"You Never Can Tell - The Complete Chess Recordings 1960-1966". A Review of the 2009 Hip-O Select 4CD Box Set.

“…Now If You Want To Hear Some Boogie Like I’m Gonna Play…It’s Just Down The Road Apiece…”

"You Never Can Tell..." is the eagerly awaited second volume of Chuck Berry’s Chess recordings (his initial output for the famous label was released in 2008 as “Johnny B. Goode – The Complete 50’s Recordings”). This February 2009 US-only Hip-O Select 4CD set has 108 tracks housed in a slightly oversized 4-way foldout digipak that is itself tied with a string on a lapel on the front. It’s not numbered, but is a worldwide limited edition of 5000.

The 24-page booklet on recycled paper is in colour and features an informative and affectionate article by FRED ROTHWELL - author of the 2001 book "Long Distance Information - Chuck Berry's Recorded Legacy". There's also detailed track-by-track annotation and the whole set has been transferred and remastered by Universal's ERICK LABSON - a sure sign of quality (he has over 800 mastering credits to his name including almost all of the massive Chess catalogue). The sound quality is wonderful, especially on the STEREO mixes – full of punch and detail…

PACKAGING:
Each of the discs is coloured to reflect a different era in the Chess label while beneath the see-through trays are 4 albums pictured in colour - “Chuck Berry On Stage”, “Bo Diddley/Chuck Berry – Two Great Guitars”, “Chuck Berry In London” and “Fresh Berry’s”. Across each of the foldout flaps are colour shots of Chuck, which are beautifully reproduced – really classy looking shots.

NIGGLES/GRIPES:
The booklet has some sloppy mistakes in it – quoting “No Particular Place To Go” as Chess 1848 when its 1898 – the singles discography forgets “You Never Can Tell” on Chess 1906 (the title of this box for God’s sake!) – and worse – other than the pictured albums, there’s no LP discography whatsoever. You can be damn sure that if Bear Family had been handling his box, the booklet would have been done with care and pictured stuff from worldwide sources to thrill fans rather than make them yawn (see my reviews of their Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent box sets). The packaging and booklet are nice – they are - cute even – - but for such a major release on such a seminal artist, it should have been so much better…

And then there’s the price – as it’s a USA-only issue, American fans get a reasonable deal – others do not. I saw this on sale in a UK megastore as an ‘import’ for just under Sixty-Five Pounds – about 120 dollars! What!!

CONTENT:
Back to the music - most dedicated fans will have the 3 “Rock & Roll Rarities” releases from 1986 and 1999 and the unreleased stuff on the 4CD 1988 “Chess Box” – what they won’t have is the 23 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED tracks surfacing here for the first time anywhere. They’re a mixture of outtakes, instrumentals and an unheard concert. My heart always sinks when I hear it’s live (too much filler), but if anything the 11 on here are more lively than some of the studio stuff and capture the essence of the man and his music much better. It’s from a gig in Walled Lake Casino In Detroit, Michigan in October 1963 and accompanied by good taping and an appreciative audience, Chuck’s on rare old form – cracking jokes – playing the crowd like he does – launching into “Almost Grown” like he was 18 and his life depended on it – it’s really great stuff…

A good set which compliments their Muddy Waters and Little Walter Chess boxes to a tee. I would have liked better presentation, but it’s the tunes and the great man’s spirit I’ll return too. Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll Indeed!

Recommended.

-- DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE TRACKS --

All of the following 7” / LP /Box Set catalogue numbers are USA….

Disc 1 (77:30 minutes)
1. Drifting Blues
(“Rockin’ At The Hops”, 1960 USA LP on Chess 1448)
2. I Got To Find My Baby
(August 1960 7”single on Chess 1763, A-side)
3. I Got To Find My Baby (Stereo Mix)
(“More Rock ‘n’ Roll Rarities”, August 1986 LP set on Chess 9190)
4. Don’t You Lie To Me
(“New Juke Box Hits”, 1961 LP on Chess 1448)
5. Worried Life Blues
(April 1960 7” single on Chess 1754, B-side of 7)
6. Our Little Rendezvous
(October 1960 7” single on Chess 1767, B-side of 11)
7. Bye Bye Johnny (April 1960 7” single on Chess 1754, A-side)
8. Bye Bye Johnny (Stereo Mix) (as per 3)
9. Run Around (as per 4)
10. Run Around (Stereo Remix) [Previously Unreleased In The USA]
11. Jaguar And Thunderbird (A side of 6)
12. Diploma For Two
(April 1963 7” single on Chess 1853, B-side of “I’m Talking About You”)
13. Little Star
(February 1961 7” single on Chess 1779, B-side of “I’m Talking About You”)
14. The Way It Was Before (as per 4)
15. Away From You (as per 4)
16. Down The Road Apiece (as per 1)
17. Down The Road Apiece (as per 3)
18. Confessin’ The Blues (as per 1)
19. Sweet Sixteen (as per 4)
20. Thirteen Question Method (as per 4)
21. Stop & Listen (as per 4)
22. I Still Got The Blues (Applause Overdubbed)
(“Chuck Berry On Stage”, 1961 USA LP on Chess 1480)
23. I’m Just A Lucky So And So
(“The Chess Box”, 1988, 6LP/4CD Set on Chess 80001)
24. Mad Lad [Instrumental] (B-side of 2)
25. Surfin’ Steel (Cryin’ Steel) [Instrumental] (as per 22)
26. Route 66 [Take 10] (as per 4)
27. Route 66 (Alternate Take 11) (as per 3)
28. I’m Talking About You
(1961, 7”, A-side of Chess 1779 [1st issue]
[2nd issue is 1963 on Chess 1853 – see 12])
29. Rip It Up (as per 4)
30. Come On
(October 1961 USA 7” on Chess 1799, B-side of “Go Go Go” (2 on Disc 2))
31. Come On (Alternate Stereo)
(“Rock ‘n’ Roll Rarities”, March 1986 2LP set on Chess CH2-92521)
32. Adulteen [Previously Unreleased Commercially]
33. The Man And The Donkey (as per 22)

Disc 2 (77:03 minutes)
1. Go Go Go (Alternate Take) [Previously Unreleased]
2. Go Go Go (October 1961 7” single on Chess 1799, A-side)
3. Trick Or Treat (as per 22 on Disc 1)
4. Brown Eyed Handsome Man [Instrumental Version – Previously Unreleased]
5. Brown Eyed Handsome Man (as per 22 on Disc 1)
6. Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Stereo Remix) (as per 3 on Disc 1)
7. All Aboard (as per 22 on Disc 1)
8. Guitar Boogie (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
9. Let It Rock (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
10. Almost Grown (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
11. Chuck Berry Dialogue (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
12. Johnny B. Goode (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
13. Introduction / Instrumental (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
14. Sweet Little Sixteen (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
15. Wee Wee Hours (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
16. Chuck Berry Dialogue (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
17. Maybellene (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
18. Medley: Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight/Johnny B. Goode/Let It Rock/School Day (Live) [Previously Unreleased]
19. Nadine (Is It You?) (February 1964 7” single on Chess 1883, A-side)
20. You Never Can Tell (August 1964 7” single on Chess 1906, A-side)
21. The Little Girl From Central
(1990 LP on “Missing Berries, Rarities Vol.3” on Chess 9318)
22. (The) Things I Used To Do
(November 1964 7” single on Chess 1916, B-side to “Promised Land” (Track 5 on Disc 3))
23. I’m In The Danger Zone [Previously Unreleased Commercially]

Disc 3 (76:36 minutes)
1. Fraulein [Previously Unreleased in the USA]
2. Lonely All The Time (Crazy Arms) (as per 23 on Disc 1)
3. O Rangutang (Unfaded Instrumental) February 1964 7” single on Chess 1883, B-side of “Nadine”)
4. Big Ben (Blues) (as per 21 on Disc 2)
5. Promised Land (November 1964 7” single on Chess 1916, A-side)
6. Brenda Lee (B-side of 20 on Disc 2)
7. No Particular Place To Go (July 1964 7” single on Chess 1898, A-side) [miscredited in the booklet as Chess Lonely School Days1848]
8. You Two (B-side of 7 on Disc 3)
9. Liverpool Drive [Instrumental]
10. Chuck’s Beat [Instrumental]
11. Bo’s Beat [Instrumental]
(9 to 11 are on the 1963 LP “Bo Diddley/Chuck Berry – Two Great Guitars” on Chess 2991)
12. Little Marie (September 1964 7” single on Chess 1912, A-side)
13. Go, Bobby Soxer (B-side to 12 on Disc 3)
14. Lonely School Days [Slow version] (March 1965 7” single on Chess 1926, B-side to “Dear Dad”)
15. His Daughter Caroline
16. Dear Dad (A side to 14 on Disc 3)
17. Want To Be Your Driver
18. Spending Christmas [Previously Unreleased]
19. The Song Of My Love
20. Butterscotch [Instrumental]
21. After It’s Over [Instrumental]
22. Why Should We End This Way
(15, 17 and 19 to 22 are on the 1965 LP “Chuck Berry In London” on Chess 1495)

Disc 4 (78:44 minutes)
1. You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
2. She Once Was Mine
3. Jamaica Farewell
4. My Little Love Light
5. I Got A Booking
6. St. Louis Blues
(1 to 6 as per 15 on Disc 3)
7. Shake, Rattle & Roll [Previously Unreleased]
8. Wee Wee Hours [Instrumental] [Previously Unreleased]
9. Honey Hush [Previously Unreleased]
10. Run Joe
11. It’s My Own Business
12. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
13. Every Day We Rock And Roll
(10 to 13 are on the 1965 LP “Fresh Berrys” on Chess 1498)
14. My Mustang Ford [Previously Unreleased]
15. My Mustang Ford
16. My Mustang Ford (Stereo Remix) (as per 3 on Disc 1)
17. Merrily We Rock And Roll
18. Vaya Con Dios
19. Wee Hour Blues
(15 and 17 to 19 as per 10 to 13 on Disc 4)
20. It Wasn’t Me (September 1965 7” single on Chess 1943, A-side)
21. It Wasn’t Me (Stereo Remix) (as per 31 on Disc 1)
22. Ain’t That Just Like A Woman (as per 10 to 13 on Disc 4)
23. Right Off Rampart Street (as per 10 to 13 on Disc 4)
24. Welcome Back Pretty Baby (B-side to 20)
25. Sad Day, Long Night (as per 23 on Disc 1)
26. Ramona Say Yes (June 1966 7” single on Chess 1963, A-side)
27. Ramona Say Yes (Alternate Mix) (as per 23 on Disc 1)
28. Viva Viva Rock ‘n’ Roll (on the 1971 LP “San Francisco Dues” on Chess 50008)
29. His Daughter Caroline (Fast Version) [Previously Unreleased]
30. Lonely School Days (Fast Version) (B-side of 26 on Disc 4)

Warner Brothers "Jazz & Fusion SHM-CD Collection” Series. Twenty 2009 SHM-CD Audiophile Reissues from JAPAN.

“Give Me The Night” by GEORGE BENSON (pictured above) is part of a Japanese-Only June 2009 Warner Brothers "Jazz & Fusion SHM-CD Collection” Series (Super High Materials).

All 20 titles are new 24-bit digital remasters. Many have never been fully remastered before.

In alphabetical order the other 19 titles are:

1. Breezin' - GEORGE BENSON (1976)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13452)
2. Larry Carlton - LARRY CARLTON (1978)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13446)
3. Sleepwalk - LARRY CARLTON (1982)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13448)
4. Strikes Twice - LARRY CARLTON (1980)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13447)
5. Amandla - MILES DAVIS (1989)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13443)
6. Doo-Bop - MILES DAVIS (1991)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13444)
7. Live Around The World - MILES DAVIS (1996)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13445)
8. Siesta - MILES DAVIS and MARCUS MILLER (1982)
(Warner Bros WPCR-13442)
9. Tutu - MILES DAVIS (1986)
(Warner Bros WPCR-13441)
10. Teasin' - CORNELL DUPREE (1974)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13457)
11. Between The Sheets - FOURPLAY (1993)
[Featuring Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason]
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13460)
12. Fourplay - FOURPLAY (1991)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13459)
13. Word Of Mouth - JACO PASTORIUS (1981)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13454)
14. Rit - LEE RITENOUR (1981)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13456)
15. The Captain's Journey - LEE RITENOUR (1978)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13455)
16. Magnetic - STEPS AHEAD [feat Michael Brecker] (1986)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13458)
17. More Stuff - STUFF (1977)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13450)
18. Stuff - STUFF (1976)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13449)
19. Winelight - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1980)
(Warner Bros. WPCR-13451)

PS: These titles are available mail-order from two superb Japanese CD sites I use
CD JAPAN at "cdjapan.co.jp" and
MUNDO at “mediawars.ne.jp”

They both quote UK sterling/US Dollar prices and many other currencies.

"Give Me The Night" by GEORGE BENSON (June 2009 JAPAN Warner Brothers SHM-CD (Super High Materials) Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 333 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

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"...Remember The Days When We Never Had A Dime..."

Originally released on LP in July 1980 on Warner Brothers K 56823 in the UK and BSK 3453 in the USA - George Benson's "Give Me The Night" was a huge record at the time (it peaked at No. 3 in both countries). And like Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" from 1978 before it - its fusion of soul, funk and jazz was popular everywhere - crossing over every rock barrier like never before (it was Grammy nominated and won too).

Yet except for a few remastered tracks on the excellent George Benson 2CD "Anthology" set from 2000 on Rhino - the entire album has been languishing around for over two decades now on one of those awful Eighties CDs with dullard murky sound. Until now...

Released 24 June 2009 in Japan-only on Warner Bros WPCR-13453 (Barcode 4943674090396) - this 24-bit remastered version is an audiophile CD on their SUPER HIGH MATERIALS format (42:51 minutes). An SHM-CD is playable on all machines and is simply a better form of the compact disc. And coming from an era that is probably the most derided in history by music lovers - especially when it comes to bombastic sound and ham-fisted production excesses - this SHM-CD version is a beautifully relaized remaster - it really is.

1. Love X Love [Side 1]

2. Off Broadway

3. Moody’s Mood

4. Give Me The Night

5. What's On Your Mind [Side 2]

6. Dinorah, Dinorah

7. Love Dance

8. Star Of A Story (X)

9. Midnight Love Affair

10. Turn Out The Lamplight

It doesn't say who did the 24-bit transfer - but whoever did has produced the most awesome result because the sound quality is just glorious. Of course the album always had the immaculate production values of QUINCY JONES and the stunning array of top session men to thank for its polish anyway - but this newly upgraded version is just wonderful. It's neither falsely loud nor brash nor clinically clean - there's air around the instruments - it's just warm and there. You hear all the instrumentation - especially the bass and rhythm sections. The wildly underrated funky-as-James-Brown instrumental "Off Broadway" is just stunning now - as is David Wolinski's brilliantly soulful and sleek "Midnight Love Affair".

The jewel case is standard and there's the black and gold obi strip inside; the SHM CD itself feels slightly heavier to ordinary CDs - more substantial - it seems to hold better as it plays in the tray somehow - steady. The 8-page booklet is disappointingly the same as US/Euro issues (has session details though) and the extra foldout page of info about the album that you get in these Japanese issues is - well in Japanese - so its kinda useless.

Gripes - no Euro/USA issue so it costs as an import - and it wouldn't have taken much to include the edited single mixes of "Give Me The Night" and "Love X Love" as bonus tracks. But this reissue is not about ramming the disc chock-full of extras - it's about the best sound - and on that front they've achieved their goal with absolute knobs on.

With 6 of it's 10 killer songs written by Britain's ROD TEMPERTON and the immaculate production values of veteran sound man QUINCY JONES - "Give Me The Night" practically set up the template for the album that would literally take over the world three years later - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Quincy produced and Temperton wrote 3 of its 9 songs including the title track).

OK - in 2014 this version is now expensive (use Barcode 4943674090396 to locate the correct issue on Amazon) and it's probably even awkward to obtain - but it's got stunning sound quality - and if that's your brief - it's recommended big time.

"Give Me The Night" is also a part of the Japanese-Only 2009 "Warner Bros. Jazz & Fusion SHM-CD Collection" series - in alphabetical order the other 19 titles are:

1. Breezin' - GEORGE BENSON (1976)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13452)

2. Larry Carlton - LARRY CARLTON (1978)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13446)

3. Sleepwalk - LARRY CARLTON (1982)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13448)

4. Strikes Twice - LARRY CARLTON (1980)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13447)

5. Amandla - MILES DAVIS (1989)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13443)

6. Doo-Bop - MILES DAVIS (1991)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13444)

7. Live Around The World - MILES DAVIS (1996)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13445)

8. Siesta - MILES DAVIS and MARCUS MILLER (1982)

(Warner Bros WPCR-13442)

9. Tutu - MILES DAVIS (1986)

(Warner Bros WPCR-13441)

10. Teasin' - CORNELL DUPREE (1974)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13457)

11. Between The Sheets - FOURPLAY (1993)

[Featuring Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason]

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13460)

12. Fourplay - FOURPLAY (1991)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13459)

13. Word Of Mouth - JACO PASTORIUS (1981)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13454)

14. Rit - LEE RITENOUR (1981)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13456)

15. The Captain's Journey - LEE RITENOUR (1978)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13455)

16. Magnetic - STEPS AHEAD [feat Michael Brecker] (1986)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13458)

17. More Stuff - STUFF (1977)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13450)

18. Stuff - STUFF (1976)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13449)

19. Winelight - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1980)

(Warner Bros. WPCR-13451)

"Ronin". A Review of the 1998 Movie now on a 2008 BLU RAY.

"...If You Don't Mind...I'm Gonna Pass Out Now..."

For the first 20 minutes of John Frankenheimer's 1998 brilliant chase movie, you look at the BLU RAY box and wonder where the hell is the improvement? At the time they made it, they weren't of course thinking about future formats and their picture quality exposing limitations - they were just thinking about getting the mood right and setting up the plot. Filmed in a dark alley and then a dim French cafe at night, and staying there for quite a while - the opening clarity isn't great and I find that the BLU RAY format only accentuates this - the deficiencies of indoor lighting. But once you get to the daytime scenes that follow, then the fabulous city locations after that and especially to the close-up shots of the actor's faces, things improve dramatically.

And like that other genius caper movie of the Nineties "The Usual Suspects", not only could you not pay for such a stunning and diverse cast now - "Ronin" has admirably stood the test of time. It bears repeated viewing which of course makes it ideal BLU RAY replacement-fodder.

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed the picture improvements - Nastasha McElhone's gorgeously huge eyes - De Niro's mole - Jean Reno's stubble - Sean Bean's sweaty brow - it's all there and amplified. And those fantastic car-chases that "Bourne" surely aped... There's even an unintentionally funny moment when Stellan Skarsgard is in his car with a gun and silencer about to trade the silver case to some dodgy type - you can see the lipstick accentuating his lips - its looks comical. And then that famous De Niro scene where he instructs Michael Lonsdale and Jean Reno to surgically remove a Teflon-laced bullet from his stomach without anaesthetic so he can remain conscious throughout and direct them properly - is just priceless (the title of this review is the dialogue De Niro speaks after the operation is over).

But as other reviewers have noted, the big let down is the lack of extras - and especially the absence of the startling brutal alternative ending where Natasha McElhone's Belfast character 'Deirdre' is involved - it's missing - and many thought it a better ending than the one used in cinema's.

And worse than that - there's no insights? I mean if ever a film deserved commentaries and a more than a few making-of features - then it’s “Ronin”.

Still - a great film - now visually improved - and as wicked a movie as you remember it.

Despite its bare-bones presentation - it's recommended.

"Dark End Of The Street 1963-69: The Operatic Soul Of…” by ROY HAMILTON. A Review of the 2009 Revola CD Compilation.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"…When You Resist Me Like This…I Feel Something Is Wrong…The Panic Is On…”

Released in April 2009 by Revola of Australia, this 28-track multi-label compilation is a long overdue look at one of soul music's lesser-appreciated voices - Georgia's own ROY HAMILTON.

Describing his voice - it's a cross between the operatic skill and abandon of Jackie Wilson and the deep crooner tones of Brook Benton. Also - similar to Wilson - Hamilton was a Golden Gloves champion and a classically trained baritone whose career stretched back to the mid Fifties. This particular set, however, concentrates of Hamilton's overlooked Sixties tracks.

Remastered by WARREN BARNETT at the Raven Lab - the sound is fabulous - huge and clear - a great job done. The set was conceived and compiled by JOHN DOWLER who also provides the affectionate 8-page liner notes. The track list, however, leaves out catalogue numbers and other discography info, so here's a detailed breakdown...

All tracks are USA 7" singles unless otherwise stated (76:13 minutes):

1. Let Go (1963, MGM 13138, A-Side)
2. Midnight Town - Daybreak City (1963, MGM 13157, A-Side)
3. The Sinner (El Pecador)
(1963, MGM 13175, B-Side to "Theme To The V.I.P.'s")
4. The Same One
5. For Your Precious Love
6. Crying In The Chapel
[1 to 3 are 7" singles as indicated, but 1 to 6 are also on the USA LP "Warm Soul", 1963 on MGM SE-4139)
7. The Panic Is On (1964, MGM 13217, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
8. Answer Me, My Love (1964, MGM 13247, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
9. Gloomy Sunday
10. Don't Worry About Me
(9 and 10 are from the LP "Sentimental, Lonely & Blue", 1964 on MGM SE-4233)
11. Heartache (Hurry On By)
(1965, RCA Victor 47-8641, A-Side, Non-Album Track)
12. Tore Up Over You
(1965, RCA Victor 47-8705, B-side of "And I Love Her")
13. The Impossible Dream
(1966, RCA Victor 47-8813, A-side)
14. God Bless The Child
15. Reach Out For Me
16. You'll Never Walk Alone
(12 and 13 are 7" singles as indicated, but 12 to 16 are also on
the USA LP "The Impossible Dream", 1966 on RCA Victor LSP 3532)
17. Let The Music Play (Previously Unreleased)
18. Crackin' Up Over You
(1966, RCA Victor 47-8960, B-Side to "Walk Hand In Hand")
19. I Taught Her Everything She Knows
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9061, A-Side)
20. Lament
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9061, B-side of "I Taught Her Everything...")
21. You Shook Me Up
(1967, RCA Victor 47-9171, B-Side of "So High My Love")
22. Wait Until Dark
(1967, Capitol 2057, B-Side to "Let This World Be Free")
23. My Peaceful Forest
(first appeared on the 1998 Ace/Kent CD "Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood")
24. The Dark End Of The Street
(1969, AGP Records 113, A-Side)
25. 100 Years
(1969, AGP Records 125, B-side to "It's Only Make Believe")
26. Angelica
(1969, AGP Records 116, A-Side)
27. Hang-Ups
(1969, AGP Records 116, B-Side to "Angelica")
28. It's Only Make Believe
(1969, AGP Records 125, A-Side)

"The Panic Is On" has been a Northern Soul monster on the circuit for years and its easy to see why - it's everything a great soul single should be - joyful, powerful, makes you wanna sway - it's just the balls. But equally impressive is the rare and lesser-known non-album side "Heartache (Hurry On By)" - it's got a slow huge soulful feel - like Jackie Wilson meets The Righteous Brothers - girly vocals underpinning Hamilton's passionate wailing. Bit of a gem frankly.

"Tore Up Over You" is less successful - it's just too Tom Jones in that brass-heavy Sixties frantic kind of a way. "The Impossible Dream" is the same - cheesy rather than tuneful. But they're redeemed by a lovely and very soulful take on the Billie Holiday standard "God Bless The Child" where he sounds like a confident Brook Benton - truly beautiful production values too - the strings and brass simply oozing out of your speakers.

"Let The Music Play" is a 1965 recording previously unreleased until now - it's a Bacharach/David cover version and is typically period melodrama - very good indeed. Then comes the other huge Northern Soul dancer - the Billy Barnes/Roy Hamilton self-penned "You Shook Me Up" - an obscure B-side that goes for big money among collectors. Again, you can hear why - heartbreak and dancefloor backflips - really great stuff.

While the hippy claptrap of "My Peaceful Forest" is a heavy-handed production too far, his rendition of "The Dark End Of The Street" is not just classic - it's almost definitive. The rest of the American Group Productions sides are equally lovely - especially the finisher - a cover of Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe" - done in a soulful way with a churchy organ.

So there you have it - it's not all masterful of course, but when it's good - it's wonderful - and with this top notch sound quality - a properly cool listen.

Roy Hamilton suffered a stroke in mid 1969 and died tragically young - aged only 40.

Time for major rediscovery I think - highly recommended.

“Living In The Past” by JETHRO TULL. A Review of the 1999 MOBILE FIDELITY 2CD ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING Version.

JETHRO TULL is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"…And That The Song I Sing…Will Lead You Astray…"

Disc 1 (42:55 minutes):
1. Song For Jeffrey
2. Love Story
3. Christmas Song
4. Living In The Past
5. Driving Song
6. Bourée
7. Sweet Dream
8. Singing All Day
9. Teacher
10. Witch's Promise
11. Inside
12. Alive And Well And Living In
13. Just Trying To Be

Disc 2 (45:35 minutes):
1. By Kind Permission Of [Live At Carnegie Hall, 1970]
2. Dharma for One [Live At Carnegie Hall, 1970]
3. Wond'ring Again
4. Hymn 43
5. Locomotive Breath
6. Life Is A Long Song
7. Up the 'Pool
8. Dr. Bogenbroom
9. For Later
10. Nursie

The 2LP set "Living In The Past" was issued in July 1972 in the UK on Chrysalis CJT 1 and October 1972 in the USA on Chrysalis 2CH 1035 - both originals sporting hardback book sleeves with 12 pages of colour shots inside. The set's title reflected what was inside - a ragbag of previously released albums tracks bolstered up with new live and studio songs, rare single sides and their non-album flips.

This 'full' 2CD version is an audiophile issue - a Mobile Fidelity ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING housed in a card wrap with two gold ULTRADISC-2 CDs in two separate lift-lock CD cases. The detached oversized booklet slotted in beside the CDs replicates entirely the packaging and liner notes of the original double album - right down to the 'book' texture of the front and rear sleeve. Nice touches it has to be said. However, the liner notes get some details wrong which need clarifying...

Disc 1:
Tracks 1 to 11 and 13 make up the 12 tracks of Side 1 and 2 of the original 'UK' double album using strict sequencing

You will notice that Disc 1 has 13 tracks and not 12. The reason for the extra song is that "Inside" (from the "Benefit" LP) appeared as track 5 on Side 2 of the original 'UK' issue, but the original 'US' issue replaced this track with "Alive And Well And Living In" (another "Benefit" track in the UK and the B-side to the UK 7" of "Inside"). Both have been included on this 2CD set for completeness.

Disc 2:
Tracks 1 to 3 and 5 to 10 make up the 9 tracks of Side 3 and 4 of the original 'UK' double album using strict sequencing

However, you will notice that like Disc 1, Disc 2 also has an extra track. Track 5 is "Locomotive Breath" from the "Aqualung" LP - it appeared as track 2 on Side 4 of the original 'UK' issue. However, the 'US' issue replaced this track with another cut from "Aqualung" - "Hymn 43" - again both tracks are included on the Mobile Fidelity issue for completeness.

To confuse matters further, the ok-sounding official EMI release of "Living In The Past" on CD is a truncated single disc...so this US-only Mobile Fidelity issue is the only way to get the full double in one place - and more importantly - with great sound.

Speaking of which - when I compare "Locomotive Breath" and "Hymn 43" on the 1996 "Aqualung" remaster to these MF versions - the difference couldn't be more marked; the "Aqualung" remaster was to my ears one of the worst and dullest of issues - these MF versions leap out of the speakers. As the recordings vary from 1968 to 1971, the sound does so too, but the Mobile issue excels on them all - especially the beautiful acoustic turns "Just Trying To Be" (lyrics above) and "Up The 'Pool". In fact - excepting the excessive two live tracks, which took up all of Side 3, it's amazing how well the whole set holds together - even to this day.

Bottom line is - this Mobile Fidelity 2CD set has really great sound and the full compliment - it's just such a damn shame that this now rare deletion costs so much...

PS: Given the stunning sound quality on the Collector's Edition of "This Was" achieved by Peter Mew at Abbey Road - surely EMI - both this, "Aqualung" and "Stand Up' could do with the same treatment? It's infuriating that fans have to dig into their wallets to get quality sound...