Customer Reviews

Children of the Sun [Children of the Sun...Revisited]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you happen across this cd, although it is now listed as out of stock by Amazon, steer clear! Buy the import instead! While there is an additional track and the last 2 songs Free Enterprise and East of Edens Gate are good (especially the uptempo Enterprise)it is not the original COTS which can be found in its entirty on the import. This is trimmed, and not as good.But this album, in general, is really cool spaced out music, much like Billy Squier meets Pink Floyd!Way ahead of its time for a late 70's release!

Finally got my copy of "Revisited" today and am delighted! I was frustrated by the reviews of this item because they failed to impart any useful information to prospective buyers. Most have simply bitched about this not being the original title. Those of us who don't want to shell out $200 for the very rare original, want to know more about this one.

Here's what it is: "Children of the Sun...Revisited" is the entire, original recording of the COTS "suite" (as the liner notes call it). The "suite" being the entirety of Side 2 of the original album (the last 5 tracks on the 1979 COTS, the first 5 tracks on THIS disc). AGAIN THESE TRACKS ARE THE ORIGINAL RECORDINGS FROM 1979--NOT RE-RECORDINGS!

OK. Then there are 3 "new" (1987) tracks intended to complete the COTS conceptual story. They are cool, good songs that fit into the story nicely, but there's nothing revolutionary or mind-blowing about them. Having said that, this is the only place to get those 3 tracks. Finally, the disc ends with "East of Eden's Gate" the title track of Billy's out- of-print 1982 LP, his fourth and final foray into this genre of music. "Eden" was a rock radio staple back when and THIS IS THE ORIGINAL RECORDING (long version--nearly 7 minutes).

So "Revisted" is truly a gem and a collector's item in it's own right. For those of us who are interested only in his space rock phase and don't know anything about the Aztecs, this may be our only BT title until someone decides to reissue the late Mr. Thorpe's records on CD. Keep an eye open for them when that happens.

1979 Children of the Sun
1980 21st Century Man
1981 Stimulation
1982 East of Eden's Gate

This album is one of the all time classics. Just one listen and you will be hooked. This album of space travel and visitors from outer space should be in every serious collectors treasure chest. While the Digital version loses some of the effect, it is still hard to argue with the format of CD.

The Title is misleading, it's really "Children of the Sun - Revisited" which was recorded long after the original album. Even the shipping name remains "Children of the Sun". I returned it; be careful on your choice of return reasons - if it's your mistake you get charged return shipping. I believe Amazon has the original IMPORT now.

Amazon Canada are a bit confused with Billy Thorpe. They advertise Children of the sun (import) with picture of the (revisited) and they ship the (revisited). I was expecting the import version but this one will do the job.

Once in a while I like to listen to music by "theme of the day". On a rainy day, I would listen music with rain in it (The Doors-The Who-Iluvatar-Alan Parson's project etc...). On a nice spring day, I would listen music with nature sounds in it (rock music with crickets, barking dogs, mewing cats, jungle sounds, bird sounds, flowing water and wind, like Pink Floyd-Rush etc...). In december, around the longest night of the year I would go on a galactic theme (space rock, space techno or with space subjects (David Bowie, Galahad, Billy Thorpe etc...).

"Children of the sun" is my favorite song because of the atmosphere. Second favorite is "We welcome you" because of music. Third would be the more 80's keyboard oriented song "Turn it into love" and fourth is "East of Eden's gate"

A good album.

this is not children of the sun. I know because I have both. Revisited is ok, but it is NOT the original recording. you can check e-bay to track down the original one. It's is very hard to find.

Well,it beats the heck out of not being able to listen to it at all. The part that's the same is basically like what I remember. It does have the songs on the side of the original album that included Children of the Sun, but it doesn't have the songs that were on the other side of the original album. The new songs on this album are great songs in their own right. To sum it up: This album won't replace the original album but it's better than nothing at all and I'm happy with it for what it is.

Purchase was Perfect. Information said Ex. condition and in my opinion it was mint condition. Previous owner took Ex. care of it.

Yeah, I know the original 1979 album of "Children of The Sun" is available as NOT ONLY an expensive import with all the original tracks, but all the tracks here on "Children of the Sun...Revisited" is mastered better. I don't really remember the tracks of side one of the original, but I do like all the other tracks here on "...Revisited" which have come from other albums.

Of course, we have to have the title track, which is slightly remixed, but still sounds wonderful (well, let's just say acceptable), but I do remember the room-rumbling intro called "Solar Anthem" which was followed by "The Beginning" from the original album. Just having those two tracks alone, along with the title track, and mastered decently, makes this CD worth having. Even this CD may be out of print by now, so if you see it anywhere, even used, I suggest that you pick it up quickly. Billy Thorpe may be one of rock musics most forgotten Gods of rock, so I don't expect a re-release of this album or any kind of compilation in any near future. He's dead now too, so he's seriously what you would call HISTORY!

So here is my answer to the question, is there a COTS 3? Everyone knows that the last five on COTS is part 1, and 21st century man is part 2 (- the song "in my room" that closes it which is a about a boy in his room.) but is the last 4 on COTS revisited really part 3? let's take a look. East of edens gate is the title track from that album and never intended as part of COTS story , "earth calling" is basically saying we should wake up and do something before we destroy our planet. stretching things a bit it could be seen as a reprise to the story. doesnt strike me as part of it though. "turn it into love" is about a couple in a room tryin to do just that and "free enterprise" is about money,business and free enterpise. so how in the world could they be the "completion" of the story? there is nothing science fictional about any of them. I think they were just new studio tracks from billy. (also revisited strikes me as remastered,not remixed. I dont know. I have carefully compared the tracks and they seem to be original recordings remastered ,as a remix usually changes something fundamental to the sound, and these tracks seem identical but clearer,which is the point of a remaster) I'm sorry but Billy never completed the trilogy and if you must have one here it is: the last five on children of the sun = p.1, the first 3 on 21st century man = p.2 and finally tracks 4-6 on 21st century man is part 3 with rise completing the trilogy with wind noises the way it started. "In my room" (the last song) is not part of it (and I read something where billy says it is not.) this all kind of makes sense. think about it. the first part is ONE SIDE of a RECORD so couldn't the next 2 parts be also? side 1 (part 2) and then most of side 2 (part 3) of 21st century man. they were records back then and thats how you have to think about it. hope that might clear things up a bit ;-)