"The Other Side Of The Trax: Stax-Volt 45rpm Rarities 1964-1968" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2016 Ace/Kent Soul CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Under My Nose..."

Having reviewed all three of the mammoth Stax Singles box sets (9CDs for Volume 1, 9CDs for Volume 2 and 10CDs for Volume 3) and all 9 of the "Stax Remasters" individual album reissues – you could say I’m a fan. And when I read this CD would contain 24 non-album B-sides (all making their digital debut) - my chapped lips were getting moist at the mere sight of "The Other Side Of The Trax..." on the release schedules for January 2016. So before this review gets any more lewd or lippy – let's get to those B-sides that haven't seen the digital light of day for nearly fifty years...

UK released Friday, 29 January 2016 (February 2016 in the USA) – "The Other Side Of The Trax: Stax-Volt 45rpm Rarities 1964-1968" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 442 (Barcode 029667244220) is a 24-track CD compilation of American 45 B-sides on Stax and Volt Records and plays out as follows (61:32 minutes):

1. Changes – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (February 1966, B-side of "I Had A Dream" on Stax 186)

2. Separation – CARLA THOMAS (December 1967, B-side of "Pick Up The Pieces" on Stax 239)

3. This Kind Of Woman – IVORY JOE HUNTER (August 1964, B-side of "Can't Explain How It Happened" on Stax 155)

4. Sho' Gonna Mess Him Up – RUFUS THOMAS (June 1965, B-side of "Willy Nilly" on Stax 173)

5. You Belong To Her – BARBARA and THE BROWNS (March 1964, B-side to "Big Party" on Stax 150)

6. Don't Stop Now – WILLIAM BELL (July 1965, B-side of "Crying All By Myself" on Stax 174)

7. Beach Bash – THE MAR-KEYS (August 1964, B-side of "Bush Bash" on Stax 156)

8. My Pride Won't Let Me Be – EDDIE PURRELL (April 1967, B-side of "The Spoiler" on Volt 145)

9. I Need Somebody – JOHNNY DAYE (November 1967, B-side of "What'll I Do For Satisfaction?" on Stax 238)

10. Uh-Oh (I'm In Love Again) – EDDIE JEFFERSON (February 1964, B-side of "I Don't Want You Anymore" on Stax 147)

11. Watchdog – DOROTHY WILLIAMS (June 1964, B-side of "Closer To My Baby" on Volt 118)

12. You'll Never Know How Much I Love You – OSCAR MACK (May 1964, B-side of "Dream Girl" on Stax 152)

13. Please Be Honest With Me – BARBARA and THE BROWNS (September 1964, B-side of "Spunky" on Stax 158)

14. Ain't Got No Girl – WILLIAM BELL (November 1967, B-side of "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday" on Stax 237)

15. A Boy Named Tom – CARLA THOMAS (July 1964, B-side to "I've Got No Time To Lose" on Atlantic 2238)

16. Sweet Thing – GORGEOUS GEORGE (February 1965, B-side to "Biggest Fool In Town" on Stax 165)

17. Hey Now – EDDIE FLOYD (June 1967, B-side to "Love Is A Doggone Good Thing" on Stax 223)

18. The Big Dipper – SIR ISAAC & THE DO-DADS (November 1965, B-side to "Blue Groove" on Volt 129)

19. We're Tight – RUFUS and CARLA THOMAS (August 1965, B-side to "When You Move You Lose" on Stax 176)

20. I Gotta Have My Baby's Love – SIR MACK RICE (June 1967, B-side of "Love Sickness" on Stax 220)

21. Under My Nose – EDDIE FLOYD (September 1967, B-side to "On A Saturday Night" on Stax 233)

22. Bashful Guitar – JOHNNY JENKINS (October 1964, B-side to "Spunky" on Volt 122)

23. Here I Am – LINDA LYNDELL (March 1968, B-side to "Bring Your Love Back To Me" on Volt 161)

24. Strange Things (Happenin' In My Heart) – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (November 1967, B-side to "Someone's Sleeping In My Bed" on Stax 235)

NOTES: all tracks in MONO except track 1 - which is STEREO

The 16-page booklet has new liner notes from Soul Expert and genre compiler TONY ROUNCE with the text peppered by black and white Stax publicity stills of Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, Eddie Purrell, Rufus Thomas and Eddie Floyd (and others) as well as repos of rare labels like "You Belong To Her" by Barbara and The Browns on Stax S-150 – a B-side you rarely ever clap eyes on. Rounce talks of the Soul label's policy of making the flip just as sexy as the A in a time when 7" singles dominated the jukeboxes and airwaves and albums were still something of an afterthought. It's a typically informative and affectionate rear. DUNCAN COWELL – a long-time Audio Engineer for Ace Records and Sony’s Blue Horizon has handled the transfers and produced stunning sound. 23 are in Mono with the opener in STEREO – yet all feel alive and kicking...another great job done...

It opens on a dancefloor stormer – Johnnie Taylor assuring his woman that his 'changes' shouldn't worry her – what a decent chap. Carla Thomas gives Northern Soul boys something to savour in her excellent "Separation" from 1967 – a great brassy groover. New Orleans R&B creeps into the rhythms of Ivory Joe Hunter's unusual "This Kind Of Woman" where he wants a woman who loves for him to be around home (good luck with the search Ivory). "...Find me a pistol and a nickel baseball bat..." - Rufus Thomas advises the man whose stolen his baby to cough up in the witty "Sho' Gonna Mess Him Up" or the graveyard (and not the saloon) will be his next port of call. The sweet voice of Barbara Brown sings of a man with a child who wants her – but she reminds him of where his rightful place should be in the mid-tempo "You Belong To Her". I've never heard The Mar-Keys instrumental B-side "Beach Bash" – the imaginatively-titled flip to "Bush Bash" on the A – and it's a winner. Piano rolling keys align with Sax jabs and a driving backbeat – some dancefloor somewhere is gonna dig it. The Eddie Purrell flipside is good but I find his vocals strangely off – better is the fabulous groove of "I Need Somebody" by Johnny Daye – now here's a flipside dancers will indeed flip for – and first time on CD too.

Although his croaky vocals don't fit the belting Otis Redding style of the time – Eddie Jefferson has sweetness to his phrasing and along with that seaside organ running through "Uh-Oh (I'm In Love Again)" gives the song a wonderful feel – like your discovering something magic. Genius choice goes to "Watchdog" by Dorothy Williams where her Big Mama Thornton meets Etta James growl anchors a fantastic dancer (what a find). Oscar Mack's 1964 offering "You'll Never Know How Much I Love You" will please Northern Soul lovers with its frantic pace and slightly off-kilter home-made vocals. Probably the best track on here is another Barbara Brown entry – "Please Be Honest With Me" – a wicked 'darling please' pleader with a funky guitar refrain supporting her fantastic 'soul on fire' vocal delivery throughout.

William Bell once again gets Brass-driving Funky with his groover "Ain't Got No Girl" which even sports strange flute flourishes towards the end that work (could have been an 'A' this). Not sure if I like Carla Thomas' 'sugar plum' lyrics in the sappy "A Boy Named Tom" – better is the testifying "Sweet Thing" by Gorgeous George – a properly good dancer anchored by his moaning gargles-gravel-for-breakfast voice. Another absolute genius choice by Tony Rounce goes to the wickedly infectious "Hey Now" by Eddie Floyd – a guitar-and-piano bopper that trundles along like Big Joe Turner finding his Atlantic mojo again and suddenly deciding to give Soul a go. When I reviewed Volume 1 of the 3 mammoth Stax/Volt Singles Box Sets ("The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 was reissued in January 2016 at mid-price and contains the A's of every track on here) – I raved about discoveries like "Blue Groove" by Sir Isaac & The Do-Dads. Well it turns out that the flipside "The Big Dipper" is equally up to the task – a great instrumental groover. But then I stumble on my fave-rave here – another Eddie Floyd B-side I've been after for years – "Under My Nose" – the flipside to "On A Saturday Night" from 1967. What a winner...

I've always loved the idea of non-album B-sides – flipping a 45 rpm - a concept that in 2016 must seen odd to younger listeners used to a digital world and download delivery system. But this CD compilation only confirms for me the magic of 45s – how there always seems to be something great to discover on them (dippin' in - like double-albums).

I must admit though that it took a second and third listen to fully appreciate the musical wallop of what's on here – but now I'm chewing it up. And as Tony Rounce quite rightly says – Stax had a policy of making sure that 'the backing song was as good as the top side' – and this fabulous CD Reissue of Stax Rarities sure nails that idea to the wall...digital or otherwise...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK & JAZZ FUSION - an E-Book with over 240 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Life, Love And Faith/Southern Nights/Motion" by ALLEN TOUSSAINT (November 2015 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation - 3LPs from 1972, 1975 and 1978 emastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Soul Brother..." 

In November 2009 me and 'she who must be paid on Fridays' went to see The Blind Boys Of Alabama do a one-off gig at the Barbican Theatre in London. We took our cheap-as-politicians £10 seats and out came a lone 'Southern gentleman' who sat down at his beautiful Steinway piano and smiled at the shuffling crowd. Most were there to hear The Blind Boys do 'The Wire' theme song (their wickedly good cover of Tom Waits' "Down In The Hole") – but some were more excited about this support act – ALLEN TOUSSAINT. He began in on his staggering repertoire that goes back to his days with Fats Domino in the Fifties and then as a writer with Minit Records from 1960 onwards.

After several recognizable classics (hits from Clarence Frogman Henry, Ernie K Doe and the lovely "With You In Mind" which Art Neville made a feature in 1991 on his "Warm Your Heart" album) – he smiled and said "...here's another song you might know..." A slow buzz began going around the hall - this New Orleans tunesmith guy is a bit special and goes 'way back'. And he was special. I couldn't believe my luck. Ten quid for this double dose of genius! Toussaint was typically brilliant – chatty, humble, steeped in decades of musical history. It was magical really. The Blind Boys and him even signed CDs after the gig in the foyer (old school class). Allen Toussaint sadly passed in November 2015 – one of the great 'backroom boys' of Soul & New Orleans R&B. And that’s where this fab Beat Goes On twofer comes in. Here be the gentlemanly details...

UK released Friday, 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) – "Life, Love And Faith/Southern Nights/Motion" by ALLEN TOUSSAINT on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1211 (Barcode 5017261212115) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (74:22 minutes):
1. Victims Of The Darkness
2. Am I Expecting Too Much?
3. My Baby Is The Real Thing
4. Goin' Down
5. She Once Belonged To Me
6. Out Of The City (Into Country Life)
7. Soul Sister – Side 2
8. Fingers And Toes
9. I've Got To Convince Myself
10. On My Way Down
11. Gone Too Far
12. Electricity
Tracks 1 to 12 are his 2nd album "Life, Love And Faith" – released July 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2060 and in the UK on Reprise K 44202.

13. Last Train
14. World Wide World Wide
15. Back In Baby's Arms
16. Country John
17. Basic Lady
18. Southern Nights
19. You Will Not Lose
20. What Do You Want The Girl To Do?
21. What The Party's Over
22. Cruel Way To Go Down
Tracks 13 to 22 are his 3rd album "Southern Nights" – released May 1975 in the USA on Reprise MS 2186 and in the UK on Reprise K 54021

Disc 2 (39:46 minutes):
1. Night People
2. Just A Kiss Away
3. With You In Mind
4. Lover Of Love
5. To Be With You
6. Motion – Side 2
7. Viva La Money
8. Declaration Of Love
9. Happiness
10. The Optimism Blues
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "Motion" – released July 1978 in the USA on Reprise BSK 3142 and in the UK on Reprise K 56473.

As befits a maverick of his stature – the 24-page booklet is properly chunky and Mojo’s principal Jazz/Soul writer CHARLES WARING is enjoying himself recounting Toussaint's many (largely unheralded) achievements. There are album credits for all three LPs, discussions of his long history in the American Music business and it even reproduces the Lee Hildebrand liner notes for his 1972 Reprise Records debut album "Life, Love And Faith" on Pages 3 to 5. ANDREW THOMPSON has carried out the new 2015 Remasters/Transfers and they sing like a Dixie Band stepping lively behind a casket on a sunny afternoon. These CDs sound fabulous...and on many of the groovy passages in songs like "Out Of The City (Into Country Life)" or the busy changes in the album cut of "Country John" (which has a flanged "Southern Nights" refrain) – all pack a really great sonic punch.

A bit of history first. Although not covered by this BGO compilation - Toussaint’s debut album "Toussaint" from 1970 on Scepter Records got him accolades as a songwriter of repute. That knack for penning a melody/groove also got his songs covered by a huge array of musical luminaries with Soul tingling in their Souls. British vocalist Frankie Miller gave a whole album over to his songs in "High Life" from 1974 on Chrysalis. Robert Palmer did "Night People" on his "Double Fun" LP in 1974 – Bonnie Raitt covered "What Do You Want The Girl To Do?" on her "Home Plate" album in 1975, one of the outtakes that turned up on the 2CD Rhino reissue of Little Feat's magnificent live album "Waiting For Columbus" was Toussaint's "On My Way Down" - and as recent as 2000 Mavis Staples did "Last Train" on her gorgeous "You Are Not Alone" album with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. The strutting Guitar-Funk-Fest that is "Goin' Down" has turned on no less than three hip WEA compilations for Rare Groove tracks – "Right On! Volume 3" (2001), "Funk Drops 2" (2002) and the wickedly good "What It Is!" 4CD Rhino box set from 2006 (see my detailed review).

As is witnessed by the credits on the rear of the 1972 vinyl LP – "Life, Love And Faith" featured a huge ensemble of musicians – members of his family and most especially members of the New Orleans Funk band The Meters (George Porter, Jr., Joseph Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli). Toussaint sang, played keyboards, acoustic guitar, harmonica and wrote/arranged all the songs. Reprise tried the slinky 'bad boots' Side 2 opener "Soul Sister" b/w "She Once Belonged To Me" as a 7” single in September 1975 on both sides of the pond (Reprise REP 1109, USA – Reprise K 14200, UK) – but it didn't make too much of an impact (good but not memorable enough for either pallet). They made the big mistake of not choosing the relentless funk of "Goin' Down" as the lead off single (now a darling of Rare Groove CD compilations), but alas. Apparently "Am I Expecting Too Much" made promo-stage on 7" in the States (Reprise REP 1132) but despite the fantastic funk in the tune – it didn't take either.

His 3rd album 1975's "Southern Nights" is probably his most popular. The productions values certainly shot through the roof – "Last Train" feeling a little the Average White Band with a different vocalist - while the mid-tempo Sax strut of "Worldwide" has more than a shade of The Meters. "Back In My Baby's Arms" is properly lovely – a sweet lilt that soothes - Arthur Neville on Organ with Deborah Paul, Joan Harmon and Sharon Neborn tearing up the backing vocals with some Soulful harmonising. The title track has always been a barnstormer whenever he did it live – a very pretty melody – and I'd swear John Lennon nicked that treated vocal sound for "Beautiful Boy" on his "Double Fantasy" album in 1980.

A West Coast stellar cast came together for 1978's "Motion" album – Larry Carlton on Guitar, Richard Tee on Piano, Chuck Rainey & Pops Popwell (of The Crusaders) on Bass, Jeff Porcaro on Drum with Bonnie Raitt, Rosemary Butler and Chess Records legend Etta James leant backing vocals to five songs (Tracks 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8). The brilliant New Orleans Funk of "Night People" opens the album on a stormer. The piano-funky "Country John" was edited for 7" single release in the USA on Reprise RPS 1334 with the chipper "When The Party's Over" on the flipside – but despite two strong sides – it failed to chart. A gorgeous album nugget is the six-minute title track "Motion" – a sweetheart of a song that swings along so sweetly and sounding just superb here (an impressive trio of ladies Etta James, Bonnie Raitt and Rosemary Butler bring up the "I love you" harmonies). And how gorgeous is "With You In Mind" - the kind of melody/lyric that sends the chills up the arms...

So if Toussaint was 'so good' you say - why wasn't he huge? Like Bill Withers or Al Green - Toussaint could pen the tunes and get those grooves but unlike them - he arguably hadn't the greatest of voices (good rather than being memorable). Perhaps that's why he always seemed on the fringes...other people/top voices making his great songs shine...

Whatever way you look at it - this is a fantastic release. In fact I also bought the Raven 2CD set "Toussaint: The Real Thing 1970-1975" from August 2015 that lines up the first three albums – so it includes "Toussaint" from 1970 as well as "Life, Love And Faith" and "Southern Nights" (Raven RVCD-386 - see separate review). It has a 12-page booklet and gorgeous audio too care of Remaster Engineer Warren Barnet. Whichever 2CD reissue you buy - you're quid's in – wonderful music and presentation in both instances. 

 

The great man deserved to be remembered this well and both Beat Goes On of the UK and Raven of Australia have done so...and with real style...

“IRISH & CELTIC MASTERPIECES SHM-CD SERIES” - A List Of 10 New Titles Available From Japan 6 April 2016 (including MOVING HEARTS, CHRIS REA and LUKA BLOOM)

“IRISH and CELTIC MASTERPIECES SHM-CD SERIES”

10 CDs available from 6 April 2016 in Japan-Only

A SHM-CD does 'not' require any special kind of equipment to play it on - it's simply a better form of CD (the format's basic disc hasn't changed since its introduction in 1984). The SHM-CD feels shiny in nature and weights a tad more (introduced about 2008 by Toshiba). 

In layman's terms - it picks up the nuances from the transfer/remaster more clearly and in my experience it's about 20% better - but man what a difference that can make...(I own about 20 of them and have reviewed most). 

As you can see from the list below - "Irish And Celtic Masterpieces" has been given a 'broad brushstroke' by our friends in Japan - but at least it's good to see rare MOVING HEARTS and BARRY MOORE titles (as LUKA BLOOM) get CD reissue. And I'd love a better version of Chris Rea's "Shamrock Diaries" or even Gerry Rafferty's "City To City"...

It's Tuesday, 2 February 2016 and I've only just learned of these this morning - so as yet there is no mention as to whether these are new remasters or not. At this price (mid price) most are likely to be based on older versions/latest remasters. They're being sold for 1404 Yen which (with discounts) translates into about £7.50 to £9 per disc, 10 to 12 Euros. 

CD JAPAN (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/) are selling these for about £8 plus postage on top...

Let's hope they extend this series to more interesting stuff on the Mulligan Label - Paul Brady's "Welcome Here Kind Stranger", Freddie White's "Freddie White", Scullion's "Scullion" or "Balance And Control" (produced by John Martyn on WEA Ireland only). 
It's about time someone did the four stunning BOTHY BAND albums on Polydor again. 
Maybe Barry Moore's "Treaty Stone" with the "Danny Boy" 7" single which was only sold in Dublin. Or even go Irish Rock with Jimi Sleven's Firefly "Getting There", Peggy's Leg "Grinilla", The Woods Band (with Gay & Terry Woods) or The Bogey Boys...here's hoping...

“IRISH and CELTIC MASTERPIECES SHM-CD SERIES”

Available only from JAPAN 6 April 2016 as ‘Limited Pressings’

Mid Price:1404 Yen – approximately £8 to £9

1. MOVING HEARTS – Moving Hearts (1981)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17108 (Barcode 4943674229444)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, Released: 6 April 2016)

2. CHRISTY MOORE – The Time Has Come (1983)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17109 (Barcode 4943674229482)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

3. MAURA O’CONNELL – Wandering Home (1997)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17110 (Barcode 4943674229505)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

4. LUKA BLOOM [Barry Moore] – Riverside (1990)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17111 (Barcode 4943674229659)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

5. CHRIS REA – Shamrock Diaries (1985)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17112 (Barcode 4943674229666)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

6. GERRY RAFFERTY – City To City (1978)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17113 (Barcode 4943674229680)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

7. THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND – The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (1968)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17114 (Barcode 4943674229772)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

8. ELEANOR SHANLEY – Eleanor Shanley (1995)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17115 (Barcode 4943674229789)

(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

9. CATRIONA O’LEARY & DULRA – Duil, Irish Songs Of Love & Nature (2000)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17116 (Barcode 4943674229796)

 (SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

10. THE ROCHES – Keep On Doing (1982)

Warner Brothers WPCR-17117 (Barcode 4943674229772)
(SHM-CD in Jewel Case, released 6 April 2016)

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There's also COOL 1960s MUSIC and SOUL, FUNK & JAZZ FUSION and BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM 'N' BLUES and ROCK 'N' ROLL in the Series.

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"Original Album Series" by BONNIE RAITT (2011 Warner Brothers/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CLASSIC 1970s ROCK and POP - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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"...Your Good Thing..." 

Although this cool 5CD mini Box Set in WEA's "Original Album Series" misses out on Bonnie Raitt's fabulous first three albums – "Bonnie Raitt" (1971), "Give It Up" (1972) and "Takin My Time" (1973) – what you do get are the five that followed from 1974 to 1982. And what a humdinger it is too – Rock, Ballad, Country, Blues and Soul – Bonnie Raitt does the lot – and well. Here are the 'Lady Sings The Blues' details...

UK released August 2011 – "Original Album Series" by BONNIE RAITT on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122797629 (Barcode 081227976293) is a 5CD Mini Box set and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Streetlights" (37:03 minutes):
1. That Song About The Midway [Joni Mitchell]
2. Rainy Day Man [James Taylor]
3. Angel From Montgomery [John Prine]
4. I Got Plenty [Jim Carroll & Joey Levine]
5. Streetlights [Bill Payne]
6. What Is Success [Allen Toussaint] – Side 2
7. Ain't Nobody Home [Jerry Ragovoy]
8. Everything That Touches You [Michael Kamen]
9. Got You On My Mind [Alley Willis and David Lasley]
10. You Got To Be Ready For Love (If You Wanna Be Mine) [Lou Courtney]
Tracks 1 to 10 are her 4th album "Streetlights" – released October 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2818 and November 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56075

Disc 2 "Home Plate" (32:25 minutes):
1. What Do You Want The Boy To Do? [Allen Toussaint]
2. Good Enough [John and Johanna Hall]
3. Run Like A Thief [J.D. Souther]
4. Fool Yourself [Fred Tackett]
5. My First Night Alone Without You [Kin Vassy]
6. Walk Out The Front Door [Mark T. Jordan and Rip Stock] - Side 2
7. Sugar Mama [Glen Clark]
8. Pleasin' Each Other [Bill Payne and Fran Tate]
9. I'm Blowin' Away [Eric Kaz]
10. Sweet And Shiny Eyes [Nan O'Byrne]
Tracks 1 to 10 are her 5th album "Home Plate" – released October 1975 on Warner Brothers BS 2864 and December 1975 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56160

Disc 3 "Sweet Forgiveness" (38:12 minutes):
1. About To Make Me Leave Home [Earl Randall]
2. Runaway [Del Shannon]
3. Two Lives [Mark Jordan]
4. Louise [Paul Siebel]
5. Gamblin' Man [Eric Kaz]
6. Sweet Forgiveness [Daniel Moore] – Side 2
7. My Opening Farewell [Jackson Browne]
8. Three Time Loser [Don Covay]
9. Takin' My Time [Bill Payne]
10. Home [Karla Bonoff]
Tracks 1 to 10 are her 6th album "Sweet Forgiveness" – released April 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2990 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56323.

Disc 4 "The Glow" (37:39 minutes):
1. I Thank You [Isaac Hayes & David Porter song, Sam & Dave cover]
2. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) [Isaac Hayes and David Porter song, Mable John cover]
3. Standin' By The Same Old Love [Bonnie Raitt]
4. Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate [Jackson Browne]
5. The Glow [Veyler Hildebrand]
6. Bye Bye Baby [Mary Wells] – Side 2
7. The Boy Can't Help It [Bobby Troup song, Little Richard cover]
8. (I Could Have Been Your) Best Old Friend [Tracy Nelson]
9. You're Gonna Get What's Coming [Robert Palmer]
10. (Goin') Wild For You Baby [David Batteau, Tom Snow]
Tracks 1 to 10 are her 7th album "The Glow" – released October 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS 3369 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56706

Disc 5 "Green Light" (35:06 minutes):
1. Keep This Heart Of Mine In Mind [Fred Marrone, Steve Holsapple]
2. River Of Tears [Eric Kaz]
3. Can't Get Enough [Bonnie Raitt, Walt Richmond]
4. Wilya Wontcha [Johnny Lee Schell]
5. Let's Keep It Between Us [Bob Dylan]
6. Me And The Boys [Terry Adams (of NRBQ), Dave Edmunds cover] – Side 2
7. I Can't Help Myself [Ricky Fataar, Ray O'Hara, Bonnie Raitt & Johnny Lee Schell]
8. Baby Come Back [Eddy Grant song, The Equals cover]
9. Talk To Me [Jerry Lynn Williams]
10. Green Lights [Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato (both of NRBQ)]
Tracks 1 to 10 are her 8th album "Green Light" – released March 1982 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3630 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56980

Most will know that these boxes come with single sleeve 5" card repros – back and front artwork of the original American LP with details you can't read even with a magnifying glass. It looks cute for sure but there's no booklet so I've provided track-by-track songwriting credits above. It looks like most are the 2002 and 2003 Gregg Geller Remasters – sounding funky and spunky in all the right places (some of these have become difficult to find as individual titles so this box set represents great value for money).

After three pretty straightforward Blues-Rock LPs – 1974's "Streetlights" saw Bonnie in a very mellow mood. It opens with her gorgeous acoustic take on Joni Mitchell's "That Song About The Midway" singing "...I found you in a trailer in some camping ground..." and you know both Joni & Bonnie have this degenerate gambler down. I've always loved her Funky choices of songs too – the rock-slink of Allen Toussaint's "What Is Success" – a low-down groove with top session players like keyboardist Leon Pendarvis laying down licks throughout that add so much to the overall (he was once with Lonnie Liston Smith's Cosmic Echoes). Again the players add top class to Michael Kamen's "Everything That Touches You" – Jeff Minirov and John Tropea playing so sweet on those guitars. And a forgotten nugget is "Got You On My Mind" – a pretty lilting tune with Jerry Ragovoy arrangements that sound almost Burt Bacharach at times. Ace sessionman Steve Gadd on drums throughout too...

The influences of funky Little Feat ("Sugar Mama" and "Fool Yourself") and Countrified Emmylou Harris ("My First Night Without You") permeates much of "Home Plate" - and like "Streetlights" – is a decidedly commercial affair. Both Allen Toussaint's "What Do You Want The Boy To Do?" and John Hall's plucky "Good Enough" features the swing of Fred Tackett and Bill Payne from Little Feat. John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful plays Autoharp on the truly lovely smoocher "Run Like A Thief" – a quality John David Souther song that layers on the heartbreak with an astonishing quartet of backing singers - Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Rosemary Butler and England’s Terry Reid. And not for the first time does she reach for the songwriting talent of Eric Kaz who offers "I'm Blowin' Away". The almost drunken "Sweet And Shiny Eyes" once again features a properly stellar set of pipes in the background - Emmylou Harris, J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne and Tom Waits...

After two albums of mopey lovelorn – the Paul A. Rothchild produced "Sweet Forgiveness" from 1977 comes as a Funky Rocking relief (and the Audio Remaster is stunning too). Her wickedly good Slide Guitar leads off the nasty "About To Make Me Leave Home" where it sounds like she's literally channelling Lowell George (Bill Payne of Little Feat is in there too on the keys). Her boogied-up cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway" has annoyed and thrilled purists – I can understand why but I still like it. Michael McDonald and Rosemary Butler provide their sweet-as-a-nut backing vocals but its Norton Buffalo's wicked Harmonica warble that saves it. Mark Jordan's emotional and touching love song "Two Lives" is an album highlight – once again McDonald and Butler floating in over the pain. Her cover of Paul Siebel's "Louise" reminds you of what a great song it is and what a criminally forgotten talent he was (sent me rushing back to 1970's "Woodsmoke And Oranges" by Siebel – see my separate review). Love her rocking slide cover of Don Covay's "Three Time Loser" too (Asylum tried it as a 7" single in the UK in April 1977 with the pretty "Louise" on the flipside).  And another emerging female songwriter Karla Bonoff gets her moment with the gorgeous album finisher "Home" (beautiful Audio on this) – Bonoff being a talent Linda Ronstadt would tap too for "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me".

1979's "The Glow" opens with her updated Soul-Rock boogie of "I Thank You" – an Isaac Hayes and David Porter song that Sam & Dave made a hit on Stax in 1968. But there then follows possibly my favourite cover ever by Bonnie Raitt – "You Good Thing (Is About To End)". Again it was written by that Stax dynamic duo of Hayes & Porter - but this time the long forgotten MABLE JOHN had the song on Stax 192 in May 1966. It's a torch ballad and a brilliant choice by Bonnie – backed up by Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keyboards and a wonderful flourish of a Saxophone Solo by David Sanborn. Her own "Standin' By The Same Love" is a slider while Paul Butterfield adds his Harmonica talent to the cover of Mary Wells' "Bye Bye Baby". Smart choice is the choppy guitar Rock of Robert Palmer's "You're Gonna Get What's Comin'"...

Terry Adams and Joey Spampinato (both of NRBQ) gave Bonnie the title song to her final offering here – 1982's "Green Light" album. Terry Adams also stumped up the rocking "Me And The Boys" – a song Dave Edmunds had covered on his excellent "D.E. 7th" album on Arista Records that same year. In fact both Edmunds and Raitt released the 'boys in the band' 7" single of "Me And The Boys" in the same month (April 1982) on both sides of the pond. Bob Dylan's support of the great lady continued with the excellent Bluesy slouch of "Let's Keep It Between Us" – a song that to my knowledge has yet to turn up on a Bobster album. The song-writing team of Ricky Fataar and Johnny Lee Schell gave her "I Can't Help Myself" and "Wilya Wontcha" and were later very much instrumental in songs on her Don Was produced breakthrough album "Nick Of Time" on Capitol Records in 1989.

In truth I'd like to see Rhino do a "Complete Warner Brothers Years" 10-album CD Box Set (including 1986's "Nine Lives") for BONNIE RAITT and newly remaster the whole damn lot with a (10th) disc of rarities thrown in (what'd ya say boys). But in the meantime - at roughly two-quid per record there's a whole lotta bang for your buck here and this dinky little peach will do nicely...

"Hot Rats" by FRANK ZAPPA (2012 Zappa Records CD Reissue – with 2008 Bernie Grundman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Son Of Mrs. Green Genes..."

It's hard not to look at Christine Frka's frizzy-haired mad-as-a-dingbat-on-acid stare as she peaks over a wrecked/abandoned Beverley Hill's swimming pool on the cover of Frank Zappa's iconic Jazz-Rock album "Hot Rats" - and not smile. In some ways she summed up the adventure contained within the grooves – gonna be a little frizzled around the edges by the time you're done (Miss Christine was one of the all-girl group The GTOs - Girls Together Outrageously – another Bizarre Records act – she talked Frank into signing Alice Cooper).

After five incendiary albums with The Mothers Of Invention since 1966 (two of which were doubles) – it was time for the inevitable Solo LP proper from Frank Zappa and instead of Vocal Group pastiches and Comedy Soundtracks – Zappa went Rock in a very Jazzy way and never looked back. "Hot Rats" even hit No 9 in the UK charts in late February 1970 – his first and highest chart placing in good old Blighty (the Bizarre Records LP scraped into 173 in the USA).

His CD reissues from this period have been dogged with controversy. Having acquired the rights to own back catalogue - Zappa began remixing the masters to what many felt were sacred cows – even adding posthumous parts that weren't on the originals thereby altering their very nature (he argued he was the artist). Most notorious is the extra four minutes of music added on to the 12:53 of "The Gumbo Variations" on the 1995 Rykodisc CD reissue. Using the Zappa approved 'edit' master of the 1969 album – this BERNIE GRUNDMAN 2008 Remaster goes back to basics and yet still packs a lot of punch especially in those huge instrumental stretches within "Willie The Pimp", "Son Of Mrs. Green Genes" and the Saxophone-driven "The Gumbo Variations". Here are the 'little umbrellas'...

UK released July 2012 – "Hot Rats" by FRANK ZAPPA on Zappa Records 0238412 (Barcode 824302384121) is a straightforward transfer of the original 1969 LP onto CD (using a 2008 remaster) and plays out as follows (43:19 minutes):

1. Peaches En Regalia [Side 1]

2. Willie The Pimp

3. Son Of Mrs. Green Genes

4. Little Umbrellas [Side 2]

5. The Gumbo Variations

6. It Must Be A Camel

Tracks 1 to 6 are the album "Hot Rats" – released early October 1969 in the USA on Bizarre/Reprise RS 6356 and February 1970 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6356  (re-issued July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44078).

Players were:

FRANK ZAPPA – Guitars, Octave Bass & Percussion

IAN UNDERWOOD – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone & Keyboards (solo on "The Gumbo Variations")

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – Vocals on "Willie The Pimp"

SUGAR CANE HARRIS – Violin on "Willie The Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations"

JEAN LUC PONTY – Violin on "It Must Be A Camel"

LOWELL GEORGE – Guitar (uncredited)

MAX BENNETT – Bass on all except "Peaches En Regalia"

SHUGGIE OTIS – Bass on "Peaches En Regalia"

JOHN GUERIN – Drums on "Willie The Pimp", "Little Umbrellas" and "It Must Be A Camel"

PAUL HUMPHREY – Drums on "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations"

RON SELICAO – Drums on "Peaches En Regalia"

The fold-out inlay reinstates the colour photos on the inner gatefold of the original LP and those not quite complete musician credits – but unfortunately very little else. Someone could have produced the lyrics to the only song with vocals on it – "Willie The Pimp" – or even explained about the album's intricate history on LP and CD – but alas – you barely get the BG remaster mention and that's it. Still at least the Audio is restored and wicked into the bargain...

The album opens with perhaps his most famous piece – the instrumental "Peaches En Regalia" which features the Bass playing of future Columbia Records guitar whizz Shuggie Otis. Great audio as those keyboard overdubs punch in. The mighty Captain Beefheart adds his considerable larynx to "Willie The Pimp" giving the 9:23 minutes an anchor – but what shines even more is Frank's Guitar soloing giving the piece an almost hypnotic feel as it stoner-rocks along defying all conventional wisdom as to what a Pop Song should be.

The battle between Zappa's Guitar, Sugar Cane Harris' Violin and Paul Humphrey’s extraordinary Drumming on relentless groove of "The Gumbo Variations" certainly tests the Remaster to the max and Bernie Grundman has seen to it that you can appreciate the individual contributions and crescendo all at the same time. The Piano and Flute passages on "Little Umbrellas" are fuller and the almost lounge-room vibe of the Piano and Drums on "It Must Be A Camel" is very clear - a sort of five-minute 'settle down' piece of Jazz Rock that ends the album on a mellow vibe.

The only real let down is the average presentation (sans regalia more than peaches) – otherwise here's one sizzling rodent you need in your suburban pool Mrs. Green Genes...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).