"The Last Songs" by LABI SIFFRE (July 2015 Edsel CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Sparrow In The Storm..."

Back in June 2006 - EMI launched a 7-CD reissue campaign for Labi Siffre - five albums from 1970 to 1975, a "Best Of" compilation and his latest offering "The Last Songs" – a CD of 14 new tunes recorded Live and Solo that Siffre released on a small independent label in 1998. 

For 2015 Edsel of the UK have picked up on five of those Abbey Road remastered CDs (list below) – including "The Last Songs". It's been deleted since 2006 (and acquired a nasty price tag in some places) - so it's nice to have it back and remains a powerful reminder of his songwriting chops. Even with new material in a live setting...Labi Siffre is extraordinarily moving and pens a powerful song...

Those 2006 Abbey Road CD remasters came in jewel cases with 12-page booklets that were adequate rather than inspiring. 

This UK released 31 July 2015 CD on Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) is a straightforward reissue of the 1998 14-track CD album - only this time it comes in a card digipak with an upgraded 28-page booklet. It features lyrics to every song, a two-page note from Siffre about the album, a poem called "From The Poet To The Poet" and some personal philosophy statements called "Fundamentals". Unlike the other CDs in this Edsel reissue series – there is no new interview with Siffre. The tracks were 'sculpted' across five years and recorded Live and Solo in 1998 while on Tour in the UK (it runs to 65:31 minutes):

1. Everything

2. Samaritans

3. Face To Face (A Paper Regret)

4. This Is It

5. Lose Myself In You

6. Clinging To The Ledge

7. The Life I Got

8. The Dead Don't Matter

9. A Kiss In The Mirror

10. Sparrow In The Storm

11. Little Boy Baby Blue

12. Rainbow Moon

13. Why Isn't Love Enough?

14. The Song To Sing

Recorded by TED KENDEL – "The Last Songs" has Siffre on stage alone with a beautiful sounding electrified Acoustic guitar singing about gay love ("The Life I Got"), commuters giving hand outs to people on the street ("Samaritans") and girls having their childhood stolen from them under a blanket at home ("A Kiss In The Mirror"). Siffre is clearly light years away from the soft singer-songwriter melodies of 1970 to 1973 that give us chart favourites like "It Must Be Love", "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" and the sublime "Watch Me" (Madness and Rod Stewart covered those songs). Here he's fiercely political, angry, topical and yet in the truly gorgeous "Sparrow In The Storm" – sincerely moving. This is a man who thinks, whose searching for answers and doesn’t find them in fame or even God. He's always had a way with a melody and when he allies it with words like "...in these broken bloody times...we need more than TV smiles...behind the eyes the door is tight shut...behind the makeup...just more makeup..." – the impact is huge. "Why Isn't Love Enough?" is warm and honest where he sings with passion "...for thirty years we've been lovers...ain't that enough to prove our love..." A gorgeous contemporary album and one that begs rediscovery and a well-deserved second chance...

Siffre retired for a few years after his Seventies career simply fizzled out - but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear. His into-the-light website is fascinating also - packed with poetry, political observations and extremely active fan exchanges etc.

This is a gorgeous reissue and well done to Edsel for making "The Last Songs" available again on CD – and in such sweet style...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign.

There was one last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both albums at a reasonable cost...

"Labi Siffre" by LABI SIFFRE (2015 Edsel Expanded CD Reissue – Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Make My Day…"

Labi Siffre's self-titled debut album "Labi Siffre" was released in the UK on the Pye International label (NSPL 28135) in the summer of 1970 (probably July). But even though both it and the follow up album "The Singer And The Song" from July 1971 made waves ("Singer" even grazed the charts at 47 for one week) – it would not be until October 1972's "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" LP which contained the two huge hits "It Must Be Love" and the album title track – that Siffre finally impacted the English LP and single charts in any real way and arrived as a revered singer-songwriter. That's not to say that his debut is meritless – very, very far from it. In fact when I re-listen to "The Singer And The Song" from 1971 (also in this CD reissue series) – I'm struck by how much stronger the debut is in its melodies and it had obvious winners that should have made a dent on Top Of The Pops and him an early star...

This UK released Friday 31 July 2015 Edsel CD reissue on EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) is essentially a re-run of the June 2006 EMI CD remaster that’s been deleted for years now. It even has the same six bonus tracks and runs to exactly the same playing time of 55:46 minutes. What is upgraded is the 12-page booklet of old into a new impressive 32-page version inside a rather lovely digipak. It offers  – there are full lyrics (including the bonus track), a colour photo of Siffre playing live and a new ALAN ROBINSON interview with Siffre in 2015. PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering has transferred the fabulous Audio remastering done by EMI in 2006 and the results are stupendous – each track beautifully clear, muscular and a real revelation. Here are the debut details…

1. Too Late

2. Words

3. Something On My Mind

4. Maybe Tomorrow

5. You And I Should Be Together

6. I Don’t Know What's Happened To The Kids Today

7. I Love You [Side 2]

8. Make My Day

9. A Little More Line

10. Maybe

11. River

12. Love Song For Someone

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Labi Siffre" - released July 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28135 (no USA issue).

BONUS TRACK:

13. Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me? – the non-album B-side to "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" released March 1972 as a UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25576

14. I Just Couldn’t Live Without Her – first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

15. Last Night Tonight – the non-album B-side to "Give Love" released January 1973 in the UK on Pye International 7N.25602

16. Maybe When We Dance - first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

17. Ask Me To Stay - first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

18. Here We Are – the non-album B-side to the stand alone 7" single "Watch Me" released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586

The original vinyl LP was a single matt sleeve with the lyrics filling the entire back cover. Unfortunately this new CD reissue repeats the lack of musician credits on the LP (doesn’t say who played what) but the booklet is a massive improvement over the 2006 CD (the disc itself is light blue in colour to reflect the original UK Pye Record label - a nice touch). There’s a photo of EMI Tape Boxes on Page 2, lyrics from Page 4 to 18 (including the bonus material) and a new interview from Pages 20 to 30. Siffre opens up about his childhood, his struggles as a black gay singer trying to get his material listened to and the recording process which seemed to be largely out of his inexperienced hands. It’s a fascinating read and illuminating. But the best news was and is the fabulous remaster – gorgeous audio on the mainly acoustic tracks – all of it beautifully realised. This CD sounds glorious and the album is far better than I remember it – possibly even a bit of a lost classic...

In the spring and summer of 1970 – Pye Records was more familiar to the British public through Petula Clark and Max Bygraves - rather than The Kinks, Man and Status Quo. So a young black singer with Folk-Soul affections hardly got a look in. Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 – which resulted in a publishing contract. His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than Soulster - though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a 'Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan' vibe. Many were just Labi, Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

10 tracks on the debut are Siffre originals with the other two being inspired cover version choices – "Words" by The Bee Gees and Harry Nilsson's "Maybe" – both of which Siffre emphatically makes his own. Of his own compositions the brilliance and acoustic simplicity of "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Too Late" stand out immediately (both on Side 1). Flutes, Piano and Electric Guitars mix well on "You And I Should Be Together" initially - but then Producer, Arranger and Conductor Ian Green kind of overdoes it with the strings (trying too hard to impress). The falsely acidic "I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today" is done in the voice of an old man riling at the young (..."I can't say that I fought for kids like you in the war..." Over on Side 2 standouts are "Make My Day", the lovely Nilsson ballad "Maybe" and the warm finisher "Love Song For Someone" with complimentary string arrangements. Kenny Young's American group Moonshine had a go at covering Siffre's "A Little More Line" on RCA Victor 1954 in 1970 calling it "Just A Little More Line" (it was reissued in September 1973 on RCA 2408). And in Germany Polydor put out Siffre's original as "A Little More Line" in December 1970 on Polydor 2001 065 with the gorgeous "Words" as its flipside (its rare 7" picture sleeve is shown on Page 9). Pye released just one single off the album in the UK by pairing "Too Late" with "Make My Day" in July 1970 on Pye International 7N.25528 but it failed to do any business which is a shame because the whole album is far more cohesive than its patchy follow up "The Singer And The Song".

The 6 bonus tracks consist of three rare non-album B-sides and three outtakes – the pretty ballad outtake "I Just Couldn't Live Without Her" being shockingly good while he goes piano on the equally impressive "Maybe When We Dance". The ukulele strum of "Ask Me To Stay" is like Joe Brown meets George Fornby – a very pretty ditty that would have made a great B-side.

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material - KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's "Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." track on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Siffre retired for a few years but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem - and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

So there you have it. A largely forgotten album that shouldn’t be – a 70s gem that’s genuinely ripe for rediscovery methinks.

Well done to Edsel for getting these reissues out there once again and in such classy presentation too...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign.

There was one last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both albums at a reasonable cost.

The 14 new tunes of "The Last Songs" was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like "Sparrow In The Storm" and "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...

"The Singer And The Song" by LABI SIFFRE (2015 Edsel Expanded CD Reissue – Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Find Myself A New Life…"

Labi Siffre's 2nd studio album "The Singer And The Song" was released in the UK on the Pye International label in July 1971 and finally kick-started his chart career (it weighed in at Number 47 for one week whereas his self-titled debut album from 1970 didn’t chart at all). It would take his 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from October 1972 with its hooky title track and the hugely popular "It Must Be Love" (both hit 45s) before Siffre finally broke through to the masses as a singer songwriter of note. Along with his brilliant and underrated debut LP – "The Singer And The Song" has remained something of a curio in his catalogue for most – but this gorgeous CD Reissue/Remaster makes a strong case for reassessment. Like all his albums – there are moments of Funky Rock genius ("Rocking Chair" and "Summer Is Coming") and even beauty ("Bless The Telephone" and "Who Do You See?")...

This UK released Friday 31 July 2015 Edsel CD reissue on EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) is essentially a re-run of the June 2006 EMI CD remaster that’s been deleted for years now. What’s new is that the former 21-track EMI CD version has now had two extras added on – B-sides that make their CD debut here for the first time anywhere (see lists below) – thereby filling in holes in his Discography. Also upgraded is the 12-page booklet of old into a new 32-page version. It’s housed inside a rather lovely gatefold card digipak and supplies full lyrics to the LP’s 15 songs as well as the 8 bonus tracks, UK and European 7" Single Picture Sleeves, a publicity photo circa 1971 and a new ALAN ROBINSON interview with Siffre in 2015. It runs to 58:21 minutes and like the other 4 titles in this 2015 reissue series - it’s very tastefully done. Here are the finite details…

1. There's Nothing in The World Like Love

2. You're Lovely

3. A Number Of Words

4. Who Do You See?

5. Not So Long Ago

6. The Shadow Of Our Love

7. When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind

8. Rocking Chair [Side 2]

9. Interlude

10. Thank Your Lucky Star

11. Talkabout

12. Relax

13. Bless The Telephone

14. Summer Is Coming

15. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 15 are his 2nd album "The Singer And The Song" - released July 1972 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28147 (no USA issue).

BONUS TRACKS:

16. When You Find You Need A Friend – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" issued as UK 7" single in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542

17. Get To The Country – non-album A-side issued as a UK 7" single in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560 (its B-side is track 18)

18. A Feeling I Got – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" (track 17)

19. Till Night Time Comes Along – album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

20. Fallin’ For You - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

21. Oh What A day - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children’s musical "The Magic Bed"

22. Just A Face - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children’s musical "The Magic Bed"

23. Seasons Come, Seasons Go - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

Notes: Tracks 16 and 18 are new to this reissue

The original inner gatefold sleeve artwork of the LP with its handwritten track details is reproduced on both inner flaps of the digipak (the CD itself is light blue in colour to reflect the original UK Pye Record label - a nice touch). There’s a photo of EMI Tape Boxes on Page 31 - while the interview from Pages 25 to 30 goes into some depth with the singer-songwriter about the album’s producer Ian Green who had done the console duty on the debut.

Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract and the recording and release of his first album on Pye Records early in 1970 (Pye Records at that time was home to The Kinks and Status Quo). His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than soulster, though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a ‘Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan’ vibe. Many were just Labi, Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering has transferred the fabulous Audio remastering done by EMI in 2006 and the results are stupendous – each track beautifully clear, muscular and a real revelation.

SINGLES:

Pye tried two 45s – one from the forthcoming album and a standalone track in the same month as the LP release. "Thank Your Lucky Star" b/w "When You Find You Need A Friend" was UK released in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542 - while the superb non-album "Get To The Country" b/w "A Feeling I Got" surfaced in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560. The first single wasn't a great choice (I own a titled 'promo-only' picture sleeve for it in the UK which is unfortunately not pictured in the booklet) but the second was accomplished and should have made a noise – unfortunately both tanked and the LP did the same.

Very much an album of its time – some tunes like the opener "There's Nothing In The World Like Love" with its plinking piano, hippy lyrics and happy-wappy melody admittedly have a slightly dated feel – but despite that – are undeniably pretty. The 32-second "You're Lovely" is a throwaway acoustic interlude (gorgeous audio) that precedes the dreadful "A Number Of Words" where Green's arrangements of the song have Siffre sound like Tom Jones seeking a hit but in a bad way. Far better is "What Do You See?" which has a naff orchestral intro that suddenly fades into a sweet acoustic ballad – and it hits you – his way with a melody that wins you over. "The Shadow Of Our Love" is a soft-shoe shuffle with strings leaving the short-lived "When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind" to finish Side 1 in Spanish Acoustic style (again with beautifully clear audio).

Side 2 opens with what is probably the best track on the LP and something that should have been released as a single – the funky "Rocking Chair" (lyrics from it title this review). Brian Odgers provided and played the Bass Line while Colin Green provided the guitar solo. "Interlude" is ok but "Thank Your Lucky Star" feels patronizing even now and even though it was sincerely trying to be informative about 'food for the hungry' (a kazoo gives it an almost comical chorus that just doesn’t work). Prettier by far is "Talkabout" – an acoustic plea to a 'beautiful dream girl' with fab audio throughout. "Relax" is again given clunky rhythms and strings that overdo it that are partially redeemed by an "I Got The..." bass-break-moment half way through. Far sweeter to the ear and the heart is the album's other ballad winner - "Bless The Telephone" – lovely and again sounding like he's in your living room. Pace picks up big time with another choice LP cut "Summer Is Coming" where John Spooner plays the Bass Drum accompanied by nice brass arrangements. The two elusive non-album B-sides "When You Find You Need A Friend" and "A Feeling I Got" finally get long overdue airings onto CD and turn out to be half-decent tracks. But bluntly the outtakes like "Till Night Time Comes Along" and "Fallin' For You" are much better – even if they do sound suspiciously like 1975 or later (him and his electric piano).

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material. KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's “Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Siffre retired for a few years - but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

In truth “The Singer And The Song” is a good 3-star album at best rather than a great one – but still featuring those sporadic moments of warmth. The extras certainly beef it up and make the purchase worthwhile and the audio/presentation is spot on.

Well done to Edsel for getting these reissues out there once again and in such a classy way too...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign.

There was one last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both albums at a reasonable cost.

The 14 new tunes of “The Last Songs” was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like "Sparrow In The Storm" and "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...