Al Stewarts back catalogue before YOTC is amazing and he deserved his breakthrough. 'Roads To Moscow' is one of the most intense emotional musical journeys it's possible to go on. A truly magnificent piece of work
Mad Dogs & Englishmen is one of the first LP's I bought with my own money ( age 14 1971 ). I was just spinning Year Of The Cat this morning, both live and studio versions. 🎵 The Moody Blues were pure brilliance !
@@obre9523 Another underrated gem by the Moody Blues is Seventh Sojourn 1972. It is more edgy and very pertinent to reality today. I have both a CD and vinyl record of it. Thanks
Hello from Germany, most of the albums are here too and I have to say that Al Stewart hasn't been played for a long time. I didn't know Thunderclap Newmann, but I like it. I have 5 Spooky Tooth albums, 4 of which I like, the Pierre Henry - Ceremony is too much for me. Thanks for the introduction, I'll subscribe.
YotC is a perfect album and my all time favourite non-classical LP. Not a duff track. Perfect in every way. The music, the lyrics, the performance, the production, the recording....
Flying Sorcery on YEAR OF THE CAT : A perfect example of perfect composition: music; lyrics; imagery; arrangement; production, etc. The subject of my first college 'paper'......... A+ !!
Absolutely. It should be top ten in any poprock fan collection. The sounds is audiophile quality. Production couldn't be more on the stop. Great job by Alan Parsons
@@obre9523 There is no filler in Year of the Cat, all the songs are terrific. I have about 5 copies of the record that's how much i like it. Tim Renwick play lead guitar on that album and went to play with Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour, he is an excellent guitarist.
Another brilliant one! I got the Cocker Live album last year for $5. I'm glad you mentioned it. You are right. I have never seen anyone on youtube or anywhere else talk about it. I also have one that I I don't ever see mentioned. I just got it for less than $15: Wishbone Ash Pilgrimage, First US pressing on the Decca label (NOT the later MCA). Dear God. It blew me back in my chair. Play it loud... You're welcome. Their next album, Argus, gets more attention and money ($$) and is fantastic too. Thanks for the Al Stewart tip. Those albums were everywhere in the late 70's and by that time I turned up my nose to pop. I still usually do, but I can see that that album and Time Passages both might be worth spots in my collection. Cheers Vicente!
The Moodies and Al Stewart are favourites of mine for the content and SQ especially Melancholy Man and On the Border. I play these every couple of months and neither are on audiophile labels.
No need for audiophile reissues of any of the two. I think Jim tha Al Stewart and the Moody blues albums sound spectacular. You get clean copies and you're done
Some great choices there & some I have not heard, but will definitely check out. I managed to pick up a UK OG of Fire & Water at a very reasonable price a couple of years ago. Phenomenal band and great production on that album. If you’ve not done so already I would definitely check out the Al Stewart album released prior to YOTC - Modern Times. It was also produced by Alan Parsons and IMO is his best album. Thanks for not just rolling out the usual suspects when it comes to great sounding records.
The Moody Blues were a phenomenal band, and I think they were one of the first Progressive Rock bands. Their album On The Threshold Of A Dream is pure magic. I'm also huge fan of the vastly underrated band Free. Paul Rogers went on the become the founder and lead singer of Bad Company, and his voice is one of the best in Rock music history. Mad Dogs & Englishmen is a 5 star masterpiece! It has such a collection of great musicians from the U.S. & U.K. who accompanied Joe Cocker on this tour. I was fortunate enough to see Joe Cocker at Woodstock (yes, I am old enough to have been there), and Joe Cocker captured the musical world with his beautiful expressive voice for a few years, but because he was struggling with alcoholism and he was a very shy man he stayed away from the public for several years. He did have some hits in the mid 1970's with songs like "You Are So Beautiful" and "Jealous Kind", but he didn't become popular until "You Can Leave Your Hat On" from 91/2 Weeks. This is a bloody good channel, I really liked this video. You're living in Spain, but I detect a Brummy accent. Are you from the U.K.?
Yes, I'm based in Spain but I majored in English literature in England. I share your passion for the Moody Blues and Mad dogs. Thanks for your following and support
I have to correct you with regard to Free, they were an immensely popular band and still are, legendary in fact. Fantastic live, check out their Isle Of Wight performance. Their albums are not cheap either, a UK first pressing of Fire and Water on the pink island label will set you back at least £50, more likely in the £100's for a decent copy. Later pressings (pink rim onwards) can be picked up cheaper but still £20 upwards. They were also not a one hit wonder, "Wishing Well" was a major hit and an ex prime minister's desert island disc. The only albums on your list that I know of which are inexpensive are The Moody Blues and Al Stewart, they obviously sold in large quantities at the time but are not hugely sought after now. Finally, Joe Cocker, the best value in the UK is the Double Back of his first two (and best) albums which can be picked up very cheap. My tip for a bargain would be Mike Oldfield's "Boxed" - his classic three albums plus a bonus disc for pin money if you are lucky. Interesting video though, keep up the good work.
Thank you. Yes, the double Joe Cocker is a steal. Good point. Uk Free album is not inexpensive but there are European reissues from the late 70s and even into the early 80s that are perfectly affordable and still sound good. Never heard "Wishing well" but following your advice, there's one in my "add to cart" list. That's what I love the most about this channel, when subscribers contribute and we can all benefit from it. Yes, MIke Oldfield Box is a bargain. I'll give you that. It should've been included!
The Archie Shepp-Parlan gospel classics is a must. Such great music and such incredible performances. Hard not to shed a tear and goosebump on listening
Mentioning Spooky Tooth and ‘I am the Walrus’ reminded me of that great Island compilation ‘Bumpers’. The original pink label release I feel is superior to later ones, those illustrated with an island, as the latter unfortunately contain some inferior takes, but still very much worth having.
Whilst the musician in me *knows that the song YotC is well written, produced and performed, I was working as a radio presenter when the album was released. The single quickly went on "high rotation" and would appear a couple of times during a 4 hour air-shift...Sadly I grew to hate it (as also happened with many a great song) :(
I seem to be 6/10 on this list. 😊 Your site says you are in Spain. Do you fancy visiting Florida for a week to see the state and show you around some record shops and see the wildlife? I'm being serious. Let me know. Jay.
I'd certainly love to, Jay. I'm retired, divorced and my daughter has a life of her own. Plenty of time to spare. But I guess ticket planes overseas are out of my league. Ill keep an eye
@obre9523 I'm willing to fly you to Florida, and you can stay at my house, and we can listen to some vinyl. We can put together things so you can do multiple videos. I just need to figure out how to talk to you about it. We could have a great time
Last but not least....certainly not! Year of the Cat was (is!) a great album, I bought it on release having had Stewart's earlier LPs including Past, Present and Future, Bedsitter Images etc. and seen him several times from his solo days (he had a residency at the Troubadour in Clifton Bristol). His tour to coincide with the release of Year of the Cat was the best I ever saw him with his band which included Mel Collins on Saxes and flute.....his solo on the title track sticks in the mind! He still tours, but now as a duo. You recommended Time Passages, and I'd also recommend Modern Times...tremendous production also by the great Alan Parsons (why no mention in your top ten of his Tales of Mystery and Imagination?!!!). BTW the cover of Stewart's Modern Times has a picture of a Jacobean (?) house a vintage open top car (Packard?), a man getting out of it, a glamorous looking girl standing on the lawn and someone on a motorcycle (it's not!).....who, what where? Answers on a postcard!
Thanks for your input. Great knowledge! Al Stewart, imo, is not given the credit he deserves. Great singer-songwriter with very well crafted historical lyrics
You might need to shop around, Moody Blues Lps for example are a dime a dozen, I'll have a number in my next yard sale going out for a dollar. Fogerty and Stewart also likely to be in a dollar box. Cocker, Free, Spooky.....have become 5$ lps.
Shipping down under is not cheap by any standards, but if you can get a decent European reissue from the late 70s and add a couple more albums for the same shipping costs, it'd be worth a shot
Interesting choices, I really enjoyed the video. Also, you definitely should have mentioned "Something In The Air" when discussing Thunderclap Newman!
Al Stewarts back catalogue before YOTC is amazing and he deserved his breakthrough. 'Roads To Moscow' is one of the most intense emotional musical journeys it's possible to go on. A truly magnificent piece of work
Absolutely agreed
Mad Dogs & Englishmen is one of the first LP's I bought with my own money
( age 14 1971 ). I was just spinning Year Of The Cat this morning, both live and studio versions. 🎵 The Moody Blues were pure brilliance !
I picked up that Spooky Tooth album for 50 cents at a local shop simply for the cover and you are absolutely correct! Epic album!
Thanks a million, I will be sure to check out some of your choices.
12:44 i so agree with you! The Moody blues are my most beloved band ❤
Yes, they are great and much underrated
Year of the cat is an absolute gem of an album
Agreed. Audiophile quality and production. Superbly crafted lyrics which never cease to amaze me
Thanks for the heads up on some perhaps forgotten gems.
Glad to be of help
I agree with your selections. You have excellent taste in music.
Likewise. Thanks so much
@@obre9523 Another underrated gem by the Moody Blues is Seventh Sojourn 1972. It is more edgy and very pertinent to reality today. I have both a CD and vinyl record of it. Thanks
Agree top notch picks Vincente opened my eyes The great Alan Parsons worked on the Stewart album as Producer at Abbey Rd I think Time Passages too
Hello from Germany, most of the albums are here too and I have to say that Al Stewart hasn't been played for a long time. I didn't know Thunderclap Newmann, but I like it. I have 5 Spooky Tooth albums, 4 of which I like, the Pierre Henry - Ceremony is too much for me. Thanks for the introduction, I'll subscribe.
YotC is a perfect album and my all time favourite non-classical LP. Not a duff track. Perfect in every way. The music, the lyrics, the performance, the production, the recording....
Agreed
I love The Moody Blues and Year Of The Cat as an album.
So do I. Very well crafted songs and a great production by Alan Parsons. An absolute classic
Flying Sorcery on YEAR OF THE CAT : A perfect example of perfect composition: music; lyrics; imagery; arrangement; production, etc. The subject of my first college 'paper'......... A+ !!
Right there with you on the Moody Blues and Al Stewart.
I remember seeing that Spooky Tooth album in my brother's collection, many years ago, but I never listened to it until today. Thanks.
Glad to be of help. Hope you enjoy it
Thunderclap Newman’s hit was Something In The Air
Fire and Water is one of the all time greats.
Certainly is, yes.
"Year of the cat" what a great album.
Absolutely. It should be top ten in any poprock fan collection. The sounds is audiophile quality. Production couldn't be more on the stop. Great job by Alan Parsons
Yes! On The Border, Lord Grenville ...
Hi there...Your content and presentation style + your authenticity are
awesome! Liked & subbed.....Cheers from Oz 🦘🦘🦘
Thanks a lot. That's really encouraging
@@obre9523 Free also had a great song called "wishing well"
@@obre9523 There is no filler in Year of the Cat, all the songs are terrific.
I have about 5 copies of the record that's how much i like it.
Tim Renwick play lead guitar on that album and went to play with Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour, he is an excellent guitarist.
@@obre9523 That Joe Cocker live album is a gem.
@@obre9523 Very entertaining and interesting video.
Thank you
Another brilliant one! I got the Cocker Live album last year for $5. I'm glad you mentioned it. You are right. I have never seen anyone on youtube or anywhere else talk about it. I also have one that I I don't ever see mentioned. I just got it for less than $15: Wishbone Ash Pilgrimage, First US pressing on the Decca label (NOT the later MCA). Dear God. It blew me back in my chair. Play it loud... You're welcome. Their next album, Argus, gets more attention and money ($$) and is fantastic too. Thanks for the Al Stewart tip. Those albums were everywhere in the late 70's and by that time I turned up my nose to pop. I still usually do, but I can see that that album and Time Passages both might be worth spots in my collection. Cheers Vicente!
Argus is sensational.
Yes, forgot about Wishbone ash. Great band and inexpensive records. we'd better grab them now before they fetch silly prices
Vinyl is dead dinosaurs!
Time to move on!
You named some of my favorite albums (The Last Puff, A Question of Balance..). Year of the Cat is a great sounding record and musically excelent too.
Thanks for your input. Agreed on both counts
Fire and Water and The Last Puff are must haves...
Yes, they certainly are. Glad we agree
Spooky Tooth are defo in my top ten bands of all time.
Yes, and when Gus Dudgeon is involved in production, you're in for a treat
The Moodies and Al Stewart are favourites of mine for the content and SQ especially Melancholy Man and On the Border. I play these every couple of months and neither are on audiophile labels.
No need for audiophile reissues of any of the two. I think Jim tha Al Stewart and the Moody blues albums sound spectacular. You get clean copies and you're done
Some great choices there & some I have not heard, but will definitely check out. I managed to pick up a UK OG of Fire & Water at a very reasonable price a couple of years ago. Phenomenal band and great production on that album. If you’ve not done so already I would definitely check out the Al Stewart album released prior to YOTC - Modern Times. It was also produced by Alan Parsons and IMO is his best album. Thanks for not just rolling out the usual suspects when it comes to great sounding records.
That's what i like about our hobby. Sharing information. Modern times is in my "add to chart" right now. Thanks a lot
The Moody Blues were a phenomenal band, and I think they were one of the first Progressive Rock bands. Their album On The Threshold Of A Dream is pure magic. I'm also huge fan of the vastly underrated band Free. Paul Rogers went on the become the founder and lead singer of Bad Company, and his voice is one of the best in Rock music history. Mad Dogs & Englishmen is a 5 star masterpiece! It has such a collection of great musicians from the U.S. & U.K. who accompanied Joe Cocker on this tour. I was fortunate enough to see Joe Cocker at Woodstock (yes, I am old enough to have been there), and Joe Cocker captured the musical world with his beautiful expressive voice for a few years, but because he was struggling with alcoholism and he was a very shy man he stayed away from the public for several years. He did have some hits in the mid 1970's with songs like "You Are So Beautiful" and "Jealous Kind", but he didn't become popular until "You Can Leave Your Hat On" from 91/2 Weeks.
This is a bloody good channel, I really liked this video. You're living in Spain, but I detect a Brummy accent. Are you from the U.K.?
Yes, I'm based in Spain but I majored in English literature in England. I share your passion for the Moody Blues and Mad dogs. Thanks for your following and support
I love to discover new music, thanks for all the albums you mentioned. One question: do you live in Vicente López, Argentina?
I have to correct you with regard to Free, they were an immensely popular band and still are, legendary in fact. Fantastic live, check out their Isle Of Wight performance. Their albums are not cheap either, a UK first pressing of Fire and Water on the pink island label will set you back at least £50, more likely in the £100's for a decent copy. Later pressings (pink rim onwards) can be picked up cheaper but still £20 upwards. They were also not a one hit wonder, "Wishing Well" was a major hit and an ex prime minister's desert island disc. The only albums on your list that I know of which are inexpensive are The Moody Blues and Al Stewart, they obviously sold in large quantities at the time but are not hugely sought after now. Finally, Joe Cocker, the best value in the UK is the Double Back of his first two (and best) albums which can be picked up very cheap. My tip for a bargain would be Mike Oldfield's "Boxed" - his classic three albums plus a bonus disc for pin money if you are lucky. Interesting video though, keep up the good work.
Thank you. Yes, the double Joe Cocker is a steal. Good point. Uk Free album is not inexpensive but there are European reissues from the late 70s and even into the early 80s that are perfectly affordable and still sound good. Never heard "Wishing well" but following your advice, there's one in my "add to cart" list. That's what I love the most about this channel, when subscribers contribute and we can all benefit from it. Yes, MIke Oldfield Box is a bargain. I'll give you that. It should've been included!
BUDGIE!!
METALLICA 👎 COPIED BUDGIE 🐦
Not my cup of tea, unfortunately
Enjoyed the video and subscribed. Need to check out the Archie Shepp/Horace Parlan album.
The Archie Shepp-Parlan gospel classics is a must. Such great music and such incredible performances. Hard not to shed a tear and goosebump on listening
George Benson is always overlooked.
Mentioning Spooky Tooth and ‘I am the Walrus’ reminded me of that great Island compilation ‘Bumpers’. The original pink label release I feel is superior to later ones, those illustrated with an island, as the latter unfortunately contain some inferior takes, but still very much worth having.
You've been reading my mail.
Peace on earth.
Im glad i came here
"Ask the mirror on the wall / Who's the biggest fool of all..."
Could the answer be "Anyone not turned on by the Moody Blues"?
Is the song War , the same one associated with Edwin Starr ?
Yes, I think so
@@obre9523 Than you
Al Stewart. Obviously a George Harrison fan. Anything Curtis Mayfield is great. I have the same RSO pressing.
Yes, Curtis Mayfield is a regular on my turntable rotation
Whilst the musician in me *knows that the song YotC is well written, produced and performed, I was working as a radio presenter when the album was released. The single quickly went on "high rotation" and would appear a couple of times during a 4 hour air-shift...Sadly I grew to hate it (as also happened with many a great song) :(
Same here. Burntout but that doesn't rule out the fact that it was a fantastically well crafted song
@@obre9523 I have the Moody blues on record, cassette, CD and DVD
I like their music.
I seem to be 6/10 on this list. 😊 Your site says you are in Spain. Do you fancy visiting Florida for a week to see the state and show you around some record shops and see the wildlife? I'm being serious. Let me know. Jay.
I'd certainly love to, Jay. I'm retired, divorced and my daughter has a life of her own. Plenty of time to spare. But I guess ticket planes overseas are out of my league. Ill keep an eye
@obre9523 I'm willing to fly you to Florida, and you can stay at my house, and we can listen to some vinyl. We can put together things so you can do multiple videos. I just need to figure out how to talk to you about it. We could have a great time
i like some of your choices tho
Great. Hope you enjoyed them
Last but not least....certainly not! Year of the Cat was (is!) a great album, I bought it on release having had Stewart's earlier LPs including Past, Present and Future, Bedsitter Images etc. and seen him several times from his solo days (he had a residency at the Troubadour in Clifton Bristol). His tour to coincide with the release of Year of the Cat was the best I ever saw him with his band which included Mel Collins on Saxes and flute.....his solo on the title track sticks in the mind!
He still tours, but now as a duo. You recommended Time Passages, and I'd also recommend Modern Times...tremendous production also by the great Alan Parsons (why no mention in your top ten of his Tales of Mystery and Imagination?!!!). BTW the cover of Stewart's Modern Times has a picture of a Jacobean (?) house a vintage open top car (Packard?), a man getting out of it, a glamorous looking girl standing on the lawn and someone on a motorcycle (it's not!).....who, what where? Answers on a postcard!
Thanks for your input. Great knowledge! Al Stewart, imo, is not given the credit he deserves. Great singer-songwriter with very well crafted historical lyrics
Um since COVID everything has gone up. Used record stores are charging stupid prices. Where I used to get a LP for no than $5, now they want $15.
Yes, the ugly truth
i think you are crazy on the cheap part of these albums can't find any for $5
Cheap by today's standards where you can't find anything for under 30
You might need to shop around, Moody Blues Lps for example are a dime a dozen, I'll have a number in my next yard sale going out for a dollar. Fogerty and Stewart also likely to be in a dollar box. Cocker, Free, Spooky.....have become 5$ lps.
looks like the left corner cut out to me?????
Lightining misuse, I'm afraid
The Superfly soundtrack was underrated? Not amongst Funk and Hip hop fans.
To the general public, methinks
Year of the cat "underrated?' Are you insane?
He's right it is underated but that does not mean it is not brilliant or well known.
Cheapest i can get Thunderclap newman LP is £40- hardly inexpensive!!
German Polydor late-70s reissues are usually up for auction on the bay. Keep an eye. Got mine for 30, shipping included
85% of these are not inexpensive in Australia.
If someone wants to send me an inexpensive copy of FREE let me know
Shipping down under is not cheap by any standards, but if you can get a decent European reissue from the late 70s and add a couple more albums for the same shipping costs, it'd be worth a shot
Might be the most bizarre utube record video I've ever seen. One ''classic'' and nine you don't want anywhere near a serious collection.
crap
Sir, PLEASE try to stop with all the "uhh" and "umm"s. Your subscribers will multiply 5 fold. It's EXTREMELY distracting.
I don't think English is his first language so maybe give the guy a little slack.