The "BACKTRACK" LP Series. 14 Albums from 1970 on Track Records. A Detailed Discography.

NUMERICAL ORDER - DETAILED

1. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Backtrack 1
Track 2407 001, Issued May 1970

Side 1:
1. Walk On Gilded Splinters – MARSHA HUNT
2. Hey Joe – JIMI HENDRIX
3. Devil’s Grip – THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
4. Pictures Of Lily – THE WHO
5. All Along The Watchtower – JIMI HENDRIX
6. Desdemona – JOHN’S CHILDREN [featuring Marc Bolan of T.Rex]

Side 2:
1. Fire – THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
2. I Can See For Miles – THE WHO
3. Follow Me – EIRE APPARENT
4. It’s Been A Long Time – ANDY ELLISON
5. Call Me Lightning – THE WHO
6. The Wind Cries Mary – JIMI HENDRIX

2. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Backtrack 2
Track 2407 002, Issued May 1970

Side 1:
1. Under My Thumb – THE WHO
2. Desdemona – MARSHA HUNT [John’s Children/Marc Bolan cover]
3. Purple Haze – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
4. Come And Play With Me In The Garden – JOHN’S CHILDREN
5. If I Had A Ribbon Bow – FAIRPORT CONVENTION
6. Magic Bus – THE WHO

Side 2:
1. Something In The Air – THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN
[Written by John “Speedy” Keen]
2. Cherry Smash Sings Songs Of Love – HUGG
[Written by and featuring MIKE HUGG of Manfred Mann]
3. Pinball Wizard – THE WHO
4. Nightmare – THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
5. Let Me Light Your Fire – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
6. The Last Time – THE WHO
[A Rolling Stones cover]

3. THE WHO and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Backtrack 3
Track 2407 003, Issued May 1970
(Contained Previously Unreleased STEREO Mixes of WHO Songs)

Side 1:
1. Substitute – THE WHO
2. Disguises – THE WHO
3. Run, Run, Run – THE WHO
4. I'm A Boy – THE WHO
5. Whiskey Man – THE WHO
6. Happy Jack – THE WHO
7. So Sad About Us – THE WHO

Side 2:
1. Hey Joe – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
2. I Don’t Live Today – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
3. Purple Haze - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
4. Can You See Me - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
5. The Wind Cries Mary - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
6. Stone Free - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

4. THE WHO and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Backtrack 4
Track 2407 004, Issued May 1970

Side 1:
1. Pictures Of Lily – THE WHO
2. Relax – THE WHO
3. Sunrise – THE WHO
4. I Can See For Miles – THE WHO
5. Armenia City In The Sky – THE WHO
6. Our Love Was – THE WHO
7. Call Me Lightning – THE WHO

Side 2:
1. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
2. Are You Experienced – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
3. If Six Was Nine – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
4. Remember - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
5. Gypsy Eyes - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
6. All Along The Watchtower - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

5. THE WHO and JIMI HENDRIX – Backtrack 5
Track 2407 005, Issued May 1970
(Rear sleeve credits JIMI HENDRIX, the label THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)

Side 1:
1. Magic Bus – THE WHO
2. Boris The Spider – THE WHO
3. Mary Anne – THE WHO
4. Tattoo – THE WHO
5. Pinball Wizard – THE WHO
6. I'm Free - THE WHO
7. Rael - THE WHO

Side 2:
1. Rainy Day, Dream Away – THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
2. Manic Depression - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
3. Love Or Confusion - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
4. Come On - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
5. Spanish Castle Magic - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
6. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

6. VARIOUS ARTISTS (Soul Acts) – Backtrack 6
Track 2407 006, Issued May 1970

Side 1:
1. Love Power – THE SANDPEBBLES
2. I Can Feel The Ice Melting – THE PARLIAMENTS [aka Parliamment]
3. If This Is Love (I’d Rather Be Lonely) – THE PRECISIONS
4. Headache In My Heart – THE DEBONAIRES
5. Because Of Love – THE SANDPEBBLES
6. Let Hurt Put You In The Loser’s Seat – THE PARLIAMENTS [aka Parliament]

Side 2:
1. I’m In Love Again – THE DEBONAIRES
2. You’ve Got To Pay The Price – AL KENT
3. (I Wanna) Testify – THE PARLIAMENTS [aka Parliament]
4. You’ll Soon Be Gone – THE PRECISIONS
5. Don’t Be Sore At Me – THE PARLIAMENTS [aka Parliament]
6. Where Do I Go From Here – AL KENT

7. VARIOUS ARTISTS (Rock Acts) – Backtrack 7 - Mixed Bag
Track 2407 007, Issued May 1970 (Pink Sleeve)

Side 1:
1. How Would You Feel – JIMI HENDRIX and CURTIS KNIGHT
2. Hippy Gumbo – MARSHA HUNT
3. It’s Only Me – BENT FRAME
4. The Seeker – THE WHO
5. I See It All- THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN
6. Keep The Customer Satisfied – MARSHA HUNT

Side 2:
1. Summertime Blues (Live) – THE WHO
2. What’s Happening – THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
3. Long Hot Summer Night – JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
(misspelled on label as "Lot Hot Summer Night")
4. Accidents – THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN
5. Here For More – THE WHO
6. The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice – JIMI HENDRIX
EXPERIENCE

8. THE WHO – Backtrack 8
Track 2407 008, Issued November 1970
(Mono Version of “A Quick One”)


Side 1:
1. Run, Run, Run
2. Boris The Spider
3. I Need You
4. Whiskey Man
5. Heatwave

Side 2:
1. Cobwebs and Strange
2. Don't Look Away
3. See My Way
4. So Sad About Us
5. A Quick One While He's Away

9. THE WHO – Backtrack 9
Track 2407 009, Issued November 1970
(Stereo Mix of “Who Sell Out”)

Side 1:
1. Armenia City In The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary-Anne With The Shaky Hands
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See For Miles

Side 2:
1. Charles Atlas
2. I Can't Reach You
3. Medac
4. Relax
5. Silas Stingy
6. Sunrise
7. Rael

10. THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Backtrack 10
“Are You Experienced” (Stereo Version – see Notes)
Track 2407 010, Issued November 1970


Side 1:
1. Foxy Lady
2. Manic Depression
3. Red House
4. Can You See Me
5. Love Or Confusion

Side 2:
1. I Don't Live Today
2. May This Be Love
3. Fire
4. 3rd Stone From The Sun
5. Remember
6. Are You Experienced

[Notes: this is a reissue of his debut album on Track 612 001 in 1967, which was originally only issued in MONO; this Backtrack was the first in STEREO]

11. THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Backtrack 11
“Axis: Bold As Love” (Mono Version – see Notes)
Track 2407 011, Released May 1970


Side 1:
1. EXP
2. Up From The Skies
3. Spanish Castle Magic
4. Wait Until Tomorrow
5. Ain't No Telling
6. Little Wing

Side 2:
1. If Six Was Nine
2. You've Got Me Floating
3. Castles Made Of Sand
4. She's So Fine
5. One Rainy Wish
6. Little Miss Lover
7. Bold As Love

[Note: this was a budget reissue of his 2nd album originally issue in 1967 in both MONO and STEREO versions – this reissue is the rare MONO mix]

12. ARTHUR BROWN – Backtrack 12
“The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown” (Stereo Version)
Track 2407 012, Issued May 1970

Side 1:
1. Prelude – Nightmare
2. Fanfare - Fire Poem
3. Fire
4. Come And Buy
5. Time/Confusion

Side 2:
1. I Put A Spell On You
2. Spontaneous Apple Creation
3. Rest Cure
4. Money
5. Narration (Child of My Kingdom)

[Notes: this is the Stereo version of an album that first appeared 2 years earlier on Track Records in both Mono (Track 612 005) and Stereo (Track 613 005).
It also features VINCENT CRANE of ATOMIC ROOSTER. “I Put A Spell On You” is a Screaming Jay Hawkins cover; “Money” is a Barrett Strong cover]

13. MURRAY ROMAN – Backtrack 13
“You Can’t Beat People Up And Have Them Say I Love You” (Stereo)
Track 2407 013, Issued November 1970
(Is a reissue of his 1969 debut LP on Track 613 007)

Side 1:
1. Three Kinds Of Highs
2. That's A Bust
3. The Banana Thing
4. Anything You Want To Do
5. Good Chicks And Bad Chicks
6. Three Ways To Score
7. The Baja Marimba Band Story
8. The Riots

Side 2:
1. Be There, Be There
2. Horror Films
3. Twiggy
4. Try This, Little Joe!
5. Good News
6. Join The Navy
7. War Films
8. The Real Enemy

14. THE WHO – THE OX [John Entwistle Their Bass Player] – Backtrack 14
Track 2407 014, Issued November 1970

Side 1:
1. Heinz Baked Beans
2. Heaven And Hell
3. Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
4. Fiddle About
5. Cousin Kevin
6. Doctor Doctor

Side 2:
1. Medac
2. Boris The Spider
3. I’ve Been Away
4. Whiskey Man
5. In The City
6. Someone’s Coming
7. Silas Stingy

NUMERICAL ORDER - CONCISE

1. 2407 001 – VARIOUS ARTISTS – “Backtrack 1” (May 1970) £25.00
2. 2407 002 – VARIOUS ARTISTS – “Backtrack 2” (May 1970) £12.00
3. 2407 003 – THE WHO and JIMI HENDRIX – “Backtrack 3” (May 1970)
(Contained Previously Unreleased STEREO Mixes of WHO Songs) £15.00
4. 2407 004 – THE WHO and JIMI HENDRIX – “Backtrack 4” (May 1970) £15.00
5. 2407 005 – THE WHO and JIMI HENDRIX – “Backtrack 5” (May 1970) £15.00
6. 2407 006 - VARIOUS ARTISTS (Soul) – “Backtrack 6” (May 1970) £15.00
7. 2407 007 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Rock & Soul) – “Backtrack 7”
(November 1970) £12.00
8. 2407 008 – THE WHO – “Backtrack 8”
(Mono Version of “A Quick One”) (November 1970) £18.00
9. 2407 009 – THE WHO – “Backtrack 9”
(Stereo Version of “Who Sell Out”) (November 1970) £12.00
10. 2407 010 – JIMI HENDRIX – “Backtrack 10”
(Stereo Version of “Are You Experienced”) (November 1970) £15.00
11. 2407 011 – JIMI HENDRIX – “Backtrack 11”
(Stereo Version of “Axis: Bold As Love”) (November 1970) £15.00
12. 2407 012 – ARTHUR BROWN – “Backtrack 12” –
(Stereo Version of “The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown”) (Nov 1970) £12.00
13. 2407 013 – MURRAY ROMAN – “Backtrack 13” –
(Stereo “You Can’t Beat People Up And Have Them Say I Love You”)
(November 1970) £12.00
14. 2407 014 – THE WHO – THE OX (John Entwistle songs) – “Backtrack 14”
(November 1970) £22.00

Compiled March - August 2009

"Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" by NEIL YOUNG (2009 Reprise/Neil Young Archives HDCD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 280+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3 
- Exceptional CD Remasters 
(No Duplicate Reviews with Volumes 1 or 2
Which Contain 300+ Reviews in Each)

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

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"…It's So Hard To Say No To Yourself…"

As we all know - Neil Young has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because of what he feels is the format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes' original sound as laid down by the artist - and almost a full 20 years after 1989's first issue of his 2nd album on a dullard CD - it looks like the guy is having the last laugh - because this meticulously prepared tape transfer is GLORIOUS. It really is. I've bought all 4 of his new NYA CD remasters and to my ears this is fact the best sounding of them all.

First to the details - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" by NEIL YOUNG was originally released on vinyl LP in May 1969 on Reprise Records RS 6349 in the USA and RSLP 6349 in the UK (July 1969).

This August 2009 Reprise/NYA-OSR Remaster on Reprise 9362-49790-3 (Barcode 093624979036) is Disc 2 of 4 and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Density Compact Disc). 

NYA ORS is the Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series. As these are the first four albums in a long reissue campaign - to identify them from the old CDs - the upper part of the outer spine has his new NYA OSR logo at the top and an 'issue' number beneath - D1, D2, D3, D4...on upwards of course.

“Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (40:47 minutes):

1. Cinnamon Girl [Side 1]

2. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

3. Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)

4. Down By The River

5. The Losing End (When You're On) [Side 2]

6. Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)

7. Cowgirl In The Sand

Until now - 2004's "Greatest Hits" set (which offered us three "Everybody..." tracks remastered into HDCD sound quality) was the only real indication of just how good the album could sound (this is the first time the entire album has been given a sonic upgrade). The Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original Master Tapes was carried out by JOHN NOWLAND (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with the Editing and Mastering done by TIM MULLIGAN - and they've done a stunning job.

The inlay reproduces photos of Danny Whitten (Guitar), Billy Talbot (Bass) with Ralph Molina (on Drums) and David Briggs (Engineer and Producer) - but there are no lyrics. However, the big and obvious disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or any new info in the booklet - and in the case of this album in particular the omissions are going to be a sore point for fans who've waited decades for these releases. While some rarities have turned up on the 2009 mega box set "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" - some tracks are still missing. "Down By The River" was edited for single release in the UK in August 1970 on RS 23462 with an alternate take of "Cinnamon Girl" on the B-side. To my knowledge, neither is available in remastered sound anywhere. Also - "Oh Lonesome Me" was extended for the US 7" and it's B-side, an alternate mix of "I've Been Waiting For You" is again a no-show. All of them would have made for ideal extras material and it's infuriating that they're not on here.

Still - at mid price - this remaster of "Everybody..." is still great value for money and with this hugely upgraded sound - it makes you focus on the music as is and not anything else. The sound is exceptional on the big rocking tracks "Down By The River" and the near 10-minute "Cowgirl In The Sand" - while the clarity is just beautiful on Richie Furay's "Round And Round (It Won't Be Long)" - Robin Lane's duet vocals being particularly lovely. Bobby Notkoff's violin on "Running Dry" is very clear - and as the band loosely ramshackles its way into the song - it sounds like they're in your living room - miked up and live - fabulous stuff.

The remaster is not bombastically loud either, trebled up to the nines, but subtle - the music is just THERE in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and will feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about.

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues says "Because Sound Matters" - and I think Rock's great curmudgeon was right to wait to get it right...

PS: I’ve also reviewed “Neil Young”, “After The Gold Rush”, “Harvest” and “Official Release Series Discs 1-4”

“After The Gold Rush” by NEIL YOUNG (August 2009 Reprise/Neil Young Archives HDCD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 280+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 of 3 

- Exceptional CD Remasters 

(No Duplicate Reviews with Volumes 1 or 2

Which Contain 300+ Reviews in Each)

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)

-->

"...The Morning Brings Another Sun..."

As we all know, Neil Young has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because of what he feels is the format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes 'original sound' - and almost a full 20 years after 1989's first issue of "Gold Rush" on a dullard CD - it looks like the guy is having the last laugh - because this meticulously prepared tape transfer is GLORIOUS. It really is.

First to the details...

UK and Europe released 10 August 2009 - "After The Gold Rush" by NEIL YOUNG on Reprise 9362-49790-1 (Barcode 093624979012) is a 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' Remaster (NYA ORS) and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Definition Compatible Digital). It's also Part 3 of 4 of the August 2012 "Official Release Series Discs 1-4" Reissue that bundles his first four solo albums together (the HDCD versions) into one card slipcase.

Until now - 2004's "Greatest Hits" set (which offered us three Gold Rush tracks remastered into HDCD sound quality) was the only real indication of just how good the album 'could' sound (this is the first time the 'entire' album has been given a sonic upgrade). The Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original Master Tapes was carried out by JOHN NOWLAND (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with the Editing and Mastering done by TIM MULLIGAN - and they've done a stunning job - they really have...

"After The Gold Rush" (35:03 minutes):

1. Tell Me Why

2. After The Gold Rush

3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

4. Southern Man

5. Till The Morning Comes

6. Oh Lonesome Me

7. Don't Let It Bring You Down

8. Birds

9. When You Dance, I Can Really Love

10. I Believe In You

11. Cripple Creek

"After The Gold Rush" was released in September 1970 on Reprise Records MS 6383 in the USA and Reprise RSLP 6383 in the UK (it went to Number 8 in the USA and Number 7 in the UK). It was reissued on the Reprise 'K' label variant in the early Seventies when the company went over to 'Kinney' Music.

The inlay faithfully reproduces the foldout lyric sheet with his black and white grainy handwritten lyrics and the print isn't cramped either - it's very readable. (The Harvest inlay has the textured feel of the original LP sleeve and lyric insert too - a nice touch).

Also - as these are the first four albums in a long reissue campaign - to identify them from the old CDs, the upper part of the outer spine has his new NYA OSR logo at the top and an 'issue' number beneath - D1, D2, D3, D4...on upwards of course.

However, the big and obvious disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or any new info in the booklet; they're in "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" box set that's still sitting in shop windows at varying extortionate prices. Still - at mid price - this remaster of "Gold Rush" is great value for money and with this hugely upgraded sound - it makes you focus on the music as is and not anything else.

Some have complained that the sound is a little underwhelming after all the hype that has preceded these releases - I don't think that at all. The danger in remastering would be the cranking of everything, ultra-treble the lot - but I'm hearing ALL the instruments on this carefully prepared remaster - especially the bass and drums which now have a clarity that is so sweet rather than flashy. The sound is very subtle - there's no brashness, very little hiss.

So many highlights - the meaty guitars of "Southern Man" and the slyly lovely cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" is great too.

But then there's a triple whammy of "Don't Let It Bring You Down", the beautiful "Birds" (lyrics above) and the rocking "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". Each is so beautifully done but in different ways. They're not bombastic, nor trebled up to the nines, but subtle - the music is just THERE in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about.

Nils Lofgren of Grin and Crazy Horse lends his Guitar and Piano skills (Ralph Molina and Danny Whitten also from Crazy Horse play Drums and Guitars respectively) - while Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young contributes backing vocals. Master arranger and musical catalyst Jack Nitzsche also plays piano. But it’s Young and his singular voice, style and vision that dominates – the others complimenting rather than overtaking. Both "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest" are arguably what his legend are based upon – although I find almost all of his Seventies output classy – the kind of music like say Richard and Linda Thompson LPs that grows in stature as the years pass.

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues says "Because Sound Matters" - and I think Rock's great curmudgeon has actually proved that point...

PS: I've reviewed "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", "Neil Young" and "Harvest" also - just as good soundwise - and the August 2012 "Official Release Series Disc 1-4" Box Set Reissue on Reprise/NYA that lumps together all 4 x HDCD releases into one card slipcase...