This review and hundreds more like it can also be found in my
SOUNDS GOOD Music Book: 1960s and 1970s MUSIC Volume 2
- Exceptional CD Remasters
SOUNDS GOOD Music Book: 1960s and 1970s MUSIC Volume 2
- Exceptional CD Remasters
It contains over 210 in-depth reviews (a whopping 2400+ e-Pages)
And is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...
And is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...
"…Drank All The Bottles But My
Thirst Won't Go Away…"
With his 1969 Atlantic
Records debut album under his perfectly coiffured belt (it didn’t chart in either
the UK or USA) – William Royce Scaggs singed to Columbia Records in the early
Seventies and hoped for bigger things. He’d have to wait a few anxious years
before he absolutely nailed the FM motherlode with “Silk Degrees” in 1976 – but
here’s where that class act of a singer/songwriter cut his tuneful teeth.
UK released March 2008
(reissued 2010) - "Moments/Boz Scaggs & Band" by BOZ SCAGGS on Beat Goes On BGOCD812 (Barcode 5017261208125) features his
2nd and 3rd albums remastered onto one CD and breaks down as follows (77:20
minutes):
1. We Were Always Sweethearts
2. Downright Women
3. Painted Bells
4. Alone, Alone
5. Near You
6. I Will Forever Sing (The
Blues)
7. Moments
8. Hollywood Blues
9. We Been Away
10. Can I Make It Last (Or
Will It Just Be Over)
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd LP
"Moments" issued March 1971 in the USA on Columbia C 30454 and in the
UK on CBS S 64248
All tracks are Scaggs
originals excepting "We Been Away" which was written by the band's
bass player DAVID BROWN and "I Will Forever Sing (The Blues)" was
written by POWELL ST. JOHN of MOTHER EARTH. The album also features RITA
COOLIDGE on backing vocals, COKE and PETE ESCOVEDO from the Santana band on
Percussion with BEN SIDRAN on Keyboards and Vibes
11. Money Time
12. Runnin’ Blue
13. Up To You
14. Love Anyway
15. Flames Of Love
16. Here To Stay
17. Nothing Will Take Your
Place
18. Why Why
19. You’re So Good
Tracks 11 to 19 are his 3rd
LP "Boz Scaggs And Band" issued December 1971 in the USA on
Columbia C 30796 and 1972 in the UK on CBS S 64431
All tracks are Scaggs originals
except "Monkey Time", "Up To You" and "Flames Of
Love" which were co-written with CLIVE ARROWSMITH (who also took the cover
photos), "Runnin' Blue" which is co-written with Trombone player
PATRICK O'HARA and "Why Why" which is co-written with TIM DAVIS (the
drummer in The Steve Miller Band).
The 12-page inlay has
affectionate and knowledgeable liner notes by noted music writer DAVID WELLS
and also features full musician credits. There's a nice card-wrap on the
outside of the jewel case and the sound quality is beautifully clear and punchy throughout - digitally remastered in 2008 by ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound
Performance.
Those expecting "Silk
Degrees" can look away now - this is Scaggs finding his soul/rock feet -
and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The string laden soulful
instrumental "Can I Make It Last (Or Will It Just Be Over)" is both
ethereal and beautiful, but "Alone, Alone" is awful sub-standard
country-rock complete with its hammy spoken intro. "Runnin' Blues"
has a B.B. King vibe about it with its brass fills punctured by thinny guitar
picking, while the funk-rock of "Flames Of Love" sounds like Delaney
& Bramlett at their raucous Seventies best. The quiet vibes of "Here
To Stay" are so clear - the remaster really coming into its own. Even
better is the funky guitar-rock of "Why, Why" which is co-written
with his old friend Tim Davis - very Steve Miller Band (lyrics above). The
slinky "You're So Good" finishes the CD in fine style - again the
remastered sound just so sweet.
Across these 2 albums it's no
surprise that the music ranges from dull to great - but when he hits that
grooves - man it's just superb. Very Boz really...
