Hi,
I'm sure some of you already own these, but for those of you who don't, the 2006 remastered and expanded versions of Roy's three original Monument albums are value for money.

Because I have the albums and the individual songs over and over and in so many formats, I had actually decided not to invest in the series. But in the HMV shop in Oxford Street, London last week I suddenly found myself holding In Dreams and Crying and I thought why not, I might be pleasantly surprised. And I was. The remaster works excellently and Roy's voice stands out crystal clear as do the instruments. When I was listening to Candy Man and that other "voice" in the song, Charlie McCoy's harmonica I remembered an occasion when I had a chance to speak to Charlie about his part in Candy Man, and he reminded me that he also played on other songs, like Blue Bayou where the harmonica is much more delicate, wistful to suit the idea of the song.

Like some of you I have been listening to and collecting Roy since the early sixties, and I always welcome opportunities to "rediscover" Roy's music, ways that will allow you to have a fresh look. This series is one such opportunity. The Bear Family box that we discussed in a different topic is another. Part of the freshness of that one is that you get Roy's Monument recordings in chronological order, so you can trace his next "move" after, say, Crying.