"Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama!" By VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2015 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boppin-Bayou-Rock-Me-Mama/dp/B00XAB4XXG?crid=375B41ZI0S5FY&keywords=029667072229&qid=1706482585&sprefix=029667072229%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=294f63d4bb6e87b57f36d19ebe8d5515&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Havin' A Whole Lotta Fun..."

Volume 11 in an ongoing-series of CD reissues (see list below) and there’s no sign of the Saturday Night Fish Fry letting up – 28 Killer Diller Rhythm 'n' Blues tunes with a Louisiana Rock 'n Roll and Rockabilly twist. Here are the very unladylike details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama!" By VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1443 (Barcode 029667072229) fleshes out as follows (65:09 minutes):

1. Switch Blade Sam – JEFF DANIELS (1958 USA 7" single on Big Howdy 777, A)

2. Saw My Baby Walkin' – AL "PUDDLER" HARRIS (first released in 1978 on the Various Artists compilation LP "Rockin' Fever" on Flyright FLY LP 540)

3. Gonna Work – RICHARD BROS (1959 USA 7" single on Richland 22, A)

4. Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy's Done - WARREN STORM (2015 Previously Unreleased Alternate Take to USA 7" single on Nasco 6015)

5. Rockin' Fever – JOE CARL & The Dukes Of Rhythm (1960 USA 7" single on Rocko 519, A)

6. Bad Luck – DANNY (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 557, A)

7. Mickey Lee – TONY PERREAU (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950's: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

8. Havin’ A Whole Lotta Fun – JOHNNY JANO (first released on the 1977 Johnny Jano LP "King of Louisiana Rockabilly" on Flyright FLY LP 531)

9. Rock Me Mama – KEN LINDSAY (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950’s: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

10. You Win Again – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

11. Come Back Baby – DAYWARD PENNY (1961 USA 7" single on Big Howdy 6102, A)

12. She Left Me – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

13. Bayou Boogie – BENNIE FRUGE (2015 Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of a track that first appeared on the 1980 Various Artists LP "Bayou Boogie: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 19" on Flyright FLY LP 557)

14. Good Morning Blues – VORRIS SHORTY LeBLANC & All The Sugar Bees, Vocals by Jay Stutes (1962 USA 7" single on Goldband 1156, A)

15. Popcorn Blues – NATHAN ABSHIRE & The Pine Grove Boys (1960 USA 7" single on Kajun 500, A)

16. She's Mine, She's Yours – BENNIE FRUGE (2015, Previously Unreleased)

17. You’re Happy Now – LITTLE CAROL (1959 USA 7" single on Richland 26, B)

18. Hard Luck – BILLY BLANK (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 556, A)

19. Uh-Huh-Huh – JEFF DANIELS (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 555, A)

20. You're Jealous – JIVIN' GENE (1959 USA 7" single on Mercury 71561, A)

21. Take Your Choice – ROCKET MORGAN (2015, Previously Unreleased)

22. Stop, Look And Listen – JOHNNY JANO (first released on the 1977 Johnny Jano LP "King of Louisiana Rockabilly" on Flyright FLY LP 531)

23. Boppin' Blues – ERWIN BABY (first released on the 1980 Various Artists LP Compilation "Boppin' It: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 17" on Flyright FLY LP 554)

24. Love Me Baby (Kiss Me Baby) – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

25. I'll Be Waiting – JOHNNIE ALLAN & The Krazy Kats (first released on the 1984 compilation LP "Johnnie Allan And The Krazy Kats" on Krazy Kat KK 792)

26. Sweet Little Girl – CHARLES PAGE (1960 USA 7" single on Tic Toc 101, A)

27. On The Corner Of The Street – FRANKIE LOWERY (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950’s: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

28. Little Girl Next Door – COLLAY & THE SATELLITES (1959 USA 7" single on Show-Biz 1002, A)

NOTES: Tracks 4, 13, 16 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

This is the 11th CD in the "By The Bayou" series (numbered on the spine – see full list below) and dips into the rich pickings found in the Jay Miller Sessions (mostly reissued by Flyright Records), the vaults of Eddie Shuler of Louisiana's Goldband Records and Floyd Soileau of Swallow Records – men who put out literally hundreds of albums and three-times that in 45s. 

It may be obscure to even die-hards, but I'm actually shocked at the quality of the Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly and Cajun on offer here. This CD is properly exciting on all fronts. Compiled by and annotated by genre lover and expert IAN SADDLER – the 16-page booklet is the usual classy affair from Ace Records – American 45 repros of labels that make collectors itchy in the wallet area – Goldband, Big Howdy, Tic Toc, Big B, Richland, Rocko and Sho-Biz. There are posters of Al Harris and his Band at the Golden Rocket Club on Highway 90, which is 2 Miles East of Sulphur (now there's a band name – 2 Miles East Of Sulphur), snaps of Johnny Jano in front of Tape Machines, a publicity shot of Nathan Abshire & The Pine Grove Boys and so on. The track-by-track info is deep and delicious – featuring contributions from people who were there – Johnnie Allan, Jivin' Gene and Al Ferrier – along with genre experts like Roger Armstrong and Alec Palao

Long-time Ace Engineer NICK ROBBINS has carried out the transfers (ALEC PALAO worked on the Flyright material) and as you can imagine the sources varies wildly – sensational audio one moment – gutbucket the next. But even when the audio is clearly dubbed from a rare 45 or some other ropey source – the sheer musical impact is there. These tracks ROCK – time and time again. And because the emphasis is on dance and bopping - in many cases the odd click and pop only adds to that Fifties magic - echoes and slap bass and people whooping like they’ve been given a day pass to a brewery...

It opens with "Switch Blade Sam" where Jeff Daniels sounds like Eddie Cochran playing guitar with Jerry Lee Lewis on an upright bass and vocals – it's wonderfully breathless Rock 'n' Roll tapping at the door of Louisiana Rockabilly. We continue on the slap bass tip with "Saw My Baby Walkin'" where the "...oh, oh, oh..." vocal sounds like Smiley Lewis sided by Pete Johnson on boogie-woogie piano while Cochran once again provides acoustic backing (another winner). Saxophone Rock 'n' Roll takes over on "Gonna Work" and we get some studio chatter on "Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy's Done" where our hero tells his mum he's been out with his girl doing that illicit Rock 'n' Roll thing (not to mention The Stroll). The fun continues for an impressive fifth time on "Rockin' Fever" – more piano Rock 'n' Roll with Saxophone and Piano doing stroll R&B.

"Bad Luck" is clearly dubbed from a disc but I can hear why compiler Ian Saddler put it on here – it's a big brassy Rock 'n' Roll winner full of echoed vocals and a great hook. "Mickey Lee" assures us that Tony Perreau's girl is a fine, fine woman and ain't no square (thank God for that) while straight up Country Rockabilly comes in the shape of the lively "Havin' A Whole Lotta Fun". "Rock Me Mama" is truly wicked Rockabilly – home-made, crude and full of attitude – but dancing like a drunken sailor home on shoreleave. Hank Williams would approve of "You Win Again" by a rocked-up Al Ferrier (a great version of a classic) while I love the bopping groove of "Come Back Baby" fitted out with great piano and guitar and clear audio (what a winner).

It's followed by another Cochran-soundalike from Al Ferrier in the shape of the brilliantly infectious piano-boogie of "She Left Me" (probably the best track on here) – this is the kind of great Rockin' tune that will restore the faith. Cajun R&B pops up in the shape of the whinging "You're Happy Now" with a sound that feels someone's back porch – but bopping genius follows with Jeff Daniels' "Uh-Huh-Huh" where our hero sings the praises of a lady with "...big red lips...smackity smack...red pedal pushers and a car out of gas..." The influence of Fat Domino fills "I'll Be Waiting" where Johnnie Allan sings up a storm and it ends on a manic "Little Girl Next Door" where Collay (Allen Callais) took his gal to a movie show but lucked out on the cuddles and kissin' front...

"...Long Tall Sally was sitting on my knee...this went on all night...I'm tellin' you man...they were treatin' me right..." – Jeff Daniels sings on "Switch Blade Sam".

Buy this CD and I suspect you're gonna feel the same...

BY THE BAYOU CD Compilation Series 

From Ace Records of the UK 

A LIST 

22 Titles correct to January 2024

Focuses mostly on the Louisiana Recordings of Jay D. Miller 

(The Legendary Sessions Series), a lot of which were issued on 

UK Flyright Records LPs in the 70s, 80s and 90s

Boppin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Boppin' By The Bayou (August 2012, Ace CDCHD 1345 - Barcode 029667052023) - No. 1 in the Series

2. Boppin' By The Bayou Again (January 2013, Ace CDCHD 1355 - Barcode 029667053228) - No. 2 in the Series

3. Boppin' By The Bayou: More Dynamite (October 2013, Ace CDCHD 1380 - Barcode 029667056625) - No. 5 in the Series

4. Boppin' By The Bayou: Made In The Shade (September 2014, Ace CDCHD 1415 - Barcode 029667062022) - No. 9 in the Series

5. Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me Mama! (29 June 2015, Ace CDCHD 1443 - Barcode 029667072229) - No. 11 in the Series

6. Boppin' By The Bayou: Drive-Ins & Baby Dolls (28 October 2016, Ace CDCHD 1486 - Barcode 029667077521) - No. 16 in the Series 

7. Boppin' By The Bayou: Flip, Flop & Fly (June 2018, Ace CDCHD 1529 - Barcode 029667089920) - No. 20 in the Series

8. Boppin' By The Bayou: Feel So Good (29 May 2020, Ace CDCHD 1567 - Barcode 029667097727) - No. 22 in the Series

Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Bluesin' By The Bayou (27 June 2013, Ace CDCHD 1368 – Barcode 029667054928) – No. 4 in the Series

2. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough 'n' Tough (28 July 2014, Ace CDCHD 1403 – Barcode 029667060622) – No. 8 in the Series

3. Bluesin' By The Bayou: I'm Not Jivin' (8 June 0216, Ace CDCHD 1471 - Barcode 029667075824) - No. 14 in the Series

4. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry (25 August 2017, Ace CDCHD 1506 - Barcode 029667084222) - No. 18 in the Series

Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES 

1. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou (February 2013, Ace CDCHD 1363 – Barcode 029668053723) – No. 3 in the Series 

2. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin' (27 January 2014, Ace CDCHD 1388 – Barcode 029667057820) – No. 6 in the Series 

3. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies (26 January 2015, Ace CDCHD 1422 - Barcode 029667063425) - No. 10 in the Series 

4. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups (25 September 2015, Ace CDCHD 1448 - Barcode 029667073127) - No. 12 in the Series 

5. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals And Love Sick Souls (29 July 2016, Ace CDCHD 1478 - Barcode 029667076425) - No. 15 in the Series

6. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' (24 November 2017, Ace CDCHD 1514 - Barcode 029667086424) - No. 19 in the Series

7. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp (31 May 2019, Ace CDCHD 1547 - Barcode 029667094528) - No. 21 in the Series

Swamp Pop By The Bayou TITLES

1. Swamp Pop By The Bayou (March 2014, Ace CDCHD 1397 - Barcode 029667058520) - No. 7 in the Series 

2. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Troubles, Tears & Trains (29 January 2016, Ace CDCHD 1462 - Barcode 029667074520) - No. 13 in the Series 

3. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Let's Get Together Tonight (28 April 2017, Ace CDCHD 1499 - Barcode 029667079426) - No. 17 in the Series

"Slow Motion" by MAN (2008 Esoteric Recordings Expanded CD – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"...You've Been Packing All Your Life..."

Following the critical and commercial success of "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" in May of 1974 – MAN wasted no time in popping out their 9th UK LP "Slow Motion" in November of that productive year - once again winning plaudits from their loyal fans and glasses raised by music press critics alike. If anything “Slow Motion” showed maturity and inspiration in the songwriting and a very definite 'Man Sound' in the twin lead guitars of Deke Leonard and Micky Jones. And the album cover photo got banned by the people at Mad magazine too (how very street cred). Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have colluded and canoodled with the remaining band members directly and reissued their entire vinyl catalogue from 1969 through to 1977 (see list below) in real style. Here are the details for entry number nine...

UK released May 2008 (June 2008 in the USA) – "Slow Motion" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2062 (Barcode 5013929716223) pans out as follows (72:46 minutes):

1. Hard Way To Die

2. Grasshopper

3. Rock And Roll You Out

4. You Don’t Like Us

5. Bedtime Bone [Side 2]

6. One More Chance

7. Rainbow Eyes

8. Day And Night

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 9th album "Slow Motion" – released November 1974 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29675 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA345-G

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Rock And Roll You Out (First Mix) – Previously Unreleased

10. A Hard Way To Live (Live) – non-album B-side to "Day And Night" – a UK 7” single issued May 1975 on United Artists UP 35739

11. Hard Way To Die (Live)

12. Somebody's Calling (Live)

13. May Are Called, But Few Get Up (Live)

14. A Hard Way To Live (Live) – tracks 11 to 14 recorded live at The Keystone, Berkeley, California in April 1975 – Previously Unreleased

For "Slow Motion" MAN was:

DEKE LEONARD – Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals

MICKY JONES – Lead Guitars and Vocals

KEN WHALEY – Bass and Vocals

TERRY WILLIAMS – Drums and Percussion

The 16-page booklet features new liner notes by DEKE LEONARD recalling how the album was made (the stunts pulled by Foghat at Rockfield Recording Studios) and has repros of rare European Picture Sleeves for the one 45 pulled off the album – "Day And Night" b/w "A Hard Way To Live". There’s musical trade adverts for tours with Badfinger, Chris Darrow, Neil Innes and A Band Called 'O' – as well as Rick Griffin’s full painting of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Newman holding a fish which was clipped to only show the fish and a bit of his famous smile. There’s also the telex sent by Leonard to the record company as an explanation of who played what – it was famously printed verbatim complete with errors and gobbledygook. The superb remaster has been handled by PASCHAL BYRNE at Audio Archiving using original master tapes.

"Hard Way To Die" opens the proceedings with a wallop – a clever duet of the vocal being aped by the guitar – coming on like Wishbone Ash when Laurie Wisefield joined them in 1974 – both rocky and melodious at the same time. And you’re also hit with the audio quality of the remaster – easily the best sounding Man CD to date. "Grasshopper" feels like Lindisfarne circa "Dingly Dell" – an acoustic ballad filled with clever vocal breaks – and again with top- notch sound (the drums and bass now perfectly pitched in the mix). "Rock And Roll You Out" feels like "Bananas" Part II – a jaunt on guitar that bewails our hero not being able to get into a gig – woman left me – they’re all locking the boys out. Side 1 ends on "You Don't Like Us" which might have been single number two – except that the aggressive lyrics would have probably put the punters off.

"Bedtime Bone" sounds most like the Prog of "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" from 1972 – guitars battling it out with treated keyboards interspersed with Bluesy chord changes and suitably doomy lyrics. "One More Chance" feels weedy at first but then goes into a great vocal/guitar duet like "Hard Way To Die" and wins the day. Stuart Gordon does a great job of arranging the strings on the Dennis Wilson "Pacific Ocean Blue" vocals of the lovely "Rainbow Eyes" – as sophisticated an acoustic tune as they’ve ever managed. The album ends on the Badfinger Pop/Rock of "Day And Night" – an obvious single with great guitar licks flying over a driving beat.

The extras are cleverly chosen – opening with a 30 August 1974 ‘First Mix’ of a strong album track "Rock And Roll You Out" which at 4:37 minutes sounds only marginally different to the finished version (but in a good way). The B-side "A Hard Way To Live" was recorded live at The Chicago Auditorium on 21st of March 1974 at "The 1999 Party" and for much of its duration sounds like a great Rocking studio track with that weedy organ sounding like Rory Gallagher's studio band. The four Previously Unreleased Live Tracks has the band in tight condition – Prog Rock mixed with Boogie – eliciting yelps from the small but enthusiastic crowd. My fave here is "Somebody's Calling" – a fantastic boogie tune that runs to only 2:53 minutes – it's not dissimilar to Ten Years After with that Man guitar sound instead of Alvin Lee. An exciting addition to the Man cannon...

So there you have it – like its predecessor "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" - "Slow Motion" is remembered with affection – and on the evidence submitted here - for a reason. A forgotten 70s album that shouldn’t be forgotten - reissued by a label that cares...

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010.

Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 to date.

'MAN DISCOGRAPHY' for Esoteric Recordings CD Reissues (2007 to 2014):

1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015 UK Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review for Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 315 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2023 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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RATING: *****

 

"...How Sweet He Is..."

Motown lovers/aficionados will be licking their lips in glee on this one – and with damn good reason. Supposed to have been issued on the Motown subsidiary label Soul SS-722 in early 1971 – the vinyl album "How Sweet He Is" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR was cancelled at the last minute and unceremoniously pulled from the schedules – thereafter remaining a sought-after holy grail for label collectors and lovers of quality Soul.

Five of the 12 cuts made it onto American 7" singles and a further three tracks later turned up on various European CD compilations in the Nineties and Naughties (see lists below). But what's so exciting about this 2015 CD reissue is that researchers for Ace Records of the UK went back into the vaults looking for the album and its associated B-sides and found 'dozens' of outtakes of an extremely high quality. Hence this Expanded CD Remaster gives you the whole 12-track album intact at last and in gorgeous remastered audio – along with a whopping 13 Bonus Tracks - 10 of which are Previously Unreleased. It’s a bit of a reissue sensation really. Here are the vaulted details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "The Lost Motown Album" by THE FANTASTIC FOUR on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434 (Barcode 029667243421) is a 25-track CD compilation and breaks down as follows (77:28 minutes):

1. Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy

2. Just Another Lonely Night

3. If This World Were Mine

4. A Little Too Much

5. We Can Work It Out

6. Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)

7. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World

8. Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

9. I'm Gonna Carry On

10. I Feel Like I’m Falling In Love Again

11. You Turn Me Around

12. I Just Can't Forget About You Baby

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "How Sweet He Is" by The Fantastic Four - reputedly scheduled for American release in early 1971 on Soul SS-722 but cancelled...

"Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" and "Keep On Tryin' ('Til You Find Love)" were first released in August 2010 on the CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 4" (Motown 882 4009). The cover version of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine" first appeared on the September 1998 CD compilation "Motown Sings Motown Treasures" (Motown 530 960 2).

Three US 7" singles on the Soul Label were issued around the aborted album as follows:

1. I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again b/w Pin Point It Down

Released 13 March 1969 in the USA on Soul 35058 (No UK equivalent)

The version of "I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love" on the album is Stereo at 3:09 minutes – the Mono Single edit at 2:48 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969". The B-side was non-album and is track 15 on this CD compilation.

2. Just Another Lonely Night b/w Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me)

Released 23 September 1969 in the USA on Soul 35065 (No UK equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:04 and 3:01 minutes respectively. The Mono single mixes at 2:54 and 3:12 minutes can be found on the 2007 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 9: 1969".

3. On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World b/w I'm Gonna Carry On

Released 23 April 1970 in the USA on Soul 35072 (No UK Equivalent)

The versions on the album are Stereo at 3:57 and 2:56 minutes respectively. The Mono single edits at 2:48 and 2:45 minutes respectively are available on the 2008 Book Set "The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10: 1970"

BONUS TRACKS:

13. How Big Is Your Heart

14. It Keeps Raining Down Tears

15. Pin Point It Down

16. Loving You (Is Hurting Me)

17. I've Found My Goal

18. Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy

19. Fan The Flame

20. In A Bad Way

21. I Hate Myself For Loving You

22. I'm Still A Struggling Man

23. Forgive My Jealousy

24. I Shall Not Be Moved

25. The Double Cross

"Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" first appeared on the October 2007 CD compilation "A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 3" (Motown 530 3228 2). "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" first appeared June 2003 on the CD compilation "Tamla Motown Connoisseurs, Volume 2" (Spectrum 067 016 2).

The booklet firstly has 4-pages of detailed track-by-track breakdowns – Producers, Recording Dates, Overdubs etc – followed by 8-pages of new liner notes from Soul Expert and long-time Ace associate TONY ROUNCE (a name that’s graced probably hundreds of reissues). The text is peppered with repros of those rare Soul labels (American white label promos too) along with a few publicity shots of the four lads – (Brothers) Joe and Ralph Pruitt, Toby Childs and lead Vocalist "Sweet" James Epps.

Hailing out of Michigan's Detroit - this Soul Group's history with Motown was a frustrating one. Moving on from the small-time independent of Ric Tic to the now mighty Motown must have seemed like a logical step but it turned out to be one of missed opportunities and a career staler (they had further hits in the mid to late Seventies with Westbound Records). Of the 11 singles The Fantastic Four released on Ric Tic Records between 1966 and 1968 – they charted an impressive five (with "The Whole World Is A Stage" going as high as Number 6). But newly signed to Motown - apart from "I Love You Madly" on Soul 35052 which managed Number 10 on the American R&B charts in May 1969 – the band couldn’t get arrested on Berry Gordy's Mothership. And it wasn’t because they lacked the vocals – out front was one of Soul Music’s truly great (unheralded) voices – "Sweet" JAMES EPPS (he's on the far right of the photo). Weighing in at a sizeable poundage – he looks like Solomon Burke but has the sweet pipes of Eddie Ruffin crossed with Ben E. King. This guy has 'SWEET SOUL' in his vocal chords like James Brown has 'HEAVY FUNK' hotwired into his very DNA. It’s now fairly clear that the album title was going to centre around Epps’ name – How "Sweet" He Is – but compiler TONY ROUNCE speculates that perhaps Motown had intended for him to go Solo. Whatever happened – we’re left with the musical legacy...so let’s get to that...

You’re hit with two pleasing elements on first hearing the Side 1 opener "Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy" – the quality of the NICK ROBBINS Remaster and the gruff edge of Epps fantastic voice. This is classy sophisticated late Sixties Soul (the song traces back as far as April 1967 for its backing track with overdub vocals added in 1969). By the time you get to the warm and lovely strings of "This World Is Mine" (Stereo Version) – the vocals are as touching as Soul singing gets. Heartache and drinking pour out of "A Little Too Much" – once again his voice backed up by "too much" chants from the boys. The cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" is good rather than great for me but far better is "On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World" which is a typically grieving Motown mid-tempo tune with clever use of a harpsichord. You also notice the omnipresent talents of Producers Al Kent and Bobby Taylor – each of their Productions reeking of that suave Soul sophistication that seemed effortless to the label in the late Sixties. The whole album holds up very well and leaves you wondering why pull such a classy collection...

Of the bonuses there’s a non-album B-side in "Pin Point It Down" – two CD compilation exposures for "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)" and "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" in 2003 and 2007 respectively – and the rest are new for 2015. Things get off to a very promising start with "How Big Is Your Heart" – a shoe in surely for some Northern Soul compilation to come – where Epps sounds so like Eddie Kendricks letting rip. But genuinely gorgeous comes in the form of "It Keeps Raining Down Tears" – a smoocher about walking in the park before his baby says goodbye. The B-side is fab too as are so many of the others...

In their 40th Anniversary Year of reissues – "The Lost Motown Album" by The Fantastic Four is a wonderful release from Ace's Kent Soul label imprint – the kind of CD that only reaffirms why this brilliant reissue company has been beloved by collectors for four solid decades. Way to go boys and a Reissue of the Year for 2015...

CD Reissues (to July 2015) by ACE RECORDS covering the MOTOWN label:

1. Dance With The Contours – THE CONTOURS (March 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 350)
2. Just A Little Misunderstanding: Rare And Unissued Motown 1965-68 - THE CONTOURS and DENNIS EDWARDS (June 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 419)
3. The Lost Motown Album – THE FANTASTIC FOUR (June 2015, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 434)
4. It Moves Me: The Complete Recordings 1958-1964 - EDDIE HOLLAND (January 2012 2CD Set, Ace CDTOP2 1331)
5. The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway with Bonus Tracks from The Motown Vaults - BRENDA HOLLOWAY (November 2013, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 406)
6. Love & Desire: The Patrice Holloway Anthology  – PATRICE HOLLOWAY (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 354)
7. I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose: The Complete Motown Recordings 1964-1971 - MARV JOHNSON (April 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 351)
8. Here Comes...The Complete Motown Stereo Masters - SHORTY LONG (March 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 369)
9. Say You! The Motown Anthology 1963-1968 - THE MONITORS (June 2011, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 355)
10. The Complete Motown and Tamla Singles Plus – THE SATINTONES (April 2010, Ace Deluxe CDLUX 002)
11. Truly Yours: Their First Motown Album With Bonus Tracks 1963-1967 - THE SPINNERS (June 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 371)
12. Finders Keepers: Motown Girls 1961-1967 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (March 2013, Ace CDTOP 1364)
13. Satisfaction Guaranteed: Motown Guys 1961-69 – VARIOUS ARTISTS (October 2014, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 424)
14. The One Who Really Loves You/Two Lovers: Two Classic Motown Albums - MARY WELLS (December 2012, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 387)

"Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN (2007 and 2014 Esoteric Recordings EXPANDED CD REISSUE Of Their 1972 LP on United Artists) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Map Of Wales..."

With its elaborate laminate gatefold sleeve and gorgeously illustrated pop-up "Map Of Wales" inner (which is reproduced both sides as a separate sheet and housed in a pouch on the left flap of this CD digipak) - Man’s sixth studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" on United Artists used to be a stalwart of secondhand record shops – along with other faves like 1974's "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" and "Slow Motion". It remains a fan favourite and a good entry point into the more stoner rock elements of this fondly remembered Welsh Prog Rock band...

Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have afforded the 1972 record a lavish CD reissue that comes resplendent with two instrumental extras (there’s also a digital download version available). And in truth - having not listened to my vinyl copy in many decades – I’d forgotten how good this 4-track beast actually is. Here are the self-flagellating details...

UK released November 2007 (reissued June 2014) – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2019 (Barcode 5013929711921) pans out as follows (65:23 minutes):

1. C'mon (11:05 minutes)
2. Keep On Crinting  (8:18 minutes)
3. Bananas (9:28 minutes) [Side 2]
4. Life On The Road (7:18 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 4 are the studio album "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" by MAN – released November 1972 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29417 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA077-F.

BONUS TRACKS:
5. Bananas (Early Instrumental Version) (7:05 minutes)
6. Rockfield Jam (3:14 minutes)

MAN was:
Guitars & Vocals - MICKY JONES
Guitars & Vocals – CLIVE JOHN
Keyboards & Vocals – PHIL RYAN
Bass & Vocals – WILL YOUATT
Drums and Percussion – TERRY WILLIAMS

The three-way foldout digipak holds a 16-page booklet in the right flap and the repro'd "Map Of Wales - Man's Family Jungle" pop-up in the left. There are breakdowns of everyone’s backgrounds and which bands they all came from or migrated into (their revolving door line-up touched upon a huge number of British bands like The Grease Band, Pete Brown’s Piblokto, Badfinger, Gentle Giant and Eyes Of Blue – to name but a few). The booklet has new and witty liner notes by long-standing band member DEKE LEONARD explained how the group kicked him out as Lead Guitarist for this album and brought on board MICKY JONES instead. The text and reminiscences are peppered by memorabilia – a 'aveMANana' button, a Sundown stage pass from September 1972, an October 1972 ticket stub, January to February UK tour dates advertised in one of the trade newspapers of the time, on stage and in the studio photos and other items of 1972/1973 note. It’s very tastefully done.

But the big news is a new remaster from original tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE – a name associated with a whole slew of much-praised Prog Rock CD reissues – the Polydor, Decca, Deram, Island and Vertigo 3CD Mini Box Sets on Universal (I've reviewed all of them – see my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1960s and 1970s Volume 1" Book for full and detailed reviews). BEN WISEMAN and head honcho at Esoteric MARK POWELL remastered the bonus cuts – again from 8-track master tapes. The audio is fantastic – really bringing out the duelling guitars – the bass is warm too – but I’d say that the Terry Williams drums lack a certain something. They’re way back in the mix and I don’t know if that’s just the way they were recorded in July of 1972 at Rockfield Studios (produced by Dave Edmunds) or something that can’t be made better in the transfer. For instance on "Bananas" at about 2:40 when the song goes into that beautiful keyboard solo – not surprisingly the keyboard pings are to the fore as are the chiming guitars left and right – but you’re also aware that the rhythm seems to be in the background distance – just a little too much.

The album opens with "C'mon" – a sort of boogie riff that builds and builds – lyrics first "get up!" – guitar battles – then about three minutes in – it suddenly slows like a Yes magnum opus would and goes into this slow marching pace bluesy/trippy passage where the Phil Ryan keyboards suddenly add this whole extra Prog Rock dimension to the song – and it doesn’t quit for the whole eleven-minute duration. It's actually a magnificent passage of music – very 1970s – but also very good. Finishing Side of the original vinyl LP - "Keep On Crinting" is an instrumental that lasts a paltry seven minutes  - but is still a huge part of the MAN set playlist to this day. It’s probably one of their most musical Prog pieces – the guitars counter-melody off each other – and this time at least you can hear the drums. Side 2 gives us a perennial that no MAN concert can be without – "Bananas". Again the guitars do battle and are very much to the fore in the mix – the drums once again pushed back when you wish they had more oomph. The Ten Years After chugging-boogie of "Life On The Road" ends the record in style ("...ain't got no money...living in a caravan..."). Thankfully the guitars and rhythm are in-your-face this time (in a good way) – in fact it feels like The Allman Brothers have sent up camp in Pontypridd...

At first I thought the first Bonus Track "Rockfield Jam" a rather pointless instrumental of just over three minutes that showcases some good guitar playing but otherwise remains a bit disappointing. But the bugger’s actually grown on me. Genuinely better however is the Alternate Early Version of a huge fan fave – "Bananas". This early version is minus the lyrics about marijuana that used to thrill audiences so. It’s a couple of minutes shorter than the final album cut but still has that great guitar battle/duet thing going on for its duration – it’s a genuinely superb bonus.

So there you have it – "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day" is a wicked early Seventies Rock album that’s been done a proper solid by a reissue label that cares.

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010. Esoteric have reissued and remastered the entire MAN catalogue in the same upgraded manner with full co-operation from the band (see list below) and I’ve reviewed 4, 6, 9 and 10 to date.

Esoteric Recordings MAN discography is as follows:
1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)
2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)
4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)
5. Live At The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)
6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (November 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with "Map Of Wales" insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)
7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)
8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)
9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)
10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)
11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)
12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)
13. All's Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 (Discs 2 and 3) newly mixed from the 24-track tapes. There is also a repro of the "History Of Man" insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)