"Original Album Series" by THE YOUNG RASCALS/THE RASCALS (2011 Rhino/Atlantic 5CD Mini Box Set Remasters in Stereo) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Groovin' On A Sunday Afternoon..." 

Forever associated with two huge 60ts anthems - "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'" - The Young Rascals started out as a straight-up raucous R&B outfit in 1966 with good vibrations in their hearts, Atlantic and Chess Records in their Souls and the occasional flower stalk in their hair. By the time they'd reached December 1969 - they'd shortened the moniker to THE RASCALS and released six studio albums and one 'Greatest Hits'. En-route they'd become increasingly more sophisticated in their output (ending up sounding like WAR on Freedom Suite's funky workout "Cute") and vocal in their wish to see the USA buck up and move on from all that was tearing it apart socially at the time.

And that's what this dinky little 5CD box set in the "Original Album Series" inadvertently proves. The Rascals were so much more than a rapid-fire happy-wappy hits group and a Summer of Love phenomenon - but an evolving musical force trying to get heard. But as the Sixties closed – like The Monkees - less and less were listening let alone buying their records making a lot of this music in 2016 almost unknown to the average listener. Time to rectify that oversight. Here are the details...

UK and Europe released October 2011 (August 2013 in the USA) - "Original Album Series" by THE YOUNG RASCALS on Atlantic/Rhino 8122 79834 8 (Barcode 081227983482) is a 5CD Card Slipcase housing 5 x 5” Mini LP Repro Sleeves – and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (36:15 minutes):

1. Slow Down

2. Baby Let's Wait

3. Just A Little

4. I Believe

5. Do You Feel It

6. Good Lovin' [Side 2]

7. Like A Rolling Stone

8. Mustang Sally

9. I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore

10. In The Midnight Hour

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album "The Young Rascals" - released March 1966 in the USA on Atlantic 8123 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8123 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587012 (Mono) and Atlantic 588012 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 15 on the US LP charts.

Disc 2 (33:13 minutes):

1. What Is The Reason

2. Since I Fell For You

3. Lonely Too Long

4. No Love To Give

5. Mickey's Monkey/Love Nights

6. Come on Up [Side 2]

7. Too Many Fish In The Sea

8. More

9. Nineteen Fifty-Six

5. Love Is A Beautiful Thing

6. Land Of 1000 Dances

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 2nd album "Collections" by THE YOUNG RASCALS - released January 1967 in the USA on Atlantic 8134 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8134 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587060 (Mono) and Atlantic 588060 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 14 on the US LP charts.

Disc 3 (34:39 minutes):

1. A Girl Like You

2. Find Somebody

3. I'm So Happy Now

4. Sueno

5. How Can I Be Sure

6. Groovin' [Side 2]

7. If You Knew

8. I Don't Love You Anymore

9. You Better Run

10. A Place In The Sun

11. It's Love

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd album "Groovin'" by THE YOUNG RASCALS - released 31 July 1967 in the USA on Atlantic 8148 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8148 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587074 (Mono) and Atlantic 588074 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 5 on the LP charts.

Disc 4 (37:28 minutes):

1. Intro/Easy Rollin'

2. Rainy Day

3. Please Love Me

4. Sound Effect/It's Wonderful

5. I'm Gonna Love You/Dave & Eddie

6. My Hawaii

7. My World [Side 2]

8. Silly Girl

9. Singin' The Blues Too Long

10. Bells/Sattva

11. Finale: Once Upon A Dream

Tracks 1 to 11 are their fourth album "Once Upon A Dream" and the first credited to THE RASCALS - released February 1968 in the USA on Atlantic 8169 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8169 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587 098 (Mono) and Atlantic 588 098 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 9 on the US LP charts.

Disc 5 (65:54 minutes):

"Freedom Suite"

1. America The Beautiful [Side 1]

2. Me & My Friends

3. Any Dance'll Do

4. Look Around

5. A Ray Of Hope

6. Island Of Love [Side 2]

7. Of Course

8. Love Was So Easy To Give

9. People Got To Be Free

10. Baby I'm Blue

11. Heaven

"Music Music"

12. Adrian's Birthday [Side 3]

13. Boom

14. Cute [Side 4]

Tracks 1 to 14 are the 2LP set "Freedom Suite" (record one is called "Freedome Suite" - record two "Music Music") - released March 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 2-901 (Stereo only) and in the UK on Atlantic 588 183 (Stereo only). It peaked at No. 17 on the US LP charts.

As with all of these releases you get 5 x 5" card sleeves that repro the front and rear US LP artwork for the Stereo versions - and how cool is it to see these increasingly hard to find album covers. Ok you might need a magnifying glass to read the details (there are none on the last two) - but at just about two quid per album - who’s complaining.

From what I can hear these are the BILL INGLOT/DAN HERSCH Rhino remasters and (excessive hiss of the first album aside) - each sounds great. And once again I can't overstate how good these albums are. Let's get to the underrated music...

Quite apart from Gene Cornish's garage-guitar rocking throughout the self-titled debut like a beast on a boozy mission – the group was also possessed of three Lead Vocalists (out of a four-piece band). Felix Cavaliere handled most of the bigger tunes whilst laying down that groovy organ - Gene Cornish wielded his choppy axe and sang too - Eddie Brigati provided voice number three whilst playing Percussion – and all the while Dino Danelli laid down the backbeat on the Drums. The debut is top heavy with R&B and Soul covers - least not of all the opening blaster "Slow Down" - a hit for Larry Williams in 1958 and explored by The Beatles on their "Long Tall Sally" EP in 1964. Even their take on Bob Dylan's perennially overdone song "Like A Rolling Stone" is better than most. Also dig their chugging guitar/organ groove on Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour". The Beau Brummels had a hit with "Just A Little" in 1965 (Autumn Records 10) – The Rascals slow it down to an almost Bluesy pace (bit hissy this track). Overall a great start...

The 2nd LP opens with two almost lounge-room organ grinders - "What Is The Reason" and the the slighty creepy "Since I Fell For You". Things improve a bit with "Lonely Too Long" where Felix Cavalieri is accompanied by what sounds like a Motown set of backing singers. The sappy "No Love To Give" with its cello and oboe is hard to take truth be told - better is another dancer - Smokey's "Mickey's Monkey" doubled up a very Tommy James and The Shondells rendition of "Love Lights" - great and the first sign of any real life on the album. It's obvious why "Come On Up" was chosen as a 45 - a great groover that should have done better chartwise. We're back to Motown dancers with a hectic cover of The Marvelettes 1964 hit "Too Many Fish In The Sea". But this is ruined by a cheesy organ-take on "More". Luckily that is obliterated by the album's secret weapon - a blistering and hooky "Nineteen Fifty-Six" where Gene does his best Little Richard impression on the vocals as he goes all wild Chuck Berry on his guitar. We hit a run of two that make up for much of the dreck - "Love Is A Beautiful Thing" is a Cavalieri/Brigati penned winner that grooves at times like GLORIA by Them. The record finishes with that Chris Kenner crowd-shouter "Land Of 1000 Dances". Not as good as the debut but it still has those moments that make it so worth it...

Even now I find it shocking how good the whole of the "Groovin'" LP is. While I can live without the poppy (and hissy) "A Girl Like You" – the Link Wray guitar rumble that opens "Find Somebody" that then continues in an equally cool Byrds-jangle - is fantastic 60ts Rock. Both the acoustic based "I'm So Happy Now" and "Sueno" have that Summer of Love joy imbedded in them (not cloy or clinging). Most people will likely know "How Can I Be Sure" through Dusty Springfield on Philips and David Cassidy on Bell rather than by The Young Rascals on Atlantic. And it just doesn't get more sublime than the album's title track "Groovin'" – their 2nd No. 1 in May 1967 on Atlantic 2401. The production values for "I Don't Love You Anymore" are much improved over the rest of it – while the trippy flute of the neck-jerking finisher "It's Love" gave it a honorary place on the 2001 CD compilation "Right On! Volume 3" that trawled Atlantic's labels and vaults for forgotten shakers to appeal to now kids.

The last two albums in this mini box set represented a new phase. Now just THE RASCALS - they'd grown up and wanted to take their audience with them. The gatefold sleeve isn't repro'd here (reduced to a single, front and back cover) - but you do get a sense of change from just looking at the cryptic cover of rifles, bird cages and telephones covered in what looks like plaster-of-paris. The music isn't as catchy as before and bluntly feels overblown in some places. Once past that hissy intro - the jaunty "Easy Rollin'" comes on like The Lovin' Spoonful on some friendly mushrooms - but "Please Love Me' just doesn't seem to work while the single "It's Wonderful" has a touch of The Beatles Mystery Tour in it. "I'm Gonna Love You" and "My Hawaii" sound like "Smile Sessions" outtakes with their brass bands and strange synth and strings.  "Silly Girl" is good but like much of the album is drenched in hiss. Better is "Singin' The Blues Too Long" and the sitar hippy-trip that is "Sattva"...

After the disappointment of "Once Upon A Dream" - the double-album "Freedom Suite" is an altogether better beast. Imbibed with all that was affecting American ("so much hated and confusion") - the positive message of 'unity' comes through on so many of the excellent songs. There are touches of the old Rascals in "Any Dance'll Do" but the marching boots of "Look Around" return to the bigotry themes right quick. "A Ray Of Hope" feels like The Temptations on a falsetto vocal trip while there's a great funk to "Of Course". The production values on "Love Was So Easy To Give" are superlative - a song about lost youth - while the anthem "People Got To Be Free" is a social call to arms that felt like it would work. The drum solo that is the near fourteen-minute "Boom" tests your patience while the 15-minute organ boogie groove of "Cute" goes a long way to salvaging the set (an extended jam that works - probably my fave on the whole double - dig that guitar solo too).

So there you have it - it's not all genius by any means (the excellent December 1969 "See" LP is missing from this box set) - but the good stuff is (if you'll forgive the pun) groovin'. 

Check out The Young Rascals...who morphed into The Rascals...and enjoy...

"Original Album Series" by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS (2014 Rhino/Warners 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Crimson And Clover..." 

My first real introduction to the mighty 60ts Pop & Rock magic of Tommy James & The Shondells was via Bruce Springsteen vinyl bootlegs in the late 70ts (he will be pleased). I can remember his 1978 encores used to include the incendiary "Mony Mony" to staggering effect – and bluntly his "She's The One" on 1975's "Born To Run" bore an uncanny resemblance to James' signature blaster sound.

I wanted more - but their albums are not common outside of Anthologies and compilations. And that's where this dinky 2014 value-for-money 5CD mini box set reissue comes in. Excluding 2 LPs from 1967 ("It Only Love" and "Getting' Together") – you get their five other albums of the period (1966 to 1969) all in one neat little package. The music moves from Monkees-type pop in 1966 through to the acidic mayhem of 1969 where they come on like a laddish Kinks with killer tunes and a twinkle in their eye. Time to shake a tail feather y'all...

Originally UK and Europe released 20 January 2014 – "Original Album Series" by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS on Rhino/Warner Brothers 2564636195 (Barcode 825646361953) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" singular card sleeve repro’s and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (30:35 minutes):

1. Hanky Panky

2. I'll Go Crazy

3. I'm So Proud

4. The Lover

5. Love Makes The World Go Round

6. Good Lovin'

7. Say I Am [Side 2]

8. Cleo's Mood

9. Don't Throw Our Love Away

10. Shake A Tail Feather

11. Soul Searchin' Baby

12. Lots Of Pretty Girls

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Hanky Panky" – released July 1966 in the USA on Roulette R 25336 (Mono) and Roulette SR 25336 (Stereo) – no UK release. The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 2 (29:24 minutes):

1. I Think We're Alone Now

2. Trust Each Other In Love

3. What I'd Give To See Your Face Again

4. Baby Let Me Down

5. Let's Be Lovers

6. Run, Run, Baby, Run

7. Mirage [Side 2]

8. I Like The Way

9. California Sun

10. (Baby, Baby) I Can't Take It

11. Gone, Gone, Gone

12. Shout

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third album "I Think We’re Alone Now" – released April 1967 in the USA on Roulette R 25353 (Mono) and Roulette SR 25353 (Stereo) – no UK release. The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 3 (27:51 minutes):

1. Mony Mony

2. Do Unto Me

3. (I'm) Taken

4. Nightime (I'm A Lover)

5. Run Away With Me

6. Somebody Cares [Side 2]

7. Get Out Now

8. I Can't Go Back To Denver

9. Some Kind Of Love

10. Gingerbread Man

11. One Two Three And I Fell

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth album "Mony Mony" – released July 1968 in the USA on Roulette SR 42012 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 1 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 1 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 4 (32:31 minutes):

1. Crimson & Clover

2. Kathleen McArthur

3. I Am A Tangerine

4. Do Something For Me

5. Crystal Blue Persuasion [Side 2]

6. Sugar On Sunday

7. Breakaway

8. Smokey Roads

9. I'm Alive

10. Crimson & Clover (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 10 are their sixth album "Crimson & Clover" – released January 1969 in the USA on Roulette SR 42023 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 2 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 2 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 5 (42:24 minutes):

1. Cellophane Symphony

2. Makin' Good Time

3. Evergreen

4. Sweet Cherry Wine

5. Papa Rolled His Own

6. Changes [Side 2]

7. Loved One

8. I Know Who I Am

9. The Love Of A Woman

10. On Behalf Of The Entire Staff & Management

Tracks 1 to 10 are their seventh album "Cellophane Symphony" – released October 1969 in the USA on Roulette SR 42030 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 3 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 3 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

As with all of these mini box sets there's no booklet but you do get 5 x 5" singular mini album sleeves (no gatefolds anyway) with the original front and rear cover of the American LPs on Roulette Records. The writing is tiny of course but how cool is it to see that original artwork after all these decades. The writer-credits are on the CD labels as are full track lists (no timings) with all 5 CD labels having generic colours that don’t reflect the original LP colours.

SOUND: There's no mention of Remasters but its Rhino/Warner Brothers and to my ears the Audio is wickedly good. I've got the 2009 Revola CD for "Crimson & Clover" and "Cellophane Symphony" and I'd have to say that the Audio on their release is the real deal – much better than what's on offer here. But as I say – what is on offer is excellent and at roughly two quid per album – a bit of a deal. Glitches - there was a mastering error on the "One Two Three And I Fell" track on the "Mony Mony" CD album – mistakes were admitted and Rhino have replaced it (my copy is fine).

The "Hanky Panky" album peaked at No. 46 on the US LP charts and produced two big singles – "Say I Am (What I Am)" b/w "Lots Of Pretty Girls" which hit No. 21 in August 1966 on Roulette R-4695 – and the title track "Hanky Panky" that went all the way to No. 1 in June 1966 on Roulette R-4686. Coming across like a more aggressive version of Roy Orbison and penned by the dynamic songwriting duo of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich - "Hanky Panky" is a total 60ts dancing winner. The boys then show their Soul smarts by covering James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy" as well an almost vocal group take on The Impressions classic "I'm So Proud" (penned by Curtis Mayfield). "The Lover" is the first of three originals on the LP – this one penned by their Tenor Sax man George Magura and Bassist Mike Vale. The other two originals are band numbers - "Don't Throw Our Love Away" and "Soul Searchin' Baby". Soul gent Deon Jackson wouldn't cringe at their cover of his sublime "Love Makes The World Go Round" - while The Rascals might sue for identikit on "Good Lovin'". As I recall the funky Soul-Stroll of "Cleo's Mood" (penned by Junior Walker) would also turn up as an instrumental B-side to Isaac Hayes monster "Shaft" in 1971 on Stax Records. The Shondells Saxophone take on it is the kind of wicked 60ts groover you might hear in a bar and rush to the counter to find who it is. Other happy tunes include the infectious "Shake A Tail Feather" – a frat-party winner originally done by The Five Du-Tones in 1963 and picked up on again in 1967 by James & Bobby Purify.

"I Think We're Alone Now" hit No. 74 in April 1967 – it’s title track represented here in its Mono 7” single variant for some reason (weedy sound). "I Think We're Alone Now" is probably better known as a Tiffany song when the teen sensation covered it 20 years later in 1987. Producer and songwriter Phil Cordell took over the reins for the "I Think We're Alone Now" LP - proffering all the songs except their cover of The Isley Brothers classic "Shout". Winning tunes include "Baby Let Me Down" (a lovely vibe) while "California Sun" is probably the most famous groove on here a regular spin for DJs wanting to lively-up their airwaves. Another emotion-puller on here is "(Baby, Baby) I Can't Take It No More" – a fantastic piece of Sixties pop that will lift the most jaded of hearts.

Considering what a smash "Mony Mony" was as a song – it's surprising to see that the LP barely scraped No.193 in July 1968. But that doesn’t mean its weak. It opens with hand-clapping and you can literally see all those shimmy-shaker girls giving it some go-go – driving all the boys wild in their lame boots and mini-skirts (yeah baby). Taking it down several notches the pretty ballad-melody in "(I'm) Taken" is another hidden album nugget. Phil Spector fans will love the Wall Of Sound production given to "Run Away With Me" complete with speaker-to-speaker panning of the vocals. Other faves include the exit-that-bad-relationship-real-quick "Get Out Now" and the harpsichord pop of "Some Kind Of Love".

Fans will also know that the LP variant of the "Crimson & Clover" track is known as the 'long version' because it runs to 5:26 minutes (5:33 on this CD - the single was an edit at three and half minutes). Luckily Rhino have used the 'long version' complete with the engineer saying "...do a thing...whatever..." at the beginning and that fantastic psych-out extended guitar passage. Released at the beginning of January 1969 – the album "Crimson & Clover" showed maturity in the writing and gave a nod to the druggy culture of the times. The wonderful trippy "I Am A Tangerine" is an obvious homage "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles. "Don't worry about guys...it's all in the mix..." we’re advised at the beginning of "Sugar On Sunday" by the Producer - a song where we go heavy on the harpsichord and treated vocals – the band sounding not unlike a stoned Bee Gees. But my fave is the garage guitar of "Breakaway" – a fantastic little groover buried on Side 2.

Part concept LP – part drug-addled – "Cellophane Symphony" continued the exploration of its predecessor. It opens on what could be The James Gang or Iron Butterfly or even Zappa. The 9:36 minute guitars of "Cellophane Symphony" signal a Tommy James & The Shondells that has moved away from three-minute power pop so much as to be almost unrecognisable. The music continues on the shorter and more recognisably Tommy James "Made Good Time" - where they already sound like Canned Heat on the road (great organ solo). The ballad "Evergreen" has great Production values and feels bigger and better than its 2:07 minute playing time would suggest. The witty homemade cigarettes song "Papa Rolled His Own" has a circus-carousel vocal that's fun but a tiny bit dated. Better is the Side 2 opener "Changes" – the sort of funk-rock religious song that wouldn't have gone amiss in "Hair" (I used to have some myself in 1969). My other poison here is the deceptively deep "I Know Who I Am" which feels like Warner Brothers Dion or even one of Link Wray's Polydor Records '3-Way Shack' recordings – all languid and knowing. While "The Love Of A Woman" may indeed be their very best song – hidden away on an album that's been lost in the mists of time.

A fantastic ride then through those amazingly creative years – and the best way to rediscover some criminally forgotten 60ts joy...

"Original Album Series" by WARREN ZEVON (March 2010 UK Asylum/Rhino 5CD Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Excitable Boy..."

Like Randy Newman it's a testament to Warren Zevon's extraordinarily witty and sharp songs that so many quality artists have covered him - Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Jackson Browne, Counting Crows and even Ireland's Freddie White to name but a few. And while his "Excitable Boy" set from 1978 will probably be the most familiar album to people on here – the stunning kick-ass live LP "Stand In The Fire" (recorded across five nights at The Roxy with a super tight band) is just one of the gems to discover in this cheap-as-a-politician’s-castle-moat-repair-bill 5CD mini box set. Time to rip your lungs out Jim for the original Werewolf Of London...

UK released March 2010 (reissued September 2012) – "Original Album Series" by WARREN ZEVON on Asylum/Rhino 8122 79837 1 (Barcode 081227983710) is a 5CD Capacity Wallet with Five Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 – "Warren Zevon" (38:28 minutes):

1. Frankie And Jesse James

2. Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded

3. Backs Turned Looking Down The Path

4. Hasten Down The Wind

5. Poor Poor Pitiful Me

6. The French Inhaler

7. Mohammed's Radio [Side 2]

8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

9. Carmelita

10. Join Me In L.A.

11. Desperados Under The Eaves

Tracks 1 to 11 are the debut album "Warren Zevon" – released June 1976 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1060 and in the UK on Asylum K 53039

Disc 2 – "Excitable Boy" (31:49 minutes):

1. Johnny Strikes up The Band

2. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

3. Excitable Boy

4. Werewolves Of London

5. Accidentally Like A Martyr

6. Nightime In The Switching Yard [Side 2]

7. Veracruz

8. Tenderness On The Block

9. Lawyers, Guns And Money

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd album "Excitable Boy" – released January 1978 in the USA on Asylum 6E 118 and March 1978 in the UK on Asylum K 53073

Disc 3 – "Bad Luck Steak In Dancing School" (35:35 minutes):

1. Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School

2. A Certain Girl

3. Jungle Work

4. Empty-Handed Heart

5. Interlude No. 1

6. Play It All Night Long

7. Jeannie Needs A Shooter [Side 2]

8. Interlude No. 2

9. Bill Lee

10. Gorilla, You're A Desperado

11. Bed Of Coals

12. Wild Age

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 3rd album "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" – released March 1980 in the USA on Asylum 5E 509 and in the UK on Asylum K 52191

Disc 4 – "Stand In The Fire – Recorded Live At The Roxy" (42:35 minutes):

1. Stand In The Fire

2. Jeannie Needs A Shooter

3. Excitable Boy

4. Mohammed's Radio

5. Werewolves Of London

6. Lawyers, Guns And Money [Side 2]

7. The Sin

8. Poor Poor Pitiful Me

9. I’ll Sleep When I'm Dead

10. Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger/Bo Diddley

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Stand In The Fire – Recorded Live At The Roxy" – released January 1981 in the USA on Asylum 5E-519 and in the UK on Asylum K 52265

Disc 5 - "The Envoy" (32:16 minutes):

1. The Envoy

2. The Overdraft

3. The Hula Hula Boys

4. Jesus Mentioned

5. Let Nothing Come Between You

6. Ain't That Pretty At All [Side 2]

7. Charlie’s Medicine

8. Looking For The Next Best Thing

9. Never Too Late For Love

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 5th album "The Envoy" – released August 1982 in the USA on Asylum 9 60159 1 and in the UK on Asylum AS K 52365

All of these "Original Album Series" sets are visually the same - a flimsy outer card slipcase houses 5 x 5" single card repro sleeves each aping the front and rear artwork of the original vinyl LPs. Each disc has generic Rhino colouring, song credits (including writers) and some basic recording info on the label – but that's it (no booklet). They look great it has to be said and are space saving for sure...

Audio-wise there's good news and bad news. In 2007 - Asylum/Rhino reissued "Excitable Boy" (1978), "Stand In The Fire" (1980) and "The Envoy" (1982) as first time CD Remasters with bonus tracks on each – but they have 'not' been used here (I own them and can immediately hear the difference). Having said that - the good news is that for the brilliantly recorded "Stand In The Fire" and "The Envoy" albums both of the non-remastered CDs don't represent such a dramatic dip in Audio quality (they sound pretty good and are more than acceptable). But "Excitable Boy" couldn't be more different. Like "Warren Zevon" and "Bad Lad Streak In Dancing School" - older non-remastered standard versions have been used in this box and subsequently the drop in Audio quality is very marked. When you hear the fantastic Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot 2007 Remaster of "Excitable Boy" (Asylum/Rhino 8122-79997-7 - Barcode 081227999773) – the Audio is awesome – all the power and muscle and clarity you would want from what is probably his best album. But what you get here is a weedy audio effort and unfortunately "Warren Zevon" and "Bad Luck..." are the same. Don't get me wrong – they're acceptable - and at roughly two quid per CD – bloody good value for money. But if Rhino had only used the three Remasters they already have and done two new ones for "Warren Zevon" and "Bad Luck..." – what an "Original Album Series" addition this would have been. It's a point worth pointing out. Now let's get to the other good news – the musical quality of what's actually on offer...

The debut album features an astonishing list of guest musicians. Check out the backing vocalists alone - Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers on "Frank And Jessie James" and "Hasten Down The Wind", Jackson Browne on "Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded" and "Desperados Under The Eaves" (also plays piano "Join Me In L.A."), Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac on "Mohammed's Radio" (Lindsey also sings on "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and plays Guitar on "Backs Turned Looking Down The Path"), Bonnie Raitt and Rosemary Butler sing on "Join Me In L.A." while Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles sing on "The French Inhaler" (Frey also plays guitar on "Carmelita") and Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys is just one of the voices behind "Desperados Under The Eaves". Ace horn player Bobby Keys of Rolling Stones fame provides Saxophone on "Mohammed's Radio" and "Join Me In L.A." - while stalwarts of his band Waddy Watchel and David Lindley plays guitars and fiddle.

The "Excitable Boy" album is a sensation really. All that potential on "Warren Zevon" came screaming to fruition on a record where there isn't a bad track (many would become synonymous with him). The bloodthirsty and kooky "Werewolves Of London" features Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac on Drums and Bass while Linda Ronstadt and Jennifer Warnes lend backing vocals to the giddily macabre "Excitable Boy" with Waddy Watchel chopping that axe and sessionman Jim Horn blowing a mean Saxophone. Karla Bonoff does lovely Harmony Vocals on "Accidentally Like A Martyr" while his long-time musical cohort Jorge Calderon plays Spanish Guitar on the hurting "Veracruz". Waddy Watchel's guitar work makes the gorgeous "Tenderness On The Block" - a song that always makes me think of my growing kids (who aren't kids anymore). And who doesn't laugh at the touch-and-go 'gambling in Havana' wit of "Lawyers, Guns And Money" where the you-know-what has unceremoniously hit the fan...(send help Daddy please). 

"Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" continues themes of nutjobs, society outcasts and his own personal and physical demons (drink and women). But while the mournful ballad "Empty-Handed Heart" with wonderful counter harmony vocals from Linda Ronstadt and the punk-cocky "Jeannie Needs A Shooter" (co-written with Bruce Springsteen and featuring Joe Walsh on Guitar) both sound like the two light and dark facets of Warren Zevon's music that fans love – the awkward Ernie K-Doe cover of "A Certain Girl" (written by Allen Toussaint) seems like its reaching - almost foolish (Jackson Browne on Backing Vocals with Don Felder of The Eagles on Guitar). "Jungle Rock" once again features Joe Walsh on Guitar (Solo) but the weedy CD lacks the musical punch this rather good little New Wave tune deserves. I've always liked the short but sweet 'string' interludes (even if they're sad and weirdly placed). But then you get the utterly brilliant and savage "Play It All Night Long" where he jabs at Lynyrd Skynyrd's big "Sweet Home Alabama" hit and farming life in general - giving us harsh lyrics like "...grandpa pissed his pants again...he don't give a damn...brother Billy has both guns drawn...he ain't been right since Vietnam..." The recently passed Glenn Frey of The Eagles adds his vocals to the piano hurt of "Bill Lee" - but Side 2 is let down by the cod reggae vibe of "Gorilla, You're A Desperado" where not even Jackson Browne on Guitars/Vocals with Don Henley on Backing Vocals can save it. The sleeping on a "Bed Of Coals" is good but also a tad maudlin for him (nice vocals though from Linda Ronstadt and J.D. Souther). The difficult third album is that – difficult - but still with its nuggets in-between the emotional nails...

No such problem with the barnstorming live set "Stand In The Fire..." This sucker rocks and has a HUGE audio presence that makes you wish you were there. There are two new songs in amongst the "Mohammed's Radio" perennials and the Bo Diddley Medley that ends the album – the wicked opener "Stand In The Fire” and "The Sin" on Side 2. The band too is 'so tight' – like they've rehearsed these things to within an inch of their lives. It feels contemporary too – like Graham Parker and The Rumour on fire. Special mention has to go to the blistering band that barely puts a foot wrong – David Landau and Zeke Zirngiebel on Guitars, Bob Harris on Keyboards, Robert Pinon on Bass and Vocals and Marty Stinger on Drums. Warren plays 12-String Guitar, Piano and of course sings all Lead Spots. Suddenly songs like "Jeannie Needs A Shooter" explode into riffage life – but its when we get to "Werewolves Of London" followed on Side 2 by "Lawyers, Guns And Money" that the gig really erupts – the excitement in the whooping audience is literally palatable. Thankfully the expertly produced original audio (Zevon and Greg Ladanyl did the honours) on this disc is far better than "Bad Luck..." - but my 2007 Remaster is fantastic and contains four bonuses from the gig that are absolutely having too.

On a more down-note. I once saw Zevon live in Dublin at the Dublin Stadium in the early 80ts (it was after the release of "Stand In The Fire"). But it was easily one of the worst concerts I've ever seen. The Promoter used the "Stand In The Fire" album in radio adverts (with that band and that huge sound). But when the packed stadium lights went down – Zevon came out on his own without a band to do an acoustic gig and just couldn't cut it. Worse - he was clearly not aware it hadn't been promoted as a solo gig - so after a couple of songs the dissatisfied audience grew ever more restless and started to heckle his every move. Every song needed the muscle of a group. But when he then did the folk ditty "Cum By A" (the Boy Scouts song) – the audience had had enough and started booing big time. He did one forced encore where he poured Bourbon over his harmonica in rage – but by then people where out trying to get their money back from a terrified promoter. It was awful. I'd rather remember Warren Zevon like this – standing in the fire - kicking and vital – genuinely exciting – one of my songwriting heroes...

I loved and hated "The Envoy" on its release in 1982. The contrasts between the gorgeous love songs like "Let Nothing Come Between You" and "Never Too Late For Love" and the political jabbing of "The Envoy” (wrestling guns in Damascus), the hatred of Drugs, Junkie Life and all its lies in "Ain't That Pretty At All" beside the stark and tender beauty of "Jesus Mentioned" made the whole album one big contrast of styles. But that's its strength. You think something like "The Hula Hula Boys" is a flippant indigenous folky lightweight - but its way deeper than that. Same applies to the menacing "Charlie's Medicine" where someone's pill hook-up has been shot in Beverley Hills by a crazed Doctor. Zevon sings of Charlie and his pharmaceutical supplies with self-loathing also - "...I gave him all my money...what the hell was I thinking of..." We get a crazed but thoroughly effective backing vocal from Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac on the topical "The Overdraft" – the banks screwing the little guy. And his visit to Elvis' home in "Jesus Mentioned" predates Paul Simon's "Graceland" by three or four years...

You could argue that it's better to buy the 2007 Asylum/Rhino versions of "Excitable Boy", "Stand In The Fire" and "The Envoy" for the vastly improved audio and excellent bonus tracks (they're easily available and reasonably priced too) – but "Warren Zevon" and "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" are must-owns in their own patchy ways.

"...All alone on the road to perfection...at the inspection booth they tried to discourage me..." - Warren Zevon sang on the uplifting "Looking For The Next Best Thing". Despite its audio niggles – I'd say look no further and dig in...

"Original Album Series" by DAVE EDMUNDS [including LOVE SCULPTURE] (2015 Parlophone/Warners/Swan Song 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Here Comes The Weekend..."

It feels like I've been waiting for this mini box set peach-a-rooney for years. There's something about Dave Edmunds Rock 'n' Roll fixation throughout the whole of the Seventies that I've always loved. He rocked and his records were fun listens too. But what's perhaps forgotten is that his LPs mixed in his 50ts and 60ts obsessions with the New Wave songwriting genius of Rockpile's Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner - not to mention the acidic tongues of Elvis Costello and Graham Parker. The result is albums - that although retro in feel - are also contemporary. 

Oddly though - availability has always been an issue. Outside of Rhino's superb 1993 2CD "Anthology" career-overview – Remasters of his primo full-album catalogue have remained off the general CD availability radar until now. Well – here at last – is a salty 5CD set to sort my DE needs right out – and it’s a humdinger too. Here are the 'Twangin' details...

UK released September 2015 – "Original Album Series" by DAVE EDMUNDS (including LOVE SCULPTURE) on Parlophone/Warners/Swan Song 0081227952006 (Barcode same number) is a 5CD Mini Box Set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (41:03 minutes):

1. In The Land Of The Few [Dave Edmunds, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

2. Seagull [Paul Korda cover]

3. Nobody’s Talking [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

4. Why (How-Now) [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

5. Farandole (L’Arlesienne) [George Bizet, classical cover]

6. You Can’t Catch Me [Chuck Berry cover] - [Side 2]

7. People, People [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

8. Sabre Dance [Aram Khatchaturian cover, Russian composer]

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 2nd studio album "Forms And Feelings" by LOVE SCULPTURE (featuring Dave Edmunds) – released February 1970 in the UK on Parlophone PCS 7090 and in the USA on London/Parrot PAS 71035.

The second and last LOVE SCULPTURE album "Forms And Feelings" is the EMI Remaster that came out in a natty card digipak in 1999 – minus any bonus material. I say this because fans will know that "Forms And Feelings" was originally released in Britain as an 8-track LP - but American 9-track copies on Parrot Records had an extra song – a two-minute cover of "Mars" by Holst slipped inbetween "People, People" and "Sabre Dance" on Side 2. Unfortunately this CD reissue sticks to the strict British LP configuration. Also there were as many as 6 x 7" single MONO mixes and Edits around the LP in the UK on Parlophone Records ("Sabre Dance" and "Farandole" were edited for 45 – that kind of thing). If you want to get the lot (including the missing "Mars" track) – buy the superb Esoteric Recordings Expanded CD from 2008 (Esoteric Recordings are a part of Cherry Red of the UK – Catalogue Number ECCLEC 2016). It's a Ben Wiseman Remaster from original first generation master tapes and can be found on Amazon at Barcode 5013929711624 (just cut and paste that number and it will give you the right issue).

Disc 2 (31:44 minutes):

1. Get Out Of Denver [Bob Seger cover]

2. I Knew The Bride [Nick Lowe cover]

3. Back To School Days [Graham Parker cover]

4. Here Comes The Weekend [Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe song]

5. Worn Out Suits, Brand New Pockets [Dave Edmunds song]

6. Where Or When [1937 Rodgers & Hart song – Roy Heatherton & Mitzi Green cover]

7. Ju Ju Man [Jim Ford cover] – [Side 2]

8. Git It [Bob Kelly song – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps cover]

9. Let's Talk About Us [Otis Blackwell song – Jerry Lee Lewis cover]

10. Hey Good Lookin' [Hank Williams cover]

11. What Did I Do Last Night? [Nick Lowe song]

12. Little Darlin' [Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe song]

13. My Baby Left Me [Arthur Crudup song – Elvis Presley cover]

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Get It" – released April 1977 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59404 and in the USA on Swan Song SS 8418.

Disc 3 (34:11 minutes):

1. Trouble Boy [Billy Bremner song]

2. Never Been In Love [Nick Lowe & Rockpile song]

3. Not A Woman, Not A Child [Billy Bremner song]

4. Television [Nick Lowe song]

5. What Looks Best On You [Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe song]

6. Readers Wives [Noel Brown song]

7. Deborah [Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe song] - [Side 2]

8. Thread Your Needle [Brenda Lee Jones and Welton Young song – Dean and Jean cover]

9. A.I. On The Jukebox [Dave Edmunds/William Birch (of The Kursaal Flyers)]

10. It's My Own Business [Chuck Berry cover]

11. Heart Of The City [Nick Lowe song]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Trax On Wax 4" – released April 1978 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59407 and in the USA on Swan Song SS 8505

Disc 4 (34:40 minutes):

1. Girls Talk [Elvis Costello song]

2. Crawling From The Wreckage [Graham Parker song]

3. The Creature From The Black Lagoon [Billy Bremner song]

4. Sweet Little Lisa [Donovan and Martin Cowart and Hank DeVito song]

5. Dynamite [Mort Garson. Tom Glazer song - Brenda Lee cover]

6. Queen Of Hearts [Hank DeVito cover] – [Side 2]

7. Home In My Hand [Ronnie self cover]

8. Goodbye Mr. Good Guy [Billy Murray and Pat Meagre song]

9. Take Me For A Little While [Trade Martin cover]

10. We Were Both Wrong [Billy Bremner song]

11. Bad Is Bad [Huey Lewis & The News cover – feature Huey on Harmonica]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Repeat When Necessary" – released June 1979 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59409 and July 1979 in the USA on Swan Song SS 8507

Disc 5 (30:25 minutes):

1. Something Happens [John Hiatt cover]

2. It's Been So Long [Ian Gomm cover]

3. Singin' The Blues [Melvin Endsley song – Guy Mitchell cover]

4. (I'm Gonna Start) Living Again If It Kills Me [Carlene Carter, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds song]

5. Almost Saturday Night [John Fogerty cover]

6. Cheap Talk, Patter And Jive [Donovan Cowart and Hank DeVito song – features The Chesterfield Kings on Harmonica] – [Side 2]

7. Three Time Loser [Don Covay and Ronald Miller song – Wilson Pickett cover]

8. You'll Never Get Me Up (In One Of Those) [Mickey Jupp cover]

9. I'm Only Human [Nick Lowe and Rockpile song]

10. The Race Is On [Don Rollins cover – George Jones cover - features The Stray Cats]

11. Baby Let's Play House [Arthur Gunter song – Elvis Presley cover]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Twangin..." – released April 1981 UK 7” single on Swan Song SSK 59411 and May 1981 in the USA on Swan Song SS 16304

Everyone knows the visual story with these "Original Album Series" Mini 5CD Box sets – five single card sleeves with the original artwork front and rear – look nice but you can’t read the details. At least the CDs themselves have the track credits on each. It doesn’t say who remastered the four Swan Song albums or indeed if they’ve been even been redone (the Love Sculpture CD is the 1999 EMI Remaster) – I doubt it. The sound is great but there's no doubt in my mind that the Rhino Remasters of 1993 on the "Anthology" 2CD set are infinitely better. Having said that - as the bulk of these albums are late 70ts and early 80s recordings – the audio was on the money anyway – so for most casual listeners these CDs will sound just dandy.

Although I'm a huge DE fan – I’ve always had a hard time with Love Sculpture who seemed to spend way too much of their time pissing about with dodgy cover versions. Paul Korda’s soppy "Seagull" is awful, classical composer Bizet's "Farandole" from the Opera "L'Arlesienne" is ok, Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" is oddly unexciting (especially given Edmunds knack with Rock 'n' Roll) and the eleven minute "Sabre Dance" has awesome guitar work for sure but overstays its welcome past four minutes. The best tracks on the record are written by Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker – the hard rocking "Nobody's Talking" and the James Gang-ish contemplative feel to "Why (How-Now)" - both of which sound fabulous on this remaster. "People, People" too sounds so hippy 1967 and could be The Association or The Monkees (it's a pretty tune).

Typical of Edmunds – he seemed to always know what song suited him and how to re-arrange it into his own updated DE style. For example - a genius choice on 1978's "Tracks On Wax 4" is an ultra-obscure B-side on Rust Records of the USA called "Thread Your Needle". It was put out by Dean and Jean in 1966 as the flipside to "You're The Love Of My Life" and penned by Brenda Lee Jones and Welton Young – both of whom authored "The Majestic" for Dion in 1961. It's the kind of Eddie Cochran-ish guitar rocker that just comes in – does the business – and leaves – no muss - no fuss. It's followed by the hugely likeable "A.I. On The Jukebox" which feels like old-time Fifties Rock 'n' Roll but is actually a modern 1978 co-write between Dave Edmunds and William Birch of The Kursaal Flyers. It was issued as a UK A-side 45 on Swan Song SSK 19417 in February 1979 with the fab rocker "It's My Own Business" as its flipside – but despite the strength of both tracks – it tanked (yet you’ll find yourself replaying these little nuggets over and over again). His instincts to record Nick Lowe's brilliant and incendiary "Heart Of The City" 'live' pays off (no venue or date provided) because it gives the tune that Punky punch it warrants. In fact I can’t help thinking that "Tracks On Wax 4" is the forgotten nugget in his long cannon of enjoyable albums.

Next up and two huge faves among fans – "Repeat When Necessary" and "Twangin..." – both of which provided him with much-needed hit singles and chart exposure. Elvis Costello's brilliant "Girls Talk" was the first single off the "Repeat" album coupled with "Bad Is Bad" in June 1979 on Swan SSK 19419 – it did the chart business by climbing to 4 (the B-side is a Huey Lewis & The News cover version which features the great American Rocker guesting on Harmonica). That was followed by the other obvious winner on the album "Queen Of Hearts" – a fabulous Eddie Cochran type Acoustic Rocker that virtually screamed repeat radio play. It was penned by Henry DeVito of The Hot Band and became a hit again for Juice Newton on Capitol Records in 1981. But I love its Rockpile-sounding B-side "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" – a typically hooky tune from the witty pen of Billy Bremner who would later play with Rockpile and even guest for The Pretenders (the single landed a respectable No. 11 position on the UK charts). Graham Parker's wickedly acidic "Crawling From The Wreckage" was then coupled with the non-LP "As Lovers Do" on SSK 19240 which hit the lower end of the singles chart (59) in November 1979 (the album had run its course). Other favourites of mine are his electrifying cover of Brenda Lee’s “Dynamite” and the Phil Spector sounding 60ts melodrama of "Take Me For A Little While" originally written by teen-idol Trade Martin who put it out as a US 45 on RCA Victor in 1967. Albert Lee plays guest guitar on "Sweet Little Lisa".

After the brilliance of 1980’s ROCKPILE reunion album "Seconds Of Pleasure" on F-Beat Records (with Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams) in 1980 - "Twangin..." was a welcome sight in 1981. Again you get that killer mix of the new – John Hiatt's New Wave yet Funky "Something Happens" and Billy Bremner's witty anti-airplane song "You'll Never Get Me Up (In One Of Those)" – sitting alongside familiar 50ts rhythms of "Singin' The Blues" (Guy Mitchell) and John Fogerty's wicked "Almost Saturday Night". Album nuggets include his superb cover of Wilson Pickett's "Three Time Loser" (written by Don Covay) which Edmunds somehow turns into a Rock 'n' Roll song and the double-trouble Rockabilly pairing of "The Race Is On" (with The Stray Cats) and the Sun Records echo-laden Presley homage of "Baby Let's Play House". Way to go baby...

I suppose you could argue that if this mini box had the fab "Seconds Of Pleasure" album by Rockpile from 1980 – then retro perfection would have been achieved. As it is – this is a great listen and a top-notch addition to an increasingly cool CD series...

PS: see also my reviews for Brinsley Schwarz, Terry Reid, Jimmy Webb and The Groundhogs in the "Original Album Series"...and Dave Edmund's solo albums - "Rockpile" (1972) and "Subtle As A Flying Mallet" (1975) both on expanded CDs...

This review and hundreds like it are available in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. 

Check them out by clicking this Amazon link...

"Original Album Series" by JIMMY WEBB (2015 Rhino/Warners Music Group 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Words And Music..."

Now here's a genuinely cool addition to this ever-expanding series - five albums from the mighty pen of JIMMY WEBB in his Seventies prime. They're based on the 2006 and 2008 Collector's Choice Music CD masters and the audio is excellent throughout - especially on the highly polished Productions given to "Land's End" and "El Mirage". And at roughly two quid a disc - there's an awful lot of sublime music on offer here that you've probably not heard - and should. Here are the Wichita Lineman details...

UK released Monday 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) - "Original Album Series" by JIMMY WEBB on Rhino/Warner Music Group 0081227955878 (Barcode is the same number) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" Card Repro Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (43:25 minutes):
1. Sleepin' In The Daytime
2. P. F. Sloan
3. Love Song
4. Careless Weed
5. Psalm One-Five-O
6. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [i] Songseller [Side 2]
7. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [ii] Dorothy Chandler Blues
8. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [iii] Jerusalem
9. Three Songs: (Let It Be Me, Never My Love, I Wanna Be Free)
10. Once Before I Die
Tracks 1 to 10 are his second LP "Words And Music". Produced by Webb and credited to Jimmy L. Webb - it was released February 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6421 and January 1971 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6421 (reissued in 1971 on Reprise K 44101). All tracks are originals except 9 which is a three-part cover versions medley - "Let It Be Me" by The Everly Brothers, "Never My Love" by The Association and "I Wanna Be Free" by The Monkees. His sister Susan Webb does uncredited duet vocals on 9 and 10. The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 2 (39:12 minutes):
1. Met Her On A Plane
2. All Night Show
3. All My Love's Laughter
4. Highpockets
5. Marionette
6. Laspitch [Side 2]
7. One Lady
8. If Ships Were Made To Sell
9. Pocketful Of Keys
10. See You Then
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd LP "And So: On" - released August 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6448 and in the UK on Reprise K 44134. Produced by Jimmy Webb - all songs are JW originals. His sister Susan Webb (credited as The Good Sisters) provides backing vocals on "All My Love's Laughter", "Highpockets" and "Laspitch". The 2006 Collector's Choice Music CD master is used for this CD.

Disc 3 (38:51 minutes):
1. Galveston
2. Campo De Encine
3. Love Hurts
4. Simile
5. Hurt Me Well
6. Once In The Morning [Side 2]
7. Catharsis
8. Song Seller
9. When Can Brown Begin
10. Piano
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "Letters" - released September 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2055 and in the UK on Reprise K 44173. Produced by Larry Marks - all songs are Webb originals except "Love Hurts" by Boudleaux Bryant - a hit for The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison. Susan Webb sings Backing Vocals on "Once In The Morning" and "When Can Brown Begin" - JONI MITCHELL sings Backing Vocals on "Simile". The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 4 (42:44 minutes):
1. Ocean In His Eyes
2. Feet In The Sunshine
3. Cloudman
4. Lady Fits Her Blue Jeans
5. Just This One Time
6. Crying In My Sleep [Side 2]
7. It's A Sin
8. Alyce Blue Gown
9. Land's End/Asleep On The Wind
Tracks 1 to 9 are his 5th album "Land's End" - released April 1974 in the USA on Asylum SD 5070 and June 1974 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9014. The 2008 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 5 (39:20 minutes):
1. The Highwayman
2. If You See Me Getting Smaller I'm Leaving
3. Mixed-Up Guy
4. Christiaan No
5. Moment In A Shadow
6. Sugarbird
7. Where The Universes Are [Side 2]
8. P. F. Sloan
9. Dance To The Radio
10. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
11. Skylark (A Meditation)
Tracks 1 to 11 are his 6th album "El Mirage" - released May 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18218 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50370. The album was Produced, Arranged and Conducted by GEORGE MARTIN (of Beatles fame) and all songs are written by Jimmy Webb except "Skylark (A Meditation)" which is a co-write with Paul Skylar and "Dance To The Radio" which is written by long-time guitarist in his band - Fred Tackett. The album also features a large number of famous guests including Lowell George of Little Feat on Slide Guitar, Kenny Loggins, Billy Davis and George Hawkins on Vocals, Herb Pedersen on Banjo, Harvey Mason on Percussion, Dean Parks and Fred Tackett on Guitars, David Paich of Toto on Keyboards, Larry Knechtel on Bass and finally Clydie King, Shirley Matthews and Susan Webb on Backing Vocals. The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

As is mostly the norm with this series - none of these discs have any extras and are straightforward transfers of the original vinyl LPs (with repro artwork front and rear). Each CD label lists the tracks along with Writer and Producer credits - a good idea because the 5" Card Repro Sleeves (although they look nice) are hard if not impossible to read.

His first album proper was 1968's "Jim Webb Sings Jim Webb" on Epic in the USA and CBS in the UK - which is outside the remit of this 5CD set. His 2nd platter "Words And Music" from 1970 more than makes up for the debut's absence and is a genuine lost classic from that much-loved decade. I'm also surprised at how good this CD sounds given the records notorious 'fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants' production values it originally got. "Sleepin' In The Daytime" is incredibly clear - all the instruments warm and present - especially the rhythm section (most instruments played by Fred Tackett). What follows next is the album's most famous song. "P.F. Sloan" is about the career trials and tribulations of Californian songwriter "P.F. Sloan" (real name Philip Schlein) - author of Barry McGuire's searing anti-war song "Eve Of Destruction" (produced by Lou Adler) - a huge hit in 1965. Sloan was a songsmith to an array of artists like The Mamas and The Papas, Johnny Rivers and The Grass Roots but famously never received the recognition he deserved. In fact Webb's song became much covered in itself (The Association in 1971 to Rumer in 2012).

What you then catch is the album's other secret weapon - the harmonizing vocals of his sister Susan Webb who does gorgeous vocal work on "P.F. Sloan", the beautiful "Love Song" (one the album's undeniable masterpieces) and "Careless Weed". I could live without the God-squad `praise him' righteousness of "Psalm One-Five-O" which Reprise actually released as a 7" single in the UK in 1971 with "P.F. Sloan" on A. Side two of the album opens with a three-parter called "Music For An Unmade Movie" with "Jerusalem" (part iii) being my favourite part. There then comes a stunning re-working of three cover versions where Webb weaves the melodies of The Everly Brothers, The Association and The Monkees into one whole. With Susan's matching vocals - his runs the three songs into a new arrangement that perfectly compliments the warmth of the originals - it's pigging genius.

After the musical high of "Words And Music" - I must admit I found 1971's "And So: On" a bit of a disappointment. It starts out well enough with the strings and melody of "Met Her On A Plane" but not only were some of the songs weaker - but his strained vocals on the fuzzed guitar rawk of "Highpockets" and "Laspitch" only makes them sound more cringeworthy. It's not all bad though. The album ends on three softer piano tunes of which "One Lady" feels like it has that melody-magic - as does "See You Then". The audio is very good throughout - hardly outstanding - but more than acceptable.

Far better is the fan fave "Letters" LP where he begins proceedings with his own version of the huge hit he gave Glen Campbell - "Galveston". Its opening acoustic-strums sound beautiful and his voice perfectly pitched. In fact I'm reminded of album I love called Smith Perkins Smith on Island Records in 1972 by Smith Perkins Smith. It was issued in the UK and the States and sounds like an English version of CSNY with Jimmy Webb as the lead vocalist (isn't yet on CD unfortunately). As this truly sweet remaster of "Galveston" plays through your speakers - the record already begins to feel like a genuine lost classic. Things continue beautifully with the soaring Mexican Waltz melody of "Campo De Encino" and you can so hear the melodiousness of Big Star in the Seventies running right through to the Jayhawks in the Nineties (gorgeous audio too). The lone cover is "Love Hurts" written by Bordeleaux Bryant and made famous of course by The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison in the early Sixties. Some hate it but I like the string arrangements and it lines up "Simile" - one of the album's masterpieces where none other than JONI MITCHELL puts in a rare Backing Vocals appearance. Playing a piano blinder - "Simile" sounds like a "Blue" outtake sung by Webb. True - Joni's contribution may be slight but it's beautifully done and so complimentary (the song is a highlight for me on the album). "Hurt Me Well" has superlative string arrangements. "Song Seller" is an amped-up re-recording of a tune that turned up on "Words And Music" in 1970 - far better is "When Can Brown Begin" which once again benefits from the backing vocals of his sister Susan Webb (she's on "Once In The Morning" too). It finishes on "Piano" - peaceful and lovely - an ending-of-the-day tune.

Production values lift off into the stratosphere with 1974's "Land's End" as Webb parted company with Reprise and went with Geffen's Asylum Records. The remaster on "Ocean In His Eyes" is superb while the echoed keyboard pings and high-strung guitars of "Cloudman" sound glorious. "Lady Fits Her Blue Jeans" is more of the same sounding not unlike David Gates or Bread. It ends on the epic nine-minutes of "Land's End/Asleep On The Wind" which sneaks in with ominous strings like some tense thriller movie and goes on like that until a song emerges about half way through. It's ambitious stuff and features huge string/choral arrangements that would impress Ennio Morricone.

Everyone and his brother came to Webb for 1977's "El Mirage" and yet much of the album left me cold. Stuff like "Sugarbird" is schlock and his re-recording of "P.F. Sloan" is good but kind of inexplicable. "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is a pretty song with lovely arrangements from George Martin - but the record as a whole felt more like polish than soul (I found myself going back to "Words And Music", "Letters" and "Land's End" instead).

Terry Reid, Brinsley Schwarz and Jimmy Webb are all new 27 April 2015 additions in this "Original Album Series" - and what winners all three are. But you can't help thinking there's something just a little bit special about this entry in that increasingly brill reissue program. Jimmy Layne Webb was one of the first tunesmiths inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and has received Lifetime Achievement awards from the America's prestigious National Academy Of Songwriters. Buy this cheap-as-chips gift to your stereogram and find out why...