"What's It All About? Film & TV Music Of Swinging London" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring TV and Soundtrack Composers Barry Gray, Tony Hatch, Cyril Stapleton, John Barry, Joe Meek, Laurie Johnson, Bob Leaper, John Dankworth, Ron Grainer, Ted Heath Plus Pop & Rock Groups of the Period like Small Faces, Yardbirds, Lulu, Manfred Mann, The Spencer Davis Group, Tom Jones, Vashti Bunyan, The Walker Brothers, Chris Farlowe, Twice As Much, Cilla Black, The Scaffold, The Seekers, Heinz, Laurie Steele, Paul Jones, Herman's Hermits, The Tornados, The Mindbenders, Episode Six, Herbie's People, Katch 22, The Pentangle, Rodney Bewes, Blossom Toes , Arthur Brown, Amen Corner, The Alan Bown Set, The Lemon Dips, Traffic, Pretty Things as Electric Banana, Jasmin-T, Andy Ellison, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera and more (March 2026 UK Cherry Red/Strawberry 3CD 91-Track Clamshell Box Set with Three Picture Card Sleeves, 40-Page Booklet with Chris Allan and John Reed Annotation and Simon Murphy Masters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Overall **** 

Amazing breath in the material, fun listens, 

a sea of rarities and discoveries for die-hards, 

beautifully presented, quality audio - not all tracks great

Presentation: ***** 

Lovely Clamshell Box, 3 Card Sleeves, Info-Packed 40-Page Booklet

Audio: 

*** to ***** (mostly ****)

This Review and Over 394 More Like It

Are Available In My E-Book 

 

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CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 

And Other Genres Thereabouts 

 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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"...Modesty Blaise...Deadlier Than The Male..."

There are other sets covering this fabulous go-go boots and mini-skirts nostalgia trip, but I dare say they don't do it nearly as well or with such knowledge/passion.

With an amazing breath of Sixties material (91-Tracks across 3CDs – see photos) – you get walloped with fun theme song listens from TV and film, Supermarionation schoolboy crushes, Jason King tache-types, Bond knock-off dysfunctional spies with Tibetan superpowers and Daleks and suitcases and saints and beans on toast as Alfie tries to navigate dolly birds and Sonny Rollins and Mrs. Brown's lovely daughter. Jean Shrimpton, Terence Stamp, Alexandra Bastedo, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Rita Tushingham, Diana Rigg, Lulu, Paul Jones, David Frost, Joe 90, Patrick Macnee – all the shakers are here – and of course deeper dives too into composer giants like John Barry, Tony Hatch, Barry Gray and John Dankworth (to name but a few). Hell, there might even be a freshly lit cigarette hanging from the lips of some anti-hero with a crush velvet shirt.

For the aficionado and diehard collector and with over ninety tracks, you also get a sea of rarities (some first time on CD), cool card sleeves picturing swinging hipster types (names identified below), a jam-packed 40-page booklet with superb period visuals and (largely) banging audio. For my part as a reviewer, to avoid this tale being paperback length (there is a lot to unpack) – I’ve fleshed out each track entry with info past just release dates and catalogue numbers – you get details (from the booklet and bits of my own) on TV stars and films and other related items. Without further goes around the Mulberry Bush, Thunderballs, Blow Ups and To Sir with Love, here are details…

UK released Friday, 27 March 2026 - "What's It All About? Film & TV Music Of Swinging London" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red/Strawberry CR3JAMBX56 (Barcode 5013929435636) is a 3CD 91-Track Clamshell Box Set with Three Period Photo Card Sleeves, a 40-Page Colour Booklet with Chris Allan and John Reed Annotation and Simon Murphy Mastering. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:56 minutes, 31 Tracks) 

Michael Caine, Joe 90 and The Spencer Davis Group pictured on card sleeve

1. Theme From The TV Series The Avengers - THE LAURIE JOHNSON ORCHESTRA (December 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17015, A-side - the iconic Avengers Spy TV Show featured Diana Rigg and Patrick McNamee as Emma Peel and John Steed)

2. I've Got Mine - SMALL FACES (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12276, A-side - featured in the film 'Dateline Diamonds' - first Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane song collaboration)

3. On The Brink - MIKE VICKERS (August 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 7657, A-side - Mike Vickers had been in Manfred Mann - this Northern Soul anthem was also once used as the theme song to a BBC TV programme called 'The Wednesday Play')

4. Choc Ice - LULU AND THE LUVERS (from the June 1965 UK LP "Gonks Go Beat (Original Soundtrack Recording From The Titan Production) on Decca LK 4673 in Mono - film featured Kenneth Connor and 'The Gonk' was a popular toy of the era that appears in the opening credits of the Sci-Fi Fantasy Movie)

5. Title Theme From Joe 90 - BARRY GRAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (October 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17625, A-side - part of Gerry Anderson's array of Supermarionation TV shows from the Sixties that included Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet - Joe 90 was a kid who could be imbibed with all manner of adult expertise through a machine thus becoming an unlikely hero. Barry Gray's fabulous themes became synonymous with Anderson's shows and were beloved by every schoolkid in England)

6. Deadlier Than The Male - THE WALKER BROTHERS (December 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Philips BF 1537, A-side - theme to a movie of the same name)

7. Theme From Department S - CYRIL STAPLETON AND HIS ORCHESTRA (August 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17807, A-side - a UK Spy TV show cashing in the Bond 007 craze that first featured the character of Jason King as played by actor and future musician Peter Wyngarde. 'Jason King' the TV show would appear in 1971 and become notorious for its deeply un-PC portrayals and hipster soundtrack)

8. Winter Is Blue - VASHTI (from the November 1968 UK Soundtrack LP "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" on Instant INLP 002 in Mono - a Soundtrack LP that also featured The Pink Floyd, Small Faces, Chris Farlowe, Twice As Much - VASHTI BUNYAN would go on to release the hugely collectable Folk-Rock cult LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Philips Records in November 1970)

9. Alfie's Theme Differently - SONNY ROLLINS with ORCHESTRA Conducted by NELSON RIDDLE (from the 1966 UK Soundtrack LP "Sonny Plays Alfie" on HMV Records CSD 3529 in Stereo - Michael Caine played the titular character in the famous Sixties moral shocker of a movie - Rollins was a US Jazz Tenor Saxophonist)

10. Paint It Black - CHRIS FARLOWE (August 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate Records IM 071, A-side - a cover version of The Rolling Stones classic and also featured on the 'Tonite Let's All Make Love In London' soundtrack mentioned on Track 8)

11. Accroche Toi, Caroline - PARIS STUDIO GROUP (CLAUDE VASORI) (from the 1967 UK 10" Library Music LP "Voices In The Wind" on Sylvester Music Company SMC LP 502 in Mono - most remembered as the theme music to the UK Art Show 'Vision On' featuring Tony Hart)

12. Modesty (Modesty Blaise Theme) - DAVID AND JONATHAN (May 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 700, A-side - Spy Spoof Movie starring Terence Stamp and Monica Vitti in the titular role)

13. Man Alive - THE TONY HATCH SOUND (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15972, A-side - theme music to a BBC hard-hitting subject-matter current-affairs TV show that ran right up to 1981)

14. When I Come Home - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 739, A-side - the band featured Steve Winwood and Spencer Davis - music was from a 1966 comedy musical film called 'The Ghost Goes Gear' - the movie featured Acker Bilk, Dave Berry and future TV legend Nicholas Parsons)

15. 007 - THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN AND ORCHESTRA (October 1963 UK 7" 45-single on Ember EMBS 181, A-side - this famous part-of the James Bond music pantheon was first showcased in the second Bond movie 'From Russia With Love' but would be returned to in 'Thunderball' and 'Moonraker' - an instrumental usually used when 007 is outsmarting his Spectre opponent)

16. High Wire - THE BOB LEAPER ORCHESTRA (September 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15700, A-side - famous for being used as the theme music to the Patrick McGoohan spy show 'Danger Man' (renamed 'Secret Agent Man' in the USA))

17. Night Time Girl (Soundtrack Version) - TWICE AS MUCH (see Track 8)

18. The Champions - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (August 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17814, A-side - a Spy/Super Heroes TV show starring the gorgeous Alexandra Bastedo with handsome Stuart Damon and studio William Gaunt as a trio of conscientious types who return from a Tibetan plane crash as enhanced human beings)

19. Take This Train - THE LONG AND THE SHORT (see Track 4)

20. The Frost Report - JOHN DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 700, A-side - theme music to a satirical TV show fronted by the famous interviewer and chronicler of the times David Frost)

21. Georgy Girl - THE SEEKERS (September 1966 US 7" 45-single on Capitol Records 5756, A-side - theme to the film of the same name starring Alan Bates and Lynn Redgrave in the Lead Roles - a No.1 Pop hit in many countries)

22. West End - THE LAURIE JOHNSON ORCHESTRA (Not Originally released commercially - theme to Alan Whickers TV programme 'Whicker's World')

23. Off And Running - THE MINDBENDERS (August 1967 Canadian 7" 45-single on Fontana -1595, A-side - used in the film 'To Sir With Love' starring Sidney Poitier)

24. The Spies Theme - CYRIL STAPLETON (February 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N. 17052, A-side - a UK Spy TV series starring Dinsdale Landen - said to be only one episode in existence as the BBC wiped the tapes)

25. Liver Birds - THE SCAFFOLD (October 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5812, B-side of "Gin Gan Goolie" - famous TV song theme to a hugely popular TV programme about single ladies navigating the Swinging Sixties while society still has one foot in 40s and 50s traditions)

26. The Ipcress File - JOHN BARRY (from the 1965 UK Soundtrack LP "The Ipcress File" on CBS Records S BPG 62530 in Stereo - Michael Caine's anti-hero Harry Palmer would become a mid-60s icon - this slow ever so slightly menacing instrumental perfectly captured the paranoid world of Sixties espionage from an English egg 'n' chips bedsit point of view)

27. This Is The Moment - THE NEWS (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12447, A-side - featured in a TV episode of 'Adam Adamant Lives!' TV Series called 'Sing A Song Of Murder' - Eighties UK Pop Star Adam Ant took his name from this show)

28. Alfie - CILLA BLACK (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5427, A-side - used in the end credits of the Michael Caine 'Alfie' film - the song was written by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Produced by Beatles collaborator George Martin)

29. Accident - JOHNNY DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (March 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 805, A-side - theme to the movie of the same name starring Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker and Jacqueline Sassard from a screenplay by Harold Pinter)

30. Let's Live For Love - THE SPECTRUM (from the US Soundtrack LP "The Bliss Of Mrs. Blossom" on RCA Victor LSP-4080 in Stereo)

31. Thunderbirds - THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (December 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17016, A-side - famous theme to this beloved Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Supermarionation TV Series where the reclusive Tracy Family living on a tropical island turn out to Worldwide problem solvers and rescuers with their advanced Thunderbirds machines invented by Brains)

CD2 (78:49 minutes, 34 Tracks)

Sean Connery (as Bond), 60s Supermodel Jean Shrimpton and Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) in the Film 'Privilege' with actor Richard Bradford from the 'Man In A Suitcase' TV Show pictured on card sleeve

1. The James Bond Theme - JOHN BARRY ORCHESTRA (September 1962 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 4898, A-side - Vic Flick played Guitar on this world-famous recurring theme music to the first Bond 007 film outing 'Dr. No' in 1962)

2. Blow Up - THE IN CROWD (Not originally released - bnd made two songs for the film 'The In Crowd' but neither was used - they were replaced by England's Yardbirds - The In Crowd would later become Tomorrow in 1969)

3. Dancing Frog - WYNDER K. FROG (February 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Island WIP 6006, A-side - Wynder K. Frog is a pseudonym for Hammond-Organ player Mick Weaver - song was featured on the Soundtrack LP to "The Untouchables") 

4. Stroll On - THE YARDBIRDS (from the 1966 UK LP "Blow-Up (The Original Soundtrack Album)" on MGM Records MGM-CS-8039 in Stereo - while all of the album is credited to and by Herbie Hancock - The Yardbirds get this one song on it)

5. A Man In A Suitcase - RON GRAINER (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17383, A-side - US Disgraced Gumshoe TV Series starring Richard Bradford as Private Eye McGill (Bradford is pictured on the card sleeve to CD2) - the show gave breaks to Felicity Kendal and a young Donald Sutherland)

6. Thunderball - TOM JONES (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12292, A-side - theme song from the fourth James Bond movie starring Sean Connery)

7. The Theme From The Power Game - CYRIL STAPLETON (January 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17040, A-side - theme to a TV Series starring Patrick Wymark)

8. Changing Of The Guard (7" Version) - MARQUIS OF KENSINGTON (May 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 052, A-side - the 7" version of this witty societal one-up-manship song is a slight edit - the LP cut on "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" is longer because it has a refrain of 'God Save The Queen' in the fade out)

9. Joe's Theme - LAURIE STEELE (December 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca DFE 8672, A-side - Theme to a children's TV show called 'Joe' - first time on CD)

10. Free Me - PAUL JONES (from the 4-Track UK Extended Play (EP) "Sings Songs From The Film Privilege" on HMV Records 7EG 8975 - Paul Jones was the Lead Singer in Manfred Mann and had a long solo career after the band - Swinging Sixties Supermodel Jean Shrimpton was also in the mpvie and both Jones and Shrimpton are pictured on the front cover of CD2)

11. The Ice Cream Man (Original Speed) - THE TORNADOS (Not originally Released - from the film 'Farewell Performance' - Joe Meek Producer)

12. Stingray - GARY MILLER with THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (October 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15698, A-side - Vocals by Gary Miller - theme to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation TV Series)

13. Softly Softly - THE LONDON WAITS (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 030, A-side - theme to the UK TV Series 'Softly Softly' itself a spin-off from the 'Z Cars' TV Series)

14. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter - HERMAN'S HERMITS (June 1965 UK 7" 45-single 4-Track EP "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" on Columbia SEG 8440 - a Comedy Musical Film)

15. Hit And Miss - TED HEATH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (April 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12133, A-side - The John Barry Seven and Orchestra had the original theme song to the UK's pop-show 'Juke Box Jury' - but in the last few months of its airing, it was swapped out for this variant by Ted Heath)

16. It's Getting Harder All The Time - THE MINDBENDERS (from the July 1967 UK Soundtrack LP "To Sir With Love" on Fontana STL 5446 in stereo - film starred Judy Geeson and Sidney Poitier)

17. Birds - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (March 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17496, A-side - theme to the BBC's 'Eurofashion 68')

18. The Last Goodbye - CHRIS FARLOWE (April 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 066, A-side - although the label credits the song as being from a film of the same name - it didn't exist - title was just something label owner Andrew Loog Oldham thought 'sounded' like a film title)

19. The Saint - THE ELIMINATORS (from the 4-Track UK Extended Play (EP "Top T.V. Themes" on Pye Records NEP 24276 - a cover version of the popular Roger Moore Spy Show theme to 'The Saint' where Moore played the character Simon Templar)

20. The Adam Adamant Theme - KATHY KIRBY (June 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12432, A-side - theme music to the UK TV Series 'Adam Adamant Lives!' starring Gerald Harper as Adam Adamant, a man from Edwardian England who is frozen in time only to wake up in Swinging 60s London where he begins to solve crimes with his old swashbuckling ways)

21. Live It Up - HEINZ (from the December 1963 UK 4-track Extended Play EP "Live It Up" on Decca DFE 8559 - featured Joe Meek produced bands including Heinz)

22. John Peel - THE EAGLES (from the 1964 US LP "Nothing But The Best" on Colpix CP 477 in Mono)

23. Mio Amore Sta Lontano - ANGELIQUE (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17066, A-side - an Italian cover version of The Zombies song "I Remember When I Loved Her" written by Keyboardist Rod Argent (of the band Argent) that occasionally turned up in the 'Danger Man' show starring Patrick McGoohan)

24. Beefeaters - JOHN DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (November 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 512, A-side - theme to the UK TV Show 'Search For A Star' - this instrumental was also used as one of the pieces of music to open Radio 1's first broadcast in 1967 - the first actual song was 'Flowers In The Rain' by The Move)

25. Captain Scarlet - THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17391, A-side - sixth theme for Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation series - Spectrum Agent and indestructible due to fusion with future tech, Captain Scarlet does battle each week with alien-naughty-boys The Mysterons hell bent on taking over the world)

26. The Doctor's Theme - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (December 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17864, A-side - theme to a UK TV show called 'The Doctors' starring Justine Lord, Nigel Stock and Linda LaPlante)

27. Ya Ya Da Da - THE NEWS (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12477, B-side of "This Is The Moment" (see Track 27 on CD1 for the A-side) - from UK TV programme 'Adam Adamant Lives!')

28. Mouse On The Moon - THE COUNTDOWNS (May 1963 UK 7" 45-single on United Artists. UP 1024, A-side - a cover version of the Ron Grainer theme to the 1963 film 'Mouse On The Moon')

29. That Was The Week That Was - MILLICENT MARTIN with DAVID FROST (February 1963 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 4998, A-side - TV Show Theme recorded live)

30. (Theme) Who-Dun-It - TONY HATCH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (august 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17814, A-side - theme to the ATV TV Show 'Who-Dun-it' that starred Gary Raymonde)

31. A Place To Go - MIKE SARNE (April 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5129, A-side - Sung By and also Starring Mike Sarne alongside Rita Tushingham in the movie 'A Place To Go')

32. La Vetrina Delle Bambole - ARMANDO SCIASCIA AND HIS ORCHESTRA (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Ember EMBS 228, A-side - theme to the 1966 Granada TV series 'The Liars' - starred Ian Oglivy (later played Simon Templar in the re-boot of The Saint) and Nyree Dawn Porter who starred in The Protectors)

33. Born To Lose - JACKIE LEE (September 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12663, A-side - featured in a crime film called 'Robbery' starring Stanley Baker)

34. Fanfare & Opening Titles (Doctor Who And The Daleks) - MALCOLM LOCKYER (Not Originally Released - with electronic contributions from Barry Gary of Thunderbirds fame - the 1965 movie starred Peter Cushing as the first Timelord - the soundtrack was unissued at the time but reissued in 2009)

CD3 (75:44 minutes, 26 Tracks):

The Daleks from Doctor Who, Liza Goddard and cast from Take Three Girls TV Show and Sidney Poitier are pictured on the card sleeve

1. To Sir With Love – LULU (June 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 8221, B-side of "Let's Pretend" – theme song from the 1967 film of the same name produced by RAK Records founder and music impresario Mickie Most – starred Sidney Poitier as a Guianan teacher in inner city London – singer Lulu was also in the cast – Director James Clavell also wrote the screenplay for The Great Escape – Poitier is pictured on the card sleeve)

2. Residential Area - HERBIE'S PEOPLE (February 1967 UK 7" 45-single on CBS Records 2020584, B-side of "Hummingbird" – from the Ken Loach film 'Poor Cow' starring Carol White and Terence Stamp)

3. Theme From Girl On A Motorcycle - THE BRITISH LION ORCHESTRA (December 1968 US 7" 45-single on Tetragrammaton T-1511, A-side - Les Reed instrumental from the film of the same name starring Marianne Faithfull and Alain Delon)

4. Gentlemen Of The Park - EPISODE SIX (from the shared 1969 Soundtrack LP "Les Bicyclettes De Belsize/Twisted Nerve" by Les Reed, Barry Mason and Bernard Herrmann on Polydor 583 728 in Stereo - song written by Les Reed/Barry Mason)

5. Here Come The Nice - SMALL FACES (June 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 050, A-side - also on the 'Tonite Let's All Make Love in London' soundtrack LP - title of the song comes from a monologue in the film by British comedian Lord Buckley that says "...here comes da nazz...")

6. The Knack (Main Theme) - JOHN BARRY (October 1965 Dutch 7" 45-single on CBS Records 1960, A-side - Instrumental from the movie soundtrack to "The Knack...And How To Get It" starring Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks and a pre-Betty Michael Crawford with sexpots Charlotte Rampling and Jane Birkin both making screen debuts - its rare picture sleeve is shown on Page 31 of the booklet)

7. Out Of My Life - KATCH 22 (March 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 1005, A-side - taken from the 1969 Film "Baby Love" starring Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks and Michael Crawford)

8. Light Flight - THE PENTANGLE (October 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Big T Records BIG 128, A-side - Jacqui McShee on Lead Vocals with Bert Jansch, John renbourn and Danny Thompson - theme music to the BBC TV Show 'Take Three Girls' - the actresses are pictured on the front card sleeve)

9. Return From The Ashes - THE JOHN DANKWORTH ORCHESTRA (February 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 675, A-side - theme from the movie of the same name starring Ingrid Thulin directed by 'Guns Of Navarone' and 'Cape Fear' maverick Lee J. Thompson)

10. Dear Mother, Love Albert - RODNEY BEWES (July 1970 US 7" 45-single on Revolution Pop REVP 1001, A-side - Bewes was the Singer and Star of the ITV TV Show called 'Dear Mother, Love Albert' about a country lad pretending to be having a swinging time living in London - show also featured Garfield Morgan later of 'The Sweeney')

11. Look At Me, I'm You - BLOSSOM TOES (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Marmalade 589002, A-side - This Psych Track was part of the French Comedy Drama 'La Connectionneuse' (The Collector in English) and was also on their 1967 debut album too "We Are Ever So Clean" on Marmalade 608001 in Stereo)

12. Opening Titles: Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 - BILL McGUFFIE (Not Originally Released - 1966 Film starring Peter Cushing as Time Lord Doctor Who - the film score was unreleased at the time - finally issued like its predecessor in 2006)

13. She - TUESDAY'S CHILDREN (November 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Mercury MF 1063, A-side - featured in the film '29' starring Alex Kanner (later on Softly Softly) and Yootha Joyce (later in George & Mildred))

14. Scream And Scream Again - AMEN CORNER (from the 1969 UK LP "Farewell To The Real Magnificent Seven" on Immediate Records IMSP 028 in Stereo - Written by Dominic King - it was used in a 1970 Hammer Horror film of the same name starring the unholy triumverate of Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price)

15. So Evil So Young - BILL LE SAGE (from the 1961 Mood Music Library UK LP "Light Comedy" on Ember ERL 3314 in Mono - Sage was a British Jazz Pianist who had played for John Dankworth's Orchestra - song became the theme to the ITV Series 'The Cheaters' starring John Ireland)

16. Jeu De Massacre - THE ALAN BOWN SET (from the 1967 French Extended Play EP 'Bande Sonore Originale Du Film "Jeu De Massacre"' on Vogue EPL 8537 - in the satirical film aka 'The Killing Game')

17. Who's Gonna Buy - THE LEMON DROPS (from the 1969 UK Library Music LP "Who's Gonna Buy?" on Music De Wolfe DW/LP 3114 - song written by Peter Reno and featured in the film 'Haunted House Of Horror' starring US Pop Star Frankie Avalon and future 'Man About The House' UK TV Star Richard O'Sullivan)

18. Left Bank Two - THE NOVELTONES (1973 UK 7" 45-single on DW (De Wolfe Music) DWSR/100 - Written by Wayne Hill from the De Wolfe Music Library team - it was heavily featured in the children's TV show 'Vision On' in the Sixties - the song had been around since 1964 hence its use on this Box Set) 

19. I'll Never Be Me - ELECTRIC BANANA aka THE PRETTY THINGS (from the 1969 UK Music Library LP "Even More Electric Banana" on De Wolfe Music DW/LP 3123 - Electric Banana was The Pretty Things and it is they that feature playing this song in the 1969 movie 'What's Good For The Goose' - starring legendary British slapstick comedian Norman Wisdom and actress Sally Geeson - for another song from this LP see also Track 24 on CD3)

20. It's Been A Long Time - ANDY ELLISON  (December 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Track Records 604018, A-side - Lead Singer with John's Children - song featured in the film 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush' starring Barry Evans and Judy Geeson)

21. Virginals Dream - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (from the 1968 UK Soundtrack LP "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" on United Artists SULP 1186 in Stereo - film starred Denholm Elliot, Diane Keen and Nicky Henson - see also Tracks 20 and 22)

22. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush - TRAFFIC (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Island WIP 6025, A-side - also title of and featured in the movie of the same name - for other songs from the movie see also Tracks 20 and 21 on CD3)

23. Talk Of The Devil - ELMER GANTRY'S VELVET OPERA (Not Originally Released - from the 1968 film 'Talk Of The Devil' - members of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera would form The Strawbs)

24. The Dark Theme - JASMIN-T (from the 1969 UK Library Music LP "Even More Electric Banana" on De Wolfe Music DW/LP 3123 - title music to the film 'Haunted House Of Horror' - written by Reg Tisley and Barry Womersley)

25. Nightmare (Version from 'The Committee') - THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN (November 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Track Records 604026, A-side - featured in the film 'The Committee' starring Manfred Mann's Paul Jones) 

26. Liberty Bell - THE REGIMENTAL BAND OF THE SCOTS GUARDS (from the 1968 UK Library Music LP "The Band Of The Scots Guards" on Music De Wolfe DW/LP 3085 - most famously used as the theme song to the British TV Show anarchy of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus')

While the card sleeves are tasty to look at - the 40-page booklet compiled and annotated by CHRIS ALLAN with input from JOHN REED is a joy to behold. Cherry Red and their label imprint Strawberry Records have produced plenty Clamshell Box Sets - but the Sixties ones are fabulous. You get the usual seven-inch label repro's for Columbia, Fontana, Immediate, Decca, Parlophone, Polydor etc UK 45s strewn across the text pages with rare Euro pic sleeves, album artwork and sheet music pumping up the rest. As pictured above - composer titans of TV and Film are given due respect by having a page-photo - Laurie Johnson on CD1, John Barry for CD2 and Tony Hatch for CD3. The Sixties and certainly Swinging London can only look cool even when their puppets or wannabe spies fighting the good fight. Allan's notes on each track are brief but jam-packed with interesting facts. This took time and effort to put together and as somewhat of a Box Set veteran - I'm impressed. 

SIMON MURPHY has been associated with Edsel, Ace and Cherry Red for years. While this huge number of tracks (and from the Sixties) is bound to bring varying audio quality as we leap from year to year - major studio to independent cubicle - for the most part the Audio is 'so' damn good. Contrasts come for instance in the Twice As Much song on CD1 "Night Time Girl" (from the "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" soundtrack LP) as compared to Tony Hatch's brass-blasting Champions theme - the latter is not great while Tony Hatch's is - Alexandra Bastedo and pals done proud by our Tone. Following those are the Harmonica-driven "Take This Train" by The Long And Short and Dankworth getting all Sixties-hip with his 'Frost Report' theme music. The latter good to very good - Dankworth however in yer face for all the brass-blasting mono reasons. The drums and orchestra kick in Barry Gray's fantastic "Thunderbirds" theme absolutely marches into your living room - the boys already sliding along those tubes into their dinky IR uniforms to their wonder-machines.

CD1: Highlights include that stunning Avengers opener from Laurie Johnson and the brass-belting instrumental groove of Mick Vickers "On The Brink" where you can see Northern Soul dancers giving it some mental Boogaloo and not wanting it to stop. Pint-sized dynamite Lulu and her Luvers tell us that chocolate ice is very nice (she feels the same about peaches and cream if you know what I mean). But my heart goes to Barry Gray's neck-jerking "Joe 90" - a boyhood sappy moment for men of my age. Never was much of a one for the overbearing melodrama of The Walker Brothers telling us to 'brother beware' - the female of the species will smile but soon make you cry (say it's not true Scott). Time to chase bad guys with the strings and organ chug of "Department S" - Cyril Stapleton's instrumental making them know that next stop is Wormwood Scrubs (before a few swift ones in the Dog & Duck). Folk chanteuse and collector's darling Vashti Bunyan gives us a welcome fay vocal with "Winter Is Blue" - our cello-surrounded Ti-Ti sounding like a starving Melanie who needs to get out more. 

Sonny Rollins supplies the Jazz cool for Michael Caine's superlative 'Alfie' movie - the kind of brass-strut that has not dated - Rollins soloing half-way through where you can hear him pressing in the chromatic side keys. Time for a Stones cover - Chris Farlowe lending his strangulated vocals to a racing-strings version of "Paint It Black" - the first of many tracks featured across the three Cds from the iconic soundtrack to 'Tonite Let's All Make Love In London'. TV themes ahoy with the oh-so familiar high-hat pout of the BBC's art programme 'Vision On' and its Library Music theme. Not long before the ladies get sexy - even if David And Jonathan kind of ruin the "Modesty Blaise" theme - their sappy vocals about as racy as a basket of sweaty Judo outfits due for washing. Better is Tony Hatch's instantly catchy "Man Alive" theme - those news hounds chasing down stories for the BBC. Great bands start to score with Steve Winwood fronting The Spencer Davis Group for their excellent mover "When I Come Home" - but even that is pulverised into shimmering guitar submission by John Barry's "007" - Vic Flick providing the famous guitar line while Brass and Strings move the rest of your heart over to Bond's side. Arguably even cooler (sacrilegious talk I know) is Tony Hatch providing us with the wonderful Harpsichord neck-jerker for "Danger Man" (or 'Secret Agent Man' as it was known Stateside) – Patrick McGoohan dreaming no doubt of Mini Mokes and Number Hierarchy and Prisoner Globules that chase you on Welsh beaches. Other goodies include the amazing slink of "The Ipcress File" - John Barry giving Michael Caine's spook anti-hero Harry Palmer the theme tune of all pie 'n' mash theme tunes. Wynder K. Frog (Mick Weaver) goes convincingly Hammond-A-Go-Go while TV men about town on Juke Box Jury and Adam Adamant get their moments too (don't fancy being an Edwardian frozen in time). Great stuff and plenty more of it too...

CD2: after the blast of door number one, I have to admit to being underwhelmed by the next door down. It opens well enough with everyone's fave ding-da-da-ding theme song for Mish-tar Bond - fabulous audio greeting your lugs for John Barry's iconic "James Bond Theme" from the super-spy's 'Dr. No' debut in 1962. Rough and ready is the best description for "Blow Up" by The In Crowd - tracks that were recorded for the Sixties movie of the same name but replaced by Yardbirds. Choppy and cool. But even hipper is the party-time Hammond Organ of Wynder K. Frog's "Dancing Frog" from 'The Untouchables' movie - grooviness abounds as your dancefloor butt begs for mercy (think of the children). Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page get all Fender and Gibson feedback on the amazingly heavy "Stroll On" - a Rock chugger from The Yardbirds also from the 'Blow Up' film. Way more fun and brassy uplifting is Ron Grainer's infectious "Man In A Suitcase" - a brilliantly evocative slice of pulsating Boogaloo - Richard Bradford as the smoking US Private Eye McGill.  Could probably do without ever hearing the too-in-yer-face "Thunderball" again – Tom Jones and his breathy delivery drowned in brass loudness that threatens a nearby vicarage. Have not heard "The Power Game" since I was a wee nipper – Peter Wymark and his deadpan puss staring out at us from Page 19 of the booklet. 

Another one to lose for me is "Changing Of The Guard" by Marquis Of Kensington - a life-was-better-back-then the-money-is-all-spent aristocracy whinge. Tad too childish rather than cute is how I'd describe "Joe's Theme" by Laurie Steele - not so the foreboding in Paul Jones' "Free Me" - our hero worried about the bonds of retribution in this rare 'Privilege' film track. I understand that Joe Meek elicits hero worship, but not in me, the Tornados instrumental "The Ice Cream Man" track being a firm skip. Manchildren everywhere will smile at the drums of "Stingray" - Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's aquatic Supermarionation extravaganza - Gary Miller the vocalist on this manic slice of 60s TV. No time though for the insufferably twee Herman's Hermits "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" or indeed the  'Softly Softly' CID theme by The London Waits. Way better is the 'Juke Box Jury' brass of Ted Heath's "Hit And Miss" - yer proper TV theme instrumental. Cool discovery comes in the lounge lizard bachelor pad shape of Tony Hatch's instrumental "Birds" - a Horns and Piano groover that will be on a CD-R of mine PDQ. Love the simple jabbed organ notes and treated guitar of "The Saint" - The Eliminators chancing their cover version arm on this one. Another nice found (gorgeous audio too) is "Mio Amore Sta Lontano" - an Italian sung version of The Zombies song "I Remember When I Loved Her" by Angelique - a tune that apparently turned up on occasion in episodes of 'Danger Man'. Another CD2 highlight (amongst too many passes) is the fantastic instrumental groover "Beefeaters" - a John Dankworth and Orchestra floor filling winner that is also on my next CD-R list. And at 34-tracks, on it goes...

CD3: while CD2 might have felt a tad off-kilter - no such case with CD3 which storms back brilliance with great sequencing. Lulu sings of being taken from crayons to perfumes in the decidedly pro-teacher "To Sir With Love" - the lyrics not possibly passing the PC test in 2026 (yikes). Continuing on the rare and interesting B-side tip, compiler Allan lines up more social commentary in "Residential Area" by Herbie's People - a 45 on CBS Records from February 1967 that is not exactly growing on trees (its a smart choice). Even better is the Les Reed instrumental "Girl On A Motorcycle" from the movie of the same name starring leatherette bad-girl Marianne Faithfull and French heartthrob Alain Delon that somehow manages to capture Sixties cool with Sixties lounge all inside 3:30 seconds. "Girl On..." was also apparently the first film to receive an 'X' certificate in the USA (go leather chicks). Moving on with the 'mind as you go' theme of danger to young lasses - the almost Association Bubblegum Pop of "Gentlemen Of The Park" by Episode Six hides lyrics about 'not all flowers are for picking' behind happy-wappy music. And you can feel the musical progression in Steve Mariott's Small Faces as they launch into the Mod Raver "Here Come The Nice" - undercurrents of drugs sinister shadow. And while Marriott and Lane and Co are good, you are thoroughly whomped by the instrumental/arrangement genius of John Barry with the Main Theme to the 1965 movie "The Knack...And How To Get It". My good is this good - everything about it just screams talent. Like Bacharach songs, Barry's music only gets better as the decades pass - so Sixties and yet so now - brilliant.

Rarity time with "Out Of My Life" by Katch 22 who provided two songs to the 1969 controversial movie "Baby Love" that starred Linda Haydn and Diana Dors. The audio is good here rather than great as it 'na-na-na's to a finish. A leap now into the fabulous audio and cool rhythms of England's Folk-Rock manglers Pentangle giving it some 'marking time' in their "Light Flight" single. The ba-da-do-dah pyrotechnic vocals of lead singer Jacqui McShee impressing like mad. "Light Flight" was used as the theme to the groundbreaking BBC comedy TV Series 'Take Three Girls' which starred Liza Goddard, Louise Jameson and Carolyn Seymour (they are pictured on the sleeve). The John Dankworth Orchestra and Rodney Bewes cuts are interesting but are trounced by the fabulous Psych-Pop of Blossom Toes going all backwards guitars and third-eye psychology on their "Look At Me, I'm You". Featuring cooler-than-cool types like Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - UK 45 singles on the colourful Marmalade Records label send collectors into palpitations and you can 'so' hear why. 

"Squawk" by BUDGIE – September 1972 UK Second Studio Album on MCA Records and in the USA on Kapp Records – featuring Tony Bourge, Burke Shelley and Ray Phillips with Production from Black Sabbath's Producer Rodger Bain (January 2005 UK Noteworthy Productions 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks (including Rarities and New Recordings) – Robert M. Corich and Mike Brown Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://amzn.to/4dAbhSF

RATINGS:

Overall: **** (Grungy Hard Rock - 1972 Second Consolidates Epic Debut in 1971)

Presentation: **** 12-Page Book with Band Interviews - Band Approved

Audio: **** Best Ever Audio including Rarities and New Recordings

"…Make Me Happy…"

I vividly remember getting Budgie's hard-rocking second studio album "Squawk" as a Christmas present in 1972. That cool looking Black and Blue label on first MCA pressings with the Hexagon Symbol above the spindle hole (would later go to all black MCA in 1973 when their third album "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" made inroads – the album with "Breadfan") and my love affair with this Welsh power trio was cemented immediately. 

"Squawk" may be seen as somewhat 'clunky and dated' nowadays, but back in the hair-shaking denim-wearing autumn of Seventies year-two - Budgie was the kind of band that elicited hero worship – the kind of riffage ensemble a boy-teen went nuts for while your sister was grooving to The Stylistics being Golly Wowed (you Betcha). A hirsute enamel-badged button-festooned chap could not really explain why Budgie were so utterly brill (the girls just didn't understand) – but my love for them and their rawk has remained at a youth-level cult-delight ever since.

Released September 1972 on MCA Records MKPS 2023 in the UK and September 1972 in the USA on Kapp Records KS-3669 - despite its rather plain (by his standards) Roger Dean artwork and bugger all info on the rear sleeve – I played "Squawk" to death – one of those great Power Rock albums that grows on you and therefore stays. To further my Garrard SP25 fix, I then naturally ran out and bought the budgie-on-a-horse self-titled debut with its grungy outside-toilet Sabbath-type darklore production and fabulous David Sparling artwork (UK released in the last few days of July 1971 on MCA MKPS 2018). And lo and behold - "Budgie" the one was even better in my books than the second outing. Love songs number two. But that affair with this Welsh Hard Rock band on digital, however, has been different…

Back in the 2000s - BUDGIE took control over their catalogue and rescued it from previous poor CD reissues. Their Noteworthy Productions CD Reissues all came with proper Remasters (band approved) and appropriate Bonus Tracks some of which were new and therefore previously unissued to fans. The rear inlay inset pictures their entire catalogue reissued under the Noteworthy banner (see photo above). Even the spines made up a BUDGIE type photo (sort of Roger Dean-ish) from all the album artwork – NP 2, NP 3 and so on - all lining up nicely on Hard Rock shelves everywhere.

And that's where this grumbling little brute / door number two comes a riffing in...to those rivers of whiskey and squawker details…

UK released 17 January 2005 - "Squawk" by BUDGIE on Noteworthy Productions NP3 (Barcode 8055202111094) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and 2004 Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (52:29 minutes – Track playing times from the CD): 

1. Whiskey River (3:22 minutes) [Side 1]

2. Rocking Man (5:24 minutes)

3. Rolling Home Again (1:43 minutes)

4. Make Me Happy (2:36 minutes)

5. Hot As A Docker's Armpit (5:51 minutes)

6. Drug Store Woman (3:14 minute) [Side 2] 

7. Bottled (1:50 minutes – Instrumental)

8. Young Is A World (8:07 minutes)

9. Stranded (6:21 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 9 are their second studio LP "Squawk" – released September 1972 in the UK on MCA Records MKPS 2023 and September 1972 in the USA on Kapp Records KS-3669. BUDGIE consisted of TONY BOURGE on Guitar, BURKE SHELLEY on Bass, Mellotron, Piano and Lead Vocals with RAY PHILLIPS on Drums and Percussion. 

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Whiskey River (A-side Single Version) – 2:39 minutes (LP cut is 3:22)

11. Stranded (Alternate Mix) – 6:18 minutes

12. Whiskey River (2003 Version) – 3:20 minutes

13. Rolling Home Again (2004 Version) – 1:38 minutes

Track 12 recorded 2003 during rehearsals for a 2003 Autumn Tour featuring Burke Shelley, Steve Williams and Simon Lees

Track 13 recorded summer 2004 by Burke Shelley and Tony Bourge

The 12-Page Booklet features a new interview with the three - including insightful reminiscences on each song and where Budgie's progress was in the spring and summer of 1972. Each band member gets a Page photo - the CD label pictures the sleeve artwork and Budgie Logo, and of course there's the usual original credits with reissue details added on. But for fans the big news is a Remaster from real tapes by a team of two - ROBERT M. CORICH and MIKE BROWN in October 2004 (the archival material was handled by MARTIN GILES at Alchemy Mastering in London). Rodger Bain productions are of Black Sabbath listening fame - down and dirty and grungy - so Audiophiles can look away super fast. But what is here (after years of ear-cotton on other less worthy CDs) is an explosion of power - clarity that the album has always needed. I know this record all too well and I have dug these improvements. And I was shocked at the quality of the Bonuses - two oldies and two new - very cool additions.

Similar-ish in look to the debut, their second studio album "Squawk" (like the 1971 self-titled debut) was Produced by RODGER BAIN of BLACK SABBATH fame. And with the Budgie-jet painting on the front cover was their first LP to feature Roger Dean artwork and the Budgie Astronaut logo on the rear – a logo that would become synonymous with the band. Although it sold solidly, it did not chart in either country. 

Thinking the British LP was going to be released sometime in April 1972 (it was remixed after dissatisfaction and launched the first week of September 1972 on both sides of the pond) - MCA tried a lone UK 45-single (which is now a rare collectable). Released 3 March 1972 on MCA Records MK 5085 in Blighty, the A-side edit of "Whiskey River" clocked in at 2:39 minutes as opposed to the LP cut of 3:22 minutes. They slapped the opening track of the July 1971 debut LP "Guts" on as the B-side – but it did not ignite any chart. The America version of the "Whiskey River" 45-single (issued September 1972 on Kapp K-2185) also used the edit on the A-side on both Promos and Stock Copies but backed the flipside with the full 6:10 minutes of "Stranded" from the LP. "Whiskey River was the only single off "Squawk". 

Their second album "Squawk" opens on a winner - the huge fan-fave "Whiskey River" - a tune any line-up of Budgie must still play some fifty-plus years after its unassuming arrival. That gripper is consolidated by "Rocking Man" - clever pace changes splitting up its 5:20 minutes playing time. Time to get gentle in the unnervingly lovely and acoustic "Rolling Home Again" - itself running into Burke Shelly's prettiest moment - "Make Me Happy" - that introduces Piano and Mellotron but in a subtle way. Side 1 then rollicks home with a lengthy riff-monster from Bourke wittily called "Hot As A Docker's Armpit" - heavy and almost Prog in places.

Side 2 opens with one my personal loves, the kick-ass "Drugstore Woman" (should have been 45-single number two) that itself segues into the short instrumental "Bottled". Both "Young Is A World" and "Stranded" are long - almost Rush-like in their Bourge mixture of Rock and Prog elements. They might take time to get into, but they're worth it and end a simple but impressive follow-up album to an even better debut. The single edit is a hoot and I was digging the Alternate Mix even if it feels ever so slightly similar to the released edition. The Tour warm-up track is new and the band is cooking - a ferocity in the playing and re-arrangement of the tune too. Very cool. Let's talk about other desirable (if not pricey) destinations for CD...

CD REPRESSES: "Squawk" was also issued 25 August 2014 in Japan as part of their desirable SHM-CD Reissues series with Two Bonus Tracks (the Whiskey River Single Edit as Track 11 and the Alternate Mix of Stranded as Track 12). Super High Materials CDs can be played on all machines - it's a better form of the CD format and brings out more nuances. Using the Noteworthy Productions October 2004 Remaster as its basis - both "Budgie" and "Squawk" appeared in that SHM-CD series. "Squawk" was Belle Antique BELLE 142265 (Barcode 4527516601485) and also featured that gorgeous Mini LP Artwork, A Booklet and Obi Strip. But like so many Japanese Limited Editions, was quickly deleted and started garnishing large prices on the secondhand market. 

So, it was reissued in Japan yet again but with a different catalogue number – 25 March 2021 seeing Belle Antique BELLE 213457 (Barcode 4527516 605605) ape the previous SHM-CD Mini LP artwork. But that repress is also deleted here in 2026 and like all Budgie product – weighed down with cult prices ever since. I would suggest the Noteworthy Productions British CD with its four bonuses (instead of two) is the better and cheaper buy. Expect to pay between £12 and £15 though.

God bless 'em - I loved Budgie then and this CD Remaster has rekindled that affection all over again. Recommended all the way to the pungent armpits of a thousand dockers...

PS: I wanted to dedicate this review to DAVID PRICE who lived for a few years at 126 Northdown Road in Cliftonville in Margate. The shop used to be a bakery back in the 1900s day belonging to MUMMERY & SONS (they had three branches in Margate). Dave was a character (part time painter & decorator too) who probably toked way too many spliffs (we'd regularly stop and chat). But like me, he'd had a history with the music business - toured with Roxy Music and Azimuth - roadies and stuff. He also owned tons of Music Memorabilia and Comics and Tour Posters stretching back to the early Seventies and would sometimes display them in the old-time shop window (it was he who repaired and preserved the Gold Lettering Sign for A.T. MUMMERY & SONS Confectioners and Bakers under a black sheet of protective). I was passing one day about three years back and there were wads of buttons and enamels - obscure bands like the Baker-Gurvitz Army (Ginger Baker of Cream with Adrian Gurvitz of Gun) and Sharks (with guitarist Chris Spedding and Andy Fraser the Bassist with Free). But to my utter amazement, Dave had an original 1972 'Squawk' button by Budgie - I've never seen one and it is rare. David apparently passed a few years back under a cloud of God knows what and I don't know who got all his collection - so I'll be writing him a poem soon so that he doesn't get forgotten. Gone to the great riffage in the sky...

PPS: see my review for the Universal UMC/MCA 3CD Box Set The MCA Albums 1973-1975 released Friday, 3 June 2016 with new Andy Pearce Remasters for "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" (June 1973), "In For The Kill" (June 1974) and "Bandolier" (September 1975). I've pictured that "Budgie" debut in its Noteworthy Productions form and a spread shot of the Universal Box set below...

"Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL – Four US R&B and Soul Albums originally released July 1970 on Neptune Records and October 1971, November 1972 and November 1973 (June 1974 in the UK) on Philadelphia International Records (November 2025 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Compilation – Four Albums On Two Discs Series – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://amzn.to/4ujbJM6

RATINGS

Overall: **** (First Two are Iffy, But the Second Two Bring on the Brilliance)

Presentation: **** (Charles Waring 24-Page Booklet w All Art, Card Slipcase)

Audio: ***** (New 2025 Remasters by Andrew Thompson)

"…Got A Thing Going On…"

What a strange one – from only all right to slightly better to up, up and away and into the Soul stratosphere. The first two albums from 1970 and 1971 are iffy with sporadic moments of real brilliance (maybe five salvageable tunes out of 18) – but the second two Billy Paul albums from 1972 and 1973 bring on the BP brilliance like he finally realised all that earlier potential.

Philadelphia International Records leading light Billy Paul is of course mostly known for the "Me And Mrs. Jones" infidelity Soul classic from 1972 that topped both Pop and R&B charts in a global moment. As the superb Charles Waring liner notes ruminate – that kind of instant fame could become a pigeonhole too – and it nearly did. But fans like me find other vibes - those deep album cuts - and the maturity of music that CD2 offers. 

And so, here as part of their Four Albums On Two Discs Series (see list below) – November 2025 sees England's Beat Goes On Records offer us four US R&B LPs by the behatted Philly singer, remastered like a audio-goodun onto 2CDs. Beards and satin neckerchiefs at the ready - here be the City of Love details…

UK released Friday, 7 November 2025 - "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL on Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611) is a Compilation that offers Four Albums Remastered On Two Discs (originally released Vinyl LPs on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in the USA and UK in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 (1974 UK)) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:57 minutes, 18 Tracks):

1. Ebony Woman [Side 1]

2. Mrs. Robinson 

3. The Windmills Of Your Mind

4. Everyday People 

5. Let's Fall In Love All Over [Side 2]

6. Windy

7. Psychedelic Sally

8. Traces 

9. Proud Mary

Tracks 1 to 9 are Billy Paul's 2nd album "Ebony Woman" - released July 1970 in the USA on Neptune Records NLPS-201. Neptune was the record label started by the Soul songwriting and producing duo of Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. The LP received no UK release at this time. However - it was re-issued April 1973 on Philadelphia International Records KZ 32118 in the USA and on Philadelphia International PIR 65931 in the UK - but this time sporting a different front sleeve (also issued on Columbia SBP-234324 in the USA and on Epic S EPC 65456 in the UK sometime in 1973 with the Grace Jones sleeve).

10. East [Side 1]

11. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?

12. This Is Your Life

13. Jesus Boy (You Only Look Like A Man)

14. Magic Carpet Ride [Side 2]

15. I Wish It Were Yesterday

16. Compared To What

17. Love Buddies

18. There's A Small Hotel

Tracks 10 to 17 are his third studio album "Going East" - originally released October 1971 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records Z 30580 (no UK issues)

CD2 (83:14 minutes, 14 Tracks):

1. Brown Baby [Side 1]

2. I'm Just A Prisoner

3. It's Too Late

4. Me And Mrs. Jones

5. Am I Black Enough For You? [Side 2]

6. Let's Stay Together

7. Your Song

8. I'm Gonna Make It This Time

Tracks 1 to 8 are his fourth studio album "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" - originally released November 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records KZ 31793 and Epic Records EPC 65351 in the UK (later re-issued on Philadelphia International S PIR 65930).

9. I See The Light [Side 1]

10. War Of The Gods

11. The Whole Town's Talking

12. I Was Married [Side 2]

13. Thanks For Saving My Life

14. Peace Holy Peace 

Tracks 1 to 6 are his fifth studio album "War Of The Gods" - released November 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32409 in a gatefold sleeve with an insert. Stateside it reached Number 12 on the R&B charts and Number 110 on the Pop charts. It was also belatedly issued in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65861 in June 1974

The 24-page booklet with CHARLES WARING liner notes is crammed full of info preceded by the artwork for all four albums (front and rear) and personnel details. Waring uses interviews and deep level research to illuminate the relationships between Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and the slightly other-worldly voice of Billy Paul. While Paul took his time finding that stride - clearly Philly honchos Gamble & Huff believed in their boy and when that belief paid off with the "360 Degrees Of..." LP - man did it reap the rewards. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (with Teddy Pendergrass), The O'Jays, MFSB and The Three Degrees all gave the Philadelphia International record label goodies - but Paul's "Me And Mrs. Jones" put them on the chart-map early on and arguably broke the label worldwide. I've had the Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters for these individual albums released way back in 2009 and 2010 just to have the music - but BGO of England have excelled here. The punch off these Andrew Thompson Remasters is fantastic. This is a beautiful sounding double-CD set and seriously great value for money. It would have been icing on a very tasty cake had BGOCD1561 had enough room to include all those 7" 45-single edits that are on the BBR CDs - but alas time constraints. To music...

CD1: Just out of the Sixties - the "Ebony Woman" album is full of contemporary hits of the time - Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" and Noel Harrison's "Windmills Of Your Mind" (theme from "The Thomas Crown Affair"). The single "Let's Fall In Love Again" was written by Bobby Martin - a friend of Gamble & Huff who would later become a huge thing at Philadelphia International Records and an integral part of The Manhattans vocal group - and the title track "Ebony Woman" harks way back to 1959 when Billy Paul first sang it jazz-style.

Unfortunately most of these tracks are terribly dated and I'll admit to only having time for three songs on "Ebony Woman" - a Swingin' 60t's cover of Horace Silver's "Psychedelic Sally" (you can see some hippy chick dancing on a podium in a TV studio on this one), a piano-funky take on Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Proud Mary" and a truly lovely turn on The Classic IV's "Traces".

Moving further into the early Seventies and Billy Paul seemed (momentarily anyway) to have learned his lesson with the "Going East"  album – leave those contemporary hitmakers alone and find something more edgy (but alas that was truly only on one track). So, ominous winds and chimes ping as Billy talks of no love and no peace and no shoes and riding in that better direction in the Tyrone Brown-penned "East" – a fantastically cool harem-tent groove that starts out slow and doomy only to build on a carry-me-on-the-wind shuffle (arranged by Lenny Pakula). And suddenly (unlike the "Ebony Woman" album) as it slinks past six minutes towards its 6:26 minute finishing time – you feel you are in the presence of a Gil Scott-Heron goody no one talks about. This is great Billy Paul – vibey and hip – and at 1:40 minutes in hitting you with that fantastic shuffling groove. Unfortunately, all that cool-groove goodwill goes promptly out the window with the Broadway false upbeat of the ludicrously titled "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" It is schlock and feels so wrong after what preceded it. Things get only marginally better with the Jimmy Webb-penned melody "This Is Your Life" - a very Bacharach David ballad given a Soul going over. If however "This Is Your Life" is your lovers bag, the Audio is fantastic – so clear and full - prepare for a treat.

The trend of Holy Roller message-tunes after the huge success of the October 1970 double-album "Jesus Christ Superstar" looms large with the awkwardly titled "Jesus Boy (You Only Look Like A Man)" – another oboes and strings clunker. At last things start to feel like they're picking up – Billy Paul doing the Steppenwolf feeling-alright classic "Magic Carpet Ride". Flutes and Organs do battle like Jethro Tull meets C.C.S. on his Soul Machine groove – cool but not nearly as great as the original. Bobby Martin of Philly and Manhattans fame provides a pleading ballad for Paul in the Nat King Cole bedroom crooner vibe of "I Wish It Were Yesterday". Strings and lounge-lizard piano and hi-hat shuffles amble on as he talks of how tomorrow will be a bust if his baby is not home for good (come and rescue me). Time to go Ramsey Lewis hip-swaying boogie on the organ – throw in some stop-and-start Ray Charles too on the Gene McDaniels classic "Compared To What". Again, Tony Williams gives it some breathy Flute while Eddie Green jabs at those wade-in-the-water piano keys and "Compared To What" becomes one of the better album cuts – all 5:20 minutes of it. Gamble and Huff finally show their songwriting faces with the slow and kissy vibe of "Love Buddies" – a kind of embarrassing Teddy Pendergrass lurve song that has great instrumentation but still feels too close to elevators. The patchy "Going East" album ends of an old crooner ballad laden with strings and 2am barfly vibes – the Hart & Rodgers song "There's A Small Chance".

CD2: With the help and helming of the dynamic songwriting duo Gamble & Huff - the "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" album produced three notable 45-singles, albeit is edited form (the versions on these BGO CDs are all album cuts). His bona fide monster hit "Me And Mrs. Jones" b/w "Your Song" (the Elton John classic) hit the shops October 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS7 3521 and January 1973 in the UK on Epic EPC 1055. "Me And Mrs. Jones" was a monster and put Billy Paul on the number one spot in droves of countries around the world including the Billboard single and album Soul charts in his own USA. But how nice it is to hear the Full Album Version at 4:46 minutes as opposed to the more commonly used 45-single edit of 3:41 minutes. And it sounds amazing too on BGO twofer.

The on-the-money commentary of "Brown Baby" is a very strong socially aware opener – here in its full album cut of 4:36 minutes as opposed to the more commonly played 45-single edit of 3:41 minutes. "Brown Baby" was issued April 1973 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 1313 with his cover of the Carole King song "It's Too Late" on the flipside. Perhaps because of its subject matter – it was not issued in the States. What was issued Stateside (not in the UK) came in the shape of "Am I Black Enough For You" with "I'm Gonna Make It This Time" on the B-side. Released March 1973, that 45-single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3526 stalled at No.29 R&B – a surprise since the Jones single had hit pole position on both R&B and Pop.

The "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" LP also gives you three cleverly reworked cover versions - a jazzed-up take on Carole King's "It's Too Late" from her magisterial "Tapestry" album, a completely re-worked fast and funky go at Elton John's "Your Song" (which Elton loved) and a very slowed down love-song angle on Al Green's slinky classic "Let's Stay Together" with lovely Norman Harris arrangements. The album ends of what he admits should have been the follow up to "Jones" - "I'm Gonna Make It This Time" (written by Bunny Sigler and Jean Lang). It's as romantic-Philly as the label gets - all plinking piano, strings and heartache vocals.

But all of that for me is trumped by the magnificent 8-minutes of "I'm Just A Prisoner". Billy Paul's stepfather had done 5 years in prison but emerged to work his way up in business and then mentor the young hopeful in his musical ambitions. Paul never forgot this - so even though label stalwarts Kenneth Gamble, Bunny Sigler and Phillip Hurtt wrote the song - it contains some of Paul's most personal lyrics. The song feels like Marvin Gaye's "Right On" from his 1971 "What's Going On" masterpiece in its hypnotic groove and features brilliantly arranged strings by organist and orchestration maestro Lenny Pakula. There are touches of Donny Hathaway, Herbie Hancock and The Isley Brothers all in there too - and for me it's one of the highlights on this famous LP.

The "War Of The Gods" LP from 1973 was a huge leap forward and accompanied by MFSB as his backing band is remembered by Soul and Funk fans with probably more affection than "360 Degrees Of…" Between the USA and UK there were 4 x 7" singles issued around the album – three official and one rare American promo. Pre-empting the LP release, Philly were probably trying to poke DJs and Jocks by issuing a rarity nowadays – the promo-only Philadelphia International AE7 1080 (issued Nov 1973) breaks down the long LP cut into two parts – Part 1 on Side A etc. Soon after the official singles started – November 1973 in the States gave us "Thanks For Saving My Life" b/w "I Was Married" on Philadelphia International ZS7 3538 which made No. 7 on US Billboard R&B charts. Over in Blighty they changed it up a little by issuing "Thanks For Saving My Life" with "I See The Light" on the flipside - Philadelphia International S PIR 1928 issued in November 1973 making ??. Last was The Whole Town's Talking b/w I Was Married in April 1974 – another UK 7" single, this time on Philadelphia International S SPIR 2225.

The "War Of The Gods" album opens with a fabulous double-track sucker punch - two trippy-soulful cuts called "I See The Light" at 6-minutes and the epic 10-minute album version of "War Of The Gods" - very Isaac Hayes as it lingers and grooves. Combined with "Peace Holy Peace" (the last track on the LP) they give the whole LP a very mellow socially-conscious feel - more Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" than The O'Jays "Backstabbers" if you know what I mean. Both "The Whole Town's Talking" and "I Was Married" are the more poppy Soul side of Philly and sound a little out of place here. But "Thanks For Saving My Life" is an excellent jaunty mid-tempo number. Shame there was no space for the sought-after Promo-Only 7" cut of "War Of The Gods" which edits the epic talking-song down to a more manageable 5:37 minutes. But what you get is more than enough. 

There are those who will say that Billy Paul's Philly album-output hasn't weathered well - especially most of the two first platters presented here from 1970 and 1971 - but "360 Degrees Of..." and "War Of The Gods" from 1972 and 1973 - combined with the better cuts on the first CD that contains the earlier two - then that's more than enough - especially in this toppermost Audio. And the presentation is cool too. 

Dig in and discover - another cool compilation from BGO...

Soul/Funk/Disco/Fusion and Jazz Titles in the 

Beat Goes On (BGO) Records 'Four Albums On Two Discs' Series

UK issued 2CD Compilations in a Card Slipcase with Remasters

1. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Imagination/I Feel A Song/2nd Anniversary/The One And Only…"

Four US Albums originally issued on Buddah Records in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978

UK released 27 February 2026 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1567 (Barcode 5017261215673)

2. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Funky Serenity/Ramsey Lewis’ Newly Recorded, All-Time, Non-Stop Golden Hits [aka Golden Hits]/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess"

Four US Albums originally issued 1973 (two) and 1974 (two) on Columbia Records

UK released 18 May 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1335 (Barcode 5017261213358)

3. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Legacy/Ramsey/Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter"

Four US Albums originally issued 1978, 1979 and two in 1982 on Columbia Records

UK released 30 March 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1330 (Barcode 5017261213303)

4. THE MANHATTANS - "There's No Me Without You/That's How Much I Love You/The Manhattans/It Feels So Good"

Four US Albums originally issued on Columbia Records in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977

UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1557 (Barcode 5017261215574) 

5. HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (featuring Teddy Pendergrass) – "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring… (aka I Miss You)/Black And Blue/To Be True (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass)/Wake Up Everybody"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975 (Two)

UK released Friday, 8 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727)

6. MFSB - "MFSB/TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia (aka Love Is The Message)/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1973 (Two), and 1975 (Two) – Philly Backing Band feat Dexter Wansel

UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758)

7. BUDDY MILES EXPRESS/BUDDY MILES

"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together"

Four US Albums originally issued 1968, 1969 and Two in 1970 on Mercury Records

UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from November 2021), Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683)

8. THE O'JAYS - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975

UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635)

9. BILLY PAUL – "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods"

Four US Albums originally issued on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973

UK released 7 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611)

10. TEDDY PENDERGRASS - "Teddy Pendergrass/Life Is A Song Worth Singing/Teddy/TP"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – Former Lead Vocalist in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1574 (Barcode 5017261215741)

11. LOU RAWLS - "All Things In Time/Unmistakably Lou/When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All/Let Me Be Good To You"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, Two in 1977 and One in 1979

UK released 3 October 2025, Beat Goes on BGOCD1560 (Barcode 5017261215604)

12. DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979

UK released 10 March 2023, BGOCD1490 (Barcode 5017261214904)