Search - The Move :: Shazam

WHAM! BAM! SHAZAM!

M. McKay | Downey, CA United States | 09/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just got my copy of "Shazam" today and boy am I impressed! This fantastic re-issue is long overdue, but then again maybe had it been re-issued earlier it wouldn't have been as great as this one. Afterall, the master tapes were just recovered from the A&M tape archive! Repertoire Records can take their 1998 release and stick it where the sun dosen't shine (the label is known for re-issuing band's back catalogs without approval). The sound quality is top notch on this one, sounds like the original vinyl so cranking "Hello Suzie" has never sounded better! I can't wait until I get my CD player installed in my car so I can blast this one around town. The bonus tracks are a great addition. A favorite of mine is "Something" (titled "A Certain Something" on this CD). The stereo mix of this track blows the original mono mix away (which I had on my vinyl copy of "The Best Of The Move"). I actually perfer the original mix of "Wild Tiger Woman" a bit more though. Yes, it was slightly murky in sound but it was nice and thick. This new stereo mix makes it a wee bit thin...just a wee bit though...not enough for me to dislike it. Bottom line, if you're a Move fan (and you must be if you're reading this), this purchase is a no-brainer! Place your order now...oh yeah...be sure to get the newly remastered debut too! Happy listening!"

The correct master at last

G. Kreienkamp | Washington DC | 10/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have purchased both European and Japanese CDs of this classic album before, and they have all had mastering flaws, primarily every one of them was missing the false start beginning to "Don't Make my Baby Blue." This is the first CD version to have the correct master of the complete album. And it is a great album--a pop masterpiece, right up there with Ogden's Nut Gone Flake or any other classic you could name. The Move rank up there with the greatest British bands of all time (as do the Small Faces). It's a perennial shame that they remain so under-appreciated in the States."

Very nice but flawed reissue--one of The Move's essential al

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 03/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite Move albums (the other being "Message from the Country"), "Shazam" gets the remastering treatment this time form the original master tapes which were misplace d in A&M's vaults. This is a very good remaster but not without its flaws.



We do get the original album sequenced with the inbetween spoken bits missing on a previous edition (although it was restored to the West Side "Movements" Anthology version 10 years ago). Clarity is improved with extremely good detail. However, Salvo has chosen to master this at a louder volume than is necessary (I can control my volume knob just fine thank you)which results in digital clipping on a few tracks. Most folks won't notice this but audiophiles might. Also, No Noise has been applied which eliminates the tape hiss but also eliminates the natural ambience of the room and leaving some digital artifacts that will annoy audiophiles. It's not as bad as Peter Mew's use of No Noise on "Message from the Country" (usually No Noise has a characteristic feel--1)no tape hiss 2) it sounds like the music lacks depth and/or someone threw a blanket over your speaker and is 3) compensated for by increasing the treble in an unnatural degree)but is is noticeable (on some tracks more than others).



Although flawed this is the best version I've heard of the album (aside from maybe an original pressing)on CD. We also get the single tracks "A Certain Something", "This Time Tomorrow" (no it's not the Ray Davies/Kinks song)plus demos for both tracks, an alternate mix of "Blackberry Way" in stereo (and despite the label claim that it has "Blackberry Way" it doesn't have the original mono mix which was their #1 hit in the UK)as well as "Wild Tiger Woman" in a stereo remix and the full length version of "Omnibus" (which had been trimmed for single release).



The sleeve notes are, as with all the Salvo reissues, excellent with rare photos and information on the recording of the album.



I dislike the use of sleeves for CDs (particularly if they don't come with a plastic or rice paper slip for the CD as it prevents it from being scratched)but this cardboard sleeve does have some nice additional pix inside (but, again, it won't protect your CD).



There are also two digital downloads available from the Salvo website with alternate mixes for "Omnibus" and "Wild Tiger Woman" which features the password so you can gain access to the site.



"Shazam" isn't perfect but is much improved (even if No Noise was used on the release and the mastering IS louder--it's not as loud as some recent discs)because we have the original master tape being used for the first time plus bonus tracks and two digital downloads. Recommended."