[.ca] Wheatfield Soul/ Artificial Paradise

hang on to your vinyl:
Last up is Artificial Paradise (1973) paired with Wheatfield Soul (1969)--which is just as bad as pairing Rockin' with Flavours. Wheatfield Soul was the band's first RCA album, and contained the million selling "These Eyes." Unfortunately, it's also one of the worst sounding albums here. The vocals have been pushed back in the mix, and the equalization (low and high) is horrible. You'll notice it as soon as you hit the play button. "These Eyes" sounded better on AM radio than it does here. The rest of the songs are no better. This album and Flavours are the worst in the series. Artificial Paradise (along with Flavours and Power in the Music) was one of the three albums never released on CD. Packaged in a paper 'sleeve,' this album was loaded with goodies--most of which are duplicated in much smaller form in the liners of the new CD. While the album was never one of the band's better sounding efforts, it still sounded better than it does here. The equalization and vocal mix isn't nearly as bad as it is on Wheatfield Soul, but it's still not right. And as is the case with most of the material reviewed here, there is too much compression as well.

Worth waiting for!:
Great package/mastering at a reasonable price!! No disappointment at all!!

Worth waiting for!:
Not disappointed at all!! Excellent mastering. RCA did it right!

I Hoped They Were Wrong....:
I hoped they were wrong about the mastering of this CD -- but no! I'm not sure if they need more bass or just less treble. The tinnyness is grating. It's a terrible shame as the music is priceless! Artificial Paradise is the only Guess Who album I still sought on CD. BMG had released all other RCA albums except 'Flavours' and 'Power In The Music' that Cummings later said was not really the Guess Who anymore--I agree. Since I didn't need other CDs again, the two-for packaging is a waste given that the music has not been better mastered, but worse. Also irritating is that they are not paired sequentially, probably to match short and long albums in the confines of CD maximum length. As far as the album 'Artificial Paradise', it is a testament to how good the band was with Kurt Winter, and is close to my favorite 'So Long, Bannatyne' (thank God I got that one previously with decent mastering!). With no big pop single here, the album has wonderful Cummings-dominated choruses (Samantha's Living Room & All Hashed Out) yet Cummings does not take all the lead vocals, providing a nice balance overall. The instrumentation on 'Those Show Biz Shoes' illustrates again how diverse The Guess Who was with those tasty jazz interludes. The music here is timeless. Unfortunately, I no longer have my vinyl versions which were scratchy at best, so this is the best I can do. I'm a sucker for the music, so I'll buy again if I can get it mastered better. If you are only after 'Wheatfield Soul', buy the individual version. These two albums don't go together as the band evolved significantly from 'Wheatfield Soul', which is still a good listen but sounds dated today with the long 60s-style 'Friends of Mine'. The Guess Who's next release, 'Canned Wheat' is much better all around album from the Randy Bachman era. Burn copies of the single albums so you don't get that weird jump from late 60's to 1973 in the middle of listening. I bought 'Rockin'' and 'Flavours' which I'll review as well.

unacceptable compromise:
I agree with a reviewer in Stereo Review (now Sound and Vision) who stated, several years ago, that the Guess Who "got a raw deal because they were Canadian". I'm sure many of you agree. Had they been American who knows where they may have gone. Anway, consolidating their music into "two-fers" is a disgracful sales ploy. Albums tend to lose their character in this type of marketing program and this arrangement is no exception. I was fortunate to find a CD of Rockin and it is excellent- far superior quality to Wheatfield/Artificial. May I suggest Burt and the boys insist on individual re-issues. Any word on a reunion? Should Burt, Randy or the others read this, thanks for the music!

• These Eyes
• Pink Wine Sparkles in the Glass
• I Found Her in a Star
• Friends of Mine
• When You Touch Me
• Wednesday in Your Garden
• Light Foot
• Love and a Yellow Rose
• Maple Fudge
• We're Coming to Dinner
• Bye Bye Babe
• Samantha's Living Room
• Rock and Roller Steam
• Follow Your Daughter Home
• Those Show Biz Shoes
• All Hashed Out
• Orly
• Lost and Found Town
• Hamba Gahle-Usalang Gahle
• Watcher