"The Socks" by THE SOCKS (2014 Debut Album on Small Stone Records) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Hailing out of France but sounding like they're steeped in the spirit of 1991 US Grunge, Seventies British Heavy Metal and Prog and even New European Psych - "The Socks" make a hell of an angry racket. And in the case of "Some Kind Of Sorcery" (the lead off single) they have been clearly snorting Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Black Sabbath's "Master Of Reality" on a nightly basis.

"Next To The Light" has that great phased Ozzie vocal (similar to "Planet Caravan") and it's as commercial (dare we say it) as this album gets. I can hear this beauty getting serious airplay.

Personal favourites include the choppy guitar-rock of "Gypsy Lady" with its heavy Stranglers bass and keyboard lines while the six and half-minute finisher "The Last Dragon" with its smoky guitars and Mellotron swirl would do many a Vertigo Spiral band proud (May Blitz and Linda Hoyle's Affinity jump to mind). I bet it slays them live.

Similar in vein to Black Rainbows, Karma To Burn and Mars Red Sky - The Socks have made a slammer of a debut and Julien Meret's vocals are going to make Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell fans sit up and take serious notice. Well done…

"Some People Can Do What They Like" (1976) and "Double Fun (1978) by ROBERT PALMER - A Review Of His 3rd and 4th Solo Albums – Now Reissued And Remastered By Edsel Of The UK In 2013 - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1976

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"...Takes Every Kinda People..."

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. 

I've already reviewed his 1974 debut "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" and its sexy 1976 follow up "Pressure Drop". This 2CD reissue on Demon's Edsel label celebrates the next stage – his 3rd and 4th solo albums from 1976 and 1978.

UK released 26 August 2013 - "Some People Can Do What They Want/Double Fun" by ROBERT PALMER on Edsel EDSK 7038 (Barcode 740155703837) is a 2CD Compilation that offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD - it breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:41 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd Solo LP "Some People Can Do What They Like" – UK released October 1976 on Island ILPS 9420

Disc 2 (35:01 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 4th Solo LP "Double Fun" – UK released March 1978 on Island ILPS 9476

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. 

One reviewer is ranting on about MP3 files but I don't hear anything of the sort - and if these are sourced from Universal's remasters for "Gold" then they are vast improvements on what we had before. 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.  

Having relocated to the Bahamas and with his 2nd album "Pressure Drop" only just released to the shops in April of 1976 – Palmer was already under pressure to produce another album immediately. Hence only two songs on "Some People…" are originals – the other 8 are hastily worked out covers. But cobbled out of nothing – the album is brilliant - and perhaps one of the great lost Funk-Rock nuggets of the mid Seventies.

It opens with a Bill Payne original (of Little Feat) "One Last Look" and not surprisingly Palmer makes a return to the mighty Feat on Lowell George's fab "Spanish Moon". Two absolute belters however come in the shape of drummers – his pal Alan Powell (the backbeat behind Vinegar Joe) co-writes the brilliantly funky "Gotta Get A Grip On You (Part II)" while legendary Kansas sticks man James Gadson (Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, The Jungle Brothers and later with Beck and Paul McCartney) gives us the stunning "What Can You Bring Me". An old Harry Belafonte Calypso hit "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" was funked up and lifted as a single on Island WIP 6345 but it made few inroads. The album ends on a high note though with his own fabulously groovy "Some People Can Do What They Like" featuring Old Grey Whistle Test Theme type harmonica wailing from Greg Carroll. The album scraped the Top 100 in the USA. Commercially things fared better next time around…

I recall first hearing the stunning groove of "Every Kinda People" – a song penned by Andy Fraser of Free (lyrics above). I bought the single immediately and played it to distraction (there is a Remix of "Every Kinda People" on the 1999 Universal CD compilation that is not included here – would have made a good bonus track). With a two year layoff Palmer contributed 7 originals to the superbly crafted 10-track "Double Fun" album – the other two covers being "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Night People" - a new contribution from his old New Orleans pal and genius songwriter Allen Toussaint.

The boppin' "Best Of Both Worlds" sees Reggae seeping into his funky style – the same with "Love Can Run Faster" only featuring more piano. Again Richie Hayward, Bill Payne and Paul Barrere of Little Feat are all over the tracks on Drums, Keyboards and Guitars respectively. Things take a string-plucked change with the lovely "You Overwhelm Me" – a great Palmer melody.  And it ends well with the "Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)" funk-rock of "You're Going To Get What's Coming" which is just great.

I’ve always thought Robert Palmer was a class act – not just as singer – but also as a vessel for other people’s songs. On this reissue you get a whole lot of both. Bluntly there's a hunk of quality Seventies Funk-Rock-Soul-Reggae on offer here for not a lot of your hard earned.

Get this fabulous double-CD in your life and you’ll find yourself sneakin’ those other titles into your shopping basket too. I miss him…

"The Innocent Age" by DAN FOGELBERG - November 1981 Double-Album on Full Moon and Epic Records with Joni Mitchell as a Guest (September 2012 UK Beat Goes On 2CD Remaster of the 1981 Double-Album) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Wealthy The Spirit…"

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), Volume 2 "Captured Angel" (1975) / "Nether Lands" (1977) and Volume 3 "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers" (1978) / "Phoenix" (1980) in separate reviews. Here are the details for Volume 4 that deals with his expansive and brilliant double-album from 1981 that featured a rare guest spot by Joni Mitchell on duet vocals. To details...

UK released 10 September 2012 - "The Innocent Age" by DAN FOGELBERG on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1073 (Barcode 5017261210739) is a 2CD set of Remasters that make up the 17 tracks of his 7th vinyl album (a 2LP set) "The Innocent Age" - first issued November 1981 in the USA on Full Moon KE2 37393 and in the UK on Epic EPC 88533.

Discs 1 (39:40 minutes):

1. Nexus [Side 1]

2. The Innocent Age

3. The sand And The Foam

4. In The Passage

5. Lost In The Sun [Side 2]

6. Run For The Roses

7. Leader Of The Band

8. Same Old Lang Syne

Disc 2 (40:50 minutes):

1. Stolen Moments [Side 3]

2. The Lion's Share

3. Only The Heart May Know

4. The Reach

5. Aireshire Lament [Side 4]

6. Times Like These

7. Hard To Say

8. Empty Cages

9. Ghosts

Like the other reissues in this superb series - the packed 24-page booklet is excellent - all artwork reproduced, lyrics, full credits and liner notes in this case by noted writer DAVID WELLS. With the lovely outer card wrap/slipcase it automatically feels like a classy presentation. But the big news for fans is the fabulous remasters. ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Performance 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...

It opens with a belter "Nexus" and a rare cameo appearance on duet 'descant' vocals by JONI MITCHELL. The guitar solo in the song combined with the vocals still sends me to this day (lyrics above). Respectfully dedicated to the Buffalo Springfield, track 2 "The Innocent Age" is pure Fogelberg magic where he plays all the instruments and employs lovely harmony vocals from BF original band member RICHIE FURAY.

The album was a smash (it hit Number 6 on the charts - rare for a double) and spawned 4 hit singles - "Same Old Lang Syne", "Hard To Say", "Leader Of The Band" and "Run For The Roses" (with Al Perkins on Steel Guitar). Other favorites include the Emitt Rhodes acoustic funk of "Stolen Moments" and the gorgeous ballad "Only The Heart May Know" featuring an aching vocal duet with EMMYLOU HARRIS. "The Reach" is equally as beautiful ("it's father and son...it's the way it's been done...") - the melody and lyrics reduce me to tears every time. Wonderful stuff really - all of it...

I posted a note on Dan Fogelberg's website when he sadly succumbed to cancer in December 2007 - yet another teenage hero of mine gone to the great gig in the sky.

Luckily this and all the other beautiful-sounding 2CD reissues in this superb Beat Goes On series do his musical legacy proud. Well done to all involved and RIP you lovely songsmith...

"Somewhere In Time - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" by JOHN BARRY (1994 Beat Goes On CD Remaster - Reissued In 2013) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Journey Back In Time...."

Jeannot Szwarc's "Somewhere In Time" has been both a filmic and musical cult since its release in 1980 - and a mere twenty seconds into the opening theme and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why. The film is gushingly romantic in a way that might be called 'soppy' these days (starring Christopher Reeves, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer) and John Barry's score is simply sublime - beautiful icing on an already very tasty cake.

Remastered by Beat Goes On from the original tapes and released July 1994 on BGOCD222 (use Barcode 5017261202222 in the Amazon Search Bar) - "Somewhere In Time - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" by JOHN BARRY has been reissued at last in September 2013 using the same version as before (31:53 minutes).

Disappointingly the gatefold slip of paper that is laughably referred to as 'restored original artwork' on the silver sticker that accompanies these reissues is 'technically' right. Front and back cover and that's it. But it offers up nothing new - and it's a shame that Beat Goes On (BGO) didn't take this reissue opportunity to spread the wings a bit and fit the insert out with some proper celebratory liner notes (especially given Christopher Reeves sad demise).

1. Somewhere In Time [Side 1]

2. The Old Woman

3. The Journey Back In Time

4. A Day Together

5. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Side 2]

6. Is He The One

7. The Man Of My Dreams

8. Return To The Present

9. Theme From "Somewhere In Time"

Tracks 1 to 9 are the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to "Somewhere In Time" by JOHN BARRY - released October 1980 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-5154 and October 1986 (belatedly) in the UK on MCA Records MCF 3333. All music composed by JOHN BARRY except "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini" by Rachmaninoff. Piano solo on "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini" played by Chet Swiatkowski - Piano solo on "Theme From "Somewhere In Time"" played by Roger Williams.

What matters is the music and it sounds gorgeous and lush - quiet when it needs to be - full of presence and warmth too and not just ratcheted up for the sake of volume (probably done by the resident Audio Engineer Andrew Thompson although it doesn’t say so). With most soundtracks the 'theme' or 'refrain' is repeated in varying guises throughout - and it's no different here. But frankly the main "Somewhere In Time" theme is so incredibly haunting and poignant that any amount of variations is welcome news as far as I'm concerned.

A rather nice deviation is "Rhapsody On A Theme..." with a deft Piano Solo from Chet Swiatkowsky. And it all ends on Track 9 with a final performance of the 'theme' by piano soloist Roger Williams. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to "Somewhere In Time" may be short for sure compared to today's 20 and 24-track releases (it only just nudges over 30-minutes) - but it is 'oh so sweet' and more measured for it.

I've been a lifelong Barry fan (and its not just because of the surname) and at one time had over 30 of his original soundtrack albums. But even by his lofty "Out Of Africa" and "Diamonds Are Forever" masterpiece standards - "Somewhere In Time" is exceptional in its entirety.

Get this solid gold star in your reasonably priced car as soon as possible. And it's a lifetime regret that I never saw the Maestro live (my brother did and talks about it today). Oh well - gotta settle for the next best thing...

PS: There is also an extended 19-track re-recording version of "Somewhere In Time" from 1998 done by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by John Debney (with John Barry's permission). Although it's not the original soundtrack per say - Varese Sarabande VSD-5911 (Barcode 030206591125) comes recommended by many fans and has beautiful 20-bit digital audio. If you want only the original music - there is also a further reissue of the original 9-track album in Japan-only on MCA Records. It's an Audiophile K2-HD Mastering CD version remastered in 2013 by Takeshi Hakamata from original US tapes (use Barcode 0602488963350 to locate a copy).