"The 1968 Memphis Country Blues Festival: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by BUKKE WHITE [featuring Furey Lewis] (2006 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Baby Please Don't Go…But They Go Anyway!" 

The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions by BUKKA WHITE

UK released 5 June 2006 - this 2CD set is based around two rare and pricey albums issued in 1968 and 1969 by the cult BLUE HORIZON label in the UK - both platters involving the guttural vocals of BUKKA WHITE (and Friends).

Here's how the 2CD set "The 1968 Memphis Country Blues Festival: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by BUKKA WHITE on Sony/Blue Horizon 82876851232 (Barcode 828768512326) plays out…

Disc 1 (50:21 minutes):

1. Highway 61 [Live] (Nathan Beauregard)

2. Kid Gal Blues [Live] (Nathan Beauregard)

3. Hello Central, Give Me 49 [Live] (Bukka White)

4. Baby Please Don’t Go [Live] (Bukka White)

5. Furry’s Blues [Live] (Furry Lewis)

6. In Heaven, Sitting Down [Live] (Robert Wilkins)

7. What Do You Think About Jesus [Live] (Robert Wilkins)

8. You Don’t Know My Mind [Live] (Joe Callicott)

9. Great Long Ways From Home [Live] (Joe Callicott)

10. My Mother Died [Live] (Bukka White)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the Various Artists live album "The 1968 Memphis Country Blues Festival" issued in the UK in September 1968 on Blue Horizon Records S 7-63210. It was recorded live at The Municipal Shell, Overton Park, Memphis Tennessee on Saturday 20 July 1968.

Tracks 1 and 2 are NATHAN BEAUREGARD on Vocal & Guitar

Tracks 3 and 4 are BUKKA WHITE on Vocal & Guitar accompanied by JIM CROSTHWAIT on Washboard

Tracks 5 is FURRY LEWIS on Vocal and Guitar

Tracks 6 and 7 are REV. ROBERT WILKINS on Vocal & Guitar accompanied by DOUGLAS WILKINS on Vocals, Cymbals & Tambourine with JOHN WILKINS on Bass

Tracks 8 and 9 are JOE CALLICOTT on Vocal and Guitar

Track 10 is BUKKA WHITE on Vocal & Guitar accompanied by JIM CROSTHWAIT on Washboard

Disc 2 (51:36 minutes):

1. Bed Spring Blues

2. Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues

3. Drifting Blues

4. (Brand New) Decoration Day

5. Baby Please Don't Go

6. Give Me An Old, Old Lady

7. Got Sick And Tired

8. World Boogie

9. School Learning

10. Old Man Tom

11. Gibson Town

Tracks 1 to 11 are the studio album "Memphis Hot Shots" by BUKKA WHITE issued 1969 on Blue Horizon Records S 7-63229 in the UK

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Drifting Blues (Master Version Without Reverb)" and "Old Man Tom (Complete Master Version Without Reverb)" by BUKKA WHITE which were originally released on the album "Stars Of The 1969-1970 Memphis Country Blues Festival" on Sire Records SES 97015 in the USA only

The 20-page booklet has a fantastically informational essay on the USA date and later album sessions by label boss MIKE VERNON, there’s a picture of the cool 60ts concert poster, snaps of both the rare album sleeves, black & white photos of NATHAN BEAUREGARD, FURRY LEWIS, JOE CALLICOTT and REV. ROBERT WILKINS and a few of the great man himself BUKKA WHITE – all of it with the usual track-by-track session details and classy outer card wrap.

The original master tapes have been digitally remastered by DUNCAN COWELL at Sound Mastering and considering the live and loose nature of the recordings, the quality of the sound is fabulously clean and clear.  The studio album sounds superb - muscular and live in your living-room.

Disc 1 has the enthusiastic American audience regaled by jokes and banter before each tune – some good, some bad – some of it even incomprehensible! But none of it takes away from the excellence of what’s then played. As the crowd is very quiet and respectful during playing, it gives many of the performances an eerie kind of acoustic blues power. NATHAN BEAUREGARD, JOE CALLICOTT and the gospel sincerity of REV. WILKINS and his brothers are all impressive - while FURRY LEWIS almost steals the show with just one song. It’s lovely to hear their personalities come through on these recordings – upbeat – enjoying it - glad to be in front of an appreciative audience.

The huge sound of the studio album "Memphis Hot Shots" on CD2 make for a perfect compliment to the mostly acoustic nature of CD1. The mysterious HARMONICA BOY wails in the background on harp on almost every tune (we never do quite find out who he is), TREVOR KOEHIER is on piano, BILL BARTH on Guitar, ANCHOR on String Bass (another mysterious pseudonym) with JIM CROSTHWAIT on Washboard and JOE GRAY on Drums. BUKKA WHITE plays guitar and sings – and what a voice he had! Sounding similar to a strangulated version of Howlin' Wolf - Bukka White's vocals are a thing of blues wonder – as real and as grits-ain't-groceries as it can get. When the band is used on "Bed Spring Blues" and "Got Sick & Tired" - the Washboard and shuffling rhythm of the Drums give the songs an almost fun feel – such a tremendous listen. But then to counter that - you're hit with his gutsy lone acoustic blues version of Big Joe Williams' classic "Baby Please Don't Go" where he plays a blinder (the title of this review is the spoken intro by Bukka on the live version of "Baby Please Don't Go" on Disc 1).

I confess to not knowing much about Bukka White – shame on me – but this sneakily brilliant double CD set has changed all that. Another typically superb job done by all the good people at Blue Horizon who respected these cultural giants then - and still do now…

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by DUSTER BENNETT (2006 and 2018 Reissue UK 2CD Remasters on Blue Horizon and Floating World featuring Members of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Hard To Resist…"

*** 2006 ORIGINAL and 2018 REISSUE ***

Originally UK issued 26 September 2006 by Sony in the UK as a 2CD set in a card slipcase (Sony/Blue Horizon 518517 2 - Barcode 5099751851721) - this huge two-disc haul made available extremely rare LPs and singles by one of Britain's great-unsung guitar/harmonica players - Anthony "Duster" Bennett. 

The blues-mad 22 year-old from Wales was pointed in the direction of the UK's Blue Horizon label in early 1968 by none other than Fleetwood Mac's PETER GREEN. Greeney was on the money of course and here's the rocking proof. 44 tracks, 3 full albums, 9 non-album singles tracks and 1 previously unreleased cut - yummy. 

What you have here is a July 2018 'copycat reissue' on Floating World Records (part of the Retro World group of labels out of the UK) - but minus the card outer slipcase and pitched at less than mid-price for a 2CD set (I've seen this for less than eight quid). Here are the reissue details...

UK released 27 July 2018 - "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by DUSTER BENNETT on Floating World FLOATM6367 (Barcode 0805772636729) is a like-for-like reissue of the 2006 Sony/Blue Horizon 2CD Remastered Compilation and breaks down in the same way the original 2006 issue did... 

Disc 1 (76:13 minutes):

1. Hard To Resist" - an aborted 1st UK 7" single recorded 15 May 1968, Previously Unreleased 

2. It's A Man Down There

3. Things Are Changing - tracks 2 and 3 are the non-album A & B of a 1968 UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3141

4. Worried Mind [Side 1]

5. Life Is A Dirty Deal

6. Country Jam 

7. Trying To Paint It In The Sky 

8. Times Like These 

9. My Lucky Day 

10. Got A Tongue In Your Head [Side 2]

11. Jumping At Shadows

12. 40-Minutes From Town

13. Shame, Shame, Shame

14. My Love Is My Love 

15. Shady Little Baby 

Tracks 4 to 15 are the album "Smiling Like I'm Happy" issued late August 1968 on Blue Horizon S 7-63208 in the UK in Stereo. Guests include Peter Green on Guitar, Ham Richmond on Piano, Stella Sutton on Second Vocals and Mick Fleetwood on Drums. 

16. Raining In My Heart

17. Jumpin' For Joy - tracks 16 and 17 are the non-album A & B of the 17 January 1969 UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3148

18. God Save The Queen/Introductions/She Live Her Life Too Fast (Live)

19. Just Like A Fish (Live)

20. What A Dream (Live)

21. Just Like I Treat You (Live)

22. Talk To Me (Live)

Tracks 18 to 22 are Side 1 of the LIVE album "Bright Lights..." issued 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63221 in the UK. 

Tracks 1 to 6 on Disc 2 are Side 2 of the record - the album is credited to DUSTER BENNETT and HIS HOUSE BAND - most of which is FLEETWOOD MAC

Disc 2 (78:58 minutes):

1. I'm The One (Live)

2. I Wonder If You Know (How It Is) (Live)

3. My Babe/She's My Baby (Live)

4. Honest I Do (Live)

5. Bright Lights Big City (Live)

6. Fresh Country Jam (Live)

Tracks 1 to 6 are Side 2 of the LIVE album "Bright Lights..." issued 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63221 in the UK 

7. I'm Gonna Wind Up Ending Up Or I'm Gonna End Up Winding Up With You

8. Rock Of Ages Cleft For Me - tracks 7 and 8 are the non-album A & B of a 11 July 1969 UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3164

9. Slim's Tune [Side 1]

10. I Chose To Sing The Blues

11. Sugar Beet

12. I Love My Baby

13. Vitamin Pills

14. Everyday

15. Act Nice & Gentle [Side 2]

16. Woman Without Love

17. That Mean Old Look 

18. Sweeter Than Sugar

19. On Reconsideration

20. Hill St. Rag

21. If You Could Hang Your Washing Like You Hang Lines

Tracks 9 to 21 are the album "12 DB's" issued October 1970 on Blue Horizon S 7-63868 in the UK and BH 4812 in the USA

22. I Want You To Love Me - the non-album B-side to "Act Nice & Gentle" (on "12db's") - a 1970 UK 7" single on Blue Horizon 57-3179

DUNCAN COWELL digitally remastered the original master tapes in 2005 to stunning effect (this 2018 reissue licenses those), the original 16-page Mike Vernon-written booklet (Blue Horizon label boss and original producer) has been replaced with newly revamped paragraphs by ALAN ROBINSON dated May 2018. MIKE VERNON and TOP TOPHAM (Topham was another one of the label's guitarists and founder member of THE YARDBIRDS) are name-checked, Bennett's three albums are pictured and there are hugely detailed session notes – same as the original issue. Robinson's efforts also update the story from 2006 to 2018 (net references). 

Great guest appearances abound - the superb stand-alone cover of Slim Harpo's "Raining In My Heart" features ALAN SILVESTRI and DAVE BIDWELL of CHICKEN SHACK, while B.B. King's rhythm section GERRY JERMOTT (Bass) and HERBIE LOUVELLE (Drums) feature on the fabulously funky "I Chose To Sing The Blues". Both TOP TOPHAM and PETER GREEN grace the raucous live version of Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights Big City", while JOHNNY ALMOND adds a cool organ intro to the wonderfully slinky "Vitamin Pills". STELLA SUTTON adds lovely harmony vocals to the shuffling "Times Like These" (with Peter Green on Guitar). 

The mysterious HAM RICHMOND piano credit on the debut turns out to be none other than Bennett himself under a pseudonym! In fact many of the tracks feature ALL instrumentation by him alone - mean Harmonica blowing, Electric Piano, Snare and Bass Drums - damn he was talented! 

This is a clever reissue from Floating World – the original Blue Horizon issue having acquired nasty price tags since deletion years back. 

Signed to Zeppelin's Swan Song label by Jimmy Page in 1975, his career was poised for serious renewal, when in March 1976 at the age of only 30, Duster Bennett fell asleep at the wheel of his car on the way home from a gig - and sadly lost his life. 

At least this superb 2CD set is a fitting memorial to him and his musical legacy. 

The original 2006 Blue Horizon twofer did him proud; this 2018 reissue by Floating World of the UK simply apes that and at a cheaper price too. Nice one sons...

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO [including the "Key Largo" LP] (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Reissue & Remaster With Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry…

"...Big Chief..."

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO revolves around the British blues band sole self-titled debut LP for the cult UK blues label 'Blue Horizon' – a hard-to-find £70 to £100 vinyl rarity. This superb 2008 Sony CD Remaster adds on five juicy bonuses too. Here are the key details...

KEY LARGO were:

PAT McAULIFFE on Vocals with LAURENCE GARMAN on Harmonica

LAWRENCE (LOL) SANFORD on Guitar

BOB SAVAGE on Keyboards

TOM STEAD on Bass with KENNY LAMB on Drums & Percussion

Released September 2008 - "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by KEY LARGO on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697359862 (Barcode 886973598627) is a CD compilation and breaks down as follows (53:26 minutes):

1. Big Chief (Part 1)

2. Axe And The Wind

3. Give It Up

4. What Do I Do With It (Now I’ve Got It)

5. Stranger In My Own Home Town

6. That Did It

7. Big Chief (Part 2)

8. Medley: (a) Come And Get It, Baby (If You Want It) – Bit One (b) Get It In Together) (c) Come And Get It, Baby (If You Want It) – Bit Two

9. O.S. Blues

10. Wrapped Up In Love Again

11. Biscayne Bug

12. As The Years Go Passing By

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album “Key Largo” issued in the UK in September 1970 on Blue Horizon S 7-63859

Track 13 is “Voodoo Rhythm” - the non-album A-side issued on 7” single 2 October 1970 on Blue Horizon 57-3178 (it’s B-side is the last track on the album “As The Years Go Passing By”)

14. Sweet Home Chicago [by STEAMHAMMER]

15. Soul Survivor [by STEAMHAMMER]

16. So Many Roads [by STEAMHAMMER]

17. Soul Survivor [by STEAMHAMMER]

Tracks 14 to 17 are previously unreleased DEMO recordings of the band credited under their original name STEAMHAMMER - recorded in September/October 1969 in Mono

SIMON WOOD at Dubmaster Studios in Hampshire has transferred the original master tapes while SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music did the digitally remastering and editing – and the usual high standard has been achieved. The album itself sounds clean, but the extras are crude and very hissy. The 8-page booklet has an essay on the album sessions by label boss MIKE VERNON, a detailed blurb on each member of the group and even pictures the A&B of the lone 7” single they produced in its distinctive ‘red’ label bag (they’re usually blue). A card wrap covers the outside – it’s mid-price too – all good - classy as ever.

The music is a strange hybrid of Dr. John’s New Orleans rhythm ‘n’ blues mixed with a slightly Blodwyn Pig feel on the more rockin’ tracks (most songs segue into each other without a break). The album opens with an excellent instrumental version of Earl King’s “Big Chief (Part 1)”, followed by a bluesy cover of Willie Dixon’s “Axe & The Wind” which features superb backing brass. Laurence Garman plays great Harmonica and Jew’s Harp on a very funky and soulful cover of Allen Toussaint’s “Give It Up”.  Given the wads of previously unreleased material we’ve been treated to on almost all of their other BH releases, the extras on this one are a huge disappointment – the demos are very crudely recorded and frankly a bit dull. With just a plodding “Voodoo Rhythm” to comfort us - all of it leaves the album itself – on ok-only white-boy blues album – a little naked and alone.

I’ve loved all the BH releases to date, but this is a good release rather than a great one. Still, for the better album tracks on here debuting for the first time on CD – I’d recommend it.

PS: see also reviews for TOP TOPHAM, GORDON SMITH and JELLYBREAD in this round of September 2008 reissues

"Fill Your Head : The Studio Albums 1969-1974" by RARE EARTH (2008 Hip-O Select 3CD Shaped Box Set - Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Welcome To The Beat Of A City Street…" 

There's a huge amount of stuff on this cool American import (a shaped 3CD Mini Box Set) - so let's get straight to the funky downbeats and Rare Earth details...

Disc 1 (77:45 minutes):

1. Magic Key

2.Tobacco Road

3. Feelin’ Alright

4. In Bed

5. Train To Nowhere

6. Get Ready

Tracks 1 to 6 are the debut album "Get Ready" issued August 1969 in the USA on Rare Earth RS-507 and January 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11165

(Tracks 7 to 15 are BONUS single versions from the various 5 studio albums)

Track 7 is "Generation (Light Up The Sky)" which is the A side of Rare Earth 5010 issued November 1969 - also on the O.S.T. to the film "Generation"

Track 8 is "Get Ready" the 7" single edit issued April 1970 on Rare Earth 5012

(the single edit is 2:50 minutes long, while the full album version takes up all of Side 2 at 21:35 minutes)

Track 9 is "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - the 7" single edit issued July 1970 on Rare Earth 5017 (the single edit is 3:42 minutes long, while the full "Ecology" album version is 10:52 minutes)

Track 10 is "When Joanie Smiles" the non-album B-side to "(I Know) I'm Losing You"

Track 11 is "Here Comes The Night" which is the non-album B-side of "Born To Wander" (from "Ecology") issued January 1971 on Rare Earth 5021

Track 12 is "Hey Big Brother" is a non-album A-side issued November 1971 on Rare Earth 5038

Track 13 is supposed to be "Love Shines Down" the non-album B-side to "Good Time Sally" (on "Willie Remembers") issued October 1972 on Rare Earth 5048 - BUT A MASTERING ERROR repeats Track 1 "Magic Sky" albeit a little shorter

Track 14 is "Chained" which is a non-album A-side issued May 1974 on Rare Earth 5057

Track 15 is "Fresh From The Can" is the non-album B-side of "Chained"

Disc 2 (73:40 minutes):

1. Born To Wander

2. Long Time Leavin’

3. (I Know) I’m Losing You

4. Satisfaction Guaranteed

5. Nice Place To Visit

6. No. 1 Man

7. Eleanor Rigby

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 2nd album "Ecology" issued June 1970 in the USA on Rare Earth RS-514 and July 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11180

8. What’d I Say

9. If I Die

10. The Seed

11. I Just Want To Celebrate

12. Someone To Love

13. Any Man Can Be A Fool

14. The Road

15. Under God’s Light

Tracks 8 to 15 are their 3rd studio album "One World" issued June 1971 in the USA on Rare Earth RS-520 and October 1971 in the UK on Rare Earth SREA 4001

Disc 3 (77:30 minutes):

1. Good Time Sally

2. Every Now And Then We Get To Go Down To Miami

3. Think Of The Children

4. Gotta Get Myself Back Home

5. Come With Your Lady

6. Would You Like To Come Along

7. We’re Gonna Have A Good Time

8. I Couldn’t Believe What Happened Last Night

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Willie Remembers" issued October 1972 in the USA on Rare Earth R-5431 and March 1973 in the UK on Rare Earth SRE 3008

9. Ma

10. Big John Is My Name

11. Smiling Faces Sometimes

12. Hum Along And Dance

13. Come With Me

Tracks 9 to 13 are their 5th studio album "Ma" issued May 1973 in the USA on Rare Earth R-5461 and September 1973 in the UK on Rare earth SRE 3010. Both "Willie Remembers" and "One World" make their CD debut on this 3CD set while the 1971 live double "Rare Earth In Concert" issued on R 534 isn't featured at all (studio only).

Rare Earth’s first album "Get Ready" came in a rounded top sleeve in the USA - rather like the gravestone head sleeve of “S.F. Sorrow” by The Pretty Things or a Zippo lighter sleeve of “Catch A Fire’ by The Wailers. This mini card box imitates that shaped packaging. 

Released in the USA in September 2008 on Hip-O Select B-0003636-02 (Barcode 602498643426) - the lid of "Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974" by RARE EARTH has the words LIMITED EDITION embossed in gold on the rear (3000 copies worldwide) and inside is a concertina-effect card sleeve that depicts all 5 albums covers front and rear when fully folded out. The 3 discs themselves sport the distinctive red Rare Earth logo on each while the 32-page booklet even pictures the Tamla Motown special offers inner bags that came with some early 1970s albums.

There's an essay by noted writer SCOTT SCHNIDER on the group - all album artwork featured again in full colour - session details, discography info - all of it very tasteful done - pretty much as you would expect from this top notch reissue label. Against it - I'd say that the packaging is a card sleeve and therefore too prone to crushing - it would have been better in a book form - like the wonderful and far more robust Jimmy Cliff and Muddy Waters sets on Hip-O Select (see reviews).

But as ever with HIP-O SELECT the goodies come with the SOUND. Remastered from the Motown Archive tapes by SETH FOSTER at Universal Mastering Studio East - the sound is full, detailed and wonderfully clean. I would say though that the first Disc is slightly hissy in places - especially on the debut "Get Ready" and the mastering error is sloppy for sure.

A cross between Rock and Soul -RARE EARTH were difficult to categorize - a sort of rockier version of The Temptations meets the funkiness of Blood Sweat & Tears meets The Undisputed Truth's social documenting of urban America - a lethal combination if ever there was one. Take tracks like “Born To Wander” (lyrics above) or “Big John Is My Name” or the cool Instrumental “Fresh From The Can” – these are fantastic nuggets that both Soul and Rock fans would want to own. “Long Time Leavin'" and "If I Die" are fabulous too.

One reviewer has expressed extreme disappointment with the sound - but I don't hear that. I would say though that the song quality does taper off as you get to the end - but with 43-tracks in all - I can't help but think that fans of the band, Tamla lovers and soul-rock junkies everywhere - will absolutely eat up this set. Unfairly dismissed at the time (especially in Europe) - hopefully this 3CD box set will make people reassess.

In their ongoing trawl through the Motown archives - and despite reservations about packaging, content and sound - in my mind - this is yet another good HIP-O SELECT reissue. Dedicated fans will have to have it - casual buyers, however, should stick to the "Best Of". And Hip-O should offer an immediate refund and replacement copy for the offending mastering mistake on Disc 1...