Sounds Good, Looks Good...

Welcome to Mark Barry's Review Blog - SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GOOD... It features in-depth reviews for Quality CD Reissues and Remasters - all with Discography Info (six times Amazon 'Hall of Fame' Reviewer). With over 2,700 posts - genres covered include Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk, Jazz Fusion, Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Doo Wop, Vocal Groups, 1960s and 1970s, Prog, Psych, Folk, Blues-Rock, Goth, Punk, New Wave, 1980s, Reggae and more. I also review FILMS, TV Shows, BLU RAYS and BOOKS. Enjoy the reads...

Showing posts with label Japanese Remasters. Show all posts

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

"Rickie Lee Jones" by RICKIE LEE JONES – March 1979 US Debut Album on Warner Brothers, June 1979 UK – featuring Buzzy Feiten, Fred Tackett, Neil Larsen, Willie Weeks, Victor Feldman with Jeff Pocaro of Toto and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers (June 2012 JAPAN-Only SHM-CD Reissue and Remaster in Mini LP Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Vice is Nice..."

I can remember when every London Hi-Fi store you went into in the late Eighties had two discs to demonstrate what the new fangled format of CD was capable of - and both were debuts. One was Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" from 1982 and the other was "Rickie Lee Jones" - her beautifully produced self-titled debut from 1979. Yet for such audiophile titles both have remained 'un-remastered' in singular form for the average Joe to buy with ease for decades since. For Steely Dan's Donald Fagen you have to buy the hugely irritating and disappointing MVI Trilogy Box Set and for Rickie you have to go to Japan. And that's where this superb SHM-CD reissue comes in...

Japan-Only released 12 June 2012 - "Rickie Lee Jones" by RICKIE LEE JONES on Warner Brothers WPCR-14508 (Barcode 4943674118373) is a straightforward reissue/new remaster of the 1979 album on the SHM-CD format. This Super High Materials CD is housed in Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork with Obi strip - it breaks down as follows (42:15 minutes):

1. Chuck E.'s In Love [Side 1]

2. On Saturday Afternoons In 1963

3. Night Train

4. Young Blood

5. Easy Money

6. The Last Chance Texaco

7. Danny's All Star Joint [Side 2]

8. Coolsville

9. Weasel And The White Boys Cool

10. Company

11. After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Rickie Lee Jones" - released March 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3296 and June 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56628

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all) nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 15 of them and they're uniformly superb. The 5" repro sleeve is typical of Japanese quality - beautifully rendered (quite what they mean by 'Light Mellow 2012' on the outer sticker is anybody's guess). The black and white 20-page booklet inside has the lyrics in English and Japanese and little else by way of credits (who remastered what and where) - but a nice touch is a repro of the $2 Warner Brothers deal inner bag that came with original vinyl copies. The CD has the Warner Brothers cream-coloured label of the time and a protective plastic to hold the slightly heavier SHM-CD in the $2 inner bag (lovely attention to detail...as there always is with these Japanese reissues). But the big news is the sound...

Fans will know that outside of Rhino's 3CD career overhaul "Duchess Of Coolsville" in 2005 (which had 6 of the 11 tracks here) - her staggeringly accomplished debut has never been fully remastered as an album for CD until now. It did receive a coveted Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab remaster in 2012 - but only on vinyl. Here you get the full album and the sonic results are brills - as lovely and as warm a remaster as you could have hoped for. For sure there is hiss on some tracks but its not been dampened or Pro-tooled out of existence in the transfer. Key tracks like "Night Train", "Danny's All Star Joint" and "Easy Money" (represented on the "Duchess" set by a Previously Unreleased 'Demo' Version) has never seen a remaster since the advent of CD - and they shine like audio gold here.

Right from the opening seconds of acoustic guitars, drums whacks and clicking fingers of "Chuck E.'s In Love" - you can hear the clarity of musicians like guitarists Buzzy Feiten and Fred Tackett, keyboard whizz kid Neil Larsen, Willie Weeks on Bass and Jeff Pocaro (of Toto) with Victor Feldman on Drums (Michael McDonald does his backing vocals magic here and there too). Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman and mastered by Lee Herschberg - the audio was always going to be something special and this beautiful remaster on SHM-CD brings that out.

Not to be swamped in audiophile for the sake of it - the music is amazingly touching too - the best examples of which are "Night Train", "Company" and "The Last Chance Texaco". "I remember you too clearly...but I'll survive another day..." she pines on the gorgeous and affecting "Company" featuring truly beautiful string arrangements by Johnny Mandel. Its here you also hear her other secret weapon - those off the cuff streetwise lyrics that have depth and sass - flirty one minute - then aching the next - like a female Tom Waits. The squeaking of the acoustic guitar strings on "Night Train" sound amazing (even if the beginning of the track is a little hissy) - and I still get bowled over by those "broken like valiums and chumps in the rain that cry and quiver..." lyrics. The double-bass intro to "Easy Money" slides into definite Tom Waits "Blue Valentyne" territory where "A couple Jills with their eyes on a couple of bills..." and although it doesn't say so in the liner notes but I'd swear that's Dr. John on the slinky New Orleans keys with Victor Feldman on Vibes.

Funky genius comes in the brilliant Side 2 opener "Danny's All-Star Joint" sounding like Paul Simon's "Stranded In A Limousine" - a stunning mixture of brass and scat like lyrics that amaze. "Coolsville" is admittedly hissy (but it was on the original recording) but it still sounds awesome. "The Last Chance Texaco" features "sleepy diesel eyes" and a floating synth note that ominously backs up the big acoustic chords - it's fabulously accomplished stuff and lyrically grates at a raw nerve in us all about emotional success. Things get hip and street funk with "Coolsville" and the brilliant "Weasel & The White Boys Cool" where Sal is selling 'articles' to his people downtown. Two tracks were recorded Live on 22 December 1978 - the lovely piano and "years may go by" strings of "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" and the final cut "After Hours" where she croons about "America" and how some of its citizens may have lost their way but are still hopeful dreamers.

Rickie Lee Jones won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 and her follow-up albums "Pirates" (1981) and "The Magazine" (1984) articulates even more stunning emotional soundtracks - opting for longer songs and richer arrangements. But this is where her jukebox first went 'doyt doyt'.

You could of course argue that you simply buy the "Duchess Of Coolsville" triple CD anthology and get a lot more bang for your bucks - but this is one of those occasions where only the 'whole' album will suffice. It doesn't just sound good - it is 'all' good...

The Light Mellow 2012 Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series

for RICKIE LEE JONES

1. "Rickie Lee Jones" (1979), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14508 – use Barcode 4943674118373 to locate the right issue

2. "Pirates" (1981), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 - use Barcode 4943674118397 to locate the right issue

3. "The Magazine" (1983), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14510 - use Barcode 4943674118403 to locate the right issue

"Pirates" by RICKIE LEE JONES – July 1981 US Second Studio Album on Warner Brothers featuring Neil Larsen, Clarence McDonald, Randy Kerber, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan on Keyboards, Buzzy Feiton, David Kalish, Dean Parks and Steve Lukather on Guitars, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker and David Sanborn on Horns, Chuck Rainey on Bass, Steve Gadd, Lenny Castro and Victor Feldman on Drums and Percussion, Sal Bernardi on Vocals with Larry Waronker Production and Nick DeCaro and Ralph Burn Strings (June 2012 JAPAN-ONLY Warner Brothers SHM-CD Reissue - Part of their Light Mellow 2012 SHM-CD Reissue Series in Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Packaging) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Sad-Eyed Sinatra's..."

You can understand why the March 1979 US debut album "Rickie Lee Jones" on Warner Brothers caused the stir it did. Great tunes, seriously sleek production values that have made it an audiophile darling ever since and of course the half-bum half-hipster persona of Rickie that captured people right off the bat. It helped too that "Rickie Lee Jones" had "Chuck E.'s In Love" as a bona-fide storming single.

But spare a thought for the equally stunning follow-up album "Pirates" from July 1981 (also on Warner Brothers) that never seems to get the worship-at-your-feet accolades it so deserves - despite a Top 5 placing on the US Billboard Rock Albums chart. Maybe because it's because platter number two didn't have that killer single cut – I don't know - but I have adored this beautifully sophisticated singer-songwriter masterpiece for over 40 years now and its time I laid my yacht-rock bruised-and-disco-cruised heart down for the Sad-Eyed Sinatra's (keep the shirts I bought ya boys).

Oddly - outside of Rhino's 3CD Rickie Lee Jones career overhaul "Duchess Of Coolsville" in 2005 which has 5 of this LP's 8 tracks and expensive/deleted Mobile Fidelity Audiophile Ultra II CDs - both of these great albums have remained 'un-remastered' in singular form for the average Joe to buy with ease for decades since. So we have go to Japan - and that's where this superb SHM-CD reissue comes a bopping in - or as RLJ would say...James Dean is in the doorway...Natalie Wood is custom tucked...we got a radio that hurts and this is no game of chicken. Here are the rapping the fat scat details...

Released 12 June 2012 - "Pirates" on Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 (Barcode 4943674118397) is a straightforward reissue/new remaster of the album on the SHM-CD format and breaks down as follows (39:08 minutes):

1. We Belong Together [Side 1]

2. Living it Up

3. Skeletons

4. Woody And Dutch On The Slow Train To Peking

5. Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue) [Side 2]

6. A Lucky Guy

7. Traces Of The Western Slopes

8. The Returns

Tracks 1 to 8 are her second studio album "Pirates" - released July 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3432 and June 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56816. Produced by LENNY WARONKER and RUSS TITELMAN – it peaked at No. 5 in the USA and No. 37 in the UK.

MUSICIANS included:

Neil Larsen, Clarence McDonald, Russell Ferrante, Randy Kerber with Donald Fagen of Steely Dan on Keyboards

Buzzy Feiton, David Kalish, Dean Parks and Steve Lukather on Guitars

Tom Scott, Randy Brecker and David Sanborn on Horns

Chuck Rainey on Bass

Steve Gadd, Art Rodriguez, Lenny Castro with Victor Feldman on Drums and Percussion

Sal Bernardi, Arno Lucas, Joe Turano, Leslie Smith on Vocals

Strings Arranged by Nick DeCaro and Ralph Burns

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all) nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 15 of them and they're uniformly superb. The 5" Mini LP Repro Sleeve is typical of Japanese quality - beautifully rendered (quite what they mean by 'Light Mellow 2012' on the outer sticker is anybody's guess). The black and white 20-page booklet inside has the lyrics in English and Japanese and little else by way of credits (who remastered what and where). But a nice touch is a repro of the Inner Sleeve that came with original vinyl copies - a photo of RLJ on one-side and musician credits on the other. The SHM-CD has the Warner Brothers cream-coloured label of the time and a protective plastic to hold the slightly heavier SHM-CD in the repro inner sleeve (lovely attention to detail...as there always is with these Japanese reissues).

But the big news is the sound... Once again Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman and Mastered by Lee Herschberg - the audio values originally laid down over four decades ago get to shine in such a sweetly subtle way – a beautiful remaster on SHM-CD that brings out all that world class playing. The chopping and changing and rhythm-popping that take place in the eight-minute Steely Dan complicated extravaganza that is "Traces Of The Western Slopes" over on Side 2 demands serious image control – and you get it here – along with all those speaker to speaker Horn and Keyboard jabs.

Side 1 opens with a magnificently arranged "We Belong Together" and along with "Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)" that opens Side 2 – both have always blown me away (Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Rob Mounsey man the Synths for the latter). The huge slap bass of the great fun "Woody And Dutch..." threatens your spoken cones and I am shocked at the clarity and delicacy of the De Caro arranged strings on "The Returns" that ends Side 2 – a female Tom Waits to rival the great master over on Asylum Records (they dated once and she is the girl on the cover of his "Blue Valentine" album). Sure there is a faint whiff of hiss on "The Returns" and "Skeletons" but it is nothing to detract. "A Lucky Guy" and "Living it Up" seem to offer up more too each time you play them.

Rickie Lee Jones won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 and her follow-up albums "Pirates" (1981) and "The Magazine" (1984) articulated even more stunning emotional soundtracks – her second album especially opting for longer songs and richer arrangements and being all the better for it.

You could of course argue that you simply buy the "Duchess Of Coolsville" triple CD anthology and get a lot more bang for your bucks - but this is one of those occasions where only the 'whole album' will suffice. It doesn't just sound good - it is 'all' good...

The Light Mellow 2012 Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series

for RICKIE LEE JONES

1. "Rickie Lee Jones" (1979), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14508 – use Barcode 4943674118373 to locate the right issue

2. "Pirates" (1981), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 - use Barcode 4943674118397 to locate the right issue

3. "The Magazine" (1983), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14510 - use Barcode 4943674118403 to locate the right issue

Friday, 13 July 2018

"Naturally" by J.J. CALE - Debut US Album from 1971 on Shelter Records (June 2013 JAPAN-Only Universal SHM-CD Remaster In 5" Mini LP Repro Card Sleeve Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3

- Exceptional CD Remasters

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

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde, Underground

Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...I Think I'll Get Me Some To Go..."

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE JAPANESE-ONLY SHM CD REMASTER FROM 2013 ***

Since his tragic loss in July 2013 renewed interest in J.J. Cale and his wonderfully laid-back songwriting magic has never been higher. And his superb 1972 debut album "Naturally" will be a first port of call for many. Four tracks from it were remastered for the 2CD Anthology "Any Way The Wind Blows" in 1997 - but this 2013 Japanese SHM-CD represents the first time the entire album's been sonically overhauled. However - given the poor quality of the original 1970 and 1971 recordings - even this best ever audio remaster of "Naturally" has its drawbacks.

Released in Japan 26 June 2013 - "Naturally" by J.J. CALE on Universal UICY-75627 (Barcode 4988005771582) is a SHM-CD (Super High Materials) and features Repro US LP artwork (including the colour-coded Track List/Musician breakdown on the rear cover that's missing from the card digipak of "Naturally" in the 2013 "Classic Album Selection" 5CD box set).

1. Call Me The Breeze[Side 1]

2. Call The Doctor

3. Don’t Go To Strangers

4. Woman I Love

5. Magnolia

6. Clyde

7. Crazy Mama [Side 2]

8. Nowhere To Run

9. After Midnight

10. River Runs Deep

11. Bringing It Back

12. Crying Eyes

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album “Naturally” – released November 1971 in the USA on Shelter SW-8908 and January 1972 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 68105

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all machines) - nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the CD format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 10 of them and they're uniformly superb. Also this 'actually remastered' reissue of his debut album is 13 seconds longer than the previous Eighties non-remaster (32:26 minutes as opposed to 32:13). The booklet is the usual 8-white pages of Japanese liner notes and a stab at the English lyrics - nothing to really get your teeth into. It should also be noted that the old issues of this CD and the one in a card digipak in the 2013 "Classic" box set are NOT REMASTERS.

SOUND:

I wore out original tan label issues (and silver and green label reissues) of "Naturally" on Seventies vinyl trying to find a copy that didn't sound like a wall of hiss coming out of the speakers. I now know why. Although the improvement in sound here is extensive - the original sessions were dogged with excessive hiss on the master tapes - and I'm afraid that's what you largely get on this 2013 reissue - only accentuated more in some cases.

Hiss culprits include "Call The Doctor", the lovely "Magnolia" and "River Runs Deep". But the piano on "After Midnight", the fiddles on "Clyde" and Mac Gayden's slide guitar on "Crazy Mama" - are all wonderfully clear - major improvements. "Woman I Love" and "Bringing It Back" (lyrics above) are the kind of tracks that don't turn up on "Best Of's" that often - and I'm thrilled to say that they both sound stupendous - stunning clarity on the bass and brass. "Call Me The Breeze" (covered to stunning effect by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 1974's "Second Helping") kicks in nicely too after that beat-box rhythm opening. Overall I'd say that those expecting audiophile from this release should probably cry off - but for those who love the man and his music - then this remaster is a must-buy. Even with that hiss - the clarity is the best yet.

J.J. Cale was one of my audio heroes growing up - and his influence on Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and even John Mayer is undeniable. What a loss and what an artist. And damn the Japanese for being so good with these bloody things (I've also reviewed "5" and "Troubadour") because I need all 8 of them now!

My long-suffering bank manager will be pleased...

Albums in the June 2013

J.J. CALE

Japan-Only Universal SHM-CD Mini LP Repro Reissue Series are:

1. Naturally (1972 - his debut) on Universal UICY-75627 (Barcode 4988005771582)

2. Really (1973) on Universal UICY-75628 (Barcode 4988005771599)

3. Okie (1974) on Universal UICY-75629 (Barcode 4988005771605)

4. Troubadour (1976) on Universal UICY-75630 (Barcode 4988005771612)

5. "5" (1979) on Universal UICY-75631 (Barcode 4988005771629)

6. Shades (1981) on Universal UICY-75632 (Barcode 4988005771636)

7. Grasshopper (1982) on Universal UICY-75633 (Barcode 4988005771643)

8. No. 8 (1983) on Universal UICY-75634 (Barcode 4988005771650)

Thursday, 12 July 2018

"Okie" by J.J. CALE from 1974 (June 2013 Japan-Only Universal SHM-CD Remaster in 5" Card Repro Mini LP Sleeve) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 1 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

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

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Rock-Fusion, Psychedelic and Underground

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE JAPANESE-ONLY SHM CD REMASTER FROM 2013 ****

"...No Longer Earthly Bound..."

Since his tragic loss in July 2013 renewed interest in J.J. Cale and his wonderfully laid-back songwriting magic has never been higher - and if you want an example of just how good he was (and can sound) - then a few bob spent on this fabulous Japanese CD reissue is going to be money well spent. And more importantly to long-time fans - this actually remastered reissue has GLORIOUS SOUND trumping all other releases. Here are the gory details...

1. Crying [Side 1]

2. I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)

3. Starbound

4. Rock And Roll Records

5. The Old Man And Me

6. Everlovin’ Woman

7. Cajun Moon [Side 2]

8. I’d Like To Love You Baby

9. Anyway The Wind Blows

10. Precious Memories

11. Okie

12. I Got The Same Old Blues

His 3rd studio album "Okie" was originally issued on vinyl album in April 1974 on Shelter SR-2107 in the USA and June 1974 on A&M Records AMLS 68261 in the UK (excepting one song, they're all Cale originals). Its first CD appearance was way back in 1990 on Mercury 842 102-2 - but it was an OK-sounding CD rather than a great one. A whopping 6 of its 10 tracks were remastered in 1997 for the 2CD anthology "Any Way The Wind Blows" and fans got to hear just how good it could sound. But little will prepare them for the stunning sonic attack of this 2013 remaster - beautifully transferred and fully realizing the magic that was always there.

Released in Japan 26 June 2013 - "Okie"by J.J. CALE on Universal UICY-75629 (Barcode 4988005771605) is a SHM-CD (Super High Materials) in 5" Repro US Mini LP artwork and a booklet with lyrics. The OBI mentions that this disc is part of the "Rock Impact '74" Series.

On the subject of sound - a few words first about the remaster (and Cale's remasters in general). Both Amazon UK and USA list the 5CD mini box set "Classic Album Selection" as having 2013 remasters ("Okie" is not among them) - it doesn't. Although the CDs look exactly like the old issues, closer examination will show that each has a new catalogue number that reflects the box - but that's all. They all have the old Mercury designed labels of silver and orange lines and are precisely the same as the old Eighties and early Nineties reissues. My Mac even remembered the old track references I'd personally put in. I tried an outside source - like a desktop CD player - same thing - same old discs - absolutely not new. So where does this '2013 Remaster' claim come from? I suspect from these Japanese SHM-CD reissues which are Universal Japan issues only. The point is that the sound difference between this SHM-CD and the ordinary 'digitally mastered' disc of the 1990s is literally like chalk and cheese.

It doesn't say which engineer has done the remaster and transfer in the booklet but the work is AWESOME - truly beautiful sound on every track. If I were to nail down two that show most improvement - it would be "Starbound" (lyrics from it title this review) and the country jaunt of "Precious Memories" - neither of which are on the 1997 Anthology. There is hiss on these tunes but the clarity of the songs is GORGEOUS. "The Old Man And Me" is beautiful too and the lone cover on the album "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" by Rusty Gabbard and Ray Price rocks along with superb clarity. Love it love it.

J.J. Cale was one of my audio heroes growing up - and his influence on Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and even John Mayer is undeniable. What a loss and what an artist. And damn the Japanese for being so good with these bloody things - because I need all 8 of them now! My long-suffering bank manager will be pleased...

Albums in the June 2013

J. J. CALE

Japan-Only SHM-CD Reissue Series in Mini LP Repro Sleeves are: