, falsetto style and extra horns are added for a lush sunny impact. Great fun, but also great quality.
Review: LA based Black Market Dub like to rework great artists of decades gone by through a new sound system lens. This time it is the great 80s pop duo Hall & Oates who get the treatment with six of their most well-known tunes all reworked at slower tempos, with natty guitars, horns and rolling rhythms bring a new and sunny perspective. 'Private Eyes' in particular sounds superbly laid back and sun kissed for Balearic sessions and 'Maneater' also does the business with the original vocals soaring over lazy chords and amidst oodles of echo and reverb.
I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man) (3:18)
Abandoned Luncheonette (3:53)
Lady Rain (4:30)
Laughing Boy (3:28)
Everytime I Look At You (6:58)
Review: Hall and Oates, known for their classic You Make My Dreams, found new life in their lesser-known album, Abandoned Luncheonette. Recorded in 1973 at Atlantic Studios with producer Arif Mardin, this album captures them during the early points of their career, blending expert songwriting, beautiful harmonies, and top-tier musicianship. The standout tracks on Side-1, such as 'When the Morning Comes' and 'She's Gone,' highlight their Philly-soul sound and sublime production. 'Abandoned Luncheonette' on Side-2 also shines with its poignant storytelling about a derelict luncheonette, inspired by the album cover photo. These deep tracks are gaining appreciation from new generations, uncovering diamonds in their discography. This album is a testament to their youthful creativity and musical brilliance, inviting us all to explore beyond the hits and discover the true essence of Hall and Oates.
I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man) (3:18)
Abandoned Luncheonette (3:56)
Lady Rain (7:58)
Laughing Boy (5:02)
Everytime I Look At You (1:56)
Review: Originally released in 1973, the album shows the duo's eclectic mix of folk, rock, and soul influences, expertly crafted under the production of Arif Mardin. Tracks like 'When the Morning Comes' and 'Had I Known You Better Then' highlight Daryl Hall's and John Oates' songwriting ability and vocal harmonies, while 'She's Gone' stands out as a true classic with its emotive arrangement and memorable hooks.The reissue offers a fresh perspective on the album's enduring appeal, with remastered sound bringing out the nuances of the original recordings. From the subtle acoustic reggae vibe of 'When the Morning Comes' to the funky folk groove of 'Lady Rain,' each track showcases the duo's musical versatility and storytelling prowess. Overall, the reissue of Abandoned Luncheonette serves as a timely reminder of Hall and Oates' early brilliance and sets the stage for a new generation of listeners to discover and appreciate their timeless music.
Review: Fifty years after its original release, and over 20 since its first reissue, the quiet Beatle's landmark solo record All Things Must Pass has been punctiliously expanded once more, offering a complete sonic and archival overhaul. Spearheaded by Dhani Harrison and Grammy winner engineer Paul Hicks, the collection is a deluxe format-multiple, with one Uber Deluxe Box Set coming housed in a bespoke wooden crate and featuring 70 tracks. Alas, this CD edition is but a mere optical truncation, offering the humble and prudent listener a much sublimer curated experience: rooted in George Harrison's growing frustrations within the Beatles and a desire for artistic autonomy, 'Isn't It A Pity', 'Let It Down' and 'I'd Have You Anytime' still lie among the most enduring songs of Harrison's Tibetan Buddhist era, and with none other than compression master Phil Spector at the mix controls, you can be certain of a well-smoothened sonic experience from front to back.
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