"Solid Air" by JOHN MARTYN - February 1972 Seventh Studio Album (May 2009 UK Universal/Island 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue and Remaster with Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes and Live Versions - Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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This Review Along With 310 Others Is Available In My

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US AND THEM - 1973
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

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All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves

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"…Easy Blues…"

Beloved by fans and constantly rediscovered by the listening public - John Martyn's 7th album for the mighty Island Records - the lovely and ethereal "Solid Air" (February 1972) - was always going to be a candidate for the 2CD DELUXE EDITION Series from Universal. 

 

In fact they would do "Live At Leeds" (1975), "One World" (1977) and "Grace And Danger" (1980) too. But Martyn's musical nod to Island Records Folk-Rock hero Nick Drake (the 'Solid Air' in the title) has always been the touchstone for fans. 

But few of us could have hoped that this 2009 2-Disc overhaul would turn out to be this good. I'm blown away - I really am. Let’s go down easy on the details...

UK released May 2009 – "Solid Air: Deluxe Edition" by JOHN MARTYN on Universal/Island 531 793-3 (Barcode 600753179338) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster and melts into the following…

Disc 1 (34:49 minutes):

1. Solid Air [Side 1]

2. Over The Hill

3. Don't Want To Know

4. I'd Rather Be The Devil

5. Go Down Easy [Side 2]

6. Dreams By The Sea

7. May You Never

8. The Man In The Station

9. The Easy Blues/Gentle Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Solid Air" issued 1 February 1973 on Island ILPS 9226 in the UK and Island SW-9325 in the USA (it didn't chart in either country). It was recorded in November and December of 1972 and engineered by JOHN WOOD. The original album had a gatefold sleeve and a famously designed 'hand through air' shot on the front cover by FABIO NICOLI. The gatefold digipak here recreates this artwork inside and out, has 'palm-tree' label CDs to reflect the original LP design and a 20-page booklet with passionate, informative and detailed liner notes by noted experts and friends JOHN HILLARBY and DARYL EASLEA. The booklet also features trade adverts, the master tapes box, lyrics to the songs, session details - it's superbly done. But the real fireworks lie in the beautiful audio transfer of the album on Disc 1 - and I'm thrilled to say - the staggering quality of the ‘Extras’ on Disc 2...

Disc 2 (80:22 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are fully formed 'Alternate Takes' of all 9 album tracks on Disc 1 above and in that order - All PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

10. Keep On 

11. When It's Dark

12. In The Evening 

Tracks 10 to 12 are 3 song out-takes from the album sessions - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

13. May You Never (Single Version)

Track 13 is the 1st version of "May You Never" issued as 7" single in the UK on Island WIP 6116 in November 1971. It's an entirely different version to the 'acoustic take' released on the "Solid Air" album (the song was famously covered by Eric Clapton on his "Slowhand" album of 1977). The 1971 single mix contains a full band with keyboards by John 'Rabbit' Bundrick and guitar work by Paul Kossoff of Free

 

14. The Easy Blues (Live)

15. May You Never (Live) 

16. I'd Rather Be The Devil (Live)

Tracks 14 to 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Versions (no details supplied)

PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving in London has handled the 24-bit digital remaster and he's done a stunning job. Every track sounds alive, warm and in your face - but in a good way. Highlights include the truly gorgeous "Over The Hill" which has Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention playing an absolute blinder on Mandolin and Autoharp (respectively) - and every time - and I mean every time - it wells up a tear in my eye. Now it suddenly sounds huge with Byrne's remaster having brought its beauty out - a genuine wow if ever there was one.

While others love it - I've never liked his echo-plexed version of Skip James blues tune "Devil Got My Woman" which he renamed "I'd Rather Be The Devil". But if you do like it - you're in for a treat, because it sounds absolutely enormous here - I just always felt is was kind of out of place in a largely folky setting.  There is hiss at the beginning of Side 2's lovely opener "Go Down Easy", but Byrne's smartly not tried to process it out of the transfer - the result is that Danny Thompson's double-bass sounds like he is standing in the corner of your room. Tony Cox's fantastic sax work on the funky "Dreams By The Sea" is complimented by John "Rabbit" Bundrick's fabulous keyboard work - again astonishingly clear. The final three tracks still sound years ahead of their ambient time - and the remaster is beautiful too...

After the joy of Disc 1, I'd expected Disc 2 to be a let down - it isn't. The 'Alternate' takes are all lovely and something you'll play again rather that treat them as a curio you hear once – and never touch again. And as if that’s not enough - then you're hit with a genuine sensation - 3 Session out-takes never heard before - one of which is a showstopper - the eight and a half minute acoustic bliss of "When It's Dark". I played it in the shop the other day and two Euro customers came to the counter within minutes asking after the new "Nick Drake" recording! Fans will wonder how this peach has remained in the vaults all these years.

So there you have it - a great album beautifully transferred and extra tracks that actually deserve the word 'bonus'. I've enjoyed some superb issues in the Deluxe Edition series in the last few years (Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac", "Tighten Up" Volumes 1 and 2 and Free's "Fire And Water" - see reviews) - but this is something really special.

Buy it with confidence - and Rest in Peace you great big gorgeous Scottish beauty...

"War Ina Babylon – An Island Reggae Anthology" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (May 2009 Universal/Island 3CD BOX SET of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…You Make My Heart Go Giddy Up…You Set My World on Fire..."

Released 25 May 2009 - "War Ina Babylon: An Island Reggae Anthology" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal Island 531 833-1 (Barcode 600753183311) is a 64-track 3CD Mini Box Set with music spanning between 1962 and 2005. It was released as part of the Island Records 50th Anniversary celebrations (1959-2009) and as such contains some of the label's hardest-to-find music/vinyl - much of which has never been on CD before (the Island Records Folk/Folk-Rock equivalent is called "Meet on The Ledge..." see separate review).

Fans have eagerly awaited this box set of remasters and frankly frank - it’s been worth the 'irration in the nation'. Here's a detailed breakdown of the tracks with catalogue numbers provided for the first time (most songs are UK 7” singles unless otherwise noted):

Disc 1 - "The Harder They Come - Ska To Reggae 1959-1973" (76:55 minutes):

1. Boogie in My Bones – LAUREL AITKEN (1965 UK 7" single, Island WI-198, A)

2. We're Gonna Love – WILDRED 'JACKIE' EDWARDS (1963 UK MONO LP "The Most Of Wilfred Jackie Edwards" on Island ILP 906)

3. Darling Patricia – OWEN GRAY (1962 UK 7" single, Island WI-002, A)

4. Forward March – DERRICK MORGAN (1962 UK 7" single, Island WI-011, A)

5. Housewives Choice – DERRICK MORGAN & PATSY (1962 UK 7" single, Island WI-018, A)

6. Honour Your Mother And Father – DESMOND DEKKER (1963 UK 7" single, Island WI-054, A)

7. King Of Kings – JIMMY CLIFF (1963 UK 7" single, Island WI-070, A)

8. Exodus – ERNEST RANGLIN (1963 UK 7" single, Island WI-128, A) - Instrumental

9. Eastern Standard Time – DON DRUMMOND & THE SKATALITES (1964 UK 7" single, Island WI-149, A) - Instrumental

10. My Boy Lollipop – MILLIE (SMALL) (a 1964 song on the 1967 UK MONO LP "The Best Of Millie Small" on Island ILP 953 - UK 7" single credited to MILLIE)

11. Carry Go Bring Come – JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES (1964 UK 7" single, Island WI-154, A)

12. Bonanza Ska – CARLOS MALCOM & HIS AFRO JAMACIAN RHYTHMS (1965 UK 7" single, Island WI-173, A)

13. Sweet William – MILLIE (SMALL) (as per 10)

14. Dance Crasher – ALTON ELIS & THE FLAMES (1965 UK 7" single, Island WI-235, A)

15. Guns Fever – THE BABA BROOKS BAND (1965 UK 7" single, Island WI-229, A)

16. Take It Easy – HOPETON LEWIS (1967 UK MONO LP "Take It Easy: Rocksteady With Hopeton Lewis" on Island ILP 957)

17. On The Beach – THE PARAGONS (1967 UK 7" single, Island WI-3045, A)

18. You Don't Care (You'll Want Me Back) – THE TECHNIQUES (1967 UK MONO LP "Duke Reid's Rock Steady" on Island ILP 958 – a VARIOUS ARTISTS compilation featuring The Techniques)

19. Stop That Train – KEITH & TEX (1967 UK 7" single, Island WI-3091, A)

20. Rock Steady – ALTON ELLIS & THE FLAMES (as per 18)

21. My Conversation – THE UNIQUES (1968 UK 7" single, Island WI-3122, A)

22. Ride Your Donkey – THE TENNORS (1968, Island WI-3188, A)

23. Take Five – VAL BENNETT (1968 UK 7" single, Island WI-3146, aka "The Russians Are Coming - Take Five")

24. Hold You Jack – DERRICK MORGAN (1968 UK 7" single, Island WI-3159, A)

25. The Harder They Come – JIMMY CLIFF (1972 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6139, A)

26. Breakfast In Bed – LOMA BENNETT (1972 UK 7" single, Blue Mountain BM-1013, A)

27. This Is Reggae Music – ZAP POW (1973 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6181, A)

Disc 2 - "Party Time, Roots, Dub & Lovers 1973-1979" (78:29 minutes):

1. Book Of Rules – THE HEPTONES (1973 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6179, A)

2. Marcus Garvey – BURNING SPEAR (1975 UK LP "Marcus Garvey" on Island ILPS 9355)

3. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown – AUGUSTUS PABLO (1975 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6226, A)

4. Carry Go Bring Come (Reggae Version) – JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6261, A - Remake of a 1964 track)

5. Reggae Got Soul – TOOTS & THE MAYTALS (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6296, A)

6. Police And Thieves – JUNIOR MURVIN (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6316, A)

7. Soldier And Police War – JAH LION (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6356, A)

8. War Ina Babylon – MAX ROMEO (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6283, A)

9. Back To Africa – ASWAD (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6312, A)

10. Roast Fish And Corn Bread – LEE PERRY (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6326, A)

11. Cokane In My Brain – DILLINGER (1977 UK 7" single, Black Swan WIP 6416, A) miscredited in booklet as WIP 6334)

12. Ballistic Affair – LEROY SMART (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6353, A)

13. Party Time – THE HEPTONES (1976 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6364, A)

14. 96 Degrees In The Shade – THIRD WORLD (1977 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6413, A)

15. Ska Wars – RICO (1978 UK 12” single on Island IPR 2006, A) (miscredited as IPR 2002)

16. Prodigal Son – STEEL PULSE (1978 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6449, A)

17. Want Fi Goh Rave – LINTON KWESI JOHNSON (1979 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6494, A)

18. Love And Devotion – JIMMY RILEY (1981 UK LP "Rydim Driven" on Island ILPS 9671 (miscredited as released in 1979))

19. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner – BLACK UHURU (1980 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6626, A)

Disc 3 - "Welcome To Jamrock 1980-2005" (79:26 minutes):

1. (Stalk Of) Sensimilla – BLACK UHURU (1980 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6626, A)

2. Warrior Charge – ASWAD (1980 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6646, A)

3. The Bed’s Too Big Without You – SHEILA HYLTON (1980 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6671, A)

4. Fort Augustus – JUNIOR DELGADO (1981 Various Artists LP called "Sly And Robbie Present Taxi" on Island ILPS 9662)

5. One Love Jamdown – PAPA MICHIGAN & GENERAL SMILEY – (1980 UK 12” single on Island/Tuff Gong IPR 2035, A)

6. Sitting And Watching – DENNIS BROWN (1982 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6777, A)

7. Night Nurse – GREGORY ISAACS (1982 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6800, A)

8. Pass The Kouchie – THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS (1982 UK 7" single, Island WIP 6838, A)

9. What is Life – BLACK UHURU (1984 UK 7" single, Island IS 150, A)

10. Revolution – DENNIS BROWN (1983 UK 12” single on Island/Taxi IPR 2059, A)

11. Trouble You A Troble Me – INI KAMOZE (1983 UK 12” single on Island/Taxi IPR 2061, A)

12. Oh What A Feeling – GREGORY ISAACS (1983, Island/Taxi TX 03, A)

13. Don’t Turn Around – ASWAD (1988, Island/Mango IS 341, A)

14. Tease Me – CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS (1983, Island/Mango CIDM 806, A)

15. Boom Shack A Lack – APACHE INDIAN (1993, on the "Nuff Vibes EP" Island CID 560)

16. Murder She Wrote – CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS (1994, Island/Mango CIDM 812)

17. Whine And Grine – PRINCE BUSTER (1998, Island CID 691)

18. Welcome To Jamrock – DAMIEN MARLEY (2005, Island MCSTD 40432)

LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT has penned the extremely detailed 28-page booklet. Reggae fans will know his name - he co-authored the fabulous "Young Gifted & Black" book about Trojan Records and also did the well-knowledgeable liner notes for the Deluxe Editions of Tighten Up 1 and 2 (see separate reviews for all 3). Each page features 3 pictures beside the text showing rare label variations, artist photos, obscure album sleeves, trade adverts, music industry charts...etc. If I was to complain it's that the booklet is small and the pictures hard to see let alone appreciate – and where’s Bob Marley – their biggest Reggae star?

The remastering is done by TIM DEBNEY at Fluid Mastering and being Reggae Music the sound quality ranges from muddy and awful in the early Sixties to sublime in the Seventies and Eighties - Disc 2 and 3 being particularly good - warm, clear and ballsy without being too brash. And it has to be said that sheer charm of the Sixties Ska on Disc 1 shines through regardless of production values.

The song choices are clever too - the rare 12" IPR series that has been reissued by other labels because you just can't get the originals other than in battered condition - the superb LP-only songs like The Techniques track on "Duke Reid's Rock Steady" - an album I've seen once in my life. Purists will however cringe at the inclusion of Aswad's horridly commercial "Don't Turn Around" (I bet their bank-accounts loved it though) but will appreciate the inclusion of their superb brass and harmonica-driven instrumental "Warrior Charge" which is very hard to find now (I’ve seen it at 4 times its Price Guide value). It all goes a bit pear-shaped towards the end of Disc 3 but "Whine and Grine" and "Boom Shack A Lack" are still great fun.

There’s always been something magical about Island Records and Reggae Music and this fabulous little Box set only hammers that home. Top-notch jam rock and big time recommended…

PS: it's companion volume "Meet On The Ledge" (pictured below) is reviewed separately

"Meet On The Ledge: An Island Folk-Rock Anthology" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (May 2009 UK Universal/Island 3CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 310 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

US AND THEM - 1973
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

Thousands and Thousands of E-Pages of Real Info

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"…Love Is A Lesson To Learn In Our Time…"

"Meet On The Ledge: An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology” is a Mini Box Set offering you 44 tracks across 3 CDs and compliments its Reggae equivalent "War Ina Babylon" (see separate review) - with both have been released to celebrate 50 years of Chris Blackwell's Island Records label (1959-2009).

Having lived with "Ledge" a few days now - its both brilliant and infuriating in equal measure (with the good far outweighing the bad it should be said). Here are the Matty Groves…

UK released May 2009 – "Meet On The Ledge: An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Island 531 834-1 (Barcode 0600753183410) is a 3CD Mini Clamshell Box Set with Booklet of Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (67:56 minutes):

1. Cocaine - JOHN MARTYN ("London Conversation", October 1967 Debut LP on Island ILP 952 in Mono)

2. She Moves Through The Fair - FAIRPORT CONVENTION ("What We Did On Our Holidays", January 1969 LP on Island ILPS 9092)

3. Withering Tree - TRAFFIC (September 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6041 - Non-LP B-side to "Feelin' Alright")

4. Seven Black Roses - JOHN MARTYN ("The Tumbler", December 1968 LP on Island ILPS 9091 in Stereo)

5. A Sailor's Life - FAIRPORT CONVENTION ("Unhalfbricking", July 1969 LP on Island ILPS 9102)

6. The Ocean - JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN ("Stormbringer!" February 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9113)

7. Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal - DR. STRANGELY STRANGE  ("Kip Of The Serenes", November 1969 LP on Island ILPS 9105)

8. Living In The Past - JETHRO TULL (April 1969 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6056)

9. Matty Groves - FAIRPORT CONVENTION ("Liege & Lief", December 1969 LP on Island ILPS 9115)

9. John Barleycorn (Must Die) – TRAFFIC ("John Barleycorn Must Die", July 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9116)

10. Banks Of The Nile – FOTHERINGAY ("Fotheringay", March 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9125 - featuring Sandy Denny and other members of Fairport Convention)

11. One Of These Things First - NICK DRAKE ("Bryter Layter", November 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9134)

12. Sir Patrick Spens (Live) - FAIRPORT CONVENTION ("Full House", July 1970 UK LP on Island ILPS 9130)

Disc 2 (72:06 minutes):

1. Dirty Linen - FAIRPORT CONVENTION ("Full House", July 1970 UK LP on Island ILPS 9130)

2. On The Road To Find Out - CAT STEVENS ("Tea For The Tillerman", November 1970 UK LP on Island ILPS 9135)

3. Late November - SANDY DENNY ("The North Star And The Grassman", September 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9165)

4. Flowers Of The Forest - MIKE HERON ("Smiling Men With Bad Reputations", April 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9146)

5. Spring Season - AMAZING BLONDEL ("Evensong", November 1970 UK LP on Island ILPS 9136)

6. Time Slips Away – BRONCO ("Ace Of Sunlight", June 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9161 - featuring JESS RODEN and ROBBIE BLUNT)

7. The Man Who Cannot See Tomorrow's Sunshine - CLAIRE HAMILL ("One House Left Standing", 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9182)

8. Siege Of Yaddlethorpe - AMAZING BLONDEL ("Fantasia London", 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9156)

9. Dear Old Battlefield - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND ("Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air", October 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9172)

10. Dark Eyed Lady - ROBIN WILLIAMSON [of THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND] ("Myrrh", April 1972 UK LP on Island HELP 2)

11. Poor Ditching Boy - RICHARD THOMPSON ("Henry The Human Fly", June 1972 UK LP on Island ILPS 9197)

12. The Nutting Girl - MORRIS ON ("Morris On", 1972 UK LP on Island HELP 5 - featuring John Kirkpatrick, Barry Dransfield, Ashley Hutchings and Richard Thompson)

13. Bushes And Briars - SANDY DENNY ("Sandy", September 1972 UK LP on Island ILPS 9207)

14. Black Jack David - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND ("Earthspan", October 1972 UK LP on Island ILPS 9211)

15. Sailing - SUTHERLAND BROTHERS ("Sailing", 1972 UK LP on Island ILPS 6136)

16. Over The Hill - JOHN MARTYN ("Solid Air", February 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9226)

17. Things Behind The Sun - NICK DRAKE ("Pink Moon", February 1972 UK LP on Island ILPS 9184)

18. Haste To The Wedding/The Triumph/Off She Goes - ASHLEY HUTCHINGS & CHUMS ("The Complete Dancing Master", June 1974 UK LP on Island HELP 17)

Disc 3 (65:32 minutes):

1. Hanged I Shall Be - THE ALBION BAND ("Battle Of The Field", April 1976 UK LP on Island HELP 25)

2. Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Cheabhail [Instrumental] - JOHN MARTYN ("Inside Out", October 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9253)

3. Withered & Died - RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON ("I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight", April 1974 UK LP on Island ILPS 9266)

4. Spencer The Rover - JOHN MARTYN ("Sunday’s Child", January 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9296)

5. Darlin’ Cory - BRYN HAWORTH ("Sunny Side Of The Street", May 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9332)

6. The Never Shines On The Poor - RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON ("Hokey Pokey", March 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9305)

7. Stone - RONNIE LANE & SLIM CHANCE ("Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance", July 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9321)

8. Dimming Of The Day/Dargai - RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON ("Pour Down Like Silver", November 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9348)

9. Upton-Upon-Severn Stick Dance - ASHLEY HUTCHINGS & CHUMS ("Rattlejohn and Ploughjack", April 1976 UK LP on Island HELP 29)

10. Calvary Cross (Live) - RICHARD THOMPSON ("Guitar/Vocal", May 1976 UK 2LP compilation on Island ICD 8)

11. I’m A Dreamer - SANDY DENNY ("Rendezvous", May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9433)

12. May You Never (Live) - JOHN MARTYN ("Live At Leeds", September 1975 UK (Mail-Order) LP on Island ILPS 9343)

13. Meet On The Ledge - FAIRPORT CONVENTION (November 1968 UK 7" single on Island WIP 6047, A-Side)

First up is the complaint that there's too many familiar tracks and therefore doesn't warrant buying - you'd be wrong. The 2009 remastering by DENIS BLACKHAM on the tracks you already own is truly fantastic. I felt every song sounded like an upgrade and the obscure tunes you don't own are well chosen and worth your attention - many seeing CD light of day for the first time.

The sound quality needs some explaining. Take track 2 on Disc 2, "On The Road To Find Out" by Cat Stevens - it's a superlative lesser heard gem tucked away on Side 2 of his "Tea For The Tillerman" LP from 1970. Most fans will probably have the 2000 remaster of the album, but this version is almost certainly off the Deluxe Version from 2008 because the sound quality is STUNNING - absolutely gorgeous. The instruments just leap out of the speakers with wonderful clarity. The same applies to "Living In The Past" by Jethro Tull on Disc 1 - I adore this tune and have various remasters of it - but this is without doubt the best-sounding version I've ever heard.

There's also clever track choices - a badly needed new remaster of the live version of Richard Thompson's slow bluesy "Calvary Cross" from the 1976 double "Guitar, Vocal" rather than it's 1974 studio original, the stripped down BBC Sessions version of John Martyn's beautiful "May You Never" with just him and his guitar from 1977 [lyrics above] and the truly affecting 1987 "Real Time" version of "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention (again instead of the 1968 7" original) which finishes the box off and brings the musical journey full circle. Cool stuff.

On the rock side too, there's the inclusion of Bryn Haworth's lovely "Darlin' Corey" from his 1975 album "Sunny Side Of The Street" (he was the guitarist in the 60's psych act Fleurs-De-Lys") and even better is Bronco's "Time Slips Away" from their 1971 album "Ace Of Sunlight" - a fantastic choice - Jess Roden's soulful vocals backed up by Robbie Blunt's tremendous guitar work [he later played for Robert Plant's band]. The annotation is good too - the 32-page booklet featuring a biog on each artist (photos too) with the whole set has been curated and researched by DAVID SUFF with skill.

If I was to point out a real downside it would be the omissions - with playing times of 67:56, 72:06 and 65:32 - it's hugely disappointing that more tracks weren't used - how about "Say No More" by Smith Perkins Smith (1972), "Whims And Ways" by Bryn Haworth (1974) and "The Sea” by Fotheringay (1970) to name but a few. And as rocking as Richard Thompson is, do I really need the full 11 minutes of "A Sailor's Life" - no. And the liner notes mention “The Chieftains 5” album on Island from 1975, but then don't include them - on a Folk box?

Still there’s too much good stuff to be churlish here – take Richard Thompson’s hugely moving "The Poor Ditching Boy” – a young lad who has taken a lass deep into his blood (storm and winds are no match for his passion) – Andy Roberts of Grimms and Plainsong playing guest Dulcimer while Barry Dransfield of The Dransfields plays Fiddle. Its typical of the kind of song that Island Records seem to throw out at an alarming rate – gorgeous, affecting and deeply beautiful – us old types still weeping to them some 45 to 50 years later (if you get a chance, check out Andrew Murray’s cover of the tune on his September 2005 CD album “Hell Or High Water” – he’s the deep guttural vocalist with De Danaan). Time, what is that...

Niggles aside, what’s on offer here is stupendously good and sounding absolutely spiffing. I've enjoyed hearing this box so much and I suspect it will send many folk and rock music fans scurrying back into second-hand record shops trying to hunt down original palm-tree label LPs – those things we adored so much - all those years ago.

Despite some reservations - this is a top job done and recommended big time, especially given the upgraded sound and those wondrous discoveries that await the wide ear and open heart...

"Quantum Of Solace" the Film on BLU RAY - 2008 James Bond Film film (22nd) now on a 2009 Blu Ray - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...You Don't Have To Worry About Me…"

If I were to nail down what's wrong with "Quantum Of Solace" in a single word - it would be "cold". Bond used to be fun, Bond used to be entertaining, Bond used to grab you by the short and curlies and pleasure the engorged gonads off you for the allotted two hours it was given. And it never failed. Even the worst Roger Moore dreck of the late 1970's had something that encouraged repeat viewing. But on Bond 22 - you're bored half way through it and by the predicable end not much has changed.

I suppose after 22 films about the same thing, you're bound to have a case of diminishing returns, but there are times on "Quantum" where you have a shocking sense of pointlessness. Marc Forster directs chase sequences that feel contrived and have been done so much better before either in previous Bond films or others (principally Bourne). You feel like your watching Alien 3 - made by some inexperienced buck that made videos for a living. And don't get me started on the crap song and the woeful opening credits that were clearly a hurried last minute thing.

The opening car chase is the first offender. At the cinema, I along with others couldn't believe they'd do this - when you think of how Bourne simply nailed that - this Italian sequence is workmanlike at best. It should have opened with a reconfigured flashback sequence that included the car chase, the interrogation scene (how they got there) and then ended in the chase across the rooftops and the fabulous hand-to-hand fight sequence in the scaffolding afterwards (one of the films best moments) - all very Bond.

You have to feel sorry for Craig too - who seems to be putting in twice the effort for half the return. There is also a worrying ongoing lack of chemistry between him and Judy Dench who quite clearly pines for Brosnan to return - an actor who could convey both charm and edge in equal abundance and was comfortable as Bond and evolved as him.

It would of course be easy to blame Daniel Craig as the lead - I don't. It isn't that his Bond is charmless by choice, it's that he's being forced to be that way. Check out Craig's acting chops in "Flashbacks Of A Fool" or "The Mother" or "Defiance" - he's absolutely riveting and brilliant in all three - displaying all manner of emotion - shockingly good when given the material. But the under-worked script of "Solace" has straight-jacketed his version of 007 into a particularly nasty corner. It's far 'too' hard-edged and has left him with little or no room for acting manoeuvre. He isn't warm towards anyone - especially women - and his character needs to be.

The dispatching of Gemma Arterton's character Fields in black oil (aping the famous Goldfinger scene) is perhaps the crassest moment ever in a Bond film and a huge mistake. Her character could have died in a far more interesting and brave way - letting Craig and Kurylenko get away - but no - this is a man's movie made by men who have no interest in women.

After Mads Mikkelsen's fabulous and believable turn as the card-playing Le Chiffre in "Casino Royale", Mathieu Amalric is just hopeless as Dominic Greene - one of the most insipid bad guys ever - about as frightening as a teddy bear with a wonky eye. His expressions of anger and hate in the opera scene when Bond outs The Quantum group are just laughable. Bond's feisty companion Camille played by the truly gorgeous Olga Kurylenko is a smart choice as a leading lady, but she gets little to work with. Both the tremendously likeable Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright as René Mathis (police chief ally in Casino Royale) and Felix Leiter (his CIA buddy) distinguish themselves, but again Rene is disposed off in a cold and crass way. And on it goes to the inevitable mega-explosive ending...

Then there's the Blu Ray itself - the picture quality is gorgeous as you would imagine, but the menu is irritating to navigate - the interviews use the same Daniel Craig footage almost three times where he looks tired and bored rigid and again utterly charmless. And you finish watching them very quickly indeed. Again you just know there's more - and sure enough - sometime in 2009 - the inevitable 2-Disc Ultimate Edition to fleece fans will appear.

It isn't that "Quantum" is really, really bad - it just that it isn't that good either. I can't see myself looking at it again and that's almost unforgivable after the out-and-out triumph of its predecessor. The makers need to go back to the drawing board and lighten up big time, because this is a very disappointing and dreary chapter in one of the most cherishable film franchises in history.

Bond tells M in one of their spiked conversations, "You don't have to worry about me..." but on the strength of this and hundreds of other 3-star (and less) reviews - we clearly do.

In the words of Gerry Rafferty boys, "Get It Right The Next Time"...

“The Genius Of Ray Charles” by RAY CHARLES. A Review of the 2005 Atlantic Masters CD Reissue of his 1960 album on Atlantic Records.

"…High As A Mountain…Deep As A River…"

At the age of 27, Ray Charles had already put out a half-dozen albums of superlative Fifties R ’n’ B - but it was time to make a change and the February 1960 release of “The Genius Of…” was the result.

An LP full of covers, the 6 tracks on Side 1 made up the blasters and dancers from Louis Jordan’s “Let The Good Times Roll” through to “Deed I Do”, while the 6 tracks of Side 2 were the romantic ballads and standards. The famed BILL SHWARTAU and TOM DOWD filled in as engineers, while the strings were beautifully arranged by RALPH BURNS - QUINCY JONES doing much of the brass parts.

Personally I find some of the brass on Side 1 a bit too harsh to listen to now – but the lush music of Side 2 is a whole different ballgame. Side 2 contains three genuine masterpieces “Just For A Thrill”, “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’” and the stunning album finisher “Come Rain Or Come Shine” (lyrics above). The remaster brings out all the instruments involved and is just ‘so’ sweet – a really great job done.

The CD comes in a card digipak with a foldout 10-page inlay, which contains a new essay on the album by noted soul writer CHARLES WARING followed by the album’s original liner notes by NAT HENTOFF. Detailed production credits are on the rear of the digipak and this 2005 remaster is part of the massively extensive “Atlantic Masters” series – there are other Charles titles in that series (see comprehensive list below).

“The Genius Of Ray Charles” was recognized as a gem then and still is now.

“Daddy’s Done Turned Salty…And Baby’s Made Him So Sore…” Ray sang in “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’”. Yeah baby is all I can say!

Recommended – big time.

PS: For info purposes, other remastered CDs in the ATLANTIC MASTERS Series are:
1. Your Mind Is On Vacation – MOSE ALLISON (1976)
2. Daddy Bug (& Friends) – ROY AYERS (1967)
3. Stoned Soul Picnic – ROY AYERS (1968)
4. Virgo Vibes – ROY AYERS (1967)
5. Experience And Judgment – ANDY BEY (1970)
6. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk – ART BLAKEY and THELONIOUS MONK (1958)
7. Bad For Me – DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1979)
8. Just Family – DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1977)
9. Fresh – OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1975)
10. Movin’ On – OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1972)
11. Thank You For F.U.M.L (Funking Up My Life) – DONALD BYRD (1978)
12. Fire On Ice – TERRY CALLIER (1978)
13. Turn You To Love – TERRY CALLIER (1979)
14. The Great American Songbook – CARMEN McRAE (1972 Live Set)
15. Hallelujah I Love Her So – RAY CHARLES (1962)
16. The Genius After Hours – RAY CHARLES (1961)
17. The Genius Of Ray Charles – RAY CHARLES (1960)
18. The Genius Sings The Blues – RAY CHARLES (1961)
19. Crosswinds – BILLY COBHAM (1974)
20. Spectrum – BILLY COBHAM (1973)
21. Total Eclipse – BILLY COBHAM (1974)
22. Change Of The Century – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
23. The Shape Of Jazz To Come – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
24. This Is Our Music – THE ORNETTE COLEMAN QUARTET (1960)
25. Twins – ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
26. Free Jazz – A Collective Improvisation - ORNETTE COLEMAN DOUBLE QUARTET (1960)
27. Eternity – ALICE COLTRANE (1975)
28. Radha Krsna Nama Sankirtana – ALICE COLTRANE (1976)
29. Transcendence – ALICE COLTRANE (1977)
30. Transfiguration – ALICE COLTRANE (1978 Live Set)
31. Giant Steps – JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
32. Olé Coltrane – JOHN COLTRANE (1961)
33. Chris Craft – CHRIS CONNOR (1958)
34. Amandla – MILES DAVIS (1989)
35. Doo Bop – MILES DAVIS (1991)
36. Live Around The World – MILES DAVIS (1988 Live Set)
37. Tutu – MILES DAVIS (1986)
38. The Sounds Of ’66 – SAMMY DAVIS JR., and BUDDY RICH (1966)
39. Love Island – EUMIR DEODATO (1978)
40. New Orleans Suite – DUKE ELLINGTON (1970)
41. The Paris Concert, Edition 1 – BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
42. The Paris Concert, Edition 2 – BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
43. You Must Believe In Spring – BILL EVANS (1981)
44. People Get Ready – THE FREEDOM SOUNDS [featuring Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders] (1967)
45. Nightingale – GILBERTO GIL (1979)
46. Nomad – CHICO HAMILTON (1979)
47. Crossings – HERBIE HANCOCK (1972)
48. Fat Albert Rotunda – HERBIE HANCOCK (1970)
49. Mwandishi – HERBIE HANCOCK (1971)
50. Instant Death – EDDIE HARRIS (1971)
51. !Salud! Joao Gilberto – JON HENDRICKS (1963)
52. A Soul Experiment – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1969)
53. Backlash – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1966)
54. Sing Me A Song Of Songmy – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1971)
55. Bags & Trane – MILT JACKSON and JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
56. Birth – KEITH JARRETT (1971)
57. A Certain Mr. Jobim – ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1967)
58. Love Strings & Jobim - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1966)
59. Terra Brasilis - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1980)
60. The Wonderful World Of - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1965)
61. Urubu - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1976)
62. A Meeting Of The Times – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK/AL HIBBLER (1972)
63. The Case Of The 3-Sided Dream In Audio Colour – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1975)
64. The Inflated Tear – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1967)
65. Inside Hi-Fi – LEE KONITZ (1956)
66. The Blue Yusef Lateef – YUSEF LATEEF (1968)
67. The Diverse Yusef Lateef – YUSEF LATEEF (1970)
68. At The Village Gate – HERBIE MANN (1961 Live Set)
69. Memphis Underground – HERBIE MANN (1969)
70. The Common Ground – HERBIE MANN (1960)
71. Daktari – SHELLY MANNE (1967)
72. Hustle To Survive – LES McCANN (1975)
73. A Change Is Gonna Come – BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
74. Tobacco Road – BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
75. Double-Barrelled Soul – BROTHER JACK McDUFF /DAVID NEWMAN (1967)
76. Suddenly – MARCUS MILLER (1983)
77. Blues And Roots – CHARLES MINGUS (1959)
78. Me Myself An Eye – CHARLES MINGUS (1978)
79. Pithecanthropus Erectus – CHARLES MINGUS (1956)
80. Tonight At Noon – CHARLES MINGUS (1957)
81. Blues On Bach – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1973)
82. Fontessa – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1956)
83. Pyramid – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1959)
84. The Sheriff – THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1963)
85. I’m Fine, How Are You? – AIRTO MOREIRA (1977)
86. Latin Bugalu – CHARLIE PALMIERI (1968)
87. Invitation – JACO PASTORIOUS (1983)
88. The Birthday Concert – JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
89. Word Of Mouth – JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
90. Jazz For The Jet Set – DAVE PIKE (1965)
91. Carry On – FLORA PURIM (1979)
92. Members, Don’t Git Weary – MAX ROACH (1968)
93. Mongo ’70 – MONGO SANTAMARIA (1970)
94. The Source – JIMMY SCOTT (1970)
95. Flight Path – SPHERE (1983)
96. Four In One – SPHERE (1982)
97. Come Morning – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1981)
98. Paradise – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1979)
99. Winelight – GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1980)