"…Home
In My Hand..."
Named
after their Guitarist 'Brinsley Ernest Schwarz' (even though almost all their
tunes were penned by Nick Lowe) – Britain’s BRINSLEY SCHWARZ have had one
remastered CD compilation to their name (to my knowledge) called
"Surrender To The Rhythm" in 1991 on EMI. And that’s been it for
decades. So this five-album haul is a welcome inclusion in the increasingly
impressive "Original Album Series".
And
even though each CD is listed as a 2011 master and doesn’t say where or who
remastered them – they are remastered. I’m thrilled to say that these CDs sound
wonderful – really clear and full of presence (sounds like Peter Mew’s handy
work or they could be the versions prepared for the Japanese reissues in
2013?). Whatever is the truth - there's an awful lot of sublime Seventies music
on offer here that you've probably not heard - and should. And for Nick Lowe
fans – it’s a motherlode they will need. Here are the Silver Pistol details...
UK
released Monday 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) - "Original Album
Series" by BRINSLEY SCHWARZ on Parlophone/Warner Music Group 2564622174
(Barcode 825646221745) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" Card Repro Sleeves
and breaks down as follows:
Disc
1 (39:44 minutes):
1.
Hymn To Me
2.
Shining Brightly
3.
Rock And Roll Women
4.
Lady Constant
5.
What Do You Suggest [Side 2]
6.
Mayfly
7.
Ballad Of A Has Been Beauty Queen
Tracks
1 to 7 are their debut album "Brinsley Schwarz". Produced by
guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson - it was released April 1970 in
the UK on United Artists UAS 29111 and in the USA on Capitol ST-589. All tracks
are NICK LOWE originals except "Hymn To Me" which was written by all
four members of the band – NICK LOWE on Guitars, Bass and Lead Vocals, BRINSLEY
SCHWARZ on Guitars and Vocals, BOB ANDREWS on Keyboards, Bass and Vocals and
BILL RANKIN on Drums. The CD master is dated 2011.
Disc
2 (38:42 minutes):
1.
Country Girl
2.
The Slow One
3.
Funk Angel
4.
Piece Of Home
5.
Love Song [Side 2]
6.
Starship
7.
Ebury Down
8.
Old Jarrow
Tracks
1 to 8 are their 2nd LP "Despite It All". Like the first album it was
Produced by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson and released November
1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83427 and in the USA on Capitol ST-744.
All songs are Nick Lowe originals except "Piece Of Home" which was
written by Bob Andrews.
Disc
3 (41:10 minutes):
1. Dry
Land
2.
Merry Go Round
3.
One More Day
4.
Nightingale
5.
Silver Pistol
6.
Last Time I Was Fooled
7.
Unknown Number [Side 2]
8.
Range War
9.
Egypt
10.
Niki Hoeke Speedway
11.
Ju Ju Man
12.
Rockin' Chair
Tracks
1 to 12 are their 3rd album "Silver Pistol". Like the first and
second album it was Produced by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson
and released October 1971 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29217 and in the USA
on United Artists UAS 5566. Tracks 1, 3, 8, 9 and 12 are IAN GOMM originals (who
joined the band for this album and replaces Brinsley Schwarz) while tracks 2,
4, 5, 6 and 7 are Nick Lowe originals. "Nicky Hoeke Speedway" and
"Ju Ju Man" are Jim Ford cover versions. The CD master is dated 2011.
Disc
4 (39:20 minutes):
1.
It’s Been So Long
2.
Happy Doing What We’re Doing
3.
Surrender To The Rhythm
4.
Don’t Loose Your Grip On Love
5.
Nervous On The Road (But Can't Stay At Home)
6.
Feel A Little Funky [Side 2]
7. I
Like It Like That
8.
Brand New You, Brand New Me
9.
Home In My Hand
10. Why,
Why, Why, Why, Why
Tracks
1 to 10 are their 4th album "Nervous On The Road" - released
September 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29374 and in the USA on United
Artists UAS 5647. Produced by Brinsley Schwarz, Dave Robinson and Kingsley Ward
– track 1 is by Ian Gomm, track 2 is a co-write between Bob Andrews and Nick
Lowe, tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 are Nick Lowe originals while "I Like It
Like That" is a Chris Kenner cover version (co-written by Kenner with
Allen Toussaint) and "Home In My Hand" is a cover version of a Ronnie
Self rockabilly tune. The CD master is dated 2011.
Disc
5 (36:35 minutes):
1.
Hooked On Love
2.
Why Do We Hurt The One We Love?
3. I
Worry ('Bout You Baby)
4.
Don’t Ever Change
5.
Home In My Hand (Live)
6.
Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)
7. I
Won't Make It Without You
8.
Down In Mexico
9.
Speedoo
10.
The Version (Hypocrite)
Tracks
1 to 10 are their 5th album "Please Don't Ever Change" - released
October 1973 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29489 (no USA release). Produced
by Brinsley Schwarz and Vic Maile. Track 1 is an Ian Gomm song, tracks 2, 3, 6,
7 and 8 are Nick Lowe originals, the Ronnie Self cover "Home In My
Hand" is a 'live' version recorded at The Hope & Anchor Pub in
London’s Islington. "Speedoo" is a cover of the Cadillacs vocal group
hit, "Don't Ever Change" is a Goffin/King song recorded by The
Crickets and "The Version (Hypocrite)" is a Bob Marley cover. The CD
master is dated 2011
As is
mostly the norm with this series - none of these discs have any extras and are
straightforward transfers of the original vinyl LPs (with repro artwork front
and rear). Each CD label lists the tracks along with Writer and Producer
credits - a good idea because the 5” Repro Sleeves (although they look nice)
are hard if not impossible to read. As I’ve already pointed out above – there
is no real indication as to who remastered these albums only that 2011 is the
date for all five titles.
The
first album offers strong contenders like "Hymn To Me", "What Do
You Suggest?" and the epic rocking ten minutes of "Ballad Of A Has
Been Beauty Queen" that finishes Side 2. The second platter for 1970
offers the Soulful Blues of "The Slow One" while the boys go all
Country on “Starship” (BJ Cole on the Pedal Steel). The audio quality on the largely
acoustic "Edbury Down" is really clean while the seven-minute
"Old Jarrow" feels like the band has been listening to Matthews
Southern Comfort and Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief" for an
entire week.
Ian
Gomm joined the band for "Silver Pistol" contributed three songs to
the mix including the Shadows-like instrumental "Rockin' Chair".
While "Merry Go Round" sounds great (audiowise) - "Egypt"
is very hissy unfortunately. Top sound though on Gomm's "Range War"
and Lowe's "The Last Time I Was Fooled".
Nick
Lowe's writing began to improve big time by the time the band reached the
superb "Nervous On The Road" – cracking Rock 'n' Roller tunes like
"Surrender To The Rhythm" and the title track "Nervous On The
Road (But Can't Stay At Home)" - while their choices of cover versions
were inspired – Chris Kenner's "I Like It Like That" and the brill
Rockabilly of Ronnie Self's cool "Home In My Hand". In fact Dave
Edmunds would plunder "Home In My Hand" and Jim Ford's "Ju Ju
Man" for his own albums.
While
Ian Gomm's opener "Hooked On Love" is a great Brinsley tune - Lowe's
vignettes again sail above the others on the underrated and criminally
forgotten "Please Don't Ever Change" album (in fact for me both it
and "Nervous On The Road" are the best albums in here). Songs like
the jerky New Wave shuffle of "Why Do We Hurt The One We Love?" and
the party boogie of "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)" give more
than a nod to his "Jesus Of Cool" debut solo LP in 1978. "I
Won't Make It Without You" gives a real indication of his romantic
troubadour years to come also – all cool stuff...
So
there you have it - cool band and a very zippy little reissue. Terry Reid,
Brinsley Schwarz and Jimmy Webb are all new 27 April 2015 additions in this
"Original Album Series" and what winners all three are. Between these
and the superlative "Greenwich Village FOLK SCENE" 5CD installment
(also in the "Original Album Series") – I'm a very happy bunny indeed
(see reviews for the lot).
Buy
this cheap-as-chips gift to your inner Nick and Play That Fast Thing (One More
Time)...
