"Autonomy: The Productions of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Tracks from 1977 to 1985 featuring The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Generation X, 999, The Rezillos, Rachel Sweet, Raybeats, Human League, The Members, The Associates, Then Jericho, Hard Corps, Altered Images and more (July 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: ****

 

"...Get A Grip On Yourself..."

 

A strange mix of late Seventies UK Punk and New Wave morphing into early to mid Eighties British Electronica, Synth-Pop and just plain Popsters.

 

The Audio is genuinely top notch though - NICK ROBBINS Remasters that seem to somehow better the Remasters from major labels that went before – and the presentation is typical of an Ace Records of the UK quality release – a 20-page booklet with new liner notes from GARY CROWLEY that also smartly involves the artists (or those around them) for every single song.

 

But frankly that's where the good news ends – because after the initial flurry of heady British New Wave and Punk songs that still sound so unbelievably relevant to this day (2023) – the listen descends into ordinary Pop and tunes that have not weathered at all well. Everything about this CD should smack of winner and yet in truth I can listen to only seven or eight of these 19 choices and say they're any good - let alone brilliant. First the details...

 

UK released Friday, 28 July 2023 - "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1636 (Barcode 029667108720) is a 19-Track CD compilation of Songs Produced by MARTIN RUSHENT that stretches from 1977 to 1985. It plays out as follows (78:38 minutes):

 

1. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) – THE STRANGLERS (1977)

2. Autonomy – BUZZCOCKS (1978)

3. Kiss Me Deadly – GENERATION X (1978)

4. Homicide - 999 (1978)

5. Destination Venus – THE REZILLOS (1978)

6. Are You Receiving Me? - XTC (1978)

7. Hold On – IAN GOMM (1978)

8. Tonight – RACHEL SWEET (1980)

9. Guitar Beat – RAYBEATS (1981)

10. Hard Times – HUMAN LEAGUE (1981)

11. I Could Be Happy (Martin Rushent Remix) – ALTERED IMAGES (1981)

12. A Way You'll Never Be (12" Version) – LEISURE PROCESS (1982)

13. Working Girl - THE MEMBERS (1983)

14. Steamhammer Sam – INTERFERON (1983)

15. Beneath The Blue Sky – GO-GO's (1985)

16. Don't Touch Me – HAZEL O'CONNOR (1984)

17. Breakfast - THE ASSOCIATES (1985)

18. Je Suis Passée (7" Version) – HARD CORPS (1985)

19. The Big Sweep (Club Mix) – THEN JERICHO (1985)

 

Rushent passed in 2011 (aged 63) and the 20-page booklet does his Production chops and memory a proper solid – GARY CROWLEY setting the scene with a 2-page essay on his achievements and techniques. But the real meat comes from people like Jean Jacques-Burnel (The Stranglers), Steve Diggie (Buzzcocks), Alan Winstanley (999), Andy Partridge (XTC) and more – all giving personal recollections and enlightening details.

 

And as I said earlier, there is really great Audio courtesy of the mucho experienced Ace Audio regular NICK ROBBINS. But even with a ten-out-ten for effort, most music lovers will have all the songs on the first half of the CD and probably not want the second. I just wish "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" had all been in the service of better songs, because by the time I was half way through (past The Human League), I was losing the will to live no matter how nice it looks or sounds.

 

Fans will have to own "Autonomy: The Productions Of Martin Rushent" - but for anyone else, I'd advise a listen first...

"All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Songs from 1947 to 2012 by Peggy Lee, Cyril Davies, Dusty Springfield, Joe Tex, Sister Rosette Tharpe, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Little Walter, James Carr and more (August 2015 UK Ace Records CD – Second Vicki Fox Compilation of Three – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Ride That Freedom Train..."

 

For some reason I looked at the cover artwork to this fabulous compilation and thought 'Skiffle' – and that would be a massive disservice to this ingenious CD.

 

Secondly – this is a VICKI FOX themed compilation – a lady music lover and loveable personality who worked and shone around the Ace Records Rock On Record Shop in London's Camden Town when Ace were forming back in the mid Seventies. There are three CDs in honour of her (see list below).

 

And you might also be tempted to think that its singular theme (songs about trains coming and going, lovers arriving and leaving, freedom) – while neat - would quickly become tiresome. But because the music traverses everything from 40ts Peggy Lee shuffles through to 60ts and 70ts Harmonica driven R 'n' B, Country and Bluegrass, Rock and Pop, Reggae, Ska and Soul – the listen is as varied as it is amazing. Throw in very clever choices (tunes you don't know but should) and one of the most beautiful booklets Ace has ever produced for a CD and I'm gonna plug the Sun Records out of this little steam-driven beauty. Here are the rolling stock details...

 

UK released 28 August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) – "All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1450 (Barcode 029667073721) is a VICKI FOX CD Compilation of 24-Tracks that plays out as follows (68:56 minutes):

 

1. The Freedom Riders – HAROLD JACKSON & The Jackson Brothers (1961 USA 7" single on Edsel 787, A)

2. The Memphis Train – RUFUS THOMAS (1968 USA 7" single on Stax 250, A)

3. Country Line Special – CYRIL DAVIES & His Rhythm & Blues All Stars (1963 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25194, A)

4. Stop That Train – KEITH & TEX [Keith Rowe and Texas Dixon] (1968 UK 7" single on Island WI-3091, A)

5. Ghost Train – VIRGIL HOLMES (1961 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2103, A)

6. It Takes A Long Long Train With A Red Caboose (To Carry My Blues Away) - PEGGY LEE with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (1947 USA 78" on Capitol 8445, A)

7. Won't Be Long – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (from her 1965 UK Stereo LP "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty" on Philips SRBL 1002)

8. Freedom Train – JAMES CARR (1968 USA 7" single on Goldwax 338, A)

9. No. 9 – TARHEEL SLIM (1958 USA 7" single on Fury 101, B-side to "Wildcat Tamer")

10. Pan American Man – CLIFF CARLISLE (1937 USA 78" on Bluebird 7717, A)

11. Last Train To San Fernando – JOHNNY DUNCAN & The Blue Grass Boys (1957 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 3959, A)

12. The Last Train From Kansas City – THE SHANGRI-LAS (1965 USA 7" single on Red Bird 10-036, B-side of "Right Now And Not Later")

13. The Downbound Train – CHUCK BERRY (1956 USA 7" single on Chess 1615, B-side of "No Money Down")

14. Ghetto Train – LUTHER INGRAM (1971 US 7" single on Ko Ko KOA-2108, B-side to "I'll Love You Until The End")

15. This Train – SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (1947 USA 78" on Decca 48043, A)

16. One Way Ticket (To The Blues) – NEIL SEDAKA (1959 US 7" single on RCA Victor 47-7595, B-side to "Oh! Carol")

17. Psychedelic Train – DERRICK HARRIOTT & The Chosen Few (1970 UK 7" single on Songbird SB 1029, A)

18. Hurry Hurray Choo Choo – SHARON TANDY (1968 UK 7" single on Atlantic 584 181, B-side of "Love Is Not A Simple Affair")

19. Big Train – BOBBY WAYNE (1963 USA 7" single on Jerden 709, B-side of "The Valley")

20. Up The Line – LITTLE WALTER (1963 USA 7" single Checker 1043, A)

21. Night Train – JAMES BROWN & The Famous Flames (1962 USA 7" single on King 5614, A)

22. Steam – CAROLINE DAY (1964 USA 7" single on Dimension 1025, B-side of "Teenage Prayer")

23. Train To Skaville – THE ETHIOPIANS (1967 UK 7" single on Rio R 130, A)

24. Go Go Train – JACKIE PAINE (1966 USA 7" single on Jet Stream JS 725, A)

25. Death Train Blues – DADDY LONG LEGS (from the 2012 LP "Evil Eye On You" on Norton ED 382)

 

NOTES: all are MONO except Tracks 7, 12, 14 and 16 – which are STEREO

 

The 20-page booklet is amongst the prettiest I’ve ever seen – fantastic colour photos of various train-related items – a rare Euro picture sleeve of "Memphis Train" by Rufus Thomas – cool British 45s on Rio Records, Atlantic and Columbia – Red Bird, Checker and Chess labels from the USA – sheet music for Johnny Duncan's "Last Train To San Fernando" – pictures of Cyril Davies uber-rare British EP on Pye, Rosetta Tharpe's album on Decca (never seen a copy) – there's even an advert for Tarheel Slim. My only gripe might be that although VICKI FOX’s liner notes are suitably enthusiastic and fun – they're actually a bit short on facts (this is her second compilation for Ace out of three before her sad passing – see list below). But that's a very minor complaint. And of course the NICK ROBBINS Remasters rock in all the right places – especially given the wildly variable sources and music types.

 

As you can glean from the track list above – many of these clever choices are obscure B-sides – so the artists may be familiar but the material isn't. Not surprisingly "All Aboard!" opens with the chugs and puffs of an American locomotive preparing to leave – then you're hit with a wild almost Salsa rhythm which harbours an undercurrent that's perceptively angry and dangerous as they shout "Ride On Freedom Flyers!" Written by Jazz Musicians Dimples and Harold Jackson in 1962 who were sickened when black people were dragged off a segregated bus in 1961 in the Deep South and beaten – they shout out their solidarity with the brave "Freedom Riders" - his wife singing, "...this old Jazz has got to go!" Storming Harmonica-driven R&B hits you right in the kisser with British pioneer Cyril Davies who gives you "Country Line Special" – his debut 45 in 1963 on Pye International. His backing band were Screaming Lord Sutch's Savages and the track was also the lead off on his impossibly rare 1969 EP "The Sound Of Cyril Davies" listed at £75+ - but I've never seen a copy in 20 years of working in a secondhand record shop. It’s a winner in the same vein as the best Little Walter put out on Chess.

 

A cover of a tune the Spanishtonians cut in Jamaica – "Stop That Train" by Keith & Tex (Keith Rowe and Texas Dixon) is the kind of irresistible Ska chugger that gets vinyl collectors week at the knees – its uber-rare 1968 Island Records UK original clocking in at a cool £150. There's also a beautiful poster on Page 6 of the pair headlining a "Stop That Train" Festival for Ska, Reggae and Rock Steady in Hamburg, October 1968 (where do they find these things). The decidedly eerie shuffle of "Ghost Train" by Virgil Holmes (doing his best Elvis Presley quiver vocal) is produced by Bob Crewe and is said to have Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons on Backing Vocals. A tremendous and uplifting surprise goes to Peggy Lee – her 1947 Capitol Records 78" for "It Takes A Long Long Train With A Red Caboose (To Carry My Blues Away)" pictured on Page 7 - and rightly so.

 

Other genius inclusions include the obscure but brilliant R&B dancer B-side of "No. 9" by Tarheel Slim where the number-nine train has unfortunately taken his baby up the line (no fault of his own you understand). Dusty Springfield shows her impeccable song-picking chops with the Aretha Franklin Soul bopping "Won't Be Long" which features Doris Troy and Madeline Bell on Backing Vocals (makes me want to drag out my "Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty" LP and play it to death). And this compilation has possibly my favourite R&B dancer of all time – the fantastic "Up The Line" by Little Walter – a Harmonica and Saxophone warbler guaranteed to return eyesight to the blind and a conscience to politicians (the second is unproven).

 

After all that fun - things get properly Soulful when James Carr gives you "Freedom Train" – an inspirational slice of 1968 magic on Goldwax. Sounding like the lovechild of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett – he didn't just have the gravel and grit in his larynx – Carr could use his bipolar hurt and get to you - move you with the pathos in his genuinely sensational voice. In 1937 the yodel and violin of Cliff Carlisle advises us on his sorry-assed lonesome state - "...Cold on a dreary afternoon...I've just left the jail...waiting for the evening train to Pan American Mail...hear the engine moan and groan rambling through the land...I'll swing aboard that cannonball...I'm the Pan American Man...." That's followed by some good old boys (Johnny Duncan) giving it some Bluegrass speed-playing on "Last Train To San Fernando" which in turn is followed by the 'never do anything to hurt you' melodrama of The Shangri-Las on "The Train From Kansas City" – Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich giving the girls yet more which-boy-will-I-choose angst to deal with on this rare B-side. After all that cars-and-girls poetry and sock-hop joviality – the positively devilish "Downbound Train" by Chuck Berry comes as a dark shock and is the kind of there-be-evil-going-on tune that makes Nick Cave's interpretive guitar-fingers twitch.

 

Social Soul kicks in with the stunningly express Luther Ingram bemoaning that others have regular nine-to-five jobs but his "Ghetto Train" is five to four in the morning (a wicked Ko Ko Records groove from 1971). Without missing a beat we jump back to Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 1947 where she enthusiastically sings of a railway line to the Lord. Wish I could say Neil Sedaka's "One Way Ticket (To The Blues)" is a carriage bound for glory but its not (awful stuff). Far better is a Ska song with the unusual title of "Psychedelic Train" by Derrick Harriott & The Chosen Few – the boys successfully jumping on a music genre bandwagon (never mind how unlikely it sounds). Cult singer Sharon Tandy sings of her 'lonesome hen' feelings for her 'ever-loving Rooster' coming back home on the 'choo choo' train.

 

And where would a compilation like this be without the wonderful "Night Train" by James Brown name checking American cities with pride (a song I never tire of). And after the wickedly atmospheric "Train To Skaville" by The Ethiopians (what a tune) and the Soulful neck-jerking funk of "Go Go Train" by Jackie Paine – it ends on the manic Neo-Rockabilly of "Death Train Blues" by Daddy Long Legs whose singer sounds and looks like Jim Morrison - so the tune feels as if its The Doors trying to tap into their inner Rockabilly Soul (very cool like Son Of Dave's "O2" album from 2005). 

 

A wonderful CD from Ace Records (yet again) and proof positive (should we need it) as to why this British Reissue Label has stayed in collector's hearts for forty whole years. A 2015 'Reissue Of The Year' for me - and the most fun a body can have without blowing their Whistle in the swimming pool at Ladies Hour (we won't elaborate on that any further). Brilliant stuff and I urge you to buy it...and then check out the other two...also reviewed...

 

Vicki Fox CD Compilations for Ace Records

 

1. "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats"

24-Track CD compilation released 31 March 2008 on Ace Records CDCHD 1168 (Barcode 029667030229)

 

2. "All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations"

24-Track CD compilation released 28 August 2015 on Ace Records CDCHD 1450 (Barcode 029667073721)

 

3. "Sounds Of The Unexpected: Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop's Final Frontiers"

24-Track CD compilation released 25 August 2017 on Ace Records CDTOP

"Sounds Of The Unexpected: Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop's Final Frontiers" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 24 Single and Album Tracks spanning 1959 to 1972 (2 from 50ts, 19 are 60ts, 3 from 70ts) by Gabor Szabo, The Tornados, Bo Diddley (featuring Lady Bo on Guitar), The 101 Strings, Leonard Nimoy, The Imps, The Astros, Travis Wammack, Martin Denny, Jean Jacques Perrey, The Upsetters, Timmy Thomas and more (August 2017 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Third In A Series of Compilations by Vicki Fox - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 194 More Like It Available 

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All Info Taken From The Discs Themselves

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"...Music To Watch Space Girls Go By..."

 

Weird and Wacky is right, but 'tis also Fab and Brill too. 

 

This is the third and probably final CD compilation made by and for VICKI FOX – a warmly remembered personality lady associated with the Rock On Record Shop in London's Camden Town when Ace Records was formed back in the mid Seventies. Vicki and label owner/founder Ted Carroll had a 30-year friendship before she lost a six-year battle with cancer in 2016. Vicki had a hand in artwork for some of Ace's compilations (pictured in the lovely 24-page booklet), had a ginormous record collection, consummately great taste and was a huge fan of 45s from every odd and off the-beaten track genre (see list of three comps below).

 

So Fox's CD compilations are left-field - but so damn cool too for it – chock full of discoveries worth making. Easy Listening nestles alongside Sound-Effects Pop, Organ grinding covers, Theremin space weirdness, guitar tremolo flash, lounge lizard bongos with a Martini and even a little Psych for Now People. The first CD was focused on Cats in Songs (2008), number two on Trains coming and going (2015) and this one – number three from 2017 - is all about Space and Sputnik frontiers thereabouts. Every cut on "Sounds Of The Unexpected..." is an Instrumental of sorts - two from the 50ts, 19 from the 60ts and three from the 70ts (rare B-sides included, some first time on CD I believe). And all of it is imbibed with a sense of fun and sonic adventure. It doesn't all work for sure (4-stars), but make no mistake, this is a rather brill little listen and the clever revelations Fox highlights are a solid blast. There's a wad to wade through, so let's have at Spock's Logs, Watusi Zombies, Savage Girls and B'Wana Bongos (oh behave)...

 

UK released 25 August 2017 - "Sounds Of The Unexpected: Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop's Final Frontiers" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1505 (Barcode 029667084024) is a 24-Track CD Compilation put together by VICKI FOX (of Ace Records fame) that plays out as follows (59:10 minutes):

 

1. Watusi Zombie - JAN DAVIS (October 1964 US 45-single, Holiday 1219, A-side)

2. Savage Girl - FELIX And HIS FABULOUS CATS (1964 US 45-single, Enith International 1272, A-side)

3. Mad Train - ANDRE BRASSEUR and HIS MULTI-SOUND ORGAN (March 1966, BELGIUM 45-single, Palette 40.248, A-side)

4. War Of The Worlds - THE ATLANTICS (March 1964, AUSTRALIA 45-single on CBS Records BA 221088, A-side)

5. Funky Me - TIMMY THOMAS (October 1972, US 45-single, Glades 1703, Instrumental B-side of "Why Can't We Live Together" - February 1973 UK on Mojo 2027 012)

6. Caravan - GABOR SZABO (March 1967 US LP "Jazz Raga" on Impulse AS-9128 in Stereo)

7. Hot Pot - THE TORNADOS (February 1964, UK 45-single, Decca F. 11838, A-side)

8. Aztec - BO DIDDLEY (April 1961, US 45-single, Checker 976, B-side of "Not Guilty" - the track doesn't feature BD at all but his wife Peggy Jones known professionally as LADY BO)

9. R.F.D. Rangoon - THE FORBIDDEN FIVE (May 1959, US 45-single, Capitol F4205, A-side)

10. Watusi Freeze Part 1 - BIG WALTER And HIS THUNDERBIRDS (April 1962, US 45-single, Myrl 409, A-side)

11. Flameout - THE 101 STRINGS (1968 US LP "Astro-Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000" on Alshire S-5119 in Stereo - Jerry Cole Lead Guitar) 

12. Music To Watch Space Girls By - LEONARD NIMOY (1967 US LP "Presents Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space" on Dot Records DLP 25794 in Stereo)

13. Uh-Oh - THE IMPS (1962 US 45-single, Do-Ra-Me 1414, A-side)

14. Waltz In Orbit - RAY CATHODE (April 1962, UK 45-single, Parlophone R 4901, B-side of "Time Beat")

15. Moog Indigo - JEAN JACQUES PERREY (1970 US LP "Moog Indigo" on Vanguard VSD 6549 in Stereo)

16. Space Walk - THE ASTROS (June 1965, US 45-single, Golden State 653, A-side)

17. Hung Over - MARTINIS (September 1967, US 45-single, Bar 101, A-side)

18. The Sheik - RAY ELLIS & HIS ORCHESTRA (April 1962, US 45-single, RCA Victor 47-8023, A-side)

19. B'Wana Bongos - PRESTON EPPS (July 1962, US 45-single, Donna 1367, B-side of "Mister Bongos")

 20. Long Sentence - THE UPSETTERS (1971 UK LP "Africa's Blood" by LEE PERRY, THE UPSETTERS and Other Artists on Trojan TBL 166) 

21. It's Karate Time - TRAVIS WAMMACK (February 1967, US 45-single, Atlantic 2387, B-side of "Night Train")

22. Zocko! - THE VENTURES (1966 US LP "The Ventures" on Dolton BLP 2042 in Mono)

23. Misirlou - MARTIN DENNY (1961 US LP "Exotic Percussion: The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny" on Liberty LST 7168 in Stereo)

24. Russian Roulette - THE ZANIES (January 1963, US 45-single, Dore 658, A-side)

NOTES:

Tracks 3, 6, 11, 12, 14 and 23 in STEREO; all others in MONO

 

The 24-page booklet is a delight - first up with a 2-page tribute to Vicki Fox by Tony Berrington and then each track discussed by a different individual associated with Ace and Vicky - like Ted Carroll, Roger Armstrong, Liz Buckley, Spider Stacy, Alan Taylor of Pipeline Magazine, longtime liner notes writer Dean Rudland and so on. The text is of course peppered with that fab repros of rare labels, album sleeves, trade adverts, publicity photos and more (check out the sass of Lady Bo on Page 10 where Ted Carroll discusses her association with Bo Diddley and her contributions to Rhythm 'n' Blues and Rock 'n' Roll as a pioneering female guitarist. It helps of course to have colour pictures of Dr. Spock's LP where he holds a model of the Starship Enterprise as if its real, the babe on the cover of Martin Denny's "Exotic Percussion", the unbelievably rare Saxophones and Drums hanging from trees picture sleeve to the Ray Ellis track "The Sheik" or even the 1966 Belgian picture sleeve to "Mad Train" by Andre Brasseur & His Multi-Sound Organ. In her final tribute to Vicki Fox on Page 22 of the booklet, Carol Fawcett describes how Vicky would spends ages getting her track run right - wide and wild - and I think they have achieved it. The NICK ROBBINS Remasters in Mono and Stereo are as masterful as always - even on clearly homemade material that sounds like a bucket is an upgrade - this CD is a great listen. To the actual music...if indeed it is music Jim, but not as we know it.... 

 

"Sounds Of The Unexpected..." opens with a truly ear-aching wild one - the mad drums and shimmy shaking rave up that is "Watusi Zombie" by Jan Davis - rough around the homemade cake-mix aural edges for sure. Things get tremolo bar echoed organ better with "Savage Girls" by Felix & His Fabulous Cats - the sort of instrumental you would imagine would have made Joe Meek smile. Immediately then into Stereo with the rapid and so 60ts cool "Mad Train" by Andre Brasseur & His Multi-Sound Organ (I've always wanted a multi-sounding organ, but that's another story). Two nuggets in a row come in such different shapes - the home studio Soul-Funk of "Funky Me" - the B-side to the fabulous "Why Can't We Live Together" by Timmy Thomas. That is then followed by a very cool part-Santana-part-Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" vibe to the old Jazz nugget "Caravan" here given a shimmering update by the legendary Gabor Szabo. Gabor was the man who gave Santana "Gypsy Queen" on their second album "Abraxsas" which you may remember was preceded by Santana's take on the Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac track "Black Magic Woman" (it opens Side 1 as a segued twofer). Sounds to me like this "Caravan" version is where Carlos got that whole shimmering vibe.

 

Joe Meek's influence was always going to be on this compilation somewhere and instead of picking the overplayed (but never undervalued) "Telstar" - Vicki has chosen one of the follow-ups from February 1964 - the decidedly weird "Hot Pot". It's a sideways reference to the 'snuffling pig' sounds that waft in at the beginning and pop up sporadically thereafter - no doubt soon to be in the aforementioned boiling water scenario. That's followed by a gem - Peggy Jones as Lady Bo on "Aztec" - a Chess track credited to her husband Bo Diddley but upon which he doesn't play a note - she does. It's now known that the sexy and feisty Lady Bo was one of the first - if not 'the' first - Rock 'n' Roll type girl-guitarist and she plays some great slide licks here. Back to batshit nuts with "R.F.D. Rangoon" by The Forbidden Five which may actually defy description. Imagine a beginning that shimmies in like a desert mirage only to go into a hee-haw country and western banjo passage (you can someone trying to say varmit) that is then supported by theremon space aches, jungle sounds and a swirling organ - fabulous! That in turn is supported by the manic Myrl Records drums and wails of "Watusi Freeze..." by Big Walter & The Thunderbirds (an indie label out of Louisiana) - great fun. 

But then you're hit with true brilliance that is also actually cool. Taken from the album (wait for it) "Astro-Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000" - the 101 Strings forgo cheesy Pop, Lounge or anything like commercialism and go for a full-on guitar whig-out with the brill "Flameout". I don't know who the guitarist is - but he's let get full reign with pings, screeches and wild soloing that is backed by a fabulous layer of strings that give it a floating Psych feel - like a drug-trip made real. Apparently it was issued in Europe without the strings by The Animated Egg as "Sock It My Way" which is the backing track Public Enemy used on their "Do You Wanna Go Our Way??" single. "Flameout" by The 101 Strings might only stretch to 2:58 minutes, but it feels like genuinely cool Pink Floyd as the guitarist Barrett's his way through the guitar notes. As if that isn't enough, we are then given a Leonard Nimoy instrumental (actually Charles Green playing) where he covers Andy Williams' easy hit "Watching The Girls Go By" which now becomes "Music To Watch Space Girls By" - a fabulous cheesy ping-pong romp with girl backing singers oohing and aahing. 

 

Rockabilly meets 60ts Garage and Punk, the delightfully entitled "Uh-Oh" by The Imps - a band that probably featured Guitarist Wayne Moss and Piano-tinkler Mel Robbins. Fun continues with the very BBC workshop instrumental "Waltz In Orbit" - a musically clever B-side piece of catchy TV theme music punctuated with clever piano fills and sound effects - "Danger Man - Part 2" anyone? It was also not going to be long before that darling of Euro Synth Sounds Jean Jacques Perrey hit us with his very 'Switched On Bach' contribution - the cool and dare-we-say-it funky "Moog Indigo" - here in glorious Stereo. And on it goes with the vibing "Space Walk" by The Astros to the finger-clickin' guitar-pickin' heave-ho "Russian Roulette" by The Zanies - a band whose name was made to finish this mad-but-glad compilation. 

Ace Records hold a place in collector's hearts that has been hard won. Closing in on nearly five decades straight of quality reissues - they get it right so many times. And it is truly cool to see, that in the case of someone they treasured (Vicky Fox) - they hit it into the stratosphere once again. Nice one lads and ladies...

 

Vicki Fox CD Compilations for Ace Records

 

1. "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats"

24-Track CD compilation released 31 March 2008 on Ace Records CDCHD 1168 (Barcode 029667030229)

 

2. "All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations"

24-Track CD compilation released 28 August 2015 on Ace Records CDCHD 1450 (Barcode 029667073721)

 

3. "Sounds Of The Unexpected: Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop's Final Frontiers"

24-Track CD compilation released 25 August 2017 on Ace Records CDTOP 1505 (Barcode 029667084024)

"Guerrilla Girls! She-Punks And Beyond 1975-2016" by VARIOUS ARTISTS featuring Patti Smith, The Bags, X-Ray Spex, Mary Monday & The Bitches, Blondie, The Raincoats, Essential Logic, pragVEC and more (January 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters and Mick Patrick Notes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Anything's Allowed..."

 

Ace Records of the UK specialize in CD compilations – always on the hunt for that collection they know you need in your urbanite domicile like an audit of the Trump Tower accounts system.

 

Well, along comes this unladylike left-field little bruiser to sort us boys out good and proper. "Guerilla Girls! She-Punks And Beyond 1975-2016" offers you 25 remastered odes of joy from the emergence of Seventies Punk and New Wave to Girl Power and the resurgence of Power Pop and She-Punk bands of the Twenties. "Guerilla Girls!" takes in many famous names – all of who have been telling their mum since the age of fifteen that an office job is not their primary goal just at the moment.

 

And what a great listen it is too – cleverly compiled by Ace's Mick Patrick with notes by fellow admirers Lucy O’Brien, Vim Renault, Lena Cortina and Patrick himself – you literally get 79-minutes of early giants like Patti Smith, X-Ray Spex, Blondie and The Slits - to new goers on the block like Babes In Toyland, L7 and Bikini Kill (with many other worthy points inbetween).

 

I love this little CD and have been giving it some since I first spotted it on their release schedules back in January 2023. It looks good - a cool digipak, huge 40-page booklet, great audio - top stuff. Time to honor the Punkettes who put the riot in Grrrls way back when nice ladies didn't engage in such lurid botherations. To the Day-Glo details...

 

UK released Friday, 27 January 2023 - "Guerrilla Girls! She-Punks And Beyond 1975-2016" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1599 (Barcode 029667102827) is a 25-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (79:00 minutes):

 

1. In Excelsis Deo / Gloria (Version) - PATTI SMITH (from the December 1975 US LP "Horses" on Arista Records AL 4066 - Full Album Version 5:40 minutes)

2. Survive - THE BAGS (December 1978 US 45-single on Dangerhouse BAG 199, A-side)

3. Iama Poseur - X-RAY SPEX (April 1978 UK 45-single in EMI International INT 533, B-side of "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo" - and on the November 1978 UK LP "Germfree Adolescence" on EMI International INS 3023)

4. I Gave My Punk Jacket To Rickie - MARY MONDAY & THE BITCHES (1977 US 45-single on Malicious Productions (no catalogue number), A-side)

5. I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No - BLONDIE (from the 1977 album "Plastic Letters" on Chrysalis CHR 1168)

6. You're A Million - THE RAINCOATS (from the 1979 UK album "The Raincoats" on Rough Trade ROUGH 3)

7. Popcorn Boy (Waddle Ya Do?) - ESSENTIAL LOGIC (October 1979 UK 45-single on Rough Trade RT 029, A-side - and on the December 1979 UK LP "Best Rhythm News - Waddle Ya Play?" on Rough Trade ROUGH 5)

8. Expert - prayVEC (June 1979 UK 45-Single on Spec SP 002, A-side)

9. My Cherry Is In Sherry - LUDUS (July 1981 UK 45-single on New Hormones ORG 8, A-side - and on the 1981 2LP-set "The Seduction" on New Hormones ORG 16)

10. Kray Twins - MO-DETTES (from the October 1980 UK LP "The Story So Far" on Deram SML 1120)

11. Earthbeat - THE SLITS (August 1981 UK 45-single on CBS Records A 1498, A-side - and on the October 1981 UK LP "Return Of The Giant Slits" on CBS Records CBS 85269)

12. Das Ah Riot - BUSH TETRAS (May 1981 UK 45-single on Fetish FET 007, B-side of "Things That Go BOOM In The Night")

13. Bitchen Summer (Speedway) – BANGLES (from the December 1982 US Compilation LP "Rodney On The ROQ Vol.III" on Posh Boy PBS 140)

14. Shakedown – AU PAIRS (from the August 1982 UK LP "Sense And Sensuality" on Kamera Records KAM 010)

15. It's About Time – THE PANDORAS (1984 US 4-Track EP "The Pandoras" on Moxie MM 1044)

16. Come On Now – THE PUSSYWILLOWS (from the 1988 US LP "Spring Fever!" on Telstar TR003)

17. Rules And Regulations - WE'VE GOT A FUZZBOX AND WE'RE GONNA USE IT!! (From the 1986 UK LP "Bostin' Steve Austin" on Vindaloo Records FBOX 1)

18. Her Jazz – HUGGY BEAR (February 1993 UK 45-single on Wiiija/Catcall TROUBLE 001, A-side)

19. Bruise Violet – BABES IN TOYLAND (from the 1992 CD album "Fontanelle" on Reprise 9 26998-2)

20. Rebel Girl – BIKINI KILL (from the 1992 LP "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" on Kill Your Rock Stars KRS 206)

21. Pretend We're Dead – L7 (from the CD album "Bricks Are Heavy" on Slash 9 26784-2)

22. What's Wrong With You – BRATMOBILE (from the 2002 CD album "Girls Get Busy" on Lookout! LK 280)

23. Let Go Of The Past – THE TUTS (from the 2002 CD album "Update Your Brain" on Dovetown DT007)

24. Hot – THE REGRETTES (from the 2015 CD album "Feel Your Feelings Fool" on Warner Brothers 557260-2)

25. Silver Spoons – SKINNY GIRL DIET (from the 2015 CD album "Heavy Flow" on Fiasco 013)

 

The card DigiPak is cute but the chunky 40-page colour booklet is a serious bit of writing genius and investigation – each track with its 45 or LP or CD pictured above. LENA CORTINA and VIM RENAULT of PunkGirlDiaries.com have contributed and the factoids come at you fast and furious. This is a compilation that celebrates the not-so-pretty – the girl who is not asked to dance but wants and deserves love and sex just as much as the rest. Their voices come seeping through and as you can expect, some of it none to pleased with the norms of a male-dominated industry (an impossibly likeable Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex is on the cover).

 

NICK ROBBINS did the Remasters and power and passion comes a roaring out – from the near church silence of Patti Smith to the velvet-glove rock guitar of Skinny Girl Diet – there will be more than one occasion where you may need to turn down the stereo for fear of neighbour intervention. To the chunes...

 

Even now in 2023, the Patti Smith reworking of the Van Morrison Them 60ts classic "Gloria" into her "In Excelsis Deo" is a stunning listen – years ahead of its let's go wild and damn the torpedoes attitude. DJ and National Treasure John Peel loved the privately pressed Mary Monday track, while Poly Styrene sends up herself and everyone else for that matter in her "Iama Poseur" jab – a great X-Ray Spex single side. When you listen to The Raincoats strumming urban guitars and do-it-yourself Talking Heads angst - it's hard now to imagine the impact of ROUGH 3 - a label that would become dominated by The Smiths in the Eighties. They sounded like a homeless Patti Smith dreaming of Them's "Gloria" and somewhere to get a nice bag of chips - extraordinary stuff and a brill choice for left-field lovers. That is then reinforced by Essential Logic's "Popcorn Boy..." who sounded like the lovechild of Sparks and Cockney Rebel and early Jam acoustic guitar - all mad vocals and heavy-on-the-bass and social lyrics. It's a right slice of Joy Division barbed wire - love it. The earth is busy burning energy and light bulbs as clouds cough in The Slits drum-pounding ya-ya "Earthbeat" - another quirky you will either love or loathe or both. 

 

Marriage, brothers and violent men creep about the decidedly uncomfortable upbeat rhythms of "Kray Twins" - the Mo-Dettes taking on East End notoriety with a very British New Wave cavalier feel. And again the long shadow of David Byrne's Talking Heads and their neck-jerk beats permeates the brilliant "Das Ah Riot" by Bush Tetras - sounding huge here. I must admit to lack of knowledge on the very cool instrumental "Bitchen Summer (Speedway)" by The Bangles - an early 1982 stab at Link Wray greatness. The Au Pairs want us to give everything we are told by the media and Government a little thought and not be so willing to be brainwashed – their "Shakedown" a forgotten goody. Byrds type guitar jangles via The Smiths Johnny Marr run through the veins of The Pandoras EP-track "It's About Time" while that Sixties retro vibe bops out of "Come On Now", a short but very cool under two-minutes cover of The Kinks song by The Pussywillows.

 

There must be more to life, rules and regulations to blindly obey – Fuzzbox rile in their 80ts Punk vs. 60ts Girl Group "Rules And Regulations". But the first real sign of hurt and rage and pent-up anger hits hard with Huggy Bear when they tear into "Her Jazz" – which is in turn followed by the even more Nirvana-screeching attacks in "Bruise Violet" by Babes In Toyland – said to be about Courtney Love. Born of the same ripped-shirt in a nunnery attitude is "Rebel Girl" – a grungy in-yer-face shouter that sounds like a call to revolution rather than an invitation to waltz. L7 smartly break up the riffage and Hard Rock of "Pretend We're Dead" with a great middle eight and C'Mon C'Mon chants that give it a girl-Ramones feel. And on it goes...

 

For sure "Guerilla Girls! She-Punks And Beyond 1975-2016" is not the faint of heart and those needing a few quiet moments to contemplate Zen consciousness. It wants to shake you up, like they did, and I for one think these brave pioneers have pulled it off big time. Ace does it again...