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	Space Opera Space Opera Genres: Dance & Electronic, Country, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock Title: Space Opera Artist: Space Opera Blast off with one of the true cult classic albums of the '70s! After woodshedding in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area during the '60s (and recording with high school buddy T-Bone Burnett... more » « less
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CD Details

All Artists: Space Opera
Title: Space Opera
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Collector's Choice
Release Date: 8/10/2004
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Country, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Country Rock, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 617742043327, 0617742043327

Synopsis

Album Description

Title: Space Opera Artist: Space Opera Blast off with one of the true cult classic albums of the '70s! After woodshedding in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area during the '60s (and recording with high school buddy T-Bone Burnett), Scott Fraser, David Bullock, Phil White and Brett Wilson landed as Space Opera in New York, where the already-legendary Clive Davis offered to sign them on Columbia. Much to the music biz's amazement, they turned him down, opting for more creative control by signing with Epic's Canadian arm, for whom they recorded this excellent but little-promoted album in 1972. An inspired blend of Frank Zappa, the Band, Steely Dan and especially the Byrds, this record is still talked about in hushed tones by 12-string guitarists, as Scott Fraser's unique tuning technique (each string-pair is tuned to 5ths instead of octaves) resulted in a truly monumental sound. Add to that their ample harmonies, and you can hear why Space Opera is considered by some to be the Byrds' natural heirs, or at least their prog-rock! cousins! Includes 'Country Max; Holy River; Outlines; Guitar Suite; My Telephone Artist (Has Come and Gone); RIddle; Prelude No. 4; Lookout; Blue Ridge Mountain', and 'Over and Over'. This exclusive 'Collectors' Choice Music' reissue features remastering approved by the band itself!

CD Reviews

How did I miss this one?

Michael Chiaro | Lodi,New Jersey | 04/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I used to see this album in record bins in the NY/NJ area but I never bought it. However the group's name and the artwork always left me curious as how this was musically. Collector's Choice cleared up the mystery by releasing this on cd in 2004. What a stunning work! Why this wasn't on regular rotation with the playlists of New York FM stations is even more of a mystery. Guitar fans will find nirvana here is the riveting interplay of the 6 & 12 string workouts,sometimes overdubbed to the level of frenzy on tracks like "Holy River" and the closer "Over and Over". This is not the only calling card as there are fine melodies and excellent vocal harmonies throughout. Comparisons to the Byrds are valid, but Space Opera is no CLONE! The country influence is seamlessly blended into the music, making it unique enough that it could hardly be compared to the country rock of its era. Too bad I never got to see them live; even more of a pity that this was their only release. I guess the old saying "leave 'em wanting more" more than applies here. Don't miss this one!

"

Old Friend You Did Not Know

Kurt | OK | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The increadable thing about Space Opera is how easy the music fits into the early '70s time frame. I never heard the album back then - but I should have. The music is like finding some lost high school or college record you somehow did not know about. You put it on and think, how did I miss this?

Yes, it is kind of like the Byrds, or Buffalo Springfield, but Space Opera is not a knock off group. They have their own unique sound. And it is very good.

What if Buffalo Springfield had put out only one album, then disbanded, with its members no longer in the music business? It would be a great album, but really hard to find. And it would be a sound unique to the time. If you enjoy the better music from the early 70's, Space Opera is for you.

"

More Space Opera

Jeffrey E. Ward | Fort Worth, Tx | 11/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually, there was a 2001 release of new material from Space Opera. It's available on their website. If you like the original release, I think you might like this one as well. I'll admit I'm a bit prejudiced, as I engineered and played keys on the new release, and remastered the old one for Collector's Choice. BTW, for all their West Coast influences, the band is from Fort Worth, Tx. Two of the four original members have passed away, Brett Wilson(drums) about 2 years ago, and Scott Fraser(guitars, vocals, and writer) in September. And, yes, I was a fan long before I met or worked with the guys."