Page 86 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

AUDIOPHILE VINYL

o call this band a you possibly might think listening
fusion group or a to the title track. The rest of the
jazz-rock combo group take a full and essential part
T would be to over in the proceedings. ‘One Word’
simplify the talent. It was lead – is a superb group track which
and indeed founded – by supreme illustrates the magic of the band
guitarist, John McLaughlin. as a combined unit. Each member
He fronted a group with Jerry pushing the music up to and
Goodman on violin, keyboardist beyond creative boundaries.
Jan Hammer, Rick Laird on electric And then you get the contrasts
bass and drummer Billy Cobham. highlighted by ‘Open County Joy’
This line-up would completely which starts out like something
change in 1974 – but their classic the Grateful Dead might conjure
first outing is what we find on up but transforms itself into
this 1973 release, originally from something that Frank Zappa would
Columbia. The arguments within be proud to own.
the band meant it would be their As for mastering? Rather
last studio creation. lovely – with an overall neutral
Nevertheless, the Mahavishnu
MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA Orchestra were as tight as a drum presentation that is both balanced
and tonally accurate. The title
in terms of their inner cohesion. track is frantic and extreme in its
They sound like a multi-limbed, rocking chops but the mastering
one-man band. And an angry one retains the ability to separate each
at that, if the sometimes aggressive instrument, retaining the extraction
rock guitar of McLaughlin is of detail, preventing blurring and
Birds of Fire anything to go by. keeping frequency discipline intact.
But let’s not infer that the
Speakers Corner MO was a McLaughlin vehicle, as An excellent master for a brilliant
LP.
AUDIOPHILE VINYL

riginally released in there was the poetry-infused title
1969, many Doors fans track.
look upon this album This luxury edition arrives as
Oas one of the band’s a piece of vinyl and 3CDs. A ‘50th
lesser efforts. Lesser in terms of Anniversary Deluxe Edition’, it
Jim Morrison’s tenure, that is. For includes the original studio album
some, the issue is the introduction – and the B-side ‘Who Scared
of strings and that brass section. You’ – newly remastered by Bruce
Others might point the finger Botnick, The Doors’ longtime
at the quality of the basic songs. engineer and mixer. There’s a host
Certain fans might even focus of rarities included too, such as a
directly on Jim Morrison himself dozen unreleased songs. Among
and his performance. the highlights are stripped down
From here, Morrison was on a ‘Doors Only’ versions of five
downward spiral. In the year of this tracks where the horns and strings
release he would be convicted of have been removed. The set also
showing his genitals on stage, would features three of those stripped-
hit the bottle and the drugs and back versions with new guitar parts
would be later heard to mumble added by Robby Krieger.
THE DOORS to his then-Producer through his In mastering terms, I’d say that
booze: “Brian, Janis, Jimi – you’re a touch of compression has been
drinkin’ with number four”. added to enhance the upper mids
That said, there were elements and treble. In broad terms, the
to extract from this release such as soundstage is clear and open with
‘Touch Me’ (where the strings et al analogue organ sounds offering
The Soft Parade actually worked), and the rock-out focus and guitar sounding precise.
Rhino time within Wild Child. And then
86 HI-FI WORLD JANUARY 2020 www.hi-fiworld.co.uk