"The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" by KEVIN AYERS - May 1974 Album on Island Records (2009 UK EMI/Harvest 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 255 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

 

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"…How Will You See Me Later When You Can't See Me Now…"

I remember buying this album in the summer of 1974 in Dublin. I liked the laminate embossed sleeve - I liked Island Records as a label and I liked the price - two quid. But when I got it home and played the album - I just didn't get it. I didn't know what to make of the disparate song styles - nor did I like the really heavy drug-addiction references that permeated so many of the tracks - especially the 4-part suite on Side 2. But of course across time and several plays - I grew to love it - and even though I traded other albums in second hand shops to feed my music addiction - I never parted with my two quid deal. Here are the needle-fuelled details...

UK released March 2009 - "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" by KEVIN AYERS on EMI/Harvest 268 2952 (Barcode 5099926829524) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster that plays out as follows (65:50 minutes):

1. Day By Day [Side 1]

2. See You Later

3. Didn't Feel Lonely Till I Thought Of You

4. Everybody's Sometimes And Some People's All The Times Blues

5. It Begins With A Blessing / Once I Awakened / But It Ends With A Curse

6. Ballbearing Blues

7. The Confessions Of Dr. Dream Part One: Irreversible Neural Damage [Side 2]

8. The Confessions Of Dr. Dream Part Two: Invitation

9. The Confessions Of Dr. Dream Part Three: The One Chance Dance

10. The Confessions Of Dr. Dream Part Four: Doctor Dream Theme

11. Two Goes Into Four

Tracks 1 to 11 make up the album "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" by KEVIN AYERS released in the UK on Island ILPS 9263 in May 1974

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Another Whimsical Song

13. Lady Rachel

14. Stop This Train

15. Didn't Feel Lonely Till I Thought Of You

Tracks 12 to 15 are live - recorded 9 July 1974 at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios for  "The John Peel Show" - 12 and 13 are solo acoustic renditions, 14 and 15 are with his band

16. The Up Song - non-album UK 7" single A-side released May 1974 on Island WIP 6194

17. After The Show

18. Thank You Very Much - 17 and 18 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released June 1974 on Island WIP 6201

THE BAND:

KEVIN AYERS - Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars

SAM MITCHELL - Electric Guitar

MARK WARNER - Acoustic & Electric Guitars

RUPERT HINE - Clavinet, Organ, ARP Synthesizer, Electric Piano & Percussion on 3

JOHN PERRY - Bass

MIKE GILES - Drums

THE G'DEEVY ENSEMBLE - Percussion

DORIS TROY, ROSETTA HIGHTOWER and JOANNE WILLIAMS - Backing Vocals

SIMON JEFFES - Brass Arrangement

THE GUESTS:

RAY COOPER [of Elton John's Band] - Percussion on 2 and 9

SEAN MILLIGAN - Backing Vocals on 2

OLLIE HALSALL [of Patto] - Guitar Solo on 3 and Guitar on 14 and 15

MIKE OLDFIELD - Guitar Solo on 4

CAL BATCHELOR - Guitar on 4

HENRY CRALLAN - Piano on 4

STEVE NYE - Organ on 5 and Electric Piano on 8 and 9

MIKE MORAN - Piano on 5

LOL COXHILL - Saxophone on 5

THE HULLOO CHOIR - Backing Vocals on 5

NICO - Vocals on 7

JOHN GUSTAFSON - Bass on 8 - TREVOR JONES - Bass on 9

MIKE RATLEDGE - Organ on 10

The 8-page booklet is packed with details and has an album overview by noted writer and compiler MARK POWELL. But the sound is the big news. The original vinyl LP had quiet parts and it was always difficult to get a vinyl copy that wasn't scratched by the coarse white inner card/lyrics sleeve. These quiet parts on preceding CDs were hissy and less than useful. But on this stunning 2009 REMASTER it finally sounds like the business - clean and clear and with just the muscle it's always needed.

The remaster has been done by PETER MEW at Abbey Road and in order to put this into a sound-quality context - check out his extraordinary work on the 2CD Collector's Editions of "Down By The Jetty" by DR. FEELGOOD and "This Was" by JETHRO TULL. He also added sonic uplifts to "Duncan Browne" by DUNCAN BROWNE (his 1973 album on RAK Records with "Journey" on it) and the fabulous 2CD Deluxe Edition of FREE's "Fire And Water" (reviewed them all). He's a sound engineer whose name I look out for - even Ayers himself has praised his tape skill - having allowed Mew to handle all of his back catalogue remasters exclusively.

Mike Oldfield's tasty guitar work makes the mellow and languid "Everybody's Sometimes..." - while Nico's vocals empower the druggy "Irreversible Neural Damage..." with a genuinely sinister feel. But by far the best addition is the blistering guitar pyrotechnics of Patto's OLLIE HALSALL ("Didn't Feel Lonely...") who also turns up on two of the four Peel Sessions bonus tracks. They were recorded 7 July 1974 at the BBC's Maida Vale studios. The 24-second "Another Whimsical Song" is a cute ditty, but "Lady Rachel" is beautiful - it's a solo acoustic take of a track off 1969's "Joy Of A Toy" and it sound so good - could have been recorded yesterday. After them follows two band efforts, another "Joy Of A Toy" track and a fab rockin' version of "Didn't Feel Lonely..." where Halsall reproduces that fantastic guitar work again. They are 2009 remasters even though they turned up on 2005's "BBC Sessions" 2CD set - done again for better sound probably. The last 3 are non-album single sides - rare on vinyl and make a welcome addition here on CD. The acoustic strum and deep-throated vocals of "Thank You Very Much" is rarely heard and deserves to be.

The four-part "Confessions Of Dr. Dream" is a bit of a masterpiece frankly - opening with an acoustic drubbing that sounds like trance before there was such a thing - slipping into the upbeat (almost pop) "Invitation". But then you get the coolest break ever - the mid-song change in "The One Chance Dance" - fantastic swirling sound - and so damn cool. It blows me away to this day.

So there you have it - a strange and wonderful album (almost Avant Garde in places) bolstered up with genuinely superb extras you'll play again rather than audition once as a curio.  

 

"...It begins with a blessing...but ends with a curse..." - our Kevin warns us. But sounding fantastic at last - this is one aural shot I want mainlined to my well-addled neural regions any day of the week...

PS: see also my reviews for his other EMI/Harvest 'expanded' CD remasters - "Joy Of A Toy" (1969), "Shooting At The Moon" (1970), "Whatevershebringswesing" (1972), "Bananamour" (1973), "Sweet Deceiver" (1975) and "Yes We Have No Mananas, So Get Your Mananas Today"

"The Chess Story 1965-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Part 3 of 3 (November 2001 EU MCA-Universal/Chess 5-Disc Reissue (3CDs of Music, 1 Interview CD and 1 CD-ROM) - Originally Part of the 1999 15-Disc Box Set "The Chess Story 1947-1975" - Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review and Discography by Mark Barry...

"...We May Not Have A Cent To Pay The Rent…But We're Gonna Make It…"

Part 3 of 3. A long hardback book-shaped box set - coloured mahogany/red - 5 Discs (3 x Music CDs, 1 x Interviews CD and 1 Interactive CD-ROM). 

"The Chess Story 1965-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS was EU-issued 6 November 2001 on MCA/Universal/Chess 1126962 (Barcode 0008811269623). As it came from the 1999 15-Disc original, it is technically a Reissue.

I've supplied the catalogue numbers for the 3 Audio CDs - it'll help those fans of Chess and its associate labels that are trying to hunt down that elusive tune... The last 2CDs are an Interview Disc and a CD-ROM.

Made in the USA, the 70 tracks of the 3 Audio CDs are remastered from the original master tapes by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON and soundwise (with over 800 mastering credits to his name) it's a typically superb job. Apart from the truly horrific "My Ding A Ling", Disc 13 in particular is a JOY both in track choice and sound quality – song after son just an ABSOLUTE BLAST.

The packaging I feel could have been better, given the huge cost - disappointing booklet, reproduction of the interview that's on CD 14 anyway - but for Chess fans many of these tracks remain unavailable anywhere else. Disc 13 in particular (apart from the abomination of "My Ding A Ling") makes for the most fantastic listen - perfect mixture of primo Sixties and Seventies Soul, Blues and Blues-Rock and sexy chart-hugging R 'n' B. Combine those genres with great production values, top remastering - it's very tasty indeed m'lady. To the nitty gritty...

TITLES and ARTISTS:

CD11:
1. Love Is A Five-Letter Word (James Phelps)
2. We're Gonna Make It (Little Milton)
3. Ain't No Big Thing (The Radiants)
4. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me (The Knight Brothers)
5. Sitting In The Park (Billy Stewart)
6. Who's Cheating Who? (Little Milton)
7. The In Crowd (The Ramsey Lewis Trio)
8. Rescue Me (Fontella Bass)
9. Summertime (Billy Stewart)
10. Searching For My Love (Bobby Moore) (The Rhythm Aces)
11. Wang Dang Doodle (Koko Taylor)
12. Dirty Work Goin' On (Little Joe Blue)
13. In The Basement (Etta James) (Sugar Pie Desanto)
14. Landslide (Tony Clarke)
15. In The Mood (John Lee Hooker)
16. It's A Man's Man's World (Big Maybelle)
17. Wade In The Water (The Ramsey Lewis Trio)
18. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (John Lee Hooker)
19. Without A Woman (Kip Anderson)
20. Peak Of Love (Bobby McClure)
21. Sweeter Than The Day Before (The Valentinos)
22. To Know I Can't Touch (Barbara) (The Browns)
23. I Fooled You This Time (Gene Chandler)
24. Try My Love Again (Bobby Moore) (The Rhythm Aces)
25. Ooh Baby (Bo Diddley)
26. I Feel So Bad (Little Milton)

CD12:
1. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Marlena Shaw)
2. Dirty Man (Laura Lee)
3. I'm Shorty (Tommy Tucker)
4. Cheater Man (Irma Thomas)
5. O-O I Love You (The Dells)
6. Tell Mama (Etta James)
7. Some A Your Sweet Love (Wayne Cochran)
8. Uptight Good Man (Laura Lee)
9. There Is (The Dells)
10. I'm Just What She Needs (Johnny Sayles)
11. You Left The Water Running (Maurice & Mac)
12. It Ain't Necessary (Mamie Galore)
13. Sitting Home Alone (Hound Dog Taylor)
14. Cadillac Jack (Andre Williams)
15. Good To Me (Irma Thomas)
16. Security (Etta James)
17. Stay In My Corner (The Dells)
18. You Name It, I've Had It (Willie Walker)
19. Without A Woman (Kip Anderson)
20. Here Comes The Judge (Pigmeat Markham)
21. Look At Me Now (Terry Callier)
22. Walking Thru The Park (Muddy Waters)
23. Girls Ain't Groceries (Little Milton)
24. Love You Like A Woman (Koko Taylor)

CD13:
1. I Had A Dream (John Littlejohn)
2. Oh What A Night (The Dells)
3. If Walls Could Talk (Little Milton)
4. Who's Been Talking (Howlin' Wolf)
5. Baby, I Love You (Little Milton)
6. Losers Weepers (Etta James)
7. Recouperating (Lee Eldred)
8. Can You Be A One-Woman Man (Sam Dees)
9. Tease Your Man (Koko Taylor)
10. Sad, Sad Day (Muddy Waters)
11. My Ding-A-Ling (Chuck Berry)
12. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation (The Dells)
13. Can't Get No Grindin' (Muddy Waters)
14. Can't Stay Here (Howlin' Wolf)
15. Bio (Chuck Berry)
16. I Miss You (The Dells)
17. I'll Be Holding On (Big Al Downing)
18. Don't Make Me No Promises (The Dramatics)
19. I'm Leaving On That Late, Late Train (Solomon Burke)
20. Tell Me What You Want (Jimmy Ruffin)
21. Going Down To Main Street (Muddy Waters)

CATALOGUE NUMBERS

CD11 "The Chess Story 1965-1966" (76:04 minutes):
1. Argo 5499 [A]
2. Checker 1105 [A]
3. Chess 1925 [A]
4. Checker 1107 [A]
5. Chess 1932 [A]
6. Checker 1113 [A]
7. Cadet 5506 [A]
8. Checker 1120 [A]
9. Chess 1966 [A]
10. Checker 1129 [A]
11. Checker 1135 [A]
12. Checker 1141 [A]
13. Cadet 5539 [A]
14. Chess 1979 [A]
15. Chess 1965 [A]
16. Chess 1967 [A]
17. Cadet 5541 [A]
18. Chess LP 1508 ("The Real Folk Blues" by JOHN LEE HOOKER, 1966, USA)
19. Checker 1145 [A]
20. Checker 1153 [A]
21. Chess 1977 [A]
22. Chess (Europe) GCH 8118 ("The Southern Soul Stock, Vol.2" by VARIOUS, 1989 on Green Line)
23. Checker 1155 [A]
24. Checker 1156 [A]
25. Checker 1158 [A]
26. Checker 1162 [A]

CD12 "The Chess Story 1967-1968" (69:02 minutes):
1. Cadet 5557 [A]
2. Chess 2013 [A]
3. Checker 1178 [A]
4. Chess 2010 [A]
5. Cadet 5574 [A]
6. Cadet 5578 [A]
7. Chess 2020 [A]
8. Chess 2030 [A]
9. Cadet 5574 and Cadet 5590 [A]
10. Chess 2033 [A]
11. Checker 1197 [A]
12. St. Laurence 1012 [A]
13. Chess (Germany) LP 628601 ("Chess Blues" by VARIOUS, 1990's)
14. Checker 1205 [A]
15. Chess 2036 [A]
16. Cadet 5594 [A]
17. Cadet 5612 [A]
18. Checker 1198 [A]
19. Chess 2049 [A]
20. Cadet 5623 [A]
21. Chess LPS-127 ("Fathers & Sons" by MUDDY WATERS, 2LP Set, 1969)
22. Checker 1212
23. Chess LPS-1532 ("Koko Taylor" by KOKO TAYLOR, USA, 1969)

CD13 "The Chess Story 1969-1975" (75:54 minutes):
1. Chess LP 6074
2. Cadet 5649 [A]
3. Checker 1226 [A]
4. Chess LP 60008 ("The London Sessions" by HOWLIN' WOLF & FRIENDS, 1971)
5. Checker 1227 [A]
6. Cadet 5676 [A]
7. Chess 2105 [A]
8. Chess 2109 [A]
9. Chess LP 50018 ("Basic Soul" by KOKO TAYLOR, 1972)
10. Chess LP 60013 ("The London Sessions" by MUDDY WATERS & FRIENDS, 1971)
11. Chess 2131 [A]
12. Cadet 5696 [A]
13. Checker 2143 [A]
14. Chess LP 50045 ("Back Door Wolf" by HOWLIN’ WOLF, 1974)
15. Chess 2140 [A]
16. Cadet 5700 [A]
17. Chess 2158 [A]
18. Cadet 5706 [A]
19. Chess 2159 [A]
20. Chess 2160 [A]
21. Chess LP 60035 ("The Woodstock Album" by MUDDY WATERS, 1975)

CD14 – The Chess Story (73:31 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 4 are a Phil Chess interview conducted at his home in Tuscon, Arizona on the 14th of February 1999 (produced by Mary Katherine Alvin)
Tracks 5 to 18 are a Marshall Chess interview conducted by Paul Jones on Radio Jazz FM in London (no date supplied)

CD15 is a CD-ROM – an interactive journey through The Chess Story, complete Chess Legendary Masters Series catalogue and US Catalogue listing, stock footage of The Dells and Chuck Berry, scenes of Chicago and the Chess pressing plants, web links etc… Requires Windows 95/98 operating system on a PC and OS7 onwards on an Apple.

Recommended - even at a cost.

PS:
PART 1, the 1st box, is 5 discs also and covers 1947-1956, 131 tracks (see separate review)

PART 2, the 2nd box, is 5 discs too and covers 1957-1964, 133 tracks (see separate review).

PPS: title of this review is from Track 2 on CD11 - "We're Gonna Make It" by LITTLE MILTON

"The Chess Story 1947-1956" - Part 1 of 3 (November 2001 UK-EU MCA/Universal/Chess 5CD Box Set Reissue - Part 1 of 3 from the October 1999 Original 15-Disc Box set with Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review with Discography by Mark Barry....

"...Someone Said Jump The Boogie...And That's What We're Going To Do…"

Released UK/EU in 2001 on MCA/Universal/Chess 1126492 - "The Chess Story 1947-1956" is Part 1 of 3 - a long hardback book-shaped box set - coloured green with 5CDs. It was part of the October 1999 US 15-Disc original Box Set "The Chess Story: 1947-1975". 

I've supplied the catalogue numbers for all 5 CDs after the track details - it'll help those fans of Chess and its associate labels that are trying to hunt down that elusive tune...

Made in the USA, the entire 5CD set is remastered from original master tapes by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON and soundwise (with over 800 mastering credits to his name) it's a typically superb job. The packaging I feel could be a whole better (very disappointing booklets) - but for Chess fans many of these tracks remain unavailable anywhere else. To the details - song and artist names first followed by Catalogue Numbers afterwards...

SONGS and ARTIST NAMES
CD1:
1. Chicago Boogie (The Five Blazers)
2. Hey Pretty Mama (Jump Jackson & His Orchestra)
3. Ice Man's Blues (Tom Archia)
4. Boogie Woogie Blues (Clarence Samuels)
5. Bilbo Is Dead (Andrew Tibbs)
6. Johnson Machine Gun (Sunnyland Slim)
7. Gypsy Woman (Muddy Waters)
8. I Feel Like Crying (Andrew Tibbs)
9. She Ain't Nowhere (Sunnyland Slim)
10. I Feel Like Going Home (Muddy Waters)
11. I Can't Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters)
12. I Can't Be Tony Boogie (Forrest Sykes)
13. Florida Hurricane (St. Louis Jimmy)
14. You're Gonna Miss Me (Muddy Waters)
15. Locked Out Boogie (Leroy Foster)
16. Streamline Woman (Muddy Waters)
17. A Woman On Every Street (Forest City Joe)
18. Crying The Blues (Lura Rucker)
19. Baby I'm Sick Of You (Duke Jenkins' Aristocrats)
20. Black Angel Blues (Robert Nighthawk)
21. You're Gonna Need My Help (Muddy Waters)
22. Big Town Playboy (Little Johnny Jones)
23. Screamin' And Cryin' (Muddy Waters)
24. All I Need Is You (The Dozier Boys)
25. Six Three O (Robert Nighthawk)
26. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Muddy Waters)

CD2:
1. Rollin' Stone (Muddy Waters)
2. That's Alright (Jimmy Rogers)
3. You Got To Get It (The Dozier Boys)
4. Send For The Doctor (Doc Pomus)
5. Louisiana Blues (Muddy Waters)
6. Goin' Away Baby (Jimmy Rogers)
7. So Glad I Found You (Johnny Shines) (Shoeshine Johnny)
8. Mother Earth (Memphis Slim)
9. Long Distance Call (Muddy Waters)
10. Slow Caboose (Sax Mallard)
11. The World's In A Tangle (Jimmy Rogers)
12. Rocket 88 (Jackie Brenston)
13. Leave My Wife Alone (John Lee Hooker)
14. Honey Bee (Muddy Water)
15. My Real Gone Rocket (Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats)
16. Moanin' At Midnight (Howlin' Wolf)
17. Howlin' Tomcat (Harmonica Frank)
18. Crying The Blues (Lura Rucker)
19. Juiced (Billy Love)
20. How Many More Years (Howlin' Wolf)
21. Still A Fool (Muddy Waters)
22. Hey Little Girl (John Godfrey Trio)
23. Booted (Rosco Gordon)
24. She Moves Me (Muddy Waters)
25. No More Doggin' Around (Rufus Thomas)
26. Dark Road (Floyd Jones)

CD3:
1. Mr. Highway Man (Howlin' Wolf)
2. Murmur Low (Big Boy Spires)
3. Walkin' The Boogie (John Lee Hooker)
4. When I Am Gone (Joe Hill Louis)
5. Truckin' Little Woman (Willie Nix)
6. Sugar Mama (John Lee Hooker)
7. Juke (Little Walter & His Nightcats)
8. Date Bait (Blue Smitty)
9. Every Day I Have The Blues (Joe Williams)
10. Standing Around Cryin' (Muddy Waters)
11. Mean Old World (Little Walter)
12. I Don't Know (Willie Mabon)
13. 24 Hours (Eddie Boyd)
14. Me And My Chauffeur (Memphis Minnie)
15. Sad Hours (Little Walter)
16. She Just Won't Do Right (Elmore James)
17. I'm Mad (Willie Mabon)
18. Be Careful What You Do (John Brim)
19. Off The Wall (Little Walter)
20. Diggin' My Potatoes (Washboard Sam)
21. Nadine (The Coronets)
22. I'm Glad (Mitzi Mars)
23. Forty Cups Of Tea (Danny Overbea)
24. Tell Me Mama (Little Walter)
25. Third Degree (Eddie Boyd)

CD4:
1. White Cliffs Of Dover (The Blue Jays)
2. Blues With A Feeling (Little Walter)
3. Jock-A-Mo (Sugar Boy Crawford)
4. Mad Love (Muddy Waters)
5. You're So Fine (Little Walter)
6. Wine, Wine, Wine (Jimmy Binkley)
7. Chicago Bound (Jimmy Rogers)
8. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters)
9. Biscuit Baking Woman (Big Ed & His Combo (Eddie Burns)
10. I'm A Young Rooster (Leon D. Tarver) (The Chordones)
11. Just Make Love To Me (Muddy Waters)
12. Sloppy Drunk (Jimmy Rogers)
13. Evil (Howlin' Wolf)
14. When The Lights Go Out (Jimmy Witherspoon)
15. You Better Watch Yourself (Little Walter)
16. That Man Is Walking (Larry Ligget)
17. I'm Ready (Muddy Waters)
18. Reconsider Baby (Lowell Fulson)
19. Sincerely (The Moonglows)
20. Mama Talk To Your Daughter (J.B. Lenoir)
21. Last Night (Little Walter)
22. It Must Have Been The Devil (Otis Spann)
23. Forty Four (Howlin' Wolf)
24. I Want To Hug You, Kiss You, Squeeze You (Various)
25. Free And Easy Mind (Jimmy Nelson)
26. Most Of All (The Moonglows)
27. If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Jimmy & Johnny)

CD5:
1. Mardi Gras Mambo (The Hawketts- first recording of Aaron Neville)
2. Love Me (Jimmy Lee & Wayne Walker)
3. My Babe (Little Walter)
4. Check Yourself (Lowell Fulson)
5. I'm A Man (Bo Diddley)
6. Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley)
7. Are You Out There? (Percy Mayfield)
8. Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters)
9. Maybelline (Chuck Berry)
10. Diddley Daddy (Bo Diddley)
11. Walking The Blues (Sonny Boy Williamson)
12. The Seventh Son (Willie Mabon)
13. Pretty Thing (Bo Diddley)
14. Don't Start Me Talkin' (Sonny Boy Williamson)
15. The $64,000 Question (Bobby Tuggle)
16. Trouble, Trouble (Lowell Fulson)
17. Thirty Days (Chuck Berry)
18. In My Diary (The Moonglows)
19. See You Later Alligator (Bobby Charles)
20. Tippity Top (The Rays)
21. Trouble No More (Muddy Waters)
22. I'll Be Home (The Flamingos)
23. Who (Little Walter)
24. No Money Down (Chuck Berry)
25. So Glad She's Mine (Charles "Hungry" Williams)
26. You're The One (Jimmy Rogers)
27. Smokestack Lightnin' (Howlin' Wolf)

CATALOGUE NUMBERS
CD1 1947-1950 (76:07 minutes):
1. Aristocrat 201 [A] (1 to 26 were issued on 78's except 18 and 21)
2. Aristocrat 402 [A]
3. Aristocrat 602 [A]
4. Aristocrat 1001 [A]
5. Aristocrat 1101 [A]
6. Aristocrat 1301 [A]
7. Aristocrat 1302 [A]
8. Aristocrat 1103 [A]
9. Aristocrat 1304 [A]
10. Aristocrat 1305 [A]
11. Aristocrat 1305 [B]
12. Aristocrat 1401 [A]
13. Aristocrat 7001 [A]
14. Aristocrat 1307 [A]
15. Aristocrat 1234 [A]
16. Aristocrat 1310 [A]
17. Aristocrat 3101 [A]
18. Chess CHD4 9340 [4CD Box Set "Chess Blues", USA, 1992]
19. Aristocrat 811 [A]
20. Aristocrat 2301 [A]
21. Chess CHD2 9348 [2CD Chess Compilation "One More Mile", USA, 1997]
22. Aristocrat 405 [A]
23. Aristocrat 406 [A]
24. Aristocrat 409 [A]
25. Aristocrat 413 [A]
26. Aristocrat 412 [A]

CD2 1950-1951 (73:34 minutes):
1. Chess 1426 [A] (1 to 26 were issued on 78's)
2. Chess 1435 [A]
3. Chess 1436 [A]
4. Chess 1440 [A]
5. Chess 1441 [A]
6. Chess 1442 [A]
7. Chess 1443 [A]
8. Chess 1446 [A]
9. Chess 1452 [A]
10. Chess 750 [A]
11. Chess 1453 [A]
12. Chess 1458 [A]
13. Chess 1467 [A]
14. Chess 1468 [A]
15. Chess 1469 [A]
16. Chess 1479 [A] (see also 19)
17. Chess 1494 [A]
18. Chess 1472 [A]
19. Chess 1479 [B] (see also 16)
20. Chess 1480 [A]
21. Chess 1478 [A]
22. Chess 1486 [A]
23. Chess 1490 [A]
24. Chess 1492 [A]
25. Chess 1498 [A]
26. Chess 1504 [A]

CD3 1952-1954 PART ONE (73:33 minutes):
1. Chess 1510 [A] (1 to 10 were issued on 78's, 11 onwards on 45's)
2. Checker 752 [A]
3. Chess 1513 [A] (see also 6)
4. Checker 763 (Extended Version)
5. Checker 756 [A]
6. Chess 1513 [A]
7. Checker 758 [A}
8. Chess LP CHD 9330 ("The Blues, Vol.6", USA LP, 1991)
9. Checker 762 [A]
10. Chess 1526 [A]
11. Checker 764 [A]
12. Chess 1531 [A]
13. Chess 1533 [A]
14. Checker 771 [A]
15. Checker 764 [A]
16. Checker 777 [A]
17. Chess 1538 [A]
18. Chess LP 1537
(On the LP "Whose Muddy Shoes" by Muddy Waters & John Brim, USA, 1969)
19. Checker 770 [B] (see also 24)
20. Chess 1545 [A]
21. Chess 1549 [A]
22. Checker 773 [A]
23. Checker 774 [A]
24. Checker 770 [A] (see also 19)
25. Chess 1541 [A]

CD4 1952-1954 PART TWO (77:42 minutes):
1. Checker 782 [A]
2. Checker 780 [A]
3. Checker 787 [A]
4. Chess 1550 [A]
5. Checker 786 [A]
6. Checker 789 [A]
7. Chess 1574 [A]
8. Chess 1560 [A]
9. Checker 790 [A]
10. Checker 791 [A]
11. Chess 1571 [A]
12. Chess 1574 [A]
13. Chess 1575 [A]
14. Checker 798 [A]
15. Checker 799 [A]
16. Chess 1578 [A]
17. Chess 1579 [A]
18. Checker 804 [A]
19. Chess 1581 [A]
20. Parrot 908 [A]
21. Checker 805 [A]
22. Checker 807 [A]
23. Chess 1584 [A]
24. Chess 1586 [A]
25. Chess 1587 [A]
26. Chess 1589 [A]
27. Chess 4859 [A]

CD5 1955-1956 PART ONE (72:04 minutes)
1. Chess 1591 [A]
2. Chess 4863 [A]
3. Checker 811 [A]
4. Checker 812 [A]
5. Checker 814 [B] (see also 6)
6. Checker 814 [A] (see also 5)
7. Chess 1599 [A]
8. Chess 1602 [A]
9. Chess 1604 [A]
10. Checker 819 [A]
11. Checker 822 [A]
12. Chess 1608 [A]
13. Checker 827 [A]
14. Checker 825 [A]
15. Checker 823 [A]
16. Checker 829 [A]
17. Chess 1610 [A]
18. Chess 1611 [A]
19. Chess 1609 [A]
20. Chess 1613 [A]
21. Chess 1612 [A]
22. Checker 830 [A]
23. Checker 833 [A]
24. Chess 1615 [A]
25. Checker 831 [A]
26. Chess 1616 [A]
27. Chess 1618 [A]

PS:
PART 2, the 2nd box, is 5 discs also and covers 1957-1964, 133 tracks (see separate review)

PART 3, the 3rd box, is 5 discs too and covers 1965-1975. However, in box 3, there are only 3 audio CDs (70 tracks) - Disc 14 is divided into 18 interview parts (just over 74 minutes) and Disc 15 is a CD-Rom with interactive downloads, Chess catalogue etc

PPS: title of this review is from Track 1 on CD1 - "Chicago Boogie" by THE FIVE BLAZERS

"The Chess Story 1957-1964" - Part 2 of 3 (November 2001 EU MCA-Universal/Chess 5CD Book Set Reissue with Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review and Discography by Mark Barry

PART 2 of a 3. A long hardback book-shaped box set - coloured blue - 5CDs.
(Originally issued by Universal in the States in 1999 as a 15CD Set). 

EU released 6 November 2001 - "The Chess Story 1957-1964" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on MCA/Universal/Chess 1126952 (Barcode 0008811269524) plays out as follows:

TRACKS and ARTISTS:
CD 6:
1. We Go Together (The Moonglows)
2. Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry)
3. You Better Believe It (Paul Gayten)
4. A Kiss From Your Lips (The Flamingos)
5. Take It Easy, Greasy (Bobby Charles)
6. Who Do You Love (Bo Diddley)
7. See-Saw (The Moonglows)
8. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry)
9. Don't Go No Farther (Muddy Waters)
10. I Asked For Water (Howlin' Wolf)
11. 29 Ways (Willie Dixon)
12. Would I Be Crying (The Flamingos)
13. Keep It To Yourself (Sonny Boy Williamson)
14. Too Much Monkey Business (Chuck Berry)
15. Don't Touch My Head (J.B. Lenoir)
16. I'm Ashamed Of Myself (Floyd Dixon)
17. A Simple Prayer (The Ravens)
18. Tall, Dark And Handsome Man (Bobby Cisco)
19. Walkin' By Myself (Jimmy Rogers)
20. Been So Long (The Pastels)
21. Got My Mojo Workin' (Muddy Waters)
22. School Day (Chuck Berry)
23. Please Send Me Someone To Love (The Moonglows)
24. Susie Q (Dale Hawkins)
25. Rock Me (Muddy Waters)
26. Blue Velvet (The Moonglows)

CD7:
1. Hey Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley)
2. Fattenin' Frog For Snakes (Sonny Boy Williamson)
3. Long Lonely Nights (Lee Andrews) (The Hearts)
4. Mona (Bo Diddley)
5. Cool Off Baby (Billy 'Curley' Barrix)
6. Flat Foot Sam (T.V. Slim)
7. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby (The Tuneweavers)
8. Rock And Roll Music (Chuck Berry)
9. Before You Accuse Me (Bo Diddley)
10. That's Why I Love You So (Al Kent)
11. My Soul (Clifton Chenier)
12. Go Ahead (Billy Miranda)
13. Ninety Nine (Sonny Boy Williamson)
14. Book Of Love (The Monotones)
15. Look Out Mabel (G.L. Crockett)
16. Sittin' On Top Of The World (Howlin' Wolf)
17. The Walk (Jimmy McCracklin)
18. Nothin' Shakin' (Eddie Fontaine)
19. Ten Commandments Of Love (The Moonglows)
20. Yea Yea (The Kendall Sisters)
21. Sweet Little Sixteen (Chuck Berry)
22. Tornado (Dale Hawkins)
23. Four O'clock In The Morning (Stanley Mitchell) (The Tornados)
24. Say Man (Bo Diddley)
25. Everybody Rock (Jimmy McCracklin)
26. Anything To Say You're Mine (Lula Reed)
27. Your Funeral And My Trial (Sonny Boy Williamson)
28. Anything To Say You're Mine (Lula Reed)

CD8:
1. You Got Me Whistlin' (Johnny Fuller)
2. Oh-Oh (Eddie Bo)
3. Carol (Chuck Berry)
4. La-Do-Dada (Dale Hawkins)
5. Loud Mouth Annie (Dupont) (Myles)
6. Do You Remember? (L.C. Cooke)
7. Vacation's Over (Lou Josie)
8. Key To The Highway (Little Walter)
9. Close To You (Muddy Waters)
10. Sweet Little Rock And Roller (Chuck Berry)
11. I'm Sorry (Bo Diddley)
12. Sugaree (Rusty York)
13. This Broken Heart (The Sonics)
14. Crackin' Up (Bo Diddley)
15. Almost Grown (Chuck Berry)
16. This Should Go On Forever (Rod Bernard)
17. I Want To Know (Sugarpie DeSanto)
18. Save It (Mel Robins)
19. Back In The U.S.A. (Chuck Berry)
20. Bad Girl (The Miracles)
21. Unseeing Eye (Sonny Boy Williamson)
22. Howlin' For My Darlin' (Howlin' Wolf)
23. Anna Macora (The Calvaes)
24. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Little Walter)
25. Let It Rock (Chuck Berry)
26. Road Runner (Bo Diddley)
27. Trying To Make A Living (Bobby Saxton)
28. Goin' Back To Memphis (Gene Simmons)
29. First Time I Met The Blues (Buddy Guy)

CD9:
1. All I Could Do Was Cry (Etta James)
2. All Your Love (Otis Rush)
3. I Can't Hold Out (Elmore James)
4. If I Can't Have You (Etta James) (Harvey Fuqua)
5. Blue Shadows (Lowell Fulson)
6. Spoonful (Howlin' Wolf)
7. Tiger In Your Tank (Muddy Waters)
8. Gunslinger (Bo Diddley)
9. But I Do (Clarence 'Frogman' Henry)
10. At Last (Etta James)
11. Back Door Man (Howlin' Wolf)
12. The Watusi (The Vibrations)
13. Just Your Fool (Little Walter)
14. Come On (Chuck Berry)
15. I Won't Be Hanging Around (Albert King)
16. You Always Hurt The One You Love (Clarence 'Frogman' Henry)
17. Peanut Butter (The Marathons)
18. Down In The Bottom (Howlin' Wolf)
19. Music, Music, Music (The Sensations)
20. I'm A Little Mixed Up (Betty James)
21. Little Red Rooster (Howlin' Wolf)
22. So Mean To Me (Little Milton)
23. Proof Of Your Love (Jackie Cannon)
24. Let Me In (The Sensations)
25. Smokey Places (The Corsairs)
26. Nine Below Zero (Sonny Boy Williamson)
27. Something's Got A Hold On Me (Etta James)
28. Stone Crazy (Buddy Guy)

CD10:
1. Reap What You Sow (Billy Stewart)
2. Rinky Dink (Dave "Baby" Cortez)
3. You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover (Bo Diddley)
4. Stop The Wedding (Etta James)
5. Lonely Baby (Ty Hunter)
6. Mama Didn't Lie (Jan Bradley)
7. Got You On My Mind (Cookie & The Cupcakes)
8. Pushover (Etta James)
9. Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson)
10. 300 Pounds Of Joy (Howlin' Wolf)
11. Sally Go Round The Roses (The Jaynettes)
12. You Keep Her (Joe Tex)
13. Second Hand Lover (The Knight Brothers)
14. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Tommy Tucker)
15. Nadine (Chuck Berry)
16. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had (Muddy Waters)
17. Soulful Dress (Sugar Pie DeSanto)
18. My Time After A While (Buddy Guy)
19. Selfish One (Jackie Ross)
20. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing (Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure)
21. I Had A Talk With My Man (Mitty Collier)
22. Promised Land (Chuck Berry)
23. The Entertainer (Tony Clarke)
24. Voice Your Choice (The Radiants)
25. Crawlin' King Snake (Buster Brown)
26. I Do Love You (Billy Stewart)

CATALOGUE NUMBERS:
CD 6 1955-1956 (73:40 minutes):
1. Chess 1619 [A]
2. Chess 1626 [A]
3. Checker 836 [A]
4. Checker 837 [A]
5. Chess 1628 [A]
6. Checker 842 [A]
7. Chess 1629 [A]
8. Chess 1635 [B] (see 14)
9. Chess 1630 [A]
10. Chess 1632 [A]
11. Checker 851 [A]
12. Checker 853 [A]
13. Checker 847 [A]
14. Chess 1635 [A] (see also 8)
15. Checker 856 [A]
16. Checker 857 [A]
17. Argo 5261 [A]
18. Chess 1650 [A]
19. Checker 867 [A]
20. Argo 5259 [A]
21. Chess 1643 [A]
22. Argo 5287 [A]
23. Chess 1652 [A] (see also 27)
24. Chess 1653 [A]
25. Chess 1661 [A]
26. Checker 863 [A]
27. Chess 1652 [B] (see 23)
28. Chess 1811 [A]

CD7 1957-1959 (73:32 minutes)
1. Checker 860 [A] (see also 4)
2. Checker 864 [A]
3. Chess 1665 [A]
4. Checker 860 [B] (see also 1)
5. Chess 1662 [A]
6. Checker 870 [A]
7. Checker 872 [A]
8. Chess 1671 [A]
9. Checker 878 [A]
10. Checker 881 [A]
11. Checker 939 [A]
12. Checker 957 [A]
13. Checker 883 [A]
14. Argo 5290 [A]
15. Checker 1120 [A]
16. Chess 1679 [A]
17. Checker 885 [A]
18. Argo 5309 [A]
19. Chess 1705 (Full Version) [A]
20. Checker 889/Argo 5291 [A]
21. Chess 1683 [A]
22. Checker 892 [A]
23. Chess 1649 [A]
24. Checker 931 [A]
25. Checker 893 [A]
26. Argo 5297 [A]
27. Checker 894 [A]
28. Chess 1695 [A]

CD8 1957-1959 (75:09 minutes)
1. Checker 899 [A]
2. Chess 1698 [A]
3. Chess 1700 [A]
4. Checker 900 [A]
5. Argo 5326 [A]
6. Checker 903 [A]
7. Chess LP 9124
8. Checker 904 [A]
9. Chess 1704 [A]
10. Chess 1709 [A]
11. Checker 914 [A]
12. Chess 1730 [A]
13. Checker 922 [A]
14. Checker 924 [A]
15. Chess 1722 [A]
16. Argo 5372 [A]
17. Veltone 103
18. Argo 5340 [A]
19. Chess 1729 [A]
20. Chess 1734 [A]
21. Checker 927 [A]
22. Chess 1762 [A]
23. Checker 928 [A]
24. Checker 930 [A]
25. Chess 1747 [A]
26. Checker 942 [A]
27. Checker 947 [A]
28. Checker 948 [A]
29. Chess 1753 [A]

CD9 1960-1961 (74:41 minutes)
1. Argo 5359 [A]
2. Chess LP 1538 (Albert King & Otis Rush - "Door To Door", 1959)
3. Chess 1756 [A]
4. Chess 1760 [A]
5. Checker 959 [A]
6. Chess 1762 [A]
7. Chess 1765 [A]
8. Checker 945 [A]
9. Argo 5378 [A]
10. Argo 5380 [A]
11. Chess 1777 [A]
12. Checker 969 [A]
13. Checker 1013 [A]
14. Chess 1779 [A]
15. Chess LP 1538 (see 2)
16. Argo 5388 [A]
17. Argo 5389 [A]
18. Chess 1793 (Unedited Version)
19. Argo 5391 [A]
20. Chess 1801 [A]
21. Chess 1804 [A]
22. Checker 994 [A]
23. Chess 1807 [A]
24. Argo 5405 [A]
25. Chess 1808 [A]
26. Checker 1003 (Unedited Version)
27. Argo 5409 [A]
28. Chess 1812 [A]

CD10 1961-1964 (74:27 minutes)
1. Chess 1820 [A]
2. Chess 1829 [A]
3. Checker 1019 [A]
4. Argo 5418 [A]
5. Checkmate 1015 [A]
6. Chess 1845 [A]
7. Chess 1838 [A]
8. Argo 5437 [A]
9. Checker 1036 [A]
10. Chess 1870 [A]
11. Tuff 369 [A]
12. Checker 1055 [A]
13. Checker 1064 [A]
14. Checker 1067 [A]
15. Chess 1883 [A]
16. Chess 1895 [A]
17. Checker 1082 [A]
18. Chess 1889 [A]
19. Chess 1903 [A]
20. Checker 1087 [A]
21. Chess 1907 [A]
22. Chess 1916 [A]
23. Chess 1924 [A]
24. Chess 1904 [A]
25. Checker 1099 [A]
26. Chess 1922 [A]

The entire set is remastered from original master tapes by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON and soundwise (with over 800 mastering credits to his name) it's a typically superb job.

The packaging I feel could have been a lot better, disappointing booklets - but for Chess fans many of these tracks are simply not available anywhere else...

Recommended - even at a price.

PS:
The 1st box is 5 discs also and covers 1947-1956 (133 tracks)

The 3rd box is 5 discs too and covers 1965-1975. However, in box 3, there are only 3 audio CDs (70 tracks) - Disc 14 is divided into 18 interview parts (just over 74 minutes) and Disc 15 is a CD-Rom with interactive downloads, Chess catalogue etc

“The Undertones” by THE UNDERTONES (March 2009 Salvo '30th Anniversary' Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 327 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Let's Talk About Girls…"

Ah the mighty Undertones – I only have to look at the cover of this album and I’m mush.

Their blinding debut made the ‘Q’ Magazine’s “100 Greatest British Albums” list – and this super CD overhaul only gives me a good excuse to wax lyrical about its myriad three-minute Pop-Punk wonders once more. So here are the Mars Bars and True Confessions…

UK released March 2009 - "The Undertones" by THE UNDERTONES on Salvo SALVOCD017 (Barcode 698458811721) is an 30th Anniversary 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster of their 1979 Debut LP and breaks down as follows (67:38 minutes):

1. Family Entertainment

2. Girls Don’t Like It

3. Male Model

4. I Gotta Getta

5. Wrong Way

6. Jump Boys

7. Here Comes The Summer

8. Billy’s Third

9. Jimmy Jimmy

10. True Confessions

11. (She’s A) Runaround

12. I Know A Girl

13. Listening In

14. Casbah Rock

Tracks 1 to 14 make up the 1st pressing of their debut LP "The Undertones" on Sire Records SRK 6071 initially released in May 1979 in the UK - January 1980 on Sire Records SRK-6081 in the USA. The 14th track - the 50-second "Casbah Rock" at the end of Side 2 - is listed on the label but not on the album sleeve. The original sleeve had black and white artwork (as used on the card slipcase) with a distinctive red die-cut inner sleeve - the reissue (explained below) had a colour sleeve with a black inner (not featured in the booklet). The album was recorded at Eden Studios in Acton in London in January 1979 and produced by ROGER BECHIRIAN.

Cashing in on the huge renewed response to their anthem "Teenage Kicks" - the album was reissued a second time in the UK as Sire Records SRK 6081 in November 1979 with a different front and inner sleeve and 2 added singles. "Teenage Kicks" was slipped in as Track 5 on Side 1 - in-between "I Gotta Get" and "Wrong Way" - while the 2nd single "Get Over You" was added on as the first track on Side 2 - making a 16-song version of the LP. The Sanctuary issue of 2008 uses the 16-track line-up rather than the original 14. Of course with a little bit of number programming - this new Salvo issue allows fans to program either.

BONUS TRACKS:

Tracks 15 to 18 are the full 4 songs of their debut "Teenage Kicks" EP issued on the privately pressed Good Vibrations Label (GOT 4) in September 1978 - produced by the band themselves (see my review for the "Good Vibrations" Movie on BLU RAY). None of the songs turned up on the debut LP and it has remained a highly sought-after and collectable vinyl piece ever since. Oddly for such an indepth release - this CD actually mistakes the track order - it should read - A1 is "Teenage Kicks" (15), A2 is "Smarter Than You'” (18), B1 is "True Confessions" (16) and B2 is "Emergency Cases" (17) - gotta get those details right.

Tracks 19 to 21 are their 2nd maxi single "Get Over You" (19) - issued on Sire Records SIR 4010 in January 1979 in the UK. "Really Really" (20) and "She Can Only Say No" (21) are the B-sides and again all 3 songs were non-album.

Tracks 22 to 24 are their 4th UK single "Here Comes The Summer" (22) b/w "One Way Love" (23) and "Top Twenty" (24). It was another maxi release (3-tracks) and it's worth noting that the ‘single version' on the A-side differs to the version than ended Side 1 of the LP (the 2 B-sides were again non-album too).

Track 25 is "Mars Bars" - the non-album B-side to their 3rd UK 7" single "Jimmy Jimmy" - issued on Sire Records SIR 4015 in April 1979 (on lime green vinyl).

Tracks 26 and 27 are "You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It)" b/w "Let's Talk About Girls" - non-album tracks and their 5th UK 7" single on Sire Records SIR 4024 issued in September 1979 in the UK.

Tracks 29 to 31 are live John Peel Sessions recorded for the BBC at the Phoenix Studios on 7 May 1979 – “Nine Times Out Of Ten”, “The Way Girls Talk” and “Whiz Kids”

Track 32 is a video track from 1978 of "Teenage Kicks" (filmed in Primrose Hill in London)

As you can see from the lists above this new Salvo issue has 31 audio tracks plus 1 video track tagged on at the end - the 2008 Sanctuary issue has only 26 audio tracks. There's also a new card wrap outside the jewel case using the original LP artwork, a 20-page booklet which pictures ticket stubs, buttons, 7" sleeves and band photos - and there's detailed and witty liner notes by their bass player MICHAEL BRADLEY. 

The remastering has been done by ANDY PIERCE at Masterpiece and is fantastically clear, really clean and in your face. As a downside, it would have been nice to hear more in the booklet from either their great frontman and singer FEARGAL SHARKEY or especially JOHN O'NEILL - the band's principal songwriter.

While the album itself is a blast, what puts this issue into the stellar is the truly brilliant 17 extra tracks - stunning power-pop B-sides like "One Way Love" and "Let's Talk About Girls". And the four Peel Sessions tracks allow you to hear just how piss 'n' vinegar they really were as a live act (I wish I'd seen them). And then of course there's 'that' song - every time I hear The Undertones blistering debut 45 "Teenage Kicks", I can't help but think of the much-loved and sadly missed champion of Punk and New Wave music - the British DJ and Presenter JOHN PEEL. He adored the band with a passion and the hand-written lyrics to "Teenage Kicks" are framed in his home and literally etched above his final resting place (he was the first to air the song in September 1978 - famously playing it twice he liked it so much). Ten seconds into its thrashing riff it's easy to know why - it's thrilling - it's ballsy - it's life itself - and it's as fresh now as is was back then - a full three and half decades ago.

Derry's finest are held in huge affection by so many music lovers and not without reason. I loved returning to this album, I really did.

"...I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight...get teenage kicks right through the night..." 

Too Goddamn right!

“Thick As Thieves” aka “The Code”. A Review of the 2008 Film on 2009 Blu Ray.

"Some People Were Born To Write Songs...I Was Born To Steal..."

This is a strange one. The cast is admirable enough; the story is very clever in parts and the director an experienced professional who has delivered very good movies before - yet somehow, "Thick As Thieves" just doesn't fly.

The idea on paper of Banderas and Freeman working together is probably what got this made - the reality of it is that there's very little chemistry between them - they come across as misfits instead of matches.

It does work between Banderas and the lovely/sexy Radha Mitchell and its also fab to see Robert Forster in any movie. But when you think of the sheer electricity that Freeman and Jack Nicholson generated in "The Bucket List", you realise that there's something's seriously amiss here. It's also known as "The Code" in the States - and you know you're in trouble when they can't even settle on a name...

The Blu Ray picture is exceptional in places (when Freeman and Banderas plan the heist in the bar - close up on their faces), but only OK in other places (the NYPD reception in the jewellers). There's a "Making Of" that consists of the crew shooting segments (mostly outdoors) where Freeman looks bored all the time and Banderas gets eyed up by everyone - there's also a few cast interviews that are OK, but hardly great.

Three stars. A rental I'm afraid.

“L.A. Confidential” - A Review of the 1997 Film Reissued on a 2009 BLU RAY.

“And The Dapper Little Gent Does It In Style…”

There's a moment in Curtis Hanson's 1997 peach of a film when Guy Pearce playing good-guy cop Ed Exley enters The Night Owl café to check up on possible multiple homicides in the early hours of the morning... As he does, the camera pans across the Formica counter and the nearby tabletops, the saltcellars, the napkin dispensers, the circular seats, the candy vendors... There's tons of stuff in a few seconds - all of 1950s - the attention to detail is mind-blowing... Hanson had made a $15 million dollar movie look like it cost ten times that and I'm thrilled to say that this BLU RAY version of "L.A. Confidential" does exactly the same.

While it's not "Zulu" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" perfect in terms of print - other people's reckoning of 4.5 out of 5 is accurate. I'd estimate that 80-90% of the time the picture is glorious and even when it's a little soft in places, the rest is `so' good, you hardly notice. Also, as you re-watch it, you realise just how good LAC was and what a superlative job Hanson did in bringing the seedy underbelly of Hollywood and the LAPD of the time to the screen. Everything fits on "L.A. Confidential" - the incredible ensemble cast you couldn't buy for love or money now - the chemistry between them all - the ruthlessly realistic story and spunky adaptation of it, the beautiful night locations, the dapper clothes, the colours - even Jerry Goldsmith's music - mellow brass followed by staccato piano fills - was absolute genius! It all worked - and now it looks the business too.

Watching Crowe and Basinger in the main feature in all their beautifully filmed sizzling glory is a treat for sure - but the list of extras is equally impressive too. Check these out...

1. Commentary by Andrew Sarris [Film Critic], James Ellroy [Novelist], actors Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito and James Cromwell accompanied by Ruth Myers [Casting], Brian Helgeand [co-writer of the screen with Curtis Hanson the Director], Jeannine Opwell [Production Design], Dante Spinotti [Cinematographer]
(with or without SUBTITLES)

2. "Whatever You Desire: The Making Of L.A. Confidential"
All-new interviews with Director/Screen Writer/Producer Curtis Hanson and his cast & crew

3. "Sunlight & Shadow: The Visual Style Of L.A. Confidential". Hanson gives a behind-the-scenes commentary to reveal how they captured 1950's and brought LA Confidential to life.

4. "A True Ensemble: The Cast Of L.A. Confidential". RC, GP, DD, KB and JC all join Hanson to discuss the chemistry they hoped would happen and did

5. "L.A. Confidential: From Book To Screen". Hanson and co-writer Brian Helgeland discuss the difficulty of bringing the film to screen

6. "Off The Record". Behind the scenes featurette with the cast & crew

7. Photo Pitch: Curtis Hanson recreates his original pitch for L.A. Confidential

8. 2000 TV Pilot

9. "The L.A. of L.A. Confidential": and interactive tour of many of the locations used in the movie

10. Music Only Track

11. Trailers [5 Versions]

12. Online interactivity

If like me, you saw this at the flicks, then bought it on DVD, and loved it on both occasions - you will need to upgrade to this version. Like the beautiful looking and endlessly uplifting BR version of "The Shawshank Redemption" - "L.A. Confidential" is a triumph on BLU RAY. There's no "hush, hush" on this one folks - highly recommended.

"The French Connection" - A Review Of The 1971 Film Issued on BLU RAY

“He’s throwing money around like the Russians are gonna land in Jersey…”

I'm afraid I have to agree with other reviewers of this Blu Ray version of William Friedkin's masterpiece. It looks awful a large part of the time, which completely ruins the other times when it shines.

Ironically, the problem lies in the film's strength - its gritty portrayal of New York and the drug culture taking a grip of it in the early Seventies. The Director wanted realism - not just in his actor's performances, but literally how their New York playground looked - so he went for that. Movements are blurry, alleyways are hazy, characters are observed from an out-of-focus distance (aping what Popeye Doyle sees) - everything's grimy and washed out - matching the film's down and dirty feel.

Unfortunately when you get outside of the sunny Marseilles sequences and into the seedy bars and restaurants of the Big Apple - the Blu Ray picture resembles worn out videotape - it's really awful. Which is such a shame, because as you watch it again - but this time on the big screen - you realize what a blindingly fabulous film "The French Connection" is - and how it deserved so much better than this (which applies to the equally superb sequel too).

In fairness to Fox, the opening credits are squeaky clean - no lines, no scuffs, nothing - no print remains that clean after 38 years, so some restoration has to have been done. Unfortunately when you get to the street action - instead of enhancing the watch - the Blu Ray only makes the deliberately grainy effect look even worse.

Half way through it - I couldn't stand to look at it anymore - I turned it off...

Unless you absolutely must own this, rent it first before wasting your hard-earned on yet another dog on this increasingly frustrating format...

What a disappointment.