"Tiptoe Past The Dragon" by MARLIN GREENE (February 2009 Collectors' Choice CD Reissue - Bob Fisher Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Masquerade Ball..."

Marlin Green's lone album "Tiptoe Past The Dragon" was issued Stateside in the early summer of 1972 and as per their rather over-reaching jewel case sticker - this February 2009 US 'Collectors' Choice' CD would have us believe it's - 'One of 1972's Great Lost Albums!'

"Tiptoe Past The Dragon" is not a lost masterpiece despite what they claim (it has been notorious bargain-bin fodder for decades in second-hand shops – a strict no-no as a buy in) – but it has musical goodies on both sides worth rediscovering – especially if you like your Americana with a touch of Country Rock.

Musically we’re talking a sort of lesser America – or in Britain - a sort of sub Matthews Southern Comfort or Plainsong. There are even traces of Neil Young circa "Gold Rush" and "Harvest" with his backing band Crazy Horse when Greene goes all Country Rock on certain songs. And recorded down South in The Muscle Shoals Studios – the LP features a slew of notable session types like Eddie Hinton, Barry Beckett and Wayne Perkins (of Smith, Perkins, Smith).

For fans of this forgotten album - this rather ordinary CD Reissue does at least offers up two things worth noting - a fairly tasty audio remaster and it's physically cheap too (less than four quid on some sites). Here are the details...

US released 17 February 2009 - "Tiptoe Past The Dragon" by MARLIN GREENE on Collectors' Choice CCM-997 (Barcode 617742099720) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 11-Track 1972 LP and plays out as follows (34:49 minutes):

1. Grand Illusion [Side 1]
2. Masquerade Ball
3. Jonathan's Dream
4. My Country Breakdown
5. Forest Ranger
6. Gemini Gypsy
7. Ponce de Leon [Side 2]
8. Who's The Captain Of Your Ship Of Dreams
9. Fields Of Clover
10. Good Christian Cowboy
11. Tiptoe Past The Dragon
Tracks 1 to 11 are his debut album "Tiptoe Past The Dragon" - released June 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS 75028 (no UK issue).

MARLIN GREENE - Lead Vocals
EDDIE HINTON, LARRY 'GIMMER' NICHOLSON and WAYNE PERKINS - Guitars
LEON La BLANC - Pedal Steel Guitar
BARRY BECKETT and CHUCK LEAVELL - Keyboards
DAVID HOOD - Bass
FRED PROUTY, LOU MULLINEX and ROGER HAWKINS - Drums

Typical of almost all Collectors' Choice CD Reissues - you get a functional gatefold inlay that at least has a summary of the man's career and the album by noted writer COLIN ESCOTT (done in December 2008). BOB FISHER - their resident Audio Engineer - did the Remaster and it sounds professional, full and at times rather beautiful - the swirling acoustic guitars and 'la la' singing on "Masquerade Ball" - the pedal steel twang of "Good Christian Cowboy" - all good.

Produced by Greene himself – the album hit the shops in 1972 hoping no doubt to catch the singer-songwriter craze sweeping everything in the early Seventies. Vocally he's close to say Ian Matthews and wrote all the songs except "Fields Of Clover" and "Good Christian Cowboy" which were penned by Wayne Perkins (later with Smith, Perkins, Smith over on Island Records in 1972 – an album that I hope to one day see on CD). But despite the strength of material like "Masquerade Ball" alas few noticed - and is now confirmed by Green in the liner notes that little promotion of the LP took place at Elektra. The label more closely associated with the Doors, Bread and Carly Simon did try a Radio Promo 45 for the jaunty Eagles-sounding Country-Rock of Side1's "Forest Ranger" on Elektra EK-45790 - but it didn't raise any interest and apparently stock copies were never pressed or pursued. 

The album opens with a gentle acoustic ballad "Grand Illusion" where dreamers find their own reality (could have been a single too). It then trumps up the rather excellent "Masquerade Ball" - a highly produced 12-string acoustic tune that is instantly likeable. Clearly reading 'Jonathan Livingstone Seagull' (like everyone else at the time - that book was huge) - "Jonathan's Dream" is a rather aimless instrumental that starts with gulls and ocean waves lapping and doodles around on the guitar for about a minute and a half only to jump right into Flying Burrito Brothers territory with "My Country Breakdown" - not a particularly strong track either. I much prefer the Side 1 finisher "Gemini Gypsy" - so very Plainsong - and in a good way.

Over on Side 2 Greene rocks it up with the Dobro and Piano of "Ponce De Leon" and gets melodic Ian Matthews on "Who's The Captain Of Your Ship Of Dreams" - another potential single. Wayne Perkins of Smith, Perkins, Smith (and later two albums with Crimson Tide on Capitol Records) provides the two Country-Rock tunes - the very Neil Young ballad-feel to "Fields Of Clover" and the holy-roller of "Good Christian Cowboy" - both rather good. It ends on the short but Judy Henske/Jerry Yester strange title track - "Tiptoe Past The Dragon".

Not a masterpiece for sure but there is moments that impress hugely and on repeated listens - the music grows on you like crazy.

"...Why don't you look around..." - Greene sings in the hypnotic  "Fields Of Clover". 
I'd agree – worth a punt...

"The Complete Warner Brothers Recordings" by TONY JOE WHITE (2015 Real Gone Music 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Got A Thing About You..."

Tony Joe White's initial career - his first flourish on Monument Records between 1968 and 1970 - followed by three albums on Warner Brothers between 1971 and 1973 - have always been hard to find on both vinyl and CD in the UK (without paying through the nose for such digital delights).

This rather fantastic 2CD haul from US reissue label 'Real Gone Music' lumps together his hugely collectable and revered three WB albums - "Tony Joe White" from 1971, "The Train I'm On" from 1972 and "Homemade Ice Cream" from 1973 - and throws in six rare non-album 7" single sides (I believe) seeing the first digital light of day anywhere.

I've reviewed about eight 'Real Gone Music' CD reissues most of which have been to do with Atlantic Records Soul Artists of the 60ts and 70ts and every one of them has been exemplary in both sound and presentation. They appear to have arisen out of the ashes of 'Rhino' - picking up their reissue baton with great style. Of late (2014 to 2016) they've begun to issue Rock and Pop Artists too - out-of-print acts originally issued on the WEA umbrella of labels - Loudon Wainwright, Vanilla Fudge, Doug Sahm and this - the fab Tony Joe White. Time to get to the nitty gritty...

USA released February 2015 - "The Complete Warner Brothers Recordings" by TONY JOE WHITE on Real Gone Music RGM-0329 (Barcode 848064003298) is a 40-track 2CD set offering 3 full 70ts albums with six rare single sides and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:02 minutes)

1. They Caught The Devil And Put In Jail In Eudora, Arkansas

2. The Change

3. My Kind Of Woman

4. The Daddy

5. Black Panther Swamps

6. Five Summers For Jimmy [Side 2]

7. A Night In The Life Of A Swamp Fox

8. Travelling Bone

9. I Just Walked Away

10. Copper Kettle

11. Voodoo Village

Tracks 1 to 11 are his fourth studio album "Tony Joe White" (debut for Warner Brothers) - released March 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 1900 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46068.  Produced by PETER ASHER – it peaked at No. 167 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).  All songs are TJW originals except "Copper Kettle" by Bob Dylan and "Voodoo Village" by Lee Ann White.

12. Lustful Earl And The Married Woman - non-album B-side to "I Just Walked Away" - February 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7505

13. Delta Love

14. That On The Road Look - Tracks 13 and 14 are the non-album A&B-sides of a July 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7523

Tracks 12, 13 and 14 written by Tony Joe White

15. I've Got A Thing About You Baby

16. The Family

17. If I Ever Saw A Good Thing

18. Beouf River Road

19. The Train I'm On

20. Even Trolls Love Rock And Roll

Tracks 15 to 20 are Side 1 of his fifth studio album "The Train I'm On" (second for Warners) - released April 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2580 and June 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46147.

Disc 2 (67:21 minutes):

1. As The Crow Flies

2. Take Time To Love

3. 300 Pounds Of Hongry

4. The Migrant

5. Sidewalk Hobo

6. The Gospel Singer

Tracks 1 to 6 are Side 2 of his fifth studio album "The Train I'm On" (second for Warners) - released April 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2580 and July 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46147. Produced by JERRY WEXLER and TOM DOWD - it didn't chart in either country. All songs written by TJW except "The Family" by Jon Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, "Take Time To Love" a co-write between TJW and Donnie Fritts and "300 Pounds Of Hongry" written by Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts.

7. Saturday Night In Oak Grove

8. For 'Ol Time Sake

9. I Want Love ('Tween You And Me)

10. Homemade Ice Cream

11. Ol' Mother Earth

12. Lazy

13. California On My Mind [Side 2]

14. Backwoods Preacher Man

15. Takin' The Midnight Train

16. No News Is Good News

17. Did Somebody Make A Fool Out Of You

Tracks 7 to 17 are his sixth studio album (final for Warners) - "Homemade Ice Cream" - released June 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2708 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46229

18. Sign Of The Lion - non-album A-side of a March 1974 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers WB 7780

19. Don't Let The Door (Hit You in The Butt)

20. Wishful Thinking - non-album A&B-sides of a October 1974 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers WBS 8042

Tracks 18 to 20 written by TJW

This 2CD set will allow fans to sequence all his period US and UK 7" singles as follows:

USA:

1. The Daddy b/w Voodoo Village (February 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7468)

2. My Kind Of Woman b/w I Just Walked Away (May 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7477)

3. I Just Walked Away b/w Lustful Earl And The Married Woman (July 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7505)

4. Delta Love b/w That On The Road Look (September 1971 USA 7" single on Warner Brothers 7523)

UK:

1. A Night In The Life Of A Swamp Fox b/w The Daddy (June 1971 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers WB 6129)

2. I've Got A Thing About You Baby b/w The Gospel Singer (July 1972 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers K 16200)

3. Backwoods Preacher Man b/w Saturday Night In Oak Grove, Louisiana (November 1973 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers K 16294)

4. I've Got A Thing About You Baby/Did Somebody Make A Fool Of You [Side 1]

If I Ever Saw A Good Thing/California On My Mind [Side 2] (1974 UK 4-Track EP on Warner Brothers K 16411)

The 20-page booklet is a very tasty affair - new liner notes from BEN EDMONDS that go into the history of the three albums - full page plates of each LP cover as well as the gatefold and rear artwork - period photos of TJW in colour and black and white, original recording personnel and details and some reissue credits (no lyrics).

I've had the 'Sepia Tone' US CD Remasters of "Tony Joe White" and "The Train I'm On" from 2002 and to my ears - there's virtually no difference in sound quality on either of those titles - that is to say you get gorgeous Audio on the lot. Oddly for a RGM release there are no mastering credits at all - but as I've already said these CDs sound glorious. Taking a track like the magnificent and socially aware "Sidewalk Hobo" off the "Homemade Ice Cream" LP which is just Tony Joe White and his Acoustic Guitar or the lovely electric guitar and keyboard hustle of "The Change" from the first album - the audio is clean yet full of presence. Only the single B-side "Lustful Earl..." and maybe "Did Somebody Make A Fool Out Of You" have more hiss on them than most would like - but the latter is such a good song - you don't notice once the song hits its groove.

Quite why someone in Warner Brothers UK thought that "The Daddy" should have been the B-side and not the A (as it was in the USA) is anybody's guess – but that song is 'pretty'. I mention this because when he’s not Country Funkin' tunes like the guitar-chug of "My Kind Of Woman" and the slightly bitter 'twats at gigs' song "A Night In The Life Of A Swamp Fox" - Tony Joe White could pen a beautiful melody that would stay with you. "Five Summers For Jimmy" is an example - a 'supper table' tale of a woman dreaming of the one she loved who had to 'go off to fight'. It's an acoustic strum with occasional Bob Dylan harmonica jabs and you can 'so' hear Bruce Springsteen's Acoustic forays later on in his career originating here. The same can be said of the Dan Penn soulfulness that seeps through the organ-driven "I Just Walked Away". Despite his obvious dislike for the tag - Swamp Rock was not far away - "Traveling Bone" and the Memphis Horns Funk of the album finisher "Voodoo Village" complete with Meters guitars and Tony Joe doing his best Hog snorts throughout.

But my real poison is his 2nd platter - "The Train I'm On". He seemed to hit his songwriter stride with this record - opening with the gorgeous and infectious "I've Got A Thing About You Baby". Even now it's truly unbelievable that this made-for-Radio and Top Of The Pops smash wasn't just that - a smash. His July 1969 "Pork Salad Annie" would remain his only US chart placing he'd achieve. In a rare cover - he then goes into pure storytelling with John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins song "The Family" - a boy gone wrong with hard times at harvest time. The kid took the train out of there - and you can't help feeling TJ recognised his need to do so. The Fats Domino roll to "If I Ever Saw A Good Thing" make it a happy tune - but far better is the menacing Jews Harp of Ronnie Hawkins on the chugger "Beouf River Road" - a dirty water rising song that could easily have been 1969 Creedence. Back to organ melody for the languid title track "The Train I'm On" where Tony urges us to shed no tears even if the rolling stock sounds lonesome. Side 1 ends with a slice of TJW genius which he plays to this day - the Funky and Funny "Even Trolls Love Rock And Roll" where Tony Joe and his band are on their way to a local gig and on a wooden bridge are accosted by a 'troll' interested in the boogie. He offers them a few licks and on the evidence presented here - his intervention worked.

Side 2 opens with "As The Crow Flies" which Rory Gallagher covered on his awesome "Irish Tour '74" double album on Polydor Records (a stunning studio variant of this turned up on the posthumous Gallagher CD release "Wheels Within Wheels" from 2003 where RG plays a mean National Steel throughout). As it swanks along you can 'feel' the Funk that underlies so much of TJ's output - a wicked groove that doesn't let up. Even if it is a tad syrupy - the sentiment in "Take Time To Love" is strong and sincere even if it is drowned in too many strings. But then we get a four-song-whammy of brilliance - the overweight "300 Pounds Of Hongry" has turned up on Country Soul CD compilations because of its great Funky groove. But warmth like "The Migrant" and the already mentioned brilliance of "Sidewalk Hobo" are the kind of overlooked album gems that make me want to write reviews till my fingers bleed. It ends of "The Gospel Singer" - a wicked Pops Staples guitar groove about as a less-than-angelic singer who sang to the sick and crippled whilst eyeing the ladies in the audience and the whiskey bottle by the door (the perfect B-side to "I've Got A Thing About You Baby").

Album Number Three opens with the grunting 'comb your hair and put your good clothes on' Funk of "Saturday Night In Oak Grove, Louisiana" where his pals turn with mufflers on the exhausts of their pick-ups - ready for the dancing 'Dairy Queens' who will steal their hearts (and money). There then follows a 'don't walk out on me' pleading ballad where TJ wants her to reconsider freedom "For Ol' Times Sake". Similar pain strums its way through "Takin' The Midnight Train" because 'someone hurt me for no reason' - another tale of the road that is simple but so effective. Just as mellow but prettier is "Ol' Mother Earth" where he talks of the planet as a woman with 'too many scars on her face'. "I Want Love ('Tween You And Me)" is a catchy upbeat piano ditty and the title track "Homemade Ice Cream" feels like America with a Harmonica on an Instrumental tip. But the big songs on the album are the wide-brimmed hat strut of "Backwoods Preacher Man" (beloved on Country Soul Funksters) and the melodious grower "Did Somebody Make A Fool Out Of You" - the kind of song that works its way into your heart like the best of J.J. Cale from the period. And I wasn't expecting the stand-alone single "Sign Of The Lion" to be so Meters Funky. Genius and then some...

At just under twenty squid for three rare albums and six even rarer single sides - "The Complete Warner Brothers Recordings" is a fabulous way of getting this classy artist and his primo music in one place - and sounding like the business too.

"...He built a lot of homes but never had one..." - Tony Joe White sings on the touching "Sidewalk Hobo". Make a home for this in your house...

PS: see also my in-depth review for the stunning 2006 Rhino Handmade 4CD Mini Box Set "Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings" which deals with the 1968-1970 part of Tony Joe White's career...

"Blue River/Stages: The Lost Album" by ERIC ANDERSEN - A Review Of His 1971 (and lost 1973) Columbia Albums - Now Remastered Onto 2CDs By Beat Goes On of the UK In 2014...

“…Candles At The Feet Of The Compassionate Patron Saint Of Youth…” 

Pennsylvania born folky musician/poet ERIC ANDERSEN has a recorded history that reads like some tragi-comedy that really shouldn’t be that funny. After a seven-album run between 1965 and 1970 (5 with Vanguard and 2 with Warner Bothers) – he signed to Columbia Records and finally saw limited chart action with “Blue River” in 1972. It reached the unfairly low placing of 169. But then his record company ‘lost’ his follow-up LP (see story below). A virtual unknown outside of certain circles even to this day – I can only hope that this stunning double CD reissue alters that run of bad breaks because this is a doozy of a release – it really is. Here are the longhaired tape-box mix-ups…

UK released September 2014 – Beat Goes On BGOCD 1159 (Barcode 5017261211590) offers up two albums onto 2CDs as follows:

Disc 1 (46:55 minutes):

1. Is It Really Love After All

2. Pearl’s Goodtime Blues

3. Wind And Sand

4. Faithful

5. Blue River

6. Florentine

7. Sheila

8. More Often Than Not

9. Round The Bend

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 8th solo album – “Blue River” was first released July 1972 in the USA on Columbia Records KC 31062 and February 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 65145

BONUS TRACKS:

10. More Often Than Not (Outtake from the “Blue River” Sessions)

11. Round The Bend (first issued on the 1999 Sony/Legacy CD reissue of “Blue River”)

Disc 2 (58:17 minutes):

1. Baby, I’m Lonesome

2. Moonchild River Song

3. Can’t Get You Out Of My Life

4. Woman, She Was Gentle

5. Time Run Like A Freight Train

6. It’s Been A Long Time

7. Wild Crow Blues

8. Be True To You

9. I Love To Sing My Ballad, Mama (But They Only Wanna Hear Rock And Roll)

10. Dream To Rimbaud

11. Make It Last (Angel In The Wind)

12. Lie With Me

13. Soul Of My Song

Tracks 1 to 13 are his ‘lost’ 9th album “Stages” - supposed to appear on Columbia Records in 1973. There’s a history to the album that needs explanation. Meant to be the spiritual follow-up to “Blue River” – tracks were recorded in Nashville in late 1972 and early 1973 and the sessions went well – using pretty much the same crew as the first album and the same delicate vibes and arrangements. But then disaster struck. In Columbia’s transitional confusion - they lost all the tapes (even the artwork) and Andersen was left stranded without career momentum and no answers. Amazingly they remained ‘lost’ until a diligent lady at Columbia called Amy Herot sent out a system-wide search only to be told in October 1989 that 40 boxes of tapes had been ‘found’ in the New York vaults. Columbia brought in mastering geniuses DENNY PURCELL and GREGG CALBI to deal with Tracks 1 to 10 - the usable ‘vintage’ recordings on his lost masterpiece “Stages”. Tracks 11, 12 and 13 were re-recorded by a virtual Country Rock supergroup in late 1990 featuring RICK DANKO on Bass/Backing Vocals with GARTH HUDSON on Accordion (both of course from THE BAND) with SHAWN COLVIN on Backing Vocals.  WILLIE NILE also played Guitar on “Soul Of My Song”. The Sony/Legacy CD of “Stages: The Lost Album” finally appeared in 1991 to widespread critical acclaim. Which brings us back to this Beat Goes On set…

The 24-page booklet has a superb essay on Andersen’s musical career/troubles/vindication by noted writer JOHN O’REGAN and full session details. There are photos of him with Baez and Dylan in 1975, Patti Smith in 1971 and even Shawn Colin and Rick Danko at the 1990 re-recording sessions. There’s also an outer card slipcase – it’s the usual classy affair from BGO. But best of all is a sparkling new remaster from ANDREW THOMPSON – each album shining like a diamond. The audio quality is beautiful – clarity and warmth.

Musically this is singer-songwriter territory with a Country twist. “Blue River” is a lovely album – very plaintive and soft on the ear. His Gram Parsons voice may not appeal to everyone – but the melodies are classy and work their way into your heart. The classy opener sets the pace and style – “Is It Really Love At All” – sounding not unlike James Taylor’s “Mud Slide Slim…” album from 1971. Piano introduces the perky “Pearl’s Goodtime Blues” feeling not unlike a “Stage Fright” outtake by The Band. The gorgeous title track “Blue River” features a rare backing vocal on the chorus from none other than JONI MITCHELL and another lady song “Sheila” is just as pretty. It gets a little Leonard Cohen on “Come To My Bedside, My Darlin’” with its bedroom lyrics and rolling acoustic guitar. He ends with an accordion romp through the old Hank Williams nugget “Why Don’t You Love Me?” sounding not unlike mid 90’s Steve Earle. The whole album feels like a lost classic – and on re-hearing – it is.

It’s clear from the 1991 results that 1973’s “Stages” would surely have broken the charts for him. It opens with the plaintive “Baby, I’m Lonesome” with backing vocal from his ex wife DEBBIE GREEN ANDERSEN (she’s also on the ending of “Can’t Get You Out Of My Life”. The truly lovely “Moonchild River Song” features a delicate backing vocal from DAN FOGELBERG that so compliments the country melody. But then you’re hit the album’s undeniable masterpiece – the sublime eight and half minutes of “Time Run Like A Freight Train” which is part Tim Buckley, part James Taylor and part Nick Drake. It’s just gorgeous – acoustic guitars and pretty melody searing their way into your heart (“..she asked for a symphony…I only gave her a song…”). Special mention should go to GLEN SPREEN on Hammond B3 organ and DAN FOGELBERG adding so much to the layered vocals on the lovely chorus (his explanation of the song titles this review).

“Wild Crow Blues” is dedicated to his early Seventies pal and neighbour PATTI SMITH and it features LEON RUSSELL on Electric Wurlitzer, EDDIE HINTON on Acoustic Guitar and TROY SEALS (brother of Jim from Seals and Crofts) on Electric Guitar. “Woman She Was Gentle” has a duet vocal with JOAN BAEZ. He evens goes a bit Country Rock on “I Love To Sing My Ballad, Mama” but it’s the least convincing of the tunes on here. It ends with the Folk of “Dream To Rimbaud” which maintains an acoustic rhythm throughout punctured by eerie Pedal Steel from veteran player WELDON MYRICK. The three new recordings are superb too – so impressive - especially “Lie With Me” and “Soul Of My Song” with gorgeous work from SHAWN COLVIN in complimenting his (by now) deeper 1990 vocals.

There’s a photograph of Andersen with Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs circa 1964 on the last page of the booklet – you can’t but think that all these heroes of Americana are only now been fully appreciated.

A gorgeous reissue – beautifully presented and sounding just amazing – well done to all at BGO and a definite reissue of 2014 for me…

"BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" by THE STAPLE SINGERS. A Review Of The 1972 Stax LP Now Reissued On A 2011 CD Remaster With Bonus Tracks.

"...It's A Brand New Day..."

In 2004 the Fantasy Group acquired the entire Stax catalogue and its precious original mastertapes and through their 'Concord Music Group, Inc' Division they've begun to drip-feed CD reissues for the famous American Soul label out into a hungry marketplace. Every title features brand-new 24-bit remasters, bonus tracks, updated booklets and each mid-priced CD carries the generic logo "Stax Remasters" on their spine to differentiate them from previous issues.

Released May 2011 - Concord Music Group, Inc 0888072328761 (Barcode 888072328761) breaks down as follows (49:38 minutes):

1. This World
2. Respect Yourself
3. Name The Missing Word
4. I'll Take You There
5. This Old Town (People In This Town)
6. We The People
7. Are You Sure
8. Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ The Superstar)
9. I'm Just Another Soldier
10. Who
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" released March 1972 in the USA on Stax STS-3002 and April 1972 in the UK on Stax Super 2325 069

Tracks 11 and 12 are "Walking In Water Over Our Head" and "Heavy Makes You Happy (Alternate)" - both are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by ROB BOWMAN (author of "Soulsville U.S.A. - The Story Of Stax Records"). You get the original artwork and production credits also and there's a collage of 3 photos on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the disc itself pictures the group too. But it's a shame the booklet goes no further - there's no new photos, none of those magical Stax sevens pictured nor any memorabilia. It makes the inlay feel workmanlike at best - even a little dull - when it should have spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND...

24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes by JOE TARANTINO at Joe Tarantino Mastering in Berkeley, California - the audio quality is truly GORGEOUS. Having had previous versions of this great Soul album on CD from the mid 1990's - the sound was good rather than great - hissy in places too. That's all gone - and it's not loud for loudness sake either - but clear and warm and full of presence. The bass is beautiful as is the rhythm section - and the powerhouse vocals of Mavis Staples now take centre stage in a way they've never done before. "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" are so common to our ears that it comes as a genuine shock to hear them sound this good. The other single off the album "This World" is so clear and muscular too (lyrics above). A fantastic job done.

The bonus tracks are way better than I had expected - the 'Alternate' version of Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom's "Heavy Makes You Happy" was recorded August 1970 at their first session in the Muscle Shoals Studios and sounds like a live rehearsal - it's excellent. You can clearly hear EDDIE HINTON on Guitar and BARRY BECKETT on Keyboards and the end of the song hears them ad-lib for a full minute longer than the finished single did. But then we get the real deal - an outtake that could easily have been an album track. Recorded in Muscle Shoals in October 1972 and written by PHILLIP MITCHELL, TERRY WOODFORD and OSCAR FRANCK - it features the other in-house band members for the album DAVID HOOD on Bass and ROGER HAWKINS on Drums and it's a winner. "Walking In Water Over Our Head" is a fully finished upbeat song that could easily have been recorded yesterday. Genuinely - after all these years - to hear any new material by The Staples Singers from that stunningly creative period is an out-and-out blast.

To sum up - as a voracious lover of the Stax label these reissues are incredibly exciting to me. And as for The Staple Singers - "BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" only grows as the years pass - and now with this great new sound quality - needs to be in your home and stereo right quick...

PS: "STAX REMASTERS" Series to 2014 are (all reviewed):
1. Green Onions - BOOKER T & THE M.G.'S (1962)
2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)
3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)
5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)
6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1971)
7. BeAltitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)
8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)
9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)