Original Album Series

So far, the EMI releases of this ultimate band have had obscure flaws. While most of the CDs have sounded good, and some excellent, and the recent Futurist Manifesto 1974 - 1978 improved slightly on all sound, the drawback has been that they never indicated really giving it their best technology [i.e. 24bit...etc.] and never indicated original master tapes as the source. While these may seem like moot points, it`s impossible for someone in loving familiarity with the unbelievable power of this music, as gained through original `70`s vinyl listening, to accept EMI`s unexplained carelessness on the following issues: Why do so many musically lesser bands get unlimited re-issue perfection? How, in the face of holding and yet not promoting, this incredible musical legacy, commercial-considerations be damned, no-one there was able to hear what they had: The one band that was able to push the evolution of music higher than where the Beatles had left it! The flaws on previous CD issues of Be Bop Deluxe as compared with Original Vinyl releases, and which I have ordered this Original Album Series in hopes that it remedies, include the fact that someone cut off the end of Soundtrack, which ends side 1 of Futurama. Also, the fade-out between tracks 2 and 3 of Drastic Plastic [which IS fantastic], was never included. Here`s to patience and living in hope...With further updates on whether they finally got it right. Sincerely, your friend - Jim. I`m adding a promised update: They still haven`t got it right, the sound and packaging is the best it`s ever been on CD, but they still cut off the end of Soundtrack. The Drastic Plastic transition seems a bit smoother. It`s a bonus that they`ve eliminated the uninspired and uninformed liner notes, and gone are other mistakes like placing Speed of the Wind as a bonus track on both Futurama and Sunburst Finish! Now, we wait again for someone to review Futurama`s original vinyl release, to study and understand why it`s never been successfully remastered. Then we hope you`ll get it right! Maybe you have to consult Roy Thomas Baker. Next, the COMPLETE singles AND B-sides, along with rarities like Teenage Archangel and Face in the Rain...etc. would be amazing! Thanks - Jim.

Kudos to Warner Music/ Rhino for this new addition to their “Original Album Series”, containing the Harvest label British release versions of all 5 of Be-Bop Deluxe’s studio albums from 1974-78. For those not familiar with this critically acclaimed, but not overly commercially successful band, their sound was a mix of glam, prog & straightforward rock, led by Bill Nelson (who at the time was considered one of the finest guitarists in England). Their first album, Axe Victim, was inadvertently quite Bowie-esque (Nelson so disliked the comparisons that he dissolved this first group to “pursue less commercial paths of expression”) ; 3 ½ years later, their final album, Drastic Plastic, skirted the new wave of the times (several of the songs would’ve fit comfortably on playlists w/ Roxy Music, The Cars, or The Stranglers).This European Union release has each cd album (as is standard with this series) slipped into a cardboard sleeve, a replica of the front/ back cover of the original release, which in turn are housed in a slightly larger box (about the size of a double cd jewel case). Bare bones: no booklet/ info; no non-LP tracks. Sound is excellent (remastered?? – no info is listed). And as is not always the case in this series, the volume playback level between albums is remarkably even, so I can make an even volume playlist of all my favorites for my portable device.

Could definitely use a great remastering for these discs but for the money and I was always an avid fan. There not to bad. My old vinyl still sounds great. These sound a little thin but not unlistenable. Not bad for rebuilding the memories though. If your looking for something new that is old, this is a good place to star.

Be Bop Deluxe was always a favorite of mine. I have seen them several times in concert and their shows are magnificent. These five CD's are what it is all about and they are as wonderful as when I first put the vinyl albums on my turntable. Bill Nelson's talent on guitar as well as his ability to weave a concept throughout the entire album is outstanding. Get this set. You will not be disappointed.

A great band that ended way too soon. Saw them on their last tour and it's a favorite memory.The set is a great collection of their studio albums. Also get Live In The Air Age to fully appreciateBill Nelson's great band. Never felt his solo stuff lived up to Be Bop Deluxe.

Just what I needed for some long drives and Adventures in my own Yorkshire Landscapes Be Bop Deluxe should have a reunion world tour , and Make sure they play Tampa ..........

This is a very nice remastering of the original Be Bop Deluxe albums sans the bonus tracks that were included on the EMI releases...

Quality item. I like Be Bop Deluxe and was very happy to find their 4 main albums in one collection. The collection arrived in excellent condition and in a timely manner.

It's brilliant to hear these albums again, presented here in their 2004 remastered versions - sympathetically transferred from the original analogue masters and not brick walled to death. There are no extras, but at this price you can't argue with the value-for-money of this set. You also get CD-sized versions of the original album artwork (though sadly not the gatefolds) that are perfect for the car, if not your CD shelves, presented in a straightforward card slipcase. If you were around in the seventies, you'll be amazed how good this music is - particularly as it is now (happily) uncoupled from the glam-rock hairdos and Max Factor eye make-up of the early days. Yes, Be Bop had to suffer indignities for their art like every other band of the time - but the soaring guitar of Bill Nelson still sends shivers up the spine, always in service to the killer songs that he wrote. If you want the 'full monty' of Be Bop's output (as opposed to just the straight album-only content here), you can't go wrong by investing in 'Futurist Manifesto'. I bought both sets for under £30, which leaves some pocket money to invest in the third Be Bop set, 'At the BBC'….

Five Bebop albums for a give away price? What's not to like? A band caught in the wilderness years between Glam and Punk/New Wave, but by 'Drastic Plastic' Bill Nelson wisely dropped the fussy arrangements and started to get interesting and stripped back his guitar hero excesses - which ironically alienated a lot of the band's original audience. The first album, 'Axe Victim' has one of the best songs they ever did - 'Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape'. If you are not familiar with this band and like Bowie, Cockney Rebel but also, hard rock and Hendrix, you might like Bebop Deluxe - one of the most marginalised and underrated bands of their time.

The original album series, nothing extra, bought as a companion to my original vinyl. £12;99 is great value for a 5 disc box set of a very underrated band with one of my favourite guitarist and lyricist.

I really like these. I had heard them all individually before, but didn't have any of them. I think that BeBop Deluxe are underrated. There are clever, witty lyrics and fabulous playing, particularly Bill Nelson's guitar playing.I also enjoy how they were always changing and experimenting. Excellent!

I liked it was not bad condition but thought it was overpriced