"Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968" by VARIOUS (June 2006 Rhino/Elektra Reissue - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Psychotic Reaction..."

Whenever we bought in a decent vinyl collection in Reckless (and usually from a guy of a certain age), we would get misty-eyed leering down at this fabulous American-based double-album released in 1972. Even two decades ago it regularly went for over £50 (when that was pricey) and had an almost semi-mythical reputation – often only lasting minutes on our swinging-dick display wall.

Not surprising then that reissue kings Rhino have singled out "Nuggets..." as worthy of its own Mini LP Repro Artwork and Remaster. Let's get psyched...

UK released June 2006 - "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino/Elektra 5101-12419-2 (Barcode 5051011241925) is a reissue/remaster of a 27-Track 1972 double album originally on Elektra Records (USA and Germany) that plays out as follows (76:29 minutes):

1. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - THE ELECTRIC PRUNES (November 1966 US 7" single on Reprise 0532, A-side)

2. Dirty Water - THE STANDELLS (November 1965 US 7" single on Tower 185, A-side)

3. Night Time - THE STRANGELOVES (January 1966 US 7" single on Bang Records B-514, A-side)

4. Lies - THE KNICKERBOCKERS (November 1965 US 7" single on Challenge 59321, A-side)

5. Respect - THE VAGRANTS (Mono) (March 1967 US 7" single on Atco 45-6473, B-side of "I Love, Love You (Yes I Do)"

6. A Public Execution - MOUSE (Mono) (February 1966 US 7" single on Fraternity F-956, A-side)

7. No Time Like The Right Time - THE BLUES PROJECT (February 1967 US 7" single on Verve Forecast KF 5040, A-side - written by Al Kooper)

8. Oh Yeah! - THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT (May 1966 US 7" single on Dunwich DX 122, A-side)

9. Pushin' Too Hard - THE SEEDS featuring Sky Saxon (July 1966 US 7" single on G.N.P. Crescendo GNP 372, A-side)

10. Moulty - THE BARBARIANS (Mono) (January 1966 US 7" single on Laurie LR 3326, A-side)

11. Don't Look Back - THE REMAINS (Mono) (August 1966 US 7" single on Epic 5-10060, A-side)

12. An Invitation To Cry - THE MAGICIANS (Mono) (November 1965 US 7" single on Columbia 4-43435, A-side)

13. Liar, Liar - THE CASTAWAYS (June 1965 US 7" single on Soma 1433, A-side)

14. You're Gonna Miss Me - THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS (Mono) (May 1966 US 7" single on International Artists IA-107, A-side)

15. Psychotic Reaction - COUNT FIVE (July 1966 US 7" single on Double Shot 104, A-side)

16. Hey Joe - THE LEAVES (Mono) (April 1966 US 7" single on Mira 222, A-side)

17. Romeo And Juliet - MICHAEL & THE MESSENGERS (Mono) (June 1967 US 7" single on U.S.A. Records 874, A-side)

18. Sugar And Spice - THE CRYAN SHAMES (Mono) (June 1966 US 7" single on Destination 624, A-side)

19. Baby Please Don't Go - THE AMBOY DUKES (January 1968 US 7" single on Mainstream 676, A-side)

20. Tobacco Road - BLUES MAGOOS (June 1966 US 7" single on Mercury 72590, A-side)

21. Let's Talk About Girls - THE CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND (from the 1967 LP "No Way Out" on Tower Records ST-5096 in Stereo)

22. Sit Down, I Think I Love You - THE MOJO MEN (Mono) (December 1966 US 7" single on Reprise 0539, A-side - Buffalo Springfield cover, song written by Stephen Stills)

23. Run, Run, Run - THE THIRD RAIL (Mono) (June 1967 US 7" single on Epic 5-10191, A-side)

24. My World Fell Down - SAGITTARIUS (Mono) (May 1967 US 7" single on Columbia 4-44163, A-side)

25. Open My Eyes - NAZZ (July 1968 US 7" single on SGC Records 45-001, A-side)

26. Farmer John - THE PREMIERS (May 1964 US 7" single on Warner Brothers 5443, A-side)

27. It's-A-Happening - THE MAGIC MUSHROOMS (Mono) (September 1966 US 7" single on A&M Records 815, A-side)

Tracks 1 to 27 are the double-album "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968" - released December 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-2006 (no UK release).

Tracks 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24 and 27 in MONO

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 25 and 26 in STEREO

There is also a remastered 2LP VINYL issue from 2006 on Rhino/Elektra 5101-12419-1 (Barcode 5051011241918)

The gatefold card sleeve apes the original gatefold vinyl double-album - wisely taking compiler Lenny Kaye's band-by-band liner notes off the unreadable inner sleeve and making them very readable in the chockers 24-page booklet. There are label repros of those of rare American sevens (pictures sleeves for The Magicians, The Strangeloves and The Electric Prunes) whilst the occasional British LP and UK 45 show up too. It's a beautifully in-depth affair and the ALAN SILVERMAN Remasters deliver too - punchy and full of grunge attitude (2LPs remastered in full onto 1CD). And Rhino have even reproduced the 'Something Out Of The Ordinary' Elektra Records inner bag that came with late 1972 originals (to house the CD on side of the gatefold) – nice attention to detail and respect to Kaye and his rather brill little double-bubble of 60ts trouble. To the happening music...

The fabulous "An Invitation to Cry" by The Magicians is a gem - the band containing Allan Jacobs who would become Bunky and later Jake & The Family Jewels. I've raved about their melodic brilliance and reviewed a superb Sundazed CD compilation named after their song here which also contains "I'll Tell the World About You" - covered beautifully by Joe Walsh on his 1972 debt solo album "Barnstorm" - a Magicians ballad. Texan Rocky Ericson headed up The Thirteen Floor Elevators and penned the cool inclusion here of "You're Gonna Miss Me". The legendary first album on International Artists has been bootlegged so many times because originals are so scarce and valuable - Rhino reproducing the yeah-man "...look closely at the cube of sugar I have clutched in my hand..." liner notes to that LP on Page 14 of the packed booklet. But surely everyone's crave has to be the snot-nosed groovy brilliance of "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five who boasted future editor Greg Shaw of "Who Put The Bomp" and whose classic raver even got a release on Pye International in Blighty (7N.25393 being a £75+ 45 rpm rarity).

Dino Valenti's "Hey Joe" gets probably the best 60ts version from The Leaves (Bobby Arlin would go on to be in Hook while Jim Pons would join The Turtles and later the Mothers). Michael & The Messengers took a cover of The Reflections song "(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet" (a 1964 hit for the Detroit group on Golden World Records GW 9), dropping the bracketed beginning, and made a fair fist of it too. The cool-but-gimmick named Chicago group The Cryan Shames took an old English toast and marmalade Searchers pop-hit "Sugar And Spice" and gave it some US razzle - first issued on the independent Destination Records label only to see the mighty Columbia thereafter take the Shames baton. And no doubt that Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes were listening to Van Morrison's THEM for "Baby Please Don't Go" rather than the Joe Williams original - a right raver in 1967.

John Loudermilk gave Blues Magoos another Greenwich Village cafe yeah-yeah moment in their cover of his famous rocker "Tobacco Road" - very cool stuff on Mercury Records in June 1966. Artie Resnick co-wrote "Good Lovin'" with Rudy Clark and gifted a monster hit to The Young Rascals - for his own band The Third Rail he came up with "Run, Run, Run" - co-penned with his wife and that bubblegum pop purveyor Joey Levine. And while it feels more Sunshine Pop than Psych, I'd argue its a cool inclusion - rounded off at the end of the compilation by Todd Rundgren's Nazz doing the brill "Open My Eyes" and Gary Usher's Sagittarius - another with-it yeah-baby band that was getting all Zodiac and Horse-Man with a bow-and-arrow on us in the summer of 1967.

Very cool and even in 2019, very cheap too – often at less than a fiver of your pre-Brexit remainer pounds. Get your Original Artyfacts here folks and remember people (as The Thirteenth Floor Elevators liner notes wisely inform us) - "...take on the superficial aspects of the quest..."

I do man, I do...

"Home In Your Heart: The Best Of..." by SOLOMON BURKE (July 1993 Rhino/Atlantic & Atco Remasters 2CDs - Ted Jensen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Meet Me In Church..."

For sure in 2019 - and even if they are from original master tapes as stated on the artwork - Remasters from January 1992 are 'old'. But that doesn't stop this barnstorming Solomon Burke twofer anthology (released July 1993 in the UK) from doing exactly what it says on the lame-suit lid – hitting you in the Solar Plexus and making a "Home In Your Heart".

Longstanding Audio Engineer and Associate to US reissue label giant Rhino Records - TED JENSEN did these transfers back in the day as I said and I've always loved the way they sound - full of life and oomph and that storming live-in-the-studio Sixties feel. Then throw in the fact that you get a whoop-ass 41 slices of primo Atlantic Records Soul (34 singles and 7 album tracks to be exact-a-mundo) and I'm Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye). And Burke had 21 children! There's a lot on here, so let's get to the prayer books and have those remorseful tear ducts a-flowing people 'cause I feel a sin coming on (Lord have mercy)...

UK released July 1993 - "Home In Your Heart: The Best Of Solomon Burke" by SOLOMON BURKE on Rhino/Atlantic 8122-70284-2 (Barcode 081227028428) is a 41-Track 2CD Anthology of 1992 Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (57:35 minutes):

1. Home In Your Heart (February 1963 US 7"single on Atlantic 45-2180, B-side of "Words" - A-side is Track 8 on Disc 1)

2. Down In The Valley (May 1962 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2147, A-side - B-side is Track 4 on Disc 1)

3. Looking For My Baby (July 1964 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2241, B-side of "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" - A-side is Track 18 on Disc 1)

4. I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You (May 1962 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2147, B-side - A-side is Track 2 on Disc 1)

5. Cry To Me (January 1962 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2131, A-side - B-side isn't on this compilation)

6. Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) (August 1961 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2114, A-side - B-side isn't on this compilation)

7. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) (April 1964 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2226, A-side - B-side is Track 15 on Disc 1)

8. Words (February 1963 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2180, A-side - B-side is Track 1 on Disc 1)

9. Stupidity (July 1963 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2196, B-side of "Can't Nobody Love You" - A-side is Track 13 on Disc 1)

10. Send Me Some Loving (from the 1963 US album "If You Need Me" on Atlantic SD 8085 in Stereo)

11. Go On Back To Him (December 1962 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2170, A-side)

12. Baby (I Wanna Be Loved) (from the 1962 US album "Solomon Burke's Greatest Hits" on Atlantic SD 8067 in Stereo)

13. Can't Nobody Love You (July 1963 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2196, A-side - B-side is Track 9 on Disc 1)

14. Got To Get You Off My Mind (February 1965 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2276, A-side)

15. Someone To Love Me (April 1964 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2226, B-side to "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" - A-side is Track 7 on Disc 1)

16. You're Good For Me (October 1963 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2205, A-side)

17. Dance Dance Dance (August 1965 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2299, B-side of "Someone Is Watching" - A-side is Track 10 on Disc 2)

18. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (July 1964 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2241, A-side - B-side is Track 3 on Disc 1) 

19. Tonight's The Night (May 1965 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2288, A-side)

20. Baby, Come On Home (December 1965 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2314, A-side)

21. If You Need Me (March 1963 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2185, A-side)

22. The Price (October 1964 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2259, A-side)

Disc 2 (57:53 minutes):

1. Get Out Of My Life Woman (from the 1968 album "I Wish I Knew" on Atlantic SD 8185 in Stereo)

2. Save It  (from the 1968 album "I Wish I Knew" on Atlantic SD 8185 in Stereo)

3. Take Me (Just As I Am) (June 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2416, A-side - B-side is Track 13 on Disc 2)

4. When She Touches Me (October 1966 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2359, A-side - B-side is Track 17 on Disc 2)

5. I Wish I Knew (April 1968 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2507, A-side - B-side is Track 14 on Disc 2)

6. Party People (February 1968 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2483, A-side)

7. Keep A Light In The Window (January 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2378, A-side - B-side is Track 16 on Disc 2)

8. I Feel A Sin Coming On (March 1966 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2327, A-side)

9. Meet Me In Church (June 1968 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2527, B-side of "Save It")

10. Someone Is Watching (August 1965 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2299, A-side - B-side is Track 17 on Disc 1)

11. Detroit City (November 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2459, A-side - B-side is Track 18 on Disc 2)

12. Shame On Me (from the 1968 album "I Wish I Knew" on Atlantic SD 8185 in Stereo)

13. I Stayed Away Too Long (June 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2416, B-side of "Take Me (Just As I Am") - A-side is Track 3 on Disc 2)

14. It's Just A Matter Of Time (April 1968 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2507, B-side of "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)" - A-side is Track 5 on Disc 2)

15. Since I Met You Baby (from the 1968 album "I Wish I Knew" on Atlantic SD 8185 in Stereo)

16. Time Is A Thief (January 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2378, B-side of "Keep A Light In The Window Until I Get Home" - A-side is Track 7 on Disc 2)

17. Woman, How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do (October 1966 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2359, B-side of "When She Touches Me" - A-side is Track 4 on Disc 2)

18. It's Been A Change (November 1967 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2459, B-side of "Detroit City" - A-side is Track 11 on Disc 2)

19. What'd I Say (from the 1968 album "I Wish I Knew" on Atlantic SD 8185 in Stereo)

The 22-page booklet has illuminating and often-hilarious liner notes by GERI HIRSHEY on the larger-than-life Burke of whom it was said could sing to soften or arouse on a dime. The famous Atlantic Records albums "I Wish I Knew" and "Rock 'N Soul" are given full pages and there's a hugely detailed track-by-track Sessionography where you'll spot names like King Curtis and Sam Taylor (Saxophones), Eric Gale, Reggie Young, Billy Butler, Joe South and Jimmy Johnson (Guitars) with Spooner Oldham (Organ) - creamy company indeed. The track list at the rear even gives you Master Tape Numbers and US R&B and Pop chart positions. To the music... 

"...You laughed...you called me my personal clown in front of your friends...you cost me..." - pity poor Solomon as he wails like a man with a nail in his head never mind his shoe on "The Price" - typical melodrama where he does all but weep and ask the Lord for mercy (can't unfortunately help but think that he's heard these calls before from butter-wouldn't-melt in his mouth Solomon). I'd have to say that the Bear Family "Sweet Soul Music - 1961" Remaster for "Just Out Of Reach (For My Two Empty Arms)" is far better than what's on offer here - but that doesn't stop it from being wickedly period. Even better is the sexy shuffle of "Got To Get You Off My Mind" where Solomon's gal has only gone and found someone new and better (so it ain't so papa) - Sam Taylor and Charles Brown punching out those boppin' horns.

But the beauty of this vaults-trawl is that it gives you deeper stuff than obvious compilation cuts like "Cry To Me" and the titular "Home In Your Heart" - dig those 1968 shimmy-shaker LP tracks on Disc 2 like "Save It" (when Solomon gets home he’s gonna have needs) and his call-and-response version of the Ray Charles classic "What’d I Say" – an overdone tune that he brings something new to (Bobby Emmons giving it a bit of Ray on the electric piano while Reggie Young (who only passed this year) plays cool guitar licks. He gets preachy and down with Gospel-Soul on fantastic smoochers like "Meet Me In Church", the quarrelling song "Shame On Me" and the pleader "I Stayed Away Too Long". The intro to "Detroit City" might be a tad hissy but those Joe South and Jimmy Johnson guitar flicks keep things interesting, whilst legendary kit-man Roger Hawkins anchors the brass chugging along to the backbeat like they were to the musical manor born. Burke even keeps up with changing times by covering the Staples Singer educational-call-to-arms stomper "It's Been A Change" - pleading with Washington to open their ears.

A fabulous wealth of Soul, Gospel, Boogie and damn it – sexiness! "...All of the time I keep saying, I'm gonna quit you, but, but, but..." - Solomon stammer-sings on "Woman, How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do" – bemoaning his dreadful and not in the least bit self-inflicted lovelorn fate (easy on that man woman). Grooviest sounds around and then some...

"Chicago" from 1970 aka "Chicago II" by CHICAGO (January 2017 'Steven Wilson Remix' and Remaster CD Reissue on Rhino) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Hundreds of Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1970s ROCK and POP - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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)

"...Colour My World..."

It doesn't take a Mensa certificate to work out that old fart 'remaster' fans like me (and a few million others) have come to worship at the feet of Steve Wilson – the go-to Musician and Audio Engineer for CD transfers – especially those albums with a Proggy leaning.

But what needs to be pointed out about this 2017 SW reissue of Chicago's second platter "Chicago" (January 1970 on Columbia Records in the USA and March 1970 on CBS Records in the UK) is that it's a 'different' "Chicago" than the straight-up 1CD remaster Rhino put out in July 2002. Housed in a fetching and accurate Mini Gatefold LP Repro Card Sleeve complete with fold-out poster inside – the small print on the back of this new reissue wants to hammer home this 'different' point by stating clearly what you're buying - 'Original Mix released 1970. This remix copyright to Rhino for 2017...'

So what's so different that they need to put a Steve Wilson Remix box in the upper left corner of the sleeve beneath the Rhino catalogue number? Porcupine Tree's SW has taken the 16-track original tapes and reconstructed a 'new' Stereo Remix - and with modern-day technology - that's allowed him to get down and dirty with the musicianship at a nuclear level. Working with isolated High Resolution 96kHz/24-Bit digitally transferred files - guitars, piano, brass jabs, strings, layered vocals and even stereo positioning - all came up for grabs and improvement on what was a notoriously audio-compromised vinyl release in the first place.

Painstakingly rebuilt from the rhythm section upwards - the results are amazing - 'different' to the straightforward Rhino transfer for sure - but stunning nonetheless – especially on those string-heavy sections on Side 3 and the Brass and Flute Movements of Side 4. And as Wilson quite rightly points out in his page-long October 2016 explanation - those who are used to the original 1970 double-album 'sound' and would only want that variant on CD - can buy the Rhino reissue of 2002 in its card slipcase easily (and cheaply too). And if you want more of that variant Rhino also released a DVD-Audio in 2003 with 5.1 Surround Mixes. Now let's get to the details of this 2017 variant – Chicago Transit Authority's second 'poem for the people'...

UK and USA released 27 January 2017 - "Chicago: Steven Wilson Remix" by CHICAGO offers the full original 2LP set from 1970 Remixed and Remastered onto 1CD housed in card repro artwork with a fold-out inlay. The US issue is on Rhino R2  559549 (Barcode 081227941499) – the UK one on Rhino 081227941499 (Barcode 081227941499). Both play out as follows (67:17 minutes):

1. Movin' On [Side 1]

2. The Road

3. Poem For The People

4. In The Country

5. Wake Up Sunshine

Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon [Side 2]

6. Make Me A Smile

7. So Much To Say, So Much To Give

8. Anxiety's Moment

9. West Virginia Fantasies

10. Colour My World

11. To Be Free

12. Now More Than Ever

13. Fancy Colours [Side 3]

14. 25 or 6 to 4

15. Prelude

16. A.M. Mourning

17. P.M. Mourning

18. Memories Of Love

It Better End Soon [Side 4]

19. 1st Movement

20. 2nd Movement

21. 3rd Movement

22. 4th Movement

23. Where Do We Go From Here

Tracks 1 to 23 make up their 2nd studio set - the double-album "Chicago" (sometimes referred to as "Chicago II") – released January 1970 in the USA on Columbia KGP-24 and March 1970 in the UK on CBS Records 66233. Produced by JAMES WILSON GUERCIO - it peaked at No.4 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK.

CHICAGO was:

ROBERT LAMM - Vocals and Keyboards

TERRY KATH - Vocals and Guitar

PETER CETERA - Vocals and Bass

LEE LOUGHNANE - Trumpet and Vocals

JAMES PANKOW - Trombone

WALTER PARAZAIDER - Woodwinds (including Flute) and Vocals

DANIEL SERAPHINE – Drums

The inner gatefold of the original double-album is reproduced complete with the lyrics to the socially charged "It Better End Here" over on the right side while credits fill the left. The foldout insert gives us the poster of the seven-piece group individually photographed in sepia – all barefoot and leaning on chairs – looking suitably in touch with a zeitgeist that eludes us mere mortals. The flipside of the foldout poster gives us album/reissue credits alongside Steve Wilson's in-depth explanations of what had to be done and how it was technically pulled of. To the music...

In all honesty (and having lived with this sucker for 47 years) I don't know if I share the sentiments of the 'Chicago 50/1967 to 2017' sticker on the front cover of this reissue that screams "Chicago" is the preeminent masterpiece. I much prefer Sides 3 and 4 to the first LP - but there's no doubting the wallop of the Trumpet and Trombone on "Movin' On" as they hit your speakers - the first of eight James Pankow compositions on the double-album (tracks 6 to 12 are the others). Terry Kath forks up "The Road" where those crashing cymbals feel more alive while the piano intro to Robert Lamm's "Poem For The People" is just plain beautiful. Other faves include "Make Me Smile" - the brass dancer that opens the 'Buchannon Girl' suite on Side 2 where children play in the park. There's amazing sound from the tambourine and various keyboards doing battle with the brass on the short "West Virginia Fantasies" segueing tastefully into the pretty "Colour My World" where Chicago sound like Terry Callier over on Cadet Records.

While the obvious hit single "25 or 6 to 4" is here in its full 4:52 minute album glory (the 7" single was an edit) - my poison has always been the four-part "Memories Of Love" suite that follows - "Prelude", "A.M. Mourning", "P.M. Mourning" and the title track. The Flute and String arrangements are startling - unnervingly lovely - cool even. The same applies to the funkier parts of the "2nd Movement" as that slinky Terry Kath guitar plinkers alongside Walter Parazadier's breathy Flute. I love this. And the build-up in "3rd Movement" and wild guitars in the 4th is like C.C.S. or the better bits of the Blood, Sweat and Tears catalogue from 1969 and 1970. Hell there's even Ian Anderson's Jethro Tull in there too.

Wilson is (yet again) to be praised for his work on an album that has fallen by the appreciation wayside. "Where Do We Go From Here" - Peter Cetera asks in the final song of "Chicago". You buy this and get all Funky Prog Classical on your living room's ass...

-->

"Classic Album Collection" by THE MONKEES (2016 Rhino/Warner Brothers 10CD '50th Anniversary' Mini Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Daydream Believers..."

September 2016 is the 50th anniversary of The Monkee's first appearance on NBC Television in the USA - and long-time supporters of the band RHINO RECORDS of the USA want to celebrate this. So you get their musical legacy wrapped up in a neat and glossy '50th Anniversary' 10CD clamshell box set containing all 9 of their studio albums on Colgems Records from 1966 to 1970 with a further 13-track 'Bonus Disc' gathering up non-album single sides/versions, a studio outtake and several solo stragglers from 1971 and 1980. There's even a rare and thankfully not-too-tampered-with 1986 Remix of their huge hit "Daydream Believer" which I think is first time on CD. Here are the 'hey hey' details...

UK released Friday, 22 January 2016 – "Classic Album Collection" by THE MONKEES on Rhino/Warner Brothers 081227949860 (Barcode 081227949860) is a '50th Anniversary' 10CD Clamshell Mini Box Set and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "The Monkees" (29:42 minutes):

1. (Theme From) The Monkees

2. Saturday's Child

3. I Wanna Be Free

4. Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day

5. Papa Jean's Blues

6. Take A Giant Step

7. Last Train To Clarksville [Side 2]

8. This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day

9. Let's Dance On

10. I'll Be True To You

11. Sweet Young Thing

12. Gonna Buy Me A Dog

Tracks 1 to 12 are their US debut LP "The Monkees" – released October 1966 in the USA on Colgems COM-101 (Mono) and COS-101 (Stereo) and January 1967 in the UK on RCA Victor RD 7844 (Mono) and SF 7844 (Stereo) – the STEREO Remaster is used.

Disc 2 "More Of The Monkees" (28:32 minutes)

1. She

2. When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)

3. Mary, Mary

4. Hold On Girl

5. Your Auntie Grizelda

6. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

7. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) [Side 2]

8. The Kind Of Girl I Could Love

9. The Day We Fall In Love

10. Sometime In The Morning

11. Laugh

12. I'm A Believer

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd album "More Of The Monkees" – released February 1967 in the USA on Colgems COM-102 (Mono) and COS-102 (Stereo) and April 1967 in the UK on RCA Victor RD 7868 (Mono) and RS 7868 (Stereo) – the STEREO Remaster is used.

Disc 3 "Headquarters" (31:16 minutes):

1. You Told Me

2. I'll Spend My Life With You

3. Forget That Girl

4. Band 6

5. You Just May Be The One

6. Shades Of Gray

7. I Can't Get Her Off My Mind

8. For Pete's Sake [Side 2]

9. Mr. Webster

10. Sunny Girlfriend

11. Zilch

12. No Time

13. Early Morning Blues And Greens

14. Randy Scouse Git

Tracks 1 to 14 are their 3rd album "Headquarters" – released June 1967 in the USA on Colgems COM-103 (Mono) and COS-103 (Stereo) and July 1967 in the UK on RCA Victor RD-7868 (Mono) and SF-7868 (Stereo) – the STEREO Remaster is used.

Disc 4 "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." (35:52 minutes):

1. Salesman

2. She Hang Out

3. The Door Into Summer

4. Love Is Only Sleeping

5. Cuddly Toy

6. Words

7. Hard To Believe [Side 2]

8. What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?

9. Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig

10. Porky – Pleasant Valley Sunday

11. Daily Nightly

12. Don't Call On Me

13. Star Collector

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 4th album "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." – released November 1967 in the USA on Colgems COM-104 (Mono) and COS-104 (Stereo) and January 1968 in the UK on RCA Victor RD 7912 (Mono) and SF 7912 (Stereo) – the STEREO Remaster is used.

Disc 5 "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees" (37:19 minutes):

1. Dream World

2. Auntie's Municipal Court

3. We Were Made For Each Other

4. Tapioca Tundra

5. Daydream Believer

6. Writing Wrongs

7. I'll Be Back Up On My Feet [Side 2]

8. The Poster

9. PO Box 9847

10. Magnolia Simms

11. Valleri

12. Zor And Zam

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th album "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees" – released May 1968 in the USA (& UK) on Colgems COM-109 (Mono) and COS-109 (Stereo) and in the UK on RCA Victor RD 7948 (Mono) and SF 7948 (Stereo) – the STEREO Mix is used.

Disc 6 "Head – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (28:49 minutes):

1. Opening Ceremony

2. Porpoise Song (Theme From "Head")

3. Ditty Diego – War Chant

4. Circle Sky

5. Supplicio

6. Can You Dig It

7. Gravy

8. Superstitious [Side 2]

9. As We Go Along

10. Dandruff

11. Daddy's Song

12. Poll

13. Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?

14. Swami

Tracks 1 to 14 are their 6th studio album "Head – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" – released December 1968 in the USA on Colgems COSO-5008 (Stereo only – original copies in a 'foil' effect sleeve) and September 1969 in the UK on RCA Victor RD 8051 (Mono) and SF 8051 (Stereo) – the STEREO Mix is used. Note: only tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 – all other tracks have 'no artist' accredited.

Disc 7 "Instant Replay" (28:49 minutes):

1. Through The Looking Glass

2. Don't Listen To Linda

3. I Won't Be The Same Without Her

4. Just A Game

5. Me Without You

6. Don't Wait For Me

7. You And I [Side 2]

8. While I Cry

9. Tear Drop City

10. The Girl I Left Behind Me

11. A Man Without A Dream

12. Shorty Blackwell

Tracks 1 to 12 are 7th studio album "Instant Replay" – released February 1969 in the USA on Colgems COS-113 (Stereo only) and May 1969 in the UK on RCA Victor RD 8016 (Mono) and SF 8016 (Stereo) – the STEREO Mix is used.

Disc 8 "The Monkees Present..." (29:40 minutes):

1. Little Girl

2. Good Clean Fun

3. If I Knew

4. Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye

5. Never Tell A Woman Yes

6. Looking For The Good Times

7. Ladies Aid Society [Side 2]

8. Listen To The Band

9. French Song

10. Mommy And Daddy

11. Oklahoma Backroom Dancer

12. Pillow Time

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 8th studio album "The Monkees Present..." – released October 1969 in the USA (& UK) on Colgems COS-117 (Stereo only – no UK release).

Disc 9 "Changes" (32:05 minutes):

1. Oh My My

2. Ticket On A Ferry Ride

3. You're So Good To Me

4. It's Got To Be Love

5. Acapulco Sun

6. 99 Pounds

7. Tell Me Love

8. Do You Feel It Too?

9. I Love You Better

10. All Alone In The Dark

11. Midnight Train

12. I Never Thought It Peculiar

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 9th and last studio album "Changes" – released June 1970 in the USA-only on Colgems COS-119 (Stereo only). They would reform and release “Pool It!” in 1987 on Rhino Records.

Disc 10 "Bonus Disc" (40:02 minutes):

1. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You

(Non-album track, March 1967 US 7" single, A-side of Colgems 1004. For B-side see Track 3)

2. She Hangs Out (Single Version)

(February 1967 WITHDRAWN Canadian 7" single on Colgems 1003)

3. The Girl I Knew Somewhere (Mono Single Mix)

(Non-album version. March 1967 US 7" single, B-side of Colgems 1004. For A-side see Track 1)

4. All Of Your Toys

(Originally unissued – first appeared on the July 1987 US LP "Missing Links" on Rhino RNLP 70150)

5. Goin' Down

(Non-album track. October 1967 US 7" single on Colgems 1012, B-side of "Daydream Believer")

6. D.W. Washburn

(Non-album track. June 1968 US 7" single, A-side of Colgems 1023. For B-side see Track 7)

7. It's Nice To Be With You

(Non-album track. June 1968 US 7" single, B-side of Colgems 1023. For A-side see Track 6)

8. Porpoise Song (Theme From "Head") (Single Version)

(Non-album version. October 1968 US 7" single, A-side of Colgems 1031)

9. Someday Man

(Non-album track. April 1969 US 7" single, A-side of Colgems 5004 – B-side is "Listen To The Band")

10. Do It In The Name Of Love by MICKEY DOLENZ and DAVY JONES

(April 1971 US 7" single on Bell 986, A. For B-side see track 11)

11. Lady Jane by MICKEY DOLENZ and DAVY JONES

(April 1971 US 7" single on Bell 986, B. For A-side see track 10

12. That Was Then, This Is Now by MICKEY DOLENZ and PETER TORK

(June 1980 US 7" single on Arista ASI-9505, A)

13. Daydream Believer (1986 Remix)

(1986 US 7" single on Arista ASI-9532)

PACKAGING/REMASTERS:

The Mini Clamshell Box is glossy and pleasing to look at front and rear – as are the ten 5" x 5" single sleeve repro covers inside (all matt). All use the US Colgems Records artwork – each with clear writing and reasonably readable details. None of the CDs have original label art - all are red Rhino labels (a bit of effort boys). And it doesn't take a Mensa student to work out that the first five albums could easily have had 'both' the Mono and Stereo mixes on them – allowing fans to sequence every single as well (most were in Mono). And the lack of even a rudimentary booklet with some history and info on this most fondly remembered band is pretty crappy – especially given the fact that The Monkees shifted a whopping 70 million albums worldwide and managed four Number 1 albums in the US in a row – a Beatles type feat. But at least you get great AUDIO. Although there's no mention of Mastering/Remastering anywhere - the Remasters announced on the sticker (outside of the box's shrink-wrap) feel just like the 2006 Rhino issues to my ears. These albums sound brill – clean, full of presence and swimming in that great Stereo vibe that accompanies this kind of 60ts music...

Rather obviously modelled on The Beatles – the Monday night showing of 'The Monkees TV Show' on NBC throughout the later half of 1966 guaranteed staggering exposure for the newly made-up group. The Monkees were broadcast into every home in the land – a country obsessed at the time with all things British and musical. So for the hugely popular debut album songwriter-experts Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart took the lion's share of the hits (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12) while Michael Nesmith was already making his mark with "Papa Jean's Blues" and a co-write with the mighty duo of Gerry Goffin and Carole King on "Sweet Young Thing". A young David Gates (pre Bread) contributed "Saturday's Child" and The Hollies released "I'll Be True To You" in 1965 (then entitled "Yes I Will"). It should also be noted that even though The Monkees were indeed "...too busy singing to put anyone down..."  - the STEREO master is used for the whole album but the "Theme From" opener on Side 1 is in MONO. 

But real Monkeemania began in 1967 where the band managed three album releases in the same year – and all of them hitting the US No. 1 spot – a feat only second to - well The Beatles. Boyce and Hart took something of a backseat on the 2nd album "More Of The Monkees" – nonetheless providing two winners in "She" and "(I'm Not You) Steppin' Stone". Neil Diamond contributed two nuggets as well – "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" and the magical "I'm A Believer". Things got even better with the next record. What's impressive about the "Headquarters" LP (their 3rd No. 1 in the US) is that it felt like the 'real' Monkees were emerging. Dogged with accusations that they were merely puppets of the record label and couldn't play jack let alone write - suddenly both their songs and production values went through the roof when ex Turtles bass player Chip Douglas came on board. "Headquarters" would take six weeks to record (instead of six minutes) and feature the band on most every track. Then there were the quality songs - the combo of Mike Nesmith originals like "You Told Me", "Sunny Girlfriend" and especially "You Just May Be The One" - along with superb Boyce & Hart songs like "I'll Spend My Life With You" and "Mrs. Webster" gave the album a real "Rubber Soul" feel – albeit two years after the event. The string arrangements on Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil's "Shades Of Gray" are gorgeous as is the Bacharach piano playing and harmony vocals. Diane Hildebrand and Jack Keller had provided "Your Auntie Grizelda" for the 2nd LP – here they trumped up again with the bass-thumping pop of "Early Morning Blues And Greens". Although they're fun – the two snippets of band written nonsense "Band 6" and "Zilch" thankfully only last 40 seconds and a minute. It ends on Mickey Dolenz's "Randy Scouse Git" which was wisely re-titled "Alternate Title" for single release in the UK on RCA 1604 in August 1967. "Headquarters" is a great album by The Monkees...

As if to confirm that album No. 3 was no freak of great songwriting choices - album number 4 "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." wades in with more of the same. It opens with a great one-two song combo – Craig Smith's caustic tale "Salesman" and Jeff Barry's wonderfully atmospheric pop of "She Hangs Out". Not to be outdone – they're followed by the infectious acoustic strum of "The Door Into Summer" – a fantastic 'penny-whistle band' ditty written by Nesmith's pal and Monkees Producer Chip Douglas (Chip was with The Turtles). It features Nesmith on Lead Vocals with Dolenz adding superb backing harmony (the title apparently comes from a Sci-Fi novel of the time). Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil trumped up again with the excellent guitar bop of "Love Is Only Sleeping" – a tune I thought would have made for an ace 45. Perhaps smart – perhaps part lucky – their choice of Nilsson's "Cuddly Toy" as a song is brilliant – perfectly adapted to that Monkees' sound while at the same time bringing Nilsson's talent to the attention of RCA (his career started here). Psychedelic things were clearly on Mike Nesmith's mind for his wonderfully period "Daily Nightly" (a trippy blast) - while Gerry Goffin & Carole King's fab guitar pop "Pleasant Valley Sunday" was lifted off the album and made No 3 on the pop charts in July 1967.

"The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees" hit the Number 3 spot on the US album charts but didn't register with the British public at all - and after four consecutive No.1 albums in America – it was already a sign of their sone-to-be rapid fade (the next album "Instant Replay” in 1969 barely made No. 32). That's not to say that "The Birds..." doesn't contain goodies like Davy Jones' thinly veiled 'dancing bear in a circus' in "The Poster" reflecting the media tornado he'd been in for nearly three years. Ace songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart threw the personal ads "PO Box 9847" and the wicked "Valleri" into the mix while Nesmith went all vaudeville with the whimsical "Magical Simms". They even got a bit political with "Zor And Zam" – a Bill & John Chadwick reflection on 'that war' far away – rather wistfully wishing that 'nobody came'.

The extravaganza that was the soundtrack to 1968's "Head" delighted some newcomers but confused and alienated just as many fans. Across the years though its psychedelic leanings have amassed the album a serious cult following. Listening to the 1:12 minutes lunacy of "Opening Ceremony" – it's hardly surprising so many thought it indulgent cobblers – but then it segues into Goffin & King's lovely "Porpoise Song" and things start to cook. "...Let's all lose our minds..." they shout in the speeded-up pee-take of their own band image in "Ditty Diego". But then you get the kicking Nesmith original "Circle Sky" where his vocal is deliberately buried – like he's miles away – trying to get through. Side 1 ends on Peter Tork's finest moment "Can You Dig It" – all Tabla-patters accompanied by treated clavinet sounding keyboards and doomy Jefferson Airplane guitars (The Monkees man!). There then arrives four minutes of genius – the album's undoubted masterpiece – the beautiful "As We Go Along" written by Carole King and Toni Stern. It's gorgeous acoustic strumming and pure melody reminds you of the Tim Buckley at his finest or the sheer melody magic of The Byrds (as the B-side to the 45 for "Porpoise Song" – it reached 51 on the US singles charts). The other peach is Nilsson's "Daddy's Song" where Jones even apes Nilsson's vocal style. Peter Tork goes all Dylan gangling-guitar on the final song "Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?" – his vocal sounding not unlike Ringo Starr. I suppose you could argue that if they'd left off the largely silly links between the proper songs – the album might have been seen as a genuine piece of wonder at the time – but who knows...

Despite a lot of new material by Nesmith ("Don't Wait For Me" and "While I Cry", Dolenz ("Just A Game" and "Shorty Blackwell") and Jones on "You And I" – the 1969 album "Instant Replay" seemed not to fly (it barely scraped No. 56 on the album charts). Songwriters Boyce & Hart had served them well on all the preceding records - and they did so again with winners like "Through The Looking Glass" and the very Beatlesesque "Tear Drop City". But others like "Don't Listen To Linda", "Me Without You" and Carole Bayer/Neil Sedaka's awful "The Girl I Left Behind" were beginning to sound like sappy reject pap for just another 60ts Pop band.

By the time they reached "The Monkees Present..." in late 1969 the gig was already up with Peter Tork jumping ship (down to three as the front sleeve showed). Then tunesmith Mike Nesmith left as well for a solo career (down to two). The last album they did before they split was 1970's all-but-forgotten "Changes" with only Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz left in the band. They gainfully tried to look joyous on the front cover but only managed to look dated and at odds with the new decade (the album barely scraped 100 in America) and wasn’t even given a UK release. Considering it feels like a 'throwaway' disc at the base of the box - the 13-track 'Bonus Disc' is actually a corking listen. It gathers up the non-album single sides like Neil Diamond's "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", the kazoo-fun of "D.W. Washburn" and the very Association/Harpers Bizarre upbeat summery sounding "Someday Man" as well as better song outtakes like "All Of Your Toys" and solo sides from 1971 and 1980. Hell even the 1986 Remix of "Daydream Believer" isn't the travesty you'd expect from that decade of excess – just a very tasteful and slight pump up of the rhythm section here and there...

It has to be said that the absence of the MONO mixes when there was so obviously room for them and there being not even a rudimentary booklet to sing their considerable musical and commercial praises lets the side down somewhat. That aside – you’re left mightily impressed with the music and Rhino's wonderfully clear remasters – and that they managed to carve a niche of their own away from the 'Pre Fab Four' taunts that dogged them early on.

A simple 2CD "Best Of" will probably suffice for most - but I've found with the 10-discs of "Classic Album Collection" that I enjoyed their musical ride way more than I would ever have given credit to. "...Hey Hey We're The Monkees" indeed...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is COOL 1960s MUSIC - an E-Book with over 200 entries and 2000 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song - huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).