Audiophile Stereo SACD!
Awarded hi-finews Album Choice - June 2018
Sound Quality: 95%
"If the name rings no bells, then you aren't a hardcore Beatles fan: Sheridan was the singer backed by The Fab Four on their first-ever recordings. This matters because Sheridan co-wrote a song with the young McCartney, "Tell Me If You Can", and it kicks off this superb SACD. This is (I think) only the second time it's been recorded, the first time was in 2004 by Zounds. That's enough for some of us to want this showcase for Opus 3 artists, but it is also a tribute to Sheridan, who died in 2013. That lovely, warm, open Opus 3 sound, with plenty of air and space, fine musicianship, frames Sheridan's compositions which are, it turns out, mighty fine. Who knew? A hard-rocker turned singer-songwriter troubadour. A joy." - Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, June 2018
The Opus 3 Tony Sheridan story:
In 1964, about three years after he had performed and recorded with The Beatles in Hamburg, he returned from a tour with a great band to record what was for us an unforgettable Rhythm & Blues album "Just a little bit of Tony Sheridan".
In 2006 my old friend Anders Aslund who shared my interest in Tony's work, joined me on a trip to Hamburg where Tony was still living, to start discussions on future possibilities to make a record.
A further visit to Hamburg early in 2007, but this time together with Roger Ekman, a long time associate of Opus 3 Records, who was much appreciated by Tony as producer and bassist.
After several meetings we realized that we had discovered a great many wonderful songs, literally a 'treasure-trove' of songs including for example "Tell Me If You Can" which Tony Sheridan had written with Paul McCartney during their time in Hamburg.
The album concept:
Later in 2007 Tony came up to the Opus 3 Studio in Sweden and we recorded two songs together. "Tell Me If You Can" and "Indochina" – a song relating to his experience when he performed for the US soldiers in Vietnam during the '70s.
Sadly, Tony died at the beginning of 2013, leaving us not only with memories but also recordings which we had made of just him and his guitar in his home in Hamburg. These songs are in effect the jewels in a musical treasure created by Tony Sheridan. A treasure not locked in a vault collecting dust, but an album performed by Opus 3 artists giving exposure to Tony's creativity. The inclusion of "Skinny Minnie" was because it was known to be one of his biggest hits.
Roger Ekman was the driving musical force and responsible for the many different arrangements, later joined by guitarist Peter Melin. On the drums we have Robert Carlsson who was also very good in finding the right grooves!
Recording & Mixing Equipment:
MICROPHONES: AKG C 24 (Stereo), AKG C 12 VR (Vacuum tube condensers), AKG
C 414 B-TL II, AKG D12, Beyerdynamic M160, Coles 4038, RCA44A, Shure SM57,
Shure SM76, Electro Voice RE20, Thuresson stereo condenser CM504 and Thuresson
condenser CM402
MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIERS: Thuresson 4-channel, custom made and AMEK 9098.
ANALOG AUDIO CONSOLE: Sony MX-P61
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT: RME Fireface 800 and ADI-8 Convertors
DAW: Reaper
MONITOR SPEAKERS: Totem Acoustics, Mani-2 Signature
Features:
• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
• Made in Germany
Musicians:
Peter Melin - acoustic & electric guitars
Bert Ostlund - acoustic & electric guitars, organ, Wurlitzer, piano
Bjorn Jansson, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Filip Ekestrubbe - piano, pump organ
Anna Wallgren, cello
Tony Sheridan, guitar
Bottleneck John, dobro guitar
Roger Ekman, electric & acoustic bass
Robert Carlsson, drums
Hakan Tingshagen, drums
Selections:
1. Tell Me If You Can - Tony Sheridan
2. Muscovado - Maria Winther
3. Numbers On the Sun - Bottleneck John
4. Travelling Through the Night - Yamina
5. He Said Yeah - Therese Mercedes Myrhed
6. Julie, Julie - Nick Malmestrom
7. Indochina - Tony Sheridan
8. Open Road - Maria Winther
9. The Music Must Go On - Roger Ekman
10. Serene Is All - Maria Winther
11. Skinny Minnie - Bottleneck John
12. The Puzzle - Tony Sheridan
Awarded hi-finews Album Choice - June 2018
Sound Quality: 95%
"If the name rings no bells, then you aren't a hardcore Beatles fan: Sheridan was the singer backed by The Fab Four on their first-ever recordings. This matters because Sheridan co-wrote a song with the young McCartney, "Tell Me If You Can", and it kicks off this superb SACD. This is (I think) only the second time it's been recorded, the first time was in 2004 by Zounds. That's enough for some of us to want this showcase for Opus 3 artists, but it is also a tribute to Sheridan, who died in 2013. That lovely, warm, open Opus 3 sound, with plenty of air and space, fine musicianship, frames Sheridan's compositions which are, it turns out, mighty fine. Who knew? A hard-rocker turned singer-songwriter troubadour. A joy." - Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, June 2018
The Opus 3 Tony Sheridan story:
In 1964, about three years after he had performed and recorded with The Beatles in Hamburg, he returned from a tour with a great band to record what was for us an unforgettable Rhythm & Blues album "Just a little bit of Tony Sheridan".
In 2006 my old friend Anders Aslund who shared my interest in Tony's work, joined me on a trip to Hamburg where Tony was still living, to start discussions on future possibilities to make a record.
A further visit to Hamburg early in 2007, but this time together with Roger Ekman, a long time associate of Opus 3 Records, who was much appreciated by Tony as producer and bassist.
After several meetings we realized that we had discovered a great many wonderful songs, literally a 'treasure-trove' of songs including for example "Tell Me If You Can" which Tony Sheridan had written with Paul McCartney during their time in Hamburg.
The album concept:
Later in 2007 Tony came up to the Opus 3 Studio in Sweden and we recorded two songs together. "Tell Me If You Can" and "Indochina" – a song relating to his experience when he performed for the US soldiers in Vietnam during the '70s.
Sadly, Tony died at the beginning of 2013, leaving us not only with memories but also recordings which we had made of just him and his guitar in his home in Hamburg. These songs are in effect the jewels in a musical treasure created by Tony Sheridan. A treasure not locked in a vault collecting dust, but an album performed by Opus 3 artists giving exposure to Tony's creativity. The inclusion of "Skinny Minnie" was because it was known to be one of his biggest hits.
Roger Ekman was the driving musical force and responsible for the many different arrangements, later joined by guitarist Peter Melin. On the drums we have Robert Carlsson who was also very good in finding the right grooves!
Recording & Mixing Equipment:
MICROPHONES: AKG C 24 (Stereo), AKG C 12 VR (Vacuum tube condensers), AKG
C 414 B-TL II, AKG D12, Beyerdynamic M160, Coles 4038, RCA44A, Shure SM57,
Shure SM76, Electro Voice RE20, Thuresson stereo condenser CM504 and Thuresson
condenser CM402
MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIERS: Thuresson 4-channel, custom made and AMEK 9098.
ANALOG AUDIO CONSOLE: Sony MX-P61
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT: RME Fireface 800 and ADI-8 Convertors
DAW: Reaper
MONITOR SPEAKERS: Totem Acoustics, Mani-2 Signature
Features:
• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
• Made in Germany
Musicians:
Peter Melin - acoustic & electric guitars
Bert Ostlund - acoustic & electric guitars, organ, Wurlitzer, piano
Bjorn Jansson, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Filip Ekestrubbe - piano, pump organ
Anna Wallgren, cello
Tony Sheridan, guitar
Bottleneck John, dobro guitar
Roger Ekman, electric & acoustic bass
Robert Carlsson, drums
Hakan Tingshagen, drums
Selections:
1. Tell Me If You Can - Tony Sheridan
2. Muscovado - Maria Winther
3. Numbers On the Sun - Bottleneck John
4. Travelling Through the Night - Yamina
5. He Said Yeah - Therese Mercedes Myrhed
6. Julie, Julie - Nick Malmestrom
7. Indochina - Tony Sheridan
8. Open Road - Maria Winther
9. The Music Must Go On - Roger Ekman
10. Serene Is All - Maria Winther
11. Skinny Minnie - Bottleneck John
12. The Puzzle - Tony Sheridan