"Planet Waves" by BOB DYLAN – January 1974 US Fourteenth Studio Album on Asylum Records (February 1974 in the UK on Island Records) - Featuring the whole of The Band – Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Levon Helm (May 2004 UK Columbia Standard Edition Jewel Case Reissue – First Issued September 2003 in the Bob Dylan Revisited (The Reissue Series) As A Hybrid SACD Remaster in Card Digipak Repro Artwork – Greg Calbi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS:

Overall ****

Packaging Presentation **

Audio *****

"…May You Be Forever Young…"

On a rush of advance sales - Bob Dylan's first No.1 vinyl album in the USA (which seems almost unimaginable now in the hindsight mists of late 2024) came not in 1964 or 1966 or 1968 or 1970 - but in January 1974. 

Nevertheless "Planet Waves" irritated me as a teenager – I could never quite nail down why – it felt to me at the time like it was a good album trying real hard to be great. Side 1 is fab but Side 2 drops the ball. Sure, it has wonderful Dylan-mellow in "Going, Going, Gone" where Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson add telepathically classy fills and the wonderful anthemic "Forever Young" of course - but even that is faffed with a Fast Version that opens Side 2 – a silly directionless knees-up-mother-brown repeat that feels like filler instead of joy.

But what brings me back to "Planet Waves" these days (it was done with his long-time muckers The Band) is the stunning new Audio achieved when it was reissued in September 2003 - mastered by the legendary GREG CALBI. Man does this thing sound good - so musclebound that I'm hearing it anew – and even loving the faff-bits. Time to relocate Hazel and get Tough Mama…

UK re-released 29 May 2004 - "Planet Waves" by BOB DYLAN (featuring The Band) on Columbia 512356 6 (Barcode 5099751235620) is a Standard Edition Jewel Case Reissue of a SACD Hybrid Reissue first released in a Card Sleeve Digipak on 15 September 2003 (Barcode 5099751235668). It plays out as follows (42:10 minutes):

1. On A Night Like This [Side 1]
2. Going, Going, Gone
3. Tough Mama
4. Hazel 
5. Something There Is About You
6. Forever Young (5:00 minutes)
7. Forever Young (2:51 minutes) [Side 2]
8. Dirge
9. You Angel You
10. Never Say Goodbye
11. Wedding Song
Tracks 1 to 11 are his fourteenth studio album "Planet Waves" – released 17 January 1974 in the US on Asylum 7E 1003 and February 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9261 (all songs by BD). Bob Dylan plays Guitar and Harmonica (Lead Vocals on All) whilst The Band features Robbie Robertson on Guitars, Garth Hudson on Organ and Accordion, Richard Manuel on Keyboards and Drums, Rick Danko on Bass with Levon Helm on Drums. It peaked at No.1 in the USA (his first there) and No.7 in the UK.

First Issued September 2003 as part of the Bob Dylan Revisited (The Reissue Series) – that variant was a Hybrid SACD Remaster in Card Digipak Repro Artwork with a Greg Calbi Remaster. There was a layer for standard CD players also with the Remastered Audio. What you have here is technically a reissue of that Limited Edition into an unlimited edition jewel case in May 2004. The packaging is abysmal – a gatefold slip of paper that reproduces the 'Cast Iron Songs & Torch Ballads' charcoal drawing painting scrawled Dylan liner notes artwork on the inside of the gatefold with a photo of him in the studio (sat in a chair with guitar beside him) beneath the see-through CD tray – and that's your lot. No critique – no history – no appreciation - no lyrics - it just about mentions the Stereo Remaster by GREG CALBI at Sterling Sound on the rear of the booklet. But let's get to the music…

Right from the off, the audio on the jaunty "On A Night Like This" is fantastic, Levon Helm and his Accordion now clear and contributing. Robbie Robertson makes his guitar sound like it's trying to catch a breath – drunk almost - on one of the album's undoubted highlights - "Going, Going, Gone" – Dylan sounding full-throated sincere in his tortured vocal delivery – a gem. Sisters are on the highway while papa is in the big house (his working day are through) for the rollicking Band vs. Dylan shouter song "Tough Mama" – great audio as Dylan wails on the Harmonica and Garth Hudson makes his organ sing. But again, "Tough Mama" is one of those tunes, where you want to explore the themes and wish that Columbia had gone some way to providing lyrics – giving the release something other than what they can get away with. "Hazel" has something our Bob wants – another untouchable lady within reach but so far away. I love the way that his harmonica playing on "Hazel" adds a genuine hurt to the longing rather than just being something to fill the space (it feels old and new). And again, great audio as Robbie warbles those guitar notes in the right speaker for "Something There Is About You" – the other adding layers as both talents whirlwind into each other. 

I often think that our appraisal of "Planet Waves" would have been elevated had Dylan dropped that crap fast version of "Forever Young" that opens Side 2 and started instead with the bleak pain-drenched "Dirge" where Dylan is glad the curtain fell – no more daggering eyes until one breaks out the battle stare. You also must praise Robertson on zippy Acoustic and Hudson on Grand Piano where they somehow manage to make "Dirge" sound bleak and yet full too – a frantic baroness. "You Angel You" is unfortunately just another Dylan song that floats over you as he shout-sings his way through the motions. Robertson runs his guitar through a waterfall as Dylan sings of someone beautiful whose grace might just make him cry – the short three-minutes of "Never Say Goodbye" feeling like a song you should give a second-chance too. "Planet Waves" comes to an end with "Wedding Song" – an Acoustic strummer that regales how much his lady means to him. A track called "Nobody 'Cept You" (said to be a love song to his wife Sara) was replaced at the last minute with "Wedding Song" - there is also alternate versions of "Forever Young" officially out there too - first can be found on "Biograph" and then on "Bootleg Series Volumes 1 to 3".

There are BD fans who rate his 1974 platter "Planet Waves" as being up there – but I think that Seventies accolade goes hands down to "Blood On The Tracks" from 1975. 'Tracks' was a genuinely great album that moved then and does still. "Planet Waves" has never done that for me.  

But in truth - I am returning to the 'Moonglow' album of 1974 (even if I do not know what he's going on about in those scrawled "Planet Waves" liner notes) – playing it again after all these decades because of the revelatory Remaster. And this time, I'm smiling from the lifeboat and not so seasick…

"Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology" by SUPERTRAMP – Album Tracks Released Between July 1970 and March 2002 on A&M and EMI Records featuring Rick Davies, Rodger Hodgson, John Helliwell, Mark Hart, Dougie Thomson, Bob Siebenberg, Frank Farrell, Dave Winthrop, Cliff Hugo, Lee Thornburg and more (October 2005 UK A&M Records 2CD 35-Track Compilation with Two Previously Unreleased Period Outtakes and Greg Calbi and Jay Messina Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry....

 

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"…I Really Have Enjoyed My Stay…"

 

In 2023, England's Supertramp is 53-years burning down the Prog and Rock piano road. Five decades (plus) since their stumbling self-titled July 1970 debut album on A&M Records - their spiritual label home throughout the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties until they signed a new deal with EMI in 1997.

 

Amazingly, October 2005's "Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology" was their first half-decent career overhaul and came in a Single CD Edition – and this – the better and more comprehensive double. Centurion Crimes, Stateside Breakfasts, English Dreamers, Multiple Crisis Scenarios, Free Birds, Indelible Stamps, Moonshine Sisters and the occasional quiet moment with a Cannonball – they're all here. And it sounds the oozemefling in the audio department too. Here are the Bloody Well Rights, and none of it Logical...

 

UK released October 2005 - "Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology" by SUPERTRAMP on A&M 0602498869284 (Barcode 602498869284) is a 2CD 35-Track Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (77:39 minutes):

1. Surely (Edit, 1:03 minutes)

2. Your Poppa Don't Mind (3:00 minutes)

3. Land Ho (3:54 minutes)

4. Summer Romance (2:51 minutes)

5. School (5:34 minutes)

6. Bloody Well Right (4:32 minutes)

7. Dreamer (3:32 minutes)

8. Rudy (7:18 minutes)

9. Crime Of The Century (5:34 minutes)

10. Sister Moonshine (5:18 mnutes)

11. Ain't Nobody But Me (5:10 minutes)

12. Lady (5:23 minutes)

13. Two Of Us (3:26 minutes)

14. Give A Little Bit (4:08 minutes)

15. Downstream (4:01 minutes)

16. Even In The Quietest Moments (6:27 minutes)

17. From Now On (6:20 minutes)

NOTES on CD1:

Track 1 is an Edit taken from their debut album "Supertramp", the LP released July 1970 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 981. The a 30-second clip of the song "Surely" opened Side 1, but the version used here is edited from the full 3:08 minute song that ends Side 2

Track 2 is from their second studio album "Indelibly Stamped" released June 1971 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64306

Tracks 3 and 4 are Rick Davies and Rodger Hodgson songs and were the Non-LP A&B-sides of a British single. "Land Ho" was issued 1 March 1974 as their debut UK 45-single on A&M Records AMS 7101. However, the "Land Ho" single variant that was remixed by Ken Scott in November 1973 and issued as their first seven-inch in March 1974 – is not the version on offer here. It is a June 1975 Ken Scott remix that was considered for the 1975 "Crisis? What Crisis?" album but left unreleased. This compilation marks the first appearance of this Previously Unreleased mix and the 1974 single B-side "Summer Romance". Rodger Hodgson re-rerecorded "Land Ho" for his September 1987 second solo album "Hai Hai" also issued on A&M Records

Tracks 5 to 9 are from their third studio album "Crime Of The Century" released September 1974 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 68258

Tracks 10 to 13 are from their fourth studio album "Crisis? What Crisis?" released November 1975 on A&M Records AMLH 68347

Tracks 14 to 17 from their fifth studio album "Even In The Quietest Moments" released April 1977 in the UK on A&M Records AMLK 64634

 

CD2 (76:30 minutes):

1. Gone Hollywood (5:21 minutes)

2. The Logical Song (4:08 minutes)

3. Goodbye Stranger (5:48 minutes)

4. Breakfast In America (2:38 minutes)

5. Oh Darling (3:49 minutes)

6. Take The Long Way Home (5:00 minutes)

7. You Started Laughing (Live) (4:02 minutes)

8. It's Raining Again (4:24 minutes)

9. My Kind Of Lady (5:14 minutes)

10. Don't Leave Me Now (6:20 minutes)

11. Cannonball (7:39 minutes)

12. Free As A Bird (4:21 minutes)

13. You Win, I Lose (4:33 minutes)

14. Another Man's Woman (9:35 minutes)

15. Over You (3:31 minutes)

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1 to 6 from their sixth studio album "Breakfast In America" released March 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLK 63708

Track 7 was a new song and exclusive to the live double-album "Paris" released September 1980 in the UK on A&M Records AMLM 66702

Tracks 8 to 10 are from their seventh studio album "...Famous Last Words..." released September 1982 in the UK on A&M Records AMLK 63732

Track 11 is from their eighth studio album "Brother Where You Bound" released June 1985 in the UK on A&M Records 395 014-1 (LP) -2 (CD)

Track 12 is from their ninth studio album "Free as A Bird" released October 1987 in the UK on A&M Records 395 181-1 (LP) -2 (CD)

Track 13 is from their tenth studio album "Some Things Never Change" released March 1997 on EMI Records 7243 4 89989 2 7 (CD)

Track 14 is from their second live album "It Was The Best Of Times" released April 1999 in the UK on EMI Records 7243 4 99389 2 2 (CD)

Track 15 is from their twelfth studio album "Slow Motion" released March 2002 on EMI Records 7243 5 38624 2 8 (CD)

 

The 24-page booklet is pleasingly in-depth and tastefully laid out – each album pictured – band named – playing times – occasional guests. The discography info is preceded by SCOTT SCHNIDER liner-notes penned in New York in September 2005. Bolstered up with album-by-album recollections in between the text from mainman Singer and Writer Roger Davies – the info is good and covers the whole. Davies rightly waxes proud about their achievements and the fierce loyalty of fans that have stayed with the British Group most of their adult lives. It's nicely done.

 

But the real meat is the new sound. Audio Engineer GREG CALBI (assisted by JAY MESSINA) is important to Supertramp’s highly polished audiophile sound because he mastered both "Crime Of The Century" and "Breakfast In America" in 1974 and 1979 – and therefore has an intimate knowledge of the tapes. And with a staggering 2,300 mastering and remastering credits to his name across four decades (including huge names like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and even Television) – CALBI knows his way around a console and a tape box or two.

 

It will come as no surprise to any Supertramp fan to see that their two big landmark albums are well serviced here. "Crime Of The Century" from September 1974 gets five of its eight tracks Remastered while the March 1979 mega-hit and global breakthrough album "Breakfast In America" gets six of its ten explored.

 

After the tentative and frankly less than impressive two LP start in 1970 and 1971 – Supertramp regrouped – got together with the Bowie Producer Ken Scott and decided to spend time going for a winner. In 2024 - "Crime Of The Century" will be an astonishing 50 years young – and even now its aural sophistication and crafted songmanship improves and moves. I am always taken aback by the sad beauty in the very Prog tempos of "Rudy", the echoed Harmonica opener "School" with that Guitar and Piano break at 2:15 minutes (fabulous power in the Remaster) and the Tubular Bells-type piano genius of the title track "Crime Of The Century". The album also showcased the voices of Ray Davies and Rodger Hodgson as duel lead vocalists – a theme the band would repeat on every album thereafter.

 

The follow-up LP had big boots to fill and as I recall, the November 1975 set "Crisis? What Crisis?" disappointed. But having said that "Sister Moonshine" and "Lady" are Supertramp tunes I return more to than others. The send-a-smile lead off single "Give A Little Bit" was and still is lovely – a huge jangling acoustic guitar winner like "Sister Moonshine" while the took-a-boat-on-Sunday "Downstream" has a fantastic lead vocal from Rick Davies and is about as moving a love song as they ever achieved. The Remastered Audio for both "Even in The Quietest Moments" (Roger Hodgson on Lead) and the piano-whack of "From Now On" (Davies on Lead) is truly fabulous and might even make you reassess the "Even in The Quietest Moments" album as one of the lost gems from the turbulence of 1977.

 

CD2 weighs in with the big guns. And frankly after some of the lesser cuts from the earlier years - you thank the good 1979 Lord for it. In fact you could have included the whole "Breakfast In America" LP - especially brilliance like the keyboard marathon that is "Child Of Vision" that ended Side 2 in such stunning style. But if you are A&M - you don't give everything away. The "Breakfast In America" album was also serious Audiophile territory so standout songs like the keyboard-chugging guitar-soloing "Goodbye Stranger" (lyrics above, Roger Hodgson killing on that final geetar solo), the lesser-heard keyboard-funk of "Oh Darling" and the stunning Harmonica warbler "Take The Long Way Home" sound huge – but without being overblown or over trebled (I can even forgive the truly dreadful "Logical Song" and its cringing lyrics). Must be moving on.

 

But then it all feels like a rather sad downhill slope thereafter with only intermittent moments of relief. One such forgotten touchstone is "You Started Laughing" - the lone live cut from the September 1980 double album "Paris" (recorded 29 November 1979) – a really good song that you long to hear a studio version of. But then we get the plinky-ploppy AOR Pop of the awful "It's Raining Again" with the once-proud Supertramp chart chasing with the equally hammy "My Kind Of Lady". Things get Saxophone worse with "Don't Leave Me Now"- an early 80ts love song you can't wait to leave as soon as is possible.

 

At last relief comes by way of a fantastic seven and half minutes of keyboard workouts from 1985 - "Cannonball" showing that "Child Of Vision" magic again – even if the lyrics are a tad cheesy and obvious. It is a great discovery too for those who do not know their catalogue – a Rock-Soul-Funk workout worthy of any CD-R highlighting Funky Funky (Lee Thornburg playing a blinder on Trumpet). "Free As A Bird" is lightweight for them, but worse is weighed down with a horrible wall of 1987 production values that makes even a Remaster feel odd and strained. They go back to the "Breakfast in America" song formula for the simple but effective “You Win, I Lose” – a 1997 song that just about passes muster for a good one. Second last is one more live song recorded and released in 1999 – a dusted-of so-so tune from the 1975 album  "Crisis? What Crisis?" called "Another Man's Woman" But why someone thought this was worthy of inclusion is any man's guess? "Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology" ends on the blatant waltz-tempo rip-off that is "Over You" – not bad – sort of good – but nothing like the greatness of old.

 

For sure there are clunkers and the 2CD set suffers from having to touch base with every album when more from the masterpieces would have been the smarter and braver choice. But – the good stuff and that audio – man oh man when Supertramp was good – they were the business.

 

If you've been on the fence about SUPERTRAMP and their lengthy back-catalogue - then this dirt-cheap brilliant sounding twofer remaster is where to dive in and wallow…

"Band On The Run: 25th Anniversary Edition" by PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS – December 1973 Album on Apple Records featuring Denny Laine (March 1999 UK EMI/Parlophone 2CD Reissue with Greg Calbi and Geoff Emerick Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Let Me Roll It To You..."

 

There's a school of thought that says - latest is greatest - and in the main that often proves to be true. But "Band On The Run" is one of those occasions where I'd argue to sonically travel in the opposite direction, because to my ears this '25th Anniversary Edition' remastered by the mighty GREG CALBI and the album's original engineer GEOFF EMERICK in 1999 - thrashes the later more vaulted 2010 version. Here are more words from Picasso, rabbits on the run and suffragettes on Helen wheels...

 

UK released March 1999 - "Band On The Run: 25th Anniversary Edition" by PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS on EMI/Parlophone 4991762 (Barcode 724349917620) is a 2CD Box set and breaks down as follows:

 

Disc 1 (44:47 minutes)

1. Band On The Run

2. Jet

3. Bluebird

4. Mrs Vandebilt

5. Let Me Roll It

6. Mamunia

7. No Words

8. Helen Wheels

9. Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me)

10. Nineteen Hundred And Eight Five

"Band On The Run" was released December 1973 in the UK on Apple PAS 10007 and Apple 3415 in the USA

 

The album famously came out as a 9-track LP in the UK - but as a 10-track version in the USA. Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 made up Side 1 in the UK with 6, 8, 9 and 10 being Side 2. Tracks 1 to 10 make up the US album (it included "Helen Wheels").

 

"Helen Wheels" was released as a Non-Album UK 7" single with "Country Dreamer" as its non-album B-side (26 October 1973 on Apple R 5993 in the UK and 12 November 1973 on Apple 1869 in the USA).

 

Disc 2 (51:07 minutes):

1. Band On The Run (Dialogue Intro/Nicely Toasted Mix) 1:12 minutes

2. Band On The Run (Original Background/Dialogue Link 1) 2:17 minutes

3. Band On The Run (Band Rehearsal - 21st July 1989) 4:59 minutes

4. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 2)/Mamunia (Original)/Denny Laine (Dialogue)/Mamunia (Original)/Linda McCartney (Dialogue)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 3) 4:22 minutes

5. Bluebird (Live-Version-Australia 1975) 00.55 minutes

6. Bluebird (Original) (Background/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 4) 00:23 minutes

7. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 5)/No Words (Original)/Geoff Emerick (Dialogue) 1:24 minutes

8. No Words (Original/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 6)/Tony Visconti (Dialogue) 1:47 minutes

9. Jet (Original From Picasso's Last Words) (Background)/Al Coury (Dialogue) 2:55 minutes

10. Jet (Berlin Soundcheck - 3rd September 1993) 3:51 minutes

11. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 8)/Clive Arrowsmith (Dialogue) 1:44 minutes

12. Nineteen Hundred And Eighteen Five (Original) (Background)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 9)/James Coburn (Dialogue)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 10)/John Conteh (Dialogue) 3:24 minutes

13. Mrs Vandebilt (Original) (Background)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 11)/Kenny Lynch (Dialogue) 2:10 minutes

14. Let Me Roll It (Cardington Rehearsal - 5th February 1993)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 12)

15. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 13)/Mrs Vandebilt (Background)/Michael Parkinson (Dialogue)/Linda McCartney (Band On The Run Photo Shoot - Dialogue)/Michael Parkinson (Dialogue) 2:25 minutes

16. Helen Wheels (Crazed)/Paul McCartney Dialogue Link 14/Christopher Lee (Dialogue) 5:32 minutes

17. Band On The Run (Strum Bit)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 15)/Clement Freud (Dialogue) 1:01 minutes

18. Picasso's Last Words (Original) (Background)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 16)/Dustin Hoffman (Dialogue) 4:22 minutes

19. Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me) (Acoustic Version) 1:11 minutes

20. Band On The Run (Nicely Toasted Mix)/Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 17) 00:42 minutes

21. Band On The Run (Northern Comic Version) 00:36 minutes

 

It's housed in a tasty hard-card mini box set with a beautifully laid-out 24-page oversized booklet and a repro of the foldout poster that came with original copies of the 1973 album. The booklet has the lyrics, release info, superb liner notes from noted Beatles chronicler MARK LEWISOHN and extensive reissue credits. The CDs use the 'passport' photographs and album cover as artwork - but the really big news is the GREG CALBI and GEOFF EMERICK remaster which is hair-raisingly good. The clarity offered here is amazing - and it hammers you the moment the title track "Band On The Run" opens. And it continues like that throughout - the hooky "Jet" and lovely "Bluebird" - the audio is hugely improved over anything that's gone before and better than the rather flat sound on the new remaster from 2010. "Let Me Roll It" just rocks like a madman too. And the band build up on "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" is huge.

 

Disc 2 is probably one of the best `albums being put together' CD Bonus discs that I've ever heard. There's fascinating stuff like GINGER BAKER of CREAM " (at his studios in Lagos) playing a fire-bucket filled with gravel as a maraca in the rehearsals for "Mamunia" with Denny Laine - GEOFF EMERICK the Engineer talking about the noise of the EMI pressing plant outside the back door as they were recording to 8-track - TONY VISCONTI talking about the string arrangements on "Band On The Run" - AL COURY talking about the American radio stations editing "Jet" as a single and how he did the same and gave the album an extra boost in sales in February 1974 and Hoffman talking about the magical moment "Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me)" was written right in front of him about a story he suggested to McCartney on the last days of the 91-year old artist. It even includes dialogue from all the guys from the `break out' album cover shoot (taken at Osterley Park in West London) as well as the photographer CLIVE ARROWSMITH - Actor James Coburn, British Boxer John Conteh, Singer Kenny Lynch, British Chat Show Host Michael Parkinson, Actor Christopher Lee, British Gourmet Chef, Politician and TV personality Clement Freud and Actor Dustin Hoffman. The rehearsal for the brilliant riff of "Let Me Roll It" is superb - full of great Linda keyboards.

 

Perhaps it's the way that DISC 2 is displayed on the rear of the box - not really giving a full indication (as I've done above) as to what's on it - that saw this reissue disappear into a forgotten background. Dedicated to his wife and friend LINDA McCARTNEY - this is exemplary stuff - and absolutely kicking where it should be - on the audio front.

 

Made in such trying circumstances (they got robbed in Lagos and lost all their demo tapes) - "Band On The Run" has always been a McCartney solo gem.

 

"Your burning love...you mustn't hide..." - Paul McCartney sings on "No Words". Well now it's full potential is out in the open and if you're a fan - I'd travel for this version of it...

"Goats Head Soup" by THE ROLLING STONES – August 1973 UK and US LP on Rolling Stones Records - Guests Included Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Ian Stewart, Rick Grech, Jimmy Page, Bobby Keys and Jim Price with Bruce Rowlands and Jim Keltner (September 2020 UK/EU Rolling Stones Records/Polydor 2CD Deluxe Edition Reissue with New Giles Martin and Greg Calbi Stereo Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sexy Beast..."

 

*** 2020 Remaster vs. 1994 and 2009 Versions *** 

The June 1994 Virgin Single-CD Remaster had the original uncensored version of "Star Star" - but is now long deleted. The May 2009 subsequent Remaster at the hands of Polydor added unseen insult to injury by using the censored version (naughty words clumsily edited out) without announcing it on the packaging.

 

So now in September 2020, we thankfully revert to the original line-up ("Star Star" intact as it should be) and add in a second disc in the form of a 2CD Deluxe Edition offering 10 Previously Unissued Mixes, Alternates and Updated Outtakes – one of which features Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitar (not so you'd notice mind).

 

The New 2020 Stereo Mix by GILES MARTIN (of Abbey Road fame) with Mastering from the masterful GREG CALBI (Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and hundreds more) finally gives us the Audio Version that this notoriously muddy album has always deserved. This is without doubt the best that 'Soup' has ever sounded and that CD2 is alarmingly good too. So once more to the veils my peeps and let us wallow in some cauldron broth (on and off the menu)...

 

UK/EU released 4 September 2020 - "Goats Head Soup" by THE ROLLING STONES on Rolling Stones Records/Polydor 089 396-4 (Barcode 602508939648) is a 2CD Deluxe Edition Reissue and New 2020 Remaster that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 - New Stereo Mix - (46:48 minutes):

1. Dancing With Mr. D [Side 1]

2. 100 Years Ago

3. Coming Down Again

4. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)

5. Angie

6. Silver Train [Side 2]

7. Hide Your Love

8. Winter

9. Can You Hear The Music

10. Star Star

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Goats Head Soup" by THE ROLLING STONES - released 31 August 1973 in both the USA and UK on Rolling Stones COC 59101. Produced by JIMMY MILLER - it also hit the No. 1 spot on both LP charts.

 

CD2 – Rarities & Alternative Mixes – (39:50 minutes):

1. Scarlett

2. All The Rage

3. Criss Cross

4. 100 YearsAgo (Piano Demo)

5. Dancing With Mr. D. (Instrumental)

6. Heartbreaker (Instrumental)

7. Hide Your Love (Alternate Mix)

8. Dancing with Mr. D. (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

9. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

10. Silver Train (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

 

THE ROLLING STONES were:

MICK JAGGER - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica and Piano

KEITH RICHARD - Lead Guitar, Bass and Vocals

MICK TAYLOR - Lead Guitar, Bass and Vocals

BILL WYMAN - Bass

CHARLIE WATTS - Drums

 

CD1 Album Guests:

NICKY HOPKINS - Piano on Tracks 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9

BILLY PRESTON - Clavinet on Track 1, 2 and Piano on Track 4

IAN STEWART - Piano on Tracks 6 and 10

BOBBY KEYS - Tenor and Baritone Saxophone

JIM HORN - Flute and Saxophone

CHUCK FINLEY - Trumpet

JIM PRICE - Horns on Track 4

NICKY HARRISON - String Arrangements on Tracks 5 and 8

PASCHAL BEBOP and JIMMY MILLER - Percussion

 

CD2 Rarities Guests:

JIMMY PAGE – Guitar on Track 1

IAN STEWART – Piano and Organ on Track 1, Piano on Tracks 2, 5 and 7 with Organ on Track 6

NICKY HOPKINS – Piano on Tracks 2, 4, 5 and 6

BILLY PRESTON – Keyboards on Track 3

BOBBY KEYS –Saxophone on Tracks 5, 6 and 7

JIM PRICE – Trumpet on Track 6

RICK GRECH – Bass on Track 1

BRUCE ROWLANDS – Drums on Track 1

JIM KELTNER - Timbales on Track 3

 

The much-lauded booklets of these 2CD Deluxe Editions is yet again another over-it in a matter of minutes ho-hum affair – 20-pages of sessions photos accompanied by 2-pages of reissue credits at the back that list the players for all tracks and bugger all else. There is no critique of the album or historical placing liner notes which is just ludicrous, but unfortunately typical of their reissues. The original duo of inserts (an inner bag in the USA) and that gatefold artwork all make their way onto the triple-fold-out card sleeve but again the artwork feels lessened somehow to me and not made better. Both GILES MARTIN and CRAIG SILVEY are listed as the bods behind the 2020 Mixes while 2020 Mastering is down to GREG CALBI and EMILY LAZAR. And that's where the real goodies lie...

 

Man does this sucker Rock. Those album cuts we've all loved for decades like the beautiful "Winter" and the trippy "Can You Hear The Music?" are shining (in as much as they can). As someone who has been listening to the dull mastering of the original LP and the definite improvements provided in 1994 and 2009 – this properly thorough Remix in 2020 is a revelation. Stuff like "Dancing With Mr. D" rocks too (a sequel to "Sympathy To The Devil" that isn't quite as great) and the largely Acoustic "Angie" can only be described as Sublime Audio - not something you say about The Rolling Stones on CD very often. Although they didn't issue it as a 45 in the UK - the USA put out "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" as an A-side 7" single in February 1974 with "Dancing With Mr. D" on the flip - it went to No. 15.

 

The sinking into dark-eyes and rotten-teeth druginess of "Coming Down Again" has Keith taking the Lead Vocals before Mick takes over. But as Richards sings in a pleading ache "...she was dying to survive..." and later "...where are all my friends..." - you can literally feel his own spirit crying out for rescue from what was surely a suicidal and inevitable path towards Heroin. The 'case of mistaken identity' song "Heartbreaker" about cops with their trigger-happy forty-fours sounds incredible as does Billy Preston’s piano and that trio of expert brass players. And "Silver Train" rocks too - huge build of slide guitars - Mick Taylor adding so much as he always did – while Mick blows a mean Harmonica and claims he 'did not know her name' but she left with all the money anyway (yikes).

 

Like most I had not expected much from CD2, but frankly I can't stop playing the nifty sounding bugger to death. The first three are the new songs, old outtakes updated and they are excellent – kicking rockers that make me re-imagine Side 1 of the LP in my brain. The "100 Years Ago Demo" almost outdoes the finished article – Jagger clear and intimate as only Nicky Hopkins accompanies him on the old Johanna. Both the Instrumentals of "Dancing" and "Heartbreaker" are fantastic – all that muscle and riffage sneaking across your room. The remaining four are rougher but feel like a Punk Rolling Stones with their voodoo power intact. And again – I cannot stress enough how good that Instrumental of "Heartbreaker" is – crystal clear Acoustic Guitar opening – Bobby Keys and Jim Price giving in their Horns Magic throughout – Rocking and Beautiful at one and the same time. This is Rolling Stones magic.

 

There are multiple formats for this September 2020 reissue of "Goats Head Soup" – the sexy beast variant being the LP-Sized Super Deluxe Box Set with a CD3, Book, Memorabilia Repros and more.

 

The bottom line is that this 2020 version of the mucho-dismissed "Goats Head Soup" album is the best ever. And for a Stones album I've always held a candle for, I'll take this newly cooked two-horned stew all day long over the ones that went before...