"Original Album Series" by THE METERS – Five Albums on Reprise and Warner Brothers Records USA and UK including "Cabbage Alley" (1972), "Rejuvenation" (1974), "Fire On The Bayou" (1975), "Trick Bag" (1976) and "New Directions" (1977) featuring Art Neville and the Songs/Productions of Allen Toussaint (January 2014 UK Rhino/Warners Music Group 5CD Capacity Wallet Mini Box Set of Remasters with Five Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"…Funkify Your Life…"

This brilliant addition to the Warners Music Group Original Album Series strips the five 2001 Rhino CD remasters of The Meters Seventies LPs of their bonus tracks and presents them in simple album form - 5 x 5" singular card repro sleeves (no inners) inside an outer card slipcase. And what a New Orleans blast they are too. Here are the rejuvenating details y'all...

UK released January 2014 - "Original Album Series" by THE METERS on Rhino/Warner Music Group 8122796156 (Barcode 081227961565) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet Mini Box Set of Remasters with Five Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (40:27 minutes):

1. You've Got To Change (You've Got To Reform)

2. Stay Away

3. Birds

4. The Flower Song

5. Soul Island

6. Do The Dirt - [Side 2]

7. Smiling

8. Lonesome And Unwanted People

9. Getting' Funkier All The Time

10. Cabbage Alley

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Cabbage Alley" - released June 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2076 and in the UK on Reprise K 44242

Disc 2 (44:13 minutes):

1. People Say

2. Love Is For Me

3. Just Kissed My Baby

4. What'cha Say

5. Jungle Man

6. Hey Pocky A-way - [Side 2]

7. It Ain't No Use

8. Loving You Is On My Mind

9. Africa

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Rejuvenation" - released October 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2200 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54027

Disc 3 (45:59 minutes):

1. Out In The Country

2. Fire On The Bayou

3. Love Slip Upon Ya

4. Talkin' 'Bout New Orleans

5. They All Ask'd About You

6. Can You Do Without? - [Side 2]

7. Liar

8. You're A Friend Of Mine

9. Middle Of The Road

10. Running Fast

11. Mardi Gras Mambo

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Fire On The Bayou" - released August 1975 in the USA on Reprise MS 2228 and August 1975 in the UK on Reprise K 54044

Disc 4 (42:16 minutes):

1. Disco Is The Thing Today

2. Find Yourself

3. All These Things

4. I Want To Be Love By You

5. Suite For 20 G

6. (Doodle Loop) The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather - [Side 2]

7. Trick Bag

8. Mister Moon

9. Chug-A-Lug

10. Hang 'Em High/Honky Tonk Woman

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Trick Bag" - released September 1976 in the USA on Reprise MS 2252 and September 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54078

Disc 5 (41:10 minutes)

1. No More Okey Doke

2. I'm Gone

3. Be My Lady

4. My Name Up In Lights

5. Funkify Your Life - [Side 2]

6. Stop That Train

7. We Got The Kind Of A Love

8. Give It What You Can

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "New Directions" - released June 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3042 (No UK release)

There's no booklet as is usual with these card packs but the front and rear album artwork looks great. Also there's no mention of who mastered what but on comparing with my "Rejuvenation" CD of old - these are all the 2001 Rhino remasters done by GIOVANNI SCATOLA - and they boogie like a mother. There's fantastic presence and warmth to these discs that clobbers you time and time again as you go through the albums.

Fronted by Art Neville (brother of Aaron Neville) - The Meters already three albums under their belt on Josie Records before they signed to Reprise - "The Meters" and "Look Ka Py-Py" from May and December 1969 and "Struttin'" from June 1970 - so their New Orleans choppy-guitar bad backbeat Funk style was well established. 

The Reprise/Warner Brothers albums refined their simpler Josie Records funk and featuring the songwriting chops of mentor and friend ALLEN TOUSSAINT – 1972 to 1977 contained some of their best-loved songs like "Do The Dirt" and "Cabbage Alley" (1972), "Hey Pocky A-way" and "People Say" (1974), "Running Fast" (1975), "Disco Is The Thing Today" and "Trick Bag" (1976) and "Be My Lady" (1977). The non-album single "Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Parts 1 & 2)" is not here - they're bonus tracks on the Rhino 2001 CD of "Cabbage Alley" if you want them. 

Killer album cuts include the Little Feat Funk of "Stay Away", "Getting' Funkier All The Time" and their mellow cover of Neil Young's "Birds" (all on "Cabbage Alley") while "Rejuvenation" provides unexpected moments of melody warmth and mid-tempo Hall & Oates soulfulness amidst the butt-boogie - "Love Is For Me" and "It Ain't No Use" while "Jungle Man" has a fantastic nasty groove (might just be their best album).

One of the prizes on here is the stunning "Fire On The Bayou" album from 1975 - which is a wonderful combo of sophisticated Soul meets their unique brand of Orleans Funk. It opens on a nasty groover "Out In The Country" – followed by the guitar chug of "Fire On The Bayou" where they sound like the title – on 'fire' – the tightest rhythm section ever. They go a bit Funk-Rock with their cover of the Russ Ballard/Argent song "Liar" - while nasty returns with "Can You Do Without?" complete with "Meow! Vocals. Things get mellow with "You're A Friend Of Mine" – so Allen Toussaint – so sweet. A keyboard tinkle introduces the Little Feat/Atlanta Rhythm Section slink of "Middle Of The Road" – a fantastic 8-minute instrumental that has been a Jazz-Funk prize for decades. What a winner this track is and it features gorgeous audio too as Leon Nocentelli lets rip with those warm summer evening fret flourishes – sounding not unlike an ultra-inspired George Benson circa "Breezin'".

I've always loved the "Trick Bag" album because of their funkified covers of an obscure James Taylor instrumental from "One Man Dog" called "Suite For 20 G" and their New Orleans version of the Stones "Honky Tonk Women" while their cover of Earl King's "Trick Bag" is superb too. They get a great groove going on "Doodle Loop..." too.

The final album "New Directions" sees the Funk and Brass get louder and more Isley Brothers - opening with the fab funk of "No More Okey Doke". Their New Orleans roots come out in their cover of Allen Toussaint's "I'm Gone" and a nod is given to Reggae in their take of Peter Tosh's "Stop That Train" (sounding contemporary). But the tune for me is "Funkify Your Life" which is just fantastic - a guaranteed floor-filler and a sure fire way to lose a few pounds after those Festive indulgences. "New Directions" ends with another dancefloor winner in the shape of "Give It What You Can".

So there you have it - Funky, Soulful and Nasty - The Meters had it all. A properly great addition to a series that's getting better and better...

PS: See also my review for the stunning SoulMusic Records 6CD Box Set of 2020

"Gettin' Funkier All The Time: The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Recordings 1968-1977" by THE METERS...

"Original Album Series" by BILLY COBHAM [ex Mahavishnu Orchestra Drummer] – Including The Albums "Spectrum" (October 1973), "Total Eclipse" (November 1974), "Crosswinds" (March 1974), "A Funky Thide Of Sings" (October 1975) and "Shabazz: Recorded Live In Europe" (May 1975) on Atlantic Records – featuring Tommy Bolin, Jan Hammer, George Duke, Cornell Dupree, John Abercrombie, Jon Tropea, Randy and Mike Brecker, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto and more (November 2012 UK Warner Brothers/Atlantic 5CD Capacity Wallet of Remasters in Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Searching For The Right Door... "

Drummer BILLY COBHAM gets his first four Jazz Fusion studio sets on Atlantic Records (1973 to 1975) reissued here - alongside a long forgotten European Live outing (also 1975) sandwiched inbetween. 

In January 2021 - the ever-popular "Original Album Series" has a huge number of bands and artists in its formidable WEA cannon - capacity wallet 5CD card box sets most of which are Remasters (as they are here) housing five Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves. And with most five-packs hovering around ten to twelve post Brexit sterling pounds, what's not to like... 

But sometimes it's those off the well-beaten musical track clumps that are the most interesting – the ex Mahavishnu Orchestra sticks-man being a good case in point. Let's get on the Funky Thide of Sings...

UK released November 2012 - "Original Album Series" by BILLY COBHAM on UK Warner Brothers/Atlantic 8122-79696-2 (Barcode 081227969219) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet of Remasters in Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves that plays out as follows:

CD1 "Spectrum" (37:18 minutes):
1. Quadrant 4 [Side 1]
2. Medley: (a) Searching For The Right Door / (b) Spectrum 
3. Medley: (a) Anxiety / (b) Taurian Matador 
4. Stratus [Side 2]
5. Medley: (a) To The Women In My Life / (b) Le Lis 
6. Medley: (a) Snoopy's Search / (b) Red Baron 
Tracks 1 to 6 are his debut studio album "Spectrum" – released October 1973 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 7268 and October 1973 in the UK on Atlantic K 40506. Produced by BILLY COBHAM (with Engineer Ken Scott) – players included Jan Hammer on Keyboards, Tommy Bolin and John Tropea on Guitars, Joe Farrell and Jimmy Owens on Horns, Ron Carter and Lee Sklar on Basses and Ray Barretto on Congas with Billy Cobham on Drums and Percussion (all songs by BC). 

CD2 "Total Eclipse" (44:04 minutes):
1. Solarization [Side 1]
(a) Solarization (b) Second Phase (c) Crescent Sun (d) Voyage (e) Solarization-Recapitulation 
2. Lunarputians 
3. Total Eclipse 
4. Bandits 
5. Moon Germs [Side 2]
6. The Moon Ain't Made Of Green Cheese 
7. Sea Of Tranquility 
8. Last Frontier 
Tracks 1 to 8 are his third album "Total Eclipse" – released November 1974 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18121 and November 1974 in the UK on Atlantic K 50098. Produced by BILLY COBHAM (with Engineer Ken Scott) – players included Cornell Dupree and John Abercrombie on Guitars, Mike and Randy Brecker with Glenn Ferris on Horns, Milcho Leviev on Keyboards, Alex Blake on Bass, David Earle Johnson on Congas with Billy Cobham on Drums and Percussion (all songs by BC). 

CD3 "Crosswinds" (35:11 minutes):
1. Spanish Moss - "A Spanish Portrait" [Side 1]
(a) Spanish Moss (b) Savannah The Serene (c) Storm (d) Flash Flood
2. The Pleasant Pheasant [Side 2]
3. Heather 
4. Crosswind 
Tracks 1 to 4 are his second album "Crosswinds" – released March 1974 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7300 and March 1974 in the UK on Atlantic K 50037. Produced by BILLY COBHAM (with Engineer Ken Scott) – players included John Abercrombie on Guitars, George Duke on Keyboards, Randy Brecker and Garnett Brown on Horns with Mike Brecker on Woodwinds, John Williams on Bass, Lee Pastora on Latin Percussion with Billy Cobham on Drums and Percussion (all songs by BC). 

CD4 "A Funky Thide Of Sings" (45:03 minutes):
1. Panhandler [Side 1]
2. Sorcery
3. A Funky Thide Of Sings 
4. Thinking Of You 
5. Some Skunk Funk 
6. Light At The End Of The Tunnel [Side 2]
7. A Funky Kind Of Thing 
8. Moody Modes 
Tracks 1 to 8 are his fifth album "A Funky Thide Of Sings" – released October 1975 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18149 and October 1975 in the UK on Atlantic K 50189. Produced by BILLY COBHAM and MARY MEYERSON - players included John Scofield on Guitars, Milcho Leviev on Keyboards, Randy and Michael Brecker, Larry Schneider, Walt Fowler and Glenn Ferris on Horns with Tom Malone on Trombone and Flute, Alex Blake on Bass, "Rebop" Kwaku Baah on Congas with Billy Cobham on Drums and Percussion.

CD5 "Shabazz: Recorded Live In Europe" (39:38 minutes):
1. Shabazz [Side 1]
2. Taurian Matador (Revised)
3. Red Baron (Revised) [Side 2]
4. Tenth Pinn 
Tracks 1 to 4 are his fourth album "Shabazz: Recorded Live In Europe" – released May 1975 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18139 and May 1975 in the UK on Atlantic K 50147. Produced by BILLY COBHAM and KEN SCOTT – players included John Abercrombie on Guitar, Randy and Mike Brecker with Glenn Ferris on Saxophone, Trumpet and Trombone (respectively) with Milcho Leviev on Keyboards, Alex Blake on Bass and Billy Cobham on Drums and Percussion. "Taurian Matador (Revised)" recorded 4 July 1974 at the Montreux Music Festival in Switzerland – all other tracks recorded 13 July 1974 at the Rainbow Theatre in London. 

The card sleeves aren't up to the exacting standards of those Japanese paper-sleeve reissues or SHM-CD Mini LP variants - "Spectrum" loses its gatefold while the musician credits on the rear of "Total Eclipse" and "Crosswinds" are suddenly AWOL completely (I've provided them above) – but they do look dinky and pleasing enough to the eye. And the Remastered Audio courtesy of Rhino (circa 2001, 2002 and 2005 and beyond) is uniformly great throughout. The running order of the albums as per their release dates is 'out' (see above), but other than that, it's a winner. To the many colours...

With ex Zephyr guitar whizz-kid Tommy Bolin (later with The James Gang) and super-sessionman axe-picker John Tropea joined by Jan Hammer on Keyboards (soon to do stints with The Jeff Beck Group) – it's hardly surprising that so many BC fans love the 1973 debut "Spectrum". It opens with a giggling call to arms and a count-In - before launching into the rapido fusion of "Quadrant 4" – the Remaster kicking like a mule. His speaker-to-speaker drumming fills the restless "Searching For The Right Door" and the band goes into Jazz-Funk overdrive/solo city with the title track "Spectrum". It's not surprising that he returned to the speed-freak guitar pyrotechnics of "Taurian Matador" for the European live album issued in 1975 – it's a showstopper if not a tad indulgent. Personally I prefer the trippy "Stratus" over on Side 2 and the sexy hip-swivelling funky chug of "Red Baron" – the kind of Jazz-Funk instrumental you wish was on a 12" single and not the compromised grooves of the last track on Side 2. "Spectrum" is a really good album then, but there was better to come...

Probably his most popular LP amongst Soul kids looking for that Seventies funky edge - the 1974 masterwork that is "Crosswinds" is an out-and-out period gem. When you listen to the very Crusaders fast-Funk of "The Pleasant Pheasant" with Randy Brecker letting rip on that Saxophone before George Duke comes in and synth-warbles those notes to the breakneck end – you understand why Cobham's brand of Jazz Fusion was commercial/accessible to so many and not just virtuoso musicians noodling to please themselves. In fact when Atlantic/Warner-UK started their "Right On!" series of CD reissues dealing with Break Beats and Grooves from the WEA label vaults – they chose the sexy Funk of "Crosswinds" to represent their opening salvo. The eight and half minutes of the mellow "Heather" is a slow vibes and keyboards smoocher that feels like a Jazz Funk love song without words. And clocking in at 17:29 minutes - the four-part "Sound Portrait" on Side 1 called "Spanish Moss" is probably the most overtly Jazz piece on the record with my fave piece being the super-chilled vibes of "Savannah The Serene" which feels like The Mahavishnu Orchestra on mood-enhancing mushrooms. 

"Total Eclipse" is probably the most 'out there' and Fusion of his early catalogue, so the wild guitar-in-a-hurry of "Solarization" might not be for the faint of rhythm - but things soon settle into groove-thang territory with the title track "Total Eclipse" - all that keyboard Funk bolstered up with wads of brass and wind. "Moon Germs" is the same only with more guitar backbeat and a wicked Bass passage as the boys solo off of each other. The live set took the "Crosswinds" band on the road and introduced two new lengthy numbers - "Shabazz" and "Tenth Pinn" - both excellent on what is a forgotten and underrated album. BC goes all Orangutan wanna-be-like-you for the cleverly titled "A Funky Thide Of Sings" LP. Highlights include a big Production synth-and-horns Funk whig-out in the shape of the suitably titled "Panhandler" whist over nine-minutes of "A Funky Side Of Things" over on Side 2 will be enough to keep most toe-tappers in drum-solo heaven for weeks on end. 

The Panamanian Drummer and Writer would make other albums for Atlantic in the late 70ts and continues to record to this day - 2019 seeing the legendary "Crosswinds" LP from 1974 returned to on CD in the "Time Lapse Photos" album while his latest from 2020 "Tierra Del Fuego" references Argentinian influences. 

Not all masterpieces for damn sure, but when Billy Cobham got Funky (as is evidenced so many times across these five albums), it was time to us to shabazz. Perhaps time for us to cross those winds once again too...

"Original Album Classics" by PATTI SMITH GROUP – Featuring Five Albums on Arista Records - "Horses" (1975), "Radio Ethiopia" (1976), "Easter" (1978), "Wave" (1979) and "Dream Of Life" (1988) – featuring Producers and Arrangers John Cale, Jimmy Iovine, Todd Rundgren, Tom Verlaine, Scott Litt and Fred Smith with Musicians Lenny Kaye, Richard Sohl, Ivan Kral, Bruce Brody, Jay Dee Daugherty, Fred Smith and more (October 2008 UK Sony/Arista/Legacy 5CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Artwork Card Sleeves – Each Album With 1996 Bob Irwin Remasters and Bonuses) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

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"...A Sea Of Possibilities..."

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There are a wad of 5CD capacity wallets (that's what they're technically calling them nowadays) in Sony's 'Original Album Classics" series of mini box sets - and quite a few 3CD variants as well. But some just stick out better than most - Johnny Winter, Shuggie Otis, Sly & The Family Stone, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac in the 3CD issues, etc. 

And so it is with the mighty Patti Smith. Armed with 1996 Remasters by Bob Irwin and Bonuses on all five CDs - you have to say that this 2008 Legacy reissue with its dinky mini LP artwork card sleeves and tasty purchase price has it nailed to the urinated river on every front. Let's get at the details 'cause there's a wave of them...

UK released 13 October 2008 - "Original Album Classics" by PATTI SMITH on Sony/Arista/Legacy 88697313832 (Barcode 886973138328) offers Five Remastered CDs (each with Bonuses) in a Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Five Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and plays out as follows:

CD1 "Horses" (46:42 minutes):

1. Gloria (i) In Excelsis Deo (ii) Gloria (Version) [Side 1]

2. Redondo Beach 

3. Birdland 

4. Free Money 

5. Kimberly [Side 2]

6. Break It Up 

7. Land (i) Horses (ii) Land Of A Thousand Dances (iii) La Mer(de)

8. Elegie 

Tracks 1 to 8 are her debut album "Horses" - released December 1975 in the USA on Arista AL 4066 and December 1975 in the UK on Arista ARTY 122. Produced by JOHN CALE - it peaked at No. 46 on the US albums charts (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACK:

9. My Generation - non-album B-side of the March 1976 US 45-single "Gloria" on Arista AS 0171 - cover version of The Who classic - first appeared digitally on the 1996 CD reissue of "Horses" as a lone bonus track 

CD2 "Radio Ethiopia" (48:40 minutes):

1. Ask The Angels [Side 1]

2. Ain't It Strange

3. Poppies 

4. Pissing In A River 

5. Pumping (My Heart) [Side 2]

6. Distant Fingers 

7. Radio Ethiopia

8. Abyssinia 

Tracks 1 to 8 are her second studio album "Radio Ethiopia" - released October 1976 in the USA on Arista AL 4097 and October 1976 in the UK on Arista SPARTY 1001. Produced by JACK DOUGLAS and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 122 in the USA (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACK:

9. Chiklets - Previously Unreleased track from the 1976 sessions, first appeared digitally on the 1996 CD reissue

CD3 "Easter" (46:59 minutes):

1.  Till Victory [Side 1]

2. Space Monkey 

3. Because The Night 

4. Ghost Dance 

5. Babelogue 

6. Rock N Roll Nigger 

7. Privilege (Set Me Free) [Side 2]

8. We Three 

9. 25th Floor 

10. High On Rebellion 

11. Easter 

Tracks 1 to 11 are her third studio album "Easter" - released March 1978 in the USA on Arista AB 4171 and March 1978 in the UK on Arista SPART 1043. Produced by JIMMY IOVINE and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 20 in the US album charts and No. 16 in the UK. The album also had exclusive song material from Tom Verlaine of Television (a co-write on "Space Monkey") and Bruce Springsteen ("Because The Night")

BONUS TRACK:

12. Godspeed - non-album B-side to the March 1978 US 45-single "Because The Night" on Arista AS 0318 - first appearance digitally as a lone Bonus Track on the 1996 CD reissue of "Easter"

CD4 "Wave" (43:25 minutes):

1. Frederick [Side 1]

2. Dancing Barefoot 

3. So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star) 

4. Hymn 

5. Revenge 

6. Citizen Ship [Side 2]

7. Seven Ways Of Going 

8. Broken Flag 

9. Wave 

Tracks 1 to 9 are the fourth studio album "Wave" - released May 1979 in the USA on Arista AB 4221 and May 1979 in the UK on Arista SPART 1086. Produced by TODD RUNDGREN and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 18 in the US and No. 44 on the album charts

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Fire Of Unknown Origin 

11. 54321/Wave - Tracks 10 and 11 are the non-album B-sides of the September 1979 US 45 "So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star)" on Arista AS 0453 - first appeared digitally as two Bonus Tracks on the 1996 CD reissue of "Wave" - "54321/Wave" recorded live in New York, 23 May 1979

CD "Dream Of Life" (51:45 minutes):

1. People Have The Power

2. Up There Down There 

3. Paths That Cross 

4. Dream Of Life 

5. Where Duty Calls 

6. Going Under 

7. Looking For You (I Was)

8. The Jackson Song 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fifth studio album "Dream Of Life" - released July 1988 in the USA on Arista AL 8453 and July 1988 in the UK on Arista 209 172 (Vinyl Versions) and on CD too. Produced by FRED SMITH and JIMMY IOVINE – it peaked at No. 65 in the USA and No. 70 in the UK on the album charts. Note: original versions of the album had the track order as follows: Tracks 1, 6, 2, and 3 as Side 1 with Side 2 as Tracks  4, 5, 6 and 7. This CD is based on the June 1996 CD Remaster that altered that running order. 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. As The Night Goes By - previously unreleased track from the sessions 

10. Wild Leaves - non-album B-side to the May 1988 US 45-single "People Have The Power" on Arista AS1-9689 - both tracks first appeared digitally as Bonuses on the 1996 reissue of "Dream Of Life"

The hard card slipcase or capacity wallet (as they like to call it now) houses the five Mini LP Repro Sleeves with the album info available online at Legacy Recordings website for 'Original Album Classics' - they are nice to look at, tactile and with those 1996 Remasters and Bonuses - very cool indeed. The audio is superb – so damn good - all thoughts of those first waves of dullard 80ts CDs banished. It is a shame there isn't a separate slip-in booklet to accompany these five-disc overhauls, but you can't deny that for the price, there is an awful lot of goodness on offer here for really not a lot of wonga. To the poet and her band of merry men...

It is surely the height of period cool to open your debut album with lyrics like "...Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine..." – you go lady of words and music. Patti re-writes the Van Morrison-written THEM classic "Gloria" into a musical pyre – building, building as it hurtles to the finish line with the hymn "In Excelsis Deo" thrown in for good measure. Her sort of Clash-type Reggae Rock kicks in with "Redondo Beach" – looking for her beau down by an ocean of smudge-faced teen suicides. "Gloria" was good for sure, a sure-fire 45-single winner. But for me her special kind of genius began to really show with the ethereally beautiful "Birdland" – a half-spoken and half-sung tale of lost boys left alone by cruel daddies – Lenny Kaye's fantastic guitar so subtly aiding the heavy storytelling (same applies to the piano ache in "Elegie" that finishes Side 2). 

And then, just when you think you've nailed the LP's Punk, New Wave and Art Rock credentials – she moves you with The Velvet Underground-doomy "Free Money" – hot in jet planes as it thrashes its way out your speakers with such anger and life (love those doubled vocals). And on it goes towards a nine-minute three-part collage of Gloria-type speed called "Land" – a racer that includes Chris Kenner's Atlantic Records 60ts soul dancer "Land Of A Thousand Dances" amidst the mantra of Horses, Horses, Horses – Johnny doing the Watusi in a pretty little place in a sea of possibilities - how utterly brill. 

After a balls-to-the-wall breakout like "Easter" – it was going to be hard to follow up, but she did it with the spit and sawdust kick-ass power of "Radio Ethiopia". Hot sometimes as you "Ask The Angels" (great guitar) and don't look at me in this broken state of "Ain't It Strange". I guess "Poppies" is the closest she's come a 'commercial' sound singing about longing and addiction to all manner of debilitating things while the notorious "Pissing In A River" just reeks of pain and loss of love. And don't you just tingle at the sheer rocking abandon in "Pumping" - the soloing axes screeching as she wails about connection and her heart pumping - wow! I would admit that the grunge 10-minutes of the title track is still hard for me to take all in one go, but I was surprised and even taken aback by the "Wild Horses" Rolling Stones acoustic-beauty of the bonus track "Chiklets" - a middleweight boxer getting eulogized. I would probably go as far as saying that the "Radio Ethiopia" album has weathered even better than its more famous and illustrious horsey predecessor – and the Remaster has upped its menace four-fold to where it should always have been. 

In 1978, Bruce Springsteen was all grown-up by the time he released the hard-as-nails "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" LP and it seemed his knack of giving away great songs to other artists was hitting something of a zenith (Southside Johnny, Graham Parker and later Gary U.S. Bonds, Donna Summer and Dave Edmunds). But he kept his best for Patti. I was a Bruce-o-nut in 1978 (continued from 1974 in fact) so the fact that the wicked "Easter" album also contained the equally rampant "Because The Night" by The Boss was all right in the dark-night by me. Other winners included the chug muscle of "Space Monkey" with that old-fashioned organ whining – rusty Polaroids and guitars. And there is peace to your brother in the Indian-chant of "Ghost Dance". She is joined by Jackson Pollock, Jimi Hendrix and Jesus in the infamous "Rock n Roll Ni**er" - while Brit tunesmiths Mark London (Manager to Stones The Crows and Maggie Bell) and Michael Leander provided her with the very Blondie-rocking "Privilege (She Me Free)" – a reason to live – make me lie down in green pastures. And while I never could dig the jagged mayhem of "High On Rebellion" – once again the Remaster saves the day with the superb six-minutes of "Godspeed" – a Bonus Track B-side about static and adrenalin.

"Wave" has always been seen as the let’s go for commercial album and therefore poo-pooed for it, but I liked the Rundgren-esque keyboard fills on "Frederick" and the very Velvets feel to "Dancing Barefoot" – a fantastic song in my not-so-humble opinion – some strange music that draws me in. She sings of sweet payback as she skewers a former flame in "Revenge" (love that huge guitar solo, so Hall & Oates "Along The Red Ledge" that I believe Rundgren also produced) and Patti gives even more lambasting to the message in the Byrds industry-acidic "So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star)". Sounding like a drunken sailor, I love the ramshackle feel to the B-side "5-4-3-2-1" – another Bonus that likes up to the moniker. She even finds a tranquil Galilee of sorts in "Seven Ways Of Going" albeit one steeped in a sort of East meets the West rock mysticism (a sleeper on a very underrated album in my opinion). 

After a decade away, she returned to much ballyhoo with 1988's "Dream Of Life" - only eight tracks - but many with that fire of old (even if the reviews were mixed). It opens strongly where "Power Have The Power" sounds like a rocked-up Buffy St. Marie as does "Up There Down There" - a great Rock shuffler with her trademark vocal style letting rip once again. But both are soundly trumped by the sheer loveliness of "The Jackson Song" while "Going Under" feels more hurt than it wants to admit. Of the Bonuses the acoustic-light "As The Night Goes By" feels the lesser to the falling of "Wild Leaves" to the ground. 

For sure you could argue that "Wave" and "Dream Of Life" are not as spectacular as the first three, but for me Patti Smith is like John Martyn or Bruce or Joni - gotta have the lot because I know there will be magic in there somewhere. Babelogue on and on - you lovely slightly loony poetess...

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1976

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"Original Album Series" by GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION [featuring Larry Graham] - including the albums "Graham Central Station" and "Release Yourself" (both 1974), "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" (1975), "Mirror" (1976) and "Now Do U Wanta Dance" (1977) (September 2013 Warners/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION 
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"…We Be's Gettin' Down…"

Funky as a Mosquito doing the Michael Jackson Moon Walk on a Cocaine line in a Mexican Jail - Graham Central Station hit the ground running in 1974 with a debut album as brill as "AWB" - a Soul/Funk band that somehow crossed over and appealed to the white Rock audience. Hardly surprising really - especially as Larry Graham had served his Bass Player apprenticeship with Sly & The Family Stone. And with the now-deleted 2001 Rhino 2CD Anthology "The Jam" commanding a very nasty price tag (fabulous compilation though) - this 5-album Mini Box Set pitched at under twelve quid is a bit of a deal (and they're all remasters too). Here are the dudes in big hats and even bigger flares...

UK released September 2013 - "Original Album Series" by GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION (featuring Larry Graham) on Warner Brothers 8127796513 (Barcode 081227965136) offers five albums in Single Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves (Remasters) that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:30 minutes):

1. We've Been Waiting

2. It Ain't No Fun To Me

3. Hair

4. We Be's Getting' Down

5. Tell Me What It Is [Side 2]

6. Can You Handle It?

7. People

8. Why?

9. Ghetto

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "Graham Central Station" released February 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2763 and Warner Brothers K 46286 in the UK

Disc 2 (37:32 minutes):

1. G.C.S.

2. Release Yourself

3. Got To Go Through It To Get To It

4. I Believe In You

5. 'Tis Your Kind Of Music [Side 2]

6. Hey Mr. Writer

7. Feel The Need

8. Today

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd album "Release Yourself" released October 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2814 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56062

Disc 3 (42:07 minutes):

1. The Jam

2. Your Love

3. It's Alright

4. I Can't Stand The Rain

5. It Ain't Nothing But A Warner Bros. Party [Side 2]

6. Ole Smokey

7. Easy Rider

8. Water

9. Luckiest People

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" released August 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2876 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56147

Disc 4 (38:09 minutes):

1. Entrow

2. Love (Covers A Multitude Of Sins)

3. Mirror

4. Do Yah

5. Save Me [Side 2]

6. I Got A Reason

7. Priscilla

8. Forever

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Mirror" released June 1976 in the USA On Warner Brothers BS 2937 and on Warner Brothers K 56235 in the UK

Disc 5 (40:27 minutes):

1. Happ-E-2-C-U-A-Ginn

2. Now Do-U-Wanta Dance

3. Last Train

4. Love And Happiness

5. Earthquake

6. Crazy Chicken [Side 2]

7. Stomped Beat-Up And Whooped

8. Lead Me On

9. Saving My Love For You

10. Have Faith In Me

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 5th studio album "Now Do U Wanta Dance" released April 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 3041 and May 1977 UK on Warner Bros K 56359.

These slim card slipcases house five single repro sleeves, there's no booklet and apart from the track lists (on each CD) - there's bugger all info - but as these were remastered by Rhino back in 2001 - those remasters have been used and they sound fantastic.

The Acapella opener "We've Been Waiting" is brilliant but better by far is one of the standout tracks - "Hair". About half way through - Graham's lead vocal is taken over by Patryce Banks (credited as Chocolate). The gorgeous Patryce (Claudia Lennear look out) also provides the fabulous lead vocals on "We Be's Getting' Down" - sounding not unlike a lead in The Voices Of East Harlem or Patti LaBelle letting her lungs out. The beat-box backing, instruments-in-the-distant Production and chanting/preachy vocal refrains in the brilliant Side 2 opener "Tell Me What It Is" sounds like Talking Heads doing Soul - years ahead of its time. Just as fab is the very Isley Brothers vibe of "People" where the group goes into social consciousness about "People dying...people suffering..." - the Clarence McDonald strings giving it a classy and moving feel while David Dynamite's guitar work sounds like Prince five years before the event. The multi-layered "Ghetto" is half Soul/half Gospel - a fantastic deep grooved Staples Singers finisher. The whole album is quite brilliant actually

"Release Yourself" was released in late 1972 was perhaps a little too frantic for its own good - with "I Believe In You" and "Today" being smoochy mid-tempo highlights. "The Jam" opens proceedings with suitably slap-bass wildness on album Number Three but you heart goes to "Your Love" (a R&B Number 1) where once again Chocolate makes the perfect foil for this happy upbeat love song. "It's Alright" and "Feel The Need" were also singles (19 and 18 respectively) and you can hear why.

But my absolute crave is "Love" which peaked at 14 when it should have gone to Number 1. Subtitled "Covers A Multitude Of Sins" - it's one of those brilliant irrepressibly uplifting tunes - funky and soulful. The seven-minute slap-bass crowd-shouting funk of "Entrow" was edited down as a single too - managing a 21 position on the US charts. The voicebox "Now Do-U-Wanta Dance" and the chipper "Stomped Beat-Up And Whooped" feel like a band seeking a hit rather than making one. Their funked-up cover of Al Green's "Love And Happiness" is better.

For me there's a definite winding down by the time we reach album five - but the first three and most of four are great Seventies Soul and Funk. A very cool and timely reissue - dig in and enjoy...

"Original Album Series" by AMERICA (June 2012 Warner Brothers/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set with Singular Sleeve Card Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Ventura Highway In The Sunshine..."

I never did quite get why America and their Seventies albums are so derided in some quarters – they made a beautiful racket when they hit that CSNY Harmony Vocals sweet spot. Sure the later stuff could be a tad schmaltzy on occasion – but this dinky little treasure trove offers seekers of Soft Rock an awful lot of good over bad. And "Holiday" from 1974 and "Hearts" from 1975 had the steer-ship of fifth Beatle George Martin at the Producer controls – both huge records - Top 5 albums in their native USA.

There are a lot of miles to cover so once more my nameless horses unto the Ventura Highway...

UK released 11 June 2012 - "Original Album Series" by AMERICA on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122797457 (Barcode 081227974572) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with Five Single Card Repro Sleeves. Some Remasters - Some Not – it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "America" (46:43 minutes):

1. Riverside

2. Sandman

3. Three Roses

4. Children

5. A Horse With No Name

6. Here

7. I Need You [Side 2]

8. Rainy Day

9. Never Found The Time

10. Clarice

11. Donkey Jaw

12. Pigeon Song

Tracks 1 to 4, 6 and 7 to 12 are their debut 11-track album "America" - released December 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2576 and December 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46093. When the song "A Horse With No Name" (originally a stand alone 7" single) became a US hit in early 1972 (eventually went to No. 1 as did the album) - "America" the LP was repressed using the same American catalogue but with that track slotted in on Side 1 between "Children" and "Here" making it a 12-track LP. It is this version that is represented here (the UK 11-track LP and even later represses never featured "A Horse With No Name"). Produced by AMERICA, IAN SAMWELL and JEFF DEXTER - it peaked at No. 1 on the US LP charts and No. 14 in the UK.

Disc 2 "Homecoming" (33:20 minutes):

1. Ventura Highway

2. To Each His Own

3. Don't Cross The River

4. Moon Song

5. Only In Your Heart

6. Till The Sun Comes Up Again [Side 2]

7. Cornwall Blank

8. Head & Heart

9. California Revisited

10. Saturn Nights

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Homecoming" - released November 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2655 and December 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46180. Produced by AMERICA - it peaked at No. 9 in the USA and No. 21 in the UK.

Disc 3 "Hat Trick" (41:35 minutes):

1. Muskrat Love

2. Wind Wave

3. She's Gonna Let You Down

4. Rainbow Song

5. Submarine Ladies

6. It's Life

7. Hat Trick [Side 2]

8. Molten Love

9. Green Monkey

10. Willow Tree Lullaby

11. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd studio album "Hat Trick" - released November 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2728 and November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56016. Produced by AMERICA - It peaked at No. 28 in the USA and No. 41 in the UK.

Disc 4 "Holiday" (32:56 minutes):

1. Miniature

2. Tin Man

3. Another Try

4. Lonely People

5. Glad To See You

6. Mad Dog

7. Hollywood [Side 2]

8. Baby It's Up To You

9. You

10. Old Man Took

11. What Does It Matter

12. In The Country

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 4th studio album "Holiday" - released July 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers W 2808 and July 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56045. Produced by GEORGE MARTIN - it peaked at No. 3 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK)

Disc 5 "Hearts" (36:17 minutes):

1. Daisy Jane

2. Half A Man

3. Midnight

4. Bell Tree

5. Old Virginia

6. People In The Valley

7. Company [Side 2]

8. Woman Tonight

9. The Story Of A Teenager

10. Sister Golden Hair

11. Tomorrow

12. Seasons

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth studio album "Hearts" - released April 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2852 and April 1975 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56115. Produced by GEORGE MARTIN - it peaked at No. 4 in the USA (didn't chart in the UK).

AMERICA was:

DEWEY BUNNELL - Lead Vocals and Guitars

GERRY BECKLEY - Guitars and Vocals

DAN PEEK - Bass, Acoustic Guitars and Vocals 

The elaborate tri-gatefold that came with "Homecoming" and the inners and inserts that came with "Hat Trick" and the others are all AWOL in the single sleeve card sleeves and apart from track lists on the generic coloured CDs - there is bugger all by way of info with these multiple packs. But that’s how all these "Original Album Series" sets are – cheap and cheerful. And as luck with have it – Warners have used the second pressing of "America" from 1972 so it includes the huge No. 1 hit "A Horse With No Name".

The Audio is a mixed bag of superlative vs. extremely good. Take "I Need You" on "America" or "To Each His Own" on "Homecoming" - I've had Remasters of these and the audio here is pretty much the same - very clear - beautiful really. However I have Remasters from the "The Definitive Collection" of "Muskrat Love" and the lovely "Sister Golden Hair” and it has to be said that the Remasters are way better than what's on offer here. If I were to break it down - I'd say the first two CDs sound exceptional while the final three are merely very good. But don't let that put you off – you're essentially getting an awful lot of quality here for a very small outlay – roughly of course two quid per album. To the music...

SIngles:

Excepting the non-album track "Everyone I Meet Is from California" (the B-side to "A Horse With No Name" on both sides of the pond) - this 5CD set gives you the A&B-sides of a whopping thirteen American singles - eight of which did the business in the Rock Charts. First up is the song that broke them - "A Horse With No Name" from January 1972 - that was followed in April 1972 with the ballad "I Need You" featuring the equally musical "Riverside" on the flipside – a No. 9 hit. "Ventura Highway" b/w "Saturn Nights" came in September 1972 and went one further to No. 8 (the A-side is surely one of their finest moments) - while "Don't Cross The River" b/w "To Each His own" reached a miserly No. 35 in February 1973.

The third album "Hat Trick" should have been a triumph but it produced a series of 4 x 7" single misses - beginning in March 1973 with "Only In Your Heart" b/w "Moon Song" - the first 45 to not chart. Given the hooky and commercial nature of "Muskrat Love" (paired with "Cornwall Blank" from the second album "Homecoming" on the B-side) - it's odd that the melody didn't light up the top ten in June 1973. Strike three came in November 1973 with "Rainbow Song" b/w "Willow Tree Lullaby" - another non-charter. Last was "Green Monkey" in March 1974 b/w "She's Gonna Let You Down" - but it marked loser number four.

But they were all quickly forgotten for July 1974's "Tin Man" from the new "Holiday" LP. With the album cut "In The Country" on the flipside - the annoyingly simple yet wildly catchy "Tin Man" was perfect American Radio fodder and gave them a rightful No. 4 chart hit. "Lonely People" b/w "Mad Dog" was released November 1974 and with time made No. 5 in early 1975. Their second Number One came with the much-loved "Sister Golden Hair" b/w "Midnight" - a huge hit in April 1975. "Daisy Jane" b/w "Tomorrow" from June 1975 went to No. 20 - but "Woman Tonight" b/w "Bell Tree" from October 1975 failed to ignite.

But where this 5CD set comes into it’s own is with those album tracks you 'never' hear. The debut alone has loads - the 'stop and see what I'm on about' song "Three Roses" - a wickedly infectious acoustic melody that still sounds amazingly fresh 46 years after the event. The strummed "Here" – the piano love song "I Need You" and the gorgeous "Never Found The Time" (very Mercury Years Rod Stewart in its own way) – will all probably elicit tears amidst men of a certain age. And that acoustic guitar build-up intro to "Donkey Jaw" sounds beautiful - and if it had the moniker Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on the LP label instead of America – would have been declared a ‘quit ravishing the land’ masterpiece by every journo for miles around.

Amongst the other four albums is the impossibly pretty familiar faces of "To Each His Own", the David Crosby vibes of "Moon Song" and the sheer soul-warming peacefulness of their John Martyn cover of "Head And Heart" on "Homecoming" (it was on Martyn's masterpiece "Solid Air" in February of 1973). They would even re-write "Everyone I Meet Is From California" as "California Revisited" although I prefer the simpler original (that song is available as a Remaster on "The Definitive Collection" 2CD set). The hankering "Wind Wave" from "Hat Trick" could easily have been a single (love those harmony vocals) and "Submarine Ladies" feels so Neil Young lonesome with that treated Harmonica. 

"It's Life" has one of the most ethereal and beautiful synth/guitar openings to any of their songs - while I've always liked the gorgeous string-instrumental "Miniature" that opens the "Holiday" album - very "Cinny's Waltz" on Tom Waits' 1977 Asylum album "Foreign Affair". And that strange guitar in the 'drinks on me' song "Hollywood" gives you a surprisingly sinister element – like hurt is lurking in that Californian clarion call to all naïve youngsters. And the so damned depressed "Sister Golden Hair" still strikes a chord - how many weddings has this been played at...

Alligator lizards in the air – hit by purple rain – thanks a lot son... With lyrics like this - America the Band was never cool or hip. And for sure even die-hard fans would have to admit that as the albums went on an uneasy easy-listening schmaltz started to creep in amidst those immaculate Production values and sweet Harmony Vocals.

But like Bread and the Eagles - they made music that reached out to millions of people - and on the evidence presented here - it's obvious why. Pick up this 5-disc "Original Album Series" reissue and discover why you still need Ventura Highway in the sunshine...