“The Giant Mechanical Man” or “Love In Detroit (Karlek I Detroit)" on DVD and BLU RAY. A Review Of The Lee Kirk 2012 Film…

Here is a link to the BLU RAY on Amazon UK for the best price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EYVFEES

“…Love And Hopeful Things…” 

A few words about this overlooked nugget of a film that seems to have unwisely slipped everyone by.

Written and Directed by LEE KIRK in 2012 - its original title was "The Giant Mechanical Man" - which was quickly followed by its less difficult but more commercially feasible name - "Love In Detroit". To confuse matters even more - it appears to be only available to UK buyers as an ‘import’ DVD and BLU RAY that goes under the name of "Karlek I Detroit" because its issued in DENMARK (or SWEDEN?).

I’m sensing that the sellers of this lovely movie bottled out of the quirky original title and opted for the horrid and cheesy "Love In Detroit" instead - also elevating the prettier Malin Akerman to the top of the cover (the blond) when she really only has a back part in the story (the original poster only includes the two principal leads at a bar).

Janice is a young slightly kooky temp (Jenna Fisher of the American TV series “The Office”) who can’t seem to hold down a job. One day on the train platform she spots a street mime artist that she somehow connects with. Tim is kind of hard not to miss - because he stands nearly ten feet tall and is painted head to toe in silver (Chris Messina of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom” – he plays Jane Fonda’s son in the show Reese Lansing). Tim doesn’t engage with passers-by (except maybe a TV crew who spot an interesting morning segment). Feeling low – she engages in conversation with the still silver giant whom of course doesn’t flinch a muscle in keeping with his street art. But Tim has noticed Janice…

Tim’s pretty but ambitious girlfriend (Lucy Punch) has had enough of Tim’s art-for-the-people dreams - as has her brother (a fantastic turn by Bob Odenkirk – Let’s Call Saul in “Breaking Bad”). He needs a job – so he gets one at a Zoo when he meets Janice. Without his make-up - they slowly and awkwardly edge towards each other (without her knowing of his alter ego). Thrown into the mix to tempt weak-kneed Janice is Topher Grace as a longhaired self-help book-selling twat. Will Janice be able to fend off her pushy sister’s interventions (Malin Akerman) in her hopeless love life? Will she stop dreaming of her teeth falling out? Will the two society misfits make it in a sometimes cold and meddlesome world?

The DVD is Region 2 so if you live in the States - check compatibility (if you live in the UK or Europe - there's no issues). 

The BLU RAY is REGION FREE so will play everywhere. It's defaulted to 1:85 (16 x 9) Anamorphic which is FULL ASPECT - so there's no bars top or bottom. And more importantly - the picture quality is gorgeous – a beautifully filmed piece of work. 

Subtitles are English, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish. I also think the "Love In Detroit" BLU RAY sleeve that is pictured on the Net and Amazon is a mock up that never appeared - it doesn't exist except with "Karlek I Detroit" on the sleeve.

A fabulous and genuinely touching film - “The Giant Mechanical Man” also uses locations in the presently much-maligned and bankrupt city of Detroit to amazing effect.

Give this gem a chance – I liked it so much – I had to buy it. I find hopeful and lovely things are like that…

"Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley/Pressure Drop" by ROBERT PALMER - 1974 and 1976 Studio Albums Plus Outtakes featuring members of LITTLE FEAT and THE METERS (August 2013 UK Edsel 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE-THAN-FEELING-All-Guide-Exceptional-ebook/dp/B0BGT69MVZ?crid=1RTTPB6MEK9Y7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aCLqQD_0x4Xc4Kd7CEKllFnbfqhZ11PdMT_72etNzX9uk4_p_dYzE7ix7BD2qIIrl8-pAv90HElKfIB-_ZesIaS7TKJ-pDCFTgEP2k9aFX6a08GeBKgOKqyKHE6gcf0WacJEY4AKfVHlvo1EyZXb-psq6hf7c8WNvfvSSQUcNdP73WQfDavTWOHn5u81XeWCHJ47XMXWJqovt2Cx2c7BHgnvhCDYy23xFnpilpsAe90.T6uf-EhIxX_KJ8LfLu5E7Pk739m39vwP0A9sw0LfGno&dib_tag=se&keywords=more+than+a+feeling+mark&qid=1717663975&sprefix=more+than+a+feeling+mark%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=02abe7807076077061be2311e2d581b1&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"…Gotta Work To Make It Work…"

After stints with THE ALAN BOWN in the Sixties, DADA in 1970 and three albums with VINEGAR JOE (featuring Elkie Brooks) between 1972 and 1973 – ROBERT PALMER was finally ready to go Solo. 

The result was his fabulous debut "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" in 1974 on Island Records and its under-appreciated follow-up "Pressure Drop" in 1976. This 2CD reissue on Demon's Edsel label celebrates both records with real style (even throwing in 6 Bonus cuts which all new to CD - 4 Previously Unreleased).

UK released 26 August 2013 - "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley/Pressure Drop" by ROBERT PALMER on Edsel EDSK 7037 (Barcode 740155703738) is a 2CD Compilation in a Card Slipcase with Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (52:24 minutes)

1. Sailin' Shoes

2. Hey Julia

3. Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley

4. Get Outside

5. Blackmail

6. How Much Fun

7. From A Whisper To A Scream

8. Through It All There's You

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut Solo LP "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" – UK released September 1974 on Island ILPS 9294

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley (Single Mix)

Non-Album version released November 1974 as a US-Only 7" single on Island 006

10. Epidemic

Non-Album B-side to "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley", November 1974 US 7" single on Island IS 006 - his debut 45 in the States (no UK equivalent)

11. Blackmail (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased

12. Get Outside (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased

Disc 2 (43:56 minutes):

1. Give Me An Inch

2. Work To Make It Work

3. Back In My Arms

4. River Boat

5. Pressure Drop

6. Here With You Tonight

7. Trouble

8. Fine Time

9. Which Of Us Is The Fool

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd Solo LP "Pressure Drop" – UK released April 1976 on Island ILPS 9372

BONUS TRACKS 

10. Willin' (Demo, Little Feat cover version) - Previously Unreleased 

11. Hope We Never Wake (Demo) – Previously Unreleased

The outer card wrap is generic to all these Edsel reissues and certainly gives the whole thing a classy feel. Fans will also know that outside of the "Gold" anthology on Universal – Palmer's Island catalogue has been languishing without remasters for decades. Although it doesn't say who remastered these album at Universal – the sound quality is great – a huge improvement over the dull Eighties discs we'd had for years. The 28-page booklet is substantial – pictures of the albums and rare singles, studio shots, colour publicity stuff, lyrics to both albums, affectionate and knowledgeable liner notes by CHRIS JONES – it's a bang-up job done.  

Fans will know that the original UK vinyl album has barely decipherable credits on the top left of the rear cover that give no real recording info and there was no inner sleeve (the standard issue blue inner bag). I say this because recording history now shows that members of LITTLE FEAT (Lowell George, Bill Payne and Paul Barrere) and much of THE METERS (Art Neville, Leon Noncentelli, Ziggy Modelisti and George Porter Jr.) filled out the sessions with Funky-Rock magic.

As if that isn't amazing enough – there's Jazz-Funk main men RICHARD TEE on Keyboards with CORNELL DUPREE on Guitar, the legendary sessionman BERNARD PURDIE on Drums (Steely Dan and millions of others) and even STEVE WINWOOD on keyboards. He also took the Bassist STEVE YORK from Dada and Vinegar Joe with him and Steve provides some amazing backbeat and Harmonica Solos throughout. None of this was on the artwork! Perhaps had that info been displayed – it might have sold better – or made more of an impact…

The debut opens with the distinctive guitar of Lowell George on a boogie cover of his own "Sailin' Shoes" followed by Palmer getting funky with his beat box on "Hey Julia" (an RP original). A slice of magic occurs with Allen Toussaint's "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" – all the staggering funk of the musicians collides to produce a mean shuffler. There’s some hiss for sure on the slinky "Get Outside" (another Palmer original) but the remaster still allows the amazing Bass and Rhythm breathe like never before –it's fantastic (the lady vocals are still uncredited).

"Blackmail" is an upbeat co-write with Lowell George (good rather than great) while "How Much Fun" goes as fully Little Feat as possible – stabbing keyboards, backing girl vocals, lingering slide guitar notes – it's very cool. There then follows the album's double masterpiece finishers – the incredible "From A Whisper To A Scream" (more Allen Toussaint New Orleans old-skool coolness) and the twelve and half minute Palmer original "Through It All There's You". It's the kind of slow building funky Rock tune that always brings customers to the counter – Winwood on the Fender Rhodes with Cornell Dupree flicking those licks throughout. It has an infectious vocal too – truly brilliant stuff.

Fans of both Palmer and Little Feat will thrill to the two debut LP outtakes – "Blackmail" features Lowell and the band giving it some melodic magic – it's just superb. "Get Outside" is a slow bluesy take instead of the funkier album final – and again – great guitar and a very pronounced lady vocal.

After the heavy dependence on covers on the debut – album number 2 "Pressure Drop" features six Palmer originals with "Trouble" being another Little Feat cover, the title track a take on the famous Toots & The Maytals reggae anthem and "River Boat" a return to one of his faves – Allen Toussaint. The opener "Give Me An Inch" would later be covered by Ian Matthews to stunning groovy effect on his underrated and soulful "Stealing Home" album from 1979. There then follows a huge favourite of mine – the groovy "Work To Make It Work" (lyrics above). For 1976 it seemed to somehow predate so much Funk-Rock that followed in a similar vein in the late Seventies. Things get a bit too syrupy with the stringed-up "Back In My Arms" while “River Boat” returns to that New Orleans choppy feel and is far better.

The album's second real gem is "Here With You Tonight" sounding like Little Feat with The Tower Of Power horns blasting in the background with an impassioned Palmer vocal out front. What a winner.

Again – Little Feat fans will flip for the simple acoustic demo of George's gorgeous "Willin'" – even as a basic demo recording – its lovely and intimate. "Hope We Wake Up" is similar – a simple acoustic demo – where he stops and starts as he works out the melody – it's lovely too.

I've always thought Robert Palmer was a class act – not just as singer – but also as a vessel for other people's songs. Sure it's not all genius – but there's a lot of quality Seventies Funk-Rock on offer here for not a lot of dollar bills.

Get this fabulous double-CD in your life and you'll find yourself sneakin' those other titles into your shopping basket too…

"Twin Sons Of A Different Mother/Phoenix" by DAN FOGELBERG [and TIM WEISBERG] (2011 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters of Albums From 1978 and 1979) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Once I Was A Man Alone...Time To Carry On…"

I purchased these superb sounding Dan Fogelberg 2CD reissues by Beat Goes On Records of England way back and have been meaning to review them ever since. I’ve covered Volume 1 “Home Free” (1972) / “Souvenirs” (1974) and Volume 2 “Captured Angel” (1975) / ”Nether Lands” (1977) in separate reviews.

UK released 12 December 2011 - "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers/Phoenix" by DAN FOGELBERG on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1021 (Barcode 5017261210210) is Volume 3 in this series of Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters and Reissues. 

While "Phoenix" is a DAN FOGELBERG solo LP - the "Twin Sons" set is credited to DAN FOGELBERG and TIM WEISBERG. This British 2CD Reissue plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (34:44 minutes):

1. Twins Theme [Side 1]

2. Intimidation

3. Lazy Susan

4. Guitar Etude No. 3

5. Tell Me To My Face

6. Hurtwood Alley [Side 2]

7. Lahaina Luna

8. Paris Nocturne

9. Since You’ve Asked

10. The Power Of Gold

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th album “Twin Sons Of Different Mothers” [credited with Jazz Flautist TIM WEISBERG] first issued September 1978 in the USA on Full Moon JE 35339 and in the UK on Epic EPC 82774.

Disc 2 (42:52 minutes):

1. Tullamore Dew [Side 1]

2. Phoenix

3. Gypsy Wind

4. The Last To Know

5. Face The Fire

6. Wishing On The Moon [Side 2]

7. Heart Hotels

8. Longer

9. Beggar’s Game

10. Along The Road

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 6th LP first issued December 1979 in the USA on Full Moon Records PE 35634 and in the UK on Epic EPC 83317.

Like the other reissues in this superb series - the 16-page booklet is excellent – all artwork reproduced, the lyrics to both albums, full credits - and comes complete with new liner notes in this case by noted writer JOHN O’REGAN. With the outer card wrap – it’s a classy presentation. But the big news for fans is the fabulous remasters. ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Mastering in London has done the deed (he’s handled large numbers of BGO’s reissues) and his transfers on this 2CD set are beautifully handled. On to the music…

I can still recall the shock of “Twin Sons…” Having done 4 albums of Eagles-type singer-songwriter fare – Fogelberg went Instrumental and probably scared the crap out of his loyal fans. Excluding an acoustic/string ditty here and there – most of the 7 instrumentals on the 10-track LP are Flute Driven Jazz Fusion of sorts – a little like Jeff Beck’s “Blow By Blow” or “Wired” but without the lead guitars. One of the three vocal performances “The Power Of Gold” even became a minor US 7” single hit (features Don Henley on barely perceptible backing vocals). Beautifully produced - it was given a Half Speed Mastered Vinyl LP reissue in the Eighties. So it’s not surprising that the CD remaster here is breathtaking. I only wish I could say that the album warrants it because for me “Twin Sons…” has always been a failed curio. Some of the tracks are interesting for sure (like “Intimidation”) - but there are no real songs on here. But if "Twin Sons" is three stars then Fogelberg more than made up for it when he returned in 1979 with what is easily his most accomplished all-rounder album - the five-star “Phoenix”…

Opening with a fantastic double-whammy of the pretty acoustic instrumental “Tullamore Dew” – it launches into the long rocking “Phoenix (lyrics above). The trio of gorgeous soft ballads “Gypsy Wind”, “Heart Hotel” and especially “Longer” were tailor-made for Radio and not surprisingly “Longer” became a hit single for him in January 1980 (reached Number 2 on the Pop charts). But I’ve always felt that the album finisher “Along The Road” is a true Dan Fogelberg masterpiece – haunting to this day. And having lived with the crappy Eighties American CD all these years – I can’t stress enough how good this 2011 remaster has made the album sound. Wonderful…

He would really open out with “The Innocent Age” double in 1981 (featuring a rare duet vocal appearance by Joni Mitchell on the track "Nexus"). In the meantime - this beautiful-sounding 2CD reissue (along with the others) does his musical legacy proud...

"Ooh La La: An Island Harvest" by RONNIE LANE and SLIM CHANCE - Albums from 1975 and 1976 and more (March 2014 UK Universal/Island 2CD Label Anthology with Remasters and Previously Unreleased Material) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE-THAN-FEELING-All-Guide-Exceptional-ebook/dp/B0BGT69MVZ?crid=1RTTPB6MEK9Y7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aCLqQD_0x4Xc4Kd7CEKllFnbfqhZ11PdMT_72etNzX9uk4_p_dYzE7ix7BD2qIIrl8-pAv90HElKfIB-_ZesIaS7TKJ-pDCFTgEP2k9aFX6a08GeBKgOKqyKHE6gcf0WacJEY4AKfVHlvo1EyZXb-psq6hf7c8WNvfvSSQUcNdP73WQfDavTWOHn5u81XeWCHJ47XMXWJqovt2Cx2c7BHgnvhCDYy23xFnpilpsAe90.T6uf-EhIxX_KJ8LfLu5E7Pk739m39vwP0A9sw0LfGno&dib_tag=se&keywords=more+than+a+feeling+mark&qid=1717663975&sprefix=more+than+a+feeling+mark%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=02abe7807076077061be2311e2d581b1&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"…I'm Gonna Miss You…"

As every Small Faces and Faces fan knows – Ronnie Lane's primo and sought-after solo career on GM and Island Records in the mid to late Seventies has had a ludicrously convoluted history on CD. It's involved obscure re-issue labels, followed by quick deletion and extortion setting in on the price front almost immediately. And most of these discs have had OK to occasionally better sound quality. 

Well – at last – all of that ends with Universal’s big label 2CD reissue "Ooh La La: An Island Harvest". It's not perfect for sure – but damn close. Here are the tins and tambourines…

UK released Monday 10 March 2014 (25 March 2014 in the USA) - "Ooh La La: An Island Harvest" by RONNIE LANE and SLIM CHANCE on Universal-Island 5345422 (Barcode 600753454220) is a 2CD Label Anthology that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (74:41 minutes):

Tracks 1, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 15 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - "Ooh La La (Alternate Studio Take – Take 4)", "Buddy Can Spare A Dime (Alternate Studio Take – Take 5)", "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter) (Alternate Studio Take)", "You Never Can Tell (Take 1)",  "Back Street Boy (Jam Session)", "Country Boy (Alternate Take)"

Tracks 8, 14, 17 and 18 are from the 1975 UK album "Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance" (see sequence below)

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 are from the 1976 UK album "One For The Road" LP (see sequence below)

Track 16 is "What Went Down (That Night With You)" – the A-side of a non-album UK 7” single issued February 1975 on Island WIP 6216

Disc 2 (75:26 minutes):

Tracks 1 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - "The Poacher (Take 2)" and "Anniversary (Alternate Mix)"

Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are from the 1975 UK album "Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance" (see sequence below)

Tracks 3 and 5 are from the 1976 UK album "One For The Road" LP (see sequence below)

Track 8 is "Lovely (Single Version)" – the Non-Album B-side of Track 16 on Disc 1

Tracks 12 to 19 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE tracks from a BBC Concert 23 April 1974 - "Last Orders Please", "Done This One Before", "Flags And Banners", "Tell Everyone", "How Come", "I Believe In You", "Debris" and "Ooh La La".

You can sequence 'most' of both Island LPs as follows (1/18) = Disc 1, Track 18 etc.:

"Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance"  (July 1975 2nd UK LP on Island ILPS 9321)

Side 1:

1.    Little Piece Of Nothing (1/18)

2.    Stone (2/4)

3.    A Bottle Of Brandy (2/6)

4.    Street Gang (2/2)

5.    Anniversary (1/14)

6.    I'm Gonna Sit Down And Write Myself A Letter

7.    I'm A Country Boy

Side 2:

1.    Ain't No Lady (2/9)

2.    Blue Monday (2/10)

3.    Give Me A Penny (1/8)

4.    You Never Can Tell

5.    Tin And Tambourine (1/17)

6.    Single Saddle (2/7)

"One For The Road" (July 1976 3rd UK LP on Island ILPS 9366)

Side 1:

1.    Don't Try 'N' Change My Mind (1/2)

2.    32nd Street (1/7)

3.    Snake (1/12)

4.    Burnin' Summer (1/13)

5.    One For The Road (1/3)

Side 2:

1.    Steppin' An' Reelin' (The Wedding) 1/5)

2.    Harvest Home (1/6)

3.    Nobody's Listening (2/3)

4.    G'morning (2/5)

The 2CDs are housed in a three-way foldout card sleeve that’s admittedly flimsy with CD1 on the left, CD2 on the right and the 16-page booklet in the centre (and again no inner bags for protection – be careful extracting the discs). A nice touch however is that CD1 repros the Pink-Rim Island Label - while CD2 repros the one after it – the Blue and Orange mid to late Seventies label. There are hugely affectionate liner notes by renowned music writer PAOLO HEWITT who also compiled the set with JOHNNY CHANDLER. We get mini photos of the two album sleeves and UK Island singles, master tape boxes, concert tickets, gig posters and reissue credits. But of course the big news is the sound – remastered from original tapes by ALEX WHARTON at Abbey Road Studios – we finally get to hear these tracks breath and sound wonderful.

The sonic wallop is immediate when you get to Track 2 – a rare UK 7" single "Don't Try To Change My Mind". Last I heard it was on a Neon CD from 2000 (see review) and its sound quality was good rather than great. Now it’s a revelation. The accordion and mandolins are so clear – lovely tune. And it seems like I’ve waited 40 years to hear "Tin And Tambourine" sound this good – what a blast. And when the band goes into that harmonica jaunt half way through – I’m bawling like a sappy fool. God I miss this guy…

As fans will have noticed from the LP lists above there's bad news and niggles – three tracks from "Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance" are AWOL - replaced with Alternates. However in the case of "Country Boy" – the Alternate Mix is shockingly good – as pretty as Lane could be – it's going to be an absolute highlight for many. Another downer is serious distortion and crackle on "Burnin' Summer" - perhaps it's a corrupted tape because it's unbelievably bad.

But in compensation the BBC In Concert stuff on Disc 2 comes over as a FACES gig done live-in-the-studio in a ramshackle Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance style (and don’t get me started on the gorgeous "Debris" – we’ll be here for years). The finisher "Ooh La La" is joyous stuff. There are one or two of the Takes with small amounts of studio banter (the Chuck Berry cover "You Never Can Tell") and Plonk’s infectious laugh that will put a smile on many a weary kisser. Fans of "The Poacher" will also flip for the "Two, Three, Four…" count in on Take 2 where I swear he’s changed the words but all the magical ingredients are there – just slightly different. Another gem for many will be the sonic upgrade on the lovely "Anniversary" (lyrics above) – it’s featured in both album and alternate form.

As a long time Amazon Reviewer (over 1000 posts) – I regularly heap praise on UK independent labels that keep the flame alive for so many of us (especially on CD). But in 2014 someone somewhere seems to have lit a large torch under the stodgy bottom of Universal – because like the brilliant Eric Clapton 2CD set “Give Me Strength” – for me this is yet another 2014 Reissue of the Year  from a major record company. What is going on!?

Paolo Hewitt writes of Ronnie Lane, "He had stars in his eyes and he had love in his smile…"

Well after a mere four even five decades after the event and his sad passing – fans of Ronnie 'Plonk' Lane finally have something worth getting weepy about. I raise a Pint of Guinness to him and to all involved in this superb reissue.

Cheers to you all...

"A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1973 - 1976" by ROBIN TROWER featuring James Dewar of Stone The Crows (July 2010 UK EMI 3CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE-THAN-FEELING-All-Guide-Exceptional-ebook/dp/B0BGT69MVZ?crid=1RTTPB6MEK9Y7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aCLqQD_0x4Xc4Kd7CEKllFnbfqhZ11PdMT_72etNzX9uk4_p_dYzE7ix7BD2qIIrl8-pAv90HElKfIB-_ZesIaS7TKJ-pDCFTgEP2k9aFX6a08GeBKgOKqyKHE6gcf0WacJEY4AKfVHlvo1EyZXb-psq6hf7c8WNvfvSSQUcNdP73WQfDavTWOHn5u81XeWCHJ47XMXWJqovt2Cx2c7BHgnvhCDYy23xFnpilpsAe90.T6uf-EhIxX_KJ8LfLu5E7Pk739m39vwP0A9sw0LfGno&dib_tag=se&keywords=more+than+a+feeling+mark&qid=1717663975&sprefix=more+than+a+feeling+mark%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=02abe7807076077061be2311e2d581b1&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...We Were Spellbound..."

Procol Harum’s ace axeman ROBIN TROWER has been thrilling my turntables and CD players for decades now - and this fabulous 3-disc nugget from those old muckers at EMI only hammers home why. You get album after album of Hard Rock, Blues, Boogie and yes - funky as fuck quality. Here are the Fender Bender details...

UK released 26 July 2010 - "A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1973-1976" by ROBIN TROWER on EMI/Chrysalis 642 1542 (Barcode 50999652154226) is the mega label's first anthology for the guitar virtuoso (3CDs) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (63:06 minutes):

1. I Can’t Wait Much Longer

2. Daydream

3. Hannah

4. Man Of The World

5. I Can’t Stand It

6. Rock Me Baby

7. Twice Removed From Yesterday

8. Sinner’s Song

9. Ballerina

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo album "Twice Removed From Yesterday" released March 1973 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1039.

Track 10 is "Take A First Train" – the non-album B-side to "Man Of The World" issued March 1973 as his Debut Solo 7" single in the UK on Chrysalis CHS 2009.

11. Day Of The Eagle

12. Bridge Of Sighs

13. In This Place

14. The Fool And Me

Tracks 11 to 14 are Side 1 of the album "Bridge Of Sighs" released April 1974 on Chrysalis CHR 1057.

Disc 2 (78:39 minutes):

1. Too Rolling Stoned

2. About To Begin

3. Lady Love

4. Little Bit Of Sympathy

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of the LP "Bridge Of Sighs".

5. Day Of The Eagle (7" Single Edit)

6. Shame The Devil

7. It's Only Money

8. Confessin' Midnight

9. Fine Day

10. Alethea

11. A Tale Untold

12. Gonna Be More Suspicious

13. For Earth Below

Tracks 6 to 13 are the album "For Earth Below" released February 1975 on Chrysalis CHR 1057.

14. Too Rolling Stoned

15. Daydream

16. Rock Me Baby

Tracks 14 to 16 are Side 1 of the LP "Robin Trower Live!" – released March 1976 on Chrysalis CHR 1089.

Disc 3 (64:51 minutes):

1. Lady Love

2. I Can't Wait Much Longer

3. Alethea

4. Little Bit Of Sympathy

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of the album "Robin Trower Live!"

5. Same Rain Falls

6. Long Misty Days

7. Hole Me

8. Caledonia

9. Pride

10. Sailing

11. S.M.O.

12. I Can't Live Without You

13. Messin The Blues

Tracks 5 to 13 are the album "Long Misty Days" – released October 1976 on Chrysalis CHR 1107.

14. Long Misty Days (Single Edit) - 1976 German 7" on Chrysalis 6155 073 - B-side of "Caledonia"

15. Let Me Be The One – Previously Unreleased Outtake

To get 5 albums of primo Seventies guitar Rock, three rare 7" single edits and 1 genuinely excellent previously unreleased track for just over twelve quid is pretty amazing value for money (including a free MP3 rip to your PC or Mac).

The 8-page booklet pictures the albums and has a center two-page spread of live photos – but little else. It's miniscule and really disappointing. At least with 2012's second Chrysalis Anthology "Farther On Up The Road" (1977 to 1983) – the booklet increased to 12-pages. But packaging niggles aside - the great remasters and the sheer value-for-money on offer here more than make up for it. In fact this entire EMI series (I've reviewed the Barclay James Harvest, Frankie Miller and Ten Years After 3CD sets) is exemplary.

But the big deal here is the 2010 PETER MEW REMASTER (done at Abbey Road). I've raved about this guy's touch at the tape before - even set a tag of his remastered issues for those interested in quality sound (there's hundreds) - and this double jewel-case set is no different. The sound is truly fantastic - full and clear without being over-hyped or amped up for the sake of it. Each is a new remaster excepting "Bridge Of Sighs" which Mew had already revisited in 2007.

First port of call for fans is the amazing previously unreleased song "Let Me Be The One" (a "Long Misty Days" outtake). It's a properly brill slowy that reeks of Thin Lizzy mid Seventies bars and drowning your sorrows in whiskey. I’m genuinely shocked at how good it is – with James Dewar’s soulful vocals added real pain and pathos to the lovely guitar melody.

Then of course there’s the jewel in the LP crown – the entire "Bridge Of Sighs" album that is a vast improvement over the good rather than great debut "Twice Removed From Yesterday". Speaking of soulful (and even Lizzy) – the beautiful “Daydream” from 1973 sounds glorious (lyrics above). But in truth there are so many goodies on here – and not all of it is straight-up rocking. I love it when the band move out of the guitar pyrotechnics and get funky – the opening track "Shame The Devil" from "For Earth Below" or the Side 2 ender "Messin' The Blues" from "Long Misty Days" are good examples.

On the rocking and funky "Lady Love" (from "Bridge Of Sighs") James Dewar sings, "…A simple truth…and it moves me…" Indeed it does. A 5-star winner if ever there was one...

PS: see also my review for Volume 2 "Farther On Up The Road..."