"The Studio Albums 1968-1979" by JONI MITCHELL (October 2012 UK Warner-Reprise-Asylum-Rhino 10CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and Some Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

There’s a lot to say about this truly fab little box set – so let’s get to the nuts and bolts quickly.

Released October 2012 in the UK (November in the USA) – "The Studio Albums 1968-1979" by JONI MITCHELL is a 10CD Clamshell Box Set on Warners/Reprise/Asylum/Rhino 8122797178 (Barcode 081227971786) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (38:07 minutes)

1. I Had A King [Side 1]

2. Michael From The Mountains

3. Night In The City

4. Marcie

5. Nathan La Franeer

6. Sisotowbell Lane [Side 2]

7. The Dawntreader

8. The Pirate Of Penance

9. Song To A Seagull

10. Cactus Tree

Tracks 1 to 10 are her debut LP "Song To A Seagull" [aka "Joni Mitchell"] – released March 1968 in the USA (June 1968 in the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6293

Disc 2 (37:41 minutes):

1. Tin Angel [Side 1]

2. Chelsea Morning

3. I Don't Know Where I Stand

4. That Song About The Midway

5. Roses Blue

6. The Gallery [Side 2]

7. I Think I Understand

8. Songs To Aging Children Come

9. The Fiddle And The Drum

10. Both Sides, Now

Tracks 1 to 10 are the LP "Clouds" – released May 1969 LP in the USA (October 1969 in the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6341

Disc 3 (44:59 minutes):

1. Morning Morgantown [Side 1]

2. For Free

3. Conversation

4. Ladies Of The Canyon

5. Willy

6. The Arrangement

7. Rainy Night House [Side 2]

8. The Priest

9. Blue Boy

10. Big Yellow Taxi

11. Woodstock

12. The Circle Game

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Ladies Of The Canyon" – released April 1970 in the USA (May 1970 in the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6376

Disc 4 (36:13 minutes):

1. All I Want [Side 1]

2. My Old Man

3. Little Green

4. Carey

5. Blue

6. California [Side 2]

7. This Flight Tonight

8. River

9. A Case Of You

10. The Last Time I Saw Richard

Tracks 1 to 10 are the LP "Blue" – released June 1971 in the USA on Reprise MS 2038 and July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44128

Disc 5. (40:25 minutes):

1. Banquet

2. Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire

3. Barangrill

4. Lesson In Survival

5. Let The Wind Carry Me

6. For The Roses

7. See You Sometime

8. Electricity

9. You Turn Me On I’m A Radio

10. Blonde In The Bleachers

11. Woman Of Heart And Mind

12. Judgement Of the Moon And Stars (Ludwig's Tune)

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "For The Roses" – released November 1972 in the USA on Asylum SD 5057 and December 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8753

Disc 6 (36:58 minutes):

1. Court And Spark [Side 1]

2. Help Me

3. Free Man In Paris

4. People's Parties

5. The Same Situation

6. Car On A Hill [Side 2]

7. Down To You

8. Just Like This Train

9. Raised On Robbery

10. Trouble Child

11. Twisted

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "Court And Spark" – released February 1974 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1001 and March 1974 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8756

Disc 7 (42:37 minutes):

1. In France They Kiss On Main Street [Side 1]

2. The Jungle Line

3. Edith And The Kingpin

4. Don't Interrupt The Sorrow

5. Shades Of Scarlett Conquering

6. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns [Side 2]

7. The Boho Dance

8. Harry's House/Centerpiece

9. Sweet Bird

10. Shadows And Light

Tracks 1 to 10 are the LP "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" – released November 1975 in the USA on Asylum 7E-1051 and Asylum K 53018 in the UK

Disc 8 (51:55 minutes):

1. Coyote [Side 1]

2. Amelia

3. Furry Sings The Blues

4. A Strange Boy

5. Hejira

6. Song For Sharon [Side 2]

7. Black Crow

8. Blue Motel Room

9. Refuge Of The Roads

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Hejira" – released November 1976 in the USA on Asylum 7£-1087 and Asylum K 53053 in the UK

Disc 9 (59:52 minutes):

1. Overture-Cotton Avenue [Side 1]

2. Talk To Me

3. Jericho

4. Paprika Plains [Side 2]

5. Otis And Marlena [Side 3]

6. The Tenth World

7. Dreamland

8. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter [Side 4]

9. Off Night Backstreet

10. The Silky Veils Of Ardor

Tracks 1 to 10 are the 2LP Studio Set "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" – released December 1977 in the USA on Asylum BB-701 and Asylum K 63003 in the UK

Disc 10 (37:23 minutes):

1. Happy Birthday 1975 (Rap)

2. God Must Be A Boogie Man

3. Funeral (Rap)

4. Chair In The Sky

5. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

6. I's A Muggin' (Rap)

7. Sweet Sucker Dance

8. Coin In The Pocket (Rap)

9. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

10. Lucky (Rap)

11. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "Mingus" – released June 1979 in the USA on Asylum 5E-505 and July 1979 in the UK on Asylum K 53091

Joni Mitchell's "The Studio Albums 1968-1979" is probably the prettiest Mini Box Set in this WEA series so far. Each of the 5" Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves reflects the original AMERICAN artwork and so every one of the 10 has a 'gatefold' sleeve (the first two albums were single sleeves only in the UK). "For The Roses" and "Mingus" even have their extra inner LP 'flaps' reproduced as a separate inlay. The CDs themselves - 1 to 4 have the tan colour Reprise label and thereafter revert to the standard silver look of 1980's WEA titles (a bit more attention to detail would have gotten all the correct labels for each period – something Rhino normally gets right).

Most of the gatefolds open from the inside in order to get at the CD – so I put all of mine in a Japanese plastic protective (which you can buy online) to avoid scuffing. The original album ‘inner sleeves’ on "Hejira" and "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" are not here – but it has to be said that the uber clean 5” gatefold repros are beautifully done and for an old album’s nut like me – aesthetically pleasing – even if you will need a microscope to actually read any of the lyrics or recording info. There’s no booklet which is a damn shame given this woman’s musical stature.

On that subject - I hate the way the Sony/Legacy/Columbia ‘Complete’ Box Sets look with that generic Red Box cover they do – but at least they do come with comprehensive booklets that ‘so’ compliment the audio (Byrds, Bill Withers, Etta James, Nilsson – see reviews). I mention this because arguably WEA has an artist’s roster that is far more worthy and deserves the presentation-business done by them – songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones – and many others. A nice booklet would have lifted this astonishing box set into the stratosphere. But these are mere niggles to the main event – the wonderful AUDIO…

The best bit for many will be the GORGEOUS QUALITY SOUND. From what I can hear every one of these has used the upgraded HDCD remasters and the audio warmth and presence on say "Clouds", "Ladies Of The Canyon" and "Blue" is mind-blowingly good. Which brings us to the music itself…

Even as lifelong fan of Joni – relistening to these albums in chronological order is an awesome experience and on many occasions leaves you picking your jaw up off the floor and reaching for the Thesaurus to find adjectives big enough to do these songs justice. Track after track simply floors you – melodious, witty, heartfelt, articulate – Joni Mitchell has a way with melodies and words that oozes a rare intelligence. She’s an artist who was (and is) bound to engender true hero worship. By the time you get to Blue classics like "River” and the sublime "A Case Of You" – resistance is quite literally futile (lyrics from it title this review).

The other brill thing about a box like this is the dipping-in and the rediscovering of song nuggets that you’d either forgotten or aren’t on those “Best Of” compilations – Night In The City (from Song Of A Seagull), That Song About The Midway (from Clouds), Conversation (from Ladies Of The Canyon), California (from Blue), Electricity (from For The Roses), People’s Parties (from Court And Spark), The Boho Dance (from The Hissing Of Summer Lawns), Furry Sings The Blues (from Hejira) and Off Night Backstreet (from Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter). The only real clunker for me is the patchy jazz album “Mingus” which to this day still feels indulgent. Other than that this is a peerless and incredible body of work (for not a lot of wedge).

If ever an artist deserved lavish – it's Canada’s finest – Joni Mitchell. Don't think – don't dither – dive in and drool.

God bless you our Lady of the Canyon and stop smoking you silly twit – you're far too precious to lose…

"Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends - The Publishing Demos 1968-72" by KRIS KRISTOFFERSON (May 2010 Light In The Records" CD Compilation) - A Review by Mark Barry...

As featured in my e-Book

"…Someday These May Be All We Remember Of Each Other…"

"Light In The Attic Records" - a reissue label out of Seattle in the USA - has been building up a steady and loyal audience of music connoisseurs since 2002. Their releases cover many genres of music and often involve the reissue of ultra-rarities - obscure albums and material by artists that actually deserves reappraisal (their Karen Dalton, Rodriguez and Lou Bond issues are good examples).

And they are clearly proud of their 50th release - why? Because the first thing you notice about the gatefold card sleeve is the bulge in the left flap - the booklet is 60-pages long featuring a stunning essay by MICHAEL SIMMONS on the history of these amazing audio finds (the whole set is produced by Mark Linn and Matt Sullivan). I've seen Bear Family’s detachable booklets reach as much as 40 pages for a single Rhythm 'n' Blues CD (which is impressive) - but this is something else (the notes tell us it’s taken LITA over five years to compile it). Let's get to the itty-bitty details…

USA released May 2010 - "Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72" by KRIS KRISTOFFERSON is a 16-track CD on Light In The Attic LITA 050 (Barcode 826853005029) and breaks down as follows (51:47 minutes):

1. Me And Bobby McGee [5:12 minutes]

2. Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends [3:19 minutes, with False Start]

3. Smile At Me Again [2:34 minutes] (lyrics above)

4. The Lady's Not For Sale [3:45 minutes]

5. Border Lord [3:58 minutes]

6. Just The Other Side Of Nowhere [2:40 minutes]

7. Come Sundown [3:19 minutes]

8. Slow Down [2:29 minutes]

9. If You Don't Like Hank Williams [1:50 minutes]

10. Little Girl Lost [3:23 minutes]

11. Duvalier's Dream [2:31 minutes]

12. When I Loved Her [2:47 minutes]

13. Billy Dee [2:55 minutes]

14. Epitaph (Black And Blue) [3:25 minutes]

15. Enough For You [2:40 minutes] [with studio chatter]

16. Getting By, High, And Strange [4:57 minutes] [with False Starts & Dialogues]

1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16 are solo acoustic recordings

3, 5, 8 and 12 are band recordings

The sound quality is a little rough on some tracks, but most of the acoustic demos are beautifully clear and amazingly free of recording glitches. The band material is good too and the occasional studio chatter and false starts lend a lovely intimacy to it all.

The booklet opens with interviews from Dennis Hopper, Kinky Friedman and Merle Haggard - then has a huge essay on the release by label-founder Michael Simmons which is followed by Kristofferson's own dictated notes on every song (lyrics are provided, but the recording details are oddly sketchy). In-between all these words are loads of superb period photos - the young country singer with friends and like-minded musicians, hand-written lyric pages and even passport details... It's one of the best presentations I've ever seen.

Lyrically Kristofferson's as sharp as Dylan and as caustic as Cash - "...nothing looks as empty as a motel bed..." (from Smile At Me Again), "...she's got six gold records and been married seven times" (from Slow Down) and "...I like Bobby Gentry and that sexy Mama Cass, but if you don't like Hank Williams buddy, you can kiss my ass..." These are songs about whiskey-drinking loose women and needle-chasing young men who are "...driven towards the darkness by the devils in his veins..." (from Billy Dee). Great stuff...and smart too.

The stark piano playing of Donnie Fritts accompanies Kristofferson's lone guitar on "Epitaph (Black And Blue)" - it was written for Joplin after she died and obviously played with real pain and hurt. And then there's the opposite - great fun with Billy Swan on the last track about women on construction sites in New York - a tape box that was rescued from Swan's shed.

Obviously LITA is hoping that this release will warrant a reappraisal of Kristofferson as a major writing force - but I don't know if that's going to happen. Some of it is good, some a bit weak, but the better stuff is truly fantastic - it really is. And as I listen and re-listen to these songs - I'm reminded of Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" and Johnny Cash's "American Recordings" - albums I adore - and I'm sure many of their fans hold them precious too - being a true representation of their inner voices precisely because they're so raw and stripped-down.

As Kristofferson finishes singing the highly emotional words to "Enough For You" - he stops and says (rather impressed with himself) - "Was that just perfect!" And at times it's hard not to agree.

“Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72” by KRIS KRISTOFFERSON is a major release from a wonderful reissue label and in award-winning presentation too. Light In The Attic have done the great man proud…

--> PS: LITA have also issued it a 2LP Vinyl Set with the full booklet.

"Living Game" by MICK GREENWOOD (June 2001 UK Voiceprint CD Remaster in Jewel Case with Altered Artwork - September 2006 JAPAN Air Mail Recordings ARCHIVE CD Remaster in Mini LP Repro Sleeve with Original Artwork - Denis Blackham and Yoshiro Kuzimaki Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 199 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 7 

- Exceptional CD Reissues and 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

RATING: *** to **** (Album) ***** (Audio)

"…Truth Seeker…"

Mick Greenwood's debut album "Living Game" was released in the UK in September 1971 on MCA Records MDKS 8003 (November 1971 in the USA on Decca DL 75318) and was the 1st of his 3 albums in the early Seventies. 

The other two are "...To Friends" from October 1972 on MCA MKPS 2026 (March 1973 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-307) and "Midnight Dreamer" from September 1974 on Warner Brothers K 56059 (no USA release).

June 2001 saw all three reissued on CD (straightforward transfers in all cases) by the Voiceprint Label here in the UK with "Living Game" dubbed as Part One of 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' - the other two albums being Part Two & Three. Those 2001 Remasters pan out as follows - "Living Game" is Voiceprint VP222CD (Barcode 604388305629) - "...To Friends" is Voiceprint VP223CD (Barcode 604388305728) and "Midnight Dreamer" is Voiceprint VP224CD (Barcode 604388305827). There was also a box set containing all three CDs - 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' on Voiceprint VPBOX99CD.

As a further addendum – 20 September 2006 saw all three albums reissued again but this time in Repro Mini LP Original Artwork in JAPAN by Air Mail Recordings ARCHIVE – each with an OBI-Band and that 'Paper Sleeve' artwork (they are not SHMs). The "Living Game" Japan edition is a gatefold sleeve and even has the same colouring as the original British LP on the CD label and like the LP - the CD label calls the album "The Living Game" (attention to detail). NOTE: the UK Voiceprint Edition of his second album "...To Friends" features different artwork to the original UK LP while the third LP "Midnight Dreamer" features the original artwork albeit in an altered form. The only way to get the original UK/US album artwork is on these Japanese 2006 reissues - "Living Game" is AIRAC-1251 (Barcode 4571136372508) - "...To Friends" is AIRAC-1252 (Barcode 4571136372515) and "Midnight Dreamer" is AIRAC-1253 (Barcode 4571136372522). 

This review will focus on the September 2006 JAPAN CD Reissue on Air Mail Recordings Archive AIRAC-1251 (Barcode 4571136372508) – 39:20 minutes: 

1. Taxi [Side 1]

2. Friend Of Mine

3. Living Game

4. My Life

5. To The Sea

6. After The First World War [Side 2]

7. To The Farside

8. Truth Seeker

9. Situation Number Four

10. Keep Coming Back

11. Sight

MICK GREENWOOD - Vocals & Acoustic Guitar

JERRY DONAHUE - Electric Guitar

PAT DONALDSON - Bass Guitar

GERRY CONWAY - Drums, Percussion

TONY COX - Piano & Harmonium

(Tony Cox and Martin Cook produced the album with all songs written by Mick Greenwood)

Born in the UK but raised in the States from the age of 12 - Greenwood returned to London in 1970 in his early 20s to make music. He knew members of the FAIRPORT CONVENTION offshoot Folk Rock group FOTHERINGAY so when he went to make "Living Game" he was able to call on three of them - and along with keyboardist/producer Tony Cox - made up the band that feature on the album. 

The album has a quietly impressive list of guests from the Folk and Avant Jazz circuits of the time. Jazz session man and multi-instrumentalist LYNN DOBSON of THIRD EAR BAND adds flute to "Taxi", tenor sax to "Keep Coming Back" and plays sitar on "Sight".  CHRISTINE QUAYLE of the deeply underground DAYLIGHT adds lovely backing vocals to both "Situation Number Four" and "My Life". ANDY SMITH of THE IAN CAMPBELL FOLK GROUP also plays Banjo on "Situation Number Four". DAVE PEGG of FAIRPORT CONVENTION plays bass on "Situation Number Four" and "Sight". Later to appear with ASSAGAI on Vertigo and SPEAR on Virgin - South African avant-garde jazzman DUDU PUKWANA adds alto sax to "Keep Coming Back". KARL JENKINS of CENTIPEDE (would later form NUCLEUS) and his pals DEREK WADSWORTH (GINGER BAKER’S AIRFORCE) and BUD PARKES also play horns on the off-center "Keep Coming Back". 

The artwork on the Voiceprint CD has been altered slightly; the original front cover of the gatefold LP had the name and title of the album in script writing centered in the top window - Mick Greenwood Living Game – on the 2001 Voiceprint version it's been shortened to Living Game with his name removed entirely. The full-face photo that graced the rear of the gatefold sleeve is reproduced under the see-through tray and the same typo style used on the inner gatefold is also used to reproduce the lyrics and band credits in the booklet - nice touches on both counts. But the JAPANESE issue (being sticklers for detail) have gone back to the British LP and Reproduced it exactly as was – including the lyrics on the inside and even the original MCA vinyl catalogue numbers. The extra foldout glossy paper insert is one-sided and has only Japanese writing although it does advise that a 24-Bit Remaster was done in 2006 by YOSHIRO KUZUMAKI at CM Punch in Japan. And it sounds as spectacularly clean as the DENIS BLACKHAM one does for the 2001 UK variant. 

MCA/Decca released no less than three hard-to-find 7" singles in the USA and UK to promote the album, but none did any chart business:

1. "Living Game" b/w "To The Sea" was on Decca 32922 in the USA and MCA MKS 5074 in the UK (November 1971)

2. "Friend Of Mine" b/w "Situation Number Four" was on MCA MKS 5082 in the UK (February 1972)

 3. "After The First World War" b/w "Nobody Knows Me" on Decca 32962 in the USA and MCA MKS 5092 in the UK (May 1972)

As you can see from the album track list and my seven-inch singles discography provided above - "Nobody Knows Me" is a non-album B-side. Unfortunately, it's not featured as a bonus track on either CD variant - a damn shame that.

But the big revelation is the superb sound quality. DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering in Scotland) has digitally remastered the first-generation tapes and he's achieved a beautiful job - warm, clean and full - far clearer than the cackles coming off my battered old vinyl copy. The JAPANESE issue is the same – super clean and clear – amazing audio for 1971. To the tunes…

If you were to describe the music, it would be a cross between Matthews Southern Comfort and Elton John circa "Madman Across The Water".  It isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination and the hammy hippy-lifestyle lyrics on some of the songs irritated me then and may make many cringe now - but there's also a lot to love on here and isn't as dated as I feared it might be. 

The flute driven rock of the opener "Taxi" is excellent, the plaintive "Friend Of Mine" very Clifford T Ward, while the opening piano chords of "Living Game" are "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" three years before it was recorded.  For me "My Life" is gorgeous and will be gracing a 70's Fest CD-R somewhere near you soon. It's a truly lovely song and to hear the clarity of Pat Donaldson's bass playing on this excellent remaster is a genuine blast.

Then two lost classics appear, the strange yet funky "To The Farside" and the lovely string-driven ballad "Truth Seeker" - gems awaiting rediscovery for sure. The funky five-piece brass section on "Keep Coming Back" is superb and may even appeal to soul boys who like the funky side of rock, while Lynn Dobson's sitar combined with Ned Balen's Tablas on "Sight" will have you running for the joss sticks on Sunday morning. It ends the album on a lovely trippy up-note. Pretty impressive stuff really - 45 years on and it still sounds good.

To sum up, Mick Greenwood's 1971 Debut Album "Living Game" is a three to four-star Folk Rock album given a five star remaster and is well worth your checking out. 

Recommended to those looking to explore an underrated and forgotten songsmith from the Seventies...and I've also reviewed "Midnight Dreamer" on this Blog...

"Fire And Water: Deluxe Edition" by FREE (March 2008 Universal/Island 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…They Call Me Mr. Big…"

Preceded by their debut "Tons Of Sobs" (March 1969) and their 2nd album "Free" (October 1969) - FREE's landmark third LP "Fire And Water" was delivered to an expectant public in all its 7-track simplicity and glory on 26th of June 1970 on Island Records ILPS 9120 (originals had the distinctive pink label in the UK). Prepped by the edited single of "All Right Now" in May 1970 which raced up to number 2 in the British charts (Island WIP 6082) - the vinyl album delivered what the public seemed to already know - here was a truly great British Rock band hitting its stride.

This is the 3rd CD incarnation of the original LP - a 1986 crappy non-remaster - a far better 2001 Remaster with 6 bonus tracks - and now this - a 30-Track 2CD DELUXE EDITION of "Fire and Water" by FREE issued 18 March 2008 on Universal/Island 5306090 (Barcode 600753060902). For fans who already own the 2001 remaster and probably also have the 4CD "Songs Of Yesterday" Box set that went before it in May 2000, for all its comprehensiveness this 2CD set offers only 5 Previously Unreleased Tracks. So if you can buy the 2001 remaster for a fiver or less anywhere, why pay more money for this 2CD set? The answer is threefold - the packaging, the Extras (4 out of 5 of them are actually great) and above all - the SOUND - which is the best ever to my tired lugs. Here are the button-up jeans and hairy-chests...

Disc 1 (72:34 minutes):

1. Fire And Water

2. Oh How I Wept

3. Remember

4. Heavy Load

5. Mr. Big [Side 2]

6. All Right Now

7. Don’t Say You Love Me

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album “Fire And Water” (details above)

8. Fire And Water (BBC “Sounds Of The Seventies” Sessions 23 June 1970)

9. Mr. Big  (BBC “Top Gear” Session 13 December 1969)

10. All Right Now (as per 8)

11. Remember (BBC “John Peel Sunday Concert” 15 January 1970)

12. Mr. Big (BBC “John Peel Sunday Concert” 2 July 1970)

13. Don’t Say You Love Me (as per 12)

14. All Right Now (as per 12)

Disc 2 (67:24 minutes):

1. Fire And Water (US Album Mix)

2. Oh I Wept (Alternate Vocal version)

3. Remember (New Mix)

4. Don’t Say You Love Me (New Mix)

5. All Right Now (First Version)

6. All Right Now (Single Version – Edit)

7. Fire And Water (Previously Unreleased Backing Track)

8. Fire And Water (Alternate Stereo Mix)

9. Fire And Water

10. Don’t Say You Love Me

11. Mr. Big  (9 to 11 live at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, UK)

12. All Right Now

13. Mr. Big No.2 (12 and 13 live at Sunderland Locarno Fillmore North)

14. All Right Now (Take 1)

15. All Right Now (Take 2)

16. All Right Now (Take 3)

EXTRAS:

There are five previously unreleased versions new to this release:

"Mr. Big" (Track 9 on Disc 1) is from the BBC's John Peel Show recorded 15 Jan 1971. It’s very disappointing - not a great recording with really muddy sound and it's easy to see why it's been left off previous releases

"Fire And Water (Backing Track)” (Track 7 on Disc 2) - a really interesting `work in progress' from February 1970 mixed in 1999, Take 5 contains studio chatter at the beginning and then the band working nicely through the backing track - Kirke's drumming fantastic, but it ends oddly and abruptly

Tracks 11, 12 and 13 on Disc 2: "All Right Now" (Takes 1, 2 and 3)

All three takes were recorded as part of filmed promotional shorts for "All Right Now" and "The Stealer" in October 1970. Instead of miming, the band played live (the two videos turn up on the "Free Forever" DVD set) and these `live' takes are superb and genuinely deserve the moniker `bonus tracks" - they even include the squeaking of Simon Kirke's drum stool! Fans will have to have these.

PACKAGING:

The booklet contains black & white photos, reproduction of concert tickets, press adverts, in the studio colour photos and a detailed history of the albums path to number 3 in the UK charts in July 1970. The CDs themselves reflect the original `PINK' Island label design on 1st pressings of the LP and the original master tape boxes are pictured underneath the two see-through trays - a nice touch on both counts.

SOUND:

Even though the outside packaging seems to be saying that the remaster is 'new', the 20-page booklet confusingly states that the remaster used is the 2001 one done by PETER MEW at Abbey Road - the same as the single disc that's been on the market for years? But the sound on this release is different – far better to my ears.

FREE were a `loud' band and the recordings at the 8-track Trident Studios reflected their hairy-arsed live rock band nature - in other words the recorded results were not exactly going to win audiophile gongs. The tapes were then remixed onto the 16-track facility at Island's new studio in Basing Street. But even then, Chris Blackwell, label founder and leader, hated the results. So more mixing was done. But even to this day, the further mixing and remixing before the album was finally released still gave us a less than great sonic result. I mention all of this because the liner notes to this release talk of major audio restoration having gone into the 1999 and 2001 remastering process - and now again on this 2008 version - and man can you HEAR IT!

Take Side 2 of the original album, "Mr Big", "Don't Say You Love Me" and "All Right Now" - when I A/B the sound on my 2001 issue to this 2008 issue, the huge difference is the removal of `almost' all of the hiss that was omnipresent on the 2001 remaster which marred the listen enormously. The result is that instead of being saturated in a rough and ready hissy wall, the band suddenly explodes out of the speakers with an intensity that will thrill fans to their very core! I would describe it like this - it's as if I'm listening to the full power of FREE for the first time. With this new clarity, the opening and eventual build up in "Mr Big" to a guitar crescendo has to be heard to be believed! It's enormous and just AWESOME to hear! The beautiful "Don't Say You Love Me" is truly gorgeous now, especially when the lovely piano addition comes in, while the fantastic anthem that is "All Right Now" has you hearing Kossoff's plectrum scratching off the pick-ups - little guitar flicks before he goes into the big riff, the clarity of Fraser's bass work and other nuances that I've just never heard before. Don't get me wrong, there is `hiss' on these recordings, but the removal of even half of it has made the band come alive to my ears. Wonderful stuff!

To sum up - "Fire And Water" is a great album and this 2CD 'DELUXE EDITION' of it gives the great record a stunning sonic upgrade. Throw in all the live versions and alternate takes around its release, decent liner notes and packaging, all topped off with 4 out of the 5 previously unreleased tracks actually worth owning - then indeed you have something special.

There have been some stunning issues in Universal's 'DELUXE EDITION' series (check out the Whiskeytown "Strangers Almanac" double) and this is another. Regardless of the price and the overdoing of "All Right Now" (nine versions for Gawd's sake) - fans will have to own it - and the uninitiated can discover why Britain and the world went mad for the FREE and their down and dirty brand of 'rawk'. What a band…