"The Band" by THE BAND (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 2nd album from 1969) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ain't No Reason To Hang My Head..."

Sounding like it was recorded in Uncle Bob's Basement and Garage (they used a house in the Hollywood Hills owned by Sammy Davis, Jr and padded it out with blankets and wood) - The Band's self-titled second album delivered on the promise of their 1968 debut "Music From Big Pink" in a huge way. Today it's revered as an Americana classic and this cool little CD Remaster from 2000 hammers that home big time. Here are the rag mama rags...

Released September 2000 - "The Band" by THE BAND on Capitol 525 3892 (Barcode 724352538928) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (71:57 minutes):

1. Across The Great Divide

2. Rag Mama Rag

3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

4. When You Awake

5. Up On Cripple Creek

6. Whispering Pines

7. Jemima Surrender [Side 2]

8. Rockin' Chair

9. Look Out Cleveland

10. Jawbone

11. The Unfaithful Servant

12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd album "The Band" - released September 1969 in the USA on Capitol Records STAO-132 and January 1970 in the UK on capitol Records E-ST 132.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Get Up Jake (Outtake - Stereo Mix)

14. Raga Mama Rag (Alternate Vocal Take - Rough Mix)

15. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Alternate Mix)

16. Up On Cripple Creek (Alternate Take)

17. Whispering Pines (Alternate Take)

18. Jemima Surrender (Alternate Take)

19. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) (Alternate Performance)

THE BAND was:

GARTH HUDSON - Organ, Clavinette, Piano, Accordion, Soprano Tenor & Baritone Sax and Slide Trumpet

RICHARD MANUEL - Vocals, Piano, Drums, Baritone Sax & Mouth Harp

LEVON HELM - Vocals, Drums, Mandolin & Guitar

RICK DANKO - Vocals, Bass, Violin & Trombone

ROBBIE ROBERTSON - Guitar

Compiled by Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval - the 16-page booklet has fantastically comprehensive liner notes by ROB BOWMAN that feature interviews stretching back twelve years (from 2000), photos of tracking sheets, mix instructions, American 45s and Picture Sleeves, trade adverts, colour snaps from the session in the house - and even a Time Magazine cover from January 1970. It's very well done as befits an album of this stature. But the big news is a great remaster by DAN HERSCH and ANDREW SANDOVAL. Recorded outside of a conventional studio in a loose manner and with `feel' being all-important - the tracks vary in sound quality. And you have to say that this remaster allows the whole lot to `breathe'. On tracks like "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" and the beautiful "Whispering Pines" where hiss is more than evident - the transfers haven't tried to supress it - but given it space to shine - it's properly lovely.

Almost a mission statement as to `this is how we sound - love it or lump it' - the openers "Across The Great Divide" and the single "Raga Mama Rag" establishes that `Band' sound and feel. The joviality abates for the epic "Virgil Cane" Civil War ballad "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" with Levon Helm sounding literally like a beaten soldier from the South. It's one of Robbie Robertson's finest songwriting moments. Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson do a great vocal trade off on "When You Awake" but Manuel's lead on "Whispering Pines" is probably most people's crave - a gorgeous melody with all those croaking voices harmonizing and that organ giving it a church on Sunday backdrop. It ends Side One perfectly.

We go into boogie mode for "Jemima Surrender" - a top-notch chugger with the group sounding like they're enjoying themselves while discovering a special chemistry ("I'll bring over my Fender and play all night for you..."). But the biggies are the two finishers - Rick Danko sings "The Unfaithful Servant" where "that train is comin'..." and the malevolent "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" is handled by Richard Manuel. There's even traces of Little Feat's funky sound in its 1969 grooves. The extra tracks provide a fabulous insight into the recording process - beginning with a real find - an outtake called "Get Up Jake" considered at the time as one too many for the album - its great. Listening to a string of Alternate Takes of songs you've known for decades is a strange and exhilarating experience - the acoustic "Dixie" is unbelievably intimate with its false starts and great sound. A keyboard-funky "Up On Cripple Creek" follows - but the real prize has to be another version of "Whispering Pines" which is just as achingly beautiful as the finished cut (even when it breaks down mid-take because of a `squeaky chair'). The loose guitar jam of "King Harvest" feels like eavesdropping on "union man" Americana. Wicked...

Dirt cheap from most online retailers - this is one of those occasions where you don't have to pay through the CD nose to get that great combo of top music and quality sound. And if ever a group deserved such a sweet outcome - then The Band are it...

"Sunflower/Surf's Up" by THE BEACH BOYS (2000 Capitol/Brother '2LPs on 1CD' Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Get Yourself Some Cool, Cool Water..."

In 2016 - both 1970's "Sunflower" and 1971's "Surf's Up" are considered the best of The Beach Boys 70's output - and rightly so. But at the time America’s Joe Public couldn't have cared less about the first and showed only casual interest in the second - especially considering how big and influential the band had been only years earlier.

Having jumped contractual ship from their spiritual home since 1962 (Capitol Records) - and especially given the melodic strength of the new material - big things was expected of The Beach Boys and their clean break to Brother Records in 1970 (distributed by the then mighty Warner Brothers). But it just didn't happen. Released Monday 31 August 1970 - "Sunflower" lasted only four weeks on Billboard's Top 200 peaking at a miserable No. 151. Apparently its sales figures were embarrassing in the USA (it fared better in the UK on EMI's Stateside label where it made No. 29 on the LP charts). 

Maybe "Sunflower" was perceived as being out-of-sync girly surfin' music - their Beach Boys sound 'old hat' against the emerging Hard Rock explosion that was engulfing music towards the end of the Sixties and into the first two years of that redefining decade - the Seventies. 

At least 1971's follow through "Surf's Up" cracked the USA Top 30 - finally landing at No. 29 - and managed a four months stay on the LP charts as opposed to one. With a weary warrior crouched over his beaten horse on the front cover and song titles like "Student Demonstration Time" and "Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)" - at least "Surf's Up" seemed more in step with a fractured and hurting America - so it did better.

Whatever way you interpret history - re-listening to these two remarkable albums on this wickedly good CD Remaster and I’m reminded in emphatic style that sometimes Joe Public needs to be just that - reminded. I say knob to those original embarrassing sales numbers – the musical brilliance on display here is indeed embarrassing - but for all the right reasons. Let's break down those brilliant harmonies...

UK released 14 August 2000 - "Sunflower/Surf's Up" by THE BEACH BOYS on Capitol/Brother 525 6922 (Barcode 724352569229) offers up 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (70:22 minutes):

1. Slip On Through

2. This Whole World

3. Add Some Music To Your Day

4. Got To Know The Woman

5. Deirdre

6. It's About Time

7. Tears In The Morning [Side 2]

8. All I Wanna Do

9. Forever

10. Our Sweet Love

11. At My Window

12. Cool, Cool Water

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Sunflower" - released 31 August 1970 in the USA on Brother Records/Reprise RS 6382 and November 1970 in the UK on Stateside SSL 8251.

13. Don't Go Near The Water

14. Long Promised Road

15. Take A Load Off Your Feet

16. Disney Girls (1957)

17. Student Demonstration Time

18. Feel Flows [Side 2]

19. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)

20. A Day In The Life Of A Tree

21. 'Til I Die

22. Surf's Up

Tracks 13 to 22 are their album "Surf's Up" - released 30 August 1971 in the USA on Brother/Reprise RS 6453 and November 1971 in the UK on Stateside SSL 10313.

The properly chunky 22-page booklet offers fans liner notes from Beach Boys authority TIMOTHY WHITE adapted from his acclaimed book "The Nearest Far Away Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys And The Southern California Experience". His song-by-song analysis and critique is both honest and affectionate and much of it peppered with Brian's 'selective' memories. There's the inner gatefold sleeve for "Sunflower" (no lyrics unfortunately), period photos, alternate artwork, original recording and reissue credits as well as lyrics to the "Surf's Up" album. But the big news is 24-Bit Digital Remasters from original tapes by two hugely respected Audio Engineers - ANDREW SANDOVAL and DAN HERSCH. Sandoval handled the acclaimed 2CD 'Deluxe Editions' of The Kinks and Small Faces (amongst many others) - whilst Dan Hersch (along with Bill Inglot) has been at the heart of Rhino's Vinyl and CD Reissue machine for over two decades - having handled literally hundreds of prestigious catalogues across a huge range of genres. These guys know their way around tape boxes and it shows. Beautifully and carefully recorded at the time - all that technical expertise and innovation comes shining through on these wonderful-sounding transfers. Top stuff...

Released towards the end of June 1970 on Brother 0929 - the second 45 from the "Sunflower" LP was the Side 1 openers "Slip On Through" b/w "This Whole World" - Dennis Wilson writing the A and Brian the flip-side (no UK issue). But despite the edgy groove - it tanked. Earlier in February 1970 - Brother had issued the Beach Boys debut 45 on the label - the pretty "Add Some Music To Your Day" b/w "Susie Cincinnati". At one point it appears that "Add Some Music..." was considered as an album title. Even better is the gorgeous "Deirdre" - a happy song with wonderful layered vocals and an almost jingle-bells Christmas feel to it (when Brother put out "Long Promised Road" in June 1971 as a single off "Surf's Up" - they used "Deirdre" as its B-side). The straight up bopper and "...I used to throw my mind sky high..." confessions of "It's About Time" (the Side 1 ender) give it incredible edge - and that Bass/Vocal middle-eight break is pure Beach Boys genius (Dennis Wilson, Bob Burchman and Alan Jardine wrote it).

Side 2 opens just as strongly with Bruce Johnston's hurting but beautiful "Tears In The Morning" where he keeps a hold on his sorrow as those string arrangements soar behind his 'missing you' vocal pleading. Brian Wilson and Mike Love's "All I Wanna Do" is the closest the LP gets to a "Pet Sounds" outtake (Todd Rundgren was surely listening to this). "Forever" is probably the album's most revered and beloved song - yet when Brother Records put out another 45 in February 1971 (Brother 0998) - they relegated "Forever" to the flip-side of "Cool, Cool Water" - a commercial mistake methinks. The 'sparrow came flying down' song "At My Window" is a fitting lead-in to the amazing "Cool, Cool Water" - a song that's synonymous with Beach Boys melodic brilliance. That build-up of trippy voices as the song makes its way to those ‘now now now’ chants – like Sigur Ros 30 years before the event - wow...

The Surf's Up" opener "Don't Go Near The Water" warns of polluted oceans and the same pouring out of your facet. An animated Carl Wilson fronts "Long Promised Land" wanting to throw off 'shackles that are binding me down' (lyrics he sings with a passion and desperation you can literally feel). The hippy wistful 'take good care of your feet' and 'watch what you eat' lyrics in "Take A Load Off Your Feet" feel like the theme song to a Californian whole-food store that sells any manner of mushrooms. Better is "Disney Girls (1957)" - a genuinely lovely melody beautifully played and sung by Brian Johnston where he pines for 'Patti Page and summer days...' Things take a decidedly heavy turn with the out-and-out Neil Young guitar rock of "Student Demonstration Time" where they incorporate 'there's a riot going on' and change 'cell block number nine' into 'student demonstration time'. It's brilliant and the kind of song CSYN might have produced on a third studio album if they'd made one...

Side 2 opens with the fazed vocals of "Feel Flows" where we're 'unbending never-ending tablets of time' - a fab yeah man moment with brilliant guitar laced with flute. I often cite "Feel Flows" as one of the album's layered masterpieces. The hurt disconnectedness of returning war-vets fills the equally trippy and acoustic-driven "Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)" - where men can't find work sweeping floors but can find substances on the street corner to dull the ache. Tweeting birds and a seaside/church organ fill the equally trippy "A Day In The Life Of A Tree" - a plea for the environment choking on 'pollution and slow death'. The beautiful but damaged "'Til I Die" has Brian wondering 'how long will the wind blow' before something darker takes him (he fought to have the song's dark subject matter on the album). The 'Smile Sessions' 2CD set showed us four variants of the album's centrepiece "Surf's Up" - one of them stretching back to a lovely 1967 piano demo. The finished "Surf's Up' is simply exquisite in its arrangement and delivery - where you can 'so' hear Todd Rundgren, Hall & Oates and so many other melody giants in its 4:11 minutes.

For me "Surf's Up" is a huge leap forward and "Sunflower" was great anyway - so any listener is on a winner either way. In fact some have argued that this Beach Boys twofer may indeed be the best '2LPs onto 1CD' value-for-money remaster ever released. And damn - but I think they're absolutely on the harmony money...

"No Other" by GENE CLARK (2003 Warners 'Remastered & Expanded' CD Edition) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Time Can Only Heal Its Scars..." 

Missouri's Harold Eugene Clark has already had a huge career prior to his 6th album "No Other" - originally unleashed on a disinterested world in December 1974.

Stints as a young man with Bluegrass & Folk singers The New Christy Minstrels, co-founding The Byrds with Roger McGuinn and David Crosby (he famously penned "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and co-wrote the classic "Eight Miles High"), a solo album in 1967 with Country act The Gosdin Brothers, two Country-Rock LPs with Dillard and Clark in 1968 and 1969 on A&M Records all of which led finally toward two solo albums - 1971's "Gene Clark" (aka “White Light”) and 1972's "Roadmaster". Influential and well received all of them but none ever bothered the American Top 100. The problem with his 6th album "No Other" is that it’s probably his best record - a masterpiece many say - and the public missed out big time (it barely scraped No. 144 on the American LP charts).

Which brings us to this lovely 2003 Warners 'Expanded Edition' CD - a musical winner if ever there was one. Here are the Silver Phials...

UK released August 2003 - "No Other" by GENE CLARK on (WSM) Warner Strategic Marketing 8122 73701-2 (Barcode 081227370121) is an 'Remastered & Expanded Edition' CD offering the full 8-track 1974 album with seven Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (74:54 minutes):

1. Life's Greatest Fool

2. Silver Raven

3. No Other

4. Strength Of Strings

5. From A Silver Phial

6. Some Misunderstanding

7. The True One

8. Lady Of The North 

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 6th studio album "No Other" - released December 1974 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1016 and February 1975 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9020. 

Produced by THOMAS JEFFERSON KAYE - all songs by Gene Clark except "Lady Of The North" co-written with Doug Dillard (of Dillard and Clark and The Flying Burrito Brothers) and "Train Leaves Here This Morning" in the Bonus Tracks - co-write with Bernie Leadon of The Eagles (this song is on their 1972 "Eagles" debut album also on Asylum Records).

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):

9. Train Leaves Here This Morning

10. Life’s Greatest Fool (Alternate Version)

11. Silver Raven (Alternate Version)

12. No Other (Alternate Version)

13. From A Silver Phial (Alternate Version)

14. Some Misunderstanding (Alternate Version)

15. Lady Of The North (Alternate Version)

GENE CLARK - Guitar and Vocals on all songs

JERRY McGEE - Guitar on all songs 

DANNY KOOTCH - Guitar on "From A Silver Phial"

JESSE ED DAVIS - Guitar on "Life's Greatest Fool", "Silver Raven" and "From A Silver Phial"

STEVE BRUTON - Guitar on "Life's Greatest Fool" and "Some Misunderstanding"

BUZZY FEITEN - Guitar on "Strength Of Strings" and "Some Misunderstanding"

CHILL HILLMAN - Mandolin on "From A Silver Phial"

MICHAEL UTLEY - Keyboards on all songs

CRAIG DOERGE - Keyboards on "Strength Of Strings" and "Lady Of The North"

RICHARD GREENE - Violin on "Strength Of Strings", "Some Misunderstanding" and "Lady Of The North"

TED MACHELL - Cello on "Lady Of The North"

BILL CUOMO - Rheem Organ on "Some Misunderstanding" 

LEE SKLAR - Bass on all songs

RUSS KUNKEL - Drums on all songs except BUTCH TRUCKS on "The True One" and "No Other"

JOE LALA - Percussion on "No Other", "Life's Greatest Fool", "From A Silver Phial" and "The True One

RONNIE BARRON, CINDY BULLENS and CLAUDIA LENNEAR - Backing Vocals on "Life's Greatest Fool" and "Silver Raven"

VENETTA FIELDS, CLYDIE KING, SHIRLEY MATTHEWS and CARLENA WILLIAMS - Backing Vocals on "Life's Greatest Fool" and "Some Misunderstanding"

TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT (of The Eagles) - Backing Vocals on "Silver Raven", "No Other", "Strength Of Strings" and "From A Silver Phial"

Produced for release by RICK CONRAD - the 12-page booklet has new liner notes from JOHNNY ROGAN – Author of the acclaimed 1998 Byrds Biography "Timeless Flight Revisited". You also get lyrics to all the album songs – musician and recording credits – reissue details – a photo of Clark in his denim shirt and a rare 7" single European picture sleeve for "Life's Greatest Fool". They've even repro'd the photo that came with the rare insert which accompanied original vinyl LPs (I've only ever seen a few of these in my four decades of collecting). And of course there's those six 'Alternate Versions' of eight album tracks and the new demo for "Train Leaves Here This Morning" - a very musical collaboration with Bernie Leadon of the original Eagles line up.

But the big news is a fabulous new Digiprep Remasters involving names associated with wads of quality CD reissues - ANDREW SANDOVAL (Kinks and Small Faces) and Rhino's long-standing Audio Engineer DAN HERSCH. This CD is a joy to listen too – all that classy instrumentation and that backing group talent brought to the fore. Great stuff...

It opens on a Country-Rock winner - "Life's Greatest Fool". Asylum UK threw out "Life's Greatest Fool" with the stunning "From A Silver Phial" on the flip-side as a lead off 45 in Blighty (Asylum AYM 540) where the album didn't arrive until early 1975 - but it didn't raise a ripple. It's very Eagles melody and jaunt complete with Jesse Ed Davis guitar solo may have been the wrong choice (the B-side was better). "Silver Raven" is beautiful - acoustic guitars softly caressing his vocals. It's bolstered up by the presence of the warm backing vocals of future Eagles man Timothy B. Schmidt and the gorgeous Claudia Lennear rumoured to have "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones written about her. Things slow to a plinking keyboard intro for the title song "No Other" which then goes all Prog but it a very cool way.

Both "Strength Of Strings" and "From A Silver Phial" show the reach of his melodies with the sung-chants passages of "Strength Of Strings" (Jesse Ed Davis on slide) reminding me of David Crosby's "Song With No Words (Trees With No Leaves)" from his brilliant 1971 album "If I Could Only Remember My Name". While that's fab - I've always flipped for "From A Silver Phial" (Lyrics from it tile this review) - a properly gorgeous song with lyrics of longing like "...not to be a victim...falling in the darkened rain..." Timothy B. Schmidt once again adds that beautiful backing vocal as the piano, organ and guitar swirl. We enter into epic territory with the seven and half minute "Some Misunderstanding" - a badly timed lover's tiff that has escalated into something that must be put right - if only our Gene knew how. "The True One" is probably the most chipper of songs on the album and the most overtly Country. It ends on a lovely co-write with his old mucker Doug Dillard - "Lady Of The North".

One of the huge prizes on here is surely "Train Leaving Here This Morning" - a song that dates back to 1969's "The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark" LP on A&M Records. But it became more celebrated as one of the undiscovered gems on the Eagles 1972 debut. What we get here is five-minutes of keyboards and guitars that isn't far off the Eagles take - what a find! The six 'Alternate Versions' have been described as 'Demo' versions but they're far more accomplished and filled out. The Dobro is accentuated on "Life's Greatest Fool" while the wall of Acoustic Guitars take a more prominent front stage for "Silver Raven". But my faves are "From A Silver Phial" and "Lady Of The North" - both beautiful - stripped back of those vocals with the piano and acoustics to the front. I'm amazed at how good they are...

Why did the album Gene Clark's "No Other" fail with such obvious quality on board? At that time - I recall late 1974 and early 1975 moving into bigger and more grandiose musical productions - LPs as event - LPs as concepts - the artwork padded out with two booklets and two posters. Or maybe this kind of tunesmith was ever so slightly corny for the time. Who bloody knows...

Whatever way you look at it - this 'Remastered & Expanded' CD reissue is currently less than six smackers from most online retailers. Now there's one crime I'll take any day of the week...

"Two Sides To Every Story" by GENE CLARK (2013 High Moon Records CD Remaster In A Hardback Limited Edition Numbered Pack with a Download Card for 21 More Songs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Hear The Wind As She Cries..." 

The December 1974 debut solo LP "No Other" on Asylum Records of 'The Byrds' and 'Dillard and Clark' balladeer GENE CLARK is regularly cited by magazines and musical tomes as an 'overlooked slice of musical genius you must hear before you die' kind of record. And they'd be right. A Country Rock album with great tunes and emotional pathos that suffered from public indifference on release but has subsequently garnished adjectives and superlatives aplenty.

His second-platter "Two Sides To Every Story" on RSO Records from three years later suffered the same fate - and on rehearing it in 2016 - I can understand why. "Two Sides To Every Story" was an album out of time - its traditional 'hurly in the morning' Country Rock rhythms, violin swipes and banjo plucks widely out of step with the New Wave crash and clatter of 1977. But as others have pointed out - this pretty-looking but overly expensive and flawed 'High Moon Records' CD reissue of it also has its downsides - especially in the truly disappointing 'Download-Only' Bonus Tracks. There's a lot to get through so here are the two-sided details...

USA released 27 August 2013 - "Two Sides To Every Story" by GENE CLARK on High Moon Records HMRCD-002 (Barcode 641444103126) is a 'Deluxe Edition' CD Remaster - a Numbered Limited Edition of 5000 housed in a Hard Back Book pack (44:14 minutes).

1. Home Run King

2. Lonely Saturday

3. In The Pines

4. Kansas City Southern

5. Give My Love To Marie

6. Sister Moon [Side 2]

7. Marylou

8. Hear The Wind

9. Past Addresses

10. Silent Crusade

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd studio album "Two Sides To Every Story" - released 14 June 1977 in the USA on RSO Records RS-1-3011 and March 1977 in the UK on RSO Records 2394 176. Produced by THOMAS JEFFERSON KAYE - it didn't chart Top 100 in either country.

It also offers 21 extra 'Download' tracks (20 music files, one interview) available via a 12-Digit Download card (inside the hard back sleeve) renewable from the High Moon Records website:

DOWNLOAD TRACKS (24-Bit WAV Files):

11. Life's Great Fool - Live

12. The True One - Live

13. The Radio Song - Live

14. No Other - Live

15. Silver Raven - Live

16. In The Pines - Live

17. Hear The Wind – Live

18. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better - Live

19. I'll Be Back - Live

20. She Darked The Sun - Live

21. Kansas City Southern - Live

22. From A Silver Phial - Live

23. Home Run King - Live

24. Sister Moon - Live

25. Daylight Line – Live

26. What Is Meant Will Be - Live

27. Wheels Of Time - Live

28. Some Misunderstanding – Live

29. She Don't Care About Time – Live

30. I Saw A Dream Come True - Live

31. Gene Clark Interview (Taped 1974, Previously Unreleased)

It has to be said that the hardback book is a lovely thing to behold and read - gorgeous colour photos of Clark at his Mendochino house where all the songs were written - snaps of him with Emmylou Harris and Jim Dickson - original Manager and Producer of The Byrds - Biography Pages from the period - the CD apes the RSO Records label - and it's numbered in gold on the rear - a limited edition of 5000. But that's naught to the fabulous audio. JOHN STROTHER did the Tape Transfers and legendary Rhino Records Audio Engineer DAN HERSCH did the Remaster and the Audio is truly superb - all the songs sounding so much better than my battered US vinyl copy.

With Emmylou Harris and Steve Soles on Backing Vocals - the album opens strongly on the very Country-Rock "Home Run King" - a banjo-plucking Douglas Dillard drives a tale of local Babe Ruth types that comes on all Commander Cody meets The Ozark Mountain Daredevils (it's a catchy little tune). "Lonely Saturday" is far better - a gorgeous and impressive ballad with the Pedal Steel of Al Perkins to the fore (was part of Stephen Stills' 'Manassas' band) and both Daniel and Matthew Moore adding sweet Backing Vocals. Back to Eagles-bopping-Country with a very uptempo cover of a Traditional - "In The Pines" - Byron Berline's fiddle-playing dominating the 'ye ha' feel. Listen hard you can also hear the Backing Vocals of Douglas Dillard, Pepper Watkins and ace songwriter John Hartford who penned the lovely "Gentle On My Mind" made famous by Glen Campbell. I dig the Country-Rock guitar boogie of "Kansas City Southern" hugely enhanced by Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers ace axeman Jeff "Skunk" Baxter laying down wickedly good slide solos (Daniel and Matthew Moore on Backing Vocals also). Side 1 ends with six and half minutes of "Give My Love To Marie" - a James Talley ballad given the most beautifully tender version by Clark. This is surely an album highlight - a labourer's tale of longing - a miner seeing "...millions in the ground but not a penny for me..." and yet all he can think about is lighting a lantern in a window and giving his love to Marie.

Emmylou Harris and Sam Soles return to bolster up the beautiful "Sister Moon" (Side 2's opening number) with their fantastically expressive combo vocals - a five-minute ballad that screams out to be covered by Bonnie Raitt or Shawn Colvin or someone of that quality. Right from its keyboard-tinkling opening - "Sister Moon" feels like a classic and along with "Give My Love To Marie" is worth the price of admission. Sam Ling and Jessie Obie get their "Mary Lou" R&B song (originally sung by Young Jessie on Modern Records in 1955) get upgraded into a bopping cautionary tale. Buddy Knox, Ronnie Hawkins and even Bob Seger have had a go at covering it - usually in a rocking R&B way - but Clark slows it down and gives it back its original menace. There follows another album highlight - his own "Hear The Wind" - a Country ballad awash with Al Perkins on Pedal Steel and the Backing Vocals of Matthew and Daniel Moore. The pain dripping from the lyrics (used in the title of this review) feel like a man trying to get to the truth. With lyrics like "The first time I saw you...the heart became the ruler of my mind..." the love song "Past Addresses" is another beauty - while the sea sounds of "Silent Crusades" put me in mind of that other neglected-at-the-time post classic - "Pacific Ocean Blue" by Dennis Wilson. But while the album and remaster is a high - the Extras prove a frustrating and bitter disappointment...

The supposed 24-bit WAV Files from the Download prove to be a set of badly recorded audience recordings put down at the 'Mother’s Blues' Club sometime in 1975. The problem is they don't feel like bonuses - but a bit of a rip-off. It's a damn shame - because when he and his band launch into "Silver Raven" for instance - not only can you hear the gorgeousness of the song but also that the group are on top playing form. But the audio reeks of tape wobble and is the kind of crap bootleggers used to pull on fans all of the time. Throughout the excellent "In The Pines" and other tracks there's a woman talking incessantly - so that tune is screwed. His version of The Byrds classic "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" sticks to the original but he banjo's up The Beatles "I'll Be Back" and its on cool rearranged stuff like this that you wish the tapes were studio quality. “Kansas City Southern” sees the band cooking but again there’s poor sound and audience chatter despite the boogie. By the time you get to “Silver Moon” – the hiss levels are through the roof because it’s from another poor tape (I think). The previously unreleased 12-minute ‘B Mitchel-Reed Interview’ taped in Los Angeles in 1974 is better – professionally recorded with the famous American DJ – they touch on the dissolution of The Byrds – the band's youth and inability to handle fame and the egos. It also features clips of songs from The Byrds' catalogue and Clark's own two solo LPs to that point.

I'd honestly have to dock this release a star for those poor and frustrating Extras - which seems churlish in the face of the album's beauty - but a review should reflect the reissue and not the music contained within. Had those live tracks been properly recorded - this reissue would have been in the Neil Young 'Massey hall 1971' CD territory where 10-stars wouldn't be enough. But it's not...and that extortionate price irks too.

A gorgeous album then (overlooked and underpaid) coupled with a properly wonderful Remaster and very tasty booklet presentation - but all of it let down by those extras that promise so much but deliver so little. And from this reissue you can trace it back and 'so hear' why The Byrds made such stunning and melodic music - all that writing talent swirling around in the same band.

GENE CLARK passed in 1991 aged only 46 – but man what a legacy this original Byrd left behind...

"Music From Big Pink" by THE BAND (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...To Kingdom Come..."

It's a measure of The Band's musical impact that their debut album hit the shelves of American record stores 1 July 1968 and by the late August issue of the hugely influential Rolling Stone magazine (26 August 1968, Al Kooper's famous article) - they were already on the front cover. There they sat on a park-bench with their backs to us - come to bring us all back to real tunes - looking like ramshackle woodsmen-extras returned from the set of John Boorman's "Deliverance". And it helped of course that the original Americana troubadour Bob Dylan was a pal, painted the cover art and contributed the occasional song classic too...

Capitol took their time with this superbly presented 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Music From Big Pink" and has stoked up the Stereo release with a slew of half-decent extras actually worthy of the moniker 'Bonus Tracks'. Here are the weighty details...

UK released September 2000 (August 2000 in the USA) - "Music From Big Pink" by THE BAND is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue/Remaster on Capitol 525 3902 (Barcode 724352539024) and plays out as follows (74:03 minutes):

1. Tears Of Rage

2. To Kingdom Come

3. In A Station

4. Caledonia Mission

5. The Weight

6. We Can Talk [Side 2]

7. Long Black Veil

8. Chest Fever

9. Lonesome Suzie

10. This Wheel's On Fire

11. I Shall Be Released

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Music From Big Pink" - released July 1968 in the USA on Capitol Records SKAO-2955 and November 1968 in the UK on Capitol Records T 2955 (Mono) and Capitol ST 2955 (Stereo). The American STEREO Mix is used. Robbie Robertson wrote "To Kingdom Come", "Caledonia Mission", "The Weight" and "Chest Fever" - Richard Manuel wrote "In A Station", "We Can talk" and "Lonesome Suzie and co-wrote "Tears Of Rage" with BOB DYLAN - Dylan wrote "I Shall Be Released" and co-wrote "This Wheel's On Fire" with Rick Danko. "Long Black Veil" is a Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill song made famous by Country Artists Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Cash. JOHN SIMON Produced.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Yazoo Street Scandal (Outtake)

13. Tears Of Rage (Alternate Take)

14. Katie's Been Gone (Outtake)

15. If I Lose (Outtake)

16. Long Distance Operator (Outtake)

17. Lonesome Suzie (Alternate Take)

18. Orange Juice Blues (Blues For Breakfast) (Outtake – Demo)

19. Key To The Highway (Outtake)

20. Ferdinand The Imposter (Outtake – Demo)

THE BAND was:

GARTH HUDSON – Organ and Vocals

RICHARD MANUEL – Piano and Lead Vocals on Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 11

ROBBIE ROBERTSON – Lead Guitar and Duet Vocals with Manuel on Track 2

RICK DANKO – Bass and Lead Vocals on Tracks 4, 7, and 10

LEVON HELM – Drums and Lead Vocals on Track 5 a duet with Danko

Compiled by Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval - the 20-page booklet has fantastically comprehensive liner notes by ROB BOWMAN that feature interviews stretching back twelve years (from 2000), photos of tracking sheets, mix instructions, the American 45 of "The Weight" on Capitol 2269, trade adverts, the Rolling Stone cover, outtake photos from the session, a Winterland Poster - and snaps of the home ‘Big Pink’ where most of the music was composed. It's very well done as befits an album of this stature.

But the big news is a great remaster by DAN HERSCH and ANDREW SANDOVAL. Notoriously far removed from 'audiophile' territory – the album was recorded in a real-instruments/naturalistic feel kind of way. So some tunes like "I Shall Be Released" and "Long Black Veil" have audible hiss levels but you’d have to say that this remaster allows the whole lot to 'breathe' – no dampening nor tampering. On tracks like the wicked keyboard extravaganza that is "Chest Fever" or Manuel's old-as-mountains "In A Station" - the natural feel is thrilling - given space to shine.

It opens with the decidedly edgy "Tears Of Rage" - a slow opener that's all treated guitar and croaked vocals about 'Independence Day' and a father not 'getting it'. Even after all these years I still find the brass arrangements and that huge organ sound in the background so moving - while Robertson pings away on those frets as only he can. We up the pace for "To Kingdom Come" - a catchy little mutt that bears repeated listening as he sings of being 'tarred and feathered'. I loved what Karen Dalton did with Manuel's "In A Station" on her "In My Own Time" album of cover version in 1971 on Just Sunshine Records (see separate review). You can hear why she was drawn to its gravel heart - slightly off rhythms and production values - yet still full of heart. Both of Robertson's Side 1 finishers "California Mission" and "The Weight" practically defined The Band sound from the outset. On Side 2 I like the strange funkiness of "This Wheel's On Fire" but my crave is the heavy and wild keyboard soloing throughout “Chest Fever”. It's so at odds with the rest of the record - yet it fits. "Chest Fever" could even be an ELP rehearsal – an Atomic Rooster jam – it's the kind of rock song you don't really expect from The Band - brilliantly hooky yet ramshackle enough to remain real. "Chest..." is followed by Levon's aching set of pipes on "Lonesome Suzie" – a slow drawl of a song – and a tune that cries out to be covered - tap into the melody's innate Soulfulness.

I had expected the Extras to be largely filler - and some are rough ("If I Lose", "Orange Juice Blues" and "Ferdinand The Imposter" are taken from 'best available sources') - but the Outtakes are actually brill. "Yazoo Street Scandal" actually feels like Dylan's force is strong with the Robbie-one-Kenobi  - but even tastier is an 'Alternate Take' of "Tears Of Rage" that emphasises the Piano more. It's a fabulous addition and stands up by itself. Both Robertson and Manuel penned "Katie's Been Gone" and it's another genuinely great discovery. "...This would be Take 400...rolling..." the Engineer wittily intros "Long Distance Operator" - and again it feels like your eavesdropping on creativity in full flow. You can hear why the quicker "Lonesome Suzie" Alternate was dumped in favour of the much slower and more soulful arrangement. "Keys To The Highway" is a cover of a Big Bill Broonzy song with some great fuzzed-up guitar. Impressive stuff...

The Band's debut is often described as patchy - seen as a group getting there - heading towards the undeniable songwriting maturity of 1970's "The Band". But I'd argue that even though you're told other albums are better - "Music From Big Pink" is one of those records you keep returning too - and digging it more and more each time you do.

Dirt cheap from most online retailers - this is one of those occasions where you don't have to pay through the CD nose to get that great combo of top music and quality sound. And if ever a group deserved such a sweet outcome - then The Band are it.

"...I Shall Be Released..." they sang back in the day. And with music in my heart – they were right...

"The Kink Kontroversy: Deluxe Edition" by THE KINKS (2011 Universal/Sanctuary 2CD Remasters) - A Review for Mark Barry...

"…Where Have All The Good Times Gone…"

Like many fans of this great British band - I've watched the release of 6 Kinks 'Deluxe Editions' since the beginning of 2011 with a certain amount of skepticism. Haven't these albums been done to death already and isn't this just more monetary milking of it? 

But then many fans began to rave about the great new remastered sound on these doubles - so I took the plunge and they were right. The 2011 Deluxe Edition 2CD Sets for THE KINKS are probably the best were ever going to get - and they’ve been presented with a fantastic eye to detail - even managing three Previously Unreleased performances on this particular twofer. Here are the not so Kontroversial details...

UK released 28 March 2011 in the UK (April 2011 in the USA) - "The Kink Kontroversy: Deluxe Edition" by THE KINKS is a 2CD Reissue/Remaster on Universal/Sanctuary 275 628-5 (Barcode 602527562858) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (30:14 minutes):
1. Milk Cow Blues
2. Ring The Bells
3. Gotta Get The First Plane Home
4. When I See That Girl Of Mine
5. I Am Free
6. Till The End Of The Day
7. The World Keeps Going Round [Side 2]
8. I’m On An Island
9. Where Have All The Good Times Gone
10. It's Too Late
11. What's In Store For Me
12. You Can't Win
Tracks 1 to 12 are their 3rd LP "The Kink Kontroversy" - released 26 November 1965 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18131 (Mono) and Pye NSPL 18131 (Export Only issue in Simulated Stereo) - and 30 March 1966 in the USA on Reprise Records R 6197 (Mono) and Reprise RS 6197 (Simulated Stereo). The MONO MIX only is used for this 2011 CD Remaster. RAY DAVIES wrote all songs except "Milk Cow Blues" by Sleepy John Estes and "I Am Free" by DAVE DAVIES.

Disc 2 (43:54 minutes):
1. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Mono Single)
2. Sittin' On My Sofa (Mono Single)
Tracks 1 and 2 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 7" single released 19 November 1965 in the UK on Pye 7N 15981 and 2 March 1966 in the USA on Reprise 0454
3. I'm Not Like Everybody Else (Mono Single)
Track 3 is the non-album B-side of “Sunny Afternoon” released 3 June 1966 in the UK on Pye 7N 17125 and July 1966 in the USA on Reprise 0497
4. Mr. Reporter (Outtake)
Track 4 first appeared as a Bonus on the March 1988 UK CD Reissue of "Face To Face" on Sanctuary/Essential ESM CD 479
5. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Alternate Take)
Track 5 first appeared as a Bonus on the March 1998 UK CD Reissue of "The Kink Kontroversy" on Sanctuary/Essential ESM CD 507
6. Time Will Tell (Outtake)
Track 6 first appeared on the October 1983 Vinyl LP "Dead End Street – The Kinks Greatest Hits" on the Bonus 10" that came with initial copies - but was withdrawn after legal action from The Kinks. First CD appearance was on the 1997 "Kollectable Kinks Kontraband" 2CD set in the Netherlands.
7. And I Will Love You (Unissued EP Track)
Track 7 appeared on the December 2008 "Picture Book" 6CD Box Set on Universal/Sanctuary 531 3049
8. I'm Not Like Everybody Else (Alternate Vocal) – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
9. All Night Stand (Demo)
10. Milk Cow Blues (Live)
11. Ray Talks About Songwriting [Dialogue only]
12. Never Met A Girl Like You Before (Live) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
13. Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight (Live)
Tracks 10 to 13 recorded 10 August 1965 live at the Playhouse Theatre in London – broadcast on the BBC's 'Saturday Club', 4 September 1965
14. Pete (Quaife) Talks About Records [Dialogue only]
15. Till The End Of The Day (Live)
16. A Well Respected Man (Live) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
17. Where Have All The Good Times Gone (Live)
Tracks 14 to 17 recorded 13 December 1965 live at the Playhouse Theatre in London – first broadcast on the BBC's 'Saturday Club', 18 December 1965

As with all of these DELUXE EDITION reissues – there's a fact-filled picture-festooned 24-page booklet full of period details. In this case noted knowledgeable type BOB STANLEY has done the honours with some thorough liner notes (on the core album). In between the interviews you get photos of the UK LP artwork (with fay distressed look rear sleeve) along with many rare 7" single picture sleeves and EPs (Dutch, Mexican, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Danish), US and UK trade adverts, newspaper clippings, memorabilia and snaps of the boys looking like delinquents you wouldn't want your daughter to bring home. The breakdown of the tracks is very well done too - what came from what and why. Both of the discs reflect the purple colouring of the original UK Pye Records LP label - with Side 1 pictured beneath the see-through tray of CD1 and Side 2 beneath the tray of CD2 – the "Dedicated Kinks" EP pictured on the fold-out flaps - all nice touches. My copy also comes with an outer 'Deluxe Collectors Edition' plastic slipcase which none of the other reissues I bought had? Niggles – there isn’t enough discussion on the contents of Disc 2 (the BBC stuff isn't talked about at all).

ANDREW SANDOVAL, DAN HERSCH (of Digiprep and Rhino fame) and ANDY PEARCE carried out the remasters - and the sound quality is exceptional. Comparing my single-disc 2004 version of "Milk Cow Blues" with this new 2011 MONO take and the punch is immediate - quite incredible in fact. The previous version was thinny – here the wallop is absolute - giving this raucous R&B cover a real kick in the undercarriage. I then play one of my favourite ballads of theirs – "Ring The Bell" – and I'm a remaster convert reaching for adjectives. Those high-strung Spanish strings are so clear – there is hiss – but it’s not drowning the track and if anything the whacking drums are ‘too’ clear – a complaint I’ll take any day of the week.

To the record itself – their 3rd album "The Kink Kontroversy" peaked at No. 9 in the UK LP charts – as did the hip-shaking 7" single "Till The End Of The Day" with its stunning "Where Have All The Good Times Gone" B-side. Their 2nd album "Kinda Kinks" had hit No. 3 earlier in March of 1965 in Britain – so No. 9 for the LP and the 45 was a good follow-through. The brilliant and socially aware "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" would rightly go to No. 4 on the UK single charts in March 1966 - just as "Kontroversy" was being released as an LP in the States. Musical historians have long since viewed "The Kink Kontroversy" as a bit of a poisonous little bugger at heart – and you can certainly hear the anger and weariness of being in the limelight come sneaking through "Gotta Get The First Plane Home" and the worrying song "The World Keeps Going Round" – both sounding better than ever on this 'DE'.

Another fave rave is surely going to be "Where Have All The Good Times Gone" – a song so many have latched onto since - David Bowie on 1973's "Pin Ups" and Van Halen on 1982's "Diver Down" to name but two. Here it's sounding so fresh and alive. However you half expect Ray Davies to don a grass skirt and start rattling maracas on the Dr. No hula-hula shake of "I'm On An Island" – another witty and acidic take on the strange dynamic of relationships. "It's Too Late" sounds big but still a tad fuzzy around the edges (the doubled vocals are clearer). "What's In Store For Me" had the potential for another killer single – a choppy little groover that questions what the future will bring. I also like the Dave Davies lone contribution "I Am Free" - while the album ends on the distorted garage guitar of "You Can't Win" – Ray laying down the emotional law to another girl with dubious intentions. 

The BONUS TRACKS are always a mixed bag – genius running alongside curios only uber-fans will ever play – and Disc 2 of this DE is no different. You can't go much wrong with "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" and you could argue that the LP could have used its huge appeal and lyrical smarts. The non-album "Sittin' On My Sofa" is a genuine winner - but even better is the outtake "Mr. Reporter" a song that turns the tables on the tabloid hacks who hounded the band and their lifestyles. The Alternate Take of "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" has wonderfully clear Bass and Guitar and frankly you can't help thinking that in any variant - it would have been a hit anyway. "Time Will Tell" is another outtake – Take 5 to be exact – and again Kinks fans will dig its fuzzed-up guitar groove. "And I Will Love You" sounds like Van Morrison's THEM complete with a weedy organ for backing. The first Previously Unreleased track is an 'Alternate Vocal' of "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" where it manages to sound like The Monkees circa 1964 getting down with their badass selves. It's a bit rough for sure but damn good too. "All Night Stand" is clearly a knackered Demo (a rough recording) but you can hear why it was included.

"...Coming to you from our London studio...this is that great British live show Top Of The Pops...and it's Blues time!" – the plummy BBC DJ announces in that so 60ts voice. Highlights include "Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight" and Ray Davies talking about how his acetate for "I Go To Sleep" somehow made its way to Peggy Lee who recorded it (one of his heroes). The BBC recordings are superbly done – just as punchy as their LP counterparts. A hit single in the States on Reprise – "A Well Respected Man" is presented here in an unreleased live version – a more echoed take of this much-loved Kinks tune. You can kind of hear Davies losing the vocal every now and then – but it's still a great bonus.

To sum up - a superb new remaster, properly upgraded packaging and liner notes and extra tracks that actually warrant the title 'bonus'. Very nice indeed.

"...They seek him here...they seek him there..." – Ray Davies sang on the slippery "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion". 

Your search is over – this is the version of "The Kink Kontroversy" to own...

"The Complete Them 1964-1967" by THEM [featuring Van Morrison] (2015 Exile/Sony/Legacy 3CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Gave My Love A Diamond..." 

The last time I bought the two 60ts THEM albums on CD was way back in 1998 (remastered by Decca) and subsequently there's been other compilations covering Van Morrison's brilliant first band. But they were all quickly deleted and thereafter began accumulating unhealthy price tags. Well at last in 2015 (after acquiring his catalogue) - Sony/Legacy has rectified this gaping hole in truly brilliant 60ts R&B music by giving Joe Public this all-encompassing 3CD peach-a-rooney - "The Complete Them 1964-1967". A whopping 69-Tracks - 20 of which are Previously Unissued - and all of it newly remastered from the best sources. So once more unto the "Baby Please Don't Go" breach for our Six Counties Heroes...

UK released 4 December 2015 – "The Complete Them 1964-1967" by THEM [featuring Van Morrison] on Exile/Sony/Legacy 88875150542 (Barcode 0888751505421) is a 3CD Anthology of New Remasters and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (64:17 minutes):

1. Don't Start Crying Now

2. One Two Brown Eyes

Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 7" single on Decca F.11973 released 6 September 1964 - USA on Parrot 7702

3. Baby Please Don't Go

4. Gloria

Tracks 3 & 4 are the A&B-sides of their 2nd UK 7" single on Decca F.12018 released 6 November 1964 (March 1965 in the USA on Parrot 9727). In April 1966 – the American Parrot label flipped the tracks and put out “Gloria” as the A-side which resulted in a chart placing at 71

5. Philosophy

Track 5 was exclusive to the UK "Them" 4-Track EP on Decca DFE 8612 released February 1965 (no US release). The other tracks on the EP are "Don't Stop Crying Now", "One Two Brown Eyes" and "Baby Please Don't Go"

6. Here Comes The Night

7. All For Myself

Tracks 6 and 7 are the A&B-sides of their 3rd UK 7" single on Decca F. 12094 released March 1965 – May 1965 in the USA on Parrot 9747

8. One More Time

9. How Long Baby

Tracks 8 & 9 are the A&B-sides of their 4th UK 7" single on Decca F.12175 released June 1965 (no US release)

10. Mystic Eyes

11. If You And I Could Be As Two

12. Little Girl

13. Just A Little Bit

14. I Gave My Love A Diamond

15. You Just Can't Win

16. Go On Home Baby [Side 2]

17. Don't Look Back

18. I Like It Like That

19. I’m Gonna Dress In Black

20. Bright Lights, Big City

21. My Little Baby

22. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66

Tracks 10 to 22 are their debut UK album "Them" [aka "The Angry Young Them!"] – released 11 June 1965 in Mono on Decca LK 4700.

The US "Them" album was released July 1965 in both Mono (PA 61005) and Stereo (PAS 71005) and featured 12 rejiggered tracks as opposed to the UK configuration of 14. Using Disc 1 of this 3CD set - fans can configure the US album as follows [4] = Track 4:

Side 1:

1. Here Comes The Night [6]

2. Mystic Eyes [10]

3. Don't Look Back [17]

4. Little Girl [12]

5. One Two Brown Eyes [2]

6. Gloria [4]

Side 2:

1. One More Time [8]

2. If You And I Could Be As Two [11]

3. I Like It Like That [18]

4. I'm Gonna Dress In Black [19]

5. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 [22]

6. Go On Home Baby [16]

23. (It Won't Hurt) Half As Much

Tracks 23 is the non-album A-side of their 5th UK 7" single on Decca F. 12215 released August 1965 – USA on Parrot 9784 (the album track "I'm Gonna Dress In Black" was its B-side in both countries)

Note: "Mystic Eyes" b/w "If You And I Could Be As Two" was issued as their 5th 7" single – released November 1965 in the UK on Decca F.12281 and October 1965 in the USA on Parrot 9796

Disc 2 (63:47 minutes):

1. Could You Would You

2. Something You Got

3. Call My Name

4. Turn On Your Love Light

5. I Put A Spell On You

6. I Can Only Give You Everything

7. My Lonely Sad Eyes

8. I Got A Woman

9. Out Of Sight [Side 2]

10. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

11. Bad Or Good

How Long Baby [see NOTE}

12. Hello Josephine

13. Don’t You Know

14. Hey Girl

15. Bring 'Em On In

Tracks 1 to 15 and Track 9 on Disc 1 make up their 2nd album "Them Again" – released 21 January 1966 in the UK on Decca LK 4751 (Mono) and April 1965 in the USA on Parrot PA 61008 (Mono) and PAS 71008 (Stereo).

NOTE: The UK LP had 16 tracks with "How Long Baby" slotting in between "Bad Or Good" and "Hello Josephine" on Side 2 - but as "How Long Baby" is already featured on Disc 1 – it isn't duplicated on Disc 2.

16. Richard Cory

Track 16 is the non-album A-side of a May 1966 7" single – released UK May 1966 on Decca F. 12355 and in the USA on Parrot 3003 – the album track "Don't You Know" from "Them Again" was its B-side in both countries

17. Friday's Child

July 1967 UK-only 7" single on Major Minor MM 509 – this Stereo Mix is Previously Unreleased

18. The Story Of Them Part 1

19. The Story Of Them Part 2

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a non-album UK-only 7" single released September 1967 on Major Minor MM 513

20. Baby What You Want Me To Do

21. Stormy Monday Blues

22. Times Getting Tougher Than Tough

Tracks 20 to 22 are non-album songs that appeared on the Dutch-Only 4-track "Friday's Child" EP released 1967 on Decca BU 70 500 – it's pictured on Page 10 of the booklet

Disc 3 "Demos, Sessions & Rarities 1964-1976" (74:15 minutes):

1. Don't Start Crying Now (Demo) – Previously Unissued

2. Gloria (Demo) – Previously Unissued

3. One Two Brown Eyes (Demo) – Previously Unissued

4. Stormy Monday Blues (Demo) – Previously Unissued

5. Turn On Your Love Light (Alternate Version) – Previously Unissued

6. Baby Please Don't Go (Take 4) – Previously Unissued

7. Here Comes The Night (Take 2) – Previously Unissued

8. Gloria (Live On BBC's "Saturday Club") recorded 1 March 1965 – Previously Unissued

9. All For Myself (Live On BBC's "Saturday Club") recorded 1 March 1965 – Previously Unissued)

10. Here Comes The Night (Live On BBC's "Saturday Club") recorded 1 March 1965 – Previously Unissued

11. Little Girl (Version One) – first appeared on the 1965 Various Artists UK compilation LP "14" on Decca LK 4695 – reissued on the 1997 2CD set "The Story Of Them" – this take is different to the version on the "Them" LP

12. Go On Home Baby (Take 4) – Previously Unissued

13. I Gave My Love A Diamond (Take 8) – Previously Unissued

14. (It Won't Hurt) Half As Much (Take 2) – Previously Unissued

15. My Little Baby (Take 1) – Previously Unissued

16. How Long Baby (Take 1) – Previously Unissued

17. One More Time (Take 14) – Previously Unissued

18. Gloria (Live on BBC's "Saturday Club" Version 2) recorded 22 June 1965 – Previously Unissued

19. Here Comes The Night (Live on BBC's "Saturday Club" Version 2) recorded 22 June 1965 – Previously Unissued

20. One More Time (Live on BBC's "Saturday Club") recorded 22 June 1965 – Previously Unissued

21. Call My Name (Single Version)

22. Bring 'Em On In (Single Version)

Tracks 21 and 22 are the A&B-sides of their 6th 7" single – released March 1966 in the UK on Decca F. 12355 and in the USA on Parrot 9819

23. Mighty Like A Rose – Van Morrison song recorded April 1966 which first appeared on the US-only Them LP "Backtrackin'" on London PS 639

24. Richard Cory (Alternate Version) – Previously Unissued

These three-way card digipaks are a bugger to keep from being crumpled – but at least "The Complete Them" looks the part. Each of the CDs sports the red 'Decca' writing aping the original English LP labels - while the 16-page booklet contains in-depth liner notes by none other than the great man himself (yes Van Morrison writes and speaks). The two UK album front covers are pictured, rare EPs, concert posters, trade adverts and newspaper reviews along with track-by-track annotation. Each of the flaps have classy black & whites of Them live - but it's a shame they didn't picture some of the many Parrot singles or LP sleeves (different covers) underneath the three blank see-through trays.

Still all of that pales into the trivial when you clap ears on the fabulous new remasters. A team of three handled the transfers – Rhino's long-time Sound Engineer DAN HERSCH was abled helped by ANDREW SANDOVAL and RICHARD WHITTAKER – and the results are fantastic. Hersch and Sandoval are names that have appeared on The Band, Love and The Kinks CD reissues to great acclaim (amongst others) - while Richard Whittaker has handled Elton John, The Rolling Stones and Thin Lizzy SACD and SHM-CD Remasters with equally impressive results. This primordial 60ts R&B music has always sounded ballsy – but now it's positively standing up and wanting to start a fight. These are not amped for the sake of it either – they're just wonderfully muscular and clear – full of presence and warmth...a job well done boys.

The young Van Morrison devoured Pye International 45s that he bought in a local Belfast record shop only a few streets away from where he lived. Along with London and Decca – they were amongst a slew of primo British labels releasing the tastiest American R&B and Soul tunes of the day. Them's debut 45 "Don't Start Crying Now" came from a Slim Harpo LP while he found the 1933 Big Joe Williams classic "Baby Please Don"t Go" on a John Lee Hooker 'Audio Lab' album he'd bought from a mate. For the flipsides of their first two 45s – Van stumped up two absolute barnstormers – "One Two Brown Eyes" and the immortal "Gloria" - fans are just gonna eat up the Audio Blast on these. Producer Bert Berns brought his own song to the table – the wonderful "Here Comes The Night" which features an uncredited Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitars (he's also on "Baby Please Don't Go") with Alan White on Drums and Ireland's Phil Coulter on Keyboards. The session also included John Carter, Ken Lewis and Perry Ford from The Ivy League on Backing Vocals. Their Producer Tommy Scott wrote "How Long Baby" under the songwriting guise of 'Gillon' while Van's own "All For Myself" is a superb riff John Lee Hooker would have smiled at.

By the time we get to the self-titled debut album (known in some circles as "The Angry Young Them!") and its opener "Mystic Eyes" – I'm already on a major British R&B high. The frantic "Mystic Eyes" with Van's wicked harmonica warbling is presented here in speaker-rattling Mono. But it has to be said that the strange 'lo-fi' production of "If You And I Could Be As Two" still sounds like it was recorded in Uncle Bill's dodgy bucket on well-used Scotch tape. The Audio however immediately improves with Van's "Little Girl" – a great Doors type groove (a version of it turned up on the 1965 Decca compilation LP "14" which is very hard to find – one of the rarities included on Disc 3). Other goodies on the album include his cover of Rosco Gordon's "Just A Little Bit" and his own songwriting stretching out lyrically in the 'Camden Town' song "You Just Can't Win". But my fave on here is his superb warbling treatment of John Lee Hooker's "Don't Look Back" where the keyboards, his voice and the cool rhythm section all combine perfectly into something old meets something new. Collectors will know that Peter Bardens of Camel plays keyboards on the album while Jimmy Page plays Guitar (both uncredited).

If Disc 1 is good-to-great – Disc 2 ups the ante even further as the tunes simply got better and better (from all sources). The 2nd Them LP also saw what Van felt was their most 'stable' line-up - but on the downside it also ultimately contributed to the end of the band as it included three songs he'd planned for a solo project – "Could You Would You", "My Sad Lonely Eyes" and the Phil Coulter/Tommy Scott composition "I Can Only Give You Everything". Tommy Scott put those three masters on the LP (Van claims) without his permission and even though shows in Los Angeles went down a storm (The Doors were the support act!) – the gig was up once they got back home. Van Morrison was also lurching towards Soul Music – a direction the rest of the band weren't into ("Don't Look Back" and "Friday's Child" have more than a few hints of his preferred musical direction). I also love his version of Paul Simon's "Richard Cory" and those three non-album cuts from the Dutch "Friday's Child" EP still have a whack to me by virtue of the fact that I never saw them on vinyl back in the day – ever. They still feel like discoveries...

Having said that their covers of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put A Spell On You", Fats Domino's "Hello Josephine" and Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Love Light" are good time R&B fun still – slow for "Spell" and rocking for "Love Light". Them even get a bit Count Five "Psychotic Reaction" for "I Can Only Give You Everything" (or is it the other way around) – a manic Tommy Scott winner that would have made for an adventurous single release in 1965. And you can already hear the 1968 Bang Records solo LP "Blowin' Your Mind" sound in the very Van Soulfulness of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" – an inspired rearrangement of the Bob Dylan classic. Van's own "Bad Or Good" and the lovely "Hey Girl" are classy originals for someone so young - while the jaunty "Don't You Know" is probably Tommy Scott's most accomplished tune. The 'True Stereo' of "Friday's Child" is properly gorgeous too. The UK-only Major Minor 7" single "The Story Of Them Part 1 & 2" still sounds impossibly cool as he raps on about 'The Maritime Club' in Belfast where they used to play with Rory Gallagher and the bouncer would smack people on the head and even knock them out...

Juicy is what describes the "1964 to 1967 Rarities" of Disc 3 – 20 Previously Unissued tracks out of 24 is a mighty big haul in any fan's books. What comes as a shock is how good they all are. The first four demos show the Belfast Gypsies raw and ready to boogie – Van's harmonica wailing out of the speakers (even if that thinny organ sound is almost comical) – "Gloria" still sounding astonishing even in embryonic form. There's a count-in to the 5 May 1964 take on Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Love Light" where the version is more relaxed but somehow missing that punch that the finished cut had. Page fans will be glued to "Baby Please Don't Go (Take 4)" where there’s extra rhythm guitar and perhaps a tad more echo on Van's vocals (taped 1 October 1964). The tune is still kicking like a mule and presented here with absolutely stunning sound quality. The same goes to a wonderful Take 2 of "Here Comes The Night" sounding like it’s live in your living room...

"...Over again now to the group from Ireland..." goes the so-BBC introduction to a decidedly lo-fi "Gloria" taped 1 March 1965 at The Playhouse in London for the BBC's "Saturday Club". The audio is good as you can imagine rather than being great – but the performance is full on and cool into the bargain. Tremendous Bass on "All By Myself" – nicely transferred. The Audio goes back to Studio Quality again with 'Version One' of "Little Girl" – but then goes stratospheric on 'Take 4' of "Go On Home Baby" taped 5 May 1965 at Decca's Studio 2. Another audio shocker is "Mighty Like A Rose" which first saw the light of day in 1974 on the American "Backtrackin'" LP on London – sounding fantastic here. It ends on an 'Alternate Version' of Paul Simon's S&G classic "Richard Cory" taped 19 April 1966 at Decca's Studios – stunning stuff and a hugely satisfying end to a Disc that blows you away rather than just impresses...

Van Morrison's original version of THEM burned brightly for two to three years only – but man they lit up the musical sky on the evidence presented here.

An easy 2015 'Reissue Of The Year' in my books. Buy "The Complete Them 1964-1967" and give it some ‘G-L-O-R-I-A’ across your limp hydrangeas...if you know what I mean...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is COOL 1960s MUSIC - an E-Book with over 200 entries and 2000 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).