"The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954" by T-BONE WALKER (September 1991 US EMI Records USA 2CD Compilation of Ron McMaster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

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"...Strollin' With Bone... "

"...I'm too lazy to work and too nervous to steal..." or how about 

"...It's a coldblooded world when a man has to pawn his shoes..." 

Poor T-Bone Walker, always having it hard with the ladies (if you know what I'm saying). 

It may be old (in July 2021, September 1991 is almost 30 years ago and therefore ancient in the digital domain), but if you'll forgive the loose lips sinks ships gaudy line of chatter-patter, "The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954" is a solid gold one nonetheless. 

The grandfather guitar-playing template for most all of modern-day Blues - T-Bone Walker's tunes were always fun too - a self-deprecating wry social commentator where (guess what) - it always appeared to be her fault - with our hero (oddly enough) blemish-less in the aforementioned shenanigans. As you no doubt catch from the lyrics to "Too Lazy" and "Alimony Blues" quoted above, T-Bone was also an uncannily good wordsmith - like say Chuck Berry was to 50ts Rock 'n' Roll. 

Jammed with Fifty-two tracks in great audio (given their vintage and rarity) - T-Bone Walker was also an accomplished 40 year-old Blues and R 'n' B man in the early 50ts zipping up and down the fretboard of his big daddy of a guitar. There's a whole mess of hustle to be documenting, so let's have at the evil-hearted gals and their cruel-cruel alimony blues...

US released 10 September 1991 - "The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950- 1954" by T-BONE WALKER on EMI Records USA CDP-7-96737-2 (Barcode 762185124628) is a 52-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters in the EMI Blues Series that plays out as follows:

CD1: 70:18 minutes, 26 Tracks 

1. Glamour Girl 

2. Strollin' With Bone 

3. The Sun Went Down 

4. You Don't Love Me 

5. Travellin' Home 

6. The Hustle Is On (78 RPM Version)

7. Baby Broke My Heart (78 RPM Version) 

8. Evil Hearted Woman (Alternate Take)

9. I Walked Away 

10. No Reason 

11. Look Me In The Eye (78 RPM Version) 

12. Too Lazy (Alternate Take) 

13. Alimony Blues 

14. Life Is Too Short 

15. You Don't Understand (Alternative) 

16. Welcome Blues (Hey Pretty Baby) 

17. I Get So Weary 

18. You Just Wanted To Use Me

19. Tell Me What's The Reason 

20. I'm About To Lose My Mind  

21. Cold, Cold Feeling 

22. News For My Baby 

23. Get These Blues Off Me 

24. I Got The Blues Again

25. Through With Women 

26. Street Walking Woman

CD2: 68:48 minutes, 26 Tracks

1. Blues Is A Woman 

2. I Got The Blues 

3. Here In The Dark

4. Blue Mood 

5. Every Time 

6. I Miss You Baby 

7. Lollie Lou 

8. Party Girl 

9. Love Is Just A Gamble (No Horns) 

10. High Society 

11. Long Distance Blues 

12. Got No Use For You 

13. I'm Still In Love With You 

14. Railroad Station Blues 

15. Vida Lee (No Horns)

16. My Baby Is Now On My Mind 

17. Doin' Time 

18. Bye Bye Baby 

19. When The Sun Goes Down 

20. Pony Tail 

21. Wanderin' Heart 

22. I'll Always Be In Love With You 

23. I'll Understand 

24. Hard Way 

25. Teen Age Baby 

26. Strugglin' Blues 

Part of the 'EMI Blues Series', the 16-page booklet inside the fat double jewel-case has informative, affectionate and detailed liner notes by PETE WELDING followed by track-by-track session details. His swinging band consisted of Eddie Hutcherson on Trumpet, Edward Hale on Alto Saxophone, Eddie Davis on Tenor Saxophone, Jim Wynn on Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, Zell Kindred on Piano, Buddy Woodson on Bass with Robert Sims on Drums. Other musicians included Wilard McDaniel on Piano, Oscar Lee Bradley and Robert Sims on Rhythm Guitars with T-Bone handling all Lead Guitar and Vocals. That famous shot of him doing his showman-acrobatics by playing the guitar behind his head is synonymous with T-Bone Walker and of course influenced so many Rock Musicians that followed including the big guy - Jimi Hendrix. 

Throughout the songs - most being slow Blues punctuated with dancing R&B shufflers - his guitar playing is that of a more sophisticated B.B. King and the Disc Transfers by RON McMASTER at Capitol Recording Studios brings this out. The first ten to twenty sides feature controlled clicks and pops from those uber-rare 1950 and 1951 Imperial 78s but thereafter, the transfers and Audio is impressively clean. By the time you get down to "Through With Women" on Disc 1 - your speakers are filled with guitar-flicking piano-rolling horn-moaning Blues where the gals are (of course) entirely to blame for T-Bone's woes (the good book says so you know). His "Street Walking Woman" is filled with great fun tales of a gal with a fifth shot of whiskey and a jug full of wine and she don't stop drivin' the boys wild even when the sun goes down.

The kind of artist who deserves a 5CD Bear Family 12" x 12" all-consuming monster hardback book tome Box Set – but if you want your stroll with T-Bone Walker – then settle-in with this early exemplary 2CD anthology. Just know that love is a gamble and she (evil-hearted and gin sozzled) has loaded the dice in her double-dealin' favour (don't they all)...

"Rock Of Age: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND – August 1972 US 2LP Live Set on Capitol Records (November 1972 in the UK) – Featuring Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson with guests Bob Dylan, Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre, J.D. Parson and Horn Arrangements by Allen Toussaint (May 2001 UK Capitol Records Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue – Ron McMaster and Andrew Sandoval Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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TUMBLING DICE - 1972

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"...Sweeter Than Ever..."

You were nowhere in Rock if you hadn't had a double live album by 1972 - and debuted since 1968 - The Band struck on a cool idea to make their first foray into the obligatory 2LP arena circuit souvenir stand out.

Fresh from an invigorating recording experience with New Orleans Soul Man and Brass Arranger Allen Toussaint on their September 1971 "Cahoots" album with the Little Feat-funky "Life Is A Carnival" – the much-respected Toussaint prepped horn charts for their forthcoming end of year concerts in 1971 at the Academy Of Music in New York. The Band did four nights with the shows split in two. So after the intermission, the five-piece group of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson would come back on stage – but this time bolstered up by a five-strong brass section consisting of Snooky Young, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell, Earl McIntyre and J.D. Parson. And so along with a smattering of cleverly re-arranged cover versions, old tunes and familiar melodies were made new again and that collaborative magic was captured on "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" finally issued August 1972.

This 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster only compounds that triumph with 10 Previously Unreleased tracks - the final four of which feature special guest and musical soulmate Bob Dylan. To the lighted candles...

UK released 8 May 2001 - "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" by THE BAND on Capitol Records 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1972 2LP Live Album with 10 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:53 minutes):

1. Introduction [Side 1]

2. Don't Do It

3. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

4. Caledonia Mission

5. Get Up Jake

6. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

7. Stage Fright [Side 2]

8. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

9. Across The Great Divide

10. This Wheel's On Fire

11. Rag Mama Rag

12. The Weight [Side 3]

13. The Shape I'm In

14. Unfaithful Servant

15. Life Is A Carnival

16. The Genetic Method [Side 4]

17. Chest Fever

18. (I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes

Tracks 1 to 18 are the double-album "Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert" - released August 1972 in the USA on Capitol SABB 11045 and November 1972 in the UK on Capitol E-STSP 11. Peaked at No. 6 in the US LP charts (didn’t chart UK)

CD2 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks (45:14 minutes):

1. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

2. I Shall Be Released

3. Up On Cripple Creek

4. The Rumor

5. Rockin' Chair

6. Time To Kill

7. Down In The Flood - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

8. When I Paint My Masterpiece - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

9. Don't Ya Tell Henry - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

10. Like A Rolling Stone - THE BAND with BOB DYLAN

With liner notes penned by ROB BOWMAN in January 2001 - the 20-page booklet reproduces all the artwork of the original tri-gatefold double album as well as providing new interviews with key players (Toussaint still alive when the reissue was being compiled). It's a superbly detailed read – guest musician backgrounds, song choices discussed etc - and also shows repro promo labels of the two US 45s issued from the 2LP set - September 1972's "Don't Do It" b/w "Rag Mama Rag" on Capitol 3433 and December 1972's "(I Don't Want To Hang Up) My Rock And Roll Shoes" b/w "Caledonia Mission" on Capitol 3500. There is even a Tracking Sheet for "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" as well as the usual in-depth reissue compilation credits (Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval). This set of liner notes actually deals with the item in hand and doesn’t fill 75% of its pages with a history of the group.

All Tracks are 24-Bit Digital Remasters by RON McMASTER and ANDREW SANDOVAL - both names familiar Audio Engineers on both The Band and The Kinks catalogues. The Audio is stunning, lifting up material I once thought I knew too well. To the shows and the music...  

"We're gonna try something we've never tried before..." - Robbie Robertson announces as they arrive back on stage and he introduces the pumping newcomers. Horn Section Leader and Flugelhorn player Snooky Young had cut his teeth with some huge big band names – Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter – while Baritone Saxophonist Howard Johnson had sessioned and recorded with Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gil Evans and new kid on the Blues Rock/Americana block - Taj Mahal. So first up is a cover version and what a smart choice it is. Marvin Gaye's barnstorming September 1964 Tamla R&B smash "Baby Don't You Do It" gets reduced in name to "Don't Do It" – the Holland-Dozier-Holland winner (arranged by Allen Toussaint) a standout before we even get to Band material (the single is an edited version). It's clear within seconds that the whole ensemble is tight – Levon Helm whacking the drums and signing with gusto while Rick Danko plucks that Bass with precision. Capitol edited it down for a 45 that made No 34 on the US singles charts.

Next up is a Soulful take on "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" - the bass lovely in the remaster. Their particular Soul-Rock sound emerges again in Robbie's "Caledonia Mission" - can't get to you through your garden gate - him channelling Otis Redding in this great tune. Both "Get Up Jake" and the rocking Side 1 finisher "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" benefit from the oomph the brass section adds them.

Side 2's "Stage Fright" comes from the first half of the show (minus the brass) and acts as perfect lead-in for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - that trumpet adding a sense of history to an already loaded song. The crowd cheers the lyrics "Standing by your window...a pistol in your hand..." as they launch into "Across The Great Divide". More cheers for the Bob Dylan/Rick Danko written "This Wheel's On Fire" while "Rag Mama Rag" explodes out of familiarity into something exciting and new with the brass boys going all New Orleans on its Americana ass.

Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free, and put the load right on me - "The Weight" feeling epic even in 1971. One of my faves is the Little Feat Funk of "The Shape I'm In" – again filled out by a band cooking and enjoying themselves. Things get plaintive with "Unfaithful Servant" – gotta be sent away – left her key – gone to pack. Back to Soul-Rock with the fantastic "Life Is A Carnival" – the Horn Section elevating The Band sound into Little Feat live. We romp to the end with a church organ vs. synth solo for seven minutes of "The Genetic Method" – then go into a lethal one-two pair of enders – the fantastic "Chest Fever" with stunning Toussaint brass jabs and the crowd pleaser "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes".

For many CD2 will call to them - feel warm and fuzzy like a chance meeting with a friend you haven't seen since collage. Shocking is a word that jumps to mind when you think how good these are. It opens with a cover of the Four Tops Tamla hit penned by Ivy Hunter and Stevie Wonder "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever". Things mellow big time with the Soulful "I Shall Be Released" – that squeaky vocal strangely beautiful and drug-haunted in ways. Funky returns with "Up On Cripple Creek" and so misused song "The Rumor" could easily have been on the album or even a B-side of one of the single. Out comes the Harmonica for the whole-life-at-sea song "Rockin' Chair" - take me home to sooth away the rest of my years. Dylan had just released "Greatest Hits Volume II" (a month before the concerts) with five new cuts on it - one of them was the excellent "Down In The Flood" (a Basement Tapes tune) while a second was the now much-loved "When I Paint My Masterpiece" - both versions given throaty versions his Bobness. Levon Helm duets with Dylan on "Don't Ya Tell Henry" - while Robbie Robertson lets rip too. The crowd get a cracking Band/Dylan version of "Like A Rolling Stone" - huge cheers - the tune still fresh to 1971 ears.

A cracking great live double-album bolstered up with ten Bonus Tracks actually worthy of the moniker - no longer a complete unknown. "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" - ain't that the truth...

THE BAND on Capitol Records 1968 to 1977

UK Series of Expanded Edition CD Reissues and Remasters

(September 2000 and May 2001 Release Dates)

1. Songs From Big Pink (July 1968 Debut Album) – Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3902 (Barcode 724352539024)

2. The Band (September 1969 USA, January 1970 UK) - Sept 2000 on Capitol 525 3892 (Barcode 724352538928)

3. Stage Fright (August 1970) - Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3952 (Barcode 724352539529)

4. Cahoots (October 1971) – Sept 2000 UK CD on Capitol 525 3912 (Barcode 724352539123)

5. Rock Of Ages: The Band In Concert (August 1972 2LP Live Set) – May 2001 UK 2CD Set on Capitol 530 1812 (Barcode 724353018122)

6. Moondog Matinee (October 1973) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3932 (Barcode 724352539321)

7. Northern Lights-Southern Cross (November 1975) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3942 (Barcode 724352539420)

8. Islands (March 1977) – May 2001 UK CD on Capitol 525 3922 (Barcode 724352539222)

"Stage Fright" by THE BAND (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 3rd album from 1970) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Turned From The Sun...Saw Everyone...Searching..."

With two hugely influential albums already under their belt (1968's "Music From Big Pink" and 1969's "The Band") – it was time for Americana's pioneers to let the side down.

Some felt they did with "Stage Fright". I didn't. I've always loved this album. In fact it's quite probably biblically blasphemous and goat-sacrificial to say that studio platter number three for THE BAND is 'better' in places than its illustrious predecessors. But as Californication's Hank Moody would say to his agent Charlie the Runkalator as they hide even more scantily clad skanky hookers and a blizzard of cocaine from their long-suffering wives - "...I'm going to rock out with my cock out..."

Again - I love this album and this sweet-sounding 2000 CD Remaster only hammers that affection home all of 47 years later. Here are the details and The Shape It's In...

UK released September 2000 (August 2000 in the USA) - "Stage Fright" by THE BAND on Capitol 525 3952 (Barcode 724352539529) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (71:57 minutes):

1. Strawberry Wine

2. Sleeping

3. Time To Kill

4. Just Another Whistle Stop

5. All La Glory

6. The Shape I'm In [Side 2]

7. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

8. Daniel And The Sacred Harp

9. Stage Fright

10. The Rumor

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Stage Fright" - released August 1970 in the USA on Capitol Records SW-425 and October 1970 in the UK on Capitol Records EA-SW 425. Produced by DICK HIRTHE and Engineered by TODD RUNDGREN - it peaked at No. 5 in the USA and No. 15 in the UK LP charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Daniel And The Sacred Harp (Alternate Take)

12. Time To Kill (Alternate Take)

13. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show (Alternate Mix)

14. Radio Commercial

THE BAND was:

ROBBIE ROBERTSON – Guitars and Vocals

RICHARD MANUEL - Vocals, Piano, Drums, Baritone Sax & Mouth Harp

GARTH HUDSON – Keyboards and Saxophones

RICK DANKO - Vocals, Bass, Violin & Trombone

LEVON HELM - Vocals, Drums, Mandolin & Guitar

Compiled for CD by Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval - the 16-page booklet has fantastically comprehensive liner notes by ROB BOWMAN that feature interviews stretching back twelve years (from 2000), repros of the American Promo 45 for "Time To Kill" and "The Shape I'm In" on Capitol P-2870 as well as two photos of The Band on sofas (one at outtake from the LP shoot). There is discussion on Todd Rundgren's pivotal role as Producer giving the LP the polish their 2nd album "The Band" lacked in 1969. Both Glyn Johns and Rundgren mixed the record and this CD offers the album as it was meant to be – differing from the original Remaster by Capitol in 1990 and the subsequent audiophile issue by DCC in 1994. The new 24-bit remaster by ANDREW SANDOVAL and RON McMASTER gives the album the oomph it's needed. It's a triumph to my ears. Let's get to the music...

"Stage Fright" is a group dealing with and being cudgelled by fame. Recording in June 1970 over only two weeks – the ramshackle looseness (musicians and like minds enjoying themselves) that so warmed up the first two albums was already gone. Some felt the overall LP cold and dark and too bleakly personal in places – and it was short too at 35 odd minutes. But the music for me is key. It opens with "Strawberry Wine" by Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson – a rollicking accordion song about drinking with lyrics about never getting any peace of mine (climbing up the walls and laughing in the dark). "Sleeping" is sad for sure - but it’s beautiful too and the remaster has accentuated that lovely piano and Robertson's distant thinny guitar parts (lyrics from it title this review).

Things slide slightly with Robertson's "Time To Kill" - it's good but its also throwaway for me and the happy-wappy vibe Danko and Manuel try to vocally create feels forced. Nice axe work from Robbie on "Just Another Whistle Stop" and the bass on "All La Glory" is so damn clear now - a hymn from Robbie Robertson to his newly born daughter sung by Levon in that utterly unique voice of his (love that keyboard break - so subtle and pretty). "All La Glory" ends Side 1 on a high.

As I recall the 16-days in the jailhouse tale of monetary woe that is "The Shape I'm In" was relegated to the B-side of "Time To Kill" in the States (October 1970) - when I can't help feeling it was an obvious A with its pounding keyboard funk. In March 1971 the British side of Capitol got it right and issued "The Shape I'm In" with "The Rumor" as its flipside on Capitol CL 15675 - not that the public noticed. "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" was the kind of tune that would have sounded fresh on "Music From Big Pink" - here for some reason it feels old already. Better is "Daniel And The Sacred Harp" - a religious procession song sung as if its a love song to some in the Old Testament. There's beautiful sound on it - those slides and strummed acoustic. The album's title track "Stage Fright" remained a live staple for the band for years - culminating in 1979's "The Last Waltz" where it seemed to come into its own. Although some think it a downer - I've always found the very Harvest-sounding "The Rumor" to be a huge grower - that piano and guitar duetting and the vocals. And you can so hear today's Americana seeping out its every pore...

"...Should I come in there...with that back beat..." - the boys joke in some studio banter after a false start. Amidst the bonus tracks is a thrill for Band fans - an Alternate Mix of one of the album's strong points "Daniel And The Sacred Heart". The audio is gorgeous - clear Bass and Acoustic Guitar - less clutter than the finished version. I might actually prefer the new Alternate Mix to "Time To Kill" to the released version - and again on here with fabulous audio. Great guitar opens "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" where the Alternate has more pronounced vocals and brass - and the one-minute po-faced sounding "Radio Commercial" uses snippets from "Stage Fright", "Strawberry Wine" and "The Shape I'm In" to sell 'the third album from The Band on Capitol'...

I know some see it as a four-star record but with that renewed audio and those genuinely cool extras - "Stage Fright" is one of those occasions where you don't have to pay through the CD nose to get that great combo of top music, quality sound and a cheap price (their first two album outings are the same and mots are online for less than a fiver).

"...The storm is past...there's peace at last..." – Richard Manuel sang on the many mood shades of "Sleeping" – lost in his music – lost in the game. Lost or not - I've so enjoyed joining him there once again...

"Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays" by NAT KING COLE and GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"..Let There Be Love..." 

Back when this iconic and classic 1962 Jazz Vocals album was first being transferred onto the new spangled format of CD - George Shearing waxed lyrical about his favourite record collaboration receiving an Audio upgrade in the original 1987 liner notes. Well the piano-playing maestro would absolutely flip for this new August 2000 version - because to say that this CD incarnation is lush and smooth is like saying Leonardo Da Vinci was an alright painter and had the occasional good idea. Put simply - this new CD variant of "Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays" is gorgeous in every Audio way - brilliantly shining a digital light on the meeting of two great talents combined with the right material. Here are the dapper dudes...

UK released August 2000 – "Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays" by NAT KING COLE and THE GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET on EMI/Capitol Jazz 525 2502 (Barcode 724352525027) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (46:57 minutes):

1. September Song
2. Pick Yourself Up
3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
4. Let There Be Love
5. Azure-Te
6. Lost April
7. A Beautiful Friendship [Side 2]
8. Fly Me To The Moon
9. Serenata
10. I’m Lost
11. There’s A Lull In My Life
12. Don’t Go
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Nat King Cole Sing/George Shearing Plays" - released April 1962 in the USA on Capitol W 1675 (Mono) and Capitol SW 1675 (Stereo). Produced by LEE GILLETTE and TOM ORGAN - Arranged by GEORGE SHEARING and RALPH CARMICHAEL with the String Choir conducted by Carmichael (STEREO mix is used for CD). The album was recorded 19 to 22 December 1961 in Capitol’s Studios in Los Angeles.

NAT KING COLE – Vocals
GEORGE SHEARING – Piano
AL HENDRICKSON – Guitar
EMIL RICHARDS – Vibes
AL McGIBBON – Bass
SHELLY MANNE – Drums

The 12-page booklet combines liner notes from George Shearing and Pete Welding (1987) with some addition stuff from WILL FRIEDWALD in 2000. There are discussions of his extraordinary career from 1944 right up to his untimely death in 1965 juts a few years after these sublime Jazz Vocal recordings (shame no pictures though). But all of that is naught to the truly beautiful CD Audio you get the second you start playing the expertly crafted songs. RON McMASTER did the 24-bit Super Bit Mapping Remixes and Remasters from first generation tapes and the sound is spotless – clean – full of presence and warmth. The Stereo is beautifully balanced - every string pluck and breathy vocal as clear as a bell – the Jazz Combo set up suiting both men.

The fluidity of Shearing’s piano fills the soft-shuffle "September Song" – a lovely opening salvo for a largely mellow album. The voice and his playing is the stuff of Jazz Vocal album legend – the perfect compliment to Nat's phrasing and those Ralph Carmichael string arrangements. You might think something as cheesy as "Pick Yourself Up" would not work – but the arrangement gives it fresh legs. The lush strings on "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" can only be described as 'sumptuous' and who out there doesn’t feel a tingle of inner glee when that piano intro to the glorious "Let There Be Love" arrives – surely a highlight for the whole record.

The vibe intro to "A Beautiful Friendship" feels like a perfect Martini in your Lounge of choice – his voice stunning and deep. Again he takes an old chestnut and transforms it with a slower arrangement and carefully placed vibes - "Fly Me To The Moon". It sails to a finish with "There’s A Lull In My Life" and the impossibly pretty "Don’t Go" Of the bonus tracks - the Latin rhythms and speed of "Game Of Love" is probably the reason it was excluded – just would have sounded out of place. Better are the two crooning vibe-laden ballads "Everything Happens To Me" and "Guess I’ll Go Back Home" – more in tune with the album’s overall feel.

A lovely album and a CD reissue that boasts exceptional Audio. "Let There Be Love" indeed...