Klaatu/Hope

Product Description
Here are the two complete, original 1977 releases on one CD. The two albums that had people convinced this band was the second coming of the Beatles. Of course they weren't, but this Canadian band's brand of inventive, arty pop remains one of the freshest examples of the day. Standard jewel case. 1999 release.

Klaatu/Hope,Klaatu,Collector's Choice,Album Rock,Canada,Pop,Pop/Rock,Psychedelic Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Klaatu/Hope

Average customer rating:

Life Changing...
Great Thematic Rock Opera
An underrated classic with a lasting message
It's the message
Very, very cute.

Hope: 25th Anniversary
Klaatu
Manufacturer: Bullseye Canada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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3:47 Est
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ASIN: B000068VF2
Release Date: 2002-10-30

Tracks:

Were Off You Know
Madman
Around The Universe In 80 Days
Long Live Politzania
The Loneliest Of Creatures
Prelude
So Said The Lighthouse Keeper
Hope

Album Description

25th anniversary re-issue. Digitally remastered by the band members. 20 page booklet featuring quotes from the band, rare photos, discography. Original artwork restored and expanded.

Album Details

To Mark the Anniversary of the Album's Initial Release, Klaatu have Repackaged the Album for Collectors. Digitally Remastered Audio and Enhanced Packaging with a 20 Page Booklet featuring Quotes from the Band, Rare Photos and Discography.

Customer Reviews:

Life Changing..........2007-06-27

My father gave me some tapes when I was a little boy. One was a mix of the Beatles, & the other was a copy of Hope ( I listened to them over and over); and it was at the time when MTV started. Soon I was carried away by the flash of my fluttering TV. The Beatles came back into my life again as time passed, but I couldn't remember the name of this album, I had been searching for. I remembered a story album & asked every musician I knew. I did hear the name a couple of times, but couldn't spell it. Finally I found it on my computer. The first time I listened to it, it brought a tear to my eye, and now after all these years understanding it blew me away. The most beautiful story album ever made!

Great Thematic Rock Opera.......2007-04-17

Okay, it's not *actually* an opera, but this classic alternative rock album from the late '70s is a single story told through some exceptional orchestrated rock. I owned a vinyl LP copy back in the day, wore out a cassette copy, and recently rediscovered the CD.

The story of "Hope" is an analogy to the human experience on earth told through a series of songs about those no-long-existing beings on the planet "second from the sun." One can enjoy the music at several levels; as stand-alone classic alternative rock, excellently produced (a la Alan Parsons Project before they were around), or one can dig deeper and get into the message and clever writing within the thematic message of "Hope."

My favorites include the Politzanian national anthem embedded in "Politzania," "The Loneliest of Creatures," a wonderful space-choral piece, "Around the Universe in 80 Days..." Pretty much the whole thing. I rarely listen to bits of this album and tend to prefer it on long drives when I can enjoy the whole thing.

An underrated classic with a lasting message.......2006-03-31

I remember when this came out; I was in college at the time. I had no awareness of this group then (I was absorbed in acid rock and the Grateful Dead - hey, it was college!) but an acquaintance turned me on to this and I have loved it since.

This record (now CD) is an unsung prog-rock classic that's long been overshadowed by its more popular musical brethren. I do hear influences from SuperTramp, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Pink Floyd. However, this is also a coherent, musically multi-layered concept album that packs an emotional punch and transcends its influences.

The general idea is that a space-traveling race journeys to a solar system, and encounters the wreckage of the planet Klaatu, a metaphorical stand-in for Earth. The only remnants are a laser-beam lighthouse adrift in the asteroid belt, manned by a single person. The disc is a musical account of the destructive fall of Klaatu's once-great civilization Politzania, and the space travelers' encounter with the dying lighthouse keeper.

The message resonates if you give it a chance. It also has stunning relevance today. If you don't see the similarities between Klaatu's fictional Politzania and Bush's America, then I have to assume you're A) a Republican; B) a musical snob. The tunes "So Said the Lighthouse Keeper" and "Hope" are probably among the most moving pieces of music ever to come out of the prog-rock milieu.

This disc will always have a place in my CD collection. I am so glad it's back in print. If you're interested enough to have read this review, you owe it to yourself to get this.

It's the message.......2004-02-12

This is all about the message. The madman, The lighthouse keeper. I know it all sounds strange and all that, but listen to the words. It may just give you hope!

Very, very cute........2003-09-02

If you like cute. It's okay, but you have to waid through
a lot of syrupy, cloying, well, Canadianess. This stuff
would be great on Sesame Street.

Average customer rating:

April Fool's Day
calling occupants
KLAATU got me through....
Better Seperate
Prepare for a Symphonic Rollercoaster Ride!

Klaatu/Hope
Klaatu
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004SR2H
Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
California Jam
Anus Of Uranus
Sub-Rosa Subway
True Life Hero
Doctor Marvello
Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III
Little Nuetrino
We're Off You Know
Madman
Around The Universe In Eighty Days
Long Live Politzania
The Loneliest Of Creatures
Prelude
So Said The Lighthouse Keeper
Hope

Album Description

Here are the two complete, original 1977 releases on one CD. The two albums that had people convinced this band was the second coming of the Beatles. Of course they weren't, but this Canadian band's brand of inventive, arty pop remains one of the freshest examples of the day. Standard jewel case. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

April Fool's Day.......2007-02-26

In one of the biggest hoaxes to come out of the music industry, this mysterious band was rumored to be The Beatles releasing material under the name of a character from a sci-fi film.

I can't make this up; it was all the rage back in 1977 when Steve Smith of the Providence (RI) Journal wrote an article speculating that the debut album - Klaatu - could be The Beatles. He cited alleged clues on the sleeve & cover - including the lack of any information on the band members - and by playing parts of the album backwards.

Another alleged major clue was Ringo Starr's use of the character, Klaatu, on his 1974 release, Goodnight Vienna. On the album cover, Starr superimposed his head on the body of the character in a classic movie still from The Day the Earth Stood Still.

More articles, more speculation and coverage in trade magazines like Billboard - and Capitol Records, home of The Beatles & Klaatu, staying mum on the subject - found what is a pretty mediocre mess of production & lyrics flying off the shelves. Funny, the album debuted in August 1976 and was basically ignored by reviewers and record buyers.

The second album - Hope - was released in 1977 and rode the wave of this ridiculous frenzy. Trouser Press magazine put it all in perspective by publishing stills from various movies and asking its readers if any of the characters were band members. Hope was also plagued by awkward lyrics and sophomoric production, but it didn't matter if it was.....it wasn't.

Klaatu was finally revealed to be Terry Draper, John Woloschock and Dee Long.

I guess you had to be there to understand how people could think for a minute this third-rate material was The Beatles. If you think it's really worth the fuss, you can hear it for yourself in this one package. But - better yet - buying it on April 1 may make the most sense.

calling occupants.......2006-06-26

"We are your friends"...It was, of course Magical mystery Tour part 2....But what a good album of ups and downs..Dont vere forget,it was a long time ago.......

KLAATU got me through...........2005-04-26

.......a lot of odd, strangely adult evenings and afternoons when I was 14. "Dr. Marvello and "Little Nuetrino" especially walked me through the trippiness of being an underage ner-do -well. It ain't great art,but for a strange teenager it sure meant a lot. I bought the 2 album thingy at 41 and I listened to it constantly....the New York Subway song just kills me....kind of an early "They Might Be Giants" song.

Better Seperate.......2004-09-18

Great Albums. Klaatu is my favorite, non-mainstream band. i am sorry I was not able to see them in thier concert days in the late 70's. I did collect all of thier albums and have recently purchased the cd's from Amazon. After listening to the 2 on 1 disc, I found the sound quality was not up to par. It sounds as if someone recorded the album directly to CD with all the pops and defects from an old album on an old record player. I even changed cd players to find if that was the problem. I listened to the remastered versions of the other albums and found the sound quality to be much improved. Then, I to out my old albums and found the sound to be much better. I have orderes the remastered cd's and am hoping for better sound.

Also, Hope needs to be seperate.

Prepare for a Symphonic Rollercoaster Ride!.......2004-04-10

The best songs of this uneven Mop Top imposter collection will bring back memories of the most pleasing melodies of the 60s, set to kitchen sink arrangements with lyrics as meaningless as any ever committed to vinyl. One minute you're listening to the greatest Beatles bootleg never uncovered, the next an incomprehensible piece of tripe that sounds like McCartney being sucked into a blender playing a Casio harpsichord. Standout tracks include Calling Occupants, Sub-Rosa, We're Off You Know, Loneliest of Creatures, and Hope. The highs will give you a nosebleed, but have the remote ready at all times.

Average customer rating:

Several reasons to buy it.
Thanks for the memories.
...Hype
Little Known and Less Understood

Klaatu/Hope
Klaatu
Manufacturer: Bgo - Beat Goes on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000056H49
Release Date: 2002-02-15

Tracks:

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognised Anthem ...)
California Jam
Anus of Uranus
Sub-Rosa Subway
True Life Hero
Doctor Marvello
Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III
Little Neutrino
We're Off You Know
Madman
Around the Universe in Eighty Days
Long Live Politzania
Loneliest of Creatures
Prelude [Instrumental]
So Said the Lighthouse Keeper
Hope

Customer Reviews:

Several reasons to buy it........2005-01-12

This review only pertains to the first portion of this CD, the 'Klaatu' album.

I first became aware of this album when my brother brought it home and, like many things, he's completely forgotten about it and I'm still listening to it. At any rate, he primarily bought it because of the famous "Is it the Beatles?" controversy. Be that as it may, I still love this thing for several reasons.

First of all, it's very emplematic of the musical scene at that time, when the world was still trying to get over the 60s and realizing that the Beatles really HAD broken up. This album is a wide ranging mixture of musical styles currently coming into vogue at the time and many that harkened back to the acid 60s. If you were a teenager during that time, you'll know what I mean.

Undoubtedly, this is a quirky set of songs. Most of the melodies and song structures are fairly straightforward, but underlying many of them is kind of a dark, creepy undertone. For example, the second track, California Jam, starts off as sort of a standard beach-rock tune, but then in the middle we get a delightfully sung bridge having to do with. . . .the future San Andreas quake that will kill thousands and drop part of California into the ocean. Okay then.

The other songs generally swing between rock and late 60s popular music (with two notable exceptions) but they create an entire album of individual songs that somehow hang together to create a full, enriching experience. Many bring in snippets of very Beatles-esque riffs, not only on 'Sub-Rosa Subway' the one that created the Beatles controversy, but others as well.

The two most interesting tracks are probably ' Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III' and 'Little Neutrino'. The former sticks out like a sore thumb and one at first wonders why it's even on there -- it seems more like it ought to be on a children's record. But after listening, it does, in fact, fit in, and still contains that creepy element (going to HELL and back) and brings in a lot of melodies reminiscent of Victorian-age exploration.

'Little Neutrino' is almost reason alone to buy it. Again, the band uses fairly traditional melodies and structures, but puts them into a context that melds together the old and new: guitars and viola with extremely well-done synth. Many of that era just played around with synthesizers, but Klaatu mastered it and really used the new sounds to good effect. That is, they didn't just throw it in there to play around, they fit the sounds to the song as a whole. It just works. As a science geek, it also captures much of the post-'2001: A Space Odyssey' mood going around at the time, when space was still kind of mysterious (as opposed to the post-'Star Wars' era) and astro- and sub-atomic physics were bringing weird things like neutrinos to the public consciousness and the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft were heading out to the outer solar system.

Six words for listening to 'Little Neutrino': Get headphones. Turn it up LOUD.

So in essence, it's a weird sort of album, but it works if you give it a chance, and should really bring you back (or there to begin with if you're younger than 30) to the mid-70s rock scene. Once you get over the initial shock of how different the tracks are, it all makes sense and they're really enjoyable.

And please, someone shine a black light on the damn thing and let me know if any myeterious writing appears anywhere.. . . .

Thanks for the memories........2003-10-24

I, too, was first drawn to Klaatu by the rumor that they were the secretly reformed Beatles. I bought their first album, "Klaatu" and pored over it, looking for clues or proof. Certainly, some of the Fab Four's orchestral imagination was in evidence, swirly, brassed-up pomp & circumstance a la "Sgt. Pepper", but, in all, the sound belonged only to Klaatu themselves.

I went on to buy "Hope" and, many years later, "Magenta Lane". For the most part, I loved the trippy, happy music that often told wonderful, lighthearted stories, like "Anus of Uranus", "Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III" the story of the only man whose been to "Hell and come back alive". But they were capable of much more serious and thoughtful work, as well.

Klaatu was, without a doubt, a product of the 70's. Such lush, pensive music was a staple of bands like Led Zeppelin, Marillion, Rush, Genesis and Styx, but could not be produced today. But if you like that sound and you're open to trying new, old things, give them a listen.

...Hype.......2002-11-27

This little known Canadian band reached their notority as being panned "the second coming of The Beatles". The fact is they were not the Beatles but they had the music critics fooled. The rumours went like this, supposingly The Beatles recorded a follow up to "The Revolver" album but the master tapes disappeared from the studio and then reappeared in 1975. They provided no biographical information and were very secretive about their indentities. Because of the rumours, record sells shot to the number 32 position on the billboard chart and stayed there for several weeks.

The Klaatu name is taken from from the 1951 science fiction movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still", Klaatu being the central figure. The album title refering to the exact time the spaceship in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" landed. Ringo's "Goodnight Vienna" album cover, Ringo is seen coming outing out of the spaceship used from the movie. And the "Sub-Rosa Subway" as thought of as being a take from McCartney's "Red Rose Speedway".

Klaatu/Hope burst with so much creative energy that it still sounds as refreshing today. Incorporating jazz, rock, pop and classical which paints a colourful picture in sound...they are very well engineered albums. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft will perhaps be known as a song being covered by "The Carpenters", a sugary approach. There are some silly songs on the disc, most notable "Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III"...which by the way Bods, Worth, Rubbles and By meaning "persons of importance born of quarry...The Beatles were first known as The Quarrymen.

Little Known and Less Understood.......2002-09-25

The songs on these albums are quite obscure, with the exception of "Calling Occupants..." which was covered by the Carpenters of all people, and it's hip for those supposedly in the know to bash Klaatu for a variety of reasons. But it is a huge mistake to dismiss the band for two reasons: 1. They accomplish some really remarkable music and 2. They wrote songs nobody else could have written. On this disc you will find their best work, ranging from the marvelously silly "Rugglesby," to the symphonic "Loneliest of Creatures" and the syntho-weird "Little Neutrino." Emphasising philosophy and narrative rather than the usual young romance and sex of most pop music, Klaatu succeeds better than just about anyone at setting science fiction to a rock and roll beat, and their production values are top-of-the-line for their day. You might not dance to this stuff at parties, and it may not change your life, but listening to this CD is like curling up with a good book on a rainy day.

Average customer rating:

que es klaatu????

Klaatu/Hope
Klaatu
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000008HDO
Release Date: 1992-01-14

Tracks:

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognised Anthem ...)
California Jam
Anus of Uranus
Sub-Rosa Subway
True Life Hero
Doctor Marvello
Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III
Little Neutrino
We're Off You Know
Madman
Around the Universe in Eighty Days
Long Live Politzania
Loneliest of Creatures
Prelude [Instrumental]
So Said the Lighthouse Keeper
Hope

Customer Reviews:

que es klaatu????.......2004-03-11

klaatu es un grupo de rock canadiense (un trio)el cual emergio a mediados de los 70s con un estilo muy pero muy influenciado por la ultima etapa de los beatles.tanto asi que todo el mundo penso que en realidad klaatu eran los beatles que se habian vuelto a unir bajo ese seudonimo.la edicion original del cd no hace nada por contradecir esta leyenda ya que no incluye informaicon alguna sobre la banda ni fotos tampoco.la musica que incluye este cd viene siendo como algo parecido a donde los beatles se quedaron ,unos arreglos e instrumentaciones marivillosas muy parecido tambien a elo.de este magnifico grupo solo eh escuchado su primer album klaatu(o 3:47 est)nunca eh oido el hope pero segun comentarios es un tipo de rock sinfonico a la queen.aqui en esta edicion vienen los dos incluidos.lo recomiendo a los fanaticos de los beatles y electric light orch.excelente produccion,excelente calidad de sonido,excelente musicalidad ,pero klaatu despues de todo no son los beatles (en los 70s) es solo un grupo canadiense de muy buena calidad.

Average customer rating:

To be fair...
Where do I begin?
Classical Klaatu
One of the finest albums of all time!
Stop comparing and ENJOY

Hope
Klaatu
Manufacturer: Attic Bay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000071EJ
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

We're off You Know
Madman
Around the Universe in Eighty Days - Klaatu, Dee Long
Long Live Politzania
Loneliest of Creatures - Klaatu,
Prelude
So Said the Lighthouse Keeper
Hope

Customer Reviews:

To be fair..........2006-07-03

First off, it fell far short of their first cd. There were some highlights off of the Hope album i.e "We're Off You Know", "Madman","Loneliest Of Creatures" and the title track "Hope"...but the rest of the album was too saturated with overblown classical meanderings.

Concept album or not it fell short in keeping one's attention span or why the classical pieces were included is baffling all the same. One can look no further than the Moody Blues ground breaking album "Days of Future Passed" to see how classical music and pop can be tied together in a concept album and sound very effective.

The classical music pieces in Hope made one feel they were at a kiddie flick that Disney churns out every year. I did like the universe concept as the story line of the album, but again just couldnt figure out why they would put so much classical fill in the album.

Thank god they returned to their pop senses in their next album and attempted to get back to what made them popular in the first place. I would have given this album basically 2 and 1/2 stars but the criteria is full numbers. If anything..it is a good cd to paint your house to if you are looking for something to drift away to.

Where do I begin?.......2003-01-16

This is quite simply one of my favorite albums ever. I feel sorry for people who don't own it. It has a "Beatles in their weird drug phase" meets a "Pink Floyd the Wall" or "Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick" kind of "Hey we have a lot to say" feel to it.
Brilliant.

Classical Klaatu.......2001-07-18

A big departure from their first CD, 3:47 EST. A concept album with outstanding production and track flow. Some great songs but it takes a couple of listens before you settle in with it because it 's very different from the pop rock material from the first album. Title track "Hope" is a great song by any standard with an uplifting message that's still applies today. The CD has the obligatory Paul McCarteny sounding tune with "We're Off You Know" which is not a knock. It's a terrific tune. A galant effort and probably the best Classical / Rock album every made.

One of the finest albums of all time!.......2000-02-07

I am an extremely eclectic music fan who has admired and loved music of virtually every genre and type. Yet I still find this to be one of the most touching albums I have ever heard. On a spiritual level it has always made me feel hope!

Stop comparing and ENJOY.......1999-07-15

HOPE is a great concept CD. Don't compare it with the Beatles or the Who or any other group that put out concept albums. If you never heard this CD before: buy it, listen to it alone on your comfy chair or couch with your headphones on and be prepared to be swepted away by the best out-of-this-world odyssey! You will not be disappointed.