"Meddle" by PINK FLOYD (September 2011 EMI 'Discovery' CD Remaster and January 2016 Pink Floyd Records CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Climb The Hill In My Own Way..."

As the four longhaired Prog Rockers of Pink Floyd sat on a bench holding hands up to their faces and giggling as the camera snapped their hidden visages in 1971 – I doubt any of them would have thought then that they’d end being a 'limited company' in the future - the decidedly English lads now just as corporate as the machine they so raged against throughout the whole of the Seventies. Which brings us to the mighty "Meddle" album and its "...I'll Climb The Hill In My Own Way..." brand of music now re-issued yet again on CD in 2016...

UK re-released 8 January 2016 – "Meddle" by PINK FLOYD on Pink Floyd Records PFR6 (Barcode 5099902894225) is a straightforward 6-track reissue CD in 2016 using the Remaster from 2011 and in fact the same barcode. It's once again housed in a gatefold card digipak, has a stickered sleeve (on the outer shrinkwrap) and 12-page colour booklet (48:51 minutes).

The original version of this Remaster was released 26 September 2011 as a 'Discovery Edition' single CD on EMI/Harvest EMI 50999 028942 2 5 (Barcode 5099902894225) – this 2016 version on Pink Floyd Records uses that 2011 remaster and the same artwork. The 'Discovery Edition' sticker is gone as is the horrible 'green Ds' reinvented CD artwork that came with the 2011 issue – that's thankfully been replaced on the CD with the Cow's Ear cover artwork of the original LP.

1. One Of These Days [Side 1]

2. A Pillow Of Winds

3. Fearless

4. San Tropez

5. Seamus

6. Echoes [Side 2]

PINK FLOYD was:

ROGER WATERS – Bass, Guitar and Vocals

DAVID GILMOUR – Lead Guitar and Vocals

RICHARD WRIGHT – Keyboards and Vocals

NICK MASON – Drums and Percussion

Released 30 October 1971 on Harvest Records SMAS-832 in the USA and 13 November 1971 in the UK on Harvest Records SHVL 795 - original UK vinyl copies of PINK FLOYD'S "Meddle" came in an untitled textured gatefold sleeve. American issues were titled and featured reversed artwork on a hard-card sleeve - the back of the UK cover put on the front.

JAMES GUTHRIE and JOEL PLANTE have carried out the remaster on this and all 14 albums in their catalogue at the Das Boot Recording Studios in Tahoe in California (Guthrie is a Sound Engineer associated with the band since 1978). The original 1st generation master tapes have obviously been given a thorough going over because it truly feels like each song has had a staggering amount of time spent on them worrying out every single nuance possible. The audio result is truly impressive. Those Discovery Edition Remasters have been reused for all 14 of the January 2016 reissues.

On the 1995 remaster - the six-minute opener "One Of These Days" took ages to arrive and even when it did it was somehow dull and lacklustre. How things have changed - when the huge synth riff kicks in about 2:50 on this 2011 version - the sound is incredibly clear - allowing you to hear crashes and bangs going on in the background that I've never heard before. Then the sort of Piltdown Man voice says "One Of These Days I'm Gonna Cut You Into Little Pieces..." and all Hell breaks loose - Gilmour's guitar indeed sounding like a musical chainsaw. It's revelatory genius and in that uniquely peculiar Pink Floyd kind of a way. 

But even that is trumped by the awesome clarity of the forgotten and hugely underrated "A Pillow Of Winds". Put simply - it sounds 'beautiful'. The jaunty "San Tropez" and the rather pointless ditty that is "Seamus" are both the same - so clear and renewed. The 23:25 minute Side 2 opus "Echoes" has hiss as it opens on sonar pings - but luckily Guthrie and Plante have allowed it to breath instead of using some no-noise dampening technique. So when the funky break takes place at about seven minutes (now being used by Dance DJs in the UK as a mix in sets) it sounds just HUGE. It's impressive stuff, it really is.

But on this album my heart has always been with "Fearless" - issued as a B-side to "One Of These Days" in the USA and other European territories. It seems like I've waited literally 40 whole years to hear this fabulous song in such clarity (lyrics above). It's a genuine wow - and reminds me of a club I used to go to in Dublin called The Grove in the Seventies when they actually used this song as a 'lurch' (a slow tune in Ireland). As it fades out to the Liverpool Football Club fans singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" (a no.1 UK hit for Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963 and adopted by them as an anthem) - I'm in floods...

I wish I could say the same for the staggeringly unimaginative packaging. The 'Pink Floyd' logo you see in all the photos advertising these new reissues turns out to be a sticker on the outer shrink-wrap that gets lost the second you unpeel it. The card sleeves are like The Beatles 09/09/09 EMI reissues - glossy and flimsy - so they smudge with finger prints the second you open them and are easy to bend and crease. The Discovery CD label with its pointless generic artwork (a sort of Turquoise and Pale Green for "Meddle", a garish Red and Pink for "Obscured By Clouds" etc) has thankfully been replaced with an artwork picture CD (no Harvest Records logo) but again it has no protective gauze sleeve so it will scuff on repeated plays (I’d suggest you protect it with a paper inlay).

But the skimpy booklet is the biggest disappointment. Although it has the lyrics (like this is a major improvement) it seems little different to the 1995 issue. It has no history on the album, pictures of European and Worldwide 7" sleeves, the different US artwork etc. OK - it does look nice and does the job adequately - but that's all. It's a lazy-assed approach and undermines the sterling work done on the sound front. And there are no outtakes either...and man would they have been worth a listen.

Still – with the truly beautiful sonic upgrade – Floyd’s "Meddle" finally gets the five-star sound the album has always deserved - albeit housed in 3-star presentation. 

But at least these 2016 reissues have a decent price (under eight quid in most places for a single CD) and come accompanied with their VINYL variants for the first time in decades – each beautifully reproduced 180-gram Vinyl LP featuring fully restored artwork and also reasonably priced compared to what Near Mint originals would set you back.

Unique music from a unique band. A pillow of winds indeed...

"...Stay Groovy...Be Free..." - Roadies Season 1 TV Show - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Stay Groovy...Be Free..." 

You know the way you love a cult TV program like "Ballers" or "Weeds" or "Lip Service" or mainliner groundbreaking quality like "The Wire", "The Sopranos", "Breaking Bad" - stretching back to "The West Wing", "Northern Exposure" and "Frasier" - and you're bereft when it's over - well Cameron Crowe's "Roadies" is the same for me.

Full of characters you actually like and storylines that unfold like flowers and written from a place that is real and knows its subject inside out - this affectionate and at times soppily nostalgic look at a typically deranged and tattooed road crew on a tour in 2016 USA with a fictional band is just so bloody entertaining.

Beautifully filmed in 4K and featuring a different city for each episode as the tour winds towards L.A. (there's a unique opening collage every week that shows that city's strengths and beauties, Seattle, New Orleans, Houston etc) - at the heart of "Roadies" is good writing from Director and ex Rolling Stone scribe Cameron Crowe. He's touched on this territory before in his superb film "Almost Famous" where he goes on the tour bus as a young journo back in the heyday of Seventies Rock. But all of that history and knowledge is naught without the troupe of actors and actresses to carry it off - and 15 or more characters in this 10-part Season 1 rock every scene with f-words, dodgy hair decisions, unwashed bodies and way too many espressos to keep them functioning as human beings.

The attraction/tension between Staton-House Band Tour Manager Bill (played by Luke Wilson) and the gorgeous Production Manager Shelli (played by Carla Gugino in her best part) is palpable - and I could look at skateboarding Rigger and budding photographer Kelly Ann (played by England's Imogen Poots) until my eyes bleed. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rafe Spall and Colson Kelly (aka Machine Gun Kelly) all shine too as do Peter Cambor and Ethan Michael Mora who plays one of the band's children who might or might not be the spawn of Beelzebub.

There's very cool parts for Luis Guzman as Gooch the Tour Bus Driver who talks a lot but never anything wise, Branscombe Richmond as Puna the Indian Security guard whose in touch with all manner of spirits and can sense crap-about-to-go-down from a hundred paces and absolute casting genius in Ron White as Phil the 60-year old legendary roadie who spouts Jack Daniels wisdoms at the drop of his leather Lynyrd Skynyrd hat and has shot two people who annoyed him in his colourful past. Jacqueline Byres is the ditzy, loveable, restraining-order groupie who sneaks into every gig by hook or by crook and practically implodes if she gets near anything that resembles Tanc Sade and Catero Colbert playing Christopher House and Tom Staton - the I can't live with him but I can't live without him either songwriter nucleus of The Staton-House Band. There's a hilarious Rainn Wilson as the pompous critic Bryce Wilson naked on a piano in front of an audience - confessing his inner most feelings as they YouTube his druggy meltdown (someone who took umbrage to his online dissing of the band popped him a Joshua Tree root in his complimentary coffee).

Throw in cameo appearances from rock's founders Lindsey Buckingham, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and new carriers of the flame like The Head and The Heart, My Morning Jacket, Halsey, Lucius, Gary Clark, Jr, Reignwolf, Frightened Rabbit, Best Coast, Jim James and Robyn Hitchcock (to name but a few) - and you get something that's hugely entertaining, funny, sexy, cool and rammed with references that an old fart like me gets (Jackson Browne covering Little Feat's "Willin'" in Episode 10). This is the kind of program that can namecheck Hendrix and Kenny G in the same breath - play unheard material like "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic and "Mohamed's Radio" by Warren Zevon and fit them in as if it was the most natural playlist in the world. Acoustic jams on the bus - Halsey walking through the stands singing to an enrapt crew during her soundcheck - Rosanna Arquette taking a photo of the band as they wreck a 'death of Rock 'n' Roll' shoot in true smash-em-up Who style.

I warmed hugely to Cameron Crowe's recent movie "Aloha" movie whilst others slagged it off - couldn't wait to tell us how he's lost his touch with filmmaking and music in general (detractors for "Roadies" want to tell you the same). But I find his writing warm and hopeful and humane when so many other TV programs seem only to focus on brutality, torture and nastiness as a badge of cool.

Sure "Roadies" is clunky in places – the relationship between Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots) and the corporate axe-man Rafe Spall never quite ignites in a truly believable way – but that's countered by amazingly touching moments between other characters. In truth despite its flaws I loved every minute of "Roadies" where episode after episode shined - even if there was six different directors at the unruly helm. And you can't help but feel that the family of actor journeymen and women making this were feeling damn lucky themselves – blessed to have been involved in something so effortlessly cool - enjoying every Tom Petty guitar string, Rolling Stones plectrum and signed Led Zeppelin photo on the walls of gigs.

Everyone loves a road movie. Roll on Season 2 and Joy To The World and Three Dog Nights to the entire cast, crew and writers...

-->

"The Bass [aka 'Infinite Space' and 'Mountain In The Clouds'] by MIROSLAV VITOUS (2016 Beat Goes On Reissue - High Definition Andrew Thompson CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands and thousands of E-Pages
All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs
(No Cut and Paste Crap) 

"...Mountain In The Clouds..."

Czech Bass Player MIROSLAV VITOUS is known to most music lovers for co-founding Weather Report with Pianist Joe Zawinul and Saxophonist Wayne Shorter - yet much of his solo career remains shrouded in sideshow mystery. His second album - beautifully transferred here by England's Beat Goes On - is typical – having received two release dates, three differing names and four kinds of artwork across the years.

Recorded in November 1969 in at A&R Studios in New York - it was first issued February 1970 in the USA as "Infinite Space" on Embryo SD 524. It came in a fetching black and white gatefold sleeve with Miroslav’s photo centred and was distributed by the mighty Atlantic Records. Receiving very favourable 4-star reviews in the US trade mags - that initial LP had six tracks (3 on each side) and lined up as follows - "Freedom Jazz Dance", "Mountain In The Clouds" and "When Face Gets Place" on Side 1 with "Infinite Search", "I Will Tell Him On You" and "Epilogue" on Side 2.

However that version was deemed unsatisfactory and in 1972 it was remixed and reissued by Atlantic in November 1972 in Germany on Hor Zu/Atlantic ATL 30 024 now called "The Bass" with an extra unreleased-song - "Cerecka" - and a rejiggered track list. To confuse matters further - the American remixed and expanded version issued November 1972 on Atlantic SD 1622 was given yet another name - "Mountain In The Clouds". A further European issue actually sported yet more different artwork (a fourth variant). This December 2016 single-CD reissue uses the German name, artwork and 1972 WEA Remix. Here are the finite details...

UK released 2 December 2016 - "The Bass" by MIROSLAV VITOUS on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1260 (Barcode 5017261212603) is a straightforward CD transfer of the 1972 Remixed Atlantic Records LP and plays out as follows (47:25 minutes):

1. Freedom Jazz Dance

2. Mountain In The Clouds

3. Epilogue

4. Cerecka

5. Infinite Search [Side 2]

6. I Will Tell Him On You

7. When Face Gets Pale

Tracks 1 to 7 are the 2nd issue of the LP "Infinite Space" now renamed as "The Bass" - released November 1972 in Germany on Hor Zu/Atlantic ATL 30 024 and as "Mountain In The Clouds" in the USA on Atlantic SD 1622. Produced by HERBIE MANN – all tracks are by Miroslav Vitous except "Freedom Jazz Dance" which is an Eddie Harris cover version

THE BAND:

MIROSLAV VITOUS – Bass

HERBIE HANCOCK – Piano

JOE HENDERSON – Tenor Sax

JOHN McLAUGHLIN – Guitars

JOE CHAMBERS – Drums on "Epilogue" only

JACK DeJOHNETTE – Drums on all other tracks

The 12-page booklet pictures the core four of Vitous, McLaughlin, Hancock and DeJohnette and little else (none of the differing artwork – there was even another cover variant in the late Seventies in France) –but that’s more than compensated by the new CHARLES WARING liner notes – a Jazz Columnist for Record Collector and Mojo. On top of that is the stunning ANDREW THOMPSON High Definition Remaster that I’m fairly sure is based on the Rhino Remaster of just a few years back. In short – this CD sounds amazing.

The moment the relentless and wild soloing of "Freedom Jazz Dance" (an Eddie Harris cover) hits your speakers – your room is filled with the kind of playing virtuosity that seems ridiculous even today – and in gorgeous sound quality too. At just short of eleven-minutes the opener is a tour-de-force for Fusion Jazz and is followed by two-minutes of "Mountain In The Clouds" where Miroslav finally takes centre-stage and lets rip on those fret runs. At just over seven minutes "Epilogue" is the smoky nightclub moment – softly plucked fret notes hovering over a vibes and piano backdrop – it’s beautifully realised in the transfer. "Cerecka" was added to the 1972 track list at the end of Side 1 - speeding cymbals doing battle with free-form Jazz from Shorter for just under three minutes.

Side 2 opens with the album's other mellow-yellow tune - the original title track "Infinite Space" - just under seven minutes of vibes underpinned by Miroslav leaning into notes. It's beautifully transferred and has such subtle guitar from McLaughlin. At eleven-minutes plus "I Will Tell Him On You" remains the album's other major piece - a rapid freak out of soloing with DeJohnette working those sticks like a man on speed-dial.

The album in its various forms has always been a celebrated collector's item on vinyl. Beat Goes On is to be congratulated for making the CD variant available again and in such beautiful audio style...

"In Philadelphia/Don't Knock My Love" by WILSON PICKETT (2016 Edsel CD Remasters Plus 17 Bonuses - Vol. 5 of 5)

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

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"...Fire And Water..." 

England's Edsel Records are no strangers to Soul-reissues. Across the decades they've touched on major retrospectives for Philadelphia International (O'Jays, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes), Holland-Dozier-Holland's HDH Label and Invictus Records (Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne and The Glass House) as well as anthologies for Ann Peebles, The Chi-Lites and Al Green covering their Hi Records label output.

For 2016 - our Demon Group heroes are tackling the whole of Wilson Pickett's ten-album stay between 1964 and 1972 at the legendary Atlantic Records. This fifth and final '2on1' set issued 26 November 2016 in the UK (see full list below) deals with his ninth and tenth studio LPs from 1970 and 1971 and comes bolstered up with a huge seventeen Bonus Tracks on 2CDs.

Across these five digipak-releases (three come with extras – the 1st, 4th and 5th) - you also get exclusive single mixes and many unreleased tracks formerly only available on 2009's "Funky Midnight Mover..." – a 6CD mail-order set from Rhino Handmade – an item that is now long deleted and extremely pricey into the bargain. The booklets also feature new liner notes from noted Soul writer and uber-fan Tony Rounce.

Here are the details for Alabama's finest Midnight Mover...

UK released 26 November 2016 (2 December 2016 in the USA) – "In Philadelphia/Don't Knock My Love" by WILSON PICKETT on Edsel EDSK 7122 (Barcode 740155711238) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 2CDs plus Seventeen Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (63:52 minutes):

1. Run Joey Run

2. Help The Needy

3. Come Right Here

4. Bumble Bee (Sting Me)

5. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You

6. Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number Nine [Side 2]

7. Days Go By

8. International Playboy

9. Ain’t No Doubt About It

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 9th studio album "Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia" - released September 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8270 (Stereo Only) and April 1971 in the UK (with the same tracks) as "Engine No. 9" on Atlantic 2400 026 (Stereo Only).

BONUS TRACKS:

10. International Playboy (Remix)

Track 10 is the A-side of Atlantic 45-2961 – a US 7" single from 1973

11. Pray For The Rain

12. Let It Come Naturally

Tracks 11 and 12 are from "Funky Midnight Mover: The Atlantic Studio Recordings (1962-1978)" released 2009 in the USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 07753

13. Funky Broadway (Live In Ghana)

14. Land Of 1000 Dances (Live in Ghana)

Tracks 13 and 14 are from the Various Artists LP "Soul To Soul – Music from The Original Soundtrack Recorded Live In Ghana, West Africa" on Atlantic SD 7207

15. Un' Avventura

Track 15 is the A-side of a 1969 Italian-only 7" single on Atlantic ATL NP 03097

16. Heaven

17. Can't Stop A Man In Love

Tracks 16 and 17 are from "Funky Midnight Mover: The Atlantic Studio Recordings (1962-1978)" released 2009 in the USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 07753

18. One Step Away

19. Funk Factory

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a 1972 US 7” single on Atlantic 45-2878

Disc 2 (68:44 minutes):

1. Fire And Water

2. (Your Love Has Brought Me) A Mighty Long Way

3. Covering The Same Old Ground

4. Don't Knock My Love (Part 1)

5. Don't Knock My Love (Part 2)

6. Call My Name, I’ll Be There

7. Hot Love

8. Not Enough Love To Satisfy

9. You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

10. Pledging My Love

11. Mama Told Me Not To Come

12. Woman Let Me Be Down Home

Tracks 1 to 12 are his 10th studio album "Don't Knock My Love" - released December 1971 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8300 and January 1972 in the UK on Atlantic K 40319.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Don't Knock My Love (Part 2) Single Version - 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2797, B-side

14. If You Need Me (Remake)

15. Don't Forget The Bridge

16. Rock Of Ages

17. Many Roads To Travel

18. Hope She'll Be Happier

19. Believe I'll Shout

Tracks 14 to 19 are from "Funky Midnight Mover: The Atlantic Studio Recordings (1962-1978)" released 2009 in the USA on Rhino Handmade RHM2 07753 - Track 15 mistaken credited as Atlantic 45-2909

Each of these five card digipaks comes in a gatefold with Volume 5 being the only double-disc issue. Like the four others it sports a comprehensive 16-page booklet in the left flap with new liner notes from legendary Soul writer TONY ROUNCE – a man whose name has graced literally hundreds of quality CD reissues. He goes into all the chart statistics for 1970 and 1971 - his Gamble & Huff project "In Philadelphia" with the second LP embracing Rock artists like Free and Randy Newman - the concert at Accra in Ghana that resulted in the "Soul To Soul" Soundtrack LP in 1972 (Atlantic SD 7207) – his progression to RCA Records and recording at Muscle Shoals and finally to Little Richard attending his funeral in 2006 paying homage in his sermon to one of the Soul greats. Mastered by PHIL KINRADE – the tracks are licensed from Warners and are therefore the US 1996 Rhino versions of old and those 2009 Rhino Handmade rarities – full and punchy Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch CD Remasters from original tapes.

The "Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia" LP (called "Engine No. 9" in the UK after the song became a hit) is dominated by two song writing forces – Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and a team of four other staff writers which included Bunny Sigler. Gamble & Huff threw three tunes into the ring – the opener "Run Joey Run", the two-parter single and hooky-as-Hell Bobby Eli guitar-fuzz of "Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number Nine" (a No. 3 R&B hit in October 1970 for Pickett on Atlantic 45-2765) and the final LP cut "Ain’t No Doubt About It" – a mid-tempo stroller with choppy keyboards and sweet brass accompaniment (could even have been another 45). Bunny Sigler had his hands in the melodrama of "Days Go By", the don’t worry baby pluck of "Come Right Here" (used as B-side to "International Playboy" in May 1973 on Atlantic 45-2961) and one the album’s genuine gems - "Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You" – co-written with John Bellmon, Reginald Turner and Jerry Akines who also contributed "Bumble Bee (Sting Me)". The LP peaked at a respectable No. 12 on the US R&B charts with Atlantic in fact taking advantage of the hits on it and pumping out "The Best Of Wilson Pickett, Vol. II" in May 1971 – rewarded with an even higher No. 8 placing (the last time Pickett would break the Top 10).

As you can imagine - the Bonus Tracks are a mixed bag of killer vs. throwaway. It’s not surprising that Atlantic returned to the catchy legend-in-my-own-time "International Playboy" song in 1973 with a remix where Wilson lists ladies in Rome and New Orleans all too willing to cook more than egg fu yung for the Wicked Alabama lad (one of the Bonus Tracks on CD1). It’s very cool to hear the band count-in "Pray For The Rain" (one of the 6CD Rhino Handmade outtakes) but the vocal never quite takes off – better is the six-minutes of "Heaven" – all strings and ‘reach out and touch me’ lyrics. Sung half in Italian and the rest in English "Un Avventura" is clearly dubbed off a disc and is a weird hybrid that’s interesting but not much else. "Can’t Stop A Man In Love" dates from 23 Feb 1972 and is excellent. But best is the non-album track "Funk Factory" that was paired with the ballad "One Step Away" on Atlantic 45-2878 – a No. 11 R&B hit in June 1972. "Funk Factory" is a truly great Pickett groove co-written by him with Brad Shapiro and Luther Dixon – ending Disc 1 on a bit of a high.

You would think with three singles off the "Don’t Knock My Love" LP – one of which was the huge title track and another US No. 1 R&B hit – that the album would have charted higher than No. 23 - but it didn’t - a sign of things to come. Like many of the smarter players of the day Wilson Pickett was quick to take on board Rock acts whose music had a swing and swagger suited to Soul - here he tackles Free by doing "Fire and Water" from their 1970 Island Records LP of the same name and Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" which had become a No. 1 rock hit for Three Dog Night. He then mixed these with Brad Shapiro songs like "Call My Name, I'll Be There", "Hot Love" and the huge title track - a co-write on Part 1 with WP. There's even a hint of Area Code 615 and Paul Butterfield in the harmonica-driven "(Your Love Has Brought Me) A Mighty Long Way" - a fantastic brassy groover that follows perfectly after "Fire And Water" (a Jack Avery, Earl Simms and Carlton McWilliams song itself covered by Bonnie Bramlett in 1975 on her "It’s Time" LP on Capricorn Records). This sexy little beast then segues into a set of strings that introduce the ballad "Covering The Same Old Ground" - a George Jackson song Atlantic used as the B-side to the November 1972 US single for "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)". The audio on this is gorgeous - full of warmth and even though the strings and girls threaten to drown the whole thing on occasion - Wilson howls his heart out and saves the day.

Edsel's decision to not separate the segue continues with the two-part title track which applies also to the lesser and ever so slightly hammy "Call My Name, I'll Be There". Another of the album's cool cuts is the fuzzed-up guitar of "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover" - a song with a Stevie Wonder writing credit. The Johnny Ace standard "Pledging My Love" was the B-side to "Fire And Water" which made R&B No. 2 in January 1972 on Atlantic 45-2852. It ends on another B-side with the funky potential of being an A - "Woman Let Me Be Down Home" which Atlantic used as the flipside to "Call My Name, I’ll Be There" on Atlantic 45-2824 in August 1971. Wilson lists off his country-boy complaints – his woman constantly telling him what to do, say and wear (oh dear).

Collectors are going to love the sheer in-yer-face fuzzed-up funkiness of "Don’t Knock My Love, Pt. 2" in Mono (one of the Bonus Tracks) coming on like a mash-up between a James Brown/Chi-Lites/Sly Stone instrumental – what a Funky Winner! Of the 1971 and 1972 unreleased recordings – and even though the vocal is not quite right - I like the mellow cover of Bill Withers track "Hope She’ll Be Happier" where the highly-polished acoustic guitars and piano make it feel more Carole King "Tapestry" than "Don’t Knock My Love". And the Wilson-penned Jesus song "Rock Of Ages" (another Bonus) is akin to Aretha's passion on the landmark "Amazing Grace" double.

The original Rhino CDs have been deleted for years and the Rhino Handmade set hard to find and liable to make your bang manager nervous – so this pairing of Pickett’s lesser-heard career is a very welcome reissue indeed. From here he would go on to limited success with RCA...

"...Start It off!" - Pickett roars to the band as they kick in with the righteous-groove of "Believe I'll Shout" – a holy-roller funk work out with a driving organ backbeat.

Not everything on these two CDs is unmitigated genius by any stretch – but there are so many great moments like the above that I'm digging it big time. I suggest you dig in too and enjoy the illicit fruit of the wicked man's labours...

Titles in this 26 Nov 2016 Edsel CD Reissue Series for WILSON PICKETT are:

1. In The Midnight Hour/The Exciting Midnight Mover

(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st and 2nd LPs plus Three Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3059 - Barcode 740155505936)

2. The Wicked Pickett/The Sound Of Wilson Pickett

(1966 and 1967 Stereo/Mono 3rd and 4th LPs – no bonus tracks

Edsel EDSA 3060 - Barcode 740155506032)

3. I’m In Love/The Midnight Mover

(1968 for both his 5th and 6th LPs – no bonus tracks

Edsel EDSA 3061 - Barcode 740155506131)

4. Hey Jude/Right On

(1969 and 1970 Stereo 7th & 8th LPs with Three Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3062 - Barcode 740155506230)

5. In Philadelphia/Don’t Knock My Love

(1970 and 1972 9th & 10th Stereo LPs with Seventeen Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7112 - Barcode 740155711238)

Edsel have also touched on PERCY SLEDGE in this series and his stay at Atlantic Records (three digipak CD reissues):

1. When A Man Loves A Woman/Warm & Tender Soul

(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st & 2nd LPs plus Four Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3063 - Barcode 740155506339)

2. The Percy Sledge Way/Take Time To Know Her

(1967 and 1968 Stereo 3rd & 4th LPs with Eight Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7116 - Barcode 740155711634)

3. My Special Prayer/Singles And Rarities

(1970 fifth and final Atlantic LP - along with a compilation of 27 Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7113 - Barcode 740155711337)

-->

"Hey Jude/Right On" by WILSON PICKETT (2016 Edsel CD Remasters with Bonus Tracks - Vol. 4 of 5) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION On CD - Exception Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"...Funky Way..."

England's Edsel Records are no strangers to Soul-reissues. Across the decades they've touched on major retrospectives for Philadelphia International (O'Jays, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes), Holland-Dozier-Holland's HDH Label and Invictus Records (Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne and The Glass House) as well as anthologies for Ann Peebles, The Chi-Lites and Al Green covering their Hi Records label output.

For 2016 - our Demon Group heroes are tackling the whole of Wilson Pickett's ten-album stay between 1964 and 1972 at the legendary Atlantic Records. This fourth of five '2on1' sets issued 26 November 2016 in the UK (see full list below) deals with his seventh and eight studio LPs from 1969 and 1970 and comes bolstered up with three Bonus Tracks and a near 79-minute playing time.

Across these five digipak-releases (three come with extras – the 1st, 4th and 5th) - you also get exclusive single mixes and many unreleased tracks formerly only available on 2009's "Funky Midnight Mover..." – a 6CD mail-order set from Rhino Handmade – an item that is now long deleted and extremely pricey into the bargain. The booklets also feature new liner notes from noted Soul writer and uber-fan Tony Rounce.

Here are the details for Alabama's finest Midnight Mover...

UK released 26 November 2016 (2 December 2016 in the USA) – "Hey Jude/Right On" by WILSON PICKETT on Edsel EDSA 3062 (Barcode 740155506230) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus Three Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (78:52 minutes):

1. Save Me

2. Hey Jude

3. Back In Your Arms

4. Toe Hold

5. Night Owl

6. My Own Style Of Loving

7. A Man And A Half [Side 2]

8. Sit Down And Talk This Over

9. Search Your Heart

10. Born To Be Wild

11. People Make The World (What It Is)

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 7th studio album "Hey Jude" - released February 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8215 (Stereo Only) and February 1969 in the UK on 588 170 (Stereo Only).

12. Groovy Little Woman

13. Funky Way

14. Sugar Sugar

15. Sweet Inspiration

16. This Old Town

17. You Keep Me Hangin' On

18. Lord Pity Us All [Side 2]

19. It's Still Good

20. Woman Likes To Hear That

21. She Said Yes

22. Hey Joe

23. Steal Away

Tracks 12 to 23 are his 8th studio album "Right On" - released March 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8250 (Stereo Only) and April 1970 in the UK on Atlantic 2465 002 (Stereo Only).

BONUS TRACKS:

24. Mini Skirt Minnie (March 1969 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2611 - non-album A-side – "Back In Your Arms" from the "Hey Jude" LP was the B)

25. Now You See You, Now You Don't (November 1969 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2682, Non-album B-side to "You Keep Me Hangin' On")

26. Cole, Cooke And Redding (March 1970 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2722 - non-album A-side - "Sugar Sugar" from the "Right On" LP was the B)

Each of these five card digipaks is a gatefold with Volume 3 sporting a comprehensive 16-page booklet in the left flap with new liner notes from legendary Soul writer TONY ROUNCE – a man whose name has graced literally hundreds of quality CD reissues. He goes into all the chart statistics for 1969 and 1970 - the Cold Grits backing band in Miami - and Gregg Allman is pictured smiling at a laughing Pickett on Page 14. They even reproduce the original Enoch Gregory original liner notes for 1969's "Hey Jude" LP – but I'd have to say though that the inner flap and the space beneath the see-through CD tray being 'blank' and the nondescript colouring of the CD itself let the visual side down somewhat (could have been filled out with pictures and black/red label memorabilia). At least the three non-album single sides are both cool and relevant bonuses. Mastered by PHIL KINRADE – the tracks are licensed from Warners and are therefore the 1995 Rhino versions of old – full and punchy Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch CD Remasters from original tapes.

With US R&B chart positions of No. 15 for the "Hey Jude" LP in February 1969 and No. 36 in March 1970 for "Right On" (it barely scraped 197 on the Rock charts) when all his other albums easily made Top Ten before - Pickett's chart light was fading at this stage of his career. Not for the want of good material though or lack of smart cover version choices. Atlantic tried George Jackson's wonderful "A Man A Half" as a 7" single in November 1968 (Atlantic 45-2575) with the future Bobby Womack-penned LP cut ""People Make The World (What It Is)" as its flipside and were rewarded with a modest No. 20 chart position. Realising the world-dominating power of The Beatles Apple Records stuff - Soul acts began falling over themselves to trump-up Soulful takes of there melodies. Some people love Pickett's take on the Apple single "Hey Jude" which Atlantic pushed out late December 1968 with another George Jackson LP song on its B-side "Search Your Heart" - I'm ambivalent towards it. I tried to love a 2016 Ace Records CD called "Let It Be: Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney & Harrison" but I found it only confirmed my long-held suspicion that Soul artists should avoid The Beatles like a plague. The American public however liked it - giving the long and funkified "Hey Jude" a No. 13 placing on the R&B charts.

Better is the forgotten ballad "Back In Your Arms" penned by a trio of Soul songwriting heroes - George Jackson, Raymond Moore and Melvin Leakes - a belter with guitars (Duane Allman), brass and a powerhouse 'wish I was back' vocal performance from the Wicked P. Isaac Hayes and David Porter put up the fabulous Funk of "Toe Hold" - the in-house band digging in (Barry Beckett on piano as Duane gets funky on his axe). Don Covay's "Night Owl" is a return to the 'looky here' blasters of 1966 and 1967 - a huge dancer with Wilson giving it lots of 'uh' grunts as the band grooves like a congregation possessed of the holy Funky spirit. Duane Allman's playing is very forward in the mix of "My Own Style Of Loving" where Wilson tells us that he can't be beat when he comes top lovin' (men come from miles around hoping to get a lesson). And like so many of the previous WP albums I've reviewed - the mighty presence of Bobby Womack enrich proceedings - here it's on the chugger "Sit Down And Talk This Over" and the final LP ballad "People Make The World (What It Is)".

By the time "Right On" was released in March 1970 - Soul had moved away from Pickett's high-octane dancers to a troubled social consciousness with a nasty backbeat - Motown's Norman Whitfield and James Brown singing about inner cities destroyed with Heroin, rat-infested buildings being burned down for insurances scams, young men faced with Vietnam or unemployment. So in some ways "Groovy Little Woman" and "Funky Way" would have suited 1966 and 1967 - but in early 1970 already sound ever so slightly dated and out of place. Jeff Barry and Andy Kim's "Sugar Sugar" doesn't help matters much either - bubblegum Soul. Far better is Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's "Sweet Inspiration" and a song that's more closely associated with The Staple Singers - "This Old Town". A Wilson Pickett, Don Covay and William Stevenson co-write - "This Old Town" is the first time the album deals with the 'no faces' that separate the races and warns you don't have to rob and steal just to survive. Side 2 of "Right On" picks up with George Jackson’s good-advice parable "Woman Likes To Hear That" while the duo of covers are very, very good – Tim Rose's "Hey Joe" (Duane giving it a bit of Psych guitar) and the gospel 'God will make things alright' song "Steal Away" where his vocals are backed up by a foursome of righteous ladies that include Cissy Houston and Judy Clay.

The original Rhino CDs have been deleted for years – so this pairing of Pickett’s lesser-heard career is a very welcome reissue indeed.

"...I like it..." - Pickett sings on the chugging guitar Funk of "It's Still Good" - twinkling off-mike as his cooler-than-cool musical ensemble churns out yet another wicked Soul groove he can wrap his extraordinary voice around. I like it indeed. Dig in and enjoy...

PS: Titles in this 26 Nov 2016 Edsel CD Reissue Series for WILSON PICKETT are:

1. In The Midnight Hour/The Exciting Midnight Mover

(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st and 2nd LPs plus Three Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3059 - Barcode 740155505936)

2. The Wicked Pickett/The Sound Of Wilson Pickett

(1966 and 1967 Stereo/Mono 3rd and 4th LPs – no bonus tracks

Edsel EDSA 3060 - Barcode 740155506032)

3. I’m In Love/The Midnight Mover

(1968 for both his 5th and 6th LPs – no bonus tracks

Edsel EDSA 3061 - Barcode 740155506131)

4. Hey Jude/Right On

(1969 and 1970 Stereo 7th & 8th LPs with Three Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3062 - Barcode 740155506230)

5. In Philadelphia/Don’t Knock My Love

(1970 and 1972 9th & 10th Stereo LPs with Seventeen Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7112 - Barcode 740155711238)

Edsel have also touched on PERCY SLEDGE in this series and his stay at Atlantic Records (three digipak CD reissues):

1. When A Man Loves A Woman/Warm & Tender Soul

(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st & 2nd LPs plus Four Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSA 3063 - Barcode 740155506339)

2. The Percy Sledge Way/Take Time To Know Her

(1967 and 1968 Stereo 3rd & 4th LPs with Eight Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7116 - Barcode 740155711634)

3. My Special Prayer/Singles And Rarities

(1970 fifth and final Atlantic LP - along with a compilation of 27 Bonus Tracks

Edsel EDSK 7113 - Barcode 740155711337)

-->

"Folk Singer: Vol. 1" by WILLIE WATSON (2014 Acony CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Bet On Stewball And You Might Win..."

In the 8-page booklet to the CD "Folk Singer - Vol.1" - there's a black and white photo of WILLIE WATSON sat on a chair by his lonesome - tuning an acoustic guitar in front of a trio of top quality microphones in a large white empty studio space. Also on his chair is a bottle of water to sooth his throat – and little else.

This beautifully produced and crafted solo album is like that - most tracks with just the acoustic guitar or his chosen instrument of poison - the banjo. His voice sails out your speakers like the son of Hank Williams reborn - like Bob Dylan mated with Emmylou Harris and produced a bawler. Willie Watson's voice is fabulous - full of Americana - full of that Mickey Newbury, Tim Buckley, Tim Rose wanderlust ache.

Formerly with Nashville's OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – a very Country outfit who mixed the Grand Ole Opry tradition with 00's Americana - for his debut solo album Willie Watson's 10-song choice of the known and unknown is thrilling. There's no embellishment of any kind on the tracks - just him and the guitar or the banjo - and of course how he arranges the melodies (we get the luxury of a harmonica on "James Alley Blues").

1. Midnight Special

2. Long John Dream

3. Stewball

4. Mother Earth

5. Mexican Cowboy

6. James Alley Blues

7. Rock, Salt And Nails

8. Bring It With You When You Come

9. Kitty Puss

10. Keep It Clean

"Folk Singer - Vol.1" by WILLIE WATSON was US released May 2014 on Acony ANCY-1411 (Barcode 805147141124).

Produced by David Rawlings (Gillian Welch is Associate producer) and mastered by Stephen Marcussen who did the 2009 Rolling Stones Remasters of their catalogue from "Sticky Fingers" onwards) - this CD sounds glorious - warm - full of presence and life - but never ever overdone. Stripped down - the music is peaceful on your head and enriching for your soul and as close to Audio perfection as I’ve ever heard.

Proceedings open with a cover of the Traditional "Midnight Special" - a song that's been done by everyone from Big Joe Turner on Atlantic Records in the 50s to Creedence Clearwater Revival on Fantasy in the 60ts. Other highlights include a superb swinging version of Leadbelly’s "Stewball" - a song about an 18th century Irish racehorse who ran in England with an alarming knack of winning. I love the Jo Ann Kelly lonesome vibe of "Mother Earth" - a Memphis Slim cover done on Guitar as Watson sounds like Dylan circa '69 ("...when it all ends up...you got to go back to mother earth...").

Written by Richard 'Rabbit' Brown - "James Alley Blues" feels like Watson has discovered his inner Bruce Springsteen and especially the bare bones "Nebraska". Thinking he's a sappy country fool - he moans of woman's ways as "...she wants to hitch me to a wagon and drive me like a mule..." just before he delivers a harmonica solo that would make the new Nobel Prize Winner for Literature flinch with envy (go Bob). I first heard the gorgeous ache of "Rock, Salt & Nails" through John Martyn who does a stunning version of it on his "No Little Boy" CD compilation of 1993 on Permanent Records (a duet with Levon Helm of The Band on vocals). Here Watson strips the song right down to just his voice and an acoustic guitar giving a beautiful and lonesome result that makes you concentrate on the 'high bushy' lyrics.

Gus Cannon penned "Bring It With You When You Come" with his Jug Stompers way back in 1930 - a freight train song that’s been subsequently covered by luminaries like David Bromberg and The Siegal-Schwall Band. "Kitty Puss" is a kid's song by the obscure and forgotten Land Norris - a banjo-player from Georgia who made records in the early 1920s. The album ends on a Charley Jordan Blues cover - "Keep It Clean" - which could be saucy - or just a ditty about Coca-Cola.

Simple - sweet - good for you - and apart from the rather naff-looking artwork and simplistic title - I love it to bits. Investigate right soon...