"Crying Laughing Loving Lying" by LABI SIFFRE (July 2015 Edsel Expanded CD Reissue – Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...It Must Be Love..."

Back in June 2006 - EMI launched a 7-CD reissue campaign for Labi Siffre's 70s catalogue on Pye Records  – the five listed below, 1975's "Remember My Song" and a further “Best Of”. Those Abbey Road CD remasters (probably done by Nigel Reeves) had gorgeous sound, relevant bonus tracks (including Previously Unreleased) and came in jewel cases with 12-page booklets that were adequate rather than inspiring. But they’ve been deleted for some years now and some have even acquired a nasty price tag in some cases.

Well after some delays (these were supposed to show up in June 2015 and then 10 July 2015, they’re now released Friday 31 July 2015) – along comes Edsel of the UK with five upgraded CD reissues of those Seventies catalogue gems  (in digipaks this time) and having acquired the lot on the day of release - I’m thrilled to say that they’re 'all' beautifully done and have even filled in some important CD holes in Labi Siffre’s Discography.

The 2006 CD had 18 tracks and ran to 64:01 minutes (the 12-song album pumped up with 6 bonuses). Rejiggering the extras and adding on the stunning non-album 7" single "Watch Me" and the elusive B-side "To Find Love" which has never been on CD before (his most famous song “It Must Be Love" was the A-side) – this 2015 Edsel Reissue and CD Remaster runs to 68:56 minutes. It bumps up the track count to 20 and has new ALAN ROBINSON liner notes based on interviews with Labi Siffre in 2015. There’s a lot to get through - so here are details...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) – "Crying Loving Laughing Lying" BY LABI SIFFRE on Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) is an 'Expanded Edition CD' version in a card digipak and breaks down as follows (68:56 minutes):

1. Saved

2. Cannock Chase

3. Fool Me A Goodnight

4. It Must Be Love

5. Gimme Some More

6. Blue Lady

7. Love Oh Love Oh Love [Side 2]

8. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying

9. Hotel Room Song

10. My Song

11. Till Forever

12. Come On Michael

Tracks 1 to 12 make up the album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" – released October 1972 in the UK on Pye International Records NSPL 28163 (all songs are Siffre originals).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. To Find Love – the non-album B-side to his 4th UK 7" single "It Must Be Love" released November 1971 on Pye International 7N.25572 – first time on CD

14. Watch Me – the non-album A-side to his 6th UK 7" single "Watch Me" released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586. It's non-album B-side "Here I Am" is one of the bonus tracks on the debut album "Labi Siffre"

15. You Make It Easy

16. Good Old days

17. Pristine Verses

18. You’ll Let Me Know

19. Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye

20. For The Lovin'

Tracks 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 were album outtakes first issued on the 2006 EMI CD - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED at the time

Track 19 is the non-album B-side to "If You Have Faith" - a track off the 1973 album "For The Children". The UK 7" single was released October 1973 on Pye International Records 7N.25629

SINGLES:

Three 45s were issued around the album and using the "Labi Siffre" debut album CD reissue - can be sequenced in remastered form by fans as follows...

1. It Must Be Love [4] b/w To Find Love [13]

UK released November 1971 on Pye International 7N 25572

US released 1972 on Bell Records 183

2. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying [8] b/w Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave

UK released March 1972 on Pye International 7N.25576

US released 1972 on Bell Records 218

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus on the "Labi Siffre" CD Reissue

3. Watch Me [14] b/w Here We Are

UK released July 1972 on Pye National 7N.25586

USA released 1972 on Bell Records 298

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus on the "Labi Siffre" CD Reissue

The 2006 CD reissue had a 12-page booklet that reproduced the lyric insert of the album across two pages and short liner notes. Edsel’s impressive 32-page booklet upgrade not only gives you lyrics to every song, but lists the musicians beneath each and shows the lyrics for the bonus tracks for the first time. Inbetween that you get rare Euro Picture Sleeves for the big hits "It Must Be Love" and "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" as well as photos of the Pye Tape Boxes. Licensed from Siffre direct – the PHIL KINRADE Remasters done at Alchemy Mastering are truly gorgeous. I’d suggest that the rare B-side "To Find Love" sounds suspiciously like its been done off vinyl - but I'd emphasise that it stills sounds amazing. The clarity and depth of those rattling acoustic strings is incredible here - a massive improvement on the hiss and muddiness that went with previous budget label reissues.

Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract and the recording and release of his first album on Pye Records early in 1970 (Pye Records at that time was home to The Kinks and Status Quo). His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than soulster, though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan vibe. Many were just Labi Siffre, an acoustic guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with easy-listening here in the UK which does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice - and like Gilbert O'Sullivan - he is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R 'n' B soul boys of the last few years who have realized that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material. KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's "Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." on "Remember My Song" from 1975.

His 3^rd studio album opens with the Acapella “Saved” and then goes into the jaunty “Cannock Chase” – beautiful clarity on both tracks. But it’s nuggets like the lovely "Fool Me A Goodnight", "Hotel Room Song" and "My Song" that have languished in obscurity for far too long. And again I can’t emphasise enough the fabulous remastering. I've treasured this album for years on vinyl and to finally hear it given this kind of sound quality is a joy. "It Must Be Love" and the beautiful title track "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" sound fab. I’ve always thought that the stand-alone “Watch Me” is his masterpiece from the period – a song that literally makes me weepy (I was in love with a girl at the time) and it’s presence here as a new bonus is a winner. Of the album outtakes “You Make It Easy” has a lovely melody – Siffre and an electric piano – its very demo-ish but full of feeling and has a Bacharach brass refrain during its pretty chorus.

Siffre retired for a few years but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear. His into-the-light website is fascinating also - packed with poetry, political observations and extremely active fan exchanges etc.

This is a gorgeous reissue and well done to Edsel for making “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” available again on CD – and in such sweet style...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for LABI SIFFRE are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th studio album “Remember My Song” from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 too but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign. 

There was one last studio album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full “Happy?” album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both records for a reasonable sum. 

The 14 new tunes of “The Last Songs” was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like “Sparrow In The Storm” and “Why Isn’t Love Enough?” show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series. E-Books giving advice on "Exceptional CD Remasters" in different genres. Check out SOUNDS GOOD: Classic 1970s Rock...available to buy on Amazon and many other download sites...

" First / Never Let Her Go /Goodbye Girl / Falling In Love Again " by DAVID GATES (of BREAD) – A Review Of His First 4 SOLO Albums On Elektra Records Between 1973 and 1980 – Now Reissued in 2013 By Edsel Of the UK On A 2CD Remastered Set…

"…Always Been Simple…"

As the principal songwriter and voice of BREAD – singer DAVID GATES won legions of fans with his beautifully melodic tunes. This cool-looking British 2CD reissue gives us his first four Solo albums for Elektra Records between 1973 and 1980 - and as you can imagine – it’s a mixed bag of the inspired and insipid. Here are the singer-songwriter details…

UK released September 2013 (October in the USA) – "First/Never Let Her Go/Goodbye Girl/Falling In Love Again" by DAVID GATES on Edsel EDSK 7034 (Barcode 740155703431) is a 2CD set offering 4 Remastered LPs and breaks down as follows…

Disc 1 (64:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo album "First" – released October 1973 in the USA on Elektra EKS-75066 and K 42150 in the UK

Tracks 10 to 19 are his 2nd album "Never Let Her Go" – released February 1975 on Elektra 7E-1028 in the USA and May 1975 on Elektra K 52012 in the UK

Disc 2 (52:33 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Goodbye Girl" – released July 1978 on Elektra 6E-148 in the USA and K 52091 in the UK

Tracks 7 to 16 are the album "Falling In Love Again" – released June 1980 on Elektra 6E-251 in the USA and K 52206 in the UK

The generic card wraps that Edsel now uses on their reissues are lovely – classy looking too. The chunky 36-page booklet inside is jam-packed with details – album sleeves, 7” singles, Quad album labels, lyrics to the songs and informative liner notes by noted writer Alan Robinson. It’s beautifully done.

Sound – these albums were remastered by Rhino initially and Phil Kinrade at Alchemy has clearly used those versions because this is sonically brilliant stuff. The audio is amazing – well produced – not overdone – muscle and clarity on every track.

Musical proceedings open with a peach – "Sail Around The World" – and two things immediately hit you - the stunning sound quality and the prettiness of the melody (lyrics above). It was put out as a 7” in the UK in November 1973 (K 12126) but only charted in the USA (peaking at 50). Speaking of lost singles - the brilliant nine-minute epic of "Suite: Clouds, Rain" was edited down to the piano opening of "Clouds" (very Bread) and put out as a 7” in the UK in July 1973 with “Soap (I Use The)” as its B-side (K 12114). I mention this because its rare edited version is a no-show here - which is a bit of a missed opportunity. The debut album ends strongly with "Sight & Sound" (very Eagles) - while "Lorilee" gets a bit "Countdown To Ecstasy" Steely Dan slinky with Jim Horn on Alto Sax (tasty).

The second album picks up where the first left off (even with the two-year gap). "Never Let You Go" gets straight into "Baby I'm-A Want You" territory and it’s easy to see why it was chosen as the lead off single (the rocky "Watch Out" graced the flipside). The acoustic ballad "Part Time Love" was the second and last 45 from the LP (June 1975 in the UK on K 12157) – a lovely tune. “Strangers” ends the album well – but even at this stage – there’s a feeling of ordinariness about most of the record.

By the time we reach 1978’s “Goodbye Girl” and 1980’s sluggish “Falling in Love Again” – the muse seems to have abandoned him entirely. There are moments like the lightweight radio funk of “Took The Last Train” and the schmaltz of “Where Does The Loving Go” which is clearly trying to emulate the glory days of early Seventies Bread. But these albums have been dollar-bin fodder for years – and with reason.

So there you have it – a very mixed bag. But then there is that fabulous sound - and those melodic nuggets on the first two albums especially that make the purchase worthwhile.

David Gates could always pen a melody that would get to you...and that's what I like most about this excellent value-for-money Edsel double...

"Badfinger/Wish You Were Here/In Concert At The BBC 1972-3" by BADFINGER - July and October 1974 Albums Plus 1972-1973 BBC in-Concert Material (October 2013 UK Edsel/Rhino 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 317 Others Like It 

Are Available in My Amazon e-Book

GOODY TWO SHOES

2CD Deluxe Editions (Occasional Threesome), Expanded Reissues and Compilations 

All Info From The Discs Themselves 

No Cut and Paste Crap

Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer 6 Times

 

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"…A Victim Of The Circumstance…"

After their 4-album beginnings with The Beatles Apple label – it was time for Badfinger to move on – and as history would show – they made a financially and personally disastrous signing to the behemoth of Warner Brothers Records. Contractual and legal crap left them penniless and drove their gifted songwriter Pete Ham to despair – literally taking his own life in April 1975.

The band had little control over the title of their first album on their new label (originally to be known as "For Love Or Money" as a pun) and little control over the curious 'girl with a cigarette and riding crop' naff artwork. And with Badfinger’s last album on Apple having only just hit the UK shops in March of 1974 ("Ass") – it probably wasn’t the smartest of moves to hit punters with two more albums that same year. But history also shows that Badfinger had an ace up their sleeve - their songs. And it’s very evident from the opening salvo on the first four tunes on "Badfinger" – that they were back in top form – sort of England’s answer to Big Star – all tunes and melodies and great hooks that stay with you.

This fantastic October 2013 2CD set - "Badfinger/Wish You Were Here/In Concert At The BBC 1972-3" by BADFINGER on Edsel/Rhino EDSK 7036 (Barcode 740155703639) is a 2CD Compilation of Remasters that gives us both of their 1974 albums on Warner Brothers and a further disc of 14 BBC In Concert tracks between 1972 and 1973. It breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (76:03 minutes):

1. I Miss You [Side 1]

2. Shine On

3. Love Is Easy

4. Song For A Lost Friend

5. Why Don’t We Talk

6. Island

7. Matted Spam [Side 2]

8. Where Do We From Here?

9. My Heart Goes Out

10. Lonely You

11. Give It Up

12. Andy Norris

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th album "Badfinger" – released July 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56023 and August 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2762

13. Just A Chance [Side 1]

14. Your So Fine

15. Got To Get Out Of Here

16. Know One Knows

17. Dennis

18. In The Meantime/Some Other Time [Side 2]

19. Love Time

20. King Of The Load (T)

21. Meanwhile Back At The ranch/Should I Smoke 

Tracks 13 to 21 are their 6th album "Wish You Were Here" – released October 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56076 and November 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2827

Disc 2 (68:03 minutes):

1. Better Days

2. Only You Know And I Know

3. We’re For The Dark

4. Sweet Tuesday Morning

5. Feelin’ Alright

6. Take It All

7. Suitcase

8. Love Is Easy

9. Blind Owl

10. Constitution

11. Icicles

12. Matted Spam

13. Suitcase

14. I Can’t Take It

Tracks 1 to 7 were recorded in concert at the Paris Theatre in London on 8 June 1972. Tracks 8 to 14 were recorded at the same venue but on 10 August 1973. JEFF GRIFFIN expertly produced both BBC sessions for the “In Concert” program and their additions here are most welcome.

The outer card wrap gives the whole reissue a quality feel – as does the chunky 28-page booklet which pictures the albums, publicity photos, track by track recording info, American promo Singles, and exceptionally detailed, affectionate and caustic liner notes by Rock Expert and long-time Edsel Associate ALAN ROBINSON. It’s both a pleasure and a horror to read (never had a group such bad luck).

PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy has obviously used the Rhino remasters and the sound quality is fabulous – especially bringing out those layered vocals which original Producer Chris Thomas captured so well.

It’s easy to see why the album openers "I Miss You" and "Shine On" were picked as an A&B for the first single off the record in the USA (Warner Brothers WB 7801) – great tunes. The second 45 "Love Is Easy" was issued in Germany in a band-photo picture sleeve (Warner Brothers WB 16323) but it did little business. Pete Ham's "Lonely You" and the wonderful "Song For A Lost Friend" have such pretty melodies (lyrics above) and were somehow indicative of the band’s overall fortunes.

"Just A Chance" opens the "Wish You Were Here" album with a rocking hit (shame it wasn’t lifted as a radio single). Joey Molland’s "Got To Get Out Of Here" sounds like acoustic Oasis while "No One Knows" and "Dennis" sound like the "Pacific Ocean Blue" album of 1977 by Beach Boy Dennis Wilson – dense with guitars and adventurous vocals. One of the best on here is "Love Time" and it rocks out with "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke" loaded with bittersweet lyrics like "should I laugh or should I cry…won’t somebody help me…"

The BBC Stuff is a raucous blast – with the band much rockier than you would imagine. The first session features two great covers of Dave Mason songs – a nine-minute romp through his Traffic hit "Feelin' Alright" and his own solo track "Only You Know And I Know" (superbly covered by Joan Osborne on her 2002 "How Sweet It Is" CD album). "Better Days" even sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd circa 1974's "Second Helping" at times. They even go funky with "Matted Spam" and Bob Seger boogie on the finisher “I Can’t Take It”. After the ever-so-slightly over-produced nature of both studio albums – these loose live renditions feel like a breath of fresh air.

Why do some bands make it and some don’t – bad luck, bad judgement, bad handling by people who should have known better.

At least we have this excellent reminder of what really matters – the music...