“Where’s There’s A Will There’s A Way – The ABC-Dunhill Recordings” by BOBBY WHITLOCK. A Review Of The 2013 Light In The Attic CD Reissue Which Remasters His First Two Vinyl Albums “Bobby Whitlock” (1972) and “Raw Velvet” (1973).

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"…You're The Only One…"

These two albums used to fill out the racks of used record stores and just sit there. And even though the self-titled debut contained heavy hitters - like George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann (of "Revolver" fame), Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Chris Wood of Traffic, Rick Vito (Bonnie Raitt's band, Bob Seger's band and Fleetwood Mac) and even The Edwin Hawkins Singers  - both were largely ignored by the buying public. Now at last top US reissue label Light In The Attic (using their Future Days Recordings imprint) has given them a newfound respect with a world-class CD reissue.

Released June 2013 - "Where’s There’s A Will There’s A Way: The ABC-Dunhill Recordings" by BOBBY WHITLOCK on Light In The Attic/Future Days Recordings FDR 602 (Barcode 82626853060226) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and breaks down as follows (70:29 minutes):

1. Where There’s A Will

2. Song For Paula

3. A Game Called Life

4. Country Life

5. A Day Without Jesus

6. Back In My Life Again

7. The Scenery Has Slowly Changed

8. I’d Rather Live The Straight Life

9. The Dreams Of A Hobo

10. Back Home In England

Tracks 1 to 10 is his debut album "Bobby Whitlock" issued March 1972 in the USA on ABC-Dunhill DSX 50121 and on CBS Records S 65109 in the UK.

11. Tell The Truth

12. Bustin’ My Ass

13. Write You A Letter

14. Ease Your Pain

15. If You Ever

16. Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham

17. You Came Along

18. Think About It

19. Satisfied

20. Dearest I Wonder

21. Start All Over

Tracks 11 to 21 is his 2nd album "Raw Velvet" issued November 1972 in the USA on ABC-Dunhill DSX-50131 and in the UK in early 1973 on CBS Records S

65301.

Produced by Andy Johns and Bobby Whitlock - the debut was recorded in London's Olympic Studios and featured an impressive array of British based Rock musicians. George Harrison and Eric Clapton (guitars) join Bobby Keys on Saxophone (practically an honorary member of The Rolling Stones), Klaus Voormann on Bass with Jim Price on Trumpet and Trombone and Jim Gordon on Drums. That amazing line-up grace three - "Where There's A Will", "A Day Without Jesus" and "Back In My Life Again" while Clapton also plays beautiful solo guitar on the lovely ballad "The Scenery Has Slowly Changed".  In fact the softer songs are far better than the rather frantic rushed tunes that are just trying too hard and getting nowhere. Chris Wood of Traffic adds flute to the lovely acoustic "A Game Called Life" - for me a nugget on this rather patchy album (lyrics from it title this review).

The second album ups the amps on Side 1 in an attempt to capture the 'rawk' market. 
It opens with "Tell The Truth" - a co-write with Eric Clapton. The countrified cover of Hoyt Axton's "Ease Your Pain" and the almost gospel-rock of "Bustin' My Ass" feature The Edwin Hawkins Singers to great effect. "Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham" features a co-write with Mac Davis and mean slide guitar from Clapton. Things mellow out with Side 2 where he often only employs acoustic guitars, a piano and the Los Angeles Symphony on strings. "You Came Along" is undeniably lovely and Rick Vito's lead playing on "Satisfied" is superb. It ends sounding like "Sun King" from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album with "Start All Over" - all swirling and prettily ethereal.

The remaster is properly great - incredible clarity and presence - even when the raucous ensemble threatens to engulf everything. And the exceptional 48-page booklet entitled "The Bobby Whitlock Story" is done with complete co-operation from the singer himself - photos from his private archives, publicity material, repros of the album labels, detailed track-by-track annotation including his own reminiscences on each song. A lot of work and passion went into this and it shows...

To sum up - neither album is undiscovered genius by any stretch of the imagination - but there's plenty of here worthy of reappraisal. And like Rodriguez, Jim Sullivan, Michael Chapman and The City (featuring Carole King) - once again Light In The Attic has given a voice to an artist who deserved better and should be re-heard.

Check this one out...

"The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums" by BILL WITHERS - 1971, 1972, 1973 (Live Double), 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1985 Albums (November 2012 UK Sony Music/Legacy 9-CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters in Bordered Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…A Lovely Day…"

Columbia have many world-class box sets in their "Complete Album Series" – but you'd have to say that this BILL WITHERS winner is just a little bit more special than most. And with a thoroughly deserved Grammy win under the belt - it’s time to review the great Soul Man’s legacy...

Released November 2012 in the UK and USA - "The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums" by BILL WITHERS is a 9-CD Mini Box Set with a 40-page booklet on Sony Music/Legacy 88697894672 (Barcode 886978946720) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (35:37 minutes)

1. Harlem [Side 1]

2. Ain't No Sunshine

3. Grandma's Hands

4. Sweet Wanomi

5. Everybody's Talkin'

6. Do It Good

7. Hope She'll Be Happier – [Side 2]

8. Let It Be Me

9. I'm Her Daddy

10. In My Heart

11. Moanin' And Groanin'

12. Better Off Dead

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Just As I Am" – released May 1971 on Sussex SXBS-7006 in the USA and A&M/Sussex AMLS 65002 in the UK.

Disc 2 (36:14 minutes):

1. Lonely Town, Lonely Street [Side 1]

2. Let Me In Your Life

3. Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?

4. Use Me

5. Lean On Me

6. Kissing My Love – [Side 2]

7. I Don't Know

8. Another Day To Run

9. I Don't Want You On My Mind

10. Take It All In And Check It All Out

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd studio album "Still Bill" – released May 1972 on Sussex SXBS 7014 in the USA and A&M/Sussex AMLS 68107 in the UK

Disc 3 (77:09 Minutes):

1. Use Me (Live) [Side 1]

2. Friend Of Mine (Live)

3. Ain't No Sunshine (Live)

4. Grandma's Hands (Live)

5. World Keeps Going Around (Live) - [Side 2]

6. Let Me In Your Life (Live)

7. Better Off Dead (Live)

8. For My Friend (Live)

9. I Can't Write Left Handed (Live) - [Side 3]

10. Lean On Me (Live)

11. Lonely Town Lonely Street (Live)

12. Hope She'll Be Happier (Live)

13. Let Us Love (Live) – [Side 4]

14. Harlem/Cold Baloney (Live)

Tracks 1 to 13 are the live double album "Bill Withers Live At Carnegie Hall" – released April 1973 on Sussex SXBS 7025-2 in the USA and A&M/Sussex AMLD 3001 in the UK

Disc 4 (37:36 minutes):

1. You [Side 1]

2. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh

3. Stories

4. Green Grass

5. Ruby Lee

6. Heartbreak Road – [Side 2]

7. Can We Pretend

8. Liza

9. Make A Smile For Me

10. Railroad Man

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd studio album "+ 'Justments" – released March 1974 on Sussex SRA 8032 in the USA and A&M/Sussex AMLH 68230 in the UK

Disc 5 (43:51 minutes):

1. I Wish You Well [Side 1]

2. The Best You Can

3. Make Love To Your Mind

4. I Love You Dawn

5. She's Lonely

6. Sometimes A Song – [Side 2]

7. Paint Your Pretty Picture

8. Family Table

9. Don't You Want To Stay?

10. Hello Like Before

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th studio album "Making Music" – released October 1975 on Columbia PC 33704 in the USA and CBS 69183 in the UK

Disc 6 (41:03 minutes):

1. Close To Me [Side 1]

2. Naked & Warm (Heaven! Oh! Heaven!)

3. Where Are You

4. Dreams

5. If I Didn't Mean You Well – [Side 2]

6. I'll Be With You

7. City Of The Angels

8. My Imagination

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 5th studio album "Naked & Warm" – released October 1976 on Columbia PC 34327 in the USA and December 1976 in the UK on CBS 81580

Disc 7 (38:26 minutes):

1. Lovely Day [Side 1]

2. I Want To Spend The Night

3. Lovely Night For Dancing

4. Then You Smile At Me

5. She Wants To (Get On Down)

6. It Ain't Because Of Me Baby

7. Tender Things

8. Wintertime

9. Let Me Be The One You Need

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 6th studio album "Menagerie" – released October 1977 on Columbia JC 34903 in the USA and January 1978 in the UK on CBS S CBS 82265

Disc 8 (39:03 minutes):

1. All Because Of You [Side 1]

2. Dedicated To You My Love

3. Don't It Make It Better

4. You Got The Stuff

5. Look To Each Other For Love

6. Love

7. Love Is

8. Memories Are That Way

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 7th studio album "'Bout Love" – released March 1979 in the USA on Columbia JC 35596 and in the UK on CBS S CBS 83176

Disc 9 (45:11 minutes):

1. Oh Yeah! [Side 1]

2. Something That Turns You On

3. Don't Make Me Wait

4. Heart In Your Life

5. Watching You Watching Me

6. We Could Be Sweet Lovers [Side 2]

7. You Just Can't Smile It Away

8. Steppin' Right Along

9. Whatever Happens

10. You Try To Find A Love

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 8th studio album "Watching You Watching Me" – released May 1985 in the USA on Columbia FC 39887

The attention to detail is pleasing - the first 4 discs sport the Sussex label as per the original vinyl albums while the following five have the red Columbia labels. "Still Bill" has its 'opening doors' front sleeve while the double "Live At Carnegie Hall" also has its original gatefold reproduced. Each card sleeve is now bordered in white but it looks and feels classy (even if the print is tiny). The chunky 40-page booklet doesn’t scrimp on detail either - track-by-track annotation with photos of the albums, rare music press adverts, liner notes by Michael Eric Dyson and even a letter from the great man himself at the beginning about his long musical journey.

But the big news for fans is the stunning new remastered sound carried out by a trio of engineers - MARK WILDER for 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 with 1, 2 and 7 handled by JOSEPH M. PALMACCIO and 3 done by TOM RUFF. Original analogue master tapes have been used in all transfers and what a job they’ve done... Right from the opening acoustic strum of “Harlem” on his fabulous debut album “Just As I Am” and onto the gutsy pump of “Lonely Town, Lonely Street” which opens the equally brill follow up LP “Still Bill” - the sound quality is truly glorious throughout. Beautiful feel - space around the instruments - clarity - warm bass - not to over-trebled - it’s a top notch job done and makes you re-hear all those wonderful songs anew. 

And then you're hit by that other thing - the sheer wall-to-wall class of his songwriting - properly soulful tunes that etch their way into your heart and won't leave. And then there’s thrill number three - the stuff you haven't heard - the discoveries... "Better Off Dead" (a B-side to "Lean On Me" in the UK in August 1972) and "Do It Good" both off the debut - "Kissing My Love" and "Take It All In And Check It All Out" off the second studio album "Still Bill" - the lowdown yet super cool groove of "Ruby Lee" (covered by Joe Cocker on his "Sheffield Steel" album from 1982) and the beautiful "Hello Like Before" - both off the massively underrated "+ 'Justments" LP - all of it screams out to be reappraised and loved again.

Like 1972's "Donny Hathaway Live" LP - 1973's "Carnegie Hall" vinyl double has garnished a legendary reputation amongst soul aficionados. Intimate with his audience despite the venue size - a band cooking - songs that sway and groove. Five of its mainly mellow fourteen are exclusive - the impassioned love songs "Friend Of Mine" and "Let Us Love", the acoustic old-man weariness of "World Keeps Going Around", the aching anti-war song "I Can't Write Left-Handed" and "Cold Baloney" which is worked into a 14 minute encore with "Harlem". "Carnegie Hall" is a whole heap of magic and you can literally feel the audience filing it into their memory banks.

It's also pleasing to hear that even into the late Seventies and Eighties - he never lost his knack for a tune - the pretty "My Imagination" from "Naked & Warm",  the "trying to make us happy..." vibe to the finger-tapping "Look To Each For Love" from "'Bout Love" and the funky dancer "Steppin' Right Along" from "Watching You Watching Me". The only bum note (if you could call it that) is that Page 13 shows us the rare picture sleeve of the Christmas 1972 US 7" single for "The Gift Of Giving b/w Let Us Love" on Sussex SUX 247. To my knowledge its rare A-side has never been on CD anywhere in the world and unfortunately because this is an albums set - it isn't included here either (when there was room). And although the look is generic to this series by Columbia - I also think the outer box is a tad naff looking and the borders around each Mini LP Card Sleeve kind of sabotages the effect. And maybe even a disc of rarities. Other than those minor niggles - it's a feast and cheap too...

Somehow like equal giants Bobby Womack, Minnie Riperton and Donny Hathaway - Bill Withers has always been the underdog of Soul - never spoken about in the same awe-struck tones that are routinely given to Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding. In my book he’s always been right up there with the best of them - a world class Soul Brother - and this ludicrously good mini CD box set is a way in for us mere mortals to that musical greatness...

"I loved that old lady..." - he says to the audience as he introduces "Grandma's Hands" on "Live At Carnegie Hall". Well - we feel the same about you mate. Beautiful and then some...

"Change Everything" by DEL AMITRI (January 2014 UK 'Re-Presents' 2CD Reissue and Remaster Of Their 1992 3rd Album On A&M Records - Remastered and Expanded) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Counting Down The Hours...On The Long Journey Home..." 

Hailing out of Scotland as a sort of Soulful Indie band with great Rock tunes - I first heard del Amitri pump out “Kiss This Thing Goodbye” in the Summer of 1989 off their “Waking Hours” album. And that’s when the love affair started. I’ve subsequently bought maybe twenty CD singles by them over the years - because like Love and Money, The Bible, The Fat Lady Sings, Deacon Blue, The Big Dish and The Silencers - their B-sides were often as good as (if not better than) the album tracks. Now fans are being treated to a “Re-Presents” reissue series of their three albums on A&M Records - “Waking Hours” (1989 and 1990), “Change Everything” (1992) and “Twisted” (1995). Here’s the beer-stained/used condom details...

UK Released 20 January 2014 - “Change Everything” on Universal/Mercury 3755684 (Barcode 602537556847) is a 2CD reissue (in a jewel case) of their 3rd album first issued on A&M Records 395 385 in June 1992 (50:58 minutes). Disc 2 (68:38 minutes) gathers up a whopping 18 non-album studio tracks from multiple variants of 4 single releases. The mastering has been done by GEOFF PESCHE at Abbey Road and the 16-page liner notes (which feature interviews with Justin Currie and Iain Harvey along with press clippings) are expertly handled by TERRY STAUNTON. 

Like it’s A&M predecessor “Waking Hours” - the 12-track “Change Everything” was chock-full of radio friendly hits. “Always The Last To Know” (May 1992), “Be My Downfall” (July 1992), "Just Like A Man” (September 1992) and “When We Were Young” (January 1993) were all released as singles each sporting 7”, 10”, 12" and CD single formats. Unfortunately for die-hard fans (and unlike the “Waking Hours” reissue which has at least two tracks on it that were exclusive to vinyl) - all 16 on Disc 2 are from the CD singles. So if you're like me and you've collected the lot - all you’re getting here is a slight sound upgrade. But at just under seventy minutes it's still amazing value for money...even the live tracks are fantastic (with a really witty into by Paul Whitehouse as mock DJ Mike Smash)...

Speaking of the remaster on the album itself - it’s hard to notice it. The original was a full-on live-in-the-studio feel recording and was beautifully produced by Gil Norton in the first place. A slight amping up is the best way to describe this version - nothing radical - but then like U2’s “Achtung Baby” from 1991 - it doesn’t need a remaster. What is impressive is the sheer song quality and sonic blast that accompanies them. Hooky as Hell and lyrically brilliant - lead singer, bassist and principal songwriter Justin Currie could pen a tune. Amongst the B-sides genius crops up four times - the “a girl who had a hundred ways to hurt you...” folksy jaunt that is “Whiskey Remorse”, the band sounding like a Tom Petty outtake on “Don’t Cry No Tears”, the acoustic love song “The Verb To Love” and my absolute fave - the gorgeous “Long Journey Home” which could easily grace the end of a movie and leave you tingling as you leave the aisle (lyrics from it title this review). I even dig their cover of “Cindy Incidentally” - a band and time-period they clearly worshiped. 

Never hip and somehow derided in some circles as a poor-man’s Faces - I loved del Amitri with a passion. OK this reissue isn’t going to set die-hard fans on fire - but they produced yet another corker in “Change Everything” and this cheap double CD re-boot is a reminder of that brilliance. Both an album and a band that deserve major reappraisal and a ten-spot of your hard-earned.

I’m off now to pine for girls who do you duff and live on the wrong side of the London to Glasgow train tracks...

"Play The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS - September 1972 Album On Atlantic Records with Guests Eric Clapton, Dr. John and The J. Geils Band (May 1992 US Rhino CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

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"...Come On Mama...Let Me Turn You On…"

1972's "Plays The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS is the kind of Blues-Rock album that should be more famous - yet even with heavy-hitters like ERIC CLAPTON, Dr. JOHN and The J. GEILS BAND guesting - it has somehow slipped into an unfair obscurity. Time to rectify that…

1. A Man Of Many Words [Side 1]

2. My Baby She Left Me (She Left Me A Mule To Ride)

3. (a) Come On In The House (b) Have Mercy Baby

4. T-Bone Shuffle

5. A Poor Man's Plea

6. Messin' With The Kid [Side 2]

7. This Old Fool

8. I Don't Know

9. Bad Bad Whiskey

10. Honeydripper

"Play The Blues" by BUDDY GUY and JUNIOR WELLS was US CD-reissued in May 1992 on Rhino R2 70299 (Barcode 081227029920) - a straightforward transfer of the 10-track vinyl album first released September 1972 on both sides of the pond - Atlantic SD 33-364 (USA) and Atlantic K 40240 (UK) respectively.

Excepting "This Old Fool" and "Honeydripper" which were put down in April 1972 in Boston - the other 8 tracks were recorded in October 1970 in the Criteria Studios in Florida (left in the can for two whole years). Co-produced by ERIC CLAPTON, AHMET ERTEGUN, TOM DOWD and MICHAEL CUSCUNA - the sessions also featured J. Geils on Guitar, Magic Dick on Harmonica and Seth Justman on Keyboards - all fellow Atlantic label mates in THE J. GEILS BAND.

DR. JOHN contributes Piano with ERIC CLAPTON playing Rhythm and Bottleneck Guitar on 7 of the 10 tracks - "A Man Of Many Words" (a Buddy Guy original), "My Baby She Left Me (She Left Me A Mule To Rise)" (a Sonny Boy Williamson cover), "Come On In This House/Have Mercy Baby" (both Junior Wells originals), "T-Bone Shuffle" (a T-Bone Walker cover), "A Poor Man's Plea" (a Junior Wells original), "Messin' With The Kid" (a Mel London cover), "I Don't Know" (a Willie Mabon cover) and "Bad Bad Whiskey" (a Thomas Davis cover).

It opens strongly with "A Man Of Many Words" (lyrics from it title this review) and continues just so. Rory Gallagher (an axeman remembered with huge affection) opened his blistering "Live! In Europe" LP on Polydor from 1972 with "Messin' With The Kid" and much of "Plays The Blues" has that same raucous having-us-a-good-time feel to each track (despite its two year tortured recording history). The great combo of two diverse guitar players and the alternating of lead vocals on each track give the whole thing a freshness that screams off the tracks even now. Add in complimentary session players and you’re on a winner.

"Plays The Blues" is a hugely enjoyable album - I wore out my UK pressing to the point of too-many-scratches - and it’s a blast to hear it sound so chipper on this lively JOE GASTWIRT remaster.

Spend a skydiver on this one - worth every red penny and blue cent...