"The Best of Cult Fiction" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 55 Of The Finest Cult TV & Movie Themes - Including James Bond 007, The Ipcress File, Captain Scarlet, Midnight Cowboy, The Saint, The Avengers, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Danger Man, A Fistful Of Dollars, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, The Magnificent Seven, Pink Panther, Dr. Who, The Champions, M.A.S.H., Van Der Valk, Lovejoy, The Sweeney, Taxi Driver, Blake's 7, Starsky & Hutch, Tales Of The Unexpected, Hill Street Blues, Minder, Budgie, Taxi, Animal Magic, Vision On, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and many more – Most In Stereo – Barry Gray, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, John Barry, Henri Mancini, Ennio Morricone, Bernard Hermann, Laurie Johnson, Ron Grainer, Tony Hatch, KPM Music Library and more (February 2004 UK Virgin 2CD 55-Track Compilation of Sixties, Seventies and Eighties Remasters)

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"…Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)…"

Admittedly the gatefold slip-of-paper that acts as an insert is laughable – print so tiny it practically screams magnifying glass. No knowledgeable appreciation liner notes by a maniacal Film and TV buff who needs to get out more – no photos – no posters – no cast stills - no memorabilia that would evoke such great memories and make this twofer so rock. Even the rear inlay on the inside is completely blank for Gawd sake – zero effort. But – and as they say in a Sumo bathhouse - that's a big butt – there is the fun listen and the alarmingly great audio.

These Virgin catchall compilations can be blinding one minute and so-so the next or a raggle-taggle combo of both (this the same). But here it's like someone went out of their way to find the best sounding Remasters for every track. Or it could just be that when "The Best Of Cult Fiction" was issued in the spring of 2004 – all that old 'Lounge Lizard Secret Agent' stuff had already been remastered by EMI and Universal – and in either Mono or Stereo – the results were all sparkly and kick-ass.

Whatever you look at it, in the spring of 2024 (twenty years after the reissue event) – this little goofball is a cool buy and a reminder of music that has engrained itself into our subconscious, much of which we heard weekly and secretly loved – yet never thought of (actually) buying. Papa Loves Mambo indeed. Why I almost dusted down my Jetpack and polished up the Aston Martin (almost). 

So, once more, me Olive Cocktail Hearties and Danger Man Smarties unto the cool-theme-song breach. Details Mr. Blofeld please (and easy on the pirahna)…

UK released 23 February 2004 - "The Best Of Cult Fiction" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Virgin EMI New State VTDCD 997 – 7243 5 76701 2 8 (Barcode 724357670128) is a 2CD Remastered 55-Track Compilation of Sixties, Seventies and Eighties TV Themes (CD1) and Film Soundtracks and Songs (CD2) that plays out as follows:

CD1 Cult TV Themes (75:32 minutes):
1. Doctor Who – BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP featuring Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire (1963 Recording, 2000 Remaster)
2. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Theme – HUGO MONTENEGRO (1966)
3. Joe 90 (Title Theme) – THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (1968)
4. Captain Scarlet – THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA with GARY MILLER (1967)
5. The Champions – TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (1969)
6. Danger Man Theme ["High Wire"] – BOB LEAPER ORCHESTRA (1964)
7. Return Of The Saint – THE SAINT ORCHESTRA (1978)
8. New Avengers Theme – LAURIE JOHNSON And The LONDON STUDIO ORCHESTRA (1976)
9. The Two Ronnies (Theme from The Detectives) (1976 KPM Library Music)
10. Pink Panther Theme – HENRY MANCINI (1963)
11. Vision On Chase Scene ["Accroche Toi Caroline"] (1967 De Wolfe Library Music)
12. Animal Magic – LAURIE JOHNSON (1970)
13. Black Beauty ["Galloping Home"] – SOUTH BANK ORCHESTRA (1972)
14. World Of Sport – KPM Library Music (1968)
15. Superstars – KPM Library Music (1974)
16. Van Der Valk Theme ["Eye Level"] – SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA (1971)
17. Tales Of The Unexpected – RON GRAINER (1979)
18. Crossroads – TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (1965)
19. Lovejoy – DENIS KING (1986)
20. Bergerac Theme – GEORGE FENTON (1981)
21. The Sweeney – SIMON WALLACE and SIMON BINT (1975)
22. The Professionals – LAURIE JOHNSON and the LONDON STUDIO ORCHESTRA (1977)
23. Minder Theme ("I Could Be So Good For You") – DENNIS WATERMAN (1979)
24. Auf Wiedersehen Pet Theme (That's Livin' Alright) – JOE FAGIN of Stealers Wheel (1983)
25. Grange Hill Theme – ALAN HAWKSHAW (1975 Music, 1978 TV Show)
26. Roobarb and Custard – ALAN HAWKSWORTH (1974)
27. Blake's 7 – THE DUDLEY SIMPSON ORCHESTRA (1978)
28. Budgie Theme ("The Loner") – SOUTH BANK ORCHESTRA (1971)
29. Taxi Theme ("Angela") – BOB JAMES (1978)
30. Hill Street Blues Theme – MIKE POST featuring LARRY CARLTON on Guitar (1981)
31. Starsky & Hutch Theme ("Gotcha") – TOM SCOTT (1977)
32. The Six Million Dollar Man Theme – JOHN GREGORY and His ORCHESTRA (1976)

CD2 Cult MOVIE Themes (72:26 minutes):
1. Green Hornet (from the movie "Kill Bill") – AL HIRT (1966)
2. 007 (James Bond Theme from "Dr. No") – JOHN BARRY (1963)
3. Ain't That A Kick In The Head (from "Out Of Sight") – DEAN MARTIN (1969)
4. Papa Loves Mambo (from "Ocean's Eleven") - PERRY COMO (1954)
5. Theme From The Magnificent Seven (from "The Magnificent Seven") – ELMER BERNSTEIN (1960)
6. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (from "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly") – HUGH MONTENEGRO written by Ennio Morricone (1968)
7. A Fistful Of Dollars (from "A Fistful Of Dollars") – ENNIO MORRICONE (1964)
8. The Ipcress File (from "The Ipcress File") – JOHN BARRY (1968)
9. Theme From Taxi Driver (from "Taxi Driver") - BERNARD HERRMANN (1976)

10. Theme (from "The Last Tango In Paris") - GATO BARBIERI (1972)

11. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (from "Kill Bill") - NANCY SINATRA (1966, Sonny Bono song)

12. We Have All The Time In The World (from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") - LOUIS ARMSTRONG (1969)

13. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) (from "Jackie Brown") - THE DELFONICS (1969) 

14. Pusherman (from "Superfly") - CURTIS MAYFIELD (1972)

15. Jungle Boogie (from "Pulp Fiction") - KOOL & THE GANG (1973)

16. Across 110th Street (from "Jackie Brown") - BOBBY WOMACK (1973)

17. The Harder They Come (from "The Harder They Come") - JIMMY CLIFF (1972)

18. Stuck In The Middle (from "Reservoir Dogs") - STEALERS WHEEL (1972)

19. Oye Como Va (from "Carlito's Way") - SANTANA (1970)

20. Little Green Bag (from "Reservoir Dogs") - GEORGE BAKER (1962)

21. Hooked On A Feeling (from "Reservoir Dogs") - BLUE SWEDE (1973)

22. Everybody's Talkin' (from "Midnight Cowboy") - NILSSON (1969)

23. Suicide Is Painless (from "M.A.S.H.") - JOHNNY MANDEL (1970)

CD1 offers up many memorable TV moments - nostalgia tears for scribbles during "Vision On" and Gerry Anderson's "Captain Scarlett" getting all sophisticated supermarionation. But you have forgotten Alexandria Bastedo making us us boys weak at the knees in "The Champions" or the Brass oom-pa-pa of the "Van Der Valk" theme "Eye Level" that charted big in 1973. And there can never be enough John Barry, Tony Hatch, Ron Grainer, Laurie Johnson and the like who gave us so many short-sharp-blasts of brilliance - its a bit of a Bobby Dazzler. There are few men of my age who wouldn't get goosebumps at the sound of "The New Avengers" theme or grin at "The Pink Panther" slink or the fifty-year relationship we've had with football's "World Of Sports". But I reserve my true love for Larry Carlton's guitar playing in "The Hill Street Blues" Theme - sublime and cool - like Steely Dan good.  

Latin Saxophonist Gato Barbieri won a Grammy for his 1972 instrumental to "Last Tango In Paris" with Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider rolling around in their nudie suits - but more impressive for me is the lethal one-two of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" and "We Have All The Time In The World" - Nancy Sinatra (no stranger to Bond soundtracks) and Louis Armstrong shimmering with beauty and raw emotion. Sonny Bono penned "Bang Bang..." which Quentin used to such great effect in "Kill Bill" - while once again John Barry classes up everything for Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Tarrantino has also tapped smoochy Soul as a winner in his movies and the Philly-swoon of The Delfonics classic "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" provided a moment of warmth is his otherwise darkly witty "Jackie Brown". Drugs are never far from Movie or TV proceedings - so we get Curtis Mayfield giving us some 'Superfly' coke and weed distribution in his fabulously funky and social-commenting "Pusherman" - sounding just fantastically clear and punchy for its five-minutes. 

By the time we reach Track 15 and "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & The Gang - things are harder - the get down Funk taking no prisoners as Kool grunts his way to a feel-it-y'all masterclass (another "Pulp Fiction" winner). Speaking of class, who can forget Pam Grier taking that slow-moving airport walkway as the credits rolled for "Jackie Brown" - looking like a real-world woman trying to survive in a dirty man's world as Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street" plays - lyrics that hide nothing. Time to go to the islands and smell the sea air (and other fragrances) as Jimmy Cliff gets Reggae and Gangsta with "The Harder They Come" - such a tune (I have reviewed the superb Universal 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' of that soundtrack - a fully-loaded gem). Much like Ace's "How Come" or AWB's "Pick Up The Pieces" (both 1974) - Stealers Wheel and their 1972 single masterpiece "Stuck In The Middle" never seems to date - memorably used in "Reservoir Dogs" though I doubt either Gerry Rafferty or Joe Fagin imagined it would accompany such a display. Speaking of effortless cool, "Oye Como Va" will be weaving its 1970 Santana's "Abraxas" LP magic for decades more to come - stunning guitar work, keyboards and Latin-Rock rhythms.

"The Best Of Cult Fiction" romps home with the bop-bop winner that everyone had forgotten - "Little Green Bag" by George Baker - a joyous little belter from 1962 that sounds so damn good - even after a staggering sixty-two years. The hugga-chacka chant of "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede may be fun but doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. But I'm always high on believin' in Nilsson - his gorgeous "Everybody's Talkin'" that played out "Midnight Cowboy" indelibly burnt into my brain (probably one of my 45-Single A-side favourites - a Fred Neil song). CD2 ends with "Suicide Is Painless" - the theme music to the much-loved "M.A.S.H." movie and TV series that made Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Loretta 'Hot Lips' Swit and characters Radar, Klinger, Colonel Potter and all the gang household names. Fifty-five tunes for my sixty-five years - job done. 

"Look at him sway with it...get so gay with it..." Perry sang all those decades ago about his belief in the restorative powers of the hip-swaying Mambo. And ever since then - Mama has been looking for Papa - but Papa is nowhere in sight - that's because he's down at the fleapit thrilling to illicit gyrations or on his couch getting all 'shut it' with his inner Private Eye. 

Great fun, fab audio and "The Best Of Cult Fiction" is cheap too - go for it...

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 83-Tracks Across 4CDs featuring Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings, Slade, T.Rex, Mud, Suzy Quatro, Alvin Stardust, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mott The Hoople, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Wizzard, Junior Campbell, Steeleye Span, The O’Jays, Roberta Flack, The Isley Brothers, Detroit Emeralds, Temptations, Clifford T. Ward, Strawbs, Medicine Head, Thin Lizzy, Joe Walsh and many more (September 2023 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD Themed Collection – Now Yearbook Series – Various Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Cum On Feel The Noize…"

I came at this wee-belter of a compilation arse-about-face. I bought its companion piece first - "Now Yearbook Extra '73" – its 60-tracks having come out in October 2023 – a month after the Big Daddy (see separate review). Bit of a mistake that because despite some moments of brill – it fell often – and hard. Not so here.

"Now Yearbook '73" is a Cum On Feel The Noize Slade-slammin' 5-stars – Ballroom Blitzing your weary lugs with a tirade of great choices across all genres. Do I want to See My Baby Jive, Get Down, have some Irish Whiskey In The Jar on This Flight Tonight while the Piano Man is Blinded By The Light at the Nutbush City Limits – yes sir, I do sir. Details pleeze - ye Gods of catalogue numericals…

UK released 8 September 2023 – "Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW73 – 0196588182921 (Barcode 196588182921) is a 4CD 83-Track compilation in the 'Now Yearbook Series'. All tracks are 45-singles except when Album Versions are used (see NOTES after each CD list to identify), the whole collection is Remastered by Sony/EMI (some use specific date Remasters, again see NOTES) and I have provided UK release dates and catalogue numbers for each entry – info that is not in the card sleeve (has no booklet). It breaks down as follows:

CD1 (72:23 minutes):
1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – ELTON JOHN (September 1973, DJM Records DJS 285, 2014 CD Remaster)
2. Live And Let Die – WINGS (June 1973, Apple R 5987, 2018 CD Remaster - Paul McCartney's band)
3. Cum On Feel The Noize - SLADE (February 1973, Polydor 2058 339)
4. 20th Century Boy – T.REX (March 1973, EMI/T.REX MARC 4)
5. Blockbuster! - THE SWEET (January 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2305)
6. Dyna-Mite - MUD (October 1973, RAK Records RAK 159) 
7. Can The Can – SUZY QUATRO (April 1973, RAK Records RAK 150)
8. See My Baby Jive – WIZZARD (April 1973, Harvest Records HAR 5070)
9. My Coo Ca Choo – ALVIN STARDUST (October 1973, Magnet MAG 1)
10. Rubber Bullets – 10cc (March 1973, UK Records UK 36)
11. Get Down - GILBERT O'SULLIVAN (March 1973, MAM Records MAM 96)
12. The Laughing Gnome – DAVID BOWIE (September 1973, Deram DM 123 - a 1967 recording re-issued in 1973)
13. Doctor My Eyes (Album Version) – JACKSON 5 (from the November 1972 UK LP "Lookin' Through The Windows" on Tamla Motown STML 11214)
14. You Can Do Magic – LIMMIE & FAMILY COOKIN' (January 1973, Avco 6105 019)
15. Let Me In (Album Version) – THE OSMONDS (from the 1973 UK "The Plan" on MGM Records 2315 251)
16. Love Train – O'JAYS (February 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1181)
17. Smarty Pants – FIRST CHOICE (July 1973, Bell Records BELL 1324)
18. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love – THE DETROIT SPINNERS (April 1973, Atlantic K 10283)
19. Oh! No Not My Baby (Single Version) – ROD STEWART (August 1973, Mercury 6052 371)
20. Angel – ARETHA FRANKLIN (August 1973, Atlantic K 10346)
21. Help Me Make It Through The Night – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (October 1972 UK 45-Single on Tamla Motown TMG 830, March 1972 USA on Soul S 35094F, first charted Nov 1972 in the UK but stayed on chart until early 1973)
NOTES on CD1:
Track 1 is a 2014 Remaster

Track 2 is a 2018 Remaster; Track 2 is also the (Paul McCartney &) Wings Theme Song to the James Bond Movie "Live And Let Die" that introduced actor Sir Roger Moore as 007 for the first time

Track 12 is a 1967 David Bowie recording that re-charted in 1973
Tracks 13, 15 and 17 are Album Versions (Track 13 is a Jackson Browne cover version)

Track 18 is credited to The Detroit Spinners for the UK, as were all their albums, but they were credited simply as The Spinners in the USA

CD2 (761:36 minutes):
1. Mind Games – JOHN LENNON (November 1973, Apple R 5994)
2. Blinded By The Light – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (February 1973 US Debut 45-Single on Columbia 4-45805 - no UK variant - first UK 7" was "Born To Run" in October 1975)
3. Piano Man (Radio Edit, 4:34 minutes) - BILLY JOEL (October 1973 US 45-Single on Columbia 4-45963 - not released in the UK until April 1975 on CBS Records S CBS 3183)
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door – BOB DYLAN (September 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1762)
5. You're So Vain - CARLY SIMON (December 1972, Elektra K 12077, uncredited duet vocals with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones)
6. Take Me To The Mardi Gras – PAUL SIMON (May 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1578)
7. Stuck In The Middle With You – STEALERS WHEEL (April 1973, A&M AMS 7036)
8. Cindy Incidentally – FACES (February 1973, Warner Brothers K 16247)
9. Nutbush City Limits – IKE And TINA TURNER (August 1973, United Artists UP 35582) 
10. Rocky Mountain Way (Single Version, 3:39 minute Edit) - JOE WALSH (August 1973, Probe Records PRO 600)
11. Roll Over Beethoven (Single Version) - THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 1973, Harvest HAR 5063)
12. Whisky In The Jar (7" Edit, 3:42 minutes) – THIN LIZZY (November 1972, Decca F 13355)
13. Wishing Well - FREE (December 1972, Island WIP 6146)
14. This Flight Tonight – NAZARETH (September 1973, Mooncrest MOON 14)
15. Caroline – STATUS QUO (August 1973, Vertigo 6059 085)
16. No More Mr. Nice Guy – ALICE COOPER (April 1973, Warner Brothers K 16262)
17. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - BRYAN FERRY (September 1973, Island WIP 6170)
18. Alright, Alright, Alright - MUNGO JERRY (June 1973, Dawn DNS 1037)

19. Born To Be With You - DAVE EDMUNDS (May 1973, Rockfield ROC 2)
20. Gaye - CLIFFORD T. WARD (April 1973, Charisma CB 205)
21. Albatross – FLEETWOOD MAC (April 1973, CBS Records CBS 8306)
NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 3, 10, 11 and 12 are Single Versions (Track 3 by Billy Joel is a Radio Edit; Track 12 by Thin Lizzy is spelt "Whisky In The Jar" - only Euro and US issues use the 'e' in Whiskey)

Track 5 features Mick Jagger on uncredited duet vocals with Carly Simon

Track 7 actually credited as "Stuck In The Middle" - Stealers Wheel featured Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan - Rafferty was ex-Humblebums with comedian Billy Connolly - the song was also famously used in Quentin Tarantino's debut movie 'Reservoir Dogs'

Track 17 by Bryan Ferry is a Bob Dylan cover version

Tracks 1 and 20 are 2010 and 2009 Remasters respectively

Tracks 21 originally a November 1968 UK 45-Single by (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac on Blue Horizon Records 57-3145 (went to No. 1); reissued in 1973 by CBS Records in a Picture Sleeve, when it peaked at No. 2 

CD3 (78:37 minutes):
1. My Love - PAUL McCARTNEY And WINGS (March 1973, Apple R 5985)
2. Killing Me Softly With His Song - ROBERTA FLACK (February 1973, Atlantic K 10282) 
3. Amoureuse - KIKI DEE (August 1973, Rocket PIG 4)
4. Always On My Mind - ELVIS PRESLEY (December 1972, RCA Victor RCA 2304)

5. Touch Me In The Morning (Single Version) – DIANA ROSS (July 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 861)
6. If You Don't Me By Now - HAROLD MELVIN And THE BLUE NOTES (November 1972, CBS Records S CBS 8496)
7. Me And Mrs. Jones (Single Version) - BILLY PAUL (January 1973, Epic S EPC 1055)
8. Let's Get It On (Single Version) - MARVIN GAYE (August 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 868)
9. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby - BARRY WHITE (April 1973, Pye International 7N.25610)
10. Feel The Need In Me - DETROIT EMERALDS (November 1972, Janus 6146 020)
11. That Lady (Part 1) - ISLEY BROTHERS (August 1973, Epic S EPC 1704)
12. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (Vocal) - THE TEMPTATIONS (September 1972 USA Single Version at 6:58 minutes on Gordy G 7121F - the January 1973 UK 45-single on Tamla Motown TMG 839 however plays to only 6:20 minutes - this CD uses the longer US mix at 6:58)
13. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) - DEODATO (May 1973, CTI Records CTI 4000)
14. Morning Glow (Single Version) - MICHAEL JACKSON (July 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 863)
15. Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse - JIMMY HELMS (February 1973, Cube Records BUG 27)
16. Like Sister And Brother - THE DRIFTERS (June 1973, Bell Records BELL 1313)
17. Sweet Illusion - JUNIOR CAMPBELL (April 1973, Deram DM 387)
18. One And One is One - MEDICINE HEAD (March 1973, Polydor 2001 432)
19. Snoopy Versus The Red Baron - HOTSHOTS (May 1973, Mooncrest MOON 5)
20. Part Of The Union - STRAWBS (January 1973, A&M Records AMS 7047)
NOTES on CD3:
Track 1 is a 2018 Remaster, Track 4 is Remaster (No Date)

Track 2 is written about a viewer's reaction to a Don McLean concert, while Perry Como's song on CD4 "And I Love You So" is a Don McLean cover version; Don McLean's own single for 1973 was "Everyday" - but it's not included on either this or the Extra '73 3CD set

Track 3 is a Veronique Sanson song (French singer) and cover version; she was once married to Stephens Stills and their son is Chris Stills

Tracks 5, 7, 8 and 12 are Single Versions (see entry 7 regarding playing time)

Track 6 features an uncredited Teddy Pendergrass on Lead Vocals

Track 13 is a Jazz-Funk version of a Strauss classical music melody

Track 17, Junior Campbell is ex-Marmalade

CD4 (69:57 minutes):

1. Ballroom Blitz - THE SWEET (September 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2403)

2. 48 Crash - SUZI QUATRO (July 1973, RAK Records RAK 158)

3. Roll Away The Stone - MOTT THE HOOPLE (November 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1895)

4. Street Life - ROXY MUSIC (from the November 1973 UK album "Stranded" on Island ILPS 9252)

5. Rock On - DAVID ESSEX (July 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1693)

6. Crazy - MUD (January 1973, RAK Records RAK 146)

7. Dancin' (On A Saturday Night) - BARRY BLUE (April 1973, Bell Records BELL 1295)

8. Young Love (Album Version) - DONNY OSMOND (from the March 1973 UK LP "Alone Together" on MGM Records 2315 210)

9. Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree - DAWN featuring TONY ORLANDO (February 1973, Bell Records BELL 1287)

10. Take Me Home Country Roads - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (November 1972, Pye International 7N.25599, 2022 Remaster)

11. Paper Roses (Album Version) - MARIE OSMOND (from the September 1973 UK LP "Paper Roses" on MGM Records 2315 262)

12. Welcome Home - PETERS And LEE (May 1973, Philips 6006 307)

13. Wonderful Dream - ANNE-MARIE DAVID (April 1973, Epic S EPC 1446)

14. Power To All Our Friends - CLIFF RICHARD (March 1973, EMI Records EMI 2012)

15. Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande) - SHIRLEY BASSEY (February 1973, United Artists UP 35490, 2000 Remaster)

16. Summer (The First Time) - BOBBY GOLDSBORO (June 1973, United Artists Up 35559, 1991 Remaster)

17. And I Love You So - PERRY COMO (March 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2346)

18. Eye Level (Theme From The Thames TV Series "Van Der Valk") - SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA (October 1972, Columbia DB 8946)

19. Gaudete - STEELEYE SPAN (November 1972, Chrysalis CHS 2007)

20. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - WIZZARD (November 1973, Harvest HAR 5079)

21. Merry Xmas Everybody - SLADE (December 1973, Polydor 2058 422)

NOTES on CD4:

Track 4 is a 2012 Remaster; although not credited as such, it's the full album version at 3:27 minutes and not the 45-single edit at 2:53 minutes

Track 10 is a 2022 Remaster; Track 15 is a 2000 Remaster

Track 17 is a Don McLean cover version; Track 2 on CD3 "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack is a viewer's reaction to a Don McLean concert; Don McLean's own single for 1973 was "Everyday" - but it's not included on either this or the Extra '73 three-disc set

The svelte cardboard packaging on these Yearbook 4CD Sets is bog-standard and basic – four-flap foldout card sleeves with the CDs in die-cuts on the inside. The track-by-track info beneath those pouches sometimes offers more than is on the basic rear sleeve, albeit in minuscule print - as you can see from the photos above. Some songs are Album Versions and others are Specific Remasters - while some tunes are Sixties tracks reissued and re-charted in 1973 (all are noted in my list). 

There is no mastering credit - but (and I mean this) you can tell these are Quality Remasters – the audio crack-a-lacking throughout – song after song impressing. The running order works so well on some - others it falters - but you could argue that CD2 alone would have made a toppermost-of-the-poppermost singular release on its owneo. Even if you don't dig half the stuff, at 83 tracks, the value for money is astonishing. Now Yearbook '73 set is chock full of audio goodies in both the Rock and Soul spheres with a mishmash of Pop and Glam thrown in. There are number ones galore and top ten hits you've forgotten (some for good reason).

Excepting the awful "Laughing Gnome" from David Bowie (a 1967 Deram single that got reissued in late 1973 on the strength of his "Aladdin Sane" LP success earlier in that mercurial year - where's "The Jean Jenie" or the underrated "Sorrow" for that matter) - CD1 offers a very tasty opening salvo. The opening one-two of Elton's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and Macca's Bond rocker "Live And Let Die" is going to put a smile on even the most jaded mush. And there are few in my generation who will not grin from ear-to-ear on hearing Bolan tear into fantastic riff that opens and sustains "20th Century Boy". But you also forget the Soul and R&B of the year - O'Jays inviting the people of England to be the next stop on the "Love Train" - The Detroit Spinners unable to help themselves "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" while Aretha delivers a sublime "Angel" (no wonder Hucknall's Simply Red covered it). Rod Stewart has an excellent stand-alone 45 in his cover of Maxine Brown's "Oh! No Not My Baby" - but I can pass on The Osmonds, and I know people love Mickey Most's RAK Records Chinn-Chapman output (Suzi Quatro, Mud) but after 50 years they make me reach for skip. The final track too by Gladys Knight & The Pips won't help you make it through the night because it's laden with some mighty levels of hiss (a rare audio let down).

CD2 is an almost perfect run - probably the best of the four. You forget just how lyrically and musically brilliant both The Boss and Billy Joel are - but they remind with "Blinded By The Light" and a hugely evocative "Piano Man" (gorgeous Remastered audio, Bruce only so-so). You can't go wrong with Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" (Mick Jagger duetting uncredited on those harmony vocals and a muscular clean remaster on this lo-fi recording), Rod Stewart with the Faces doing "Cindy Incidentally" ('Ooh La La' indeed) and the fantastic Rock-Funk of "Nutbush City Limits" from Ike & Tina Turner. But it's the re-discoveries like "Gaye" by Clifford T. Ward - gorgeous stuff - Nazareth rocking-up a Joni Mitchell song in "This Flight Tonight" - Medicine Head with their moment of funky-slide-guitar-chorus brilliance in "One Is One Is One" and the truly joyous (and lean) single edit of ELO's "Roll Over Beethoven". It ends on a reissue of the sublime Rock instrumental "Albatross" from Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac - a tune that attained top-slot in 1969 and even managed No. 2 on reissue in 1973.  

CD3 is mostly Soul and Funk and delivers some beauties (Tracks 5 to 13 all work). But top prizes must go to the (would you believe) A-side 'Vocal' Single Edit of The Temptation's masterpiece "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" which runs to an unbelievable 6:58 minutes. What is doesn't say on the packaging is that this is the 'American' version - the UK single ran to about 6:20 and is therefore lesser. And the discoveries - "Amoureuse" by Kiki Dee, "That Lady (Part 1) by the Isley Brothers and a putting-out-the-fevered-word Jimmy Helms pleader "Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse". Nice segue too from the forgotten Drifters "Like Sister And Brother" into ex-Marmalade man Junior Campbell doing "Sweet Illusion". 

Although it starts out strong with Brian Connelly of The Sweet getting all vocally hysterical on their riffage gem "The Ballroom Blitz" and Ian Hunter's Mott The Hoople reminding us why we loved them so with "Roll Away The Stone" - there is a run of serious Pop Cack from 7 to 14 - dreadful shit. And of course it ends on the two big holiday sevens by Wizzard and Slade (Harvest and Polydor must have made a few quid on these). When you realise that Steely Dan's debut "Can't Buy A Thrill" and second album "Countdown To Ecstasy" hits the shops in January and October 1973 on Probe Records in the UK - there were four 45s Now could have used - in other words what's missing is "Do It Again" and "Reeling In The Years" never mind "Show Biz Kids" or "My Old School". It's a shame that it's so chart-rigid - Wishbone Ash, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Cockney Rebel, Lou Reed, Stevie Wonder and so many more all had huge albums and 45s in 1973 - and they're not here. But alas...

So - why would I give 5-stars to a compilation that has whole swathes of yuck in places (CD4 - hang your head in shame) - because one man's Caustic Soda is another lady's Blueberry Muffin. There are probably bods as old as me who would shed an actual tear of nostalgia on hearing them (me, I came out in hives). 

But that's the thing with these 'Yearbook' sets - there's just so much to like that glitches and blips can be overlooked. Sony Music and Now did make me an offer I couldn't refuse and I advise you to succumb too. As Macca would say, "My Love" does it good...

NOW YEARBOOK '73 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW73 - 0196588183027 (Barcode 196588183027) – released 8 September 2023 as a 4CD 83-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book with 28-Page Booklet

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW73 – 0196588182921 (Barcode 196588182921) – released 8 September 2023 as a 4CD 83-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve 'Standard Edition' with No Booklet

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW734 - 0196588182815 (Barcode 196588182815) – released 8 September 2023 as a 3LP RED VINYL Edition with 47-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition.

"Now Yearbook Extra '73 - 60 More Essential Hits From 1973" on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW73 - 0196588268833 (Barcode 196588268823) – released 13 October 2023 as a 3CD 60-Track Companion Volume in a Tri-Gatefold Six Panel Card Sleeve with No Booklet

"Now Yearbook Extra '73: 60 More Essential Hits From 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Mud, T.Rex, Mott The Hoople, David Bowie, The Allman Brothers Band, Thin Lizzy, Elton John, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Wizzard, Slade, Hudson-Ford, Paul Simon, Timmy Thomas, The Sweet, Jackson 5, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye, The Detroit Spinners, Dobie Gray, Status Quo, Edgar Winter Group, Electric Light Orchestra, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Paul McCartney & Wings, 10cc, Mud, Nazareth, Albert Hammond, Donny Osmond, Suzi Quatro, Barry Blue, Geordie and many more (October 2023 UK Sony Music/EMI 3CD Themed Collection – Now Yearbook Series – Collectors Edition - Various Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOW-Yearbook-Extra-Various-Artists/dp/B0CHLCGJL8?crid=2HZ2TO48RO6QE&keywords=196588268823&qid=1706260708&sprefix=196588268823%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=edeccc67a39479494225b7271226bef6&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

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"…Solid Gold Easy Action…"

While its Big-Daddy 4CD 82-Track compilation compatriot Now Yearbook '73 is a Cum On Feel The Noize Slade-slammin' 5-stars (released the month prior in September 2023) – its 3CD little brother compadre Extra '73 struggles to say the bleeding least (3-stars). 

Across sixty (more) tunes of supposed Solid Gold Easy Action T.Rextasy, there's a serious amount of badly dated Pop cack here, much of it borderline embarrassing into the pile-'em-high bargain. I am glad I got this at a knock-down price of under six quid from Amazon in one of their regular Sales purges. 

But (and this is the big but) - as with all these Now Yearbook sets – the goodies in-between the line-up cracks rescue your listen big time. "Lamplight" by David Essex is a stormer forgotten to time, the stunning "Frankenstein" from Johnny's brother Edgar Winter must be up there in the top 5 greatest Rock instrumental singles ever (dig that huge synth break rattling around your speakers) and the cool/beauty of "Why Can't We Live Together?" and "Drift Away" by Timmy Thomas and Dobie Gray never date for me – they are both Soul/R&B genius – even 50-years hence. Wings, E.L.O., Quo and Alice Cooper liven things up too. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me Indeed. 

To the Lamplights, Pyjamaramas, Ghetto Children, Paper Planes, Hell Raisers, Ball Park Incidents and Free Electric Bands…details Mickey Most please... 

UK released 13 October 2023 – "Now Yearbook Extra '73: 60 More Essential Hits From 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW73 – 0196588268823 (Barcode 196588268823) is an Extra Collectors Edition 3CD compilation in the 'Now Yearbook Series'. All tracks are 45-singles except when Album Versions are used (see NOTES after each CD list to identify), the whole collection is Remastered by Sony/EMI (some use specific date Remasters, again see NOTES) and I have provided UK release dates and catalogue numbers for each entry – info that is not in the card sleeve (no booklet). It breaks down as follows:

CD1 (68:10 minutes):

1. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me - SLADE (June 1973, Polydor 2058 339)

2. Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad) - WIZZARD (August 1973, Harvest HAR 5076)

3. Solid Gold Easy Action - T.REX (December 1972, EMI/T.Rex MARC 3)

4. Hell Raiser - THE SWEET (April 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2357)

5. Daytona Demon - SUZI QUATRO (October 1973, RAK Records RAK 161)

6. Hypnosis - MUD (June 1973, RAK Records RAK 152) 

7. Do You Wanna Dance? - BARRY BLUE (October 1973, Bell Records BELL 1336)

8. All The Way From Memphis - MOTT THE HOOPLE (Album Version, July 1973 UK LP "Mott" on CBS Records S 69038)

9. Pyjamarama - ROXY MUSIC (February 1973, Island WIP 6159, 1999 Remaster)

10. Lamplight - DAVID ESSEX (November 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1902)

11. The Dean And I - 10cc (August 1973, UK Records UK 48)

12. Why Oh Why Oh Why - GILBERT O'SULLIVAN (November 1973, MAM Records MAM 111)

13. The Twelfth Of Never - DONNY OSMOND (Album Version, from the 1973 UK LP "Alone Together" on MGM Records 2315 210)

14. Daddy's Home - JERMAINE JACKSON (April 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 851)

15. The Look Of Love - GLADYS KNIGHT And THE PIPS (Album Version, a 1968 song from the US 1968 LP "Silk N' Soul" on Soul SS-711 in Stereo)

16. Break Up To Make Up - THE STYLISTICS (February 1973, Avco 6105 020)

17. Skywriter - JACKSON 5 (Album Version, from the July 1973 UK LP "Skywriter" on Tamla Motown STML 11231)

18. I'm Doin' Fine Now - NEW YORK CITY (May 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2351)

19. Ghetto Child - THE DETROIT SPINNERS (September 1973, Atlantic K 10359) Spinners in USA

20. Why Can't We Live Together (7" Glades Version) - TIMMY THOMAS (February 1973, Mojo 2027 012, 2013 Remaster)

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 8, 13, 15 and 17 are Album Versions

Tracks 9 and 20 are Remasters from 1999 and 2013 respectively

CD2 (71:06 minutes):

1. Hi, Hi, Hi – WINGS (December 1972, Apple R 5973 - Double A-side with "C Moon" - Although only credited to WINGS - it was Paul McCartney's band - both tracks Non-LP at the time of release)

2. Showdown (Single Version) – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (September 1973, Harvest HAR 5077)

3. Joybringer – MANFRED MANN'S EARTHBAND (August 1973, Vertigo 6059 083)

4. Broken Down Angel – NAZARETH (March 1973, Mooncrest MOON 1)

5. All Because Of You – GEORDIE (February 1973, EMI Records EMI 2008)

6. Paper Plane – STATUS QUO (November 1972, Vertigo 6059 071)

7. Frankenstein (Single Version) – THE EDGAR WINTER GROUP (April 1973, Epic S EPC 1440)

8. Hello Hooray – ALICE COOPER (January 1973, Warner Brothers K 16248)

9. God Gave Rock And Roll To You – ARGENT (February 1973, Epic S EPC 1243) 

10. The Free Electric Band - ALBERT HAMMOND (May 1973, MUMS Records S MUM 1494)

11. Ramblin Man – THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (October 1973, Capricorn K 17513)

12. Pick Up The Pieces – HUDSON-FORD [ex Strawbs] (August 1973, A&M AMS 7078)

13. Loves Me Like A Rock – PAUL SIMON (with The Dixie Hummingbirds) (August 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1700)

14. Baby I Love You – DAVE EDMUNDS (December 1972, Rockfield ROC 1)

15. Hallelujah Day (Single Version) – JACKSON 5 (May 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 856)

16. Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) (Single Version) – EDDIE KENDRICKS (October 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 873)

17. Take Me Girl, I'm Ready – Jr. WALKER And THE ALL-STARS (January 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 840)

18. You're A Special Part Of Me – DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE (November 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 879)

19. Pillow Talk – SYLVIA (April 1973, London HLU 10415)

20. Drift Away – DOBIE GRAY (March 1973, MCA Records MU 1184)

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1, 2, 7, 15 and 16 are Single Versions (Track 1 was a Non-LP 45-Single)

Track 5 features Brian Johnson, future Lead Vocalist with AC/DC

Track 13 features the famous Doo Wop/Acapella Group 'The Dixie Hummingbirds'

Track 14 is a cover version of the December 1963 Ronettes US 45 originally on Philles 118. Produced by Phil Spector, Dave Edmunds produced his cover in the same Phil Spector Wall-of-Sound style

Tracks 1 and 4 are 2018 and 2009 Remasters respectively

CD3 (61:53 minutes):

1. Daniel - ELTON JOHN (January 1973, DJM Records DJS 275)

2. The Right Thing To Do - CARLY SIMON (March 1973, Elektra K 12095) 

3. Time In A Bottle - JIM CROCE (November 1973 USA, ABC Records ABC-11405, February 1974 UK, Vertigo 6073 272)

4. Delta Dawn - HELEN REDDY (July 1973, Capitol CL 15757)

5. Rocky Mountain High – JOHN DENVER (January 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2312)

6. Duelling Banjos - ERIC WEISSBERG and STEVE MANDELL (November 1972, Warner Brothers K 16223)

7. My Friend Stan - SLADE (September 1973, Polydor 2058 407)

8. The Groover - T.REX (June 1973, EMI/T.Rex MARC 5)

9. Ball Park Incident - WIZZARD (November 1972, Harvest HAR 5062)

10. Honaloochie Boogie - MOTT THE HOOPLE (May 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1530)

11. Randy - BLUE MINK (June 1973, EMI Records EMI 2028)

12. Step Into A Dream - WHITE PLAINS (January 1973, Deram DM 371)

13. Say, Has Anyone Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - DAWN featuring TONY ORLANDO (July 1973, Bell Records BELL 1322)

14. Pinball Wizard/See Me, Feel Me - THE NEW SEEKERS (February 1973, Polydor 2058 338)

15. Avenues And Alleyways - TONY ORLANDO (October 1972, MCA Records MCA MKS 5101)

16. I've Been Hurt - GUY DARRELL (July 1973, Ponsa PNS 4)

17. Spanish Eyes - AL MARTINO (November 1965 USA original on Capitol Capital 5542, Reissued UK August 1970 on Capitol CL 15430 and reached No. 49, re-entered the UK singles charts again in July 1973 and rose to No. 5 

18. Fool - ELVIS PRESLEY (August 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2393)

19. The Old Fashioned Way (Les Plaisirs Demodes) - CHARLES AZNAVOUR (April 1973, Barclay BAR 20)

20. Monster Mash - BOBBY (BORIS) PICKETT and THE CRYPT-KICKERS (July 1961 US Original on Garpax P-1, September 1962 UK Single Originally on London HLU 9597, re-issued August 1970 in the UK on London HLU 10320, re-entered the UK charts in September 1973 and rose to No. 3

NOTES on CD3:

Track 6 from the movie "Deliverance"

Track 14 is a Medley of two Who cover versions

Track 16 was originally a hit in 1964; Track 17 originally in 1965; Track 20 was a US No. 1 in 1962

The packaging on these Extra Yearbook 3CD Sets is bog-standard and basic – three-flap foldout card sleeves with the CDs in die-cuts on the inside. The track-by-track info beneath those grooves always offers more than the rear sleeve basics, albeit in minuscule print. Some are Album Versions and others are specific Remasters - Track 10 on CD1 for instance is "All The Way From Memphis" by Mott The Hoople, but the small print tells you that it's the Album Version which is longer than the harder to find on digital shorter version of the 45-single mix. The Roxy Music and Timmy Thomas songs are 1999 and 2013 Remasters, Donny Osmond and Gladys Knight And The Pips are LP versions too. Other years - the Gladys Knight cover of the famous Burt Bacharach song is from 1968 but released in 1973 – Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers doing "The Monster Mash" ending CD3 is the same – a witty US 1962 No. 1 Novelty song reissued to chart success in 1973 (a graveyard smash, oh dear).

There is no mastering credit, but you can tell these are good Remasters – the audio crack-a-lacking throughout – song after song impressing. The problem lies in the material. Anyone who bought the 4CD Now Yearbook '73 set will know that it's chock full of audio goodies in both the Rock and Soul spheres with a mishmash of Pop and Glam thrown in. Here you get a concentration on the Pop end of Glam, the crooner tunes, and a big hunk of the teen idols and their sickly-travelled saccharine pap. For sure there are moments – "The Free Electric Band" by Albert Hammond is 1973 Pop-Rock at its best, "The Right Thing To Do" by Carly Simon is gorgeous and arguably better than the more famous "You're So Vain" (which is on the 4CD set) and I will take "The Dean & I" by 10cc over their too familiar "Rubber Bullets" any day of the 1973 week (both from their debut album). 

While Al Martino and Tony Christie may make you smile with "Spanish Eyes" and the British gangster lean of "Avenues And Alleyways" - The New Seekers, Elvis Presley, Charles Aznavour et all kills off any good nostalgia vibe. It's also understandable that huge albums of 1973 like Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" and Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" don't make it even if there were singles off both, but where is the "Aladdin Sane" stuff from Bowie or McCartney's "Band On The Run" album or something from Elton's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Where is "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder with its killer songs and superlative singles? 

There are too few genuine tear-jerking remembrance moments too, like "Gaye" by Clifford T. Ward that ends CD2 on the 4CD set followed by a magisterial "Albatross" by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (a November 1968 single and magnificent instrumental that had re-charted in 1973). Instead, you get syrupy goo like Sylvia, John Denver and Helen Reddy - while Diana Ross tries to out-credit Marvin Gaye on a tune that does neither of them any favours. Goodies do come with Paul Simon, Nazareth and The Detroit Spinners, providing moments of Rock and Soul greatness – but for me there are too few of those and too much of the other.

A good set then rather than a great one. If you must buy - get the four-disc Now Yearbook '73  set first (reviewed separately) and start your way to this – albeit cautiously…

NOW YEARBOOK '73 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW73 - 0196588183027 (Barcode 196588183027) – released 8 September 2023 as a 4CD 83-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book with 28-Page Booklet

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW73 – 0196588182921 (Barcode 196588182921) – released 8 September 2023 as a 4CD 83-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve 'Standard Edition' with No Booklet

"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW734 - 0196588182815 (Barcode 196588182815) – released 8 September 2023 as a 3LP RED VINYL Edition with 47-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition.

"Now Yearbook Extra '73 - 60 More Essential Hits From 1973" on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW73 - 0196588268833 (Barcode 196588268823) – released 13 October 2023 as a 3CD 60-Track Companion Volume in a Tri-Gatefold Six Panel Card Sleeve with No Booklet

"1967-1970" by THE BEATLES – Double-Album Compilation from April 1973 on Apple Records aka "The Blue Album" – featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Producer George Martin and Guests Billy Preston and Eric Clapton (November 2023 JAPAN-ONLY Universal/Apple 2 x SHM-CD Reissue Edition – 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition with 10 Extra Tracks and SHM-CD Format Exclusive to Japan) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-1967-1970-2023-SHM-CD/dp/B0CLX4R6S2?crid=1SI1N3UU32KR3&keywords=4988031601730&qid=1706094434&sprefix=4988031601730%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=9ba2ead473796ea831e8d07582d18297&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

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US AND THEM - 1973
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

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"…Mother Mary Comes To Me…Speaking Words Of Wisdom…"

Commonly known as "The Blue Album” - the 2LP vinyl set "1967 - 1970" became an instant classic when it was first released in April 1973 - as did its "Red" counterpart "1962-1966" (reviewed separately). When they were finally reissued onto the new CD format in 1993 however - they caused consternation because of their extortionate full price - in some cases an eye-watering £30. Then came the 9 September 2009 campaign (commonly referred to as 09/09/09) which saw both the Red and Blue sets reissued in October 2010 as mid-priced Digipak issues with upgraded booklets and audio.

Well here in November 2023 (the 10th to be exact) – we get version three - newly remixed and remastered 50th Anniversary Edition reissues and back to full price - £25 or thereabouts. It also boasts the first new Beatles song in generations - the much-vaulted and I feel overhyped "Then And Now". Harrison added guitar to the John Lennon demo before he died, but only now has technology caught up to allow all four Beatles to be heard as a supposed cohesive song. I can't say I like it or ever will - but others have been in raptures. It ends CD2 in my opinion on a slightly awkward, incongruous and ragged note when what before it is almost perfection. All issues around the world carry the song.

In JAPAN, however, each double has been issued on the Exclusive SHM-CD Format – Super High Materials CDs - a better form of CD with superior sonic retrieval – and it is this that I am thrilling to right now. Here is Hey Jude and the Strawberry Fields Forever sounding better than ever…details…

JAPAN-released 10 November 2023 - "1967-1970" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-16202/3 (Barcode 4988031601730) is a 2 x SHM-CD Exclusive to JAPAN – a 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition with Nine Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:
 
CD1 "1966-1970" 50th Anniversary Edition (56:24 minutes):
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Penny Lane
3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4. With A Little Help From My Friends
5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
6. Within You Without You *
7. A Day In The Life
8. All You Need Is Love
9. I Am The Walrus +
10. Hello, Goodbye
11. The Fool On The Hill +
12. Magical Mystery Tour +
13. Lady Madonna 
14. Hey Jude +
15. Revolution
NOTES on CD1: 
Track 6 (*) is a Bonus Track not on either the 1973 2LP Original or the 2010 Remastered 2CD Reissue
Tracks 9, 11, 12 and 15 (+) have New Stereo Remixes

CD2 "1966-1970" 50th Anniversary Edition (78:18 minutes):
1. Back In the U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence *
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Glass Onion *
6. Blackbird *
7. Hey Bulldog *+
8. Get Back (Single Version)
9. Don't Let Me Down
10. The Ballad Of John And Yoko
11. Old Brown Shoe +
12. Here Comes The Sun
13. Come Together
14. Something
15. Octopus's Garden
16. Oh! Darling *
17. I Want You (She's So Heavy) *
18. Let It Be (Single Version)
19. Across The Universe
20. I Me Mine *
21. The Long And Winding Road * 
22. Now And Then *
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22 (*) are Bonus Tracks over both the 1973 Vinyl 2LP Original and the 2010 2CD Reissue
Tracks 7 and 11 are newly remixed Stereo Versions
Tracks 8 and 18 ("Get Back" and "Let It Be") make their Single Version debut on this compilation

AUDIO:
The Audio is fabulous throughout (a genuinely astonishing and painstaking job done) - but it requires some explanation too and perhaps history. If you are like me – an old fart who grew up with these astonishing April 1973 double albums in your home for nigh on half a century or more – the first thing to say is that not only are you hit audiowise with improvements that make the hairs stand up – the rejiggered track running order with the woven-in twelve bonus cuts works so damn well - even if many have expressed head-shaking amazement at the inclusion of either "Glass Onion" or "Hey Bulldog" when we could have had "Fixing A Hole" or "I Got A Feeling".

When the two Abbey Road nuggets "Oh! Darling" and "I Want You…" kick in for instance (newly included) – the effect is magical. Not only are they smart audio choices, but they get to show The Beatles in simplicity and complexity at one and the same time. The final run of four originals on CD2 is mindblowingly good – even if I have serious recoil to "Now And Then" which I think is poor and despite best intentions – feels like something of a marketing sham and personal mistake (but I suspect Paul and Ringo want to honour John, so what would I know, and as I said, others have loved it and been moved to tears). 

The "1" compilation of single mixes from 2015 is used - as are the 50th Anniversary Box Set Editions of "Sgt. Peppers" (2017), "The Beatles" (The White Album) (2018), "Abbey Road" (2019) and "Let It Be" (2021). Again, there may be only one bonus on CD1 – but what a winner – the Eastern Mysticism of "Within You Without You" giving George Harrison room to shine and showing how extensive their musical pallet really was for 1967. It is odd to not hear "Dear Prudence" slink out of the end of "Back In The U.S.S.R" as it does on Side 1 of The White Album – here they have separated them - and that small but significant gap feels slightly wrong to me (new ears may of course not notice at all). Also, you just forget how brilliant some of the Non-LP singles were – the lyrical and musical genius of "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" and the B-side that should have been on an LP - "Don't Let Me Down". Pow after Ker-Pow after Biff Bang Wallop!

PACKAGING: 
The centre and right flaps picture the photograph on the inner gatefold of the original vinyl double album (St. Pancras Old Church in London, 27 July 1969, The Beatles with the public looking through the railings - it's the same photo on the "Red" album). The separate 28-page Japanese white booklet is almost useless as it's all in Japanese (lyrics, song titles) and offers nothing to look at either (no photos), except text you can't read. The left die-cut flap with an easy to access lip houses a new 36-page booklet (four more pages than the 2010 issue) with 2023 liner notes from JOHN HARRIS (the Red album is the same). The lyrics are intact from the inner sleeves of the original album issue to (in blue, matching the artwork) and there's plenty of superb colour photos from the period - it's impressively done. 

PLAYING TIMES:
The CD1 and CD2 playing times of 56:24 and 78:18 minutes are impressively bulbous – a huge 12 extra tracks sequenced into the playing narrative with flow-skills. The compilation itself was basically the A-sides of all their UK 7" singles releases between 1967 and 1970 in chronological release date order with a few key album tracks thrown in for good measure. Eagle-eye fans would therefore note that up to and including "Get Back" - ALL Beatles UK 7" singles for that period were issued only in MONO ("The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was their 1st STEREO single in the UK). So the tracks on the album should reflect that they're all STEREO now and I would argue (as on the Red double) that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain, because the STEREO versions used here are awesome. 

CONTENT:
But what impresses most is the actual listen itself. Even now, it's truly shocking to hear just how accomplished The Beatles became during this ludicrously productive period. And diversity of writers crept in too. There are the Harrison gems "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Old Brown Shoe" and the magical "Something" with the addition of "Within You Without You" on CD1 now, while Ringo gets the witty "Octopus's Garden". 45-single 7" perfection comes twice - "Strawberry Fields Forever" b/w "Penny Lane" and arguably the greatest single ever released - "Hey Jude" b/w "Revolution" (melodious Paul on the A-side with rockin' blistering John on the B). Most bands would kill a close relative to get anywhere near this level of genius. A gorgeous addition is the hidden White Album ballad "Blackbird", some rockers will like the angry riffage in "Hey Bulldog" (one of the few salvageable tracks on the "Yellow Submarine") and by the time you get to the ballads at the end of Disc 2 - "The Long And Winding Road" and "Across The Universe" - adjectives begin to fail you. Were The Beatles really this good - the answer is yes - and always will be.

To sum up - the sound on these new Beatles 2023 reissues is fabulous; the packaging better than the 2010 versions and the SHM-CD sound of the Japanese variants adds that smidgen of wallop die-hards will thrill to. 

Serious effort was put into this Blue Album 50th Anniversary Edition (the Red double too) and you must say, job done boys. Roll on awards shows…