"Sandy" by SANDY DENNY (May 2005 UK Island Remasters 'Expanded Edition' Single-Disc Version - Denis Blackham CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...It Suits Me Well..."

 

Sandy Denny’s 1971 debut album “The North Star Grassman And The Ravens” was a patchy start (moments of brilliance with others that just didn't work) – but her second outing simply called "Sandy" emblazoned her lovely music into music-loving hearts like nothing before. A Folk-Rock masterpiece – it’s been revered ever since. Which brings us to this gorgeous sounding CD - part of a whole 2005 'Fairport Convention and their Solo Acts' reissue campaign from Island Records through Universal (Sandy Denny, Richard and Linda Thompson, Fairport Convention etc). Here are the lonesome details...

UK released May 2005 - "Sandy" by SANDY DENNY on Island Remasters IMCD 314 (Barcode 602498280225) is a Single-Disc Expanded Edition CD Remaster that comes with five Bonus Tracks and breaks down as follows (64:49 minutes):

1. It'll Take A Long Time

2. Sweet Rosemary

3. For Nobody To Hear

4. Tomorrow Is A Long Time

5. Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood

6. Listen, Listen [Side 2]

7. The Lady

8. Bushes And Briars

9. It Suits Me Well

10. The Music Weaver

Tracks 1 to 10 are her 2nd solo album "Sandy" – released September 1972 in the UK on Island ILPS 9207 and in the USA on A&M Records SP 4371.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Here Is Silence

12. Man Of Iron

Tracks 11 ands 12 were the A&B-sides of a rare UK 7" single on Island WIP 6141 issued in September 1972 (both tracks from the film "Pass Of Arms"). The uber rare picture sleeve that British original copies came in is pictured on Page 5 of the booklet (I've never seen one in over 50 years).  

 

13. Sweet Rosemary (Demo) - first issued on the "A Boxful of Treasures" Box Set in 2004

 

14. Ecoute, Ecoute - a French language version of "Listen, Listen" prepared for single release – its first CD appearance came on the "The Attic Tracks 1972-1984" compilation in 1995

 

15. I'll Take A Long Time - a live version with Fairport Convention recorded February 1974 in Los Angeles – first appeared on "A Boxful Of Treasures"

As do all four of the albums in this Sandy Denny Island Records output - it comes in a fetching outer card wrap (slipcase) and the 12-page booklet features original artwork, lyrics, photographs and liner notes by expert and long-time devotee DAVID SUFF (of Fledgling Records). It’s tastefully done and the DENIS BLACKHAM remaster from original master tapes is truly gorgeous – warm, atmospheric and full of presence.

It opens on a double-whammy of lovely British Folk-Rock – "It'll Take A Long Time" and "Rosemary" – both sweet as a nut. A clunker for me has always been the ill-advised rock of "For Nobody To Hear" but that gives way to the Dylan classic “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” with a country lilt. Side 1 of the original album ends on pure magic – an Acapella version of a Traditional made famous by American Folk troubadour Richard Farina called "Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood". It's just gorgeous and the remaster clarity is truly startling – ending with the most beautiful Dave Swarbrick violin solo that comes at you like a mist rolling in from the sea in the morning.

Side 2 opens with a personal favourite – the wonderful Denny original "Listen, Listen". It’s a swirling ballad that never ceases to reduce me to mush. Island UK even issued it as a 7" single in September 1972 on WIP 6142 with "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" as its flip-side, but it didn't bother the charts (neither did the album). "The Lady" is also gorgeous – contrasting starkly with what preceded by virtue of its melancholy piano and elegant strings (arranged by harry Robinson). 

 

"Bushes And Briars" was chosen to represent the album on the stunning 2009 3CD Box Set "Meet On The Ledge: Island Folk-Rock" and it's easy to hear why – Richard Thompson's lovely electric guitar swirling like a dance behind the vocals. The album ends on two sweet ballads – homages to the sea and wandering – "It Suits Me Well" and "The Music Weaver" - the second being another title that lends itself to compilations about her recorded legacy.The piano and string arrangements on "Weaver" give it an epic quality – breathlessly beautiful stuff.

We would lose her in 1978 aged only 31. I remember meeting John Walters when I was working at Reckless (he was John Peel's legendary producer) and we were in a pub discussing gigs he'd seen that blew his mind (and Peel’s). John was told by Bernie Andrews (another legendary BBC producer) to go see this young girl in a bar he'd heard about that was causing a stir – it was Sandy Denny before she'd joined the ranks of Fairport Convention. The purity of her English Folk voice left him shaking and stunned. I can still see his smile to this day and the memory of it etched into his face.

It's nice to know that all their memories are given a Royal Folk Rock Icon nod by this fab little reissue…

PS: There's a subsequent 2012 2-CD Deluxe Edition of "Sandy" with a second 18-track disc of Demos and Live Stuff

"Give Me Strength: The ’74/’75 Studio Recordings" by ERIC CLAPTON (2013 Universal 2CD 'DELUXE EDITION' Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

                                                   (2CD Deluxe Edition)

                                (Super Deluxe Version - Note Different Artwork)

"...Where Would Love Be Without Fools Like Me?"

EC fans will have seen "461 Ocean Boulevard" re-issued just one too many times in the last 8 years on a plethora of formats - and here it comes again. But this time I'd argue you should sit up and take notice because this vaults trawl is a superb reissue - and in a festive season of over-priced and dubious Deluxe Editions - a star in a reasonably price car.

Firstly - there are two versions of this "Give Me Strength..." CD release. 

This 2CD DELUXE EDITION by ERIC CLAPTON is called "Give Me Strength: The '74/'75 Studio Recordings" - while a 5CD/1DVD SUPER DELUXE EDITION Book Set drops the word Studio in its title because it includes lots of live stuff (the "EC Was Here" album and more). Both were released Monday 9 December 2013. 

This review is for the 2CD edition on Universal/Polydor 0602537618583 (Barcode is the same number) and it breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 "461 Ocean Boulevard Expanded Version" (79:31 minutes):

1. Motherless Children

2. Give Me Strength

3. Willie And The Hand Jive

4. Get Ready

5. I Shot The Sheriff

6. I Can’t Hold Out

7. Please Be With Me

8. Let It Grow

9. Steady Rollin’ Man

10. Mainline Florida

Tracks 1 to 10 are the vinyl album "461 Ocean Boulevard" issued July 1974 in the UK on RSO Records 2479 118 and SO 4801 in the USA.

Tracks 11 to 18 are Session Out-Takes:

"Ain't That Lovin' You" (11) was first issued on the 4CD/6LP "Crossroads" box set in April 1988

"Meet Me (Down At The Bottom)" (12) and "Eric After Hour Blues" (16) were first issued on the "Blues" 2CD set in July 1999

"Lonesome Road Blues (Walking Down The Road)" (13) was first issued on the 4CD box set "Crossroads 2" in April 1996

"Getting Acquainted" (14), "Getting Acquainted 2 (Too Late)" (15), "Please Be With Me (Acoustic)" 17) and "Give Me Strength (Dobro 1)" (18) are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 2 "There's One In Every Crowd Expanded Version" (71:04 minutes):

1. We’ve Been Told (Jesus Is Coming Soon)

2. Swing Low Sweet Chariot

3. Little Rachel

4. Don’t Blame Me

5. The Sky Is Crying

6. Singin’ The Blues

7. Better Make It Through Today

8. Pretty Blue Eyes

9. High

10. Opposites

Tracks 1 to 10 are the vinyl album "There's One In Every Crowd" issued April 1975 in the UK on RSO Records 2479 132 and SO 4806 in the USA.

Tracks 11 to 17 are Session Out-Takes:

"Burial" (11) and "Fool Like Me" (15 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

"Whatcha Gonna Do" (12), "I Found A Love" (13) and "(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too" (14) first appeared on the 4CD/6LP box set "Crossroads" in April 1988

"Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (16) and "Someone Like You" (17) are a non-album 7" single issued August 1975 in the UK on RSO Records 2090 166 and in the USA on RSO Records SO-513.

Compiled by BILL LEVENSON - the 24-page booklet has in-depth liner notes by JOHN LYNSKEY on both albums and is filled with the kind of facts fans love. They do at times refer to tracks that are clearly on the 6-disc version (especially out-takes), but that's only a minor irritation. The annotation at the rear is also admirably laid out.

ELIOT KISSELEFF and ANDREW SKUROW handled the Tape Research and Transfers while SETH FOSTER and KEVIN REEVES (names that have graced hundreds of Universal reissues) did the Remasters and Mix Engineering. Both Foster and Reeves handled the sonically praised "Slowhand" Deluxe Edition issued in 2012. The sound here is fabulous - it really is. Never too showy - loads of presence - especially in the rhythm section of Bass and Drums with Tom Dowd's original production values now more evident than before. On tracks like the Traditional "We've Been Told (Jesus Is Coming Home)" and the lovely vocal break on the infectious "Pretty Blue Eyes" - the audio is so warm and there - just like you'd want it to be. I'd also forgotten how good most of "There's One In Every Crowd" was - excepting the terrible cod-reggae of "Don't Blame Me" - nuggets like the blues cover of Mary McCreary's "Singin' The Blues" and Clapton's own "Better Make It Through Today" are superlative (especially the gorgeously soulful keyboard work by Dick Sims when it meets with Clapton's plaintive solo).

I've had the Deluxe Edition and 2004 SACD of "461 Ocean Boulevard" and the remaster here is subtly different. I'd have to say the SACD has the edge in terms of sheer power - but when I play the Elmore James opener of Side 2 "I Can't Hold Out" - I'd swear the mix here is more upfront (which is what I want). The cover versions of Cowboy’s obscure (but lovely) “Please Be With Me”, Johnny Otis’s classic “Willie And The Hand Jive” and Robert Johnson’s “Steady Rollin’ Man” all Rock as does George Terry’s fabulous album-finisher “Mainline Florida”. And of course Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” has renewed presence.

The outtakes (as fans have known since the "Crossroads" release in 1988) are amazingly good - and in some cases - should have been on the album. The 6 previously unreleased on here are certainly not scraping the bottom of the barrel. "Getting Acquainted" are funky rock workout instrumentals with the second being shorter but so much better and tighter (and features some superb fretwork from EC). Rougher round the recording edges is a truly lovely acoustic take of "Please Be With Me" minus Yvonne Elliman's duet vocals - very sweet indeed. The Dobro jaunt through "Give Me Strength" again has that same kind of intimacy but this time with wicked slide work. I could live without the cover of Peter Tosh's "Burial" quite easily but the rocking blues of "Fools Like Me" is just the kind of out-takes fans love. It was written by Jack Clement and Murphy Maddux and was recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun - it chugs along and features trademark languid slide (lyrics from it title this review).

To sum up - at just over a tenner you're getting two quality Eric Clapton albums with superb sound quality, thorough presentation and out-takes actually worthy of the moniker 'bonus'. I'm seriously tempted now to fork out on the bigger 6-disc issue.

Never the flashiest of artists - Clapton's classiness nevertheless exudes here - and how good is it to hear him get down and dirty with that mean blues slide...

Top stuff - and for me a clear 'Reissue of the Year' for 2013....

"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!")