Mahogany Rush IV / World Anthem

Sorry I'm biased, It's Frank Marino and it's brilliant

One of my favourite guitarists. Anything he does is great by me. let's have a decent DvD sometime Frank

Great thanks DC

This is part of a most welcome series of re-mastered discs of the Canadian group Mahogany Rush, a power trio that featured the stunning talents of guitarist and vocalist Frank Marino. The issue is on the very enterprising BGO label, which specialises in releasing outstanding recordings that have slipped out of mainstream consciousness. Their catalogue is well worth a browse, as many of the BGO releases are exceedingly good value as they generally offer 2 albums on a single-priced CD. That's the case here with two late 70's albums that mark an end to the first phase of the band.The groups live shows were more representative of where they were at musically than any of their studio offerings up until then. Marino had the mixed blessing of being more or less described as a reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix. This garnered him a lot of attention initially but it undoubtedly led to excesses on their earlier recordings where there was an overdose of guitar effects. "IV" suffered in this regard as the stereo split solos are most wearisome, and there is hardly a track that doesn't feature wah-wah, flanger, phaser, backwards echoes .. you name it, he got it ! Even though it was the record that introduced me to Mahogany Rush (thanks to a Sounds magazine review of US/Canadian acts to watch out for) I find it harder now to listen to the album in its entirety. Obvious exceptions are the superb "Dragonfly" and "The Answer", which were live staples. There are lots of nice varieties in style and tempo, and I can't think of any other guitarist (apart from Hendrix) who can play so effortlessly across so many rhythms. The drumming is superb throughout but Marino's gritty guitar is submerged by the wash of effects. "IV" is still possibly the best album Hendrix never made !I've already reviewed "World Anthem" on its original release (Sony/Columbia "Rewind" series). I've always been underwhelmed by this record, and can't understand why Marino himself regards it as one of his favourite releases. It spent 2 weeks in the Billboard Top 200 LP chart, peaking at 184, but then that was only one week and 10 places less than its predecessor! The material is weaker than on "IV" (only the title track made it onto their outstanding "Live" released the following year) and has not aged well. Many of the songs are experimental with hints at the jazz flavour that Frank has delved into from time to time and again the sound effects are overused. Overall I would have to say that for newcomers this is NOT the Mahogany Rush selection to start with. Both "Power of Rock'n'Roll"/"Juggernaut" and the 3 on 2 "Mahogany Rush Live"/"Tales of the Unexpected"/"What's Next" on BGO are infinitely superior and are unquestionably 5 star albums.Despite the above reservations I still give this a 4 star rating. The re-mastered sound is excellent, with great clarity and firmed up bottom end. The inlay notes are excellent, and the music is a throwback to psychedelic rock played with great conviction (especially IV). There is lots of fine fretwork from Marino which hint at greater things to come and confirm the healthy disregard he has always shown to record company execs and short sighted DJ radio programming. Try the other 2 above albums first - if you like powerhouse guitar playing you'll be blown away! You'll undoubtedly want more, and at that stage you'll better be able to appreciate this fine souvenir of 70's rock.

I bought this set direct from the BGO Records website for [...]. It features two of the best studio albums from a sensationally good trio with an exceptional frontman. I'm compelled to specify 'studio' albums, as the 1978 'Live' album  Live / Tales of the Unexpected / What's Next  remains their most monumental achievement.I own both the Japanese CD issue of 'IV' and the Columbia 'Rewind' issue of 'World Anthem' and was immediately impressed by how much better this release sounds. There is more presence, the cymbals sound more natural, overall levels are better. Most impressively of all, the sound is uncoloured, the refinements not overstated. The discs just sound great - credit to 'Andrew Thompson at Sound Performance, London'!The package comes in a pleasing slipcase and the multi-page booklet has thoughtful and well-researched sleevenotes.My only disappointment, as someone who treasured the original LPs, is that the front artwork from those albums only appears as insets within the compilation artwork. The packaging would have been perfected by full-CD-case-size reproductions of the artwork, perhaps in the left and right of the booklet centrefold. All in all, though, amongst the chequered history of CD re-releases of this band's back catalogue on various other labels, this stands out as exceptionally good, as does the 3-albums-on-2-CD package also on BGO Records which features that aforementioned mighty and majestic 'Live' album.

2 on 1 disc sets dont usually interest me but given that BGO had done such a fantastic job with the recent ANGEL reissues i thought this would be worth a shot and i wasnt disappointed,neither will you be.After 3 mostly excellent albums on smaller labels CBS took the band for their fourth release the aptly titled MAHOGANY RUSH IV(1976).This is a decent album and certainly a step forward probably more accessable to the casual listener,tracks like The Answer & Dragonfly reinforcing the majestic talent that frank marino has and in Dragonfly particularly a slice of funk that showed he could transcend various genres.In reality there isnt a bad track here and in Moonwalk & ...the Emperor a guitar hero was born,guitar playing that can touch your soul.The second disc WORLD ANTHEM(1977) was another leap forward and certainly should have taken him to the top but as CBS were in thrall to other bands notably AEROSMITH/B.O.C then unfortunately Marino was allowed to flounder, this would become more apparent over the next few years,however dont let this disc slip you by as from the opening Requiem.... to Try for freedom this is guitar nirvana indeed the solo in opening track Requiem.. is one of my favourites along with the dreamy keyboards resulting an absolute classic opener,Hey little Lover and Broken heart Blues allow Frank to show his rockier side before stunning us with In my Ways- 4 prime moments from a guitar Master,side 2 on the original album opened the the superb World Anthem an incredibly catchy insrumental again why this wasnt a major hit is beyond me,two more lighter moments follow Look at me/Lady highlighting his melodice tendencies before launching into Try for Freedom a magnificent simple repetitive guitar refrain which lifts your heart and makes you smile every time you hear it,all in all 2 fantastic overlooked discs which put all the established Legends too shame,buy and enjoy.

Very pleased with the price and value for money...excellent.