"The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection" by BURT BACHARACH (1998 USA and UK Rhino 3CD Remasters - Original 'Long Book' Version) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let The Music Play..."

A veritable feast on the ears and eyes – this original US and UK 'long book' version from 1998 with 3CDs was superseded by the much cheaper 2010 card-slipcase reissue/variant – and has subsequently become something of a collector's item. It's especially difficult finding one without the notoriously easy-to-scuff outer plastic slipcase scraped to bits or even cracked on the sides. There's a mountain of stuff on here - so let's get to the Alfie cocktails, San Jose shimmy-shakers and Casino Royale suburban heartaches...

USA released November 1998 (December 1998 in the UK) – "The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection" by BURT BACHARACH (featuring Various Artists) on Rhino R2 75339 (Barcode 081227533922) is a 75-track 3-CD 'Long Book' Set of Remasters and plays out as follows:

All catalogue numbers listed below are US 7" singles unless otherwise stated - preceded by the US release date:

Disc 1, 26-Tracks  (70:55 minutes):
1. The Story Of My Life – MARTY ROBBINS (November 1957, Columbia 41013)
2. Magic Moments – PERRY COMO (January 1958, RCA Victor 7128)
3. The Blob – THE FIVE BLOBS (September 1958, Columbia 41250)
4. Please Stay – THE DRIFTERS (May 1961, Atlantic 2105)
5. I Wake Up Crying – CHUCK JACKSON (August 1961, Wand 110)
6. Tower Of Strength – GENE McDANIELS (September 1961, Liberty 55371)
7. Baby It's You – THE SHIRELLES (December 1961, Scepter 1227)
8. Mexican Divorce – THE DRIFTERS (February 1962, Atlantic 2134)
9. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – GENE PITNEY (April 1962, Musicor 1020)
10. Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) – CHUCK JACKSON (April 1962, Wand 122)
11. Make It Easy On Yourself – JERRY BUTLER (June 1962, Vee Jay 451)
12. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself – TOMMY HUNT (August 1962, Scepter 1236)
13. It's Love That Really Counts (In The Long Run) – THE SHIRELLES (August 1962, Scepter 1237)
14. Only Love Can Break Your Heart – GENE PITNEY (August 1962, Musicor 1022)
15. (There Goes) The Forgotten Man – JIMMY RADCLIFFE (September 1962, Musicor 1024)
16. Don't Make Me Over – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1962, Scepter 1239)
17. Let The Music Play – THE DRIFTERS (March 1963, Atlantic 2182)
18. Blue On Blue – BOBBY VINTON (May 1963, Epic 9593)
19. True Love Never Runs Smooth – GENE PITNEY (June 1963, Musicor 66063)
20. Blue Guitar – RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN (September 1963, MGM 13170)
21. Reach Out For Me – LOU JOHNSON (July 1963, Big Top 3153)
22. Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa – GENE PITNEY (October 1963, Musicor 66067)
23. Anyone Who Had A Heart – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1963, Scepter 1262)
24. A House Is Not A Home – BROOK BENTON (July 1964, Mercury 72303)
25. Wives And Lovers – JACK JONES (September 1963, Kapp 551)
26. Wishin' And Hopin' – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (June 1964, Philips 40207)

Disc 2, 27-Tracks (75:32 minutes):
1. Walk On By – DIONNE WARWICK (April 1964, Scepter 1274)
2. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me – LOU JOHNSON (July 1964, Big Hill 552)
3. Me Japanese Boy I Love You – BOBBY GOLDSBORO (June 1964, United Artists 742)
4. To Wait For Love – TONY ORLANDO (September 1964, Epic 9715)
5. Kentucky Bluebird (Send A Message To Martha) – LOU JOHNSON (October 1964, Big Hill 553, A)
6. Land Of Make Believe – DIONNE WARWICK (from the August 1964 album "Make Way For Dionne Warwick" on Scepter SPS-523)
7. The Last One To Be Loved – LOU JOHNSON (October 1964, Big Hill 553, B-side to "Kentucky Bluebird...")
8. Fool Killer – GENE PITNEY (from the 1965 album "Gene Pitney's More Big Sixteen/Volume Two" on Musicor MS-3043)
9. Don't Go Breaking My Heart – BURT BACHARACH (May 1965, Kapp 657, A – also appeared on the May 1965 Stereo album "Hit Maker!" on Kapp KLS-3428)
10. What The World Needs Now Is Love – JACKIE DeSHANNON (April 1965, Imperial 66110)
11. Trains And Boats And Planes – BURT BACHARACH (May 1965, Kapp 657, B-side of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – also appeared on the May 1965 Stereo album "Hit Maker!" on Kapp KS-3428)
12. What's New Pussycat? – TOM JONES (June 1965, Parrot 9765 – also appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
13. My Little Red Book – MANFRED MANN (appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
14. Here I Am – DIONNE WARWICK (June 1965, Scepter 12104 – also appeared on the July 1965 Stereo LP to the Soundtrack for "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists UAS 5128)
15. A Lifetime Of Loneliness – JACKIE DeSHANNON (September 1965, Imperial 66132)
16. Made In Paris – TRINI LOPEZ (January 1966, Reprise 0435)
17. Promise Her Anything – TOM JONES (February 1966, Parrot 9809)
18. Are You There (With Another Girl) – DIONNE WARWICK (December 1965, Scepter 12122)
19. Come And Get Me – JACKIE DeSHANNON (April 1966, Imperial 66171)
20. Alfie – CILLA BLACK (August 1966, Capitol 5674)
21. In Between The Heartache – DIONNE WARWICK (September 1966, Scepter 12167)
22. Nikki – THE BURT BACHARACH ORCHESTRA & CHORUS (December 1966, Liberty 55934)
23. So Long Johnny – JACKIE DeSHANNON (July 1966, Imperial 66196)
24. The Windows Of The World – DIONNE WARWICK (July 1967, Scepter 12196)
25. Take A Broken Heart – RICK NELSON (December 1966, Decca 32055 – also appeared on the March 1967 original cast album for "On The Flip Side" on Decca 74826)
26. I Say A Little Prayer – DIONNE WARWICK (October 1967, Scepter 12203)
27. Casino Royale – HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS (March 1967, A&M 850 – also appeared on the April 1967 original motion picture soundtrack LP to "Casino Royale" on Colgems 5505)

Disc 3, 22-Tracks (79:11 minutes):
1. The Look Of Love – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (appeared on the April 1967 original motion picture soundtrack LP to "Casino Royale" on Colgems 5505 - later re-recorded and issued July 1967 as a 7" single on Philips 40465)
2. Do You Know The Way To San Jose – DIONNE WARWICK (April 1968, Scepter 12216)
3. This Guy's In Love With You – HERB ALPERT (May 1968, A&M 929)
4. Knowing When To Leave – JILL O'HARA (from the December 1968 original Broadway cast album "Promises, Promises" on United Artists 9902)
5. Promises, Promises – DIONNE WARWICK (October 1968, Scepter 12231)
6. Pacific Coast Highway – BURT BACHARACH (May 1969, A&M 1064 – also appeared on the June 1969 album "Make It Easy On Yourself" on A&M 4188)
7. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head – B.J. THOMAS (October 1969, Scepter 12265 – also appeared on the November 1969 original soundtrack album to "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" on A&M SP-4227)
8. Odds And Ends (July 1969, Scepter 12256)
9. Everybody's Out Of Town – B.J. THOMAS (March 1970, Scepter 12277)
10. I'll Never Fall In Love Again – DIONNE WARWICK (December 1969, Scepter 12273)
11. (They Long To Be) Close To You – THE CARPENTERS (June 1970, A&M 1183)
12. Paper Mache – DIONNE WARWICK (June 1970, Scepter 12285)
13. One Less Bell To Answer – THE 5th DIMENSION (October 1970, Bell 940)
14. Check Out Time – DIONNE WARWICK (November 1970, Scepter 587)
15. Hasbrook Heights – BURT BACHARACH (from the May 1971 album "Burt Bacharach" on A&M SP-3501)
16. The Balance Of Nature – DIONNE WARWICK (from the January 1972 album "Dionne" on Warner Brothers BS 2585)
17. Living Together Growing Together – THE 5th DIMENSION (December 1972, Bell 310)
18. You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – THE STYLISTICS (May 1973, Avco 4618)
19. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) – CHRISTOPHER CROSS (July 1981, Warner Brothers 49787 – also appeared on August 1981 original soundtrack album "Arthur (The Album)" on Warner Brothers 3582)
20. On My Own – PATTI LaBELLE & MICHAEL McDONALD (March 1986, MCA 52770)
21. That’s What Friends Are You – DIONNE & FRIENDS (October 1985, Arista 9422)
22. God Give Me Strength – BUT BACHARACH & ELVIS COSTELLO (from the September 1996 original motion picture soundtrack "Grace Of My Heart" on MCA 15102)

Beautifully produced by PATRICK MULLIGAN and ALEX CUMMING – only 6 of the 75 songs on "The Look Of Love" contain an actual Burt Bacharach credit as an artist – the remainder are of course songs he wrote with his lyric writing partner Hal David for other players – almost all them considerable chart hits.

PACKAGING:
This 1998 original American 3CD set comes in a 'long hardback book' form with an outer plastic slipcase (artists names embossed on the slipcase) and a drop-dead gorgeous 90-page booklet attached to the centre. From Page 32 to 81 each song is given a full on appraisal by ALAN CUMMING with further chapters by BILL DeMAIN on 'The Burt Bacharach Story', PAUL GREIN on 'The Lyricist Hal David' and 'The Voice of Dionne Warwick' as well as Production credits, recording details and Discography info. There's copious amounts of artist photos peppered throughout the text, a colour LP discography page for Bacharach's own releases towards the end - and so much more. You really do get a feel for the period and his creative/collaborative brilliance. It's exemplary stuff and much of it not available on the reissues.

To confuse matters further - 2001 saw Universal/Warners reissue "The Look Of Love" using the exact same cover artwork and title - but this time as a sort of 2CD 50-track 'Best Of' with a dropped-down 16-page booklet (to locate that cheaper option use Barcode 095483962457). On top of that - there's subsequently been another Rhino 3CD release in 2006 called "Magic Moments" with much of what's on the original "Look Of Love" 3CD set but with many other rarities included too (true fans will need both). Price-wise the 2006 3CD "Magic Moments" release is available for less than seven quid from most retailers and the 2CD "Look Of Love" reissue for as little as three quid in places (or even less) - so why pay £10 to £50 or more for the 1998 American original long book version? The answer is the stunning presentation (not present in the reissues) and the equally marvellous BILL INGLOT and ADAM GARVER Audio remasters...

AUDIO:
The SOUND will knock your socks off. The AUDIO by BILL INGLOT with help from ADAM GARVER is simply stupendous – quite possibly the best work Inglot has ever done – and that's really saying something considering the vast WEA catalogue he's handled for Rhino and everything else in between (three decades of work). The notes say that in the main STEREO masters were used except for early singles where only the MONO tapes exist. The results are a listen that amazes at every twist or turn. Let's get to the music...

Disc 1 - after the Fifties bubblegum pop of Marty Robbins and Perry Como followed by the part-naff, part-genius novelty winner that is "The Blob" – we settle into some truly great Soul sides. Atlantic's The Drifters were never far from Bacharach's heart (they appear twice in the guise of "Please Stay" and "Let The Music Play") while Chuck Jackson pleads mercy on the truly gorgeous "I Wake Up Crying". Gene McDaniels employs the croaking and yelping gestures of Jackie Wilson for his melodramatic "Tower Of Strength". Jackson returns with the epic production of "Any Day Now..." – while the remaster audio on Jerry Butler's exquisite "Make It Easy On Yourself" simply blows you away. And on tracks like "It's Love That Really Counts..." by The Shirelles and Bobby Vinton's admittedly cheesy "Blue On Blue" – the stunning audio once again hammers you. Both Lou Johnson ("Reach Out For Me") and Tommy Hunt ("I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself") straddle the border of 60ts Pop and 60ts Soul with their Bacharach weepies – and his fabulous association with the expressive larynx of Dionne Warwick still tingles as you listen to pristine transfers of "Don't Make Me Over" and "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (check out that left speaker Sax solo). Disc 1 ends on a triple domestic whammy – the wonderful deep tone of "A Home Is Not A Home" by Brook Benton – the suburban shagging song "Wives And Lovers" by Mister Smiley himself Jack Jones – finishing with Dusty's "...won't get you into his arms..." wistful longing in the innocent "Wishin' & Hopin'" (somebody help this woman).

Disc 2 sees the dominance and wonder of his collaborations with female singers like Jackie DeShannon and in particular Dionne Warwick. The audio on Dionne's "Walk On By", "Land Of Make Believe" and "Are You There (With Another Girl)" is the stuff of dreams – warm, vibrant and sounding like they were recorded yesterday. Burt's own "Hit Maker!" solo songs begin to make their presence known as does all that madcap soundtrack stuff from "What's New Pussycat?" and the pseudo-Bond "Casino Royale". Disc 3 opens with Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick – but Herb Alpert, The Carpenters and that monster hit from the "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" soundtrack "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" by B.J. Thomas sail out of your speakers with warmth and well-remembered affection. Nice to see lesser heard songs like the lovely "One Less Bell To Answer" by The 5th Dimension get an airing along with Jill O'Hara's rare "Knowing When To Leave" from the film "Promises, Promises". It ends with a flurry of 80s chart presence in the shape of Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Patti LaBelle and of course a reunion for charity with Dionne Warwick (& Friends). The last track is a wonderful modern-day collaboration between two consummate songwriters – Elvis Costello and Burt. And throughout the three discs – you feel Hal David's uncanny knack at tapping into the human condition – words about love, longing, loss, sex and domestic appliances. What a duo...

Sure there are cheaper options - and with that plastic slipcase being so easy to scuff – I’ve seen sealed American originals go for £60 to £70 because collectors want it pristine – but I blagged my copy with a scuffed-up outer slipcase for a ten spot and love every second of it.

Rhino have produced some extraordinary reissues over the decades - especially in their more lavish box sets of the 90s - "Beg, Scream & Shout: The Big Ol' Box Of 60ts Soul" in its 7" Single-Sized Box and "Girl Group Sounds" in its Round Hat Box - both jump to mind. I consider this peach amongst them. They took time, love and care on this baby and "The Look Of Love" shows and sounds for it.

Compiler and writer Alan Cumming entitles one of his chapters in the liner notes as 'The Big, Astonishing, Gloriously Human Bacharach Sound' – and on the Audio and Visual evidence presented in "The Look Of Love" - the canny man's right...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those reference source titles is COOL 1960s MUSIC - an E-Book with over 220 entries and 2200 e-Pages on Exceptional CD Remasters you need to know about. Purchase it on Amazon at the link below and search any artist or song - label - catalogue number - huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Crosby, Stills & Nash: Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition" by CROSBY. STILLS & NASH (2005 Atlantic/Rhino HDCD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ruby Throated..." 

The liner notes to this 2006 'Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition' of CSN's monumental 1969 debut album opens with an Introduction from Ahmet Ertegun – founder and owner of the mighty Atlantic Records. It describes the first time he heard the tapes by ex Hollies man Graham Nash who had linked up with ex Byrd's tunesmith David Crosby and Buffalo Springfield's guitarist and songwriter Stephen Stills. The canny Record Man was stunned and knew something huge was happening. He quotes "Crosby, Stills & Nash immediately became my No. 1 project..." And even now - in the twilight months of 2015 – a full 46 years after the event – their opening salvo is 'so' damn good – a melodious masterpiece still casting a harmony-vocal shadow over today's myriad musical landscape. Here are the helplessly hoping details of three men on a sofa...

UK released January 2006 – "Crosby, Stills & Young: Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition" by CROSBY, STILLS & NASH on Atlantic/Rhino-8122-73290-2 (Barcode 081227329020) offers you the 10-track album newly remastered and with 4 bonus tracks. It pans out as follows (53:17 minutes):

1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
2. Marrakesh Express
3. Guinnevere
4. You Don't Have To Cry
5. Pre-Road Downs
6. Wooden Ships [Side 2]
7. Lady Of The Island
8. Helplessly Hoping
9. Long Time Gone
10. 49 Bye-Byes
Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut studio album "Crosby, Stills & Nash" – released June 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8229 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 189. It rose to No. 6 and No. 25 on the US and UK charts. David Crosby wrote 3 and 9 - Stephen Stills wrote 1, 4, 8, and 10 – Graham Nash wrote 2, 5 and 7. "Wooden Ships" is a co-write between David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner (of Jefferson Airplane).

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Do For The Others [Stephen Stills song]
12. Song With No Words (New Remix) [David Crosby song]
13. Everybody's Talkin' [cover version of a Fred Neil song]
14. Teach Your Children [Graham Nash song]

The 16-page booklet is tastefully substantial – the gatefold lyric insert that came with original 1969 vinyl albums has been fully reproduced, there’s a detailed and informed essay on the album by DAVID WILD which includes quotes from the trio and reissue credits. They’ve even included the lyrics to the four bonuses. The centre pages have a gorgeous colour photo the harmonious trio wrapped up in furs. But the big news is the fantastic new Remaster. JOHN NOWLAND (who was involved in the highly praised first four Neil Young remasters) has used the original 2-and-8 track analogue master tapes and transferred them to HDCD (High Density Compatible Digital). It’s a better form of Remaster and HDCD do not require any kind of special player. STANLEY JOHNSON and GREG HAYES were also involved in the transfers with the Mastering done by the vastly experienced BERNIE GRUNDMAN. The results are the best I’ve ever heard this album sound (odd they haven’t followed this release up with a similar HDCD version of "Déjà Vu"?)

Right from opening Acoustic Guitars of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (written about Judy Collins) and when those magical three voices blend – you realise you’re in the presence of something very special. Although the song is 7:24 minutes long and even includes a Spanish chant-and-dance break – it never seems to overstay its welcome. Having listening to this opener for over four and half decades on various vinyl originals (UK plum labels included) – the Audio achieved here is truly breathtaking. Graham Nash's chipper "Marrakesh Express" was the first 45 off the album coupled with "Helplessly Hoping" on both sides of the pond in July 1969 (Atlantic 584 283 in the UK, Atlantic 2652 in the USA) - it hit 28 in the USA and 17 in the UK. It's followed by the stunning ethereal beauty of "Guinnevere" sashaying into your living room with a softly plucked Acoustic. Then you get hit with the full harmonious power and beauty of those three voices as a wall of one. When the trio first got together in Joni Mitchell's house – they noticed the 'timber' of the combo – and this song more than any highlights that magic. As if that's not good enough - you get the 'life on the road' cautionary tale of "You Don't Have To Cry" where that Stephen Stills tuneful song magic kicks you in the nuts. Fabulous guitar pings, their voices and those words – "...you are living a reality I left years ago...it quite nearly killed me..." Side 1 ends with Graham Nash's "Pre-Road Downs" – a treated guitar gives us another touring-is-miserable song about missing the touch and presence of his ladylove.

"Wooden Ships" would turn up on the Jefferson Airplane album "Volunteers" in November of 1969 (it was a co-write with Paul Kantner) and I’ve always loved both versions – a strange hybrid of Soulful Rock that seemed to belong to California in 1969. CSN's original take is shorter and amps up the Guitar and Organ and once again the Remaster is gorgeous. The bass and rhythm section is so warm and sweet but it’s the Stills vocal followed by Crosby and back again that impresses – beautifully handled in the transfer. "Lady Of The Island" is tender and quiet and Nash's vocals almost aching with his love (written for Joni Mitchell). "...Letting myself wander through the world in your eyes..." he sings – and it's beautifully poignant. That harmony magic comes marauding through your speakers once again (but in the best possible way) with "Helplessly Hoping" – a stunning three-part harmony and probably the best Audio on the disc. Although from the pen of David Crosby - the slinky "Long Time Gone" nonetheless has Still's arrangement and production magic all over it – lifting the song into a CSN recording rather than a solo stab. It ends on "49 Bye-Byes" which always seems to get overlooked – but it has magic in it too – especially in that centre passage where all those melodies on the guitars and vocals build up.

The album was recorded straight (what you see is what you get) so technically there are no outtakes from the sessions per say - but the group continued recording that year and the four bonus tracks come from those sessions. "Do For The Others" would eventually show on "Stephen Stills" - his debut solo album from late 1970. The second it opens – you can hear why its been included on this Expanded CD Edition – not only is this song gorgeous to listen too – it’s beautifully recorded – essentially a Demo with Stills on Lead Guitar while the other two harmonise. It’s a genuine wow. Second up is another harmony winner in "Song With No Words" where they "dah dah" the melody that would eventually appear on David Crosby's magnificent "If I Could Only Remember My Name" debut solo album in 1971. Truly beautiful is the only way to describe the Trio doing Fred Neil's classic "Everybody's Talkin'" made famous by Nilsson's cover as used in the movie "Midnight Cowboy". Crosby describes it in the liner notes as "Stills at his best..." There's a demo of the "Déjà Vu" classic "Teach Your Children" which is nice but nothing as good as the magical trio that preceded it. Fans will know that there are five other 'outtakes' from the period on the "Carry On" 4CD Box Set (1991) - one day we might get a Deluxe Edition 2CD set covering the event in its entirety...helplessly hoping...

So there you have – an established 60ts nugget – cool and beautiful like a summer breeze and given a truly beautiful audio makeover. It’s even furnished and burnished in Aldershot Sun with Bonus Tracks actually worthy of the moniker.

"...Going to where the sun keeps shining... " – Stephen Stills sings on their gorgeous harmony vocal cover of "Everybody's Talkin'". 

I'd gravitate towards this ray of California gold if I were you...warm on your soul and on your mind...and then some...

This review is part of my COOL 1960s MUSIC e-Book available as one of the SOUNDS GOOD Series - Exceptional CD Remasters...

"1970-1975: You Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..." by FACES [featuring Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones] (2015 Warner Brothers/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 1 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Rock-Fusion, Psychedelic and Underground

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Had Me A Real Good Time...And Other Domestic Short Comings..."

FACES fans are going to love 'and' hate this. "1970-1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..." is both truly exhilarating and sappily infuriating at the same time. The upside is that it contains stunning remastered music with some shockingly good extras but it’s missing edits when there was room on the 'Singles' disc and it’s presented in a truly small beer way - when this best of British bands deserved the full brewery (and it's not cheap either). To the good news first...

On the 4CD Rhino Book Set "Five Guys Walk Into A Bar" from 2004 - you got 3 tracks out of 10 from the 1st LP, 5 out of 9 from the 2nd and all of the 3rd and 4th LPs bar three (as well as a hefty wad of 30+ Previously Unreleased - I reviewed it years back). Here the temptation is all 4 studio albums newly remastered in their entirety and each bolstered up with great Previously Unreleased material not available anywhere else. There’s also a 5th bonus disc with 9-tracks that mops up those 'Stray Singles' and a rare NME Flexidisc track. There’s a lot to get through - so lets get this box set's tartan trousers down and have a peek at its Bollinger-stained boxer shorts (if you get my drift)...

UK and US released Friday 28 August 2015 – "1970-1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..." by FACES is a 5CD Mini Box Set on Warner Brothers/Rhino R2 550009 (Barcode 081227954239) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "The First Step" – 70:11 minutes:
1. Wicked Messenger
2. Devotion
3. Shake, Shudder
4. Stone
5. Around The Plynth
6. Flying [Side 2]
7. Pineapple And The Monkey
8. Nobody Knows
9. Looking Out The Window
10. Three Button Hand Me Down
Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut studio album "The First Step" – released March 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 3000 (reissued December 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46053) and March 1970 in the USA (as "First Step") on Warner Brothers WS 1851. The British LP had the words FACES centred on the front cover of its gatefold but because this set is US based it uses American artwork where the band were wrongly called SMALL FACES (the band they used to be).

BONUS TRACKS (all Previously Unreleased):
11. Behind The Sun (Outtake) (Jones/Lane/McLagan/Stewart/Wood)
12. Mona – The Blues (Outtake) (Lane/Wood)
13. Shake, Shudder, Shiver (Lane/Wood) (BBC Session recorded 9 March 1970, broadcast 28 March 1970 on John Peel's "Top Gear" Radio 1 Program)
14. Flying (Take 3) (Stewart/Wood/Lane)
15. Nobody Knows (Take 2) (Wood/Lane)

Disc 2 - "Long Player" – 67:18 minutes:
1. Bad 'N' Ruin
2. Tell Everyone
3. Sweet Lady Mary
4. Richmond
5. Maybe I'm Amazed (Live)
6. Had Me A Real Good Time [Side 2]
7. On The Beach
8. I Feel So Good (Live)
9. Jerusalem
Tracks 1 to 9 are their 2nd studio album "Long Player" released March 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 3011 and February 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1892. Tracks 5 and 8 were recorded live at The Fillmore East in New York (no date specified) – two more live versions from that date have been included as Bonus Tracks (13 and 14).

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):
10. Whole Lotta Woman (Outtake) (Marvin Rainwater cover)
11. Tell Everyone (Take 1) (Lane)
12. Sham-Mozzal (Instrumental – Outtake) (Jones/Lane/McLagan/Wood)
13. Too Much Woman (Live) (Ike & Tina Turner cover)
14. Love In Vain (Live) (Robert Johnson cover)
[Notes: 13 and 14 are live and were recorded at The Fillmore East in New York on the same date that 5 and 8 on the album were – no date specified]

Disc 3 - "A Nod's As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse…" – 45:07 minutes:
1. Miss Judy's Farm
2. You're So Rude
3. Love Lives Here
4. Last Orders Please
5. Stay With Me
6. Debris [Side 2]
7. Memphis
8. Too Bad
9. That's All You Need
Tracks 1 to 9 are their 3rd studio album "A Nod's As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse..." released November 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56006 and in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2574. It was credited in the USA as "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" and that front cover artwork is used for this reissue.

BONUS TRACKS (both Previously Unreleased):
10. Miss Judy's Farm (Live)
11. Stay With Me (Live)
[Notes: both were recorded 28 September 1971 and Broadcast 6 October 1971 on John Peel's "Top Gear" Radio 1 Program]

Disc 4 - "Ooh La La" – 46:36 minutes:
1. Silicone Grown
2. Cindy Incidentally
3. Flags And Banners
4. My Fault
5. Borstal Boys
6. Fly In The Ointment [Side 2]
7. If I’m On The Late Side
8. Glad And Sorry
9. Just Another Honky
10. Ooh La La
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th and final studio album "Ooh La La" released April 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56011 and March 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2665.

BONUS TRACKS (All Previously Unreleased):
11. Cindy Incidentally (BBC Session)
12. Borstal Boys (Rehearsal)
13. Silicone Grown (Rehearsal)
14. Glad And Sorry (Rehearsal)
15. Jealous Guy (Live)
[Notes: "Cindy Incidentally" was recorded 12 February 1973 and Broadcast 1 March 1973 on "BBC Radio One Club". The cover version of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" was recorded at The Reading Festival in the UK on 25 August 1973.

Disc 5 – "Stray Singles & B-Sides" – 40:38 minutes:
1. Pool Hall Richard – a non-album single released in the UK 30 November 1973 on Warner Brothers K 16341 as the A-side
2. I Wish It Would Rain (With A Trumpet) – a Temptations cover version issued as the non-album B-side to "Pool Hall Richard". It was recorded live at The Reading Festival in 1973
3. Rear Wheel Skid – the non-album B-side to "Had Me A Real Good Time (Edit)" released 13 November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WB 8018 and 21 October 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7442
4. Maybe I'm Amazed – a non-album 3:40 minutes 'studio version' - released 6 April 1971 US 7” single on Warner Brothers WB 7483. It's a cover of a Paul McCartney song and the full 'live' version at 5:32 minutes is on the "Long Player" album.
5. Oh Lord I'm Browned Off – the non-album B-side to "Maybe I'm Amazed"
6. You Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings) – a non-album UK 7" single released as the A-side 11 November 1974 on Warner Brothers K 16499 and (as an edit) 22 January 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers WBS-8066. It was reissued in the USA (also as an edit) 28 May 1975 on Warner Brothers WBS-8102.
7. As Long As You Tell Him – the non-album B-side to "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..."
8. Skewiff (Mend The Fuse) – an instrumental non-album B-side to "Cindy Incidentally" issued 9 February 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16247 and 5 February 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7681.
9. Dishevelment Blues – a non-album exclusive track recorded 5 April 1973 for the UK 'NME Magazine, April 1973' issue – it was issued on a one-side flexi that came free with the Music Paper.

The Mini Box Set contains five singular card sleeves inside and a foldout inlay. Bluntly it feels cheapish. The attached 62-page colour booklet that came with the FACES Book Set "Five Guys Walk Into A Bar..." from 2004 was a fabulous fan-fest rammed to the gunnels with foreign picture sleeves, press clippings, live photos, badges, teeshirts, Warner Brothers memorabilia and all manner of boozy tour shenanigans. Here we get a three-way fold out slip of paper with track credits and absolutely nothing else! Each of the original vinyl albums (in the UK especially) had elaborate packaging – the first in a gatefold, the second in a 78" stitched sleeve with its own custom label, "Nod" came with a massive fold out poster and "Ooh La La" famously had the folding 'lips' sleeve with a lyric poster inside as well – none of it is reproduced here.

As if to add insult to injury (and with no offence to our good American friends) but this most British of Rock 'n' Roll bands then gets the 1st and 2nd LPs represented here in single sleeve 'American' artwork both of which have all the aesthetic impact of a wet rag. They couldn't even be bothered to produce a gatefold on the first. I suppose the tan label CDs on all four studio-albums (aping the original issues) is a nice touch - while the singles set gets a Warner Brothers Burbank Label – again a good idea. The artwork also prints the bonus tracks on the rear of each single card sleeve in the same print as the original - so I suppose that makes them a tiny bit interesting (the fifth CD has nice artwork too). But it all feels like small beer when surely this is a 70ts band that deserved the best WEA could offer. If Rhino were able to do the packaging business by the Faces in 2004 - then why not in 2015? Anyway - let’s get to the Audio - which is thankfully blindingly good...

It doesn't say when the DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT remasters (done at Digiprep from Flat Analogue Tapes) were carried out (no dates provided) but I suspect these are the 2004 versions. The good news is that they 'rock'. These CDs sound great even if they're hissy on the 1st and 2nd albums (how they were recorded). Hersch and Inglot have handled huge swathes of primo WEA material across the years for Rhino - Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding to name but a few legends. But I bet these Top Audio Engineers got their transfer jollies digitally preserving this catalogue. The power of the band is realised - muscular, clear and full of that 'live-in-the-studio' feel that original Producers Glyn Johns, Mike Bobak and Ron Nevison got for the Faces at the time. Each album has fantastic audio moments – "Stone" on "First Step", "Sweet Lady Mary" on "Long Player", the stunning Side 2 opener "Debris” (and "Stay With Me" B-side) on "Nod" and the lovely overlooked ballad "Glad And Sorry" on "Ooh La La". I'll presume that fans already know how good the studio albums are so I'll get stuck into the cool extras...

The bonus tracks on "First Step" are shockingly good. The first "Behind The Sun" is 5:30 minutes long as is just as good if not better than anything on the album (and it sounds utterly amazing here). Both it and the second helping here "Mona – The Blues" were recorded after the LP's release on 12 May 1970 in Hollywood. "Mona – The Blues" starts with shouts and comes on like a barroom brawl is about to break out at any minute – another five-minute slide boogie winner with piano and no vocals (it later turned up on the 1976 Soundtrack LP "Mahoney's Last Stand" by Ron Wood and Ronniw Lane). The audio on the BBC Session of "Shake, Shudder, Shiver" is good rather than great - but the Rock 'n' Roll power of the band is amazing. We're now treated to a duo of sublime versions of "Flying" and a more Piano-orientated cut of "Nobody Knows" – wow!

As if to reinforce what a bunch of hairy-assed reprobates they really were – "Whole Lotta Woman" (a Marvin Rainwater cover done in British Rock 'n' Roll style) opens with giggles and drunken screams to "...turn the tape machine on and let's get it going!" The session then launches into that effortless Stones swagger The Faces seemed to be able to conjure up at the drop of a hat. This is the kind of outtake that will make fans weak at their elderly knees. A very shambolic Take 1 of "Tell Everyone" gets an outing where both Lane and Stewart are clearly trying to get a feel for the melody - and begin getting there towards the end. But we now get a true kick in the nuts – an instrumental Ron Wood Guitar version of "Had Me A Real Good Time" called "Sham-Mozzal" and my God am I grinning from ear-to-ear. This is true fabulous stuff and it sounds stunning too (where has this sucker been all these years). Continuing in Rock mode we get an incendiary live version of an Ike and Tina Turner song "Too Much Woman" wrongly credited in the inlay as being by Ronnie Lane. With terrific audio it's 5:29 minutes of Wood riffing away while Stewart shows why he had the best damn larynx on the planet at the time (there's also a cool Kenney Jones drum portion).  Their cover of Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain" doesn't have great audio really but as it sounds like "Let It Bleed" Stones – I can so understand why it's here...

I'm always disappointed that 1971's mighty "Nod" never seems to have even a single outtake or alternate version – so what were offered here are two workmanlike versions of "Miss Judy's Farm" and "Stay With Me" from an unreleased BBC Session. They’re good – they are – but they're hardly sparkling (even if they were recorded on my 12th birthday!). 
At least the 'Stray Singles' disc gathers up those wicked B-sides - like the three rough and tumble instrumentals "Rear Wheel Skid",  "Oh Lord I'm Browned Off" and "Skewiff (Mend The Fuse)". And after years of playing that crinkled 1973 NME Flexidisc – I can now hear the slow "Dishevelment Blues" in all its Bluesy glory (the boys essentially goofing in the studio - with wild guitar from Ron Wood). And how good is "Pool Hall Richard" backed with its live cover of The Temptations classic "I Wish It Would Rain" complete with Soulful brass.

So there you have it – good and bad – mostly good it has to be said. The remastered albums are fabulous and those Previously Unreleased goodies genuinely exciting. It's just a shame about the ASDA packaging (docked a star for that) when with a little imagination this mini box set could have been a Fortnum & Masons hamper you covet...and that would truly have been something worth getting drunk and disorderly about...

"Anutha Zone/Duke Elegant" by DR. JOHN (2015 Edsel/Rhino 2CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Soulful Warrior..."

When New Orleans voodoo man Dr. John released "Anutha Zone" on CD in August 1998 - people applauded its definite return to slinky form for the 'blackest white man' in the business (as legendary Atlantic Records Producer used to call him). Mac Rebennack (his real name) followed it in February 2000 with a tribute album to his musical hero jazzman calling it "Duke Elegant: Dr. John Performing The Music Of Duke Ellington". And that's where this clever 2CD reissue comes in...

UK released February 2015 – Edsel EDSK 7076 (Barcode 740155707637) is a 2CD set housed in a snazzy card slipcase (Disc 1 is 14 tracks at 56:54 minutes, Disc 2 is 12 tracks at 66:38 minutes). There is no remastering here (absolutely no need) - but there is a beautifully laid out 24-page booklet which features liner notes by PAUL MYERS and a new 2014 interview with the great man himself. Inbetween we get full musician credits and reproductions of the gorgeous artwork (the Ellington set is done in old style 78s wording and label bags).

PAUL WELLER guests on Guitar and Vocals on the cover of John Martyn's "Solid Air” classic "I Don't Wanna Know" as well as accompanying Carleen Anderson on "Party Hellfire" (vocals). Dr. John’s house band of Bobby Broom on Guitar is bolstered to huge effect by Hugh McCracken's additional slide menace on the funkily sly "Ki Ya Gris Gris". Dr. John's rolling Fats Domino-influenced piano features throughout as does his great gris-gris vocals - while Ronnie Cuber's superb Saxophone fills are never far away ("Anutha Zone", "Voices In My Head" and the fabulously sloppy "I Like Ki Yoka"). Funk lovers will eat up the chugging shuffle of "Why Come" – an album highlight.

The "Duke Elegant" set from 2000 (released to tie-in with Ellington's birth centenary) splits listeners and fans into Marmite groups of "I love it" or "I loath it" – personally I’m of the first persuasion but can understand both camps. It opens with "On The Wrong Side Of The Railroad Tracks" – a beautifully smoochy piano version and two things hit you – the great arrangement that makes an old song feel new – and the stunning Production values. The album was self-produced but mastered by top Sound Engineer GREG CALBI whose audiophile work with Supertramp, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney has garnished huge praise over the decades. This album sounds awesome – his backing band being Bobby Broom on Guitars, David Barard on Bass, Merman Ernest III on Drums with Ronnie Cuber guesting on Saxophone (he collectively calls them "The Lower 9-11").

Things get slap-bass funky with "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" where Dr. John comes on more like the Isley Brothers than Professor Longhair. He adopts the same Brothers Johnson funkified arrangement to the old standard "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and in this case – I’m not so sure if it works (one for the purists to pull out tufts of hair or what they’ve got left of it). More successful is the pulsating R&B New Orleans Piano romp he radically applies to "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" – I love it (others will not). But my fave has always been his lounge-lizard slouch through "Mood Indigo" where he sounds like some barroom drawl at 2 in the morning when he’s just pleasing himself.

A clever pairing of albums - presented in beautiful sound and quality packaging – nice one Edsel and a must for Mac Rebennack fans..

“Creole Moon/N’Awlinz: Dis Dat Or D’Udda” by DR. JOHN (2015 Edsel/Rhino 2CD Reissue) - A Review by MARK BARRY...

"...Dear Old Southland..."

This is the 2nd 2CD set reissue by Edsel of the UK in 2015 covering DR. John's later output – namely the "Creole Moon" album from October 2001 and the June 2004 set "N'Awlinz: Dis Dat Or D'Udda" - both CDs being tributes by the Gris Gris Man to his spiritual home and beloved city of NEW ORLEANS.

UK released February 2015 - Edsel EDSK 7077 (Barcode 740155707736) has 2CDs in a card slipcase with a new 32-page colour booklet – Disc 1 being the 14-track "Creole Moon" album (68:31 minutes) while Disc 2 gives us the 18-tracks of "N'Awlinz: Dis Dat Or D'Udda" album (68:25 minutes). The other 2CD reissue in this series is "Anutha Zone" from 1998 and "Duke Elegant" from 2000 on Edsel EDSK 7076 (again reissued February 2015).

Like the "Anutha Zone/Duke Elegant" double - there is no remastering here (absolutely no need) - but there is a beautifully laid out 32-page booklet which features liner notes by PAUL MYERS and a new 2014 interview with the great man himself. Inbetween we get full musician credits, track-by-track breakdowns by Dr. John (on the Creole Moon album) and a huge range of impressive Guest Musicians – all clearly enjoying themselves.

The backing band for 2001's "Creole Moon" is what he called THE LOWER 9-11 – the group he had on "Duke Elegant" and in fact much of "Anutha Zone". They are Bobby Broom on Guitars, David Barard on Bass, Merman Ernest III on Drums with Ronnie Cuber on Saxophone.

DAVID "Fathead" NEWMAN plays Guest Saxophone on "Creole Moon", "You Swore" and "One 2 A.M. Too Many", virtuoso Slide Guitar player SONNY LANDRETH contributes to "Georgianna", "Monkey And Baboon" and "Take What I Can Get" while the legendary horn players FRED WESLEY of THE JB'S (James Brown's Backing Band) along with ERIC TRAUB arrange and play on "Food For Thot", "Litenin'", "One 2 A.M. Too Many" and "Money And Baboon".

The second New Orleans tribute set "N'Awlinz..." features a dizzying array of guests - duet vocals by MAVIS STAPLES on "When The Saints Go Marching In" and "Lay My Burden Down", CYRIL NEVILLE of THE NEVILLE BROTHERS sings on "Marie Laveau" and "Chicken La Pas", WILLIE TEE plays Keyboards on "Dis, Dat Or D'Udda", "Chicken La Pas" and "Shango Tango", the lifelong Fats Domino sideman DAVE BARTHOLOMEW plays Trumpet on "The Monkey" with Spoken Word by EDDIE BO. Further infusions come from RANDY NEWMAN who sings duet vocals on "I Ate Up The Apple Tree". Country and Blues legends WILLIE NELSON and SNOOKS EAGLIN sing and play guitars on "You Ain't Such A Much" – Blues Men B.B. KING and CLARENCE 'Gatemouth' BROWN sing and play Viola on "Hen Layin' Rooster" while B.B. KING and WILLIE NELSON double up as vocal buddies with the good Doctor on "Time Marches On".

The audio on these CD albums is exceptional – the slink and cool of "Marie Laveau" slithers out of your speakers in its New Orleans way for 6:50 minutes with The Creolettes providing soft-sung backing vocals – not too brash – not too forced – it's just perfectly judged. Beauty comes at you in the shape of the instrumental "Dear Old Southland" where Dr. John plays piano accompanied only by the lone trumpet of Nicholas Payton – it's a simple song that feels monumental and moving at one and the same time.

Both of these Edsel twofers have reminded me of why I loved this guy so much in the Sixties and Seventies – that mooch – that sly rhythm – that unique set of pipes and turn of phrase. Gorgeous sound, quality music and beautifully presented - recommended gumbo indeed...

"Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records 1963-1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (November 2006 US and UK Rhino 5CD/1CD-Rom Box Set in Deluxe [12" x 12" LP-Sized Box] and Standard Editions [Digibook Size]- Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With More Than 480 Others Is Available In My

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All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves

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"...The Invisible Backwards-Facing Grocer Who Rose To Fame..."

Shock and awe is the appropriate response I think. This gorgeous Elektra Records retrospective comes at you in two UK/Europe variants (both superbly annotated and remastered with skill and affection by people who care - long-time reissue giants Rhino Records of the USA). Although neither highlight themselves as such (both have the same name of the outer packaging) - released 16 Nov 2006 the 'Standard Edition' is in a Tall Book Pack on Rhino 8122 74745 2 (Barcode 081227474522) - while the 26 Nov 2006 'Deluxe Edition' is a 12" x 12" Box Set on Rhino 8122 74746 2 (Barcode is the same number) that comes with a huge amount of beautifully reproduced memorabilia exclusive to this variant.

Both are 5CD sets (117 tracks in total) and each comes with an extra CD-ROM (Audio Acrobat V.5 required) that allows PC and Mac users to access a PDF version of the 440-page book "FOLLOW THE MUSIC: The Life And High Times Of Elektra Records In The Great Years Of American Pop Culture" by JAC HOLZMAN and GAVAN DAWS first published in 1998 by FirstMedia Books of the USA (republished in 2000 with a limited edition 26-track CD). That book has a very detailed Discography from the 1950s-onwards at the rear. The CD-ROM also has a PDF for "The Elektra Records Illustrated Discography 1963-1973" which pictures (in colour) every sleeve from 1963 to 1973 along with track lists and catalogue numbers – and even shows UK-Only releases, Box Sets and Promo-Only LP Samplers at the end of the list.

This in-depth review will cover the much-coveted Deluxe Edition 12" x 12" Box Set and discuss all the goodies contained within (dogs too, there's a few). Here are the Audio Butterflies and Rainbows...

Disc 1 - 28 Tracks from 1963 to 1965 (76:37 minutes):

1. Turn! Turn! Turn!/To Everything There Is A Season - JUDY COLLINS (1963 USA Stereo LP "Judy Collins No.3" on Elektra EKS 7243)

2. He Was A Friend - DIAN & THE GREENBRIAR BOYS (1963 USA Stereo LP "Dian & The Greenbriar Boys" on Elektra EKS 7233)

3. High Flying Bird - JUDY HENSKE (1963 USA Stereo LP "High Flying Bird" on Elektra EKS 7241)

4. Dink's Song (Fare Thee Well) - BOB GIBSON (1964 USA Stereo LP "Where I'm Bound" on Elektra EKS 7239)

5. Casey - DICK ROSMINI (1964 USA Mono LP "Adventures For 12 String, 6 String & Banjo" on Elektra EKL 245)

6. Shady Grove - DICK ROSMINI (1964 USA Mono LP "Adventures For 12 String, 6 String & Banjo" on Elektra EKL 245)

7. Little Brown Dog - DICK ROSMINI (1964 USA Mono LP "Adventures For 12 String, 6 String & Banjo" on Elektra EKL 245)

8. Linin' Track - KOERNER, RAY & GLOVER (1963 USA Mono LP "Blues, Rags & Hollers" on Elektra EKL 240)

9. The Even Dozens - THE EVEN DOZEN JUG BAND (1964 USA Stereo LP "The Even Dozen Jug Band" on Elektra EKS 7246)

10. Wild Child In A World Of Trouble - VINCE MARTIN & FRED NEIL (1965 USA Stereo LP "Tear Down The Walls" on Elektra EKS 7248)

11. Good Luck Child - 'SPIDER' JOHN KOERNER (1965 USA Stereo LP "Spider Blues" on Elektra EKS 7290)

12. Downtown Blues - GEOFF MULDAUR (1964 USA Various Artists Mono LP "The Blues Project" on Elektra EKL 7265)

13. I Ain't Marching Anymore - PHIL OCHS (1965 USA Stereo LP "I Ain't Marching Anymore" on Elektra EKS 7287)

14. The Last Thing On My Mind - TOM PAXTON (1964 USA Stereo LP "Ramblin' Boy" on Elektra EKS 7277)

15. Pride Of Man - HAMILTON CAMP (1964 USA Stereo LP "Paths Of Victory" on Elektra EKS 7278)

16. Tomorrow Is A Long Time [Bob Dylan cover] - JUDY COLLINS (1965 USA Stereo LP "Judy Collins' Fifth Album" on Elektra EKS 7300)

17. Black Mountain Rag [Instrumental] - THE DILLARDS with BYRON BERLINE (1965 USA Stereo LP "Pickin' & Fiddlin'" on Elektra EKS 7285)

18. Green Rocky Road - KATHY & CAROL [Kathy Larisch and Carol McComb] (1965 USA Stereo LP "Kathy & Carol" on Elektra EKS 7289)

19. Cocaine - PHIL BOROFF (1965 USA Stereo LP "The String Band Project" on Elektra EKS 7292)

20. House Un-American Blues Activity Dream - RICHARD FARINA (1965 USA Stereo LP "The Singer Songwriter Project" on Elektra EKS 7299)

21. West Egg Rag - DAVE RAY (1967 USA Mono LP "Fine Soft Land" on Elektra EKL 319)

22. Two Trains Running [Muddy Waters cover] - MAXWELL STREET JIMMY DAVIS (1965 USA Stereo LP "Maxwell Street" on Elektra EKS 7303)

23. Breeze [Traditional Song cover] - OLIVER SMITH (1966 USA Stereo LP "Oliver Smith" on Elektra EKS 7316)

24. Joshua Gone Barbados - TOM RUSH (1965 USA Stereo LP "Talk A Little Walk With Me" on Elektra EKS 7308)

25. Other Side To This Life - FRED NEIL (1965 USA Stereo LP "Bleecker & MacDougal" on Elektra EKS 7293)

26. Birdses - DINO VALENTE (1964 UK 7" Single on Elektra EKSN 45012, A)

27. Blues With A Feeling - THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (1965 USA Stereo LP "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" on Elektra EKS 7294)

28. Moonlight Drive (Early Version - aka Demo) - THE DOORS (1965 recording first appeared on "Essential Rarities" on Elektra 7559-62530-2 in 1999)

Disc 2 - 23 Tracks from 1966 to 1969 (76:36 minutes):

1. My Little Red Book - LOVE (1966 USA Stereo LP "Love" on Elektra EKS 74001)

2. Wings - TIM BUCKLEY (1967 USA Stereo LP "Tim Buckley" on Elektra EKS 74004)

3. So Easy She Goes By - DAVID BLUE (1966 USA Stereo LP "David Blue" on Elektra EKS 74003)

4. I Got A Mind To Give Up Living - THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (1966 USA Stereo LP "East-West" on Elektra EKS 7315)

5. The Magic Carpet - PAT KILROY (1966 USA Stereo LP "Light Of Day" on Elektra EKS 7311)

6. First Girl I Loved - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (1967 USA Stereo LP "The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion" on Elektra EKS 74010)

7. The Invisible Backwards-Facing Grocer Who Rose To Fame - ALASDAIR CLAYRE (1967 UK Mono LP "Alastair Clayre" on Elektra EUK 255)

8. One Time And One Time Only - TOM PAXTON (1966 UK-Only 7" single on Elektra EKSN 45003, A)

9. Changes [Live] - PHIL OCHS (1966 USA Stereo LP "Phil Ochs In Concert" on Elektra EKS 7310)

10. Hard Lovin' Loser - JUDY COLLINS (1966 USA Stereo LP "In My Life" on Elektra EKS 7320)

11. She Comes In Colors - LOVE (1967 USA Stereo LP "Da Capo" on Elektra EKS 74005)

12. Light My Fire - THE DOORS (1967 USA Stereo LP "The Doors" on Elektra EKS 74007)

13. Black Roses - CLEAR LIGHT (1967 USA Stereo LP "Clear Light" on Elektra EKS 74011)

14. Once I Was - TIM BUCKLEY (1967 USA Stereo LP "Goodbye & Hello" on Elektra EKS 74038)

15. Virgo - THE ZODIAC COSMIC SOUNDS (1967 USA Stereo LP "The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds" on Elektra EKS 74009)

16. Buy For Me The Rain - STEVE NOONAN (1967 USA Stereo LP "Steve Noonan" on Elektra EKS 74017)

17. Nevertheless - ECLECTION (1968 USA Stereo LP "Eclection" on Elektra EKS 74023)

18. Fields Of People - ARS NOVA (1968 USA Stereo LP "Ars Nova" on Elektra EKS 74020)

19. Dame Fortune - THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS (1967 USA Stereo LP "The Moray Eels Eat The Holy Modal Rounders" on Elektra EKS 74026)

20. Girl Of The Seasons - BAMBOO (1968 USA Stereo LP "Bamboo" on Elektra EKS 74048)

21. Magazine Lady - 'SPIDER' JOHN KOERNER & WILLIE MURPHY (1967 USA Stereo LP "Running Jumping Standing Still" on Elektra EKS 74041)

22. The Red Sox Are Winning - EARTH OPERA (1968 USA Stereo LP "Earth Opera" on Elektra EKS 74016)

23. I Want You (To Be My One And Only Girl) - THE WAPHPHLE (1967 USA 7" single on Elektra EK 45616, A)

Disc 3 - 22 Tracks from 1967 to 1969 (78:19 minutes, all tracks Stereo):

1. Alone Again Or - LOVE (1967 USA LP "Forever Changes" on Elektra EKS 74013)

2. Both Sides Now [Joni Mitchell cover] - JUDY COLLINS (1967 USA LP "Wildflowers" on Elektra EKS 74012)

3. No Regrets - TOM RUSH (1967 USA LP "The Circle Game" on Elektra EKS 74018)

4. Jennifer's Rabbit - TOM PAXTON (1968 UK-Only 7" single on Elektra EKSN 45021, A)

5. Swift As The Wind - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (1968 USA LP on Elektra EKS 74021)

6. Frozen Mornings - NICO (1968 USA LP "The Marble Index" on Elektra EKS 74029)

7. Down River - DAVID ACKLES (1968 USA LP "David Ackles" on Elektra EKS 74022)

8. Mad Lydia's Waltz - EARTH OPERA (1968 USA LP "The Great American Eagle Tragedy" on Elektra EKS 74038)

9. Sing A Song For You - TIM BUCKLEY (1968 USA LP "Happy Sad" on Elektra EKS 74045)

10. The Sun Comes Up Each Day - DAVID STOUGHTON (1968 USA LP "Transformer" on Elektra EKS 74034)

11. Early Morning Blues & Greens - DIANE HILDEBRAND (1968 USA LP "Early Morning Blues & Greens" on Elektra EKS 74031)

12. She Sang Hymns Out of Tune - THE DILLARDS (1968 USA LP "Wheatstraw Suite" on Elektra EKS 74035)

13. Arthur Comics - STALK-FORREST GROUP [later became Blue Oyster Cult] (1968 USA 7" single on Elektra EKS 74046, A)

14. Five To One - THE DOORS (1968 USA LP "Waiting For The Sun" on Elektra EKS 74024)

15. Apricot Brandy - RHINOCEROS (1968 USA LP "Rhinoceros" on Elektra EKS 74030)

16. When The Battle Is Over - DELANEY & BONNIE and Friends [Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett - Dr. John and Jesse Hill tune] (1969 USA LP "The Original Delaney & Bonnie/Accept No Substitute" on Elektra EKS 74039)

17. Mt. Healthy Blues - LONNIE MACK (1969 USA LP "Whatever's Right" on Elektra EKS 74050)

18. Kick Out The James - MC5 [Motor City 5] (1969 USA LP "Kick Out The Jams" on Elektra EKS 74042)

19. I Wanna Be Your Dog - THE STOOGES [featuring Iggy Pop] (1969 USA LP "The Stooges" on Elektra EKS 74051)

20. Go Back - CRABBY APPLETON [featuring Michael Fennelly] (1969 USA LP "Crabby Appleton" on Elektra EKS 74067)

21. Dismal Day - BREAD [featuring David Gates] (1969 USA LP "Bread" on Elektra EKS 74044)

22. August - LOVE [featuring Arthur Lee] (1969 USA LP "Four Sail" on Elektra EKS 74049)

Disc 4 - 18 Tracks from 1970 to 1973 (76:03 minutes, all tracks Stereo):

1. Down On The Street (Single Version) - THE STOOGES (1970 USA 7" single on Elektra EK 45695, A)

2. Louise - PAUL SIEBEL (1970 USA LP "Woodsmoke & Oranges" on Elektra EKS 74064)

3. Amazing Grace - JUDY COLLINS (1971 USA LP "Whales & Nightingales" on Elektra EKS 75010)

4. That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - CARLY SIMON (1971 USA LP "Carly Simon" on Elektra EKS 74082)

5. Riders On The Storm - THE DOORS (1971 USA LP "L.A. Woman" on Elektra EKS 75011)

6. The Future's Not What It Used To Be - MICKEY NEWBURY (1971 USA LP "Frisco Mabel Joy" on Elektra EKS 74107)

7. Start Living - FARQUAHR (1971 USA LP "Farquahr" on Elektra EKS 74083)

8. Taxi - HARRY CHAPIN (1972 USA LP "Heads & Tales" on Elektra EKS 75023)

9. True Story Of Amelia Earhart - PLAINSONG [featuring Andy Roberts and Ian Matthews] (1972 USA LP "In Search Of Amelia Earhart" on Elektra EKS 75044)

10. I Hardly Know Her Name - THE WACKERS (1972 USA LP "Hot Wacks" on Elektra EKS 75025)

11. Ballad Of The Ship Of State - DAVID ACKLES (1972 USA LP "American Gothic" on Elektra EKS 75032)

12. The Guitar Man - BREAD (1972 USA LP "The Guitar Man" on Elektra EKS 75047)

13. You're So Vain - CARLY SIMON (1972 USA LP "No Secrets" on Elektra EKS 75049)

14. You Don't Grow Old - COURTLAND PICKETT (1973 USA LP "Fancy Dancer" on Elektra EKS 75060)

15. Dolphins - CYRUS FARYAR (1973 USA LP "Islands" on Elektra EKS 75068)

16. Shadows On The Wall - SKYMONTERS with HAMID HAMILTON CAMP (1973 USA LP "Skymonters" on Elektra EKS 75073)

17. Burning Love - DENNIS LINDE (1973 USA LP "Dennis Linde" on Elektra EKS 75062)

18. Keep Yourself Alive - QUEEN (1973 USA debut LP "Queen" on Elektra EKS 75064)

Disc 5 "Another Time, Another Place 1963 to 1973" - 26 Tracks (79:20 minutes):

1. Wind Chimes (25 seconds of wind chimes - from the 1966 3LP Box Set "Elektra Library Of Authentic Sound Effects" on Elektra 313/4)

2. Don't Be Long - THE BEEFEATERS (1964 USA 7" single on Elektra EKSN 45013, B-side of "Please Let Me Love You" - band featured Roger 'Jimmy' McGuinn, Gene Clark and Harvest Gerst - early version of The Byrds)

3. I'll Be Back - JOSHUA RIFKIN (1966 USA Stereo LP "The Baroque Beatles Book" on Elektra EKS 7306)

4. Baldheaded End Of The Broom - THE DRY CITY SCAT BAND (1965 USA Various Artists Stereo LP "The String Band Project" on Elektra EKS 7292)

5. We Shall Be Happy - JOSEPH SPENCE (1966 USA Mono LP "Happy All The Time" on Elektra EKL 273)

6. Good Time Music - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL (1966 USA Various Artists Stereo LP "What's Shakin'" on Elektra EKS 74002)

7. Born In Chicago - THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (1965 USA Various Artists LP "Folk Song '65" on Elektra SMP 6)

8. Crossroads - ERIC CLAPTON & THE POWERHOUSE (1966 USA Various Artists Stereo LP "What's Shakin'" on Elektra EKS 74002)

9. I'll Keep It With Mine - JUDY COLLINS (a Bob Dylan cover, 1965 USA 7" single on Elektra EK 45601, A)

10. She's A Woman - THE CHARLES RIVER VALLEY BOYS (1966 USA Stereo LP "Beatle Country" on Elektra EKS 74006)

11. Sunshine Sunshine - TOM RUSH [James Taylor cover] (1968 USA Stereo LP "The Circle Game" on Elektra EKS 74018)

12. Bird Song - THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS (1968 USA 7" single on Elektra EK 45644, A)

13. She's Ready To Be Free - CLEAR LIGHT (1967 USA 7" single on Elektra EK  45622, A)

14. Wayfaring Stranger - TIM BUCKLEY [from the 1969 "Happy Sad" Sessions] (1999 CD Compilation "Works In Progress" on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7705)

15. Laissez-Faire - DAVID ACKLES (1968 USA Stereo LP "David Ackles" on Elektra EKS 74022)

16. Alphabet Song - DAVID PEEL & THE LOWER EAST SIDE (1968 USA Stereo LP "Have A Marijuana" on Elektra EKS 74032)

17. Voodoo Woman - DAVID STOKES & THE NIGHTHAWKS (1968 USA 7" single on Elektra EK 45670, A)

18. Please (Mark II) - ECLECTION (1968 UK-Only 7" single on Elektra EKSN 45046, A)

19. Flames - LEVIATHAN (1969 UK-Only 7" single on Elektra EKSN 45076, A)

20. No Words Between Us - SHOW OF HANDS (1969 USA Stereo LP "Formerly Anthrax" on Elektra EKS 74084)

21. Listening to Music - JACK S. MARGOLIS (1969 USA Stereo LP "A Child's Garden Of Grass" on Elektra EKS 75012)

22. Lotus - THE RAINBOW BAND (1971 USA Stereo LP "The Rainbow Band" on Elektra EKS 74092)

23. The Persecution & Restoration Of Dean Moriarty (On The Road) - AZTEC TWO-STEP (1972 USA LP "Aztec Two-Step" on Elektra EKS 75031)

24. P. O. W. - GOODTHUNDER (1971 USA LP "Goodthunder" on Elektra EKS 75041)

25. All Around My Grandmother's Floor - ANDY ROBERTS (1973 UK LP "Urban Cowboy" on Elektra K 42139)

26. World Within End - JOBRIATH (1973 USA LP "Jobriath" on Elektra EKS 75070)

AUDIO:

Remastered by long-standing Engineers BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH at Digiprep in California - the Audio fluctuates from awesome to hissy disappointment. If I was to split it - I'd say the earlier Folk/Blues/Bluegrass material sounds amazing - while the late Sixties to the early Seventies is very hit and miss (better in more cases that not). But whatever way you look it - the sheer diversity of artists and recordings is impressive - and time and time again you're discovering music that only makes you want to dig deeper. The audio is discussed more within the reviews of each disc.

PACKAGING:

This beauty is already the stuff of legend. Compiled by STUART BATSFORD, MICK HOUGHTON and PHIL SMEE with Special Thanks to Sara Lawrence and dedicated to the label's spiritual maker JAC HOLZMAN - the 12" x 12" Box Set (with a detachable page track list beneath the shrink-wrap on the rear) has a velvet base in which four CDs sit in two inset hollows - each in CD-sized hard-card books. A very clever move is that when you open the gatefold CD book pack - there are eight cool pages of 7" singles from around the world (a page per single). Volume 1 for instance pictures rare US 45 promos of The Dillards, Vince Martin & Fred Neil, a lesser seen variant of the Elektra label from the UK for Phil Ochs and a beautiful French EP for The Lovin' Spoonful. Disc 2 has French pictures sleeves for The Doors and Eclection as well as hard-to-find UK-only 7" singles for Love on the black Elektra label (all in their original carrier bags). The picture CDs themselves sit on see-through trays with a dense collage of Elektra album covers stretching back decades beneath (very nicely done). The fifth CD called "Another Time Another Place" (covering the entire Box Set span) is contained within its own 5" card sleeve - complete with an inner and track details.

Also inlaid into top of the velvet bottom tray are two metal gold-coloured Elektra badges - the original red 'E' Logo and the equally famous Butterfly logo. After that are two textured-pouches - the first is an LP-sized envelope embossed with the Elektra logo and within features 4 album-sized art prints of front sleeves - "Judy Collins No. 3" (1963), The Doors "Strange Days" (1967), Love "Forever Changes" (1967) and Bread "Bread" (1971). The rear of each lists the catalogue number, Cover Artist and other people involved in the Art Direction. The 2nd pouch (again embossed in a sort of cream colour) is smaller but a gatefold (about 10" x 10"). Inside are four 8" x 10" black and white Elektra publicity photos for Tom Rush, The Doors, Love and Freddie Mercury of Queen. Wrapped in an Elektra logo bandana are 8 colour postcards - David Ackles, Tim Buckley, The Butterfield Blues Band, Fred Neil, Nico, Tom Paxton, Carly Simon and The Stooges. Then there are four three-way fold out track-list sheets for Discs One, Two, Three and Four - each with a different period Elektra Records label design. Inside are details for each song. And there is also the CD-ROM mentioned above with access to loads of Internet material.

But all of this - pales into trivia insignificance against the hardback book. Full box set size - it weighs in at 96 jam-packed pages discussing every song. The sepia-tinted pages feature hundreds of colour photos, album artwork and comments by and about every artist featured. Judy Collins, The Doors, Love and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band are lynchpins for the label - but its extraordinary to see whole paragraphs on The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds, Alasdair Clayre or Rhinoceros let alone David Ackles, Tim Buckley and Nico. Arthur Lee's hugely influential LOVE quite rightly get two pages with comments from Producer Bruce Botnick and Lead Guitarist Johnny Eccles - but how cool is it to see the mighty Fred Neil have comments from David Crosby and Judy Henske whom I'm quite sure would have worshipped at his feet. I can't imagine the months and months it must have taken to collate this. Totally gorgeous to look at and a fascinating read - its Bear Family/Light in The Attic good...and that be heap big praise...

On Disc 1 there are several rarely heard gems that floor you as you wade through the Folk, Blues and Ragtime - the steel-string acoustic guitar slide instrumental "Casey" by Dick Rosmini, another slide instrumental "West Egg Rag" by Dave Ray while Jimmy Davis does a storming guitar-and-voice only Blues of Muddy Waters' "Two Trains Running". We go full Rocking Harmonica White Boy Blues with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on "Blues With A Feeling" (Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop playing blinders). American Folk beauty shows up in Tom Paxton's gorgeous "The Last Thing On My Mind", the beautiful rendition of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" by Judy Collins (covered magnificently by Rod Stewart on his 1971 masterpiece "Every Picture Tells A Story") and the cool vocal drawl of Fred Neil on "Other Side Of This Life" (he would later name an LP on Capitol Records by the same title) as his six-string guitar strums and purrs in the background. Things go 60ts Baroque with Dino Valente's "Birdses" (they never need any ladders apparently) while The Doors' crudely recorded Early Version (or Demo) of "Moonlight Drive" ends the disc in a nod to the Blues Rock to come. Cool Acapella comes in the shape of Leadbelly's "Linin' Track" covered by "Spider" John Koerner, Dave "Snaker" Ray and Tony "Little Sun" Glover. But my fave-rave is Dennis Farina's bitingly sharp "House Un-American Blues Activity Dream" where he combines social commentary with a wicked Folk-Rock groove. In truth I would have preferred "Turn Your Money Green" or "Galveston Flood" giving full reign to deep tonal vocals of Tom Rush instead of the rather dull "Joshua Gone Barbados" - but these are minor quips. Rhino successfully achieved a fantastic and fascinating opening salvo for CD1...a listen that leaves you gasping for more...

Disc 2 brings Rock and Pop into play with Love ("She Comes In Colors"), The Doors ("Light My Fire"), Clear Light ("Black Roses") and Ars Nova (Fields Of People") sided by the fabulous Blues-Rock of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The run of tracks is cleverly interspersed with the straight up Folk of Tom Paxton ("One Time And One Time Only"), England's Incredible String Band ("First Girl I Loved") and Phil Ochs ("Changes"). It's hard (even now) not to be bowled over by the beautiful vocal range and melody of Tim Buckley ("Wings" and "Once I Was") while Koerner & Murphy's "Magazine Lady" sounds some lost Love classic with a Baroque twist. The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds is fun for a trippy moment but hard to take nowadays - better is the Folk-Rock/Mamas & Papas vocal-layers of Eclection - an album that increasingly sounds ahead of its time and grows ever more impressive as the years pass. Judy Collins moves away from her usual soft song fare into the frantic pace of the so-Sixties "Hard Lovin' Loser" where she comes on like Bobby Gentry at Capitol Records. Peter Rowan's Earth Opera gets a rare outing in "The Red Sox Are Winning" - but sounding like some long-lost garage gem - The Waphphle finishes the disc very well. Discovery-time goes to the lovely "Buy For Me The Rain" - a self-penned sweetheart of a Folky tune by Steve Noonan.

What's noticeable on Disc 3 is not just ROCK taking over - but the hiss levels go through the roof on many of these transfers (it was about feel rather than Audiophile). Judy Collins got in with the Joni Mitchell song ("Both Sides Now") while the album she, James Taylor and Jackson Browne debuted on as songwriters - Tom Rush's wonderful "The Circle Game" is represented rather cleverly with his own masterful "No Regrets" (a huge hit for The Walker Brothers in 1976). I can't abide The Incredible String Band vocals at this time - but genius vocals/track choice goes to Nico's "Frozen Warnings" - a song that sounds decades ahead of its time and a precursor to an entire musical genre. Buckley's "Sing A Song For You" hits you with a wall of hiss - not so on the gentle guitar strums of "Early Morning Blues & Greens" by Diane Hildebrand. Cool rock singles ahoy with "Arthur Comics" by Stalk-Forrest Group (later morphed into Blue Oyster Cult). "Five To One" is a smart choice too - thudding its Rock beat across your speakers in impressive fashion. Put together band Rhinoceros have received something of a bad rap across the decades - but again - a seriously clever choice in the Instrumental Funky Guitar Rock of "Apricot Brandy". Things go piano boogie with "When This Battle Is Over" where Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett sound like The Staples Singers discovering their inner Eric Clapton (I'd forgotten how good this track is). But we hit the zenith of cool undiscovered genius with the absolutely incendiary  "Mt. Healthy Blues" from Lonnie Mack. Weighing in at 6:46 minutes - it's a slow grinding boogie - a Blues Rock instrumental where he just lets rip on a fuzzed up guitar - soloing like a madman as Blood, Sweat & Tears brass joins him as a backing. It's blistering and when we played it in Reckless - amazed punters would come to the counter demanding to know whose eating their guitar alive. Disc 3 features more wild Punk in the guise of Iggy Pop's The Stooges and MC5 (including the naughty intro) - while Michael Fennelly's Crabby Appleton and Arthur Lee's Love bring up the Melodic Rock rear - bit of a barnstormer frankly.

"My friends from collage are all married now..." Carly Simon sings on the aching and emotionally raw "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" - her equally brilliant "You're So Vain" kicks in at Track 13 with Mick Jagger provided 'those' vocals (who is it about - Carly ain't spilling the beans). The 7:15 minutes of the album version of "Riders On The Storm" by The Doors still floors me - what utter brilliance it is. More raindrops follow with a superb Mickey Newbury track "The Future's Not What It Used To Be" - a song that creeps into your heart slowly (see separate review for the gorgeous 4CD set "An American Trilogy" from 2011). Plainsong featuring Andy Roberts of Liverpool Scene and Grimms with Ian Matthews of Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort - a gorgeous UK Folk-Rock album themed around the heroic Amelia Earhart. The two-minute melodic Pop of The Wackers gets a rare CD outing in "I Hardly Know Her Name" (a throwback almost to the Sixties sound of The Association). I can't imagine how much money David Gates made Holzmans Elektra Records but in truth a genuine hit like "The Guitar Man" comes as welcome respite from too many nearly-rans. With a very similar voice to Neil - the unlikely sounding Cyrus Faryar does a passable version of Fred Neil's "Dolphins" - letting its slow Tim Buckley phrasing linger over the strings and strummed guitars. Elvis Presley would take Dennis Linde's "Burning Love" to Number 7 in September 1972 and you can hear why The King chose the song (it's a chugging winner). And Disc 4 ends with EMI's Queen giving it some Glam Rock on "Keep Yourself Alive" (signed to Elektra for US releases) - Brian May tearing into that flange pedal beneath his sunburst guitar.

Putting aside the familiar names - much of Disc 5 is new to CD and it's a mixed bag of the nutty, the dire and the inspired. Gems include "Voodoo Woman" by Simon Stokes and the Fotheringay-type Folk-Rock of Eclection's "Please (Mark II)" - but instead of making you giggle the hippy-stoned stuff like David Peel, Joseph Spence and Jack Margolis only grates the nerves. The double from the superb Various Artists set "What's Shakin"" by The Lovin' Spoonful and Eric Clapton (with Steve Winwood on vocals) stand out as total winners. Things get heavy towards the end of the disc with Brain Bennett's Leviathan and Show Of Hands (cleverly sequenced to follow each other). But it's easy to know now why bands like Aztec Two-Step, Goodthunder and Jobriath have stubbornly refused to exit the dollar bins - their tracks are good at best but never really inspired. In fact when you think of how many Elektra acts in the late Sixties and early Seventies like Courtland Pickett and Cyrus Faryar didn't make it - you'd have to say that Island Records of the UK for instance had an infinitely better roster of acts. One final gem turns up in Andy Robert's brilliant and beautifully produced "All Around My Grandmother's Floor" - the kind of Folk-Rock acoustic gem that amazes - a little like England's Mellow Candle or Zacharias (both on Deram) - and that's good praise indeed.

Since its deletion the 'Deluxe Edition' Box Set has fluctuated from £175 to about £75 shrink-wrapped and new. I picked up my VG copy for £40 on eBay - and this is one of those occasions where I'd urge you to go the few extra quid. Ups and downs notwithstanding - "Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records 1963-1973" is a thing of beauty - and I can only tremble at the thought of Rhino giving the mighty 'Atlantic Records' the same lavish treatment...