"Visionary" by GORDON GILTRAP (2013 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Robes And Crowns..."

Starting out as a UK Folkie on Transatlantic Records in 1968 - virtuoso guitarist Gordon Giltrap (if you'll forgive the pun) 'progressed' into the arena of instrumental Rock with his 1976 "Visionary" album on the ever so slightly odd British record label "The Electric Record Company". A belated 7” single released off the LP in February 1977 called "Lucifer's Cage" with "The Echoing Green" on the B-side (Electric Record Company WOT 11) didn't do much business either.

And on CD – the "Visionary" album's history has been murky too. Along with his popular "Perilous Journey" album from 1977 with "Heartsong" on it (the follow up LP) – there have been varying CD reissues of these titles before. Most have been only 'OK' audiowise, deleted as quickly as they were released and thereafter garnished a rather nasty price tag. Well at last - along comes Cherry Red's subsidiary label ESOTERIC RECORDINGS with a fabulous new remaster from the original tapes, decent presentation and input from the artist, a reasonable price tag and 5 bonus tracks thrown into the bargain. Here are the musical movements...

UK released 29 July 2013 - "Visionary" by GORDON GILTRAP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2400 (Barcode 5013929450042) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with five Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:43 minutes).

1. Awakening

2. Robes And Crowns

3. From The Four Winds

4. Lucifer's Cage

5. Revelation

6. The Price Of Experience

7. The Dance Of Albion

8. The Tyger

9. The Echoing Green

10. London

11. Night

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Visionary" – released November 1976 in the UK on The Electric Record Company TRIX 2

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Concerto: Movement One

13. Concerto: Movement Two

14. Concerto: Movement Three

15. On Wings Of Hope

16. Visionary (Original Version)

(Tracks 12 to 14 Previously Unreleased - Tracks 15 and 16 first issued 2000)

PASCHAL BYRNE and MARK POWELL have handled the 24-Bit Remastered Audio at The Audio Archiving Company in London and the sound is uniformly wonderful. The instruments are clear and full - not overly loud – with details now popping up everywhere. The 16-page booklet has liner notes by MALCOLM DOME with input from the artist himself and pictures trade paper reviews from "Sounds" and "Melody Maker" of the time. There are also period band photos and adverts for The Gordon Giltrap Band on Tour in the UK. It's tastefully done.

Giltrap described the entire follow up LP "Perilous Journey" in 1977 as “Opus 2” (see separate review) – so I suppose you could call "Visionary" his "Opus 1". Entirely instrumental and Steve Hackett Prog Rock in its structures and sound – "Visionary" opens with the multi-layered acoustic/keyboard assault of "Awakening". It sneaks into your speakers as a fade-in - sounding not unlike English Pastoral Folk music meets Sci Fi. The ELP keyboards and complimentary string arrangements give way to his beautiful and fluid Acoustic playing about half way through and it's here that the Remaster excels in every way. That segues into the lovely meandering of "Robes And Crowns" which feels like Part 2. Its one and half minutes are quickly up and we're then met with a gorgeous madrigal-sounding "From The Four Winds" – the kind of Steve Hackett Acoustic ditty that would have opened a Side on "Foxtrot" in 1972.

It's easy to see why Electric thought the commercial-sounding theme-of-a-non-existent TV program "Lucifer's Cage" might garnish some airplay. About one minute in Giltrap goes into an Acoustic solo that now sounds gorgeous - and that almost YES keyboard break always brings a smile to my face. "Revelation" is a sad and string-laden epic sounding not unlike an Elton John strings-and-piano interlude from "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy" from the preceding year (1975). I love Shirley Roden's vocal contributions towards the end - giving the piece a "Great Gig In The Sky" touch. Two many strings in "The Dance Of Albion" for me – better is his 'Flyde 12-String Acoustic Guitar' playing on the beautifully English "The Tyger" – pretty yet accomplished too. The album ends on the quiet yet uplifting duo of "London" and "Night" – expert strumming, swirling symbols and tasteful synth fills. The whole album feels beautiful like that – instrumental Prog that's been too easily forgotten. Very impressive stuff and easy to hear why it's been a firm fan favourite ever since.

The 5 bonus tracks are pure fan pleasers material - uniformly excellent. The 'Original' version of "Visionary" and "On The Wings Of Hope" first turned up as Bonus Tracks on the December 2000 Voiceprint Records CD Reissue of "Fear Of The Dark" - but the 3-part 'Concerto" is new - a Previously Unreleased piece - and what a bonus it is. Mostly Acoustic Guitar - it's beautifully played and perfectly complimentary to the album. Very cool stuff...

This 2013 Remaster of "Visionary" is a blast - 'so good' to hear this criminally forgotten nugget back in such good shape. Forward looking indeed...

Esoteric Recordings have also issued:

1. Perilous Journey (1977) on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2400

2. Fear Of The Dark (1978) on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2402

3. Live At Oxford – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2409

4. Ravens And Lullabies (with Rick Wakeman of YES) – Esoteric Recordings EANTCD 1013

"The Sound Of Fury" by BILLY FURY (2000 Decca 2CD MONO and STEREO Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...It's You I Need..." 

Aged only 20 when he recorded it and self-penning all 10 of the songs - Liverpool's Ronald Wycherley and his May 1960 debut album "The Sound Of Fury" is the kind of mythical release that only grows with the passing decades.

Re-listening to this British legend in 2016 is a thoroughly brill experience – Billy Fury's Decca LP as good as you remember it and better. Now a staggering 56 years past - that 23-minute platter still thrills and you can completely get why British Rock 'n' Rollers and Rockabilly dudettes alike worship at its 10" feet. At times the whole LP even feels like Buddy Holly's lost Rock 'n' Roll album - or with Joe Brown and his pals sounding not unlike Scotty Moore and Bill Black doing their slap-bass echoed thing - the great Sun Records Rockabilly masterpiece Elvis Presley never made. Here are the Silver Suits and Brylcreem Quiffs...

UK released July 2000 – "The Sound Of Fury" by BILLY FURY on Decca 844 990-2 (Barcode 042284499026) is a 2CD Remastered set and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Sound Of Fury" Original MONO LP (22:27 minutes):

1. That's Love

2. My Advice

3. Phone Call

4. You Don't Know

5. Turn My Back On You

6. Don't Say It's Over [Side 2]

7. Since You've Been Gone

8. It's You I Need

9. Alright, Goodbye

10. Don't Leave Me This Way

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut LP "The Sound Of Fury" - released May 1960 in the UK as a 10" LP on Decca LF 1329 (no US release). Produced by JACK GOOD - it peaked in June 1960 at No. 18 on the UK LP charts.

Disc 2 - BONUS TRACKS (44:30 minutes):

1. That's Love (Alternate Take - STEREO)

2. My Advice (STEREO)

3. Phone Call (STEREO)

4. You Don't Know (STEREO)

5. Don't say It's Over (STEREO)

6. Since You've Been Gone (STEREO)

7. It's You I Need (STEREO)

8. Alright, Goodbye (STEREO)

9. Don't Leave Me This Way (STEREO)

10. Maybe Tomorrow (Alternate Take - STEREO)

11. My Christmas Prayer

12. I Got Someone

13. Open Your Arms

14. Don't Jump

15. Magic Eyes

16. Sleepless Nights

17. Please Don't Go

18. If I Lose You

19. I Love How You Love Me

Tracks 11 to 19 in MONO

The Band:

BILLY FURY - Lead Vocals

REG GUEST – Piano

JOE BROWN – Electric Guitar

ALAN WEIGHELL – Electric Bass

BILL STARK – Bass

ANDY WHITE – Drums

THE FOUR JAYS – Backing Vocals

The 12-page booklet features seriously in-depth and affectionate liner notes from CHRIS ELEY that go into the January 8th and April 14th sessions at Decca's Studio 3 in West Hampstead that produced the iconic album. The text is peppered with colour photos of his 1st UK EP "Maybe Tomorrow" on Decca DFE 6597 - a French Magazine cover in his gold jacket - a UK Decca Records Trade Advert for 'his first long playing record' - a black and white publicity photo with his fellow mucker Joe Brown - the cover of a Dutch reissue that doubled the LP up with Tommy Steele - and two different French EPs - one of which actually credits it as Billy Fury with The Four Jays.

Oddly there are no mastering or tape-transfer credits anywhere - but that's hardly important when you clap your weary lugs on the Remasters that are uniformly fabulous to the nth degree. The MONO LP sounds staggeringly clean for its age yet vibrant - the stripped-back Rockabilly set if the band to the background while Billy’s vocals is to the fore (all in a good way). But that's nothing to the STEREO takes on Disc 2 which I would describe as sensational. These are already great songs - but in STEREO! Wow is the only appropriate response. Some of the STEREO versions featured here first appeared in 1988 on the CD reissue of "The Sound Of Fury" on Decca 820 627-2 (with liner notes from the mighty JOHH TRACY – a former company employee who wrote tons of those early CD booklets). Good news is that with the exception of "Turn My Back On You" - CD2 will allow fans to sequence 9 of the 10 track LP in STEREO for the first time and that’s an Audio thrill I'll buy into any day of the week.

It opens on the very Sun Records Rockabilly of "That's Love" and continues with "My Advice" where the 'bop-bop-bop' backing vocals of The Four Jays (flown in especially for the sessions) feel like The Jordanaires giving support to Elvis as he 'uh-huh's' into the microphone. Decca chose "That's Love" as a lead off 45 in May 1960 with "You Don't Know" on the flip-side and Decca F 11237 rewarded them and Billy with a No. 19 Pop placing and an 11-week chart run. "Phone Call" is great stuff - a Blues shuffle that emphasises Joe Brown's guitar flourishes and Reg Guest's slinky piano fills. The first angst-ridden ballad comes in the shape of "You Don't Know" - a gorgeous vocal by Fury - Reg Guest giving in some tasteful piano. The STEREO version can only be described as beautiful - not just the execution of the song but Jack Good's smart Production. Probably closest to Presley's version of Crudup's "That's Alright" - "Turn My Back On You" is pure Rockabilly joy where Billy is "...gonna swing round honey...gonna turn my back on you..." - his Vocal aping a hero of his - Eddie Cochran.

Side 2 opens with the brilliant "Don't Say It's Over" - a piano roller that 'bah-doom's its way into your living room (great dancer). A two a.m. whiskey-sodden lounge-room Piano introduces the two-paced "Since You've Been Gone" which continues on that path until it decides around 1:25 minutes to go Bopper and then Rockabilly slap-bass's to the finish line. Great finger picking from Joe on the cool "It's You I Need" - yes indeed. Back to crooning with "Alright, Goodbye" where some girly is leaving our poor Billy with a broken heart (they're always doing that) while the finisher "Don't Leave Me This Way" is a very Presley rapid-paced piano bopper.

"...OK fellas..." - Billy Fury shouts to his tight band during "Don't Leave Me This Way" - hit me with that sound - and they do. Time to let "The Sound Of Fury" back into your world...kudos to all involved...

"The Wham Of That Memphis Man!" by LONNIE MACK (2016 Ace CD Remaster/Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Come To Me...I Need You Here..."

First up - as of June 2016 - there are now three variants of this CD and all of them confusingly carry the same catalogue number and even barcode - Ace CDCHM 1134 (Barcode 029667023627). The first issue was in 1987, then November 2006 and now June 2016 (you can recognise the new issue with its 2016 copyright date on the rear and see-though CD tray. 

And who can blame Ace Records of the UK for wanting to hammer home this fantastic and hugely influential album - 53 years young this October. Here are the Tremolo Arms and Whammy Bars (and that's just the instrumentals)...

UK released June 2016 - "The Wham Of That Memphis Man!" by LONNIE MACK on Ace Records CDCHM 1134 (Barcode 029667023627) is a straightforward Remaster of the MONO LP from 1963 and plays out as follows (32:14 minutes):

1. Wham!

2. Where There's A Will

3. The Bounce

4. I'll Keep You Happy

5. Memphis

6. Baby. What's Wrong? [Side 2]

7. Down And Out

8. Satisfied

9. Susie-Q

10. Why

11. Down In The Dumps

Tracks 1 to 11 are his debut album "The Wham Of That Memphis Man!" - released October 1963 in the USA on Fraternity F-1040 (Mono) and Fraternity SF-1014 (Stereo) - the MONO Mix is used. Tracks 1, 7, 10 and 11 are Lonnie Mack originals - all others are cover versions. The album peaked at No. 103 on the US LP charts.

The Band:

LONNIE MACK - Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 - all others Instrumentals)

IRVING RUSOTTO and MARVIN LEIBERMAN - Saxophones

FRED STEMMERDING - Piano

WAYNE BULLOCK - Bass

RON GRAYSON - Drums

THE CHARMAINES (Sisters Gigi and Jerri Jackson and Dee Watkins - Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8) - Backing Vocals

DAVE BURKE and ALAN TAYLOR of 'Pipeline Magazine' have supplied the truly superb liner notes for the fact-filled 16-page booklet – a lovely thing to look at and read - crammed to the gills with repros of Fraternity 45s, US Trade Adverts and Reviews (Cash Box and Billboard) and cool photos of the rotund Lonnie Mack holding his trademark 'Flying V' guitar.

Sound-wise - quite why Ace has chosen to use only the MONO mix (Fraternity F-1014) when they could have fitted both the Stereo one on here too is anybody's guess? But there's no denying the fantastic and rocking Audio offered. DUNCAN COWELL – a long-standing Audio Engineer of repute (Blue Horizon, Ace, Edsel and many more) – has carried out the Remaster and this thing boogies like a goodun – all that amazing fret-skill churning out of your speakers with attitude along with the rest of his road-sessioned and tight backing band. The charming and Soulful vocals of The Charmaines add hugely to the vocal numbers – mostly ballads – where Lonnie’s rather brill voice let’s rip with the heartache and woe.

Re-listening to this album in 2016 and you're struck by its brilliance and the fact that it seemed to launch a few styles and not just hard-hitting instrumentals. White-boy Soul comes in the shape of the torch-ballad churner "Where There's A Will" (written by Lou Williams) and his truly sublime cover of Hank Ballard's "I'll Keep You Happy" (lyrics from it title this review) is amazing stuff. You then get a bopping R&B dancer opening Side 2 - a fabulous Boogaloo cover of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What's Wrong?" ably abetted by The Charmaines. While "Down And Out" could easily be any Chuck Berry Guitar Instrumental - you can so hear England's Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and later Dr. Feelgood in his guitar-manic cover of Dale Hawkins' "Susie-Q".

There's even Southern Blues Rock in the twin Guitar/Saxophone whine of "Why" - a Lonnie Mack composition where he lets rip on his considerable set of pipes - guttural and gravel-like. And that opening salvo of "Wham!" is astonishing even now - a frantic set of guitar riffs where he races up and down the frets like Jerry Lee Lewis would on a piano - one leg on the chair - hair flying in wild abandon. You can hear his influence on The Graham Bond Organization and The Spencer Davis Group in his cover of The Olympics hit "The Bounce" - another R&B-influenced instrumental bolstered up by The Charmaines with their cha cha refrains and "just one more time" chants towards the end. There's even a Countrified Soul shuffle to his cover of Martha Carson's "Satisfied" – very cool stuff.

This is the kind of genre-busting brilliant album that's been overlooked for eons. Yet with reissues starting with President Records in 1967 in the UK - right through to Ace and Edsel in the later decades - Lonnie Mack's "The Wham Of That Memphis Man!" keeps getting rediscovered by new generations - and rightly so (sadly Lonnie Mack was lost to us in April 2016, aged 74). 

What an amazing listen. Bend that tremolo arm indeed...

PS: there's also a variant put out by Ace Records in late October 2006 of Lonnie Mack's "The Wham Of That Memphis Man!" - it's part of their 'Hip Pocket' CD Series where they repro the album's artwork in a 6" 'Hip Pocket' Card Sleeve. It's catalogue number is Ace CDCHM 1134 (Barcode 029667023627)...

"The MCA Years 1973-1975" by BUDGIE (June 2016 MCA Records/Universal UMC 3CD Box Set - Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Breaking All The House Rules..." 

Ah BUDGIE! Should have been as big as Humble Pie or Sabbath or Purple - but criminally weren't. Yet today they not only elicit as much affection as they did four decades ago but are name-checked as hugely seminal influences on the likes of Metallica, Soundgarden and even Van Halen all of whom have covered their tunes with pride and glee.

Personally - Christmas 1972 and a 14-year old Markipoos has an LP pressy waiting for him beneath the festooned tree - their second album "Squawk" in a Dolphin Discs record bag! I've loved this Welsh power trio for over 45 years and this dinky Remaster Box Set that features 3 of their 5 albums on MCA Records in the 70ts has only sent me off on one. So much to love on here - but let's get to the original grunge rockers first...

UK released Friday, 2 June 2016 (10 June 2016 in the USA) - "The MCA Years 1973-1975" by BUDGIE on MCA Records/Universal UMC 5363393 (Barcode 600753633939) is a 3CD Hard Card Slipcase Mini Box Set with new 2016 Remasters (with no Bonus Tracks) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" (41:50 minutes):

1. Breadfan

2. Baby Please Don't Go

3. You Know I'll Always Love You

4. You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk

5. In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand [Side 2]

6. Hiding My Nightmare

7. Parents

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 3rd studio album "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" - released June 1973 in the UK on MCA Records MDKS 8010 (reissued MCA Records MCG 3513 in 1974)

Disc 2 "In For The Kill" (41:12 minutes):

1. In For The Kill

2. Crash Course In Brain Surgery

3. Wondering What Everyone Knows

4. Zoom Club

5. Hammer And Tongs [Side 2]

6. Running From My Soul

7. Living On Your Own

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 4th studio album "In For The Kill" - released June 1974 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2546 and in the USA on MCA Records MCA 429

Disc 3 "Bandolier" (34:08 minutes):

1. Breaking All The House Rules

2. Slipaway

3. Who Do You Want For Your Love?

4. I Can't See My Feelings

5. I Ain't No Mountain

6. Napoleon Bona - Part 1

7. Napoleon Bona - Part 2

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 5th and last studio album for MCA Records "Bandolier" - released September 1975 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2723 and in the USA on MCA Records MCA 4618

The first thing fans will notice is that the 2 or 3 Bonus Tracks that came with the 2004 singular Remasters of each album are AWOL - which is a damn shame because (a) they were good and (b) there's plenty of room (the non-album B-side "Honey" from the "I Ain't No Mountain" UK and US 7" single would have been a perfect addition for example). On the upside the "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" LP was always a gatefold with that Roger Dean artwork cover and the live shots of the band (and lyrics) on the inner gatefold - that's been reproduced in the rather tasty oversized card sleeve. But both "In For The Kill" and "Bandolier" original LPs only came with single sleeves - here they've been given gatefolds with promo photos of the band on the inside. Each CD is also colour coded with the 'Budgie In A Spacesuit' Logo on each disc.

Noted writer and Music Historian MALCOLM DOME has done the excellent liner notes inside the colourful 16-page booklet. There's references to Producer Roger Bain (had Sabbath connections) who did so much to define their grungy hard rock sound on the July 1971 debut "Budgie" and its September 1972 follow-up "Squawk" and a nod to British DJ 'Kid Jensen' getting behind the first album on Pirate Radio thereby giving BUDGIE a career and following in Europe. There are 7" picture sleeves for rare foreign issues of the singles "Crash Course In Brain Surgery" and "Zoom Club" and a trade advert for the "I Ain't No Mountain" 45 as well as comments from key band members like Bourke Shelley and tributes from uberfans Dave Mustaine from Megadeath and Lars Ulrich from Metallica.

But the really great news is the AUDIO that absolutely rocks like the proverbial mother and her 'f' word. ANDY PEARCE has revisited the original mastertapes (he did a great job on the 2012 Rory Gallagher reissues) and these CDs trounce the 1991 and 2004 versions I've had for years. These transfers are loud and ballsy - but not loud for the sake of it. As the tracks play you can really hear that guitar - that chunky bass - those drum whacks. It's properly rocking and on stuff like the slide genius of "Breadfan" or the sweet ballad "Wondering What Everyone Knows" or the sheer riffage in the brilliant "Breaking All The House Rules" - the sound is genuinely great and makes everything feel new again.

With that Audio in mind - these albums suddenly feel far better than I remember them. Every Budgie fan loves "Never Turn Your Back..." with their blistering cover of Big Joe Williams and his R&B hit "Baby Please Don't Go" and the speaker-to-speaker hard rock of "In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand" - but suddenly that swirling Acoustic Guitar in the pretty ballad "Riding My Nightmare" seems huge - as does the doomy 10-minute-plus guitars of "Parents". There's a part about a minute in when it slows to Acoustic Guitar, Bass and echoed Lead - and the Remaster is fantastic.

I always felt "In For The Kill" showed the band going slightly off the boil even though it was their first to chart in Britain at No. 29. But again - there's real muscle in the kick-ass chug of "In For The Kill" sounding down right dirty and mean ("...when I was born I was given a will...") - nice. The 1971 non-album single "Crash Course In Brain Surgery" was supposedly given a slight remix for the 1974 album version but I'm buggered if I can actually hear any difference between this and the Roger Bain produced original (great tune though). The drums of Ray Phillips were replaced by Phil Boot for "In For The Kill" and you can hear it on the finisher "Living On Your Own" - a deceptively complex tune where guitarist Tony Bourge stretches out and Bourke Shelley gives it his best strangulated Geddy Lee vocals.

But the big winner here is "Bandolier" - an album I'd completely forgotten about. The opening "Breaking All The House Rules" is 7:22 minutes of fabulous Rock 'n' Roll riffage where Budgie sounds like Scott Gorham/Brian Robertson Thin Lizzy at their tightest and expressive best. And the Audio is just brilliant too. The treated Acoustic ballad "Slipaway" is again gorgeously reproduced as is the strangely Funky "Who Do You Want For Your Love?" They manage a Hard Rock version of Andy Fairweather-Lowe's "I Ain't No Mountain" (from his 1974 A&M album "Spider Jivin'") and is the nearest Budgie get to being commercial sounding a little like Nazareth in search of a Top Ten hit. The 2-parts of "Napoleon Bona" are close to 'Rush' Prog Rock and again the Remaster just elevates everything - and you can 'so' hear where Metallica got 'that' sound as the guitars riff like a goodun towards the end of Part 1.

Perfection would have been all five of the iconic MCA LPs including those first two masterpieces from 1971 and 1972. But what's on offer here (at just under eight-quid) is incredible value for money and a great reminder as to why BUDGIE still engenders such affection amongst ageing rockers like me whilst drawing in clued-up Metal newcomers too. Christmas has come early...and in even better packaging this time...

"Takin My Time" by BONNIE RAITT [feat members of LITTLE FEAT] (2002 Warner Brothers CD - Lee Herschberg Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Know You're Leavin'...But I'm Leavin' Too..."

Bonnie's quietly superb third Warner Brothers platter "Takin My Time" from the winter of 1973 cemented the reputation of her career opener "Bonnie Raitt" in November 1971 and the superb follow-through "Give It Up" in October 1972 (see my separate reviews for those and the 'Original Album Series' 5CD Mini Box Set that carries the five albums that followed).

Like its two predecessors – "Takin My Time" was another great Blues and Rock album played by a woman steeped in the traditions of American R&B and Soul and ably supported by a gang of likeminded quality musicians – helmed this time by Producer John Hall (who would later form Orleans) and featuring members of LITTLE FEAT including Lowell George on three cuts. Her second LP "Give It Up" only made No. 138 in October 1972 on the American LP charts - so her placing of No. 87 for "Takin My Time" showed progress and a public that was finally picking up on her great albums. And this superlative 2002 CD Remaster only hammers that home. More moody this time around - here are the candles and the rainstorms...

UK released March 2002 – "Takin My Time" by BONNIE RAITT on Warner Brothers 8122-78379-2 (Barcode 081227837921) is a straightforward remaster of the album and plays out as follows (37:24 minutes):

1. You've Been In Love Too Long

2. I Gave My Love A Candle

3. Let Me In

4. Everybody's Cryin' Mercy

5. Cry Like A Rainstorm

6. Wah She Go Do [Side 2]

7. I Feel The Same

8. I Thought I Was A Child

9. Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues

10. Guilty

Tracks 1 to 10 are her third studio album "Takin My Time" - released October 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2729 and November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46261. Produced by JOHN HALL - it peaked at No. 87 on the US album charts (didn’t chart UK).

The 6-leaf foldout inlay gives song-by-song breakdowns, reproduces the gatefold artwork and offers basic reissue credits but no new liner notes. There's a 'Digitally Remastered' logo sticker on the jewel case and a silver inlay that says the same. GREGG GELLER has co-ordinated the Warner Remasters Series with LEE HERSCHBERG carrying out the remaster. Like its two predecessors (also in this series) - this CD sounds fantastic – a transfer that's brought out the original production values with aplomb. Fans are going to love it.

"Takin My Time" opens on a Martha And The Vandellas cover – a funky rendition of their September 1965 Gordy Records hit "You’ve Been In Love Too Long". With Paul Barrere and Bill Payne of Little Feat on Guitar and Electric Piano – it’s hardly surprising that the songs sounds like a very cool Little Feat outtake. Warners tried it as a 45 in October 1973 in the USA with “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy” on the flipside (Warner Brothers 7758) but it didn’t ignite. That said - you also notice John Hall’s truly expert Production values throughout – warm and full – really great stuff. Written by Joel Zoss "I Gave My Love A Candle" slows things down to a middle pace – a lovely ballad that perhaps overdone with John Hall's Mellotron backdrop (great guitars though). Written by Yvonne Baker of the Soul/R&B Vocal Group The Sensations – "Let Me In" was their lone chart hit back in February 1962 on Argo. Bonnie keeps it peppy with a New Orleans ragtime twist – her band featuring Taj Mahal on Acoustic Bass, Bill Payne of Little Feat on Piano and master Trumpeter Oscar Brashear giving it some funeral-happy Flugelhorn. One of my fave-raves on the album is her fantastically sleazy-Blues take on Mose Allison's "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" with Taj Mahal's Harmonica warble throughout making the song (Bill Payne, Bonnie, Freebo (Bassist), John Hall and Taj Mahal do the backing vocals). Linda Ronstadt also saw the heartbreak potential in Eric Kaz's hurting song when she named a whole album after it in October 1989 – even completing the lyric  "Cry Like A Rainstorm – Howl Like The Wind".

Side 2 opens with a cod Reggae conga in the shape of "Way She Go Do" written by Calypso artist McCartha Lewis – but it's a rhythm that's best left to people like Ry Cooder (feels oddly out of place here). Far, far better is the Acoustic Blues of "I Feel The Same" which features a sucker-punch house band of greats – Bonnie on Acoustic with Little Feat's Lowell George on Electric Slide, Bill Payne on Keyboards and Earl Palmer on Drums with Milt Holland patting the Tabla. It's fabulous stuff. "I Feel The Same" was written by a songwriter I love called CHRIS SMITHER. Bonnie would record a stunning duet with Smither and his deep dark voice of Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" on his 2003 CD album "Train Home" – a near 8-minute masterpiece of interpretation that I urge you seek out (their voices so sweet together).

Jackson Browne provides the plaintive ballad "I Thought I Was A Child" where the singer comes upon wisdom "...in your eyes..." Billy Payne and John Hall keep the instrumentation simple and sweet - exacting a Jackson Browne feel to the outcome. Back to her first love – Blues – and a wickedly good doubled-up hand-clapping set of covers by Mississippi Fred McDowell - "Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues". Her bottleneck guitar playing is so damn good as the duo of tunes chug along with their infectious and irresistible beat (would have been a great single). It ends on a Randy Newman classic – "Guilty". A slow Bluesy Piano plinkers in and a clearly hurting and very drunk singer is miserable as he reminisces at the blurry black and white keys (done his baby wrong – again). The rendition builds with a great set of four horn players giving it some serious Orleans lament - while Lowell George floats over proceedings with the tastiest of slide guitar. It's short but oh so sweet and like all great albums – leaves you wanting more...

In February 2016 Bonnie released her 20th album "Dig In Deep" and already it's received a warm welcome and many rave reviews. This great American Blues Lady has been a class act for a very long time...time to respect that...

"Life On Mars" by DEXTER WANSEL (Inside the 'Philadelphia International Records: The Collection' 2014 Sony Music 20CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Theme From The Planets…" 

I suspect many Jazz Funk nutters (like me) can trace their obsession to the genre when they 'stumbled' on this Fusion masterpiece in the late summer of 1976 – "Life On Mars" by Keyboardist DEXTER WANSEL. But in some instances it’s become expensive to acquire on CD.

Might I suggest – cheap as the proverbial chip bag – the best and cheapest place to get the song is the magnificent 20CD Box Set "The Collection" given over to that most iconic of American Soul and Funk labels - Philadelphia International Records. Before the album - let's get to the details of the Box Set first...

"Philadelphia International Records: The Collection" offers you 20 Philly Soul albums in single repro card sleeves inside a hard-card box set with a chunky 36-page booklet (5 of the discs even have bonus tracks). UK released May 2014 – Disc 11 with "Life On Mars" by DEXTER WANSEL inside Sony Music 8843055662 (Barcode 88430556621) is a straightforward Remaster of the album and breaks down as follows:

CD 11 (36:40 minutes):

1. A Prophet Named K.G.

2. Life On Mars

3. Together Once Again

4. Stargazer

5. One Million Miles From The Ground [Side 2]

6. You Can Be What You Wanna Be

7. Theme From The Planets

8. Rings Of Saturn

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Life On Mars" by DEXTER WANSEL - released August 1976 in the USA on Philadelphia International PZ 34079 (no UK release).

All albums are documented in the lovely 36-page colour booklet with features brief reviews of each title by long-time Soul aficionado DEAN RUDLAND. These are followed by page-after-page of the albums pictured alongside detailed track lists. Each of the CDs is numbered on the label so you know where they're placed in the order of things. There are no mastering credits - but as all of these albums have been available before at one point on Sony/Legacy reissues so those remasters have been used and the sound quality is uniformly great. "Life On Mars" sounds incredible here – chunky and funky to the max...

The album opens on the famous wavering synth funk of "A Prophet Named K.G." – then the strings kick in and about two minutes into it's four BOBBY MALACH hits us with His Saxophone playing ably abetted by AL HARRISON on Trumpet. The swirling magic continues with the title track "Life On Mars" where Philly band INSTANT FUNK soon turn the proceedings into the nastiest groove cleverly made more accessible by the trio of ladies singing along to the Funk – BARBARA INGRAM, CARLA BENSON and EVETTE BENTON. "Together Once Again" is almost Jon Anderson of Yes in its fusion beginning - but soon settles into love song territory as TERRY WELLES takes lead vocals – a very pretty number indeed. Arranged by Jack Faith "Stargazer" is a breakneck-speed instrumental that perfectly mixes his Funk with those Philly Strings.

Side 2 opens with one of my faves - the ballad 'n' strings floater "One Million Miles From The Ground" where Dexter fronts the Lead Vocals (again subtle doubled-vocals from the ladies). I've always thought it a gorgeous tune – a Philly nugget hidden on an album too many people don't know about. They issued it Stateside as a 45 on Philadelphia International ZS8-3606 with "Stargazer" on the flipside but it didn't break the Top 40. One of the albums Big Funk cornerstones is "You Can Be What You Wanna Be" which again features INSTANT FUNK as the backing band. Even sweeter for me is superlative instrumental "Theme From The Planets" – a fabulous piece of slick and smooth Funk that never overdoes it as the synths soar and the Saxophone blows cool and sexy (gorgeous remastered Audio too). It ends on "Rings Of Saturn" – another Fusion instrumental that even has ‘Blade Runner’ vibes in the Sax soloing.

For over 40 years fans of Jazz Funk and Jazz Fusion have had a 'thing' for "Life On Mars" by Dexter Wansel.

"...Hold me real tight when it starts to storm..." – Wansel sings on "One Million Miles From The Ground" and I agree. Embrace this space I say...