"Nicolette/In The Nick Of Time/Radioland" by NICOLETTE LARSON (2016 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...In The Nick Of Time..."

All three of these 'yacht rock' Warner Brothers albums from Montana's NICOLETTE LARSON charted in the USA - her debut "Nicolette" in November 1978 (No. 15), "In The Nick Of Time" in November 1979 (No. 47) and "Radioland" in January 1981 (No. 62). All three also came loaded down with Ted Templeman production values and a huge/impressive array of guest musicians that reads like a virtual who's who of cool West Coast session types. Then there's exclusive songs by Glenn Frey of The Eagles and John David Souther coupled with smooth-as-a-baby's-posterior covers of good people like Allen Toussaint, Jesse Winchester, Little Feat, Holland-Dozier-Holland and Sam Cooke.

A typically classy release from England's Beat Goes On - you get her first three commercially available albums remastered in high def from original tapes onto two CDs by BGO's resident audio expert ANDREW THOMPSON, a chunky 24-page booklet with full album credits, photos and new liner notes from noted writer JOHN TOBLER - all wrapped with a pretty outer card slipcase. The Audio on this sucker is gorgeous - tracks like her cover of The Louvin Brothers Country hit "Angels Rejoiced" where she duets on vocals with Herb Pedersen (Mandolin from Albert Lee) is just beautiful to listen too. A top job done. Here are the details...

UK released April 2016 - "Nicolette/In The Nick Of Time/Radioland" by NICOLETTE LARSON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1231 (Barcode 5017261212313) offers 3LPs remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (38:14 minutes):

1. Lotta Love

2. Rhumba Girl

3. You Send Me

4. Can't Get Away From You

5. Mexican Divorce

6. Baby, Don't Do It [Side 2]

7. Give A Little

8. Angels Rejoiced

9. French Waltz

10. Come Early Mornin'

11. Last In Love

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Nicolette" - released November 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3243 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56569

Disc 2 (64:42 minutes):

1. Dancin' Jones

2. Just In The Nick Of Time

3. Let Me Go, Love

4. Rio De Janeiro Blue

5. Breaking Too Many Hearts

6. Back In My Arms [Side 2]

7. Fallen

8. Daddy

9. Isn't It Always Love

10. Trouble

Tracks 1 to 10 are her 2nd album "In The Nick Of Time" - released November 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS 3370 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56750

11. Radioland

12. Ooo-Eee

13. How Can We Go On

14. When You Come Around

15. Tears, Tears and More Tears

16. Straight From The Heart

17. Been Gone Too Long

18. Fool For Love

19. Long Distance Love

Tracks 11 to 19 are her 3rd studio album "Radioland" - released January 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3502 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56878

As I said earlier - when you read through the luminaries on these albums - it's not surprising that American Radio liked Nicolette Larson and her famous musical friends. While she handled all lead vocals - you get guest singers like Michael McDonald, Linda Ronstadt and Rosemary Butler - Keyboardists Bill Payne of Little Feat, Michael Omartian and Mark Jordan - Guitarists Fred Tackett, Albert Lee, James Burton, Ronnie Montrose (of Montrose) and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers - Bass Players Klaus Voorman (of Beatles fame) and Tiran Porter of The Doobie Brothers - Percussionists and Drummers Victor Feldman, Keith Knudsen and Bobby LaKind - as well as stragglers like Herb Pedersen, Van Dyke Parks and arranger Jimmie Haskell. The debut opens with a surprisingly chipper Neil Young cover "Lotta Love". No surprise then that the US 45 of it on Warner Brothers WBS 8664 with "Angels Rejoiced" on the flipside made No. 8 on the Pop charts in late December 1978. With its Jimmie Haskell arranged strings, boppy keyboard beat and floating Saxophone - it was a big hit. 

Before that Warner Brothers tried the Jesse Winchester penned "Rhumba Girl" as her debut 7" single on Warner Brothers BBS 8795 (with "Lost In Love" on the B-side) that Larson gives a Doobie Brothers "Minute By Minute" funky shuffle - but it failed to ignite interest. The HD Audio on "Give A Little" is fabulous - penned by Bill and Fran Payne (Bill Payne of Little Feat) - it's a slick slice of West Coast 'lurve' - ably abetted by a trio of great backing vocalists - Linda Ronstadt, Nicolas Ashford and producer Ted Templeman. Her two Soul covers - Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" and Marvin Gaye's "Baby, Don't You Do It" (a H-D-H song) - break up the slightly schlocky pop songs. For better feel collectors will dig "Last In Love" - a Glenn Fry song penned with John David Souther that features only Larson singing, Billy Payne on Keyboards and the strings arranged by Jimmie Haskell (concertmaster Sid Sharp). A very Linda Ronstadt arrangement - Larson gives it some ache in her rendition. The remaster is beautiful too...

The 2nd LP produced another single that charted - "Let Me Go, Love" - her duet with Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers on Warner Brothers 49130 that rose to 35 in February 1980. Her own song (co-penned with Ted Templeman) "Just In The Nick Of Time" is a cool little rocker with great guitar from Little Feat's Paul Barrere and a wicked solo from Ronnie Montrose. Michael McDonald contributes his trademark funky keyboard backdrop to the upbeat "Back In My Arms" - a Holland-Dozier-Holland hit for The Supremes way back in 1965 - another potential hit with top sessionman Jim Horn giving it a great Saxophone solo. Van Dyke Parks counts in the 1-2-3-4 of "Trouble" and plays the Keyboards. Just her voice and his piano - she does a girly variant of Lowell George's "Sailin' Shoes" classic and it ends the album well.

By the time we get to studio set number 3 - the public and radio had moved up. Despite the presence of Patrick Simmons, Tiran Porter, Keith Knudsen of The Doobie Brothers and Billy Payne of Little Feat - the opening "Radioland" fails to really ignite - sounding tired and forced. Clover's John McFee and Little Feat's Paul Barrere combine on Guitars to lift "Ooo-Eee" - but stuff like "How Can We Go On" and "When You Come Around" sound weak and weedy. Much of the rest of the album feels the same with only the finisher - a cover of "Long Distance Love" lifts proceedings. But even then it's not a patch on the hurting 1975 Lowell George original on Little Feat's "The Last Record Album"...

To sum up - two good albums followed by one patchy effort. But with that superior presentation and the new 2016 glorious sound - fans will need this. Another reissue winner from BGO...

"Madman Across The Water" by ELTON JOHN (2004 Universal /Rocket 'Hybrid SACD, Surround and CD Audio' Single-Disc Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Tiny Dancer..."

I always thought it odd that after the truly stunning 'Deluxe Editions' afforded Elton John's 2nd and 3rd albums "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed Connection" - Universal didn't follow up with more of the same for his revered and much-loved 4th and 5th LPs – "Madman Across The Water" (1971) and "Honky Chateau" (1972). But in a kind of a way – they did – it just seems that no one has noticed.

Instead of two-disc DE's for "Madman Across The Water" and "Honky Chateau" - we got single-disc 'SACD HYBRID' releases (there are SACD variants of 1973's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and 1975's "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy" also). The single-disc 'Hybrid SACD/Surround Sound/CD Audio' reissues both feature new DSD and Surround Sound SACD mixes and both will play on standard CD players. But if you want the best out of the Disc - better to have SACD playback or Surround or both. My Marantz has the SACD option – and man of man – do these digital babies shine compared to their 1995 Gus Dudgeon predecessors. Let's get to the Blue Jean Babies...

US released November 2004 (December 2004 in the UK) – "Madman Across The Water" by ELTON JOHN on Universal/Rocket B0003610-36 (Barcode 602498240298) is a 'HYBRID SACD Surround Sound, SACD Stereo and CD Audio' Single Disc Reissue. It's a straightforward transfer of the original 9-track 1971 album and plays out as follows (45:33 minutes):

1. Tiny Dancer

2. Levon

3. Razor Face

4. Madman Across The Water

5. Indian Sunset [Side 2]

6. Holiday Inn

7. Rotten Peaches

8. All The Nasties

9. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 4th album "Madman Across The Water" – released November 1971 in the UK on DJM Records DJLPH 420 and in the USA on Uni Records 93120

The 20-page booklet features the same layout as the Gus Dudgeon 1995 remaster in that it reproduces the booklet attached to the inner gatefold of the original vinyl album (has the SACD logo in the bottom left corner). The JOHN TOBLER liner notes from 1995 are there also as are the colour pages with lyrics and musician credits. The only addition is a SACD HYBRID acknowledgement page that advises about the team of 4 who handled this version. GREG PENNY produced, mixed and mastered the Surround Sound version – RICKY GRAHAM did the Digital Transfers at Sphere Studios in London, GUS SKINAS did the DSD Editing at Super Audio Center, Boulder, Colorado while TONY COUSINS re-mastering the Original Stereo Mixes at Metropolis Mastering in London. You get a rounded-corner jewel case with a visible 'SACD Surround Soul, SACD Stereo, CD Audio' side banner to differentiate it from previous issues. I have to say that the audio on the 1995 CD always felt weedy to me – but I’m taken aback at how good these 2004 versions are – clarity, warmth and truly gorgeous audio throughout the entire SACD Remaster. I know this album so well that it stills comes as something of a shock every time I play "Tiny Dancer" or "Madman Across The Water" on this Hybrid Disc.

It opens with a classic – the wonderfully evocative "Tiny Dancer". I've had the 1995 variant and the Greatest Hits version to try to get the best Audio – but this 2004 baby trounces all that went before. Beautiful is the only word to describe it. The transfers of "Levon" gives more muscle to Barry Morgan's Drums and Brian Odger's Bass while Rick Wakeman plays Organ on "Razor Face" and that fantastic Accordion playing from Jack Emblow gets to shine too. But if I was to nail down one track that exemplifies how good the audio is – it would the Side 1 finisher and album title song – "Madman Across The Water". When Chris Spedding's Electric Guitar comes at the opening - it has a real punch and presence – as do the stunning Paul Buckmaster orchestrated strings. And as Davey Johnstone's Acoustic guitar re-surfaces – it's so clear (Diana Lewis and Rick Wakeman contribute Synth and Organ respectively on the track too).

The Mandolin and Guitars of "Indian Sunset" are fantastically clear and that Ecclesia Choir (conducted by Robert Kirby) sails into your room too. You forget how good "Holiday Inn" is with backing vocals from Leslie Duncan, Sue & Sunny, Barry St. John and Roger Cook (to name but a few). Chris Spedding provides Slide Guitar for "Rotten Peaches", Rick Wakeman of Yes plays Organ and that huge ensemble of Backing Vocalists kicks in again. You also 'feel' the sweet playing of Herbie Flowers on Bass (I hate to say he's a lovely bottom end but in the interests of art I will). The echoed vocal intro to "All The Nasties" suddenly feels huge too as does the Ecclesia Choir. It ends on the short but moving "Goodbye" – just Elton, his Piano and some tasteful string orchestration (the remaster is properly gorgeous)...

The obvious let down (if you could call it that) is that this 2004 Hybrid doesn’t improve on track numbers over the 1995 standard CD – you still only get the basic 9-track album with no bonus cuts. That aside – this is the version to own.

Ace filmmaker Cameron Crowe famously used "Tiny Dancer" on the Tour Bus Scene of his 70ts Music flick "Almost Famous" to amazing effect – and I can remember the chills returning to my arms as the "...seamstress for the band..." played and each person on the bus knew why they were there - their love for the music. This stunning 2004 'Hybrid SACD' Reissue leaves me feeling the same...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 250 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"I Looked Up" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (2014 Beat Goes On CD Remaster Of Their 5th Studio LP from 1970) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…This Moment…"

When the INCREDIBLE STRING BAND put out the vinyl double-album ‘U’ in October 1970 complete with a pantomime show to accompany its half-genius and wholly indulgent sprawl – many fans thought they’d lost it while critics had a total field day. And perhaps the single album “I Looked Up” that preceded ‘U’ only months earlier (which also tested people’s patience) lit the fuse for that backlash. Whatever you look at it - four and half decades later - and along comes Beat Goes On of the UK with a spiffing new CD remaster and quality presentation. They’re hoping of course you’ll reassess the whole hairyman affair in 2014…and if you’re a fan, you should. Here are real ale details…

UK released September 2014 - "I Looked Up" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1166 (Barcode 5017261211668) comes in an outer card slipcase and breaks down as follows (41:27 minutes):

1. Black Jack Davy (Mike Heron)

2. The Letter (Mike Heron)

3. Pictures In A Mirror (Robin Williamson)

4. This Moment (Mike Heron)

5. When You Find Out Who You Are (Robin Williamson)

6. Fair As You (Mike Heron song)

Tracks 1 to 6 are the stereo vinyl album "I Looked Up" – released April 1970 in the UK on Elektra 2469 002 and Elektra EKS 74061 in the USA

Consisting of multi-instrumentalists ROBIN WILLIAMSON and MIKE HERON (Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar, Flute, Piano, Bass, Various English and European String Instruments and Vocals) - the band also had ROSE SIMPSON on Bass and LICORICE McKECHNIE on Duet Vocals and Guitar. The 16-page booklet features two photos of the ISB and detailed liner notes by noted writer JOHN TOBLER that go into a long history of the groups stay at Elektra. But the big news is a lovely new remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON that brings out the music in a really great way. Many of these tracks are essentially acoustic guitars, mandolins and high vocals - the remaster has hiss on some tracks - but the clarity is fab.

Musically if I were to single out two extremes (bad and good) – it would be the near unlistenable nonsense of “Pictures In A Mirror” which goes on for eleven minutes and is painful to listen to. A contrast is the lovely six minutes of “This Moment” – even if it has the “oh no” vocal refrain towards the end. And the remaster is amazing on “When You Find Out Who You Are” as it goes into those delicate vocal duets between Robin and Licorice. But perhaps best of all is the old world madrigal folk of “Fair As You” with its Flute, Gimbri and layered vocals. It has hiss on it for sure but it’s not been dampened down in the transfer at the expense of the prominent acoustic guitar and flute (deftly done). 

The Incredible String Band would go on to the altogether better "Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air" album when they signed to Island in 1971. To sum up – it’s a bit Bovril – you either love it or loathe it. But if you’re a fan – you need this superb remaster in your collection...

"Hand Sown…Home Grown / Silk Purse / Linda Ronstadt” by LINDA RONSTADT (2014 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Long Way Around..."

This stunning 21 July 2014 (UK released) 2CD set gives us Linda Ronstadt's three albums on Capitol Records between 1969 and 1972. There's a lot to get through so here's the details for Beat Goes on BGOCD 1156 (Barcode 5017261211569)...

Disc 1 (61:35 minutes):

1. Baby You've Been On My Mind

2. Silver Threads And Golden Needles

3. Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad

4. A Number And A Name

5. The Only Mama That'll Walk The Line

6. The Long Way Around

7. Break My Mind

8. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

9. It's About Time

10. We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock `n' Roll

11. The Dolphins

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut solo album "Hand Sown...Home Grown" - released March 1969 in the USA on Capitol ST-208 and September 1969 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 208

12. Lovesick Blues

13. Are My Thoughts With You?

14. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

15. Nobody's

16. Louise

17. Long Long Time

18. Mental Revenge

19. I'm Leavin' It All Up To You

20. He Dark The Sun

21. Like Is Like A Mountain Railway

Tracks 12 to 21 are her 2nd album "Silk Purse" - released March 1970 in the USA on Capitol ST-407 and August 1970 on Capitol E-ST 407 in the UK

Disc 2 (31:47 minutes):

1. Rock Me On The Water

2. Crazy Arms

3. I Won't Be Hangin' Round

4. I Still Miss Someone

5. In My Reply

6. I Fall To Pieces

7. Ramblin' Round

8. Birds

9. Faithful

10. Rescue Me

Tracks 1 to 10 are her 3rd album "Linda Ronstadt" - released January 1972 in the USA on Capital SMAS-635 and April 1972 on Capitol EA-ST 635 in the UK

The outer card wrap is now a feature for Beat Goes On and gives the whole shebang a very classy feel. The chockers 24-page booklet features detailed histories by noted musicologist JOHN TOBLER with reproductions of the original liner notes, period photos and musician credits. The sound quality is truly superlative (Andrew Thompson 2014 remasters - tapes licensed from Universal) - incredibly clean and alive. Fans will love this.

The first two LPs have the feel of an artist trying to hit that sweet spot somewhere between Traditional Country and Country-Rock and not quite getting there. Her voice is fabulous on Randy Newman's "Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad" and Mickey Newbury's "Are My Thoughts With You" - the same on Paul Siebel's "Louise". She goes full fiddle country with the bitter Mel Tillis post relationship classic "Mental Revenge" and vocal Americana on "Life Is Like A Mountain Railway". The sound quality is superb throughout - vocal, Dobro and mandolin.

"Rock Me On The Water" opens her 1972 album and this Jackson Browne cover (from his "Saturate Before Use" 1972 debut album) is the first real sight of a template that would serve her for decades to come - covers of great Rock songs by quality songwriters known and unknown. I love the keyboard slink of "I Won't Be Hangin' Round" (an Eric Kaz song) and "In My Reply" is a rare take on a Livingston Taylor song (James Taylor's brother). The whole album is everything the first two should have been.

But better than that - her 3rd self-titled album is famous for being an early Country-Rock classic and for bringing together THE EAGLES who were at the time dispersed between the bands SHILOH and LONGBRANCH PENNYWHISTLE while doubling -up as Ronstadt's touring band. Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon play and harmonize of six of the tracks and would release their debut album later that year with Ronstadt's blessings. Other notable contributions to the record are Herb Pedersen on Banjo and National Steel with Sneaky Pete on Steel Guitar. Three of the songs on Side 2 are `live' - the Hank Cochran classic "I Fall To Pieces", a truly beautiful cover of Neil Young's "Birds" and a boppin version of Fontella Bass's 1965 Checker Records Soul Classic "Rescue Me" (which finishes the album on a high).

I've really enjoyed re-hearing these records - and especially in such wonderful clarity and with liner notes by someone who knows what's what.

Yet another top quality remaster/reissue by Beat Goes On - and I can only hope they can get access to her Asylum Records catalogue and deliver it with the same sonic results.

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 260 entries and 2450 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).