"The Albums" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS and QUIVER - Clamshell Box Set Featuring Their Eight Studio Albums Between January 1972 and April 1979 on Island and CBS Records featuring Iain and Gavin Sutherland, Tim Fenwick, Bruce Thomas, Peter Wood and Willie Nelson with Guests Pat Donaldson and Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith with Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd (September 2019 UK (October 2019 USA) Cherry Red/Lemon Records 103-Track 8CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters That Includes Eight Albums with 20 Bonuses) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: *** Material ***** Audio **** Presentation

 

"...Because You Gave Me Something..."

 

When I worked at Reckless Records in both London's Berwick Street (Soho) and Upper Street (Islington) branches - Sutherland Brothers and Quiver albums were a sales no-no. They just didn't shift then and (sadly) it's pretty much the same now. Even the at-times gorgeous and wildly underrated Folk-Rock self-titled Island Records debut LP can be bought for just over two quid from loads of sites - not something you can say of any Island Records LP from 1972 – now over fifty years past and counting. Go to another famous site and in October 2023, you can find 182 copies of their "Reach For The Sky" LP with their big hit "Arms Of Mary" on it with a set-sale price tag of 80p.

 

Unfortunately, there are reasons why collectors won't pay up for LPs like "Dream Kid" or "Beat Of The Street" (from 1973 and 1974) - they just feel slight. As far as I'm concerned and despite silly assertions made in the booklet by Brian Mathieson of 'the best Rock music of the Seventies' – The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver went on a very real MOR downward trajectory after that lovely start - to a point where you can't give away the later albums either.

 

But this is not to say that all of their music warrants such low sums - it absolutely doesn't. The "Reach For The Sky" album has tunes and the sophisticated "Down To Earth" LP follow-up in 1977 was actually even better - but despite CBS trying three singles - it seemed few wanted to notice in those Punk and New Wave years. In short - despite the occasional oasis - it is all too often easy to hear as you wade through these eight Seventies slices of America-type songs why they didn't break through like some of their better contemporaries, Gallagher & Lyle jump to mind.

 

But praise where praise is due – there are goodies in here and Lemon Records of the UK (part of the Cherry Red roster of reissue labels) have done the sonic biz by the Scottish brothers and their harmonious legacy. What you get with "The Albums" is 3-star material given 5-star Audio and a 4-star presentation that offers eight remastered albums and twenty bonus tracks for beneath thirty quid from most online sites. Let's get to the details, because we got armloads of it...

 

UK released Friday, 27 September 2019 (4 October 2019 in the USA) - "The Albums" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS and QUIVER on Cherry Red/Lemon Records CDLEMBOX237 (Barcode 5013929783706) is an 103-Track 8CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters (Six of the albums have 20 Bonuses), Singular Repro Card Sleeve Artwork and a 28-Page Booklet that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "The Sutherland Brothers Band" (43:36 minutes):

1. The Pie [Side 1]

2. Sleeping Dog 

3. Hallelujah

4. I Was In Chains 

5. Medium Wave

6. Big Brother

7. War Of The Roses [Side 2]

8. Midnight Avenue 

9. Sunny Street, W14

10. Where In The World

11. Long Long Day 

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut studio album "The Sutherland Brothers Band" - released January 1972 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9181 and in the USA on Island Records SW-9315. Reissued 1975 on Island ILPS 9181 (different label) and November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82297. Produced by MUFF WINWOOD - it didn't chart in either country

 

CD1 BONUS TRACK:

12. The Pie (7" Version) - Edit at 3:31 minutes

Tracks 12 and 11 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 45-single released 21 January 1972 on Island WIP 6120. Rare copies came with picture sleeves on the album's artwork (it's pictured on Page 2 of the booklet)

 

CD2 "Lifeboat" (61:12 minutes) - see NOTES below re releases:

1. Lady Like You [Side 1] 

2. Lifeboat

3. Where Do We Go Wrong

4. Ireland

5. All I Got Is You

6. Space Hymn [Side 2]

7. Change The Wind

8. Sorrow 

9. Love Is My Religion

10. Real Love

 

CD2 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Have You Had A Vision 

12. Rock And Roll Show

13. (I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway

14. Not Fade Away 

15. Sailing

16. Who's Crying Now

17. Annie (7" Version)

 

CD2 NOTES:

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Lifeboat" - first 'UK' released November 1972 on Island ILPS 9212 (also produced by MUFF WINWOOD, also did not chart). The British Folk-Rock band QUIVER (who had had two albums on Warner Brothers in the UK, "Quiver" in 1971 and "Gone In The Morning" in 1972) joined with the Scottish group to become thereafter credited as The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. This extended line-up recorded four new recordings in the spring of 1973 and along with the stand-alone UK 45-single "Sailing" from 1972 and four of the original British LP's songs - a new album line-up was formed for the summer 1973 'US' release where the LP was launched as "Lifeboat" by SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER (using the same artwork). It is also pictured in the booklet.

 

The US LP "Lifeboat" released July 1973 on Island SW-9326 can be sequenced as follows from CD2: 

Side 1:

1. (I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway (CD Track 13)

2. Sailing (CD Track 15)

3. Where Do We Go Wrong (CD Track 3)

4. Space Hymn (CD Track 6)

5. Real Love (CD Track 10)

Side 2:

1. Have You Had A Vision (CD Track 11)

2. Lifeboat (CD Track 2)

3. Not Fade Away (CD Track 14)

4. Change The Wind (CD Track 7)

5. Rock And Roll Show (CD Track 12)

 

After Rod Stewart had made a worldwide hit of "Sailing" as a cover version on his 1975 album "Atlantic Crossing" and "Arms Of Mary" became a hit for The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver when it charted 10 April 1976 in the UK and rose to a peak position of No.5 on the British 7" singles chart (exited the Top 40 in June 1976) - CBS Records reissued all of their catalogue to date including another British version of the "Lifeboat" album in November 1977 on CBS Records 82298 which replaced "Sorrow" as track 3 on Side 2 with the hit "Sailing". That 1977 variant can also be sequenced from CD2.

 

SINGLES:

24 November 1972 saw Island Records UK issue "Lady Like You" as the band's third UK 45 7" single (Island WIP 6147) with an Edit of "Annie" as its B-side (featured here as a Bonus Track on CD2 – the edit is 3:59 minutes, the re-made LP version of "Annie" can be found on the "Beat Of The Street" album on CD4 where it runs to 4:06 minutes). Their second UK 45-single "Sailing" b/w "Who's Crying Now" was issued July 1972 on Island WIP 6136 (both tracks featured here as Bonuses on CD2). Their fifth UK 45 was "(I Don't Want To Love You) But You Got Me Anyway" b/w "Not Fade Away" issued 23 February 1973 on Island WIP 6157 - both tracks from the American version of the "Lifeboat" album but Non-LP in the UK ("Not Fade Away" is a Buddy Holly cover version).

 

CD3 "Dream Kid" (40:41 minutes):

1. You And Me [Side 1]

2. I Hear Thunder

3. Flying Down To Rio

4. Seagull/Lonely Love

5. Champion The Underdog

6. Bluesy World [Side 2]

7. Bad Loser 

8. Dream Kid

9. Maker

10. Rollin' Away/Rocky Road/Saved By The Angel

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Dream Kid" and first credited to SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER in Britain - released December 1973 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9259 and in the USA on Island SW 9341 (produced by MUFF WINWOOD - it didn't chart in either country). Reissued November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82299.

 

CD3 BONUS TRACK:

11. Don't Mess Up 

Track 11 is the Non-LP B-side to "Dream Kid" released 25 January 1974 in the UK as a 45-single on Island WIP 6182

 

CD4 "Beat Of The Street" (43:46 minutes):

1. World In Action [Side 1]

2. Saviour In The Rain

3. Devil, Are You Satisfied?

4. Bone Dry

5. Beat On The Street

6. Laid Back In Anger [Side 2]

7. His Life Music

8. Living In Love

9. Annie

10. Last Boy Over The Moon

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Beat Of The Street" - released October 1974 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9288 (no US release). It was reissued November 1977 in the UK on CBS Records 82230.

 

CD4 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Saviour In The Rain (7" Version)

12. Silver Sister

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of an October 1974 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6209. Although it doesn’t say so on the label, the A-side is an edit at 2:34 minutes – the full album version of "Saviour In The Rain" runs to 4:13 minutes – the B-side "Silver Sister" was a Non-LP song

 

CD5 "Reach For The Sky" (44:37 minutes):

1. When The Train Comes [Side 1]

2. Dirty City

3. Arms Of Mary

4. Something Special

5. Love On The Moon

6. Ain't Too Proud [Side 2]

7. Dr. Dancer

8. Reach For The Sky

9. Moonlight Lady

10. Mad Trail

Tracks 1 to 10 are their fifth studio album "Reach For The Sky" – released June 1975 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 69191 – reissued May 1976 in the UK with the same catalogue number after the 45-single "Arms Of Mary" became a Top 5 chart hit. US album on Columbia PC 33982.

 

CD5 BONUS TRACKS:

11. We Get Along

12. When The Train Comes (7" Version)

Track 11 is the Non-LP B-side to "Arms Of Mary" released 6 February 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 4001. Track 12 is the 3:32 minutes edited A-side of their seventh UK 45-single released 2 July 1976 on CBS Records S CBS 4336.

 

CD6 "Slipstream" (40:54 minutes):

1. Slipstream [Side 1]

2. Wild Love

3. Saturday Night

4. If I Could Have Your Loving

5. Love On The Side

6. Secrets

7. Dark Powers [Side 2]

8. Something's Burning

9. Sweet Cousin

10. Midnight Rendezvous

11. The Prisoner

12. High Nights

Tracks 1 to 12 are their sixth studio album "Slipstream" – released September 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S 81593 and Columbia PC 34376 in the USA. Produced by HOWIE and RON ALBERT (Fat Albert Production)

 

CD7 "Down To Earth" – see NOTES (67:15 minutes):

1. Ice In The Fire [Side 1]

2. Dark Ship

3. Harbour Light

4. Somebody's Fool

5. Fun On The Farm

6. Every Tear I Cry [Side 2]

7. Situations

8. Oh Woman

9. Rock 'N' People

10. Where Lies Your Soul

Tracks 1 to 10 are their seventh studio album "Down To Earth" (British version) – released September 1977 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 82255 (see below re USA issue).

 

CD7 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Ice In The Fire (7" Version) – 19 Aug 1977 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 5563, A-side – the LP-track "Where Lies Your Soul" was its B-side. The A-side edit is 3:37 minutes; the LP cut is 4:18 mnutes

12. Every Tear I Cry (7" Version) – 11 Nov 1977 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 5818 – the LP-track "Rock 'N' People" was its B-side. The A-side edit is 3:27 minutes; the LP cut is 4:09 minutes

13. Somebody's Fool (7" Version) – 28 July 1978 UK 45-single edit on CBS Records S CBS 6453 (as The Sutherland Brothers) – the 1972 UK 45-single "Sailing" was its B-side. The LP version of the A-side is 4:33 minutes; the single edit is 3:32 minutes

14. One More Night With You

15. Sunbird

16. When I Say I Love You (The Pie) – Remake of their first single "The Pie" from 1972 on their debut album; Tracks 14, 15 and 16 on the American LP – see Notes below

 

CD7 NOTES:

Although it had the same front sleeve artwork, the US album for "Down To Earth" had three additional tracks not on the UK variant and a different track-running order too. Released on Columbia JC 35293 and using the six Bonus Tracks provided on CD7 – it can be sequenced as follows:

 

Side 1:

1. One More Night With You (Track 14 on CD7)

2. Ice In The Fire (Track 1 on CD7)

3. Sunbird (Track 15 on CD7)

4. Harbour Light (Track 3 on CD7)

5. Dark Ship (Track 2 on CD7)

Side 2:

1. Situations (Track 7 on CD7)

2. Somebody's Fool (Track 4 on CD7)

3. Every Tear I Cry (Track 6 on CD7)

4. Fun Of The Farm (Track 5 on CD7)

5. When I Say I Love You (The Pie) (Track 16 on CD7)

 

CD8 "When The Night Comes Down" (41:29 minutes):

1. Natural Thing [Side 1]

2. Have You Ever Been Hurt?

3. First Love

4. Easy Come, Easy Go

5. As Long As I've Got You

6. I'm Going Home

7. When The Night Comes Down [Side 2]

8. Dreams Of You

9. Cruisin'

10. On The Rocks

11. Crazy Town

Tracks 1 to 11 are their eight and final studio album "When The Night Comes Down" (credited as The Sutherland Brothers) – released April 1979 in the UK on CBS Records 83427 and Columbia PC 35703 in the USA

 

Quiver had consisted of Tim Renwick on Guitars, Flute and Vocals, Cal Batchelor on Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals with Bruce Thomas on Bass and Vocals and Willie Nelson on Drums and Vocals. Barney Bubbles had even designed both of their album sleeves for their duo of Warner Brothers albums in 1971 and 1972 – something he would bring to the debut for The Sutherland Brothers Band in January 1972 (he would go on to famously design New Wave albums).

 

Minus Cal Batchelor - the other three - Tim Renwick, Bruce Thomas and Willie Nelson – joined with the Sutherland Brothers in 1972 – in fact that second album featured a plethora of great session-players – Dave Mattacks and Pat Donaldson from Fairport Convention, Bob Ronga on Bass, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick and Steve Winwood from Traffic with John ‘Hawk’ Hawken all hawking Keyboards. Tex Comer from Ace (Paul Carrack’s band) joined them too on Bass for the "Beat Of The Street" album.

 

The Clamshell Box offers eight individual single card sleeves and a 28-page booklet (all pictured above) with new liner notes by BRIAN MATHIESON who draws from interviews with the core four-piece of Sutherlands, Renwick and Willie Nelson. There are tour posters with Elton John, Island Records promo photos (two), Zig Zag magazine covers and various Trade Adverts. Each card sleeve is a single with a picture CD inside that reflects the album artwork and not the original labels. Any original inner bags or lyric inserts are left out – so the gatefold of "Beat Of The Street" is missing – the inner sleeves of "Dream Kid" and "Down To Earth" are not here – the lyric inserts for "Reach For The Sky" and "Slipstream" are AWOL too. Some of the artwork to those inners is in the booklet along with a collage of singles, picture sleeves and other period material too, but sadly no lyrics.

 

It’s a perfectly acceptable visual on all fronts – but the fireworks are really clean and upfront remasters (the overall set is mastered by JAMES BRAGG). The extras are all very smart moves too – fans will know that for instance the CBS Rewind Remaster of "Reach For The Sky" (their breakthrough album from 1975 and 1976) had only the UK LP tracks – here Lemon provide the full US picture too – the same for "Down To Earth" from 1977. To the tunes...

 

The early 1972 debut LP on Island Records has at least three or four great moments least not of all is Track 4 "I Was In Chains". Both Maggie Bell of Stone The Crows and Paul Young of The Q-tips spotted its lovely Folk-Traditional melodious magic when Maggie covered it in 1975 on her "Suicide Sal" for Polydor - while Young put it as the last track on his 2^nd solo album "The Secret Of Association" ten years later in 1985. Other cool grooves come with the stay-together-comrades chug of "Big Brother" and the other whopper on the LP – the oddly happy let-down-off-the-family obsessed "Where In The World". But the LP is dominated by many fans firm fave – the beautiful lilt in "The Pie" that opens Side 1 (here in two forms, full album and edited single). British jocks played it a lot, but for some reason, it just didn’t take with the general public enough to chart it (the saccharine syrupy/string remake version on the otherwise excellent "Down To Earth" album is to be avoided – ruin a perfectly lovely memory).

 

Their second outing "Lifeboat" comes in two forms – the British original from November 1972 which is only OK – but then three members of Quiver joined The Sutherland Brothers and injected some much need oomph. Sessions ensued with four new songs. So July 1973 sees the LP re-launched in the US (same artwork) credited as "Lifeboat" by The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver (the UK LP is TSB only). When you sequence the US variant from CD2 (see Notes above) – it makes for a much more coherent and enjoyable listen – better songs and the killer "Sailing" included too. The only pointless moment is a cover of the Buddy Holly classic "Not Fade Away" that instantly feels like filler and superfluous to requirements.

 

Although a considerable audio notch up in Production values, for me the two from 1973 and 1974 "Dream Child" and "Beat Of The Street" are just plain boring and lightweight (the second did not get a US release). And you can just so hear why bands like America and especially Eagles shifted such huge numbers of albums – they always had tunes – whole albums full of them. But things change with a signing to CBS Records. Unfortunately (and as is discussed in the booklet) – TSB and Quiver could not have known of the Epic Records signing CBS Records UK was really interested in – ABBA.

 

Abba had removed the mighty "Bohemian Rhapsody" by QUEEN from the No.1 spot of several weeks in late 1975 and early 1976 by putting their "Mamma Mia" at No. 1. They would put "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" both at further No.1 spots in May and September 1976 – just when TSB and Quiver were getting lucky with "Arms Of Mary". As a charting band – the Scandi ABBA were huge. I mention this because the "Reach For The Sky" album came out in June 1975, yet CBS had not even bothered prepping a teaser 45. The band would have to wait until November 1975 for the not-so-good "Ain't Too Proud" for a UK 45-single and that was only because Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd played barely-perceptible Steel Guitar on the track and that other mega band was riding high after "Wish You Were Here" had become one of the monster albums of 1975. Someone thought maybe fans of Pink Floyd would seek out anything DG was on. 

 

Then came the 1976 relaunch of the LP after "Arms Of Mary" broke the lean streak by charting April 1976 and rising eventually to No.5. in England. Willie Nelson describes the song in the booklet as a throwaway that came back from America with overdubs and commercialized sound – a melody that did catch the British public's attention. Other goodies on their most famous album include "When The Train Comes" and "Something Special" while the Side 2 ender "Mad Trail" is a refreshingly funky belter.

 

Both the "Slipstream" album from 1976 and especially the more accomplished follow-up "Down To Earth" from 1977 deserved better sales – tracks like "Secrets" and "Situations" showing they could still touch a heart. But the last set here "When The Night Comes Down" is a step too far into soulless Yacht Rock and is mostly unlistenible for me.

 

Iain Sutherland sadly passed in late November 2019 aged 71 – only a couple of months after the release of this Box Set. At least Lemon Records of the UK did him and his band pals a solid. If you are a fan, it is a must own, and for the Seventies-curious there are discoveries enough worth seeking out...

"The Dawn Albums Collection" by MUNGO JERRY featuring Ray Dorset (September 2017 7t's/Cherry Red 5CD Mini Box Set - James Bragg Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

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Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

"...Baby Jump..."

Amidst the tight-trousered, Vahalla-spouting, Beelzebub-worshipping, knob-Gods of Hard Rock, the transitioning eye-makeup of androgynous pop singers working feather boas and lip gloss, the po-faced finger-in-the-ear purity of Traditionalist Folkies babbling on about the Solstice and Ruin Stones and the cheesecloth-shirt bedsit fumbling of emotionally frail singer-songwriters mentally crucified by Zodiac predictions in ponderous sun-sign paperbacks - sat the gloriously simple MUNGO JERRY - an English band that virtually smelt of summer and pretty girls and the seaside and pubs and hard-boiled sweets and damn it – plain old-fashioned fun.

With their throwback Lonnie Donegan Skiffle rhythms and homemade Jug Band washboards - leery side-burned gap-toothed singer Ray Dorset and his banks of Kazoos, Jews Harps, Barrelhouse Pianos and foot-stomping - seemed like a breath of fresh air in a musical scene dominated by so much earnest seriousness and self-importance. And that's what "The Dawn Albums Collection" delivers - five albums and various non-LP single-side sundries worth of 'alright alright alright' in a pint-sized carton with a sticky bun on top and a sugar-lump chaser. There's a shed load to wade through here so let's get to the electronically tested...

UK released Friday, 29 September 2017 (October 2017 in the USA) - "The Dawn Albums Collection" by MUNGO JERRY on 7t's/Cherry Red GLAMBOX166 (Barcode 5013929056626) is a 5CD 81-Track Mini Box Set that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Mungo Jerry" (66:02 minutes):

1. Baby Let's Play House [Side 1]

2. Johnny B. Badde

3. San Francisco Bay Blues

4. Sad Eyed Joe

5. Maggie

6. Peace In The Country

7. See Me [Side 2]

8. Movin' On

9. My Friend

10. Mother *!*!*! Boogie

11. Tramp

12. Daddies Brew

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Mungo Jerry" - UK released July 1970 on Dawn Records DNLS 3008 and September 1970 in the USA on Janus Records JXS 700. The US album came in different artwork and on Side 2 (only) dropped "Daddies Brew" as the last track to replace it with the hit single "In The Summertime" which then became the opening song on Side 2 (Side 1 running order same as the UK).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Mighty Man

14. Dust Pneumonia Blues

15. Santo Antonio Santo Francisco

16. Live From Hollywood - Maggie/Midnight Special/Mighty Man

Tracks 13 and 14 are non-album single sides - the remaining two-tracks to the UK 3-track 'Maxi Single' "In The Summertime" released May 1970 on Dawn Records DNX 2502 (the picture sleeve is on Page 3 of the booklet)

Track 15 is the non-album A-side to an Italian-only 7" single on Pye Records P 67.030 released February 1971 ("Peace In The Country" was the B-side)

Track 16 is a non-album single side - one of two to the UK 3-track 'Maxi Single' "Baby Jump" released January 1971 on Dawn Records DNX 2505 (the other track was "The Man Behind The Piano" (on Disc 2) and the picture sleeve is on Page 5 of the booklet)

Disc 2 "Electronically Tested" (61:49 minutes):

1. She Rowed [Side 1]

2. I Just Wanna Make Love To You

3. In The Summertime

4. Somebody Stole My Wife

5. Baby Jump [Side 2]

6. Follow Me Down

7. Memories Of A Stockbroker

8. You Better Leave That Whiskey Alone

9. Coming Back To You When The Time Comes

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 2nd studio album "Electronically Tested" - released in the UK April 1971 on Dawn Records DNLS 3020.

Named after their second hit single the 1971 10-track German version of the album was called "Baby Jump" on Pye Records 85 267 IT and featured an exclusive song,  a radically-altered track run and a non-album B-side. To sequence the German LP "Baby Jump" from this CD, use the following:

Side 1: Tracks 5, 4, 2 and 14 ("Black Bubonic Plague" was exclusive to this album)

Side 2: Tracks 1, 6, 9, 8, 7 and 10

The American and Canadian albums for "Electronically Tested" on Janus JXS 3072 and Dawn DNLS 3072 (respectively) were both renamed "Memories Of A Stockbroker" and also given radically re-altered 11-song tracks-lists (the same for each) which included exclusives and non-album B-sides. They can be sequenced from Disc 2 and Disc 1 as follows:

Side 1: Tracks 7, 8, 4, 9, 6 and 1

Side 2: Tracks 5, 12, 10, 12 (Disc 1) and 2

BONUS TRACKS:

10. The Man Behind The Piano

Non-album B-side to "Baby Jump", a January 1971 UK 7" single on Dawn 7N 2505 and the January 1971 3-track 'Maxi Single' EP "Baby Jump" on Dawn DNX 2505 (picture sleeve pictured on Page 5 of the booklet)

11. Lady Rose (Single Version)

Originally a non-album A-side of a May 1971 UK 7" single on Dawn 7N 2510 (its B-side was another non-album song "Little Louie" - see Track 13). "Lady Rose" then later turned up in 'album form' (different to the original single) on the "Boot Power" LP in October 1972. On original release "Lady Rose" was also put out as a May 1971 4-track 'Maxi Single' EP on Dawn DNX 2510 (pictured on Page 7 of the booklet). But just to confuse matters there are two versions of it - both with the same catalogue number and picture sleeve. The first has the tracks as "Lady Rose", "She Rowed", "Milk Cow Blues" and "Little Louie" - the second swaps "She Rowed" for "Have A Whiff On Me" as Track 2 on Side 1 and is the more common of the two EPs (all can be sequenced from this box set)

12. Have A Whiff On Me

Non-album B-side on the May 1971 4-track 'Maxi Single' EP "Lady Rose" on Dawn DNX 2510 (pictured on Page 7 of the booklet)

13. Little Louie

Non-album B-side of a May 1971 UK 7" single on Dawn 7N 2510 and also one of the songs on the May 1971 4-track 'Maxi Single' EP "Lady Rose" on Dawn DNX 2510 (pictured on Page 7 of the booklet)

14. Black Bubonic Plague - exclusive to the German LP of "Electronically Tested" called "Baby Jump" (see above)

15. Have A Whiff On Me (USA Version) - exclusive to the US LP of "Electronically Tested" called "Memories Of A Stockbroker" (see above)

Disc 3 "You Don't Have To Be In The Army" (58:29 minutes):

1. You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War [Side 1]

2. Ella Speed

3. Pidgeon Stew

4. Take Me Back

5. Hey Rosalyn

7. Northcoat Arms [Side 2]

8. There's A Man Going Round Taking Names

9. Simple Thing

10. Keep Your Hands Off Her

11. On A Sunday

12. That Old Dust Storm

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 3rd studio album "You Don't Have To Be In The Army" - released October 1971 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3028.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. We Shall Be Free - non-album B-side to a September 1971 UK 7" single for "You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War" on Dawn 7N 2513

14. Shorty George

15. Outskirts Of Town

16. You Got Me Dizzy - tracks 14, 15 and 16 are session outtakes - Blues and R'n'B covers of "Short George" (Leadbelly), "Outskirts Of Town" (Roy Jacobs song associated with Ray Charles and others) and "You Got Me Dizzy" (Jimmy Reed)

Disc 4 "Boot Power" (59:30 minutes):

1. Open Up [Side 1]

2. She's Gone

3. Lookin' For My Girl

4. See You Again

5. The Demon

6. My Girl And Me [Side 2]

7. Sweet Mary Jane

8. Lady Rose (Album Version)

9. Going Down The Dusty Road

10. Brand New Car

11. 46 And On

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 4th studio album "Boot Power" - released October 1972 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3041.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. A Goodie Boogie Woogie

13. 46 And On (Single Version)

14. My Girl And Me (Single Version)

15. Open Up (Single Version)

Tracks 12, 13 and 14 are the non-album B-sides to a November 1972 UK 4-track 'Maxi Single' EP "My Girl And Me" on Dawn Records DNX 3041

Track 15 is the A-side of a March 1972 UK 7" single on Dawn 7N 2514. Along with "Going Back Home", "I Don't Wanna Go Back To School" and "No Girl Reaction" (the three of which would eventually emerge on the September 1974 album "Long Legged Woman") - "Open Up (Single Version)" was also part of a 4-track 'Maxi Single' EP for "Open Up" on Dawn DNX 2514 in late March 1972

Disc 5 "Long Legged Woman" (60:19 minutes):

1. Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black [Side 1]

2. Glad I'm A Rocker

3. Gonna Bop 'Til I Drop

4. Wild Love

5. O'Reilly

6. The Sun Is Shining

7. Summer's Gone

8. Don't Stop [Side 2]

9. Going Back Home

10. No Girl Reaction

11. Little Miss Hipshake

12. Milk Cow Blues

13. I Don't Wanna Go Back To School

14. Alright Alright Alright

Tracks 1 to 14 are their 5th studio album "Long Legged Woman" - released September 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3501.

BONUS TRACKS:

15. All Dressed Up And No Place To Go

16. Shake 'Til I Break

17. Too Fast To Live And Too Young To Die

18. Burnin' Up

19. Say Goodnight

Tracks 15, 16, 17 and 18 were the non-album "Rock & Roll with Mungo Jerry" EP released November 1974 in the UK on Dawn DNS 1092

Track 19 originally appeared as Track 3 on Side 1 of the October 1974 UK LP compilation "Golden Hour Presents Mungo Jerry's Greatest Hits" on Golden Hour GH 586

MUNGO JERRY was:

RAY DORSET - Lead Vocals, Electric, Acoustic and Steel Guitars, Kazoo, Harmonica and Footstomps

RAY KING - Acoustic Guitars and Banjo, Blues Harp, Jug and Kazoo

COLIN EARL - Piano and Harpsichord

JOHNNY VAN DERRIK - Violin

MIKE COLE - Double Bass

The glossy Mini LP-sized clamshell box houses five single card-sleeve repro-covers of the original British albums (3 and 4 contain picture CDs whilst the other labels are plain colours) and a jam-packed 20-page booklet. It's a feast for the eyes and brain containing hordes of rare 7" single picture sleeves on almost every page (Italy, Japan, Eastern Europe and so on), period memorabilia (sheet music, A-label demos, alternative artwork and so forth) and new hugely informative liner notes from ALAN CLAYSON. The rear covers of the British LPs are even pictured on the last credits page. But as fans will know the first four Mungo Jerry albums in the UK all came in tasty gatefold sleeves (the last was a single plain cover) - "Boot Power" had a lyric insert whilst the debut came with 3D-glasses to look at the 3D'd cover on original issues - and unfortunately an opportunity has been missed here in not giving them the repro glory they deserved. Still with half decent JAMES BRAGG Audio and a price tag that sees these LPs and straggler-sides weigh in at just above four-quid per album and you'd have to argue that there's an awful lot baby jumping to be had here. On to the music...

We learn that Producer Barry Murray (who worked for Pye Records) first heard only one minute of "In The Summertime" at a Ray Dorset acoustic-guitar demo session in his offices and knew it was a No. 1 – screaming it from his chair. But when it was recorded shortly thereafter – the band realised that one-minute of music was literally all they had. They then went upstairs to the car park - miked up the exhaust pipe of an executive's sports car and recorded the roars - went back downstairs and panned that exhaust rumble across the speakers in the middle of the song. They then simply re-repeated the first recorded minute twice and a musical year-defining legend was made. Released a month prior to the album - a spot on Peel's Radio Show and a TV slot on the BBC's 'Disco Two' saw the shush-right-up sweety long-legs Dawn single for "In The Summertime" enter the UK charts at No. 13 after only one week and smash to the top by week two. It was the same chart MO virtually everywhere else on the planet (its infectious Kazoo shuffle hit No. 3 in the USA).

"In The Summertime" had a simplistic Jug Band joy that captured the imagination and the feet and much of the debut album reflects the same - from the cod Rock 'n' Roll homage to heroes of old in "Baby Let's Play House" where a vocally-echoed Dorset mimics his best Presley lip-sneer through to the "Lady Rose" identikit sound of "Maggie" and the wonderful "My Friend" which could easily have been another Top Ten blast everywhere ("Tramp" is the one moment of surprising delicacy).

Their second platter remains their most famous and commercially successful - "Electronically Tested" – renamed "Baby Jump" in certain territories after that second single sparked Mungomania and suddenly everybody wanted to sing about girls in figure-hugging clothing and see-through sweaters. The Production quality for Album Two certainly jumped up as is evidenced by "She Rowed" and the grungy but in-yer-face guitars of "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" – a not entirely comfortable stab at the Willie Dixon/Muddy Waters Chess Records classic. "Somebody Stole My Wife" could easily have been another hit single on an album that finally included "In The Summertime" and "Baby Jump" amidst its ranks – while Dorset gets to stretch out his wordsmith talent with the miserable-banker remembering sweets in the schoolyard then becoming boring suits and insufferable bosses in "Memories Of A Stockbroker". Morbid ponderings of such like are soon replaced with drinking in "You Better Leave That Whiskey Alone" – a jaunty tale of a wife who took the bottle down off the shelf when her husband buggered off the summer previous and hasn’t been able to replace it – two-fingering her doctor’s advice. It ends with a love song – a girl writing Ray to remind him of what he’s missing – if only he can stop taking girls on his worldwide pop-star travels (oops dear – I’m afraid from his tone - he’s off again).

By the time Mungo Jerry had reached LP No. 3 – the Americans had stopped listening (none of the next three were released there) probably judging them to be a one-hit wonder novelty sound like "Neanderthal Man" by a pre-10cc Hotlegs. But that's not to say there isn't more on here worth loving – there is. In fact what gets me about a Box Set called "Albums Collection" is how much you keep returning to their singles and those deadly non-album B-sides that were for me at least better than many of the hurried album cuts. The cocaine-romp of "Have A Whiff On Me" and the my-woman-is-on-my-mind-again rumble of "The Man Behind The Piano". There's the two stunners that followed "In The Summertime" on their first 'Maxi Play' single EP (33 1/3 playing speed anybody) - "Mighty Man" and "Dust Pneumonia Blues" - winners both. And best of all is the amazing and truly period-evocative "Lady Rose" - presented here in both single and LP form. My poison has always been the looser more feel-good 7" single version - dee dee dee dee dee indeed. "Lady Rose" has always brought a smile to my face and the same goes for Mungo Jerry - even if the albums and hits had clearly tapered off by 1974's drearily-clad "Long Legged Woman".

"...Life's for living and that's our philosophy..." - the permanently ringlet-haired Ray Dorset sang on "In The Summertime" all those years ago.  "The Dawn Albums Collection" is not all genius for sure - but man-oh-man could the Middlesex boy pen a hit - and I for one am glad 7t's/Cherry Red have catalogued those hazy-crazy days in this micro-mini skirt of a Box Set. Pass the kazoo lads - it's time to shuffle...

"The Albums" by MEAL TICKET (2017 Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Out Of The Blue..."

When I worked for Reckless Records in Islington and Berwick Street in Soho (I was a buyer for 20 years) – Meal Ticket LPs were strictly a no-no - bargain bin fodder that never sold - always reduced to sell. And despite the gorgeous presentation of this lavish Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set (Lemon is a part of Cherry Red of the UK) - it's easy to hear why that was the case for this very US-influenced West London band.

That's not to say that there isn't anything worth loving here – there most definitely is. The "Code Of The Rode" debut album from July 1977 has some genuine melodic peaches on it (Britain's answer to the Americana of The Eagles, America and The Band) - but the second platter "Three Times A Day" that followed only four months later in November 1977 is a dog and the third "Take Away" from November 1978 is not much better.

London's Meal Ticket formed in 1975 - so the 1977 debut album on EMI International/Logo Records had time to gestate and songs like "Out Of The Blue", "Last One To Know" and the epic sounding harmonies of "The Man From Mexico" would do any Crazy Horse LP proud. The lyrics too are long and smart and penned by actor and scriptwriter David Pierce. Along with Canadian singer Rick Jones – Pierce was an integral part of Meal Ticket the band and a prime mover behind the 1975 Chrysalis Records LP "Flash Fearless Versus The Zorg Women Parts 5 & 6" (CHR 1081) – a Sci-Fi spoof album project that featured Elkie Brooks, Alice Cooper, Jim Dandy of Black Oak Arkansas, James Dewar of Stone The Crows and The Robin Trower Band and John Entwistle of The Who. But clearly out of decent songs - and given the visceral musical scene of Punk and New Wave exploding all around them - it's no wonder that the insipid soft-rock of the second and third LPs died a death commercially (none of Meal Ticket's recorded output disturbed the UK charts and none of it was issued Stateside). And rehearing them now – 40 years of time has not been kind to either of the later LPs.

But for fans who've waited decades for these albums to be put out on CD (especially that debut) - this first-time-on-digital in the UK 3-Disc Box Set from Lemon Records with its great Audio and classy presentation is going to be a must buy. Here are the Bar Room details...

UK released 27 January 2017 (3 February 2017 in the USA) - "The Albums" by MEAL TICKET on Lemon Records CDLEMBOX227 (Barcode 5013929782709) is a 3CD Mini Box Set offering their three studio albums from 1977 and 1978 and Two Bonus Live Tracks Remastered. There are Singular Card Repro Artwork Sleeves and a 20-page booklet and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "Code Of The Road" (46:40 minutes):

1. Out Of The Blue [Side 1]

2. Keepin' The Faith

3. OK Bar (Same Old Story)

4. Last One To Know

5. Day Job

6. The Man From Mexico [Side 2]

7. Snow

8. Golden Girl

9. Standing On The Wrong Corner

10. Georgia Syncopator

11. The Code Of The Road (Travellers Bible)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Code Of The Road" - released July 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3008. Produced by ALAN O'DUFFY and WILLY FINLAYSON (no US release).

Disc 2 - "Three Times A Day" (38:10 minutes):

1. This Could Be The Town [Side 1]

2. Oh Sister

3. Last Port Of Call

4. Comes The Dawn

5. River Man

6. Yesterday's Music [Side 2]

7. Rural Routes

8. I Wish I Wish

9. Laughing Daughter

10. This Dream I Have Of You

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Three Times A Day" - released November 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3010. Produced by RICHIE GOLD (no US release)

Disc 3 - "Take Away" (44:11 minutes):

1. Why In The World [Side 1]

2. Down On My Knees (After Memphis)

3. Lucy

4. Lone Star Motel

5. The Shape I'm In

6. Blame [Side 2]

7. Simple

8. Bonnie Lee's Dinette

9. At The Funny Farm

10. Get On Board

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third and final studio album "Take Away" - released November 1978 (reissued April 1979) on Logo Records LOGO 1008. Produced by DAVID MACKAY.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon (Live)

12. Boogie Queen (Live)

Tracks 11 and 12 are non-album - released November 1978 as the second single in a UK double-pack for "Simple" on Logo Records GO(D) 330. The standard single (Disc 1 of the double-pack) on Logo Records GO 330 contained "Simple" on the A-side and "Funny Farm" on the B-side. There is no venue or recording date advised for the live cuts.

You have to say that the glossy clamshell box is pretty as are the three repro card sleeves and the 20-page booklet. New liner notes come courtesy of MICHAEL HEATLEY and with recent interviews give a thorough history of the band's beginnings and end. In-between the text are photos of the many EMI International and Logo 45s that EMI tried - as well as live photos of the band, the rear sleeve artwork on the back page (no inners) and various press cuttings. The mastering is down to JAMES BRAGG and the Audio on all three is excellent - especially "Code Of The Road".

You can immediately hear why EMI thought "Out Of The Blue" would be the best lead-off single for the debut album - it's a fantastically hooky song. EMI International INS 533 was issued as a British 45 towards the end of May 1977 with the witty "Day Job" as its B-side - months ahead of the album. Given the strength of the Rick Jones, David Pierce and Steve Hammond composition - it should have been huge really and yet I can't recall ever hearing it at the time. Other nuggets on an album obsessed with American Highways and Mexican Haciendas are the very Crazy Horse vibe of "Last One To Know" and the brilliant harmony breaks that occur in the near six-minute Side 2 stunner "The Man From Mexico".

After the relative high of the debut - "Three Times A Day" comes as a huge disappointment. Tracks like "This Could Be The Town" and "Rural Routes" suddenly sound dull and derivative. EMI tried "Yesterday's Dreams" b/w "The Man From Mexico" from the first LP in September 1977 as a 45 on EMI International INS 539 - even awarding it the luxury of a picture sleeve (both sides are repro'd on Pages 3 and 4 of the booklet). But fans of say Cado Belle or Ace didn't seem to be listening as it tanked. When album number three "Take Away" showed in November 1978 - EMI (under their Logo label imprint) tried "Simple" as the LPs first 45 in two formats - a standard 7" single and a double-pack with two unreleased live tracks on Disc 2 - but no takers. March 1979 saw them try their cover of The Band's "The Shape I'm In" as a single - Logo GO 342 with the LP opener "Why In The World" as its B-side. But that and the last UK single "Blame" in May 1979 on Logo GO 352 (with "At The Funny Farm" on the flip-side) failed as well.

You have to say that re-listening to these albums has been a mixed emotion - loving the first but I'd forgotten how forgettable the other two really are. Still - fans will adore the quality presentation and the sparkly audio and will need to own it. Others should try a listen first...