"The R & B Box: 30 Years Of Rhythm & Blues" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 108 R and B Tracks Covering 1943 to 1972 and Including labels Decca, Aladdin, King, End, Modern, Chess, Checker, Atlantic, Motown, Stax, Polydor, Minit etc (November 1994 US Rhino 6CD Long Box Set (in Leatherette Effect) - Bill Inglot, Dan Hersch, Chris Clarke, Ken Perry and Bob Fisher Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/R-B-Box-30-Years-Rhythm/dp/B0000033EL?crid=30LS57S8IH5EO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KsZDhsc_zGys2dg_rrmIr_H5hwBDWpnv8rYxuMAkG5jK1xkgX9jxZb04C3XeOe0ogZEmsCy-7R1Z-Q4aRdZT4dMYMhlB-VzS9NnOy3hxIhUhNc9kRkL-LSGYV0rrTPOw.h8wPAnMuY15y30Mgz3rEHweqNDFKqqGHaD7ILUgs2lI&dib_tag=se&keywords=r%26B+Box+Rhino&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730317340&sprefix=r%26b+box+rhino%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-7&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d7e5a2de-8759-4da3-993c-d11b6e3d217f&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=57007186636a53956e5d15e1ec3732ec&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATINGS:

Music **** to *****

Audio ****

Presentation ***

"...Tell It How It Is... "

There was a time in the Nineties and into the Naughties when I considered Rhino of the USA to be the greatest reissue label of them all. Big shoes when you consider Ace Records of the UK and Bear Family of Germany with their 40 to 50-year-plus catalogues of absolute reissue excellence - and more recently the stunning work Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit and Doctor Bird have been doing via Cherry Red's large array of specialist reissue imprints. 

But there was just something brilliant about Rhino, a hip US company populated by history-preserving loons who just happened to have access to the cream of the recorded crop in terms of licensing primo oldies material. 

Which is why the US-only set "The R & B Box: 30 Years Of Rhythm & Blues" by VARIOUS ARTISTS of 15 November 1994 on Rhino R2 71806 (Barcode 08277180621) was such a huge disappointment. But before we get into its disastrous ugly-bug self-destructive presentation and lack of decent playing times on each CD - let's sing the praises of what is good. 

There are 108-tracks across six themed discs in a long-box presentation with a 60-page full-featured booklet:

CD1 "Jumpin' The Blues (1943-1950)" - 53:52 minutes, 18 Tracks
CD2 "Teenagers Are Diggin' It (1951-1954)" - 50:55 minutes, 18 Tracks
CD3 "Rockin' 'n' Rollin' (1955-1956)" - 48:50 minutes, 18 Tracks
CD4 "Goin' Nationwide (1956-1961)" - 47:07 minutes, 18 Tracks 
CD5 "Soul Brothers & Soul Sisters (1961-1965)" - 48:12 minutes, 18 Tracks 
CD6 "The End Of The Golden Age (1966-1972)" - 55:31 minutes, 18 Tracks 

Rhino not surprisingly start with the great grandfather of all Rhythm 'n' Blues genius Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five in 1943 doing "Five Guys Named Moe" on his famously catchy Decca classics, and ends on Disc 6 with The Spinners on Atlantic Records in 1972 telling us "I’ll Be Around" should we need their soothing advice in the matter of broken hearts. Between those two huge compass points comes revered genre labels like King, Aladdin, End, Specialty, Brunswick, Chess, Checker, Atlantic, Motown, Stax, Minit, Polydor, Volt and a huge array of other associated independent pioneers. 

The problem is that each CD play feels short - three above fifty minutes and three below. The first three CDs in particular pass rather quickly with overly familiar titles only to slip into early Soul by Disc 4. There's only 1 James Brown cut when he dominated R&B for entire decades, there's no Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye is represented by the underwhelming "Pride And Joy". I suppose you could argue what should and shouldn't have been included/excluded ad nauseam, but I can't help thinking they bit off more than they could chew with a one stop box, Rhino really should have made this Volume 1 of an R&B Series so they could dedicate more to it like they did with their lovely Doo Wop boxes across 3 volumes. 

But the worst part is the actual way "The R&B Box..." is made. It has a stippled-leatherette look (don't know why) with Atlantic Records and early Soul star Solomon Burke at the microphone on the front sleeve. You can't read the lettering on the rear for the track lists even with a squint. But then you open it and find that Rhino put each CD into an individual jewel case - three piled on three - two piles inside the bay (too weighty). The problem is that there's no wiggle room getting any of them out, so as you try to pull up CD1, it pushes against the flimsy deep corner walls and rips them instantly. I've seen loads of these sets across the years I served penal in Reckless Records in London's Soho and so many were afflicted with this implosion of the holding walls. 

The booklet has another ugly black-as-night cover (with nothing on it) but (it must be said) more than makes up for its boring visage with an array of classy black and white publicity photos throughout the thoroughly enthusiastic text from BILLY VERA. It's cool to see lesser-highlighted names like Little Esther, Mabel Joy, Percy Mayfield, Jackie Brenston and Buddy Johnson get their photo moment in the sun. Each inner cover flap has a collage of those beautiful R&B posters where names like The Five Keys, Jackie Wilson, Clyde McPhatter, The Spaniels, The Clovers, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, The Coasters, Chuck Willis and Booker T. & The MG's pounded the stage boards to capitalise on hot 45s breaking and making waves on the US Billboard R&B charts. I would have used these as the booklet and box artwork and in colour. Each song entry has writer credits, discography info and catalogue numbers, release dates and chart placing etc. 

The Audio comes from a team of five experience engineers – BLL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH (long-time workaholics for Rhino) with CHRIS CLARKE, KEN PERRY and BOB FISHER – names any oldies fan will know well. Beginning in bombastic but clean Mono, the songs slowly slink into Stereo as the Discs progress and apart from some early tunes that betray their had-no-money but had-the-feel independent origins – it all sounds tickety-boo and at times thrilling. Overall I'd award Presentation 3, content 4 with Audio 4 (at times a 5). 

There is huge debate as to what actually is 'R&B' especially in US circles - what do call the mighty "Green Onions" by Booker T & The MG's - early Soul, 60ts Funk, Stax R&B, the greatest instrumental Funk ever laid down by the coolest cats ever - well all of it really. "Speedoo" by The Cadillacs, "In The Still Of The Nite" by The Five Satins and "Duke Of Earl" by Earl Chandler have been (rightly) plopped onto Doo Wop and Vocal group compilations for decades, B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" and Bobby Bland's "I Pity The Fool" are fabulous Sixties Blues, Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It" is a hair's breath away from out-and-out Rock and Roll mayhem while Billy Stewart's cover of Gershwin's "Summertime" is a mixture of Jazz, Swing and sophisticated nightclub smooch all rolled into one. Ike & Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" gives a nod towards Creedence Clearwater Revival's Swamp Rock while Brook Benton counts the warm raindrops in Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" - as gorgeous a groove as Clarence Carter's pleading in "Slip Away". 

There's a lot to love here, there really is, but you should also know there's a lot that should have been done in another way, especially that rather austere packaging for a genre of music that has always been associated with so much joy. 

Still, sat in my man cave in Nov 2024 with a post Covid-19 future looming tastily over the Margate sunset - I put on Dan Penn and Chips Moman's classic "Do Right Woman - Do Right Man" as interpreted by the powerhouse lungs of Aretha Franklin, and as Chris Kenner was fond of saying, "I Like It Like That"...(at least part of me does)...

"Dixie Chicken" by LITTLE FEAT – January 1973 US 3rd Studio Album on Warner Brothers (March 1973 in the UK) featuring Lowell George and Paul Barrere (Guitars and Lead Vocals), Bill Payne (Keyboards and Vocals), Kenny Gradney (Bass), Sam Clayton (Congas) and Richard Hayward (Drums and Vocals) with Guests Bonnie Bramlett, Bonnie Raitt, Gloria Jones, Stephanie Spurville, Debbie Lindsey, Trett Fure and Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night (Backing Singers), Milt Holland on Tablas, Malcolm Cecil of Tonto's Expanding Head Band on Synths and Fred Tackett (joined the band later) on Acoustic Guitar (June 2023 UK/EU Warner Records/Rhino 2CD Deluxe Edition with a New Remaster of the Album on CD1 and 16-Bonuses on CD2 – 12 of which are Previously Unreleased and the Remaining Four Period Rarities Previously Issued in 2000 and 2002 – Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dixie-Chicken-Deluxe-Little-Feat/dp/B0C3GL8BVT?crid=3TA1QQO1Z3LJJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mkrd2nuPQjWSrnHJvtZPWw.L_NAQFSbe_3FKRo73PC-ys9vNnT1JbNRTl9fSNFgo48&dib_tag=se&keywords=603497837465&qid=1725267724&sprefix=603497837465%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=b92095b1ddbde3d643a82ebef64394f7&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Presentation: *****

Remasters: *****

Extras: ****

Overall Rating: ****

"…And All The Boys There At The Bar…Began To Sing Along…"

Ever since "Dixie Chicken" appeared on digital as far back as 1987 (the American Funk-Rock band's third studio platter from early 1973 on Warner Brothers Records) - it has always felt like a sonic compromise.

The February 2014 Clamshell Box Set "Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971 to 1990" with its tasty 13CDs in Mini LP Artwork offered a decent version. But fans who had been treated to real Rhino Remasters on the "Hotcakes & Outtakes..." 4CD Book Set from September 2000 (a full fourteen years earlier) knew there was room for better.

Well, at last, in June 2023, following on from the wonderful 2CD Deluxe Edition given to "Sailin' Shoes" in 2022 (50th Anniversary Version for their 1972 second platter) - we get the Remaster and market-accessible 2CD Deluxe Edition for their cracking third studio album "Dixie Chicken". The whole album has been upgraded audio-wise and finally boasting the sprinkle 'n spunk it has always deserved - and with very cool previously unreleased Alternate Versions on CD2 and an April 1973 US Radio Show that sees the six-piece band on fire - even if the audio is honestly only just above bootleg quality. 

I do want to be your Dixie Chicken and I long for your Tennessee Lamb. Lots to discuss, to the details…

UK/EU released 23 June 2023 - "Dixie Chicken" by LITTLE FEAT on Warner Records/Rhino R2 695370 – 603497837465 (Barcode 603497837465) is a 2CD Deluxe Edition Reissue and Remaster that plays out as follows:

CD1 "Dixie Chicken – 2023 Remaster" (36:39 minutes):
1. Dixie Chicken [Side 1]
2. Two Trains
3. Roll Um Easy
4. On Your Way Down
5. Kiss It Off
6. Fool Yourself [Side 2]
7. Walkin' All Night
8. Fat Man In The Bathtub
9. Juliette
10. Lafayette Railroad
Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Dixie Chicken" – released 25 January 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS-2686 and March 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46200. Initially, British pressed LPs came in US artwork (BS-2686) with UK Catalogue Number Stickers pasted on the rear) and Green/Tan labels (reissued February 1975 in the UK on K 46200 but with a Burbank Label design without the Warner Bros Corp. logo). Produced by LOWELL GEORGE – did not chart in either country. 

LITTLE FEAT was:
LOWELL GEORGE – Guitars, Lead Vocals, Flute and Cowbells
PAUL BARRERE – Guitars and Lead Vocals
BILL PAYNE – Keyboards, Synths and Vocals
KENNY GRADNEY – Bass
SAM CLAYTON – Congas
RICHARD HAYWARD – Drums and Vocals

Guests:
Bonnie Bramlett, Debbie Lindsey, Trett Fure, Gloria Jones, Stephanie Spurville and Bonnie Raitt sang Backing Vocals
Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night sang Backing Vocals on "Roll Um Easy"
Milt Holland on Tablas
Malcolm Cecil of Tonto’s Expanding Head Band played and programmed Synths
Fred Tackett (later to join Little Feat) played Acoustic Guitar

CD2 "Hotcakes, Outtakes & Rarities" (68:55 minutes):
1. Two Trains (Demo)
2. Fat Man In The Bathtub (Demo)
3. Walkin' All Night (Alternate Version)
4. Roll Um Easy (Alternate Version)
5. On Your Way Down (Alternate Version)
6. Eldorado Slim
7. Juliette (Alternate Version)
8. Hi Roller (Ace In The Hole)
9. Dixie Chicken (Alternate Version)

ICEPICK ELDORADO:
Live at Paul's Mall, Boston, Massachusetts, 1 April 1973
10. Two Trains
11. Got No Shadow
12. On Your Way Down 
13. Walkin' All Night
14. Fat Man In The Bathtub
15. Willin'
16. A Apolitical Blues
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 1, 6 and 8 originally issued September 2000 on the 4CD US and UK Book Set Compilation "Hotcakes & Outtakes" on Rhino/Warner Archives R2 79912
Track 2 is a 1972 Demo originally issued June 2002 in the USA on the 2CD Compilation "Raw Tomatos Vol One (Raw Recordings 1971-2001)" on Hot Tomato Records HTR 0203
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 to 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED. Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 are outtakes from the "Dixie Chicken" sessions Recorded and Produced by Lowell George between October and December 1972 while Tracks 10 to 16 were recorded 1st of April 1973 for WBCN-FM in Boston – band was Lowell George, Bill Payne, Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney, Sam Clayton, and Richie Hayward

With reputedly less than 60,000 LP sales in their native USA after its release in late January 1973 (their third studio flop, but first to gain that LF trademark Funk-Rock sound) – it appears the British side of Warner Brothers who put the "Dixie Chicken" LP out in March 1973 with little or no fanfare (US sleeves with British-pressed LPs) – didn't even bother trying an album teaser 45. In fact, Little Feat's first Blighty 45-single would only arrive in 1975 after August 1974's album number four - "Feats Don't Fail Me Now". In a back-dating exercise, Warners loaded up "Dixie Chicken" from 1973 on the A-side with a 1974 "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" song "Oh Atlanta" on the flip-side and put out Warner Brothers K 16524 on 28 February 1975. Perhaps the singalong nature of "Dixie Chicken" and the UK tour that saw Little Feat shine The Doobie Brothers off stage every night felt like a good time to plug the band in Britain - but again to little or no chart avail. 'Live' Little Feat were groundbreaking and unbeatable, 'studio-wise', punters were still struggling to get it. 

The 24-page booklet with a fantastically in-depth info-fest on 1972, the album's making, the post-1973 reception and aftermath is handled by DENNIS McNALLY. McNally quite rightly surmises that despite commercial failure everywhere it seems - "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" was so much more legacy-wise - because it signalled that Little Feat had found their sound – their groove as he puts it – a pre-Talking Heads Funky-Rock chug that persists to this day here in late 2024. 

Four full-page promo photos of the six-piece band pepper the text and card digipak while a further discussion takes place on Page 15 regarding Neon Parks and his signature LP artwork (the original painting used is on Page 16). Apparently, a working girl who was having it off with the band's Road Manager Ducka in an apartment just off Sunset where they were staying, was about to make too much noise during proceedings, so an Accordion was brought in to drown out the decibels – and such was a cover born. The lady is referred to as Linda and apparently the likeness is uncanny while her bracelets on both wrists in the painting may also have indicated something else used during the gigglesome rumpy-pumpy, but I'll let your imagination work that one out. From Pages 17 to 22 we get lyrics and full credits and the final rear page is a Master Tape box. 24-pages of sweetness and curated by people who care. 

DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT have been Remastering Warner Brothers, Atlantic and Elektra mastertapes for Rhino since before 1990 – over 35-years of Audio Transfer experience between them and straight up from Track 1 – you can hear it. The Bass, Slide Guitar, Piano plinking and Southern Belle slink-lyrics that open "Dixie Chicken" – the impact is fantastic. Give this even the slightest welly and the neighbours will be asking for an invite to the singalong party. Dig those ladies (Bonnie Bramlett and Bonnie Raitt walking together in Dixieland) but the credits still don’t advise who is playing the Harmonica. The Funk-Rock continues with another total winner – the Lowell George penned "Two Trains" – check out that great down-sliding guitar moment about 1:33 minutes in – oh so damn good (he would return to this song for his solo album in 1979 "Thanks, I'll Eat It Here" with even more what-it-is Funky results). As if the opening two weren't enough to secure the album's arrival, the gorgeous elegant-profanity ballad "Roll Um Easy" whomps with both melody and crystal-clear audio that is going to thrill newcomers. The liner notes advise that Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night had just come off tour and his voice was shredded – but George had him do the backing vocal anyway on "Roll Um Easy" precisely because of his ragged rasp. 

A huge slow keyboard-driven Funk then shuffles into your living room – sunrise and sunset – people flying high across town – Little Feat smartly covering an Allen Toussaint song "On Your Way Down". Meet up with those dudes as your whole being heads South. That guitar solo at about 2:40 minutes now has the power it has always craved – love "On Your Way Down" to bits and its very Dr. John voodoo-ambience is surely one of the greatest unsung cover versions ever in Rock (Toussaint would eventually tour with Little Feat as an opening act in the mid to late Seventies). Side 1 ends with one I'm sure fans return to as a deep album cut – the sinister milk-toasted ain't-no-peace synths of "Kiss it Off" programmed by Malcolm Cecil of Tonto's Expanding Head Band – a man that defined the Funk Sound on Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness' First Finale" in 1973 and 1974.

Side 2 goes more optimistic with its opener "Kiss It Off" – a song inspired by a photo of a 17-year-old Olivia Hussey in the film "Romeo And Juliet" – future bandmate Fred Tackett thought her angelic innocence so displayed in the photograph would not be long changing – hence the opening lyrics. Gorgeous audio too. Bill Payne takes Lead Vocals on "Walkin' All Night" alongside Paul Barrere – an obvious saucy love-letter to a side-street swinger that has both young men aeriated in all areas. There then follows a huge Feat fave amongst fans – the Lowell George self-deprecation anthem "Fat Man In The Bathtub" (look out Juanita). The Feat goes ever so slightly Prog and even Psych amidst the Funk with "Juliette" – George proving himself a deft-hand on Flute too. The album kind of peters out with the instrumental slink of "Lafayette Railroad" – a song you feel could have done with more work and even some cool lyrics. But at is – the bulk of "Dixie Chicken" has already woven its way into your heart. 

CD2 opens with two demos that first appeared in September 2000 on the stunning "Hotcakes & Outtakes..." 4CD Book Set - "Dixie Chicken" and "Two Trains". Sort of an audio set up with the good stuff first (to appease the iffy sounding live stuff later) – they make for a cool starter. Even stripped of instruments, the very basic beat-box Demo of "Dixie Chicken" has that killer melody aligned with those witty and knowing lyrics – so it was a winner even in embryo form. But then the real meat and potatoes pop up – five Alternate Versions sided by the outtakes "Eldorado Slim" and "Hi Roller (Ace In The Hole)". The "Roll Um Easy" outtake plays to 2:36 minutes and is lovely but missing the album polish – those guitar add-ons that lifted it up to where it needed to be. Not for the first time on CD2 does the Allen Toussaint cover version offer up Little Feat at their storming Funky-Rock best – the "On Your Way Down" Alternate Version runs to 5:56 minutes while the Live Cut might as well have been written for them – albeit let down by OK-sound. The Alternate of "Dixie Chicken" is very good but you can tell it’s a work-in-progress – again like "Roll Um Easy" needing those extra embellishments the final album version gave this great song. 

The Live Set is clearly in front of a small but highly enthusiastic audience and while the band are cooking – wowing them with hip-swaying Funk-Rock and not just heavy riffage – it is clear why this was not used before – the audio is a notch above bootleg – and in some passages – a notch or two below it. But even with compromised at times muddy audio – when they switch from "Got No Shadow" to "On Your Way Down" – I swear I can hear the audience and their palpable excitement at this new sound – a Rock Band with Funk and Wit and players firing on newly found all-sixes. The acoustic "Willin'" is lovely, but it ends on the odd stop-start syncopation of "A Apolitical Blues". CD2 is fab and disappointing at one and the same time, but you also feel that this is a great band emerging from the shadows and some lucky buggers were there in the mall in April 1973 to hear it. 

14 June 2024 saw the 3CD Deluxe Edition of album number four from 1974 - "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" – and again to huge acclaim. 2025 will undoubtedly see "The Last Record Album" from 1975 receive a similar 50th Anniversary blast and "Time Loves A Hero" from 1977 get one too in 2027. Alongside the magnificent "Waiting For Columbus" live box set of 2022 with its 8CDs of primo Little Feat on tour – you have to say that Rhino and Warner Brothers are keeping the faithful happy and their bank accounts worried. 

Would we want it any other way – Brill and then some. Recommended…

"Sailin' Shoes" by LITTLE FEAT – February 1972 Second US Studio Album on Warner Brothers featuring Lowell George, Bill Payne, Roy Estrada and Richard Hayward with Guests Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Ron Elliott on Guitars plus Milt Holland and Debbie Lindsey on Percussion and Backing Vocals – Van Dyke Parks on Piano on CD2 (June 2023 UK Warner Records/Rhino '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue with the 11-Track Album Newly Remastered in 2023 on CD1 and 21 Bonus Tracks on CD2 (16 of which are Previously Unreleased) – Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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 This Review Along With 310 Others Is Available In My

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TUMBLING DICE - 1972
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands and Thousands of E-Pages of Real Info

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves

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RATING: ****

 

"...Weed, Whites and Wine..."

 

 

Alongside their Reissue Brother from another Mother Rhino Records – Warner Brothers (or Warner Records as they seem to call themselves these days) have finally seen to plug in two humungous Remaster holes in the mighty catalogue of Little Feat. Both 1972's "Sailin' Shoes" and 1973's "Dixie Chicken" have been given June 2023 '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatments – Remasters and tasty unreleased. And about Tripe Face Boogie time too. To the guacamole details...

 

UK released Friday, 23 June 2023 - "Sailin' Shoes" by LITTLE FEAT on Warner Records/Rhino R2 6953721 – 603497837434 (Barcode 603497837434) is a '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue with the 11-Track 1972 Album Newly Remastered in 2023 on CD1 and 21 Bonus Tracks on CD2 (16 of which Previously Unreleased). It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Sailin' Shoes 2023 Remaster" (37:53 minutes):

1. Easy To Slip [Side 1]

2. Cold, Cold, Cold

3. Trouble

4. Tripe Face Boogie

5. Willin'

6. A Apolitical Blues

7. Sailin' Shoes [Side 2]

8. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

9. Got No Shadow

10. Cat Fever

11. Texas Rose Café

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "Sailin' Shoes" – released February 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2600 and May 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46156. Produced by TED TEMPLEMAN – it didn't chart in either country. NOTE: Original copies of the British LP spelt the song "Willin'" on both the inner sleeve and label as "Willing".

 

For "Sailin' Shoes" LITTLE FEAT was:

LOWELL GEORGE – Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals and Harmonica

BILL PAYNE – Keyboards and Acordian (Lead Vocals on "Cat Fever" only)

ROY ESTRADA – Bass and Backing Vocals

RICHARD HAYWARD – Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals

ROY ESTRADA

Guests:

Milt Holland plays Percussion of "Easy To Slip" and "Trouble"

Debbie Lindsey sings Backing Vocals on "Cold, Cold, Cold" and "Sailin' Shoes"

Sneaky Pete Kleinow plays Pedal Steel on "Willin'" and "Texas Rose Cafe"

Ron Elliott plays Electric Guitar on "A Apolitical Blues"

 

CD2 "Hotcakes, Outtakes & Rarities" (78:32 minutes):

1. Sailin' Shoes (Demo)

2. Easy To Fall (Easy To Slip) (Demo for The Doobie Brothers)

3. Texas Rose Café (Alternate Version)

4. Cold, Cold, Cold (Alternate Version)

5. Roto/Tone

6. A Apolitical Blues (Alternate Version)

7. Boogie – Tripe Face Boogie

8. Trouble (Alternate Version)

9. Doriville

10. Willin' (Alternate Version)

11. Easy To Slip (Mono Single Version)

 

THANK YOU! I'LL EAT IT HERE: Live At The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, August 28, 1972"

12. Tripe Face Boogie

13. Hamburger Tonight

14. Cat Fever

15. Willin'

16. Strawberry Flats

17. Got No Shadow

18. Texas Rose Café

19. Snakes On Everything

20. Hot Rod (Eldorado Slim)

21. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were first issued as Unreleased Versions on the 4CD "Hotcakes & Outtakes" Book Set in September 2000.

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are previously unreleased Demos, Alternate Versions and Outtakes from the "Sailin' Shoes" sessions; Track 11 is a Previously Unreleased Promo Only Mono Mix of a US 45 Single Side while Tracks 12 to 21 are Previously Unreleased Live Recordings done Live At The Palladium in Los Angeles, California 28 August 1972.

 

Fans will know that true Remasters of tracks from these albums first showed in September 2000 on the "Hotcakes & Outtakes" 4CD Hardback Book Set – and glorious they were too. February 2014 saw both full albums show in some form of Remaster quality for the 13CD Clamshell Box Set "Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971 to 1990". And then came Mobile Fidelity ULTRADIC II issues – expensive – beautiful – but bare bones too. Here we get smokes and folks smuggled from Mexico to Tehachapi and Tonopah and a few Teenage Nervous Breakdowns in-between.

 

Put bluntly – the 2023 Remaster of the album by DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT (long standing Audio Engineers for Rhino and handlers of huge swathes of the WEA Sixties and Seventies back catalogue) is great – full of muscle – howling harmonica and drums in "A Apolitical Blues" – that sexy Hammond B-3 organ bolster atop Lowell’s slide as "Easy To Slip" begins to open up – the delicate acoustic of the gorgeous "Willin'" and the Jedidiah dime-store guitar hustle of the title track "Sailin' Shoes" with Debbie Lindsey providing backing vocals. And finally I get to hear the Bill Payne-written Keyboard-Slide-Guitar Funk-Rock of "Got No Shadow" groove across my living room in all the 5:07 minute clarity this deep album dive has always been denied. And that guitar-battle towards the end of "Texas Rose Cafe" comes stomping out of your hi-fi with bovver boots on. YES! It's all clear folks. And at 78:32 minutes – you cannot accuse CD2 of slacking with the Rarities and Unreleased even if half of that so-so recorded live material has remained in cans for a reason (lifeless crowd too).

 

Reissue Produced by JASON JONES - the Card Digipak packaging allows three flaps to use outtake period photos of our Band of Four goofing about outside some garage (two beneath the see-through CD trays) and a pleasingly indepth 24-page booklet to be stuck into the flap in the middle. DAVID FRICKE cannot hide his affection for this exceptional American band providing a very cool overview of the album alongside formation and discovery details. Quite rightly Lowell George and Richie Hayward (who have both passed) get bigged up for their styles that made the Funky Rock of Little Feat such an enticing stew to so many. I do think that sonically and stylistically too – their second album is a bit all over the place and the sheer heartstring-tug of "Willin'" tends to overshadow everything else by a country mile. You can hear it in the audience dead zone that is the 28 August 1972 show. It can actually feel like the band doesn't seem to know what it is – are they Rock – are they Funk – are they a strange kind of hybrid. Which might go to explain the staggeringly low sales for their second album and clearly a big leap forward in the writing department (13,000 copies only while the debut had reputedly only managed 11,000 LPs sold).

 

Over on CD2 you get two utterly extraordinary moments no self-respecting Little Feat fan will be able to live without – a very clear if not a tiny bit hissy Demo of the title track "Sailin' Shoes" recorded March 1971 with Van Dyke Parks both playing Piano and Producing. The second is a Demo of the mighty "Willin'" recorded during the "Sailin' Shoes" sessions between 7 and 14 July 1971. With a One, Two, Three count in and near perfect Ted Templeman production values – it is close to the finished article except that the piano solo is not as nice or accomplished – seeking those right notes ala Jackson Browne. But what a find – baked by the sun – loving it. The Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of "A Apolitical Blues" has the same snake-like boogie the finished version does – Chairman Mao on the phone approving. Sounds fantastic too – Ted Templeman ramping up that Captain Beefheart-like Harmonica solo to devastating effect. I might actually prefer this to the LP final. For anyone who hasn't got the "Hotcakes & Outtakes" 4CD set – the outtake "Doriville" turns out be a lovely tune left behind without explanation – perhaps Lowell felt it had not been nailed (the ghost of facelessness has followed us here). Though I would admit that the Mono Single Mix of "Easy To Slip" feels less than the Stereo LP cut no matter what speakers it comes out of (Radio or otherwise).

 

Now with the loud music, the MC shouts to the crowd as Track 12 begins a run of 10 live tracks recorded at The Palladium in Los Angeles on 28 August 1972. Featuring the same four-piece for the "Sailin Shoes'" album – the gig was recorded after the first self-titled album came out, but before "Sailin' Shoes" was released. The Funk-Rock opens with two gooduns - "Tripe Face Boogie" (Bill Payne on Vocals) with Lowell taking lead vocals on the first LP standout track "Hamburger Midnight". Unfortunately his guitar disappears into the background too much even when his playing is fabulous. They bring out the Dr. John-esque then newbee of "Cat Fever" (Bill Payne on Vocals) while the first and second versions of "Willin'" get mixed up into a new brew by Lowell. George introduces "Willin'" as Country and Western but messes up several attempts to begin – worse is the sound that is in and out like a politician's excuses. With more monitor feedback and a decidedly bootleg feel, the band struggles eliciting any vibe from the crowd for "Strawberry Flats". Payne tries to Funk up proceedings with his "Got No Shadow" – both George and Payne energized by the new material and the Funky groove – listen to them dueting at three minutes. And on it goes...

 

I am genuinely conflicted in saying that this is a five-star reissue – it feels more like a four – but there is no doubting that "Sailin' Shoes" deserved this lavish attention and Hersch and Inglot are to be praised for doing such a stellar job with what had to have been compromised tapes for CD2. But with all those Alternates and the New Demos that genuinely thrill – it’s a winner – if not a flawed one.

 

I suspect like so many fans who grew up with them in the Seventies and into the Eighties after they continued without their leader Lowell George – I only have look at the Neon Parks artwork and a picture of LG smiling alongside Hayward (both now sadly passed) – and I am on the CD player with a willing passion. RIP you geniuses of the Hybrid Boogie...

"Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by EMMYLOU HARRIS – Forty-Four US 45-Singles culled from Albums, Compilations and Stand-Alone Releases between 1975 and 1990. Guests feature Members of The Band, Eagles, Little Feat and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Plus Musicians James Burton, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Herb Pedersen, Duane Eddy, Paul Kennerley, Carl Jackson and Waylon Jennings. Duet Vocals with Roy Orbison, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, Backing Vocals from Vince Gill, Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Dianne Brooks, The Whites and many more (May 2001 UK Warner Archives/Reprise/Rhino Series 2CD 44-Track Singles Compilation with Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Beneath Still Waters..."

 

Although it doesn't say it on the front or rear cover - what you get here are a huge Forty-Four Country-Rock US 45-Singles (all tracks are Single Versions). Rhino have pulled a humungous thirty-seven tracks from fourteen Studio Albums and one Live Set ("Last Date") and added in a Best Of Compilation exclusive, a Soundtrack duet with Roy Orbison and Five Non-LP B-sides.

 

The LP releases stretch from her February 1975 Debut Album "Pieces Of The Sky" all the way up to the October 1990 set "Brand New Dance". The pictured discography in the booklet however has all releases up to "Red Dirt Girl" and photos of other releases where there is more Emmylou Harris available - like the Gram Parsons twofer "Sacred Hearts And Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology" – also issued May 2001 by Rhino.

 

While the tunes are the usual mix of heartbreak, misery, abandonment and infidelity amongst drunken emotional desperados – there are three things that impress and stay with you. The first is the staggering guest lists throughout the years - Members of The Band, Eagles, Little Feat and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Plus guitar pickers like James Burton, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Herb Pedersen, Duane Eddy, Paul Kennerley, Carl Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Douglas and Vocal Duets with genre legends like Roy Orbison, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton with Backing Vocals from such luminaries as Vince Gill, Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Dianne Brooks, Sharon Hicks, The Whites and so many more.

 

Door number two is the songs – always aching, often beautiful, and always with smart choices and superlative execution. But then there is number three – the sheer class that emanates off every molecule of her back catalogue – and is presented her in the kind of gorgeous array most recording artists can only hope for but rarely get.

 

When Rhino did the Warner Archives Reprise sets, they really went for it in terms of annotation and quality Remastering. There is so much to love on here – so let’s get to the saddles and get sore...

 

UK released 1 May 2001 - "Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by EMMYLOU HARRIS on Warner Archives Rhino/Reprise 8122-76705-2 (Barcode 081227670528) is a 44-Track 2CD Compilation of Remastered US 45-Single Sides that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (76:20 minutes):

1. Too Far Gone (Billy Sherriff song)

2. If I Could Only Win Your Love (Charlie and Ira Louvin song)

3. Boulder To Birmingham (Emmylou Harris/Bill Dannoff song)

4. Together Again (Buck Owens song)

5. Here, There And Everywhere (Beatles song)

6. One Of These Days (Earl Montgomery song)

7. Sweet Dreams (Live) (Don Gibson song)

8. (You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie (Chuck Berry song)

9. Making Believe (Jimmy Work song)

10. Easy From Now On (Susanne Clark/Carlene Carter song)

11. To Daddy (Dolly Parton song)

12. Two More Bottles Of Wine (Delbert McClinton song)

13. Save The Last Dance For Me (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman song, Drifters cover)

14. Beneath Still Waters (Dallas Frazier song)

15. Blue Kentucky Girl (Johnny Mullins song)

16. Wayfaring Stranger (Traditional song)

17. That Lovin' You Feelin' Again (Roy Orbison/Chris Price song – a Duet with ROY ORBISON)

18. The Boxer (Paul Simon song, Simon & Garfunkel cover)

19. Precious Love (Byron Walls song)

20. Fools Thin Air (Rodney Crowell/Susanna Clark song)

21. Mister Sandman (Pat Ballard song, Chordettes cover)

22. Colors Of Your Heart (Rodney Crowell song)

 

NOTES on CD1:

"Pieces Of The Sky" Album

Track 1 is a 26 February 1975 US 45-single, Reprise RPS-1326, A-side (see also Track 3 for B-side) – reissued 10 January 1979 as a US 45-single on Warner Brothers WBS 8732, A-side

Track 2 is a 4 June 1975 US 45-single, Reprise RPS-1332, A-side

Track 3 is a 26 February 1975 US 45-single first issue, Reprise RPS-1326, B-side of "Too Far Gone" – second issue was 4 June 1975 on Reprise RPS 1332, B-side of "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (Track 1), third issue was 17 December 1976 on Reprise RPS 1379, B-side of "Light Of The Stable"

Tracks 1 to 3 on her debut album "Pieces Of The Sky", released 7 February 1975 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2213

 

"Elite Hotel" Album

Tracks 5 and 4 (note order) are the A&B-sides of a 11 February 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1346, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Track 6 is a 5 May 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1353, A-side

Track 7 is a 22 September 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1371, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Tracks 4, 5, 6 and 7 on her second studio album "Elite Hotel", released 29 December 1975 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2236

 

"Luxury Liner" Album

Track 8 is a 2 February 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8329, A-side

Track 9 is a 4 May 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8388, A-side

Tracks 8 and 9 are from her album "Luxury Liner", released 28 December 1976 in the USA on Reprise Records BS 2998

 

"Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town" Album

Track 10 is a 5 July 1978 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8623, A-side

Track 11 is a 2 November 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8498, A-side

Track 12 is a 7 March 1978 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8553, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Tracks 10, 11 and 12 on her album "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town", released 6 January 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3141

 

"Blue Kentucky Girl" Album

Track 13 is a 2 May 1979 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8815, A-side, a Drifters cover version

Track 14 is a 23 January 1980 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49164, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Track 15 is a 22 August 1979 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49056, A-side

Tracks 13, 14 and 15 on her album "Blue Kentucky Girl", released 13 April 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3318

 

"Roses In The Snow" Album

Track 16 is a 14 May 1980 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49239, A-side

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a 13 August 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49551 – the B-side "Precious Lover" was Non-LP

 

"Roadies" Soundtrack Album

Track 17 was a US 45-single released 21 May 1980, Warner Brothers WBS 49262 – a duet credited to EMMYLOU HARRIS and ROY ORBISON. It also featured on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album to "Roadie", released 21 May 1980 in the USA on Warner Brothers 2HS-2441

 

Tracks 21 and 20 (note order) are the A&B-sides of an 11 February 1981 US 45-single on Warner Brothers WBS 49684. It is essentially a stand-alone 45 because the B-side "Fools Thin Air" was Non-LP and the A-side "Mister Sandman" had a different mix on the 1981 "Evangeline" album that contained additional vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt (not on the single version)

 

Track 22 is a 13 May 1981 US 45-single, Warner WBS 49739, the Non-LP B-side to "I Don't Have To Crawl"

 

CD2 (72:43 minutes):

1. If I Needed You ((Townes Van Zandt song – with DON WILLIAMS)

2. Tennessee Rose (Karen Brooks/Hank DeVito song)

3. Born To Run (Paul Kennerley song)

4. Another Pot O' Tea (Paul Grady song)

5. I'm Movin' On (Hank Snow song)

6. (Lost His Love) On Our Last Date (Live) (Floyd Crammer/Conway Twitty song)

7. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) (Live) (Don Everly song)

8. Maybe Tonight (Shirley Elkhard song)

9. Drivin' Wheel (T-Bone Burnett/Billy Swan song)

10. In My Dreams (Paul Kennerley song)

11. Pledging My Love (Don Robey/Fats Washington song – Johnny Ace cover)

12. Someone Like You (Bob McDill/Dickey Lee song)

13. White Line (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

14. Rhythm Guitar (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

15. Timberline (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

16. I Had My Heart Set On You (Rodney Crowell/Paul Kennerley song)

17. Today I Started Loving You Again (Merle Haggard/Bonnie Owens song)

18. To Know Him Is To Love Him (Phil Spector song, a Teddy Bears cover, a Trio with DOLLY PARTON and LINDA RONSTADT)

19. Heartbreak Hill (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

20. Heaven Only Knows (Paul Kennerley song)

21. I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash & Ray Cash Jr.,)

22. Wheels Of Love (Marjy Plant)

 

NOTES on CD2:

"Evangeline" Album

Track 1 is an August 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49809, A-side – a duet with DON WILLIAMS. From the "Evangeline" album, released 28 January 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3508 (see also Notes for Track 21 on CD1 – a variant of which is also on the album)

 

"Cimarron" Album

Track 2 is a 16 December 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49892, A-side

Track 3 is a May 1982 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29993, A-side

Tracks 2 and 3 are on the album "Cimarron", released 18 November 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3603

 

Track 4 is a 15 September 1982 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 7-29898, the Non-LP B-side to "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date" (for A-side see Track 6 on CD2)

 

"Last Date" Live Album

Track 5 is a 16 February 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29729, A-side (for Non-LP B-side "Maybe Tonight" see Track 8 on CD2)

Track 6 is a 15 September 1982 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29898, A-side

Track 7 is a 1 June 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29583, A-side

Tracks 5, 6 and 7 are on the live album "Last Date", released 13 October 1982 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 23740-1

 

Track 8 is a 16 February 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29729, the Non-LP B-side to "I'm Movin' On" see Track 5 on CD2)

 

"White Shoes" Album

Track 9 is a 19 October 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29443, A-side

Track 10 is a 22 February 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29329, A-side

Track 11 is a 11 July 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29218, A-side

Tracks 9, 10 and 11 from the album "White Shoes", released 19 October 1983 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 23961-1

 

"Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris" Compilation Album

Track 12 was a new songs exclusive to the compilation "Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris", released 17 September 1984 on Warner Brothers 9 25161-1

 

"The Ballad Of Sally Rose" Album

Track 13 is a 27 February 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29041, A-side

Track 14 is a 12 June 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28952, A-side

Track 15 is a 16 October 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28852, A-side

Tracks 13, 14 and 15 from the album "The Ballad Of Sally Rose", released 31 December 1984 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25205-1

 

"Thirteen" Album

Track 16 is a 22 January 1986 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28770, A-side

Track 17 is a 2 April 1986 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28714, A-side

Tracks 16 and 17 are from the album "Thirteen", released 20 January 1986 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25352-1

 

"Trio" Album

Track 18 is a 14 January 1987 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28492, A-side. Also on the "Trio" album by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, released 2 March 1987 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25491-1

 

"Bluebird" Album

Track 19 is an 18 November 1988 US 45-single, Reprise 7-27635, A-side

Track 20 is a 28 March 1989 US 45-single, Reprise 7-22999, A-side

Track 21 is an August 1989 US 45-single, Reprise 7-22850, a-side

Tracks 19, 20 and 21 on the "Bluebird" album, released 10 January 1989 in the USA on Reprise Records 9 25776-1

 

"Brand New Dance" Album

Track 22 is a 22 November 1990 US 45-single, Reprise 7-19510, A-side – also on the "Brand New Dance" album, released 16 October 1990 in the USA on Reprise 9 26309-2 (CD)

 

Produced for Rhino by their A&R man Patrick Mulligan (he introduces the liner notes), the outer card slipcase houses two Card-Digipaks (pictured) with the 50-page booklet slotted in beside them. The booklet is gorgeous and jam-packed with serious discography info and thorough history notes by HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN. Period photos pepper the text – they have even provided Billboard C&W and Pop chart positions for each single. And although Rhino only uses songs from 15 of her actual album releases, they have listed and pictured a full 24-album discography including compilations, Soundtracks and Retrospectives across Pages 42 to 46 as well as other suggestions where to get more of your EH fix (very classy stuff, like the good lady herself).

 

Long-time-associated Audio Engineers with Rhino reissues BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH have carried out the gorgeous Remasters at Digiprep – every song singing like that Kentucky Bird – pedal steel and mandolin solos ahoy. It really is a beautiful listen (check out the clarity on her cover of the going-over-Jordan Traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" – a song that features acoustic and gut-string geetars and mandolins by Ricky Scaggs, Brian Ahern, Jerry Douglas and Albert Lee). To the chunes...

 

Fans are going to love digitally remastered versions of cool rarities like the Honky Tonky guitar-picking of both "Precious Love" and "Fools Thin Air" – two Non-LP B-sides from 1980 and 1981, but that Roy Orbison duet from the crappy "Roadies" movie soundtrack feels like a clunky disappointment. But they are as nothing to the fabulous Rodney Crowell plaintive ballad "Colors Of Your Heart" – another Non-album flipside (from 1981) that surely should have been glistening on an album. The whole band elevates her floating ethereal vocals - Frank Reckard on Acoustic, Hank DeVito on Pedal Steel, James Burton on Dobro, Ricky Scaggs on Mandolin and a few more top session-types bolstering up the Rhythm Section. It’s a perfect example of the surprises this set throws up.

 

The first moment of genius for me on CD1 is her tingle-inducing ballad "Boulder To Birmingham" – as sweet and as movingly simple a listen as you could get in 1975. Her live version of the Don Gibson classic "Sweet Dreams" is fab too – somehow even more emotive for being in front of an audience - but I have to say I find the Dolly Parton song "To Daddy" far too saccharine. Not so the simple brilliance in the Delbert McClinton moaner "Two More Bottles Of Wine" – the kind of boozy-battered-broken-hearted-fool tune Emmylou so excels in. I can understand the clever Harmony Vocal overdubs in her cover of The Chordettes hit "Mister Sandman", but again the LP cut had additional vocals from Dolly and Linda and is much better for it. Vocalist Group The Whites (Buck, Cheryl and Sharon) lend their deeply lovely pipes to a very sweet cover of that "Bridge Over Troubled Water" classic "The Boxer" – Simon & Garfunkel might even have been impressed if they'd been talking. And as I mentioned earlier, "Wayfaring Stranger" is just plain beautiful and a track I return to again and again (Tim Buckley in 1968, Johnny Cash in 2000 and especially Natalie Merchant on her 2003 CD album "The House Carpenter’s Daughter" have all done storming versions too).

 

Over on CD2, the Eighties and its highly polished sound dominates – only in EJ's case she is thankfully determined to not make it Soul-less. Part 2 begins with a beautifully recorded duet with Don Williams on her cover of the Townes Van Zandt song "If I Needed You" – Wayne Godwin on Mandolin and Fiddle. Bert Ahern and Ricky Scaggs give a classy underpinning to the jaunty ache in "Tennessee Rose" (one night would sort things out). Not to be confused with The 1975 Boss Anthem of the same name, husband Paul Kennerley provided with EJ with "Born To Run" – great guitar sound in the clear-as-a-bell Remaster. Surprising lovely is the Non-LP B-side "Another Pot O' Tea", our Kentucky Girl in love with an Irish accent – laughing around the table but longing too.

 

Emmylou and her Hot Band were clearly raring to go with the live set "Last Date" opening proceedings with a cool Honky Tonk version of the much-covered Hank Snow song "I'm Movin' On" (a perfect scene-setter). Immediate concert class comes in the shape of "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date", our gusto-gal foolishly breaking her man down easy only to find she knows it's a fooler mistake as she watches her good baby walk away. Wayne Goodwin opens the lovely "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" with his Mandolin strums only to be joined in the Harmony Wall by Steve Fishell and Don Johnson on Pedal Steel and Keyboards.

 

And again another flipside impresses big time - "Maybe Tonight" benefitting from Dobro by Steve Fishell. Time to get shuffling with the T-Bone Burnett and Billy Swan-penned boogie-down - "Drivin' Wheel". Aided by Barry Tashian dueting on Lead Vocals – it's the kind of Country Rocker that would make Gram Parsons smile in the great Blue Kentucky yonder. Emmylou will hold her man tight and everything will work out all right "In My Dreams". A clever choice is the Johnny Ace cover, "Pledging My Love", Emmylou turning his Doo Wop Fifties pleader into a Country one – such a lovely version with her voice evoking the hurt. And on it goes with an embarrassment of riches...

 

I have seen "Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by Emmylou Harris on sale on Amazon for under three quid and on Auction Sites for as little as four or five sterling. I would take up that bargain before the crowds dawdling in some lesser musical space notice their extraordinarily discombobulated dicky behaviour...