"Tracks" by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – 66 Songs Recorded Between May 1972 and May 1995 (some August 1998 re-records), Solo and including The E Street Band with 56 being Previously Unreleased. Included across 4xHDCDs are Demos, Nine Non-LP B-sides to Singles, An Alternate Version of a 10th B-side, Live Recordings and Studio Outtakes (some with 1997 additions) from eight albums "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J." and "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" (both 1973), "Born To Run" (1975), "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" (1978), "The River" (1980 2LP-set), "Nebraska" (1982), "Born in The U.S.A." (1984), "Tunnel Of Love" (1987), "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" (1990 both), "Greatest Hits" and "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" (1995 both) (10 November 1998 ORIGINAL UK Columbia 4xHDCD Long Hard Back Book Edition - 23 September 2013 REISSUE UK Columbia/Sony Music 4xHDCD Short Hardback Digibook Edition – Both with 1998 Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

10 November 1998 ORIGINAL 4xHDCD ISSUE 

With Long Digibook Presentation and Detached Booklet In Inner Pouch

 

23 September 2013 REISSUE 4xHDCD 

With Short Digibook Presentation and Attached Booklet Inside

 

 April 1999 Single CD Truncated Variant

15 Tracks from the 4xHDCD Book Set

With Three New Previously Unreleased

"Trouble River", "The Fever" and "The Promise"

 

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This Review Along With 310 Others Is Available In My

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TUMBLING DICE - 1972
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

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"...Be True..."

 

A huge amount of background work went into this amazing vault-trawl through the legendarily voluminous unreleased catalogue of The Boss – originally issued 10 November 1998 in a Long Book Set with Detached Booklet.

 

Months of cataloguing, remixing, adding new parts, remastering took place – even calling in original members of the band to finish and bolster up early Seventies recordings. It is in fact rumoured that over 120 songs were considered for the Box Set that might initially have been a 6CD variant. But senses prevailed and 66 cuts became the final tally – 56 of which are Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes or Live Versions with the others being Nine Single B-sides and One Alternate Version of a tenth Flipside. And it was sumptuously packaged too.

 

Columbia even followed up with a truncated single-CD variant called "18 Tracks" issued 13 April 1999. It came with three more new unreleased tracks tagged onto 15 from the 4CD Box - "Trouble River" (6 June 1990 recording, 4:18 minutes), "The Fever" (16 May 1973 recording, 7:35 minutes) and "The Promise" (12 February 1999 new recording with Bruce on Piano only, 4:48 minutes). Typically I thought all three of these newbees were better than some on the Big Daddy that preceded it. The seven-minutes of "The Fever" even includes a rare Backing Vocal from Clarence Clemons (he's got the fever). 

 

Then Sony Music and Columbia reissued "Tracks" on 23 September 2013 as a handier Short 4CD Digibook Variant - this time with the booklet attached (review based on this). And now in June 2023, there is talk of Tracks 2 on its way after the 2023 World Tour. Let's get to the details because there is a lot...

 

UK re-issued 23 September 2013 – "Tracks" by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN on Sony Music/Columbia 88883768742 (Barcode 888837687423) is a 66-Song 4xHDCD Reissue Edition in a Short Hardback Digibook with attached 56-Page Booklet (originally issued 10 November 1998 as a Long Hardback Book Set with Detached Booklet in a Pouch). "Tracks" plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (67:40 minutes):

1. Mary Queen Of Arkansas (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo at Columbia Studios with John Hammond Spoken Introduction and Count In)

2. It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)

3. Growin' Up (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)

4. Does This Stop At 82nd Street? (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)

5. Bishop Danced (31 January 1973 Live Recording at Max's Kansas City in New York)

6. Santa Ana (1 July 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)

7. Seaside Bar Song (24 July 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)

8. Zero And Blind Terry (7 August 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)

9. Linda Let Me Be The One (29 June 1975 outtake from "Born To Run" album sessions)

10. Thundercrack (9 August 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions with 1997 additions from original musicians)

11. Rendezvous (31 December 1980 Live Recording at Nassau Coliseum)

12. Give The Girl A Kiss (11 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions)

13. Iceman (11 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions)

14. Bring On The Night (13 June 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

15. So Young And In Love (1 June 1974 outtake from "Born To Run" album sessions)

16. Hearts Of Stone (14 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions with 1997 additions – track first appeared on the Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes LP "Hearts Of Stone" in October 1978 – that album's guest musicians included Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg of The E Street Band and also had two other songs written by Springsteen that were exclusive)

 

CD2 (62:49 minutes):

1. Restless Nights (2 May 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

2. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh) (6 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

3. Roulette (12 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions, also used as a Non-LP B-side to the February 1988 45-single for "One Step Up" from the "Tunnel Of Love" album)

4. Dollhouse (21 August 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

5. Where The Bands Are (9 October 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

6. Loose Ends (18 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

7. Living On The Edge Of The World (3 December 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

8. Wages Of Sin (10 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

9. Take 'Em As They Come (10 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

10. Be True (18 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions, used as the Non-LP B-side to the January 1981 45-single "Fade Away")

11. Ricki Wants A Man Of Her Own (10 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

12. I Wanna Be With You (31 May 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

13. Mary Lou (13 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

14. Stolen Car (Alternate Version) (24 September 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)

15. Born In The U.S.A. (Demo Version) (3 January 1982 outtake from "Nebraska" album sessions)

16. Johnny Bye Bye (4 January 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, a reworking of a Chuck Berry song)

17. Shut Out The Light (19 January 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also the Non-LP B-side of the October 1984 45-single for "Born In The U.S.A.")

 

CD3 (67:33 minutes):

1. Cynthia (15 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

2. My Love Will Not Let You Down (5 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

3. This Hard Land (11 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

4. Frankie (14 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

5. TV Movie (13 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

6. Stand On It (Alternate Version) (16 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions – the original version of this song was issued May 1985 as the Non-LP B-side to "Glory Days" – the version here is different)

7. Lion's Den (25 January 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

8. Car Wash (31 May 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

9. Rockaway The Days (12 January 1984 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

10. Brothers Under The Bridge '83 (14 September 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

11. Man At The Top (12 January 1984 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)

12. Pink Cadillac (31 May 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also released May 1984 as the Non-LP to the 45-single for "Dancing In The Dark")

13. Two For The Road (1 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)

14. Janey, Don't You Lose Heart (16 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also released August 1985 as the Non-LP B-side to "I'm Goin' Down")

15. When You Need Me (20 January 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)

16. The Wish (22 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)

17. The Honeymooners (22 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)

18. Lucky Man (4 April 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)

 

CD4 (55:18 minutes):

1. Leavin' Train (27 February 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

2. Seven Angels (29 June 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

3. Give It A Name (24 August 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, re-recorded 24 August 1998 for the "Tracks" Box Set)

4. Sad Eyes (25 January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

5. My Lover Man (4 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

6. Over The Rise (7 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

7. When The Lights Go Out (6 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

8. Loose Change (31 January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

9. Trouble In Paradise (1 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, co-written with E-Street Band Keyboardist Roy Bittan)

10. Happy (18 January 1992 outtake from "Lucky Town" album sessions)

11. Part Man, Part Monkey (January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, also released June 1992 as the Non-LP B-side to "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" album sessions)

12. Goin' Cali (29 January 1991 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)

13. Back In Your Arms (12 January 1995 outtake from "Greatest Hits" album sessions)

14. Brothers Under The Bridges '95 (22 May 1995 outtake from "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" album sessions)

 

The 56-page attached booklet is beautiful and comprehensive (recording credits, dates, players and unusually, lyrics to every song) and all of it with gorgeous period-appropriate photos between the text as the songs move from 1972 through to 1995. The only noticeable downer is perhaps there could have been liner notes from the great man on the genesis of each song or what they mean, but I guess the lyrics kind of do that anyway (the entire set is Produced by SPRINGSTEEN and his long-time associate CHUCK PLOTKIN).

 

A huge team of people did the Audio Research, Cataloguing, Remixes and eventual Remasters – principal among the names being TOBY SCOTT, GREG GOLDMAN, BOB LUDWIG, ED THACKER, ROSS PETERSEN, BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, DAVID BOUCHER with THOM PANUNZIO and KOOSTER McALLISTER. The transfers are often so good, I am sure Boss-o-philes have already taken songs from CD3 and 4 and even the single 18 Tracks CD – and made their own new album or alternate version. The clarity on the 1972 demos is hair-raising, even that fabulous live version of Rendezvous. So while the quality of the outtakes may vary wildly (at least to my ears they do) – the Audio is superlative throughout.

 

The January 1973 American Debut Album "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J." has always been my least favourite of his albums - a worthy beginning with moments of brilliance like "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City", "Growin' Up" and the opener "Blinded By The Light". On this set we get four Demos with the first (unbelievably) announced by John Hammond – as if he knew "Mary Queen Of Arkansas" was by someone special. They are just Bruce and Guitar – so quietly dignified and knowing and make for a beautiful opener.

 

After the earnest but awkward feel of the debut – the improvement in Springsteen’s 2nd album "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" (November 1973 USA, February 1974 in the UK) whomps you in the proverbial chops. Not surprising then that the bulk of the outtakes come from this creative time frame. Fans have been hearing these fully-fledged studio efforts on dodgy-sounding bootlegs for decades, but I suspect many will have their jaws dropped by the present beauty of "Santa Ana" or "Seaside Bar Song". Similarly the two "Born To Run" outtakes ("Linda Let Me Be The One" and "So Young And In Love") could have gone on the B-sides of the officially released title track and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" 45s – but alas. And I love that live "Rendezvous" – a late 70s outtake here presented in sparkling 1980 concert form. And dig those Darkness outtakes, especially the joyful "Give The Girl A Kiss".

 

CD2 is dominated by the 1979 and 1980 mammoth double-album sessions for "The River" whilst moving towards "Nebraska" in 1982 and the big baby break out of "Born In The U.S.A." in 1984 (Courtney Cox ahoy). I have to say that stuff like "Restless Nights" and "Where The Bands Are" do little for me but I have always flipped for "Be True" – a song I would have swapped out "Sherry Darling" for on Side 1 of "The River" as a better fit. I also cannot believe how later-period "Wages Of Sin" sounds – could be on an album now. The "Born In The U.S.A." demo leaves me stone cold as does the alternate "Stolen Car" which is almost completely devoid of the desolation and hurt the released version has on "The River" (the right choice there). And "Take Em As They Come" is an excellent find too. I actually found most of the "Born In The U.S.A." outtakes kind of lacklustre but when you get "Tunnel Of Love" – things are creatively jumping again. My fave is "When You Need Me" and it is amazing again that the genuinely cool "Rockaway The Days" or "This Hard Land" were not used as flipsides somewhere.

 

By the time we get to the home-stretch of CD4, I am way more invested because despite having a short playing time and track number, I think stuff like "Leavin' Train", the shuffle of "Sad Eyes" and the great riffage of "Seven Angels" should definitely have been on the much bad-mouthed "Human Nature" album. Three of the end four are fantastic to me - "Happy", "Back In Your Arms" and the May 1995 remade version of "Brothers Under The Bridge". I have formed a CD album of my won from these and other stragglers.

 

To sum up – with its 5-star presentation and 5-star Audio efforts but material that spans from 3 to 4 - "Tracks" is not as revelatory as say the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series stuff and can feel a tad underwhelming at times (4-stars overall). It even charted in the USA at No. 27. But man when you get that Springsteen nugget – it floors you. And as a fan that is more than I had hoped for. Roll on Volume 2 and do make it 6CDs – live for Disc 5 and 6 baby...

 

Photographic Evidence of Previous Crime Scene 

"Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part : 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set" by THE KINKS – November 1970 UK Album on Pye Records in Stereo (Reprise Records in the USA) featuring Ray and Dave Davies (December 2020 UK BMG/ABKCO Records "50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set" Featuring 3 x CDs, 2 x Repro Euro 45s, 60-Page Book and 4 x Glossy Photos of The Band All Housed in a 10" x 10" Drawer-Shaped Hard Card Box Set. Tracks feature New Alternate Versions, New Medleys and Mixes, Demos, Film Soundtrack Material, Previously Unreleased, New Interviews with Ray Davies and New 2020 Dan Hersch CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Got To Be Free...Got To Be Free Now..."

 

*** "50^th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set" from December 2020 ***

 

Lyrics: "...I see that Union Man walking down the street...

He's the man who decides if I live or I die...if I starve or I eat..."

 

For a band so intrinsically linked with the Sixties, as ever, Ray Davies refused to be pigeonholed by its sentiment and started the new Seventies decade with a musical hand-grenade, something of a kick in the nadge for the souring hippy dream. Yet despite being a bit of a caustic brute (especially lyrically) – November 1970's album "Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part 1" also contained huge popular hits like "Lola" and "Apeman" – provocatively charged sexpot songs that felt all grown up and mature and even gender-bender risky.

 

The third album in a row on Pye Records that did not chart for them in the UK The Kinks' 1970 outing "Lola Versus Powerman..." has been receiving legacy reappraisal for decades in myriad amounts of reissues (2014 was the last as a 2CD Deluxe Edition). Well here in December 2020 - it gets Big Daddy treatment on a "50^th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set" – a very sexy 10" x 10" presentation with VINYL Singles, Hardback Book...so we can finally put aside all those previous efforts (well almost). Lots to Cherry Cola...to the details...

 

UK released 11 December 2020 - "Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround & Percy: 5oth Anniversary Deluxe Box Set" by THE KINKS on BMG/ABKCO Records BMG CAT 434 BOX (Barcode 4050538600193) features 3 x CDs, 2 x Repro Euro 45s, a 60-Page Book and 4 x Glossy Photos in a 10" x 10" Drawer-Shaped Hard Card Box Set with Alternate Versions, New Medleys and Mixes, Demos, Film Soundtracks, Previously Unreleased Material, New Interviews with Ray Davies and New 2020 Dan Hersch CD Remasters that play out as follows:

 

CD1 Original Album (Stereo) 2020 Remaster + Alternate Versions (60:58 minutes):

1. The Contenders [Side 1]

2. Strangers

3. Denmark Street

4. Get Back In Line

5. Lola

6. Top Of The Pops

7. The Moneygoround

8. This Time Tomorrow [Side 2]

9. A Long Way From Home

10. Rats

11. Apeman

12. Powerman

13. Got To Be Free

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One" – their eight album released 27 November 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 18359 and 2 December 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6423, both in Stereo only. It peaked at No. 35 on the US LP charts, no chart in the UK.

 

BONUS TRACKS – ALTERNATE VERSIONS:

14. Lola (Mono Single Mix) - 12 June 1970 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 17961 - 12 June 1970 US 7" single on Reprise 0930 with "cherry cola" lyric

 

15. Apeman (UK Mono Single Mix) - 20 Nov 1970 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 45016, A-side

 

16. Rats (Mono Single Mix)  - 20 Nov 1970 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 45016, B-side of "Apeman" - 16 Dec 1970 US 7" single on Reprise 0979

 

17. Powerman (Mono) – Recorded 4 May 1970, first released 23 May 1998 in the UK on the CD reissue of "Lola Versus Powerman..." on Essential ESM CD 509

 

18. Apeman (Alternate Version, Stereo) - originally appeared on the April 1971 Japanese LP of "Lola Versus Powerman..." on Reprise YS-2456-Y

 

19. The Moneygoround (Alternate Version, Mono) - first issued 13 August 2012 in the UK on the 5CD/1DVD Box Set "The Kinks At The BBC" on Sanctuary/UMC 279 721-8 as part of the DVD, Audio for the first time

 

NOTES CD1: Tracks 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 first appeared on the 26 August 2014 UK Sony/Legacy 2CD Deluxe Edition Reissue on Sony/Legacy 88843089592 – all then as Previously Unreleased: Track 17 first appeared 23 May 1998 in the UK on the "Lola Versus Powerman..." CD reissue, Essential ESM CD 509

 

CD2 Alternate Versions/New Medleys & Mixes/Demos/Film Soundtrack (57:15 minutes):

1. This Time Tomorrow (Alternate Take, 2020 Mix) – Incorporates This Time Tomorrow (Instrumental Version) first issued on the August 2014 Sony/Legacy 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Lola Versus Powerman..." – this is a Previously Unreleased New Mix

 

2. Top Of The Pops (2020 Mix) – Previously Unreleased New Mix

 

3. Lola/Radio Spot, Edit (Ray's Kitchen Sink) – Previously Unreleased with New Edits, Medley, New Spoken Word by Ray and Davies and excerpts from original master tapes (text is reproduced on the credits page at the back of the book)

 

4. Got To Be Free (Ray's Kitchen Sink) – same set up as Track 3

 

5. The Contenders (Ray's Kitchen Sink) – same set up as Track 3

 

6. The Good Life (2020 Mix) – Previously Unreleased New Mix, original version, first issued on the August 2014 Sony/Legacy 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Lola Versus Powerman..." – this is an A Previously Unreleased New Mix

 

7. Apeman (Unplugged Live Version) – First released 3 October 1994 on The Kinks album "To The Bone" on Konk/The Grapevine Label KNKLP 1

 

8. Get Back In Line (Live Version) – December 1977 Christmas Concert, first issued 13 August 2012 in the UK on the 5CD/1DVD Box Set "The Kinks At The BBC" on Sanctuary/UMC 279 721-8 – Remastered 2020

 

9. Marathon (Edit, from The Long Distance Piano Player)

10. Got To Be Free (Edit, from The Long Distance Piano Player)

Both 9 and 10 Previously Unreleased, from BBC Play For Today drama starring Ray Davies – first broadcast on BBC1, 15 October 1970 – Remastered 2020

 

11. Lola (Ray Davies & Band with The Danish National Chamber Orchestra & The Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Stereo) – Previously Unreleased Version recorded 21 August 2010 at Castle Park, Ledrebord, Denmark – Remastered 2020

 

12. The Good Life (2012 Alternate Mix) – Recorded September 1970, first appeared on the 26 August 2014 UK Sony/Legacy 2CD ‘Deluxe Edition’ Reissue on Sony/Legacy 88843089592

 

13. Apeman (US Mono Single Mix) – 16 December 1970 US 45-single on Reprise 0979, A-side – 2020 Remaster

 

14. Moments (2020 Mix) – Previously Unreleased New Mix – originally on The Kinks UK soundtrack LP for the Movie "Percy" on Pye NSPL 18365 in Stereo

 

15. This Time Tomorrow & Cassette Demos Medley (Ray‘s Kitchen Sink) – Features Previously Unreleased Versions/New Edits/New Medley Plus Vocal and Instrumental Excerpts, Out-Takes and Studio Chat from various original studio demo tapes and cassettes.

 

CD3 Alternate Versions/New Medleys & Mixes/Demos/Live (50:41 minutes):

1. Get Back In Line (Ray's Kitchen Sink)

2. Rats (Ray's Kitchen Sink)

3. Rats (2020 Mix)

4. Powerman (Ray's Kitchen Sink)

5. Powerman (2020 Mix)

6. The Contenders (Instrumental Demo)

7. Anytime

8. A Long Way From Home (Ray's Kitchen Sink)

9. A Long Way From Home (Live, Austin City Limits, 2006)

10. Strangers (Ray's Kitchen Sink)

11. Strangers (2020 Stereo Mix)

12. The Way Love Used To Be (2020 Monitor Mix)

13. Apeman Morgan Studios Run-Through)

14. Radio Spot/Live, Queens College, Flushing, NY, 1971

15. The Follower – Any Time 2020 (featuring Anytime by The Kinks)

 

THE KINKS were:

RAY DAVIES – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica

DAVE DAVIES – Guitar and Vocals

JOHN GOSLING – Keyboards, Percussion

JOHN DALTON – Bass

MICK AVORY – Drums and Percussion

 

Its predecessor, the August 2014 2CD Deluxe Edition had a 24-page booklet with analysis by Peter Doggett – here we get a 60-page Hardback 10" x 10" Sized Book with a dual set of liner notes and historical extravaganza from ANDY NEILL with major inclusions from Principal Songwriter RAY DAVIES. The first opened pages offer wallets with CD1 and CD2 on the left (the album front sleeve artwork is used on both, but in a different colours) with a gorgeous repro 45-Vinyl Single in Mono for "Lola" in a pouch on the right (June 1970 Italian issue originally on Pye P67023 – the Non-LP "Berkeley Mews" on the B-side). The rear flaps has "Apeman" as the VINYL 45-Single in Mono (November 1970 Portuguese Issue on Pye PATS 7010) with CD3 (again a colour-variant of the LP sleeve) and a pouch for four pictures cards of the five–piece band – two in colour, two in black and white.

 

The first pages of the Hardback Book offer an equally fab-looking two-page collage of Picture Sleeve releases for "Lola" and "Apeman" ("Rats" was its flipside) 45-singles from around the world – serious rarities like Japan and other foreign language titles. The text begins with The Kinks like so many other huge bands of the Sixties, bogged down in legal quagmires – loaded contracts signed and witnessed back in 1964 by the Mum and Dad because they were still under-21. Neill sets the scene and Ray Davies replies and explains in highlighted bold text. 

 

In-between all these dark ruminations are page after page of period memorabilia, the black and white trade paper clippings, The Kinks on tour in the USA where much of the album was conceived, a Diary of Activities for 1970, repro of the British Pye LP labels for Side 1 and 2 (no US Reprise though strangely enough), concert flyers, full-page shots of the prettier single sleeves, outtake black and photos of them giving it some American Live at The Depot in Minneapolis on 22 May 1970 and so on (there are even shots from an August 1970 Davies family holiday at Gunwalloe Beach in Cornwall in August 1970). The last set of pages give credits – song by song breakdowns – especially on the extras – almost all of which have been released across the years on other CD reissues.

 

This reissue doesn't take the lazy reissue route and simply rehash 2014 versions - all are Newly 2020 Remastered by long-standing Rhino Records Audio Engineer DAN HERSCH from original tapes with the Analogue Transfers handled by another name synonymous with quality transfers – KEVIN GRAY. These are clean – but not clean-clean – they are clear and feel new - and even with his vocals back in the mix for effect on some tracks (those do sound a tad dated) – the album sounds so good. The moment you hear the 40-second Acoustic into to "The Contenders" or the sheer punch to the riffage of "Powerman" or the 'Yes It's No. 1!' "Top Of The Pops" and you can feel the punch. Great stuff. But the big thing for fans on this box set is the input of RAY DAVIES who has compiled his Ray's Kitchen Sink go at the extras where dialogue, snippets of demos, and new mixes are spliced into an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink variant. Works to because the Ray's Kitchen Sink tracks take the listen to extraordinary places for weary fans that have forked out for this material just one too many times before. Very tasty...let's get to the details...

 

All tracks on CD1 appeared on the 2014 Sony/Legacy 2CD DE issue, so if you already own that, nothing new here technically except that all are 2020 remasters. To the album - "...On the verge of a nervous breakdown...I went to see a solicitor..." Ray sings bitterly on "The Moneygoround" as he (like so many musicians of the day) wonder - there's all this fame so why is there so little cash to go with it? No one at the record label is answering the phone. That kind of probing angst imbibes songs like "This Time Tomorrow" and the 'where are you going' cries in "Strangers" - each tune filled with cool music unpinned by a weary pathos. The audio on the Stereo "Lola" and "Apeman" makes them huge - those brilliant and fun lyrics still raising a smile after 46 years. I'd forgotten just how New York Dolls the "Rats" track is (B-side to the "Apeman” 45 in most territories) – a hard-hitting little rocker where slick and aggressive city types are crowding our Ray's personal space. It ends on the brilliant and upbeat "Got To Be Free". The Bonus Tracks line up the Mono Single Mixes and other regional stragglers of interest like the version on the Japanese album.

 

Outtakes – New Mixes - "Anytime" - a 3:30 minute amble that feels epic – was a new find in 2014. Probably the very guitar-based feel excluded it from the LP - but there's no doubt in my mind that it's still a premium find - brilliant and exciting. The Instrumental of "The Contenders" is truly fascinating stuff - half Gary Moore's Skid Row when the guitars dominate - half Chicken Shack when the piano gets a look in. Just when you think it's going to descend into filler - "The Good Life" chugs its Havana Cigar way across your speakers - a wickedly good rocker that makes you wonder why it wasn't used as a B-side. There's Take 11 dialogue before the Alternate Take of "Lola" and a slower intro - and again - it's impressive stuff even for such a familiar song. Fans are going to eat up an instrumental of their LP fave "This Time Tomorrow" - piano and rhythm acting as a backing track as you hum along to the words in your head. The car sounds at the beginning of the Stereo "Apeman" are still intact - but after being used to the Mono Single - the 'nuclear war' instruments and lyrics feel 'massive' - an amazing listen. But the most radically different take is "Got To Be Free" where Ray sounds like he's channelling his inner Alan Price as he plinks away on a childlike piano - shame it's not better recorded and fades out too fast...

 

"This Time Tomorrow" on CD2 is ushered in with a control-booth "Rolling... " - The Alternate Mix incorporating the Instrumental Version first aired in 2014 with vocals and a Previously Unreleased New Mix. And it is a powerful wallop. So does life-is-so-easy when-your-record-is-hot "Top Of The Pops" which goes all Stooges heavy with guitar riffage and panned fay interview passages. My God doe it rock – think I might prefer it to the actual LP version (the 2020 Remix by Ray Davies and Matt Jaggar). The eavesdropping begins with the first of Ray's Kitchen Sink mash-ups where Ray and Dave Davies discuss Lola-referencing cross-dressers like Danny La Rue and Stanley Baxter – fascinating. Inbetween the talking – Davies has mixed in demos from Cassette – conversations on how Ray had to fly back to England to change the lyric from Coke Cola to Cherry Cola for the BBC who did not twig what the song was about. The National Guitar sounding not unlike a Banjo – it is fabulous stuff.

 

Suddenly the perfect Stereo of "This Time Tomorrow" comes sailing out of your speakers for Track 4 but again it morphs into chat between the Davies boys mixed in with Demo tapes – utterly brilliant. They discuss going down to Ronnie Scott's to see Tubby Hayes – then Trad Jazz bands – all of whom influenced the songs. "The Good Life" gets a Bowie/T.Rex harder Rocking versions of the key album cuts – all remixed by Ray Davies and Matt Jaggar – love it – loud and snotty as opposed to the clinical precision say of the LP cut. All of that chat and grunge is cleverly followed by a Konk Studios unplugged Acoustic/Accordian version of "Apeman" (superbly recorded April 1994) – great stuff. The Audio for the 1977 Live Version of "Get Back In Line" is really good – Ray riling against Trade Union bullshit. The first of the two from "The Long Distance Piano Player" is very rough and something you will probably skip in the future. Things improve with "Got To Be Free" – better sound and performance but still very hissy. The orchestral/band version of "Lola" is HUGE and again I might just prefer the 2020 New Mix of "Moments" more than I do the released LP version.

 

Fans will know that CD2 of the 2014 DE version offered the whole of the "Percy" soundtrack by The Kinks from March 1971 (13 songs) plus 10 Bonuses atop that. CD3 here in 2020 may have only 15-Tracks, but many are longer Ray's Kitchen Sink mash-ups and in that respect don't repeat themselves and offer fans genuinely new stuff. After three Ray's Kitchen Sink mash-ups of "Rats", "Powerman" and "Strangers" (Dave and Ray having a natter over a cup of tea intermingled with demo cuts) – you begin very quickly to see why Ray put the 2020 Mix immediately after each – they rock like a mother – very clever sequencing indeed. And on it goes...

 

"...It might even turn into a steady job..." - our Ray roared on "Top Of The Pops" - the life of a Rock Musician becoming his full time job in 1970 – tax breaks or no. It would take a signing to RCA Victor and new material before The Kinks troubled the LP charts again (at least in Blighty). But that is another 50^th Anniversary coming at ya soon.

 

I do not in truth consider "Lola Versus Powerman..." to be the supposed masterpiece many Kinks fans like to claim it is (for me it's a 4-star LP). But after many wearying decades of reissue-upon-reissue – you have to say that this 50^th Anniversary splurge from December 2020 put together by the mainman himself with sympathetic Audio Engineers - finally does that forgotten LP real justice because it is a 5-star celebration. Brilliant and then some...