“Surrealistic Pillow” by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (1995 USA-only RCA 'Collector's Edition 24-Karat Gold Disc' CD Reissue with Mono and Stereo Mixes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 1 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Rock-Fusion, Psychedelic and Underground

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"...Through An Open Window Where No Curtain Hung..."

Given the sheer fame of the band - it’s kind of surprising to find how few Audiophile CDs are out there are for one of the Sixties most influential bands – JEFFERSON AIRPLANE? But here’s a peach to whet your sonic appetite - albeit one that seems to have slipped under the net too.

The “Collector’s Edition 24 Karat Gold Disc” of “Surrealistic Pillow” was put out by RCA in the USA in July 1995 on RCA 07863 66598-2 (Barcode 078636659824) featuring both the STEREO and MONO mix of the album for the first time (22 tracks) – remastered from the original tapes. It was reissued in 2001 on a standard CD without the gold/titled card slipcase and breaks down as follows (69:35 minutes):

1. She Has Funny Cars [Side 1]

2. Somebody To Love

3. My Best Friend

4. Today

5. Comin’ Back To Me

6. 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds [Side 2]

7. D.C.B.A. – 25

8. How Do You Feel

9. Embryonic Journey

10. White Rabbit

11. Plastic Fantastic Lover

Tracks 1 to 11 are the STEREO mix of “Surrealistic Pillow” - their 2nd album released February 1967 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-3584 and September 1967 in the UK on RCA RD 7889 (Mono) and SF 7889 (Stereo)

Tracks 12 to 22 are the MONO mixes of the American album on RCA Victor LPM-3584

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE was:
GRACE SLICK – Lead Vocals, Piano, Organ and Recorder

JORMA KAUKONEN – Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

MARTY BALIN – Guitar and Vocals

PAUL KANTNER – Guitar and Vocals

JACK CASADY – Rhythm Guitars and Bass

SPENCER DRYDEN – Percussion

Guests: GERRY GARCIA

The jewel case comes in an outer card wrap with gold borders and a die-cut rear sleeve to see the gold coloured disc within. The inlay is a disappointing gatefold slip of paper with just about enough track details to make it acceptable – typical of a major label.

But the sound quality is great. BILL LACEY did the audio restoration; EDDIE TALLIA handled the Stereo transfer while MIKE HARTRY did the mono mixes. The very quiet acoustic guitars and flute of “Comin’ Back To Me” is a good example (lyrics above) – lovely sound – even if it is a little hissy in places (the nature of the recordings). The punch of the MONO mix of “3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds” is fantastic while that drum beginning in the STEREO version of “She Has Funny Cars” hits your speakers with a vengeance. The rhythm section mixing with those acoustic guitars and combo vocals on “My Best Friend” sound wonderful too (very Mama’s & Papa’s almost). And Slick sounds suitably aggressive on the classic “Somebody To Love” – those distant guitars now with more definition.

The 1995 ‘gold’ original of this audiophile CD is now long deleted and has in some cases gained a hefty price tag amongst audio buffs and fans alike. But if you can get a copy for a reasonable price - then set your credit-card propellers for ‘worth those few extra quid’. Impressive stuff indeed…

“The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get” by JOE WALSH (2009 US Audio Fidelity 24-Karat Audiophile CD - No'd Ltd Edition - Kevin Gray Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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US AND THEM - 1973
- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

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"…Oh Yeah! AAGH! AAGH!"

(aka Fabulous and Best Remaster of a 1973 Joe Walsh classic)

As a war-weary veteran of over 3000 posts/reviews across 8 years of Amazon and Blogger postings - like many music fans purchasing remastered CDs - I grow tired of record companies and their blurbs about 'meticulous transfers' and 'painstaking restoration'...  So it was with a certain amount of gonad-holding trepidation that I approached the latest Audiophile reissue of one of my favourite Joe Walsh albums – his 2^nd studio effort - 1973's album "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get."

But I'm so glad that I bought this because ‘seriously accomplished transfer’ jumps to mind. I'm properly blown away - I really am. But to the voice-box details first...

Original Produced by Joe Walsh and BILL SZYMCZYK - the musicians were:

JOE WALSH - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals, Keyboard and Synthesiser

JOE VITALE - Drums, Flute, Vocals, Keyboards & Synthesiser

ROCKE GRACE - Keyboards and Vocals

KENNY PASSARELLI - Bass and Vocals

Guests:

JOE LALA - Percussion

CLYDIE KING and VENETTA FIELDS - Backing Vocals

1. Rocky Mountain Way [Side 1]

2. Book Ends

3. Wolf

4. Midnight Moodies

5. Happy Ways

6. Meadows [Side 2]

7. Dreams

8. Days Gone By

9. Daydream (Prayer)

His second solo vinyl album "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get." by JOE WALSH was originally released September 1973 in the USA on Dunhill/ABC DSX-50140 and on Probe SPBA 6275 in the UK in October 1973. This US-only 24 KT + Gold CD (HDCD encoded) on Audio Fidelity AFZ 059 (Barcode 780014205928) is a December 2009 straightforward reissue of that Seventies rock classic (36:10 minutes). Engineer and disc-cutter KEVIN GRAY (over 150 credits to his name) has remastered the original first generation tapes using AF's "analogue to digital converter" system. Without any further 'sonic manipulation', the disc is then cut in 'real time' to get the very best sound achievable.

The inlay is placed behind the CD in the card wrap - some people have found that this left it with indentation on other AF releases - all I can say is that it hasn't done so here. Other buyers have also complained about the AF version of The Cars "Heartbeat City" - songs that were segued together on the original LP were clumsily separated with jarring breaks on the CD reissue - again not so here. Rocke Grace's funky flute instrumental "Midnight Moodies" segues into the crystal clear bass opening of "Happy Ways" and while the rock of "Meadows" fades out, the drum and cymbal count of "Dreams" sneaks in so sweetly - there are no gaps - the transition to each is seamless and beautifully handled.

The outer card wrap is numbered on the rear (a limited edition of 3000), the fold-out inlay reproduces the outer and inner gatefold artwork of the original US sleeve (pictures Side 1 and 2 of the Dunhill/ABC labels too), but disappointingly doesn't have any further liner notes nor historical appreciation (this is something AF really should address). But as ever, the real fireworks on a release like this, lies in the sound...

Having been a rabid fan of this album for over 35 years and having parted with a hefty wad of cash to acquire this Audiophile CD, the temptation of course is to 'hear' stuff because you desperately want to. But that's a no-brainer with AFZ 059. The sonic improvement is so absolute and so obvious as to render that argument completely mute. The reproduction is clean, muscular and staggeringly detailed. Every instrument seems to be there all of a sudden - especially on the lethal double of Vitale's "Bookends" followed by Walsh's "Wolf" - the synth on the first pounds out of the speakers, while the spacious echo of Walsh's guitar on the second sounds glorious - just huge. 

The album's opener "Rocky Mountain Way" was always going to be a sonic tester for this reissue - and it doesn't disappoint - guitar riffage everywhere - drums and bass so sweetly complimenting - it's astonishingly clean and full of power. "Happy Ways" was written by Kenny Passarelli and Joe Lala's lifelong friend BERNARD "BUDDY" ZOLOTH (of Blues Image fame) and it has Latin-based acoustic guitars that are so Stephen Stills' Manassas - the sonic clarity is simple breathtaking on it. The flanged guitar of "Days Gone By" coupled with the flute and keyboards - again wonderfully vibrant. There's a keyboard flourish about one minute into "Dreams" which literally made me stop in my tracks - gorgeous clarity - then it rocks about 2:18 and I'm blubbering like a fool. The album finishes with the quiet piano of "Daydream (Prayer)" which is perhaps the prettiest song on here - the girly vocals of King and Fields now so beautifully clear.

I own the AF versions of "Montrose" by Montrose and "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink..." by Faces and thought them great in some ways, but slightly underwhelming in others - not so on "Smoker". The words "meticulous transfer" actually do apply here because every single second of every single song screams it. If I met Kevin Gray on the street, I'd shake his hand, pat his kids on the forehead and stick a medal on his chest.

Joe Walsh talks babble at the beginning of "Meadows" and eventually screams "Oh Yeah! AAGH! AAGH!" On thrilling to this fabulous CD reissue, I now know exactly what he means. A stunning job done…

PS: see also my reviews for the Hip-O Select version of his 1972 debut album "Barnstorm" and BOTH the 2004 Japanese Card Repro and the 2009 Japanese SHM CD versions of his 3rd album "So What" from 1974... 

“Goldfinger” on BLU RAY. A Review of Bond’s 3rd and Some Say Best Film Now Reissued on a 2009 BLU RAY.

"…Revolving Number Plates… Valid All Countries Naturally…"

When the “Ultimate Edition” 2DVD sets of the Bond films were finally released in July 2006, most fans couldn’t believe their luck or their eyes. It didn’t seem to matter which of the 20 films you bought – due to the Pristine Lowry Digital Restoration Process (frame-by-frame clean up that apparently took two years to achieve), they were all jaw dropping - simply spectacular to look at. And each was bolstered up with spiffy new 007 menus and period special features that were informative and actually worth seeing.

It should therefore come as no surprise that this 2009 BLU RAY reissue of 1964’s “Goldfinger” (directed by Guy Hamilton) uses those same cleaned-up elements and extras - and is an awesome thing to behold.

To put this into an actual context – here’s some examples of how revelatory the print actually is – in the pre opening-credits sequence when 007 plants his detonation devices, Connery then peels out of what is supposed to be a wetsuit, but you can clearly see it’s black/blue silk outfit to offset his immaculate white tuxedo beneath (then he buttonhole’s his red carnation in incredible clarity). When he comes out onto the hotel balcony in Miami and lies down beside Gill Masterson on the sun-lounge (Shirley Eaton instructing Gert Frobe via binoculars as to what the other card player is holding), on the close up of 007’s face, you can clearly see applied make-up on his cheeks – it’s Bond in blusher!

Or how about this… as Bond talks to Auric Goldfinger on the golf-course before they tee off, you can just about make out the dividing lines between the square tuffs of grass they laid out to make the tee-off area look more lush. Then there’s the deep black enamel of the AU 1 number plate on the Phantom 337 as its loaded into a transport plane bound for Geneva… Pussy Galore as Bond wakes up on the Lockheed en route to the USA – her golden blonde hair slowly coming into focus in dazzling sexy clarity… and on it goes…scene after scene of unbelievable detail – leaves in Mint Julep drinks – the two moles on the left side of Honor Blackman’s face…yikes!

All the elements came together on "Goldfinger" that would set up a template for decades to come - the eye-catching opening sequence, the sexy credits and the new Bond song, the gadgets, the fearsome unkillable bad guy, the leggy molls who may or may not have your best interests at heart, the cars and gadgets, Desmond Llewelyn as the exasperated Q and Bernard Lee as the permanently frowning M. Throw in the Aston Martin DB 5 with its fantastically handy ejector seat and Harold Sakata as the Korean assassin Oddjob and his chop-your-head-off bowler hat - and you're on a winner. And then of course the film's ultimate trump card - Sean Connery - sex on legs - a man with something permanently lodged down his trousers and we're not talking about starched Y-fronts. He'll kill you, smile afterwards and then flick the bits off of his immaculately groomed Saville Row suit...

You also forget about the great one-liners - "shocking...positively shocking" as he fries the bad guy in the bath; "The President has expressed satisfaction...that makes two of us..." Bond says as he rolls off a babe and turns off the radio; "...Unfortunately he has a pressing engagement..." Goldfinger says as he dispatches Mr. Solo (one of the hoods) off to the car-crusher. It's all so bloody good - and it still makes you tingle.

Luckily the extras have survived intact too - there's a commentary from members of the cast and crew, a revealing on-set interview with a suited-and-booted Connery, the "Declassified: M16 Vault" feature which is just so enjoyable. Although I love the outer card wrap, which gives it a classy feel and a uniform look when lined up against the other titles in the series (not all are available yet), it's a real shame that there's no commemorative booklet - it would be such a sweet touch.

To sum up - when Sean Connery pulls the parachute silk over him and Honor Blackman at the end of the movie as and announces "...this is no time to be saved!" - you can't help but feel that the dapper British agent has a point.

Bond 3 on BLU RAY is surely up there with the very best restorations ever done - a triumph - and that the movie is still such a blast after 35 years of endless re-watches is a testament to its durability.

"Goldfinger" is in fact like Sophia Loren - it never ages and will always ooze sex - it's ample chest and tiny waistline will be making grown men go weak at the knees in a hundred years from now. And even if that bad guy's laser beam is getting a little too close to all of our privates these days - you can buy this Martini of a film, put on the tux, pull in the girdle - and cheer yourself up no end.

Love it. Love it. Love it.

PS: for other superb restorations on BLU RAY, see also my reviews for "The Italian Job", "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner", "Zulu", "North By Northwest" and "Cool Hand Luke"

“Razamanaz” by NAZARETH (2009 Salvo Remastered & Expanded CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I'm A Bad Bad Boy And I'm Gonna Steal Your Love…"

Like most people I was introduced to Scotland's finest rock band by way of their kick-ass single "Bad Bad Boy" when it first hit the airwaves in July 1973. I quickly nipped out to Pat Egan's Sound Cellar in Dublin and nabbed the album too - the fabarooney "Razamanaz" - and I've loved them both ever since.

This is the 2nd title in Salvo's UK reissue of Nazareth's back catalogue - "Nazareth and Exercises" (their first and second albums on 1CD) was their first and it's reviewed separately. Here are down and dirty bad boy details for their breakthrough 3rd album…

UK released September 2009 – "Razamanaz" by NAZARETH on Salvo SALVOCD031 (Barcode 0698458813121) is a 'Remastered & Expanded' CD Reissue with Six Bonus Tracks that breaks down as follows (59:22 minutes):

1. Razamanaz

2. Alcatraz

3. Vigilante Man

4. Woke Up This Morning

5. Night Woman

6. Bad Bad Boy

7. Sold My Soul

8. Too Bad Too Sad

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Razamanaz" - released in May 1973 in the UK on Mooncrest Records CREST 1 and on A&M Records SP-4396 in the USA. Produced by ROGER GLOVER of DEEP PURPLE  - it peaked at No. 11 in the UK (didn't chart USA).

BONUS TRACKS: 

10. Hard Living 

11. Spinning Top

Tracks 10 and 11are the 2 non-album B-sides to "Bad Bad Boy" - a UK 7" single issued on Mooncrest MOON 9 in July 1973. 

12. Razamanaz

13. Night Woman

14. Broken Down Angel 

15. Vigilante Man

Tracks 12 to 15 recorded live-in-the-studio in March 1973 for The Bob Harris Radio Show on the BBC

Each of these UK issues comes in a tri-gatefold card sleeve with the 'Loud, Proud & Remastered' logo on the front cover. When folded out, you get a repro of the gatefold artwork of the original UK LP and live shots from the period (the disc in the right flap, the booklet in the left). The 16-page colour booklet is superb, liner notes by band expert JOEL McIVER, pictures of rare UK 7" singles, Euro picture sleeves, US white-label promos, black and white snaps of the band in studio and on stage - all very nicely done.

But the really big news for the fans (as it is on the 1st Salvo CD) is the fantastic new SOUND. TIM TURAN at Turan Audio has remastered the original tapes and a truly fabulous job has been done - loud, clear, and ballsy - without ever being overbearing.

Highlights - the moment the sheer speed and riffage of Manny Charlton's guitar work on "Razamanaz" hits you, you know you're in for a head's down ride. It's followed by the first of 2 covers on the album - "Alcatraz" first turned up on Leon Russell's debut album for A&M in 1971 "Leon Russell & The Shelter People" and it's funky rock backdrop suited both the band and McCafferty's rasping vocals. Just as good is the second cover - their version of Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" which owes more to Ry Cooder's take on his 1972 "Into The Purple Valley" album that they'd be listening to. Then comes the absolutely blistering "Woke Up This Morning" which they'd tried on their second album "Exercises" but didn't quite get there. Here they do - it ends Side One on a blast of great rock boogie.

Side 2 opens with the drums of another funky rocker "Night Woman" sounding not unlike Bad Company at their best. The breakthrough single "Bad Bad Boy" follows which to this day sounds brill, while "Sold My Soul" sounds like Robin Trower circa "Bridge Of Sighs". Then it's back to rocking basics with the wildly catchy "Too Bad To Sad" and then ends with the other huge hit single - and some say their best track - "Broken Down Angel". Downsides - there's an "Alternate Edit" of "Razamanaz" on the 2001 remaster that could easily have been fit on here, but no show?

The BBC stuff sounds suitably rough and rocking, but still as tight as a Nun's knickers in the Vatican. It's presented in really great sound quality - the bass work of Pete Agnew on "Night Woman" is superlative. Even the quiet slide intro to "Vigilante Man" is not too drenched in hiss - then the echoed vocals impress - then they let rip...fab stuff!

A stonkin' reissue of a great rock album then - and it's cheap too. Frankly they can razzle my naz any day of the week…

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