Who likes Dion?

[Dean De Furia]

I have a couple of 80's UK Dion CD's that sound excellent. They say they came from the original masters. The sound is really something considering the vintage. Does anyone else have these?

[Steve Hoffman]

We love Dion.

Good guy too.

[Larry Naramore]

Has anyone heard any of Dions' Gospel albums?

[Steve Hoffman]

No. What era and label? Sounds interesting...

[Joel Cairo]

Dean:

yup... I've got a copy of "The Best of the Rest" on Ace that I **love**... just slapped it on the Dynaco the other night for the first time, and I'm relieved to say that it held up pretty well. A little bright, but not ear-screechingly so, and terrific dynamics.

I love the alternate "Runaround Sue" take (the fast version), and "The Wanderer" Take 1... worth the price of the disc for those two tracks alone!!

-Kevin

[Dean De Furia]

Joel,
I have that disc too, And the those two songs ARE worth the price of admission. I wonder how many discs were in the ACE UK series?

[Michael]

I love Dion. Have all the ACE 2 fers from the early 90's.

[Joel Cairo]

Well, there was a standard "best of" that covered the Laurie material (with and without the Belmonts), and I think at least one other disc of one of his old Laurie LPs, ported to CD... don't remember which one, though.

I **did** have that "Best of" at one time, but sold it at some point over the last 15 years...

...probably to do something frivolous, like pay the rent!! :D

Hope I find it again sometime!

-Kevin

[Michael]

Originally posted by Dean De Furia
Joel,
I have that disc too, And the those two songs ARE worth the price of admission. I wonder how many discs were in the ACE UK series?

Just read this after posting. Ace did a great set of CD 2 fers of Dion & The Belmonts and Dion with the (Del Satins backing)


ACE 2 fers:
Presenting Dion & the Belmonts/Runaround Sue
Wish Upon a Star/Alone with Dion
Lovers Who Wander/So Why Didn't You Do That The First Time?

[Joel Cairo]

Ah, thanks Michael...

It was the "Alone with Dion" LP that I was thinking of.

Terrific cover on that one!!

-Kevin

(I'm glad to see that "Why Didn't You..." made it to CD as well, it sounded interesting, as described in the liner notes for "The Best of the Rest".)

[Michael]

Originally posted by Joel Cairo
Ah, thanks Michael...

It was the "Alone with Dion" LP that I was thinking of.

Terrific cover on that one!!

-Kevin

(I'm glad to see that "Why Didn't You..." made it to CD as well, it sounded interesting, as described in the liner notes for "The Best of the Rest".)

Your Welcome, They sound excellent!.

[David R. Modny]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
No. What era and label? Sounds interesting...



Dion...did somebody say DION? The one word that can wake me out of a posting sabbatical...lol!

Dion's "gospel era" is from 1980 to 1986. He released 6 albums for small labels - a few on the Epic and A&M Christian offshoots before his return to secular music with "Yo Frankie" in '89. Gospel isn't really the best adjective though. More like "Contemporary Christian". MOR in nature. In all honesty, not my favorite Dion period (my agnostic leanings aside), though there are a few classics from this period too, ("The Truth Will Set You Free" being the best, IMHO).

ACE released an 18 song CD comp. in 1997 titled, appropriately, "The Best of the Gospel Years".

ACE's most recent Dion efforts have been in releasing twofers from his early 70's Warner's "coffehouse" period - still my favorite era of his - and then moving into the Spector/Streetheart band years. The mastering, IMHO, leaves a bit to be desired (I'm not the biggest Duncan Cowell fan in the world), yet the music outweighs anything else. I should note that although I LOVE this period, I've heard from some 50-60's Dion Doo-Wop purists who absolutely detest it. So, caveat emptor as they say.

ACE also, as their latest Dion release, released his 1996 live set with his "club rock band" the Little Kings - including a couple guys from the Del Lords and Smithereens in it. Nasty quality recording though.

For me, NOTHING tops Dion doing early 70's Warners stuff like "Sanctuary", "Runnin' Close Behind You" (with Gene Parsons on harmony), his take on "Blackbird", and his take on Melanie's "Close To It All". Though, I'm a "folkie" at heart.:)

Of course, following the Warner period - Steve mastered his Lifesong debut from '78 - "Return of the Wanderer" on DCC silver disc. I prefer this to ACE's version.

[Steve Hoffman]

Thanks, David. I was wondering if someone would remember.

[peterC]

Just yesterday I received from PDO in England (the manufacturer) a replacement copy of my Dion Hits CD on Ace (18 tracks).

I originally bought it in the late 80s and just recently noticed that it was one of the CDs with the "bronzing" problem. I did some web research and found out that PDO replaces their bronzed CDs free of charge.

If any of you have any 80s vintage Ace CDs I suggest you check them for evidence of bronzing around the outer edge. It might only be little brown spots to start with but it will eventually get much worse and the CD will become unplayable.

The sound quality on this CD is pretty amazing.

[Larry Naramore]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
No. What era and label? Sounds interesting...
1978 - 1987 Word and Dayspring label. Last Gospel album was 87 entitled "Velvet and Steel"
In 1989 he had a great secular album called "Yo Frankie", looks like it's out of print. Looks like David beat me to the punch. Anyway my favorite is also "The Truth Will Set You Free" although a number of the songs on "Velvet..." really ROCK...

http://216.15.202.119/packshot/CDCHD644.gif

[Dave]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
I was wondering if someone would remember.
Remember it Steve... It's one of yours that I've been looking for for over 2 years now. :D

[David R. Modny]

Originally posted by Larry Naramore

1978 - 1987 Word and Dayspring label. Last Gospel album was 87 entitled "Velvet and Steel"
In 1989 he had a great secular album called "Yo Frankie", looks like it's out of print. Looks like David beat me to the punch. Anyway my favorite is also "The Truth Will Set You Free" although a number of the songs on "Velvet..." really ROCK...

http://216.15.202.119/packshot/CDCHD644.gif



Larry,

I don't know if you already own them but, if not, I think you might enjoy his first four Warner releases (1970-72), released as two ACE CD twofers - "Sit Down Old Friend", You're Not Alone", "Sanctuary", and "Suite For Late Summer". By listening to these albums (songs such as "Let Go, Let God", "Runnin' Close Behind You" etc) , it's easy to see where the artist was heading by time the 80's rolled around, and what he had just come through (i.e. his heroin addiction that ended in 1968).

Maybe not as overtly "Christian" in their message, but very spiritual albums nonetheless (and great musically too!). I'm not a "religious person", per se. But I consider myself a very spiritual person, and these four records convey that message in spades. They sit well with me (some great acoustic-blues in the mix too)!

[David R. Modny]

And the other:

[Bob Lovely]

Friends,

I am huge fan of Dion's, as David would describe, hipster/swagger period--his solo recordings from the time he left the Belmonts through Drip Drop in 1963. The best sources for his hit recordings from this period, in my opinion, are the Laurie Mastersound CDs and the Columbia (Sony) The Road I'm On comp. I also have the Ace comp with the alternate versions. I have long felt that Dion's hits from this period would be best served by being mastered by Steve on a "24K Hits" type of disc. I would certainly shell out the bucks to purchase several copies! I can imagine what Dion's big hits like Runaround Sue, Lovers Who Wander, The Wanderer, Ruby Baby, This Little Girl, Donna the Prima Doona, Drip Drop and many others would sound like with tube mastering.

Back in 1974 (I was 23 at the time), I met Dion when he was playing a local club in Madison, Wisconsin. He was a very nice guy, humble and spent more time talking with me than I ever expected (20 minutes). He autographed my Laurie 45 of The Wanderer.

Maybe, down the road, Steve will be able to re-master a Dion anthology!

Bob

:)

[Joseph]

Love Dion!

Of course Steve's Return of the Wanderer is excellent. May have an extra copy kicking around (Dave).

Also have the latest box set "King of the New York Streets" on Right Stuff. I feel the mastering is excellent (but varies depending on era). Best that I have heard of his vintage stuff such as Teeanger In Love, Runaround Sue, The Wanderer and Donna The Prima Donna.

[David R. Modny]

Originally posted by Dave

Remember it Steve... It's one of yours that I've been looking for for over 2 years now. :D

Another source you might try is Half.com. I used to see them pop up there from time to time. Just make sure that the seller specifies that it is indeed the DCC version, and not the ACE twofer that also adds the entire unreleased "Fire In The Night" album from '79. Steve's version just adds 3 bonus songs (the best three) from FITN...an otherwise sub-par effort by the artist, IMHO.

[Andrew]

I kinda like Celine Dion's new...single...doh!:rolleyes:

[RetroSmith]

>>>I just snagged a copy of "The Best of The Rest" on Half.com for 10 bucks!!!!

looking good!

[Michael]

Originally posted by mikey5967
>>>I just snagged a copy of "The Best of The Rest" on Half.com for 10 bucks!!!!

looking good!

The alternate versions are great! A neat CD.