We've been talking about bring out some kind of 'best of' album to coincide with the Tenth Anniversary.
Although this idea would be aimed at punters who are not so familiar with Arena, it would be nice if the CD was appealing to 'the converted' as well... :)
So.... Any requests??
Any thoughts??
Well, being an old record collector, I have a database I always can rely upon. Naturally, I haven't rated "Pepper's Ghost" yet, but I guess others will have ideas on which songs to add from it. These are the best Arena songs imo, rating in () :
Ascension (6)
Witch hunt (6)
Fallen idols (6-)
Moviedrome (6-)
Sirens (6-)
Chosen (live) (5+)
Fool's gold (5+)
Friday's dream (5+)
Ghost in the firewall (5+)
The butterfly man (5+)
An angel falls (5)
Empire of a thousand days (5)
Isolation (5)
Jericho (5)
Never ending night (5)
Salamander (5)
Tears in the rain (5)
The city of lanterns (5)
This way madness lies (5)
The live tracks are from "Breakfast in Biarritz", and means I found the live version to have something extra.
One man's voice there...
Some of my fav's
The Hanging Tree
Jericho
Solomon
Movie Drome (It's long, but just make it a double album :D)
Enemy Without
Cutting the Cards
Vanishing Act
Tears in the Rain
And of course some never released songs (To make it interesting for those who already have the albums ;) )
WOW a double album. Yes please. how about a slant on Genesis ( The longs and the shorts ) The shorter tracks like "Medusa" and "The Healer"( With a smattering of "The Visitor" and "Contagion" ) would appeal to people with shorter attention spans, until they had gotten into the band and were maybe ready to move onto DISC 2 which would of course feature such gems as "Solomon" and "Moviedrome"
Disc 1 could be called "The sprints" and Disc 2 "The Marathons" ;D
There's the obvious choices of Jericho, Solomon, Hahging Tree etc, but I would like to see some different versions of songs. For example, some more tracks from the only concert that John Carson did with the band (The Marillion Fan Club gig), a live version of Waiting For The Flood (which has only made it onto the Fan Club DVD's as a live piece) and so on etc. Also, at least one brand new track, and as a big 'Thank You' to us fans (and tying in something from other posts from this forum) how about a couple of cover tracks, with Grendel finishing off the second disc!!
Go on Clive, you know you want to!!
Er guys.... I think it will be a single album... remember, it's also acting as an 'introduction to Arena'.... :)
Clive, you're too modest!! How can you get the best of Arena on a single disc?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Thinking about it Clive, you could do a single disc with the 'classic' Arena stuff (Jericho, Solomon etc) as an introduction for the as-yet unconverted, for retail sale, but add a second disc of unreleased live versions (plus the Grendel cover!!!!!!) to be sold through the new Cage fan club web site, which would then make it appealing to the current fans!?!
Hehe, back to 80 minutes, then....!
1. Purgatory Road (you should try and get airplay for that one, it would surely make it to the charts!)
2. Smoke and Mirrors
3. Bedlam Fayre
4. Spectre at the Feast
5. This Way Madness Lies
6. Cutting the Cards
7. Chosen
8. The Butterfly Man
9. Friday's Dream
10. Elea
11. The Hanging Tree
12. Don't Forget to Breathe
13. Serenity (!)
12. Enemy Without
That's a round-up back to 'The Visitor', no earlier material, 73 minutes. Kewl.
Ok, let's have a try! :)
I'll place them in chronological order. I don't know whether that's good, but you've got probably some better ideas, Clive! ;)
1 Crying for help IV (5:05)
2 Solomon (14:37)
3 Crying for help VI (2:53)
4 Medusa (4:28)
5 The Hanging Tree (7:09)
6 Tears in the Rain (5:43)
7 The Chosen (6:20)
8 The Butterfly man (8:56)
9 Witch hunt (4:17)
10 Painted man (4:41)
11/12 Something of Pepper's Ghost (I ordered my copy yesterday at Verglass, pffff at last!!! So, I expect it next week)
Almost 80 minutes of Arena! I don't know whether it's a good idea to add some Crying for helps. It can make the potential Arena fans curious to the other Crying for helps. Songs like Medusa and The Butterfly are powerfull and got strong melodies. I think (looking to my own experience) these songs can be picked up relative easy and can make the potential Arenafan curious to more Arenastuff!
Well, good luck with The best of Arena, Clive! ;D
What about 1 or 2 instrumental 'songs'?
To bad it's not going to be a double. I really think the epic Moviedrome should be on the album. It's a masterpiece and belongs on the 'Best of'.
Threshold released an anniversary album (Decadent) and some old Threshold cd's were rerecoded with Mac doing the vocals. Is that an idea for Arena or... ???
Getting Rob to redo the vocals on an old song is a possibility. We may get him to record Empire.... just a thought....
I think that would pretty cool. He allready does the some of the old songs on tours, and they sound really good.
Getting Rob to redo the vocals on old songs is the sort of thing that could go on a companion CD sold through the Cage - yes/no?
Have all the original tracks on the single retail CD (after all this is a celebration of all of the 10 years of Arena) with lots of blurb in the booklet about there being a companion CD sold through the free web-based fan club and that way you would encourage more new people to get involved with Arena. :-X
I agree with Peter on this one: if it's to be an intro to Arena, start with "The Visitor," even though the lineup has changed since that album. The previous records sound different -- even though I love 'em.
My lineup?
The Visitor: "Crack in the Ice" thru "The Hanging Tree"
Immortal: "Waiting for the Flood" and "Moviedrome" (give em one epic)
Contagion: "Witch Hunt" and "Painted Man" and "Skin Game"
Pepper's Ghost: "Shatterered Room" "Lara Moon" and "Tantalus"
Something live (I don't have the live CDs so I'll forgo making a suggestion).
If there's room, close the album with "Friday's Dream."
That oughta be about 80 minutes. It gives people a taste of the band's range in styles and approaches. A little bit there for everyone, I think. Heck, I think "The Hanging Tree" itself is a great sampler of the band's sound.
Great idea.
Really don't mind what's on it but would hope there would be some kind of bonus for people who have everything, eg, unreleased track(s), re-recorded versions, bonus disc, etc.
Would like to see Jericho, Hanging Tree & Butterfly Man on it though if I had to pick a few tracks.
;D
Well, in my humble opinion:
Single CD. Songs:
Valley of the Kings
Jericho
Double Vision
Hanging Tree
Chosen
Butterfly Man
Painted Man
Skin Game
Riding the Tide
Bedlam Fayre
Opera Fanatica
Moviedrome
Just my opinion, but these are on my iPod Shuffle's random playlist ;) (Ok, there is some IQ, Marillion and my own music on there, too :) )
Oh, and Clive,
A redo of Valley of the Kings would be awesome.
Keep the Mellotron choir and strings, though ;) It makes that song!
But Rob's voice would be awesome. And of course JM's axework.
Jeff
OK... this is going to be unpopular but please remember that opinions were invited and this is only MY opinion for what it's worth.
If you intend to do a best of album I really believe the emphasis should be on the up to date stuff.... if you go putting Jericho and Solomon on there, thats a good chunk of CD used already, and it's not really representative of what the band do now. Sure, it's good stuff, and you need to show the band over the years, but there needs to be a balance between the old and the new.
It all really depends what you want to achieve from a 'Best Of...' CD. If it's to appeal to existing fans then including the old standards is probably the way to go. However if I was going to suggest a friend check out a 'Best Of....' CD on the basis it was meant as a means of introduction to the band, I'd feel happier making such a suggestion knowing that the songs are from the latest albums and are ones that they can reasonably expect to see the band perform live (given time).
Only a point of view remember so don't hit me too hard :)
I think that makes sense... :) So, I won't hit you :) :)
Well probably won't feature too much from the first two albums, but I'm guessing there will be at least something.
Clive, How about having this forum choose the title to the 'Best of...' album?
We could submit our suggestions, you choose the best five or so and then we have a poll vote on those?
How's that sound??? ::)
good idea *clap* *clap*
So......who's going to start then ?? ;D
a title would be handy :)
I can't promise we'll use any particular one, because we may choose to keep things simple.. you know... 'the best of arena'.. :) Remember this album has to reach the unconverted..... :)
Hi Clive. In my view, none of Contagion-tracks are not deserving to be included there. On the contrary, such numbers as Jericho, Midas Vision, Solomon, Sirens, Elea, The Hanging Tree, (Don't Forget To) Breathe, The Visitor, The Butterfly Man, Ghost In The Firewall, Friday's Dream, On The Edge Of Despair, The Hour Glass, Vanishing Act are worthy candidates. By the way, it would be interesting to listen some of early pearls featuring Rob's singing. What do you think about remastering versions?.. Alas, I haven't Pepper's Ghost-CD in my collection yet.
Hello Clive
I am an avid fan.Something you and the guys in Arena will need to think about is... which versions of each song to you put on it. Live/Studio. For example I think state of grace from breakfast is miles better than the origonal on visitor. Also how much of the older stuff do you put on.
Also...Put the rock version of crying for help VII but recorded in studio on the best of as it is a classic live.
1.The Chosen
2.Smoke and Mirrors
3.The Butterfly Man
4.Bedlam Fayre
5.Witch hunt
6.Skin game
7.Painted Man
8.Hanging Tree Live (Breakdast in biaritz version)
9.Soloman Live (life and live version)
10.Crying for help VII Rock Version
11.Revamped valley of kings
12.Revamped fools gold
As long as "Sirens" is on it I'm happy :)
Mmm... A few Ideas.
In I understood well, this is supposed to be mainly an intro to Arena, though it may include some "highlights" for the fans. Considering this, songs should be chosen according some criteria:
- Show the best of the band, so people will like it. What is the best is something subjective, but at least we can search the best examples of certain characteristics of the band
- Show what the band is today, and therefore what can you expect for the near future.
- Show briefley what the band was, so you still get linked to previous works. Besides, any "newcomer" should be aware of what "hits" will drive everyone crazy at his first Arena concert ;)
Following this concepts, I can make a few suggestions, though I won't do it right now because I've posted a lot and my brain is running dry (and my spanish-english dictionary too :P). So, this post will be edited soon to add them.
I would recommend a "commercial best of" with a bonus disc:
Disc 1:
1. A Crack In the Ice (Edit)
2. Double Vision
3. The Hanging Tree
4. (Don't Forget To) Breathe
5. Enemy Without (Edit)
6. Chosen
7. The Butterfly Man
8. Friday's Dream
9. Witch Hunt (Edit)
10. Painted Man
11. Spectre At the Feast
12. Skin Game
13. Salamander
14. Bedlam Fayre
15. Smoke & Mirrors
16. The Eyes of Lara Moon
Disc 2:
1. Jerico (New Recording)
2. Salomon (New Recording)
3. Valley of Kings (New Recording)
4. Empire of a Thousand Days (New Recording)
5. Sirens (New Recording)
6. Opera Fanatica
Quote from: Peter on Fri, 2005-02-18, 09:44:02
1. Purgatory Road (you should try and get airplay for that one, it would surely make it to the charts!)
Seconded!
Clive, thanks for asking!
These are essentials in my opinion:
Solomon
Crack in the Ice
The Hanging Tree
Don't Forget to Breathe
The Butterfly Man
Witch Hunt
Ascension
Smoke and Mirrors
Anything else you want to add is gravy, in my book. ;)
I have a NINE-minute version of "The Hanging Tree" complete with the full end solo, which I think would be ESSENTIAL to put onto any Arena compilation! ;D That solo (which is on "The Visitor", of course, I've just made my own custom song by splicing two parts together) is one of the best I've ever heard by ANY guitarist!!
Of course, I don't think my version in particular would be the one to use :P , but wouldn't it be fairly simple for the band to do what I've done, using the actual MASTER tapes? Basically, include "The Hanging Tree" but use the full solo, which must have been on there before they ended it for the album (and if not, splice the solo from "The Visitor" in)! Shouldn't be too difficult, and I think it'd draw in PLENTY of fans if they heard it! ;)
If you want it to appeal to the converted, it simply *must* have unreleased tracks on it.
Either new songs, or as people have said, old ones rerecorded with Rob, or unreleased live songs. Maybe you have some live recordings of songs from other gigs that aren't on the currently available live albums?
But there's got to be something to make it worth buying for those that already have all the CDs.
Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2005-02-17, 23:22:17
Well, being an old record collector, I have a database I always can rely upon. Naturally, I haven't rated "Pepper's Ghost" yet, but I guess others will have ideas on which songs to add from it. These are the best Arena songs imo, rating in () :
Ascension (6)
Witch hunt (6)
Fallen idols (6-)
Moviedrome (6-)
Sirens (6-)
Chosen (live) (5+)
Fool's gold (5+)
Friday's dream (5+)
Ghost in the firewall (5+)
The butterfly man (5+)
An angel falls (5)
Empire of a thousand days (5)
Isolation (5)
Jericho (5)
Never ending night (5)
Salamander (5)
Tears in the rain (5)
The city of lanterns (5)
This way madness lies (5)
The live tracks are from "Breakfast in Biarritz", and means I found the live version to have something extra.
One man's voice there...
Can't You do better than a 6!!!!!!!!!
If I would have to make a Selection I haven't checked if I stay 92:28
1 Welcome to the Cage 4:13
2 Hanging Tree 7:09
3 State of Grace 3:26
4 Empire of a Thousand Days 9:33
5 Fools Gold 9:36
6 Eyes of Lara Moon 4:30
7 Moviedrome 21.56
8 Jericho 6:49
9 Solomon 14:36
10 Cutting the Cards 4:57
11 The Healer 5:43
If I have to leave a song out I would choose Fools Gold / Welcome to the Cage
Quote from: Herben on Thu, 2005-07-14, 22:15:20
Can't You do better than a 6!!!!!!!!!
It must be a scale with 6 stars, otherwise I can't explain it either ;D
Of course it's a scale up to 6!!!!! In Norway, all is measured by the six sided dice. Or die. I double dare you to find a newspaper without at least one die on the front page, because a movie or an album or whatever has been rated. It's all the rage for the 20th year in a row... ::)
Quote from: Teunis on Fri, 2005-07-15, 08:27:09
It must be a scale with 6 stars, otherwise I can't explain it either ;D
Sorry my excuses
Quote from: Herben on Fri, 2005-07-15, 18:00:30
Sorry my excuses
Its strange... my scales are usually up to 12! ???
Quote from: keyboardistmatt on Fri, 2005-07-15, 18:48:44
Its strange... my scales are usually up to 12! ???
That is also another scale, why doe You guys make it so difficult, just use a scale 1-10, than You won't get misundserstanding, so Keyboardist Matt you take a factor 0.83333 and the other guy Deen take a factor 1,66666, so You get a logic scale.
Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2005-02-17, 23:22:17
Well, being an old record collector, I have a database I always can rely upon. Naturally, I haven't rated "Pepper's Ghost" yet, but I guess others will have ideas on which songs to add from it. These are the best Arena songs imo, rating in () :
Your rating will be for example:
Ascension (6) = 10
Witch hunt (6) = 10
Fallen idols (6-) = 9,6
Moviedrome (6-) = 9,6
Sirens (6-) = 9,6
Chosen (live) (5+) = 8,7
Fool's gold (5+) = 8,7
Friday's dream (5+) = 8,7
Ghost in the firewall (5+) = 8,7
The butterfly man (5+) = 8,7
An angel falls (5) = 8,3
Empire of a thousand days (5) = 8,3
Isolation (5) = 8,3
Jericho (5) = 8,3
Never ending night (5) = 8,3
Salamander (5) = 8,3
Tears in the rain (5) = 8,3
The city of lanterns (5) = 8,3
This way madness lies (5) = 8,3
The live tracks are from "Breakfast in Biarritz", and means I found the live version to have something extra.
One man's voice there...
Quote from: Herben on Fri, 2005-07-15, 19:13:53
That is also another scale, why doe You guys make it so difficult, just use a scale 1-10, than You won't get misundserstanding, so Keyboardist Matt you take a factor 0.83333 and the other guy Deen take a factor 1,66666, so You get a logic scale.
Nope! 1 - 12! - That's it...
That'll be a good idea. ;D
Whatever is on the album, its bound to be freakin' brilliant. :)
Well, I've done my own "Best Of". First track-list was made of more than 20 songs and about 2 hours :o ... so I've made some cuts. It has one song from every album (except The Cry) and includes one live track... the album's title, as I said before, could be "From Lions To Ghosts - The Best Of Arena", and the track list:
1. Solomon (Songs From The Lions Cage)
2. Jericho (Songs From The Lions Cage)
3. Medusa (Pride)
4. Sirens (Pride)
5. (Don’t Forget To) Breathe (The Visitor)
6. The Hanging Tree (The Visitor)
7. The Butterfly Man (Immortal?)
8. Painted Man (Contagion)
9. Spectre At The Feast (Contagion)
10. Ascension (Live & Life)
11. Tantalus (Pepper’s Ghost)
12. Opera Fanatica (Pepper’s Ghost)
There can really be hundreds of possible and great track lists, but that's mine.
Bye bye
It's all well and good putting the epics onto the CD... but the Moviedromes, Solomons, Hanging Trees, etc... of the catalogue will use up the whole CD on their own!! :)
Don't forget that the guys are trying to keep this to one disc; that means there can only be up to 80 minutes of music at the most... including any CD ROM enhancements that might go on there!
Just a thought... ;)
Yes, that's true. The "Epics" would take a lot of time, but ... is it possible to represent what's Arena's music without them? I don't think so.
But the DVD solution is great!!! ;)
OK, I try my best too:
First, a special Version of Moviedrome, like "Shine on you crazy diamonds" in two parts, at the beginning and at the end of the album.
And as a special surprise to the "real" fans: all tracks are new recorded!
Representative for Arena could be the following tracklist:
1. Moviedrome, Part 1
2. Solomon
3. Welcome to the cage
4. Jericho - Live 97
5. Only child
6. The Hanging tree
7. (Don´t forget to) breathe
8. Crying For Help VII - Live 2001
9. Painted man
10. Ascension
11. Smoke and Mirrors
12. Moviedrome, Part 2
13. Friday´s dream
What about this collection? :o
Oh, Rob should totally record some of the older stuff! I could listen to his voice forever - he is just the coolest guy ever!!!!
Ahem...
Whatever else, just make sure to include Friday's Dream and Ascension......cos they are my favourites
What about the title : "reservoir" or "reveal" for an compilation album?
Maybe you can include:
an instrumental song, have to think about that one
2 "jump songs": Jericho and Solomon
1 emotional song: Crying for Help IV
1 happy song: Welcome to the Stage
a few from the Visitor, Immortal, Contagious and Pepper's Ghost.
Anyway in my opinion The Visitor is the best of them all!!! Put a few of Visitor on the disc.
Enjoy X-mas 2005!!!
Wiebe