"The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (1993 US Epic/Legacy 3CD 78-Track Long Box Set of Vic Anesini Remasters with Twenty Tracks Previously Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Peas, Beans and Gravy..."

One of the earliest Box Sets from a major label to document old-time Forties and Fifties Blues and R’n’B – Epic/Legacy’s “The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957” is a 3CD long box from the Summer of 1993. And with its 78-tracks (20 of which are previously unreleased) and truly fabulous VIC ANESINI remasters – it still packs an American baseball-bat of a wallop in 2021 (and it looks good too). Here are the Poontang, Ring Ding Doo and Rock The Joint details…

USA released July 1993 – "The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Epic/Okeh/Legacy E3K 48912 (Barcode 07464489122) is a 3CD Long Box Set of Remasters and it breaks down as follows: 

Disc 1 (69:37 minutes):

1. Rock The Joint – CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (September 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

2. That’s Right! – CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (September 1949, Previously Unreleased Alternate Version)

3. Chicken Shack Boogie – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

4. No Wine, No Women – MR. GOOGLE EYES with BILLY FORD & HIS MUSICAL V-8’s (October 1949, Okeh 6820, A)

5. Red Hit – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949, Okeh/Columbia recording)

6. Rough And Rocky Road - MR. GOOGLE EYES with BILLY FORD & HIS MUSICAL V-8’s (October 1949, Okeh 6820, B)

7. Hot Dog - CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (April 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

8. Fine Like Wine – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

9. CHI (Chicago) – JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued)

10. Lyin’ Girl Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording)

11. Gotta Find My Baby – THE RAVENS (October 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording)

12. Let’s Jump Tonight – CHUCK WILLIS (January 1951, Okeh 6805)

13. I Want A Lavender Cadillac – MAURICE KING & HIS WOLVERINES with BEA BAKER (April 1951, Okeh 6800)

14. If You Ever Had The Blues – EARL WILLIAMS (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

15. Catch ‘Em Young, Treat ‘Em Rough, Tell ‘Em Nothin’ – THE BILL DAVIS TRIO (May 1951, Okeh 6808)

16. Weekday Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

17. My Run Around Baby – IRLTON FRENCH with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6816)

18. Stuttering Blues – THE FIVE SCAMPS (March 1951, Previously Unissued)

19. She Did Me Wrong – LEROY JOHNSON (May 1951, Previously Unissued)

20. Honey I Don’t Want You – THE RAVENS (March 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

21. Work Baby Work – LARRY DARNELL (November 1951, Okeh 6848)

22. Camp Meeting – PINNOCHIO JAMES (October 1951, Okeh 6881)

23. Come On Daddy (Let’s Go Play Tonight) – PEARL TRAYLOR with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6822, A)

24. I Feel So Good – MAURICE KING & HIS WOLVERINES with RUBY JACKSON (Vocals) (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued)

25. Three Ball Sam (The Pawn Shop Man) - PEARL TRAYLOR with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6822, B)

26. Brother’s Blues – LITTLE BROTHER BROWN (September 1951, Previously Unissued)

Tracks 9, 18, 19, 24 and 26 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Disc 2 (69:18 minutes):

1. Hey Bartender Give That Man A Drink - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (August 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued Alternate Take)

2. Goof Boogie – LITTLE BROTHER BROWN (September 1951 recording, Previously Unissued)

3. I Rule My House – CHUCK WILLIS (May 1951, Okeh 6810)

4. Pinnochio’s Blues – PINNOCHIO JAMES (October 1951 recording, Previously Unissued)

5. I’ll Be Sittin’, I’ll Be Rockin’ – LARRY DARNELL (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6954)

6. It’s Been A Long Time – ANNIE LAURIE (April 1952 recording, Okeh 6873)

7. Jump Back Honey – HADDA BROOKS (August 1952 recording, Okeh 6924)

8. Got So Much Trouble – TITUS TURNER (April 1952 recording, Okeh 6883)

9. Gas Happy Mama – THE ROYALS (May 1952 recording, Previously Unissued)

10. My Story – CHUCK WILLIS with THE ROYALS (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6905)

11. Gabbin’ Blues – BIG MAYBELLE (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6931)

12. The Moondog – THE TRENIERS (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6937)

13. Stop Talkin’ And Start Walkin’ – ANNIE LAURIE (August 1952 recording, Okeh 6933)

14. Dig This Menu Please! – RED RODNEY SEXTET (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6899)

15. It Ain’t Nothing Happening – PAUL GAYTEN (November 1952, Okeh 6972)

16. You Broke My Heart – CHUCK WILLIS (November 1952 recording, Previously Unissued)

17. Poontang – THE TRENIERS (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6937)

18. Brook’s Boogie – HADDA BROOKS (December 1952 recording, Okeh 6939)

19. Jimmy Mule – BIG MAYBELLE (May 1953 recording, Okeh 6998)

20. Livin’ In Misery – TITUS TURNER (February 1953, Okeh 6961)

21. Voodoo Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (January 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

22. Bring The Money In – THE BILL DAVIS TRIO (January 1953 recording, Okeh 7201)

23. You The Kind Of Women – SAMMY COTTON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7014)

24. I’m In The Mood For You – ANNIE LAURIE (December 1953 recording, Okeh 7025)

25. Make Up Your Mind – CHUCK WILLIS (September 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

26. Cow Cow Blues – PAUL GAYTEN (May 1953 recording, Okeh 6982)

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 21 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Disc 3 (66:43 minutes):

1. But Officer! – CLIFF “KING” SOLOMON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7010)

2. Give Me One More Drink – SAMMY COTTON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7014)

3. Leave It To Me – ANNIE LAURIE (December 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

4. Square Dance Boogie - CLIFF “KING” SOLOMON with ERNESTINE ANDERSON (Vocals) (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7022)

5. Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash – BIG JOHN & THE BUZZARDS (August 1954, Okeh 7045)

6. One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show – BIG MAYBELLE (September 1954 recording, Okeh 7060)

7. My Lonely Room – TITUS TURNER (January 1954 recording, Okeh 7027)

8. Uh Oh (Get Out Of The Car) – THE TRENIERS (November 1954 recording, Okeh 7050)

9. Creole Alley – PAUL GAYTEN featuring LEE ALLEN (November 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

10. Give Me Your Love – LARRY DARNELL (April 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

11. Bad, Bad Women – THE SHUFFLERS (May 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

12. I’m Getting’ Long All Right – BIG MAYBELLE (March 1954 recording, Okeh 7042)

13. Oop Shoop – BIG JOHN & THE BUZZARDS (August 1954 recording, Okeh 7045)

14. Jump Ted! – THE SHUFFLERS (May 1954 recording, Previously Unreleased)

15. Ocean Of Tears – BIG MAYBELLE (March 1955 recording, Previously Unreleased)

16. Ring Ding Doo – CHUCK WILLIS (July 1955 recording, Okeh 7062)

17. Little Demon – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7072)

18. I Put A Spell On You – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7072)

19. Bacon fat – ANDREW WILLIAMS (Mr. Rhythm) (November 1956, Epic/Okeh 9196)

20. The Last Meal – HURRICANE HARRY (October 1956 recording, Okeh 7074)

21. Let’s Do The Slop – LITTLE JOE & THE THRILLERS (October 1956 recording, Okeh 7073)

22. Where You Been – LLOYD FATMAN (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7073)

23. Miss Mushmouth – LLOYD FATMAN (September 1956, Okeh 7083)

24. Wyatt Earp – THE MARQUEES (featuring Marvin Gaye and Bo Diddley on Guitar) (September 1957 recording, Previously Unissued Alternate Version)

25. Billy’s Heartache – BILLY STEWART (with Bo Diddley on Guitar) (September 1957 recording, Previously unissued Alternate Version)

26. Yellow Coat – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (February 1957 recording, from the 1958 USA LP “At Home With Screamin’ Jaw Hawkins” on Epic/Okeh LN 3488)

Tracks 3, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 24 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Although the booklet is box set long and pretty in some places (full length Michael Ochs photos of The Ravens, Annie Laurie, Earl Williams and The Treniers) – at 34-pages it feels way too slight for such a fantastic sounding release. Even the entries for each track only tell you when the song was recorded (which I’ve listed above) – but not when the 78” or 7” was released (a tad lazy really). But there are some nice photos as I say and witty/informational liner notes from JAMES MARSHALL (aka “The Hound, WFMU, New Jersey) on each artist. But all of that pales into the background against the awesome sound – Archival and Digital Remastering by VIC ANESINI and WARREN WEBERG. Anesini has a long list of prestigious credits to his name – The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Hall & Oates and The Jayhawks to name but a few. The audio here is truly fabulous. Listening to something like “Hot Dog” on Disc 1 is amazing – bass, vocals, the shuffle of the high-hat and the rolling piano – all clear as a bell. Bit of a wow frankly…

The Five Scamps give us “Hello Jack…just got back…” on their amped-up version of Amos Milburn’s 1949 monster hit “Chicken Shack Boogie”. Drinking kicks in with the wonderfully titled Mr. Google Eyes. Even on something like “Lyin’ Gal Blues” – the saxophone solo is electrifying when it hits the speakers (“…men are just like streetcars, I can catch one any day…”). Amazing vocals kick in The Ravens (first of the bird groups) in the form of Jimmy Ricks – wonderful audio quality. 

Disc 2 has some great club shakers – tunes like “I’ll Be Sittin, I’ll Be Rockin’” with that wicked Joe Turner Atlantic Records vibe – party music (and fabulous audio given its vintage). Groove to the saxophone dancer “Dig The Menu Please!” with its 25 cents run down of grub that turns our Rodney on – “Peas, beans and gravy are the kind of food I crave…for a big pot of dumplings I’d be anyone’s slave!” And although it’s presented here in lesser sound quality - Paul Gayten’s “It Ain’t Nothing Happening” is still a great bopper with an irresistible jiving back beat tail-ended by some wild sax. 

In “But Officer!” on Disc 3 Cliff “King” Soloman says, “I keep telling you- that is my real name!” but the copper is having none of it. “That was a straight line!” he reasons but I’m not sure he isn’t going to jail for being in the wrong part of town. Sassy blues with big brassy breaks comes in the shape of Annie Laurie whose “Leave It To Me” is one of the Previously Unreleased gems on offer. Just as cool is the lesser-heard Big John & The Buzzards deep-voiced version of “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” where out hero pleads, “I told her she could have all my gold…but she said…this is ain’t no circus and I don’t need no clown!” The obscure Big John Otherbody is the lead singer with the deep as an ocean tone – and it’s a genuine rarity worth having. Another gem is “Uh Oh…” by The Treniers where you get to hear in-studio chatter before Take 6 blasts in – cool! Takes 10 and 11 of Billy Stewart’s “Billy’s Heartache” go all Salsa to not much effect - but far better is the shouting colours song “Yellow Coat” by the ‘baby don’t quit it’ Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – a witty and loony way to finish a box set that is a lot more fun that it looks - all dolled up in gold lettering. 

You can still get this set for fewer than fifteen quid – and with its hidden treasures and that fantastic remastered sound – is one you should seek out like a Ring Ding Doo…

"Welcome" by SANTANA – November 1973 US and UK Fifth Studio Album on Columbia and CBS Records featuring Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin on Guitars, Leon Thomas and Flora Purim on Lead Vocals, Tom Coster, Richard Kermode and Wendy Haas on Keyboards, Michael Shrieve and Jose "Chepito" Areas on Drums and Percussion with Arrangements by Alice Coltrane (October 2003 UK Columbia/Legacy Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Bob Irwin and Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 299 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

US AND THEM - 1973

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"...Yours Is The Light..."

After the difficult to like "Love, Devotion & Surrender" album with John McLaughlin in July 1973 - November 1973's "Welcome" felt like the beginning of the end for me. By the time "Borboletta" arrived in 1974, the splurging-too-much triple live "Lotus" in 1975 and then "Amigos" in 1976 - I'd lost interest.

Hal Miller's ludicrously 'genius' 'masterpiece' 'sublime' liner notes over-egg the "Welcome" pudding somewhat too, but do at least acknowledge the huge difference the keyboard players were making to the evolving Santana sound (Tom Coster and Richard Kermode supplying some of the LP’s best tracks). Unfortunately indulgence like the 12-minute "Flame-Sky" on Side 2 felt like filler to me even if their cover version of John Coltrane's "Welcome" ends the record on a beautifully recorded instrumental shimmer.

But my indifference and increasing boredom to its white-embossed charms notwithstanding - "Welcome" has stubbornly held a place in Santana fan's hearts as a bit of a lost gem over the years. And on re-hearing this stunning Bob Irwin/Vic Anesini Remaster of it, on its better moments, I can actually hear why. Musicianship wise, the band is cooking here. But worse, to my amazement, it sports an Unreleased Session Outtake as a Bonus Track called "Mantra" that I think knocks spots off some of the Leon Thomas sung fluff on the released record (although I can understand why it was canned). Let's get our joyous devotional knickers in a Chinmoy knot - to the Fusion illuminations...

UK released October 2003 - "Welcome" by SANTANA on Columbia/Legacy COL 511130 2 (Barcode 5099751113027) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with one Bonus Track that plays out as follows (56:50 minutes):

1. Going Home [Side 1]

2. Love, Devotion & Surrender

3. Samba De Sausalito

4. When I Look Into Your Eyes

5. Yours Is The Light

6. Mother Africa [Side 2]

7. Light Of Life

8. Flame-Sky

9. Welcome

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Welcome" - released November 1973 in the USA on Columbia FC 32245 and November 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 69040 Produced by CARLOS SANTANA, MICHAEL SHRIEVE and TOM COSTER - it peaked at No. 25 in the USA and No. 8 in the UK.

BONUS TRACK:

10. Mantra (Santana, Shrieve and Coster song, 6:10 minutes, recorded April 1973) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

SANTANA was:

CARLOS SANTANA and JOHN McLAUGHLIN - Lead Guitar

LEON THOMAS and FLORA PURIM - Lead Duet Vocals on Tracks 2 and 4, Purim on Track 5 and Thomas on Track 7

TOM COSTER, RICHARD KERMODE and WENDY HAAS - Keyboards (Coster also Vocals)

DAVID BROWN and DOUG RAUCH - Bass

JULES BROUSSARD - Saxophone

JOSE "Chepito" AREAS and ARMANDO PERAZA - Percussion

MICHAEL SHRIEVE and TONY SMITH - Drums

ALICE COLTRANE - Arrangements

The two-sided four-leaf foldout inlay features all the musician credits and those May 2003 HAL MILLER liner notes where he assures us that "Welcome" is a masterpiece (it isn't). What is beautiful however is the BOB IRWIN and VIN ANESINI Transfers and Remaster. Both have huge career lists - Anesini has done Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Nilsson, Aerosmith, Mountain, The Jayhawks, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Moby Grape, Lou Reed, Spirit and much more - his resume is huge and impressive. This is a big-sounding Columbia/Legacy CD - instruments racing around your speakers as the huge band vies for your attention and it sounds fab (JEN WYLER mixed the Bonus "Mantra" track). To the music...

I would be the first to decry Leon Thomas' vocals as weedy Terry Callier but not in a good way - so his efforts on the swirling percussiveness of "Love, Devotion & Surrender" kind of do for me even if it does contain Carlos giving it some Soulful notes. I much prefer the Latin Funk of Richard Kermode's "Yours Is The Light" where Flora Purim's lone vocals suit the high-flying bird of a tune. There are beautifully arranged strings to the opening of "Light Of Life" - a very Rotary Connection meets Santana rhythms exploration that has amazing playing on it. My personal crave is the six and half minutes given to their cover of John Coltrane's "Welcome" which feels like "Song Of The Wind" from "Caravanserai" - stunning keyboard work shimmering behind sustained notes. 

It wouldn't be until the double "Moonflower" in October 1977 that I would dig Santana again, but I can so understand why fans return to this largely forgotten white blip in their formidable LP cannon. A lovely sounding CD reissue and it's cheap too...

"Aerosmith" by AEROSMITH – Debut Album from January 1973 on Columbia Records (USA) and September 1974 in the UK on CBS Records - Featuring Steve Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer (November 1993 UK Columbia CD Reissue with Vic Anesini SBM Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 289 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

US AND THEM - 1973

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45's...

All In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves - Over 2,200 E-Pages

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

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"...Dream On..."

Boston's juvenile delinquent rockers AEROSMITH had been around – the hard-hitting five-piece gigging constantly in an effort to get noticed (what do you do after being chucked out of school, form a Rock 'n' Roll band is what). 

Columbia Records USA finally signed up the quintessentially American Hell-raisers, recording their first in October 1972 at the famed Intermedia Sound Studios in their hometown. And as Stu Werbin's original liner notes quite rightly said, Aerosmith was a young band and their music was for the young. So Columbia signed them up and hoped for the best - or at least the promise to be realised that the enthusiastic Stu clearly saw in them...

But their self-titled snarling-debut arrived with 'interest' in January 1973 rather than a bang. The album's one and only single "Dream On" with Side 1's "Somebody" on the flipside made radio waves and a No. 59 chart position, but the LP didn't break the top 200. It would take until April 1975 and their 3rd album "Toys In The Attic" for them to become vinyl monsters Stateside – that album clocking up over 8-million LP sales and a near two and half year chart reign (128 weeks in total). Their fourth album "Rocks" in 1976 cemented Aerosmith and it was only then that back-catalogue interest began. So in March 1976, the debut re-entered the US LP charts and made an impressive No. 21 placing (the band meant naught in Blighty and would have to wait until 1987 on Geffen to see chart action). 

But back in early 1973, Aerosmith still had some more pavements to pound and this is where all that big-haired mayhem started. And truth be-told (re-hearing it in spring 2021) – "Aerosmith" is far better than I remember it. And although this 1993 Columbia CD reissue/remaster is in desperate need of a packaging upgrade and some decent Bonus Tracks (original artwork of the boys centred in the sky is paraded here as a gift from the Gods) - it still boasts a stunning Don De Vito/Vic Anesini Super Bit Mapping Remaster. So once again, let's go Walkin' The Dog with Mama Kin down an American One Way Street...

UK released 8 November 1993 (reissued several times since including September 2011) - "Aerosmith" by AEROSMITH on Columbia 474962 2 (Barcode 5099747496226) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 1973 debut album and plays out as follows (35:51 minutes):

1. Dream On [Side 1]

2. Somebody

3. Dream On

4. One Way Street

5. Mama Kin [Side 2]

6. Write Me A Letter

7. Movin' Out

8. Walkin' The Dog

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Aerosmith" - released January 1973 in the USA on Columbia KC 32005 (reissued 1976) and September 1974 in the UK on CBS Records S 65486. Produced by ARTHUR BARBER – all songs written by Steve Tyler except "Somebody" which is co-written with Steven Emspack, "Movin' Out" co-written with Joe Perry and "Walkin' The Dog" is a Rufus Thomas cover version. 

AEROSMITH was:

STEVE TYLER – Lead Vocals, Harmonica and Wood Flute

JOE PERRY - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals

BRAD WHITFORD - Rhythm Guitar

TOM HAMILTON - Bass

JOEY KRAMER - Drums and Percussion

Guests:

David Woodford – Saxophone on "Mama Kin" and "Write Me A Letter"

Like the other CD reissues in this Columbia 'Nice Price' series - the double-sided four-leaf foldout inlay is hardly the stuff of legends. They repro four original master tape boxes – two trade newspaper reviews (suitably enthusiastic) – front and rear LP artwork - some period shots of the band – a photo of a signed original American LP - a British A-label demo single for "Dream On" - the cover art for the Rufus Thomas Stax LP "Walking The Dog" (their cover version ends Side 2) and a foreign picture sleeve, etc. But there's no liner notes, no history, appreciation, band involvement (and of course no aural extras either). Not the sexiest inlay in the world for sure...

What we do get by way of compensation however is a stunning new 24-bit digital remaster from original tapes by DON DeVITO and Mastering Engineer supremo VIC ANESINI - an Audio transfer name I actively seek out when looking for exceptional CD Remasters. Anesini has had a long association with Sony and all things Columbia - Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Mott The Hoople, Janis Joplin, Carole King, The Jayhawks, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mountain, Nilsson and many more – including Aerosmith. Bringing out the power of those riffs was always the priority and the team behind this transfer have achieved that.

Coming at you like Montrose in 1973 (though nowhere near as good yet) - the Aerosmith debut is a roadmap offering several glimpses into the Hard Rock template to come. What is immediately weird is that with the June 1973 relative success of the "Dream On" 45-single hitting No. 59 on the US Adult Rock charts (Columbia 4-45894) – why oh why didn't Columbia seize on the monster riffage of "Mama Kin" as single number two? Perhaps with the debut having only eight songs, they didn't want half the album out in the marketplace on two cheap 45s? But you can't help thinking now that someone at the musical monolith missed a serious trick there. 

Speaking on 45-genius, England's CBS Records tried the very 1973-Zeppelin sounding "Dream On" with "Somebody" on the B-side in November 1973 before the album would arrive in 1974 (CBS Records S CBS 1898 is a genuine rarity in Demo form in 2021). Not quite Rock – not quite Prog – but a path somewhere in-between - "Dream On" has a lead-in build up - Perry slowly adding guitar layers that eventually culminate in Tyler's screeches. I would in fact maintain that it's a bit of a forgotten power-house single and given the dominance of Sabbath, Zeppelin, Deep Purple and hell even Status Quo ("Hello!" with "Roll Over Lay Down" had just gone to No. 1 on the LP charts in September 1973) – it seems odd that Blighty never took to the drunken swagger of Aerosmith back in the day when Hard Rock and Prog was all we seemed able to think about. 

Although a long way from a Supertramp audiophile recording – the Remaster captures the band in raw if not a tad amateur raring-to-go form. It's not a great album – really it isn't - but I love a Rock band that feels like the Allmans mated with Bad Co. And never is this more evident than on the excellent Side 1 finisher "One Way Street" – a Bluesy piano-rolling Harmonica warbling bar-tab of a tune. Down and dirty and gritty exudes from "Mama Kin" – the Black Crowes two whole decades earlier. You might have to forgive the boys-done-bad-by-gals lyrics, but it boogies along like a goodun and I bet it's a go-to tune when fans return to this album. Great swagger and clear drums on "Write Me" or "Write Me A Letter" as it was called on first pressings. And on it goes to their butt-strut cover version of "Walking The Dog" – a Rufus Thomas Soul anthem turned into a prowler of a Rock song (love those guitar flicks on the scratch plate to mimic a dog - must have slayed 'em live). 

I was surprised at how much I liked this album again and at less than four quid new and delivered to your front door – "Aerosmith" is a wee bit of a Seventies Rock bargain that has gone largely unnoticed. 

After the monster success of "Toys In The Attic" - Boston's Aerosmith would tear it up with their 4th platter "Rocks" in 1976 too - another winner that went as high as No. 3. But this is where their locker-room legend and guitar mayhem really started. It may be pushing 30-years old as a CD Remaster, but it's still a goody. Dude looks like a lady...winner...again...

PS: see also my reviews for "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks"

"The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper" by MIKE BLOOMFIELD and AL KOOPER - February 1969 US 2LP set on Columbia Records CG 6 and CBS Records S 66216 in the UK – featuring John Kahn on Bass with Skip Prokop on Drums with Guests Roosevelt Gook on Keyboards, Elvin Bishop of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Carlos Santana of Santana on Guitars and an uncredited Paul Simon Backing Vocal on "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" (March 1997 UK Columbia/Legacy 2CD Reissue – Live From The Vaults Series – Bob Irwin and Vic Anesini Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Hope Y'all Dig Some Blues!"

Recorded across three nights at Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September 1968 - this warts 'n' all Live 2LP set has been a touchpoint for Bloomfield fans for over five decades.

Mike did the Blues-Rock guitar-wielding business for the first two nights of mostly R&B cover versions by the likes of Ray Charles, Frank Wilson, Arthur Crudup, Sonny Boy Williamson and Albert King alongside contemporary versions of big tunes by The Band ("The Weight"), Traffic ("Dear Mr. Fantasy") and Jack Bruce of Cream writing a 1967 HMV UK 45 B-side with Paul Jones of Manfred Mann ("Sonny Boy Williamson").

But famously hospitalized due to insomnia, the mercurial axeman no-showed for gig-number three. So help was called in in the shape of Elvin Bishop (Guitarist and Vocalist in The Paul Butterfield Blues Band) and a young axe-slayer Bloomfield used to nickname Carlito - Carlos Santana. This was half a year before Carlos would enter the studios and record the "Santana" debut album and then slaughter all in his path at Woodstock in August 1969, a month before the debut hit the shops and virtually launched Latin-Rock across the world. Live Adventures is one of the very few occasions where you hear Carlos playing the Blues – though if you ask me, he wasn't very good at it on this night!

So you get a lot of cool axe wielding types here ably supported by John Kahn on Bass and Skip Prokop on Drums. Al Kooper sings and plays Hammond Organ and other keyboards and the singing is shared between both leads. Roosevelt Gook plays keyboards on the Frank Wilson cover "Together 'Til The End Of Time" and none-other than Paul Simon was said to have been so taken aback by their live cover of the Simon & Garfunkel hippy anthem "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" that he offered and laid down harmony vocals in the studio after the gigs – so PS is supposed to be on there, only uncredited as such. Which brings us to this reissue in Sony's 'Live From The Vaults' Series…

This Columbia/Legacy 2CD reissue from 1997 doesn’t unfortunately feature any juicy outtakes or rehearsals – but it has new and improved audio for the notoriously rough and rolling live double courtesy of two hugely talented Audio Engineers – BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI. Both of these men have handled huge swathes of Sony's catalogue – Elvis Presley, Santana, Simon and Garfunkel, Mott The Hoople, Nilsson, The Byrds and loads more.

UK released March 1997 - "The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper" by MIKE BLOOMFIELD and ALL KOOPER on Columbia/Legacy COL 485151 2 (Barcode 5099748515124) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster in Columbia's Live From The Vaults Series and plays out as follows:

CD1 (44:23 minutes):

1. Opening Speech [Side 1]

2. The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

3. I Wonder Who

4. Her Holy Modal Highness

5. The Weight [Side 2]

6. Mary Ann

7. Together 'Til The End Of Time

8. That's All Right

9. Green Onions

Track 2 is a Simon & Garfunkel cover, Tracks 3 and 6 are Ray Charles covers, Track 4 is a MB and AK song,

Track 5 is a Band cover, Track 7 is a Frank Wilson cover, Track 8 is an Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup cover

Track 9 is a Booker T & The MG's cover

Tracks 1, 3, 6 and 8 - Lead Vocals by Mike Bloomfield - Tracks 2 and 7 - Lead Vocals by AL KOOPER

Track 2 features an uncredited Backing Vocal from PAUL SIMON - Track 7 features ROOSEVELT GOOK on Keyboards

CD2 (40:55 minutes):

1. Opening Speech [Side 3]

2. Sonny Boy Williamson

3. No More Lonely Nights

4. Dear Mr. Fantasy [Side 4]

5. Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong

6. Finale - refugee

Track 2 is a Jack Bruce (of Cream) and Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) cover

Track 3 is a Sonny Boy Williamson cover

Track 4 is a Traffic cover (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood song)

Track 5 is an Albert King cover

Track 6 is an MB and AK song

Tracks 2 and 4 vocals by Al Kooper

Track 2 has Guest Guitarist CARLOS SANTANA

Track 3 has Guest Lead Vocals and Guitar by ELVIN BISHOP (of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band)

Track 5 has vocals by Mike Bloomfield

The double-album was released February 1969 in the USA on Columbia Records CG 6 and CBS Records S 66216 in the UK.

Although the double-sided six-leaf foldout inlay looks kind of nice, it's like the album itself, it gets on your nerves because you wish it would work better. There are recollections from Al Kooper that are good and the BOB IRWIN and VIC ANESINI Remasters make this rough and ready double sing. But therein lies the problem for me - so much of this live set feels self-indulgent and despite the covers and the big name guests - very little of it actually ignites in the way that you would have expected. On Side 3 and 4 although Elvin Bishop puts in gallant Slow Blues attempts on the 12:20 minutes of "No More Lonely Nights" - it feels awkward somehow and the Carlos Santana contribution the same - none of the fluidity needed and none of the stunning dexterity he would show only the following year on the debut and on into 1970's "Abraxsas".

The nine minutes of their song "Her Holy Modal Highness” is probably the album’s most trippy moment - Kooper’s oscillating keyboard solo setting up Bloomfield for some truly lovely touches on the fretboard. They launch into a cover of The Band classic "The Weight” – a keyboard driven instrumental take that feels like The Spencer Davis Group having a go. Its ragged glory is part of the charm I think and both boys play a blinder. The R&B shuffle of "Mary Ann” sees Bloomfield go B.B. King on a Ray Charles cover.

Bloomfield's absence from that 28th of September 1968 night (I was exactly 10 on that night) is acutely felt. Neither he nor Kooper have great voices but you can hear impressive Hammond organ stuff on the 10 minutes of the Albert King cover "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong". Side 2's ending pair features Crudup's "That's All Right" make ordinary by Kooper's vocal - better is the Booker T "Green Onions" groove - both guitar and Hammond blasting away in their bar-band best unison.

Kooper would soon launch a solo career and Bloomfield descend into horrible addictions - but at least this raw slice of live indulgence is here for us to remember a time when you could make stuff like this and not give a fig...