"Stand! The Woodstock Experience" by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – April 1969 US Fourth Studio Album on Epic Records in Stereo, July 1969 in the UK on Direction Records featuring Sly, Rose and Freddie Stone with Larry Graham, Cynthia Robinson, Gregg Errico and more (July 2009 UK Columbia/Legacy The Woodstock Experience 2CD Limited Edition Set Reissue featuring the album Remastered on CD1 [No Bonus Tracks] with an Unreleased Live Set from the August 1969 Festival on CD2 [17 Aug 1969] – Vic Anesini and Bob Irwin Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Different Strokes For Different Folks..."

 

I loved this clever series – five cracking studio albums from 1969 given a tie-in with the most notorious love-in of 1969 – three days in August that was the legendary Woodstock Festival. This time up is the Funk-meisters themselves Sly Stone and his Family of (well) Stoners giving it different strokes for different folks (shooby dooby-dooby). And a winner it is too. It wants to take you higher - here are the details...

 

UK released August 2009 - "Stand! The Woodstock Experience" by SLY and THE FAMILY STONE on Epic/Legacy 88697 482412 (Barcode 886974824121) is 2CD Limited Edition Set with the "Stand!" album on CD1 (no Bonus Tracks) and the Previously Unreleased complete Sly and The Family Stone Woodstock Performance on Sunday, 17 August 1969 on CD2. Inside a Card Slipcase (a Series of Five Releases, see list below) – you get two Mini LP Oversized Card Repro Sleeves – the Live Set being new and a fold-out poster for The Woodstock Festival. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Stand!" (41:42 minutes):

Side 1

1. Stand! (3:10 minutes)

2. Don't Call Me N*****, Whitey (5:59 minutes)

3. I Want To Take You Higher (5:24 minutes)

4. Somebody's Watching You (3:21 minutes)

5. Sing A Simple Song (3:57 minutes)

Side 2

6. Everyday People (2:22 minutes)

7. Sex Machine (13:48 minutes)

8. You Can Make It If You Try (3:43 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album "Stand!" – released April 1969 in the USA on Epic BN 26456 (Stereo only) and July 1969 in the UK on Direction 8-63655 (Stereo only). Charting 3 May 1969 and Produced by SLY STONE – the album peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard R&B charts and No. 13 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

 

CD2 (50:18 minutes):

"Recorded Live At The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, Sunday, August 17, 1969"

1. M' Lady

2. Sing A Simple Song

3. You Can Make It If You Try

4. Everyday People

5. Dance To The Music

6. MEDLEY: Music Lover/Higher

7. I Want To Take You Higher

8. Love City

9. Stand!

Tracks 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED; Tracks 5 and 6 first appeared on the original 1970 US 3LP set "Woodstock: Music From The Original Soundtrack And More" on Cotillion SD 3-500.

 

Visually all five of these celebrationary 2CD sets are properly gorgeous. The impact of the two oversized Mini LP Card Sleeves in their thick Matt feel covers (each has an inner too with new liner notes) is immediate and pleasing. You kind of wish Sony would have done the same with other important releases on their impressive roster. The two-sided fold out poster is the same in each issue – the artist on one side with a generic Woodstock crowd photo on the other side – still it looks the part. VIC ANESINI did the tremendous Remasters – a name across huge swathes of the Sony catalogue – Santana, Paul Simon, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Aerosmith, Carole King, Mott The Hoople, Elvis Presley, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more.

 

Niggles - immediately you notice with the album that the rather tasty Five Bonus Tracks that were on the April 2007 Legacy Edition CD Reissue and Remaster are AWOL from CD1 – three Mono single versions – "Stand!", "I Want To Take You Higher" and "You Can Make It If You Try" (unissued Mono mix) plus the then Unreleased outtakes "Soul Clappin' II" and the Instrumental "My Brain (Zig-Zag)" – shame that when there was obviously room. I can understand however the need to keep the album sans embellishments.

 

But that said – the album still impresses. Has there every been a more impressive social statement vs. fun vs. booty-shaking 45-single like "Everybody People" – its socially conscious lyrics reflecting the turmoil of America 1969. May 2016 saw Playing For Change do one of their famous star-laden videos for "Everybody People" with Musicians Jack Johnson, Keb Mo, Paula Fuga, Jason Mraz, Bernie Williams and Paula Abdul aided by Actors Tim Robbins, Alfre Woodard, Forest Whittaker and more. It's clocked up nearly 3-million views in 2023 and comments of being moved to tears are frequent. Back to the music...the near 14-minute instrumental "Sex Machine" that dominates Side 2 feels like a James Brown funk-showcase – the band showing off as they go from smooth Soul to P-Funk in one long chunk. But I prefer the LP-ender "You Can Make It If You Try" – melody, smart lyrics, the whole vibe just great and still cool after all these decades.

 

With feedback and equipment issues (Sly talks of this on stage), it is not surprising that the first four tracks on CD2 remained in the can. But make no mistake – the Remaster has brought out the tightness, confidence and sheer stage-storming power of the band. "Sing A Simple Song" has them cooking as they yah-yah and big mama the crowd into submission. Given this notorious concert, the audio on the live "You Can Make It If You Try" is shockingly good – the brass and funky Bass and Drums hitting your speakers with as much clarity as you could hope given the setting of August 1969. At last the 2:22 minutes of "Everybody People" on the album (always been too short) gets stretched out to 4:25 minutes live with enthusiastic crowd clapping. The album had been released in April 1969 on Epic Records to acclaim and the "Everyday People" 45-single issued in February 1969 had instantly climbed to No. 1 R&B and made huge impacts. So without a break, Sly takes no stopping chances and segues the song immediately into a MEDLEY where he does his slick-showman damnedest to get the crowd throwing up peace signs.

 

The band is cooking by the time they get to the boom-lakka-lakka call and response of "I Want To Take You Higher" – Harmonica Funk shaking the stage while the brass and guitars of "Love City" from their November 1968 album "Life" talks of long hair and people singing – a message that chimes with the audience. Sly brings it all home with a near Gospel rendition of the album's title track "Stand" – a nice version that brings out the sheer musicality in the song.

 

I bought all five of these "Woodstock Experience" twofers and am so glad I did. Take me higher baby...

 

The five 2009 titles in "The Woodstock Experience" series are (UK issues):

 

1. Jefferson Airplane - uses the "Volunteers" album and has an 8-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969

Catalogue No: RCA/Legacy 88697 48240 2 (Barcode 886974824022)

 

2. Janis Joplin - uses the "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!" debut album and has a 10-track live album recorded 17 Aug 1969

Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48243 2 (Barcode 886974824329)

 

3. Santana - uses the "Santana" debut album and has an 8-track live album recorded Saturday 16 Aug 1969

Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48242 2 (Barcode 886974824220)

 

4. Sly & The Family Stone - uses the "Stand!" album and has a 9-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969

Catalogue No: Epic/Legacy 88697 48241 2 (Barcode 886974824121)

 

5. Johnny Winter - uses the "Johnny Winter" album and has an 8-track live disc recorded 17 Aug 1969

Catalogue No: Columbia/Legacy 88697 48244 2 (Barcode 886974824428)

"The Complete Epic Recordings Collection" by STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and DOUBLE TROUBLE - Featuring Five Officially Released Albums Between June 1983 and June 1989 (Four Studio Sets and One Live Double) Plus Five Posthumous Compilations Featuring Studio/Live Tracks From As Early As 1980 Issued Between November 1991 and July 2010 - Featuring Jimmy Vaughan, Tommy Shannon, Chris "Whipper" Layton, Reese Wynans, Joe Sublett with Guests Fran Christina, Stan Harrison, Dr. John, The Roomful Of Blues Horn section, Angela Strehli, Darrell Leonard and more (October 2014 UK Epic/Legacy/Sony Music 10-Title/12-CD Clamshell Box Set in Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves with Vic Anesini Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Pride And Joy..."

 

Sony Music and their Legacy Label imprint have coughed up some doozies in their nifty Clamshell Box Set Series of 'Complete Collections' over the decades - The Byrds, Nilsson, Paul Simon, Bill Withers, Electric Light Orchestra, Blue Oyster Cult, Earth Wind & Fire, Leonard Cohen - and I've reviewed most all of them in detail. 

 

But this kick-ass audio slice of Blues Rock gorgeousness celebrating the genius of guitarist STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and his band of Rhythm 'n' Blues pirates DOUBLE TROUBLE makes me thrill and shed a tear into the bargain - especially that simple but so brilliant debut LP from June 1983 when the band was a three-piece. I only have to play the undeniably beauty in his instrumental "Lenny" that ends the LP and I'm tapping my cloth cap in awe. 

 

But then in August 1990 - just when the whole world was beginning to feel his stunning playing skills - SRV was gone. Much to discuss...to the details first...

UK released 28 October 2014 - "The Complete Epic Recordings Collection" by STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and DOUBLE TROUBLE on Epic/Legacy/Sony Music 88843091422 (Barcode 888430914223) is a 10-Title/12-CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters housed in Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "In The Beginning" - Recorded live 1 April 1980 in Austin, Texas

Released 6 October 1992 US on Epic EK 53168 - 40:06 minutes, 9 Tracks 

 

Disc 2 "Live At Montreux 1982 & 1985" - Recorded live 17 July 1982/15 July 1985

Released 20 November 2001 US on Epic/Legacy E2K 86151

CD1: 42:14 minutes, 8 Tracks - CD2: 76:13 minutes, 11 Tracks 

 

Disc 3 "Texas Flood" - Recorded 23/24 November 1982

Debut Studio Album issued 13 June 1983 US on Epic BFE 38734 

CD: 38:56 minutes, 10 tracks 

Disc 4 "A Legend In The Making: Live At The El Mocambo" 

Recorded Live 20 July 1983 n Toronto, Canada during the "Texas Flood" Tour

Tracks 1, 3 to 8 with 12 and 14 first released 1983 as a 9-Track Radio Broadcast Promo-Only LP in Canada on Epic CDN-115

Tracks 2, 9 to 11 and 13 first released on Video in 1991 on SMV Enterprises 19-V-49111

CD: 76:30 minutes, 14 Tracks 

Disc 5 "Couldn't Stand The Weather" - Recorded January 1984 in NYC 

Second Studio Album released 15 May 1984 US on Epic FE 39304 

All Outtakes and 'Legacy Edition' Live Tracks surround this release are on the "Archives" 2CD Set - see Disc 10

CD: 38:13 minutes, 8 Tracks

 

Disc 6 "Live at Carnegie Hall" - Recorded 4 October 1984, NYC 

Posthumous Compilation released 29 June 1997 US on Epic EK 68163

CD: 61:36 minutes, 14 Tracks 

 

Disc 7 "Soul To Soul" - Recorded 1985 in Austin, Texas 

Third Studio Album released 30 September 1985 US on Epic FE 40036

CD: 40:09 minutes, 10 Tracks 

 

Disc 8 "Live Alive" - Recorded 16 July 1985 at Montreux Jazz Festival, 17-18 July 1986 at Austin Opera House and 19 July 1986 at Dallas Starfest 

Fourth Album Released November 1986 US on Epic EZ 40511

CD: 79:39 minutes, 14 Tracks 

 

Disc 9 "In Step" - Recorded January to March 1989 

Fifth Album (Fourth and Final Studio LP) released 6 June 1989 on Epic OE 45024

CD: 41:08 minutes, 10 Tracks 

 

Disc 10 "Archives" 

CD1: 48:27 minutes - CD2: 46:03 minutes 

I'm sure it sounds like full-on collector's nerd mode, but half of me wishes that Sony wouldn't 'border' these Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves with that white rim they do because I think it detracts. At least these individual cards are large enough and flexible enough to allow the CDs to slip in and out without having to tear telephone books to remove them. It's pretty cool too to have the five posthumous compilations in Card Form. 

 

The 32-page booklet is jam-packed with reissue credits - each of the ten discs given pages of musician/writer credits, photos, occasional live shots etc. Online Managing Editor of Guitar World DAMIAN FANELLI gets to give SRV the opening homage - a fellow axe-wielder who saw Vaughan in his 1984 and 1986 heydays - and literally climbed a mountain to see and hear the New Jersey gig from a distance (lucky bugger). Nowadays - we gawk in wonder at YouTube footage where he breaks a string, un-clips his battered Strat with flippy-floppy wire, slaps on another guitar from the roadie handing it to him - and literally doesn't miss a beat.

 

VIC ANESINI - one of Sony's Top Audio Engineers - has handled the Remasters. His catalogue of artists is a ridiculous who's who - Elvis Presley, Santana, Mott The Hoople, Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon, the Byrds, Nilsson, Aerosmith, The Jayhawks, Spirit, Mountain and loads more. Needless to say that all those rockin' moments that needed uplifting get just that - uplifts. I immediately go to Track 2 of the debut album "Texas Flood" to hear his signature tune "Pride And Joy" - and bam - it's in my face for all the right reasons. The beautiful instrumental "Lenny" where you just don't expect that kind of musicality from a born rocker - yet there it is - class and technique combined. I would imagine that Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton would all have been afraid of SRV - and that's really saying something.  

The beauty of a Box Set like this is the mixture of studio tracks like his own "Honey Bee" (the way we kiss, just can't miss), the rocking cover of Hank Ballard's "Look At Little Sister" or the nine-minute 'Lenny' like beauty of the slow instrumental "Riviera Paradise" (used to play this in Reckless and punters would think it was a moochy Santana track). And of course, the explosive live stuff where he was frankly untouchable. Even if it's 1980 and he's ripping through "Shake For Me" on that "In The Beginning" set - or when he attacks Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" - who could pull that off! Check out his gorgeous version of Jimi's ballad "Little Wing" which SRV does as one long instrumental flitting between slow and wild, the tremelo bar liberally employed to amazing effect - it was originally one of the extras on CD2 of the double-disc Legacy Edition of "Couldn't Stand The Weather". 

 

But for me, the now forgotten outtakes LP of November 1991 "The Sky Is Crying" is the absolute bomb. I can play this sucker all the way through. Check out his "Boot Hill" - could very well wake the dead - or his playing and growling on the Howlin' Wolf cover "May I Have A Talk With You" or that Elmore James title track "The Sky Is Crying" - wow. 

Will we ever see the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan again? Hard to say - but (no pun intended) what a Legacy our "Pride And Joy" left behind. Take this Box Set away from me and you could see this man get mean...

"Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" by SIMON & GARFUNKEL – August 1964 US Debut Album for Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel on Columbia Records in Mono and Stereo - Inside "The Collection" (November 2007 UK Columbia/Legacy 5CD/1DVD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Card Artwork Sleeves and 1991 to 2001 Vic Anesini Remasters of Their Stereo Albums) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Exciting New Sounds In The Folk Tradition... "

 

Released November 2007 - "The Collection" by SIMON & GARFUNKEL on Columbia/Legacy 88697134662 (Barcode 886971346626) is an inconspicuous looking 5CD/1DVD mini box set from the outside (hardly the most inspired artwork for a box).

 

But not so well advertised is the fact that it uses the stunning VIC ANESINI remasters of "The Complete Studio Recordings (1964-1970)" 5CD retrospective from August 2001 and that Each Album Is An Expanded Edition – many with truly superlative period bonuses.

 

So under its rather dull-looking S&G white silhouette front cover hood, you're getting a whole lot of sonic and musical quality for not a lot of your hard earned. Here are the groovy feelings, the Wednesday Morning debut and Remastered Bookends...

 

Disc 1 (40:36 minutes):

1. You Can Tell The World [Side 1]

2. Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream

3. Bleecker Street

4. Sparrow

5. Benedictus

6. The Sound Of Silence

7. He Was My Brother [Side 2]

8. Peggy-O

9. Go Tell It On The Mountain

10. The Sun Is Burning

11. The Times They Are A-Changin'

12. Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut vinyl album "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" - released 19 October 1964 in the USA on Columbia CL 2249 (Mono) and CS 9049 (Stereo) - the Stereo Mix is used. "Bleecker Street", "Sparrow", "He Was My Brother" and "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." are Paul Simon songs - the rest are cover versions.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Bleecker Street (Demo)

14. He Was My Brother (Alternate Take 1)

15. The Sun Is Burning (Alternate Take 12)

Tracks 13 to 15 first issued August 2001 in "The Complete Studio Recordings (1964-1970)" 5CD retrospective.

 

The pull-off lid reveals 5 Card Repro sleeves for the albums standing up inside and a 6th disc - a DVD as documented above. The CDs take their remasters from the August 2001 "The Complete Studio Recordings (1964-1970)" 5CD retrospective remastered by VIC ANESINI. Compilers of the original 1997 "Old Friends" box set and the subsequent 2001 set explained how it took Columbia up to 3 years to locate the best possible STEREO source tapes - and the sonic results Anesini produced are simply stunning (he mastered both boxes) - beautiful clarity and real presence.

 

The booklet for this budget box keeps it simple - 12 pages of track details, basic recording/release info peppered with some period photos of the American duo. The lovely 5 x 5" Card Repro Sleeves are very well done (front and rear artwork fully represented) and inside each is a charcoal-grey inner sleeve to protect the disc (all the CDs have the same greyish colour scheme and don't reflect the original 360 Sound Columbia record labels. The DVD uses the artwork of the 1982 double-album "The Concert In Central Park" - and as it contains live Simon & Garfunkel hits alongside many great Paul Simon solo tunes  - makes for a superb addition to the music.

 

Which brings us to the simplicity and sheer melodiousness of their 1964 debut – lauded on the front and rear sleeve by Columbia Records (home of Bob Dylan, a natural label mate) as Exciting New Sounds In The Folk Tradition...

 

It opens frantically on the Gospel Joy of "You Can Tell The World" – a rapidly strummed Man From Galilee preacher thumper – victory won. In truth "You Can Tell The Wolrd" feels clunky now and even subversive given that Simon's views on religion are/were so acidic. Coming on all Everly Brothers at a Protest Rally with an Acoustic Guitar and Banjo, "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream" tells of reluctant soldiers not wanting to go to another war far away (an Ed McCurdy cover version). 

 

There then follows a genuine moment of beauty – gorgeous audio coming off Simon’s own "Bleecker Street" – the famous street in the Village area of New York City looming in all its Folk/Protest glory. The Demo version of it (recorded 10 March 1964) is the first of the three Bonus Tracks and is just as stunning.

 

"Sparrow" is the second Paul Simon original on Side 1 – a feathered little bird talking of needed grain – struggling in an industrialized landscape that used to once be a garden. Equally gorgeous and church-hymn-like is "Benedictus", a Traditional arranged by the boys so that Simon is in the right speaker with Art in the left while a cello and acoustic sooth. And then it happens – that first real moment of magic – their 10 March 1964 recording of "The Sound Of Silence" – as lovely as Rock-Folk music could get. Even now "The Sound Of Silence" song has an epic quality - greatness looming large.

 

Side 2 opens with original song number four "He Was My Brother" – again so Everly Brothers in its harmony execution – a tale of a 23-year-old outsider who hated what was wrong with his country and the angry mob that shot him dead. "Peggy-O" is another Traditional given the S&G harmony treatment, golden-haired Peg riding in a carriage with her true love by her side. Simon's admiration of English and Scottish Folkies shows in his choice of the subtle Ian Campbell protest song "The Sun Is Burning" – a deceptively calm piece about children playing, oblivious to the mushroom cloud off in the distance turning all glory to ash and dust. 

 

Their cover of Bob Dylan's social anthem "The Times They Are A-Changin'" is good rather than great – far better is the title track "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" – the girl that I love softly breathing – soothing and sweet - much like the whole LP's vibe. The three acoustic guitar/voices Bonus Tracks are just so pretty and complete too. Sure it's off the times, but "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" is impressive and gve clear indications of the world-winning songs and harmony to come.

 

So there you have it. Although it's not the most awesome thing from the outside - "The Collection" by Simon & Garfunkel has the audio and visual goods on the inside. And it's cheap as chips price makes it a stunning deal into the bargain. 

 

You can buy the debut album "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" as a solo CD Remaster with a fuller booklet, but I advise fork out that few bob more for this dinky little flip-top. A Columbia Records Legacy indeed...

"The Real Thing" by TAJ MAHAL – June 1971 US 2LP Live Set on Columbia Records (CBS Records in the UK) – band featuring Howard Johnson, Bob Stewart, Joseph Daly, Earle McIntyre, Bill Rich, John Simon, John Hall, Greg Thomas and Kwasi DziDzournu (September 2000 UK Columbia/Legacy Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Fishin' Blues..."

 

Apart from the largely laid-back Brass 'n' Blues band nature of this live double-album (recorded February 1971 at the famous Fillmore East venue in New York with a backing band that included four Tuba players) - what blows you away here is the gorgeous in-yer-face CD Remaster done in 2000 by Sony/Columbia Tape Engineer Supremo VIC ANESINI.

 

The Vicster has done huge names in the Sony/BMG cannon - Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Santana, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Mott The Hoople, The Jayhawks, Jeff Beck, AerNilsson, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Mountain and so many more. I seek his work out. Well add Taj Mahal to that list because the "Taj Mahal" self-titled Blues Rock debut and this Americana live double are barnstormer transfers - exemplary. To the big kneed tubby tuba details...

 

UK released September 2000 - "The Real Thing" by TAJ MAHAL on Columbia/Legacy 498174 2 (Barcode 5099749817425) offers a 1971 Double-Album Plus One Bonus Track Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (66:56 minutes):

 

1. Fishin' Blues (2:58) [Side 1]

2. Ain't Gwine To Whistle Dixie (Any Mo') (9:11)

3. Sweet Mama Janisse (3:33)

4. Going Up To The Country And Paint My Mailbox Blue (3:24) [Side 2]

5. Big Kneed Gal (5:34)

6. You're Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond (6:14)

7. Tom And Sally Drake (3:39) [Side 3]

8. Diving Duck Blues (3:46)

9. John, Ain't It Hard (5:30)

10. She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride (4:08, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

11. You Ain't No Sweet Walker Mama, Honey But I Do Love The Way You Strut Your Stuff (18:56)

Tracks 1 to 9 and Track 11 are the double-album "The Real Thing" – released June 1971 in the USA on Columbia G 30619 and in the UK on CBS Records S 64385. Produced by DAVID RUBINSON – it peaked at No. 84 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

 

Part of their 'Columbia High Fidelity "360 Sound" Series' (mimics the '360 Sound' logo that came with all American Columbia records originals) - the 12-page booklet is a tasty affair with period photos of the huge band and new liner notes from STANLEY CROUCH quite rightly praising the 'chances' Taj took with the Blues medium. This was a different sound with Tubas and Brass thrown into the audio mix. Most tracks still had that same Blues and R&B backbeat - but of course not all purists and their one-way-only-taste-buds would have been impressed. But anyone hearing the juxtaposition of the guitar-only opener "Fishin' Blues" and the Canned Heat meets Taj Mahal 19-minute finisher could only be impressed. And that Remaster is fantastic.  

 

I've typed in the playing times for the tracks above because I'd swear that two are considerably extended cuts without saying so - "Ain't Gwine..." up from 8:17 to 9:11 minutes and "Big Kneed Gal" up from 4:45 to 5:34 minutes (some of the others have maybe 10 or 12 more seconds, but not as noticeable as those two).

 

When the four horns come crashing in during "You're Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond" - it has a huge power and that cool mention of Mavis Staples in the lyrics. Taj Mahal on Banjo with Bob Stewart on Tuba for the Side 3 instrumental "Tom And Sally Drake" comes out beautifully - virtually no hiss - but full of that 'live warmth' the recording is famous for. Their cover of the Sleepy John Estes classic "Diving Duck Blues" is turned into a rollicking R&B meets Rock driver.

 

There is almost total audience silence preceding "John, Ain't It Hard" – a stunning National Steel Blues lurch – his lady all dressed up in red and talking trashy. You can feel the crowd loving the vibe and their hollers increase as the Tubas come sailing in – gorgeous audio. And that Previously Unreleased track "She Caught The Katy..." slots in before the near 19-minute Side 4 finisher "You Ain't No Sweet Walker Mama..." like it was always meant to be there - impressive.

 

"The Real Thing" by Taj Mahal is a fab little CD Reissue and one that in January 2022 is increasingly hard to find. Seek it out and enjoy a clap-along yourself...

"A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings" by ELVIS PRESLEY – Includes The Four Sides Of His Self-Financed Memphis Recording Services Acetates, All The Sun Masters, 28 Sun Studio Sessions, Four RCA Masters and 32 Live/Radio Performances – The Definitive Account of the Sun Records Period (2017 UK RCA/Legacy/Sony Music 10 x 10-Inch 3CD Book Set of Remasters with A Detached 120-Page Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...That's All Right..."

For my Elvis Presley Sun Records fix and delectation, I would always reach for the June 2004 single CD "Elvis At Sun" - RCA/BMG 82876 613082 and its 19 tracks and 47:39 minutes sufficient for my Rock 'n' Roll/Rockabilly needs. But then this officially issued RCA/Legacy swoon-fest showed up in 2017 and it's been "That's All Right Mama..." ever since. 

With the involvement of long-time Presley aficionado and a reissue name fans revere and trust - Ernst Mikeal Jorgensen – this Sun Records period splurge was always going to be thorough, affectionate and worth buying. But few could have expected "A Boy From Tupelo..." to be such a winner. This actually feels and looks like a release wanting to do right by his legendary beginnings – and not just dress to impress – but put out the definitive statement on that wild rollercoaster of a start. And in July 2021, "...Tupelo" is reduced to below twenty-two quid as new. Loads to discuss, so let's have at it...

UK released 28 July 2017 - "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings" by ELVIS PRESLEY on RCA/Legacy/Sony Music 88985417732 (Barcode 889854177324) is a 3CD 85-Track 10" x 10" Soft Book Set of Remasters covering his Sun Records period with an accompanying 120-Page Booklet. It plays out as follows:

CD1: Memphis Recording Services Acetates, Sun Masters & RCA Masters (66:36 minutes, 27 tracks):

MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE ACETATES 

1. My Happiness 

2. That's When Your Heartaches Begin 

3. I'll Never Stand In Your Way 

4. It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You) 

SUN MASTERS

5. Harbor Lights 

6. I Love You Because 

7. That's All Right (45 RPM Master) 

8. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (45 RPM Master, July 1954 recording) 

9. Blue Moon (August 1954 recording)

10. Tomorrow Night 

11. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') 

12. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine 

13. Just Because 

14. Good Rockin' Tonight 

15. Milkcow Blues Boogie 

16. You're A Heartbreaker 

17. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version) 

18. Baby, Let's Play House 

19. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone 

20. I Forgot To Remember To Forget 

21. Mystery Train 

22. Tryin' To Get To You 

23. When It Rains It Pours 

RCA MASTERS

24. That's All Right (RCA Single Version) 

25. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (RCA Single Version - 78 RPM Master)

26. I Love You Because (Spliced From Takes 3 & 5) 

27. Tomorrow Night (RCA LP Version, Overdubbed & Slowed Down)  

CD2: Sun Studio Sessions (75:40 minutes, 26 tracks):

SUN STUDIO SESSIONS 

1. Harbor Lights (Takes 1-2, Level Adjustments & 3/M) 

2. Harbor Lights (Take 4) 3. Harbor Lights (Takes 5-8)

4. I Love You Because (Takes 1-2) 

5. I Love You Because (Take 3) 

6. I Love You Because (Takes 4-5) 

7. That's All Right (Takes 1-3) 

8. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Slow Tempo Outtake) 

9. Blue Moon (Takes 1-4)

10. Blue Moon (Take 5) 

11. Blue Moon (Takes 6-8) 

12. Blue Moon (Take 9/M) 

13. Dialogue Fragment (Before "Tomorrow Night") 

14. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') (Incomplete Take)

15. Good Rockin' Tonight (Fragment From Vocal Slapback Tape) 

16. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (Takes 1-2 & 3/Master) 

17. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 1) 

18. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 2) 

19. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 3) 

20. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Takes 4 & 5/Master) 

21. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Takes 6-7)

22. How Do You Think I Feel (Guitar Slapback Tape, Rehearsals)

23. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Take 1)

24. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Takes 2-4)

25. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Take 5/Master)

26. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Takes 6-8)

CD3: Live And Radio Performances (79:17 minutes, 32 tracks):

LIVE AND RADIO PERFORMANCES 

1. That's All Right 

2. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

(Tracks 1 & 2 - Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, 16 Oct 1954)

3. Shake, Rattle And Roll

4. Fool, Fool, Fool (Tracks 3 & 4 - KDAV Radio, Lubbock, Texas, 6 Jan 1955)

5. Hearts Of Stone 

6. That's All Right 

7. Tweedlee Dee (Tracks 5-6 - Louisiana Hayride, 15 Jan 1955)

8. Shake, Rattle & Roll (Track 8 - WJOI Radio, Alabama, 19 Jan 1955)

9. KSU Radio Commercial With DJ Tom Perryman 

10. Money Honey 

11. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

12. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine 

13. That's All Right (Tracks 10 to 13 - Louisiana Hayride, 22 Jan 1955)

14. Tweedle Dee 

15. Money Honey 

16. Hearts Of Stone 

17. Shake, Rattle & Roll 

18. Little Mama 

19. You're A Heartbreaker (Tracks 14 to 19 - Louisiana Hayride, 5 March 1955)

20. Good Rockin' Tonight 

21. Baby Let's Play House 

22. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

23. I Got A Woman 

24. That's All Right (Tracks 20-24 - Eagles Hall, Houston, 19 March 1955)

25. Tweedle Dee (Track 25 - Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Texas, 30 April 1955)

26. That's All Right (Track 26 - Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi, 26 May 1955)

27. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Track 27 - Louisiana Hayride, 2 July 1955)

28. Baby Let's Play House 

29. Maybelline 

30. That's All Right (Tracks 28-30 - Louisiana Hayride, 20 August 1955)

31. Interview With Bob Neal (5:31 minutes) (WMPS Radio, Memphis, Tennessee, 29-31 August 1955)

32. I Forgot To Remember To Forget (Track 32 - Louisiana Hayride, 29 Oct 1955)

Many have commented on the 120-page booklet but until you see it, its hard to describe how cleverly and beautifully its put together. Take Pages 70 and 71 - there are seven photos on one and another six on 71 - at the bottom you get a numbered reference - most are in black and white but there are four colour of a June 1955 Louisiana Hayride gig where a young lad gets a photo opportunity with the new 'uppercoming Country Star attraction' ELVIS PRESLEY. They even picture the ten 45-singles that Elvis took his cover versions from on Pages 116 and 117. The text is stunning - broken down into a week-by-week chronology of events - for instance Page 61 pictures both sides of the Sun 217 45-single - "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" b/w "Baby, Let's Play House" because it was issued April 1955. The booklet even provides the less-than-enthusiastic trade reviews for the awkward A-side while a timeline chart shows that Elvis played Gladewater High School on Saturday 30th of April. And of course all the key players are there - Sam Phillips of Sun Records - the ever-lingering Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis' chaperoning Mum and Dad - Vern and Gladys. There are lovely photos of girlfriends too - Carolyn Bradshaw, Betty Amos, all a tad giddy to be in the orbit of a rising star. 

AUDIO RESTORATION and Mastering is by SEBASTIAN JEANSSON with additional work from Sony stalwarts VIC ANESINI, MARIA TRIANA and MARK WILDER with Dominick Constanzo and Alan Stoker - all at Battery Studios. As you can imagine it's a mixed bag of the amateur vying for attention with the restored hissy tapes of Sun Records. The outtakes are in great shape and even if the Sun Masters dip a bit here and there, we are so used to hearing the lo-fi releases of yore - this kind of clarity will come as a shock to most. I cannot imagine the number of hours both the presentation and the restoration took, but the results are impressive even if the difficult-to-remove CDs from their card lips is a disappointment (once out, I'd store them in envelopes for ease of access). To the music...    

The sound on the "My Happiness" debut acetate is eerily clean – awesome frankly. RCA admits that the second "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" self-financed acetate is far more compromised and therefore not as pristine, but it still shockingly good. The RPM Master for "That's All Right" has hiss but the sheer power of history comes roaring across your speakers and it put the first of many smiles on my Covid-weary visage. But then you're whomped with the stunning Slapback echo of "Tomorrow Night" in fabulous sound quality – the best I've ever heard it – Scotty Moore on Guitar and Bill Black on Bass. There is also an RCA version (Track 27) but it feels like Elvis is lost in the back of the mix amidst girly vocals, an overly powerful Bass and a scene-stealing Charlie McCoy Harmonica solo. I want to hear him, not them. 

Another wonderful clarity moment comes with the Rockabilly rattle of the kiss and kiss and kiss "I Don't Care If The Sun Don’t Shine" – lights are low – when I’m with my baby. There has been repair to "Good Rockin’ Tonight" – Scotty’s fab solo clear as a bell – Bill’s plucking Double Bass sweet in the background as Elvis sings I heard the news. And while "Milk Cow Blues" and "You're A Heartbreaker" sound good and not much more - I'm taken aback by the Slow Version of "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" – the Audio leaping out of my speakers and Elvis letting rip with just enough power. Suddenly he seems like the rocket they were all saying he was. Music-changing epoch number three arrives in the shape of "Mystery Train" – sixteen coaches long – coming right round the Audio Slap-Bass bend - very tasty indeed. 

In some respects I was crest-fallen to find not one outtake from my fave Elvis track of that period - his great cover version of The Eagles Vocal Group R&B hit "Tryin' To Get To You" (original 1954 on Mercury Records) - or for that matter "Mystery Train" - but the stop-starts of "Harbor Lights" and "That's All Right" are very clear if not minus any dialogue (Elvis being respectful?). And when you hear the live stuff where he tears into R&B influences like Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle And Roll", The Clovers "Little Mama", Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" and even Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" - you wish they were amongst the outtakes or studio cuts too - but alas. 

For certain that 2004 single CD "Elvis At Sun" is probably all any period-curious traveller needs, but if you've any love for the man and this myth making period - then "A Boy From Tupelo" is the tribute it has always deserved...