“Duster/Country Roads & Other Places” by THE GARY BURTON QUARTET (2014 Beat Goes On CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

“…Ensemble Integrity…”

This is a smart reissue – and done with real style. Indiana-born Vibraphonist GARY BURTON was already seven albums into a remarkable career at the age of only 24 (he was spotted by fellow label mate and country star Chet Atkins). This beautiful sounding BGO CD reissue offers fans two hugely sought-after vinyl Stereo rarities - his 8^th and 9^th LPs on RCA Records.

UK released August 2014 - Beat Goes On BGOCD 1157 (Barcode 5017261211576) breaks down as follows (68:01 minutes):

1. Ballet

2. Sweet Rain

3. Portsmouth Figurations

4. General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan

5. One, Two, 1-2-3-4

6. Sing Me Softly Of The Blues

7. Liturgy

8. Response

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Duster” – released 1967 in the US and UK on RCA Records LSP-3835

9. Country Roads

10. The Green Mountains

11. True Or False

12. Gone, But Forgotten

13. Ravel Prelude (Le Tombeau De Couperin: Prelude)

14. And On The Third Day

15. A Singing Song

16. Wichita Breakdown

17. My Foolish Heart

18. A Family Joy

Tracks 9 to 18 are the album “Country Roads & Other Places” – released 1969 in the USA on RCA Records LSP 4098 and in the UK on RCA Records SF 8042

The first LP has GARY BURTON on Vibes, LARRY CORYELL on Guitar, STEVE SWALLOW on Bass and RICHARD HAYNES on Drums with JERRY HAIN replacing Coryell on Guitar for the 2^nd album.

The chunky 20-page booklet has detailed and informative liner notes by noted genre expert CHARLES WARING with reminiscences from the great man himself and full session/recording facts. There’s pictures of Burton in the studio (complete with hip goatee), repro’d artwork and a lovely card slipcase on the outside. But what really hits you is the stunning audio quality. From the moment “Ballet” opens “Duster” and on to “General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan” – the 2014 ANDREW THOMPSON remaster hammers home the craftsmanship of the playing and the gorgeous BRAD McCUEN production values for both records.

The playing is exquisite throughout and the Steve Swallow (of Stan Getz’s band) and Michael Gibbs original songs more than impress – they’re full of beautifully played moments allowing both Coryell and Hain to let rip on their guitars while Gary does his tasteful thing in the background.

A beautifully realized remaster with quality presentation - top notch - and a definite reissue of 2014 in my book…

"Don't You Want To Rock?" By WYNONIE HARRIS (May 2015 Ace Records 2CD Remasters) - A Review Of Mark Barry...

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"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

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"...Jumpin' Like Mad..."

Ace Records of the UK have been steadily putting out these classy "Acetate Series" CD compilation for shouters and players from the golden age of American Blues and R'n'B for some years now. 

And their latest gives Nebraska's irrepressible WYNONIE HARRIS a long-anticipated double-whammy (literally). Once a featured Lead Singer with Lucky Millinder's Band – Harris was 34 and at the peak of his singing abilities when he joined the mighty King Label in November 1947. 

So Ace have gone the distance on this 48-track twofer for a man who is held in as much affection as Louis Jordan on Decca. Disc 1 gives you 23 Masters on King Records - while Disc 2 jumps up and offers an amazing 25 'Alternate' Boogies – all making their Previously Unreleased debut on CD. It's a Rockin' Fest  for sure - so let's get to the good time details right away...

UK released 25 May 2015 (19 June 2015 in the USA) – "Don't You Want To Rock? – The King and Deluxe Acetate Series" by WYNONIE HARRIS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1124 (Barcode 029667071925) boogies as follows:

Disc 1 – The Masters (62:48 minutes):

1. Love Is Like Rain (1948 USA 78" on King 4217, A)

2. Rose Get Your Clothes (1948 USA 78" on King 4202, A)

3. Wynonie's Boogie (1948 USA 78" on King 4202, B-side to "Rose Get Your Clothes")

4. Your Money Don't Mean A Thing (1948 USA 78" on King 4217, A)

5. Good Morning Mr Blues (April 1948 USA 78" on King 4210, A)

6. Blow Your Brains Out (June 1948 USA 78" on King 4226, B-side to "Lollipop Mama")

7. Blowin' To California (1948 USA 78" on King 4252, B-side to "Bite Again, Bite Again")

8. Crazy Love (Comes Love) (23 December 1947 recording, first appeared on the 1968 UK LP "Kings Of Rhythms & Blues" on Polydor 623 273 credited to Tiny Bradshaw & Wynonie Harris)

9. Bite Again, Bite Again (1948 USA 78" on King 4252, A)

10. Lollipop Mama (June 1948 USA 78" on King 4226, A)

11. I Believe I'll Fall In Love (1948 USA 78" on King 4445, A)

12. Grandma Plays The Numbers (1948 USA 78" on King 4276, B-side to "I Feel That Old Age Coming On")

13. She Just Won't Sell No More (1948 USA 78" on King 4292, A)

14. I Want My Fanny Brown (September 1949 USA 78" on King 4304, A)

15. I Feel That Old Age Coming On (1948 USA 78” on King 4276, A)

16. Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee (1949 USA 78" on King 4292, AA)

17. All She Wants To Do Is Rock (September 1949 USA 78" on King 4304, AA)

18. I Can’t Take It No More (1949 USA 78" on King 4342, B-side to "I Like My Baby's Pudding")

19. Sittin' On It All The Time (1949 USA 78" on King 4330, AA)

20. I Like My Baby's Pudding (1949 USA 78" on King 4342, AA)

21. Baby, Shame On You (1949 USA 78" on King 4330, A)

22. Oh Babe! (1949 USA 78" on King 4418, AA)

23. Teardrops From My Eyes (1949 USA 78" on King 4419, A)

Tracks 22 and 23 credited to Wynonie Harris with Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra

Disc 2 – The Alternates (69:14 minutes):

1. Good Rockin' Tonight – Take 1 (Breakdown) of King 4210

2. Good Rockin' Tonight – Take 2 of King 4210

3. Love Is Like Rain – Take 3 of King 4217

4. Wynonie's Unissued Blues – Take 2

5. Baby, Shame On You – Take 1 of King 4330

6. I Believe I'll Fall In Love – Take 1 of King 4445

7. Don't You Want To Rock? – Take 1

8. Love Is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 2

9. Good Morning Mr Blues – Take 1 of King 4210

10. From Good To Bad Blues – Take 1

11. Grandma Plays The Numbers – Alternate of King 4276

12. She Just Won't Sell No More – Take 2 of King 4296

13. Love Is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 1

14. I Want My Fanny Brown – Alternate of King 4304

15. I Feel That Old Age Coming On – Take 1 of King 4276

16. Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee – Take 3 of King 4292

17. All She Wants To Do Is Rock – Take 3 of King 4304

18. Sittin' On It All The Time – Take 1 of King 4330

19. I Like My Baby's Pudding – Take 2 of King 4342

20. Triflin' Woman – Take 1 of King 4415

21. Oh Babe! – Take 1 of King 4418

22. Teardrops From My Eyes – Take 1 of King 4419

23. Don't You Want To Rock? – Take 2

24. Love is Crazy (Crazy Love) – Take 3

25. Good Rockin' Tonight – Unedited Master of King 4210

The 16-page booklet (and the inside of the back inlay) picture a whopping 16 of those cool-looking King 78"s while rarities on Vogue Records of the UK and even a King DJ 10” get a look in ("Triflin' Woman", King 4415, A). In-between all that are American trade adverts and publicity photos showing a suited Wynonie clowning it up with a order-waitress and a woman dressed in cowboy duds packing a pistol (nice). Liner-notes hero TONY ROUNCE discusses every session in detail explaining that most cuts barely got past 3 takes (the band was so tight) - it’s the usually classy affair from Ace.

DUNCAN COWELL has handled the transfers/remastering – and given that many of these are scratchy 78”s and Acetates – the audio is remarkable right through both discs – full of beans and life. Only on certain tunes like "All She Wants To Do Is Rock" do the clicks and pops threaten to overtake proceedings.

The risqué is never far from the surface in titles like "She Won’t Sell No More" where our hero laments a lady whose been rumbled by the cops and has had to curtail her open all hours business. "Lollipop Mama" is typically witty and clever R'n'B fare where the band gets a rare vocal talk-in before Harris launches into that trademark "Well!" shout on "Grandma Plays The Numbers" – a song that has the old biddy feeling fruit in the marketplace to get inspiration for the Lottery. Rudolph Toombs' masterpiece "Teardrops In My Eyes" would of course be a sensation for Ruth Brown over on Atlantic Records in October 1950 – Harris keeps its R’n’B lilting pace in tact.

Disc 2 is a blast. It opens with a one-minute breakdown on the legendary "Good Rockin' Tonight" where someone hits a bum note. Take 2 isn't as rough as Take 1 and its like eavesdropping on history – tremendous stuff. "Wynonie's Unissued Blues" comes from a 13 December 1947 session in New York (the first of four sessions that month) – Syd Nathan getting a stockpile of usable tunes in the can before the Recording Ban of 1948. The blasting R'n'B of "Baby, Shame On You" features superb Tenor Saxophone work from a young Dexter Gordon while the staggeringly incorrect "I Want My Fanny Brown" tells us that a 40-year old will make you come back for more. 

Once again (and disappointingly) the wonderful swing of "All She Wants To Do Is Rock" is pretty rough in its transfer – better is a very clean "I Like My Baby's Pudding" where our hero sings the praises of his lady recipes (nice of him you have to say). In ends well on a very ballsy and clear 'unedited' master of "Good Rockin' Tonight" that only reminds you of how important a crossover record it was.

"...Have you heard the news...there's Good Rockin' Tonight...." – Harris sang on that King Records classic. And we've been at it ever since. Amen to that...

"Specials: 2CD Special Edition” by SPECIALS (2015 Chrysalis/Two Tone 2CD Set – Tim Debney Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

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"...A Message To You...Don’t Call Me Scarface!"

There are some albums that just put a smile on your face – and a lot of them are debuts from British bands released in the late Seventies. There’s Derry’s finest “The Undertones” from May 1979 – Madness and their fab Nutty Boys opening salvo “One Step Beyond” from October 1979 – and of course those other very rude boys – The Sex Pistols and “Never Mind The Bollocks...” from way back in October 1977 (my mum thought they were lovely chaps deep down and just needed a good meal). But for sheer joy-inducing affection – the November 1979 self-titled Ska Rock debut from Coventry’s The Specials on the wonderful 2 Tone Records takes some beating.

I recall on many occasions when I worked in Reckless Records in Soho’s Berwick Street when the album would come in (a sure sign of a decent collection) - within minutes of purchase it would take pride-of-place on our display wall dressed up in a shiny new heavy-gauge PVC sleeve and a natty display triangle. But we quickly learned that this was sort of futile - because milliseconds later some visibly animated punter would slap it down on the counter sporting the aforementioned smile on his 30-something kisser and say out loud “I WANT THIS!” in an excitable way. You could even see he was already thinking of acquiring yet another 2 Tone button and skinny tie in Sister Ray just up the street. Ah...them was the days...still are...

Some 35 years after its first appearance on vinyl LP with that gorgeous laminate sleeve – Chrysalis have decided to do a solid by The Specials much-loved debut album and give it a 2015 Special Edition 2CD overhaul. And a lovely thing it is too. Here are contraceptive-married with a kid should be having fun details...

UK released 30 March 2015 (April 2015 in the USA) – “The Specials: 2CD Special Edition” is on Chrysalis/Two Tone CDLTTR 5001 (Barcode 0825646336081) and it gangsters out as follows....

Disc 1 – The Album (47:43 minutes):

1. Gangsters

2. A Message To You Rudy

3. Do The Dog

4. It’s Up To You

5. Nite Klub

6. Doesn’t Make It Alright

7. Concrete Jungle

8. Too Hot

9. Monkey Man

10. (Dawning Of A) New Era

11. Blank Expression

12. Stupid Marriage

13. Too Much Too Young

14. Little Bitch

15. You’re Wondering Now

[Notes: Produced by Elvis Costello - the British LP is tracks 2 to 15 and was released 3 November 1979 on vinyl LP in the UK on Chrysalis/2 Tone CDL TT 5001. It was preceded by their debut 45 in the UK “Gangsters” (credited to The Special A.K.A.) released 28 July 1979 on Two Tone TT 1. The American variant of the album on Chrysalis FV 41265 came out in December 1979 as a 15-track LP placing the song “Gangsters” at the end of Side 1. Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders sings backing vocals on “Nite Klub”]

Disc 2 – Extra Specials (44:42 minutes):

Too Much Too Young EP by THE SPECIAL A.K.A. LIVE! Featuring Nico

1. Too Much Too Young (Live)

2. Guns Of Navarone (Live)

3. Skinheads Symphony (Live)

(a) Long Shot Kick The Bucket (b) Liquidator (c) Skinhead Moon Stomp

Tracks 1 to 3 released in the UK January 1980 on Chrysalis/Two Tone CHSTT 7

BBC In Concert – The Specials At The Paris Theatre (15.12.79)

4. (Dawning Of A) New Era

5. Do The Dog

6. Rat Race

7. Blank Expression

8. Rude Buoys Outa Jail

9. Concrete Jungle

10. Too Much Too Young

11. Guns Of Navarone

12. Nite Klub

13. Gangsters

14. Medley: (a) Long Shot Kick The Bucket (b) Skinhead Moon Stomp

CDLTTR 5001 comes in a four-way foldout card digipak like those Universal Deluxe Editions but without the bandana. On the inner flaps are the black and white photos of the band looking up at the camera – those most closely associated with the original vinyl LP’s rear sleeve. On the inner flaps are photos I’ve not seen before – on an estate with their feet on a pile of steel girders and on an Odeon sign. The CDs sport the distinctive Rude Boy 2 Tone logo and design. The 20-page booklet features affectionate new liner notes from Mojo’s LOIS WILSON along with more black and white photos of the boys in varying poses. There’s a singles page which shows those early 45s – The Special A.K.A. vs. The Selector stamped sleeve of “Gangsters” and the Too Much Too Young Live EP and so on.

The remaster has been done by TIM DEBNEY at Fluid Mastering in the UK and to my ears it’s far better than the version I’ve had for years (as well as tracks on the “Stereo-Typical: A’s, B’s & Rarities” set). There’s ever so slightly more hiss on tracks like their cover of Dandy Livingstone’s “A Message To You Rudy” but the clarity of the organ and the brass is far better – and you can hear those drum cracks with a force now. When you play the Jerry Dammers cut “It’s Up To You” you can amplifiers buzzing and when that Bass and Terry Hall deadpan vocal kicks in – it packs an amazing punch. This time around you can almost discern Chrissie Hynde’s backing vocals on the “what am I doing here” dancer “Nite Klub” (well almost). It sounds fabulous to me. The reggae backdrop to their version of Cecil Campbell’s “Too Hot” features amazing clarity on those drums rolls and highhats as the boys moans about the temperature. The “court in session” vocal hijinks by Judge Roughneck on “Stupid Marriage” jumps out of the speakers at you – and what a great tune – utterly infectious stuff. Again there’s momentary hiss on Dodd Coxsone’s “You’re Wondering Now” and quite a bit during the Acapella finish – but I’d argue that it stills sounds fresher and more alive than before. And those lyrics about council estates lack of condoms and youth just wanting to dance still get me every time.

Everyone knows and loves the “Too Much Too Young” Live EP – it’s always been a total winner. But I was expecting the Paris Concert to be a bit of an Anniversary excuse roll out – but I’m thrilled to report that it’s brilliant and captures the band at the very top of their Ska Bopping crowd-pleasing best. To chants of “Rude Boy” – The Specials launch into an ubertight version of “(Dawning Of A) New Era” and immediately you’re hit with the great audio. Well produced by the BBC – it feels fantastically alive and fresh. They dedicate “Rat Race” to “all you students revising...” while the organ and Joe Jackson “Look Sharp!” guitar of “Blank Expression” are right in your face and bustling with newness. The Ska classic of “Guns Of Navarone” sends the crowd into a frenzy and why wouldn’t it (stunning brass and flicky guitar work) – but I have to say that my heart has always been with the magical “Gangsters” which to this day sends me pogoing around my living room like a Two Tone loon (not a good look at my age). The Medley of The Pioneers’ “Long Shot Kick De Bucket” with Symarip’s “Skinhead Moon Stomp” (both originally on the mighty Trojan label) finishes the crowd off proper – breathless, screaming and stamping the floor for more, more, more..

Britain has produced some extraordinary bands fronting a bewildering diversity of musical styles – but The Specials have always been (for the want of better words) that little bit...well special. 

Get this double-CD Rude Boy joy into your life pronto. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...