Big Express [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese pressing featuring a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. To. 2005.

Tracks:

Wake Up
All You Pretty Girls
Shake You Donkey Up
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
This World Over
The Everyday Story Of Smalltown
I Bought Myself A Liarbird
Reign Of Blows
You're The Wish You Are I Had
I Remember The Sun
Train Running Low On Soul Coal
Red Brick Dream
Wash Away
Blue Overall

Amazon.com

Even hardcore fans remain ambivalent about this least organic and most dogmatic of all XTC albums, and this is the last place anyone should start building their collection. The Big Express has some strong tracks to offer, notably the Police-inspired nuclear-war lament "This World Over" and the bubblegum sea shanty "All You Pretty Girls," which sounds like "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor" as performed by the cast of The King and I. For the more persistent and inquisitive, this 1984 collection features some challenges in the shape of the twitchy Captain Beefheart-at-the-hoedown "Shake Your Donkey Up" and "Everyday Story of Smalltown," which evokes Ray Davies in its lyrical observations of dawn milk rounds and laborers commuting to the Swindon railworks on bicycles. --Kevin Maidment

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1984 album. Virgin Records. 2001.

Album Details

Re-issue featuring Three Bonus Songs "Red Brick Dream," "Washaway," and "Blue Overall."

Customer Reviews:

what's the confusion? it's an underrated classic, that's all.......2007-05-07

while we all are entitled to our opinions, i'm having difficulty understanding why this classic release would leave people scratching their heads. after all, this isn't 'ascension' by john coltrane or 'zero tolerance for silence' by pat metheny or something highly dissonant like those recordings. in my opinion, there are few albums that are as creatively, tunefully, and beautifully crafted as 'the big express'. from start to finish, it flows as one complete artistic statement, while each individual track has plenty to offer in and of itself. and contrary to other reviews, i would venture to say that 'mummer' and 'skylarking' are the weaker recordings (particularly 'mummer', although there are certainly great songs on it), with 'the big express' the superior, overlooked one sandwiched in between. a desert-island disc that i never tire of - HIGHLY recommended.

A swift change of pace........2006-07-21

Never a band easily pigeon-holed, after a couple albums of gentler material, XTC turned the volume up for "The Big Express", but kept the detailed arrangements and stylings of the more recent efforts. The results, honestly, are pretty mixed, though this is more related to less consistent songwriting more than the sound of the record. Nonetheless, "The Big Express" ends up being a fine record.

At it's best, the songs here are fiercely unique and manage to pull off an overarranged new wave sound without sounding overblown-- Colin Moulding's opener, "Wake Up", pits two ska guitar lines out of phase with each other to provide a noisy background for his calmly intoned lyrics, "All You Pretty Girls" (penned by Andy Partridge) starts melodramatic before sinking into a swinging, funky rhythm, "The World Is Over" is reminiscent of the early ska/punk XTC, but buries this sound softly and quietly below a quiet haze and an impassioned vocal, and "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her" is totally bizarre, splashing keyboards switch to bizarre pop with swaggering trombones over the top.

It seems as if most the pieces on here have something interesting about them-- the jaunty guitar of "Shake You Donkey Up" and the slithering fretless bass of "I Remember the Sun", but the second half of the record in general seems to fizzle a bit ("I Bought Myself a Liarbird") and I did find one piece fairly unlistenable (the irritating percussion on "Reign of Blows"), but the batting average here is pretty high.

This reissue is remastered and sounds superb-- crisp and clean and really letting the subtlety of the arrangements shine, and augments the album with three b-sides, although overall none of them are particularly noteworthy.

"The Big Express" has the unfortunate position of being sandwiched in between two of the best records in XTC's catalog (it was preceeded by "Mummer" and followed by "Skylarking"). It's hard to consider the album without taking into account these two records (or for that matter, the superb "Oranges & Lemons" that followed "Skylarking"), and while it's a fine record in its own right, it's probably the band's weakest album of the '80s.

Mixed Bag.......2006-01-24

When listening to this you have to wonder if XTC was not under some pressure to conform to the music industry they lashed out against on Mummer's "Funk-Pop-A-Roll". When my friends would hear "This World Over" they would say "Is that the Police"? Also songs like "Reign Of Blows" and "Train Running Low On Soul Coal" are among the hardest rocking tracks ever to be released by XTC. Coming off the pastoral "Mummer" this was quite a surprise. The release is a lot like a train for the most part, Big, Loud, and Noisy. The irony is that although is is big, bold, and brash, it still was not in step with increasingly pop flavored keyboard driven New-Wave music of the moment. If this was a last chance effort for a stab at rock stardom it is a pretty decent one. Still for a band that had accomplished as much as XTC, and was about to accomplish even more ("Skylarking" and "Oranges and Lemons") this one is not quite up to par with their best.

One of my favorites!.......2005-11-16

I saw this album on the shelf in a store one day and it totally called to me and asked to be taken home. I hated it at first. It collected dust for a few months before finally finding its way back to the stereo. Now I put this disc in at least once a week and sing its entirety at the top of my lungs. The Big Express popped my XTC cherry and, lately, I can't get enough. All of the tracks are excellent, but as others have noted before, "This World Over" does tend to drag. Highly recommended!

Interim XTC.......2005-11-07

XTC is a band I can give poorest at 3 1/2 stars. Fortunately, they've had nothing under 4 stars. This album is different from latter albums such as "Skylarking" or "Apple Venus 1" in that it does have a few songs I almost always skip when I listen to. "Small Town bores be terribly with it's overly stock Beatlesque platform and "this world over", while having great lyrics doesn't do any justice with the music. Stongest song on the album is "Reign of Blows", distinctive in melody and profound in lyrics. Sidbaring this effort comes "I remember the Sun", with the classy jazz piano and guitar. "Wake up" bears some slight resemblence to older more ska-influenced XTC, only with heavier synth. Here lies the only weakness with The Big Express, and that is the involvement of 80's synth much like "Oranges and Lemons" had, which unfortunatly give this album a dated feel when you listen today. This by no means takes away from the quality, but XTC, being band known for creating timeless tunes, this album doens't fit in with consistency. IT's still a great album...

Wake Up -- Who cares? He might be dead. Poppy but unique

All you pretty girls -- Sailors anthem, and one of the early tests of Andy's strong vocals

Shake you donkey up -- a bit of partridge's frequent quirky experiemets with musical structure, there are two more to follow.

Seagull's Screaming -- This is a beatlesque takoff that I like. It incorporates a distinctive 80's sound in lieu of beat piano. One of the less stereotypical 80's sounds on this album.

This world over -- Too Peter Gabrielish for me - great lyrics, boring song.

Small town -- Back to the Beatles/Madness beat again, only pounding it on your head with a cast iron frying pan.

I bought myself a liarbird - Guitar experiment #2. Neat flowing song about the agent who scewed partridge two years prior with a poetic introspection to boot.

Reign of Blows - The reason this album was made.
Lyric sampler"

So torture raises its head
Decked out in blue, white, and red
And iron maidens will slam
And by the half light of burning republics
Joe Stalin looks just like Uncle Sam

Crap, who else writes like this?

You're the wish you are I had - another 80's new wave pop song that strays from mainstream new wave. Unstereotypical base riff with a great change-up in the tempo. Testament to the technical musicianship in this one. Partridge made an effort to see if his voice can stretch 8 or so octaves in the chorus. Good god I wish I could sing like that (and so does Paul McCartney)

I remember the sun -- Beautiful and sad song. Strong lyrics, great consolidation of classical/jazz piano with the guitar creeping in.

Train running on Soul Coal -- Guitar experiment #3. Partridge wrote about his own nervous breakdown, and the music matches.

Average customer rating:

Words Cannot Express
Vince Norman & Joe McCarthy Big Band
Manufacturer: Oa2
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000P7V4FI
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

Tadd's Delight 5:27
South of Capricorn 6:59
Remember Me When... 6:24
Words Cannot Express 5:16
Where's My Hasenpfeffer? 6:20
El Otoño 6:14
Voo Zsa Day 4:31
Suite Baby Ray: I Left My Baby in Baltimore 6:26
Suite Baby Ray: Back to Bayview 6:21
Suite Baby Ray: Coming Home 4:50

Product Description

"This is an awesome ensemble on all counts: writing, soloing and swinging" - Ed Soph. Multi-instrumentalist Vince Norman and drummer Joe McCarthy gather together some of the finest big band players on the eastern seaboard to create a creative and swinging album of modern jazz. Part big band and part small group workings, the album balances the intensity of the big band with wide open improvisations on nine original compositions by Vince Norman.

Average customer rating:

NOT CARPENTER'S ORIGINAL SCORE...IT'S A HACK JOB...
not for fans of carpenter's scores
Essential what?
AVOID THIS IMITATION GARBAGE!!!!! FAKE CARPENTER
"absolute in capturing the original scores"

The Essential John Carpenter: Halloween
John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Halloween II
Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)

ASIN: B00006JTG2
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

Escape From New York: Main Title (Mix 1)
Halloween: Theme (Mix 1)
Halloween: Haunted House
Starman: End Titles
Big Trouble In Little China: Pork Chop Express
The Fog
Assault On Precinct 13: Main Title
Assault On Precinct 13: Julie's Theme
Christine: Bad To The Bone
Halloween II: Main Theme
The Thing
Dark Star
They Live
Prince Of Darkness
Escape From New York: Main Title (Mix 2)
Halloween: Theme (Mix 2)
Village Of The Damned
Starman: End Titles (Symphonic Version)

Customer Reviews:

NOT CARPENTER'S ORIGINAL SCORE...IT'S A HACK JOB..........2005-12-04

What a piece of ****. Do not buy this worthless CD. If you are a fan of John Carpenter's scores, you will not like this. Don't waste your money like I did...And the only reason it got one star is because you can't give it any less!

not for fans of carpenter's scores.......2004-12-03

like other reviewers said, this is someone else playing those classic carpenter tunes. sometimes it sounds like elevator music. unfortunately, the cover doesn't say anything about this piece of work...

Essential what?.......2003-07-08

As the previous reviewer noted, nowhere on this CD does it indicate that the 'Essential John Carpenter' is someone re-recording all of the famous cues. Naturally all the info is on the inside.

And the disc? I don't see the point in bothering. They might as well make Assault on Precinct 13, Dark Star, and They Live (which pretty much don't have scores in print anymore) available again, even if they have to combine a couple to make one disc.

Carpenter does not use orchestras or elaborate bands for his scores. He does most of it himself and that makes another Carpenter collection simple. It's not difficult to play the notes, but everything is just slightly off and after a while you wonder what's the point.

This is NOT the music from the Carpenter films you love. This is someone playing that music. Assault on Precinct 13, which provides most of the attraction of this pretty worthless disc, sounds lousy and has none of the life of the throbbing synth of the original. Not only that, but they have the nerve to throw in two (2) cues from Starman, a Carpenter film that he didn't do his own music for(!) Instead the disc is broken by the Jerry Goldsmith pieces that sound NOTHING like anything Carpenter has done. It's bad--it belongs elsewhere, namely the Starman soundtrack which is still in print.

Stay away from this thing. It's a ripoff, another attempt to cash in on a name without providing any real product.

AVOID THIS IMITATION GARBAGE!!!!! FAKE CARPENTER.......2003-06-25

These jerks did a great job hiding the fact that these tracks are re-recorded by some schlep. Avoid this lame piece of garbage at all costs. The tones are totally wrong, it sounds very little like the genius originals. I bought this to get some of the Assault on Precinct 13 stuff, and was horrified to find that everything had been re-recorded. THIS IS NOT MENTIONED ON THE OUTER PACKAGING IN ANY WAY!!! You would never know until you open it and read the liners. Shame on these bastards for trying to dupe and rip people off. AVOID THIS [STUFF]!!!

"absolute in capturing the original scores".......2002-12-03

Hats off to Gareth Williams, James Fitzpatrick and Silva Screen Records for this venture into the world of John Carpenter. Silva has done a masterful job of recreating the feel of the original Carpenter film scores. This awesome compilation of "great thriller music" sends chills up our spines from composers Ennio Morricone, Jack Nitzsche, Dave Davies, Alan Howarth and of course John Carpenter. Each selection is arranged and performed with plenty of suspense dating back to 1974, which gave the audience a supernatural and imaginative fright. Each score paints the mood for every cue, which writer, producer and director Carpenter required...and then some.

Each score takes on a life of its own away from the film. If you've never seen any of the films, your imagination plays a key role interpreting what our legendary director/composer has up his sleeve when writing and directing the music. Entire album is a stand out ~ this one's for Carpenter and Silva fans alike, a collection for the first time with tremendours power and immediacy of each cue can now be heard. With Dolby Digital Surround Sound Recordings...this is a must have for your collection. All "film-score-buffs" beware, this is guranteed to give your goosebumps on the very first track, gotta love it!

Total Time 72:15 on18 Tracks ~ Silva Screen SSD-1143 ~ (2002)

Super 60's { Various Artists }
Average customer rating:

A little different this time

Super 60's { Various Artists }

Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000AQVHT
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Album Details

This Album Will Include 60's Classics that have Never Before Appeared Together on One Compilation. The Alternative 60's Collection.

Customer Reviews:

A little different this time.......2003-11-04

In Britain, double albums of sixties pop music have been a regular feature in recent years, include several in the Best in the world ever series, several others in the Heartbeat series and plenty others besides. The same songs come round all too often but this particular compilation has fewer obvious tracks than usual, allowing some forgotten big hits to be included.

There are some obvious songs here, including I only want to be with you (Dusty Springfield), Do wah diddy diddy (Manfred Mann), Oh pretty woman (Roy Orbison), Everlasting love (Love affair), Young girl (Gary Puckett), Daydream believer (Monkees), If paradise is half as nice (Amen corner), Build me up buttercup (Foundations), Locomotion (Little Eva), California dreaming (Mamas and papas) and Hi ho silver lining (Jeff Beck). All of those songs have appeared on any number of sixties compilations (and some of the others are only slightly less frequent inclusions on such compilations) but their sheer quality ensures that nobody minds hearing them yet again.

Some imagination has been used in the selection of tracks by the Kinks (Dedicated follower of fashion), the Move (I can hear the grass grow), the Hollies (Stop stop stop), the Supremes (Where did our love go), the Tremeloes (Here comes my baby), Cliff Richard (In the country), Gerry and the pacemakers (I like it), Herman's hermits (Something is happening), Sandie Shaw (Long live love - not to be confused with the completely different Eurovision song of that title sung by Olivia Newton John) and the Beach boys (Wouldn't it be nice). All these songs were huge UK hits for those artists but generally appear on these compilations less often than other famous songs by the same artists.

Just to make absolutely sure that people who've already got all the above songs, this set includes some songs that rarely feature on compilations of this time. I cannot remember the last time I saw a Don Partridge track, but Rosie (a huge UK hit) is included. Give peace a chance can be found on John Lennon's albums but rarely turns up on sets like this. Let's hang on, Lily the pink, Melting pop, I'm the urban spaceman, Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde, Lover's concerto, Walking back to happiness, Morningtown ride and Excerpt from a teenage opera are just some of the songs that sometimes turns up on compilations, but not as often as they ought to.

So this is a collection that will appeal to those who have lots of sixties pop music already but will also appeal to those looking for their first sixties pop collection.

Average customer rating:

Lay It On 'Em Girls - Big Time Sarah

Lay It on 'em Girls
Big Time Sarah & BTS Express
Manufacturer: Delmark
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Styles | Music
Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Back to Black

ASIN: B000004BKI
Release Date: 1993-09-18

Tracks:

I Make Love
Hoochie Coochie Woman
Ain't No Sunshine
Lay It On 'Em Girls
Why My Man Won't Treat Me Right
Thrill Is Gone
Blues All Alone
Summertime
Evil Gal Blues
I Just Want A Little Bit
Every Man I See

Customer Reviews:

Lay It On 'Em Girls - Big Time Sarah.......2000-02-19

Great music for hanging out. Sarah belts it out large and her lyrics are awsome. I like putting her on early in the morning - like Saturdays to get the day off on the right foot.

Average customer rating:

what's the confusion? it's an underrated classic, that's all
A swift change of pace.
Mixed Bag
One of my favorites!
Interim XTC

The Big Express
XTC
Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Mummer
Black Sea
English Settlement
White Music
Drums and Wires

ASIN: B000000OXS
Release Date: 1996-03-19

Tracks:

Wake Up
All You Pretty Girls
Shake Your Donkey Up
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her
The World Is Over
Red Brick Dream
Washaway
Blue Overall
The Everyday Store Of Smalltown
I Baught Myself A Liarbird
Reign Of Blows
You're The Wish You Are I Had
I Remember The Sun
Train Running Low On Soul Coal

Amazon.com

Even hard-core fans remain slightly ambivalent about 1984's The Big Express, the least organic and most dogmatic of all XTC albums and ideally the last place any prospective XTC purchaser should start building their collection. Instead, hesitant newcomers to the band's fine body of work are best off seeking the Fossil Fuel singles collection, which happens to contain the best tracks The Big Express has to offer, namely the reggae-grooved, Police-inspired nuclear-war lament "This World Over" and the bubblegum-pop sea shanty "All You Pretty Girls," which really does sound like "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor" as performed by the entire cast of The King and I. For the more persistent and inquisitive, The Big Express offers some challenging obstacles in the shape of the Captain Beefheart-goes-hoedown twitchiness of "Shake Your Donkey Up" or the parochial Britpop prototype "Everyday Story of Smalltown," which evokes Ray Davies in its lyrical observations of dawn milk rounds and laborers commuting to the Swindon railworks on bicycles. Andy Partridge, particularly, has always enjoyed a love/hate relationship with his hometown. And like Swindon's industrial legacy, The Big Express is rather morose. Sure enough, more splendid creative times were just around the bend for XTC. --Kevin Maidment

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1984 album. Virgin Records. 2001.

Album Details

Re-issue featuring Three Bonus Songs "Red Brick Dream," "Washaway," and "Blue Overall."

Customer Reviews:

what's the confusion? it's an underrated classic, that's all.......2007-05-07

A swift change of pace........2006-07-21

Mixed Bag.......2006-01-24

One of my favorites!.......2005-11-16

Interim XTC.......2005-11-07

The Uncollected Jimmie Lunceford and His Harlem Express (1944)

Average customer rating:

The Uncollected Jimmie Lunceford and His Harlem Express (1944)
Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra
Manufacturer: Hindsight Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Swing Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Average customer rating:

Express Delivery
Frank Potenza
Manufacturer: Navarre Corporation/
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Until I Met You
Listen Up
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Trance DJ Express: Super Star Mixes from Trance To

Average customer rating:

Trance DJ Express: Super Star Mixes from Trance To
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Big Eye Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005ABJU
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

Man [DJ Violent Mix]
Paranomia [Exorcism Mix] - DJ Nissan
I Just Flow (Meat Remix)
Love Affection [Screamer Mix]
Surronded [All in the Family Mix]
I'll Be There [Ladies Mix]
Lost in Paradise [Fire Blow Mix]
Like to Jam 211 [Doctor T Mix]
Venus Loverboy [DJ Shelly Mix]
R.E.M. [Desire Mix]
I Just Flow (Edit Version)
Flight Bodynoise [Float Me Mix]

Tracks:

Donut Supreme [Hole Filler Mix]
Focker Hogue [Stigmata Mix]
Stranos [Funker Daddy Mix]
Luminary Vs. Agesis [Titan Mix] - DJ Cool Breeze
Pondus Le'plak [Cellblock X Mix]
En Filur [Blair Mix]
Sodium [Extended Rite Mix]
Battle Set for Stun [DJ Super Star Mix]
Search Goes on [Angel Mix]
Slash Grooves [Dax Mix] - DJ Casanova

Average customer rating:

This train isn't running low on soul coal...

The Big Express
XTC
Manufacturer: Virgin
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005ASH5
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Wake Up
All You Pretty Girls
Shake You Donkey Up
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her
This World Over
The Everyday Story Of Smalltown
I Bought Myself A Liarbird
Reign Of Blows
You're The Wish You Are I Had
I Remember The Sun
Train Running Low On Soul Coal
Red Brick Dream
Washaway
Blue Overall

Album Description

Japanese 24-bit remastered reissue of 1984 album. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Includes the 3 bonus tracks 'Red Brick Dream', 'Washaway' & 'Blue Overall'. Unique circular sleeve.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Japanese Version in a Limited LP Style Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

This train isn't running low on soul coal..........2001-05-26

Every bit the equal of the classic album that followed it, The Big Express is certainly one of XTC's finest accomplishments. This remaster puts the previously issued version to shame! The sound is crisp, sharp and has none of the analog artifacts that made the previous CD sound so poor. The albums original running order has been restored with the b side single bonus tracks added at the end of the CD. The location of the b sides in the middle of the previous CD never bothered me that much as this is one of the few albums where the b sides were for the most part every bit the equal of the album tracks.

The limited edition CD version of this album resembles the original vinyl right down to the round album cover. Although not the band's most accessible work (Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons both belong in that category), BE is one of the richest XTC albums the band produced. Coming after the uneven but interesting Mummer, BE was a fine return to form.

I am a bit disappointed that no demos are included on this CD (I suppose Virgin is saving those for their boxed set coming out later this year). Regardless, the sound quality alone makes this worth paying the extra money for. Drums & Wires, Black Sea, The Big Express and Skylarking all outclass the original CD releases in terms of sound quality and packaging.

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