FIFTY ALBUMS from 50 Years - One A Year [1959 to 2009] - Fifty Titles You Don't Own And Should - A List by Mark Barry...

- ONE A YEAR from 1959 to 2009 -

1. “Rockin’ The Blues” - JOE TURNER
(June 1959 UK MONO LP on London HA-E 2173)
(December 1958 USA MONO LP on Atlantic 8023]
Side 1: We're Gonna Jump For Joy/Teen Age Letter/Love Roller Coaster/Lipstick Powder And Paint/Morning Noon And Night/I Need A Girl/Red Sails In The Sunset
Side 2: Blues In The Night/After Awhile/World Of Trouble/Trouble In Mind/TV Mama/You Know I Love You/Still In Love

OK! So I've cheated a tad here. The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that "Rockin' The Blues" actually came out in the States in 1958 first and the British issue on London then followed later in 1959. But I had to find a way of getting the joy of Big Joe Turner into this list somehow...

Listed at £120 in the Rare Record Price Guide of 2010, good luck trying to actually find a UK vinyl original - it's desirable among collectors and as rare as a conscience in a Labour Party Expenses Committee Meeting. Made up of rockers on Side 1 with bluesy ballads on Side 2, it's almost perfect as an example of truly great Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues. Of the 14 tracks on the original LP - many compilations will include up to as many as 10 - that's how good they are.

You can pick up Warners Brothers "The Platinum Collection" on CD for less than £4 or $8 to get the bulk of the tracks, but better still is the 1999 Collectables Label CD out of the USA (Collectables COL-CD-6419) which couples 2 classic LPs of his on 1CD. You get the full 28 tracks of his 1957 "Rock And Roll" album on Atlantic 8005 (aka "Joe Turner") and this LP "Rockin' The Blues" from 1958. That way you get the full run of both LPs as intended - foot-tapping R'n'B bliss of a Grade-A kind.

Big Joe Turner is held in huge affection by collectors all over the world and the tracks on this criminally forgotten LP will tell you why. I only have to see his smiling face and I go to mush. A great place to start your 50-year journey...

2. “Elvis Is Back” - ELVIS PRESLEY
(June 1960 UK STEREO LP on RCA SF 5060)
(May 1960 USA STEREO LP on RCA Victor LSP-2231)
Side 1: Make Me Know It/Fever/The Girl Of My Best Friend/I Will Be Home Again/Dirty, Dirty Feeling/Thrill Of Your Love
Side 2: Soldier Boy/Such A Night/It Feels So Right/The Girl Next Door (Went A Walking)/Like A Baby/Reconsider Baby

[The 1999 Remastered CD has 18 tracks, 6 more than the original album - 3 singles and their B-sides and they're uniformly superb. The CD is stereo and the sound quality on the killer double blues finishers "Like A Baby" and "Reconsider Baby" is stunning - truly beautiful and allows you to 'hear' the great musicianship and Presley's fresh and now matured voice. But if you can afford it - go to the 2006 2CD "Follow That Dream" version with all the studio outtakes, chatter, 7" single full colour packaging - it's truly a thing of beauty - one of the great reissues of the last few years.]

3. “Lonely And Blue” – ROY ORBISON [Sings]
(June 1961 UK MONO LP on London HA-U 2342)
(December 1960 USA MONO LP on Monument M-4002)
Side 1: Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel)/Bye Bye Love/Cry/Blue Avenue/I Can’t Stop Loving You/Come Back To Me (My Love)
Side 2: Blue Angel/Raindrops/(I’d Be) A Legend In My Time/I’m Hurtin’/Twenty-Two Days/I’ll Say It’s My Fault

4. “Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music” - RAY CHARLES
(July 1962 UK STEREO LP on HMV CSD 1451)
(April 1962 USA STEREO LP on ABC-Paramount S-410)
Side 1: Bye Bye Love/You Don't Know Me/Half As Much/I Love You So Much It Hurts/Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)/Born To Lose
Side 2: Worried Mind/It Makes No Difference Now/You Win Again/Careless Love/I Can't Stop Loving You/Hey, Good Lookin'

5. “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” – BOB DYLAN
(November 1963 UK STEREO LP on CBS Records S BPG 62193)
(September 1963 USA STEREO LP on Columbia CS-8786)
Side 1: Blowin’ In The Wind/Girl From The North Country/Masters Of War/Down The Highway/Bob Dylan’s Blues/A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Side 2: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right/Bob Dylan’s Dream/Oxford Town/Talkin’ World War III Blues/Corrina, Corrina/Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance/I Shall Be Free

6. “Ain’t That Good News” – SAM COOKE
(1964 UK STEREO LP on RCA SF 7635)
(March 1964 USA on RCA Victor LSP-2899)
Side 1: Ain't That Good News/Meet Me At Mary's Place/Good Times/Rome Wasn't Built In A Day/Another Saturday Night/Tennessee Waltz
Side 2: A Change Is Gonna Come/Falling In Love/Home/Sittin' In The Sun/No Second Time/The Riddle Song

7. “Bleecker & MacDougal – FRED NEIL
(August 1965 USA STEREO LP on Elektra EKS 7293)
[Pictured above is the Sundazed 180 Grams Vinyl Reissue]
Side 1: Bleecker & MacDougal/Blues On The Ceiling/Sweet Mama/Little Bit Of Rain/Country Boy/Other Side To This Life/Mississippi Train
Side 2: Travelin' Shoes/The Water Is Wide/Yonder Comes The Blues/Candy Man/Handful Of Gimme/Gone Again

8. “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme” – SIMON and GARFUNKEL
(October 1966 USA STEREO LP on Columbia CS-9363)
Side 1: Scarborough Fair/Canticle [Run as 1 Track]/Patterns/Cloudy/Homeward Bound/The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine/The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
Side 2: The Dangling Conversation/Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall/A Simple Desultory Remark (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission)/For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her/A Poem On The Underground Wall/7 O’Clock News/Silent Night [2 tracks as 1]

9. “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” – ARETHA FRANKLIN
(1967 UK STEREO LP on Atlantic 588 066)
(April 1967 USA STEREO LP on Atlantic SD-8139)
Side 1: Respect/Drown in My Own Tears/I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)/Soul Serenade/Don't Let Me Lose This Dream/Baby, Baby, Baby
Side 2: Dr. Feelgood/Good Times/Do Right Woman - Do Right Man/Save Me/A Change Is Gonna Come

10. “The Circle Game” – TOM RUSH
(April 1968 USA STEREO LP on Elektra EKS 74018)
(1968 UK Mono (EKL 4018)/Stereo (EKS 74018) Lp on Elektra)
Side 1: Tin Angel/Something In The Way She Moves/Urge For Going/Sunshine Sunshine
Side 2: Shadow Dream Song/The Circle Game/So Long/Rockport Sunday/No Regrets/(Coda) [Ends side but not credited on the sleeve]

11. “Tighten Up Volume 2” – VARIOUS ARTISTS
(November 1969 UK MONO LP on Trojan Records TTL 7)
Side 1:
1. Long Shot Kick De Bucket - The Pioneers
2. John Jones - Rudy Mills
3. Fire Corner - King Stitt
4. Wreck A Buddy - The Soul Sisters
5. Reggae In Your Jeggae – Dandy [Dandy Livingstone]
6. Fattie Fattie - Clancy Eccles
Side 2:
1. Return Of Django - The Upsetters
2. Sufferer - The Kingstonians
3. Moonlight Lover - Joya Landis
4. Come Into My Parlour - The Bleechers
5. Them A Laugh And A Kiki – Soulmates
6. Live Injection - The Upsetters

[The 2009 2CD DELUXE EDITION of the Reggae classic "Tighten Up Vol.2" offers the full 12-track album above, plus it's 12 B-sides as extras on CD 1 (all 12 songs were issued as 7" singles in the UK); while a second CD offers 26 singles from the 1969 period as bonuses. See blogger and Amazon for a separate review for this superb 2CD set.]

12. “Eric Burdon Declares “War”” - ERIC BURDON and WAR
(May 1970 USA LP on MGM Records SE-4663)
(September 1970 UK LP on Polydor 2310 041)
Side 1:
The Vision Of Rassan: A) Dedication B) Roll On Kirk
[2 Tracks as 1 – 7:43 minutes]
Tobacco Road: A) Tobacco Road B) I Have A Dream C) Tobacco Road
[3 Tracks as 1 – 13:21 minutes]
Side 2: Spill The Wine
Blues For Memphis Slim: A) Birth B) Mother Earth C) Mr. Charlie D) Danish Pastry E) Mother Earth [5 Tracks as 1 – 13:20 minutes]
You’re No Stranger


13. “A Nod's As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse” – FACES
(November 1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 56006)
(November 1971 USA LP on Warner Brothers BS-2574)
[Note: USA title is “A Nod Is As…”/see UK and USA art above]
Side 1: Miss Judy’s Farm/You’re So Rude/Love Lives Here/Last Orders Please/Stay With Me
Side 2: Debris/Memphis/Too Bad/That’s All I Need

[the CD reissue by Rhino uses the US artwork and spelling - the original album on both sides of the pond also came with an enormous fold out poster [a collage of hundreds of polaroid snaps of the band] which unfortunately isn't reproduced in the booklet]

14. “Manassas” – STEPHEN STILLS and MANASSAS
(May 1972 UK 2LP set on Atlantic K 60021)
(April 1972 USA 2LP set on Atlanic SD2-903)
Side 1 (called "The Raven"): Song Of Love/Rock & Roll Crazies - Cuban Bluegrass (2 songs as 1)/Jet Set (Sigh)/Anyway/Both Of Us (Bound To Lose)
Side 2 (called "The Wilderness"): Fallen Eagle/Jesus Gave Love Away For Free/Colorado/So Begins The Task/Hide It So Deep/Don't Look At My Shadow
Side 3 (called "Consider"): It Doesn't Matter/Johnny's Garden/Bound To Fall/How Far/Move Around/The Love Gangster
Side 4 (called "Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay"): What To Do/Right Now/The Treasure (Take One)/Blues Man [Dedicated To Jimi Hendrix, Al Wilson and Duane Allman]

(The actual albums run the Sides differently - Record 1 has Side 1 and 4, Record 2 has Sides 2 and 3)

15. “Extension Of A Man” – DONNY HATHAWAY
(July 1973 UK LP on Atlantic K 40487)
Side 1: I Love The Lord ; He Heard Me Cry (Parts I & II)/Someday We'll All Be Free/Flying Easy/Valdez In The Country/I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Side 2: Come Little Children/Love, Love, Love/The Slums/Magdalena/I Know It's You

{"Someday We'll All Be Free" is an Edward Howard song]
["I Love You More..." is a Blood, Sweat & Tears cover version written by Al Kooper]
["Magdalena" is a Danny O'Keefe cover version]
["Love, Love, Love" is a J.R. Bailey song]
["I Know It's You" is a Leon Ware song]

16. “So What” – JOE WALSH
(December 1974 UK LP on ABC Records ABCL 5055)
Side 1: Welcome To The Club/Falling Down/Pavanne/Time Out/All Night Laundry Mat Blues
Side 2: Turn To Stone/Help Me Thru The Night/County Fair/Song For Emma

["Falling Down" is a Don Henley song not on any Eagles or solo album]
["Pavanne" is a synth version of a classical piece by Ravel]
["Turn To Stone" originally appeared on his debut solo LP "Barnstorm" in 1972, but in a rougher and longer form; this shorter more polished version is different and is usually the one chosen for 'Best Of' compilations]

17. “The Bothy Band” – THE BOTHY BAND [aka The Bothy Band 1975]
(March 1976 UK LP on Polydor Super 2383 379)
Side 1:
1. The Kesh Jig/Give Us A Drink Of Water/The Flower Of The Flock/Famous Ballymote
2. The Green Groves Of Erin/The Flowers Of Red Hill
3. Do You Love An Apple
4. Julia Delaney
5. Patsy Geary's Coleman's Cross
6. Is Trua Nach Bhfuil Me In Eirinn
7. The Navvy On The Line/The Rainy Day
Side 2:
1. The Tar Road To Sligo/Paddy Clancy's
2. Martin Wynn's/The Longford Tinker
3. Pretty Peg/Craig's Pipes
4. Hector The Hero/The Laird Of Drumblaire (Strathspey And Reel)
5. The Traveller/The Humours Of Lissadel
6. The Butterfly
7. The Salamanca/The Banshee/The Sailor's Bonnet

[many of the tracks [1 on Side 1, 7 on Side 2] are jigs and reels segued into 1 song]

One of the most satisfying and brilliant of Irish folk LPs. Great reels, lovely ballads, devoid of any militant shit - it's an absolute peach from start to finish. Put a lot of pride back into 'real' Irish music. The CD came out on Mulligan in the 1980s (LUN CD 002) and is hard to get (as is the original LP), but so worth seeking out. Whenever we have people around for drinkies or a party - out comes this disc and they all love it. THE BOTHY BAND. The balls.

18. “Hejira” – JONI MITCHELL
(November 1976 UK LP on Asylum K 53053)
Side 1: Coyote/Amelia/Furry Sings The Blues/A Strange Boy/Hejira
Side 2: Song For Sharon/Black Crow/Blue Motel Room/Refuge Of The Roads

19. “Marquee Moon” – TELEVISION
(March 1977 UK LP on Elektra K 52046)
Side 1: See No Evil/Venu/Friction/Marquee Moon
Side 2: Elevation/Guiding Light/Prove It/Torn Curtain

20. “Rainbow Seeker” - JOE SAMPLE
(February 1978 UK LP on ABC Records ABCL 5245)
(February 1978 USA LP on ABC Records AA-1050)
Side 1: Rainbow Seeker/In All My Wildest Dreams/There Are Many Stops Along The Way/Melodies Of Love
Side 2: Fly With Wings Of Love/As Long As It Lasts/Islands In The Rain/Together We'll Find A Way

21. “5” – J.J. CALE
(August 1979 UK LP on Shelter/Island ISA 5018)
Side 1: Thirteen Days/Boilin' Pot/I'll Make Love To You Anytime/Don't Cry Sister/Too Much For Me/Sensitive Kind
Side 2: Friday/Lou-Easy-Ann/Let's Go To Tahiti/Katy Kool Lady/Fate Of A Fool/Mona

[CD error has a track called "Out Of Style" mistakenly replacing "Katy Kool Lady";
"Katy Kool Lady" is still unavailable on CD anywhere despite reissue]

22. “Catholic Boy” – THE JIM CARROLL BAND
(October 1980 UK LP on CBS Records CBS 84901)
(October 1980 USA LP on Atco SD 38-132)
Side 1: Wicked Gravity/Three Sisters/Day And Night/Nothing Is True/People Who Died
Side 2: City Drops Into The Night/Crow/It's Too Late/I Want The Angel/Catholic Boy

23. “Pirates” – RICKIE LEE JONES
(July 1981 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 56816)
(July 1981 USA LP on Warner Brothers BS-3432)
Side 1: We Belong Together/Living It Up/Skeletons/Woody And Dutch On The Slow Train To Peking
Side 2: Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)/A Lucky Guy/Traces Of The Western Slopes/The Returns

24. “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” – PETE TOWNSHEND
(June 1982 on Atco K 50889)
(July 1982 on Atco SD 38-149)
Side 1: Stop Hurting People/The Sea Refuses No River/Prelude/Face Dances Part Two/Exquisitely Bored/Communication
Side 2: Stardom In Acton/Uniforms (Corp D'Espirit)/North Country Girl/Somebody Saved Me/Slit Skirts

[Reissued on a CD remaster in 2006 on SPV with 3 bonus tracks in a digipak]

25. “Hearts & Bones” – PAUL SIMON
(November 1983 UK LP on Warner Brothers 923 942-1)
(November 1983 USA LP Warner Brothers 23942)
Side 1: Allergies/Hearts And Bones/When Numbers Get Serious/Think Too Much (b)/Song About The Moon
Side 2: Think Too Much (a)/Train In The Distance/Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War/Cars Are Cars/The Late Great Johnny Ace

26. "Learning To Crawl" - THE PRETENDERS
(January 1984 UK LP on Real/Warner Brothers WX 2)
(January 1984 USA LP on Sire 23980)

Side 1: Middle Of The Road/Back On The Chain Gang/Time The Avenger/Watching The Clothese/Show Me
Side 2: My City Was Gone/Thumbelina/Thin Line Between Love And Hate/I Hurt You/2000 Miles

27. “Steve McQueen” – PREFAB SPROUT
(June 1985 UK LP on Kitchenware KWLP 3)
Side 1: Faron Young/Bonny/Appetite/When Love Breaks Down/Goodbye Lucille #1/Hallelujah
Side 2: Moving The River/Horsin' Around/Desire As/Blueberry Pies/When The Angels

28. “The Colour Of Spring” – TALK TALK
(February 1986 UK LP on EMI EMC 3506)
Side 1: Happiness Is Easy/I Don't Believe In You/Life's What You Make It/April 5th
Side 2: Living In Another World/Give It Up/Chameleon Day/Time It's Time

29. “Dumb Poet” – IMMACULATE FOOLS [lead vocals/songwriter Kevin Weatherill]
(1987 UK LP on A&M AMA 5151)
Side 1: Never Give Less Than Anything/Tragic Comedy/One Minute/Dumb Poet/So Much Here
Side 2: Wish You Were Here/Don't Drive The Hope From My Heart/Pretty Prize Now/Stay Away
("She Fools Everyone" is a CD-only bonus track on A&M CDA 5151 [Track 8])

30. “Strange Kind Of Love” – LOVE and MONEY
(October 1988 UK LP on Fontana SFLP 7)
[Full Digital Recording, Produced by GARY KATZ of STEELY DAN Fame]
Side 1: Halleluiah Man/Shape Of Things To Come/Strange Kind Of Love/Axis Of Love/Jocelyn Square
Side 2: Walk The Last Mile/Razorsedge/Inflammable/Up Escalator/Avalanche
("Scapegoat" is a CD-only bonus track on Fontana 836 498-2 [Track 11])

31. “Hats” – THE BLUE NILE [feat PAUL BUCHANAN]
(October 1989 UK LP on Linn Records LKH 2)
Side 1: Over The Hillside/The Downtown Lights/Let's Go Out Tonight
Side 2: Headlights On The Parade/From A Late Night Train/Seven A.M./Saturday Night

32. “Aion” – DEAD CAN DANCE
(July 1990 UK LP on 4AD Records CAD 0007)
Side 1: The Arrival And The Reunion/Saltarello/Mephisto/The Song Of The Sybil/Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book/As The Bell Rings The Maypole Spins
Side 2: The End Of Words/Black Sun/Wilderness/The Promised Womb/The Garden Of Zephirus/Radharc

33. “Cooltide” – JOHN MARTYN
(November 1991 UK LP/CD on Permanent PERMLP 4/PERMCD 4)
9 Track CD: Hole In The Rain/Annie Says/Jack The Lad/Number Nine/The Cure/Same Difference/Father Time/Call Me/Cooltide

[Reissued in 2008 as a CD remaster with 4 bonus tracks on One World Records]

34. “The Missing Years” – JOHN PRINE
(September 1991 USA CD on Oh Boy Records OBR-009CD)
(July 1992 UK CD on This Way Up Records 512 774-2)
14 Track CD:
Picture Show/All The Best/The Sins Of Memphisto/Everybody Wants To Feel Like You/It's A Big Old Goofy World/I Want To Be With You Always/Daddy's Little Pumpkin/Take A Look At My Heart/Great Rain/Way Back Then/Unlonely/You Got Gold/Everything Is Cool/Jesus The Missing Years

35. “Bang!” – WORLD PARTY
(April 1993 UK LP/CD on Ensign Records CHENLP/CDCHEN 33)
(April 1993 USA CD on Ensign 21991)
11 Track CD: Kingdom Come/Is It Like Today?/What Is Love All About?/And God Said.../ Give It All Away/Sooner Or Later/Hollywood/Radio Days/Rescue Me/Sunshine/All I Gave

["And God Said..." is only 27 seconds - a link between tracks]

[Reissued as a CD remaster by Seaview Records in 2006]

36. “Do Right Man” – DAN PENN
(June 1994 CD on Sire/Warner Brothers/Blue Horizon 9362-45519-2)
10 Track CD: The Dark End Of The Street/Cry Like A Man/It Tears Me Up/You Left The Water Running/Do Right Woman Do Right Man/Memphis Women And Chicken/Zero Willpower/He'll Take Care Of You/I'm Your Puppet/Where There's A Will (There's A Way)

37. “Stripped” (Live) – THE ROLLING STONES
(November 1995 UK CD on Virgin CDV 2801 [2LP set V 2801])
14 Track CD: Street Fighting Man/Like A Rolling Stone/Not Fade Away/Shine A Light/The Spider And The Fly/I'm Free/Wild Horses/Let It Bleed/Dead Flowers/Slipping Away/Angie/Love In Vain/Sweet Virginia/Little Baby

[the 2LP vinyl version of this 'live' in the studio album is quite rare]

38. “Peace Beyond Passion” – ME’SHELL NDEGEOCELLO
(July 1996 CD on Maverick 9362 46033-2 [No LP Version])
12 Track CD: The Womb/The Way/Deuteronomy: Niggerman/Ecclesiastes: Free My Heart/Leviticus: Faggot/Mary Magdalene/God Shiva/Who Is He And What Is He To You/Stay/Bittersweet/A Tear And A Smile/Make Me Wanna Holler

["Who Is He..." is a Bill Withers cover; "Make Me..." is a Marvin Gaye cover]

39. “Strangers Almanac” – WHISKEYTOWN
[feat [David] Ryan Adams and Caitlin Cary]
(July 1997 CD on Mood Food/Outpost OPRD-30005)
13 Track CD: Inn Town/Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight/Yesterday's News/16 Days/Everything I Do/Houses On The Hill/Turn Around/Dancing With The Women At The Bar/Waiting To Derail/Avenues/Losering/Somebody Remembers The Rose/Not Home Anymore

[Reissued and remastered as a superb 2CD DELUXE EDITION in 2008 - see seperate Blogger and Amazon review]

40. “Timepeace” – TERRY CALLIER
(1998 USA CD on Talkin' Loud 539 249-2)
12 Track CD: Ride Suite Ride (Intro)/Lazarus Man/Keep Your Heart Right/Java Sparrow/People Get Ready - Brotherly Love/Love Theme From Spartacus/No More Blues/Timepeace/Following Your Footprints/C'est La Vie/Coyote Moon/AKA New York Al/Traitor To The Race

["People Get Ready" clip at the beginning of "Brotherly Love" is a cover version of The Impressions hit written by Curtis Mayfield]
["Following Your Footprints" features sax by Pharoah Sanders]

41. “Mule Variations” – TOM WAITS
(April 1999 UK CD on Anti/Epitaph 6547-2)
16 Track CD:
Big In Japan/Lowside Of The Road/Hold On/Get Behind The Mule/House Where Nobody Lives/Cold Water/Pony/What's He Building?/Black Market Baby/Eyeball Kid/Picture In A Frame/Chocolate Jesus/Georgia Lee/Filipino Box Spring Hog/Take It With Me/Come On Up To The House

42. “Inside Job” – DON HENLEY
(May 2000 CD on Warner Brothers 9362-47083-2)
13 Track CD:
Nobody Else In The World/Taking You Home/For My Wedding/Everything Is Different Now/Workin' It/Goodbye To A River/Inside Job/They're Not Here, They're Not Coming/Damn, It Rose/Miss Ghost/The Genie/Annabel/My Thanksgiving

43. “Gold” – RYAN ADAMS
(September 2001 CD on Lost Highway 088 170 256-2)
16 Track CD:
New York, New York/Firecracker/Answering Bell/La Cienega Just Smiled/The Rescue Blues/Somehow, Someday/When The Stars Go Blue/Nobody Girl/Sylvia Plath/Enemy Fire/Gonna Make You Love Me/Wild Flowers/Harder Now That It's Over/Touch, Feel & Lose/Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues/Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.

[Is was issued in Europe on Lost Highway 170 252-2 as a ltd edition 2CD set; the bonus CD had 5 extra tracks - Rosalie Come And Go/The Fools We Are As Men/Sweet Black Magic/The Bar Is A Beautiful Place/Cannonball Days]

44. “Wishing Well” – RICHIE HAVENS
(June 2002 USA CD on Stormy Forest SFS-2021)
10 Track CD: The Well/Handouts In The Rain/Love Is Alive/You'll Never Know/Slow Down/On The Road To Calvary/Stardust And Passion/Paradise/Alone Together/On The Turning Away

45. “The Randy Newman Songbook Vol.1” – RANDY NEWMAN
(2003 CD on Nonesuch 7559-79689-2)
18 Track CD:
It's Lonely At The Top/God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)/Louisiana 1927/Let Me Go/Rednecks/Avalon/Living Without You/I Think It's Going To Rain Today/You Can Leave Your Hat On/It's Money That I Love/Marie/When She Loved Me/Sail Away/The World Isn't Fair/Political Science/The Great Nations of Europe/In Germany Before The War/Ragtime

Like Elvis Costello, Randy Newman has often been viewed as one of the great smartarses of rock - and in some respects - this has put people off him and his music. He may be sharp, acidic, witty - his songs chronicling the weak ways of man and beast - but does his music touch you - have human frailty in it? Well here it does.

What we have on "Songbook" is accessible Newman - tracks from his entire career (rock and soundtracks) stripped down to just him and a piano. The effect is startling - peeling away the flashy guitar and sax solos, the perfectly pitched harmony vocals, the clever but overbearing orchestration - and you're left with only the bare melody and words - or in some cases - just the melody (Toy Story 2's "When She Loved Me"). The results are stunning. At 63 - his voice is even more powerfully evocative - and of course - the depth of the songs comes shining through like never before.

It's hard to take it all in - in one sitting - it is - but it's also hard not to be hugely impressed. Here is a great American songwriter - as relevant and as fearless as ever - just in a 'unplugged' kind of way.

46. “Beautiful Dreamer – The Songs Of Robert Foster (1826-1864)”
– VARIOUS ARTISTS
(August 2004 USA CD Compilation on Emergent)
1. Beautiful Dreamer - Raul Malo [Lead Vocalist The Mavericks]
2. Slumber My Darling - Yo-Yo Ma/Mark O'Connor/Edgar Meyer/James Taylor/Alison Krauss
3. Don't Bet Money On The Shanghai - BR5-49
4. Nelly Was A Lady - Alvin Youngblood Hart
5. No One To Love - Judith Edelman
6. Camptown Races - Duhks
7. My Old Kentucky Home Goodnight - John Prine
8. Autumn Waltz - Henry Kaiser
9. In The Eye Abides The Heart - Beth Nielsen Chapman
10. Old Folks At Home - David Ball
11. Oh Susanna - Michelle Shocked & Pete Anderson
12. Willie We Have Missed You - Grey De Lisle
13. Hard Time Come Again No More - Mavis Staples
14. Gentle Annie - Ollabelle
15. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair - Roger McGuinn [of The Byrds]
16. Ah May The Red Rose Live Always - Suzy Bogguss
17. Holiday Schottisch - Will Barrow
18. Comrades Fill No Glass For Me - Ron Sexsmith

47. “Takk…” – SIGUR ROS
(August 2005 UK CD on EMI 337 252 2 5 [Book Packaging])
11 Track CD:
Takk.../Glósóli/Hoppípolla/Með Blóðnasir/Sé Lest/Saeglópur/Mílanó/Gong/Andvari/Svo Hljótt/Heysátan

[Track 4 "Hoppipolla" is the theme music to the BBC's "Planet Earth" TV Series]

48. “Black Water” - KRIS DREVER
(October 2006 CD)
12 Track CD:
Steel and Stone (Black Water)/Braw Sailin' On The Sea/Patrick Spence/Beads And Feathers/Green Grows The Laurel/Honk Toot (Honk Toot/The Happy Aunt/Betty Beardmore-Medley)/Harvest Gypsies/Fause Fause/Poor Mans Son/Rodney's Glory (Air/Rodney's Glory/Jim Donoghue's - Medley)/Navigator/Farewell To Fuineray

Kris Drever used to be with a folk group called FINE FRIDAY; "Black Water" is his debut solo album on the private label Reveal. It's a deeply Scottish folk affair, beautifully produced and featuring stunning complimentary vocal work from EDDI READER, KATE RUSBY and RODDY WOOMBLE of IDLEWILD. It also features JOHN McCUSKER on Fiddle [Album's Producer], DONALD SHAW on Harmonium and IAN CARR on Guitar. It transcends folk and his deep resonant vocals are a joy to listen to - steeped in Irish, English and Scottish traditional music. Drever's vocals are similar in depth to ANDREW MURRAY of DE DANNAN (check out his wonderful "Hell Or High Water" CD from 2005). "Black Water" is a beautiful album that gets better and warmer with every listen - and it went criminally unnoticed outside of folk circles. Check it out.

49. “Aman Iman: Water Is Life” - TINARIWEN
(February 2007 CD on Independiente)
12 Track CD:
Cler Achel/Mano Dayak/Matadjem Yinmixan/Ahimana/63/Toumast/Imidiwan Winakalin/Awad Idjen/Ikyadar Dim/Tamatant Tilay/Assouf/Izarar Ténéré

Sensational chugging mixture of Sahara Desert tribal rhythms with guitar rock and wailing women in the background - sort of Santana meets the Middle East. Every time I play a track off this CD in the shop it brings eager customers to the counter. An exciting new hybrid for World Music and utterly infectious.

50. “Hurricane” – GRACE JONES
(November 2008 CD on Wall Of Sound)
9 Track CD:
This Is/Williams Blood/Corporate Cannibal/I'm Crying (Mother's Tears)/Well Well Well/Hurricane/Love You To Life/Sunset Sunrise/Devil In My Life

An extraordinarily good return to form for Grace - stunning single in "William's Blood" - sounds like "Slave To The Rhythm", "Nightclubbing" and "Inside Story" were only made yesterday. Again - every time we play this - the punters love it. The whole album is good.

51. “Hill Of Thieves” – CARA DILLON
(January 2009 CD on Charcoal)
11 Track CD:
The Hill Of Thieves/Johnny, Lovely Johnny/The Parting Glass/Spencer The Rover/False, False/Jimmy Mó Mhíle Stór/She Moved Through The Fair/P Stands For Paddy (Lament For Johnny)/The Verdant Braes Of Skreen/The Lass Of Glenshee/Fil, Fil A Run Ó

Beautiful voice (she's from Dungiven in County Derry, Northern Ireland) married with gorgeous production, expert song choice and top musicianship gives you a contender for Folk Album of the Year already. Such a pretty and lovely listen - check out her version of "Spencer The Rover" with duet vocals from Seth Lakeman - sweet as a nut...

Rhino’s “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD-Singles Series - A List Of All 60 Titles.

Issued in 1988 and 1989, "Lil' Bit of Gold" was a series of Sixty USA-ONLY 3” sized CD SINGLES (4 Tracks Each) in 3” card sleeves.

Each CD3 disc was gold in colour, each had 4 chart hits and usually featured 'Michael Ochs' Archive photo on the front artwork with track list and chart info on the rear. They were released in three batches of 20 and many are now highly collectible and rare. Here's a breakdown...

1st batch February 1988

1. THE BEACH BOYS (Rhino R3 73001)
2. JOHNNY CASH (Rhino R3 73002)
3. THE CHORDETTES (Rhino R3 73003)
4. CLASSICS IV (Rhino R3 73004)
5. EDDIE COCHRAN (Rhino R3 73005)
6. THE DIXIE CUPS (Rhino R3 73006)
7. FATS DOMINO (Rhino R3 73007)
8. THE EVERLY BROTHERS (Rhino R3 73008)
9. THE FLEETWOODS (Rhino R3 73009)
10. THE 4 SEASONS (Rhino R3 73010)
11. JAN & DEAN (Rhino R3 73011)
12. JERRY LEE LEWIS (Rhino R3 73012)
13. LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (Rhino R3 73013)
14. LITTLE RICHARD (Rhino R3 73014)
15. CARL PERKINS (Rhino R3 73015)
16. THE RASPBERRIES (Rhino R3 73016)
17. THE TURTLES (Rhino R3 73017)
18. RICHIE VALENS (Rhino R3 73018)
19. BOBBY VEE (Rhino R3 73019)
20. THE VENTURES (Rhino R3 73020)

2nd batch August 1988 (1 to 11) and September 1988 (12 to 20)

1. RAY CHARLES (Rhino R3 73021)
2. THE EVERLY BROTHERS, Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73022)
3. JERRY LEE LEWIS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73023)
4. LITTLE RICHARD Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73024)
5. TODD RUNDGREN (Rhino R3 73025)
6. NANCY SINATRA (Rhino R3 73026)
7. THE TURTLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73027)
8. FRANKIE VALLI (Rhino R3 73028)
9. THE 4 SEASONS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73029)
10. THE VOGUES (Rhino R3 73030)
11. THE BEACH BOYS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73031)
12. JACKIE DeSHANNON (Rhino R3 73032)
13. THE FOUR PREPS (Rhino R3 73033)
14. JAY & THE AMERICANS (Rhino R3 73034)
15. THE KINGSTON TRIO (Rhino R3 73035)
16. THE LETTERMEN (Rhino R3 73036)
17. GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS (Rhino R3 73037)
18. RICKY NELSON (Rhino R3 73038)
19. LES PAUL and MARY FORD (Rhino R3 73039)
20. GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS (Rhino R3 73040)

3rd batch November 1988 (1 to 10) and early 1989 (11 to 20)

1. RAY CHARLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73041)
2. THE COOKIES (Rhino R3 73042)
3. JOEY DEE & THE STARLIGHTERS (Rhino R3 73043)
4. BOBBY FREEMAN (Rhino R3 73044)
5. TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS (Rhino R3 73045)
6. TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73046)
7. GENE PITNEY (Rhino R3 73047)
8. GENE PITNEY Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73048)
9. JIMMIE RODGERS (Rhino R3 73049)
10. MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS (Rhino R3 73050)
11. THE BEAU BRUMMELS (Rhino R3 73051)
12. JERRY BUTLER [of The Impressions] (Rhino R3 73052)
13. THE EASYBEATS (Rhino R3 73053)
14. BETTY EVERETT [feat Jerry Butler on Track 4] (Rhino R3 73054)
15. THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR (Rhino R3 73055)
16. THE JIVE FIVE (Rhino R3 73056)
17. THE SHIRELLES (Rhino R3 73057)
18. THE SHIRELLES Volume 2 (Rhino R3 73058)
19. JOE TEX (Rhino R3 73059)
20. BRENTON WOOD (Rhino R3 73060)

- TRACK LISTS for all 60 in Release Date Order -

R3 73001 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Beach Boys
Tracks: California Girls/Help Me Rhonda/Wouldn't It Be Nice/Good Vibrations

R3 73002 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Johnny Cash
Tracks: I Walk The Line/Folsom Prison Blues/Guess Things Happen That Way/Ballad Of A Teenage Queen

R3 73003 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Chordettes
Tracks: Lollipop/Mr. Sandman/Born To Be With You/Eddie My Love

R3 73004 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Classics IV (Featuring Dennis Yost)
Tracks: Spooky/Traces/Everyday With You Girl/Stormy

R3 73005 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Eddie Cochran
Tracks: Summertime Blues/Somethin' Else/C’mon Everybody/Nervous Breakdown

R3 73006 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Dixie Cups
Tracks: Chapel Of Love/Iko Iko/People Say/Little Bell

R3 73007 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Fats Domino
Tracks: Blueberry Hill/I'm Walkin'/Ain't That A Shame/Walking To New Orleans

R3 73008 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Everly Brothers
Tracks: Wake Up Little Susie/Bird Dog/Let It Be Me/All I Have To Do Is Dream

R3 73009 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Fleetwoods
Tracks: Mr. Blue/Come Softly To Me/Tragedy/Runaround

R3 73010 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Four Seasons (featuring Frankie Valli)
Tracks: Sherry/Working My Way Back To You/Rag Doll/Let's Hang On

R3 73011 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jan & Dean
Tracks: Surf City/Ride The Wild Surf/The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)/Dead Man's Curve

R3 73012 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jerry Lee Lewis
Tracks: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/High School Confidential/End Of The Road/What'd I Say

R3 73013 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Little Anthony & The Imperials
Tracks: Goin' Out Of My Head/I'm On The Outside (Looking In)/Hurt So Bad/Take Me Back

R3 73014 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Little Richard
Tracks: Tutti-Frutti/Good Golly Miss Molly/Slippin' And Slidin' (Peepin' And Hidin')/The Girl Can't Help It

R3 73015 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Carl Perkins
Tracks: Blue Suede Shoes/Honey Don't/Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby/Matchbox

R3 73016 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Raspberries
Tracks: Go All The Way/I Wanna Be With You/Let's Pretend/Tonight

R3 73017 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Turtles
Tracks: Happy Together/You Baby/She'd Rather Be With Me/It Ain't Me Babe

R3 73018 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ritchie Valens
Tracks: La Bamba/Come On Let's Go/Donna/That's My Little Suzie

R3 73019 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Bobby Vee
Tracks: Take Good Care Of My Baby/Run To Him/The Night Has A Thousand Eyes/Come Back When You Grow Up

R3 73020 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ventures [1988] Walk-Don't Run/Hawaii Five- O/Perfidia/Wipe Out

R3 73021 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ray Charles
Tracks: Unchain My Heart/Hit The Road Jack/One Mint Julep/Busted

R3 73022 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Everly Brothers
Tracks: Bye Bye Love/('Til) I Kissed You/Devoted To You/Problems

R3 73023 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 - Jerry Lee Lewis
Tracks: Great Balls Of Fire/Breathless/You Win Again/Big Blon' Baby

R3 73024 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 - Little Richard
Tracks: Long Tall Sally/Lucille/Rip It Up/Keep A Knockin'

R3 73025 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Todd Rundgren [8/88] I Saw The Light/We Gotta Get You A Woman/Hello It's Me/Can We Still Be Friends

R3 73026 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Nancy Sinatra
Tracks: These Boots Are Made For Walkin'/How Does That Grab You Darlin'/Sugar Town/Somethin' Stupid [with Frank Sinatra]

R3 73027 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Turtles
Tracks: Let Me Be/You Showed Me/She's My Girl/Elenore

R3 73028 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Frankie Valli
Tracks: Can't Take My Eyes Off You/My Eyes Adored You/Swearin' To God/Our Day Will Come

R3 73029 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Four Seasons (featuring Frankie Valli)
Tracks: Big Girls Don't Cry/Candy Girl/Ronnie/Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)

R3 73030 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Vogues
Tracks: You're The One/Five O'Clock World/Magic Town/The Land Of Milk And Honey

R3 73031 - Lil' Bit of Gold, Volume 2 – The Beach Boys
Tracks: Surfin' USA/Fun Fun Fun/Be True To Your School/I Get Around

R3 73032 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jackie DeShannon [9/88] Put A Little Love In Your Heart/What The World Needs Now Is Love/You Won't Forget Me/When You Walk In The Room

R3 73033 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Four Preps
Tracks: 26 Miles (Santa Catalina)/Down By The Station/Big Man/More Money For You And Me

R3 73034 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Jay & The Americans
Tracks: Come A Little Bit Closer/She Cried/Only In America/Let's Lock The Door (And Throw Away The Key)

R3 73035 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Kingston Trio
Tracks: Tom Dooley/M.T.A./Greenback Dollar/Where Have All The Flowers Gone

R3 73036 - Lil' Bit of Gold – The Lettermen
Tracks: When I Fall In Love/Going Out Of My Head-Can't Take My Eyes Off You/The Way You Look Tonight/Hurt So Bad

R3 73037 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Tracks: This Diamond Ring/She's Just My Style/Everybody Loves A Clown/Sure Gonna Miss Her

R3 73038 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Ricky Nelson
Tracks: Poor Little Fool/Hello Mary Lou/It's Late/Travelin' Man

R3 73039 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Les Paul & Mary Ford
Tracks: How High The Moon/The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise/Mockin' Bird Hill/Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)

R3 73040 - Lil' Bit of Gold - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
Tracks: Be Bop A Lula/Lotta Lovin'/Woman Love/Race With The Devil

R3 73041 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Ray Charles
Tracks: Georgia On My Mind/Crying Time/I Can't Stop Loving You/You Are My Sunshine

R3 73042 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Cookies
Tracks: Chains/Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)/Will Power/Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys

R3 73043 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Joey Dee & The Starlighters
Tracks: Peppermint Twist, Part 1/Shout, Part 1/Hey Let's Twist/Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes, Part 1

R3 73044 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Bobby Freeman
Tracks: Do You Want To Dance/Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes/S-W-I-M/C’mon And Swim

R3 73045 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Tommy James & The Shondells
Tracks: Hanky Panky/I Think We're Alone Now/Mirage/Mony Mony

R3 73046 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Tommy James & The Shondells
Tracks: Crimson And Clover/Sweet Cherry Wine/Crystal Blue Persuasion/Draggin' The Line

R3 73047 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Gene Pitney
Tracks: (I Wanna) Love My Life Away/(The man Who Shot) Liberty Valance/Every Breath I Take/Town Without Pity

R3 73048 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 - Gene Pitney
Tracks: It Hurts To Be In Love/Only Love Can Break A Heart/I'm Gonna Be Strong/Half Heaven-Half Heartache

R3 73049 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Jimmie Rodgers
Tracks: Honeycomb/Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Oh-Oh, I'm Fallin' In Love Again/Secretly

R3 73050 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
Tracks: Jenny Take A Ride!/Devil With The Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly/Sock It To Me-Baby!/Too Many Fish In The Sea & Three Little Fishes

R3 73051 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Beau Brummels
Tracks: Laugh Laugh/Just A Little/Don't Talk To Strangers/You Tell Me Why

R3 73052 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Jerry Butler
Tracks: He Will Break Your Heart/Make It Easy On Yourself/Moon River/For Your Precious Love [with Impressions]

R3 73053 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Easybeats
Tracks: Friday On My Mind/Gonna Have A Good Time/Pretty Girl/Falling Off The Edge Of The World

R3 73054 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Betty Everett
Tracks: The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)/You're No Good/Getting Mighty Crowded/Let It Be Me [with Jerry Butler]

R3 73055 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Bobby Fuller Four
Tracks: I Fought The Law/Let Her Dance/Love's Made A Fool Of You/The Magic Touch

R3 73056 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Jive Five
Tracks: My True Story/What Time Is It?/Never Never/I'm A Happy Man

R3 73057 - Lil' Bit Of Gold – The Shirelles
Tracks: Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Mama Said/Tonight's The Night/Dedicated To The One I Love

R3 73058 - Lil' Bit Of Gold, Volume 2 – The Shirelles
Tracks: Baby It's You/Soldier Boy/Foolish Little Girl/Everybody Loves A Lover

R3 73059 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Joe Tex
Tracks: Show Me/Skinny Legs And All/Hold What You've Got/I Gotcha

R3 73060 - Lil' Bit Of Gold - Brenton Wood
Tracks: The Oogum Boogum Song/Gimme Little Sign/Baby You Got It/Me And You

- "Lil' Bit Of Gold" BOX SETS -

R3 72002 - Lil' Bit Of Gold Storage Box: The Fifties - Various Artists
1988 Box Set Containing 5 x “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD –Singles
Contents: Fats Domino (R3 73007), The Everly Brothers (R3 73008), Little Richard (R3 73014), Ritchie Valens (R3 73018) and Rick Nelson (R3 73038)

R3 72003 - Lil' Bit Of Gold Storage Box: The Sixties - Various Artists
1988 Box Set Containing 5 x “Lil’ Bit Of Gold” 3” CD –Singles
Contents: The Beach Boys (R3 73001), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (R3 73010), Jan & Dean (R3 73011), The Turtles (R3 73017) and Jay & The Americans (R3 73034)

“A’s, B’s & Rarities” by C.C.S. [aka CCS] (2004 EMI Gold CD Compilation Of UK 7" Singles On The RAK Records Label Plus Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception 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)

"…Hey Brother…Stay Loose…"

CCS (short for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUNESS SOCIETY) made 3 studio albums and 7 singles for Mickie Most's RAK Records in the early Seventies before the band finally split up in late 1973. This 2004 EMI compilation offers you the A&B sides of all seven UK singles plus 5 tracks off the albums and 2 newly found previously unreleased recordings from the period.




Their 3 albums are pictured above in release date order

The huge ensemble group was the brain-child of British Blues Boom Godfather ALEXIS KORNER who along with Danish singer PETER THORUP and British arranger JOHN CAMERON pulled together the cream of brass/flute-playing session-men of the time and went after the BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS market for funked-up rock (the liner notes name all 26 of them).

It's a generous set, so here's a detailed breakdown (74:10 minutes):

1 and 2 is "Whole Lotta Love" b/w "Boom Boom", October 1970 on RAK 104
(A is a Led Zeppelin cover ("Top Of The Pops" theme music), B is a John Lee Hooker cover - both tracks are off the 1st album)

3 and 4 is "Walkin'" b/w "Salome", January 1971 on RAK 109
(A is a Donovan cover - B is an Alexis Korner/John Cameron original - both tracks are non-album)

5 and 6 is "Tap Turns On The Water" b/w "Save The World", August 1971 on RAK 119
(A is a John Cameron/Alexis Korner original - B is a John Cameron original - both tracks are non-album)

7 and 8 is "Brother" b/w "Mister What You Can't Have I Can Get", February 1972, RAK 126
(A is an John Cameron/Alexis Korner original - B is a John Cameron original - A is on the second LP - B is non-album)

9 and 10 is "Sixteen Tons" b/w "This Is My Life", October 1972 on RAK 141
(A is a Tennessee Ernie Ford cover - B is a Peter Thorup/Alexis Korner original - B also features a "Tap Turns On The Water" brass beginning and a lead vocal by Peter Thorup - both tracks are non-album)

11 and 12 is "The Band Played The Boogie" b/w "Hang It On Me", June 1973 on RAK 154
(A is a Don Reedman/Jeff Jarratt song - B is a John Cameron original - A is off the 3rd album - B is a non-album track)

13 and 14 is "Hurricane Coming" b/w "Dragster", April 1974 on RAK 172
(A is a Ronnie Scott cover - B is a John Cameron/Hayes original - both tracks are non-album)

15 and 16 are "Sunrise" and "Wade In The Water", both from their debut album "C.C.S.", October 1970 (UK) on Rak SRAK 6751 (Gatefold Sleeve)
(15 is an Alexis Korner original, 16 is a cover version of a Traditional Air - the album was issued in the USA in 1971 as "Whole Lotta Love")

17 and 18 are "Hundred Highways" and "Primitive Love", both from their 3rd and last studio album "The Best Band In The Land", September 1973 on Rak SRAK 504
(17 is a John Cameron original - 18 is a Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman song)

19 is "I Want You Back", a Jackson 5 cover version is found on their 2nd album, also called "CCS" [aka CCS 2], March 1972 on Rak SRAK 503 (Single Sleeve)

20 and 21 and "Blues" and "If I Never Sing Another Song" - both are previously unreleased and exclusive to this compilation (song authors unknown) - Thorup lead vocals on 20 - Korner/Thorup both on 21, which is live and also features a reprise of "Tap Turns On The Water" towards the end

The 8-page inlay has affectionate and detailed liner notes by ADRIAN BOLTON and the remastered sound quality is SUPERB throughout - warm, clear and given the brassy nature of most tracks - loud.

Highlights include the stunning non-album B-side "Sixteen Tons" (I'm always putting on 70's Fest compilations) and the two new recordings are both eerie and shockingly good. Both "Brother" and "Tap..." sound truly brill - and what top singles they were too.

When CCS folded, both Korner and Thorup teamed up with King Crimson's BOZ BURRELL and IAN WALLACE to form SNAPE who issued some albums in Europe. But if you want to investigate further and discover why CCS are held in such affection, Repertoire (out of Europe) put out the 3 albums in 2000 in digipaks with bonus tracks and they're all worth having. In the meantime, this dirt-cheap compilation is a great place to start.

Recommended - big time.


PS: Other 70's acts in the "A's B's & Rarities" series are:
THE ARROWS, HOT CHOCOLATE (see REVIEW), MUD, PILOT and SUZI QUATRO

“The Platinum Collection” by ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS. A Review of the 2007 Warners/Rhino CD Compilation.

“….Here I Go Again…Thinking With My Heart…”

Celebrating 60 years of Atlantic Records, this 2007 Warner/Rhino set is part of a large series of budget-priced compilations offering generous amounts of classic music for peanuts money.

With all 20 tracks remastered to great sound throughout, "Platinum" gives you 16 soul songs from their 3 albums on the label along with 4 rare non-album 7" single sides. The inlay is basic and lacking in details at this price, so here's a breakdown of what's on what (52:35 minutes)....

USA Albums:
"Tighten Up", May 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8181
(CD Tracks 1, 15, 18 and 20)
"I Can't Stop Dancing", 1968 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8204
(CD Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 19)
"There's Gonna Be A Showdown", August 1969 Stereo LP on Atlantic SD-8226
(CD Tracks 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 and 16)

USA 7" Singles:
Track 10 is "A World Without Music", 1970 on Atlantic 2693 [A, Non-Album Track]
("Here I Go Again" was it's B-side - but it was also issued as an A in the UK on Atlantic K 10210 in September 1972 and charted at number 11)
Track 11 is "Don't Let The Music Slip Away", 1970 on Atlantic 2721 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 12 is "Wrap It Up", December 1970 on Atlantic 2768 [A, Non-Album Track]
Track 17 is "Dog Eat Dog", April 1968 on Atlantic 2478 [Non-Album Track, B-side to "Tighten Up"]

Forgotten gems include "Here I Go Again" and "Wrap It Up" - both are sort of Chi-Lites meets Motown dancers - really excellent. "Do The Choo Choo" is awful - a poor attempt at a dance craze after the number one success of "Tighten Up" on both sides of the pond. "Dog Eat Dog" - the rare non-LP B-side of their first British 45 "Tighten Up" on Atlantic 584 185 (May 1968) - is a welcome addition to CD - great 60ts soul. "When You Left Heartache Began" has been on Northern Soul compilations as a track to rediscover too.

Rare tracks, decent sound - this budget-priced remastered compilation is stunning value for money and makes available music that is increasingly hard to find now on original vinyl.

Recommended.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker, Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

-----Archie Bell & The Drells – Atlantic LP Discography------

“Tighten Up!”
Atlantic SD-8181, May 1968 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: Tighten Up (Part 1 and 2)/I Don't Wanna Be A Playboy/You're Mine/Knock On Wood
Side 2: Give Me Time/In the Midnight Hour/When You Left Heartache Began/A Thousand Wonders/A Soldier's Prayer, 1967

“I Can’t Stop Dancing”
Atlantic SD-8204, 1968 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: I Can't Stop Dancing/(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay/Do The Choo Choo/You're Such A Beautiful Child/Monkey Time
Side 2: Do You Feel It? /I've Been Trying/Jammin' In Houston/Love Will Rain On You/Sometimes I Wonder

“There’s Gonna Be A Showdown”
Atlantic SD-8226, August 1969 USA Stereo LP
Side 1: I Love My Baby/Houston, Texas/(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown/Giving Up Dancing/Girl You're Too Young/Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way
Side 2: Do The Hand Jive/My Balloon's Going Up/Here I Go Again/Go For What You Know/Green Power/Just A Little Closer