"The Complete Invictus Studio Recordings: 1969-1978" by CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (2014 UK Edsel 9CD Box Set of Remasters with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Skin I'm In…"

There’s a huge haul in this mini box set – so let's get to the Soulful nitty-gritty right away:

UK and USA released August 2014 - "The Complete Invictus Studio Recordings: 1969-1978" by CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD is a 97-track 9CD British Box Set on Edsel COTBOXO1 (Barcode 501479789094). It offers fans their 4 studio albums, 3 solo LPs and 2CDs worth of Bonus Tracks – non-album singles, rarities and four previously unreleased tracks (two of which are new Tom Moulton remixes). 

Each CD-album is housed a hard-card 5" Mini LP repro artwork card sleeve (American artwork) while the Bonus Tracks come in gatefold hard card 5" sleeve that uses the Invictus Label Bag as its artwork. It breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 is their 12-track debut album "Give Me Just A Little More Time" (38:16 minutes) – released April 1970 in the USA on Invictus ST-7300 and November 1970 in the UK as "Chairmen Of The Board" (with the same track list) on Invictus SVT 1002

Disc 2 is their 12-track 2^nd LP "Chairmen Of The Board/In Session" (40:21 minutes) – released November 1970 in the USA on Invictus ST-7304 and April 1971 in the UK on Invictus SVT 1003

Disc 3 is their 9-track 3^rd album "Bittersweet" (41:14 minutes) – released October 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9801 and SVT 1006 in the UK

Disc 4 is their 11-track 4^th and final LP "Skin I'm In" – October 1974 in the USA on Invictus KZ 32526 (37:19 minutes)

Disc 5 is a 10-track solo album by GENERAL JOHNSON called "Generally Speaking" (41:41 minutes) – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9803

Disc 6 is a 9-track solo album by HARRISON KENNEDY called "Hypnotic Music" (38:02 minutes) – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9806

Disc 7 is a 10-track solo album by DANNY WOODS called "Aries" (42:41 minutes) – released 1972 in the USA on Invictus ST-9808

Disc 8 is BONUS TRACKS: 1971-1973 (36:07 minutes) – all track are by COTB except where noted:

Tracks 1 and 2 are Savannah Lady and I'm In Love Darling by GENERAL JOHNSON – the A&B sides of a 1972 USA 7" single on Invictus IS-9093

Track 3 is Men Are Getting Scarce – it's the USA 7" single A-side edit at 3:13 minutes (the album version is 5:19 minutes) - released 1971 on Invictus IS-9103

Track 4 is Hanging On To A Memory – the non-album B-side to Tricked And Trapped (By A Tricky Trapper) – released 1971 on Invictus IS 9089

Tracks 5 and 6 are Elmo James (Single Edit – 3:28 minutes) and Bittersweet (Single Edit – 3:24 minutes) – the A&B-sides of a 7" single released 1971 in the USA on Invictus IS-9105

Track 7 is Let Me Down Easy – released 1972 as the non-album A-side 7" single on Invictus IS-9126

Tracks 10 and 8 are Everybody's Tippin' and Roller Coaster (Single Edit) by DANNY WOODS – the A&B-sides of a USA 7" single issued in 1971 on Invictus IS-9132. The A-side is non-album – the B-side a 2:53 minutes edit of the album version at 3:41 minutes

Track 9 is Everybody's Got A Song To Sing (Single Edit – 2:52 minutes) – the B-side of Working On A Building Of Love - a 1972 USA 7" single on Invictus IS-9122

Track 11 is Up-The Organization (Instrumental) by GENERAL JOHNSON – the non-album B-side to Sunday Morning People – a 1972 USA 7" single on Invictus IS-9112

Track 12 is Finder's Keepers (Instrumental) – the non-album B-side to "Finder's Keepers" – a 1973 USA 7" single on Invictus ZS7 1251

Disc 9 is BONUS TRACKS: 1973-2014 (42:30 minutes) - all track are by COTB except where noted:

Track 1 is Finder's Keepers (Vocal) – the non-album A-side version – a 1973 USA 7" single on Invictus ZS7 1251

Tracks 2 and 3 are Only Time Will Tell and Only Time Will Tell (Instrumental) by GENERAL JOHNSON – the A&B sides of a 1973 USA 7" single on Invictus ZS7 1252

Track 4 is Skin I'm In (Single Edit) – the A-side to the 1974 USA 7" single on Invictus ZS8 1276

Track 5 is Everybody Party All Night (Single Edit) – the A-side to the 1974 USA 7" single on Invictus S INV 2523

Tracks 6 and 7 are You've Got Extra Added Power and Someone Just Like You by COTB featuring PRINCE HAROLD – the non-album A&B-sides of a 1976 USA 7" single on Invictus ZS8 1278

Track 8 is Come On In And Dance – the non-album A-side of a 1978 USA 7" single on ICA Recording Group ICA-023

Tracks 9 and 10 are What's The Use and Where There Is Faith There Is Hope – two PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED tracks. There are no writers credits and were found in the vaults in 2014.

Tracks 11 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 2014 TOM MOULTON REMIXES of You've Got Me Dangling On A String and Give Me Just A Little More Time

I love the aesthetic feel of the oversized 5" Repro Sleeves – very nice indeed front and rear. The 36-page booklet is gorgeous – full colour-plates of all 7 LPs - with further photos of the band and rare Euro 7" picture sleeves. The superlatively detailed and informative liners notes are provided by long-time Soul aficionado DEAN RUDLAND (with help from TONY ROUNCE) – their huge knowledge and love for the label and the period lifting every paragraph. The remasters are done by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy in London and are wicked – full of presence and power. Comparing them – they sound better to the 2009 versions Edsel gave us when they presented this catalogue in 2CD sets years back.

It’s cool to hear the albums again minus the bonus tracks – just as I remember them. The first two LPs had the Invictus hits – "You've Got Me Dangling On A String", "Everything's Tuesday" and "Pay To The Piper". But for me it's the lesser-heard "Skin I'm In" album from 1974 that has more magic and the American "Aries" solo album by Danny Woods is a bit of a forgotten Seventies Soul masterpiece. The only slip-up I can see is the absence of the Instrumental of "Morning Glory" which was a B-side – other than that – this is exemplary stuff.

Pitched at twenty of our pounds – it works out at a few pence over two quid per CD – which is a bit of a deal frankly. Top job done by Edsel and congrats to all involved…

"Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus!" by NEIL DIAMOND (March 2002 US MCA/Universal 3CD Anthology from 1968 to 1972 with Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"...Dig!"

Including 6 whole LPs issued between 1968 and 1972, a rare B-side and 7 live cuts relevant to the time period – there's a ton of stuff on the Neil Diamond retrospective "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings..." 

And despite the 24-page booklet talking of some transfers being ever so slightly compromised because of the condition of the original tape sources – the Erick Labson 24-bit Remasters are just gorgeous across all of it – a beautiful sounding set if ever there was one – and if digital restoration has taken place – then one helluva job has been done.

 

In order to get a grip on this Universal 3CD motherlode – I've broken it down into disc-by-disc details. Here goes...

USA and UK released May 2003 - "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings…Plus!" by NEIL DIAMOND on MCA/Universal 088 112 824 2 (Barcode 008811282424) plays out as follows (all songs written by Diamond unless otherwise noted):

Disc 1 (79:56 minutes):

His first Uni Records LP "Velvet Gloves And Spit" was released in two versions at two different times - so I've shown how to sequence either variant (7/1 = Track 7, Disc 1 etc): 

"Velvet Gloves And Spit" – released October 1968 LP in the USA on Uni Records 73030

1. Sunday Sun (7/1)

2. A Modern Day Version Of Love (2/1)

3. Honey-Drippin' Times (3/1)

4. The Pot Smoker's Song (4/1)

5. Brooklyn Roads (5/1)

6. Two-Bit Manchild (1/1)

7. Holiday Inn Blues (8/1)

8. Practically Newborn (9/1)

9. Knackelflerg (10/1)

10. Merry-Go-Round (11/1)

"Velvet Gloves And Spit" – the May 1970 US reissue LP on Uni Records 73030 (Different Sleeve with repositioned tracks including an additional re-recording of “Shilo”)

1. Two-Bit Manchild (1/1)

2. A Modern Day Version Of Love (2/1)

3. Honey-Drippin’ Times (3/1)

4. The Pot Smoker’s Song (4/1)

5. Brooklyn Roads (5/1)

6. Shilo (6/1)

7. Sunday Sun (7/1)

8. Holiday Inn Blues (8/1)

9. Practically Newborn (9/1)

10. Knackelflerg (10/1)

11. Merry-Go-Round (11/1)

12. Bread Old Woman (6 A.M. Insanity) – non-album B-side to the 1968 US 45 for "Two-Bit Manchild" on Uni 55075

13. Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

14. Dig In

15. River Runs, New Grown Plums

16. Juliet

17. Long Gone

18. And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind

19. Glory Road

20. Deep In The Morning

21. If I Knew Your Name

22. Memphis Streets

23. You're So Sweet Houseflies Keep Hangin' 'Round Your Face

24. Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy

Tracks 13 to 24 on Disc 1 are the first pressing of the album "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" – May 1969 LP on Uni Records 73047. However, it was reissued in September 1969 with the hit "Sweet Caroline" added on as the last track on Side 2 (the album also renamed and re-sleeved as "Sweet Caroline"). 

25. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)

Track 25 is the A-side of a USA 7" single on Uni Records 55136 ("Dig In" was its B-side). Also on the "Sweet Caroline" LP – see Tracks 13 to 24 above

26. Everybody's Talkin'

Track 26 is the opening song on Side One of the "Touching You Touching Me" LP – released December 1969 in the USA on Uni Records 7307. Track 26 is a Fred Neil cover version. 

Disc 2 (77:26 minutes):

1. Mr. Bojangles [Jerry Jeff Walker cover]

2. Smokey Lady

3. Holly Holy

4. Both Sides Now [Joni Mitchell cover]

5. And The Singer Sings His Song

6. Ain't No Way

7. New York Boy

8. Until It's Time For You To Go [Buffy Sainte-Marie cover]

Tracks 1 to 8 on Disc 2 make up the remainder of the US LP "Touching You Touching Me" (Note: "Sweet Caroline" (25/1) was an additional track on the UK LP)

9. Cracklin' Rosie

10. Free Life

11. Coldwater Morning

12. Done Too Soon

13. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother [Bob Russell, Bobby Scott song – Hollies cover]

14. Childsong

15. I Am The Lion

16. Madrigal

17. Soolaimon

18. Missa

19. African Suite

20. Childsong (Reprise)

Tracks 9 to 20 are the whole album of "Tap Root Manuscript" – November 1970 US LP on Uni Records 73092

21. I Am…I Said

22. The Last Thing On My Mind [Tom Paxton cover]

23. Husbands And Wives [Roger Miller cover]

24. Chelsea Morning [Joni Mitchell cover]

Tracks 21 to 24 are Side 1 of the album "Stones" – November 1971 US LP on Uni Records 93106

Disc 3 (77:27 minutes):

1. Crunchy Granola Suite

2. Stones

3. If You Go Away [Jacques Brel – Rod McKuen cover]

4. Suzanne [Leonard Cohen cover]

5. I Think It's Gonna Rain Today [Randy Newman cover]

6. I Am…I Said (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 6 are Side 2 of the "Stones" LP - November 1971 US LP on Uni Records 93106

7. Song Sung Blue

8. Porcupine Pie

9. High Rolling Man

10. Canta Libre

11. Captain Sunshine

12. Play Me

13. Gitchy Goomy

14. Walk On Water

15. Theme

16. Prelude I E Major

17. Morningside

Tracks 7 to 17 are the whole album "Moods" – July 1972 US LP on Uni Records 93136

LIVE BONUS TRACKS:

18. Lordy (Live)

19. Kentucky Woman (Live)

20. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Live)

Tracks 18, 19 and 20 are live bonus songs from the "Neil Diamond/Gold" album of August 1970

21. Solitary Man (Live)

22. Cherry, Cherry (Live)

23. Red, Red Wine (Live)

24. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (live)

Tracks 21, 22, 23 and 24 are from the December 1972 live double "Hot August Night"

The 24-page booklet has full Discography info including mini pictures of the album artwork and incisive liner notes by Robyn Flans (of People Magazine). But the big news is the 96K/24bit remasters by ERICK LABSON of Universal – a man who has over 1200 restoration credits to his name including most of the Chess Label.

The sound quality here is awesome and adds huge power to the "Stones" and "Moods" albums in particular. "Cracklin' Rose", "Shiloh", "I Am…I Said", "Song Sung Blue" – they're all here. But for me the best here is the double-winner of "Stones" backed up by the funky "Crunchy Granola Suite" – a genius 7" single from 1972.

Even when he's tackling cover versions like Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing On My Mind" or the gorgeous Midnight Cowboy song "Everybody's Talkin'" – Diamond manages to respect the original while adding his own slice of Neil to it somehow. The earlier albums too are all but forgotten now and yet there's blindingly good stuff on them like the plaintive "Brooklyn Roads", the Spanish Guitar Walker Brothers melodrama of "A Modern Day Version Of Love" or the very Fred Neil warmth of "Hurting You Don't Come Easy" (issued as a 45 B-side to "Holly Holy" in the UK and USA in November 1969). Jumping forward to 1972's "Moods" LP and both "Gitchy Goomy" (fun) and the hurting "Morningside" sound gorgeous too (superb audio quality). And on it goes...

"...L.A.'s fine…the sun shines most the time…and the feeling's laid back…"

The 3CD haul of "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus!" is probably more Big D than most can handle (a single disc "Best Of" would probably suffice). But if you're prepared to dig a bit deeper and embrace your inner Neil - the good stuff is great – and that audio quality will blow you away…

For other superb Erick Labson remasters see my reviews for...

 

1. Gold by STEPPENWOLF (2CD Set)

2. The Complete Hit Singles by THREE DOG NIGHT

3. The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions by HOWLIN' WOLF featuring ERIC CLAPTON and members of the ROLLING STONES (2CD Deluxe Edition)

4. Not Fade Away - The Complete Studio Recordings And More by BUDDY HOLLY (6CD Book Set)

5. Greatest Hits Volume 2 - The ABC/Dunhill/MCA Years by BOBBY BLAND

6. Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues by MUDDY WATERS 

“Marquee Moon” by TELEVISION (2003 Rhino 'Expanded Edition' CD - Greg Calbi Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry…

"…Talk To The Mountain…"

When you think of the staggering influence America's TELEVISION has exerted over so many budding bands and songwriters - it's strange now in the glaring hindsight of 2014 to know that in the eye of the Punk and New Wave hurricane they were largely a British phenomenon. The New York band's 1977 debut LP barely scraped the lower 200 in the USA album charts but stood proudly at 28 in the UK. Both singles off the album - "Marquee Moon" (March 1977 on K 12251) and "Prove It" (July 1977 on K 12262) charted well in Blighty too (30 and 25). Their 2nd album "Adventure" from 1978 even went to No. 7.  But none of it seemed to mean zip in the no-chart action States...

Whatever way chart-history judges them - I stare at this LP's rather dull artwork now and still get a sheer tingle of excitement. I've loved this record for nearly 40 years and it still sounds so ludicrously fresh to me when so many others have gone by the wayside. And dare I use that most clichéd of words - this album and their sound as a band is as influential now as The Clash, The Jam and even The Sex Pistols. So it's cool to see this superb expanded and remastered CD do that legacy proud. Here are the green-coloured vinyl details...

Released October 2003 on Rhino R2 73920 (Barcode 081227392024) - "Marquee Moon" by TELEVISION comes in a card digipak with an extra flap and this 'Extended Edition' CD pans out as follows (77:27 minutes):

1. See No Evil

2. Venus

3. Friction

4. Marquee Moon

5. Elevation

6. Guiding Light

7. Prove It

8. Torn Curtain

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Marquee Moon" - released February 1977 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-1098 and K 52046 in the UK.

Tracks 9 to 13 are BONUSES new to CD:

Track 9 is "Little Johnny Jewel (Part 1 & 2)" - the A&B sides of their rare debut 7" single in the USA only on Ork Records 81975.

Tracks 10, 11 and 12 are 'Alternate' Versions of album tracks "See No Evil", "Friction" and "Marquee Moon"

Track 13 is called "Untitled Instrumental"

The 20-page colour booklet has liner notes by noted New York writer ALAN LICHT (even picturing that Ork Records 45 on Page 18) with snaps of Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, Fred Smith and Billy Ficca and the CBGB's nightclub. The CD repros the Butterfly label of the original Elektra records America LP while the quality-remaster has been carried out by one of my favourite tape engineers GREG CALBI (assisted by Lee Hulko). For more of Calbi's fabulous work see reviews for Supertramp's "Breakfast In America" and Paul Simon's "Graceland". He's also done Bob Dylan (the SACD remasters), John Mayer, Paul McCartney and hundreds more. The audio is fabulous - full of muscle and presence without ever being overdone.

Neither Rock nor Punk - TELEVISION (like Talking Heads) were the very epitome of NEW WAVE and that jagged Yank edge they had seemed exotic to me then and still does. It some respects it's a perfect album - 8 great tracks that all work. It opens with the killer "See No Evil" (lyrics above) emblazoning that Television sound and melody into your heart. "Friction" still has that angry edge while the near eleven-minutes of "Marquee Moon" is stunning. The album finisher "Torn Curtain" has a melodrama that reminds me of Patti Smith's "Easter".

I had though the extras would be filler - but no. The alternate of "Friction" has more guitar work but it's sloppy and not as tight as the finished article - and you can hear why it was dropped for the more polished version. Fans will know that the title track was put out on 7" and especially 12" single in the UK on Elektra K 12252 with a MONO variant of "Marquee Moon" on the B-side (the STEREO album version is on the A). But it's not on here. Rhino have obviously decided to exclude that in favour of the Previously Unreleased Alternate Version (and a good choice it is too). The "Untitled Instrumental" would have made a great B-side - especially if some lyrics had been drummed up for it. Their next platter "Adventure" was good too but just lacked that edge of greatness the debut had.

So there you have it - what a band and what an album.

"...Face to face with a world so alive..." - Verlaine sings on "Venus". 

Get this slice of New Wave Americana in your life pronto...