“Face To Face: Deluxe Edition” by THE KINKS (June 2011 Universal/Sanctuary 2CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Eagle Spreads Its Mighty Wings..."

Like many fans of this great British band, I've watched the release of 6 Kinks 'Deluxe Editions' since the beginning of 2011 with a certain amount of skepticism. Haven't these albums been done to death already and isn't this just more monetary milking of it? But then several pals began to rave about the great new remastered sound on these doubles - so I took the plunge on "Face To Face", "Something Else"" and "Arthur..." - and they were right. They're better than previous issues - and how. But along with the gains (there are 8 'previously unreleased' tracks) there are some strange omissions too...

Here are the details first - "Face To Face: Deluxe Edition" by THE KINKS was UK released 20 June 2011 on Universal/Sanctuary 277 262-0 (Barcode 0602527726205) as a 2CD set of Remasters and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (57:35 minutes):

1. Party Line

2. Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home

3. Dandy

4. Too Much On My Mind

5. Session Man

6. Rainy Day In June

7. House In The Country

8. Holiday In Waikiki

9. Most Exclusive Residence For Sale

10. Fancy

11. Little Queen Of Darkness

12. You’re Looking Fine

13. Sunny Afternoon

14. I’ll Remember

Tracks 1 to 14 are the MONO version of "Face To Face" LP released 28 October 1966 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18149 and 7 December 1966 in the USA on Reprise Records R 6228

BONUS TRACKS:

Tracks 15 and 16 are "Dead End Street" and "Big Black Smoke" - they are the MONO A&B-side of a non-album 7" single released 18 November 1966 in the UK on Pye Records 7N.17222 and 30 November 1966 in the USA on Reprise Records 0540

Track 17 is "This Is Where I Belong" - the MONO non-album B-side of a UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N.17314, released 21 April 1967, pressed up for export issue to Europe - it's A-side is "Mr. Pleasant" (that track is missing here - it's on the 2004 CD reissue)

Track 18 is "She's Got Everything" - the MONO non-album B-side of the UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N.17573, released 28 June 1968 (A-side is "Days"). It was also released in the USA on 24 July 1968 on Reprise Records 9762.

Track 19 is "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness" - a Previously Unreleased Alternate Take

Track 20 is "Dead End Street" - a Previously Unreleased Alternate Version first issued on the 2008 Sanctuary Records 6CD box set "Picture Book"

Disc 2 (63:28 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are the STEREO version of the LP - Pye Records NSPL 18149 in the UK and Reprise Records RS 6228 in the USA (tracks as per Disc 1)

BONUS TRACKS:

Tracks 15, 16 and 17 are "This Is Where I Belong", "Big Black Smoke" and "She's Got Everything" - these 3 STEREO versions were first slotted for release on the 1968 "Four More Respected Gentlemen" UK LP, but withdrawn - they finally saw release in the USA on the 2LP Reprise Records retrospective "Kinks Kronikles" in March 1972. 15 and 16 are listed as 'Previously Unreleased'

Tracks 18 - 22 are "You're Looking Fine (Alternate Stereo Mix)". "Sunny Afternoon (Alternate Stereo Mix)", "Fancy (Alternate Stereo Mix)", "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness (Alternate Stereo Mix)" and "Dandy (Alternate Stereo Mix)" - all are listed as 'Previously Unreleased'

The 24-page booklet is tastefully laid out - liners notes by noted Kinks expert DANIEL RACHEL, photos of both the UK and US LP artwork along with many rare Euro and US 7" single picture sleeves, trade adverts, newspaper clippings, memorabilia and input from fan sites (www.kindakinks.com) etc. The breakdown of the tracks is very well done too - what came from what and why. Both of the discs are also themed - the CDs reflect the purple colouring of the original UK Pye Records LP label - with Side 1 pictured beneath the see-through tray of CD1 and Side 2 beneath the tray of CD2 - all nice touches.

The remasters were carried out by ANDREW SANDOVAL, DAN HERSCH (of Digiprep and Rhino fame) and ANDY PEARCE and the sound quality is exceptionally good. The STEREO mixes in particular sound superb and fresh, not just separated two-channel reprocessing, but a cohesive whole - very warm and beautifully clear. The difference between the MONO and STEREO versions in fact is acute - some prefer the stark power of the MONO, but I think this is one of those 'Deluxe Editions' that actually benefits from the presence of both - they different beasts for sure - but equally admirable.

Great tracks include the hypnotic "Rainy Day In June" (lyrics above) which sounds like its going to turn up in an episode of "Mad Men" real soon, while it's followed by the equally classy Sixties pop of "House In The Country" - Ray at his acidic best. The sonic punch out of both "Sunny Afternoon" and "Too Much On My Mind" is fantastic. The acoustic guitars at the beginning of "Dandy" and "Too Much..." are so clear now - as are the keyboard flourishes of ace sessionman Nicky Hopkins throughout. I was also surprised at how different the previously unreleased Stereo mixes of "You're Looking Fine" and "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness" are, but not in a bad way. They're very cool additions - and all in all (released or unreleased) = the whole thing feels like an embarrassment of riches.

Niggles - on Disc 1, Tracks 17 and 18 are ‘B-sides’, when a quick glance at the short playing time for Disc 1 will reveal that there was plenty of room for the A's - "Mr. Pleasant" and "Days" - yet you have to keep your 2004 version for those or buy the DE of "Something Else". It's a small point, but it's worth making.

To sum up - a superb new remaster on both mixes, properly upgraded packaging and liner notes and extra tracks that actually warrant the title 'bonus'. Very nice indeed.

Recommended like lazing on a Sunny Afternoon...

“Bad Reputation” by THIN LIZZY. A Review Of The June 2011 CD Reissue Now Newly Remastered & Expanded By 6 Tracks.

"…Chocolate Stains On My Pants…"

After the bad taste the last 3 Lizzy Deluxe Editions seem to leave in many fans mouths (advertised as new remasters, Universal simply used the 1996 versions and didn’t change the booklets or adverts) – I’m glad to say this reissue of Lizzy’s much-loved 8th album “Bad Reputation” is a real improvement on the former 1996 outing - and packs some nice surprises in the bonus department too.

Tracks 1 to 9 are the original LP "Bad Reputation" released 2 September 1977 on Vertigo Records 9102 016 in the UK and on Mercury SRM1-1186 in the USA. It peaked at Number 4 in the UK album charts and at 49 in the US. This June 2011 'Expanded Edition' CD on Universal/Mercury 2772693 adds on 6 bonus tracks and breaks down as follows (57:24 minutes):

Tracks 10 to 15 are "Killer Without A Cause", "Bad Reputation", "That Woman’s Gonna Break Your Heart", "Dancing In Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight)" and "Downtown Sundown" – all are Previously Unreleased - a BBC Session Recorded 1 August 1977 (no other details provided).

Track 16 is "Me And The Boys (Soundcheck)" – this version is Previously Unreleased - no details are provided as to where or when this live recording was made…

The expanded 16-page booklet has new liner notes (doesn’t say who wrote them) and features the album’s original inner sleeve along with some new live photos of the band in both colour and black and white. It’s nice, but oddly doesn’t reference the bonus tracks at all except to list their titles (I mean 'Soundcheck' – where, when?)

The remaster was carried out by ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM at Wired Masters in the UK in 2010 – and the sound is much improved. The 1996 version always seemed slightly muffled – muddy almost – but each track here is very clear - especially the rhythm section. I’ve always loved the slightly romantic feel to "Southbound", "Downtown Sundown" and "Dear Lord" – and each sounds great – really clear, punchy without being overly cranked for effect. The irrepressible "Dancing In The Moonlight…" (lyrics above) leaps out of the speakers at you. The only two I found slightly underwhelming are "Soldier Of Fortune" and "Opium Trail" – maybe there’s just too much going on in the tracks – but they sound even more 'dense' that before – and not in a good way - but obviously it’s a matter of personal taste.

Amazingly, the opening two BBC tracks "Killer Without A Cause" and "Bad Reputation" start out sounding like the band live-in-the-studio (exciting and alive), but the next three end up sounding like polished overdubbed versions which are virtually indistinguishable from the album cuts. On the opening two, you really feel the songs coming alive – and the sheer rocking tightness of the group who’d been touring their wrinkled butts off for years – shines through also. There’s a rush of excitement on the first two – the last three are just a little 'too' polished – almost sedate.

And then you’re presented with a truly astonishing diamond in the rough - a genuine Thin Lizzy bonus track gem. "Me And The Boys" first turned up as a crowd-storming track on the "Live And Dangerous" double in 1978 (its also famously featured on the video of the concert), but it disappointingly wasn’t on the DE version of "Live & Dangerous" in 2010. Well – here it is – albeit in a 'Soundcheck' version – and it’s ragged and absolutely amazing. This is what Lizzy fans have craved – their band rocking like an absolute monster – tight even when they were shambolic. As I say - it’s messy - but man is it good!

To sum up – despite the booklet being slightly disjointed – the remaster is great and the bonus tracks – proper fan pleasers.

I remember being at Dalymount Park in Dublin (a football stadium) in the Summer of 1977 when Lizzy were at their peak – Phil pointing the reflection plate of his black bass through the crowd as the light caught it in the approaching evening. He was laying into the cool lyrics of “Dancing In The Moonlight…” and the whole place was boogieing – I remember thinking just how 'magic' they were.

I like it that this CD has brought some of that vibe back to me…after all these years…
Recommended.

“Not Fade Away – The Complete Studio Recordings And More” by BUDDY HOLLY - A Breakdown Of Each CD Followed By An Album Discography Referencing The Box

“Not Fade Away – The Complete Studio Recordings And More” by BUDDY HOLLY.
Released 23 November 2009 on Geffen/Hip-O Select B0012875-02 in the USA.
A Non-Numbered 6CD 203-Track Book-Shaped Box Set - Limited to 7000 Worldwide.
(Available via Hip-O Select's Mail-Order Website from 30 October 2009)

This post is a breakdown of each CD - followed afterwards by an
Album-by-Album Discography referencing the entire box:

Disc 1:
1. My Two-Timin’ Woman
2. I’ll Just Pretend
3. Take These Shackles From My Heart
4. Footprints In the Snow
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. Door To My Heart
7. Soft Place In My Heart
8. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
9. I Gambled My Heart
10. You And I Are Through
11. Down The Line
12. Baby, Let’s Play House
13. Down The Line
14. You And I Are Through
15. Baby, It’s Love
16. Memories
17. Queen Of The Ballroom
18. Memories
19. Moonlight Baby a/k/a Baby, Won’t You Come Out Tonight
20. I Guess I Was Just A Fool
21. Don’t Come Back Knockin’
22. Love Me
23. Midnight Shift
24. Midnight Shift (false start/alternate)
25. Don’t Come Back Knockin’ (alternate)
26. Don’t Come Back Knockin’
27. Blue Days, Black Nights
28. Love Me
29. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight
30. I Guess I Was Just A Fool
31. It’s Not My Fault
32. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down
33. Changin’ All Those Changes
34. Rock-A-Bye Rock
35. Because I Love You

Disc 1 features 1949-1956, 35 Tracks, 76:22 minutes:
Tracks 1, 4-12 and 19-22 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 2, 3, 14, 16, 24 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 13, 15, 17 and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 23, 26, 27 and 28 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Tracks 29, and 31-35 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Track 30 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)

Disc 2:
1. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
2. I’m Changin’ All Those Changes
3. That’ll Be The Day
4. Girl On My Mind
5. Ting-A-Ling
6. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
7. Modern Don Juan
8. You Are My One Desire (false start)
9. You Are My One Desire
10. Gone (incomplete)
11. Gone
12. Gone (alternate take)
13. Have You Ever Been Lonely (incomplete alternate)
14. Have You Ever Been Lonely (alternate)
15. Have You Ever Been Lonely
16. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
17. Good Rockin’ Tonight
18. Rip It Up
19. Blue Monday
20. Honky Tonk
21. Blue Suede Shoes
22. Shake Rattle And Roll (partial)
23. Bo Diddley
24. Ain’t Got No Home
25. Holly Hop
26. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
27. Bo Diddley
28. I’m Looking For Someone To Love
29. That’ll Be The Day
30. Last Night (undubbed)
31. Maybe Baby (first version)
32. Words Of Love
33. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues
34. Not Fade Away (alternate overdub)
35. Not Fade Away
36. Everyday

Disc 2 features 1956-1957, 36 Tracks, 70:52 minutes:
Tracks 1-5, 7 and 9 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Track 6 is from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 8, 10 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 11-13, 16-25, 30 and 34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 26-27 and 31 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Tracks 28, 29 and 35 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 32, 33 and 36 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
[NOTE: Track 15 “Have You Ever Been Lonely” is miscredited in the booklet as Track 13 and has no LP reference, but recording details make it from the

Disc 3:
1. Ready Teddy
2. Valley Of Tears
3. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Bob Thiele)
4. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Murray Deutsch)
5. That’ll Be The Day (greetings to Bill Randle)
6. Peggy Sue (alternate take)
7. Peggy Sue
8. Listen To Me
9. Oh Boy (undubbed)
10. I’m Gonna Love You Too
11. Send Me Some Lovin’ (undubbed)
12. It’s Too Late (undubbed)
13. Oh Boy
14. An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date)
15. Rock Me My Baby
15. Rock Me My Baby
16. You’ve Got Love
17. Maybe Baby
18. Send Me Some Lovin’
19. It’s Too Late
20. Tell Me How
21. Little Baby
22. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
23. Look At Me
24. Mona (rehearsal)
25. Mona (version 1)
26. Mona (version 2)
27. Mona (version 3)
28. Rave On
29. That’s My Desire (two false starts plus undubbed master)
30. Well…All Right Well…All Right
31. Fool’s Paradise (alternate take 1)
32. Fool’s Paradise (alternate take 2)
33. Fool’s Paradise (undubbed master)

Disc 3 features 1957-1958, 34 Tracks, 72:45 minutes:
Tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 22-24 and 29 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 30 and 32-34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan2009)
Tracks 5, 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 13-21 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 25-28 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 31 is from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. II” (March 1960)

Disc 4:
1. Think It Over (false start & rehearsal take)
2. Think It Over (undubbed alternate)
3. Think It Over (undubbed master)
4. Take Your Time (false start & alternate take)
5. Take Your Time
6. Fool’s Paradise
7. Think It Over
8. Lonesome Tears
9. It’s So Easy
10. Heartbeat
11. Love’s Made A Fool Of You (undubbed)
12. Early In The Morning
13. Now We’re One (fragment)
14. Now We’re One
15. Come Back Baby
16. Reminiscing (undubbed)
17. True Love Ways (mono mix)
18. True Love Ways (stereo mix)
19. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore (mono)
20. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore (stereo)
21. Raining In My Heart (mono)
22. Raining In My Heart (stereo)
23. Moondreams (mono)
24. Moondreams (stereo)
25. You’re The One
26. That’s What They Say (w/fragment)
27. What To Do
28. Peggy Sue Got Married
29. That Makes It Tough
30. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
31. Learning The Game
32. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie

Disc 4 features 1958, 32 Tracks, 67:17 minutes:
Tracks 1-4, 11, 26-27, 30 and 32 are from 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan 2009)
Tracks 5, 14, 17 (Mono “True Love Ways”) and 23 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Track 6 and 8 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 7, 9-10, 12, 19 and 21 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story” (March 1959)
Track 13 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 15 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16, 18 (Stereo “True Love Ways”), 20 (Stereo “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”), 24 (Stereo “Moondreams”) and 28-29 and 31 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 22 is from the LP “The Best Of Buddy Holly” (April 1966)
*** Track 25 is the 1958 original of “You’re The One” and is miscredited as being from the 1968 overdubbed LP “Giant” (January 1969) ***

Disc 5:
1. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version #1)
2. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version #2)
3. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (fast version)
4. Drown In My Own Tears
(fragment)/Buddy & Maria Elena talking in apartment
5. Dearest (alternate take)
6. Dearest
7. Untitled Instrumental
(a/k/a Buddy’s Guitar/listed as “Tremolo Instrumental”)
8. Love Is Strange
9. Smokey Joe’s Café
10. Peggy Sue Got Married
11. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
12. That’s What They Say (version 2)
13. What To Do
14. Learning The Game
15. That Makes It Tough
16. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight
17. Because I Love You
18. Changin’ All Those Changes
19. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down
20. It’s Not My Fault
21. Rock-A-Bye Rock
22. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
23. Bo Diddley
24. What To Do
25. Peggy Sue Got Married
26. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
27. That Makes It Tough
28. That’s What They Say
29. Learning The Game
30. Reminiscing
31. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie
32. Dearest (version 2)
33. Slippin’ And Slidin’ (slow version 2)

Disc 5 features 1958-1963, 33 Tracks, 72:40 minutes:
Tracks 1-9 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 10-15 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Tracks 16-23 and 33 are from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Track 24 is from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 25 is from the 2LP set “Buddy Holly – A Rock & Roll Collection” (August 1972)
Tracks 26-30 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 32 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
[NOTE: Track 31 is “Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie” and is uncredited to an LP]

Disc 6:
1. Baby Let’s Play House (I Wanna Play House With You)
2. Down The Line
3. Wait Til’ The Sun Shines Nellie (overdub version 2)
4. Reminiscing
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. Door To My Heart
7. Soft Place In My Heart
8. I Gambled My Heart
9. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
10. Gone (version 3)
11. Rip It Up
12. Honky Tonk
13. Blue Suede Shoes
14. Shake Rattle And Roll
15. You And I Are Through
16. Baby It’s Love
17. Memories
18. Queen Of The Ballroom
19. Love’s Made A Fool Of You
20. Wishing (mono)
21. Wishing (stereo)
22. Maybe Baby
23. That’s My Desire
24. Have You Ever Been Lonely (version 1)
25. Good Rockin’ Tonight
26. Blue Monday
27. Ain’t Got No Home
28. Holly Hop
29. Slippin’ And Slidin’
30. You’re The One
31. Love Is Strange
32. (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest
33. Smokey Joe’s Café

Disc 6 features 1962-1968, 33 Tracks, 69:57 minutes:
Tracks 1-2 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 3-4 is from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Tracks 5-9, 15 and 21 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 10-14 and 19 are from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16-18, 20 and 22-23 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 24-33 are from the LP “Giant” (January 1969)

*************************************************************************************

An Album-By-Album DISCOGRAPHY referencing all 6 CDs of
"Not Fade Away The Complete Studio Recordings And More"
A 2010 Hip-O Select BUDDY HOLLY Box Set.

THIRTEEN of his album releases name-checked and pictured in the Hip-O Select booklet have been referenced using an alphabetical system – from his debut LP “The Chirping Crickets” in November 1957 (A) through to the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” issued in January 2009 (N). I’ve kept to this.

Also - as you can imagine - there have been countless compilations for the years inbetween - so huge amounts of track-duplication has taken place. I have not attempted to fill in the gaps (used only the Box Set references).

Last - while the Hip-O Box set doesn't provide a 'proper' Discography (as say a Bear Family Box set would) - it does at least tell us where each track is from - and I've found only 3 errors in it to date.

(A) “The Chirping Crickets”
November 1957 USA LP on Brunswick LP 54038 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Oh, Boy! [Disc 3/Track 13]
2. Not Fade Away [Disc 2/Track 35]
3. You’ve Got Love [Disc 3/Track 16]
4. Maybe Baby [Disc 3/Track 17]
5. It’s Too Late [Disc 3/Track 20]
6. Tell Me How [Disc 3/Track 21]

Side 2:
1. That’s Be The Day [Disc 2/Track 29]
2. I’m Looking For Someone To Love [Disc 2/Track 28]
3. And Empty Cup (And A Broken Date) [Disc 3/Track 14]
4. Send Me Some Lovin’ [Disc 3/Track 19]
5. Last Night [Disc 3/Track 18]
6. Rock Me My Baby [Disc 3/Track 15]

(B) “Buddy Holly”
February 1958 USA LP on Coral CRL 57210 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. I’m Gonna Love You Too [Disc 3, Track 10]
2. Peggy Sue [Disc 3, Track 7]
3. Look At Me [Disc 3, Track 24]
4. Listen To Me [Disc 3, Track 8]
5. Valley Of Tears [Disc 3, Track 2]
6. Ready Teddy [Disc 3, Track 1]

Side 2:
1. Everyday [Disc 2, Track 36]
2. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues [Disc 2, Track 33]
3. Words Of Love [Disc 2, Track 32]
4. (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care [Disc 3, Track 23]
5. Rave On [Disc 3, Track 29]
6. Little Baby [Disc 3, Track 22]

© “That’ll Be The Day”
April 1958 USA LP on Decca DL 8707 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. You’re Are My One Desire [Disc 2/Track 9]
2. Blue Days, Black Nights [Disc 1/Track 27]
3. Modern Don Juan [Disc 2/Track 7]
4. Rock Around With Ollie Vee [Disc 2/Track 1]
5. Ting-A-Ling [Disc 2/Track 5]
6. Girl On A Mind [Disc 2/Track 4]

Side 2:
1. That’ll Be The Day [Disc 2/Track 3]
2. Love Me [Disc 1/Track 28]
3. I’m Changing All Those Changes [Disc 2/Track 2]
4. Don’t Come Back Knockin’ [Disc 1/Track 26]
5. Midnight Shift [Disc 1/Track 23]

(D) “The Buddy Holly Story”
March 1959 USA LP on Coral CRL 57279 [Mono] and Coral CRL 757279 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Raining In My Heart [Disc 4/Track 21 – Mono Version]
2. Early In The Morning [Disc 4/Track 12]
3. Peggy Sue
4. Maybe Baby
5. Everyday
6. Rave On

Side 2:
1. That’ll Be The Day
2. Heartbeat [Disc 4/Track 10]
3. Think It Over [Disc 4/Track 7]
4. Oh Boy!
5. It’s So Easy [Disc 4/Track 9]
6. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore [Disc 4/Track 19 – Mono Version]

(E) “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. II”
March 1960 USA LP on Coral CRL 57326 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Peggy Sue Got Married [Disc 5, Track 10]
2. Well…All Right [Disc 3/Track 31]
3. What To Do [Disc 5, Track 13]
4. That Makes It Tough [Disc 5, Track 15]
5. Now We’re One [Disc 4/Track 14]
6. Take Your Time [Disc 4/Track 5]

Side 2:
1. Crying, Waiting, Hoping [Disc 5, Track 11]
2. True Love Ways [Disc 4/Track 17 – Mono Version]
3. Learning The Game [Disc 5, Track 14]
4. Little Baby
5. Moondreams [Disc 4/Track 23 - Mono Version]
6. That’s What They Say [Disc 5, Track 12 – Version 2]

(F) “Reminiscing”
February 1963 USA LP on Coral CRL 57426 [Mono] and CRL 757426 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Reminiscing [Disc 6, Track 4]
2. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [Disc 6. Track 33 – Slow Version 2]
3. Bo Diddley [Disc 5. Track 23]
4. Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie [Disc 6, Track 3 – Overdub Version 2]
5. Baby, Won’t You Come Out Tonight [Disc 5. Track 16]

Side 2:
1. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man [Disc 5. Track 22]
2. Because I Love You [Disc 5. Track 17]
3. It’s Not My Fault [Disc 5. Track 20]
4. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down [Disc 5. Track 19]
5. Changin’ All Those Changes [Disc 5. Track 18]
6. Rock-A-Bye-Rock [Disc 5. Track 21]

(G) “Showcase”
May 1964 USA LP on Coral CRL 57450 [Mono] and CRL 757450 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Shake, Rattle & Roll [Disc 6, Track 14]
2. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
3. Honky Tonk [Disc 6, Track 12]
4. I Guess I Was Just A Fool [Disc 1, Track 30]
5. Ummm, Oh Yeah [Disc 5, Track 32 – Version 2 - aka "Dearest"]
6. You’re The One

Side 2:
1. Blue Suede Shoes [Disc 6, Track 13]
2. Come Back Baby [Disc 4, Track 15]
3. Rip It Up [Disc 6, Track 11]
4. Love’s Made A Fool Of You [Disc 6, Track 19]
5. Gone [Disc 6, Track 10 – Version 3]
6. Girl On My Mind

(H) “Holly In The Hills”
January 1965 USA LP on Coral CRL 57463 [Mono] and CRL 757463 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. I Wanna Play House With You [Disc 6, Track 1]
2. Door To My Heart
3. Fool’s Paradise [Disc 4, Track 6]
4. I Gambled My Heart
5. What To Do [Disc 5, Track 24]
6. Wishing

Side 2:
1. Down The Line [Disc 6, Track 2]
2. Soft Place In My Heart
3. Lonesome Tears [Disc 4, Track 8]
4. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
5. Flower Of My Heart
6. You And I Are Through

(I) “The Best Of Buddy Holly”
April 1966 USA 24-Track 2LP set on Coral CXB-8 [Mono] and Coral 7CXSB-8 [Stereo]

Disc 4, Track 22 - “Raining In My Heart” [Stereo] (Side 3, Track 5)

(J) “Giant”
January 1969 USA LP on Coral CRL 757504 [Stereo]

Side 1:
1. Love Is Strange [Disc 6, Track 31]
2. Good Rockin’ Tonight [Disc 6, Track 25]
3. Blue Monday [Disc 6, Track 26]
4. Have You Ever Been Lonely [Disc 6, Track 24 – Version 1]
5. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [Disc 6, Track 29]

Side 2:
1. You’re The One [Disc 6, Track 30]
2. (Ummm, Oh Yeah) Dearest [Disc 6, Track 32]
3. Smokey Joe’s Café [Disc 6, Track 33]
4. Ain’t Got No Home [Disc 6, Track 27]
5. Holly Hop [Disc 6, Track 28]

(K) “Buddy Holly: A Rock & Roll Collection”
August 1972 USA 2LP set on Decca DXSE7-207 [Stereo]

Disc 5, Track 25 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” (Side 1, Track 3)

(L) “The Complete Buddy Holly”
March 1979 UK 6LP/6MC 122-Track BOX SET with light blue cover, six card inner sleeves and a 64-page booklet on MCA Coral Records CDSP 807. It was later issued February 1981 in the USA with a darker blue coloured outer box, 6 paper inner sleeves, a single page track sheet and a 64-page booklet on MCA Records MCA6-80, 00. It’s been reissued a few times since (again with different front artwork, but using essentially the same inners and booklet inside). It was NEVER issued on any official CD and from what I can glean - “Not Fade Away” represents the first time you can sequence all 120 songs (the last 2 tracks are interviews) on CD…
(I’m working on a separate listing for this Box Set to be posted later – June 2011).

Disc 2, Track 6 – “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” [1956 Original]
Disc 4, Track 16 – “Reminiscing” (1958 Undubbed Version)
Disc 4, Track 18 - “True Love Ways” (Stereo Mix)
Disc 4, Track 20 - “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (Stereo)
Disc 4, Track 24 - “Moondreams” (Stereo)
Disc 4, Track 28 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 4, Track 29 – “That Makes It Tough” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 4, Track 31 – “Learning The Game” [Original 1958 ‘Apartment’ Recording]
Disc 5, Track 26 – “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 27 – “That Makes It Tough” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 28 – “Peggy Sue Got Married” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 29 – “Learning The Game” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 5, Track 30 – “Reminiscing” [1962 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 16 – “Baby It’s Love” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 17 – “Memories” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 18 – “Queen Of The Ballroom” [1963/1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 20 – “Wishing” (Mono) [1964 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6, Track 22 – “Maybe Baby” [1966 Overdubbed Version]
Disc 6. Track 23 – “That’s My Desire” [1966 Overdubbed Version]

(M) "For The First Time Anywhere"
February 1983 USA LP on MCA Records MCA-27059

Side 1
1. Rock-A-Bye Rock [Disc 1, Track 34]
2. Maybe Baby (1st Version) [Disc 2, Track 31]
3. Because I Love You [Disc 1, Track 35]
4. I’m Gonna Set My Foot Down [Disc 1, Track 32]
5. Changing All Those Changes [Disc 1, Track 33]

Side 2
1. That’s My Desire
2. Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight [Disc 1, Track 29]
3. It’s Not My Fault [Disc 1, Track 31]
4. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man [Disc 2, Track 26]
5. Bo Diddley [Disc 2, Track 27]

(N) “Down The Line Rarities”
January 2009 USA 59-Track 2CD set on Geffen/Decca B0011675-02
DISC 1: Tracks 1, 4-12 and 19-22 (14 Tracks)
DISC 2: Tracks 11-13, 16-25, 30 and 34 (15 Tracks)
DISC 3: Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 30 and 32-34 (8 Tracks)
DISC 4: Tracks 1-4, 11, 26-27, 30 and 32 (9 Tracks)
DISC 5: Tracks 1-9 (9 Tracks) [55 Tracks in Total]

"Not Fade Away - The Complete Studio Recordings And More" by BUDDY HOLLY. A Review of the 2009 Hip-O Select 6CD Box Set.

"…In My Heart…You’re The One…"

First available via Hip-O Select’s own website from 30 October 2009, “Not Fade Away – The Complete Studio Recordings And More” saw its commercial US release on 23 November 2009 (delayed to 2 Dec 2009 in the UK). 203-tracks are housed on 6 label-themed CDs in an oversized hardback book – a worldwide limited edition of 7000 (non-numbered). As well as including almost the entirety of the 57-track “Down The Line Rarities” 2CD set from 2009, a further 8 are ‘Previously Unreleased’ with 14 more ‘Previously Unreleased in the USA’. Here’s a disc-by-disc breakdown first…

Disc 1 features 1949-1956, 35 Tracks, 76:22 minutes:
Tracks 1, 4-12 and 19-22 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 2, 3, 14, 16, 24 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 13, 15, 17 and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 23, 26, 27 and 28 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Tracks 29, and 31-35 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Track 30 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)

Disc 2 features 1956-1957, 36 Tracks, 70:52 minutes:
Tracks 1-5, 7 and 9 are from the LP “That’ll Be The Day” (April 1958)
Track 6 is from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 8, 10 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Tracks 11-13, 16-25, 30 and 34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 26-27 and 31 are from the LP “For The First Time Anywhere” (February 1983)
Tracks 28, 29 and 35 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 32, 33 and 36 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
[NOTE: Track 15 “Have You Ever Been Lonely” is miscredited in the booklet as Track 13 and has no LP reference, but recording details make it from the

Disc 3 features 1957-1958, 34 Tracks, 72:45 minutes:
Tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 22-24 and 29 are from the LP “Buddy Holly” (February 1958)
Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 30 and 32-34 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan2009)
Tracks 5, 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Tracks 13-21 are from the LP “The Chirping Crickets” (November 1957)
Tracks 25-28 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 31 is from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. II” (March 1960)

Disc 4 features 1958, 32 Tracks, 67:17 minutes:
Tracks 1-4, 11, 26-27, 30 and 32 are from 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (Jan 2009)
Tracks 5, 14, 17 (Mono “True Love Ways”) and 23 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Track 6 and 8 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 7, 9-10, 12, 19 and 21 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story” (March 1959)
Track 13 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in the USA
Track 15 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16, 18 (Stereo “True Love Ways”), 20 (Stereo “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”), 24 (Stereo “Moondreams”) and 28-29 and 31 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 22 is from the LP “The Best Of Buddy Holly” (April 1966)
*** Track 25 is the 1958 original of “You’re The One” and is miscredited as being from the 1968 overdubbed LP “Giant” (January 1969) ***

Disc 5 features 1958-1963, 33 Tracks, 72:40 minutes:
Tracks 1-9 are from the 2CD set “Down The Line Rarities” (January 2009)
Tracks 10-15 are from the LP “The Buddy Holly Story, Vol.11” (March 1960)
Tracks 16-23 and 33 are from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Track 24 is from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Track 25 is from the 2LP set “Buddy Holly – A Rock & Roll Collection” (August 1972)
Tracks 26-30 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Track 32 is from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
[NOTE: Track 31 is “Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie” and is uncredited to an LP]

Disc 6 features 1962-1968, 33 Tracks, 69:57 minutes:
Tracks 1-2 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 3-4 is from the LP “Reminiscing” (February 1963)
Tracks 5-9, 15 and 21 are from the LP “Holly In The Hills” (January 1965)
Tracks 10-14 and 19 are from the LP “Showcase” (May 1964)
Tracks 16-18, 20 and 22-23 are from the 6LP Box Set “The Complete Buddy Holly” (March 1979)
Tracks 24-33 are from the LP “Giant” (January 1969)

PACKAGING and SOUND:
Worldwide Buddy Holly authority BILL GRIGGS acted as consultant, while long-time R’n’B and Doo Wop champ BILL DAHL does the knowledgeable and hugely affectionate liner notes. ANDY McKAIE was compiler and co-ordinator, while one of Universal’s top engineers ERICK LABSON (nearly 1000 mastering credits to his name - including most of the Chess catalogue) did the remastering. The sound varies as you can imagine from the barely tolerable (demos) to the sublime (official studio tracks). For the most part I found the transfers warm and beautifully rendered throughout – “Little Baby” from “Buddy Holly” sounds just amazing (lyrics above).

Niggles - as you tell from a photograph of it, Hip-O Select knew they’d a prestigious project on their hands and pulled out the stops packaging-wise. It is a lovely thing to behold. Having said that – if Bear Family had done this – the book would have been a work-of-art – and new ‘Buddy’ stuff would festoon every page. The book is lovely don’t get me wrong, but it’s over all too soon. Also – Page 20 has a full-page black and white shot of Buddy alighting the tour bus on 19 Jan 1958 in the snow and it’s just eerily beautiful – I wish they’d used it as the cover art instead of the rather naff and safe choice they did choose.

Summing up – fans have waited years for a CD replacement of their beloved “Complete Buddy Holly” 6LP/6MC Box Set from 1979 by the wonderful JOHN BEECHER and MALCOLM JONES – and this tastily presented homage is the closest they’re going to get to it.

What an artist – and what a legacy. Rave On indeed...

PS: For fans, I’ve created an album-by-album Discography referencing the entire contents of this box (took me a while that) – see separate posting...

“The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There’s Smoke…” by SMOKEY ROBINSON (2011 Hip-O Select/Motown CD Reissue - Ellen Fitton Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

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"…Baby Let's Cruise…Away From Here..."

This is the 4th of 6 volumes by Hip-O Select chronicling Smokey Robinson's solo albums for Motown. It was initially available from their US website from 28 Jan 2011 and then commercially released 15 Feb 2011. Now it’s the UK’s turn - let’s get to the details…

UK released 21 February 2011 (28 January 2011 in the USA) - "The Solo Albums: Volume 4 – Love Breeze & Where There's Smoke…" by SMOKEY ROBINSON on Hip-O Select/Motown B0015163-02 (Barcode 602527586359) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus 1 Bonus Track and breaks down as follows (78:15 minutes):

1. Why You Wanna See My Bad Side

2. Love So Fine

3. Feeling You, Feeling Me

4. Madam X

5. Shoe Soul [Side 2]

6. Trying It Again

7. Daylight & Darkness

8. I'm Loving You Softley

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 6th solo album "Love Breeze" - released February 1978 in the USA on Tamla T7-359R1 and in May 1978 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12081.

9. It's A Good Night

10. I Love The Nearness Of You

11. The Hurt's On You

12. Ever Had A Dream

13. Get Ready [Side 2]

14. Share It

15. Cruisin'

Tracks 9 to 15 are his 7th solo album "Where There’s Smoke…" - released May 1979 in the USA on Tamla T7-366R1 and August 1979 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12115. Side 1 is called 'Smoke' (tracks 9 to 12) and Side 2 is called 'Fire' (tracks 13 to 15).

BONUS TRACK:

16. Get Ready (12-Inch Instrumental) - June 1979 non-album B-side to the US 12" single of "Get Ready" on Motown M 000027D1

The gatefold card-digipak has the same generic look and feel of the Volumes 1 to 3 and 5. This edition (Vol. 4) has a 28-page colour booklet containing liner notes by PETER DOGGETT (formerly of Record Collector magazine and author of the book "There's A Riot Going On"). It also reproduces the American artwork front and rear for each album (even though in truth they're impossible to read), has photographic outtakes from the album sleeves, the lyrics to all the songs and detailed recording and release credits. It’s very tastefully done…

Remastered by ELLEN FITTON from the original Stereo tapes - the sound quality is superb (she did an equally great job on Volumes 1 and 3). I've reviewed CDs remastered by Fitton before - she's one of Universal's top engineers (others are Erick Labson, Suha Gur, Gavin Lurssen, Gary Moore and Kevin Reeves). I've created a TAG above (pictorial displays of artwork) for both her remasters and Hip-O Select releases she’s been involved in that are worth noting.

Unfortunately, like Volume 3, the really great sound quality helps you to swallow the huge amount of saccharine pap that Motown produced in those disintegrating years – and these 1978 and 1979 offerings are guilty of the same. Both have been (and will probably always remain) absolute dollar-bin fodder on both sides of the pond. But – and this is the big but – there’s rediscoveries on here absolutely worth making…

The smoochy "Feeling You, Feeling Me" would do a night in a Theopolis P. Wilderbeast shagpad proud - while "Madame X" is a sort of "Cruisin'" variant that talks about 'faces in discotheques' and is excellent. "Shoe Soul" is a terrible song about sneakers, but the lovely slink of "Daylight & Darkness" is much better. And again the sound quality is ace. The slap-bass, strings and hooky beat of "It’s A Good Night" reflect the club sound of 1979 and it’s a good opener for the "Where There’s Smoke…" album. "Share It" is an uptempo love song – the kind of infectious Summer-feeling hit that Smokey is so good at. Then of course there’s the huge and sexily wonderful "Cruisin'" (lyrics above) which is represented here in its full six-minute glory. It was issued as an edit on 7” single and is wicked - I’ve had it on CD for a few years now just to have the track – shame there wasn’t room for that unique version of it on here.

There's one bonus track, but it’s a peach and a genuinely sought-after rarity. "Get Ready" was originally done by RARE EARTH back in 1970 (Smokey wrote the song) – his new version is a funked-up one. But the reason DJs love the B-side so much is because it removes the lyrics, peppers it with a girly chorus every now and then and concentrates instead on the funky guitar…and man what a groove it is – fabulous stuff.

To sum up – like Volume 3 – it’s not all genius of course and there’s cringingly awful stuff on both albums. But there’s also the good gear - that cracking bonus track and the warm and funky sound that make it another enjoyable purchase in this ongoing series…