“Live And Dangerous” by THIN LIZZY (January 2011 Universal 2CD/1DVD ‘Deluxe Edition’ Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Is There Anyone Out There Would Like A Little More Irish In Them..."

"Live And Dangerous" was the third of three Deluxe Edition sets released Monday 24 January 2011 in the UK (22 February 2011 in the USA) - the other two were March 1976's "Jailbreak" and November 1976's "Johnny The Fox" (both 2CD sets). 

"Live And Dangerous: Deluxe Edition" even gave us the visuals too in an extra DVD. Here are the bad boy details for Universal/Mercury 5332073…

Disc 1 (36:16 minutes):

1. Jailbreak

2. Emerald

3. Southbound

4. Rosalie/Cowgirl’s Song

5. Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In The Spotlight) - Side 2

6. Massacre

7. Still In Love With You

8. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed

Disc 2 (51:15 minutes):

1. Cowoy Song - Side 3

2. The Boys Are Back In Town

3. Don’t Believe A Word

4. Warrior

5. Are You Ready

6. Suicide - Side 4

7. Sha La La

8. Baby Drives Me Crazy

9. The Rocker

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Opium Trail (Live & Dangerous Outtake)

11.  Bad Reputation (Live & Dangerous Outtake)

Tracks 1 to 8 on Disc 1 are Side 1 and 2 of the double-album "Live And Dangerous” - their 9th album released 2 June 1978 in the UK on Vertigo 6641 807 and July 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers 2BS-3213 (it peaked at 2 in the UK and 84 in the USA). Tracks 1 to 9 on Disc 2 are Side 3 and 4. The booklet states that ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM have remastered the first generation master tapes in 2010 at Wired Masters in the UK.

DVD:

Filmed live at The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park in London in late March 1978, this was originally a video released at the time of the album - restored for DVD release in 2007. The 2007 issue had 2 discs (DVD and CD) - 'only' the DVD is presented here, but it does have its full 11-track compliment (no new footage). Audio-wise there's disappointment also - BOTH the rear sleeve of the DE and the DVD itself list two audio settings - 2.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound, but on playing the DVD it offers only the 2.0 Digital Dolby playback - and I think it's only in Mono. The picture quality is hardly state-of-the-art either - very sloppy Seventies it has to be said, but the power of the band is still intact - especially the astonishing guitar solo Brian Robertson pulls out on "Still In Love With You" and the rocking last two tracks where they were arguably the best live band in the world bar none (note: the last track on the DVD is "Me And The Boys" which is NOT on the 2LP live set).

PACKAGING:

The 3-way foldout digipak is the same design as most of Universal's 2010 DE doubles - the outer plastic wrap has now been replaced with a 'Deluxe Edition' bandana around the base of the set and you have to split it to get the package open - bit fiddly, but it's easier to access the discs and the booklet. Unlike "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" which have packed 20-page booklets and original artwork  - this booklet is very disappointing - as is the digipak itself. First up - the impact of the double-live album was made huge by its display of colour photos both on the inner gatefold and the two festooned inner sleeves - NONE of which appears here. Instead there are black and white shots of the boys on each flap with the space beneath the trays wasted on some barely visible 'Thin Lizzy' logo. It amounts to a huge amount of viewing space covered in a whole lot of nothing. The paltry 8-page CD booklet of the 1996 remaster has these photos - so why aren't they here - and enhanced? Also Universal could have used the original vinyl look on the CDs themselves - the UK 'Spaceship' Vertigo label design for Disc 1 with the USA Warner Brothers label design on Disc 2 (something Rhino has been doing on their reissues for years). I know it sounds like a bit of a whinge, but the effect of the original LPs is completely lost here.

Also - the booklet has only 16 pages (the other 2 have 20) with two of those are taken up with the original album credits. The MALCOME DOME essay on the LP lasts bits of 5 pages - much of which is taken with the tedious Tony Visconti versus The Band remembrances that have dogged the album for years - how much of it is 'actually' live... Overdubs to the tune of 75% are quoted by Visconti - disputed vigorously by Gorham and Lynott who say it was a 'lot less' - Downey say the drums weren't touched at all... (the truth probably lies somewhere in between - 25% maybe). Who cares if it was doctored after the event (most live albums were and are to this day), it stills rocks like Godzilla trampling through New York and roaring his head off. But it has to be said - that after the excellent extras on the "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" DE versions (see separate reviews), this is a let down, when it wouldn't have taken a lot to make it a screaming success.

SOUND/EXTRAS:

The remaster is great - it has to be said, and only accentuates the power of them live - and by the time you get to the "Ba-Ba-Ba-Baby..." Phil versus The Audience exchanges on "Baby Drives Me Crazy" - resistance is futile. However, hand on my heart, I would have to say that the sound is very similar to the 1996 version - only ever so slightly more amplified or tweaked. The two bonus tracks are good - especially "Opium Trail", but the sound on "Bad Reputation" is a bit corroded - even if the performance is good.

Ok - there are absolutely two ways of looking at this reissue - the lapsed buyer and newcomer will see this package, buy it and be sonically and visually pleased, but long-time fans who've bought the two superb Deluxe Editions of "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" will be wondering what the Hell happened here? Packaging that doesn't expand the original, only 2 extra tracks and a DVD we already own - fans are being asked to spend money on this. It won’t take long for them to work out that if they buy the 1996 CD and the 2-disc “Live And Dangerous” DVD/CD set from 2007 – they’ll get more and probably spend less! It seems odd to me that Lizzy's defining moment should be the one DE that lets the side down. Surely - and backtrack to take a look at the playing times for both discs - surely there could have been more? Where’s the audio for "Me And The Boys" for God’s sake – a B-side surrounding the album? And for the DVD to not have a 5.1 mix or more importantly 'anything' new is a huge disappointment.

To sum up – a superb album of course, but a mixed bag on the packaging front and a visual many will already have. Newcomers should just dive in and enjoy - but fans may want to wait until it drops into a sale in a few months...

Phil Lynott has his fist raised up on the front cover of "Live And Dangerous" - and on the 3 to 4-star presentation of this iconic and much loved double album - unfortunately I think I know why...

"Johnny The Fox" by THIN LIZZY. A Review Of Their 1976 Album Now Reissued and Remastered Onto A 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' In 2011.

"…Started Out Playing Hotel Bars…Now He’s Got The Talent To Take Him Far…"

"Johnny The Fox" is the second of three 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD sets released Monday 24 January 2011 in the UK (8 February 2011 in the USA) - the other two are 1976's "Jailbreak" and 1978's "Live And Dangerous" (2CD/1DVD).

Universal/Mercury 5332077 breaks down as follows...

PACKAGING:
The 3-way foldout digipak is the same design as most of Universal's 2010 DE doubles - the outer plastic wrap has now been replaced with a 'Deluxe Edition' bandana around the base of the set and you have to split it to get the package open - bit fiddly, but it's easier to access the discs and the booklet. The short "Vulture" story on the inner sleeve of the original LP is put under the see-through tray that houses Disc 1, while the 4 colour photos of the boys on the back sleeve are now spread across all 4 sides of the two inner flaps - and they look great.

Like "Jailbreak" (reviewed separately) there's a superbly detailed 20-page booklet with a very intensive essay on the album and the band's history - this time by NEIL JEFFRIES. It documents the hepatitis that nearly killed Phil and caused the upcoming US tour to be cancelled (it was felt it would finally break them huge). But the American arena's loss was music's gain because Lizzy were able instead to concentrate on more songwriting and again - for the second time in 1976 - they came up with the goods.

Niggles - like "Jailbreak" I'd have to say that the lack of alternate artwork or works-in-progress from Jim Fitzpatrick - the Dublin artist who's Celtic artwork was such an integral part of the band's image (and the album sleeve) - is a bit of a let down. The non-colour version of his front-cover artwork that was used on the inner sleeve is missing too. Also Universal could have used the original vinyl look on the CDs themselves - the UK 'Spaceship' Vertigo label design for Disc 1 with the USA Mercury label design on Disc 2 - minor points I know, but worth mentioning...

DISCS:
Disc 1 (36:05 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Johnny The Fox", their 7th album released 16 October 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 9102 012 and November 1976 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-1119 (it peaked at 11 in the UK and 52 in the USA). The booklet states it's been remastered by ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM in 2010 at Wired Masters Sound In London in the UK.

Disc 2 (38:13 minutes):
Tracks 1 and 2 are 'Remix' Versions of "Don't Believe A Word" (Remix One) and "Johnny". JOE ELLIOTT (of Def Leppard) along with SCOTT GORHAM, BRIAN DOWNEY (guitarist and drummer with the band) and RONAN McHUGH have remixed and re-recorded 'some' parts on these in "Joe's Garage" in Dublin. There's not enough room to detail here what's been done to what track and why, but Joe Elliott's notes explain in full on Pages 18 and 19.
Tracks 3 to 6 are "Don't Believe A Word", "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed", "Fools Gold" and "Johnny" - all BBC Sessions recorded 11 October 1976 in London for The John Peel Show
[Note: Track 3 confusingly comes up on some CDs as "Don't Believe A Word - Remix Two" and not the "BBC Session". However, the DE rear artwork calls it a BBC Session.]
Tracks 7 and 9 are 'Instrumental Run Through' versions of "Fools Gold" and "Rocky"
Track 8 is an 'Instrumental Run Through & Extended' version of "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed" featuring a false start and more dialogue at the end
Track 10 is an 'Instrumental Take With Lynott's Directions To The Band' version of "Massacre"
Track 11 is an 'Unreleased Scott Gorham Composition' called "Scott's Tune"

SOUND/EXTRAS:
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard comments in the liner notes that he thinks "Johnny The Fox" is even better than "Jailbreak" - I don't know about that - but he does have a point when you re-listen to the fab rock riffage of "Rocky" (lyrics above) and the bluesy feel of "Borderline" which is almost as good as "I'm Still In Love With You". There didn't seem to be anything Phil Lynott couldn't turn his knack for penning a winner to - both musically and lyrically. And the two boys - Scott Gorham and Brian "Robbo" Robertson - played their guitars off each other like they telepathically linked. It's a shame though that the writer credit on "Don't Believe A Word" is still only 'Lynott' when it was known then and more so now that it was 'both' Robertson and Downey who wrote it after the first aborted attempts. "Fool's Gold" sounds great too - big and chunky. There was (like most Irish songwriters) a Van Morrison desperately trying to get out of Phil Lynott and "Old Flame" and "Sweet Marie" (like "Running Back" on the "Jailbreak" LP) are his Van The Man moments - and I love them both. Soundwise, it's good, but if I'm honest, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between this and the 1996 remaster - slightly better I'd say.

Like the "Jailbreak" bonus tracks on Disc 2, the extras here are far better than I thought they would be. In fact I'd go as far as saying that they may even be better than the album. First up are two fantastic 'Remixes'. They don't trump the originals - but man - are they good! The four John Peel BBC Sessions show just how unbelievably tight the band was - and how their material was sit-up-and-take-notice good. Downey's drums are huge too.

But the best is left to last - a set of incredibly personal in-the-studio outtakes. The run-through of "Fools Gold" cuts out the spoken 'Famine' intro and is just great riffing - fascinating stuff. "Johnny The Fox..." has a false start, studio dialogue and sounds like the band is rehearsing in your living room (incredibly personal) - and when the twin guitars kick in with that great riff at one minute in - it's a blast. The "Rocky" run through simply sounds like the finished backing track minus the vocals - but "Massacre" is more like it - rough and raw - with Phil's guide vocal barely audible. You can hear him instruct "now the chord...the riff fours times and stop..." The breakneck speed of "Scott's Tune" features Phil's bass upfront while Scott boogies like a madman - great stuff.

To sum up - a muscular remaster of the album, properly expanded packaging, shockingly good bonus tracks - and all at a reasonable price. I was afraid that this would be just a cheap cash-in one of their big albums, but it's not. Lizzy nuts will eat it alive...

Recommended like midnight in the big city...

PS: see also my reviews for the 2010 Extended Remasters of "Thin Lizzy" (1971), "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" (1972) and the 2CD Deluxe Editions of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (1973), "Jailbreak" and "Live And Dangerous".

“Jailbreak” by THIN LIZZY. A Review Of Their 1976 Breakthrough Album Now Reissued and Remastered Onto A 2011 2CD ‘Deluxe Edition’.

"…And I Come Running…Running Back To You Again…"

“Jailbreak” is the first of three 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD sets released Monday 24 January 2011 in the UK (8 February 2011 in the USA) - the other two are 1976’s “Johnny The Fox” and 1978’s “Live And Dangerous” (2CD/1DVD).

Universal/Mercury 5332052 breaks down as follows…

PACKAGING:
The 3-way foldout digipak is the same design as most of Universal’s 2010 DE doubles - the outer plastic wrap has now been replaced with a ‘Deluxe Edition’ bandana around the base of the set and you have to split it to get the package open – bit fiddly, but it easier to access the discs and the booklet.
Phil Lynott and Jim Fitzpatricks’ “Overmaster” concept story on the rear sleeve of the original LP is put on the first inner flap to the left, while the 4 colour photos of the boys on the back sleeve are now spread across the two inner flaps – and they look great.

There’s a superbly detailed 20-page booklet with a very intensive essay on the album and the band’s history by DEREK OLIVER. It refers back to interviews with Phil and Brian Robertson and the text is peppered with live photos and a collage of trade adverts and gold disc awards. To counter that though, I’d add that the lack of alternate artwork or works in progress from Jim Fitzpatrick – the Dublin artist who’s Celtic artwork was such an integral part of the band’s image – is a bit of a let down on the packaging front. Also they could have used the original vinyl look on the CDs themselves – the UK ‘Spaceship’ Vertigo label design for Disc 1 with the USA Mercury label design on Disc 2 - minor niggles, but worth mentioning…

DISCS:
Disc 1 (36:07 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album “Jailbreak”, their 6th album released 14 March 1976 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-1081 and 26 March 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 9102 008 (it peaked at 18 in the USA and 10 in the UK). ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM have remastered the first generation master tapes in 2010 at Wire Masters in the UK.

Disc 2 (51:35 minutes):
Tracks 1, 2 and 4 are ‘Remix’ Versions of “The Boys Are Back In Town”, “Jailbreak” and “Emerald”. JOE ELLIOTT (of Def Leppard) along with SCOTT GORHAM, BRIAN DOWNEY (guitarist and drummer with the band) and RONAN McHUGH have remixed and re-recorded ‘some’ parts on these in “Joe’s Garage” in Dublin. There’s isn’t enough room to detail here what’s been done to what track and why, but Elliott’s notes explain in full on Page 19.
Track 3 is an 'Alternate Vocal Remix' of “The Boys Are Back In Town” which features different verses in the latter half of the song
Tracks 5 to 8 are “Jailbreak”, “Emerald”, “Cowboy Song” and “Warriors” - all BBC Sessions recorded 12 February 1976 in London for The John Peel Show
Track 9 is an 'Extended Version' of “Fight Or Fall” (5:21 minutes)
Track 10 is a 'Previously Unreleased Studio Track' called “Blues Boy”
Track 11 is “Derby Blues” - an 'Early Live Version Of Cowboy Song' recorded at The Derby College Of Technology in the UK on the 2 November 1975.
NOTE - EXTRA TRACK DISC 2: the outer packaging lists only 10 tracks on Disc 2 - but there is 11 as documented above

SOUND/EXTRAS:
The remaster on Disc 1 is fantastic – bringing out Phil Alcock’s original production values on every track. There is hiss on some songs (like "Fight Or Fall"), but it’s minimal and hasn’t been ‘Protooled’ out of existence – presence and power haven’t been sacrificed - just amplified. Downey’s drumming is suddenly a force to be reckoned with too rather than being something that was muddled in the back of the mix somewhere. The rockers like “The Warrior” and “Emerald” now sound just HUGE (Gorham and Robertson’s solos still make the hairs stand up), while the more plaintive tunes are great too. You can hear Tim Hinckley’s keyboards on the lovely “Running Back” (lyrics above), the ultra-tight acoustic guitars on "Romeo And The Lonely Girl" and when the twin electric guitars kick-in on “Cowboy Song” after the lonesome harmonica intro – the effect is magical.

The extras are far better than I thought they would be – they really are. The ‘Remixes’ are very good, but don’t trump the originals. You can hear why the lyrics were changed in the ‘Alternate’ “Boys Are Back In Town” – and frankly how he improved it so much (what a perfect little song it is). The already polished versions of “Cowboy Song” and “The Warrior” in the BBC Session of February 1976 are absolutely extraordinary and beautifully captured by in-house Producer Tony Wilson – Lizzy were ‘so’ good – you can just ‘hear’ how the new material was on fire…

The extended “Fight Or Fall” features countrified slide guitars – it sounds like a Vagabond’s outtake or The Allman Brothers doing a loose jam – it’s fabulous and for me a genuine surprise. But then comes the real deal for starved fans - a new Lynott song called “Blues Boy” – and as its title suggests, it’s a slinky Blues riff. Musically it’s very similar to the opening slink of “Pretzel Logic” by Steely Dan but with guitars instead of keyboards. It’s just great and would have made a superb B-side. Chunky guitar work too…bit of dialogue at the end…what a treat!

To sum up – a superb remaster of the album, properly expanded packaging, genuine bonus tracks and all at a reasonable price. I was afraid that this would be just a cheap cash-in on their big album, but I’m over the moon with it.

Reading Joe Elliott’s page on the handling of the ‘remixes’, you sense his enthusiasm and especially his affection for this great band and it’s enigmatic front man. I saw Lizzy several times live in Dublin during those incredible years and they were an awesome thing to behold. This reissue has only reminded me of that. Praise indeed…

Recommended like a large neat whiskey in Dino’s Bar 'n' Grill…

PS: see also my reviews for the 2010 Extended Remasters of “Thin Lizzy” (1971), “Shades Of A Blue Orphanage” (1972) and the 2CD Deluxe Editions of “Vagabonds Of The Western World” (1973), “Johnny The Fox” and “Live And Dangerous”.

“Breakfast In America” by SUPERTRAMP. A Review Of The 2010 Single CD Remaster (Also Released As A 2CD Deluxe Edition).

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 Really Have Enjoyed My Stay..."

When the 2CD Deluxe Edition of Supertramp’s mega-hit album "Breakfast In America" appeared in early October 2010 with a sticker on its front packaging declaring that it contained a superb new remaster by GREG CALBI within – I must admit I was tempted. 

But I thought to myself - I don’t really want (nor need) a bunch of superfluous live tracks on Disc 2 – and pay for the privilege of it too. So I left it be…

But I recently noticed the cheaper 'single' CD version (released at the same time) of "Breakfast In America" by SUPERTRAMP on A&M/Universal 0600753304372 (Barcode 600753304372) retailing in some places for as little as a fiver (a few more bucks in the USA). And it’s a bit of a bargain frankly. 

The 8-page booklet is the same as the previous basic issue (lyrics, a few photos) - but the 'sound' is a brilliantly realised August 2010 remaster that really makes you sit up and take notice (46:21 minutes).

1. Gone Hollywood

2. The Logical Song

3. Goodbye Stranger

4. Breakfast In America

5. Oh Darling

6. Take The Long Way Home [Side 2]

7. Lord Is It Mine

8. Just Another Nervous Wreck

9. Casual Conversations

10. Child Of Vision

GREG CALBI is important to Supertramp’s highly polished audiophile sound because he mastered the original 1979 A&M Records LP (as well as their “Crime Of The Century” gem from 1974) – and therefore has an intimate knowledge of the tapes. And with a staggering 2,300 mastering and remastering credits to his name across four decades – he knows his way around a console and a tape box or two.

The sound quality is just fantastic - standout tracks like “Goodbye Stranger” (lyrics above), the lesser heard “Oh Darling” and the stunning album finisher “Child Of Vision” with its extended keyboard workouts now sound huge – but without being overblown or over trebled. They’re warmer and clearer – and the layers of the original meticulous production unravel on almost every track. I can even forgive the truly dreadful “Logical Song” and its cringing lyrics. “Gone Hollywood” and “Just Another Nervous Wreck” are good too – top-notch audio.

If you’ve been on the fence about this album - then this dirt-cheap brilliant sounding remaster is where to dive in…

“Tomorrow The Green Grass” by THE JAYHAWKS (2011 American 2CD 'Legacy Edition' Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Deeper Yellow On The Corn…"

February 1995's "Tomorrow The Green Grass" showed that after two accomplished Indie albums (1986 and 1989) and their stunning 1992 breakthrough effort "Hollywood Town Hall" - THE JAYHAWKS was a truly great Americana band finally hitting their stride. 

It received Universal acclaim and has been beloved ever since. 

This January 2011 Reissue/Remaster of "Tomorrow The Green Grass" is a massive overhaul of their revered 4th album - a 2CD 'Legacy Edition' - and American 88697 72732 2 (Barcode 886977273223) breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (68:20 minutes):

1. Blue

2. I'd Run Away

3. Miss Williams' Guitar

4. Two Hearts 

5. Real Light 

6. Over My Shoulder 

7. Bad Time 

8. See Him On The Street 

9. Nothing Left To Borrow

10. Ann Jane

11. Pray For Me

12. Red's Song

13. Ten Little Kids

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Tomorrow The Green Grass" released February 1995 on American Recordings 43006 

BONUS TRACKS:

Track 14 is "Tomorrow The Green Grass", a studio recording, non-album B-side from the 1995 single "Blue"

Tracks 15, 16 and 18 are "You And I (Ba Ba Ba)", "Sweet Hobo Self" and "Sleep While You Can" and are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Track 17 is "Last Cigarette", a studio recording, non-album B-side from the 1995 single "Bad Time" which features Karen Grotberg on Lead Vocals 

Disc 2 (72:17 minutes):

1. Pray For Me

2. Won't Be Coming Home

3. No Place

4. Precious Time

5. Poor Michael's Boat 

6. Ranch House In Phoenix

7. Cotton Dress

8. She Picks The Violets

9. Bloody Hands

10. Up Above The River

11. Over My Shoulder

12. Blue From Now On (Take 2)

13. Hold Me Close 

14. Turn Your Pretty Name Around 

15. You And I (Ba-Ba-Ba)

16. Red's Song

17. Nothing Left To Borrow

18. While Shell Road

Tracks 1 to 18 are called "The Mystery Demos" and are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1 to 10 are Mark Olson and Gary Louris ‘Demos’ recorded 6 February 1992 in Minneapolis with Mike "Razz" Russell on Violin  

11 to 18 are Mark Olson and Gary Louris ‘Acoustic Demos’ recorded October 1992 in Los Angeles with the album's producer George Drakoulias overseeing the session 

The album produced 3 singles - "Bad Time" (backing vocals by Sharleen Spiteri of Texas), "Blue" and "I'd Run Away" which featuring a plethora of outtakes and previously unreleased tracks across worldwide releases. I mention this because the eagle-eyed fan will notice that there are 3 B-sides NOT featured here (and there was room for them) - they're on the superlative "Music From The North Country" American Recordings 2CD/1DVD compilation from 2009. The band probably didn't want to duplicate what fans have already bought - but it's worth mentioning that if you want a fuller picture, you'll need ‘both’ releases despite this being a supposed all-encompassing ‘Legacy Edition’. 

The 3-way card digipak features a 24-page booklet with liner notes by band-archivist PD LARSON - photos of the boys in the studio - out on the road, pictures beneath the 2 see-through plastic trays etc. It's very nicely done and in keeping with the original black and white artwork. 

The original tapes have been remastered by VIC ANESINI (he also did the "Music From The North Country" set - see separate review) and the sound quality is BEAUTIFUL - so sweet and warm. Tracks like "Blue" and "Two Hearts" were standouts anyway on the original CD, but here they sound just gorgeous. The Remaster also makes you rehear a lot of the lesser-lauded gems on the record like "Pray For Me" (with Victoria Williams on Backing Vocals - lyrics above) and the pretty "Ann Jane" - they now sound 'so' good. 

As you can imagine - the previously unreleased stuff is a mixture of the great and the ordinary. The 2 B-sides on Disc 1 are only OK, but the 3 outtakes are surprisingly good - especially "Sweet Hobo Self". The plaintive "You And I (Ba Ba Ba)" could have been a great lost classic - it starts out so well, but then seems to get lost in a lyrical mess that the band forgot to come back to - to sort out. 

Disc 2 offers up a whopping 18 demo versions. With so many songs recording in one gulp - and being demos - mistakes and glitches are left in and the production is basic (a lot of hiss on the Oct 1992 sessions) - but it actually imbibes the songs that didn't make the final cut like "Won't Be Coming Home" and "Poor Michael's Boat" with a stripped down intimacy that will thrill hardcore fans.  The "Blue From Now On" demo for instance is as gorgeous in rough-cut as is the finished version (eventually just called "Blue"). Some are dull though like "Red's Song" and "Bloody Hands" - some surprise you like the excellent "Ranch House In Phoenix" while "Nothing Left To Borrow" is as lovely as The Jayhawks get. While it’s not quite the wow the Deluxe Edition of Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac" is (see separate review) - it's still very good indeed.  

To sum up - the Remaster is superlative, the packaging is excellent and the 'works-in-progress' extras give us a 'deeper' feel for the album and are often shockingly good. Go for it and enjoy...