"Beggars Banquet" by THE ROLLING STONES (2002 Abcko 'Hybrid SACD/DSD CD' Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Pleased To Meet You…" 

As the truly fantastic "Sympathy For The Devil" sails into your living room on a patter of Tabla shuffles and Salsa shakers – all slithery, slinky and sidewinding like a snake – you wonder how many times this incredibly durable song has been used in movies? How many instances has a smug vampire or demon or Old Nick himself (in human form of course) played this tune in his car CD-player as he heads off for another rendezvous with a succulent throat in the big dark city?

Bloodletting and a propensity to name-check Hades and its unsavoury occupants aside - The Rolling Stones started a peerless run of albums with 1968's "Beggars Banquet" that ran through 1969's "Let It Bleed", 1971's "Sticky Fingers" (the first on their own Rolling Stones Records) – culminating in the magnum opus double-album "Exile On Main St." - a deserved No. 1 in 1972. Yet in its plain white British laminated gatefold or naughty US toilet graffiti sleeve - somehow good old 'BB' seems to get ignored over the illustrious trio that followed it. And its history on CD has been murky and problematic too...

When the Decca label side of the Stones catalogue first came out on CD in 1986 on London - it was not the greatest moment for the new format. This 2002 'Hybrid SACD/DSD CD' reissue and remaster acknowledges this and advises that after 'long and painful' searches through tape vaults on both sides of the Atlantic - both time and technology had caught up enough to warrant a proper stab at it again. And like the other titles in this wicked series of card digipaks - man what a result. Here are the street fighting men...

UK and Europe released August 2002 – "Beggars Banquet" by THE ROLLING STONES on Abkco 8823012 (Barcode 042288230120) is a Limited Edition Hybrid SACD/DSD CD Remaster – a straightforward transfer of the 10-track Stereo album that plays out as follows (39:47 minutes):

1. Sympathy For The Devil

2. No Expectations

3. Dear Doctor

4. Parachute Woman

5. Jigsaw Puzzle

6. Street Fighting Man [Side 2]

7. Prodigal Son

8. Stray Cat Blues

9. Factory Girl

10. Salt Of The Earth

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Beggars Banquet" - released 6 December 1968 in the UK on Decca LK 4955 (Mono) and SKL 4955 (Stereo) and 7 December 1968 in the USA on London LL 3539 (Mono) and London PS 539 (Stereo). Only the STEREO MIX IS USED.

Made by Sony and Phillips - the SACD/DSD Hybrid Disc actually has two layers - the first contains the normal CD playback - but the other layer has a SACD remaster which will automatically come on if your machine has SACD playback facilities (it doesn't require a special machine to play this disc). The three-way foldout card digipak unfortunately doesn't reproduce the British front cover artwork (white with script titles) but does have the inner sleeve 'banquet' photo of the boys pigging out spread across the inner digipak and further onto the CD label. As with all of these three-way card digipaks - there is also a small square paper 'Certificate Of Authenticity' for the 'Inaugural Edition Hybrid Disc 2002' that quotes some lyrics to a song from the album and (in this case) pictures a black and white snippet of the 'toilet sleeve' on the rear. Not sat in any kind of pouch within the glossy card digipak - these little certificates are easy to lose - and the glossy sleeve easy to mark or smudge - so perhaps use a protective plastic to hold the lot in place/keep it new.  

But the real layers of soft ply are the new Audio. STEVE ROSENTHAL did the Sound Restoration and Archive Coordination - TERI LANDI the Analogue to Digital Transfers & Tape Archive Research with final Mastering carried out by the legendary Audio Engineer BOB LUDWIG at Gateway Mastering. The sonic transformation of Jimmy Miller's original production is awesome. This CD sounds fantastic in either DSD CD mode or SACD – a great Stones album made better at last.

After the bombastic backwards-tapes bilge of December 1967's psych-out "Their Satanic Majesties Request" – the stripped down almost country R&B instrumentation of "Beggars Banquet" came as a welcome relief. And excepting a cover version of "Prodigal Son" by Reverend Robert Wilkins (covered by Hank Williams in 1952 – probably the version Keith Richards heard and admired) – the other nine are Jagger-Richards originals. It opens on a balls-to-the-wall Stones classic – "Sympathy For The Devil". As well as the famous 'ooh ooh' chorus throughout that features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, Nicky Hopkins, Marianne Faithfull, Jimmy Miller and actress/Stones girlfriend Anita Pallenberg - one of the unsung heroes of this 6:02 minutes is Nicky Hopkins whose brilliantly complimentary piano playing underpins the rhythm. Up next is one of my all-time Stones craves – the gorgeous "No Expectations". Sailing in on a bed of Bluesy acoustic strums – Brian Jones plays slide while Nicky Hopkins once again does a sweet piano refrain throughout (you can hear Wyman’s bass in the remaster now too – so sweet). American fans will know that the song was used as B-side to "Street Fighting Man" on London 909 (shame they didn't feature its rare picture sleeve somewhere in the digipak - under the see-through tray for instance). We go all hick-Country with "Dear Doctor" where Keith and Mick complain "...there's a pain where there once was a heart..." - Brian Jones plays Harmonica while Dave Mason of Traffic guest on guitar. Keith Richards famously took over the 'slide guitar' reins from Brian Jones on the wickedly good "Parachute Woman" while Mick gives it some Harmonica and Nicky Hopkins plays piano (lost somewhere back in the mix). They were never so ramshackle and louche as on "Jigsaw Puzzle" where the bishop's daughter has been an outcast all her life while poor Mick pours over his jigsaw puzzle (undoubtedly in a very cool Chelsea flat).

Side 2 opens with the mighty "Street Fighting Man" - banned by the knobs at the BBC for its 'incendiary' sentiments (guaranteed million seller then). A harsh-reality statement – the song asked "...what can I poor boy do...” The direct opposite to the message of hippies and peaceniks – the authorities clearly thought its seeming praise of 'fighting' was going to cause riots in the – well – streets. It didn't. More likely the real violence came from American cops trying to control thousands of peaceful protestors riling against the sickening Vietnam War and its waste of life. I still don't know how Richards got that slightly off guitar sound and once again – Nicky Hopkins contributes Piano while Dave Mason offers Percussion. Acoustic Blues comes at us with "Prodigal Son" - Richards on Acoustic - Jones giving it some cotton-field Harmonica while Jagger sings about restlessness - going down the road - a poor boy crying for mercy. Truthful but "Some Girls" angry in ways - naughty rock-band antics fill the saucy lyrics of "Stray Cat Blues" where a 15-year old needn't show her ID (grow up boys). Far better is "Factory Girl" - a pretty song that has Dave Mason on Mandolin and Family's Rick Grech on Violin - both lifting the song into something special. It ends on more acoustic introspection - "Salt Of The Earth" - a song about the working everyman - the 'common foot soldier'. Keith croaks out the first verse - Jagger takes over from there in with Keith doubling. Nicky Hopkins plays melodious piano licks until The Watts Street Gospel Choir come sailing in towards the big finish.

"Beggars Banquet" isn't as immediately 'rocky' as say 1969's "Let It Bleed" or the crowd-pleasing riffage of "Sticky Fingers" from 1971 - but it's a Stones album I keep returning to - wanting to play it side to side. Whether you go for the 2002 Abkco SACD/CD Hybrid issue or Japan's SHM-CD from 2010 with all the repro artwork (and the 2002 remaster) you're in good hands - the best Rock 'n' Roll band in the world on fighting form...

"Original Album Series" by THE YOUNG RASCALS/THE RASCALS (2011 Rhino/Atlantic 5CD Mini Box Set Remasters in Stereo) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Groovin' On A Sunday Afternoon..." 

Forever associated with two huge 60ts anthems - "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'" - The Young Rascals started out as a straight-up raucous R&B outfit in 1966 with good vibrations in their hearts, Atlantic and Chess Records in their Souls and the occasional flower stalk in their hair. By the time they'd reached December 1969 - they'd shortened the moniker to THE RASCALS and released six studio albums and one 'Greatest Hits'. En-route they'd become increasingly more sophisticated in their output (ending up sounding like WAR on Freedom Suite's funky workout "Cute") and vocal in their wish to see the USA buck up and move on from all that was tearing it apart socially at the time.

And that's what this dinky little 5CD box set in the "Original Album Series" inadvertently proves. The Rascals were so much more than a rapid-fire happy-wappy hits group and a Summer of Love phenomenon - but an evolving musical force trying to get heard. But as the Sixties closed – like The Monkees - less and less were listening let alone buying their records making a lot of this music in 2016 almost unknown to the average listener. Time to rectify that oversight. Here are the details...

UK and Europe released October 2011 (August 2013 in the USA) - "Original Album Series" by THE YOUNG RASCALS on Atlantic/Rhino 8122 79834 8 (Barcode 081227983482) is a 5CD Card Slipcase housing 5 x 5” Mini LP Repro Sleeves – and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (36:15 minutes):

1. Slow Down

2. Baby Let's Wait

3. Just A Little

4. I Believe

5. Do You Feel It

6. Good Lovin' [Side 2]

7. Like A Rolling Stone

8. Mustang Sally

9. I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore

10. In The Midnight Hour

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album "The Young Rascals" - released March 1966 in the USA on Atlantic 8123 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8123 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587012 (Mono) and Atlantic 588012 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 15 on the US LP charts.

Disc 2 (33:13 minutes):

1. What Is The Reason

2. Since I Fell For You

3. Lonely Too Long

4. No Love To Give

5. Mickey's Monkey/Love Nights

6. Come on Up [Side 2]

7. Too Many Fish In The Sea

8. More

9. Nineteen Fifty-Six

5. Love Is A Beautiful Thing

6. Land Of 1000 Dances

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 2nd album "Collections" by THE YOUNG RASCALS - released January 1967 in the USA on Atlantic 8134 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8134 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587060 (Mono) and Atlantic 588060 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 14 on the US LP charts.

Disc 3 (34:39 minutes):

1. A Girl Like You

2. Find Somebody

3. I'm So Happy Now

4. Sueno

5. How Can I Be Sure

6. Groovin' [Side 2]

7. If You Knew

8. I Don't Love You Anymore

9. You Better Run

10. A Place In The Sun

11. It's Love

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 3rd album "Groovin'" by THE YOUNG RASCALS - released 31 July 1967 in the USA on Atlantic 8148 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8148 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587074 (Mono) and Atlantic 588074 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 5 on the LP charts.

Disc 4 (37:28 minutes):

1. Intro/Easy Rollin'

2. Rainy Day

3. Please Love Me

4. Sound Effect/It's Wonderful

5. I'm Gonna Love You/Dave & Eddie

6. My Hawaii

7. My World [Side 2]

8. Silly Girl

9. Singin' The Blues Too Long

10. Bells/Sattva

11. Finale: Once Upon A Dream

Tracks 1 to 11 are their fourth album "Once Upon A Dream" and the first credited to THE RASCALS - released February 1968 in the USA on Atlantic 8169 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8169 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic 587 098 (Mono) and Atlantic 588 098 (Stereo) - the Stereo mix is used. It peaked at No. 9 on the US LP charts.

Disc 5 (65:54 minutes):

"Freedom Suite"

1. America The Beautiful [Side 1]

2. Me & My Friends

3. Any Dance'll Do

4. Look Around

5. A Ray Of Hope

6. Island Of Love [Side 2]

7. Of Course

8. Love Was So Easy To Give

9. People Got To Be Free

10. Baby I'm Blue

11. Heaven

"Music Music"

12. Adrian's Birthday [Side 3]

13. Boom

14. Cute [Side 4]

Tracks 1 to 14 are the 2LP set "Freedom Suite" (record one is called "Freedome Suite" - record two "Music Music") - released March 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 2-901 (Stereo only) and in the UK on Atlantic 588 183 (Stereo only). It peaked at No. 17 on the US LP charts.

As with all of these releases you get 5 x 5" card sleeves that repro the front and rear US LP artwork for the Stereo versions - and how cool is it to see these increasingly hard to find album covers. Ok you might need a magnifying glass to read the details (there are none on the last two) - but at just about two quid per album - who’s complaining.

From what I can hear these are the BILL INGLOT/DAN HERSCH Rhino remasters and (excessive hiss of the first album aside) - each sounds great. And once again I can't overstate how good these albums are. Let's get to the underrated music...

Quite apart from Gene Cornish's garage-guitar rocking throughout the self-titled debut like a beast on a boozy mission – the group was also possessed of three Lead Vocalists (out of a four-piece band). Felix Cavaliere handled most of the bigger tunes whilst laying down that groovy organ - Gene Cornish wielded his choppy axe and sang too - Eddie Brigati provided voice number three whilst playing Percussion – and all the while Dino Danelli laid down the backbeat on the Drums. The debut is top heavy with R&B and Soul covers - least not of all the opening blaster "Slow Down" - a hit for Larry Williams in 1958 and explored by The Beatles on their "Long Tall Sally" EP in 1964. Even their take on Bob Dylan's perennially overdone song "Like A Rolling Stone" is better than most. Also dig their chugging guitar/organ groove on Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour". The Beau Brummels had a hit with "Just A Little" in 1965 (Autumn Records 10) – The Rascals slow it down to an almost Bluesy pace (bit hissy this track). Overall a great start...

The 2nd LP opens with two almost lounge-room organ grinders - "What Is The Reason" and the the slighty creepy "Since I Fell For You". Things improve a bit with "Lonely Too Long" where Felix Cavalieri is accompanied by what sounds like a Motown set of backing singers. The sappy "No Love To Give" with its cello and oboe is hard to take truth be told - better is another dancer - Smokey's "Mickey's Monkey" doubled up a very Tommy James and The Shondells rendition of "Love Lights" - great and the first sign of any real life on the album. It's obvious why "Come On Up" was chosen as a 45 - a great groover that should have done better chartwise. We're back to Motown dancers with a hectic cover of The Marvelettes 1964 hit "Too Many Fish In The Sea". But this is ruined by a cheesy organ-take on "More". Luckily that is obliterated by the album's secret weapon - a blistering and hooky "Nineteen Fifty-Six" where Gene does his best Little Richard impression on the vocals as he goes all wild Chuck Berry on his guitar. We hit a run of two that make up for much of the dreck - "Love Is A Beautiful Thing" is a Cavalieri/Brigati penned winner that grooves at times like GLORIA by Them. The record finishes with that Chris Kenner crowd-shouter "Land Of 1000 Dances". Not as good as the debut but it still has those moments that make it so worth it...

Even now I find it shocking how good the whole of the "Groovin'" LP is. While I can live without the poppy (and hissy) "A Girl Like You" – the Link Wray guitar rumble that opens "Find Somebody" that then continues in an equally cool Byrds-jangle - is fantastic 60ts Rock. Both the acoustic based "I'm So Happy Now" and "Sueno" have that Summer of Love joy imbedded in them (not cloy or clinging). Most people will likely know "How Can I Be Sure" through Dusty Springfield on Philips and David Cassidy on Bell rather than by The Young Rascals on Atlantic. And it just doesn't get more sublime than the album's title track "Groovin'" – their 2nd No. 1 in May 1967 on Atlantic 2401. The production values for "I Don't Love You Anymore" are much improved over the rest of it – while the trippy flute of the neck-jerking finisher "It's Love" gave it a honorary place on the 2001 CD compilation "Right On! Volume 3" that trawled Atlantic's labels and vaults for forgotten shakers to appeal to now kids.

The last two albums in this mini box set represented a new phase. Now just THE RASCALS - they'd grown up and wanted to take their audience with them. The gatefold sleeve isn't repro'd here (reduced to a single, front and back cover) - but you do get a sense of change from just looking at the cryptic cover of rifles, bird cages and telephones covered in what looks like plaster-of-paris. The music isn't as catchy as before and bluntly feels overblown in some places. Once past that hissy intro - the jaunty "Easy Rollin'" comes on like The Lovin' Spoonful on some friendly mushrooms - but "Please Love Me' just doesn't seem to work while the single "It's Wonderful" has a touch of The Beatles Mystery Tour in it. "I'm Gonna Love You" and "My Hawaii" sound like "Smile Sessions" outtakes with their brass bands and strange synth and strings.  "Silly Girl" is good but like much of the album is drenched in hiss. Better is "Singin' The Blues Too Long" and the sitar hippy-trip that is "Sattva"...

After the disappointment of "Once Upon A Dream" - the double-album "Freedom Suite" is an altogether better beast. Imbibed with all that was affecting American ("so much hated and confusion") - the positive message of 'unity' comes through on so many of the excellent songs. There are touches of the old Rascals in "Any Dance'll Do" but the marching boots of "Look Around" return to the bigotry themes right quick. "A Ray Of Hope" feels like The Temptations on a falsetto vocal trip while there's a great funk to "Of Course". The production values on "Love Was So Easy To Give" are superlative - a song about lost youth - while the anthem "People Got To Be Free" is a social call to arms that felt like it would work. The drum solo that is the near fourteen-minute "Boom" tests your patience while the 15-minute organ boogie groove of "Cute" goes a long way to salvaging the set (an extended jam that works - probably my fave on the whole double - dig that guitar solo too).

So there you have it - it's not all genius by any means (the excellent December 1969 "See" LP is missing from this box set) - but the good stuff is (if you'll forgive the pun) groovin'. 

Check out The Young Rascals...who morphed into The Rascals...and enjoy...

"Revolver" by THE BEATLES (2014/2015 Japan-Only SHM-CD Mini LP Reissue/Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Day Breaks…Your Mind Aches…"

When "Revolver" was finally given the Remaster it deserved as part of the 09/09/09 total BEATLES catalogue CD reissue campaign – Fab Four nutters the world over rejoiced. They got the UK 14-track variant of the album in glorious STEREO – and man did it sound good. But the glossy easy-to-smudge 3-way foldout card digipak lacked the aesthetic feel of the 1966 album artwork (short playing time too with no Mono mix which could easily have been included) and the 24-page booklet was big on colour photos but short on actual album history or place.

Well far be it for the Japanese to let that get in the way. Once again they get the last word – because this 2014 reissue campaign of Mini LP Repros for THE BEATLES on their patented SHM-CD format (Super High Materials) is truly gorgeous stuff and ups this already sonic wonder a further notch. "And Your Bird Can Sing" is too damn right. Here are the loaded details...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD of "Revolver" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-76972 (Barcode 4988005867490) is a straightforward transfer of the UK 14-Track STEREO album. It’s presented in a limited edition 5” Mini LP Repro Artwork and will be deleted in June 2016 (total playing time 34:47 minutes).

1. Taxman

2. Eleanor Rigby

3. I’m Only Sleeping

4. Love You To

5. Here, There And Everywhere

6. Yellow Submarine

7. She Said She Said

8. Good Day Sunshine [Side 2, UK]

9. And Your Bird Can Sing

10. For No One

11. Doctor Robert

12. I Want To Tell You

13. Got To Get You Into My Life

14. Tomorrow Never Knows

"Revolver" (their 7th British album) was originally released 5 August 1966 in the UK on both Parlophone PMC 7009 Mono and PCS 7009 Stereo. The American issue followed 3 days later on Capitol T-2576 Mono and ST-2576 Stereo. The UK variant had 14 tracks (as listed above) - the US issue had 11. The three missing from the American LP (same artwork) were "And Your Bird Can Sing", "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Doctor Robert" which had appeared on the June 1966 US album "Yesterday And Today".

Using the 09/09/09 STEREO MIX of the album – this Japanese SHM-CD reissue also decides to keep it simple and loses the enhanced CD track called "Revolver Mini Documentary" that came with the 09/09/09 releases (two-and-a-half minutes of video footage - largely black & white in-studio shots featuring the voices of the Fabs and George Martin discussing songs and techniques on the album - it's directed by BOB SMEATON). The Super High Materials CD (SHM-CD) does not require special audio equipment – it will play on all devices and Toshiba claim that it offers a better form of disc with increased retrieval details. As someone who owns about 20 of them - I've found that claim to be true. 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 there's the sexy artwork...

The EMI 24-page colour booklet returns as a separate entity - but there's also the usual 20-white-page Japanese booklet too that features some unreadable Japanese liner notes followed by the lyrics in English and a back page that pictures all 16 titles in this SHM-CD Reissue series. The attention to detail on the actual 1966 album sleeve is delicious. You get a hard card repro of the UK STEREO LP artwork complete with its glossy front sleeve and matt rear and 'flip back' flaps on the back cover (how did they reproduce this!). The label reflects the black and yellow lettering of the original British LP on Parlophone Records as does the rear cover artwork that advertises the use of an "Emitex" record cleaning cloth. They've even repro'd that Emitex inner bag too. There's an OBI strip – mine is Blue in colour for the 'Encore' reissue series of 2015 (see list below).

The Audio Quality on the 09/09/09 CD Remaster was and is magnificent. Both GUY MASSEY and STEVE ROOKE remastered the first generation stereo master tapes and to say they've done a good job is like saying the Great Wall of China is an ok building-project. Their work here is fabulous – monumental almost - it really is. The sound quality is glorious throughout - clear, warm, detailed - every single track a revelation.

The SHM-CD amplifies the punch in the brassy "Got To Get You Into My Life" and the delicate "Here, There & Everywhere". The hiss level is barely audible on any of the songs - but what you do hear are new instrument flourishes. The brilliant George Harrison guitar playing on the New York Drug Pusher song "Doctor Robert" is at last to the fore, the lone horn work of Alan Civil on "For No One" is suddenly so pretty, while Ringo's superlative drumming on "Tomorrow Never Knows" is now absolutely huge to a point where the clarity and sheer whack of the Remaster brought me to tears. The strings on “Eleanor Rigby” are beautifully full and shock your senses even now - some five decades after the event. If you love this record, you're in for a treat. I love the wallop and anger in "Taxman" – guitars filling my speakers with venom. Another winner is the huge sound from "She Said She Said" where John feels like he's going to kick your speakers in (kick something in anyway). Ringo has his ditty moment with the mad "Yellow Submarine” with those strange engine noises half way through somehow now more bizarre and creative than I remembered. And the riffage of "Doctor Robert" is equal to the splendor of "Paperback Writer".

Between this series of 16 SHM-CDs, the American Capitol Records collection and the white Mono Box set - I'd have to say that these three are the pinnacle of Fab Fourness - and Beatles collectors will quite rightly lust after and covet all three.

What a band and what a recorded legacy they left behind. Float downstream indeed...and if you do...do it with this SHM-CD as your raft...

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 on the front plastic. 1st Issues come with Red Stickers 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 pressing CD on Amazon - but you will need to check with your seller first to see which pressing you're getting (most sellers will identify as either 1st or Encore so there’s no confusion).

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

"Home" by PROCOL HARUM (2015 Esoteric Recordings 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ride That Whisky Train..."

Procol Harum's gloomy' fourth album (and last with Robin Trower as lead guitarist) came out in June 1970 - largely to public indifference. Sure it rose to No. 49 in the UK in its 'snakes and ladders' board-game single sleeve artwork and was even afforded the luxury of a Gatefold Sleeve in the US and a chart placing of 34. But from decades of experience in rare records - original copies of the British Regal Zonophone vinyl LP are notoriously hard to find especially with the lyric insert (reproduced on the rear of the poster in the right hand flap) precisely because it sold so little. It's one of those records that slipped through the net after initial release - like a lot of albums from 1970 actually.

There have been two CD reissue labels that have had a varying go at "Home" – Westside in 1999 (with 8 bonus tracks) and Salvo of the UK in 2009 (with 2 bonus tracks). I had most of the 'Salvo' Procol Harum reissues in their cool card repro artwork - each sporting spangly new Nick Robbins/Rob Keyloch transfers and remasters. Well along comes Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red of the UK) and they’ve returned to the tapes for new 24-bit remasters and thrown in some new Previously Unreleased material. There are two variants on this release - the single disc issue with two bonus tracks (Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2506 - Barcode 5013929460645) - and this - the 2CD ‘Deluxe Edition’ on ECLEC 22505. Here are the Whisky Train details...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2015 (14 August 2015 in the USA) – “Home” by PROCOL HARUM on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22505 (Barcode 5013929460546) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (39:10 minutes):

1. Whisky Train

2. The Dead Man's Dream

3. Still There'll Be More

4. Nothing That I Didn't Know

5. About To Die

6. Barnyard Story [Side 2]

7. Piggy Pig Pig

8. Whaling Stories

9. Your Own Choice

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 4th album "Home" – released June 1970 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1014 and in the USA on A&M Records SP 4261. CHRIS THOMAS produced - all songs written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid except "Whisky Train" by Robin Trower and Keith Reid.

For "Home" PROCOL HARUM was:

GARY BROOKER - Lead Vocals and Piano

ROBIN TROWER - Lead Guitar

CHRIS COPPING - Bass and Organ

B.J. WILSON - Drums

KEITH REID - Lyrics

Disc 2 (42:50 minutes):

1. Your Own Choice (Demo, Autumn 1969)

2. Barnyard Story (Take 4, Abbey Road 11 February 1970)

3. The Dead Man's Dream (Take 7, Abbey Road 11 February 1970)

4. Still There'll Be More (Take 3 Backing Track, Abbey Road 14 February 1970)

5. Whaling Stories (Initial Backing Track)

6. About To Die (George Martin Mix, Abbey Road 12 March 1970)

7. Your Own Choice (Extended Remix, Abbey Road 22 March 1970)

8. Piggy Pig Pig (Chris Thomas Remix)

9. Whisky Train (US Radio Single Edit - May 1970 US 7" Single A-side of A&M 1218) - Previously Unreleased on CD

10. Your Own Choice (BBC Radio One Session for 'David Symonds Show' - Recorded 12 May 1970) - Previously Unreleased

11. About To Die (BBC Radio One Session for 'David Symonds Show' - Recorded 12 May 1970) - Previously Unreleased

Esoteric's MARK and VICKY POWELL 'conceived, researched and compiled' the reissues and BEN WISEMAN and ROB KEYLOCH carried out the brill new 24-bit Remasters from original tapes. The booklet has trade adverts, US concert tickets, publicity photos for the band and new liner notes from HENRY SCOTT-IRVINE - author of Omnibus biography "Procol Harum: The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade Of Pale". The gatefold card digipak folds out into four flaps - the 20-page booklet in the left flat and a foldout poster in the left. The 'seated' photo on Page 2 of the booklet is used as the basis to the poster which also has the lyrics in the same colour as the LP insert on the rear (a sort of grey). Discs 1 and 2 reflect the colouring of the original Regal Zonophone issue (also carry the 'Fly Records' logo) and beneath both see-through CD trays are pictures of the rare "Your Own Choice" White-Label Promo-Only UK 7" single LP sampler on Regal Zonophone SPSR 328 with "About To Die" on the flip. You’d have to say that it's all very tastefully done.

You couldn't ask for a more rocking opener to an album than the wicked riffage that is "Whisky River" - Trower's sole writing offering for the LP. This album version at 4:26 minutes was edited down by A&M Records in the USA for single release on A&M 1218 in May 1970 ("About To Die" on the fiipside - a great double sider). The shorter cut weighs in at 3:01 minutes (Track 9 on Disc 2) and is spelt "Whiskey Train" on the label. The mix also seems to accentuate the guitar more (not surprising) where Robin Trower sounds like Budgie's Tony Bourge having a grunge wig-out. The album's 'doomy' reputation comes from tracks like the dreadnaught heavy "The Dead Man's Dream" and the lonesome seven minutes of "Whaling Stories" - both a tad hissy it has to be said. I've always liked the acoustic prettiness of "Nothing That I Didn't Know" - a song about the 26-year old Jenny Drew - a lost soul who starved from anorexia. But my crave has always been the brilliant guitar of Trower on the Side 1 closer "About To Die" - a huge tune in every way - with Brooker letting rip on the vocals ("tear the city down").

The 'demo' of "Your Own Choice" on the Bonus Tracks Disc 2 is a lighter take that might even be considered Americana in the '11s. Take 4 of "Barnyard Story" is a well-recorded 2:51 minutes of Brooker and Piano (very tasty) while he shouts "Good God!" at the beginning of Take 7 for the droning "The Dead Man's Dream". I got a tad excited at the 'George Martin Mix' of "About To Die" which seems to accentuate the bass line and adds more flickering keyboard flourishes - it's good - but the finished version is better. The two Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions are hissy for sure but the performances are properly vintage – and fans will love having them after all these decades.

The droning-doom of Procol Harum have always been an acquired taste for sure and their 1970 platter "Home" doesn't buck that trend. But for money this 2015 Esoteric Recordings 'Deluxe Edition' is the best variant of it by far. Well done to all involved...

"You're Gonna Get! It!" by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS (2002 Gone Gator/Warner Brothers CD – Joe Gastwirt Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Please Stand By Me..." 

Tom Petty’s astonishing self-titled debut album was released November 1976 in the USA (40 years ago this year) – but would take until September of 1977 to register with the buying public. Even then it only managed No. 55 on the US LP charts despite its now iconic status as a genuine 70ts Rock Classic. But for my money his better-recorded and ludicrously hooky follow-up "You're Gonna Get It!" from two years later has always been an equal-to unsung hero for me – the sort of album that got lost – especially in good old Blighty which was in the throws of Punk and all things 'New Wave'.

Which brings us to this rather excellent - if not a little threadbare - 2002 CD reissue/remaster - finally ridding us of a naff 80ts MCA CD with the all the aural and aesthetic appeal of a gone-off banana. Here are the details you need to know...

UK and Europe released May 2002 - "You’re Gonna Get It!" by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS on Gone Gator/Warner Brothers 8122-78178-2 (Barcode 081227817824) is a straightforward CD transfer of the original LP and plays out as follows (29:30 minutes):

1. When The Time Comes

2. You're Gonna Get It

3. Hurt

4. Magnolia

5. Too Much Ain't Enough

6. I Need To Know [Side 2]

7. Listen To Her Heart

8. No Second Thoughts

9. Restless

10. Baby's A Rock 'n' Roller

Tracks 1 to 10 are his second studio album "You’re Gonna Get It!" - released May 1978 in the USA on Shelter/ABC DA-52029 and in the UK on Island/Shelter ISA 5017. DENNY CORDELL, NOAH SHARK and TOM PETTY produced. The album reached No. 22 in the States and No. 34 in the UK.

TOM PETTY – Lead Vocals, 6 and 12-string Guitars and Piano

MIKE CAMPBELL – 6 and 12-string Guitars (Solos)

BENMONT TENCH – Piano, Organ and Vocals

RON BLAIR - Bass and Acoustic Guitar

STAN LYNCH - Drums and Vocals

GREGG GELLER has produced the reissue and the gatefold slip of paper that passed as the MCA inlay is now upgraded to a 16-page booklet with new liner notes from BILL FLANAGAN. Inside are details of how 1974's Mudcrutch from Gainesville, Florida (Petty's original band) became 1976's Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers with a new sound, new songs and a razor's edge. There's also discussion as to why Radio didn't take to the new record like they did the old - angry lyrics, drug references and heavier riffs. The booklet provides lyrics for the first time (didn't come with the original LP) with its Inner Sleeve is reproduced in varying places and there are period photos followed finally by detailed recording/CD reissue details.

But the big news for all fans is new JOE GASTWIRT Remasters carried out at OceanView Mastering in California. This CD sounds awesome - full and punchy - alive without being too over-trebled - I love it. The guitars - the drums - the overall aural wallop is something to behold (as it is with the debut album "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" - also released in a 2002 Gastwirt Remaster – see review).

Compared to the rough and tumble of the debut two years earlier - right from the off you can so hear how the Production values were upped dramatically. Each of the predominantly rocking tunes packs a huge sonic punch and the remaster accentuates that big time. Side 1 opens with the brilliant almost Byrds-jangle of "When The Time Comes" - and man can you hear those chugging guitars and that keyboard underpinning. "You're Gonna Get It" feels like a track from his 1982 LP "Long After Dark" - lyrically hard-hitting but with that great hooky riff. As "Hurt" floats in on a sea of pings, acoustic strums and drum beats - it then goes into a tremendous guitar jangle. But that's nothing to the clarity on "Magnolia" which sounds amazing - a song about a girl he never did give his name too - but her ways stayed within memory. Side One ends on the fantastic rolling slide of "Too Much Ain't Enough" - an out-and-out rocker that jabs at a precocious someone who just can't be pleased.

Side 2 opens with the fantastic rocker "I Need To Know" - an irresistible chuck of riffage complete with an economic Chuck Berry-like solo. Perhaps the most Byrds jangle on the album and probably most people's go-to track - "Listen To Her Heart" is fabulous Petty and The Heartbreakers. The lyrics "...You think you're gonna take her away with your money and cocaine..." probably kept this - the album's most catchy song - off A&M Radio and lost the whole album momentum. The acoustic moment arrives in the tabla and 12-string shuffle of "No Second Thoughts" - a song I've always found strangely positive even though it takes about darkness. The LP ends on two punchy neck-jerking rockers - "Restless" and "Baby's A Rock 'n' Roller" - although I wished he hadn't featured that false audience noise all the way through "Baby's..." Other than that - the whole album is satisfying. And from here it would be through to the breakthrough record "Damn The Torpedoes" in 1979.

I played this 1978 album side-to-side when I lived in bedsits back in the day and loved every satisfying inch of it. Petty's "You're Gonna Get It" is one of 'the' great lost-albums of the 70ts in my books - and presently selling for fewer than six miserly squid - this brill 2002 remaster is the one to own.

"When The Time Comes" - TP sings on the opening song. I'd argue it has...

"Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS - November 1976 US Debut Album, May 1977 UK Debut Album on Shelter and Island Records featuring Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench (May 2002 UK Gone Gator/Warner Brothers CD Reissue with Joe Gastwirt Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

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"...Raised On Promises..." 

A great debut album is the stuff of musical legend - and it doesn't get a lot better than Tom Petty's self-titled opening salvo. "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" is an astonishing 40 years old in November 2016 and still sounding as fresh as a Florida daisy.

Yet despite huge radio-friendly hits like "Breakdown", "American Girl" and "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" - the LP took its sweet time. It didn't gain US album chart entry until September of 1977 (almost a year after release) whereupon it crawled up to the lofty heights of No. 55 despite being viewed nowadays as a balls-to-the-wall 70ts Rock Classic. 

Which brings us to this rather excellent - if not a little threadbare - 2002 CD reissue/remaster on Gone Gator - finally ridding us of a naff 80ts MCA CD with the all the aural and aesthetic appeal of a gone-off banana.  Here are the details to take us (baby baby) through the night...

USA, UK and Europe released May 2002 - "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS on Gone Gator/Warner Brothers 8122-78177-2 (Barcode 081227817725) is a straightforward CD transfer of the original LP and plays out as follows (30:54 minutes):

1. Rockin' Around With You [Side 1]

2. Breakdown

3. Hometown Blues

4. The Wild One, Forever

5. Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll

6. Strangered In The Night [Side 2]

7. Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)

8. Mystery Man

9. Luna

10. American Girl

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" - released November 1976 in the USA on Shelter SRL-52006 and May 1977 in the UK on Island/Shelter ISA 5014. DENNY CORDELL produced.

TOM PETTY - Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards

MIKE CAMPBELL - Guitars

BENMONT TENCH - Piano and Organ

RON BLAIR - Bass and Cello

STAN LYNCH - Drums (Keyboards on "Luna")

GREGG GELLER has produced the reissue and the gatefold slip of paper that passed as the old MCA inlay is now upgraded to a 16-page booklet with new liner notes from BILL FLANAGAN. Inside are details of how 1974's Mudcrutch from Gainesville, Florida (Petty's original band) became 1976's Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers with a new sound, new songs and a razor's edge. 

There are lyrics for the first time (didn't come with the original LP), period photos and detailed recording/CD reissue details. But the big news for all fans is new JOE GASTWIRT Remasters carried out at OceanView Mastering in California. This CD sounds awesome - full and punchy - alive without being too over-trebled - I love it. The guitars - the drums - the overall aural wallop is something to behold (as it is with the 2nd album "You're Gonna Get It" - also released by Gone Gator in a 2002 Gastwirt Remaster).

Petty's self-titled Debut Album opens with the jaunty almost Rockabilly "Rockin' Around With You" and you can hear those subtle guitar bits, the floating synth note and those driving drums. Hissy for sure but uber-slick - "Breakdown" is Rock magic - an irresistible hook allied with snarling vocals and that brilliant guitar giving it just enough over the keyboards. Originally issued Stateside in November 1976 as a debut 45 on Shelter SR-62006 - it didn't take until a reissue in October 1977 on Shelter SR-62009 saw it make No. 40 on the Pop charts. Even now it's such a winner and a US Radio perennial. 

Back to that Petty shuffle with "Hometown Blues" - but my crave has always been the epic Americana feel to "The Wild One, Forever" (a B-side to "Breakdown" in November 1976). "...I knew right away I'd never get over how good it felt when you finally kissed me..." - the lyrics tell us as the beautifully simple guitar plays it out - wonderful stuff – so simple and direct. He ends Side 1 on the Rock Boogie anthem "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" - a tune he's used to open concerts. It's snotty and full of attitude - don't need her - don't need school - don't need rules - what's not to love...

Side 2 opens one of the most underrated Petty song - the genius groove of "Strangered In The Night". Forty years I'm playing this sucker and still digging its huge dirty guitars - those paranoid lyrics - and that brilliant Campbell soloing. Second stroke of fab comes with everyone's fave from the early years - "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" - a massive grinding riff that just seems to float as he squeals "...strange voice on the telephone...telling me I better leave you alone..." That synth note now has more power too. We trot to the finish with a trio of goodies - the almost Eagles "Mystery Man" (hissy at the beginning, but beautifully clear after that) - the slightly sinister yet strangely touching "Luna" - and of course the biggie - "American Girl" - an anthem he plays to this day.

What a brilliant beginning and I think the follow-up "You're Gonna Get It" from May 1978 is equally droolsome - one of 'the' great lost-albums of the 70ts. Presently selling for fewer than four squid - this brill remaster of "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" needs to be in your home. Make it last all night indeed...