My two cents being the perpetual enthusiast for "Tales From Topographic Oceans" that I am (I've so far owned it on cassette, record, and all 3 different CD incarnations) ....
I like the jarring "Leaves Of Green" section of the studio run-through of "The Ancient". Totally took me by surprise; especially when Steve Howe does his final guitar picking and Wakeman follows along with him simultaneously on the Hammond.
Like the two minute ambience before "The Revealing Science of God", too (both original and run-through). Gives one that whole "In the beginning, there was void...." sort of feeling before they open up into the entire album.
The overall sound quality is excellent, too. I put in the first CD version that came out in 1989 or so that I had and gave it a quick listen too just to compare and it sounds like the first edition was recorded under water compared to the clarity of this version.
That's it from me.
Jimmy P.
> Thanks very much for that info ! I wasn't aware
> that "Tales" was re-released on Rhino label. Will have to go out
> straightaway and look for it. Did you buy it online, BTW ??
>
Jerry,
Rhino has been re-releasing the so-called "main sequence" over the
last few years in groups of about three at a time. The most recent
batch is up through Tormato and Drama. They are excellent packages,
with improved mastering and extra material, ranging from "studio run-
throughs" to alternate mixes and previously un-released tunes from
that period. Some of this material is of questionable interest,
while some is "must-have", provided you are a fan of either the music
or the band.
I've bought some at retail outlets like Best Buy as well as online.
I just did a search at Amazon and the first "Tales" tales on the list
is the Rhino version - you can verify by checking for the
supplemental tracks on the track listing. You should have no problem
finding them.
By far, my favourite new material are the run-throughs, because you
hear just the band, in your face, presumably without edits (there are
mistakes). In fact, I prefer the run-through version of Revealing
Science to the final version - I can easily picture them all in the
studio together just playing it straight through. Plus, I like
hearing the mellotron so far up in the mix. And Alan's drumming is
phenomenal.
Unfortunetaly, the run-through of The Ancient is much more
preliminary and the mellotron must have been sick that day - it is
conspicuously absent.
-Jamie