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Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

Title:	Welcome to the CD Notes Conference
Notice:	Welcome to COOKIE
Moderator:	COOKIE::ROLLOW

Created:	Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Mar 03 1989
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1517
Total number of notes:	13349

1120.0. "Review: The Equalizer and Other Cliff-Hangers" by HPSCAD::WALL (I see the middle kingdom...) Fri Mar 18 1988 10:01

    The Equalizer and Other Cliff-Hangers
    Stewart Copeland
    IRSD-42099 (disc actually manufactured by MCA)
    
    Tracking:
    1. Lurking Solo (5:03)
    2. Music Box (2:19)
    3. Screaming Lord Cole and the Commanches (4:52)
    4. The Equaliser Busy Equalising (3:17)
    5. Green Fingers (Ten Thumbs) (3:34)
    6. Archie David in Overtime (4:00)
    7. Tancred Ballet (3:20)
    8. Dark Ships (5:33)
    9. Flowershop Quintet (3:42)
    10. Rag Pole Dance (4:25)
    
    This is Number 3 in International Record Syndicate's "No Speak" series,
    showcasing albums of completely instrumental rock. No lyrics.  The
    three others are by William Orbit, Pete Haycock, and Wishbone Ash.
    
    My principal complaint with this CD centers on the liner notes.
    They don't say enough about the music.  They talk about the other
    albums in the series and who Stewart Copeland is, but not much else.
    Also, they go on and on about how this is pure rock, free of the
    influences of jazz and blues and new wave, which is just so much
    peanut butter.  I don't think anyone would deny the presence of
    jazz influences in this album.
    
    As far as I can tell, this album is a set of Stewart Copeland's
    compositions for the score of the television show "The Equalizer," but
    only one of them, the track entitled "The Equaliser busy Equalising" is
    immediately recognizeable -- it's the opening theme of the show.  The
    recording was done by Jeff Seitz, the person who does the recording for
    the show.  I gambled that the rest of the music would be in a similar
    style, and it is, so I'm happy with the purchase.  I couldn't point at
    any of the other compositions as definitely coming from one episode or
    another.  They all have that feel, though, of the music that people
    familiar with the show know.  The feeling some say it's lost now that
    Copeland has gone on to other things. 
    
    Anyway, I'd recommend the CD to anyone who's heard the music on
    the show and liked it.  I'm not sure how other people might react
    to it.  It's good instrumental music, although I'd be more likely
    to call it fusion than rock.  It also does not sound much like anything
    the Police ever did.  There's a lot of percussion in the music,
    but that's hardly suprising.  Copeland's a drummer, after all.
    
    The CD doesn't say DDD, but it is digitally mastered.  It doesn't
    matter, really.  The recording is clean and quiet. as far as my
    headphones and my D-7 can tell.
    
    DFW

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1120.1	Did you say "Wishbone Ash"?	ALL4S::THOMAS	Science friction burns my fingers	`Fri Mar 18 1988 15:41`	13
	� This is Number 3 in International Record Syndicate's "No Speak" series, � showcasing albums of completely instrumental rock. No lyrics. The � three others are by William Orbit, Pete Haycock, and Wishbone Ash. Do you have any info on the Wishbone Ash CD? (like the title, date of initial (vinyl) release)? I've been trying to find Wishbone Ash CDs ever since I got my player a couple of years ago. My parents have been unable to locate any for me even in Britain. Is the label "Independent Record Syndicate", as opposed to "International.."? Thanks ... Mike (Seattle, WA)
1120.2	Wishbone	AQUA::ROST	Tush, tush, you lose your push	`Sun Mar 20 1988 09:56`	5
	Re: .1 No idea on the title, but the new Wishbone Ash is a very recent release. All instrumental as well.
1120.3	What I have	HPSCAD::WALL	I see the middle kingdom...	`Mon Mar 21 1988 08:10`	15
	The Wishbone Ash release is called "Noveau Calls." If the liner notes are to be believed, the band reformed specifically to make this CD. All new material. No previous release. It's International Record Syndicate, release IRS-42101. I found the Stewart Copeland in a local chain called Good Vibrations. However, the address is: No Speak Merchandise c/o I.R.S. 100 Universal City Plaza #422 Universal City, CA., 91608. DFW
1120.4	I'm not as excited as .0	GENRAL::SEAGLE	Going nowhere, but making good time	`Tue Mar 29 1988 17:37`	41
	The score for CBS's "The Equalizer" is some of today's most exciting progressive rock music. For years now I have said to myself "why doesn't Stewart Copeland release this incredible stuff on an album or preferably a CD!?". After anxiously awaiting this disc I must say I am extremely disappointed. The music is easily recognizable as "The Equalizer" score but Copeland has, in my opinion, committed two serious errors in judgment on this disc: (1) the engineering of the disc leaves much to be desired. Instead of "blowing you away" with Copeland's unique blend of tonal colors, the disc sounds muddy, compressed, and generally lackluster. In fact, it almost sounds as if it were recorded "off the air" (well, perhaps not THAT poor, but close). Furthermore, I take it that Jeff Seitz feels that the listener need not be concerned with any frequencies above approximately 12 KHz since they are all but attenuated! The over abundance of bass is amazing! (2) for reasons which I find utterly inexplicable, Copeland has decided to rearrange many of the selections on this disc from their forms on the TV program (that is really not a fair statement since he may have rearranged things for TV and not the other way around). The problem I have is this disc's selections do not have the same "feel" or "sound" as on the program and I, for one, am not pleased! If Copeland had simply performed his music exactly as on the TV program (sans screaming women, squealing tires, gunshots, etc.) I would have been thrilled. Instead (and for example) selections such as "The Equalizer Busy Equalizing" have had their tempos altered, and certain contrapuntal lines removed, revoiced, or radically modified. The analogy I draw is that of the distinction between a studio version of a piece and the same performer's "live" rendition; it is the same song but it seems a bit "off". If you are interested in acquiring an excellent compilation and example of some of Copeland's work I can recommend the disc. If, however, your aim is to obtain an accurate, audiophyle-quality "pressing" of "The Equalizer" performed by the artist, I cannot. David.
1120.5		COOKIE::ROLLOW	Be Bad or Be Management.	`Tue Mar 29 1988 21:00`	4
	re: .-1 Did you find the disc here in Colorado Springs? If so, WHERE?
1120.6	I drove all over town looking!	GENRAL::SEAGLE	44% of statistics are meaningless	`Wed Mar 30 1988 11:25`	6
	Good question, since there's only one place in town. LaserLand at Academy and Union. Hurry, they only had 3 copies when I bought mine. David.
1120.7		CPRS::JOHNSON	in 70mm with 6-track Dolby Stereo	`Tue Aug 09 1988 15:58`	6
	RE: Equalizer ... Great stuff but for those of you who like it, I recommend you check out an earlier Copeland album, "The Rhythmatist" ... it's even better. Although I can't comment on the quality of the A&M CD release. Can anyone else?