"HIGH FLYIN' BIRD: The Verve Forecast Years" by RICHIE HAVENS (June 2004 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Set containing the albums "Mixed Bag", "Something Else Again" & "Richard P. Havens, 1983" Plus One Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Let The River Rock You Like A Cradle..."

Although more famed as a superb interpreter of other people's great songs (Dylan and The Beatles in particular), Richie Havens was possessed (and still is) of one the most beautiful and expressive voices of the late Sixties. He also had a sincerity about the words he sang that moved audiences in their millions. 

This superb USA-Only June 2004 2CD compilation "High Flyin' Bird: The Verve Forecast Years" by RICHIE HAVEN on Hip-O Select B-000256902 (Barcode 602498624074) offers us 3 full albums (one a double) and a single from his stay at the Verve/Forecast label between 1967 and 1969. A tasty 39 Tracks of class and cool. Here's the breakdown...

Disc 1 (79:54 minutes):

1. High Flyin' Bird

2. I Can't Make It Anymore

3. Morning, Morning

4. Adam

5. Follow

6. Three Day Eternity

7. Sandy

8. Handsome Johnny

9. San Francisco Bay Blues

10. Just Lke A Woman

11. Eleanor Rigby

Tracks 1 to 11 are the entire album "Mixed Bag" released in February 1967 on Verve Forecast 3006 in the USA and in March 1968 on Verve SVLP 6008 in the UK (stereo version used)

Track 12 is "I've Gotta Go", the non-album A-side of a 7" single-only release issued in June 1967 in the USA on Verve 5039 

13. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed

14. Inside Of Him

15. The Klan

16. Sugarplums

17. Don't Listen To Me

18. From The Prison

19. Maggie's Farm

20. Something Else Again

21. New City

Tracks 13 to 21 are all but the last song on the album "Something Else Again" released in February 1968 in the USA on Verve Forecast 3034 and on Verve SVLP 6005 in the UK (stereo version used)

Disc 2 (77:47 minutes):

Track 1 "Run Shaker Life" is the last track on the album "Something Else Again"

2. Stop Pulling And Pushing Me

3. For Heaven's Sake

4. Strawberry Fields Forever

5. What More Can I Say John?

6. I Pity The Poor Immigrant

7. Lady Madonna

8. Priests

9. Indian Rope Man

10. Cautiously

11. Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head

12. She's Leaving Home

13. Putting Out The Vibration, And Hoping It Comes Home

14. The Parable Of Ramon - Live

15. With A Little Help From My Friends - Live

16. Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Live

17. Run Shaker Life - Live

18. Do You Feel Good? - Live

Tracks 2 to 18 are the entire 2LP set "Richard P. Havens, 1983" released January 1969 on Verve Forecast 3034 [2] in the USA and released May 1969 on Verve SVLP 6014/5 in the UK (stereo version used)

(Tracks 14 to 18 are Side 4 of the double and were recorded live 12 July 1968 at the Santa Monica Civic Centre in Santa Monica, California)

The original master tapes have been 96k/24 bit remastered by SUHA GUR at Universal Mastering and the sound quality is exceptional - beautifully realized - warm and clean - really great stuff. The gatefold digipak is numbered in gold on the rear - a limited edition of 3000 - it houses a 24-page booklet with an essay by SCOTT SCHNIDER, pictures live photos, album sleeves and ends in a footnote from Havens himself. The booklet is nice, the gatefold digipak is ok - hardly worth writing home about - but what matters for me is the sound quality - and it's an absolute dream. The sweetness of the bass and acoustic guitars of the Gerald Merrick cover "Follow" is just one of many examples (lyrics are the title of this review) - warm and lovely - and for me justifies the now costly price of acquiring this set. The Instrumental "Something Else Again" is trippy Sitar heaven as is "Putting Out The Vibration, And Hoping It Comes Home". Even when "The Parable Of Ramon" begins - it's so quiet - you'd swear it was a studio with Tim Buckley goofing off on an acoustic riff. He sings his "favourite song in the Universe" - The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" by simply miming the lyrics - and the intimacy of the gig takes off - the crowd enjoying the song and knowing the words. His version of Julie Driscoll's "Indian Rope Man" is cool while his Donovan's "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" is intimate and made new somehow by making it acoustic.

Havens put out an album in 2002 called "Wishing Well" - the opening two tracks "Handouts In The Rain" and "The Well" are stupendous - and almost exactly the same style as he used on these Verve recordings - a sort of soulful strumming. This lovely set of songs - starting in 1967 - is where that most mellow and moving of sounds began.

Another genuine gem of a release from Hip-O Select - highly recommended...

PS: collectors and lovers of Soul Music will know that Hip-O Select even when it was trading was something of a cult fave - now that the label is defunct - their issues (often of exclusive content like this one unavailable anywhere else, Rare Earth's catalogue is the the same) have become extortionate in cost. As of November 2019, Amazon UK doesn't even have 1 copy for sale. So try obvious auction sites like EBAY and DISCOGS... 

"Down By The Jetty" by DR. FEELGOOD (June 2006 EMI 'Collector's Edition' 2CD Edition - Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

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

Blues Rock, Prog Rock and Underground 

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"...They Did It Right..."

The Feelgood’s original Lead Guitarist Wilko Johnson had always adored Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and especially their guitar player Mick Green. And tucked away on the B-side of their 1964 hit "Always & Forever" (HMV POP 1269) was an obscure cover version of a Piano Red song from 1962 on Okeh Records called "Doctor Feelgood" (Red's group was actually called Dr. Feelgood & The Interns). Wilko chose this apt name for his new rockin' band - and a kick ass British Rhythm 'n' Blues legend was born.

The line up for their 1975 debut was:

LEE BRILLEAUX on Lead Vocals and Harmonica

WILKO JOHNSON on Lead Guitar and Vocals

JOHN B. SPARKS on Bass

THE BIG FIGURE on Drums and Vocals (real name John Martin)

This June 2006 UK COLLECTORS EDITION of "Down By The Jetty" by DR. FEELGOOD on EMI 363 9512 (Barcode 094636395128) is a 2CD Remasters celebration of their explosive 1975 debut album "Down By The Jetty" - and is an absolute peach of a reissue - it really is. There's a lot on offer here so let's get to the dark-glasses and zoot-suit shuffle right away:

Disc 1 (56:33 minutes):

1. She Does It Right

2. Boom Boom

3. The More I Give

4. Roxette

5. One Weekend

6. That Ain't The Way To Behave

7. I Don't Mind

8. Twenty Yards Behind

9. Keep It Out Of Sight

10. All Through The City

11. Cheque Book

12. Oyeh!

13. Bonie Moronie/Tequila [Live]

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Down By The Jetty" issued in January 1975 on United Artists UAS 29727. It was deliberately recorded and issued in MONO. 11 of the 13 tracks are Wilko Johnson originals complimented by two covers - "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker and the Larry Williams and The Champs duo of "Bonie Moronie/Tequila" ("Bonie Moronie/Tequila" ends the album and was recorded live at Dingwalls in 1974 - some of the rest of that live set now turns up on Disc 2 - see below).

14. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 - a Bobby Troup/Nat King Cole/Chuck Berry cover version and the non-album B-side to their debut 7" single in the UK "She Does It Right" issued November 1974 on United Artists UP 35760. The A-side opens Side 1 of the album.

15. I'm A Hog For You Baby [Studio Version, Mono]

16. Stupidity [Studio Version, Mono]

17. She Said Alright [Studio Version, Mono]

18. Oyeh! [Studio Version, Mono]

NOTES: Tracks 15 to 18 are Previously Unreleased MONO Studio Outtakes from the sessions. Tracks 15 and 16 later turned up on their third LP in 'live' form - the Number 1 album "Stupidity" issued in September 1976.

Disc 2 (76:23 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 (same as Disc 1) are the "Down By The Jetty" studio album issued for the first time in STEREO minus the last track - the duo of live covers.

13. I'm A Hog For You Baby [Stereo]

14. Stupidity [Stereo]

15. She Said Alright [Stereo]

16. Oyeh! (Earlier Version) [Stereo]

Tracks 13 to 16 are studio outtakes from the sessions in STEREO

17. Tore Down

18. Don't You Just Know It

19. My Babe

20. The More I Give

21. It's My Own Fault Darlin'

22. Bonie Moronie/Tequila

23. Rock Me Baby
NOTES: All 23 tracks on Disc 2 are Previously Unreleased. Tracks 17 to 23 were recorded live in Dingwalls in Camden Lock, London, 8 July 1974 - the same date as "Boney Moronie/Tequila (Live)" – the last track on the LP.

Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth in the Wye Valley of Wales in August 1974, "Jetty" was produced `live in the studio' by Vic Maile of The Who's "Live At Leeds" fame. The 2CDs are housed in a 4-way foldout digipak with an outer plastic wrap and the 12-page booklet has liner notes by WILL BIRCH, a repro of the United Artists press release and colour outtakes from the album cover sessions. There's also a brief interview with Wilko Johnson, Bob Geldof (the Rats were huge fans), track-by-track details, reissue credits etc. They abandoned the colour cover and eventually used photos on the front and back that deliberately aped the black and white pose and look of the MC5 album "Back In The USA" (the Feelgoods were big fans).

Remastered from the 1st generation tapes by PETER MEW at Abbey Road - the sound quality is FANTASTIC - everything you would have hoped for - really clean, muscular and live in your living room. Some of the stereo tracks do have a slightly lop-sided two-channel feel to them, but it's still a thrill to hear them in this form - their menace and almost punk excitement undiminished by decades. Megastore prices for the hard copy can be as high as £22, online it's about £15 and from iTunes at only £10 - the complete 2CD download is fabulous value for money.

To sum up - this is a great reissue of an album that thoroughly deserves the Deluxe Edition treatment. The Feelgoods are beloved in the UK and way beyond - and a version of the original British band is still gigging to this day - 40 years after the event. In 2014 original band founder-member Wilko Johnson blasted his way back into the charts and R’n’B hearts everywhere with his collaboration album “Going Back Home” fronted to blistering effect by The Who’s Roger Daltrey. There's talk of a second LP sometime in 2016...

In fact I once saw Frontman and Lead Singer Lee Brilleaux clacking his way down Berwick Street in Central London in 1989 in his steel-capped loafers and sharp suit looking like a mobster with a bit between his teeth. He was gone by so fast I hadn't time to stop him and tell him how much I loved him and every incarnation of the band since. It's a slight memory I know - but one I cherish.

The 'Feelgoods' sent shivers down my backbone...they did it right. Get this rocking sucker in your life as soon as is humanly possible. And God bless you mate wherever you may be...

For further knowledge/info - the book "Down By The Jetty" pictured below is recommended.


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"Steve McQueen" by PREFAB SPROUT. Their Stunning 1985 Album Is Given A Beautiful New Remaster & Brilliantly Reinterpreted Acoustic Versions On A 'Legacy Edition' 2CD Reissue in 2007 - A Review by Mark Barry....

"...You Surely Are...A Truly Gifted Kid..." 

Following on from their hugely promising February 1984 debut “Swoon" - England's PREFAB SPROUT took many English and Irish hearts by storm in the summer and autumn of 1985 with their stunning 2nd album "Steve McQueen".

Rated by many as being in the Top 50 albums of all time - this 2 April 2007 'Legacy Edition' Reissue of "Steve McQueen" by PREFAB SPROUT on Sony BMG/Legacy/Kitchenware 88697072442 is a long overdue 2CD celebration of that bedsit staple - the album Remastered on Disc 1 with brand new Paddy McAloon interpretations on Disc 2 of 8 songs (beautifully recorded and done). Here’s the layout…

Disc 1 "Steve McQueen – Original Album Remastered" (45:13 minutes):

1. Faron Young [Side 1]

2. Bonny

3. Appetite

4. When Love Breaks Down

5. Goodbye Lucille No. 1

6. Hallelujah

7. Moving The River [Side 2]

8. Horsin’ Around

9. Desire As

10. Blueberry Pies

11. When The Angels

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Steve McQueen " - issued June 1985 in the UK on Kitchenware Records KW 3 (Vinyl, Cassette and CD). The US version was called "Two Wheels Good" for contractual reasons and was issued on Epic 40100.  The US CD version contained 3 bonus tracks - "Faron Young (Truckin' Mix)", "The Yearning Loins" and "He'll Have To Go" - they were not included on the UK version - nor unfortunately included here on this reissue either. This Legacy reissue is remastered by original producer THOMAS DOLBY at The Mastering Lab in Los Angeles  - he also contributes recollections to the liner notes.

Disc 2 – "New Acoustic Versions by Paddy McAloon" (35:00 minutes):

1. Appetite

2. Bonny

3. Desire As

4. When Love Breaks Down

5. Goodbye Lucille No. 1

6. Moving The River

7. Faron Young

8. When The Angels

Tracks 1 to 8 are brand new acoustic re-interpretations by Paddy McAloon (band's principal songwriter) of 8 tracks from the original 11 - they were recorded across the summer of 2006.

The 2CDs are housed in a card gatefold digipak (where's the Legacy Edition Protective Plastic outer wrap?), have motorbike logos on the CDs and a scant 12-page booklet with liner notes by PAUL LESTER. There are some new photos - outtakes from the album cover shoot, but bizarrely the original inner sleeve of the LP depicting the members of the band and giving recording details - is missing. But worse is the lack of musical extras. Between October 1984 and as late as February 1986, no less than 6 singles came off the album in the UK - When Love Breaks Down was put out 3 times  - Faron Young, Appetite and Johnny Johnny were issued also - between them and their multiple formats, they produced as many as 12 unreleased B-sides and mixes. As you can see from the playing time on both discs, there was plenty of room for remasters of these rarities. They will probably never see the light of day now - which is maddening - especially on a supposed collector's edition. However, the other way of looking at it is this - presented as is - this reissue forces you to focus 'only' on the album proper - and the new acoustic tracks - and as they stand - they make for a truly sensational listen. So I can see why McAloon would want the album presented in this way, it's just disappointing not to see those non-album tracks that are not on CD anywhere...

Which brings us to the 1st part of the good news - THE SOUND. Like many who've loved this wonderful record, I've had the cramped vinyl LP and dull sounding original CD for over 20 years now - hoping for a good reissue of it at some point. Well this Thomas Dolby remaster is just BEAUTIFUL - clean, muscular and full of presence. Hearing the sublime "Bonny" in this sound quality is a treat no music lover should be without - and that synth solo - wow! And when you think of how awful a lot of Eighties music sounds now - so dated and over-produced - musically the whole album still holds it own. So many great tracks "Moving The River", "Desire As" and the Johnny Johnny song "Goodbye Lucille No.1" A really sweet remaster by Dolby. But the real fireworks and good news number two start on Disc 2...

Few would have expected that Acoustic Reinterpretations would be this good - or even rival and better the originals - but here they do. It's hard to understate just how stunning these beautifully recorded remakes are - I've been playing them to buggery for over 18 months now and still don't tire of them. I made up a shop-play disc of 7 tracks from Ryan Adams' "Easy Tiger" album from 2007 with 7 from this - and every time I play it, it never fails to bring customers to the counter with looks of `discovery' on theirs faces wanting to know "Who is this!!!"

To sum up - despite the ok-only packaging and lack of those b-sides - this is a 5-star reissue of a 6-star album - a must buy. I will go weak at the knees if the same treatment is planned for the equally magnificent "Jordon: The Comeback"...

“The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions” by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES [Featuring Their Rare 1969 Albums “Midnight Jump” and “Last Night’s Dream”] - A Review by Mark Barry...

“…Got A Lean On My Body…Mortgage On My Soul…” 

 The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES (2008 Sony/Blue Horizon CD Remasters)

This February 2008 UK released 23-track CD features two very rare blues albums from 1969 in their entirety along with three previously unreleased outtakes from the original sessions - and all of it in top quality digitally remastered form. Here are sunny details...

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" by SUNNYLAND SLIM and JOHNNY SHINES on Sony/Blue Horizon 88697192172 (Barcode 886971921724) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD that comes with Three Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (78:36 minutes):

1. Layin’ In My Cell, Sleepin’

2. I Am The Blues

3. Sunnyland Special

4. Heartache

5. Lowland Blues

6. Stepmother

7. Get To My Baby (Take 2)

8. Get To My Baby (Take 3)

9. Stella Mae

10. Midnight Jump (Take 3)

11. Midnight Jump

12. Depression Blues

13. Heartache (Alternative Version)

Tracks 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are the 10-track SUNNYLAND SLIM album "Midnight Jump" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63213 in the UK. It wasn't issued initially in the USA - but was re-issued in 1972 with a different cover and name - "Blues Masters Vol.8" on Blue Horizon BM 4608.

Track 7, 10 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED – new to this CD

All tracks were recorded at Chess's "Ter-Mar Recording Studios" in Chicago on 10 June 1968 - corrected from the album's sleeve notes that mistakenly credited the recording date as May 1968.

14. Solid Gold

15. From Dark ‘Til Dawn

16. I Will Be Kind To You

17. Last Night’s Dream

18. Baby Don’t You Think I Know

19. Pipeline Blues

20. I Don’t Know

21. Black Panther

22. I Had A Good Home

23. Mean Fisherman

Tracks 14 to 23 are the 10-track JOHNNY SHINES album "Last Night's Dream" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63212 in the UK; like the Sunnyland Slim album, it was also re-issued only in 1972 in the USA with a different cover and name - "Blues Masters Vol.8" on Blue Horizon BM 4607

The band for both sessions were:

SUNNYLAND SLIM (Albert Luandrew) on Piano & Vocals (Tracks 1 to 13 only)

JOHNNY SHINES on Guitar (All tracks except 3, 5 and 13)

WALTER "SHAKEY" HORTON on Harmonica (All tracks except 3 and 13)

OTIS SPANN on Piano (Track 19 only)

WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass (All tracks except 13 to 17, 20, 22 and 23)

CLIFTON JAMES on Drums (All tracks except 13, 14, 17 and 22)

The original master tapes were transferred and remastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music in Berkshire and SIMON WOOD at Dubmaster Studios in Hampshire and while Sunnyland Slim's album is clean, clear and ballsy sounding - the Johnny Shines album is very hissy on a good few of the tracks. Don't get me wrong - his music is very good - eerie almost - but the hiss level and tape glitches on "I Don't Know" and "I Had A Good Home" do detract a little (four session reels are missing).

The 16-page booklet is written by label boss MIKE VERNON and features detailed biographies on the two main men and each of the session players, album recording details, photos of the original LP covers - all of it in the usual card wrap on the outside - superbly presented as ever.

Musically, this is a deceptive release - at first I honestly thought it was all a little dull - merely workmanlike - but after a few listens - it's eaten into me - especially the Shines tracks. Badly recorded or not - they're wonderfully evocative of lone-guitar-blues - the ghost of Robert Johnson hanging over every long-fingered string bend. And even more enticing is that 17 of the 23 tracks are self-penned by both artists (the other 6 are covers) - which is impressive indeed given their overall quality. 

Both men had great voices and are complimented to the ninth degree by both DIXON and HORTON. Highlights include the Harmonica Driven instrumental "Lowland Blues" and a mighty Johnny Shines version of Robert Johnson's "Baby Don't You Think I Know (aka Sweet Home Chicago)" with Horton again blowing up some great Harmonica fills. The shuffle of "I Will Be Kind To You" is as infectious as blues gets - just lovely. Can't stop playing it. The three outtakes are complete versions too and it's hard to know why Take 3 was used and not Take 2 - they're equal to each other.

To sum up – this is yet another classy release from the Blue Horizon camp in a long line of them. Give this superb CD a chance - it has rewards aplenty, it really does…