"I Looked Up" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (2014 Beat Goes On CD Remaster Of Their 5th Studio LP from 1970) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…This Moment…"

When the INCREDIBLE STRING BAND put out the vinyl double-album ‘U’ in October 1970 complete with a pantomime show to accompany its half-genius and wholly indulgent sprawl – many fans thought they’d lost it while critics had a total field day. And perhaps the single album “I Looked Up” that preceded ‘U’ only months earlier (which also tested people’s patience) lit the fuse for that backlash. Whatever you look at it - four and half decades later - and along comes Beat Goes On of the UK with a spiffing new CD remaster and quality presentation. They’re hoping of course you’ll reassess the whole hairyman affair in 2014…and if you’re a fan, you should. Here are real ale details…

UK released September 2014 - "I Looked Up" by THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1166 (Barcode 5017261211668) comes in an outer card slipcase and breaks down as follows (41:27 minutes):

1. Black Jack Davy (Mike Heron)

2. The Letter (Mike Heron)

3. Pictures In A Mirror (Robin Williamson)

4. This Moment (Mike Heron)

5. When You Find Out Who You Are (Robin Williamson)

6. Fair As You (Mike Heron song)

Tracks 1 to 6 are the stereo vinyl album "I Looked Up" – released April 1970 in the UK on Elektra 2469 002 and Elektra EKS 74061 in the USA

Consisting of multi-instrumentalists ROBIN WILLIAMSON and MIKE HERON (Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar, Flute, Piano, Bass, Various English and European String Instruments and Vocals) - the band also had ROSE SIMPSON on Bass and LICORICE McKECHNIE on Duet Vocals and Guitar. The 16-page booklet features two photos of the ISB and detailed liner notes by noted writer JOHN TOBLER that go into a long history of the groups stay at Elektra. But the big news is a lovely new remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON that brings out the music in a really great way. Many of these tracks are essentially acoustic guitars, mandolins and high vocals - the remaster has hiss on some tracks - but the clarity is fab.

Musically if I were to single out two extremes (bad and good) – it would be the near unlistenable nonsense of “Pictures In A Mirror” which goes on for eleven minutes and is painful to listen to. A contrast is the lovely six minutes of “This Moment” – even if it has the “oh no” vocal refrain towards the end. And the remaster is amazing on “When You Find Out Who You Are” as it goes into those delicate vocal duets between Robin and Licorice. But perhaps best of all is the old world madrigal folk of “Fair As You” with its Flute, Gimbri and layered vocals. It has hiss on it for sure but it’s not been dampened down in the transfer at the expense of the prominent acoustic guitar and flute (deftly done). 

The Incredible String Band would go on to the altogether better "Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air" album when they signed to Island in 1971. To sum up – it’s a bit Bovril – you either love it or loathe it. But if you’re a fan – you need this superb remaster in your collection...

"Abracadabra: The Asylum Years" by JUDEE SILL (2006 Rhino 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Like A Wind Song…" 

With her so uncool Granny glasses, plain Jane straight hair and hard-to-pigeonhole melodies - JUDEE SILL's duo of Asylum Label LPs have gathered a cult-status that refuses to go away. Yet as someone who worked in a busy secondhand record shop in London's West End for near twenty years - I can remember in the late Eighties and Nineties when you couldn't give "Judee Sill" or "Heart Food" away. Much like Emitt Rhodes on Probe or Eric Andersen on Capitol (see reviews for both) - they'd sit in the racks in their fetching gatefold sleeves unloved and unwanted. And clearly from this gorgeous 2CD retrospective - that was something of a collective mistake. It's not all genius by any means - but when she hits that mark - her music is truly beautiful. So here are the cross makers and the soldiers of the heart...

UK released June 2006 - "Abracadabra: The Asylum Years" by JUDEE SILL on Rhino/Asylum 8122 79534 2 (Barcode 081227953423) is a 2CD Set of Remasters and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (77:26 minutes):

1. Crayon Angels

2. The Phantom Cowboy

3. The Archetypal Man

4. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown

5. Lady-O

6. Jesus Was A Cross Maker

7. Ridge Rider

8. My Man On Love

9. Lopin' Along Thru The Cosmos

10. Enchanted Sky Machines

11. Abracadabra

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Judee Sill" - released September 1971 in the USA on Asylum SD-5050 and May 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8751

12. The Pearl (Original Version)

13. The Phoenix (Original Version)

Tracks 12 and 13 were removed from the album to make room for the late inclusion of "Jesus Was A Cross Maker" and subsequently re-recorded for "Heart Food"

14. Ridge Rider (Alternate Version)

15. My Man On Love (Alternate Version)

14 and 15 are Previously Unreleased outtakes from the "Judee Sill" sessions

16. Intro/The Vigilante

17. Lady-O

18. Enchanted Sky Machines

19. The Archetypical Man

20. Crayon Angels

21. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown

22. Jesus Was A Cross Maker

Tracks 16 to 22 were recorded 'Live In Boston Music Hall', 3 October 1971

Tracks 12 to 22 were first issued on the Rhino Handmade CD Edition of "Judee Sill" on RHM2 7836 in 2003

Disc 2 (77:56 minutes):

1. There's A Rugged Road

2. The Kiss

3. The Pearl

4. Down Where The Valleys Are Low

5. The Vigilante

6. Soldier Of The Heart

7. The Phoenix

8. When The Bridegroom Comes

9. The Donor

10. (No Title)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Heart Food" - released March 1973 in the USA on Asylum SD 5063 and April 1973 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9006

11. The Desperado (outtake from the "Heart Food" sessions)

12. The Kiss

13. Down Where The Valleys Are Low

14. The Donor

15. Soldier Of The Heart

16. The Phoenix

17. The Vigilante

18. The Pearl

19. There's A Rugged Road

Tracks 12 to 19 are Solo Demos for the "Heart Food" album

20. The Donor (Alternate Mix) - Previously Unreleased

Tracks 10 to18 first issued on the Rhino Handmade CD Edition of "Heart Food" on RHM2 7802 in 2003

With its card slipcase, a 20-page sepia-tinted booklet and CD labels that reflect the original Asylum 'door in the sky' logo - this feels like a classy release - and it is. First up is the truly beautiful remastering by long-standing Rhino stalwarts DAN HERSCH and DAVE SCHULTZ. Co-ordinator ANDY ZAC explains in the liner notes that the first generation Stereo master tapes had inherent glitches and distorted her voice. Hidden by vinyl to some degree -the CD is less forgiving - but given that - the job they've done is fabulous - as faithful and as clear as the music is ever going to be. On quieter songs like the piano-driven "When The Bridegroom Comes" - their deftness of touch really lifts the song.

Her two minor hits are here - covers of The Turtles "Lady-O" and The Hollies "Jesus Was A Cross Maker" - but her own "There's A Rugged Road" impresses more (Shawn Colvin does a gorgeous version of it on her "Cover Girl" CD from 1994). "My Man On Love" has her signature magic - as lovely a melody as you've ever heard. It was put on the flipside of "Sky Enchanted Machines" when it got released in September 1972 in the UK as a 7" single (Asylum AYM 509). "The Archetypal Man" is witty and perceptive too and I love the 'Alternate Version' of "Ridge Rider" which is simplified and better for it.

But if I were to single out three masterpieces - two would be on the hugely accomplished "Heart Food" album. First is probably everybody's favourite -  the moving and beautiful ache of "The Kiss" - wow! If you get the chance -check out The Old Grey Whistle Test footage of her doing this live with just a piano in 1973 (lyrics from it title this review). Second is the epic 9-minute hymn-like finisher "The Donor" which MICHELE KORT rightly gives paragraphs to in her wonderfully detailed and heartfelt liner notes. It goes off into staggering vocal tangents and pirouettes that predate Kate Bush - and with the combined male and female voices repeating a Kyrie Eleison refrain throughout (Lord Have Mercy) - its musical ambition is like a female Todd Rundgren on a roll. The complicated tympani and vibes arrangements alone must have taken months to get down. It's astonishing stuff.

But best of all is the set's prize - a previously unreleased outtake that I feel matches even "The Kiss". It's called "The Desperado" and should have finished the album instead of the non-titled Track 10 that is merely an Irish air instrumental that might have seemed like fun at the time - but now seems superfluous and badly misjudged. "The Desperado" would have brought the album full-circle - even into Joni Mitchell territory. It's beautifully produced - a lovely acoustic melody - what a find.

Judee Sill won't be for everyone for sure and some may wonder what all the fuss is about - but I've been moved to tears many times by the beauty and talent available on this gorgeous 2CD release.

Aged only 35 - she died at home 23 November 1979 from a drug overdose - with her loss barely reported anywhere. Rest with the angels you beautiful lady...

"Switch" by SWITCH - A Review Of Their 1978 Debut Album on Gordy and Tamla Motown - Now Remastered & Expanded by Big Break Records of England In 2014 onto CD...

“…We Like To Party…”

Soul and Funk band SWITCH managed 5 albums between 1978 and 1981 on Gordy (USA) and Tamla Motown (UK) – and this is their debut. Typically accomplished and polished Soul ala Kool & The Gang or The Commodores with songwriting involvement from Bobby DeBarge and Jermaine Jackson– it's a mixture of mid-paced steppers and classy smooth ballads recorded by seriously talented players. Here are the multi-instrumentalist details…

Released 25 August 2014 in the UK (7 October in the USA) – Big Break Records CDBBRX 0164 (Barcode 5013929046436) breaks downs as follows (40:04 mnutes):

1. I Wanna Be With You

2. There’ll Never Be

3. I Wanna Be Closer

4. We Like The Party…Come On!

5. Fever

6. You Pulled A Switch

7. It’s So Real

8. Somebody’s Watching You

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Switch” – released August 1978 in the USA on Gordy G7-980R1 and October 1978 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12096

9. There’ll Never Be (Single Version)

10. I Wanna Be Closer (Single Version)

Using the two bonuses and Tracks 6 and 8 - this release will allow fans to sequence their two US 7” singles as follows:

There’ll Never Be b/w You Pulled A Switch, June 1978 on Gordy G-7159F

I Wanna Be Closer b/w Somebody’s Watching You, December 1978 on Gordy G-7163F

The 16-page booklet has live photos of the band, rare picture sleeves, label facsimiles and liner notes by SHELLEY NICOLE (as well as album credits). But the big news as always is a KEVIN REEVES and NICK ROBBINS remaster from Universal tapes and it sounds just amazing – clear, punchy and full of life.

Highlights include “I Wanna Be Closer” – a great smoocher – and the floor-filling slap-bass funk of “We Like To Party…Come On!” where they sound like an energized Gap Band.

Another superb reissue from BBR and kicking where it matters – sound and presentation…

"Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal: An Island Anthology 1967-1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - A Review Of The December 2005 Universal/Island Remasters 3CD Mini Clamshell Box Set with Discography (by Mark Barry)...

This Review Along With Over 347 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

REASON TO BELIEVE (Artists from M to Z)

CLASSIC ROCK and POP from 1970 to 1974 
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Over 2,600 E-Pages

Just Copy The Link Below To Purchase My E-Book for £4.95

All Details and In-depth Reviews Taken From The Discs

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

https://amzn.to/4bPcFRQ

"…Like Another Chance…"

The 'Island Record Label' - enough to put a Weight Watchers smile on the face of even the most overweight Fiftysomething. And this rich, crazy, inspiring 3CD 48-song Mini Box Set covering their Rock, Prog and Folk Rock late Sixties and early Seventies output will only have you doing guitar windmills in your living room once again. It's a lovely thing indeed. Here are the low sparks and high heels...

Originally UK released December 2005 - "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal: An Island Anthology 1967-1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set with Three Themed Compilations in Mini LP Card Sleeves with 48-Page Booklet on Universal/Island 9822950 (Barcode 602498229507) and breaks down as follows (all catalogue numbers are UK):

DISC 1, 19 tracks, 79:09 minutes:

(Jethro Tull, Amazing Blondel, Free and Quintessence pictured on the card artwork)
1. Supernatural Tales - ART (on "Supernatural Fairy Tales", December 1967 UK LP on Island ILP 967 in Mono. Band featured Bassist Greg Ridley of Spooky Tooth and Humble Pie, Guitarist Luther Grosvenor of Spooky Tooth and Mott The Hoople (as Aerial Bender) ad Deep Feeling, Mike Harrison of Spooky Tooth and Solo LPs and Michael Kellie of Spooky Tooth, Baker Gurvitz Army and later The Only Ones)
2. Paper Sun - TRAFFIC (A-side of the 7" single released May 1967 in the UK on Island WIP 6002)
3. Harpsichord Shuffle - WYNDER K. FROG (WKF is a pseudonym for Mick Weaver - on "Out Of The Frying Pan", September 1968 Stereo LP on Island ILPS 9044 in Stereo)
4. Rainbow Chaser - NIRVANA (A-side of their third 7" single released March 1968 in the UK on Island WIP 6029)
5. Pearly Queen - TRAMLINE (on "Moves Of Vegetables Centuries", January 1969 2nd UK Stereo LP on Island ILPS 9095 - a cover of a Traffic song - also appeared on the "You Can All Join In" Island Records sampler LP in March 1969. Band featured Micky Moody, guitarist later with Juicy Lucy, Snafu and Whitesnake)
6. Sunshine Help Me - SPOOKY TOOTH (A-side of the 7" single released 1968 on Island WIP 6022. Also featured on the Stereo album "It's All About" on Island ILPS 9080)
7. Dusty - JOHN MARTYN (on "The Tumbler", his 2nd album released December 1968 on Island ILPS 9091 in Stereo)
8. Meet On The Ledge - FAIRPORT CONVENTION (on "What We Did On Our Holidays", January 1969 UK 2nd Stereo LP on Island ILPS 9092)
9. A Song For Jeffrey - JETHRO TULL (on "This Was", their debut album from October 1968 on Island ILPS 9085)
10. The Carpenter - CLOUDS (on "Scrapbook", their July 1969 UK Debut Album on Island ILPS 9100)
11. I Keep Singing The Same Old Song - HEAVY JELLY (Stereo mix taken from the Island Records label sampler album "Nice Enough To Eat" released in 1969 on Island IWPS 6. The Mono Mix was released as the A-side to the UK 7" single on Island WIP 6049)
12. Black Mass: (Electric Storm In Hell) - WHITE NOISE (on "An Electric Storm", June 1969 UK Debut Album on Island ILPS 9099 in Stereo)
13. Over The Green Hills (Part 1) - FREE (on "Tons Of Sobs", their March 1969 UK Debut Album on Island ILPS 9089 in Stereo)
14. Worry - FREE (as per 13)
15. Giants - QUINTESSENCE (on "In Blissful Company", their November 1969 UK Debut Album on Island ILPS 9110 in Stereo)
16. Queen Of Scots - AMAZING BLONDEL (on "Evensong", November 1970 UK album on Island ILPS 9136 in Stereo)
17. Feelin' Alright - TRAFFIC (An 'Alternate Version' from the double-album "Dave Mason Scrapbook" released 1972 on Island ICD 5 (Mason wrote the famous song). The original mix of this DM tune is on the 1968 "Traffic" album on Island ILPS 9081)
18. Sing Me A Song That I Know So Well - BLODWYN PIG (on "Ahead Rings Out", July 1969 UK Debut LP on Island ILPS 9101 in Stereo)
19. A Sailor's Life - FAIRPORT CONVENTION (on "Unhalfbricking", July 1969 3rd UK Album on Island ILPS 9102 in Stereo)

DISC 2, 15 tracks, 73:34 minutes:

(Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, McDonald & Giles, Cat Stevens, Incredible String Band on card artwork)
1. A New Day Yesterday - JETHRO TULL (on "Stand Up", August 1969 UK 2nd LP on Island ILPS 9103)
2. No Time To Live - TRAFFIC (on "Traffic", September 1968 UK album on Island ILPS 9081)
3. Three Hours - NICK DRAKE (on "Five Leaves Left", July 1969 UK Debut LP on Island ILPS 9105)
4. Lost In My Dream - SPOOKY TOOTH (on "Spooky Two", March 1969 UK 2nd LP on Island ILPS 9098)
5. Stormbringer! - JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN (on "Stormbringer!", February UK 1970 album on Island ILPS 9113 - String Arrangements by Paul Harris)
6. Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal - DR. STRANGELY STRANGE (on "Kip Of The Serenes", July 1969 album on Island ILPS 9106)
7. Notting Hill Gate - QUINTESSENCE (A-side of a UK 7" single released January 1970 on Island WIP 6075)
8. Banks Of The Nile - FOTHERINGAY (on "Fotheringay", March 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9125. Features SANDY DENNY and members of FAIRPORT CONVENTION)
9. Wild World - CAT STEVENS (on "Tea For The Tillerman", November 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9135)
10. Painted Chariot - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND (on "Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air", 1971 LP on Island ILPS 9172)
11. Cat Food - KING CRIMSON (on "In The Wake Of Poseidon", May 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9127. It's credited in the booklet as the A-side 7" single edit (at 2:47 minutes) but it plays the full album version at 4:54 minutes)
12. Groon - KING CRIMSON (non-album track, B-side to the March 1970 UK 7" single of "Cat Food" on Island WIP 6080)
13. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens - SANDY DENNY (on "The North Star Grassman And The Ravens", September 1971 LP on Island ILPS 9165)
14. Suite In C (Including Turnham Green, Here I Am And Others) - McDONALD & GILES (on "McDonald & Giles", 1970 LP on Island ILPS 9126. Ian McDonald (Saxophone and Keyboards) and Michael 'Mike' Giles (Percussion, Vocals, Writer and Arranger) were with KING CRIMSON. The track also features STEVE WINWOOD on Keyboards)
15. The Siege Of Yaddlethorpe - AMAZING BLONDEL (on "Fantasia Lindum", 1971 album on Island ILPS 9156)

DISC 3, 14 tracks, 76:18 minutes:

(Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Alan Bown, Traffic and Heads, Hands & Feet on the card artwork)
1. Knife Edge - EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (on "Emerson, Lake & Palmer", their November 1970 debut album on Island ILPS 9132)
2. Thunderbuck Ram - MOTT THE HOOPLE (on "Bumpers", June 1970 UK Double-Album Label Sampler on Island IDP 1. The mix on this double differs to the original version on the album "Mad Shadows" from 1970 on Island ILPS 9119)
3. Northern Sky - NICK DRAKE (on "Bryter Layer", November 1970 2nd LP on Island ILPS 9134)
4. Thru The Night - THE ALAN BOWN (on "El Pea", exclusive to the October 1971 double-album label sampler on Island IDLP 1)
5. Dark Dance - ROBIN WILLIAMSON (on "Myrrh", 1972 album on Island HELP 2. Robin Williamson is from THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND)
6. I Am The Walrus - SPOOKY TOOTH (on "The Last Puff", a cover version of The Beatles classic released 1970 on Island ILPS 9117)
7. Glistening Glyndebourne - JOHN MARTYN (on "Bless The Weather", an instrumental on the November 1971 LP on Island ILPS 9167)
8. Fire And Water - FREE (on "Fire And Water", June 1970 3rd album on Island ILPS 9120)
9. See My Way - BLODWYN PIG (on "Getting To This", April 1970 2nd album on Chrysalis ILPS 9122)
10. See The World (Through My Eyes) - VINEGAR JOE (on "Vinegar Joe", their UK Debut Album from April 1972 on Island ILPS 9183. Both ELKIE BROOKS and ROBERT PALMER shared Vocals in the band)
11. Peace Train - CAT STEVENS (on "Teaser And The Fire Cat", September 1971 LP on Island ILPS 9154)
12. Watercolour Days - CLOUDS (on "Watercolour Days", 1971 LP on Chrysalis ILPS 9151)
13. The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys - TRAFFIC (on "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys", November 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9180)
14. Song For Suzie - HEADS, HANDS & FEET (on "Head, Hands & Feet", 1971 LP on Island ILPS 9149. The band featured ALBERT LEE on Guitar)

Not surprisingly the box's artwork (as well as the CD labels) uses the famous 'pink' Island colouring and the 48-page booklet is both a joy to look at and a fascinating read. Compiled by reissue heroes MARK POWELL and remastered to stunning effect by PASCHAL BYRNE (Audio Archiving) - you get three and a half hours of audacious scope and at times hippy nonsense. There's a small history of the label - then each artist is lined up (in alphabetical order) with a very detailed biography by Powell - and all of it peppered with loads of album sleeves and period photos. And the remasters are fabulous...

Some might argue about the choices and the alignment of the songs (Robin Williamson gets a one minute instrumental yet a whole page of Biography) - but time after time you're hit with the sheer diversity of British Rock bands - Traffic, Jethro Tull, Spooky Tooth, Blodwyn Pig and ELP. And how good it is to see bands like Clouds, Vinegar Joe, Quintessence, Fotheringay and Heads, Hands & Feet get an airing. The 11-minute McDonald & Giles "Suite In C" is a complex Prog masterpiece. And it's clever of the compilers to include four rarities/exclusives by Heavy Jelly, The Alan Bown, Mott The Hoople and Traffic from the compilations "Nice Enough To Eat" (November 1969), "Bumpers" (June 1970, 2LPs), "El Pea" (October 1971, 2LPs) and the Alternate Mix of a Traffic song on the Dave Mason double-album "Scrapbook". In fact, Island's first label sampler from March 1969 "You Can All Join In" is featured on this 3CD Box by 6 tracks of its original 12 - they are "A Song For Jeffrey" by Jethro Tull, "Sunshine Help Me" by Spooky Tooth, "Pearly Queen" by Tramline, "Meet On The Ledge" by Fairport Convention, "Rainbow Chaser" by Nirvana and "Dusty" by John Martyn. The "Nice Enough To Eat" LP Sampler has four entries - Tramline, Heavy Jelly and Blodwyn Pig (all on CD1) with Dr. Strangely Strange and their Box Set title song on CD2. Those entry-into-another-world Island Records budget LPs are pictured on Page 8 (see below) as is a July 1994 CD compilation called "Folk Routes" which gathers up obscuro's like "Siege Of Yaddlethrorpe" by Amazing Blondel on CD2. Speaking of Sampler LPs - it amazes me that Universal haven't done either "Bumpers" or "EL Pea" as 2CD Deluxe Editions with shit tons of Bonus Tracks? How many of us oldies-but-goldies knew those Budget LP innards by heart - great memories. 

Singer-songwriter stunners include the mighty Folk-Rock giants of John Martyn, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Cat Stevens and the boys from The Incredible String Band - all sounding gorgeous and alive as they slink across your speakers with renewed fidelity (Danny Thompson's sliding Double-Bass playing being the hero contribution on many of them). Rockers and Progtastic types like FREE, MOTT THE HOOPLE, JETHRO TULL, SPOOKY TOOTH and ELP are beloved for damn good reason (their entries illuminate why - check out Spooky Tooth's fantastic "Lost In My Dreams" on CD2 which sounds staggeringly contemporary even today). The Blues Rock of the long-forgotten and commercially unsuccessful TRAMLINE featured Vocal and Harmonica from John McCoy (future Manager for Claire Hamill and Chris Rea) and more famously - the ace guitarist Micky Moody who would later grace Juicy Lucy, Snafu and Whitesnake. Featured here (and the opening track on their second and last album - the frightfully named "Moves Of Vegetable Centuries" - disbanded by early 1969). Tramline's cover of Traffic's "Pearly Queen" also showed up on the first Island Records budget sampler LP "You Can All Join In" in March 1969 (I proudly own a nice copy of 'Join In' with its 14 Shillings and 4d Sticker, Pink Eye Logo Label and Island's Bands on the Front Cover artwork - check out a grinning Ian Anderson in the Back Row and a studious be-hatted Steve Winwood in row three stood beside the cool shades of Dave Mason author of "Feelin' Alright" - both no doubt thinking of getting it together in the country).

I'd admit that I find the Acid-Psych-Folk of the Box Set's namesake Dr. Strangely Strange a wee bit twee - but you gotta love the mad making hay of their "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal" track. It is followed by things-are-great in the meditation sessions of "Notting Hill Gate" by Quintessence - a catchy fuzz-guitar 45 (if you can image such a thing). And is there any melody-loving music fan that can resist the gorgeous Fotheringay entry "Banks Of The Nile" - eight-minutes of exquisite soldier-sadness narrated by the warmth of Sandy Denny's lovely voice. With its Non-LP flipside, the King Crimson 45 is a cool inclusion too - even if the A-side is miscredited as the Single Mix when in fact it plays the Full Album Version of "Cat Food". A favourite - the near twelve minutes of Traffic's "Low Spark" is an awesome thing to behold (lyrics from it entitle this review).

So much to discover, re-visit and delight in. "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal: An Island Anthology 1967-1972" is a fantastic reminder of a time when musically anything seemed possible - and on the evidence legally declared here - it clearly was. And in 2026 - over 20 years on - can we hope for Volume 2 please...