"Tear Down The Walls/Bleecker & MacDougal" by VINCE MARTIN & FRED NEIL/FRED NEIL (2001 Elektra/Warner Brothers 2LPs onto 1CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…If I Should Leave You…Try To Remember The Good Times…"

This clever reissue series first turned up in late 2001 as part of the ‘2 Classic Elektra Albums’ Series of CD Reissues with each title usually featuring the first 2 albums by an American Folk artist on the Elektra Label (with some Blues and Country Rock acts included too). Almost all of the LPs featured on these single disc reissues were Early to Mid Sixties vinyl rarities - most seeing the CD light-of-day for the first time anywhere. The ‘2 Classic Elektra Albums’ CD Series continued into August 2004 with releases by diverse American Country and Folk artists such as Paul Siebel, Harry Chapin and Earth Opera. This Fred Neil/Vince Martin set (from the first vanguard) is one of those 2LPs on 1CD gems...

Released October 2001 - "Tear Down The Walls/Bleecker & MacDougal" by VINCE MARTIN & FRED NEIL and FRED NEIL on Elektra/Warner Strategic Marketing 8122 73563-2 (Barcode 081227356323) offers 2LPs on 1CD and plays out as follows (74:35 minutes):

1. I Know You Rider

2. Red Flowers

3. Tear Down The Walls

4. Weary Blues

5. Toy Balloon

6. Baby

7. Morning Dew

8. I’m A Drifter

9. Linin’ Track

10. Wild Child In A World Of Trouble

11. Dade County Jail

12. I Got ‘Em

13. Lonesome Valley

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Tear Down The Walls" by VINCE MARTIN and FRED NEIL issued 1964 in the USA on Elektra Records EKL-248 [Mono] and EKS-7248 [Stereo] - Stereo Mix Used

14. Bleecker And MacDougal

15. Blues On The Ceiling

16. Sweet Mama

17. Little Bit Of Rain

18. Country Boy

19. Other Side Of This Life

20. Mississippi Train

21. Travellin’ Shoes

22. Water Is Wide

23. Yonder Comes The Blues

24. Candy Man

25. Handful Of Gimme

26. Gone Again

Tracks 14 to 26 are the album "Bleecker & MacDougal" by FRED NEIL issued June 1965 in the USA on Elektra Records EKL-293 [Mono] and EKS-7293 [Stereo] - Stereo Mix Used

By the time Florida-born Fred Neil had teamed up with folky Vince Martin (real name Vincent Marcellino) to record their debut album in 1964, Neil was 27 and had been on the New York folk scene for 3 years. In 1961 in Greenwich Village he'd sparred with many players who would later shape American music to an almost ludicrous degree - Karen Dalton, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and a young whippersnapper from Minnesota called Bob Dylan. Dylan later recounted his memories of Neil's deep tonal voice and cited him as a major influence - while Stills openly called him a 'hero' and has name-checked his guitar tunings. Neil had tasted minor chart success with a tune he'd co-written with Brill-building veteran Beverly Ross called "Candy Man" - it was a Top Twenty hit for Roy Orbison on Monument Records in late 1961. Which history lesson brings us to what's on offer here...

Both albums are firmly in the USA Folk vein with some Bluesy acoustic elements thrown in. "Tear Down The Walls" features an impressive six originals by Neil (2, 3, 6, 10, 11 and 12) with "Toy Balloon" by Martin and the six others being covers of contemporary artists and Old Time Traditionals. Martin and Neil played 6 and 12-string guitars alongside each other and shared the vocals on almost all the songs. Guests included Felix Pappalardi on an instrument called a 'Guitarron' (sounds like an Acoustic Bass) while John Sebastian providing Mouth Harp on certain tracks and guitar on "I Got 'Em". Pappalardi later produced and featured on Cream's "Disraeli Gears" and went on to be in Mountain - while Sebastian of course formed The Lovin' Spoonful.

"Bleecker & MacDougal" was 'all' Fred Neil except the aforementioned "Candy Man" and a cover of the lovely Gospel standard "The Water is Wide". In fact the title of the album name-checks the intersection of two New York streets - in particular the "Café Wha?" on MacDougal Street where he played for so many nights in the early Sixties.

The sound quality on both albums is gorgeous –Stereo remasters by Rhino's long-time engineer and tape handler DAN HERSCH (the Mono mixes remain unreleased on CD). The superb and hugely informative liner notes are written by PETER DOGGETT - a long time contributor to England's famous 'Record Collector' magazine and author of the acclaimed books - "There's A Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and The Rise and Fall of the 60's Counter Culture", "You Never Give Me Your Money - The Battle For The Soul Of The Beatles" and "The Man Who Sold The World - David Bowie And The 1970's".

Highlights on the first album include the Traditional "Weary Blues", the lovely Vince Martin original "Toy Balloon" and two excellent cover versions - a rendition of Bonnie Dobson's slightly sinister "Morning Dew" and Travis Edmonson's country tune "I'm A Drifter".  The "Wild Child..." track in particular is powerfully emotive Folk with Sebastian expertly warbling on the harmonica alongside the acoustic guitar and deep voice of Neil. "I Got 'Em" and "Lonesome Valley" end the album on a high too.

If "Tear Down The Walls" was a four-star starter, then "Bleecker & MacDougal" was the 5-star next step. The track "Little Bit Of Rain" in particular showed Fred Neil's full potential - pretty as anything - his voice deep and monumental (lyrics above). It was later used as the title to "Bleecker & MacDougal" when it was reissued in 1970 with different artwork on the back of Neil's success with Nilsson covering his gorgeous "Everybody's Talkin'" in the movie "Midnight Cowboy". The album once again benefited from John Sebastian and Felix Pappalardi on Harmonica and Bass - they shine on the lyrically pissed-off "Travelin' Shoes" and "Handful Of Gimme". The slide guitar on the album finisher "Gone Again" always sends me - the strings cleverly being made to warble like his vocals. Brilliant stuff indeed...

Neil famously withdrew from the music business in the early Seventies to take care of Dolphins - creatures he spent the next 35 years loving and nurturing. He died in Florida after a long battle with cancer in 2001 - an enigma to the end - leaving reviewers and music lovers like me reaching for adjectives to do him and his lovely musical legacy justice.

At less than a fiver online - this is one of those bargains that beggar's belief and cries out for your credit card.

Answer the call - lovers of music and musical heroes... 

PS: collectors should note there are also beautiful Sundazed remasters of each album on HIGH-QUALITY VINYL - "Tear Down The Walls" on Sundazed LP 5142 (issued 2006) and "Bleecker & MacDougal" on Sundazed LP 5107 (issued 2001)

PPS: other titles listed in the '2 Classic Elektra Albums' CD series are:

1. David Blue (1966) / Singer Songwriter Project (1965) - DAVID BLUE

2. Tim Buckley (1966) / Goodbye And Hello (1967) - TIM BUCKLEY

3. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) / East West (1967) - THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND

4. The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw (January 1968) / In My Own Dream (August 1968) - THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND

5. Heads & Tails (March 1972) / Sniper And Other Love Songs (October 1972) – HARRY CHAPIN

6. A Maid Of Constant Sorrow (1961) / Golden Apples Of The Sun (1962) - JUDY COLLINS

7. Judy Collins No. 3 (1963) / The Judy Collins Concert (1964) - JUDY COLLINS

8. Wildflowers (1967) / Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1968) - JUDY COLLINS

9. Back Porch Bluegrass (1963) / Live!!!! Almost!!!! (1964) - THE DILLARDS

10. Earth Opera (1968) / The Great American Eagle Tragedy (1969) – EARTH OPERA

11. Judy Henske [Live] (1963) / High Flying Bird (1964) - JUDY HENSKE

12. The Incredible String Band (1966) / The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of Onions (1967) – THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND

13. Blues, Rags & Hollers (1963) / Lots More Blues, Rags & Hollers (1964) – "SPIDER" JOHN KOERNER, DAVE "SNAKE" RAY & TONY "LITTLE SON" GLOVER

14. All The News That's Fit To Sing (1964) / I Ain't Marching Anymore (1965) - PHIL OCHS

15. Ramblin' Boy (1964) / Ain't That News (1965) - TOM PAXTON

16. Outward Bound (1966) / Morning Again (1968) - TOM PAXTON

17. Tom Rush (1965) / Talk A Little Walk With Me (1966) - TOM RUSH
18. Woodsmoke And Oranges (1970) / Jack-Knife Gypsy (1971) - PAUL SIEBEL

"After Hours The Collection – Northern Soul Masters". A Review Of The 2011 3CD Digipak Reissue.

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"…Don't You Know I'm Glad I Found You…I'll Dedicate My Life To You…"

Eagle-eyed collectors will notice something similar about this new August 2011 3CD set – it’s a repackaging of 3 Volumes already released in the 2000’s. I bought them then and they were fantastic (I also bought the 2LP vinyl versions). But there are changes on all three on these new discs that need pointing out – here are the details…

The original 2002 "After Hours" (1965 to 1973) had 24 tracks - the new version in this set has 25 – the running order is exactly the same except that Track 17 "Call On Me" by The Dynells is an addition (it’s been moved from Track 26 on the original "After Hours 3").

The original 2003 "After Hours 2" (1964 to 1972) had 26 tracks, but this 2011 version has 25 – and there is also some alteration of the track line up. Tracks 4 and 19 from the original CD have been dropped – "Lil Ole Man (Uptight – Everything's Alright)" by Bill Cosby and "That's What You Do To Me" by Deon Jackson. "Yes To The Lord" by The Stovell Sisters was Track 26 on the original CD, but has been moved to Track 18. Track 25 is "West 4th Street" by Valerie & Bobby Capers (it’s been moved from Track 29 on the original "After Hours 3"). Outside of these changes, the track running order remains the same as the original.

The original 2005 "After Hours 3" (1965 to 1974) had 29 tracks – the new version has 25. Tracks 1 to 18 remain the same running order – "Frantic Escape" by The Innocent Bystanders was Track 28 on the original CD and is now moved to Track 19. Tracks 20 to 25 are the same. Of the remaining four – two have been moved to Disc 1 and 2 as already noted above – the one dropped is "Astral Fire" by The Mystic Moods.

So - across the entire 3 CDs on this 2011 reissue only three of the original songs have been dropped (possibly due to licensing difficulties).

Each of the first two CDs had an 8-page booklet (12-pages on Volume 3) with a short but informative paragraph on each track. Roger Searling (a DJ at Jazz-FM and Radio Presenter at Smooth-FM in the UK) and Rick Conrad (from Warners Music) compiled and annotated all three – with each set expertly remastered by GIOVANNI SCATOLA.
The new booklet simply repros those issues and has the same excellent mastering the original discs had.

With regard to the sound - because of the wildly varying sources and recording dates (many tracks were new to CD at the time of release), the audio quality varied enormously – from superb to just very good – but I’ve not found any of the tracks anything less than listenable on this new version. Also because of their rarity value, most collectors simply relished having the tracks at all.

Musically – it’s an embarrassment of riches – huge hauls of ultra-rare and desirable Soul 45’s on legendary labels like Atlantic, Atco, Carla, Fame, Loma, Reprise, Stax and Warner Brothers. Most of the tracks are aimed squarely at the feet - upbeat dancefloor fillers that slaughtered the crowds at the 'Wigan Casino' in the early Seventies. This is joyful stuff – finger-clickers like "I Love Her So Much It Hurts Me" by DAVID & RUBEN from 1969 on Warners 7316 and the fabulous "Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me)" by DARRELL BANKS from 1967 on Atlantic 6484 with an infectious bassline that just won’t quit (lyrics above).

To sum up - I’m a fairly voracious collector of all things Atlantic so I had to have all three of the original jewel-case CD versions when they came out (cost me a five spot each at the time of purchase). Well this new 3CD card-digipak reissue at less than a tenner online (despite the loss of 3 tracks) is still incredible value for money. And if you’re new to the compilations and the music, then you’re in for a treat.

Now excuse me while I get some talcum powder out, scuff up the laminate on the kitchen floor and badly show my age…

"The Great Folk Discography Volume 1 – Pioneers And Early Legends" by MARTIN C STRONG. A Review Of The 2010 Polygon Music Reference Book (Vol.1 of 3).

"…Don't it Always Seem To Go…That You Don’t Know What You’ve Got…'Til It's Gone…”

The latest in a long run of "Great" Discography books (Rock, Metal, Alternative & Indie), this tome by Martin C. Strong on 'Folk' is without doubt his greatest achievement to date. It has astonishing detail and truckloads of it is seeing the Discography light-of-day for the first time anywhere. Published by Polygon Books in June 2010, "The Great Folk Discography Volume 1 – Pioneers & Early Legends" has over 620 large-sized pages - with Volume 2 due in October 2011 and Volume 3 sometime in 2012. It also has a ‘Forward’ by Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band.

Because the genre of 'Folk' encompasses both 'Rock' music as well as 'Geographical Locations' – Strong has broken his tome down into 3 sections based on both:
1. North American Pioneers And Early Legends (Pages 1 to 332) [American Artists]
2. Britain And Beyond (Pages 335 to 600) [British Artists]
3. Cult Collectables And Continental (Page 602 to 627) [Mixture of all Nationalities]

The layout is the same as his other books – a hugely detailed and fact-heavy Biog heads up the artist section (with albums mentioned and rated) followed by an ascending Year-by-Year discography: Date Of Release, Format (7”, 12” and LPs included), Catalogue numbers for both USA and UK, Title, Labels and Chart Positions (both countries), track list for the original vinyl followed by details of subsequent vinyl reissues, followed by CD reissues (noting bonus tracks where applicable) – even providing line-up changes in-between the entries. The detail is mind-boggling. But the real killer here is the accuracy – which is superb – and the fact that it shows BOTH the USA and UK releases – some came out in this country – some only came in theirs – and so on. It’s a huge amount of genuine information and makes for fascinating reading.

A word on the content because this book has entries way beyond the scope of what many purists would call 'Traditional Folk'. There are large amounts of 'Rock & Pop' acts Strong feels have a 'Folk' element to their music – so he's included them. Joan Baez, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel and The Weavers for instance you can understand – but we also get The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Mamas And The Papas, Traffic and Neil Young who frankly had very little to do with the genre over long careers. Equally weird is that some of the Rock artist discographies are full – others curtailed to only folk. For instance the Springsteen list wisely sticks to 3 – "Nebraska", "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" and "We Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions" - but the Bob Dylan list goes from his self-titled debut LP in March 1962 right up to his "Christmas In My Heart" CD from November 2009 (his Discography is an eye-catching 8-pages long). BUT – and this is a big but – I would argue that accuracy’s loss is the reader’s gain - because the inclusion of these acts gives you updated discographies on artists that haven’t been done since the 7th Edition of his 'Rock' book in 2004. For instance the Joni Mitchell and James Taylor lists give us "Shine" and "Covers" – from 2007 and 2008 respectively (the lyrics from Joni's "Big Yellow Taxi" title this review).

Then there’s the sheer number of artists included - the list of new and updated discographies is impressive: Eric Anderson, The Band, Robbie Basho, The Beau Brummels, Harry Chapin, Shirley & Dolly Collins, Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Karen Dalton, Nick Drake, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, John Fahey, Fairport Convention (including all offshoots & solo), Julie Felix, Stefan Grossman, Tim Hardin, Richie Havens, Jake Holmes, Horslips, Janis Ian, Incredible String Band, Leo Kottke, Gordon Lightfoot, Lindisfarne, Country Joe McDonald & The Fish, Don McLean, Ralph McTell, Vince Martin, John Martyn, Melanie, Fred Neil, Nico, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Pentangle (and all solo), Shawn Phillips, Tim Rose, Tom Rush, Buffy Sainte-Marie, PF Sloan, Chris Smither, Cat Stevens, June Tabor, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Townes Van Zandt and Loudon Wainwright III.

It also stretches into Folk-Blues, Country, Skiffle and even chroniclers of the genre – so we get Hoyt Axton, Harry Belafonte, John Denver, Lonnie Donegan, Woody Guthrie, Mississippi John Hurt, Burl Ives, Alan Lomax, Leadbelly, Odetta, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Utah Phillips, John Prine, Paul Robeson, Eric Von Schmidt, John Stewart, The Vipers Skiffle Group, Doc Watson and Josh White.

Rarity collectors will be amazed to see discographies for Vashti Bunyan, Comus, Barry & Robin Dransfield, Fresh Maggots, Gryphon, Kaleidoscope, Loudest Whisper, Mellow Candle, Spirogyra (on the highly collectable Polydor Folkmill label), Meic Stevens and Trees.

Niggles And Omissions - the layout of 3 sections seems like a good idea, but practically it doesn’t work out so well. Say I go looking for Oscar Brand, Michael Chapman or Mushroom – the book presumes I know they’re in 1, 2 and 3 respectively because Brand is American, Chapman is English and Mushroom are an Irish band in the Cult section. Most people don’t have that depth of knowledge. But it doesn’t end there. As this is the first Volume of three, I may end up looking in 9 sections of 3 books to find the artist I want – a right Royal pain. Also – those looking for stalwarts of Irish and Scottish folk like The Chieftains, Planxty, The Bothy Band, Clannad and newcomer keepers-of-the-flame like Kate Rusby, Kris Drever and Cara Dillon – won’t find any of them in here because they’re in the next books.
I will buy the other two sets without fail, but hopefully Volume 3 will have an index referencing all three – because otherwise it could all become ludicrously counterproductive when the work put in here deserves our attention and even warrants our affection.

To sum up – I’ve been living with this book for a few weeks now - delving into it every evening - and it just gets better and better – discovering something new all the time. I can’t imagine the staggering amount of hours (even years) that went into formulating this amazing reference work, but like Terry Wilson’s “Tamla Motown – The Stories Behind The UK Singles” and Michael De Koningh & Marc Griffiths Reggae masterpiece on Trojan Records “Tighten Up – The History Of Reggae In The UK” (both reviewed) - this book is a music discography sensation – a tome you ‘need’ in your life. Thank God someone had the heart and brains to catalogue it all…

In the opening pages – Strong dedicates his book to his parents and his musical heroes – well he’s done both of them proud.

Genius and then some…

"BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" by THE STAPLE SINGERS. A Review Of The 1972 Stax LP Now Reissued On A 2011 CD Remaster With Bonus Tracks.

"...It's A Brand New Day..."

In 2004 the Fantasy Group acquired the entire Stax catalogue and its precious original mastertapes and through their 'Concord Music Group, Inc' Division they've begun to drip-feed CD reissues for the famous American Soul label out into a hungry marketplace. Every title features brand-new 24-bit remasters, bonus tracks, updated booklets and each mid-priced CD carries the generic logo "Stax Remasters" on their spine to differentiate them from previous issues.

Released May 2011 - Concord Music Group, Inc 0888072328761 (Barcode 888072328761) breaks down as follows (49:38 minutes):

1. This World
2. Respect Yourself
3. Name The Missing Word
4. I'll Take You There
5. This Old Town (People In This Town)
6. We The People
7. Are You Sure
8. Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ The Superstar)
9. I'm Just Another Soldier
10. Who
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" released March 1972 in the USA on Stax STS-3002 and April 1972 in the UK on Stax Super 2325 069

Tracks 11 and 12 are "Walking In Water Over Our Head" and "Heavy Makes You Happy (Alternate)" - both are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by ROB BOWMAN (author of "Soulsville U.S.A. - The Story Of Stax Records"). You get the original artwork and production credits also and there's a collage of 3 photos on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the disc itself pictures the group too. But it's a shame the booklet goes no further - there's no new photos, none of those magical Stax sevens pictured nor any memorabilia. It makes the inlay feel workmanlike at best - even a little dull - when it should have spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND...

24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes by JOE TARANTINO at Joe Tarantino Mastering in Berkeley, California - the audio quality is truly GORGEOUS. Having had previous versions of this great Soul album on CD from the mid 1990's - the sound was good rather than great - hissy in places too. That's all gone - and it's not loud for loudness sake either - but clear and warm and full of presence. The bass is beautiful as is the rhythm section - and the powerhouse vocals of Mavis Staples now take centre stage in a way they've never done before. "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" are so common to our ears that it comes as a genuine shock to hear them sound this good. The other single off the album "This World" is so clear and muscular too (lyrics above). A fantastic job done.

The bonus tracks are way better than I had expected - the 'Alternate' version of Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom's "Heavy Makes You Happy" was recorded August 1970 at their first session in the Muscle Shoals Studios and sounds like a live rehearsal - it's excellent. You can clearly hear EDDIE HINTON on Guitar and BARRY BECKETT on Keyboards and the end of the song hears them ad-lib for a full minute longer than the finished single did. But then we get the real deal - an outtake that could easily have been an album track. Recorded in Muscle Shoals in October 1972 and written by PHILLIP MITCHELL, TERRY WOODFORD and OSCAR FRANCK - it features the other in-house band members for the album DAVID HOOD on Bass and ROGER HAWKINS on Drums and it's a winner. "Walking In Water Over Our Head" is a fully finished upbeat song that could easily have been recorded yesterday. Genuinely - after all these years - to hear any new material by The Staples Singers from that stunningly creative period is an out-and-out blast.

To sum up - as a voracious lover of the Stax label these reissues are incredibly exciting to me. And as for The Staple Singers - "BeAltitude: Respect Yourself" only grows as the years pass - and now with this great new sound quality - needs to be in your home and stereo right quick...

PS: "STAX REMASTERS" Series to 2014 are (all reviewed):
1. Green Onions - BOOKER T & THE M.G.'S (1962)
2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)
3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)
5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)
6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1971)
7. BeAltitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)
8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)
9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

"If The Jasmine Don’t Get You…The Bay Breeze Will" by VINCE MARTIN (2006 Rev-Ola CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Heading South Without You…" 

Now here's an obscure album that genuinely shouldn't be.

Originally released June 1969 on Capitol Records ST-231 in the USA - Vince Martin's debut 'solo' album saw little chart action but has subsequently garnished a reputation as a lost Folk-Rock gem. Martin had previously fronted a duet LP with the equally legendary Fred Neil way back in 1965 on Elektra Records called "Tear Down The Walls" (see separate review) – but its his "...Jasmine..." platter that deserves the rediscovery. And Rev-Ola think so too. Here are the windy details...

UK and Europe released January 2006 – "If The Jasmine Don't Get You...The Bay Breeze Will" by VINCE MARTIN on Rev-ola CR REV 139 (Barcode 5013929443921) is a straightforward transfer of his rare late 60ts Capitol Records LP and plays out as follows (40:01 minutes):

1. Snow Shadows

2. I Can't Escape From You

3. Summerwind

4. Danville Girl

5. Yonder Comes The Sun [Side 2]

6. Jasmine (If The Jasmine Don't Get You…The Bay Breeze Will)

As you can see the album had only 6-tracks - one of which is the 13-minute centerpiece - the epic "Jasmine (If The Jasmine Don't Get You...The Bay Breeze Will)”. It’s a sort of trippy Tim Buckley acoustic-guitar workout that’s properly fabulous. The California hippy lyrics about "...jasmine blossoms..." and the "...southeast winds blowing off the islands..." may seem a tad dated now - but you'll forgive them as the stunning playing works its 'unplugged' magic on your senses.

Produced by Nick Venet in Nashville – the roster of session players includes Kenneth Buttrey, Fred F Carter, Lloyd Green Murray, M Harman Jnr., Charles R McCoy, Norbert Putnam, Henry P Strzelecki and John Buck Wilkin. Eagle-eye collectors will notice that Buttrey, McCoy and Strzelecki all played on Dylan's double-album masterpiece "Blonde On Blonde" in 1966 - with Buttrey and McCoy returning for 1968's "John Wesley Harding". Classy players illuminating chilled circumstances...

The other tracks like "Snow Shadows" (lyrics above), "Danville Girl" and especially "Summerwind" are gorgeous Sixties Folk-Rock ballads - love songs that are sort of Van Morrison circa "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance" meets Tim Hardin circa "1" and "2" meets Tim Buckley circa "Starsailor". It's impressive stuff all round…and the cover version of Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Escape You” is cool too.

The three-way foldout liner notes (penned by BOUDWIJN De KADT) give a brief history of the album and Martin's very sporadic recording history and picture the rare US 45 of "Cindy, Oh Cindy" on Glory Records, the artwork for the "Tear Down The Walls" LP (with Fred Neil) and even repro's a trade advert for the LP. As he's a bit of a 'secret' really (like Neil) – any info on the man and his life is welcome news.

But (apart from the lovely music) the other real reason for buying this CD reissue is the stunning sound quality. NICK ROBBINS and JOE FOSTER at Sound Mastering Studios in London have done the Remastering. These are two hugely experienced Audio Engineers (lots of work for Ace and Edsel Records) and names I've praised before. The remastering on this CD is exceptional – beautifully clear, warm and just a joy to listen to. It makes such a difference to the listen - gorgeous stuff.

If your appetite is whetted by this then make a beeline for the following - Vince Martin also did a duet album of US Folk in 1964 with the legendary FRED NEIL called "Tear Down The Walls" on Elektra EKS-7248 - it's available on one of those superb Rhino 'twofer' CD reissues. It's coupled with Fred Neil's equally revered and magnificent "Bleecker & MacDougal" album from 1965 (Elektra EKS-7293) and is online in many places for less than a fiver. It's one of those CDs that is worth ten times that amount - and it's a road to genuine musical discovery too...

To sum up - a superb reissue that seems to have slipped through the net. Take a chance on this - I think you'll be glad you did...

"Something Extra Special - The Complete Volt Recordings 1968-1971" by JIMMY HUGHES (July 2010 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

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"…I Like Everything About You…"

As a voracious lover of Sixties and Seventies Motown, Chess and Stax, I’ve probably waded through a veritable warehouse full of CD compilations in my search to find Soul goodies to listen to. And as the years pass - a few names begin to emerge as genuine class acts you didn’t know too much about before your journey started - singers like Barbara Acklin, Luther Ingram, Maxine Brown, James Carr, Doris Duke, Spencer Wiggins and many more. JIMMY HUGHES is one of those singers.

Possessed of a truly great voice, he could rasp like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, but could also caress a melody like Bobby Womack, Tyrone Davis and Brook Benton. Couple this vocal dexterity and expressiveness with superb Stax in-house songwriting (Isaac Hayes, David Porter and Homer Banks) – and you’re on a winner. And that’s where this fantastic CD reissue comes in…

UK released in July 2010 - this is the 3rd volume in a series of three dedicated to the Alabama soul man; Ace Records/Kent CDKEND 341 breaks down as follows (79:11 minutes):

1. I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU
2. LET `EM DOWN BABY
3. I'M SO GLAD
4. LAY IT ON THE LINE
5. SWEET THINGS YOU DO
6. CHAINS OF LOVE
7. I'M NOT ASHAMED TO BEG AND PLEAD
8. IT'S ALL UP TO YOU
9. LOCK ME UP
10. WHAT SIDE OF THE DOOR
11. PEEPED AROUND YONDER'S BEND
12. JUST AIN'T AS STRONG AS I USED TO BE (YOU DONE FED ME SUMPIN')
13. DID YOU FORGET
14. NO EASY WAY
15. DON'T YOU KNOW I'M ALL ALONE
16. I WAS CLOSEST AT HAND
17. I WANT YOU SO BAD
18. I WORRY ABOUT YOU
19. IT JUST AIN'T ENOUGH
20. LOOK WHAT I GOT
21. NEVER GROW OLD
22. YOUR LOVE MADE A U TURN
23. TELL HIM TONIGHT
24. TOO OLD TO PLAY
25. LEAVE US ALONE
26. YOU GOT THE POWER
27. YOUR LOVE IS IMPORTANT TO ME

Tracks 1 to 11 are the Stereo album "Something Special" issued May 1969 in the USA on Volt Records VOS-6003 (Volt was a subsidiary label of Stax Records)

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Just Ain't As Strong As I Used To Be (You Done Fed Me Sumpin')" and "Did You Forget" – the non-album A&B sides of a USA 45 (see below)

Tracks 14 to 27 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Volt Recordings

For the first time - this CD will allow fans to sequence all 5 of his rare and desirable 'Volt' 45's as follows:

1. I Like Everything About You b/w What Side Of The Door (July 1968, Volt VOA-4002)
2. Sweet Things You Do b/w Let 'Em Down Baby (February 1969, Volt VOA-4008)
3. Chains Of Love b/w I’m Not Ashamed To Beg Or Plead (April 1969, Volt VOA-4017)
4. I’m So Glad b/w Lay It On The Line (May 1969, Volt-VOA 4024)
5. Just Ain't As Strong As I Used To Be (You Done Fed Me Sumpin') b/w Did You Forget (June 1969, Volt VOA-4060)
[Note: 2 above was issued as his 1st 45 in the UK on Stax 117 in April 1969, while 3 was UK issued on Stax 126 in August 1969]

Proceedings open with an absolute killer – "I Like Everything About You" – as lovely as Sixties Soul gets (lyrics above). But you are also floored by the sound quality – it’s GORGEOUS. Remastered by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London – I’ve raved about his huge body of work before and this CD is no exception. The audio quality is clear, warm and detailed – and if there is hiss on some tracks, it isn’t compressed out of existence - nor is the treble ratcheted up to 12 to get volume for the sake of volume. It’s a really nice job done.

The 26-page booklet is the usual informative affair from Ace with superb liner notes from Soul lover and expert – TONY ROUNCE. It gives a history of Hughes' short but frustrating stay at the Stax subsidiary label and pictures all the 45’s (with label bags), some demo versions of the same, publicity photos and a repro of the rear of the rare album sleeve. Rounce’s name has been involved in a huge number of reissues covering major Soul labels like Philadelphia International, Hot Wax, Invictus and RCA Victor.

Highlights include the fabulously funky "Chains Of Love" which was coupled with the aching "I’m Not Ashamed To Beg Or Plead" on its flip – a great double-header issued as a seven on both sides of the pond. I’ve had the "Chains Of Love" A-side on the 1993 9CD Box Set "The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1968-1971 (Volume 2)" for years now, but the sound quality here is much improved. The harmonica-driven slink of "What Side Of The Door" is wicked too and the album ends on the lovely Al Green soundalike - "Did You Forget". The whole record is an embarrassment of riches really…

The huge haul of 14 Previously Unreleased tracks confirms what fans have known for years – like Motown – the vaults of Stax have harboured hidden gems for decades – only now seeing the light of day thanks to dedicated reissue labels like Ace and many others.
The recording dates range from February 1968 to April 1971 and feature songs by famous soul writers like STEVE CROPPER, GEORGE JACKSON, EDDIE FLOYD, DONNA and SANDRA RHODES, AL JACKSON and CHARLES CHALMERS. Highlights include the pleading "Tell Him Tonight" (recorded April 1970 at Sun Studios) and "Don’t You Know I’m All Alone" sounding not unlike an Al Green outtake. Impressive stuff…

To sum up - in his liner notes to this CD (and being a lifetime lover and collector of Soul Music) - Tony Rounce can barely contain his glee at being involved in reissuing everything this great artist did. It’s been a labour of love for him and Ace Records - and on hearing these 27 slices of Southern goodness by Jimmy Hughes - it’s easy to hear why.

A superlative reissue – and wholeheartedly recommended.

PS: the other 2 volumes in this series are "Steal Away – The Early Fame Recordings" (Kent CDKEND 324) and "Why Not Tonight? – The Fame Recordings Vol.2" (Kent CDKEND 331)

"Come Together / 'Nuff Said" by IKE and TINA TURNER. A Review Of The 2010 Beat Goes On CD Reissue.

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" 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

"…But When They Got To Me…I Turned It Down…"

Between June 1969 and February 1973, Ike & Tina Turner released 10 albums worth of material – a staggeringly prolific amount. But outside of R'n'B and Soul circles - barely anyone noticed. Finally, when "Nutbush City Limits" did give them a bona-fide worldwide smash in November 1973, it cruelly turned out to be a virtual one-hit wonder. Tina then found the courage to leave that musical prison and famously abusive relationship in 1974 and blossomed into a global superstar who is revered to this day over 40 years later (with more than a little help from musical friends in the industry).

Since those heady 1970's days of recording and touring slog – their 'funky-as-a-gnat's-tweeter' albums have all but disappeared – resolutely ignored really. Hopefully this superb release will change all that. There is so much on here to savour - and in brand new sparkling sound quality too. Here are the details…

Released August 2010, Beat Goes On BGOCD942 breaks down as follows (68:09 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Come Together", released May 1970 in the USA on Liberty LST-7637 and September 1970 in the UK on Liberty LBS 83350
Tracks 13 to 23 are the album "'Nuff Said", released November 1971 in the USA on United Artists UAS-5530 and March 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29256

This CD comes in an outer card wrap that lends each of the Beat Goes On reissues a classy look and feel. The 12-page booklet has liner notes by DAVID WELLS and features black and white photos of the duo as well as a history of the two albums. But it’s the sound that impresses most. Remastered by ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Mastering in London – the audio is really clear and full of detail.
Each cut now has a power that gives the predominately funk tunes a real wallop as they exit your speakers.

The first single off the "Come Together" album in the UK was the title track released on Liberty LBF 15303 in March 1970 – a fairly workmanlike cover of The Beatles "Abbey Road" opener. Far better - and featured on cool CD compilations in the last few years - was the B-side "Honky Tonk Women" – a cover of The Rolling Stones gem.
In the hands of Ike’s guitar funk and Tina’s rasping vocals – it's a very cool dancefloor filler. There then followed a second single in June 1970 on Liberty LBF 15367 where both sides absolutely rocked.
"I Want To Take You Higher" on the A is a funky cover of the Sly & The Family Stone tune from the 1969 "Stand!" LP. But even better is the drugs and abuse song on the flip - "Contact High" (written by Ike from experience) spares no punches about cocaine and its effect on people – caustically commenting on the sheer amount of narcotics involved in the music business at the time (lyrics above). The spoken words of the naughty "Doin' It" end the album on a high note – it would also become a B-side in November 1971 on United Artists.

The "'Nuff Said" album relied a lot on brassy arrangements which gave the tunes an almost Blood, Sweat & Tears feel to them with Ike’s trademark choppy guitar licks holding up the rhythm section. One such example is the excellent "What You Don’t See (Is Better Yet)". The title track is a driving instrumental that sounds like a studio jam - Ike ripping through guitar flicks as the keyboards and brass punch in and out. "Tell The Truth" gets back to funky business - catchy as a rash in a Bangkok knocking shop - it's a highlight on here and is presented in pumping great sound too. "Part II" of the title track ends the record - bringing the rocking instrumental down to a slow grooving finish – very nice.

To sum up - I’ve enjoyed these albums a lot. And while not all of the tracks are undiluted Soul/Funk genius, when Ike & Tina hit that groove – man were they good.

Recommended like a gin-soaked Honky Tonk Woman…

PS:
Beat Goes On has also issued "Workin' Together" (1971) and "Let Me Touch Your Mind" (1974) on a single CD in August 2011
Raven of Australia reissued "Nutbush City Limits" (1973) and "Feel Good" (1972) on a single CD in 2006
Blue Moon reissued "The Hunter" (1970) and "Outta Season" (1969) on a single CD also in 2006

"Mars Attacks!" A Review Of The 2010 BLU RAY Reissue.

"…Ack Ack! Don’t Run! We Are Your Friends! Ack Ack!"

I hadn't looked at my DVD of Tim Burton's ridiculously over-the-top homage to Fifties Sci-Fi movies in years – and I was stunned at two things when I popped this 2010 BLU RAY reissue in my Sony – first - the massive improvement in picture quality - and second – just how ball-breakingly funny "Mars Attacks!" actually is.

At times the great picture quality is a shock after the dull DVD I’ve been used to since 1996 - there's tremendous clarity on offer on almost all of the internal scenes. And the upgrade has somehow made the film seem all grown-up all of a sudden - a genuine contender for an all-time comedy classic too easily dismissed as fluff when it was released.

Genuinely anarchic in a way so few movies are these days, you also forget how good and varied the cast was… Glenn Close plays the President’s fussy uptight wife Marsha Dale ("…they’re not eating off the bone china, I can tell you that…"), Pierce Brosnan is brilliant as the pipe-smoking Professor Donald Kessler forever with a reasonable explanation about 'cultural misunderstandings' and why the Martians are delighting in ray-gunning everything in sight. Donald also has the hots for airhead news reporter Natalie Lake played deftly by Sarah Jessica-Parker (she and her irritating Chihuahua dog end up closer than they should at one point). Martin Short plays the permanently randy White House Press Secretary Jerry Ross (Lisa Marie does a great turn as a alien prostitute), Annette Bening as a dizzy hippy-chick saving her glass pyramid in her handbag as the Aliens wreck Vegas and Rod Steiger is just fabulously tacky as General Decker - the military dinosaur whose battle cry of "Kill! Kill! Kill!" turns out to be right all along.

There’s Danny DeVito as a gross gambler, Lukas Haas as the only sane kid in a trailer-trash family ("…they ain’t getting the TV…") trying to protect his wheelchair bound aunt (played with relish by Sylvia Stalwart). We get Blaxsploitation stars Jim Brown and Pam Grier as a couple trying to keep their family together (their kids gaming skills come in handy when the aliens attack the Whitehouse). There are even early roles for Jack Black and Natalie Portman before global fame consumed them both – and Tom Jones gives it a bit of swivel-hip as he belts out the irrepressibly brill "It's Not Unusual".
Danny Elfman’s score is suitably throwback and brilliantly woven into every scene – it even pays respects to the films Tim Burton so loved by taking the ray gun sound from the 1953 Sci-Fi classic "War Of The Worlds". And by the time you get to the end - you’ve enjoyed enough fried doves of peace, bowling balls taking out Easter Island and splattered alien brain matter in glass-dome helmets to keep any customer satisfied.

But the real shame of this Blu Ray reissue is the complete lack of any bonus material (not even a trailer for God's sake), when this release screamed out for an orgy of it (definitely docked a star for that).

My son Sean watched this with me (he’s 14) and we then spent a good hour afterwards going around the TV room squawking "Ack Ack!" like giggling mayhem-inducing aliens. Buy this and do the same peopleoids.

Nice one Mr. Burton - and a bit of a wee gem frankly...

AUDIO:
Spoken Languages: English, French, Dutch, Italian, Castellano, Czech and Arabic
Subtitles: English (SDH), French, German, Italian, Castellano, Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Greek, Hebrew, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian and Indonesian