"Sheet Music" by 10cc - June 1974 Second Studio Album on UK Records (April 2007 UK Cherry Red/7T's Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Groomed To Enrapture..."

Although the self-titled debut LP "10cc" had numbers like the fabulous "Donna" and (for me anyway) the ultra-irritating No. 1 hit "Rubber Bullets" - as an album their July 1973 starter on UK Records always felt underwhelming to me. Having said that some fans love it and see that initial ejaculation as a bit of a forgotten gem...

But as Michael Heatley's excellent liner notes point out - while many bands blew their best tunes on their debut only to find following up with more musical goodies problematical - 10cc actually did get better with every album thereafter. And their second platter "Sheet Music" from July 1974 (again on UK Records) only hammers this point home with a pistol-slapper. Despite the LP's overly knowing launch single "The Worst Band In The World" tanking chartwise (the public seemingly not in on the joke) - "The Wall Street Shuffle" follow-up 7" smashed the Top 10 and with "Silly Love" hot on the heels of that - everyone knew 10cc was not just special – but this so very British band had arrived.

But what I love about "Sheet Music" is that it's not a record dominated by the hit singles but by stunning album tracks like "Hotel" and "Somewhere In Hollywood" - the complexity of such songs being a stepping-stone to the full-on brilliance of "The Original Soundtrack" LP and of course the dazzling "I'm Not In Love" in 1975.

Reissued with fabulous audio by '7T's Records' - they're part of Cherry Red's roster of labels and in April 2007 also reissued the debut "10cc" on CD with Five Bonus Tracks (7T's Records GLAM CD 25 - Barcode 5013929042520) and threw in a further 14-Track CD compilation of their early 45s called "The U.K. Records Singles Collection" for good measure (7T's Records GLAM CD 27 - Barcode 5013929042728). But for now let's get to the 18-Carat "Sheet Music"...

UK released April 2007 - "Sheet Music" by 10cc on Cherry Red/7T's Records GLAM CD 26 (Barcode 5013929042629) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (47:29 minutes):

1. The Wall Street Shuffle [Side 1]

2. The Worst Band In The World

3. Hotel

4. Old Wild Men

5. Clockwork Creep

6. Silly Love [Side 2]

7. Somewhere In Hollywood

8. Baron Samedi

9. The Sacro-Iliac

10. Oh Effendi

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Sheet Music" - released June 1974 in the UK on UK Records UKAL 1007 and August 1974 in the USA on UK Records AUKS 53017. Produced by 10cc - it peaked at No. 9 in the UK LP charts and No. 81 in the USA.

BONUS TRACKS: 

11. 18 Carat Man Of Means - Non-album B-side to "The Worst Band In The World", a January 1974 UK 7" single on UK Records UK 57

12. Gismo My Way - Non-album B-side to "The Wall Street Shuffle", a May 1974 UK 7" single on UK Records UK 69

13. The Worst Band In The World (Radio Version)

You get a picture CD (the LP’s artwork) while the 16-page booklet reproduces the lyrics from the lyric-sheet insert that came with original copies of the 1974 vinyl LP - whilst Pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 have a cool display of no less than 12 different 7" single pictures sleeves - French, Dutch, German and European rarities for the album's three 45's - "The Worst Band In The World", "The Wall Street Shuffle" and "Silly Love". Uber-fan MICHAEL HEATLEY provides the informative liner notes and the material is licensed from Jonathan King Enterprises (no Remaster Engineer named) - the Audio being superb - punchy and full.

The album spawned three singles – the first creeping out as early as January 1974 on UK Records UK 57. But despite its clever-clever title "The Worst Band In The World" combined with a non-album B-side in "18 Carat Man Of Means" – this primer was met with terrible indifference and even anger. The public it seems neither liked the in-joke or the song. But things changed radically when a month before the album’s release in June 1974 – UK Records tried "The Wall Street Shuffle" in May 1974 (UK Records UK 69) and again paired it with a non-LP B-side called "Gismo My Way". It worked. With its fab irresistible riffage and cool lyrics "The Wall Street Shuffle" peaked at No. 10 in the UK – giving the equally sophisticated Rock of the album a huge boost in sales. As a by-the-by - the word "Gismo" in the flipside song was famously about a contraption 10cc had placed over the guitar strings to give it more range and different sounds – a device they used on the indulgent 3LP Godley & Crème Box Set "Consequences" in 1977. They actually tried to sell the said Gismo as a new guitar innovation – but it didn’t take. Single number three was just as good and as hard rocking as money blitz in Wall Street. "Silly Love" was paired with "The Sacro-Iliac" from the album’s second side and arrived in late August 1974. But despite Top of the Pops appearances and heavy radio-play - it inexplicably stalled at No. 23 in the UK despite being just as good as its boogie predecessor.

As they sing "...here I am a record on a juke box...a little piece of plastic with a hole..." on "The Worst Band In The World" – the jokes about being the darlings of Rock and Roll who are too big to meet the roadies (left them in the van) suddenly feel so knowing and better than I remember them. "Hotel" has about forty different rhythms going on – Salsa, Bubblegum Pop, Rock and hell even a little Hawaiian – a genius little tune that surprises you every time as they sing about Americans and Islands and Riches and the ghost of Tarzan (gone over to the other side apparently). There is very 10cc sadness to "Old Wild Men" – a sideways ballad about forgotten musical heroes feeling the past-it pinch – dead strings and old drums (dig those doubled-up guitars ala Mike Oldfield). Side 1 ends with the tick-a-time-bomb of "Clockwork Creep" where the refrain "...Oh no you'll never get me up in one these again...” would reappear as the lead-in for "I'm Mandy, Fly Me" - the huge hit single from 1976's "How Dare You".

Side 2 opens with a killer – the takes-the-beauty-out-of-beautiful "Silly Love" – an acidic Rocker that takes the Royal Michael out of loved-up dudes. My favourite track on the album is the brilliant "Somewhere In Hollywood" - Queen in its scope and complexity - a sardonic look at casting couches and the pups Vaudeville threw up many becoming crazy dogs up in Beverley Hills. Again so many ideas going on - you can't help think that Tears For Fears were listening to this when recording "The Seeds Of Love". The album's final trio "Baron Samedi", "The Sacro-Iliac" and "Oh Effendi" continue on in that chop-change mode - flitting between Lounge Bop and Silly Dances and zippy wordplay like 'don't want to annoy ya with my paranoia'.

With 10cc newly signed to Mercury Records in 1975 for their third album "The Original Soundtrack" – UK Records tried a third themselves with the "Greatest Hits Of 10cc" compilation. Released May 1975 - the black-covered LP gathered up the obvious hits and placed them alongside those non-album B-sides – most of which have been provided as Bonus Tracks across these "10cc" and "Sheet Music" CD Remasters. Next stop would be the album glory days of "The Original Soundtrack" (1975), "How Dare You" (1976) and "Deceptive Bends" (1977).

But if you want to know why they caused a stir and are remembered with such affection forty-plus years after the event - pull back that "Sheet Music"...

"The Albums" by MEAL TICKET (2017 Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Out Of The Blue..."

When I worked for Reckless Records in Islington and Berwick Street in Soho (I was a buyer for 20 years) – Meal Ticket LPs were strictly a no-no - bargain bin fodder that never sold - always reduced to sell. And despite the gorgeous presentation of this lavish Lemon Records 3CD Mini Box Set (Lemon is a part of Cherry Red of the UK) - it's easy to hear why that was the case for this very US-influenced West London band.

That's not to say that there isn't anything worth loving here – there most definitely is. The "Code Of The Rode" debut album from July 1977 has some genuine melodic peaches on it (Britain's answer to the Americana of The Eagles, America and The Band) - but the second platter "Three Times A Day" that followed only four months later in November 1977 is a dog and the third "Take Away" from November 1978 is not much better.

London's Meal Ticket formed in 1975 - so the 1977 debut album on EMI International/Logo Records had time to gestate and songs like "Out Of The Blue", "Last One To Know" and the epic sounding harmonies of "The Man From Mexico" would do any Crazy Horse LP proud. The lyrics too are long and smart and penned by actor and scriptwriter David Pierce. Along with Canadian singer Rick Jones – Pierce was an integral part of Meal Ticket the band and a prime mover behind the 1975 Chrysalis Records LP "Flash Fearless Versus The Zorg Women Parts 5 & 6" (CHR 1081) – a Sci-Fi spoof album project that featured Elkie Brooks, Alice Cooper, Jim Dandy of Black Oak Arkansas, James Dewar of Stone The Crows and The Robin Trower Band and John Entwistle of The Who. But clearly out of decent songs - and given the visceral musical scene of Punk and New Wave exploding all around them - it's no wonder that the insipid soft-rock of the second and third LPs died a death commercially (none of Meal Ticket's recorded output disturbed the UK charts and none of it was issued Stateside). And rehearing them now – 40 years of time has not been kind to either of the later LPs.

But for fans who've waited decades for these albums to be put out on CD (especially that debut) - this first-time-on-digital in the UK 3-Disc Box Set from Lemon Records with its great Audio and classy presentation is going to be a must buy. Here are the Bar Room details...

UK released 27 January 2017 (3 February 2017 in the USA) - "The Albums" by MEAL TICKET on Lemon Records CDLEMBOX227 (Barcode 5013929782709) is a 3CD Mini Box Set offering their three studio albums from 1977 and 1978 and Two Bonus Live Tracks Remastered. There are Singular Card Repro Artwork Sleeves and a 20-page booklet and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "Code Of The Road" (46:40 minutes):

1. Out Of The Blue [Side 1]

2. Keepin' The Faith

3. OK Bar (Same Old Story)

4. Last One To Know

5. Day Job

6. The Man From Mexico [Side 2]

7. Snow

8. Golden Girl

9. Standing On The Wrong Corner

10. Georgia Syncopator

11. The Code Of The Road (Travellers Bible)

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Code Of The Road" - released July 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3008. Produced by ALAN O'DUFFY and WILLY FINLAYSON (no US release).

Disc 2 - "Three Times A Day" (38:10 minutes):

1. This Could Be The Town [Side 1]

2. Oh Sister

3. Last Port Of Call

4. Comes The Dawn

5. River Man

6. Yesterday's Music [Side 2]

7. Rural Routes

8. I Wish I Wish

9. Laughing Daughter

10. This Dream I Have Of You

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Three Times A Day" - released November 1977 in the UK on EMI International/Logo INS 3010. Produced by RICHIE GOLD (no US release)

Disc 3 - "Take Away" (44:11 minutes):

1. Why In The World [Side 1]

2. Down On My Knees (After Memphis)

3. Lucy

4. Lone Star Motel

5. The Shape I'm In

6. Blame [Side 2]

7. Simple

8. Bonnie Lee's Dinette

9. At The Funny Farm

10. Get On Board

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third and final studio album "Take Away" - released November 1978 (reissued April 1979) on Logo Records LOGO 1008. Produced by DAVID MACKAY.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon (Live)

12. Boogie Queen (Live)

Tracks 11 and 12 are non-album - released November 1978 as the second single in a UK double-pack for "Simple" on Logo Records GO(D) 330. The standard single (Disc 1 of the double-pack) on Logo Records GO 330 contained "Simple" on the A-side and "Funny Farm" on the B-side. There is no venue or recording date advised for the live cuts.

You have to say that the glossy clamshell box is pretty as are the three repro card sleeves and the 20-page booklet. New liner notes come courtesy of MICHAEL HEATLEY and with recent interviews give a thorough history of the band's beginnings and end. In-between the text are photos of the many EMI International and Logo 45s that EMI tried - as well as live photos of the band, the rear sleeve artwork on the back page (no inners) and various press cuttings. The mastering is down to JAMES BRAGG and the Audio on all three is excellent - especially "Code Of The Road".

You can immediately hear why EMI thought "Out Of The Blue" would be the best lead-off single for the debut album - it's a fantastically hooky song. EMI International INS 533 was issued as a British 45 towards the end of May 1977 with the witty "Day Job" as its B-side - months ahead of the album. Given the strength of the Rick Jones, David Pierce and Steve Hammond composition - it should have been huge really and yet I can't recall ever hearing it at the time. Other nuggets on an album obsessed with American Highways and Mexican Haciendas are the very Crazy Horse vibe of "Last One To Know" and the brilliant harmony breaks that occur in the near six-minute Side 2 stunner "The Man From Mexico".

After the relative high of the debut - "Three Times A Day" comes as a huge disappointment. Tracks like "This Could Be The Town" and "Rural Routes" suddenly sound dull and derivative. EMI tried "Yesterday's Dreams" b/w "The Man From Mexico" from the first LP in September 1977 as a 45 on EMI International INS 539 - even awarding it the luxury of a picture sleeve (both sides are repro'd on Pages 3 and 4 of the booklet). But fans of say Cado Belle or Ace didn't seem to be listening as it tanked. When album number three "Take Away" showed in November 1978 - EMI (under their Logo label imprint) tried "Simple" as the LPs first 45 in two formats - a standard 7" single and a double-pack with two unreleased live tracks on Disc 2 - but no takers. March 1979 saw them try their cover of The Band's "The Shape I'm In" as a single - Logo GO 342 with the LP opener "Why In The World" as its B-side. But that and the last UK single "Blame" in May 1979 on Logo GO 352 (with "At The Funny Farm" on the flip-side) failed as well.

You have to say that re-listening to these albums has been a mixed emotion - loving the first but I'd forgotten how forgettable the other two really are. Still - fans will adore the quality presentation and the sparkly audio and will need to own it. Others should try a listen first...

"Velvet Mountain: An Anthology 1970-1972" by COCHISE featuring Mick Grabham and BJ Cole with guests Steve Marriott of Humble Pie and Members of Hookfoot (April 2013 UK Esoteric Recordings 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Past Love..."

This rather beautifully presented 2CD set from reissue champs Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) puts up the notion that the West-Coast influenced COCHISE (they came out of the Cambridge and Sunderland) are worthy of your attention - a forgotten British Americana Folk-Rock band with Guitarist Mick Grabham and B.J.Cole on Pedal Steel that deserve a second go-round. There are even appearances from Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson of Hookfoot and Elton John's Band, Tim Renwick of Junior's Eyes and Quiver and a rare duet with Steve Marriott of Humble Pie on the second LP to draw in collectors...

Unfortunately even with my penchant for all things Bronco, Matthews Southern Comfort and Brinsley Schwarz (see reviews) - there are only sporadic moments of greatness on offer here and its easy to hear why the slightly plodding Cochise sank without a trace despite popping out three albums at the beginning of that most receptive of decades - the Seventies (1970, 1971 and 1972 and a rare stand-alone 45). Still - if you're a fan of them and like-minded Americana music (The Band, Poco, The Flying Burrito Brothers and even America) - the presentation is superlative and the audio absolutely top notch (from original master tapes). There's a lot to get through so let's get to the nitty gritty...

UK released 29 April 2013 (7 May 2013 in the USA) - "Velvet Mountain: An Anthology 1970-1972" by COCHISE on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22388 (Barcode 5013929438842) is a 2CD Remastered Retrospective with 30-tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (58:41 minutes):

1. Velvet Mountain [Side 1]

2. China

3. Trafalgar Day

4. Moment And The End

5. Watch This Space [Side 2]

6. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

7. Past Loves

8. Painted Lady

9. Black Is The Colour

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut LP "Cochise" - released July 1970 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29117. Produced by DICK TAYLOR

10. Love's Made A Fool Of You - November 1970 UK 7" single on Liberty LBF 15425 (A-side - a Buddy Holly cover version)

11. Jed Collder

12. Down Country Girls

13. Home Again

14. Lost Hearts

15. Strange Images

16. Why I Sing The Blues

Tracks 11 to 16 are Side 1 of their 2nd studio album "Swallow Tales" - released April 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83428.

Disc 2 (60:22 minutes):

1. Another Day

2. Axiom Of Maria

3. Can I Break Your Heart

4. O Come All Ye Faithful

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of their 2nd studio album "Swallow Tales" - released April 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83428.

5. Words Of A Dying Man - November 1970 UK 7" single on Liberty LBF 15425 (B-side of the Buddy Holly cover version "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Disc 1)

6. Cajun Girl [Side 1]

7. Blind Love

8. Dance, Dance, Dance

9. So Many Times

10. Diamonds

11. Thunder in The Crib [Side 2]

12. Up And Down

13. Wishing Well

14. Midnight Moonshine

Tracks 6 to 14 are their 3rd and final studio album "So Far" - released May 1972 on United Artists UAS 29286 (not 28286 as is mistakenly credited on the back cover). The track "Dance, Dance, Dance" (a Neil Young cover) was recorded 'live' at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1971.

COCHISE was:

STEWART BROWN - Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar on the "Cochise" album only

JOHN GILBERT - Lead Vocals on "Swallow Tales" and "So Far" albums

B.J. COLE - Pedal Steel Guitar and Dobro on all albums (Cello also on "Cochise") 

MICK GRABHAM - Lead and Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Organ and Vocals on all albums (Lead Vocals on "Dance, Dance, Dance" on "So Far")

RICKY WILLS - Bass on all albums

JOHN WILSON - Drums, Percussion and Vocals on "Cochise" album

"WILLIE" WILSON - Drums, Percussion and Vocals on "Swallow Tales" album

ROY O'TEMRO - Drums and Percussion on "So Far" album

The three-way foldout card digipak has two picture CDs - photos beneath the see-through trays - LP artwork for the three albums on the flaps and a quality 16-page booklet with new liner notes from MICHAEL HEATLEY (with thanks to founder member Mick Grabham). It comes with the usual plethora of trade adverts, publicity photos and discography info and is very nicely done. But the big news is the stunning audio care of PASCHAL BYRNE (done at Audio Archiving) that lifts the original master tapes off the ground in a big way. I had the first two LPs on original British vinyl back in the day and they sounded o.k. - here they are full of beans - great clarity and without ever overdoing the treble knob. Onto to the music...

The debut sported some typically provocative but strangely off-putting nipple artwork from Hipgnosis – then beginning their long association with Pink Floyd and all things oblique yet cool. Problem is that the artwork doesn’t reflect in any way the music contained within. From the outset you can hear how heavily influenced the five-piece was by the emerging Americana scene across the pond - so "Velvet Mountain" is sub Band territory while "China" is so America. Some of the tunes are stuff like "Past Loves" is a grower. But a dreadful cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "59th Street Bridge Song" and Stewart Brown's frankly dead vocals do for so many. BJ Cole makes his Dobro presence known on his own "Trafalgar Day" where our heroes liken their lovelorn loins to that of Nelson but it descends after a promising opening into dreadful guitar wailing. Stewart Brown wails on "Moment And The End" and you wish he wouldn't.

But things get better with "Swallow Tales" which is way more Country than the debut - PJ Cole's Pedal Steel to the fore and John Gilbert sounding like the enthusiastic vocalist this kind of music needs sing of 'hound dogs' that need to 'scratch an itch'. The song quality picks up with Mick Grabham's "Home Again" - his jangling guitar sound akin to the Byrds and serious dollops of Gene Clark and Gram Parsons. "Lost Hearts" gets all Spanish in its rhythms and begins a duo of BJ Cole songs - the second being "Strange Images" - far better than the lame first (it features Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson of Hookfoot). Over on Side 2 "Another Day" continues Mick Grabham's melancholic songs underpinned by Cole's lovely playing. It comes as blessed relief to hear the unmistakable larynx of Steve Marriott on "Why I Sing The Blues" (plays Piano on the track also). After a very Ozark Mountain Daredevils "Can I Break Your Heart?" (sweet vocals and production values) - the album ends on a short but slightly pointless Pedal Steel instrumental of that Gospel Traditional "O Come All Ye Faithful".  

Things funk up with the opener "Cajun Girl" on album number three - a great slinky guitar groove supplied by new drummer Roy O'Temro. Dave Elliott provides "Blind Love" - a lovely song that feels like early Seventies Hollies (Gilbert's voice is akin to Allan Clarke). Quite why a live cover version of Neil Young's "Dance, Dance, Dance" is slapped into the middle of Side 1 is anyone's guess - but after an inaudible spoken intro - you can partially hear why - they rocked in a Country way when live. Back to the Pedal Steel and Country Rock for "So Many Times" - a sweetheart of a melody penned by the band's permanent Bassist Ricky Wills. They rock with "Diamonds" - Grabham finding his inner Crazy Horse even if BJ Cole accompanies him too much. That Country rocking continues with "Wishing Well" and the LP ends on the decidedly funky "Midnight Moonshine".

Of the three albums - "So Far" is probably the most accomplished - but in truth none of them light up in a way that would have had punters take notice. With the great presentation and audio - fans should dive in - I'd advise others to nab a listen first...

"Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS (2014 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…He's Gonna Step On You Again…"

This is a clever CD reissue by Britain's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red). After years of faffing around on varying CD versions most of which sported dodgy sources (deleted quickly afterwards followed by extortionate price tags later) - at last fans of this wicked Seventies LP by South African multi-instrumentalist JOHN KONGOS get to hear his superb "Kongos" album in properly brill sound quality. And this reissue/remaster is bolstered up with a whopping 9 extra tracks too. Here are the good and bad Tokoloshe Man details...

UK released October 2014 - "Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS on Esoteric ECLEC 2466 (Barcode 5013929456648) breaks down as follows (79:52 minutes):

1. Tokoloshe Man (Album Version - 5:13 minutes)

2. Jubilee Cloud

3. Gold

4. Lift Me From The Ground

5. Tomorrow I'll Go

6. Try To Touch Just One [Side 2]

7. Weekend Lady

8. I Would Have Had A Good Time

9. Come On Down Jesus

10. He's Gonna Step On You Again

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd solo album "Kongos" - released November 1971 in the UK on Fly Records HIFLY 7 and January 1972 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75019. It charted in the UK at No 29 in January 1972 (didn't chart USA). The UK artwork sported a lovely gatefold sleeve and lyric insert while the US single-sleeve artwork was entirely different - both are featured in the 16-page booklet along with photographs of many foreign 7" picture sleeves, studio photos and trade adverts. The American LP also had a 9-track configuration (dropped "Weekend Lady") and the tracks were placed differently too. From this CD the US album sequences as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 (Side 1) whilst 8, 6, 5 and 10 are Side 2.

Tracks 11 to 19 are BONUS singles:

11. Sometimes It's Not Enough

Non-album B-side of "He's Gonna Step On You Again" 7" single  - released April 1971 in the UK on Fly Records BUG 8. Reached No. 4 in the UK charts.

12. Tokoloshe Man (Single Version - 3:59 minutes)

13. Can Someone Please Direct Me Back To Earth

The A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1971 on Fly Records BUG 14.

Rose to No. 4 in the UK charts.

14. Great White Lady

15. Shamarack

The A&B-sides of a 1972 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 22 (both tracks were non-album)

16. Higher Than God's Hat

17. Would You Follow Me

The A&B-sides of a 1973 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 32 (both tracks were non-album)

18. Ride The Lightning

19. I Won't Ask You Where You've Been

The A&B-sides of a 1975 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 58 (both tracks were non-album)

The first thing that hits you (apart from the classy presentation) is the fabulous audio - 24-bit remastered from original master tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE (a name I've praised before) - the sound quality is wonderful. This is actually not surprising - the record was professionally Produced by Elton John's main man GUS DUDGEON  -while the whiz-bang Sound Engineer was none other than RAY THOMAS BAKER who would lend so much to QUEEN's sound a few years later (he produced "Bohemian Rhapsody").

The other aspect is the quality musicianship - much of Elton's backing band HOOKFOOT provides the basis for most tracks with superb guests spots in-between. RAY COOPER was on Percussion, CALEB QUAYE [Finlay's Dad] on Guitars and Keyboards, DAVE GLOVER on Bass and ROGER POPE on Drums. LOL COXHILL plays Soprano Sax on the mighty "Tokoloshe Man", Mike Moran plugs the ARP Synthesiser on "Jubilee Cloud", both RALPH McTELL and RICK WAKEMAN guest on "Tomorrow I'll Go" on Guitar and Piano respectively - while folky duo SUE & SUNNY provide backing vocals on 6 of the 10 tracks. The massive "He's Gonna Step On You Again" lays claim to being the first record with a `sample' on it - an African Tribe playing drums that was looped for the recording while the band played over it. England's HAPPY MONDAYS of course revived it as "Step On" on Factory Records - taking it to Number 5 in the UK charts in April 1990.

The booklet I mentioned above is fantastically well done - superb liner notes from noted writer MICHAEL HEATLEY - great photos of the recording sessions - reminiscences with the man himself - quotes from GUS DUDGEON - badges, sleeves, Kongos in his trademark Lennon glasses and even a photo of the very rare British Picture Sleeve to "Tokoloshe Man" (5000 copies only).

Those hoping for a whole album of "Tokoloshe" and "Step" rhythm-fests will be disappointed - but that doesn't mean there aren't other-tempo nuggets on here. I love the pretty and anthemic "Gold" with its beautiful string arrangements by ROBERT KIRBY and the very British Rock `n' Roll Boogie of "Jubilee Cloud" was cool enough to entice JOHN BALDRY to cover it on his 1972 "Everything Stops For Tea" album (on Warner Brothers). "Tomorrow I'll Go" is admittedly sappy by today's standards and the hippy lyrics of "Try To Touch Just One" and its frantic piano beat feels like David Cassidy but in a bad way. Better are "Weekend Lady" and the catchy almost George Harrison feel to "Come On Down Jesus" is a great lead in to the album closer - the amazing "He's Gonna Step On You Again" - sounding incredible.

I also wish I could say that the rare singles provide a treasure trove of unheard funky nirvana - they don't. Of the lot the B-side "Sometimes It's Not Enough" is excellent while the synth intro to "Higher Than God's Hat" followed by Rock swagger guitars was an obvious attempt to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle "Tokoloshe Man" magic (and it succeeds in its own right). But the rest are not great and easy to see why they faded into obscurity.

Still - I come back to the core album - now absolutely rocking with this new remaster. And I'm reminded of those singles on Fly with their script lettering and cool logo - and I'm a very happy (stepped on) bunny indeed...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 260 entries and 2450 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).