"A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM featuring Gary Brooker, Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid (Lyrics) (May 2009 Salvo Expanded CD Reissue – Rob Keyloch and Nick Robbins Audio Restoration and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...All This...And More..."

With a name loosely based around a Burmese Blue Cat - Procol Harum and their droning melodrama has always been something of an acquired taste - beloved and derided in equal measure. But there's no doubting that there's properly great tunes on their 3rd album for EMI's Regal Zonophone Records. "A Salty Dog" saw the three songwriters in the band all step up with the moody goodies - singer Gary Brooker, keyboard player Matthew Fisher and ace-axeman Robin Trower. There are also six worthy bonuses on this 40th Anniversary Celebration CD chosen by Gary Brooker (mostly the LP-line-up band in fine form on an American Tour in April 1969). Here are the squint-eyed seafaring details...

UK released May 2009 - "A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM on Salvo SALVOCD 020 (Barcode 698458812025) breaks down as follows (67:52 minutes):

1. A Salty Dog [Side 1]

2. The Milk Of Human Kindness

3. Too Much Between Us

4. The Devil Came From Kansas

5. Boredom

6. Juicy John Pink [Side 2]

7. Wreck Of The Hesperus

8. All This And More

9. Crucifiction Lane

10. Pilgrim's Progress

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3nd album "A Salty Dog" - released June 1969 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1009 (Stereo) and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4179. It peaked on the UK charts at 27 and 32 in America.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Lone Gone Geek - non-album track, B-side to "A Salty Dog" released May 1969 in the UK as a 7" single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019

12. Goin' Down Slow (Live In The USA, April 1969)

13. Juicy John Pink (Live In The USA, April 1969)

14. Crucifiction Lane (Live In The USA, April 1969)

15. Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)/Also Sprach Zarathustra (Live In The USA, April 1969)

16. The Milk Of Human Kindness (Take 1; Raw Track)

PROCOL HARUM was:

GARY BROOKER - Lead Vocals, Piano, Celeste Three Stringed Guitar, Harmonica Recorder and Woods

MATTHEW FISHER - Organ, Vocals, Marimba, Acoustic Guitar, Piano Recorder and Rhythm Guitar

ROBIN TROWER - Lead Guitar, Vocal, Acoustic Guitar and Sleigh Tambourine

DAVID KNIGHTS - Bass Guitar

BARRIE WILSON - Drums, Conga Drums and Tabla

KEITH REID - Lyrics on all 10 tracks

Along with Lyricist Keith Reid - Gary Brooker provided "A Salty Dog", "The Milk Of Human Kindness", "The Devil Came From Kansas" and "All This And More" - while Robin Trower penned "Too Much Between Us" and "Juicy John Pink" with Matthew Fisher writing the remaining three - "Boredom" (a co-write with Brooker), "Wreck Of The Hesperus" and the album finisher "Pilgrim's Progress". The fold-out three-way oversized card sleeve has tasty black and white photos of band members (taken by Peter Sanders) and a reproduced letter by Alan White of Northumberland to the Melody Maker newspaper of 26 July 1969 bemoaning the lack of public interest in "A Salty Dog" and urging said punters to "...go out and buy it!"

The 20-page booklet is a sophisticated affair - liner notes by HENRY SCOTT-IRVINE that go into each track - there's trade adverts from various musical newspapers, a Regal Zonophone British label bag that actually advertises the December 1968 "Shine On Brightly" LP (along with the Move's latest), superb pictures of the 7" single for "A Salty Dog" from Germany, Spain, France, Holland and Japan, posters for their concerts at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in San Francisco (gorgeous artwork) and even a photo of the road sign for Crucifix Lane in London's SE 1 on which the song is based (deliberately misspelt as Crucifiction). There are recent recollections on certain songs by band members Robin Trower and Matthew Fisher along with the original LP Engineer Ken Scott. It's all very tastefully done actually (a bit of care taken)...

The CD itself sports the FLY label on which it was reissued in 1972 as part of a Twofer LP deal because I think that's who now own the licensing rights - while the Transfers and Remasters have been carried out by ROB KEYLOCH (at Church Walk Studios) and NICK ROBBINS (at Sound Mastering in London). Track 16 was transferred and mixed by NICK WATSON in 1998. Beautifully produced by Matthew Fisher and Ken Scott in the first place - the 2009 remaster is warm and very clear. Even when Trower's guitar gets a bit wild in places (and grungy for that matter) - the stereo imaging isn't too harsh - still reflecting the original Production values. Those big vocals and church-sombre organs sound suitably 'Procol Harum' - there's minimal hiss and where there is - it's not going to detract...

It opens with the Classical-meets-Rock fusion of "A Salty Dog" and immediately the arrangements and melody feel epic - a single you feel should have done better. I've always felt though that the albums two masterpieces come from Trower and Fisher. Trower gives us the unexpectedly lovely acoustic vibes of "Too Much Between Us" - I can't help thinking it should have been single number two off the album with Fisher's equally pretty "Pilgrim's Progress" on the flip (Fisher does the vocal rather than Brooker). A&M Records put out "The Devil Came from Kansas" b/w "Boredom" in the USA on a 45 (A&M 1111) in July of 1969 - but it failed to chart. The British 45 of "A Salty Dog" b/w "Lone Gone Geek" on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019 managed a respectable placing of 44 in the UK - especially given how awkward the track was to pigeonhole in a Pop context. The sleigh bells of "Boredom" make the tune sound like Quintessence or Dr. Strangely Strange or some such hippy happiness. Side 2's grungy guitar vs. harmonica opener "Juicy John Pink" puts an end to that pronto - sounding like its recorded in a garage to get that gritty sound. The best Audio on the disc goes to "All This And More" where the piano, guitar and Brooker's vocals all sound with new clarity.

The Bonus Track B-side "Long Gone Geek" is a fabulous addition to any CD - the Procol Harum going all Small Faces with Reid nicking Bob Dylan lyrics. There then begins a similarly heavy set of live cuts from April 1969 with the band giving it what for to some of the album's heavier cuts (Trower lovers will lap this up).

I bought this Salvo CD when it was first reissued in 2009 but since its deletion it's acquired a nasty top-end price tag. If you can get it at a reasonable cost - seek it out and enjoy. If not there has also been a 2015 updated Anniversary issue on Esoteric Recordings (see review also)...

"One Step Beyond... - 35th Anniversary Edition" by MADNESS (October 2014 Salvo '35th Anniversary Edition' CD+DVD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

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"...The Heavy, Heavy Monster Sound..."

Ah the 'heavy heavy monster sound'. There are some LPs that make you grin from ear-to-ear just looking at them - "The Undertones" debut on Sire - "The Specials" on 2-Tone and that other sweaty beauty from 1979 - "One Step Beyond" by London's Madness on Stiff Records.

But what CD variant of their debut do you buy? Virgin have had two - a 1989 basic issue and a Remaster in 2000 - while Union Square stumped up a '30th Anniversary Edition' in 2009 that received mixed reviews. I'm going to argue that this 2014 '35th Anniversary Edition' on Salvo's Sound and Vision is the four-star one to get (some poorly recorded cassette tape rehearsals masquerading as Bonus Material on Disc one lose it a star).

You get new Remasters from the original quarter-inch tapes of the 15-track album as well as a further 14 Previously Unreleased Demo and Rehearsal Versions on Disc 1 (29 tracks in all) with 10 Videos over on Disc 2 - the non region-coded DVD. To compliment these is an upgraded digipak and booklet featuring new interviews with the men who were there - original Producer and Engineer Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. Overall it's impressively presented and exudes that sense of fun the band had. Here come the Night Boats To Cairo...

UK released 13 October 2014 - "One Step Beyond..." by MADNESS on Salvo SALVOSVX034 (Barcode 698458063427) is a '35th Anniversary Edition' CD + DVD Reissue and Remaster with Previously Unreleased material that plays out as follows:

CD (78:53 minutes):

Original Album

1. One Step Beyond... [Side 1]

2. My Girl

3. Night Boat To Cairo

4. Believe Me

5. Land Of Hope & Glory

6. The Prince

7. Tarzan's Nuts

8. In The Middle Of The Night [Side 2]

9. Bed And Breakfast Man

10. Razor Blade Alley

11. Swan Lake

12. Rockin' In A Flat

13. Mummy's Boy

14. Madness

15. Chipmunks Are Go!

Tracks 1 to 15 are their debut album "One Step Beyond..." - released October 1979 in the UK on Stiff Records SEEZ 17

Fab Toones! Rehearsal Tape, 1979

16. Nutty Sounds

17. Mistakes

18. Sunshine Voice

19. My Girl

20. Memories

21. Believe Me

22. Lost My Head

23. Razor Blade Alley

24. Land Of Hope & Glory

25. Mummy's Boy

26. In The Middle Of The Night

27. You Said

28. Stepping into Line

29. Bed And Breakfast Man

Tracks 16 to 29 recorded on a portable cassette recorder so sound quality varies.

DVD – NTSC, Region 0 (No Coding), Aspect Ratio 4:3 PAL, English

1. One Step Beyond... (Video)

2. Bed And Breakfast Man (Video)

3. My Girl (Video)

4. Night Boat To Cairo (Video)

5. One Step Beyond... ('Top Of The Pops' appearance 1979)

6. The Prince ('Top Of The Pops' appearance 1979)

7. My Girl ('Top Of The Pops' appearance 1980)

8. Bed And Breakfast Man ('Old Grey Whistle Test' appearance, 1979)

9. Night Boat To Cairo ('Old Grey Whistle Test' appearance, 1979)

10. "Young Guns" Documentary (BBC, 2000)

Tracks 5 to 10 are all BBC Recordings

MADNESS was:

SUGGS (Graham McPherson) - Lead Vocals

LEE 'Kix' THOMPSON - Lead Vocals, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones

MIKE BARSON (Monsieur Barso) - Keyboards

CHRIS FOREMAN (Chrissy Boy) - Guitars

MARK BEDFORD (Bedders) - Bass

WOODY 'Woods' WOODGATE (Don Woodgate) - Drums and Percussion

CHAS SMASH (Cathal Smyth) - Backing Vocals etc

The card digipak folds out into three flaps with both the CD and DVD see-through trays having that famous cover photo of the six dancing underneath each disc. Both sides of the inner sleeve that came with original British LPs is spread across two of the flaps - that collage of black and white Polaroids - the band - fans and friends - it's all here. The 16-page booklet is a cleverly laid out and pleasingly in-depth affair. Around the text we get all that black and white Madness/Stiff memorabilia that surrounded the band - buttons, shaped discs, picture sleeves, tour passes, 2-tone label bags, a Madness watch with the cover as a face dial, cassette tapes, different variant label repros of the LP and a very fetching Japanese 7" single picture sleeve of "One Step Beyond" with a different B-side to the British issue - "Tarzan's Nuts" (the UK copy has "Mistakes" - included here in Rehearsal form on Disc 1).

There are new May 2014 liner notes from music-lover and author STEVE CHICK that include reminiscences from Chrissy Boy (the Bass player) and Producer Clive Langer and Engineer Alan Winstanley. Clive tells of the band working all hours to get the album done - Lee Thompson a semitone out of tune but because his playing had great feel - they left it as is - and of course became part of their homemade rough 'n' tumble Carry On Up The Khyber sound. Although the sticker on the shrinkwrap assures us that a new remaster appears here - neither the digipak nor booklet confirm this. Yet to my ears the core album sounds brighter and more alive than it did on the 30th Anniversary issue I had. And there is more bottom end too which beefs up the audio without making it into loudness wars. Let's get to the music...

"...Hey You! Don't Watch That! Watch This! 

Move Your Feet To The Rockinest Sound Around!" 

How many of us have bopped to the brilliant opening declaration that is "One Step Beyond..." - quietly tearing up a dancefloor somewhere as worried older types looked on in muted suburban disapproval. They follow that corker of an opener with more wit - "...My girl's mad at me...she takes it all the wrong way..." - we sang along to "My Girl" - giggling like loons as we did the Monster Mash with our 2-tone badges and pencil ties. My memories of "Night Boat To Cairo" is a heaving dancefloor with half cut students, afterhours office types and leather-bound rockers all letting loose – abandoning the buffet and bar for the Saxophone joy of Madness Ska. Both the loafer on the sofa "Bed And Breakfast Man" and the school to your home danger of "Razor Blade Alley" all speak of social realities in 1979 – ordinary people trying to make it through life on the estate. The piano-instrumental Swan Lake cover lifts the spirit and is a hoot - but much better is the cup of tea and geezers bop of "Rocking In A Flat". Then it all ends on the Prince Buster cover of "Madness" that started it all when it was released as the B-side to their own composition "The Prince" - their debut UK 45 in August 1979 on 2-Tone – 60ts Ska alive and well in Putney and Camden Town.

It has to be said that the new unreleased "Fab Toones!" rehearsal material is very lo-fi and reflects a hissy cassette tape source (they clearly state on the packaging that the sound isn't state-of-the-art) – but once you get used to the less than stellar Audio then things like "Mistakes" and "Sunshine Voice" have a certain charm. But in truth I'm not sure how many will want to return to these no matter how much of a fan they are. The DVD disc is a far better value item and captures the sheer fun and street-savvy wit of this band in a way that the weedy cassette can't.

There is something wonderfully British-nutjob about Madness that has engendered them into the hearts of the music buying public - giving them a 40-year career that proves they are way more than a novelty act being fondly remembered here. Like The Undertones and The Clash and The Stranglers – their music grew and the singles only got better and better.

O.K. – those demos slightly let the side down for sure but the Remaster and the DVD more than make up for those shortcomings. 1979's "One Step Beyond..." is where it all started for MADNESS and I remember the album (as do so many others) with genuine tearful affection and this reissue (35 years on) has only brought that rock-steady beat back home again.

My girl's mad at me. No she's not Suggs...

"A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" by GILBERT O'SULLIVAN (2012 Salvo 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry of his 4th LP from 1974 on Mam Records...

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"...You've Got To Be Honest..."

"A Stranger In My Own Backyard" is the 4th release in a full-on reissue campaign by Salvo Records of the UK for Irish singer-songwriter (Raymond) Gilbert O'Sullivan. 

His UK debut album "Himself" from 1971 was relaunched in November 2011, his second "Back To Front" from 1972 in February 2012 and his third from 1973 "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" in April 2012 (all are reviewed separately). With fantastic new sound, copious bonus tracks, quality packaging and a none-too steep price-tag - legions of his fans worldwide will be thrilled to see that his MAM Records catalogue is finally receiving a thorough going-over (and like the others - this release is artist-approved too). But in this case - I just wish the material matched the packaging. Here are the Back Yard details...

UK released Monday 4 June 2012 (12 June 2012 in the USA) - "A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" by GILBERT O'SULLIVAN on Salvo SALVOXCD004 (Barcode 698458050427) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (62: 02 minutes):

1. Number 4

2. A Woman's Place 

3. No More

4. It's So Easy To Be Sad 

5. My Father 

6. The Marriage Machine 

7. If You Ever 

8. The Thing Is 

9. Just Like Me [Side 2]

10. Victor E

11. I Wonder Would You Mind 

12. 15 Times

13. Nothing To Do About Much 

14. Can't Get You To Love Me 

15. Always Somebody 

Tracks 1 to 15 are his fourth studio album "A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" - released October 1974 in the UK on Mam Records MAM-SS 506 and on Mam Records MAM 10 in the USA. It peaked at 9 on the album charts in the UK - but didn't reach the top 200 in the USA.

Tracks 16 and 17 are "Happiness Is Me And You" and "Breakfast Dinner And Tea" - the A & B-sides of a non-album 7" single released February 1974 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 114 (it reached Number 19 on the single charts).

Track 18 is "Too Bad" - the non-album B-side of "A Woman's Place" - the first single lifted off the album. "A Woman's Place" was issued August 1974 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 122 and charted at Number 42.

Track 19 is "To Cut A Long Story Short" - the non-album B-side of "Christmas Song" - a 7" single released December 1974 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 124 (it peaked at Number 12). The A-side is missing and isn't on other CD reissues (an error no doubt).

Tracks 20 and 21 are "You Are You" and "Tell Me Why" - the A & B-sides of a non-album 7" single released January 1975 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 126 (it didn't chart).

Track 22 is "That's A Fact" - the non-album B-side to "I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You" - released May 1975 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 130 (it peaked at 14 on the charts). Again the non-album A-side is a no show and isn't on other CDs?

The original UK and US LP artwork by David Larkham was an elaborate affair - a cut-corners gatefold sleeve with 4 book-like leaves inside (he'd been responsible for the lavish LP covers of "Madman Across The Water", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Captain Fantastic" for Elton John). All of it is repro'd either on the card digipak or in the beautifully laid-out 20-page colour booklet. The inlay features lyrics for all tracks (including the bonuses), photos of rare 7" foreign picture sleeves from all over the world, Japanese trade adverts, fanzine covers, snaps from the recording sessions. There are reminiscences on the album by Gilbert and thoughts on the disastrous US tour of late 1973 - and a paragraph-by-paragraph critique on each song by Chris Ingham (author of a "A Rough Guide To The Beatles"). There's even a 'Gilbert O'Sullivan - A Singer And His Songs' logo sticker on the front of the card digipak which accompanies all of these expanded reissues. A minor niggle would be that the Amazon photo seems to indicate that the card repro matches the cut-corner look of the original LP design - it doesn't - and neither does the booklet on the inside.

But the really big news for fans here is the AUDIO... Remastered from original master tapes - the sound quality is a vast improvement on what went before (compilations and expensive Japanese imports). Right from the off both the Intro "Number 4" and its follow up track "A Woman's Place" sound amazing. Unfortunately that's where the good news ends as far as the album is concerned. "A Woman's Place" is a cloying awful piece of pap that grated at the time too ("...a woman's place is in the home...") for God's sake. I'd argue that it single-handedly turned whole swaths of people off him and gave his begrudgers ammunition to dismiss his genuine song-writing capabilities. The arrangements on "It's Easy To Be Sad" are lovely while "My Father" harks back to the melodies and sound of the superb "Himself" debut album. And the "Get Down" boogie of "The Thing Is" should have been a single while "Just Like Me" shows sophistication in the arrangements. But there's the terribly preachy "Marriage Machine" and the mock jaunty "15 Times". The schooldays "I Wonder Would You Mind" is OK but too many tracks like "Nothing To Do About Much" and the terribly-worded album-finisher "Always Somebody" are cheesy and sounded dated on release - never mind 35 years later.

While the extras will finally allow fans to sequence rare 7" single releases on CD for the first time - another real downside here is the sloppy exclusion of the two 45s "Christmas Song" and "I Don't Love You But I Like You" (both of which charted). Having said that the bonuses have surprises like the b-sides "Too Bad" and "Tell Me Why" (lyrics above) - both as good as anything he'd done on the "Back To Front" and "I'm A Writer..." albums.

He followed 1974's "Stranger" with the equally forgotten "Southpaw" in 1977 - and wouldn't chart again with a proper album until he signed to CBS in 1980 and delivered the truly cringing "What's In A Kiss".

To sum up - while Salvo is to be praised for handling Gilbert's reissues so well - I just wish I could recommend this particular one.

What we have here is two to three-star material - and as much as I love the guy - I'd urge you get a listen in before you buy...

PS: Salvo of the UK have also done his 1971 debut LP "Himself", his 2nd LP "Back To Front" from 1972, his 3rd album "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" from 1973 and beyond into the CBS years of the 80ts. All are ‘Expanded’ Edition CD Remasters with Bonus Tracks and Repro Packaging (see detailed reviews for "Himself", "Back To Front" and "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter").

"I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" by GILBERT O'SULLIVAN. A Review Of His 3rd Album From 1973 Now Expanded And Remastered Onto CD By Salvo (UK) In 2012.

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"...Like An Old Friend..."

"I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" is the 3rd release in a full-on reissue campaign by Salvo Records of the UK for Irish singer-songwriter Raymond Gilbert O'Sullivan. His UK debut album "Himself" from 1971 was relaunched in November 2011 and his second LP "Back To Front" from 1972 in February 2012 (both are reviewed separately). With fantastic new sound, four bonus tracks, quality packaging and a none-too steep price - legions of his fans worldwide will be thrilled to see that his MAM Records catalogue is finally receiving a thorough going-over (and like the others - this release is artist-approved too). Here are the scrapping details...

UK released Monday 2 April 2012 (10 April 2012 in the USA) - "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" by GILBERT O'SULLIVAN on Salvo SALVOXCD003 (Barcode 698458050328) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (44:34 minutes):

1. I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter

2. A Friend Of Mine

3. They've Only Themselves To Blame 

4. Who Knows, Perhaps Maybe 

5. Where Peaceful Waters Flow

6. Ooh Baby [Side 2]

7. I Have Never Loved You As Much As I Love You Today 

8. Not In A Million Years 

9. If You Love Me Like You Love Me

10. Get Down 

Tracks 1 to 10 are his third studio album "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" - released September 1973 in the UK on Mam Records MAM-SS 505 and October 1973 on Mam Records MAM 7 in the USA. It peaked at 101 on the album charts in America - but reached Number 2 in England.

Track 11 is "A Very Extraordinary Sort Of Girl" - the non-album B-side of "Get Down" - a 7" single released March 1973 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 96 (it reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart and Number 7 in the USA). .

Track 12 is "Good Company" - the non-album B-side of "Ooh Baby" - the second single lifted off the album. "Ooh Baby" was issued September 1973 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 107 and charted at Number 18. "Good Company" is considered by fans to be one of Gilbert's best B-sides - and like Track 11 it's the first time this rare song has been made available for all markets since a rare Japanese CD compilation in 2004. It also features an electric guitar solo by BIG JIM SULLIVAN who played the beautiful acoustic guitar work on "Alone Again (Naturally)".

Tracks 13 and 14 are "Why, Oh Why, Oh Why" and "You Don't Have To Tell Me" - the A & B-sides of a non-album 7" single released November 1973 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 111 (it peaked at Number 6).

The original UK LP had a matt single sleeve with a lyric insert and a 6" inch black and white 'transfer' of the photo on the front cover (damp cloth and hot iron ahoy!). The transfer image has been reproduced for the CD label and there's a 'Gilbert O'Sullivan - A Singer And His Songs' logo sticker on the front of the card digipak which accompanies all of these expanded reissues. Like the other two releases in this series - the 20-page booklet is gorgeous. There's tastefully laid out lyrics to all the songs (including the bonuses), photos from his own archives, trade adverts, magazine covers, 7" picture sleeves from around the world and a detailed paragraph on each song with reminiscences from Gilbert on the album's creation. There's even a centre-spread photo of him sparring with no less than Mohammed Ali - both in boxer shorts! But the really big news for fans is the SOUND...

Remastered from original master tapes - the sound quality is a vast improvement on what went before (compilations and expensive Japanese imports). While "Himself" from 1971 is a little hissy in places - both "Back To Front" and this are incredibly clean with superlative clarity on all the instruments. You can now hear Laurie Holloway's piano thumping on "Get Down" rocking away like a goodun - while the bass and drums on the anthem-like "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" are incredibly clear (lyrics above). The funky keys starting "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" are followed by the almost Phil Spector beginning of "A Friend Of Mine" - both suddenly sounding huge. The pretty "They've Only Themselves To Blame" has both strings and brass - and the keyboards on "Ooh Baby" - again both just leaping out of the speakers.

The extras are excellent as well and will finally allow fans to sequence single releases on CD for the first time.

He followed "I'm A Writer..." with "A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" in 1974 and the equally forgotten "Southpaw" in 1977 - but it seemed that even with "Writer's" success as an LP and a number 1 single in the UK - the writing was already on the wall for Gilbert by the end of 1973.

Still - I've thoroughly enjoyed re-hearing this album even if some of the lyrics and sentiments are considered soppy by today's standards. It's not all genius of course, but this is a lovely reissue - and Salvo is to be praised for handling it so well. Recommended...

PS: Salvo of the UK have also done his 1971 debut LP "Himself", his 2nd LP "Back To Front" from 1972, his 4th album "A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" from 1974, “Southpaw" from 1977 (his last LP on Mam Records) and beyond into the CBS years of the 80ts. All are 'Expanded' Edition CD Remasters with Bonus Tracks and Quality Repro Packaging (see detailed reviews for "Himself", "Back To Front" and “A Stranger In My Own Back Yard").

"Back To Front" by GILBERT O’SULLIVAN - October 1972 UK Second Studio Album on MAM Records (February 2012 UK Salvo Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry of his 2nd LP from 1972 on Mam Records...

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"…Looking Back Over The Years…Never Wishing To Hide The Tears…"

"Back To Front" is the 2nd release in a full-on reissue campaign for Irish singer-songwriter Raymond Gilbert O'Sullivan (his debut album "Himself" was relaunched in November 2011 and is reviewed separately). With fantastic new sound, three bonus tracks, quality packaging and a none-too steep price - legions of his fans worldwide will be thrilled to see that his MAM Records catalogue is finally receiving a thorough going-over (and its artist-approved too). Here are the alone again details… 

UK released Monday 20 February 2012 (21 Feb 2012 in the USA) - "Back To Front" by GILBERT O’SULLIVAN on Salvo SALVOXCD002 (Barcode 698458050229) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (45:01 minutes):

1. Intro [Side 1]

2. I Hope You'll Stay 

3. In My Hole

4. Clair

5. That's Love

6. Can I Go With You

7. But I'm Not/Outtro

8. I'm In Love With You [Side 2]

9. Who Was It 

10. What Could Be Nicer (Mum The Kettle’s Boiling)

11. Out Of The Question 

12. The Golden Rule

13. I'm Leaving

14. Outro

Tracks 1 to 14 are his second studio album "Back To Front" – released October 1972 in the UK on Mam Records MAM-SS 502 and December 1972 on Mam Records MAM 5 in the USA. It peaked at Number 48 in America - but hit the coveted Number 1 spot in England.

BONUS TRACKS: 

15. Along Again (Naturally)

16. Save It

17. Ooh Wakka Do Wakka Day

Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B sides of a 7" single released February 1972 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 66 and June 1972 in the USA on Mam Records 3619 (both were non-album tracks at the time). "Along Again (Naturally)" peaked at Number 3 in the UK - but spent 15 weeks on the American charts – six of which were at Number 1. Also - outside of a very rare Japanese CD albums box set issued in the early Nineties with a 3" CD single of both tracks as a bonus – it's the first time the rare B-side "Save It" has been on CD anywhere else. 

Track 17 is "Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day" – the A-side of a 7" single released May 1972 in the UK on Mam Records MAM 78 (again a non-album track in the UK at the time of release – it’s B-side is the album cut "But I'm Not"). 

Other 7" singles – "Clair" and "What Could Be Nicer" were issued as the A&B-side of a 45 in the UK in October 1972 on Mam Records MAM 84 (it reached Number 1) and "Out Of The Question" was also issued as an A-side 45, but in the USA-only on Mam 3628 in April 1973. This CD will allow fans to sequence all the above. 

The original UK LP had a matt single sleeve with two gatefold inserts – a black and white poster of Gilbert (now placed across the inside of the CD digipak) and a gatefold lyric sheet (also fully replicated in the second half of booklet). There's a 'Gilbert O'Sullivan – A Singer And His Songs' logo sticker on the front of the card digipak which will undoubtedly accompany all of these expanded reissues. The 20-page booklet is gorgeous - tastefully laid out lyrics to all the songs (including the bonuses), photos from his own archives, trade adverts and a detailed paragraph on each song with reminiscences from Gilbert on the album's creation. There's glossy photos in here I've never seen. Even the CD is a pictured one and the card digipak matches the same matt feel of the original vinyl album sleeve – a nice touch and great attention to detail. But the really big news for fans is the SOUND…

Remastered from original master tapes – the sound quality is a vast improvement on what went before (compilations and expensive Japanese imports). While "Himself" from 1971 is a little hissy in places – "Back To Front" from 1972 is incredibly clean and there's superlative clarity on all the instruments. You can now hear Big Jim Sullivan's wonderfully expressive acoustic guitar work on "Alone Again (Naturally)" and his rocking slide on the lesser-heard Side 2 opener "I'm In Love With You". 

Four decades ago I was busy discovering girls in Dublin and Gilbert's "Can I Go With You" (a phrase teenagers used at the time) was a key track (what great memories). I’d also forgotten how snappy the brass work on "In My Hole" is (very Burt Bacharach) - while the almost vaudeville "But I'm Not" sounds like a really good late Sixties Beatles ditty. There's treated vocals on the clever lyrics of "The Golden Rule" and "Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day" may have a silly title (for which he was derided) - but it's a cracking single and a genuine bonus on here (chap in Bradford and all). 

But somehow this release belongs to 'that' 1972 song - "Alone Again (Naturally)". Now February 2012 - it’s beautiful melody and poignant words are 40 years old – yet it still touches a soul willing to listen (lyrics from it title this review). In fact what strikes you most re-listening to this entire CD - is the endurance of the songs. 

This is a lovely reissue – and Salvo are to be praised for handling it so well...