"Vertigo" by GRAHAM PARKER (and THE RUMOUR) – A 40-Track 2CD Mercury/Vertigo Records Anthology - Album And 45-Single Tracks from his April 1976 UK Debut "Howlin Wind" to his Fifth Studio Album "Squeezing Out Sparks" in March 1979 – Featuring Brinsley Schwarz, Bob Andrews, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding of The Rumour with Guests Dave Edmunds, John Earle and Producer Jack Nitzsche - Includes the 1976 UK Promotional LP "Live At Marble Arch" Produced by Nick Lowe - First Time on CD Here (October 1996 UK Vertigo/Mercury 2CD 40-Track 'Chronicles' Anthology with Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Dodged All The Turnpikes..."

 

Tales of boozy anguish in hotel rooms with frisky chambermaids and a search the world over (well mostly in Dagenham) for that special lady. Graham Parker and his kickass band The Rumour should have been huge - what with their edgy songs that fused 60s R&B with Punk Rock lyrics about the frustrations and exhilaration of dole-ridden young life in New Wave England. And in some kind of curiously begrudging non-commercial 'stop reminding us of our predicament' way – they were. At least among my Dublin mates and I, GP & Crew were the Super Unleaded nozzle to us. 

 

I suppose as someone who lived through Punk and New Wave (and bought the safety pins and buttons) – I kind of thought that as each new record seemed to get demonstrably better than the last – the public would embrace him like they had say Elvis Costello or Nick Lowe or Hell, even Dave Edmunds. But the right worshipful Graham Parker (a gent from Chobham in Surrey) always seemed to struggle to rise above the music pulpit to be heard.

 

Still – this unwieldy CD twofer from the forgotten hills of England in 1996 (and one of those splurges the industry used to call 'A Chronicles Anthology' on the sticker) is here to remind us of our mistakes and emotional misdemeanors and offer up forty acts of suburban contrition so we can reassess and forgive ourselves for our many colored-vinyl trespasses. Here are the howlers...

 

UK released October 1996 - "Vertigo" by GRAHAM PARKER (and The Rumour) on Vertigo/Mercury 534 100-2 (Barcode 731453410022) is a 2CD 40-Track 'Chronicles' Best-Of Anthology covering his stay at Mercury and Vertigo Records between 1976 and 1979. It has Roger Wake Remasters from Original Tapes and also includes the 10-Track Promotional LP "Live At Marble Arch" (Tracks 6 to 15 on CD1) issued in 1976 in the UK and is first time on CD here. "Vertigo" plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (73:01 minutes):

1. Between You And Me

2. I'm Gonna Use It Now

3. You've Got To Be Kidding

4. Howlin' Wind

5. Back To Schooldays

6. White Honey (Live)

7. That's What They All Say (Live)

8. Back Door Love (Live)

9. Back To Schooldays (Live)

10. Silly Thing (Live)

11. Chain Of Fools (Live)

12. Don't Ask Me Questions (Live)

13. You Can't Hurry Love (Live)

14. Soul Shoes (Live)

15. Kansas City (Live)

16. Heat Treatment

17. Hotel Chambermaid

18. Black Honey

19. Fool's Gold

20. Hold Back The Night

21. (Let Me Get) Sweet On You

NOTES ON CD1:

Tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5 are from his debut album "Howlin Wind", April 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 129 and Mercury SRM-1 1095. Track 5 features Dave Edmunds on Rockabilly Guitar

Track 2 is the Non-LP B-side to "Silly Thing", his UK Debut 45-single in March 1976 on Mercury 6059 135

Tracks 6 to 10 are Side 1 whilst Tracks 11 to 15 are Side 2 of the Promotional Only UK LP "Live At Marble Arch" issued in 1976 on Phonogram G.P. 1. It is issued here in its entirety for the first time on CD. Note: The two Promo-Only Live Tracks "Silly Thing (Live)" b/w "Kansas City (Live)" were offered as a FREE SINGLE with initial copies of his second British album "Heat Treatment"

Tracks 16, 17, 18 and 19 are from his second studio album "Heat Treatment", October 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 137 and in the USA on Mercury SRM-1 1095

Tracks 20 and 21 make up Side 1 of a 4-track Extended Play EP - "The Pink Parker – Hold Back The Night" released March 1977 in the UK on Vertigo PARK 001. The other two tracks on the B-side were "White Honey" and "Soul Shoes" - both of which were on the preceding "Howlin Wind" album. "Hold Back The Night" is a cover of a TRAMMPS US Soul hit originally on Buddah Records in February 1976 – the other songs are Graham Parker originals with both "Hold Back The Night" and "(Let Me Get) Sweet On You" being exclusive to the EP.

 

CD2 (69:55 minutes):

1. The New York Shuffle

2. Watch The Moon Come Down

3. The Raid

4. Lady Doctor

5. I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

6. The Heat in Harlem

7. Gypsy Blood

8. Discovering Japan

9. Local Girls

10. Nobody Hurts You

11. You Can't Be Too Strong

12. Passion Is No Ordinary Word

13. Saturday Nite is Dead

14. Love Gets You Twisted

15. Protection

16. Waiting For The UFOs

17. Don't Get Excited

18. Mercury Poisoning

19. I Want You Back (Alive)

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 are from his third studio album "Stick To Me" – released October 1977 in the UK on Vertigo 9102 017

Tracks 4, 5, 6 and 7 are from his fourth album "The Parkerilla" – released May 1978 as a 2LP set on Vertigo 6641 797 – it was all recorded live in the studio

Tracks 8 to 17 are the entire album "Squeezing Out Sparks", his fifth album released March 1979 on Vertigo 9102 030

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a March 1979 US-only 45-single on Arista AS-0439

 

GRAHAM PARKER – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Rhythm Guitar on

 

THE RUMOUR was:

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Guitar, Hammond Organ, Tenor Saxes and Backing Vocals

BOB ANDREWS – Lowrey And Hammond Organ, Piano and backing Vocals

MARTIN BELMONT – Guitar and backing Vocals

ANDREW BODNAR - Bass

STEVE GOULDING – Drums and backing Vocals

 

The 12-page booklet splits its details between JOHN TOBLER and GRAHAM PARKER – Tobler concentrating on the track-facts and scene-setting history while GP reminisces on his beginnings with the British Pub Rock band Brinsley Schwarz, his musical influences and where it all eventually led – to the USA on a bus hearing their latest single on American Radio and being duly impressed (not even the slightest bit repulsed). You would not say the lack of Discography or even half-decent photos or memorabilia helps (it all feels too slight even for a Chronicles twofer in 1996) – but thankfully the ROGER WAKE Remasters lift proceedings and leave it all on the page – the music. These Remasters jump and snarl - "Saturday Nite Is Dead" on the "Squeezing Out Sparks" album has huge guitars now – riffage and power galore (the whole album is included, and as many feel it his best, that is a good thing). To the tunes...

 

Choice shavings from his five albums for Vertigo Records are all here in spiffing audio - "Howlin Wind" (April 1976), "Heat Treatment" (October 1976), "Stick To Me" (October 1977), the double album "The Parkerilla" (May 1978) and finally "Squeezing Out Sparks" (March 1979). Inbetween the cracks are rare B-sides, stand-alone 45s and the big prize for diehard fans – a first-time on CD outing for the legendary "Live At Marble Arch" Promo-Only album issued by Phonogram to keep journos and industry insiders thinking about GP before the second LP of 1976. To that...

 

After the critical rave-ups and warm public response the debut album "Howlin Wind" received on release in April 1976 and before the issue of his second studio album "Heat Treatment" in October of that mercurial year – Phonogram decided to record a Live LP inbetween and release it as mock-bootleg to keep the momentum going with journalists and insiders alike. Again produced by Nick Lowe (like the debut), the resulting 10-track set "Live At Marble Arch" was probably circulated August/September of 1976 (no one seems to now its exact release date) in its stamped Bootleg-looking sleeve. It included live versions of five tracks from the "Howlin Wind" debut (Tracks 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 on CD1) whilst the second LP "Heat Treatment" (which had yet to appear at the time the live set was recorded) got two outings (Tracks 7 and 8 on CD1).

 

The other three cuts (Tracks 11, 13 and 15 on CD1) were covers from his first passion – American R&B and Soul artists - "Chain Of Fools" originally done by Aretha Franklin on Atlantic Records in 1967, "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes on Motown in 1966 and the old Fifties Rhythm and Blues stalwart "Kansas City". The remastered Audio does its best with what Nick Lowe produced – get it down and stack it loud. Personally I love his tighter-than-tight Rumour band as they trash through one of my faves - "Back To Schooldays" (dig that twanging guitar solo while the old Joanna boogies along). The same can be said of a fantastic "Soul Shoes" and "Kansas City". Saxophone and sheer bombast carries the single "Silly Thing" to. In fact the overall impression is not of an angry young man or even a Punk/New Waver about town scowling at the powers that be – but that of a great band having a Pub Gig blast.

 

But the key to a 40-track spurge like this is the deep dives (or if you are new to GP, the discoveries). You could argue that the album "Squeezing Out Sparks" from 1978 (included on CD2 in its entirety) warrants serious rediscovery – stunners like the riffage of "Protection" and the aching real-world ballad "You Can't Be Too Strong" being genuine standouts. Spit and snarl and a certain world-weariness course through the veins of tunes like "Watch The Moon Come Down" and his rant at his American record label in "Mercury Poisoning" not doing him a solid – but I could honestly do without that cover of The Jackson 5 that ends CD2 on a bit of a too frivolous note.

 

Rhino had issued their superlative goody two shoes in 1993 called after a track on "Squeezing Out Sparks" – "Passion is No Ordinary Word: The Graham Parker Anthology 1976-1991" which also explored the Stiff Records and RCA 1980s albums that followed (personally I dug those even more) – so that compilation is worth seeking out too although in 2023 – it is deleted decades and has become pricey.

 

But in the meantime get dizzy on "Vertigo" – visually it may not look like much – but content/audio-wise – Graham Parker and The Rumour will tickle your inner gyro mechanisms as any good British Petrol Pump Attendant and his oily rags should...

"Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/Waylon The Ramblin' Man" by WAYLON JENNINGS – Four 'Country/Country Rock/Outlaw Country' American Albums from March 1973, July 1973, July 1974 and September 1974 on RCA Records – Guests Featuring Fred Carter, Billy Joe Shaver, Randy Scruggs, Charley McCoy and Members of Area Code 615, Pete Drake and Ralph Mooney, Tompall Glaser, Willie Nelson and more (August 2023 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 4LPs onto 2CDs Plus Six Bonus Tracks – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

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"...Moving Is The Closest Thing To Being Free..."

 

In what chart history has dubbed his Outlaw Country Music years, England's Beat Goes On Records (or BGO for short) continues their legacy exploration of the hugely successful and much-missed WAYLON JENNINGS - a serious Texan Duderino who clocked up a huge fifteen No.1 hits whilst at the same time kick-muling against sterile old ways when it came to presenting the music he loved and championed. This is BGO's fourth CD compilation for the Littlefield Highwayman (see list below).

 

What you get here are four albums issued on RCA Records in the USA (some in the UK) in rapid succession – March and July 1973 for the first two and July and September 1974 for three and four (all were Country LP chart hits in America). This twofer compilation however goes further though than just putting 4LPs onto 2CDs – it has also been smart enough to include three bonus tracks from the first LP and three more from the fourth that were previously issued on individual RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage CD Remasters out of the USA in 2003 and 2000.

 

And when you consider the huge guest name list – Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, Billy Joe Shaver, Randy Scruggs, Charley McCoy and Members of Area Code 615, legendary Pedal Steel players like Ralph Mooney and Pete Drake – you're getting a whole lot of value for your money and all dressed up in cool duds too (sounds mighty fine as well). To the Honky Tonk Heroes...

 

UK released Friday, 11 August 2023 – "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/Waylon The Ramblin' Man" by WAYLON JENNINGS on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1496 (Barcode 5017261214966) features 4 LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Six Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (69:36 minutes):

1. Lonesome, On'ry & Mean [Side 1]

2. Freedom To Stay

3. Lay It Down

4. Gone To Denver

5. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues

6. You Can Have Her [Side 2]

7. Pretend I Never Happened

8. San Francisco Mabel Joy

9. Sandy Sends Her Best

10. Me And Bobby McGee

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" – released March 1973 in the USA on RCA Records LSP-4854. Produced by DANNY DAVIS and RONNY LIGHT – it peaked at No. 8 on the US Country LP charts

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Laid Back Country Picker

12. The Last One To Leave Seattle

13. Big, Big Love

Three Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes first released digitally 2003 on the CD Reissue/Remaster for "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" on RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage 82876 53229 2. The first two came from the late 1972 sessions for the LP, while the third was from the album sessions for "Ladies Love Outlaws" (released September 1972, also on RCA).

 

14. Honky Tonk Heroes [Side 1]

15. Old Five And Dimers (Like Me)

16. Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me

17. Low Down Freedom

18. Omaha

19. You Asked Me To [Side 2]

20. Ride Me Down Easy

21. Ain’t No God In Mexico

22. Black Rose

23. We Had It All

Tracks 14 to 23 are the album "Honky Tonk Heroes" – released July 1973 in the USA on RCA Records APL1-0240 and in the UK on RCA Records AFL1-0240. Produced by TOMPALL GLASSER and WAYLON JENNINGS (except "Low Down Freedom" and "Black Rose" produced by RONNIE LIGHT and "We Had It All" produced by KEN MANSFIELD and WAYLON JENNINGS) – the LP peaked at No. 14 on the US Country Music Charts

 

CD2 (71:01 minutes):

1. This Time [Side 1]

2. Louisiana Women

3. Pick Up The Tempo

4. Slow Rollin’ Low

5. Heaven Or Hell

6. It’s Not Supposed To Be That Way [Side 2]

7. Slow Movin’ Outlaw

8. Mona

9. Walkin’

10. If You Could Touch Her At All

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "This Time" – released June 1974 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0539 and in the UK on RCA Victor AFL1-0539. Produced by WAYLON JENNINGS and WILLIE NELSON – it peaked at No. 4

 

11. I’m A Ramblin’ Man [Side 1]

12. Rainy Day Woman

13. Cloudy Days

14. Midnight Rider

15. Oklahoma Sunshine

16. The Hunger [Side 2]

17. I Can’t Keep My Hands Off Of You

18. Memories Of You And I

19. It’ll Be Her

20. Amanda

Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Waylon The Ramblin' Man" – released September 1974 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0734 and in the UK on RCA Victor LSA 3196 (APL1 0734). Produced by WAYLON JENNINGS and RAY PENNINGTON - it peaked at No.3 on the US Country Music Album Charts

 

BONUS TRACKS:

21. Got A Lot Going For Me

22. The Last Letter

23. The One I Sing My Love Songs To

Tracks 21 to 23 are outtakes from the sessions first released on the 2000 CD Reissue of the "Waylon The Ramblin' Man" album on Buddah 74465 99699 2

 

There's an outer card slipcase that lends the release a classy feel, the substantial 24-page booklet has liner notes from noted writer and Folk/Country Music aficionado JOHN O'REGAN and the artwork for all four albums, the musician credits and a long potted history on Jennings  that names Net Sources. It's a deep read that refers to Jennings' interviews done around the LPs - hands-on info from the man himself. But most will want to know about the audio.

I'm aware that some have said these albums (this period in general) was not really served well by Producers and RCA - yet there are others who swear by the naturality of the sound. In short you're probably getting that fans are often divided. To my ears the sonic improvement in ANDREW THOMPSON's New Remasters is considerable - the clarity of acoustic guitars - clean bass - very little traceable hiss - but yes the vocals are somewhat in the back of the mix on some songs, but it rarely gets in the way of his roadside performance. And those six Bonuses are actually worth having - putting an already tasty haul of Primo period albums over the edge. I love it, and as usual a quality release from BGO. To the tunes...

 

 

Recorded in late 1972 and determined not to fall back on tried and tested Country songs of old, Jennings fully embraced the new contemporary Country Rock sound of the early Seventies for his began to feel "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean" album. Sometimes referred to as Outlaw Country Music – the songs were still real but sometimes more macho and brutal in their subject matters. You get Danny O'Keefe and his 1971 ache-song "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" (check out the Harry Manx cover of this), the huge Kris Kristofferson crossover hit "Me And Bobby McGee", Johnny Cash and Waylon between marriages as they don their broken hearts and scuffed black coats and be "Gone to Denver" - while the cult artist Steve Young has his feeling uppity song used as the title track to the LP - "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean". As the harmonica wails and the guitars pluck and slide – I like the fullness of the Remaster - a title track no one but a bandit would use. More hit me with a sledgehammer lonesome comes a smoking out of your speakers with "Freedom To Stay" – a rambler who had walked alone too long finally finding the lady eyes he wants to settle down for. Lovely gut-string acoustic is remastered so nicely for "Lay It Down" – a lovely Gene Thomas song that Waylon lays into with real vocal power.

 

His vocal gets a tad lost in "Gone To Denver" even if the rest of the instruments are so clear. A nod too goes to the magnificence of Mickey Newbury over on Elektra Records in his cover of "San Francisco Mabel Joy"). But if I am completely truthful here – I turn away from the flashy chart-bound cover versions and go far more for the three stripped down laid-bare bonus tracks – very cool stuff and somehow imbibed with honesty that is more touching. But I have to say that while the ladies that join him for the backing on "Pretend I Never Happened" – the in-your-face vocals by them in You Can Have Her" has not weathered the years well.

 

But in my not-so-humble opinion, his second LP here trounces the first - "Honky Tonk Heroes" from June 1973 almost entirely dominated by the songwriting chops of Billy Joe Shaver who provides and is involved in a whopping nine of its ten tracks. With most of the LP Produced by Country Legend Tompall Glaser (Ronnie Light produced two) - man is it good - talk about dudes suiting each other musically. The acoustic is quiet and airy – his vocals sweet and the violin and Dobro both sail in nicely for "Honky Tonk Heroes" – and then that electric geetar too. Jennings just goes straight up Country Ballad with the lovely "Old Five And Dimers (Like Me)" – songwriter Shaver talking of fence yards and weary bones that think too much needing a place to belong. Nice vocals and a clean remaster for "Willy The Wandering Gypsy And Me" – the Bass, Fiddle and Harmonica all holding up the strumming. Waylon does not want to risk love making a fool of him in "Low Down Freedom" – so he is a confused soul having to leave town when he does not really want to go (quality Remaster on this wildly underrated album).

 

CD2 opens with Waylon wanting his woman to walk the mark and toe the line – but despite his doomy threats as he sings "This Time" - you can’t help think the schmuck is setting himself up once again (Don Brooks on Harmonica). Produced by Willie Nelson, the no-nonsense back to business "This Time" album had been his best charting LP for nearly seven years – it hit No. 4. The title track was in fact put out by RCA in April 1974 ahead of the album and its warmth took it to No.1 – another in his huge tally of fourteen poll toppers. Willie Nelson also plays some lead guitar on "This Time" tunes supplemented by real pickers like Reggie Young and Fred Newell. The cover of "Louisiana Woman" (a J.J. Cale song) sounds lovely on Remaster even if the instruments like the Pedal Steel of Ralph Mooney sounds like its off in the distance by a (forgive me) a country mile. More walls of acoustic guitars and Pedal Steel to the left on the WN-penned "Pick Up The Tempo" – Waylon sounding like – well, Willie Nelson. Very good sound to the Acoustic and Harmonica driven "Slow Rollin' Low" – another poor-me tune set to a dancing beat – superlative Dobro moment from Ralph Mooney (WN also contributes Rhythm and Lead Guitar).

 

Willie joins Waylon for the jauntily odd "Heaven Or Hell" – a treated Trumpet not quite working on this one. Gorgeous Acoustic, Harmonica and Vocals on "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way" – a father pining for his estranged wife and child – regretting the distance imposed by bad decisions and the grind of separation. That same ache permeates every nuance of "Slow Movin' Outlaw" – a-once-quick-draw old-timer bemoaning the state of all around him (a Dee Moeller song, also plays Piano and Organ on the album). It ends on the pure Country of "If You Can Touch Her At All" – a Lee Miller-written smoocher that swirls and shuffles its sneaky way into your heart. Deep inside the album too was another fruitful collaboration – the "Mona" song on Side 2 of the LP being written by Miriam Eddy, the ex wife of Duane Eddy who would go on to change her name to JESSI COLTER. Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter because a commercial duet – a force to be reckoned with (see my BGO Reissue list below for two albums they did in 1971 and 1980).

 

You would think that album number four in such a recording rush might let the ball drop – think again. Jennings cleverly picked up again on Country Rock and mixing it with genuinely touching ballads – the "The Ramblin' Man" filled with both hipswayers and heartbreakers. Dig that fantastic Outlaw-Vibing guitar-shuffling cover version of The Allman Brother Band 1971 gem "Midnight Rider" – bound to be on some themed compilation soon. Gorgeous remastered audio on "The Hunger" – a woman aging fast and longing for a connection that will satisfy her fears and the reflections in too many mirrors. More ballad in "I Can’t Keep My Hands Off Of You" – but for me the album highlight is the guitar-swinging lilt in the brilliant "Memories Of You And I" – a prisoner with lines on his face that grow deeper. All the guitars – electric, pedal steel and acoustic – all collide into a sort of hugely produced Gram Parsons moment – all tune and emotions (the song was written by Lee Clayton). Fab...

 

I dare say most Waylon Jennings enthusiasts will need little persuasion here - they will press their battered purchase buttons and await the wife with a bill in one hand and a rolling pin in the other. Heartache hasn't sounded this good in five decades...

 

 

WAYLON JENNINGS CD compilations as of August 2023

On Beat Goes on Records (BGO) of the UK

In Album Release Date Order

 

1. JESSI COLTER and WAYLON JENNINGS

"A Country Star Is Born/Leather And Lace" (1971 and 1980 albums)

CD compilation offering 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD released 14 February 2020 on Beat Goes on BGOCD1300 (Barcode 5017261213006)

 

WAYLON JENNINGS

2. "Lonesome, On'ry & Mean/Honky Tonk Heroes/This Time/The Ramblin' Man" (2 x 1973 and 2 x 1974 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs and Six Bonus Tracks Remastered onto 2CDs, released 4 August 2023 on Beat Goes On Records GOCD1496 (Barcode 5017261214966)

 

3. WAYLON JENNINGS

"What Goes Around Comes Around/Music Man/Black On Black/Waylon And Company" (1979, 1980, 1982 and 1983 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs released 8 October 2021 on Beat Goes on Records BGOCD1462 (Barcode 5017261214621)

 

WAYLON JENNINGS

4. "It's Only Rock & Roll/Never Could Toe The Mark/Turn The Page/Sweet Mother Texas" (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 albums)

CD compilation offering 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs released August 2021 on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1454 (Barcode 5017261214546)

CD BOX SETS - "OH MY GIDDY AUNT!" Best CD Box Sets Ever! Your All-Genres Guide to the Best CD Reissues and Remasters - A SOUNDS GOOD Music Book by Mark Barry...

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OH MY GIDDY AUNT!

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OH MY GIDDY AUNT - Best CD Box Sets Ever! E-Book on AMAZON
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* Details, track lists etc from the discs themselves, no cut and paste crap
* Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted... – Ace, Bear Family, Cherry Red, Demon, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Light In The Attic, Repertoire, Rhino and Rhino Handmade, Salvo, Trojan and Panegyric
* Major Label Box Set Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/BMG/Legacy, Universal and Warner Brothers/WEA
* Technical data (total playing times and more)
* Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue
* CD Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)
* Formats included - CD, SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]
* VINYL Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs – huge number of record labels covered
* UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7” singles and EPs within each review
* Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted
* Packaging descriptions, size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro artwork explained
* Reference to the Audio Quality of the CD - analysis of songs
* Guest Musicians highlighted – Cover Versions noted

Having worked for RECKLESS RECORDS in London for over 20 years as one of their principal Vinyl and CD buyers (one of the best secondhand record shops in the West End) and having been a Hall Of Fame Reviewer on Amazon six times - as you can imagine I have come across a huge number of reissues - some far more worthy than others.

To that end I've collated together these SOUNDS GOOD Music Books as guides to Exceptional CD Remasters offering up in-depth reviews on a wide range of titles. And it doesn't have to cost the earth to Sound Good either – you just need to know which CD is the right issue to buy. Many entries in this large and unique book can cost less than £20 while others are sometimes less. And even if some Major Label or Independent Label Box Sets have acquired a nasty price tag since deletion - because they're the best I've included them along with other artists/titles that deserve your attention…

Enjoy the reads - MARK BARRY (2023)

"Autonomy: The Productions of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Tracks from 1977 to 1985 featuring The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Generation X, 999, The Rezillos, Rachel Sweet, Raybeats, Human League, The Members, The Associates, Then Jericho, Hard Corps, Altered Images and more (July 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review Along With 249 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Over 2,000 E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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Rating: ****

 

"...Get A Grip On Yourself..."

 

A strange mix of late Seventies UK Punk and New Wave morphing into early to mid Eighties British Electronica, Synth-Pop and just plain Popsters.

 

The Audio is genuinely top notch though - NICK ROBBINS Remasters that seem to somehow better the Remasters from major labels that went before – and the presentation is typical of an Ace Records of the UK quality release – a 20-page booklet with new liner notes from GARY CROWLEY that also smartly involves the artists (or those around them) for every single song.

 

But frankly that's where the good news ends – because after the initial flurry of heady British New Wave and Punk songs that still sound so unbelievably relevant to this day (2023) – the listen descends into ordinary Pop and tunes that have not weathered at all well. Everything about this CD should smack of winner and yet in truth I can listen to only seven or eight of these 19 choices and say they're any good - let alone brilliant. First the details...

 

UK released Friday, 28 July 2023 - "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1636 (Barcode 029667108720) is a 19-Track CD compilation of Songs Produced by MARTIN RUSHENT that stretches from 1977 to 1985. It plays out as follows (78:38 minutes):

 

1. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) – THE STRANGLERS (1977)

2. Autonomy – BUZZCOCKS (1978)

3. Kiss Me Deadly – GENERATION X (1978)

4. Homicide - 999 (1978)

5. Destination Venus – THE REZILLOS (1978)

6. Are You Receiving Me? - XTC (1978)

7. Hold On – IAN GOMM (1978)

8. Tonight – RACHEL SWEET (1980)

9. Guitar Beat – RAYBEATS (1981)

10. Hard Times – HUMAN LEAGUE (1981)

11. I Could Be Happy (Martin Rushent Remix) – ALTERED IMAGES (1981)

12. A Way You'll Never Be (12" Version) – LEISURE PROCESS (1982)

13. Working Girl - THE MEMBERS (1983)

14. Steamhammer Sam – INTERFERON (1983)

15. Beneath The Blue Sky – GO-GO's (1985)

16. Don't Touch Me – HAZEL O'CONNOR (1984)

17. Breakfast - THE ASSOCIATES (1985)

18. Je Suis Passée (7" Version) – HARD CORPS (1985)

19. The Big Sweep (Club Mix) – THEN JERICHO (1985)

 

Rushent passed in 2011 (aged 63) and the 20-page booklet does his Production chops and memory a proper solid – GARY CROWLEY setting the scene with a 2-page essay on his achievements and techniques. But the real meat comes from people like Jean Jacques-Burnel (The Stranglers), Steve Diggie (Buzzcocks), Alan Winstanley (999), Andy Partridge (XTC) and more – all giving personal recollections and enlightening details.

 

And as I said earlier, there is really great Audio courtesy of the mucho experienced Ace Audio regular NICK ROBBINS. But even with a ten-out-ten for effort, most music lovers will have all the songs on the first half of the CD and probably not want the second. I just wish "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" had all been in the service of better songs, because by the time I was half way through (past The Human League), I was losing the will to live no matter how nice it looks or sounds.

 

Fans will have to own "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" - but for anyone else, I'd advise a listen first...