`Shapes And Sounds' offers seventeen performances taped in BBC studios between 1967 and 1969 for radio shows such as `Top Gear' and Saturday Club', as well as some of the weekly Radio 1 programmes. This release, on both LP and CD, features six bands, all of whom will be familiar to collectors of psychedelia and pop of the period, some of which are lauded as being amongst the most rated groups of their time. For many pride of place will go to Kaleidoscope, as `Shapes And Sounds' features two tracks that are missing from the BBC's Transcription Service archive. Thanks to the recent discovery of a transcription disc, Top Sounds are privileged to offer a choice version of the band's most contagious single `Jenny Artichoke', as well as a stupendous rendition of the `Faintly Blowing' cut `Music'. Also thought lost and making their debut on record and CD are three splendid tracks by Tomorrow featuring Keith West, sourced from two editions of `Top Gear' in October 1967 and February 1968. Included are excellent renditions of `Blow Up',`Colonel Brown' and `Real Life Permanent Dream'. `Shapes And Sounds' also offers the four remaining Timebox session tracks from the Beeb archives, which include an admirable slice of blue eyed soul in their cover of the Young Rascals' `A Girl Like You', which the band never recorded outside of the BBC. The Montanas' selections feature a superior rendering of `A Step In The Right Direction' , as well as some cracking Moby Grape covers and a Kenny Lynch / Mort Schuman penned `You're Never Gonna Get My Lovin'. Of all these numbers from their repertoire, only `A Step In The Right Direction' ever appeared on a single. Gentle Influence impress with their BBC only cover of Curtis Mayfield's `You've Been Cheatin', as well as a very good version of their last single `Always Be A Part Of My Living'. The Spectrum offer a fuzz guitar spiked performance of `Headin' For A heatwave' which is more virile and much more atmospheric than the 45 version, and they enthusiastically rip through a Beeb only take of the Artwoods favourite `I Take What I Want'.
The sound quality is absolutely superb throughout, with nearly every track sourced from original BBC Transcription records and though few of the tracks on the collection needed much enhancement at all, all have been professionally restored and mastered. The presentation is immaculate and the CD has a twenty four page booklet packed with illustrations, band histories and listings of all their known BBC sessions. All the selections on this release were specially recorded for the BBC during the late 1960s and in many cases are better than the familiar released versions, and appear here on CD and vinyl for the first time. All copies are hand numbered and `Shapes And Sounds' is a legitimate limited edition release, licensed from the BBC with the blessing / co-operation of no less than nineteen band members.
1. Jenny Artichoke - Kaleidoscope
2. You've Been Cheatin' - Gentle Influence
3. Hey Grandma - Montanas
4. Beggin' - Timebox
5. Headin' For A Heatwave - Spectrum
6. Colonel Brown - Tomorrow & Keith West
7. Stay There - Timebox
8. Step In The Right Direction - Montanas
9. Blow Up - Tomorrow & Keith West
10. Girl Like You - Timebox
11. You're Never Going To Get My Lovin' - Montanas
12. Real Life Permanent Dream - Tomorrow & Keith West
13. Music - Kaleidoscope
14. Omaha - Montanas
15. I Take What I Want - Spectrum
16. Yellow Van - Timebox
17. Always Be A Part Of My Living - Gentle Influence
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http://rapidshare.com/files/45936723/VAORBF.part2.rar
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