"The Acoustic Folk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Lonnie Donegan, Davy Graham, Alexis Korner, The Watersons, The Dubliners, The Ian Campbell Folk Group, Martin Carthy, The Incredible String Band, The Young Tradition, Dave Swarbrick, Anne Briggs, Sweeney's Men, Pentangle, John Renbourn, Shirley and Dolly Collins, Robin and Barry Dransfield, Lal and Mike Waterson, Richard Thompson, The Bothy Band, Dick Gaughan, Ralph McTell, Nic Jones, Steve Ashley, Dervish, Silly Sisters, Tim Hart and Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, Bill Caddick, Roy Harris, Eliza Carthy, Andrew Cronshaw, Mary Black, Kate Rusby and many more (July 2002 UK Topic Records 4CD 85-Track Long Box Set covering Single and Album Tracks from 1957 to 2000 (Some Unreleased) with a 56-Page Long Booklet With David Suff Liner Notes and Denis Blackham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acoustic-Folk-Box-Various-Artists/dp/B00005Y49D?crid=1LOO9UUGK4PMK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZvLPb0KfOmngPJ3hIbMy4Q.g9MTjl03G4AwFyv90KG5xWPTGT0jNGp4445tSPSnqDA&dib_tag=se&keywords=714822400121&qid=1709161315&sprefix=714822400121%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=39758208b8e70eb599da1f18a94bf318&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATING: Content **** to ***** Audio *****

"…Let No Man Steal Your Thyme…"

When I worked the counters at Reckless Records (a busy Soho used record store) – this 2002 Box Set from Topic Records had an alarming track record for turning up in the I-want-to-sell-these-for-cold-hard-mullah piles. "Acoustic Folk Box" never did go for money, but those willing to audition a listen and not turn it down outright because it says the word Folk on it found a lesser-heard history of fabulous songs sounding all spiv-a-rooney and lovely-jubbly twain.

Although it calls itself an Acoustic Folk set, the genres are disparate and you will be rubbing shoulders with Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, Eighties to Twenties Folk, Folk-Rock, Protest Songs, Polkas, Mouth Music, Traditional Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh History Songs, Jigs, Reels and Chamber Music to name but a few. These are lusty don't-spare-the-blush tale-songs of ye old English squires, galliards, dirges, crafty Welsh maidens, comely Scottish wenches, impoverished Irish workers, emigration countering starvation, Geordie in trouble with the hangman, drunken sailors, tramps and hawkers chancing their arm, even more inebriated lads eyeing the lassies (shawls and cradles) and finally arriving at eligible but young and naïve townsfolk duped by the Blue Coats wielding the King's schilling. There are Acapella moments, regional voices, pipes and fiddles and banjos and gut-string guitars a-plucking and a-swirling. 

What sets Acoustic Folk Box apart is not just the range of material but the gorgeous DENIS BLACKHAM Remasters done at Skye Studios. The audio on the acoustic instrumental "3 / 4 AD" for instance is just fabulous – a hugely important song that introduced tunings that influenced Rock Giants later – least not of all Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin. There is a 1967 Incredible String Band recording of "First Girl I Loved" – a story song with almost-skin-cringing truth in it that did not see the light of day until 1997 on a rare comp ("The Chelsea Sessions"). So pretty - and ISB looser and full of song – I love it. There are lots like that. Let's get to the fairs she of the flaxen hair and dancing eyes moved through…

UK released 30 July 2002 - "The Acoustic Folk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Topic TSFCD4001 (Barcode 714822400121) is a 4CD 85-Track Long Box Set covering 1957 to 2000 with a 56-Page Booklet and Denis Blackham Remasters. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (74:41 minutes):
1. Jack O' Diamonds – LONNIE DONEGAN And His Skiffle Group (December 1957 UK 45-Single on Pye Nixa 7N 15116, A-side)
2. 3 / 4 AD – DAVY GRAHAM and ALEXIS KORNER (1962 UK 3-Track Extended Play EP "3 / 4 AD" on Topic TOP 70)
3. MacPherson's Rant – THE GALLIARDS featuring Jimmy Hall and Jammie MacGregor (1960 UK 4-Track Extended Play EP "The Galliards" on Beltona SEP 90 in Mono)
4. Twa Corbies – RAY and ARCHIE FISHER (1961 UK Extended Play EP "Far Over The Forth" on Topic TOP 67)
5. Tramps And Hawkers – BOB DAVENPORT Accompanied by The Rakes (1962 UK Extended Play EP "Wor Geordie" on Topic TOP 83)
6. The Rocky Road To Dublin – THE DUBLINERS (1964 UK Debut LP "The Dubliners" on Transatlantic TRA 116)
7. Song Of The Iron Road – EWAN MacCOLL and Peggy Seeger (1964 UK LP "Steam Whistle Ballads" on Topic Records 12T 104)
8. She Moved Thro' The Fair – ANNE BRIGGS (December 1963 UK Various Artists LP "Edinburgh Folk Festival Volume 1" on Decca LK 4546 in Mono)
9. They Times They Are A-Changin' – THE IAN CAMPBELL GROUP (March 1965 UK 45-Single on Transatlantic TRA SP 5, A-side)
10. Across The Hills – THE THREE CITY FOUR (1965 UK LP "The Three City Four" on Decca LK 4705 in Mono)
11. Joy Of My Heart – THE FISHER FAMILY (1965 UK LP "Traditional & New Songs From Scotland" on Topic Records 12T 137)
12. Angi – BERT JANSCH (April 1965 UK LP "Bert Jansch" on Transatlantic TRA 125)
13. Reynardine – SHIRLEY COLLINS and DAVY GRAHAM (February 1965 UK LP "Folk Roots, New Routes" on Decca LK 4652 in Mono)
14. Geordie – JULIE FELIX (September 1966 UK LP "Changes" on Fontana STL 5368 in Stereo)
15. Dido Bendigo – THE WATERSONS (1966 UK LP "The Watersons" on Topic Records 12T142)
16. The Two Magicians – A. L. LLOYD – Albert Lancaster Lloyd (1966 UK LP "The Bird In The Bush (Traditional Erotic Songs)" on Topic Records 12T135)
17. The Moving On Song – THE EXILES (1966 UK LP on "Freedom, Come All Ye" on Topic Records 12T143)
18. Sovay – MARTIN CARTHY (November 1965 UK LP "Martin Carthy" on Fontana STL 5269 in Stereo)
19. First Girl I Loved – THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (1967 Recording First issued 1997 UK in the CD compilation "The Chelsea Sessions 1967" on Pig's Whisker Music PWMD5003)
20. Lyke Wake Dirge – THE YOUNG TRADITION (1966 UK LP "The Young Tradition" on Transatlantic TRA 142)
21. Transfusion – JOHN RENBOURN (June 1968 UK LP "Sir John Alot Of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thyng & Ye Grene Knyghte" on Transatlantic TRA 167)
22. You Never Wanted Me – SANDY DENNY (1967 UK LP "Sandy Denny" on Saga EROS 8153)
23. The Cuckoo's Nest – DAVE SWARBRICK (1967 UK LP "Rags Reels And Airs" on Bounty BY 6050)
24. The House Carpenter - SWEENEY'S MEN (1968 UK LP "Sweeney's Men" on Transatlantic TRA 170)
25. Spiral Staircase – RALPH McTELL (January 1969 UK LP "Spiral Staircase" on Transatlantic TRA 177)

CD2 (68:35 minutes):
1. Let No Man Steal Your Thyme – PENTANGLE (May 1968 UK Debut LP "The Pentangle" on Transatlantic TRA 162)
2. Bonnie Boy – SHIRLEY COLLINS (January 1968 UK LP "The Power Of The True Love Knot" on Polydor 583 025 in Stereo)
3. The Rout Of The Blues – BARRY and ROBIN DRANSFIELD (1970 UK LP "The Rout Of The Blues" on Trailer LER 2011)
4. Bright Phoebus – LAL and MIKE WATERSON (September 1972 UK LP "Bright Phoebus" on Trailer LES 2076)
5. Sorry The Day I Was Married – TIM HART and MADDY PRIOR (1971 UK LP "Summer Solstice" on B&C Records CAS 1035)
6. Scan's Polka – OAK (1971 UK LP "Welcome To The Fair" on Topic Records 12TS212)
7. Rattlin' Roarin' Willie / The Friar's Britches – DICK GAUGHAN (1972 UK LP "No More Forever" on Trailer LER 2072)
8. The Crafty Maid's Policy – FRANKIE ARMSTRONG (1972 UK LP "Lovely On The Water" on Topic Records 12TS216)
9. Billy Don't You Weep For Me – NIC JONES (1974, Recorded Live, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
10. The Rose Of Britain's Isle / Glorishears – JOHN KIRKPATRICK and SUE HARRIS (1974 UK LP "The Rose Of Britain's Isle" on Topic Records 12TS 247)
11. Hard Times Of Old England – THE ETCHINGHAM STEAM BAND (Recorded 1975, First UK Issued 1995 on CD on Fledg'ling Records FLED 3002)
12. The Kesh Jig / Give Us A Drink Of Water / The Flower Of The Flock /Famous Ballymore – THE BOTHY BAND (March 1976 UK Debut LP "The Bothy Band" on Polydor 2383 379, Mulligan Records in Ireland)
13. The Ant & The Grasshopper – LEON ROSSELSON and ROY BAILEY (1975 UK LP "That's Not The Way It's Gotta Be" on Acorn Records CF 251)
14. The Methody Parson – ROY HARRIS (1975 UK LP "Champions Of Folly" on Topic Records 12TS256)
15. John O' Dreams – BILL CADDICK (1976 UK LP "Rough Music" on Park Records SHP 102)
16. The Rose Of Allandale – BANDOGGS (1978 UK LP "Bandoggs" on Leader Records LTRA 504)
17. The Shepherd Of The Downs – PETER BELLAMY (1979 UK LP "Both Sides Then" on Topic Records 12TS 400)
18. Brighton Camp / The March Past – JOHN KIRKPATRICK & CHUMS (1976 UK LP "Plain Capers" on Free Reed FRR 10)
19. Harper's Frolick / Bonny Kate – NEW VICTORY BAND (1978 UK LP "One More Dance And Then" on Topic Records 12TS 382)
20. Once In A While – STEVE ASHLEY (Recorded 1979, 1982 UK LP "The Family Album" on Woodworm WR 002)

CD3 (69:38 minutes):
1. Miss Drummond Of Perth / Fiddler's Joy / Traditional Reel / The Shetland Fiddler – BATTLEFIELD BAND (1979 UK LP "Stand Easy" on Topic Records 12TS 404)
2. Farewell Welfare – RORY McLEOD – (1980 UK LP "Angry Love" on Forward Sounds LP 004)
3. Erin-Go-Bragh – DICK GAUGHAN (1981 UK LP "Handful Of Earth" on Topic Records 12TS 419)
4. Rockin' In Rhythm – RICHARD THOMPSON (1981 UK LP "Strict Tempo" on Elixir Records LP 1)
5. Stephan Baldwin's Schottisches Nos.1 & 2 / The kennet Jig – OLD SWAN BAND (1981 UK LP "Gamesters, Pickpockets And Harlots" on Dingles DIN 322)
6. In Trim / Mount Hooley / Lemington Bank – ALISTAIR ANDERSON (1982 UK LP "Steel Skies" on Topic Records 12TS 427)
7. Lay This Body Down – JUNE TABOR (1983 UK LP "Abyssinians" on Topic Records 12TS 432)
8. The First Cut Is The Deepest – MARTIN SIMPSON (1983 UK LP "Grinning in Your Face" on Topic Records 12TS 430)
9. Handsome, Johnny – THE ENGLISH COUNTRY BLUES BAND (1982 UK LP "No Rules" on Dingles DIN 223)
10. If – VIN GARBUTT (1983 UK LP "Little Innocents" on Topic Records 12TS 428)
11. The Maid & The Palmer – BRASS MONKEY (1983 UK LP "Brass Monkey" on Topic Records 12TS 431)
12. Shave The Monkey / Boys Of The Mill – BLOWZABELLA (1984 UK LP "Bobbityshooty" on Plant Life PLR 064)
13. A B Hornpipe / Mrs. Bolowski's – KATHRYN TICKELL (1988 UK LP "Great Moments Of Vinyl History" on Special Delivery SPM 1009)
14. Another Train – PETER MORTON (1988 UK LP "One Big Joke" on Harbourtown HAR 004)
15. Coal Not Dole – SWAN ARCADE (1990 UK Various Artists CD Charity Compilation "Circle Dance" on Hokey Pokey ConeD)
16. Blood & Gold / Mohacs – SILLY SISTERS (1988 UK LP "No More To The Dance")
17. Patrick Street / The Carraroe Jig – PATRICK STREET (1988 UK CD "Patrick Street" on Green Linnet GLCD 1071)
18. Wasps In The Woodpile – ANDREW CRONSHAW (1988 UK LP "Til The Beasts Returning" on Topic Records 12TS 447)
19. A Bhean Udai Thall – ALTAN (1989 UK CD "A Horse With A Heart" on Green Linnet GLCD 1095)
20. Fraoch A Ronaigh – MOUTH MUSIC (1990 UK CD "Mouth Music" on Triple Earth TRECD 109)

CD4 (78:51 minutes):
1. The Grey Funnel Line – EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLORES KEANE and MARY BLACK (1991 UK 3LP/2CD Set "Bringing It All Back Home (Music From The BBC TV Series" on BBC Records CD 844)
2. A Call For The North Country – JEZ LOWE & THE BAD PENNIES (1993 UK CD "Bede Weeps" on Fellside FECD 94)
3. Reconciliation – RON KAVANA (1991 UK CD "Home Fire" on Special delivery SPDCD 1043)
4. Pharaoh – THE HOUSE BAND (1993 UK CD "The World Is A Wonderful Place" on Hokey Pokey 2002.2)
5. Out Come The Freaks – CHRIS WOOD (1992 UK CD "Lisa" on Ruf Records RUFCD 002)
6. Moving The Goalposts – BILLY BRAGG (1991 UK CD "Don't Try This At Home" on Go-Discs 828 279-2)
7. When First I Came To California – WATERSON: CARTHY (1994 UK CD "Waterson: Carthy" on Topic TSCD 475)
8. Beeswing (Live) – RICHARD THOMPSON (1996 UK 2CD Set "Two Letter Words" on Flypaper FLYCD 006)
9. Molly & Johnny – DERVISH (1995 UK CD "Playing With Fire" on Whirling WHRL 002)
10. Venus In Tweeds – SHOGGLENIFTY (1994 UK CD "Venus In Tweeds" on Greentrax CDTRAX 076)
11. The Graf Spey / The Boys Of Balisodare – MARTIN HAYES (1995 UK CD "Under The Moon" on Green Linnet GLCD 155)
12. Jerusalem Revisited – COOPE, BOYES & SIMPSON [Barry Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson] (1996 UK CD "What We Sing" on No Masters NMCD 4)
13. How Can I Leave – LAL WATERSON & OLIVER KNIGHT (1996 UK CD "Once In A Blue Moon" on Topic TSCD 478)
14. A Place Called England – JUNE TABOR (1999 UK CD "A Quiet Eye" on Topic TSCD 510)
15. Reel Du Pendu – NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN (1999 UK CD "Steely Water" on Fellside FECD 145)
16. Twankydillo – MADDY PRIOR (1999 UK CD "Ravenchild" on Park PRKCD 49)
17. Llatai – FERNHILL (1998 UK CD "Llatai" on Beautiful Jo BEJOCD 23)
18. The Cobbler's Daughter – KATE RUSBY (1999 UK CD "Sleepless" on Pure PRCD 06)
19. From Where I Lie / Sheepcounting – JOHN TAMS (2000 UK CD "Unity" on Topic TSCD 508)
20. 10,000 Miles – ELIZA CARTHY (1998 UK CD "Red Rice" on Topic TSDCD 2001)

The long 56-page booklet is extremely comprehensive – DAVID SUFF of Fledg'ling Records giving track by track breakdowns – musicians – original issue details – later CD reissues and so forth. There are reproductions of the rare Galliards, Sea Shanties, and Wor Geordie EPs (not growing on trees I can tell you). Alongside those you do get fanzines like Folk Review, Folk News, Pulse, The Living Tradition, Topic Records catalogues from the Sixties and Seventies especially, a ZigZag magazine cover with the luminous Sandy Denny, The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs – you get the picture. Inside the text pages there are photos of the new generations carrying on an old tradition (New Victory Band, Eliza Carthy and The Watersons, Kate Rusby) and paragraphs on the likes of Ralph McTell and other genre heroes like Ewan MacColl and Jansch and Renbourn and Richard Thompson. 

But there are weird anomalies in the collages of photos that base the Track List pages to the rear. For instance, Pages 50 and 51 picture the fabulous instrumental "Timedance" 12" Single Planxty did on WEA Ireland in 1981 with an awesome version of "Nancy Spain" on the flipside and a photo of The Chieftains Breakfast Early Tour of 1980 when neither artist is included in the box! And they get a few album titles wrong like Ray & Archie Fisher (Track 4) and The Fisher Family (Track 11) on CD1 and dates like 1964 for the Jansch debut when it was April 1965, the catalogue number for the Dransfield LP "The Rout Of The Blues" on Trailer Records as TER 2026 when it was TER 2011 and release date as 1971 when it was 1970 – all of which I have checked and corrected in the text above.

But my go-to reference here is the AUDIO which has been done with such care and precision by DENIS BLACKHAM of Skye Mastering. I have raved about his transfers before – the first Horslips LP from 1973 and the Mick Greenwood debut album from 1971 that features much of Fotheringay. The old stuff on CD1 especially belies its age and is in tremendous shape – but the Seventies stuff is a thrill for me because that’s where I picked up on Folk big time – both in Ireland and England. Many discovers to discuss – to the tunes…

CD1: The Box Set opens with a string of rare Topic Records EP tracks and the occasional Skiffle single thrown in. On the A-side of the scene-changing 3-track EP "3 / 4 AD" issued in 1962 by Davy Graham and Alexis Korner was "Angi" which Bert Jansch returns to in 1964 for his self-titled debut album – it's a clever inclusion (Track 12) and harks back to the sound Graham got on "3 / 4 AD" (Track 2) that influenced so many guitar players and not just those in the strict realms of Folk and Traditionals. I would admit that it might be hard going for the unsympathetic ear to wade through brae Lasses and twa Corbies as the songs flirt around poverty and drink and emigration and the ruling class always keeping the workers down. But there is no denying the beauty of an Acapella Anne Briggs wrapping her deeply expressive pipes around "She Moves Through The Fair" – a Traditional so emotive it is likely to well up even the hardest of hearts.

The legendary characters and vocalists Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly of The Dubliners rollick through "The Rocky Road To Dublin" – not something I ever liked truth be told (too many drunken sots). Things get sweeter with Peggy Seeger on Guitar accompanying Ewan MacColl on the lovely and lonely "Song of The Iron Road", Producer Bill Leader letting their steeped-in-the-history-of-it-all talents shine. I have never seen the 1964 album "Steam Whistle Ballads" from whence the song comes – rarity ahoy. But everything truly moves up a notch with Bob Dylan – The Ian Campbell Folk Group doing for Bob what the Byrds did in the USA – stamping his generation-appealing lyrics on their cover of "The Times They Are A-Changin'". This is not a tired anthem in 1964 – you can feel that they believe in it and his hopes for a better world let alone America – dream or no. The Three City Four group had two great songwriters – Leon Rosselson (Vocals and Banjo) and Martin Carthy (Guitar) and again is an album I have never seen.

Julie Felix becomes the first Stereo track on CD1 with "Geordie" from her September 1966 "Changes" LP on Fontana – the kind of platter that was common in collections when I was buying back in the day (Martin Carthy on Guitar with a pre Fairports Dave Swarbrick on Fiddle). Things get fruity (when have they ever) when Albert Lancaster Lloyd (A.L. Lloyd to you) brings us "The Two Magicians" – a witty sexpot of a tune. The unheard-of Bandoggs had Nic Jones on Lead Vocals and Guitar while once again the long shadow on Martin Carthy shows up for the Leon Rosselson and Roy Bailey song "The Ant And The Grasshopper" (he plays guitar). And on CD2 goes to New Folk types like Steve Ashley and the kitchen-sink ensemble New Victory Band giving it some Melodeon, Hammer Dulcimer, Tuba, Whistle and Banjo on their cover of a Traditional. 

CD3 and CD4 are my faves and go-to plays: CD3 starts in 1979 but is dominated by the Eighties when both Folk and World Music were undergoing resurgences even before Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon made them hip. Traditional Scottish Pipes care of Duncan MacGillivray give the Battlefield Band track a welcome feel as its glorious sound is soon backed up by fiddles and gentle underlining Dulcimer rhythms (and in glorious audio too). Richard Thompson has a go at Duke Ellington for his brilliant acoustic guitar instrumental cover of "Rockin' In Rhythm", June Tabor gets all graveyard dramatic in her impressive Acapella "Abyssinians" album track "Lay This Body Down", Vin Garbutt does the Rudyard Kipling song "If" in an Acapella Ye Olde Englande hop-trip voice, while Martin Simpson reaches back to the 60ts Pop of Cat Stevens for his instrumental cover of "The First Cut Is The Deepest" – a truly lovely slide version done on steel guitars that I return too again and again (stunning production). Lightening the mood after the virtuoso slide steel playing of Simpson, "Handsome Johnny" is a jolly tune about a lad who has won a maid and her heart if only she could her sailor to settle down and leave the sea alone. 

Genuine jiggery-pokery lyrical brilliance comes from Rory McLeod as he goes through more brilliant observational rhymes than five Bob Dylan albums – his assessment of politicians and governments doing us in – on the money as he rips up the Harmonica too. Dick Gaughan and his fantastic vocals and guitar playing impresses no end on "Erin-Go-Bragh" which roughly translates into Beautiful or Good Ireland (Brian McNeill on Fiddle and Phil Cunningham on Whistle). Button Accordion anchors the pretty-fair-maid jaunt that is "The Maid & The Palmer" – the kind of dancing Folk that is forgotten but shouldn’t be (bourn the man nine children). You gotta love a group that calls their album "Bobbityshooty" and then gives you a cacophony of Hurdy-Gurdy, Bassoon and Melodeon with some mad Pipes thrown in for to make the hangover worse. Proper bellows return with the Northumberland Small Pipes of "A B Hornpipe…" from a clearly enamoured Kathryn Tickell (gorgeous audio). Plaintive acoustic guitar softens things with "Another Train" – Pete Morton trying to cheer up a person who feels their chance is past, but there is always another set of rolling stocks to take you on to somewhere better. 

Both Swan Arcade and The Silly Sisters put in two powerful Acapella performances – the first to do with the Miner Strikes from a seldom-seen Charity CD Compilation while Maddy Prior and June tabor of Silly Sisters are joined by several musicians on the beautifully recorded "Blood & Gold / Mohacs". CD3 romps home – Andy Irvine of Planxty and Paul Brady fame heads up Patrick Street singing about Patrick Street of Newry Town with other Irish Folk legends bringing up the rear – Kevin Burke of The Bothy Band on Fiddle, Arty McGlynn on Guitar and Jackie Daly on Accordion. A mastering error places Patrick Street at Track 17 and Andrew Cronshaw at Track 18 (I have reflected this in the list above). Andrew Cronshaw mixes Lead Guitars and Whistles and Fiddles with Donal Lunny tapping a Bass Bodhran in a song that sounds like Ry Cooder has decided to electrify Irish Traditionals and American Swamp chants (Martin Simpson is the one with the Cooder axe). Altan are cool but they are outdone by a gorgeous Mouth Music song where lead vocalist Talitha Mackenzie gives it some Lisa Gerrard and Gladiator soundtrack via Kate Bush Handsome Cabin Boy channelling with floating soundscapes for the ethereal "Fraoch A Ronaigh" – ending CD3 on a total high.

Opening CD4 is the most beautiful ballad – American Emmylou Harris, Brit Dolores Keane and Irish lady Mary Black floating in three-voice beauty over the Cyril Tawney song "The Grey Funnel Line". Produced by Bothy Band luminary and Irish Folk legend Donal Lunny – it turned up on the 1991 Irish immigration project "Bringing It All Back Home". Irish musician Declan Sinnott plays all instruments but most of it is low hum in the background that produces an almost filmic melancholy. A lonely worker pining for his gal so far away – it benefits from pinprick gorgeous production. Following that is the upbeat Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies and his own World Music song "A Call For The North Country". Another plaintive ballad comes with "Reconciliation" – Ron Kavana sounding not unlike Liam Ó Maonlai of Hothouse Flowers fame – a lovely tune with Terry Woods of The Woods Band on Concertina. 

Living in Egypt Land, The House Band sees Ged Foley and Chris Parkinson harmonize fabulous vocals on "Pharoah" – all working for the big chief in his chair of gold. Woodwork squeaks and "Out Come The Freaks" – Chris Wood strumming his fiddle like it’s a mandolin on a five-minute tale of a Vietnam vet struggling to cope while his girl becomes a stripper (gorgeous audio). Billy Bragg gives us a prettier than usual "Moving The Goalposts". The softness continues but moves back to Traditionals when Norma Waterson takes lead vocals on "When I First Came To California" – Eliza Carthy providing Fiddle while Martin Carthy picks an expert acoustic guitar – such a lovely sound and sentiment – the lyrics aching for love and home (paper from Pennsylvania and ink from Cali-forn-nigh-ay). Fiddle player Angus Grant of the wonderfully named Shogglenifty is obviously channeling his inner Velvet Underground when he changes Venus In Furs into "Venus In Tweeds" – the instrumental shuffling along like a Corrs whig-out - sweet. 

Hogging a stage together, Pete Zorn plays Flute beside Richard Thompson as he does a live Acoustic Guitar rendition of "Beeswing". The tale of a lost young love that got away because of drink and tempers may be live, but it's elevated because of it – the lyrics and story and flute solos crammed with urgency and beauty. A typically brilliant performance by the Fairport Convention mainman – a rare thing indeed as the lyrics go. Dervish are huge in Ireland – Cathy Jordan on Lead Vocals for the Traditional "Molly & Johnny". Backed up by four quality musicians and toppermost Production – there's is very much an updated-Bothy Band feel – stories wrapped around hop-skip tunes. Ian Carr plays guitar on the Kate Rusby tune "The Cobbler's Daughter" while Eliza Carthy brings it all home with a lovely "10,000 Miles" – the Scottish Traditional that Mary Chapin Carpenter did so effectively for the "Fly Away Home" movie.

To sum up - I know that much of the early Sixties material on CD1 will not appeal to many over the age of 30 – too Traditional – too finger-in-ear perhaps. But anyone willing to give this set a chance will find so much more to discover and love. The Folk Tradition and Folk-Rock offshoots have produced incredible talent – male and female – and that's what leaps off the lovely 4CD crapshoot that is "The Acoustic Folk Box". 

Maybe make a date with The Cobbler's Daughter – you might be surprised how well that ancient-to-now shoe will fit…

PS: see also my review of the 7CD Book Set "Three Score & Ten: A Voice To The People – 70 Years Of The Oldest Independent Record Label In Great Britain – Topic Records" from October 2009 – another bountiful and surprising vaults haul…

"Asides Besides" by TALK TALK – Thirty-Eight-Track 2CD Compilation featuring 45-Singles, Remixes, Extended Versions, Demos and Non-LP B-sides issued between February 1982 and September 1988 on EMI and Parlophone Records (April 1998 UK EMI Records 2CD Compilation with Peter Mew, Denis Blackham and Phil Brown Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asides-Besides-Talk/dp/B00000883W?crid=1BSPR6KH1IY9M&keywords=724385480720&qid=1706982596&sprefix=724385480720%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=1c84e538466f0d3876545bab2e91d756&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"…John Cope…"

Although "Asides Besides" is a I-will-expire-without-it purchase for your dyed-in-the-wool double-talk believer (of which there are many and rightly so) – I would admit that this 2CD extracurricular extremities fest for England's Talk Talk will not be for everyone. But I love it to distraction.

EMI 845 8072 is one of those twofers that will always take pride of place on my bulging repertoire shelves. I'd like to argue that you consider diving in too because there is never enough of this fab Art Rock band as far as I'm concerned. They became magnificent and are sorely missed to this day (2024). To the logistics/details by our Synth-Pop wonders…

UK released April 1998 - "Asides Besides" by TALK TALK on EMI 845 8072 (Barcode 724385480720) is a Thirty-Eight Track 2CD Compilation featuring UK and US 45-Single Mixes, Remixes, Extended Versions, Demos and Non-LP B-sides between February 1982 and September 1988 on EMI and Parlophone Records and it plays out as follows:

CD1 The Longer Versions (76:59 minutes):
1. Talk Talk (Extended Version) – October 1982 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5352
2. Today (Extended Version) – June 1982 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5314
3. My Foolish Friend (Extended Version) – March 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5573
4. It's My Life (Extended Version) – January 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5443
5. Such A Shame (Extended Mix) – March 1983 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5433
6. Such A Shame (Dub Mix) – July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480
7. Dum Dum Girl (12" Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, A-side
8. Without You (12" Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, B-side of "Dum Dum Girl"
9. Life's What You Make It (Extended Mix) – February 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMIX 5540 – Remix by Tim Friese-Greene – band chosen mix
10. Living In Another World (Extended Remix) – March 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5551
11. Pictures Of Bernadette (Dance Mix) – May 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12R 6131, B-side of "Give It Up"
12. Happiness Is Easy (12" Mix) – October 1986 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12R 6144, B-side of "I Don't Believe In You"

CD2 The Extra Tracks (66:02 minutes):
1. Talk Talk (Demo Version) – March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
2. Mirror Man (Demo Version) - March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
3. Candy (Demo Version) - March 1984 UK 7" Single Double-Pack on EMI Records EMID 5433
4. Strike Up The Band – February 1982 Debut UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5265, Non-LP B-side of "Mirror Man"
5. ? – April 1982 Second UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5284, Non-LP B-side of "Talk Talk"
6. My Foolish Friend – March 1983 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5373, A-side
7. Call In The Night Boy (Piano Version) – March 1983 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5373, Non-LP B-side
8. Why Is It So Hard? – Debut Appearance of a 7" Single Mix of a song written for the 1984 Michael Apted film "First Born" – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD
9. Again A Game…Again – March 1984 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5433, Non-LP B-side of "Such A Shame"
10. Without You – July 1984 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5480, Non-LP B-side of "Dum Dum Girl"
11. Dum Dum Girl (US Mix) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on EMI Records 12EMI 5480, Non-LP Second B-side to "Dum Dum Girl (12" Mix)"
12. It's Getting Late In The Evening – January 1986 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5540, Non-LP B-side of "Life's What You Make It" – also on the B-side of the twelve-inch single
13. For What It's Worth – March 1986 UK 7" Single on EMI Records EMI 5551, Non-LP B-side of "Living In Another World"
14. Pictures Of Bernadette – May 1986 UK 7" Single on Parlophone Records R 6131, Non-LP B-side of "Give It Up"
15. Eden (Edit) – September 1988 UK 12" Single on Parlophone Records 12 R 6189, Non-LP B-side of "I Believe In You" – also a Bonus Track on the CD-single Parlophone CDR 6189 – Edit runs to 4:11 minutes
16. John Cope - September 1988 UK 12" Single on Parlophone Records 12 R 6189, Non-LP B-side of "I Believe In You" – also a Bonus Track on the CD-single Parlophone CDR 6189

TALK TALK were:

MARK HOLLIS - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards 

TIM FRIESE-GREENE - Keyboards, Wind Instruments

TIM HARRIS - Drums and Percussion

The 20-page booklet doesn't have liner notes per say, but it does feature those all-important James Marsh picture sleeves – his gorgeous paintings-artwork synonymous with the band. Beside each entry is a basic discography (which I've expanded on above) and the usual reissue credits. The discs are themed – The Longer Versions on CD1 and The B-sides as The Extra Tracks on CD2 – both making for a surprisingly satisfying listen because they do feel like two sides of a single-coin. CD2 also boasts an exclusive on Track 8 – the digital-debut appearance of "Why Is It So Hard? " in 7" Single Mix form - a song written for the 1984 Michael Apted film "First Born". Fans will know that there is a 12" mix of this song on the vinyl compilation called "It's My Mix", but that is AWOL here – the band clearly opting for the more to-the-point single variant.  

The AUDIO is care-of three great names in Remastering – DENIS BLACKHAM who handled the four album Remasters for Talk Talk (1982's "It's My Party" to 1988's "Spirit Of Eden") and PETER MEW with PHIL BROWN - no strangers to EMI or Abbey Road Studios when it comes to Rock transfers (Hollies, Kevin Ayers, Deep Purple, Robin Trower etc). Talk Talk's material was always well recorded, but on "Asides Besides" you get that subtle oomph. To hear one of my fave-rave B-sides of all time "John Cope" in this quality is fantastic – my twelve-inch having been battered for decades now. All good really – to the music…

I would imagine it is only diehard Talkies who would endure the 6:30 minutes of the Dub Mix for "Such A Shame" – it ain’t for me – but the 5:54-minute piano-funk synth-pop of the extended "Without You" is wickedly good – another punchy Tim Friese-Greene production. By the time we get to Track 9 we are into the magical "The Colour Of Eden" album from 1986 where the band became something otherworldly. Everything about that LP and its splinters do my collector head in – fantastical stuff. There is another mix of "Life's What You Make It" from another twelve-inch (12EMI 5540) remixed by Denis Weinreich that runs to almost eight-and-half-minutes – but the band have chosen the more guitar/piano funky cut on the American twelve (12EMIX 5540) remixed by their own Tim Friese-Greene that sexes its way across your living room for 6:58 minutes on CD1 (there are more versions of the song when it was reissued in 1990 to support the "Natural History" Best-Of album, but they are not dealt with by this compilation). 

Not to be outdone in brilliance, next up is the radically and brilliantly re-worked "Living In Another World" that slips tasty Harmonica and Synth fills alongside echoed vocal bits – and I love all its madly 80ts 8:57 minutes. Children giggling and playing open the Dance Mix of "Pictures Of Bernadette" after which it settles into a guitar-Indie groove where the boys allow the axes to distort and contort to a backdrop of drums and percussion. Then that huge organ comes roaring in – Hollis again letting it rip with that other-place voice of his before we return to mad Smiths-like electric and acoustic guitar fills. The Dance Mix of "Pictures Of Bernadette" is brilliant and a genius inclusion in all its 8:05 minute glory. And CD1 ends on another huge fan-fave - the Twelve Mix of "Happiness Is Easy" – the 7:02 minute Remix turning it into a more Acoustic-and-Bass Chic-Funky spacious beast (all this and the magnificent "I Don't Believe In You" on the A-side – what a 12 single-buy that was back in the day).

You might think that opening CD2 with three demos in row (turned on a seven-inch double-pack) that got their EMI contract would mean an interesting listen rather than an essential one – but this is Talk Talk – and they are far better than you would assume. Recorded June 1981, the synth-pop vibe and sound is there but somehow the "Mirror Man" version captures something even more angst that the released mix. And there is a soulfulness to "Candy" – Hollis sounding every bit like the ground-trembling sets of pipes he was and would become. Fantastic stuff and you can so hear why the band would want punters to be re-reminded of these early-years accomplishments. 

Things start to B-side the Seaside hot up with "?" and "My Foolish Friend" - two great Non-LP tracks with "My Foolish Friend" sounding like UK 80ts Synth-Pop at its hooky best. Fans will salivate at a clean Remastered version of the gorgeous "Call In The Night Boy (Piano Version)" - so Japan, so David Sylvian, so Peter Gabriel while the compilation offers up something new to CD - the 7" version of the film song "Why Is It So Hard?" - a tune that could easily have been an album inclusion (great audio to as those keyboards swoon and pop). The "Such A Shame" B-side "Again A Game...Again" could be the little brother of "Why Is It So Hard?" - another Synth-Pop Funkathon that sounds huge here. I'm no boy stealing pennies - Hollis sings on the slyly sinister "Dum Dum Girl" - presented to here in its US 7" Mix which I must admit doesn't feel 'that' different. Heading into the homeward strait with the deeply cool "It's Getting Late In The Evening" - a B-side let-it-all-hang-out indication of their musical direction as they hurtled towards disbandment in 1991 (1988's "Spirit Of Eden" and 1991's final "Laughing Stock") - weird, spacial and wonderfully evocative. Swirling beautiful comes in the shape of "For What It's Worth" (tiger butterfly artwork gets me every time) while guitars fuzz-funk up "Pictures Of Bernadette" - another fab discovery. 

"Asides Besides" ends with the Edit of "Eden" where jagged guitar-notes introduce Hollis' trademark warble, sparse drum whacks and huge keyboards (mesmerizing stuff) only to be whomped by my go-to-poison - the out-there-in-the-stars "John Cope" - the kind of cool few bands ever achieve (apparently Hollis used it as an alias at times). And it was a B-side!

(Mark David) Hollis would make that slightly disappointing self-titled solo LP in 1998 on Polydor Records before he disappeared out of the music business entirely only to lose him in 2017 - a genius gone too soon. "Asides Besides" always makes me think of him and the fans who obsess over the band the way Smiths or Cure fans do. God bless 'em. Be no foolish friend and get this twofer in your rig - soonest...

"The Colour Of Spring" by TALK TALK - March 1986 UK Third Studio Album on EMI Records featuring Mark Hollis, Tim Friese-Greene and Lee Harris with Guest Musicians Robbie McIntosh and David Rhodes on Guitars, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Solo Career on Organ, Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero on Harmonica, Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Double Bass, Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Bass, Gaynor Sadler on Harmonica, David Roach on Saxophone, Paul Webb on Bass and more (September 1997 UK EMI CD Reissue with a Phill Brown and Denis Blackham Remaster from Original Tapes) - A Review by Mark Barry

 

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

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"...Fresh Upon The Ground..."

I have a few touch-points when it comes to naysayers about the Eighties being nothing more than Poodle Rock, Synths and Drum Machines and Shoulder Pads bigger than their hair-dos. For such a maligned decade - the mid 80s onward didn't half produce some utterly ball-busting greatness. 

It's now 40-years plus and I still haven't tired of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's shooting stars never stop double "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" (1984), David Sylvian's "Brilliant Trees" (1984), Kate Bush's meisterwerk "Hounds Of Love" (1985), Peter Gabriel's fabulous "So (1986), John Martyn's underrated "Piece By Piece" (1986), Deacon Blue's "Raintown" (1987), Love And Money's "Strange Kind Of Love" (1988) with Production from Steely Dan's Gary Katz, Joni Mitchell's "Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm" (1988), R.E.M.'s "Green" (1988), Simple Minds' "Street Fighting Years" (1989), Del Amitri's "Waking Hours" (1989) and The Blue Niles' "Hats" (1989). 

And this is not forgetting Paul Simon's other-genres-enlightening "Graceland" (1986), the Texas debut "Southside" (1989) that introduced us to the fabulous vocals of Sharleen Spiteri and Ally McErlaine's stunning guitarwork, Matt Johnson's The The and his acidic but brilliant "Infected" (1986), The Smiths on a one-after-another stormer with "Meat Is Murder" (1985) and "The Queen Is Dead" (1986), Bruce Springsteen's "Tunnel Of Love" (1989), Prince's "1999" (1982) and "Purple Rain" (1984), John Mellencamp's "The Lonesome Jubilee" (1988), Eurythmics' "Be Yourself Tonight" (1985), Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" (1989) and so many more. 

But up there with a whizz-bang bullet in the Top 10 pantheon for that entire decade is Talk Talk's gorgeous third album "The Colour Of Spring" from March 1986. Everything about this winner spells event. With the core of singer-songwriter MARK HOLLIS and Keyboard whizz and Producer TIM FRIESE-GREENE and Bassist LEE HARRIS - they roped in a formidable array of Guest Musicians to help achieve the vastly more sophisticated and ethereal sound the album debuted (a move away from the overly synth-based Pop of the first two LPs in 1982 and 1984 "Talk Talk" and "It's My Party". 

That list included the lauded Robbie McIntosh and David Rhodes on Guitars, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Solo Career on Organ, Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero on Harmonica, Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Double Bass, Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Bass with other players like Gaynor Sadler on Harmonica, David Roach on Saxophone, Paul Webb on Bass and some schoolkids and a choir. 

There are only 8 songs on the LP - but they matter and each in its own little way is a sonic masterpiece - beautifully arranged and produced by TFG. Throw in the seriously gorgeous and eye-catching JAMES MARSH hand-painted artwork that graced the front sleeve and all the hugely collectable 12" singles that came off the album - and "The Colour Of Spring" impacted with a face slap - sit up and take notice of this boys and girls of the C-90 generation. 

And that's where this one-of-four CD Reissues and Remasters comes a stomping in. UK catalogue-numbered RETALK 100 to 104 - the four albums from "Talk Talk" in 1982, "It's My Party" in 1983, "The Colour Of Spring" in 1986 to "Spirit Of Eden" in 1988 are in the series - each spine spelling out a single letter at the top and base - TALK TALK. The beautifully clear yet muscular Remasters were done by a duo of much respected Audio Engineers - PHILL BROWN and DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering) - each making the original 1/2" EMI Analogue Tapes shine like never before. This is a fantastic-sounding CD and my only fault would be that it could have done with those tasty Non-LP B-sides from the 12" singles. 

To the details - once more unto the butterfly breach/peach...

UK released September 1997 - "The Colour Of Spring" by TALK TALK on EMI RETALK 102 - 7243 8 57131 2 5 (Barcode 724385713125) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the album and plays out as follows (45:43 minutes):

 

1. Happiness Is Easy [Side 1]

2. I Don't Believe In You

3. Life's What You Make It

4. April 5th

5. Living In Another World [Side 2]

6. Give It Up 

7. Chameleon Day

8. Time It's Time

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "The Colour Of Spring" - released March 1986 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3506 and in the USA on EMI-America ST-17197. Produced by TIM FRIESE-GREENE - it peaked at No. 8 in the UK and No. 58 in the US Rock LP charts.

The 12-page booklet reproduces the inner sleeve (handwritten almost illegible lyrics intact) with musician credits beneath and a very nice touch is to give each of James Marsh's paintings (that graced the album's singles) a full leaf each (Pages 8 to 11). There isn't a history, liner notes or any involvement from the band, which is a bit of a let down - but the songs and the audio are the business (I've seen this CD for sale on Auction Sites for under four or even three pounds). To the chameleon music...

"Happiness Is Easy" opens accounts in a fantastic Talk Talk kind of a way - the song benefiting from a bevvy of impressive types - Steve Winwood on Organ, Robbie McIntosh on Guitar and Alan Gorrie of Average White Band on Electric Bass with Danny Thompson of Pentangle on Upright Bass. Bizarrely - there is also a Robbie McIntosh in AWB (their drummer), but the McIntosh used here is the session guitarist and a different bloke. The children chanting lyrics come courtesy of the School of Miss Speake. 

EMI had preceded the March 1986 release of "The Colour Of Spring" album in January with the first of four singles from it - "Life's What You Make It" which hit a healthy interest-arousing No. 16 in the UK and No. 90 in America. March 1986 saw "Living in Another World" which made a lesser No. 48 in Blighty and then "Give It Up" in May 1986 which hit No. 59 and inexplicably - the best track on the album as far as I'm concerned - "I Don't Believe In You" in November of 1986 only to not chart at all. It's interesting to note that the last three British 45s, 12s and Picture Discs mentioned weren't released by EMI America in the States where the album seemed to languish as a non-event. 

Speaking of "I Don't Believe In You" - it is the second of three tracks on "The Colour Of Spring" album that benefits big time from the floating Organ sound of Steve Winwood (the other song is "Living In Another World"). Both lingering-mood tunes also having Robbie McIntosh on guitar (his soloing on "I Don't Believe In You") is one of the highlights of the album - while David Rhodes provides a second guitar for "Living In Another World". And while the ear gravitates to the hits - especially "Life's What You Make It" - longtime listeners will adore the quietly brilliant "April 5th" and "Chameleon" too. It ends on "Time It's Time" - a wonderful eight-minute moody and broody little bugger that boasts Percussion from Morris Pert of Stomu Ymashta's Red Buddah band (and before that Sun Treader, also on Island Records) with Martin Ditcham of Virgin's Avant Garde band Henry Cow. The mood is also buoyed up with the church-like eerie vocals of The Ambrosia Choir. I love it. 

"The Colour Of Spring" by Talk Talk is like Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love" or Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen" from 1985 or Dead Can Dance's "The Serpent's Egg" on 4AD Records from 1988 - the kind of off-kilter genius I'll play the whole way through.

"Spirit Of Eden" that followed in 1988 would see them go even more uncommercial minimalist and soundscape weird - Mark Feltham of Nine Below Zero giving the greatest Harmonica solo ever on "The Rainbow" - its opening track. But in truth - 1986's "The Colour Of Spring" is the Talk Talk album I go potty for. Mark Hollis and his staggering warble vocals gave us a self-titled solo album in January 1998 on Polydor Records (much praised), but retired after that (despite huge cash offers) and was lost to us in February 2015 - a passing that I know many fans could hardly believe let alone bare. Both Hollis and the band were a talent that just wouldn't play the game (much to our advantage) - and I for one love them to bits for it...

The September 1997 TALK TALK EMI CD Remasters

RETALK 100 to 104 are UK Catalogue Numbers - The Next Are International 

None Have Bonus Tracks - Phill Brown and Denis Blackham Remasters

1. The Party's Over (July 1982 Debut Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 100 - EMI 7243 8 56796 2 9 

(Barcode 724385679629) 

2. It's My Life (February 1984 Second Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 101 - EMI 7243 8 56797 2 8 

(Barcode 724385679728)

3. The Colour Of Spring (March 1986 Third Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 102 - EMI 7243 8 57131 2 5 

(Barcode 724385713125)

 

4. Spirit Of Eden (September 1988 Fourth Studio Album) 

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 103 - EMI 7243 8 57129 2 0 

(Barcode 724385712920)

"The Party's Over" by TALK TALK – July 1982 UK Debut Album on EMI Records featuring Mark Hollis and Simon Brenner (September 1997 UK EMI CD Reissue with Phil Brown and Denis Blackham Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...My Truth's No Longer Sane..."

 

Anyone expecting the accomplished TALK TALK of 1986's "The Colour Of Spring", 1988's "Spirit Of Eden" or even 1991's "Laughing Stock" should readjust their sets for the band's opening salvo "The Party's Over" because it's an overtly All-Synths OMD-Depeche Mode sounding debut very much rooted in the Duran Duran big-hairdo Popstral landscape of 1982. 

 

At least this lovely-looking spine-themed 1997 EMI Records CD Reissue offers a truly blinding Remaster from Top Audio Engineers PHILL BROWN and DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering) using original EMI 1/2" master tapes. Once more unto the party people...

UK released September 1997 - "The Party's Over" by TALK TALK on EMI Records RETALK 100 (Barcode 724385679629) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of their 1982 debut album that plays out as follows (36:53 minutes):

1. Talk Talk [Side 1]

2. It's So Serious

3. Today 

4. The Party's Over 

5. Hate [Side 2]

6. Have You Heard The News?

7. Mirror Man 

8. Another Word 

9. Candy 

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "The Party's Over" - released July 1982 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3413 and in the USA on EMI America ST-17083. Produced by COLIN THURSTON - it peaked at No. 32 in the UK LP charts, No. 132 in the US Billboard Charts.

 

TALK TALK was: 

MARK HOLLIS - Lead Vocals 

SIMON BRENNER - Keyboards 

PAUL WEBB - Bass

LEE HARRIS - Drums 

 

There are four CDs in this 1997 Remaster Series - each spine spelling a T A L K letter - so T for "The Party's Over" (1982), A for "It's My Life" (1984), L for "The Colour Of Spring" (1986) and K for "Spirit Of Eden" (1988). Each issue has upgraded 12-page booklets with lyrics and those beautiful James Marsh paintings/artwork the band featured on so many of their 7" and 12" single sleeves. The debut booklet shows the "Talk Talk" and "Mirror Man" UK single sleeves - and the lyrics are here too, but naught else - no new liner notes or history. Which is more's the pity, because I believe Talk Talk to be one of the most underrated bands of the 80ts and 90ts a group that grew ever more brilliant with each new album up to a point where EMI just didn't know how to market them to a single's market when they became an album's band.

 

But all of that slight presentation letdown is mightily offset by the big news - a fantastic Remaster from original 1/2" analogue master-tapes by PHIL BROWN and Skye Mastering's DENIS BLACKHAM - a man I actively seek out as a Remaster go-to. Take the piano-playing in the left speaker of "Have You Heard The News?" or the very early-Depeche-sounding "Mirror Man" - both sounding full of power while Hollis warbles on about being miserable and betrayed (or both). 

 

I have always wished Talk Talk's debut "The Party's Over" was an LP I'd return to with more affection, but it's a start that would eventually lead to the sonic wonder of 1986's "The Colour Of Spring" - an album I'd put up there with Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love", Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen" or even The Blue Nile's debut "A Walk Across The Rooftops". And the loss of the ethereal lead singer and principal songwriter Mark Hollis in 2019 was/is a shattering blow to longtime fans and damn it - music itself.

Still - gotta love that great audio - and those T A L K CD-spines on my shelves make me a very happy bunny just gawking at them. A great band and not just a good one...

The TALK TALK EMI CD Remasters (September 1997)

RETALK 100 to 104 are UK Catalogue Numbers - The Next Are International

1. The Party's Over (July 1982 Debut Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 100 - EMI 7243 8 56796 2 9 (Barcode 724385679629) 

2. It's My Life (February 1984 Second Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 101 - EMI 7243 8 56797 2 8 (Barcode 724385679728)

3. The Colour Of Spring (March 1986 Third Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 102 - EMI 7243 8 57131 2 5 (Barcode 724385713125) 

4. Spirit Of Eden (September 1988 Fourth Studio Album)

UK CD Remaster on EMI RETALK 103 - EMI 7243 8 57129 2 0 (Barcode 724385712920)

"Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" by ANDY ROBERTS AND THE GREAT STAMPEDE – December 1973 UK-only Album on Elektra Records – featuring Zoot Money of Dantalian’s Chariot and Centipede, Ollie Halsall of Patto, B.J. Cole of Cochise, Mick Kaminski of E.L.O., Sonny Francis, Ray Wehrstein with Pat Donaldson of Fotheringay and Gerry Conway of Fairport Convention (April 2007 UK Fledg'ling Records CD Reissue in Card Digipak Repro Artwork with a Denis Blackham Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 299 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

US AND THEM - 1973

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45's...

All In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves

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"...Lost Highway..."

It's not really a balls-to-the-wall masterpiece but Andy Roberts' Ry Cooder-ish looking fourth studio album "Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" is a lovely reissue of a sadly forgotten Folk/Country Rock LP gem from the Seventies that deserves far better recognition than its ever received. And England's Fledg'ling Records seem to think so too, giving it a genuinely warm reappraisal on this beautifully remastered CD from 2007 done by the award-wining Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering.

I suspect (like most) many won't know who Andy Roberts even is. A short bio includes guitar on Scaffold recordings – sessions with Jimi Hendrix and Graham Nash - produced by Paul McCartney - toured with Led Zeppelin - had the drummer from Jethro Tull in his band and was involved in four Liverpool Scene albums. Then a stint with the short-lived Everyone group in 1971 on B&C Records - another for the revered Plainsong ensemble with Iain Matthews (on Elektra Records) and then on top of all that managed three solo albums by the time he got to great stampeding in 1973 (one of those trio of LPs was actually issued in two different versions). 

Andy Roberts had been around, bubbling under so to speak and after this (his last solo outing) – he joined his old muckers in the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band offshoot Grimms on two of their three albums between 1973 and 1976 on Island and DJM Records - "Rockin' Duck" and "Sleepers". Which brings us back here...his Folk and Country Rock LP from 1973 with an Jamaican-influenced lean on some of the tracks...

The LP "Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" was supposedly scheduled for October 1973 with publicity prepped and ready (The Great Stampede was also the name of his new band) - his second album on Elektra Records after the well-received "Urban Cowboy" in June of 1973. But as the oil-crisis limited what vinyl was priority, it got delayed until December 1973 because of the Fabs. In April 1973 - EMI and Apple had unleashed on a very willing world the Red and Blue double-albums by The Beatles - "1962-1966" and "1967-1970". I can remember the phenomenon they both were - selling cartloads all year long and for years afterwards. So EMI Blighty apparently informed our hero that due to pressing demand for the Red and Blue 2LP sets, his fourth solo LP on Elektra K 42151 would have to wait until December 1973 for release and even then would only see 1,500 copies pressed (if he was lucky) - two months after adverts for an album that didn't show. It tells you all of this in the exemplary new 16-page liner notes penned by the artist . Time to list this reissue's finer details...

UK released 23 April 2007 - "Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" by ANDY ROBERTS AND THE GREAT STAMPEDE on Fledg'ling Records FLED 3064 (Barcode 5020393306423) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Five Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (51:28 minutes):

1. Speed Well [Side 1]

2. Clowns On The Road

3. Lord Of The Groves

4. Bottom Of The Garden

5. Kid Jealousy

6. The Great Stampede [Side 2]

7. High Time

8. Home In The Sun

9. (53 Miles From) Spanish Town

Tracks 1 to 9 are his fourth studio album "Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" - released December 1973 in the UK LP on Elektra Records K 42151 (unissued USA). Produced by SANDY ROBERTSON - it didn't chart.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Home At Last

11. Lost Highway

12. Living In The Hills Of Zion

13. New Karenski

14. Having A Party

The Great Stampede included:

ANDY ROBERTS - Lead Vocals, Guitar and Rumba Bass

ZOOT MONEY (of Dantalian's Chariot and Centipede) - Organ and Piano

MICK KAMINSKI (of Electric Light Orchestra) - Electric Violin

B.J. COLE (of Cochise) - Pedal Steel Guitar and Dobro

PAT DONALDSON (of Dantalian's Chariot, Poet And The One Man Band and Fotheringay) – Fender Bass

GERRY CONWAY (of Fairport Convention) - Drums

Guests:

OLLIE HALSALL (of Patto and Kevin Ayers Band) - Lead Guitar on "Speed Well"

SONNY FRANCIS - Organ on "Lord Of The Groves"

RAY WEHRSTEIN - Soprano Saxophone on "High Time"

Housed in a pretty card digipak that repro's the original British LP artwork along with a period photo of the guitarist and singer on the inner flap - the 16-page booklet is oversized – the length of the digipak. That allows Roberts to fill it with photos of Jamaica where he had holidayed. That honeymoon sojourn with his wife Jacqui influenced all the songs up to the point where he has even provided a polaroid of the street sign that inspired the song that ends Side 2 – a signpost that is literally painted with the words "53 Miles From Spanish Town" (Spanish Town being the old capitol of Jamaica). In the large amount of text, Roberts also gives us candid paragraphs to the meaning of each song – talks of the impressive line-up of musicians too including their quirks, talents and sometime dodgy personal habits (see list above). But what gets you most is the glorious upgrade in Audio. I had this album for decades and it has never sounded this good.

DENIS BLACKHAM has Remastered Mick Greenwood's catalogue, Ireland's Horslips, England's Fairport Convention offshoot Fotheringay, the 3CD "Meet On The Ledge" Box Set for Island Records in 2008, the Topic Records 7CD Book Set "Three Score And Ten..." from 2009, Robert Plant's solo catalogue "Nine Lives" Box Set, the "Acoustic Folk Box" and even Talk Talk's gorgeous 1986 masterpiece "The Colour Of Spring". And thems is serious credentials in my book. Blackham is an Audio Engineer I seek out - one who gets a natural clarity to his transfers – the music becoming clear without ever being over-amped for the sake of it – and so it is here. Let's get to the songs...

Roberts quite rightly waxes lyrical about the natural ability to amaze of Liverpudlian Ollie Halsall who plays rawkin' guitar on Side 1's opener "Speed Well". The ex Patto axeman would contribute mind-blowing pyrotechnics the following year to Kevin Ayers fifth album track "Didn't Feel Lonely Till I Thought Of You" on "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" album released May 1974 on Island Records. I mention this track alongside 1973's "Speed Well" because both are not love/misery songs about ladies - but drugs - Amphetamine Sulphates to mention but a few - which would finally do for OH in 1992. I like the song - first fast - then slow - but those lyrics about the pure as snow being the only friend he knows now feel so ominous. "Clowns On The Road" is the first to exude those 'island' rhythms before BJ Cole's Pedal Steel and Mick Kaminski's violin turn it into a Country Rock lurch about bands on the road (not my fave on the album really).

Better is five and half-minutes of "Lord Of The Groves" which feels the most Plainsong tune on the LP until it descends into an ill-advised island rhythm about cocoanut trees and the 'Yellow Disease' that was slowly killing them. Sonny Francis plays 'authentic' Reggae Hammond Organ on the track. "Bottom Of The Garden" clocks in at just 2:19 minutes, a fiddle and Dobro ditty (BJ Cole on Dobro) with Zoot Money on Electric Piano. Back to some great slide Dobro on "Kid Jealousy" - the Bluesiest tune on the LP - Gerry Conway of Fairport on Drums. 

And on it goes to a slew of extras some of which appeared in versions on his first LP for Elektra "Urban Cowboy" released June 1973 in the UK on Elektra Records K 42139. As I said earlier, Andy Roberts would be with Grimms for two albums of their catalogue including their largely risible third and last LP called "Sleepers" on DJM Records in November 1976 - his song "Bluebird Morning" being just about the prettiest thing on that record (Sanctuary Records featured it on their 2CD Anthology set "Just For The Record..." that covered all of AR's career - see my review).

"Andy Roberts And The Great Stampede" is not as I said earlier a lost masterpiece by any means, but there is something about his voice and his playing and his way with a melody that makes me return to his stuff again and again - a sort of Plainsong mates with the lilt of McGuinness Flint by way of The Band - all of which sounds to me like a damn good musical combo of influences. And the boys at Skye Mastering have done his recorded legacy proud with this Reissue and Remaster.

So while you might not want to trample over women and children and small baby seals to get to "...The Great Stampede", I'd consider a leisurely stroll to its aural delights at the very least. Lovely - investigate and enjoy...