"Labi Siffre" by LABI SIFFRE (2015 Edsel Expanded CD Reissue – Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Make My Day…"

Labi Siffre's self-titled debut album "Labi Siffre" was released in the UK on the Pye International label (NSPL 28135) in the summer of 1970 (probably July). But even though both it and the follow up album "The Singer And The Song" from July 1971 made waves ("Singer" even grazed the charts at 47 for one week) – it would not be until October 1972's "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" LP which contained the two huge hits "It Must Be Love" and the album title track – that Siffre finally impacted the English LP and single charts in any real way and arrived as a revered singer-songwriter. That's not to say that his debut is meritless – very, very far from it. In fact when I re-listen to "The Singer And The Song" from 1971 (also in this CD reissue series) – I'm struck by how much stronger the debut is in its melodies and it had obvious winners that should have made a dent on Top Of The Pops and him an early star...

This UK released Friday 31 July 2015 Edsel CD reissue on EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) is essentially a re-run of the June 2006 EMI CD remaster that’s been deleted for years now. It even has the same six bonus tracks and runs to exactly the same playing time of 55:46 minutes. What is upgraded is the 12-page booklet of old into a new impressive 32-page version inside a rather lovely digipak. It offers  – there are full lyrics (including the bonus track), a colour photo of Siffre playing live and a new ALAN ROBINSON interview with Siffre in 2015. PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering has transferred the fabulous Audio remastering done by EMI in 2006 and the results are stupendous – each track beautifully clear, muscular and a real revelation. Here are the debut details…

1. Too Late

2. Words

3. Something On My Mind

4. Maybe Tomorrow

5. You And I Should Be Together

6. I Don’t Know What's Happened To The Kids Today

7. I Love You [Side 2]

8. Make My Day

9. A Little More Line

10. Maybe

11. River

12. Love Song For Someone

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Labi Siffre" - released July 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28135 (no USA issue).

BONUS TRACK:

13. Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me? – the non-album B-side to "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" released March 1972 as a UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25576

14. I Just Couldn’t Live Without Her – first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

15. Last Night Tonight – the non-album B-side to "Give Love" released January 1973 in the UK on Pye International 7N.25602

16. Maybe When We Dance - first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

17. Ask Me To Stay - first issued as a Previously Unreleased outtake on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster

18. Here We Are – the non-album B-side to the stand alone 7" single "Watch Me" released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586

The original vinyl LP was a single matt sleeve with the lyrics filling the entire back cover. Unfortunately this new CD reissue repeats the lack of musician credits on the LP (doesn’t say who played what) but the booklet is a massive improvement over the 2006 CD (the disc itself is light blue in colour to reflect the original UK Pye Record label - a nice touch). There’s a photo of EMI Tape Boxes on Page 2, lyrics from Page 4 to 18 (including the bonus material) and a new interview from Pages 20 to 30. Siffre opens up about his childhood, his struggles as a black gay singer trying to get his material listened to and the recording process which seemed to be largely out of his inexperienced hands. It’s a fascinating read and illuminating. But the best news was and is the fabulous remaster – gorgeous audio on the mainly acoustic tracks – all of it beautifully realised. This CD sounds glorious and the album is far better than I remember it – possibly even a bit of a lost classic...

In the spring and summer of 1970 – Pye Records was more familiar to the British public through Petula Clark and Max Bygraves - rather than The Kinks, Man and Status Quo. So a young black singer with Folk-Soul affections hardly got a look in. Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 – which resulted in a publishing contract. His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than Soulster - though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a 'Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan' vibe. Many were just Labi, Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

10 tracks on the debut are Siffre originals with the other two being inspired cover version choices – "Words" by The Bee Gees and Harry Nilsson's "Maybe" – both of which Siffre emphatically makes his own. Of his own compositions the brilliance and acoustic simplicity of "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Too Late" stand out immediately (both on Side 1). Flutes, Piano and Electric Guitars mix well on "You And I Should Be Together" initially - but then Producer, Arranger and Conductor Ian Green kind of overdoes it with the strings (trying too hard to impress). The falsely acidic "I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today" is done in the voice of an old man riling at the young (..."I can't say that I fought for kids like you in the war..." Over on Side 2 standouts are "Make My Day", the lovely Nilsson ballad "Maybe" and the warm finisher "Love Song For Someone" with complimentary string arrangements. Kenny Young's American group Moonshine had a go at covering Siffre's "A Little More Line" on RCA Victor 1954 in 1970 calling it "Just A Little More Line" (it was reissued in September 1973 on RCA 2408). And in Germany Polydor put out Siffre's original as "A Little More Line" in December 1970 on Polydor 2001 065 with the gorgeous "Words" as its flipside (its rare 7" picture sleeve is shown on Page 9). Pye released just one single off the album in the UK by pairing "Too Late" with "Make My Day" in July 1970 on Pye International 7N.25528 but it failed to do any business which is a shame because the whole album is far more cohesive than its patchy follow up "The Singer And The Song".

The 6 bonus tracks consist of three rare non-album B-sides and three outtakes – the pretty ballad outtake "I Just Couldn't Live Without Her" being shockingly good while he goes piano on the equally impressive "Maybe When We Dance". The ukulele strum of "Ask Me To Stay" is like Joe Brown meets George Fornby – a very pretty ditty that would have made a great B-side.

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material - KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's "Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." track on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Siffre retired for a few years but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem - and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

So there you have it. A largely forgotten album that shouldn’t be – a 70s gem that’s genuinely ripe for rediscovery methinks.

Well done to Edsel for getting these reissues out there once again and in such classy presentation too...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign.

There was one last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both albums at a reasonable cost.

The 14 new tunes of "The Last Songs" was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like "Sparrow In The Storm" and "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...

"The Singer And The Song" by LABI SIFFRE - July 1971 UK Second Studio Album on Pye International Records (July 2015 UK Edsel 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with Eight Bonus Tracks (Two Previously Unreleased on CD) and Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Find Myself A New Life…"

Labi Siffre's 2nd studio album "The Singer And The Song" was released in the UK on the Pye International label in July 1971 and finally kick-started his chart career (it weighed in at Number 47 for one week, whereas his self-titled debut album from 1970 didn't chart at all). It would take his 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from October 1972 with its hooky title track and the hugely popular "It Must Be Love" (both hit 45s) before Siffre finally broke through to the masses as a singer songwriter of note. Along with his underrated self-titled Debut LP from 1970 – "The Singer And The Song" has remained (for most) something of a curio in his 50-plus-year catalogue. 

But this gorgeous CD Reissue/Remaster makes a strong case for reassessment. Like all his albums – there are moments of Funky Rock genius ("Rocking Chair" and "Summer Is Coming") and even beauty ("Bless The Telephone" and "Who Do You See?"). To the details...

UK released Friday 31 July 2015 - "The Singer And The Song" by LABI SIFFRE on Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) is essentially a re-run with add-ons of the June 2006 EMI CD remaster that's been deleted for years now. 

What's new is that the former 21-track EMI CD version has now had two extras added on upping the overall tally to 23-tracks. Both are B-sides to a February 1972 UK 45 Maxi Single that make their CD debut here for the first time anywhere (see lists below) thereby filling in holes in his Discography - "When You Find You Need A Friend" and "A Feeling I Got".

Also upgraded is the 12-page booklet of old into a new 32-page version. It's housed inside a rather lovely gatefold card digipak and supplies full lyrics to the LP's 15 songs as well as the 8 bonus tracks, shows UK and European 7" Single Picture Sleeves, a publicity photo circa 1971 and has a new ALAN ROBINSON interview with Siffre in 2015. "The Singer And The Song" runs to 58:21 minutes and like the other 4 card digipak titles in this 2015 reissue series - it's very tastefully done. Here are the finite details…

1. There's Nothing in The World Like Love [Side 2]

2. You're Lovely

3. A Number Of Words

4. Who Do You See?

5. Not So Long Ago

6. The Shadow Of Our Love

7. When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind

8. Rocking Chair [Side 2]

9. Interlude

10. Thank Your Lucky Star

11. Talkabout

12. Relax

13. Bless The Telephone

14. Summer Is Coming

15. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 15 are his 2nd album "The Singer And The Song" - released July 1971 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28147 (no USA issue).

BONUS TRACKS:

16. When You Find You Need A Friend – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" issued as UK 7" single in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542

17. Get To The Country – non-album A-side issued as a UK 7" single in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560 (its B-side is track 18)

18. A Feeling I Got – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" (track 17)

19. Till Night Time Comes Along – album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

20. Fallin' For You - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

21. Oh What A Day - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children's musical "The Magic Bed"

22. Just A Face - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children's musical "The Magic Bed"

23. Seasons Come, Seasons Go - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

Notes: Tracks 16 and 18 are new to this reissue

The original inner gatefold sleeve artwork of the LP with its handwritten track details is reproduced on both inner flaps of the digipak (the CD itself is light blue in colour to reflect the original UK Pye Record label - a nice touch). There’s a photo of EMI Tape Boxes on Page 31 - while the interview from Pages 25 to 30 goes into some depth with the singer-songwriter about the album’s producer Ian Green who had done the console duty on the debut.

Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract and the recording and release of his first album on Pye Records early in 1970 (Pye Records at that time was home to The Kinks and Status Quo). His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than soulster, though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan vibe. Many were just Labi, Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering has transferred the fabulous Audio remastering done by EMI in 2006 and the results are stupendous – each track beautifully clear, muscular and a real revelation.

SINGLES:

Pye tried two 45s – one from the forthcoming album and a standalone track in the same month as the LP release. "Thank Your Lucky Star" b/w "When You Find You Need A Friend" was UK released in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542 - while the superb non-album "Get To The Country" b/w "A Feeling I Got" surfaced in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560. The first single wasn't a great choice (I own a titled 'promo-only' picture sleeve for it in the UK which is unfortunately not pictured in the booklet) - but the second was accomplished and should have made a noise – unfortunately both tanked and the LP did the same.

Very much an album of its time – some tunes like the opener "There's Nothing In The World Like Love" with its plinking piano, hippy lyrics and happy-wappy melody admittedly have a slightly dated feel – but despite that – are undeniably pretty. The 32-second "You're Lovely" is a throwaway acoustic interlude (gorgeous audio) that precedes the dreadful "A Number Of Words" where Green's arrangements of the song have Siffre sound like Tom Jones seeking a hit but in a bad way. Far better is "What Do You See?" which has a naff orchestral intro that suddenly fades into a sweet acoustic ballad – and it hits you – his way with a melody that wins you over. "The Shadow Of Our Love" is a soft-shoe shuffle with strings leaving the short-lived "When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind" to finish Side 1 in Spanish Acoustic style (again with beautifully clear audio).

Side 2 opens with what is probably the best track on the LP and something that should have been released as a single – the funky "Rocking Chair" (lyrics from it title this review). Brian Odgers provided and played the Bass Line while Colin Green provided the guitar solo. "Interlude" is ok but "Thank Your Lucky Star" feels patronizing even now and even though it was sincerely trying to be informative about 'food for the hungry' (a kazoo gives it an almost comical chorus that just doesn’t work). Prettier by far is "Talkabout" – an acoustic plea to a 'beautiful dream girl' with fab audio throughout. "Relax" is again given clunky rhythms and strings that overdo it that are partially redeemed by an "I Got The..." bass-break-moment half way through. Far sweeter to the ear and the heart is the album's other ballad winner - "Bless The Telephone" – lovely and again sounding like he's in your living room. Pace picks up big time with another choice LP cut "Summer Is Coming" where John Spooner plays the Bass Drum accompanied by nice brass arrangements. The two elusive non-album B-sides "When You Find You Need A Friend" and "A Feeling I Got" finally get long overdue airings onto CD and turn out to be half-decent tracks. But bluntly the outtakes like "Till Night Time Comes Along" and "Fallin' For You" are much better – even if they do sound suspiciously like 1975 or later (him and his electric piano).

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R 'n' B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material. KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's “Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Siffre retired for a few years - but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

In truth “The Singer And The Song” is a good 3-star album at best rather than a great one – but still featuring those sporadic moments of warmth. The extras certainly beef it up and make the purchase worthwhile and the audio/presentation is spot on.

Well done to Edsel for getting these reissues out there once again and in such a classy way too...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5039 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign. Both it and "Happy?" were issued in full in the My Song (50th Anniversary) 9CD Box set in September 2020 - also by Edsel (see separate review). 

His last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" (released November 1975 in the UK) and its 10-tracks were first made available on CD on an EMI budget compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" - which contained all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – but the 2020 Box Set My Song has far better sound and presentation and is a bit of a musical treasure trove.

The 14 new tunes of "The Last Songs" was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like "Sparrow In The Storm" and "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...

"Tom Rush/Take A Little Walk With Me" by TOM RUSH (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Get Me My Travelling Shoes..."

When Tom Rush signed to Jack Holzman’s Folk-Rock label Elektra Records in 1965 to record his eponymous label debut (Disc 1) – New Hampshire’s finest vocalist and song-interpreter was already a three-album veteran. His privately pressed live LP “At The Unicorn” on Night Light Records cropped up in the summer of 1962 (recorded at The Unicorn Club in Boston, there was reputedly only 600 copies made) followed by “Blues Songs And Ballads” in 1963 and “Got A Mind To Ramble” in 1965 (both on Prestige, “Ramble” recorded 1963). And that’s where this gorgeous CD comes in...

UK released July 2015 – "Tom Rush/Take A Little Walk With Me" by TOM RUSH on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1192 (Barcode 5017261211927) is a 2CD set containing the first two of three albums Rush made for Elektra Records in the Sixties – "Tom Rush" from 1965 and "Take A Little Walk With Me" in 1966. I've reviewed the third LP 1968's "The Circle Game" separately. BGOCD 1192 breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (45:04 minutes):

1. Long John

2. If Your Man Gets Busted

3. Do-Re-Mi

4. Milk Cow Blues

5. The Cuckoo

6. Black Mountain Blues

7. Poor Man [Side 2]

8. Solid Gone

9. When She Wants Good Lovin’

10. I’d Like To Know

11. Jelly Roll Baker

12. Windy Bill

13. Panama Limited

Tracks 1 to 13 are his 3^rd album “Tom Rush” – released 1965 in the USA on Elektra Records EKL 288 (Mono) and EKS 7288 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used. Produced by Paul A. Rothchild.

Disc 2 (35:59 minutes):

1. You Can’t Tell A Book By The Cover

2. Who Do You Love

3. Love’s Made A Fool Of You

4. Too Much Monkey Business

5. Money Honey

6. On The Road Again

7. Joshua Gone Barbados [Side 2]

8. Statesboro Blues

9. Turn Your Money Green

10. Sugar Babe

11. Galveston Flood

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 4^th album “Take A Little Walk With Me” – released June 1966 in the USA on Elektra Records EKL 308 (mono) and EKS 7308 (Stereo). The Stereo Mix is used. Produced by Mark Abrahamson.

There’s an outer card slipcase that lends the whole CD reissue a classy feel and a 16-page inlay with very detailed JOHN O’REGAN liner notes. The track-by-track breakdowns from the original American LP back cover liner notes is reproduced, there are those three black and white publicity photos of him in his jacket having a smoke by the railroad tracks and indepth discussion of his song choices and his ability to pick a tune and a songwriter. ANDREW THOMPSON has done new 2015 remasters at Sound Performance in London and he has clearly used the Rhino 2CD reissues of 2001 (Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot were the remaster engineers) – the audio on this beauty is gorgeous. Primarily well-recorded Folk – the Acoustic guitar, his deep tonal voice and the inclusion of John Sebastian’s Harmonica (from The Lovin’ Spoonful) on 6 of the 13 tracks – gives the music a huge feel and warmth.

The “Tom Rush” LP mixes pure Americana Folk with some Dixie, Hillbilly and Acoustic Blues – it’s a properly great mid-Sixties Folk-Rock album. As already mentioned John Sebastian features on six tunes with his distinctive Harmonica warbling – all covers - the songs are “Long John” (Traditional), “Milk Cow Blues” (Kokomo Arnold song), “Black Mountain Blues” (Bessie Smith cover), “Solid Gone” (Traditional), “When She Wants Good Lovin’” (Lieber/Stoller song done by The Coasters) and “Jelly Roll Baker” (Jelly Roll Morton cover). Felix Pappalardi of Mountain and Joe Walsh’s Barnstorm fame plays Guitarron on the Traditional “Solid Gone”, Woody Guthrie’s “Do-Re-Mi” and the Traditional “Windy Bill”. His other players included Bill Lee on Bass and Daddy Bones on Second Guitar – Rush plays Acoustic Guitar and of course takes Lead Vocal on all songs. The last song “Panama Limited” is him and his acoustic guitar only doing an 8 ½ minute slide mash-up of Bukka White Blues – a talking song about a freight train that goes so fast even the hobos don’t mess with it. It ends the album on a storytelling high (his guitar playing is clearly excellent too and this remaster really sells that).

If the largely Folky “Tom Rush” LP is excellent – in my mind the Folk Rock “Take A Little Walk With Me” album where Rush finally goes ‘electric’ (Side 1) like Dylan did – is fantastic stuff and again features an array of great covers and one original “On The Road Again”. The first thing that hits you about it is the improvement in Production – Mark Abrahamson channelling Al Kooper and Bruce Langhorne’s Electric Guitars with skill. Harvey Brooks supplies the Bass, Bobby Gregg plays Drums, and Roosevelt Gook tinkles the Piano with Rush once again on Vocals and Acoustic Guitar. It opens with Willie Dixon’s “You Can’t Tell A Book By The Cover” (a hit for Bo Diddley) which is good but things goes proper Rocking with his deep-voiced version of Diddley’s creepily brilliant “Who Do You Love”. This is not Folk – nor Blues – it could even be The Doors on their self-titled debut (wicked stuff). The stereo separation on Buddy Holly’s “Love’s Made A Fool Of You” is fantastic – a beautifully handled transfer. Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Business” allows the album to boogie a little – a fun choice – and again shocking electric guitars after all that Folk Acoustic on “Tom Rush”. Jess Stone’s “Money Honey” (a Drifters hit on Atlantic Records) is great fun but his own “On The Road Again” impresses much more and feels like a great driving Fred Neil song (a writer Rush admired).

Side 2 (the Folky Side) opens with Von Schmidt’s “Joshua Gone Barbados” which turned up on the “Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records...” 2006 Box Set as a representation of Tom Rush’s soft magic. And it’s easy to hear why it was singled out - a lovely lilting ballad that stays in your mind. Acoustic Blues shows up in Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” and again the remaster is just amazing. My fave track on the whole LP is Eric Von Schmidt’s “Turn Your Money Green” which I’ve included on many 60ts CD compilations “...I’ve been down so long...it looks like up to me...”  It ends on the amazing “Galveston Flood” where Blues, Folk and Americana all mash into one powerhouse song.

Both of these albums are forgotten in the grand scheme of things and hard to find outside of the USA on original vinyl – and neither should be. A clever and smart reissue by Britain’s Beat Goes On – more baby please...

"For The Children" by LABI SIFFRE (2015 Edsel Expanded CD Reissue – Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…If You Have Faith…Then That's All You Need…"

Labi Siffre's 4th album "For The Children" was released in the UK on the Pye International label in late 1973. Its predecessor "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" contained the two huge hits "It Must Be Love" and the album title track "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" - so the LP charted reasonably well. "For The Children" didn't - it had no hit singles amongst its 10 quality tracks so failed to dent the Top 50. In fact “For The Children” has been difficult to find on vinyl for decades.

This UK released Friday 31 July 2015 Edsel CD reissue on EDSA 5042 (Barcode 740155504236) is essentially a re-run of the June 2006 EMI CD remaster that’s been deleted for years now. It even has the same lone bonus track – the then Previously Unreleased “So What” - and runs to exactly the same playing time of 53:08 minutes. What is upgraded is the 12-page booklet of old into a new 24-page version inside a rather lovely digipak – there are full lyrics (including the bonus track), a colour photo of Siffre playing live and a new ALAN ROBINSON interview with Siffre in 2015. Here are the finite details…

1. Somesay

2. Children Of Children

3. Entertainment Value

4. Odds And Ends

5. Prayer

6. Let's Pretend [Side 2]

7. Someday

8. If You Have Faith

9. For The Children

10. Give Love

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "For The Children" - released 1973 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28182 (no USA issue).

BONUS TRACK:

11. So What – first appeared on the June 2006 CD reissue – it’s a 4-act song that runs to 6:48 minutes

The original gatefold sleeve artwork makes up the first and last page on the booklet with the family snapshots collage that was the inside of the gatefold reproduced as the centre pages in the digipak. The CD itself is light blue in colour to reflect the original UK Pye Record label - a nice touch. There’s a photo of EMI Tape Boxes on Page 2 - while the interview from Pages 17 to 23 goes into some depth with the singer-songwriter about the album’s ruminations on the State Of The World in 1973. Personally I’ve always thought this album his lost masterpiece containing a level of song sophistication that even surpassed his more popular and well-known LP “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” from 1972.

Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract and the recording and release of his first album on Pye Records early in 1970 (Pye Records at that time was home to The Kinks and Status Quo). His style for the first 5 albums he did on Pye is more singer-songwriter than soulster, though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a ‘Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan’ vibe. Many were just Labi, Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor.

PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering has transferred the fabulous Audio remastering done by EMI in 2006 and the results are stupendous – each track beautifully clear, muscular and a real revelation.

SINGLES:

Two 45s were issued around the "For The Children" LP and using the “Labi Siffre” and “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” Edsel CD reissues – fans can sequence them as follows:

1. Give Love [10] b/w Last Night Tonight

UK released January 1973 on Pye International 7N.25602 (no US release)

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus track on the “Labi Siffre” CD

2. If You Have Faith [8] b/w Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye

UK released October 1973 on Pye International 7N.25629 (no US issue)

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus track on the “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” CD

All songs on "For The Children" are written by Siffre (including the extra track) and are uniformly excellent. Standouts would number the funky guitar strummer “Odds And Ends” (bass and pedal steel sound amazing). Side One ends with the gut-string acoustic ditty “Prayer” which lasts only two minutes but is truly lovely. Side 2 opens with the epic “Let’s Pretend” - nine and half minutes of building 12-string guitars - and it’s properly gorgeous. As the hopeful words float by - he sings of religious leaders dropping their rules - “…Let’s Pretend there’s a God of love…that he wants us to be…all of the good things we can be…let’s pretend…” It’s emotional stuff - passes the love test. The keyboard strut of the superb “For The Children” sounds amazing - full of punch and clever stereo tricks. But the album’s real masterpiece is the beautiful “If You Have Faith” - as lovely a song as the Seventies produced. Sure its sappy and maybe it’s even a tad naive in its beliefs - but it moves me to tears and more importantly has that rarest of qualities - it fills me with hope. The 4-act bonus track “So What” seems to be two songs run into one near seven-minute tune. “So What” comes first and feels like a recent recording - then about 2:27 minutes in - a separate “London Town” keyboard tune emerges (very 1975) - all of it keyboards. It’s very good.

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material - KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's “Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." track on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Siffre retired for a few years - but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem - and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

So there you have it. I can’t help but feel that songs like the inspirational and moving "If You Have Faith”, the Hey Jude epic quality of "Let's Pretend" and the Piano-Funk of “For The Children” have languished in obscurity for far too long. I've treasured this Labi Siffre album (along with his others) for years on vinyl - and to finally hear it given this kind of sound quality is a joy. A 70s gem that’s ripe for rediscovery methinks.

Well done to Edsel for getting these reissues out there once again and in such classy presentation too...

The 31 July 2015 EDSEL Expanded CD Remasters for Labi Siffre are:

1. Labi Siffre (1970)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155503932) with 6 Bonus Tracks

2. The Singer And The Song (1971)

Edsel EDSA 5040 (Barcode 740155504038) with 8 Bonus Tracks

3. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (1972)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504137) with 8 Bonus Tracks

4. For The Children (1973)

Edsel EDSA 5041 (Barcode 740155504236) with 1 Bonus Track

5. The Last Songs (1998)

Edsel EDSA 5043 (Barcode 740155504335) no bonus tracks

His 5th album "Remember My Song" from March 1975 on EMI was reissued on CD in 2006 but for some undisclosed reason is not included in this 2015 reissue campaign.

There was one last album in the Seventies for EMI called "Happy?" released in November 1975 and its 10-tracks are available on CD albeit in a round about way. The EMI CD compilation called "The Music Of Labi Siffre" contains all but one song of the "Remember My Song" album and the full "Happy?" album (see separate review) – so you acquire that budget-priced CD to get the guts of both albums at a reasonable cost.

The 14 new tunes of “The Last Songs” was recorded live on Tour in 1998 and released on CD that year. It was reissued in 2006 and is once again in this 2015 Edsel campaign (no bonus tracks). It’s beautifully recorded and songs like "Sparrow In The Storm" and "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre has lost none of his singer-songwriter magic...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series. E-Books giving advice on "Exceptional CD Remasters" in different genres. Check out SOUNDS GOOD: Classic 1970s Rock...available to buy on Amazon and many other download sites...