"His Band And The Street Choir" by VAN MORRISON (2015 Warner Brothers 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"...Nice Feel..." 

When Van Morrison’s entire Back Catalogue was promised to us on shiny new Expanded CD Remasters in 2008 and 2009 - lovers of Van The Man’s music will know two things – the last two batches were cancelled – and even then there were exceptions not available as Remasters no matter what – "Astral Weeks", "Moondance" and this – "His Band And The Street Choir".

Fans have had to wait nearly a decade for the legal wrangles to be sorted out – and at last in late October 2015 – we get the first two physical fruitions – 1968's magisterial "Astral Weeks" and 1970's more approachable "His Band And The Street Choir" - both reissued by Warner Brothers in Gatefold Card Sleeves on 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters and both pitched at mid-price. Here are the Gypsy Queens...

UK and USA released Friday, 30 October 2015 – "His Band And The Street Choir" by VAN MORRISON on Warner Brothers 081227952303 (Barcode 081227952303) plays out as follows (61:42 minutes):

1. Domino

2. Crazy Face

3. Give Me A Kiss

4. I've Been Working

5. Call Me Up In Dreamland

6. I'll Be Your Lover, Too

7. Blue Money [Side 2]

8. Virgo Clowns

9. Gypsy Queen

10. Sweet Janine

11. If I Ever Needed Someone

12. Street Choir

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "His Band And The Street Choir” – released November 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1884 and December 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1844 (re-issued in the UK in August 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46066). All songs are written and produced by VAN MORRISON.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

13. Call Me Up In Dreamland (Take 10) – 4:14 minutes

14. Give Me A Kiss (Take 3) – 2:33 minutes

15. Gypsy Queen (Take 3) – 4:13 minutes

16. I've Been Working (Alternate Version) – 4:26 minutes

17. I'll Be Your Lover, Too (Alternate Version) - 4:14 minutes

Musicians:

VAN MORRISON – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica and Tenor Saxophone on "Crazy Face" and "Call Me Up In Dreamland"

JOHN PLATANIA – Lead and Rhythm Guitars and Mandolin

JACK SCHROER – Alto, Baritone, Soprano saxophone and Piano

KEITH JOHNSON – Trumpet and Organ

ALAN HAND – Piano and Organ

JOHN KLINGBERG - Bass

DAHAUD ELIAS SHAAR – Drums, Percussion, Bass Clarinet and Backing Vocals

THE STREET CHOIR – Ellen Schroer, Martha Velez, Janet Planet, David Shaw, Andy Robinson and Larry Goldsmith

EMILY HOUSTON, JUDY CLAY and JACKIE VERDELL – backing Vocals on "If I Ever Needed Someone"

This 2015 CD Reissue comes in a gatefold card sleeve (gold sticker on the outer shrinkwrap) - textured like the matt original American vinyl album cover with the word 'Stereo' centred at the top and the 'Seven Arts' Warner Brothers logo design on the rear cover. The rear artwork is as per the US original but has cleverly been altered to allow for the 'Bonus Tracks' to be placed in the same typeface alongside the text without looking odd (the new CD label also reflects the original issue in colour). The inner gatefold reproduces Janet Planet’s liner notes to the left and the collage of musicians involved in making the album to the right.

The 12-page booklet continues the theme of Master Tape Boxes that "Astral Weeks" has and shows the 'E.Q. Copy' of Side 1 as its cover. The texture of the pages is similar to the superb "Moondance: Deluxe Edition" of 2013 - recycled and woody - and contains new liner notes called "Street Choir, Sing Me The Song For The New Day" by CORY FRYE - an American Newspaper Editor and noted Musicologist. STEVE WOOLARD has produced the Reissue and CHRIS BELLMAN has carried out the Remaster at BERNIE GRUNDMAN MASTERING (the outer gold sticker declares it to be 'First Time Remastered' – has worked with Neil Young, Carole King and Alanis Morissette and been Grammy nominated). Including five bonus tracks (all outtakes) – the total playing time of 61:42 minutes is reasonably generous too. But all of that tasty aesthetics is as nothing to the glorious Audio...

Having had the occasional track remastered across the last 30 years or so (Japanese SHM-CDs and "Best Of" compilations) – it comes as something of a sonic shock to finally hear the 'whole album' sparkle. Like "Astral Weeks" - this thing sounds fabulous – really wonderful. All the instruments resonate and feel alive – the analogue warmth is very much intact and the happiness of Van’s headspace flows out of the playing and the short jaunty songs. This is a properly sweet sounding CD Remaster (well done to all involved).

Coming after the one-two sucker punch of "Astral Weeks" in 1968 and the crowd-pleasing chart-placing "Moondance" in early 1970 – November 1970's "His Band And The Street Choir" was bound to disappoint a tad and has therefore always had a 6 out of 10 rating amongst music historians. But for me this stunning new Audio Remaster and the genuinely useful/complimentary extras warrants a more appropriate 9 in the hindsight of 2015. Similar to the 2015 Expanded Remaster of "Astral Weeks" - there are hiss traces on "Crazy Face" and "I'll be Your Lover, Too" for sure - and I’m glad of that. None of the tracks sound compressed or dulled or tampered with for the sake of modern cleanliness - it's a careful transfer – yet alive - with the air circulating around the music.

The impact of this Remaster is absolutely immediate. The opening 15 seconds of "Domino" is just sensational – the band and the song cooking like never before. In December 1970 Warner Brothers USA and UK tried it as a 45 on WB 7434 with "Sweet Jannie" on the flipside and were rewarded with a No. 9 chart placing in the American charts (the album hit No. 32). "Crazy Face" has hiss at the outset but settles down and that warbling Van Morrison Saxophone solo sounds amazing. The jaunty pop of "Give Me A Kiss" is so pretty (the title for this review comes from the studio patter at the song's end) - but if I was to single out one song that shows just how good the transfer is - it would be the Soulful Acoustic Funk of "It's Been Working". Seems like I’ve been waiting 40 years (grinding so long) to hear this wicked little groover sound 'this good' - the clarity when he goes into that "...woman, woman, woman..." chant with the saxophones following is awesome. "Call Me Up In Dreamland" sounds just as good too and feels like a Moondance companion piece. But again the Audio on the Side 1 finisher "I'll Be Your Lover, Too" will knock fans sideways. As already mentioned it has hiss as the drummer soft-shoe-shuffles on the highhats – but those Acoustic flourishes and the sheer devotion of his Soulful vocal is why his singing sends chills up the spine. It's exquisite music as Frye quite rightly states in his excellent liner notes.

Side 2 opens with the fairly throwaway "Blue Money" – a poppy ditty that never really ignites for some reason. Far better is the beautifully produced "Virgo Clowns" – one of the album's true hidden nuggets where John Plantania's Mandolin playing compliments a simple and gorgeous acoustic guitar melody as Van sings "...let your laughter fill the room..." Just as pretty is "Gypsy Queen" while the B-side "Sweet Jannie" was another 'make everything alright' hit in the making. His spirituality and personal needs come pouring out of "If I Ever Needed Someone" where he implores (not for the first time) for 'someone to see me through'. He returns to Gospel for the album's lovely finisher "Street Choir" – the organ and ladies voices giving it a churchy feel (beautiful audio too).

The Bonus Material features five outtakes/alternate versions and for me makes this reissue a solid sender. A funky Bass run provides the lead in for Take 10 of "Call Me Up In Dreamland" offset against a faint girly chant in the background. Take 3 of "Give Me A Kiss" is beautifully recorded and has the joy quotient down pat – but Take 1, 2 and 3 of "Gypsy Queen" will thrill fans. It has witty 'spaceman' dialogue (in a Belfast accent) before Van finally gets all falsetto on the vocals and the band play a blinder –and although you can hear why the vocals got away from him - this is great stuff. But my crave is one of the final bonuses – "I've Been Working" – a track that turned up in long variants on the "Moondance" Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions and goes back to the "Astral Weeks" period. This 'Alternate Version' is just as Funky as the shorter 3:26 minute album cut - but with more prominence given to the Organ and Saxophone solo. I love this and I suspect Mods will be spreading the Talcum Powder on this 4:26 minute extended winner...

Like "Astral Weeks" - it has taken nearly fifty bleeding years to show this forgotten Van Morrison album some proper respect – and when fans clap ears on this remaster – they’ll let out a sigh of relief that WB finally got it right.

"...Rescue you from the pain...see you smile again..." – Van The Man sings on "Virgo Clowns". Amen to that...

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - CLASSIC 1970's ROCK - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...

"Astral Weeks" by VAN MORRISON (2015 Warner Brothers 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...To Be Born Again..." 

While Van Morrison fans may want to kiss the rotund hem of his slightly soiled garment – they've had to acquire the patience of Mother Theresa at an Adolf Hitler Appreciation Convention when it comes to his CD reissues.

Four sets of Remasters were to appear in 2008 and 2009 covering his entire back catalogue (I reviewed most of the first 2 batches at the time) – but the final two sets were unceremoniously cancelled by the great curmudgeonly one at the last minute. It’s now been the guts of a decade involving heated legal wrangling with record companies to finally arrive at 2015 - Sony/Legacy acquiring the rights to his entire catalogue and sating fans appetites with a 2CD pre-set "The Essential Van Morrison" in August 2015 (digital downloads of most of his catalogue are available on iTunes from October 2015 including titles by his first band THEM). Warner Brothers have also given us a fab "Moondance" Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Version in October 2013...

Now at last we get major CD Remaster holes in his formidable canon of work filled - the first two being 1968's magisterial "Astral Weeks" and 1970's more approachable "His Band And The Street Choir" - both reissued by Warner Brothers in Gatefold Card Sleeves on 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters and both pitched at mid-price. Here are the Cyprus Avenues...

UK and USA released Friday, 30 October 2015 – "Astral Weeks" by VAN MORRISON on Warner Brothers 081227952310 (Barcode 081227952310) plays out as follows (74:15 minutes):

Part 1: In The Beginning [Side 1]

1. Astral Weeks

2. Beside You

3. Sweet Thing

4. Cyprus Avenue

Part 2: Afterwards [Side 2]

5. The Way Young Lovers Do

6. Madame George

7. Ballerina

8. Slim Slow Slider

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Astral Weeks" – released November 1968 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1768 and September 1969 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1768 (re-issued in the UK in August 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46024). All songs are written by VAN MORRISON - LEWIS MERENSTEIN Produced the album.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

9. Beside You (Take 1) – 5:58 minutes

10. Madame George (Take 4) – 8:24 minutes

11. Ballerina (Long Version) – 8:02 minutes

12. Slim Slow Slider (Long Version) – 4:54 minutes

Tracks 9 and 10 recorded 25 September 1968 – no dates provided for 11 and 12

Musicians:

VAN MORRISON – Vocals, Guitars

JAY BERLINER – Lead Guitar

JOHN PAYNE – Flute and Soprano Saxophone

RICHARD DAVIS – Bass

CONNIE KAY – Drums

WARREN SMITH, Jr. – Percussion and Vibraphone

This 2015 CD Reissue comes in a gatefold card sleeve (gold sticker on the outer shrinkwrap) - textured like the matt original American vinyl album cover with the word 'Stereo' centred at the top and the 'Seven Arts' Warner Brothers logo design on the rear cover. The rear artwork is as per the US original but has cleverly been altered to allow for the 'Bonus Tracks' to be placed in the same typeface beneath the text without looking odd (UK issues were laminated and had Orange Warner Brothers labels – the new CD is Green). The inner gatefold has a period outtake photo of Van on the left flap (moments before the cover photo was taken) - while the right side has the Master Tape Box for 'Part 1: In The Beginning'. The 12-page booklet continues that theme with the cover page having the Master Tape Box for 'Part 2: Afterwards'. The texture of the pages is similar to the superb "Moondance: Deluxe Edition" of 2013 - recycled and woody - and contains new liner notes by CORY FRYE - an American Newspaper Editor and noted Musicologist. STEVE WOOLARD has produced the Reissue and CHRIS BELLMAN has carried out the Remaster at BERNIE GRUNDMAN MASTERING (the outer gold sticker declares it to be 'First Time Remastered' – has worked with Neil Young, Carole King and Alanis Morissette). As you can see from the track list above – the total playing time of 74:15 minutes is also generous.

Having had the occasional track remastered across the last 30 years or so (Japanese SHM-CDs and "Best Of" compilations) – it comes as something of a shock and frankly a thrill to finally hear just beautiful this 'whole album' really is. This thing sounds fabulous. All the instruments resonate and feel alive – the analogue warmth intact – the plucked strings and Horn flourishes – this is a properly sweet sounding CD Remaster (well done to all involved).

Producer Lewis Merenstein had worked as an apprentice to Tom Wilson the go-to Avant Garde and Rock Producer of the Sixties - Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, The Velvet Underground, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa to name but a few. Van's players for the sessions were all steeped in Jazz – Jay Berliner had played Guitar with Herbie Mann and Charles Mingus – the Bassist Ray Davis had done stints with Kenny Burrell and Eric Dolphy and so on. As a Producer - Lewis Merenstein had done the knob-twiddling deed with The Barry Goldberg Reunion and Charlie Musselwhite – so he knew his way around Blues and Jazz rhythms (he would return to do "Moondance" in 1970 and go on to work with The Mamas And The Papas, John Cale and The Spencer Davis Group). Recorded in only three sessions - the professionally played but inspired sloppiness comes out in Merenstein's sympathetic 'keep it loose and spontaneous' production. There are hiss traces on "Madame George" and "Slim Slow Slider" for sure - and I’m glad of that. None of the tracks sound compressed or dulled or tampered with for the sake of modern cleanliness - it's a careful transfer – yet alive - with the air circulating around the music.

The impact of the Remaster is immediate. The opening 15 seconds of "Astral Weeks" is likely to illicit tears amongst even the most jaded fan – and when those strings, vibes and flute kick in – the effect of the improved Remaster is magical. Across its beautiful 7:04 minutes – you feel transported as he sings...tripping out in another time...in another place. Wow is the only response. The acoustic guitar playing panned to the right speaker on "Beside You" is shockingly clear and suddenly in your face for all the right reasons. And I'm blubbing like a 2015 Chinese parent contemplating another beautiful child listening to the gorgeous "Sweet Thing" – that high-hat so clear – and the building strings too. But if was to single out just one song that shows the true beauty of this transfer – it would be the Side 1 finisher "Cyprus Avenue" – put mildly it's easily one of the most beautiful remasters I've ever heard - all that trippy music swirling around your speakers with life and passion and art - his love for Janet Planet shining through...

Side 2 opens with the mad brass and jazz shuffles of "The Way Young Lovers Do" and is followed by the glorious "Madame George" – a near 10-minute throw-over song from the Bang label sessions. It's hissy in the opening passage as I said earlier but again stunningly clear and full of presence. I've always thought of "Ballerina" as being one of the prettiest of his early songs – the Vibes, Double Bass plucks and Acoustic Guitar strums – all are enhanced. It ends on the almost Bluesy Jazz of "Slim Slow Slider" with Payne giving it some welly on the Flute – complete with its jarring abrupt ending.

The Bonus Tracks offer four fascinating full-length versions – "Beside You" has studio chatter at the start and is clearly a run-through. Even at this stage – the loveliness of the song is present – their complete "Astral Weeks" 'sound' already in place. Van's voice is in amazing form – laying into like he means it – so Soulful as he sings "...all the scrapbooks stuck with glue...and I stand beside you..." Now we reach something stunning – a full 8:24 minute take of "Madame George" – it’s sonically better than the first – the music and playing very loose. He raps different words as it fades out and the vibes ping "...dry your eyes for Madame George..." (I doubt there'll be many lifetime fans that will be able to maintain a dry eye). The album version of "Ballerina" runs to seven minutes – here the 'Long Version' gives us an extra minute and actually it feels better to me – the take just as lovely but somehow more free. In the tradition of keeping the best until last – fans may argue that's what’s been done here. The finished LP cut of "Slim Slow Slider" stops abruptly at 3:30 minutes (a deliberate decision at the time that I never liked). Here the 'Long Version' restores the track to a fade out – pushing the playing time to 4:54 minutes which gives us a more Jazzy flourish as Payne gives it some flute and Van goes into a 'glory be to him' vocal chant officially unheard until now. It's bizarre after all these years to hear the song like this – but so damn cool too..

The only whinge I might have is that even though the aesthetic feel of the gatefold card sleeve and textured booklet give it a better than bog-standard reissue feel – for such an iconic album and let's face it - one that is so utterly beloved – I’m still amazed that it hasn’t received the 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment that "Moondance" did (a gorgeous reissue in itself – see separate review). Something this good could have been given that bit extra. Having said that I love the way it looks feels and in particular - sounds.

In retrospect the fact that "Astral Weeks" didn’t chart on either side of the pond despite it’s 'top 50 albums of all time' status has been put down to lack of singles and a dazed disinterest by Warner Brothers who simply didn't know what to do with the LP – so by all accounts – they did nothing. Well it has taken nearly fifty bleeding years to show it some proper respect – and when fans clap ears on this remaster – they’ll finally let out a sigh of relief that WB finally got it right.

"...And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain..." – Van The Man sings on "Sweet Thing". Time has finally come to re-join the bard on his astral journey...

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - COOL 1960's MUSIC - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...

"The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12 by VARIOUS ARTISTS (February 2011 Ace Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let The Four Winds Blow..."

Following the same route as Volumes 1 to 11 – the twelfth entry in this fabulous CD series from Ace Records of the UK offers fans 30 cleverly sequenced Mono US 7" singles that hit the American Pop charts between 1954 and 1963. As the chart entries range between No. 1 to No. 75 – the overall play features a nice combo of the obvious versus the obscure - and like preceding volumes some are in Stereo (five this time - see track list below) and only a handful actually made the British Pop charts even though many are now well known to collectors and oldies fans.

All of this rare and hip material is presented to music lovers on both sides of the pond by a British record company that gives a damn - with a hard-won reputation across four decades of reissue quality (best tape sources used – no needle drops). The full 18 volumes up to late 2015 are listed below. So 'Let's Go Trippin'" on a 'Bad Motorcycle' so we can 'Boom Boom' with 'Short Fat Fannie' (all in the best possible taste of course)...

UK and USA released February 2011 - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1280 (Barcode 029667043120) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows (74:52 minutes):

1. Road Runner – BO DIDDLEY

January 1960 US 7" single on Checker 942 (peaked at 75)

April 1960 UK 7" single on London HLM 9112 (didn't chart)

Real name Elias McDaniel – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £20

2. Bad Motorcycle – THE STOREY SISTERS with Al Browne & His Orchestra

January 1958 USA 7" single on Cameo C-126 (peaked at 45)

March 1958 UK 7" single on London HLU 8571 (didn't chart)

Ann and Lillian Storey – the British 45 is a listed UK rarity at £100

3. Raunchy – BILL JUSTIS and His Orchestra

September 1957 US 7" single on Phillips International 3519 (peaked at 2)

November 1957 UK 7" single on London HL-S 8517 (on re-entry it peaked at 11 in January 1958) – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £25

4. Silhouettes – THE RAYS

September 1957 US 7" single on Cameo 117 (peaked at 3)

November 1957 UK 7" single on London HLU 8505 (didn’t chart)

Originally issued August 1957 on XYZ Records X-102 – the reissue on Cameo 117 charted – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £40

5. Handy Man – JIMMY JONES

September 1959 US 7" single on Cub K 9049 (peaked at 2)

January 1960 UK 7" single on MGM Records MGM 1051 (peaked at 3)

Co-write between Jimmy Jones and Otis Blackwell

6. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody – JAMES RAY

October 1961 USA 7" single on Caprice CAP-110 (peaked at 22)

February 1962 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 25126 (didn’t chart)

Stereo Version - Written by Rudy Clark

7. Bristol Stomp – THE DOVELLS

August 1961 USA 7" single on Parkway P-827 (peaked at 2)

October 1961 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 4718 (didn’t chart)

8. Rainin' In My Heart – SLIM HARPO

January 1961 USA 7" single on Excello 45-2194 (peaked at 31)

August 1961 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 25098 (didn’t chart)

Real names James Moore – the US release originally listed the track as the B-side of "Don't Start Cryin' Now" – UK issues had it as the A

9. Short Fat Fannie – LARRY WILLIAMS

May 1957 USA 7" single on Specialty 608 (peaked at 5)

August 1957 UK 7" single on London HLN 8472 (peaked at 21)

The British 45 is a listed rarity at £40

10. Dinner With Drac (Part 1) – JOHN ZACHERLE

March 1958 USA 7" single on Cameo C 130 (peaked at 6)

April 1958 UK 7" single on London HL-U 8599 (didn’t chart)

11. Back To School Again – TIMMY "Oh Yeah!" ROGERS and Bernie Lowe Orchestra

September 1957 USA 7" single on Cameo 116 (peaked at 36)

November 1957 UK 7" single on London HL-U 8510 (didn’t chart)

The British 45 is a listed rarity at £90

12. Little Latin Lupe Lu – THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

November 1962 USA 7" single on Moonglow M-215 (peaked at 49)

June 1963 UK 7" single on London HL 9743 (didn't chart)

Written by Bill Medley

13. If I Can't Have You – ETTA & HARVEY

July 1960 USA 7" single on Chess 1760 (peaked at 52)

September 1960 UK 7" single on London HLM 9180 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version - Etta James and Harvey Fuqua (of The Moonglows) – also written by them

14. Think – THE "5" ROYALES

May 1957 USA 7" single on King 5053 (peaked at 66)

Not released in the UK

Written by their Guitarist Lowman Pauling

15. Lonely Blue Boy – CONWAY TWITTY

December 1959 USA 7" single on MGM Records K12857 (peaked at 6)

February 1960 UK 7" single on MGM Records MGM 1056 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version - Used in the American TV Series "Mad Men" – there is also a 'UK' version available on Bear Family's "Rocks" CD – the US version is used here

16. Butterfly – CHARLIE GRACIE

February 1957 USA 7" single on Cameo 105 (peaked at 1)

March 1957 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4290 (peaked at 12)

The British 45 is a listed rarity at £50

17. Please Mr. Postman – THE MARVELETTES

August 1961 USA 7" single on Tamla T-54046 (peaked at 1)

December 1961 UK 7" single on Fontana H 355 (didn’t chart)

Its rare American Picture Sleeve is repro'd on Page 18 of the booklet – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £55

18. Let The Four Winds Blow – ROY BROWN

April 1957 USA 7" single on Imperial X5439 (peaked at 29)

Not released in the UK

Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino song – Fats Domino eventually recorded the song and released it April 1961 on Imperial X5764 which peaked at 15

19. Whole Lotta Woman – MARVIN RAINWATER

January 1958 USA 7" single on MGM K12609 (peaked at 60)

January 1958 UK 7" single on MGM Records MGM 974 (didn’t chart)

Also issued in the UK as part of the 4-track EP "Whole Lotta Marvin!" released 1958 on MGM Records MGM EP 662 (Track 2, Side 2) – a British rarity listed at £50

20. Let’s Go Trippin' – DICK DALE and THE DEL-TONES

September 1961 USA 7" single on Deltone 5017 (peaked at 60)

Not released in the UK

Real name Richard Monsour

21. He Will Break Your Heart – JERRY BUTLER

August 1960 USA 7” single on Vee-Jay VJ 354 (peaked at 7)

December 1960 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 531 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version – written by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and Calvin Carter - the British 45 is a listed rarity at £55

22. Boom Boom – JOHN LEE HOOKER

April 1962 USA 7" single on Vee-Jay VJ 438 (peaked at 60)

July 1963 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 203 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version – his first British 45 "Boom Boom" is a listed rarity at £25

23. You Better Move On – ARTHUR ALEXANDER

December 1961 USA 7" single on Dot 16309 (peaked at 24)

March 1962 UK 7" single on London HLD 9523 (didn't chart)

The British 45 is a listed rarity at £40

24. Saved – LaVERN BAKER

April 1961 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2099 (peaked at 37)

May 1961 UK 7" single on London HLK 9343 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version – Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song

25. There's No Other (Like My Baby) – THE CRYSTALS

August 1961 USA 7" single on Philles 100 (peaked at 20)

January 1962 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4867 (didn't chart)

Co-written (with Leroy Bates) and Produced by Phil Spector – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £150

26. Roll Over Beethoven – THE VELAIRES

June 1961 USA 7" single on Jamie 1198 (peaked at 51)

Not released in the UK

Chuck Berry cover version – the first CB song to reach the charts as a cover

27. Dedicated (To The Songs I Love) – THE 3 FRIENDS

July 1961 USA 7" single on Imperial X5763 (peaked at 89)

Not released in the UK

Walter and Clay Hammond (of The Olympics) and Julius Brown

28. The Jam – Part 1 – BOBBY GREGG and HIS FRIENDS

March 1962 USA 7" single on Cotton 1003 (peaked at 29)

April 1962 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 4825 (didn't chart)

29. Come To Me – MARV JOHNSON

February 1959 USA 7” single on United Artists UA 160 (peaked at 30)

May 1959 UK 7" single on London HLT 8856 (didn't chart)

Written by Marv Johnson and Berry Gordy of Tamla and Motown fame – the British 45 is a listed rarity at £100

30. Every Day I Have To Cry – STEVE ALAIMO

December 1962 USA 7” single on Checker 1032 (peaked at 46)

January 1963 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 25174 (didn't chart)

Arthur Alexander cover version

NOTES: all tracks are in MONO except tracks 6, 13, 15, 21, 22 and 24 – which are in STEREO

Volume 12 has an info-packed 32-page booklet festooned with ROB FINNIS liner notes and cool pics - quality publicity photos of forgotten names like The Storey Sisters, The Rays, Jimmy Jones, Larry Williams, Timmie "Oh Yeah!" Rogers, Dick Dale and Bobby Gregg (to name but a few). These snaps run alongside rare Trade Adverts for Bo Diddley, Bill Justis (Sheet Music), Slim Harpo, John Zacherle, The Righteous Brothers, Marvin Rainwater, The Silhouettes and James Ray (Sheet Music). The two-page colour collage of British 45s in their labels bags that was a feature on Volumes 1 to 4 has been replaced for Volumes 5 to 12 with smaller pictures of various UK and US record labels throughout the text (all songs in chronological order) - Finnis connecting all the musical and historical dots. Compiled by ROB FINNIS (with help from John Broven, Bill Millar, Tony Rounce , Victor Pearlin and other good names involved in reissue for decades now) – the clever sequencing makes it feel like an old jukebox (especially if you shuffle play) and it features a generous total playing time of 74+ minutes.

The DUNCAN COWELL Remasters are fantastically good – toppermost of the poppermost Audio quality on forgotten nuggets like the clever combo of powerhouse voices on "If I Can't Have You" – Etta James and Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows - here in truly glorious Stereo (Saxophone and Drums so clear). Is it any surprise that TV's "Mad Men" ended a show on the pained moocher of "Lonely Blue Boy" (stunning Stereo) - Conway Twitty doing his best misery voice on this achingly brilliant nugget that absolutely shouldn't be forgotten nor ignored any longer (better than Presley's film version that was canned). An uber-clean transfer too on the fantastic R&B romancer "Rainin' In My Heart” – Slim Harpo getting all mushy about his main squeeze. In fact despite the disparate sources – the Audio is uniformly great throughout (like all the other volumes) and will warm the cockerels of collector's hearts that have wanted this quality on CD for decades now.

Volume 12 opens with an irrepressible new decade winner – Bo Diddley's January 1960 chug-a-bug 'beep beep' song "Road Runner" while The Storey Sisters want to warn all the girls about the tell-tale 'vun vun' of a "Bad Motorcycle" (well done ladies). It's extraordinary now to think that if George Harrison hadn’t bought the 45 to the Saxophone led instrumental "Raunchy" by Bill Justis and demonstrated his mastery of the riff on his guitar atop a Liverpool double-decker bus (Lennon and McCartney took him into the band after this) – how music history would have been so much the less for it. The Rays are concerned about the lovely couple behind the curtains in their voyeuristic lovelorn way as they croon through "Silhouettes" – while Jimmy Jones is dreaming in his 'come-a come-a' way of the Royalty payments he's going to get when James Taylor covers his "Handy Man" (a 1977 No. 4 chart hit in the USA on Columbia Records). I've never heard "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody" by James Ray – a cool sort of Bacharach/David tune anchored by a wistful melody and a cute harmonica throughout. The drums on "Bristol Stomp" by The Dovells has the 'joint jumping' while Larry Williams has the Thought Police itchy with his delightfully un-PC "Short Fat Fannie" – a 1957 homage to his brand new lover that's likely to get him arrested in 2015.

Beautifully clear Audio accompanies the brass-driven mashed-potato-baby of "Little Latin Lupe Lu" by a clearly frazzled Righteous Brothers while classics don’t get much better that The "5" Royales doing "Think" – a genius slice of bop-along happiness written by their guitarist Lowman Pauling – a song that crosses the Vocal Group, R&B and Pop divide at the same time (stunning audio too). 'I knew from the first time I kissed you' Charlie Gracie tells us on the Vocal Group Vaudeville "Butterfly" - while The Marvelettes keep checking the mailbox in the breakthrough Tamla hit "Please Mr. Postman" (looking for royalty cheques from Berry Gordy or is that luncheon vouchers?) . Properly fabulous audio accompanies Roy Brown's joyous "Let The Four Winds Blow" – an utterly infectious New Orleans R&B winner penned by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino. It's smartly followed in the running order by "Whole Lotta Woman" - a Marvin Rainwater bopper where our hero wants his girl to know that he's equal to the challenge by being a 'whole lotta man' (attaboy Marvin).

As I said of Volumes 1 to 11 – what's wicked about these Ace CD compilations is the oddities – finding gems you just don't know. I've never heard the neck-nibbling novelty number "Dinner With Drac" by John Zacherle – a man worried about the main course not being chicken and asparagus (genius choice and a properly great Monster Mash type laugh). Timmie "Oh Yeah!" Rogers is sorry to be waving bye-bye to good times as he and his buddies say hello to History and Maths again in the saxophone-driven "Back To School Again". Surf guitar drives the wicked instrumental "Let's Go Trippin'" by Dick Dale and The Del-Tones and 60ts Soul doesn’t get more sophisticated than the beautiful shuffle of "He Will Break Your Heart" penned by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield (of The Impressions) and Calvin Carter. And how good is the 'put you in my house' footstompin' genius of "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker (how did this not chart in the UK?). Both Arthur Alexander and LaVern Baker bring up the R&B front with the slow shuffle of "You Better Move On" and the manic drums and vocals of "Saved" because our LaVern no longer drinks nor does the Hoochie-coo (thank Gawd for that).

We get our daily dose of Phil Spector melodrama with The Crystals on their mini Pop Opera "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" – but rocking in two-by-two comes The Velaires and their cool cover of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" – here in superbly atmospheric sound. Songs get rama-lama-ding-dong'd in the song-naming tune "Dedicated (To The Songs I Love)" by The 3 Friends who turn out to be members of The Olympics moonlighting on this novelty number. Drummer Bobby Gregg famously played on Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" LP and the monster hit "Like A Rolling Stone" – enough to ensure immortality. But along comes Ace and unearths this Saxophone and Organ and Drums instrumental blaster that managed a No. 29 placing in early 1962. He would also play on Simon & Garfunkel recordings. It ends with Marv Johnson earning his place of importance in the Motown history books with the catchy "Come To Me" and the unexpectedly touching "Every Day I Have Cry" by handsome Steve Alaimo – teen-popping up an Arthur Alexander song.

Like Volumes 1 to 11 – installment No. 12 is an adventurous, period evocative, cleverly paced compilation that barely puts a foot wrong. In fact it may the best CD compilation yet. Loving the whole damn lot. And there are seventeen more volumes to return to where this came from...

Titles in "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series are:

1. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63 (Ace CDCHD 289, November 1991)

2. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 2: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 445, March 1993)

3. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 3: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 497, January 1994)

4. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 4: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 500, October 1994)

5. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 5: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 600, October 1995)

6. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 6: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 650, January 1997)

7. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 700, November 1998)

8. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 8: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 750, November 1999)

9. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 9: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 800, February 2001)

10. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 850, September 2002)

11. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1200, September 2007)

12. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1280, February 2011)

13. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Country Edition (Ace CDCHD 845, April 2002)

14. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Novelty Edition (Ace CDCHD 890, November 2003)

15. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition 1953-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1000, May 2004)

16. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special "Bubbling Under" Edition – Regional Hits That Just Missed The Hot 100 1959-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1050, March 2006)

17. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll – The Follow-Up Hits: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits (Ace CDCHD 1190, January 2008)

18.  The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - BLUES, GOSPEL, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...

"The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2007 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters - Volume 11 of 12 Plus Other Themed Volumes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Apple Of My Eye..."

Volume 10 of Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series came out in 2002 - and after filling in with off-shoot CD compilations like 'Vocal Groups', 'Country' and 'Bubbling Under Hits' for five years – Ace returned to the numbers game in 2007 with another superb instalment (their 'eleventh'). Following the same route as Volumes 1 to 10 – it offers fans 30 cleverly sequenced Mono US 7" singles that hit the American Pop charts and features a nice combo of the obvious versus the obscure. Like preceding volumes some are in Stereo (in this case only two - see Track Notes below) and barely any actually made the British Pop charts even though many are now well known to collectors and oldies fans.

And all of this rare and hip material is presented to music lovers on both sides of the pond by a British record company that gives a damn - with a hard-won reputation across four decades of reissue quality (best tape sources used – no needle drops). The full 18 volumes up to late 2015 are listed below. So 'Let The Good Times Roll' as we indulge in some 'Finger Poppin’ Time' down at 'Smokey Joe’s Cafe' (all in the best possible taste of course)...

UK and USA released September 2007 - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1200 (Barcode 029667029322) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows (72:02 minutes):

1. Jim Dandy – LaVERN BAKER and THE GLIDERS
November 1956 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-1116 (peaked at 17)
January 1957 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 3879 (didn't chart)
Real name Delores Williams – originally the B-side of "Tra-La-La" - the UK 45 is a listed rarity at £350.00

2. Ruby Baby – DION
December 1962 USA 7" single on Columbia 4-42662 (peaked at 2)
January 1963 UK 7" single on CBS Records AAG 133 (didn't chart)
Stereo Version. Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. 
Originally a hit for The Drifters in 1956 on Atlantic 45-1089

3. White Bucks And Saddle Shoes – BOBBY PEDRICK, Jr.
September 1958 US 7" single on Big Top 45-3004 (peaked at 74)
November 1958 UK 7" single on London HLX 8740 (didn't chart)
Real name Robert John Pedrick. Jr. 
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman/Produced by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.
Had a hit on both sides of the pond in 1968 as Robert John doing "If You Don't Want My Love"

4. Transfusion – NERVOUS NORVUS
May 1956 US 7" single on Dot 45-15470 (peaked at 8)
Not released in the UK (see Notes)
Notes: Real name Jimmy Drake (wrote the song too) - June 1956 saw a UK promo-only 7" single release on London MSD 1376 – no stock copies were issued

5. Lavender Blue (Dilly, Dilly) – SAMMY TURNER
June 1959 US 7" single on Big Top 45-3016 (peaked at 3)
July1959 UK 7" single on London HLX 8918 (didn't chart)
Produced by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller – recorded in Mono.
Stereo copies are re-processed Stereo – Ace has used the Mono mix. 
The track was also featured on the Mono "Lavender Blue Moods" LP from 1960 on London HA-X 2246 which is pictured on Page 7 of the booklet

6. You're The Apple Of My Eye - THE FOUR LOVERS
April 1956 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-6518 (peaked at 62)
Not released in the UK
Features Frankie Valli and members of The Four Seasons – written by Otis Blackwell

7. Mathilda – COOKIE And HIS CUPCAKES
November 1958 USA 7" single on Judd J1002 (peaked at 47)
Not released in the UK
Cookie is Huey Thierry – originally released locally in Louisiana on Khoury’s 703 – repressed with extra reverb on Judd J1002.
The Judd version charted. Judd Records was owned by Jud Phillips – brother of Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame

8. Henrietta – JIMMY DEE and THE OFFBEATS
August 1961 USA 7" single on Dot 4-141 (peaked at 47)
Not released in the UK
Real names James DeFore – the first 45 Bob Dylan ever bought

9. One Track Mind – BOBBY LEWIS
August 1961 USA 7" single on Beltone 45-1012 (peaked at 9)
October 1961 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4831 (didn't chart)
Stereo Version

10. I Need Your Lovin' – CONWAY TWITTY
March 1957 USA 7" single on Mercury 71086 (peaked at 93)
Not released in the UK (see Notes)
Notes: no UK 45 was released but it does feature as Track 1 on Side 2 of the April 1960 UK EP "I Need Your Lovin'" on Mercury ZEP 10069. 
A listed rarity at £150 (pictured Page 11 of the booklet).

11. Tennessee Waltz – BOBBY COMSTOCK & THE COUNTS
September 1959 USA 7" single on Blaze 45-349 (peaked at 52)
November 1959 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 223 (didn't chart)

12. Love Is Strange – MICKEY & SYLVIA
November 1956 USA 7" single on Groove 4G-0175 (peaked at 11)
May 1957 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 331 (didn't chart)
Mickey Baker and Sylvia Robinson.
The British 45 is a listed rarity at £200 (the 78” is £50 with the same catalogue number)
Sylvia later formed the All Platinum label and had a hit (as Sylvia) with "Pillow Talk" in 1973 in both the US and UK

13. Pretend – CARL MANN
September 1959 USA 7" single on Phillips International 3546 (peaked at 57)
December 1959 UK 7" single on London HLS 9006 (didn't chart)

14. Drip Drop – THE DRIFTERS
May 1958 USA 7" single on Atlantic 45-1187 (peaked at 58)
August 1958 UK 7" single on London HLE 8686 (didn't chart)
Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller – in the UK it was the B-side of "Moonlight Bay" – a listed rarity at £200.00

15. Chills And Fever – RONNIE LOVE
September 1960 USA 7" single on Dot 45-16144 (peaked at 72)
January 1961 UK 7" single on London HLD 9272 (didn't chart)
First released in early 1960 on Startime 45-5001 credited to Johnny Love And His Orchestra

16. Let The Good Times Roll – SHIRLEY & LEE
June 1956 USA 7" single on Aladdin 45-3325 (peaked at 20)
November 1956 UK 7" single on Vogue V 9059 (didn't chart)
Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee – the UK tri-centre 45 is a listed rarity at £150.00

17. Miss Fine – THE NEW YORKERS
April 1961 USA 7" single on Wall 547 (peaked at 69)
Not released in the UK
Features Fred Parris of The Five Satins

18. I'm Stickin' With You – JIMMY BOWEN
February 1957 USA 7" single on Roulette R-4001 (peaked at 14)
March 1957 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 3915 (didn't chart)
The British 45 on a gold Columbia label is booked at £60

19. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – JIVIN' GENE and The Jokers
June 1959 USA 7" single on Mercury 71485 (peaked at 69)
Not released in the UK
Gene Bourgeois - originally released on Jin Records 45-116 in early 1959 – reissued in July 1959 on Mercury 71485 (which charted)

20. Goodbye Baby – JACK SCOTT
November 1958 USA 7" single on Carlton 493 (peaked at 8 in 1959)
February 1959 UK 7" single on London HLL 8804 (didn't chart)
The British issue is credited as Jack Scott With The Chantones

21. This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' – RUTH BROWN
August 1958 USA 7” single on Atlantic 45-1197 (peaked at 24)
November 1958 UK 7" single on London HL-E 8757 (didn't chart)
Saxophone Solo by KING CURTIS – a listed rarity in the UK at £80

22. Last Chance – COLLAY and The Satellites
February 1960 USA 7" single on Sho-Biz 1002 (peaked at 82)
Not released in the UK
Real name Allen Callais

23. Record Hop Blues – THE QUARTER NOTES
February 1959 USA 7" single on Wizz 715 (peaked at 82)
Not released in the UK
An instrumental written by Anthony Sperry

24. Without Love (There Is Nothing) - CLYDE McPHATTER
November 1956 USA 7" single on Atlantic 45-1117 (peaked at 19)
Not released in the UK
See also "Lover Please" by Clyde McPhatter (Track 16, Vol. 6) and "A Lover's Question" (Track 12, Vol. 10)

25. Village Of Love – NATHANIEL MAYER And The Fabulous Twilights
April 1962 USA 7" single on Fortune UA 449 (peaked at 22)
July 1962 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 1041 (didn't chart)
First issued February 1962 in the USA on Fortune 545

26. Fabulous – CHARLIE GRACIE
April 1957 USA 7" single on Cameo 107 (peaked at 16)
May 1957 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4313 (didn't chart)
The British 45 on the gold-coloured Parlophone label is listed at £50

27. Peanut Butter – MARATHONS
May 1961 USA 7" single on Argo 5389 (peaked at 20)
June 1961 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 25088 (didn't chart)

28. Smokey Joe's Café – THE ROBINS
October 1955 USA 7" single on Atco 45-6059 (peaked at 79)
Not released in the UK
Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller

29. Come On Over – THE STROLLERS
April 1961 USA 7” single on Carlton 546 (peaked at 81)
April 1961 UK 7" single on London HLL 9366 (didn't chart)

30. Finger Poppin' Time – HANK BALLARD And The Midnighters
April 1960 USA 7” single on King 45-5341 (peaked at 7)
August 1960 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4682 (didn't chart)

NOTES: all tracks are in MONO except tracks 2 and 9 – which are in STEREO

Volume 11 has an info-packed 28-page booklet festooned with ROB FINNIS liner notes and cool pics - quality publicity photos of forgotten names like Bobby Pedrick, Jimmy Drake as Nervous Norvus, Cookie & His Cupcakes, Shirley & Lee, The New Yorkers, Nathaniel Mayer and Hank Ballard (to name but a few). These snaps run alongside rare Trade Adverts for LaVern Baker, Bobby Lewis, Conway Twitty, Bobby Comstock, The Marathons, Jack Scott, Ruth Brown and The Robins. It even comes with a gorgeous colour photo of a drive-in theatre in St. Louis in Missouri (the 66 Park-In). The two-page colour collage of British 45s in their labels bags that was a feature on Volumes 1 to 4 has been replaced for Volumes 5 to 12 with smaller pictures of various UK and US record labels throughout the text (all songs in chronological order) - Finnis connecting all the musical and historical dots. Compiled by TREVOR CHURCHILL and ROB FINNIS (with help from John Broven, Bill Millar and other good names involved in reissue for decades now) – the clever sequencing makes it feel like an old jukebox (especially if you shuffle play) and it features a generous total playing time of 72+ minutes.

The DUNCAN COWELL Remasters are fantastically good – toppermost of the poppermost Audio quality on forgotten nuggets like the clever Dion reinterpretation of the Drifters 1957 Atlantic classic "Ruby Baby" – here in truly glorious Stereo – slowed down and 60ts sexy. There’s early Soul of a sort in the gorgeous vocal of Sammy Turner on the lovely "Lavender Blue" where his girl will be wet in a dilly dilly dress (despite your enthusiasm I’m not sure she’d approve of that on her wedding day Sammy). Uber clean transfer on the fantastic R&B bopper "Drip Drop" by The Drifters – Clyde McPhatter still thrilling after all these decades with that once-in-a-lifetime voice of his. In fact despite the disparate sources – the Audio is uniformly great throughout (like all the other volumes) and will warm the cockerels of collector's hearts that have wanted this quality on CD for decades now.

Volume 10 opens with an irrepressible R&B winner – Atlantic’s first true superstar LaVern Baker giving us the lowdown on her hero "Jim Dandy" who spends his days rescuing damsels in all modes of transportation (including submarines). Apparently 'everybody's chewing a candy bar and doing the bop' in the brilliant and unknown "White Socks And Saddle Shoes" by Bobby Pedrick, Jr. – while the car-crash song (literally) tells us of a fast-driving daddy (Nervous Norvus) who doesn't want to speed again in "Transfusion'" – as bizarre as the Fifties gets and bound to raise a laugh or two. You can hear an early Frankie Valli in the frantic white boy Vocal Group of "You're The Apple Of My Eye" – while the Lo-Fi recording of "Mathilda" is actually part of its 1959 gutbucket charm – a lovely lurch of a song that conjures up teenagers with their ears glued to radios swaying along to its simple beauty. More homemade angst comes at us with the excellent stepper "Henrietta" by Jimmy Dee – a sort of Lloyd Price shuffler mixed in with a Gene Vincent screamathon – the kind of single a young John Lennon would have adored and included on his "Rock 'n' Roll" LP sessions in 1974.

Beautifully clear Audio accompanies the hiccup vocals of "I Need Your Lovin'" by a clearly frazzled Conway Twitty while Bobby Comstock regrets introduced his friend to his baby as both of them then did the "Tennessee Waltz" out of his life. 'Lotta people take it for a game' Mickey and Sylvia warn us on the impossibly catchy "Love Is Strange" - while Carl Mann advises us to avoid the whole nasty business altogether in the 'you'll never be alone' fantasy world of "Pretend" (fabulous audio on this too). It may be too late for poor Ronnie Love who gets "Chills And Fever" by just holding his girl's hand (we daren't think about what happens to his metaphysical infrastructure when he pulls her close). Shirley & Lee have no such worries as they "Let The Good Times Roll" – a New Orleans dancer here in a 'thrill your soul' squeaky clean transfer.

As I said of Volumes 1 to 10 – what's wicked about these Ace CD compilations is the oddities – finding gems you just don't know. I've never heard the almost Dion & The Belmonts shuffle of "Miss Fine" by The New Yorkers – a hugely atmospheric shuffler featuring a great Sax solo. Be Bop Rock 'n' Roll comes at you in the shape of the almost sappy "I'm Stickin' With You" by Jimmy Bowen while Jivin' Gene nabs the title "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" from under Neil Sedaka's nose – an R&B shuffler that feels like Bobby Mitchell or Fats Domino (lovely piano rolls). The 'live it up' and 'see you later Mater' joy of Ruth Brown breaking free in "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'" will get your feet tapping while the eerie Engineer count of "Last Chance" by Collay & The Satellites gives the 'why did you not treat me right' song a sort of Buddy Holly echo that’s kind of magical. Absolutely huge echo accompanies the Saxophone intro to the R&B shuffler "Record Hop Blues" – a wicked instrumental I've never heard before that comes complete with an almost seaside organ accompaniment (strange and cool).

We get terribly earnest as Clyde McPhatter tells in his clearest doomsday echo that he awoke this morning and his life was barren and bare because "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" - and who are we (mere mortals) to disagree. Another Vocal Group entry for Nathaniel Mayer and his clarion call to the "Village Of Love" - while Charlie Gracie has been listening to way too much Elvis Presley on the brilliantly Pelvis 'doo do doo' chant of "Fabulous" – probably my fave on here (stunning audio too). A cool trio of boppers finish off proceedings nicely – "Smokey Joe's Café" by The Robins (genius Lieber & Stoller tune), "Come On Over" by The Strollers (don't bring your papa or your mama) and Hank Ballard going for that house-is-rocking crowd-pleaser in "Finger Poppin' Time". But best of all is the Frat Party Rock of the fab "Peanut Butter" – The Vibrations urging all and sundry to open their big jars and spread the said-substance on their crackers – even if that sort of thing is illegal in certain States. Creamy indeed...

Like Volumes 1 to 10 – instalment No. 11 is an adventurous, period evocative, cleverly paced compilation that barely puts a foot wrong. In fact it may the best CD compilation yet. Loving the damn lot. And there are seventeen more volumes where this came from...

Titles in "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series are:

1. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63 (Ace CDCHD 289, November 1991)
2. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 2: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 445, March 1993)
3. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 3: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 497, January 1994)
4. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 4: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 500, October 1994)
5. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 5: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 600, October 1995)
6. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 6: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 650, January 1997)
7. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 700, November 1998)
8. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 8: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 750, November 1999)
9. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 9: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 800, February 2001)
10. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 850, September 2002)
11. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1200, September 2007)
12. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1280, February 2011)

13. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Country Edition (Ace CDCHD 845, April 2002)
14. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Novelty Edition (Ace CDCHD 890, November 2003)
15. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition 1953-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1000, May 2004)
16. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special "Bubbling Under" Edition – Regional Hits That Just Missed The Hot 100 1959-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1050, March 2006)
17. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll – The Follow-Up Hits: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits (Ace CDCHD 1190, January 2008)
18.  The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my 

SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series Volume - 

BLUES, GOSPEL, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL 

- Exceptional CD Remasters 

Is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...