[2017-03-24] The Outlaws "Playin' To Win" remaster (Rock Candy UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2017 6:10 pm

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / 16 page full colour booklet 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork with previously unseen photos, band involvement and new interviews. During the 1970s Southern Rock music was at its zenith. Several groups reigned supreme, helping to fly the confederate flag loud and proud, whilst also receiving huge commercial accolades and setting out a mandate that would carry through to the next decade. The Outlaws were one of the movement's most accomplished acts, securing a prime position in the southern rock hierarchy because they delivered the goods time after time. Following a career defining double live album, the band made preparations for their fourth studio album, one that would not only showcase their roots but also pave the way for the future. To do this they tapped into a new producer, Robert Mutt Lange, then just another rising star with, at the time, no global success. Recognising a creative genius, the band set about recording 'Playing To Win' in Georgia with Lange at the Helm and Rodney Mills (.38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd) in the engineer's seat. This was to prove a highly potent combination. Originally issued in 1978, the album showcased a band in search of something fresh but not crazy enough to abandon their heritage. As you might expect, the focus with Lange in the driving seat was on songs and melody, showcasing a style that sounded big, beefy and highly commercial. This was also a record to feature new guitarist Freddie Salem, a man who plied his trade with copious amounts of brawn, helping the band to evolve into a heavier rock rather than a country rock outfit.

Tracklist
1. Take It Anyway You Want It
2. Cry Some More
3. You Are The Show
4. You Can Have It
5. If Dreams Came True
6. A Real Good Feelin'
7. Love At First Sight
8. Falling Rain
9. Dirty City

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N21GQRU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N21GQRU/?tag=imwan-21

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Here's something I noticed, Producer: Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Released in 1978.

Interesting. Also the first w/o Henry Paul.

Being a fan of this band and only having vinyl on this I may need to upgrade. And since "Rock Candy" is involved I know it's going to sound real good!

Rick A.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Finally!

I was told about this about 2-3 years ago.

I sincerely hope the other albums yet to be remastered get the treatment.

How Ghost Riders hasn't gotten remastered yet is beyond me.

Ignore any of the garbage a French label called Magic put out as those were all hideous needle drops.

Rock Candy to the rescue!

They've done a killer job with Soldiers Of Fortune and Bring It Back Alive (never sounded better).

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Yeah, these are the two releases supposedly remastered.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBEY25Y/?tag=imwan-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L0NCEXM/?tag=imwan-20 <-----extra tracks.

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Finally!

I was told about this about 2-3 years ago.

I sincerely hope the other albums yet to be remastered get the treatment.

How Ghost Riders hasn't gotten remastered yet is beyond me.

Ignore any of the garbage a French label called Magic put out as those were all hideous needle drops.

Rock Candy to the rescue!

They've done a killer job with Soldiers Of Fortune and Bring It Back Alive (never sounded better).

Thee is a German CD for Ghost Riders that sounds fantastic, if you can find a copy you are all set. I am real skeptical about this Rock Candy release, some of their stuff has been awful, I hope I am wrong as it is a pretty good album.

Crossroads Productions should be popular with vinyl lovers, some of the titles I have heard on CD were needledrops.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Nothing to to worry about with Rock Candy.

I've never had anything but non-stop quality with them.

Everything is 100% in cooperation with the artists and the labels.

If you don't like Jon Astley's work, then I guess don't bother.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Ditto what Pete said. I've had nothing but good experiences with RC. One release sounded crappy (Head East's live), but I'm thinking that was more due to the source they had to work with. If a recording is sub-par to begin with, there's not much one can do to make it sound good.

I've read the Hoffmanites bitching about Blue Murder's RC remaster. Again, to me it sounds better than the original disc.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Mark MN wrote:

Ditto what Pete said. I've had nothing but good experiences with RC. One release sounded crappy (Head East's live), but I'm thinking that was more due to the source they had to work with. If a recording is sub-par to begin with, there's not much one can do to make it sound good.

I've read the Hoffmanites bitching about Blue Murder's RC remaster. Again, to me it sounds better than the original disc.

Rock Candy is the best reissue label out there.

The packaging, the interviews, the sound...not sure what anyone could dislike.

I do know people hate Jon Astley's remastering, so if you don't like it, you'll never enjoy these albums this way.

Matt Wortham and Andy Pearce have done some as well.

All the CDs I have from Montrose, Gamma, Zebra, Outlaws, Blue Murder (that one is a mite loud), Detective, Blackfoot, etc. I play repeatedly.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

The Blackfoot remasters were great. The only one I skipped on was the live disc. You have that? If so, is it worth the money?

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2017 9:04 pm

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

I do know people hate Jon Astley's remastering, so if you don't like it, you'll never enjoy these albums this way.

Matt Wortham and Andy Pearce have done some as well.

Everything Pearce does (by himself and with Wortham) is fantastic.

Astley takes a lot of heat, but people have wondered if it's more about jealousy that he's gotten so much work than it is about legitimate criticism of the work.

Nobody gets beaten up by the elites more than Peter Mew, but he's done some great things, so it's really all down to personal taste. We should always trust our own ears, first and foremost.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Linda wrote:

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

I do know people hate Jon Astley's remastering, so if you don't like it, you'll never enjoy these albums this way.

Matt Wortham and Andy Pearce have done some as well.

Everything Pearce does (by himself and with Wortham) is fantastic.

Astley takes a lot of heat, but people have wondered if it's more about jealousy that he's gotten so much work than it is about legitimate criticism of the work.

Nobody gets beaten up by the elites more than Peter Mew, but he's done some great things, so it's really all down to personal taste. We should always trust our own ears, first and foremost.

I so agree Linda.

Astley wouldn't keep getting all this work if he wasn't good at it!

I'd love to see people on the internet do better.

Mew was somebody I thought did mostly good work as well.

There are loads of people who see Astley's name and pre-judge.

That's their right, and they can look at DR levels as well, I just choose to listen for myself.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Mark MN wrote:

The Blackfoot remasters were great. The only one I skipped on was the live disc. You have that? If so, is it worth the money?

Oh yeah, Highway Song-Live sounds much better than the Wounded Bird release, and has the usual detailed liner notes.

It's so short though, it's a bummer there were no extras.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

That's kinda why I skipped that live Blackfoot.... too short for the money being charged. But that's okay. The studio discs are where it's at. That was a great band back in the day (saw them twice).

It's funny.... I saw them open for Nugent in '79 along with the Scorpions (Lovedrive tour). The Scorps were the first band, then Blackfoot. Three years later, I saw them open for the Scorpions (Blackout tour) in Germany ('82) while I was stationed there.

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Mark MN wrote:

Ditto what Pete said. I've had nothing but good experiences with RC. One release sounded crappy (Head East's live), but I'm thinking that was more due to the source they had to work with. If a recording is sub-par to begin with, there's not much one can do to make it sound good.

I've read the Hoffmanites bitching about Blue Murder's RC remaster. Again, to me it sounds better than the original disc.

Rock Candy is the best reissue label out there.

The packaging, the interviews, the sound...not sure what anyone could dislike.

I do know people hate Jon Astley's remastering, so if you don't like it, you'll never enjoy these albums this way.

Matt Wortham and Andy Pearce have done some as well.

All the CDs I have from Montrose, Gamma, Zebra, Outlaws, Blue Murder (that one is a mite loud), Detective, Blackfoot, etc. I play repeatedly.

Astley has done some great stuff, the Who comes to mind first and foremost, Unfortunately I don't recall the disc titles I heard by RC that did not impress me so I have no idea who was involved with the mastering. But if the Gamma discs are done well I might try them out as well as the Outlaws (especially if Andy Pearce did them).

[2017-03-24] The Outlaws "Playin' To Win" remaster (Rock Candy UK)

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