"Dust On The Nettles: A Journey Through The British Underground Folk Scene 1967-72" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Grapefruit 3CD Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...A Branchy Tree..."

I love box sets like this. Brilliantly put together, chock full of forgotten left-of-centre music that’s worth rediscovering (mostly Acid Folk) and all of it presented in fact-filed style by good guys who genuinely care (compiled by David Wells and John Reed). In terms of Audio and Presentation everything about "Dust On The Nettles" on the Grapefruit Label (a part of Cherry Red Records) feels classy and even features some big-time scoops in Previously Unreleased demos for mighty names like Fairport Convention, The Incredible String Band and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

I know my music from the period (or at least I thought I did) – but I’d happily admit that there are obscurities on "Dust On The Nettles" that have completely eluded my decades of scouring racks – and they’re not the kind of musical creations that should be forgotten either. Some of these rarities number 10 copies (The Moths) or 99 copies (Frozen Tear) while others made it unto decent independent labels like Dawn, Pye, Island, Dandelion, Immediate and Decca. It’s also pleasing to say that apart from a few rough tapes here and there and despite the myriad sources – the audio is exceptionally good throughout - and as you can see from the total playing times – each disc is generously chock to the gills. There’s a ton of stuff on here – so once more with our dandelion stalks and joss sticks unto the pagan green altars (ye heathens of England)...

UK released 29 June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Dust On The Nettles: A Journey Through The British Underground Folk Scene 1967-72" is a 63-track 3CD Set in a Clamshell Box on Grapefruit CRESEGBOX 030 (Barcode 5013929183001) with a 36-page booklet and pans out as follows:

Disc 1 (78:34 minutes, 20 tracks):

1. Let No Man Steal Your Thyme – THE PENTANGLE (from their debut UK album "The Pentangle" released June 1968 on Transatlantic TRA 162. Also issued in the USA as a 7" single on Reprise 0794, A)

2. Willow’s Song – MAGNET (Recorded in 1972 for "The Wicker Man" Soundtrack LP but not issued)

3. Come All You Travellers – WIGHT (September 1970 French-Only 7" single on French Festival SPX 147)

4. Love Is A Funny Thing – SPIROGYRA [with Barbara Gaskin on Lead Vocals] (on the UK LP "St. Radigunds" released September 1971 on B&C Records CAS 1042)

5. Images Of Passing Clouds – GARY FARR (recorded 1968, Previously Unreleased Demo Version)

6. Peek Strangely And Worried Evening – SYNANTHESIA (on the LP "Synanthesia" released November 1969 on RCA Victor SF 8058)

7. Glass Of Water – BOG & CAROLE PEGG (on the UK LP "And Now It Is So Early: Songs Of Sydney Carter" on Galliard GAL 4017)

8. Winter Is Blue – VASHTI BUNYAN (on the Various Artists Soundtrack LP "Let's All Make Love In London" released July 1968 in the UK on Instant INLP 002)

9. Winter Is A Coloured Bird – COMUS (from the 3-track 7” Single EP "Diana" first released in the UK January 1971 on Dawn DNX 2506 – non-album track).

10. The Seagulls Scream – CHRISSIE QUAYLE (from the 1970 UK LP "Sounds Like West Cornwall" on Sentinel SENS 1001)

11. Stories Of Jesus – CLIVE PALMER (recorded 1967, not originally issued)

12. Amanda – STEVE PEREGRIN TOOK’S SHAGRAT (Recorded circa November 1969, Not Originally Issued)

13. Curious Crystals Of Unusual Purity – BRIDGET ST. JOHN (from the August 1969 UK LP "Ask Me No Questions" on Dandelion S 63750)

14. Roses For Columbus – MARK FRY (from the June 1972 Italian LP "Dreaming With Alice" on ZSLT 70006)

15. Till The Morning Comes – DANDO SHAFT (from the May 1971 UK LP "Dando Shaft" on RCA Neon NE 5)

16. Black Girl – MARY-ANNE (Paterson) (from the April 1970 UK LP "Me" on Joy Records JOYS 162)

17. The Garden Of Jane Delawney (from the May 1970 UK LP "The Garden Of Jane Delawney" on CBS Records S 63837)

18.  Weirdsong Of Breaking Through At Last – PRINCIPAL EDWARDS MAGIC THEATRE (from the February 1971 UK LP "The Asmoto Running Band" on Dandelion Records DAN 8002)

19. Minas Tirith – OBERON (from the August 1971 UK LP "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Acorn OBE LPS 1)

20. Prisoners, Victims, Strangers, Friends – PAPER BAUBLE (recorded October 1970, Previously Unreleased)

Disc 2 (79:29 minutes, 22 tracks):

1. Pilgrim – GERALD MOORE (recorded 1972, Previously Unissued)

2. River Lane – MELTON CONSTABLE (recorded 1972, Previously Unissued)

3. Way Out Hermit – MOONKYTE (from the November 1971 UK LP "Count Me Out" on Mother SMOT 1)

4. All Things Are Quite Silent – STEELEYE SPAN (from the June 1970 UK LP "Hark! The Village Wait" on RCA Records SF 8113)

5. Upon Reflection – HERON (from the November 1970 UK LP "Heron" on Dawn DNLS 3010)

6. Love Is Come Again – PARCHMENT (from the December 1972 UK LP "Light Up The Fire" on Pye International NSPL 18388)

7. Stargazer – SHELAGH McDONALD (from the September 1971 UK LP "Stargazer" on B&C Records CAS 1043)

8. There Are No Greater Heroes – TONY CARO & JOHN (1972 UK Self-Financed LP "All On The First Day")

9. Visionary Mountain – JOAN ARMATRADING (from the November 1972 UK LP "Whatever's For Us" on Cube Records HIFLY 12)

10. Glow Of The Firelight – TUESDAY (recorded August 1972, Previously Unreleased)

11. Searching For Lambs – WARM GOLD (from the 1972 UK LP "Sounds Like North Cornwall" on Sentinel SENS 1011)

12. Samantha Carol Fragments – BENJAMIN DELANEY LION (from the October 1969 Privately Pressed UK LP "Satori" on Hollick & Taylor, 70 Copies Only)

13. Fotheringay (Demo Version) – FAIRPORT CONVENTION (recorded February 1969, Previously Unreleased)

14. You Know What Has To Be – FROZEN TEAR (Privately Pressed UK 7” single of 99 Copies released September 1969 on RA Records RA 5001. B-side is a cover version of Free's "The Hunter" that was mistakenly credited as the A)

15. Meanwhile Back In The Forest – HUNT, LUNT & CUNNINGHAM (March 1972 UK 7” single on Pye International 7N 45125, A)

16. First Girl I Loved – THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (recorded early 1969, Previously Unreleased Demo Version)

17. Halfdan’s Daughter – THE MOTHS (July 1970 UK LP "The Moths" available only on a Deroy Sound Service Test Pressing, 10 copies)

18. The Mutant – TRADER HORNE (from the March 1970 UK LP "Morning Way" on Dawn DNLS 3004)

19. Meeting By The Moonlight Mill – DRY HEART (recorded early 1970, Previously Unreleased)

20. Highways (Misty Mist) – TYRANNOSAURUS REX (recorded August 1967, Previously Unreleased)

21. Gabilan – DUNCAN BROWNE (from the August 1968 debut UK LP "Give Me Take You" on Immediate IMSP 018)

22. Sand All Yellow – KEVIN COYNE (from the November 1972 UK LP "Case History" on Dandelion 2310 228)

Disc 3 (78:50 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Garden Song – BILL FAY (recorded early 1969, Previously Unreleased Demo Version)

2. Music Of The Ages – C.O.B. [Clive’s Own Band] (from the November 1971 UK LP "Spirit Of Love" on CBS Records S 69010)

3. A Song For The System – EVERYONE INVOLVED (from the 1972 Privately Pressed LP (1000 copies) of "Either/Or" on Arcturus ARC 4)

4. The Colour Is Blue – COUNTRY SUN (from the November 1972 UK Label Sampler LP "There Is Some Fun Going Forward" on Dandelion 2485 021)

5. Silent Village – WILD COUNTRY (from the May 1970 UK 7" single on Trafalgar TRAF1, A)

6. Welcome To The Citadel – MARC BRIERLEY (from the February 1969 UK LP "Welcome To The Citadel" on CBS Records S 63478)

7. The Evil Venus Tree – THE OCCASIONAL WORD (from the February 1970 UK LP on "The Year Of The Great Leap Sideways" on Dandelion DAN 63753)

8. Standing On The Shore – ANNE BRIGGS (from the November 1971 UK LP "The Time Has Come" on CBS Records S 64612)

9. Kind Sir – AGINCOURT (from the 1970 UK LP "Fly Away" on Merlin HF 3)

10. Eagle – MICK SOFTLEY (from the November 1970 UK LP "Sunrise" on CBS Records S 64098)

11. Rosemary Hill – FRESH MAGGOTS (from the September 1971 UK LP "Fresh Maggots" on RCASF 8205)

12. The Happy King – MUSIC BOX (from the 1972 UK LP "Songs Of Sunshine" on Westwood MRS 013)

13. Me And My Kite – FUCHSIA (from the October 1971 UK LP "Fuchsia" on Pegasus PEG 8)

14. Wizard Shep – THE SUN ALSO RISES (from the October 1970 UK LP "The Sun Also Rises" on Village Thing VTS 2)

15. Scarborough Fair – FOLKAL POINT (from the 1972 UK LP "Folkal Point" on Midas MR 003, 500 copies only)

16. Prisoner – MARIE CELESTE (from the Privately Pressed April 1971 UK LP "And Then Perhaps" (No label), 200 copies only)

17. Patrice – SIMON FINN (from the April 1971 UK LP "Pass The Distance" on Mushroom 100 MR)

18. Girl Of The Cosmos – SHIDE & ACORN (from the June 1971 UK LP "Under The Tree" on Solent SM 011, 99 copies only)

19. Elegy To A Dead King – CHIMERA (recorded circa 1968, Previously Unreleased)

20. Silence Returns – BEAU (from the June 1971 UK LP "Creation" on Dandelion DAN 8006)

21. Orange Days And Purple Nights – MOTHER NATURE (from the October 1971 UK 7" single on B&C Records CB 166, A)

The 36-page booklet is beautifully done – each artist gets a detailed paragraph and in most cases their rare albums pictured – the text is also peppered with memorabilia like concert tickets, trade adverts for eclectic labels like B&C Records and Kingdom, double colour plates for Oberon, Heron and Mark Fry with black and whites of all the others. I know the Anne Briggs, Parchment, Heron and Trader Horne album covers fairly well and I've reviewed the likes of Bridget St. John, Dando Shaft and Marc Brierley on quality reissue CDs - but stuff like the Euro releases of Wight and the privately pressed LPs are new to me. The DAVID WELLS liner notes are fabulous – full of details that amaze with pithy observations that tickle your interest for more - while the whole shebang is dedicated to two heroes of the genre who passed in 2014 and 2015 – Clive Palmer of The Incredible String Band and John Renbourn of Pentangle. The audio is by SIMON MURPHY at Another Planet Music and is superb overall (with the occasional dip depending on the rarity of the source).

Disc 1 opens on an absolute winner – Pentangle mixing Traditional English Folk with trippy Rock thereby creating Folk-Rock (or Acid Folk in this case). As Jacqui McShee sings "...a woman is a branchy tree..." and John Renbourn slaps those chiming six strings - the audio on this sucker is awesome – beautifully in your face like 1967's "London Conversation" by John Martyn. It's followed by a clever choice "Willow's Song" – an acoustic ballad from "The Wicker Man" soundtrack (never released at the time) sung by Linda Mackay who played Daisy in the horror movie (apparently Pentangle were lined up to do the music hence the connection). Gary Farr’s track is gorgeous too and so inventive in its rhythms and vocal arrangements. Unfortunately there’s bad tape wobble on the gorgeous Synanthesia track “Peek Strangely And Worried Evening” – as lovely a Folk Rock melody as I’ve ever heard. Former Mr. Fox couple Bob & Carole Pegg make lovely racket on the very Mike Oldfield sounding “Glass Of Water”. Amongst collectors Vashti Bunyan’s sole album “Just Another Diamond Day on Philips in its pretty stippled gatefold has now become a legend for both its Prog Folk musical beauty and its staggering cost (£1500 + to acquire a copy). Here we get Vashti’s equally heralded earlier work at the hands of Andrew Loog Oldham where he teamed her up with members of Immediate’s Twice As Much to produce the spellbinding “Winter Is Blue” for the 1968 “Let All Make Love In London” soundtrack LP. The 8-minute Comus track (EP only) steps away from their usual doom and gloom “First Utterance” songs to offer up a truly fabulous piece called “Winter Is A Coloured Bird” where they come at you like a cross between Deram’s Mellow Candle and Roy Harper on Harvest (a combo that will send shivers down the spine of many). It’s one of those long songs that doe not overstay its welcome but amazes – not just in terms of the acoustic guitar playing but especially the vocal layers – up and down like waves in the sea – inventive and special.

Disc 2 has a gorgeous Previously Unreleased track in “River Lane” by the delightfully titled MELTON CONSTABLE and you can ‘so’ hear why the fantastic trippy Sitar Folk of MOONKYTE commands some astronomical prices on original vinyl (£400 to £600 in a pop-up Spire sleeve). I’ve never been moved by STEELEYE SPAN but the HERON track is superb (literally recorded in a Berkshire field while smoking Lebanese) – very Matthews Southern Comfort in its English Folk-Rock feel as they sing of “...making daisy chains...” Sung by Sue McClellan - “Love Is Come Again” by PARCHMENT is another Sitar trippy jaunt that makes you want to shake your head from side to side as you exit the city rat race. It’s cleverly followed by the beautiful Robert Kirby string arrangements of “Stargazer” and the Sandy Denny-like vocals of SHELAGH McDONALD. Her two albums on Charisma’s B&C Records have steadily risen in value over the years as people discover their Mellow Candle beauty. I wouldn’t have thought of including JOAN ARMATRADING in this compilation – but it’s another smart choice. “Visionary Mountains” from her overlooked 1972 debut LP “Whatever’s For Us” features piano, acoustic guitars and more importantly a Sitar background that lends the track an Acid Folk hippy feel (Manfred Fred covered the song on their 1975 “Nightingales And Bombers” LP). The Fairport demo is excellent if not a little hissy (Denny’s voice still thrills). With a decidedly dodgy band name like HUNT, LUNT & CUNNINGHAM – their lone Pye single “Meanwhile Back In The Forest” sounds like 1960s Jefferson Airplane meets The Mamas and Papas for a 1972 song (and amazingly there’s a publicity photo for them on Page 24 advertising the single). The 5-minute Acoustic Demo of “First Girl I Loved” by The Incredible String Band is gorgeous – a real find – pure and melodic and a sweet professional recording too. I’ve always thought the Trader Horne album a bit of a masterpiece. Apparently named after John Peel’s Nanny – it sounds like Al Stewart Acoustic Folk mixed with Ian Anderson Flute. Roughest audio cut (clearly dubbed from a disc) goes to “Meeting By The Moonlight Mill” by Dry Heart – which is a damn shame because there’s genius in the guitars and doubled-vocal melodies (I’d love to hear a good tape of this). A highly polished Demo of “Highways (Misty Mist)” has Bolan’s high whine giving the song a huge (bit of a sweet find too). Duncan Browne’s magical classical guitar and top-end vocals imbibe “Gabilan” with a beauty that is quite breathtaking at times. Disc 2 ends with a winner – Kevin Coyne’s Folk Rock “Sand All Yellow” where he sings like a strangulated Captain Beefheart warning about over-zealous Doctors and their helpful pills.

Disc 3 has Clive’s Own Band (C.O.B.) giving us the pretty air of “Music Of The Ages” – another massively collectable album and artist. The hippy nonsense of “come little mirror” at the end of “A Song For The System” by Everyone Involved may indeed be a chant too far for many – but better is the Acoustic beauty of Country Sun’s “The Colour Is Blue” where they sound like America or Help Yourself at their most mellow. The audio on the Wild Country track isn’t great (like a bootleg). I’ve reviewed both of the Marc Brierley albums reissued for CD by Esoteric Recordings (see my SOUNDS GOOD Book – Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s and 1970s Volume 2) – and both are lovely. There’s a superb one-two with The Occasional Word and Anne Briggs – two Folk tunes that feel timeless and yet innovative somehow. And on it goes...

Admittedly after a while it can be hard to hear another fay vocal accompanied by a hovering low-breath flute ensconcing lyrics about communing with dandelions, fairies and a set of stones in Bognor Regis – but – and I do mean this - there is so much to discover on here and more importantly – so much to love. Like Blues and Country – Folk Music seems to throw up an unending amount of genius and genuine innovation for a genre that is perceived by many as being locked into only one groove and one sound. The British Underground Folk Scene from those two astonishing decades seems to finally be coming out to play.

Equal in my books to the wonderful Universal 3CD Box Sets covering the Island, Polydor, Decca, Deram and Vertigo Labels of a few years back (I've reviewed them all) – and acting as a sort of complimentary set to the "Love, Poetry & Revolution" 3CD Box Set that mines similar territory (also on Grapefruit) - there is so much to enjoy on "Dust On The Nettles" – there really is.

A dangling conversation indeed... Well done to the boys at Grapefruit for frolicking in the fronds, snorting fennel and dancing naked around the campfire for us (at my age I tend to keep my clothes on)...

This review and many others like it is available in one of my 5 e-books on CD Remasters: 

SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s and 1970s Volume 2...

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"Eureka" (1988 Original Album) and "The Bible" (1989 Reissued Album) on Chrysalis Records by THE BIBLE (October 2012 UK Cherry Red 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

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All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"…Forgotten Faces…Lipstick Traces…"

Musically the Eighties is a much-derided decade (and in many cases warranted too). But it also had its masterpieces - "Hounds Of Love" by Kate Bush, "Steve McQueen" by Prefab Sprout, "Infected" by The The, "Passion - The Last Temptation Of Christ" by Peter Gabriel, "The Colour Of Spring" by Talk Talk and "Hats" by The Blue Nile - to name but a few.

There are many more of course (Durutti Column, Tears For Fears, The Smiths, Hall & Oates, John Hiatt, It’s Immaterial, The Silencers etc) - but I'd like to argue that one of those gems should be the beautifully melodic "Eureka" by Norwich's finest THE BIBLE from 1988 (reissued in 1989 in a different configuration as "The Bible"). 

This is a gorgeous double digital with tip-top audio from one of my fave remaster boffins – Andy Pearce. Here are the Sky Writings...

UK reissued 15 Oct 2012 - "Eureka" by THE BIBLE on Cherry Red Records CDBRED 531 (Barcode 5013929153134) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and New Remaster.

DISC 1 - THE ALBUM (48:16 minutes):

1. Skywriting [Side 1]

2. Honey Be Good

3. Skeleton Crew

4. November Brides

5. Cigarette Girls

6. White Feathers [see NOTE below]

7. Crystal Palace [Side 2]

8. The Wishing Game

9. Red Hollywood

10. Tiny Lights

11. Blues Shoes Stepping

12. Up In Smoke [see NOTE below]

NOTE: DISC 1 features the 10-track LP "Eureka" - originally released January 1988 on Chrysalis CHR 1646. As was customary for the time - the Cassette and CD versions carried bonus tracks - in this case the two were "White Feathers" and "Up In Smoke”, placed at the end of each side - Track 6 and Track 12. This CD reissue uses that MC and CD configuration. But if you prefer to place both these tracks at the end (thereby not interrupting the 10-track LP run) a simple reprogramming of this CD will allow that.

However, the story doesn't stop there. After a less than ecstatic reception from the public (despite a lot of genuinely positive press) - Chrysalis tried to re-launch the album and band the following year. They rearranging the track list of "Eureka" - gave it different artwork - and simply called it "The Bible". This new LP variant was released 25 September 1989 on Chrysalis/Ensign CHEN 12. The first track "Graceland" was a 1989 'New Version' - all others were from 1988 - a mixture of "Eureka" LP tracks and 3 non-album B-sides. This 2CD set will allow fans to sequence that 12-track LP and CD as follows...

"The Bible" - the 1989 compilation

Side 1:

1. Graceland [Disc 2/Track 7]

2. Crystal Palace [Disc 1/Track 7]

3. Honey Be Good [Disc 1/Track 2]

4. Skeleton Crew [Disc 1/Track 3]

5. Red Hollywood [Disc 1/Track 8]

6. Abraham, Martin & John [Disc 2/Track 8]

Side 2:

1. Skywriting [Disc 1/Track 1]

2. Glory Bound [Disc 2/Track 18]

3. Up In Smoke [Disc 1/Track 12]

4. Blue Shoes Stepping [Disc 1/Track 11]

5. Cigarette Girls [Disc 1/Track 5]

6. The Golden Mile [Disc 2/Track 4]

NOTE: "The Bible" LP had 12-tracks as did its CD equivalent on Chrysalis CCD 1727 - but there was a limited edition of the LP which contained a FREE 4-Track 12" Single on Chrysalis CHEN D 12. The first track of the 12" was a new Bible song followed by three beautiful cover versions - all songs done in an acoustic style. They appear on CD 2 as "The Will To Love" [Track 17], "I'm So Lonesome (I Could Cry)" [Hank Williams cover - Track 14], "Motherless Child" [Traditional Blues cover - Track 15] and "On Broadway" [Drifters cover - Track 16].

DISC 2 - BONUS TRACKS (69:19 minutes):

As was common in the 80's - each single release off an album featured as many as five formats and more (7"s, 12"s and CD Singles) - each usually with non-album songs or remixes to entice fans and collectors. And like Deacon Blue and Love And Money - The Bible's B-sides were revered as being good - and on occasion better than the A. Between the "Eureka" and "The Bible" LPs they managed five releases (with a few before that too) - so it's not surprising to see so many extras on here. They break down as follows...

1. Graceland (Remix Version)

2. High Wide And Handsome - tracks 1 and 2 were non-album tracks on the August 1986 UK 12" single of "Graceland" on Chrysalis CHS 12 3036

3. Bubblehead

4. The Golden Mile

5. The Slow Drag Down - tracks 3 to 5 were non-album tracks on the UK 12" single of "Crystal Palace" released February 1987 on Chrysalis BIBX 1.

6. Coming Of Age - a non-album track on the September 1988 German 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis 611 711.

7. Graceland (Extended New Version)

8. Abraham, Martin & John [Marvin Gaye cover]

9. Eureka 

10. Mayday - tracks 7 to 10 were non-album tracks on the May 1989 UK 12" single of "Graceland" on Chrysalis BIBX 4 [in Sept 1989 Track 7 also acted as the opening track for "The Bible" LP].

11. Skywriting (Alternate Version)

12. King Chicago (New Version)

13. Electric Money - tracks 11 to 13 were non-album versions on the August 1989 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBX 5.

14. I’m So Lonesome (I Could Cry) [Hank Williams cover]

15. Motherless Child [Traditional Blues cover]

16. On Broadway [Drifters cover]

17. The Will To Love [Bible song]

Tracks 14, 15, 16 and 17 are described in the NOTE above to “The Bible” LP

18. Glorybound (New Version) - appeared on the August 1989 UK CD single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBCD 5 - it also featured as a track on "The Bible" 1989 LP and CD.

There's an expanded 16-page booklet with new liner notes by noted music-writer DARYL EASLEA with contributions from the band's principal songwriters BOO HEWERDINE and NEILL MacCOLL and American Country-Rock singer and Album Producer STEVE EARLE.

WHAT'S MISSING:

Packaging - the original album had a detailed inner sleeve with more of TONY SHEPPARD'S classy artwork and better still - the lyrics. Both are MIA when they shouldn't be. However, compensating for that are the new interviews, new photos of the band and a collage shot of various picture sleeves.

Songs - the February 1987 issue of "Graceland" on Chrysalis BIB 1 had non-album cuts across the 7"s and 12"s like Glory Bound (Live), Mahalia (Greg Walsh Remix), Spend Spend Spend, The Slow Drag Down (Live), Glory Bound (Live) and Walking The Ghost Back Home (Live) - all MIA. Even better would have been the sought-after Limited Edition 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBAX 3 that featured exclusive Acoustic Versions of "Honey Be Good", "Cigarette Girls" and "King Chicago" - again MIA. None of these have ever been on CD to my knowledge - and they should have been included. Having said all that - tracks like "Coming of Age" and "Bubblehead" are superb - and for me the 4 Acoustic Tracks on "The Bible" LP FREE 12" are absolute highlights - beautifully done - so intimate.

THE MUSIC:

American Country-Rock giant STEVE EARLE produced the first 7 tracks of the album with the last 3 handled by England's PETE SMITH - "Red Hollywood", "Tiny Lights" and "Blue Shoes Stepping". Their combined polish served the songs well - nicely present but never overdone - the sound is classy and well proportioned. And ANDY PEARCE'S CD remaster brings that out.

The punch of "Skywriting" opens proceedings nicely - setting up that sophisticated Bible sound. You're then hit track after track of classy songwriting - particularly loving "Skeleton Crew" and "November Brides". Another nugget is "Cigarette Girls" which is acoustic based (one reviewer claims there's seconds missing off its beginning - but I can't for the life of me hear it - nor even see how it will even be noticed by a new listener (lyrics above)). One of my favourite sleepers on the LP is the slinky jazz feel of "Red Hollywood" - it opens with NEILL MacCOLL'S echoed guitar-work sounding not unlike David Gilmour on Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" from "Wish You Were Here". The track also features DANNY THOMPSON of PENTANGLE on Double Bass and a fantastic Trumpet break from JOHN HUCKBRIDGE half way in - absolutely superb stuff. "Tiny Lights" too is a cracker. The jaunty duo of "Crystal Palace" and "Honey Be Good" were obvious singles and I love "Blue Shoes Stepping" - ending the LP in memorable style.

To sum up - despite my minor misgivings about presentation (sloppy spelling errors too in the text) and tracks that should have been on here - I don't want to do this superb 2CD reissue by Cherry Red an injustice. "Eureka" is the kind of album you need to rediscover - a melodic cracker and something you should investigate pronto.

Like Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera, Gary Clark of Danny Wilson, James Grant of Love And Money and Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout - Boo Hewerdine is considered by many to be one of England's great songwriters  - his melodic tunes recorded in the last few years by top musicians like EDDI READER and KRIS DREVER. And on the evidence presented here - it's easy to see why his songs are so loved...

PS: And if you're listening Cherry Red - how about expanded CD remasters for these other Eighties meisterworks languishing in digital Limbo: "Life's Hard And Then You Die" by IT'S IMMATERIAL - "A Blues For Buddha" by THE SILENCERS - "Dumb Poet" by IMMACULATE FOOLS. I could go on if you ask me nicely...

THE BIBLE - DISCOGRAPHY

7", 12" and CD singles around the album "Eureka" and "The Bible"…

(Graceland was released 4 times)

"Graceland" – UK 12" single on Chrysalis CHS 12 3036 (August 1986)

A1: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix)

(Original Version on the "Walking Back To The Ghost" LP/CD] [Disc 2/Track 1]

A2: Glory Bound

B: High Wide And Handsome [Disc 2/Track 2]

"Graceland" - UK 2 x 7" single pack on Chrysalis BIBG 1 (February 1987)

A: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix) B: Glory Bound (Live)

A: Mahalia (Greg Walsh Remix) B: Spend Spend Spend

"Graceland" – UK 12" single reissue on Chrysalis BIBX 1 (February 1987)

A1: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix) [Disc 2/Track 1]

A2: High Wide And Handsome [Disc 2/Track 2]

B1: The Slow Drag Down (Live)

B2: Glory Bound (Live)

B3: Walking The Ghost Back Home (Live)

"Crystal Palace" – UK 12" single (and CD single) on Chrysalis BIB 2 (August 1988)

A1: Crystal Palace [Disc 1/Track 7]

A2: Bubblehead [Disc 2/Track 3]

B1: The Golden Mile [Disc 2/Track 4]

B2: The Slow Drag Down [Disc 2/Track 5]

"Honey Be Good" – UK CD single on Chrysalis BIBCD 3 (Sept 1988)

1. Honey Be Good [Disc 1/Track 2]

2. White Feathers [Disc 1/Track 6]

3. Glorybound (New Version) [Disc 2/Track 18]

4. Abraham, Martin & John [Marvin Gaye cover] [Disc 2/Track 8]

"Honey Be Good" – German 12" single on Chrysalis 611 711 (September 1988)

B3: Coming Of Age [Disc 2/Track 6]

"Graceland (New Version)" – UK 12" on Chrysalis BIBX 4 (May 1989)

A1: Graceland (Extended New Version) [Disc 2/Track 7]

A2: Abraham, Martin & John [Disc 2/Track 8]

B1: Eureka [Disc 2/Track 9]

B2: Mayday [Disc 2/Track 10]

NOTE: The 1989 remake of "Graceland" turns up twice on this 2CD set – the 7" mix of 'New Version' at 3: 51 minutes is on Disc 2/Track 18 and the 12" 'Extended New Version' at 4:17 minutes is on Disc 2/Track 7.

"Honey Be Good" – UK 12" Single on Chrysalis BIBX 5 (August 1989)

A1: Honey Be Good

A2: Skywriting (Alternate Version)

B1: King Chicago (New Version)

B2: Electric Money

"Honey Be Good" – UK 12" Single on Chrysalis BIBAX 5 (August 1989)

A1: Honey Be Good

A2: I’m So Lonesome (I Could Cry) [Hank Williams cover]

B1: Motherless Child [Traditional Blues cover]

B2: On Broadway [Drifters cover]

"Honey be Good" – UK CD single on Chrysalis BIBCD 5 (August 1989)

1. Honey Be Good

2. King Chicago (New Version)

3. Crystal Palace (Alternate Version)

4. On Broadway [Drifters cover]

“Strange Kind Of Love” by LOVE and MONEY. A Review of their Classic 1988 Album Now Reissued & Remastered by Cherry Red Records in 2010.

"…It’s A Strange Kind Of Love…Keeps Me Hoping Still…”

LOVE and MONEY had popped out their debut album "All You Need Is..." on Mercury Records in the UK in 1986 to critical acclaim, but only slight public interest. All of that changed for the Scottish soul rockers with their sophisticated and smart 2nd album.

"Strange Kind Of Love" was UK released on LP, MC and CD in October 1988 on Fontana SFLP 7, SFMC 7 and 836 49-2 respectively. In keeping with the times, both the cassette and the CD carried a lone bonus track - "Scapegoat" - to entice people away from the 10-track vinyl version. It was also produced by GARY KATZ of STEELY DAN fame and carried the then desirable DDD code on the rear (a Full Digital Recording). I picked up on the title track's CD single and have loved the album ever since - even hoping it might one day get Universal's 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment...but alas.

Which brings us to this Cherry Red April 2010 reissue on CDMRED442. It's the 11-track CD version with a further 6 bonus demos added on (79:21 minutes). This new version features involvement from two principal members of the original band - lead singer and songwriter JAMES GRANT and Keyboardist PAUL McGEECHAN. The booklet's not bad (Halleluiah has been properly spelled as Hallelujah), but disappointingly its 12-pages excludes the lyrics and a few pictures that came with the original issue and although both of the boys and Katz have provided new comments on the album, they're short and strangely uninformative.

But the really great news is the SOUND...

Paul McGeechan has handled the remaster himself using the original tapes and he's done a fabulous job. The original CD (despite being DDD) used to sound ever so slightly subdued - clinically clean even... Well now it has real muscle and on some tracks is hugely improved to a genuinely thrilling level. The punch out of the slinky "Shape Of Things To Come" is just brill, while "Axis Of Love" has huge guitars and drums now. It's a massively improved remaster and makes the aging original redundant. Guests included Jeff Pocaro of Toto on drums and Timothy B. Schmidt of The Eagles on backing vocals.

The big letdown is the extras. Ok, the six demo tracks are new, but they just sound like lesser run-throughs to me and aren't really that interesting or even different. The pick of the crop is a more brass/harmonica version of "Up Escalator", but the others sound way too much like INXS rejects. Which brings me to what could have been on here...

In the UK Fontana released 4 singles off the album - "Halleluiah Man" (September 1988), "Strange Kind Of Love" (January 1989), "Jocelyn Square" (March 1989) and finally "Up Escalator" (June 1989). As well as CD singles there were a plethora of 7" and 12" single versions - almost all of them with exclusive non-album tracks and extended remixes. Some were truly fantastic songs and have remained firm fan favourites ever since. There's the original 1988 version of "Looking For Angeline" from "Strange Kind Of Love", the lovely "Wanderlust 2" from "Halleluiah Man" and "Saint Henry" from "Jocelyn Square" - it's these that I would have preferred to see on here in upgraded remastered form. Like Deacon Blue, The Silencers, Kate Bush, Lies Damned Lies and Prefab Spout - Love And Money B-sides were always worth collecting. Pity Cherry Red chose not to use some of them here.

To sum up - a fantastic remaster then, disappointing extras and an adequate booklet.

The third member of the band Bass Player BOBBY PATERSON (ex Primal Scream) died in 2006 in Glasgow and he is recalled in the liner notes as their 'absent friend'. It's great to see both him and the album he was involved in remembered so well after all these years absent in the wilderness...

What a great little band Love And Money was - I remember them with such affection. From here, it was on to their true masterpiece - "Dogs In The Traffic" from 1991 and hopefully Cherry Red will tackle that too.

Recommended.

"Eighteen With A Bullet - The Island Recordings" by PETE WINGFIELD. A Review of the 2008 Cherry Red Records CD Retrospective by Mark Barry...

"...A Whole Pot Of Jelly For A Little Slice Of Toast..."

Having cut his musical teeth as Lead Vocalist and Keyboard Player in the British Blues Band JELLYBREAD (they did two albums for the Blue Horizon label) - PETE WINGFIELD then went into touring (Van Morrison and The Hollies) and session work. He contributed to B.B KING'S "In London" in 1971, KEEF HARTLEY'S "Seventy-Second Brave" in 1972 and one of my favourite LPs of the Seventies "Let The Days Go By" by BRYN HAWORTH in 1974 (see separate review). He then finally realized a lifetime dream by signing to Island Records (there's a Sue single on the left side of the album sleeve as a homage). Which brings us to this dinky little CD. 

Released September 2008 – “Eighteen With A Bullet: The Island Recordings” on Cherry Red CDMRED 369 (Barcode 5013929136922) centres round his only album and hit single for that world-famous and much loved label. Here’s the eggs-over-easy details (79:15 minutes):

1. Eighteen With A Bullet

2. A Whole Pot Of Jelly

3. Hold Me Closer

4. Shadow Of A Doubt

5. Anytime

6. Please

7. Lovin’ As You Wanna Be

8. Kangaroo Dip

9. Number One Priority

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Breakfast Special" (minus its last track "Shining Eyes") issued September 1975 on Island ILPS 9333 in the UK

10. Bubbling Under

11. Giving It Up For Love

12. Scratchy 45s

13. I Wanna try

14. Making A Good Thing Better 

15. We Fit Together 

16. Same Old Thing Goin’ On 

17. That’s How The Chances Go Round

18. Eyes In The Back Of My Head 

Tracks 10 to 18 are the previously unreleased never issued follow-up album "Love Bumps & Dizzy Spells" in its entirety (no ILPS catalogue number allocated)

The band consisted of:

PETE WINGFIELD on Keyboards and Vocals 

JOE "JAMMER" WRIGHT on Guitars

DeLISLE HARPER on Bass and GLEN LE FLEUR on Drums and Percussion

(The above were THE OLYMPIC RUNNERS minus MIKE VERNON) 

The Guests included: 

CHRIS MERCER of THE KEEF HARTLEY BAND played Horns and Brass on "Kangaroo Dip", "Same Old Thing Goin' On" and "Scratchy 45s". 

NEIL HUBBARD of KOKOMO played Guitar on "Eighteen With A Bullet" and "Hold Me Closer"

ANN O'DELL of the Progressive Outfit CHOPYN did String Arrangements on the lovely "Lovin' As You Wanna Be" and other songs as well

The16-page booklet has witty, informative and self-deprecating liner notes by Wingfield himself (a level-headed assessment of the highs and lows). There's session player photos, 7" singles pictured, sheet music, album artwork, press adverts from 1975 - all of it really well done. 

Superbly recorded and engineered at Chipping Norton Studios in the UK by BARRY HAMMOND in the first place, the original master tapes have now been remastered by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London - and the results are beautifully clear - every instrument warm and present - a top job done. It really is fantastic just how good these tracks sound. I had "Eighteen" on a 2CD set out of the USA in 1987 called "The Island Story" just to have the song - and the sound quality here is one-hundred times better compared to that - the Doo-wop intro as clear as a bell. 10 out of 10 for SOUND.

The material is a mixture of good and bad as you can imagine - the standout tracks given an airing on seven-inch releases. "Breakfast Special" spawned three singles - the first was the biggest and is Wingfield's signature tune to this day. "Eighteen With A Bullet" b/w "Shadow Of A Doubt" was issued on Island WIP 6231 in the UK and Island IS 026 in the USA - it went to Number 7 in the UK charts in June 1975 and climbed to 18 on the American charts in October 1975 (yes that's right - 18 with a bullet!). I remember it being hugely popular throughout the whole of that summer and was played at every dance everywhere - Derrick Harriott even did a reggae cover of it in late 1975 on Trojan 7973, which scraped the low end of the UK chart. The follow-up was the fabulously catchy "A Whole Pot Of Jelly (For A Little Slice Of Toast)" b/w "Anytime" on Island WIP 6245 in the UK and IS 065 in the USA - but it inexplicably failed to chart in either country. I've always loved this completely forgotten funky little gem and is one of the reasons why I wanted this CD - the remaster of it is fantastic. The USA tried one more time for a follow-up hit with "Lovin' As I Want To Be" b/w "Please" on Island IS 051, but again it failed to chart. 

Which brings us to the unreleased album, which Island claimed wasn't 'produced' enough to release. Despite their reservations about the sound, they placed two of its songs - "Making A Good Thing Better" with OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN and "Eyes In The Back Of My Head" with PATTI LABELLE - sizable hits for both of them. The USA even issued a very popular tune with New Orleans audiences called "Scratchy 45s" on Island IS 065 in 1976, which sounds like - and name-checks Dr. John - a very cool little tune. In truth though, his falsetto vocals (similar to Alan Gorrie of the Average White Band) could wear after a while - and were focused on too much. And worse - the songs all had that 1976 clutter about them that seemed to dominate so much music of that year. Still, it's nice to hear them after all these decades - good and bad - and all of it sounding polished up and spiffing.

Wingfield's been a busy boy ever since - contributing to Stephen Bishop, Chris Farlowe, Roy Harper, The Lighthouse Family, Nine Below Zero, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, Chris Rea, Richard & Linda Thompson, The Beautiful South, Mica Paris, Lonnie Donegan, John Miles, Phil Everly, Lindisfarne, Billy Fury, Buddy Guy and even Paul McCartney (he's on the "Run Devil Run" album in 1999). His production credits are equally impressive too - from Dexy's Midnight Runners to The James Taylor Quartet. 

Hopefully this carefully put together and superb sounding release will bring his tunes to the attention of a wider audience. Some of it has dated for sure, but there's also a lot on here that's 'so' good. A rather cool little reissue really.

Pete Wingfield is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I