"Witness" by SPOOKY TOOTH (2016 Universal/Island 'Expanded Edition' CD with One Bonus Track - Paschal Byrne and Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...More Than An Ocean Of Power..."

Like Mott The Hoople and The Pretty Things - England's SPOOKY TOOTH have never really received the accolades they deserve. Between 1968 and 1974 they produced seven studio albums (six on Island - one on Goodear) as well as a posthumous Island Records 'Best Of' in 1976 - yet I defy even knowledgeable Rock types to name just two of those original LPs.

Spooky's sixth studio album is the same. Released only a half-dozen months after its January 1973 predecessor - it came at Blighty customers in July 1973 with a big-eyed pyramid-on-a-banknote sleeve and the mysterious moniker "Witness" – something few LP buyers did. Our pals in American had to wait until November 1973 for Capitol to issue Island SW-9337 and in different front cover artwork – the band stood in front of three crosses – one of the photos used on the rear collage of the British LP sleeve.

Four of the five-piece line-up that had made January 1973's delightfully entitled "You Broke My Heart So...I Busted Your Jaw" (Island ILPS 9227) such a rocking success were back – Singers Mike Harrison and Gary Wright with future Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones ably aided by Bassist Chris Stewart and new Drummer replacement – Mike Kellie. Gary Wright's songwriting hand was in all nine tracks – six solo and three co-writes - "Don't Ever Stray Away" with Chris Stewart, "All Sewn Up" with Mick Jones and "Pyramids" with Drummer and Percussionist Mike Kellie.

Long-suffering fans will know that none of Spooky Tooth's Rock, Blues-Rock, Prog-Rock albums ever bothered the British LP charts (not even a nostalgia 'Best Of' in 1976) and though founder member and songwriter Gary Wright did some commercial welly in the mid Seventies (especially in the USA with his "Dream Weaver" LP) - Luther Grosvenor and Mike Harrison had solo careers also but few seemed to care nor notice. The band is not even in Martin C. Strong's stunning 'Great Rock Discography' Books (and almost everyone is in there). And now the final facial slap...

These new CD Reissues and Remasters on UMC's Universal/Island with truly superb Audio and a wad of good bonus tracks on most (only one for "Witness" unfortunately) have already quietly slipped under the radar only months after release in September and October of 2016. Time to rectify this horrid 2017 anomaly on the part of an uncaring pre-Valentine Day public - here are the eerie dental details...

UK released 30 September 2016 (7 October 2016 in the USA) - "Witness" by SPOOKY TOOTH on Universal/Island 570 547-7 (Barcode 602557054774) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of the 9-track 1973 Island Records album with One Bonus Track and plays out as follows (40:13 minutes):

1. Ocean Of Power

2. Wings On My Heart

3. As Long As The World Keeps Turning

4. Don't Ever Stray Away

5. Things Change

6. All Sewn Up [Side 2]

7. Dream Me A Mountain

8. Sunlight On My Mind

9. Pyramids

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Witness" - released July 1973 in the UK on Island ILPS 9255 and November 1973 in the USA on Island SW-9337. Recorded at Olympic and Apple Studios in London - it was produced by SPOOKY TOOTH and the LP peaked at No. 99 in the USA but didn't chart in the UK.

BONUS TRACK:

10. All Sewn Up (Alternative Mix, February 1973)

SPOOKY TOOTH was:

GARY WRIGHT – Lead and Backing Vocals, Keyboards and Synthesiser

MIKE HARRISON – Lead and Backing Vocals and Percussion

MICK JONES – Electric and Acoustic Guitar and Percussion

CHRIS STEWART - Bass

MIKE KELLIE – Drums and Percussion

The 12-page booklet is researched, co-ordinated and produced by MARK POWELL of England's much-revered reissue label Esoteric Recordings who have issued absolute wads of CD Remasters – re-presenting Sixties and Seventies music and artists in a quality way. You get the usual black and white band photos (posed and live) – a nice colour shot of the group sat on some rocks spread across the two inner pages and a repro of a September 1973 Tour Poster. Complimenting that are new Mark Powell liner notes covering the band's history on Island Records (including stuff about The V.I.P's and Art). With contributions from Wright and Harrison- Powell explains how the arrival of Mick Jones into the ever-changing line-up and the re-emergence of Gary Wright as principal songwriter brought out the best in them - even if (like Badfinger) – the public seemed not to care in their native land.

The CD is coloured Pink when in fact it was a Orange Palm-Tree label by mid 1973 (all the reissues I've bought in this series are like this - Pink labels regardless of the time frame) and there's a close-up photo of the album artwork 'symbol' beneath the see-through CD tray. But the big news is new PASCHAL BYRNE and BEN WISEMAN Remasters from original tapes - wonderful chunky sound on the accomplished "Ocean Of Power" and the very Bad Company chug of "All Sewn Up".

There's proper riffage in tracks like "Ocean Of Power" where Wright seems to have discovered the Lord and won't be held in contempt for such beliefs. There's lovely warmth in the Bass and Piano bottom end and when Harrison's voice blends with the others - it feels so damn good - meaty like it didn't before. "Wings On My Heart" is a 'feeling like I'm free' churchy organ song and is prettier than I remember it back in the day. Treated piano notes open "As Long As The World Keeps Turning" - a deceptively musical song and one I return to again and again (why hasn't someone covered this?). Power chords ala Montrose open "Don't Ever Stray Away" - a 'don't throw the magic away' plea to his girly - huge guitars panning across your speakers. Side 1 ends with the Acoustic-Rock of "Things Change" where Spooky Tooth sound American - like Spirit or Jefferson Airplane's Paul Kantner - and again with great axe work from the boys.

Side 2's "All Sewn Up" is presented to us in two forms - the original album rocker where ST come across like a more boogiefied ACE with Paul Carrack on the Vocals - and a brilliant 'Alternate Mix' that could (and should have been) an American single. I'm sure fans will be chewing up this lone but truly excellent Bonus Track. "Dream Me A Mountain" is another wicked Wright hooky melody - a Rock song with warmth that lifts it up above the average (and dig that just-right guitar solo). More James Gang grunge guitars open "Sunlight On My Mind" - a 'shine a light on me' plea with Harrison's echoed vocals giving the whole thing pathos. Drummer Mike Kellie co-wrote the Soulful piano-led "Pyramids" with Wright - ending the album on a building ballad with big voices and perhaps too much melodrama. To sum up - I like "Witness" as an album. It's true that nothing grabs you by the short 'n' curlies immediately - but I like the overall musicality of it. There are real growers on here and this new CD Remaster has only elevated that.

1973’s duo "You Broke My Heart So...I Busted Your Jaw" and "Witness" are both Classic 1970s Rock albums that cry out for re-discovery. And at last they’ve received the aural makeover they’ve both long needed and deserved.

With the April 2015 "Island Years: 1967-1974" 9CD Box Set now fetching huge prices after deletion – these 2016 individual CD Remasters are welcome. Well done to everyone involved for giving SPOOKY TOOTH this late dental polish. Time indeed to bear witness...

PS: Reissue Titles for SPOOKY TOOTH - 2016 Universal/Island CD Remaster Series:

1. It's All About (1968 Debut) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-1 (Barcode 602557054712) with 10 Bonus Tracks

2. Spooky Two (1969 2nd LP) - 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-3 (Barcode 602557054736) with 9 Bonus Tracks

3. Ceremony: An Electronic Mass (1969 3rd LP with Pierre Henry)

- 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-0 (Barcode 602557054705) with 6 Bonus Tracks

4. The Last Puff (1970 4th LP) - 7 Oct 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-5 (Barcode 602557054750) with 6 Bonus Tracks

5. You Broke My Heart...So I Busted Your Jaw (1973 5th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-8 (Barcode 602557054781)

6. Witness (1973 6th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-7 (Barcode 602557054774) with 1 Bonus Track

7. The Mirror (1974 7th LP) - 30 Sep 2016 CD release on Universal/Island 570 547-6 (Barcode 602557054767)

"Manhattan Soul 3" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2017 Ace/Kent Soul CD Compilation - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Open Up Your Heart..."

In my ravenous search for all things 'Soul' - it's nice every now and then to be surprised - even taken aback - and Ace's "Manhattan Soul 3" has achieved both.

The British reissue label first explored the Soul Side of Scepter, Wand and Musicor Records in February 2011 with "Manhattan Soul" on CDKEND 347 (Barcode 029667234726) - following that in July 2012 with "Manhattan Soul 2" on CDKEND 379 (Barcode 029667237925).

Now it's January 2017 and time for Volume 3. You get 24 slices of rare mostly laid-back New York Soul - four of which are Previously Unreleased. Three others come from long deleted 1980's Kent LPs and are new to CD - while all the rest are mostly first time to the format also (19 in Mono and 5 in Stereo). Here are the in-depth details...

UK released 27 January 2017 (10 February 2017 in the USA) - "Manhattan Soul 3" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 459 (Barcode 029667078528) is a 24-Track CD compilation with Four Previously Unreleased Tracks and plays out as follows (62:25 minutes):

1. Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In) - DAN and THE CLEANCUTS (1966 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12141, A-side)

2. Now That You're Gone - SONNY TURNER and SOUND LIMITED (1972 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1459, B-side of "Chicago Woman")

3. Haven't I Been Good To You - JOHNNY MOORE (1967 USA 7" single on Wand WND 1165, A-side)

4. Fun City Woman - ANN BAILEY (1973 USA 7" single on Wand WND 11265, B-side of "Sweeping Your Dirt Under My Rug")

5. Nobody Made You Love Me - THE CHARTS (1966 USA 7" single on Wand WND 1124, A-side)

6. Billy Boy - BILLY ADAMS (1963 USA 7" single on Wand 133, A-side)

7. That Same Old Song - THE FABULOUS DINOS (1962 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1025, A-side)

8. Every Little Bit Helps - HELEN HENRY (Previously Unissued Wand Recording, 2017)

9. Two Stupid Feet - THE SHIRELLES (Previously Unissued Scepter Recording, 2017)

10. Lover - TOMMY HUNT

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the October 1986 UK LP compilation "Your Man" on Kent KENT 059)

11. Giving Up - JUNIOR LEWIS

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the November 1988 UK LP compilation "The Hurt Of The City - Big City Soul Volume 2" on Kent KENT 087)

12. A Part Of Me - EARL KING (1970 USA 7" single on Wand WND 11230, B-side of "Tic Tac Toe")

13. Never In My Life - LEE MOSES (1968 USA 7" single on Dynamo D-115, A-side)

14. Nobody Knows - MAURICE WILLIAMS (1965 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12113, A-side)

15. Doesn't It Ring A Bell - THE PLATTERS (on the 1968 USA Mono LP on "Sweet, Sweet Lovin'" on Musicor MS 2156 [UK on Stateside SL 10245])

16. How Could It Be - THE ESQUIRES (1968 USA STEREO 7" single on Bunky BNK 7756, B-side To "I Know I Can")

17. Mr Schemer - BRENTON WOOD (1963 USA 7" single on Wand 145, B-side of "Hide-A-=Way")

18. Ooh Baby - HAROLD HOPKINS  (1965 USA 7" single on Scepter SCE 12120, A-side)

19. What's The Matter Baby - VAN McCOY (Previously Unissued Scepter recording, 2017)

20. The Landlord - THE TABS (Previously Unissued Wand recording incorporating elements of "Mother In Law" by Ernie K-Doe, 2017)

21. You Picked Me - THE SOLDIER BOYS (1962 USA 7" single on Scepter 1230, B-side of "I'm Your Soldier Boy")

22. Remind My Baby Of Me - BILLY BYERS (1964 USA 7" single on Scepter 1283, A-side)

23. Does Love Believe In Me - MELBA MOORE (1966 USA 7" single on Musicor MU 1189, B-side of "Don't Cry Sing Along With The Music")

24. If I Had You - BIG MAYBELLE

(Previously Unissued Scepter recording first appeared on the December 1986 UK LP compilation "Big City Soul Sound - NYC Soul Of The 60's" on Kent KENT 061)

Tracks 9, 10, 16, 19 and 20 are in STEREO - all others are MONO

Tracks 8, 9, 19 and 20 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

As with all of these Kent-Soul CD compilations - the 20-page colour booklet is a joy to behold and read. Legendary collector, fan and knowledgeable type ADY CROASDEL scribes the hugely in-depth liner notes while Billy Adams's "Billy Boy" (Wand 123), The Esquires "How Could it Be" (Bunky BNK 7756) and Melba Moore's "Does Love Believe In Me" all get full-page colour plates - each American 45 resplendent in their gorgeous label bags. There are publicity photos of Ann Bailey, The Shirelles and The Charts and a full page given over to the rare British LP "Sweet, Sweet Lovin'" by The Platters on Stateside. The AUDIO is typically brill - care of long-time engineer NICK ROBBINS - a man who knows his way around a master tape or two. Particularly thrilling to me is the five in glorious STEREO - while the punch out of the MONO 45s rocks too.

"Manhattan Soul 3" is mostly a mellow listen (New Yorker labels getting genuinely Soulful) and I'd argue is a lot tastier because of it. Proceedings open on a slow-stepper designed to send Northern Soul smoochers into a cross-armed frenzy of trancelike moves - "Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In)" by Dan and The Cleancuts. Sonny Terry and Sound Limited are I believe The Platters under another name and they offer "Now That You're Gone" - another 'gotta hold my head up as soon as my tears dry' moment of heartache. Both of these opening songs bode very well. Things pick up pace with the brassy dancer "Haven't I Been Good To You" - Johnny Moore wanting his baby to stop and think it over (don't look now Johnny but I think she's out the door mate). Ann Bailey's B-side moment "Fun City Woman" is a 60ts dancer released in the wrong decade - the 'ba da' vocals of The Charts is 1966 and the kind of off-key vocal bopper that used to fill all those 1980s Kent LPs with such class.

Both "Every Little Bit Helps" by Helen Henry and The Shirelles with "Two Stupid Feet" are the first of the Previously Unreleased and are way better than they had any right to be. But they're trounced by the three from old Kent LPs now making their way onto CD for the first time - a fabulous cut from the silken voice of Tommy Hunt on "Lover" while the melodrama of Junior Lewis' "Giving Up" is a 'warm and tender touch that used to mean so much' tale of relationship woe. The whack off "How Could It Be" by The Esquires in stunning Stereo will be doing a storm in a Northern Soul club somewhere near you right soon. But for me the real blast here is the rough 'n' ready Lee Moses cut "Never In My Life". Imagine Howlin' Wolf is in a club and it's early in the morning and he's suddenly decided to go Funk-Soul with his band. The recording of "Never In My Life" is undeniably crude but man had this guy got the passion in his voice and Funk in his backing group. Ace promise there's more of this in the future - something lovers of hard-hitting Funk-Soul and Rare Groove will love. Unlike Lee Moses - some of the tracks left me cold like the dreadful Spanish guitar shuffle of Van McCoy's "What's The Matter Baby" but that's offset by joyous dancers like "Nobody Knows" from Maurice Williams and the sweet finger-clicking sway of "Ooh Baby" from a falsetto Harold Hopkins. "The Landlord" turns out to be an answer song to Ernie K-Doe's "Mother In Law" and cleverly skirts around that famous song's groove throughout. And on it goes...

After 40 years in the reissue-game – it’s safe to say that Ace Records of the UK have a downright knack with these CD compilations. They've once again pulled out yet another 24-track shimmy-shaker - a very cool start to 2017.

It falls short of genius in a few places for sure – but there’s enough on here to make me holler and I’ve not stopped playing the bugger since it arrived on my prickly doormat a few days back. In fact Volume 3 of "Manhattan Soul" makes me wanna investigate Volume 1 and 2 again in a hurry - and that's got to be the best compliment of them all. Way to go boys...

"Mad Dogs & Englishmen: 35th Anniversary DELUXE EDITION" by JOE COCKER (2005 Universal/A&M 2CD Reissue - Suha Gur Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Feelin' Alright..."

Absolutely everyone loved "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" - Joe Cocker's blistering live double-album released September 1970 on both sides of the pond (and everywhere else for that matter). It capturing lightning in a bottle - a humungous band at their lead-swinging freshest recorded across two venues and nights in March and April of that decade’s first year. A&M Records loved it (went to No. 2 in the USA and sold a million copies) - the public and press alike frenzy-fought for tickets to see the 43-piece extravaganza as it made its way across America until the final show on the 16th of May. Everybody loved it – everyone except Joe Cocker.

By the end of the tour the freshness and excitement was gone – and so was he. A massive ego-clash between him and Leon Russell had ripped the happy heart out of the merry band – and all that palatable joy in those first shows so evident on the 2LP set – had evaporated in a haze of drugs, recrimination and bitterness. Legend has it that the feud was so grim it wouldn't be discussed for decades on end. Worse - despite nationwide fame, adoration and a single in the American charts for the first time - Cocker had just under $900 in his pocket with his hard-won LP royalties' unavailable - years and years away. He wound up broke and bruised in California with an itch he needed to scratch. Joe later said it took him years to fully recover from the aftermath of that fateful tour...

None of this post-mortem however detracts from the reissue brilliance of this very cool '35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' – Joe Cocker’s ground-breaking live double-album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" finally given the stunning Remastered Audio its always deserved - quality presentation and some shockingly brill Previously Unreleased tracks alongside other B-side rarities. They even sort-of mimic that wonderful foldout many-leaved sleeve that came with original vinyl issues. Nice. Here are the muscular details...

UK released 24 October 2005 (18 October 2005 in the USA) - "Mad Dogs & Englishmen: 35th Anniversary DELUXE EDITION" by JOE COCKER on Universal/A&M 0602498860069 (Barcode 602498860069) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster with Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks and other Rarities and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (57:23 minutes):
1. Honkey Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
3. The Weight
4. Sticks And Stones
5. Bird On A Wire
6. Cry Me A River
7. Superstar - Performed by RITA COOLIDGE
8. Feelin' Alright
9. Something
10. Darling Be Home Soon
11. Let It Be - Performed by CLAUDIA LENNEAR
12. Further On Up The Road - Performed by DON PRESTON

Tracks 3, 9, 10 and 12 on Disc 1 are Previously Unreleased - all recorded Saturday, 28 March 1970 at the Fillmore East
Track 11 is the non-album 7" single B-side to "The Ballad Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen" released April 1971 in the USA on A&M 1253 (1st time on CD)

Disc 2 (79:30 minutes):
1. Let's Go Get Stoned
2. Space Captain
3. Hummingbird - Performed by LEON RUSSELL
4. Dixie Lullaby - Performed by LEON RUSSELL
5. The Letter
6. Delta Lady
7. Give Peace A Chance
8. Blue Medley: I'll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong With My Baby/I've Been Loving You Too Long
9. With A Little Help From My Friends
ENCORE:
10. Girl From The North Country
STUDIO SESSIONS for SINGLES:
11. Warm-Up Jam including Under My Thumb - Performed by LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
12. The Letter (Studio Single Version) - Performed by JOE COCKER with LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
13. Space Captain (Studio Single Version) - Performed by JOE COCKER with LEON RUSSELL and THE SHELTER PEOPLE
14. The Ballad Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Performed by LEON RUSSELL

Tracks 3, 4, 9 and 11 on Disc 2 are Previously Unreleased
Live Tracks 3 and 4 recorded Friday, 27 March 1970 at the Fillmore East - Track 9 recorded Saturday, 28 March 1970
Studio Track 11 recorded 17 March 1970 and 3 April 1970 at A&M and Gold Star Studios respectively
Tracks 12 and 13 are First Time STEREO Mix – released April 1970 in the USA on 7” single as A&M 1174 and June 1970 in the UK on Regal Zonophone RZ 3027. It was subsequently re-issued using the same catalogue number but replaced the studio versions with the 2LP live cuts.
All songs sung by JOE COCKER except where stated

Lovers of the original will immediately notice that Universal in their corporate wisdom have decided to place the songs across this 2CD reissue as they were recorded - arguing that it gives the gigs used better context (March 27 and 28th at The Fillmore East and April 17th at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium). Some have already commented on how much they love it - personally I'm not that keen. But if you do want to configure the US and UK 2LP set as originally released – use the following as your playlist:

Side 1:
1. Introduction
2. Honky Tonk Women (Track 1, Disc 1)
3. Introduction
4. Sticks And Stones (Track 4, Disc 1)
5. Cry Me A River (Track 6, Disc 1)
6. Bird On A Wire (Track 5, Disc 1)

Side 2:
1. Feelin' Alright (Track 8, Disc 1)
2. Superstar - Performed by RITA COODLIDGE  (Track 7, Disc 1)
3. Introduction
4. Let's Go Get Stoned (Track 1, Disc 2)

Side 3:
1. Blue Medley:
I'll Drown In My Own Tears
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
I've Been Loving You Too Long (Track 8, Disc 2)
2. Introduction
3. Girl From The North Country (Track 10, Disc 2)
4. Give Peace A Chance (Track 7, Disc 2)

Side 4:
1. Introduction
2. She Came In Thru The Bathroom Window (Track 2, Disc 1)
3. Space Captain (Track 2, Disc 2)
4. The Letter (Track 5, Disc 2)
5. Delta Lady (Track 6, Disc 2)
The double-album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" was released September 1970 in the USA on A&M Records SP-6002 and September 1970 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 6002. Produced by DENNY CORDELL and LEON RUSSELL - it peaked at No. 2 on the US album charts and No. 16 in the UK.

THE BAND was:
JOE COCKER - Lead Vocals
LEON RUSSELL - Guitar and Piano
CHRIS STAINTON - Piano and Organ
DON PRESTON - Rhythm Guitar (Lead Vocals on "Further On Up The Road")
BOBBY KEYS - Tenor Saxophone
JIM PRICE - Trumpet
CARL RADLE - Bass
BOBBY TORRES - Conga
JIM KELTNER - Drums
JIM GORDON - Drums
CHUCK BLACKWELL - Drums and Percussion
THE CHOIR - Don Preston, Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, Daniel Moore, Donna Weiss, Pamela Polland, Matthew Moore, Donna Washburn, Nicole Barclay and Bobby Jones

The four-way foldout card digipak has an info page attached to the rear and the 24-page booklet has new liner notes from JP BEAN of Sheffield along with random cartoons in-between the text. There’s a two-page colour photo for a massive Sunset Blvd. billboard advert using the ‘All Elements Of The Truth’ lines from the album sleeve. Niggles - "Cry Me A River" b/w "Give Peace A Chance" was issued as a 45 in the USA (A&M 1200, September 1970) and in the UK (Fly Records BUG 3, October 1970) and both came with different picture sleeves - but neither is featured here - so a trick missed there.

But all of that goes by the wall when you hear the amazing new Audio care of a team of two - HEATH CONDIOTTE who did the transfers while long-time Universal Engineer SUHA GUR did the mastering. It's like the record has been given renewed power - and at least four of those Previously Unreleased live tracks with Don Preston and Leon Russell are absolutely storming. Fans will also know that the fabulous pairing of the non-album tracks "The Letter" b/w "Space Captain" turned up on The Long Voyage Home Box and subsequent CDs as ‘Mono’ Singles Mixes. Here they’re given first-time STEREO versions and all I can say is WOW! Fans are going to chew these up...even if the "Space Captain" track has some weird echoes and spaces all of a sudden.

While I understand the thinking behind the line-up of the tracks on the DE – I quickly assembled the original double on my iTunes set up and I’d still maintain it’s a better edit and a far better listen. Opening with "Honky Tonk Women" and "Sticks And Stones" (The Rolling Stones and Ray Charles) – you’re immediately struck by the sheer power the Remaster has given the band who now seem to be occupying your living room with intent on doing some serious party damage to your carefully arranged Feng Shui. Julie London gets Funkified to a point where her signature tune "Cry Me A River" is unrecognisable – but it’s the Leonard Cohen bawler "Bird On A Wire" that moves – given a hugely Soulful take that ends Side 1 on a real high.

Dave Mason’s Traffic song "Feelin’ Alright" opens Side 2 with a elongated belter - while the Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell song "Superstar" is the first to feature a guest – this time Rita Coolidge. Rita's vocal range is similar to Karen Carpenter who would cover the song on their self-titled A&M album the following year (1971) – almost making it feel like The Carpenters owned the tune all along. Bobby Keys - the default Saxophonist for The Rolling Stones - requests, gets and is featured on the Ray Charles cry for a mental blitz "Let's Go Get Stoned". By now the band is simply cooking – the choir adding soulful backing vocals at choice points throughout the eight-minute work out.

But the 2LP literally goes up in live flames with the three-song Soul Medley that opens Side 3 – Brother Ray's Atlantic hit "I'll Drown In My Own Tears" - Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter) and finally the Otis Redding Stax classic "I've Been Loving You Too Long" - all rolled into one powerhouse performance. Russell intros Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country" which he shares with Joe as that plays fast yet soulful. We get all 'church-on-Sunday' righteous with "Give Peace A Chance" - a Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell song that feels like The Staples Singers having a rave up with the Lord while James Brown conducts the funky choir. Side 4 introduces what many wanted to hear - Joe do The Beatles - the Abbey Road nugget "She Came In Thru The Bathroom Window". But even that crowd-pleaser is trumped by a lethal three-song finale that genuinely thrills as it builds - Matthew Moore's "Space Captain", The Box Tops' "The Letter" and the Leon Russell hit that practically broke Joe Cocker - "Delta Lady" – all sounding unbelievably good on this Remaster. What a winner...

I wasn't expecting the unreleased stuff to be as good as it is - but genuine standouts include Don Preston doing a truly fantastic rocking version of the old Blues classic "Further On Up The Road" while Russell delivers the goods on both "Hummingbird" and "Dixie Lullaby" and the near mine-minute "With A Little Help From My Friends" is a virtual tour-de-force.

Universal has done some dubious DE versions over the years and some nuggets too (check out Howlin Wolf, Whiskeytown, John Martyn to name but a few) - expanded editions that genuinely bring more to the feast. "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" is one of them.

"...Learning to live together..." Joe croaks on the brilliant "Space Captain". We're just learning to live without you mate. God bless wherever you may be...and thanks to all the players for such great memories...

"Stay Free" by ASHFORD and SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Finally Got To Me..."

Like many Soul and Funk fans I’ve been waiting for Big Break Records of the UK to have a proper go at the superb Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson catalogue on Warner Brothers Records having had to do with the Warner Bros 2CD set Rhino put out a few years back (2008). And here BBR comes with "Is It Still Good To Ya" from 1978 (see separate review) and this - “Stay Free” from 1979 – both Remastered and Expanded to perfection with a decent cache of cool bonus mixes. Found A Cure indeed - here are the details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Stay Free" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0325 (Barcode 5013929062535) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Version with 4 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:37 minutes).

1. Found A Cure

2. Stay Free

3. Dance Forever

4. Nobody Knows [Side 2]

5. Crazy

6. Finally Got To Me

7. Follow Your Heart

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Stay Free" – released September 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers HS-3357 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56703

BONUS TRACKS:

8. Found A Cure (Single Version)

9. Nobody Knows (Single Version)

10. Stay Free (Mike Maurro Groove Mix)

11. Found A Cure (Single Version)

There’s a 16-page booklet with liner notes by a veteran of these releases CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - along with photos of US Warner Brothers 45s and those sought after American Promo 12" singles ("Nobody Knows" on PRO-A-437 and "Found A Cure" on DWBS 8874). There are rare 7" pictures sleeves for "Found A Cure" (a huge Number 2 hit at the time) and "Nobody Knows" as well as in-the-studio shots and other quality publicity photos. The remaster is by BBR's own WAYNE A. DICKSON with additional work from the vastly experienced NICK ROBBINS (does tons of work for Ace and other labels). The audio is fabulous – full of power and the amazing Production values afforded the album in the first place. Fans are going to love those 7" single mixes after the extended workouts of the album versions...

While both the slick Bass and Piano Funk of "Found A Cure" and the mega dancefloor filler of "Nobody Knows" (what a tune and one that DJs still spin today) dominated the charts at the time (they reached No. 2 and 19 in July and December 1979 on the US R 'n' B singles charts) – album cuts like the brilliant strings and Soul-Funk of "Stay Free" and the pretty mid-tempo ballad of "Crazy" (played in bedrooms everywhere in 1979) will thrill fans of this criminally forgotten A&S album. I remember the LP built strongly on the good stuff from "Is It Still Good To Ya" record from the year previous - to a point where Ashford & Simpson seemed to be on every dancefloor everywhere at the end of that eventful decade. There's fabulous Audio too on another fave of mine – "Finally Got To Me" – beautifully handled and full of punch (I'd honestly forgotten how good this song is). The 7-track LP ends of the pretty "Follow Your Heart" – all swooning strings, rolling piano keys and breathy Valerie Simpson vocals.

The 7" single mix of "Found A Cure" runs to 3:47 minutes and comes as a punchy shock having been so used to the longer album version (all these years). The 3:51 minutes of "Nobody Knows" is the same. Another sweet surprise the 6:23 minute mix of "Stay Free" by ace mixer Mike Maurro who accentuates the slap bass lines and strings (very smartly done). As much as I know his revered reputation amongst Disco and Soul fans – I'm not so sure I'd want to wade through the 10:30 minutes of Tom Moulton's Remix of "Found A Cure" again – too much of a good thing methinks...

So there you have it. Great sound and tasty presentation – another winner from BBR and one that fans of this long-lasting Soul/Funk/R&B duo will need...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Is It Still Good To Ya" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Seven Bonus Tracks) - 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 - Exception CD 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)

"...The Debt Is Settled..." 

Like many Soul and Funk fans I’ve been waiting for Big Break Records of the UK to have a proper go at the superb Ashford & Simpson catalogue on Warner Brothers Records having had to do with the Warner Bros 2CD set Rhino put out a few years back (2008). And here BBR comes with "Is It Still Good To Ya" from 1978 and "Stay Free" from 1979 – both Remastered to perfection and with loads of cool bonuses. Here are squeeze me details...

UK released 31 July 2015 (August 2015 in the USA) - "Is It Still Good To Ya" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX 0320 (Barcode 5013929062030) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with 7 Bonus Tracks and pans out as follows (70:50 minutes).

1. It Seems To Hang On

2. Is It Still Good To Ya

3. The Debt Is Settled

4. Ain't it A Shame

5. Get Up And Do Something [Side 2]

6. You Always Could

7. Flashback

8. As Long As It Holds You

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Is It Still Good To Ya" – released September 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK-3219 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56547

BONUS TRACKS:

9. It Seems To Hang On (12" Disco Mix)

10. Flashback (12" Disco Mix)

11. Is It Still Good To Ya (Alternate Mix)

12. The Debt Is Settled (Alternate Mix)

13. It Seems To Hang On (Mike Maurro Mix)

14. Flashback (Single Version)

15. It Seems To Hang On (Single Version)

There’s a 16-page booklet with liner notes by a veteran of these releases CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - along with photos of US Warner Brothers 45s and those sought after American Promo 12" singles ("It Seems To Hang On" and "Flashback"). There’s even a photo spread of the US trade advert that accompanied the album's release in the USA. The remaster is by BBR’s own WAYNE A DICKSON with additional work from the vastly experienced NICK ROBBINS (does tons of work for Ace and other labels). The audio is fabulous – full of power and the amazing Production values afforded the album in the first place. And stepper fans are going to love those bonus 12" Disco Mixes that exchange for such huge money...

While both the smooth Funk of “It Seems To Hang On” and the dancefloor filler of “Is It Still Good To Ya” dominated the charts (Nos. 2 and 12 USA R’n’B) – album cuts like the brilliant Soul-Funk of “Get Up And Do Something’” and the warm sweet melody of “You Always Could” will send fans of thios largely forgotten album. Apart from the pseudo Teddy Pendergrass spoken-smooch of “Ain’t it A Shame” - the whole record is classy which wicked grooves like “As Long As It Holds You”. But what puts this CD reissue into another league is the killer extras - DJs will love the 7:00 minute Disco Remix of “It Seems To Hang On” and the 5:32 minutes of “Flashback” – even the 7” single mix of “It Seems To Hang On” at 3:39 minutes is an unexpected winner.

Great sound and tasty presentation – another winner from BBR and one that fans of this long-lasting Soul/Funk/R&B duo will need...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Send It" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON (2015 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 300 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
HIGHER GROUND

SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Take Me Up To The Top..." 

Big Break Records of the UK (known also as BBR) have been doing ASHFORD & SIMPSON fans the world over a solid for some time now - reissuing their voluminous Warner Brothers back catalogue onto superb CD Remasters - and all with quality audio, liner notes and rare Bonus Tracks. Here comes another - this time dealing with their American-only 1977 platter "Send It" - a quality album in their cannon of work. Here are the details...

UK released 28 August 2015 (September 2015 in the USA) - "Send It" by ASHFORD & SIMPSON on Big Break Records CDBBRX0315 (Barcode 5013929061538) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (62:07 minutes):

1. By Way Of Love's Express

2. Let Love Use Me

3. Don't Cost You Nothing

4. Send It

5. Top Of The Stairs [Side 2]

6. Too Bad

7. Bourgie Bourgie (Instrumental)

8. I Waited Too Long

Tracks 1 to 8 are their album "Send It" - released September 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS-3088. It peaked at No. 10 on the US R&B charts and No. 52 on the Pop charts (it was unreleased in the UK).

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Don't Cost You Nothing (12" Disco Mix)

10. Bourgie Bourgie (Joe Claussell's Classic Remix)

11. Send It (Single Version)

12. Don't Cost You Nothing (Single Version)

The 16-page booklet is the usual BBR plethora of American label repros ("Send It" on Warner Brothers WBS 8453 - "Don't Cost You Nothing" on Warner Brothers WBS 8514 and "By Way Of Love's Express" on Warner Brothers WBS 8571) - as well as photos of the hip couple and superbly detailed new liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE alongside full reissue credits. The 'super' jewel case and see-through CD tray add a touch of reissue class - but the best news is the new Remaster by WAYNE A DICKSON and NICK ROBBINS - two very experienced transfer merchants. All the great Funk lines are in yer face - lovely Bass and Vocals - sweet sound filling your living room. A very nice job indeed...

Their albums always feature goodies amidst the lesser tunes – but "Send It" feels sweet all the way through both sides. It opens with an obvious single "By Way Of Love’s Express" where Nick Ashford tells his lady Valerie Simpson that a train is hurrying his love towards her (what a gent). Their ballads always felt a notch above syrup and the lovely "Let Love Use Me" is proof - a duet-vocal mid-tempo smoocher with strings. But that moment of lurve is roundly whomped by the fabulous dancefloor groove of "Don't Cost You Nothing" - a total Funk-Soul winner clocking in at just under five-minutes in its album form (the Bonus Tracks give us the 12" Disco Mix at 6:48 and the 7" single edit at a svelte 3:40 minutes). I can remember dancefloors filling to this great Piano-Funk groove as DJs spun those 12" singles with their Warner Brothers die-cut sleeves. Side 1 then ends on the album's other killer - the 'spread a little love' slowy "Send It" - a No. 15 R&B hit in August 1977.

Side 2 opens with the bopper "Top Of The Stairs" where our Nick has an urge he's hoping his woman will understand (take me up to the top and we'll get lost in the darkness). "Too Bad" is cool too but my poison is the sensual and slick instrumental "Bourgie Bourgie" - represented here twice by a Joe Claussell Remix in the Bonus Tracks. It ends on the tremulous vocals of "I Waited Too Long" where our hero laments his 'without love' situation and that he missed the last dance (self-inflicted misery pal). The Four Extras come as very cool icing on an already very tasty cake.

A top reissue from BBR once again - well done to all involved - and a must own for fans...

PS: Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I’ve reviewed:

1. Send It – ASHFORD & SIMPSON (1977)

2. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

3. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

4. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

5. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

6. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

7. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

8. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

9. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

10. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12. I Miss You [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK] - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972)

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

20. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

21. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

22. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

23. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

24. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

25. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

26. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

27. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

28. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

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