"Bursting At The Seams" by STRAWBS – February 1973 UK Sixth Album on A&M Records featuring Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Blue Weaver, Richard Hudson and John Ford (later of Hudson-Ford) with Arrangements by Richard Kirby (July 1998 UK A&M ReMasterPieces Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...To Be Free Again..."

After four albums of wavering brilliance and shifting line-ups (ace keyboard-man Rick Wakeman had departed for Yes), STRAWBS (shortened from Strawberry Hill Boys) finally rewarded the patience of A&M Records A&R men with a big fat hit long-playing record hit. The fondly remembered "Grave New World" from February 1972 finally made everyone sit-up and notice The Strawbs. Even without a seven-inch single to plug it, but armed with a tri-gatefold sleeve and natty booklet within original copies – it absolutely looked the 1972 part too and "Grave New World" climbed up to No. 11 in the UK LP charts. 

That success paved the path towards this – their sixth album (fifth studio) and their 'Rock' record breakthrough - "Bursting At The Seams" from February 1973. Hell, "Bursting At The Seams" even sported an annoyingly catchy - and dare we suggest such an abomination in the presence of Prog Rock cognoscenti – a commercially winning 45-single in the shape of the knees-up-Mother-Brown party-swagger of "Part Of The Union" (penned by the combo Hudson-Ford). 

That somewhat unintentional sing-a-long seven-inch single (that hardly represented Strawbs music) was launched by A&M only four days into January 1973 on AMS 7047 - a month prior to the LP. With the Non-album cover version of an old Celtic air "Will You Go" on the flipside (Bonus Track No.1 here) – British radio loved it and A&M Records were rewarded with a No. 2 placing on the singles charts – spots on Top Of The Pops etc. 

When the LP arrived next month (February 1973), the public wanted more and bought the thing in serious numbers resulting in their highest LP placing (it peaked at No. 2) and the band’s genuine arrival on the Rock scene. And that’s where this dinky little Re-Remaster-Piece reissue comes a lollygagging in. Here are the sagging waistlines...

UK released July 1998 - "Bursting At The Seams" by STRAWBS on A&M Records 540 936-2 (Barcode 731454093620) is an A&M ReMasterPieces Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Three Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (52:11 minutes):

1. Flying [Side 1]

2. Lady Fuschia

3. Stormy Down

4. The River

5. Down By The Sea

6. Part Of The Union [Side 2]

7. Tears And Pavan

8. The Winter And The Summer

9. Lay Down

10. Thank You

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 6th album "Bursting At The Seams" (fifth studio LP) - released February 1973 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68144 and April 1973 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4383. Produced by THE STRAWBS with Engineer TOM ALLOM – it peaked at No. 2 in the British LP charts and No. 121 in the USA. 

All songs written by Dave Cousins except "Lady Fuschia" and "Part Of The Union" by Richard Hudson and John Ford, "Pavan" by Hudson, Ford and Cousins, "The Winter And The Summer" by Dave Lambert and "Thank You" by Blue Weaver and Dave Cousins. 

NOTE: on the original 1973 album, Side 1 placed "The River" as Track 5 and "Down By The Sea" as Track 4. It was done so because the vinyl LP had difficulty with heavy bass at the centre of the format. However this CD reissue puts the songs in the order the band wanted them in originally - "The River" at No. 4 and "Down By The Sea" at No.5. Those who want to hear the original running order can of course program their CD players to play it that way. Also the correct spelling for the flower is fuchsia, but the Hudson-Ford track is presented as Fuschia – possibly in error. 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Will You Go

January 1973 UK 45-single on A&M Records AMS 7047, Non-LP B-side to "Part Of The Union" – it is a variant of the Scottish Folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme" by the McPeake Family that has the lyrics "...will ye go lassie go..."

12. Backside

13. Lay Down (Single Version)

Tracks 13 and 12 (note playing order) are the A&B-sides of an October 1972 UK 45-single on A&M Records AMS 7035 (A-side differs from the LP version, B-side is Non-LP). "Backside" is credited on the single as by Ciggy Barlust & The Whales From Venus – a tongue-in-cheek tribute to David Bowie and his Ziggy Stardust persona enjoying huge commercial success in 1972. It was reputedly going to be The Tits From Venus but A&M intervened on the grounds of good taste (or the law). 

STRAWBS was:

DAVE COUSINS – Lead and Backing Vocals, Acoustic, 12-String and Electric Guitars and Electric and Acoustic Banjo

DAVE LAMBERT – Lead and Backing Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar

BLUE WEAVER – Organ, Piano and Mellotron

JOHN FORD – Lead and Backing Vocals and Bass

RICHARD HUDSON – Backing Vocals, Drums and Sitar

GUESTS:

Robert Kirby (of Nick Drake fame) did the String Arrangements (with most of The London Symphony Orchestra) on "The River" and "Down By The Sea" (Tristan Fry from Sky plays an uncredited Timpani on  "Down By The Sea")

JOHN TOBLER provides the new liner notes in the admittedly skimpy 8-page booklet. However, what it lacks in pictures and memorabilia (where are the 45s, trade adverts, American tours etc) – it makes up for with a DAVE COUSINS interview that throws light and affection on the album and how the songs were written and made. Fans will know that the original British LP sported a silver inner sleeve and the Dave Cousins liner notes (complete with the Robert Kirby arrangements acknowledgment in the PS) are reproduced on the last page. But disappointingly there is no sign of the lyrics on the other side of the inner sleeve or that rare advert for the LP that came with some copies. It’s good rather than being great. 

But at least Cousins provides cool and illuminating details – the Hudson-Ford song "Lady Fuschia" being based on Mervyn Peake's gothic castle horror novel "Gormenghast" – Cousins own "Flying" featured a Rickenbacker Ban-Tar Electric Banjo that is now owned by Elvis Costello (he regrets that sale) – that his daughter Joelle can be heard in the corridors of her Hounslow school on "Thank You" (where the head teacher allowed Strawbs to record it) or that A&M nervously stepped in when the boys wanted to credit the "Lay Down" B-side "Backside" to Ciggy Barlust & The Tits Of Venus - a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Bowie and his Ziggy Stardust phase - and changed the offensive bosoms word to the entirely less dreadful whales word (wow, really). 

Mostly recorded at Morgan Studios, Willesden in late 1972 with prior work at Sound Techniques in Chelsea - the tapes are clearly in great shape because the ROGER WAKE Remaster (done at Bourbery-Wake Studios) is gorgeous to listen too - all that great original production shining through. For sure there is a wee bit of hiss here and there, but none too bad to distract. This album is great and you have to say that the three bonuses actually do add to the listen – rounding up thing nicely. Lets get to the music...

Tony Hopper leaves and is replaced by Lead Guitarist Dave Lambert and a new era for the STRAWBS begins. But what hasn’t changed is the musicality – so evidenced by "Flying" – pinging guitar notes fading in to a young girl flying away melody – flying to be free again - gorgeous stuff. And don’t you just love that acoustic and banjo break that is accompanied by a wave of Mellotron – Prog Folk at its Rock best. There is even a touch of Horslips in this or is it the other way around. The Rock guitar arrives in "Lady Fuschia" – a sort of Moody Blues meets Mellow Candle meets Acoustic Yes song – a gem in their impressive catalogue. 

I kind of understand the re-placing of the Marillion-rocking "Down By The Sea" at the end of Side 1 instead of "The River" – it actually works (love that riffage and those distant vocals). Over on Side 2 the two-part six-and-a-half minute "Tears & Pavan" is probably the most Prog the album gets. But I love those delicate guitar and triangle bell moments even if the Mellotron does threaten to drown out everything. There is something so melodic in the acoustic playing on "The Winter And The Summer" – a sort of mellow Yes vibe that once again has echoes of The Moody Blues. And it ends on the school halls of "Thank You" where Cousins leads a group of schoolkids in glorious and silly disharmony. But there is still a gorgeous cover of "Wild Mountain Thyme" masquerading as "Will You Go" to savour – a great B-side rather than filler (check out The Silencers sublime cover of this song in 1995 – the one they used in the Scotland tourist ads). 

For sure this 1973 album and its slightly fay sound is showing its near 50-year age, but for me (and I suspect many more) – there is a beauty to this Prog-Folk-Rock that is so alluring and frankly reminds me of a time when albums were magical things. I used to always feel like I was a lucky lad to just have one in my hand – turn it over – again and again. 

"...Feels deep down inside, flying to be free again..." – Cousins sang on the lovely and hopeful opener "Flying". Free up some time of your own to re-hear this time capsule – fill your boots right here...

"Blue Moves" by ELTON JOHN – Double-Album from October 1976 on Rocket Records featuring Ray Cooper, Davey Johnstone, James Newton-Howard, Kenny Passarelli, Roger Pope and Caleb Quaye - with Guests Randy and Michael Brecker, Barry Rogers and David Sanborn on Horns, Backing Vocals from Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys, Curt Becher (aka Curt Boettcher) of The Millennium, Toni Tennille of The Captain and Tennille, David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Hollies and The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist and Southern Californian Choir directed by Rev. James Cleveland with Orchestration from The London Symphony Orchestra and The Martyn Ford Orchestra (Paul Buckmaster conducting) (June 1996 UK Mercury 2CD Reissue - 'Gus Dudgeon' Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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

When I worked as a Rock buyer at Reckless Records in Islington and then the ultra-busy Soho branch in Berwick Street (the shop that’s featured on the cover of the Oasis album "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?") - Elton John's October 1976 double-album splurge "Blue Moves" was a yawn record - the kind of unsellable dog that would sit in the racks alongside so many other copies of the same – us hoping against hope that we might get (maybe) three or four quid for it. In fact, as I recall, we were still turning down copies as non-shifters as late as the early Nineties.

Cut to April 2020 - closing in on 44 years after the album's autumn 1976 release and my how things have changed. Reappraisals take place all the time we know, but "Blue Moves" has been getting one these last four decades with lovelorn fans biting their chapped lips and declaring that its time to shoulder that pistol-whipping holster. We flogged in then Mr. Dwight but we want it back now. Sorry (does indeed) seem to be the hardest word when it comes to this Reg-fest. Some digital history first…

First issued on Rocket Records 822 818-2 in June 1988 as a single CD, that variant had dropped "Shoulder Holster" from Side 2 and "The Wide-Eyed And Laughing" from Side 3 in order to get the double-album to fit onto one CD. That truncated issue was replaced by this - June 1996's 2-Disc Remaster – transferred and worked beautifully by original album Producer GUS DUDGEON as part of The Elton John Remasters Series. There has been other issues since, especially in Japan, namely the 2 x SHM-CD reissue in Mini LP Repro packaging from last year (2019) with a new 'dry' remaster that has left many fans running back to this (sometimes the latest isn't always the best). Let's get to the Boogie Pilgrims...

UK released 3 June 1996 - "Blue Moves" by ELTON JOHN on Mercury 532 467-2 (Barcode 731453246720) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster of the full 1976 double-album and plays out as follows:

CD1 (41:05 minutes):

1. Your Starter For... [Side 1]

2. Tonight

3. One Horse Town

4. Chameleon

5. Boogie Pilgrim [Side 2]

6. Cage The Songbird (For Edith Piaf)

7. Crazy Water

8. Shoulder Holster

CD2 (43:46 minutes):

1. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word [Side 3]

2. Out Of The Blue

3. Between Seventeen And Twenty

4. The Wide-Eyed And Laughing

5. Someone's Final Song

6. Where's The Shoorah? [Side 4]

7. If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)

8. Idol

9. Theme For A Non-Existent TV Series

10. Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)

"Blue Moves" was released as a double-album 22 October 1976 in the UK on Rocket Records ROSP 1 and in the USA on MCA/The Rocket Record Company 2-11004. Produced by GUS DUDGEON - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and also No. 3 in the USA.

The 20-page booklet reproduces the lyrics that came with the original inner sleeves (though not the photos) and new JOHN TOBLER liner notes illuminate the album's place in Elton's huge career. Rockets Records had been launched in 1973 with two albums for Kiki Dee – both with Elton John and Bernie Taupin contributions (some exclusive cuts too, I've reviewed both "Loving And Free" and "I've Got The Music In Me"). GUS DUDGEON puts in a note about the master-tapes and his 20-bit resolution transfers and there is no doubt about the Audio fidelity here – it's superb – real clean and ballsy. For sure "Crazy Water" still feels that tad under-produced in the oomph department - but I suspect it was originally recorded and mastered that way. avng said that, those almost Genesis-sounding acoustic guitars in "The Wide Eyed And Laughing", the Community Choir filling your speakers in the Gospel-tinged "Where's The Shoorah?" and the James Newton-Howard string arrangements in the beautiful but crushing "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" all sound hugely improved – every track now up for audio grabs.

The album produced three instrumentals - the Caleb Quaye filler that is "Your Starter For..." that opens Side 1 and the Side 4 ditty "Theme For A Non-Existent TV Series" - both clocking in at just under one minute and twenty seconds. I mention this because my poison has always been instrumental door number three - the fantastic band boogie of "Out Of The Blue". Between this and the Brecker Brothers/David Sanborn brass funk of "Boogie Pilgrim" – both have been the reasons why I loved the album. In fact when I made up 'Funky Funky' CD compilations for Shop Play shuffles in Reckless, I'd include both tracks and without fail punters would arrive at the counter while they played demanding to know who the instrumental was by - and then be duly stunned when told it was 'Elton John'. You'd get that look - "I didn't know Elton John was funky!" But alongside the sadder tunes on here like "Tonight" (recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road) or "Between Seventeen And Twenty" - old feather-festooned Reg was definitely a serious funky chicken. The single "Crazy Water" had that Stevie Wonder clavinet boogie to it and the third and final 45 off the album, "Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)" was clearly aimed at the emerging dance floor Disco that was sweeping NYC and the world at the end of 1976 (it was also on a 12" as I recall for DJs).

Finding "Tonight" overdone and just a bit boring (Elton and an Orchestra), I must admit that I start the double with the upbeat "One Horse Town" which features The Martyn Ford Orchestra arranged and conducted by one of Rock's great background heroes – Paul Buckmaster. "Chameleon", "Crazy Water" and "Someone’s Final Song" are all supported by a host of top backing singers including Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys, Curt Becher (aka Curt Boettcher) of The Millennium, Toni Tennille of The Captain and Tennille and a few more into the bargain. The ultra-harmonising duo of David Crosby and Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Hollies) show up on two – the Edith Piaf tribute song "Cage The Songbird" and "The Wide Eyed And Laughing" - while Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin fans of 1971's "What's Going On" and 1972's "Amazing Grace" will know the name of Rev. James Cleveland who conducts and adds The California Community Choir to "Boogie Pilgrim", "Where's The Shoorah?" and the album's final bopper "Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)". 

For sure "Blue Moves" is not a masterpiece and you'd be hard-pressed I suspect to get any EJ fan to say it equals "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" from three years back in 1973. 

But I like a bruiser and the good moments on here are great. And old stock or not - this 1996 twofer Mercury CD Remaster is the one to get...

"Living The Blues" by CANNED HEAT – Third Album from November 1968 on Liberty Records (A 2LP set, UK and USA) featuring Bob 'The Bear' Hite, Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson, Henry 'Sunflower' Vestine, Larry 'The Mole' Taylor and Adolfo 'Fito' de la Parra with Guests John Mayall, John Fahey, Joe Sample of The Crusaders, Dr. John and Jim Horn with Production from Skip Taylor (September 2003 [Reissued April 2022] UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 2LPs onto 2CDs - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Boogie Music..."

After two albums "Canned Heat" (July 1967) and "Boogie With Canned Heat" (January 1968) - the American Blues-Rock Boogiemeisters dropped the big one - the off-its-time but still brilliant double album "Living The Blues".

Old yet innovative, indulgent yet immersive - the first LP was a studio set with a 19-minute 9-Part Psych-Blues track on Side 2 - whilst Sides 3 and 4 took one 40-minute live song called (not surprisingly) "Refried Boogie" and split it into two. "Living The Blues" was also in the first vanguard of charting double-albums alongside Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde", The Mothers Of Invention's "Freak Out" (both 1966), Donovan's "A Gift From A Flower To A Garden" (1967 USA, 1968 UK) and The Beatles' epoch-making 'White Album' released 22 days later in the same month – November 1968 (Canned Heat's double was issued Stateside on the 1st).

Like so many cool 2LP sets – there’s just something about them that makes me dip into them again and again - and I've returned to this boogie beast across the years (indulgent bits or no) and always loved it. Plus "Living The Blues" spanned that huge single that apparently broke the band worldwide. So let's get going up the country...

UK released 18 September 2003 (reissued April 2022) – "Living The Blues" by CANNED HEAT on Beat Goes On BGOCD591 (Barcode 5017261205919) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster of their third album, a 2LP set from late 1968 originally on Liberty Records (UK and USA) that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (49:39 minutes):

1. Pony Blues [Side 1]

2. My Mistake

3. Sandy's Blues

4. Going Up The Country

5. Walking By Myself

6. Boogie Music [incorporating 15 seconds of a 1929 recording of "Tell Me Man Blues" by Henry Sims]

7. One Kind Favor [Side 2]

8. Parthenogenesis

(i) Nebulosity

(ii) Rollin' And Tumblin'

(iii) Five Owls

(iv) Bear Wires

(v) Snooky Flowers

(vi) Sunflower Power (RMS Is Truth)

(vii) Raga Kafi

(viii) Icebag

(ix) Childhood's End

Disc 2 (41:11 minutes):

1. Refried Boogie (Part I) (20:10 minutes)

2. Refried Boogie (Part II) (20:50 minutes)

Disc 1 and 2 are the double-album "Living The Blues" - released 1 November 1968 in the USA on Liberty Records LST-27200 and late November 1968 in the UK on Liberty Records LDS 84001E. Produced CANNED HEAT and SKIP TAYLOR - Sides 1 and 2 are studio material with Sides 3 and 4 being one long live track divided into two (recorded at the Kaleidoscope in Hollywood, California). It peaked at No. 18 in the US Rock LP charts (didn’t chart UK).

CANNED HEAT was:

BOB 'The Bear' aka 'Big Fat' HITE – Lead Vocals

ALAN 'Blind Owl' WILSON - Vocals, Slide Guitar, Chromatic Harmonica and Jaw Harp

HENRY 'Sunflower' VESTINE - Lead Guitar (and Sitar)

LARRY 'The Mole' TAYLOR - Bass (Congas on "Snooky Flowers")

ADOLFO 'Fita' de la Parra - Drums

Guests:

Joe Sample of The Crusaders plays piano on "Sandy's Blues" (Miles Grayson did Horn Arrangements)

Jim Horn plays flute on "Going Up The Country"

John Mayall plays piano on "Walking By Myself" and "Bear Wires"

Dr. John plays piano and arranged horns on "Boogie Music" (Henry Sims plays Violin)

John Fahey plays guitar on "Nebulosity" - Part (i) of "Parthenogenesis"

The outer card slipcase lends the 2CD reissue a feeling of substance with longstanding liner-notes writer JOHN TOBLER providing us with a potted history of this famous American Blues-Rock band and a track-by-track analysis of this - their 2LP urge-to-splurge from November 1968. There's the inner gatefold sleeve artwork and the cover's title logo in-between text. The Remaster is cracking (probably ANDREW THOMPSON) and even if the live "Refried Boogie" is a tad hissy because of its live-nature it still rocks with presence, clarity and power. 

The 60ts Rockin' Blues account opens with Bob Hite croaking through a likeable and loud cover of Charlie Patton's "Pony Blues" itself followed by a wicked Al Wilson Bluesy original "My Mistake" - the 'Blind Owl' taking Lead Vocals with that famously effeminate singing of his (when the vocals and guitar do kick in, it has some punch). 'Big Fat' Hite returns with his own "Sandy's Blues" ably helped by Joe Sample of The Crusaders on Piano - a near seven-minutes of slow misery Blues where Bob needs a woman that won't play him for a fool (I believe pools of tears may have been involved in this lengthy troubled search). The brass and rolling feel sound fantastic in this Remaster, as does that Slide Guitar.

Then we get the single "Going Up The Country" which Liberty released 22 Nov 1968 Stateside as a 2:30 minute edit in a fetching picture sleeve (the album cut is 2:50 minutes) with the equally good (if not better) "One Kind Favor" on the flipside. The British issue followed a week later in their distinctive label bag - 29 Nov 1968 on Liberty LBF 15169 with the British spelling of "One Kind Favour" credited on the B-side. The hippy flute, girly plinging guitar and lyrical tie-in with the Woodstock Festival sent "Going Up The Country" up to the charts to No. 11 in America. If I'm honest I've always preferred the mean harmonica-blasting cover of Jimmy Rodgers' "Walking By Myself" that follows where Bob Hite sings gruff lead vocals, Al Wilson blows and moans the chromatic as John Mayall tinkers on the honky-tonk keys (fab stuff).

Talking about sweet Soul Music – Skip Taylor offers us the first of two inclusions – "Boogie Music" and "One Kind Favor" - both apparently containing the power to make a blind man see and the dance rise up and dance the Hoochie coo. Using the moniker of 'Lawrence Taylor Tatman III' as the song author, Skip Taylor's "Boogie Music" also features Dr. John on Piano (the great New Orleans Night Tripper also arranged those cleverly complimentary brass jabs) - while "One Kind Favor" is a Blind Lemon Jefferson cover that the original artwork again credits to 'arranged and adapted' by L.T. Tatman III. Sounding not unlike the kind of Blues riff Led Zeppelin circa 'I' and 'II' would have gargled for breakfast - "One Kind Favor" has great guitar interplay and Hite sounding invested and digging it.

After that wicked and steady compliment of varying boogie tunes, it feels like all of Side 2 has been leading up to the big experimental one (or astray whichever way you look at it) - the Psych Blues 9-part nonsense-titled "Parthenogenesis" – a fantastic 19-minute style-splash that sees Canned Heat venture into the weird and wonderful with Producer Skip Taylor at the helm. It opens with weird jaw-harp and Fahey guesting on guitar for about a minute and a half only to return to familiar Harmonica Blues Boogie with a double-header - "Rollin' And Tumblin'" and "Bear Wires" where John Mayall helps out on honky-tonk piano (Mayall's album "Bare Wires" was out at the time and with him staying at Bob Hite's home, the song is a play on words). Then as if out of nowhere, we get a drum solo assisted by congas called "Snooky Flowers" (apparently named after a musician they knew), the thankfully short Santana-like interlude is kept interesting by great playing and pans to the left and right of the speakers.

Then there's the heavy-heavy five guitars of "Sunflower Power" that can be described as grungy stoner Psychedelic Blues which 13:42 minutes flows beautifully into the Indian Sitar and warbling Chromatic Harmonica of the Indian sounding "Raga Kafi" which at 16:18 arrives at the Guitar Boogie of "Icebag" where Vestine is channeling his inner Albert Collins. At 18:51 minutes we float off into echoed Jaw Harp Land with "Childhood's End" bringing to a close a piece of music you can call genius and indulgence in equal measure. I love it. Now while the studio set is really good, Sides 3 and 4 of the live "Refried Boogie" can be both brilliant and testing, one way-too-long guitar solo that I'm sure the crowd loved on the night - but as you get to the beginning of Part II may leave you reaching for the stop button (others say it's the very essence of the band).

Like the indulgent dross that I felt populated much of the 'White Album' on Side 4 (Revolution No. 9) - "Living The Blues" is of course of its time. But man what a time it was. Boogie With Canned Heat in 2020 or 2022 (it's been reissued April as above)? Sounds like a good idea to me...

"Pure Prairie League/Bustin' Out/Two Lane Highway/Dance" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE (April 2019 Beat Goes On (BGO) Reissue - 4LPs Newly Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...All The Lonesome Cowboys..."

A Country-Rock phenomenon in the States (they charted nine albums there between 1975 and 1981 alone) – Cincinnati’s PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE has never really meant diddly in the UK. Even at the heights of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Eagles Country-Rock dominance in the mid-Seventies - I can recall PPL albums (on the ultra-hick RCA label) being reduced to pennies in secondhand racks for years.

But that might change with BGO's newest '4LPs onto 2CDs' reissue - a wonderful sounding transfer of their first two, fourth and fifth albums from 1972, 1975 and 1976 reissued by England's friend to Country and Country Rock music - Beat Goes On Records (the third album missing here is "If The Shoe Fits" from February 1976 USA and March 1976 UK). There is a lot to pedal steel through, so lets don our embroidered shirts all you lonesome cowboys, pick up our zip codes and get cuddly with our inner Kentucky Moonshine...

UK released 19 April 2019 (25 April 2019 in the USA) - "Pure Prairie League/Bustin' Out/Two Lane Highway/Dance" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE on Beat Goes On (BGO Records) BGOCD 1376 (Barcode 5017261213761) offers 4LPs Newly Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (68:15 minutes):

1. Tears [Side 1]

2. Take It Before You Go

3. You're Between Me

4. Woman

5. Doc's Tune [Side 2]

6. Country Song

7. Harmony Song

8. It's All On Me

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Pure Prairie League" - released February 1972 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4650 and in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8453 (reissued October 1975 with same catalogue number) - didn't chart in either country. 

9. Jazzman [Side 1]

10. Angel No. 9

11. Leave My Heart Alone

12. Early Morning Riser

13. Falling In And Out Of Love [Side 2]

14. Amie

15. Boulder Skies

16. Angel

17. Call Me, Tell Me 

Tracks 9 to 17 are their second album "Bustin' Out" - originally released October 1972 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4769 and in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8417. After the belated success of the "Amie" single - the album was reissued February 1975 and charted with the same catalogue number on the US Rock LP charts (their first entry, peaked at No. 34). It was reissued May 1975 in the UK, also using its original British catalogue number of RCA Victor SF 8417.

Disc 2 (65:57 minutes):

1. Two Lane Highway [Side 1]

2. Kentucky Moonshine

3. Runner

4. Memories

5. Kansas City Southern

6. Harvest [Side 2]

7. Sister's Keeper

8. Just Can't Believe It

9. Give Us A Rise

10. I'll Change Your Flat Tyre, Merle

11. Pickin' To Beat The Devil

Tracks 1 to 11 are their third album "Two Lane Highway" - released June 1975 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0933 and August 1975 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8445 - peaked at No. 24 in the USA, didn't chart UK.

12. Dance [Side 1]

13. In The Morning

14. All The Way

15. Livin' Each Day At A Time

16. Fade Away

17. Tornado Warning [Side 2]

18. Catfishin'

19. Help Yourself

20. San Antonio

21. All The Lonesome Cowboys

Tracks 12 to 21 are their fifth studio album "Dance" - released November 1976 in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-1924 and January 1977 in the UK on RCA Victor PL 11924 - peaked at No. 99 in the USA (didn't chart UK). 

The outer card slipcase that is now standard for all BGO reissues lends the package a certain class (I always think) and the 20-page booklet features all original artwork between its pages with new liner notes by JOHN TOBLER that includes an interview conducted with the band's producer for the first two albums BON RINGE (and Editor of Omaha Rainbow magazine). The band's name is discussed (taken from an 1938 Errol Flynn film called "Dodge City" - it was a fictional Temperance Union group) as are the writing chops of the band’s principal tunesmith Craig Lee Fuller (interviewed also) and the guitar work of Mick Ronson who guested on the second LP "Bustin' Out". Guitarists George Powell and Larry Goshorn took over the songwriting reins for the second two platters on offer here (on Disc 2) with contributions from Bassist Mike Reilly.

It’s all impressively thorough and informative - but fans will want the real deal - superb new 2019 Remasters by BGO's longstanding Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON. Even if the playing on the first two LPs in particular sounds a tad amateur at times - there's no getting away from how good this twofer sounds - songs like the gorgeous "You're Between Me" (their first US 45 in April 1972 on RCA Victor 48-1028) and the aforementioned Mick Ronson on "Angel No. 9" from the second platter (I’d swear that’s him on guitar as well as vocals and string arrangements – just not credited as such). You can clearly hear Country legend Chet Atkins guest on "Kentucky Moonshine" from "Two Lane Highway" (guitar solo) while other tunes feature Don Felder of Eagles (Mandolin) and Johnny Gimble (Fiddle). Backing vocals come from Emmylou Harris on "Just Can't Believe It" and Dianne Brooks of the 50ts girl group The Three Playmates on "Leave My Heart Alone". Clarence McDonald arranged horns on the "Dance" album and Hugh McCracken plays guitar on "Woman" from the 1972 debut.

The melody that broke PPL "Amie" is a typically lovely acoustic tune from Craig Fuller and along with tunes like "Harmony Song", "Tears" and "Call Me, Tell Me", it's easy to hear why so many reviewers of the day compared their style and sound to that LP selling juggernaut, the Eagles or even a Countrified version of Ventura Highway America. "Boulder Skies" is a bit Mickey Newbury while "Country Song" on the debut is seven and half minutes of Matthews Southern Comfort, Plainsong and Flying Burrito Brothers pedal steel vs. guitar (John Call is the player). At first it seems to overstay its lengthy welcome, but the clever changes and instrument battles keep it interesting. Not surprising either, that "Just Can't Believe It" and "Kentucky Moonshine" were paired as an A&B-side US 45 in September 1975. Disc 2 gives us other sweet peas like "Harvest", "Fade Away" and their Side 2 ender "All The Lonesome Cowboys".

For sure this kind of fiddle and pedal steel Country Rock will not be for everyone, but fans of melodies and good songwriting should dig in and long time followers of PPL and their cowboy-hat logo will love the great new audio and presentation. Nice one...