Tony Sheridan Tony Sheridan and Opus 3 Artists Hybrid Stereo SACD

Audiophile Stereo SACD!
Awarded Hi-Fi News Album Choice - June 2018
Sound Quality: 95%
Sound engineer Jan-Eric Persson has realized a long-cherished dream and produced an album with the original Beatle Tony Sheridan. After a total of 5 years of production, "Tony Sheridan... And Opus 3 Artists". Tony Sheridan wrote the album opener with none other than Paul McCartney – a title that had never been released before. The remaining 11 songs are all penned by Tony Sheridan. On three tracks he sings himself, on the other nine tracks performers from Opus 3 Records such as Maria Winther, Bottleneck John, Yamina, Therese Mercedes Myrhed, Nick Malmeström and Roger Ekman can be heard.
The Opus 3 Tony Sheridan story:
In 1964, about three years after he had performed and recorded with The Beatles in Hamburg, he returned from a tour with a great band to record what was for us an unforgettable Rhythm & Blues album "Just a little bit of Tony Sheridan".
In 2006 my old friend Anders Aslund who shared my interest in Tony's work, joined me on a trip to Hamburg where Tony was still living, to start discussions on future possibilities to make a record.
A further visit to Hamburg early in 2007, but this time together with Roger Ekman, a long time associate of Opus 3 Records, who was much appreciated by Tony as producer and bassist.
After several meetings we realized that we had discovered a great many wonderful songs, literally a 'treasure-trove' of songs including for example "Tell Me If You Can" which Tony Sheridan had written with Paul McCartney during their time in Hamburg.
The album concept:
Later in 2007 Tony came up to the Opus 3 Studio in Sweden and we recorded two songs together. "Tell Me If You Can" and "Indochina" a song relating to his experience when he performed for the US soldiers in Vietnam during the '70s.
Sadly, Tony died at the beginning of 2013, leaving us not only with memories but also recordings which we had made of just him and his guitar in his home in Hamburg. These songs are in effect the jewels in a musical treasure created by Tony Sheridan. A treasure not locked in a vault collecting dust, but an album performed by Opus 3 artists giving exposure to Tony's creativity. The inclusion of "Skinny Minnie" was because it was known to be one of his biggest hits.
Roger Ekman was the driving musical force and responsible for the many different arrangements, later joined by guitarist Peter Melin. On the drums we have Robert Carlsson who was also very good in finding the right grooves!
Recording & Mixing Equipment:
Microphones: AKG C 24 (Stereo), AKG C 12 VR (Vacuum tube condensers), AKG
C 414 B-TL II, AKG D12, Beyerdynamic M160, Coles 4038, RCA44A, Shure SM57,
Shure SM76, Electro Voice RE20, Thuresson stereo condenser CM504 and Thuresson
condenser CM402
Microphone Preamplifiers: Thuresson 4-channel, custom made and AMEK 9098.
Analog Audio Console: Sony MX-P61
Digital Equipment: RME Fireface 800 and ADI-8 Convertors
Daw: Reaper
Monitor Speakers: Totem Acoustics, Mani-2 Signature
"If the name rings no bells, then you aren't a hardcore Beatles fan: Sheridan was the singer backed by The Fab Four on their first-ever recordings. This matters because Sheridan co-wrote a song with the young McCartney, "Tell Me If You Can", and it kicks off this superb SACD. This is (I think) only the second time it's been recorded, the first time was in 2004 by Zounds. That's enough for some of us to want this showcase for Opus 3 artists, but it is also a tribute to Sheridan, who died in 2013. That lovely, warm, open Opus 3 sound, with plenty of air and space, fine musicianship, frames Sheridan's compositions which are, it turns out, mighty fine. Who knew? A hard-rocker turned singer-songwriter troubadour. A joy." - Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, June 2018
"There's no doubt about it: This is perhaps the most ambitious and important album in the history of Opus 3 Records." (Listening experience 105, sound tip)
"Audiophiles have appreciated the Swedish label Opus 3 for 40 years. The latest Opus 3 coup is songs penned by Tony Sheridan. Every Beatles fan knows the British singer and guitarist (1940-2013) – he recorded "My Bonnie" in Hamburg with their early edition Beat Brothers. The veteran was able to sing four songs with Opus 3 musicians, including "Tell Me If You Can", written with Paul McCartney, previously unreleased. For this reason alone, this SACD is a must!" - Lothar Brandt, Audio 5/2018, "Audiophile CD of the Month"

Features:

• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
• Made in Germany

Musicians:

• Peter Melin, acoustic & electric guitars
• Bert Ostlund, acoustic & electric guitars, organ, Wurlitzer, piano
• Bjorn Jansson, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Filip Ekestrubbe, piano, pump organ
• Anna Wallgren, cello
• Tony Sheridan, guitar
• Bottleneck John, dobro guitar
• Roger Ekman, electric & acoustic bass
• Robert Carlsson, drums
• Hakan Tingshagen, drums

Selections:

1. Tell Me If You Can
2. Muscovado feat. Maria Winther (vocals)
3. Numbers On The Sun feat. Bottleneck John (vocals)
4. Travelling Through The Night feat. Yamina (vocals)
5. He Said yes feat. Therese Mercedes Myrhed (vocals)
6. Julie, Julie feat. Nick Malmeström (vocals)
7. Indochina
8. Open Road feat. Maria Winther (vocals)
9. The Music Must Go On feat. Roger Ekman (vocals)
10. Serene Is All feat. Maria Winther (vocals)
11. Skinny Minnie feat. Bottleneck John (vocals)
12. The Puzzle