This December 2006 Hip-O
Select CD on B000708702 (Barcode 602517008861) is a US-only limited edition of
4000 and reissues the first part of LUCY and CARLY SIMON's musical career as
THE SIMON SISTERS in the early Sixties.
"Winkin', Blinkin' And
Nod: The Kapp Recordings" comes in a triple gatefold digipak sleeve with a
12-page booklet featuring photos of the album artwork, detailed reissue credits
and snaps of the gorgeous gals on stage with their acoustic guitars and matching
cardigans. There's even affectionate and revealing liner notes penned by Carly
Simon herself.
Here's the folky breakdown
for "Winkin', Blinkin' And Nod: The Kapp Recordings" by THE SIMON
SISTERS (66:36 minutes):
1. So Glad I'm Here
2. Breton Lullaby
3. Delia
4. Will You Go Laddie Go [aka
"Wilde Mountain Thyme"]
5. Chicken Road
6. Once I Had A True Love
7. Wind Spiritual
8. Winkin', Blinkin' And Nod
9. La Claire Fontaine
10. Rise Up
11. Lorca Lullaby
12. Waley, Waley (The Water
Is Wide)
13. Sano Duso
Tracks 1 to 13 are the album
"The Simon Sisters" released in early 1964 on Kapp Records KL-1359
(Mono) and KS-3359 (Stereo) in the USA - Stereo Mix Used
14. Cuddlebug
15. If You Go Down To The
Water
16. Dinks Blues
17. Turn, Turn, Turn
18. Hold Back The Branches
19. Ecoute Dans La Vent
(Blowin' In The Wind)
20. Motherless Child
21. No One To Talk My
Troubles To
22. My Fisherman, My Laddie
O!
23. Feuilles-Oh (Leaves)
24. If I Had A Ribbon Bow
25. Pale Horse And Rider
Tracks 14 to 25 are the album
"Cuddlebug" released late 1964 on Kapp Records KL-1397 (Mono) and
KS-3397 (Stereo) in the USA - Stereo Mix Used
The 1st generation stereo
tapes have been remastered by one of Universal's top engineer's ERICK LABSON
who has over 1200 mastering, remastering and audio restoration credits to his
name. And he really has outdone himself here because the sound quality on this
CD is beautiful - a really exceptionally transfer - clean and warm - it will
thrill fans to the very core.
Musically the Sisters sound
like Joan Baez meets a female Simon & Garfunkel circa "Wednesday
Morning, 3 a.m." - freedom songs, lullabies, historical ditties,
traditional airs - mixed up with an occasional original "Rise Up" and
"Pale Horse & Rider". Their choices of cover versions were clever
too - incredibly strong melodies given pretty and even beautiful renditions -
"Will You Go Laddie Go" (the Wild Mountain Thyme song made famous by
the McPeake family of Scotland) and "Waley, Waley" (The Water Is Wide
song) particularly stick out.
It's not all peaches and
cream of course. There are also times on these albums when the cute Sixties
thing borderlines on twee and unlistenable - "Cuddlebug" for instance
and the French language version of Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" are
difficult to stomach. This is not the songwriting living life Carly Simon of
the 1970s Elektra years, but someone working out their musical place in the
world. Still, outside of the twee moments, there's great stuff on this CD to
savour - "Hold Back The Branches" features lovely harmonies from Lucy
- while "Dink's Blues" has a blistering lead from Carly that's
incredibly accomplished - and the production quality on both tracks is
fantastic.
Hip-O Select releases are not
cheap for sure, but I've over 20 now and if you're into an artist, they're the
best. These two albums have been off catalogue for the guts of 40 years now -
and Hip-O Select have done their reissue proud.
This is a must-own for fans of the great lady - and besides, even
standing beside a lamppost in a natty cardigan as she does on Page 1 of the
booklet, Carly Simon still manages to look like sex on legs...effortlessly...
Recommended.
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