“Original Album Series” by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (March 2010 UK Rhino/Elektra 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

Quite possibly one of the best Blues-Rock CD Mini Box Sets I have in my fine household (can’t tell the wife how many there are lest I suffer serious physical injury – after the mental torture that is) – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band is a very definite jewel in the erratic crown of WEA’s “Original Album Series” reissues.

When the 5-disc series began in 2009  – ‘some’ of the first vanguard of 40 or so titles featured remasters (many unfortunately didn’t). This beauty is one that does – and from the second the opening track “Born In Chicago” on their incendiary debut hits your speakers – it rocks like a madman on Blues Boogie acid and doesn’t let up. Here are the harmonica wails, guitar licks and chooglin’ white boys doing the blues details…

UK released March 2010 - "Original Album Series" by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND on Elektra/Rhino 8122 79834 0 (Barcode 081227983406) is a 5CD Mini Box Set and breaks down as follows (all are Stereo mixes):

Disc 1 (38:09 minutes):

1. Born In Chicago

2. Shake Your Money-Maker

3. Blues With A Feeling

4. Thank You Mr. Poobah

5. I Got My Mojo Working

6. Mellow Down Easy

7. Screamin’

8. Our Love Is Drifting

9. Mystery Train

10. Last Night

11. Look Over Yonders Wall

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" - their debut album released December 1965 on Elektra EKS 7294 in the USA (May 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 2 (44:47 minutes):

1. Walkin’ Blues

2. Get Out Of My Life, Woman

3. I Got A Mind To Give Up Everything

4. All These Blues

5. Work Song

6. Mary, Mary

7. Two Trains Running

8. Never say No

9. East-West

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "East-West" - released September 1966 on Elektra EKS 7315 in the USA (December 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 3 (45:45 minutes):

1. One More Heartache

2. Driftin’ And Driftin’

3. Pity The Fool

4. Born Under A Bad Sign

5. Run Out Of Time

6. Double Trouble

7. Drivin’ Wheel

8. Droppin’ Out

9. Tollin’ Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw" - released January 1968 on Elektra EKS 74015 in the USA (February 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 4 (34:30 minutes):

1. Last Hope’s Gone

2. Mine To Love

3. Get Yourself Together

4. Just To Be With You

5. Morning Blues

6. Drunk Again

7. In My Own Dream

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP “In My Own Dream" - released August 1968 on Elektra EKS 74025 in the USA (September 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 5 (42:11 minutes):

1. Love March

2. No Amount Of Loving

3. Morning Sunrise

4. Losing Hand

5. Walking By Myself

6. Except You

7. Love Disease

8. Where Did My Baby Go

9. All In A Day

10. So Far So Good

11. Buddy’s Advice

12. Keep Moving

Tracks 1 to 12 is the LP "Keep On Moving" - released October 1969 on Elektra EKS 74053 in the USA (November 1969 in the UK same no.)

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:

The five single card sleeves reflect the 'original' front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefolds are unfortunately not reproduced). Also each front sleeve is now 'bordered' with a colour and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code - Green for Disc 1, Light Blue for 2, Orange for 3, Dark Blue for 4 and Brown for 5. It would have been more appropriate to have the original label colour configurations - maybe even the Elektra inner bags (like they did on the Doors albums in the Complete Studio Recordings box set), but alas... The track list is to the left on the CD label with band members with recording credits listed on the right (as there's no booklet nor site to download details from - as there is on the Sony issues - this is some compensation to the lack of readable details).

It has to be said that the outer card box is lightweight and therefore disappointingly flimsy (unlike the glossy hard-card Sony issues). Having said that the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it's nice to see the original artwork used - which in these cases are very sweet to look at (it really makes such a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Drifters and Clyde McPhatter rear sleeves too - beautiful original album artwork). As you can see from the timings - there are no bonus tracks.

SOUND:

The music is incredibly bluesy and ballsy –truly stunning Paul Rothchild Sixties Production values coming at you on every disc. The instrumental “Thank You Mr. Poobah” for instance will probably have your speakers for breakfast. The opening guitars on “Walkin’ Blues” are the same – back in the mix – but still powerful. Don’t get me wrong – these CDs aren’t amped up for effect – they’re just beautifully handled – and it’s sonically obvious that the original master tapes are in tip-top condition. And throughout the records - you get Butterfield’s deep and muscular harmonica slaying all in its path.

Highlights are many and varied – their Soulful and Brassy cover of Marvin Gaye’s “One More Headache”, the wailing Blues of Otis Rush’s “Double Trouble” and the huge Albert King power of “Born Under A Bad Sign”. I love the slinky “Come Together” (Beatles) bass line that opens the slightly jazzy “Last Hope’s Gone” – a sort of precursor to Blood, Sweat & Tears debut album “Child Is The Father To The Man:”. Elvin Bishop provides the witty “Drunk Again” (“ain’t got a dime and smellin’ like a brewery…”) while “No Amount Of Loving” on “Keep On Moving” is a tremendous chugger.

If you want a slice of Sixties Blues-Rock - then you can't go much wrong with these albums (although for me the quality really tapers off on Disc 5). Fans who already own these treasured LPs on previous CD incarnations may balk at acquiring this box set just to have those dinky little card sleeves – but everyone else should just get with the beat, crank up that stereo and annoy the neighbours right away...

"The Singles Volume 8: 1972-1973" by JAMES BROWN - featuring Lyn Collins, Fred Wesley & The JB's (November 2009 USA Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology of Remasters (March 2010 UK Issue) - 8 in a Series of 11 - Seth Foster Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I'm Gonna Have To Get In Deep…" 

I've been diligently collecting this series of 2CD sets since they started in 2006, but this 8th instalment has me literally chomping at the review-bit, because if you ever required categorical proof of the Godlike genius of James Brown and his fantastically funky backing band The JB's - then this beautifully presented compilation is it. Genuinely - I've not been in awe of a reissue like this for a very long time indeed. 

But to the details first... All tracks are credited to JAMES BROWN except where noted and the pairing of numbers below are the A & B-sides of US 7" singles. 

Released 21 December 2009 in the USA (November 2009 from Hip-O's own site), but delayed to 1 March 2010 in the UK - "The Singles Volume 8: 1972-1973" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0013349-02 (Barcode 602527163338) is a 2CD set of Remasters that breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (69:07 minutes):

1 and 2 are Nothing Beats A Try But A Fail and Hot Pants Road (Vocal)

- Polydor PD-14110 scheduled for release January 1972 but withdrawn

3 and 4 are King Heroin and Theme From King Heroin - Polydor PD-14116, released February 1972

5 is Pass The Peas by THE J.B.’s - People PE-607, A-side only, released April 1972 [B-side is a non JB track, therefore not included]

6 and 7 are There Is It Part 1 and There Is It Part 2 - Polydor PD-14125, released April 1972

8 and 9 are Honky Tonk - Part 1 and Honky Tonk - Part 2 by JAMES BROWN and THE SOUL TRAIN - Polydor PD-14129, released May 1972

10 and 11 are Giving Up Food For Funk Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 by THE J.B.'s - People PE-610, released July 1972 [credited to "The JB's"]

12 and 13 are Get On The Good Foot Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 - Polydor PD-14139, released July 1972 

14 and 15 are I Got A Bag Of My Own and Public Enemy #1 - Polydor PD-14153, released October 1972 

16 is I Know It's True - Polydor 2066-285, the British B-side to 14, released October 1972

17 and 18 are I Got Ants In My Pants - Pt. 1 Mono Version and Pt. 15 & 16 Mono Version - Polydor PD-14162-DJ, Promo-Only MONO Versions, released December 1972

19 and 20 are I Got Ants In My Pants - Pt. 1 Reverb Version and Pt. 15 & 16 Reverb Version - Polydor PD-14162, Stock Copy REVERB Versions, released December 1972

Disc 2 (75:03 minutes):

1 and 2 are What My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin’ and This Guy - This Girl's In Love With You by JAMES BROWN and LYN COLLINS - Polydor PD 14157, released December 1972

3 is Watermelon Man by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-612, released December 1972

4 and 5 are Down And Out In New York City and Mama's Dead - Polydor PD-14168, released February 1973 

6 and 7 are The Sportin' Life and Dirty Harri by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-619, released February 1973

8 and 9 are The Boss and Like It Is, Like It Was - it was to be Polydor PD-14169, but the release was cancelled

10 and 11 are Doing It To Death and Everybody Got Soul by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-621, released March 1973

12 and 13 are Think Version 1 and Something - Polydor PD-14177, released April 1973

14  is Think Version 2 - a reissue of 12 (Version 1) on Polydor PD-14185, released June 1973

15 and 16 are Woman Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 - it was to be Polydor PD-14193, but the US release was cancelled. However, they were issued in the UK on Polydor 2066-370 in August 1973

17 and 18 are If You Don't Get It The Fist Time (Back Up And Try Again) and You Can Have Watergate, But Gimme Money And I'll Be Straight by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-627, released August 1973

19 and 20 are Sexy Sexy Sexy and Slaughter Theme - Polydor PD-14194, released August 1973

The 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS is a joy to look at, a hugely informative read and is packed to the gills with track histories and recording session details. The first generation master tapes for the single mixes have been transferred by SETH FOSTER and a typically superlative job done - warm, clear and fabulously detailed. And "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay (it's 6,500 copies worldwide). 

Disc 1 opens (uncharacteristically) with a ballad "Nothing Beats A Try But A Fail" (the withdrawn single) and it's shockingly lovely - followed of course by more familiar territory - the kicking vocal version of "Hot Pants Road". The 3 socially conscious songs dotted across the 2 discs are musically and lyrically sensational - and (unfortunately) still relevant to this day - they are "King Heroin", "Public Enemy No.1" and "Down & Out In New York City".  The utterly irresistible beat of "Doing It To Death" (lyrics above) compliments Disc 2 while the almost Crusaders smooth funk instrumental "Sportin' Life" from " Black Caesar" is just sooo cool!

Downsides - when the songs get into a great groove, you do wish they went on longer, but of course it's the nature of the edited single to cut them short. There is also the B-sides that are 'missing' because there's no JB involvement in them - their presence would have been better for those who want the complete picture, but these are minor niggles. 

When you think of the mind-blowing excellence of the albums "There It Is", "Get On The Good Foot" (a 1972 double) and "Black Caesar" (a 1973 single soundtrack) with both the doubles of "Hell" and "The Payback" coming in late 1973 and mid 1974 - it was an absolutely extraordinary time for James Brown and everyone around him. 

If you want to know why he got the title "The Godfather of Soul" in the first place - and especially why funk fans dig him so much - then buy this superbly featured reissue. The only problem is that you'll want all the previous numbers too. 

Genius baby - it really is. And what a loss to music...

“Original Album Series” by LITTLE FEAT (March 2010 Warner Brothers/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set of NON-REMASTERS) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Give Me Missing Persons…They Say…What is It That You Need?..."

Aping the success of Sony’s similarly packaged 5CD box sets, WEA is releasing over FORTY x 5CD “Original Album Series” mini box sets of their own. Issued only in the UK and Europe, the artists featured stretch from rhythm ‘n’ blues icons of the 1950s (Ray Charles and Clyde McPhatter with The Drifters) all the way through to Metal And Indie bands of the 2000s (Dokken and Echo & The Bunnymen). For those interested, I’ve compiled a full listing of titles in the series in the ‘comment’ section attached to this review (some are superb, some are not).

Here’s the detail for the "Original Album Series" by LITTLE FEAT - released Monday 1 March 2010 on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122 79835 9 in a 5CD Mini Box Set with five singular card repro sleeves. It breaks breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 is "Little Feat" their 11-track debut album released January 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1890 and March 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46072 (33:30 minutes)

Disc 2 is "Sailin' Shoes" their 11-track 2nd album released May 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2600 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46156 (38:02 minutes)

Disc 3 is "Dixie Chicken" their 10-track 3rd album released February 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2686 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46200 (36:48 minutes)

Disc 4 is "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" their 8-track 4th album released September 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2784 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56030 (34:30 minutes)

Disc 5 is "The Last Record Album" their 8-track 5th album released November 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2884 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56156. This CD also includes the 9th, 10th and 11th bonus tracks that are on the Eighties CD issue hence the playing time of 39:39 minutes. The tracks are “Bonus Announcement”, “Don’t Bogart That Joint [Live] and “A Apolitical Blues [Live]”.

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:
The five single card sleeves reflect the ‘original’ front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefold of “Sailin’ Shoes” is unfortunately not reproduced). However, there is an odd addition to the way these card sleeves have been presented that seems to go right across the entire series. Each front sleeve is now ‘bordered’ with a colour – in this issue its brown for “Little Feat”, orange for “Sailin’ Shoes” (and so on) and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code. I mention this because Rhino are usually sticklers for detail and would in the past have used the original vinyl label designs like they did in the ‘Encore’ series (a green Warner Brothers label for “Dixie Chicken”, the Burbank Trees label for “The Last Record Album” and so on), but alas not here…

There’s no inserts or booklet either and the outer card box is disappointingly flimsy too (the Sony ones are chunky and glossy – they’re stronger). Worse, there appears to be no site to download track details from (as there is with the Sony issues). Having said all that, the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it’s nice to see the original artwork used (it makes a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Paul Butterfield rear sleeves – beautiful original album artwork). But that’s small compensation, because the really bad news is the opportunity missed in the sound department…

SOUND:
Some CD sites selling these sets seemed to have automatically ‘presumed’ that each is “digitally remastered”, but it categorically does not state that on the outer box or any of the card sleeves or discs – and rather too conveniently - neither website for Rhino USA or UK has any info on the series. But what’s not hard to discern is what your ears are telling you.

Like most fans I have the crappy Eighties CD issues just to have the music and these 2010 versions seem to be pretty much the same. To put this into a song context, when you compare the 2000 “Hotcakes” genuine remasters of say “Two Trains”, “Willin’”, “Roll Um Easy”, “Rock And Roll Doctor” and especially “Long Distance Love” (lyrics above), the sound quality is infinitely better on the Box Set versions – truly gorgeous stuff. The sound quality here is merely good at best (maybe better in some places), but it’s absolutely not the upgrade fans were hoping for on ‘all’ of the albums.

With Rhino announcing redundancies in their reissue departments (everything’s going away from hard copy to digital downloads) and the slightly slapdash feel of these boxes, you can’t help but field a depressing thought – this is a truly great reissue label just chucking stuff at the wall to sell it. A musical maverick going out with a whimper rather than a bang – flogging us what they ‘know’ is more of the same old crud just with a prettier lick of paint. Only a few years ago, Rhino could be relied upon to deliver us superlative reissues every time – with these and the rubbish “Flashback” series - not anymore it seems…

If the Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Chris Rea and George Benson titles are the same, then I’ll not bother at all with any more in this series…and that’s just plain depressing.

Three stars out of five – at a pinch. Very, very disappointing…

Rhino's ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES of 5CD MINI BOX SETS (2010).

Many of these Artists are 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

Rhino’s “ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES”
Featuring albums from the vast WARNER ELEKTRA ATLANTIC (WEA) Catalogue Covering All Genres Of Music and all Decades (1950s to 2000s)

5CD MINI BOX SETS, REPRO SINGLE SLEEVE US LP ARTWORK

REMASTERS - It is not to be presumed that these are "REMASTERS" because sale sites state it so - they're not. I've acquired the LITTLE FEAT set and the 5CDs are the crappy Eighties issues simply repacked - which is crushingly disappointing.

Some artists like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Cars, The Pretenders and Ray Charles have already been remastered in the last few years, so their sets will include those, but when you get to Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Chris Rea, Little Feat and George Benson (to name just a few), it looks like you're getting more of the same...

So even if TOM WAITS, LEON REDBONE, BONNIE RAITT, MICHAEL McDONALD, BIG JOE TURNER, MONTROSE and PRINCE turn up in the next lot, if they're not remastered, who cares...and worse, why should anyone buy them?

ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES by Rhino – A List
(UK RELEASE: 1 March 2010)

1. AZTEC CAMERA
(High Land, Hard Rain/Knife/Stray/Dreamland/Frestonia)

2. GEORGE BENSON
(Breezin’/Weekend In L.A./Give Me The Night/Tenderly/Big Boss Band)

3. BOOTSY’S RUBBER BAND
(Stretchin’ Out In Bootsy’s Rubber Band/Ahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!/Bootsy’s Player Of The Year/This Boot Is Made For Fonk-n/Ultra Wave)

4. BREAD
(Bread/On The Waters/Manna/Baby I’m-A Want You/Guitar Man)

5. THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND
(The Paul Butterfield Blues Band/East-West/The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw/In My Own Dream/Keep On Moving)

6. THE CARS
(The Cars/Candy-O/Panorama/Shake It Up/Heartbeat City)

7. HARRY CHAPIN
(Heads & Tales/On The Road To Kingdom Come/Short Stories/Sniper & Other Love Songs/Verities & Balderdash)

8. RAY CHARLES
(The Great Ray Charles/Ray Charles At Newport/The Genius Of Ray Charles/The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours)

9. NATALIE COLE
(Everlasting/Good To Be Back/Unforgettable: With Love/Take A Look/Stardust)

10. JUDY COLLINS
(Fifth Album/In My Life/Wildflowers/Who Knows Where The Time Goes/Judith)

11. BOBBY DARIN
(Bobby Darin/Sings Ray Charles/That’s All/Things And Other Things/This Is Darin)

12. THE DETROIT SPINNERS
(Spinners/Mighty Love/New And Improved/Live/Pick Of The Litter)

13. DOKKEN
(Breaking The Chains/Tooth And Nail/Under Lock And Key/Back For The Attack/Beast From The East)

14. THE DRIFTERS [featuring CLYDE McPHATTER]
(Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters/Rockin’ & Driftin’/Save The Last Dance For Me/Under The Boardwalk/I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing)

15. DR. JOHN
(Gris-Gris/Babylon/The Sun, Moon & Herbs/Dr. John’s Gumbo/In The Right Place)

16. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
(Crocodiles/Heaven Up Here/Porcupine/Ocean Rain/Echo & The Bunnymen)

17. DUKE ELINGTON
(Will Big Bands Ever Come Back?/Jazz Violin Session/Mary Poppins/Ellington ‘65/Ellington ’66)

18. FOGHAT
(Foghat/Energized/Fool For The City/Foghat Live/Tight Shoes)

19. FOREIGNER
(Foreigner/Double Vision/Head Games/4/Agent Provocateur)

20. ARETHA FRANKLIN
(I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You/Lady Soul/Aretha Now/Spirit In The Dark/Aretha Live At The Fillmore West)

21. THE J. GEILS BAND
(The J. Geils Band/The Morning After/”Live” Full House/Bloodshot/Ladies Invited)

22. DONNY HATHAWAY
(Everything Is Everything/Donny Hathaway/Live/Extension Of A Man/In Performance (Live))

23. THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN
(Psychocandy/Darklands/Automatic/Honey’s Dead/Stoned & Dethroned)

24. RICKIE LEE JONES
(Rickie Lee Jones/Pirates/Girl At Her Volcano/The Magazine/Naked Songs – Live And Acoustic)

25. CHAKA KHAN
(Chaka/Naughty/What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me/Chaka Khan/I Feel For You)

26. KIX
(Blow My Fuse/Cool Kids/Hot Wire/Kix/Midnite Dynamite)

27. LITTLE FEAT
(Little Feat/Sailin’ Shoes/Dixie Chicken/Feats Don’t Fail Me Now/The Last Record Album)

28. LOS LOBOS
(…And A Time To Dance/How Will The Wolf Survive?/By The Light Of The Moon/The Neighborhood/Kiko)

29. THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
(The Manhattan Transfer/Mecca For Moderns/Vocalese/Swing/The Spirit Of St. Louis)

30. THE MONKEES
(The Monkees/More Of The Monkees/Headquarters/Pisces. Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd./The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees)

31. THE POGUES
(Red Roses For Me, Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, If I Should Fall From Grace With God/Peace And Love/Hell’s Ditch)

32. THE PRETENDERS
(The Pretenders/Pretenders II/Learning To Crawl/Get Close/Last Of The Independents)

33. CHRIS REA
(Water Sign/Shamrock Diaries/On The Beach/The Road To Hell/Espresso Logic)

34. OTIS REDDING
(Pain In My Heart/The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads/Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul/The Soul Album/Complete & Unbelievable – The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul)

35. LINDA RONSTADT
(Prisoner In Disguise/Simple Dreams/Living In The USA/Mad Love/Cry Like A Rainstorm – Howl Like The Wind)

36. TODD RUNDGREN
(Runt/Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren/Faithful/Hermit Of Mink Hollow/The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect)

37. THE SISTERS OF MERCY
(First And Last And Always/Floodland/Vision Thing/Some Girls Wander By Mistake/A Slight Case Of Overbombing)

38. SLAVE
(Slave/The Concept/The Hardness Of The World/Just A Touch Of Love/Show Time)

39. ROD STEWART
(Foolish Behaviour/Tonight I’m Yours/Camouflage/Every Beat Of My Heart/Vagabond Heart)

40. DIONNE WARWICK
(Presenting Dionne Warwick/Anyone Who Had A Heart/Make Way For Dionne Warwick/The Windows Of The World/Valley Of The Dolls)

41. WARREN ZEVON
(Warren Zevon/Excitable Boy/Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School/Stand In The Fire (Live)/The Envoy)

ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES - 5CD BOX SETS by Rhino - A 2010 LIST

Rhino’s “ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES”
Featuring albums from the vast WARNER ELEKTRA ATLANTIC (WEA) Catalogue Covering All Genres Of Music and all Decades (1950s to 2000s)

5CD MINI BOX SETS, REPRO SINGLE SLEEVE US LP ARTWORK

REMASTERS - It is not to be presumed that these are "REMASTERS" because sale sites state it so - they're not. I've acquired the LITTLE FEAT set and the 5CDs are the crappy Eighties versions simply repacked - which is crushingly disappointing.

Some artists like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Pretenders, Ray Charles and Warren Zevon have already been remastered in the last few years, so their sets will include those. But when you get to Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Chris Rea, Little Feat, Bread, Echo & The Bunnymen and George Benson (to name just a few), it looks like you're getting more of the same...

So even if TOM WAITS, LEON REDBONE, BONNIE RAITT, MICHAEL McDONALD, BIG JOE TURNER, MONTROSE and PRINCE turn up in the next lot, if they're not remastered, who cares...and worse, why should anyone buy them?

ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES by Rhino – A List
(UK RELEASE: 1 March 2010)

1. AZTEC CAMERA
(High Land, Hard Rain/Knife/Stray/Dreamland/Frestonia)

2. GEORGE BENSON
(Breezin’/Weekend In L.A./Give Me The Night/Tenderly/Big Boss Band)

3. BOOTSY’S RUBBER BAND
(Stretchin’ Out In Bootsy’s Rubber Band/Ahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!/Bootsy’s Player Of The Year/This Boot Is Made For Fonk-n/Ultra Wave)

4. BREAD
(Bread/On The Waters/Manna/Baby I’m-A Want You/Guitar Man)

5. THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND
(The Paul Butterfield Blues Band/East-West/The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw/In My Own Dream/Keep On Moving)

6. THE CARS
(The Cars/Candy-O/Panorama/Shake It Up/Heartbeat City)

7. HARRY CHAPIN
(Heads & Tales/On The Road To Kingdom Come/Short Stories/Sniper & Other Love Songs/Verities & Balderdash)

8. RAY CHARLES
(The Great Ray Charles/Ray Charles At Newport/The Genius Of Ray Charles/The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours)

9. NATALIE COLE
(Everlasting/Good To Be Back/Unforgettable: With Love/Take A Look/Stardust)

10. JUDY COLLINS
(Fifth Album/In My Life/Wildflowers/Who Knows Where The Time Goes/Judith)

11. BOBBY DARIN
(Bobby Darin/Sings Ray Charles/That’s All/Things And Other Things/This Is Darin)

12. THE DETROIT SPINNERS
(Spinners/Mighty Love/New And Improved/Live/Pick Of The Litter)

13. DOKKEN
(Breaking The Chains/Tooth And Nail/Under Lock And Key/Back For The Attack/Beast From The East)

14. THE DRIFTERS [featuring CLYDE McPHATTER]
(Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters/Rockin’ & Driftin’/Save The Last Dance For Me/Under The Boardwalk/I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing)

15. DR. JOHN
(Gris-Gris/Babylon/The Sun, Moon & Herbs/Dr. John’s Gumbo/In The Right Place)

16. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
(Crocodiles/Heaven Up Here/Porcupine/Ocean Rain/Echo & The Bunnymen)

17. DUKE ELINGTON
(Will Big Bands Ever Come Back?/Jazz Violin Session/Mary Poppins/Ellington ‘65/Ellington ’66)

18. FOGHAT
(Foghat/Energized/Fool For The City/Foghat Live/Tight Shoes)

19. FOREIGNER
(Foreigner/Double Vision/Head Games/4/Agent Provocateur)

20. ARETHA FRANKLIN
(I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You/Lady Soul/Aretha Now/Spirit In The Dark/Aretha Live At The Fillmore West)

21. THE J. GEILS BAND
(The J. Geils Band/The Morning After/”Live” Full House/Bloodshot/Ladies Invited)

22. DONNY HATHAWAY
(Everything Is Everything/Donny Hathaway/Live/Extension Of A Man/In Performance (Live))

23. THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN
(Psychocandy/Darklands/Automatic/Honey’s Dead/Stoned & Dethroned)

24. RICKIE LEE JONES
(Rickie Lee Jones/Pirates/Girl At Her Volcano/The Magazine/Naked Songs – Live And Acoustic)

25. CHAKA KHAN
(Chaka/Naughty/What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me/Chaka Khan/I Feel For You)

26. KIX
(Blow My Fuse/Cool Kids/Hot Wire/Kix/Midnite Dynamite)

27. LITTLE FEAT
(Little Feat/Sailin’ Shoes/Dixie Chicken/Feats Don’t Fail Me Now/The Last Record Album)

28. LOS LOBOS
(…And A Time To Dance/How Will The Wolf Survive?/By The Light Of The Moon/The Neighborhood/Kiko)

29. THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
(The Manhattan Transfer/Mecca For Moderns/Vocalese/Swing/The Spirit Of St. Louis)

30. THE MONKEES
(The Monkees/More Of The Monkees/Headquarters/Pisces. Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd./The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees)

31. THE POGUES
(Red Roses For Me, Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, If I Should Fall From Grace With God/Peace And Love/Hell’s Ditch)

32. THE PRETENDERS
(The Pretenders/Pretenders II/Learning To Crawl/Get Close/Last Of The Independents)

33. CHRIS REA
(Water Sign/Shamrock Diaries/On The Beach/The Road To Hell/Espresso Logic)

34. OTIS REDDING
(Pain In My Heart/The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads/Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul/The Soul Album/Complete & Unbelievable – The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul)

35. LINDA RONSTADT
(Prisoner In Disguise/Simple Dreams/Living In The USA/Mad Love/Cry Like A Rainstorm – Howl Like The Wind)

36. TODD RUNDGREN
(Runt/Runt. The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren/Faithful/Hermit Of Mink Hollow/The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect)

37. THE SISTERS OF MERCY
(First And Last And Always/Floodland/Vision Thing/Some Girls Wander By Mistake/A Slight Case Of Overbombing)

38. SLAVE
(Slave/The Concept/The Hardness Of The World/Just A Touch Of Love/Show Time)

39. ROD STEWART
(Foolish Behaviour/Tonight I’m Yours/Camouflage/Every Beat Of My Heart/Vagabond Heart)

40. DIONNE WARWICK
(Presenting Dionne Warwick/Anyone Who Had A Heart/Make Way For Dionne Warwick/The Windows Of The World/Valley Of The Dolls)

41. WARREN ZEVON
(Warren Zevon/Excitable Boy/Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School/Stand In The Fire (Live)/The Envoy)

“Waterworld” on HD DVD. A Review of the film on the now Deleted Format.

Although It’s Not The “Extended Cut” – It Has Stunning Clarity on “HD DVD”

Despised by critics on release and costing more than my weekly wages (I work in a second-hand record shop, therefore I'm a millionaire), "Waterworld" was nonetheless embraced as a B-movie classic by fans all over the world - both at the cinema on release - and then on DVD reissue later. But with the new format upon us, "Waterworld" is the kind of movie that virtually screams, "...will look great on Hi Def". However, I was told by someone who's in the movie business that the transfer of this film onto HD was a little "soft" - disappointing even. I'd like to concentrate on that, because I absolutely don't agree.

I've both a Blu Ray player and a Toshiba HD player and a quality HDMI interconnect for both - and I've been buying up the HD discs like mad recently because (a) they're dirt cheap (it's now a dead format) and (b) the picture quality is just fabulous.

I was astonished by the clarity on "Waterworld" on "HD" - beautifully transferred - and it automatically formats to fill the entire screen - so you get the full impact. It didn't look this good in the cinema, I can assure you. Ok, it's not the 'extended cut' that was issued on the USA and is preferred by some fans, but man does this look good. It's clean and revelatory in almost every frame and because very little CGI was used, the sets are all real, so nothing looks dated or added on in post-production.

I haven't seen the BLU RAY version I'll admit, but if it looks this good in transfer, then I'd say buy it...

PS: the best picture quality I've ever seen is on the HD disc of "Ray" - the Ray Charles story - unbelievable clarity and depth. What a shame this format didn't make it.

“Mark The Hard Earth” by KRIS DREVER. A Review of his 2nd Solo Album from 2010.

"…Dark Sky Above Me…Hard Earth Below…”

Formerly of folk sensation FINE FRIDAY (3 albums) and now very much part of the respected and awarded LAU (3 albums), Scottish born Drever made his stunning solo debut “Black Water” back in 2006 - and I’ve been hooked on his music ever since.

Drever then followed “Black Water” with the more overtly country almost ragtime “Honky Tonk Suite” with EAMONN COYNE later that same year - and has also done stints with the beautiful Kate Rusby and her band (we’re talking class here). With his deft acoustic guitar touches and a deep tonal voice that is the male equivalent of honey dribbling down Rusby’s frankly delicious bosom (a sight that would make many clergymen reconsider celibacy), it’s hardly surprising that this album is awaited by folk fans with bated breath and chattering teeth. I’m therefore delighted to say and a little relieved to report that after a few listens - it’s been worth the wait.

“Mark The Hard Earth” is his 2nd solo album proper and it’s being put out on Navigator Records (the label is named after a track on “Black Water” – cata no: NAVIGATOR30). It was produced by long-time collaborator and Scottish fiddle player JOHN McCUSKER and recorded, engineered and mastered with the help of CALUM MALCOLM of Blue Nile, Prefab Sprout and Simple Minds recording fame. With such talent on board, it’s hardly surprising that the audio quality is truly gorgeous – beautifully clear without ever being over-produced. The 12-page booklet offers little more than song credits and a few photos, but the card-wrap on the outside of the jewel case lends the whole thing a classy feel (44:21 minutes).

The songs are once again a mixture of lesser-known Scottish and Irish traditional airs (“O’ A’ The Airts”, “The Banks Of The Nile” and “Freedom Come A’ Ye”) and a slew of originals from contemporary rock, country and Americana artists - “This Old Song” by CALEB KLAUDER (on his “Dangerous Mes and Poisonous Yous” album) and “Shining Star” and “Wild Hurricane” by SANDY WRIGHT (an American songwriter often compared to Tom Waits or even Johnny Cash), while “Sweet Honey In The Rock” is co-written with BOO HEWERDINE (formerly of THE BIBLE) and JOHN McCUSKER. The only original of his own is the opening track “Mark The Hard Earth” – as lovely a folk song as you’re likely to hear all year (lyrics above).

The accompanying musicians include classy names he’s used many times before - Ian Carr on Guitars, Tim O’Brien on Mandolin, Banjo and Vocals, Donald Shaw on Wurly and Harmonium, John McCusker on Fiddle, Andy Seward on Bass and Phil Cunningham on Accordion. Instead of Eddi Reader or Kate Rusby, the accompanying duet vocals however go to HEIDI TALBOT on “Allegory” and “The Banks Of The Nile” while KAREN POLWART features on “Freedom Come A’ Ye”.

Musically the album is very mellow – quietly beautiful – with the old songs sitting nicely alongside the new ones. His doubled vocals on Sandy Wright’s “Wild Hurricane” are fabulous while the plaintive “O’ A’ The Airts” works its way into your heart almost immediately - washing over you like warm water. Duncan Drever’s “The Crown Of London” is a genuine modern-day beauty – Ian Carr’s guitar picking and Donald Shaw’s work on the Harmonium and Wurly so sweetly complimentary. The only track I found not so good is their short version of “The Banks Of The Nile” which they’ve also speeded up. Despite Heidi Talbot’s lovely duet vocals (similar voice to Cara Dillon) - the Fotheringay version from their lone 1970 LP runs to 8 minutes (Sandy Denny on vocals) and is so much prettier and frankly more magical. But the album ends on a very warm note - the Hamish Henderson song “Freedom Come A’ Ye” which features lovely vocal work from Karen Polwart.

I’ll admit that at first I found the whole thing a little underwhelming and it took a few listens to love it (it’s not as immediately brilliant as “Black Water”), but “Mark The Hard Earth” is yet another gem in a career that seems to know no stopping.

Lovely stuff and nice one.

LABI SIFFRE DISCOGRAPHY - UK 7" SINGLES and ALBUMS DISCOGRAPHY (1970 to 1979)

UK 7” SINGLES
1. Too Late b/w Make My Day
July 1970, Pye International 7N.25528
[Both tracks are on his 1970 vinyl debut album “Labi Siffre”, both are also on the "Labi Siffre" 2006 EMI CD Remaster]

2. Thank Your Lucky Star b/w When You Find You Need A Friend
February 1971, Pye International 7N.25542
[Initial copies came in a rare titled picture sleeve; this is the first of only two UK picture sleeves of the 1970’s (see 14); the A is on his 1971 2nd album "The Singer And The Song" (2006 EMI CD Remaster); the B-side is a non-album track - unfortunately it’s still unavailable on CD]

3. Get To The Country b/w A Feeling I Got
July 1971, Pye International 7N.25560
[Both tracks were non-album at the time of release; the A-side turns up as a bonus track on "The Singer And The Song" 2006 EMI CD reissue; the B-side is unfortunately still unavailable on CD]

4. It Must Be Love b/w To Find Love
November 1971, Pye International 7N.25572
[The A-side is from his 1972 3rd album "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (2006 EMI CD Remaster); the non-album B-side is still unavailable on CD]

5. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying b/w Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me?
March 1972, Pye International 7N.25576
[The A-side is from his 1972 3rd album "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (2006 EMI CD Remaster); the non-album B-side turns up a bonus track on the "Labi Siffre" 2006 CD Remaster]

6. Watch Me b/w Here We Are
July 1972, Pye International 7N.25586
[Both tracks were non-album at the time of release; the A-side turns up ONLY on the 2006 EMI CD Remaster "The Best Of"; the B-side is a bonus track on the "Labi Siffre" 2006 CD Remaster]

7. Give Love b/w Last Night Tonight
January 1973, Pye International 7N.25602
[The A-side is a remix, original version is from his 1973 4th album "For The Children"; the non-album B-side turns up as a bonus track on the "Labi Siffre" 2006 EMI CD Remaster]

8. If You Have Faith b/w Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye
October 1973, Pye International 7N.25629
[The A-side is from his 1973 4th album "For The Children"; the non-album B-side turns up as a bonus track on the "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" 2006 CD Remaster]

9. Dreamer b/w Turn On Your Love
August 1974, EMI Records EMI 2204
[Both tracks are from the "Remember My Song" LP]

10. Another Year b/w Some Say
January 1975, EMI Records EMI 2260
[The A-side is from the "Remember My Song" LP; B-side is from "For The Children" LP]

11. Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love b/w Goodbye To Love
October 1975, EMI Records EMI 2357
[The A-side is on the 1975 vinyl album "Happy"; the B-side is non-album; the A-side is available on "The Music Of" CD from 2001]

12. Staride To Nowhere b/w Sally Came To Stay
January 1976, EMI Records EMI 2394
[Both the A&B are featured on the vinyl album "Happy" (album versions), but the "Single Mix" of the A is on the EMI 2006 Remaster CD "The Best Of"; the B-side is available on "The Music Of" CD from 2001]

13. You’ve Got A Hold On Me b/w La-De-Da-De-Da (Lost Without Your Love)
October 1976, EMI Records EMI 2526
[The A-side is non-album and is available as a bonus track on the "Remember My Song" CD from 2006; the B-side is from the "Happy?" album and is available on "The Music Of" CD from 2001]

14. Do The Best You Can b/w Hot And Dirty In The City
January 1977, EMI Records EMI 2577
[The A-side was a single-only release and a contender for the Eurovision Song Contest of 1977; the non-album B-side turns up as a bonus track on the 2006 EMI CD Remaster of "Remember My Song"]

15. Solid Love b/w You Hurt Me
March 1978, EMI Records EMI 2750
[The A-side was a single-only release and a contender for the Eurovision Song Contest of 1978 and turns up as a bonus track on the 2006 EMI CD Remaster of "Remember My Song"; the B-side is from the 1975 vinyl album "Happy?" and is available on "The Music Of" CD from 2001]

16. One World Song b/w We Got Love
December 1979, EMI Records EMI 5023 (in Picture Sleeve, Eurovision Song contest entry)
[Credited to LABI and JACKIE; B-side co-written with BOB JAMES, both non-album; neither is available on CD]

UK ALBUMS:
1. "Labi Siffre", 1970, Pye International NSPL 28135
[Matt Single Sleeve, No Inserts]

Side 1:
1. Too Late
2. Words [a Bee Gees cover]
3. Something On My Mind
4. Maybe Tomorrow
5. You And I Should Be Together
6. I Don’t Know What’s Happened To The Kids Today
Side 2:
1. I Love You
2. Make My Day
3. A Little More Line
4. Maybe [a Nilsson cover]
5. River
6. Love Song For Someone
[Except where note, all songs by Labi Siffre]

2006 EMI CD Remaster (EMI 0946 356891 2 9) - Bonus Tracks:
13. Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me? [Non-Album B-side – see UK Singles 5]
14. I Just Couldn’t Live Without Her [Previously Unreleased]
15. Last Night Tonight [Non-Album B-side – see UK Singles 7]
16. Maybe When We Dance [Previously Unreleased]
17. Ask Me To Stay [Previously Unreleased]
18. Here We Are [Non-Album B-side – see Singles 6]

2. “The Singer And The Song”, July 1971, Pye International NSPL 28147
[Laminated Gatefold Sleeve, No Inserts]

Side 1:
1. There’s Nothing In The World Like Love
2. You’re Lovely
3. A Number Of Words
4. Who Do You See
5. Not So Long Ago
6. The Shadow of Our Love
7. When I’m On My Own You Are On My Mind
Side 2:
1. Rocking Chair
2. Interlude
3. Thank Your Lucky Star
4. Talk About
5. Talkabout
6. Relax
7. Bless The Telephone
8. Summer Is Coming
9. Goodbye
[All songs by Labi Siffre]

2006 EMI CD Remaster (EMI 0946 356980 2 2) - Bonus Tracks:
16. Get To The Country [non-album single track – see UK SINGLES 3]
17. Till Nightime Comes Along [Previously Unreleased]
18. Fallin’ For You [Previously Unreleased]
19. Oh What A Day [Previously Unreleased]
20. Just A Face [Previously Unreleased]
21. Seasons Come, Seasons Go [Previously Unreleased]

3. “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying”, October 1972, Pye International NSPL 28163
(The sleeve credits the title of the album 'without' commas - “Crying Laughing Loving Lying”, but the label credits the title 'with' commas “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying” (the 7" single is also with commas)]
[Matt Gatefold Sleeve + Lyrics Insert]

Side 1:
1. Saved
2. Cannock Chase
3. Fool Me A Goodnight
4. It Must Be Love
5. Gimme Some More
6. Blue Lady
Side 2:
1. Love Oh Love Oh Love
2. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying
3. Hotel Room Song
4. Till Forever
5. Come On Michael
[All songs by Labi Siffre]

2006 EMI CD Remaster (EMI 0946 356927 2 3) - Bonus Tracks:
13. You Make It Easy [Previously Unreleased]
14. Good Old Days [Previously Unreleased]
15. Pristine Verses [Previously Unreleased]
16. You’ll Let Me Know [Previously Unreleased]
17. Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye [Non-album B-side – see UK SINGLES 8]
18. For The Lovin’ [Previously Unreleased]

4. “For The Children”, 1973, Pye International NSPL 28182
[Matt Gatefold Sleeve + Lyrics Insert]
Side 1:
1. Somesay
2. Children Of Children
3. Entertainment Value
4. Odds And Ends
5. Prayer
Side 2:
1. Let’s Pretend
2. Someday
3. If You Have Faith
4. For The Children
5. Give Love
[All songs by Labi Siffre]

2006 EMI CD Remaster (EMI 0946 356887 2 6) - Bonus Tracks:
11. So What! [Previously Unreleased]

5. “The Best Of”, November 1974, EMI Records EMC 3056
Side 1:
1. Make My Day
2. Too Late
3. Watch Me
4. My Song
5. For The Children
6. It Must Be Love
7. Prayer
Side 2:
1. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying
2. Nothing In The World Like Love
3. If You Have Faith
4. Somesay
5. Fool Me A Goodnight
6. (Just) A Little More Line
7. Give Love

6. “Remember My Song”, March 1975, EMI Records EMC 3065
[Matt Single Sleeve, No Inserts]
Side 1:
1. I Got The…
2. Another Year
3. Down
4. Old Time Song
5. The Vulture
Side 2:
1. Dreamer
2. Sadie And The Devil
3. Turn On Your Love
4. Remember My Song

2006 EMI CD Remaster (EMI 0946 356884 2 9) - Bonus Tracks:
10. You’ve Got A Hold On Me (Non-album A-side – see UK SINGLES 11)
11. Hot And Dirty In The City (Non-album B-side – see UK SINGLES 12)
12. Solid Love (Non-album A-side – see UK SINGLES 13)

7. "Happy", November 1975, EMI Records EMC 3098
[Laminate Single Sleeve, No Inserts]
Side 1:
1. Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love
2. You Hurt Me
3. Doctor, Doctor
4. Second Time Around
5. Would You Dance?
Side 2:
1. Supaluvva
2. Staride To Nowhere
3. You’ve Done Something To My Heart
4. Sally Came To Stay
5. La-De-Da-De-Da (Lost Without Your Love)
[All songs by Labi Siffre]

[This album is available on CD but under another name - "The Music Of..." from 2001 (see separate review); the 7" single mix of "Staride To Nowhere" is on the 2006 EMI CD Remaster "The Best Of"]

8. “The Best Of” (March 2006 EMI CD Remaster Compilation)
1. Something Inside So Strong
2. It Must Be Love
3. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying
4. I Got The...
5. Vulture
6. Thank Your Lucky Star
7. A Little More Line
8. Another Year
9. My Song
10. Make My Day
11. Watch Me
12. Children Of Children
13. Sparrow In The Storm [from “The Last Songs”, Live Tracks Recorded in 1998 – finally released in 2006]
14. Dreamer
15. Staride To Nowhere (7” Single Version)
16. There's Nothing In The World Like Love
17. Why Isn't Love Enough [from “The Last Songs”, 2006]
18. If You Have Faith
19. Prayer