"Brain Salad Surgery: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (September 2016 BMG/Manticore 2CD Reissue Using Newly Mastered 2014 Remasters and Remixes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

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Taking its title from a lyric in a Dr. John song on his 1973 LP "In The Right Place" (the tune is "Right Place, Wrong Time" to be exact) - ELP's fourth studio LP "Brain Salad Surgery" came forth in the UK in November 1973 (December 1973 in the USA) in a year when Progressive Rock was huge and I can remember at the time hating it (apart from the cool artwork courtesy of Swiss Shock-Rock Artist H.R. Giger and his Alien paintings).

I loved the first three studio albums that preceded BSS in 1970, 1971 and 1972 - but I thought most of Side 1 on the new platter was pretentious knob and the abomination of "Benny The Bouncer" has to be the worst crap I've ever heard a major band do. It was of course 1973 and Progressive Rock was at its most bombastic and flashy - much of it difficult to get into but brilliant nonetheless (I was and still am a convert). And if you want sheer diversity and a slice of Prog greatness in all its pomp and circumstance then the first two parts of "Karn Evil 9" spread across two sides of the original vinyl album takes some beating (the title came from Pete Sinfield who suggested the four parter sounded like a 'carnival' - a word Keith Emerson then twisted into 'Karn Evil'). But again – even as a fan and on a re-listen – this for me was the beginning of the end...

ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery" has had a ludicrously twisted history when it comes to digital reissues and this September 2016 'Deluxe Edition' is no different. It contains 2014 Remasters and Remixes – but what is worth noting and slightly different to those contentious sounds – is that this double has been ‘mastered’ in 2016 by two engineers I trust and love – ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. And I think for ELP fans that worship at the feet of this densely recorded/mixed platter (the band rejected the first mix back in the day) - the 2016 mastering results on this 2CD Deluxe Edition are worth noting – audiowise anyway. Let's get to the Toccatas and the Impressions...

UK released 30 September 2016 (reissued 1 March 2017) - "Brain Salad Surgery: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on BMG/Manticore BMGCAT2CD6 (Barcode 4050538180275) offers a 2014 Remaster on Disc 1 of the original 1973 LP (newly mastered in 2016) and a 2014 Stereo Mix of an 'Alternate Album' on Disc 2 (also newly mastered in 2016). This 2016 2-Disc Reissue plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Original 1973 Album (2014 Remaster, 2016 Mastering)" - 44:50 minutes

1. Jerusalem [Side 1]

2. Toccata

3. Still...You Turn Me On

4. Benny The Bouncer

5. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression (Part 1)

6. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression (Part 2) [Side 2]

7. Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression

8. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album (fifth release overall) "Brain Salad Surgery" - released November 1973 in the UK on Manticore Records K 53501 and December 1973 in the USA on Manticore MC 66669. Produced by GREG LAKE - it peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA.

Disc 2 - "The Alternate Album (Jakko M Jakszyk 2014 Stereo Mixes)"  - 72:36 minutes:

1. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Original Backing track)

2. Jerusalem (First Mix)

3. Still...You Turn Me On (First Mix)

4. Toccata (Alternate Version)

5. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 (Alternate Version)

6. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 (Alternate Version)

7. Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression (Alternate Version)

8. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Alternate Version)

9. Excerpts From Brain Salad Surgery (NME Flexi Disc Version)

(i) Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1

(ii) Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression

(iii) Still...You Turn Me On

(iv) Toccata

(v) Jerusalem

(vi) Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

(vii) Benny The Bouncer

(viii) Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2

(ix) Benny The Bouncer

10. When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine (Non-Album B-side to "Jerusalem" - released November 1973 in the UK as a 7" single on Manticore K 13503)

11. Brain Salad Surgery (Non-Album B-side to "Fanfare For The Common Man" - released May 1977 in the UK as a 7" single on Manticore K 10946)

12. Brain Salad Surgery (Instrumental)

13. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Different Version)

Keyboard Wiz Keith Emerson plays Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Synthesisers and Accordion – Guitarist Greg Lake plays Electric 6 and 12-String Guitars, Bass and sings Lead Vocals whilst Carl Palmer plays Drums, Percussion and Synthesised Percussion.

Each of these BMG/Manticore Deluxe Editions come in a three-way fold-out card digipak - this 2016 variant boasting a 16-page upgraded booklet with new band photos and interviews with CHRIS WELCH on the making of the album, its inspirations, Giger's extraordinary artwork, Keith’s new Polyphonic Moog Synth, buying the ABC Fulham Cinema to write and rehearse it as a 'live' show and then finally to Olympic Studios with legendary Engineer Chris Kimsey (famed for his work with The Rolling Stones) to record it. There are photos of the famous NME 'Excerpts' Flexi that preceded the album's release in November 1973 as well as repros of three foreign picture sleeves for the album's only single "Jerusalem" with the non-album song "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" on the flipside (Track 10 on Disc 2). There's an British Tour 1974 Program but a rather stupid omission is the lyrics that came with the foldout inlay from the original LP. But at least the new liner notes acknowledge Keith Emerson's sad passing in March 2016.

But the big news over the 2014 Sony/Leadclass Ltd. Reissue and Remaster is only subtly alluded too. Although these are the 2014 versions which some didn't like (no changes in track lists) - this 2016 upgrade has been 'newly' mastered by ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM whose Remaster catalogue is huge - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Black Sabbath, ELP, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Thin Lizzy and even Lee Perry. I think they've managed to wangle more - a better depth and naturality. To the music...

The bells and crashing Tympany drums of "Jerusalem" roar and that Greg Lake wah-wah guitar break in "Still...You Turn Me On" punches out of the acoustic guitars with intent. That fantastic synth break Emerson goes into towards the end of Part 1 of "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression" chugs along with a zip I haven't heard before and of course they've joined the synth fade out of Part 1 to Part to make it into one seamless piece of music. Alberto Ginastera's "Toccata" has all that wild percussion stuff coming at you (he approved apparently) while Lake's guitars pan across the speakers in Part 2 of "Karn Evil 9" in tandem with Emerson's synth soloing - like both are gone on a virtuoso bender.

I can't really tell if there's that much of a difference between the 'First Mix' versions of "Jerusalem" or "Still...You Turn Me On" - while the Bass and soaring Synths on the Alternate Version of Part 1 variant of "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression" sound amazing to my ears - probably the most King Crimson ELP ever got. I'd forgotten how cool the NME Flexi was - a very cleverly mixed 'excerpts' that feature eight snippets that runs to only 2:52 minutes. The long-winded/silly-billy titles notwithstanding - I've always thought 'both' the instrumental "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" and "Brain Salad Surgery" tracks should have replaced "Toccata" and the horrid "Benny The Bouncer" on the album. I've always thought both are brilliant with "Brain Salad Surgery" substituting "Bouncer" for the album's moment of wit. 

--> They would release the indulgent live triple album "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends" in 1974 (lyrics taken from "Karn Evil 9") practically ushering in the need for Punk Rock. But if you want to know why they caused such a Proggy Jangle - then this 2016 Reissue of "Brain Salad Surgery" is the one for you...

"Trilogy: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (2015 Sony Music/Legacy 2CD/1DVD-A Set – Paschal Byrne/Andy Pearce/Nigel Wilkes/Jakko Jakszyk Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...It Was All Clear...From The Beginning..." 

As an impressionable 14-year old in 1972 Dublin - I can remember holding the 4th ELP album under my arm in all its gorgeous Island Records Hipgnosis Gatefold Sleeve splendiffery as I trucked along the unsuspecting footpath to my mate's house in Clontarf (he later turned out to be a blindingly great bass player - Raymond "Gally" Kelleher). I was gamely determined to get him away from that grungy hard-rocking Black Sabbath and Budgie stuff and introduce the clearly unenlightened eejet Ray to the wondrous and complicated Moog glories of Prog Rock (some chance). He listened to Part One of "The Endless Enigma" and uttered adjectives beginning with 'f' that his mother wouldn't have approved of. Not even Carl Palmer saying the "s" word at the beginning of "The Sheriff" as he misses a beat (which seemed terribly exciting at the time) bought out the inner Rock ‘n’ Roller in him. No – none of it worked – in fact massively unimpressed - Gally looked at me sideways - like I might need to up the drugs-intake or get more therapy (and real fast). Ah well...

In equal measure ELP’s catalogue has long since been the stuff of devotion and utter derision as the decades roll by – and I’m down with both opinions. They were bloated and preposterous at times for sure – but they were also innovative and magnificent and with "Trilogy" – they moved me. "Trilogy" has always had a place in my clogged-up soft machine and this stunning 3-disc reissue finally does that nugget in their patchy catalogue a long-deserved solid. Here are laced-up boots and moody side profiles...

UK released 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) – "Trilogy: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on Sony Music/Legacy /Leadclass Limited 88875004902 (Barcode 888750049025) is a 2CD/1DVD Reissue which breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 – Original Trilogy (42:12 minutes):

1. The Endless Enigma (Part One)

2. Fugue

3. The Endless Enigma (Part Two)

4. From The Beginning

5. The Sheriff

6. Hoedown

7. Trilogy [Side 2]

8. Living Sin

9. Abaddon’s Bolero

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 4th album "Trilogy" – originally released July 1972 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9186 and in the USA on Cotillion SD-9903 (Produced by Greg Lake and Eddie Offord). Original master tapes transferred by PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving in London – remaster for the original mix by ANDY PEARCE.

Disc 2 – New Stereo Trilogy (46:53 minutes):

1. From The Beginning (Alternate Version)

2 to 10 as per Disc 1 with each track as (New Stereo Mix)

Disc 3 – DVD-A 5.1 Trilogy:

Tracks 1 to 9 (as per Disc 1) offers the album in “Original Mixes Presented In Both MLP Lossless & LPCM – both at 24-bit 96kHz”

Tracks 10 to 18 (as per Disc 1) offers the album in “New Stereo Mixes Presented In Both MLP Lossless 5.1 & Stereo at 24-bit 96kHz, DTS 96/24 5.1 & Dolby Digital 5.1 (48kHz) and LPCM Stereo 24-bit 96kHz

Track 19 is “From The Beginning (Alternate Version)” – as per 10 to 18

The New Stereo and 5.1 Surround Mixes are both by JAKKO JAKSZYK - a musician who has been involved in some of the King Crimson Reissues with 5.1 Surround Mixes (all have been praised greatly). DVD-A Authoring is by NIGEL WILKES at Opus Productions. Both Disc 2 and 3 are listed as PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.

The DVD-A loads up the screen with the front cover artwork across the full widescreen spectrum as it displays EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Trilogy – DELUXE EDITION. It offers 3 options (a) Play (b) Audio Setup and (c) Original Mix. If you press play it will immediately launch into the New Stereo Mix by Jakko Jakszyk while the LPCM Stereo, DTS 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital Surround options are all off the Audio Set Up link.

The four-flap foldout card digipak is a chunky affair with a picture of Keith Emerson (Keyboards), Greg Lake (Lead Vocals and Bass) and Carl Palmer (Drums) under each of the three see-through plastic trays. The 16-page booklet features new liner notes from noted writer and Musicologist CHRIS WELCH with a superbly in-depth interview from Jakko Jakszyk on the tapes and Surround mixes he had to make. A fan of the band since 1971 when he saw the group at the Oval Cricket Grounds in Kennington, London for £1.25 new pence – his enthusiasm and dedication to getting it right is palatable. The reproduce the inner gatefold trick photo by HIPGNOSIS where they are behind trees (Epping Forest), an advert for the American album on Cotillion and there’s even a fee paragraphs from all three musicians (signed beneath) about how they remember the album. It’s well done - but small change to the musical improvements...

"Trilogy" always had way too much hiss and little or no oomph. I’ve heard (I think) no less than three remasters of it – none of which elevated it beyond 'good'. And while you play Andy Pearce’s gallant attempt on Disc 1 – the truth for me is that the flat transfer doesn’t really sound improved. But all of that goes out the window when you get to Disc 2 and 3 where new Remaster Hero JAKSZYK has finally produced the Audio fans have craved for decades – and in two different ways (no less) that both excel. The New Stereo Trilogy is truly fabulous stuff – the hiss gone – the instruments to the fore – and yet it isn’t trebled up to the nines for effect – the whole sound stage is just better and more ballsy for the want of better words. When Greg Lake sings, "I've begun to see the reasons why I'm here..." as he finishes Part 2 of "The Endless Enigma" – the whole group punch is formidable. And there’s a heartbeat at the beginning of track one (Lake on Bass apparently) that predates "Dark Side Of The Moon" by a year as an intro effect that’s been hidden in the mix for decades.

But then you’re hit with a true sensation – the beautiful ballad by Greg Lake "From The Beginning". Having loved and heard this track for 40+ years in average sound – what an utter blast it is to hear it this clear, this gorgeous and dare we say - this powerful. The acoustic guitars strum with power and warmth, the bass is so sweet and man - when that Keith Emerson solo kicks it – you’re floored. Of the tracks on Side Two the best sounding has to be "Trilogy" with its piano intro and then that massive Synth break in the middle. Those huge keyboard blasts and drum rolls at the end of "Living Sin" also sound incredible.

I popped round to a mate's house to sample the 5.1 Surround and WOW is the only appropriate response. There’s instrumental stuff going in the album finisher "Abaddon's Bolero" that I’ve never heard – rhythm flourishes and guitars that swirl around the room – unbelievably good. The DVD-A is a triumph and I’m really going to have to invest in a decent Surround set up at home.

So there you have it – a good Emerson, Lake And Palmer reissue at last - glory be. Why I’m so animated I might even listen to the side and a half version of "Karn Evil 9" on the dreadful live triple "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends..." set?

Well I might...but then again...I may need to look at those med's levels again as Gally Kelleher once advised...

-->

"The Whole World's Shaking: Complete Recordings 1963-1966" by GEORGE FAME (2015 Universal/Polydor 5CD Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Say Yeah Yeah..."

Lick your lips in glee ye Gods of Mod. Like myself there can't be many 60ts music lovers across the world that didn't get a tad excited in the trouser area this Monday morning (12 October 2015) at the arrival of "The Whole World's Shaking: Complete Recordings 1963-1966" by GEORGIE FAME in my overexcited post-box. Even when it was announced months back for pre-order – I thought to myself - now there's a winner I need for my bulging CD shelves (there's an awful lot of bulging going on in this review I'm afraid).

Four albums from the period (all expanded with B-sides and Rarities in gorgeous gatefold card repro sleeves), 106 tracks in total (18 Previously Unreleased), a 48-Page Hardback Book with mucho unpublished plates, Five Quality Art Cards and a foldout Black and White Poster of Georgie and Mick Jagger having a natter. There’s even an unexpected and stunning Vocal Lead from Long John Baldry amongst the unreleased (track 19, disc 1). We’ve a huge amount of detail to get through - so once more good people of Blighty unto the Rhythm 'n' Blues Allnighter ('I say yeh, yeh' to that)...

UK released Monday 12 October 2015 (16 October 2015 in the USA) – "The Whole World's Shaking: Complete Recordings 1963-1966" by GEORGIE FAME on Universal/Polydor 4739865 (Barcode 602547398659) is a 5CD Box Set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - "Rhythm And Blues At The Flamingo" (78:51 minutes, 23 tracks):

1. Night Train

2. Let The Good Times Roll

3. Do The Dog

4. Eso Beso

5. Work Song

6. Parchman Farm [Side 2]

7. You Can't Sit Down

8. Humpty Dumpty

9. Shop Around

10. Baby, Please Don't Go

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "Rhythm And Blues At The Flamingo" – released January 1964 in the UK on Columbia 33SX 1599 in Mono only. It failed to chart and produced one British 7" single in January 1964 - "Do The Dog" b/w "Shop Around" on Columbia DB 7193 (tracks 3 and 9) which also failed to chart. The album was recorded 'live' in September 1963 and Produced by Ian Samwell with Glyn Johns as the Engineer. MONO Mix on CD.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Parker's Mood

12. Money (That's What I Want)

Tracks 11 and 12 are outtakes from the Mono LP sessions that first turned up in 2006 on the Japanese CD Reissue of the album on Polydor UIJY-93169

13. Molasses

Track 13 is a Previously Unreleased Stereo outtake from the LP sessions

14. Night Train

15. Bright Lights, Big City

16. Walking The Dog

17. Do-Re-Mi

18. Let The Sunshine In

19. You're Breaking My Heart

Tracks 14 to 19 were recorded by the BBC at the Camden Theatre in London in March 1964 in Stereo and first broadcast 5 September 1964 – they are previously unreleased on CD

20. Sister Sadie

21. Pig Foots

22. Funky Mama

23. Signifying Monkey

Tracks 20 to 23 were recorded live at The Blue Moon in Hayes, Middlesex in December 1964 (Mono Bootleg) and are Previously Unreleased.

Disc 2 – "Fame At Last" (59:43 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Get On The Right Track, Baby

2. Let The Sunshine In

3. The Monkey Time

4. All About My Girl

5. Point Of No Return

6. Gimme That Wine

7. Pink Champagne [Side 2]

8. Monkeying Around

9. Pride And Joy

10. Green Onions

11. I Love The Life I Live

12. I'm In The Mood For Love (Moody's Mood For Love)

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 2nd album "Fame At Last" – released October 1964 in the UK on Columbia 33SX 1638 in Mono Only (peaked at 15 on the UK charts). Reissued in November 1969 on Starline SRS 5002 in Stereo – the Stereo Mix is used for this CD as is the word STEREO on the card repro sleeve.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Do-Re-Mi

Track 13 is a non-album Mono B-side to "Green Onions" – a UK 7” single released April 1964 on Columbia DB 7255

14. I'm In Love With You

15. Bend A Little

Tracks 14 and 15 are the Mono A and B-sides to a July 1964 Promo-Only UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7328

16. Madness

17. Tom Hark Goes Blue Beat

18. Humpty Dumpty

19. One Whole Year, Baby

Tracks 16 to 19 are the 4-track "Rhythm And Blue Beat" UK 7" EP released May 1964 on Columbia SEG 8334 in Stereo

20. Yeh, Yeh

21. Preach And Teach

Tracks 20 and 21 are the Stereo A and B-sides of a December 1964 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7428. It was also issued in the USA in January 1965 on Imperial 66086 - a No. 1 in the UK - it peaked at No. 21 in the USA.

The 12-track "Fame At Last" LP became his first US album release in December 1964 on Imperial LP 12282 in Stereo but was credited as "Yeh Yeh" (after the hit single) and featured a rejiggered track list with omissions and additions. Using the following track numbers on Disc 2 - this box set will allow fans to sequence that album as follows...

Side 1:

1. Let The Sunshine In (2)

2. Yeh Yeh (20)

3. Get On The Right Track, Baby (1)

4. The Monkey Time (3)

5. Preach And Teach (21)

6. Gimme That Wine (6)

Side 2:

1. I'm In The Mood For Love (12)

2. Pride And Joy (9)

3. I Love The Life I Live (11)

4. Point Of No Return (5)

5. Monkeying Around (8)

6. Pink Champagne (7)

Disc 3 – "Sweet Things" (61:39 minutes, 21 Tracks):

1. Sweet Thing

2. See Saw

3. Ride Your Pony

4. Funny How Time Slips Away

5. Sitting In The Park

6. Dr. Kitch

7. My Girl [Side 2]

8. Music Talk

9. The In Crowd

10. The World Is Round

11. The Whole World's Shaking

12. Last Night

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Mono album "Sweet Things" – released May 1966 in the UK on Columbia SX 6043 (peaked at No. 6 on the LP charts). MONO Mix on CD.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. In The Meantime

14. Telegram

Tracks 13 and 14 are the non-album Mono A and B-sides to a February 1965 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7494 – peaked at 22

15. No, No (The River)

16. Blue Monday

17. So Long

18. Sick And Tired

Tracks 15 to 18 are the 4-track "Fats For Fame" UK 7" EP released May 1965 on Columbia SEG 8406 in Stereo

19. Like We Used To Be

20. It Ain’t Right

Tracks 19 and 20 are the non-album A&B-sides of a July 1965 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7633 (the A is Mono, the B is Stereo) – peaked at No. 33 on the charts

21. Something

Track 21 is the non-album Mono A-side of an October 1965 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7727 (its non-album B-side "Outrage" is Track 13 on Disc 4) – peaked at No. 23 on the charts

His 2nd American LP "Get Away" was issued 1966 in Mono only on Imperial LP 9331 and can be sequenced from Discs 3 and 4 using the following tracks...

Side 1:

1. Get Away (track 18, disc 4)

2. Sweet Thing (track 1, disc 3)

3. Ride Your Pony (track 3, disc 3)

4. Funny How Time Slips Away (track 4, disc 3)

5. Sitting In The Park (track 5, disc 3)

6. See Saw (track 2, disc 3)

Side 2:

1. Music Talk (track 8, disc 3)

2. Last Night (track 12, disc 3)

3. It's Got The Whole World Shakin' (track 11, disc 3)

4. El Bandido (track 19, disc 4)

5. The World Is Round (track 10, disc 3)

6. The "In" Crowd (track 9, disc 3)

Disc 4 – "Sound Venture" (59:41 minutes, 21 tracks):

1. Many Happy Returns

2. Down For The Count

3. It's For Love The Petals Fall

4. I Am Missing You

5. Funny How Time Slips Away

6. Lil' Pony

7. Lovey Dovey [Side 2]

8. Lil' Darlin'

9. Three Blind Mice

10. Dawn Yawn

11. Feed Me

12. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Mono album "Sound Venture" – released October 1966 in the UK on Columbia SX 6076 (peaked at No. 9 on the LP charts).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Outrage

Track 13 is the non-album Mono B-side of an October 1965 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7727 (its non-album A-side "Something" is Track 21 on Disc 3)

14. Move It On Over

15. Walking The Dog

16. High Heel Sneakers

17. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu

Tracks 14 to 17 are the 4-track "Move It On Over" UK 7" EP released November 1965 on Columbia SEG 8454 in Stereo

18. Get Away

19. El Bandido

Tracks 18 and 19 are the non-album Mono A&B-sides of a June 1966 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 7946 (peaked at No. 1 on the charts)

20. Sunny

21. Don't Make Promises

Tracks 20 and 21 are the non-album Mono A&B-sides of a September 1966 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 8015 (peaked at No. 13 on the charts)

Disc 5 – "Bend A Little: Demos, Rarities, B-Sides & Outtakes" (62:01 minutes, 20 tracks):

1. Money (That’s What I Want (IBC Version)

2. Let The Sunshine in (IBC Version)

3. Lonely Avenue (IBC Version)

4. You're Driving Me Crazy (IBC Version)

5. Kidney Stew (IBC Version)

Tracks 1 to 5 are Mono Demos recorded in 1963 at the IBC Studios by Glyn Johns – Previously Unreleased

6. Moanin' – Mono, Previously Unreleased

7. Gimme That Wine (Alternate Version) – Mono, Previously Unreleased

8. Bend A Little – Stereo Instrumental, Previously Unreleased

9. Saturday Night Fish Fry – Stereo cover of a Louis Jordan song, Previously Unreleased

10. Lil Darlin' (Alternate Version) – Stereo, Previously Unreleased

11. You’re Driving Me Crazy (Alternate Version) – Lou Donaldson cover, Previously Unreleased

12. Soul Stomp – Earl Van Dyke cover in Stereo

13. This Is Always – Stereo

14. Jelly Jelly – Billy Eckstein cover in Mono

15. Black Head Chinaman – Prince Buster cover in Stereo

16. Incense – Instrumental Backing Track in Mono – Previously Unreleased

17. Tan Tan's Tune – an Eddie Thornton cover in Stereo

18. Red Number Nine – A Tony Colton song in Stereo

19. Humpty Dumpty (German Version)

20. Yeah, Yeh, Yeh (German Version)

Tracks 19 and 20 are the German Language versions released as the B and A of a 1965 German 7" single on Columbia C 22 909

PACKAGING:

The box is larger than I’d expected it to be – about 10" x 8" and glossy. Inside are four expanded albums in gatefold repro card artwork (all of them) with a 5th Rarities CD ("Bend A Little") – all five in a red bandana sat in a hollow with a black ribbon beneath for easy pull-out extraction. The gatefold card sleeves are amazingly rendered and each CD is a picture disc (see my note below in Sound on format). On top of those is a beautifully laid out 48-page hardback book (approx. 8" x 8") featuring new indepth interviews with Georgie, many period photos, repros of the album artwork, rare EPs, trade adverts, pictures of the band at the famous Flamingo Club all topped off with extensive liner notes from CHRIS WELCH. Beneath the hardback is a glossy card pouch (same size at the book) that uses the box set’s artwork as its sleeve. Inside are 5 black and white high quality art cards (Georgie in various mod jumper poses) and one foldout black and white poster (Georgie standing beside a fireplace talking to a young Mick Jagger). They're lovely to look at if not a tad superfluous.

However – and without blowing my own trumpet here (not a good idea at my age) – it’s seems extraordinary to me that on such a carefully laid out and classily presented package - no one has thought to produce a single catalogue number anywhere on anything. Even the bonus disc - which is full of exclusive English and German 7" singles and previously unreleased material - shows no catalogue numbers? The info I’ve laid out above isn’t in the book, on the gatefold card sleeves for the albums, on the postcards or on the other side of the poster? Having said that – Georgie goes into a song-by-song analysis in the book that helps place their musical history. Don't get me wrong - this thing looks gorgeous - but for the cost and info nerds like me someone some should done a bit more research...

SOUND:

And as with the Bowie "Five Years" box set of September 2015 – I'd swear that these discs are Japanese pressed SHM-CDs - but it doesn't say so anywhere on the packaging (a bonus for us if they are of course - any takers on this?). What I can say is that the TRISTAM POWELL (Georgie's son, Georgie's real name is Clive Powell) and ANDREW WALTER Remasters (done at Abbey Road) from original master tapes are stunning – the best this material has ever sounded (with the exception of the notoriously murky "Flamingo" set). Famous liner notes writer and compilation maker DEAN RUDLAND tells us in the Compiler's Note at the end of the hardback book that worldwide searches of tape libraries across EMI's vaults was only now possible with the acquisition of EMI by Universal some years back. In the process they've gotten the best Audio sources and discovered a session from 6 June 1963 with Glynn Johns at the Producer controls. It's not Fame's earliest recordings (the R&B label stuff) but it is his earliest in the style presented here. SHM-CDs or not - these discs sound splendido. Now let's get to the music...

MUSIC:

The Audio for "Rhythm And Blues At The Flamingo" has always been lo-fi to low-bucket – but as Georgie rattles off American city destinations in the opening James Brown cover of "Night Train" – it does at least sound more ballsy as the huge organ sound elicits enthusiastic hollers from the punters (you can just see the dudes and dudettes giving it some shimmy as you listen). It's easy to hear why "Do The Dog" failed as a single – it's joyful stuff for sure but it’s just 'too' rough and cluttered. I'd swear I can hear those drums on "Parchment Farm" a lot clearer and the R&B boogie of "Baby, Please Don't Go" brings it all home. The three outtakes from the 'live' session are more of the same – best of which is the new cover of Freddie Roach's "Molasses" – a 'yeah man' saxophone and organ grinder - and for me actually better than much of what's on the album!

I had expected the BBC Sessions to be weedy – nothing could be further from the truth – if anything they are everything the album should have been sonically. "Ladies And Gentlemen...This Is Rhythm And Blues!" the BBC announcer tells his audience in his best Radio 1 coolsville voice – the Blue Flames version of "Night Train" cooking both in terms of great Audio and tight playing. Once again Mr. Radio 1 introduces Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City" and it allows Georgie's great vocals to shine – then things start to really cook as the fans clap along to the Rufus Thomas classic "Walking The Dog". The same happens with cool versions of "Do-Re-Mi" and "Let The Sunshine In" – ending on a genuine stunner – LONG JOHN BALDRY fronting the band for "You're Breaking My Heart" with Glenn Hughes soloing real slow and Bluesy on his Saxophone (yum yum). I had also expected the Bootleg to be Audio rubbish but I can hear why its been included – the Audio is better than good and the performances toppermost - especially the band cooking on a fast instrumental romp through Willie Dixon's "Pig Foot" (drop out here and there for sure but still wicked nonetheless).

The second Disc 2 kicks in – the Audio is shockingly good – all that brill R&B blasting out of your speakers – the whole sound stage for stuff like "Let The Sunshine In" and Motown's "The Monkey Time" – the girly vocals and brass jabs – all sparkling. The rhythm-section shuffle in "Pink Champagne" is fabulous – Fame's vocals fresh too. It's hard to do an instrumental diamond like "Green Onions" any kind of justice because its owned by Booker T & The M.G.'s – but Fame gives it a barnstorming arrangement that allows both the organ and Saxophone room to shine. The album closes on the Jazzy smooch of "I'm In The Mood For Love". Cool-city is the only way to describe the mod dancer B-side "Do-Re-Mi" (I can see why its so sought after by mod collectors) – unfortunately it's equally easy to hear why the sappy "I'm In Love With You" went only to demo-level only (the flip "Bend A Little" is far better). I'll admit that It's been decades since I last heard the Ska and Blue Beat EP – but what a blast the foursome are – and in great Audio too. It ends on the monster "Yeh, Yeh" (his first No. 1) with its superb "Preach And Teach" flip (surely a shoe in for one the great double-siders).

After the beautiful Stereo of "Fame At Last" – the return to the Mono of "Sweet Things" takes a bit of Aural getting used to – but the music is still hip. The funky-as-a-gnat's-knackers "See Saw" packs huge punch while "Sitting In The Park" is as echo-lovely as the Billy Stewart 1965 Chess original. We get all island Calypso with "Dr. Kitch" while Side 2 opens with a sweet version of Motown’s "My Girl". The drums on the 'so' 60ts "Music Talk" is a mod's wet dream as is his organ-drenched instrumental cover of the Ramsey Lewis nugget "The "In" Crowd". Both "The World Is Round" and the box set's namesake "The Whole World's Shaking" are fabulous Sixties R&B Jivers (I can just see the girls on the dancefloor blowing the sharp-dressed boys minds with their shimmy-shimmy-shake moves). Of the B-sides and EP Rarities I'm digging "In The Meantime" and "Sick And Tired" on the rarely seen or heard Fats Domino EP. But the best Audio is on the B-side "It Ain't Right" which is presented here in awesome Stereo – worth the entry price alone.

Disc 4 features Georgie Fame & The Harry South Big Band on the "Sound Venture" LP in the autumn of 1966. There's beautiful Mono clarity on "Down For The Count" as there is on his jazzy return to "Funny How Time Slips Away" (he did a slower version of it on "Sweet Things"). Massive punch too on the Clovers cover "Lovey Dovey" even though I don't like his version that much while the James Brown annihilator "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" ends the album on a high (and rightly so). Fans will love the blindingly great instrumental B-side "Outrage" as they will the Stereo blast of Tommy Tucker's "Hi Heel Sneakers".

Collectors will breathe a sigh of relief that Disc 5 contains so much quality and not filler for the sake of it. The first five are from a recent find – 1963 Studio recordings produced by Glyn Johns as demos - including organised versions of Ray Charles' "Lonely Avenue" and Lou Donaldson's "You're Driving Me Crazy". Amongst the Previously Unreleased are slinky versions of "Moanin'" and the brassy "Bend A Little" which is in wicked Stereo with occasional girly vocals of "I really love you..." (what a find). We go old school 40ts R&B with Louis Jordan's "Saturday Night Fish Fry" – so well recorded it could be Joe Jackson in the 1980s. Slow jazz vibes sift in on a plume of cigarette smoke with "Lil Darlin'" (gorgeous Stereo) – but my faves here are the Tony Colton gambling song "Red Number Nine" and a stunning take on Earl Van Dyke’s "Soul Stomp" (again in amazing Stereo) – both brass/organ steppers that will have Mod dancers reaching for the talcum powder tins with a sense or urgency...

Beautifully presented and featuring stonkingly great Audio (discs 2 to 5 especially) – Georgie Fame has had this kind of homage due him for decades now. Well done to all involved and recommended like a slick 60ts tailored suit...

PS: there is also a 5LP Vinyl Version

This review and hundreds more like it are part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series - available to buy/lend on Amazon in COOL 1960s MUSIC (Exceptional CD Remasters) at the following link...