"Loud 'N' Proud” by NAZARETH (Their 4th Album From 1973 Reissued By Salvo Records of the UK on a 2010 Remastered & Expanded CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…You've Got The Lovin' I Like…"

Like most people I was introduced to Scotland's finest rock band by way of their kick-ass 7" single "Bad Bad Boy" when it first hit the UK airwaves in July 1973 (it capitalised on their 3rd album released in March of that year - the blisteringly good "Razamanaz"). 

"Loud 'N' Proud" was their follow up LP and like its predecessor, it had plenty of Seventies rock swagger to recommend it. Here are the big hairy details…

UK released February 2010 - "Loud 'N' Proud" by NAZARETH on Salvo Records SALVOCD 033 (Barcode 698458813329) is a 'Remastered & Expanded' CD with Four Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (51:09 minutes):

1. Go Down Fighting

2. Not Faking It

3. Turn On Your Receiver

4. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

5. Freewheeler [Side 2]

6. This Flight Tonight

7. Child In The Sun

8. The Ballad Of Hollis Brown

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Loud 'N' Proud" released November 1973 in the UK on Mooncrest Records CREST 4 and March 1974 on A&M Records SP-3609 in the USA. As with "Razamanaz", it featured the same band line-up (Dan McCafferty on Lead Vocals, Manny Charlton on Guitars & Vocals, Pete Agnew on Bass & Vocals and Darrell Sweet on Drums & Vocals) with ROGER GLOVER of DEEP PURPLE fame producing the album to great effect.

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Turn On Your Receiver

10. Too Bad Too Sad

11. Razamanaz

12. Bad Bad Boy

Tracks 9 to 12 are BBC SESSIONS recorded live-in-the-studio for The BOB HARRIS Show on the UK's Radio 1 - first broadcast 13 August 1973.

Each of these Salvo issues comes in a Tri-Gatefold card sleeve with the 'Loud, Proud & Remastered' logo on the front cover. When folded out, you get a repro of the original UK LP artwork and live shots from the period (the disc is in the right flap, the booklet in the left). The 16-page colour booklet is superb, liner notes by band expert JOEL McIVER, pictures of rare European picture sleeves, a USA A&M white-label promo of "This Flight Tonight", centred by a black and white snap of the band looking suitably liquored up on the steps of a snazzy jet - all of it very nicely done.

But the really big news for the fans (as it is on the other Salvo CDs) is the fantastic new SOUND. TIM TURAN at Turan Audio has remastered the original tapes and a truly fabulous job has been done - loud, clear, and ballsy - without ever being overbearing.

As a follow-up album, "Loud 'N' Proud" had a lot to live up to - and the general consensus is that it only 'kind-of' delivered. It was a rushed effort. Three of its songs were cover versions - "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" by Little Feat, "This Flight Tonight" by Joni Mitchell (lyrics above and a hit single) and "The Ballad Of Hollis Brown" by Bob Dylan. That left only 5 originals dashed off in only 1 week in the studio. Yet "Turn On Your Receiver" and the funky guitar workout of "Freewheeler" were cracking great rock tracks and still are. The speedy "Not Faking It" is typically catchy rocking Nazareth fare, while the slow "Child In The Sun" stretched the band out across is its bluesy length. Overall - it was good album rather than a great one.

The BBC stuff is fantastic though - rough and rocking, but still so tight - the band were clearly on fire and had truly found their boogie stride. They make for genuinely superb extra tracks. A great reissue then of a really good Seventies rock album. And it's cheap too… 

“Razamanaz” by NAZARETH (2009 Salvo Remastered & Expanded CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I'm A Bad Bad Boy And I'm Gonna Steal Your Love…"

Like most people I was introduced to Scotland's finest rock band by way of their kick-ass single "Bad Bad Boy" when it first hit the airwaves in July 1973. I quickly nipped out to Pat Egan's Sound Cellar in Dublin and nabbed the album too - the fabarooney "Razamanaz" - and I've loved them both ever since.

This is the 2nd title in Salvo's UK reissue of Nazareth's back catalogue - "Nazareth and Exercises" (their first and second albums on 1CD) was their first and it's reviewed separately. Here are down and dirty bad boy details for their breakthrough 3rd album…

UK released September 2009 – "Razamanaz" by NAZARETH on Salvo SALVOCD031 (Barcode 0698458813121) is a 'Remastered & Expanded' CD Reissue with Six Bonus Tracks that breaks down as follows (59:22 minutes):

1. Razamanaz

2. Alcatraz

3. Vigilante Man

4. Woke Up This Morning

5. Night Woman

6. Bad Bad Boy

7. Sold My Soul

8. Too Bad Too Sad

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Razamanaz" - released in May 1973 in the UK on Mooncrest Records CREST 1 and on A&M Records SP-4396 in the USA. Produced by ROGER GLOVER of DEEP PURPLE  - it peaked at No. 11 in the UK (didn't chart USA).

BONUS TRACKS: 

10. Hard Living 

11. Spinning Top

Tracks 10 and 11are the 2 non-album B-sides to "Bad Bad Boy" - a UK 7" single issued on Mooncrest MOON 9 in July 1973. 

12. Razamanaz

13. Night Woman

14. Broken Down Angel 

15. Vigilante Man

Tracks 12 to 15 recorded live-in-the-studio in March 1973 for The Bob Harris Radio Show on the BBC

Each of these UK issues comes in a tri-gatefold card sleeve with the 'Loud, Proud & Remastered' logo on the front cover. When folded out, you get a repro of the gatefold artwork of the original UK LP and live shots from the period (the disc in the right flap, the booklet in the left). The 16-page colour booklet is superb, liner notes by band expert JOEL McIVER, pictures of rare UK 7" singles, Euro picture sleeves, US white-label promos, black and white snaps of the band in studio and on stage - all very nicely done.

But the really big news for the fans (as it is on the 1st Salvo CD) is the fantastic new SOUND. TIM TURAN at Turan Audio has remastered the original tapes and a truly fabulous job has been done - loud, clear, and ballsy - without ever being overbearing.

Highlights - the moment the sheer speed and riffage of Manny Charlton's guitar work on "Razamanaz" hits you, you know you're in for a head's down ride. It's followed by the first of 2 covers on the album - "Alcatraz" first turned up on Leon Russell's debut album for A&M in 1971 "Leon Russell & The Shelter People" and it's funky rock backdrop suited both the band and McCafferty's rasping vocals. Just as good is the second cover - their version of Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" which owes more to Ry Cooder's take on his 1972 "Into The Purple Valley" album that they'd be listening to. Then comes the absolutely blistering "Woke Up This Morning" which they'd tried on their second album "Exercises" but didn't quite get there. Here they do - it ends Side One on a blast of great rock boogie.

Side 2 opens with the drums of another funky rocker "Night Woman" sounding not unlike Bad Company at their best. The breakthrough single "Bad Bad Boy" follows which to this day sounds brill, while "Sold My Soul" sounds like Robin Trower circa "Bridge Of Sighs". Then it's back to rocking basics with the wildly catchy "Too Bad To Sad" and then ends with the other huge hit single - and some say their best track - "Broken Down Angel". Downsides - there's an "Alternate Edit" of "Razamanaz" on the 2001 remaster that could easily have been fit on here, but no show?

The BBC stuff sounds suitably rough and rocking, but still as tight as a Nun's knickers in the Vatican. It's presented in really great sound quality - the bass work of Pete Agnew on "Night Woman" is superlative. Even the quiet slide intro to "Vigilante Man" is not too drenched in hiss - then the echoed vocals impress - then they let rip...fab stuff!

A stonkin' reissue of a great rock album then - and it's cheap too. Frankly they can razzle my naz any day of the week…

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“Nazareth/Exercises” by NAZARETH (Their 1st and 2nd Albums from 1971 and 1972 Reissued onto a 2009 Salvo Single CD 'Expanded Edition') - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters  

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"…I'm Burning Up Inside…”

This is the first title in Salvo's reissue of the entire Nazareth catalogue - the Scottish Seventies hard rock band that took their name from a lyric in "The Weight” - a song on The Band's debut album "Music From Big Pink”. 

Each of these UK issues comes in a Tri-Gatefold card sleeve with the 'Loud, Proud & Remastered' logo on the front cover. When folded out, two of the flaps usually reflect the gatefold artwork of the original UK LP while the third flap gives us a live shot of the period (disc in the right flap, booklet in the left). Here are the hairy-men details…

UK released September 2009 on CD - "Nazareth/Exercises" by NAZARETH on Salvo SALVOCD030 (Barcode 698458813022) features their first two 70ts albums Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (74:21 minutes):

1. Witchdoctor Woman

2. Dear John

3. Empty Arms, Empty Heart

4. I Had A Dream

5. Red Light Lady (Part 1 & 2)

6. Fat Man

7. Country Girl

8. Morning Dew

9. The King Is Dead

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "Nazareth" issued January 1971 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 10 and May 1972 on Warner Brothers BS 2615 in the USA (later pressings are on A&M).

10. I Will Not Be Led

11. Cat’s Eye, Apple Pie

12. In My Time

13. Woke Up This Morning

14. Called Your Name

15. Fool About You

16. Love Now You’re Gone

17. Madelaine

18. Sad Song

19. 1692 (Glencoe Massacre)

Tracks 10 to 19 are their 2nd album "Exercises" issued June 1972 in the UK on Pegasus Records PEG 14 and October 1972 on Warner Brothers BS 2639 in the USA (later pressings are on A&M). Note: the band returned to “Woke Up This Morning” for their 3rd album “Razamanaz” - the version on this debut album is therefore commonly known as “Version 1”.

The 16-page colour booklet is superb, liner notes by band expert JOEL McIVER, pictures of rare UK 7" singles, Euro picture sleeves, tour program, promo photos from 1972 - very nicely done (it's missing the rear ‘cards' artwork of "Exercises" though). But the really big news for the fans is the fantastic new SOUND. TIM TURAN at Turan Audio has remastered the original tapes and a truly fabulous job has been done - loud, clear, and ballsy - without being overbearing. To use the vernacular - this rocks...

Downsides - there were 4 singles issued between the 2 LPs - two of them "Dear John" and "Morning Dew" (itself an edit) had non-album B-sides - "Friends" and "Spinning Top" - they're not on here (neither is the edit). If you want those, you'll need the previous issue of both albums - a bit of a pain really. The lovely artwork for the rear sleeve of the US "Exercises" is missing too as I said and someone has double-imaged the first sleeve picture for the rear, which does no one any favours. That said - I actually like the packaging and at least each issue to follow will be uniform...

As you've no doubt read from other reviewers, the songs on these formation albums are viewed as good at best - and in the case of "Exercises" where they veered away from their rock formula - as even less so. But I’d argue that it's not all that bad. I love the quirky Band-feel to "Cat's Eye, Apple Pie" and "Fool About You" from Exercises, while "Empty Arms, Empty Heart" from their debut is as good as anything Wishbone Ash was doing at the time. "Dear John" from the first album (lyrics above) also features excellent bluesy piano work from Pete Wingfield of Britain's Blue Horizon signing "Jellybread" (see separate review of their Complete BH material). But there's no doubt that "Love Now You're Gone" and the weedy "Madeline" is plodding stuff. And their 1st version of "Woke Up This Morning" hadn't quite got there yet. Still, at least all the tracks are now saved by truly great sound quality...

This is probably the 3rd or even 4th reissue of Nazareth's material on CD by varying labels - but Salvo’s gallant attempt is by far the best sounding version [Dan McCafferty has to be one of the most underrated vocalists of the period - Frankie Miller too]. The packaging is also pleasing to the eye and it's pitched at mid-price.

But it would take hunger, Roger Glover of Deep Purple as a Producer and a return to good old rock blues to deliver the real goods next time around - the awesome “Razamanaz" and the album that followed it “Loud ’N’ Proud” (see reviews)…