"All Things Must Pass" by GEORGE HARRISON (2014 Apple 2CD Reissue - Gavin Lurssen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Really Want To See You..."

When I bought the 2DVD set of 2002's "Concert For George" – the nearest a mere mortal like me was going to get to that stunning celebration of George Harrison's life and music/film legacy – I bawled my eyes out like a big girl's blouse. I can remember the whole sensory experience of music, emotion and video 'getting to me' on a level I found both profound and ultimately uplifting. I'd simply forgotten how good his songwriting was and I (like others) needed some reminding. Re-visiting his mammoth 3LP debut solo work "All Things Must Pass" on this definitive 2CD Apple Remaster has been the same. Wonder and awe...all over again. Here are the Apple Scruffs...

UK and USA released 22 September 2014 – "All Things Must Pass" by GEORGE HARRISON on Apple/George Harrison Estate 0602537914005 (Barcode is the same) is a 3LP Set onto 2CDs with Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (59:37 minutes):

1. I'd Have You Anytime

2. My Sweet Lord

3. Wah-Wah

4. Isn't It A Pity (Version 1)

5. What Is Life [Side 2]

6. If Not For You

7. Behind That Locked Door

8. Let It Down

9. Run Of The Mill

Tracks 1 to 9 make up Side 1 & 2 of the 3LP Box Set "All Things Must Pass" – released 27 November 1970 in the USA (30 November 1970 in the UK) both on Apple STCH 639

ADDITIONAL/BONUS TRACKS:

10. I Live For You [1970 Outtake]

11. Beware Of The Darkness (27 May 1970 Demo Version, Outtake]

12. Let It Down [Early Version, Remixed in 2000]

13. What Is Life [Backing Track]

14. My Sweet Lord (2000)

Tracks 10 to 15 first appeared as Bonus Tracks on the January 2001 "All Things Must Pass" 2CD Reissue – sanctioned by George Harrison. His son Dhani Harrison and UK singer Sam Brown added vocals to the 2000 Version of "My Sweet Lord" along with percussion from Ray Cooper. Dhani’s keyboards and vocals also bolstered up the remixed outtake "I Live For You".

Disc 2 (65:38 minutes):

1. Beware Of Darkness [Side 3]

2. Apple Scruffs

3. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)

4. Awaiting On You All

5. All Things Must Pass

6. I Dig Love [Side 4]

7. Art Of Dying

8. Isn't It A Pity (Version 2)

9. Hear Me Lord

APPLE JAM:

10. It's Johnny’s Birthday

11. Plug Me In

12. I Remember Jeep

13. Thanks For The Pepperoni

14. Out Of The Blue

Tracks 1 to 14 are Sides 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the 3LP set "All Things Must Pass". NOTE: On original issues of the vinyl album the 11-minute "Out Of The Blue", the 50-second "It's Johnny's Birthday" and the 3:15 minutes of "Plug Me In" made up Side 5 - while "I Remember Jeep" (extended from 6:59 minutes to 8:05 on CD) and "Thanks For The Pepperoni" (5:26 minutes) made up Side 6. For both the January 2001 and September 2014 CD reissues – the tracks have been rejiggered as above. All songs on "All Things Must Pass" are Harrison originals except "I'd Have You Anytime" which is a co-write with Bob Dylan and "If Not For You" which is a Bob Dylan cover version.

PLAYERS:

Lead Vocals (All Tracks) – GEORGE HARRISON

Guitars - GEORGE HARRISON, DAVE MASON (of Traffic), ERIC CLAPTON (Derek & The Dominoes)

Pedal Steel Guitar - PETE DRAKE

Rhythm Guitars and Percussion – BADFINGER (featuring Pete Ham and Tom Evans)

Keyboards - BILLY PRESTON, BOBBY WHITLOCK (Derek & The Dominoes), GARY BROOKER (Procol Harum) and GARY WRIGHT (Spooky Tooth)

Saxophone and Trumpet – BOBBY KEYS and JIM PRICE

Bass – CARL RADLE (Derek & The Dominoes) and KLAUS VOORMAN

Drums – ALAN WHITE (Yes), JIM GORDON (Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes) and RINGO STARR (The Beatles)

Congas – PHIL COLLINS on "Art Of Dying" (uncredited)

Backing Vocals – GEORGE O'HARA-SMITH SINGERS

The first thing you notice about the latest 2014 version is that the 'colourised' artwork of the January 2001 Mini Box Set has gone (as has the box) – we're now back to the more sombre original black and white artwork. I can't say I think the 3-way foldout hard card cover is an improvement on the 'colour' box of 2001 (which I rather liked) – but at least we get the fold-out lyric poster reproduced (with the colour shot of a bearded Harrison on the other side) and the three different colour inner sleeves for each album now get spread over two CD inners and the inside artwork. Harrison's own liner notes for the 2001 version return (reappraising the album from a 30-year distance - highlighting the large number of musicians involved) – but you have to go the bottom of the poster to get the real 'new' info...the AUDIO.

PAUL HICKS, GAVIN LURSSEN and REUBEN COHEN are the team of three who have handled the new '2014 Remaster' – done at Lurssen Mastering in California. His in-house team have won 3 Grammies and I've raved about Lurssen's work before on more than one occasion – see reviews for "Barnstorm" by Joe Walsh on Hip-O Select, "Gold" by The Crusaders on Universal, Stephen Bishop's "Careless" and "Bish" both on Hip-O Select and Terry Callier's "Occasional Rain" on Universal 'Originals'. His modern-day mastering work includes top name artists like John Mellencamp, Tom Waits, Roseanna Cash and even actor Jeff Bridges. Just to take a like-to-like comparison – the gorgeous Pedal Steel guitar work of Pete Drake on the 2014 Remaster of "Behind That Locked Door" is so much clearer and that rhythm section positively brimming with bass warmth and gentle snare shuffles. And when Phil Spector's typically OTT Production threatens to swamp everything on "Let It Down" with a Wall of Noise – they've somehow managed to make the overall soundstage clearer yet still keep it properly muscular. And the truly wonderful Version 1 of "Isn't It A Pity" sounds just glorious, as do the huge acoustic guitars and piano on "Run Of The Mill". After the 'all things louder than everything else' remaster of 2001 – this new 2014 version is a welcome controlled tone down - absolutely gorgeous stuff.

If I'm truthful I've never really thought much of the Dylan collaboration song "I'd Have You Anytime" which always felt to me like a poor man's version of the genuinely lovely "If Not For You". But what you can't fault is the audio wallop of both it and "My Sweet Lord" – the only solo Beatles single to hit the Number 1 spot on the UK charts twice – the original Apple 7" on R 5884 in January 1971 and on reissue in January 2002 after his awful and tragic passing in late November 2001. The huge electric guitars and layered vocals of the manic "Wah-Wah" attack your speakers like its "Helter Skelter Part 2" – while the already mentioned "Isn't It A Pity" is surely his greatest solo song (check out the Eric Clapton and Billy Preston live version in HD on YouTube).

The Bonus Tracks (tagged on once again at the end of Disc 1) are shockingly good and I'd argue better than some of the indulgent fluff on the original release. Dhani Harrison's subtle but beautiful vocal and keyboard contributions to "I Live For You" make the outtake sound like a lost gem and will thrill fans. The "Beware Of Darkness" demo is an acoustic ditty and strips the finished track of its bombast. Having been used to the doomy studio swagger of the final version for so long – this wonderfully barebones "Beware Of Darkness" is unplugged - stark - his Liverpool nasal/vocal phrasing filling the speakers as the strings rattle. And that jab at Klein's Abkco – what a hoot. But best of all is "...this is called "Let It Down"..." – a truly beautiful early version of the second last song on Side 2. Frankly this is way better than the finished version for me – the feel and melody is fabulous – containing a prettiness that got strangled on the LP version. The 'Backing Track' of "What Is Life" is a busy Spector affair chugging along as the guitars and brass jab. The sitar-introduced '2000' version of "My Sweet Lord" is a strange beast – liable to be viewed as lovely by some and a 'should have left it alone' travesty by others. I like it and Dhani Harrison, Sam Brown and Ray Cooper all add something to the mix this time around.

Disc 2 opens with a huge "Beware Of Darkness" – the guitars and strings swirling into one collective sound. "...Beware of mire..." Harrison sings and you know he means every word of it. The washboard shuffle of "Apple Scruffs" has that harmonica warbling with renewed clarity and the "...perpetual mirth..." of the strange-odd "Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp..." has those acoustic guitars peeping up above the piano and pedal steel. Once again Spector smothered "Awaiting On You All" with so many instruments and voices that it's hard to work out where the song is at times. But then we're hit with his melancholic masterpiece title track "All Things Must Pass" – a song so lovely in melody that surely it would have had a shot a second No. 1 (the USA issued "What is Life" b/w "Apple Scruffs" on Apple 1828 in February 1971 and that achieved a No. 10 placing). It's still got that slightly excessive hiss present as it opens – but the warmth of the song takes over and the remaster is genuinely subtle with the instrumentation (so touching). That drum roll opening on "I Dig Love" has real clout now, as does the keyboard funk that anchors the song throughout. The guitars crash in on "Art Of Dying" (sounds like Clapton) as it races along with that Rubber Soul vocal Spector gives Harrison's lead. The double-LP proper ends on a real musical high – "Hear Me Lord". Sounding at times almost like the Faces circa "Long Player" - big guitars vie with big vocals and even bigger ideas – his personal struggle with faith filling the song with sincerity as that huge organ note lingers in the background while someone fills the whole six minutes with sweetly soulful piano fills. The remaster is a lot less bombastic than the really loud 2001 version too...and very much the better for it.

The placing of the "Johnny's Birthday" ramshackle 50-second snippet first (Phil Coulter's "Congratulations" sung under another guise) in the "Apple Jam" LP portion makes more than sense – it works. We then get four guitar battles – all instrumentals. First up is "Plug Me In" which has the feel of a Derek & The Dominoes "Layla" outtake – all soloing and no vocals – searching for a riff and not quite finding it. The 8:08 minutes of "I Remember Jeep" was fun at the time and that soulful piano interlude towards the end still makes it a cool listen. The Johnny B. Goode grunge boogie of "Thanks For The Pepperoni" is yet another guitar strut that feels like you're eavesdropping on a particularly rocky Blind Faith session. But my poison in the bunch has always been the 11:14 minutes of "Out Of The Blue" (Bobby Keys on Sax) that feels like the Faces with too many beers and one too many amps in the studio. I’m always reminded of The Rolling Stones guitar juggernaut "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" from 1971's "Sticky Fingers". I suspect like so many fans – I haven't played this stoner jam for decades...and I'd actually forgotten just how good it is...

George Harrison would return with the more tempered "Living In A Material World" single LP in 1973 and score another No. 1 with "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" – but many remember him for ATMP. Post Beatles - he splurged - the public loved it then and have held it in affection ever since. And on re-hearing this wonderful remaster of "All Things Must Pass" – is it any wonder.

The quiet and contemplative Beatle passed too damn quickly (aged only 58 in 2001) – I can still feel the shock and hurt of it. Re-listening to this sprawling solo 'White Album' of 1970 has only made me want to re-visit the rest of his recorded legacy – and that's got to be the best Remaster compliment of them all...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Bish" by STEPHEN BISHOP (December 2006 Hip-O Select CD Reissue in Mini LP Hard Card Gatefold Repro Artwork - Numbered Limited Edition of 5000) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 305 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

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"…What Should I Do…I'm Losing Myself In You…" 

Following on from his hugely popular debut album "Careless" (released December 1976 on ABC Records in the both the States and UK) – 1978’s "Bish" was a classy follow-through – an audiophile-sounding vinyl LP featuring a glittering array of top West Coast session players that is beloved by Stephen Bishop fans to this day.

On CD - there's been budget issues of some of its tracks here in the UK on MCA/Half Moon and in the US on the excellent Rhino "Best Of" remaster in 1988 - but this is the first proper sonic doing of the entire album and the result I'm happy to say is just beautiful. The audio quality here is breathtaking - clarity that fans will absolutely delight in - pretty much the same as "Careless" (see separate review in “SOUNDS GOOD: Sixties & Seventies Volume 1”).

1. If I Only Had A Brain

2. Losing Myself In You

3. Looking For The Right One

4. Everybody Needs Love

5. A Fool At Heart

6. What Can Love Do

7. Vagabond From Heaven [Side 2]

8. Bish’s Hideaway

9. Only The Heart Within You

10. Recognized

11. I’ve Never Known A Nite Like This

12. When I Was In Love

Released December 2006 in the USA-only – "Bish" by STEPHEN BISHOP on Hip-O Select/Geffen B000298402 (Barcode 008811837921) is a straightforward CD reissue (in gatefold repro artwork) of his 2nd studio LP released August 1978 in the USA on ABC Records AA-1082 and in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5252 (44:30 minutes total playing time).

It’s a NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION of 5000 issued in an oversized 5" gatefold repro hard-card sleeve (numbered on the rear in gold). There's also a see-through sepia-printed inner sleeve giving re-issue details. The card sleeve has the words LIMITED EDITION boxed in gold on the rear and the detail even stretches to a pasted-on inner gatefold sleeve like US albums of the time. It's a shame though that there is no history to the album, no proper liner note contributed by the man himself, not even an original release date of the LP or singles or photos from the sessions - still, that all pales against the real deal - the stunning sound...

Universal uses several top engineers (Erick Labson, Ellen Fitton, Suha Gur and Kevin Reeves are among the names I've reviewed before) and GAVIN LURSSEN is one of them. His work here is a sensation (as it was on the 2005 Hip-O Select "Careless" CD). The album "Bish" was beautifully produced by Bishop in the first place - but here all that work comes shining through. The mastering is 'so' sweet - it's like a Mobile Fidelity CD - you feel care was taken with it and the result is a genuine thrill.

Like its predecessor, the tracks are top-heavy with contributions from `superstars of the day' - "Losing Myself In You" features David Foster on Piano with brilliantly complimentary Michael McDonald Backing Vocals (lyrics above), "Everybody Needs Love" features Ray Parker on Guitar, "A Fool At Heart" features Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keyboards with Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan on Backing Vocals. The opening double track on Side 2 is called "Prelude/Vagabond From Heaven" and it features a lovely keyboard lead-in by Steve Porcaro of Toto on "Prelude" which is in turn followed by more spine-tingling duet vocals from Michael McDonald on "Vagabond From Heaven". The beautiful and plaintive "Only The Heart Within You" has Art Garfunkel on very subtle Backing Vocals towards the end, while Porcaro turns again on "I've Never Known A Night Like This" but this time with Tom Scott on Saxophone.  Even the opening instrumental cover version of "The Wizard Of Oz" classic "If I Only Had A Brain" is pretty - setting up a sort of whimsical feel to certain tracks on the album. It's a very nice album indeed...

As a US import, the Hip-O Select label isn't cheap (it received no UK release), but like Ace, Bear Family, Rhino and Raven - their issues are the best. For lovers of the album this a no-brainer - it's a must have purchase. This reissue of "Bish" is a superlative job done - and recommended big time.

PS: Lurssen's top-notch mastering work is also featured on the 2CD “Gold" anthology by THE CRUSADERS, another Hip-O Select release via Universal (see my separate review in the download book “SOUNDS GOOD: Soul, Funk and Jazz Fusion”)

“Copperhead Road” by STEVE EARLE. A Review Of The 2008 2CD DELUXE EDITION Reissue.

"…You Can Smell The Whiskey Burnin'..."

With two good albums under his belt, “Guitar Town” from 1986 and “Exit O” from 1987, “Copperhead Road” was Steve Earle’s 3rd record for the MCA stable and he had clearly hit his song-writing stride. From the opening track it reeked of bar-drenched alcohol and chemical substances that weren’t exactly Milk of Magnesia and Aspirin. In other words, it was a great big ball of rockin’ fun - and that sense of kick-ass joy permeates its every track to this day. Released October 1988 in the USA on Uni 7 and MCA 1280 in the UK - like other big-hitters around that time - “Brothers In Arms” by DIRE STRAITS, “Kick by INXS and “…Nothing Like The Sun” by STING – it also had the then desirable DDD code on the back of its jewel case – a Full Digital Recording.

UK released 2 June 2008 - "Copperhead Road: Deluxe Edition" by STEVE EARLE is a 20th Anniversary remaster of that album with 17 live tracks thrown in on Disc 2 (many of which are previously unreleased).

DISC 1 (43:39 minutes)
Disc One offers just the album on its own and is a GAVIN LURSSEN remaster. His work on this is TRULY BEAUTIFUL. The sound literally leaps out of the speakers at you with a warmth and clarity that will thrill lovers of the album to the core. It was always a LOUD record as I say, and DDD, but that isn’t always good, because it can become hard on the ear - something you want to turn down rather than enjoy. But here the remaster is subtle. If I was to nail down what’s different – the DDD recordings of the time often had a clinical feel to them – like the essence of the live playing had been mastered away by the need for pure digital perfection. They sounded good for sure, but it often made the music itself, sound slightly soulless and gimmicky. Well this remaster seems to have taken that edge of the recordings and brought them back to life. You can HEAR the instrumentation now. The drums of KURT CUSTER hammer like Max Weinberg at his best without being too overbearing (Earle was a huge Springsteen fan at the time), the acoustic guitars and mandolins are all THERE in the mix too – a really great job done. Highlights would be the opening track, where the build-up is mind-blowing. When the band does kick in, you may find yourself resorting to unsightly air-guitar in your front room because you just can’t help it!! The guitar and drums that introduce “Back To The Wall” are just fantastic, while The POGUES and NEIL MacCOLL from THE BIBLE put in raucous stuff on “Johnny Come Lately” (recorded in London). GARRY W TALLENT, the bassist with Springsteen’s E-Street Band arranged the ‘gun’ song “The Devil’s Right Hand”. There are also two softer moments on the album that are just superb –“Even When I’m Blue” – as lovely a song as he’s ever written – while the country band TELLURIDE and Lone Justice’s MARIA McKEE turn up on the LP’s closer “Nothing But A Child”. McKEE in particular puts in really beautiful backing vocals on it - harking back to the glory days of Stevie Nicks on “Rumours” and “Tusk”. It ends the album on a real high note. The major disappointment here is the lack of outtakes or even demos or previously unreleased songs from the period. Which leads us to...

Disc 2 (78:17 minutes):
Disc 2 is entirely LIVE and is a very mixed bag indeed. First up is the CRAP SOUND. Having been treated to a fantastic blast on Disc 1, Disc 2 sounds like some poorly recorded radio show – it’s not quite as bad as a bootleg, but I’m afraid it isn’t far off it either. The recordings are hissy and strangely underwhelming. The crowd hollers through each song introduction and as it’s a small venue, it gets irritating real quick. There are a number of covers here - “Wheels’ is the CHRIS HILLMAN/GRAM PARSONS song from “The Gilded Palace Of Sin", the FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS debut album from 1969 and “Brown and Root” is a RODNEY CROWELL cover from the mid 1970s. Tracks 1 to 11 are all previously unreleased, recorded by the “Exit O” band in Raleigh, North Carolina on the 18h of November 1987. Track 12 was recorded in 1988 and is a cover version of Springsteen’s “Nebraska”. It turned up on a Spectrum Label CD called “The Collection” years back. Tracks 13 to 17 were recorded in Calgary, Canada in April of 1989 and featured as various b-sides the world over. (“Dead Flowers” is a Stones cover from “Sticky Fingers” and “Little Sister” is a George Trooper song). In truth, I can't imagine myself listening to these tracks ever again or considering them to be a 'bonus'.

PACKAGING:
The 4-way fold-out spread on the inside of the digipak gives you black & white photos of Earle most of which have been seen before - plus two colour shots – one of the beautiful blue Harley used for the sleeve and the other of him strumming an acoustic guitar. The 20-page booklet is hardly great either, a brief history of the album by roots music writer CHRIS MORRIS, lyrics, production credits - some photos - it's good, but hardly comprehensive. There's no inteview with Earle himself which would have explained what influenced whats song.

SUMMARY:
You can’t help but think that Universal should have remastered all three of his first albums “Guitar Town”, “Exit O” and this “Copperhead Road”, added some really good bonus tracks and be done with it. It would have been far better value than this slightly underwhelming experience. Fans will want the remaster of the album on this DELUXE EDITION for sure, but the casual buyer won’t need anything else.

To sum up then - a 5-star job on Disc 1 with a 3-star surplus on Disc 2.

PS: with regard to tape-remastering engineers GAVIN LURSSEN and ERICK LABSON - see also my reviews for The Crusaders “Gold” and Stephen Bishop’s “Careless” for LURSSEN - and Steppenwolf “Gold”, “The Complete Hits Singles” by Three Dog Night, “Buddy Holly” by Buddy Holly for LABSON. Fantastic work put in.

“The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review of the 2003 CD Compilation.

"….When You Hear Me Moanin’ And A Groanin’…”

There are no less than 3 companies attributed to this release - Hip-O Records, Reelin’ In The Years Productions and Experience Hendrix – because each was involved in their own way. I’ve bought The Temptations “Get Ready” and the Muddy Waters “Classic Concerts” DVDs by Reelin’ In The Years Productions which are truly fantastic things – so I’m not surprised that their audio version here is just as good.

Hip-O Records B000103002 has 16 live tracks and runs to 59:17 minutes (now more commonly known as Hip-O Select). The 24-page booklet has affectionate and informative liner notes by ROB BOWMAN with a forward by BILL WYMAN of The Rolling Stones. Concert posters, black & white and colour publicity photos and intimate moments are all featured - as is a snap of HORST LIPPMANN who along with FRITZ RAU - are the two German enthusiasts who started it all. There’s even a snap of a row of Little Walter’s many harmonicas laid out on a table! A colour picture of the mighty Willie Dixon graces the rear of the booklet with T-Bone Walker featured on the CD’s back inlay. The pictures of the boys are from the tour as well - and not overused shots we’ve all seen before – so they’ve a very cool vibe about them. The booklet is substantial and very tastefully done.

SOUND varies from sublime to very rough (the nature of the recordings). The audio restoration and transfers are by Eddie Kramer and Mark Wong while the mastering is handled by ace-engineer GAVIN LURSSEN (see the Gavin Lurssen ‘tag’ for his superb work elsewhere). The musicians featured in each group read like a who’s who of Blues luminaries and they’re captured at their absolute mojo best. Favourites include Lonnie Johnson’s plaintive “Another Night To Cry” and the opening vocal wail of Otis Rush’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby” (lyrics above). “My Younger Days” by Sonny Boy Williamson has wonderful rolling piano work by Sunnyland Slim while Lightnin’ Hopkins loses none of his menace on “Mojo Hand”.

It’s great stuff – different voices and styles. Sippie Wallace and Victoria Spivey break up the all-male proceedings with some ladylike advice about keeping good men and ditching the snakelike ones.
And preciously because it’s 'all' live - each song is filled with a power and presence that the studio stuff just can’t capture.

A job well done and a thoroughly recommended CD purchase.

“Occasional Rain” by TERRY CALLIER. A Review of the 2008 Verve 'ORIGINALS' CD Remaster of his beautiful 1972 Cadet Records album.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

 "…He’s Been Dealing Teardrops Since The World Began…"

"Lost Masterpiece", "Forgotten Classic", "...An Album You Must Hear Before You Die" - take your pick, because 1972's "Occasional Rain" genuinely fits them all - it really does.

Hailing out of Chicago and a childhood pal of Curtis Mayfield, Terence Orlando Callier had put out only 1 album before this called "The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier" on US Prestige 7383 in July 1965. He recorded this debut aged just 23. It was 8-tracks long, half of which were simply acoustic interpretations of American Traditionals, it didn't contain a single original song by him. But despite being a truly beautiful record (and using a folk/soul acoustic style he still uses to this day), it did little business.

Session years then went by until his signing to the Chess offshoot label Cadet, where he made 3 albums with legendary producer and writer CHARLES STEPNEY - the other two albums are "What Color Is Love" (1973) and "I Just Can't Help Myself" (1974) which are equally good - especially "Color".

Charles Stepney is another big name in small circles - a hero of sorts for soul lovers. He was involved in The Rotary Connection with Minnie Riperton, produced four albums with The Dells and even twiddled the knobs on the iconic and now much-vaulted psych-blues-fusion album "Electric Mud" by Muddy Waters. I'd personally scour down anything he had a hand in...a genius...

Two other words printed on the back inlay beneath the CD also give this reissue the edge - GAVIN LURSSEN. He's an American sound engineer and I've sung his praises before (see separate reviews for "Gold" by THE CRUSADERS and "Careless" by STEPHEN BISHOP). Lurssen has just short of 900 mastering, remastering and audio restoration credits to his name (Universal, Hip-O Select) - his work stretches back decades, so he knows his way around a master tape or two.

I mention this because a lot of the songs on here are quietly soulful, Stepney didn't clutter them with instruments except when it complimented the melody - so the remaster needed the deftest of touches and Lurssen has done that. The sound quality isn't trebly or loud or showy - it's just there - sweet as a nut - the music just 'sails' out of your speakers in the most gorgeous way. You're left with a genuine sense of shock on two fronts (a) why has this beautiful soul album gone unnoticed for so long by the vast majority of music lovers out there and (b) a sense of relief - that in finally releasing "Occasional Rain" in 2008, Universal have picked the right guy to do the job.

Musically it breaks down like this - there's eight 8 songs separated by five 40-second "Segue" bits. No one knows why the first Segue is called "Go Ahead On" and the other 4 "Go Head On" (which is what the lyric is)? Some people think the Segues cool, while others feel they haven't worn well and now sound gimmicky. Personally, I find the songs surrounding them so beautiful that I don't notice...they're that good. I would love to hear the full song proper...

The most famous track off the LP is "Ordinary Joe" which has turned up on Acid Jazz type compilations and was a big draw in the UK. Other highlights are the acoustic urban trouble song "Trance On Sedgwick Street" which along with "Blues For Marcus" features the beautiful Cello work of EARL MADISON - and combined with Callier's impassioned vocals makes the tracks sound like Cat Stevens meets Nick Drake - really lovely and soulful. The love songs are up there as well - "Do You Finally Need A Friend" and the truly gorgeous "Golden Circle". There's a strange guitar ping that floats over "Occasional Rain' giving it an ethereal other-worldly feel - very soulful and very Donny Hathaway in structure and churchy feel (lyrics above). Then comes the album's big finisher - and what a peach it is. "Lean On Me" is an impassioned six and half minute long friendship song with backing vocals from Minnie Riperton and Kitty Haywood - it's just gorgeous and finishes the mellowest of LPs on a genuine high.

Downside - although the gatefold card digipak is nice to look at, for me one of the big let downs is the complete lack of a booklet and therefore a sense of history, photos, insights etc... If ever a soul album deserved a little more luxury shown, then "Occasional Rain" is it.

If you're unconvinced and have heard too many praising reviews before - the entire LP is available on iTunes as a download - I'd recommend trying "Golden Circle" or "Occasional Rain" of "Lean On Me"- you'll be hooked. (The 2008 "Originals" remaster of "What Color is Love" is also available on iTunes).

Like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", Donny Hathaway's "Extension Of A Man" and Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions" - this is a proper soul album - a gem all the way through and sill beautiful and inspiring to this day - some 30/40 years after the event.

Of late Terry Callier has morphed (like Richie Havens) into a sort of elder statesman of soul still spreading his gospel of love and understanding - check out "Timepeace" from 1998 and his latest "Hidden Conversations" from 2009 - unbelievably good and relevant to the now and not just past glories.

I've warbled on a bit I know, but this album deserves it.

Buy it, cherish it, enjoy it - and I envy you the journey...

PS: This disc is part of Universal's ORIGINALS Series - digipak reissues of Jazz, Soul, Funk, Fusion and Latin albums (104 and counting) spread across a vast number of labels - see 'comment' section for a full list to August 2009

PPS: Dear knowledgeable compiler sorts at Universal and Hip-O Select - a Charles Stepney box set please - and then a Norman Whitfield box set to follow that - and be quick about it you overpaid lazy schmucks...

- Universal's ORIGINALS Series -
Reissue CDs in Gatefold Digipaks of Classic Albums covering the 1950's through to 1990's. They cover many labels - Verve, Mercury, Fontana, A&M, Cisca, Blue Thumb, Kudo, Philips, Impulse etc... These titles have been released between 2007 and are on-going into 2009 (it's August 2009 now). This List is in Artist and Title Alphabetical Order (with UK Release Date)...

1. New Orleans Nights - LOUIS ARMSTRONG (29 April 2008)
2. Satchmo At Pasadena - LOUIS ARMSTRONG and the ALL STARS (22 February 2009)
3. A Tear To A Smile - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (11 August 2009)
4. Change Up The Groove - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (21 October 2008)
5. He's Coming - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (25 May 2009)
6. Lifeline - ROY AYERS (22 October 2007)
7. Ubiquity - ROY AYERS (23 February 2009)
8. Vibrations - ROY AYERS (28 July 2008)
9. Virgo Red - ROY AYERS (9 June 2009)
10. You Send Me - ROY AYERS (23 September 2008)
11. Basie Land - COUNT BASIE (9 June 2009)
12. Chapter One: Latin America - GATO BARBIERI (23 February 2009)
13. Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata - GATO BARBIERI (9 June 2009)
14. Chapter Two: Hasta Siempre - GATO BARBIERI (25 May 2009)
15. Ruby. Ruby - GATO BARBIERI (1 October 2007)
16. Tropico - GATO BARBIERI (11 August 2009)
17. On My Way & Shoutin' Again - COUNT BASIE (16 February 2009)
18. Intimacy - WALTER BEASLEY (21 October 2008)
19. Just Kickin' It - WALTER BEASLEY (21 October 2008)
20. Walter Beasley - WALTER BEASLEY (1 July 2008)
21. I Got A Woman And Some Blues - GEORGE BENSON (5 May 2008)
22. Shape Of Things To Come - GEORGE BENSON (1 October 2007)
23. Soul Finger - ART BLAKEY and the JAZZ MESSENGERS (14 April 2009)
24. Bobo Motion - WILLIE BOBO (1 September 2008)
25. The Brazilian Scene - LUIZ BONFA (18 August 2008)
26. Braziliana - LUIZ BONFA and MARIA TOLEDO (18 August 2008)
27. Return Of The Brecker Brothers - THE BRECKER BROTHERS [Randy and Michael]
(1 September 2008)
28. Just Between us - NORMAN BROWN (1 July 2008)
29. Occasional Rain - TERRY CALLIER (28 July 2008)
30. What Color Is Love - TERRY CALLIER (23 September 2008)
31. Children Of Forever - STANLEY CLARKE (15 October 2007)
32. A Love Supreme - JOHN COLTRANE (18 August 2008)
33. Ascension - JOHN COLTRANE (24 March 2009)
34. Crescent - JOHN COLTRANE (18 August 2008)
35. Impressions - JOHN COLTRANE (18 August 2008)
36. Kulu Se Mama - JOHN COLTRANE (24 March 2009)
37. Live At Birdland - JOHN COLTRANE (18 August 2008)
38. The John Coltrane Quartet Plays... - JOHN COLTRANE QUARTET (24 March 2009)
39. John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman - JOHN COLTRANE and JOHNNY HARTMAN
(18 August 2008)
John Coltrane - see also DUKE ELLINGTON
40. New Thing At Newport - JOHN COLTRANE and ARCHIE SHEPP (24 March 2009)
41. Pass The Plate - THE CRUSADERS (23 September 2008)
42. Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes - THE CRUSADERS (28 July 2008)
43. Images - THE CRUSADERS (9 June 2009) [see also Joe Sample)
44. Ascenseur Pour L'echafaud - MILES DAVIS (18 September 2007)
Paul Desmond - see also Gerry Mulligan
45. Feel - GEORGE DUKE (23 September 2008)
46. I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry - GEORGE DUKE (21 October 2008)
47. Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins -
DUKE ELLINGTON and COLEMAN HAWKINS (22 October 2007)
48. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane -
DUKE ELLINGTON and JOHN COLTRANE (18 March 2008)
49. Out Of The Cool - GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA (15 October 2007)
50. Octet - MAYNARD FERGUSON (1 September 2008)
51. Ella In Hamburg (Live) - ELLA FITZGERALD (18 September 2007)
52. Ella In Hollywood - ELLA FITZGERALD (25 May 2009)
53. Porgy & Bess - ELLA FITZGERALD and LOUIS ARMSTRONG (5 May 2008)
54. Big Band Bossa Nova - STAN GETZ and GARY McFARLAND (23 September 2008)
55. Stan Getz At The Shrine - STAN GETZ (25 May 2009)
56. Stan Getz In Stockholm (Live) - STAN GETZ (21 October 2008)
57. Sweet Rain - STAN GETZ (1 September 2008)
58. Jazz Giants '58 -
STAN GETZ, GERRY MULLIGAN, HARRY EDISON, LOUIS BELSON and The OSCAR PETERSON TRIO
(5 May 2008)
59. Swing Is Here - TERRY GIBBS (25 May 2009)
60. The Astrud Gilberto Album - ASTRUD GILBERTO (18 August 2008)
61. Look To The Rainbow - ASTRUD GILBERTO and GIL EVANS (18 August 2008)
62. A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness -
ASTRUD GILBERTO and WALTER WANDERLEY (18 August 2008)
63. The Cool World - DIZZY GILLESPIE (1 September 2008)
64. Dizzy On The French Riviera -
DIZZY GILLESPIE with CHRIS WHITE, RUDY COLLINS, LALO SCHIFRIN and LEO WRIGHT
(25 May 2009)
65. I Just Dropped By To Say Hello - JOHNNY HARTMAN (15 October 2007)
66. Used To Be Duke - JOHNNY HODGES and his ORCHESTRA (25 May 2009)
67. Lady Sings The Blues - BILLIE HOLIDAY (18 September 2007)
68. Treasure Island - KEITH JARRETT (25 May 2009)
69. Rio Revisited - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM and GAL COSTA
(18 August 2008) (For ACJ see also Ellis Regina)
70. Quincy Jones Explores The Music Of Henry Mancini - QUINCY JONES (9 June 2009)
71. The Quintessence - QUINCY JONES ORCHESTRA (15 October 2007)
72. You've Got It Bad Girl - QUINCY JONES (22 February 2009)
73. Arabesque - JOHN KLEMMER (21 October 2008)
74. Barefoot Ballet - JOHN KLEMMER (1 September 2008)
75. Goin' Latin - RAMSEY LEWIS (1 September 2008)
76. The In Crowd - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (15 October 2007)
77. Live At The Bohemian Caverns - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (28 July 2008)
78. Home Is Where The Music Is - HUGH MASEKELA (2LP set on 1CD) (1 September 2008)
79. Down Here On The Ground - WES MONTGOMERY (9 June 2009)
80. Goin' Out Of My Head - WES MONTGOMERY (1 October 2007)
81. Blues In Time - GERRY MULLIGAN and PAUL DESMOND QUARTET (9 June 2009)
82. The Blues And The Obscure Truth - OLIVER NELSON [featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes and Freddie Hubbard] (15 October 2007)
83. In A Romantic Mood - OSCAR PETERSON (21 October 2008)
84. Oscar Peterson Plays The Jerome Kern Songbook - OSCAR PETERSON (9 June 2009)
85. Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle - OSCAR PETERSON and NELSON RIDDLE
(23 February 2009)
86. Oscar Peterson Trio + One - OSCAR PETERSON TRIO and CLARK TERRY (1 October 2007)
Oscar Peterson - see also SONNY STITT
87. Come Into Knowledge - RAMP (22 October 2007)
88. Elis & Tom - ELLIS REGINA and ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
(3 June 2008) (see also Antonio Carlos Jobim)
89. Quiet As It's Kept - MAX ROACH (9 June 2009)
90. On Impulse! - SONNY ROLLINS (15 October 2007)
91. Swing Street Café - JOE SAMPLE and DAVID T. WALKER (23 September 2008) [Keyboardist and Guitarist with The Crusaders]
92. Piano, Strings And Bossa Nova - LALO SCHIFRIN (23 September 2008)
93. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - LITTLE JIMMY SCOTT (21 October 2008)
Archie Shepp - see JOHN COLTRANE
94. Let It Be Me (Live) - NINA SIMONE (23 February 2009)
95. Hobo Flats - JIMMY SMITH (21 October 2008)
96. Live At The Village Gate - JIMMY SMITH TRIO (5 May 2008)
97. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? - JIMMY SMITH (1 October 2007)
98. Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio -
SONNY STITT and OSCAR PETERSON (21 October 2008)
Clark Terry - see also OSCAR PETERSON
99. ...Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brazil -
CAL TJADER (23 September 2008)
100. All The King's Horses - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (23 September 2008)
101. A Secret Place - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (9 June 2009)
102. Feels So Good - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr (23 February 2009)
103. Reed Seed - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (3 August 2009)
104. Soul Box - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (21 October 2008)