"Classic Thin Lizzy - Universal Masters Collection" by THIN LIZZY (1999/2009 Decca/Deram CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

(Original 1999 Cover)

(2009 Reissue Artwork)

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"…Remembering Part One…"

The budget-to-mid price Series "Universal Masters Collection" spans a huge range of artists on the Universal roster of Labels - from ABC through to DONNA SUMMER - and all points in between. But this little gem given over to THIN LIZZY and the Irish band’s early Decca Label material seems to have gone largely unnoticed.

The booklet is a 4-page foldout inlay with a decent essay on the band at that time by DARYL EASLEA and a basic track listing.

But the really good news is that all 18 of its tracks have been Digitally Remastered and many of them are hard-to-find rarities. The compilation covers the period 1971 to 1974, their first 3 albums and the non-album 7" singles around them. As you can see from the photo they've used for the front cover of the booklet, the rocking Dublin band was still a POWER TRIO at that time - PHIL LYNOTT on Bass and Vocals (principal songwriter), ERIC BELL on Guitar and Vocals with BRIAN DOWNEY on Drums and Percussion (the famous dual-guitars of BRIAN ROBERTSON and SCOTT GORHAM began with "Nightlife" in 1974).

The albums featured here are "Thin Lizzy", their debut from April 1971, "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage", their second album from March 1972 (un-issued in the US) and their fantastic third album from September 1973, "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (on the Decca label in the UK and the London label in the USA). As the first three albums were put out onto CD in 1990, 1993 and 1993 respectively with 'ok' sound quality - these 1999 sonic upgrades are both long overdue and superb-sounding into the bargain.

Originally UK released December 1999 (reissued 2005 and 2009) - "Classic Thin Lizzy: The Universal Masters Collection" by THIN LIZZY is an 18-track CD compilation on Universal/Deram/Decca 844 945-2 (Barcode 042284494526). Here’s the track-by-track breakdown (most of this info isn’t on the outer sleeve):

1. Whisky In The Jar

Their 1st UK 7" single from November 1972 and originally a non-album track – the song is an updated cover version of a 1729 Traditional Irish air. The cut supplied here is the rare 'Promotional Edited Version' used on UK Demos and the US issue of the single that cut down the standard 7" release from its full running time of 5:44 minutes to a shorter 3:40 minutes

2. The Rocker

Their 3rd UK 7" single, this is the rare ‘Edited Single Version'. It chops down the full "Vagabonds Of The Western World" album cut of 5:12 minutes to 2:41 minutes - essentially editing out Eric Bell's guitar solo

3. Look What The Wind Blew In (on "Thin Lizzy" - their 1st album)

4. Randolph's Tango

Their 2nd UK 7" single from May 1973 and again a non-album track. This is credited as the ‘US Edited Single Version’ - but as the original UK version runs to 3:53 minutes and this cut is 3:49 minutes - in a crazy world of 45 playing times - 4-seconds is seen as an 'edit'…

5. Sarah (Version 1) (on "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" - their 2nd album)

6. Things Ain't Workin' Out Down At The Farm (Version 1)

The 4th of 4 tracks on the ultra-rare "New Day" EP - a UK-only 7" single-only release from 21 August 1971. The 1st track on the EP "Dublin" is also on this compilation - Track 12. For CD versions of the other two songs on the EP, "Remembering Part II (New Day)" and "Old Moon Madness” - they can be found as bonus tracks on both the 1990 and 2010 CD reissues of "Thin Lizzy”

7. Vagabond Of The Western World

Edited 7” Single Version - it cuts down the "Vagabonds..." album track of 4:49 minutes to a running time of 4:06 minutes

8. Here I Go Again (non-album B-side to the November 1973 UK 7” single of "The Rocker" on Decca F 13467)

9. Buffalo Gal (on "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage” - their 2nd album)

10. Honesty Is No Excuse (on "Thin Lizzy” - their 1st LP)

11. Black Boys On The Corner

Released in the UK in November 1972 as Decca F 13356 - it's the non-album B-side to both the UK and USA 7" single "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt without an 'e' in the UK and EUROPE but with an 'e' in the USA.

12. Dublin (1st of 4 tracks on the ultra-rare "New Day" EP, a UK-only 7" single-only release from 21 August 1971)

13. Little Darling (a UK 7" single-only release from April 1974 on Decca F 13507 featuring GARY MOORE (ex Ireland's SKID ROW) on Guitar)

14. Brought Down (on "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage” - their 2nd LP)

15. Remembering Part One (on "Thin Lizzy". This is credited as the 'US Edited Version' - but at 6:00 minutes it appears to me to be the same as the UK album version)

16. Chatting Today (on "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage” - their 2nd LP)

17. Broken Dreams (non-album B-side to "Randolph's Tango" – released May 1973 as their 2nd UK 45 on Decca F 13402 – both tracks were non-album at the time)

18. Little Girl In Bloom

(US Edited Version - it cuts down the "Vagabonds..." album cut from 5:14 minutes to 5:06 minutes and was apparently released like this on the 1973 AMERICAN versions of the "Vagabonds..." album)

Apart from the obvious rarity nature of many of these tracks what is thrilling is the stunning upgraded remastering that each has been given. A comparison of "Black Boys On The Corner" is one good example. Originally only available on the 1991 CD issue of “Vagabonds Of The Western World" as a bonus track in ok remastered sound - the upgrade here is just breathtaking. A truly great B-side (and far more indicative of their rockin' nature than the A) - it's been a fan-favourite for years and to hear it sound this good is an absolute blast.

Initially penciled in for release February 2008 - the first three albums on Decca "Thin Lizzy" (1971), “Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" (1972) and a 2CD Deluxe Edition of their wonderful 1973 LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World” finally arrived in 2010 after five or even six delays - and all of them with copious bonus tracks and top-quality remastering well worth the wait (see my reviews for all of them).

'Classic Thin Lizzy' is probably pushing the term here - but if you want a taster of those early years - “Classic/Universal Masters Collection" is an excellent CD compilation and a cheap way of accessing their earlier and wildly underrated material. And it’s a cool way to remember this beloved (original trio) of an Irish Rock Band and its much-missed leader - PHILIP PARIS LYNOTT. Rock on you peach…

"U.S. Singles Collection: The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS (June 2008 USA Capitol 16-Disc Mini Box Set Of CD Singles) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Surfin' U.S.A.…"

Released June 2008 in the USA on Capitol 509992 15795 23 – the sonically amazing and sumptuously packaged "U.S. Singles Collection: The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS has elicited a lot of joy amongst fans and the occasional howl of derision too (I'm with the happy bunnies personally). 

With its beautifully laid out 56-page hardback book and repro facsimile sleeves – to look at "U.S. Singles…" is a thing of beauty for sure. But diehard fans have complained about a paltry 8 unreleased tracks (Disc 1, 6, 7, 9, 13 and 16) and a not too insignificant price tag. 

Whatever way you look at it – "The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS is bit special in my book and in 2017 - its 58-tracks are available for a lot less than its initial steep asking price. So here are the bikini-clad details and Californian heavy waves…

All tracks are in MONO unless otherwise stated:

Disc 1:

1. Surfin’ Safari

2. 409

3. 409 (Live)

Tracks 1 and 2 are their debut USA 45 released May 1962 on Capitol 4777. Track 3 is a Previously Unreleased Mono Live Version

Disc 2

1. Ten Little Indians

2. County Fair

3. Punchline

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1962 on Capitol 4880.

Disc 3

1. Surfin’ USA

2. Shut Down

3. Surfin USA (Stereo Mix)

4. Shut Down (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released April 1963 on Capitol 4932.

Disc 4

1. Surfer Girl

2. Little Deuce Coupe

3. Surfer Girl (Stereo Mix)

4. Little Deuce Coup (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released August 1963 on Capitol 5009

Disc 5

1. Be True To Your School

2. In My Room

3. Be True To Your School (Alternate Version)

4. In My Room (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released October 1963 on Capitol 5069.

Disc 6

1. Little Saint Nick

2. The Lord’s Prayer

3. Little Saint Nick (Stereo Mix)

4. The Lord’s Prayer (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released December 1963 on Capitol 5096. Track 3 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 7

1. Fun, Fun, Fun

2. Why Do Fools Fall In Love

3. Fun, Fun, Fun (Stereo Mix)

4. Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Alternate Mono Single Edit)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released February 1964 on Capitol 5118. Track 4 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 8

1. I Get Around

2. Don’t Worry Baby

3. I Get Around (Stereo Backing Track)

4. Don’t Worry Baby (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released May 1964 on Capitol 5174.

Disc 9

1. When I Grow Up To Be A Man

2. She Knows Me Too Well

3. When I Grow Up To Be A Man (Stereo Mix)

4. She Knows Me Too Well (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released September 1964 on Capitol 5245. Tracks 3 and 4 are Previously Unreleased

Disc 10

1. Wendy

2. Don’t Back Down

3. Little Honda

4. Hushabye

5. Wendy (Stereo Mix)

6. Don’t Back Down (Stereo Mix)

7. Little Honda (Stereo Mix)

8. Hushabye (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 to 4 are a USA 7” EP “Four By The Beach Boys” released October 1964 on Capitol R 5267

Disc 11

1. Dance, Dance, Dance

2. The Warmth Of The Sun

3. Dance, Dance, Dance (Stereo Mix)

4. The Warmth Of The Sun (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1964 on Capitol 5306

Disc 12

1. The Man With All The Toys

2. Blue Christmas

3. The Man With All The Toys (Stereo Mix)

4. Blue Christmas (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1964 on Capitol 5312

Disc 13

1. Do You Wanna Dance

2. Please Let Me Wonder

3. Do You Wanna Dance (Stereo Mix)

4. Please Let Me Wonder (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released March 1965 on Capitol 5372. Track 3 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 14

1. Help Me Rhonda

2. Kiss Me, Baby

3. Help Me Rhonda (Mono Backing Track)

4. Kiss Me, Baby (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released April 1965 on Capitol 5395

Disc 15

1. California Girls

2. Let Him Run Wild

3. California Girls (Stereo Mix)

4. Let Him Run Wild (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released July 1965 on Capitol 5464

Disc 16 BONUS DISC:

1. All Dressed Up For School (Original Mono Mix)

2. I’m So Young (Original Mono Mix)

3. Help Me, Rhonda (Alternate Mix)

4. Graduation Day (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are Previously Unreleased

As other reviewers have quite rightly pointed out – the MARK LINETT remasters in both MONO and STEREO are second to none and worth the price of admission alone. But I’m also loving those spruced up STEREO versions – especially the rare “Four” EP and “California Girls”. I doubt I ever want to hear the festive singles “Little Saint Nick” and “The man With All The Toys” ever again – but “Help Me Rhonda”, “I Get Around” and “Be True To Your School” are still amazing.

It’s a niche product for sure – and aimed squarely at the collector – but in 2014 with its dropped-in-price tab and that storming audio to entice  – "U.S. Singles..." is more than worth a splash of your cash…

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"Back Door/8th Street Nites/Another Fine Mess" by BACK DOOR (November 2014 Beat Goes On Reissue - 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Jive Grind…"

Didn’t sell, too obscure, can’t be assed – and besides Jazz-Rock/Fusion bands don’t come from North Yorkshire in 1973. Accomplished three-piece BACK DOOR is one of those groups (like Gentle Giant, Fruupp and Greenslade) that bubbled under all the time back in the day without ever breaking through to huge audiences. And re-listening to their impressive noodlings in 2014 – it’s hardly surprising. Their brand of Vertigo Spiral-BSF-CTI Records Saxophone, Bass Guitar, Flute Jazz Rock - which then morphed into Blues-Jazz by Record Two and Funky-Soul-Rock by album Three was hard to pigeonhole let alone market.

But that doesn’t mean their tunes and especially their musicianship (honed throughout the Sixties in endless London sessions) wasn’t of the highest order – and is now deserved of your precious spondulicks. Beat Goes On of the UK seems to think so – as they once again canter bareback and proud into the world of Progressive Jazz-Rock in all its wonders and transgressions. Here are the fretless improv details…

UK and US released November 2014 – "Back Door/8th Street Nites/Another Fine Mess" by BACK DOOR on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1170 (Barcode 5017261211705) is a 3LP/2CD Set of Remasters that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (67:23 minutes):

1. Vienna Breakdown

2. Plantagenet

3. Lieutenant Loose

4. Askin’ The Way

5. Turning Point

6. Slivadiv

7. Jive Grind [Side 2]

8. Human Bed

9. Catcote Rag

10. Waltz For A Wollum

11. Folksong

12. Back Door

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Back Door" released originally on Blakey Records BLP 5989 in 1972 – then reissued in 1973 on Warner Brothers K 46231 in the UK and Warner Brothers BS 2716 in the USA

13. Linin’ Track

14. Forget Me Daisy

15. His Old Boots (Sein Alter Stiefel)

16. Blue Country Blues

17. Dancin’ In Your Van

18. 32-20 Blues

19. Roberta [Side 2]

20. It’s Nice When It’s Up

21. One Day You’re Down, The Next Day You’re Down

22. Walkin’ Blues

23. The Bed Creaks Louder

24. Adolphus Beal

Tracks 13 to 24 are their 2nd album "8th Street Nites" released 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46265 and Warner Brothers BS 2753 in the USA

Disc 2 (36:21 minutes):

1. I’m Gonna Stay A Long, Long Time

2. Blakey Jones

3. T.B. Blues

4. Candles Round Your Hat

5. Detroit Blues

6. The Spoiler [Side 2]

7. Shaken By Love

8. Streamline Guitar

9. Manager’s Shirt

10. The Dashing White Sergeant

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd album "Another Fine Mess" released January 1975 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56098

There’s a classy card slipcase, a hugely detailed 24-page booklet with CHARLES WARING liner notes that include interviews with a 69-year old Hodgkinson who discusses with wit and good memory the band and their difficult beginnings. There’s Cream, Melody Maker and NME Press clippings, photos of the boys grinning on the Empire State Building in NYC, album artwork (inside and out) – it’s the usual bang-up-job done by BGO. But the big news as ever is immaculate remasters by ANDREW THOMPSON from original master tapes. These CDs sound gorgeous – clean, expertly transferred and full of warmth.

BACK DOOR featured COLIN HODGKINSON on Bass 12-String Guitar and Vocals, RON ASPREY on Alto/Soprano Saxophones, Flute and Keyboards with TONY HICKS on Drums – their wild free Jazz leanings are evident right from the off in “Vienna Breakdown”.

The 3-minute “Catcote” rag is Colin Hodgkinson doing a Bass solo unaccompanied while “Waltz For A Wollum” is more freeform Jazz. A sad Flute permeates “Plantagenet” while we go all Soho café on the early-hours “Askin’ The Way”. Other highlights on the entirely instrumental first album are

Things needed to get better and in some way a tad more commercial – so they headed West for album number two. Recorded at Electric Ladyland Studios in New York and Produced by FELIX PAPPALARDI their cover of Huddie Ledbetter’s “Linin’ Track” on their 2nd album “8th Street Nites” features lead vocals by Hodgkinson (damn good singer too). Felix also plays piano on the pretty “Forget Me Daisy” while they go Stanley Clarke slap bass funky on “32-20 Blues” where again Hodgkinson puts a great Bluesy vocal. Their 2nd Robert Johnson cover “Walkin’ Blues” is excellent and a long way from the free form of the debut album.

Produced in London by PETER THORUP of CCS fame - album number three in probably the most ‘Soulful’ of the three. It opens with an almost AWB “I’m Gonna Stay A Long, Long Time” while “Blakey Jones” shows the musical advances (despite that awful schoolroom album artwork) – a sophisticated Spirogyra Jazz-Rock instrumental with brilliant bass and keyboard breaks. They go Georgie Fame/Van Morrison double-vocals on the slinky “T.B. Blues”. We get George Duke/Roy Ayers on the pinging keys of “Candles Round Your Hat” where the piano notes feel like vibes. Avant Garde hero MICHAEL GIBBS arranged the short but lovely “Detroit Blues” and co-wrote the tune. Funky-Rock comes in with the Side Two opener “The Spoiler” and we get scat vocals on “Manager’s Shirt” duetting with the Sax and Bass. It ends on the silly military march of “The Dashing White Sergeant” kind of spoiling the cool Fusion Rock that went before.

BACK DOOR will absolutely not be everyone’s cup of Darjeeling - but if you’re a fan – or hanker for life after George Duke, Stanley Clarke and Herbie Hancock – then this superbly remastered double on Beat Goes On is your (back door) man…

"The Complete Animals" by THE ANIMALS (July 1990 EMI 2CD Reissue - No Noise Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…It's My Life And I'll Do What I Want…"

After nearly 25 years of CD reissues The Animals back catalogue still frustrates – especially when it comes to price and sound. There are other reissues that offer more for sure (and man do some of them cost), but none that do the job so thoroughly as this early 2CD retrospective from EMI. It covers the Newcastle R’n’B band’s rocking beginnings with EMI’s Columbia Records (MGM in the USA) between 1964 and 1965 – Production by Mickie Most. It used the NoNoise Sonic Solutions process for remasters and achieved great results too. Here is a detailed show of what’s on offer (with a Discography)…

UK released July 1990 – "The Complete Animals" by THE ANIMALS is a 2CD set on EMI Records CD EM 1367 (Barcode 0077779461325) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (65:36 minutes):

1. Boom Boom

2. Talkin’ ‘Bout You (Full Version)

3. Blue Feeling (Previously Unreleased In The UK)

4. Dimples

5. Baby Let Me Take You Home

6. Gonna Send You Back To Walker

7. Baby What’s Wrong (Previously Unreleased)

8. The House Of The Rising Sun

9. F-E-E-L (Previously Unreleased)

10. I’m Mad Again

11. The Right Time

12. Around And Around

13. I’m In Love Again

14. Bury My Body

15. She Said Yeah

16. I’m Crying

17. Take It Easy

18. The Story Of Bo Diddley

19. The Girl Can’t Help It

20. I’ve Been Around

Disc 2 (60:14 minutes):

1. Memphis Tennessee

2. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

3. Club-A-Gogo

4. Roadrunner

5. Hallelujah I Love Her So

6. Don’t Want Much (Previously Unreleased)

7. I Believe To My Soul

8. Let The Good Times Roll

9. Mess Around

10. How You’ve Changed

11. I Ain’t Got You

12. Roberta

13. Bright Lights Big City

14. Worried Life Blues

15. Bring It On Home To Me

16. For Miss Caulker

17. I Can’t Believe It

18. We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place

19. It’s My Life

20. I’m Going To Change The World

Outside of the FOUR tracks noted in the lists above as being ‘Previously Unreleased’ – the remainder of the 37 songs on this 2CD set will allow fans to digitally line up THE ANIMALS years with Columbia Records in the UK and MGM Records in the USA between 1964 and 1965 – non-album singles and both of their UK albums complete. You can sequence them as follows [17/1 = Track 17 on Disc 1, 2/2 = Track 2 on Disc 2 etc]:

SINGLES:

1. Baby Let Me Take You Home [4/1] b/w Gonna Send You Back To Walker [6/1] – April 1964 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7247 and September 1964 USA 7” on MGM K 13242. Note: USA had “Gonna Send You Back To Walker” as the A with “Baby…” on the B.

2. The House Of The Rising Sun [8/1] b/w Talkin’ ‘Bout You [2/1] – June 1964 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7301 and July 1964 USA 7” on MGM K 13264. Note: the single mix of “Talkin’ ‘Bout You” runs to less than 2 minutes; this CD provides the ‘Full Version’ at over seven minutes.

3. I’m Crying [16/1] b/w Take It Easy [17/1] – September 1964 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7354 and October 1964 USA 7” on MGM K 13274.

4. Boom Boom [1/1] b/w Blue Feeling [3/1] – November 1964 USA 7” MGM Records K 13298 [No UK release]

5. Don’t Let Me Misunderstood [2/2] b/w Club A-Gogo [3/2] – January 1965 UK 7” single on Columbia DB 7445 and February 1965 USA 7” on MGM K 13311

6. Bring It On Home To Me [15/2] b/w For Miss Caulker [16/2] – April 1965 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7539 and May 1965 USA 7” on MGM K 13339

7. We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place [18/2] b/w I Can’t Believe It [17/2] – July 1965 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7741 and August 1965 USA 7” on MGM K 13382

8. It’s My Life [19/2] b/w I’m Gonna Change The World [20/2] – October 1965 UK 7” on Columbia DB 7741 and November 1965 USA 7” on MGM K 13414

ALBUMS:

“The Animals”, October 1964 UK LP on Columbia 33SX 1669

Side 1.

1. Story Of Bo Diddley [18/1]

2. Bury My Body [14/1]

3. Dimples [4/1]

4. I’ve Been Around [20/1]

5. I’m In Love Again [13/1]

6. The Girl Can’t Help It [19/1]

Side 2:

1. I’m Mad Again [10/1]

2. She Said Yeah [15/1]

3. The Right Time [11/1]

4. Memphis [1/2]

5. Boom Boom [1/1]

6. Around And Around [12/1]

“Animal Tracks”, May 1965 UK LP on Columbia 33SX 1708

Side 1:

1. Mess Around [9/2]

2. How You’ve Changed [10/2]

3. Hallelujah I Love Her So [5/2]

4. I Believe To My Soul [7/2]

5. Worried Life Blues [14/2]

6. Roberta [12/2]

Side 2:

1. I Ain’t Got You [11/2]

2. Bright Lights Big City [13/2]

3. Let The Good Times Roll [8/2]

4. For Miss Caulker [16/2]

5. Roadrunner [4/2]

The piddly 8-page inlay is a strangely disorganised affair even by today’s standards. The tracks are listed across two pages with no discography info (you can’t work out what track is on what) - Disc 2 is typed over Disc 1 in error and worse there’s a Track 21 listed on the rear sleeve for Disc 2 (not in the booklet) called “New Year Radio Spot” but it never turns up! But it has to be said that BRIAN HOGG’s densely packed essay (a deep appraisal of the band) is great - as are the three colour photos depicting sheet music and magazine covers with a broody ERIC BURDON giving his best cowboy stare. Outside of the NoNoise Logo and explanation on the rear of the double jewel case as to the process (removing hiss from tapes) – it doesn’t say who did what or where –but the sonic results are great - packing real punch and clarity. What’s missing of course is the natural air surrounding the recordings - breathing like they did on those original vinyl records - so some might find the cleanliness a little ’too’ sterile in places.

Musically the Blues, R’n’B and Rock ‘n’ Roll Heroes of John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles and Chuck Berry loom large over every tune with a smattering of Jimmy Reed and even Louis Jordan. The American only B-side of “Blue Feeling” is a welcome inclusion as is the hopping R’n’B of the shockingly good Previously Unreleased “F-E-E-L” and “Don’t Want Much”. Great album tracks include “Bury My Body” and the very Stones Blues of “I’m Mad Again” where Alan Price’s wicked organ runs sound like the Doors a year before they happened. "Roberta" is great Sixties Rock 'n' Roll and I still get a kick out of that bass intro to “We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place”. Another nugget is their take on Chet Attkins “It’s My Life” which they instil with a kicking Kinks guitar-vibe (lyrics above).

Their stay at Decca for "Animalisms" and "Animalization" in 1966 is the subject of other CD reissues. But if you want to know why Them and The Animals elicited such homegrown excitement in the UK – then this is a sonically cool/slightly flawed place to start…

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"Songs Of Love And Hate" from 1971 by LEONARD COHEN (Inside October 2011's "The Complete Studio Albums Collection" 11CD Box Set with New Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1971 LP "Songs Of Love And Hate" on Columbia and CBS Records

Remastered inside "The Complete Studio Albums Collection"

"...Diamonds In The Mines..." 

As others have quite rightly commented - it's a triple-whammy - great music, great price and stunning remastered audio for Montreal's finest.

These eleven Leonard Cohen Columbia Records studio albums stretching from 1967's "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" through to 2004's "Dear Heather" are presently clocking in at less than two quid a pop (March 2017) - which given what's on offer here is utterly remarkable - 'new skin for the old ceremony' indeed. The only missing LP is April 1973's "Live Songs" because it's outside this box studio box set's remit.

His deeply sad passing in November 2016 saw the loss of yet another style-setting songsmith from back in the day – Canada's great mumbling lover man – Leonard Cohen. Always bigger in the UK and Europe than he was in Canada and the States - his deep tonal voice and tales of forlorn love struck a mighty chord in Blighty especially. Not for everyone for sure - but those who loved his articulate wallowing did so with a passion bordering on mania. Sisters Of Mercy named their band after a song on his 1967 debut - while everyone from Tori Amos and Jennifer Warnes to Jeff Buckley, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Neil Diamond, Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Joe Cocker, Eddie Kendricks, Don Henley, Nick Cave, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, Suzanne Vega, Peter Gabriel and Madeleine Peyroux (amongst many) has covered his lonesome pine tunes. Jeff Buckley practically owns the beautiful and ethereal "Hallelujah" and every Indie Movie its ever been featured in (a UK No 1 while Cohen was still with us). And all of this is yours for less than twenty-two UK pre-Brexit smackers.

Let's get to the various musical positions before someone out there in overpriced digital 'la la land' notices the wrong envelope...and in particular the wonderful third LP from 1971 – overlooked and unfairly forgotten...

UK released 9 October 2011 - "The Complete Studio Albums Collection" by LEONARD COHEN on Sony/Legacy 88697961772 (Barcode 886979617728) is an 11CD Box Set of New Remasters with a 24-page booklet that plays out as follows:

Disc 3 - "Songs Of Love And Hate" (1971) - 45:02 minutes:

1. Avalanche

2. Last Year's Man

3. Dress Rehearsal Rag

4. Diamonds In The Mine

5. Love Calls You By Your Name [Side 2]

6. Famous Blue Raincoat

7. Sing Another Song, Boys

8. Joan Of Arc

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 3rd studio album "Songs Of Love And Hate" - released March 1971 in the USA on Columbia C 30103 and in the UK on CBS Records S 69004 (Stereo only in both cases). Produced by BOB JOHNSTON - it peaked at No. 145 in the USA and No. 4 in the UK.

Produced for Sony/Legacy by Steve Berkowitz and Bruce Dickinson - pages 2 to 5 of the 24-page booklet feature new liner notes from novelist and fan PICO LYER - while the remaining pages offer basic track lists, some musician credits and three or four black and white photos of Cohen during various stages of his career. It's nice but hardly great or in-depth. Excepting the gatefold of 1977's "Diary Of A Ladies' Man" - each album is in a singular card sleeve as per their original vinyl/CD releases - but there's no inserts or the mini booklet that accompanied "Songs Of Love And Hate" - that sort of thing (not reproduced in the booklet either). There's no real analysis of the albums in the booklet - hell they can't even be bothered to put the LP release dates anywhere (you get more info from my lists than you do in here).

But all of that goes out the presentation window when you clap your ears on the wonderful new Remasters. MARK WILDER and BRUCE DICKINSON are the Audio Engineers behind each album (all done at Battery Studios in New York) except "Dear Heather" which doesn't need any work and was originally mastered by STEPHEN MARCUSSEN (he did all the Polydor CD reissues for The Rolling Stones in 2009). Many of these albums have eluded Remaster for years - so it's a welcome Audio haul that's for sure. Let’s focus on 1971...

Producer Bob Johnston had twiddled the knobs for the one and only album by West in 1968 – the self-titled "West" on Epic BN 23860. For the "Songs Of Love And Hate" sessions Johnston brought in the Guitarist from West Ron Cornelius as the principal player (he’d also strummed on Dylan’s "New Morning" LP earlier in 1971). And along with Paul Buckmaster who’d arranged strings for Elton John and David Bowie – you also got Southern Rocker Charlie Daniels later of The Charlie Daniels Band contributing Guitar, Bass and Fiddle. The other element was Bubba Fowler – an Acoustic Folk Guitarist who had managed a lone album called "...And Then Came Bubba" on Columbia CS 9971 in 1970. He plays Bass, Acoustic and Banjo. Cohen in fact decided to dub his troop of players ‘The Army’ and would play live with most of them to Israeli Soldiers later that year on one of his many world-wandering forays. Last but not least - the second song on Side 1 - "Last Year’s Man" - also features the children’s voices of London’s Corona Choir to very moving effect.

It seemed that between the eighteen months since the last LP "Songs From A Room" in April 1969 – Cohen’s vocal range had dipped even lower. I say this because although the first two sparse albums get all the 4 to 5-star accolades - I find his deeper tone on this album to be the best of all that period. Lyrically too – whether it be the acoustic guitar tumble of the opener "Avalanche" or the six-minutes of "Dress Rehearsal Rag" – his words flowed like wise poetry – a very Dylanesque string of consciousness that was both sleepy and ever so slightly drugged-up. There is gorgeous audio on "Diamonds In The Mine" – where there are no grapes on the vine or chocolates in the box – an acidic growling song about Christians getting eaten and doctors sterilising needles (nice).

Things return to that pretty drone of his with "Love Calls You By Your Name" – where lyrics talk about open oceans and even more open veins – women in scrapbooks to be praised and blamed as Paul Buckmaster pours on those trademark strings. In 1986 Jennifer Warners would start the first of three tribute albums to LC by calling hers after the next famous song - "Famous Blue Raincoat" (check out the CDs for “I’m Your Fan” in 1991 and "Tower Of Song" in 1995). Corlynn Hanney and Susan Mussman are the female vocalists who provide those beautiful counterpoint vocals sailing over his story of Jane – while Buckmaster keeps the horns and strings so subtle and therefore so moving. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is worth the price of admission alone. I find the mock live feel to "Sing Another Song, Boys" a bit grating – but the six-minutes of "Joan Of Arc" is classic Leonard Cohen. The blood-spattered Crusader bemoans the war – wants a wedding dress – wants the night to sooth her – wants the mantle of heroine lifted. The remaster is gorgeous throughout this LP finisher that feels like Mike Oldfield on an Acoustic Guitar two years before forming the quieter passages in "Tubular Bells" (the two aforementioned ladies also add a beauty to this song).

It would be over three years until he returned with "New Skin For The Old Ceremony" in August 1974 where Cohen suddenly sounded like Dr. John from New Orleans.

"...I hear that you’re building your little house...deep in the desert..." – Cohen sings on the epic "Famous Blue Raincoat". Start building your love affair with this lovely-sounding album and great value CD Box Set...

PS: If you can’t locate a 1971 original LP - Music On Vinyl – the repressing wing of Columbia – put out a 180-grams remastered vinyl LP version of "Songs Of Love And Hate" in November 2009 (minus the booklet) on Music On Vinyl MOVLP036 (Barcode 5099703221916)...