"Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story" by C.C.S. [feat Alexis Korner] (July 2013 Esoteric Recordings 2CD Anthology of Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Hey Brother…Stay Loose…"

Up until now I've had all three of Repertoire's 2000 card digipaks for the 3 CCS albums as well as the superb 2004 EMI compilation "A's B's & Rarities" which mopped up the non-album stragglers. But this new 2013 2CD set from England's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) supersedes all of those - especially on sound. Here are the collective details...

UK released July 2013 (August 2013 in the USA) - "Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story" by C.C.S. is a 2CD anthology on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22404 (Barcode 5013929450448) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (76:22 minutes):

1. Boom Boom

2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

3. Waiting Song

4. Lookin' For Fun

5. Whole Lotta Love

6. Living In The Past

7. Sunrise

8. Dos Cantos

9. Wade In The Water

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "C.C.S." released October 1970 in the UK on RAK Records SRAK 6751

Tracks 10 and 11 are "Walkin'" and "Salome" - the non-album A & B-sides of a UK 7" single released January 1971 on RAK Records RAK 109 ("Walkin'" is a Donovan cover version)

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Tap Turns On The Water" and "Save The World" - the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released August 1971 on RAK Records RAK 119

14. Brother

15. Black Dog

16. I Want You Back

17. Running out Of Sky (Sky Diver)

18. Whole Lotta Rock and Roll: (a) School Days (b) Lucille (c) Long Tall Sally (d) Whole Lotta Love

Tracks 14 to 18 are Side 1 of their 2nd album called "CCS" (aka "CCS II") - released March 1972 on RAK Records SRAK 503

Disc 2 (77:17 minutes)

1. Chaos/Can't We Ever Get It Back

2. This Is My Life

3. Misunderstood

4. Maggie's Song

5. City

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 2 of "CCS" [aka "CCS II"]

Track 6 is "If I Never Sing Another Song" which is an outtake recorded during the "CCS II" sessions in 1971 - it first turned up as one of two Previously Unreleased songs on the "A's B's & Rarities" EMI CD from 2004. It has a brass refrain of "Tap Turns On The Water" as it ends.

Track 7 is "Mister, What You Can't Have I Can Get" - a non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Brother" released February 1972 on RAK Records RAK 126

Track 8 is "Sixteen Tons" - a non-album A-side to a UK 7" single - released October 1972 in the UK on RAK Records RAK 141 (its a fabulous cover of a Tennessee Ernie Ford classic)

9. The Band Played The Boogie

10. Wild Witch Lady

11. Lola

12. Primitive Love

13. Hundred Highways

14. Shakin' All Over

15. Memphis

16. Sunshine Of Your Love

17.Our Man In London

18. Cannibal Sheep

Tracks 9 to 18 are their 3rd and final studio album "The Best Band In The Land" - released September 1973 on RAK Records SRAK 504

Track 19 is "Hang It On Me" - a non-album B-side to "The Band Played The Boogie" released June 1973 on UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 154

Tracks 20 and 21 are "Hurricane Coming" and "Dragster" - both non-album tracks released April 1974 on a UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 172

A huge ensemble group - C.C.S. (short for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS SOCIETY) - was the brain-child of British Blues Boom Godfather ALEXIS KORNER who along with Danish singer PETER THORUP and British arranger JOHN CAMERON pulled together the cream of brass/flute-playing session-men of the time and went after the Blood, Sweat & Tears market for funked-up brassy Rock. Owner of RAK Records - Mickie Most's timing couldn't have been better. Deciding right from the start to include cover versions on their records - they did a fantastic brassed-up take on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" that not only complimented the 1969 Atlantic Records original - but also defined that "CCS" sound. So when the new BBC pop program "Top Of The Pops" needed a cool theme song - they took this winner - dropped the flute intro, vocal middle and end - and a riffing theme song legend was born. I can vividly remember as a budding teenager thrilling to its power chords every Thursday night as it and Pans People did their poppet thing.

The 3-way card digipak houses a 16-page booklet with sleeve shots, rare advert photos, pictures of Alexis and the band and great liner notes by noted musicologist MALCOME DOME. And the whole project is coordinated and arranged by long-time hero of reissues MARK POWELL. But the big news is the sound. Remastered from first generation tapes by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London - this release sounds just awesome. I should reiterate that the Repertoire CDs had fabulous sound anyway (licensed from EMI) - but these remasters trump them for sheer power and presence - the clarity is fantastic without ever being over-ramped for effect. The only down note is that "This Is My Life" - the great B-side to the Tennessee Ernie Ford cover of "Sixteen Tons" - is missing (the 7" mix is different to the album version). But this and a very good outtake called "Blues" are both available on the 2004 EMI CD compilation "A's..." for a very reasonable cost.

The first album is an utter blast with their lead off track being a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" done in their distinctive style (it was the B-side of their October 1970 debut single "Whole Lotta Love"). And then you're hit with their other lethal weapon - the voice of ALEXIS KORNER - a man who straddles these tracks with a presence and enthusiasm that is irresistible. CCS do "Satisfaction" by The Stones and "Living In The Past" by Jethro Tull as covers too - but the remainder are impressive are Korner, Cameron and Thorup originals. The ethereally atmospheric Korner original "Sunrise" sounds just gorgeous with its double-played acoustic guitars. The uber-cool John Cameron original "Dos Cantos" is another flute and brass gem that slinks and tingles and then funks for over eight minutes. It sports wicked lyrics like "weave your web...spider of forgetfulness..." - it deserves praise and rediscovery (and again with that stunning audio quality). The "Walkin'" non-album 7" single (a cover of a Donovan track) is wicked too. The late summer of 1971 brought their most famous hit - the fabulous "Tap Turns On The Water" - another non-album 45-only release.

By the time they hit the next LP "CCS II" (which is actually/confusingly called just "C.C.S." on the sleeve and label) - they were in their stride with "Chaos/Can't We Ever Get It Back" and "Misunderstood" standing out (not to mention the wicked "Brother" opener).  They do Zeppelin's "Black Dog", The Congregation and Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and a 4-part Rock 'n' Roll Medley which combines Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" with Chuck Berry's "School Days" and a double Little Richard dollop of "Lucille" and "Long Tall Sally".

But the 3rd album (possibly sporting the worst album cover ever) saw public interest wane big time (its been a vinyl rarity for years) despite covers of The Kinks "Lola", Donovan's "Wild Witch Lady", Johnny Kidd & The Pirates "Shakin' All Over" and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" being properly good. RAK Records hitmakers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman provided "Primitive Love" which was an obvious single. It ends on the bizarrely named Korner original "Cannibal Sheep" which features a great double-vocal from the maestro while the beat chugs along rather nicely.

I loved CCS then and still do. This superb 2CD set has been a blast to listen to - so many great memories and now fans can avail themselves of its stunning sound quality. Well done to all involved. Stay loose brother...

PS: check out the HOT CHOCOLATE "A's B's & Rarities" which features the UK 7" single "Brother Louie" from April 1973 - it's arranged by John Cameron and features Spoken vocals by Alexis Korner at the end ("no spook in my family - get it!")

“A Tear And A Smile” by TIR na n’Og [with Sonny Condell and Liam O'Kelly] (2012 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Land Is Misty...My Eyes Are Too…"

Being a Dubliner I instantly knew what "Tir na n'Og" referred to - translated it's Gaelic for "Land Of The Young" (locally pronounced Tier Nah Nogue). We had the stories rammed down our willing throats in History class in school. It comes from the ancient Irish tales of warrior king Ossian (or Oisin in Gaelic). I've had this Prog-Folk duo's second album "A Tear And A Smile" on original UK vinyl for decades (as well as the other two they did - "Tir na n'Og" from 1971 and "Strong In The Sun" in 1973) and loved them all to bits. Guitarists and singers Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly made a lovely racket.

UK released November 2012 - "A Tear And A Smile" by TIR na n'OG [featuring Sonny Condell and Liam O'Kelly] on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2350 (Barcode 5013929435049) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (45:03 minutes):

1. Come And See The Show

2. Down Day

3. When I Came Down

4. The Same Thing Happening

5. Bluebottle Stew

6. So Freely

7. Hemisphere

8. Lady Ocean 

9. Goodbye My Love

10. Two White Horses 

Tracks 1 to 10 are the vinyl LP “A Tear And A Smile” - released in the UK in April 1972 on Chrysalis CHR 1006. 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Lady I Know

12. Heidi

Tracks 11 and 12 are a UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHS 2001 issued in 1972 (both non-album tracks at the time). 

The 12-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer TREVOR BOYD and reproduces two rare 7" picture sleeves (out of Europe) as well as colour photos of O'Kelly and Condell. A word about the original vinyl track line up - the UK album "A Tear And A Smile" is as above - But the American issue came out in October 1972 with a radically different track list. It was their first release is the USA so it used some of the English albums tracks, both the A&B sides of the British 7" single and a trio of tunes from the first album. So you'll need to buy their first release "Tir na n'Og" (which I've also reviewed on Esoteric CD remaster) and you can then sequence the US LP variant as follows:

USA TRACK LISTING (October 1972):

Side 1:

Come And See The Show [1]

Daisy Lady ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 3]

When I Came Down [3]

The Same Thing Happening [4]

Looking Up ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 6]

Side 2:

The Lady I Love [11]

So Freely [6]

Two White Horses [10]

Lady Ocean [8]

Dante ["Tir na n'Og" CD - Track 13]

 The new remaster has been handled by MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE and is truly gorgeous - crystal clear acoustic instruments with warmth and clarity on every track. It really is a fantastic job done. I've done tags on both of these guys before (see my Profile and there's a tag for each below which will give you a pictorial list of their work over the years). SONNY CONDELL plays Guitar, Clavinet and Percussion while LEO O'KELLY plays Guitar and alternates lead vocals with Condell. All songs are original compositions and the only guests are LARRY STEELE on Bass and BARRY De SOUZA on Drums.

While the debut album was Half-Folk/Half Prog (with Tyrannosaurus Rex hippy overtones) - this 2nd LP showed a huge improvement in the song-writing department and was accompanied by a really beautiful TONY COX production. It also saw a definite Tir na n'Og sound emerging too (like an older version of Glen Hansard of The Frames or music from the film "Once"). It opens very strongly with a double whammy - the catchy "Come And See The Show" (a song they used to open live shows with when they were supporting fellow label mates Jethro Tull) - and for me the best track on the album - the wonderfully complex and plaintive "Down Day". This Condell original features wistful off-the-cuff arrangements and Nick Drake strings at the end that are truly affecting. It's the kind of tune Kate Rusby might play live in 2014 and blow the audience away with (lyrics from it title this review).

The big acoustic guitar sound of both "When I Come Down" and "The Same Thing Happening" could have been recorded in the 1990s - good tunes with cleverly alternating lead vocals. But the gamely vaudeville jaunt of "Bluebottle Stew" might have been fun to record at the time but now sounds like The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band but not in a good way. Side 2 opens with "So Freely" and continues the duelling acoustic guitars with that Irish brogue in his singing. "Hemisphere" is really pretty with a gorgeous Cello seeing it out while "Goodbye My Love" gets a little Pink Floyd circa "Meddle" in its centre passage. "Two White Horses" sounds like a Simon & Garfunkel outtake from their 1970 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album. The single "The Lady I Love" is very upbeat but just doesn't grab you with that plaintive feel like one the albums cut would have. "Heidi" - however - is back to that mellow  Irish Folk feel with even some Roy Harper vibes thrown in. It's impressive stuff really...

TIR na n'OG morphed in the late Seventies in the affectionately remembered SCULLION who made 5 albums in Ireland (none are on CD to my knowledge) including the fab "Balance And Control" in 1980 produced by the mighty JOHN MARTYN. Condell even made a CD album in 2013.

TIR na n'OG would definitely be an acquired taste for some. But for me there was always something magical in those hooks and songs - and now their albums have the properly beautiful sounding remasters their catalogue has always deserved…

UK TRACK LISTING for "A Tear And A Smile" (April 1972):

Side 1: 

1. Come And See The Show

2. Down Day

3. When I Came Down

4. The Same Thing Happening

5. Bluebottle Stew

Side 2:

1. So Freely

2. Hemisphere

3. Lady Ocean

4. Goodbye My Love

5. Two White Horses 

USA TRACK LISTING for "A Tear And A Smile" (October 1972):

Fans will need both CDs to sequence this variant of the LP as shown below...

Side 1: 

1. Come And See The Show [1]

2. Daisy Lady [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

3. When I Came Down [3]

4. The Same Thing Happening [4]

5. Looking Up [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

Side 2:

1. The Lady I Love [11]

2. So Freely [6]

3. Two White Horses [10]

4. Lady Ocean [8]

5. Dante [on the "Tir na n’Og" CD]

“Tir na n'Og” by TIR na n’OG (2012 Esoteric Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Our Love Will Not Decay..."

Being a Dubliner I instantly knew what "Tir na n'Og" referred to – translated, it's Gaelic for "Land Of The Young" (locally pronounced Tier Nah Nogue). We had the stories rammed down our willing throats in History class in school. It comes from the ancient Irish tales of warrior king Ossian (or Oisin in Gaelic).

I've had this Prog-Folk duo's debut album on vinyl for decades (as well as the other two they did for Chrysalis - "A Tear And A Smile" from 1972 and "Strong In The Sun" in 1973) and loved them all to bits. In truth though - some of the hippy-dippy fay lyrics ("Aberdeen Angus") might make even the strongest constitution cringe 40 years on. So why bother? Because in-between all that mythology are strangely beautiful melodies and tunes wrapped up in strings and acoustic guitars that are fabulous - as sophisticated as Roy Harper on Harvest and just as cleverly constructed. In fact in places they sound like Tyrannosaurus Rex and what they might have become if Bolan hadn't gone completely Rock - or even the acoustic side of early Seventies Jethro Tull with a little Nick Drake string arrangements thrown in for colour. Guitarists and singers Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly made a lovely racket. Here are the mushroom and fairy details...

UK released November 2012 - "Tir na n'Og" by TIR na n'OG on Esoteric Records ECLEC2357 (Barcode 5013929435742) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (51:54 minutes):

1. Time Is Like A Promise

2. Mariner Blues

3. Daisy Lady

4. Tir Na Nog

5. Aberdeen Angus

6. Looking Up

7. Boat Song

8. Our Love Will Not Decay

9. Hey Friend

10. Dance Of Years

11. Live A Day

12. Piccadilly

13. Dante

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Tir na n'Og" UK released May 1971 on Chrysalis/Island ILPS 9153. 

BONUS TRACKS: 

14. I'm Happy To Be (On This Mountain) 

15. Let My Love Grow

Tracks 14 and 15 are a UK 7" single on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6090 issued in 1970 (both non-album tracks at the time). The 16-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer TREVOR BOYD and reproduces the lovely gatefold sleeve of the original LP, pictures that rare 7" picture sleeve (out of Europe) - features music mag reviews and even sheet music.

A word about the sound - the remaster handled by MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE is truly gorgeous - clear instruments, warmth on every track with the top quality original production values of Bill Leader now fully on display. It really is a fantastic job done. I've done tags on both of these guys before (pictorial lists of their work).

SONNY CONDELL plays Guitar, Mandolin, Moroccan Pottery, Drums, Tabla, Jews Harp and sings while LEO O'KELLY plays Guitar, Electric Bass, Dulcimer, Tin Whistle and alternates lead vocals with Condell. All songs excepting "Hey Friend" (by Dolan) are original compositions.

It opens with the mid Sixties Simon & Garfunkel folk of "Time Is Like A Promise" (features ANNIE CROZIER on Psaltry) and progresses very nicely into "Mariner Blues" which is where Condell's quirky chord changes first come into focus. The title track even has UK Folk hero BARRY DRANSFIELD on Fiddle. "Looking Up" is superb because it leaves much of the mythology behind and becomes sophisticated Acoustic Rock. But Side 2 opens with probably the most haunting song on the album - O'Kelly's "The Boat Song". It sounds beautiful with its Nick Drake string arrangements (done by Nick Harrison who later did work on The Rolling Stones "Angie") and stories about leaving (lyrics from it title this review). Harrison's work also turns up on the pretty "Piccadilly". The album finisher is another wonderfully off-the-cuff Condell melody "Dante". But you can see why the A of the single failed (nice to finally see it on CD). But its B-side is a gem - a lovely air by Condell called "Let My Love Grow".

They morphed in the late Seventies in the affectionately remembered SCULLION who made 5 albums in Ireland (none are on CD to my knowledge) including the fab "Balance And Control" in 1980 produced by the mighty JOHN MARTYN. Condell even made a CD album in 2013.

TIR NA NOG would definitely be an acquired taste for some. But for me there was always something magical in those hooks and songs - and now their albums have the properly beautiful sounding remasters their catalogue has always deserved.

"Lie Back And Enjoy It" by JUICY LUCY (2010 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This review 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

"…Ain't Going Down That Lonesome Road All By Myself…"

Released in September 1969 – JUICY LUCY’s self-titled debut LP was only the second album on the then new progressive rock label VERTIGO Records. And on the back of their blistering UK 7” single “Who Do You Love” which was lifted off the record and released in February 1970 - the "Juicy Lucy" album finally charted in the UK in April 1970. And that’s where this cool little CD reissue kicks in. "Lie Back And Enjoy It" was their hurriedly recorded follow-up LP (featuring a radically altered band line-up) – and it’s mid-price expanded CD reissue by the renowned Esoteric Recordings Label (part of Cherry Red) is a welcome boogie blast from my distant past…

UK released August 2010 (reissued June 2015) – "Lie Back And Enjoy It" by JUICY LUCY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2216 (Barcode 5013929731646) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (39:08 minutes):

1. Thinking Of My Life

2. Built For Comfort

3. Pretty Woman

4. Whisky In My Jar

5. Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham

6. Changed My Mind, Changed My Sign

7. That Woman’s Got Something

8. Willie The Pimp/Lie Back And Enjoy It Medley

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Lie Back And Enjoy It" released October 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 014. The album charted at number 53 on the UK LP charts for one week in November 1970. Their next two albums were on the 'Bronze' and 'Polydor' labels ("Get A Whiff A This" from 1971 and "Pieces" from 1972).

Track 9 "I'm A Thief" (Mono) is the non-album B-side to their second 7" single "Pretty Woman" (Track 3 on Side 1). It was released September 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6059 015 (also on the Spiral label) but failed to chart.

Boasting a new 24-bit remaster by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London (it was first put out by Repertoire in 1994) - it's also available digitally at www.losttunes.com.

The 5-piece for this LP featured PAUL WILLIAMS on Lead Vocals, Congas & Piano [ex Zoot Money’s Big Band] with GLENN ROSS CAMPBELL on Lead Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals [ex The Misunderstood], MICKY MOODY on Guitars [ex Tramline, Mike Cotton Sound - later with Snafu, Whitesnake & duet work with Paul Williams], CHRIS MERCER on Saxophones & Keyboards [ex John Mayall's Bluesbreakers], KEITH ELLIS on Bass & Vocals [ex Koobas and Van Der Graaf Generator] and ROD COOMBES on Drums and Percussion.

Building on the greasy slide-guitar boogie-band feel of their self-titled debut, “Lie Back And Enjoy It” went down the same road – only this time they’d replaced Ray Owen as Lead Vocalist with Paul Williams and Neill Hubbard’s guitar work with that of Micky Moody. Like the first album it’s a mixed batch of the great and the ordinary. The Paul Williams penned “Pretty Woman” was released as the album’s only single and you can instantly hear why – catchy as a cold in Margate. The cover of the Willie Dixon song he gave to Howlin' Wolf "Built For Comfort" is less successful as is the awful version of Zappa’s “Willy The Pimp” (although it redeems itself at about 5 minutes 34 seconds in as it fades out and suddenly turns into a lovely 2-minute long piano instrumental - not surprisingly called “Lie Back And Enjoy It”). But the track I dig the most is “This Woman’s Got Something” which was co-written by Moody, Campbell and William (lyrics above) – it’s a bluesy builder with great guitar work and has graced more than a few 70’s FEST CDs I’ve made up for shop play.

Sound - like Esoteric’s 2010 reissue of "Juicy Lucy" the audio quality is incredibly clean and crisp, full of power and a massive improvement over what I had before - a really great job done. The 16-page booklet features a really detailed account by MARK POWELL of their transition from The Misunderstood of 1966 to Juicy Lucy of 1969 and onwards into 1970 and their many line-up changes. The original album artwork was an elaborate 4-way foldout poster affair that is reproduced in parts here. There are also full-page colour-plates for each member of the band, Vertigo adverts for the group and a foreign picture sleeve of the “Pretty Woman” single. Like its predecessor, it's all very nicely done.

There are some Seventies bands I go dolally over and JUICY LUCY is one of them. And although some of the tracks on here don't quite live up to the image and promise of the elaborate sleeve - there's tunes on here that do. I've loved re-hearing this long-forgotten album.

A wicked little reissue really...

PS: Their 1st Vertigo album from September 1969 "Juicy Lucy" has also been remastered and reissued by Esoteric in 2010 with a bonus track (see separate review).