Remote Control Expanded Edition

This band was so incredibly ahead of it's time it's almost forgivable for the public to have looked past them. Almost..... The last release during the A&M Era of the band, this ambitious concept album was daring and bold and full of awesome tunes. I had the American Beat reissue before this and man, someone wasn't having a good day that day. Whoever mastered it literally had to turn up the volume during the middle of "Turn Me On". I thought it was an effect but when I got this I found the overall sound to be much stronger right from the get-go. The keyboard sounds on here are cutting edge for '79 and you could see the band ready to embrace the 80's. People always consider that the first "commercial" album the band did was "The Completion Backwards Principle", but you can really see and hear some of those commercial leanings showing up here. How this album didn't spawn 2 or 3 hit singles is beyond me. Even the ballad "Love's a Mystery (I Don't Understand)" could have KILLED at Proms around the country, but for some reason it didn't. Also included are four track from the aborted "Suffer For Sound", an album that A&M rejected. After hearing them, I am confounded as to why they didn't think that the tunes didn't have potential. I guess it's a mystery that I don't understand..............

To me, Remote Control was the Tubes "Sgt Pepper" moment. Led by producer Todd Rundgren everything just came together on this album - the songwriting, the musicianship and the storytelling. As a concept album, most of the songs have a "television" theme to them. This Iconoclassic Records remaster by Vic Anesi sounds great. Mike Cotten's heavy synthesizer influence on many songs comes through loud and clear. Fee's vocals are some of his best on record. And as always Prairie Prince's drumming is spot on. The four tracks from the unreleased "Suffer for Sound" (or Black album) are a pleasant surprise too - I like them more each time I listen to them. A must have for every Tubes fan!

This remaster is pristine! I've got other versions on CD and this ones is tops. Actually all the iconoclassic remasters are supreme in sound quality. As far as remote control goes, it's an excellent listen all the way through. The bonus material is actually a great bonus. One of the best bonus tracks cds I've heard it really adds to an already great album. Anyway this band is criminally underrated and underappreciated, really super talented. Their top tier stuff is as good as anybody and remote control with the bonus songs is right up there.

Newly Remastered and full of bonus tracks! If you are a Tubes fan, you need this version of this record. Today, to fresh ears, it might sound a little dated since the whole era was still early days for synthesizers and the "futuristic" kind of sound they brought at the time. However, that can easily be forgiven because it's just part of a bigger, well-written and produced whole. The concept is loosely based on the book "Being There", and revolves around TV and what heavy viewing could do to someone. From the opening "Turn Me On", through the end to "Telecide", each song stands out on it's own while still pulling the whole story together. Some very strong songs, and great production (by Todd Rundgren). You can hear and feel the band climbing to the top of their craft, as the next 2 albums ("The Completion Backward Principle" and "Outside Inside") bring (too-short lived) commercial success. Some would say that this album was their best, and arguably it could be, despite coming before said commercial success.Buy this, and listen closely.

An amazing album ruined by toying with Rundgren's original EQ settings. Digital ruins everything.

Todd Rundgren is an interesting musician to say the least, so pairing him with the Tubes was a wise idea. Their songs up to this point were great (imho) but lacked the ability to be radio hits increasing their visibility. This album certainly did that with Turn Me On, Prime Time and TV is King. Overall it's a great album and was a great tour, loads of visuals. Too bad the only video of this tour is owned by someone else other than the Tubes. It would be great to see cleaned up in DVD. This version comes with 4 songs only previously available as bootlegs. If you like these guys this is one album you should already own.

Great songs by the Tubes that are dragged down with heavy use of synths and sampling.

This is a must-own album with four songs from the Black Album - granted they are my 4 least favorite songs from that record (why no Train of Pictures!?) but the reissue overall is stellar.Why The Tubes never received greater overall public love is beyond me - they are simply one of the best rock bands out there with an incredibly diverse sound and amazingly talented musicians.

I like this and its a good remaster and have a couple of extra tracks! I bought the album when it was out 78 and liked it, played it a lot. It has aged pretty well and is in a way a classic Tubes album but also at same time not. Its a classic album if you consider criticism of modern society (lyrics) thats typical The Tubes and band have its own sound but its also kind of a new sound in this comparing to the earlier ones Tubes did. Some like this a lot and some like the elder ones better.. some like these done after this record because of some hits. I like them all but as time goes I prefer when Bill Spooner also sings and its some acoustics but its very good. Why not a five star? Because a five star to me is "Young and Rich" and first album as this is a kind of rock opera and a lot of Todd Rundgren that produced this instead of Bill Spooner but its sure a good one and as I also had both the first CD version and that version that came later a remaster from BGO but this is the one to have about CDs.

Had this as a record and then a CD and now an allegedly remastered CD. Frankly the sound quality is little different to the original master I've had for years. Also the bonus tracks aren't special at all. Easy to see why A&M left that album in the can. The original album still stands up head and shoulders above everything else that the Tubes have ever done. Totally inspired compositions, performances and production. It deserves to be called a classic. Should be 5 stars but for the shonky remastering and weak bonus tracks.

I had this album on cassette when it first came out. Why has it taken me over thirty years to get the CD? The Tubes might not have been everyone's cup of tea, but I loved 'em then and am re-kindling the fondness. "Telecide" is the stand out track for me, as it doffs its cap to Peter Finch, as Howard Beale, in the film Network. Who couldn't love lines from a song about the excesses of TV news (and remember this is a thirty odd year old song) like "This one is so juicy….we're pre-empting Lucy" and "Comprehensive over views, eye-witness TV news, brought to you by Gucci Shoes".

Oh the memories this brings back!! Great album & though price was up & down like a Yo-Yo, finally got when down at good price. If you heard this album/followed the Tubes back in the late 70's 80's, then you'll love this; rather timeless 7 I don't think their music dates; punky/electronic/pop/rocky, they had a range of styles! Good music-buy it!

A fantastic remaster of one of my favourite albums. I was lucky enough to see The Tubes on two seperate occasions when they came ov, and not a weak track on iter to the UK, and I had this on vinyl. I bought Goin' Down The Tubes to get this album again, but this version is far better. Possibly The Tubes finest album,so go out and get it NOW!

Great quality and as described...love The Tubes even more the second time round! {under rated album in my humble opinion,} Todd Rundgren does an excellent job of refining without over producing.

I had this in vinyl when first released and thought it would have dated by now...but it hasn't.

This album sounds every bit as fresh today as it did when I bought it on vinyl 35 years ago. Vastly underrated it is simply brilliant. A concept album par excellence. After years of waiting for the CD version I am now in danger of wearing it out.

How happy am I? Ecstatic to have this on CD. Brought back so so so many happy memories of 30 plus years ago. They don't make 'em like this anymore....sadly. Dancing like there's nobody there which thankfully there isn't.

One of my favourite albums

Late seventies album which I had on vinyl and not on iTunes. CD received and all good. Nostalgia is good indeed

Commercial production and some good songs on here.

Nostalgia, don't you just love it?

The Tubes at their height - and their best !

Von allen Tubes Alben, ist mir dieses das allerliebste, kritisch, wie gewohnt, dennoch mit eingängigen doch passenden Melodien. Ich besitze außerdem den ersten Relase des Vinyl-Album's der Zeit, was mich lange Jahre des Wartens auf die CD - Version hat ungeduldig werden lassen, da ich die Scheibe lange nicht hören konnte. Ein sehr empfehlenswertes Album, für Fan's ein MUSS für andere nicht weniger als interessant! Die Band war ihrer Zeit immer etwas voraus ;-)