"That The Spirit Needs/Memphis Menu/Compartments" by JOSE FELICIANO (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"...Peace Of Mind..."

Puerto Rican Flamenco Guitarist and Singer JOSE FELICIANO (one of the first Latin American Superstars) had released a staggering 11 albums with RCA Victor before he decided in 1971 to largely ditch the cover-versions formula that had stood him so well - and try a few tunes of his own. And that's where this rather lovely 2CD set from England's Beat Goes On (BGO) comes in. It gathers together three rarely seen (and largely forgotten) albums from 1971, 1972 and 1973 where he made an unsuccessful dash for the singer-songwriter market dominated at the time by James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Elton John, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. "Musical Menu" didn't chart at all - with "That The Spirit Needs" and "Compartments" barely scraping Nos. 173 and 156 (respectively) on the American Billboard Rock LP charts. But that doesn't mean that there aren't goodies to be had here - there are (Steve Cropper and Bill Withers guest). Here are the dark glasses and the simple songs...

UK released April 2015 - "That The Spirit Needs/Memphis Menu/Compartments" on Beat Goes BGOCD 1179 (Barcode 5017261211798) is a 2CD set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (69:34 minutes):

1. Come Down Jesus

2. The Spirit

3. Wild World

4. Border Song

5. Only One

6. Take Me To The Pilot

7. She Let Me Down [Side 2]

8. Daytime Dreams

9. My Last Farewell

10. Mellow Felling

11. Pay Day

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "That The Spirit Needs" - released 1971 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4573 and in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8223. All tracks are Feliciano Originals except these cover versions "Wild World" (Cat Stevens), "Border Song" and "Take Me To The Pilot". Produced by Janna Merlyn and Jose Feliciano.

12. Magnolia

13. River Song

14. One More Mile

15. Never Leave You

16. Tale Of Maria

17. It Doesn't Matter [Side 2]

18. Good Times

19. Lay, Lady, Lay

20. Where Is My Woman

21. Movin'

Tracks 12 to 21 are the album "Memphis Menu" - released 1972 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4656 and in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8309. Side 1 is the "First Course" with Side 2 being the `Second Course". All tracks are Feliciano originals except these cover versions - "Magnolia" (J.J. Cale), "One More Time" (Mark James), "Good Times" (Marc Benno), "Lay, Lady, Lay" (Bob Dylan) and "Movin'" (Jackie DeShannon).

Disc 2 (41:19 minutes):

1. Simple Song [Feliciano song]

2. Me And Bobby Jane [Leon Russell cover]

3. Don't Fail [Seal and Crofts cover]

4. Find Somebody [co-write with Carl Marsh and Steve Cropper]

5. Hey Look At The Sun [Nelson Angelo cover]

6. Peace Of Mind [Loggins and Messina cover]

7. Sea Cruise [Huey "Piano" Smith cover] [Side 2]

8. Compartments [Jose Feliciano/Bill Withers song]

9. Yes We Can Can [Allen Toussaint song, Pointer Sisters cover]

10. I'm Leavin' [Feliciano song]

11. Things Are Changing [Donald Paschal cover]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Compartments" - released May 1973 in the USA and UK on RCA Victor APD1 0141

It comes in the now customary card wrap (which lends the reissue a classy feel) and a jam-packed 24-page booklet with thoroughly comprehensive liner notes from noted writer JOHN O'REGAN. It provides lyrics to the first two albums on Disc 1 (but not "Compartments") - and as eagle-eyed collectors will notice - uses the reissue artwork for "That The Spirit Needs" which initially came in an untitled elaborate gatefold sleeve. The booklet is well done and extends it reach right up to 2014 on Feliciano's career. ANDREW THOMPSON did the expertly transferred remasters at Sound Mastering In London and they sound beautiful.

Most of the tracks on "Spirit" have the Acoustic Guitar to the fore accompanied on occasion by orchestral arrangements (from George Tipton) or guitar overdubs with Feliciano playing a wide range of instruments including Bass, Congas and Organ. Jim Horn putts in Flute on "Wild World" and "Mellow Feeling" with Buddy Emmons playing Steel Guitar on "My Last Farewell". The opening duo of "Come Down Jesus" and "The Spirit" are good rather than great while his fast-tempo take of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" doesn't really do anything for a lovely song. Things improve on "Border Song" where his voice is similar to that of 1971 Elton John. Other pretty entries include his "Daytime Dreams" and "Mellow Feeling".

He opens the "Memphis Menu" album with a great cover of J.J. Cale's wonderful "Magnolia" (from his "Naturally" album) and you immediately notice the improvement in Production Values (co-produced by Steve Cropper of Booker T. & The MG's.). Feliciano's own "It Doesn't Matter" is lovely feeling a little like a cross between Don McLean and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Mark James provides "One More Mile" (he wrote "Suspicious Minds" brought to Number 1 by Elvis Presley) and Marc Benno's "Good Times" is probably the best cut on the album.

But the best album of the three is "Compartments" which features some stellar guest contributions that genuinely up the game of almost every song (with the whole album again co-produced by Steve Cropper and Jose Feliciano). Leon Russell lends his distinctive piano style to "Me And Baby Jane" - a hurting tale about a first love in school who then later loses herself to drugs. Jim Seals and Dan Crofts play Guitars, Mandolin and sing Backing Vocals on their own "Don't Fail" (very hall & Oates kind of tune) while Loggins & Messina provide Background Vocals on two - "Simple Song" and "Peace Of Mind" (Messina also does a Guitar Solo on "Peace Of Mind"). His keyboard player J.A. Spell gets very Leon Russell meets Fats Domino on Jose's cover of Huey Smith's wonderful "Sea Cruise". None other than Soul Maestro Bill Withers co-writes "Compartments" with Feliciano and also plays Rhythm Guitar. Claudia Lennear (of "Brown Sugar" fame), Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery contribute Backing Vocals to the ballad "Find Somebody", the Soulful groove of "Hey Look At The Sun", the cool Funk of "Yes We Can Can" and finally the brassy pop hit "Things Are Changing". This is probably the best sounding of the two CDs.

These albums represent the lesser-heard sides of Jose "Light My Fire" Feliciano's cannon of work - and well done to all at BGO UK for getting them out there...

PS: Beat Goes On have also released "Alive Alive-O" (a double album) on BGOCD 794, "10 to 23/Fireworks" on BGOCD 795 and "A Bag Full Of Soul/Fantastic Feliciano" on BGOCD 817...

"California Nights with Bonus Tracks" by LESLEY GORE (May 2015 Ace CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Treat Me Like A Lady..."

What you get here is Lesley Gore’s much-acclaimed upbeat pop album "California Nights" from 1967 (a 10-track LP in Stereo) – along with a generous 15 bonus tracks. Amongst the fifteen are 10 cuts from the 12-track 1965 LP “All About Love” that preceded “California Nights” – two cuts from the November 1965 LP “My Town, My Guy & Me” - and finally 3 unreleased rarities from the 1995 Bear Family 5CD Box Set “It’s My Party”. There’s a lot of smooching and crooning to get through – so once more unto the party dresses...

UK released May 2015 (June 2015 in the USA) – “California Nights with Bonus Tracks” by LESLEY GORE on Ace CDCHD 1439 (Barcode 029667071826) pans out as follows (59:58 minutes):

1. California Nights

2. Treat Me Like A Lady

3. Bad

4. I’m Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)

5. Maybe Now

6. Love Goes on Forever [Side 2]

7. Off And Running

8. Lilacs And Violets

9. The Bubble Broke

10. Cry Like A Baby

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album “California Nights” – released May 1967 in the USA on Mercury Records MG 21120 (Mono) and Mercury SR 61120 (Stereo) – the Stereo Mix is used

BONUS TRACKS:

11. My Town, My Guy And Me

12. Let Me Dream

Tracks 11 and 12 from the November 1965 USA LP “My Town, My Guy & Me” on Mercury Records MG 21042 (Mono) and Mercury SR 61042 (Stereo) – the Stereo Mixes are used

13. Start The Party Again

14. I Won’t Love You Anymore (Sorry)

15. I Just Can’t Get Enough Of You

16. To Know Him Is To Love Him

17. Will You Love Me Tomorrow

18. Only Last Night

19. With Any Other Girl

20. I Can Tell

21. We Know We’re In Love

Tracks 13 to 21 and 23 are 10 cuts from the 12-track album “All About Love” – released 1965 in the USA on Mercury MG 21066 (Mono) and Mercury SR 61066 (Stereo) – the Stereo Mixes are used. The two missing songs are “Young Love” and “Too Young” (from Side 1)

22. Yeh, Yeh, Yeh (That Boy Of Mine) (1965 recording that first turned up in 1995 on the 5CD Leslie Gore Box Set “It’s My Party” on Bear Family BCD 15742)

23. That’s What I’ll Do (as per 13 to 21)

24. Happiness is Just Around The Corner (as per 22)

25. Hold Me Tight (as per 22)

Ace is renowned as a reissue label of some 40 years repute for decent booklets - but you have to say that the 16-page fan-fest presented here is exceptional (even by their high standards). Every page is beautifully done – those US and British 45s on Mercury Records, the rare American picture sleeves for “My Town, My Guy And Me” and “I Won’t Love You Anymore (Sorry)”, pictures of Lesley in the studio with her songwriting brother Michael and Producer Bob Crewe (Quincy Jones handled tracks 7, 8 and 10), Billboard trade adverts from 1966, publicity snaps in colour and black and white – there’s even an advert for her performance of “California Nights” with Cat Woman on the Batman Show on the 19 January 1967 on ABC-TV (nice). MALCOLM BAUMGART gives an overview of her career and a very tasty track-by-track breakdown of what’s what. It’s properly gorgeous and informative. NICK ROBBINS – long-standing Remaster Engineer for Ace and countless others – does the honours on the tapes and the audio is amazing – wads of lovely Stereo – strings and girly vocals clobbering your ears in a sort of uncluttered non Phil Spector way.

The album was preceded by two cracking 45s - the very Monkees-esque “Treat Me Like A Lady” b/w “Maybe Now” in September 1966 on Mercury 72611 – a chart winner if ever there was one. It was followed in January 1967 by “California Nights” b/w “I’m Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)” on Mercury 72649. It seems odd now that the truly lovely “Treat Me Like A Lady” failed to dent the Top 50 – at least the title track climbed to 16 in March 1967 – a good prep for the LP that followed shortly after. Along with “Treat Me Like A Lady” Bob Crewe provided co-writes on “Bad”, “I’m Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)”, “Love Goes On Forever” and “The Bubble Broke”. Carole Bayer gave Lesley Gore “Off And Running” while another brilliant songwriting lady Valerie Simpson stumped up “Cry Like A Baby” with her partner Nicky Ashford. The style is very much girl-group melodrama – but with an American slant on Dusty Springfield’s street savvy. Lesley showed swooning skill herself by penning the pretty “Maybe Now” with her brother Michael (“painfully he left his mark on me...”).

I have to admit that by the time you’ve waded through the “California Nights” album another fifteen breezy string-laden productions about guys, parties and other girls with ideas on your man – can all be a bit much. However her version of Spector’s “To Know Him Is To Love Him” and the Carole King/Gerry Goffin Shirelles hit “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” both stand out as does the unreleased Van McCoy tune “Happiness is Just Around The Corner” (one of three from the massive Bear Family Box Set of 1995).

Ace have also issued “Magic Colors: The Lost Album” (Ace CDCHD 1307) and “Girl Talk” (Ace CDCHD 1383) for Gore fans to slaver over – and this beautifully presented audio winner is a proud addition...

"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)...