Search - Ph.D :: Ph.D

The wait is over!

John Sposato | Syracuse, NY, USA | 02/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The fan cult have waited two decades for this to appear on CD (it did once in Japan). Originally released 1981 by wea Records (Atlantic in the States), this debut release features the talents of Scottish crooner Jim Diamond and Jeff Beck crony Tony Hymas. Seasoned session skinsman Simon Phillips plays on most tracks (late Jethro Tull part-timer Mark Craney on the others). "I Won't Let You Down" hit the charts in the UK, South Africa, Brasil, and Western Europe in 1982. Further chart hits were only on the continent. "Little Suzi's on the Up" is better known in the US through a cover by West Coast rockers Tesla (who I saw at the State Fair playing it) There was a follow-up, 'Is It Safe?', which will come back in months, and the recent return 'Three', which should be here any day now.

"War Years" and "Poor City" could have been written today (just read the papers). There's not any bass or much guitar (the emphasis is on the keyboards). Someone complained to me about the sound quality of the remaster as being lossy. Voiceprint also reissued Jon Anderson's 1982 solo album 'Animation' (also with Phillips), which was also slated.

You know, I helped with this re-release. My site gets feedback from time to time, and label brass Rob Ayling asked me to send him WAVs of the album tracks (which may have come from vinyl or a CD rip) as well as hi-res scans of the original album sleeve. Rhino/Warner UK were supposed to do this, but either the original master tapes vanished or they lost interest, whichever comes first! Sometimes, you gotta make a silk purse from a sow's ear! I do hope you enjoy this. A generation in the making. An under-rated '80s classic."

Better than I expected

WriterGirl | Seoul, S. Korea | 06/02/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""I Won"t Let You Down" was the only song I had heard from this group before purchasing this CD. The rest of the album is actually quite good and a pleasant surprise. Overall, it is certainly worth a listen."