"Nantucket Sleighride" by MOUNTAIN (2003 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...A Whale Of A Time..."

Mountain's March 1970 LP "Climbing!" had busted the doors down – a gold album and a No. 17 placing on the US charts – not bad for a second platter. The New Yorkers (with Mississippi in their veins) liked it loud, proud and ear-splitten-louden-boomer. Riding a wave surfed by Grand Funk Railroad, The James Gang and bands like Zephyr – Mountain's heads-down no-nonsense hard boogie had captured a zeitgeist – let's ROCK and to hell with the Man and his Government plans. And in the larger than life Leslie 'The Great Fatsby' West – they had an axeman worth getting soppy about.

Taking its name from a Massachusetts whaler's experience (you harpooned the mighty creature – he'd dive – resurface full throttle and take the men and their boat on a Nantucket Sleighride) – the LP's title track also had a dedication to the suitably surnamed Owen Coffin in its subtitle. When a full-grown sperm whale surfaced mid Pacific in November 1820 and wrecked their ship the 'Essex' – the starved, drifting and diminishing crew of a surviving long boat ran out of food and then ran out of dead bodies to eat. So in further desperation they decided to shoot a mariner amongst their remaining ranks and eat him to survive. The unfortunate but brave 19-year old Owen Coffin literally drew the short straw – and refusing his Captain's offer to swap places – gave himself whole up to save the others. Naturally Mountain the band - who had holidayed in Nantucket between tours - thought this was a great idea for a song! Which brings us to this blubbery CD reissue - here are the cannibalistic details...

UK released April 2003 – "Nantucket Sleighride" by MOUNTAIN on Columbia/Legacy 510718 2 (Barcode 5099751071822) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with One Bonus Track and plays out as follows (42:24 minutes):

1. Don't Look Around [Side 1]

2. Taunta (Sammy's Tune)

3. Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)

4. You Can't Get Away

5. Tired Angels (To J.M.H.)

6. The Animal Trainer And The Toad [Side 2]

7. My Lady

8. Travellin' In The Dark (To E.M.P.)

9. The Great Train Robbery

Tracks 1 to 9 are their third studio album "Nantucket Sleighride" – released January 1971 in the USA on Windfall 5500 and May 1971 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9148. Produced by Bassist and Studio Wizard FELIX PAPPALARDI – the album rose to No. 16 in the US LP charts and No. 43 in the UK (their first charting in Britain).

BONUS TRACK

10. Travellin' In The Dark (To E.M.P.) (Live) – no recording date provided

MOUNTAIN was:

LESLIE WEST – Guitars and Vocals

FELIX PAPPALARDI – Bass and Vocals

STEVE KNIGHT – Keyboards

CORKY LAING – Drums and Percussion

The 12-page booklet has new liner notes from LESLIE WEST and CORKY LAING (dated November 2002) - and as well as band photos supplied by the group. Their thoughts are witty and informative - the making of their 'loud' 3rd album and how the whole Nantucket area/mythology fitted in with the album’s creation. Laing laughs affectionately at Pappalardi the Producer when his wild drum solo in the title song went against the written page (instead of firing the drummer – Pappalardi thought it rocked). The Roy Bailey pencil drawing of the whale and the Nantucket Sleighride that adorned the inner gatefold is reproduced on Pages 2 and 3 in full while the insert cartoon drawing of the four-piece looking like they’re playing some Tuba adorns Page 9. It’s strange though that Sony didn’t use the Windfall label logo here as they did with the "Climbing!" reissue. But outside of that it looks cool...

But the big news is the new BOB IRWIN/VIC ANESINI Remaster from original tapes done at Sony Music Studios in New York. As the script-written line on the inner cover ‘credits box’ famously announced 'Play This Record At High Volume For Maximum Sonority...Loud!' - you quickly find out that none of the band's players are joking. This mother rocks – vibrato, fuzzy, grunge guitar noises emanate from Leslie West's speaker stacks and threaten to cause a public disturbance with your docile Laura Ashley stereo. The album was never an Audiophile event – but the space of sound on their tribute to the recently fallen Jimi Hendrix "Tired Angels (To J.M.H.)" is suddenly way better than what I've heard before. Having said that – this is a good remaster – rather than a great one and perhaps one day a better format will bring out what seems to be buried deep in the mixes...

Heavy Metal guitars and distant wailing Mellotron-sounding keyboards bring in the Side 1 opener "Don’t Look Around"  – a huge lumbering Rock song that admittedly does sound a tad old fart now after 46 years – West wailing ominously about tanning hides and being me. But you’re then hit with a brill one-two - the short but beautiful Pappalardi instrumental "Taunta (Sammy's Tune)" that then leads into the album's epic six-minute title track "Nantucket Sleighride". Pappalardi co-wrote the song with lyricist and artist Gail Collins and I've always loved West's guitar playing at the opening of "Nantucket Sleighride" and throughout - pulling out those turns on the fretboard that literally engender guitar-hero worship. It's also the most Prog Rock song on the album with its internal sea-shanty moments. I can remember hearing it on the credits of "Weekend World" on British tele - apparently a source of Royalty revenue for the band. Always compromised by being the last song on Side 1 of my battered and used Island ILPS 9148 vinyl LP – its way cool to hear their tribute to Hendrix "Tired Angels (To J.M.H.)" sound so mellow and yet full.

Windfall obviously thought the very Allman Brothers good ole Rock 'n' Roll Boogie of "The Animal And The Toad" might rattle the American airwaves - and they were right. In March 1971 they issued the Side 2 opener with the equally good "Tired Angels (To J.M.H.)" as its B-side and were rewarded with a modest placing at No. 76 for Windfall 533. They followed through with single number two in July 1971 - "Travellin' In The Past (To E.M.P.)" b/w "Silver Paper" (from the "Climbing!" album) - but Windfall 535 failed to chart. I always thought though that the far better "My Lady" would have been a better single choice - maybe gone Top 20 - it's hooky melody catchier that the rather clumsy 'can't see a thing' over-melodrama of "Travellin' In The Dark". Album number three ends on a piece of fabulous slide-guitar - West asking us do we remember "The Great Train Robbery" back in '63. The slightly muffled sound to his guitar is still there (he sounds like Ron Wood of the Faces 1971 masterpiece "A Nod's As Good As A Wink...") - but the song is definitely more powerful now. The live bonus cut of "Travellin' In The Past" is five minutes long (no recording details) and very well recorded considering the amount of riffage going on (fans will love it)...

I don't think "Nantucket Sleighride" is the Hard Rock masterpiece many make it out to be - but its many moments have been a pal to me for more than four and half decades and this CD remaster rocks that whale.

I'm off now to re-listen to "High Roller" from Leslie West's first solo album "The Great Fatsby" in 1975 – the kind of good old Boogie Rock that Mountain epitomised back in those days of magical albums and their expansive gatefold sleeves...

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"The Notorious Byrd Brothers" by THE BYRDS (1997 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Think I'm Goin' Back..."

Gorgeous - forgotten classic - overlooked - ignored like a 'remain' flyer in a British mud-puddle - the Byrds' fifth platter is the kind of album that gives the 60ts a good name. But which version of it do you buy?

In the unnervingly hot summer of July 2016 you can nail this criminally forgotten nugget in two ways – the standalone March 1997 CD reissue on Columbia/Legacy – or as Disc 5 inside the gorgeous and still reasonably priced 13CD Box set from November 2011 – "The Complete Columbia Albums Collection". To locate the standalone CD on Amazon use Barcode 5099748675125 in the Search Line and Barcode 88697873802 for the Box set (see separate review). Frankly frank - you’re quids in either way. I’ll deal with the standalone issue for this review...

UK released March 1997 – "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" by THE BYRDS on Columbia/Legacy 486751 2 (Barcode 5099748675125) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Remaster of the 11-track 1968 album with seven Bonus Tracks (one hidden) and plays out as follows (58:28 minutes):

1. Artificial Energy

2. Goin’ Back

3. Natural Harmony

4. Draft Morning

5. Wasn’t Born To Follow

6. Get To You

7. Change Is Now [Side 2]

8. Old John Robertson

9. Tribal Gathering

10. Dolphin’s Smile

11. Space Odyssey

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album “The Notorious Byrd Brothers” – released 3 January 1968 in the USA on Columbia CL 2775 (Mono) and Columbia CS 9575 (Stereo) and April 1968 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 63169 (Mono) and CBS Records S BPG 63169 (Stereo). The STEREO MIX is used. Produced by GARY USHER and Engineered by ROY HALEE and DON THOMPSON - it peaked at No. 47 on the US LP charts and No. 12 in the UK.

BONUS TRACKS (All Stereo):

12. Mood Raga - Previously released on the 1987 American compilation "Never Before" on Murray Hill Records

13. Bound To Fall – Previously Unissued Instrumental

14. Triad - David Crosby song previously released on 1990 4CD Box Set “The Byrds”

15. Goin’ Back – Previously Unissued Version 1

16. Draft Morning – Previously Unissued Version with an Alternate End

17. Universal Mind Decoder (Early Demo Version of “Change Is Now”) – Previously Unreleased Instrumental Version)

THE BYRDS were:

ROGER McGUINN

CHRIS HILLMAN

DAVID CROSBY

MICHAEL CLARKE

The 12-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth affair with properly knowledgeable liner notes from noted BYRDS authority JOHNNY ROGAN who authored "Timeless Flight: The Definitive Biography Of The Byrds". Amidst the black and white photos of the foursome looking all mean and moody (when the recordings started there was four - months later – Clarke left and Crosby was fired leaving only the core duo of McGuinn and Hillman) are publicity photos, a concert poster with The Doors and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band as well as repros of a few US Columbia 45s. These are sat alongside track-by-track examinations by Rogan on how such a varied and at times 'beautiful' album could have been be produced amidst the personal and musical toss 'n' tumble that surrounded the band (these notes are reproduced in the 40-page booklet inside the 'Complete' Box set - so you won't loose out on that count).

But the big news is the Audio – a remaster by BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI. Using the Stereo Masters (for all tracks) -these top engineers did the transfers and mixing at Sony’s Studios in New York and VIC ANESINI in particular is a name I've sung the praises of before. He’s handled very prestigious SONY catalogue – Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Nilsson, Paul Simon, Mountain, Lou Reed, Roy Orbison, Santana, Mott The Hoople and The Jayhawks to name but a few. Clean – full of presence and warmth – this thing is a joy to listen too – and when songs like "Goin' Back", "Draft Morning" and "Tribal Gathering" kick in - there's unlikely to be a dry Byrds eye in the house...

"Notorious" opens with "Artificial Energy" - a warning song about overdoing 'speed' - and I'm not talking about going fast on a Penny Farthing. It's slightly camp brass gives it a far more upbeat vibe and at 2:18 minutes is short and breathy. But that cool opener is trounced into absolute chemical submission by something so sublime that mere adjectives fail me - their truly breathtaking cover of Goffin and King's "Goin' Back". A hit penned by the mighty songwriting duo of Gerry and Carole for Dusty Springfield - The Byrds take this beautiful melody and literally make it soar - a pun I hate to use when it comes to this band of all bands - but in the case of this rendition - aptly fits. "Goin' Back" is beautiful stuff with sessionman Jim Gordon providing the drum roll at the end of the tune. Next up is Paul Beaver's Moog and Red Rhodes' Steel Guitar on Chris Hillman's equally musical "Natural Harmony" - another song with slightly drugged-up lyrics like "...head thrown back...arms open wide..." (reminds me of driving in my soft-top Porsche in Walthamstow in December).

Again another segue into a masterwork - the stunning "Draft Morning" which Rogan quiet rightly describes as 'one of the greatest and most bitter moments in the Byrds song catalogue'. Originally penned by David Crosby before he was unceremoniously chucked out of the band - both Hillman and McGuinn added more and therefore take the threesome songwriting credit (apparently its The Firesign Theatre who supply the gunshots in this anti-Vietnam winner). Another gem penned by Goffin and King - "Wasn't Born To Follow" turned up a year later as "I Wasn't Born To Follow" in January 1969 on the lone Carole King/Danny Kortchmar project LP "Now That Everything's Been Said" by THE CITY. It's also famous for its inclusion in the cult movie "Easy Rider" (The City version show sits prettiness - se separate review).

Other classics include "Get To You" where Roger McGuinn waxes lyrical about the mellowness of the English after a trip to Blighty and "Tribal Gathering" where David Crosby sings affectionately about hippies in San Francisco's Golden gate Park in January 1967 where the ensemble 'human be in' was taking all manner of trips (and not necessarily one needing a passport). I also love the clearly grumpy Crosby on 'Version 1' of "Goin' Back" in the Bonus Tracks with what sounds like a Mike Oldfield type Glockenspiel in the mix not present in the released version...and "Triad" is fantastic stuff.

The Byrds left behind a sizeable back catalogue where ridiculously shiny jewels like "Notorious" can get 'overlooked'. Remove that inner bummer and began your 'space odyssey' here. And remember kids – take a tip from a speckled Byrd and stay away from that 'Artificial Energy' speeding stuff (Red Bull, Snickers Bars and the like)...

"Caravanserai" by SANTANA (2003 Columbia/Legacy CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Just In Time To See The Sun..."

The Latin-Rock of SANTANA took the world by storm back in the day - aided and abetted by a soaring appearance at the legendary Woodstock festival mere weeks before their debut appeared in September 1969 on Columbia Records in the USA and CBS Records in good old Blighty (see my review for "Santana: The Woodstock Experience"). September 1970's magisterial "Abraxas" soared to No. 1 in September 1970 and "Santana III" hit the top stop too in October of 1971.

But after patience stretching wig-outs with John McLaughlin and Buddy Miles in-between proper Santana studio albums - somehow the 'fizz' had gone off their sales by the time this deeply gorgeous and swirling Jazz Fusion LP arrived in October 1972. Even its eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing gatefold cover of far-away deserts and sun-drenched landscapes failed to get the public into a buying tizzy and it managed a more humble No. 8 on the US charts (No. 6 in the UK) compared to the genre-busting heights of its two predecessors.

But over the decades it's become a stone flower 'classic'. The trippy and largely instrumental "Caravanserai" has always been a fan's album – a less commercial affair than before and a sign of Carlos not wanting to rest of his laurels and stretch out musically – even if it meant fracturing his hugely successful band and the formula that won them those gold-discs. In fact I'd argue that in a long and amazing career that still clocks up huge sales to this day (2016) – their fourth studio set is something of an 'overlooked' nugget. And more importantly Bob Irwin and Vic Anesini's stunning remaster of it for Columbia has only made me slaver all over "Caravanserai" yet again. Here are the waves within (man)...

UK released October 2003 - "Caravanserai" by SANTANA on Columbia/Legacy 511128 2 (Barcode 5099751112822) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1972 album and plays out as follows (51:33 minutes):

1. Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation

2. Waves Within

3. Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)

4. Just In Time To See The Sun

5. Song Of The Wind

6. All The Love In The Universe

7. Future Primitive [Side 2]

8. Stone Flower

9. La Fuente Del Ritmo

10. Every Step Of The Way

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Caravanserai" - released October 1972 in the USA on Columbia KC 31610 and November 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 65299. Produced by CARLOS SANTANA and MICHAEL SHRIEVE - it peaked at No. 8 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK LP charts.

The 10-leaf foldout inlay has excellent liner notes from HAL MILLER with quotes from original Producer Michael Shrieve – the 'Metaphysical Meditations' quotation that was on the inner gatefold of original vinyl LPs as well as track-by-track musician credits and a half decent colour representation of that gorgeous artwork. Even the Columbia CD matches the original LP label and there’s a picture of that distant camel train beneath the see-through CD tray.

But the big news is a new BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI CD Remaster. These guys did the transfers at Sony’s Studios in New York and ANESINI in particular is a name I've sung the praises of before. He’s handled very prestigious SONY catalogue – Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Nilsson, Paul Simon, Mountain, Lou Reed, Roy Orbison, Santana, Mott The Hoople and The Jayhawks to name but a few. Clean – full of presence and warmth – this thing is a joy to listen too – and after years of clicking through quite passages of tinkling cymbals and rattling congas on my trusty old vinyl original – the audio here is a welcome revelation...

"Caravanserai" opens with a crickets-chirping fade in – Percussion provided by James Mango Lewis and Carlos Santana as Hadley Caliman does those strangulated but Sahara-atmospheric Saxophone notes – Neal Schon (later with Journey) handling the Guitar. Then suddenly we get Tom Rutley on Acoustic Bass and Wendy Haas giving it some echoing electric Piano and we’re off into a different set of Santana waters. That segues into "Waves Within" where Carlos takes over the Lead Guitar and we become immediately aware of another integral hero of the band - Gregg Rolie's presence on Organ anchoring the whole soaring fusion piece. Things Funk Up big time with "Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)" - like Carlos has discovered his inner Sly Stone - a fantastic groove with the whole band cooking. Introducing unconvincing vocals into "Just In Time To See The Sun" kind of ruins an otherwise great groove - but all that is that is flattened by what has to be an all-time fave-crave for Santana fans - the magical "Song Of The Wind". Rolie's organ fades in six-minutes of sublime guitar work by the duo of Santana and Schon with stunning rhythm section support coming off James Lewis and Mike Shrieve. Even now it makes me weepy and reminds me of why I love Santana so much - that 'sound' he gets when he plays and really lets go. Side 1 ends with the Carlos Santana/Neil Schon penned "All The Love Of The Universe" where they and Mingo Lewis share vocals on probably the most 'boppy' number on the album (not the best in my opinion).

Side 2 opens with the spacey "Future Primitive" - floating keyboard notes are soon joined by a frantic Bongo and Conga combination from Jose "Chepito" Areas and James Mingo Lewis - whacking those percussion instruments like they're playing live at a festival and the crowd are cheering them on. Latin superstar Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote "Stone Flower" - the most overtly Latin song on the LP and a fabulous groove of guitars and keyboards. James Mango Lewis penned another fave of mine - the frenzied Salsa and Latin rhythms of "La Fuente Del Ritmo" - all musicians mixing perfectly with Carlos and Neal on dual guitars as James Mingo Lewis keeps it anchored with Acoustic Piano while Tom Coster solos on the Electric Piano - bit of a showstopper this. It ends with "Every Step Of The Way" - eight and half minutes of the Santana Band building up and then letting rip on everything - Guitars, Keyboards, Flute and Percussion. It's sexy and slightly dangerous rhythms are a perfect way to finish the LP...and along with "Song Of The Wind" is another instrumental highlight on an album that contains many...

In some respects it's kind of impossible to categorize "Caravanserai" - but isn't that cool – I loved it then for that and I love it still.

In the eternal caravan of repackaging (if you'll forgive the pun) - I'm quite certain we'll get yet another format in the future - another way to squeeze even more nuances out of this tasty desert-dish. But in the meantime - Legacy's superb CD Remaster of "Caravanserai" is available online for peanuts - cheaper than a camel train nosebag and highly unlikely to spit on you when things get a little hot under the collar as you air-guitar around your living room with a tennis racquet.

Enter here for the 'bosom of infinite joy' people...and as my wife well knows... I’m up for the 'bosom of infinite' anything...

"Climbing!" by MOUNTAIN (2003 Columbia/Legacy 'Expanded CD' – Bob Irwin/Vic Anesini Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Mississippi Queen..." 

"...His crime was a passion..." - Felix Pappalardi sings on "The Laird" and that kind of sums up this most American of Rock bands for me – loud, proud and ear-splitten-louden-boomer. They couldn't give a rat's ass who out there in radio-land thinks its aural hedonism turned up to 13 on a scale of 12. MOUNTAIN rocked and this cool little CD reissue of their second platter "Climbing!" from 1970 shows why these New York boys with Mississippi in their veins are remembered with such affection and loyalty. And in Leslie West they had an ace axeman - geometrically over-sized for sure but charismatic and great fun too. Here is 'The Great Fatsby' and Rocking Friends...

UK and USA released April 2003 – "Climbing!" by MOUNTAIN on Columbia/Legacy 510719 2 (Barcode 5099751071921) is an 'Expanded CD Remaster' and plays out as follows (36:56 minutes):

1. Mississippi Queen

2. Theme From An Imaginary Western

3. Never In My Life

4. Silver Paper

5. For Yasgur's Farm [Side 2]

6. To My Friend

7. The Laird

8. Sittin' On A Rainbow

9. Boys In The Band

Tracks 1 to 9 are their second album "Climbing!" – released March 1970 in the USA on Windfall 4501 and May 1970 in the UK on Bell Records SBLL 133 (both in Stereo only). Bassist and Studio Wizard Felix Pappalardi Produced – the album rose to No. 17 in the US LP charts (didn’t chart in the UK). All songs are band originals except "Theme From An Imaginary Western" which is a Jack Bruce cover version.

BONUS TRACK

10. For Yasgur's Farm [Live] – recorded prior to 1972

MOUNTAIN was:

LESLIE WEST – Guitars and Vocals

FELIX PAPPALARDI – Bass on all Tracks except 6 and 7, Keyboards on Track 1, 2 and 9 and Rhythm Guitar on Track 7

CORKY LAING – Drums and Percussion

STEVE KNIGHT – Keyboards (Mellotron on Tracks 2 and 9, Organ on Tracks 2 to 5)

The 12-page booklet has new liner notes from CORKY LAING and LESLIE WEST (dated November 2002) - and as well as band photos (supplied by the group) features reminiscences on the making of their 'loud' 2nd album with the line-up most feel had that classic hard-rocking Mountain sound, their former band Energy, songwriting/lyric collaborations between Laing and West and more. The CD reflects the original Windfall Records label logo and there's even a Leslie West photo beneath the see-through tray. But the big news is the new BOB IRWIN/VIC ANESINI Remaster from original tapes done at Sony Music Studios in New York. The last time "Climbing!" saw CD reissue was in 1993 as part of Sony's 'Rewind' Series – it was a good stab at the record but this variant is a whole lot better and features a live track as a bonus. As the line on the rear cover famously announced 'This Record Was Meant To Be Played Loud' - you quickly find out that none of the band's players are joking. This mother rocks – vibrato, fuzzy, grunge guitar noises emanate from Leslie West's speaker stacks and threaten to cause a public disturbance with your docile Laura Ashley stereo. The album was never an Audiophile event – so expect some hiss on cuts like the slowish "The Laird" and the gorgeous "To My Friend" – but also expect presence and 'in-the-moment' feel. After my battered copy on Windfall – this CD sounds revelatory to me...

It opens on a rasper – the brilliant snotty Boogie Rock of "Mississippi Queen" – co-written by West, Laing, Pappalardi and Ohio songwriter David Rea. Huge riffage accompanies soloing guitars as Leslie West roars on about a Cajun gal from Vicksburg in Louisiana who isn't exactly unfamiliar with the ways of the world. At 2:32 minutes it was an obvious single and popular too. Released March 1970 with the album - Windfall 45-532 climbed to a respectable No. 21 in the US singles charts with the album cut "The Laird" on the flipside. After two failed sevens from the first album "Mountain" in September 1969 – it became Mountain's first real 45-impression on the charts and remains a huge fan fave to this day. Blighty tried the same combo of tracks on Bell BLL 1113 in May 1970 - but it sold naught and was deleted quickly. "Theme From An Imaginary Western" is a cover of a track from Jack Bruce's debut solo LP after Cream - 1969's "Song For A Tailor" on Polydor (UK)/Atco Records (USA). Bruce co-wrote the tune with Avant Garde British artist Pete Brown (Harvest Records). Mountain take the song's Soulful-Rock feel and layer it with more guitars and organs so that it sounds very Cream in ways – or even Derek & The Dominoes.

Both Laing and West agree that "Never In My Life" is probably the best track on the album – a great riff played at almost "Fireball" speed (they slowed it down in concert because it adds more muscle to it). It's a fantastic piece of American 'Rawk' and odd that Windfall Records went instead to the less catchy "For Yasgur's Farm" for the next single (Windfall 45-533) – a tune that isn't nearly as immediate as "Never..." They paired it with the fabulous Leslie West solo instrumental "To My Friend" - an Acoustic tour de force that shows off West's considerable playing chops and is almost Indian Sitar in some passages. But despite both sides being strong in their own right – "Yasgur's..." didn't follow "Mississippi Queen" into the charts (no British release either). "Silver Paper" is basic rock and similar in vibe to "Theme From An Imaginary Western" in its assembly. Far more interesting is "The Laird" that is co-written with Gail Collins (did the artwork, wrote lyrics) that has touches of the more melodic acoustic side of Uriah Heep and Led Zeppelin (circa 3) – sweet little tune that I couldn't stop playing at the time. How cool is it to hear it with such clarity - even if it is hissy. Massive Corky Laing drums open the driving-down-the-highway riffage of "Sittin' On A Rainbow" – a very Mountain good time rocker that stills sounds beer-belly-rowdy after 45 years on camomile tea. It ends on the piano melody of "Boys In The Band" - pretty hissy it has to be said and probably my least favourite song on the album (the vocal is all over the mix)...

The live version of "For Yasgur's Farm" runs to 4:19 minutes and is plucked from the band's own archive (bit hazy on exact dates). In truth I'd say it's good rather than being great (much like the song itself) and you can't help thinking that at four seconds short of 37-minutes – this entire CD reissue could have done with a few more choice bonus cuts in the live vein to bolster up matters...

Still - what you do get with "Climbing!" is fabarooney – a ballsy American Rock Band in the same vein as Cactus and Grand Funk Railroad – groups that somehow never seemed to gain the recognition they deserved beyond fanatical fan circles. In some ways Mountain's loose 'rawk' feel and gutbucket style recordings remind me of that fabulous sloppiness FREE used to get - effortlessly cool too. And isn't that the best compliment. So lodge your grappling hook and throw out your musical rope...because it's time to abseil bare-bottomed down the barroom underpants of this particularly boozy digital rock face. And I mean in that in the nicest possible way...

"The Woodstock Experience - Volunteers" by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (July 2009 Sony/Legacy 2CD “The Woodstock Experience” Reissue and Bob Irwin Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

“…It’s A New Dawn…” 

This is a clever reissue - pairing the sixth and much-loved "Volunteers" album by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE with their barnstorming and highly politicized live set at the legendary Woodstock Festival. And boasting top-notch BOB IRWIN audio mastering - it's beautifully presented too. Here are the peace, love and music details...

Released July 2009 - "Volunteers/The Woodstock Experience" by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE on RCA/Legacy 88697 48240 2 (Barcode 886974824022) is a 2CD set celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the legendary Sixties festival (see list of other releases below). Inside a textured-feel outer card slipcase are two oversized 5" hard card replica sleeves - each with sepia-feel inner bags (separate liner notes too).

Disc 1 (75:26 minutes):

1. We Can Be Together

2. Good Shepherd

3. The Farm

4. Hey Frederick

5. Turn My Life Down [Side 2]

6. Wooden Ships

7. Eskimo Blue Day

8. A Song For All Seasons

9. Meadowlands

10. Volunteers

Disc 1 is the 10-track "Volunteers" album released on vinyl in the USA in November 1969 on RCA Victor LSP 4238 and February 1970 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8164.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Introduction

12. The Other Side Of This Life

13. Somebody To Love

14. 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds

15. Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon

16. Eskimo Blue Day

Tracks 11 to 16 are "Recorded Live At The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, Sunday, August 17, 1969 - Part One".

Disc 2 (68:48 minutes):

1. Plastic Fantastic Lover

2. Wooden Ships

3. Uncle Sam Blues

4. Volunteers

5. The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil

6. Come Back Baby

7. White Rabbit

8. The House At Pooneil Corners

The 2nd CD is "Part Two" of the Woodstock concert and of the total live set - tracks 11, 12 and 14 on Disc 1 with 2, 5, 6 and 8 on Disc 2 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (the others have turned up on various compilations across the decades).

Quite apart from the aesthetically pleasing look of the outer card slipcase - both oversized card repro sleeves for the albums are gorgeous to look at and the recording details/liner notes impressively comprehensive. As with the other 4 releases in this series - the large foldout poster has a colour shot of the Woodstock crowd on one side (with the festival logo at the top) and a black and white quality photograph of JEFFERSON AIRPLANE by Amalie R. Rothschild on the flip. As fans will know some copies of the US gatefold original LP came with an insert - lyrics and the mock "Paz Progress" newspaper clippings - unfortunately it’s not included. There are liner notes on the "Volunteers" inner sleeve (doesn't say who wrote them) that includes comments from Reissue Producer/Mastering Engineer Bob Irwin about the recordings and Kaukonen's emergence as a lead guitar player in the band (he wrote "Turn My Life Down"). The colour shot of Grace on the rear of the card sleeve is also gorgeous...

The bloody and divisive debacle of the Vietnam War loomed heavily over both the record and their impassioned live set. But more than the politics and the fearless lyrics - rehearing the album now what hits you most is a triple whammy - the classiness of the songs, Jorma Kaukonen's superb guitar playing and the soulful trio of Grace Slick's voice with Paul Kantner and Marty Balin (Jack Cassidy on Bass and Spencer Dryden on Drums provide the rhythm section). Throw in superb audio quality (Produced by Al Schmitt onto to a then state-of-the-art 16-track system) and all it combines to pack a serious punch - even if the Sixties ideals may seem far-fetched in the appalling 2014 political landscape we find ourselves in more than 45 years later (when we really should have learned lessons by now).

It opens with the superb people-anthem "We Can Be Together" - but check out the traditional air "Good Shepherd" that follows - turned into the most stunning Rock song by clever funked-up arrangements. And their version of "Wooden Ships" co-written by Paul Kantner with David Crosby and Stephen Stills - famously predates the 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash debut album version by months. It's just fantastic and to my ears actually better (Stills plays Organ on the song). "Volunteers" was gamely released by RCA as a 45 in October 1969 with its call-to-arms lyrics and frantic pace - "this generation got Soul...start a revolution..." The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia plays Pedal Steel and the distinctive piano runs of Nicky Hopkins add a lot too. Such a great album and one that still stands up...

The live set has the band (with Nicky Hopkins on piano) and opens with Grace greeting the crowd (title above) and then proceeds to rock into a completely wild cover version of Fred Neil's "The Other Side Of This Life". The audio as you can imagine flits between good and great - but even when they let rip on "3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds" (ace drumming from Skip Spence) to my ears Bob Ludwig has completely captured the loose and explosive nature of the band. And die-hard nuts will die for the near sixteen minutes of the Previously Unreleased "The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil" on Disc 2 - all wild guitars and wailing. "Come Back Baby" is an old Blues tune rearranged by Kaukonen into an 8-minute Jefferson Airplane boogie romp.

I've loved this whole series of CD reissues (see reviews) but this is a jewel never mind a crown of creation. Recommended big time...

The 5 titles "The Woodstock Experience" Series from July 2009 are:

1. Jefferson Airplane - uses the "Volunteers" album and has an 8-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969 Catalogue No: RCA/Legacy 88697 48240 2 (Barcode 886974824022)

2. Janis Joplin - uses the "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" debut album and has a 10-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48243 2 (Barcode 886974824329)

3. Santana - uses the "Santana" debut album and has an 8-track live album recorded Saturday 16 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48242 2 (Barcode 886974824220)

4. Sly & The Family Stone - uses the "Stand!" album and has a 9-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Epic/Legacy 88697 48241 2 (Barcode 886974824121)

5. Johnny Winter - uses the "Johnny Winter" album and has an 8-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969. Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48244 2 (Barcode 886974824428)