Search - David Mccallum :: Open Channel D

STEREO!!!

Phil Brickner | Chino Hills, CA United States | 08/09/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"First, the first four Beatle albums on CD, then the Rolling Stones London Years Collection. Now this. Have all the engineers forgotten how to put those masters in STEREO?!? Although it is great that these McCallum albums have made it to CD, THEY'RE IN MONO!!! It's a terrible waste, too, since the separation on the original Capitol LP's was magnificent. Yes, the songs on the McCallum CD's are dated, but his renditions would have been as fresh as ever had they been mixed in their original stereo form. Not sure? Listen to the old stereo LP's in your headphones, then this CD. I'd take the crackle of stereo vinyl any day over a mono CD."

Still great after all these (40) years!

Venturenut | Grants Pass, OR United States | 11/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I fell in love with McCallum's records from the very start, at the age of 15. I had to search used record stores for the 3rd and 4th LPs in the 70s, and now have 3 worn copies of the first album...It pains me that I paid $40 plus shipping for Open Channel D when it was first issued, but it was worth every penny. I still prefer the albums for the engineering, for on a good stereo, the drums are fantastically recorded, as is the whole production. But the CD is so clean.



Some of the reviewers for both this CD and the other reissue that is minus the 4 vocals don't know David's musical background. True, Barnum and Axelrod did the arrangements, but David is a musician and conductor. He still at his age conducts orchestras. His father was concertmaster for the London Philharmonic Orchestra and played on the Sgt. Pepper sessions, and on David's album (I'm guessing on the fourth, McCallum, as it is the only one with a fuller orchestra). David plays oboe, and on the original liner notes of the LP, says he conducted as he would have liked to have played. My ears were caught immediately by the wild oboe and English horn solos! As a saxophonist and band member, I had (and still have never) heard anyone wail on those two instruments like in these recordings! It is also interesting that the brass section is made of trombones and French horns -- no trumpets! The use of baritone and bass saxes makes the sound quite different, too.



I would also like to suggest that the sessions were played largely by the Wrecking Crew. I have a strong feeling that the drummer is Hal Blaine.



The ensemble playing is sometimes a bit "sloppy," but then again, so is some of the work done for The Beach Boys (the Wrecking Crew), but the sound is so unique it's easy to overlook, and does not diminish the fact that this is lounge music at its best, and also a history of the popular music between '65 and '69.



(It's alsogreat to see David McCallum on NCIS and how good he looks at the age of 73!)"

Nice compilation of first 2 lps McCallum did for Capitol

LYNDA MENDOZA | 10/11/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you can get past the first 4 cuts on the CD, (a bit silly but cuts 1, 2 and 4 were never released on any LPS only as 45 rpm singles and the first 4 cuts are the only ones McCallum sings on) the rest of the CD is instrumental and definately easy listening music. The booklet that comes with the CD was written by Paul Gilbert from RECORD COLLECTOR in April 1996 giving some nice background information on the LPS as well as comments from Mr. McCallum. Though, a bit pricey for a one CD, it is one of the better celebrity CDs on the market and shows another side of David McCallum - his musical background. I hope one day that a second compilation CD will be put out with McCallum's instrumental music from his 3rd and 4th LPs he did for CAPITOL Records."