“Images” by THE CRUSADERS. A Review of Their 1978 LP now reissued on a 2009 Verve “Originals” CD Remaster.

The Crusaders are 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

THE CRUSADERS line-up for "Images" was:
JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards
WILTON FELDER - Saxophones
BILLY ROGERS - Guitar
ROBERT "POPS " POPWELL - Bass
NESBERT "STIX" HOOPER - Drums & Percussion

Additional Guests were:
DEAN PARKS - Guitar (All Selections)
ROLAND BAUTISTA - Guitar (On "Fairy Tales", "Bayou Bottoms" and "Covert Action")
PAULINHO DaCOSTA - Percussion (All Selections)

"Images" was first issued in a single sleeve LP in July 1978 in the USA on Blue Thumb BA-6030 and on ABC Records ABCL 5250 in the UK. This CD reissue (June 2009 in the USA - September 2009 in the UK - Verve 0602517995710) is part of Universal's "Originals" series and is issued in a card digipak (no booklet unfortunately) at mid-price.

It breakdowns like this (39:46 minutes)

1. Fairy Tales (Joe Sample song)
2. Marcella's Dream (Nesbert "Stix" Hooper song)
3. Bayou Bottoms (Wilton Felder song)
4. Merry Go Round (Joe sample song)
[Tracks 1 to 4 made up Side 1 of the original LP]
5. Cosmic Reign (Robert "Pops" Popwell song)
6. Covert Action (Wilton Felder song)
7. Snowflake (Joe Sample song)
[Tracks 5 to 7 made up Side 2 of the original LP]

Possessing not the greatest album sleeve in history, "Images" was nonetheless a bit a of jazz-funk peach. Produced by "Stix" Hooper, Wilton Felder & Joe Sample for "Crusader Productions, Inc." and mastered by long-standing expert Bernie Grundman, it followed so much of their Seventies output - really well-produced instrumental funky tracks followed by mellow ones that filled both the floor and the heart at one and the same time.

Remastered from the original tapes by KEVIN REEVES at Universal Mastering in the States, it now sounds FABULOUS - really clear and defined - and virtually hiss-free.

With juts a poor-sounding 1990 US CD to go on - and only "Snowflake" and "Fairy Tales" on the superior sounding "Gold" 2CD set from 2007 (see separate review) - that means that 5 of these 7 tracks are only now getting the sonic upgrade they've deserved for so long. The funk bliss that is "Bayou Bottoms" now sounds stupendous and had me throwing some very embarrassing shapes on our living room carpet. Other tracks like "Cosmic Reign" and “Merry Go Round” are so "Aja" in their arrangements too - and to be compared with Steely Dan's 1977 masterpiece is the highest compliment really.

After a whole decade and umpteen albums of their particular type of funk & jazz, the same team that handled "Images" would finally hit paydirt a year later in 1979 with the global smash of "Street Life" and make Randy Crawford a star.

"Images" is a forgotten Crusaders album and one that now sounds as fresh as it did over 31 years ago - recommended.

PS: For those interested in delving a little deeper - I've posted a full list to October 2009 of the 120+ titles in the "ORIGINALS" CD series below

**** Universal's "ORIGINALS" CD Series ****
Reissue CDs in Gatefold Digipaks of Classic Albums covering the 1950's through to the 1990's
They cover many labels - Verve, Mercury, Fontana, A&M, Chisa, Blue Thumb, Kudu, ABC, Philips, Impulse etc
These titles started in 2007 and are on-going into 2009
This List is in Artist and Title Alphabetical Order (with Release Date)

Laurindo Almeida – see STAN GETZ
1. New Orleans Nights - LOUIS ARMSTRONG and the ALL STARS (1950)
2. Satchmo At Pasadena - LOUIS ARMSTRONG and the ALL STARS (1951)
Louis Armstrong – see also ELLA FITZGERALD
3. A Tear To A Smile - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1975)
4. Change Up The Groove - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1974)
5. He's Coming - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1971)
6. Lifeline - ROY AYERS (1977)
7. Ubiquity - ROY AYERS (1971)
8. Vibrations - ROY AYERS (1977)
9. Virgo Red - ROY AYERS (1973)
10. You Send Me - ROY AYERS (1978)
11. Chapter One: Latin America - GATO BARBIERI (1973)
12. Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata - GATO BARBIERI (1974)
13. Chapter Two: Hasta Siempre - GATO BARBIERI (1973)
14. Ruby. Ruby - GATO BARBIERI (1977)
15. Tropico - GATO BARBIERI (1978)
16. Basie Land - COUNT BASIE (1963)
17. On My Way & Shoutin' Again - COUNT BASIE (1963)
18. Intimacy - WALTER BEASLEY (21 October 2008)
19. Just Kickin' It - WALTER BEASLEY (1989)
20. Walter Beasley - WALTER BEASLEY (1987)
Louis Belson – see STAN GETZ
21. I Got A Woman And Some Blues - GEORGE BENSON (1970’s material, 1984)
22. Shape Of Things To Come - GEORGE BENSON (1969)
23. Soul Finger - ART BLAKEY and the JAZZ MESSENGERS (1965)
24. Bobo Motion - WILLIE BOBO (1967)
25. The Brazilian Scene - LUIZ BONFA (1965)
26. Braziliana - LUIZ BONFA and MARIA TOLEDO (1965)
27. Return Of The Brecker Brothers - THE BRECKER BROTHERS [Randy and Michael] (1992)
28. Just Between us - NORMAN BROWN (1992)
29. Jazz Samba – CHARLIE BYRD (1962)
30. Occasional Rain - TERRY CALLIER (1972)
31. What Color Is Love - TERRY CALLIER (1973)
Paul Chambers – see OLIVER NELSON
32. Children Of Forever - STANLEY CLARKE (1973)
Rudy Collins – see DIZZY GILLESPIE
33. A Love Supreme - JOHN COLTRANE (1964)
34. Ascension - JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
35. Crescent - JOHN COLTRANE (1964)
36. Impressions - JOHN COLTRANE (1961)
37. John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman - JOHN COLTRANE and JOHNNY HARTMAN (1963)
38. The John Coltrane Quartet Plays... - JOHN COLTRANE QUARTET (1965)
39. Kulu Se Mama - JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
40. Live At Birdland - JOHN COLTRANE (1963)
41. Meditations – JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
42. New Thing At Newport - JOHN COLTRANE and ARCHIE SHEPP (1965)
John Coltrane - see also DUKE ELLINGTON
Gal Costa – see ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
43. Images - THE CRUSADERS (1978)
44. Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes - THE CRUSADERS (1970)
45. Pass The Plate - THE CRUSADERS (1971)
The Crusaders - see also JOE SAMPLE and DAVID T. WALKER
46. Ascenseur Pour L'echafaud - MILES DAVIS (1957)
Paul Desmond Quartet - see GERRY MULLIGAN
Eric Dolphy – See OLIVER NELSON
47. A Dream Fulfilled – WILL DOWNING (1991)
48. Come Together As One – WILL DOWNING (1989)
49. Faces In Reflection – GEORGE DUKE (1974)
50. I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry - GEORGE DUKE (1975)
Harry Edison – see STAN GETZ
51. Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins - DUKE ELLINGTON and COLEMAN HAWKINS (1962)
52. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - DUKE ELLINGTON and JOHN COLTRANE (1963)
53. Plays The Theme From V.I.P. & Others – BILL EVANS (1963)
Bill Evans – see also OLIVER NELSON
54. Out Of The Cool - GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA (1961)
55. Octet - MAYNARD FERGUSON (1955)
56. Ella In Hamburg (Live) - ELLA FITZGERALD (1961)
57. Ella In Hollywood - ELLA FITZGERALD (1961)
58. Porgy & Bess - ELLA FITZGERALD and LOUIS ARMSTRONG (1957)
59. At The Shrine – STAN GETZ (1954)
60. Big Band Bossa Nova - STAN GETZ and GARY McFARLAND (1962)
61. Dynasty – STAN GETZ (1971)
62. Getz/Gilberto – STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO (also features Astrud Gilberto) (1963)
63. Getz/Gilberto No.2 – STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO (1964)
64. In Stockholm (Live) - STAN GETZ (1956)
65. Jazz Samba Encore! – STAN GETZ (1963)
66. Sweet Rain - STAN GETZ (1967)
67. Stan Getz With Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida – STAN GETZ and LAURINDO ALMEIDA (1963)
68. Jazz Giants '58 - STAN GETZ, GERRY MULLIGAN, HARRY EDISON, LOUIS BELSON and The OSCAR PETERSON TRIO (1958)
69. Swing Is Here - TERRY GIBBS (1960)
70. A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness - ASTRUD GILBERTO and WALTER WANDERLEY (1966)
71. The Astrud Gilberto Album - ASTRUD GILBERTO (1965)
72. Look To The Rainbow - ASTRUD GILBERTO and GIL EVANS (1966)
Astrud Gilberto – see also STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO
Joao Gilberto – see also STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBETO
73. The Cool World - DIZZY GILLESPIE (1964)
74. Dizzy Gillespie Goes Hollywood – DIZZY GILLESPIE (1963)
75. Dizzy On The French Riviera - DIZZY GILLESPIE with CHRIS WHITE, RUDY COLLINS, LALO SCHIFRIN and LEO WRIGHT (1962)
76. I Just Dropped By To Say Hello - JOHNNY HARTMAN (1963)
Johnny Hartman – see also JOHN COLTRANE
Coleman Hawkins – see DUKE ELLINGTON
Roy Haynes – see OLIVER NELSON
77. Used To Be Duke - JOHNNY HODGES and his ORCHESTRA (1954)
78. Lady Sings The Blues - BILLIE HOLIDAY (1956)
79. The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1962)
Freddie Hubbard – see also OLIVER NELSON
80. At The Museum Of Modern Art – MILT JACKSON (1970s)
81. Treasure Island - KEITH JARRETT (1974)
Jazz Messengers – see ART BLAKEY
82. Rio Revisited - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM and GAL COSTA (1989)
Antonio Carlos Jobim – see also Elis Regina
83. Quincy Jones Explores The Music Of Henry Mancini - QUINCY JONES (1964)
84. The Quintessence - QUINCY JONES ORCHESTRA (1962)
85. You've Got It Bad Girl - QUINCY JONES (1973)
86. Live At The Apollo – B.B. KING (1990)
87. Arabesque - JOHN KLEMMER (1977)
88. Barefoot Ballet - JOHN KLEMMER (1976)
89. Goin' Latin - RAMSEY LEWIS (1966)
90. The In Crowd - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (1965)
91. Live At The Bohemian Caverns - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (1962)
92. Home Is Where The Music Is - HUGH MASEKELA (2LP set on 1CD) (1972)
Gary McFarland – see STAN GETZ
93. Down Here On The Ground - WES MONTGOMERY (1967)
94. Goin' Out Of My Head - WES MONTGOMERY (1965)
95. Blues In Time - GERRY MULLIGAN and PAUL DESMOND QUARTET (1957)
96. Lonesome Boulevard – GERRY MULLIGAN (1990)
Gerry Mulligan – see also STAN GETZ
97. The Blues And The Obscure Truth - OLIVER NELSON [featuring PAUL CHAMBERS, ERIC DOLPHY, BILL EVANS, ROY HAYNES and FREDDIE HUBBARD] (1961)
98. In A Romantic Mood - OSCAR PETERSON (1955)
99. Oscar Peterson Plays The Jerome Kern Songbook - OSCAR PETERSON (1952)
100. Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle - OSCAR PETERSON and NELSON RIDDLE (1963)
101. Oscar Peterson Trio + One - OSCAR PETERSON TRIO and CLARK TERRY (1964)
Oscar Peterson Trio - see also STAN GETZ, SONNY STITT
102. Blues In the Closet – BUD POWELL TRIO (1956)
103. Come Into Knowledge - RAMP (1977)
104. Elis & Tom - ELIS REGINA and ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1974)
See also ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
Nelson Riddle – see OSCAR PETERSON
105. Quiet As It's Kept - MAX ROACH (1960)
106. On Impulse! - SONNY ROLLINS (1965)
107. Swing Street Café - JOE SAMPLE and DAVID T. WALKER (1981) [Keyboardist and Guitarist with The Crusaders]
108. Piano, Strings And Bossa Nova - LALO SCHIFRIN (1962)
Lalo Schifrin – see also DIZZY GILLESPIE
109. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - LITTLE JIMMY SCOTT (1950s Material)
Archie Shepp - see JOHN COLTRANE
110. Let It Be Me (Live) - NINA SIMONE (1987)
111. Hobo Flats - JIMMY SMITH (1963)
112. Live At The Village Gate - JIMMY SMITH TRIO (1963)
113. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? - JIMMY SMITH (1964)
114. Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio - SONNY STITT and OSCAR PETERSON (1957)
Clark Terry - see OSCAR PETERSON
115. ...Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brazil - CAL TJADER (1962)
Maria Toledo – see LUIZ BONFA
David T Walker - see JOE SAMPLE
116. At Mister Kelly’s – SARAH VAUGHAN and HER TRIO (1957)
Walter Wanderley – see ASTRUD GILBERTO and WALTER WANDERLEY
117. All The King's Horses - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1972)
118. A Secret Place - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1976)
119. Feels So Good - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1975)
120. Inner City Blues - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1971)
121. Reed Seed - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1978)
122. Soul Box - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1973)
Chris White – see DIZZY GILLESPIE
Leo Wright – see DIZZY GILLESPIE

"Past Masters" by THE BEATLES - 1962 to 1970 Singles - 33 Tracks - 29 in STEREO - 4 in MONO with Two Sung in German (September 2009 UK EMI/Apple 2CD Reissue with GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

September 2009 UK EMI/Apple Reissue and Remaster as a 2CD Set

ORIGINAL 1988 SINGLE CD ISSUES

"...Arrive Without Travelling...See All Without Looking..."

After the 13 official British albums by The Beatles were first reissued on CD (February to October of 1987), all the non-album tracks on UK 7" singles, the exclusive 4-songs on the "Long Tall Sally" EP and any other stragglers were then gathered up onto two separate CD compilations called "Past Masters" (Vol. 1 & 2) and issued globally on 8 March 1988 to compliment the main catalogue.

 

This 9 September 2009 reissue of "Past Masters" on EMI 50999 2 43807 2 0 (Barcode is the same number) combines both of those Volumes into one 2CD set. They've been taken out of their clunky jewel cases and given a tri-gatefold card sleeve (black in colour), new 2009 remastering and a vastly upgraded booklet. Of the 33 tracks - 29 are in STEREO with 4 being in MONO - "Love Me Do", "She Loves You", "I'll Get You" on Disc 1 - and "You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)" on Disc 2.

 

However - there are differences between the old and new issues. The 1988 version of Disc 1 had 7 MONO tracks and not 3 (Disc 2 has remained the same) - the 4 now replaced with STEREO versions are "From Me To You", "Thank You Girl", and the two singles sung in German. But therein lies a further anomaly...

 

Beatles chroniclers will know that prior to the issue of "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" in May 1969 - ALL of their UK 7" singles were issued in MONO-ONLY ("The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was their first STEREO single in the UK, while their first STEREO 7" in the US was as late as "Get Back"). So while the vastly improved liner notes talk knowledgably about each British single - this set is in STEREO when they were only ever issued in MONO! Some would therefore say that this whole compilation only compounds the mistake of the 1988 issues and is a further historical travesty. But I'd argue that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain - because these NEW STEREO REMASTERS are simply astonishing soundwise - they really are.

 

GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE remastered the original masters tapes with the whole project overseen by ALLAN ROUSE - and they've all done a stunning job. Here are the intimate track-by-track details...

 

Disc 1 (42:31 minutes):

1. Love Me Do

5 October 1962 debut UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4949

Track 1 is the A-side - the mix has Ringo on the drums - the album version has sessionman Andy White - it's sometimes referred to as the "Original Single Version"

 

2. From Me To You

3. Thank You Girl

11 April 1963 3rd UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5015

Tracks 2 and 3 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

4. She Loves You

5. I'll Get You

23 August 1963 4th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5055

Tracks 4 and 5 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

6. I Want To Hold Your Hand

7. This Boy

23 November 1963 5th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5084

Tracks 6 and 7 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

8. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

9. Sie Liebt Dich

March 1964 German 7" single on Odeon 0 22 671

Tracks 8 and 9 are German sung versions of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" [A & B]. "I Want To..." is the UK backing track with German vocals simply overdubbed on top, but the "She Loves You" version is an entirely different take. It was recorded in EMI's Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris in late January 1964 - both tracks were then issued in a picture sleeve in March 1964 in Germany on Odeon credited as Die Beatles. "Komm..." later turned up as an album track on the US and German Stereo versions of the "Something New" LP in August and September of 1964 (Capitol ST-2108 and Odeon STO/SMO 83756). "Sie Liebt Dich" was later issued on the October 1979 UK compilation LP "Rarities" on Parlophone PSLP 261.

 

10. Long Tall Sally

11. I Call Your Name

12. Slow Down

13. Matchbox

Tracks 10 to 13 are the 4-track British EP "Long Tall Sally" issued 19 June 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8913. "Long Tall Sally" is a Little Richard cover, "I Call Your Name" a Lennon/McCartney original while "Slow Down" and "Matchbox" are Larry Williams and Carl Perkins cover versions. All tracks were non-album at the time.

 

14. I Feel Fine

15. She's A Woman

27 November 1964 8th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5200

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A & B - both tracks were non-album

 

16. Bad Boy

Track 16 is another Larry Williams cover version; this stereo version first appeared in the USA on "Beatles VI" in May 1965 on Capitol ST-2358; it's UK debut was on the December 1966 compilation LP "A Collection Of Beatles Oldies" on Parlophone PCS 7016.

 

17. Yes It Is

9 April 1965 9th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5265

Track 17 is the non-album B-side to the UK single "Ticket To Ride"

 

18. I'm Down

23 July 1965 10th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5305

Track 18 is the non-album B-side to the UK single "Help!"

 

Disc 2 (51:00 minutes):

1. Day Tripper

2. We Can Work It Out

2 December 1965 11th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5389

Tracks 1 and 2 were a Double A-side; both tracks were non-album

 

3. Paperback Writer

4. Rain

10 June 1966 12th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5452

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B - both tracks were non-album

 

5. Lady Madonna

6. The Inner Light

15 March 1968 17th UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5675

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B - both tracks were non-album

 

7. Hey Jude

8. Revolution

30 August 1968 18th UK 7" single on Apple R 5722 (1st on Apple)

Tracks 7 and 8 are the A & B - both were non-album

(The tracks "Revolution 1" and "Revolution 9" on "The Beatles" double-album (The White Album) are different versions)

 

9. Get Back [with Billy Preston]

10. Don't Let Me Down [with Billy Preston]

11 April 1969 19th UK single on Apple R 5777

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B credited to THE BEATLES with BILLY PRESTON - A is a different version to the LP cut; B is non-album

 

11. The Ballad Of John And Yoko

12. Old Brown Shoe

30 May 1969 20th UK 7" single on Apple R 5786 [1st UK 7" in STEREO]

Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B - A features vocal lead by John Lennon with backup from Paul; B-side is a George Harrison song with him on Lead vocals; both tracks were non-album

 

13. Across The Universe

This is the version that preceded the more famous "Let It Be" LP cut (released May 1970); this "birds & nature" version was given to a charity album for the World Wildlife Fund called "No One's Gonna Change Our World" released 12 December 1969 in the UK on one of EMI's budget labels - Regal Starline SRS 5018. It has none of the strings or choir added by Phil Spector to the LP cut...and was said to be the take favoured by John Lennon who wrote the song

 

14. Let It Be

15. You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)

6 March 1970 22nd UK 7" single on Apple R5833 (Last Release as a Band)

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B - A is in STEREO; B is in MONO; A-side is credited to THE BEATLES with Billy Preston and features a different guitar solo by George Harrison than the album cut - both tracks were non-album

 

Regarding the astonishing Audio. George Harrison's B-side "The Inner Light" ("Lady Madonna" was the A) is a good example of the sound improvement - it's just beautifully clear. It's loud yes, but not amplified to a point where hiss drowns out the song (there's none). And listening to Disc 2 especially - you're struck with awe at how good they were. Most of these tracks were only SINGLES back in the day - yet most bands these days would kill a beloved granny for 10% of such craft and talent. Double whammies like "Hey Jude" and "Revolution", "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down", "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" are just amazing.

 

Of the earlier stuff - the three part harmonies of "This Boy" and "Yes It Is" sound so young and fresh - while the Rock 'n' Roll stuff exudes their passion for the music. And that guitar on "Paperback Writer" packs a mean left hook. By the time you get to "Let It Be" and "Across The Universe" - the 'best band ever in the history of the world' doesn't seem like an accolade too far. Soundwise literally everything seems up for grabs here - and in a thrilling new way...

 

For me this rather dull looking double "Past Masters" is one of the best 09/09/09 releases. The song quality is incredible from start to finish and it also rather eloquently shows The Beatles extraordinary development from pop ditty songsters in 1963 to pure rock genius by 1969. 

 

OK - so "Past Masters" is not historically accurate - but I suspect for the average listener this will not matter - they'll be too busy enjoying the brilliance coming out of their speakers to care about chronology...and isn't that exactly how the boys would have wanted it...

“Ask Me No Questions” by BRIDGET ST. JOHN [feat John Martyn, Ric Sanders of Fairport Convention and John Peel] (2005 Cherry Red 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - 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 1960s MUSIC 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)

"…There Are So Many Things That We Have Shared…"

If Nick Drake had a sister or Nico recorded a Folk-Rock album in 1969 - then the lovely "Ask Me No Questions" by Britain's Bridget St. John would be the result.

Signed to John Peel's fledgling Dandelion Records label - Londoner Bridget St. John was just 22 when she recorded this beautiful but criminally forgotten debut LP. St. John was one of the first three acts released by the BBC's most famous DJ on his 'it's all about the artists' record label.

1. To B Without A Hitch [Side 1]

2. Autumn Lullaby

3. Curl Your Toes

4. Like Never Before

5. The Curious Crystals Of Unusual Purity

6. Barefeet And Hot Pavements

7. I Like To Be With You In The Sun [Side 2]

8. Lizard-Long-Tongue Boy

9. Hello Again (Of Course)

10. Many Happy Returns

11. Broken Faith

12. Ask Me No Questions

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Suzanne

14. The Road Was Lonely

Produced by JOHN PEEL - the album "Ask Me No Questions" was released in July 1969 on Dandelion S 63750 in a fetching gatefold sleeve (distributed by CBS at the time). Although it received many favourable music press reviews, it sold poorly. It's now a £70-plus listed vinyl rarity but can easily sell for three figures in tip-top condition.

UK released November 2005 - "Ask Me No Questions" by BRIDGET ST. JOHN on Cherry Red CDM RED 282 (Barcode 5013929128224) – this beautifully remastered CD gives us the album's original self-penned tracks (1 to 12 above) with 2 fantastic rarities as extras. The 20-page booklet also has informative and affectionate liner notes by NIGEL CROSS that include an interview with the great lady in 2005 - colour pictures of her in 1969, lyrics to the songs, a trade paper review, reminiscences on John Peel and John Martyn and much more.

Musically - her gut-string guitar picking sounds like Nick Drake on his debut "Five Leaves Left" and her voice is deep and dark like a more somber version of Sandy Denny. Most of the arrangements are just St. John and her guitar - very quiet, pretty folk songs. The mood isn't dark either, more reflective than that - the songs often sound like the countryside although she's from a capitol city. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the lyrics are sometimes weighed down with too many hippy-dippy ponderings about nature and ‘buttercup sandwiches' that may sound twee to some ears now...others, however, will feel they are very much part of the music's charm.

Two notable contributors are JOHN MARTYN on "Curl Your Toes" and the stunning album title track "Ask Me No Questions" where he plays second guitar on both (no vocals unfortunately). There's also second guitar from RIC SANDERS (of Fairport Convention) on "Lizard-Long-Tongue Boy" and "Many Happy Returns" (on which he also plays some wonderful Bottleneck Guitar). 

Highlights include the forgiving relationship song "Broken Faith" (lyrics are the title of this review), the sweet "Barefeet And Hot Pavements" and Martyn's subtle backing on "Curl Your Toes". But the best is kept until last - the near eight-minute folk work out that is the album's title track - "Ask Me No Questions". The song's lovely guitar refrain fades into bird song and bells about three minutes in - only to come back again to the lilting music to great effect. It's still moving - 40 years after the event.

The bonus tracks are genuinely that - bonuses. "Suzanne" (a Leonard Cohen cover) appeared as a rare non-album B-side on "Fly High", a 3-track maxi 7" single in a picture sleeve issued in 1972 on Dandelion/Polydor 2001 280. "The Road Was Lonely" turned as a non-album B-side to the 7" UK single "Passin' Thru" on MCA Records MUS 1203 in 1973. She went on to make two more albums for the Dandelion label "Songs For The Gentle Man" in 1971 and "Thank You For" in 1972 (they're available elsewhere) and has recorded into the 1990s.

So there you have it - if you like Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" (just him and his guitar) or Sandy Denny's more plaintive songs - then this little folk/rock gem is for you. A lovely thing indeed…

“Paper Moon” – A Review of the 2009 Cherry Red/El Records CD Reissue of the rare 1973 Soundtrack LP on Paramount Records - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Found A Million Dollar Baby In A Five And Ten Cents Store…"

Peter Bogdanovich's 1973 movie "Paper Moon" was based on Joe David Brown's Depression Era novel "Addie Pray".  The character "Addie" Loggins was played in the film by Tatum O’Neal (then only 10-years old) while her very famous dad – Ryan O'Neal – played the bible-selling hustler Moses "Pray" - who is forced to take on this mouthy but winning orphan after her hooker mum has passed away. 

Filmed in Black and White and featuring a wonderfully evocative Soundtrack of Dust Bowl Ballads and Chorus Songs - the movie's old-timey nostalgia appeal tapped into "The Sting" audience and rewarded the irrepressible Tatum O'Neal with an Oscar nomination for best Supporting Role (the youngest actress to ever receive such an accolade - which she won). It also received three other nominations - Madeline Khan as best Supporting Actress, Best adapted screenplay by Alvin Sargent and Best Sound. The soundtrack even troubled the lower regions of the American charts in August 1973 and has become a celebrated piece ever since. And that’s where this little CD peach comes in…

UK released March 2009 - "Paper Moon: Original Recordings Featured In The Soundtrack" on Cherry Red/El Records ACMEM170CD (Barcode 5013929317031) is a CD compilation offering up fans the original 15-track LP with 11 Bonus Cuts from Django Reinhardt and plays out as follows:

1. It's Only A Paper Moon - PAUL WHITEMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA

2. About A Quarter To Nine - OSSIE NELSON & HIS ORCHESTRA

3. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along - LEO REISMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA 

4. Flirtation walk - DICK POWELL

5. Just One More Chance - BING CROSBY

6. One Hour With you - JIMMIE GRIER & HIS ORCHESTRA 

7. I Found A Million Dollar Baby - VICTOR YONG & HIS ORCHESTRA & THE BOSWELL SISTERS 

8. The Object Of My Affection - JIMMIE GRIERE & HIS ORCHESTRA [Side 2]

9. Georgia On My Mind - HOAGY CARMICHAEL & HIS ORCHESTRA 

10. A Picture Of Me Without You - PAUL WHITEMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA 

11. On The Banks Of The Ohio - THE BLUE SKY BOYS 

12. My Mary - JIMMIE DAVIS 

13. After You've Gone - TOMMY DORSEY & HIS ORCHESTRA 

14. Let’s Have Another Cup Of Coffee - ENRIC MADIGUERA & HIS HOTEL BILTMORE ORCHESTRA 

15. Sunnyside Up - JOHNNY HAMP’S KENTUCKY SERENADERS

Tracks 1 to 15 make up the original LP "Paper Moon" released July 1973 on Paramount PAS 1012 in the USA and October 1973 on Paramount SPFL 290 in the UK

BONUS TRACKS:

16. Limehouse Blues

17. Are You In The Mood?

18. You're Driving Me Crazy 

19. When Day Is Done

20. Leieberstraum No. 3

21. Mystery Pacific 

22. Improvisation

23. Minor Swing

24. Swingin’ With Django

25. Echoes Of Spain 

26. I'll See You In My Dreams 

Tracks 16 to 26 are new remasters of DJANGO REINHARDT 78’s (with his group The Quintet of the Hot Club of France) ranging from 1936 to 1939

The 12-page accompanying booklet features affectionate and informative liner notes by CHRISTOPHER EVANS; better still, however, is the song-credits which are now extended to give you more detailed information on the recordings (something you didn’t get on the original LP sleeve). The sound is hardly audiophile (1929 to 1941), but that doesn't matter, because the music is timelessly charming. 

Speaking of genius – when you listen to these postcards of bygone days, you realise that the magic of the songs lay in the brilliant arrangements and words. The orchestra would saunter in with a trumpet and a violin setting up the jaunty melody – this would go on for a minute or even a minute and a half (unheard of nowadays) - until the vocalist and lyrics kicked in to genuinely magical effect. 

The words were so clever and skilfully written that they seemed to just roll off the tongues of the singers like it was the most natural thing in the world. "A Picture Of Me Without You" is a good example – check this out…

"...Picture Henry Ford without a car…picture the firmament without a star…

Picture Paul Revere without a horse…picture a Hollywood marriage without divorce…" – brilliant! 

One of my favourites is "I Found A Million Dollar Baby" which features THE BOSWELL SISTERS on vocals (lyrics are the title of this review). The only clinker for me is the genuinely bizarre and seriously sinister "On The Banks Of The Ohio" sung by THE BLUE SKY BOYS. It's an old-timey murder song where a woman gets her throat slit and then drowned because she won't marry some smuck! It's probably there to offset the relentlessly upbeat wistful feel of the other songs (the dark underbelly etc) - but to me it's out of place… The additional songs (restored 78's) by the two-fingered guitar-playing genius Django Reinhardt compliment the set really well – very clever choices - ending on that most nostalgic of tunes - "I'll See You In My Dreams"... 

So there you have it - "Paper Moon" won't be everyone's cup of Darjeeling for sure - but I suspect if you succumb to its many charms – this rather cool little CD reissue will win its way into your heart big time. Nice one Cherry Red/El Records… 

“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist”. A Review of the 2009 Movie Now On DVD and BLU RAY.

“…Friends With Benefits…”

All cool movies have a secret weapon – and in “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” - it’s KAT DENNINGS.

Not since Emily Blunt in "The Jane Austen Book Club" have I seen an actress so utterly gobsmacking in every way – a young woman who is just going to be the hugest star.

Possessed of a main of flowing red hair, Dennings is extraordinarily voluptuous - her chest is likely to make most men take a dip in the Volga to cool down – and even that won’t work - her lips are so succulent that it may be detrimental to your heart rhythms to write about them let alone actually experience them - and don’t get me started on her eyes - as vast and as deep and as beautiful as Natasha McElhone – one of the classiest actresses in the entire world.

But none of this would matter if there wasn’t that 'X' factor about Dennings that so many of the other wannabes don’t have – Kat is the kind of actress the camera adores. And on top of this, she engenders genuine affection in her audience - men will fall hopelessly in love with her, while women will want to be her best buddy and pal. It’s very, very rare – it really is – and this young Philadelphia lady has it all in spades.

“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is a 2009 teen romcom adapted by LORENE SCAFARIA from the hip novel by RACHEL COHN and is directed by PETER SOLLETT who had an Indie hit a few years back with “Raising Victor Vargas”.

Another breakthrough performance is that of Norah’s permanently pissed girlfriend Caroline brilliantly played by ARI GRAYNOR - she’s a blast as the ditzy blonde - very funny and very likeable (there’s a scene in a toilet involving puke, a mobile phone and chewing gum that will test your wince factor to the max and make you laugh out loud).

The fantastically evocative early hours New York locations are peppered with the usual Indie soundtrack (the BLU RAY images shine here) - while Noah’s three friends are an assortment of varying nutjobs in a gay band called “The Jerkoffs”. They drive around in their van all night arguing about their name and will abandon anyone and anything to find out the venue for a secret gig by ‘the’ band of the moment who are called “Where’s Fluff?” (there are rabbit logos all through the credits and movie).

MICHAEL CERA plays Nick (he seems to have cornered the market in dweeb guys), who is broken-hearted about his break-up with the feckless Tris (ALEXIS DZIENA) until he chances on Norah in a nightclub (KAT DENNINGS). His performance is essentially the same as Juno, and while he’s very good at it, it does stretch credibility a tad that babes like Norah and Tris would fancy him at all, let alone sleep with him. That aside – there is a genuine, lovely and undeniable chemistry between Cera and Dennings that carries the whole movie and keeps you watching and hoping to the end that they’ll make it… (no prizes for guessing what happens there).

“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is young, alive, hopeful and warm – and in a way that so many gross-out comedies fail to be nowadays. It’ll wheedle its way into your heart, it really will.

I liked it a lot…and if you’re looking for a nice night in – then look no further.

“Passengers”. A Review of the 2009 Film Now On DVD and BLU RAY.

“…I Know You From Somewhere…”

I've watched so many films this year - and the really good ones you can count on two hands - "Passengers" is one of them.

At first it's a little frustrating as Anne Hathaway struggles with her therapist assignment - five men and women who've survived a crash-landed jet on American soil. They may or may not have acquired powers because of the crash - and people and odd things appear around them? Or perhaps the airline is being less than truthful about its planes and their maintenance records when she confronts them (David Morse)? Why is Patrick Wilson (one of the bloodied survivors who has recovered remarkably quickly) so determined to woe and date Anne? And why do others around Anne now want all manner of things from her - her boss wants a speedy report put in (Andre Braugher) - the suddenly way too friendly neighbor (Dianne Wiest)?

To say too much is to give too much away, and I wouldn't want to spoil it - suffice to say - like many other reviewers, I was strangely moved by this film.

"Passengers" is directed by Rodrigo Garcia - the same man who brought us the brilliant Gabriel Byrne psychiatrist drama "In Treatment".

Hire this movie and bear with it - it's a gem in a sea of mediocrity.



Recommended - big time.

“Chess Blues”, 1993 USA-Only 4CD Box Set on MCA/Chess CHD4-9340. A Review…

“…I Woke Up This Morning…Couldn’t Even Get Out Of Bed…”

Released in early 1993 in the USA, the 101 tracks on this 4CD box represented the first proper overview by MCA of the Chess Blues legacy since their acquisition of its entire catalogue way back in 1985. And even now (in late 2009) with many subsequent compilations and box sets having followed - I estimate there are still at least 20 to 30 tracks exclusive to this set.

Here's a basic breakdown (each CD has a themed label):

Disc 1, 1947-1952, 25 Tracks, Yellow Aristocrat Label (73:31 minutes)
Disc 2, 1952-1954, 25 Tracks, Blue Chess Label (73:01 minutes)
Disc 3, 1954-1960, 26 Tracks, Plum Checker Label (73:08 minutes)
Disc 4, 1960-1967, 25 Tracks, Brown Argo Label (71:30 minutes)

"Chess Blues" was produced and co-compiled by ANDY McKAIE and features a wonderful 64-page booklet detailing track-by-track liner notes by MARY KATHERINE ALDIN of the LIVING BLUES Magazine (she handled the liner notes for many of the early Chess compilations). The text is peppered with classy black & whites photos of Chess giants like MUDDY WATERS, JOHN LEE HOOKER, LITTLE WALTER, HOWLIN' WOLF, WILLIE DIXON, SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON, CHUCK BERRY and ETTA JAMES. There are a few reproduced trade adverts and an opening comment by PHIL CHESS. Best of all though is the read - the paragraphs have great insights into the songs and revelatory information on long forgotten artists like LAURA RUCKER, ROBERT NIGHTHAWK and ARBEE STIDHAM. Just like Peter Grendysa's liner notes in the "Chess Rhythm & Roll" box that followed it, the booklet in this is a peach.

Remastered from Aristocrat and Chess master tapes by ERICK LABSON (over 800 credits to his name), the sound is great throughout - excepting a few tracks dubbed from disc ("Memory Of Sonny Boy" by FOREST CITY JOE from 1949 is one of them).

The music is far grittier than the "Rhythm & Roll" box where the Blues morphed into Rhythm 'n' Blues and then into Soul, but it's equally brilliant.

Unreleased gems include the fabulous piano-boogie of "Cryin' The Blues" by LAURA RUCKER sounding like a blues'd up version of Nellie Lutcher (lyrics above) - and a truly electrifying stripped down alternate take of "All Night Long" by Muddy Waters (just Muddy on guitar and Little Walter on harmonica) where he wants his woman to "rock me...all night long...'til my back has no bone..." Great stuff!

Listening to "Chess Blues" a full 16 years after its release is still a fabulous experience - and although it's not nearly as rare as it's follow-up set "Chess Rhythm & Roll", it's just as desirable...

Recommended - big time.

PS:
See also 5 separate reviews - the 1994 4CD box set "Chess Rhythm & Roll", the mammoth 15CD box set "The Chess Story 1947-1975" issued in 2000 and it's 3 separate parts issued as stand-alone 5CD sets in 2003