"Jo Jo Gunne/Bite Down Hard/Jumpin' The Gunne/So...Where's The Show?" by JO JO GUNNE [featuring Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes] (2011 Edsel/Rhino Reissue - 4 LPs onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Shake That Fat..."

Featuring Guitarist Jay Ferguson and Bassist Mark Andes of SPIRIT and taking their name from a Chuck Berry song on his 1959 Chess LP "Berry Is On Top"  - California's JO JO GUNNE blasted their way into Rock hearts around the world in the spring of 1972 with their stunning debut 45 on Asylum Records - "Run Run Run". The single hit No. 27 Stateside but rose to an impressive No. 6 in the UK in March 1972. And their self-titled debut album in its tasty gatefold sleeve complete with its swagger of good time Rock and Rock 'n' Roll has remained a firm fan fave ever since.

Asylum then released three further albums across the next few years that barely scraped the top 200 in the USA and all tanked in the UK (as did the second 45 “Shake That Fat”). Worse - the band seemed in many people’s eyes to get worse as the LPs went along - to a point where no one these days remembers the 1974 album “So...Where The Show?” nor cares. But that’s not to say there isn’t JO JO GUNNE worth getting onto your stereo. And that’s where this rather cool little British double CD set on Edsel comes in...

Using their longstanding relationship with Rhino of the USA (who had the WEA contract for the whole of the reissuing 90’s and into the 00’s) – Edsel have licensed that material and have done a fabulous job clunking together the whole JO JO GUNNE output onto this loaded 2CD reissue. And best of all it retains that wonderful Rhino remastered sound that was first achieved by long-time Audio heroes BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH back in the 00’s (two of Rhino’s top Engineers). Here are the Shake That Fat details...

UK released January 2012 - "Jo Jo Gunne/Bite Down Hard/Jumpin' The Gun/So...Where's The Show?" by JO JO GUNNE on Edsel EDSD 2114 (Barcode 740155211431) has 4 albums onto 2CDs and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (69:44 minutes):
1. Run Run Run
2. Shake That Fat
3. Babylon
4. I Make Love
5. Barstow Blue Eyes
6. 99 Days [Side 2]
7. Academy Award
8. Take It Easy
9. Flying Home
Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut LP "Jo Jo Gunne" – released February 1972 in the USA on Asylum Records SD 5053 and April 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8752.

The album produced two 45s:
Run Run Run b/w Take It Easy
March 1972 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11003
March 1972 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 501 with "Shake That Fat" as the B-side

Shake That Fat b/w I Make Love
September 1972 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11007
September 1972 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 507

10. Ready Freddy
11. Roll Over Me
12. 60 Minutes To Go
13. Rock Around The Symbol
14. Broken Down Man
15. Special Situations [Side 2]
16. Take Me Down Easy
17. Wait A Lifetime
18. Rhoda
Tracks 10 to 18 are their 2nd LP "Bite Down Hard" – released March 1973 on Asylum SD 5065 in the USA and Asylum SYL 9005 in the UK

The album produced two 45s:
Ready Freddy b/w Wait A Lifetime
June 1973 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11018
June 1973 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 518

Rock Around The Symbol b/w Take Me Down Easy
September 1973 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11020
September 1973 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 521

Disc 2 (73:47 minutes):
1. I Wanna Love You
2. To The Island
3. Red Meat
4. Getaway
5. Before You Get Your Breakfast
6. At The Spa [Side 2]
7. Monkey Music
8. Couldn't Love You Better
9. High School Drool
10. Neon City
11. Turn The Boy Loose
Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd album "Jumpin' The Gunne" – released December 1973 in the USA on Asylum SD 5071 and April 1974 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9015.

The LP produced one 45:
I Wanna Love You b/w Neon City
December 1973 USA 7” single on Asylum AS-11031
May 1974 UK 7” single on Asylum AYM 528

12. Where Is The Show
13. I’m Your Shoe
14. Single Man
15. She Said Alright
16. S & M Blvd. [Side 2]
17. Falling Angel
18. Big Busted Bombshell From Bermuda
19. Into My Life
20. Around The World
Tracks 12 to 20 are their 4th and last studio album "So...Where's The Show?" – released December 1974 in the USA on Asylum SD 1022 and January 1975 in the UK on Asylum SYL 9019

The album produced two 45s:
Where Is The Show? b/w Into My Life
December 1974 USA-only 7” single on Asylum E-45225

Big Busted Bombshell From Bermuda b/w I'm Your Shoe
March 1975 UK-only 7” single on Asylum AYM 539

The 18-page booklet with excellent ALAN ROBINSON liner notes pictures the artwork for all the albums, UK and US Asylum label repros and album credits. PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy has carried out the mastering (based on the Rhino remasters) and the audio throughout rocks – clear and full of punch without being trebled up to the nines for the sake of it or overly hissy.

For the debut album both Jay Ferguson on Keyboards and Lead Vocals and Bassist Mark Andes were ex SPIRIT – bringing on board Mark’s brother Matthew Andes on second guitar with Curley Smith on Drums. Mark left for the 2nd LP “Bite Down Hard” and was replaced by Jimmie Randall on Bass and Vocals (that same line-up features on album 3). Matthew Andes left for the final LP “So...Where’s The Show?” to be replaced by John Staehely on Guitars and Vocals with Ferguson, Randall and Smith still at the helm.

The debut still has most people’s hearts opening with that killer song “Run Run Run” which still sounds amazing to this day. “Shake That Fat” was originally the B-side in the UK-only to “Run Run Run” (they used “Take It Easy” in the USA – it’s not an Eagles song but a Ferguson/Andes original) – but “Shake That Fats” was good rather than being great and tanked as second 45. “Babylon” is a great melodic Rock tune and might have been a better choice for 2nd single - or even the rocking “I Make Love” with its cool Joe Walsh’s James Gang feel to the guitars. Barroom boogie comes in the shape of “Barstow Blue Eyes” - a song about a tired waitress living for the freedom of the weekend after work. Side 2 opens with the piano and guitar “99 Days” followed by naughty ladies in the rather menacing “Academy Award”. Things slow down and get slightly Bluesy with “Take It Easy” while it ends on the almost Skynyrd “Flying Home” – a Rock ballad Jay Ferguson should be proud of.

The 2nd LP opens with the Foghat boogie of “Ready Freddy” which already feels like it’s trying too hard while “Roll Over Me” introduces synths to the Rock mix. It’s easy to hear why the bopping “Rock Around The Symbol” was chosen as a single – a good time Rock single with Radio potential. But one of the album’s better pieces is “Take Me Down Easy” while “Broken Down Man” goes after that Foghat audience again. But “Wait A Lifetime” and “Rhoda” feel tired and out of ideas...

Both the openers “I Wanna Love You” and “The Island” on “Jumpin’ The Gunne” are better than most tracks on the decidedly disappointing “Bite Down Hard LP” - but it seemed with an American LP placing somewhere around 170 on the Rock charts – the public wasn’t interested anymore. Things continue a-boogie with “Red Meat” and “Getaway” while the band tries a bit of Montrose funk with “High School Drool”. The Production on “Turn The Boy Loose” is wicked and those guitars Rock. By the time album number four rolled in Jo Jo Gunne had begun to sound like a brother to Aerosmith with the ‘rawk’ of “I’m Your Shoe” and the pleasing riffage of “S & M Blvd.”. They tried the slide guitar of “Big Busted Bombshell From Bermuda” as a single but its rather naff title probably kept it off the airwaves despite its wicked combo of guitar and piano boogie...

It’s not all genius by any means and Ferguson never had the greatest of voices – but lovers of Foghat and Aerosmith should definitely check out those forgotten 2nd, 3rd and 4th LPs...

"Meridian 1970: Protest, Sorrow, Hobos, Folk And Blues - Compiled by JON SAVAGE" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2005 Forever Heavenly CD Compilation) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 480 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands and Thousands of E-Pages 

All Details and In-depth Reviews From The Discs

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

"…Warm Embraces I Have Found…”

In an overcrowded and weary marketplace - the VARIOUS ARTISTS CD compilation has slowly become something of an unloved and unwanted beast - and to look at “Meridian 1970” you really wouldn’t think very much of it either and be tempted to pass it by...

It doesn’t have a great sleeve to start with - and the track list on the rear is full of names you barely even know - and what’s this stuff in the subtitle about “Protest, Sorrow, Hobos, Folk And Blues”! Even the liner notes are made up entirely of crumpled pages from 4 rock music insiders who put together a compilation of their favourite childhood tracks and then described each in barely legible hand-written pages (complete with coffee stains). And who is this Jon Savage geezer anyway?

But then you play it – and man does it so work. It’s genius – it really is.

"Meridian 1970: Protest, Sorrow, Hobos, Folk And Blues - Compiled By JON SAVAGE" by VARIOUS ARTISTS was released in February 2005 in the UK on Forever Heavenly FHVN2LP CD (through EMI) and its 20 tracks run to 78:23 minutes...

1. Mouthful Of Grass - Free
2. Nobody - The Doobie Brothers
3. Industrial Military Complex Hex - The Steve Miller Band
4. Hamburger Midnight - Little Feat
5. Catch The Man On The Rise - Sir Douglas Quintet
6. 3.10 Smokey Thursday - Danny O'Keefe
7. Message From The Country - The Move
8. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave - Dave Mason
9. Three Hours - Nick Drake
10. One Night Wonder - Meic Stevens
11. Man Of Constant Sorrow - Rod Stewart
12. Cripple Creek - Skip Spence
13. Tulsa County - The Byrds
14. Biloxi - Jesse Winchester
15. Song Of The Wandering Aengus - Donovan
16. Good Shepherd - Jefferson Airplane
17. Black Uncle Remus - Loudon Wainwright III
18. Hear The Wind Howl - Leo Kottke
19. The Moonstone - Tommy Flanders
20. Ashes The Rain And I - The James Gang

So why does it work? The song choices are brilliant and follow each other magnificently. There’s also the journey into the off-the-beaten track – discoveries that are exactly that – discoveries. Opening with the wonderfully soulful instrumental “Mouthful Of Grass” (the original B-side to Free’s “All Right Now” from May 1970 on Island), the emphasis is very much on ‘good’ songwriting and not just obscurities for the sake of it. 

And the mixture of American acts with British artists is sweet too – The Move perfectly follow Danny O’Keefe, while the funk of Little Feat and the jangling melody of The Byrds lift the pace when needed. The guitar-driven rock of Sir Douglas Quinter on Track 5 matches the 12-string instrumental of Leo Kottke later on Track 18 - but in different ways.

You could of course argue endlessly about the song choices (I wouldn’t have used that Donovan track), but mostly it’s all good. There’s beautiful stuff on here too - ex Blues Project Tommy Sanders released his lone album in early 1970 on Verve and it sank without a trace – unfair – especially considering just how good “The Moonstone” is (lyrics above). Ending with the moody string-filled gem “Ashes, The Rain And I” by The James Gang (featuring Joe Walsh) is a superb choice too.

Given the varying sources and production values, the sound quality wavers between good only (Meic Stevens) to superb (The Doobie Brothers, Nick Drake, Dave Mason and Leo Kottke).

It may seem silly to say this, but getting a compilation like this ‘right’ is far more difficult than you would imagine – and as a voracious compilation maker myself - I was more than impressed when I only recently stumbled upon this unassuming little gem.

Do yourself a favour and spend a fiver on “Meridian 1970” – and enjoy the journey these 4 guys began over 40 years ago – and are still geed-up about to this day.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS: I’ve listed below a suggested follow up compilation “Meridian 1971” – I’d welcome suggestions – it took me 30 tries!

MERIDIAN 1971

A suggested follow up compilation to Jon Savage’s CD “Meridian 1970”

A Compilation of Tracks From Not-So-Well-Known 1971 LPs

Posted 5 May 2010 – 20 Tracks, 75:47 minutes

1. Old, Old Woodstock - VAN MORRISON
(From the album “Tupelo Honey”
November 1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 460114)

2. It Ain’t Easy - JOHN BALDRY [aka Long John Baldry]
[Features MAGGIE BELL of STONE THE CROWS on Duet Vocals with RON WOOD of THE ROLLING STONES on Guitar; Produced by ROD STEWART]
(From the album “It Ain’t Easy”
June 1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46088)

3. Really Wanted You - EMITT RHODES
(From the album “Mirror”
December 1971 UK LP on Probe SPBA 6262)

4. Born Under A Bad Sign - RITA COOLIDGE
[Written by Booker T Jones and William Bell, covered by Albert King & Cream]
(From her debut album “Rita Coolidge”
1971 UK LP on A&M Records AMLS 2015)

5. Walk To The Point – DAVE MASON and CASS ELLIOTT
[From the album “Dave Mason and Cass Elliott”
May 1971 UK LP Probe Records SPBA 6259)

6. Are You Leaving For The Country – KAREN DALTON
[From the album “In My Own Time”
1971 USA-only LP on Just Sunshine Records PAS 6008)

7. A Hundred Mountains – JACKIE LOMAX [features Bryn Haworth on Guitar]
(From the album “Home Is In My Head”
1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46091)

8. Anymore - BOB LIND
(From the album “Since There Were Circles”
1971 USA LP on Capitol ST-780)

9. Gu Gu Gu – TUCKY BUZZARD
(From the album “Tucky Buzzard”
1971 USA LP on Capitol ST-787)

10. Mr. Skin – SPIRIT
(From the album “The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus”
1971 UK LP on Epic Records S EPC 64191)

11. Dawn Of Another Day – BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS
(From the album “A Better Day”
1971 UK LP on Polydor 2383 062)

12. Midnight – THREE MAN ARMY [featuring Adrian Curtis on Guitar]
(From the album “Third Of A Lifetime”
1971 UK LP on Pegasus PEG 3)

13. If I Laugh – CAT STEVENS
(From the album “Teaser And The Firecat”
September 1971 UK LP on Island Records ILPS 9154)

14. Back Down The River - JOHN MARTYN
(From the album “Bless The Weather”
November 1971 UK LP on Island ILPS 9167)

15. Black Woman (The Wild Ox Moan) – ALEXIS KORNER
[Acapella version of a Blues song sung in the 1930’s by Vera Hall Ward]
(From the album “Alexis”
1971 UK LP on Rak Records SRAK 501)

16. Change – TONY JOE WHITE
(From the album “Tony Joe White”
1971 UK LP on Warner Brothers K 46068)

17. Better Days – GRAHAM NASH [feat Neil Young [credited as Joe Yankee] on Piano with Rita Coolidge and Dallas Taylor on Backing Vocals]
(From the album “Songs For Beginners”
June 1971 UK LP on Atlantic 2401 011)

18. Orleans – DAVID CROSBY
(From the album “If I Could Only Remember My Name”
February 1971 UK LP on Atlantic Records 2401 005)

19. Love Ain’t For Keeping – THE WHO
(From the album “Who’s Next”
August 1971 UK LP on Polydor 2408 102)

20. Moonlight Mile – THE ROLLING STONES
(From the album “Sticky Fingers”
April 1971 UK LP on Rolling Stones Records COC 59100)

"It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best" by KAREN DALTON (2006 Megaphone CD/DVD Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…As I Hoped It Would Be…"

American Folk/Blues Singer KAREN DALTON (a Texas born part-Cherokee woman) only recorded 2 LPs in her tragically short but eventful life (she died aged 56 in 1993) – "It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best" in 1969 on Capitol ST-271 and her follow up album "It's My Own Time" in 1971 on Just Sunshine Records PAS 6008. The 2nd LP actually received a UK release in May 1971 on Paramount Records SPFL 271 but is incredibly rare - listed in Guides at £50+ (if you can find a copy). Neither album produced 7" singles...

A sensitive soul - apparently she abhorred recording but was just too good to be left alone. Encouraged by other musicians who knew someone talented and unique when they saw and heard it - Dalton may have been terrified of the pressure - but the recording equipment loved what it was taping. Why? Dalton had the most extraordinary voice - a croaking gravely thing - sort of Janis Joplin meets Mary Coughlin meets Madeleine Peyroux with the ghost of Billie Holiday lingering in the background somewhere. Like a female Leon Redbone – she was the kind of woman who sounded like she gargled gravel for breakfast with a side order of sandpaper. Dalton was name-checked and rated by Dylan, Fred Neil and Tim Hardin no less (Dylan gigged with her). When she sang it felt like her vocals chords were about to croak into submission at any second - but that deep guttural well also lent a sort of pleading tenderness to her phrasing – a very touching singing weapon when she got her aching chords around a good song. And that’s where this superb twofer comes in…

USA released in July 2006 (licensed from Capitol Records) - "It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best" by KAREN DALTON on Megaphone CD MEGA 10 (Barcode 0666017138824) is a CD and DVD reissue in a card digipak.

1. Little Bit Of Rain

2. Sweet Substitute

3. Ribbon Bow

4. I Love You More Than Words Can Say

5. In The Evening (It's So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best)

6. Blues On The Ceiling [Side 2]

7. It Hurst Me Too

8. How Did The Feeling Feel To You

9. Right, Wrong Or Ready

10. Down On The Street (Don’t You Follow Me Down)

DVD:

1. God Bless The Child

2. It Hurts Me Too

3. Little Bit Of Rain

4. Blues Jumped The Rabbit

The eagle-eyed will have noticed two Fred Neil covers – "Blues On The Ceiling" and the LP opener "Little Bit Of Rain" - both from his magnificent "Bleecker And MacDougal" album of 1965 on Elektra Records. Neil's writing style and deep-as-an-ocean vocals suited Dalton and she makes both of his songs her own (Neil even commented later that if he was asked who wrote the song "Blues On The Ceiling" - he would say she did).

Another great example of her re-working material by other people is Tim Hardin's "While You're On Your Way" (on his "Tim Hardin 2" album from 1966 on Verve) which she calls "How Did The Feeling Feel To You" on this album. It's as lovely as Sixties Folk gets – her voice - the lilting softly strummed acoustic accompaniment – what a fabulous song (lyrics from it title this review). I often put into a CD shuffle play at work and it always brings customers to the counter asking - "Who's this!"

Not surprisingly she gets Bluesy on several cuts - Jelly Roll Morton’s "Sweet Substitute" has the acoustic Steel Guitar of Dan Hankin and the warm Bass of Harvey Brooks sound utterly gorgeous in the Transfer and Remaster. The Traditional "Ribbon Bow" is arranged by her and feels like a Joni Mitchell love song the great Canadian would be proud of. Written by Eddie Floyd and Booker T Jones (of The MG’s) for Otis Redding - Karen takes it down real slow for her version of "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" which again has that lovely sloppiness she exuded sounding like she's drunk with her acoustic guitar on a barstool at 2 a.m. in some local dive. The Tampa Red and Elmore James classic "It Hurts Me Too" is again tamed - lurching  along a Bluesy Acoustic towpath one sunny morning.

Like Judee Sill on Asylum Records in 1972 (see my review for "Abracadabra: The Asylum Years" 2CD set on Rhino) - Dalton was a romantic and emotionally exposed on songs like the title cut that ends Side 1 (her twelve-string playing on this is so sweet). Major Wiley penned "Right, Wrong Or Ready" which has an uplifting lilt like 70's Labi Siffre or 60's Nilsson. It ends on Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter's "Down On The Street" where the guitars (acoustic and electric) soft shuffle against each other (what a vocal too)…

The rough and tumble near 30-minute DVD is more a home movie that a bunch of song promos. Utterly fascinating - you stare at her as she plays her songs and when she opens her mouth - you still can’t believe what comes out. What a find and it only adds icing to an already very tasty cake.

“It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You Best” is a Sunday-morning coming down kind of album - lazy, soft on the mind, easy on the ear, languishing in the background as you mop up the dirty dishes in the sink from the night before as she sings “…Never get out of these Blues alive…” And you’re thinking - damn - she’s probably right…

Dalton was rescued from the streets in the early months of 1993 by Boston Folk-Singer Peter Walker where she'd been apparently living homeless with allegedly drug-related Aids. He was with her when she died a few months later... 

Unsung heroes and heroines - albums you need in your home - effortlessly cool - take your pick. And the kicker is that the 2nd LP "In My Own Time" from 1971 was even better. Be with the angels kid...

"Georgie Does His Thing With Strings/Knock On Wood E.P./The CBS A's & B's" by GEORGIE FAME (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Love Will Be New Again..."

This is a bizarre one and in truth it's a very mixed bag musically. Firstly you certainly can't accuse this BGO reissue of not being generous. You get 37 remastered tracks across 2CDs - one whole LP – one four-track EP – and a second CD of 21 cuts with the A's & B's of 12 x 7" Singles (8 UK, 4 USA). But fans of Georgie Fame’s superb Mod period will be looking at this BGO 2CD set and scratching their heads because straight away they will see that the LP and the 45s differ wildly in styles (the good, the bad and the ugly). Some explanation is necessary...

The "Georgie Does His Thing With Strings" album is an Easy Listening smoocher album that came out in late 1969 on CBS Records in the UK (no US equivalent) and is one million years removed from his more hip and happening Sixties material. In the vein of Nat "King" Cole – our Leigh Powell (his real name) takes his considerable British voice and does oldies with a full String Orchestra. It’s nice in places (first time on CD too) if you like that sort of thing (and I do) – but for fans of this great R 'n' B singer it's awful hammy derivative stuff and even cringing in places. It is not something they will want on their turntable ever...

Worse – the rear card slipcase and Page 2 of the 16-page booklet clearly indicate - "Due to the original masters being unavailable, some tracks have been dubbed from disc..." Such is the case for the 'whole' 12-track album (and Tracks 9 and 18 to 21 on CD2). Dated girly cover artwork aside - the sonic results for the Stereo LP of "Georgie Does His Thing With Strings" are both weirdly superb and compromised. You can hear the orchestra clearly and the separation is nicely done - but every vocal has an audable crackle on the edge of it – like a needle ever so slightly damaged as it plays (Audio Enginner ANDREW THOMPSON has done his best here). The transfer is very clean for sure - but it is dubbed from discs and fans should know this and be prepared for less Audio than you usually get from BGO. But all that unfortunately that doesn’t stop the LP from being utterly naff. Thank God for the EP and Disc 2. Here are the full details...

UK released August 2015 – "Georgie Does His Thing With Strings/Knock On Wood E.P./The CBS A's & B's" by GEORGIE FAME on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1194 (Barcode 5017261211941) is a 2CD set in a card slipcase and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (49:44 minutes):
1. And I Love Her
2. Maybe In The Spring Again
3. In The Wee Small Hours
4. What's New?
5. Woe Is Me
6. A House Is Not A Home
7. This Guy's In Love With You [Side 2]
8. Girl Talk
9. Who's Kissing You Blues
10. Everything Happens To You
11. Guess Who I Saw Today
12. Need Your Love So Bad
Tracks 1 to 12 are the Stereo LP "Georgie Does His Thing With Strings" released 1969 in the UK on CBS Records S 63650

KNOCK ON WOOD E.P.
13. Knock On Wood
14. All I'm Asking
15. Didn't Want To Have To Do It
16. Close The Door
Tracks 13 to 16 are the 4-track "Knock On Wood E.P." released June 1967 in the UK on CBS Records EP 6363

Disc 2 – THE CBS A's & B's (60:42 minutes):
1. Because I Love You
2. Bidin' My Time ('Cos I Love You) (Tracks 1 & 2 are the A&B-sides of a March 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 202587)
3. Try My World
4. No Thanks (Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a August 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2945)
5. The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde
6. Beware Of The Dog (Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a December 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3124)
7. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
8. For Your Pleasure (Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a May 1968 UK 7” single on CBS Records 3526)
9. Kentucky Child (Track 9 is the B-side of "Hideaway" - a 1968 USA 7” single on Epic 5-10347)
10. Peaceful
11. Hideaway (Tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a June 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 4295)
12. Someone To Watch Over Me
13. Down Along The Cove
14. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of a USA-Only 1968 7" single on Epic 5-10477)
15. Seventh Son
16. Fully Booked (Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of a November 1969 UK 7" single on CBS 4569)
17. Somebody Stole My Thunder
18. Entertaining Mr. Sloane (Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of May 1970 UK 7" single on CBS 5035)
19. Fire And Rain
20. Someday Man (Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B-sides of an August 1970 UK single on CBS 5131)
21. The Movie Star Song (B-side of "Fire And Rain" - a 1970 USA 7" single on Epic 1-10640)

On to the good news front - the 60ts R 'n' B punch of the "Knock On Wood E.P." (in Mono) which makes up Tracks 13 to 16 on Disc 1 is great. He does a tasty version of Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood", Joe Tex's "Close The Door" and a very sweet take on The Lovin' Spoonful's "Didn't Want To Have To Do It". The superb "All I'm Asking" is one of his own compositions (the sleeve is pictured in the booklet - along with a lovely colour collage on the last page of 16 singles from around the World - great Charles Waring liner notes too).

Disc 2 is a mixture of the sublime and the ordinary. The wickedly groovy B-side "No Thanks" is a perfect example of the upside – you can just smell the talcum powder and see those bodies jumping in some British club somewhere – a great Mod dancer (written by him and Tony Colton later of Heads, Hands & Feet). The wicked instrumental “Beware The Dog” on the flip of his big hit “The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde” is very Booker T & The MG’s with cool Organ sounds punctuated by Funky Brass fills (what a winner). But his slow take on Jimmy Webb’s “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” is a reminder of the cheesy Strings Album – better is the Bluesy B-side “For Your Pleasure” where he goes all Ray Charles on his piano (one of his best compositions featured here great Audio).

Things take a major nosedive when he does a truly dire version of the old standard "Someone To Watch Over Me" in a spoken cod Yorkshire accent where he sounds like William Shatner reciting "Lucy In The Sky In Diamonds" on his unintentionally hilarious "Transformed Man" LP from 1967. Thankfully the pace and Tom Jones Funk picks up on the American rarity "Down Along The Cove". Mod fans have loved "Seventh Son" since its Funky dancer release in 1969 b/w the equally cool "Fully Booked" where a Go-Go city smoothie rattles off his list of girlfriend's names with a little too much glee. A huge draw for fans (and lovers of fuzz guitar) will be Georgie's kicking "Somebody Stole My Thunder" single that regularly sells for in excess of £100 on the Northern Soul and Mod scenes. The Bacharach style B-side of "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" is another fan fave but fans should note that the dubbed-45 certainly shows its age (the Audio is good rather than great). And on it goes to the mellow cover of James Taylor's "Fire And Rain" as the 70s push aside the 60s...

So there you have it - a not-so-great LP - a sexy Soulful EP - and mostly good to great Single Sides on Disc 2. Obviously the EP and that second disc of 45s save this reissue. 

"Yeh Yeh..." as the man would say...

"Sweet Things From The Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace Records CD – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...He Smiled At Me And The Music Started Playing..."

Volume 3 of 3 for American Brill Building songwriters ELLIE GREENWICH and JEFF BARRY gives us a wad of Girl Group bubblegum symphonies about explosive kissing and falling headlong for dodgy Leaders of the Pack on unreliable motorbikes.

Volume 1 in the superbly annotated series is called "Doo-Wah-Diddy: Words And Music..." and came out September 2008 on Ace CDHD 1203 - while Volume 2 "Da Do Ron Ron: More From..." on Ace CDCHD 1340 hit the shelves in April 2012. 

This latest 24-track compilation (2015) stretches from 1963 to 1978 (almost all from the 60's) and includes two tracks recorded in the mid-Sixties but not released until 1976 and 1987. Unfortunately the overall listen is not all sweetness and light. Time to whisper sweet things (and some details) in your ear...

UK released 27 April 2015 (May 2015 in the USA) - "Sweet Things From The Ellie Greenwich And Jeff Barry Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1434 (Barcode 029667070621) breaks down as follows (66:07 minutes):

1. Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart? - BOB B. SOXX & THE BLUE JEANS (USA 7" single on Philles 110, A)

2. He's Got The Power - THE EXCITERS (USA 7" single on United Artists UA 572, A)

3. Friday - JAY & THE AMERICANS (1964 USA 7" single on United Artists UA 693, A)

4. (Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry - DARLENE LOVE (USA 7" single on Philles 111, A)

5. Then He Kissed Me - THE CRYSTALS (1963 USA 7" single on Philles 115, A)

6. Dance Marie - VIC DONNA (1964 USA 7" single on Tiger TI 106, A)

7. Another Boy Like Mine - THE RAINDROPS (1964 USA 7" single on Jubilee 45-5487, A)

8. Little Bell - THE DIXIE CUPS (1964 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-017, A)

9. Whisper Sweet Things - THE JELLY BEANS (a 1964 Red Bird Recording that first appeared on the UK 2LP set "The Red Bird Story Vol.2" in 1987 on Charly CDX 19)

10. Leader Of The Pack  (1964 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-014, A)

11. Gee Baby Gee (1964 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-016, A)

12. What's A Girl Supposed To Do - LESLEY GORE (on the 1965 USA LP "My Town, My Guy & Me" on Mercury SR 61042)

13. Heaven Only Knows - THE SHANGRI-LAS (1965 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-030, A)

14. You Don't Know - ELLIE GREENWICH (1965 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-034, A)

15. Our Love Can Still Be Saved - JEFF BARRY (1965 USA 7" single on Red Bird RB 10-026, A)

16. I'm Nobody's Baby Now - REPARTA & THE DELRONS (1966 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-8820, A)

17. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine - THE RONETTES (a 1966 Philles Recording first issued in 1976 on in the UK on the album "Rare Masters 2" on Phil Spector International 2307 009)

18. Spring Fever - TONY PASS (1966 USA 7" single on Atco 45-6421, A)

19. Honey Do - THE STRANGELOVES (1968 USA 7" single on Sire 4102, A)

20. Am I Grooving You - FREDDIE SCOTT (1967 USA 7" single on Shout 212, A)

21. Sugar, Sugar - WILSON PICKETT (1970 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2722, A)

22. What Good Is Love To You - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (1971 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2722, A)

23. Be My Baby - ANDY KIM (1970 USA 7" single on Steed 729, A)

24. Baby, Let's Stick Together - THE PALEY BROTHERS (1978 Sire Recording first released in 2013 on the US CD "The Complete Recordings" on Real Gone Music RGM-0182)

The 20-page booklet is jammed with label repro's, album sleeves, publicity photos - the usual superlative presentation from Ace with very upbeat liner notes on each song and artist by noted writer MICK PATRICK. Longstanding Engineer DUNCAN POWELL has done the masters and given the notorious density of the Phil Spector Productions - Cowell does well to give them oomph. The others vary from great to really good.

The music for me is a very mixed bag. Tracks 1 to 17 are pure Girl Group melodrama with classics like "Then he Kissed Me" and "Leader Of The Pack" which still pack a wallop - but after a while subpar crud like "Dance With Me" by Vic Donna and all that silly Sixties angst starts to grate real fast. The upbeat pure Sixties Pop of "Spring Fever" by Tony Pass and "Honey Do" by The Strangeloves are completely at odds with the Girl Group stuff that dominated for 17 tracks before. Then we get the CD's really odd moment (but what a welcome change) - the Funky Soul groove of "Am I Grooving You" by Freddie Scott where he comes on like's just drunk a pink glass of Wilson Pickett DNA. Speaking of Pickett - his cover of the Archie's smash "Sugar Sugar" is saccharine Soul at best (even if it did chart well) and probably not his greatest moment. Worse comes in the shape of Andy Kim's cruddy version of "Be My Baby" and the awful pop of The Paley Brothers ends the disc on a bit of a downer. The Dusty track is lovely though.

Not the greatest CD in Ace's cannon and that's for sure - and for collector's who already own Red Bird stuff and any Phil Spector compilations - a waste of their money. But if you've a penchant for Girl Groups and some Sixties Spector-like melodrama - and given the great sound and presentation - then investigate further...

"Keep A Hold On Him! More Garpax Girls" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Shoes And Rice And Paradise..."

In May 2004 Ace Records of the UK released their first CD dealing with Producer GARY S PAXTON and his plethora of Sixties Girl Groups on his Garpax Label (none of which charted) – it was called "Boy Trouble: Garpax Girls" (Ace CDCHD 1005). Eleven years later we now get "Keep A Hold On Him: More Garpax Girls" – a second volume concentrating on his earlier 1960-1964 recordings – most with an R&B slant.

Of the 24 tracks offered – six are Previously Unreleased Garpax Records (2 Demos) and 5 others are Alternate Takes (some in Stereo) while the rest make up uber-rare American 45s. More famous for one-off novelty records like "Alley Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles and "Monster Mash" by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers (don’t you just love that name) – Paxton had also produced a young Thelma Houston on secular albums she made with Capitol Records. What we get here is more akin however to West Coast 60ts R&B – and typically – Ace have uncovered some gems and interviewed a bunch of the Sixties Femmes involved – clearing up recording mysteries of decades. Here are the lucky ladies...

UK released May 2015 (June 2015 in the USA) – "Keep A Hold On Him: More Garpax Girls" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1442 (Barcode 029667072120) is a 24-track CD compilation and pans out as follows (55:08 minutes):

1. Just A Little Bit More – THE IDOLS (1961 USA 7” single on Reveille M-1002, Reissued Dot 16210, A)

2. Losing Control – MARY SAXTON (1966 Canadian 7” single on Pace 18-1166, A)

3. Keep A Hold On Him – BEATRICE LEE (1962 USA 7” single on Kent 385, A)

4. It Feels So Good – GRANT & APRIL [Grant Taylor and April Lynn] (2015 Alternate Mix of a 1964 USA 7” single on Dee Dee 1013)

5. I Was The Lonely One – DORIS WEBB (1962 USA 7” single on Star-Burst 121, A)

6. Day Dreamin’ Of You – THE FASHIONETTES (Stereo Mix of 1964 USA 7” single on GNP Crescendo GNP 322, A)

7. Little Girl With A Big Hurt – BEVERLY WILLIAMS (Previously Unissued Garpax Recording, 2015)

8. It Just Ain’t Right – LINDA MACKEY (Alternate Mix of Dot 16625)

9. He’s Not Mine Anymore – JOSEPHINE SUNDAY (1964 USA 7” single on Pinnacle 1722)

10.  You Know You Lied – DOROTHY BERRY & THE SWANS (1961 USA 7” single on Vanco V-101)

11. It Kinda Picks Me Up – TANYA MARIE (Previously Unissued Garpax Recording, 2015)

12. Only Love – THE FASHIONETTES (Stereo Mix of 1964 USA 7” single on GNP Crescendo GNP 322, B)

13. A Tear – MARY SAXTON (Alternate Mix of a track on the Canadian LP "Sad Eyes" on Birchmount BM 511)

14. Operator Operator – BEATRICE LEE (Previously Unissued Garpax Recording, 2015)

15. Merry Go Round – LINDA MACKEY (2015 Alternate Mix of a 1964 USA 7” single on Dot 16625)

16. Yosemite Sam – JUDY & THE JADES (1963 USA 7” single on Star-Burst 58-124)

17. Shoes And Rice And Paradise – THE REV-LONS (Previously Unreleased Demo Recording, 2015)

18. I Won’t Be Hurt Anymore – JOSEPHINE SUNDAY (1964 USA 7” single on Pinnacle 1722)

19. It’s A Lonely World – MARY SAXTON (Alternate Mix of a track on the Canadian LP "Sad Eyes" on Birchmount BM 511)

20. Help Me – BEATRICE LEE (1962 USA 7” single on Kent 385)

21. Reap What You Sow – LINDA MACKEY (Previously Unissued Garpax Recording, 2015)

22. Please Write Me A Letter – CHRIS DARLIN (1960 USA 7” single on Dore 578)

23. Why Must I Cry – THE IDOLS (1961 USA 7” single on Reveille M-1002, Reissued Dot 16210, B)

24. He’s Hurtin’ Me – BEVERLY WILLIAMS (Previously Unissued Garpax Recording, 2015)

NOTES:

All tracks are MONO except 6, 7 and 12 which are STEREO

Tracks 4, 8, 13, 15 and 19 are 'Alternate Versions' - Tracks 7, 11, 14, 17, 21 and 24 are Previously Unissued Recordings (17 and 24 are Demos)

The 16-page booklet has recollections from Beatrice Lee, Beverly Williams, Dorothy Berry, Linda Mackey and Rachel Hernandez (of The Rev-Lons) – so the facts and personal details come thick, fast and interesting. Inbetween the typically affectionate ALEC PALAO liner notes are personal photos – studio photos of Gary S Paxton with Beverly Williams and a cool 1970 picture sleeve of Linda Mackey holding a submachine gun for the reissue sleeve of "Yours For The Asking". There’s 45s for Star-Burst, Pinnacle and Dee Dee Records as well as a newspaper clipping for Chris Darlin aged 18 looking pucker as she waves her court-ruling document on a singing contract. The remasters are by NICK ROBBINS and all sound great – even the lo-fi demos – which are included I suspect because of the sheer feel.

The compilation is a strange mix of Soul and Girl Groups and for the most part it works well. It opens strongly – both sides of THE IDOLS are crackers especially "Why Must I Cry". Northern Soul hounds will no doubt have noticed with a bit of sweaty-palm excitement the fabulous driving grooves of Mary Saxton's "Losing Control" where the lady sounds like Tina Turner on the verge of a vocal breakdown. It's a fabulous dancer written by Gary Paxton and his wife Jan and I can’t imagine how much money the original Canadian 45 goes for amongst aficionados. Her second cut on here "A Tear" is more akin to Dusty Springfield and is good rather than being great. Linda Mackey was a high-school majorette possessed of a natural set of pipes – so much so that Ike Turner once propositioned her mum for hours on the phone to join Tina, him and The Ikettes on the road - but Linda was underage at the time and mummy wisely said no. Both of Mackey’s cuts on here “It Just Ain’t Right” and “Merry Go Round” have a 'Northern Soul discovery' feeling about them.

Another Motown-ish bopper is "Operator Operator" by Beatrice Lee who provides two lovely photos for the booklet of her younger self in 1962 and 1965. A talent-show winner at age 12 – she packs a vocal punch too. Pure theatrics kick in with "Yosemite Sam" complete with opening gunshots while Judy and The Jades tell us about the wild-west rip-roaring man of their dreams. Innocence profound and pure Girl Group listening pleasure shows up in the form of a lovely demo of "Shoes And Rice And Paradise" by The Rev-Lons (genre collectors will love this). Continuing the pretty is the sweet voice of Josephine Sunday in the pleader "I Won't Be Hurt Anymore" – a genre classic that mixes some male vocal group backing with lady spoken lyrics (very nice indeed). Mary Saxton gets a fantastic second outing in the Motown-ish "It's A Lonely World" – an alternate version that sounds fresh and cool. Beatrice Lee's "Help Me" is more early Soul than Girl Group and again you feel a Kent CD compilation beckons. It ends on a revealing demo of "He's Hurtin' Me" by Beverly Williams – it’s just her voice and a guitar and it’s amazingly touching – raw and real. A nice way to go out...

I don’t think its all genius but there’s enough for both Girl Group and 60ts R&B Soul hunters to devour. Another winner from Ace...