"Rare, Unreleased and Live, 1965-2012" by JACKIE LOMAX (May 2015 UK Angel Air SJPCD466 - 2CD Set Of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I'm The Man You Need..."

JACKIE LOMAX has seen his 60ts output with The Undertakers done by Big Beat of the UK (part of Ace Records), his lone Apple album reissued twice in 1993 and 2010 on Expanded CDs and his duo of Warner Brothers LPs from 1971 and 1972 also Expanded by Rhino – all in fine style. 

Now it’s the turn of England’s Angel Air label to have a go. This is a Lomax fan-orientated 2CD compilation, which generously mops up unreleased tracks, rare live and studio recordings and various other unreleased stragglers. But as is the nature of these kinds of releases - it’s a very mixed bag on both song quality and audio (both good and bad). Here are the Sour Milk Seas...

UK released May 2015 - "Rare, Unreleased and Live, 1965-2012" by JACKIE LOMAX on Angel Air SJPCD466 (Barcode 5055011704664) is a 2CD posthumous retrospective and plays out as follows:

CD1 – Unreleased – 76:20 minutes:

1. Soul Light

2. More (Livin' For Lovin')

3. California

4. Who's Foolin’ Who

Tracks 1 to 4 recorded 1975 at Hollywood Central Studio and features Paul Barrere of Little Feat on Guitars (including Slide).

5. If Only I Could Find A Way

6. She Feels That Way

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a 1977 USA 7” single on Pan American PAX 134.

7. The Little Things Of Love

8. Fallen Angel (both recorded 1980, no other details available)

9. I'm Gonna Be There

10. You're So Beautiful

11. Green Eyes

12. Don't Talk To Me (9 to 12 recorded 1985, no other details available)

13. Devil Eyes (a cover version of a Tim Buckley song by Jackie Lomax and Juke Logan. Originally on a 1990 Various Artists CD compilation called "True Voices" on Demon FIEND CD 165)

14. Give Your Heart To Somebody

15. Hold On Tight To What You Got

16. Against All Odds

17. The Edge Of The World (Tracks 14 to 17 recorded 1990, no details)

18. I Can't Hold Out (an Elmore James cover)

19. One Night In Chicago (Tracks 18 and 19 by The Undertakers featuring Jackie Lomax on their 2009 CD “Resurrection” on Meadow Records 3. He sang lead vocals on these two songs)

20. Dead And Gone (from the 2012 CD compilation "Black On Blue: A Tribute To The Black Keys" on Cleopatra CLP 8727)

CD 2 – Rare & Live – 74:59 minutes:

1. Throw Your Love Away (1965 recording first issued on the 1996 "Unearthed" CD compilation by The Undertakers featuring Jackie Lomax on Big Beat CDWIKD 163)

2. You Better Get Going Now (by The Lomax Alliance)

3. Genuine Imitation Life (1968 UK solo 7” single on CBS Records 2554, A)

4. Sour Milk Sea (George Harrison song)

5. The Eagle Laughs At You (Tracks 4 and 5 recorded live at the BBC "Top Of The Pops" in November 1968 with Tim Renwick on Guitar and Chris Hatfield on Piano)

6. So War Das Netz Gewoben (German Version of "How The Web Was Woven". Same backing track as the UK hit - just with German lyrics overdubbed).

7. Too Complicated (by Heavy Jelly and from their self-titled debut album on Island Records which was Promo Only – never released)

8. Sour Milk Sea (Live)

9. More (Livin' For Lovin') (Live)

10. Peace Of Mind (Live)

11. (Put Some) Rhythm In Your Blues (Live)

12. Blue World (Live)

13. Our Love (Live)

14. Hold On To Your Loved One (Live)

15. It Isn't Only Love (Live)

16. On The Road To Be Free (Live)

17. Hellfire, Night Crier (Live)

18. She Took Me Higher (Live)

Tracks 8 to 18 recorded live at "The Savoy" in San Francisco, California, 12 December 1976

The 12-page booklet has short but informative liner notes by compilation producer ALISTAIR HEPBURN and although it doesn’t state who did the Remasters – all material is licensed from the Estate of Jackie Lomax. The Audio is a very mixed bunch indeed – ranging from superb modern day recordings (the reformed Undertakers) to hissy home cassettes and ok live stuff. This is aimed at fans a whole CD of Previously Unreleased is what they want – those looking for hits should perhaps opt for the Apple CD of “Is This What You want?” or the two Rhino 2005 CD reissues of his Warner Brothers LPs “Home Is In My Head” from 1971 and “Three” from 1972.

It opens with a winner – a four-song session from 1975 with Paul Barrere of Little Feat guesting on Guitars. The audio quality on Tracks 9 to 12 is very bad – clearly dubbed from discs or knackered tapes. It’s a hissy shame because “You’re So Beautiful” is very AWB territory with a sexy Soulful groove and great playing. More funky Rock comes with the 1990 recordings of “Give Your Heart To Somebody” – but again “Hold On Tight”, “Against All Odds” and “The Edge Of The World” are covered in noticeable hiss. Far better is a great Boogie version of Elmore James’ classic “I Can’t Hold Out” by Jackie as part of The Undertakers in properly great audio. His own “One Night In Chicago” isn’t great but a wicked and kicking “Dead And Gone” is fantastic 60ts Freakbeat. The live set on Disc 2 gives the fans what they want by opening with his Apple hit “Sour Milk Sea” and then going into his latest Capitol Records material – the audio on the whole set is only ok.

A mixed bag for sure (especially on the audio front) – but one that fans will love and need to own...

"Sam Apple Pie" by SAM APPLE PIE (2012 Angel Air CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Some Say I'm A Beast..."

Recorded across 3-days in March 1969 – Walthamstow's SAM APPLE PIE saw their lone album released on the hip Decca Records label in October of 1969. But despite favourable press reviews and some public interest – it effectively disappeared without so much as a howdy-doody into obscurity. Both the Mono and Stereo variants of the original British vinyl album on Decca now stretch to £350 and £250 a pop (if you can find them). Yet on hearing this rather endearing Blues Rock artefact of the late 60ts on this superb little 2012 Angel Air CD Remaster – you can understand why collectors are digging its no nonsense no frills approach the most. Here are the details...

UK released October 2012 (December 2012 in the USA) – "Sam Apple Pie" by SAM APPLE PIE on Angel Air SJPCD 401 (Barcode 5055011704015) is a straightforward transfer of the album and plays out as follows (47:40 minutes):

1. Hawk

2. Winter Of My Love

3. Stranger

4. Swan Song

5. Tiger Man

6. Something Nation [Side 2]

7. Sometime Girl

8. Uncle Sam's Blues

9. Annabelle

10. Moonlight Man

Tracks 1 to 10 are the self-titled debut album of "Sam Apple Pie" – released October 1969 in the UK on Decca LK-R 5005 (Mono) and SKL-R 5005 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

SAM APPLE PIE was:

SAM SAMPSON – Lead Vocals, Harp, Worcester Weasel Whistle

MICK 'TINKERBELL' SMITH – Lead Guitar

ANDY 'SNAKEHIPS' JOHNSON – Slide Guitar

DOG RENNY – Bass

DAVE CHARLES – Drums

Guests:

HARRY KLEIN – Baritone Sax on Tracks 2 and 4

REX MORRIS – Tenor Saxophone on Tracks 2 and 4

STEVE JOLLY – Guitar on Track 10

MALCOLM MORLEY – Electric Harpsichord on Track 3, Piano on Track 9

ANDY CLARK – Piano on Track 8

A UK 7" single was prepped for release 30 May 1969 which featured Mono Single Mixes of "Tiger Man (King Of The Jungle)" b/w "Sometime Girl" on Decca F 22932 – but unfortunately it isn't featured on this release. The 8-page booklet does feature liner notes by JOHN TUCKER that includes interviews with one of the original Producers PETER SHERTSER. Licensed from Red Lightning Records – it doesn’t say who remastered this or where it was done – but it sounds full on – the droning fretwork and bass as clear as day. And when the almost Sabbath-Dark guitars join with the horn players on the seven-minute "Swan Song" – this hybrid of Blues Rock meets Heavy Rock is amazing audiowise.

It's easy to see why the cover of the Joe Hill Lewis R&B swinger "Tiger Man" was chosen as a UK 7" single. Elvis Presley touched on it in his '68 Comeback Special – but Sam Apple Pie take it to another witty rocking level where it sounds like really great Juicy Lucy circa "Who Do You Love" – wild and untamed slide guitar with 'who ha' vocals (there's a demo of Decca F 22932 pictured on Page 5). "...Some say I'm a beast!" Sampson snarls as the boogiethon nears its frantic end – great stuff and definitely going on a 'Wicked Lost Singles' CD-R compilation of mine real soon.

Side 2 opens with the catchy "Something Nation" which has traces of Help Yourself and Wishbone Ash melody – clever guitar runs too. “Sometime Girl” is a Bluesy Guitar moan penned by Johnson and Sampson where the band sounds not unlike Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. Ten Years After meets Paul Butterfield is how I'd describe the wicked "Uncle Sam's Blues" as they have themselves some barroom Boogie - complete with a honky-tonk piano and heavy chromatic harmonica (now this would also have made a good single too). "Uncle Sam's Blues" is so sloppy and almost amateur – and yet so endearing – like much of the album. There's some hiss and tape rumble on the gentle ballad "Annabelle" where the drums attempt that Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" rumbling background vibe - a piano plinking away alongside the rumble as Sampson attempts to be vocally deep.

Side 2 ends on a chugging guitar workout – "Moonlight Man" sounding like seven-minutes of ZZ Top meets Savoy Brown turned up to 13 on a dial of 12. It’s got that dirty guitar cranked up in the mix – as Sampson gives it some backdoor man lyrics (ladies had better look out). And when that gritty harp comes wafting out of the speakers – it's liable to trample your frail Zimmer-framed Aunty Florence in its path. Then just as you think you know where the song is going – suddenly you get a Budgie clever pace break where Flute and Cymbals go all Jazz on your ass before of course it lurches back into those big guitars and mean-mouthed harp. It ends the album on a Rocking high...

Sam Apple Pie went on to make one more album called not surprisingly "East 17" on DJM Records in 1973 (after their London postal code in Walthamstow), which is equally rare – though less in demand for some reason.

It’s not all genius for sure – but parts of "Sam Apple Pie" absolutely smash it and you can 'so' hear why collectors are drawn to its simple balls-to-the-wall Blues Rock meets Heavy Rock soundscapes. It's even kinda cool (lord help us). Check it out...

"Stone The Crows/Ode To John Law" by STONE THE CROWS [feat Maggie Bell and James Dewar on Vocals] (2015 Air Angel 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Blind Man..." 

Fronted by not one but two stunning Vocalists in Maggie Bell and James Dewar – Scotland's STONE THE CROWS also boasted the guitar talents of Leslie "Les" Harvey (younger brother of Alex Harvey) and the songwriting genius of Keyboardist John McGinnis. I’ve been after their wicked run of four albums on Polydor between 1970 and 1972 on affordable decent CDs for years now – and at long last Air Angel of the UK (and in conjunction with the band) have acquired the tapes and remastered all four back into digital form – and even found space to chuck on four bonus tracks.

This first 2CD reissue gives you their "Stone The Crows" debut and 2nd LP "Ode To John Law" – the 3rd and 4th albums "Teenage Licks" and "'Ontinuous Performance" arrive in October 2015 on another expanded 2CD set (Air Angel SJPCD468). Here are the pious birds of good omen (they’re stoned and all)...

UK released Friday 4 September 2015 – "Stone The Crows/Ode To John Law" by STONE THE CROWS on Air Angel SJPCD463 (Barcode 5055011704633) gives us their first two studio albums onto a 2CD set with four bonus tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (61:31 minutes):
1. The Touch Of Your Loving Hand
2. Raining In Your Heart
3. Blind Man
4. A Fool On The Hill
5. I Saw America [Side 2]
Tracks 1 to 5 are their debut LP "Stone The Crows" – released July 1970 in the UK on Polydor Super 2425 017 and in the USA on Polydor 24-4019

BONUS TRACKS:
6. Freedom Road (Live)
7. Hollis Brown (Live)
Tracks 6 and 7 are from the "Radio Sessions: 1969-72" – released May 2009 as a 2CD Stone The Crows set on Angel Air SJPCD272

Disc 2 (52:03 minutes):
1. Sad Mary
2. Friend
3. Love 74
4. Mads Dogs And Englishmen [Side 2]
5. Things Are Getting Better
6. Ode To John Law
7. Danger Zone
Tracks 1 to 7 are their 2nd studio album "Ode To John Law" – released February 1971 in the UK on Polydor Super 2425 042 (no USA release)

BONUS TRACKS:
8. The Touch Of Your Loving Hand (Live)
9. Raining in Your Heart (Live)
Tracks 6 and 7 are from the "Radio Sessions: 1969-72" – released May 2009 as a 2CD Stone The Crows set on Angel Air SJPCD272

STONE THE CROWS was:
MAGGIE BELL – Lead Vocals
JAMES DEWAR – Lead Vocals and Bass
LESLEY HARVEY – Guitars
JOHN McGINNIS – Keyboards
COLIN ALLEN – Drums and Percussion

Although the 8-page inlay has new liner notes from Malcolm Dome and includes interviews with Maggie Bell and Colin Allen as well as a few photos – it's a disappointingly slight affair that doesn’t even bother to provide catalogue numbers for the LPs. What you do get is a potted history of the Scottish band arising out of the ashes of The Power who were managed by Zeppelin's Peter Grant. Grant had them change their name because an American group had already nabbed it – and it was he who suggested the much cooler moniker of STONE THE CROWS. A nice touch is that each CD is a picture disc of the album front covers - but the inner gatefold artwork in both cases is missing. There is no mention of who remastered the albums but there is a credit that the material is licenced from Maggie Bell and Colin Allen. The audio is a mixed bag of brilliant clarity one moment followed by awful hiss the next (thankfully the later is more in ascendancy).

The bluesy opening track "The Touch Of Your Loving Hand" (written by Bell and Dewar) is covered in dreadful hiss - which is devastating because it's a stunning six-minute keyboard-lead Soulful Blues song highlighting the magnificent set of pipes on both Dewar and Bell. It even features a sweet guitar solo from Harvey. The Fusion of the Harvey/Dewar composition "Raining In Your Heart" comes at you like Brian Auger meets the Latin rhythms of Santana – it’s brilliant and sounds a lot better than the opener. But then you're hit with an absolute stunner – the 5:12 minutes of "Blind Man" – a Josh White cover version doing entirely in Acoustic Blues. Les Harvey rattles those steel strings while zipping up and down the fretboard in impressive runs. But then Maggie Bells comes at you with 'that voice' – and its Janis Joplin look out baby – there's a new queen in town. It's a stunning Bluesy vocal – the kind of thing that makes the hairs on the back on your neck stand up. They finish Side 1 with a sort of Joe Cocker version of "A Fool On The Hill" – giving The Beatles classic a piano-lead rendition that brings out a sweet Soul in the song.

Side 2 is taken up with one piece – the 17:21 minutes of "I Saw America" - written by Leslie Harvey, Colin Allen and the album's Producer Mark London. It opens with almost Buddy Holly acoustic guitars and then builds Yes-like into a keyboard flourish which is brilliant. At about three minutes it calms down into a slow melody with soft guitars, Maggie's vocals and organ – then back into Genesis territory circa "Nursery Cryme" – back into Blues Rock - onto more Jazz - returns to Prog. And then James "Jimmy" Dewar sails in as Vocalist - what a blast it is...

Maggie Bell's "Freedom Road" (10:32 minutes) and Dylan's "Hollis Brown" (13:05 minutes) are the lengthy 'Live' bonus tracks. Although it doesn't advise where they were recorded – there's no audience response so I'm presuming their BBC recordings. The audio is good – the playing great – and both feel like smartly chosen sonic companions to the album cuts. The dynamic vocal duo of Bell and Dewar rock it out on "Freedom Road" with Harvey tearing up the guitar – but the unwieldy "Hollis Brown" overstays it rumbling welcome.

The second LP opens with a Rocker – "Sad Mary" penned by Keyboardist John McGinnis. It was used as a B-side to the band's first UK 7" single with "Mad Dogs And Englishmen" on the A (Polydor 2066 060, released early 1971). It riffs along in fine form (couple of Zeppelin I touches in there) – but at about 5:25 there's terrible surface noise. That same worn tape background afflicts the beginning of "Friend" until the brilliant keyboard funk kicks in – thereafter the audio is wonderful (bass, drums and vocals). Another keyboard bum-wiggling winner from the pen of John McGinnis is "Love 74" (wrongly credited on the CD sleeve as just "Love"). It ends Side 1 – again the band sounding like a Funk-Rock outfit with American Soulfulness at its AWB core.

Written by Colin Allen and Leslie Harvey – the upbeat "Mad Dogs And Englishmen" is an obvious single – structurally sounding not unlike Dave Mason's “Feeling Alright” as done by Joe Cocker on his "Joe Cocker!" album from early 1970 (see separate review). And again Maggie's vocals are so damn good (I’d forgotten how cool this little song is). The John McGinnis tune "Things Are Getting Better" was chosen as 45 in Germany and Sweden by Polydor with "Mad Dogs And Englishmen" relegated to the flipside – and with its Joe Cocker commercialism you can understand why. Based on the events of 4 May 1970 in the USA - the title track "Ode To John Law" chronicles how the Ohio State Police fired guns into a crowd of longhaired protesting students in Kent State University injuring many but killing four of them. The cops became known as 'pigs' in the USA or in the mind of Colin Allen - 'John Law'. As Maggie Bell sings, "You're a pig...spread your mace in my face..." to a threatening keyboard barrage – the whole song feels deeply uncomfortable throughout (still does). The album ends on the high of "Danger Zone" - a Curtis Mayfield cover version and probably the best song on the album (certainly the most Soulful – huge keyboard chords and tasteful guitar licks). Although it's a set of hugely soulful and accomplished performances from Dewar and Bell – the bonus track BBC Live sessions for "The Touch Of Your Loving Hand" is inflicted with a lot of background noise that dampens this winner (what a shame). But thankfully "Raining In Your Heart" fares a lot better – the band on fire and clearly enjoying boogieing out.

So there you have it – a mixed bag audiowise for sure - but I'm still thrilled these criminally forgotten albums are back on my shelves. Maggie Bell of course went on to a great solo career with Zeppelin's Swan Song label in the mid Seventies and tours to this day while Lead Vocalist James Dewar gave every Robin Trower Chrysalis album a vocal soul they would have been remiss without. After years of genetic medical illness and declining health - he sadly passed away in 2002 aged only 53. I miss him...check out his Rock-Soulful legacy on YouTube.

Stone The Crows – a great band and a wicked legacy. Can't wait for batch Number 2. Even the name makes me tingle...