Customer Reviews

Joy: Best of Apollo 100

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A couple of years back, I have made up my mind, that I finally have every album that I grew up with, finally available on CD. I made this decision after I finally got Rick Wakeman's "White Rock" and "No Earthly Connection" on expensive Japanese imports.

But no. The one album that I had yet to see on CD, was the album "Joy" by Apollo 100. I've been holding on to my vinyl copy forever even though I haven't owned a record player since 1984.

When Rhino Records started to release the "Have a Nice Day" Super Hits of the 70's" CD's back in 1990. That was the first time we all got the hit song "Joy" on CD (Volume Seven). Plus Time-Life and various other Record companies have released "Joy" in their collections over the passed few years.

My favorite (other) songs on this expensive import CD are "Hall of the Mountain King" and "Exercise in A Minor". These are the two songs that I truly loved on my vinyl copy (that I put on Reel to Reel tape more than 20 years ago). "Hall of the Mountain King" was actually called "Mad Mountain King" on the "Joy" album. This CD does have some unknown tracks that are pretty good. Only the one track "Jazz Pizzicato", from the "Joy" album, is not on this CD (unless they renamed it, but I don't really remember it).

Now, the hard disappointing truth: This CD is not mastered very well. It sounds very muddy. My 22 year old vinyl to Reel-to-Reel taped version still sounds alot better than this CD version. And one other disappointment. The song "Joy" is the probable 45 RPM version. It's about 20 seconds shorter (edited just past the middle of the song), and it sounds horribly muddy. If you have Rhino's version, you'll definately know the difference.

I don't know who has the original master tapes of Apollo 100. Maybe they don't even exist anymore. My vinyl album of "Joy" is on the Mega record label. Rhino got their copy from Janus Records. I wonder if Janus has the original masters of all of Apollo 100's recordings.

I wish Rhino would get the rights to the Apollo 100 master tapes and re-release this collection with better mastered versions.

Maybe, if we all write to Rhino Records, maybe we could get Rhino to do this for us. One letter from me is not going to be enough to do it. Let's all make the effort and do it. Rhino does have a website. Let's hammer them with this one small request.

Outstanding instrumentals from the early 1970s. My only criticism is that the songs weren't remastered; therefore, the audio isn't very crisp and clean. But since "Joy" and "Masterpieces" -- the two Apollo 100 LP releases from 1972 and 1973 respectively -- are long out of print, you'll be happy with the purchase.

I originally purchased the LP version of this record way back when. With the coming of CD's I wanted to upgrade this record to cd but could not find it anywhere. With the help of some computer literate people we found it on Amazon.com. I am thrlled to add this to my collection. I will definitely use Amazon.com when looking to upgrade future records. The CD has every song on the LP with the addition of several more which I have been looking for. A real treat to find them all in the same place. As this was a Christmas present from James to me, his father Al, I must say it has been a pleasure dealing with you.

This is a charming set of music from a powerfully influential but not overly well known group from the early 1970s. There is real musicianship here by taking classics from the masters and putting them to a pop/rock format. I searched for and purchased this Apollo 100 CD because I heard a segment of their pop version of Ode to Joy (Beethoven)in the movie "The 40 Year Old Virgin". It's good music, has a bouncy happy feelings, has tracks that you don't mind blasting in your enclosed car, and transports you back to a time of musical experimentaion. And by the way, I wouldn't be surprised if Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) didn't get some of their ideas from this influential group. Go out and get this CD; you'll be glad you did.

I have been searching for this music for years. Was so thrilled when I finally found it, and since getting the CD, have listened to it over and over. I love it! This is for anyone who loves instrumental music. It's both a lot of fun to listen to as well as sentimental. I may even need to get a second copy!

After years of searching to find the JOY album on CD, I found this compilation and thought I'd finally have everything nice and clean on CD. Well, when I got the CD I was in for a real shocker. Most of the songs from the Joy LP have been redone, not just re-equalized. Yes they did a good job trying to come close to the original, but all too many of the cuts are in fact redos and they lack the acoustics of the originals, lacking the spatial ambience that the original songs had in their stereo imaging. The very first song on the CD was an obvious redo, with a very different lead keyboard. The copy of Joy was very muddy to me, as were several other cuts. Missing from the selection was Jazz Piccato, for reasons unknown to me. Although this CD is OK for casual listening, it is not a good replacement for our original vinyl because the songs are not the same. I'm an old radio broadcaster who played all their Joy tracks for years and I know the real thing from the remake. It is my hope that one day someone will come forth with the original masters and have the albums reissued with the correct version, but I may be wishing for too much. Just as I keep wishing Richard Carpenter would come out and say he's sorry for mucking up most of the Carpenters material with remastering and re-remastering to the point he probably doesn't even know the original versions anymore. This said, if you're just a casual listener and you don't care if it's truly original then the CD is OK for you. If you truly want the original real deal, this is not it. I cannot recommend it. At best, I could say close, but no cigar.

I remember buying the original Apollo 100 album in the early 70s, thinking that 'Joy' was worth having the album by itself.

It turned out the entire album was incredibly well crafted and all the instrumentals were breathtaking. So, I'm very glad to be able to get the original tracks and more from Amazon.

I have to admit that watching 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' had something to do with my looking for this item. It was well placed in the movie and is such a great source of inspiration.

Get it before it becomes obscure and OOP...

At last, the album from the 1970's available on CD with many new tracks. A true listening "joy" with everything from Beethoven to the Beetles. Being reunited with the songs from the original album was terric, but I also enjoyed the new songs - especially the haunting version of "Amazing Grace". Thanks! Apollo. And keep rockin'!

Was hoping for better sound quality..... But still brought me back to when I first got the album on my 13th birthday, many moons ago. I I play it allot and think one day my wife will hide it from me!

I have been looking for a replacement for my original vinyl album JOY. Fortunately, I now have the CD with all the original music.

I use these pieces to ride my bike to on the trainer. Great music, great pace and fun.