"Original Album Series" by DAVE EDMUNDS [including LOVE SCULPTURE] (September 2015 UK Parlophone/Warners/Swan Song 5CD Capacity Wallet Set with Five Mini LP Repro Artwork Sleeves and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 339 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Here Comes The Weekend..."

It feels like I've been waiting for this mini box set peach-a-rooney for years. There's something about Dave Edmunds Rock 'n' Roll fixation throughout the whole of the Seventies that I've always loved. He rocked and his records were fun listens too. But what's perhaps forgotten is that his LPs mixed in his 50ts and 60ts obsessions with the New Wave songwriting genius of Rockpile's Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner - not to mention the acidic tongues of Elvis Costello and Graham Parker. The result is albums - that although retro in feel - are also contemporary. 

Oddly though - availability has always been an issue. Outside of Rhino's superb 1993 2CD "Anthology" career-overview – Remasters of his primo full-album catalogue have remained off the general CD availability radar until now. Well – here at last – is a salty 5CD set to sort my DE needs right out – and it’s a humdinger too. Here are the 'Twangin' details...

UK released September 2015 – "Original Album Series" by DAVE EDMUNDS (including LOVE SCULPTURE) on Parlophone/Warners/Swan Song 0081227952006 (Barcode same number) is a 5CD Mini Box Set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (41:03 minutes):

1. In The Land Of The Few [Dave Edmunds, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

2. Seagull [Paul Korda cover]

3. Nobody’s Talking [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

4. Why (How-Now) [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

5. Farandole (L’Arlesienne) [George Bizet, classical cover]

6. You Can’t Catch Me [Chuck Berry cover] - [Side 2]

7. People, People [Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker song]

8. Sabre Dance [Aram Khatchaturian cover, Russian composer]

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 2nd studio album "Forms And Feelings" by LOVE SCULPTURE (featuring Dave Edmunds) – released February 1970 in the UK on Parlophone PCS 7090 and in the USA on London/Parrot PAS 71035.

The second and last LOVE SCULPTURE album "Forms And Feelings" is the EMI Remaster that came out in a natty card digipak in 1999 – minus any bonus material. I say this because fans will know that "Forms And Feelings" was originally released in Britain as an 8-track LP - but American 9-track copies on Parrot Records had an extra song – a two-minute cover of "Mars" by Holst slipped inbetween "People, People" and "Sabre Dance" on Side 2. Unfortunately this CD reissue sticks to the strict British LP configuration. Also there were as many as 6 x 7" single MONO mixes and Edits around the LP in the UK on Parlophone Records ("Sabre Dance" and "Farandole" were edited for 45 – that kind of thing). If you want to get the lot (including the missing "Mars" track) – buy the superb Esoteric Recordings Expanded CD from 2008 (Esoteric Recordings are a part of Cherry Red of the UK – Catalogue Number ECCLEC 2016). It's a Ben Wiseman Remaster from original first generation master tapes and can be found on Amazon at Barcode 5013929711624 (just cut and paste that number and it will give you the right issue).

Disc 2 (31:44 minutes):

1. Get Out Of Denver [Bob Seger cover]

2. I Knew The Bride [Nick Lowe cover]

3. Back To School Days [Graham Parker cover]

4. Here Comes The Weekend [Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe song]

5. Worn Out Suits, Brand New Pockets [Dave Edmunds song]

6. Where Or When [1937 Rodgers & Hart song – Roy Heatherton & Mitzi Green cover]

7. Ju Ju Man [Jim Ford cover] – [Side 2]

8. Git It [Bob Kelly song – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps cover]

9. Let's Talk About Us [Otis Blackwell song – Jerry Lee Lewis cover]

10. Hey Good Lookin' [Hank Williams cover]

11. What Did I Do Last Night? [Nick Lowe song]

12. Little Darlin' [Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe song]

13. My Baby Left Me [Arthur Crudup song – Elvis Presley cover]

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Get It" – released April 1977 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59404 and in the USA on Swan Song SS 8418.

Disc 3 (34:11 minutes):

1. Trouble Boy [Billy Bremner song]

2. Never Been In Love [Nick Lowe & Rockpile song]

3. Not A Woman, Not A Child [Billy Bremner song]

4. Television [Nick Lowe song]

5. What Looks Best On You [Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe song]

6. Readers Wives [Noel Brown song]

7. Deborah [Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe song] - [Side 2]

8. Thread Your Needle [Brenda Lee Jones and Welton Young song – Dean and Jean cover]

9. A.I. On The Jukebox [Dave Edmunds/William Birch (of The Kursaal Flyers)]

10. It's My Own Business [Chuck Berry cover]

11. Heart Of The City [Nick Lowe song]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Trax On Wax 4" – released April 1978 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59407 and in the USA on Swan Song SS 8505

Disc 4 (34:40 minutes):

1. Girls Talk [Elvis Costello song]

2. Crawling From The Wreckage [Graham Parker song]

3. The Creature From The Black Lagoon [Billy Bremner song]

4. Sweet Little Lisa [Donovan and Martin Cowart and Hank DeVito song]

5. Dynamite [Mort Garson. Tom Glazer song - Brenda Lee cover]

6. Queen Of Hearts [Hank DeVito cover] – [Side 2]

7. Home In My Hand [Ronnie self cover]

8. Goodbye Mr. Good Guy [Billy Murray and Pat Meagre song]

9. Take Me For A Little While [Trade Martin cover]

10. We Were Both Wrong [Billy Bremner song]

11. Bad Is Bad [Huey Lewis & The News cover – feature Huey on Harmonica]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Repeat When Necessary" – released June 1979 in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59409 and July 1979 in the USA on Swan Song SS 8507

Disc 5 (30:25 minutes):

1. Something Happens [John Hiatt cover]

2. It's Been So Long [Ian Gomm cover]

3. Singin' The Blues [Melvin Endsley song – Guy Mitchell cover]

4. (I'm Gonna Start) Living Again If It Kills Me [Carlene Carter, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds song]

5. Almost Saturday Night [John Fogerty cover]

6. Cheap Talk, Patter And Jive [Donovan Cowart and Hank DeVito song – features The Chesterfield Kings on Harmonica] – [Side 2]

7. Three Time Loser [Don Covay and Ronald Miller song – Wilson Pickett cover]

8. You'll Never Get Me Up (In One Of Those) [Mickey Jupp cover]

9. I'm Only Human [Nick Lowe and Rockpile song]

10. The Race Is On [Don Rollins cover – George Jones cover - features The Stray Cats]

11. Baby Let's Play House [Arthur Gunter song – Elvis Presley cover]

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Twangin..." – released April 1981 UK 7” single on Swan Song SSK 59411 and May 1981 in the USA on Swan Song SS 16304

Everyone knows the visual story with these "Original Album Series" Mini 5CD Box sets – five single card sleeves with the original artwork front and rear – look nice but you can’t read the details. At least the CDs themselves have the track credits on each. It doesn’t say who remastered the four Swan Song albums or indeed if they’ve been even been redone (the Love Sculpture CD is the 1999 EMI Remaster) – I doubt it. The sound is great but there's no doubt in my mind that the Rhino Remasters of 1993 on the "Anthology" 2CD set are infinitely better. Having said that - as the bulk of these albums are late 70ts and early 80s recordings – the audio was on the money anyway – so for most casual listeners these CDs will sound just dandy.

Although I'm a huge DE fan – I’ve always had a hard time with Love Sculpture who seemed to spend way too much of their time pissing about with dodgy cover versions. Paul Korda’s soppy "Seagull" is awful, classical composer Bizet's "Farandole" from the Opera "L'Arlesienne" is ok, Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" is oddly unexciting (especially given Edmunds knack with Rock 'n' Roll) and the eleven minute "Sabre Dance" has awesome guitar work for sure but overstays its welcome past four minutes. The best tracks on the record are written by Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker – the hard rocking "Nobody's Talking" and the James Gang-ish contemplative feel to "Why (How-Now)" - both of which sound fabulous on this remaster. "People, People" too sounds so hippy 1967 and could be The Association or The Monkees (it's a pretty tune).

Typical of Edmunds – he seemed to always know what song suited him and how to re-arrange it into his own updated DE style. For example - a genius choice on 1978's "Tracks On Wax 4" is an ultra-obscure B-side on Rust Records of the USA called "Thread Your Needle". It was put out by Dean and Jean in 1966 as the flipside to "You're The Love Of My Life" and penned by Brenda Lee Jones and Welton Young – both of whom authored "The Majestic" for Dion in 1961. It's the kind of Eddie Cochran-ish guitar rocker that just comes in – does the business – and leaves – no muss - no fuss. It's followed by the hugely likeable "A.I. On The Jukebox" which feels like old-time Fifties Rock 'n' Roll but is actually a modern 1978 co-write between Dave Edmunds and William Birch of The Kursaal Flyers. It was issued as a UK A-side 45 on Swan Song SSK 19417 in February 1979 with the fab rocker "It's My Own Business" as its flipside – but despite the strength of both tracks – it tanked (yet you’ll find yourself replaying these little nuggets over and over again). His instincts to record Nick Lowe's brilliant and incendiary "Heart Of The City" 'live' pays off (no venue or date provided) because it gives the tune that Punky punch it warrants. In fact I can’t help thinking that "Tracks On Wax 4" is the forgotten nugget in his long cannon of enjoyable albums.

Next up and two huge faves among fans – "Repeat When Necessary" and "Twangin..." – both of which provided him with much-needed hit singles and chart exposure. Elvis Costello's brilliant "Girls Talk" was the first single off the "Repeat" album coupled with "Bad Is Bad" in June 1979 on Swan SSK 19419 – it did the chart business by climbing to 4 (the B-side is a Huey Lewis & The News cover version which features the great American Rocker guesting on Harmonica). That was followed by the other obvious winner on the album "Queen Of Hearts" – a fabulous Eddie Cochran type Acoustic Rocker that virtually screamed repeat radio play. It was penned by Henry DeVito of The Hot Band and became a hit again for Juice Newton on Capitol Records in 1981. But I love its Rockpile-sounding B-side "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" – a typically hooky tune from the witty pen of Billy Bremner who would later play with Rockpile and even guest for The Pretenders (the single landed a respectable No. 11 position on the UK charts). Graham Parker's wickedly acidic "Crawling From The Wreckage" was then coupled with the non-LP "As Lovers Do" on SSK 19240 which hit the lower end of the singles chart (59) in November 1979 (the album had run its course). Other favourites of mine are his electrifying cover of Brenda Lee’s “Dynamite” and the Phil Spector sounding 60ts melodrama of "Take Me For A Little While" originally written by teen-idol Trade Martin who put it out as a US 45 on RCA Victor in 1967. Albert Lee plays guest guitar on "Sweet Little Lisa".

After the brilliance of 1980’s ROCKPILE reunion album "Seconds Of Pleasure" on F-Beat Records (with Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams) in 1980 - "Twangin..." was a welcome sight in 1981. Again you get that killer mix of the new – John Hiatt's New Wave yet Funky "Something Happens" and Billy Bremner's witty anti-airplane song "You'll Never Get Me Up (In One Of Those)" – sitting alongside familiar 50ts rhythms of "Singin' The Blues" (Guy Mitchell) and John Fogerty's wicked "Almost Saturday Night". Album nuggets include his superb cover of Wilson Pickett's "Three Time Loser" (written by Don Covay) which Edmunds somehow turns into a Rock 'n' Roll song and the double-trouble Rockabilly pairing of "The Race Is On" (with The Stray Cats) and the Sun Records echo-laden Presley homage of "Baby Let's Play House". Way to go baby...

I suppose you could argue that if this mini box had the fab "Seconds Of Pleasure" album by Rockpile from 1980 – then retro perfection would have been achieved. As it is – this is a great listen and a top-notch addition to an increasingly cool CD series...

PS: see also my reviews for Brinsley Schwarz, Terry Reid, Jimmy Webb and The Groundhogs in the "Original Album Series"...and Dave Edmund's solo albums - "Rockpile" (1972) and "Subtle As A Flying Mallet" (1975) both on expanded CDs...

This review and hundreds like it are available in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. Check them out by clicking this Amazon link...

"John Stevens' Away/Somewhere In Between/Mazin Ennit" by JOHN STEVENS’ AWAY [feat JOHN MARTYN and TERRI QUAYE] (2015 Beat Goes On 2CD Set – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Mazin Ennit..."

Free-form Jazz is hard to take at the best of times and pushing out two albums on the largely Prog Rock ‘Vertigo’ label in the middle and end of 1976 practically guarantees both of those records instant obscurity. And that’s what happened. Checking back on my old Phonogram release supplements for accurate release dates for this review – I notice that neither of the first two albums even managed a cassette or cartridge release and were deleted in a matter of months.

But over the years the English drummer and former bandleader with the Spontaneous Music Ensemble has come back into vogue. On the first two records in particular - you can sense who was influencing him at the time (Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield) and how they lent a tangible Funky Soulfulness to the album’s free-form lengthy instrumentals – especially tracks like “Anni” and “Spirit Of Peace”. Bung in some rare UK singles – one of which features the genius talent of John Martyn (a man who loved to improvise his Folk-Rock in the live environment) – and I might almost ‘like’ these expertly played but essentially wild musical noodles. Here are the not-so free form details...

UK released 25 September 2015 (5 October 2015 in the USA) – “John Stevens’ Away/Somewhere In Between/Mazin Ennit” by JOHN STEVENS’ AWAY on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1198 (Barcode 5017261211989) offers fans 3 full albums onto 2CDs and four UK 7” single-sides as Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (59:57 minutes):

1. It Will Never Be The Same

2. Tumble

3. Anni

4. C. Hear Taylor

5. What’s That?

Tracks 1 to 5 are the self-titled debut album for “John Stevens’ Away” – released June 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 131. The band was: John Stevens on Drums, Peter Cowling on Electric Bass, Steve Hayton on Electric Guitar and Trevor Watts on Alto Saxophone.

6. Can’t Explain

7. Follow Me

8. Chick Boom

Tracks 6 to 8 are Side 1 of their 2^nd album “Somewhere In Between” – released October 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 135

Disc 2 (78:50 minutes):

1. Spirit Of Peace (Tribute To Elvin Jones)

2. Now

Tracks 1 and 2 are Side 2 of their 2^nd album “Somewhere In Between” – released October 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 135. The band was: John Stevens on Drums, Nick Stephens on Electric Bass, Ron Herman on Acoustic Bass, Robert Calvert on Soprano & tenor Saxophones, David Cole on Electric Guitar (Breno T’Fordo did Percussion on “Now”).

3. Away

4. Sunshine!! Sunshine

5. Mazin Ennit

6. Whoops A Daisy

7. Touch Of The Old

8. Still Here

9. Light Relief

10. God Bless

11. Temple Music

Tracks 3 to 11 are their 3^rd and final album “Mazin Ennit” – released May 1977 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 141. All songs on the three LPs are John Stevens originals. The band was the same line up as “Somewhere In Between”

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Anni Part I

13. Anni Part II – A&B-sides of a June 1976 UK 7” single on Vertigo 6059 140

14. Can’t Explain (Part 1)

15. Can’t Explain (Part 2) – A&B-sides of an October 1976 UK 7” single on Vertigo 6059 154

There’s an outer card slipcase that lends these BGO releases a visual classiness, a substantial 22-page booklet with liner notes by noted writer and genre-expert CHARLES WARING (principal Jazz columnist with the MOJO Magazine) along with artwork, production credits, photos of the band etc. Long-time Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has carried out the 2015 transfers (first time to CD for all three albums) and the sound quality is amazing – beautifully clear and reflecting the professional production values of the original producers - John Stevens and Terry Yason. There are quiet passages (the opening section of “Tumble”) and wild drum-flourishes (centre of “C. Hear Taylor”) and both offer gorgeous Audio results.

It opens with the twelve-minute Buddy Rich drums and cymbals feel of “It Will Never be The Same” where Hayton and Watts do a Funky shuffle on Guitar and Saxophone respectively. “Tumble” opens with the band settling quietly before they go into a mad Jazz riff that goes on for eight minutes and I suspect is going to be hard work even for the most enthusiastic free former. Far better is the drum solo vehicle of “C. Hear Taylor” where Stevens goes all John Bonham on his kit for five minutes. Undoubtedly the best track on here is near ten-minutes of “Anni” which opens with a wicked guitar solo that settles into a Soulful Funky Jazz groove (very nice) - while the album ends of the Guitar/Sax driver of “What’s That?”

Like they suddenly discovered Jeff Beck’s “Blow By Blow” – the opening “Can’t Explain” feels far funkier than anything on the rather ramshackle debut. Equally good is the slinky and marching-into-war sinister groove of “Follow Me” – a crawling guitar riff ominously plays in tandem with a funereal Black Sabbath drone on bass and drums - later into guitar and sax solos – its fabulous stuff. After all that doomy darkness - “Chick Boom” lightens up proceedings considerably with a Jazz Fusion piece that again feels like Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer having a blast.

As if the Away band had been listening to the Danny Thompson’s Double Bass work on John Martyn’s “Solid Air” from 1973 – the 18:32 minutes of “Spirit Of Peace” is a magnificent slice of Double Bass Jazz Funk. Anchored by Stevens’ Cymbals and Drums, Ron Herman’s Double Bass and a repeated saxophone coda by Robert Calvert – the build up to the David Cole’s guitar soloing doesn’t feel forced – but instead feels like really great musicians finally being given the canvas to hang their individual talents on. This brilliant piece is surely worth the price of admission alone and “Spirit Of Peace” easily has the most amazing Audio for both discs. The album ends on a Funk ditty “Now” which again feels like John Martyn meets The Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Billy Cobham.

The Soulful Fusion style on “Somewhere In Between” continues on the final offering “Mazin Ennit” (a British slang pun on ‘amazing ain’t it’). At a frankly stick-thin 3:16 minutes - “Away” almost sounds like a useable 7” single (Heaven’s forbid) - while “Sunshine!! Sunshine” utilizes that Double Bass again to great effect sounding not unlike Guitar Prog. “Mazin Ennit” is a Fusion piece that feels discordant in the worst possible Jazz-noodling way. Sweeter is the lonesome prettiness of “Still Here” where it feels like Guitarist David Cole is channelling a jagged John Williams by way of Django Reinhardt on this almost entirely Acoustic instrumental. But the album’s centrepiece is “God Bless” – 13:43 minutes of flicking Guitar, Soulful Sax and Funky Fusion.

The four BONUS TRACKS are an absolute blast – the first two immeasurably improved by the Funky Soulful presence of JOHN MARTYN on Lead Vocals accompanied by his echoplex Guitar (very cool stuff and rare). But UK Jazz Funkers will flip for the vocalized versions of “Can’t Explain”. Part 1 opens with Robin Trower-like guitar circa his late 70ts “In City Dreams” and “Caravan To Midnight” Funky Rock phase. “...Can’t explain the way I feel...” British Female Jazz Singer and Pianist TERRI QUAYE sings on Part 1 continued in full Funky mode for Part 2 (she related to both Caleb Quaye of Hookfoot and the Elton John Band as well as Finlay Quaye of “Maverick A Strike” album fame). Part 2 goes into fabulous vocal passages as the driving rhythm moves her...

John Stevens’ Away did little to trouble the charts at the time and given the difficulty of some of the music – it’s hardly surprising. But this is a smart and worthy release by BGO especially as all three albums are first time on CD.

Parts of the first and third platters are well worth revisiting – but that 2^nd album may indeed be a bit of a Rock Fusion masterpiece. Well done to all involved...

This review and hundreds more like it are part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series. 

Click the following link to view/buy on Amazon...

"Wow, Wow, Baby! 1950s R&B, Blues & Gospel From Dolphin's Of Hollywood" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace Records CD – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...We Don’t Want No Chaperone..."

Back in the 1990s England’s Ace Records bought the Dolphin catalogue and has maintained a steady stream of reissues ever since. “Wow, Wow, Baby!” is the latest instalment (May 2015 on Ace Records CDTOP 1438 - Barcode 029667071529) which offers up 24 rare cuts - many of which are Previously Unreleased. As usual with these obscure label CD compilations - it’s a strange mix of the utterly pedestrian and the refreshingly brill – with the spread being about 80/20 in favour of the better stuff.

The 12-page colour booklet has expert info from liner-notes king TONY ROUNCE with photos of characters like Scatman Crowthers, Chuck Higgins, Marvin & Johnny, Floyd Dixon, Memphis Slim and Jimmy Witherspoon to name but a few. A and AA label repros of those rare 45’s and 78’s on the Money and Cash labels pepper the text as does a not-so-complimentary description of John Dolphin’s delightful business practices and lack of financial morality (what a guy). The remasters are by long-standing engineer DUNCAN COWELL and once again he delivers really clean transfers – plenty of oomph and bottle where needed without being over-egged for the sake of it (61:45 minutes).

Earl Burton’s “Sleep, Drink And Play”, the Coasters-witty “Traffic Ticket” by Big Boy Groves and the girl-bopper “Hey Rube” by The Mellow Tones are amongst the better R&B dancer tracks - but a lot of the other slow blues tunes like Little Margie’s “Years And Tears Ago”, James Reed’s “My Love Is Real” and Marvin & Johnny’s “Yak Yak Woman” refuse to really ignite (feeling a little plodding if the truth be told). The two holy-roller tunes “Step In The Right Direction” and “I Need The Lord To Guide Me Everyday” feel out of place too and wooden.

Better is Floyd Dixon who puts in two wicked Fats Domino shuffles on “Oh Baby” and “Never Can Tell (When A Woman’s Going To Change Her Mind)” while the Bluesy crawl of “Lonely, Lonely Woman” by Little Eve is suitably mournful. Jimmy Witherspoon features on two cuts – the mooching “S.K. Blues (by Saunders King) and the saxophone dancer “Teenage Party”. Tap Anthony & His Orchestra give us “Fancy Pants” which sounds like a post World War II dancefloor jive (it’s a great instrumental).

The coolest cut on here is probably “All Messed Up” by Vernon Anders which is about a woman “whose knock-kneed and bow-legged” but thankfully our Vernon “loves her so...” In fact it’s amazing how many women in these songs are bald-headed but still mightily attractive to the singer (what a gent). “Teenagers Only” (lyrics above) has Little Margie singing with her girls about not wanting any chaperone when they start rocking with that saxophone (if you know what Margie’s saying baby). It ends well on the “oh yeah” call and response of Chuck Higgins when his band and The Mellotones tear up the studio like they’re on a Little Richard recording.

Another belter from Ace – someone should give these guys a medal... 

This review and Hundreds more like it are available to read 
In my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series. 
Check out the BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, R 'n' B and R' n' R Version 
on Amazon as a Kindle read...

"Unlock The Lock: The Kent Records Story 1958-1962" by VARIOUS ARTISTS featuring B.B. King, Jesse James, Bobby Bland, Hadda Brooks, Jesse Belvin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Floyd Dixon and more (August 2015 UK Ace 2CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Everybody Needs To Know..."

In their unrelenting quest for chart hits it seems the Bihari Brothers of Kent Records USA (Jules, Saul & Joe) would throw just about any kind of musical paint at the American chart canvas to see what would make a splash. Hence this genre-varied double-CD (Volume 1 of 2 apparently) clobbers you with a myriad of styles - Vocal Groups, Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Jump Blues, Wild Rockabilly & even wilder Rock 'n' Roll - and of course as it mooches into 1960 to 1962 - some traces of early Soul. And 30 of its 48 tracks are either previously unreleased or new to CD as well. Here are the details 'everybody needs to know'...

UK released August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) – "Unlock The Lock: The Kent Records Story 1958-1962" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1449 (Barcode 029667073226) plays out as follows:

Disc 1 -1958-1959 - (61:32 minutes):

1. Why Do Everything Happen To Me – B.B. KING (1958, Kent 301)

2. All Of Me – DANNY BOY (1958, Kent 300)

3. Hey Little Mama – THE BARKER BROTHERS (2015, Alternative of Kent 302)

4. "Baby, Bay" Every Night – ETTA JAMES (1958, Kent 304)

5. Sweet Lovin' Honey – DON COLE (1958, Kent 205)

6. On My Way Back Home – FLASH TERRY & HIS ORCHESTRA (2015, Extended Version of Kent 310)

7. Devil Doll – LEE DENSON (1958, Kent 306)

8. Madness – SONNY KNIGHT (1958, Kent 312)

9. Basis Of Rock 'n' Roll – VAN ROBINSON

(2015, Take 1 of a track that first turned up on the July 2000 CD compilation "Long Gone Daddies: Original 50s Rockabilly & Rock 'n' Roll from The Modern Label" on Ace CDCHD 768)

10. Bye Bye Baby – CHUCK "TEQUILA" RIO (2015, Take 5 of Kent 38)

11. That's My Baby – ARTIE WILSON (1958, Kent 313)

12. Dance The Thing – FLOYD DIXON and HIS ORCHESTRA (1958, Kent 311)

13. Please Accept My Love – B.B. KING (2015, Undubbed Version of a track on the 1969 "Boss Of The Blues" LP on Kent 5029)

14. Red Hot Rockin' Blues – JESSE JAMES (1958, Kent 314)

15. If It Ain't One Thing – BETTY & DUPREE (1959, Kent 318)

16. You You You – VAN ROBINSON (2015, Previously Unreleased)

17. South's Gonna Rise Again – JESSE JAMES (1958, Kent 314)

18. Worry Worry – B.B. KING (2015, Take 1 of Kent 317)

19. The Ballad Of Stagger Lee – THE SENDERS (2105, Extended Version of Kent 320)

20. The Thrill Is Gone – HADDA BROOKS (2015, Take 1 of Kent 321)

21. The Fool – B.B. KING (1959, Kent 319)

22. Everybody Needs To Know – THE SENDERS (2015, Alternative of Kent 324)

23. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons – JESSE BELVIN (1959, Kent 326)

24. Mean Ole Frisco – B.B. KING (2015, Take 2 of Kent 329)

Tracks 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 2 -1960-1962 - (67:32 minutes):

1. Sweet Sixteen Pts. 1 & 2 – B.B. KING (1960, Kent 330)

2. Your Cheating Heart – JIMMY WITHERSPOON (1960, Kent 343)

3. Unlock The Clock – JIMMY NELSON (2015, Alternate of Kent 354)

4. Good Man Gone Bad – B.B. KING (1960, Kent 346)

5. Tomorrow Night – HADDA BROOKS (1960, Kent 349)

6. You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now – B.B. KING (2015, Take 4 of Kent 350)

7. Diane – CHARLIE OWENS & THE SENSATIONAL INK SPOTS (1962, Kent 355)

8. If Love Was Money – TONY ALLEN & THE WANDERERS (1961, Kent 356)

9. Bad Case Of Love – B.B. KING (2015, Take 1 of Kent 362)

10. Texas Queen – BILLY RAY (1962, Kent 367)

11. Dreamin' – TONY ALLEN & GROUP (1961, Kent 364)

12. Doing The Twist – JOE HOUSTON (1962, Kent 366)

13. Get In The Car – LITTLE JOE HINTON

(first appeared on the 1999 Japanese Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues Vol.2" on P-Vine PCD 3063)

14. Crazy Feeling aka Do Something Crazy – ETTA JAMES (1958, Kent 370)

15. The Whip Twist – LITTLE JOE HINTON (1962, Kent 368)

16. Goodnight My Love – PAT HUNT (1962, Kent 374)

17. Do You Wanna Twist – TEDDY REYNOLDS (1962, Kent 371)

18. Playboy – BILLY RAY (1962, Kent 367)

19. Camel Caravan – THE CLASSICALS (1962, Kent 379)

20. Without You – HAL DAVIS (1962, Kent 375)

21. Love You Baby – BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND (1962, Kent 378)

22. The Wonder Of Love – THE NEWPORTS (1962, Kent 380)

23. Maybe I'm Wrong – BOBBY SANDERS (2015, Extended Version of Kent 382)

24. Mashing The Popeye – B.B. KING (1962, Kent 381)

Tracks 3, 6, 9 and 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The 16-page booklet has info-packed liner notes from TONY ROUNCE – a name associated with huge numbers of quality reissues. There’s lots of those colourful Kent American 45s repro’d, publicity photos of label heroes like B.B. King and Bobby Bland – but it's also nice to see shots of equally deserving names like The Barker Brothers, Jesse James, Flash Terry and Floyd Dixon, Jesse Belvin, Tony Allen, Jimmy Nelson, Teddy Reynolds and even a colour snap of Jimmy Witherspoon with his lone cover of the Hank Williams classic “Your Cheating Heart”. The vastly experienced DUNCAN COWELL has handled the transfers and Remasters and despite the often ramshackle and boisterous nature of the recordings – the audio is full of atmosphere, air and presence.

Disc 1 opens with a drum-slapping R&B shuffler (one of many) "Why Do Everything Happen To Me" by B.B. King where the Blues Boy tells us that his "...heart is full of misery..." (a condition he'll get to know well). We then get a doo-woppy version of the standard "All Of Me" by Danny Boy that doesn’t quite work - but better is the Bop of "Hey Little Mama" by The Barker Brothers sounding like Eddie Cochran and his brother singing a duo. Very cool R&B from Etta James follows where the firecracker is already sounding like a LaVern Baker superstar on ""Baby, Baby" Every Night" – a fabulous little R&B dancer. More Rockabilly from the echoed vocals of Don Cole on "Sweet Lovin' Honey" – a top class bopper from 1958 - while we get shuffling R&B from the suitably named Flash Terry featuring a prominent zippy guitar solo. "Madness" by Sonny Knight is the first cut clearly dubbed off a scratchy disc (still sounds boss though) while 50ts dancefloor twirlers will flip for "Basis Of Rock 'n' Roll" by Van Robinson (here in a Saxophone blasting first take – what a winner). "Bye Bye Baby" by Chuck "Tequila" Rio apes the stuttering vocals of Rock ‘n’ Rollers from 1956 and is undoubtedly one of the gems on here (girly vocals or no). It even comes with a giggling Chuck goofing around as the tape rolls out.

Both Artie Wilson and Floyd Dixon step up to the R 'n' R and R 'n' B plate respectively with two fantastic dancefloor fillers – "That's My Baby" and "Dance The Thing". But good as they truly are – they’re small beer to a wild Rockabilly winner called "Red Hot Rockin' Blues" by Jesse James – a tune so foottappingly good its liable to restore eyesight to the blind. But it's hardly surprising that the plodding Blues of Van Robinson on "You You You" was unreleased – heavy on the guitar for sure but all over the place despite his incendiary playing.

We get all rebel yell on the frantic Rockabilly of "South's Gonna Rise Again" while B.B. King is back to being a misery-guts on "Worry". It's a little shocking to hear the lead-in vocals of Hadda Brooks on "The Thrill Is Gone" as she mumbles to the boys in the band at the beginning of Take 1 (gorgeous audio and a Soulful rendering by her). B.B. King follows with a tasty R&B shuffler as he pleads "can you forgive me..." on "The Fool". We now get a classy and beautiful Vocal Group smoocher "Everybody Needs To Know" by The Senders with Carlton Beck handling Lead Vocals. This is apparently Take 1 and despite a dip or two in the tapes towards the end of the song - lovers of the genre will absolutely have to own this previously unreleased version (cream of the crop for me).

Disc 2 opens with a biggie from B.B. King – both parts of his Joe Turner cover version of "Sweet Sixteen" from January 1960 (6:14 minutes in full length). It rose to No. 2 on the US R&B charts and returned him to Hitsville after a near two-year absence ("You've Been An Angel" on Kent 315 in March 1958). The entire compilation's title comes from a witty and beautifully recorded R&B shuffler called "Unlock The Lock" by Jimmy Nelson where he assures his lady love that even though he’s been with the boys – Jimmy is free of sin (I'm not so sure dear). Two soppy turkeys turn up in Hadda Brooks attempting a string-laden cover of La Vern Baker's "Tomorrow Night" which is disappointingly awful while the hissy and even bizarre Charlie Owens/Ink Spots take on "Diane" (also ruined by strings) isn't much better. 

Far better is a crystal clear Take 4 of "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now" by B.B. King (sweet work from the band on this one) while his bopping "Bad Case Of Love" is a fun brass-driven dancer (and kept Kent on the American charts). Again Vocal Group collectors have cause to celebrate and will want "Dreamin'" by Tony Allen sounding not unlike The Five Keys or The "5" Royales on a very good day. Other R&B Dancers include "Love You Baby" with a rare early showing for Bobby "Blue" Bland as Lead Vocalist, the infectious "Doing The Twist" by Joe Houston and a cocky "Playboy" by Billy Ray sounding like Clarence "Frogman" Henry fancying himself as something of a player with the opposite sex.

So there you have it - it’s not all genius by any means (I thought Disc 2 dipped a bit) – but as ever with Kent Records the good stuff is great and worth owning.

"...Everybody likes to rock...everybody likes to roll...everybody likes to bop...satisfy their souls..." – Floyd Dixon tells his Orchestra on the infectious "Dance The Thing". On the strength of this then...roll on Volume 2...

This review and 155 more like it are available to read in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series. Check out the BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, R 'n' B and R' n' R Version on Amazon as a Kindle read...