"Play The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS - September 1972 Album On Atlantic Records with Guests Eric Clapton, Dr. John and The J. Geils Band (May 1992 US Rhino CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Come On Mama...Let Me Turn You On…"

1972's "Plays The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS is the kind of Blues-Rock album that should be more famous - yet even with heavy-hitters like ERIC CLAPTON, Dr. JOHN and The J. GEILS BAND guesting - it has somehow slipped into an unfair obscurity. Time to rectify that…

1. A Man Of Many Words [Side 1]

2. My Baby She Left Me (She Left Me A Mule To Ride)

3. (a) Come On In The House (b) Have Mercy Baby

4. T-Bone Shuffle

5. A Poor Man's Plea

6. Messin' With The Kid [Side 2]

7. This Old Fool

8. I Don't Know

9. Bad Bad Whiskey

10. Honeydripper

"Play The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS was US CD-reissued in May 1992 on Rhino R2 70299 (Barcode 081227029920) - a straightforward transfer of the 10-track vinyl album first released September 1972 on both sides of the pond - Atlantic SD 33-364 (USA) and Atlantic K 40240 (UK) respectively.

Excepting "This Old Fool" and "Honeydripper" which were put down in April 1972 in Boston - the other 8 tracks were recorded in October 1970 in the Criteria Studios in Florida (left in the can for two whole years). Co-produced by ERIC CLAPTON, AHMET ERTEGUN, TOM DOWD and MICHAEL CUSCUNA - the sessions also featured J. Geils on Guitar, Magic Dick on Harmonica and Seth Justman on Keyboards - all fellow Atlantic label mates in THE J. GEILS BAND.

DR. JOHN contributes Piano with ERIC CLAPTON playing Rhythm and Bottleneck Guitar on 7 of the 10 tracks - "A Man Of Many Words" (a Buddy Guy original), "My Baby She Left Me (She Left Me A Mule To Rise)" (a Sonny Boy Williamson cover), "Come On In This House/Have Mercy Baby" (both Junior Wells originals), "T-Bone Shuffle" (a T-Bone Walker cover), "A Poor Man's Plea" (a Junior Wells original), "Messin' With The Kid" (a Mel London cover), "I Don't Know" (a Willie Mabon cover) and "Bad Bad Whiskey" (a Thomas Davis cover).

It opens strongly with "A Man Of Many Words" (lyrics from it title this review) and continues just so. Rory Gallagher (an axeman remembered with huge affection) opened his blistering "Live! In Europe" LP on Polydor from 1972 with "Messin' With The Kid" and much of "Plays The Blues" has that same raucous having-us-a-good-time feel to each track (despite its two year tortured recording history). The great combo of two diverse guitar players and the alternating of lead vocals on each track give the whole thing a freshness that screams off the tracks even now. Add in complimentary session players and you’re on a winner.

"Plays The Blues" is a hugely enjoyable album - I wore out my UK pressing to the point of too-many-scratches - and it’s a blast to hear it sound so chipper on this lively JOE GASTWIRT remaster.

Spend a skydiver on this one - worth every red penny and blue cent...

"The Best Of" by ASHTON, GARDNER & DYKE (featuring Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Stan Webb of Chicken Shack). A Review Of The 1999 Repertoire CD Compilation - Reissued In 2010...

(2010 Reissue CD Sleeve Above)

(1999 Original CD Sleeve)

"…Advocating Love….But You Don’t Know Why…"

In 1964 THE REMO FOUR managed two UK 7" singles on the Pye offshoot label Piccadilly and a further attempt at stardom in 1967 on Fontana - each are sought after 45's now. The band included Keyboard Player and Lead Vocalist TONY ASHTON and Drummer ROY DYKE. Not getting anywhere for 4 years (they never got an album out) - in 1968 the duo then teamed up with Bass Player KIM GARDNER of THE CREATION and formed - ASHTON, GARDNER & DYKE. And that's where this rather cool little CD compilation comes in…

Originally released in 1999 on Repertoire 4835-WG (Barcode 4009910483527) - this is a March 2010 CD Reissue of “The Best Of Ashton, Gardner & Dyke” on Repertoire REP 5141 (Barcode 4009910514122). It comes with different ‘band and a gramophone’ artwork (the original had a red side-profile photo - see above) and breaks down as follows (75:52 minutes):

1. The Resurrection Shuffle

2. Ballad Of The Remo Four

3. Let It Roll

4. Billy And His Piano With...

5. I'm Your Spiritual Breadman

6. Hymn To Everyone

7. Maiden Voyage

8. Why Did You Go

9. New York Mining Disaster

10. The Falling Song

11. Oh Mathilda

12. Momma's Getting Married

13. What A Bloody Long Day It's Been

14. Rolling Home

15. Can You Get It

16. I'm Dying For You

17. Paper Head, Paper Mind

18. You, Me And A Friend Of Mine

19. It's Gonna Be High Tonight

20. Picture Sliding Down The Wall

Track 1 is "The Resurrection Shuffle" - their 2nd UK single and their most famous hit. It's a non-album track and was released on Capitol CL 15665 in January 1971. Its B-side is Track 6 - "Hymn To Everyone" from "The Worst Of" album.

Tracks 2, 13 and 19 are from their 3rd album "What A Bloody Long Day It's Been" - released February 1972 in the UK on Capitol Records EA-ST 22862. 

Tracks 3, 5, 6, 12 and 17 are from their 2nd album "The Worst Of" - released February 1971 in the UK on Capitol Records E-ST 563. Produced in part by JON LORD of Deep Purple. Track 5 “I’m Your Spiritual Breadman” features both ERIC CLAPTON and GEORGE HARRISON under pseudonyms. 

Tracks 4, 8, 9, 10, 14 and 20 are from their debut album "Ashton, Gardner & Dyke" - released 1969 in the UK on Polydor Records 583 081.

Track 7 is "Maiden Voyage (Single Version)", their debut 7" single released 1969 in the UK on Polydor 56306 (it's B-side "The Sun In My Eyes" is not included on here). It's a genuine rarity on vinyl and currently listed at £80+ in value.

Tracks 11, 16 and 18 are from their 4th and last album "The Last Rebel", a soundtrack released on Capitol Records 1C 062-80964 in Holland in 1973. Tracks 18 and 16 were also the A&B sides of a Dutch 7" single on Capitol Records 1C 006-81012.

Track 15 is "Can You Get It" - a non-album track issued as the A-side of a UK 7" single on Capitol CL 15684 in May 1971 (failed to chart). Its B-side was "Delirium" (not included here either).

The problem with A, G & D was "The Resurrection Shuffle" (lyrics above) - an absolutely storming upbeat pop single that peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts in early 1971 after huge radio-play. To say it was popular at the time is an understatement. Like Thunderclap Newman's "Something In The Air" in 1969 - it was beloved - an instant classic that's remembered with huge affection even to this day (Clarence Clemons - Springsteen's sadly passed saxophonist - did a fab cover of it on his "Rescue" album in 1983). But it had the effect of obliterating everything else in its path because all after that seemed like a disappointment - especially the lame follow-up "Can You Get It" which was essentially a poor man's rethread of RS. Worse - in common practice with the times Shuffle was a non-album track - so even if you went out and bought the "The Worst Of" LP that surrounded the single - it wasn't on there. Throw in the fact that nothing on the LP matched it or even sounded similar - then it's easy to see why the group failed to capitalize on that initial firestorm. The end result for A, G & D is that are now remembered as a one-hit wonder - yet they managed 4 albums - most of which are very hard to find - and more than deserve a bit of a reappraisal. A big (uncredited) draw for fans of the album track “I’m Your Spiritual Breadman” from “The Worst Of” LP (used as the B-side to the American 45 of “Resurrection Shuffle on Capitol 3060) was the twin guitars by Sir Cedric Clayton and George O’Hara Smith – ERIC CLAPTON and GEORGE HARRISON under pseudonyms. 

The first album sounds very Procol Harum circa "A Salty Dog" and their superb cover version of The Bee Gees' "New York Mining Disaster 1941" has echoes of "Everyday" by Yes - it's a very cool track in a trippy Sixties kind of way. The instrumental "Billy And His Piano With" rollicks along very nicely while the funky rock of "Let It Roll" is a very Juicy Lucy album track kind of listen. I also like the live "Momma's Getting Married" which bombs along with great vocals from the gruff-sounding Ashton. “Let It Roll” features STAN WEBB from Chicken Shack on Guest Guitar with Rolling Stones favourite Jim Price on Trumpets. “Paper Head, Paper Mind” features MICK LIBER (spelt Lieber on the cover) from Medicine Head and Third Army on Guitar with the hugely experienced CHRIS BARBER on Trumpets. JON LORD of Deep Purple fame produced the lovely string arrangements of “The Falling Song”. Lord (accompanied by The Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra) appears again as songwriting partner with Tony Ashton on “Oh Mathilda & The Pool Game (The Brothel)” and the instrumental “You, Me And A Friend Of Mine” from the rare “Last Rebel” soundtrack album (I’ve never seen the film starring Joe Namath in the title role). 

It doesn't say who remastered what, but the songs are licensed from Tony Ashton so we can presume he has his own masters - the sound quality is uniformly great and the playing time generous. The dull artwork does it no favours and the 3-way foldout 6-page inlay is basic to say the least, but it's the sound I'm after - and its real good. It's not all brilliant by any means, but there are goodies on here worth rediscovering. 

Tony Ashton spent time with Medicine Head and Family and then joined up with Jon Lord of Deep Purple and Ian Paice in the mid Seventies to some success on Polydor. Kim Gardner went into Badger while Ron Dyke recorded with several bands in Germany...

This is not a CD you see every day of the week, but I’d urge you to seek it out...

ASHTON, GARDNER & DYKE and bands like them are part of my e-Book:

"SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s annd 1970s Volume 1" 

Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       

“Encouraging Words” by BILLY PRESTON. A Review Of 2nd Album For The Beatles Apple Records (1970) – Now Reissued Onto A 2010 Extended CD.

"…Learn To Live The Golden Rule…Don’t You Go Through Life Being A Fool…"

Monday 25 October 2010 has seen 14 of the 'Apple' label albums remastered and reissued alongside "Come And Get It" - a first-time-ever label 'Best Of'. This reissue is one of them.

"Encouraging Words" was the second and last album on Apple Records for long-time friend and sometimes collaborator with The Beatles - American keyboardist and Soul Singer Billy Preston. And along with his excellent debut LP the year before (1969’s “That’s The Way God Planned It") – it’s not just one of the labels better offerings, it’s a criminally forgotten Seventies Soul gem - and arguably the best album of his long career.

Apple 5099990823923 breaks down as follows (54:44 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 13 are the LP "Encouraging Words" released 11 September 1970 in the UK on Apple SAPCOR 14 (Stereo only) and on Apple ST-3370 in the USA.

Tracks 14 and 15 are the 2 bonus tracks given with the 1993 reissue - "As Long As I Got My Baby" (a Preston original) and "All That I Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)" (a co-wrote with Doris Troy).
“As Long As I Got My Baby” was intended to be the B-side of Preston’s version of “My Sweet Lord” on Apple 29 (scheduled for September 1970 release in the UK), but was withdrawn.
All That I Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)” was co-produced with GEORGE HARRISON and released as a 7” single on 30 January 1970 in the UK on Apple 21.
It’s B-side “As I Get Older” is on the “That’s The Way God Planned It” CD reissue as a bonus (track 14) – both songs were non-album at the time of release.

Track 16 is a new bonus for this 2010 issue - the previously unreleased fully formed song - "How Long Has the Train Been Gone". It was co-written with Bruce Fisher, recorded in January 1970 and then later re-recorded for Preston’s 1973 album on A&M Records – “Everybody Loves Some Kind Of Music” (he would also re-record “When You Were Mine” for his 1976 A&M album “Billy Preston”).

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:
Noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the disappointingly weedy 12-page booklet (EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and it's peppered with some very tasty full-page colour photos of Preston from the time. No UK singles were issued around the record (possibly why it disappeared so quick), but there is a full-page reproduction of an advert for the American single of “My Sweet Lord” on Apple 1826 (it also names Radio Stations supporting the song).

PLAYERS:
The cast is impressive (if not a little vague) – GEORGE HARRISON co-produced the entire album with Preston, ERIC CLAPTON played guitar on 3 tracks – “Right Now”, “Use What You Got” and “Encouraging Words”. RINGO STARR and KLAUS VOORMAN are said to be on Drums and Bass respectively, while DELANEY BRAMLETT also plays guitar on “Encouraging Words” with Eric. The Rhythm Section for THE TEMPTATIONS are on there (Bass, Guitarist, Drums) while members of SAM and DAVE’S band played Drums and Bass too. Both MADELINE BELL and DORIS TROY provided beautiful soulful backing vocals (Doris Troy’s lone album on Apple “Doris Troy” was released the week earlier – 4 September 1970) while the EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS are on “My Sweet Lord” and “Sing One For The Lord”.

CONTENT:
Six of the 13 are Billy Preston originals with "My Sweet Lord" and “All Things (Must) Pass” being George Harrison compositions. “Let The Music Play”, “The Same Thing Again” and “Sing One For The Lord” are co-writes with Jesse Kirkland, James Herndon and George Harrison respectively. Which leaves two cover versions – The Beatles’ "I’ve Got A Feeling" and "You’ve Been Acting Strange" by Ronnie Lee Williams (also covered by Merry Clayton on her 1970 “Gimme Shelter” album). Unlike some of the other Apple issues, there are no extra tracks via download. But the really big news is the SOUND...

SOUND:
The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters have done this - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, PHIL HICKS and SIMON GIBSON. I always thought the initial 1993 reissue was dull-as-dishwater soundwise - well not so now because the audio quality here is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement. It also makes you reassess a lot of the songs and appreciate more Harrison's excellent production contributions.

“Right On” is a superb opener and sets the tone for the overall funky feel of the album (surely it would have been a hit single). “When You Are Mine” is a sweetheart too as is “Use What You Got” (with great wah-wah guitar from Clapton). Very cool stuff. Conversely - the two most famous ‘early versions’ of Harrison classics “My Sweet Lord” and “All Things (Must) Pass” are the ones that work the least well for me. Not so the stunning blues-soul of “The Same Thing Again” co-written with the noted Gospel singer James Herndon – it’s a monster. It had customers coming to the counter in our shop wanting to know which ‘Ray Charles’ tune we were playing (praise indeed).

“Encouraging Words” is a brilliantly brassy dancer with a message for the ‘kids’ to be kind, stay in school and don’t get suckered (lyrics above). It really is so good. The brass, the great production and the remaster combine to fill your room with superlative soul-funk. But for me the absolute dog’s undercarriage is the fabulous Beatles-meets-Gospel "Sing One For The Lord" - Preston’s huge organ playing combines with the choir feel of the backing vocals, George’s meaty guitar riff and a lingering Sitar-sounding instrument called the Indian Tamboura which floats over the whole thing – it’s a stunning cross-pollination of cultures and music and as close to post-Beatles magic as you can get.

Although a little hissy - the new song “How Long Has The Train Been Gone” is a slow soulful gem – it’s fantastic – I can’t believe its been lingering in vaults all these years. And like the new bonus track “Something’s Got To Change” on the “That’s The Way God Planned It” CD reissue (see separate review) - it's that rarest thing, a genuine must-have bonus track.

Niggles - the gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). But these are truly minor points…

To sum up – I’ve loved rehearing this forgotten peach of an album in this hugely improved sound quality - Seventies Soul lovers ‘need’ to discover this great record. I’m also reminded of crying uncontrollably when I saw Preston play “Isn’t It A Pity” live with Clapton and that fantastic band at the “Concert For George” in 2002 in The Royal Albert Hall - magical. Too many losses man…remember his this way.

A brilliant reissue and recommended big time.

“Is This What You Want?” by JACKIE LOMAX (October 2010 Apple 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rolls Royce...Does It Make You Happy?"

Despite "Sour Milk Sea" being written by George Harrison at a time when all-things-Beatles was at an-all-time fever pitch – Jackie Lomax's debut album on their Apple Label has never really raised the goose bumps on collector’s arms (or the public’s interest - his next albums on Warner Brothers were the same despite some quality tracks). But on rehearing this 1969 opening salvo – there is much to enjoy here. One of 14 Apple Label albums Remastered and Reissued on 20 October 2010 - here are the questionable details...

Using the Stereo Mix of the album – the October 2010 Expanded Edition CD Remaster of "Is That What You Want?" by JACKIE LOMAX [featuring Eric Clapton, Nick Hopkins, Tony Newman, Madeline Bell and Doris Troy] on Apple 5099990825521 (Barcode the same) breaks down as follows (60:09 minutes):

1. Speak To Me

2. Is This What You Want?

3. How Can You Say Goodbye

4. Sunset

5. Sour Milk Sea

6. Fall Inside Your Eyes

7. Little Yellow Pills [Side 2]

8. Take My Word

9. The Eagle Laughs At You

10. Baby You’re A Lover

11. You’ve Got Me Thinking

12. I Just Don’t know

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Is That What You Want?" released 14 March 1969 on Apple APCOR 6 (Mono) and Apple SAPCOR 6 (Stereo) in the UK and on Apple ST-3354 in the USA (Stereo only).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. New Day

14. Thumbin’ A Ride

15. How The Web Was Woven

16. You’ve Got To Be Strong

17. You Make It With Me

18. Can You Hear Me

Tracks 13 to 15 were the 3 bonus tracks given with the 1991 reissue while 16 to 18 are previously unreleased and exclusive to this 2010 version. There are also 5 more extra tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon as an extra payment (see either site for details).

Using both album and bonus tracks, this CD will allow fans to sequence his 3 Apple UK 7" singles as follows: 

1. "Sour Milk Sea" b/w "The Eagle Laughs At You" [Tracks 5 and 9]

(Released 31 August 1968 in the UK on Apple APPLE 3)

2. "New Day" b/w "Fall Inside Your Eyes" [Tracks 13 and 6]

(Released 2 May 1969 in the UK on Apple APPLE 11; the A-side is a non-album track and is a MONO mix)

3. "How The Web Was Woven" b/w Thumbin' A Ride [Tracks 15 and 14]

(Released 6 February 1970 in the UK on Apple APPLE 23. Both sides are cover versions, the A-side by Clive Westlake and David Most while the B is a Coasters song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It is also the only single on the Apple catalogue produced by a Beatle on each side - George Harrison on the A and Paul McCartney on the B. Both songs were non-album at the time of release)

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

Noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the disappointingly weedy booklet (they all appear to be this generic length - 12 pages - EMI pushes the boat out again people). But with what little text he has been afforded, Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details - and it's peppered with some very tasty black and white photos of Lomax in Hyde Park in 1969 (two more adorn the inner gatefold) - and colour portraits of Jackie with George Harrison and Paul McCartney in the studio.  It's cute, but you do wish there was more...

PLAYERS/CONTENT:

Like so many of the sessions of the time, the recordings included three of The Beatles and many famous and talented friends - George played Guitar, Ringo was on Drums, Paul McCartney and Klaus Voormann contributed Bass - others musicians included ERIC CLAPTON on Guitar, NICKY HOPKINS on Keyboards and TONY NEWMAN of Sounds Incorporated on Drums. Although the liner notes don't state it - the backing vocals are probably DORIS TROY and MADELINE BELL. Excepting "Sour Milk Sea" (written by George Harrison) - the other 11 tracks on the album are Jackie Lomax originals.

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters has done this - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKES, PHIL HICKS and SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is BEAUTIFUL - a massive improvement. It also makes you reassess a lot of the songs and especially the musicianship involved.

The album opens strongly with "Speak To Me" - strings, vocals, guitars - all sounding great. It's followed by the 'possessions are corrupting' title song (lyrics above) with a lovely Oboe floating over the loaded lyrics. In fact a lot of the album reflects a thinking-man's Rock 'n' Roller - "Little Yellow Pills" warning against doctor's helpful prescriptions and the plaintive album finisher "I Just Don't Know" ruminating about chasing dreams and girls - neither of which appear attainable to the dapper Jackie. Some of the slower songs don't work for me - a little forced and even twee in places - "Fall Inside Your Eyes" and "Baby You're A Lover"

But like the other issues in this series, the best is kept until last. What the 3 new bonus tracks lack in recorded finesse are more than made up for with heart and raw talent - "You Got To Be Strong" and "Can You Hear Me" are co-written with fellow label mate DORIS TROY - and they're excellent. Sort of hybrid Soul-meets-Rock songs, they suit his guttural vocals so well.  "Can You Hear Me" is even moving in a slightly Northern Soul way - a truly lovely melody.

Niggles - the gatefold card sleeve is nice to look at for sure, but the booklet and overall packaging feel lightweight (what EMI could get away with). The CD should have one of those gauze inner bags to protect it - a problem that no record company seems to want to acknowledge (scuffing and damage). These are minor points I know but worth making...

Lomax went on to make "Home Is In My Head" and "Three" for Warner Brothers in 1971 and 1972 (both of which featured ace UK slide-guitarist Bryn Haworth - they've been reissued by Rhino with extra tracks) - but this forgotten and underrated album is where it all started proper.

Recommended - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality and those excellent bonus tracks…