"North Country Maid/Loveinamist" by MARIANNE FAITHFULL (April 2016 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs with Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...First Time Ever I Saw Your Face..." 

Dogged by decades (not years) of horrible drug dependency and personal trauma – the once high-profile chanteuse of swinging 60ts London (complete with boyfriend Mick Jagger on her arms) has seen life's up and downs more than most and miraculously survived. Homelessness at least twice, the loss of a daughter, physical injury under the influence, croaking on US National TV in front of millions, the glorious comebacks in the 80ts to fantastic collaborative work in the 90ts and 00ts - and all of it while battling a lifelong addiction that threatened to literally overwhelm at any minute. Marianne Faithfull has been there and done that. Aged 70 in December 2016 - by the grace of God and good friends - it's clearly a minor miracle that the Hampstead Lass is alive at all.

Which brings us to these two forgotten but period-cool slices of Folk-Rock (two of three albums she made for England's Decca Records in the 60ts) – "North Country Maid" (April 1966) and "Loveinamist" (March 1967) - bolstered up here with six interesting and relevant bonus tracks. Beautiful and tender traditionals mix with smartly chosen contemporary cover versions of the day (Donovan, Jackie DeShannon, Bob Lind, Tim Hardin et al) – each nestling nicely alongside tinges of hippy Acid Folk akin to The Incredible String Band. It's all up for our digital delectation on this superb and timely BGO 2CD reissue/remaster. Here are the battered and bruised details...

UK released Friday 1 April 2016 (8 April 2016 in the USA) – "North Country Maid/Loveinamist" by MARIANNE FAITHFULL on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1227 (Barcode 5017261212276) features Remasters of 2LPs onto 2CDs with six Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (42:51 minutes):

1. Green Are Your Eyes [Bert Jansch song]

2. Scarborough Fair [Traditional arranged by Jon Mark]

3. Cockleshells [Mick Taylor song, Rolling Stones guitarist]

4. The Last Thing On My Mind [Tom Paxton song]

5. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face [Ewan MacColl song]

6. Sally Free And Easy [Cyril Tawney song]

7. Sunny Goodge Street [Donovan song] – Side 2

8. How Should I Your True Love Know [Traditional arranged by Jon Mark]

9. She Moved Thru' The Fair [Traditional Irish Ballad adapted by Herbert Hughes with lyrics by Padraic Colum, arranged by Jon Mark]

10. North Country Maid [Traditional arranged by Jon Mark]

11. Lullaby [Jon Mark song]

12. Wild Mountain Thyme [McPeake Family song arranged by Jon Mark]

Tracks 1 to 12 are her 4th album "North Country Maid" – released April 1966 in the UK on Decca LK 4778 (Mono only)

BONUS TRACKS:

13. The Most Of What Is Least [Donovan song]

14. Come My Way [Jon Mark song]

15. Mary Ann [Traditional song]

Tracks 13 to 15 first appeared as Previously Unreleased outtakes from the sessions on the August 1990 UK CD Reissue/Remaster of "North Country Maid" on Deram 820-631-2. "Come My Way" and "Mary Ann" appeared on the 1965 American compilation LP from "Go Away From My World" on London Records (see PS below).

Disc 2 (48:24 minutes):

1. Yesterday [Beatles song]

2. You Can't Go Where The Roses Go [Jackie DeShannon song]

3. Our Love Has Gone [Chris Andrews song]

4. Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep [Tim Hardin song]

5. In The Night Time [Donovan song]

6. This Little Bird [John D. Loudermilk song]

7. Ne Me Quitte Pas [Jacque Brel song]

8. Counting [Bob Lind song] – Side 2

9. Reason To Believe [Tim Hardin song]

10. Coquillage [French sung version of the Mick Taylor song "Cockleshells" on "North Country Maid"]

11. With You In Mind [Jackie DeShannon song]

12. Young Girl Blues [Donovan song]

13. Good Guy [Donovan song]

14. I Have A Love [Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim song from "West Side Story"]

Tracks 1 to 14 are her 5th album "Loveinamist" – released March 1967 in the UK on Decca LK 4854 (Mono) and SKL 4854 (Stereo) - Stereo mix used

BONUS TRACKS:

15. Hang On To A Dream [Tim Hardin song]

16. Rosie, Rosie [Kinks song]

17. Monday, Monday [Mamas and Papas song]

Tracks 15 and 16 appeared as Bonus Tracks on the October 1988 UK CD Remaster of "Loveinamist" on Decca 820 632-2. Track 17 appeared on the American compilation LP "Forever Faithfull…" in November 1966 (see below)

As always with BGO - the outer card-slipcase gives the release a classy feel – the 16-page booklet with new JOHN O'REGAN liner notes features basic album credits, some photos and an in-depth musical history of Marianne Faithfull up to 2016 (the details are many and Internet referenced). But the big news is new 2016 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that sound great – warm and clear without over-trebling it.

Produced by Mike Leander, Engineered by Gus Dudgeon and with song arrangements and playing by Jon Mark - the largely acoustic and overtly Folky "North Country Maid" album benefits greatly from a CD Remaster. Those Jon Mark arranged high strung Spanish guitars on "Scarborough Fair" and "North Country Maid", the gorgeous quivering vocals and lonesome cello note on Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and the ISB Dulcimer and Sitar flourishes on "Wild Mountain Thyme" and "She Moved Thru' The Fair" - all sound clear and full. Originally appearing as session outtakes on the 1990 Deram CD in the UK - even the three bonus cuts are good. A thumping double-bass along with guitars and clavinet fill "The Most of What Is Least" (a Donovan cover) – while the audio on Jon Mark's outtake "Come My Way" is stupendous – beautifully rendered. "Mary Ann" (not the Ray Charles Atlantic Records hit from 1956) is a Traditional about a ship waiting while he wishes his love 'fare thee well my own true love' – lovely acoustic guitars and double bass. Rolling Stones fans will love Mick Taylor's "Cockleshells" which he arranged and played on too (it appears in French language form on "Loveinamist" – see Track 10) – a very pretty Acoustic song that feels like a long lost classic. There is a small amount of instrument distortion on occasion and evident hiss on the quiet "Lullaby" and the Harmonica wails in "Sunny Goodge Street" but it's never too much to distract on any. Overall the album holds up well with her unique Nico-esque quivering vocals mightily impressive throughout (and those genuinely excellent bonuses are welcome inclusions).

On the evidence of "In The Night Time", "Young Girl Blues" and "Good Guy" – Marianne probably would have made a masterpiece just recording DONOVAN covers. There seemed to be something in his rhythms, words and ideas that made her the perfect conduit. Another sympathetic writer who gets two nods is the lovely Jackie DeShannon – "With You In Mind" being a gorgeous mid-tempo highlight on here – double-vocals, wind instruments and even a harp make it 'so' Sixties cool. "You Can't Go Where The Roses Go" is another sweetie – even if its strings are a tad syrupy. Her second stab at Mick Taylor's "Cockleshells" is a skittish French language version called "Coquilages" which has a very baroque feel and lightness of touch (wicked string arrangements) is arguably better than the English variant. "Counting" was a Bob Lind cover that originally appeared on his "Don't Be Concerned" LP in 1966 on World Pacific Records – the building melodrama features all manner of instruments – especially a crashing drums and string section – the Remaster handling the lot really rather well. Almost from another world compared to the mellow baroque 60ts feel of what's on the rest of the album (like she discovered electrified Bob Dylan) – Tim Hardin's "Don't Make Promises" gets funked up and feels like Fred Neil having a bit of a wig out. It all ends on a string and oboe version of the "West Side Story" classic – "I Have A Love" where despite the heavy-on-the-tears arrangement - her vocal sincerity can be felt in an impressive vocal performance. Far better are the two beautifully recorded bonus cuts – Tim Hardin's "Hang On To A Dream" and The Kinks "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" (from 1966's "Face To Face"). She retitles the Ray Davies pining melody "Rosie, Rosie" and again gives it a fast pace.

So there you have it – two forgotten and expensive platters to acquire on original vinyl. It’s a damn shame BGO didn't include those tracks that would have made the US compilations possible to sequence – but alas (see below). Having said that - "North Country Maid/Loveinamist" is a superb addition to Beat Goes On's roster of quality CD remasters.

"…I am but a young girl working my way through the phoneys…" Marianne Faithfull sang on "Young Girl Blues" - already beautiful in her world-weary way. Nothing false about the excellence on offer here though…

PS:

Before either "North Country Maid" or "Loveinamist" came out in the UK on Decca - American fans will know that both of these British albums along with her other Decca platter "Marianne Faithful' from May 1965 were amalgamated into two London Records compilations for the US market – "Go Away From My World" in December 1965 and "Faithfull Forever…" in November 1966. Using this 2CD set – US fans can program 'most' of the first album and 'some' of the second LP as follows:

"Go Away From My World" (US Compilation LP), December 1965 on London LL 3452 (Mono) and PS 452 (Stereo)

Stereo mix is used

Side 1:

1. Go Away From My World

2. Yesterday [Disc 2, Track 1]

3. Come My Way [Disc 1, Track 14]

4. Last Thing On My Mind [Disc 1, Track 4]

5. How Should True Love [Disc 1, Track 8]

6. Wild Mountain Thyme [Disc 1, Track 12]

Side 2:

1. Summer Nights

2. Mary Ann [Disc 1, Track 15]

3. Scarborough Fair [Disc 1, Track 2]

4. Lullaby [Disc 1, Track 11]

5. North Country Maid [Disc 1, Track 10]

6. Sally Free And Easy [Disc 1, Track 6]

"Forever Faithfull…" (US Compilation LP), November 1966 on London LL 3482 (Mono) and London PS 482 (Stereo)

Stereo mix used

Side 1:

1. Counting [Disc 2, Track 8]

2. Tomorrow's Calling

3. The First Time [Disc 1, Track 5]

4. With You In Mind [Disc 2, Track 11]

5. In The Night Time [Disc 2, Track 5]

6. Ne Me Quitte Pass (Love Theme From "Umbrellas Of Cherbourg") [Disc 2, Track 7]

Side 2:

1. Monday, Monday [Disc 2, Track 17]

2. Some Other Spring

3. That's Right Baby

4. Lucky Girl

5. I'm The Sky
6. I Have A Love [Disc 2, Track 14]

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is COOL 1960s MUSIC - an E-Book with over 200 entries and 2000 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). 

"Mike Harrison/Smokestack Lightning/Rainbow Rider" by MIKE HARRISON [of SPOOKY TOOTH] (2016 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue (BGO) - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Turning Over..."

Lead Vocalist with England's rockers Spooky Tooth for their first four albums between 1968 and 1970 – Mike Harrison's three solo LPs in the Seventies for Island and Goodear Records have been ignored for decades. Well on the strength of what's presented on this superb 2CD reissue/remaster that's a bit of a boo-boo on the part of us 70ts Rock Music junkies. Across three albums there are clunkers for sure and even mediocrity in places – but that's offset by the properly fab good stuff. Here are the ghostly dental details...

UK released Friday 1 April 2016 (8 April 2016 in the USA) – "Mike Harrison/Smokestack Lightning/Rainbow Rider" by MIKE HARRISON [of Spooky Tooth] on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1224 (Barcode 5017261212245) features Remasters of 3LPs onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (69:14 minutes):

1. Mother Nature

2. Call It A Day

3. Damian

4. Pain

5. Wait Until Morning [Side 2]

6. Lonely People

7. Hard Headed Woman

8. Here Comes The Queen

Tracks 1 to 8 are his debut solo album (after Spooky Tooth) "Mike Harrison" – released October 1971 in the UK on Island ILPS 9170 and in the USA on Island SMAS-9313 (with the band Junkyard Angel)

9. Tears [aka "Tears (Behind My Eyes)"]

10. Paid My Dues

11. What A Price

12. Wanna Be Free

13. Turning Over [Side 2]

14. Smokestack Lightning

Tracks 9 to 14 are his 2nd solo album "Smokestack Lightning" – released October 1972 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9209 and in the USA on Island SW-9321

Disc 2 (37:07 minutes):

1. Maverick Woman Blues

2. You And Me

3. I'll Keep It With Mine

4. Like A Road (Leading Home)

5. We Can Work It Out

6. Okay Lay Lady Lay [Side 2]

7. Easy

8. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

9. Friend

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 3rd solo album "Rainbow Rider" – released August 1975 in the UK on Goodear Records EAR 7002 and in the USA on Island Records ILPS 9359

As always with BGO - the outer card-slipcase gives the release a classy feel – the 16-page booklet with new NEIL DANIELS liner notes features full album credits, some photos and a potted history on Spooky Tooth and Harrison's solo work with references to previous interviews. But the big news is new 2016 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that sound great – big and meaty without over-trebling it. The 2nd and 3rd albums in particular have superb audio - and in the case of the mighty "Smokestack Lightning" track itself – the Remaster really elevates proceedings a whole bunch...

The self-titled self-produced 1971 debut album "Mike Harrison" was made with local Carlisle band JUNKYARD ANGELS (credited on the rear of the cover and not on the label) – Ian Herbert on Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards and Backing Vocals, Frank Kenyon on Lead and Acoustic Guitars and Backing Vocals, Peter Batey on Bass and Percussion and Kevin Iverson on Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals. Mike Harrison does Lead Vocals, Piano, Harmonica and Organ - while Arthur Belcher does the Tenor Saxophone solo on "Hard Headed Woman" (also later co-wrote "Friend" on the "Rainbow Rider" LP in 1975 with Harrison).

Rare even in the mid Seventies – British copies of "Mike Harrison" came in a nice looking Island Records gatefold sleeve (repro'd in the booklet) but have always been scarce. As I recall Repertoire did a CD Remaster in 2011 (which I haven't heard) and outside of that – the album's been off-radar for decades. It opens with a mellow acoustic tune called "Mother Tune" penned by Bassist Peter Batey. Its short at 2:05 minutes and its languid high-string guitars deliberately emphasis a Soul feel rather than the heavy raunch of Spooky Tooth (Nice organ work too). It’s followed by "Call It A Day" which Harrison co-wrote with Batey, Herbert and Iverson. It feels like Part 2 of "Mother Tune" but at 6:27 minutes cleverly and unexpectedly fades about four minutes in into a heavenly Acapella vocal chorus that lasts until the end of the song. It's a weird but wonderful Prog Beach Boys moment. Co-written with Lead Guitarist Ian Herbert - "Damian" tries real hard – good lead vocals with clever backing patterns – but it still feels like it misses some kind of mark. Penned by Herbert, Iverson and Kenyon – "Pain" is like Jess Roden's and Robbie Blunt's Bronco – another Island Records band. "Pain" is melodic Guitar-Rock and ends Side 1 on a high note.

There is hiss on "Wait Until The Morning" opens Side 2 on another mellow piano-Rock tune. "...I'll miss you and I hope it keeps you warm..." he sings - sounding not unlike a mellow Steve Marriott (again clever vocal layers as it fades out). "Lonely People" continues the mellow Rock vibe – another pretty contribution by Bassist Peter Batey where Harrison sounds as his most Soulful. At last the album goes into coolsville – his 6:37 minute cover of "Hard Headed Woman" – originally on Cat Stevens' 1970 LP "Tea For The Tillerman". Harrison Funkifies the originally plaintive melody – then a brilliantly clever rhythm change at 2:39 minutes suddenly turns it into Heavy Guitar/Saxophone instrumental groove that wails and rocks like Free until its close. I made an edit on iTunes from 02:39 to 06:37 minutes and its fabulous stuff. The album ends on "Here Comes The Queen" – a co-write with his Spooky Tooth cohort Luther Grosvenor (who later became Aerial Bender with Mott The Hoople). Harrison gives it some great Harmonica licks as the catchy Rock tune shuffles along. Grosvenor put out his own version of "Here Comes The Queen" as a UK 45 on Bronze WIP 6109 with "Heavy Day" on the B-side in September 1971.

Relocating to the States to Muscle Shoals - for his 2nd album Harrison chose to open Side 1 with two Jimmy Stevens compositions - "Paid My Dues" and "Tears (Behind My Eyes)" (which Harrison simply calls "Tears"). They were originally released by the British keyboardist Stevens on his "Don't Freak Me Out" debut album on Atlantic Records K 40414 in 1972 (produced by Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees). Both are slinky slow bluesy type tunes but Harrison makes a crucial mistake in letting Producer Chris Blackwell (of Island Records) allow Harry Robinson to arrange and put strings onto both. The songs are utterly ruined by it – reduced to saccharine and no amount of reassessment makes the listens any better. It's a shame because both had real potential. Things finally start to cook when Harrison offers us a truly great cover of "What A Price" – a No. 7 R 'n' B hit for Fats Domino on Imperial 5723 way back in January 1961. Across its slinky 5:52 minutes – the Dan Penn-style keyboards, the Duane Allman wah-wah guitars and Clarence Clemons Saxophone are all allowed to breathe - as are his guttural vocals. "What A Price" feels like Frankie Miller firing on all sixes – Rock meets Soulful white boys R 'n' B – and should have been the album's opening salvo. The remaster too is wonderfully expressive. We're then offered Joe Tex's "I Wanna Be Free" – a hard-hitting social statement Tex put out Stateside on Dial Records 3016 back in 1963. "...All I get is a pat on my back...I wanna be free..." – it's a song about a worried father trying to feed his children and earn a decent crust without being dropped on from a height by the man.

The first of the "Smokestack Lightning" album's real highlights comes in the shape of the only original on there – "Turning Over" – a fantastic piano/guitar groover Harrison co-wrote with his Spooky Tooth cohort Luther Grosvenor. This is where the Muscle Shoals players shine (and on the next track too) – Beckett and Clayton laying down a fabulous Allen Toussaint rhythm on piano and organ while the slink is sporadically interrupted by funky guitar chops from Pete Carr. By the time the beautifully complimentary brass sneaks in at 3:29 minutes – you’re done – it’s a 6:32 minute winner (and the remaster rocks too). But then I'm stung with my real poison – a truly stunning and lengthy cover version of the Howlin' Wolf’s signature song "Smokestack Lightning" (Chester Burnett's original 45 was 1956 on Chess 1618). At 12:30 minutes long and taking up almost all of Side 2 – it's been accused of being six minutes too long. Absolute knob. I love this rocking blasting sucker to death. The session players get to let rip in a way that would be the envy of a great Stones session. Barry Beckett and Clayton Ivey play the keys, Pete Carr, Jimmy Johnson and Wayne Perkins get to tear up the guitars while a posse of five bring in the brass. Harrison's growl finally sounds real and connected – and the re-emergence of that most famous of riffs two or three times throughout the song make for a rocking winner. Genius...

Pure supposition here – but If Harrison had lined up "What A Price", "Wanna Be Free", "Turning Over" and "Smokestack Lightning" as Side 1 and recorded an equally quality Side 2 in the same vein (covers and originals) – we would have been looking at one hell of an album – an Eddie Hinton Soul/R&B-type forgotten masterpiece. "Smokestack Lightning" has always seemed short to me as an album and is definitely docked a star by those two ruined Stevens covers on Side 1 – but don't get me wrong - the rest of it for my money is infinitely better than its rather weedy predecessor. I've always thought of the album as a bit of an unsung hero frankly...

"Rainbow Rider" saw him signing to Goodear Records – a label distributed by Pye and CBS with a very varied roster - Chris Stainton's Tundra, Carol Grimes, Viola Wills, The Grease Band, The Rats and his own Spooky Tooth. The album even had a different cover in the USA - pictured on Page 5 of the booklet beneath the British sleeve. Sessionmen for the album included Micky Jones on Guitar (ex The Bystanders, The Attack and Man), Morgan Fisher on Keyboards who would later join the British Lions and Norbert Putnam on Bass from Area Code 615. Del Newman arranged the strings and The Memphis Horns provided brass accompaniment. Kirk Lorange plays slide guitar on the Beatles cover "We Can Work It Out". Harrison sings and plays harmonica.

Goodear tried two 45s in the UK – "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" b/w "Easy" on Goodear EAR 603 in May 1975 and "We Can Work It Out" b/w "Maverick Woman Blues" on Goodear EAR 611 in August 1975 – neither did any business. The album opens with "Maverick Woman Blues" – a Don Nix cover version that was released as a single in Germany on Goodear BF 18355 with "You And Me" on the B-side (a Troy Seals and Will Jennings composition). Nix would later record his version of "Maverick Woman Blues" on his "Skyrider" LP on Cream Records CR 1011 in 1979. "Maverick Woman Blues" opens with grungy guitars and Harrison's trademark 'rawk' vocals – its ZZ Top meets Bad Company meets Foghat – a wicked and gritty boogie number. Things switch into a Funky Rock mode with "You And Me" written by Troy Seals with lyricist Will Jennings. Brother to Jim Seals (of Seals and Crofts) and Dan Seals (of England Dan and John Ford Coley) – Troy Seals would record the song as "You And Me, Me And You" on his own self-titled debut LP "Troy Seals" on Columbia KC 34271 in 1976. Will Jennings would later go on to do huge collaborative lyric projects with Steve Winwood on his solo LPs "Arc Of A Diver" (1981) and "Talking Back To The Night" (1982). Time for Harrison to go all balladeer and for track 3 we get a cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep It With Mine" – a non-album song the Bobster originally gave to Judy Collins way back in 1965 which she released as a stand-alone 45 on Elektra Records. Harrison completely changes the whimsy upbeat vibe of the Collins version and makes it a more Soulful Rock ballad – a slow bruising beat backed up with great vocals and organ playing. Of all the truly great artists of our time - Dylan is surely the most overdone when it comes to covers – but Mike Harrison's take on "I'll Keep It With Mine" is like a quality Joe Cocker interpretation – different yet wonderfully complimentary.

Penned by the dynamic songwriting duo of Southern boys Don Nix and Dan Penn - "Like A Road (Leading Home)" was initially given to Albert King in 1971 to end his "Lovejoy" album on Stax Records. Harrison gives his cover a slow Southern Soul feel with brass and strings – it's a good version even if his vocals feel at times strained and ever so slightly off-key. At 3:27 minutes – his mandolin Rock-Funk cover of The Beatles "We Can Work It Out" was an obvious but not very successful single. There's interesting synth stuff going on in the 'try to see it my way' centre passage for sure - but it just feels dated and ill-chosen. Things improve immeasurably with "Okay Lay Lady Lay" – 6:35 minutes of wickedly groovy voicebox boogie – another co-write with fellow Spooky Tooth band member Luther Grosvenor. The '20th Century Choir' provide girly vocals to counterpoint Harrison's strangulated Eddie Hinton vocals. "Easy" is a lush ballad that just about gets away with the heavy-on-the-sauce strings – but after all that preceding Southern Boogie funk sounds out of place (its written by Mike Harrison with Aitkin and Brown – two names that elude me). Quite what Harrison or Goodear were thinking when they recorded an iffy version (complete with syrup strings) of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" – the Edgar Harburg and Harold Arlen classic from "The Wizard Of Oz" – is anybody's guess! But that they tried it as a leadoff 45 is unbelievably dumb (best left in the hands of capable interpreters like Nilsson). The side is just about salvaged by the smoochy finisher "Friend" co-written by Mike Harrison with Tenor Saxophonist Arthur Belcher (he puts in the solo on "Hard Headed Woman" on "Mike Harrison"). It's a nice vocal but hardly a great tune (nice bass and keyboards on the remaster).

So there you have it. Re-listening to the three albums in a row and it quickly becomes obvious why each failed to make any real impact on release – they lacked cohesion and needed stronger material too. But despite their patchy nature - as a junkie for Classic 70ts Rock - the good stuff is more than worth the price of admission. Once again well done to Beat Goes On (BGO) for another quality and timely reissue...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 260 entries and 2450 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). 

"Depend On Me: The Early Albums" by THE MIRACLES (2009 Hip-O Select 2CD Set - Ellen Fitten Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Everybody's Got To Pay Some Dues…" 

You can’t accuse Hip-O Select of scrimping on this one - 5 albums across 2CDs, loads of non-album single sides and even Previously Unreleased. The presentation is lovely and the remasters absolutely top notch. There’s a huge amount on here so let’s get to those three-minute Soul Serenades straight away…

Released January 2009 in the USA on Hip-O Select B0012855-02 (Barcode 602527073071) – "Depend On Me: The Early Albums" by THE MIRACLES fans out as follows:

Disc 1 (79:04 minutes):

1. Who’s Lovin’ You

2. (You Can) Depend On Me

3. A Heart Like Mine

4. Shop Around

5. Won’t You Take Me Back

6. Cause I Love You

7. Your Love

8. After All

9. Way Over There

10. Money (That’s What I Need)

11. Don’t Leave Me

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut LP "Hi, We're The Miracles" – released June 1961 in the USA on Tamla 220 and July 1963 in the UK on Oriole PS 40044

12. That’s The Way I Feel

13. Everybody’s Got To Pay Some Dues

14. Mama

15. Ain’t It Baby

16. Determination

17. You Never Miss A Good Thing

18. Embraceable You

19. The Only One I Love

20. Broken Hearted

21. I Can’t Believe

Tracks 12 to 21 are their 2nd LP “Cookin’ With The Miracles” – released November 1961 in the USA on Tamla 223 (No UK release)

BONUS TRACKS – NON-LP SINGLES:

22. Mighty Good Lovin’ – B-side of “Broken Hearted”, a USA 7” single released June 1961 on Tamla 54044

23. The Feeling is So Fine – A-side of a USA 7” single released September 1959 on Tamla 54028 but withdrawn

24. Shop Around (Second Regional A.K.A. “Slow” Version) – Second Pressing of a USA 45 on Tamla 54034 released September 1960

25. I’ll Try Something New – A-side of a USA 7” single released April 1962 on Tamla 54059

26. What’s So Good About Good Bye – A-side of a USA 7” single released December 1961 on Tamla 54053

27. He Don’t Care About Me – Recorded Late 1961

28. A Love That Can Never Be – Recording Details Unknown

29. I’ve Been Good To You – B-side of “What’s So Good About Good Bye” – see 26 – tracks 25 to 29, see also 1 to 5 on Disc 2

Disc 2 (74:44 minutes):

1. Speak Low

2. On The Street Where You Live

3. If Your Mother Only Knew

4. I’ve Got You Under My Skin

5. This Swear, I Promise

Tracks 25 to 29 on Disc 1, Tracks 1 to 5 on Disc 2 are their 3rd album “I’ll Try Something New” – released July 1962 in the USA on Tamla 230 (No UK release)

6. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me

7. I’ve Been Good To You

8. Such Is Love, Such Is Life

9. I Can’t Take A Hint

10. Won’t You Take Me Back

11. A Love She Can Count On

12. Whatever Makes You Happy

13. Heartbreak Road

14. Happy Landing

15. Your Love

Tracks 6 to 15 are their 4th album "The Fabulous Miracles" – released May 1963 in the USA on Tamla 238 and November 1964 in the UK on Stateside SL 10099

16. Mighty Good Lovin’ (Live)

17. A Love She Can Count On (Live)

18. Happy Landing (Live)

19. I’ve Been Good To You (Live)

20. What’s So Good About Good Bye (Live)

21. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me (Live)

22. Way Over There (Live)

Tracks 16 to 22 is their 5th album “Recorded Live On Stage” – released May 1963 in the USA on Tamla 241 and October 1963 in the UK on Tamla Motown TML 10055 (Mono) and STML 10055 (Stereo). 16 to 18 were recorded live at the Regal Theater, Chicago and 19 to 22 at The Apollo in New York.

23. Shop Around (First Regional Version) – A-side, 1st pressing, issued as a 7” single in the USA on Tamla 54034 in September 1960

24. The Only One I Love (Single Version) – B-side of “Ain’t It Baby”, A USA 7” single released March 1961 on Tamla 54036

The card digipak folds out into four-leaves and is very tastefully done in a sort of sepia feel – a bit of a trademark in Hip-O Select presentation. The 24-page booklet is gorgeous with detailed liner notes from STU HACKEL (profiled The Miracles many times before), black and white and colour publicity photos and indepth track-by-track annotation. But the absolute bomb is a foldout concertina of the colour album sleeves – it’s kept in the first flap and on the rear of each ‘detachable’ card is the back sleeve artwork – American Album covers that most fans simply never see. You get "Hi We're The Miracles" (June 1961), "Cookin' With The Miracles" (Nov 1961), "I'll Try Something New" (July 1962), "The Fabulous Miracles" (May 1963) and "Recorded Live On Stage" (May 1963). It’s a really nice touch and the ‘colour’ is beautiful.

Better still is the ELLEN FITTON remasters from first generation tapes. She’s been involved in huge swathes of Motown reissues for both Universal and especially Hip-O Select (she did all 13 of the award-winning “Singles” book sets. These are mostly MONO recordings not exactly put down in audiophile conditions – so her work here with the tapes is superb.

Musically these are early days – most of it is more Vocal Group than Sixties Soul. That nonchalant slow-paced Vocal Group vibe permeates “Who’s Lovin’ You”, “A Heart Like Mine” and “What’s So Good About Good Bye”. There are shades of the Marvelettes in “Ain’t It Baby” and heaps of Echo on “I’ll Try Something New” giving it a feel of Summer Nights at the Drive-In. The stand alone single “Mighty Good Lovin’” is a great dancer and the pleader “You Never Miss A Good Thing” has huge sound (and strings). It doesn’t say who the female vocalist on the rather excellent “He Don’t Care About Me” is (probably Claudette – Smokey’s wife) or the male lead on “A Love That Can Never Be” – but both are nice additions as is the mid-tempo B-side “I’ve Been Good To Soul”.

Despite its lovely presentation – there’s stuff on here that’s awful like their cheesy cover of “On The Street Where You Live” or Frankie’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Things improve immeasurably with Smokey’s wicked “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” – and easy to hear why it was an R&B Number 1. A nice bopper is “I Can Take A Hint” and the bluesy “Won’t You Take Me Back” even has a Joe Turner piano R&B feel. I find most of the live album unlistenable – crude recordings – but at least “Happy Landing” has some life in it. “The Only One I Love” was transferred from a mint 45 and noise-reduction technology used to dampen the crackle – and it sounds great.

Musically – I find the earliest Motown hard work – and these are no different. But if you’re a fan – the great sound, presentation and rarity value is going to be a huge draw…

PS: this 'limited edition' set is now deleted and commands heavy price tags in some quarters. (No pun intended) shop around - it can be bought for a lot less...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - 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). 

"The Elektra Years: 1978-1987" by THE CARS (2016 Rhino/Warner Brothers/Elektra 6CD Mini Box Set - Ted Jensen/Ric Ocasek Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...A Fine Line Between Us..." 

CARS fans have had a bit of scrappy-do ride when it comes to CD Remasters of their Boston heroes. The "Just What I Needed" 2CD Anthology from Rhino in 1995 did a fabulous job as did those expensive but oh so nice efforts with "Shake It Up" from Mobile Fidelity in 2010 (see Review) and the Japanese Remaster of "Heartbeat City" in 2012. But those are deleted and gathering cost while the 5CD "Original Album Series" Mini Box Set from 2010 carries varying audio across all five titles (as it seems to do for all of those WEA box sets). Someone has obviously thought it about time that the entire 6-album, 60-track catalogue of THE CARS gets an Audio facelift – and in March 2016 - here comes My Best Friend's Girl...

Having said all that - I've been looking forward to this little beast for some time – and if I'm truthful I'd advise fans to holster those audio-expectations because to my ears this box set is a strange hybrid of good and bad Remastered Sound. The first three albums sound average - even overly loud - while at the same time being strangely deadpan and disjointed ("The Cars", "Candy-O" and "Panorama") – but the last three are shining like never before – jewels that will thrill fans to the core of their beings ("Shake It Up", "Heartbeat City" and "Door To Door"). Could just be my ageing lugs – anyway to the details...

UK and Europe released Friday, 11 March 2016 – "The Elektra Years: 1978-1987" by THE CARS on Rhino/Warner Brothers/Elektra 081227947439 (Barcode 081227947439) is a 6CD Clamshell Box Set featuring their first six studio albums Remastered by TED JENSEN (overseen by band founder RIC OCASEK) and plays outs as follows:

Disc 1 "The Cars" (35:10 minutes):

1. Good Times Roll

2. My Best Friend's Girl

3. Just What I Needed

4. I'm In Touch With Your World

5. Don't Cha Stop

6. You're All I've Got Tonight [Side 1]

7. Bye Bye Love

8. Moving In Stereo

9. All Mixed Up

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "The Cars" – released June 1978 in the USA on Elektra 6E-135 and August 1978 in the UK on Elektra K 52088. It peaked at No. 18 and 29 on the US and UK LP charts.

Disc 2 "Candy-O" (36:31 minutes):

1. Let's Go

2. Since I Held You

3. It's All I Can Do

4. Double Life

5. Shoo Be Doo

6. Candy-O

7. Night Spots [Side 2]

8. You Can Hold On Too Long

9. Lust For Kicks

10. Got A Lot On My Head

11. Dangerous Type

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 2nd studio album "Candy-O" – released June 1979 in the USA on Elektra 5E-507 and in the UK on Elektra K 52148. It peaked at No. 3 and 30 on the USA and UK LP charts.

Disc 3 "Panorama" (40:32 minutes):

1. Panorama

2. Touch And Go

3. Gimme Some Slack

4. Don't Tell Me No

5. Getting Through

6. Misfit Kid [Side 2]

7. Down Boys

8. You Wear Those Eyes

9. Running To You

10. Up And Down

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Panorama" – released August 1980 in the USA on Elektra 5E-514 and in the UK on Elektra 52240. It peaked at No. 5 in the USA but didn’t chart in the UK.

Disc 4 "Shake It Up" (40:43 minutes):

1. Since You're Gone

2. Shake It Up

3. I'm Not The One

4. Victim Of Love

5. Cruiser

6. A Dream Away [Side 2]

7. This Could Be Love

8. Think It Over

9. Maybe Baby

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 4th studio album "Shake It Up" – released November 1981 in the USA on Elektra 5E-567 and in the UK on Elektra K 52330. It peaked at No. 9 in the USA but didn’t chart in the UK.

Disc 5 "Heartbeat City" (38:38 minutes):

1. Hello Again

2. Looking For Love

3. Magic

4. Drive

5. Stranger Eyes

6. You Might Think [Side 2]

7. It's Not The Night

8. Why Can't I Have You

9. I Refuse

10. Heartbeat City

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 5th studio album "Heartbeat City" – released March 1984 in the USA on Elektra 60296-1 and in the UK on Elektra 960 296-1. It peaked at No. 3 and 25 in the USA and UK LP charts.

Disc 6 "Door To Door" (45:54 minutes):

1. Leave Or Stay

2. You Are My Girl

3. Double Trouble

4. Fine Line

5. Everything You Say

6. Ta Ta Wayo Wayo

7. Strap Me In [Side 2]

8. Coming Up You

9. Wound Up On You

10. Go Away

11. Door To Door

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 6th studio album "Door To Door" – released September 1987 in the USA on Elektra 9 60747-1 and in the UK on Elektra EKT 42. It peaked at No. 26 and 72 in the US and UK LP charts.

The glossy clamshell box set is pretty to look at and tactile too. Fans will know that each original Cars vinyl album came with a 'inner sleeve' ("Heartbeat City" also boasted a gatefold sleeve) - so Rhino have reproduced each as a double-sided single-sheet inlay which is placed inside the 5" card repro sleeves all of which are based on the American LP artwork. You will of course need a strong set of retinas and perhaps a large telescope to actually read the lyrics contained therein – but at least they're on those inserts – albeit in miniscule form. The only and obvious difference is that Ocasek has had the "Heartbeat City" gatefold sleeve changed into his preferred 'white border' sleeve which to my eyes in infinitely prettier and more distinctive. A few might moan about tapering with history – but I think most will dig it (its pictured on the rear of the box).  

There's no booklet (mores the shame) but there is a single-page inlay with track lists and reissue credits (JOHN HUGHES and MIKE ENGSTROM are Project Supervisors). This time the detached inlay has been placed 'inside' the box instead of being attached to the outside and thereby going to crumpled mush once you get the shrinkwrap off (common sense has prevailed). But the big news is brand new TED JENSEN Remasters for all six albums and 60 tracks carried out at Sterling Sound in New York and supervised by bandleader and principal songwriter – RIC OCASEK. As I've said already – I'm finding them a very mixed bag for the first three albums – and I know the remaining three were recorded better – but man do they shine on this box compared to the first three. The "Shake It Up" album is a revelation and I’ve always felt the hidden gem in their catalogue after the disappointing "Panorama". Both "Heartbeat City" and "Door To Door" sound glorious too. Let's go through the albums...

The first thing you notice as you play "Good Times Roll" from their storming "The Cars" debut album is the raised hiss level at the beginning of the track that seems to persist throughout the album. It's like someone has left the treble open at full throttle and to hell with the results. There was a subtly in the handling of "Just What I Needed" and "Moving In Stereo" in previous remasters that seems to have been abandoned for full transparency – and I'm not so sure if its been such a good idea. Others may disagree. But then you get to "You're All I've Got Tonight" and the overlooked finisher "All Mixed Up" and the Audio is fab – full of presence and oomph.

Both 1979's "Candy-O" and 1980's "Panorama" represented a lull for me in The Cars catalogue and I'll admit I haven't played either in decades. So re-hearing those forgotten album tracks like the wonderfully melodic "It's All I Can Do" and the choppy rock of "Night Spots" come as more than a pleasant surprise. There's hiss on the 'can I touch you' of "Dangerous Type" but its certainly punchier when that clever synth break kicks in. The single "Touch And Go" is probably the track most people know off "Panorama" - but I'd forgotten about the Tom Petty boogie of "Getting Through" and the sheer hookiness of "Misfit Kid". And then there's the city-at-night eeriness of "You Wear Those Eyes" where Ocasek sounds like the male version of Martha Davies from The Motels. There's noticeable muscle in the grungy guitars of "Running To You" but the other instruments still seem lost in a 'too busy' mix.

Cars fans will know that only 4 of the 9 tracks from "Shake It Up" made the 1995 "Just What I Needed" 2CD Anthology – so how cool is it to have this whole record in spiffing remastered audio here (at a reasonable cost). All songs are CARS originals except "This Could Be Love" which is written by Greg Hawkes. My favourite track has always been "A Dream Away" - the song’s sweeping 'liquid' feel swimming out of my speakers – what a winner. The punch out of "I’m Not The One" is fabulous – when the guitar slides in about 25 seconds in - it's so clear. Some tracks are weak ("Cruiser" and "Maybe Baby" are hardly great) - but there are others on here that I can't live without like the frantic "Think It Over" and the Side 1 opener "Since You’re Gone" both sounding hot, hot, hot. The guitar solo on "Shake It Up" too is a masterpiece of brevity and precision and sounds brill...

Their career would reach an artistic and commercial peak with the superb "Heartbeat City" album from 1984 – resplendent with monster hits like "You Might Think", "Magic" and the magisterial "Drive" (few will forget its impact at Live Aid - moving millions to donate). In fact it felt like 1984 was dominated by this most 'Summer' of albums – perfect radio fodder with Pop-Rock tunes like "It's Not The Night" and "Why Can't I Have You". But for me the title track has always been my crave. "Heartbeat City" has that genius Cars combo of elements - a wicked Icehouse/Roxy Music synth groove that gets its teeth into you and just builds and builds on those melodious soundscapes...

The "Door To Door" album in 1987 probably took too long to arrive - following a crowd-pleasing "Greatest Hits" set in 1986 - and compared to "Heartbeat City" seemed strangely lacking. But that doesn't mean it didn't have its moments. For years I've wanted the pretty Icehouse soulfulness of "Fine Line" in decent sound – and here it is (lyrics from it title this review). The wild dancing guitars and piano of "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo" leap out of speakers with real power (my LP version always sounded crap) and the single "Strap Me In" sounds amazing – big swirling soundscape – grungy guitars – a proper Cars blaster.

To sum up – it's good to have their catalogue celebrated like this – and on CD – at a reasonable price. But I'm still going to have get used to those Remasters on the first three albums. "...Heartbeat City's on the loose..." - Ocasek sings on that swirling tune. Indeed it is...

"Eyewitness/Modern Times/Casa Loco" by STEVE KHAN (2016 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Blue Shadow..."

April 2015 saw Jazz-Fusion virtuoso Guitarist STEVE KHAN have his first three Solo albums from the late Seventies on Columbia's Tappan Zee Records reissued by Beat Goes On of the UK in proper style. 

Just shy of a year later BGO now follow that splurge with another 2CD set – this time reissuing Khan's desirable and long-deleted albums from 1981, 1982 and 1984 on Island's Fusion/Avant Garde label 'Antilles' and Sire's 'Passport Records'. 

The three Antilles/Passport albums (the second was initially a Japan-only 'live' set) have been off the musical radar for decades on both vinyl and CD – so Jazz-Funk fans like me have yet more cause to celebrate. Here are the fret-bending details...

UK released 4 March 2016 (1 April 2016 in the USA) – "Eyewitness/Modern Times/Casa Loco" by STEVE KHAN on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1228 (Barcode 5017261212283) features 3LPs on 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (61:51 minutes):
1. Where's Mumphrey?
2. Dr. Slump
3. Auxiliary Police
4. Guy Lafleur [Side 2]
5. Eyewitness
Tracks 1 to 5 are his fifth studio album "Eyewitness" – released November 1981 in the USA and December 1983 in the UK (both) on Antilles AN 1018

6. Blades (For Wayne Gretzky)
7. The Blue Shadow (For Folon)
Tracks 6 and 7 are Side 1 of his sixth album – the LIVE SET "Modern Times" – initially only released 1982 in Japan on Trio Records AW-25016 but then reissued in the USA and Europe in 1985 on Passport Records PJ 88001 – first time on CD

Disc 2 (67:04 minutes):
1. Penguin Village
2. Modern Times
Tracks 1 and 2 are Side 2 of his sixth album - the LIVE SET "Modern Times" – initially only released August 1982 in Japan on Trio Records AW-25016 but then reissued in the USA and Europe in 1985 on Passport Records PJ 88001 – first time on CD in 2016

3. The Breakaway
4. Casa Loco
5. Penetration
6. Some Sharks [Side 2]
7. Uncle Roy
8. The Suitcase
Tracks 3 to 8 are seventh album "Casa Loco" – released 1984 in the USA on Antilles Records AN-2010 and in Europe on Antilles/Island 206 516

The packed 20-page booklet repro's all artwork and track-by-track musician credits along with in-depth liner notes from noted Musicologist MATT PHILLIPS (writer, musician and founder of the Sounds Of Surprise Jazz Music website). Along with a couple of choice snaps of Khan - there are new black and white photos of his key players Jordan, Jackson and Badrena - while the text includes new interviews with Khan about the making of the albums. The outer card wrap that now accompanies all BGO CD releases gives the whole shebang a classy feel and there's new 2016 remasters by ANDREW THOMPSON that let all that musical expertise shine through. Both CDs sound stupendously good with "Modern Times" first time on CD and "Casa Loco" not touched since the very early days of the medium in 1984. His band for all three records was – STEVE KHAN – All Guitars, ANTHONY JACKSON – Bass Guitar and Contrabass, STEVE JORDAN – Drums with MANOLO BADRENA on Percussion and Vocals.

Brought to Columbia Records by the Blood, Sweat & Tears Drummer Bobby Colomby and Keyboard Wizard Bob James (James Produced and provided the liner notes for his debut album) – Californian Khan quickly proved his sessionman mettle with his debut "Tightrope" followed by "The Blue Man" (both 1978) and then "Arrows" in 1979. After a brief stint with Arista in 1980 for the "Evidence" LP – we pick up here in 1981 for "Eyewitness" on Antilles Records.

All songs are Jazz Fusion instrumentals firmly in the groove of Funky – stuff like the sexily slinky 7:28 of "Where's Mumphrey?" and the bedroom-loving 8:25 of "Dr. Slump" feels like George Benson, George Duke and Narada Michael Walden got together and decidedly to get well – funky. His stunning feel and playing on "Dr. Slump" alone is worth the price of admission (don't let the corny name put you off). It sounds like the love child of John Mayer meets Robin Trower (Trower circa "In City Dreams" and "Caravan To Midnight") – one long Soulful smooch solo that would reduce even the most resilient of ladies to the lurve quivers. It's properly fabulous stuff and the remaster truly gorgeous. The trio on Side 2 of "Auxiliary Police", "Guy Lafleur" and "Eyewitness" also allow the drumming and percussion of both Jordan and Badrena to shine – completing what is probably his most perfect album in the genre. Sweet as...

I've never heard the live set "Modern Times" album before so its expertly rendered Fusion is new to me. All four tracks are in excess of ten minutes and some over twelve. My fave is the tight-as-a-politician's tax returns Drum/Bass Funk of "The Blue Shadow" which walks a tightrope between George Duke and Phil Upchurch - where Anthony Jackson slaps his Contrabass while Steve Jordan hammers those skins. Soon they're joined by Khan in what is an almost Zappa number. Recorded at "The Pit Inn" in Tokyo in Japan on the 3rd and 4th of May 1982 – the whole album was recorded using the CBS/Sony Studio Remote Unit - and man does it tell. Stunning stuff...

After the Fusion highs of one and two - the 3rd album "Casa Loco" from 1984 doesn't open promisingly – “The Breakaway” clearly hoping for some kind of crossover hit. It abandons the cool breeze feel of "Eyewitness" and goes instead for treated sound effects that sounded funky and contemporary at the time but unfortunately now sound dreadfully dated. Things improve immeasurably on the 12:37 minute title track. Originally mastered by the legendary engineer Greg Calbi (Supertramp, Paul Simon) – the audio on this sucker is awesome and also features rare vocals from Badrena as he ad-libs howls to the South American soundscapes. Written by Steve Leonard – "Penetration" tries hard but just gets lost in some ill-advised horrible rock riffage. "Some Sharks" again has vocals in Latin but ends up feeling like badly focused Santana. "Uncle Roy" swings in a Stewart Copeland Police kind of way while the finisher "The Suitcase" again feels like a scrappy Fusion-Rock tune that doesn’t know how to be one...

Even if the third album kinda lets the side down somewhat - overall this is another winner from BGO in their on-going reissues of forgotten Jazz Fusion albums that deserve a second-go-round (see my review for their first Steve Khan release "Tightrope/The BlueMan/Arrows"). Those first two albums alone are worth every penny and big-time welcome additions to the format. And fans will love the classy presentation and top-quality audio too. Out of the shadows and into the light. Nicely done indeed...

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - 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).