"Open Your Heart: The Island Recordings 1972-1976" by JIM CAPALDI [of Traffic] – Features Three Albums "Oh How We Danced" (February 1972 Solo Debut after Traffic), "Whale Meat Again" (June 1974) and "Short Cut Draw Blood" (June 1975) Plus Five Bonus Non-LP 45-single Sides and a DVD with Concert Footage from November 1975 and March 1976 – Features Paul Kossoff of Free, Guitarists Pete Carr and Chris Spedding, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Blind Faith, Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Rebop of Traffic, Barry Beckett, Jimmy Johnson, David Hood and Roger 'The Hawk' Hawkins of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Backing Singers Sue & Sunny and many more (March 2020 UK Esoteric Recordings 3CD+1DVD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and Remasters from Original Island Records Master Tapes by Paschal Byrne) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Open-Heart-Island-Recordings-1972-1976/dp/B083XVYPL4?crid=38YSH4MW2IW5I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FU8ZhyaSUMQbz9bulpBudA.rTGuEsvNRY-O3zlEXz8peAtxqPrkaI59SaCdNTXpd_Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929481282&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730749172&sprefix=5013929481282%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_3M_AUTOMATED&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=da1f87bc06dc6c891128d1ccaf86dfc1&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATINGS:

Material *** to ****

Presentation ****

Audio *****

"…Short Cut Draw Blood…"

In hindsight, so many reviewers in the 00s, 10s and 20s have been kind and generous in their praise to the music of Jim Capaldi. I mention this in late 2024 because when I was growing up and buying these sorts of albums between 1972 and 1975 – the general viewpoint was different. 

Some of his Island records album had good moments – but most were ordinary and even poor despite the stellar line-ups of guest musicians I have outlined below. And he has never had the best of voices either. Most of his Traffic compatriots were on the LPs alongside luminaries like Paul Kossoff of Free, Jess Roden of Bronco, ace axeman Chris Spedding, the Muscles Shoals House Band and even occasional inspiration from Viv Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. But one look at auction sites and you will see hundreds of these albums on sale for under a pound and unfortunately even less. 

But – and this is the big but here – since the release of the June 2011 Universal 4CD Book Set "Dear Mr. Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story" (covering his music from 1964 to 2004) and now this - "Open Your Heart: The Island Recordings 1972-1976" – both sets beautifully 24-bit Digitally remastered by PASCHAL BYRNE from original tapes – it is time for me to bury my growing-up prejudice and re-listen. 
There is much to like here – rediscover too. None are masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination – but with that visual element too which I had not seen before – time to buckle up, grab the Bic Razor and draw chin-blood again. Oh How We Danced indeed – here are the heartfelt details…

UK released 27 March 2020 - "Open Your Heart: The Island Recordings 1972-1976" by JIM CAPALDI on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42712 (Barcode 5013929481282) is a 3CD+1DVD Clamshell Box Set (Three Albums Plus Five Bonus Tracks and Concert Footage from 1975 and 1976 on the DVD) that plays out as follows:

CD1 "Oh How We Danced" (40:57 minutes):
1. Eve [Side 1]
2. Big Thirst
3. Love Is All You Can Try
4. Last Day Of Dawn
5. Don't Be A Hero [Side 2]
6. Open Your Heart
7. How Much Can A Man Really Take
8. Oh How We Danced
Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut solo album (after Traffic) "Oh How We Danced" – released February 1972 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9187. Produced by JIM CAPALDI and CHRIS BLACKWELL – the Band included Steve Winwood of Traffic and Blind Faith on Organ and Guitar, Jimmy Johnson (Guitar), David Hood (Bass) and Roger Hawkins (Drums) of The Muscle Shoals House Band, Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Rebop Kwaku Baah of Traffic, Paul Kossoff of Free on Guitar, Barry Beckett on Keyboards, Rick Grech of Traffic, Blind Faith, Ginger Baker's Airforce and Family, Trevor Burton and Jim Gordon and more

BONUS TRACK:
9. Going Down Slow All The Way (March 1972 UK 7" 45-single on Island Records WIP 6127, Non-LP B-side to "Eve")

CD2 "Whale Meat Again" (47:13 minutes):
1. It's Alright [Side 1]
2. Whale Meat Again
3. Yellow Sun
4. I've Got So Much Lovin'
5. Low Rider [Side 2]
6. My Brother
7. Summer Is Fading
8. We'll Meet Again
Tracks 1 to 8 are his second studio album "Whale Meat Again" – released June 1974 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9254. Produced by JIM CAPALDI – the band included Pete Carr, Jimmie Johnson and Bubs White on Guitars, Barry Beckett and John "Rabbit" Bundrick on Keyboards, Chris Stainton of The Grease Band, Steve Winwood and Rebop Kwaku Baah of Traffic with the Muscles Shoals House Band

BONUS TRACK:
9. Tricky Dicky Rides Again (June 1973 UK 7" 45-single on Island Records WIP 6165, A-side (Non-LP). The B-side in the UK was the album track "Whale Meat Again", however, in the USA it was issued and credited (March 1973) as "Tricky Dickie Rides Again" on Island Records USA IS 1216 with "Love Is All You Can Try" from the debut album as its flipside

CD3 "Short Cut Draw Blood" (56:21 minutes):
1 Goodbye Love[Side 1]
2. It's All Up To You
3. Love Hurts
4. Johnny Too Bad
5. Short Cut, Draw Blood
6. Living On A Marble [Side 2]
7. Boy With A Problem
8. Keep On Trying
9. Seagull
Tracks 1 to 9 are his third solo album "Short Cut Draw Blood" – released June 1975 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9336. Produced by JIM CAPALDI, CHRIS BLACKWELL and STEVE SMITH – the band featured Jess Roden of Bronco, Chris Spedding, Pete Carr, Paul Kossoff of Free, Pete Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary and Jimmy Johnson on Guitars, Barry Beckett on Keyboards, Ray Allen on Saxophone, Chris Stainton of The Grease Band, Steve Winwood, Gerry Conway of Fotheringay, Chris Wood and Rebop Kwaku Baah of Traffic, the Muscles Shoals House Band and more

BONUS TRACKS:
10. Sugar Honey (October 1975 UK 7" 45-single on Island Records WIP 6246, Non-LP B-side to "Love Hurts")
1

1. Talkin' About My Baby 
12. Still Talkin'
Tracks 11 and 12 are the Non-LP A&B-sides on an April 1976 UK 7" 45-single on Island Records WIP 6299 (no US issue)

DVD (NTSC, All Regions)
Jim Capaldi Band 
18 November 1975 - BBC TV – The Old Grey Whistle Test

Intro by Bob Harris
1. Short Cut, Draw Blood
2. Goodbye Love

Band featured:
Jim Capaldi on Guitar and Lead Vocals, Steve Winwood on Piano, Pete Bonas on Lead Guitar, Kiki Gyan on Organ, Ray Allen on Saxophone, Rosko Gee on Bass, Remi Kabaka on Drums and Percussion with Phil Capaldi on Percussion and Backing Vocals

Jim Capaldi and the Space Cadets
10 March 1976 – Live at the BBC Television Theatre in London
For the BBC TV programme – The Old Grey Whistle Test

Intro by Bob Harris
1. Low Rider
2. Love Hurts
3. Goodbye Love
4. Elixir Of Love
5. Boy With A Problem
6. Short Ends
7. Talkin' About My Baby
8. Keep On Trying
Band featured:
Jim Capaldi on Guitar and Lead Vocals, Pete Bonas on Lead Guitar, Kiki Gyan on Organ, Ray Allen on Saxophone, Rosko Gee on Bass, Remi Kabaka on Drums and Percussion, Phil Capaldi on Percussion and Backing Vocals with Ralph Richardson on Steel Drums

The small Clamshell Box Set contains four Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves with Picture CDs inside – three albums and a DVD. The card sleeves are named after the Box set and therefore don’t really reflect the original artwork as it was (as per the photos provided), and their rears have other photos than the original releases (none are gatefolds and any inners plus info is now in the booklet). The 28-page booklet helmed by PAUL MINKKINEN is a pleasingly in-depth affair – colour photos – repros of those lovely cartoons on the inner sleeve of "Whale Meat Again" that reflected each song title – the band-photos of "Oh How We Danced" (Paul Kossoff either asleep or stoned) - album-by-album credits in the closing pages alongside reissue credits (no lyrics though). Capaldi would go on to eleven more albums, but as Minkkinen points out, most fans gravitate towards these Seventies Funk-Rock and Soft-Rock moments accompanied by many buddies from Traffic, The Grease Band and even Fotheringay. A lovely inclusion too is the Bonus 45-single sides. 

But for me – re-hearing records I never really rated – the best news is the amazing Audio clarity on offer here. PASCHAL BYRNE has had his Engineer name on wads of Cherry Red UK reissues especially for their Esoteric Recordings label offshoot. I made immediately not for the obvious hit "Love Hurts" but for a Funk Rock gem I have loved for nearly fifty years - "Low Rider" – and wowser is the response. These were well-crafted and well-recorded albums and the sheer Funkiness of The Muscle Shoals House Band that he used - Jimmy Johnson on Guitar, David Hood on Bass with Roger "The Hawk" Hawkins on Drums and Barry Beckett on Keyboards – made the rhythm section feel like they were in the pocket - on Average White band tablets. The strings are admittedly overdone in places, but overall – the Audio is first class – clear and alive like you would want it. To the music…

His February 1972 debut album (after Traffic) "Oh How We Danced" opens on the slightly-weedy "Eve" – a mid-tempo woman-child tune. Far better is the slow ballad blues of "Big Thirst" – a co-write with Dave Mason - everyone hoping for a miracle to drive away the pain. Barry Beckett provides Soulful Organ, Sue and Sunny lady backing vocals, Dave Mason a Harmonica solo while Paul Kossoff of Free makes a first appearance on Guitar. Things turn to Piano Bop (Barry Beckett) with "Love Is All We Can Try" where both vocally and musically Capaldi sounds another Island Records fave – Bryn Haworth (Steve Winwood picks electric guitar in your left speaker). Side 1 ends with the acoustic-frantic "Last Day of Dawn" – Kossoff getting guitar funky while Rebop of Traffic and Roger Hawkins with David hood of The Muscle Shoals House Band give the backbeat a Funk.

The six-minute "Don't Be A Hero" opens Side 2 – again a mellow Capaldi telling us not to be sad – and while the musicians do him proud (both Kossoff and Mason on Guitar with Mason soloing) – his weak vocals kind of sink its epic build up and sway (sounds so good though). The song that entitles the Box Set "Open Your Heart" reunited Steve Winwood (Organ and Vocals) with fellow Traffic pal Chris Wood on Electric Sax which Rick Grech hits those soft Bass notes. Wood plays Flute on "How Much Can A Man Take" while sessionman legend Trevor Burton plays Bass and again Kossoff staying in the Rhythm Section background throughout. A good tune but again his voice kind of does for any impact. The LP finishes with a fast one – the Piano and Bass pulsating beat of "Oh How We Danced" where (finally) Kossoff gets to let rip on a guitar solo while The Muscle Shoals Horns get brassy in the mix. A good album then, rather than great. The piano-ballad Non-LP B-side "Going Down Slow All The Way" is excellent and you wonder why it did not get on the LP instead of the weaker "Eve".

Album number two - the wittily entitled "Whale Meat Again" arrived June 1974 – a full two-years after the debut – but the band remained roughly the same. I rate it much more than the starter album. Side 1 opens with a sort of happy-go-lucky Caribbean Island vibe in "It's Alright" that nicks some of its Acoustic moments from a famous George Harrison song on Abbey Road. Both Pete Carr (on Lead) and Jimmy Johnson have loads of guitar moments on the Blues Rock swagger of the album title track "Whale Meat Again" – a destruction of the environment angry song anchored by Ian "Rabbit" Bundrick on Keyboards while The Muscle Shoals Horns get classy halfway through. "Yellow Sun" is the big seven-minute ballad for Side 1 that sees Pete Carr switch to Dobro Slide while Jimmy Johnson handles the Guitars and Chris Stainton of The Grease Band plays mellow Organ. Barry Beckett on piano (comes in about the three-minute mark) rounds off a classy line-up on the undoubted LP highlight. The band gets Funky with the backbeat for "I've Got So Much Lovin'" – a downtown LA bopper that is abided by Lady Singers echoing most lines. Could have been a good single too but Island UK chose "It's All Up To You" b/w "Whale Meat Again" for the July 1974 45-single (which did not chart). 

Side 2 of "Whale Meat Again" opens with the brilliant Rock-Funk of "Low Rider" – a shadow man with lightning in his satchel designed to meet your needs. Harry Robinson arranged the cool strings as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section get deep into the groove – Pete Carr making the Lead Guitar Solo count for every second. "Low Rider" runs to 5:40 minutes - but you can’t help think that Island missed a trick here with an Edited Down 45-single that might have caught the AWB-crowd neck-jerking to "Pick Up The Pieces" over on Atlantic Records. "My Brother" comes sailing out of your speakers with fab clarity but his echoed strangulated vocals are more irritating than effective – shame because the band achieves a sexy groove (Barry Beckett puts in a rare Synth solo). The second album ends with a two-parter – 8:30 minutes of "Summer Is Fading" that segue into a one and half-minute orchestrated strings cover of the old WWII Vera Lynn classic "We'll Meet Again". Starting out slow like a Traffic groove – Bub White takes Lead Guitar on "Summer Is Fading" that soon gets soloing frantic to only return to slow. The Vera Lynn thing has gorgeous string arrangements but is ruined by silly shouting.

Coming before the 1974 "Whale Meat Again" album hit the shops, the 45-single "Tricky Dicky Rides Again" from June 1973 on Island WIP 6165 whetted appetites. Fans want it because it features PAUL KOSSOFF of FREE on Guitar (it later appeared as "Dirty Business" – a remake on JC’s "Contender" album in February 1978 on Polydor Records) – but you might have difficulty actually hearing him through the rowdy proceedings until the end (great solo). Speaking of ace axeman Kossoff, unfortunately, the track "You And Me" which was also recorded with Capaldi and The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in the 1975 sessions for "Short Cut Draw Blood" is not here. "You And Me" first appeared on the "Koss" double-album anthology in 1977 on Island Records, but its digital appearance is exclusive to the June 2011 4CD Book Set "Dear Mr. Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story" (probably not here for licensing reasons).

Nicking a Carole King Tapestry piano intro - "Goodbye Love" comes Funky-shimmying into your living room and production values are higher than ever. Steve Winwood contributes to the slinky backbeat with Organ, Guitar, Bass and Piano whilst Ray Allen pops in those Saxophone jabs. Commerciality comes screaming through the lovely catchy-chorus of "It's All Up To You" (a minor hit single) – Clavinet and Keyboards by John "Rabbit" Bundrick with Jess Roden on Guitar (ex-Bronco, on a solo career in 1975). I doubt either Keyboardists Steve Winwood or Jean Roussel thought that a cover version of an Everly Brothers hit "Love Hurts" would go Top 5 for Capaldi was conspicuously absent from either single or LP charts. Legendary session Drummer Jerry Conway (of Fotheringay) and licks-for-hire turning-solo-artist the following year Chris Spedding plays guitar. Jamaican Reggae act The Slicker would see his 1971 UK 45-single on Punch Records PH 59 "Johnny (Too) Bad" be taken by both Jim Capaldi and John Martyn into superb cover versions. While the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Horns keep the shuffling Reggae-Rock beat tight in the pocket – listen (real) close and you will just about catch Pete Yarrow of 60ts Folkies Peter, Paul & Mary playing Acoustic Guitar. Side 1 of "Short Cut Draw Blood" ends with the title song – a good guitar-chugging builder that features both Pete Carr and Chris Spedding on Guitars (Rebop of Traffic is in their too doing his Percussion thing).

Side 2 of "Short Cut Draw Blood" opens with the decentralization-needed angry "Love On A Marble" – both Jimmy Johnson and Chris Spedding contributing electric guitars, Chris on Lead (Pete Carr on Acoustic) while Steve Winwood quietly plucks a Bass. An impressive Rock-Romp, Capaldi sparts rapping politico statements towards the frantic ending. "Boy With A Problem" boasts another impressive line-up – Kossoff gets Lead Guitar while Jimmy Johnson does Rhythm with Steve Winwood on Synth. The slink and strings are strong with this one – a tune where a mother worries about her son who is too often away with the clouds. This excellent number is once again anchored by superlative Soulful piano fills from Barry Beckett giving the song an edgy Rock-Funkiness. Trombonist Ray Rodriguez joins in the falsely joyful giggling and voices of "Keep On Trying" – an attempt at Rock-Calypso that involves Steve Winwood, Rebop and Saxophonist Ray Allen that feels forced today. A good album ends of the quietly pretty "Seagull" – Capaldi singing with only three people – Steve Winwood on all Keyboards, fellow Traffic pal Chris Wood on Flute with Drummer Remi Kabaka of Third World keeping a rhythm going to the sea-and-surf sounds. And of the three single-sides, the very Simon & Garfunkel guitar-funky "Sugar Honey" is excellent but the overly poppy "Talkin’ About My Baby" is weak and its useless B-side not a whole lot better.

For true JP aficionados the All-Regions DVD is going to be a real treat. After an Esoteric Recordings logo, you get a two-concert menu – both Old Grey Whistle Test shows introduced by Bob Harris. The first in 1975 is in their studio and the big band are not just tight and sounding great – but seriously well-rehearsed. Both shows are in TV Box Format so there is no getting away from that and the footage has that faded look – but the audio is shockingly good. With Capaldi on Acoustic and in fine voice, "Short Cut Draw Blood" draws to a suitably frantic finish – guitarist Pete Bonas impressing. But things really start to light up when you see Steve Winwood on Piano introduce "Goodbye Love" as a sort of Low Spark of The High-Heeled Boys Part 2 (in other words it feels like Traffic circa 1972). Its Carole King piano intro leads to a sexy funky sinewy groove – very cool. 

The TV Theatre show is much longer and again the footage Boxed and flitting between worn and clear depending on how close the cameraman gets. The audio does the same – one minute ok – the next fantastic – usually as the sound people get the measure of the show as the amps warm. It is essentially the same band, Ghana percussionists and drummer, Rosko Gee with his top hat and cool Bass Guitar looking like that villain from Jamaica in the Bond film "Live And Let Die". When Capaldi sits at the piano alone for "Short Ends", his voice lets him down somewhat. In short, it is a mellow-ish gig – good but low on any real excitement for me. But to have 40-minutes of Capaldi and his band in their prime is a plus. A very nice find. 

Jim Capaldi was not Steve Winwood – did not have his voice or writing chops – but I now realize after a re-listen that when JC hit that mark and his band was cooking – reappraisal is very much in order… 

"Deadlines" by STRAWBS – February 1978 UK Twelfth Studio Album on Arista Records featuring Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk, and Tony Fernandez with Guests John Mealing and Robert Kirby on Keyboards – Audio and Visual Extras include Andy Richards on Keyboards (March 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 'Deluxe Expanded Edition' in a Mini Clamshell Box Set with 2CDs, 1DVD, Poster and Booklet and Including Previously Unreleased Audio and Visual BBC Content – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadlines-Remastered-Expanded-Strawbs/dp/B07NKVMLZG?crid=OHET09LISH4B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.s6ypAKZ0v_AOJHtPL58Y3A.2gBo9OADv0AUkiNyrfwFYPVwxXhv4jnTKFlUSS0Whcw&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929477643&qid=1708430413&sprefix=5013929477643%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=50fb9ce432b59146a0bfd2ed6fdc0ed2&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 339 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

RATING: *** to ****

"…The Last Resort…"

The chart success of Pink Floyd ("Animals" in January), Emerson, Lake & Palmer ("Works, Volume 1" in March) and Yes ("Going For The One" in July) across those varying months in 1977 (and extended into early 1978 via Tours and popularity sales) belied the fact that in the late Seventies Prog Rock was having a hard time. With Punk and New Wave snarling at their tired and played-out feet – the giant bands prevailed anyway – but those down the rung of the ladder had it different. 

Although I never viewed the Melodic Folk Rock with Rock-Flourishes of England's Strawbs as Prog Rock per say – they seemed to get lumped into that bracket anyway (their sound and songs had moved more and more to that as the Seventies wound on). Bands like say Camel or Caravan or even Gentle Giant (who were British Prog) got hammered by the sophisticated US Rock of Rush, Journey, Kansas, and hell even Boston and Blue Oyster Cult. It was also generally felt (amongst my mates anyway) that Prog bands (especially in 1977 and early 1978) were so old-fart as to be embarrassing and you didn't carry their albums around under your arms with pride as you had once done lest some New Wave safety-pin neer-do-well clock your level 12 mortal sin, inform you that your time was up and hit you over the head with a brick (as a form of mercy to hippies).

And so, we come to the last album for our British Heroes Strawbs in the Seventies (ten years burning down the road since 1968) – fraught with 1977 recording difficulties in both Dublin and London. Their initial sessions in Dublin were good musically but the studio wasn't up to snuff (tape machines running slow) and on returning to the UK - a microphone had accidentally been left on the new mastertape boxes overnight at AIR Studios which had stripped away portions of the drums. Much had to be salvaged and re-recorded, but Cousins felt the magic had slipped that was inherent in the Irish sessions. Producer Jeffrey Lesser also insisted that all lead vocals be carried out by Dave Lambert – and despite Cousins agreeing that Lambert sang probably his best work on "Deadlines" - excluding Dave Cousins from the mike left a released LP that confused DJs and Fans who were used to both singers. 

After signing a deal with Clive Davis (a letter from him is featured in the booklet) "Deadlines" was eventually issued with a typically drear Hipgnosis sleeve in February 1978 on Arista. Arista Records was more associated at the time with Country Rock like The Outlaws and whiny singer-songwriters like Barry Manilow. And that artwork – geez - a man drowning in a phonebox by the side of a dark country road on the front sleeve - with horror-types from the set of 1984 scowling on the rear, phone receiver in one hand and a dagger in the other. Not exactly bright-n-breezy easy-peasy. But for fans like me who had loved "Grave New World" in 1972 and "Bursting At The Seams" in 1973 – and after the neither-here-nor-there letdowns of "Nomadness" and "Burning For You" in 1975 and 1976 – their twelfth studio album "Deadlines" felt like a slight-return to form – not brilliant – but good enough.

And you must cede that once again Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have pulled out the stops on an album that many have forgotten and has laid unloved for decades on end. ER have found and Remastered Audio and Visual content for a BBC Radio One In Concert set and given us the Cousins-endorsed reissued album (done in 2012) on CD1 with outtakes he felt represented the spirit of the album better than the released product. It is a very tasty package indeed and probably about as comprehensive as we are ever going to get for this forlorn album. To the details…

UK released 23 March 2019 - "Deadlines" by STRAWBS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32676 (Barcode 5013929477643) is a 'Deluxe Expanded Edition' Mini Clamshell Box Set with 2CDs, 1DVD, Poster and Booklet (including Previously Unreleased Audio and Visual BBC Content from 1978) and New Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (77:43 minutes):
1. No Return [Side 1]
2. Joey And Me
3. Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss
4. I Don't Want To Talk About It
5. The Last Resort
6. Time And Life [Side 2]
7. New Beginnings
8. Deadly Nightshade
9. Words Of Wisdom 
Tracks 10 to 9 are their twelfth studio album "Deadlines" – released February 1978 in the UK on Arista Records SPART 1036 and in the USA on Arista AB 4172. Produced by JEFFREY LESSER – it didn't chart in either country. 

BONUS TRACKS (originally issued 2012): 
10. Midnight (Out-Take)
11. No Return (Dave Cousins Acoustic Demo)
12. Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss
13. Time And Life (Dave Cousins Acoustic Demo)
14. Deadly Nightshade (Dave Cousins Acoustic Demo)
15. Words Of Wisdom (Dave Cousins Acoustic Demo)
16. The Chosen One (Dave Cousins Acoustic Demo)
17. Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss (Band Demo)
18. No Return (Dublin Production Mix)
19. Joey And Me (Dublin Production Mix)
20. Deadly Nightshade (Dublin Production Mix)

STRAWBS for "Deadlines" was:
DAVE COUSINS – Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
DAVE LAMBERT – Electric Guitar and Vocals
CHAS CRONK – Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
TONY FERNANDEZ – Drums and Timpani
Guests were:
JOHN MEALING – Polymoog and Organ
ROBERT KIRBY – Mellotrons, Mini Moog and Autoharp

CD2 (61:10 minutes):
BBC Radio One 'Sight & Sound In Concert'
Golders Green Hippodrome in London, 18 February 1978
1. Lay Down
2. The Last Resort
3. Ghosts
4. No Return
5. Heartbreaker
6. Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss
7. Simple Visions
8. Cut Like A Diamond
9. Out In The Cold
10. Round And Round
11. Hero And Heroine

DVD – BBC TV "Sight & Sound In Concert" Golders Green Hippodrome, London, 18 February 1978 – 11 Tracks as per CD2 - NTSC All Regions – Previously Unreleased

STRAWBS for BBC Concert (CD2 and DVD) was:
DAVE COUSINS – Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar (6 and 12-String)
DAVE LAMBERT – Electric Guitar and Lead Vocals
CHAS CRONK – Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
ANDY RICHARDS – Keyboards
TONY FERNANDEZ – Drums and Percussion

Fans will know that 1996 saw "Deadlines" CD-reissued on One World OW 34499, but with what many felt was comprised audio. A far more concerted effort was made to whip "Deadlines" into shape in 2012. The source material (July to September 1977 recordings made at Dublin Sound Studios and Air Studios in London) was restored from original tapes at Cyclone Music Production in Rochester in July 2012 with principal band member Dave Cousins and a team in the control booths. Released November 2012, Witchwood WMCD 2055 introduced the Bonuses of Tracks 10 to 20 (CD1 above) which Cousins has said gives a better idea of how Strawbs wanted the music to sound instead of the forced re-recordings they had to make due to a Microphone glitch.

Here in March 2019 (third reissue go-round), CD1 is the same as 2012 while CD2 and DVD offer the Audio and Visual on a Previously Unreleased BBC In Concert Gig from February 1978. But Esoteric Recordings have given the whole shebang a PASCHAL BYRNE Remaster and I can honestly say that the album has a wee bit more oomph (CD1) while the acoustic bonuses still sound like the demos they are (rough-ish but acceptable). But I am sure that I am not the first Strawbs fan who having heard these Demos has not thought what the LP would have been like if it had had a Completely Acoustic Based Sound – all melody and less bombast. The outtake "The Chosen Ones" had potential to be a great LP track and even though it is audibly less than the LP variant, the sad "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" Band Demo is filled with melody and fresh hurt that maybe got lost in translation. The three Dublin mixes are better than I had expected – certainly audio-wise. 

The glossy Clamshell Box Set offers three mini-LP card sleeves on the inside which use variants of the front and rear Hipgnosis artwork, a 16-page booklet with new Dave Cousins liner notes that go a long way to explaining the convoluted history and a fold-out poster repro of their March 1978 British Tour (phone-box photo, special guest Roy Hill, see photos provided) – advertising their first album on Arista Records. The lyrics are here too, musician credits beneath them etc. PASCHAL BYRNE – a very experienced engineer and long-standing go-to-Audio-guy for Esoteric has handled the Remaster and as I say, the album does sound better. To the music…

Prior to album release in early February 1978, Arista put out a taster in the form of Side 1's "Joey And Me" (composed by Cousins, Cronk and Lambert) as a January 1978 UK 45-single (Arista ARIST 159) with Side 2's "Deadly Nightshade" (a Dave Cousins song) on the flipside. The A-side sounded like 1974 Peter Gabriel-led Genesis circa "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" doing a Rock riff song on breaking free from drudgery. But without even a picture sleeve and given the Elvis Costello, XTC, The Clash, The Damned, Blondie and Ian Dury New Wave scene (to name but a few) – there were few takers. With the LP in the shops, Arista tried again on 31 March 1978 with the upbeat big-chorus message song "New Beginnings" (Arista ARIST 179) sporting Side 2's final cut "Words Of Wisdom" on the flipside (a Cousins song). "New Beginnings" (a co-write between Cousins and Lambert) was a strong melody and the huge doomy synths of the very marching-drums Pink Floyd and Animals Prog of "Words Of Wisdom" should have won them some love, but again a non-runner. 

Arista-USA tried a different tack by putting the slightly hammy but perceived as more commercial "I Don't Want To Talk About It" on the A-side instead of "New Beginnings". They kept the 5:38-minute full album version of "Words Of Wisdom" on the flip, but with Lambert's strangulated vocals and its wildly overwrought production - Arista AS 0327 died. I can't help thinking that if someone had had the balls to take a chance at Arista – the crushingly sad "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" on the A-side with the commercial Blue Oyster Cult guitar rock of "The Last Resort" on the B-side – Radio Stations and lapsed fans might have noticed. Dave Cousins was obviously in serious pain when he penned lines like "…You gave me your best…I gave you all my worst years…" in the short but shimmering "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" - but while perhaps the searing personal honesty in the title seemed to much of a downer – I think the public might have taken to its dangerously close-to-the-knuckle "Love And Affection" vibe.

Side 2 opened with another strong track "Time And Life" brimming with great guitar work, orchestration and walls of headlines and deadlines choruses. Our singer looks to children and songs for his salvation in the slightly pappy "New Beginnings" but that is kicked into sinister speaker-to-speaker touch by the phased vocals of "Deadly Nightshade" where Lambert sounds like Marillion before there was a Fish.

The extras are compromised audio-wise by their very nature, but it is cool to hear an Electric Banjo pop out of the Dublin Mix of "Joey And Me". I would admit to initial disappointment at CD2 – the first two tracks are awful in my mind – somehow the recording getting away from the engineer. As they go into track three "Ghosts" (to some applause from the crowd who clearly did not yet know the first two newbies in the set) – you get keyboard parts from Andy Richards that feel almost external to the overall sound – like they are not gelling as a unit - and that is probably why the set has remained unreleased. 

It isn't so apparent on the visual DVD (picture is TV Box Aspect and in colour) when compere Alan Black introduces the show and band. The picture quality is acceptable at best – typical of so much BBC stuff that doesn't seem to have been either filmed well or kept well. The five-piece band is led by Dave Cousins on his ubiquitous Twelve String Guitar while Dave Lambert plays Electric Guitar Lead. The first three are voiced by Cousins until Lambert takes over the more Prog "No Return" (very nice echoed-guitar opening) and the Rock Out "Heartbreaker". Unfortunately, and just when the audio needed to be at its best – the sad and beautiful "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" starts out so well – Andy Richards playing gorgeous complimentary piano - but then someone clearly unplugs a lead or something and what sounds like a huge fart emanates from the PA. Cousins carries on regardless (sweating and without breaking a smile) but the tender moment is ruined. Towards the last three tracks, Andy Richards gets to let rip on the keyboard stack – Hernandez gets to bash his huge hanging symbol (how very Greenslade) as the songs become more Prog Rock with a bit of 12-string melody thrown over it. The band seemed pleased with themselves and their prowess – I'm just not sure that either the Audio or Visual captured it to a best advantage. 

To sum up – CD1 of "Deadlines" is better but the 1978 material on CD2 and the DVD are compromised affairs in every department – Audio and Visual. But I doubt Strawbs fans will be too repulsed because anything new from this forgotten period is collectors' gold-dust. 

So, once again, Esoteric Recordings of the UK do the business by a forgotten milestone and artists worth celebrating. Just taper those expectations as you dive in...

"Sinnin' For You: The Albums 1969-1973" by KEEF HARTLEY BAND – Features Seven Albums (Six Studio and One Live) Plus 15 Bonus Tracks – Musicians include Miller Anderson of Dog Soldier, Dave Caswell of Galliard, Gary Thain of Uriah Heep, Pete Dines of T.Rex, Jon Hiseman of Colosseum, Johnny Almond of Alan Price Set and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Mick Weaver of Wynder K. Frog and Hemlock, Elkie Brooks, Robert Palmer and Pete Gage of Vinegar Joe, Jess Roden of Bronco, Pete Wingfield of Jellybread, Jean Rouselle of Juicy Lucy and Hanson, Lyn Dobson of Third Ear Band, Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones with Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer, Barbara Thompson and more (July 2022 UK Esoteric Recordings Clamshell Box Set – 7LPs onto 7CDs with 15 Bonus Tracks and 2008 Paschal Byrne Remasters from Original Deram Stereo Tapes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B09ZY9ZM5K&asins=B09ZY9ZM5K&linkId=b7c3868b6a110f6756e9c159e3fce52a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...Not Foolish, Not Wise..."

 

In March and April 2008 and January 2009 – Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of the Cherry Red set of labels) put out all seven of Keef Hartley's stereo albums for England' Deram Records originally issued between March 1969 and May 1973 – six studio sets and one live (see list below). Those CD Remasters had only three bonus tracks across the lot – single-sides.

 

This 7CD Clamshell Mini Box Set returns to that back catalogue and features these rare albums in Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves (six are gatefolds, the three Bonus tracks are here too), those tremendous 2008 Paschal Byrne Remasters from original Deram tapes, and this time throws in a further twelve Previously Unreleased Live and Studio Recordings from the period (15 Bonus in all). The icing on the cake is a chunky 48-page booklet that reproduces all the liner notes KF did for the 2008 and 2009 CD reissues before his sad passing in 2011.

 

And when you consider the musical company Drummer and Leader of the Band Hartley was keeping – try Miller Anderson of Dog Soldier, Dave Caswell of Galliard, Gary Thain of Uriah Heep, Pete Dines of T.Rex, Jon Hiseman and Barbara Thompson of Colosseum, Johnny Almond of Alan Price Set and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Mick Weaver of Wynder K. Frog and Hemlock, Elkie Brooks, Robert Palmer and Pete Gage of Vinegar Joe, Jess Roden of Bronco, Pete Wingfield of Jellybread, Jean Rouselle of Juicy Lucy and Hanson, Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones, Lyn Dobson of The People Band and Third Ear Band with Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer and many more – and you are in for a Blues Rock meets Prog moments aural extravaganza. Let's get brave...

 

UK released 29 July 2020 - "Sinnin' For You: The Albums 1969-1973" by KEEF HARTLEY BAND on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC72809 (Barcode 5013929480995) is a 7CD Clamshell Box Set with Six Studio and One Live Album using 2008 Remasters, Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves (six are gatefolds), Picture Disc CDs, 15 Bonus Tracks (12 Previously Unissued) and a 48-Page booklet with KH Liner Notes for each album. All originally on Deram Records in the UK and credited to Keef Hartley Band except "Lancashire Hustler" to Keef Hartley. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Halfbreed" (50:49 minutes):

1. Sacked (Introducing Hearts And Flowers/Confusion Theme/The Halfbreed)

2. Born To Die

3. Sinnin' For You

4. Leavin' Trunk [Side 2]

5. Just To Cry

6. Too Much Thinking

7. Think It Over/Too Much To Talk

Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut album "Halfbreed" – released March 1969 in the UK on Deram DML 1037 (Mono) and Deram SML 1037 (Stereo) – the STEREO MIX is used for this CD.

Band: Miller Anderson on Lead Vocals and Guitar, Peter Dines on Keyboards, Spit James on Guitar with Gary Thain on Bass and Keef Hartley on Drums

Guests: Henry Lowther on Trumpet and Violin, Harry Beckett on Trumpet, Lyn Dobson on Tenor Sax and Flute with Chris Mercer on Tenor Sax

 

BONUS TRACK:

8. Leave It 'Til The Morning – April 1969 UK Debut 45-single on Deram DM 250, A-side, Non LP (the LP track "Just To Cry" was the B-side)

 

CD2 "The Battle Of North West Six" (65:02 minutes):

1. The Dansette Kid – Hartley Jam [Side 1]

2. Don't Give Up

3. Me And My Woman

4. Hickory

5. Don't Be Afraid

6. Not Foolish, Not Wise [Side 2]

7. Waiting Around

8. Tadpole

9. Poor Mabel (You're Just Like Me)

10. Believe In You

Tracks 1 to 10 are his second studio album "The Battle Of North West Six" – released January 1970 in the UK on Deram DML 1054 (Mono) and Deram SML 1054 (Stereo) – the STEREO MIX is used for this CD.

Band: Keef Hartley, Miller Anderson, Henry Lowther, Jim Jewell on Tenor Sax, Gary Thain with Spit James – Guests Mick Weaver on Organ, Mike Davis, Harry Beckett, Lyn Dobson, Chris Mercer on Tenor Sax, Barbara Thompson on Baritone Sax and Flute, Ray Warleigh on Flute with Mick Taylor on Guitar

 

BONUS TRACKS (Recorded Live in 1969):

11. Spanish Fly (Live)

12. Me And My Woman (Live)

13. Too Much Thinking (Live)

14. Not Foolish, Not Wise (Live)

 

CD3 "The Time Is Near..." (35:13 minutes):

1. Morning Rain [Side 1]

2. From The Window

3. The Time Is Near

4. You Can't Take It With You [Side 2]

5. Premonition

6. Another Time, Another Place

7. Change

Tracks 1 to 7 are his third studio album "The Time Is Near..." – released August 1970 in the UK on Deram SML 1071 in Stereo only.

Band: Keef Hartley, Miller Anderson, Henry Lowther, Jim Jewell, Gary Thain, Dave Caswell on Various Horns, Lyle Jenkins on Various Horns, Stuart Wicks on Organ with Dell Roll on Percussion

 

CD4 "Overdog" (71:39 minutes):

1. You Can Choose [Side 1]

2. Plain Talkin'

3. Theme Song (a)/ En Route (b)/ Theme Song Reprise (c)

4. Overdog [Side 2]

5. Roundabout

6. Imitations From Home

7. We Are All The Same

Tracks 1 to 7 are his fourth studio album "Overdog" – released April 1971 in the UK on Deram SDL 2 in Stereo

Band: Keef Hartley, Miller Anderson, Gary Thain, Mick Weaver plus Dave Caswell, Lyle Jenkins, Johnny Almond on Flute, Jon Hiseman on Drums and Percussion, Peter Dines on Keyboards with Ingrid Thomas, John Knighton and Valerie Charrington on Backing Vocals

 

BONUS TRACKS (Recorded Live in 1971):

8. Colours (You Can Choose) (Live)

9. Roundabout (Live)

10. You Can't Take It With You (Live)

11. Just To Cry (Live)

 

12. Roundabout (Part 1)

13. Roundabout (Part 2)

Tracks 12 and 13 were the A&B-sides of a 20 November 1970 UK 45-single on Deram DM 316

 

CD5 "Little Big Band" (Live) (42:41 minutes):

1. You Can't Take It With You (Live) – 7:15 minutes [Side1]

2. Me And My Woman (Live) – 4:56 minutes

3. Not Foolish, Not Wise (Live) – 5:06 minutes

4. Leg Overture (Medley) (Live) – 23:16 minutes [Side 2]

(a) Leavin' Trunk

(b) Halfbreed

© Just To Cry

(d) Sinnin' For You

Tracks 1 to 4 are his fifth album (first live) "Little Big Band" – released October 1971 in the UK on Deram SDL 4 in Stereo – recorded live at The Marquee Club in London, 13 and 14 June 1971

Band: Keef Hartley, Miller Anderson, Gary Thain, Derek Austin on Organ & Piano, Pete York on Percussion, Derek Wadsworth on Trombone (Solo), Danny Almark on Trombone, Chris Mercer on Horns and Flute (Solos), Lyn Dobson with Barbara Thompson, Mike Rosen, Mike Davis, Terry Noonan, Martin Drover and Harry Beckett on Various Horns

 

CD6 "Seventy Second Brave" (55:26 minutes):

1. Heartbreakin' Woman [Side 1]

2. Marin County

3. Hard Pill To Swallow

4. Don't You Be Long

5. Nicturns [Side 2]

6. Don't Sign It

7. Always Thinking Of You

8. You Say You're Together Now

9. What It Is

Tracks 1 to 9 are his sixth album (fifth studio set) "Seventy Second Brave" – released May 1972 in the UK on Deram SDL 9 in Stereo

 

BONUS TRACKS (Live Studio):

10. Don't You Be Long

11. Marin County

12. Don't Sign It

13. Always Thinking Of You

 

CD7 "Lancashire Hustler" (38:44 minutes):

1. Circles [Side 1]

2. You And Me

3. Shovel A Minor

4. Australian Lady

5. Action [Side 2]

6. Something About You

7. Jennie's Father

8. Dance To The Music

Tracks 1 to 8 are his seventh album (sixth studio) "Lancashire Hustler" (credited as just Keef Hartley) – released May 1973 in the UK on Deram SDL 13 in Stereo. Album also features Vocalists Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer then with Vinegar Joe on most tracks as well as Jess Roden then with Bronco on Guitars.

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B09ZY9ZM5K&asins=B09ZY9ZM5K&linkId=b7c3868b6a110f6756e9c159e3fce52a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

The rollicking Blues Rock with Brass stabs that is "Sinnin' For You" from the "Halfbreed" debut album could easily have been Blodwyn Pig over on Island Records on their 1969 starter "Ahead Rings Out" - while the straight-up slow boil of "Born To Die" is akin to Alvin Lee of Ten Years After doing the Blues for seven and a half minutes (Miller Anderson even sounded a little like Mick Abrahams and Alvin Lee combined. The heavy-heavy chug riffage of "Leavin' Trunk" - a Sleep John Estes R&B song Taj Mahal had covered so well on his self-titled debut album on Columbia and Direction Records in 1968 – could be Uriah Heep or Hard Meat or Skin Alley rocking out with the guitars panning the speakers like white boys have just discovered the Blues and how to Rock it. The tease between organ and guitar across speakers in Lowther/Finnegan written "Just To Cry" is a too cool for school blast – so moody and of the period – the kind of hipster chune that will surely turn up in a movie sequence soon (and again kind of Ten Years After).

 

After the impressive debut, there is (it has to be said) a certain plodding nature to the lumbering Rock of "The Battle Of North West Six" – their second platter recorded in 1969 but released January 1970. "Waiting Around" feels a lot like Delaney & Bonnie as does the Steppenwolf Organ and Guitar slow Blues of "Tadpole" – Mick Weaver featuring. Flautists Lyn Dobson and Barbara Thompson (of Colosseum) feature throughout but stuff like, "Poor Mabel..." feels like its stretching and not getting there. CD2 is the first of the sets of four live cuts (as Bonuses) and a tiny bit above Bootleg standard is what you would call the audio even if the band were tight. Their Bluesy take on "Me And My Woman" sounds like a band giving a soundcheck at Woodstock – Anderson sounding so Shuggie Otis (he covered the song on his debut solo album – see separate review). They are OK, but something I would ever listen to again.

 

Album number three is dominated by Singer and Guitarist Miller Anderson who wrote six of its seven songs, the exception being "Premonition" which was written by Flugelhorn player Dave Caswell. Production is once again by Neil Slaven and Keef but recorded at Trident, the audio is noticeably clearer and more professionally muscular. The Brass punches through every song (heavy on the lyrics) like a Blood, Sweat & Tears LP of the day. Highlights include "You Can’t Take It With You" – Jim Jewell letting rip towards its end. I know Funk-fiends who like their Rock with a hip Funk feel love the slinky instrumental "Premonition" – Dave Caswell getting into Trumpets and Electric Piano while Anderson throws in a very cool guitar solo worthy of a 1972/1973 Steely Dan album. Acoustic guitar sounding not unlike Duncan Browne doing "Journey" softens "Another Time, Another Place" – Miller Anderson singing of colours that do not easily blend but will in the end. The mellow continues as "Change" ends the album, again his voice a little too echoed like on the other tracks.

 

Wah-Wah Funk guitar opens the "Overdog" album – "You Can Choose" tearing out of your speakers with a positivity that is overwhelming – a little like Delaney & Bonnie on speed. The soft Rock-Funk continues with "Plain Talkin’" where Anderson pleads for truth and not loads of language that makes no sense in any tongue. Side 1 ends with a three-parter "Theme Song" – eight-minutes plus that opens with an acoustic starter complimented by soft Flute interjections and shimmering Hartley high hats in the background. It quickly kicks the drum in and off we go with a rapid Flute-Rock Funk that feels like Tull let loose (Johnny Almond doing the blowing). Miller Anderson gives the guitar solo in the LP title track "Overdog" with Mick Weaver doing the same on Organ – a very Prog-meets-Rock Ten Years After groove that somehow comes over as Robin Trower Funky too in its groove (future Queen alumni Roy Thomas Baker the Engineer on this session). "Roundabout" by Miller Anderson is not to be confused with another Anderson in Yes in 1971 also doing "Roundabout" on "Fragile". The Keef Hartley Band "Roundabout" is a Funky-Rock chugger that is far more lumpy that the brilliant Yes song – feeling more like Blood, Sweat & Tears meets Colosseum with both of them trying too hard. Deram split it into two halves of a 45-single that comes as Bonus Tracks on CD4. Recorded in November 1970, the Funky keyboard sway of "Imitations From Home" is an instrumental that layers Herb Alpert trumpets to Bongos and a Soul-shuffling backbeat – pretty damn cool actually. Anderson gets all hippy-meaningful with the "Overdog" LP closer - "We Are All The Same" – the let’s all live together chorus pumped up by a trio of backing vocalists. Like the four live tracks on CD2, CD4 has period recordings that are loud but overwhelming and at least better recorded than the first lot. The band come on like a freight train of Funk-meets-70s-Rock on "Roundabout" – the same on the CCS-busy "You Can’t Take It With You" while they get Blues-Rock with "Just To Cry" but some serious hiss and a muddy recording kind of do for the impact.

 

"Seventy Second Brave" is the first studio album to see the departure of Miller Anderson who was so much a part of the KFB sound (he formed Dog Soldier). Replaced by Junior Kerr on Guitar and Vocals – the "Seventy Second Brave" album was recorded with real aplomb at Trident Studios with the legendary Roy Thomas Baker and John Burns as Engineers. Kerr was augmented by ex Jellybread keyboard player and vocalist Pete Wingfield (dreaming of a No. 1 with "Eighteen With A Bullet" and a place in the Guinness Book of Records). I mention these two Funky Types because there is an immediate sophistication with the opener "Heartbreakin’ Woman" that was missing on the earlier albums – the funk continuing the Chris Mercer song "Marin County" – production crisp and neat. Pete Wingfield contributed "Hard Pill To Swallow" – a piano ballad that is more Soulful than KFB usually are. Pete sings of the good thing he once had that the foolish musician let slowly die – the brass and tasteful guitars beautifully recorded as the melody swirls and sways. Side 1 ends with "Don’t You Be Long" that initially feels like a Faces song ala 1973’s "Ooh La La" – Kerr calling to his baby – only for the tune to extend into an all-out Funkathon ending with pianos, organs and guitar flicks all doing battle.

 

Side 2 gives us floating flute (Nick Newell of Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band) and treated organ notes (Mick Weaver) tinkling for the short instrumental "Nicturns" where we could be in Stomu Yamashta territory or Jade Warrior (written by the mysterious Curly Crowe). Musician angst towards Managers and the Industry comes shuffling through "Don’t Sign It" where KFB sound almost like Lowell George in Little Feat having a go at perceived enforced one-room-flat living. Chris Mercer does the Sax honours on the speed-Funk of "You Say You’re Together Now" written and sung by Bassist Gary Thain. It ends of another Curly Crowe instrumental - "What It Is" – funking its AWB ass out of the studio with as much haste as possible.

 

What follows are four of the most interesting and accessible of all the bonuses – four live-in-the-studio track run-throughs for songs from the "Seventy Second Brave" album. The audio wavers between OK and only good – the sophistication of the produced LP cuts not there. Best of them is "Always Thinking Of You".

 

His Keef Hartley solo album proper "Lancashire Hustler" (sounding spiffy) opens with the slow "Circles" sounding not unlike a Soulful Robin Trower with James Dewar on Vocals (Jess Roden). The separation of the instruments and vocals is a bit harsh but amazingly clear - especially Jean Rouselle's lovely piano playing (Palmer and Brooks of Vinegar Joe adding Soulful backing vocals). Things get even more funky for "You And Me" where there's almost as Ashford & Simpson feel to the moog and brass jabs - while I've always loved the chipper instrumental "Shovel A Minor" sounding not unlike Warner Brothers Greenslade going into boogie mode - if you can imagine such a thing. It has brass pumps - guitar flicks that go all B.B. King - it's almost fusion too in places - hard to pin down but a blast nonetheless.

 

Things slow down again considerably for "Australian Lady" where again the brass accompanies a moody vocal and a floating keyboard note complimenting lovely guitar flicks floating over it all. It's unbelievably mellow and given the Deram Label rep for Progressive Rock almost wildly out of place (it even has a witty Take 3 piano interlude at the end). Side 2 opener "Action" is probably one of the best rawk tracks on the album - featuring fantastic guitar work and a raspy Robert Palmer adding real muscle from behind to Jess Roden's lead vocals. It's near six-minutes sounds at times like Free or Humble Pie with its drum and bass breaks.

 

Back to Trower funky with the choppy fazed guitars of "Something About You" and its mellow keyboard breaks. It ends on the massively upbeat Motown feel of "Dance To The Music" (a cover of the Sly & The Family Stone classic) that finally lets Elkie Brooks loose on the vocals and features great Steve Winwood Spencer David Group keyboards. It last over six minutes and despite its frantic need to sound like everyone's having fun - I'm not sure it works though I think Sly would approve of the odd-sounding Moog solo.

 

You wouldn't call "Lancashire Hustler" a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination and those looking for Hard Rock or Prog should look elsewhere. But if you like your guitars Soulful and Funky like Robin Trower or Free or Humble can be on a good day - then hustle this little forgotten nugget into your life real soon.

 

To sum up – I often feel Hartley and his catalogue are overrated – but there is enough here to make seekers of Rock with a Funk and Prog edge very happy indeed. And the presentation of these hard-to-find LPs is first class. Hustle it into your collection...

 

Keef Hartley Band – Esoteric Recordings CD Remasters

 

1. Halfbreed - March 1969 UK Debut LP

29 April 2008 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2050 (Barcode 5013929715028) in Stereo, Plus One Bonus Track, A-side of 45-single

 

2. The Battle Of North West Six - January 1970 UK Second Studio LP

29 April 2008 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2052 (Barcode 5013929715226) in Stereo – No Bonus Tracks

 

3. The Time Is Near... – August 1970 UK Third Studio LP

31 March 2008 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2047 (Barcode 5013929714724) – No Bonus Tracks

 

4. Overdog – April 1971 UK Fourth Studio LP

31 March 2008 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2048 (Barcode 501392971483) Plus Two Bonus Tracks, A&B-sides of a 45-single

 

5. Little Big Band (Live) – October 1971 UK Fifth LP (First Live)

29 April 2008 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2051 (Barcode 5013929715127) – No Bonus Tracks

 

6. Seventy Second Brave - May 1972 UK Sixth LP (Fifth Studio)

26 January 2009 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2100 (Barcode 5013929720022) – No Bonus Tracks

 

7. Lancashire Hustler (by Keef Hartley) – May 1973 UK Seventh LP

26 January 2009 UK CD on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2101 (Barcode 5013929720121) – No Bonus Tracks

 

8. Sinnin' For You: The Albums 1969-1973 – July 2020 UK 7CD Clamshell Box Set on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 72809 (Barcode 5013929480995) – Seven Albums (Six Studio, One Live) Plus 15 Bonus Tracks