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christian
First Love
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
 Posted - 13/03/2007 : 22:40:26
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Hello there,
I picked up the Elektra/Warner UK 'Digital CD Remaster' (2002) of Foursail the other day & whilst I was more than pleased with the quality of the songs I was less pleased with the job that Warner had done with the remastering.
The sound (especially on the left channel) is very patchy on many of the songs. At first I thought this was due to the fact that it was originally produced on the cheap, in a makeshift sound-studio which (I read) Arthur rented out & that the problems with the sound quality had originated there.
I'm not so sure about this now though as I had the opportunity to check out the Rhino 'Love Story' compilation today which contains a selection of tracks from Foursail. The sound quality on the 'Love Story/Foursail' tracks is pretty good. These are said to be Arthur's original mixes, as opposed to the Warner UK, CD remaster which is taken from the mixes that Elektra did.
Has anyone else noticed the poor sound quality on the UK compact disc remaster? Was this a problem that originated in production by Arthur/Elektra or was it just a botched remastering job by Warner? Is it possible to buy a CD issue of Foursail with good sound quality (eg: non UK release)?
Sorry for the essay (& questions!) it's just that I really like this album and would like to get a better sounding copy to add to my collection.
Thanks, Chris. |
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The sweet disorder
Fourth Love
United Kingdom
123 Posts |
Posted - 14/03/2007 : 10:32:41
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Hi Christian,
I also have the remastered UK version and like you thought the mix was patchy. A lot of people on this board (quite rightly) are impressed by Four Sail, however, I assumed the mix I had was based on poor production and the poor production let the album down completely.....Judging by what you are saying though..I may be wrong!!! |
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ommadawn
First Love
8 Posts |
Posted - 20/03/2007 : 21:26:00
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| There was a version releassed on Thunderbolt Records in the 90's, but I've never heard it - this may sound better... |
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radiopete
First Love
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 24/03/2007 : 20:46:07
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Having only heard the vinyl and the 2002 Warner Brothers CD, I only hear a slight improvement in sound with the CD. The acoustic guitar in "Singing Cowboy" is more distinct. Perhaps the background vocals could be enhanced some more. For me, the uneven or awkward mixing appears in the bonus track/ alternate mix of "Talking in my Sleep". Now you have me wondering how much better this album could have sounded. This discussion reminds me of Neil Young's comments on NPR's "Fresh Air" a few years ago regarding what he considers the horrendous mixing of Buffalo Springfield tracks from the same era; and how a better mix would have kept the material better preserved and more relevant today. Is this mixing issue why "Four Sail" tracks never see the light of day on "classic rock" or any other music mix formatted stations? (Please see my comments on the General Topics page under "Little or No Airplay For Arthur's Brilliance").
On a bad day, I still place "Four Sail" alongside any album from the day, especially albums that continue to be noticed over the airwaves. I do not believe the issue of production or shoddy production is to blame for this amazing oversight by an entire culture. |
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astrolobe33
Fifth Love
USA
381 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2007 : 21:15:06
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quote:
Originally posted by John9
For me the recent Warner-Rhino edition was so very welcome. The sound may not be quite perfect but it is far superior to that of the Thunderbolt edition that appeared in the late 1980's. Although this was welcomed at the time, when you compare its shoddy artwork and incorrect information with superb booklet that accompanies the subsequent release then there really is no contest. Like all the other contributors to this topic, I really like the music - especially 'Nothing'(which I saw Love do live in Liverpool in 1975) and I'm With You'(which had the 1969 reviewers acclaiming the band as a second Byrds)
Just out of curiosity, what was the incorrect info on the former re-release?
I've been a big fan of Four Sail for years and years, and in the past few it's even been growing on me at an accelerating rate, moreso than the first three, which I probably reached a certain level of saturation with earlier on, playing the grooves right off 'em.
I also realize now that up until recent years, even though I liked it a lot, in my mind I was never able to quite fully register Four Sail as an actual Love album, for all the typical reasons.
Now I do. |
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myoungish
Fifth Love
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2007 : 04:31:20
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It's been said time, time, time and again, but Four Sail is an unsung and sublime masterpiece. I still don't understand why its been almost consistently slammed in the press. Lazy journalism, if you ask me. I mean....Always See Your Face, August, Robert Montgomery? I dare say those mighty songs stand up to all the heavyweights from the class of '69.
Michael Young |
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rocker
Old Love
USA
2134 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2007 : 20:52:05
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| ....looks like after all these years "Four Sail" has become a "found" album.....another album coming from out "under the Love radar".....hey I'm With You"... |
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myoungish
Fifth Love
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2007 : 07:23:46
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I've heard people say that Arthur had lost the plot and was past his prime by Four Sail. He was TWENTY FOUR(!) when it was recorded. And Always See Your Face is perhaps the loveliest, most haunted love ballad I know.
Michael Young |
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floweringtoilet
First Love
19 Posts |
Posted - 18/04/2007 : 21:08:50
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| I think you have to keep in mind that Four Sail was recorded at a makeshift studio with equipment Arthur rented on his own. The sound of the album has always been a little murky, though the mix is good. I don't hear any big problems with the FS CD reissue, but I highly recommend the Sundazed reissue if you have a turntable. The UK Elektra Masters reissue CD is worth it for the liner notes and photos alone. If you have that and the Rhino Love Story anthology, then you have almost the complete album in both Arthur Lee's original mix, and Elektra's mix with added reverb. |
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ThomasGalasso
Old Love
USA
708 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2007 : 05:26:12
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I can recall finding Four Sail extremely awkward upon my first listen, even the opening track "August" hit me a bit odd. However, I did walk away thinking about not only that song but "Good Times".
The thing with Four Sail is that not only are we departing the Forever Changes orchestral folk sound, but we are entering a whole new group with a whole new playing style.
Four Sail is not as "psychedelic" for lack of a better term, and not nearly as clever, but it is a solid piece of very grown up rock. Very mature music with lots of jazz chords that may make a 16 year old kid expecting more DaCapo fun to be a bit alienated. Now DaCapo definetly can be classified as a sort of jazz-rock album, but Four Sail blends elements of country as well, and can be almost viewed as what we now term "math rock".
Its a different Love that is a lot more stiff, and a lot more wooden in a jazz way, meaning its still a good thing. The songs are beautiful and George Suranovich is probably the greatest rock drummer of all time to be such a forgotten name.
-Thomas
Here is what I really wanted to say, and some people may want my head for even suggesting this, but when people ask or talk about Gethsemane and what it may have sounded like, my answer is imagine Four Sail, as played by Johnny Echols and the original lineup. It would not have been as precise and math-like, it would have maybe had a slightly more organic sound as with the songs "Your Mind and We Belong Together" and of course "Laughing Stock".
Many people were alive and into Love when Forever Changes transferred into Four Sail and just never got over the change. Four Sail is an amazingly strong album that joins the ranks of lots of prog rock out at that time, and had Arthur toured harder and put more work into the Out Here record, then they would have been bigger hits, even though both albums charted higher than Forever Changes. |
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Foursail - Remaster ???
