“A Mighty Field Of Vision – The Anthology 1969-1993” by EDDIE HINTON. A Review of the 2006 Raven CD Compilation.

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

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

“…God Damn! I’m Feeling Free…”

Hailing from Jacksonville in Florida, in 1970 Eddie Hinton was a 26-year old white guy possessed of one 'the' great unknown singing voices.

As an in-demand session man, his part Otis Redding, part Little Richard, part Bobby Womack rasp came with a whole lot of gutsy feeling too. When he sang rock music (especially if it had that soulful Alabama tinge) - like England's Frankie Miller, Terry Reid, Steve Gibbons and Eric Burdon - you sat up and took notice. But it wasn't until 1978 that Hinton finally got his own solo album released - the terribly named "Very Extremely Dangerous" on Capricorn Records - now a hugely sought after item on both vinyl and CD. His recording career after that was tangled with releases of new and old material - and that's where this superb little compilation comes in.

Raven RVCD-206 was released April 2006 in Australia and its 21-tracks break down as follows (74:37 minutes):

1. I Got The Feeling
2. You Got Me Singing
3. Concept World
4. Shout Bamalama [Otis Redding cover]
Tracks 1 to 4 from the 1978 album "Very Extremely Dangerous"

5. Just Like The Fool That I Was
6. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) [Staple Singers cover]
7. Got Down Last Saturday Night
Tracks 5 to 7 from the 1995 album "The Coleman-Hinton Project", unreleased recordings from 1970 - only discovered and released after his death (July 1995)

8. My Searching Is Over
9. Sad And Lonesome
10. I Want A Woman
Tracks 8 to 10 from the 1986 album "Letters From Mississippi"

11. Here I Am
12. Sad Song
13. Three Hundred Pounds Of Hongry
14. What Would I Do Without You
Tracks 11 to 14 from the 1997 compilation "Hard Luck Guy", unreleased recordings from the 1970's and 1980's

15. Hymn For Lonely Hearts
Track 15 from the 2000 CD "Dear Y'all - The Songwriting Sessions", recorded 1980

16. Something Heavy
Track 16 from the 2000 CD "Playin' Around", recorded 1977

17. Everybody Needs Love
Track 17 from the 1986 album "From Letters From Mississippi"

18. Cry And Moan
19. Bottom Of The Well
Tracks 19 and 20 from the 1991 album "Cry And Moan"

20. Rock Of My Soul
21. Very Blue Highway
Tracks 20 and 21 from the 1993 album "Very Blue Highway"

The whole set has been put together by KEITH GLASS (who also provides the 12-page liner notes with album sleeves, rare photos etc) and the remastering has been done by WARREN BARNET at the Raven Lab and is uniformly excellent.

I've reviewed the full album of "Very Extremely Dangerous" elsewhere, so see that. The 3-tracks of "The Coleman-Hinton Project" are fabulous - loose like the Stones on 1972's Exile. They're not audiophile recordings, but man's there's a cool kind of soul there. The cover of The Staples Singers "Heavy Makes You Happy" is radically slowed down and re-worked, but in a really lovely way. The strange orchestral string quartet that opens "Got Down Last Saturday" suddenly gives away to a Little Feat "Roll Um Easy" acoustic intro - and some raw vocals and harmonica (lyrics above). Very, very cool...

The production values go right up for the 3 tracks from the "Letters ..." set. "Sad And Lonesome" is a jaunty little tune that you'll find yourself playing again and again. It sounds not unlike what Springsteen did for Gary US Bonds on his "Dedication" and "On The Line" albums - Hinton's voice like Eighties Little Richard - gruff and soulful. The production values gets even more polished for the 4 tracks from "Hard Luck Guy" - yet another Otis Redding cover is revisited with the same joy as the original.

The downside - if you could call it that - was that although he wrote a lot of the material here and played large parts of the instrumentation himself - it was never killer enough to make an impact. Elvin Bishop had loads of albums out, but that one huge hit "Fooled Around (And Fell In Love)" brought him to 'everyone's' attention. Hinton never got that lucky - which is one of the crying shames of rock and soul history. But having said that - his personality and heart came through on every take.

This fantastic CD compilation has been a long-time coming and if you want to know why the "All-Music Guide" describes Eddie Hinton as "one of the great, unheralded white blues musicians of all time" - then here's the reasonably-priced place to start.

A lovely journey - great stuff - hugely recommended.

“Strange Kind Of Love” by LOVE and MONEY. A Review of their Classic 1988 Album Now Reissued & Remastered by Cherry Red Records in 2010.

"…It’s A Strange Kind Of Love…Keeps Me Hoping Still…”

LOVE and MONEY had popped out their debut album "All You Need Is..." on Mercury Records in the UK in 1986 to critical acclaim, but only slight public interest. All of that changed for the Scottish soul rockers with their sophisticated and smart 2nd album.

"Strange Kind Of Love" was UK released on LP, MC and CD in October 1988 on Fontana SFLP 7, SFMC 7 and 836 49-2 respectively. In keeping with the times, both the cassette and the CD carried a lone bonus track - "Scapegoat" - to entice people away from the 10-track vinyl version. It was also produced by GARY KATZ of STEELY DAN fame and carried the then desirable DDD code on the rear (a Full Digital Recording). I picked up on the title track's CD single and have loved the album ever since - even hoping it might one day get Universal's 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment...but alas.

Which brings us to this Cherry Red April 2010 reissue on CDMRED442. It's the 11-track CD version with a further 6 bonus demos added on (79:21 minutes). This new version features involvement from two principal members of the original band - lead singer and songwriter JAMES GRANT and Keyboardist PAUL McGEECHAN. The booklet's not bad (Halleluiah has been properly spelled as Hallelujah), but disappointingly its 12-pages excludes the lyrics and a few pictures that came with the original issue and although both of the boys and Katz have provided new comments on the album, they're short and strangely uninformative.

But the really great news is the SOUND...

Paul McGeechan has handled the remaster himself using the original tapes and he's done a fabulous job. The original CD (despite being DDD) used to sound ever so slightly subdued - clinically clean even... Well now it has real muscle and on some tracks is hugely improved to a genuinely thrilling level. The punch out of the slinky "Shape Of Things To Come" is just brill, while "Axis Of Love" has huge guitars and drums now. It's a massively improved remaster and makes the aging original redundant. Guests included Jeff Pocaro of Toto on drums and Timothy B. Schmidt of The Eagles on backing vocals.

The big letdown is the extras. Ok, the six demo tracks are new, but they just sound like lesser run-throughs to me and aren't really that interesting or even different. The pick of the crop is a more brass/harmonica version of "Up Escalator", but the others sound way too much like INXS rejects. Which brings me to what could have been on here...

In the UK Fontana released 4 singles off the album - "Halleluiah Man" (September 1988), "Strange Kind Of Love" (January 1989), "Jocelyn Square" (March 1989) and finally "Up Escalator" (June 1989). As well as CD singles there were a plethora of 7" and 12" single versions - almost all of them with exclusive non-album tracks and extended remixes. Some were truly fantastic songs and have remained firm fan favourites ever since. There's the original 1988 version of "Looking For Angeline" from "Strange Kind Of Love", the lovely "Wanderlust 2" from "Halleluiah Man" and "Saint Henry" from "Jocelyn Square" - it's these that I would have preferred to see on here in upgraded remastered form. Like Deacon Blue, The Silencers, Kate Bush, Lies Damned Lies and Prefab Spout - Love And Money B-sides were always worth collecting. Pity Cherry Red chose not to use some of them here.

To sum up - a fantastic remaster then, disappointing extras and an adequate booklet.

The third member of the band Bass Player BOBBY PATERSON (ex Primal Scream) died in 2006 in Glasgow and he is recalled in the liner notes as their 'absent friend'. It's great to see both him and the album he was involved in remembered so well after all these years absent in the wilderness...

What a great little band Love And Money was - I remember them with such affection. From here, it was on to their true masterpiece - "Dogs In The Traffic" from 1991 and hopefully Cherry Red will tackle that too.

Recommended.

FREDDIE KING – USA 7"/LP DISCOGRAPHY Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973” 7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK.

FREDDIE KING – USA 7” SINGLE DISOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

Entries 1 to 30 are credited to FREDDY KING, thereafter as FREDDIE KING

1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

1. Country Boy b/w That’s What You Think (El-Bee 157, 1956)
[1/1 and 1/2]
Note: “Country Boy” also features vocals by Eloise Whitfield

2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling (Federal 45-12384, December 1960)
[1/6 and 1/5]

3. Hide Away b/w I Love The Woman (Federal 45-12401, March 1961)
[1/7 and 1/8]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

4. Lonesome Whistle Blues b/w It’s Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (Federal 45-12415, May 1961)
[1/9 and 1/11]

5. San-Ho-Zay b/w See See Baby (Federal 45-12428, August 1961)
[1/17 and 1/4]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

6. I’m Tore Down b/w Sen-Sa-Shun (Federal 45-12432, October 1961)
[1/ 12 and 1/14]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

7. Christmas Tears b/w I Hear Jingle Bells (Federal 45-12439, December 1961)
[2/3 and 2/7]

8. If You Believe (In What You Do) b/w Heads Up (Federal 45-12443, January 1962)
[1/10 and 2/2]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

9. Takin’ Care Of Business b/w The Stumble (Federal 45-12450, March 1962)
[2/5 and 1/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

10. Side Tracked b/w Sittin’ On The Boat Dock (Federal 45-12456, April 1962)
[1/15 and 2/17]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

11. Do The President Twist b/w Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me (Federal 45-12457, May 1962)
[2/19 and 3/1]
Note; the A-side is credited to LULU REED & FREDDY KING while the B-side is LULU REED (only) – her name should read ‘Lula’ Reed

12. What About Love b/w Texas Oil (Federal 45-12462, July 1962)
[3/2 and 2/12]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

13. Come On b/w Just Pickin’ (Federal 45-12470, September 1962)
[2/18 and 2/23]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

14. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me b/w You Can’t Hide (Federal 45-12471, October 1962)
[2/20 and 2/21]
Note: both A&B credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING

15. I’m On My Way To Atlanta b/w In The Open (Federal 45-12475, December 1962)
[2/14 and 2/8]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

16. It’s Easy, Child b/w Say Hey Pretty (Federal 45-12477, December 1962)
[2/22]
Note: The A-side is credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING
The B-side is LULU REED and SONNY THOMPSON And His Orchestra
and is NOT on the box set because there’s no FK involvement

17. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist b/w Look, Ma I’m Cryin’ (Federal 45-12482, February 1963)
[3/4 and 3/13]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

18. (I’d Love To) Make Love To You b/w One Hundred Years (Federal 45-12491, 1963)
[3/14 and 3/15]

19. (The Welfare) Turns Its Back On You b/w You’re Barkin’ Up The Wrong Tree (Federal 45-12499, 1963)
[3/11 and 3/9]

20. Monkey Donkey b/w Surf Monkey (Federal 45-12509, 1963)
[3/21 and 3/17]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

21. Meet Me At The Station b/w King-A-Ling (Federal 45-12515, 1964)
[4/1 and 4/3]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

22. Someday, After Awhile (You’ll Be Sorry) b/w Driving Sideways (Federal 45-12518, 1964)
[3/7 and 2/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

23. She Put The Whammy On Me b/w High Rise (Federal 45-12521, 1964)
[2/13 and 2/11]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Closed Door”

24. Now I’ve Got A Woman b/w Onion Rings (Federal 45-12529, 1964)
[3/16 and 1/13]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Butterscotch”

25. Some Other Day, Some Other Time b/w Manhole (Federal 45-12532, 1965)
[4/6 and 4/9]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

26. If You Have It b/w I Love You More Everyday (Federal 45-12535, 1965)
[3/18 and 4/4]

27. She’s The One b/w Full Time Love (Federal 45-12537, 1965)
[4/7 and 4/2]

28. Use What You’ve Got b/w Double Eyed Whammy (King 45-6057, 1966)
[4/19 and 4/18]

29. You’ve Got Me Licked b/w Girl From Kookamunga(King 45-6080, 1967)
[4/17 and 4/16]

30. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w Hideaway (King 45-6264, 1969)
[Reissue of the A of Entries 2 and 3]

31. Funky b/w Play It Cool (Cotillion 44015, 1969)
[4/26 and 4/28]
Note; the A-side is co-written with KING CURTIS

32. I Wonder Why b/w Yonder Wall (Cotillion 44058, 1970)
[5/6 and 5/5]
Note: The A-side is written by JOE JOSEA and B.B. KING
The B-side is an Elmore James cover version

33. Going Down b/w Tore Down (Shelter 7303, 1971)
[5/21 and 5/24]
Note: the A-side is a DON NIX song; the B-side is a SONNY THOMPSON song

34. Me And My Guitar b/w Lowdown In Lodi (Shelter 7320, 1972)
[7/2 and 6/16]
Note: the A-side is a JOHN FOGERTY song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL and CHARLES BLACKWELL song

35. I’d Rather Go Blind b/w Ain’t No Sunshine (Shelter 7323, 1972)
[7/3 and 6/10]
Note: the A-side is a LEON RUSSELL song; the B-side is a BILL WITHERS song

36. Woman Across The River b/w Help Me Through The Day (Shelter 7333, 1973)
[7/9 and 7/16]
Note: the A-side is a BETTYE CRUTCHER and ALLEN JONES, Jr. song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL song

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREDDIE KING – USA LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

1. “Freddy King Sings”
1961, King Records 762 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. See See Baby [1/4]
2. Lonesome Whistle Blues [1/9]
3. Takin' Care Of Business [2/5]
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman [1/6]
5. You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) [1/19]
6. I'm Tore Down [1/12]

Side 2:
1. I Love The Woman [1/8]
2. Let Me Be (Stay Away From Me) [2/4]
3. It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough) [1/11]
4. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling [1/5]
5. If You Believe (In What You Do) [1/10]
6. You Mean, Mean Woman (How Can Your Love Be True) [2/6]

2. “Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King”
1961, King Records 773 [Mono]
Note: ALL tracks are Instrumentals
See also King 856 – it is the King 773 LP reissued in 1963, but with overdubbed crowd noise

Side 1:
1. Hide Away [1/7]
2. Butterscotch [1/23]
3. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
4. Side Tracked [1/15]
5. The Stumble [1/16]
6. Wash Out [1/18]

Side 2:
1. San-Ho-Zay [1/17]
2. Just Pickin’ [2/23]
3. Heads Up [2/2]
4. In The Open [2/8]
5. Out Front [2/9]
6. Swooshy [2/10]

3. “Boy – Girl – Boy”
1962, King Records 777 [Mono]
Credited to FREDDY KING, LULA REED, SONNY THOMPSON

Side 1:
1. Do The President Twist - Lulu Reed & Freddy King [2/19]
2. I Got A Notion - Lula Reed
3. Know What You're Doing - Lula Reed
4. You Can't Hide - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/21]
5. Puddentane - Lula Reed

Side 2:
1. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me - Lula Reed & Freddy King [2/20]
2. I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) - Lula Reed
3. Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed
4. It's Easy Child - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/22]
5. I Know - Lula Reed
6. Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed

4. “Smokey Smothers Sings The Backporch Blues”
1962, King Records 779 [Mono]
Note: one of the few (and rare) times Freddy King played session work – the album is by Chicago Bluesman OTIS “BIG SMOKEY” SMOTHERS and King is on the tracks marked [FK]

Side 1:
1. Crying Tears
2. Smokey's Love Sick Blues
3. I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More [FK}
4. I've Been Drinking Muddy Water [FK]
5. You're Gonna Be Sorry [FK]
6. Midnight And Day

Side 2:
1. Blind And Dumb Man Blues
2. Honey I Ain't Teasin'
3. I Can't Judge Nobody [FK]
4. Give It Back (What I Done For You) [FK]
5. What Am I Going To Do
6. Come On Rock Little Girl [FK]

5. “A Carnival Of Songs”
1963, King Records 819 [Mono]
A Various Artists compilation LP with 1 Freddy King song that is exclusive – “Closed Door” [2/11]

6. “Bossa Nova And Blues
1963, King Records 821 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. (I'd Love to) Make Love To You [3/14]
2. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree [3/9]
3. Look Ma I'm Cryin' [3/13]
4. It Hurts To Be In Love [3/12]
5. You Walked In [3/8]
6. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist [3/4]

Side 2:
1. Is My Baby Mad At Me [3/10]
2. Someday After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry) [3/7]
3. One Hundred Years [3/15]
4. Bossa Nova Blues [3/3]
5. The Welfare (Turns It's Back On You) [3/11]
6. Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile) [3/6]

7. “Freddie King Goes Surfin’”
1963, King Records 856 [Mono]
Note: A reissue of King 773 with crowd overdubs [not referenced in the box]

8. “Freddy King…Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals”
1965, King Records 928 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Manhole [4/9]
2. Freeway 75 [3/5]
3. Low Tide [3/19] [aka Zoo Surfin’]
4. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
5. Funny Bone [4/11]
6. Nickel Plated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. King-A-Ling [4/3]
2. Surf Monkey [3/17]
3. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
4. Fish Fare [4/10]
5. Cloud Sailin' [4/12]
6. Remington Ride [3/20]

9. “Freddy King Sings Again”
1965, King Records 931 [Mono]
NOTE: Mystery surrounds this LP. There is no artwork available and no one appears to have ever seen any. As you can see from the tracks listed below – it is made up entirely of Federal 7” single sides – perhaps it was pulled not to kill their sales – but that is pure speculation.
The Bear Family booklet unfortunately doesn’t clarify anything about LP 931 - whether or not it was ever released (some sources now presume it wasn’t). But the discography DOES reference the following 12 tracks, so I’ve included them here for info purposes (in discography appearance order)…

1. Come On [2/18]
2. What About Love [3/2]
3. Now I’ve Got A Woman [3/16]
4. If You Have It [3/18]
5. Monkey Donkey [3/21]
6. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
7. Full Time Love [4/2]
8. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
9. Teardrops On Your Letter [4/5]
10. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
11. She’s The One [4/7]
12. She’s That Kind [4/8]

10. “All His Hits”
1965, King Records 5012
Features “Christmas Tears” [2/3]

11. “24 Vocals And Instrumentals”
1966, King Records 964 [Mono]
NOTE: the Discography ‘pictures’ this album in between the text, but doesn’t actually reference LP 964 in any of the entries. I think this is probably a clerical mistake. For info purposes, I’ve given their box set reference as below…

Side 1:
1. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
2. Manhole [4/9]
3. Sittin' On The Boat Dock [2/17]
4. Texas Oil [2/12]
5. She's The Kind [aka “She’s That Kind”] [4/8]
6. High Rise [aka “Closed Door”] [2/11]
7. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
8. King-A-Ling [4/3]
9. Surf Monkey [3/17]
10. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 1) [2/13]
11. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 2) [2/13]
12. Nickleplated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
2. It's Easy Child [2/22]
3. Just Pickin' [2/1]
4. Now I've Got A Woman [3/16]
5. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
6. I'm On My Way To Atlanta [2/14]
7. Freeway 75 [3/5]
8. If You Have It [3/18]
9. Cloud Sailin' (Don’t Move) [4/12]
10. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
11. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
12. Monkey Donkey [3/21]

12. “Hideaway”
1969, King Records KS-1059 [Mono]/KSD-1059 [Stereo]
A compilation – it is NOT referenced in the Box Set’s Discography
However, the mono versions can be sequenced from previous entries

Side 1:
1. Hideaway
2. I'm Tore Down
3. Washout
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Low Tide

Side 2:
1. The Stumble
2. See See Baby
3. Side Tracked
4. I Love The Woman
5. Remington Ride

13. “Freddie King Is A Blues Master”
1969, Cotillion SD-9004 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Play It Cool [4/28]
2. That Will Never Do [4/29]
3. It’s Too Late, She’s Gone [4/30]
4. Blue Shadows [4/27]
5. Today I Sing The Blues [5/4]
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman [4/32]

Side 2:
1. Hideaway [4/25]
2. Funky [4/26]
3. Hot Tomato [5/1]
4. Wide Open [5/2]
5. Sweet Thing [4/31]
6. Let Me Down Easy [5/3]

14. “My Feeling For The Blues”
1970, Cotillion SD-9016 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Yonder Wall [5/5]
2. The Stumble [5/9]
3. I Wonder Why [5/6]
4. Stormy Monday [5/10]
5. I Don't Know [5/7]

Side 2:
1. What'd I Say [5/11]
2. Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do [5/12]
3. You Don't Have To Go [5/13]
4. Woke Up This Morning [5/14]
5. The Things I Used To Do [5/15]
6. My Feeling For The Blues [5/8]

15. “Getting Ready”
1971, Shelter Records SHE-8905 (USA) and A&M Records AMLS 65004 (UK)
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Same Old Blues [5/16]
2. Dust My Broom [5/17]
3. Worried Life Blues [aka “Worry My Life No More”] [5/18]
4. Five Long Years [5/19]
5. Key To The Highway [5/20]

Side 2:
1. Going Down [5/21]
2. Living On The Highway [5/22]
3. Walking My Myself [5/23]
4. Tore Down [5/24]
5. Palace Of The King [5/25]

16. “Texas Cannonball”
1972, Shelter SW-8913 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Lowdown In Lodi [6/16]
2. Reconsider Baby [6/17]
3. Big Legged Woman [7/1]
4. Me And My Guitar [7/2]
5. I'd Rather Be Blind [7/3]

Side 2:
1. Can't Trust Your Neighbor [6/7]
2. You Was Wrong [6/8]
3. How Many More Years [6/9]
4. Ain't No Sunshine [6/10]
5. The Sky Is Crying [6/11]

17. “Woman Across The River”
1973, Shelter SW-8919 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Woman Across The River [7/9]
2. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man [7/10]
3. The Danger Zone [7/11]
4. Boogie Man [7/12]
5. Leave My Woman Alone [7/13]

Side 2:
1. Just A Little Bit [7/14]
2. Yonder Wall [7/15]
3. Help Me Through The Day [7/16]
4. I'm Ready [7/17]
5. Trouble In Mind [7/18]
6. You Don't Have To Go [7/19]

18. “Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival”
1973, Atlantic SD2-502 [2LP set featuring 1 exclusive Freddy King track “Goin’ Down” [7/20]

“Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973” by FREDDIE KING. A Review of the 2009 Bear Family 7CD Box Set With Added 7”/LP Discographies Referencing The Box

"…I Swim The Deepest River…"

Bear Family box sets are famous for their sumptuousness, but I would venture to say that this absolute peach is one of the best tomes they've ever produced - and given their ludicrously high standards with content, sound and presentation - that's really saying something. I'm properly blown away - I really am.

"Taking Care Of Business 1956-1973" was released May 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK in Germany and contains 167 remastered tracks across 7 fully-featured CDs. Inside is a 106-page 12" x 12" HARDBACK BOOK which is shrink-wrapped for protection (a nice touch) and as you can imagine is a thing of beauty in itself. Rare photos, trade adverts, concert posters, singles on Federal and King, albums on Cotillion and Shelter punctuate a huge essay on King's life and music by noted expert BILL DAHL. The updated Discography by BILL DAHL and RICHARD WEIZE is presented in a far-clearer manner than before (even if there are a few mistakes and omissions) and there's also a track-by-track alphabetical list that follows it. The whole set reeks of care and affection.

Track Mixing and Remastering is by BILL INGLOT (of Rhino fame) and JURGEN CRASSER (of Bear Family) and the quality is GORGEOUS throughout - especially on the last three discs. Each jewel case carries a different photo-inlay and each label reflects the recording period - Federal on 1 to 3, King on 4, Cotillion on 5 and Shelter on 6 and 7. And as you can see from the list below, there's some eye-catching extended playing times...

Disc 1, 25 Tracks, 70:46 minutes
Disc 2, 26 Tracks, 77:15 minutes
Disc 3, 22 Tracks, 70:56 minutes
Disc 4, 32 Tracks, 87:16 minutes
Disc 5, 25 Tracks, 84:46 minutes
Disc 6, 17 Tracks, 77:35 minutes
Disc 7, 20 Tracks, 77:49 minutes

SINGLES:
"Taking Care Of Business" will also allow you to sequence the A&B sides of 36 x 7" singles - every one from his rare debut "Country Boy" in 1956 on El-Bee 157 right up to "Woman Across The River" on Leon Russell's Shelter label in 1973 (Shelter 7333). The six-tracks of his 1961 "Bossa Nova And Blues" EP on King KSS-7 821 are here too.

ALBUMS:
All of the following LPs are complete too (relevant tracks only on 3, 4, 8 and 15):

1. "Freddy King Sings" (King 762, Mono, 1961)
2. "Let's Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King" (King 773, Mono, 1961)
3. "Boy-Girl-Boy" (King 777, Mono, 1962)
[Credited to Freddy King, Lula Reed & Sonny Thompson with 4 tracks featuring Lula Reed with Freddy King]
4. A Carnival Of Songs" (King 819, 1963, A Various Artists compilation featuring 1 exclusive track - "Closed Door")
5. "Bossa Nova And Blues" (King 821, Mono, 1962)
6. "Freddy King...Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals" (King 928, Mono, 1965)
7. "Freddy King Sings Again" (King 931, Mono, 1965, see LP Discography)
8. "All His Hits" (King 5012, 1965 Compilation LP featuring "Christmas Tears")
9. "24 Vocals And Instrumentals" (King 964, Mono, 1966)
10. "Freddie King Is A Blues Master" (Cotillion SD-9004, Stereo, 1969)
11. "My Feeling For The Blues" (Cotillion SD-9016, 1970)
12. "Getting Ready" (Shelter SHE-8905. 1971)
13. "Texas Cannonball" (Shelter SW-8913, 1972)
14. "Woman Across The River" (Shelter SW-8919, 1973)
15. "Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival" (Atlantic SD2-502, 1973 2LP set featuring 1 exclusive track "Goin' Down")

MISTAKES/OMISSIONS:
The Discography forgets to mention the 7" single King 6264, which reissued the A-sides of his 2nd and 3rd singles "Have You Ever Seen A Woman" and "Hideaway" in 1969. On the album front the "24 Vocals And Instrumentals" album set on King 964 is 'pictured', but not referenced in the Discography - a big error. The "Freddy King Goes Surfin" album on King 856 is a reissue of the "Let's Hide away..." LP from 1961 (King 773) with crowd overdubs added on - but those versions are not featured here at all (probably considered too gimmicky for inclusion). His 6-track session work on the rare Smokey Smothers album from 1962 "Sings The Backporch Blues" on King 779 is not mentioned nor featured either - which is odd. And because the set ends at 1973, you don't get the last two albums he did for RSO before he died - "Burglar" (1974) and "Freddy King Larger Than Life" (1975) - nor do you get the session work he put in on the Jimmy Rogers "Gold Tailed Bird" LP on Shelter SW-8921 in 1973. In truth though, you'd have to look deep into the discography to see these things, but they're points worth making.

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED/FEATURED ARTSTS/SOUND:
I'm thrilled to say that the outtakes are equal to - and in some cases surpass - the released material. "Ain't No Big Deal On You" on Disc 7 funks and rocks so cool (lyrics above) and the cover of Muddy Waters "I Just Want To Make Love To You" is slow and bluesy in all the right ways. There's loads more where they came from. King Curtis, Leon Russell and members of Booker T. & The M.G.'s are all over the Cotillion and Shelter albums to such great effect - and over and over - the sound quality across all the discs just hammers you with its muscle and clarity. I can't stop playing it.

This kind of quality and class doesn't come cheap though - there's little change out of one hundred and fifty sterling or three hundred dollars - but it is BEAUTIFUL.

Freddie King died 28 December 1976 aged only 42. But at least this truly stunning box set celebrates his musical legacy in real style.

Roll on Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert King, Big Joe Turner...

PS: for fans I've posted a USA 7" single and LP discography which references where to find the tracks on the box set - each is posted in a separate 'comment' attached to this review

PPS: I've also reviewed the following Bear Family box sets (with discographies) that may be of interest - Louis Jordan, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison and Nellie Lutcher

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREDDIE KING – USA 7” SINGLE DISOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

Entries 1 to 30 are credited to FREDDY KING, thereafter as FREDDIE KING

1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

1. Country Boy b/w That’s What You Think (El-Bee 157, 1956)
[1/1 and 1/2]
Note: “Country Boy” also features vocals by Eloise Whitfield

2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling (Federal 45-12384, December 1960)
[1/6 and 1/5]

3. Hide Away b/w I Love The Woman (Federal 45-12401, March 1961)
[1/7 and 1/8]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

4. Lonesome Whistle Blues b/w It’s Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (Federal 45-12415, May 1961)
[1/9 and 1/11]

5. San-Ho-Zay b/w See See Baby (Federal 45-12428, 1August 1961)
[1/17 and 1/4]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

6. I’m Tore Down b/w Sen-Sa-Shun (Federal 45-12432, October 1961)
[1/ 12 and 1/14]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

7. Christmas Tears b/w I Hear Jingle Bells (Federal 45-12439, December 1961)
[2/3 and 2/7]

8. If You Believe (In What You Do) b/w Heads Up (Federal 45-12443, January 1962)
[1/10 and 2/2]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

9. Takin’ Care Of Business b/w The Stumble (Federal 45-12450, March 1962)
[2/5 and 1/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

10. Side Tracked b/w Sittin’ On The Boat Dock (Federal 45-12456, April 1962)
[1/15 and 2/17]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

11. Do The President Twist b/w Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me (Federal 45-12457, May 1962)
[2/19 and 3/1]
Note; the A-side is credited to LULU REED & FREDDY KING while the B-side is LULU REED (only) – her name should read ‘Lula’ Reed

12. What About Love b/w Texas Oil (Federal 45-12462, July 1962)
[3/2 and 2/12]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

13. Come On b/w Just Pickin’ (Federal 45-12470, September 1962)
[2/18 and 2/23]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

14. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me b/w You Can’t Hide (Federal 45-12471, October 1962)
[2/20 and 2/21]
Note: both A&B credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING

15. I’m On My Way To Atlanta b/w In The Open (Federal 45-12475, December 1962)
[2/14 and 2/8]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

16. It’s Easy, Child b/w Say Hey Pretty (Federal 45-12477, December 1962)
[2/22]
Note: The A-side is credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING
The B-side is LULU REED and SONNY THOMPSON And His Orchestra
and is NOT on the box set because there’s no FK involvement

17. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist b/w Look, Ma I’m Cryin’ (Federal 45-12482, February 1963)
[3/4 and 3/13]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

18. (I’d Love To) Make Love To You b/w One Hundred Years (Federal 45-12491, 1963)
[3/14 and 3/15]

19. (The Welfare) Turns Its Back On You b/w You’re Barkin’ Up The Wrong Tree (Federal 45-12499, 1963)
[3/11 and 3/9]

20. Monkey Donkey b/w Surf Monkey (Federal 45-12509, 1963)
[3/21 and 3/17]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

21. Meet Me At The Station b/w King-A-Ling (Federal 45-12515, 1964)
[4/1 and 4/3]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

22. Someday, After Awhile (You’ll Be Sorry) b/w Driving Sideways (Federal 45-12518, 1964)
[3/7 and 2/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

23. She Put The Whammy On Me b/w High Rise (Federal 45-12521, 1964)
[2/13 and 2/11]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Closed Door”

24. Now I’ve Got A Woman b/w Onion Rings (Federal 45-12529, 1964)
[3/16 and 1/13]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Butterscotch”

25. Some Other Day, Some Other Time b/w Manhole (Federal 45-12532, 1965)
[4/6 and 4/9]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

26. If You Have It b/w I Love You More Everyday (Federal 45-12535, 1965)
[3/18 and 4/4]

27. She’s The One b/w Full Time Love (Federal 45-12537, 1965)
[4/7 and 4/2]

28. Use What You’ve Got b/w Double Eyed Whammy (King 45-6057, 1966)
[4/19 and 4/18]

29. You’ve Got Me Licked b/w Girl From Kookamunga(King 45-6080, 1967)
[4/17 and 4/16]

30. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w Hideaway (King 45-6264, 1969)
[Reissue of the A of Entries 2 and 3]

31. Funky b/w Play It Cool (Cotillion 44015, 1969)
[4/26 and 4/28]
Note; the A-side is co-written with KING CURTIS

32. I Wonder Why b/w Yonder Wall (Cotillion 44058, 1970)
[5/6 and 5/5]
Note: The A-side is written by JOE JOSEA and B.B. KING
The B-side is an Elmore James cover version

33. Going Down b/w Tore Down (Shelter 7303, 1971)
[5/21 and 5/24]
Note: the A-side is a DON NIX song; the B-side is a SONNY THOMPSON song

34. Me And My Guitar b/w Lowdown In Lodi (Shelter 7320, 1972)
[7/2 and 6/16]
Note: the A-side is a JOHN FOGERTY song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL and CHARLES BLACKWELL song

35. I’d Rather Go Blind b/w Ain’t No Sunshine (Shelter 7323, 1972)
[7/3 and 6/10]
Note: the A-side is a LEON RUSSELL song; the B-side is a BILL WITHERS song

36. Woman Across The River b/w Help Me Through The Day (Shelter 7333, 1973)
[7/9 and 7/16]
Note: the A-side is a BETTYE CRUTCHER and ALLEN JONES, Jr. song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL song

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREDDIE KING – USA LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

1. “Freddy King Sings”
1961, King Records 762 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. See See Baby [1/4]
2. Lonesome Whistle Blues [1/9]
3. Takin' Care Of Business [2/5]
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman [1/6]
5. You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) [1/19]
6. I'm Tore Down [1/12]

Side 2:
1. I Love The Woman [1/8]
2. Let Me Be (Stay Away From Me) [2/4]
3. It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough) [1/11]
4. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling [1/5]
5. If You Believe (In What You Do) [1/10]
6. You Mean, Mean Woman (How Can Your Love Be True) [2/6]

2. “Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King”
1961, King Records 773 [Mono]
Note: ALL tracks are Instrumentals
See also King 856 – it is the King 773 LP reissued in 1963, but with overdubbed crowd noise

Side 1:
1. Hide Away [1/7]
2. Butterscotch [1/23]
3. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
4. Side Tracked [1/15]
5. The Stumble [1/16]
6. Wash Out [1/18]

Side 2:
1. San-Ho-Zay [1/17]
2. Just Pickin’ [2/23]
3. Heads Up [2/2]
4. In The Open [2/8]
5. Out Front [2/9]
6. Swooshy [2/10]

3. “Boy – Girl – Boy”
1962, King Records 777 [Mono]
Credited to FREDDY KING, LULA REED, SONNY THOMPSON

Side 1:
1. Do The President Twist - Lulu Reed & Freddy King [2/19]
2. I Got A Notion - Lula Reed
3. Know What You're Doing - Lula Reed
4. You Can't Hide - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/21]
5. Puddentane - Lula Reed

Side 2:
1. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me - Lula Reed & Freddy King [2/20]
2. I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) - Lula Reed
3. Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed
4. It's Easy Child - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/22]
5. I Know - Lula Reed
6. Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed

4. “Smokey Smothers Sings The Backporch Blues”
1962, King Records 779 [Mono]
Note: one of the few (and rare) times Freddy King played session work – the album is by Chicago Bluesman OTIS “BIG SMOKEY” SMOTHERS and King is on the tracks marked [FK]

Side 1:
1. Crying Tears
2. Smokey's Love Sick Blues
3. I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More [FK}
4. I've Been Drinking Muddy Water [FK]
5. You're Gonna Be Sorry [FK]
6. Midnight And Day

Side 2:
1. Blind And Dumb Man Blues
2. Honey I Ain't Teasin'
3. I Can't Judge Nobody [FK]
4. Give It Back (What I Done For You) [FK]
5. What Am I Going To Do
6. Come On Rock Little Girl [FK]

5. “A Carnival Of Songs”
1963, King Records 819 [Mono]
A Various Artists compilation LP with 1 Freddy King song that is exclusive – “Closed Door” [2/11]

6. “Bossa Nova And Blues
1963, King Records 821 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. (I'd Love to) Make Love To You [3/14]
2. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree [3/9]
3. Look Ma I'm Cryin' [3/13]
4. It Hurts To Be In Love [3/12]
5. You Walked In [3/8]
6. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist [3/4]

Side 2:
1. Is My Baby Mad At Me [3/10]
2. Someday After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry) [3/7]
3. One Hundred Years [3/15]
4. Bossa Nova Blues [3/3]
5. The Welfare (Turns It's Back On You) [3/11]
6. Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile) [3/6]

7. “Freddie King Goes Surfin’”
1963, King Records 856 [Mono]
Note: A reissue of King 773 with crowd overdubs [not referenced in the box]

8. “Freddy King…Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals”
1965, King Records 928 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Manhole [4/9]
2. Freeway 75 [3/5]
3. Low Tide [3/19] [aka Zoo Surfin’]
4. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
5. Funny Bone [4/11]
6. Nickel Plated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. King-A-Ling [4/3]
2. Surf Monkey [3/17]
3. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
4. Fish Fare [4/10]
5. Cloud Sailin' [4/12]
6. Remington Ride [3/20]

9. “Freddy King Sings Again”
1965, King Records 931 [Mono]
NOTE: Mystery surrounds this LP. There is no artwork available and no one appears to have ever seen any. As you can see from the tracks listed below – it is made up entirely of Federal 7” single sides – perhaps it was pulled not to kill their sales – but that is pure speculation.
The Bear Family booklet unfortunately doesn’t clarify anything about LP 931 - whether or not it was ever released (some sources now presume it wasn’t). But the discography DOES reference the following 12 tracks, so I’ve included them here for info purposes (in discography appearance order)…

1. Come On [2/18]
2. What About Love [3/2]
3. Now I’ve Got A Woman [3/16]
4. If You Have It [3/18]
5. Monkey Donkey [3/21]
6. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
7. Full Time Love [4/2]
8. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
9. Teardrops On Your Letter [4/5]
10. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
11. She’s The One [4/7]
12. She’s That Kind [4/8]

10. “All His Hits”
1965, King Records 5012
Features “Christmas Tears” [2/3]

11. “24 Vocals And Instrumentals”
1966, King Records 964 [Mono]
NOTE: the Discography ‘pictures’ this album in between the text, but doesn’t actually reference LP 964 in any of the entries. I think this is probably a clerical mistake. For info purposes, I’ve given their box set reference as below…

Side 1:
1. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
2. Manhole [4/9]
3. Sittin' On The Boat Dock [2/17]
4. Texas Oil [2/12]
5. She's The Kind [aka “She’s That Kind”] [4/8]
6. High Rise [aka “Closed Door”] [2/11]
7. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
8. King-A-Ling [4/3]
9. Surf Monkey [3/17]
10. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 1) [2/13]
11. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 2) [2/13]
12. Nickleplated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
2. It's Easy Child [2/22]
3. Just Pickin' [2/1]
4. Now I've Got A Woman [3/16]
5. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
6. I'm On My Way To Atlanta [2/14]
7. Freeway 75 [3/5]
8. If You Have It [3/18]
9. Cloud Sailin' (Don’t Move) [4/12]
10. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
11. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
12. Monkey Donkey [3/21]

12. “Hideaway”
1969, King Records KS-1059 [Mono]/KSD-1059 [Stereo]
A compilation – it is NOT referenced in the Box Set’s Discography
However, the mono versions can be sequenced from previous entries

Side 1:
1. Hideaway
2. I'm Tore Down
3. Washout
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Low Tide

Side 2:
1. The Stumble
2. See See Baby
3. Side Tracked
4. I Love The Woman
5. Remington Ride

13. “Freddie King Is A Blues Master”
1969, Cotillion SD-9004 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Play It Cool [4/28]
2. That Will Never Do [4/29]
3. It’s Too Late, She’s Gone [4/30]
4. Blue Shadows [4/27]
5. Today I Sing The Blues [5/4]
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman [4/32]

Side 2:
1. Hideaway [4/25]
2. Funky [4/26]
3. Hot Tomato [5/1]
4. Wide Open [5/2]
5. Sweet Thing [4/31]
6. Let Me Down Easy [5/3]

14. “My Feeling For The Blues”
1970, Cotillion SD-9016 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Yonder Wall [5/5]
2. The Stumble [5/9]
3. I Wonder Why [5/6]
4. Stormy Monday [5/10]
5. I Don't Know [5/7]

Side 2:
1. What'd I Say [5/11]
2. Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do [5/12]
3. You Don't Have To Go [5/13]
4. Woke Up This Morning [5/14]
5. The Things I Used To Do [5/15]
6. My Feeling For The Blues [5/8]

15. “Getting Ready”
1971, Shelter Records SHE-8905 (USA) and A&M Records AMLS 65004 (UK)
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Same Old Blues [5/16]
2. Dust My Broom [5/17]
3. Worried Life Blues [aka “Worry My Life No More”] [5/18]
4. Five Long Years [5/19]
5. Key To The Highway [5/20]

Side 2:
1. Going Down [5/21]
2. Living On The Highway [5/22]
3. Walking My Myself [5/23]
4. Tore Down [5/24]
5. Palace Of The King [5/25]

16. “Texas Cannonball”
1972, Shelter SW-8913 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Lowdown In Lodi [6/16]
2. Reconsider Baby [6/17]
3. Big Legged Woman [7/1]
4. Me And My Guitar [7/2]
5. I'd Rather Be Blind [7/3]

Side 2:
1. Can't Trust Your Neighbor [6/7]
2. You Was Wrong [6/8]
3. How Many More Years [6/9]
4. Ain't No Sunshine [6/10]
5. The Sky Is Crying [6/11]

17. “Woman Across The River”
1973, Shelter SW-8919 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Woman Across The River [7/9]
2. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man [7/10]
3. The Danger Zone [7/11]
4. Boogie Man [7/12]
5. Leave My Woman Alone [7/13]

Side 2:
1. Just A Little Bit [7/14]
2. Yonder Wall [7/15]
3. Help Me Through The Day [7/16]
4. I'm Ready [7/17]
5. Trouble In Mind [7/18]
6. You Don't Have To Go [7/19]

18. “Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival”
1973, Atlantic SD2-502 [2LP set featuring 1 exclusive Freddy King track “Goin’ Down” [7/20]

“The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969 – 1973)” by EMITT RHODES. A REVIEW of the USA 2009 Hip-O Select 2CD Set Now Given a January 2010 UK Release.

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

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

"I Was Dying Inside...I Was Hoping You'd Come Along..."

In truth, there was a time when you couldn't give away Emitt Rhodes albums here in the UK, but something of a rediscovery of his music has taken place in the last two decades that has brought his LPs out of the bargain bins and into the eBay lists.

Hailing from Hawthorne (a suburb in Los Angeles), Rhodes first came to prominence with the US sixties group "The Merry-Go-Round" who made one album for A&M in 1967, their self-titled debut "The Merry-Go-Round". Around the album they issued a wad of singles, but neither bothered the charts. These releases are quite sought after now. And prior to this rather lovely reissue, the only half decent set of his music on CD was a rare 1998 compilation from Edsel of the UK called "Daisy-Fresh". Well not anymore...

Released initially in the USA in May 2009 as a 2CD set, Hip-O Select B0012926-02 is a worldwide limited edition of 5000 which contains 4 full albums and one rare non-album 7" single. It breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (66:13 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "The American Dream" recorded in 1969 but released after his debut album (14 to 25 below) in April 1971 in the USA on A&M SP-4254 and on A&M AMLS 64254 in the UK
Tracks 14 to 25 are the album "Emitt Rhodes" first issued December 1970 in the USA on ABC/Dunhill DS 50089 and then on Probe Records SPBA 6256 in the UK in February 1971

Disc 2 (70:06 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Mirror" issued on ABC/Dunhill DSX 50111 in the USA in November 1971 and on Probe Records SPBA 6262 in the UK in December 1971
Tracks 11 to 22 are the album "Farewell To Paradise" issued September 1972 on Probe Records SPBA 6266 in the UK and on ABC/Dunhill DSX 50122 in the USA.

Track 23 is "Tame The Lion", a non-album A-side. In the UK it was on Probe Records PRO 565 and in the USA on A&M 4315, both issued in 1972. "Golden Child Of God" - an album track off "Mirror" - is its B-side in both countries.

The 3-way fold out card digipak houses a 16-page booklet with an appreciation of the man and his music by SCOTT SCHNIDER. There's also a pictorial album-by-album breakdown with relevant production and instrument credits. It's remastered by PETE DOELL at Universal Mastering and sounds fantastic - and given that most of these tracks are self-recorded by Rhodes himself - it's amazing how good they sound. Equally impressive is his musicianship on every track - so proficient, so talented.

Vocally Rhodes is a cross between Nilsson on "Nilsson Schmilsson", Todd Rundgren on "Something/Anything?" and Ron Mael of Sparks on "Kimono My House". But there is also the Beach Boys and Dennis Wilson vibe too. With all these cool influences bounding around, his songs and their arrangements have aroused a lot of interest in those who like their Seventies tunes melodic and layered. His first album is probably his most popular and fans will be glad to see it represented here in its entirety. Also - and impressively - most of the songs on here are entirely written, played, arranged and produced by Emitt Rhodes (how every Prince).

Another nice touch is that the 1st issue of "The American Dream" album had the track "Saturday Night" on it - which was replaced with "You're A Very Lovely Woman" when it was reissued later in a different sleeve - Hip-O has included both tracks so you can sequence either version.

While I like his debut - for me his song writing improved immeasurably on "Mirror". I especially love "Better Side Of Life" and "Really Wanted You" (lyrics above) - very Dennis Wilson - and in a really good way.

To sum up - and as other reviewers have pointed out - this is a superb reissue and luckily for us it's been given a January 2010 UK release for just under twelve quid (rare for Hip-O sets).

It's not all fab of course, but when he was good - he was sit-up-and-take-notice good. Recommended.