"What’s Going On" by MARVIN GAYE – May 1971 US LP on Tamla - October 1971 UK on Tamla Motown featuring Ed Townsend (March 2001 and January 2011 UK Universal/Motown 2CD Deluxe Edition Reissue and Remaster – Kevin Reeves and Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…A Place Where Love Is King…"

Infused with a legend that only grows deeper as the decades pass - Marvin Gaye's 1971 album "What's Going On" is surely the cornerstone of every Soul lover's collection - a vinyl LP so engrained in our hearts that its probably impossible to review it with any real distance. 

And why the Hell would you want to. Some things are just beautiful - plain and simple. And this fabulous 2CD Deluxe Edition celebration of that Tamla Motown crown jewel only hammers its legend home with presentational and sonic knobs on. What an album and what an artist. Here's What's Happening Brother...

The 2CD set "What's Going On: Deluxe Edition" by MARVIN GAYE was originally UK released March 2001 (February 2001 in the USA) on Motown 013 404-2 (Barcode 044001340420). 

It's been subsequently reissued January 2011 on Universal/Motown 0600753279557 (Barcode 600753279557) and both DE versions break down as follows:

Disc 1 (75:37 minutes):

ORIGINAL LP RELEASE (21 May 1971)

1. What's Going On

2. What's Happening Brother

3. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)

4. Save The Children

5. God Is Love

6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

7. Right On [Side 2]

8. Wholy Holy

9. Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)

Tracks 1 to 9 is the original album "What's Going On" - released May 1971 in the USA on Tamla TS 301 and October 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11190

ALTERNATE DETROIT MIX (5 April 1971) - Previously Unreleased

10. What's Going On

11. What's Happening Brother

12. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)

13. Save The Children

14. God Is Love

15. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

16. Right On

17. Wholy Holy

18. Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)

THE FOUNDATION - Previously Unreleased

19. What's Going On (Rhythm & Strings Mix)

Disc 2 (77:28 minutes):

LIVE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, WASHINGTON DC (Recorded 1 May 1972):

1. Sixties Medley: That's The Way Love is/You/I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Little darling (I Need You)/You're All I Need To Get By/Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing/Your Precious Love/Pride And Joy/Stubborn Kind Of Love

2. Right On

3. Wholy Holy

4. Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)

5. What's Going On

6. What's Happening Brother

7. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)

8. Save The Children

9. God Is Love

10. Stage Dialogue

Reprise:

11. Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)

12. What's Going On

Tracks 1 to 12 are Previously Unreleased Live Versions

ORIGINAL SINGLE VERSIONS:

13. What's Going On

14. God Is Love

15. Sad Tomorrows

IN THE MEANTIME...

16. "Head Title" (aka Distant Lover) - Previously Unreleased

The 2011 reissue comes in a 2CD jewel case when the original 2001 issue was one of those chunky Deluxe Edition Card Digipaks in a plastic titled outer slipcase. The 32-page booklet reproduces the 'Family Photo Album' insert that came with original copies of the LP, there an intro from Smokey Robinson, an essay on the album called "A Revolution In Sound & Spirit: The Making Of What's Going On" by BEN EDMONDS of the Mojo Magazine, lyrics, notes on the Detroit Mix, Single Versions and after by HARRY WEINGER and comprehensive reissue credits. In between the text are outtake photos of Marvin playing football and training in the snow, taking a phone call and even getting a haircut (it's comprehensive!).

KEVIN REEVES (Disc 1) and SUHA GUR (Disc 2) - both long-time Universal Engineers - carried out the 24-bit remasters from originals tapes - and the sound is gorgeous - as warm and as lovely as you would have hoped for. The album broke the production line process at Motown and is heavily layered, deeply religious and spiritual in its feel and message - that all surfaces as the instruments, strings and voices surface in your speakers. The live set is not a great recording by any means but it is full of atmosphere and Marvin's band digging the new material. It feels like you're eavesdropping on musical history...

Chills race up my arms every time I hear the song "What's Going On" - possibly the most sublime opening tune on any album anywhere. It morphs into the double-whammy of "What's Happening Brother" and "Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" - linked by rhythm and social messages. Marvin goes into full on preacher mode with "Save The Children" and ends Side 1 with another own-two sucker punch - the beautifully uplifting "God Is Love" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (those strings and that sax solo). But the best is yet to come - Side 2. Marvin's worries for America and the World and his positive solutions for the same are name-checked in the sublime groove of "Right On" - a seven and half minute slice of magic that never fails to move me - forty-three years after the event.

The extras are a mixed bag as always. The liner notes explain that some oxidization on the tapes have produced drop outs and heavy amounts of hiss on the "Detroit Mix" of the album and indeed it's particularly evident on Side 2 - "Right On", "Wholy Holy" and "Inner City Blues..." But if I'm honest I can see why Marvin discarded this mix - there's just something missing. It could be that I'm so used to hearing the original that it makes an alternate hard to swallow. There's interesting vocal passages in "Inner City Blues" and a more prevalent rhythm section - but again it feels about as subtle as mallet.

Far more exciting is the live set. Recorded a year after the album's release - even his opening 13-minute "Sixties Medley" is done in a languid "What's Going On" groove - slow and mournful - with the band playing a blinder while he gets seriously Soulful on the piano (impressive playing). There then follows the whole of Side 2 - that finally sees the gig lift off into Donny Hathaway territory - the vibe and the crowd behind him and the funky groove. He even starts "Inner City Blues..." over again much to the crowd's clapping delight. Disc 2 ends with four winners - three single mixes and a Demo taste of the future. The B-side "Sad Tomorrows" is a version of "Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" while I've always loved the Single Mix of "God Is Love".

So there you have it - a masterpiece given a worthy reissue. Even the front cover photo gives me the wobblies - what an album.

"...Some of us feel the icy wind of poverty blowing in the air...heed the people's cries..." - Marvin sang on "Right On". Our Soul Hero may be gone but the truth soldiers on...

"The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 55-Tracks from 1970 to 1982 featuring James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Byrd, Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, The Chakachas, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Billy Preston, Lyn Collins, The Fatback Band, The J.B.'s, Marvin Gaye, War, Cymande, The New Birth (featuring Bobby Womack), Barry White, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Tower Of Power, The O'Jays, Kool & The Gang, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, The Blackbyrds, B.T. Express, The Meters, Ohio Players, The Temptations, Average White Band, Jermaine Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Graham Central Station, Parliament, Brothers Johnson, Brass Construction, Brick, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Funkadelic, Rick James, Bohannon, Cameo and more (November 2000 USA Universal/Hip-O Compilation – Remastered 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Overlaid Digibook – Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 284 Others Is Available In My

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

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"...Pass The Peas..."

Touchy-feely and Funky-footy! Pass The Peas Baby!

When compact discs first hit the market - for almost a decade or more - Rhino of the USA were always the reissue company of go-getter choice for collectors when it came to Soul, R&B and Funk – especially as they had unfettered access to the mighty array of labels in the Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Records cannon. But spare a thought for the mail-order branch of Universal, Hip-O, later to become the more famous Hip-O Select. And especially for this long-forgotten and rarely seen American-only thing of swivel-hip-beauty - "The Funk Box". Four CDs chock full of primo bootyliciousness and all of it delivered in neighbour-concerning speaking-thumping glory. Talk about a proper blast from the past...and one that needs to be reappraised. 

Released Stateside-only in late 2000 by Universal/Hip-O - its 55 stunningly-remastered tracks trace James Brown in July 1970 on King Records getting up and feeling like a Sex Machine all the way through to December 1982 on Capitol Records where Parliament's George Clinton was getting Atomic with his Dog (he could never leave that mutt alone). Woof-woof indeed! 

You get a slew of rare 45-single cuts, uncompromising full album versions, cleverly chosen CD compilation rarities from the 80ts and 90ts and even the occasional Promo-Only 12-inch single mix making its digital debut. It is without doubt one of those vault-trawls that I cannot stop playing and admiring. There is a lot to shake our booties too, rubbers to burn and ounces to bounce - so let's get some jungle fever and tear the roof off of this brick house... 

US released November 2000 - "The Funk Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Hip-O 314 541 789-2 (Barcode 731454178921) is a 55-Track 4CD Velvet-Covered Digibook Compilation featuring 45-Single A-sides and Full Album Tracks ranging from 1970 to 1982 (versions noted in text below) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (75:21 minutes):

1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like A) Sex Machine (Part 1 & 2) - JAMES BROWN (June 1970 US 45 on King 45-6318 - features The J.B.'s - Full Length Version, 5:15 minutes)

2. Express Yourself - CHARLES WRIGHT AND THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (August 1970 US 45 on Warner Brothers 7417, 3:51 minutes)

3. Give It Up Or Burnit A Loose - JAMES BROWN (unedited, undubbed mix first issued on the CD compilation "Funk Power - 1970: A Brand New Thang" in 1996 on Polydor/Chronicles 531 684-2 - features The J.B.'s, 6:23 minutes)  

4. Rock Steady - ARETHA FRANKLIN (October 1971 US 45 on Atlantic 2838 and on the "Young, Gifted & Black" LP, 3:11 minutes)

5. Slippin' Into Darkness - WAR (from the November 1971 US LP "All Day Music" on United Artists UAS 5546, Full Album Version at 6:59 minutes)

6. I Know You Got Soul - BOBBY BYRD (Extended Version at 4:42 minutes, first issued on the 1988 LP/CD compilation "James Brown's Funky People (Part 2)" on Polydor 835 847)

7. Jungle Fever - THE CHAKACHAS (November 1971 US 45 on Polydor 15030, 4:21 minutes) 

8. It's Just Begun - THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (from the March 1972 US LP "It's Just Begun" on RCA Victor LSP-4640, 3:41 minutes)

9. Outa-Space - BILLY PRESTON (December 1971 US 45 on A&M Records AM-1320, B-side of "I Wrote A Simple Song", 4:07 minutes)

10. Think (About It) - LYN COLLINS (The Female Preacher) (May 1972 US 45 People 608, 3:19 minutes)

11. Goin' To See My Baby - FATBACK BAND (from the 1972 US LP "Let's Do It Again" on Perception Records PLP 28, 3:16 minutes)

12. Pass The Peas - J.B.'s (from the July 1972 US LP "Food For Thought" on People PE-5601, features James Brown and Fred Wesley, 3:28 minutes)

13. "T" Plays It Cool - MARVIN GAYE (from the December 1972 US Soundtrack LP "Trouble Man" on Tamla T 322L, Full album Version at 4:26 minutes)

14. The Message - CYMANDE (from the December 1972 US LP "Cymande" on Janus JLS 3044, Full Album Version at 4:15 minutes)

15. I Can Understand It - THE NEW BIRTH [featuring BOBBY WOMACK on Lead Vocals] (from the 1972 US debut album "Birth Day" on RCA Victor LSP-4797, Full Album Version at 6:21 minutes)

16. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby - BARRY WHITE (from the April 1973 US LP "I've Got So Much To Give" on 20th Century T-407, Full Album Version at 7:10 minutes)  

CD2 (77:30 minutes):

1. Future Shock - CURTIS MAYFIELD (from the June 1973 US LP "Back In The World" on Curtom CRS 8015, Full Album Version at 3:36 minutes)

2. The Bottle - GIL SCOTT-HERON and BRIAN JACKSON (from the May 1974 US LP "Winter in America" on Strata-East SES-19742, Full Album Version at 5:05 minutes) 

3. What Is Hip? - TOWER OF POWER (from the May 1973 US Debut LP "Tower Of Power" on Warner Brothers BS 2681, Full Album Version at 5:04 minutes)

4. The Payback - JAMES BROWN (from the December 1973 US 2LP-set "The Payback" on Polydor PD 2-3007 (April 1974 in the UK), Full Album Version at 7:25 minutes)

5. For The Love Of Money - THE O'JAYS (from the October 1973 US LP "Ship Ahoy" on Philadelphia International KZ 32408, Full Album Version at 7:20 minutes)

6. Hollywood Swinging - KOOL & THE GANG (from the October 1973 US LP "Wild And Peaceful" on De-Lite DEP 2013, Full Album Version at 4:35 minutes)

7. Tell Me Something Good - RUFUS featuring CHAKA KHAN (from the June 1974 US LP "Rags To Rufus" on ABC Records ABCX-809, Full Album Version at 4:36 minutes)

8. Do It, Fluid - THE BLACKBYRDS (from the June 1974 US LP "The Blackbyrds" on Fantasy F-9444, Full Album Version at 5:25 minutes) 

9. Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) - B.T. EXPRESS (from the November 1974 US LP "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" on Scepter Records SPS 5117, Full Album Version at 5:51 minutes)

10. Just Kissed My Baby - THE METERS (from the October 1974 US LP "Rejuvenation" on Reprise MS 2200, Full Album Version at 4:42 minutes)

11. Skin Tight - OHIO PLAYERS (from the April 1974 US LP "Skin Tight" on Mercury SRM-1 705, Full Album Version at 7:54 minutes)

12. I Get Lifted - GEORGE McCRAE (October 1974 US 45 on T.K. Records TK 1007, B-side to "I Can't Leave You Alone", 2:46 minutes)

13. Shakey Ground - THE TEMPTATIONS (February 1975 US 45 on Gordy G 7142F, 4:02 minutes)

14. School Boy Crush - AVERAGE WHITE BAND (October 1975 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3304, 4:58 minutes)

15. Erucu - JERMAINE JACKSON (from the October 1975 US Soundtrack LP "Mahogany" on Motown M6-858S1, 3:29 minutes) 

 

CD3 (78:45 minutes):

1. Fight The Power Parts 1 & 2 - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (from the June 1975 US LP "The Heat Is On" on T-Neck PZ 33536, Full Album Version at 5:20 minutes)

2. The Jam - GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION (from the August 1975 US LP "Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It" on Warner Brothers BS 2876, Full Album Version at 3:38 minutes)

3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) - PARLIAMENT (from the February 1976 US LP "Mothership Connection" on Casablanca NBLP 7022, Full Album Version at 5:46 minutes)

4. Get The Funk Out Ma Face - BROTHERS JOHNSON (August 1976 US 45 on A&M Records 1851-S, Full Album Version at 5:57 minutes)

5. Changin' - BRASS CONSTRUCTION (from the December 1975 US Debut LP "Brass Construction" on United Artists UA-LA545-G - charted February 1976, Full Album Version at 8:12 minutes)

6. Dazz - BRICK (September 1976 US 45 on Bang B-727, Full Album Version at 5:35 minutes)

7. Superman Lover - JOHNNY GUITAR WTSON (from the 1976 US LP "Ain't That A Bitch" on DJM Records DJLPA-3, Full Album Version at 5:42 minutes)

8. The Pinocchio Theory - BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND (February 1977 US 45 on Warner Brothers WBS 8328, Full Album Version at 6:07 minutes)

9. Slide - SLAVE (from the March 1977 US LP "Slave" on Cotillion SD 9914, Full Album Version at 6:49 minutes)

10. The Hump - PATRICE RUSHEN (from the March 1977 US LP "Shout It Out" on Prestige P-10101, Full Album Version at 6:08 minutes) 

11. Running Away (12" Mix) - ROY AYERS (August 1977 US 12" Single on Polydor PD D502, 6:54 minutes)

12. Brick House (12" Mix, A Special Length Disco Version) - THE COMMODORES (August 1977 US 12" Single on Motown M00007D1, 6:11 minutes)

13. Let's Have Some Fun - BAR-KAYS (from the November 1977 US LP "Flying High On Your Love" on Mercury SRM-1-1181, Full Album Version at 6:02 minutes)

CD4 (75:39 minutes):

1. You And I – RICK JAMES (from the May 1978 US LP "Come Get It!" on Gordy G7-981R1, Full Album Version at 8:04 minutes)

2. I Like Girls – FATBACK (from the June 1978 US LP "Fired Up 'N' Kickin'" on Spring Records SP-1-6718, Full Album Version at 7:37 minutes)

3. Let's Start The Dance - BOHANNON (from the June 1978 US LP "Summertime Groove" on Mercury SRM-1-3728, Full Album Version at 5:53 minutes)

4. One Nation Under A Groove - FUNKADELIC (from the September 1978 US LP "One Nation Under A Groove" on Warner Brothers BSK 3209, Full Album version at 7:27 minutes)  

5. Bustin' Loose - CHUCK BROWN & THE SOUL SEARCHERS (from the January 1979 US LP "Bustin' Loose" on Source Records SOR-076, Full Album Version at 7:41 minutes)

6. I Just Want To Be (12" Extended Mix) - CAMEO (June 1979 US Promo-Only 12" Single on Chocolate City CCD-20016, 6:21 minutes)

7. Glide - PLEASURE (from the 1979 US LP "Future Now" on Fantasy F-9578, Full Album Version at 6:28 minutes)

8. Behind The Groove – TEENA MARIE (from the March 1980 US LP "Lady T" on Gordy G7-992R1, Full Album Version at 6:03 minutes)

9. More Bounce To The Ounce – ZAPP (from the September 1980 US Debut LP "Zapp" on Warner Brothers BSK 3463, Full Album Version at 9:27 minutes)

10. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – GAP BAND (from the January 1981 US album "Gap Band III" on Mercury SRM-1-4003, Full Album Version at 5:16 minutes)

11. Atomic Dog – GEORGE CLINTON (December 1982 US 45 on Capitol B-5201, Instrumental B-side Single Version at 4:44 minutes)

The digibook is covered in blood-red velvet with a sort of plastic embossed THE FUNK BOX logo attached on the front and a card track list on the rear. One tiny irritating thing about the otherwise completely exemplary 60-page booklet attached inside is that none of the inside entries tell the song’s actual playing time – you have to refer to the sheet on the back of the box. So you can’t easily tell which is a single edit and which is an album cut (I’ve provided this info in each entry above). But what is brill are the STEPHEN IVORY intro and song-by-song history/explanations – each entry with just that right touch of discography detail, scene-setting background and lingo-wit. 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy have sampled the sex-pot moaning of "Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas while everyone from Heavy D to Pharcyde have plundered the J.B.s doing "Pass The Peas” – info like that which brings this genre into today. 

A huge draw is going to be the stunning Remastered Audio by a fave Engineer whose name I actually seek out – SUHA GUR. He's had his name on loads of Universal and Hip-O Select quality reissues including swathes of the Motown catalogue and the "Gold" 2CD compilations. When you clap ears on say the seven-minute album cut of Barry White giving it some Walrus of Love in his "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby" song – the Audio will blow you away – clear, ballsy, none too amped for the sake of it – just full-on and thrillingly present. Time and time again as you remember stuff you’d forgotten, the audio just keeps on whomping you with its quality.

But it's also the clever choices - take the Bobby Byrd cut which an extended variant of 4:42 minutes that turned up on a now long-forgotten James Brown-related CD compilation in 1988 - instead of giving you the dated false live roaring voices of the single - you get an undubbed cut that is quite literally the definition of Funky Nirvana. The Marvin Gaye cut from his hugely influential "Trouble Man" soundtrack is ""T" Plays It Cool" - probably the best instrumental cut on the album. Speaking of influential non-vocal sides, DJs quickly flipped the rather ordinary "I Wrote A Simple Song" by former Let It Be Beatles and Sticky Fingers Stones sidekick Billy Preston, only to find gold on the flipside - a 4:07-minute piece of clavinet synth Funk called "Outa-Space". It's the link between Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" Funk and all the way back "Green Onions" almost. 

The Cymande track "The Message" had its positivity featured on the premier US R&B TV program "Soul Train" where it became an anthem for the times and deep in the second side of a sappy "Mahogany" soundtrack was Jermaine Jackson's deeply cool "Erucu" - another DJ find - like that of Jimmy Castor. And those full-on album versions are fabulous - Bobby Womack with The New Birth on "I Can Understand It", JB giving it seven-minutes of "The Payback", Aaron Neville with The Meters and Chaka with Rufus telling us to "Get Into Something Good". I've reviewed the Patrice Rushen album "Shout It Out" where "The Hump" resides - her still only 24 and playing like a brother twice her years. Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Bar-Kays, Funkadelic, The Gap Band and Bohannon – great choices and it just keeps on keeping on like that, to the butt-waddling finish...

"The Funk Box" has been deleted years now, as is every title on Hip-O and Hip-O Select - all sought after and pricey into the bargain. But sometimes, these reissue company’s just get it 'so right'. And this smooth operator is one of those. 

You may have to pay for it, but I'd say, it's worth a shell out just to get that 'More Bounce To Your Ounce" sounding and looking this good...

"Point Of Know Return" by KANSAS – October 1977 Fifth US Album on Kirshner Records featuring Kerry Livgren, Steve Walsh, Rich Williams, Robby Steinhardt, Dave Hope and Phil Ehart (February 2002 US Epic/Legacy Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks - Darcy M. Proper, Suha Gur and Jeff Glixman Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

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

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"...Lightning's Hand..."

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As per the hugely informative fold-out inlay and new liner notes from original producer Jeff Glixman - Kansas' 5th album "Point Of Know Return" released in early October 1977 was rushed in every way - especially the final mixing. 

The band had scored huge with "Leftoverture" in October of the previous year (a breakthrough LP and a US No. 5) and the new platter was going to be just as big, buoyant and script typeface Progtastic as its much loved little brother ("Point Of Know Return" went one notch higher in fact, up to No. 4). There is discussion of 70-hour marathon mixing and finishing-up sessions that left the original makers and recording crew deeply unhappy. But with release and another tour imminent - there was no time to fix it. Flying from L.A. to NYC, they walked into a New York Radio Station with a lacquer cut only that afternoon at Sterling Sound for them to play immediately - plugging a band performance that evening. 

So it appears that with some relief the Jeffster, alongside renowned Audio Engineers Darcy M. Proper and Universal's Suha Gur, were all well pleased in 2001 to get their grubby hands on a second chance to properly remaster this dense album. They could now give it the breathing space the CD format allows and even throw it a couple of apt Previously Unreleased Bonuses too. 

Which brings us here – the Epic/Legacy Remaster Series for Kansas. Let's get ship shape, tame this musical tempest and float back over that newly visible horizon...

US released 12 February 2002 - "Point Of Know Return" by KANSAS on Epic/Legacy EK 85387 (Barcode 888837145428) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (54:35 minutes):

1. Point of Know Return [Side 1]
2. Paradox
3. The Spider 
4. Portrait (He Knew) 
5. Closet Chronicles 
6. Lightning's Hand [Side 2]
7. Dust In The Wind 
8. Sparks Of The Tempest 
9. Nobody's Home 
10. Hopelessly Human 
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fifth album "Point Of Know Return" - released October 1977 in the USA on Kirshner Records JZ 34929 and November 1977 in the UK on Kirshner KIR 82234. Produced by JEFF GLIXMAN - it peaked at No. 4 in the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased): 
11. Sparks Of The Tempest (Live at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Maryland, Columbia) 
12. Portrait (He Knew) (Remix) 

KANSAS was: 
KERRY LIVGREN - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards & Percussion
STEVE WALSH - Keyboards and Lead Vocals 
RICH WILLIAMS – Acoustic & Electric Guitars 
ROBBY STEINHARDT – Violin, Cello, Vocals 
DAVE HOPE – Bass 
PHIL EHART – Drums and Percussion

The twelve-leaf foldout inlay repro's in full that elaborate Peter Lloyd cover art and the beautiful Bob Maile calligraphy lyrics/credits that has always been such an identity point for this huge album. The new DAVID WILD Liner notes also feature reminiscences from band main-man Kerry Livgren whilst the big prize is of course brand new DARCY M. PROPER, SUHA GUR and JEFF GLIXMAN Remixes and Remasters – the album now absolutely jumping. There isn't too much dust left on these tapes...to the Prog...

Kirshner opened the album's account with the title song "Point Of Know Return" b/w "Closet Chronicles" released as an October 1977 US 45-single - Kirshner ZS8 4273 achieving No. 28 on the Top 100 in the USA whilst its British December 1977 release on KIR 5820 was ignored. 

But it was "Dust In The Wind" b/w "Paradox" that really blew the album sales up. Released in January 1978 - Kirshner ZS8 4274 entered the US singles chart in mid February where it began a steady rise - eventually securing a No. 6 slot in the Top 10. This fantastically hooky tune that seemed to slot into so many genre-categories (bet Epic loved that) explains the album's 51-week chart run. It also saw the struggling bands near 10-year stretch of existence suddenly become moneyed. Kansas was now one of the 'huge' bands on Epic's roster - Boston, Journey and Kansas - they have always been inextricably linked as American Rock Bands that give it some guitar and more guitar and larrup on the keyboards (even strings) for good measure. 

In May 1978, a third US 45-single would appear coupling "Portrait (He Knew)" with Side 2's opener "Lightning's Hand" on the flipside - but it hadn't the legs of its predecessor and failed to make the Top 100. Still - this Remaster has made one of my album faves sing - command the "Lightning's Hand" - while its interesting to hear the (not surprisingly) unreleased 'live' version of "Sparks In The Tempest" where the band begins to fall apart at the end. Love that Prog rip-through in the instrumental "The Spider" too. 

Outside of the hugely catchy "Carry On Wayward Son" single in early 1977 - Kansas never did mean much in Blighty - but the boys from Topeka were superstars in the USA then and remain so to this day - fans tearful just looking at the artwork for "Point of Know Return". Now they can hear it properly too and buy it for under six quid or even less. Nice one...

"Gold" by CREAM - Featuring Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker with Guests Felix Papalardi and Pete Brown of Battering Ornaments (September 2005 UK Universal/Polydor 2CD 'Definitive Collection' Anthology from 1966 to 1970 - Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…The Rainbow Has A Beard…"

Mercurial, innovative and indulgent buggers - CREAM were all of it. And that's not even factoring in the fluffy haircuts and equally colourful shirts. And yet after all these decades they still get name-checked amongst the legends of the Decade - and after hearing this extensive and brilliant retrospective - it's easy to hear why "Clapton Is God" got painted on London West End walls towards the end of the Sixties. Here are the White Rooms and Strange Brews...

Released September 2005 - "Gold" by CREAM is a 2CD Definitive Collection on Universal/Polydor 0602498801468 (Barcode 602498801468) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - IN THE STUDIO - (73:19 minutes):

1. I Feel Free (A-side of their second UK 7" single released December 1966 on Reaction 591 011)

2. N.S.U.

3. Sweet Wine

4. I'm So Glad (tracks 2, 3 and 4 from their UK debut album "Fresh Cream", released December 1966 on Reaction 593 001 (Mono) and 594 001 (Stereo). Note: "I Feel Free" wasn't on the UK LP but was included as Track 1 on the US Atco issue and as this is an American based compilation - hence the liner notes list Tracks 1 to 4 as being from "Fresh Cream". Stereo Mix used)

5. Strange Brew

6. Sunshine Of Your Love

7. World Of Pain

8. Tales Of Brave Ulysses

9. Swlabr

10. We're Going Wrong (tracks 5 to 10 from their 2nd UK album "Disraeli Gears" released November 1967 on Reaction 593 003 (Mono) and 594 003 (Stereo) - Stereo mix used. FELIX PAPPALARDI (of Mountain) plays many instruments on the album and Produced the record too)

11. White Room

12. Sitting On Top Of The World

13. Passing The Time

14. Politician

15. Those Were The Days

16. Born Under A Bad Sign

17. Deserted Cities Of The Sky (tracks 11 to 17 from their 3rd UK album "Wheels Of Fire" released August 1968 on Polydor 582 033 (Mono) and 583 033 (Stereo). It was a double album with Record 1 being Studio whilst Record 2 was Live. All tracks here are Studio Stereo mixes)

18. Anyone For Tennis (A-side of a May 1968 UK 7" single on Polydor 56258, non-album track at the time)

19. Badge

20. Doing That Scrapyard Thing

21. What A Bringdown (tracks 19 to 21 from their final UK studio/live album "Goodbye" released March 1969 on Polydor 583 053. "Badge" is written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison - features George Harrison on Guitar)

Disc 2 - LIVE (77:32 minutes):

1. N.S.U. (Live) - 10:17 minutes

2. Sleepy Time Time (Live) - 6:50 minutes

3. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Live) - 6:34 minutes (tracks 1 to 3 from "Live Cream" released June 1970 in the UK on Polydor 2383 016)

4. Spoonful (Live) - 16:46 minutes

5. Crossroads (Live) - 4:14 minutes

6. Sunshine Of Your Love (Live) - 7:24 minutes (from the UK album "Live Cream Volume II" released June 1972 on Polydor 2383 119)

7. I'm So Glad (Live) - 9:12 minutes (from their final UK studio/live album "Goodbye" released March 1969 on Polydor 583 053)

8. Toad (Live) - 16:16 minutes (tracks 4, 5 and 8 from the double-album "Wheels Of Fire" released August 1968 on Polydor 582 033 (Mono) and 583 033 (Stereo). It was a double album with Record 1 being Studio whilst Record 2 was Live. All tracks here are Live Stereo mixes)

The 16-page booklet is a pleasingly comprehensive affair for a 'Best Of' - nice photos of the band live and in-the-studio, decent liner notes from SCOTT SCHNIDER and full reissue credits on all songs. But the big news here is a name I always look out for - SUHA GUR. He's mastered the set and the sound quality (for their notoriously rough and ready recordings) is superb - full of power and presence yet not too amped up for the sake of it. Even the crudely recorded 'live' tracks have a great feel to them.

What's kind of remarkable about CREAM is how well all of this stuff stands up - the almost Vocal Group Pop of "I Feel Free" and "Anyone For Tennis", the so Sixties lyrics of "Swlabr" (She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow) right through the wailing harmonica and cool guitar Rock Blues of "Rollin' And Tumblin'" (Muddy Waters) and "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson). And who else made that "White Room" sound Cream made - the surprising whimsy of "Passing The Time" - the brilliant speed rock of "Deserted Cities Of The Heart" - that unbelievably hooky guitar in "Badge". We get "Moby Dick making out with Captain Blyth..." in "What A Bringdown" while the piano-boogie/treated guitar of "Doing That Scrapyard Thing" makes them sound like a more rocked-up Badfinger on Apple or The Beatles circa Mystery Tour. There is hiss on tracks like "Those Were The Days", "We Were Going" and the wicked "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" which is more audible than you might want - but this was the mid Sixties - and Cream weren't going to a quiet set of lads.

The clever part of this Definitive Collection is putting all the live stuff on Disc 2 - an arena where the band really comes into its own. Although ten minutes of "N.S.U." is probably indulgent - you get to hear the sheer power of the band on their cover of Willie Dixon's "Spoonful" (a Howlin' Wolf hit) where Clapton lets rip in a medium he loves. "Toad" is the same - you'd swear there was four in the band and not three - and Baker's solo is still awesome stuff. Don't you just love the way "Eric Clapton!" gets shouted to the crowd when most of the track and appreciation was for Baker's drumming...

Heavy Rock practically arrived with this British band - and this cheap-as-chips 2CD gem puts that Bentley-driving guru firmly in its place...(wouldn't that be nice)...

"Eat A Peach" by THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Double-Album from February 1972 on Capricorn Records – Featuring Duane and Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson (October 1997 UK Capricorn Classics CD Reissue – Suha Gur Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Dedicated To A Brother..."

Always somehow the dribbling younger brother to the puff-chested mighty older sibling of "...Live At Fillmore East" from 1971 (their real breakthrough moment) - February 1972's double-album farewell to the cruelly taken Duane Allman is nonetheless the Allmans classic I return to more than even "Brothers And Sisters" (a 1973 LP I adore). 

Like most guys of my age, I love a good double-album. And here it sits in a Bezos warehouse for a paltry three quid in a top notch CD remaster – soiled, unloved and forgotten like a December 2019 election manifesto promise to lob untold billions with financial abandon at some tiresomely worthy cause or other (like pesky nurses wanting a proper wage or those women with whiskers wanting a new pair of slippers come the cold spell). Oh dear...let's get to the mountainous jams my desert-island darlings...

UK released 14 October 1997 (reissued July 1998) - "Eat A Peach" by THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND on Capricorn 531 261-2 (Barcode 731453126121) is part of their 'Capricorn Classics' Remastered CD Series and offers the entire 9-Track February 1972 part Live/part Studio double-album onto 1 CD. It plays out as follows (69:56 minutes):

1. Ain't Wastin' Time No More [Side 1]

2. Les Brers In A Minor

3. Melissa

4. Mountain Jam (Theme From "There Is A Mountain") [Sides 2 and Side 4 - see Notes]

5. One Way Out [Side 3]

6. Trouble No More

7. Stand Back

8. Blue Sky

9. Little Martha

Tracks 1 to 9 make up the double-album "Eat A Peach" - released February 1972 in the USA on Capricorn 2CP 0102 and in the UK on Capricorn K 67501.

NOTES: On the original vinyl 2LP set the live "Mountain Jam" was spread across Side 2 and 4 clocking in at 19:37 and 15:06 minutes respectively; on this Capricorn Classics CD reissue it has been amalgamated into one track at 33:41 minutes and placed as Track 4 overall. Tracks 4, 5 and 6 were recorded live at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East venue in New York – the other six studio cuts at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. Produced by TOM DOWD - the double-album peaked at No. 4 in the US LP charts in 1972 (didn't chart UK).

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND was:

GREGG ALLMAN - Lead Vocals, Organ, Piano

DUANE ALLMAN - Lead and Slide Guitar (Tracks 4 to 8, Acoustic Guitar on Tracks 8 and 9)

DICKEY BETTS - Lead and Slide Guitars (Tracks 1 to 9 - Acoustic Guitar on Track 9)

BERRY OAKLEY - Bass

BUTCH TRUCKS - Drums and Percussion (Tracks 1 to 6 and 8)

JAI JOHANNY JOHANSON - Drums and Congas (Tracks 1, 2 and 7 - Drums only on Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)

The three-leafed double-side foldout inlay reproduces the Jim Holmes and David Powell painting artwork that graced the inner gatefold along with those song-by-song musician credits/original double-album recording data details that were on the insert. There are no new liner notes - mores the pity. The see-through CD spine sports the Capricorn Classics Logo, as does the inlay beneath the CD tray. Adequate but not too much to write home about for sure – still the SUHA GUR Remaster is superb - especially on those cool studio cuts like "Stand Back", "Melissa" and the short but gorgeous acoustic farewell from Duane - "Little Martha".

April 1972 saw the slick sliding peach that is the Side 1 opener "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" issued as a US 45 on Capricorn CPR 0003 with Gregg's truly lovely "Melissa" as its flipside. Personally, I can't help thinking that "Melissa" would have been the better A - but whatever way you look at musical history - in my book - CRP 0003 is one those fabulous 45s where both sides rock - where both sways are equally brill. The gargantuan "Mountain Jam" is either a test-your-patience moment or testament to their Blues-Rock genius - probably a bit of both if truth be told. For sure in 2019 it's a brave soul indeed who can last the half-hour in full - but I still love it - especially Duane's playing that starts to explode from about 8 minutes in and that interplay between him and Betts. Betts would of course come to songwriting fruition with stuff "Jessica" on the Brothers And Sisters LP in 1973, but you can so hear how in 1972 he was already the unsung hero in the band overshadowed by his buddy's loss (he contributed "Blue Sky"). Their cover of Elmore James' "One Way Out" and the Muddy Waters classic "Trouble No More" allow the trio of guitar players to strut their rockin' Bluesy stuff. Gregg and Berry Oakley co-write the fab "Stand Back" - a Rock band in the 70ts getting funky while the album ends on the beautiful duetting acoustic guitars of Gregg and Dickey - 2:07 minutes of sweetness in "Little Martha".

You can't help think that between 1970 and 1973 - this Southern Boogie Rock band were on fire and of course led the way for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Grinderswitch and even The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Few bands could produce two double albums year after year that remain essential to this day - but then the combo of talent that was The Allman Brothers Band was always that little bit special...