"Minute By Minute" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - 1978 Studio Album on Warner Brothers featuring Michael McDonald (February 2005 US-Only Audio Fidelity 24-Carat Gold CD Remaster by STEVE HOFFMAN) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Oh Sweet Feeling..."

The vinyl LP "Minute By Minute" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS was originally released on Warner Brothers BSK 3193 in December 1978 in the USA and Warner Brothers K 56486 in the UK. 

This 22 February 2005 US-only 24KT Gold Audiophile CD reissue is on Audio Fidelity AFZ 025 (Barcode 780014202521).

Long-standing Warners producer TED TEMPLEMAN recorded the original album (engineered by DONN LANDEE) while famed sound engineer STEVE HOFFMAN has mastered this reissue from the original first generation stereo tapes for CD. This Audio Fidelity audiophile version has a distinctive black and gold outer card wrap (Amazon artwork is often incorrect), the disc itself is a 24KT + Gold CD - a High Definition Compatible Disc issue (HDCD) - while the booklet faithfully reproduces the original album artwork, inner sleeve, lyrics, recording info, reissue details etc.

The DOOBIE BROTHERS line-up for the "Minute By Minute" LP was:

Lead Vocals, Keyboards and Synthesizers - MICHAEL McDONALD

Lead Vocals, Guitars - PATRICK SIMMONS

Guitars - JEFFREY ("Skunk") BAXTER

Bass, Vocals - TIRAN PORTER

Drums - JOHN HARTMAN

Drums and Vocals - KEITH KNUDSEN

Guests were:

Congas and Vocals - BOBBY LaKIND

Vocals - TOM JOHNSTON

Backing Vocals - NICOLETTE LARSON and ROSEMARY BUTLER

Harmonica - NORTON BUFFALO

Banjo - HERB PEDERSEN

Fiddle - BYRON BERLINE

Electric Piano - LESTER ABRAMS

Synthesizers - BILL PAYNE

Saxophone - ANDREW LOVE

Trumpet - BEN CAULEY

Here's a detailed breakdown (37:12 minutes)

1. Here To Love You [3:58]

[Writer Michael McDonald. Lead Vocals Michael McDonald, Backing Vocals Rosemary Butler.]

2. What A Fool Believes  [3:41]

[Writers Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. Lead Vocals Michael McDonald with Bill Payne of LITTLE FEAT on Synthesizer]

3. Minute By Minute [3:26]

[Writers Michael McDonald and Lester Abrams. Lead Vocals Michael McDonald with Bill Payne of LITTLE FEAT on Synthesizer]

4. Dependin' On You [3:44]

[Writers Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald. Lead Vocals Patrick Simmons with Nicolette Larson and Rosemary Butler on Backing Vocals.]

5. Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels [3:26]

[Writer Patrick Simmons, Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter and Michael Ebert. Lead Vocals Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston with Norton Buffalo on Harmonica.]

6. Open Your Eyes [3:16]

[Writers Michael McDonald, Lester Abrams and Patrick Henderson. Lead Vocals Michael McDonald.]

7. Sweet Feelin' [2:41]

[Writers Patrick Simmons and Ted Templeman. Lead Vocals Patrick Simmons with Nicolette Larson and Michael McDonald on Harmony Vocals.]

8. Steamer Lane Breakdown [3:24]

[Instrumental written by Patrick Simmons.]

9. You Never Change [3:26]

[Writer Patrick Simmons. Lead Vocals Patrick Simmons with Harmony Vocals from Michael McDonald.]

10. How Do The Fools Survive? [5:12]

[Writers Michael McDonald and Carol Bayer Sager. Lead Vocals Michael McDonald with Lester Abrams on Electric Piano.]

To my knowledge there's 4 versions of this album on CD; the crappy 80's original, an improved 1990s remaster, this 2005 Audio Fidelity audiophile issue and a Japanese issue in 2006 in a card repro sleeve. Owning both the Japanese issue and this one, it's clear to me that the Japanese issue has used exactly the same remaster - to my ears they're identical. Which is good news, because I think this Steve Hoffman remaster is one of the most beautifully rendered transfers - so subtle and so damn good. Every song reveals itself now to you - and not in a showy way - all treble and blasting - it's just 'there' - muscular and in your living room. The synth work and rhythm guitar on "Here To Love You" is suddenly in the speakers when it was somehow hidden up until now and the lovely and overlooked "Sweet Feelin'" has the superb harmony vocals of Larson and McDonald so beautifully complimenting Simmons on lead.

Audio Fidelity put the original master mixes on special vintage playback decks and then run them through their own 'proprietary digital to analogue converter', which digs out those musical nuances. Whatever the techno speak says, your ears can hear it - especially on a good CD player. The album's double-whammy finishers "You'll Never Change" and "How Do The Fools Survive?" are now both Steely Dan good in terms of sound quality - drums, bass, brass, guitars - all of it - musically superb - and now sonically 'soooo' sweet.

One slight oddity is that both the FACES "Nod" CD (another AF release) and this have the printed info on their card wraps upside down on the rear - don't know why this is?

Audio Fidelity CDs have a mixed reputation among audiophiles (some are utterly slated) - but ordinary fans of the music may just wonder whether this issue is worth the extra cost - I'd say a resounding yes...

“Genesis 1970 – 1975” by GENESIS. A 6 SACD/DVD Box Set Released November 2008. “It’s Been A Long Time…Hasn’t It…”

This is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

Five albums are featured in this 3rd and last Genesis box set [Virgin CDBOX 14], each pumped up into a double issue, while the double “Lamb” is now a 3 Disc set (“Lamb” is in a Book Pack while the other albums are 2CD jewel cases). Disc 1 of each issue is the SACD and CD Remaster of the album with both mixes encoded onto the disc, while Disc 2 is a DVD with 5.1 Surround Sound with extras tagged on at the end of each. The sixth and final double is called “Extra Tracks 1970-1975” and features singles, demos and BBC Sessions – again both in Audio and DVD. “Extras’ is housed in a 48-page hardback book with an essay, band contributions, photos and celebrity reviews... (All are pictured above).

NICK DAVIS prepped the 5.1 Surround Mixes and Stereo CD mixes with the remastering carried out by TONY COUSINS at Metropolis Mastering. Both of these guys handled the preceding box sets to both applause and derision in equal measure. While I admittedly don’t have a Surround capability at home, I find the sound quality on the Stereo CD mixes to be GORGEOUS throughout – a real revelation. “Trespass” & “Nursery Cryme” are a tad hissy in places, but still so much better sounding than the crap 1994 Virgin remasters we’ve been lumbered with all these years (which were in turn supposed to replace the really dire 80’s issues). But the great news is “Foxtrot”, “Selling” and “Lamb”, each of which is an absolute blast. At 8:15 minutes into “Supper’s Ready” on Foxtrot when the acoustic guitars kick in, I was in floods, huge sound filling my room… We’ve been waiting 35 years to finally hear these great works in DECENT AUDIO.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the sets:
Disc 1 (42:33 minutes) is their 2nd album “Trespass, originally released on LP in November 1970 on Charisma CAS 1020 in the UK and Impulse 9295 in the USA (the original UK issue had the ‘Pink Scroll’ label design and the CD reflects that). The DVD Audio version also has a ‘reissue interview from 2007’.

Disc 2 (39:36 minutes) is their 3rd album “Nursery Cryme”, originally released on LP in November 1971 on Charisma CAS 1052 in the UK and Charisma 7208 552 in the USA (Pink Scroll Label also). The DVD audio version also has the ‘reissue interview from 2007’.

Disc 3 (51:20 minutes) is their 4th album “Foxtrot”, originally released on LP in October 1972 on Charisma CAS 1058 in the UK and Charisma 7208 553 in the USA (changes now to the ‘Mad Hatter’ label design for 3, 4 and 5 reflecting the original vinyl). The DVD Audio disc has 3 extras - reissues interview 2007, Brussels, Belgium Rock Of The 70’s 1972 clip and Rome, Italy, Piper Club 1972 clip.

Disc 4 (53:39 minutes) is their 6th album “Selling England By The Pound”, originally released in October 1973 on Charisma CAS 1074 in the UK and Charisma 7208 554 in the USA. (Their 5th album, “Genesis Live” (pictured below) was released in July 1973 on Charisma CLASS 1 in the UK; it was an official release and no explanation is given for its no show in this box set). The DVD Audio version of "Selling" has 3 extras, reissues Interview 2007, Shepperton Studios, Italian TV, 1973 clip and Batacain, France, 1973 clip.



Disc 5 (45:38/48:51 minutes) is their 7th album “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”, originally released in November 1974 as a 2LP set on Charisma CGS 101 in the UK and on Atco 7599 122 in the USA. The DVD has all of the slide show that accompanied the stage shows offering both Surround and standard stereo versions.

Disc 6 (46:44 minutes):
Track 1 is “Happy The Man”, a non-album 7” single issued in the UK on May 1972 on Charisma CB 181 with “Seven Stones” as its B-side (a track off “Nursery Cryme”)
Track 2 is “Twilight Alehouse”, the non-album B-side to “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” issued on 7” single in May 1974 on Charisma CB 224
Track 3 is “Sheppard (BBC Nightride 1970)”
Track 4 is “Pacidy (BBC Nightride 1970)”
Track 5 is “Let Us Now Make Love (BBC Nightride 1970)”
Track 6 is “Going Out To Get You (Demo 1969)”
Tracks 7 to 10 are called Genesis Plays Jackson. Michael Jackson was a painter who put music to a silent film of “Metropolis” and invited Genesis in to score it. Some tracks were done, but the full project was abandoned. These tapes have only recently come to light and the four tracks are; “Provocation”, “Frustration”, “Manipulation” and Resignation” - “Frustration” would later turn up as “Anyway” on “Lamb” and ”Manipulation” became “The Musical Box” on “Nursery Cryme”.

While the DVD and Audio elements are fantastic and the extras fascinating – I find the packaging naff and cheap (typical of all things Virgin). The box lid won’t close no matter what you do, the individual booklets are simply the original artwork restored, but again they’re too small to read and massively underwhelming compared to the beautiful and event feel of the original vinyl gatefold sleeves (especially “Lamb”). And with no new essay, no new photos, nor nothing of their history - when they’re released as stand-alone CDs, fans are going to feel mightily short-changed - again. And why no “Live” set nor the single edit of ”Carpet Crawlers”, or its unique b-side, the live in 1975 (Evil Jam) version of “The Waiting Room”? And then of course is the price – just shy of £100! And with the boys now individually credited as Limited Companies on the rear sleeve – the whole thing smacks a little too much of corporate greed instead of musical celebration.

Wonderful in some respects and yet strangely disappointing in others, this eagerly awaited box is 4-stars when it should have been six. I can’t help but feel that many would be better off waiting for the individual issues.

Good then, when it could have been great.

"Say It With Silence" by HUBERT LAWS (2008 Sony Music Japan CD Remaster and Limited Edition) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Issued in January 1978 on Columbia 35022 in the USA - "Say It With Silence" by HUBERT LAWS has always been a sought-after jazz-funk flute-driven soul LP rarity. 

And now this superb sounding November 2008 CD remaster finally makes it available - albeit as a limited edition import from JAPAN on Sony Music SICP 2122.

Here's a detailed breakdown (33:26 minutes total playing time):

1. The Baron (5:54 minutes)
HUBERT LAWS - Flute & Piccolo
BARNABY E FINCH - Fender Rhodes & Piano
PATRICK KELLEY - Guitar (Solo)
MELVIN ROBINSON - Rhythm Guitar
ROBERT VEGA - Bass
GERRY POWERS - ARP Synth
GREGORY ERRICO and VICTOR FELDMAN on Drums & Percussion

2. False Starts (6:20 minutes)
HUBERT LAWS - Flute
JOE SAMPLE - Fender Rhodes & Piano
ROBERT POPWELL - Bass
ANTHONY LEWIS - Drums
MELVIN ROBINSON - Guitar
DEBRA LAWS - Lead Vocals

3. Love Gets Better (5:09 minutes)
HUBERT LAWS - Alto Flute
BARNABY E FINCH - Piano
MELVIN ROBINSON - Guitar
ROBERT VEGA - Bass
GREGORY ERRICO and VICTOR FELDMAN on Drums & Percussion
RONNIE LAWS - Soprano Sax & Vocals
ELOISE and DEBRA LAWS - Backing Vocals

4. It Happens Everyday (7:41 minutes)
HUBERT LAWS - Alto Flute & Flute
RONNIE LAWS - Soprano Sax
JOE SAMPLE - Fender Rhodes & Piano
ROBERT POPWELL - Bass
ANTHONY LEWIS and VICTOR FELDMAN on Drums & Percussion
WOODY MURRAY on Vibes
VARIOUS SESSION PLAYERS - Violins, Cellos, Trumpets & Trombones

5. Say It With Silence (8:20 minutes)
HUBERT LAWS - Flute & Piccolo
JOHNNY LAWS - Lead Vocals
RONNIE LAWS - Tenor Sax
MARK GRAY - Fender Rhodes & Piano
MIKE RICHMOND - Bass
DANIEL GOTTLIEB - Drums

As you can see from the short playing time, it's a bare-bones reissue of the album with no extras or outtakes and the booklet is basic - functional at best. It is REMASTERED however - and beautifully so - very subtle, really warm and with virtually no hiss on any of the tracks. And when the sound needs muscle, the mastering has it - a sweet, sweet transfer and a great job done.

Musically, the album is flute-driven smooth jazz funk/soul with one or two of the tunes punctuated with vocals. Some people love this kind of Seventies jazz - others see it as elevator music - it is of course somewhere in between. Favourites include the Steely Dan "Aja" jazz funk of "The Baron" and "Love Gets Better" and the almost Jack Nitzsche melodramatic finisher, "Say It With Silence". 

The opening track for Side 2 of the original LP is "It Happens Everyday", a JOE SAMPLE song that would eventually turn up on his debut solo LP "Rainbow Seeker" for ABC Records in 1978 - a huge favourite of mine. (There's a fairly good 1996 GRP CD remaster of "Rainbow Seeker" - I cannot recommend that album enough.)

"Say It With Silence" is an excellent reissue and word is that this release is limited to only a few thousand - so buy now. Recommended.

PS: This CD is part of the Japanese-only "Vintage In 70's Vol.2" Series.
The other nine titles are:

1. "Dreams" - DREAMS (Sony Music SICP-2114)
2. "Imagine My Surprise" - DREAMS (Sony Music SICP-2115)
3. "Two" - THE GEORGE DUKE/STANLEY CLARKE PROJECT (Sony Music SICP-2116)
4. "Magic" - BILLY COBHAM (Sony Music SICP-2117)
5. "Carnival" - MAYNARD FERGUSON (Sony Music SICP-2118)
6. "Inner Worlds" - JOHN McLAUGHLIN (Sony Music SICP-2119
7. "Believe It" - THE TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME (Sony Music SICP-2120)
8. "The Love Connection" - HUBERT LAWS ((Sony Music SICP-2121)
9. "Alivemutherforya" - BILLY COBHAM (Sony Music SICP-2123)

They're available through various Amazon retailers or the excellent Japanese specialists cdjapan.co.jp

PPS: Special Thanks to TIM SQUIER of Revival Records for the lend of the CD

"In The Valley Of Elah". A Review Of The Film Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon and Charlize Theron - Now On DVD.

"We're So Sorry For Your Loss Sir. If There's Anything We Can Do?"

"In The Valley Of Elah" isn't really a movie about the Iraq War - it's about the soldiers who return home from it - and the parents of those soldiers who don't return home at all.

Written and directed by PAUL HAGGIS who did the equally superb "Crash" and "Million Dollar Baby" - the movie is far less showy than "Rendition" and less posturing than the ridiculous "Lions For Lambs". And while "Elah" has an unfolding power in its carefully measured pace - it's also braver in its assessment of the American military and their less-than-angelic ways...

Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon play Hank & Joan Deerfield, the parents of a young soldier Mike Deerfield, who has inexplicably gone missing since his return from a tour in Bosnia and Iraq in November 2004. Hank visits the base where his son bunked, but neither Jason Patrick as Lieutenant Kirklander, James Franco as Sgt. Carnelli nor any of his division buddies are helpful - and worse - many seem unnerved - almost as if they're hiding something very nasty. A local beleaguered Detective in the police force, single-parent Emily Sanders (played by a superb Charlize Theron) gets embroiled in what she suspects is a grieving father being shafted by the canny US military. And without giving away too much, on the story goes...

One of the movies great strengths is of course the presence and capability of real heavyweights like Jones, Sarandon and Theron. Tommy Lee in particular is sensational. Just when you thought you'd seen every stone-clad grimace he can throw at you, for "Elah" he digs down deep and finds tremulous moments that floor you with their power and humanity. His character Deerfield is "army" - old-school values and discipline - he presses his trousers over a table to get the crease right - fixes an American flag that has been hanging upside down - calls all women 'mam' and won't be seen without a clean shirt on in front of any of them. Yet Hank is not naive either - he knows that his boy's tour of Iraq wouldn't have been without sickening cruelty or even dishonour. But what gives the movie its emotional core is his skill at depicting that. You can 'feel' his barely-contained lashing-out rage bubbling underneath - or when he just quietly sits in his pick-up truck in sad-eyed despair - why are American sons left in pieces on scrubs for wild animals to feed on - did I impose my ‘will' on my boy and force the army life on him - and why does civilian America not give a shit about any of it?

There's a scene where Sarandon walks away with her husband down a corridor - there's no music - just them walking away - her hand outstretched in disbelief. The camera stays stationary - watching them walk away in silence - and you know the buckle into his arms is going to come - you know it - and yet when it does - it still has the power of real hurt.

Theron is great too - one of the most intelligent actresses working in Hollywood today - she has her beauty toned down by dowdy dark hair and clunky uniforms - and it works - you concentrate on her first rate acting. There's a scene when she hugs her sleeping son at night who needs the bedroom door open because he's scared - she hugs him close - thankful that he is not another statistic of some ignored list somewhere - you 'feel' what is precious to us - and the utter devastation of having that link to our very soul taken away...

The supporting cast is also universally superb - really good actors in a quality film given quality material to work with - and they know it. Jason Patrick gets his best part in years as the Forces spokesman trapped between the two worlds of the Army's need to cover up and the public's need for the truth; Josh Brolin plays the local Police Chief, weary of unsolved cases and ever so slightly disinterested, but a man who knows that his female detective will terrier out the ugly no matter what. Barry Corbin (of Northern exposure fame) puts in a touching old-army buddy cameo with Tommy Lee in a café, while Jake McLaughlin and Mehcad Brooks are idealistic and young as the 'just following orders' grunts. Wes Chatham in particular is chillingly fantastic as Corporal Penning - detached and jauntily psychotic as he discusses how hungry he gets after a good day's killing...

"In The Valley Of Elah" is a phrase from the Bible parable about David and Goliath - where David must beat his fear of the monster - and win. "Elah" is neither jolly nor pretty - but it has amazing truths in it. I thought it was an exceptional movie and it stayed with me long after I pressed the stop button. Much like war and its aftermath I suspect...

Put this film high on your ‘must-see' list and well done to all the good people involved.

A LIST of VINYL LPs (Records) With HARD-TO-FIND “POSTERS”

The Album Cover Above
It's Ultra-Rare Poster Below

Large numbers of the artists featured in the list below are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

  

1. The Who Sell Out - THE WHO (1967 on Track, Sticker On Sleeve & Rare Poster)
2. The Beatles - THE BEATLES (The White Album) (1968 on Apple, 2LP Set (Mono & Stereo) with 4 Photos and Lyrics Poster)
3. Moby Grape - MOBY GRAPE (US 1967 Original on Columbia + Poster)
4. Let It Bleed - THE ROLLING STONES (1969 on Decca, Mono or Stereo, Stickered Slv + Rare Poster)
5. This Is Touch - THE TOUCH (1969 on Deram)
6. Cricklewood Green - TEN YEARS AFTER (1969 on Deram)
7. The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other – VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR (1970 on Charisma)
8. Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon - STATUS QUO (1970 on Pye)
9. Fly – YOKO ONO (1971 2LP Set on Apple)
10. H.M.S. Donovan - DONOVAN (1971 2LP set on Dawn Records with Poster)
11. Imagine - JOHN LENNON (1971 on Apple, Inner Slv, Poster & A Postcard)
12. A Nod’s As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse - FACES  (UK 1971 Green Label Warner Brothers, with Rare Poster UK and USA – Note: US LP original credits the title as “A Nod Is As Good As…”)
13. The Johnny Otis Show – Live At Monterey! – JOHNNY OTIS (USA 1971 2LP set on Epic Records EG 300473 – Fold-out Poster)
14. 200 Motels – FRANK ZAPPA/MOTHERS OF INVENTION ((UK 1971 2LP set on United Artists, Poster & Booklet)
15. Electric Warrior - T.REX (September 1971 UK LP on Fly Records HIFLY 6 with A Stickered Slv, Inner Bag & Large Fold-Out Poster)
16. The Man Who Sold The World - DAVID BOWIE (1972 reissue on RCA with Poster & Inner Sleeve)
17. Who Came First – PETE TOWNSHEND [of THE WHO] (1972 on Track, Gatefold Sleeve & Poster)
18. Back To Front – GILBERT O’SULLIVAN (1972 on Mam, Lyric Insert + Black & White Poster)
19. Big Gun – LUCIFER (1972 on Lucifer, Private Press Sold Via Oz Magazine)
20. Exit – LUCIFER (1972 on Lucifer, Private Press Sold via Oz Magazine)
21. Two Quid Deal - SKIN ALLEY (1972 on Transatlantic + Large Poster)
22. Son Of Schmilsson - NILSSON (1972 on RCA, Lyric Poster & Inner Slv)
23. Chicago IV – At Carnegie Hall – CHICAGO (UK 1971 4LP Live Box Set, 2 Posters)
24. Manassas - STEPHEN STILLS & MANASSAS (UK 1972 2LP set on Atlantic, Inner Bags & Fold-Out Lyric Poster)
25. Epic Forest – RARE BIRD (1972 on Polydor, EP + Rare Poster)
26. Master Of Reality - BLACK SABBATH (1972 on Vertigo + Poster)
27. Stoneground Words – MELANIE (1972 on Buddah + Rare Poster)
28. Reflections In A Mud Puddle – DORY PREVIN (June 1972 UK LP on United Artists UAG 29346 – Gatefold Sleeve with Foldout Poster)
29. Paul Brett – PAUL BRETT (UK 1972 Bradleys BRADL 1001, Envelope Sleeve, Inner & Poster)
30. Dingly Dell - LINDISFARNE (1973 on Charisma, Inner Sleeve & Poster)
31. Dark Side Of The Moon - PINK FLOYD (1973 on Harvest, Two Posters, Two Stickers)
32. Ancient Maps - BOB PEGG (1973 on Transatlantic TRA 299, Huge Poster)
33. Kings Of Oblivion – PINK FAIRIES (1973 on Polydor)
34. Hat Trick – AMERICA (UK 1973 LP on Warner Brothers K 56016 + Rare Fold-Out Poster Insert)
35. Save The Children – VARIOUS ARTISTS (1973 on Tamla M800-R2, USA 2LP Set with a “Save The Children” Poster)
36. Back To The Garden – DAVE CARTWRIGHT (UK 1973 Transatlantic TRA 267, Inner Sleeve & A Foldout Poster)
37. Tanx - T.REX (1973 on EMI)
38. The Facts Of Life – BOBBY WOMACK (USA 1973 United Artists UA-LP043-F (Includes Poster of Himself Attached To Original Sleeve)
39. Great Hits – T.REX (October 1973 UK LP on EMI/Bolan BLN 5003, Stickered Front Sleeve & Poster)
40. Band On The Run – PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS (1973 on Apple, Inner Sleeve + Poster)
41. Hello! - STATUS QUO (1973 on Vertigo, Inr Slv & Poster)
42. What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (UK 1974 on Warner Brothers, Fold-Out Band Poster)
43. The Tain - HORSLIPS (1974 on Oats, Inner Sleeve & Rare Poster)
44. Wishbone Four - WISHBONE ASH (1974 on MCA + Poster)
45. Phil Spector’s Christmas Album – VARIOUS ARTISTS (1974 Re-issue on Warner Brothers + Poster [Note: Original Didn’t Have A Poster])
46. David Cassidy Live - DAVID CASSIDY (1974 on Bell + Huge Poster)
47. Todd - TODD RUNDGREN (1974 2LP on Bearsville)
48. Chicago V – CHICAGO (UK 1974 CBS, Gatefold Sleeve + Poster + Fold-out Insert)
49. Eddy And The Falcon – WIZZARD (UK 1974 Warner Brothers K 56029, Gatefold Sleeve, Poster)
50. Maximum Darkness – MAN (1975 on United Artists, A Live Set with Poster)
51. Hotel California - EAGLES (1975 on Asylum, Fold-Out Band Poster)
52. Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy - ELTON JOHN (1975 on DJM, 2 Booklets & Poster of the Gatefold Sleeve)
53. Fish Out Of Water - CHRIS SQUIRE [of YES] (1975 on Atlantic)
54. Chicago VII – CHICAGO (1975 on CBS, 2LP Set, Street Life Poster)
55. Live! At The Lyceum - BOB MARLEY and THE WAILERS (Dec 1975 on Island + Poster)
56. Loving Awareness – LOVING AWARENESS (1976 on More Love, 2 Posters)
57. Four Seasons Of Love – DONNA SUMMER (UK 1976 GTO Records GTLP 018 + Calendar Foldout Poster)
58. All Of This & World War II – VARIOUS ARTISTS (1976, 2LPs on Riva Records, All Beatles covers + Poster)
59. P.Funk Endless Tour – PARLIAMENT (UK 1977 2LP set on Casablanca CALD 5002, Gatefold Sleeve with a Large Foldout Poster)
60. Wings Over America - WINGS (3LP Live Set, Jan 1977 on Parlophone, 3 Inners & Poster)
61. Never Mind The Bollocks… SEX PISTOLS (UK 1977 on Virgin, Original Copies, Sticker Slv, Poster & 7” single – THE POSTER IS VERY RARE!)
62. Right on Time – THE BROTHERS JOHNSON (UK 1978 LP on A&M AMLH 64644 + Fold-Out Poster of The Brothers)
63. Obsession – UFO (1978 LP on Chrysalis CDL 1182 (+Poster)
64. London Town - WINGS (April 1978 on Parlophone)
65. At Budokan – BOB DYLAN (1978 on CBS, 2 Booklets & Poster)
66. Hi-Tension – HI-TENSION (UK 1978 on Island ILPS 9564 + Poster)
67. That’s Life - SHAM 69 (November 1978 on Polydor)
68. Jazz – QUEEN (November 1978 on EMI, 'Attached' Nude Girls on Bikes Poster)
69. Babylon By Bus - BOB MARLEY and THE WAILERS (UK Dec 1978 2LP Live Set, Die-Cut Slv, Inners, Poster)
70. Thriller – EDDIE + THE HOT RODS (UK 1979 Island ILPS 9563 (Inner Sleeve & Fold-Out Poster)
71. Teenage Depression- EDDIE & THE HOTRODS (UK + Poster)
72. Dynasty – KISS (1979 on Casablanca)
73. Iron Maiden – IRON MAIDEN (1979 on EMI)
74. 20 Jazz Funk Greats – THROBBING GRISTLE (1979 on Industrial)
75. The Eddie Cochran Singles Album – EDDIE COCHRAN (UK 1979 United Artists UAK 30244, +7” single “Think Of Me” and “Pretty Girl” [United Artists FREE 12] + Foldout Poster of the cover Advertising other Artists in the series)
76. “Y” – THE POP GROUP (1979 on Radar, Foldout Colour Poster)
77. Emotional Rescue - THE ROLLING STONES (1980 on Rolling Stones)
78. Foolish Behaviour - ROD STEWART (1980 on Riva + Poster)
79. Get Happy! - ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS (1980 on F-Beat, Inner Sleeve & Poster)
80. Women & Children First – VAN HALEN (1980 on Warner Brothers, Dave Lee Roth Poster)
81. More Specials – THE SPECIALS (September 1980 on Two Tone & Bonus 7”)
82. Greatest Hits Volume 2 - COCKNEY REJECTS (October 1980 on Zonophone)
83. Eagles Live – EAGLES (UK 1980 2LP Set on Asylum K 62032, Inr Sleeves + Poster)
84. Cultosaurus Erectos – BLU OYSTER CULT (UK 1980 LP on CBS Records 86120 with Insert and Poster)
85. Face Dances - THE WHO (1981 on Polydor)
86. Talk Talk – THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS (1981 on CBS 84892)
87. Tin Drum – JAPAN (1981 on Virgin)
88. Rage In Eden – ULTRAVOX (1981 on Chrysalis)
89. Dance – GARY NUMAN (1981 on Beggars Banquet)
90. Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables - DEAD KENNEDYS (1981 on Cherry Red)
91. Living My Life - GRACE JONES (1982 on Island, Fold Out Poster)
92. Combat Rock - THE CLASH (1982 on CBS)
93. This Are Two Tone - VARIOUS ARTISTS (1983 on 2-Tone)
94. Let The Tribe Increase - THE MOB (1983 on All The Madmen)
95. T.Rextasy – MARC BOLAN and T.REX (UK 1983 Marc On Wax ABOLAN 5)
96. Frontiers – JOURNEY (UK 1983 LP on CBS Records 25261 + Poster)
97. Purple Rain by PRINCE (1984 on Warner Brothers, Inr Slv + Poster))
98. Mirror Moves – PSYCHEDELIC FURS (1984 on CBS)
99. Victims Of The Future – GARY MOORE (1984 on EMI)
100. On A Storyteller’s Night – MAGNUM (1985 on FM, Picture Disc & Poster)
101. Arena [Live] – DURAN DURAN (1985 on EMI, Gatefold + Poster)
102. Drive – TOMMY CHASE QUARTET (UK 1985 Virgin PAL 5)
103. Frankenchrist – DEAD KENNEDYS (1985 on Alternative Tentacles with H.R. Giger Poster)
104. True Blue – MADONNA (1986 on Sire, with Tour Poster)
105. The Politics Of Ecstasy – MAGIC MUSHROOM BAND (1986 on Pagan)
106. Animal Liberation – VARIOUS ARTISTS (UK 1987 on Wax Trax! WAX UK 25)
107. Licence To Ill – THE BEASTIE BOYS (1987 on Def Jam)
108. Randy Rhodes Tribute – OZZY OSBOURNE (1987 2LP set on Epic + Poster)
109. Savage - EURYTHMICS (November 1987 on RCA)
110. Radio Kaos - ROGER WATERS [of Pink Floyd] (June 1987 on EMI)
111. You Can Dance – MADONNA (1987 on Sire, with Gold Obi & Poster)
112. All Right Now – PEPSI & SHIRLIE (1987 on Polydor POLH 38 + Poster)]
113. Master Of Puppets – METALLICA (1987 reissue, Music For Nations, Direct Metal Mastered + Poster)
114. The Complete Sun Sessions - ELVIS PRESLEY (1987 2LP Set on RCA with “All-Time Greatest Hits” Sleeve Poster)
115. Mind Bomb – THE THE (1989 LP on Epic with Inner Sleeve and Poster)
116. The Cream Of Supreme – VARIOUS ARTISTS (UK 1987 on Supreme SU 3)
117. Billy & Albert – At The Royal Albert Hall [Live Comedy] – BILLY CONNELLY (1987 LP on 10 Records DIX 65 - with Poster)
118. Flowers In The Rain – PAUL McCARTNEY (1989 on Parlophone, Special Edition with Prints & Poster)
119. The Royal Box – MADONNA (1990 on Sire) (contains “Immaculate Collection” with Video, Cards & Poster)
120. Asquarius – CUD (1992 LP on A&M, 1st 5000 Had Poster)
121. Wild Wood – PAUL WELLER (UK 1994 Go Discs! 828 438-1, Gatefold Sleeve + Poster)
122. The X Factor – IRON MAIDEN (1995 on EMI)
123. Ziggy Stardust – Motion Picture Soundtrack (UK 2003 2LP set on EMI ZIPPYRIP 3773 with Inners & A Poster)
124. Steady Diet Of Nothing – FUGAZI
125. Made Of Bricks – KATE NASH (2008 on Pink Vinyl + Poster)
126. Day & Age – THE KILLERS (2008)
127. Glasvegas – GLASVEGAS (2008)

LIST FORMED July 2008 – August 2012

This list will be updated when new info comes to light - so please e-mail suggestions and additions - thanks... (latest update August 2012)

“Gold” by KOOL & THE GANG. A 2005 2CD 31-Track Set Featuring Great Funk, Soul & Disco Tracks from 1970 to 1986 In Top Remastered Sound Quality…

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

This 2005 2CD 31-track compilation covers the years 1970 to 1986 of the supergroup "Kool & The Gang". It boasts top-quality remasters of very hard to find funk and soul rarities from the Seventies on Disc 1 with their infectious Eighties soft soul and disco material on Disc 2. Here's a detailed breakdown (all catalogue numbers are US)...

Disc 1 (71:45 minutes):
1. Kool & The Gang
2. Kool's Back Again
[1 and 2 are from the LP "Kool & The Gang", January 1970 on De-Lite 2003
3. Let The Music Take Your Mind
[3 is from the LP "Best Of", September 1971 on De-Lite 2009]
4. Funky Man
5. Who's Gonna Take The Weight
[4 and 5 are from the LP "Live At The Sex Machine", January 1971 on de-Lite 2008]
6. Love The Life You Live
7. Funky Stuff
8. Jungle Boogie
9. Hollywood Swinging
[6 to 9 are from the LP "Wild And Peaceful", October 1973 on De-Lite 2013]
10. Higher Plane
11. Rhyme Tyme People
12. Summer Madness
[10 to 12 are from the LP "Light Of Worlds", October 1974 on De-Lite 2014]
13. Spirit of The Boogie
14. Caribbean Festival
[13 and 14 are from the LP "Spirit Of The Boogie", August 1975 on De-Lite 2016]
15. Love And Understanding (Come Together)
[15 is from the LP "Love And Understanding", March 1976 on De-Lite 2018]
16. Open Sesame
[16 is from the LP "Open Sesame", November 1976 on De-Lite 2023]

Disc 2 (68:07 minutes):
1. Ladies Night
2. Too Hot
[1 and 2 are from the LP "Ladies Night", September 1979 on De-Lite 9513]
3. Celebration
4. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
5. Get Down On It
[3 to 5 are from the LP "Something Special", October 1981 on De-Lite 8502]
6. Big Fun
7. Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La La)
[6 and 7 are from the LP "As One", October 1982 on De-Lite 8505]
8. Joanna
9. Tonight (AOR Mix)
[8 and 9 are from the LP "In The Heart", December 1983 on De-Lite 8508]
10. Misled
11. Fresh
12. Cherish
13. Emergency
[10 to 13 are from the LP "Emergency", December 1984 on De-Lite 822943]
14. Victory
15. Stone Love
[14 and 15 are from the LP "Forever", December 1986 on Mercury 830398]

The original tapes have been remastered by one of Universal's top engineers SUHA GUR and the sound quality is SUPERB - really clean and full of funky power - every track a revelation. The 20-page booklet has liners notes called "Audio Graffiti" by CLEVELAND BROWN, detailed track-by-track credits and pictures of Robert "Kool" Bell and the different line-ups of his American band throughout the years.

Musically it's very much a tale of two cities - Disc 1 being entirely funky and soulful like THE METERS, while Disc 2 is Disco and 80's Soul commercial like Lionel Richie - and well - Kool & The Gang! Admittedly, the quality of songs on Disc 2 tapers off a bit towards the end, but it will surprise many listeners and soul lovers just how good the whole 2 discs hang together. And now the music has the remaster it has always deserved.

Listening to these floor-filling tunes will remind many of the days back when soul was lighthearted and made you want to party and hit the nightclub. And the sound quality is just ACE.

This is a great addition to Universal's "Gold" series that seems to have gone unfairly unnoticed - and it's cheap as chips too - highly recommended!