Back catalogue: Rock

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


One of the best-selling albums of all time, Hotel California could be considered the pinnacle of American rock, at least in terms of success and sales. Ranked the 118th Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone, certified by RIAA as the third best-selling LP in history, and considered the foundation on which the Golden State's mid-70s music scene was built, the 1976 landmark is a music staple immune to shifts in trends, eras, and styles. Fearlessly addressing the chaos and consequences of American life, its songs remain strikingly prescient and gain credence with each passing day. Now reissued as a box set by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab; mastered from the original analog master tapes; pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and limited to 17,500 numbered copies.

Review: Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon is one of the great albums that captures the essence of the late '60s counterculture with poetic grace and introspective depth. Released in 1970, the record blends folk, pop, and jazz influences while showcasing Mitchell's unique artistry. Iconic tracks like 'Big Yellow Taxi,' 'Woodstock,' and 'The Circle Game' highlight her sharp lyrical wit and melodic inventiveness. Overall, the music paints vivid portraits of life in Laurel Canyon and celebrates themes of love, loss, and social change. Mitchell's ethereal vocals and intricate guitar work make Ladies of the Canyon an essential listen that cemented her legacy as a pioneering singer-songwriter.

Review: Lou Reed's Berlin is a visceral journey into the darkness of human relationships, now reissued on 180g vinyl. Initially overlooked upon its 1973 release, the album has since gained recognition for its journey into the toxic dynamics of a crumbling relationship, blending autobiographical elements with poetic flair. The album, produced by Bob Ezrin and featuring top-tier musicians like Steve Winwood and Jack Bruce, is a symphony of emotional turmoil set against rich, orchestral arrangements. This reissue, sourced from the original master tapes, brings the album's intricate details to life with unprecedented clarity. Reed's voice, raw and immediate, conveys the torment of his characters, while the musicians' contributions add depth and tension to the narrative. Tracks like 'Caroline Says II' and 'The Bed' explore themes of despair, violence, and regret with unflinching honesty. Berlin remains a haunting exploration of life's darker sides, made even more poignant by its lush, yet ominous, musical landscape, and is surely one of Reed's most impactful works.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Lou Reed's Berlin is a visceral journey into the darkness of human relationships, now reissued on 180g vinyl. Initially overlooked upon its 1973 release, the album has since gained recognition for its journey into the toxic dynamics of a crumbling relationship, blending autobiographical elements with poetic flair. The album, produced by Bob Ezrin and featuring top-tier musicians like Steve Winwood and Jack Bruce, is a symphony of emotional turmoil set against rich, orchestral arrangements. This reissue, sourced from the original master tapes, brings the album's intricate details to life with unprecedented clarity. Reed's voice, raw and immediate, conveys the torment of his characters, while the musicians' contributions add depth and tension to the narrative. Tracks like 'Caroline Says II' and 'The Bed' explore themes of despair, violence, and regret with unflinching honesty. Berlin remains a haunting exploration of life's darker sides, made even more poignant by its lush, yet ominous, musical landscape, and is surely one of Reed's most impactful works.

Review: Mobile Fidelity's 180g 33RPM LP reissue elevates the album's sonic experience by sourcing it from the original analogue master tapes. Pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, the reissue boasts pristine sound, revealing the intricate details of Santana's dynamic arrangements. Carlos Santana's guitar work, rich in clarity and precision, soars with newfound definition, making his signature solos and leads stand out even more vividly. Inner Secrets, Santana's 1978 album, marked a significant shift towards the rock mainstream, featuring three Top 100 singles and showcasing a more focused, streamlined sound. This period saw Santana transition from their earlier fusion-heavy style to more accessible, radio-friendly material, packing complex passages and passionate performances into tighter song structures, with no track exceeding six minutes.Notable contributions from new band members, including Pete Escovedo on percussion and Chris Solberg on multi-instrumental duties, further shape the album's sound, complementing Graham Lear's sharp drumming and David Margen's groovy bass lines. Highlights include covers like Buddy Holly's 'Well All Right' and the Four Tops' 'One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)'. Greg Walker's raw, soulful vocals bring an edge to the music, embodying the "street and church" quality Carlos Santana admired. Inner Secrets serves as a powerful milestone in Santana's evolution.

Review: Santana's Caravanserai, sourced from the original analogue master tapes, offers a definitive sound experience with Mobile Fidelity's 180g 33RPM LP, presenting superb detail, clarity, airiness and naturalism. Released in 1972, the album marks Carlos Santana's foray into jazz fusion, inspired by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, an adventurous move that paid off, establishing Santana as a visionary. Featuring tracks like 'Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation' and 'Song of the Wind,' the album blends rock, Latin, jazz and funk, creating a cosmic, hopeful, and liberating atmosphere. The production, led by Santana and drummer Mike Shrieve, is enhanced in this reissue, revealing microdynamics and an intimate presence. The record's metaphysical vibe is evident in songs such as 'All the Love in the Universe' and the epic 'Every Step of the Way.' Caravanserai is an album of cohesive focus, melody, and groove, demanding both heart and mind. It invites listeners into a harmonious universe, reflecting spiritual and soulful depth. The final Santana record to feature Neil Schon and Greg Rollie for over four decades, it shows the band's unified collective spirit, making this reissue an immersive adventure into both the known and unknown.

Review: Standing as one of Santana's most remarkable live albums, capturing the band's extraordinary chemistry and virtuosic performances during their 1973 tour. Originally released in Japan and not available domestically until much later, this triple LP remains a definitive document of the band's fusion period, blending Latin, Afro-Cuban, jazz, rock and psychedelic elements. The album showcases the thrilling improvisations and spiritual depth of the eight-piece lineup, featuring legendary tracks like 'Every Step of the Way', 'Toussaint L'Overture' and an incendiary 'Incident at Neshabur'. The reissue, sourced from the original master tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl, offers audiophile-quality sound, enhancing the clarity and balance of the performance. The dynamic range, rich bass and vivid percussion are rendered with exceptional presence, offering an immersive listening experience. With the inclusion of seven previously unreleased tracks, Lotus captures the band at its peak, delivering both precision and passion. This reissue is a stunning tribute to Santana's pioneering fusion era and in its most complete and unique packaging yet.

Review: Carlos Santana was one of the most prolific artists of the 1970s and 80s, and later in that period is when he released his fourth solo album. After a relentless pace of an average of more than an album per year since his band's 1969 debut, this Grammy-winning effort was his last release before a well-earned break in that run. The largely instrumental album showcases Santana's signature guitar tones with plenty of signature soulful energy and masterful control over his playing. He was supported by a stellar lineup including Tony Williams, Alphonso Johnson, Buddy Miles and Orestes Vilat and Mobile Fidelity's limited reissue presents the album with audiophile sound quality that reveals enhanced clarity and the intricate details of Santana's playing.

Review: The 1973 album Love Devotion Surrender marks the singular collaboration between guitar legends Carlos Santana and Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, resulting in a spiritually charged masterpiece. This reissue from Mobile Fidelity unties both of the artist's quest for enlightenment, drawing inspiration from John Coltrane's work and their shared devotion to Indian guru Sri Chinmoy. Sourced from the original analog master tapes, this reissue showcases the album's intricate sonic landscape with remarkable clarity. The dynamic interplay between Santana and McLaughlin, with Santana predominantly on the left and McLaughlin on the right, creates an wonderful live listening experience. The album’s varied tempos and tones, ranging from delicate acoustic passages to powerful bursts of percussion, are brought to life with extraordinary realism. Featuring interpretations of Coltrane classics like 'A Love Supreme' and 'Naima,' as well as original compositions, the album blends jazz, rock, and gospel elements. Larry Young, credited as Khalid Yasin, delivers standout organ accompaniment, adding depth to the improvisational lines and ecstatic chords that define the record. Love Devotion Surrender remains a transcendent journey through sound, driven by two of music’s most visionary artists.

Review: Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends stands as a monumental achievement in music history, being a beacon of the late 1960s while exploring themes of relationships, identity, society, and mortality. This concept album transcends time, earning its place as one of the greatest records ever made. Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl edition, mastered from the original analogue tapes, elevates the album's brilliance, offering a listening experience that magnifies the intricate details of its recording sessions. The album opens with the gentle 'Bookends Theme,' setting a reflective tone before plunging into the experimental soundscapes of 'Save The Life Of My Child,' which brilliantly incorporates dialogue, street noises and an eerie echo of 'The Sound of Silence.' 'America' stands out as a heartfelt narrative, seamlessly flowing into the melancholic 'Overs.' The poignant 'Voices of Old People' and 'Old Friends' evoke nostalgia and contemplation, with the closing Bookends theme urging listeners to cherish their memories. Classic tracks like 'Mrs. Robinson' and 'A Hazy Shade of Winter' showcase the duo's signature sound, combining evocative guitar work and harmonized vocals. This reissue reaffirms Bookends as a timeless masterpiece, worthy of rediscovery and celebration.

Review: Van Halen's third release, Women & Children First, showcases the band coming into their own after their meteoric rice to fame in the late 70s. Originally released in 1980, the album made the top ten and sold over three million copies with little radio play and not even a top 40 song. The album is also ranked #36 in the top 100 Heavy Metal records of all time. Released on limited numbered 180 gram at 45RPM Audiophile SuperVinyl with the UltraDisc One-Step process spread across two records. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab US's pressing is perhaps the ultimate copy to have for the discerning audiophile.

Review: Van Halen's sophomore album, Van Halen II, receives the deluxe treatment here with this limited, numbered, 180 gram 45 rpm Audiophile SuperVinyl UltraDisc One-Step 2xLP box set. Originally released in 1979, the album showcases the band's electrifying blend of hard rock and heavy metal, propelled by Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary guitar work and David Lee Roth's charismatic vocals. With classics like 'Dance the Night Away' and 'Beautiful Girls,' the album captures the band at the peak of their powers. Remastered for vinyl with meticulous attention to detail, this deluxe edition offers audiophiles a pristine listening experience, making it a must-have for collectors and fans alike.