Sounds Good, Looks Good...

Welcome to Mark Barry's Review Blog - SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GOOD... It features in-depth reviews for Quality CD Reissues and Remasters - all with Discography Info (six times Amazon 'Hall of Fame' Reviewer). With over 2,600 posts - genres covered include Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk, Jazz Fusion, Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Doo Wop, Vocal Groups, 1960s and 1970s, Prog, Psych, Folk, Blues-Rock, Goth, Punk, New Wave, 1980s, Reggae and more. I also review FILMS, TV Shows, BLU RAYS and BOOKS. Enjoy the reads...

Sunday 13 December 2020

"Futurama" by BE-BOP DELUXE – May 1975 UK Second Studio Album on Harvest Records - featuring Bill Nelson, Charles Tumahai of Alta Mira and Simon Fox of Hackensack with guests Andy Evans and The Grimethorpe Colliery Band conducted by John Berryman (May 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 2CD Expanded Edition – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Futurist Manifesto..."

With a solid rawk debut in July 1974's "Axe Victim" in the bag and in the shops – Bill Nelson's band eclectic sounding Be-Bop Deluxe toured with Cockney Rebel in the UK to something of a rude awakening.

Things were not working out down at the oh-so-tight-on-stage farm. The first album's four-piece band worked well in the studio, but still the overall soundscape wasn't coming together as Bill had hoped. At the insistence of his record-company EMI - Nelson auditioned and quickly found two musicians that gelled perfectly – a Mauri bassist with a huge Afro who had played with cult band Alta Mira called Charlie Tumahai and the Drummer from Hackensack – Simon Fox. And the classic Be-Bop Deluxe line-up was born.

Bill Nelson and Harvest Records now had the power trio with the sympatico feel to go to the next stage, studio album number-two - "Futurama" - and then on to their breakthrough album in January 1976 - "Sunburst Finish" that finally saw the band chart in both the UK and America.

Which brings us to the superlative 'Be-Bop Deluxe Remasters Series' from Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) – the British home to all things Progtastic, Glam and Art Rock. You could look at CD2 and of course notice that it is (aside from some unreleased) little more than a Remix of CD1 masquerading it would appear as a 'Bonus'. But then if you've been used to the original version – this new Stereo beauty will feel like a Steve Wilson remaster of say Crimson or Tull or Yes - revelatory. It really is great and having that bloody rare 45 tagged onto the end of both discs is an actual 'Bonus' too.

For those who want to the full Dreamland - there is even a Deluxe Edition of "Futurama" with 3CDs+1DVD issued on the same day, 31 May 2019 – search Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 42670 on Barcode 5013929477049 to get the Box Set skinny on that one. But for the futuristic manifesto digipak we do have, let's deal with this 2CD Expanded Edition...

UK released 31 May 2019 - "Futurama" by BE+BOP DELUXE on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22672 (Barcode 5013929477247) is a 2CD Expanded Edition of their Second Studio Album from May 1975 that plays outs as follows:

CD1 "Futurama" The Original Stereo Mix (41:46 minutes):
1. Stage Whispers [Side 1]
2. Love With The Madman
3. Maid In Heaven
4. Sister Seagull
5. Sound Track
6. Music In Dreamland [Side 2]
7. Jean Cocteau
8. Between The Worlds
9. Swan Song
Tracks 1 to 9 are their second album "Futurama" – released May 1975 in the UK on Harvest Records SHSP 4045 and May 1975 in the USA on Harvest/Capitol ST-11432. Produced by ROY THOMAS BAKER (Engineered by Pat Moran) – it didn't chart in either country. The band was credited as BE+BOP DELUXE at this point because of the artwork, but would become their more commonly used moniker BE-BOP DELUXE when they reached "Sunburst Finish" in 1976.

BONUS TRACKS:
10. Between The Worlds (Single Version)
11. Lights
Tracks 10 and 11 are a February 1975 UK 45-single on Harvest HAR 5091 with the B-side "Lights" being non-album. The A-side "Between The Worlds" is a different version to the one on the LP and was withdrawn in the UK (copies in either Demo or Stock form are very hard to find). In June 1975 EMI UK decided to issue the popular "Maid In Heaven" track from the LP as a 45-single instead – Harvest HAR 5098 also using the non-LP "Lights" as its flipside. October 1975 then saw the US 45-single of "Maid In Heaven" on Harvest Records 4151 with "Sister Seagull" from the LP on its B-side.

CD2 "Futurama" New Stereo Mix (50:45 minutes):
1. Stage Whispers [Side 1]
2. Love With The Madman
3. Maid In Heaven
4. Sister Seagull
5. Sound Track
6. Music In Dreamland [Side 2]
7. Jean Cocteau
8. Between The Worlds
9. Swan Song
BONUS TRACKS:
10. Between The Worlds (Single Version)
11. Lights
12. Music In Dreamland (Phonogram Studios Version) *
13. Between The Worlds (Alternate Single Version) *
* Previously Unreleased

A four-flap foldout card digipak offers colour galore - that great George Hardie artwork very similar in fact to Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" hands logo that would appear in September 1975 - colour photos of the three-piece in varying weird garb (don't get me started on that suit and tie) - tape boxes pictured beneath the see-through CD trays and a properly informative 28-page booklet. It opens with five or so pages of reminiscences from Nelson (penned January 2019) that give insights straight from the horse's mouth - the text peppered with period memorabilia - gig posters (supporting Cockney Rebel on June 13th, 1974) - Harvest promo photos and even one of Bill smiling outside a record shop with a copy of "Futurama" in hand whilst the entire window is filled with the band's second album (bet those freestanding card cut-outs of the album artwork are worth a few quid now). To satiate that lust, Esoteric have put a foldout poster of the beautiful "Futurama" PECLEC 22672 artwork in one of the flaps (booklet in the other).

As if that's not enough, head honcho and co-ordinator MARK POWELL gives it six more pages of even deeper detail - all sided with unpublished photos and so forth. People integral to the album's feel and sound like Audio Engineer Pat Moran at Rockfield Studios and hot-from-Queen-success Producer Ray Thomas Baker get more than honorary mentions – Nelson praising Moran expertly splicing in edits into the tapes at a time when computers were not around. Weird then (having sung its praises) that the booklet and digipak would leave out the original LP's inner sleeve with the lyrics (could have been put on the back of the poster - perhaps Nelson didn't want printed?)

But the big news is the newly remastered AUDIO - transfers from original master tapes done the vastly experienced BEN WISEMAN. And if you'll forgive the obvious pun - they don't 'alf Art-Rock and Roll man. I have to say too that I'm more partial now to the CD2 Mix than the original - it's like someone has done it right. To the tales of tomorrow...

Coming over like King Crimson mated with Rush before either band ever existed - it's clear from the immediate density of ideas swirling around the opening minute of "Stage Whispers" that "Futurama" isn't going to be a Christmas sing-along record tailored to everyone’s pallet. Nelson sings in that weirdly neither here nor there voice of his "...this guitar does not lie..." - yeah man - but it sure does make for some jagged-edged rhythms. Suddenly the fuzzed-up Aladdin Sane sounding guitars of "Love With The Madman" have a power - his keyboard work way better than Nelson ever gives it credit.

In his mind BN rates "Maid In Heaven" and it's easy to hear why - that difficult-to-fully-embrace Be-Bop Deluxe sound given a sudden accessibility by the song. Riffage upon riffage upon guitar licks fill up ever second of "Sister Seagull" - will you meet me there - he asks - might do Buffalo Bill if yer bird keeps his poop off the bonnet of my car. "Sound Track" ends Side 1 with some welcome keyboard tinkling – a joyful little tune where those drums and high hats are clearer than they were before – an accomplished Be-Bop Deluxe sounding like Todd Rundgren meets Sparks meets Queen circa A Night At The Opera.

"...Maybe we'll make music in dreamland tonight..." gushes the rather oddly romantic Prog Rock of Side 2's "Music In Dreamland" where The Grimethorpe Colliery Band give the tune old-fashioned horns. I've always found it a little too melodramatic but I know there are fans who see it as brilliant, just another BBD mishmash that needs time and repeated listens. Acoustic Salsa now sails out of your speakers in the shape of "Jean Cocteau" - the Remix version amazing in its clarity (what playing chops they had even then).

Back to wild rhythms and density, the very Sheer Heart Attack sounding "Between The Worlds" seems like a bloody odd choice for an album lead-off single, but maybe Harvest must have thought that its slightly Sparks "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us" loony-sounding-Rock-meets-pantomime vibe would carry it with the public - it didn't. Huge chords and even bigger keyboard-washes fill your Siamese-twins speakers - an epic piece that talks of staying a while in Bill's dreams as he sings for you his swan song. And on it goes...

Even now in the Prog Revival of these last five years (right into 2020) - for absolutely sure, Be-Bop Deluxe and their dense soundscapes will not be for everyone looking for a chart topper. But re-visiting these albums has been something of an eye-opener for me - far better than I remember them and now sounding like perhaps Wakefield's weird man of Rock was cool all along.

Impressive and recommended...

"Sticky Fingers: Spanish Edition - Dedos Pegajosos" by THE ROLLING STONES – April 1971 SPANISH LP on Rolling Stones Records with Unique 'Dedos Pegajosos' Fowlers Treacle Tin and Chopped Fingers Artwork and the "Sister Morphine" Track Replaced by Live Cover Version Of A Chuck Berry Song Called "Let It Rock" (December 2020 Japan-Only SHM-CD Reissue In A Jewel Case and Obi – Reissue of a May 2019 Japan-Only SHM-CD in Mini LP Repro Packaging – Uses Latest Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Let It Rock...Or Maybe Not..."

First up, this isn't a cassette as some sites have been claiming - it's a Japanese Reissue of The Rolling Stones album "Sticky Fingers" on CD WITHOUT the Mini LP Repro packaging but with a SHM-CD (Super High Materials CD - playable on all players). But there are very real pluses and minuses here - hence the four stars. Some explanation about the cover first...

The famous Andy Warhol 'zipper and jeans' album sleeve pictured above (with underpants pictured inside) was issued worldwide in April 1971 on Rolling Stones Records. But the politics of the day made sure that the artwork underwent some interesting variations - namely this one here - the Spanish 'treacle tin with fingers' sleeve. It also sported a different track listing on Side 2 only...

1. Brown Sugar [Side 1]

2. Sway

3. Wild Horses

4. Can't You Hear Me Knocking

5. You've Got To Move

6. Bitch [Side 2]

7. I Got The Blues

8. Let It Rock (Live) - should be the track "Sister Morphine"

9. Dead Flowers

10. Moonlight Mile

An incensed General Franco banned the naughty Jeans cover in Spain, so they opted for the Fowlers treacle cover - which is arguably way worse and far more offensive. The problem is that 'Dedos Pegajosos' (as it was called there) replaced Track 3 on Side 2 - the magnificent "Sister Morphine" song, itself apparently banned because of its addiction references - with a totally out of place live cover version of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock" - a song that had turned up on 3-Track EP copies of the "Brown Sugar" 45-single in the UK.

"Let It Rock" was for the rest of the world exclusive to that 45-single, but not in Spain. Problem is that - recorded live and muddy - it isn't a patch on "Sister Morphine" and the removal of SM reduces a truly great album down to a merely really good one.

Now to the CD, of which there are two versions - 2019 and 2020:

The Japanese (true to their meticulous standards) mimicked the 1971 Spanish artwork and track listing exactly for a 22 May 2019 SHM-CD on Rolling Stones Records/Polydor UICY-78937 (Barcode 4988031334409) - so you gain "Let It Rock" but loose "Sister Morphine" and that 'paper sleeve' repro artwork everyone loves. It has the Spanish language inner sleeve and a booklet mostly in Japanese. That variant is about £45 and can be found elsewhere on Amazon (use the barcode I've provided above to locate it).

This second variant is a 4 December 2020 global reissue of that in a standard jewel case (no paper sleeve packaging) - but with an SHM-CD inside (Super High Materials, a better form of CD). Rolling Stones Records/Polydor UICY-78937 (Barcode 600753872949) is currently selling for less than 13 or 15 pounds. It has a booklet and Obi strip and Remastered sound. If you use Barcode 600753872949 - you can locate it on Amazon to purchase.

In an ideal world we should have gotten an 11-track "Sticky Fingers" with the unique Spanish artwork for collectors and fans to enjoy but with the "Let It Rock" live track tagged on at the end of the play as a Bonus. But alas...

If you want any further information, speak to G. Franco – apparently he has the skinny on all things Seventies, European and moral...

Saturday 12 December 2020

"Oxygene" by JEAN-MICHEL JARRE - December 1976 French Album on Les Disques Motors – Reissued July 1977 in the UK on Polydor Records (May 2014 UK Disques Dreyfus/BMG/Sony Music CD Reissue – Dave Dadwater Remaster) - A Review by MARK BARRY...

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"...A Breath Of Fresh Air..."

Ooh don't you just love a wee bit of Jean Michel Jam-Jar and his gurgling VCS3's, ARP 6200's and EMS AK5's (synths to you pal) - millions did then and gazillions still do.

In the 8-page liner notes to this BMG/Sony Music 2014 CD Remaster – Phil Alexander of Mojo Magazine quite rightly heralds the LP "Oxygene" as a game-changer – a genuinely iconic piece of work that so many artists since owe a debt to (there is the black and white photo of Jarre taken by Charlotte Rampling on the inner pages and that David Bailey colour shot on the rear but naught else).

I remember when this dancing-synthesiser vinyl LP hit the UK in July and August of 1977 on Polydor Records - roaring up to No. 4 on the album-charts on the back of the No. 2 placing of the "Part 4" single. "Oxygene" and its six instrumental passages seemed to be everywhere that summer - sat beside the noise and bluster of Punk and New Wave - the charismatic and handsome 28-year old Frenchman ploughing rills in musical fields that the likes of Mike Oldfield had dug into in 1973, 1974 and 1975 with "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge" and "Ommadawn". The Floyd, Yes, ELP, Santana, Greenslade, Colosseum and of course, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Neu had all been laying down a path too – so too I suppose you could argue that Dr. Who, The Nice even Space and their "Magic Fly" 45 and LP were cut from the same cloth.

So too Jean Michel - Jarre had in fact been around since his experimental noodling in 1969 and by the time he recorded this multi-layered beast in 1976 Paris – his array of keyboard instruments and their myriad wires and knobs probably made Keith Emerson twitchy. But the secret lay in the hook – the Oxygene hook that drew you in and made you like it.

The album "Oxygene" had been released December 1976 in France on Disques Motors (later to become Disques Dreyfus after Francis Dreyfus who owned the label) and quickly sold out. Something was afoot and a bigger pallet needed. After a signing with the major label Polydor Records in 1977 and a re-launch of the French album in every territory everywhere - Jarre suddenly seemed to make everyone notice what had been around in Germany for years - Electronic Prog. Consolidating the "Oxygene" winner with "Equinox" in late 1978 (most people's other fave album by him) – Jarre quickly became the worlds' biggest and most successful exponent of – well - Electronica. Which brings us to this 2014 Remaster – to the skull-world details...

UK released 26 May 2014 - "Oxygene" by JEAN-MICHEL JARRE on Disques Dreyfus/BMG/Sony Music 88843024682 (Barcode 888430246829) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster from original tapes and plays out as follows (39:42 minutes):

1. Oxygene Part 1 (7:40 minutes) - Side 1

2. Oxygene Part 2 (8:09 minutes)

3. Oxygene Part 3 (2:55 minutes)

4. Oxygene Part 4 (4:15 minutes) - Side 2

5. Oxygene Part 5 (10:24 minutes)

6. Oxygene Part 6 (6:21 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Oxygene" – first released December 1976 in France on Les Disques Motors 2933 207 and reissued July 1977 in the UK on Polydor 2310 555. It’s US release on Polydor PD-1-6112 was also July 1977. It peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No 78 in America

JEAN MICHEL JARRE played ARP 2600, VCS3, AKS, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Farfisa Organ, Eminent 310, Mellotron, Rythmin' Computer and Korg Mini-Pop.

New 2014 Mastering from original analogue tapes has been done by DAVE DADWATER for Yakuda Audio – and it sounds trippy-sweet, hypnotic, swirling across your speakers like some 60ts Sci-Fi movie about a civilization that lives underwater. It's also impressive that as Part 2 bounces in, the bank of thump-controlled bass notes and darting synth jabs don't sound too dated, despite the age of the equipment used and the limitations of what was effectively a home studio.

Even though its under three minutes, Part 3 feels huge, layer after doomy layer building the soundstage. With its drum-machine back beat and an actual musical hook that anchors it, hardly surprising that Part 4 became the hippest unhip tune in that most New Wave of years. There is a warmth and clarity to the biggest piece on the album – Part 5 – its ten and half minutes flitting from speaker to speaker like a drunken special effects technician on Blade Runner.

For sure you might listen to "Oxygene" in 2020 and wonder at the sum of 14-million albums sold - but re-listening to it has reminded me why so many loved it then and hold it precious still...

"Andrew Gold + What's Wrong With This Picture + All This And Heaven Too + Whirlwind + Bonuses" by ANDREW GOLD – Four US Albums from November 1975 (June 1976 in the UK), May 1976 (January 1977 in the UK), February 1978 and April 1980 on Asylum Records - Plus 20 Bonuses Including Outtakes and Rarities – Guests include Linda Ronstadt, Jennifer Warnes, Waddy Watchel, Danny Kootch Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russell Kunkel, Kenny Edwards, Peter Asher, Dan Dugmore, Don Grolnick, J.D. Souther, Ernie Watts, Jeff Porcaro of Toto and Brock Walsh (September 2013 UK Edsel/Rhino Anthology - 4LPs and 20 Bonus Tracks Remastered onto 3CDs using 2005 US Rhino Transfers) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Looking For My Love..."

When Californian multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Andrew Gold passed in June 2011, he was only approaching his 60th birthday – taken way too soon.

Forever associated with the Yacht Rock sound of the West Coast, Gold had clocked up four moderately successful albums on David Geffen's Asylum Records between 1975 and 1980 and two absolutely huge 45-singles in "Lonely Boy" and "Never Let Her Slip Away". Neither of these FM-friendly winners nor his other hit "Thank You Being My Friend" (adapted later for the hugely popular "Golden Girls" US TV programme) has been off Radio Station playlists for pushing on 45 years now.

And yet Andrew Gold remains something of an unknown and the rest of his great work largely-forgotten - a topflight sessionman whose name turns up on the inner sleeve credits of albums by James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne and was even feted by 10cc in the 80ts to join their ranks (he would team up with Graham Gouldman in Wax). Or that guy who put an album sleeve in 1976 with 38 deliberate mistakes on it – one where on initial release you could get a mail-order gift if you could correctly locate and name all of them (I think I once got to about 20 on the appropriately titled "What's Wrong With This Picture?" album).

And that's where this superlative value-for-money 3CD chunky monkey comes bopping in. Licensed from Rhino of the USA, Edsel of the UK do for Andrew Gold what they did for The Doobie Brothers - pour on the numbers, the extras and the remastered sound. All This And Heaven Too - let's get to the details...

UK released 9 September 2013 - "Andrew Gold + What's Wrong With This Picture + All This And Heaven Too + Whirlwind + Bonuses" by ANDREW GOLD on Edsel/Rhino EDSX 3016 (Barcode 740155301637) offers 4LPs Remastered Onto CDs 1 and 2 with a Further 20 Bonus Tracks on CD3. It's housed in a four-way foldout card digipak, has a 26-page booklet, uses Rhino's Remasters on all songs and plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:20 minutes):

1. That's Why I Love You [Side 1]

2. Heartaches In Heartaches

3. Love Hurts

4. A Note From You

5. Resting In Your Arms

6. I'm A Gambler

7. Endless Flight

8. Hang My Picture Straight

9. Ten Years Behind Me

10. I'm Coming Home

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "Andrew Gold" - released November 1975 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1045 and June 1976 in the UK on Asylum K 53020. Produced by CHARLES PLOTKIN - it peaked at No. 190 in the USA (didn't chart UK). Guests included Backing Vocals from Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Edwards and Gene Garfin (who also co-wrote "That's Why I Love You", all others AG originals).

11. Hope You Feel Good [Side 1]

12. Passing Thing

13. Do Wah Diddy

14. Learning The Game

15. Angel Woman

16. Must Be Crazy

17. Lonely Boy [Side 2]

18. Firefly

19. Stay

20. Go Back Home Again

21. One Of Them Is Me

Tracks 11 to 21 are his second studio album "What's Wrong With This Picture?" - released May 1976 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1086 and January 1977 in the UK on Asylum K 53052.

CD2 (78:52 minutes):

1. How Can This Be Love? [Side 1]

2. Oh Urania (Take Me Away)

3. Still You Linger On

4. Never Let Her Slip Away

5. Always For You

6. Thank You For Being My Friend [Side 2]

7. Looking For My Love

8. Genevieve

9. I'm On My Way

10. You're Free

Tracks 1 to 10 are his third studio album "All This And Heaven Too" – released February 1978 in the USA on Asylum 6E-116 and March 1978 in the UK on Asylum K 53072. Produced by ANDREW GOLD and BROCK WALSH - guests include Waddy Watchel on Guitars, Ernie Watts on Saxophone, Kenny Edwards on Bass, with Brock Walsh, J.D. Souther and Jennifer Warnes on Backing Vocals

11. Kiss This One Goodbye [Side 1]

12. Whirlwind

13. Sooner Or Later

14. Leave Her Alone

15. Little Company

16. Brand New Face [Side 2]

17. Nine To Five

18. Stranded On The Edge

19. Make Up Your Mind

Tracks 11 to 19 are his fourth studio album "Whirlwind" – released April 1980 in the USA on Asylum 6E-264 and May 1980 in the UK on Asylum K 52219. Produced by ANDREW GOLD - guests include Bryan Garofalo on Bass, Waddy Watchel on Guitar, Don Grolnick on Piano and Brock Walsh on Backing Vocals

CD3 (73:40 minutes) - all tracks Previously Unreleased at the time:

1. Within A Word

2. Sometime When A Man's On His Own

3. Broken Pin Ball Machine

4. To Be Someone

5. Ten Years Behind Me (Demo)

6. Hang My Picture Straight (Live At The Santa Monica Auditorium, 1975)

Tracks 1 to 6 first appeared as Six Bonus Tracks on the 2005 US CD reissue of "Andrew Gold" on Collector's Choice Music CCM-527 (Barcode 617742052725)

7. Lonely Boy (Original Version)

8. Firefly (Early Unfinished Version)

9. Gorilla jam

10. Feel It

11. Hope You Feel Good (Live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, 1976)

Tracks 7 to 11 first appeared as Five Bonus Tracks on the 2005 US CD reissue of "What's Wrong With This Picture?" on Collector's Choice Music CCM-528 (Barcode 617742052824)

12. Gambler (Version No. 1)

13. Thank You For Being A Friend (Outtake)

14. Dr. Robert (Live, Beatles cover)

15. Genevieve (Original Version)

16. Still You Linger On (Alternate Take)

Tracks 12 to 16 first appeared as Five Bonus Tracks on the 2005 US CD reissue of "All This And Heaven Too" on Collector's Choice Music CCM-529 (Barcode 617742052923)

17. Gambler (Version No. 2)

18. Endless Flight (Live At The Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida, 1978)

19. The 'In' Crowd

20. Traffic Jam

Tracks 12 to 16 first appeared as Four Bonus Tracks on the 2005 US CD reissue of "All This And Heaven Too" on Collector's Choice Music CCM-530 (Barcode 617742053029)

As you can see from the track lists provided above, CD3 essentially gathers up all 20 of the Previously Unreleased tracks that appeared across the four 2005 Collector's Choice Music CD reissues and lumps them onto one disc. The multiple-flap digipak houses a very pretty and informative 28-page booklet that fleshes out the new ALAN ROBINSON liner notes (June 2013) with track-by-track musician credits. Each album is pictured, the Elektra labels for Side 1 and 2, rare 45-single foreign picture sleeves for "Lonely Boy", "How Can This Be Love", "Never Let Her Slip Away" and "Kiss This One Goodbye" and each album front sleeve given a whole page each to shine.

The original Remasters date from 2005 (Rhino via Collector's Choice Music) with the 3CD 2013 reissue mastered in the UK by Edsel’s longstanding Audio Engineer – PHIL KINRADE of Alchemy Mastering. This set sounds fab – the huge synth chords of "Never Let Her Slip Away" punching out of yours speakers with lovely clarity. You also notice with tracks like "That's Why I Love You" on the self-titled debut how almost every instrument is him - but as the LPs moved on – Gold regularly called on James Taylor/Jackson Browne sessionmen like Waddy Watchel, Danny Kootch Kortchmar, Leland Sklar and Russell Kunkel to beef up proceedings with expert fills. When the wall of voices hits you – it has power too – big names like Linda Ronstadt, Jennifer Warnes and sometime co-Producer and writer Brock Walsh.

The thing about an Anthology like this is that it allows to dig deeper than the stuff the Radio schedulers only ever want to play – songs like "Stay" with Linda Ronstadt yet again adding beautifully subtle backing vocals - "I'm On My Way" with Jeff Porcaro of Toto whacking the kit - "Learning The Game" with Dan Dugmore playing Steel Guitar (long time member of James Taylor’s backing back) – the beautiful simplicity and almost hymnal "Looking For My Love" so reminiscent of Stephen "On And On" Bishop as Andrew (all on his own as a single man) plays every instrument for lonely hearts everywhere - "Little Company" on the "Whirlwind" album where Jazzer Don Grolnick of the fusion outfit Dreams plays gorgeous piano – the acoustic loveliness of the I miss you "Still You Linger On" - and on it goes. Some of the bonuses are short and feel superfluous to requirements and the lone cover of the Revolver belter "Dr. Robert" shows his rockier side in a rare slice of live Seventies.

If you want deeper still, Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) issued a Clamshell Box Set in July 2020 not surprisingly called "Lonely Boy: The Asylum Years" and its 7CDs offers even more.

I look on this singer-songwriter with huge affection and remember being in lurve with some dark-haired wild-eyed Irish beauty when the March 1978 UK 45 for "Never Let Her Slip Away" was released (with the Yacht Rock salsa rhythms of "Genevieve" on the flipside).

Asylum K 13112 took British and Irish airwaves by quiet storm – jumping all the way up to No. 5 in the UK singles chart and putting its parent album "All This And Heaven Too" into the Top 40 (No. 31 in April 1978). Its wildly soppy only-met-her-a-week-ago romantic shuffle and those Ernie Watts Saxophone runs tugged on those heartstrings then and still does now - it moved me. Remember him like this and enjoy...

Thursday 10 December 2020

JOURNEY - "Infinity" – January 1978 Fourth US LP on Columbia Records (May 1978 UK on CBS Records) featuring Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Greg Rolie, Ross Valory and Aynsley Dunbar (August 2006 UK Columbia/Legacy CD Reissue in Enhanced Eco-Friendly Digipak Packaging – The Journey Reissues Series – feat Bob Ludwig and Brian Lee Remaster from 1996) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Wheel In The Sky..."

American and Canadian bands like Journey, Kansas, Boston and Rush (even Blue Oyster Cult jumps to mind) – issued albums that had great parts padded out with obvious space filler. But then these Seventies behemoths had their "Infinity" moment - where the whole damn 33 1/3 platter was ‘all good’. And as four whole decades have since stonewashed our slightly soiled elephant-flared denims to threadbare buggery, its "Winds Of March" rep has only grown in stature.

Now in the all-genre-comers 2020s - "Infinity" is being picked up by those revisiting a Prog/AOR/Classic Rock past – a more adventurous long-ago time when guitar pyrotechnics, banks of keyboards and even bigger banks of hair-dos were all a-blazing, all the rage and hell - even trendy. Grown men bared their chests beneath flowery jackets and grew moustaches without the slightest fear of the fashion police arresting their sorry mid-American asses. Man you could even forgive those leaning-back ha-ha-ha poses on the rear sleeve. We’re so brill aren’t we Steve – yes Neal – you’re so right - in fact - you’re always right...

Part of 'The Journey Reissues' series of Remasters from Columbia/Legacy USA - unfortunately and rather disappointingly - even though this 2006 upgraded presentation reissue has a cutesy digipak, a 16-page booklet with new photos and repro's of period memorabilia - it doesn't have anything new. There are no bonuses in other words and it sports a Remaster over a decade old (the Bob Ludwig and Brian Lee Remaster version from 1996). Still what you do get rocks like the proverbial "Wheel In The Sky". Here are the long-lasting details...

UK released 28 August 2006 (1 August 2006 in the USA) - "Infinity" by JOURNEY on Columbia/Legacy 82876858902 (Barcode 828768589021) is a straightforward transfer of the 10-track 1978 US album onto Remastered CD in a Card Digipak that plays out as follows (36:28 minutes):

1. Lights [Side 1]
2. Feeling That Way
3. Anytime
4. La Do Da
5. Patiently
6. Wheel In The Sky [Side 2]
7. Somethin' To Hide
8. Winds Of March
9. Can Do
10. Opened The Door
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Infinity" - released January 1978 in the USA on Columbia PC 34912 and May 1978 in the UK on CBS Records S 82244. Produced by RAY THOMAS BAKER - it peaked at No. 21 in the USA (didn't chart UK).

JOURNEY was:
STEVE PERRY - Lead Vocals
NEAL SCHON - Lead Guitar and Vocals
GREG ROLIE - Keyboards and Vocals
ROSS VALORY - Bass and Vocals
AYNSLEY DUNBAR - Drums and Percussion

The last time this Journey album was released on CD in November 1996 - the Audio Engineers were the legendary BOB LUDWIG with his assistant BRIAN LEE – that transfer and Remaster done at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine. That variant rocked and so it still is - Columbia Legacy clearly deeming it unnecessary to do the album again.

The upgrade is supposedly in the packaging – a snazzy looking stickered card digipak with a 16-page booklet – a sort of photo-scrapbook of memorabilia from the extensive yearlong 1978 American Tour (posters, billboards, tour passes, trade adverts). Clearly not gun shy when it came to night-after-night gigging, like Thin Lizzy and others bands of the time, Journey worked their new album into the dirt. Dates listed in full begin 20 January 1978 in Chicago and go on for three pages, all the way up to New Year's Eve in San Francisco.

The original liner notes that expressed such sorrow to what had befallen Lynyrd Skynyrd in their devastating plane crash (half the band was killed outright), is reproduced too - but there is no history, musical references, input from old-timers who were there - which is a real let down. It's nice to look at for sure and great to listen to, but if it heralded a new launch of the often-maligned Journey, a little more background and group participation would have pleased fans and enlightened newcomers. To the music...

The big change was of course Steve Perry - whose voice and writing chops aligned with Neal Schon and between them they penned most of the album with Drummer Aynsley Dunbar throwing in their penny's worth on tunes like "Anytime" and "Can Do". The band's other twin weaponry out front was the technical guitar wizardry of Schon backed up the keys of Greg Rolie. Five of them sang too, so that when Perry pines for his city by the bay in "Lights" and the boys join in for the chorus - the effect is alarmingly radio friendly. Written by Perry, Rolie and Dunbar - "Feeling That Way" is a typical Journey rawk-ballad - smooch then riffage.

Irresistibly hooky is how you'd describe "Anytime" - those walls of guitars and that flanged-up solo - sexy as baby oil - great stuff. Straight into a Rock bopper and my least fave on the record - "La Do Da". Better is the time-goes-by ballad of "Patiently" - a piano and guitar pleader that goes on about light shining on just as the distorted guitars come roaring in. Side 2's biggie is "Wheel In The Sky" - guitars keep on turning - Perry trying to make it home through the sleet and rain. And of the remaining layered material - the I covered you in roses "Winds Of March" gets tearful just enough to convince while the Aerosmith rawk of "Can Do" feels like its flying at ten thousand miles an hour out of your speakers with just as many guitar overdubs in tow.

I know there are people who hate this over-produced American Radio Rawk with a passion (Prog elements or no). But this album has plenty worth recommending it to make your 'journey' back to this 2006 remaster-revisit worthwhile. Can do, have done...

"The Soundtrack From The Film The Song Remains The Same" aka "The Song Remains The Same" by LED ZEPPELIN - September 1976 US LIVE Double-Album (October 1976 in the UK) on Swan Song Records featuring Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham (September 2018 US Swan Song Expanded Edition 2CD-Set Reissue with Six Bonus Tracks in Repro Embossed Gatefold Card Sleeve Packaging – John Davis Remastering Supervised by Jimmy Page) - A Review to Mark Barry...

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"...Flaming Heart..."

I'm gonna put a spanner in the works here and say that for me anyway (especially at the time), both 1976's single studio album "Presence" and the ludicrous indulgence of the film "The Song Remains The Same" were two nails in a very unwilling coffin. I thought the first piss-poor and the second - supposedly a representation of my most rave Rock Band in the world in their natural live habitat - a huge disappointment and frankly pretentious to the point of walk out (many of us did as I recall).

Like most Zeppelites of my age, I worshipped at the altar of all things Led. But for me, the unbelievable run of genius from "Led Zeppelin" in January 1969 to the legendary twofer "Physical Graffiti" in February 1975, stopped abruptly in 1976, first with the obvious mediocrity of "Presence" only to be compounded by "The Song Remains..." film and its underwhelming vinyl companion.

To that - I was 18 on the day of US release, Tuesday, 28 September 1976 (we would have to wait until late October in Ireland and England) and just so invested in them. But crappy sound at a mega arena and using concerts that were three years old (the end of a US tour) which featured zilch from the mighty Graffiti - wasn’t my idea of magic or brilliance. Coming after the truly lacklustre "Presence" with its garish and pointless Hipgnosis artwork – it was all too much.

But here’s the rub - having vented all that personal horror and disappointment of old – bizarrely I cannot get enough of the Extended Edition of "The Song Remains The Same" because of its new inclusions - six genuinely fantastic bonus tracks slotted into the play list rather than just tagged on at the end. They have turned Song into an entirely different beast of live burden. As well as that, the Remaster upgrade by JOHN DAVIS on the latest 2018 variant – the man who made the Mothership Remasters of 2009 sound so utterly stunning – has taken a pig's ear and whipped it into a proper peacock strutter. Let's get bare chested and shake it on down...to the details...

20 November 2007 had seen "Song" appear in the USA as a 2CD Expanded Edition set on Swan Song/Rhino R2 328252 (Barcode 081227996116) with Six Bonus Tracks mastered by BOB LUDWIG (there was also a 4LP Expanded variant). This is essentially a 2018 reissue of that 2007 set with a different Remastering Engineer at the helm – JOHN DAVIS (supervised by Jimmy Page). Here are the 2018 details...

US released Friday, 7 September 2018 - "The Soundtrack From The Film The Song Remains The Same" aka "The Song Remains The Same" by LED ZEPPELIN on Swan Song/Rhino R2-565219 (Barcode 603497862757) is a 2CD-Set Expanded Deluxe Edition Reissue and Remaster of Their 1976 Soundtrack and Live Double-Album with Six Bonus Tracks in a Six-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve that plays out as follows:

CD1 (60:33 minutes):
1. Rock And Roll
2. Celebration Day
3. Black Dog (featuring a portion of "Bring It On Home") *
4. Over The Hills And Far Away *
5. Misty Mountain Hop *
6. Since I've Been Loving You *
7. No Quarter
8. The Song Remains The Same
9. The Rain Song
10. The Ocean *

CD2 (71:25 minutes):
1. Dazed And Confused
2. Stairway To Heaven
3. Moby Dick
4. Heartbreaker *
5. Whole Lotta Love
Tracks 1, 2, 8 and 9 on CD1 were the original Side 1
Track 1 on CD2 (nearly 27 minutes) was the original Side 2
Tracks 7 on CD1 and 2 on CD2 were the original Side 3
Tracks 3 and 5 on CD2 were the original Side 4
* Previously Unreleased; first issued November 2007, same placing for the September 2018 re-release

The 9-track 2LP-Set "The Soundtrack From The Film The Song Remains The Same" aka "The Song Remains The Same" was originally released 28 September 1976 in the USA on Swan Song SS 2-201 and 22 October 1976 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 89402. Produced by JIMMY PAGE and Recorded Live at Madison Square Gardens in New York across the 27th, 28th and 29th of July 1973 – it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the States.

The 6-panel card-sleeve for this 2018 Reissue that repro's the look and feel of the original vinyl double (mottled sleeve, raised lettering etc) is beautifully done and the 24-page booklet the same - all those colour photos and stills from the fantasy sequences in the movie. American Filmmaker CAMERON CROWE and Director/Writer helmsman of the hugely underrated "Roadies" TV Series (a massive Zep fan who has used their music in many of his films) does the gushing gussets liner notes that include reminiscences from Plant and Page too.

But it's the JOHN DAVIS Remaster (supervised by Jimmy Page) that really lifts things up so much. Their is a barnstorming kick to these transfers and especially the slotted-in extras. To the music...

The opening double salvo of running IV's "Rock And Roll" into III's "Celebration Day" kicks things off well although I never really liked it. But then you're hit with a stunning double of IV's "Black Dog" and "Over The Hills And Far Away" from "Houses Of The Holy" and suddenly this is the gig I wanted to hear let alone see. Page's playing in both is fantastic and when that Rock punch kicks in for "Hills" - it's so good. It astonishes too just how these songs seem to have always been there. Next up is another IV fave - the Side 2 opener "Misty Mountain Hop" introducing Jones on keyboards whilst allowing Plant to sing his guts out. What a front man he was as he sang "...really don't know what time it was..." There is a swagger and swing to Zeppelin here that is thrilling and felt absent to me when I first bought the platter in 1976.

And again another peach, the slow Blues from Side 1 of III that is "Since I've Been Loving You" - and again you're left wondering why this winner was left off the original - another string to their bow. Plant's echoed 'drag drag drag' vocals are fantastic but it's Page's show - his playing on fire as the canvas allows him to slow-fast and back again for eight and half minutes of what is essentially one long solo. There is great Bass and play between Bonham too. We now return to one that actually appeared on the original, House's "No Quarter" stretched into 10:38 minutes of swirling keyboard from John Paul Jones and was one of the occasions where the live reinterpret outdoes the studio cut.

Like many I can't help thinking that "The Rain Song" from Houses like say "Ten Years Gone" from Graffiti is an arrow-point to their greatness – pretty – powerful – beautiful – and so Zeppelin. The Remaster of that delicate guitar intro is superb, then as the keyboard floats in – oh yes. Down and dirty and gritty comes another Bonus – the riffage of "The Ocean" that sees them looser (I can hear why it was left off, but here it feels just right). Never could suffer out the full Side long "Dazed And Confused" and the fantastic opening riffage of the instrumental "Moby Dick" quickly gives way to the insufferable drum solo that accompanied all concerts like this in those hedonistic days. Far better is another inclusion – "Heartbreaker" – another riffage winner from 1969's II. And it all ends on a near fourteen minute whig-out on "Whole Lotta Love" – a worthy violin-bow stretch-out or an aural indulgence – I think it's a bit of both actually - you re-decide.

To sum up – this reissue is a triumph – turning an initial disappointment into a viable goer for the 00's. You probably could and should argue that if official live Zep is yer crave, then the far better thought-out triple-live-CD set "How The West Was Won" from 2003 is better - showing the power and the subtlety of the band in full flight with real aplomb and blistering audio – Rock and Acoustic sides too.

"...You've been learning...I've been yearning...gonna give you every inch of my love..." – Plant sang on the iconic "Whole Lotta Love" (now thankfully with its Willie Dixon songwriting credit sat alongside the foursome).

Well maybe not every inch – but with a flaming heart that can't get my fill - I'll take the few extra feet boys to make up for that midnight movie horror-show all those years ago...

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Sunday 13 December 2020

Saturday 12 December 2020

"Oxygene" by JEAN-MICHEL JARRE - December 1976 French Album on Les Disques Motors – Reissued July 1977 in the UK on Polydor Records (May 2014 UK Disques Dreyfus/BMG/Sony Music CD Reissue – Dave Dadwater Remaster) - A Review by MARK BARRY...

Thursday 10 December 2020

INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order

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One For All REMOTE - A Cool Replacement!

B&W Speakers - I Have Black Variants of These and they are stunning!

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Apple's Best Laptop By A Country Mile...

Keep Your CDS. BLU RAYS and DVDS clean and new!

BEATLES - "In Mono" - Gorgeous Gift! SEE MY REVIEW

GRATEFUL DEAD - 2 x HDCD Reissue from Rhino - Fab Track Choices, Sound and Price - SEE MY REVIEW

BEATLES - Abbey Road (50th Anniversary Remaster from 2019) - Beautiful! SEE MY REVIEW

Superb Socially-Conscious Soul/Funk from 1971 to 1974 - See Review

BEATLES - "White Album" - Amazing 2018 Remaster and Unplugged Demos - SEE REVIEW

Breakdown/Protection for SOUNDBARS for 2 Years

ALLMANS Forgotten But Brilliant Double from 1972 - SEE MY REVIEW...

BILL WITHERS Truly Great Multi-Disc Soul Box - SEE MY REVIEW

Great Deal on a great book