"The Authorized Bang Collection" by VAN MORRISON (April 2017 Exile/Legacy/Sony 3CD Set - Andrew Sandoval Remasters - including the "Blowin' Your Mind" LP from 1967) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Let It Out..."

I've donned my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker, ordered in ten crates of Lucozade to replace lost energy and have a well-thumbed copy of Donald Trump's Comprehensive Guide To World Peace beside my Porta-Nuclear Shelter to calm the nerves (what can possibly go wrong). OK here goes...

As Van Morrison obsessives will know - the two sessions our rotund spiritual leader made with Bert Berns in New York in March and October 1967 after he left Belfast's THEM - have been an LP and CD compilation nightmare for decades on end.

The actual "Blowin' Your Mind" debut LP from September 1967 had only 8-tracks – but after his Warner Brothers success in 1968 and 1970 with the masterful "Astral Weeks" along with the classic "Moondance" and "His Band And The Street Choir" albums – a mad dash in the Bang Records vaults plundered the remaining recordings. They produced unsanctioned albums like the dubiously titled "The Best Of Van Morrison" in September 1970, "T.B. Sheets" in December 1973 and even as the decade was coming to a close - the British compilation "This Is Where I Come In" from September 1977 – all of which seemed to be adding and mixing up more songs and muddying the waters.

The last decent fist at sorting out this shady period of Van Morrison’s early solo recording career came with the stunning April 1991 CD simply called "Bang Masters" (the UK issue is Columbia/Legacy 468309 2 - Barcode 5099746830922). But while it was a sonic sensation at the time - Audio Engineers Mark Wilder and Stephen St. Croix had decided to Remix all the 60ts tracks for that release - and those 1991 versions have been used on everything released since.

This April 2017 Exile/Legacy/Sony Music 3CD set is the first time that the original sixteen tracks have been presented digitally in their original STEREO form – along with Session Outtakes, Mono Single Mixes and a huge swath of Previously Unreleased versions that have circulated unofficially on bootlegs for years. There is a mountain of info to get through – so let’s get red-eyed never mind brown...

UK released Friday, 28 April 2017 – "The Authorized Bang Collection" by VAN MORRISON on Exile/Legacy/Sony Music 88985424672 (Barcode 889854246723) is a 3CD Definitive Anthology remastered by the Grammy-winning Audio Engineer ANDREW SANDOVAL (he did the Deluxe Editions of the much-praised Kinks and Small Faces) and has been sanctioned/overseen by the artist himself. It plays out as follows...

Disc 1 – The Original Masters – 71:30 minutes:

1. Brown Eyed Girl (Original Stereo Mix)

2. He Ain't Give You None (Original Stereo Mix)

3. T.B. Sheets (Original Stereo Mix)

4. Spanish Rose (Original Stereo Mix)

5. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) (Original Stereo Mix)

6. Ro Ro Rosey (Original Stereo Mix)

7. Who Drove The Red Sports Car (Original Stereo Mix)

8. Midnight Special (Original Stereo Mix)

9. It's All Right (Original Stereo Mix)

10. Send Your Mind (Original Stereo Mix)

11. The Smile You Smile (Original Stereo Mix)

12. The Back Room (Original Stereo Mix)

13. Joe Harper Saturday Morning (Original Stereo Mix)

14. Beside (Original Mono Mix)

15. Madame George (Original Mono Mix)

16. Chick-A-Boom (Original Mono Mix)

17. The Smile You Smile (Demo)

Disc 2 – Bang Sessions & Rarities – 74:29 minutes:

1. Brown Eyed Girl (Original Edited Mono Single Mix)

2. Ro Ro Rosey (Original Mono Single Mix with Backing Vocals)

3. T.B. Sheets (Take 2)

4. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) (Takes 10 & 11)

5. Send Your Mind (Take 3)

6. Midnight Special (Take 7)

7. He Ain't Give You None (Take 4)

8. Ro Ro Rosey (Take 2)

9. Who Drove The Red Sports Car (Take 6)

10. Beside You (Take 2)

11. Joe Harper Saturday Morning (Take 2)

12. Beside You (Take 5)

13. Spanish Rose (Take 14)

14. Brown Eyed Girl (Takes 1-6)

15. Brown Eyed Girl (Takes 7-11)

Track 1 issued May 1967 as a US 45 on Bang Records B-545, A-side

Track 2 issued October 1967 as a US 45 on Bang Records B-552, A-side

Tracks 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

(An edited version of Take 6 inside Track 14 was first issued 1991 on the US Legacy CD compilation "Bang Masters" on Columbia EK 47041)

Tracks 6 and 9 first issued 1998 on the US Legacy CD for "Blowin' Your Mind" on Columbia ZK 65751

Track 7 first issued 1991 on the US Legacy CD compilation "Bang Masters" on Columbia EK 47041

Disc 3 - Contractual Obligation Session - 35:42 minutes:

1. Twist And Shake

2. Shake And Roll

3. Stomp And Scream

4. Scream And Holler

5. Jump And Thump

6. Drivin' Wheel

7. Just Ball

8. Shake It Mabel

9. Hold On George

10. The Big Royalty Check

11. Ring Worm

12. Savoy Hollywood

13. Freaky If You Got This Far

14. Up Your Mind

15. Thirty Two

16. All The Bits

17. You Say France And I Whistle

18. Blowin' Your Nose

19. Nose In Your Blow

20. La Mambo

21. Go For Yourself

22. Want A Danish

23. Here Comes Dumb George

24. Chickee Coo

25. Do It

26. Hang On Groovy

27. Goodbye George

28. Dum Dum George

29. Walk And Talk

30. The Wobble

31. Wobble And Ball

All tracks by Van Morrison, recorded 1967 in New York, all tracks Previously Officially Unissued

The four-flap foldout card digipak certainly feels substantial and looks the 'major' reissue part. The 24-page booklet is a very classy affair and features liner notes from the mighty Vanster himself explaining in detail the torturous circumstances in which the album and the sessions took place. He praises Bert Berns as a genius - his connection with the American going back to London in 1964 when a young Van met Berns in the London offices of Phil Solomon at Decca Records. There are loads of classy photos showing Van with Bert as they recorded - Van with his acoustic in hand and giving some at the microphone. There are snaps of the three Bang 45s "Brown Eyed Girl", "Ro Ro Rosey" and "Goodbye Baby" - a concert flyer for 7 October 1967 at the 'Hullabaloo' where the support act is The Yellow Payges and the usual detailed reissue credits.

But it's the AUDIO that excels. Grammy-nominated Audio Engineer ANDREW SANDOVAL explains the intricacies of the 'tangled tapes' in his 'Compiler's Note' – two whole pages of facts about what's what. Both Disc 1 and 2 are mindblowingly good and I think will take most Morrison fans by storm. Sure the STEREO imaging is often crude – Van’s voice to the left speaker while the drums and tambourines whack out of the right – but there’s warmth to it all. "The Back Room" is spectacular while "T.B. Sheets" is eleven-minutes of Sixties R&B bliss (Tracks 12 and 3 on Disc 1). And while Disc 3 is actually questionable in its value with its one-minute throwaway vignettes (even if it the first legal issue of these wisely bootlegged recordings) - the outtakes on Disc 2 are another matter entirely. Many actually had me tingling - unbelievable finds that have been buried in a morass of legality and acrimony that's lasted 50 friggin' years. But before we get to the content of all three discs - a word on the actual 1967 debut album "Blowin' Your Mind" contained within...

THE FOUR ORIGINAL "Blowin' Your Mind" LPS:

A 21-year old Van was in New York in March 1967 with Producer Bert Barnes to cut some single-sides across two days (28th and 29th). The sessions produced a flurry of fully formed studio-recorded material including his biggest hit (and most famous early song) – the wonderful "Brown Eyed Girl". Van returned to Ireland to work on songs that would eventually become his first album proper as far as he was concerned – 1968’s "Astral Weeks". Barnes however released "Brown Eyed Girl" in May 1967 and it became a monster smash. Eager to capitalise on the momentum of the 45 and with contractual authority – Barnes then went back to the session tapes and cobbled together 7 other tracks (without Van’s consent) to make the album "Blowin' Your Mind" released September 1967 in the USA on Bang BLP 218 (Mono) and BLPS 218 (Stereo) and February 1968 in the UK on London HA-Z 8346 in Mono-Only. It is presented here in STEREO and that American first LP can be sequenced in consecutive order from Tracks 1 to 8 on CD1:

"Blowin' Your Mind" LP in STEREO

Side 1:

1. Brown Eyed Girl

2. He Ain't Give You None

3. T.B. Sheets

Side 2:

1. Spanish Rose

2. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)

3. Ro Ro Rosey

4. Who Drove The Red Sports Car

5. Midnight Special

After the albums "Astral Weeks" (November 1968), "Moondance" (March 1970) and "His Band And The Street Choir" (November 1970) on Warner Brothers made Van Morrison a Rock Star around the world – Barnes went at the material again and came up with a 2nd LP - the dubiously titled "The Best Of Van Morrison". That 10-track compilation LP was released September 1970 on Bang Records in the USA on Bang BLPS 222 and May 1971 on President Records PTLS 1045 in the UK. He took "Brown Eyed Girl", four other tracks from the "Blowin' Your Mind" album and a further five outtakes from the sessions. That record can be sequenced from CD1 as follows:

"The Best Of Van Morrison" LP in STEREO

Side 1:

1. Spanish Rose [Track 4]

2. It's All Right [Track 9]

3. Send Your Mind [Track 10]

4. The Smile You Smile [Track 11]

5. The Back Room [Track 12]

Side 2:

1. Brown Eyed Girl [Track 1]

2. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) [Track 5]

3. Ro Ro Rosey [Track 6]

4. He Ain’t Give You None [Track 2]

5. Joe Harper Saturday Morning [Track 13]

A 3rd (and final original) compilation "T.B. Sheets" was released December 1973 in the USA on Bang BLP-400 (charted at 181) and March 1974 in the UK on London HSM-5008. This 8-track LP contained two new surprises – Mono mixes and early versions of two Bang-era tracks that would eventually come out on "Astral Weeks" in 1968 – "Beside You" and "Madame George". It sequences as follows

"T.B. Sheets" LP in STEREO

Side 1:

1. He Ain’t Give You None [Track 2]

2. Beside You [Track 14]

3. It’s All Right [Track 9]

4. Madame George [Track 15]

Side 2:

1. T.B. Sheets [Track 3]

2. Who Drove The Red Sports Car [Track 7]

3. Ro Ro Rosey [Track 6]

4. Brown Eyed Girl [Track 1]

A 4th compilation came out in the UK-only in September 1977 on London/Bang 6427 625 called "This Is Where I Come In" and its generous 15-tracks featured the bulk of the previous three gathered together as follows:

Side 1:

1. Spanish Rose [Track 4]

2. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) [Track 5]

3. He Ain’t Give You None [Track 2]

4. Beside You [Track 14]

5. Madame George [Track 15]

6. T.B. Sheets [Track 3]

Side 2:

1. Brown Eyed Girl [Track 1]

2. Send Your Mind [Track 10]

3. The Smile You Smile [Track 11]

4. The Back Room [Track 12]

5. Ro Ro Rosey [Track 6]

6. Who Drove The Red Sports Car [Track 7]

7. It’s All Right [Track 9]

8. Joe Harper Saturday Morning [Track 13]

9. Midnight Special [Track 8]

In hindsight the 8-track 1967 album still holds up and it comes as a shock to hear "Brown Eyed Girl" in Stereo as opposed to the Mono 7" single mix we're all so used to. Bang Records made a mistake in leaving something as cool and as brilliant as "The Back Room" off the original album - but the fake studio joviality at the beginning of "Madam George" is pretty hateful stuff when you compare it with the beauty of the "Astral Weeks" version. And of the Previously Unreleased Outtakes I'm digging the Bass and Chatter beginning to "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" where the Producer advises "...that opening is a little bit too much man..." and a superbly atmospheric groove in the rolling on six take for "Who Drove The Red Sports Car". Fans also get an amazing Takes 1 to 11 look into the organic construction of "Brown Eyed Girl" - the musicians ironing out kinks - trying to actually play what's in Van's head. Amazing stuff – and there’s so much of it too.

"...I see the way you joke at me...from behind the door...and look into my eyes...your little starstruck innuendos...inadequacies...and foreign bodies..." – Van tells a clearly misguided Julie in the epic "T. B. Sheets". 
Morrison then adds - "...Open up the window and let me breathe..." - pleading to be made clean – get me away from the smell of sickness - away from people who don't understand me.

Well there's no need to moan any more mate - because this new way into those halcyon days of creativity is beautifully clear. Big kudos to all involved in what is surely going to be an early contender for CD retrospective 'Reissue of the Year 2017'...

"A Rainbow In Curved Air" by TERRY RILEY (April 2012 Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Back Street Luv..."

Name-checked by Pete Townshend of The Who and Mike Oldfield as influences on both "Who's Next" and "Tubular Bells" – and with the British Prog Rock Band pinching CURVED AIR as their name – Californian Terry Riley’s 1969 LP on Columbia Masterworks “A Rainbow In Curved Air” has had extraordinary influence across the decades. Everyone from Tangerine Dream, Amon Duul, Can, Neu, Soft Machine right on through to Steve Reich, Orbital and Boards Of Canada cite the man’s repetitive Electronic noodlings as seminal in the development of their sound. In fact you could say that 'all' Minimal, Ambient and Electronica music owes a debt and a nod to Terry Riley’s groundbreaking LPs. And this beautifully remastered CD (BEN WISEMAN has handled the original master tapes) digs out all those nuances and layers and keyboard flourishes as never before. Here are the Switched On Bach details...

UK released April 2012 – "A Rainbow In Curved Air" by TERRY RILEY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2306 (Barcode 5013929430648) is a straightforward CD remaster (40:27 minutes) of his 2nd LP first issued November 1969 in the USA on Columbia Masterworks MS 7315 and belatedly released 1971 in the UK on CBS Records S 64564. Side 1 is called "A Rainbow In Curved Air" and is one continuous piece of Electronic Music at 18:47 minutes - while Side 2 is "Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band" running to 21:41 minutes. Produced by DAVID BEHRMAN – the album was originally Engineered by GLEN KOLOTKIN and ROY SEGAL (his 1st album for Columbia Masterworks is "in C" from 1968 on MS 7178 – which Esoteric Recordings have also reissued on remastered CD - ECLEC 2305 in 2012).

Instead of a 16-page booklet – the inlay folds out into a large 16-square display that gives the smiling face artwork loads on room to shine both back and front (it includes a photo of the rare and different French LP version). There is a superb appraisal of the album, its music and its inventor by noted music writer SID SMITH. It reproduces the liner notes to the UK LP and even has the trade advert from Columbia gallantly trying to explain "What does terry Riley’s music sound like?" and managing to offer up waffle like "...the beginning...inside of you..." But better is the gorgeous remaster. 24-Bit Remastered by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London – this CD sounds sensational – unwrapping layers in the density and making it feel like you’re hearing more (and all of it sounding better). A superb job done...

As you play Side 1 – you can so hear where Townshend got the 1971 opening ARP Synthesizer piece to "Baba O'Riley". In fact "A Rainbow In Curved Air" sounds like that "Baba O'Riley" synth pattern taken to a near nineteen-minute opus – all layers and doodles and more layers – looping – rhythmic – dance music minimal – hypnotic and kind of beautiful like the best Kraut Rock is. Riley plays Electric Organ, Electric Harpsichord, Rocksichord Keyboards, Goblet Drums and Tambourine.

Because Side 2 is so busy on the ear – "Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band" sounds like there’s a hundred different instruments bombarding your speakers in a sort of Indian meets Classical meets Tangerine Dream – but in fact there’s only two – Organ and Soprano Saxophone. You also notice the way its compiled - as you reach seven minutes into the piece you can so hear where Mike Oldfield got the magnum opus sidelong construction ideas for "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge" and "Ommadawn" between 1973 and 1975. And as the Organ and Soprano Saxophones drone at first and then overlap in a dance – the effect is magical really – the kind of music that will have customers running to the counters of records shops asking with a wide-eyed glint – "whose this!"

It’s experimental for sure and mad in places – but 45 years after the event – "A Rainbow In Curved Air" stills sounds extraordinarily contemporary and of the now (literally years ahead of his time). And the affection and dare we say it awe that Terry Riley is held in has been growing in the Dance and Sampling communities for decades now (a sort of "Back Street Luv").

At a spritely 79 years of age - Riley has a body of Electronic Work that now reaches into the 11’s. Well done to Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings for doing such a stellar job...and keep on twiddling those knobs (in an ambient kind of way you understand)...

Name-checked by Pete Townshend of The Who and Mike Oldfield as influences on both "Who's Next" and "Tubular Bells" – and with the British Prog Rock Band pinching CURVED AIR as their name – Californian Terry Riley’s 1969 LP on Columbia Masterworks “A Rainbow In Curved Air” has had extraordinary influence across the decades. Everyone from Tangerine Dream, Amon Duul, Can, Neu, Soft Machine right on through to Steve Reich, Orbital and Boards Of Canada cite the man’s repetitive Electronic noodlings as seminal in the development of their sound. In fact you could say that 'all' Minimal, Ambient and Electronica music owes a debt and a nod to Terry Riley’s groundbreaking LPs. And this beautifully remastered CD (BEN WISEMAN has handled the original master tapes) digs out all those nuances and layers and keyboard flourishes as never before. Here are the Switched On Bach details...

UK released April 2012 – "A Rainbow In Curved Air" by TERRY RILEY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2306 (Barcode 5013929430648) is a straightforward CD remaster (40:27 minutes) of his 2nd LP first issued November 1969 in the USA on Columbia Masterworks MS 7315 and belatedly released 1971 in the UK on CBS Records S 64564. Side 1 is called "A Rainbow In Curved Air" and is one continuous piece of Electronic Music at 18:47 minutes - while Side 2 is "Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band" running to 21:41 minutes. Produced by DAVID BEHRMAN – the album was originally Engineered by GLEN KOLOTKIN and ROY SEGAL (his 1st album for Columbia Masterworks is "in C" from 1968 on MS 7178 – which Esoteric Recordings have also reissued on remastered CD - ECLEC 2305 in 2012).

Instead of a 16-page booklet – the inlay folds out into a large 16-square display that gives the smiling face artwork loads on room to shine both back and front (it includes a photo of the rare and different French LP version). There is a superb appraisal of the album, its music and its inventor by noted music writer SID SMITH. It reproduces the liner notes to the UK LP and even has the trade advert from Columbia gallantly trying to explain "What does terry Riley’s music sound like?" and managing to offer up waffle like "...the beginning...inside of you..." But better is the gorgeous remaster. 24-Bit Remastered by BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving in London – this CD sounds sensational – unwrapping layers in the density and making it feel like you’re hearing more (and all of it sounding better). A superb job done...

As you play Side 1 – you can so hear where Townshend got the 1971 opening ARP Synthesizer piece to "Baba O'Riley". In fact "A Rainbow In Curved Air" sounds like that "Baba O'Riley" synth pattern taken to a near nineteen-minute opus – all layers and doodles and more layers – looping – rhythmic – dance music minimal – hypnotic and kind of beautiful like the best Kraut Rock is. Riley plays Electric Organ, Electric Harpsichord, Rocksichord Keyboards, Goblet Drums and Tambourine.

Because Side 2 is so busy on the ear – "Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band" sounds like there’s a hundred different instruments bombarding your speakers in a sort of Indian meets Classical meets Tangerine Dream – but in fact there’s only two – Organ and Soprano Saxophone. You also notice the way its compiled - as you reach seven minutes into the piece you can so hear where Mike Oldfield got the magnum opus sidelong construction ideas for "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge" and "Ommadawn" between 1973 and 1975. And as the Organ and Soprano Saxophones drone at first and then overlap in a dance – the effect is magical really – the kind of music that will have customers running to the counters of records shops asking with a wide-eyed glint – "whose this!"

It’s experimental for sure and mad in places – but 45 years after the event – "A Rainbow In Curved Air" stills sounds extraordinarily contemporary and of the now (literally years ahead of his time). And the affection and dare we say it awe that Terry Riley is held in has been growing in the Dance and Sampling communities for decades now (a sort of "Back Street Luv").

At a spritely 79 years of age - Riley has a body of Electronic Work that now reaches into the 11’s. Well done to Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings for doing such a stellar job...and keep on twiddling those knobs (in an ambient kind of way you understand)...

"Reflections" by GRAHAM NASH [feat Hollies, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and more] (February 2009 Rhino/Atlantic 3 x HDCD Book Set Of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Feed Them On Your Dreams…"

Featuring The Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dave Mason of Traffic, Members of The Grateful Dead and more. Includes tracks from the albums "Crosby, Stills & Nash" (1969), "Déjà Vu" (1970), "Graham Nash/David Crosby" (1972), "Wind On The Water" (1975), "Whistling Down The Wire" (1976), "CSN" (1977) and more...

Across 64 tracks, 3CDs and a career spanning 40 years – Graham Nash's offering in the on-going solo reissues for CROSBY, STILLS, NASH and YOUNG gives you a whopping 32 previously unreleased tracks, a fabulously detailed booklet and the whole kit and caboodle remastered into sparkly HDCD. Here are the harmonising English-Boy done-good details…

Released February 2009 – "Reflections" by GRAHAM NASH on Rhino/Atlantic 8122-79935-8 (Barcode 081227993580) is 3 x HDCD Book Set of Remasters with Previously Unreleased Material that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (74:52 minutes):

1. On A Carousel – THE HOLLIES (February 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5562, A-side, Mono)

2. Carrie Anne – THE HOLLIES (May 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5602, A-side, Mono)

3. King Midas In Reverse – THE HOLLIES (September 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5637, A-side, Mono)

4. Marrakesh Express – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

5. Pre-Road Downs – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

6. Lady Of The Island – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (tracks 4 to 6 are from the album “Crosby, Stills & Nash” released June 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8229 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 189)

7. Our House – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

8. Teach Your Children – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (tracks 7 and 8 originally on the album “Déjà Vu” released March 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7200 and in the UK on Atlantic 2401 001. Track 8 is a Previously Unreleased Mix)

9. Right Between The Eyes – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Demo)

10. I Used To Be King – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

11. Simple Man – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

12. Man In The Mirror – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

13. Better Days – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

14. Military Madness – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

15. Sleep Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

16. Chicago/We Can Change The World – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

17. Southbound Train – CROSBY & NASH

18. Immigration Man – CROSBY & NASH (tracks 17 and 18 on the album “Graham Nash / David Crosby” released April 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7220 and May 1972 in the UK on Atlantic K 50011)

19. Wild Tales – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

20. Prison Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

21. Oh! Camil (The Winter Soldier) – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

22. On The Line – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

23. You’ll Never Be The Same – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

24. Another Sleep Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

Disc 2 (74:38 minutes):

1. To The Last Whale: Critical Mass/Wind On The Water – DAVID CROSBY / GRAHAM NASH

2. Fieldworker – DAVID CROSBY / GRAHAM NASH

3. Cowboy Of Dreams – DAVID CROSBY /  GRAHAM NASH

4. Love Work Out – DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH (tracks 1 to 4 are from the album “Wind On The Water” released October 1975 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-902 and January 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2310 428)

5. Marguerita – DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH (on the album “Whistling Down The Wire” released July 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-956 and in the UK on Polydor 2310 468)

6. Taken At All – CROSBY. STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

7. Mutiny – CROSBY, NASH (on the album “Whistling Down The Wire” released July 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-956 and in the UK on Polydor 2310 468)

8. Just A Song Before I Go – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (on the album “CSN” released June 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19104 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50369)

9. Cold Rain – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased mix)

10. Cathedral – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (originally on the album “CSN” released June 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19104 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50369 – this is a Previously Unreleased Mix)

11. Barrel Of Pain (Half-Life) – GRAHAM NASH

12. Magical Child – GRAHAM NASH (11 and 12 originally on the album “Earth & Sky” released March 1980 in the USA on Capitol SWAK-12014 and in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 12014. Track 12 is a Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) 

13. Song For Susan – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH

14. Wasted On The Way - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (13 and 14 on the album “Daylight Again” released July 1982 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19360 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50896)

15. Love Is The Reason – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

16. Raise A Voice - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (on “Allies” (Live) released June 1983 on Atlantic 78-0075-1)

17. Clear Blue Skies - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

18. Lonely Man - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

19. Sad Eyes – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

20. Water From The Moon – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

21. Soldiers Of Peace - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (on the album “American Dream” released November 1988 in the USA on Atlantic 7 81888-1 and in the UK on Atlantic WX 233)

Disc 3 (74:55 minutes):

1. If Anybody Had A Heart – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

2. Chippin’ Away – GRAHAM NASH (on the album “Innocent Eyes” released April 1986 in the USA on Atlantic 7 81888 1 and Atlantic WX 233 in the UK)

3. After The Dolphin – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

4. House Of Broken Dreams - CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (1, 3 and 4 on the album “Live It Up” released June 1990 on LP in the UK and USA on Atlantic 7567 82101-1)

5. Unequal Love – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

6. Liar’s Nightmare – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

7. Heartland – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (on the album “looking Forward” released November 1999 on CD on East West 9362 47436-2)

8. These Empty Days – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (on the album “After The Storm” released August 1994 on CD on East West 7567 82654-2)

9. Try To Find Me – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

10. Two Hearts – CAROLE KING and GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

11. Behind The Shades – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

12. Michael (Hedges Here) – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

13. I Surrender – CROSBY, NASH

14. Live On (The Wall) – CROSBY, NASH (tracks 13 and 14 are on the 2CD set “Crosby Nash” released 2004 on Sanctuary 06076-84683-2 in the USA and Sanctuary SANDD293 in the UK and Europe)

15. Dirty Little Secret – GRAHAM NASH

16. We Breathe The Same Air – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

17. Grace – CROSBY, NASH

18. Jesus Of Rio – CROSBY, NASH

19. In Your Name – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

The audio remaster handled by Graham Nash, Bernie Grundman and John Nowland are truly gorgeous – full of life and presence – really superb work done and care taken. Nowland was involved with the brilliant Neil Young NYA CD remasters over the last few years and Bernie Grundman is a long-established engineer of considerable note. You feel care was taken with each and every track. The 150-page booklet is properly gorgeous – a glossy paperback rammed with colour photos, album sleeves, reminiscences on all the songs, contributions from his vast array of musician friends (household names one and all) and images of his alter life as a painter, artist and photographer. And while the David Crosby Box Set “Voyage” from 2006 had his career on Discs 1 and 2 with all the Previously Unreleased stuff entirely allocated to (a stunning) Disc 3 – the Nash box chooses to mix them in – in chronological order.

Disc 1 opens with a triple-whammy winner of Hollies hits followed quickly by three Nash contributions to the debut CSN album in turn followed by his lovely “Our House” from “Déjà Vu”. We’re then hammered with a slew of 17 alternate versions and this is where I feel some problems arise. Some like “I Used To Be A King” and the acoustic take of “Another Sleep Song” are really excellent - but songs that I love like “Better Days”, “Military Madness” and “On The Line” get lesser or ‘countrified’ versions - when I really wanted upgraded remastered originals.

As you open Disc 2 you’re hit with the vocal magnificence of “To The Last Whale…” and the guitar funk of “Love Work Out”. “Just A Song Before I Go” from 1977’s “CSN” sounds amazing – fantastic audio-quality - as does the Alternate of “Magical Child”. But as we get further into the Eighties and Nineties the quality varies enormously. On the one hand you get the naff “Chippin’ Away” siding with the genuinely moving – a really lovely alternate version of “Unequal Love” – intimate and in your living room. The non-album “Water From The Moon” is awful cod-rock while “House Of Broken Dreams” from the underrated “Live It Up” CSNY set from 1990 is excellent (“separate houses, separate hearts…”). I liked a lot of what was on the 2CD “Crosby/Nash” 2004 set including their hurting version of Marc Cohn’s “I Surrender”. It ends on “In Your Name” – a prayer to God to “stop all this killing in your name…” – a sweet ballad and a cool way to finish the box.

It’s not all genius for sure and some of the stuff on Disc 2 and 3 is too maudlin and middle of the road - but what is here is beautifully remastered and presently in drop-dead gorgeous surroundings. Time to reappraise. Man were they a talented bunch…

"LOU ADLER: A Musical History" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (February 2014 Ace Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Flowers In His Hair..."

25-Tracks from the career of Producer, Songwriter and Ode Records founder LOU ADLER stretching from 1958 to 1974 – "A Musical History" is a brilliant and eclectic mix of styles, songs and genres that cleverly maps the emergence of the "California Sound" - including huge names like Sam Cooke, The Mama's & The Papa's and Carole King. 

Here are the Eve Of Destruction details...

UK released February 2014 – "LOU ADLER: A Musical History" on Ace Records CDCHD 1384 (Barcode 029667057523) is a 25-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that pans out as follows (71:40 minutes):

1. Wonderful World – SAM COOKE (1960 USA 7” single on Keen 82112, A)

2. Deana Baby – JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON (1958 USA 7” single on Keen 3-4023, A)

3. Bim Bam – SAM BUTERA & THE WITNESSES (1958 USA 7” single on Capitol F 4014, A)

4. Baby Talk – JAN & DEAN (1959 USA 7” single on Dore 522, A)

5. All Of My Life – SAM COOKE (1958 USA 7” single on Keen 3-2005, A)

6. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight – THE UNTOUCHABLES (1960 USA 7” single on Madison M134, A)

7. Alley-Oop – DANTE & THE EVERGREENS (1960 USA 7” single on Madison M130, A)

8. Honolulu Lulu – JAN & DEAN (1963 USA 7” single on Liberty 55613, A)

9. Crying In The Rain – THE EVERLY BROTHERS (1961 USA 7” single on Warner Brothers 5250, A)

10. Eve Of Destruction – BARRY McGUIRE (1965 USA 7” single on Dunhill 45-D-4009, A)

11. Go Where You Wanna Go – THE MAMA’S & THE PAPA’S (1965 USA 7” single on Dunhill 45-D-4018, A)

12. California Dreamin’ - THE MAMA’S & THE PAPA’S (1965 USA 7” single on Dunhill 45-D-4018, A)

13. San Francisco “Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair” – SCOTT McKENZIE (1967 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7-103, A)

14. Stoney End – THE BLOSSOMS (1967 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7-106, B-side to “Wonderful”)

15. Wonderful – THE BLOSSOMS (1967 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7-106, A)

16. Snow Queen – THE CITY [featuring Carole King and Danny Kortchmar] (1968 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7 113, A)

17. Wear You Love Like Heaven – PEGGY LIPTON (1970 USA 7” single on Ode OD-66001, A)

18. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – THE BROTHERS & SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES (1969 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7-123, A)

19. Oh No, Not My Baby – MERRY CLAYTON (1972 USA 7” single on Ode ODE-66030, A)

20. It’s Too Late – CAROLE KING (1971 USA 7” single on Ode ODE-66015, A)

21. It’s Going To Take Some Time – CAROLE KING (from her 1971 album “Music” on A&M/Ode Records SP 77013)

22. Gimme Shelter – MERRY CLAYTON (May 1970 USA 7” single on Ode ODE-66003, A)

23. I Got A Line On You – SPIRIT (1969 USA 7” single on Ode ZS7 115, A)

24. Earache My Eye – CHEECH & CHONG (1974 USA 7” single on Ode ODE-66102-S, A)

25. Sweet Transvestite – TIM CURRY & THE ORIGINAL ROXY CAST featuring Alice Bowie (1974 USA 7” single on Ode ODE-66103, A)

Notes: Tracks 1 to 7, 14, 15 and 17 are MONO – all others are STEREO

The 28-page booklet is properly gorgeous – affectionate and wonderfully informative liner notes by noted Music Writer MICK PATRICK. The artist-by-artist assessments are peppered with repros of almost every American 45 on labels like Madison, Ode, Keen, Dore, Liberty, Dunhill and more. There’s are US picture sleeves for The Everly Brothers, Jan & Dean, The Mama’s & The Papa’s and Peggy Lipton with In Studio black and whites publicity shots of Lou Adler with Jan and Dean and Herb Alpert, Billboard and Cashbox adverts, sheet music and so on... At 28-pages it really stretches out and looks the part. And once again NICK ROBBINS does a bang up job of remastering – each track sounding special in their own way.

It opens with Sam Cooke’s gorgeous “Wonderful World” –a three-way co-write with Cooke, Adler and his songwriting buddy Herb Alpert. Sam Butera & The Witnesses were pretty much the backing band for the wonderful Louis Prima and Keely Smith – so his best-loved R&B hit “Bim Bam” is a really welcome choice – complimenting the wicked same beat found on Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “Deana Baby” (a genius inclusion). I’ve never been a fan of the Surfing Jan & Dean sound and the vocal group take by The Untouchables of “Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight” just sounds out of place somehow.

By the time we get to Track 10 the whole “California Dreamin’” hippy vibe starts to kick in – a mixture of rage at War and Weapons proliferation (“Eve Of Destruction”) sat perfectly alongside the Sixties newfound joy for life (“San Francisco “Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair”). The Blossoms featuring Darlene Love, Jean King and Fanita James do a girl-group cover of Laura Nyro’s “Stoney End” layering on the strings – the flipside to the melodrama of ‘Wonderful”. A truly fantastic discovery for many will be Carole King’s group The City (before she went solo) – the gorgeous melodies and layered vocals in “Snow Queen” are a genuine standout here.

Bizarre cover goes to Peggy Lipton for her version of Donovan’s “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” which segues into something more righteous and far better – the Gospel/Church cover of Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by The Brothers & Sisters Of Los Angeles fronted by Merry Clayton at her powerhouse best. Two tracks from her trio of albums on Ode provide genuine highlights – her tender take on the Maxine Brown classic “Oh No, Not My Baby” (written by Goffin & King) and her storming cover of the song that made Clayton famous – The Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”. Things then go stratospheric with King’s sublime "It's Too Late" – a US Number 1 and a Grammy winner from her stunning "Tapestry" album of 1971 followed by a track from her "Music" album.

Wicked inclusion number 109 goes to Spirit's "I Got A Line On You" - a sort of Blood, Sweat & Tears meets The Spencer Davis Group piece of fast-paced upbeat dancing Sixties pop (written by Randy California). Then quickly back to bizarre. It seems amazing now to think that the Frank Zappa Rock/Comedy Kiss excess that is Cheech & Chong’s pisstake on Rock stars “Earache My Eye” went Top 10 in 1974 (“...As long as I can have my limo and orange hair...I’m so rich! Ha1 Ha!”) The compilation ends on the equally rocktastic and anarchic “Sweet Transvestite” – a Richard O’Brien boogie from “The Rocky Horror Show” which sounds like David Bowie meets Lou Reed - with both having fun about high-heeled boots and gender-bending.

So there you have it – Bubblegum Pop, Sweet Soul, Surfin’ Safari, Harry Hippy, Girl Group, Seventies Singer Songwriter, Comedy and Men Dressed Up As Women – Lou Adler produced them all - and from the sounds of this compilation - with real style (along with Herb Alpert he also penned tracks 1, 2, 3 and 5 and had a hand in 8). There’s so much to enjoy on here - even if you do own those overplayed Mama’s & Papa’s, Scott McKenzie and Carole King tracks. Dig in and enjoy - and Ace Records have done it again folks...another winner... 

"Forever Young" by REGGIE YOUNG (May 2017 Ace Records CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Soul Love..."

In December 2017 - Missouri's Reggie Young will be a sprightly 81 - and its odds on that you've never heard of the guy. Or have you?

Revered as one of 'the' classiest of finger-picking sessionmen across an astonishing six decades and a long-time associate of Waylon Jennings Touring Band and go-to guitarist for Memphis songwriting cool types like Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham - this elegant axeman's US singles resume alone is a list so damn long that I could be here for days. But check out these as tasters...and note how many are Soul classics or Rock-Soulful in their nature...

The Dark End Of The Street - JAMES CARR (1966, Goldwax Records 317)

The Letter - THE BOX TOPS (1967, Malo Records 565)

Skinny Legs And All - JOE TEX (1967, Dial Records 4063)

Memphis Soul Stew - KING CURTIS (1967, Atco Records 6511)

Cry Like A Baby - THE BOX TOPS (1968, Mala Records 593)

Hooked On A Feeling - B.J. THOMAS (1968, Scepter Records SCE 12230)

I'm A Midnight Mover - WILSON PICKETT (1968, Atlantic Records 2528)

Son Of A Preacher Man - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (1968, Atlantic 2580)

Angel Of The Morning - MERRILEE RUSH and THE TURNABOUTS (1968, Bell 705)

Memphis Underground - HERBIE MANN (1969, Atlantic 2621)

Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) - NEIL DIAMOND (1969, Uni 55136)

Holly Holy - NEIL DIAMOND (1969, Uni Records 55175)

In The Ghetto - ELVIS PRESLEY (1969, RCA Victor 47-9741)

Suspicious Minds - ELVIS PRESLEY (1969, RCA Victor 47-9764)

Kentucky Rain - ELVIS PRESLEY (1970, RCA Victor 47-9791)

Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - DANNY O'KEEFE (1972, Signpost SP-70006)

Drift Away - DOBIE GRAY (1973, Decca 33057)

I Can Help - BILLY SWAN (1974, Monument ZS8 8621)

Cajun Moon - J.J. CALE (1974, Shelter SR-40238)

Cocaine - J.J. CALE (1976, Shelter SR-62002)

The list above is only scratching the surface so the pedigree is there for sure - but what's the album like? "Forever Young" is seven Soul-Rock instrumentals - all guitar based with sweet keyboard fills and tasty brass additions. Think Phil Upchurch's "Darkness, Darkness" from 1972 (all funky guitar instrumentals), Dan Penn's "Do Right Man" album from 1994 but minus the vocals, or John Mayer's more soulful playing, Clapton's class in the last two decades or an all instrumental J.J. Cale album done as he approaches his twilight years - and that's what "Forever Young" sounds like (39:37 minutes).

1. Coming Home To Leipers Fork

2. Memphis Grease

3. Soul Love

4. Seagrove Place

5. It's About Time

6. Exit 209

7. Jennifer

Young's playing is slyly understated – never overly flashy – just right - you could even call it chill-out George Benson Soul. The 20-page booklet features liner news from the legendary COLIN ESCOTT that includes an interview with the great man (Clapton name-checks Young as one of the great players). Across the pages and beside photos of 3614 Jackson High Studios – you get fascinating reminiscences about his extraordinary career and contributions to so many memorable songs as well as insights into the solo album that took him the whole of his life to get together. So why the four stars instead of five?

While the sexy groove of the opener "Coming Home To Leipers Fork" will undoubtedly seduce you and smooth-as-silk "Soul Love" make you think the man is 30 and not 80 – Young’s first solo album is not all great and a few of the five-to-six-minute cuts simply amble rather than ignite. You keep wishing "It's About Time" and "Seagrove Place" for instance had more in them tune-wise other than sweet playing - and both could have lost those cheesy keyboard punches that sound like something from a decade best forgotten. But the last two songs - the hip and funky "Exit 209" and especially the ballad "Jennifer" (dedicated to his wife who also plays Cello on tracks 1, 2, 4 and 7) are utterly superb - oozing class - beautiful picking - and sweetly recorded too with all the warmth the songs deserve.

UK released 26 May 2017 - "Forever Young" by REGGIE YOUNG on Ace Records CDCHD 1500 (Barcode 0029667079822) is not quite the masterpiece it seems to think it is - but when it's good it's properly gorgeous - a sweet Soulful Guitar instrumental CD that I can't seem to keep out of my player (sublime moments ahoy).

Congrats to one of the greats and all at Ace Records for getting it and his staggering legacy out there...

"Montrose" by MONTROSE - December 1973 US Debut Album on Warner Brothers featuring Ronnie Montrose and Sammy Hagar (October 2009 UK Rock Candy 'Remastered and Reloaded Collector's Edition' CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Good Rockin' Tonight..."

A full-page advert in the 1 December 1973 issue of the Billboard Trade Magazine announces to the USA and an unsuspecting world that MONTROSE is a new band on Warner Brothers Records and 'you'll be hearing from them...' Well the 'new' part was right at least...

"Montrose" took over half a year to register and even when the debut album did chart Stateside – it was with a whimper rather than a scream – a reaction that belies its monster reputation for being the real beginning of American Heavy Metal. With a staggeringly naff front and back cover depicting our heroes in naked torso pose (the second album "Paper Money" later in 1974 takes first prize for possibly the worst cover ever made – the next two that followed weren't much better either) - the blistering Ted Templeman-produced Hard Rock sonic assault of the self-titled "Montrose" on Warner Brothers BS 2740 has influenced Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Motorhead and every uber-polished American Rock Band ever since – Van Halen especially.

So why did it tank initially? Talk was that not only did Warner Brothers not know what to do with Montrose or how to market them – they didn’t care because they had all the Rock Gods they needed in The Doobie Brothers and Deep Purple who were selling product in cartloads. And despite touring with huge acts like Humble Pie, The Who and Lynyrd Skynyrd where Montrose would invariably slaughter all in their path when they played (there's a centre page double-photo spread of them at the UK's Charlton Athletic Football Stadium supporting the likes of Bad Company and The Who in May 1974) – the band struggled to translate that excitement into actual record sales. The LP wouldn't arrive in the UK until March 1974 on Warner Brothers K 46276 – and despite its audiophile Production values and two singles that most other Rock Bands would chop up Granny for ("Rock The Nation" and "Bad Motor Scooter") – it didn't chart.

In hindsight the LPs initial damp-squid reaction was strange especially given that the amazing hard-hitting radio-friendly riffage of "Montrose" had arrived in a world where Led Zeppelin's "Houses Of The Holy" had gone to No. 1 and ZZ Top, Joe Walsh, Uriah Heep, Edgar Winter, The Allman Brothers Band, Spooky Tooth, The Rolling Stones and Mott The Hoople (all kick-ass Rock acts) largely dominated the album charts. It would take until the 11th of May 1974 for the album to hit the US Top 200 and then it only managed a peak of No. 133 and an overall 12-week run.

But history has proven our deaf ears wrong and Kerrang Magazine right (No. 4 in their Top 10 list of best Metal albums ever) because the record has now taken on an almost mythical air - some even suggesting that its the greatest Hard Rock album ever made (I don't know about that but it's up there). Which brings us to this 'Rock Candy' CD reissue of 2009 (the label literally taking its name from their song on Side 2) that is a first CD reissue for the UK and Europe. Here are the bad motor scooters...

UK and Europe released 19 October 2009 (re-issued July 2011) - "Montrose" by MONTROSE on Rock Candy CANDY062 (Barcode 827565000289) is a straightforward transfer of the 1973 eight-track album on a 'Remastered & Reloaded Collector's Edition' CD that plays out as follows (32:16 minutes):

1. Rock The Nation [Side 1]

2. Bad Motor Scooter

3. Space Station No. 5

4. I Don't Want It

5. Good Rockin' Tonight [Side 2]

6. Rock Candy

7. One Thing On My Mind

8. Make It Last

Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Montrose" - released December 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2740 and March 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46276. Produced by TED TEMPLEMAN and Engineered by DONN LANDEE - it peaked at No. 133 in the USA (didn't chart UK). "Rock The Nation" written by Ronnie Montrose, "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Make It Last" by Sammy Hagar, "Space Station No. 5" and "I Don't Want It" by Ronnie Montrose and Sammy Hagar, "Rock Candy" by Montrose, "One Thing On My Mind" by Hagar, Montrose and J. Sanchez and finally a cover version of the Roy Brown hit "Good Rockin' Tonight".

MONTROSE was:

SAMMY HAGAR – Lead Vocals

RONNIE MONTROSE – All Guitars

BILL 'THE ELECTRIC' CHURCH – Bass

DENNY CARMASSI – Drums

The 16-page booklet features an enthusiastic and hugely entertaining 4000-word essay on the band and the album's history by BRIAN BRINKERHOFF (Ronnie's stints with Van Morrison) that’s peppered with live photos and contributions from founder members Ronnie Montrose and Bassist Bill Church. Not surprisingly both musicians sing the praises of and hold huge affection for the dynamic audio duo of Ted Templeman and Donn Landee (Producer and Engineer) with tales of clever pre-digital multiple-microphone placing, letting the band rip live in the studio and crawling around rooms with blankets to get that 'sound' the LP is famous for.

Speaking of audio - I've had the July 2005 American-only 24-Karat Gold "Montrose" HDCD for years to have the album in its best form - a Steve Hoffman Remaster on Audio Fidelity AFZ 028 (Barcode 780014202828) and it's a belter as you can imagine. There are also tracks from the LP on a Rhino "Best Of" CD in Remastered form that sound awesome too. The latest Rock Candy version from 2009 offers a new JON ASTLEY Remaster which is described as 'sound shaped from 24-bit digital tools via POW-r technology' - whatever that means. All I can say is that it this mother 'rocks' with the lewdness and swagger of Dave Lee Roth on steroids and the visceral punch of an irate mule with daddy issues. The album was always loud - but here it has power too - and not just trebled for the sake of it either - I love it.

Warner Brothers UK took the opener "Rock The Nation" and tagged on "One Thing On My Mind" onto the B-side in July 1974 (Warner Brothers K 16428) - but like the equally ass-kicking "Bad Motor Scooter" from April 1974 on Warner Brothers K 16382 (with the same flipside) - both 45s tanked.  Maybe they were just too much at the time - but re-listening to them now followed by that astounding power-riff in "Space Station No. 5" - it makes you wonder was it that truly cruddy artwork that put people off? Unsung album heroes come in the shape of "I Don't Want It" (just quit my job making tooth-picks out of logs) - the great fun-rock of "Good Rockin' Tonight" where Montrose take Roy Brown's 1949 "Rockin' At Midnight" and update it into a fantastic Rock raver. And while you could understand why they used the huge riff of "Rock Candy" in the movie "The Rose" as the helicopter flies over the concert crowd below - my real poison has always been the brilliant but simple Rock of "One Thing On My Mind" and the big-mickey swagger of "Make It Last".

Montrose managed three more albums on Warner Brothers (Ronnie did a solo record also in 1978) - their second platter "Paper Money" in particular having some decent tracks like "Underground" and "Connection" - but mostly the rest of their output felt like that initial album magic was gone. The debut would also lead maestro Producer Ted Templeman and genius Engineer Donn Landee to Eddie Van Halen and Dave Lee Roth and their band VAN HALEN where they collaborated to amazing effect on VH's first six albums - especially their equally explosive self-titled debut in 1978 (also on Warner Brothers). Montrose's original vocalist Sammy Hagar would of course join Van Halen's ranks in 1986 for "5150" and three other No. 1 albums after whilst Drummer Denny Carmassi would swell the pirate crews within Heart, Whitesnake and Coverdale/Page. Ronnie would helm his band Montrose for years - then join with Edgar Winter and Gamma - and in 2004 and 2005 he would bring the whole story full circle by joining the original four-piece of Montrose on stage with Sammy Hagar.

"The Pretenders", "Dire Straits", "The Clash", "The Cars", "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers" - just some of the debut albums that took us all by storm. 

Well, 1973's "Montrose" is up there with the best of them and this Rock Candy CD reissue of it has done their huge and influential legacy proud...

CD Remasters of MONTROSE on Rock Candy Records

1. Montrose (December 1973 Debut LP) – 2009 CD on Rock Candy CANDY062 (Barcode 827565000289)

2. Paper Money (November 1974 2nd LP) – 2015 CD on Rock Candy CANDY278 (Barcode 5055300387462)

3. Warner Bros. Presents Montrose! (October 1975 3rd LP) – 2015 CD on Rock Candy CANDY279 (Barcode 5055300387479)

4. Jump On It (September 1976 4th LP) - 2015 CD on Rock Candy CANDY280 (Barcode 5055300387486)