"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...

"Second Birth" by GRAVY TRAIN (2016 Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue - Mark Powell Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Fields And Factories..."

Lancashire's hard rocking Progressive Rock act GRAVY TRAIN managed four albums across two labels between 1970 and 1973 including their debut "Gravy Train" on Vertigo 6360 023 in December 1970 (a listed £400 rarity), the follow-up "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" on Vertigo 6360 051 in November 1971 (now a £900 listing) and their final studio effort "Staircase To The Sky" in July 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 1 (yours for a paltry £125.00).

This superb-sounding 2016 British CD reissue deals with their 3rd outing "Second Birth" from March 1973 - their first with England's second home to all things Prog Rock - Dawn Records. In fact excepting dodgy bootlegs and a rare deleted 2003 Japanese issue - this rather dull-looking album has long been unavailable on an official CD remaster - until now.

'Esoteric Recordings' (part of Cherry Red in the UK) have gained an enviable reputation amongst Prog, Avant and Electronic fans when it comes to quality remasters of long-forgotten but criminally overlooked goodies - as hip as say Ace Records or Rhino. And they've done the audio business on this one yet again. Here are the tales of fields and factories and Tolpuddle episodes...

UK released 30 September 2016 (7 October 2016 in the USA) - "Second Birth" by GRAVY TRAIN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2562 (Barcode 5013929466241) is a straight CD transfer/remaster of their 3rd studio album from 1973 and plays out as follows:

1. Morning Coming

2. Peter

3. September Morning News

4. Motorway

5. Fields And Factories [Side 2]

6. Strength Of A Dream

7. Tolpuddle Episode

8. Second Birth

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "Second Birth" - released March 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records and in the USA on Bell Records 1121. Produced by JONATHAN PEEL (not the British DJ) - all songs written by Barratt, Davenport, Hughes and Williams - it didn't chart in either country.

BONUS TRACK:

9. Good Time Girl - non-album B-side to the February 1974 UK 7" single of  "Starbright Starlight" on Dawn Records DNS 1058 - a track from their 4th LP "Staircase To The Sky"

GRAVY TRAIN was:

NORMAN BARRATT - Lead Guitar and Vocals

J.D. HUGHES - Keyboards, Flute and Saxophones

GEORGE LYNON - Guitar

LESS WILLIAMS - Bass Guitar

BARRY DAVENPORT - Drums and Percussion on "Morning Coming", "Fields And Factories" and "Tolpuddle Episode"

RUSSELL CALDWELL - Drums and Percussion on all other tracks 

The striped-lines inner sleeve that graced the original Dawn Records gatefold is used as the centre-pages to the 16-page booklet - with the rear-sleeve images of three train carriages used as silhouettes behind the new MALCOM DOME liner notes. Featuring quotes from key band members Hughes and Williams and older quotes from founder member Norman Barratt – it’s an entertaining and enlightening read. But while the info is good - visually the booklet is dull like the naff artwork of the album over which it seems the band had no control. Looking as cheesy as it did with the stream-train puffs emanating from the 'i' in Gravy Train (spelt Gravytrain on the cover and on the sleeve but Gravy Train on the label) - is it any wonder the LP tanked. But the good news is a MARK POWELL Remaster that really rocks. The electric guitars in "Peter" and the Acoustic Guitars and Flute in "Fields And Factories" are all really clear and full of presence.

Sounding not unlike a less strangulated version of Roger Chapman from Family - Barratt takes the lead for "Morning Coming" - a typical Prog Metal number with layered vocals and clever breaks. "Peter" comes roaring at you with several guitars thrashing about the speakers - Gravy Train sounding like Uriah Heap having a Les Paul wig-out.  The acoustic "September Morning News" slows things down and you can hear how (like everyone else) they'd soaked up Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. "Motorway" ends Side 1 on a screaming '...one hundred horse power of engine...' vocal where clever guitar, flute passages and harmony chorus have them sound like "This Was" Jethro Tull as they warn that endless construction will turn every meadow into endless criss-crossing highways. "Fields And Factories" opens Side 2 with more Acoustic vs. Electric interplay and you can get why Dawn thought "Strength Of A Dream" might make a decent single. Released June 1973 in the UK, Dawn DNS 1036 came with "Tolpuddle Episode" on the B-side but you'd have to say (as Dome does) that its slide guitar sound and those chunky 12-string strummed acoustics sound not unlike George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" from 1970. Prettier and more affecting is "Tolpuddle Episode" even if there is a slight harshness to the lead vocal - a tale of ordinary folk chucked into darkened cells to be deported to Australia's Van Diemen's Land. Back to Prog with the seven-minute title track "Second Birth" - probably the album's strongest showing of player virtuosity. The almost Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance English Jug Band shuffle of the non-album B-side "Goodtime Girl" comes as a pleasant surprise after all that laboured Prog and I'd swear that's Maggie Bell on the second female vocal?

You wouldn't call "Second Birth" anything other than ordinary (even plodding in places) - but if you've a penchant for GRAVY TRAIN and Seventies Progressive Metal - at least this 2016 Esoteric Recordings CD reissue sounds good and comes with expanded presentation...