This is that one last album that I have been waiting for on
Rykre | Carson City, Nevada | 01/14/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A couple of years back, I have made up my mind, that I finally have every album that I grew up with, finally available on CD. I made this decision after I finally got Rick Wakeman's "White Rock" and "No Earthly Connection" on expensive Japanese imports.
But no. The one album that I had yet to see on CD, was the album "Joy" by Apollo 100. I've been holding on to my vinyl copy forever even though I haven't owned a record player since 1984.
When Rhino Records started to release the "Have a Nice Day" Super Hits of the 70's" CD's back in 1990. That was the first time we all got the hit song "Joy" on CD (Volume Seven). Plus Time-Life and various other Record companies have released "Joy" in their collections over the passed few years.
My favorite (other) songs on this expensive import CD are "Hall of the Mountain King" and "Exercise in A Minor". These are the two songs that I truly loved on my vinyl copy (that I put on Reel to Reel tape more than 20 years ago). "Hall of the Mountain King" was actually called "Mad Mountain King" on the "Joy" album. This CD does have some unknown tracks that are pretty good. Only the one track "Jazz Pizzicato", from the "Joy" album, is not on this CD (unless they renamed it, but I don't really remember it).
Now, the hard disappointing truth: This CD is not mastered very well. It sounds very muddy. My 22 year old vinyl to Reel-to-Reel taped version still sounds alot better than this CD version. And one other disappointment. The song "Joy" is the probable 45 RPM version. It's about 20 seconds shorter (edited just past the middle of the song), and it sounds horribly muddy. If you have Rhino's version, you'll definately know the difference.
I don't know who has the original master tapes of Apollo 100. Maybe they don't even exist anymore. My vinyl album of "Joy" is on the Mega record label. Rhino got their copy from Janus Records. I wonder if Janus has the original masters of all of Apollo 100's recordings.
I wish Rhino would get the rights to the Apollo 100 master tapes and re-release this collection with better mastered versions.
Maybe, if we all write to Rhino Records, maybe we could get Rhino to do this for us. One letter from me is not going to be enough to do it. Let's all make the effort and do it. Rhino does have a website. Let's hammer them with this one small request."
Great memories
D. Marr | Riverview, FL USA | 12/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Outstanding instrumentals from the early 1970s. My only criticism is that the songs weren't remastered; therefore, the audio isn't very crisp and clean. But since "Joy" and "Masterpieces" -- the two Apollo 100 LP releases from 1972 and 1973 respectively -- are long out of print, you'll be happy with the purchase."
Track Listings (30) - Disc #1
