"Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story" by C.C.S. [feat Alexis Korner] (July 2013 UK Esoteric Recordings 2CD Anthology of Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Hey Brother…Stay Loose…"

Up until now I've had all three of Repertoire's 2000 card digipaks for the 3 CCS albums as well as the superb 2004 EMI compilation "A's B's & Rarities" which mopped up the non-album stragglers. But this new 2013 2CD set from England's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) supersedes all of those - especially on sound. Here are the collective details...

UK released July 2013 (August 2013 in the USA) - "Tap Turns On The Water: The CCS Story" by C.C.S. is a 2CD anthology on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22404 (Barcode 5013929450448) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (76:22 minutes):

1. Boom Boom

2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

3. Waiting Song

4. Lookin' For Fun

5. Whole Lotta Love

6. Living In The Past

7. Sunrise

8. Dos Cantos

9. Wade In The Water

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "C.C.S." released October 1970 in the UK on RAK Records SRAK 6751

Tracks 10 and 11 are "Walkin'" and "Salome" - the non-album A & B-sides of a UK 7" single released January 1971 on RAK Records RAK 109 ("Walkin'" is a Donovan cover version)

Tracks 12 and 13 are "Tap Turns On The Water" and "Save The World" - the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released August 1971 on RAK Records RAK 119

14. Brother

15. Black Dog

16. I Want You Back

17. Running out Of Sky (Sky Diver)

18. Whole Lotta Rock and Roll: (a) School Days (b) Lucille (c) Long Tall Sally (d) Whole Lotta Love

Tracks 14 to 18 are Side 1 of their 2nd album called "CCS" (aka "CCS II") - released March 1972 on RAK Records SRAK 503

Disc 2 (77:17 minutes)

1. Chaos/Can't We Ever Get It Back

2. This Is My Life

3. Misunderstood

4. Maggie's Song

5. City

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 2 of "CCS" [aka "CCS II"]

Track 6 is "If I Never Sing Another Song" which is an outtake recorded during the "CCS II" sessions in 1971 - it first turned up as one of two Previously Unreleased songs on the "A's B's & Rarities" EMI CD from 2004. It has a brass refrain of "Tap Turns On The Water" as it ends.

Track 7 is "Mister, What You Can't Have I Can Get" - a non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Brother" released February 1972 on RAK Records RAK 126

Track 8 is "Sixteen Tons" - a non-album A-side to a UK 7" single - released October 1972 in the UK on RAK Records RAK 141 (its a fabulous cover of a Tennessee Ernie Ford classic)

9. The Band Played The Boogie

10. Wild Witch Lady

11. Lola

12. Primitive Love

13. Hundred Highways

14. Shakin' All Over

15. Memphis

16. Sunshine Of Your Love

17.Our Man In London

18. Cannibal Sheep

Tracks 9 to 18 are their 3rd and final studio album "The Best Band In The Land" - released September 1973 on RAK Records SRAK 504

Track 19 is "Hang It On Me" - a non-album B-side to "The Band Played The Boogie" released June 1973 on UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 154

Tracks 20 and 21 are "Hurricane Coming" and "Dragster" - both non-album tracks released April 1974 on a UK 7" single RAK Records RAK 172

A huge ensemble group - C.C.S. (short for COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS SOCIETY) - was the brain-child of British Blues Boom Godfather ALEXIS KORNER who along with Danish singer PETER THORUP and British arranger JOHN CAMERON pulled together the cream of brass/flute-playing session-men of the time and went after the Blood, Sweat & Tears market for funked-up brassy Rock. Owner of RAK Records - Mickie Most's timing couldn't have been better. Deciding right from the start to include cover versions on their records - they did a fantastic brassed-up take on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" that not only complimented the 1969 Atlantic Records original - but also defined that "CCS" sound. So when the new BBC pop program "Top Of The Pops" needed a cool theme song - they took this winner - dropped the flute intro, vocal middle and end - and a riffing theme song legend was born. I can vividly remember as a budding teenager thrilling to its power chords every Thursday night as it and Pans People did their poppet thing.

The 3-way card digipak houses a 16-page booklet with sleeve shots, rare advert photos, pictures of Alexis and the band and great liner notes by noted musicologist MALCOME DOME. And the whole project is coordinated and arranged by long-time hero of reissues MARK POWELL. But the big news is the sound. Remastered from first generation tapes by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London - this release sounds just awesome. I should reiterate that the Repertoire CDs had fabulous sound anyway (licensed from EMI) - but these remasters trump them for sheer power and presence - the clarity is fantastic without ever being over-ramped for effect. The only down note is that "This Is My Life" - the great B-side to the Tennessee Ernie Ford cover of "Sixteen Tons" - is missing (the 7" mix is different to the album version). But this and a very good outtake called "Blues" are both available on the 2004 EMI CD compilation "A's..." for a very reasonable cost.

The first album is an utter blast with their lead off track being a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" done in their distinctive style (it was the B-side of their October 1970 debut single "Whole Lotta Love"). And then you're hit with their other lethal weapon - the voice of ALEXIS KORNER - a man who straddles these tracks with a presence and enthusiasm that is irresistible. CCS do "Satisfaction" by The Stones and "Living In The Past" by Jethro Tull as covers too - but the remainder are impressive are Korner, Cameron and Thorup originals. The ethereally atmospheric Korner original "Sunrise" sounds just gorgeous with its double-played acoustic guitars. The uber-cool John Cameron original "Dos Cantos" is another flute and brass gem that slinks and tingles and then funks for over eight minutes. It sports wicked lyrics like "weave your web...spider of forgetfulness..." - it deserves praise and rediscovery (and again with that stunning audio quality). The "Walkin'" non-album 7" single (a cover of a Donovan track) is wicked too. The late summer of 1971 brought their most famous hit - the fabulous "Tap Turns On The Water" - another non-album 45-only release.

By the time they hit the next LP "CCS II" (which is actually/confusingly called just "C.C.S." on the sleeve and label) - they were in their stride with "Chaos/Can't We Ever Get It Back" and "Misunderstood" standing out (not to mention the wicked "Brother" opener).  They do Zeppelin's "Black Dog", The Congregation and Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and a 4-part Rock 'n' Roll Medley which combines Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" with Chuck Berry's "School Days" and a double Little Richard dollop of "Lucille" and "Long Tall Sally".

But the 3rd album (possibly sporting the worst album cover ever) saw public interest wane big time (its been a vinyl rarity for years) despite covers of The Kinks "Lola", Donovan's "Wild Witch Lady", Johnny Kidd & The Pirates "Shakin' All Over" and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" being properly good. RAK Records hitmakers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman provided "Primitive Love" which was an obvious single. It ends on the bizarrely named Korner original "Cannibal Sheep" which features a great double-vocal from the maestro while the beat chugs along rather nicely.

I loved CCS then and still do. This superb 2CD set from Esoteric Recordings has been a blast to listen to - so many great memories and now fans can avail themselves of its stunning sound quality. Well done to all involved. Stay loose brother...

PS: check out the HOT CHOCOLATE "A's B's & Rarities" which features the UK 7" single "Brother Louie" from April 1973 - it's arranged by John Cameron and features Spoken vocals by Alexis Korner at the end ("no spook in my family - get it!")

"No. 1 Record/Radio City" by BIG STAR (2004 Stax/Fantasy 'HYBRID SACD' with George Horn Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Finest In The World…"

I'm amazed this sonic nugget seems to have eluded so many - especially given the reputation these two stunning Seventies albums have. But if you're on the fence as to how good a CD (or SACD) can sound - then look no further.

USA released April 2004 - "No. 1 Record/Radio City" by BIG STAR on Stax/Fantasy/Universal SXSA-60025-6 (Barcode 025218732369) offers 2LPs onto 1CD - 

a 'HYBRID MULTICHANNEL SACD/CD' Reissue that will play on standard CD players as well as those encoded with Super Audio CD Playback (73:38 minutes).

1. Feel

2. The Ballad Of El Goodo

3. In The Street

4. Thirteen

5. Don't Lie To Me

6. The India Song

7. When My Baby's Beside Me

8. My Life Is Right

9. Give Me Another Chance

10. Try Again

11. Watch The Sunrise

12. St 100/6

13. O My Soul

14. Life Is White

15. Way Out West

16. What's Going Ahn

17. You Get What You Deserve

18. Mod Lang

19. Back of A Car

20. Daisy Glaze

21. She's A Mover

22. September Gurls

23. Morpha Too

24. I'm In Love With A Girl

"No. 1 Record" (tracks 1 to 12) was USA released June 1972 on Ardent Records ADS-2803 while "Radio City" (tracks 13 to 24) followed in January 1974 on Ardent ADS-1501. Neither LP received an original UK release at the time - but both were clumped together as a budget-priced double-album package on Stax SXSP 302 in 1978. There have been various CD reissues of the albums ever since - most notably by England's Ace Records on their subsidiary label Big Beat and Rhino's superb 2009 American 4CD Box Set "Keep An Eye On The Sky" which features outtakes and alternates from both of these recording sessions.

But back to 2004 and the big news here is the beautifully sensitive GEORGE HORN remastering that has brought a warmth and delicacy to already gorgeous music. The bass, acoustic guitars and sublime harmony vocals on "The Ballad Of El Goodo" are thrilling to hear as is the sweetness of "Thirteen" - surely one of the loveliest Alex Chilton songs. The jangling power-pop guitars of "When My Baby Needs Me" sound fantastic and "Try Again" reminds me of a band I loved called SMITH-PERKINS-SMITH who made only one album (a self-titled debut) in 1972 on Island Records (yet to make its way onto CD) - a sort of CSYN alternative. In fact the musicality on display here brings in mind that other tragic band BADFINGER.

"O My Soul" opens "Radio City" with rocking guitars while pretty melody returns with the oddly titled "What's Going Ahn". "September Gurls" and "Back Of A Car" set the template for THE JAYHAWKS and so many harmony rock bands that have followed in Big Star's illustrious footsteps. But for me the huge song here has always been the showstopping "I'm In Love With A Girl" - used to devastating effect in umpteen modern-day growing up movies with an Indie leaning. I'll bet it makes men of a certain age weep and tingle - and think about that one who stole your heart when you were 16 and bright-eyed (lyrics from it title this review).

BIG STAR were always a little bit special and hold a cult status to this day that grows with the passing of time - like NICK DRAKE, JUDEE SILL or JOHN MARTYN.

A beautifully realized transfer and a CD you need in your home...

ASYLUM RECORDS - UK LP and 7” Single DISCOGRAPHY - ”SYL/SYLA” Series 1972-1976...

Artists featured here (Joni Mitchell, John David Souther) are part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

ASYLUM Records Label
UK LP and 7” Single DISCOGRAPHY - ”SYL/SYLA” Series 1972-1976
(SYL are single sleeve covers: SYLA are gatefold sleeves)

1. Asylum SYL 9001 - “Stories” by DAVID BLUE (March 1972)
Side 1: Looking For A Friend; Sister Rose; Another One Like Me; House Of Changing Faces
Side 2: Marianne; Fire In The Morning; Come On John; The Blues (All Night Long)
UK 7” single off the album was “Looking For A Friend” b/w “Come On John” on Asylum AYM 504 in March 1972

2. Asylum SYLA 8751 - “Judee Sill” by JUDEE SILL (March 1972)
Side 1: Crayon Angels; The Phantom Cowboy; The Archetypal Man; The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown; Lady-O; Jesus Was A Cross Maker
Side 2: Ridge Rider; My Man On Love; Lopin’ Along Thru The Cosmos; Enchanted Sky Machines; Abracadabra
1st UK 7” single off the album was “Jesus Was A Cross Maker” b/w “The Phantom Cowboy” issued on Asylum AYM 502 in March 1972
2nd UK 7” single off the album was “Enchanted Sky Machines” b/w “My Man On Love” on Asylum AYM 509 in ???? 1972

3. Asylum SYL 9002 - “Jackson Browne” by JACKSON BROWNE (April 1972)
[aka “Saturate Before Use” after the words on the front album sleeve; the British label however credits the LP as “Jackson Browne”; it’s his debut album]
Side 1: Jamaica, Say You Will; A Child In These Hills; Song For Adam, Doctor, My Eyes; From Silver Lake
Side 2: Something Fine; Under The Falling Sky; Looking Into You; Rock Me On The Water; My Opening Farewell
1st UK 7” single off the album was “Doctor, My Eyes” b/w “Looking Into You” on Asylum AYM 503 in April 1972
2nd UK 7” single off the album was “Rock Me On The Water” b/w “Something Fine” on Asylum AYM 506 in August 1972

4. Asylum SYLA 8752 - “Jo Jo Gunne” by JO JO GUNNE (April 1972)
[took their name from a 1958 Chuck Berry song on Chess Records]
Side 1: Run Run Run; Shake That Fat: Babylon; I Make Love; Barstow Blue Eyes
Side 2: 99 Days; Academy Award; Take It Easy; Flying Home
[Note: “Take It Easy” is NOT a cover version of the famous EAGLES track on the Asylum label; it’s a band composition]
1st UK 7” single off the album was “Run Run Run” b/w “Shake That Fat” on Asylum AYM 501 in March 1972
2nd UK 7” single off the album was “Shake That Fat” b/w “I Make Love” on Asylum AYM 507 in ???? 1972 [failed to chart]

5. Asylum SYTC 101 - “Eagles” by EAGLES (August 1972, Gatefold Sleeve)
Side 1: Take It Easy; Witchy Woman; Chug All Night; Most Of Us Are Sad; Nightingale
Side 2: Train Leaves Here This Morning; Take The Devil; Early Bird; Peaceful Easy Feeling; Tryin’
1st UK 7” single off the album was “Take It Easy” b/w “Get You In The Mood” on Asylum AYM 505 in June 1972 [Note: the B-side is a non-album track]
2nd UK 7” single off the album was “Witchy Woman” b/w “Early Bird” on Asylum AYM 508 in September 1972
3rd UK single off the album was “Tryin’” b/w “Chug All Night” on Asylum AYM 512 in February 1973

6. Asylum SYL 9003 - “John David Souther” by JOHN DAVID SOUTHER (October 1972)
Tracks: The Fast One; Run Like A Thief; Jesus In 3/4 Time; Kite Woman; Some People Call It Music; White Wing; It’s The Same; How Long; Out To Sea; Lullaby
UK 7” single off the album was “How Long” b/w “The Fast One” on Asylum AYM 510 in October 1972

7. Asylum SYLA 8753 - “For The Roses” by JONI MITCHELL (December 1972)
Tracks: Banquet; Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire; Barangrill; Lesson In Survival; Let The Wind Carry Me; For The Roses; See You Sometime; Electricity; You Turn Me On I’m A Radio; Blonde In The Bleachers; Woman Of Heart And Mind; Judgement Of The Moon And Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
1st UK 7” single off the album was “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” b/w “Urge For Going” on Asylum AYM 511 in December 1972 [Note: the B-side was non-album; made its first CD appearance on the JM compilation “Hits” in 1996; it was first aired by Tom Rush in 1968 on his Elektra album “The Circle Game” – the first artist to give a Joni Mitchell song airing – and indeed the title to his album]
2nd UK 7” single off the album was “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire” b/w “Blonde In The Bleachers” on Asylum AYM 515 in March 1973???

8. Asylum SYL 9004 - “Batdorf & Rodney” by BATDORF & RODNEY (January 1973)
Tracks: Poor Man’s Dream; Oh, Can You Tell Me; Between The Ages; Home Again; By Today; Happy Town; All I Need; Under Fire; Let Me Live The Life

9. Asylum SYL 9005 - “Bite Down Hard” by JO JO GUNNE (April 1973)
Side 1: Ready Freddy; Roll Over Me; 60 Minutes To Go; Rock Around The Symbol; Broken Down Man
Side 2: Special Situations; Take Me Down Easy; Wait A Lifetime; Rhoda
UK 7” single off the album was “Ready Freddy” b/w “Wait A Lifetime” on Asylum AYM 518 in ??? 1973

10. Asylum SYL 9006 - “Heart Food” by JUDEE SILL (April 1973)
Side 1: There’s A Rugged Road/The Kiss/The Pearl/Down Where The Valleys Are Low/The Vigilante
Side 2: Soldier Of The Heart/The Phoenix/When The Bridegroom Comes/The Donor

1. SYL 9007 - “Closing Time” by TOM WAITS (May 1973)
2. SYL 9008 – “Steve Ferguson” by STEVE FERGUSON (June 1973)
3. SYL 9009 - “Nice Baby & The Angel” by DAVID BLUE (June 1973)
4. SYL 9010 - “Ned Doheny” by NED DOHENY (August 1973)
5. SYL 9011 - “Desperado” by EAGLES (June 1973)
6. SYL 9012 - “Don’t Cry Now” by LINDA RONSTADT (October 1973)
7. SYL 9013 - “For Everyman” by JACKSON BROWNE (January 1974)
8. SYL 9014 - “Land’s End” by JIMMY WEBB (August 1974)
Asylum SYL 9015 - “Jumpin’ The Gun” by JO JO GUNNE (April 1974)
Side 1: I Wanna Love You/To The Island/Red Meat/Getaway/Before You Get Breakfast
Side 2: At The Spa/Monkey Music/Couldn’t Love You Better/High School Drool/Neon City/Turn The Boy Loose
9. SYL 9016 - “On The Border” by EAGLES (May 1974)
10. SYL 9017 – NOT YET TRACED
11. SYL 9018 - “Late For The Sky” by JACKSON BROWNE (December 1974)
Asylum SYL 9019 - “So Where’s The Show” by JO JO GUNNE (January 1975)
Side 1: Where Is The Show/I’m Your Shoe/Single Man/She Said Allright
Side 2: S & M BLVD./Falling Angel/Big, Busted Bombshell From Bermuda/Into My Life/Around The World
12. SYL 9020 - “No Other” by GENE CLARK [of BYRDS] (February 1975)
13. SYL 9021 - NOT YET TRACED
14. SYL 9022 – NOT YET TRACED
15. SYL 9023 - “Let There Be Music” by ORLEANS (May 1975)
16. SYL 9024 – NOT YET TRACED
17. SYL 9025 - “Comin’ Back For More” by DAVID BLUE
18. SYL 9026 - “The Rowans” by THE ROWANS (1975)
19. SYL 9027 - “Jessie’s Jig & Other Favourites” by STEVE GOODMAN (August 1975)
20. SYL 9028 - “Andrew Gold” by ANDREW GOLD (January 1976 USA)

SYLA are Gatefold/Special Sleeve covers:
21. SYLA 8754 - “The Byrds” by THE BYRDS (May 1973)
22. SYLA 8755 – “Rod Taylor” by ROD TAYLOR (August 1973)
23. SYLA 8756 - “Court & Spark” by JONI MITCHELL (March 1974)
24. SYLA 8757 – NOT YET TRACED
25. SYLA 8758 - “The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band” by THE SOUTHER-HILLMAN-FURAY BAND (September 1974)
26. SYLA 8759 - “One Of These Nights” by EAGLES (August 1975)
27. SYLA 8760 - “Trouble In Paradise” by SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND (September 1975)
28. SYLA 8761 - “Prisoner In Disguise” by LINDA RONSTADT (October 1975)
29. SYLA 8762 – NOT YET TRACED
30. SYLA 8763 – “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” by JONI MITCHELL
(Label stickers on rear sleeve, LP is pressed as SYLA, November 1975)
31. SYSP 902 - “Miles Of Aisles” by JONI MITCHELL (1975) [2LP Live Set] (Jan 75)
32. SYSP 903 - “Nighthawks At The Diner” by TOM WAITS (1975) [2LP Live Set]

Note - both Bob Dylan albums “Planet Waves” and the live double “Before The Flood” were released on Asylum in the “USA” - in the UK; they were released on “Island”.

UK 7” SINGLES:
AYM 501 – Jo Jo Gunne – “Run Run Run” (March 1972)
AYM 502 – Judee Sill – “Jesus Was A Cross Maker” (March 1972)
AYM 503 – Jackson Browne – “Doctor, My Eyes” (April 1972??)
AYM 504 – David Blue – “Looking For A Friend” (March 1972)
AYM 505 – Eagles – “Take It Easy” (June 1972)
AYM 506 – Jackson Browne – “Rock Me On The Water” (August 1972)
AYM 507 – Jo Jo Gunne – “Shake That Fat” (August 1972???)
AYM 508 – Eagles – “Witchy Woman” (September 1972)
AYM 509 – Judee Sill – “Enchanted Sky Machines” (??? 1972)
AYM 510 – John David Souther – “How Long” (September 1972)
AYM 511 – Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio (???? 1972)
AYM 512 – Eagles – “Tryin’ (February 1973??)
AYM 513 – Judee Sill – “The Kiss” (??? 1973)
AYM 514 – ???
AYM 515 – Joni Mitchell – “Cold Blue, Still & Sweet Fire” (??? 1973)
AYM 516 – The Byrds – “Things Will Be Better” (??? 1973)
AYM 517 – The Byrds – “Full Circle” (??? 1973)
AYM 518 – Jo Jo Gunne – “Ready Freddy” (1973)
AYM 519 – ????
AYM 520 – Eagles – “Tequila Sunrise” (August 1973) [see release sheets to 531]

"Olias Of Sunhillow" by JON ANDERSON (October 2011 Warner Brothers/Atlantic/Arcangelo JAPAN-ONLY SHM-CD Reissue in Mini LP Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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ALL RIGHT NOW

CLASSIC ROCK and POP 1970 to 1974 
Exceptional CD Remasters  

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Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 
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SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE Volume 1

1960's and 1970's MUSIC ON CD 
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"…Set Sights To New Lands…"

Encouraged by the brilliance of "Relayer" in 1974 (with Patrick Moraz at the keyboards instead of Rick Wakeman) - like most YES fans at the time - I awaited the inevitable Solo albums in the mid Seventies with a sense of excitement. And while Squire and Howe had their moments of glory - most of us somehow knew that Jon Anderson's debut vinyl would be a Proggy Humdinger - and it is.

1. Ocean Song [Side 1]

2. Meeting/Sound Out The Galleon (Garden Of Geda)

3. Dance Of Ranyart/Olias (To Build The Moorglade)

4. Qoquaq En Transic/Naon/Transic To

5. Flight Of The Moorglade

6. Solid Space [Side 2]

7. Moon Ra/Chords/Song Of Search

8. To The Runner

Released in July 1976 on Atlantic K 50261 in the UK and Atlantic SD 18180 in the USA - "Olias Of Sunhillow" even charted at Number 8 in good old Blighty and has been a treasured work ever since.

Those who bought the original record will of course remember not just the fabulous dense music contained within - but the glory of the sleeve - a gatefold with an inner flap and inside that an equally elaborate inner sleeve that seemed to offer up more writing than a Tolkien book - and all of it done in glorious "Moorglade" artwork.

Its fate on 'CD' however has not been so idyllic. Saving us long-haired lotharios from the dreadfully dull German 1990's CD that's been afflicting our shores for years now - along comes the Japanese with no less than a full-on 5" Repro of the artwork and for the first time - a properly decent remaster.

Released 5 October 2011 in Japan-Only – "Olias Of Sunhillow" by JON ANDERSON (of Yes) on Warner Brothers/Atlantic/Arcangelo ARC-8061 (Barcode 4988044390614) is a SHM-CD (Super High Materials) in 5" Mini LP Repro Artwork and runs to 44:20 minutes. SHM-CD does not require a special CD player nor audiophile equipment to get the sonic results - it's just a better form of the CD format and brings out more nuances in the transfer (its slightly weightier than the standard CD). I've about 15 of these now and they're all universally brilliant - and in some cases (like here) - jaw-droppingly good.

This is a dense multi-layered recording and needed the deftest of remasters - and this SHM-CD gives you just that. Right from the opening synth fade in and vocal gymnastics of "Ocean Song" - it fills your room with sound. The huge drum section "Naon" in the centre of track 4 is also fabulous - rattling your speakers with all the multi-tracks they can handle. By the time you arrive at "Flight Of the Moorglade" (lyrics above) with its huge acoustic guitars and keyboard pings - you'll need a hanky to wipe away those Roger Dean tears.

The bad news is that it was deleted quickly and those punters that have copies can/are charging a hefty price tag for the privilege of owning one - so shop around.

"Cha! Cha!" Anderson chants as he finishes the wicked album closer "To The Runner". Couldn't agree more my Topographic son...

"One By One: The Best Of The Solo Years" by THE TEMPTATIONS Featuring David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams with Guest Siedah Garrett (March 1996 UK Motown 2CD Compilation of Erick Labson Remasters) A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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"...We're Groovin' Together..."

The Temptations are one of the truly great Motown gems and I suspect that their solo material is just as much a magnet for fans. So up steps this forgotten peach.

 

Part of the famous Soul label's "Anthology" series – and while Hip-O Select (of the USA) has subsequently reissued the complete Solo Motown output for lead vocalists David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks - the Dennis Edwards and Paul Williams entries on here are rare by comparison. Here are the groovy details...

 

UK released March 1996 - "One By One: The Best Of Their Solo Years" by THE TEMPTATIONS on Motown 530 615-2 (Barcode 731453061521) plays out as follows:

 

Disc 1 (77:33 minutes):

1. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) – DAVID RUFFIN

2. I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved – DAVID RUFFIN

3. I'm So Glad I Fell For You – DAVID RUFFIN

4. Which Way To My Baby – DENNIS EDWARDS

5. The Double Cross – DAVID RUFFIN

6. It's So Hard For Me To Say Good-Bye – EDDIE KENDRICKS

7. This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae – EDDIE KENDRICKS

8. Can I – EDDIE KENDRICKS

9. If You Let Me – EDDIE KENDRICKS

10. Girl You Need A Change Of Mind – EDDIE KENDRICKS

11. Date With The Rain – EDDIE KENDRICKS

12. Eddie's Love – EDDIE KENDRICKS

13. Feel Like Givin' Up – PAUL WILLIAMS

14. Once You Had A Heart – PAUL WILLIAMS

15. I Miss You – Pt. 1 – DAVID RUFFIN

16. Common Man – DAVID RUFFIN

17. Darling Come Back Home – EDDIE KENDRICKS

18. Keep On Truckin' – EDDIE KENDRICKS

19. Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need – EDDIE KENDRICKS

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 1, 2 and 5 from the January 1969 US album "My Whole World Ended"

Track 3 is from the November 1969 US album "Feelin' Good"

Tracks 4 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 6, 7 and 8 is from the April 1971 US album "All By Myself"

Tracks 9, 10, 11 and 12 from the May 1972 US album "People…Hold On"

Track 13 is from "Motown Year By Year: The Sound Of Young America 1973"

Tracks 15 and 16 from the February 1973 US album "David Ruffin"

Tracks 17 and 18 from the May 1973 US album "Eddie Kendricks"

Track 18 from Disc 1 and Track 1 from Disc 2 from the February 1974 US album "Boogie Down!"

 

Disc 2 (75:36 minutes):

1. Boogie Down – EDDIE KENDRICKS

2. Shoeshine Boy – EDDIE KENDRICKS

3. Happy – EDDIE KENDRICKS

4. Get The Cream Off The Top – EDDIE KENDRICKS

5. Walk Away From Love – DAVID RUFFIN

6. Heavy Love – DAVID RUFFIN

7. Statue Of A Fool – DAVID RUFFIN

8. He's A Friend – EDDIE KENDRICKS

9. When The Lights Come Down On Love – DENNIS EDWARDS

10. Everything's Coming Up Love – DAVID RUFFIN

11. Just Let Me Hold You For A Night – DAVID RUFFIN

12. You're My Peace Of Mind – DAVID RUFFIN

13. Don't Look Any Further – DENNIS EDWARDS feat SIEDAH GARRETT

14. (You're My) Aphrodisiac – DENNIS EDWARDS

15. Coolin' Out – DENNIS EDWARDS

16. Soulmate – DENNIS EDWARDS and THE TEMPTATIONS

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1 and 2 from the January 1975 US LP "For You"

Tracks 3 and 4 from the August 1975 US album "The Hit Man"

Tracks 5, 6 and 7 from the October 1975 US LP "Who I Am"

Track 8 from the January 1976 US LP "He's A Friend"

Track 9 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Track 10 is from the May 1976 US LP "Everything's Coming Up Love"

Tracks 11 and 12 from the December 1977 US LP "In My Stride"

Tracks 13 and 14 from the January 1984 US LP "Don't Look Any Further"

Track 15 from the August 1985 US LP "Coolin' Out"

Track 16 is an unreleased 1974 session released on the 1986 2LP set "The Temptations 25th Anniversary"

 

The 20-page booklet has liner notes by noted writer and music historian A. SCOTT GALLOWAY while the top class remastering is by one of Universal's most revered tape engineers ERICK LABSON (has over 1,250 credits to his name). The Sound quality is great – especially on the predominantly Seventies material.

 

Highlights are many as you can imagine - I especially love the Van McCoy written "Everything's Coming Up Love" with its irrepressible uptempo message and mid-Seventies strings and vibes (lyrics above). I've always loved the whole "People…Hold On" LP by Eddie Kendricks and its leadoff track "If You Let Me" is another gem. David Ruffin had such a Soulful way - whether he was getting his larynx around a 1969 pleader like "The Double Cross" or the 1977 Disco Dancer "You're My Peace Of Mind".

 

The duet with Siedah Garrett "Don't Look Any Further" was a huge hit for Dennis Edwards and even now I get a kick out of the sheer funk of Kendricks' "Keep On Truckin'". The Three Previously Unreleased tracks by a combo of Dennis Edwards and Paul Williams are surprisingly good too - especially "When The Lights Come Down On Love". 

 

"One By One - The Best Of Their Solo Years" has become something of a rarity across the years – and at times very pricey indeed. But it's worth seeking out – and for Motown fans – an absolute must buy…