"Obscured By Clouds" by PINK FLOYD - June 1972 Album on Harvest Records (September 2011 UK EMI 'Disocvery Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster - and January 2016 Pink Floyd Records CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 319 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CADENCE / CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Floating Softly On The Air..."

30 seconds into this 2011 remaster of Pink Floyd's "Obscured By Clouds" and little will prepare fans for the sonic assault that will hit them - it's incredible. Where has this sound quality been for the last 40 years? But I wish I could say the same of the truly naff and skimpy packaging. Still - to the details first...

Released 3 June 1972 in the UK on Harvest Records SHSP 4020 and 15 June 1972 on Harvest Records ST-11078 in the USA - original UK copies of the vinyl LP came in a round-cornered textured sleeve with a sticker on the front advising that it was "Music From La Vallee". The movie by French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder is about a group of young people seeking a mythical valley in Papua New Guinea which on maps is "...obscured by clouds".

1. Obscured By Clouds [Side 1]

2. When You're In

3. Burning Bridges

4. The Gold It's In The...

5. Wot's...Uh The Deal

6. Mudmen

7. Childhood's End [Side 2]

8. Free Four

9. Stay

10. Absolutely Curtains

This 26 September 2011 version (27 Sep 2011 in the USA) of "Obscured By Clouds" by PINK FLOYD on EMI 50999 028943 2 4 (Barcode 5099902894324) is a straightforward 10-track 'Discovery Edition' CD Remaster of that Soundtrack album and comes in a gatefold card sleeve with an 8-page colour inlay inside (total playing time 40:34 minutes).

Mastered by JAMES GUTHRIE and JOEL PLANTE at Das Boot Recording Studios in Tahoe in California in 2011 - the original 1st generation master tapes have been given a thorough going over (Guthrie is a Sound Engineer associated with the band since 1978). In fact - each song feels like these experts have spent a staggering amount of time worrying over every single nuance - because the audio result is truly impressive.

Highlights include the opening track "Obscured By Clouds" (the first of four instrumentals) which fades in with a synth and drum beat - and when it turns on the power at about 23 seconds - the audio is like a punch in the face - clear, warm and swirling around your speakers with amazing presence. "When You're In" is the same though this time with Gilmour's guitar to the fore. "Burning Bridges" sums up the languid feel to so many of the lyric songs - it feels like someone relaxing with a nice bottle of wine in rural France (lyrics above). The acoustic guitars of "Wot's ...Uh The Deal" are gorgeous while the clarity of "Childhood's End" has made me hear instruments I missed before (Gilmour's solo in particular comes at you with an energy it's never had before). "Mudmen" and "Absolutely Curtains" are the other two excellent instrumentals and even the hissy (but lovely) "Stay" hasn't had the air sucked out of it by some no-noise techniques - the two engineers have let it breath. It's all impressive stuff, it really is...

I wish I could say the same for the staggeringly unimaginative packaging. The 'Pink Floyd' logo you see in all the photos advertising these new reissues turns out to be a sticker on the outer shrink-wrap that gets lost the second you unpeel it. The card sleeves are like The Beatles 09/09/09 EMI reissues - glossy and flimsy - so they smudge with finger prints the second you open them and are easy to bend and crease. The CD itself has new generic artwork that's repeated in different colour variations throughout the series - a garish Red and Pink for "Obscured By Clouds", a sort of Turquoise and Pale Green for "Meddle" etc... It has no relevance to the original albums whatsoever (where's the original Harvest label they've used on other reissues or the colourful inner bag?) but also has no protective gauze sleeve so it will scuff on repeated plays.

The front artwork of the original LP is a soft-focus blurred picture of a man in a tree in the rain with the EMI/Harvest logo in the top left hand corner. This new variant drops the logo and has a darker looking picture that to my mind completely looses the aesthetic feel of the original. It just looks wrong somehow. In its favour - when opened the new gatefold shows a beautiful colour still of men on horses being greeted by natives and some other film shots background the lyrics (lead actress Bulle Ogier is on Page 3). But the skimpy booklet is a huge disappointment. Although it has the lyrics (like this is a major improvement), it has no history on the album, pictures of the band etc... 

The album produced 7" singles in the USA ("Free Four" b/w "Stay") as well as a myriad of European and Worldwide picture sleeves - but again no show. Ok - it does look nice and does the job adequately - but that's all. It's a lazy-assed approach on behalf of EMI and undermines the sterling work done on the sound front. I hate to come across like some nick-picking fan boy here, but it would have been nice to actually 'discover' something on this so-called 'Discovery' version (docked a star). And there's no outtakes nor DVD of the film either...

To sum up - we finally get five-star sound, but in skimpy 3-star presentation. Still, with the truly beautiful sonic upgrade - the casual listener is advised to dig in, rediscover and enjoy.

Die-hard fans however might want to wait for the Japanese Editions that will inevitably arrive in 2012 on the far superior SHM-CD format (a better make of CD playable on all players). With their faithfully reproduced artwork and audiophile reproduction - they may give your bank manager a cold sweat - but they will absolutely be the ones to get if the best is all you'll accept.

"Obscured By Clouds" seems to have always been the runt of the Pink Floyd litter and I've never understood this - it's a cohesive work and contains some of their most musical compositions. For such a famous band it's a weirdly overlooked album when it shouldn't be.

Hopefully this flawed reissue will draw many newcomers in. I've also just listened to "Meddle" as well and it's even more astonishing - so audio-wise neither it nor "Clouds" are obscured any more. Onwards and upwards folks...

This CD was reissued January 2016 in the same packaging on Pink Floyd Records

"The Thomas Crown Affair". A Review Of The 1999 Film Now Reissued On An 'All-Regions' BLU RAY by 20th Century Fox in 2011.

"…An Elegant Crime… A Worthy Opponent…"

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 'BLU RAY' VERSION ***

Armed with nothing more sinister than a plain croissant and a nondescript briefcase beneath his seat, billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) sits in the Impressionist Gallery of New York’s Metropolitan Museum staring at "Noon: Rest From Work (After Millet)" by Vincent Van Gogh. Approaching from behind comes Bobby the Principal Security Guard (played by Michael Lombard) who then smiles at Crown. It pleases him to see one of the exhibits regular patrons sat in his usual place being no trouble to nobody. But then Bobby is curious...

Immediately to the right of Van Gogh’s 'haystacks' (as his immaculately dressed art-lover calls it) is a painting that would surely appeal to the 42-year old far more – Claude Monet’s "San Giorgio Maggiore At Dusk". But no, Thomas is unmoved. Bobby presses and tells him it’s worth a cool $100 million dollars. But again – Thomas is not impressed. Crown then sighs - and staring with great discipline at the Van Gogh immediately in front of him - he says, "It's nice Bobby. It is. But I like my haystacks…" The Security Guard smiles, shrugs his shoulders and walks away admiring Thomas Crown’s honesty.

A few hours later a 20th Century Greco Asian Horse arrives in a pallet downstairs instead of an Etruscan Sarcophagus – a 'disparity' perhaps? Or perhaps Bobby needs to go to character assessment classes more often…

In 1998 Pierce Brosnan and his production company "Irish Dreamtime" wisely decided to remake the sophisticated 1969 playboy heist movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" which originally starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway - cleverly giving Dunaway the part of Crown’s therapist in the new version. It was a genius move. Already beginning to be straight-jacketed by Bond, Brosnan showed that not only could he pull off a leading man in another film, but he could do it with more style and panache than most of Hollywood’s elite. Remake or no - the result was a critical and commercial winner that sizzled with both sex and sexiness.

Containing both of these - and a great deal more – up steps the movie’s other secret weapon – actress Rene Russo playing a super-savvy Insurance Agent called Catherine Banning. The chemistry between her and Brosnan was so sensational it set tongues wagging globally (“Will you get me? Oh I hope so…”). But with all of this loaded dialogue - promptly followed by sweaty shenanigans on the marble staircase - the movie desperately needed some serious grounding and the occasional laugh. For this they added in the wonderful Denis Leary as Detective Michael McCann (…”some of these broads are wearing my salary…”) and Frankie Faison as his partner Detective Paretti. Their sparring with the smarter Russo character (some of her dialogue titles this review) is magical and so deftly handled.

Also blessed with a brilliantly-written and cleverly plotted script by Lesley Dixon and Kurt Wilmer, great original music by Bill Conti and expert Direction by John McTiernan – "The Thomas Crown Affair" was quite rightly hailed as a fantastic piece of cinema.

Which brings us to this BLU RAY reissue. Its default aspect is 2.35:1 (bars on the top and bottom), but even stretched to full screen – it holds its shape, is detailed and clean. I’m also thrilled to say that the picture upgrade is obvious even as the credits roll. It never looks anything less than great and at times (close-ups of suits, faces in restaurants, her slinky gowns) it looks beautiful. Even in the Museum Basement sequences - which are dark and faintly lit – the print is still superbly clear.

Niggles – the Blu Ray is an American-only issue at the moment, but it is an 'all regions' disc – which means it plays on all players. Some have found that this isn’t the case, but it did on my mine without any fuss whatsoever – so check your machine. The other major let down is the complete absence of any extras – not even a trailer. But - by way of small consolation – the disc can be had for less than a tenner…

To sum up - 12-years haven't diminished the entertainment value of this fantastic remake one jot. And despite the disappointing lack of extras – the truly superb upgrade in picture quality and reasonable price - should convince fans and newcomers alike to put this Blu Ray repurchase high on their wish list. Great stuff.

I’m off now to capsize my yacht and run off with that moll from the insurance company with the M25 legs and Mick Jagger lips (as you do)…

BLU RAY Specifications:
Picture: 2.35:1 Aspect ratio
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English for Hard-Of Hearing, Spanish and French

"Sucker Punch". A Review Of The 2011 Film Now Issued On A Double & Triple Pack BLU RAY.

"...Ask Yourself...Where Is My Mind?"

"Sucker Punch" gets close - it really does. For some of its duration - it absolutely rocks. Employing visuals that borrow heavily from Guillermo Del Toro's "Hellboy" and The Wachowski Brothers' "Matrix" (falling empty shell casings, running up and down walls with big guns and even bigger swords) - it serves up huge action set pieces that come at you with the breathtaking audacity of a Punk band doing their first gig.

The story goes something like this - the principal female character (the permanently soppy-faced Baby Doll played by Emily Browning) has five days to 'escape' before the 'High Roller' comes into town and does whatever that perverted twat does. Baby Doll and her fellow inmates are then instructed by a wise warrior (Scott Glenn) to gather up 5 items from 4 battles - a map, a knife, fire and a Key - the fifth item being an unknown - a mythical thing that will set them free if only Baby Doll can recognize what it is. It helps of course that the heroines look like a SEAL team from St. Trinians - tooled-up twenty-something nubiles with protruding cleavage, laced-up leather bodices, frilly skirts and Cheerleader ponytails.

It all sounds like great fun - and as I say - in parts it is. But all that hard-won admiration goes right out the window when we encounter the real world and the 'other' storyline...

The girls are really in a Vermont Sanatorium - orphaned and under the watchful eye of a violent slimeball called Blue (Oscar Isaac). The Lennox House for the Mentally Insane is a place where cruelty is an institutionalized norm and use of their bodies a lucrative side business. To alleviate all of this authority-ignored abuse of the inmates, Dr. Gorski (Carla Gugino) teaches each pretty young lady how to dance and thereby 'escape' to where there is no fear and they are free. "...That place can be as real as any pain..." she wisely councils them - poncing about the theatre area in her own ludicrously provocative outfit that's a composite of teacher, Madam and slut. And as you can imagine - it's these slyly staged scenes that will sorely test the patience of even the most open-minded of viewers. I hate to come across like an old prude here - but the 'girlpower' theme is so obviously exploitive - and worse - the film is blatantly guilty of voyeuristic sleaze it supposedly abhors.

But that’s not the worst part – there’s sickening cruelty doled out by men on the girls. Instead of empowerment of women we get assaults in kitchens, beatings in offices and lap dancing for grotesque male patrons. And "Sucker Punch" somehow seems to gloat on it too. It smacks of appalling hypocrisy and has of course caused an outcry in the States (as did the graphic violence to children in the sick "Watchmen"). Women's Groups everywhere may quite rightly feel that Director Zack Snyder needs to be taken outside - given a good slap - and told to grow up.

It's a damn shame because you can't help but think that with some obvious rejiggering of the plot - put all the fantasy action sequences together in one go with the Asylum stuff at the end - thereby giving you a big reveal and also giving the girls a freedom of sorts - Snyder might have indeed produced a genre masterpiece that actually said something into the bargain. The actresses themselves could also be accused of being 'suckered' into such an obvious mix of titillation and torture, but they were probably having too much fun swinging around on pulleys to notice.

"Sucker Punch" is not a movie I'm going to watch again willingly - let alone buy – and it’s hard to forgive its staggeringly convenient theme about the empowerment of women through sexy clothes and fighting. But some of those action sequences are great and some may feel it’s worth a rental for that alone.

"The Company Men". A Review of the 2010 Film Now On A 2011 BLU RAY.

"…You're Gonna Have A Rough Time Out There…"

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) knots his silk tie, jumps into his silver Porsche Convertible, speeds out of the leafy drive of his seven-figure suburban mansion and heads off into his job as Regional Sales Manager for GTX – an $11 billion dollar ship-building conglomerate based in the plusher part of Boston who employ over 60,000 people nationwide…

In a less conspicuously wealthy part of town Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) – a man who’s been to Vietnam and then worked himself up from a 60-hour week doing dangerous riveting on the propeller shafts of oil-tankers to a distinguished 30-year managerial career – fixes his dapper cufflinks – albeit a little more wearily.

Out by the waterfront in a palatial monolith too gross for mere adjectives, the Executive Vice President of Global Transportation Services (GTX) Gene McClary (played by Tommy Lee Jones) looks down at a machine that polishes his leather shoes to a mirror-like shine. All three then look into their home mirrors with the faintest whiff of insufferable smugness.

Little do any of them know that Black Friday is about to bring a particularly cruel and detached word into their vocabulary – 'downsizing'…

"The Company Men" deals with the American bank collapses of September 2008 and their devastating knock-on effect on US heavy-manufacturing industries and their already constricting workforces. As you can see from the principal actors outlined above - the cast is to die-for – and John Well's Script and Direction gives them real substance to work with. Another weapon in the movie's favour is the cinematography of the legendary ROGER DEAKINS (“The Shawshank Redemption”, “The Hudsucker Proxy” and “True Grit”). Not only is the Blu Ray image immaculate throughout (he can make a car driving down a snowy road look like poetry) – the pristine sheen of home interiors and top floor offices strewn with Degas Paintings and iMacs is both beautiful and menacing – because beneath all that money, veneer and polish is a very real unspoken threat - poverty is only a corporate axe-swing away.

The story begins by putting all three 'company men' in the firing-line – forcing each to reassess themselves and the promises of people they once thought they could trust. Tommy Lee Jones – an actor with as much gravitas as the Lincoln Memorial – does a stunning job of portraying Gene McClary. You can literally 'feel' his treacle-like slide into the abyss. His lifelong friendship with his boss Jim Salinger (a typically excellent Craig T. Nelson) is poisoned beyond repair as corporate greed callously axes 5000 jobs to meet shareholder’s needs – and keep the big boys and their moneyed lifestyle intact (Bobby Walker is the first of these casualties). As the monetary noose tightens – another 5000 job cuts are called for and the blade comes closer to home. In a brilliantly written scene where they’re deciding who goes and who stays - a lawyer tells Gene "…We’re breaking no laws here…" to which Gene replies "…I guess I always assumed we were trying for a higher standard than that…" And is doesn’t help either that Gene is sleeping with Sarah Wilcox (Maria Bello) – an upper-coming executive who does all the firing in a sexy dress with a concerned look…

Chris Cooper too brings the film some badly-needed heart with a brilliant and unnerving portrayal of a man of a certain age losing his job – and by extension what defines him. In a particularly brutal scene - a tough female Career's Officer (Cady Huffman) tells Phil how it really is (her dialogue titles this review) and she doesn’t mince her words "You're pushing sixty and you look like Hell…" She outlines what has to be axed and what has to be massaged in his old fart’s resume. Sat there in a suit that no longer feels right and with his body crouched forward in an already defeated way, Cooper’s look of puppy-dog bewilderment combined with a barely contained rage is so good that it’s palpable. His disintegration later is both sad and painfully believable. He’s a great actor and such an asset to this movie…

But the whole thing pivots on Ben Affleck's character Bobby Walker and the arc of his painful journey. He starts out as an insufferable motormouth earning $120,000 a year plus incentives with a golf-club membership and eating-out expenses of $600 a month. His wife and two kids want for nothing and have every electrical gadget that screams 'we've arrived'. And when he joins the Jobseeker's club he cockily tells Danny (a huge presence in Eamonn Walker) that he'll have a job in a few days – he completely believes it. Three months later – with his car and possessions gone – their home foreclosed on – 100% of his phonecalls not returned and his severance pay running out - he’s beginning to look and sound like a 37-year old loser who can’t support his family. Luckily his wife Maggie (a superlative Rosemary DeWitt) keeps him and their world from falling apart with a practicality that her husband so clearly lacks (they rediscover each other in the process).

Affleck is often accused of being too pretty boy and too lightweight to be taken seriously, but with his two excellent directorial works "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Town" and past performances in "Hollywoodland" and "State Of Play" – once again he shows here that he can easily stand up with the big boys. There’s a scene in Jack’s house (a wonderfully held-back performance by Kevin Costner – a working man who is incensed at the mere presence of this upstart he clearly feels deserves his comeuppance) when Bobby is looking around the room at the dinner table. He sighs - he’s anticipating lectures about responsibility and prayers for hope - his eyelids weigh about 2000 tons. The slide of despair has begun – but there’s still that arrogance there. It's a spot-on performance by Affleck for his character at that particular moment. By the time his Bobby gets to huffing sheets of timber about on a construction site for his hated brother-in-law – his dirty-faced blister-handed appreciation of having 'any' job is real and complete. It's impressive stuff…

Niggles – despite the A-list cast, the beautiful presentation of the print, the often exceptional writing and the slick direction, there’s a gnawing feeling that you’re being asked to care about smug pricks with too much money – people you want to hit over the head repeatedly with a cricket bat. And worse - the movie slyly concentrates too much on the ‘young’ jobless type and not the men of 40, 50 and 60 who can be all but destroyed by such a loss. But luckily the script is smarter than all that and despite a rather pat happy-ending - the sheer quality of the cast and the material win out.

"The Company Men" probably isn't going to trouble any Oscar Nominations List or fire up critics into spilling out orgasmic soliloquies - but like a good night in with friends where way too many drinks have been taken – what was said in liquored-up truth the night before will stay with you for days afterwards. Mostly it’ll make you think about 'work' - how it traps/frees us - how it even gives us life itself...

And if "The Company Men" makes us appreciate what we have and value it - then it's a job well done. A good movie really...

Put it high on your rental list.

"Barney's Version" - A Review Of The 2010 Film Now On A 2011 BLU RAY.

"…Have I Ever Given Up When It Comes To 'You'…"

Sounding not unlike a child’s software program - "Barney's Version" is a terrible name for a film and nearly put me off renting this 'journey' movie – I'm glad it didn’t.

Produced by Robert Lantos and Directed by Richard Lewis, the screenplay by Michael Konyves is adapted from Mordecai Richler’s 1997 book of the same name. Across 30 eventful years, it tells the story of Barney Panofsky – a Monte Cristo smoking, whiskey guzzling chubby man living in Montreal. Barney is the TV Producing equivalent of "Gregory House" – irascible and loveable at the same time. Like his Dad Izzy Panofsky (a scene-stealing Dustin Hoffman) Barney tells it as it is – loves women impulsively – is headstrong in everything he does but has his heart in the right place. But he has a fatal flaw. It isn’t that Barney is deliberately cruel or mean, he just keeps on making terrible mistakes over and over again (most of which are of his own making) and learns rather painfully as the years pass and happiness fades that the enemy is not others but 'himself'.

It begins in Rome in 1974 when we’re introduced to his motley crew of dead-beat friends – there’s Thomas Trabacchi as Leo Fasoli – an Italian artistic genius who has yet to find an appreciative audience, a black friend who does a terrible deed on Barney (he later forgives this) and his best-friend – Boogie. Young, cocky, handsome and fancy-free – Boogie is a full-on babe magnet (played beautifully by Scott Speedman) who can’t seem to finish his brilliant first novel as he systematically hoovers up every narcotic he can get his sweaty hands on. You sense Barney admires his balls and vicariously lives out his fantasies through Bookie’s wanton bohemian lifestyle – but as life and the years go on – Bookie's drug addiction and stupid waste of a God-given talent stop being funny and even lead to a drunken catastrophe by the lake house.

We are then introducing to Barney’s three women – Clara, Bonnie and Miriam. Each of the actresses get real meat to work with and you can really sense they are relishing good parts in a good film. 1st up is Rachelle LeFevre playing Clara Chambers – a family dysfunctional who is beautiful but bordering on mental illness at every moment. Her performance is short but so astutely done. Barney then meets the equally gorgeous Miriam – a well-connected Jewish lady who can talk to beat the band (has a ‘Master’s Degree’) – dryly played by Minnie Driver to maximum effect. But then his eyes meet with the real deal – Miriam – played by the ethereally beautiful British actress Rosamund Pike. Barney is lost from the moment he sees her and pursues Miriam with the relentlessness of a Tomahawk missile. Their relationship’s up and downs make up the bulk of the movie and Pike is fabulous in the part. More top moments are provided by the rest of the cast...

Hoffman gets some great dialogue which he delivers in that soft understated way of his – regaling a table of elderly po-faced ladies at Barney’s 2nd wedding about his 'cop-on-the-beat' past he tells them "…he came at me with a hard-on the size of a can of hairspray…"
Or when he’s giving his son ludicrously inept parental advice about marriage to Bonnie (a subject he knows nothing about) "…you’re married to a well-bred woman who is loaded, makes a nice Flaky Kugel and has a beautiful rack – many successful marriages have been built on far less…"

Nice supporting roles also go Kate Hopkins and Jake Hoffman who play Kate and Michael (Miriam and Barney’s grown-up children) – Jake Hoffman showing more than a passing vocal and visual resemblance to his famous Dad - and glimpses of his acting chops. Bruce Greenwood is Blair – a handsome vegan who tempts Miriam both mentally and spiritually in the later stages of her rocky marriage to Barney - while Macha Grenon is superb as Solange - an aging TV star in the 30th season of Barney’s daytime soap “Malley Of The North” – a woman who constantly harks back to her looks in the past (her clinging neediness is both protected and derided by Barney in equal measure). England’s Mark Addy is excellent as Detective Sean O’Hearne – a bull-headed cop who is convinced that Barney has literally gotten away with murdering one his friends and has published a book to that effect called “With Friends Like These” (the mystery is brilliantly resolved at the end of the movie). There’s even a great cameo by Saul Rubinek as Clara’s Jewish father who tries to guilt away Clara’s self-destructive past – but not in a way that shows compassion - but embarrassment for what it brought to their family (Barney makes short shift of him).

But the film belongs to Giomatti - who gives his bumbling motormouth of a creation a beating heart – you laugh at Barney’s life-grabbing impulsiveness (a particularly nice scene where he chases after Miriam in a train) up to his heart-breaking remorse at doing what he said he would never do to Miriam (crying into her chest on the side of the bed). With the aid of wigs and make-up, Giomatti flits from one time period to the next – and in each his character is wholly believable. In rolls on to 2010 where Barney is now balding and forgetting where he parked his car – but gets one final meet with his beloved Miriam. They talk openly and honestly and despite differences and irreparable harm - express their true feelings (title above). Giomatti is magnificent in the role and fully deserved of his Golden Globes Award for Best Actor.

To sum up – while it’s a couple of shades short of being a masterpiece - “Barney’s Version” is that rarity – a really good film that you’ve neither seen nor heard of – a little filmic gem that deserves a viewing and will reward you for doing so.

Put it high on your rental list.

"Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" by THE DRAMATICS – January 1972 US Debut Album on Volt Records, April 1972 UK on Stax Records – Also Includes Their Second Studio Album "A Dramatic Experience" from October 1973 (USA) and April 1974 (UK) on Stax Records (September 2011 UK Stax Remasters Expanded Edition CD Reissue - Joe Tarantino Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

https://link.amazon/B0b1f9afG

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

This Review Along With A HUGE 356 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95 (2026 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…I'm For Real…"

What this 2011 "Stax Remasters" CD doesn’t advertise too well is that it contains 'two' Stax albums and not just one – and then for good measure throws in two more bonus tracks as well (and it’s pitched at mid-price too). Here are the whatcha get details…

Released Monday 12 September 2011 in the UK - "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" by THE DRAMATICS on Concord Music Group, Inc 0888072331761 (Barcode 888072331761) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows (59:03 minutes):

1. Get Up And Get Down

2. Thank You For Your Love

3. Hot Pants In The Summertime

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

5. In The Rain [Side 2]

6. Gimme Some (Good Soul Music)

7. Fall In Love, Lady Love

8. Mary Don't Cha Wanna

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" – released January 1972 in the USA on Volt Records VOS-6018 and April 1972 in the UK on Stax Records 2362 025 

9. The Devil Is Dope

10. You Could Become The Very Heart Of Me

11. Now You Got Me Loving You 

12. Fell For You

13. Jim, What's Wrong With Him?

14. Hey You! Get Off My Mountain

15. Beautiful People

16. Beware Of The Man (With The Candy In His Hand)

Tracks 9 to 16 are their 2nd album "A Dramatic Experience" – released October 1973 in the USA on Volt Records VOS-6019 and April 1974 in the UK on Stax Records STX 1021

Tracks 17 and 18 are "Stand Up Clap Your Hands" and "Hum A Song (From Your Heart)" – two previously unreleased tracks which first appeared on the 1991 CD reissue of "A Dramatic Sensation" 

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 also get the original artwork on the front and rear of the booklet, musician and session details, a collage of 2 photos on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the disc itself pictures the original LP sleeve (front and rear). But it's a shame the booklet doesn't go any further – there's no new photos, no memorabilia – not even a picture of the title track – their most famous and beloved tune. Surely a promo 45 could have been procured? 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…

I bought and recently reviewed two other titles in this new "Stax Remasters" series - "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" by The Staples Singers and “McLemore Avenue” by Booker T. & The M.G.’s and duly raved about the fabulous sound quality on both – especially after years of lacklustre reissues in jewel cases and repro digipaks. 

Well this is the same. 24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes at JOE TARANTINO Mastering in Berkeley, California – the audio quality is fantastic – which of course makes you reassess every song – and here it gives incredible clarity to these hugely underrated and largely forgotten Soul albums. 

Highlights include "In The Rain" which has a melodrama formula that 'so' works. The song intro is a thunderstorm - rainfall then fills the speakers - only to succumb to a heavily echoed guitar which actually sounds like a man crying. With William "Wee Gee" Howard's pleading vocals and Dennis Coffey on that treated guitar, the public and radio loved it - sending "In The Rain" all the way to the No.1 spot on the US R 'n' B charts. The sound quality of the horn player on "Gimme Some (Good Soul Music)" is startling too – so clear – and the tune is reminiscent of The Temptations at their upbeat best. Even the two bonus tracks don't disgrace themselves - especially the "…get it together…" message funk of "Stand Up Clap Your Hands". The title track "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" too has been gracing CD compilations for decades – a stone Soul classic (lyrics above). 

To sum up – this is as superlative value-for-money reissue with top-notch Seventies Soul and sound quality that trumps everything that’s gone before. 

The book of 'Guinness World Records 2012' is launched today (15 Sep 2011) and in it they celebrate Aevin Dugas from New Orleans - who at 4ft 4in. - officially has the world's biggest Afro Hairdo. Well - like Aevin - this CD is both impossibly cool and worthy of written celebration…  

CD Titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" Series are (all reviewed)

1. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1962) 

3 September 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072339606

2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (1970)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328747

3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331778 

4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331761

5. Born Under A Bad Sign – ALBERT KING (1967)

June 2013 UK CD on Barcode 888072343344

6. I'll Play The Blues For You - ALBERT KING (1972)

22 May 2012 UK CD on Barcode 888072337169 

7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328761

8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)

10 May 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072328754

9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)

13 September 2011 UK CD on Barcode 888072331785

"The Story Of Trojan Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - 123-Tracks from 1967 to 1981 featuring The Upsetters, Jimmy Cliff, Nicky Thomas, Dandy Livingstone, Judge Dread, Bob & Marcia, Dave & Ansel Collins, The Maytals, Desmond Decker, The Pioneers, Lee Perry, Dennis Brown, Lloyd Chalmers, John Holt and many more (August 2011 UK Universal/Sanctuary 5CD 123-Track Hardback-Book-Sized Box Set – 87 Tracks New To CD - Jared Hawkes, Tim Debney and Nick Watson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

https://link.amazon/B0fFPKQh4

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

This Review Along With A HUGE 356 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95 (2026 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Amazon UK Purchase Link for my E-Book

https://link.amazon/B00PF2JTl

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

"…The Child Is Black…The Child Is White…A Beautiful Sight…"

Fab and frustrating - would we have our Reggae Hoards any other way. There is much to discuss and a few packaging niggles to point out (minor mind you for what is a 5-Star release in a genre that doesn't get enough of them. To the returned...

UK released 29 August 2011 - "The Story Of Trojan Records" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is a Book-Sized Box Set on Universal UMC/Sanctuary 2775354 (Barcode 602527753546) containing 123 tracks across 5 discs touching on 1967 to 1981.

87 are new to CD and you can also use CD1 in your PC or MAC to register the set after purchase thereby entitling you to a further 12 tracks exclusive to download. This fabulous Box Set has been compiled by people with knowledge and a passion for their chosen brand of rhythmic poison – REGGAE (with a dollop of Ska and Bluebeat thrown in). It breaks down as follows (all tracks are UK 7" singles unless otherwise noted)…

Disc 1: "25 Big Ones – UK Hits" 

(Red & White Trojan Records CD Label, 25 from 1969 to 1974, 74:56 minutes)

1. The Return Of Django  - THE UPSETTERS (January 1969, Upsetter US-301)

2. Red Red Wine – TONY TRIBE (April 1969, Down Town DT-419)

3. Longshot Kick De Bucket – THE PIONEERS (August 1969, Trojan TR-672)

4. Liquidator – HARRY J ALL STARS (August 1969, Trojan TR-675)

5. Elizabethan Reggae – BORIS GARDNER & THE LOVE PEOPLE (September 1969, Treasure Isle TI-1205/Duke DU-39)

6. Wonderful World, Beautiful People – JIMMY CLIFF October 1969, Trojan TR-690)

7.  Sweet Sensation – THE MELODIANS (December 1969, Trojan TR-695)

8. (To Be) Young, Gifted & Black – BOB & MARCIA (February 1970, Harry J HJ-6605)

9. Monkey Man – THE MAYTALS (February 1970, Trojan TR-7711)

10. Love Of The Common People – NICKY THOMAS (May 1970, Trojan TR-7750)

11. You Can Get It If You Really Want It – DESMOND DECKER (August 1970,Trojan TR-7777)

12. Double Barrel – DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS (August 1970, Techniques TE-901)

13. Black Pearl – HORACE FAITH (September 1970, Trojan TR-7790)

14. Rain – BRUCE RUFFIN (April 1971, Trojan TR-7814)

15. Pied Piper – BOB & MARCIA (May 1971, Trojan TR-7818)

16. Black And White – GREYHOUND (May 1971, Trojan TR-7820)

17. Monkey Spanner – DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS (June 1971, Techniques TE-914)

18. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah – THE PIONEERS (July 1971, Trojan TR-7825)

19. Moon River – GREYHOUND (December 1971, Trojan TR-7848)

20. Suzanne Beware Of The Devil – DANDY LIVINGSTONE (August 1972, Horse HOSS-16)

21. Big Seven – JUDGE DREAD (November 1972, Big Shot BI-613)

22. Everything I Own – KEN BOOTHE (May 1974, Trojan TR-7920)

23. Help Me Make It Through The Night – JOHN HOLT (December 1974, Trojan TR 7909 (Single) and January 1975 LP "1000 Volts Of Holt" on Trojan TRLS 75)

24. Crying Over You – KEN BOOTHE (December 1974, Trojan TR-7944)

25. Skinhead Moonstomp – SYMARIP (October 1969, Treasure Isle TI-7050)

Disc 2: "Reggae Greats – The Artists"

(Pale Blue Trojan Records CD Label, 25 from 1967 to 1980, 79:44 minutes)

1. Stir It up – BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS (November 1968, Trojan TR 617A)

2. Sentimental Reasons (Alternate Take, Recorded 1968) – DESMOND DEKKER & THE ACES 

3. You Didn't Answer – THE ETHOPIANS - (Recorded 1968 – see NOTES)

4. Watermelon (Alternate Take, Recorded 1968) – THE MAYTALS 

5. Me Want Man – MAX ROMEO (May 1969, Blue Cat BS-161)

6. Together – DELROY WILSON (November 1970, Randy’s RAN-506)

7. Sha La La I Need You (Jamaica Mix, Recorded 1970) – THE PIONEERS 

8. A Little Loving – ALTON ELLIS (February 1971, Smash SMA-2319)

9. Take Me – BOB & MARCIA – (Recorded 1971 - see NOTES

10. How Do You Do It – JACKIE EDWARDS & DEL DAVIS – (Recorded 1971 - see NOTES)

11. A Little Bit Of Soap – JIMMY CLIFF (Recorded 1971 – See NOTES) 

12. Stars – LLOYD PARKS & DENNIS ALCAPONE (April 1972, Randy’s RAN-524)

13. French Connection – LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS (June 1972, Upsetter US-385)

14. Meet Me At The Corner – DENNIS BROWN (July 1972, Randy’s RAN-528)

15. Black Heart – U ROY (Recorded 1972 – see NOTES)

16. Soul Sister – THE HEPTONES (February 1973, Smash SMA-2328A)

17. Pity The Children – CORNEL CAMPBELL & THE ETERNALS (March 1973, Jackpot JP-809)

18. Now You Can See Me Again – KEN BOOTHE (December 1974, Trojan TR-7944)

19. On The Beach – OWEN GRAY (May 1975, Horse HOSS-87)

20. Natty No Jester – BIG YOUTH (May 1975, Action ACT-101)

21. Fly Little Silver Bird – GREGORY ISAACS (July 1975, Attack ATT-8106)

22. Behold! – DERRICK MORGAN & JOHNNY CLARKE (August 1975, Horse HOSS-104A)

23. Got To Get You (aka I'm In Love)– HORACE ANDY (Recorded 1975  – see NOTES)

24. The Great Pablo – AUGUSTUS PABLO (February 1976, Attack ATT-8122)

25. Lovely Woman – JOHN HOLT (January 1980, Attack TACK-16)

NOTES: Tracks 2-4, 7, 9-11 and 23 are Previously Unreleased; 15 Previously Unreleased in the UK

Disc 3: "The Big Shots – The Producers"

(Orange & Yellow Big Shot Records CD Lbl, 25 from 1969 to 1981, 79:50 minutes)

1. Bumble Bee – IKE BENNETT & THE CRYSTALITES (January 1969, Big Shot BI-505)

2. Have You Time – TREVOR & THE MAYTONES (February 1969, Blue Cat BS-153)

3. I Am Getting Old – THE LYRICS (Recorded 1969 - see NOTES)

4. Mannix (B'wa Nina) – THE RHYTHM RULERS (June 1969, on the LP "Tighten Up, Volume 2" by Various Artists on Trojan TTL 7 - later reissued in 1973 on Trojan TBL-132)

5. (If It Don't Work Out) Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye – GENE RONDO (June 1969, Down Town DT-431)

6. Last Laugh – THE JOKERS (August 1969, Duke DU-36)

7. Apollo 11 – THE HIPPY BOYS (November 1969, Amalgamated AMG-846)

8. Better Herring – THE PIONEERS (January 1970, Attack ATT-8011)

9. Tea House From Emperor Roscoe – DICE THE BOSS (May 1970, Joe JRS-3)

10. Dog Your Woman – PEGGY & THE CIMARONS (June 1970, Hot Rod HR-107)

11. False Niah – BARRY & THE AFFECTIONS (June 1970, on the LP "Herbsman Reggae" by Various Artists on Trojan TBL-124)

12. Put It Down, Children – THE MELODIANS (Recorded 1970 – see NOTES

13. Cabbage Leaf – VAL BENNETT & THE J.J. ALL STARS (November 1970, Duke DU-94)

14. Skankey Baby – NINEY (December 1970, Smash SMA-2304)

15. Groove Me, Parts 1 & 2 – DAVE BARKER & THE UPSETTERS (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES) 

16. Jumping Back – RED BRYAN (April 1971, Techniques TE-909)

17. Miss Labba Labba – THE TWINKLE BROTHERS (October 1971, Green Door GD-4007)

18. Iggy Iggy – LORD COMIC & THE AQUARIANS (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

19. Hot Stick Version – PHILLIP SAMUEL & KEITH HUDSON (June 1972, Green Door GD-4034)

20. International Scout – BINGY BUNNY & BONGO LES (July 1973, Ackee ACK-506)

21. Heartaches – ANNETTA JACKSON & BOBBY STEPHEN (April 1974. Attack ATT-8067)

22. Arise Selassie I Arise – FREDDIE McKAY (December 1974, Attack ATT-8085)

23. Expression In Dub – JOE WHITE (April 1975, on the LP "Ja Gan" by LESLIE BUTLER (actually Joe White) on Trojan TRLS 112)

24. Got To Get Away – KEN BOOTHE (October 1978, on the LP "Who Gets Your Love" on Trojan TRLS 164)

25. Come Closer My Love – THE VICEROYS (March 1981, on the LP "We Must Unite" on Trojan TRLS 208)

NOTES: Tracks 3 and 18 are Previously Unreleased in the UK, 12 is Previously Unreleased, 15 is a Previously Unreleased Extended Version

Disc 4: "A To Z Of Trojan – The Labels"

(Red & Yellow Attack Records CD Label, 25 from 1968 to 1977, 78:25 minutes)

1. Every Little Thing I Do – CARLTON BROWN (December 1968, on the LP "Once More" by Various Artists on Big Shot BLIP 4001) 

2. I Am Losing You (aka I Can't Understand) – AUSTIN FAITHFUL (December 1969, Blue Cat BS-140)

3. Chicken Lickin' (aka Night Fall) – LLOYD CHALMERS & THE HIPPY BOYS (October 1969, High Note HS-030)

4. Black Panther – SIR COLLINS & THE BLACK DIAMONDS (October 1969, Duke DU-64A)

5. Bongo Jah – THE IMMORTALS (November 1969, Amalgamated AMG-851)

6. Tighten Up Your Guard (aka Run To The Rocks) – KEITH & TEX (January 1970, Explosion EX-2008)

7. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday-Day – WINSTON FRANCIS & THE RUDIES (January 1970, Grape GR-3010)

8. She Caught The Train/Tony B's Theme – ROY MATRELL & JOE'S ALL STARS (May 1970.Joe's JRS-3 & Joes JRS-9)

9. Shocks Of A Drugs Man – THE HOT ROD ALL STARS (July 1970, Hot Rod HR-108)

10. See Me – EARL LAWRENCE (June 1970, Clandisc CLA-215)

11. Rocking Chariot (aka Get Ready) TOMMY McCOOK & RANDY'S ALL STARS 

12. Love For Everyone – THE VICEROYS with HUBCAPS & THE WHEELS (November 1970, Dynamic DYB-402)

13. Music Alone Shall Live – THE MEDIATORS (November 1970, Big BG-305)

14. The Same Old Life – ROY PANTON (November 1970, Harry J HJ-6624)

15. Right Track – BOY FRIDAY with EWAN and JERRY (February 1971, Down Town DT-471)

16. Sir Collins' Special – LESTER STERLING & COLLINS ALL STARS (March 1971, Smash SMA-2321)

17. Freedom Train – BRENT DOWE (November 1971, Summit SUM-8530)

18. Come On – THE CABLES (March 1972, Jackpot JP-787)

19. Be My Guest – BILLY DYCE (April 1972, G.G. GG-4532)

20. Mash Up – THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS (August 1972, Song Bird SB-1097A)

21. High School Dance – HUBERT LEE (February 1973, Green Door GD-4050)

22. Youth Of Today – THE COOLER (February 1973, Bread BR-1112)

23. Doctor Honey – NORRIS WEIR (April 1975, Horse HOSS-81)

24. World Class – JAH LLOYD (January 1976, Attack ATT-8121)

25. I'm Still In Love (With You Boy)/Lover Boy – MARCIA AITKEN & THE MIGHTY TWO (September 1977, Lightning LIGS-102)

Disc 5: "Unreleased Gems, Rarities & Oddities"

(Blue & Yellow Blue Cat Records CD Label, 23 from 1969 to 1975, 73:57 minutes)

1. Where Did The Russians Go –VAL BENNETT & THE CARIB-BEATS – (Recorded 1968 – see NOTES)

2. Lick It Back – WINSTON SAMUELS (1969, Trojan THB-7002)

3. Death Rides A Horse – THE HIPPY BOYS (Recorded 1969 – see NOTES)

4. Stagger Lee – ANOYMOUSLY YOURS (Recorded 1969 – see NOTES)

5. Walking Trouble - HUGH HENDRICKS & THE BUCCANEERS (Recorded 1969 – see NOTES)

6. Dread It – SKA CAMPBELL (Recorded 1969 - see NOTES)

7. Another Day Is Dawning (aka There Is Hope Somewhere) – EARL LAWRENCE (Recorded 1970 – see NOTES)

8. What Does It Take – THE DYNAMITES (Recorded 1970 – see NOTES)

9. I'm Not A King – AL BARRY & THE ACES (Recorded 1970 – see NOTES)

10. Double Or Nothing – ANSEL COLLINS (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

11. Double Barrel Man – DANDY (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

12. Ain't To Proud To Be (Live) – SLIM SMITH & THE RUDIES (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

13. O Lord (Take 2) – WINSTON WRIGHT (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

14. This feeling I Can't Hide (aka My Love) – DAVE BARKER (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

15. I Can Win – BOB ANDY (Recorded 1971 – see NOTES)

16. Black African Woman – FLICK WILSON (Recorded 1973 – see NOTES)

17. Mama – NORA DEAN (Recorded 1973 – see NOTES)

18. Rolling Stone – TOMMY SHAKESPEARE (Recorded 1975 – see NOTES)

19. My Love – MARCIA GRIFFITHS (Recorded 1975 – see NOTES)

20. Natty In Hong Kong – THE SOUL SYNDICATE (Recorded 1975 – see NOTES)

21. I'll Be Strong – ERC ‘MONTY’ MORRIS SYNDICATE (Recorded 1975 – see NOTES)

22. I Shot The Sheriff – THE GLADSTONE BAND SYNDICATE (Recorded 1975 – see NOTES)

23. Sky At Night – CANDY McKENZIE SYNDICATE (Recorded 1977 – see NOTES)

NOTES: Tracks 1, 3-7, 10, 16 and 18-22 are Previously Unreleased in the UK; tracks 8-9, 11-15, 17 and 23 are Previously Unreleased

On the inside - each fully loaded CD is housed in a card sleeve with a different Trojan Records logo on the front to reflect the period - while the discs themselves also go into Trojan associated labels (as described above). The 50-page booklet contains extensive liner notes by set compiler and Reggae expert LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT (Author of "Young Gifted & Black – The Story Of Trojan Records" – see separate review) with the text peppered by period photos, album covers, trade reviews etc. There are also 4 full-length double-sided colour reproduction postcards featuring adverts for Trojan LPs and 45's, best-seller 7" single charts from the period, gig flyers etc. Visually the cards are probably the best things in here – they’re really pretty and hugely evocative of the late Sixties and early Seventies. There’s also a small Trojan Window Sticker and even the shaped-well that houses the card sleeves in the base of the box is a repro of a May 1970 Magnetic Tape Box. It’s very nicely done indeed. JARED HAWKES did the tape transfers and the remastering was carried out at Tim Debney and Nick Watson’s FLUID MASTERING in London. 

First up is the look of the set – if you look closely at the photos provided above, you will notice a slight smudging on the white and yellow Trojan logo on the front box – with the same effect carried over to the front page of the booklet. It looks like it's dirtied - smudged with fingerprints and toner ink. I don't know what bright spark thought this was a good idea because it isn't. One of our customers who bought the box on the day of release brought it back to the store where he bought it from complaining bitterly that it was 'stained'. When it was pointed out to him that this 'old tape box' look was deliberate – he still didn't want it! Hardly the effect the makers of this set would want. It may seem like a small pedantic point, but when you actually see the box – it just looks like it needs a good wash (every page in the booklet is back-grounded with the same). It's a shame, because I wouldn't want any person put off the real deal here – the actual content and the huge improvement in sound achieved…

A word on the sound first - everybody knows that Reggae and Ska from the late Sixties and early Seventies was recorded in a bucket with a hole at the bottom – it's always lo-fi and that's part of its charm actually. But to my ears there's a big improvement on here to what went before. I've reviewed 4 of Sanctuary's DELUXE EDITIONS for Trojan Records - Tighten Up Vol.1 & 2, John Holt and Symarip – and somehow the sound achieved here trumps them all – as if someone made a concerted effort to get as many real tapes as possible. And even on the unreleased stuff like "You Didn't Answer" by Desmond Dekker on Disc 2 or the superb "Double Barrel Man" by Dandy (a version of "Double Barrel") on Disc 5 – it's still excellent. This is not Audiophile but it is Audiogold...

Content - while people will love the improved sound of the hits on Disc 1 (Greyhound's "Black And White" still has a message that resonates to this day - lyrics above), I personally like everything on Disc 4 where the set stretches out to Trojan associated labels and their rare 45's. Stuff like "Chicken Lickin'" by Lloyd Charmers on High Note or the lovely Ska of "Freedom Train" by Brent Dowe on Summit. "Rolling Stone" by Tommy Shakespeare on Disc 5 has been a hard-to-find 45 too (a Jamaican import I believe) – and it sounds great here. The Producers set (Disc 3) has gems on it like "Put It Down, Children" by The Melodians produced by the legendary Leslie Kong in 1970 and unreleased until now. In fact most of it is an embarrassment of riches…

To sum up – with its huge haul of unreleased and first-time-on-CD goodies, this superb box set (despite reservations about how it looks) is clearly aimed at diehard collectors and is not for the faint hearted who would probably find a ten spot spent on the Deluxe Edition of "Tighten Up" will suffice. But if you're prepared to dig a bit deeper and fork out the bit extra – then "The Story Of Trojan Records" will pay dividends for years to come. 

As Bob Marley said "…Stir it up little darling…" and he was right…