"Everything Stops For Tea" by JOHN BALDRY [with Rod Stewart & Elton John] (August 2005 UK Warners 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Jubilee Cloud…" 

In June 1964 - Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men released an obscure UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1056. Its B-side - a raucous cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's gospel tune "Up Above My Head" featured an uncredited duet vocal with a sensational new singer. It was Rod Stewart's first vinyl appearance.

To repay such incalculable smarts and generosity and at the behest of Joe Smith (then President of Warners) – Rodders stepped up to the plate at the height of his Faces/Solo Career fame (1971) and produced two corking but long forgotten Blues-Rock LP gems for Baldry. Each record used the guts of his own studio band and those of Elton John's backing group – Hookfoot - with both Elton and Rod also having a hand in producing. The albums were "It Ain't Easy" (June 1971) and "Everything Stops For Tea" (May 1972). As well as Rod's and Elton's key players each LP featured a stellar cast of other notable Rock luminaries – all wanting to help out the much-respected and dapper darling of the UK R&B scene – John Baldry. And that's where this second of two Warner Brothers/Rhino expanded CD Remasters comes in. Here are the strange brew details...

UK and Europe released 29 August 2005 (September 2005 in the USA) – "Everything Stops For Tea" by JOHN BALDRY on Warner Brothers 8122784652 (Barcode 081227846527) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (54:19 minutes):

1. Intro: Come Back Again [Ross Wilson cover]

2. Seventh Son [Willie Dixon song – Willie Mabon cover]

3. Wild Mountain Thyme [Traditional Air, McPeake Family]

4. Iko Iko [The Dixie Cups cover]

5. Jubilee Cloud [John Kongos cover]

6. Everything Stops For Tea [Jack Buchanan cover of a 1935 song] - Side 2

7. You Can't Judge A Book [Willie Dixon Song – Muddy Waters cover]

8. Mother Ain't Dead [Traditional]

9. Hambone [Sam Mitchell cover]

10. Lord Remember Me

11. Armit's Trousers [Ian Armit of The Hoochie Coochie Men song]

Tracks 1 to 11 are his album "Everything Stops For Tea" – released May 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46160 and Warner Brothers BS-2614 in the USA. Tracks 1 to 5 (Side 1) produced by ELTON JOHN in February 1972 with Tracks 6 to 11 (Side 2) produced by ROD STEWART between January and February 1972.

CD BONUS TRACKS

12. Radio Spot No. 1 (advertising the album)

13. Bring My Baby Back To Me (Live Mar-Y Sol Festival, Puerto Rico, April 1972) – first appeared on the 2LP set "Mar Y Sol" in 1972 on Atco SD 2-705 – Previously Unreleased on CD

14. Only Love Can Break Your Heart (album outtake, duet vocals with Joyce Eversion, a Neil Young cover) – Previously Unreleased

15. I'm Just A Rake & Ramblin' Boy (album outtake, duet vocals with Joyce Eversion, a Ron Davies cover) – Previously Unreleased

16. Radio Spot No. 2 (advertising Joyce Everson's "Crazy Lady" album, 1972)

The band for the ELTON JOHN sessions was (Side 1 – Track 1 to 5):

Lead Vocals - JOHN BALDRY

Vocal Accompaniment - ELTON JOHN (Tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5)

Guitars – DAVEY JOHNSTONE

Bass – KLAUS VOORMAN

Percussion – RAY COOPER

Drums – NIGEL OLSSON

Piano – IAN ARMIT (on "Jubilee Cloud")

Viola – STEFAN DELFT (on "Wild Mountain Thyme")

The band for the ROD STEWART sessions was (Side 2 – Tracks 6 to 11):

Lead Vocals - JOHN BALDRY (Guitar on "Mother Ain't Dead")

Duet Vocals – ROD STEWART (on "Mother Ain't Dead", Rod also plays Banjo)

Guitars – JAMES LITHERLAND and ROBERT WESTON (on "You Can't Judge A Book" and "Lord Remember Me")

Guitars – SAM MITCHELL (on "Hambone")

Piano - IAN ARMIT (on "You Can't Judge A Book", "Lord Remember Me" and "Armit's Trousers")

Bass – BILL SMITH (on "You Can't Judge A Book" and "Lord Remember Me")

Bass – JOHN PORTER (on "Hambone")

Drums – JOHN DENTITH (on "You Can't Judge A Book" and "Lord Remember Me")

Drums – JOHN PORTER (on "Hambone")

Percussion - MICKIE WALLER (of Steampacket) (on "You Can't Judge A Book")

Backing Vocals – MADELINE BELL, LIZA STRIKE and DORIS TROY (on "You Can't Judge A Book")

Backing Vocals – MADELINE BELL, LIZA STRIKE and BARRY St. JOHN (on "Lord Remember Me")

The original green label of the US and UK vinyl albums is aped on the CD label, the 12-page inlay has affectionate and informative liner notes by SID GRIFFIN. There's a "Dear Boy..." letter to fans from Baldry dated May 2002 on Pages 2 and 3 - while Griffin's notes go into the history of Steampacket, Baldry's solo career (as Long John Baldry) and of course his association with Rod and Elton. It's pretty and all the original album artwork is in place too. But the big news for fans is the quality Audio. Expert remastering has been carried out by Rhino's long-time tape associate DAN HERSH with sound produced by DAN HERSCH. This CD sounds fabulous with that great 70ts Classic Rock sound...

It opens well with an R&B one-two of "Come Back Again" and "Seventh Son" where the album feels like "It Ain't Easy" Part 2 (the LP that preceded it in 1971). But then he attempts a Scottish air – the McPeake Family's beautiful traditional "Wild Mountain Thyme" and along with a wishy-washy take on the Dixie Cups classic "Iko Iko" kills any real momentum the side might have had. Things recover big time with his rocking cover of "Jubilee Cloud" – a track from the 1971 "Kongos" album on Fly Records (by John Kongos). With the band rocking it out – you really wish the whole side was filled with these smart choices. But Side 2 makes the same mistake of including too many styles when really it would have been better to Rock or even Funk.

Preceded by some very silly dialogue about fans seeking signatures as he types a reluctant letter of apology – a hassled Baldry plays up his terribly aristocratic British accent on the intro to "Everything Stops For Tea". Written by Al Goodhart, Al Hoffman and Maurice Sigler – this ode to England's favourite tipple was first a witty vocal vehicle for Jack Buchanan alongside Fay Wray in the 1935 movie "Come Out Of The Pantry". Baldry keeps his version firmly in the music hall shuffle tradition – "...you remember Cleopatra...she had a date to meet Mark Anthony at three...but he came an hour late...she said you'll have to wait...because everything stops for tea..." – you get the audio picture.

There are tongue-in-cheek jabs at the outlandish garbs of Rod Stewart and Elton John in the lyrics of the superb cover of Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge A Book" where the band finally rocks out – Jimmy Horowitz giving in some chunky Hammond chords while Madeline Bell, Liza Strike and Doris Troy give it some Soulful backing vocals. Baldry opens "Mother Ain't Dead" with a spoken intro about how he hadn't sung with Rod sing the Steampacket days back in 1965. They then duet on this rather lovely version of the Blues Traditional with Baldry playing Guitar and Rod doing an impressive Banjo backing. The funky drum-shuffle of "Hambone" turned up in 2002 on the "Right On! Volume 4" CD compilation on Warner Brothers - Soul Boys and Funksters alike digging its sexy groove. Written by guitarist Sam Mitchell – he also plays all guitars on this fantastically catchy tune (one of the album’s highlights). Written by Myrtle Jackson in the Forties and famously covered by Country Music star Hank Snow in 1966 - "But This I Pray, Oh Lord Remember Me" is reduced to "Lord Remember Me" - a slow Soulful Gospel rap that builds into a frantic preacher 'piano and ladies' chant. The album then fizzles out with Ian Armit's "Armit's Trousers" – a two-minute instrumental ditty with him on a lone piano (he was one of The Hoochie Coochie Men back in the 60ts day with Baldry).

The Bonus Tracks are a mixed bag. After a one-minute Radio Spot (No. 1) that uses the dialogue/typewriter gag at the beginning of "Everything Stops For Tea" (not a very convincing sales pitch I'd have to say) – we get something worth celebrating in a hard-hitting Blues Boogie similar to Muddy Waters/Johnny Winter. The self-penned Slow-Blues of "Bring My Baby Back To Me" was first released by Baldry as a British 45 on United Artists UP 1158 in 1966 – the B-side of "Cuckoo". This fantastic 6:25 minute version first appeared on Side 4 of the vinyl double-album "Mar Y Sol – The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival" in 1972 on Atco SD 2-705. I don't know who's playing guitar – but it's a barnstormer (and first time on CD here too). This is followed by two album outtakes – covers of Neil Young's sorrowful "After The Gold Rush" classic "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and Ron Davies' lesser-known "I'm Just A Rake & Ramblin' Boy". Both feature the vocals of Joyce Everson whose album "Crazy Lady" appeared in 1972 on Warner Brothers BS 2604 (the Radio Spot No. 2 advertises it using Baldry's voice). Although she's a good voice – her high pitch doesn't suit him and the Neil Young track comes across as mawkish rather than tuneful. The largely acoustic "I'm Just A Rake & Ramblin' Boy" is far better - but in truth you can see why both were left off an already confusing album.

Although the 2nd LP isn't as good as the first (too many conflicting styles and a couple of choices that simmered rather than sizzled) – I still see "Everything Stops For Tea" as a fabulous little CD reissue. And it perfectly compliments his first album for Warner Brothers "It Ain't Easy" from 1971 which Warners/Rhino 'Expanded' on a 2005 Remaster also (see separate review).

With John Baldry lost to us since 2005 – both CDs are a lovely way to remember him. 
And well done to all those involved for finally seeing it reissued. 
Rest in Peace you British beauty...

 

PS: In December 2005 Rhino Handmade (the mail-order side of US reissue specialist label Rhino Records) released a 2CD set called "Boogie Woogie: The Warner Bros. Recordings" on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7896 (Barcode 603497789627). It contained the "It Ain't Easy" album and its extras on CD1 (18 tracks) and the "Everything Stops For Tea" album and its extras on CD2 (16 tracks). That release was limited to 2,500 copies worldwide and received no UK issue. 

 

So the two Expanded Albums CD Reissues put out by Rhino in the UK in August 2005 are that 2CD set broken down into separate releases (with no loss of bonus tracks). 16 Nov 2013 USA saw the Rhino Handmade 2CD Set "Boogie Woogie: The Warner Bros. Recordings" reissued on Wounded Bird WOU 1921 (Barcode 664140192126) with the same artwork and again no loss on Bonus Material...

"Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" by HORSLIPS (2009 Celtic Airs/Horslips Records 'Expanded' CD – Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…A Thief In A Haunted House…" 

When England's Fairport Convention recorded "A Sailor's Life" for inclusion on their "Unhalfbricking:" album (released July 1969) - its eleven-minutes-plus mixed English Folk Tradition with Rock elements and an Indian backbeat and drone -thereby creating overnight what many now call the genre of `Folk Rock'. The Fairports went on to more Folk-Rock greatness with "Liege & Lief" in December of that eventful year - and even better with the offshoot group Fotheringay in June 1970.

Ireland on the other hand - even with its long history of Folk tradition now running alongside a growing adoration of all things Rock - seemed to take its sweet time mixing the pair. That is until HORSLIPS came along. Their January 1973 self-financed debut album "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" on Oats Records MOO 3 did just that - and in grand style. I've still got my Irish-pressed original vinyl LP with its 'Emma Music' and 'Made In Ireland' credits on the labels. It was recorded November 1972 in Ireland by Alan O'Duffy on the Rolling Stones Mobile and distributed by RCA in the UK/Atlantic Records in the States (Atlantic SD 7030). But a few words first about the originals famously elaborate artwork...

Designed by the band's Fiddle player Charles O'Connor ('he cost us a fortune') and printed by Irish Silk Screen Ltd - the sleeve was cut in an Octagonal shape to ape his small and delicate hand-played instrument - an Irish Concertina (it's pictured by his feet on his photograph page). The front-flap was die-cut to allow the colour plates underneath to be seen - each one given over to a band member - JIM LOCKHART on Keyboards, Whistle and Flute, JOHNNY FEAN (looking like he needs a good night's sleep) on Electric and Acoustic Guitars, BARRY DEVLIN on Bass and Lead Vocals, EAMONN CARR on Drums and Bodhran and CHARLES O'CONNOR on Electric and Acoustic Fiddle, Mandolin, Concertina and Vocals. That gorgeous artwork has been reproduced here in great detail and they've added lyrics too. I mention all of this because Horslips fans will know that the last CD reissue of this came in a horrible square black cover without the artwork and was fitted out with a none-too pleasant transfer either. At last things have changed and very much for the better...

1. Happy To Meet [Side 1]

2. Hall Of Mirrors

3. The Clergy's Lamentation

4. An Bratach Ban

5. The Shamrock Shore

6. Flower Among Them All

7. Bim Istigh Ag Ol

8. Furniture [Side 2]

9. Ace And Deuce

10. Dance To Yer Daddy

11. Scalloway Ripoff

12. The Musical Priest

13. Sorry To Part

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" as described above

14. Hall Of Mirrors [Live]

15. The High Reel [Live]

16. Rakish Paddy / Johnny's Wedding [Live]

17. Furniture [Live]

18. Bim Istigh Ag Ol [Live]

Tracks 14 to 18 are BONUS - recorded live at Quarter Latin in Berlin in 1976]

This new January 2009 CD reissue on Celtic Airs/Horslips Records MOOCCD003 (Barcode 5391513560934) of "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" by HORSLIPS boasts 5" Octagonal Repro Artwork inside a see-through square plastic holder with a sealable leaf and a title Obi (74:42 minutes). Original LPs have the booklet attached on the inside but in order to reproduce it for CD - Horslips have done it as a separate entity that allows the buyer to appreciate the work on its own. The detail even extends to the outer sleeve being matt (as per the original) while the booklet is stippled. The only downside of course is size - so you really can't read Page 2 of the booklet where each of the boys gives a witty explanation of themselves - but because its done in the Celtic calligraphy and the print is so small - it's hard to read even with glasses. Chris Ellis did the CD artwork and congrats to him...

But the really great news is a remaster by an engineer I rave about a lot - PETER MEW. It was done at Abbey Road and having heard the scratchy record and that last terrible CD - this is a revelation - warmth, clarity and still only the faintest of hiss levels even on the very quiet tracks. An example of how good the remaster sounds are two of the album's many lovely instrumentals - "Flowers Among Them All" on Side 1 and "Ace And Deuce" on Side 2. The first is a Folky jaunt with flutes, Bodhran and Whistles while the second is an acoustic ditty with keyboards - both now sound utterly gorgeous (Horslips did a fantastic remake of "Ace And Deuce" on their 2004 CD "Roll Back" - check it out).

The album opens with the 50-second Irish air and jig "Happy To Meet" with the boys coughing and shouting - then fading into "Hall Of Mirrors" where we get the real Horslips Folk-Rock sound (lyrics from it title this review). The plaintive and Irish-Folky instrumental "The Clergy's lament" follows wigging out into a Rock variant by the song's end. "An Bratach Ban" (I think this roughly translates into The Good Ship) is an old air sun in Gaelic but its eclipsed by the beautiful "Shamrock Shore" often called "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" in Folk circles. Paul Brady does a fabulous cover of it on his "Welcome Here Kind Stranger" Irish album from 1978 on Mulligan Records.

Side 2 opens with a huge fan fave - "Furniture" - one of their own songs mixed in with a familiar Irish air done on Electric Guitar. "Dance To Yer Daddy" and "Scalloway Ripoff" are both near vaudeville in its diddly-idleness - but "The Musical Priest" is probably the best example of their brand of Irish Folk-Rock. It ends on a Traditional note with "Sorry To Part" being pure Irish Folk...

The live tracks are OK - Eamonn Carr getting the crowd going on "The High Reel" and "Rakish Paddy..." - but it all sounds too much like a piss-up in London's Camden Town on a Saturday night and comes as a downer after the loveliness and cool of the album.

I saw Horslips live at a fun fair in a racetrack in Dublin sometime in the Summer of 1972 - they were playing on the back of a small truck and looked so cool it wasn't true. Like Lizzy - they were our (Irish teenagers) first taste of a Rock band we could get our teeth into. But in truth the Irish Folk-Rock of "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" won't be everyone's cup of Darjeeling in 2014 - and 41 years after its groundbreaking appeal/event - some might even find parts of it twee and dated.

But the bottom line is that if you love the album and are prepared to explore - then this excellent CD reissue is a vast improvement on what went before - both in presentation and sonically...

"Fairytale" by DONOVAN (2002 Sanctuary 'Expanded Deluxe Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Songs For Sunshine People..."

Released in October 1965 – "Fairytale" was Donovan's 2nd album for Pye Records - and in 2016 is a very hard-to-find 60ts Folk-Rock classic on original vinyl. The British version was MONO-only on release while the Hickory Records US edition came in both MONO and STEREO with a slightly altered track configuration (drops the Bert Jansch song "Oh Deed I Do" and adds on a hit single – his cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier"). To confuse matters more – the UK budget label Marble Arch Records reissued the vinyl album as a 10-tracker in 1969 by dropping two key tracks – "Colours" and "The Little Tin Soldier". Luckily this superb Sanctuary Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue/Remaster from 2002 will allow fans to sequence all three 'Mono' variants. Here are the breezy details...

UK released February 2002 (reissued April 2010) – "Fairytale" by DONOVAN on Castle Music/Sanctuary CMRCD 360 (Barcode 5050159136025) is an 'Expanded Deluxe Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (53:52 minutes):

1. Colours

2. I'll Try For The Sun

3. Sunny Goodge Street

4. Oh Deed I Do

5. Circus Of Sour

6. The Summer Day Reflection Song

7. Candy Man

8. Jersey Thursday

9. Belated Forgiveness Plea

10. The Ballad Of A Crystal Man

11. The Little Tin Soldier

12. The Ballad Of Geraldine

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 2nd album "Fairytale" – released June 1965 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18128 in Mono Only. All songs are Donovan originals except "Universal Soldier" by Buffy Sainte-Marie, "Oh Deed I Do" by Bert Jansch, "The Little Tin Soldier" by Shawn Phillips, "Candy Man" by Mississippi John Hurt and "Circus Of Sour" by Paul Bernath.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Universal Soldier

14. The Ballad Of A Crystal Man

15. The War Drags On

16. Do You Hear Me Now

17. Turquoise

18. Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)

To sequence the US 1965 Mono LP variant of "Fairytale" (Hickory LPM-127) use the following tracks:

Side One: 13, 2, 3, 1, 5 and 6

Side Two: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

To sequence the UK 1969 Mono 10-track version of "Fairytale" (Marble Arch MAL 867) use the following tracks:

Side One: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Side Two: 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12

The very cool card slipcase repro’s the original 1965 UK album sleeve with DONOVAN bowing his head on the rear photo surrounded by Folk-groovy types. The LP's liner notes on the simulated flip-back cover declared that the contents within were "Songs For Sunshine People" – and in this particular case - the hype was right. STEPHEN HAMMONDS and ANTHONY AMOS co-ordinated the project for Sanctuary, LORNE MURDOCH does the in-depth liner notes (he handled the first 1991 CD reissue) and long-time and much-respected Audio Engineer ANDY PEARCE did the Remaster at Masterpiece Studios in London. The audio is great – very clear and clean and full of presence and not too hissy in that way some Sixties recordings can be.

The album's opener "Colours" is a balls-to-the-wall 60's classic - it truly is. "Fairytale" features a lot of tracks like that - just Donovan and his acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica  - more Folk than Pop really. In fact when you hear almost any track on this very hard-to-find LP - it's easy to see why Donovan was often referred to as Britain's Bob Dylan. And it wasn't just because of the similar vocal styles - they were both such good songwriters and commentators on their times. There are great lyrics in here as well as tunes.

Highlights include "The Ballad Of A Crystal Man" which is represented on this disc twice - the full album version (track 10) and the edited EP version (track 14) - it's a fantastically strong and emotive anti-Vietnam piece equal to anything his Bobness put out on the other side of the pond. Lyrically the other songs are equally clever and even witty too. There's a "...violent hash smoker..." in "Sunny Goodge Street" - while a quietly sinister "Jersey Thursday" gives us sly white powder references like "...on a tiny piece of coloured glass, my love was born...and reds, and golds and yellows were the colours of the dawn..." A very Nick Drake vibe oozes out off "Sunny Goodge Street" with its cello and brass and complimentary flute (flute by Harold McNair). "Oh Deed I Do" is a Bert Jansch original exclusive to the album (never appeared on one of his own albums to my knowledge) and it's easy to hear why Donovan loved it – a gorgeous acoustic strum that would make John Renbourn envious. Shawn Phillips provides 12-string guitar on the lovely "Jersey Thursday" and wrote "The Little Tin Soldier" which Pye put on the flipside of "Josie" – his fourth British 45 on Pye 7N 17067 in February 1966.

The 6 Bonus Tracks are clever inclusions that make the purchase so worthwhile for fans. "Turquoise" and "Hey GYP (Dig The Slowness)" are the A&B-sides of his 3rd UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 15984 released November 1965 - both tracks being non-album at the time of release. It’s arguable that “Turquoise” and its Folk-Funky flipside are equal to and better than some of the album tracks. The other four songs - "Universal Soldier", "Do You Hear Me Now", "Ballad Of A Crystal Man" and "The War Drags On" are again non-album and make up the 4-tracks of the rare UK-only "Universal Soldier EP" on Pye NEP 24219 from September 1965. Hickory Records in the USA released "Universal Soldier" as a 7" single with the Bert Jansch cover "Do You Hear Me Now" on the flipside (Hickory 1338 in September 1965).

So - a good 60ts Folk-Rock album bolstered up with relevant bonuses, liner notes worth reading and quality mastering. After this you will need to buy the "Breezes Of Patchouli..." 3CD set from April 2013 on EMI with stunning Peter Mew Remasters. It offers his studio output between the halcyon period of 1966 to 1969 and much more (see separate review).

For the uninitiated and brave - "Fairytale" is a great way of discovering the wildly underrated Donovan and his great songs - especially those who want to veer away from his better-known hits. Sanctuary also reissued his 1965 debut album "What's Bin Did And What's Bin Hid" with the same packaging, mastering and equally cool added bonus-tracks too.

There's just something wonderful about this album as a stand-alone - and for that matter its straight up and simple predecessor is the same. Highly recommended...the both of them...

"Abbey Road" by THE BEATLES (2014 and 2015 Japan SHM-CD 5" Mini LP Repro Sleeve – 2009 Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Here Comes The Sun..." 

You have to say that the attention to detail on this December 2014 Japanese SHM-CD reissue is impressive (2nd press reissued April 2015 as an 'Encore' version). Beatles nerds like me know that first state British pressings of the vinyl album had a glossy laminate sleeve on both sides, the Apple logo 'misaligned' under the track list for Side 1 on the rear (they straightened it for re-pressings) and the final 17th track - the cheeky-buggers "Her Majesty" - is listed only on the Apple label of the actual LP and not the rear of the sleeve. The Japanese get all these piddly details right.

On top of that you get the rather gorgeous 16-page booklet Apple provided with the 09/09/09 digipak when it first came out with photos of the boys looking groovy and all grown up at Twickenham and Tittenhurst Park and historical notes by KEVIN HOWLETT and MIKE HEATLEY. There's their usual separate 20-page white booklet for UICY-76978 – lyrics in Japanese and English and a page illustrating all 16 titles in this hugely desirable Beatles series. There's an 'Apple' obi-band wrapped around the "Abbey Road" oversized glossy sleeve - again with the whole series pictured but this time in colour. My god they've even repro'd the matt textured black inner bag that came with original British albums. The 5" card sleeve repro itself is beautiful to look at - but you'd have to say that the track titles on the rear are a teensy weeny bit lost in the background – not perfectly focused. But they do provide a plastic protective within the black inner sleeve – a very nice touch. Here are the Volkswagen number plates (Paul is very much alive)...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD on Universal/Apple UICY-76978 (Barcode 4988005867605) is a straightforward transfer of the album presented in limited edition 5” card repro Mini LP artwork (47:29 minutes). It will be deleted in June 2016.

1. Come Together

2. Something

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer

4. Oh! Darling

5. Octopus's Garden

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)

7. Here Comes The Sun – Side 2

8. Because

9. You Never Give Me Your Money

10. Sun King

11. Mean Mr. Mustard

12. Polythene Pam

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

14. Golden Slumbers

15. Carry That Weight

16. The End

17. Her Majesty

Tracks 1 to 17 make up their 11th studio album "Abbey Road" – released 26 September 1969 in the UK on Apple PCS 7088 and 1 October 1969 in the USA on Capitol/Apple SO 383 (both Stereo only). It hit No. 1 on both the UK and USA LP charts.

GUY MASSEY, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE - Grammy nominees for their beautiful and sensitive handing of such a precious catalogue - carried out the remasters at Abbey Road from original master tapes - and what a job they've done. You add a Japanese-pressed Super High Materials CD (will play on all devices – it's a better form of disc with better retrieval details) and suddenly this beauty is singing like the very proverbial happy bird. The audio on this sucker through my Marantz CD/AMP combo (paired up with Tannoy Mercury V4 speakers) is just beautiful. The accumulative effect is to have even the most jaundiced ear sit up and take notice.

Then of course there's the album – the music. And Holy Crap! Wow! Yowsah! is the only appropriate response. Right from the opening bass and bars of "Come Together" – you're blown away. After the sloppy and personally critical debacle of the "Get Back" sessions that would be truncated and eventually released as "Let It Be" in May 1970 (after "Abbey Road") – Producer and helmsman George Martin was having no more crap from the four warring parties. He argued that he'd only go back into the studio if they approached the new album properly – no jamming – no hangers on – just tunes played well and recorded with polish. And he/they got what they wanted. By the time you rehear the beautiful "Something" by George Harrison, Ringo's witty and whimsical "Octopus's Garden", McCartney's blistering blues boogie vocal on "Oh! Darling" and Lennon's in-yer-face menace on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" – it's hard not to be awestruck at the sheer brilliance of it all.

But then you have to negotiate the 'suite' that is Side 2. Opening with George Harrison's penultimate moment "Here Comes The Sun " (probably his greatest song) - your launched into a roller-coaster ride of different themes and rhythms in "Sun King", the genuine hurt in "You Never Gave Me Your Money" and the melodic pathos of "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" (covered so well by Joe Cocker on his second album - 1970's "Joe Cocker!"). It all ends on that "Carry The Weight" riffage and of course those few moments of jab at the monarchy. Wonderful stuff...

Reputedly the first CD reissue of "Abbey Road" was put by Toshiba in Japan in May 1983 right at the beginning of the format's infancy and a full four years before most of us mere mortals got a CD stab at it in the West (October 1987).

I know you could argue that you just spend six quid on the 9 Sep 2009 digipak CD remaster/reissue – but this is The Beatles and I want the best. If you do too – then settle for no less. But be prepared for your wallet to bleed because once you hear this SHM-CD of that most brilliant BEATLES album – you’ll want the rest of their catalogue with the same audio kick in the gonads (ouch)...

PS: For info purposes - there are 16 STEREO titles in THE BEATLES Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series. The first wave came in December 2014 and then a repress in April 2015. Purchasers should note that both issues have the same catalogue numbers and barcodes – the way to recognise the difference is the sticker colour. 

1st Issues come with Red Stickers on the front plastic and were released 17 December 2014 - 2nd 'Encore' Reissues come with Blue Stickers and were released 15 April 2015. 

I’ve provided Barcodes but to locate the right pressings on Amazon...but you will need to check with your seller to see 'which' pressing they're selling (most sellers will identify them as either 1st or Encore - but if you want a specific issue - check).

1. Please Please Me (Universal/Apple UICY-76966) – Barcode 4988005867438

2. With The Beatles (Universal/Apple UICY-76967) – Barcode 4988005867455

3. A Hard Day’s Night (Universal/Apple UICY-76968) – Barcode 4988005867452

4. Beatles For Sale (Universal/Apple UICY-76969) – Barcode 4988005867469

5. Help! (Universal/Apple UICY-76970) – Barcode 4988005867476

6. Rubber Soul (Universal/Apple UICY-76971) – Barcode 4988005867483

7. Revolver (Universal/Apple UICY-76972) – Barcode 4988005867490

8. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal/Apple UICY-76973) – Barcode 4988005867506

9. Magical Mystery Tour (Universal/Apple UICY-76974) – Barcode 4988005867513

10. The Beatles [aka The White Album] (Universal/Apple UICY-76975 & 6) - Barcode 4988005867520

11. Yellow Submarine (Universal/Apple UICY-76977) – Barcode 4988005867599

12. Abbey Road (Universal/Apple UICY-76978) – Barcode 4988005867605

13. Let It Be (Universal/Apple UICY-76979) – Barcode 4988005867612

14. Past Masters (Universal/Apple UICY-76980 & 1) – Barcode 4988005867629

15. 1962-1966 (Red Album) (Universal/Apple UICY-76982/3) – Barcode 4988005867636
16. 1967-1970 (Blue Album) – (Universal/Apple UICY-76984/5) - Barcode 4988005867643

"Joy Of A Toy" by KEVIN AYERS (2003 EMI/Harvest 'Expanded' CD - Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Making Love...Taking Love…" 

Ex Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine Bassist and Songwriter KEVIN AYERS would pump eight eclectic and often utterly brilliant albums between 1969 and 1978 – six on EMI’s Harvest and the other two on Island Records. Time now for digital variants and you have to say that EMI/Harvest have done a totally sterling job reissuing the lot on CD. The first batch of four came in June 2003 and the remainder in September 2009 – all bolstered with great bonus tracks and quality Peter Mew Remasters. December 1969's "Joy Of A Toy" is the start of that journey and here are the childhood memories...

UK and Europe released June 2003 – "Joy Of A Toy" by KEVIN AYERS on EMI/Harvest 07243-582776-2-3 (Barcode 724358277623) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (67:15 minutes):

1. Joy Of A Toy Continued

2. Town Feeling

3. The Clarietta Rag

4. Girl On A Swing

5. Song For Insane Times

6. Stop This Train (Again Doing It) – Side 2

7. Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)

8. The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)

9. Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong

10. All This Crazy Gift Of Time

Tracks 1 to 10 make up the album "Joy Of A Toy" issued November 1969 on Harvest SHVL 736 in the UK and Harvest SKAO 421 in the USA (all tracks are Ayers originals).

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Religious Experience (Singing A Song In The Morning)

Take 9 recorded 28 Nov 1969 - featuring SYD BARRETT – Previously Unreleased

12. The Lady Rachel (Extended First Mix)

Recorded February 1972 – Previously Unreleased

13. Soon Soon Soon

Recorded September 1969 – first released as an album outtake on the "Odd Ditties" LP from February 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2005

14. Religious Experience (Singing A Song In The Morning)

Recorded and mixed 18 December 1969. Take 103 – Previously Unreleased

15. The Lady Rachel (Single Version)

Recorded 1972 - first released on the "Odd Ditties" LP from February 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2005

16. Singing A Song In The Morning (Single Version)

Debut UK 7" single released 13 February 1970 on Harvest HAR 5011, A

The Band:

KEVIN AYERS – Lead Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitars and Bass

DAVID BEFORD – Keyboards and Arrangements

THE SOFT MACHINE featuring Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt on "Song For Insane Times"

HUGH HOPPER – Bass on "Joy Of A Toy Continued"

ROBERT WYATT – Drums on all tracks except "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" and "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong"

ROB TAIT – Drums on "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" and "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong"

Compiled, researched and produced by noted Canterbury Scene genre expert MARK POWELL (of Esoteric Recordings) – the 16-page booklet is festooned with rare photos and a detailed history of the album's genesis and fruition. The British and American album's inner gatefold is reproduced on the two-page centre spread with the lyrics to "The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)" and "Song For Insane Times" moved to Page 15 to be readable on their own. A label repro of The Soft Machine's rare debut US 45 for "Joy Of A Toy" on Probe 452 graces Page 4 (an Ayers song that originally turned up on their US-only self-titled debut album in December 1968). This is complimented by cool colour photos of Kevin busking in what appears to be Carnaby Street with unnamed pal. A demo of the only UK 7" single surrounding the LP "Singing A Song In The Morning" is repro'd on Page 12 (Harvest HAR 5011 from 13 February 1970) and there's even an original Harvest Records trade advert for the platter penned by the album's Producer Peter Jenner. Both Peter Jenner and Andrew King were part of the management team 'Blackhill Enterprises' (took care of Pink Floyd) who along with Roy Featherstone of EMI signed the young Ayers to EMI's new progressive rock label – Harvest Records. The album's striking front-cover yellow artwork is reproduced on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the CD label has the famous Harvest logo. All very tasteful indeed...but that's nothing to the superb Audio...

PETER MEW (who originally engineered the record back in the day) has remastered the first generation tapes at Abbey Road Studios (February 2003) and has done a typically stunning job – really beautiful Sound Quality. Mew has handled hundreds of CD reissues including Dr. Feelgood, Davie Bowie, Deep Purple, Donovan, Blodwyn Pig, Electric Light Orchestra, Free, Jethro Tull, Duncan Browne, Horslips, Man, Robin Trower (and many more) – I've reviewed all of the ones mentioned. His work here is amongst his best and Ayers specifically asked for Mew to carry out the transfers.

Ayers gathered his musician pals around him for his debut and it turned out to be a smart move. He opens proceedings with a follow on song "Joy Of A Toy Continued" – a continuation nod to the November 1968 US 45 for "Joy Of A Toy" by The Soft Machine. It's a jaunty sing-along shanty that probably seemed like fun at the time but hasn't travelled well across the decades. Things start to really become noticeably 'Ayers' with the brilliant "Town Feeling" – an oddly likeable ditty with Oboe by Paul Minns underpinning their weird sound and acoustic breaks. "The Clarietta Rag" feels like some Psych band's bid for a half-danceable single with lyrics like "...please send her a great big shining star to show her where you are..." This tale about a queen of mountain magic has one of the weirdest and weediest guitar solos I've ever heard. But all that pales against the truly gorgeous "Girl On A Swing" – a piano lullaby underpinned by a clavinet and treated guitar. At 2:50 minutes it's short but I'm always playing it – sticking the tune of CD-Rs to bolster up the contents and cool quotient. Side 1 ends with The Soft Machine backing up Ayers on the Jazz-Rock swing of "Song For Insane Times" – a wickedly groovy little tune where knowing lyrics like "...Alice is wearing her sexist gown...but she don't want you to look at her..." assault you as the keyboards give it bite.

Side 2 opens with the 'difficult' and menacing slow chug of "Stop This Train (Again Doing It)" until it suddenly punches into a fast train-like rhythm and stays that way for its brilliant 6:06 minutes. With its deliberately 'distant' vocals and cross-speaker keyboard fading and wild moog soloing - you're aware of a new kind of music emerging here – part Avant Garde – part Rock – part Kraut rhythms. And those brilliant lyrics only add to the heady stew – smart words that would serve him so well in the albums to come. Probably most people's fave tune on the album "The Lady Rachel (Lullaby For Children)" is another 5:18 minutes of strangely beautiful soundscapes you can't quite pigeonhole. But its evocative atmosphere means you can see the child with a candle climbing the big house stairs as Ayers sings "...now she's safe from the darkness...she's safe from its clutch..." Of the two finishers – the silly "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong" and "All This Crazy Gift Of Time" – the harmonica jug band vibe to "All This..." comes off best.

After a thorough search of the archives – the legendary tapes to the non-album side "Singing A Song In The Morning" with Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd on Guitar turned up (the first bonus track). Take 9 of what was initially called "Religious Experience" has been partially worth the wait - Barrett's jangle on Guitar can be heard throughout (4:47 minutes as opposed to the eventual single mix at 2:53 minutes). What's noticeable is the bass intro and the acoustic guitars are largely missing – replaced by Syd chugging away on an electric guitar. In truth I'd have to say that the more polished and commercially viable 7" single mix (Track 16) was the better choice at the time (even though it didn't chart) – but how fascinating is it to hear this rarity after all these years. If you're looking for the truly gorgeous non-LP B-side to the "Singing A Song In The Morning" single - "Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)" is one of the bonus tracks on the second LP "Shooting At The Moon" CD Remaster. The other Previously Unreleased variant of "Religious Experience" on here (Track 14) was done 18 December 1969 and is apparently as high as Take 103 running to a much shorter 2:47 minutes – closer to the single cut. A genuine prize for fans is the 6:43 minutes of the 'Extended First Version' of "The Lady Rachel" – heavy on the organ and flute and big instruments. It's fantastic stuff but you can so hear why Ayers went with the simpler version – this take lost in too much busyness. And the fuzzed-up Psych of "Soon Soon Soon" is wickedly good too.

For his next album "Shooting At The Moon" released October 1970 – Ayers would form his group THE WHOLE WORLD with David Bedford on Keyboards, Mike Oldfield on Guitars, Lol Coxhill on Saxophone and Mick Fincher on Drums. His second platter would be the only one in his catalogue credited to Kevin Ayers and The Whole World.

So there you have it – "Joy Of A Toy" is nutty, tuneful and actually beautiful in places. It's not all masterful for sure - but this is where Kevin Ayers began carving his name into the hearts of music fans everywhere and songs from the album like "Girl On A Swing" and "The Lady Rachel" are being covered by contemporary acts to this day (2016). A fantastic reissue of a rarity you never see on original vinyl LP. Start your love affair here...

PS: see also my reviews for his other EMI/Harvest 'expanded' CD remasters - "Whatevershebringswesing" (1972), "Bananamour" (1973), "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" (1974), "Sweet Deceiver" (1975) and "Yes We Have No Mananas, Get Your Mananas Today" (1976)

"Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS (2014 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…He's Gonna Step On You Again…"

This is a clever CD reissue by Britain's Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red). After years of faffing around on varying CD versions most of which sported dodgy sources (deleted quickly afterwards followed by extortionate price tags later) - at last fans of this wicked Seventies LP by South African multi-instrumentalist JOHN KONGOS get to hear his superb "Kongos" album in properly brill sound quality. And this reissue/remaster is bolstered up with a whopping 9 extra tracks too. Here are the good and bad Tokoloshe Man details...

UK released October 2014 - "Kongos" by JOHN KONGOS on Esoteric ECLEC 2466 (Barcode 5013929456648) breaks down as follows (79:52 minutes):

1. Tokoloshe Man (Album Version - 5:13 minutes)

2. Jubilee Cloud

3. Gold

4. Lift Me From The Ground

5. Tomorrow I'll Go

6. Try To Touch Just One [Side 2]

7. Weekend Lady

8. I Would Have Had A Good Time

9. Come On Down Jesus

10. He's Gonna Step On You Again

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 2nd solo album "Kongos" - released November 1971 in the UK on Fly Records HIFLY 7 and January 1972 in the USA on Elektra EKS 75019. It charted in the UK at No 29 in January 1972 (didn't chart USA). The UK artwork sported a lovely gatefold sleeve and lyric insert while the US single-sleeve artwork was entirely different - both are featured in the 16-page booklet along with photographs of many foreign 7" picture sleeves, studio photos and trade adverts. The American LP also had a 9-track configuration (dropped "Weekend Lady") and the tracks were placed differently too. From this CD the US album sequences as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 (Side 1) whilst 8, 6, 5 and 10 are Side 2.

Tracks 11 to 19 are BONUS singles:

11. Sometimes It's Not Enough

Non-album B-side of "He's Gonna Step On You Again" 7" single  - released April 1971 in the UK on Fly Records BUG 8. Reached No. 4 in the UK charts.

12. Tokoloshe Man (Single Version - 3:59 minutes)

13. Can Someone Please Direct Me Back To Earth

The A&B-sides of a UK 7" single released November 1971 on Fly Records BUG 14.

Rose to No. 4 in the UK charts.

14. Great White Lady

15. Shamarack

The A&B-sides of a 1972 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 22 (both tracks were non-album)

16. Higher Than God's Hat

17. Would You Follow Me

The A&B-sides of a 1973 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 32 (both tracks were non-album)

18. Ride The Lightning

19. I Won't Ask You Where You've Been

The A&B-sides of a 1975 UK 7" single on Cube Records BUG 58 (both tracks were non-album)

The first thing that hits you (apart from the classy presentation) is the fabulous audio - 24-bit remastered from original master tapes by PASCHAL BYRNE (a name I've praised before) - the sound quality is wonderful. This is actually not surprising - the record was professionally Produced by Elton John's main man GUS DUDGEON  -while the whiz-bang Sound Engineer was none other than RAY THOMAS BAKER who would lend so much to QUEEN's sound a few years later (he produced "Bohemian Rhapsody").

The other aspect is the quality musicianship - much of Elton's backing band HOOKFOOT provides the basis for most tracks with superb guests spots in-between. RAY COOPER was on Percussion, CALEB QUAYE [Finlay's Dad] on Guitars and Keyboards, DAVE GLOVER on Bass and ROGER POPE on Drums. LOL COXHILL plays Soprano Sax on the mighty "Tokoloshe Man", Mike Moran plugs the ARP Synthesiser on "Jubilee Cloud", both RALPH McTELL and RICK WAKEMAN guest on "Tomorrow I'll Go" on Guitar and Piano respectively - while folky duo SUE & SUNNY provide backing vocals on 6 of the 10 tracks. The massive "He's Gonna Step On You Again" lays claim to being the first record with a `sample' on it - an African Tribe playing drums that was looped for the recording while the band played over it. England's HAPPY MONDAYS of course revived it as "Step On" on Factory Records - taking it to Number 5 in the UK charts in April 1990.

The booklet I mentioned above is fantastically well done - superb liner notes from noted writer MICHAEL HEATLEY - great photos of the recording sessions - reminiscences with the man himself - quotes from GUS DUDGEON - badges, sleeves, Kongos in his trademark Lennon glasses and even a photo of the very rare British Picture Sleeve to "Tokoloshe Man" (5000 copies only).

Those hoping for a whole album of "Tokoloshe" and "Step" rhythm-fests will be disappointed - but that doesn't mean there aren't other-tempo nuggets on here. I love the pretty and anthemic "Gold" with its beautiful string arrangements by ROBERT KIRBY and the very British Rock `n' Roll Boogie of "Jubilee Cloud" was cool enough to entice JOHN BALDRY to cover it on his 1972 "Everything Stops For Tea" album (on Warner Brothers). "Tomorrow I'll Go" is admittedly sappy by today's standards and the hippy lyrics of "Try To Touch Just One" and its frantic piano beat feels like David Cassidy but in a bad way. Better are "Weekend Lady" and the catchy almost George Harrison feel to "Come On Down Jesus" is a great lead in to the album closer - the amazing "He's Gonna Step On You Again" - sounding incredible.

I also wish I could say that the rare singles provide a treasure trove of unheard funky nirvana - they don't. Of the lot the B-side "Sometimes It's Not Enough" is excellent while the synth intro to "Higher Than God's Hat" followed by Rock swagger guitars was an obvious attempt to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle "Tokoloshe Man" magic (and it succeeds in its own right). But the rest are not great and easy to see why they faded into obscurity.

Still - I come back to the core album - now absolutely rocking with this new remaster. And I'm reminded of those singles on Fly with their script lettering and cool logo - and I'm a very happy (stepped on) bunny indeed...

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).