"The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63" by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 1] (1991 Ace Records CD – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 209 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(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=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 "..Since I Don't Have You..."

Volume 1 in this rather cool Ace Records CD reissue series ("The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll") concentrates on two things really – original master tapes and rarity. You might think that the first would be fairly obvious for a reissue company (original master tapes) - but Ace of the UK assure us in their extensive liner notes that even as far back as 1991 - getting the real deal seemed to be a real problem. Even well known tracks were essentially needle–drops on the CD issues of the time (dubbed from disc).

The second draw for collectors and music lovers is 'rarity' – one look at the 30-title track list on the rear shows that only six of these songs actually charted in the UK while a few of those American originals barely even scraped their top 50. Having said that you get lots of Number 2s and 3s (Top 10 too) and all in the best sound quality available at the time. Two cuts - "Cindy's Birthday" by Johnny Crawford and "Since I Don’t Have You" by The Skyliners are here in glorious Stereo because the mono cuts are embellished with strings and these are the best takes available. The full 18 volumes in Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series to 2015 are listed below. Here are the poppermost of the toppermost for Volume 1...

UK released November 1991 (December 1991 in the USA) - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 289 (Barcode 029667128926) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows (78:22 minutes):

1. Denise – RANDY & THE RAINBOWS

July 1963 US 7" single on Rust 5059 (peaked at 10)

August 1963 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 214 (didn't chart)

England's BLONDIE took a cover of this song credited as "Denis (Denee)" to Number 2 in February 1978 on Chrysalis CHS 2204

2. Sally, Go 'Round The Roses – THE JAYNETTS

August 1963 USA 7” single on Tuff 369 (peaked at 2)

October 1963 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 227 (didn’t chart)

3. Mule Skinner Blues – THE FENDERMEN

June 1960 US 7" single on Soma 1137 (peaked at 5)

August 1960 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 395 (peaked at 32)

4. Sixteen Candles – THE CRESTS

December 1958 US 7" single on Coed 506 (peaked at 2)

January 1959 UK 7" single on London HL 8974 (didn’t chart)

Featured Johnny Maestro on Lead Vocals

5. Pretty Little Angel Eyes – CURTIS LEE

July 1961 US 7" single on Dunes 2007 (peaked at 7)

July 1961 UK 7" single on London HLX 9397 (peaked at 47)

A Phil Spector Production. Showaddywaddy – a British Rock 'n' Roll Revival band - charted a cover version of it in November 1978 at No. 5 on Arista ARIST 222

6. I Love How You Love Me – THE PARIS SISTERS

September 1961 USA 7" single on Gregmark 6 (peaked at 5)

October 1961 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 588 (didn't chart)

7. The Big Hurt – MISS TONY FISHER

November 1959 USA 7" single on Signet 275 (peaked at 3)

December 1959 UK 7" single on Top rank JAR 261 (peaked at 30)

8. A Thousand Stars – KATHY YOUNG with THE INNOCENTS

October 1960 USA 7" single on Indigo 108 (peaked at 3)

January 1961 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 534 (didn't chart)

9. Rockin' Robin – BOBBY DAY

November 1958 USA 7" single on Class 229 (peaked at 2)

December 1958 UK 7" single on London HL 8726 (peaked at 29)

Real name Robert Byrd

10. Earth Angel – THE PENGUINS

December 1954 USA 7" single on DooTone 348 (peaked at 8)

January 1955 UK 7" single on London HL 8114 (didn’t chart)

A million-seller - No. 1 on the US R&B Charts

11. Bongo Rock – PRESTON EPPS

May 1959 USA 7" single on Original Sound 4 (peaked at 14)

June 1959 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 140 (didn't chart)

12. Tossin' And Turnin' – BOBBY LEWIS

May 1961 USA 7" single on Beltone 1002 (peaked at No.1)

June 1961 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4794 (didn’t chart)

13. My True Story – THE JIVE FIVE

August 1961 USA 7" single on Beltone 1006 (peaked at 3)

September 1961 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4822 (didn't chart)

14. Stranded In The Jungle – THE CADETS

July 1956 USA 7" single on Modern 994 (peaked at 15)

October 1966 UK 7" single on London HLU 8313 (didn't chart)

Originally released by The Jayhawks (aka The Vibrations) who charted their 7" single on Flash 109 in the 'same month' as The Cadets version – The Jayhawks version peaked at 18 on USA R&B

15. Angel Baby – ROSIE & THE ORIGINALS

December 1960 USA 7" single on Highland 10011 (peaked at 5)

January 1961 UK 7" single on London HLU 9266 (didn't chart)

This CD uses the American original, which apparently has an extra verse the British version doesn't

16. Party Lights – CLAUDINE CLARK

July 1962 USA 7" single on Chancellor 1113 (peaked at 5)

August 1962 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25157 (didn’t chart)

17. When We Get Married – THE DREAMLOVERS

August 1961 USA 7" single on Heritage 102 (peaked at No. 10)

September 1961 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 4711 (didn't chart)

18. Cindy's Birthday – JOHNNY CRAWFORD

May 1962 USA 7" single on Del-Fi 4178 (peaked at 8)

June 1962 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25145 (didn't chart)

19. Let's Dance – CHRIS MONTEZ

September 1962 USA 7" single on Monogram 505 (peaked at 4)

September 1962 UK 7" single on London HL 9596 (peaked at 2)

20. Who's That Knocking – THE GENIES

January 1959 USA 7" single on Shad 5002 (peaked at 71)

Not released in the UK

21. Love You So – RON HOLDEN

April 1960 USA 7” single on Donna 1315 (peaked at 7)

May 1960 UK 7" single on London HLU 9116 (didn’t chart)

The USA record label ‘Donna’ was named after the Richie Valens hit

22. Cherry Pie – SKIP & FLIP

April 1960 USA 7" single on Brent 7010 (peaked at 11)

April 1960 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 358 (didn’t chart)

Gary "Flip" Paxton and Clyde "Skip" Battin. "Cherry Pie" is a cover version of a 1954 Marvin and Johnny B-side on Modern 933 ("Tick Tock" is the A-side). Gary "Flip" Paxton later formed The Hollywood Argyles (see Volume 2, Track 29, "Alley Oop") and started the Garpax label (see my review for "Keep A Hold On Him: More Garpax Girls"). "Skip" Battin was an original member of The Byrds, New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers. The first 1959 Skip & Flip hit "It Was You" is Track 17 on Volume 3. 

23. Since I Don't Have You – THE SKYLINERS

March 1959 USA 7" single on Calico 103 (peaked at 12)

March 1959 UK 7" single on London HLB 8829 (didn't chart)

24. Louie Louie – THE KINGSMEN

August 1963 USA 7" single on Wand 143 (peaked at 2)

December 1963 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25231 (peaked at 26)

25. Since I Fell For You – LENNY WELCH

July 1963 USA 7" single on Cadence 1439 (peaked at 4)

November 1963 UK 7" single on London HLA 9810 (didn't chart)

26. Image Of A Girl – THE SAFARIS

July 1960 USA 7" single on Eldo 101 (peaked at 6)

August 1960 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 424 (didn't chart)

27. Smoky Places – THE CORSAIRS featuring Jay "Bird" Uzzell

January 1962 USA 7" single on Tuff 1808 (peaked at 12)

Not released in the UK

28. Gee Whizz – THE INNOCENTS

January 1961 USA 7" single on Indigo 111 (peaked at 28)

February 1961 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 541 (didn’t chart)

29. A Little Bit Of Love – THE JARMELS

August 1961 USA 7” single on Laurie 3098 (peaked at 12)

September 1961 UK 7” single on Top Rank JAR 580 (didn’t chart)

30. Eddie My Love – THE TEEN QUEENS

March 1956 USA 7” single on RPM Records RPM 453 (peaked at 14)

April 1956 UK 7” single on R&B Records MRB 5000 (didn’t chart)

Betty and Rosie Collins (The Teen Queens) were the sisters of Aaron Collins of the Vocal Groups The Cadets/The Jacks (see entry 14)

NOTES: all tracks are in MONO except "Cindy's Birthday" (18) and "Since I Don't Have You" (23) - which are in STEREO

As this was the first CD in a near 20-disc series released way back in the mists of a 1991 winter – the 12-page booklet (written by ROB FINNIS in September 1991) now seems like a rather slight affair compared to the regular 24-page feast Ace treats its fans to in 2015. In fact my 1991 copy has typo errors galore – several of the artist names supposed to be in colour amidst the black and white text are completely missing – white gaps in their place! On the upside there’s a centre two-page collage of all those gorgeous British 45s in their funky Top Rank, Stateside, Columbia and London label bags. Finnis has also sequenced the disc and it plays like an old jukebox.

The DUNCAN COWELL Remasters do the best with what he’s got. For instance the audio on The Jaynetts popular "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" is so far back in the echo'd mix as to be hard to actually hear (its not great but that's just the nature of the original recording) - while "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen comes at you like an Animal House soundtrack to 60ts America – a frat party ready to explode. Ace explains that lip-smacking in front of microphones can sound like clicks – as if its been dubbed from discs – but they assure us that these transfers are about 'real tapes' aimed at collectors who want the best and I have to say they've done an impressive job – especially given the wild and varying nature of each recording.

It’s decidedly odd for a guy who went through Punk and New Wave to hear "Denise" done by anyone other than Blondie – but here it is in its 1963 Vocal Group glory by the delightfully titled Randy & The Rainbows. The audio on the oddity "Mule Skinner Blues" is superlative even if the yicky-eye-aye nature of the song is painful to listen to. Vocal group magic crops up a lot – "Sixteen Candles" by The Crests, "I Love How You Love Me" by The Paris Sisters (a bit hissy), "Earth Angel" by The Penguins and the wonderful "Since I Don't Have You" by The Skyliners. Boppers come in the shape of the infectious "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day (re-charted by The Jackson 5 with Michael Jackson in the early 70ts), the swivel-hips sensation of "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez and the do-the-frat-until-the-early-hours drunken fun of "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen preceded by a wicked "Tossin' And Turnin'" from Bobby Lewis.

But what is great about these Ace compilations is the oddities – a fabulous and wild drum fandango from Preston Epps on his "Bongo Rock" – a girl group bopper from a Millie-sounding Claudine Clark where she longs for the "Party Lights" but mama won’t let her go – and the R&B Vocal Group "...boom boom boom...bang bang bang..." of "Who's That Knocking" by The Genies. Teenage longing and innocence surfaces on "Cindy's Birthday" by the 14-year old Johnny Crawford while the tick-tock "Image Of A Girl" by The Surfaris is full of choir boys with longing loins. There's beautiful audio quality on "When We Get Married" by the smooching vocal group The Dreamlovers - while the strings and crooner feel of Lenny Welch's "Since I Feel For You" comes over as more Ole Blue Eyes Sinatra than Chuck Berry Rock 'n' Roll. It ends on the lone chart entry by The Teen Queens - the impossibly evocative "Eddie My Love" – a song that practically sums up the teenage experience of the period.

It won't all be to everyone's tastes of course and in truth you'd be hard-pressed to find what most of us call 'actual' Rock 'n' Roll – but like all great compilations – it's evocative, cleverly sequenced and great fun to listen too (stirring up so many fond memories). But most of all you get a real sense of why UK fans in the 50ts and 60ts looked to the USA with such awe. The Yanks had it all – the cool - the cars - the girls - the film stars and best of all - the music. And there are seventeen more volumes where that came from...

Titles in Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series are:

1. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63 (Ace CDCHD 289, November 1991)

2. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 2: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 445, March 1993)

3. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 3: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 497, January 1994)

4. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 4: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 500, October 1994)

5. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 5: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 600, October 1995)

6. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 6: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 650, January 1997)

7. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 700, November 1998)

8. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 8: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 750, November 1999)

9. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 9: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 800, February 2001)

10. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 850, September 2002)

11. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1200, September 2007)

12. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1280, February 2011)

13. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Country Edition (Ace CDCHD 845, April 2002)

14. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Novelty Edition (Ace CDCHD 890, November 2003)

15. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition 1953-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1000, May 2004)

16. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special "Bubbling Under" Edition – Regional Hits That Just Missed The Hot 100 1959-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1050, March 2006)

17. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll – The Follow-Up Hits: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits (Ace CDCHD 1190, January 2008)
18.  The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)

"3-Track Shack" by LINK WRAY [including Mordicai Jones] (2015 Ace Records 2CD Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With More Than 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 Discs Themselves

(No Cut and Paste Crap) 

"...Black River Swamp..."

Even as a veteran of secondhand record shops and a rarities buyer for nearly 20 years at the fab Reckless Records in London – I'm kind of shocked at the sheer undiscovered classiness of this Link Wray music. Truthfully I never gave it the time of day back in the day. In fact I can recall seeing British copies of 1971's "Link Wray" turn up in our busy Berwick Street shop in its American die-cut gatefold sleeve with his side profile face – and we’d all sigh. The same would apply to the other album culled from these sessions - the single sleeve UK issue of MORDICAI JONES by Mordicai Jones (a gatefold in the USA with different artwork). We knew from previous experience that these obscure LPs would sit in our racks for months on end - until eventually reduced to a nominal amount - someone would buy them as a curio rather than a sought-out deliberate purchase. How times have changed...

For this superb UK 2CD reissue the simplest comparison musically is The Band and Folk-Rock Americana. Most fans who worship the ground that The Band's "Music From Big Pink" (1968) and "The Band" (1969) walks on – they would never in their wildest dreams look at the Rock 'n' Roll guitar 'rumble' of Carolina Shawnee Indian LINK WRAY and think 'Americana' – the beginnings of Tony Joe White, J.J. Cale, Townes Van Zandt and then onwards into the Indi Folk-Rock of Ryan Adams, The Jayhawks, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens and The Fleet Foxes. But that's what this rather brilliant little reissue contains. Simple but original Country, Folk, Blues and Roots tunes recorded live on guitars and upright piano in a converted Chicken Shack in Accokeek in the State of Maryland on his brother's farm (Doug Wray) with no overdubs and barely enough electricity. If they had no drums – they simply stomped feet hard and rattled those loose nails. If the song was quiet - it's said you can hear bullfrogs croaking and dogs howling outside the miked-up windows. Throw in Wray's strangely expressive Paul Siebel/Mickey Newbury twanging-voice and the results are earthy, real, simple and wonderfully melodic. Like classic J.J. Cale albums from the 70s – each guitar-chug and clever string-bend eats its way into your heart – each tune is simple and direct and warm and full of local stories ("Rise And Fall Of Jimmy Stokes"). I can even hear traces of a hopeful Rodriguez in his vocal style and lyrics - his commentaries on urban life and people trying to find their way in a mixed up world – elegant and truthful ("Fallin' Rain" and "Ice People"). There's a lot to get through so once more unto the backwater shed and that Ampex 3-track...

UK released August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) – "3-Track Shack" by LINK WRAY on Ace Records CDCH2 1451 (Barcode 029667073820) offers up 3LPs from 1971 and 1973 onto 2CDs with one British 7" single edit as a bonus track. It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (63:36 minutes):

1. La De Da

2. Take Me Home Jesus

3. Juke Box Mama

4. Rise And Fall Of Jimmy Stokes

5. Fallin' Rain

6. Fire And Brimstone [Side 2]

7. Ice People

8. God Out West

9. Crowbar

10. Black Rover Stomp

11. Tail Dragger

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Link Wray" – released June 1971 in the USA on Polydor 24-4064 and September 1971 in the UK on Polydor Super 2425 029

12. Walkin' In Arizona

13. Scorpio Woman

14. The Coco Cola Sign Blinds My Eyes

15. All I Want To Say

16. All Because Of A Woman

Tracks 12 to 16 are Side 1 of the album "Mordicai Jones" by MORDICAI JONES (featuring Link and Doug Wray) – released November 1971 in the USA on Polydor PD 5010 and March 1972 in the UK on Polydor Super 2391 010. The American hard-card artwork was a gatefold sleeve – its front, rear and inner is reproduced in full on Pages 16 to 18 of the booklet. The single matt sleeve issued in the UK has the photo of 'Wray's Shack 3 Tracks' (on the inner American gatefold) as the cover of the British LP.

Disc 2 (72:24 minutes):

1. On The Run

2. Son Of A Simple Man

3. Precious Jewel

4. Days Before Custer

5. Gandy Dancer

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side of "Mordicai Jones" as per tracks 12 to 16 on Disc 1

6. Beans And Fatback

7. I'm So Glad, I'm So Proud

8. Shawnee Tribe

9. Hobo Man

10. Georgia Pines

11. Alabama Electric Circus

12. Water Boy [Side 2]

13. From Tulsa To North Carolina

14. Right Or Wrong (You Lose)

15. In The Pines

16. Take My Hand (Precious Lord)

Tracks 6 to 16 are the album "Beans And Fatback" – released September 1973 in the UK on Virgin Records V 2006 (no US issue)

BONUS TRACK:

17. I'm So Glad, I'm So Proud (UK 45 Edit) – issued as UK 7" single in September 1973 on Virgin Records VS 103. Its non-edited B-side is the album track "Shawnee Tribe".

You can't argue that the chunky 28-page booklet scrimps it on details or photos – recounting his career from Fifties and Sixties 'rumble' style guitar Rock 'n' Roll into these three albums - a 70's change of gear into Americana where the loud guitars of old are replaced with downhome acoustic tunes. The fantastic DAVE BURKE and ALLAN TAYLOR liner notes (co-editors of the "Pipeline" Fanzine on Rock Instrumentals) also do a lot to unravel the mysterious 'Mordicai Jones' project issued only months after the failed "Link Wray" album of June 1971. It turns out that the stunning Terry Reid-type vocals by the fictional Mordicai Jones character are in fact by Gene Johnson and not the keyboardist in Wray’s band Bobby Howard (as had been presumed). But the big news for fans (apart from the availability of this music after decades in the wilderness) is the amazingly clear remasters by long-time Engineer NICK ROBBINS – a name that has graced hundreds of quality British reissues. There is nothing lo-fi about these transfers despite how the original recordings were laid down. The "Beans And Fatback" album from 1973 is notoriously known as no more than 'live outtakes' done at the Shack sessions and were considered by Wray to be inferior. They were then sold without Wray’s knowledge or permission to Virgin – but as luck would have it - the album was met with affection by fans (the rockier side of the recordings) and is revered to this day as a highlight in his career. A world away from his previous style of instrumental Rock 'n' Roll guitar – the two more Folksy albums were not well received at the time. "Link Wray" barely scraped into No. 186 on the American album charts in July 1971 (lasting only 4 weeks) - while the pseudonym "Mordicai Jones" project advertised in early June 1971 but not released until November simply confused people and most ignored it. Let's get to the music...

The openers "La De Da" and "Take Me Home Jesus" set the tone for the "Link Wray" album – The Band recording Americana with two-fingers held up to 24-track mixing consoles. There's Washboard melodrama to the catchy "Juke Box Mama" which Polydor USA put on the flipside of the 45 for the beautiful "Fallin' Rain" (Polydor PD 14096). We get a little Elvin Bishop and J.J. Cale with the very cool chugger "Rise And Fall Of Jimmy Stokes" which chronicles a boy with a shirt on his back trying to make it in the big city. It's amazing to think now that something as obviously lovely and topical as "Fallin' Rain" with lyrics like "...where kids lay bleeding on the ground...there's no place where peace can be found..." didn’t make an impression on the radios of the day – very Mickey Newbury and Eric Andersen. The hugely likeable "Fire And Brimstone" opens Side 2 in style – Jug Band music with a Mungo Jerry commerciality. "Ice People" bemoans the Red Man’s fate on the Reservation and again Link's vocals remind you of Levon Helm at his touching best. The ragged electric lead guitar in "God Out West" is the nearest nod to his loud 'rumbling' style of old (that guitar sound would turn up on the outtakes album "Beans And Fatback" in 1973). The acoustic-slide Blues of "Crowbar" reminds me of James Taylor's "Steamroller" on "Sweet Baby James" where Link tells his girl "...I'm a crowbar baby and I’m sure gonna ply you loose..." (how very gentlemanly of him). The opening flickering mandolin strums of "Black River Swamp" suit an impossibly laconic melody that’s full of Southern Soul (voices and guitars recorded for pure feel). Wray means it as he sings "...I can hear them bullfrogs croaking...calling me back to my childhood...down here in Black River Swamp..." The album ends on the only cover version – a fantastic Bo Diddley guitar chug at "Tail Dragger" (written by Willie Dixon for Howlin' Wolf). I'm a sucker for slide bottleneck guitar and this baby has guitars going on everywhere as Link does his best Chester Burnett vocal growl.

One of the Backing Vocalists credited simply as 'Gene' on the "Link Wray" albums turns out to be GENE JOHNSON – the principal vocalist for the Mordicai Jones album and project (not Bobby Howard as was long thought). The moniker of Mordicai Jones might have been Polydor's way of dealing with the fan backlash/indifference to "Link Wray" (hide him behind some other band). The booklet also reproduces in full the gatefold artwork of the American LP (the shack pictured in the woods nestled in a canopy of trees). The inside photo on the inner gatefold was used by British copies on their front covers and reduced to a single matt sleeve. The inner right side of the gatefold was used as the artwork for the rear of the British LP and the album didn’t show until early 1972 (about March) where it was met with as much non-interest as it had been in 1971 USA.

The Mordicai Jones album opens with "Walkin' In The Arizona Sun" which sounds like George Harrison circa "All Things Must Pass" doing a Countryish cover of Dylan's "If Not For You". But its darker subject matter turns out to be about black men walking in the chain gang – each step another closer to Hell. But its the funky Blues of "Scorpio Woman" that unleashes Gene Johnson's fantastic voice – his straining roars sounding more like Terry Reid fronting Grand Funk Railroad or The Guess Who doing "American Woman" than the Americana of Robbie Robertson of The Band. Polydor USA tried "Scorpio Woman" as a 45 Demo on Polydor PD-14112 but it seems DJs remained unmoved. They also worked the opener "Walkin' In The Arizona Sun" on Polydor PD-14105 - but again no interest. The acoustic slide blues of "The Coco Cola Sign Blinds My Eyes" again lets Johnson's voice rip for 6:21 minutes sounding not unlike a drunk Robert Plant doing a "Physical Graffiti" number unplugged. It's impressive and a wonder Rock guys haven't zeroed in on its great James Dewar/Terry Reid Rock feel. There's traces of Big Star vocals in "All I Want To Say" and yet more Acoustic slide ends Side 1 with "All Because Of A Woman" where his woman done up and run off and left him with one can of warm beer (enough of those bullfrogs I think).

Side 2 opens like Countrified Allman Brothers with "On The Run" – all slide acoustic guitars, Dickey Betts electric guitar licks and harmonica moans. Things become Elton John piano contemplative with "Son Of A Simple Man" where Link sings the praise of his earthy father who loved hard work, his family and his friends. We get a bit Dobro ramshackle on "Precious Jewel" where Gene Johnson thinks about a girl "...way back in the hills..." who has since gone to the angels. After the rocking "Days Before Custer" the album ends on the mandolin and acoustic guitars of "Gandy Dancer" where Link's group of musicians feel like The Ozark Mountain Daredevils in the making.

Mixed by Simon Heyworth at The Manor in the UK after the American tapes were delivered - the "Beans And Fatback" album feels like the boys goofing around in the shed - but heavier than before. Each ramshackle song is usually a mandolin/electric guitar romp with one snare drum and the occasional Jews Harp thrown in – bashing out whatever Country air took their fancy. The 6:23 grunge minutes of "I'm So Glad, I'm So Proud" sounds like the spirit of Rock 'n' Roll has possessed the shed. Suddenly Link Wray 'rocks' – a huge guitar riff is quickly followed by wild soloing - as the band chugs along to the almost indecipherable mumbled lyrics. This is Neil Young circa 1972 unleashed with his guitar and he doesn’t care – just rock that sucker out baby. It's fantastic stuff. Wray moans for the whole duration of "Shawnee Tribe” like an Indian brave contemplating too much history. "Hobo Man" is a simple "silver dollar” Mandolin melody that chronicles a life spent on hot cotton fields just before the train whistle blows and calls a restless soul away. I love the instrumental "Alabama Electric Circus" – again just the band enjoying an electric guitar romp – Wray creating a boogie out of nothing.

Side 2 opens with the stunning 6:15 minutes of "Water Boy" – a song that starts out like a chain-gang thump as they rhythmically smash the hammers down. Then the slide acoustic guitars give way to a Muddy Waters "Mannish Boy" electric guitar which keeps building. Wray is given the room to shine by the counting-time beat - and off he goes – attacking Guitar growling in the echo chamber of the shed. He eventually arrives at that huge 'rumble' as the tune fades out – wowser!  Of the remainder - the acoustic-backed "Right Or Wrong (You Lose)" again features some wild and loud guitar juts when you don’t expect it - while "In The Pines" is almost Foghat in its Bluesy Rock. It ends on the echoed and eerie "Take My Hand (Precious Lord)" where Neil Young's Crazy Horse has gone Guitar Gospel crazy by way of Phil Spector (if you can imagine such a thing).

So why did it all fail – why don’t you know about these albums? I suppose you could say that all three records lacked an overall impact to make them classics of the day – but in hindsight - these Countrified Americana albums by Link Wray make for a fabulous listen - offering up music that gets to you after repeated listens – music you want to champion and rave about.

A stunning release then from Ace Records of the UK and a reminder that there’s so much great music out there to still find and cherish. Properly impressed I am...

This review and hundreds like it are available in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series - see CLASSIC 1970s ROCK on Amazon for a download - click the following link...

"[Five Years 1969-1973]" by DAVID BOWIE [featuring Mick Ronson, Marc Bolan and Tony Visconti] (September 2015 UK Parlophone 12CD Box Set – Ray Staff and John Webber Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Twig The Wonder Kid..."

I suspect David Bowie fans will be elated and peeved at this release at one and the same time. I've lived with "Five Years" for a full day now and I must say immediately that the AUDIO absolutely rocks for starters - in fact it may even be a little 'too' clean for certain palettes. That good news aside - there's precious little by way of 'unreleased' or outtakes when there was room on both of the new "Re:Call" CD compilations for plenty of it - only 4 of the album titles are 2015 Remasters ("David Bowie", "The Man Who Sold The World", "Hunky Dory" and "Pinups") - most of the rest are from previous Anniversary Editions except the 2015 Remasters on the new "Re:Call" CD compilations (see list below) - and there are piffling packaging anomalies that are bugging the crap out of me. And that's before we talk about the hefty price tag that hurt my Debit Card this a.m. - way more than it should have done. There’s a Hell of a lot to get through so once more unto the Spacemen floating around in Tin Cans...

UK and USA released Friday, 25 September 2015 - "[Five Years 1969-1973]" by DAVID BOWIE on Parlophone DBX 1 (Barcode 0825646284085) is a 12CD Box Set with a 128-Page Hardback Book and pans out as follows (there is a Vinyl version, but no Auto-Rip or Download):

Disc 1, DBX1-1 - "David Bowie" [aka "Space Oddity"] 2015 REMASTER (46:18 minutes):

1. Space Oddity

2. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed

3. Letter To Hermione

4. Cygnet Committee

5. Janine [Side 2]

6. An Occasional Dream

7. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud

8. God Only Knows

9. Memory Of A Free Festival

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "David Bowie" – released 14 November 1969 in the UK on Phillips SBL 7902 and in the USA as "Man Of Words/Man Of Music" on Mercury SR-61246 but with slightly altered artwork. It was reissued in the UK in November 1972 - again with altered artwork. Photos of the original US LP and the British repress are featured on Page 6 of the Hardback Book. Each of the CDs in this Box Set comes in a rounded protective plastic housed inside an exact repro of the British LP sleeve. "David Bowie" has a matt gatefold card sleeve and even sports a paper repro of the Inner Mercury Records protective LP Bag. The CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 2, DBX1-2 - "The Man Who Sold The World" 2015 REMASTER (41:16 minutes):

1. The Width Of A Circle

2. All The Madmen

3. Black Country Rock

4. After All

5. Running Gun Blues [Side 2]

6. Saviour Machine

7. She Shook Me Cold

8. The Man Who Sold The World

9. The Supermen

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "The Man Who Sold The World" – released 4 November 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR 61325 and 10 April 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 041. The US, UK and GERMAN releases all famously sported different artwork. The single-sleeve British issue is housed in what's commonly known as the 'Dress Sleeve' - which is what the CD here uses (complete with its textured feel). The Cartoon Drawing of the US original and the 'Flying Bowie Face' artwork of the German LP are reproduced in the booklet - as is the British October 1972 UK LP reissue on RCA Victor LSP 4816 – again with different artwork (the black and white photo of Bowie kicking his leg in the air). The CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 3, DBX1-3  – "Hunky Dory" 2015 REMASTER – 38:37 minutes:

1. Changes

2. Oh! You Pretty Things

3. Eight Line Poem

4. Life On Mars?

5. Kooks

6. Quicksand

7. Fill Your Heart [Side 2]

8. Andy Warhol

9. Song For Bob Dylan

10. Queen Bitch

11. The Bewlay Brothers

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Hunky Dory" – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623. The CD cover artwork for some reason has a 'Parlophone' logo in the top left corner when it should read RCA on the left with VICTOR on the right. The correct artwork is pictured in the booklet with a rare alternate rear sleeve where Bowie has hand-written all the credits including the musicians. The lyric insert that came with all original LP copies is also reproduced and the CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 4, DBX1-4 - "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" 2012 REMASTER (38:37 minutes):

1. Five Years

2. Soul Love

3. Moonage Daydream

4. Starman

5. It Ain't Easy

6. Lady Stardust [Side 2]

7. Star

8. Hang On To Yourself

9. Ziggy Stardust

10. Suffragette City

11. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702. This CD is the 2012 Digital Remaster.

Disc 5, DBX1-5 - "Pinups" 2015 REMASTER (34:01 minutes):

1. Rosalyn [The Pretty Things cover]

2. Here Comes The Night [Them cover]

3. I Wish You Would [Billy Boy Arnold cover]

4. See Emily Play [Pink Floyd cover]

5. Everything’s Alright [The Mojos cover]

6. I Can't Explain [The Who cover]

7. Friday On My Mind [The Easybeats cover] - [Side 2]

8. Sorrow [The Merseybeats cover]

9. Don’t Bring Me Down [Johnnie Dee cover]

10. Shapes Of Things [The Yardbirds cover]

11. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere [The Who cover]

12. Where Have All The Good Times Gone [The Kinks cover]

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Pinups" – an entire LP of cover versions released November 1973 in the UK on RCA RS 1003 and in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0291. The CD repro has the insert that came with original LPs and the CD is a new 2015 Remaster.

Disc 6, DBX1-6 – "Aladdin Sane" 2013 REMASTER (41:47 minutes):

1. Watch That Man (New York)

2. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (R.H.M.S. "Ellinis")

3. Drive-In Saturday (Seattle - Phoenix)

4. Panic In Detroit (Detroit)

5. Cracked Actor (Los Angeles)

6. Time (New Orleans) – [Side 2]

7. The Prettiest Star (Gloucester Road)

8. Let’s Spend The Night Together

9. The Jean Genie (Detroit and New York)

10. Lady Grinning Soul (London)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the studio album "Aladdin Sane" – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852. The card repro has the original gatefold sleeve, inner lyric card and the 'Fan-Club Invite' that came with some original copies of the vinyl LP. The CD is the 40th Anniversary RAY STAFF REMASTER issued in 2013.

Disc 7, DBX1-7 – "Live Santa Monica '72" 2008 REMASTER (74:20 minutes):

1. Introduction

2. Hang On To Yourself

3. Ziggy Stardust

4. Changes

5. The Supermen

6. Life On Mars?

7. Five Years

8. Space Oddity

9. Andy Warhol

10. My Death

11. The Width Of A Circle

12. Queen Bitch

13. Moonage Daydream

14. John, I'm Only Dancing

15. Waiting For The Man

16. The Jean Genie

17. Suffragette City

18. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

Tracks 1 to 18 were recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 20 October 1972 – officially released worldwide 30 July 2008 as "Live Santa Monica '72" on EMI BOWLIVE 201702. The Inner sleeve is reproduced and this CD is the 2008 Remaster.

Disc 8, DBX1 - "Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars – The Motion Picture Soundtrack" 2003 REMASTER

CD1 (40:34 minutes):

1. Introduction

2. Hang On To Yourself

3. Ziggy Stardust

4. Watch That Man

5. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud

6. All The Young Dudes

7. Oh! You Pretty Things

8. Moonage Daydream

9. Changes

10. Space Oddity

11. My Death

CD2 (42:57 minutes):

1. Introduction

2. Cracked Actor

3. Time

4. The Width Of A Circle

5. Let’s Spend The Night Together

6. Suffragette City

7. White Light / White Heat

8. Farewell Speech

9. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

Recorded 3 July 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London - original mix UK released October 1983 as a double-album on RCA Victor PL 84862(2). This version is the 2003 "30th Anniversary" Remaster released 1 April 2003 on EMI ZIGGYRIP 3773.

Disc 9, DBX1-10 – "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2003 Mix)" (38:29 minutes):

1. Five Years

2. Soul Love

3. Moonage Daydream

4. Starman

5. It Ain’t Easy

6. Lady Stardust [Side 2]

7. Star

8. Hang On To Yourself

9. Ziggy Stardust

10. Suffragette City

11. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

Tracks 1 to 11 first released in 29 September 2003 in 5.1 on the SACD of "Ziggy Stardust" on EMI 521 9002. First released in Stereo at 48Hz/24bit on 4 June 2012 on the EMI 40th Anniversary DVD/LP Edition of "Ziggy Stardust". First time on CD outside of those two previous versions. 2003 Remaster.

Disc 10, DBX1-10 – "Re:Call 1" (Non Album Singles, Single Versions & B-Sides)

CD1 (40:09 minutes):

1. Space Oddity (Original UK Mono Single Edit)

A-side of a UK 7" single released 11 July 1969 in Mono on Phillips BF 1801

2. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (Original UK Mono Single Version)

B-side of "Space Oddity" – it's a different earlier version to the one re-recorded for the LP

3. Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola

An Italian Version of "Space Oddity" recorded in the UK in December 1969 (after the release of the album) and released February 1970 in Italy on Philips 704 208. It came in a very rare Picture Sleeve that is reproduced in the hardback book. The title translates into English as "Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl".

4. The Prettiest Star (Original Mono Single Version)

Rrecorded in London in early January 1970, it was released 6 March 1970 in the UK as the Mono A-side to Philips MF 1135. Tony Visconti plays Bass and Marc Bolan of T.Rex plays second guitar.

5. Conversation Piece

Non-album B-side to "The Prettiest Star" (as per Track 4) - features Mick Wayne on Guitar, John Lodge on Bass and John Cambridge on Drums (all from the band Junior's Eyes) 

6. Memory Of A Free Festival Part 1

March 1970 re-recorded 'electric' version of the album track from the "Space Oddity" LP – released 26 June 1970 as the Stereo A-side to a UK 7" single on Mercury 6052 028

7. Memory Of A Free Festival Part 2

Stereo B-side of Track 6. Song features Mick Ronson on Guitar and Solo backing Vocals, Tony Visconti on Bass, Ralph Mace on Piano and John Cambridge of Junior's Eyes on Drums.

8. All The Madmen (Mono Single Edit) –

9. Janine (Mono)

Tracks 8 and 9 were a planned US 45 on Mercury 73173 but was cancelled (demos exist on Mercury DJ-311 with the mono edit of "All The Madmen" on 'both' sides). The A-side (track 8) is a Mono Edit of the longer Stereo cut on the LP and "Janine" is a Mono version of the full Stereo LP cut.

10. Holy Holy (Original Mono Single Version)

Non-album single – the Stereo A-side was recorded November 1970 and UK released 15 January 1971 on Mercury 6052 049. Its flipside was "Black Country Rock" from "The Man Who Sold The World" LP. Alan Parker from Blue Mink, Rumplestiltskin, CCS and Ugly Custard played Guitar, Herbie Flowers (later with Sky) played Bass and Barry Morgan from Blue Mink played Drums.

11. Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns Single Version)

12. Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns Single Version)

Tracks 11 and 12 are credited to THE ARNOLD CORNS and are early versions of two tracks that would be on the 1972 "Ziggy Stardust" album. They were recorded February 1971 in London and UK released 7 May 1971 on B&C Records CB 149.

NOTES: Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are MONO while 3, 6 and 7 are STEREO - all 2015 REMASTERS.

CD2 (40:43 minutes):

1. Changes (Mono Single Version)

2. Andy Warhol (Mono Single Version)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 7" single released 7 December 1971 on RCA Victor 74-065 - 7 January 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor RCA 2160.

The B-side "Any Warhol" is in Mono and edits out the studio chatter that's on the "Hunky Dory" LP version

3. Starman (Original Single Mix)

Remixed by he original Producer Ken Scott in London in March 1972 - released 28 April 1972 with the "Ziggy Stardust" album version of "Suffragette City" as its B-side

4. John, I'm Only Dancing (Original Single Version)

Recorded in London with Mick Ronson on Guitar and Mick Woodmansey on Drums on the 26th of June 1972 - it was released 1 September 1972 as a UK (and European) 7" single on RCA Victor RCA 2263 with the "Ziggy Stardust" album version of "Hang On To Yourself" as its B-side. It was considered 'too risque' for the American market (oh dear)

5. The Jean Genie (Original Single Mix)

Recorded and Mixed in October 1972 in New York and Nashville - it was UK and US released 24 November 1972 on RCA Victor RCA 2302 in the UK and RCA 74-0838 in the USA. Ken Scott later remixed it again for inclusion on the 1973 album "Aladdin Sane"

6. Drive-In Saturday (German Single Edit)

Released 6 April 1973 around the world as a 7" single - however - the German version on RCA Victor 74-16321 was a unique 'edit'

7. Round And Round

A Chuck Berry cover version originally recorded during the "Ziggy Stardust" album sessions - turned up as the non-album B-side to "Drive-In Saturday" released 6 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RCA 2352. Features Mick Ronson on Guitar and Mick Woodmansey on Drums

8. John, I'm Only Dancing (Sax Version)

Recorded in London on the 20th of January 1973 - this 'Saxophone' Version eventually replaced the first pressings of RCA Victor RCA 2263. Ken Fordham plays the Saxophone.

9. Time (U.S. Single Edit)

A unique 'edit' of the longer album version - issued in two territories - 1 June 1973 in the USA on RCA APBO-0001 with "The Prettiest Star" as its flipside - and with "Panic In Detroit" as its B-side in Japan on RCA SS-2299

10. Amsterdam

A Jacque Brel cover version with English translation lyrics by Mort Shuman. It was recorded during the "Ziggy Stardust" album sessions and considered for release on that album - but eventually showed up 12 October 1973 in the UK as a non-album 7" single B-side to "Sorrow" (from the "Pinups" LP)

11. Holy Holy (Spiders Version)

A re-recording of a 1971 single - turned up 14 June 1974 in the UK on RCA Victor APBO 0283 as the non-album 7" single B-side to "Diamond Dogs"

12. Velvet Goldmine

A "Ziggy Stardust" outtake finally released 26 September 1975 on RCA Victor RCA 2593 in the UK along with "Changes" as a B-side on the 3-track 'Maximillion' single for the reissue of the album version of "Space Oddity"

NOTES: Tracks 1 and 2 are MONO while all others are STEREO. All tracks are 2015 REMASTERS except 3, 4, 5 and 8 which are 2014 REMASTERS that first turned up on the 2014 "Nothing Has Changed" 2CD and 3CD sets.

PACKAGING:

I don’t know why they attach a page to the back of these glossy boxes that will obviously fall off the second you remove the shrinkwrap and leave you with no info but the bare sleeve – but once again that's what you get here. On first opening the set I was underwhelmed by its 6-inch Cube size (weighty though) – but once inside the pull out glossy tray reveals a perfectly lined-up set of 5" Card Repro Sleeves nestled beside a chunky Hardback book. Aesthetically – the look is classy.

Each album comes in its own card repro sleeve (most based on the British releases) – all sporting their various original vinyl accompaniments – the inserts for "Hunky Dory" and "Pinups" – the inner sleeves for "Ziggy" and "Aladdin Sane" – the gatefold sleeve for "David Bowie" – the stippled effect on the withdrawn dress sleeve of "The Man Who Sold The World" – the inner bags for the later albums etc. And the (non-numbered) 128-page hardback book is beautiful to look at and dip into – festooned with a lifetime of fan collected items – concert tickets, rare picture sleeves, posters, trade adverts from the USA and UK as well as NME and New Musical Express reviews of the albums, handwritten lyrics, tape boxes galore, photo shoots in black and white and colour etc. There’s a Ray Davies (of The Kinks) Intro and replacing conventional liner notes - each album credit is followed by a detailed recalling of the recording process by the original album Producers KEN SCOTT and TONY VISCONTI. It's a brilliant and genuinely informative way to enlighten each record – words from those who actually made them. Parlophone have even used Mick Rock photos to create the new "Re:Call" compilations (this is '1' - the next will be '2' as the forthcoming box sets ascend in numbers) – it’s all very classy. But...

While there's tasteful attention to detail on the repros and in the hardback book (the CD labels for the Mercury albums are black to reflect the original LP label look, orange for RCA, "Aladdin Sane" has its Fan-club insert and so on) – there's also some dreadful howlers. The card artwork for "Hunky Dory" and both of the "Ziggy Stardust" card sleeves now have very obvious 'PARLOPHONE Records' logos on their sleeves when it should of course read 'RCA Victor'. To a fan that’s grown up with these classics all three repros look stupid and odd. "Hunky Dory" also has a 'gloss cover' when it was always plain matt on British LPs. The "David Bowie" and "The Man Who Sold The World" repro 'spines' suddenly have 'PARLOPHONE' on them as catalogue numbers (none of the others do) as well. So much for 'painstaking original issue detail'. The otherwise beautifully laid out hardback book inside the box lists both "Aladdin Sane" and "Pinups" as being released April 1973 when it should read April 1973 and November 1973 respectively. 

There are also sloppy exclusions. Parlophone went to the trouble of repro'ing pointless white inner bags for "Pinups" and "The Man Who Sold The World" – but then didn’t reproduce the foldout poster that came with the 1972 reissue of "Space Oddity" as a tasty foldout addition. The lyrics are reproduced on card sleeves, inner sleeves and so on but because they're small - it’s hard to read them. As they're 'not' included in the hardback book - I would have put a separate booklet inside each card sleeve with the words so you can read them properly - lyrics being such an integral part of Bowie's mystique and allure. That booklet could have featured all three cover-variants of "Space Oddity" for instance (UK, USA and German) as a feature. And as you can see from the list above – the box set's own internal numbering system of DBX1-1 to DBX1-10 is all screwed up with "Ziggy Stardust 2003 Mix" and "Re:Call 1" 'both' having a DBX1-10 catalogue number while the Motion Picture double of "Ziggy Stardust" has no extension number at all (just says DBX1). My gripes may be a bit piddly I know – but when you’re paying close to one hundred quid for this sucker (or one twenty dollars) – someone should really have gotten it right. Those 'Parlophone' logos on the two biggies ("Hunky Dory" and "Ziggy Stardust") just grate and definitely feel like the makers of this set are hijacking history to suit their corporate acquisition. Docked a star for sloppiness and an excessive price too...

SOUND:

But all of that small change stuff goes out the window once you clap ears on the new RAY STAFF Remasters - beautifully clean and full of genuine presence. Ray Staff handled the stunning 40th Anniversary Remaster of "Aladdin Sane" in 2013 (see separate review) – and has clearly made his mark with Bowie because he's been asked back to cover the Transfers and Remasters on this prestigious release (with some Mastering help from JOHN WEBBER). Playing "Hunky Dory" for instance is a revelation – the whimsy of "Kooks" – the ballsy kick out of "Queen Bitch" - the huge Acoustic sound on "The Bewlay Brothers" and so on. Comparing it with the 2003 Mix – you’d have to say that the Bass and Drums now have amazing clarity and sweetness too. I'm probably going to be shot with a shovel for this but I've always thought 1972's "Ziggy Stardust" was a lesser album than 1971's "Hunky Dory" – but personal opinions aside - you can't argue that the 2012 Remaster isn’t anything but a wonder. I cranked his fantastic cover version of Ron Davies "It Ain’t Easy" (covered by Three Dog Night and John Baldry also) and did the same for the sheer hutzpah of "Suffragette City' - and both knocked my Aural earmuffs off. But as ever – for some reason that guitar riff in the "Ziggy Stardust" track itself always still seems to lack any 'real' punch – it's good – just never 'great'. 

But if I’m honest I think the best sonic improvement is with the underrated covers album "Pinups" – every track seems hugely improved on this 2015 Version - especially his take on "Rosalyn" by The Pretty Things or The Who's "I Can't Explain" and Johnnie Dee's obscure "Don't Bring Me Down" both thumping way above their previous CD weight. Staff has also done wonders with the 2015 remaster of "The Man Who Sold The World" album which now sounds both utterly amazing and like some forgotten masterpiece everyone's let slip by. The guitars on "The Width Of A Circle" are mindblowingly good - as are David's upfront vocals on "Black Country Rock" - and those layered voices on the title track are so cleverly arranged (I'd honestly forgotten how good this album is). And although its pure speculation on my part and without saying so anywhere on the packaging – I can’t help feel that these gold-layered CDs are actually Japanese-pressed SHMs (Super High Materials) used to get the best Fidelity (they play on all machines) – but I'm open to correction on that...

SUMMARY:
Minor packaging rants aside (and I take on board the high cost issue) – the bottom line is this – these 2015 Ray Staff Remasters are the best that Bowie’s catalogue has ever sounded and I’m certain that as I wade through this set in the next week, months and years that I’ll keep returning to these new Audios with a sense of glee and not weariness. And in its high gloss heavy box - it's also beautiful to look at and classily presented - and 'if' they are SHM-CDs in those individual protective plastics - then that will save fans a ton of money when the inevitable Japanese 5" mini LP repros turn up end of the year or in early 2016.

Fans will have to have it of course – but casual buyers should wait until the individual releases are released (probably in jewel cases rather than repro artwork) and pick off what they really want - disregarding the rest. Me – frankly I'm already lusting after the 1974 to 1980 period stuff and the "Re:Call 2" set when it turns up in the next lavish and expensive Space Captain splurge. Twig the wonder kid indeed...

FOOTNOTE (February 2016):
Since his death there's been the inevitable plethora of tributes and assessments but only one has really touched me. In the February 2016 issue of the RECORD COLLECTOR magazine (No. 450 with Black Sabbath on the cover) is a tribute by KRIS NEEDS that gives us 30 reasons as to "What David Did For Us All" (Pages 56 to 61). Articulate, sensitive and heartfelt - the piece eschews the academic and goes straight to the nub of why his death has affected so many and has been felt so deeply. It’s beautifully written, insightful and above all does Bowie’s brilliance the solid it so deserves. If you're a fan or even curious as to what all the fuss is about - you 'must' read it. And as something of a writer and long-time reviewer myself - I humbly nod my cap to Kris for nailing it. We loved this musical and cultural innovator and it hurts way too much that David Bowie is gone leaving us with such a giant-sized hole in our musical lives...