Def Leppard - Greatest Hits Vault 1980-1995 [SHM-CD]

Def Leppard - Greatest Hits Vault 1980-1995 [SHM-CD]
SHM-CD Release: Jun 25, 2008 (Orig. Year: 1995 | Number: UICY 90901
Label: Universal Music (Orig Label: Mercury) | Genre: Hard Rock
Size: 598 MB | Mono/Stereo: 2 Channel | Japan Remastered
Included: EAC + CUE + Wav + Booklet & Covers

Notes:
Def Leppard set itself apart from the rest of the Eighties hard rock bands by having a unique, loud sound and power ballads that weren't quite as gushy as the other guys. When you hear a Def Leppard song, you know it. You won't confuse this group with anybody else. That's what makes Def Leppard so outstanding. They had a distinctive sound that connected all of their songs, yet none of their songs sounded alike. This perfect formula led to a slew of hits, most coming from "Hysteria."
Yes, I know "Hysteria" is probably over-represented on this particular disc, but that's the album that catapulted them into the big leagues. You cannot say that any of the "Hysteria" songs contained herein don't belong. The rest of the cuts here deserve top honors as well. Personal favorites include "Armageddon It," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and "Foolin."
If you're just beginning to listen to hard rock/hair/metal bands of the Eighties and early Nineties, this album is a must have. If you're like me, a man still caught in his childhood, this disc will bring back great memories.
If you could make a list of the best greatest hits albums of all time, this one would definitely be included in the top ten. It represents a group that perfected its sound and set itself apart from the pack.

TrackListing:
1. Pour Some Sugar on Me - (video edit)
2. Photograph
3. Love Bites
4. Let's Get Rocked
5. Two Steps Behind - (acoustic version)
6. Animal
7. Foolin'
8. Rocket - (video edit)
9. When Love & Hate Collide - (previously unreleased)
10. Armageddon It
11. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
12. Rock of Ages
13. Hysteria
14. Miss You in a Heartbeat - (acoustic version)
15. Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Total Time: 01:16:39

Personel:
Rick Allen - drums, background vocals
Joe Elliot - vocals
Rick "Sav" Savage - bass, background vocals
Phil Collen
Vivian Campbell
Steve "Steamin" Clark
Pete Willis - guitar, background vocals
Also: Robert John "Mutt" Lange
usmn
Thanks to toejam

The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup [Japan Mini LP Edition]

The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup [Japan Mini LP Edition]
Remastered Release: 2005/Orig. Year: 1973 | Number: TOCP-66453
Label: Toshiba-EMI/Virgin Benelux B.V.| Genre: Rock| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Wave + Covers | Size: 342 MB

Album Notes
“Following the enormous success of EXILE ON MAIN STREET, GOATS HEAD SOUP found the Rolling Stones jetting down to Jamaica in 1973 and tweaking their rebellious image with a bit of voodoo imagery. Kicking things off with Dancing With Mr. D., ... Full Descriptionthe Stones picked up the thread of Sympathy For The Devil and gilded their already hedonistic reputation with some Satanic allusions. References to Beezelbub aside, SOUP offered up some of the Stones' more heartfelt ballads including Winter, Coming Down Again, and the lilting, minor-key classic Angie.
Of course, being known as The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band means a number of songs more than back up this moniker. Among them are Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker), propelled by Mick Taylor's wah-wah pedal and Billy Preston's electric piano, and the twang and slide guitar of Silver Train. There's an abundance of cheeky attitude here despite a slew of slow songs, and the Stones close out with a nasty, backhanded tribute to groupies called Star Star. Though GOAT'S HEAD SOUP does not hold up to the four studio masterpieces that preceded it (BEGGAR'S BANQUET, LET IT BLEED, STICKY FINGERS, and EXILE ON MAIN STREET), it is still full of strong songwriting, great playing, and plenty of classic Stonesy swagger.
There were 23 songs recorded during the "Goat's Head Soup" sessions between Nov 25-30 and Dec 6-21, 1972 at Dynamic Sound Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Only 8 of them made it onto "Goat's Head Soup". Keith had made strong connections with the Jamaican reggae musicians and had recently bought a house in Jamaica, so he was the driving force behind the sessions. The band included Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins (piano), Billy Preston (organ), Bobby Keys (sax), Chuck Finley (trumpet), Jim Horn (horn), and of course Ian Stewart on piano. Sonny Rollins played sax on Waiting On A Friend. Final mixes were done at Island Recording in London May 28 - Jun 20, 1973. Hide Your Love was recorded in separate sessions on May 23 & 26 at Olympic Studios in London. Silver Train was recorded during the mixing at Island in London.
Interesting notes include:
.....The UK version of the album had one verse censored and deleted from Star#$!@% (which appears as Star Star in text on the album) while the US version had the line "I bet you keep your pussy clean" deleted. Both record distributors (US and UK) refused to allow the line "giving head to Steve McQueen" until the Stones got McQueen to sign a release (he said he appreciated the publicity). (The entire song with all the censored lyrics are on this release, or at least they are on my copy.)
.....Short And Curlies was not released until 1974 on the album It's Only Rock `n' Roll.
.....Tops and Waiting On A Friend were not released until 1981 on the album Tattoo You, after which Waiting On A Friend was also released as a single.
.....there are still 12 tracks from these sessions that have not been released (although some have been bootlegged) They are Criss Cross (Save Me), Separately, You Should Have Seen Her Ass, Four And In, Give Us A Break, First Thing, Miami, Man-Eating Woman, Brown Leaves, After Muddy & Charlie, Jamaica I, and Zabadoo.”

Tracklisting:
1. Dancing With Mr. D.
2. 100 Years Ago
3. Coming Down Again
4. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
5. Angie
6. Silver Train
7. Hide Your Love
8. Winter
9. Can You Hear the Music
10. Star Star
Total Time: 00:46:57
usmn
Thanks to ruskaval

Eagles - Hotel California [DTS 5.1]

Eagles - Hotel California [DTS 5.1]

Orig Release: Dec 8, 1976 | Orig Label: WEA International | Genre: Rock
DTS 5.1 Release: 2001 | Mono/Stereo: Multi Channel
Source: DVD AUDIO | Label: Elektra Entertainment/Wea
Included: EAC + Cue + Wave + Covers | Size: 404 MB

WARNING!!!
Audio Format: Digital Surround DTS 5.1
To play DTS CDs you need to have equipment that supports DTS and a surround sound system that is capable of decoding the DTS signal. Don't play this on equipment that isn't compatible because you'll only hear static!
This is a DTS HYBRID ENCODED PROJECT--NOT 2 CHANNEL STEREO
Don't download if you do not have the proper decoding equipment or software.

Album Notes:

The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band's dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist.
Hotel California was the first Eagles album to feature Joe Walsh. By combining with Don Felder, they created a potent tandem and pushed the band to a harder sound. Like many other residents in the state, the band are not native Californians. Despite that fact, they have become synonymous with Southern California. On this album, they examine all the high and lows of the land of hopes and dreams. The word classic is thrown around a little too often, but the album's title track is one of only a handful of songs that are worthy of the title. From the opening guitar riff, to the cynical and vivid lyrics to the closing guitar coda, the song is a tour de force. Don Henley sings with a snarl in his voice and Mr. Walsh and Mr. Felder trade guitar licks in a can you top this fashion. The song is a masterpiece, became their third number single, won the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year and one never tires of hearing it. "New Kid In Town" was the album's other number single and Glenn Frey sings with a smooth charm. The song perfectly captures that breezy Southern California sound the Eagles made famous. "Life In The Fast Lane" is the infamous rocker that details the hedonistic lifestyle of the late 70's that the band wholeheartedly embraced. "Wasted Time" is pretty ballad and the orchestral reprise of the song leads into a stinging rocker "Victim Of Love". Joe Walsh's Eagle lead vocal debut is the suprisingly sweet "Pretty Maids All In A Row". Randy Messiness' swan song with the band is the soaring "Try & Love Again". The album's closer, "The Last Resort", almost matches the title cut in power and brilliance. It tells of the pilgrimage from the east coast out to California and that it has to offer. Hotel California was the band's peak and one of the best albums of the 70's.

Tracklisting:
1. Hotel California
2. New Kid in Town
3. Life in the Fast Lane
4. Wasted Time
5. Wasted Time
6. Victim of Love
7. Pretty Maids All in a Row
8. Try and Love Again
9. The Last Resort
Total Time: 00:43:45
usmn

Eagles - Hotel California [SHM-CD]

Eagles - Hotel California [SHM-CD]
Orig Release: Dec 8, 1976 | Orig Label: WEA International
SHM-CD Release: Dec 10, 2008 [Japan Remastered] | Genre: Rock
Included: EAC + CUE + FLAC + ArtWork (Covers + Booklet)
Mono/Stereo: 2 Channel | Lossless 846 Kbps | Size: 292 MB

Album Notes:

The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band's dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist.

Hotel California was the first Eagles album to feature Joe Walsh. By combining with Don Felder, they created a potent tandem and pushed the band to a harder sound. Like many other residents in the state, the band are not native Californians. Despite that fact, they have become synonymous with Southern California. On this album, they examine all the high and lows of the land of hopes and dreams. The word classic is thrown around a little too often, but the album's title track is one of only a handful of songs that are worthy of the title. From the opening guitar riff, to the cynical and vivid lyrics to the closing guitar coda, the song is a tour de force. Don Henley sings with a snarl in his voice and Mr. Walsh and Mr. Felder trade guitar licks in a can you top this fashion. The song is a masterpiece, became their third number single, won the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year and one never tires of hearing it. "New Kid In Town" was the album's other number single and Glenn Frey sings with a smooth charm. The song perfectly captures that breezy Southern California sound the Eagles made famous. "Life In The Fast Lane" is the infamous rocker that details the hedonistic lifestyle of the late 70's that the band wholeheartedly embraced. "Wasted Time" is pretty ballad and the orchestral reprise of the song leads into a stinging rocker "Victim Of Love". Joe Walsh's Eagle lead vocal debut is the suprisingly sweet "Pretty Maids All In A Row". Randy Messiness' swan song with the band is the soaring "Try & Love Again". The album's closer, "The Last Resort", almost matches the title cut in power and brilliance. It tells of the pilgrimage from the east coast out to California and that it has to offer. Hotel California was the band's peak and one of the best albums of the 70's.

Tracklisting:
1. Hotel California
2. New Kid in Town
3. Life in the Fast Lane
4. Wasted Time
5. Wasted Time (Reprise)
6. Victim of Love
7. Pretty Maids All in a Row
8. Try and Love Again
9. The Last Resort
Total Time: 00:43:27
usmn
Thanks to toejam

Spandau Ballet - The Twelve Inch Mixes

Spandau Ballet - The Twelve Inch Mixes
Release: 1986 | Label: Chrysalis Records Ltd.
Genre: Pop/Electronic Dance/NewWave| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Flac + Covers | Size: 451 MB

Biography:
Spandau Ballet were a popular British band in the 1980s. Members were Tony Hadley on vocals, brothers Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp on guitar and bass, with Gary also supplying background vocals, Steve Norman on saxophone and John Keeble on the drums. Gary Kemp also wrote most of the group’s music and lyrics.
Initially inspired by a mixture of synth-pop and funk as typified by the track “Chant No. 1” which reached No 2 in the national charts and was notable for inclusion of the horn section from the group Beggar & Co, which proved a fruitful collaboration on record.
Immensely popular in the UK, the New Romantic group eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. As with their friendly rivals Duran Duran they ‘broke America’, albeit briefly - the title track of their 3rd album True peaked in the Top 5 of the Singles charts. The song gained a new life in the 1990’s and beyond by being sampled in the songs “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” by P.M. Dawn and N Dey Say by Nelly.
Lead singer Tony Hadley later appeared on the track Out Of The Blue from the album The Time Machine.
The Twelve Inch Mixes (It was released in 1986) is a compilation album by Spandau Ballet.

Tracklisting:
01. Gold (12' Mix)
02. Lifeline (12' Mix)
03. Round And Round (12' Mix)
04. Only When You Leave (12' Mix)
05. Instinction (12' Mix)
06. Highly Re-strung (12' Mix)
07. True (12' Mix)
08. Communication (12' Mix)
09. I'll Fly For You (12' Mix)
10. To Cut A Long Story Short (12' Mix)
11. Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) (12' Mix)
12. The Freeze (12' Mix)
13. Musclebound (12' Mix)
Total Time: 01:13:21
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Bruce Springsteen - In Concert [MTV Plugged] [Japan Limited Edition]

Bruce Springsteen - In Concert [MTV Plugged]
[Japan Limited Edition LP Replica]
Japan Release: 2008/Orig. Year: 1993 | Number: 88697287552
Label: Sony BMG Music Entertainment | Genre: rock| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + WavPack + Covers | Size: 500 MB

Album Notes:

AMG review by William Ruhlmann:
“Released in Europe to coincide with Bruce Springsteen's spring 1993 tour of the Continent, this album is a 13-track, nearly 72-minute audio version of Springsteen's video concert broadcast on MTV in the fall of 1992. It was part of the network's Unplugged series, but after performing the first, previously unheard song "Red Headed Woman" alone on guitar, Springsteen shouted, "All right, let's rock it!," and departed from the acoustic format. (The album's title has an "X" drawn through the "Un" of "Unplugged.") Eight of the selections come from Springsteen's 1992 albums Human Touch and Lucky Town, and the relatively minor tracks from the former benefit from being sequenced among the more ambitious songs from the latter and such old favorites as "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and "Thunder Road." Though Springsteen and his new band don't "rock it" too hard for the most part, a notable exception is a performance of the previously unrecorded "Light of Day," a title song Springsteen wrote for a 1987 movie. Here, he gives a taste of the enthusiasm and spontaneity he can bring to his live performances. But this is an album of small pleasures rather than a major performance statement. [Sony Japan issued a limited edition in 2008.]”

Tracklisting:
01 Red Headed Woman
02 Better Days
03 Atlantic City
04 Darkness On The Edge Of Town
05 Man's Job
06 Human Touch
07 Lucky Town
08 I Wish I Were Blind
09 Thunder Road
10 Light Of Day
11 If I Should Fall Behind
12 Living Proof
13 My Beautiful Reward
Total Time: 01:11:43
usmn
Thanks to plonker

Gazebo - I Like Chopin

Gazebo - I Like Chopin
Release: 1983 | Label: Baby Records | Genre: ItaloDisco, Pop, Dance | Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Ape + Covers | Size: 228 MB

Biography:
Paul Mazzolini (stage name Gazebo), is an Italian musician. He was born in Lebanon, the son of an Italian diplomat and an American singer.
According to legend, he learned to play the guitar aged 10 to impress a German girl in his class. As a rather cosmopolitan teenager Gazebo began a career in a variety of jazz, rock and punk bands before signing with Baby Records.
His footnote in charts history is his 1983 release I Like Chopin (popular opinion notwithstanding,the piano motif herein is not a Chopin composition), which topped continental European and Asian charts for weeks.
The follow-up song Lunatic and the eponymous album also entered the Top 20 across the globe. After deep hibernation throughout the 90' the spacecraft is gently approaching planet Earth ...
EXTENDED:
Gazebo whose real name is Paul Mazzolini was born in Beyrouth on February 18th 1960.
He was brought up travelling around the world with his parents, gathering from different cultures.
His father, Francesco, was an old fashion italian diplomatic and taught Paul five of the eight languages he knew.
His mother, Sonia, was a singer and gave him her inner talent for music.
Paul settled down in Italy in 1975, got his graduation three years later and went off to London where he put up various bands
and decided to make music for a living.
Back in Rome in 1981 he meets Paolo Micioni, a DJ who decides to produce him.
His first single is "Masterpiece" and the 12" version becomes rapidly a big hit in the European and Asian dance scenes.
In 1983 Paul signes with Baby Records and releases his first album called "Gazebo".
Included is a song that is going to be a smash hit wordwide selling more than ten million singles : the song is called "I like Chopin" it reaches the first position in the charts of many countries including : Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Belgium,Canada, Japan, Portugal, Hong-Kong, Korea, Singapour, Turkey and tops ten in many other countries including U.K.
Wins the "1983 Top European Chart Act" award by prestigious British magazine "Music Week"
The second album "Telephone Mama" is released in 1984 and though the style of the songs is drammatically different from the first album it is a best seller in most of the territories were it is released.
Wins "La Vela d'Oro" as best selling artist in Italy.
1985 is quite an unlucky year as Paul has to join the army ....
He puts up Lunatic S.r.l , a production company and a recording complex where he will work on all his new projects.
The same year he releases "Univision" the first album of the new era completely owned by Lunatic.
1988 "Rainbow Tales" the first album recorded at the Lunatic complex is also the first step in Paul's new musical direction, a link towards his musical origins in the progressive pop scene of the seventies co-produced by Denis Haines of "Gary Numan Band" fame.
1989 "Sweet Life" is the first album entirely written, produced and engineered by Paul himself, this album includes a special version of a song Paul had co-wrote for Ryan Paris and that became at the time a smash hit worldwide: "Dolce Vita"
1990 Birth of "Cresus Enterprises S.n.c" . The company's goals is to integrate Lunatic by developing the publishing and the distribution of the products in Italy.
The label "Lunatic Records" gets officially distributed by BMG Ariola.
1991 He produces "First" by "The Tycoons"
The same year he produces "Summit" by Dino Kappa
In 1992 Lunatic Records releases "Scenes from the news Broadcast". Which is up to now his last official album.
The same year he produces "A Choir in Heaven" by Kammerton
First production with Ardit Gjebrea, the song "Jon" wins the Tirana Song Festival in a crucial political moment for Albania.
The song becomes an anthem for the suffering Albanians bound to leave their county in search of basics for survivor.
1994 "Portrait" - a compilation album with all his hits.
1996 Produces "Projekt Jon" one of his favourite albums ever.
1997 From the merging of Lunatic S.r.l and Cresus Enterprises S.n.c birth of Softworks Snc, a new company with a big catalog and a great structure.
The same year he produces "Viewpoint" a compilation album with songs which have never been released or created as singles but have a special meaning in his "viewpoint".
1998 In co operation with Sandro Nasonte and his "Remix" distribution company he brings up a certain number of labels specialised in the dance, techno, underground and rave areas which will be seminal for the Roman dance scene. Labels like "Mystic","Oneiric" and "Sysmo" and Djs like A.Prezioso, Lory D and Undertour.
1999 Softworks' official labels are "SWR" for the pop and rock productions, "Lunatic" for dance and "The Ark" for the world music projects.
2000 SWR releases "Portrait & Viewpoint" a double CD with all the essentials.
2004 Produces Ardit Gjebrea's solo album "Jakujam"
Of course he's been involved in numerous projects and productions during the nineties and still is working as a producer, arranger, song writer and studio manager.
He is currently touring and making concerts on a regular basis around the world.
2006 Softworks makes new digital distribution agreements and will soon be online with it's catalog.
Also a ... the new single "Tears For Galileo" is finally released in prospect of a brand new album.

Tracklisting:
01. Lunatic
02. Love In Your Eyes
03. London - Paris
04. Masterpiece
05. I Like Chopin (Extended Version)
06. Wrap The Rock
07. Midnight Cocktail
08. Gimmick!
Total Time: 00:40:00

usmn
Thanks to papulya

Queen - Heaven For Everyone [CD Single]

Queen - Heaven For Everyone [CD Single]
Release: 1995 | Label: EMI/Parlophone | Genre: rock| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Flac + Covers | Size: 100 MB

Album Notes:

"Heaven for Everyone" was a track Roger Taylor wrote and tried out with Queen in 1986, although according to some sources it was written with Joan Armatrading in mind to sing it. Whether she turned it down or Taylor withdrew his song is unclear, but it was recorded for his other band The Cross. One night Mercury came to visit The Cross at the studio and after some drinks he gave them ideas of how to sing the song and ended up recording the lead vocals for it. Mercury appeared on the UK version of their album "Shove It" as guest lead vocalist on the song, with Taylor doing backing vocals. The roles were reversed on the single and the American 'Shove It' version. Mercury's vocals were then used for the Made in Heaven release, with a couple of different lines and May singing backing vocals instead of Taylor, with producer David Richards adding several arrangement ideas.

Tracklisting:
1. Heaven For Everyone (Single Version)
2. It's A Beutiful Day
3. Heaven For Everyone (Album Version)
Total Time: 00:14:18
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Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - The Best Of OMD

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - The Best Of OMD
Release: 2002/Orig. Year: 1988 | Release Number: VI 793582
Label: Disky/Orig Label: Virgin | Genre: Pop | Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Flac + Covers | Size: 502 MB

Biography:
Paul Browne
Liverpool music scene in the late 1970's was an exciting and dynamic place to be. Everyone was either in a band, in-between bands or were forming a band. In the midst of all this activity was Eric's Club - a small discreet venue that was a favoured haunt for the people who would later form bands such as The Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen and Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
So it was quite apt that Eric's was the venue of choice for the debut performance of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark in October 1978.
Founder members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys had originally been inspired by the experimental electronic music of German bands such as Kraftwerk and Neu! Working with radio sets and home made synthesisers, Humphreys and McCluskey christened themselves VCLXI (after a valve diagram on the sleeve of Kraftwerk's Radioactivity album) and began their own musical experiments. This, however, was still a side project the pair indulged in on odd weekends while they were active in local bands such as Equinox, Pegasus and The Id. Although they had gained a lot of experience from working in a traditional band environment, it was never quite the creative platform they were looking for. It was time for a new approach.
Naming themselves after one of their own early songs, Humphreys and McCluskey launched their own unique style of catchy electronic melodies that helped form OMD's reputation for intelligent pop. Back then, to burden your band with such an unwieldy name as Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark might have seemed unwise, but the obvious commercial appeal of their music provoked enough interest that it eventually led to Factory Record's Tony Wilson offering them the chance to cut their debut single Electricity on the Factory label.
Electricity (and its flip side Almost) perfectly captured OMD's infectious blend of melody and melancholia. Electricity, with its frenetic dance rhythm, rapidly became OMD's theme song and maintained its status as a live favourite up to the present day. Attracting the interest of Virgin, OMD signed to their subsidiary label Din Disc in 1979.
After a brief period of touring, notably as support for Gary Numan, OMD quickly established themselves with a number of classic singles. Messages, with its simple but engaging melody, managed to get OMD into the public eye in 1980 by reaching No. 13 in the UK charts. Later the same year they made the UK top ten and scored their first international hit (5 million sales) with the dance pop of Enola Gay - an up tempo number inspired by the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The success in 1980 helped OMD to rapidly become one of the UK's premier pop acts. Their use of extra personnel for live performances led to Humphreys and McCluskey recruiting people in the studio as well with the band soon established as a four piece outfit with the assistance of Martin Cooper (keyboards, saxophone) and Malcolm Holmes (drums).
OMD's 1981 album, the ethereal Architecture & Morality proved to be one of their finest moments. Blending choral effects and wistful melody the album produced three classic singles: Souvenir with its bittersweet Humphreys vocal, the religiously inspired Joan Of Arc and its epic follow-up Maid Of Orleans. All three singles secured a top 5 chart position and by 1982 had turned OMD into household names.
With 3 hit albums and a string of million selling singles it seemed that the band had a Midas touch. It was about to desert them with the release of their most radical album to date.
The 1983 album Dazzle Ships described a fractured futurist soundscape of ideas that drew on everything from East European radio broadcasts to industrial robots for influences. Although the album concealed some fine pop songs, its lack of critical and commercial success was perhaps responsible for OMD taking a more cautious musical path in the future.
OMD's fifth album Junk Culture from 1984 saw the band steering closer to a more traditional band approach. The instant pop of Tesla Girls, percussive dance flavour of Locomotion and pastoral, dreamlike quality of Talking Loud And Clear proved that they could still deliver classic 3 minute pop songs, while retaining a flavour for the unusual.
Producer Stephen Hague was drafted in for the 1985 album Crush and the subsequent 1986 album The Pacific Age. Hague managed to give the songs on both albums a polished edge, while retaining an essential energy that was vital to the songs. Singles such as So In Love and (Forever) Live & Die drew on OMD's flair for writing engaging melodies, while demonstrating that they were taking much more of a traditionalist approach to song production.
This period also saw the band touring extensively in North America. If You Leave, specifically written for the John Hughes movie Pretty In Pink, was a huge success. However, the consistent schedule of touring took a toll on the band both professionally as well as personally and the 1988 single Dreaming was, at the time, the last single written by Humphreys and McCluskey.
OMD ended an era in 1989 with the departure of Humphreys, Holmes and Cooper leaving Andy McCluskey to forge ahead under the OMD banner. This resulted in the 1991 album Sugar Tax. It was a brash and dynamic approach that fused the classic OMD sound with a more mainstream 90's dance style. Sugar Tax managed to win over a lot of new converts, as well as the die-hard OMD enthusiast, with singles such as the spectacular Sailing On The Seven Seas and the dance pop of Pandora's Box (a paean to silent movie star Louise Brooks).
OMD followed up on the success of Sugar Tax with the 1993 album Liberator. This album saw OMD broadening their field of influences with the Barry White inspired Dream Of Me (Based On Love's Theme).
Following the Liberator tour, Andy McCluskey took some extended time off to reflect and consider OMDs future. Suitably refreshed, he began writing again - taking a unique musical direction. The result of this work was premiered in 1996 with the release of a new single Walking On The Milky Way and the follow-up album Universal. With its mix of ethereal ambience and epic production Universal captured a sense of wistful mood that hinted at early OMD, yet still had a unique style and character that was very much its own.
OMD were effectively retired for the latter part of the 1990's while Andy McCluskey focused on management and production, most notably for the girl pop trio Atomic Kitten who scored a No. 1 hit single in 2001 with the McCluskey co-written song Whole Again.
Finally, deciding the time was right for an OMD revival, Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys reunited alongside former band members Mal Holmes and Martin Cooper. In 2007 they embarked on an extensive UK and European tour showcasing their classic Architecture & Morality album. As well as playing the album in its entirety, the band also presented a stage show of their most classic hits to a spectacular visual backdrop.
The 2007 Architecture & Morality tour served as a reminder of what an engaging band OMD were live. They had lost none of the power or the impact that they had demonstrated on those early 80's performances. With a new album on the way and more live performances scheduled for the future, OMD continue to delight and entertain audiences globally.

Album Notes:
The Best of OMD is a compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1988. Despite the band's waning popularity both in the UK and abroad, it sold extremely well.
The version of "Electricity" used is the same as the one featured on their debut album (which itself is the band reworking Martin Hannett's original Factory version). The band were originally going to use their very first version of this song, but found the drumming to be inferior and so settled for the remix of the track instead. "Messages" is the more popular 10" single version. "Tesla Girls" and "Talking Loud and Clear" are both 7" edited versions. The Australian version of the album featured "We Love You" since that song had been a popular hit there.
The CD, MiniDisc and DCC versions of the album are resequenced and feature four extra tracks not present on the LP version: "Telegraph" (a unique mix differing from the album version), "Genetic Engineering", "La Femme Accident (12")" and "We Love You (12")".

Tracklisting:
01. Electricity
02. Messages
03. Enola Gay
04. Souvenir
05. Joan Of Arc
06. Maid Of Orleans
07. Telegraph
08. Tesla Girls
09. Locomotion
10. Talking Loud And Clear
11. So In Love
12. Secret
13. If You Leave
14. Forever Live And Die
15. Dreaming
16. Genetic Engineering
17. We Love You (12" Version)
18. La Femme Accident (12" Version)
Total Time: 01:13:44
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Smokie - Midnight Cafe (Remastered & Expanded Edition)

Smokie - Midnight Cafe [Remastered & Expanded Edition]
Release: 2007/Orig. Year: 1976 | Number: GLAM CD 38
Label: 7T's Records | Genre: Glam rock, Rock 'n' roll, Soft rock| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Flac + Covers | Size: 439 MB

Album Notes:
“This 1976 follow-up to the successful Changing All the Time finds Smokie pursuing the same kind of country-flavored pop that made that album a hit. With Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman once again in the producer's chairs, the band produced some notable hits in Europe: "Something's Been Making Me Blue" layers Smokie's trademark harmonies atop a rousing country-rock tune driven by tasty guitar work, and "Wild Wild Angels" is a dramatic power ballad that highlights a strong lead from whiskey-throated vocalist Chris Norman.

Smokie also scored a hit with "I'll Meet You at Midnight," a surprising departure from their usual formula where the band plays a backup role to a dramatic, French-styled string arrangement that sets the melody.
Despite these strong hits, the remainder of Midnight Cafe hits a few rough spots: "Make Ya Boogie" is a dull and overlong boogie rock tune that could have been performed by any rock band, and the attractive melody of "Poor Lady (Midnight Baby)" is marred by mean-spirited and misogynistic lyrics that mercilessly skewer the down-on-her-luck groupie of the title. Despite these occasional lapses in quality, Midnight Cafe does offer some decent tunes between the hit singles: "When My Back Was Against the Wall" is a dreamy ballad driven by an ethereal string arrangement, and the epic "Going Home" allows the bandmembers to stretch out and show off their formidable instrumental chops. In the end, the album serves up enough solid tunes to satisfy the group's fans, but casual listeners may want to track down the album's hits on a Smokie compilation.---allmusic.com”

Tracklisting:
01. Something's Been Making Me Blue
02. Wild Wild Angels
03. Poor Lady (Midnight Baby)
04. When My Back Was Against The Wall
05. Make Ya Boogie
06. Stranger
07. What Can I Do
08. Little Lucy
09. Going Home
Bonus Tracks:
10. Train Song
11. The Loser
12. I'll Meet You At Midnight
13. Miss You
14. Living Next Door To Alice
15. Run To You
Total Time: 01:02:00

Chris Norman Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Alan Silson Guitar, Vocals
Peter Spencer Drums, Saxophone, Vocals
Terry Uttley Bass, Vocals
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Thanks to vizZza

Metallica - Metallica [SHM-CD]

Metallica - Metallica [SHM-CD]
SHM-CD Release: Sep 12, 2008 (Orig. Year: 1991 | Number: UICY 91073
Label: Universal Music (Orig Label: Vertigo) | Genre: Metal Rock
Size: 502 MB | Mono/Stereo: 2 Channel | Japan Remastered
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Wav + Covers

The Album Notes:
Metallica's fifth studio release was soon flying off the shelves in 1991 when this self titled masterpiece hit the stores. With virtually no radio airplay, this lot was packing arena's before MTV ever heard of them, and this album introduced Metallica to the World. With James Hetfield's lyrics and voice now more tuned than a Grand Piano, Kirk Hammett's guitar work second to none, and Lars Ulrich on this album in I believe proved himself as a world class drummer. Jason Newsted shows his emerging brilliance with some bass pieces. This album features the unforgettable riffs of Enter Sandman, the classic hybrid between Acoustic and Electric with The Unforgiven, Metallica's first love song in Nothing Else Matters, a single which according to James Hetfield hit the Sushi House Roof in Japan in Wherever I May Roam. The band toured on this for over two years, one of the longest tours in Rock history, matched with Guns N' Roses epic Use Your Illusion tour and this was Metallica beginning to achieve what they set out to do. Take Over The World!

TrackListing:
01. Enter Sandman
02. Sad But True
03. Holier Than Thou
04. The Unforgiven
05. Wherever I May Roam
06. Don't Tread on Me
07. Through the Never
08. Nothing Else Matters
09. Of Wolf and Man
10. TheGod That Failed
11. My Friend of Misery
12. TheStruggle Within
13. So What (Bonus Track)
Total Time: 01:05:46

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Thanks to toejam

VA - The Final Star FM Treasures [StarFM 97.1]

VA - The Final Star FM Treasures [StarFM 97.1]
Release Date: 1995 | Size: 392 MB | Genre: Pop, Pop/Rock
Included: EAC + CUE + FLAC + Covers | Lossless 878 Kbps

"The Final Star FM Treasures" is the 5th compilation by popular Greek radio-station of Thessaloniki “StarFM 97.1" with 15 Songs Treasures.

Tracklisting:
01. Tommy Page - A Shoulder To Cry
02. Peabo Bryson - When You Talk To Me
03. Downes & Price - New York Hold Her Tight
04. Firefall - Strange Way
05. Lobo - I' d Love You To Want Me
06. Chris Rea - Fool (If You Think It's Over)
07. Joey Scarbury - Believe It Or Not
08. Fotomaker - Where Have You Been All My Life
09. T.G. Sheppard - You're Going Out Of My Life
10. Josie Cotton - Jimmy Loves Maryann
11. Aztec Camera - Working In A Goldmine
12. England Dan & John Ford Coley - Love Is The Answer
13. Ornella Vanoni - Perduto
14. Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind
15. Spinners - Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl
Total Time: 01:01:39
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Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - The Best Of: Private Investigations [SHM-CD]

Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - The Best Of: Private Investigations [SHM-CD]
SHM-CD Release: 2008/Orig. Year: 2005 | Number: UICY-90854
Label: Universal/Mercury Records | Genre: rock| Stereo
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Flac + Covers | Size: 516 MB

Album Notes:

Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler is a 2005 best of album. Named after their 1982 hit single, it consists of material by Dire Straits, with songs selected from most of the group's studio albums from 1978 up to the group's dissolution in 1995 (excluding the 1979 album Communiqué). It also features work from the solo career of the lead guitarist and singer, Mark Knopfler, including some of his soundtrack material.
Since the 1970s Mark Knopfler has been carving out a niche for himself as a distinctive and much-admired songwriter and guitarist, first with his band Dire Straits and later as a solo artist. This 2-disc set collects many of the highlights from both phases of Knopfler's career. With a deft, fingerpicking style that references bluegrass, jazz, blues, and rock, Knopfler's guitar playing sounds like no one else's. And his literate, evocative pop songs and understated, Dylan-esque vocal delivery are by no means run of the mill either. Nestled between his best-known tunes ("Sultans of Swing;" "Money for Nothing"), are gems like the grooving "Skateaway," the jazzy, minor-key "Your Latest Trick," and the instrumental "Going Home." While PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS is not comprehensive in terms of either the Dire Straits catalogue or its leader's solo output, it is an excellent sampler of Knopfler's talents.
The only previously unreleased track on the album is "All The Roadrunning", a duet with country music singer Emmylou Harris. The US version omits "Darling Pretty", but adds "Skateaway".

This album was released in four different versions:
* A single disc (Grey cover)
* A two-disc compilation (Blue cover)
* A two-disc compilation together with a booklet (Gold cover)
* A two-disc LP with tracks from the single disc CD version
Personnel include: Mark Knopfler; Dire Straits; Emmylou Harris.

Tracks: [Not the same as US released 2 disc set]
01. Sultans Of Swing
02. Love Over Gold
03. Romeo & Juliet
04. Tunnel Of Love
05. Private Investigations
06. Money For Nothing
07. Brothers In Arms
08. Walk Of Life
09. On Every Street
10. Going Home (Theme From The Local Hero)
11. Why Aye Man
12. Boom, Like That
13. What It Is
14. All The Roadrunning - duet with Emmylou Harris
Total Time: 01:17:25
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Thanks to toejam

Toto - Super Hits

Toto - Super Hits
Release: April 17, 2001 | Label: Columbia/Legaly | Number: CK 85347
Mono/Stereo: 2 Channel | Genre: Rock, Pop/Rock,
Included: EAC Log + CUE + Wav + Covers | Size: 338 MB

Biography:

Toto was a Grammy Award winning American rock band founded in 1977 by some of the most popular and experienced session musicians of the era. The band enjoyed great commercial success in the 1980s, beginning with the band's self-titled debut, released in 1978, which immediately brought the band into the mainstream rock spectrum of the time. Continuing with 1982's critically acclaimed and commercially successful Toto IV, Toto became one of the biggest selling music groups of their era. They also composed the theme music for the film Dune. Although their popularity in the United States diminished in the 1990s and 2000s, they continued to tour and sold out arenas, clubs, and theaters internationally. Toto was known for their technical prowess in the studio, as well as a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard rock, R&B, and jazz, and although they were regularly associated with the soft rock genre, and particularly the neo-progressive rock genre, this broad array of musical styles helped them appeal to a variety of musicians and non-musician listeners. The band released 17 albums and have sold over 30 million records to date. Their 18th release Falling In Between Live, was released in August 2007. It had been recorded in March 2007 in Paris. As a result of guitarist Steve Lukather's departure from the band, Toto broke up after the last leg of their 2008 tour.

Tracklisting:
1. Hold the Line
2. Rosanna
3. Africa
4. Georgy Porgy
5. Live for Today - Toto, Steve Lukather
6. 99
7. Without Your Love
8. St. George and the Dragon
9. Isolation - Toto, Fergie Frederiksen
10. I'll Be Over You - Toto, Randy Goodrum

Total Time: 00:45:22
Producer: Bruce Dickinson (Compilation)

Official band members:
* Steve Lukather - guitars, vocals, keyboards, mandolin (1977–2008)
* David Paich - keyboards, vocals (1977–2008)
* Bobby Kimball - vocals, occasional keyboards (1977–1984; 1998–2008)
* Mike Porcaro - Bass guitar, cello (1982–2008)
* Simon Phillips - Drums, percussion, keyboards (1992–2008)
* Greg Phillinganes - keyboards, vocals (2005–2008)
* David Hungate - Bass guitar (1977–1982)
* Fergie Frederiksen - Vocals (1984–1985)
* Steve Porcaro - keyboards, synthesizers, vocals (1977–1988)
* Joseph Williams - Vocals (1986–1989)
* Jeff Porcaro - Drums, percussion (1977–1992; his death)
* Jean-Michel Byron - Vocals (1990–1991)
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