Rewind / Realization

Yes, It has Remastered from Original Master Tapes. Faithfully Restored Artwork and Additional Sleeve Notes, Super. In 1968, Johnny Rivers released the marvelous album Realization. This great record stands as one of the most underrated albums of the 1960s. There were so many great songs on this record we wanted to present on this top 10 Johnny Rivers songs list, but there was just not enough room. However, we think you will really enjoy this fantastic song “Summer Rain.” It’s one of the best recordings of Johnny River’s career. REALIZATION: Conceptual Masterpiece, This is one of the Absolutely MOST beautifully-crafted, and "fluently wrought", "Pieces of Art",that there EVER has been! Introspective, and Creatively "Put-Together", from the sounds of the "lapping waves against the shore", beginning of the First Song, "Hey Joe", eerily beautiful,and haunting, to "Look To your Soul", (fave of mine), and also; "The Way We Live";Lyric-Laden, and sumptuous, leading right into the gorgeous, "Summer Rain", and hauntingly rendered, "Whiter Shade Of Pale", it seamlessly flows. And THAT is only The First Side! >> Side Two, "kicks off" with," Brother, Where Are You", into another gem-laden, ballad- "Something Strange", followed by the "What's The Difference". The quietly, positive-sounding, "Going Back To Big Sur", rounds into the Final Cut, "Positively 4rth Street",as only Bob Dylan "wished he could sing only 1/2 as well,as Johnny Rivers. Outstanding Music Art.

i got this for "realization" but the two together go well. the rap against Johnny Rivers is that he did covers. this is such a bogus argument for dissing this great artist. if you hear a beautiful song beautifully performed why should it matter who wrote it? there are a lot of artists doing their own original music who should never be allowed to perform in public. Mr. Rivers does such an incredible job of turning wonderful songs into truly great pieces of music. his style brings out the best in the song, his back up instrumental artists turn one of my most favorite pieces "whiter shade of pale" into an ethereal wonder transcending my other most favorite version performed by Procol Harum. both versions are to be enjoyed for what they are - interpretations of the creative lyrical genius of keith reid. the same is true of his interpretation of "positively 4th street". i could listen to Dylan's version all day long only coming up for air and to listen to Johnny Rivers' version. enjoy this music for what it is now: a snapshot of an era that was both a time of great turmoil and creative genius in the music written and sung. i highly recommend it to be added to any collection from this era. it is also relective of the changes that were occurring in our society at the time - a maturity of the soul as we began the inner search into our individual and collective souls after the excesses of experimentation. there was definitely more of that to come for some but others found the lead from Mr. Rivers in his selection of songs here to move along the path. check out "going back to big sur", "look to your soul", "the way we live" "brother, where are you" and "something strange" are examples of thought provoking tunes found here. enjoy each gem found within this collection.

Never have I received as much enjoyment from a package as when I got this CD in the mail--it is absolutely great. I was 16 when I first got these JR albums, and I spent many a night in my room playing them over and over on my record player. I "fell in love" during this music (one of many times!) This CD has been in my car player ever since I got it out of my mailbox almost a month ago, and the enjoyment just keeps on coming. Was able to remember just about all the words to the songs and sing along now with just as much abandon as in the '60's! Went on line and bought tickets to a Johnny Rivers concert scheduled for October at the Hard Rock in Biloxi--can't get much more nostalgic than that! Highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants to take a sweet trip down memory lane.

I had a worn out copy of Realization on vinyl, and I always loved that album. When I saw that I could buy Realization and Rewind which was the previous album together on a single disc, I knew that I had to have it. Rewind has many Jimmy Webb songs on it. It is a great album also. Both albums sound fantastic with fine performances from Johnny Rivers and members of the Wrecking Crew backing him up. The wife and I play this disc all the time and it seems to put a smile on our faces as we sing along. Great stuff.

It was in the early '70 that I first listened to Johnny Rivers. Noticing the strange cover photo (Realization), I would pulled the LP out of my bothers record box and play the LP over and over saying; "this is good stuff!". `Summer Rain' being my favorite, this is very good stuff here. "We sailed into the sunset Drifted home caught by a gulf stream Never gave a thought for tomorrow Just let tomorrow be, now, let tomorrow be" (writen by James Hendricks)

I love Johnny's style and all kinds of songs by different writers and making them his own. When a really good singer does a song, it doesn't matter who the writer was. These are albums that sound like they were studio done after he did several live recordings. He was possibly discouraged from changing his style but he made a wise decision. Who doesn't like his two Motown remakes which are AS GOOD AS the Four Tops and Smokey Robinson/Miracles. Plus the Jim Webb songs which I have on the 5th Dimension albums. Johnny was a genius to discover and sign the 5th Dimension. Love all of his stuff. There are several slow songs on these but they are really good--fast or slow, he is the best!

Arrived in perfect condition, on time.

This double album set contains music mostly written by Jim Webb, and performed extremely well by Johnny Rivers. Most people think of Rivers for his song "Memphis", but this collaboration show his true talent in communication through music. I'd highly recommend anyone who appreciates music from the 70's to pick up this CD, you won't be disappointed.

Bella operazione dal costo contenuto,due dischi su un solo supporto di Johnny Rivers,cantante,autore e produttore di rock,specializzato anche in covers di brani altrui.Rivers aveva di base una duttilità tutta sua,poteva affrontare molti generi,i suoi dischi erano solitamente composti da covers,brani rock n'roll,blues,folk,r & b,tutti filtrati attraverso il suo particolare stile.Il CD contiene due album del periodo di maggiore successo di Rivers,Rewind del 1967 e Realization del 1968.In Rewind,Rivers è affiancato dall'allora giovanissimo Jimmy Webb,che si occupa dell'organizzazione e dell'addattamento di molti dei brani,alcuni composti da lui stesso,tutti improntati nello stile di Van Morrisom,il blue-eyed soul misto al rock,ottima risucita di brani tipicamente Motown come The track of my tears e Baby I need your loving,influenze tipicamente southern in Rosecrans Boulevard con delle ottime vocal harmonies,The eleventh song anche,ha una ottima riuscita,molto personale la cover di Simon,For Emily whenever I may find her. Realization,vede una limitata partecipazione di Webb,l'album è impostato su una psichedelia dolce,in alcune sue esternazioni piuttosto cupa,ha lo stile di un album concept dell'era hippie,una musica a volte ironica nella rivisitazione di brani che hanno segnato l'epoca della seconda metà dei '60,che spazia dall'hard alla ballata,anche la copertina è di gusto tipicamente psichedelico.I brani iniziano e terminano tra rumori di onde,di tuoni,di pioggia,che li legano l'uno all'altro.Grande partenza con Hey Joe con il suo inizio di banda paesana,che lascia poi spazio al brano stesso bello ed inquietante con la voce filtrata e riverberata,il brano termina tra rumore di tuoni ed il ritorno della banda,bellissima la ballata Summer rain introdotta dal rumore della pioggia,una stravolgente riedizione della hit dei Procol Harum,A whiter shade of pale(fantastica,con un feeling tutto particolare),che inizia su note di acustica ed un piano che suona quasi come un clavicembalo,l'r & b lento e psichedelico The way we live,la soul ballad Brother where are you di J.Brown,la ballatona hippie dedicata a Big Sur,Going back to Big Sur,la cover del brano di Dylan Positively 47th Street in versione jingle-jangle tipica del flower power con tanto di interventi di archi.Realization alla sua pubblicazione ebbe un notevole successo. Piuttosto buona la resa sonora del CD.

Johnny Rivers est surtout connu aux USA et en France pour un titre live « John Lee Hooker » sorti en 1969 avec deux ans de retard. Il a sorti des albums « live » et « studio » avec un égal succès. Ce CD regroupe deux albums studio à succès « Rewind » (#14 US en 1967) et « Realisation » (#5 US en 1968). Le premier album (11 titres) commence par une excellente reprise de « The tracks of my tears » (celle plus récente de Justin Haywards, des Moody blues, est meilleure) avant trois interprétations de Jimmy Webb, « Carpet man » (repris avec succès en 1968 par les 5th Dimension : #29 US), l’agréable « Tunesmith » et la délicate « Sidewalk ». Une belle ballade de Tim Hardin suit « It’ll never happen again » avant un retour à J. Webb avec l’excellent « Do what you gotta do ». Reprise en douceur du succès des Four Tops « Baby I need your loving » tout comme celle de « For Emily, whenever I may find her » de Simon & Garfunkel. Clôture de l’album avec trois compositions de Jimmy Webb, « Rosecrans boulevard », le mélodique « The eleventh song » (instrumental et chœur sans Johnny Rivers) et « Sweet smiling children ». L’album suivant (10 titres) commence par une version moyenne de « Hey Joe » dont Jimi Hendrix fera une adaptation bien plus percutante. La suite est nettement meilleure marquée par des compositions réussies de Rivers et Hendricks comme « Look to your soul », l’excellent « The way we live » et le chantant « Summer rain ». Il propose une très bonne reprise de « Whiter shade of pale ». Autres merveilles avec « Brother, where are you » et le délicat « Something’s strange » enchainé à la reprise de « What’s the difference » de Scott McKenzie (face b de « San Francisco »). Encore du plaisir avec « Going back to big sur » avant de clore l’album avec la reprise du succès de Bob Dylan « Positively 4th street ». Le succès de Johnny Rivers provient de sa voix et de son rythme qui lui permet de produire d’excellente interprétation de titres bien choisis avec des arrangements flatteurs toujours réussis. CD très plaisant s’écoute avec beaucoup de plaisir.

ジョニーリバースなかなか手に入らないですが、中古といえども新品同様で感謝。店舗も発送は迅速で、包装もしっかろ丁寧でした。