"The Alternate Collection" by FLEETWOOD MAC – Six Albums Presented As 'Alternate' Versions, Each with Different Artwork and Including Only Alternate Tracks Taken From The Deluxe And Super Deluxe Edition Box Sets Issued Between 2013 and 2020 – 'The Alternate' Albums Are "Fleetwood Mac" (1975), "Rumours" (1977), "Tusk" (1979 2LP Set), "Live" (1980 2LP Set), "Mirage" (1982) and "Tango In The Night" (1987) – Band Featured Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood (November 2022 UK/WORLDWIDE Warner/Reprise Records 6CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeves and Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters - A 'Record Store Day' 2022 Limited Edition) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...What Makes You Think You're The One... "

 

Now this is a very clever reissue – a Record Store Day Limited Edition from April 2022 that came out in both 6CD and 8xVINYL Formats, was then made available to the public at large in November 2022 and is still on general sale here in mid 2023.

 

However, the true die-hard FLEETWOOD MAC fan might look at this 6CD mini Clamshell Box Set and consider it a waste of time as they will already own the Super Deluxe LP-Sized variants of all six albums. But the six original LP-Sized Multiple-Format Box Sets issued between 2013 and 2020 would have put you back hundreds of quid (and still can/do) – which makes this little nugget currently languishing unloved and forlorn on Amazon in 2023 for a paltry 30-quid (new and shrink-wrapped) frankly a bit of a deal and a wee belter.

 

Presented here as The Alternate of "Fleetwood Mac" (1975), "Rumours" (1977), "Tusk" (1979 2LP Set), "Live" (1980 2LP Set), "Mirage" (1982) and "Tango In The Night" (1987) - "The Alternate Collection" looks great, sounds great (Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters from original tapes, two outstanding Engineers Rhino of the USA has used for over four decades now) and most of all – it plays great - offering punters a different and strangely satisfying listen to overdone F Mac territory. To the details and runthroughs...

 

UK and WORLDWIDE released 25 November 2022 - "The Alternate Collection" by FLEETWOOD MAC on Warner/Reprise Records R2 671020 / 603497842209 (Barcode 603497842209) is a 6CD Limited Edition Clamshell Box Set that plays out as follows (LB = Lindsey Buckingham on Lead Vocals, CMcV = Christine McVie and SN = Stevie Nicks):

 

CD1 "The Alternate Fleetwood Mac" (43:22 minutes):

1. Monday Morning (Early Take, LB Vocals) [Side 1]

2. Warm Ways (Early Take, CMcV Vocals)

3. Blue Letter (Early Take, LB Vocals)

4. Rhiannon (Early Take, SN Vocals with Spoken Lead-In)

5. Over My Head (Early Take, CMcV Lead Vocals)

6. Crystal (Early Version, LB Lead Vocals)

7. Say You Love Me (Early Version, CMcV Lead Vocals) [Side 2]

8. Landslide (Early Version, SN Lead Vocals, LB on Guitar)

9. World Turning (Early Version LB and CMcV on Duet Lead Vocals)

10. Sugar Daddy (Early Take, CMcV on Lead Vocals)

11. I'm So Afraid (Early Version, LB on Lead Vocals)

The original album (Tracks 1 to 11) of "Fleetwood Mac" was released August 1975 in the UK on Reprise K 54043 and in the USA on Reprise MS 2281.

 

CD2 "The Alternate Rumours" (41:28 minutes):

1. Second Hand News (Alternate, LB and SN on Lead Vocals) [Side 1]

2. Dreams (Alternate, SN on Lead Vocals)

3. Never Going Back Again (Acoustic Duet, LB and SN on Duet Lead Vocals)

4. Don't Stop (Alternate, LB and CMcV on Duet Lead Vocals)

5. Go Your Own Way (Alternate, LB on Lead Vocals)

6. Songbird (Alternate, CMcV on Lead Vocals)

7. The Chain (Demo, SN on Lead Vocals with Different Lyrics) [Side 2]

8. You Make Loving Fun (Alternate, CMcV on Lead Vocals)

9. I Don't Want To Know (Early Take, LB on Lead Vocals)

10. Oh Daddy (Alternate, CMcV on Lead Vocals with SN on Backing Vocals)

11. Gold Dust Woman (Early Take, SN on Lead Vocals)

NOTES:

The original album (Tracks 1 to 11) of "Rumours" was released February 1977 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56344 and Warner Brothers BSK 3010. It reached Number 1 on both the UK and USA charts and is one the biggest selling albums of all time. When "Rumours" was reissued (once again) in January 2013 as a 3CD Expanded Edition - CD1 of that release contained the only Non-LP track from the sessions called "Silver Springs" (originally the B-side of the January 1977 45-single "Go Your Own Way") as a Bonus Track. CD3 of that Expanded Reissue also had "Silver Springs (Early Take)", but unfortunately it is not included as a Bonus Track here when it could have been.

 

CD3 "The Alternate Tusk" (79:47 minutes):

1. Over & Over (2 April 1979, CMcV on Lead) [Side 1]

2. The Ledge (13 March 1979, LB on Lead)

3. Think About Me (18 February 1979, )

4. Save Me A Place (18 October 1978)

5. Sara (10 March 1979)

6. What Makes You Think You're The One (24 February 1979) [Side 2]

7. Storms (2 June 1979)

8. That's All For Everyone (20 October 1978)

9. Not That Funny (19 May 1979)

10. Sisters Of The Moon (12 November 1978)

11. Angel (2 April 1979) [Side 3]

12. That's Enough For Me (29 September 1978)

13. Brown Eyes (20 September 1978 with Lindsey and Peter Green)

14. Never Make Me Cry (8 February 1979)

15. I Know I'm Not Wrong (2 November 1978)

16. Honey Hi (11 October 1978) [Side 4]

17. Beautiful Child (9 October 1978)

18. Walk A Thin Line (6 April 1979)

19. Tusk (19 July 1979)

20. Never Forget (29 June 1978)

NOTES:

Tracks 2, 5 and 10 first appeared on the March 2004 2CD Remaster of "Tusk" and were Previously Unreleased at the time

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6 to 9 and 11 to 20 first appeared on the December 2015 3CD Expanded Edition of "Tusk" and were Previously Unreleased at the time

Track 13 features Peter Green, founder member of Fleetwood Mac in the 60ts

The original album (Tracks 1 to 20) of the double-album "Tusk" was released October 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 66088 and in the USA on Warner Brothers 2HS 3350. It reached Number 1 in the UK and No. 4 in the USA LP charts.

 

CD4 "The Alternate Live" (72:11 minutes):

1. Second Hand News (Live, 21 October 1981) [Side 1]

2. The Chain (Live, 20 May 1980)

3. Think About Me (Live, 24 August 1980)

4. What Makes You Think You're The One (Live, 23 August 1980)

5. Gold Dust Woman (Live, 29 August 1977)

6. Brown Eyes (Live, 22 October 1982)

7. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (Live, 18 May 1977)

8. Angel (Live, 20 May 1980)

9. Hold Me (Live, 21 October 1982)

10. Tusk (Live, 24 August 1980)

11. You Make Loving Fun (Live, 19 May 1977)

12. Sisters Of The Moon (Live, 21 August 1980)

13. Songbird (Live, 21 August 1980)

14. Blue Letter (Live, 20 May 1977)

NOTES:

The original 18-Track double-album "Fleetwood Mac Live" was released December 1980 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 66097 and in the USA on Warner Brothers 2WB 3500. It reached No. 31 in the UK and No. 14 in the USA LP charts.

"The Alternate Live" however is only 14-Tracks and represents a radical re-working of the song line-up in that none of the original 18 appears on it. Also, while the bulk of the original December 1980 2LP set was recorded on the "Tusk" Tour of 1980, the songs for "The Alternate Live" were recorded between May 1977 and as far ahead as October 1982 – two years after the released "Fleetwood Mac Live" 2LP set. The above 14-Track line-up is therefore all new and first appeared on the April 2021 Super Deluxe Edition of "Fleetwood Mac Live". I have included recording dates in the entries above (they are not on the card sleeve) and some copies of the Record Store Day CDs reputedly had 'hidden tracks' at the end of the disc - these versions do not.

 

CD5 "The Alternate Mirage" (47:55 minutes):

1. Love In Store (Early Version, CMcV on Lead) [Side 1]

2. Suma's Walk [aka "Can't Go Back", Instrumental] (Outtake)

3. That's Alright (Alternate Take, SN on Lead)

4. Book Of Love (Early Version, LB on Lead)

5. Gypsy (Early Version, SN on Lead)

6. Only Over You (Alternate Version, CMcV on Lead)

7. Empire State (Early Version, LB on Lead) [Side 2]

8. Straight Back (Original Album Version, SN on Lead)

9. Hold Me (Early Version, CMcV on Lead)

10. Oh Diane (Early Version, LB on Lead)

11. Eyes Of The World (Alternate Early Version, LB on Lead)

12. Wish You Were Here (Alternate Version, CMcV on Lead)

NOTES:

The original album (Tracks 1 to 12) of "Mirage" was released June 1982 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56952 and Warner Brothers 9 23607-1 in the USA. It peaked at No. 1 and No. 5 on the US and UK LP charts.

 

CD6 "The Alternate Tango In The Night" (42:03 minutes):

1. Down Endless Street [Side 1]

2. Special Kind Of Love (Demo)

3. Seven Wonders (Early Version)

4. Tango In The Night (Demo)

5. Mystified (Alternate Version)

6. Where We Belong (Demo)

7. Juliet (Run-Through)

8. Isn’t It Midnight (Alternate Mix)

9. Ooh My Love (Demo)

10. You And I, Part I & II (Full Version)

NOTES:

The original 12-Track vinyl album "Tango In The Night" was released April 1987 in the UK on Warner Brothers WX 65 (925 471-1) and Warner Brothers 9 25471-1 in the USA. It peaked at No. 7 and No. 1 on the US and UK LP charts. Like CD4 (the Live album) – the track list here is again altered with some key songs like "Big Love" missing and replaced by other tunes.

 

When you undo the shrinkwrap and its two stickers (Box Set Title sticker and a Record Store Day Exclusive one in Embossed Silver) – you notice there is no booklet or inlay - which is a damn shame. However, the six sleeves are fabulous – five singles while the live one is a gatefold and the only one that veers away from the artwork of the original LP. The rear artwork is another outtake photo and the Alternate Album artwork has the details but of course in the case of the CDs, the typeface is so small you can’t read it. However, another seriously tasty touch is that each CD comes with a protective polythene inner so they don’t get scratched being pulled out of the tight card sleeve. "The Alternate Fleetwood Mac" even has Penguin logos hidden on the inside of the card sleeve – nice.

 

The Remasters are obviously the ones done by DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT for the Six Super Deluxe Edition Box Sets and don’t let the words (Early Take) or (Alternate Version) make you think of less than stellar quality. The Audio on "Landslide" on the 1975 set is simply Stevie singing while Lindsey picks out an Acoustic and it is hair-raisingly gorgeous – clean, crisp, virtually hissless but not with suppression – just there. That is quickly followed by the shuffling "World Turning" where Lindsey lets rip with the band and frankly you may dig this softer version of the album more than the released version after a few listens. When you played "Second Hand News" which opened Side 1 of the "Rumours" opus, it always felt like a poor choice to me. Here this "Second Hand News" is rough around the edges yeah, but it has an urgency that the finished version somehow lacked.

 

The "Rumours" and "Tusk" material is the same Audio-wise – sharp, clean and beautifully remastered – try "Save Me A Place" – so damn good. To hear Christine McVie shimmer-singing with such tenderness on her piano to her own "Songbird" while LB strums along on an acoustic guitar – it is achingly gorgeous – and you understand so completely why someone at Warner Brothers and Rhino thought the Alternate Album idea a winner everyone needs to hear. Dig those different lyrics sung by Stevie on "The Chain" – it is good – but the finished version they did arrive at is the real winner. "You Make Loving Fun" is a full-band powerhouse of magic – gorgeous audio – that Funky keyboard sound – SN providing subtle chorus backing vocals – LB and his brilliant guitar solo almost identikit to the finished version. It does seem like a damn shame that "Silver Springs" – the Non-LP B-side to "Go Your Own Way" – which was put on as a Bonus Track on the CD reissue of "Rumours" in the Box Set – was not used in the same way here as there was/is an Alternate of it and it would have made the Alternate "Rumours" all the more amazing.

 

I honestly had not expected much from the entirely new configuration of a 14-song "Live" but if anything – you can now feel the sheer force of the band as a unit when they tear up nearly seven-minutes of "The Chain" (gatefold card sleeve is a nice touch as is the word 'live' written on the inside flap). And you have to remember that there is only Buckingham on Guitar – no rhythm or second to give it extra muscle – and yet when the Bass Break happens and Buckingham launches into that final trashing guitar crescendo – the Mac sound like they're going to storm into your living room with bovver boots on. Stevie Nicks gets to shimmer in that way only she can with "Gold Dust Woman" – Mick Fleetwood keeping the beat rock solid. 

 

Not to be outdone, you can so hear why the lovely Christine McVie was so important to them – her songs mellowed - exuded joy - "Brown Eyes" from "Tusk" and the fabulous "Hold Me" from "Mirage" are brought alive as they launch into those gorgeous joined-at-the-hip vocals (Daisy Jones and The Six ahoy). Nice touch too to go at "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)" from the Peter Green days of 1970 - a rare bit of old fart rocking. Somehow Buckingham makes Manalishi sound like an angry "Rumours" outtake. The beauty of the melody to "You Make Loving Fun" is still there, but a muddled stadium sound does for it - the live version from 1977 sounds a little too much like a good bootleg recording rather than a worthy inclusion. And on it goes to the sophistication of the two 80ts albums...

 

There are niggles I know - not having "Big Love" there - not having a booklet to give context - or even 'The Alternate Rumours' having its title on the rear of the card sleeve when it should have been on the front - no "Silver Springs". But these are minor points. Overall, this is a very cool Mac Box Set in a rather tasty run of them.

 

"I wanna be a star...I don't want to be a cleaning lady... " Stevie says into the microphone as she starts the mesmerizing "Sara". Well - all of you are because when you built your house even the formation of its walls rocked. A great reissue for both fans and the curious alike, and one I will return too often...

"Going For The One" by YES - July 1977 Eight Studio Album on Atlantic Records featuring Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Alan White (August 2003 UK Elektra/Rhino 'Expanded & Remastered Edition' CD Reissue with Seven Bonus Tracks and Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sun Thru The Haze... "

With their last studio album proper having been "Relayer" in November 1974 (featuring Keyboard whizz Patrick Moraz in the line-up) and a single-LP sort-of Best-of compilation filler in February 1975 called "Yesterdays" which had one new song on it (a cover version of Paul Simon's "America") – YES seemed an unlikely bet for a Number One slot in England come the rude and gobby summer of 1977. PROG and all its complicated symphonic Rock genre compatriots were perceived as overblown and old fart and were being promptly wiped away by British New Wave and Punk. And some maintained, rightly so my son.

And yet, there they were - YES - with their impenetrable cosmic lyrics and long complex songs and squirrely logo - this time ditching the beauty and signature look of Roger Dean artwork for their latest LP and replacing it with one of the most hideous and frankly ludicrously wasteful triple gatefold album sleeves ever in "Going For The One" – their eighth studio album released 7 July of 1977 (7/7/77). And they did achieve a No. 1 slot in Blighty (No. 8 in the USA) – never underestimate a naked man in front of a skyscraper.

Regardless of that, and as far as fans are concerned (who seem to love it more than I did back in the day – and I had been such a huge YES fan since 1970) – the search ever since has been to find a CD that improved on the harsh Production of the 1977-day. There have been audiophile issues in Japan, SACD reissues, but to me this August 2003 Elektra/Rhino Expanded Edition with Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters is still the best (and cheapest) way to nab this album until maestro Steve Wilson eventually gets a Panegyric 50^th Anniversary 5.1 and Stereo Remix out. To the awakening; wondrous stories...

UK released 25 August 2003 - "Going For The One" by YES on Elektra/Rhino 8122-73793-2 (Barcode 081227379322) is 'Expanded & Remastered Edition' CD Reissue with Seven Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (79:43 minutes):

Side 1 

1. Going For The One (5:32 minutes) 

2. Turn Of The Century (7:55 minutes)

3. Parallels (5:53 minutes)

Side 2

4. Wondrous Stories (3:49 minutes)

5. Awaken (15:31 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 5 are their eight studio-album "Going For The One" - released 7 July 1977 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 19106 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50379. Produced and Arranged by YES - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 8 in the USA. 

"Going For The One" and "Wondrous Stories" written by Jon Anderson; "Turn Of The Century" written by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White; "Parallels" written by Chris Squire; "Awaken" written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

6. Montreux's Theme (Howe/Squire/Anderson/White) – 2:33 minutes

7. Vevey (Revisited) (Anderson/Wakeman) – 4:42 minutes

8. Amazing Grace (Traditional, Arranged by Squire) – 2:31 minutes

Tracks 6 and 8 first issued 6 August 1991 on the retrospective Box Set "Yes Years" on Atlantic 7 91644-2 (USA), Atco 7567-91644-2 (UK and Europe)

Track 7 "Vevey" first appeared as two tracks on the same Box Set in 1991 running to approximately 2-minutes – here is the full version at 4:42 minutes. It features only Jon Anderson on Harp and Rick Wakeman on Organ

Track 8 is a cover version of the famous Gospel song and features only Chris Squire on Bass

 

9. Going For The One (Rehearsal) – 5:07 minutes

10. Parallels (Rehearsal) – 6:16 minutes

11. Turn Of The Century (Rehearsal) – 6:54 minutes

12. Eastern Numbers (Early Version of "Awaken") -

Tracks 9 to 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White only play on Track 9; Tracks 10, 11 and 12 features the full line-up as listed below

 

YES was:

JON ANDERSON - Lead Vocals, Harp and Guitar

STEVE HOWE - Electric, Pedal Steel and Acoustic Guitars, Vachalia, Harmony Vocals

RICK WAKEMAN - Piano, Electric Piano, Synths, Organ, all Keyboards 

CHRIS SQUIRE - Bass Guitar and Vocals 

ALAN WHITE- Drums and Percussion

The front of the 18-page booklet cleverly uses a fold-out flap to mimic the original triple gatefold sleeve artwork of old (it also reproduces the album's inner sleeve with photos and lyrics of the classic Yes line-up - Rick Wakeman having rejoined the crew) and new liner notes from TIM JONES gives an in-depth history of the band at the time and the making of the record including new reminiscences from Jon Anderson and Steve Howe. The pages to the rear give track-by-track credits (the playing times have been put in by myself above as they're not in here) - musician line-ups etc. The audio for this notoriously harsh sounding LP have been handled by Rhino's longstanding duo of Audio Engineers - BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH. These guys have handled thousands of master tapes across the vast WEA archive and although I still find parts of "Going For The One" and "Awaken" shrill what with all that noise and loud slide guitar - the improvement in the gorgeous "Turn Of The Century" is shockingly good. 

I can so hear why fans return to GFTO - it has that classic line-up feel - and when "Parallels" goes into Wakeman's soloing - the effect is quite magical. I was never really a fan of the single "Wondrous Stories" - a little too twee for my tastes - but hey - the chart buying public thought otherwise in September 1977 giving it an unlikely No. 7 chart placing. The singular Bass Guitar cover version of "Amazing Grace" done by Chris Squire is not much more than interesting, but it's two predecessors "Montreux's Theme" and "Vevey (Revisited)" are very cool outtakes. For sure the "Vevey" piece is a tad hissy, but Anderson on a Harp with Wakeman on a Church Organ playing a warm melody is OK by me. 

If I’m completely honest, the three unreleased rehearsals stayed in the can for damn good reason – they were clearly for band reference use only. The first two are noisy discordant messes and as Steve Howe plays only a lead electric guitar for "Turn Of The Century" - all that gorgeous six-string acoustic work/melody that lifts up the album cut is completely missing and replaced with endless noisy electric soloing. Some might find his playing interesting, but it’s rough. And although the liner notes list Rick Wakeman as playing the Keyboards on this rehearsal, he barely seems to register at all?

The most interesting outtake by far (and best recorded) is "Eastern Numbers" – an early high-vibration version of "Awaken" – clocking in at whopping 12:16 minutes. Howe’s playing throughout is fantastic as is White’s tight-tight Drumming and Squire adding that choppy bottom-end. Gorgeous percussion and keyboard moments slink in about 5:30 minutes too. For sure Anderson and that novel of words he sings gets lost in the shuffle a tad, but this is fan-YES – the kind of goodie they love. And if I am completely upfront, I play this outtake far more than I do the finished version.

There is probably (as I say) - a Steve Wilson Remix and Remaster on the way for this audio compromise of an album, but in the meantime, this 2003 Rhino stab is all any fan needs...

"People Get Ready! The Curtis Mayfield Story" by CURTIS MAYFIELD – Single and Album Tracks from 1961 to 1990 on ABC-Parkway, Curtom, Boardwalk, CRC and RSO Records - Including Curtis Mayfield with The Impressions and Duets with Linda Clifford (February 1996 US Rhino 3CD Long Box Set – Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Show Me Love..."

Classy, beautiful, one of a kind and still relevant over a quarter of a century after its first issue - in truth, there aren't a lot of 'big' CD Box Sets you can say that about. 

Rhino USA did the career-chronicle business by the mighty Curtis Mayfield when they issued this gorgeous homage in February 1996 to one of Soul's true giants. Across 3CDs and 51-Tracks that include his Harmony Group Soul beginnings with The Impressions up to duets with Linda Clifford – you get all points between September 1961 and June 1990. Some are full album versions whilst others are rare single-edits – and all of it, deeply impressive. 

In fact "People Get Ready!..." would have been perfection bar none had it included tracks from his astonishing comeback album "New World Order" of September 1996 that showed Curtis was still firing on all sixes despite being literally crippled by injury. That niggle withstanding, from my vantage point of March 2021 (a full 25 years after its release) - "People Get Ready!..." is still the best Curtis Mayfield career retrospective ever afforded his legacy. Choices of colours indeed, let's get to them... 

US released 27 February 1996 - "People Get Ready! The Curtis Mayfield Story" by CURTIS MAYFIELD on Rhino R2 72262 (Barcode 081227226220) is a 3CD 51-Track Long Box Set of Remasters covering 1961 to 1990 that plays out as follows: 

CD1 (78:59 minutes):

1. Gypsy Woman – THE IMPRESSIONS (September 1961, ABC-Paramount 45-10241, A-side)

2. It's All Right - THE IMPRESSIONS (September 1963, ABC-Paramount 45-10487, A-side)

3. I'm So Proud - THE IMPRESSIONS (March 1964, ABC-Paramount 45-10544, A-side)

4. Keep On Pushing - THE IMPRESSIONS (May 1964, ABC-Paramount 45-10554, A-side)

5. Amen - THE IMPRESSIONS (Full-Length Version from the July 1964 US LP "Keep On Pushing" on ABC-Paramount ABCS-493 in Stereo)

6. People Get Ready - THE IMPRESSIONS (January 1965, ABC-Paramount 45-10672, A-side)

7. Woman's Got Soul - THE IMPRESSIONS (March 1965, ABC-Paramount 45-10647, A-side)

8. We're A Winner - THE IMPRESSIONS (November 1967, ABC-Paramount 45-11022, A-side)

9. I Loved And I Lost - THE IMPRESSIONS (Full-Length Version from the February 1968 US LP "We're A Winner" on ABC-Paramount ABCS-635 in Stereo)

10. Fool For You - THE IMPRESSIONS (August 1968, Curtom CR 1932, A-side)

11. This Is My Country - THE IMPRESSIONS (November 1968, Curtom CR 1934, A-side)

12. Choice Of Colors - THE IMPRESSIONS (May 1969, Curtom CR 1943, A-side)

13. The Makings Of You (October 1970, Curtom CR 1955, B-side of "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go" - see also Track 14)

14. (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go (Full-Length Version from the September 1970 US LP "Curtis" on Curtom CRS 8005 - an edited version of Track 14 was issued as the A-side to the 45-single for Track 13 – not included here)

15. Move On Up (Full-Length Version from the September 1970 US LP "Curtis" on Curtom CRS 8005)

16. We People Who Are Darker Than Blue (Full-Length Version from the September 1970 US LP "Curtis" on Curtom CRS 8005)

17. Check Out Your Mind (from the May 1971 US LP "Curtis/Live!" on Curtom CRS 8008)

18. Mighty Mighty (Spade And Whitey) (from the May 1971 US LP "Curtis/Live!" on Curtom CRS 8008)

19. Stone Junkie (from the May 1971 US LP "Curtis/Live!" on Curtom CRS 8008)

CD2 (76:24 minutes):

1. Beautiful Brother Of Mine (Edit) (June 1971, Curtom CR 1960, A-side 45-single - reissued April 1972, Curtom CR 1972)

2. Get Down (Full-Length Version from the October 1971 US LP "Roots" on Curtom CRS 8009)

3. We Got To Have Peace (Full-Length Version from the October 1971 US LP "Roots" on Curtom CRS 8009)

4. Freddie's Dead (Theme From "Superfly") (Full-Length Version from the July 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Superfly" on Curtom CRS 8014-ST)

5. Superfly (Full-Length Version from the July 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Superfly" on Curtom CRS 8014-ST)

6. Give Me Your Love (from the July 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Superfly" on Curtom CRS 8014-ST)

7. Pusherman (from the July 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Superfly" on Curtom CRS 8014-ST)

8. Future Shock (Edit) (June 1973, Curtom CR 1987, A-side US 45-single)

9. If I Were Only A Child Again (September 1973, Curtom CR 1991, A-side US 45-single) 

10. Can't Say Nothin' (Edit) (November 1973, Curtom CR 1993, A-side US 45-single)

11. Kung Fu (Edit) (May 1974, Curtom CR 1999, A-side US 45-single)

12. Sweet Exorcist (September 1974, Curtom CR 2005, A-side US 45-single)

13. To Be Invisible (from the May 1974 US LP "Sweet Exorcist" on Curtom CRS 8601)

14. Mother's Son (Edit) (December 1974, Curtom CR 2006, A-side US 45-single)

15. Billy Jack (from the May 1975 US LP "(There's No Place Like) America Today" on Curtom CU 5001)

16. So In Love (Edit) (July 1975, Curtom CMS 0105, A-side US 45-single)

CD3 (70:43 minutes):

1. Only You Babe (Full-Length Version from the June 1976 US LP "Give, Get, Take And Have" on Curtom CU 5007)

2. Party Night (October 1976, Curtom CMS 0122, A-side US 45-single)

3. Mr. Welfare Man (from the June 1976 US LP "Give, Get, Take And Have" on Curtom CU 5007)

4. Show Me Love (Edit) (April 1977, Curtom CMS 0125, A-side US 45-single)

5. Do Do Wap Is Strong In Here (from the September 1977 US LP "Short Eyes" on Curtom CMS 0131)

6. You Are, You Are (March 1978, Curtom CR 0135, A-side US 45-single)

7. Do It All Night (Edit) (September 1978, Curtom CMS 0141, A-side US 45-single)

8. You're So Good To Me (Edit, credited to Curtis Mayfield only) (July 1979, RSO/Curtom RS 941, B-side to "Between You Baby And Me" - see Track 9)

9. Between You Baby And Me [credited to Curtis Mayfield And Linda Clifford] (Full-Length Version from the July 1979 US LP "Heartbeat" on RSO/Curtom RS-1-3053)

10. Love's Sweet Sensation [credited to Curtis Mayfield And Linda Clifford] (April 1980, RSO/Curtom RS 1029, A-side)

11. Love Me, Love Me Now (Edit) (June 1980, RSO/Curtom RS 1036, A-side US 45-single)

12. Tripping Out (Edit) (August 1980, RSO/Curtom RS 1046, A-side US 45-single)

13. She Don't Let Nobody (But Me) (August 1981, Boardwalk NB7-11-122, A-side US 45-single)

14. Baby It's You (August 1985, CRC Records 85-001, A-side US 45-single)

15. Homeless (Full-Length Version from the March 1990 US Album "Take It To The Streets" on Curtom CUR 2008)

16. Do Be Down (June 1990, Curtom 7 CUR 107, A-side UK 45-single)

I suppose the downside with 'Long Box' sets is the sheer size and awkward bulkiness, but you also get to see the 60-page colour booklet spread out pictorially in ways that CD-sized ones simply can't. Compiled by DAVID LEES and after testimonials from people as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, George Clinton and Chuck D. - there are a few pages by R&B and Social Politics expert WAYNE EDWARDS on the impact of Curtis' deeply messaged music. That's followed by the 'British Ambassador Of Soul' DAVID NATHAN who goes deep into CM from Pages 12 to 39 with loads of period photos breaking up the text. A smart move too is to allow CM his own comments in the final pages (based on a 1994 interview with Alan Warner) followed by track-by-track listings, a thoroughly extensive Singles and Albums Discography and of course detailed compilation credits. The three jewel-case CDs are contained within ribboned trays with the booklet sat atop - the whole thing feeling substantial and classy. 

But the big news is the gorgeous transfers by long-time Audio Engineers to Rhino - BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH (done at Digiprep). Anyone who has had interest in The Impressions or Curtis' solo career from 1970 onwards (largely on his own Curtom Records) will know that his music was recorded and kept well. I have reviewed the "Definitive Impressions" Volume 1 and 2 from Ace’s Kent Soul – beautifully transferred too – and Rhino’s superb 1997 25th Anniversary 2CD set for the big one - "Superfly". This Box set is up there with all of it, and more. 

So as you lay into the near perfect run of Tracks 1 to 12 by The Impressions on CD1, you're hammered by songs and productions, which shimmer with brilliance and fidelity. And of course it only gets better as we play through 70ts masterpieces like "Curtis" (1970), "Roots" (1971), "Superfly" (1972) and "Back To The World" (1973) and so on. A really great job done and proper attention paid. To the music...

There are no complaints about skimpy playing times on any of the discs because Rhino has cleverly (and rightly) chosen 'Full-Length' Album Versions (instead of Single Edits) of such biggies as his positivity anthem "Move on Up" and social-awareness warning "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going to Go". Those full LP cuts extend to huge fan faves like "Get Down", "We Got To Have Peace" and the No. 2 R&B hit "Freddie's Dead". 

It's been an age since I revisited the "Sweet Exorcist" and "(There's No Place Like) America Today" albums and I'd forgotten how good "To be Invisible" and "Billy Jack" were. And somehow common consensus tells us that 1972's Blaxploitation Movie Soundtrack "Superfly" marked a zenith for Curtis Mayfield's music, but if anything this Box set nails that untruth with a CD3 that surprises way more than you would expect (it begins in 1976). And on it goes, his voice deepening into the 80s and 90s. 

Chicago’s finest was a musician of love and conscience who influenced so many in every genre and the "People Get Ready!" Box Set is a joyous Audio and Presentation winner worthy of him. You want the best Beautiful Brother Of Mine - then look no further...