"Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace/Kent-Soul CD Remasters) -- A Review by Mark Barry...

"...More Than A Memory..."

A companion volume to 2013's Various Artists CD compilation "Pied Piper Presents A New Concept In Detroit Soul" on Kent-Soul CDKEND 389 - Ace's second-instalment is 2015's "Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" which serves up 24 more slices of quality 60ts Soul originally on Giant, Karate, RCA Victor and Kapp Records - 10 of which are Previously Unreleased. 

A typically classy affair from ACE (one of England's truly great Soul Music reissue labels - Edsel, Big Break Records and Soul Jazz are amongst the others) - let's get to the two-timing hip-shaking voodoo-woman details right away (baby)...

UK released May 2015 (June 2015 in the USA) - "Pied Piper: Follow Your Soul" is a CD compilation on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 429 (Barcode 029667242929) and plays out as follows (59:22 minutes):

1. Voo Doo Madamoiselle - SEPTEMBER JONES (Pied Piper 003, 2014)

2. He'll Be Leaving You - NANCY WILCOX (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 21 July 1966)

3. You Only Live Twice (Alternate) - LORRAINE CHANDLER (Previously Unreleased Until 2015)

4. Could It Be You - SHARON SCOTT (1966 USA 7" Single on RCA Victor 47-8907, A)

5. Ooh It Hurts Me (Alternate) - THE CAVALIERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 23 February 1967)

6. I Need Your Love - THE DYNAMICS (1967 USA 7" Single on RCA Victor 47-9084, A)

7. Watch Yourself - TONY HESTER (1966 USA 7" single on Giant G-707, A)

8. Love Will Find A Way - HARRY GATES (Previously Unreleased Until 2015)

9. They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - FREDDY BUTLER (from the 1967 LP "With A Dab Of Soul" on Kapp Records KL-1519)

10. Lost Without You - LORRAINE CHANDLER (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 15 December 1966)

11. Wait A Minute - THE HESITATIONS (on the 1967 Mono LP "Soul Superman" on Kapp Records KL-1525)

12. Love Sick - THE PIED PIPER PLAYERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 22 July 1966)

13. No More Love - SEPTEMBER JONES (1967 USA 7" Single on Kapp Records K-802, A)

14. Set My Heart At Ease - MIKKI FARROW (1966 USA 7" Single on Karate 524, B-side to "Could It Be")

15. More Than A Memory - NANCY WILCOX Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 21 July 1966)

16. Without Someone To Tell Me - THE CAVALIERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 18 July 1966)

17. It's Right Now - THE METROS (1969 USA 7" single on Sepia 3, A, credited to Joe Buckman)

18. Love Is Not A Game - SAM E SOLO (1965 USA 7" single on Ruby 5075, A)

19. What Can I Do - LORRAINE CHANDLER (1966 USA 7" Single on Giant G-703, A)

20. You Better Know Why - SEPTEMBER JONES (Kent 6T 30, 2014)

21. You Don't Know Me Do You - THE METROS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 23 February 1967)

22. Hold To My Baby - THE PIED PIPER PLAYERS (Previously Unreleased Until 2015, Recorded 18 July 1968)

23. That's What Love Is - HESITATIONS (on the 1967 Mono LP "Soul Superman" on Kapp Records KL-1525)

24. Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - FREDDY BUTLER (from the 1967 LP "With A Dab Of Soul" on Kapp Records KL-1519)

Compiled by genre-expert and Soul Music aficionado ADY CROASDELL - the 16-page booklet features his typically indepth and affection musings on these deep Soul Sides which have remained for so many years covered in mystery (with thanks to Matt Baker, Robb Klein, Andy Rix and Dave Welding). The liner notes have dug deep too - local newspapers of the time have been scoured and tiny adverts for live shows have been found for Freddie Butler at Little Sam's Grand Bar and The Cavaliers at Mr. Kelley's Ballroom. Other pages show Acetates on United, White Label Demos of American 45's on RCA Victor and a repro of Detroit's WJLB Radio 'Flaming 30 Survey' with honourable mentions of The Metros. There are ultra-rare black and white publicity photos of Sharon Scott, Nancy Wilcox, The Dynamics, Mikki Farrow and a cool colour snap of The Hesitations. The inside inlay pictures a label repro of Mikki Farrow's "Set My Heart At Ease" on Karate Records.

NICK ROBBINS a long-time Ace associate and Engineer has handled the Remasters and the Audio is fantastic right across the Mono board (all but Track 12 are in Mono - 12 is in Stereo).

Pied Piper Productions was formed by musician and songwriter Jack Ashford along with businessman Shelley Haims and Promoter Gerard Purcell - all three of them having connections with session musicians at Motown and licensing contacts with the major labels. Their own imprint Giant Records managed a few releases - but most are now ludicrously rare and expensive on original vinyl.

The compilation opens on a winner - "Voo Doo Madamoiselle" by September Jones where a woman all dressed in black with hypnotizing eyes and a Cadillac are after her man (don't you hate them sorts). The Nancy Wilcox unreleased track "He'll Be Leaving You" is good but the Alternate of Lorraine Chandler's Bond cover "You Only Live Twice" is cheesy rather than tasty. But all that small-potatoes gets slaughtered by an absolute Northern Soul monster - "Could It Be You" by the gorgeous Sharon Scott (from Harrisburg in Pennsylvania). You can literally see the dancefloors of Northern England exploding into joy ten seconds into this fabulous slice of Sixties Soul. Thinking it can't get any better - it only bloody does with no less than a double-whammy of Northern Soul floorfillers "Ooh it Hurts Me" (Alternate) and "I Need Your Love" from The Cavaliers and The Dynamics.

Another gorgeous groover with superb backing vocals is "Wait A Minute" by The Hesitations - a hidden gem on their uber-desirable "Soul Superman" album from 1967 on Kapp Records (the Mono cut is used here). Hesitations Frontman Freddy Butler puts in a blinder on "They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You)" - a sweet mid-tempo stroller written in part by three of the Funk Brothers (Joe Hunter, Bob Babbit and Eddie Willis). Speaking of gorgeous Soul - September Jones puts in a beautifully delicate performance on the lovely "No More Love" - the kind of 45 bound to elicit frenzied bidding on eBay (should a copy turn up). Lyrics from Sam E Solo's "Love Is Not A Game" title this review while Lorraine Chandler's "What Can I Do" is just glorious Northern Soul - pure and simple. Another wicked dancer is "Without Someone To Tell Me" by The Cavaliers featuring an irrepressible beat backed up with fuzz guitar. "It's Right Now" by The Metros is probably the closest to Motown and the whole glorious compilation ends on Freddy Butler's "Give Me Lots Of Lovin'" - the perfect slice of talcum-powdered 2:22 minutes.

Ace's label Kent-Soul has built up a ludicrously high reputation over the years amongst Soul lovers and rabid collectors - but once again they've dumfounded us all by going one rung higher on a ladder that seems to have no ceiling. Follow Your Soul indeed. An absolute belter of a compilation - congrats to all involved...

“Kicking Back” by JOE HOUSTON (May 2015 Ace/Beat Goes Public CD Remaster of a 1978 Big Town Records LP) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Trippin' In..."

Texas Saxophonist JOE HOUSTON was 51 in 1978 when he recorded the long-forgotten and overlooked “Kicking Back” LP for Big Town Records - a Los Angeles based label run by Jules Bihari of Fifties Modern Records fame. In fact Houston’s younger talents formed a band in the late Forties for none other than Atlantic Records legend Big Joe Turner (Turner’s first recordings for Freedom). But those glory days were long behind Houston when he came to record this mixture of old Rhythm ‘n’ Blues married with Saxophone Funk and Blues Guitar.

In some ways Big Town Records felt like the graveyard for old guys trying to get a new break in the post Disco world – so their LPs got ignored at the time and deleted quickly. Decades later DJs in the USA and UK began to plunder these late Seventies recordings for anything that contained Deep Funk Grooves – and on certain cuts like the two-part title track – they found what they were looking for. And that’s where this CD reissue comes boppin’ in. Here are Tenor Trippin’ details...

UK released May 2015 (June 2015 in the USA) – Ace/Beat Goes Public CDBGPM 292 (Barcode 029667529228) is a straightforward CD reissue (mid-price) of the 1978 LP “Kicking Back” by Joe Houston on Big Town Records BT 1004 – produced by Jules Bihari and Joe Houston. All songs are Houston/Bihari originals with Bihari credited under the pseudonym Jules Taub. The 8-page liner notes are by noted writer and genre-expert DEAN RUDLAND - a name that's been on a huge number of quality CD reissues. The CD has been superbly remastered from first generation master tapes by NICK ROBBINS at Sound Mastering in London and plays out as follows (34:36 minutes):

1. Hawaiian Disco

2. T-Bone Disco

3. Mr. Big “H”

4. Baby What You Want Me To Do

5. Trippin’ In [Side 2]

6. Why Don’t You Rock Me

7. Kicking Back Part 1

8. Kicking Back Part 2

JOE HOUSTON – Tenor & Soprano saxophone

LARRY JOHNSON – Guitar & Bass

TED BUTLER – Guitar & Bass

BO RHAMBO – Alto & Tenor Saxophone

FREDDY CLARK – Baritone & Tenor Saxophone 

ROSS SOLOMINE – Drums

The Audio is amazing – full of punch and vigour – very well done and DJs will love it. The album opens badly with two very dated tunes sounding like cod Rock ’n’ Roll - both with the word “Disco” in them (the pair are best left alone I’m afraid). Track 3 on Side 1 however is different. Had the album opened with “Mr. Big “H”” you might have felt you’d stumbled on a forgotten monster that somehow slipped out of the James Brown school of Funk without anyone noticing. A wicked driving bass and flicky guitar rhythm section back up Houston as he gives it some JBs Saxophone stabs and jabs – blasting away for five minutes duration with a superb BB King type guitar solo half way through (a bit of a winner frankly – man would this be cool on a 12” single). We go straight into old time Rhythm ‘n’ Blues with the vocals of “Baby What You Want Me To Do” where Houston sounds like 1978 Chuck Berry.

Side 2 opens with another potential discovery – the near six-minute instrumental “Trippin’ In” - a chugging Bluesy piece peppered with funky Houston soloing. The three-minute “Why Don’t You Rock Me” is more of the same – grooving R&B with tasty fills and a classy George Benson-type guitar solo. The album finishes with the two parts of the title track – and immediately it goes for the dancefloor jugular by upping the tempo into a frantic pace. Both parts of “Kicking Back” feature a funky wah-wah guitar against a driving drum backing that’s overlaid by wild Houston soloing – Mr. H going at it like James Brown is going to fine him any minute for missing a beat. Both parts are irresistible DJ bate and you can so hear why these tracks on the album have been sought after...

So there you have it – it’s not all Funky Nirvana by any means – but the good stuff is worth seeking out/owning. And in this great Audio quality – Joe Houston’s “Kicking Back” is yet another clever choice by those fingers-on-the-pulse bods down at Ace Records in Londinium’s Steele Road. Way to go boys...

“Original Album Series” by BRINSLEY SCHWARZ [featuring Nick Lowe, Ian Gomm and Bob Andrews] (2015 Parlophone/Warners Music Group 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Home In My Hand..."

Named after their Guitarist 'Brinsley Ernest Schwarz' (even though almost all their tunes were penned by Nick Lowe) – Britain’s BRINSLEY SCHWARZ have had one remastered CD compilation to their name (to my knowledge) called "Surrender To The Rhythm" in 1991 on EMI. And that’s been it for decades. So this five-album haul is a welcome inclusion in the increasingly impressive "Original Album Series".

And even though each CD is listed as a 2011 master and doesn’t say where or who remastered them – they are remastered. I’m thrilled to say that these CDs sound wonderful – really clear and full of presence (sounds like Peter Mew’s handy work or they could be the versions prepared for the Japanese reissues in 2013?). Whatever is the truth - there's an awful lot of sublime Seventies music on offer here that you've probably not heard - and should. And for Nick Lowe fans – it’s a motherlode they will need. Here are the Silver Pistol details...

UK released Monday 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) - "Original Album Series" by BRINSLEY SCHWARZ on Parlophone/Warner Music Group 2564622174 (Barcode 825646221745) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" Card Repro Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (39:44 minutes):

1. Hymn To Me

2. Shining Brightly

3. Rock And Roll Women

4. Lady Constant

5. What Do You Suggest [Side 2]

6. Mayfly

7. Ballad Of A Has Been Beauty Queen

Tracks 1 to 7 are their debut album "Brinsley Schwarz". Produced by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson - it was released April 1970 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29111 and in the USA on Capitol ST-589. All tracks are NICK LOWE originals except "Hymn To Me" which was written by all four members of the band – NICK LOWE on Guitars, Bass and Lead Vocals, BRINSLEY SCHWARZ on Guitars and Vocals, BOB ANDREWS on Keyboards, Bass and Vocals and BILL RANKIN on Drums. The CD master is dated 2011.

Disc 2 (38:42 minutes):

1. Country Girl

2. The Slow One

3. Funk Angel

4. Piece Of Home

5. Love Song [Side 2]

6. Starship

7. Ebury Down

8. Old Jarrow

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd LP "Despite It All". Like the first album it was Produced by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson and released November 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83427 and in the USA on Capitol ST-744. All songs are Nick Lowe originals except "Piece Of Home" which was written by Bob Andrews.

Disc 3 (41:10 minutes):

1. Dry Land

2. Merry Go Round

3. One More Day

4. Nightingale

5. Silver Pistol

6. Last Time I Was Fooled

7. Unknown Number [Side 2]

8. Range War

9. Egypt

10. Niki Hoeke Speedway

11. Ju Ju Man

12. Rockin' Chair

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 3rd album "Silver Pistol". Like the first and second album it was Produced by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson and released October 1971 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29217 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5566. Tracks 1, 3, 8, 9 and 12 are IAN GOMM originals (who joined the band for this album and replaces Brinsley Schwarz) while tracks 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are Nick Lowe originals. "Nicky Hoeke Speedway" and "Ju Ju Man" are Jim Ford cover versions. The CD master is dated 2011.

Disc 4 (39:20 minutes):

1. It’s Been So Long

2. Happy Doing What We’re Doing

3. Surrender To The Rhythm

4. Don’t Loose Your Grip On Love

5. Nervous On The Road (But Can't Stay At Home)

6. Feel A Little Funky [Side 2]

7. I Like It Like That

8. Brand New You, Brand New Me

9. Home In My Hand

10. Why, Why, Why, Why, Why

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th album "Nervous On The Road" - released September 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29374 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5647. Produced by Brinsley Schwarz, Dave Robinson and Kingsley Ward – track 1 is by Ian Gomm, track 2 is a co-write between Bob Andrews and Nick Lowe, tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 are Nick Lowe originals while "I Like It Like That" is a Chris Kenner cover version (co-written by Kenner with Allen Toussaint) and "Home In My Hand" is a cover version of a Ronnie Self rockabilly tune. The CD master is dated 2011.

Disc 5 (36:35 minutes):

1. Hooked On Love

2. Why Do We Hurt The One We Love?

3. I Worry ('Bout You Baby)

4. Don’t Ever Change

5. Home In My Hand (Live)

6. Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)

7. I Won't Make It Without You

8. Down In Mexico

9. Speedoo

10. The Version (Hypocrite)

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 5th album "Please Don't Ever Change" - released October 1973 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29489 (no USA release). Produced by Brinsley Schwarz and Vic Maile. Track 1 is an Ian Gomm song, tracks 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are Nick Lowe originals, the Ronnie Self cover "Home In My Hand" is a 'live' version recorded at The Hope & Anchor Pub in London’s Islington. "Speedoo" is a cover of the Cadillacs vocal group hit, "Don't Ever Change" is a Goffin/King song recorded by The Crickets and "The Version (Hypocrite)" is a Bob Marley cover. The CD master is dated 2011

As is mostly the norm with this series - none of these discs have any extras and are straightforward transfers of the original vinyl LPs (with repro artwork front and rear). Each CD label lists the tracks along with Writer and Producer credits - a good idea because the 5” Repro Sleeves (although they look nice) are hard if not impossible to read. As I’ve already pointed out above – there is no real indication as to who remastered these albums only that 2011 is the date for all five titles.

The first album offers strong contenders like "Hymn To Me", "What Do You Suggest?" and the epic rocking ten minutes of "Ballad Of A Has Been Beauty Queen" that finishes Side 2. The second platter for 1970 offers the Soulful Blues of "The Slow One" while the boys go all Country on “Starship” (BJ Cole on the Pedal Steel). The audio quality on the largely acoustic "Edbury Down" is really clean while the seven-minute "Old Jarrow" feels like the band has been listening to Matthews Southern Comfort and Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief" for an entire week.

Ian Gomm joined the band for "Silver Pistol" contributed three songs to the mix including the Shadows-like instrumental "Rockin' Chair". While "Merry Go Round" sounds great (audiowise) - "Egypt" is very hissy unfortunately. Top sound though on Gomm's "Range War" and Lowe's "The Last Time I Was Fooled".

Nick Lowe's writing began to improve big time by the time the band reached the superb "Nervous On The Road" – cracking Rock 'n' Roller tunes like "Surrender To The Rhythm" and the title track "Nervous On The Road (But Can't Stay At Home)" - while their choices of cover versions were inspired – Chris Kenner's "I Like It Like That" and the brill Rockabilly of Ronnie Self's cool "Home In My Hand". In fact Dave Edmunds would plunder "Home In My Hand" and Jim Ford's "Ju Ju Man" for his own albums.

While Ian Gomm's opener "Hooked On Love" is a great Brinsley tune - Lowe's vignettes again sail above the others on the underrated and criminally forgotten "Please Don't Ever Change" album (in fact for me both it and "Nervous On The Road" are the best albums in here). Songs like the jerky New Wave shuffle of "Why Do We Hurt The One We Love?" and the party boogie of "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)" give more than a nod to his "Jesus Of Cool" debut solo LP in 1978. "I Won't Make It Without You" gives a real indication of his romantic troubadour years to come also – all cool stuff...

So there you have it - cool band and a very zippy little reissue. Terry Reid, Brinsley Schwarz and Jimmy Webb are all new 27 April 2015 additions in this "Original Album Series" and what winners all three are. Between these and the superlative "Greenwich Village FOLK SCENE" 5CD installment (also in the "Original Album Series") – I'm a very happy bunny indeed (see reviews for the lot).

Buy this cheap-as-chips gift to your inner Nick and Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)...

"Original Album Series" by JIMMY WEBB (2015 Rhino/Warners Music Group 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Words And Music..."

Now here's a genuinely cool addition to this ever-expanding series - five albums from the mighty pen of JIMMY WEBB in his Seventies prime. They're based on the 2006 and 2008 Collector's Choice Music CD masters and the audio is excellent throughout - especially on the highly polished Productions given to "Land's End" and "El Mirage". And at roughly two quid a disc - there's an awful lot of sublime music on offer here that you've probably not heard - and should. Here are the Wichita Lineman details...

UK released Monday 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) - "Original Album Series" by JIMMY WEBB on Rhino/Warner Music Group 0081227955878 (Barcode is the same number) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" Card Repro Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (43:25 minutes):
1. Sleepin' In The Daytime
2. P. F. Sloan
3. Love Song
4. Careless Weed
5. Psalm One-Five-O
6. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [i] Songseller [Side 2]
7. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [ii] Dorothy Chandler Blues
8. Music For An Unmade Movie (In Three Parts) [iii] Jerusalem
9. Three Songs: (Let It Be Me, Never My Love, I Wanna Be Free)
10. Once Before I Die
Tracks 1 to 10 are his second LP "Words And Music". Produced by Webb and credited to Jimmy L. Webb - it was released February 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6421 and January 1971 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6421 (reissued in 1971 on Reprise K 44101). All tracks are originals except 9 which is a three-part cover versions medley - "Let It Be Me" by The Everly Brothers, "Never My Love" by The Association and "I Wanna Be Free" by The Monkees. His sister Susan Webb does uncredited duet vocals on 9 and 10. The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 2 (39:12 minutes):
1. Met Her On A Plane
2. All Night Show
3. All My Love's Laughter
4. Highpockets
5. Marionette
6. Laspitch [Side 2]
7. One Lady
8. If Ships Were Made To Sell
9. Pocketful Of Keys
10. See You Then
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd LP "And So: On" - released August 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6448 and in the UK on Reprise K 44134. Produced by Jimmy Webb - all songs are JW originals. His sister Susan Webb (credited as The Good Sisters) provides backing vocals on "All My Love's Laughter", "Highpockets" and "Laspitch". The 2006 Collector's Choice Music CD master is used for this CD.

Disc 3 (38:51 minutes):
1. Galveston
2. Campo De Encine
3. Love Hurts
4. Simile
5. Hurt Me Well
6. Once In The Morning [Side 2]
7. Catharsis
8. Song Seller
9. When Can Brown Begin
10. Piano
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "Letters" - released September 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2055 and in the UK on Reprise K 44173. Produced by Larry Marks - all songs are Webb originals except "Love Hurts" by Boudleaux Bryant - a hit for The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison. Susan Webb sings Backing Vocals on "Once In The Morning" and "When Can Brown Begin" - JONI MITCHELL sings Backing Vocals on "Simile". The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 4 (42:44 minutes):
1. Ocean In His Eyes
2. Feet In The Sunshine
3. Cloudman
4. Lady Fits Her Blue Jeans
5. Just This One Time
6. Crying In My Sleep [Side 2]
7. It's A Sin
8. Alyce Blue Gown
9. Land's End/Asleep On The Wind
Tracks 1 to 9 are his 5th album "Land's End" - released April 1974 in the USA on Asylum SD 5070 and June 1974 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9014. The 2008 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

Disc 5 (39:20 minutes):
1. The Highwayman
2. If You See Me Getting Smaller I'm Leaving
3. Mixed-Up Guy
4. Christiaan No
5. Moment In A Shadow
6. Sugarbird
7. Where The Universes Are [Side 2]
8. P. F. Sloan
9. Dance To The Radio
10. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
11. Skylark (A Meditation)
Tracks 1 to 11 are his 6th album "El Mirage" - released May 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18218 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50370. The album was Produced, Arranged and Conducted by GEORGE MARTIN (of Beatles fame) and all songs are written by Jimmy Webb except "Skylark (A Meditation)" which is a co-write with Paul Skylar and "Dance To The Radio" which is written by long-time guitarist in his band - Fred Tackett. The album also features a large number of famous guests including Lowell George of Little Feat on Slide Guitar, Kenny Loggins, Billy Davis and George Hawkins on Vocals, Herb Pedersen on Banjo, Harvey Mason on Percussion, Dean Parks and Fred Tackett on Guitars, David Paich of Toto on Keyboards, Larry Knechtel on Bass and finally Clydie King, Shirley Matthews and Susan Webb on Backing Vocals. The 2006 Collector's Choice Music master is used for this CD.

As is mostly the norm with this series - none of these discs have any extras and are straightforward transfers of the original vinyl LPs (with repro artwork front and rear). Each CD label lists the tracks along with Writer and Producer credits - a good idea because the 5" Card Repro Sleeves (although they look nice) are hard if not impossible to read.

His first album proper was 1968's "Jim Webb Sings Jim Webb" on Epic in the USA and CBS in the UK - which is outside the remit of this 5CD set. His 2nd platter "Words And Music" from 1970 more than makes up for the debut's absence and is a genuine lost classic from that much-loved decade. I'm also surprised at how good this CD sounds given the records notorious 'fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants' production values it originally got. "Sleepin' In The Daytime" is incredibly clear - all the instruments warm and present - especially the rhythm section (most instruments played by Fred Tackett). What follows next is the album's most famous song. "P.F. Sloan" is about the career trials and tribulations of Californian songwriter "P.F. Sloan" (real name Philip Schlein) - author of Barry McGuire's searing anti-war song "Eve Of Destruction" (produced by Lou Adler) - a huge hit in 1965. Sloan was a songsmith to an array of artists like The Mamas and The Papas, Johnny Rivers and The Grass Roots but famously never received the recognition he deserved. In fact Webb's song became much covered in itself (The Association in 1971 to Rumer in 2012).

What you then catch is the album's other secret weapon - the harmonizing vocals of his sister Susan Webb who does gorgeous vocal work on "P.F. Sloan", the beautiful "Love Song" (one the album's undeniable masterpieces) and "Careless Weed". I could live without the God-squad `praise him' righteousness of "Psalm One-Five-O" which Reprise actually released as a 7" single in the UK in 1971 with "P.F. Sloan" on A. Side two of the album opens with a three-parter called "Music For An Unmade Movie" with "Jerusalem" (part iii) being my favourite part. There then comes a stunning re-working of three cover versions where Webb weaves the melodies of The Everly Brothers, The Association and The Monkees into one whole. With Susan's matching vocals - his runs the three songs into a new arrangement that perfectly compliments the warmth of the originals - it's pigging genius.

After the musical high of "Words And Music" - I must admit I found 1971's "And So: On" a bit of a disappointment. It starts out well enough with the strings and melody of "Met Her On A Plane" but not only were some of the songs weaker - but his strained vocals on the fuzzed guitar rawk of "Highpockets" and "Laspitch" only makes them sound more cringeworthy. It's not all bad though. The album ends on three softer piano tunes of which "One Lady" feels like it has that melody-magic - as does "See You Then". The audio is very good throughout - hardly outstanding - but more than acceptable.

Far better is the fan fave "Letters" LP where he begins proceedings with his own version of the huge hit he gave Glen Campbell - "Galveston". Its opening acoustic-strums sound beautiful and his voice perfectly pitched. In fact I'm reminded of album I love called Smith Perkins Smith on Island Records in 1972 by Smith Perkins Smith. It was issued in the UK and the States and sounds like an English version of CSNY with Jimmy Webb as the lead vocalist (isn't yet on CD unfortunately). As this truly sweet remaster of "Galveston" plays through your speakers - the record already begins to feel like a genuine lost classic. Things continue beautifully with the soaring Mexican Waltz melody of "Campo De Encino" and you can so hear the melodiousness of Big Star in the Seventies running right through to the Jayhawks in the Nineties (gorgeous audio too). The lone cover is "Love Hurts" written by Bordeleaux Bryant and made famous of course by The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison in the early Sixties. Some hate it but I like the string arrangements and it lines up "Simile" - one of the album's masterpieces where none other than JONI MITCHELL puts in a rare Backing Vocals appearance. Playing a piano blinder - "Simile" sounds like a "Blue" outtake sung by Webb. True - Joni's contribution may be slight but it's beautifully done and so complimentary (the song is a highlight for me on the album). "Hurt Me Well" has superlative string arrangements. "Song Seller" is an amped-up re-recording of a tune that turned up on "Words And Music" in 1970 - far better is "When Can Brown Begin" which once again benefits from the backing vocals of his sister Susan Webb (she's on "Once In The Morning" too). It finishes on "Piano" - peaceful and lovely - an ending-of-the-day tune.

Production values lift off into the stratosphere with 1974's "Land's End" as Webb parted company with Reprise and went with Geffen's Asylum Records. The remaster on "Ocean In His Eyes" is superb while the echoed keyboard pings and high-strung guitars of "Cloudman" sound glorious. "Lady Fits Her Blue Jeans" is more of the same sounding not unlike David Gates or Bread. It ends on the epic nine-minutes of "Land's End/Asleep On The Wind" which sneaks in with ominous strings like some tense thriller movie and goes on like that until a song emerges about half way through. It's ambitious stuff and features huge string/choral arrangements that would impress Ennio Morricone.

Everyone and his brother came to Webb for 1977's "El Mirage" and yet much of the album left me cold. Stuff like "Sugarbird" is schlock and his re-recording of "P.F. Sloan" is good but kind of inexplicable. "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is a pretty song with lovely arrangements from George Martin - but the record as a whole felt more like polish than soul (I found myself going back to "Words And Music", "Letters" and "Land's End" instead).

Terry Reid, Brinsley Schwarz and Jimmy Webb are all new 27 April 2015 additions in this "Original Album Series" - and what winners all three are. But you can't help thinking there's something just a little bit special about this entry in that increasingly brill reissue program. Jimmy Layne Webb was one of the first tunesmiths inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and has received Lifetime Achievement awards from the America's prestigious National Academy Of Songwriters. Buy this cheap-as-chips gift to your stereogram and find out why...

"The Greenwich Village FOLK SCENE - Original Album Series" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Warners Music Group/Elektra 5CD Box) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Bleecker and MacDougal..." 

A genius release in many ways - with the big prize for Acoustic Folk Blues lovers and collectors being the first-time-on-CD reissue of the hugely influential "The Blues Project" album on Elektra Records from 1964 (and what a winner it is). There's a sea of goodies on offer here and many illustrious guests - so let's get to the gory details...

UK released Monday 23 February 2015 (March 2015 in the USA) - "The Greenwich Village FOLK SCENE" in the Original Album Series (by Various Artists) on Warner Music Group/Elektra 8122795661 (Barcode 081227956615) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" Card Repro Sleeves and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (37:33 minutes):
1. Take Your Fingers Off Of It
2. Come On In
3. Mandolin King Rag
4. Overseas Stomp
5. Evolution Mama
6. The Even Dozens
7. I Don't Love Nobody
8. Rag Mama [Side 2]
9. France Blues
10. On The Road Again
11. Original Colossal Drag Rag
12. All Worn Out
13. Lonely One In This Town
14. Sadie Green
Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "The Even Dozen Jug Band" by THE EVEN DOZEN JUG BAND released 1964 in the USA on Elektra EKL 246 (Mono) and EKS 7246 (Stereo). It was also belatedly issued in the UK on Bounty BY 6023 in 1966 (Stereo only). The Stereo mix is used for the CD and the master is probably the 2001 Rhino/Collector's Choice Music remaster. Produced by Paul A Rothchild - the Americana group contained Pete Jacobson, John Sebastian (credited as John Benson) who formed The Loving Spoonful, Steve Katz who went on form Blood, Sweat & Tears with Al Kooper, virtuoso guitarist Stefan Grossman, keyboardist and conductor Joshua Rifkin and Maria Muldaur (then Maria D'Amato - she's visible on the album sleeve sat on the wall to the far left with a guitar).
MUSICIANS:
Pete Jacobson plays Guitar on 3, 5, 10 and 13 and sings Lead Vocals on 5, 8 and 12
Pete Siegel plays Guitar on 1 and 14, Banjo on 1, 4 and 14 and sings Lead Vocals on 1, 7, 10 and 13
Stefan Grossman plays Guitar on 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 14, Banjo on 3, 5 and 11 and sings Lead Vocals with Bob Gurland on 1
John Sebastian plays Harmonica on 9, 10 and 13 and plays Kazoo on 11
Steve Katz sings on 2, 4, 9, 10 and 14 and plays Washboard on 1, 3 and 13
Josh Rifkin plays Piano on 5, 6, 8, 11 and 14 and sings backing Vocals on 5 and 12
Maria Muldaur (as Maria D'Amato) sings Backing Vocals on 2, 4 and 9
Bob Gurland plays Trumpet on 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11 and sings Lead Vocals on 1

Disc 2 (48:08 minutes):
1. Fixin' To Die - DAVE RAY (Bukka White cover)
2. Blow Whistle Blow - ERIC VON SCHMIDT (Margaret Johnson cover)
3. My Little Woman - (SPIDER) JOHN KOERNER (Koerner song)
4. Ginger Man - GEOFF MULDAUR (Geoff Muldaur song)
5. Bad Dream Blues - DAVE VAN RONK (Van Ronk song)
6. Winding Boy - IAN BUCHANAN (Jelly Roll Morton cover)
7. I'm Troubled - DANNY KALB (a Muddy Waters cover)
8. France Blues - MARK SPOELSTRA (Spoelstra song)
9. Don't You Leave Me - DAVE VAN RONK (Jelly Roll Morton cover) [Side 2]
10. Devil Got My Woman - GEOFF MULDAUR (Skip James cover)
11. Southbound Train - (SPIDER) JOHN KOERNER (Big Bill Broonzy cover)
12. Downtown Blues - GEOFF MULDAUR (Vera Hall Ward cover)
13. Leavin' Here Blues - DAVE RAY (Dave Ray song)
14. Hello Baby Blues - DANNY KALB (Kalb song)
15. She's Gone - MARK SPOELSTRA (Jim Jackson cover)
16. Slappin' On My Black Cat Bone - DAVE RAY (John Koerner song)
Tracks 1 to 16 are the LP "The Blues Project - A Compendium Of The Very Best On The Urban Blues Scene" by VARIOUS ARTISTS released 1964 in the USA on Elektra EKL 264 (mono) and EKS 7264 (Stereo). John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful plays Harmonica on "Blow Whistle Blow", "I'm Troubled" and "Downtown Blues". Eric Von Schmidt plays Mandolin on "Devil Got My Woman" and Piano on "Downtown Blues". BOB DYLAN is credited as the fictitious Bob Landy and plays Treble Piano on "Downtown Blues". "Blow Whistle Blow" is a re-working of Margaret Johnson's "When A Gator Holler, Folks Say It's A Sign Of Rain". First time on CD for this rare and influential album (Stereo mix used) - the master from the disc is dated 2014 and is definitely remastered to a very high quality.

Disc 3 (50:47 minutes):
1. I Ain't Marching Anymore
2. In The Heat Of The Summer
3. Draft Dodger Rag
4. That's What I want To Hear
5. That Was The President
6. Iron Lady
7. The Highwayman
8. Links On The Chain [Side 2]
9. Hills Of West Virginia
10. The Men Behind The Guns
11. Talking Birmingham Jam
12. Ballad Of The Carpenter
13. Days Of Decision
14. Here's To The State Of Mississippi
Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "I Ain't Marching Anymore" by PHIL OCHS released 1965 in the USA on Elektra EKL 287 (Mono) and EKS 7287 (Stereo). Originally Produced by JAC HOLZMAN - all songs are written by Ochs except "The Highwayman" (a co-write with Alfred Noyce), "The Men Behind The Guns" (uses the words of John Rooney) and "Ballad Of The Carpenter" (a Ewan MacColl cover). The CD uses the 2001 Rhino/Elektra Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remaster of the Stereo mix and sounds beautiful.

Disc 4 (34:12 minutes):
1. Bleecker And MacDougal
2. Blues On The Ceiling
3. Sweet Mama
4. Little Bit Of Rain
5. Country Boy
6. Other Side To This Life
7. Mississippi Train
8. Travelin' Shoes [Side 2]
9. The Water Is Wide
10. Yonder Comes The Blues
11. Candy Man
12. Handful of Gimme
13. Gone Again
Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Bleecker And MacDougal" by FRED NEIL  - released 1965 in the USA on Elektra EKL 293 (Mono) and EKS 7293 (Stereo). It was reissued Stateside in 1970 as "Little Bit Of Rain" on Elektra EKS 74073 in Stereo only and with a different cover. Originally Produced by PAUL A. ROTHCHILD - all songs are Fred Neil originals except the Traditional "The Water is Wide" and "Candy Man" which is a co-write with Beverley Ross and was made famous by Roy Orbison. John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful plays Harmonica and Felix Pappalardi (later with Mountain and Joe Walsh's Barnstorm) plays Bass on many tracks. The CD uses the 2001 Rhino/Elektra Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remaster of the Stereo mix and sounds beautiful.

Disc 5 (37:18 minutes):
1. Ain't That News
2. The Willing Conscript
3. Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation
4. Hold On To Me Babe
5. The Name Of The Game Is Stud
6. Bottle Of Wine
7. The Natural Girl For Me
8. Goodman, Schwerner And Chaney [Side 2]
9. We Didn't Know
10. Buy A Gun For Your Son
11. Every Time
12. Georgie On The Freeways
13. Sully's Pail
14. I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges
Tracks 1 to 14 are the album "Ain't That News" by TOM PAXTON - released 1965 in the USA on Elektra Records EKL 298 (Mono) and EKS 7298 (Stereo). Produced by JAC HOLZMAN - all songs are written by Tom Paxton. Barry Kornfeld (of The Artie Kornfeld Tree) plays 2nd Guitar and Banjo with Felix Pappalardi on Bass. The CD uses the 2001 Rhino/Elektra Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remaster of the Stereo mix and sounds beautiful.

As is mostly the norm with this series - none of these discs have any extras and are straightforward transfers of the original vinyl LPs (with repro artwork front and rear). Each CD label lists the tracks along with Writer and Producer credits - a good idea because the 5" Repro Sleeves (although they look nice) are hard if not impossible to read. The Fred Neil, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton albums turned up in October 2001 on the Rhino/Elektra "2 Elektra Classics" series of CD reissues with gorgeous Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remasters from original tapes - and to my ears those lovely transfers of the Stereo mixes have been used here. The Even Dozen Jug Band is probably the 2001 Rhino/Collector's Choice Music remaster and the Various Artists compilation "The Blues Project" is new - both of which are perfectly complimentary to the other three and both boasting wonderfully clear and full audio too.

Happy-wappy Jug Band Music arrives in the shape The Even Dozen Jug Band - all washboards, kazoos, banjos, mandolins and plucked acoustic guitars telling us tales of Tennessee Mamas talking about Evolution and "...gals after my money..." in "I Don't Love Nobody". It's blindingly great fun and sounds incredible given its vintage. But it gets quickly set aside for the real prize on here - "The Blues Project" album from 1964. This is sensational stuff - clued-up white singers keeping black Blues alive with a passion and a real sense of history changing. Each track features voices and acoustic guitars that have become legend in Folk Blues circles - Eric Von Schmidt, "Spider" John Koerner, Geoff Muldaur and Dave Von Ronk. None other than Bob Dylan hides behind the moniker of Bob Landy as he enters a piano duet with Eric Von Schmidt on "Downtown Blues" (the song also features John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful on harmonica). Brilliant stuff. "The Blues Project" is the kind of CD that gives Americana a good name and will be a huge draw for enthusiasts.

"I must have killed a million men...now they want me back again..." - Phil Ochs sings on the brilliant "I Ain't Marching Anymore" where he documents with just his voice, his guitar and his acidic words the senseless waste of war, the US military and the hated draft in a fractured Sixties America. Every track is simple and while he doesn't possess the most powerful of voices - his conviction and wit hammers through each tale of disillusioned youth riling against the man.

I can't be rational about Fred Neil (who can) - his "Bleecker & MacDougal" album is a masterpiece and the remaster on tracks like "Gone Again", "Handful Of Gimme" and "Travellin' Shoes" is just stupendous (each features John Sebastian on Harmonica and Felix Pappalardi of Mountain and Joe Walsh's Barnstorm on Bass). His cover of the Traditional "The Water Is Wide" is about as lovely as Sixties US Folk gets - again with Sebastian warbling so beautifully in the background on his Harmonica lending the song a genuine beauty.

The politically loaded Tom Paxton album tells us about "...people opening up their eyes..." as the US President sends him a letter telling him it's "...time to put your khaki trousers on...we are sending you to Vietnam..." Relationships come into play on the lovely "Hold On To Me Babe" and the pure Folk of "Ev'ry Time (When We Are Gone)" both sounding like early Leonard Cohen. He ends it with the banjo dance of "I'm The Man That Builds Bridges" where he talks of the men who cut timber, laid track and built America - a proud song that counters the hurt of the anti-war songs that preceded it.

"...I'll never get out of these blues alive..." Fred Neil sang in 1965 - and he wasn't just singing about a state of mind but the State of the USA - as each of these superb snippets of Americana inform. A fantastic addition to an increasingly impressive series...buy it and I envy you the journey...

PS: see also 2015 reviews for 5CD Mini Box sets from Terry Reid, Jimmy Webb and Brinsley Schwarz in the "Original Album Series"