Time Machine: Vertigo Retrospective [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal UK
• ASIN: B0007Q6QWI
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Kettle

2. Who Do You Love?

3. My Heaven

4. Travelling Lady

5. Behind the Wall of Sleep

6. To Play Your Little Games

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Evil Woman's Manly Child

2. Borne on the Solar Wind

3. The Man

4. Thinking of My Life

5. Half Baked

6. For Madmen Only

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Living at the End of Times

2. Life Child

3. MacArthur Park

4. Song for the Bearded Lady

5. Pantagruel's Nativity

6. (A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Audio Trip Thru Time, October 6, 2005

By 

Ralph Quirino (Keswick, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Time Machine: Vertigo Retrospective (Audio CD)

The Vertigo Records label emerged at a time when rock was shaking off the "Sgt. Pepper" mindtrip of psychedelia to concentrate on heavy metal, progressive rock and fusion jazz. From 1969 to 1974, Vertigo's varied and truly experimental roster included Black Sabbath, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Vangelis (and Aphrodite's Child, the group Vangelis was in prior to going it as a solo artist), Gentle Giant and Status Quo. Those were the big names. But the label was also home to genuinely obscure acts who only ever recorded 1 or 2 albums for the label: Freedom, Tudor Lodge, Affinity, Atlantis, Cressida, Ramases. Each Vertigo album of the era boasted the distinctive "swirl" logo that occupied the A-side of every album label (the B-side contained song listings and timings). Also, every album boasted impressive artwork that sometimes spilled over into elaborate die cut designs or as two-panel gatefold artwork. TIME MACHINE is a veritable capsule of the era. A three CD set which boasts crisp, clear and clean remastered sound, a lovingly crafted and highly detailed 48 page booklet and a veritable bounty of music from a wide variety of instant appeal to seventies rock fans (ie. those who can tell the difference between Gentle Giant and Status Quo). The tracks that inspire the most awe are "Spiral Architect" from Sabbath (you can hear strummed acoustic guitars and passionate string sections at work while Ozzy turns in a lucid and heartfelt vocal!), "The Kettle" from Colosseum (a surprisingly heavy mix of hard rock and fusion progressive jazz), "Lord Of The Ages" by Magna Carta (which is recommended to each and every Moody Blues fan in existence) and "Midnight Moses" by SAHB (are you an AC/DC fan? Check out Alex Harvey's early Sensational Band sides, you won't be disappointed). Some of the songs are, admittedly, a little challenging (ie. selections from Gracious!, Manfred Mann's Chapter Three and Bob Downes). Yet at the end of it all, you'll feel a certain sense of awe at the music of an era that too often, has been denigrated or ridiculed as being "heavy hippie horsesh*t"). A vital collection that rightfully takes its place next to other classic compilations like "Nuggets", "Atlantic Gold" or "Freakbeat Scene".

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The black and white swirl.., May 17, 2007

By 

collegemoney - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Time Machine: Vertigo Retrospective (Audio CD)

Ah, the decidedly British Vertigo label, with the distinct black and white swirl on one label of the LP, and the track listings on the other side's label. Something we've lost in the one-sided CD age. And was also lost when their acts wound up recording for other labels here in the US.

Their paper label wasn't their only distinction; as the "experimental" subsidiary of Philips records, they also intentionally brought us delicious non-commercial music. Unintentionally failing to sell zillions of records in the process. They were hugely responsible for the promotion of progressive jazz a la Ian Carr's Nucleus, Ben, Jade Warrior and (yes) Manfred Mann. The MM boys weigh in with a dark Coltrane-esque "Travelling Lady" (see review of Manfred Mann Chaper III). They brought us marvellous adventurous rock a la Gracious, Doctor Z, Juicy Lucy, May Blitz and Clear Blue Sky. And a stand-up version of "MacArthur Park" by Beggar's Opera, turning this pop classic into something the progressive age could absorb. And, as you see, they brought Rod Stewart to us as a solo act with the splendid "Handbags and Gladrags," written by a young Mike D'Abo with a maturity that made the song an instant standard.

As with all comps, there are a few things on here I can't quite see, for example, I think a better tune by Patto (successor band to the great great Timebox) could have been chosen. But all in all this is very nice, even if you might have to listen a couple of times to really get into it. A deserved celebration of a seminal label of the period.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You gotta have this, May 13, 2008

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Time Machine: Vertigo Retrospective (Audio CD)

Whoever signed bands for Vertigo back in the late 60s and early 70s had incredible discretion and good taste. Collusim, Atlantas, Cresseda, and yes, even the mighty Sabbath made some fantastically advanced music, sampled on Time Machine.

This boxset really is a Time Machine: No Demographics, no labals, no test-marketing, no bounderies. Rock, Jazz, Classical and Blues are all molded by each band on this set, but in ways very unique to each band. The idea in music then was to outdo the other bands, but by doing something very different, and doing it very well. You will never mistake one band or another here.

You will also find very little self-indulgance or meandering in any of this music. This is not like ELP, Yes, or any of the "progressive" stuff you now hear on classic radio. This music is "prog" defined by jazz and blues, not qusi-classical jazz.

I would also advise music junkies to pinch their pennies: most of the bands on here have been reissured on expensive imports, and I can tell you from my own adventures, nearly ALL of them are worth collecting.

Buy Buy!