"Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER (2010 Apple 'Expanded' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Come And Get It..." 

Like the equally brill Big Star – Badfinger is one of those bands. Given the quality of their music and the wads of writing talent within their ranks - Badfinger should have entered the music charts on a more regular basis (especially in Blighty) - but instead have entered the realms of Music Legend precisely because they didn't succeed commercially. They charted only three singles in the UK (one with the help of McCartney) - but none of their six albums on Apple or Warner Brothers tickled the fancy of the buying public.

Formerly known as THE IVEYS – the half-British, half-Welsh band famously signed to The Beatles Apple Records in 1968 – promptly pushing out two 45s and one hastily withdrawn album. The "Maybe Tomorrow" LP did at least get release in some Europe territories and Japan - but was unissued on Apple SAPCOR 8 in the UK. A quick line-up change (Bassist and Vocalist Ron Griffiths departed to be replaced by Guitarist Joey Molland) and a re-naming to the more funky BADFINGER - their next step was to feature three of their songs ("Come And Get It", "Rock Of All Ages" and "Come On Till Tomorrow") in a 1969 comedy spoof film called "The Magic Christian" (directed by Joseph McGrath). In order to get a 'Badfinger' album out into the market place that wasn't strictly a Soundtrack – seven of the old IVEYS tunes were remixed, edited, mined for a standalone album - "Magic Christian Music". And that's where this dinky little 2010 Apple CD reissue steps in. Here are the core details...

UK released 25 October 2010 - "Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER on Apple 5099964243825 (Barcode is the same) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (58:50 minutes):

1. Come And Get It

2. Crimson Ship

3. Dear Angie

4. Fisherman

5. Midnight Sun

6. Beautiful And Blue

7. Rock Of All Ages

8. Carry On Till Tomorrow [Side 2]

9. I'm In Love

10. Walk Out In The Rain

11. Angelique

12. Knocking Down Our Home

13. Give It A Try

14. Maybe Tomorrow

Tracks 1 to 14 are the 'British Track Line-Up' for the Stereo LP "Magic Christian Music" by BADFINGER released 8 January 1970 in the UK Apple SAPCOR 12.

"Magic Christian Music" was released 16 February 1970 in the USA on the Stereo LP Apple SW-3364 but with two less songs and a rejiggered 12-track list. To sequence the US LP use the following CD numbers:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7

Side 2: Tracks 8, 9, 10, 4, 12 and 14

BONUS TRACKS:

15. And Her Daddy's A Millionaire (Previously Unreleased Alternate Version)

16. Mrs. Jones (Remix)

17. Sali Bloo (Previously Unreleased Mono Mix)

18. See-Saw Grandpa (Previously Unreleased Mono Mix)

19. I've Been Waiting (Previously Unreleased Unedited Remix)

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS:

Requiring extra payment - there are also 6 more tracks available via Digital Download from iTunes or Amazon - "Dear Angie (Mono Mix)", "Think About The Good Times (Mono Mix)", "No Escaping Your Love (Mono Mix)", "Arthur (Remix)", "Storm In A Teacup (Mono Mix)" and "Yesterday Ain’t Coming Back (Mono Mix)" (see either site for cost details). Niggles – it won't take real fans moments to notice that the two bonus tracks "Storm In A Teacup" and "Arthur" that accompanied the first CD reissue by Apple of this album way back in November 1991 are now AWOL in physical form from this new reissue – relegated albeit in different form to the Digital Downloads.

BOOKLET/PACKAGING:

The front and rear of the original vinyl LP sleeve is reproduced on the gatefold card sleeve while noted writer and music lover ANDY DAVIS does the new liner notes for the booklet (they're all a disappointingly weedy 12 pages long). But with what little text he has been afforded - Davis does at least fill it with properly informative details. It's cute for sure but you do wish there was more. But the real deal is in the Audio...

SOUND:

The same team that handled the much-praised 09/09/09 Beatles remasters has done this too - GUY MASSEY, STEVE ROOKE and SAM OKELL with SIMON GIBSON. The audio quality is beautiful - a massive improvement – the kind of Remaster that makes you reassess a lot of the music.

CONTENT:

Associations - three songs from the Movie have that magic-dust Beatles connection – "Come And Get It", "Rock Of All Ages" and "Carry On Till Tomorrow" - all Produced by PAUL McCARTNEY with Macca having also penned "Come And Get It" (he plays Piano on "Rock Of All Ages' and some Percussion on "Come And Get It"). Beatles Engineer MAL EVANS Produced Tracks 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16 and 18 - while The Beatles Producer GEORGE MARTIN orchestrated the strings on the Pete Ham song "I'm In Love". TONY VISCONTI Produced the remainder of the songs – Tracks 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 and NICKY HOPKINS plays piano on "See-Saw Grandpa".

Badfinger’s debut LP has always had a rep for being a tad lightweight – strung together from remnants - a good start and not much else. I suppose the best compliment you can give this CD reissue is that it makes you reassess that overly 'harsh' judgement. It opens with Hitsville UK – Macca's catchy as a Socialistic viewpoint "Come And Get It". Released 5 December 1969 in advance of the album – Badfinger's debut 45 on Apple Records APPLE 20 rose to a very cool No. 4 in January 1970 (had a rare British picture sleeve) and lasted 11 weeks on the UK charts. Its US equivalent on Apple 1815 was issued February 1970 (the album came out later there) with the same B-side "Rock Of All Ages" and did equal business – an impressive No. 7. But what amazes me is that I'd forgotten how good tracks like "Crimson Ship" and "Dear Angie" are. The remaster on "Crimson Ship" is fabulous - that sweet Bass and that huge guitar - while the vocal harmonies on "Dear Angie" are gorgeous and that strummed acoustic guitar so clear. "Fisherman" is one of the 1969 tracks 'remixed' and it feels slightly out of kilter with the two that preceded it - but on rehear - I'm digging it - and that remix has really added a warmth to the song. We rock out for "Midnight Sun" - Pete Ham riffing away like a goodun. Tom Evans contributes what has to be the most Beatlesque sounding song on the album "Beautiful And Blue" - a pretty ditty with strings that could easily have been on "Rubber Soul" albeit in a more stripped down form.

It's a wonder that Apple didn't consider the raucous Slade riffage of "Rock Of All Ages" as the next single from the album - shame that. "Carry On Till Tomorrow" is a song I used to dismiss as fay once - but I'm digging its sweet vocal arrangements here. I can easily live without "I'm In Love" but the Pete Ham ballad "Walk Out In The Rain" is shockingly beautiful - the remaster making it shine like never before. Tom Evan gets in on the love song act with his "Angelique" and does well but Ham's "Knocking Down Our Home" is dreadfully clunky. The album ends on a duo of semi-weepies "Give It A Try" and "Maybe Tomorrow" - big and epic in their own mini-series kind of way (love that orchestration on "Maybe Tomorrow"). A good album rather than a great one you’d have to say - but man those good bits...

I hadn't expected the Bonus Material to be up to much - and unfortunately some of it feels like filler - for fans only. You can so hear where The Hollies comparison comes from when "And Her Daddy's A Millionaire" comes bopping out of your speakers (great remaster though). Sounding like The Move seeking a hit - "Mrs. Jones" is good too as is the Mono Mix of the guitar-boogie tune "Sali Bloo". The audio on "See-Saw Grandpa" is unfortunately the worst on here - but it ends on a blaster - the huge guitars of "I've Been Waiting" - a genuinely great inclusion. I bought the downloads at the time for this review - despite "Arthur" sounding incredible in remastered form - the poor man's Hollies comparison is staggering - complete with whiny identikit vocals. More interesting is the 'Mono' mix of an album fave - "Dear Angie" - it's good but not a patch on the beauty of the Stereo version. For me the best here is "Think About The Good Times" - a strange Funk-Rock hybrid that at least has The Kinks at its heart. And again the shadow of The Beatles hangs over "Yesterday Ain't Coming Back" - a tune that could have been on "Magical Mystery Tour"...nice.

One Star or Five - BADFINGER have always divided people - many calling them one of the great overlooked bands of the period - others calling them lightweight. For sure this record is hardly the crafted-gems of the "No Dice" and "Straight Up" LPs - nonetheless their debut album "Magic Christian Music" deserves reappraisal - especially given the massive improvement in sound quality on offer here and some of those ragbag bonus tracks. There's magic in there folks - just gotta root it out...

PS: Monday 25 October 2010 saw 14 of the 'Apple' label Sixties and Seventies albums remastered and reissued in the UK alongside a first-time-ever label 'Best Of' compilation CD not surprisingly called "Come And Get It" after Badfinger's first hit song (penned by Paul McCartney).

The October 2011 Apple CD Remasters are (I've reviewed most):

1. Magic Christian Music - BADFINGER (January 1970)

2. No Dice - BADFINGER (November 1970)

3. Straight Up - BADFINGER (1972)

4. Ass - BADFINGER (1974)

5. Postcard - MARY HOPKIN (1969)

6. Earth Song - Ocean Song - MARY HOPKIN (1971)

7. Is That What You Want? - JACKIE LOMAX (1969)

8. Under The Jasmine Tree/Space - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET 

(1968 and 1969 - 2LPs on 1CD)

9. That's The Way God Planned It - BILLY PRESTON (1969)

10. Encouraging Words - BILLY PRESTON (1970)

11. The Radha Krishna Temple - THE RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971)

12. The Whale/Celtic Requiem - JOHN TAVENOR (1970 and 1971 - 2LPs on 1CD)

13. James Taylor - JAMES TAYLOR (1968)
14. Doris Troy - DORIS TROY (1970)

"Music From Big Pink" by THE BAND (2000 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...To Kingdom Come..."

It's a measure of The Band's musical impact that their debut album hit the shelves of American record stores 1 July 1968 and by the late August issue of the hugely influential Rolling Stone magazine (26 August 1968, Al Kooper's famous article) - they were already on the front cover. There they sat on a park-bench with their backs to us - come to bring us all back to real tunes - looking like ramshackle woodsmen-extras returned from the set of John Boorman's "Deliverance". And it helped of course that the original Americana troubadour Bob Dylan was a pal, painted the cover art and contributed the occasional song classic too...

Capitol took their time with this superbly presented 'Expanded Edition' CD of "Music From Big Pink" and has stoked up the Stereo release with a slew of half-decent extras actually worthy of the moniker 'Bonus Tracks'. Here are the weighty details...

UK released September 2000 (August 2000 in the USA) - "Music From Big Pink" by THE BAND is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue/Remaster on Capitol 525 3902 (Barcode 724352539024) and plays out as follows (74:03 minutes):

1. Tears Of Rage

2. To Kingdom Come

3. In A Station

4. Caledonia Mission

5. The Weight

6. We Can Talk [Side 2]

7. Long Black Veil

8. Chest Fever

9. Lonesome Suzie

10. This Wheel's On Fire

11. I Shall Be Released

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Music From Big Pink" - released July 1968 in the USA on Capitol Records SKAO-2955 and November 1968 in the UK on Capitol Records T 2955 (Mono) and Capitol ST 2955 (Stereo). The American STEREO Mix is used. Robbie Robertson wrote "To Kingdom Come", "Caledonia Mission", "The Weight" and "Chest Fever" - Richard Manuel wrote "In A Station", "We Can talk" and "Lonesome Suzie and co-wrote "Tears Of Rage" with BOB DYLAN - Dylan wrote "I Shall Be Released" and co-wrote "This Wheel's On Fire" with Rick Danko. "Long Black Veil" is a Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill song made famous by Country Artists Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Cash. JOHN SIMON Produced.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Yazoo Street Scandal (Outtake)

13. Tears Of Rage (Alternate Take)

14. Katie's Been Gone (Outtake)

15. If I Lose (Outtake)

16. Long Distance Operator (Outtake)

17. Lonesome Suzie (Alternate Take)

18. Orange Juice Blues (Blues For Breakfast) (Outtake – Demo)

19. Key To The Highway (Outtake)

20. Ferdinand The Imposter (Outtake – Demo)

THE BAND was:

GARTH HUDSON – Organ and Vocals

RICHARD MANUEL – Piano and Lead Vocals on Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 11

ROBBIE ROBERTSON – Lead Guitar and Duet Vocals with Manuel on Track 2

RICK DANKO – Bass and Lead Vocals on Tracks 4, 7, and 10

LEVON HELM – Drums and Lead Vocals on Track 5 a duet with Danko

Compiled by Cheryl Pawelski and Andrew Sandoval - the 20-page booklet has fantastically comprehensive liner notes by ROB BOWMAN that feature interviews stretching back twelve years (from 2000), photos of tracking sheets, mix instructions, the American 45 of "The Weight" on Capitol 2269, trade adverts, the Rolling Stone cover, outtake photos from the session, a Winterland Poster - and snaps of the home ‘Big Pink’ where most of the music was composed. It's very well done as befits an album of this stature.

But the big news is a great remaster by DAN HERSCH and ANDREW SANDOVAL. Notoriously far removed from 'audiophile' territory – the album was recorded in a real-instruments/naturalistic feel kind of way. So some tunes like "I Shall Be Released" and "Long Black Veil" have audible hiss levels but you’d have to say that this remaster allows the whole lot to 'breathe' – no dampening nor tampering. On tracks like the wicked keyboard extravaganza that is "Chest Fever" or Manuel's old-as-mountains "In A Station" - the natural feel is thrilling - given space to shine.

It opens with the decidedly edgy "Tears Of Rage" - a slow opener that's all treated guitar and croaked vocals about 'Independence Day' and a father not 'getting it'. Even after all these years I still find the brass arrangements and that huge organ sound in the background so moving - while Robertson pings away on those frets as only he can. We up the pace for "To Kingdom Come" - a catchy little mutt that bears repeated listening as he sings of being 'tarred and feathered'. I loved what Karen Dalton did with Manuel's "In A Station" on her "In My Own Time" album of cover version in 1971 on Just Sunshine Records (see separate review). You can hear why she was drawn to its gravel heart - slightly off rhythms and production values - yet still full of heart. Both of Robertson's Side 1 finishers "California Mission" and "The Weight" practically defined The Band sound from the outset. On Side 2 I like the strange funkiness of "This Wheel's On Fire" but my crave is the heavy and wild keyboard soloing throughout “Chest Fever”. It's so at odds with the rest of the record - yet it fits. "Chest Fever" could even be an ELP rehearsal – an Atomic Rooster jam – it's the kind of rock song you don't really expect from The Band - brilliantly hooky yet ramshackle enough to remain real. "Chest..." is followed by Levon's aching set of pipes on "Lonesome Suzie" – a slow drawl of a song – and a tune that cries out to be covered - tap into the melody's innate Soulfulness.

I had expected the Extras to be largely filler - and some are rough ("If I Lose", "Orange Juice Blues" and "Ferdinand The Imposter" are taken from 'best available sources') - but the Outtakes are actually brill. "Yazoo Street Scandal" actually feels like Dylan's force is strong with the Robbie-one-Kenobi  - but even tastier is an 'Alternate Take' of "Tears Of Rage" that emphasises the Piano more. It's a fabulous addition and stands up by itself. Both Robertson and Manuel penned "Katie's Been Gone" and it's another genuinely great discovery. "...This would be Take 400...rolling..." the Engineer wittily intros "Long Distance Operator" - and again it feels like your eavesdropping on creativity in full flow. You can hear why the quicker "Lonesome Suzie" Alternate was dumped in favour of the much slower and more soulful arrangement. "Keys To The Highway" is a cover of a Big Bill Broonzy song with some great fuzzed-up guitar. Impressive stuff...

The Band's debut is often described as patchy - seen as a group getting there - heading towards the undeniable songwriting maturity of 1970's "The Band". But I'd argue that even though you're told other albums are better - "Music From Big Pink" is one of those records you keep returning too - and digging it more and more each time you do.

Dirt cheap from most online retailers - this is one of those occasions where you don't have to pay through the CD nose to get that great combo of top music and quality sound. And if ever a group deserved such a sweet outcome - then The Band are it.

"...I Shall Be Released..." they sang back in the day. And with music in my heart – they were right...

"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...