MICHAEL CHAPMAN - "The Decca Years 1974 To 1977" – Featuring Three Albums on Decca/Deram/Gama Records -"Deal Gone Down" (June 1974), "Savage Amusement" (June 1976), "The Man Who Hated Mornings" (November 1977) PLUS 21 Bonus Tracks, 10 of Which Are Previously Unissued. Guests include Bridget St. John, Andy Latimer of Camel, Keef Hartley of Dog Soldier and The Keef Hartley Band, B.J. Cole of Cochise, Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp and Nigel Pegrum of Steeleye Span, Mick Ronson of Spiders From Mars and David Bowie’s Band, Rod Clements of Lindisfarne, Pete Wingfield of Jellybread, Prelude, Tim Renwick and Peter Wood of Quiver with Leo Le Blanc of The California Poppy Pickers (January 2021 UK Mooncrest/Secret Records 3CD Compilation of Remasters In A Gatefold Card Sleeve) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 241 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

PICK UP THE PIECES - 1974

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45's...

All In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves

Over 2,200 E-Pages

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08CQ7QLV2&asins=B08CQ7QLV2&linkId=4a0921806bfd2d1d5d1a3ee8294a571e&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08QBY9KQY&asins=B08QBY9KQY&linkId=6b311f61757001fb291782f39928dd4b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE-THAN-FEELING-All-Guide-Exceptional-ebook/dp/B0BGT69MVZ?crid=1RTTPB6MEK9Y7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aCLqQD_0x4Xc4Kd7CEKllFnbfqhZ11PdMT_72etNzX9uk4_p_dYzE7ix7BD2qIIrl8-pAv90HElKfIB-_ZesIaS7TKJ-pDCFTgEP2k9aFX6a08GeBKgOKqyKHE6gcf0WacJEY4AKfVHlvo1EyZXb-psq6hf7c8WNvfvSSQUcNdP73WQfDavTWOHn5u81XeWCHJ47XMXWJqovt2Cx2c7BHgnvhCDYy23xFnpilpsAe90.T6uf-EhIxX_KJ8LfLu5E7Pk739m39vwP0A9sw0LfGno&dib_tag=se&keywords=more+than+a+feeling+mark&qid=1717663975&sprefix=more+than+a+feeling+mark%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=02abe7807076077061be2311e2d581b1&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Journeyman..."

Fans of Folk-Rocker Michael Chapman have been here before. 

In June 2004, the 3-Disc Clamshell Box Set "Dogs Got More Sense: The Decca Years 1974-1977" on Shakedown/Secret Records SHAKEBX124Z (Barcode 828291312431) issued the three albums featured on this January 2021 compilation along with 11 Outtakes and Demos and a 55-minute Interview DVD. 2021's "The Decca Years 1974 To 1977" retains all three of those albums in their entirety and the 11 outtakes/demos - only this time adds on a further 10 Previously Unreleased Bonus Audio Tracks but loses the visual DVD. 

Housed in a very tasty three-way foldout card sleeve pack, it has album picture sleeve die-cut holding pouches for each CD n the inside (see photos) but more importantly it boasts a substantially increased 28-page booklet when the previous box had maybe 5 or 6 skimpy pages as I remember. 

Audio-wise - although it doesn't say anywhere who has mastered what and from what - this Mooncrest Reissue credits 'Secret Records' in its title, so it can be safely presumed that those 2004 Remasters are being re-used here. It sounds spiffing – full and lovely and all those Acoustic-Rock moments shining. Also, as I'm sure both fans and the Folk-Rock curious will have noticed, this 3CD 50-Track bundle is presently less than eleven quid on most websites 'brand new'. 

The guest list across the three LPs is mightily impressive too - Dandelion Records Folk singer Bridget St. John, Guitarist and main-man for Camel, Andy Latimer, Drummer Keef Hartley of Dog Soldier and The Keef Hartley Band, Singer Maddy Prior, Bassist Rick Kemp and Drummer Nigel Pegrum of Steeleye Span, backing vocals from "After The Gold Rush" Prelude, ace axeman Mick Ronson of The Spiders From Mars and David Bowie's Band, folky Rod Clements of Lindisfarne, John McBurnie of Jackson Heights, Guitarist and Keyboardist Tim Renwick and Peter Wood of Quiver with Pedal Steel players B.J. Cole of Cochise and Leo Le Blanc of The California Poppy Pickers. They even have Pete Wingfield of Jellybread and "Eighteen With A Bullet" fame on Keyboards for the 1977 outing "The Man Who Hated Mornings" – an LP that boasted Mick Ronson, Andy Latimer and Michael Chapman all swinging electric guitars while BJ Cole pedalled his steel and Keef Hartley bashed his kit. That's an awful lot on offer for a small price. But what's it like? To the down deal details...

UK released 29 January 2021 - "The Decca Years 1974 To 1977" by MICHAEL CHAPMAN on Mooncrest/Secret Records CRESTBX109 (Barcode 5036436126224) offers 3 Albums Remastered across 3CDs (50-tracks in total) and plays out as follows:

CD1 "Deal Gone Down" (61:25 minutes):

1. The Rock 'n' Roll Jigley [Side 1]

2. Party Pieces 

3. Another Season Song 

4. Stranger Passing By 

5. Used To Be 

6. Deal Gone Down [Side 2]

7. The Banjo Song 

8. Theme From The Movie Of The Same Name 

9. Goodbye Sunny Sky 

10. Journeyman 

Tracks 1 to 10 are his sixth studio album "Deal Gone Down" – released June 1974 in the UK on Deram/Gama SML 1114 – Produced by MICHAEL CHAPMAN  – didn’t chart. Guests include Maddy Prior (Backing Vocals), Rick Kemp (on Bass) and Nigel Pegrum (on Drums) of Steeleye Span with Bridget St. John and Prelude also on Backing Vocals

CD1 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Dumplings (Instrumental from the "Deal Gone Down" sessions, B-side to the "The Banjo Song" Single)

12. Stranger Passing By (Demo) 

13. Theme From The Movie Of The Same Name (Demo)

14. Goodbye Sunny Sky (Demo)

15. Untitled Rag (Demo)

16. Journeyman (Demo)

17. Another Session Song (Demo, Previously Unissued)

18. Deal Gone Down (Demo, Previously Unissued)

19. Party Pieces (Demo, Previously Unissued)

20. Used To Be (Demo, Previously Unissued)

CD2: "Savage Amusement" (60:05 minutes):

1. Shuffleboat River Farewell [Side 1]

2. Secret Of The Locks 

3. Crocky Hill Disaster 

4. Lovin' Dove 

5. Hobo's Lament 

6. Stranger [Side 2]

7. How Can A Poor Man 

8. It Didn't Work Out 

9. Devastation Hotel

Tracks 1 to 9 are his seventh studio album (eight overall) "Savage Amusement" – released June 1976 in the UK on Decca/Gama SKL-R 5242 – Produced by DON NIX – it didn’t chart. Andy Latimer and Ray Fenwick guest on Guitars, Peter Wood on Keyboards, Leo Le Blanc on Pedal Steel Guitar with Rick Kemp on Bass and Keef Hartley on Drums

CD2 BONUS TRACKS:

10. Lovin' Dove (Demo)

11. Just To Keep You (Demo)

12. Devastation Hotel & Crocky Hill Disaster Idea (Demo)

13. Waiting For A Train (All Around The Water Tank) (Demo)

14. Devastation Hotel (Demo, Previously Unissued)

15. Hobo's Lament (Demo, Previously Unissued)

16. Lost Ragtime Piece (Demo, Previously Unissued)

17. Lovin' Dove (Demo, Previously Unissued) 

CD3: "The Man Who Hated Mornings" (49:36 minutes):

1. Northern Lights [Side 1]

2. I'm Sober Now 

3. The Man Who Hated Mornings 

4. Ballad In Plain D

5. Steel Bonnets 

6. Dogs Got More Sense [Side 2]

7. Falling Apart 

8. While Dancing The Pride Of Erin 

9. Dreams Are Dangerous Things 

10. Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls?

Tracks 1 to 10 are his eight studio-album (ninth overall) "The Man Who Hated Mornings" – released November 1977 in the UK on Decca/Gama SKL-R 5290 – Produced by MAX HOLE and MICHAEL CHAPMAN – it didn't chart. Guests include Rod Clements of Lindisfarne on Bass with Keef Hartley on Drums. 

CD3 BONUS TRACKS:

11. Dogs Got More Sense (Bonus Track, Early Version Recorded For Proposed Single)

12. Expressway In The Rain (Demo, Previously Unissued – from the Millstone Grit Sessions)

13. Steel Bonnets (Instrumental)

The 28-page booklet features new liner notes from MARC HIGGINS with further recollections of making "The Man Who Hated Mornings" by ANDRU CHAPMAN (both October 2020) with all the albums credits following. I picked up my copy of this 3CD set for a ten spot and you have to say that even though "The Decca Years..." isn't all classic - I've seen reissues with a quarter of the care taken here being charged at four times the price. To the tunes...

Highlights on "Deal Gone Down" include the near five minutes of "Party Pieces" - Acoustic Folk Rock where our Mike a little too drunk for wear. His lady is far away in "Another Season Song" - a very pretty Bryn Haworth type ballad with lovely Production values. Acoustic simplicity fills "Stranger Passing By" - a gorgeous tune aching with pathos. But the short instrumentals "The Rock 'n' Roll Jigley" and "Theme From The Movie..." alongside the fay jubilance of "Used To Be" let the side down badly, reducing "Deal... " to an ok LP overall and not a lot else. 

Album number two features the excellent Richard Thompson lilt of "Secret Of The Locks" – a vehicle for some tasty electric guitar. Things continue to improve with "Crocky Hill Disaster" but the Pedal Steel and mock vocals of "Hobo's Lament" give the Jimmie Rogers cover a cheesy feel rather than being a homage. One of the album's great moments is seven and half minutes of "Stranger" - the Keyboard passages of Peter Wood giving the song an epic Roy Harper Prog Folk feel. Last time most folks heard the Blind Alfred Read money-lament "How Can A Poor Man" it was on Ry Cooder's debut LP way back in 1970 – unfortunately Chapman does it no favours. Things chug-Rock ala Clapton with "It Didn't Work Out" even if the heavy on the backing vocals almost drowns any chance of a tune you could actually like. The LP ends well on "Devastation Hotel" – all hope abandoned on this 5:12 minute finisher. 

Album number three is for me the best of the bunch – opening so strongly with 7:23 minutes of "Northern Lights" – his great backing band providing real substance. Chapman goes at the first of two covers – the Danny O'Keefe boozer lament "I'm Sober Now" and Bob Dylan's "Ballad In Plain D" – both expertly produced and full in your speakers. The man who hated mornings faces the nighttime with a smile, Chapman sings on the title track. But I actually prefer the stunning doubled-up guitars of "Steel Bonnets" – a really cool instrumental that ends Side 1. He bops with "Dogs Have More Sense" – illusions weighing him down – then goes EC "Slowhand" commercial with the jaunty Acoustic Rock of "Falling Apart". Have to say that the last three may have felt good in 1977, but in 2021 have a dreadfully dated and even hammy feel. 

Of the outtakes and demos, there is a more rocking version of "Dogs Got More Sense” that almost apes Bowie having a riffage day - while the exact opposite is true of "Stranger Passing By" with just a lonesome Vocal and Guitar – a stripped-back almost Nick Drake moment. The Acoustic Folk-Blues of "Waiting For A Train" is nice too but the recording feels very demo and I'm afraid I felt the same of much of the rest – interesting but never rising much above that. 

There is a lot to like here, but I also felt that the splurge of ordinary demos while appearing to be generous actually bring down the steady quality of the LPs. Still, with the decent audio, huge amount of rare material and superb annotation – "The Decca Years..." is still a great buy and a way to explore Chapman's world-weary whine without breaking the bank...

"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL including tracks from the albums "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" (1965), "Blues Breakers" (1966), "Raw Blues", "A Hard Road" and "Crusade" (1967), "Bare Wires" and "Blues From Laurel Canyon" (1968), "The Turning Point" (1969), "Empty Rooms" and "USA Union" (1970), "Back To The Roots" (1971 2LP set) and more - featuring Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Steve Winwood, Keef Hartley, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Freddie Robinson, Charles Owens, Blue Mitchell and more (July 2010 Universal/Decca 4CD Book Set – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

This Review and Over 384 More Like It

Are Available In My E-Book 

 

GIMME SHELTER!

CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 

And Other Genres Thereabouts 

 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 

All Reviews From The Discs 

No Need To be Nervous!

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B013TDUC2K&asins=B013TDUC2K&linkId=573f2e449223d6ca3608be4714bc08db&show_border=

"…Walking On Sunset…Never Reach The End…"

"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" is a long overdue 4CD 75-Track Book Set for England's Blues Rock maverick JOHN MAYALL. There's a huge trawl of great stuff on here so let's get to the blues breakers and shakers right away...

UK released July 2010 - "So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL on Universal/Decca 532 764-2 (Barcode 600753276426) plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (78:11 minutes):

1. Crawling Up A Hill

2. Mr. James (1 and 2 are A & B-sides of a May 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F 11900)

3. When I'm Gone

4. R&B Time

5. Runaway

6. What's The Matter With You (3 to 6 from the March 1965 UK LP "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" on Decca LK 4680)

7. Crocodile Walk

8. Blues City Shake Down (7 and 8 are A&B-sides of an April 1965 UK 7" single on Decca F 12120)

9. I'm Your Witchdoctor

10. Telephone Blues (9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an October 1965 UK 7" single on Immediate IM012)

11. On Top Of The World (first appeared on the December 1967 UK LP compilation "Blues Anytime Vol.2" on Immediate IMCP 105)

12. They Call It Stormy Monday (part of the 1969 UK compilation LP "Looking Back" on Decca SKL 5010)

13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (part of the 1977 "Primal Solos" UK compilation LP on London LC 50003)

14. All Your Love

15. Double Crossing Time

16. Steppin' Out

17. What'd I Say

18. Key To Love

19. Parchman Farm (14 to 19 are from the July 1966 UK LP "Blues Breakers" - John Mayall with Eric Clapton on Decca LK 4804)

20. Looking back

21. So Many Roads (20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of an October 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12506)

22. Long Night (from the January 1967 UK LP "Raw Blues" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1220)

23. Dust My Blues

24. The Stumble (23 and 24 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

[Notes: 1 to 11, 14 to 21 are in MONO - all others are STEREO; CD1 also has an uncredited Track 25 which is simply called "Title 25"]

Disc 2 (76:44 minutes):

1. You Don't Love Me

2. It's Over

3. The Super-Natural (1 to 3 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

4. Sittin' In The Rain (A-side to a January 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12545)

5. Ridin' On The L&N

6. All My Life (5 and 6 are from a January 1967 UK EP "John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield" on Decca DFE 8673)

7. Double Trouble (A-side of a June 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12621)

8. Suspicions (Part One) (A-side of an October 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12684)

9. Oh Pretty Woman

10. Snowy Wood

11. Checkin' Up On My Baby (9 to 11 are from the September 1967 UK LP "Crusade" by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers)

12. No More Tears

13. Brand New Start (12 and 13 are from the November 1967 UK LP "The Blues Alone" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1243)

14. Picture On The Wall (A-side of a February 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12732)

15. Look In The Mirror

16. No Reply

17. Hartley Quits (15 to 17 are from the June 1968 UK LP "Bare Wires" on Decca SKL 4945)

18. 2401 (A-side of a November 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12846)

19. Walking On Sunset

20. Medicine Man

21. Miss James

22. Fly Tomorrow (19 to 22 are from the November 1968 UK LP "Blues From Laurel canyon" on Decca SKL 4972)

[Notes: 4 to 8, 12 to 14 and 18 are MONO - all others are STEREO]

Disc 3 (75:38 minutes):

1. The Laws Must Change

2. California

3. Room To Move (1 to 3 are from the November 1969 UK LP "The Turning Point" on Polydor 583 571)

4. Sleeping By Her Side (recorded at the Fillmore East 12 July 1969 - Previously Unreleased)

5. Don't Waste My Time

6. Something New

7. Waiting For The Right Time

8. Counting The Days (5 to 8 are from the April 1970 UK LP "Empty Rooms" on Polydor 583 580)

9. Off The Road

10. Crying

11. Nature's Disappearing (9 to 11 are from the November 1970 UK LP "USA Union" on Polydor 2425 020)

12. Accidental Suicide

13. Prisons On The Road

14. Unanswered Questions (12 to 14 are from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

Disc 4 (77:04 minutes):

1. Television Eye (from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

2. Memories

3. Nobody Cares (2 and 3 are from the 1971 UK album "Memories" on Polydor 2425 085)

4. Good Time Boogie

5. Got To Be This Way

6. Mess Around

7. Country Road (4 to 7 are `live' from the 1972 UK LP "Jazz Blues Fusion" on Polydor 2425 103)

8. Moving On

9. Things Go Wrong

10. High Pressure Living (8 to 10 are from the 1973 UK LP "Moving On" on Polydor 2391 047)

11. Driving `Til The Break Of Day

12. Burning Sun (11 and 12 are from the 1973 UK LP "Ten Years Are Gone" on Polydor 2683 036)

13. Little Kitten

14. Gasoline Blues (13 and 14 are from the 1974 UK LP "The Latest Edition" on Polydor 2391 141)

The attached 38-page colour booklet is a treasure of great photos (many unpublished until now), album sleeves, concert posters, trade adverts for singles on Decca and brilliant liner-notes by MARK POWELL (has contributed to major Universal box set projects and Esoteric CD reissues). All the big musician names that travelled through the Mayall catalyst camp are in here too - Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Taylor, Paul Butterfield, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Hughie Flint, Keef Hartley, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Johnny Almond, Roger Dean and a whole plethora of other luminaries too numerous to mention.

But for me the big news is the fabulous PASCHAL BYRNE remasters carried out at The Audio Archiving Company in London from original master tapes. I've got most of the important Sixties albums on great Decca remasters ("Blues Breakers", "Bare Wires" and the mighty "Blues From Laurel Canyon") - but what a blast to hear Disc 3 and 4 where it stretches into uncharted remasters - the Seventies. I love the weary piano misery of "Nobody Cares" (from 1971's "Memories") and the live slinky Blues of "Country Road" with a band that's cooking in front of an appreciative crowd (dig Clifford Soloman on Sax). And Laurel Canyon's 9-minute "Fly Tomorrow" is trippy genius - featuring superb Mick Taylor guitar work (later with The Stones) while Colin Allen gives it some California Tabla and cool vibes. It also sounds glorious. You get a little Jazz Blues on "High Pressure Living" and it ends on the funky "Gasoline Blues" bemoaning the foreign oil crisis ("I'm stuck out here in the Hollywood hills...waiting in line `til your engine croaks...").

"I'll be way up in the sky...", John Mayall sings on "Fly Tomorrow". If you want to start your journey - then I'd advise you begin your trip with him to the many varieties of The Blues right here...

"Eighteen With A Bullet - The Island Recordings" by PETE WINGFIELD. A Review of the 2008 Cherry Red Records CD Retrospective by Mark Barry...

"...A Whole Pot Of Jelly For A Little Slice Of Toast..."

Having cut his musical teeth as Lead Vocalist and Keyboard Player in the British Blues Band JELLYBREAD (they did two albums for the Blue Horizon label) - PETE WINGFIELD then went into touring (Van Morrison and The Hollies) and session work. He contributed to B.B KING'S "In London" in 1971, KEEF HARTLEY'S "Seventy-Second Brave" in 1972 and one of my favourite LPs of the Seventies "Let The Days Go By" by BRYN HAWORTH in 1974 (see separate review). He then finally realized a lifetime dream by signing to Island Records (there's a Sue single on the left side of the album sleeve as a homage). Which brings us to this dinky little CD. 

Released September 2008 – “Eighteen With A Bullet: The Island Recordings” on Cherry Red CDMRED 369 (Barcode 5013929136922) centres round his only album and hit single for that world-famous and much loved label. Here’s the eggs-over-easy details (79:15 minutes):

1. Eighteen With A Bullet

2. A Whole Pot Of Jelly

3. Hold Me Closer

4. Shadow Of A Doubt

5. Anytime

6. Please

7. Lovin’ As You Wanna Be

8. Kangaroo Dip

9. Number One Priority

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Breakfast Special" (minus its last track "Shining Eyes") issued September 1975 on Island ILPS 9333 in the UK

10. Bubbling Under

11. Giving It Up For Love

12. Scratchy 45s

13. I Wanna try

14. Making A Good Thing Better 

15. We Fit Together 

16. Same Old Thing Goin’ On 

17. That’s How The Chances Go Round

18. Eyes In The Back Of My Head 

Tracks 10 to 18 are the previously unreleased never issued follow-up album "Love Bumps & Dizzy Spells" in its entirety (no ILPS catalogue number allocated)

The band consisted of:

PETE WINGFIELD on Keyboards and Vocals 

JOE "JAMMER" WRIGHT on Guitars

DeLISLE HARPER on Bass and GLEN LE FLEUR on Drums and Percussion

(The above were THE OLYMPIC RUNNERS minus MIKE VERNON) 

The Guests included: 

CHRIS MERCER of THE KEEF HARTLEY BAND played Horns and Brass on "Kangaroo Dip", "Same Old Thing Goin' On" and "Scratchy 45s". 

NEIL HUBBARD of KOKOMO played Guitar on "Eighteen With A Bullet" and "Hold Me Closer"

ANN O'DELL of the Progressive Outfit CHOPYN did String Arrangements on the lovely "Lovin' As You Wanna Be" and other songs as well

The16-page booklet has witty, informative and self-deprecating liner notes by Wingfield himself (a level-headed assessment of the highs and lows). There's session player photos, 7" singles pictured, sheet music, album artwork, press adverts from 1975 - all of it really well done. 

Superbly recorded and engineered at Chipping Norton Studios in the UK by BARRY HAMMOND in the first place, the original master tapes have now been remastered by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London - and the results are beautifully clear - every instrument warm and present - a top job done. It really is fantastic just how good these tracks sound. I had "Eighteen" on a 2CD set out of the USA in 1987 called "The Island Story" just to have the song - and the sound quality here is one-hundred times better compared to that - the Doo-wop intro as clear as a bell. 10 out of 10 for SOUND.

The material is a mixture of good and bad as you can imagine - the standout tracks given an airing on seven-inch releases. "Breakfast Special" spawned three singles - the first was the biggest and is Wingfield's signature tune to this day. "Eighteen With A Bullet" b/w "Shadow Of A Doubt" was issued on Island WIP 6231 in the UK and Island IS 026 in the USA - it went to Number 7 in the UK charts in June 1975 and climbed to 18 on the American charts in October 1975 (yes that's right - 18 with a bullet!). I remember it being hugely popular throughout the whole of that summer and was played at every dance everywhere - Derrick Harriott even did a reggae cover of it in late 1975 on Trojan 7973, which scraped the low end of the UK chart. The follow-up was the fabulously catchy "A Whole Pot Of Jelly (For A Little Slice Of Toast)" b/w "Anytime" on Island WIP 6245 in the UK and IS 065 in the USA - but it inexplicably failed to chart in either country. I've always loved this completely forgotten funky little gem and is one of the reasons why I wanted this CD - the remaster of it is fantastic. The USA tried one more time for a follow-up hit with "Lovin' As I Want To Be" b/w "Please" on Island IS 051, but again it failed to chart. 

Which brings us to the unreleased album, which Island claimed wasn't 'produced' enough to release. Despite their reservations about the sound, they placed two of its songs - "Making A Good Thing Better" with OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN and "Eyes In The Back Of My Head" with PATTI LABELLE - sizable hits for both of them. The USA even issued a very popular tune with New Orleans audiences called "Scratchy 45s" on Island IS 065 in 1976, which sounds like - and name-checks Dr. John - a very cool little tune. In truth though, his falsetto vocals (similar to Alan Gorrie of the Average White Band) could wear after a while - and were focused on too much. And worse - the songs all had that 1976 clutter about them that seemed to dominate so much music of that year. Still, it's nice to hear them after all these decades - good and bad - and all of it sounding polished up and spiffing.

Wingfield's been a busy boy ever since - contributing to Stephen Bishop, Chris Farlowe, Roy Harper, The Lighthouse Family, Nine Below Zero, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, Chris Rea, Richard & Linda Thompson, The Beautiful South, Mica Paris, Lonnie Donegan, John Miles, Phil Everly, Lindisfarne, Billy Fury, Buddy Guy and even Paul McCartney (he's on the "Run Devil Run" album in 1999). His production credits are equally impressive too - from Dexy's Midnight Runners to The James Taylor Quartet. 

Hopefully this carefully put together and superb sounding release will bring his tunes to the attention of a wider audience. Some of it has dated for sure, but there's also a lot on here that's 'so' good. A rather cool little reissue really.

Pete Wingfield is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I