"Excitable Boy" by WARREN ZEVON (2007 Asylum/Rhino 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rub The Pot Roast All Over His Chest..." 

Like most Warren Zevon fans - I bought the March 2010 "Original Album Series" 5CD Mini Box Set to have the albums "Warren Zevon" (1976) and "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" (1980) on some form of CD. But despite its wickedly good content and cheap price – I was disappointed to find that all five titles are non-remasters - especially given that Rhino did stunning audio versions of "Excitable Boy" (1978), "Stand In The Fire (Live)" (1981) and "The Envoy" (1982) way back in 2007 and could have used those (all three were first-time-on-CD Expanded Remasters).

So as I own them I thought it time to return to my fave – the spiked, tender and yet wickedly contemporary "Excitable Boy". And rubbing pot roast all over my chest is exactly how a feel. What a winner this 2007 single disc CD reissue is. Here are the wet-haired two-fanged details...

UK and USA released late March 2007 – "Excitable Boy" by WARREN ZEVON on Asylum/Rhino 8122-79997-7 (Barcode 081227999773) is an 'Expanded' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks and play out as follows (41:59 minutes):

1. Johnny Strikes up The Band

2. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

3. Excitable Boy

4. Werewolves Of London

5. Accidentally Like A Martyr

6. Nightime In The Switching Yard [Side 2]

7. Veracruz

8. Tenderness On The Block

9. Lawyers, Guns And Money

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd album "Excitable Boy" – released 24 January 1978 in the USA on Asylum 6E-118 and March 1978 in the UK on Asylum K 53073. It peaked at No. 8 in February 1978 on the US album charts – but didn’t chart in the UK - Singer Jackson Browne and Guitarist Waddy Wachtel Produced.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. I Need A Truck (Outtake)

11. Werewolves Of London (Alternate Version)

12. Tule's Blues (Solo Piano Version)

14. Frozen Notes (Strings Version)

Tracks 10 to 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 20-page booklet is a pleasingly substantive affair – DAVID FRICKE's superb liner notes making much of Jackson Browne's friendship and musical patronage of Zevon who in 1975 was a complete unknown. Browne had already three charted US albums under his belt "Jackson Browne - aka "Saturate Before Use" (1972), "For Everyman" (1973) and the stunning "Late For The Sky" (1974) – so when he announced at a September 1975 Philly gig that this Warren Zevon friend of his was going to be 'big news' – people took notice and cheered (Browne then played several of Warren's songs including an early version of "Werewolves Of London"). Some years later the album "Excitable Boy" containing that winning song both sat pretty on the American charts. The 'empty shell-casings of bullets' and the 'gun on a dinner plate' photos that made up the inner US sleeve are reproduced on Pages 11 and 20 as are the lyrics to the album tracks (oddly not the bonus cuts). The song-by-song musician credits show his core band as – WARREN ZEVON on Piano, Guitars and all Lead Vocals, WADDY WACHTEL on Guitars and Vocals, LELAND SKLAR on Bass and RUSSELL KUNKEL on Drums with Guests (discussed below). There's even an advert for the Book "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon" by Crystal Zevon...

But the really big news for fans is the DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT Remaster. The audio on this sucker kicks you in the nuts – and its not loudness for the sake it. Every track is improved - given muscle and clarity - and the listen is so much better for it right across the board (this Expanded Edition also features four tasty Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks dropped from the "Original Album Series" Box Set version).

Asylum launched three singles around the album in the UK – "Werewolves Of London" b/w "Tenderness On The Block" (February 1978, Asylum K 13111) – "Nighttime In The Switching Yard" b/w "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" (May 1978, Asylum K 13124) and finally "Excitable Boy" b/w "Veracruz" (October 1978, Asylum K 13140) – none charted. In the USA they faired better when "Werewolves Of London" lead the charge as the album's debut 45 with "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" on the flipside (Asylum E-45472). It rose to a respectable No. 21 on their pop charts in May 1978 giving the album a sustained bout of sales long after its February 1978 placing. They also issued "Lawyers, Guns And Money" with "Veracruz" on the B-side in May 1978 (Asylum E-45498) - but like "Nighttime In The Switching Yard" b/w "Johnny Strikes Up The Band" in October 1978 on Asylum E-45526 – neither charted.

The "Excitable Boy" album is a sensation really. All the potential that had shown up on his guest-heavy 1976 self-titled Asylum Records debut "Warren Zevon" came screaming to fruition on record number two. Admittedly at 31:49 minutes and with only 9 songs – it wasn't exactly a musical War & Peace. But there isn't a bad track on "Excitable Boy" and many of these quirky songs would become synonymous with Zevon and beloved by fans. And it didn't take a Mensa membership card to hear that beneath all that humour and blood and sex lurked the niggling ongoing aspects of his zigzag personality peeking through the lyrics like a cut he couldn’t plaster – his addictions to alcohol and pills that would take years to beat...

The bloodthirsty and kooky "Werewolves Of London" features Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac on Drums and Bass while Linda Ronstadt and Jennifer Warnes lend backing vocals to the giddily macabre "Excitable Boy" with Waddy Wachtel chopping that axe and sessionman Jim Horn blowing a mean Saxophone. Karla Bonoff does lovely Harmony Vocals on "Accidentally Like A Martyr" while his long-time musical cohort Jorge Calderon plays Spanish Guitar on the hurting "Veracruz". Waddy Wachtel's Acoustic guitar work makes the gorgeous "Tenderness On The Block" - a song that always makes me think of our growing teenagers who aren't kids anymore (she's all grown up – she has a young man waiting). And who doesn't laugh at the touch-and-go 'gambling in Havana' wit of "Lawyers, Guns And Money" where the you-know-what has unceremoniously hit the fan...(send help Daddy please). There's an ache too in "Accidentally Like A Martyr" where "...the hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder..." But for me and second-only to the lovely "Tenderness..." is one of the album's true hidden nuggets - the hard-core Talking Heads guitar-funk of "Nighttime In The Switching Yard" – a song I used to constantly put on 70ts Fest CDR's when I worked at Reckless Records in Soho's Berwick Street. Without fail its funky-as-gnat's-underpants rhythms would bring excited kids to the counter – Who the Hell is this?

The Bonus Tracks are typically eclectic – the entirely Acapella "I Need A Truck" has him singing alone into an echoed microphone for less than a minute about trucks to haul his guns, his bad thoughts, Percocet tablets and Gin. Any version of "Werewolves Of London" is good news by me - and the 3:42 minute Alternate is just as quirky and rocking as the finished article. It doesn't say who's playing the Guitar – sounds like Wachtel – and the Bass is more pronounced too. It's like they’re almost there but still working out the kinks (and that 'ah ooooh' howl at the end is a hoot). "Tule's Blues" is probably the real prize here – a ballad named after his 1st wife about a relationship falling apart. It's a piano led melancholic thing – lovely and sad at the same time with lyrics like "...I hear a child's voice...does he ask if I'll be coming home soon..." The orchestral strings in "Frozen Notes" add a huge poignancy to another hurting song.

Zevon succumbed to Cancer in September 2003 aged only 56 – defiant, whimsical and thoughtful to the end. And as I replay the truly gorgeous and deeply wise "Tenderness On The Block" - I'm tearful. I for one am glad that this criminally overlooked CD only hammers home Warren Zevon's undeniable lifeforce and the rich legacy of his music. Be with the Boogie Angels you hard-knocks traveller...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 250 entries and 2100 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). 

"Five Guys Walk Into A Bar..". by FACES - A Review Of the 2004 Rhino 4CD Book Set...Featuring Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones...

"...How's That Ron? Very Nice!"

Such is the industry-wide legacy of THE FACES, when Glen Matlock of THE SEX PISTOLS auditioned for the band - he played "Three Button Hand Me Down" and immediately got the job, Slash from GUNS 'N' ROSES, Jeff Tweedy from WILCO, Rich Robertson from THE BLACK CROWES and Gaz Coombes from SUPERGRASS all wax lyrical about the only British Rock 'n' Roll band to seriously rival (and at times beat) The Rolling Stones. 

And this fantastically evocative 4CD Book Set from the mighty reissue label of Rhino only hammers home their legend - offering up a lethal mixture of new and old with a boozy swagger than would make most modern bands blush. Here are the champers...

Released July 2004 - "Fives Guys Walk Into A Bar..." by FACES on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122-78233-2 (Barcode 081227823320) is a 4CD Book Set of Remasters covering 1970 to 1975 and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (77:41 minutes):
1. Flying - from their debut LP "First Step", also the A-side of a UK 7" single issued February 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 8005
2. On The Beach - from their 2nd LP "Long Player"
3. Too Bad - from their 3rd album "A Nod's As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" - credited in the USA as "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse")
4. If I'm On The Late Side - from their 4th and last studio album "Ooh La La"
5. Debris - as per 3. Also the B-side of "Stay With Me", a 3 December 1971 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers K 16136.
Note the US B-side was the album track "You're So Rude" on Warner Brothers WB 7545
6. Jealous Guy [John Lennon cover] - an "Ooh La La" outtake
7. Evil (Rehearsal) - a Willie Dixon song (done by Howlin' Wolf) - from their first rehearsals recorded in the Summer of 1969
8. As Long As You Tell Him - the non-album B-side to "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..."
 - a 7" single released November 1974 on Warner Brothers K 16494 in the UK and May 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers WBS 8102
9. Maggie May (Live/BBC) - from The BBC Radio 1 Program Top Gear recorded 28 September 1971
10. Cindy Incidentally (Alternate Mix) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
11. Maybe I'm Amazed (Live/BBC) - a Paul McCartney cover recorded for the BBC TV Program "Sounds For Saturday: The Music Of The Faces" on 26 October 1971
12. Insurance - an instrumental "Ooh La La" outtake
13. I Came Looking For You (Rehearsal) - from a quick shag at THE MARIE ANTOINETTE HOTEL in New Orleans, Louisiana recorded 25 July 1971
14. Last Orders Please - as per 3
15. Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
16. I Can Feel The Fire (Live) - from a concert at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino in California recorded 7 March 1975
17. Tonight's Number - from the RONNIE WOOD and RONNIE LANE album "Mahoney's Last Stand", an Original Soundtrack LP released in 1976 on Atlantic.
It was also a 7" single in the UK on Atlantic K 50308
18. Come See Me Baby (The Cheater) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
[Note: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 2 (79:10 minutes):
1. Pool Hall Richard - a non-album 7" single first released 30 November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16341 as the A-side
2. You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It) (Live/BBC) - recorded 1 April 1973 for the BBC Radio 1 Program 'In Concert'
3. Glad And Sorry - from "Ooh La La" album
4. Shake, Shudder, Shiver (Rehearsal) - as per 7 on Disc 1
5. Miss Judy's Farm (Live/BBC) - as per 2 on Disc 2
6. Richmond - from "Long Player" album
7. That's All You Need - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
8. Rear Wheel Skid - the non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Had Me A Real Good Time"
 - released 13 November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WB 8018 and 21 October 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7442
9. Maybe I'm Amazed - a 6 April 1971 US 7" single on Warner Brothers WB 7483. It's a non-album edit of the full album version which is on "Long Player"
10. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right - a Homer Banks cover and an "Ooh La La" outtake
11. Take A Look At The Guy (Live) - as per 16 on Disc 1
12. Flags And Banners - from "Ooh La La" album
13. Bad 'n' Ruin (Live/BBC) - recorded 19 April 1971 for the BBC TV Program 'Disco 2'
14. Around The Plynth [Album Version at 5:56 minutes] - from the "Long Player" album. Note: in the USA there was a 7" single edit at 4:02 minutes released 29 April 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7393 with "Wicked Messenger" from the album as its B-side (a Bob Dylan cover). It was also credited to the SMALL FACES and is unfortunately not on this box set.
15. Sweet Lady Mary - from the "Long Player" album
16. Had Me A Real Good Time [Album Version 5:53 minutes] - from the "Long Player" album. Note: the US 7" single released 21 October 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7442 and 13 November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WB 8018 both used `edits'. If you program this track on your PC or Mac to end at 2:53 minutes - you will get that 7" single edit. Its non-album instrumental B-side "Real Wheel Skid" is Track 8 on Disc 2.
17. Cut Across Shorty (Live/BBC) - an Edie Cochran cover version recorded 13 May 1971 for the BBC Radio 1 Program 'John Peel's Sunday Concert'
[Note: 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 3 (74:24 minutes):
1. You're So Rude - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album. Also the American B-side to "Stay With Me" (see Track 5 on Disc 1)
2. (I Know) I'm Losing You (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
3. Love Lives Here - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
4. I'd Rather Go Blind (Live) - an Etta James/Chicken Shack cover - as per Track 16 on Disc 1
5. Hi-Heel Sneakers/Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - studio outtake from the FACES last recording session at Air Studios in London, 27 January 1975
6. Getting' Hungry - A Beach Boys cover - as per Track 5 on Disc 3
7. Silicone Grown - from "Ooh La La" album
8. Oh Lord I'm Browned Off - non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Maybe I'm Amazed" - see Track 9 on Disc 2
9. Just Another Honky - from "Ooh La La" album
10. Open To Ideas - as per Track 5 on Disc 3. First appeared as a new song on the 1999 Best Of CD compilation "Good Boys...When They're Asleep"
11. Skewiff (Mend The Fuse) - the non-album instrumental B-side to "Cindy Incidentally"
- released 5 February 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7681 and 9 February 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16247
12. Too Bad (Live) - from a concert at Tampa Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida recorded 30 April 1972
13. Rock Me - as per Track 5 on Disc 3
14. Angel (Live/BBC) - a Jimi Hendrix cover - as per Track 2 on Disc 2
15. Stay With Me (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
16. Ooh La La - from "Ooh La La" album. Also issued as a 7" single 6 June 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7711 with the album track "Borstal Boys" as its B-side
[Note: 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14 and 15 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 4 (76:28 minutes):
1. The Stealer (Live/BBC) - a Free cover - as per track 2 on Disc 2
2. Around The Plynth/Gasoline Alley (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio Program `Top Gear' recorded 15 September 1970
3. You Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings)
- a non-album 7" single released 11 November 1974 in the UK on warner Brothers K 16499 and 28 May 1975 in the USA (as an edit) on Warner Brothers WBS 8102
4. I Wish It Would Rain (Live) - a Temptations cover - non-album B-side of "Pool Hall Richard" released 30 November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16341
5. Miss Judy's Farm (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
6. Love In Vain (Live/BBC) - as per Track 17 on Disc 2
7. My Fault (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio 1 Program 'Radio 1 Club' recorded 12 February 1973
8. I Feel So Good (Rehearsal) - as per Track 7 on Disc 1
9. Miss Judy's Farm - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
10. Three Button Hand Me Down - from "First Step" album. It was also the B-side of their debut British single "Flying" released February 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7150
11. Cindy Incidentally - from "Ooh La La" album. Also issued as a 7" single - see Track 11 on Disc 3
12. Borstal Boys - from "Ooh La La". Also issued a 7" single - see Track 16 on Disc 3
13. Flying (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio 1 Program `Dave Lee Travis' recorded 10 March 1970
14. Bad 'n' Ruin - from "Long Player" album
15. Dishevelment Blues - a non-album exclusive track recorded for the UK 'NME Magazine April 1973' issue - recorded 5 April 1973
16. Stay With Me - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album. Also issued as a 7" single - see Track 5 on Disc 1
[Note: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

The attached 62-page colour booklet is a fabulous fan-fest - loads of foreign picture sleeves, press clippings, live photos and all manner of boozy tour shenanigans. There's a FACES towel with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones embroidered beneath the 'Faces' logo. Testimonials come from all the luminaries mentioned above as well as witty remembrances from the boys and a great set of liner notes by noted writer DAVID FRICKE. It really captures the fun of the band and the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of their 4 studio albums. No domestic shortcomings here.

The DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT remasters are just 'so' good. These two long-time in-house tape engineers have handled so much primo WEA material across the years for Rhino - Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding to name but a few legends - but I bet they got their jollies transferring and digitally preserving this catalogue. The audio is wonderful - muscular, clear and full of that 'live-in-the-studio' feel original Producers Glyn Johns, Mike Bobak and Ron Nevison got for the Faces at the time.

The Box Set mentions the "Coast To Coast" American Live album in 1973 on Mercury Records but doesn't feature any tracks from it. You get three tracks out of 10 from the debut LP "First Step", five out of 9 from the 2nd LP "Long Player", 8 out of 9 from "Nod" ("Memphis" is the missing song) and 8 from the 10 from "Ooh La La" ("Fly In The Ointment" and "My Fault" are the missing cuts). The rest are non-album singles, B-sides, a Flexi Disc exclusive and a whopping 32 Previously Unreleased.

The first thing you notice (and appreciate) about the actual songs is that IAN McLAGAN wisely hasn't sequenced the set chronologically (which he felt would have been boring). Instead he jumbles it up and the result is a play list on each CD that flits from one LP to another with an array of top quality PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED material bolstering up the rowdy proceedings in-between. It makes each disc feel like you're hearing the band anew - a thrill at every turn.

A scan across the disc details listed above will show that there's a large haul of outtakes from "Ooh La La" ("Come See Me Baby..." is great) but disappointingly zip from their undisputed masterpiece "Nod". Still the slide-fest that is "Around The Plynth" seguing into "Gasoline Alley" is a belter - properly produced BBC quality. And the Soulfulness of the band kicks in when covering the Homer Banks classic "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" at their first rehearsals (the boy's witter banter in the run out moments titles this review). The shadow of Ronnie Lane lingers everywhere (the set is dedicated to him) - and I don't care how many times I hear either "Debris" of "Glad And Sorry" - they make me weak at the knees. And is it any wonder The Stones had to have Ronnie Wood - his axework throughout is just brill. On the downside you can actually hear Rodders' disinterest on the final 1975 sessions covering songs they used to once die for. But it all ends on the glory of "Stay With Me" and who could ask for more...

Raise a glass of Dom Perignon to this sensational British band and prepare the neighbours in advance...because things are going to get a bit rowdy 'round your house...

"Songs For Beginners" by GRAHAM NASH (October 2008 Rhino CD and DVD AUDIO 2-Disc Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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"…I Watched You Go Through Changes That No Man Should Face Alone…"

With Stephen Stills and David Crosby having produced absolute storming debut albums in November 1970 and March 1971, Graham Nash's quietly lovely opener didn't disappoint either. In fact in the early Seventies - it seemed like everything the combined and individual talents of CSYN did was magical.

This October 2008 2-Disc DELUXE EDITION of "Songs For Beginners" by GRAHAM NASH on Rhino/Atlantic 8122-79949-3 (Barcode 081227994938) celebrates his June 1971 debut album with a Remastered Stereo Remix of the stand alone first disc - while the second disc is a 5.1 DVD Audio Mix. You need a DVD player to hear the second disc that contains a DVD Interview about his Photography featuring a Gallery of Stills, Photo-Backed Lyrics & Web Links.

"Songs For Beginners" was released in June 1971 on Atlantic SD 7204 in the USA and Atlantic 2401 011 in the UK. The album featured many famous guests (one is uncredited), so here's a detailed breakdown (33:47 minutes):

1. Military Madness 

[DAVE MASON of Traffic on Guitar with RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals]

2. Better Days 

[NEIL YOUNG (credited as Joe Yankee) on Piano, SEEMON POSTHUMA of THE FOOL on Clarinet, RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals with DALLAS TAYLOR of CSYN and MANASSAS on Drums]

3. Wounded Bird 

[GN all instruments and voices]

4. I Used To Be A King 

[NEIL YOUNG (credited as Joe Yankee) on Piano, JERRY GARCIA on Steel Guitar with PHIL LESH on Bass (both of THE GRATEFUL DEAD) and DAVID CROSBY on Electric Guitar]

5. Be Yourself 

[RITA COOLIDGE on Piano, Electric Piano and Backing Vocals]

6. Simple Man 

[DAVID LINDLEY on Fiddle, DORIAN RUDNYTSKY of THE NEW YORK ROCK & ROLL ENSEMBLE on Cello with RITA COOLIDGE on backing Vocals]

7. Man In The Mirror 

[NEIL YOUNG [credited as Joe Yankee] on Piano, JERRY GARCIA of THE GRATEFUL DEAD on Steel Guitar, CHRIS ETHERIDGE of THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS on Bass]

8. There's Only One 

[RITA COOLIDGE on Piano & Backing Vocals, CHRIS ETHERIDGE on Bass, BOBBY KEYS on Saxophone with VANETTA FIELDS, SHIRLEY MATTHEWS, CLYDIE KING & DOROTHY MORRISON on Backing Vocals (The Blackberries)]

9. Sleep Song 

[DAVE MASON on Guitar with RITA COOLIDGE on Backing Vocals]

10. Chicago 

[DORIAN RUDNYTSKY on Cello]

11. We Can Change The World 

[RITA COOLIDGE, VANETTA FIELDS...DOROTHY MORRISON on Backing Vocals]

The 20-page booklet has an essay on the album and its star-studded background by noted writer DAVID FRICKE - it features Session Photos, Lyrics, Detailed recording and reissue credits - and even a picture of the master tapes.

But for fans the big news is the SOUND. The CD album has been Stereo Remixed & Remastered and the quality isn't just good - it's fabulous - BREATHTAKING.  "Better Days" has a very quiet Piano and Vocal Intro - it's spotlessly clean - and when the band kicks in - it's an absolute wow! The mastering is credited to DOUG SAX and SANGWOOK NAM at The Mastering Lab, Ojai - and they should both be Grammy nominated for it. "Days" is followed by the Acoustic and Vocal-only of "Wounded Bird" (a song for Stephen Stills and Judy Collins and their troubled relationship) and it's a lovely as it gets - BEAUTIFULLY restored. The delicately aching Cello work of Dorian Rudnytsky combines with Rita Coolidge's Backing Vocals on "Simple Man" to genuinely touching effect, while Jerry Garcia's Steel Guitar on "Man In the Mirror" adds a lot from an instrument you wouldn't expect from him. And on three tracks there's Neil Young - plinking away - putting in genuinely superb Piano work (he was credited as Joe Yankee for legal reasons). 

I find the 2nd disc, however, problematic. I don't have a DVD AUDIO player and 99% of the planet doesn't either - it's a dead format. Disc 2 features the entire album in Advanced Resolution 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital & DTS - wonderful stuff guys - if I could play it! But the really disappointing part is the complete lack of anything new - no outtakes, no demos - not even a live recording. However - and although it's completely unrelated to the album - things improve on the DVD part of the disc - it contains an interview with Nash about his lifetime obsession with black and white photography - and its fascinating - a lovely man, intelligent, sensitive - and you suspect a real peacekeeper among huge egos that often got out of hand. Then there's the gallery of images (he explains many of them in the interview) - I won't spoil it too much for those who are going to buy this except to say that there are captured moments on here of Joni, Neil, Stills and especially his lifetime pal David Crosby that will reduce some people to tears.

To sum up - a beautifully realized first disc - with a slightly odd and unrepresentative 2nd. Still - for fans of the album - this is a no brainer - the gorgeous remaster means you simply have to own it...

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