Guest: Barb Alan Atkinson Email:ccs@webzone.net Homepage: Rate: ***** Date: 25-Dec-98 12:48 AM I sent a song by song review last weekend but it didn't post for some reason. This time I'll keep it shorter. I was at first disappointed with this cd because of the bad sonic quality; but after a few listens I quickly got past that. Overall the songs are very strong. Favorites are "Moonlight", "Birdsong"(I saw a much better arrangement / performance live), "Mirrors", "Isn't That a Dream", and "Clouds of Love". Least favorites are "Cadillac Blues", "It's True", and "When". Joe's vocals do sound strained at times, Most notably "Birdsong" and "It's Alright". I'm really looking forward to the new studio cd.And just to put the drum machine debate to bed, they were most definately available in '73. I bought my first one around '75 and they had been around for a long while at that point. Basically they were glorified click tracks. The digital drum machines where you could actually program fills and such didn't show up till probably the late '70s or early '80s. I got one of those around '85.
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GuestBrennan Engle Date22-Dec-98 05:09 PM When I first got Basil about a month ago I was disappointed but the more I listen to it, the more I like it! And now it is one of those I can put on the cd player and listen to the whole thing without getting bored.
I'm not crazy about the drum machines and lack of more instruments on some tracks, But the bluesy influence here makes up for all that.
I really like the way the song Mirrors sounds on the disc, a great version with awesome piano!
Joey's voice sounds really pinched on some of the tunes, he might have had a cold at the sessions or something.
I wish there had been a demo or two from his released songs from the Badfinger days or from "After the Pearl" or "Pilgrim" ...
but all in all a good DEMO project. As for having drum machines in 1973, I think there were because I have a bootleg of John Lennon in the 60's and he has a drum beat going on his melotron.
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Record 9 Guest: Mariano Lopez T. Email:melt@asisa.com.ar Homepage: Rate: ****** Date: 22-Dec-98 01:49 PM I received Basil yesterday while working. I immediately played it on the computer, and in my first hearing, I loved every track. The second time I heard it (it was immediately after the first one)I liked it more, and so on with successive listenings. Of course it's a demos album (rate would be negative if it wasn't that!). I would like to quote Pete Townshend's notes on Scoop (demos release) "Away from sophisticated studio techniques and repeated soul destroying takes, the real joy I get from playing and writing comes through, and that joy is something I want to share.". I think it is a good way to get outtakes and rejected material without bootlegging. I found Basil an excellent rocking demos release with some nice melodic songs. And I really don't care if drum machines were used or added later, it doesn't really matter... |
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Record 8 Guest: Jessica Edwards Email:jss_g@yahoo.com Homepage:none Rate: ** Date: 20-Dec-98 07:12 PM Basil is disappointing. I guess Joey thought 7 Park Avenue was a good idea, as he has now copied it with his own set of demos being issued. But where are the 70's demos? There is no way that the song from 1973 had a drum machine on it at the time. That is absurd. If it is from '73, then he has overdubbed a ridiculous drum machine into it. We are obviously being misled here. The songs are okay, a few very nice ones, but lots of fairly bland boogie rock. The shock is the sound quality being so poor and Joey's terrible production on the few songs he tried to arrange to any degree. The first song is cut off immediately as it enters? It's technically one of the worst things I've ever heard. Joey's voice is horrendous at times. I don't think I will be playing this a lot. I do love Joey's work with the original band. Still looking forward to his new record. I like a lot of The Pilgrim and After The Pearl. |
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Record 7 Guest: Rick Kellogg Email:rjk649k@erinet.com Homepage: Rate: ***** Date: 19-Dec-98 03:05 AM The "Basil" CD is better than I hoped! Excellent tunes, just underproduced. As I have stated before, this shows just how important Joey was to the mix of Badfinger. I would love to see several of the songs further developed, and I really can't find a 'stinker' in the mix! My favorites are: 'Panning Gold' : 'Walkin' The Floor' (another great wall-of-sound song that Joey sometimes creates) : 'What You're Doin' (is this maybe a unreported Badfinger recording? Listen closely for the slide guitar mixed way down in the background - and did they have drum machines back in '73 like heard in the recording?). If you don't have this CD - Get it! It's that good...for a demo. |
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Record 6 Guest: Mariano Lopez T. Email:melt@asisa.com.ar Homepage: Rate: Did Not Respond Date: 18-Dec-98 09:30 PM STILL WAITING FOR IT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF MONEY HAS ARRIVED. SENT SEVERAL MAILS REQUESTING CONFIRMATION OF MONEY RECEPTION, BUT NOBODY ANSWERED ME YET. WILL IT BE BECAUSE OF LIVING SO FAR IN A COUNTRY ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THIS WORLD? (ARGENTINA). HOPE I RECEIVE IT SOON SO I CAN GIVE MY OPINION. |
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Record 5 Guest: Randy Justesen Email: Homepage:Badfinger by Justesen Rate: Did Not Respond Date: 18-Dec-98 03:42 PM There is no *DEMO* CD by any of the original Badfinger members that even comes close to the sonic quality provided on Tommy's "Over You" CD. The Ham CD was not limited very much if at all by financial reasons but was more limited by the source tape and decisions on post production. Still, the songs are fine and the talent shows through. The Molland CD is a private, for the fans, zero budget project, that was not intended for any kind of major retail distribution or release as "7 Park and Over You" were. Again, like the others, the songs and talent show through. "Over You" is the closest thing we will ever hear as far as demos that have any chance of a true full blown sound with post production/finished song quality. Many of the songs off "Basil" could easily be remixed with industry standard production if there were a budget and demand for it. Ham did not have the luxuary of studio quality recording equipment nor any say regarding how his material would be released. Apparently Dan Matovina has taken that role as spokesperson in representing Ham. Evans had the luxury of a 4track source tape and a producer who had more intimate 1st hand dealings with him and what they were working on. In summary, these are all demo projects and are really just a chance for hardcore fans to see what else the artists have done and how songs are created or developed. You won't see a hit record come from any of these unless they are rerecorded in todays release standards or given heavier post production treatment as was given on "Over You." The point is really to just enjoy the CD's for what they are. I feel lucky that everyone involved with these releases had the tenacity to follow through and release the stuff, whether good or bad, to the public. |
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Record 4 Guest: Mitch Email:mkaften@tkusa.com Homepage: Rate: Did Not Respond Date: 16-Dec-98 06:28 PM Basil is fun to listen to. The songs gradually grew on me, until I had some trouble getting them out of my head! It's great as an insight into Joey's creative process. I enjoyed both the melodic songs such as "Isn't It A Dream" and "Moonlight" as well as the rockers like "Said It's All Right", "Birdsong" and "Clouds Of Love". The fact that Joey will be including "Moonlight" on his upcoming studio album puts the lie to the theory that these are merely "rejects". I personally would love to hear "Clouds..." with a full rocking band behind it. Although some of the songs had some weaknesses and may in fact be rejects, many could, and will, stand on their own. |
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Record 2 Guest: mike Email:mbarnett@sheltonbbs.com Homepage: Rate: **** Date: 15-Dec-98 10:18 PM i like good raw rock and roll so this cd works for me. for those who want more polished stuff we'll probably see a new studio album from joey next year. the basil cd is rough around the edges but that's a demo for you. who wants demos produced by barry manilow. |