"The Harvest Years" by SHIRLEY and DOLLY COLLINS (August 2008 EMI/Harvest 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 

- Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"…The Prospect Before Us…"

This August 2008 EMI 2CD compilation is a long overdue reissue of all the recordings the highly revered English Folk duo SHIRLEY and DOLLY COLLINS made for EMI's Harvest Label in the UK (most of it in the Seventies).

As their albums are extraordinarily rare and hugely valuable on original vinyl - this remastered and specially priced 2CD overhaul "The Harvest Years" by SHIRLEY and DOLLY COLLINS is to be welcomed. 

Here's a bonny wee breakdown for EMI 50999 2 28404 2 4 (Barcode 5099922840424)…

Disc 1 (67:52 minutes):

1. A Beginning

2. A Meeting - Searching For Lambs

3. A Courtship - The Wedding Song

4. A Denying - The Blacksmith

5. A Forsaking - Our Captain Cried

6. A Dream - Lowlands

7. A Leave-Taking - Pleasant And Delightful

8. An Awakening - A Whitsun Dance

9. New Beginning - The Staines Morris

10. Rambleaway [Side 2]

11. Ca' The Bowes

12. God Dog

13. Bonny Cuckoo

14. Nellie The Milkmaid

15. Gathering Rushes In The Month Of May

16. The Gower Wassail

Tracks 1 to 16 is their debut album "Anthems In Eden" issued July 1969 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 754. Side 1 (Tracks 1 to 9) is collectively called "A Song-Story".

17. The Sailor From Dover

18. Young John

19. Short Jacket And White Trousers

20. The Bold Fisherman

Tracks 17 to 20 are four outtakes from the "Love, Death & The Lady" sessions in 1970 (see Tracks 1 to 13 on Disc 2)

Disc 2 (73:31 minutes):

1. Death And The Lady

2. Glenlogie

3. The Oxford Girl

4. Are You Looking To Leave Me

5. The Outlandish Knight

6. Go From My Window

7. Young Girl Cut Down In Her Prime

8. Geordie [Side 2]

9. Salisbury Plain

10. Fair Maid Of Islington

11. Six Dukes

12. Polly On The Shore

13. Plains Of Waterloo

Tracks 1 to 13 is their 2nd album "Love, Death & The Lady" issued May 1970 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 771

14. Fare Thee Well My Dearest Dear

15. C’est La Fin/Pour Mon Cuer

16. Bonny Kate

17. Adieu To All Judges And Juries

18. Edo Beo Thu Hevene Quene

19. Black Joker/Black, White, Yellow And Green

Tracks 14 to 19 are from the "Amaranth" LP issued August 1976 in the UK on Harvest SHSM 2008

20. The Gallant Hussar (from the album "Son Of Morris On" by ASHLEY HUTCHINGS and Friends issued December 1976 in the UK on Harvest SHSM 2012)

21. Hopping Down In Kent (from the album "The Prospect Before Us" by THE ALBION DANCE BAND issued March 1977 in the UK on Harvest SHSP 4059)

The 8-page booklet has an informed and enthusiastic essay on the Sussex sisters by DAVID SUFF - and along with TIMOTHY CHACKSFIELD - they organized and coordinated the compilation. KATHY BRYAN at EMI did the tape transfers/remasters and the sound quality is gorgeous - really clear, warm and full.

Shirley Collins held the lead vocals with Dolly playing flute-organ and occasional piano. The later recordings feature members of FAIRPORT CONVENTION.

It's worth noting that while some will describe this music as 'beautiful', I know others who pathologically hate it - simply can't listen to it at all. Without being the least bit flippant here, this is 'hardcore' Traditional English Folk and it's not going to be everyone's cup of Darjeeling. But, if they're prepared to give it a chance, even the uninitiated will find so much warmth and genuine heart here, because the songs are born of the real world. Most of the tunes have roots going back hundreds of years and tell of maids, family, weddings, struggle, ship life, poverty and war (one whole side of "Anthems In Eden" focuses on the women left behind as thousands of their men were slaughtered in pointless horror on the fields of France in World War I).  Special mention should go to the four outtakes on Disc 1 - they're superb and fans of the sisters will eat them up - fully formed and beautifully produced - many will wonder why they've languished in vaults.

Dolly Collins died in September 1995; her sister Shirley received the MBE in 2007 and in 2008 was awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for her contributions to English Folk music.

A typically excellent re-issue by EMI of important musical lights from England's wonderful traditional music scene – recommended for those who like their Folk straight up with no chaser…

ERICK LABSON - A Remasters List

ERICK LABSON'S superb remastering work is featured extensively as part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" 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

ERICK LABSON works mostly with the UNIVERSAL catalogue.

REMASTERING/MASTERING CREDITS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
“20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection” Series
“Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited” Series
“Chess 50th Anniversary Collection” Series
“The Definitive Collection” Series
“Gold” Series
“Rock ‘N’ Roll 50th Anniversary Edition” Series

Labson has over 800 credits to his name (1990s to 2008) for Engineering, Mastering, Restoration and Digital Re-mastering. This is a sample list of titles worth checking out. DRM = Digital Remastering.

1. Louis Armstrong – The Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
2. Chuck Berry – After School Session (DRM)
3. Chuck Berry - Blues (DRM)
4. Chuck Berry – The Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
5. Chuck Berry – Gold (DRM)
6. Chuck Berry – His Best, Volume 1 (DRM, 1997)
7. Chuck Berry – St. Louis To Liverpool (DRM)
8. Bobby Bland – The Anthology (DRM, 2001)
9. Bobby Bland – The Definitive Collection (DRM)
10. Bobby Bland – Blues & Ballads (DRM, 1999)
11. Bobby Bland – Greatest Hits Volume 1 – The Duke Recordings (DRM, 1998)
12. Bobby Bland – Greatest Hits Volume 2 – The ABC/Dunhill/MCA Years (DRM)
13. Bobby Bland - That’s It! Duke Recordings Vol. III (DRM, 1996)
14. Bobby Bland – Turn On Your Love Light – Duke Recordings Vol. II
(DRM, 1994)
15. Bobby Bland – Two Steps From The Blues (DRM, 2001) (Blues Classics Series)
16. The Crickets – Chirping Crickets (Expanded & DRM) (see also Buddy Holly)
17. The Dells – Bring Back the Love/Classic Soul (DRM, 1996)
18. The Dells – Oh, What A Night – The Great Ballads (DRM, 1998)
19. Neil Diamond – Play Me – Complete Uni Studio Recordings (M, 2002)
20. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger
(50th Anniversary Series, 5 extras – 3 previously unreleased, DRM, 2004)
21. Bo Diddley – The Definitive Collection (DRM)
22. Bo Diddley – His Best (DRM, 1997)
23. Willie Dixon – The Original Wang Dang Doodle (DRM, 1995)
24. The Dramatics - Shake It Well (Best Of 1974 – 1980) (DRM, 1998)
25. Steve Earle – Best Of (20th Century Masters… Series) (DRM, 2003)
26. Cass Elliott – Dream A Little Dream: Collection (DRM, 1997)
27. Four Tops – Keepers Of The Castle – Their Best 1972-78 (DRM, 1997)
28. Flamingos – Complete Chess Recordings (DR)
29. Billy Haley & His Comets – Rock Around The Clock (DRM, 3 extra, 2004)
30. Richie Havens – Dreaming As One – The A&M Years (M, 2004)
31. Buddy Holly – Buddy Holly (Expanded & DRM)
32. Buddy Holly – see also The Crickets
33. Buddy Holly – Gold (2CD, 1993/2004)
34. Buddy Holly – The Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
35. Earl Hooker – Simply The Best (DRM, 1999)
36. John Lee Hooker – The Complete 50’s Chess Recordings (DRM, 1998)
37. John Lee Hooker – His Best Chess Sides (DRM, 1997)
38. John Lee Hooker – Live At The Café Au Go Go (DRM)
39. Howlin’ Wolf – Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog
40. Howlin’ Wolf – The Definitive Collection
41. Howlin’ Wolf – His Best Chess (50th Anniversary Collection) (DRM, 1997)
42. Howlin’ Wolf & Friends - The Howlin Wolf London Sessions (DRM), 2003
43. Howlin’ Wolf – Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk… (DRM, 2002)
44. Impressions – Greatest Hits (DRM, 1998)
45. Impressions – Further Impressions (DRM, 1996)
46. Joe Jackson – Look Sharp! (DRM, 2001)
47. Etta James – The Chess Box (DRM, Mixing, 2000)
48. Etta James – Come A Little Closer (DRM, 1974 title)
49. Etta James – The Definitive Collection (DRM)
50. Etta James – Her Best – Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (DRM, 1997)
51. Etta James – Love Songs (DRM, 2001)
52. Etta James – Tell Mama – The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions
(Blues Classics – Remastered & Revisited Series) (DRM, 2001)
53. Etta James - These Foolish Things (DRM, 1995)
54. Elton John – Love Songs (DRM, 1996)
55. B.B. King – The Anthology (DRM, 2000)
56. B.B. King - Chronicles (3CD Eco Pak) 2005
57. B.B. King – Greatest Hits (DRM, 1998)
58. B.B. King – Here & There: The Uncollected B.B. King (DRM, 2001)
59. B.B. King – His Best – The Electric B.B. King (DRM, 1998)
60. B.B. King – His Definitive Greatest Hits (DRM, 1999)
61. B.B. King – How Blue Can You Get? – Classic Live Performances (DRM, 1996)
62. B.B. King – King Of The Blues Box Set (DRM, 1992)
63. B.B. King – Live At San Quentin (DRM, 1991)
64. B.B. King - Live At The Regal (DRM, 1997)
65. B.B. King – Live In Japan (DRM, 1999)
66. B.B. King – Take It Home (DRM, 1998)
67. B.B. King – The Ultimate Collection (DRM, 2005)
68. Patti LaBelle – Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
69. Leadbelly – Storyteller Blues (Restoration, 1994)
70. Brenda Lee – The Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
71. Peggy Lee – Love Songs (DRM, 2003)
72. Ramsey Lewis – In Person 1960-1967 (DRM, 1998)
73. Ramsey Lewis – Maiden Voyage (& More) (DRM)
74. Little Milton – Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)
75. Little Milton – Welcome To The Club – Essential Chess Recordings
(DRM, 1994)
76. Little Walter – Confessin’ The Blues (1996 DRM)
77. Little Walter – His Best (DRM, 1997)
78. Jimmie Lunceford – For Dancers Only (DRM, Restoration of 1935 Tracks)
79. The Mamas & The Papas – Greatest Hits (DRM, 1998)
80. John Mayall – Drivin’ On: The ABC years (1975-1982) (DRM, 1998)
81. Brownie McGhee – A Long Way From Home (1998, DRM)
82. Stephanie Mills - The Power Of Love – Ballads (DRM)
83. Joni Mitchell – The Beginning Of Survival (M, 2004)
84. Moonglows – Their Greatest Hits (DRM, 1997)
85. The Move – Shazam! (Tape Transfer, 2007)
86. Muddy Waters – The Complete Plantation Recordings (DRM, 1993)
87. Muddy Waters – The Definitive Collection (DRM, 2006)
88. Muddy Waters – Folk Singer (DRM)
89. Muddy Waters – Fathers & Sons (DRM)
90. Muddy Waters – His Best 1947-1956 (DRM, 1997)
91. Muddy Waters – His Best 1956-1964 (DRM, 1997)
92. Muddy Waters – Live At Newport 1960 (DRM)
93. Muddy Waters – Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues (DRM)
94. Muddy Waters – Rollin’ Stone – A Golden Anniversary (DRM, 2000)
95. Oliver Nelson – More Blues & The Abstract Truth (DRM)
96. Aaron Neville – Love Songs (DRM, 2003)
97. The Neville Brothers – Best Of (20th Century Masters… Series) (DRM, 2004)
98. Junior Parker – Backtrackin’ – The Duke Recordings Vol.2 (DRM, 1998)
99. Minnie Ripperton – Her Chess Years (50th Anniversary Collection) (DRM, 1997)
100. Jimmy Rogers – The Complete Chess Recordings (DRM, 1997)
101. Jimmy Rogers – His Best (DRM, 2003)
102. Rufus & Chaka Khan – The Very Best Of (DRM, 1994)
103. Steppenwolf - Gold (DRM)
104. Koko Taylor – Koko Taylor (DRM)
105. Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog – The Peacock Recordings
(DRM, 1992)
106. Three Dog Night – The Complete Hit Singles (2004)
107. The Who - My Generation (2CD DELUXE EDITION)
108. Wishbone Ash - Argus (Expanded Edition)

“Wonderful Deeds And Adventures” by SUSAN CARTER [featuring BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS] - 2008 Rev-ola CD Remaster - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Young Girl Blues…"

Susan Carter's first album was released in the USA in 1970 on Epic BN 26510 and is subtitled "A Collection Of Stirring Scenes and Moving Accidents". It featuring heavy involvement from members of BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS. 

This UK-released 25 August 2008 Remastered CD Reissue (September 2008 in the USA) on Rev-ola CR REV 260 (Barcode 5013929456020) is a straightforward transfer of that very rare and unfairly forgotten Californian curio.

Duglus T Stewart's informative and honest liner notes admit to the excessive hippy claptrap that infuses some of the album's Laurel Canyon vibe (it's very much of its time). But he also quite rightly raves about the collaborative brilliance that permeates through other tracks (it's jazzed up with Blood, Sweat & Tears presence) - and happily the goodies outweigh the naff stuff. There really is so much on here to enjoy.

Here's the breakdown (40:13 minutes):

1. Bluebird (Buffalo Springfield/Stephen Stills cover)

2. Young Girl Blues (Donovan cover)

3. Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me (The Knight Brothers cover, 1965)

4. Medley For Billie Holiday 

(a) Billy's Blues (Laura Nyro cover)

(b) Lady Sings The Blues (Billie Holiday cover)

(c) Lonely Women (Laura Nyro cover)

5. Brighten Your Night With My Day (James Taylor cover)

6. I Need A Good Man Bad (Les and Susan Carter original)

7. I'm So Tired (Beatles cover)

8. Old Country (Nat Adderley cover)

9. Illinois (Randy Newman cover)

10. Jam Session: Cruising With The Blues (Les & Susan Carter original)

Stylistically, Carter sounds like Laura Nyro meets Bonnie Dobson meets a hint of Joni Mitchell with LAURA NYRO winning out. If you then superimpose that vocal onto the second Blood, Sweat and Tears album, you get a pretty good idea of how this record sounds. RANDY BRECKER features on Trumpet, FRED LIPSIUS on Saxophone and DICK HALLIGAN on Trombone (all from BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS) with Halligan overseeing all of the arrangements, which are uniformly fabulous and elevate the album's better tracks into something special more than a few times. TERRY PLUMERI plays really tasteful upright bass on the album's straight-up jazz piece, Nat Adderley's "Old Country" with Randy Brecker blowing sweetly throughout - very nice indeed. And the sound quality is FANTASTIC throughout. 

As you can see from the list above, there are 8 cover versions and only two originals and their quality range from the sublimely soulful and jazzy "Medley For Billie Holiday" to the awful - the White Album's sinister "I'm So Tired" turned into a sub Bacharach smooze fest with wild guitar at the end just so that you know they're "with it man". It's almost funny how awful the guitar bit is that ends it! Her version of James Taylor's "Brighten Your Night With My Day" fares better - it's lovely - so Laura Nyro circa "Christmas & The Beads Of Sweat".  ELLIOTT RANDALL puts in superb guitar work on her excellent original "I Need A Good Man Bad" with Dick Halligan's brass arrangements delivering a killer punch too. (Two years later, Randall would supply the stunning guitar work on Steely Dan's "Reelin' In The Years"). The album closer is a kind of funky, jazz, rock workout and I love it - it sounds a little like C.C.S. circa 1970. 

Special mention must be made of the sound - the remaster quality is EXCEPTIONAL - beautiful work done by NORMAN BLAKE and JOE FOSTER at Studio 3 in Glasgow. The opening track has a 30 second acapella passage and Carter's voice is clear, warm, and has very little hiss surrounding it - and when the instrumentation does kick in, you feel all of it - great stuff. It's like a really good Blood, Sweat & Tears transfer - fans of the album will be thrilled and Revola have done the lady justice.

I've seen the vinyl version of this rare and long-forgotten Laurel Canyon period album maybe once in 30 years - so for those who love their Californian ladies and their 1970s records, this is very sweet re-issue indeed. 

A job well done Revola and highly recommended…

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is 1960s and 1970s VOLUME 2 - ROCK & POP, FOLK ROCK and PUNK, NEW WAVE and REGGAE - an E-Book with over 200 entries and 2000 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). 

"A's B's & Rarities" by HOT CHOCOLATE (2004 EMI Gold CD Compilation of UK 7" Singles Between 1969 and 1975) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"A's, B's & Rarities" by HOT CHOCOLATE pretty much does what it says on the tin. This December 2004 EMI Gold CD compilation (out of the UK) contains 20 tracks from the first six years of Hot Chocolate's extraordinary 30-year long chart career.

Covering 1969 to 1975 - most of the songs on here were released on Mickie Most's hugely successful RAK Records label in the UK. Many of these tunes are non-album and 10 make their CD debut on this release. Here are the non-fattening details...

UK released December 2004 – "A's, B's & Rarities" by HOT CHOCOLATE on EMI Gold 560 2172 (Barcode 724356021723) is a 20-track CD compilation of Remasters and plays out as follows (75:16 minutes):

1. Give Peace A Chance

2. Living With Tomorrow

3. Love Is Life

4. Pretty Girls

5. You Could've Been A Lady (Original Single Version)

6. Everybody's Laughing

7. I Believe In Love (Previously Unreleased Stereo Mix)

8. Caveman Billy

9. Mary-Anne

10. Ruth

11. You'll Always Be A Friend

12. Go Go Girl

13. Brother Louie

14. I Want To Be Free

15. Rumours

16. A Man Needs A Woman

17. Emma

18. Makin' Music

19. Blue Night

20. You Sexy Thing (Original Version)

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of their debut UK 7" single on Apple Records APPLE 18 issued Oct 1969

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 103 issued August 1970

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 110 issued February 1971

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 118 issued August 1971

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 127 issued March 1972

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 139 issued October 1972

Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 149 issued April 1973

Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 157 issued August 1973

Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 168 issued March 1974

Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 199 issued April 1975

(Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 20 are first time on CD)

Their 1st UK 7" single (credited as HOT CHOCOLATE BAND) is an awful reggae version of John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" coupled with a slightly better original Tony Wilson/Errol Brown song on the B. As you can see it's on the highly collectable Beatles label APPLE and is a £60+ rarity. The remaining 18 songs were all issued on RAK and as you scan down the names - many of the huge hits will be familiar.

However there are a few things worth noting. "I Believe (In Love)" is a previously unreleased stereo mix, while "Mary-Anne" and its B-side "Ruth" is one of the only times that the soulful Hot Chocolate ventured into bubble-gum pop! Horrifying for a soul group I know but both tracks are actually pretty good.

In the undiscovered gem corner is "Go Go Girl". With its Kinks-style opening guitar riff and rough 'n' ready production, this completely forgotten non-album B-side has recently been played in some London clubs as a 6T's dancer and beat tune (check it out on iTunes). And the ‘honky' talking lines at the end of "Brother Louie" is spoken by Alexis Korner - with John Cameron doing the superb string arrangements - both from the much-loved and revered C.C.S. of “Tap Turns On The Water” fame (another Rak Records label act).

The last curio is Track 20 - the mid 1975 original version of "You Sexy Thing" (RAK 199) and absolutely not the version hot-wired into your wedding dance routines. It was initially put out as a B-side to "Blue Night" - one of Mickie Most's rare mistakes. But as luck would have it – an American DJ flipped the 45 and immediately realised what a funky cracker “You Sexy Thing" was. On the strength of this radio play and public-driven demand - Hot Chocolate then re-recorded the song and released it as the familiar chart hit we all know and love in October of that year (RAK 221). It's been their signature tune ever since. The original version here is excellent - but you can't help feel they made the right choice with the re-released re-recording. And that is of course a bit of an obvious poo-poo here – the version we all love and want is AWOL. Looking at the playing time – it could have been squeezed in – but alas...

Still - the 12-page booklet has superb and detailed liner notes by PHIL HENDRICKS and the sound quality is up there with all EMI releases - clear, warm and punchy.

It's not all Picasso of course and it may be too lightweight-soul for some - but rehearing "Emma", "Brother Louie" and "You Could Have Been A Lady" and so many others in this superb sound quality has been a blast.

So - at under a fiver including P&P - you have to be asking yourself - am I getting enough of what makes me happy - is there Heaven in the back seat of Errol's Cadillac... did it start with a kiss...will I have a Honky in my house... oh stop it.

Recommended...

PS:

Other 70's acts in the "A's B's & Rarities" series are:

THE ARROWS, C.C.S. (see REVIEW), MUD, PILOT and SUZI QUATRO

(All of these artists were on the RAK label except Pilot who were on EMI)

"Avanti!". A Review Of The 1972 Billy Wilder Film Now On DVD.

"Italy Was Full Of Surprises..."

When "Avanti!" was released in 1972, the world and its cinema had changed irrevocably. This gentle, slightly slow moving romantic-comedy about not-so-hip people had no real place in a film world gripped by gritty realism, escalating cursing and the depiction of ultra-violence. Still "Avanti!" (it means "forward") was nominated for 6 Golden Globes and won one - Best Comedy Actor for Jack Lemmon.

Produced and Directed by the incomparable Billy Wilder, it featured a fabulously inventive and witty script from the dynamite duo of Wilder and his long-time writing buddy L.A.L. Diamond. Check this out. Clive Revill (Nominated as Best Comedy Supporting Actor) is in the Hotel bus on route with Lemmon from the airport telling the busy executive of Armbruster Enterprises (his father's company) that all of Italy closes for lunch between one o'clock and four o'clock in the afternoon. The incensed and jittery Wendell is agog.
Jack Lemmon: "Three hours for lunch!"
Clive Revill: "Here we take our time...we cook our pasta...we drink our wine...we make our love..."
Jack Lemmon: "What do you do in the evening?"
Clive Revill: (Frowns) "We go home to our wives!"
"Avanti!" is full of stuff like this!

The story goes as so. Millionaire Wendell Armbrewster from Baltimore USA arrives in a hurry and ill-prepared in Italy to pick up the body of his father, killed in a car accident on the slopes of Naples. What he doesn't bargain for is that his bastion-of-morality father William was not alone in the car as it crashed into a vineyard. He was with his mistress Kate. In fact he'd gone to the beautiful and picturesque resort for 10 years to be with her. Both were in their late Sixties but giddily in love like kids.

On route (on the plane, boat and train) Wendell keeps meeting the prim and proper Penny Pritchett (a delightful and lovely Juliet Mills) from London, England. She seems to be everywhere he goes - and when she turns up at his hotel room too - Wendell works it out - she is the daughter of Kate, his father's mistress and there to pick up her mother's body! Italian shenanigans follow one after another to stave off the funeral in Baltimore the following Tuesday - the crafty Hotel staff trying to keep the scandal at bay, the ludicrous legal paperwork, no one works the weekends, missing bodies, more triplicate paperwork, blackmailing porters and vineyard guys, swimming naked to the rock their parents used to frequent and giving the local randy fishermen an eyeful (Mills has lovely breasts which Lemmon suddenly notices). And, of course, they slowly secumb to the magic of the place and fall in love themselves.

The humour is constant and the dialogue the same. For instance. Two zinc-lined coffins are needed from out of town before the bodies can be released, but the bodies get nicked by the vineyard guys who want compensation for their grapes "poisoned by death"! Lemmon listens to Hotel Owner's crafty and constant updates on their progress with increasing American uptightness. "Great! First we have two bodies and no coffins, now we have two coffins and no bodies!"

The two leads are of course part of the secret. As the years pass, your admiration for Jack Lemmon only grows. His range, his subtlety, the way he made it look easy - you realise how truly great an actor he was. He could do witty like no-one, crazy, charming, sensitive, uptight - but all the time with that everyman humanity that Jimmy Stewart had. Juliet Mills too - lovely, sexy in her way, sweet. She has a running joke about weight all through the film which she milks with subtlety and skill and provides exactly the right kind of gentle counter that Lemmon's character needs. Throw in a cast of brilliantly funny Italian locals, romantic locations and silly set-ups and you have a fantastic Sunday afternoon warmer.

This is the kind of film that makes me want to put a picture of Billy Wilder and his chunky spectacles on my wall. And every time that I look at it, I'll smile.

Do yourself a favour and check it out - or better still - buy it and keep it for that day you need a lift.

Arrivederci! Love birds!

"Jo Jo Gunne" by JO JO GUNNE - 1972 Debut LP on Asylum Records (2008 Asylum/Rhino 'Encore Series' Budget Priced CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Run Run Run…"

Like most people I was drawn to the American boogie rock of JO JO GUNNE by their fantastic debut single "Run Run Run" in early 1972 - it was a huge radio hit on both sides of the pond and has remained so ever since - Mark Andes' zippy guitar work up and down the frets thrilling to this day. 

1. Run Run Run

2. Shake That Fat 

3. Babylon 

4. I Make Love 

5. Barstow Blue Eyes

6. 99 Days [Side 2]

7. Academy Award 

8. Take It Easy 

9. Flying Home 

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut LP "Jo Jo Gunne" – released February 1972 in the USA on Asylum Records SD 5053 and April 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8752. 

The album produced two 45s:

"Run Run Run" b/w "Take It Easy"  

March 1972 USA 7" single on Asylum AS-11003

March 1972 UK 7" single on Asylum AYM 501 with "Shake That Fat" as the B-side

"Shake That Fat" b/w "I Make Love" 

September 1972 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11007 

September 1972 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 507

JO JO GUNNE were:

JAY FERGUSON on Keyboards and Vocals [ex SPIRIT, later went Solo]

MARK ANDES on Guitars [ex SPIRIT, later in FIREFALL and HEART]

MATTHEW ANDES on Bass [Mark's Brother]

CURLY SMITH on Drums

Taking their name from a 1958 Chuck Berry song on Chess Records - all 10 of the songs were written by either FERGUSON or FERGUSON and ANDES combined. "Run Run Run" made number 5 on the UK singles charts in March 1972 (Asylum AYM 501), while "Shake That Fat" b/w "I Make Love" was issued on Asylum AYM 507 as a follow-up, but it did no business. 

Musically you'd describe JO JO GUNNE as early LYNYRD SKYNYRD meets mid 70's LITTLE FEAT and THE OUTLAWS with the drivin' boogie blues of early 70's FOGHAT somewhere in between - a very tasty combination indeed. But despite making 3 other albums for Asylum "Bite Down Hard" (1973), "Jumpin' The Gun" (1974) and "So...Where's The Show" (1974) - they remained something of a one-hit wonder here in the UK and the British pressings of the last 3 albums are not that easy to find.  

The packaging on this August 2008 CD of "Jo Jo Gunne" by JO JO GUNNE is all but non-existent (Asylum/Rhino 8122-79905-09 - Barcode 081227990596) . Rhino have re-issued this album on their new “Encore Series" label imprint (see below) and while the remastered sound is great - the trade off for the £5 price tag is a gatefold inlay which lists only the tracks and no other info of any kind - not even who played on what. A bit of a shame that. The label on the disc, however, reflects its US vinyl original - the Asylum ‘Cage In The Sky' logo. 

Their debut still has most people’s hearts - opening as it does with that killer song “Run Run Run” which still sounds amazing to this day. “Shake That Fat” was originally the B-side in the UK-only to “Run Run Run” (they used “Take It Easy” in the USA – it’s not an Eagles song but a Ferguson/Andes original) – but “Shake That Fats” was good rather than being great and tanked as second 45. “Babylon” is a great melodic Rock tune and might have been a better choice for 2nd single - or even the rocking “I Make Love” with its cool Joe Walsh’s James Gang feel to the guitars. Barroom boogie comes in the shape of “Barstow Blue Eyes” - a song about a tired waitress living for the freedom of the weekend after work. Side 2 opens with the piano and guitar “99 Days” followed by naughty ladies in the rather menacing “Academy Award”. Things slow down and get slightly Bluesy with “Take It Easy” while it ends on the almost Skynyrd “Flying Home” – a Rock ballad Jay Ferguson should be proud of. 

Still - I've loved this album across the years and it's a blast to hear it again -especially sounding this good. Hopefully the excellent introductory price will entice others to buy - recommended…

PS: The RHINO ENCORE SERIES: 

For info purposes, this CD is part of Rhino's "ENCORE" series - reissues of classic albums from the huge WEA catalogue. All 37 titles listed below were issued Monday 11 August 2008 and are based on the US versions of the albums; there's more promised in the forthcoming months. The label on each CD reflects the original American LP release, the Warner Brothers Tan label design for Curved Air in 1970, while the Burbank Avenue Of Trees label is on the McGarrigle disc of 1975, the pink Bearsville on Bobby Charles and so on. I've provided year of release and label for reference - and as you can see, some are re-releases, but there's also plenty of great titles seeing the light of day for the first time...

1.   Solid Bond by GRAHAM BOND [1970 on Warner Brothers, a 2LP set on 1CD) 

2.   Byrds by BYRDS (1973 on Asylum)

3.   Bobby Charles by BOBBY CHARLES (1972 debut on Bearsville)

4.   3614 Jackson Highway by CHER (1969 on Atco)

5.   Pretties For You by ALICE COOPER (1969 debut on Straight)

6.   Easy Action by ALICE COOPER (1970 on Straight)

7.   Air Conditioning by CURVED AIR (1970 debut on Warner Brothers)

8.   Second Album by CURVED AIR (1971 on Warner Brothers)

9.   Hand It Over by DINOSAUR JR. (1997 on Blanco Y Negro)

10. A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die by THE FLESH EATERS (1981 on Initial)

11. Aretha Arrives by ARETHA FRANKLIN (1967 on Atlantic)

12  Let Me In Your Life by ARETHA FRANKLIN (1974 on Atlantic)

13. The J. Geils Band by THE J. GEILS BAND (1971 debut on Atlantic)

14. All To Bring You Morning by JOHNNY HARRIS (1973 on Warner Brothers)

15. The Living End by HUSKER DU (Live, 1994 on Warner Brothers)

16. Jobriath by JOBRIATH (1973 debut on Elektra)

17. Jo Jo Gunne by JO JO GUNNE (1972 debut on Asylum)

18. Glorious Fool by JOHN MARTYN (1981 on WEA)

19. Well Kept Secret by JOHN MARTYN (1982 on WEA)

20. Kate & Anna McGarrigle by KATE & ANNA McGARRIGLE (1975 on Warner Brothers)

21. Graham Nash and David Crosby by GRAHAM NASH & DAVID CROSBY (1972 on Atlantic)

22. Innocent Eyes by GRAHAM NASH (1986 on Atlantic)

23. GP by GRAM PARSONS (1973 solo debut on Reprise)

24. Grievous Angel by GRAM PARSONS (1974 on Reprise)

25. Third Eye by REDD KROSS (1990 on Atlantic)

26. Love Man by OTIS REDDING (1969 on Atlantic)

27. Doug Sahm And Band by DOUG SAHM and BAND (1973 on Atlantic)

28. Tarzana Kid by JOHN SEBASTIAN [of The Lovin' Spoonful] (1974 on Reprise)

29. John David Souther by JOHN DAVID SOUTHER (1972 debut on Asylum) [See REVIEW]

30. Sparks by SPARKS 

(This is their 1971 "Halfnelson" debut album - re-issued as "Sparks" in 1972 on Bearsville under their new name, Sparks)

31. A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing by SPARKS (1973 2nd LP on Bearsville)

32. God Bless Tiny Tim by TINY TIM (1968 on Reprise)

33. Zero Time by TONTO'S EXPANDING HEAD BAND (1971 on Atlantic)

34. Orange Crate Art by BRIAN WILSON and VAN DYKE PARKS (1995 on Warner Bros)

35. I've Got My Own Album To Do by RONNIE WOOD [Faces & The Rolling Stones]

(1974 on Warner Brothers)

36. Now Look by RONNIE WOOD (1975 on Warner Brothers)

37. Mr. Bad Example by WARREN ZEVON (1991 on Giant)