Search - Pat Travers :: Radio Active

Poor audio quality ruins the nostalgia

CGMusicFan | 11/28/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Very disappointed! Wish I had known it was a vinyl transfer before I payed the inflated price. Sounds like a copy of a copy of an 8-track tape to me. After years of waiting for this to come out, it put a damper on the nostalgia experience for me.



That aside, while not one of the best or most consistent in the Travers catalogue, I always thoroughly enjoyed the first 'side' (with the exception of the high-cheese factor closing of 'I Don't Wanna Be Awake') so it was good hearing these tracks again. My favorites are 'Live it My Way', great bluesy groove, and of course 'New Age Music'. I always thought 'My Life Is On The Line' sounded like a variation on 'Cant Be Right' (from Crash and Burn), but still like it and the cool guitar solo.



The second 'side' I always consider filler (and that's being kind). Probably on par with the second 'side' of 'C&B'. In fact, I always felt Radioactive was trying to be a 'C&B II'. Although I now discovered that 'Play It Like You See It' is one those 'side 2' tracks that I overlooked before and now find likeable.



I saw the Travers Band live during the 'Crash and Burn' tour. Amazing experience for the young man that I was. Had a primo view of the stage from 10 rows back in stadium-style seating. I'll never forget the ending of 'Hammerhead' (from Heat in the Street) with the feedback alternating between the speakers on each side of the stage. They seemed like they were having a great time and riding the wave of success. Too bad they couldn't have maintained the momentum for a few more albums and kept Aldrige and Thrall in the band. Oh well, the candle that burns the brightest...



Maybe someday someone will remaster this before I'm too old to enjoy it. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

"

Vinyl transfers in 2008

L. Tucker | NY | 11/08/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"First the good:



-Awesome album by Pat Travers (5 stars)



-Incredible packaging on this first ever available on CD (8 page booklet with nice period piece interviews, photos, and new commentary from David Ling -albeit with a few glaring typos) -4 stars



Now the bad:



-these are obviously vinyl transfers (source being taken from an actual record album instead of the original master tapes), although the best vinyl transfers I've heard yet. You will not hear any scratches, pops, or clicks. But there are some sonic shortcomings that are inherent in vinyl that is still present. Low frequency rumble for one (at the beginning and during some quiet passages, you can actually hear the needle riding the record groove) and the ever increasing distortion that record albums have as the needle progresses towards the end of each side (there was a reason that they didn't cut the record groove any farther towards the center than they did). Each revolution that the record makes keeps getting shorter and shorter in length, but the speed of 33 1/3 rpm remains a constant. So with each revolution of the record, the same amount of time & music (approx 7 seconds) is given less and less space or distance. Thereby reducing sound quality gradually with each turn of the record. Think of it in the tape world where slower speeds mean less sound & picture quality (VHS in the SLP or EP mode anyone).



One would think that vinyl transfers to digital CDs to not even remotely be a legitimate source (as far a legal licensing from the original record label -in this case it is now Universal). It's something that the high class bootleggers have been doing and now it's gone legitimate mainstream. The linear notes of this CD clearly have all their legal bases covered, with full licensing approval from Universal.



In closing, I will say this:



-in light of anything better (real digital transfers from the original master tapes), I am happy to see these available. Pat Travers is a true legend and deserves to have his entire catalog available. I understand that it was too expensive for Lemon/Cherry Records to go the better route. So for that I say thank you for releasing them.



On an ironic note: the CDs themselves are adorned to look like a record album, which may be more telling then my review above...

"

Missing tracks?????

skippy wango | Tampa, Florida | 11/14/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"i've been waiting for this fantastic album to be available on CD for ever. so reading the track listing i see there are some SONGS MISSING?? "I Just Wanna Live It My Way", which is beautiful blues ballad isn't listed. is it on the actual CD? make sure you get the 2 Radio Active songs on the Anthology CD's. those don't sound like "vinyl transfers". this CD needs a proper and complete re-release. one of my favorite albums of all time!!!! missing track!!!!! WTF!!!"