"Nuthin' Fancy" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD (1999 MCA 'Expanded Edition' CD - Doug Schwartz Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Mister Saturday Night Special..."

I can recall that at the time Lynyrd Skynyrd's 3rd studio album "Nuthin' Fancy" was greeted with favourable press reviews all round (Billboard called it their best and most mature work) - but after the absolute Southern Rock 'Sounds Of The South' highs of "Pronounced" in 1973 and especially 1974's brilliant "Second Helping" - fans initially felt the new album was a let down.

On first listen it wasn't as immediate as the previous two - lacked that first-flush sparkle (years honing the material) and had that very obvious hurried done-on-the-hoof feel with an equally humdrum front sleeve and screw you message on the rear (Keyboard Player Billy Powell giving two fingers to the camera). A body might have gotten the impression that Alabama's finest triple-guitar band really didn't give a skunk's turd for what was on the record and were already showing signs of being burnt out after years of relentless touring. As Ron O'Brien's superb liner notes tell us - "Nuthin' Fancy" initially charted big at No. 9 with a bullet (went Gold) but had no legs and left the charts a mere 20 weeks later. After the top-ten 7" single peak of "Sweet Home Alabama" at No. 8 the year prior - the album's lone 45 "Saturday Night Special" stalled at No. 23 Stateside in July and didn't chart at all in the UK. By autumn 1975 the LP was all but forgotten and only years later became a permanent bargain bin fodder item in secondhand record shops everywhere…

But time and fans have warmed to this 'unadorned' little gem – this simple man and his stories LP - and I personally prefer it to the over-praised debut with "Freebird" (a sacrilegious and scurrilous statement I know). It also helps that Doug Schwartz's 1999 CD Remaster is just right - punchy and alive – and beautifully clear without ever being overdone or over trebled. Here are the Made In The Shade details...

UK released November 1999 (August 1999 in the USA) - "Nuthin' Fancy" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD on MCA 112 024-2 (Barcode 008811202422) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 3rd album from 1975 with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (49:12 minutes):

1. Saturday Night Special

2. Cheatin' Woman

3. Railroad Song

4. I'm A Country Boy

5. On The Hunt [Side 2]

6. Am I Losin'

7. Made In The Shade

8. Whiskey Rock-A Roller

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "Nuthin' Fancy" - released 24 March 1975 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-2137 and May 1975 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 2700. Produced by AL KOOPER - the LP peaked at No. 9 and No. 43 in the US and UK album charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Railroad Song (Live)

10. On The Hunt (Live)

Tracks 9 and 10 are Previously Unreleased - recorded 27 April 1975 live at Bill Graham's Winterland in San Francisco, California

LYNYRD SKYNYRD were:

RONNIE VAN ZANT - Lead Vocals, Lyrics and More

ED KING - Lead Guitars (Fender Stratocaster and Gibson SG)

ALLEN COLLINS - Guitars (Gibson Firebird) and Backing Vocals

GARY ROSSINGTON - Lead Guitar (Gibson Les Paul)

BILLY POWELL - Keyboards

LEON WILKESON - Bass (Fender) and Backing Vocals on "Saturday Night Special", "Railroad Song" and "I'm A Country Boy"

ARTIMUS PYLE - Drums and Percussion

GUESTS:

AL KOOPER - Keyboards, Backing Vocals and Percussion

Moog Synths on "Saturday Night Special", Organ on "Cheatin' Woman" and Piano on "Made In The Shade"

Backing Vocals on "Railroad Song", "Am I Losin' and "Whiskey Rock-A Roller"

Percussion on "I'm A Country Boy"

JIMMY HALL - Harmonica on "Railroad Song" and "Made In The Shade"

BARRY HARWOOD - Mandolins & Dobro on "Made In The Shade"

DAVID FOSTER - Backing Vocals on "Whiskey Rock-A Roller"

The 12-page booklet is nicely laid out - very in-depth and accurate liner notes and photo contributions from RON O'BRIEN - the usual reissue credits (good names like Andy McKaie and Beth Stempel coordinated the reissue) - but it drops the ball just a little. Fans will know that American copies of the LP had an inner sleeve with a photo-collage on one side and lyrics/credits on the other (British issues had an insert with the same). The photos turn up on Page 3 but the lyrics are AWOL - a bit of a dumb oversight really and especially on an album where the songs are so Van Zant personal. And frankly the two supposed Bonus Tracks feel very substandard to me in audio quality despite being recorded literally one month after the LP's release and Ronnie's praise of the Bill Graham audience. But all of that goes out the window when you return to the music of the album proper - now fitted out with wickedly good new audio courtesy of restoration and transfer from DOUG SCHWARTZ (he did two of the huge Stax Box Sets and a lot of work for Capitol Records).

"Saturday Night Special" was recorded April 1974 and was the only song in the can for the new LP – so the other seven had to be written as the band arrived in the studio in January 1975 – only days after a near yearlong touring gruel. "Saturday..." kicks off the album in high boozy bar-brawlin' style – a hooky riff with that distinctive Lynyrd Skynyrd sound. "Cheatin' Woman" is the first of the new stuff and is the kind of LP nugget that gets overlooked – a fabulous slinky guitar groove anchored but a superb Al Kooper keyboard funk as Ronnie gets all angst-in-his-pants about his woman's less than angelic ways. Jimmy Hall gives it some Harmonica as "Railroad Song" chugs into life like a freight train carrying our hero – cold, tired and dirty – a hobo being run out of town by the hoi polloi of Hicksville who want their town respectable. Ronnie rages against concrete in "I'm A Country Boy" song - and as he sings "...Big city town don't bother me...don't like smoke chokin' up my head..." - it goes into a very cool middle eight.

Side 2 opens with another rocker - the attacking guitar riffage of "On The Hunt" - and again the Remaster is amazing - the band sounding like Free at their Seventies best. The Acoustic Rock of "Am I Losin'" is a 'drinking wine with one of my friends' song and feels very "Mardi Gras" Creedence in its style and longing. The coke-crates Jug Band Americana sound to "Made In The Shade" is deliberate and works so well. "Whiskey Rock-A Roller" is just a good old boys raunch - the kind of 'suitcase by my side' boogie tune Lynyrd Skynyrd gargled for breakfast.

It's funny how some albums grow into something great despite the circumstance that surrounded their making. It's said the band thought "Nuthin' Fancy" only 'ok' - lacklustre even compared to what had gone before. But fans have taken its warm-hearted personality and simplicity to heart and over the decades it’s become the fave for many. And on this cool sounding Remaster - it's easy to hear why...

"Leon Russell" by LEON RUSSELL (1995 The Right Stuff CD Reissue - Steve Hoffman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...He Sang A Dixie Lullaby..." 

Oklahoma's Claude Russell Bridges (Leon Russell to you and I) had already built up enough insider clout as a jobbing musician (stints with Phil Spector, The Byrds, Delaney and Bramlett, Ron Davies and Joe Cocker's first two LPs on Regal Zonophone) to form Shelter Records in 1970 with Producer Phil Cordell and use that platform to launch his own self-titled debut LP.

This beautifully-transferred 1995 CD Remaster from America's 'The Right Stuff' label is a cheap but audiophile-sounding Reissue of that mighty beginning. And with Leon Russell's sad loss in November 2016 aged 74 – I think it's high time we revisited this blindingly good debut and tip our collective fedoras to the original Big Top Hat songwriter beloved of so many in and out of the music business. Here are the Delta Ladies...

US released 4 July 1995 - "Leon Russell" by LEON RUSSELL on The Right Stuff T2-34028 (Barcode 724383402823) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the original 12-track version of his 1970 debut LP and plays out as follows (38:55 minutes):

1. A Song For You
2. Dixie Lullaby
3. I Put A Spell On You
4. Shoot Out On The Plantation
5. Hummingbird
6. Delta Lady [Side 2]
7. Prince Of Peace
8. Give Peace A Chance
9. Pisces Apple Lady
11. Roll Away The Stone

BONUS TRACK:
12. Masters Of War (Old Masters)
All songs are Leon Russell originals except "Old Masters" which is "Masters Of War" by Bob Dylan. "Dixie Lullaby" is a co-write with Christ Stainton of The Grease Band and Boxer, "Prince Of Peace" and "Roll Away The Stone" are co-writes with Greg Dempsey and "Give Peace A Chance" is a co-write with Bonnie Bramlett.

First thing you notice is that the rear sleeve credits "Masters Of War (Old Masters)" as a 'Bonus Track' - which is both right and wrong and needs some explanation. Recorded across five sessions stretching between September 1969 and January 1970 - original pressings of the "Leon Russell" LP hit US shops 23 March 1970 on Shelter SHE 1001. American First-Issue 'Monarch Pressings' and British A&M issues (June 1970 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 935) had 12-tracks - 5 on Side 1 and 7 on Side 2. But later reissues on Shelter SHE 8901 (probably pressed around Autumn 1970) had only 11 tracks - withdrawing the 1:20 minutes of Bob Dylan's "Old Masters" originally slotted in-between "Prince Of Peace" and "Give Peace A Chance" as Track 3 on Side 2. The album stayed as an 11-track version thereafter. It's said that because Russell did the short Dylan cover in the style of the American Star-Spangled Banner - it caused offence in certain quarters and was given the axe. Hence TRS can technically call it a Bonus Track.

The 8-leaf foldout inlay with liner notes from TODD EVERETT gives us a good overview of his career and the formation of the album (the LPs artwork isn't here as its single sleeve wasn't much to look at in the first place) - but it's the sound that's the star here. Originally produced by PHIL CORDELL and GLYN JOHNS – this STEVE HOFFMAN Remaster uses the original Shelter Master Mixes and has done this largely forgotten beginning a proper solid. The sound is gorgeous…warm and clear and none too pushed…lovely…

Even though there are no official musician credits on the LP (Russell dedicated the music on the rear sleeve to members of The Beatles, The Stones and many others) time has unfolded a huge uncredited array of stellar performers including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Delaney Bramlett on Guitars – Steve Winwood and Chris Stainton on Keyboards – Jim Horn on Saxophone – Klaus Voorman, Alan Spenner and Bill Wyman on Bass – Buddy Harman, Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, BJ Wilson and Jim Gordon on Drums with Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger, Bonnie Bramlett and Merry Clayton on Vocals. Although no one seems to know who plays on what track – it’s a line-up most debut artists would gladly lose a limb for.

The LP first hit the US charts 11 April 1970 eventually rising to No. 60 with a stay of 18 weeks. His connections with Joe Cocker's Grease Band and the live extravaganza of "Mad Dogs And Englishmen" had served Russell well. Cocker took the then unrecorded Leon Russell "Delta Lady" composition and made a UK No. 10 hit out of it in September 1969 (Regal Zonophone RZ 3024) - even making something of a splash Stateside on the singles chart at a lesser No. 69. Leon does his own version here - and cool it is too – funking it up even more. The other two winners on the album picked up by other bands and singers in their droves are "A Song For You" and "Hummingbird". It’s said that as many as 100 artists have covered "A Song For You" in every genre - Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin in Soul with The Carpenters, Willie Nelson and Simply Red to name but a few in Easy Listening, Country and Rock. Blues giant B.B. King had a Rock-Blues hit with "Hummingbird" taken from his superb 1970 LP "Indiana Mississippi Seeds” on which Russell plays with Carole King and Joe Walsh (see separate review) and the covers of the song go right up to Bonnie Prince Billy in 2012.

A co-write with Christ Stainton of The Grease Band - "Dixie Lullaby" opens with a Dylan-like Harmonica intro before the band gets all Little Feat Dixie Chicken funky on this tune about penniless Willie down on Beale Street smiling as he sings his tunes. There's messing around at the beginning of the reluctant bachelor song "I Put A Spell On You" with studio stops and starts - but when the song does kick in - you can feel that good-ole-boy Lynyrd Skynyrd vibe as the band takes off - Derek & The Dominoes type lead guitar backed up by righteous tambourine slapping ladies and a furious piano speed from Russell  ("...come quickly mama...") Apparently based on a true story of two men (Junior and the Drummer) fighting over a woman - "Shoot Out On The Plantation" is a "Watching The River Flow" rocker. His much-covered "Hummingbird" starts out as Funky Acoustic ditty but quickly settles into a lovely melody - his lady soothing - gets him where he lives - the audio on this baby is fabulous.

Over on Side 2 "Prince Of Peace" (not the Lennon song) is given a 'huge' Production - the boogieing guitars leaping out of your speakers accompanied by those complimentary backing singers - a sound that's akin to the Derek & The Dominoes "Layla" double (also from 1970). The 1:21 minutes of "Old Masters" is Bob Dylan's "Masters Of War" done on a lone piano to the melody of the Star Spangled Banner is a genuine unnerving oddity as he sings "...I can see through your mask..." You can so hear the fab rasp of Bonnie Bramlett on "Give Peace A Chance" which feels like a Hair rave up as loads of voices get all holy-roller, piano-banging, hand-clapping righteous about 'peace'. The gorgeous audio transfer continues on a crystal clear "Hurtsome Body" - a massive guitar rocker with a sound akin to Bobby Whitlock's debut LP. "Pisces Apple Lady" would be covered by England's Tucky Buzzard on their self-titled second LP "Tucky Buzzard" in June 1971 on Capitol Records - a jerk-funky little bopper about English gals that would equally have been at home on Little Feat's "Sailin' Shoes". It ends on the rollicking piano-boogie of "Roll Away The Stone" which bears a striking resemblance to the Mott The Hoople hit of same-name three years later in 1973 (naughty Ian).

Russell would follow his Shelter Records American debut LP with "Leon Russell And The Shelter People" in May 1971, "Carney" in July 1972 and the triple "Leon Live" in July 1973 - all of which charted well (Right Stuff have also reissued "Shelter People" and "Carney" with Steve Hoffman Remasters). But there's just something a bit special about this celebratory and raucous beginning. 

"...That Louisiana man's gonna get you yet with his Dixie lullaby..." – Leon Russell sang on the jaunty "Dixie Lullaby". Let him in and get to you...

"Who's next: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO (April 2003 MCA/Chronicles 2CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Sing My Song Out To The Infinite Sea…"

I can remember as a teenager seeing the album cover to "Who's Next" in a record shop on Talbot Street in Dublin in the late summer of 1971. I laughed out loud. There was our favourite Rock Reprobates pissing up against a concrete monolith in the middle of some slag heap somewhere (only The Who!) I knew I had to own it. And like so many other fans of Seventies Classic Rock - I've been in love with this deceptively deep album for over 40 years - to a point where I've something like 7 different pressings of it on vinyl alone.

Which brings us by swift of shore and bend of bay to this fabulous 2CD DELUXE EDITION celebration of "Who's Next" - which only makes me want to wee-wee my initials on even bigger walls. So here are the new bosses, marital bargains and the Baba O'Riley behind those blue eyes...

UK released April 2003 - "Who's Next: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO on MCA/Chronicles 088 113 056-2 (Barcode 008811305628) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (79:30 minutes):

1. Baba O'Riley

2. Bargain

3. Love Ain't For Keeping

4. My Wife

5. The Song Is Over

6. Getting In Tune [Side 2]

7. Gong Mobile

8. Behind Blue Eyes

9. Won't Get Fooled Again

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Who's Next" - their 6th album released August 1971 in the UK on Track Records 2408 102 and Decca DL 79182 in the USA (CD Disc 1 uses the Track logo while Disc 2 uses Decca)

NEW YORK RECORD PLANT SESSIONS - BONUS TRACKS

10. Baby Don't You Do It

A band fave - a cover version of Marvin Gaye's Tamla Hit recorded 16 March 1971 with LESLIE WEST of MOUNTAIN guesting on Guitar - runs to 8:20 minutes

11. Getting in Tune [Previously Unreleased Alternate Version]

12. Pure And Easy

The 'Original Version' recorded 17 and 18 March 1971. A later different version turned up on the 1974 compilation LP "Odds And Sods"

13. Love Ain't For Keeping [Alternate Version recorded 17 March 1971. First appearance was on the extended CD of "Odds And Sods" in 1998

14. Behind Blue Eyes - this 'Original Version' recorded 17 and 18 March 1971 features AL KOOPER on Organ

15. Won't Get Fooled Again [Previously Unreleased] - an early version of the full album version at 8:46 minutes - it features a different synth pattern to the released version

Disc 2 (74:51 minutes):

1. Love Ain't For Keeping

2. Pure And Easy

3. Young Man Blues

4. Time Is Passing

5. Behind Blue Eyes

6. I Don't Even Know Myself

7. Too Much Of Anything

8. Getting in Tune

9. Bargain

10. Water

11. My Generation

12. Road Runner

13. Naked Eye

14. Won't Get Fooled Again

Tracks 1 to 14 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED except for "Naked Eye" which appeared on the 1974 compilation LP "Odds And Sods". All tracks were recorded live 26 April 1971 in front of an invited audience at The Young Vic Theatre in South London. "Young Man Blues" and "Road Runner" are Mose Allison and Bo Diddley cover versions. "I Don't Even Know Myself" turned up in studio form as the non-album B-side to the UK and US 7" single edit of "Won't Get Fooled Again". A studio version of "Water" was eventually released as the non-album B-side to the "Quadrophenia" single "5:15".

The oversized 28-page booklet has an introduction from Pete Townshend about his beloved "Lifehouse" project that eventually became the album, a poster from their concert at London's Rainbow Theatre, period photos of the band in full on-stage flight, an in-depth history by Who expert JOHN ATKINS, track-by-track details and even a photo of KEITH MOON in ladies underwear (an alternate album cover). ANDY MacPHERSON and JON ASTLEY have carried out the remixes and remasters at Close To The Edge and they rock - full of muscle - perfectly capturing the sheer sonic power of the band. Two examples of where this is most evident is the amazing rocking work outs of "Baby Don't You Do It" on Disc 1 and "Water (Live)" on Disc 2 - wow!

While plaudits always go to the cool "Baba O'Riley" opener on Side 1 bookended by the monster Who anthem "Won't Get Fooled Again" playing out Side 2 - I've always loved those album tracks in-between. "Love Ain't For Keeping" and "The Song Is Over" both showed the depth of Townshend's writing and Roger Daltrey's raspy vocals. That same Rock soulfulness permeates both "Getting In Tune" and the ache/anger that runs through "Behind Blue Eyes". And the brass break in John Entwistle's acidic "My Wife" still kicks you in the teeth. Can't really resist the "beep beep!" and brilliant treated guitar on "Going Mobile" either - what an album.

The Live Disc opens with an incendiary take of "Love Ain't For Keeping" with the band sounding confident - ripping into great new material. I like the plaintive "Too Much Of Anything" which features NICKY HOPKINS on piano and the jangly "Naked Eye". It ends on a barnstorming "Won't Get Fooled Again" with the audience left in shock and awe.

"I sing my heart out to the infinite sea..." - Roger Daltrey wails on "The Song Is Over". There's a scene in "The Greater Fool" - Episode 10 in Series One of Aaron Sorkin's brilliant TV Show "The Newsroom". I wrote about it in a book of poems I put out this year called "My Broken Heart (75 Days In The NHS)" about a Quad Bypass I had that took a tad longer than I would have liked. The News Anchorman Will McAvoy (played brilliantly by Jeff Daniels) has tried to commit suicide after a public drubbing and a series of bad events - and he's laid low in a hospital. But his crew from the TV station are with him trying to talk him back to work to report on a story of the Democrats shafting elderly voters out of their voting rights by using 'voter fraud' as an excuse. The opening chords and riff of "Baba O'Riley" by THE WHO begins to play in the background - Will leaps out bed - gotta go back to work - gotta report on this...he's back. I cried my sappy Irish eyes out in my own side room in Whipps Cross Hospital. What other band can elicit this? When you're back's against the wall - can you always rely on The Who?

What is it about this Rock Band that makes so many of us weak at the knees? The sheer British balls-to-the-wall of it all - the life force coursing through their tunes - or is it the uplifting centre that brings you back - again and again. I don't know - but God bless 'em anyway. And here's to 40 more years of naughty boys whizzing all over public structures in our politically correct straightjacket world...

PS: you should buy this reissue...

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"My Generation: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO (2002 MCA/Chronicles/Universal 2CD Reissue – Eric Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Talking About…My Generation..."

'Explosive Debut' is the kind of buzz phrase that gets bandied about a lot in the Music Industry – as does the tag 'Bad Boys of Rock'. But one look at this group of terribly nice, well-groomed and exquisitely well-mannerly British youths – and you just know you should lock up your virginal daughters and padlock the drinks cabinet.

Even now – from the safe distance of nearly 50 years – The Who’s debut sounds snotty and wild – like it’s going to use a Royal Corgi for bow and arrow target practice. And that’s before we even talk about Keith Moon. It’s fabulous stuff. Here are the Union Jack Blazers and the Swinging Fa-Fa-Fa-Fade Away Microphones…

Released September 2002 (reissued 2012) – "My Generation: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO on MCA/Chronicles/Universal 088 112 926-2 (Barcode 008811292621) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 – The Original Album in Stereo - 50:23 minutes:

1. Out In The Street

2. I Don’t Mind

3. The Good’s Gone

4. La-La-La Lies

5. Much Too Much

6. My Generation

7. The Kids Are Alright

8. Please, Please, Please

9. It’s Not True

10. I’m A Man

11. A Legal Matter

12. The Ox

13. Circles

The UK album was issued 3 December 1965 in MONO only on Brunswick LAT 8616 (Tracks 1 to 12 above). The American version was released 25 April 1966 entitled “The Who Sings My Generation” on both Decca DL 4664 (Mono) and Decca DL7-4664 (Stereo). To sequence the US STEREO album use tracks 1 to 9 and 11 to 13. Note: only the STEREO mix is provided.

BONUS TRACKS (Stereo)

14. I Can’t Explain

15. Bald Headed Woman (14 and 15 are the A&B-sides of a UK 7” single released 15 January 1965 on Brunswick 05926 and USA 7” single released 13 February 1965 on Decca 31725). Both tracks feature THE IVY LEAGUE on Backing Vocals while “I Can’t Explain” only features PERRY FORD on Piano and JIMMY PAGE on Guitar.

NICKY HOPKINS plays piano on all tracks except “I Can’t Explain”

16. Daddy Rolling Stone (non-album track, B-side to the UK 7” single of “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” released 21 May 1965 on Brunswick 05935)

Disc 2 ADDITIONAL BONUS TRACKS – 65:23 minutes:

1. Leaving Here (Alternate)

2. Lubie (Come Back Home)

3. Shout And Shimmy (non-album track, B-side to the UK 7” single “My Generation” released 29 October 1965 on Brunswick 05944)

4. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

5. Motoring

6. Anytime You Want Me (non-album track, B-side of the US 7” single “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” released 5 June 1965 on Decca 31801)

7. Anyhow, Anywhere, Anyway (Alternate)

8. Instant Party Mixture

9. I Don’t Mind (Full Length Version)

10. The Good’s Gone (Full Length Version – 4:30 minutes, original 4:00 minutes)

11. My Generation (Instrumental Version)

12. Anytime You Want Me (A Cappella Version)

MONAURAL VERSIONS WITH GUITAR OVERDUBS

13. A Legal Matter

14. My Generation

Tracks 1 and 8 to 12 are Previously Unreleased, 7 is Previously Unreleased in the USA (only available on a French EP)

The outer plastic slipcase has the track titles on the rear and it houses a four-way foldout digipak with the artwork for the US Decca Records cover on the inner flaps (the British sleeve is used on the front). Beneath each see-through tray are those elusive I.B.C Sound Recording Studios tape boxes dated 13 October 1965 (nice). The oversized 28-page booklet inside the right flap features three histories of what happened – first by MIKE SHAW their first Production Manager – then SHEL TALMY the Producer of the “My Generation” Sessions and finally an appraisal called “About My Generation” by ANDY NEILL. There are a few Decca Adverts for American 45s, great live photos of the band in full microphone swing as well as extensive reissue credits.

But the big news (for British fans in particular) is the STEREO versions – available for the first time in decades after protracted legal hassles (resolved for this reissue). Remixed by Shel Talmy (the original Producer) and Universal’s Andy McKaie from the original three-track master tapes - the overall remaster has been carried out by one of Universals most trusted and respected engineers – ERICK LABSON. And what a stonking audio marvel all three have produced. This thing rocks - with the instruments and vocals as clear as you could ever hope for. There’s no doubt it might have been smarter (and more accurate) to include the MONO mix of the album – and even the MONO singles surrounding it – but what is here is superb. 

The opening treated guitar and growling Roger Daltrey vocals of “Out In The Street” come as something of a shock having heard them in Mono for so long. But it’s not until you get to the superb “The Good’s Gone” that it all comes together – the fabulous remaster making each instrument stand out in a song that has the real menace of The Who. The Acapella beginning of “Much Too Much” is incredibly clear and then we’re hit with the anthem – “My Generation” – and all resistance is futile. What a song – and in truth – it stands head and shoulders above most of the other tracks on the album – I hope you don’t die at all mate never get old. Both “The Kids Are Alright” and “It’s Not True” show Townshend’s double-edged songwriting talent – catchy tunes about social and personal hurt.

Outside of “My Generation” - their wild version of Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man” is a real indication of just how incendiary they could get (even in the studio). The other two covers are both stabs at James Brown – “I Don’t Mind” and “Please Please Me” – but in truth they sound like lukewarm filler - or worse – plain out of place. Back to madness with the instrumental finisher “The Ox” - Nicky Hopkins on Piano trying to keep up with the full-speed-ahead drumming of Keith Moon and heavy riffage of Townshend. It’s a great way to finish the album and is rightly credited to four composers – Townshend, Moon, Entwistle and Hopkins.

Amongst the unreleased “Leaving Here (Alternate)” shows off Moon’s great drumming where the band sound like they’ve soaking up too many Marvin Gaye Motown singles. For some reason the Alternate take of “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” is credited as “Anyhow, Anywhere, Anyway” and has a wilder guitar sound (very cool) while the Long version of “The Good’s Gone” extends the album cut from 4 minutes to 4 and a half – it’s excellent. The unreleased instrumental of “My Generation” has studio chatter “mucking about” and that huge bass run by Entwistle. Even cooler is the Mono version of it that ends Disc 2 – it has extra guitar overdubs that come in over the bass solo – what a blast.

"...People try to put us down…" – in the case of The Who – I doubt they’re going to succeed…

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"Live At Leeds: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO (2001 Polydor 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...When A Young Man Walks By..."

Even after 20 years of handling vinyl rarities in Reckless - and 40 years trawling records racks as an overgrown manchild who should know better by now - you never quite get over handling an intact copy of The Who's fabulous "Live At Leeds" LP in its original British vinyl form. It's simply a thing of beauty and unbridled Rock lust.

Released May 1970 on Track 2406 001 - it had only six tracks - none of which were listed on the rear and came housed in a flimsy flippy-floppy buff brown gatefold card sleeve with the title stamped on it like a crate of bananas bound for the docks. But when you opened this official Track Records release (deliberately made to look like a 'bootleg' as an antidote to the opulence of the "Tommy” double-album from May 1969) - it housed two pocket pouches – the LP on the right and on the left - 12 of the coolest inserts you'd ever seen inside a glassine see-through greaseproof bag. One of these ephemera inserts was the foldout 'Maximum R&B At The Marquee' poster of Pete Townshend and his 1964 guitar giving it some scrunched-up flying welly - while another had a from-behind-shot of PT in front of the huge Woodstock audience in 1969 holding up his guitar like it was a holy offering of some kind. You then noticed the white label of the LP that told you in script that they were doing covers of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" and the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates 60ts belter "Shakin' All Over" (both of which made absolute sense in your head) and on Side 2 when you flipped it over that there was a 15-minute version of "My Generation"!

It was enough to make any young buck tremble – weak at the knees even at the mere thought of it. And decades later - when you returned to "Live At Leeds" yet again - in need of a proper riffage wigout in the comfort of your suburban Audio Mancave - Hell you'd even forgive the staples on the edges that rusted and discoloured the sleeve as the years past. As I say – The Who’s "Live At Leeds" has always been a thing of wonderment and fantasmagoricalness...

Which brings us to this glorious and well thought-out September 2001 33-Track 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue - itself substituting the February 1995 'Expanded Edition' single CD version of 14-tracks. Although some argue it's still 'not complete' – this version purports to offer the first release of the full 14 February 1970 concert at Leeds University – tagging on the whole of the double-album "Tommy" on Disc 2 in a best-ever live performance of something they'd played over 130 times on an extensive US tour. Throw in the careful digital restoration (supervised by Townshend) and semi-removal of the famous 'master tape crackles' and you can't help but feel that a good thing has only been made better – and how. Here are the maximum details...

UK released 1 October 2001 (24 September 2001 in the USA) - "Live At Leeds: Deluxe Edition" by THE WHO on Polydor 112 618-2 (Barcode 008811261825) is a 2CD Reissue with 18 Previously Unreleased Tracks that features the first release of the complete 14 February 1970 Leeds University concert (including the 1969 "Tommy" Double Album intact) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (73:33 minutes):

1. Heaven And Hell

2. I Can't Explain

3. Fortune Teller

4. Tattoo

5. Young Man Blues *

6. Substitute *

7. Happy Jack

8. I'm A Boy

9. A Quick One, While He's Away

10. Summertime Blues *

11. Shakin' All Over *

12. My Generation *

13. Magic Bus *

Disc 2 (53:33 minutes):

1. Overture

2. It's A Boy

3. 1921

4. Amazing Journey

5. Sparks

6. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)

7. Christmas

8. The Acid Queen

9. Pinball Wizard

10. Do You Think It's Alright?

11. Fiddle About

12. Tommy Can You Hear Me?

13. There's A Doctor

14. Go To The Mirror

15. Smash The Mirror

16. Miracle Cure

17. Sally Simpson

18. I'm Free

19. Tomorrow's Holiday Camp

20. We're Not Gonna Take It

NOTES:

"Live At Leeds" was released 3 May 1970 in the UK on Tracks Records 2406 001 and 16 May 1970 in the USA on Decca DL 79175 (peaked at No. 3 and No. 4 on the UK and US album charts). The six songs marked * on Disc 1 are the original 1970 LP - to sequence it from CD 1 use the following track numbers:

Side 1: Young Man's Blues (5)/Substitute (6)/Summertime Blues (10)/Shakin' All Over (11)

Side 2: My Generation (12)/Magic Bus (13)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 on Disc 1 and Tracks 4 and 5 from Disc 2 were first released as part of the February 1995 14-song single CD reissue of “Live At Leeds” on Polydor 527 169-2. Fans will note that Disc 1 here has only 13-tracks instead of 14 – that’s because the double of "Amazing Journey/Sparks" from the 1995 disc has been moved for this 2001 reissue as two separate songs to Disc 2 to facilitate a correct running order of "Tommy". All 18 other tracks on Disc 2 are Previously Unreleased.

Those famous 12 inserts are spread across the six flaps within the chunky foldout digipak (including under the see-through CD trays) with the 'Maximum R&B' Poster for their Tuesday residency at the Marquee in 90 Wardour Street gracing page 27 of the 28-page booklet. Before that is a track-by-track appraisal in new liner notes from CHRIS CHARLESWORTH – a superb breakdown of the original packaging by Who enthusiast RICHARD EVANS and the whole caboodle has been overseen by long-time Who archivist and Reissue man JON ASTLEY. There are many Black and White period photos of the individual band members in full-on live mode as well as typed lyrics to “My Generation”. Obsessives like me will know that uber-rare 1st pressing originals of the British LP had the title stamped in black lettering up in the right corner - second pressings came in Blue and Red type. This 2001 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD set opts for the blue lettering embossed into the front sleeve with an attached greaseproof title sheet stuck onto the rear (if you don’t get the outer plastic slipcase).

But the big news is yet another sonic go-round that adds rather fudges. The Remixes and Remasters have been supervised by PETE TOWNSHEND and carried out by Engineer ANDY MacPHERSON and JON ASTLEY at Close To The Edge Studios – and the results are as close to perfect as you can get for such a notoriously crude recording. All the power of the band seems to have been realised here without too much compression or compromise. It’s a cliché I know – but this reissue does truly rock – the sheer sonic excitement of the band during “Magic Bus” is breathtaking and won’t cost you one hundred English pounds...

It opens with a cover of Mose Allison's Jazz Swing song "Young Man Blues" turned into a Who Rocker and you're immediately clobbered by the clarity of both Townshend's guitar and the confident strut of Daltrey's vocals - huge and attacking in all the right ways. It's followed by Townshend's witty 'three hit singles from our past' banter before they launch into a two-minute version of "Substitute" where Mooney's huge drums have no crocodile tears and genuinely threaten your speakers with malevolent intent. 14 June 1970 saw Track Records UK edit down "Summertime Blues" into single form and along with a studio version of Entwistle's "Heaven And Hell" on the B-side release the band's 14th seven-inch single on Track 2094 002 (the US copy on Decca 32708 had "Here For More" as its flipside). That side ends with a Rocking and yet Funky rendition of "Shakin' All Over" - quivers down the backbone indeed.

But for me it's Side 2 with the extended the 15-minute "My Generation" and the near eight-minute "Magic Bus" that puts the LP into legend. Including bits from "Tommy" like an improvised "See Me Feel Me" and a Bass Solo - "My Generation" stills feel dangerous and anthemic - even at such a huge ambling length. The riffage of "Magic Bus" is explosive stuff and when the band finally does kick in - you know why people in the audience never forgot the experience of The Who in full flight. Of the extras I love "Tattoo" from "The Who Sell Out" LP - that perfect combo of melody and crashing pomp - while Entwistle's "Heaven And Hell" lets Pete riff away as if it was own song - a powerful set opener. But best of all is the witty mishmash that is "A Quick One, While He's Away" - a six-part musical Who tour-de-force about an unsuspecting girl guide and a not-so-innocent Ivor The Engine Driver with amazing vocals traded at the beginning and throughout. The booklet advises that after extensive research - the largely unreleased "Tommy" on CD2 is the best played version yet found and when you hear them tear through "The Acid Queen", "Pinball Wizard" and "I'm Free" - you're in no doubt that's no idle boast designed to beef up already overblown liner notes – it's actually true. Amazing stuff...

In May 2017 "Live At Leeds" by THE WHO will be 47 years young. And I have to say that this 2001 Deluxe Edition of it does that in-yer-face legend proud...

"A Song For Me/Anyway..." by FAMILY (2009 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue with Bonus Tracks - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Strange Looking Band Were We..."

By the time Leicester's FAMILY had reached album number 3 "A Song For Me" (recorded late 1969, released January 1970) - they'd lost two original band members and replaced them with two new leading lights. Rick Grech had jumped ship for the short-lived Clapton-Winwood-Bruce project BLIND FAITH - replaced by Bass and Violin player John Weider (ex Eric Burdon and The Animals) - while original Saxophonist Jim King moved over to the equally short-lived RING OF TRUTH only to be replaced by Keyboard whizz John 'Poli' Palmer (ex Eclection). Grech does get a songwriting co-credit though for "Wheels" on the "A Song For Me" LP.

Commercially Family had done well with their first two albums - "Music In A Doll’s House" from July 1968 charted at No. 35 while their 2nd album "Family Entertainment" from March 1969 broke the Top Ten and hit No. 6. Despite their not-for-everyone music - Family retained their Prog leanings mixed with Rock Tunes and for many fans it was this 3rd album line-up that dominated the Seventies with album-after-album of originality and musical adventure. It helped too that they were fronted at all times by the truly extraordinary pipes of Roger Chapman - a man who like Tom Waits - gargled gravel for breakfast and gurgled engine oil for lunch (think a more strangulated version of Joe Cocker meets a Helium-induced Tiny Tim).

Which brings us to this rather brill twofer CD Reissue from England's Beat Goes On done in conjunction with the band in 2009. It gathers together two huge fan faves - their 3rd and fourth vinyl platters both from the decade's debut year – 1970. And it’s not just the liner notes that feature band contributions – this reissue throws in two rare Single Sides and seven Previously Unreleased Versions as Bonus Tracks. Here are the Mortars and Explosive Projectiles...

UK released February 2009 - "A Song For Me/Anyway..." by FAMILY on Beat Goes On BGOCD 854 (Barcode 5017261208545) offers 2 albums from 1970 Remastered onto 2CDs with nine Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "A Song For Me" (66:57 minutes):
1. Drowned In Wine
2. Some Poor Soul
3. Love Is A Sleeper
4. Stop For The Traffic - Through The Heart Of Me
5. Wheels
6. Song For Sinking Lovers [Side 2]
7. Hey - Let It Rock
8. The Cat And The Rat
9. 93's OK J
10. A Song For Me
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "A Song For Me" - released January 1970 in the UK on Reprise Records RSLP 9001 and February 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6384 with a different track line-up that used a UK single to open the LP. To sequence the US original LP from this CD use:
Side 1: No Mule's Fool/Drowned In Wine/Love Is A Sleeper/Some Poor Soul/Wheels
Side 2: Hey - Let It Rock/Stop For The Traffic - Through The Heart Of Me/Song For Sinking Lovers/93's OK J/A Song For Me

BONUS TRACKS:
11. No Mule's Fule
12. Good Friend Of Mine
Tracks 11 and 12 are the non-UK album A&B-sides to a UK 7" single released July 1970 on Reprise RS 29001.
Also issued as a 45 in the USA on Reprise 0881
13. Drowned In Wine (Live)
14. The Cat And The Rat (Live)
15. Wheels (Live)
16. A Song For Me (Live)
Tracks 13 to 16 are Alternate Takes done live in the studio

Disc 2 "Anyway..." (60:22 minutes):
1. Good News - Bad News
2. Willow Tree
3. Holding The Compass
4. Strange Band
5. Part Of The Land [Side 2]
6. Anyway
7. Normans
8. Lives And Ladies
Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th album "Anyway..." - released November 1970 in the UK on Reprise Records RSX 9005. It was belatedly released late February 1973 in the USA on United Artists UAS 5527. Side 1 is live recorded at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon (Tracks 1 to 4) - whilst Side 2 is Studio recorded at Olympic Sound Studios (Tracks 5 to 8). The album peaked at No. 7 on the UK LP charts.

BONUS TRACKS:
9. Strange Band (Alternative Live Version)
10. Part Of The Land (Live)
11. Lives And Ladies (Live)

The card slipcase gives these BGO reissues a classy feel - but the wonderful artwork of both LPs is of course lost on the CD booklet. "A Song For Me" came in a gatefold sleeve with a rare lyrics insert and "Anway..." famously featured a stippled plastic outer with an envelope flip at the top and card insert inside (Leonardo Da Vinci's pencil drawing of "Mortars And Projectiles"). The lyrics for both LPs turn up in the last of the 28-page booklet after MICHAEL HEATLEY liner notes and in-depth recollections with the band and writer PETE FEENSTRA. But the big news is a 2009 Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON. I had the Castle Communications CD reissue from 1993 for ages to have the music for "A Song For Me" - but this version is much better. And there's amazing clarity on the live side of "Anyway..." - even on the beautiful and quiet "Willow Tree". A nice job done...

FAMILY music is a Bovril thing - you either love it or loathe it. And from the opening 20-seconds of "Drowned In Wine" - you're under no illusions that this British Group likes it Prog syncopations. Personally I've always thought them capable of magic and the Acoustic Mellow of "Some Poor Soul” is typically unnerving in its sheer prettiness and musicality (the Remaster sounds gorgeous). We're back to Man-like guitar-boogie for "Love Is A Sleeper" - a fantastically put together rocker that brims with energy and imagination despite the overload of instruments. We get Brinsley Schwarz country-jaunty with "Stop For The Traffic - Through The Heart Of Me" while Side 1 ends on the brilliance of "Wheels" - those pinging Acoustic notes and flute flourishes filling your speakers with warmth and musical melody similar to Genesis' "Trespass" from that same year.

Weider's Violin playing and sheer musicality adds so much to Side 2's "Song For Sinking Lovers" with Chapman's vocals spine-tingling as ever. "Hey - Let It Rock" turns out to be a beautifully constructed Acoustic Guitar and Flute string-flicker and not a raging electric guitar storm as the title seems to indicate. A massive organ via Curved Air opens the rocking finisher "A Song For Me" - another great Family song with a funky feel and a screaming Chapman vocal as Guitar and Piano/Organ do battle (what a way to finish the LP). I like "No Mule's Fool" and "Good Friend Of Mine" but I must admit I can hear why they were relegated to 7" single status in the UK - there's better album cuts like "The Cat And The Rat". The bonus track credits of 'live' versions of four album cuts are studio run-throughs without the recording polish of the finished cuts. But of them "Wheels" and the full-on Zappa-type whig out on "A Song For Me" are the winners. Overall - and I can't stress this enough - I'd forgotten how much I loved this album - and the Remaster has made me weak at the knees all over again...

The album "Anyway..." certainly looked the part when it arrived at the end of 1970 - the beautiful artwork alone enough to make you want to buy the LP. But one side live and one side studio (mostly new songs) only seemed to irritate people (a shame because I think it's a bit of an unsung masterpiece). Quite apart from the musicality in "Good News - Bad News" - the remaster has made it rock like a monster while you can only describe "Willow Tree" as beautiful - delicate despite being in front of a crowd. The Byrds jangle of "Holding The Compass" should have been redone in the studio because I thought it would have made a cracking single in studio form. As it is – I love the Richard Thompson flicks on Whitney’s amplified Acoustic Guitar that give it such a cool feel – Chapman’s voice held back one moment – let rip the next (the audience explosion of appreciation at the end is real too). Side 2's studio opener "Part Of The Land" is brilliant - all jerky like Talking Heads - it jutts and butts in a Funky Ass way that works - like King Crimson channelling James Brown. "Anyway" is wonderful and only confirms what I feel about Side 1's goodies - what a record it would have been if it had all been studio bound. The deceptively sweet instrumental "Normans" makes use of the Weider violin again (great counter with Chapman's vocals towards the end) and the LP ends on the near seven minutes of the piano plaintive "Lives And Ladies" - more sophisticated Rock worthy of your readies.

I suppose FAMILY will always be an acquired taste - never as immediate as other bands - but I love this reissue - as stone five-star as it gets. Even though it's deleted - I urge you to seek it out...

Titles in the Beat Goes On CD Reissue Series covering Family, Roger Chapman and Streetwalkers:
1. FAMILY – A Song For Me/Anyway... (2009 2CD Set - BGOCD 854 - Barcode 5017261208545)
2. FAMILY – Fearless (+ Bonus Tracks)/Family Live (2009 2CD Set - BGOCD 855 – Barcode 5017261208552)
3. FAMILY – Bandstand/It's Only A Movie (2009 2CD Set – BGOCD 856 – Barcode 5017261208569)
4. ROGER CHAPMAN and THE SHORTLIST – Chappo/Live In Hamburg (2004 2LPs on 1CD – BGOCD 824 – Barcode 5017261208248)
5. STREETWALKERS [feat Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney of Family] – Downtown Flyers (2004 CD - BGOCD 542 – Barcode 5017261205421)
6. STREETWALKERS – Live (2004 CD - BGOCD606 – Barcode 5017261206060)
7. STREETWALKERS – Red Card/Vicious But Fair (2005 – 2LPs on 1CD – BGOCD669 – Barcode 5017261206695)