Awful Digital Sound !
P. D. Laffey | Hitchin | 01/02/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This review refers to the 180g vinyl edition , released on the Vinyl Lovers label .
I bought this album on vinyl because the remastered cd has a terribly compressed digital sound , only to discover that this album has been mastered directly from the cd and also has that awful digitally compressed sound , which defeats the object of buying the vinyl to hear this record in it's original glorious analogue sound .
Vinyl Lovers might be the name of the record label , but do they really love the sound of vinyl , as all of their releases on vinyl have been directly mastered from the digital cd releases ( including the bonus tracks ) , and all sound terrible .
It makes buying vinyl from this record label pointless !"
Mono Version Is Outstanding!!!
Kurt Leith | Vernon, CT | 03/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own "Heaven Is In Your Mind" which is the U.S. release of this album and it's excellent, but as far as I'm concerned the U.K. mono CD titled "Mr. Fantasy" is VASTLY SUPERIOR to the stereo version!!! I suppose it's a matter of taste, but the mono presented here has a drastically different, slicker psychedelic sound to it. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one solution here...buy both and listen for yourself. Some of you will like one more than the other, and I believe most Traffic fans will ultimately want both versions of this masterpiece. But for my money, if I had to choose only one the U.K. mono version wins HANDS DOWN!!! Hope this helps. Happy listening :-)"
Great Musicians - Hazy Record
Pat Lamorgese | New Jersey | 03/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This disk is famous for the great playing and drug influenced music. "Dear Mr Fantasy", the title cut, features trippy guitar and Steve Winwood's soaring vocals. "Berkshire Poppies" is an obviously a reference to one of the drugs of choice, featuring Winwood's ragtime piano. "Dealer" and "Colored Rain" are classic traffic rockers, that showcase the band's ability to mix winds and woodwinds through their music effectively. Dave Mason's "Hole In My Shoe" is a happier, chemically influenced tune, that shows a lighter side of his writing. In all, it is a period piece, that is different in that the melodies are catchy, and the musicanship great enough to stand the test of time."