"Joan Armatrading" by JOAN ARMATRADING (1997 A&M 'ReMasterPieces' CD Reissue – Roger Wake Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I'm Open To Persuasion..." 

I can recall vividly the first time I heard "Love And Affection" in the Autumn of 1976 – sophisticated, hurting, layered – it was truly jaw-dropping stuff. And this most famous of her songs has pretty much remained a Radio stalwart ever since. Her third album – the self-titled "Joan Armatrading" is coming up on a 40th anniversary in September 2016 so deserves to have its considerable praises sung "...once more with feeling..."

UK released September 1997 – "Joan Armatrading" by JOAN ARMATRADING on A&M CDMID 104 (Barcode 082839322829) is a straightforward mid-price CD transfer of the album on the label's 'A&M ReMasterPieces' Series and plays out as follows (42:05 minutes):

1. Down To Zero

2. Help Yourself

3. Water With The Wine

4. Love And Affection

5. Save Me

6. Join The Boys [Side 2]

7. People

8. Somebody Who Loves You

9. Like Fire

10. Tall In The Saddle

Tracks 1 to 10 are her third LP "Joan Armatrading" – released August 1976 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64588 and September 1976 in the USA on A&M SP-4588. The album peaked at No. 12 on the UK album charts (No. 67 in the USA) in September 1976. The CD Remaster was carried out by ROGER WAKE at Bourberry & Wake and is very clean – beautiful in places. Unfortunately the inlay is a gatefold slip of paper with musician credits and bugger all else which is a damn shame (early days of CD reissues).

THE BAND:

JOAN ARMATRADING – 6 and 12-string Acoustic Guitars & Lead Vocals

JERRY DONAHUE – Lead Electric Guitar (all tracks except "Somebody Who Loves You" and "Like Fire")

BRYN HAWORTH – Mandolin on "Somebody Who Loves You" and Slide Guitar on "Like Fire"

PETER WOOD – Piano and Organ (all tracks except "Somebody Who Loves You" and "Like Fire")

DAVE MARKEE – Bass on All Tracks

DAVE MATTACKS – Drums on All Tracks except "Down To Zero" and "Help Yourself"

KENNEY JONES – Drums on "Down To Zero" and "Help Yourself"

Duel drums with Dave Mattacks on "Water With The Wine", "Join The Boys" and "People"

B.J. COLE – Steel Guitar on "Down To Zero"

GRAHAM LYLE (of Gallagher & Lyle) – 12-String Guitar on "Down To Zero"

JIMMY JEWEL – Saxophone on "Love And Affection"

LEROY CHAMPAIGN and CLARKE PETERS – Backing Vocals on "Love And Affection"

Following on from her debut LP "Whatever's For Us" on Cube Records HIFLY 12 in November 1972 and her 2nd effort "Back To The Night" on A&M Records AMLH 68305 in April 1975 – "Joan Armatrading" didn't so much launch her but explode the West Indies lady (by way of Birmingham in the UK) onto a world stage. The self-titled LP was everywhere by Christmas and being praised as one of 'the albums of the year' by admirers in the music press on both sides of the pond and everywhere else for that matter.

Side 1 opens with the magnificent "Down To Zero" – a regular on "Best Of" and "Anthology" compilations and easy to hear why. A gorgeous production by Glyn Johns sees those acoustic guitars up front until Jerry Donahue from Fairport Convention kicks in with that great lead guitar. Kenney Jones (of Small Faces, Faces and The Who) and Dave Markee (of Centipede) both play blinders on the Drums and Bass too. But its those "...first class scene-stealer...brand new dandy..." lyrics that cut into you – announcing with bravado that this is no sappy love song nor is the writer a teenage sucker. The sweet sounds continue with the deceptive "Help Yourself" – and just as you're getting comfortable with it acoustic sway – the song goes funky and angry - genius.

"...Met him on a Monday and he said he loved me so..." she sings warily on "Water With The Wine" and by the time you get halfway though the song you get the uneasy feeling that things aren't going to work out for this Joe Schmo. It’s funny now to think of that deep bass vocal on "Love And Affection" as being Detective Lester Freamon in HBO's 'The Wire' TV Series who used to bawl out Dominic West's character McNulty every week. But the other unsung hero on this classic is surely Jimmy Jewell of Jake & The Family Jewels - whose Saxophone work elevates the song into the majestic. Everything about this ode to love is aching like an open wound – longing for a taste of the real thing - and even after 40 years "Love And Affection" still has the emotional mojo to move a soul.

Side 2 opens with the funky Rock of "Join The Boys" where Joan declares her musical motley crew is "...second to none even on a bad night..." – great piano and organ fills from Peter Wood throughout with both Kenney Jones and Dave Mattacks whacking those skins. I've always had a soft spot for anything Bryn Haworth plays on – a fantastic guitar player who used to be with Freakbeat darlings Fleur Des Lys in the 60ts. Haworth had just put out two solo albums on Island "Let The Days Go By" in 1974 and "Sunny Side Of The Street" in 1975 (see my review for this pairing on Gott Discs). Haworth's mandolin playing is sweetly complimentary to "Somebody Who Loves You" bringing out the warmth of the song - while his menacing chunky Slide on "Like Fire" perfectly underscores Joan's fantastic funky Acoustic Guitar playing. The record ends on the quietly hopeful "Tall In The Saddle" which features a wildly effective guitar solo from Jerry Donohue.

If you want more of her great material – the "Gold" 2CD set from Universal has beautiful 2005 remasters from Erick Labson – but at present this is the only way to get the whole album with 'that' song on it.

I'd love to hear outtakes from these sessions or demos and I can't help thinking that a 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Joan Armatrading" is due in September 2016? Here's hoping...

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“Small Faces” (Immediate LP) DELUXE EDITION by SMALL FACES. A Review Of The June 1967 Album Now Remastered & Reissued On A 2012 2CD DELUXE EDITION.

"…What Did You Do There? I Got High!"

Monday 7 May 2012 sees the UK release of a whopping four DELUXE EDITIONS for Small Faces fans (15 May 2012 in the USA) - and while number 3 in the pack lacks the celebrated glory of it’s illustrious follow up ("Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake") – "Small Faces" is for many fans 'the' criminally forgotten LP on Immediate Records. This DELUXE EDITION of it however is not without its niggles…

Here are the finite details for Universal/Sanctuary 278 134-5:

Disc 1 (52:47 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are the MONO version of "Small Faces" - their 3rd studio album released 23 June 1967 in the UK on Immediate Records IMLP 008

BONUS TRACKS (15 to 22):

"Here Comes The Nice", "Itchycoo Park", "I'm Only Dreaming", "Tin Soldier", "I Feel Much Better", "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (Alternate Mix)" (20), "Eddie's Dreaming (Alternate Mix)" (21) and "Green Circles (Take 1: Alternate Mix 3)" (22)

[Note: 20 to 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSIONS]

Disc 1 will also allow fans to line up the 3 x UK 7" singles that were issued (in Mono) around the LP (track number after title):

1. Here Comes The Nice (15) b/w Talk To You (11) – released 2 June 1967 on Immediate IM 050

2. Itchycoo Park (16) b/w I'm Only Dreaming (17) – released 4 August 1967 on Immediate IM 057

3. Tin Soldier (18) b/w I Feel Much Better (19) – released 2 December 1969 on Immediate IM 062

Disc 2 (53:54 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are the STEREO version of "Small Faces" - on Immediate Records IMSP 008

BONUS TRACKS (15 to 23 – all are Stereo except 21 and 23 which are Mono):

"Just Passing", "Itchycoo Park", "Here Comes The Nice", "Don't Burst My Bubble", "Things Are Going To Get Better (Alternate Version)", "I Can't Make It (Session Version)", "Green Circles (Alternate Take 2)" (21), "Tin Soldier" and "(If You Think You're) Groovy (Backing Track)" (23)

[Note: 21 and 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Versions]

UK and USA LP Differences:

The American LP was belatedly released in February 1968 as "There Are But Four Small Faces" in Stereo (only) on Immediate Z12 52002 - and with different artwork front and rear. Also to accommodate their lone US hit single "Itchycoo Park" (lyrics above) – the tracks were jiggered around giving "Itchycoo Park" pride of place as Track 1 on Side 1. Essentially the US album dropped 7 tracks of the English LP ("Something I Want To Tell You", "Feeling Lonely", "Happy Boys Happy", "My Way Of Giving", "Become Like You", "All Our Yesterdays" and "Eddie's Dreaming") - took the remaining 7 and added on the 5 non-album sides of the 3 x British 7" singles mentioned above to make a 12-track LP. To sequence the AMERICAN LP in 'both' MONO and STEREO from this 2CD DELUXE EDITION you line the tracks up as follows:

MONO (CD 1)

Side 1:

1. "Itchycoo Park" (16)

2. "Talk To You" (11)

3. "Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire" (13)

4. "My Way Of Giving" (6)

5. "I'm Only Dreaming" (17)

6. "I Feel Much Better" (19)

Side 2:

1. "Tin Soldier" (18)

2. "Get Yourself Together" (9)

3. "Show Me The Way" (12)

4. "Here Come The Nice" (15)

5. "Green Circles" (7)

6. "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me" (1)

STEREO (CD 2 – note – see Omissions)

Side 1:

1. "Itchycoo Park" (16)

2. "Talk To You" (11)

3. "Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire" (13)

4. "My Way Of Giving" (6)

5. "I'm Only Dreaming" [see Omissions]

6. "I Feel Much Better" [see Omissions]

Side 2:

1. "Tin Soldier" (22)

2. "Get Yourself Together" (9)

3. "Show Me The Way" (12)

4. "Here Come The Nice" (17)

5. "Green Circles" (7)

6. "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me" (1)

OMMISIONS:

Eagle-eyed collectors will notice that the 35th Anniversary 2CD set that came out in 2002 in the UK on Sanctuary has 48 tracks - while this 2012 2CD Deluxe Edition has less - 45. The three that are missing are "I Can't Make It" and "Just Passing" – a 3 March 1967 UK single-only release on Decca F 12565 – it's been put on the "From The Beginning" Deluxe Edition (as befits the label). The 3rd missing track is called "Album Sampler" on Immediate AS 1. It was a 1-sided UK-only Promo 45 issued just prior to the album's release and contains Mono excerpts of 5 songs with 'groovy' advert dialogue about 'aware minds' – it runs to 3 minutes and rather clumsily it's been left off here. To add insult to injury this legendary £200+ rarity is pictured on Page 10 of the booklet. 

There are minor artwork niggles too. The 2002 CD had a card wrap with the UK artwork on the outside (which is right and proper), but rather cleverly the foldout inlay inside featured 5" artwork for the US "There Are But Four Small Faces" LP as its lead page with the rear LP artwork on the back page. This new booklet relegates the American front cover to a snap shot on Page 21 and the rear sleeve has disappeared altogether. Worse than that however is the missing STEREO versions of "I Feel Much Better" and "I'm Only Dreaming" (on the 2002 2CD set) which would have allowed American fans to sequence their version of the album complete. All these exclusions are a tad sloppy to say the least. Music wise – the point would be that if you want "Album Sampler" and especially those 2 Stereo versions – then don't throw away that old Sanctuary issue just yet.

UNRELEASED:

As already highlighted above there are 5 PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED VERSIONS - unfortunately the liner notes don’t make any reference to them. In fairness to Mark Paytress – he probably didn’t have access to what was being lined up for the release as he composed his appraisals – but again – it short-changes the fans info-wise. What is here however is very good. The "Green Circles" outakes are excellent and the mythical "Groovy" track now appears as a 'backing track' when some thought it didn't exist at all.

PACKAGING:

The first thing you notice about this Deluxe Edition is the quality of the reproduction. The album sleeve pictured on the 2002 Sanctuary double had slightly faded colours – no such mistake here. The front sleeve repro is really crisp - beautifully done - as are the superb images in the booklet. The inner flaps of the foldout digipak have Melody Maker and Record Mirror reviews from 1967, the original mono LP label is reproduced beneath the see-through plastic trays and each CD is a different picture disc. The 24-page booklet is gorgeous – rare European picture sleeves for "Tin Soldier" and "Here Comes The Nice" (the German issue of this is a belter), pictures of ultra-rare Emidisc Acetates, publicity shots of The Small faces with Immediate label notables like PP Arnold, Chris Farlowe and Twice As Nice - and even an Olympia Sound Studios master-tape box. The new liner notes are by respected writer MARK PAYTRESS and are filled with facts and recent interviews with Jones and McLagan. It’s a lovely thing to look at and a solid read.

SOUND:

But the real meat for fans will be the NEW REMASTERS from best-ever sources and overseen by surviving members of the band - KENNEY JONES and IAN McLAGAN. Tape Research and Recovery is by ROB CAIGER, Tape Restoration and Transfer from Analogue is by ROB KAYLACH and Mastering by NICK ROBBINS. The punch is fantastic especially on fan favourites like "Get Yourself Together", that great guitar opening on "Talk To You" and the psychedelic swirl of "Green Circles". I find the sonic difference between the MONO and STEREO mixes is marked – I thought "My Way Of Giving" in Mono is fabulous - while the opening "Darlings Of Wapping…" dialogue and brass of "All Our Yesterdays" is HUGE in Stereo. The drums, bass and acoustic guitars on "Up The Wooden Hills…" sound amazing - as does the piano-happy intro to the album finisher "Eddie's Dreaming". Fans will love the clarity on the brilliant singles – gems like "Tin Soldier" and "Here Comes The Nice".

To sum up – part of me feels I should dock a star for those sloppy exclusions – but I've been enjoying the listen too much (the sound and overall presentation just 'so' good). This double also made be bite the bullet and acquire the first two Deluxe Editions as well – the Decca sets "Small Faces" and "From The Beginning" - and I can report that they’re truly gorgeous too.

Will we ever know their like again – I doubt it. In fact the dialogue in the "Album Sampler" promo bragged that the Small Faces were "small of stature, but great of music…" – and on the strength of these reissues – you have to say that the Immediate Records motormouth was absolutely on the money. It really is "all too beautiful…"

“Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake” by SMALL FACES. A Review Of The 1968 Album Now Remastered And Reissued Onto A 3CD DELUXE EDITION In 2012.

“Are You All Sitty Comftybold Two Square On Your Botty? Then I’ll Begin…”

**** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2012 3CD 'DELUXE EDITION' ***

Monday 7 May 2012 sees the UK release of a whopping four DELUXE EDITIONS for Small Faces fans (15 May 2012 in the USA) - and for many their 1968 masterpiece "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" (a Number 1 album in the UK) will be 'the' jewel in a very tasty set of crowns.

Here are the finite details for Universal/Sanctuary 276 523-5:

Disc 1 (38:30 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the MONO version of "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" - their fourth studio album released 24 May 1968 in the UK on Immediate Records IMLP 012

Disc 2 (41:17 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Track 8 Previously Unreleased on CD)

1. Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Early Session Version - Mono)

2. Afterglow (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

3. Long Agos And Worlds Apart (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

4. Rene, The Dockers Delight (Early Session Mix - Stereo)

5. Song Of A Baker (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

6. Lazy Sunday (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

7. Happiness Stan (Backing Track - Mono)

8. Bun In The Oven (Early Session Mix - Mono)

9. The Fly (Take 4 - Instrumental Version - Stereo)

10. Mad John (Take 7 - Early Session Version - Stereo)

11. HappyDaysToyTown (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

12. Kamikhazi (Take 7 - Backing Track - Mono)

13. Every Little Bit Hurts (Early Session Mix - Mono)

14. Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Alternate Take - Phased Mix - Stereo)

Disc 3 (38:21 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the STEREO version of "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" - on Immediate Records IMSP 012

[Note: in advance of the album "Lazy Sunday" b/w "Rollin' Over" was released 5 April 1968 as a 7" single in the UK on Immediate IM O64 (mono mixes above).

"Afterglow" was also released as 7" single in the UK (credited as "Afterglow Of Your Love") in March 1969 on Immediate IM 077 with the non-album track "Wham Bam Thank You Man" as its B-side.

That song is NOT on here]

PACKAGING:

Since Universal stopped using titled plastic slip-around wraps on their DELUXE EDITIONS - they've plumed instead for a bit of sticky tape at the base that you have to cut and split to get open - not the most graceful of presentations it has to be said. But once inside the detail is impressive. As fans will know "Ogdens'..." was released in the most beautiful and elaborate artwork designed by Mick Swan - a foldout five-flaps circular-sleeve based on a Victorian tobacco tin (name changed by the boys to avoid copyright infringement). Folded out in full - it featured two colour prints on the inside and 4 black and white snaps of the band on the other flaps. The Mono and Stereo CDs contain 'variants' of the gorgeous colour prints by Pete Brown and Nick Tweddell (the actual LP ones are in the booklet) while Gered Mankowitz's black and white 'spider's web' snaps of the band that filled each of the other circles are reproduced on the card flaps. Beneath the two see-through CD trays are repros of the labels for Side 1 and Side 2 of the original 1968 Stereo LP.

The booklet is lovely - 24 colour pages filled with Immediate memorabilia, rare worldwide 7" picture sleeves for both "Lazy Sunday" and "Afterglow Of Your Love" and even a battered-looking Scotch tape box. The liner notes by MARK PAYTRESS are typically informative and fact-filled (such a good writer) and give you great insights into the album's formation, Stanley Unwin's "Unwinese" gobbledegook English that fills Side 2's "Happiness Stan" suite and indeed the general creative mayhem that surrounded this most beloved of English albums. I particularly like the Immediate Records trade advert that uses a re-wording of "Our Father" (The Lord's Prayer) to sell the LP ("...and deliver us Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake..." etc) - blinding!

SOUND:

But the real meat for fans will be the NEW REMASTERS from best-ever sources and overseen by surviving members of the band - KENNEY JONES and IAN McLAGAN. Tape Research and Recovery is by ROB CAIGER, Tape Restoration and Transfer from Analogue is by ROB KAYLACH and Mastering by NICK ROBBINS - and man have they collectively done a bang-up job. Little will prepare fans for the sonic whack off this...

"Ogdens'..." for me has always been a two-sided production job - Side 1 is good - but Side 2 is stupendous - and that feeling continues on this reissue. The extensive use of guitar 'phasing' on Side 1 gives the tracks that evocative 60t's feel for sure - but it also sounds sonically compromised somehow - Side 2 does not. Take the strings and opening Stanley Unwin dialogue on "Rollin' Over" (his words title this review) - it's unbelievably clear and full of presence. Then when the band does kick in with that riff and harmonica blasting - it's awesome. The drums and acoustic guitars that open "Mad John" are HUGE - as is the drums and organ on the STEREO mix of "The Journey". The last remaster I had was good - but this is so much better and musically sweeter. And "Lazy Sunday" has never sounded so glorious. "Song Of A Baker", "Rene" - it's all a triumph...

UNRELEASED:

A "...1, 2, 3, 4..." vocal count-in gives us a stringed-up and heavily phased "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" that is fascinating - and even in its unfinished form - sounds extraordinary - like something from another world. Unfortunately you can understand why the 'Alternate USA Stereo' mixes have stayed in the can - Marriott's vocals echoed to a ridiculous degree in the mix - almost to a point where it's all you hear. Better is the 'Early Session Mix' of "Rene" which accentuates the drums and sees the piano and organ stretch out (the lyrics still make me laugh). The opening plucked strings of "Happiness Stan" sound bare without Unwin's witty vocals following - but I love the harpsichord and keyboard playing to the fore as the song progresses. "Bun In The Oven" turns out to be an early session version of "Rollin' Over" which is rougher than the finished article but just as powerful. Even in rehearsal mode Steve Marriott lays into Brenda Holloway's Motown classic "Every Little Bit Hurts" with great results and feeling. "The Fly" is an acoustic instrumental version of "The Hungry Intruder" with a count-in and along with another band-instrumental "Kamikhazi" (so-funky-Small Faces) for me are the highlights on here.

NIGGLES:

The cracking non-album B-side to "Afterglow Of Your Love" is "Wham Bam Thank You Man" - but it’s nowhere to be seen. Nor is the near 7-minute Alternate Stereo version of “Wham…” that turned up on the "Darlings Of Wapping Wharf Launderette" 2CD set in 1999 - strange omissions to say the least. Maybe they're been kept back for that other missing piece in the jigsaw - the Immediate Records double-album "Autumn Stone" from 1969? Most fans will already have "Wham Bam..." track from preceding comps of course - but it's a point worth making. And bluntly I miss the sheer visual impact of the vinyl album artwork...(vinyl is due in full repro glory soon).

To sum up - while Disc 2 may not exactly set the Universe on fire - there are some unheard nuggets worth the admission price. But for me it's the brilliantly released remasters that thrill the most. Both Jones and McLagan are to be praised for keeping the recorded legacy of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane alive - and in such style.

What a band - and what an album. 44 years on and it still blows you away.

"What up man!" indeed.