"Since Beginning: The Albums 1974-1976" by BAKER GURVITZ ARMY – Including Their Albums "The Baker Gurvitz Army" (1975 Debut, Recorded 1974), "Elysian Encounter" (1975) and "Hearts On Fire" (1976) – featuring Ginger Baker (ex Cream) and Adrian and Paul Gurvitz (ex Gun and Three Man Army) with guest Vocalists Snips, Madeline Bell, Ann O’Dell (of Blue Mink and Chopyn), Liza Strike and Barry St. John (April 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 3CD Clamshell Box Set with Three Albums and Four Bonus Tracks – Mark Powell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
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Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

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"...Mad Jack and Space Machine..."

The BAKER GURVITZ ARMY was a strange one - started out well but tapered off quickly and then died fast.

Cream's mouthy drummer Ginger Baker and his collaboration with brothers Adrian and Paul Gurvitz (ex Gun and Three Man Army, Guitar, Bass and Principal Vocals) set Prog Rock pulses racing with their rather good self-titled UK debut album (recorded in 1974) on Vertigo Records. Eventually released in January 1975 - "The Baker Gurvitz Army" even charted in February 1975 in Blighty and went up to No. 22 (a more modest No 140 in the USA on Janus Records).

But as is aurally evidenced by this cute 2019 Mini Clamshell Box Set from those decent chappies over at Esoteric Recordings UK (it gathers all three of their albums together in one place and adds on four live bonus tracks, card sleeves with a foldout photographs/details poster) - the music took something of a steady nosedive with album's two and three from September 1975 and May 1976 - as did any further bothering of the British LP charts until their demise in late 1976. Still, there is stuff here to love. Back to memory lane...

UK released 26 April 2019 - "Since Beginning: The Albums 1974-1976" by BAKER GURVITZ ARMY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32669 (Barcode 5013929476943) is a 3CD Mini Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD One (51:50 minutes):

1. Help Me [Side 1]

2. Love Is

3. Memory Lane

4. Inside Of Me

5. I Wanna Live Again

6. Mad Jack [Side 2]

7. 4 Phil

8. Since Beginning

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "The Baker Gurvitz Army" - released January 1975 in the UK on Vertigo 9103 201 and January 1975 in the USA on Janus JXS 7015. Produced by GINGER BAKER with PAUL and ADRIAN GURVITZ - it peaked at No. 22 in the UK and No. 140 in the USA (February 1975). Adrian and Paul Gurvitz on Vocals (Ginger Baker on "Mad Jack") with Backing Vocals by Barry St. John, Liza Strike, Madeline Bell and Rosetta Hightower on "I Wanna Live Again".

BONUS TRACK (Previously Unreleased):

9. Memory Lane (Live)

CD Two (53:41 minutes):

1. People [Side 1]

2. The Key

3. Time

4. The Gambler

5. The Dreamer [Side 2]

6. Remember

7. The Artist

8. The Hustler

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second studio album "Elysian Encounter" - released September 1975 in the UK on Mountain Records TOPS 101 and November 1975 in the USA on Atco Records SD 36-123. Produced by GINGER BAKER with ADRIAN and PAUL GURVITZ - it peaked at No. 185 in the USA but didn't chart in the UK. Steve Parsons (credited as Mr. Snips or just Snips) on Lead Vocals with Adrian Gurvitz Lead Vocals on "Remember" and "Time" (Snips is also Lead Vocals on the bonus live cut of "Memory Lane" on CD1).

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

9. People (Live)

10. Freedom (Live)

CD Three (43:48 minutes):

1. Hearts On Fire [Side 1]

2. Neon Lights

3. Smiling

4. Tracks Of My Life

5. Flying In And Out Of Stardom

6. Dancing The Night Away [Side 2]

7. My Mind Is Healing

8. Thirsty For The Blues

9. Night People

10. Mystery

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third and final studio album "Hearts On Fire" - released May 1976 in the UK on Mountain Records TOPS 111 and June 1976 in the USA on Atco Records SD 36-137 - didn't chart in either country. Guests include Ann O'Dell (ex Blue Mink and Chopyn) laying Hammond Organ on "Smiling" and "My Mind Is Healing" and Piano on "Tracks Of My Life", Brian Chatton (ex Jackson Heights) plays Clavinet on "Smiling" and Ken Freeman plays Synth on "Neon Lights" and "Dancing The Night Away"

BONUS TRACK (Previously Unreleased):

11. Wotever It Is (Live)

While the clamshell box is nice to look at and hold, fans will probably find the six-leaf foldout poster not enough in terms of actual info. The tracks lists and musician credits (guest stuff too) is all here abutted by four rare European picture sleeves of singles on the credits side of the poster. The other side offers a collage of live photos of the band meshed into the debut album's great artwork. But there are no liner notes, no history and apart from Mark Powell's 'master preparation' - not even a Remaster credit. The card sleeves are cute with "Elysian Encounter" awarded a gatefold sleeve like its 1975 vinyl original on Mountain Records. This is one of those occasions when an interview/liner notes would have not gone amiss. The Audio is great throughout as they are on these Cherry Red reissues.

After the debut album's late January 1975 release and its chart placing in February, Vertigo figured a single might help. So they threw out Side 1's big drums and synth rolling "Help Me" b/w "I Wanna Live Again" as a 45 in early March 1975 - but Vertigo 6078 211 didn't do any business and was the only 7" single flourish from the album. The playing on the tight "Love Is" is amazing as is the Production values - orchestration by John Bell and Martyn Ford giving the short Proggy instrumental an epic feel - rather like some chop-show theme. The near five minutes of "Memory Lane" features Adrian's geetar skills even though you wish it left out his hammy echoed vocals. "Inside Of Me" and its five and half minutes is probably one of the LP's better cuts - a mixture of doubled-up slide guitar, amplified drum rolls and building Prog flourishes (love it). They end Side 1 with "I Wanna Live Again" - a bizarre mixture of sickly sweet pleading with great harmony vocals from Barry St. John, Madeline Bell, Liza Strike and Rosetta Hightower and strings. You loves it or hates it - personally I think it’s a melodrama too far.

Side 2 goes back to business with nearly eight minutes of "Mad Jack" where Baker tells us what we're about to hear is a true story before Gurvitz takes over singing. There's great playing and ideas sans The Sensational Alex Harvey Band but soon it overstays its welcome. Some lazily tasteful Peter Green-type Blues guitar opens "4 Phil" and it pretty much stays that way throughout - another one of this patchy LP's better moments.  We close with nearly eight minutes of floating Prog Rock "Since Beginning" where they sound closer to Gentle Giant and Yes than they've done on the rest of the LP. The Previously Unreleased live version of "Memory Lane" clocks in at a whopping 10:20 minutes and there's no doubt that the riffage sounds exciting and the band alive (well recorded too).

I remember "Elysian Encounter" so looking the part with its gorgeous gatefold sleeve art courtesy of Petagno - but material like "Elysian Encounter" and "The Hustler" felt old and tired by 1976. The last album hardly registered with me, and re-hearing stuff like "Tracks Of My Life" only makes me think of the kind of stodgy Rock riffage that Punk was just about to blow away and ridicule from a height. Didn't help either that in 1976, "Hearts On Fire" had that awful mid 70ts artwork and cheesy title too. 

BAKER and GURVITZ fans will probably already own "Since Beginning: The Albums 1974-1976" and welcome the threesome of albums in one place with those excellently recorded live additions as bonuses. Others would be advised to nab a listen to the debut first (get a lay of the Prog Rock land so to speak) and thereafter decide if they want more, albeit in a lesser vein as it progresses...

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"Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" by MAN (November 2007 and August 2013 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue - Mark Powell and Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

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"…Thunder And Lightning Kids…"

I remember buying this album in 1974 and thinking MAN had been bubbling under for what seemed like years. And with seven albums and six line-ups under their belts - by the time the band’s second chart placing came with the zippily titled “Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics” – they’d served their rocking dues and were finally receiving the public attention these Welsh rockers deserved. It wasn’t perfect by any means but the good stuff kept me coming back for years. Time to revisit…

This 2007 Expanded 2CD Remaster comes from the superb reissue label Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) giving the album a proper overhaul and with Deke Leonard’s involvement too. Here are the California Silks and Satins from the valleys of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales…

UK released November 2007 (reissued August 2013) – "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2020 (Barcode 5013929712027) is an 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (41:25 minutes):

1. Taking The Easy Way Out Again

2. The Thunder And Lightning Kid

3. California Silks And Satins

4. Four Day Louise

5. Intro [Side 2]

6. Kerosene

7. Scotch Corner

8. Outro

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics” released May 1974 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29631 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA247-G. It peaked at 24 on the UK charts.

9. Taking The Easy Way Out Again – the edited UK 7” single version at 3:19 minutes (album is 4:23 minutes) released June 1974 on United Artists UP 35703 with album track “California Silks And Satins” as its B-side

Disc 2 BONUS DISC (69:17 minutes):

1. American Mother [Live]

2. 7171 551 [Live]

3. A Hard Way To Live [Live]

4. Romain [Live]

5. Bananas [Live]

Tracks 1 to 5 were recorded live at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, 12 March 1974 and are Previously Unreleased. The band featured is MICKY JONES on Guitar and Vocals, DEKE LEONARD on Guitar, Piano and Vocals, MALCOLM MORLEY on Keyboards, Guitars and Vocals, KEN WHALEY on Bass, TERRY WILLIAMS on Drums with JIM HORN guesting on Saxophone.

The 16-page booklet is really good – new liner notes from Lead Guitarist Deke Leonard with some witty remembrances of UA executives digging the album and the dressing-room graffiti in the seedy and famous Whiskey A Go Go where words of wisdom by everyone who ever played there can be found on the grotty toilet walls. There’s repro of a NME article from February 1974, a facsimile of the Hawkwind/Man tour program, a repro of the inner gatefold’s crazy liner notes and best of all - MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE preparation and remastering of the original tapes. This duo has been involved in hundreds of reissues in the UK handling many of the superb Universal 3CD Box Set Retrospectives like “Spirit Of Joy” (Polydor), “Time Machine” (Vertigo) and “Legend Of A Mind” (Deram/Decca) (see reviews for them all). The Audio Quality on the album disc is top notch.

Their 8th album opens with a stab at commerciality “Taking The Easy Way Out” - and I can see why UA picked it as a lead off single (though personally I’ve always loved its swirling and brilliant B-side more – the gorgeous “California Silks And Satins”). United Artists Germany put out a famous Promo-Only single in a titled sleeve that is pictured in the booklet on Page 3 titling it “Break!” It placed “California…” on the A with the equally brill synth and funky guitar jaunt of “The Thunder And Lightning Kid” on the B-side (United Artists UA 001). Side One ends with the Proggy “Four Day Louise” which even at six minutes seems to overstay its welcome.

Side 2 has two principal tracks “Kerosene” and “Scotch Corner” bookended by an “Intro” and “Outro” and has always divided fans – some loving it – some thinking it disappointing. I’m somewhere in between. Although musically the slinky “Kerosene” is my poison – I hate the lyrics about ladies of the night while there’s no denying the fantastic guitar battles between Jones and Leonard in the nine-minute “Scotch Corner” – as MAN a tune as they’ve made. Famously a band more alive on stage than in the studio – the CD has a fantastic line-up of songs and even if it does sound a tad bootleg at times - it doesn’t disappoint with its extended guitar fests. It opens with a nervous song announcement and the band goes all Doors on “American Mother” lasting a full fourteen minutes. Fans of the “Maximum Darkness” live album will appreciate another stab at the excellent rocker “7171 551” and perennial favourite “Bananas” – both here in rollicking form. But for me one of their greatest tracks has always been “Romain” from their self-titled third album on Liberty Records in 1970. It gets a near 20-minute workout here with a slow guitar-build from the boys – wicked stuff.

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010.

From their humble beginnings in the late Sixties - Esoteric have remastered their entire catalogue up to the late Seventies in real style. And like this forgotten album from 1974 – there’s much here to get misty-eyed about…

MAN Reissue CDs on Esoteric Recordings of the UK 

(Released 2007 to 2014)

1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live at The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (October 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with ‘Map Of Wales’ insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All’s Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 and a repro of the “History Of Man” insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"Lancashire Hustler" by KEEF HARTLEY - May 1973 UK Album on Deram Records (January 2009 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Got To Be Happy…"

Despite his natty leather hat and Cherokee jacket look on the front cover of "Lancashire Hustler" - and Deram's reputation as a Hard Progressive Rock label - this obscure Seventies album is essentially a Soul-Rock LP - and Esoteric's wonderful new remaster of it only hammers that home.

Originally released on vinyl in May 1973 on Deram SDL 13 and featuring 8-tracks - the UK vinyl album has always been hard to find (as has much of his output). So it's nice to see this January 2009 CD reissue do it proud...

1. Circles

2. You And Me

3. Shovel A Minor

4. Australian Lady

5. Action

6. Something About You

7. Dance To The Music

Remastered for CD from the original analogue tapes by Mark Powell and Paschal Byrne - "Lancashire Hustler" by KEEF HARTLEY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2101 (Barcode 5013929720121) is a straightforward transfer of the album (38:43 minutes). I've raved about these sound engineers before - both have huge numbers of reissues under their belts and they've done their usual bang up job here - great presence and clarity. The 8-page booklet reproduces the inner gatefold on its centre-pages and has short but informative liner notes by Keef Hartley himself.

All tracks excepting the instrumental "Shovel A Minor" feature ELKIE BROOKS and ROBERT PALMER (then with VINEGAR JOE) on backing vocals with the mighty JESS RODEN on Lead Vocals. Other band members include Junior Keer on Guitar and Vocal, Jean Rouselle on Keyboards, Mick Weaver on Organ/Moog, Phillip Chen on Bass and Hartley on Drums.

It opens with the slow "Circles" sounding not unlike a Soulful Robin Trower with James Dewar on Vocals. The separation of the instruments and vocals is a bit harsh but amazingly clear - especially Jean Rouselle's lovely piano playing. Things get even more funky for "You And Me" where there's almost as Ashford & Simpson feel to the moog and brass jabs - while I've always loved the chipper instrumental "Shovel A Minor" sounding not unlike Greenslade going into boogie mode if you can imagine such a thing. It has brass pumps - guitar flicks that go all B.B. King - it's almost fusion too in places - hard to pin down but a blast nonetheless.

Things slow down again considerably for "Australian Lady" where again the brass accompanies a moody vocal and a floating keyboard note complimenting lovely guitar flicks floating over it all. It's unbelievably mellow and given the Deram Label rep for Progressive Rock almost wildly out of place (it even has a witty Take 3 piano interlude at the end). "Action" is probably one of the best `rawk' tracks on the album - featuring fantastic guitar work and a raspy Robert Palmer adding real muscle from behind to Roden's lead vocals. It's near six minutes sounds at times like Free or Humble Pie with its drum and bass breaks.

Back to Trower funky with the choppy fazed guitars of "Something About You" and its mellow keyboard breaks. It ends on the massively upbeat Motown feel of "Dance To The Music" (a cover of the Sly & The Family Stone classic) that finally lets Elkie Brooks loose on the vocals and features great Steve Winwood Spencer David Group keyboards. It last over six minutes and despite its frantic need to sound like everyone's having fun - I'm not sure it works though I think Sly would approve of the odd-sounding Moog solo.

You wouldn't call "Lancashire Hustler" a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination and those looking for Hard Rock or Prog should look elsewhere. But if you like your guitars Soulful and Funky like Robin Trower or Free or Humble can be on a good day - then hustle this little forgotten nugget into your life real soon...

"Gone To Earth: Deluxe Edition" by BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST (September 2016 Esoteric Recordings 3-Disc Remasters and Remixes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sea Of Tranquility..."

Like Spooky Tooth and to a lesser degree Mott The Hoople (especially their first four albums on Island Records before they hit success with CBS) – Britain's Barclay James Harvest and their wildly prolific Sixties and Seventies catalogue (first on Harvest and then on Polydor) remain something of an enigma for most oldies-but-goldies in 2017. Even though we were there and probably bought a few of those albums – they’re forgotten now...

BJH’s brand of Harmony Rock was never as cool as say Supertramp or as edge-bending and ear-catching as Yes or as commercially clued-in as say The Moody Blues or even The Hollies - but they put out some gorgeous albums nonetheless. I remember vividly watching their latest chapters being released and each slowly improving their market/chart share - records like "Time Honoured Ghosts" from 1975, "Octoberon" from 1976 and this - 1977's "Gone To Earth". The specially priced double-album "Live" from December 1974 that itself followed on from the well-received "Everyone Is Everybody Else" in June of that year - brought in a huge number of new admirers too.

But all was not well in Britain's musical Camelot. Fuelled by a frustrated Press and a socially battered out-of-work population - Punk and New Wave were busy obliterating all old-fart Rock during 1976 and 1977 with a snarling vengeance. And yet there stood the BJ's - long-haired, be-speckled and earnest multi-instrumentalists gamely pumping out album and album with sophisticated melodies and beautifully ornate die-cut album sleeves like it was still 1972 and Johnny Rotten hadn't picked his nose in public yet. In a moment of melodic-Prog self-parody our heroes even called one of their 1977 "Gone To Earth" songs "Poor Man's Moody Blues". The lovely "Hymn" was a hit in many territories too (especially Germany) in early 1978 - but in truth – who remembers BJH now when everyone remembers The Pistols (and rightly so)...

Well along comes Cherry Red's 'Esoteric Recordings' label with their British penchant for all things Proggy, Avant Garde and just downright doolally and they seem determined to have us ignoramuses re-examine the error of our thumb-twiddling ways. They've been steadily releasing a slew of triple-disc 'Deluxe Editions' for Barclay James Harvest (1974's "Everyone Is Everybody Else" and 1976's "Octoberon" are also included). Which brings us to this lovingly restored reissue. Here are the hymnal details...

UK released 2 September 2016 (9 September 2016 in the USA) - "Gone To Earth: Deluxe Edition" by BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32544 (Barcode 5013929464445) is a 3-Disc 'Expanded Edition' of Remasters and Remixes. 2CDs and 1DVD offer an Original 1977 Mix, a New Stereo Mix and a 5.1 Surround Sound Mix as well as an Outtake and Single Sides and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 – CD "Gone To Earth" - Original Stereo Mix (57:37 minutes):

1. Hymn [Side 1]

2. Love Is Like A Violin

3. Friend Of Mine

4. Poor Man's Moody Blues

5. Hard Hearted Woman [Side 2]

6. Sea Of Tranquility

7. Leper's Song

8. Taking Me Higher

Tracks 1 to 8 are their album "Gone To Earth" - released September 1977 in the UK on Polydor 2442 138 and in the USA on MCA Records MCA-2302. Produced by Barclay James Harvest and Davey Rohl - it peaked at No. 30 in the UK (didn't chart USA).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Lied - outtake from the "Gone To Earth" sessions in 1977

10. Our Kid's Kid - Non-album B-side to "Hymn" released July 1977 in Germany on Polydor 2058 904

11. Hymn (Single Edit)

12.  Friend Of Mine (Single version) - Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released March 1978 on Polydor 2059 002

Disc 2 - CD "Gone To Earth" – New Stereo Mix (49:08 minutes):

1. Hymn [Side 1]

2. Love Is Like A Violin

3. Friend Of Mine

4. Poor Man's Moody Blues

5. Hard Hearted Woman [Side 2]

6. Sea Of Tranquility

7. Leper's Song

8. Taking Me Higher

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Loving Is Easy (1977 Version)

10. Our Kid's Kid

Disc 3 – DVD-A "Gone To Earth"

New 5.1 Surround Sound Mix

96 kHz/24-Bit New Stereo Mix

96 kHz/24-Bit Remastered Original Mix

1. Hymn [Side 1]

2. Love Is Like A Violin

3. Friend Of Mine

4. Poor Man's Moody Blues

5. Hard Hearted Woman [Side 2]

6. Sea Of Tranquility

7. Leper's Song

8. Taking Me Higher

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Loving Is Easy (1977 Version)

10. Our Kid's Kid

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST was:

JOHN LEES – Guitars and Vocals

LES HOLROYD – Guitars and Vocals

WOOLLY WOLSTENHOLME – Keyboards and Vocals

MEL PRITCHARD – Drums and Vocals

As it is with all of these triple-disc sets - the three-flap foldout card digipak is a bit of a lumbering heffalump actually - although you have to say that Esoteric have done a sweet job at presenting the whole thing. All three are picture discs with different photos beneath the see-through trays once you lift them off - there are colour repros of rare foreign pictures sleeves for the two big singles "Hymn" and "Friend Of Mine" on the innermost flaps - whilst their digipak pouches contain a fold-out poster on one side and a booklet on the other. The poster offers you the lyrics on one side (originally on the inner sleeve of the vinyl LP) and an advert for the album on the flip (it looks beautiful). The very nicely presented 16-page booklet features Tour Posters (Hanover 1977), Trade Adverts (Melody Maker September 1977), photos of the band and their entourage including a Polydor promo shot of the four-piece taken by Lord Lichfield - as well as the usual detailed reissue credits. There are superb liner notes (Mark Powell) that include new interviews with band members and even has reminiscences from Maldwyn Reece Tootill who designed the album sleeve.

Researched, compiled and co-ordinated by Esoteric's own MARK POWELL - the big news is new 2016 Remasters and Remixes from original tapes. PASCHAL BYRNE handled the Original Stereo Mix and CRAIG FLETCHER and MARK POWELL did the 5.1 Surround Sound and New Stereo Mixes. I'm going to be biased here and say that I actually prefer the 'New Stereo Mix' on Disc 2 to the original album's sound in that Disc 1 sounds ever so slightly thinny to me. To the music...

"Gone To Earth" opens strongly with the five-minute "Hymn" - an obvious single that at first appears to be a religious song but on closer examination of the lyrics turns out to be a warming on drug-addiction - fly too high and you might not ever come down. "Love Like A Violin" and "Friend Of Mine" are essentially smoochers too and you're immediately reminded of the band in the next song's title - "Poor Man's Moody Blues". Musically BJH are closest to the Moodies in 1977 and that's more than evident on songs like "Spirit On The Water" and "Taking Me Higher". There's a touch of Gordon Giltrap to "Leper's Song". Of the extras "Loving Is Easy" and the jaunty guitar-layered B-side "Our Kid's Kid" impress - as does the outtake "Lied".

I don’t think "Gone To Earth" is the masterpiece some fans seem to think it and cold harsh truth-be-told (unfair or not) - BJH are still musical shadows to most 40 years after the event. But hopefully this rather lovely Esoteric Recordings Deluxe Edition reissue will rectify that...

"Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" by THE MOODY BLUES (April 2007 Universal/Decca/Threshold SACD-Hybrid Disc Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...One More Time To Live..."

As a newcomer suffers through the of-its-time near five-minute opener "Procession" with its monosyllabic three-point history of music (desolation, creation and communication are the only words doomily chanted throughout) - in the cold and brutal hindsight of 2017 those new ears might wonder how in God's name did July 1971's "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" by The Moody Blues go to No.1 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA – and stay on both charts for months on end? 46 years after the event – this prettily packaged album is of its time indeed and maybe it should stay there, mate...

But then the fantastically guitar-hooky single "The Story In Your Eyes" kicks in - which in turn is followed by the cleverly layered "Our Guessing Game" and the melodic sweep of "Emily's Song" and even a newbee will begin to get it. Their seventh studio album was the Brummie Boys hitting something of an artistic peak – embracing the huge and complexity - leaving behind the Sixties and lashing into the musically adventurous new decade – the Seventies.

And this beautifully rendered 2007 Universal/Decca/Threshold 'Expanded SACD 5.1 Hybrid Disc Reissue' of that fondly remembered album only hammers that home. You get both the Stereo album and a 5.1 Surround Mix on the same disc and when you listen to that huge band crescendo that ends "After You Came" or the majestic keyboard build up in "One More Time To Live" - you also realise why people rave about good mastering and sympathetic transfers (band songwriter Justin Hayward is joined by a group of three renowned Engineers for this project). Here are the very favourable details...

UK released April 2007 - "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" by THE MOODY BLUES on Universal/Decca/Threshold 984 550-6 (Barcode 602498455067) is a 'Expanded SACD 5.1 Hybrid Disc Reissue' with two layers - a Stereo Remaster and 5.1 Surround Sound Mix supplemented with Two Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks (Session Outtakes). It plays out as follows (47:33 minutes):

1. Procession [Side 1]

2. The Story In Your Eyes

3. Our Guessing Game

4. Emily's Song

5. After You Came

6. One More Time To Live [Side 2]

7. Nice To Be Here

8. You Can Never Go Home

9. My Song

Tracks 1 to 9 are their seventh studio album "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" - released 23 July 1971 in the UK and USA on Threshold Records THS 5 (same catalogue number for both country). Produced by TONY CLARKE (Engineered by Derek Varnals) - the album peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

10. The Story In Your Eyes (Original Version)

11. The Dreamer

THE MOODY BLUES was:

JUSTIN HAYWARD - Lead Vocals and Guitar

JOHN LODGE - Bass and Vocals

RAY THOMAS - Flute, Harmonica, Percussion and Vocals

MIKE PINDER - Keyboards and Vocals

GRAEME EDGE - Drums

Unusual for an SACD Reissue - "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" comes in a card digipak – a tactile pleasure that repro's the gorgeous Phil Travers artwork of the original 1971 LP on Threshold Records (the Moodies own label). You don’t get the mottled effect of the actual album cover – but its close enough. Inside the left flap is a 20-page oversized booklet with new liners notes from MARK POWELL - a hugely respected force in quality reissues who runs the revered Prog/Avant Garde reissue label Esoteric Recordings for Cherry Red and is listed here as 'researcher, compiler and producer' of this lovely 2008 version. The swirling, dancing faces of the inner gatefold artwork is reproduced on Pages 2 and 3 - the lyrics are on Pages 14 to 17 (an insert on the original UK LP and an inner bag on US copies) and it ends with compiler notes about the four-speaker Quadrophonic Tapes used to construct the 5.1 Surround Mix (approved by Justin Hayward and John Lodge).

Their transformation away from British R&B band into International Mellotron Prog Rock flag-holders is discussed in detail - as are the first two years of the Seventies where three successful tours began to see them become huge in America and a major chart presence there. The cohesion of "A Question Of Balance" LP from 1970 (a whole album that could be reproduced live on stage for US audiences) was essentially continued for 1971's "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour". There are colour photos, a foreign picture sleeve for "The Story In Your Eyes" with "My Song" on the flipside and period snaps of the boys looking suitably perplexed and physically jetlagged. But the big news here is the AUDIO...

ALBERTO PARODI and JUSTIN HAYWARD did the STEREO Mix for the album from original Master Tapes at Logical Box Studios in Genova, Italy - while the 5.1 SURROUND SOUND Mix was reconstructed from original Decca Quadrophonic Master Tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE and MARK POWELL at The Audio Archiving Company in London (Bonus Tracks remastered by Paschal Byrne). Always a well-produced near-Audiophile band - the combined talents of all these Engineers has brought huge presence to these songs.

Focusing on exceptional remaster moments - that piano intro to "Our Guessing Game" is beautifully clear - the acoustic guitars that open the lone contribution from drummer Graeme Edge "After You Came" are full - as are the combined wall of voices that give us its 'I've been doing my best' chorus. John Lodge offers the very Simon & Garfunkel beauty of "Emily's Song" and the flute acoustic ballad "One More Time To Live" - sweeping organ builds as it accompanies acoustic guitars and voices that sooth with "...for I have riches more than these..." The second Ray Thomas track "Nice To Be Here" has always been a bit too childlike for my tastes (Jack Rabbit and Daffodils) but fans will find that the bass and acoustic guitars are sweetly transferred. Justin Hayward gives us the superb bombast of "You Can Never Go Home" that’s now even more epic.

The 'love with all your might' song "My Song" from Michael Pinder ends the album with Mellotrons, gently plucked guitars and harps - getting a bit Genesis in that brilliant heavy breathing mid section. The two bonus tracks will please fans no end – recorded in November 1970 before they departed for yet another US Tour – the original version of Justin Hayward’s "The Story In Your Eyes" is essentially the band live in the studio. A spoken one-two count-in and that great guitar riff excites again – even coming with an extended solo in its 3:30 minutes. The Hayward/Thomas composition "The Dreamer" was recorded 9 November 1970 and promptly forgotten about for 35 years until research for this reissue located its dusty and unloved box. Called a 'work in progress' because it clearly needed further polishing – "The Dreamer" nonetheless has enough of a finished feel to it to warrant calling this session outtake a bit of a find...

To sum up – "Every Good Boy Deserves A Favour" by The Moody Blues is a beloved album around the world and its most definitely been given a very tasty 2007 sonic do-over here (both mixes gleaming).

"...Lovely to know the warmth your smile can bring to me..." – Hayward sings on the hopeful "Emily's Song". Well I’d say the favour has been returned...

"Far Canal" by JODY GRIND (2016 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue - Mark Powell Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sweating Blue Blood..."

Taking their name from Horace Silver's 1967 Jazz album on Blue Note called "The Jody Grind" - England's short-lived but mighty JODY GRIND managed only two Progressive Rock albums on the largely Folk Indie label Transatlantic Records. Their October 1969 debut "One Step On" received favourable press and elicited a devout fan following (especially in Europe) - while their second and last album "Far Canal" from September 1970 massively improved on its predecessor. But neither did any real business sales-wise (check out that dreadful Mechano lettering artwork). Still - that hasn’t stopped good labels like Akarma in Italy and Strange Days in Japan reissuing Jody Grind’s recorded legacy on CD – which brings us to these new and superlative 2016 Remasters out of the UK...

England’s Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have been building up a huge rep with collectors for a few years now for both quality in Audio and Presentation – and these two CD Reissues for this long forgotten British Prog Rock Trio will only add to that growing list of Reissue accolades.

The first album "One Step On" is really good (also reissued November 2016 with Bonus Material) - a Hammond-Organ and Guitar-Driven Band let loose in the studio with Jethro Tull's arranger David Palmer helping out on Horns and Brass. But the second LP (with a rejiggered line-up) is a bit of an unsung masterpiece for me. 1970's "Far Canal" Progs - it Rocks - it Folks - it Jazzs - it even does Santana-type Latin Rock with a Drum Solo on one of its many fabulous instrumentals ("O Paradiso"). In fact on checking in the new Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide of 2018 - it's easy to hear why both of these albums have a stonking £175 price tag allocated to each.

There's a shed load of details to get through - so here are the peaky grinders...

UK released 26 November 2016 - "Far Canal" by JODY GRIND on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2568 (Barcode 5013929466845) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with One Bonus Track and plays out as follows (49:13 minutes):

1. We've Had It

2. Bath Sister

3. Jump Bed Jed

4. O Paradiso

5. Plastic Shit [Side 2]

6. Vegetable Oblivion

7. Red Worms & Lice

8. Ballad For Bridget

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second and last studio album "Far Canal" - released September 1970 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 221. Produced by HUGH MURPHY - the album was not issued in the USA and didn't chart in the UK. "We've Had It", "Jump Bed Jed", "Vegetable Oblivion" by Bernie Holland - "Bath Sister", "O Paradiso" and "Ballad For Bridget" by Tim Hinkley - "Plastic Shit" and "Red Worms & Lice" co-written by Tim Hinkley and Bernie Holland. "Paint It Black" is a Rolling Stones cover version.

BONUS TRACK:

Paint It Black (Mono Single Version)

JODY GRIND was:

TIM HINKLEY - Hammond Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Vibraphone and Lead Vocals

BERNIE HOLLAND - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass and Vocals

PETE GAVIN - Drums and Percussion

The 16-page booklet has informative and well-researched liner notes from Esoteric’s own MARK POWELL – who also compiled, co-ordinated and remastered the original tapes. The Audio is fantastic – beefy without being too trebled for the sake of it – very clear and impressive work.

Formed in November 1968 by Keyboardist Tim Hinkley with Guitarist Ivan Zagni and Drummer Martin Harryman. Harryman left to work with Elkie Brooks in Dada (over on Atlantic Records) to be replaced with Drummer Barry Wilson. But after their first album - both Zagni and Wilson exited too to be replaced with Holland and Gavin for album number 2.

Their sound grew in sophistication for the second album – a record that's heavy on Instrumentals of different musical styles – each brilliant in their own way. "Far Canal" even includes an out-and-out lyric rocker in the live track "Plastic Shit" - an environmental protest tune sung in front of an audience earlier in 1970 - the only 'live' output ever officially available by the band. "O Paradiso" may as well be Santana meets Malo - an eight-minute instrumental track with a fantastic groove and a drum solo from Pete Gavin that would impress John Bonham. The opener "We've Had It" fits in with Nat Joseph's largely Folky roster on Transatlantic Records but soon turns into Prog Folk and in a good way. Off we go in another direction - after the utterly brilliant riffage of "Red Worms & Lice" where Jody Grind come on like they're the duelling guitars of Wishbone Ash finding their inner Humble Pie - you get the utterly disconcerting pleasantness of "Ballad For Bridget" – a Tim Hinkley piano-driven Jazz instrumental that's almost easy listening in its mellowness.

The bonus track has a history all of its own. Their debut album has a 4-part 20-minute long Suite on Side 1 called "One Step On" (title of the LP also) of which the five-minute rocking "Paint It Black" portion is Part 4. Someone turned it into a 7" single in both Germany and Portugal - giving it a Mono Single Mix. The German single from 1970 on Metronome M 25 201 had "Little Message" from the first LP as its B-side and came in a wicked picture sleeve (Tim Hinkley giving some Keith Emerson on his Hammond) but the booklet unfortunately doesn't picture it – while the Portuguese 45 on Zip Zip Records 30 011 had a Single mix of "Rock n' Roll Man" from the first album on its flipside – that mix now being one of two Bonus Tracks on the “One Step On” CD Reissue (Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2567 – Barcode 5013929466746).

Following the collapse of Paul Korda's Dada after only one LP - Hinkley joined Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer for the first Vinegar Joe LP – later starring in Mike Patto's offshoot band Boxer too. He subsequently played on stage with Chapman & Whitney's Streetwalkers (ex Family), Dr. Feelgood, Bad Company, Snafu, Thin Lizzy and has done session work on solo LPs for The Who's Roger Daltrey and Vinegar Joe's Elkie Brooks. Bernie Holland split his time between Prog Rock bands like Back Door and Fusion Artist Stomu Yamashta and UK Folkies like The Humblebums, Stealers Wheel, Harvey Andrews and Joan Armatrading. In-demand session Drummer Pete Gavin did stints with Poet And The One Man Band, Heads, Hands & Feet and Vinegar Joe and has played on solo LPs for Albert Lee, Don Everly, Isaac Guillory, Linda Lewis, Steve York and many more. Formidable musicians in a once formidable group....

British Prog Rock Trio JODY GRIND are a footnote in Rock's History now – but I can so understand why their two albums garnish such fever in collector’s circle – especially the brilliant "Far Canal". Well done to all involved for getting their legacy out there and in such good shape too...