"David Hepworth - Deep 70s: Underrated Cuts From A Misunderstood Decade" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Jesse Winchester, Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Sanford Townsend Band, Hall & Oates, Andy Pratt, Michael Franks, Bobby Charles, Hirth Martinez, Gregg Allman, Big Star, Crazy Horse, Tony Joe White, Boz Scaggs, Freddie King, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, J. Geils Band, Montrose, George Thorogood, Flamin Groovies, Moon Martin, Dox Nix, Tim Buckley, Jerry Williams, Bridget St. John, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance, Family, Murray Head, The Motors, The Records, The Jess Roden Band, Patto, Terry Reid, Robert Palmer, Dave Edmunds, Brinsley Schwarz, Roy Harper, Sandy Denny, Ellen Foley and more (May 2022 UK Edsel 71-Track 4CD Hardback DigiBook Set with a 36-Page Attached Booklet, Four Themed Compilations and Phil Kinrade Mastering) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://amzn.to/4wH1rqO

RATINGS:

Overall: ****

Presentation: ****

Audio: **** to *****

"…Dog Fight in The Parking Lot…"

I loved the re-acquaintances and discoveries on this four-disc Hardback DigiBook from Mojo and Whistle Test main-man DAVID HEPWORTH – but it also frustrated the crap out of me because I felt some of the choices – deep or not – were cack compared to what could have been included.

But I know there are many who saw Deep 70s as a 71-Track revelation in a field of music that has been done to death across three-and-a-half decades of CD reissues – the Seventies. And as you wade through CD3 and CD4 especially – the sheer wallop of so many largely unheard melodies starts to work its way into your brain. Licensing restraints almost certainly came into play here – but what you do get is a journey through albums that are forgotten, overlooked, talked about in hushed voices amongst learned bearded men. For sure, you will find yourself reaching for the skip button - but give it a breather – and the exhales will repay. A lot to unpack, let's have at the details (I have expanded each entry to include info not in the booklet)…

UK released Friday, 27 May 2022 - "David Hepworth - Deep 70s: Underrated Cuts From A Misunderstood Decade" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Edsel EDSL0071 (Barcode 740155727130) is a 71-Track 4CD Hardback DigiBook Compilation with a 36-Page Attached Booklet, Four Themed Discs and Phil Kinrade Masters. It plays out as follows:

CD1 Young Americans (74:51 minutes, 21 Tracks):

1. Payday – JESSE WINCHESTER (from his April 1970 US Debut LP "Jesse Winchester" on Ampex Records A-10104 – musicians include David Rea on Guitar with members of The Band - Robbie Robertson on Guitar with Levon Helm on Drums – Also Produced by Robertson and Engineered by Todd Rundgren)

2. Only You Know And I Know – DELANEY & BONNIE [Bramlett] (from their March 1972 US sixth LP "D & B Together" on Columbia KC 31377 – written by Dave Mason of Traffic)

3. Smoke From A Distant Fire – THE SANFORD/TOWNSEND BAND (from their November 1976 US Debut LP "The Sanford/Townsend Band" on Warner Brothers BS 2966 – Lead Vocals by Kenny Loggins, Barry Beckett on Keyboards)

4. Abandoned Luncheonette – HALL & OATES [Daryl Hall and John Oates] (from their November 1973 Second US Studio LP "Abandoned Luncheonette" on Atlantic SD 7269 (delayed until January 1974 in the UK on Atlantic K 40534) – with Richard Tee on Keyboards and Joe Farrell on Alto Sax)

5. Avenging Annie – ANDY PRATT (from the March 1973 US Debut LP "Andy Pratt" on Columbia KC 31722)

6. The Lady Wants To Know – MICHAEL FRANKS (from his January 1977 Third US LP "Sleeping Gypsy" on Warner Brothers BS 3004 – track features Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and Wilton Felder of The Crusaders with Saxophonist Michael Brecker)

7. Small Town Talk – BOBBY CHARLES (from the August 1972 US Debut LP "Bobby Charles" on Bearsville BR 2104 – features Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band)

8. Altogether Alone – HIRTH MARTINEZ (from the June 1975 US Debut LP "Hirth To Earth" on Warner Brothers BS 2867 – features Robbie Robertson on Guitars and Garth Hudson on Keyboards from The Band)

9. Please Call Home – GREGG ALLMAN [of The Allman Brothers Band] (from the November 1973 US Debut Solo LP "Laid Back" on Capricorn Records CP 0116 – guests included Buzzy Feiton on Guitar, Chuck Leavell on Keyboards, David Newman on Saxophone and Paul Hornsby on Clavinet and Organ)

10. The Late John Garfield Blues - JOHN PRINE (from his October 1972 Second US Studio LP "Diamonds In The Rough" on Atlantic SD 7240 – track features David Bromberg and Steve Goodman on Guitars)

11. Interviews – THE ALPHA BAND (from their December 1976 US Debut and Only LP "The Alpha Band" on Arista Records AL 4102 (January 1977 UK on Arista ARTY 143) - featuring T-Bone Burnett and Steve Soles (of Bear and The Children Of Paradise) – song co-written with Bob Neuwirth (of Bob Dylan's band) and Larry Poons and the Vocals of Roscoe West)

12. Be Careful, There's A Baby In The House – LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III (from his July 1971 second US studio LP "Album II" on Atlantic SD 8291 (August 1971 in the UK on Atlantic 2400 142))

13. Back Of A Car – BIG STAR (from their second studio album "Radio City" released January 1974 in the USA on Ardent Records ADS-1501 – song written by Alex Chilton and John Andy Hummel)

14. Downtown – CRAZY HORSE (from their debut album "Crazy Horse" issued on Reprise Records RS 6438 in the USA in February 1971 and Reprise RSLP 6438 in the UK in early 1972 – band featured Danny Whitten, Nils Lofgren, Jack Nitzsche, Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina)

15. Saturday Night In Oak Grove, Louisiana – TONY JOE WHITE (from 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)

16. Runnin' Blue – BOZ SCAGGS & BAND (from his third solo LP "Boz Scaggs & Band" issued December 1971 in the USA on Columbia C 30796 and early 1972 in the UK on CBS S 64431)

17. Trouble – LITTLE FEAT (from their February 1972 second studio LP in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2600 and May 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46156 – Band featured Lowell George, Bill Payne, Richard Hayward and Roy Estrada with Milt Holland guesting on Percussion on this track)

18. Third Rate Romance – AMAZING RHYTHM ACES (from their October 1975 US LP "Stacked Deck" on ABC Records ABCD-913 and October 1975 in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5152 – written by Lead Singer Russell Smith)

19. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues – DANNY O'KEEFE (from his September 1972 Third US LP "O'Keefe" on Signpost Records SP 8404 and October 1972 in the UK on Signpost SG 4252 - features Reggie Young on Lead Guitar and Bobby Emmons on Organ)

20. Desperados Under The Eaves – WARREN ZEVON (from his US debut album "Warren Zevon" released June 1976 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1060 and in the UK on Asylum K 53039 – Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys with Jackson Browne sing Backing Vocals on this track and Waddy Watchell plays Guitar)

21. Beyond The Blue Horizon – MICHAEL NESMITH AND THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND (from the July 1970 US Debut solo LP [ex-The Monkees] on RCA Victor LSP-4371 and September 1970 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8136)

CD2: Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers (63:16 minutes, 16 Tracks)

1. Going Down – FREDDIE KING (from his April 1971 US LP "Getting Ready" on  Shelter Records SHE-8905 and A&M Records AMLS 65004 in the UK – song by Don Nix (also Produced) – band features Leon Russell on Piano and Donald "Duck" Dunne of Booker T & The MGs on Bass)

2. Rock And Roll Hootchie Koo – JOHNNY WINTER AND (from his September 1970 US LP "Johnny Winter And" on Columbia C 30221 and November 1970 in the UK on CBS Records S 64177 – Written by Rick Derringer who also plays Guitar on the album)

3. Jesus Just Left Chicago – ZZ TOP (from their 3rd studio album "Tres Hombres" released August 1973 in the USA on London XPS 631 and November 1973 in the UK on London SHU 8459 – features Dusty Gibbons on Lead Guitar)

4. Whammer Jammer – THE J. GEILS BAND (from the October 1971 US LP "The Morning After" on Atlantic SD 8297 and Atlantic 2400196 in the UK - band featured John J. Geils on Guitar with Richard 'Magic Dick' Salwitz on Harmonica – a Juke Joint Jimmy cover)

5. Rock Candy – MONTROSE (from their December 1973 US Debut LP on Warner Brothers BS 2740, March 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46276 – Group featured Ronnie Montrose on Guitar with Sammy Hagar (later with Van Halen in 1986) on Lead Vocals)

6. Madison Blues – GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS (from the September 1977 US Debut Album "George Thorogood & The Destroyers" on Rounder 3013)

7. Get Out Of Denver – EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS (from the August 1976 UK 4-Track EP "Live At The Marquee" on Island Records IEP 2 – a Bob Seger cover)

8. Sugar Bee – CANNED HEAT (from their August 1970 US Third Studio LP "Future Blues" on Liberty LST-11002 in Stereo – Alan Wilson on Harmonica – an Eddie Shuler song first recorded 1960 by Cleveland Crochet and Hill Billy Ramblers on his Goldband Records)

9. In My Chair – STATUS QUO (45-Single Version, 23 October 1970 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17998 - A-side – band featured Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt)

10. Shake Some Action – FLAMIN' GROOVIES (from their June 1976 US LP "Shake Some Action" on Sire Records SASD-7521 and Sire Records 9103 251 in the UK – Produced by Dave Edmunds)

11. Cadillac Walk – MOON MARTIN (from the January 1978 US Debut LP "Shots From A Cold Nightmare" on Capitol Records SW 11787 - features Willie Alexander on Piano – covered by Willy DeVille in his band Mink DeVille on their debut LP "Cabretta" in 1977, also on Capitol Records)

12. Going Back To Luka – DON NIX (from the June 1971 US Debut LP "Living By The Days" on Elektra EKS-74101 and in the UK on Elektra K 42096 – Guest Guitarists included Jimmy Johnson and Wayne Perkins)

13. Move With Me – TIM BUCKLEY (from the August 1972 US Seventh LP "Greetings From L.A." on Warner Bros/Straight BS 2631 and in the UK on Elektra K 46176 – Guest Musicians include Kevin Kelly on Piano, Eugene E. Siegel, Paul Ross Novros on Saxophones with Backing Vocalists Clydie King, Vanetta Fields and Lorna Willard)

14. I've Got Dreams To Remember – JERRY WILLIAMS (from the 1979 US LP "Gone" on Warner Bros BSK 3291 – an Otis Redding cover version – guests include The Waters on Backing Vocals with most of Booker T & The MGs including Steve Cropper on Guitar)

15. Dog Days – ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (from the September 1975 US LP "Dog Days" on Polydor PD-6041 and November 1975 in the UK on Polydor Super 2391 179)

16. It All Comes Back – PAUL BUTTERFIELD'S BETTER DAYS (from the November 1973 US LP "It All Comes Back" on Bearsville BR 2170, January 1974 in the UK on Bearsville K 45517 – song written by Bobby Charles and includes shared Lead Vocals with Paul Butterfield and Geoff Muldaur)

CD3 Blue Boar Blues (75:10 minutes, 17 Tracks)

1. Bye And Bye (Gonna See The King) – RONNIE LANE AND SLIM CHANCE (from the July 1974 UK Solo Debut (after Small Faces and Faces) LP "Anymore For Anymore" on GM Records GML 1013 – was also the B-side of UK 45-single for "The Poacher" on GM Records GMS 024 from May 1974 – the second of only two singles he charted)

2. My Friend The Sun – FAMILY (from their 7th album "Bandstand" - released September 1972 in the UK on Reprise Records K 54006 and October 1972 in the USA on United Artists UAS-5644 – Roger Chapman on Lead Vocals with John Whitney on Guitars)

3. Say It Ain't So Joe – MURRAY HEAD (from the March 1976 UK Debut LP "Say It Ain't So" on Island ILPS 9347 – also October 1975 UK on Island WIP 6252, A-side – Sang as Judas on the October 1970 "Jesus Christ Superstar" double-album)

4. Maid In Heaven – BE BOP DELUXE (from the May 1975 UK LP "Futurama" on Harvest SHSP 4045 – features Bill Nelson on Lead Guitar and Vocals)

5. Dancing The Night Away – THE MOTORS (from the October 1977 UK Debut LP "1" [aka The Motors] on Virgin V 2089 – Includes Guitarists Bram Tchaikovsky and Nick Garvey)

6. Starry Eyes – THE RECORDS (from the June 1979 UK Debut LP "Shades In Bed" on Virgin V 2122 – written by John Wicks (of Kursaal Flyers) and Will Birch)

7. Singing The Blues On Reds – PATTO (from their third and final LP "Roll 'Em Smoke 'Em Put Out Another Line" from October 1972 on Island ILPS 9210 – band featured Vocalist Mike Patto and Guitarist Ollie Halsall)

8. World Park Junkies - SHARKS (from the April 1973 UK Debut LP "First Water" on Island Records ILPS 9233 - band featured Andy Fraser of Free and Bass and Piano with Steve "Snips" Parsons on Lead Vocals, Chris Spedding on Guitar and future Soundtrack Composer Marty Simon on Drums)

9. You Can Leave Your Hat On – THE JESS RODEN BAND (from the March 1976 UK Debut LP "Keep Your Hat On" on Island Records ILPS 9349 - featured Jess Roden on Vocals with Bruce Roberts and Steve Webb on Guitars and Vocals and Chris Gower on Trombone and Sax)

10. Dean – TERRY REID (from his 3rd vinyl LP "River" originally released March 1973 in the USA on Atlantic SD-7259 and April 1973 on Atlantic Records K 40340 in the UK – guests include David Lindley on Varying Guitars)

11. How Much Fun – ROBERT PALMER (ex Dada and Vinegar Joe - from his debut Solo LP "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" released September 1974 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9294 – recorded in New Orleans, USA, features uncredited Little Feat and The Meters as his backing band)

12. I Wish I Was Your Mother – MOTT THE HOOPLE (from their fifth studio album "Mott" (and second for CBS), released July 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 69038 and August 1973 in the USA on Columbia KC 32425 – band featured Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs – Ralphs later with Bad Company)

13. Polly On The Shore – FAIRPORT CONVENTION (from the September 1973 UK LP "Nine" on Island Records ILPS 9246 - featuring Trevor Lucas on Acoustic and Lead Vocals, Jerry Donahue on Guitars, Dave Swarbrick on Violin, Viola and Mandolin with Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks on Bass and Drums – a Dave Pegg song incorporating Traditional Lyrics and Trevor Lucas Arrangements)

14. The Promised Land – DAVE EDMUNDS (from his debut solo LP (after Love Sculpture) "Rockpile" issued June 1972 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1026 and February 1972 in the USA on London/Mam Records MAM-3 – a Chuck Berry cover version – Band included Andy Fairweather-Low on Guitar and Drums, B.J. Cole on Pedal Steel Guitar with John and Terry Williams on Bass and Drums respectively)

15. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie – CHILLI WILLI AND THE RED HOT PEPPERS (from the November 1974 UK Debut LP "Bongos Over Balham" on Mooncrest CREST 21 – a cover of a Louis Jordan Forties R&B hit – band featured Philip "Snakefingers" Lithman on Guitars, Bob Andrews on Keyboards who became a member of Graham Parker's band The Rumour and Pete Thomas who would join Elvis Costello in The Attractions – Backing Vocals by Carol Grimes of Uncle Dog, Jacqui McShee of Pentangle, British Blues singer Jo Ann Kelly and Sophie Israel)

16. Surrender To The Rhythm – BRINSLEY SCHWARZ (from the October 1972 UK LP "Nervous On The Road" on United Artists UAS 29374 – song written by Nick Lowe who was in the band at the time)

17. When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease – ROY HARPER (from his eighth UK album "HQ" released August 1975 in the UK on Harvest Records SHSP 4086 – musicians included Steve Broughton of The Edgar Broughton Band, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Chris Spedding)

CD4 The Monstrous Regiment (68:44 minutes, 17 Tracks)

1. Solo – SANDY DENNY (from her 3rd solo album "Like An Old Fashioned Waltz" – released June 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9258 and May 1974 in the USA on Island Records SW-9340 – band featured Ian Armit of John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men, Dave Pegg of Mr. Fox, Danny Thompson of Pentangle, Alan Skidmore of Centipede and Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, John "Rabbit" Bundrick of Free, Crawler and The Who, William "Diz" Disley with Jerry Donahue, Pat Donaldson with Trevor Lucas, Dave Mattacks and Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay – String Arrangements by Harry Robinson)

2. The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan – MARIANNE FAITHFULL (from the album "Broken English" – released October 1979 in the UK on Island Records M1 and in the USA on Island ILPS 9570)

3. Love Is A Rose – LINDA RONSTADT (from the September 1975 US LP "Prisoner In Disguise" on Asylum 7E-143 and in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8761 (reissued June 1976 on Asylum K 53015) – written by Neil Young, features Herb Pedersen on Banjo, Herb Connor on Harmonica of The New Kingston Trio with Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon on Shaker)

4. Anticipation – CARLY SIMON (from her second solo studio LP "Anticipation" released November 1971 in the USA on Elektra Records EKS-76015 and December 1971 in the UK on Elektra K 42101 – features Jim Ryan of The Critters on Guitar)

5. Down To Zero – JOAN ARMATRADING (from her third LP "Joan Armatrading" – released August 1976 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64588 and September 1976 in the USA on A&M SP-4588 – Track features Graham Lyle of Gallagher & Lyle on 12-String Guitar, Peter Wood of Natural Gas on Piano, B.J. Cole of Cochise on Pedal Steel Guitar and Kenney Jones of Small Faces, Faces and The Who on Drums)

6. Heart Like A Wheel – KATE and ANNA McGARRIGLE (from their January 1976 US Debut LP "Kate And Anna McGarrigle" on Warner Bros BS 2862 and March 1976 in the UK on Warner Bros K 56218 – all instruments by the McGarrigle’s – song had been covered by Linda Ronstadt in 1974 who named an entire album after the song)

7. Gringo En Mexico – MARIA MULDAUR (from her November 1974 US Second Studio LP "Waitress In A Doughnut Shop" on Reprise Records MS 2194 and November 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54025 – song written by Wendy Waldman – Guitar by Lowell George of Little Feat with Tommy Tedesco and Dennis Budmir of The Wrecking Crew on Requinto Guitar and Guitar respectively)

8. Mad Mad Me – WENDY WALDMAN (from her June 1974 second studio LP "Gypsy Symphony" on Warner Bros BS 2792 – Wendy on Solo Piano)

9. Love Woke Me Up This Morning – VALERIE SIMPSON 

10. Night Out – ELLEN FOLEY (from her June 1979 US debut LP "Nightout" on Epic/Cleveland International Records JE 36052 and Epic S EPC 83718 – ex-Meat Loaf band - written by Philip Rambow – tracks features Mick Ronson on Guitar with Ian Hunter on Backing Vocals)

11. Two Fisted Love – PHOEBE SNOW (from her March 1976 US second studio LP "Second Childhood" on Columbia PC 33952 and March 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S 81162 – track includes Hugh McCracken on Acoustic Guitar, John Tropea on Electric Guitar with a Sax Solo by David Sanbourn)

12. Gladly Give You My Hand – LINDA LEWIS (from her October 1972 US Second LP "Lark" on Reprise Records MS 2120 and on Reprise Records K 44208 in the UK – LP co-produced by Jim Creagan)

13. Face Of Appalachia – VALERIE CARTER (from her May 1977 US Debut LP "Just A Stone's Throw Away" on Columbia PC 34155, June 1977 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 81958 – song written by Lowell George of Little Feat and John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful – much of Little Feat play on the album as does Jackson Browne as does Jeff Porcaro of Toto and John Hall of Orleans along with many others)

14. Hammond Song – THE ROCHES (from their June 1979 US LP "The Roches" on Warner Bros BSK 3298, Warner Bros K 56683 in the UK – the three harmonizing ladies are Maggie, Suzzy and Terre Roche - Robert Fripp of King Crimson plays Guitar and Produces with Tony Levin on Bass(long-time member of Peter Gabriel's band) and former member of Colosseum)

15. Early Morning Song – BRIDGET ST. JOHN  (from her second studio LP "Songs For The Gentle Man" released in the UK February 1971 on Dandelion Records S DAN 8007 and 1971 in the USA on Elektra EKS-74104 – Produced by Ron Geesin)

16. The Kiss – JUDEE SILL (from her second studio LP "Heart Food" released March 1973 in the USA on Asylum SD 5063 and April 1973 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9006)

17. The Dimming Of The Day/Dargai – RICHARD and LINDA THOMPSON (from their third album (Richard Thompson's fourth) "Pour Down Like Silver" - released November 1975 in the UK and USA on Island Records ILPS 9348)

The Hardback DigiBook look and feel is a format I like - even if the built-in pouches that contain the CDs in each leaf (front and back) make it impossible to extract the disc without finger-marking it or scuffing the bugger. The attached booklet is smart – the album sleeves pictured by themselves on one page to the left with his text on each song to the right. There are songwriter credits, year of release, but no catalogue numbers or more importantly – musician personnel. His comments are often personal and not to do with what studio equipment was better than what. At times he illuminates on the details (the Robert Palmer album had both The Meters and Little Feat uncredited as his backing band in New Orleans) – but there are other times on say the Valerie Carter and Phoebe Snow tracks wher we have an array of playing talent that I feel punters would want to know about (so I put them in – each entry – one by one). But - despite Hepworth's sometimes frustratingly oblique notes – you then read the Roy Harper entry at the end of CD3 and the Sandy Denny one that opens CD4 – and our Dave nails it. Emotional singers touching their listeners – not necessarily with dexterity or prowess but with heart – singing about themes that are deeply personal – and therefore it comes across - you feel it and the day/your heart is won.

PHIL KINRADE has done the Mastering and apart from say the Dave Edmunds track that sounds like its tape-wobbling (deliberately recorded that way to ape the old R&R sound) – the Audio is great – clean and clear – and in the case of stuff licensed from Universal – remastered and kicking (there is also a 73-Track Volume 2 from February 2025 called More Deep 70s…). This is a nice-looking set – but it’s all about the lesser-trodden tunes…

CD1 and CD2: The theme of Young Americans promises a lot but for me CD1 is the weakest of the four. Edsel asked Hepworth to look at the off-the-beaten and leave common choices alone – he agreed. But too much of Disc 1 is second-rate Yacht Rock and LP choices that are good rather than great. To the good stuff - highlights include the fantastic Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett cover of the Dave Mason solo track "Only You Know And I Know" which is set up by the drunk and dirty stomach-rumbling workingman angst of "Payday" by Jesse Winchester (Robbie Roberston of The Band producing with Todd Rundgren (still with Nazz) as the Producer). Gorgeous is the only word to use for "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" by Danny O'Keefe (and beautifully produced too – fab audio). But yuck like Andy Pratt, Michael Franks, Amazing Rhythm Aces, and The Sanford-Townsend Band are non-nos for me. I also thought regarding Big Star, Little Feat, Warren Zevon and Hall & Oates - there were better choices like say "September Gurls", "Easy To Slip", "Tenderness On The Block" and "When The Morning Comes". I found the Loudon Wainwright track downright creepy and the Nesmith finisher laughably bad, but I loved the T-Bone Burnett lyrics-sinister in The Alpha Band song "Interviews" - a genius choice and an LP that was literally ignored when I worked the counters for 20-years (no one gave a shit about that album).

CD2 goes the Blues route and I loved the mixture of Moon Martin's "Cadillac Walk" (done by Willy DeVille as MinkDeville on his "Carbretta" debut LP) followed by the fabulous slide guitar Confederate boogie of Don Nix which is turn is followed by a horny Tim Buckley in stunning form on his "Move With Me". ZZ Top, Geils, Thorogood and Johnny Winter all keep the Blues modernised but respectful - while Montrose goes serious riffage with "Rock Candy". But the Atlanta Ryhtm Section and Paul Butterfield's Better Days selections are weedy at best - saved only the neck-jerking boogie of Canned Heat and Status Quo finding their groove. I know the Eddie & The Hot Rods variant of Bob Seger's fab commie-bashing quickie "Get Out Of Denver" is full of piss 'n' vinegar and reminds our Dave of Dingwalls - but I still feel Bob Seger's original is way better. And why only 16-tracks and a sub 70-minutes playing time? 

CD3: Disc Three opens with a killer four-in-a-row – Ronnie Lane beguiling as always with the Slim Chance gem "Bye And Bye (Gonna See The King)" – also a B-side to the fab "Poacher" on GM Records (I wish DH had put "Tin And Tambourine" on CD4 in lieu of lesser tracks). That is followed by the most beautiful Family ballad that still makes me mush - "My Friend The Sun" – and the fantastic Judas Iscariot vocals of Murray Head on his "Say It Ain’t So Joe". Then to rockers Be Bop Deluxe as a preliminary to the change over from Rock into Prog into New Wave. Clever also to include the huge shadow The Byrds and their jangle cast over every jingly-jangly power-pop act – The Records and their breezy "Starry Eyes" offers up lightness after the riffage of The Motors and their Rock-staddles-Prog "Dancing The Night Away" – a million miles away from their "Airport" pop hit that would put them on the chart maps forever. Genius choice too must go to Mike Patto and his Ollie Halsall guitar-led band Patto. Hepworth finds "Singing The Blues On Reds" from their forgotten 1972 Island Records album "Roll 'Em Smoke 'Em Put Out Another Line" – a jerky vibe number that accurately reflects the nerve jitters of the road – stopping by roadhouse cafes – tea and sachets and ketchup on chips - sleeping in stained hotel beds. I was never sure about the two Sharks albums – but the druggy "World Park Junkies" is a Be Bop Deluxe almost Naughty Rhythms weary tune – the hi-hat speed beat feeling like an arm itch as Chris Spedding flicks that guitar while frontman Snips sounds like Joe Cocker in need of rehab real soon. The sleaze continues with Jess Roden getting almost illegally fruity with "You Can Leave Your Hat On" – a fantastic chugger that sounds like a more brassed-up Sensational Alex Harvey band as Jess explains how his ladies attributes make wrong things right. 

Cannot be rational about Terry Reid and his third album "River" – supposed to have been his big Atlantic Records break out. The funky slide-guitar of "Dean" is so cool (David Lindley sexily on the restrained money) – and then there is the voice of Terry Reid that could have fronted Led Zeppelin – wow. Not surprisingly Hepworth follows the Rock-Funk of Reid in 1973 with Robert Palmer in 1974 ably supported by The Meters and Little Feat on the ooh-ooh "How Much Fun" (the signature Lowell George slide comes sliding in over the ladies singing the title and ooh-ooh). Time to slow things down with another smart choice – an Ian Hunter strummed mid-tempo ballad (instead of a rocker) from their best 1973 album "Mott" – Hunter articulating young love that I so strong the young chap wants to join or be her family in "I Wish I Was Your Mother" (dig that lonesome Springsteen-ish Harmonica). The watery grave of "Polly On The Shore" by Fairport Convention is the kind of Folk-Rock attempt that did naught for me then – same now. Time to old-time boogie – Dave Edmunds purposely recording his cover of the Chuck Berry Chess Records classic "The Promised Land" like it’s in a watery closet (good but not great). A functional Louis Jordan cover comes in from Chili Willi And The Red Hot Peppers that again feels out-of-place. Far better is Nick Lowe and that fantastic sound he gets – this time with Brinsley Schwarz. Cherry Red literally named a 3CD Clamshell Box Set on Pub Rock after the song - "Surrender To The Rhythm" (see separate review). CD3 finishes on a magisterial note – Roy Harper singing the praises of day-is-done willow-wood sportsmen in his 7:23 minute-long "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease". There is something about English singers – Ronnie Lane – Terry Reid – Joe Cocker – they get this gorgeous melody going and you are soon in floods – the moment that the Colliery band kicks in – you will be the same. 

"Nine" was Fairport Convention's second album to feature Trevor Lucas as the main singer instead of Richard Thompson who had jumped ship for a solo career that would ignite properly the following year with his and his wife's fab album "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" (see Track 17 on Disc 4). "Polly On The Shore" is a Dave Pegg tune that incorporates Traditional Lyrics and an arrangement from Trevor Lucas. Again, it seems like a lacklustre choice – I recall their ninth platter coming and going in 1973 without so much as a howdy-doody – not helped by its extraordinarily dull artwork and the feeling that something was missing with both the leading warmth of Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny have gone the solo route (also on Island Records). 

CD4: Sandy Denny's third album after Fairport and Fotheringay was recorded in August 1973 and scheduled for an October release in that year but due to contractual issues – it didn't show until June of 1974. And instead of Folk or Folk Rock or genres thereabouts – its contents surprised. Different tones or not (old timey tunes) – her emotional turmoil and relationship hardships came aching through the plaintive and heart-raw "Solo" which opened the LP on Side 1. Complete with Harry Robinson String Arrangements – you could fry eggs on its heartbreak. Like John Martyn, Sandy would elicit hero-worship for this kind of honesty and her gift of connection with the enthralled listener (Joni and Dylan did the same on their best stuff in 1973, 1974 and especially 1975). Another singer with her heart on a ship out in the ocean is Anna McGarrigle of the McGarrigle sisters – her "Heart Like A Wheel" shimmering by the docks – a human being wrecked on the docks as the ship of love sails away. Linda Ronstadt had brought it world attention in 1974 for her last album for Capitol Records – naming the entire LP after the song. You can’t help thinking that more of that earthy Kate and Anna McGarrigle 1976 debut album should have been used on other discs. 

Cleverly follow up that song with a follow-up. After the smash of "Midnight At The Oasis" on her debut album in 1973, Maria Muldaur saw her second album in 1974 – the wittily entitled "Waitress In A Doughnut Shop" - not receive nearly the same love. But others have raved – tis a grower. Lowell George is credited as playing Guitar on the Wendy Waldman song but you can barely notice. Hepworth follows the Muldaur song with the second Waldman Song "Mad Mad Me" that Muldaur had recorded on the Doughnut LP – here in her own sparse and emotionally loaded piano-only version from her lesser-seen "Gypsy Symphony" album from 1974. Another quietly magisterial ballad comes surprisingly from Valerie Carter – her countrified cover of "Face Of Appalachia" by Lowell George (Little Feat) and John Sebastian (Lovin Spoonful) a fabulous choice. The Roches ladies had done their backing-vocals time with Paul Simon on his magnificent third solo album as far back as 1973 - "There Goes Rhymin' Simon". The cooly different yet strangely unsettling vocal harmonizing of "The Roches" mesmerizes for 5:45 minutes. 

We are then hit with two lady stunners on CD4 – one British and one American. Bridget St. John and Judee Sill feel like the softer sisters of John Martin and Tim Buckley – Bridget giving us the plaintive acoustic "Early Morning Song" which at only 1:57 minutes is over way too soon. No such melodrama restraint for the heroic Judee Sill who turns on the piano and string arrangements power with her gorgeous song "The Kiss". There is footage of her at a Grand Piano on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973 plugging the 1973 Asylum Records second album "Heart Food" that no one bought. Like Nick Drake, it is shocking with over 50-years distance that such obvious brilliance was not taken to heart by the public, but as Hepworth rightly states, Sill was just one of many women releasing so many belter-albums in the Seventies that it was easy to get lost in the stampede for bigger names like Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Melanie. CD4 ends in Linda Thompson singing of a house, falling-down around her ears in the plaintive etched-out-of-traditional-songs "Dimming Of The Day/Dargai" - drowning in a river of tears - needing you at the dimming of the day. I've loved this love song and ballad for near-50 years now and it still makes me shiver. And about four minutes in - it suddenly ends and goes into the three-minute-plus acoustic instrumental "Dargai" - magical stuff.

It's so easy I know to slag off someone else's choices and come up with paradise-bound alternatives (I tried an Alternate CD1 of my own and it was way too hard) - I acknowledge that. But in the main - "Deep 70s...Volume 1" peep into the bowels and pant-girth passages of yesteryear yields way more goodies that Thomas Crapper blockers. David Hepworth's "Deep 70s..." has way more going for it than many a multi-disc Box Set that I own that I don't play anymore (I do this one). 

So, given everybody's eclectic pennyworth of demands regarding must-have inclusions - it's a minor miracle the compiler pleased so many. And you have tip-a-hat at Dave for bringing our attention to names and songs that deserved better.

Dig in deep indeed and enjoy...now to baggy trousers door number two...

"My Song" by LABI SIFFRE – 50th Anniversary Box Set featuring Nine Albums from 1970 to 1998 on Pye International, China and EMI Records (September 2020 UK Edsel Records 9CD Compilation – 50th Anniversary Box Set - Brick-Block With Nine Singular Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves, 44 Bonus Tracks, 32-Page Booklet with New Liner Notes and Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"…See Me Sparkle...See Me Flame..."

 

First things first: there are two variants of the 9CD Clamshell Box Set "My Song" by LABI SIFFRE both released in the UK on Friday, 4 September 2020. The generally available Standard Edition is catalogue number Edsel EDSL0069Y and the second is an Amazon Exclusive variant that comes with a Signed Art Print on Edsel EDSL0069X – a limited edition of 500 copies. Unfortunately both use the same Barcode on the rear (Barcode 5014797903500) and are only identifiable by the Title Sticker on the front shrinkwrap of the Box. The SIGNED ART PRINT variant notes itself as so on that sticker, while the Standard Edition sticker has no mention of it (each sport the different catalogue numbers at the base of the sticker). So check which one you are buying because the Signed Edition is usually far more expensive.

 

Second thing to note is that Siffre fans have been down this CD reissue road before (well partially), but this time they get much more. EMI did a CD reissue/remaster run in June 2006 and then Edsel of the UK reissued five of these nine albums end of July 2015 - "Labi Siffre" (1970), "The Singer And The Song" (1971), "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" (1972), "For The Children" (1973) and the 1998 New Songs Live Set album "The Last Songs" with 23 bonus tracks across those five.

 

"My Song" - 50^th Anniversary Box Set - from September 2020 remasters his other four albums too – "Remember My Song" and "Happy" (both 1975), "So Strong" (1988) and "Man Of Reason" (1991) - adding on a further 21 Bonuses bringing the Extras count to an impressive 44 (146 tracks altogether). The 32-page booklet is new and features an updated Labi Siffre interview (2020) but drops the lyrics that were in each of the Edsel reissues. Each of the nine albums is in a facsimile Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeve ("Crying Laughing Loving Lying" and "For The Children" are unfortunately not gatefolds as per their Pye Records releases nor are the inserts there, but their inner artworks are in the booklet) and the Bonuses are spread across all nine discs and not in one place (see lists below).

 

"My Song" is a very tastily presented brick-block and beautiful sounding too. Both the 1975 LPs "Remember My Song" (the one with the "I Got The..." sample) and the forgotten "Happy" set get great remasters at last too. Admittedly both "So Strong" and "Man Of Reason" suffer badly from 1988 and 1991 over-production where you feel each was reaching for that Dire Straits meets Steve Winwood Higher Love marketplace (have not aged well here in 2023). But the 1998 set "The Last Songs" - 14 New Acoustic Live Tracks is a total gem and feels spiritually in tune with what really matters to LS. There are also genuine goodies to be had in the Bonuses. Lot to talk through then, to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 4 September 2020 - "My Song" by LABI SIFFRE on Edsel EDSL0069Y (Barcode 5014797903500) is a 9CD Clamshell '50^th Anniversary Box Set' covering Nine Albums from 1970 to 1998 (146 Tracks in Total including 44 Bonuses) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Labi Siffre" (48:26 minutes):

1. Too Late [Side 1]

2. Words

3. Something On My Mind

4. Maybe Tomorrow

5. You And I Should Be Together

6. I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today

7. I Love You [Side 2]

8. Make My Day

9. A Little More Line

10. Maybe

11. River

12. Love Song For Someone

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Labi Siffre" - released May 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28135 (no USA issue).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. I Just Couldn't Live Without Her

14. Maybe When We Dance

15. Ask Me To Stay [Tracks 13, 14 and 15 first issued as Previously Unreleased Outtakes on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster of "Labi Siffre"

16. Here We Are – the non-album B-side to the stand alone 7" single "Watch Me" released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586

 

10 tracks on the debut are Siffre originals with the other two being inspired cover version choices – "Words" by The Bee Gees and Harry Nilsson's "Maybe" – both of which Siffre emphatically makes sound like they were always part of his repertoire. Of his own compositions the brilliance and acoustic simplicity of "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Too Late" stand out immediately (both on Side 1). Flutes, Piano and Electric Guitars mix well on "You And I Should Be Together" initially - but then Producer, Arranger and Conductor Ian Green kind of overdoes it with the strings (trying too hard to impress). The falsely acidic "I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today" is done in the voice of an old man riling at the young (..."I can't say that I fought for kids like you in the war..." Over on Side 2 standouts are "Make My Day", the lovely Nilsson ballad "Maybe" and the warm finisher "Love Song For Someone" with complimentary string arrangements. Kenny Young's American group Moonshine had a go at covering Siffre's "A Little More Line" on RCA Victor 1954 in 1970 calling it "Just A Little More Line" (it was reissued in September 1973 on RCA 2408). And in Germany Polydor put out Siffre's original as "A Little More Line" in December 1970 on Polydor 2001 065 with the gorgeous "Words" as its flipside (its rare 7" picture sleeve is shown on Page 9). Pye released just one single off the album in the UK by pairing "Too Late" with "Make My Day" in July 1970 on Pye International 7N.25528 but it failed to do any business which is a shame because the whole album is far more cohesive than the longer but patchy follow up album "The Singer And The Song".

 

CD2 "The Singer And The Song" (58:21 minutes):

1. There's Nothing in The World Like Love [Side 1]

2. You're Lovely

3. A Number Of Words

4. Who Do You See?

5. Not So Long Ago

6. The Shadow Of Our Love

7. When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind

8. Rocking Chair [Side 2]

9. Interlude

10. Thank Your Lucky Star

11. Talkabout

12. Relax

13. Bless The Telephone

14. Summer Is Coming

15. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 15 are his 2nd album "The Singer And The Song" - released July 1971 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28147 (no USA issue).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

16. When You Find You Need A Friend – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" issued as UK 7" single in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542, first appeared July 2015 on the Edsel CD Reissue of "The Singer And The Song"

17. Get To The Country – non-album A-side issued as a UK 7" single in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560 (its B-side is track 18)

18. A Feeling I Got – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" (Track 17), first appeared July 2015 on the Edsel CD Reissue of "The Singer And The Song"

19. Till Night Time Comes Along – album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

20. Fallin' For You - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

21. Oh What A Day - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children’s musical "The Magic Bed"

22. Just A Face - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children's musical "The Magic Bed"

23. Seasons Come, Seasons Go - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

 

Siffre's 2nd studio album "The Singer And The Song" finally kick-started his chart career - weighing in at Number 47 for one week - whereas his self-titled debut album from 1970 hadn’t charted at all. It would take his 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from October 1972 with its hooky title track and the hugely popular "It Must Be Love" (both hit 45s) before Siffre finally broke through to the masses as a singer songwriter of note. Along with his brilliant and underrated debut LP – "The Singer And The Song" has remained something of a curio in his catalogue for most. But this gorgeous CD Reissue/Remaster makes a strong case for reassessment. Like all his albums – there are moments of Funky Rock genius ("Rocking Chair" and "Summer Is Coming") and even beauty ("Bless The Telephone" and "Who Do You See?").

 

Pye tried two 45s – one from the forthcoming album and a standalone track in the same month as the LP release. "Thank Your Lucky Star" b/w "When You Find You Need A Friend" was UK released in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542 - while the superb non-album "Get To The Country" b/w "A Feeling I Got" surfaced in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560. The first single wasn't a great choice (I own a titled 'promo-only' picture sleeve for it in the UK which is unfortunately not pictured in the booklet) but the second was accomplished and should have made a noise – unfortunately both tanked and the LP did the same.

 

Very much an album of its time – some tunes like the opener "There's Nothing In The World Like Love" with its plinking piano, hippy lyrics and happy-wappy melody admittedly have a slightly dated feel – but despite that – are undeniably pretty. The 32-second "You're Lovely" is a throwaway acoustic interlude (gorgeous audio) that precedes the dreadful "A Number Of Words" where Green's arrangements of the song have Siffre sound like Tom Jones seeking a hit, but in a bad way. Far better is "What Do You See?" which has a naff orchestral intro that suddenly fades into a sweet acoustic ballad – and it hits you – his way with a melody that wins you over. "The Shadow Of Our Love" is a soft-shoe shuffle with strings leaving the short-lived "When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind" to finish Side 1 in Spanish Acoustic style (again with beautifully clear audio).

 

Side 2 opens with what is probably the best track on the LP and something that should have been released as a single – the funky "Rocking Chair" (lyrics from it title this review). Brian Odgers provided and played the Bass Line while Colin Green provided the guitar solo. "Interlude" is ok but "Thank Your Lucky Star" feels patronizing even now and even though it was sincerely trying to be informative about 'food for the hungry' (a kazoo gives it an almost comical chorus that just doesn’t work). Prettier by far is "Talkabout" – an acoustic plea to a 'beautiful dream girl' with fab audio throughout. "Relax" is again given clunky rhythms and strings that overdo it that are partially redeemed by an "I Got The..." bass-break-moment half way through. Far sweeter to the ear and the heart is the album's other ballad winner - "Bless The Telephone" – lovely and again sounding like he's in your living room. Pace picks up big time with another choice LP cut "Summer Is Coming" where John Spooner plays the Bass Drum accompanied by nice brass arrangements. The two elusive non-album B-sides "When You Find You Need A Friend" and "A Feeling I Got" turn out to be half-decent tracks. But bluntly the outtakes like "Till Night Time Comes Along" and "Fallin' For You" are much better – even if they do sound suspiciously like 1975 or later (him and his electric piano). A good album, but a weak one compared to CD1 or CD3...

 

CD3 "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" (68:23 minutes):

1. Saved [Side 1]

2. Cannock Chase

3. Fool Me A Goodnight

4. It Must Be Love

5. Gimme Some More

6. Blue Lady

7. Love Oh Love Oh Love [Side 2]

8. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying

9. Hotel Room Song

10. My Song

11. Till Forever

12. Come On Michael

Tracks 1 to 12 make up the album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" – released October 1972 in the UK on Pye International Records NSPL 28163 (all songs are Siffre originals).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. To Find Love – Non-Album B-side to his 4th UK 7" single "It Must Be Love" released November 1971 on Pye International 7N.25572

14. Watch Me – Non-Album A-side, his 6th UK 7" single released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586. It's non-album B-side "Here We Are" is one of the bonus tracks on the debut album "Labi Siffre" (CD1)

15. Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me? - Non-Album B-side to "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" released March 1972 as a UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25576

16. You Make It Easy

17. Good Old Days

18. Pristine Verses

19. You'll Let Me Know

20. For The Lovin'

Tracks 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 were Previously Unreleased Album Outtakes first issued on the 2006 EMI CD for "Crying Laughing Loving Lying"

 

LP3 was the breakthrough period for Labi Siffre – so three 45s were issued by Pye around the "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" album. Using CD3 and CD1, they can be sequenced in remastered form by fans as follows...

 

1. It Must Be Love [4] b/w To Find Love [13]

UK released November 1971 on Pye International 7N 25572

US released 1972 on Bell Records 183

 

2. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying [8] b/w Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave [15]

UK released March 1972 on Pye International 7N.25576

US released 1972 on Bell Records 218

 

3. Watch Me [14] b/w Here We Are [16 on CD1]

UK released July 1972 on Pye National 7N.25586

USA released 1972 on Bell Records 298

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus on "Labi Siffre" CD1

 

His 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from 1972 is a beautiful Seventies singer-songwriter record and a bloody shame Edsel didn't do the gatefold on the Mini LP card sleeve repro – or for that matter give us the lyric insert that also came with originals. "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" opens with the Acapella "Saved" and then goes into the jaunty "Cannock Chase" – beautiful clarity on both tracks. But its nuggets like the lovely "Fool Me A Goodnight", "Hotel Room Song" and "My Song" that have languished in obscurity for far too long. And again I can't emphasize enough the fabulous remastering. I've treasured this album for years on vinyl and to finally hear it given this kind of sound quality is a joy. "It Must Be Love" and the beautiful title track "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" sound fab. I've always thought that the stand-alone "Watch Me" is his masterpiece from the period – a song that literally makes me weepy (I was in love with a girl at the time) and its presence here as a bonus is a winner in my books. Of the album outtakes “You Make It Easy” has a lovely melody – Siffre and an electric piano – its very demo-ish - but full of feeling and has a Bacharach brass refrain during its pretty chorus. A strong album that lead to another which this time the public inexplicably chose to ignore...

 

CD4 "For The Children" (60:58 minutes):

1. Somesay [Side 1]

2. Children Of Children

3. Entertainment Value

4. Odds And Ends

5. Prayer

6. Let's Pretend [Side 2]

7. Someday

8. If You Have Faith

9. For The Children

10. Give Love

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "For The Children" - released November 1973 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28182 (no USA issue)

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. So What – first appeared on the June 2006 CD reissue of "For The Children" – it’s a 4-act song that runs to 6:48 minutes

12. Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye - Non-album B-side to "If You Have Faith", UK 7" single released October 1973 on Pye International Records 7N.25629

13. Last Night Tonight - Non-Album B-side to "Give Love" released January 1973 in the UK on Pye International 7N.25602 (A-side is on the LP, Track 10)

 

All songs on "For The Children" are written by Siffre (including the extra track) and are uniformly excellent. Standouts would number the funky guitar strummer "Odds And Ends" (bass and pedal steel sound amazing). Side One ends with the gut-string acoustic ditty "Prayer" which lasts only two minutes but is truly lovely. Side 2 opens with the epic "Let's Pretend" - nine and half minutes of building 12-string guitars and it's properly gorgeous. As the hopeful words float by - he sings of religious leaders dropping their rules - "…Let's Pretend there's a God of love…that he wants us to be…all of the good things we can be…let's pretend…" It's emotional stuff - passes the love test. The keyboard strut of the superb "For The Children" sounds amazing - full of punch and clever stereo tricks. But the album's real masterpiece is the beautiful "If You Have Faith" - as lovely a song as the Seventies produced. Sure its sappy and maybe it’s even a tad naive in its beliefs - but it moves me to tears and more importantly has that rarest of qualities - it fills me with hope. The 4-act bonus track "So What" seems to be two songs run into one near seven-minute tune. "So What" comes first and feels like a recent recording - then about 2:27 minutes in - a separate "London Town" keyboard tune emerges (very 1975) - all of it keyboards. It's very good. The LP produced two UK 45s - "Give Love" and "If You Have Faith" and fans can sequence them and their rare Non-LP B-sides from this disc. Then came a new signing to EMI Records and the first of two albums in the same year, the March 1975 album everyone forgot for almost three decades until Hip Hop searchers sent its sample-desirability into the straotosphere...

 

CD5 "Remember My Song" (53:36 minutes):

1. I Got The... [Side 1]

2. Another Year

3. Down

4. Old Time Song

5. The Vulture

6. Dreamer [Side 2]

7. Sadie And The Devil

8. Turn On Your Love

9. Remember My Song

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 5^th studio album "Remember My Song" - released March 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3065

 

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Run To Him

11. The Love Thing – Tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a January 1981 Non-LP UK 45-single on Polydor POSP 215

12. Nightmare – August 1982 UK Non-LP 45-single A-side on Polydor POSP 486 (B-side was Track 11, also Non-LP)

 

CD6 "Happy" (61:40 minutes):

1. Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A [Side 1]

2. You Hurt Me

3. Doctor Doctor

4. Second Time Around

5. Would You Dance?

6. Supaluvva [Side 2]

7. Staride To Nowhere

8. You've Done Something To My Heart

9. Sally Came To Stay

10. La-De-Da-De-Da (Lost Without Your Love)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 6^th studio album "Happy?" - released November 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3098

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. You've Got A Hold On Me – October 1976 Non-LP UK 45-single A-side on EMI Records EMI 2526 (B-side is Track 10 on the LP)

12. Do The Best You Can

13. Hot And Dirty In The City – Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a January 1977 UK Non-LP 45-single on EMI Records EMI 2577

14. Solid – April 1978 Non-LP UK 45-single A-side on EMI Records EMI 2750

15. One World Song

16. We Got Love – Tracks 15 and 16 by LABI & JACKIE (Labi Siffre and Jackie Beason), January 1980 UK Non-LP 45-single on EMI Records EMI 5023 - both songs by Labi Siffre

 

CD7 "So Strong" (74:45 minutes):

1. Listen To The Voices [Side 1]

2. Nothin's Gonna Change

3. I Will Always Love You

4. All I Wanna Do

5. And The Wind Blows

6. (Something Inside) So Strong [Side 2]

7. Lovers

8. Hard Road

9. I'm Alright

10. When You're Lonely

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 7^th studio album "So Strong" – released October 1988 on China Records WOL 9 (LP) and China Records 837 369-2 (CD)

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Secret – November 1987 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "Nothin's Gonna Change" on China Records WOK 16

 

12. Never Let You Down – September 1988 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "Listen To The Voices (7" Edition)" on China Records CHINA 9

13. Tragical History Tour – December 1988 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "I Will Always Love You" on China Records CHINA 12

14. (Something Inside) So Strong (Live At The Prince's Trust Concert)

15. Listen To The Voices (Piano Version) – Tracks 14 and 15 are Non-LP B-sides exclusive to the 1989 German 4-Track CD-single to "So Strong" on Polydor 889 379-2

16. Nothin's Gonna Change (Long Version) – November 1987 UK 12" Single A-side Extended Version (6:28 minutes, LP Version is 3:46 minutes) on China Records WOKX 16

17. (Something Inside) So Strong (Complete Version US Promo, 6:25 minutes) – February 1987 US-only 12" Single Promo Version on Chrysalis/China Records 4V9 43124, A-side

 

CD8 "Man Of Reason" (53:49 minutes):

1. City Of Dreams [Side 1]

2. Most People Sleep Alone

3. A Matter Of Love..

4. Lovers In Arms

5. All Fall Down

6. Reason [Side 2]

7. When Lights Are On

8. Sensible Betrayal In The City

9. Wash Away Your Troubles In Love

10. Schooldays

Tracks 1 to 10 are his eighth studio album "Man Of Reason" – released 1991 in the UK on China Records WOL 1015 (LP) and China Records WOLCD 1015 (CD). Guest musicians include Peter Van Hooke on Drums, Guy Pratt and Mo Foster on Bass, Rod Argent on Keyboards, Clem Clempson, Hugh Burns and Ray Russell on Guitars with Katie Kissoon and Rod Argent on Backing Vocals

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. City Of Dreams [New Version]

12. Reason [Live Version]

13. City Of Dreams [New Version – Extended 12" Version]

 

CD9 "The Last Songs" (Live Album, 72:05 minutes):

1. Samaritans

2. The Dead Don't Matter

3. Everything

4. Little Boy Baby Blue

5. Lose Myself In You

6. Why Isn't Love Enough?

7. Sparrow In The Storm

8. Face To Face (A Paper Regret)

9. The Life I Got

10. Rainbow Moon

11. This Is It

12. Clinging To The Edge

13. A Kiss In The Mirror

14. The Song To Sing

Tracks 1 to 14 are the UK CD album "The Last Songs"  – released 1998 on EMI 356 8822 - these are 14 news songs but all recorded live at different British locations during his 1998 UK tour.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

15. Everything [The OlaZayZoss Remix]

16. (Love Is Love Is Love) Why Isn't Love Enough?

 

The 32-page oversized colour booklet is very pretty – a new appraisal by OLIVER WANG of Siffre’s entire career including his forays into Poetry after the 1988 and 1991 albums takes up Pages 2 to 12 (contributions from LS also) – each LP and rare 45-single picture sleeves around them then pictured with track lists, credits, extras etc. Unfortunately the lyrics that were reproduced in the individual 2006 Edsel reissues are AWOL (so that is a let-down) and Audio-wise these are clearly the same Remasters as 2006 (EMI tapes). Excepting the many-musicians over-production of 1988 and 1991 – the other 7 are largely Acoustic Guitar and Electric Piano based – so the Audio is lovely – clean and spacious. To his history and legacy...

 

In the spring and summer of 1970 when Siffre started out – Pye Records was more familiar to the British public through Petula Clark and Max Bygraves rather than The Kinks, Man and Status Quo. So a young black singer with Folk-Soul affections hardly got a look in. Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract. Siffre's style for the first 4 albums especially on Pye Records was more singer-songwriter than Soulster (for which he is more famous for these days) though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a 'Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan' vibe. Many were just him with Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot (sadly passed in May 2023), James Taylor or even John Prine.

 

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material - KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's "Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." track on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Mr. Bongo of the UK was the first Indie Label to reissue it. Siffre retired for a few years but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem single - and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

 

And on it goes to the Live Set "The Last Songs" where he uses an Ovation Acoustic Guitar amplified to beautiful singing precision and essentially treats a very quiet audience to 14 unplugged new songs – wonderful stuff like "Sparrow In The Storm" and the catchy lyrically brilliant "The Dead Don't Matter". In fact a song like "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre had lost none of his singer-songwriter magic. I know tracks like "Most People Sleep Alone" and "Nothing's Gonna Change" were popular singles off the two China Records albums, but for me the Live Set is the real gem in this Box especially as you plough through towards the end.

 

So there you have it. Yes – some of it is dated – some possibly even too coy for tastes in 2023 – and given the missing lyrics and wee presentation annoyances – it is a 4-star release for me and not five. But make no mistake – the 9CD "My Song" 50^th Anniversary Box Set looks great, sounds spiffing and presents an opportunity to deep dive a singer-songwriter catalogue that warrants rediscovery and real affection. Well done to Edsel...yet again...

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