Cozy Powell/Ultimate Compilation Over the Top Session

Another masterpiece item has been born from the Cozy Tape Series, which has set many milestones in the history of collector’s sound sources. This special title is a must-listen for all rock fans, reconstructing the composition session of “OVER THE TOP”, his first solo album produced in 1979 when he was a member of RAINBOW, and the special live performance at BBC that Cozy performed with the members who participated in the album afterwards, based on newly excavated sound sources that are completely new to the world and upgraded sound sources that are several levels higher than the existing ones! Disc 1 is full of treasured sound sources from the composition and recording sessions of “OVER THE TOP”. First up is the newly discovered take, both of which are sound sources that make you feel the atmosphere of the studio just before the album is completed. The first track, “Over The Top,” is a de facto rhythm track with almost no bell sounds or strings mixed in, which were impressive in the finished version, but the sound quality is comparable to the official version, and it is a super-class take in which Cozy’s drums knock out the listener with their terrifying power and heavy feel from start to finish. The whole album is a spectacular listen, but the drum solo recorded with a raw, unprocessed feel that surpasses the official version is sure to be the best track of the year for fans! The second track, “El Sid,” is the same as the finished version, but the raw, raw texture that seems to be before the final mix makes it an exquisite song reminiscent of a studio live performance. From the following “Heidi Goes To Town #1,” the material used in the Cozy tape “ALIVE IN STUDIO II” will be released in a newly fully remastered upgraded version. The remastering effect is so noticeable that you can immediately understand it by listening to the two takes of “Heidi Goes To Town”, with its reduced hiss noise and more natural sound grain. Cozy’s lively drums and Jack Bruce’s bass line full of presence in “Heidi Goes To Town” each stand out with vivid brightness and saturation. Next, you can enjoy three takes of “Sweet Poison”, each at a different stage of work. These are all the same song, but it’s strange because each one has a different taste depending on whether or not the guitar is layered. The guitar for all the takes you can listen to here is played by Bernie Marsden, who is known for his activities in WHITESNAKE, but if you can play guitar, you can enjoy playing your own guitar as if it were a karaoke while listening to the last rhythm track. “The Loner” is also played by Bernie, unlike the official version, and the feeling of listening to it is completely different from the official version of Clem Clemson’s playing. Another feature is that Don Airey overdubbed the keyboard, and the unique colorful colors are unique and interesting, which cannot be enjoyed on the official version. The non-guitar version of “The Loner” is close to the official version, but it is also fun to enjoy it while thinking about what it would be like if Gary Moore had put a solo on it. At the end of Disc 1, three songs are recorded that are too luxurious for bonus tracks. From Don Airey’s first solo “K2” produced in 1988, three takes with the best sound quality are concluded with another surprising discovery. “K2 Overture” without narration or sound effects brings the tension to the forefront with Cozy’s playing and Don’s keyboard, creating a 3 minute 22 second spectacle. The flow from here to the instrumental version of “Whiteout” is simply overwhelming, and the powerful impact is sure to numb the listener’s five senses! The finished version with vocals was also supremely dignified and cool, but Cozy’s playing is convincing enough to convince you that this song was already completed at the instrumental stage. If you are a Cozy fan, you will never regret getting this album just to listen to this flow! In fact, it is safe to say that you will lose out if you cannot hear this! It is such an amazing take. The last song, “Close To The Sky,” is centered on Don’s playing, but it closes the first half of this album with a divine majesty. Disc 2 starts with “ALIVE IN STUDIO,” and seven songs that you can enjoy thrilling play that will make you sweat are revived with the latest remaster. As with the remastered takes on Disc 1, these have been greatly reduced hiss noise, making them clear and clear, and by cutting unnecessary low frequencies, the high frequencies have been sharply emphasized, resulting in a smarter and more fearless sound. The effect of these remasters can be heard by listening to “Killer” and “Sweet Poison”. In addition, the roughness between the songs has been carefully faded to make them easier to listen to. As a result of these meticulous and intangible work, the overall sound quality has improved by several ranks, not just one. Looking at the seven takes after “Killer” after these remasters, the performance is full of live energy and does not feel as relaxed as the demo, and it seems that this is a studio rehearsal just before the BBC appearance. The emotional “The Loner” is particularly wonderful, and I am captivated by Cozy’s expressive touch that uses both hard and soft sounds. The seven songs from the following “Opening” are about 32 minutes of footage from a special live performance at the Paris Theater in London on January 9, 1980, which was broadcast as “BBC In Concert”. There have been various recordings of this BBC In Concert in the past, some of which were too low in volume to get a good sense of the performance, or the sound was muffled and the outline of the performance was unclear. The “BBC In Concert” recording, recorded as one of the Cozy tapes “KILLER” a few years ago, has eliminated all these miscellaneous recordings, allowing you to enjoy the performance of Cozy and other members in a satisfying way. This work continues to use this best source directly, and by applying the same treatment as the studio rehearsal recording mentioned above, we have brought out the best sound quality ever, which can withstand modern audio environments. “Theme 1” features Cozy’s powerful style, and “Sweet Poison” features the members’ perfectly coordinated playing, further sharpened by the tension that can only be felt in a live performance. With the exchanges between Cozy and Jack Bruce in each song, and Jack showing off his manly voice on “Tickets to Waterfall,” it’s easy to forget the passage of time as you listen to this proud collaboration between these men who are walking the royal road of British rock.The live show closes with a fiery battle of “Killer,” but by listening to Disc 2, you’ll notice that the members who had been playing amazingly since the live rehearsals have changed even more in the actual performance. The musicians who gathered to produce “OVER THE TOP,” including Cozy, are truly amazing. Disc 2 also has a surprise at the end! “BEST OF THE TAPES,” released four years ago, is a best selection of precious takes from Cozy tapes, and the first track was a new recording version of “Dance With The Devil,” but this time we’ve unearthed the song from the DAT master for studio recording, which is even higher up the list! (The DAT tape is dated “July 3, 1992”) This song was almost completed at the time of the previous tape master, but this take, which was included in the high-quality DAT master, is the best sound quality and exquisite perfection that would have been just before the official release! The sound quality can only be described as “on a different level”, and it shines so much that it seems foolish to compare it. Despite the many excavations so far, so much sound source is still buried, so it can only be said that the Cozy tapes are bottomless. The “OVER THE TOP” session, which was opened after about 30 years, and the rehearsal and live sound source of “BBC In Concert”, which will be asked again to the world with an extraordinary upgrade, both show the greatness of the great musician Cozy! I hope that as many fans as possible will listen to this compilation, which is also amazing, with the newly excavated sound source that will be released for the first time. This is truly a world heritage of hard rock. This is a true masterpiece that will be passed down to future generations! If you miss out on this top-class piece, you will surely regret it, so please don’t miss it! Ultimate compilation of the “Over The Top” Session STEREO SBD(from Original Masters)Recorded at Monnow Valley & Fleece studios in the U.K. 1992 STEREO SBD(from Original Masters) Taken from the original DAT master tapes belonged to Cozy Powell Disc 1 Making Of “Over The Top” Album Studio demos recorded at Central Sound Studio, London, UK in 1979 1. Over The Top　2. El Sid　3. Heidi Goes To Town #1 4. Heidi Goes To Town #2 5. Sweet Poison #1 6. Sweet Poison #2 7. Sweet Poison #3 8. The Loner #1 9. The Loner #2 Cozy Powell – Drums Jack Bruce – Bass Don Airey – Keyboards Max Middleton – Electric Piano Bernie Marsden – Guitar Bonus Track : Don Airey’s K2 Tales of Triumph and Tragedy Rough Mix & Demos The original demo tracks recorded at Sarm Studios, London, UK 1988 Taken from the original cassette tapes dated “21st June 1988” as handwritten on the tape box. 10. K2 Overture 11. Whiteout 12. Close To The Sky Don Airey – Keyboards Cozy Powell – Drums Keith Airey – Guitar Laurence Cottle – Bass Disc 2 Studio live rehearsals 1. Killer 2. Sweet Poison 3. Theme One #1 4. Theme One #2 5. Tickets For Waterfall #1 6. Tickets For Waterfall #2 7. The Loner BBC In Concert Recorded Live at Paris Theater, London, UK 9th January 1980 8. Opening 9. Theme One 10. Sweet Poison 11. Member Introduction 12. The Loner 13. Tickets to Waterfall 14. Killer Cozy Powell – Drums Jack Bruce – Bass & Vocal Clem mson – Guitars Don Airey ? Keyboards Max Middleton – Electric Piano Bonus Track 15. Dance With The Devil The final track recorded at The Mill Recording Studio, Cookham, Berkshire, UK in 1992. Taken from the master DAT tapes dated “3rd July 1992” as handwritten on the tape box.