"Biograph" by BOB DYLAN (March 2011 Sony/Columbia/Legacy 3CD 'Book Pack Edition' Reissue - Greg Calbi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I Guess It Was Up To Me..."

As much as I find the actual working of these 'book holder' packs with their impossible plastic clip-ins to be a royal pain in the patouche - you can't but help feel that this 2011 reissue of 1985's "Biograph" (Bob Dylan's groundbreaking vaults-haul) is a musical cream cake that screams - damn the calories mama and just eat-me-up. This thing looks great, reads great, plays great and offers a combo of key album and single tracks vs. previous unreleased and rare recordings that is enlightening even if the sequencing is bloody irritating at times. It's not perfect, but it is a must-buy for Dylan fans.

The retrospective compilation "Biograph" was initially released November 1985 as a 3CD/5LP Box Set in Album-Sized 12" x 12" Packaging - 53 digitally remastered tracks covering 1961 to 1981 with 21 of them either rare or Previously Unreleased. The 36-page booklet had liner notes by famed filmmaker and uber fan CAMERON CROWE as well as ruminations by the Bobster on all of his songs - some enlightening - some typically oblique or even downright dismissive. It was downsized and reissued October 1997 into a neater 5" card slipcase with a 3CD ‘fatboy’ jewel case, a 36-page booklet inside and new 'SBM' remastering (Super Bit Mapping). .

And now we get this – a March 2011 'Book Pack' version roughly measuring 6" x 8" with an upgraded 44-page booklet. Although the SBM code is not on the rear of the 2011 packaging, the new liner notes add 'digitally mastered' by Greg Calbi of Supertramp, Television and Paul Simon reissue fame (he did the ‘mastering’ on the original 1985 set). Calbi is a fabulous Audio Engineer – and not surprisingly the sound is great. There's a lot of Subterranean Homesick Blues to document, so let's have at it...

UK and EUROPE re-released 21 March 2011 - "Biograph" by BOB DYLAN on Columbia/Sony Music/Legacy 88697 85648 2 (Barcode 886978564825) is a 3CD 56-Track 'Book Pack Edition' Reissue that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (73:21 minutes):

1. Lay Lady Lay (from the April 1969 album "Nashville Skyline")

2. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (from the March 1962 debut album "Bob Dylan")

3. If Not For You (from the October 1970 album "New Morning")

4. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (from the December 1967 album "John Wesley Harding")

5. I'll Keep It With Mine (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED recording from 14 January 1965)

6. The Times They Are A-Changin' (from the January 1964 album "The Times They Are A-Changin'")

7. Blowin' In The Wind (from the May 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

8. Masters Of War (from the May 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

9. Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (from the January 1964 album "The Times They Are A-Changin'")

10. Percy's Song (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED recording from 23 October 1963)

11. Mixed-Up Confusion (Non-Album US 7" single A-side from November 1962)

12. Tombstone Blues (from the August 1965 album "Highway 61 Revisited")

13. Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar (Non-Album US 7" single B-side to "Heart Of Mine" from September 1981)

14. Most Likely You'll Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine (from the May 1974 album "Before The Flood")

15. Like A Rolling Stone (from the August 1965 album "Highway 61 Revisited")

16. Lay Down Your Weary Tune (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED recording from 24 October 1963)

17. Subterranean Homesick Blues (from the March 1965 album "Bringing It All Back Home")

18. I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Met) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED live recording from 6 May 1966)

Disc 2 (71:48 minutes):

1. Visions Of Johanna (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED live recording from 26 May 1966)

2. Every Grain Of Sand (from the August 1981 album "Shot Of Love")

3. Quinn The Eskimo (The Might Quinn) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED version recorded July 1967)

4. Mr. Tambourine Man (from the March 1965 album "Bringing It All Back Home")

5. Dear Landlord (from the December 1967 album "John Wesley Harding")

6. It Ain't Me, Babe (from the August 1964 album "Another Side Of Bob Dylan")

7. You Angel You (from the January 1974 album "Planet Waves")

8. Million Dollar Bash (from the July 1975 double-album "The Basement Tapes")

9. To Ramona (from the August 1964 album "Another Side Of Bob Dylan")

10. You're A Big Girl Now (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Version - from the "Blood On The Track" sessions recorded 25 September 1974)

11. Abandoned Love (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song recording from July 1975)

12. Tangled Up In Blue (from the January 1975 album "Blood On The Tracks")

13. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Version recorded 17 May 1966)

14. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Non-Album US 7" Single A-side released December 1965)

15. Positively 4th Street (Non-Album US 7" Single A-side released September 1965)

16. Isis (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Version recorded 4 December 1975)

17. Jet Pilot (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song recorded October 1965)

Disc 3 (71:42 minutes):

1. Caribbean Wind (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song recorded 7 April 1981)

2. Up To Me (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song outtake from the "Blood On The Track" sessions recorded 25 September 1974)

3. Baby, I'm In the Mood For You (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song recorded 9 July 1962)

4. I Wanna Be Your Lover (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Song recorded October 1965)

5. I Want You (from the May 1966 double-album "Blonde On Blonde")

6. Heart Of Mine (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Version recorded August 1981)

7. On A Night Like This (from the January 1974 album "Planet Waves")

8. Just Like A Woman (from the May 1966 double-album "Blonde On Blonde")

9. Romance In Durango (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live Version recorded 4 December 1975)

10. Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power) (from the June 1978 album "Street Legal")

11. Gotta Serve Somebody (from the August 1979 album "Slow Train Coming")

12. I Believe In You (from the August 1979 album "Slow Train Coming")

13. Time Passes Slowly (from the October 1970 album "New Morning")

14. I Shall Be Released (from the November 1971 double-album "Greatest Hits Volume 2")

15. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (from the July 1973 Soundtrack album "Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid")

16. All Along The Watchtower (from the June 1974 double-live album "Before The Flood")

17. Solid Rock (from the June 1980 album "Saved")

18. Forever Young (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Version recorded June 1973)

The 'Book Pack' stands nicely alongside all the others in this format, all the photos from the 1985 booklet are here as are the sheets of Dylan's comments. The GREG CALBI Remasters are gorgeous - even something as frantic as "Baby, I'm In The Mood For You" and the unreleased version of "I Wanna Be Your Lover" sound tight and in your face. Let's get to the music...

I'd admit that the track sequencing on Disc 1 feels odd to my ears – until about half through when it settles down. "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" and the George Harrison/Olivia Newton John famous "If Not For You" don't really follow after the distinctive vibe of "Lay Lady Lay". I'd have opened with the fabulous "I'll Keep It With Mine" - the first of the unreleased studio and live songs - Bobster on the old Johanna tapping his foot as he keeps time. It's a confident rendition (fully formed) and yet delicate ("people like it..." he says in the liner notes sounding a little bewildered). Judy Collins famously took it and made a November 1965 Elektra Records single out of it (on London in the UK in 1966). The Audio on both "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and the iconic "Blowin' In The Wind" is hair-raisingly clean - amplifying the pretty melodies in both. The rhyming couplets in "Masters Of War" and the lonesome harmonica wail in "...Hattie Carroll" are the same – both lyrically carrying the power of a mallet (51 years old and ten children - amazing stuff).

Next up is unreleased goody number two - this time from the autumn of 1963 – a truly gorgeous acoustic cover of Paul Clayton's turn-turn-turn-again "Percy's Song". How did this beauty not make it onto an LP or even a 45 B-side? Fans will probably play this sucker into the ground (I feel the same about Simon & Garfunkel's "Blues Run The Game" which first showed on the "Old Friends" 3CD retrospective). The raucous "Mixed-Up Confusion" follows, as does another swinging non-album single track – the brutally brilliant "Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar". Its slide guitars feel like "Blonde On Blonde" and that band revisited – Bob's voice just the right side of gnarly. With Ringo Starr on the drums - the non-album B was played on radio a lot at the time – Rock of Gibraltar baby. The live version of "Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine" feels out of place, as does the 1966 unreleased version of "I Don't Believe You...” A hundred times better is "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" – unreleased acoustic tune number three (again - an amazing find). What can you say about the lyrically thrilling "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as it rollicks out of your speakers with the hutzpah of a poet having a right-old rave-up on Speaker's Corner (throw down those cue cards Bob – don't follow leaders and watch out for parking meters).

Disc 2 offers a beautifully intimate and almost eerie "Visions Of Johanna" - an unreleased 7:32 minute live version from May 1966. Just acoustic guitar, echoed vocals, some harmonica punches and an almost reverent-silent audience listening enrapt. It's also so well recorded - the transfer making jelly-faced women, jewels and binoculars sound like they're in your living room. It's superbly followed by a forgotten 1981 gem few paid any attention to at the time - "Every Grain Of Sand" from his second religious album "Shot Of Love". The master's hand in the fury of the moment, in every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand... Bizarrely that's followed with a wobbly unreleased take of "Quinn The Eskimo" that won't be sugaring-me-sweet any day soon. Would have been better to follow "Every Grain Of Sand" with "Mr. Tambourine Man" - sounding utterly glorious here, fresh again despite its wildly overplayed history. Warm bass lines come at you with Harding's "Dear Landlord" and The Band sounding "You Angel You" - one of the better cuts on 1974's "Planet Waves" – is lifted up too with the mastering. But the second real fave-rave on CD2 is a spine-tingling alternate of "You're A Big Girl Now" from 1975's mighty "Blood On The Tracks" - exclusive here and still yet to make it to a 2-Disc 'Legacy Edition' of that astonishing album. Soft acoustic guitar, intimate vocals, pedal steel and sweet keyboards - you on dry land, you made in there somehow, you're a big girl now (what a tune). With girly backing vocals and violin strokes throughout - "Abandoned Love" sounds like a "Desire" outtake and is sweetly placed prior to "Tangled Up In Blue" – the magnificent Side 1 opener of "Blood On The Tracks". It comes roaring to a satisfying finish with the singles "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" and the genius of "Positively 4th Street" – a song so smart it doesn’t have its title in the lyrics anywhere and few to this day know what its about. She’s got "...Jet Pilot eyes and carries a Monkey Wrench – got all the downtown boys at her command..." the Big Dill warns on the gender-bender "Jet Pilot" from 1966 – an unreleased snippet that's still worth owning - even if it is criminally short.

Disc 3 opens with another one of the set's unreleased prizes - "Caribbean Wind" from 1981 - where the long arm of the law cannot reach (where does he get all the words). But that's trumped by the real "Biograph" prize - an outtake from the "Blood On The Tracks" sessions - the wonderful "Up To Me". A variant of the album's "Shelter From The Storm" - despite the familiar structure and some duplicated lines - hearing the song anew like this is a thrill (someone had to reach for the rising star and I guess it was up to me...). The alternate "I Wanna Be Your Lover" has the studio band letting rip as 'Rasputin remains dignified' while the live cut of the single "Heart Of Mine" is surprisingly sweet - don't let her know - don't be a fool he warns and of course doesn't listen. I've always had a love-hate relationship with his religious outpouring 1979's "Slow Train Coming" - but the duo chosen are "Gotta Serve Somebody" and the beautiful ballad "I Believe In You" - the kind of song that elicits hero-worship amidst singers who have covered it proudly. They drive me from this town - they don't want me around - because I believe in you - Knopfler's subtle guitar adding another layer of class to his passionate vocals. While I can live without "Solid Rock" where Bob tries to sound like a bad Dire Straits - I absolutely love the rough 'n' ready unreleased demo version of "Forever Young" - another one of his best compositions. Despite its hissy nature, you can hear why the compilers knew it had to be included – there’s something in its voice and acoustic guitar simplicity that is quite magical. And like "I Believe In You" – it’s a tune that means so much to so many people.

The Bootleg Series started in 1991 and is still ongoing into 2018 - compilation after compilation of unreleased swag. But this officially released precursor to that series still feels like a 5-star nugget to me.

"...May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong..." he sang on "Forever Young"  - and isn't that what every parent would want for their kids. 

Thank you sincerely Mr. Zimmerman for all the Biographs across the decades - and long may your song always be sung...

"A New Career In A New Town [1977 - 1982]" by DAVID BOWIE (September 2017 Parlophone 11-CD Box Set - Ray Staff and Tony Visconti Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 2 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

As well as 1960s and 1970s Rock and Pop - It Also Focuses On

Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

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"...Subterraneans...Shine Bright..." 

Having reviewed and loved Box Sets 1 and 2 in this ongoing series covering his entire output - like most diehard David Bowie fans I'd pre-ordered Box 3 with more than a degree of finger-licking excitement. And in recognition of my contributions to Dublin, London, Margate and humanity in general – Parlophone had kindly arranged to have it especially released the day after my birthday - Friday, 29 September 2017 (swear to God).

It arrived, I cracked "A New Career..." open, enjoyed "Low" (way better than I remember) and then I get to "Heroes" and the proverbial contaminant hit the fan. At a hundred quid - I couldn't believe what I was hearing - volumes up and volumes down in an obvious mastering glitch not mentioned anywhere in the liner notes. Then like so many others affected by his horrible loss - a certain disgust and anger crept in. Truthfully Box No. 3 sat on my desk unloved and un-reviewed for two weeks - and then unable to bear looking at what I perceived to be a sloppy and exploitive little bugger anymore - I finally sent it back for a refund.

Months passed - Brexit lingered - builders drank strong tea with three sugars - and then Amazon did one of those surprise culls of stock. Suddenly Box No. 3 was dropped in price to sixty-five quid (bloated racks no doubt from all the enraged reviews and returns). So I thought maybe they've rectified the mastering problem in abject shame - and even if they haven't - I'd live with the glitch on his most beloved song "Heroes" and dig the rest anew.

Well here we are in March 2018 – and we’re still left with what was issued. But now on re-examination and totally digging the fabulous new Ray Staff/Tony Visconti audio throughout - my real problem is not "Heroes" at all - but the dog that is "Lodger" which we're laughably given here in two useless dollops masquerading as 'Bonus' material. Even the catalogue padding that has always been "Stage" sounds better (Visconti’s very clever re-sequencing of it as a 2017 Version is a revelation – way better than I expected as I’m sure many fans are discovering). So before I get a hernia and lose even more hair in my delicate medical and mental state - let's get to the 'Vorsprung Durch Technik's - if you know what I'm saying...

UK released Friday, 29 September 2017 - "A New Career In A New Town [1977 - 1982]" by DAVID BOWIE on Parlophone DBX 3 - 0190295843014 (Barcode 0190295843014) is an 11-Disc Box Set (4 Studio Albums, 2 Live Double-Albums, 1 EP, 1 Remixed Album and 1 Compilation) with a Hardback Book that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Low" (39:03 minutes):

1. Speed Of Life [Side 1]

2. Breaking Glass

3. What In The World

4. Sound And Vision

5. Always Crashing In The Same Car

6. Be My Wife

7. A New Career In A New Town

8. Warszawa [Side 2]

9. Art Decade

10. Weeping Wall

11. Subterranean

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 11th studio album "Low" - released January 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12030 and in the USA on RCA CPL1-2030. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA.

Disc 2 "Heroes" (40:44 minutes):

1. Beauty And The Beast

2. Joe The Lion

3. Heroes

4. Sons Of The Silent Age

5. Blackout

6. V2 Schneider [Side 2]

7. Sense Of Doubt

8. Moss Garden

9. Neukoln

10. The Secret Life Of Arabia

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 12th studio album "Heroes" - released October 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12522 and in the USA on RCA AFL1-2522. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 35 in the USA.

Disc 3 "Heroes E.P." (19:25 minutes):

1. Heroes/Helden (German Album Version)

2. Helden (German Single Version)

3. Heroes/Heros (French Album Version)

4. Heros (French Single Version)

First of four exclusive to this CD set

Disc 4 "Stage" (Double-Live Set):

CD1 (34:09 minutes)

1. Hang On To Yourself [Side 1]

2. Ziggy Stardust

3. Five Years

4. Soul Love

5. Star

6. Station To Station [Side 2]

7. Fame

8. TVC 15

CD2 (39:32 minutes)

1. Warszawa [Side 3]

2. Speed Of Life

3. Art Decade

4. Sense Of Doubt

5. Breaking Glass

6. Heroes [Side 4]

7. What In The World

8. Blackout

9. Beauty And The Beast

CD1 and CD2 is the original mix of the live album "Stage" - released September 1978 in the UK on RCA PL 02913 and in the USA on RCA CPL2-2913 as 2LP sets. Produced by TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 5 and No. 44 in the UK and USA

Disc 5 "Stage (2017)"

CD1 (49:16 minutes):

1. Warszawa

2. "Heroes"

3. What In The World

4. Be My Wife

5. The Jean Genie

6. Blackout

7. Sense Of Doubt

8. Speed Of Life

9. Breaking Glass

10. Beauty And The Beast

11. Fame

CD2 (47:51 minutes):

1. Five Years

2. Soul Love

3. Star

4. Hang On To Yourself

5. Ziggy Stardust

6. Suffragette City

7. Art Decade

8. Alabama Song

9. Station To Station

10. Stay

11. TVC 15

Exclusive to this set

Disc 6 "Lodger" (34:58 minutes):

1. Fantastic Voyage [Side 1]

2. African Night (Flight)

3. Move On

4. Yassassin

5. Red Sails

6. D.J. [Side 2]

7. Look Back In Anger

8. Boys Keep Swinging

9. Repetition

10. Red Money

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 13th studio album "Lodger" - released May 1979 in the UK on RCA PL 13254 and in the USA on RCA APL1-3254. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 4 and No. 20 in the UK and USA.

Disc 7 "Lodger (2017 Tony Visconti Mix)" (35:05 minutes):

As per Disc 6 - Disc 7 is exclusive to this set

Disc 8 "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" (45:48 minutes)

1. It's No Game (No. 1) [Side 1]

2. Up The Hill Backwards

3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

4. Ashes To Ashes

5. Fashion

6. Teenage Wildlife [Side 2]

7. Scream Like A Baby

8. Kingdom Come

9. Because You're Young

10. It's No Game (No. 2)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 14th studio album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647. Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 12 in the USA

Disc 9 "Re:Call 3" (67:38 minutes):

1. "Heroes" (Single Version)

2. Beauty And The Beast (Extended Version)

3. Breaking Glass (Australian Single Version)

4. Yassassin (Single Version)

5. D.J. (Single Version)

6. Alabama Song

7. Space Oddity (1979 Version)

8. Ashes To Ashes (Single Version)

9. Fashion (Single Version)

10. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (Single Version)

11. Crystal Japan

12. Under Pressure (Single Version) - QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE

Bertolt Brecht's BAAL:

13. Baal's Hymn

14. Remembering Marie A.

15. Ballad Of The Adventurers

16. The Drowned Girl

17. The Dirty Song

18. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (Soundtrack Album Version)

19. Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (Mono) - DAVID BOWIE and BING CROSBY

Exclusive compilation to this Box Set

Like Box 1 and 2 - the hardback book of 150+ pages for Box 3 is a thing of beauty and something fans will lap up. Again each album is discussed and pictured in release date order with rare posters, unused artwork, single picture sleeves, release info and track-by-track info distributed amidst the text. Bud Scoppa's article on "Low" is here, Matt Damsker's April 1978 review of Bowie's return to the live setting with his concerts at the Spectrum Stadium in Philadelphia in front of 18,000 adoring fans (used for the "Stage" double) - but more important to real Bowie lovers are Tony Visconti's first hand accounts of recording iconic sets like "Heroes" and "Scary Monsters..." as well as his mission to remix "Lodger" which he's made fractionally longer. The oversized Mini LP replica sleeves are sweet – the stickered track-list on the back of "Low" with the Fan-Club invite too – the Euro-Sleeve for the German and French language versions of "Heroes" - inners and inserts for "Stage", "Lodger", "Scary Monsters..." and a pensive Bowie in the Studio on the cover of the new "Re:Call 3..." compilation (itself with an inner sleeve). Very tasty.

But for me what is most thrilling is the RAY STAFF and TONY VISCONTI Remasters - I had the 1999 versions of "Low" and "Heroes" and these new cuties are 'huge' in comparison. The rhythm sections on each CD are in your face and not amped for the sake of it. Yet when I look at the huge number of names and contributors thanked on the last pages - that mastering mistake on "Heroes" seems all the more inexplicable. Still, there is the music...

I can recall feeling that a year after the high of 1976's soulful "Station To Station" - the new jagged-sounding 1977 Bowie (watching walls in Berlin with his pals Brian Eno, producer Tony Visconti, guitarist Carlos Alomar and occasional drop-in vocalist Iggy Pop) - was a disappointment. I've always thought the instrumental "Speed Of Life" a waste of space – but improvement wasn’t far away with "Breaking Glass", "What In The World" and the funky "Sound And Vision" – an obvious single and rightly deserved hit. But my poison here is the fabulous "Always Crashing In The Same Car" - a very human song wrapped around typically innovative Bowie sounds that somehow worked for it and not against. The audio here is superb - huge bass from George Murray.

The second single from the album "Be My Wife" features piano runs from Roy Young that are suddenly audio-new. The album’s other winner is the Box Set's chosen title - "A New Career In A New Town" - Ricky Gardiner joining Alomar on guitar whilst Eno plays all keyboards and synths. Bowie plays everything on "Weeping Wall" and here the Audio is spectacular - almost a goof-off of a tune - like Todd Rundgren on a Prog "Initiation" tip - I love it. But that is merely a prologue to the album's masterpiece "Subterraneans" - and again Murray's bass is in your face for all the right reasons as are Bowie's 'ah' voices swirling around the speakers before he goes into that Soulful Sax solo (I never did find out who 'Peter and Paul' on Piano and A&P are?). "Low" divides people (I know some who can’t abide it) - but this Ray Staff/Tony Visconti Remaster is the very best I've ever heard the album – nice one.

As Bowie goes into his ooh intro to "Beauty And The Beast" – the Remaster is fantastic – can’t say no to this one. But half way through the six-minute album version of "Heroes" – there’s a sudden surge in sound then a dropdown in volume that ruins an otherwise improved track. It’s maddening because those background guitars and noises are more to the fore and in all the right ways. The shame was on the other side indeed. At least "V-2 Schneider" kicks, as do the doomy piano chords that open "Sense Of Doubt". There’s a pronounced serenity to those plucked notes in "Moss Garden" where our David goes all Osaka on our Berliner butts (always loved this dreamy soundscape of a tune). Sand in my eyes for "The Secret Life Of Arabia" – a forgotten chugger (could have been a single) on an album dominated by its epic title tune. Speaking of which – the 4-track 2-languages "Heroes E.P." feels like a bit of a Box Set faff – single and album tracks that could easily have been tagged onto the UK LP proper and the box’s price dropped. In fact as you play the German version – you’re left wondering when the foreign language is going to kick in (2:15 roughly).

Keyboard whizz-kid Roger Powell of Todd Rundgren’s UTOPIA joined up with guitarists Carlos Alomar, Adrian Belew and Violinist Simon House as part of Bowie’s house band for the "Stage" double live. I have to say that I’ve mixed feelings towards this perennial rack-filler (always the first to be sold when a punter is stuck for a few bob). Even though the recordings and band are tight – the hugeness of the venue is obvious in the vibe and I’ve always thought it did for the recordings. The echoed-vocals on "Five Years" try to lift the song while "Star" just feels ever so slightly yesterday for David Bowie. Side 2 starts to feel better with a trio of tracks he actually wanted to play – the huge train synths of "Station To Station" eliciting wolf whistles (amazing guitar work from the boys). But its the in-keeping with the times Funk-Rock of "Fame" and "TVC 15" that suddenly elevate proceedings (loose and hard to swallow). But it’s not until you get to Visconti’s new sequencing of the double that you begin to understand. He includes more and starts with tracks from "Heroes" rather than earlier crowd-pleasers. Following "Station To Station" with "Stay" and putting the winner of "Fame" at the end of Disc 1 is a very smart play. And the inclusion of "Alabam Song" works better too.

I can remember Bowie's light and rep dipping with "Lodger" - an album that mostly annoyed people instead of thrilling. Tony Visconti clearly feels that this much-maligned album deserves reappraisal as his 2017 versions of "Fantastic Voyage" and "D.J." are filled with new oomph. They sound huge all of a sudden (massive rhythm sections) - his mix of "Boys Keep Swinging" being better too. The inner gatefold of the new version foregoes the strange collage of photos that greeted fans on the 1979 original - instead we get a slight outtake of the crooked-nose shot and the white-insert of the original LP becomes black for the new 2017 version. But tracks like "African Night Flight" and the mock Buddy Holly of "Move On" feel like they're still testing my patience. I still can't quite say whether "Yassassin" (Turkish for "Long live" apparently) and the finisher "Red Money" are dead rhythms or genius ahead of its time.

"Scary Monsters..." and the awesome video to "Ashes To Ashes" made him a star all over again - revisiting Major Tom also putting him back at the top of both the singles and LP charts. Between it, "Under Pressure" and the economic single edits on "Re:Call 3" all of which feel punchier for their brevity - it's enough to replenish your faith in his greatness. And Mono or not - but that duet with a crooner (Bing Crosby for Gawd's sake) has to be one of the best and most unlikely hits imaginable. But then we're talking about David Bowie.

Typical of corporate greed - the price has returned to its former rip-off status just to ranker us once more. But at least I'm coming around to owning it - mistakes and all. I just wish that someone would actually do the original Space Kid the solid he so obviously deserves and fix this. And maybe even release the "Re:Call" sets from all 3 as stand-alone compilations.

"Art Decade" he sang on "Low" 41 years ago - busy inventing Art Rock and everything else musically chameleon as he went along. Will we ever see his extraordinary like again. RIP you genius...

"Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts" by THE ADVERTS (November 2011 Fire Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Folk, Folk Rock, Country Rock, Reggae, Punk and New Wave

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"...New Church..."

Bored Teenager. Exasperated Buyer From Too Many Reissues...is more like it. Personally The British New Wave excited me silly - as did The Adverts and their simple in-your-face power. It helped that one of them was fanciable too (beneath all that eye make-up). And although I don't normally get a rash at reissues that cavalierly alter the original artwork - this little 2011 CD peach does enough to reignite that 40-years passed passion.

History first. As fans will already know - since its February 1978 vinyl debut on England's Bright Records - "Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts" has been subject to a dizzying amount of reissues on both LP and CD (I'm sure I've missed a few issues in the explanations below). But I feel this is one of the best editions of it yet (and it’s one of Punk’s true LP winners) - so lets have at it...

UK released 12 September 2011 (reissued January 2017) - "Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts" by THE ADVERTS on Fire Records FIRECD 143 (Barcode 809236114327) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with 12 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (69:38 minutes):

1. One Chord Wonders

2. Board Teenagers

3. New Church

4. On The Roof

5. Newboys

6. Gary Gilmore's Eyes

7. Bombsite Boy

8. No Time To Be 21

9. Safety In Numbers

10. New Day Dawning

11. Drowning Men

12. On Wheels

13. Great British Mistake

The original February 1978 British LP on Bright Records BRL 201 had only 11-tracks.

To sequence it from this CD use Tracks 1 to 5 and Track 7 for Side 1 and Tracks 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 for Side 2.

It was re-issued October 1981 as a 12-Track LP on Butt Records ALSO 002 with "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" tagged onto the end of Side 2.

That 12-track version was again re-issued in December 1988 on Butt Records BUL 2.

In February 1997, Essential of Castle Communications re-issued the album as a 13-track CD on Essential ESMCD451 featuring two extra songs recorded at the same sessions as the original eleven - "New Day Dawning" and a US Market re-recorded "Gary Gilmore's Eyes". These were incorporated into the track run - now totalling 13. It is this 1997 CD configuration that's used by Fire Records in their 2011 reissue.

SINGLES (Bonus Tracks):

14. One Chord Wonders

15. Quickstep

16. Gary Gilmore's Eyes

17. Bored Teenagers

18. Safety In Numbers

19. We Who Wait

LIVE (Bonus Tracks):

20. On Wheels

21. Newboys

22. New Church

23. Gary Gilmore's Eyes

24. Drowning Men

25. No Time To Be 21

Tracks 20 to 25 were recorded at London's Roundhouse in 1978 and are Previously Unreleased

THE ADVERTS were:

TV SMITH - Vocals

HOWARD PICKUP - Guitars

GAYE ADVERT - Bass

LAURIE DRIVER - Drums

The first thing that hits home is the gatefold card sleeve with TV Smith on front instead of the 'Land Of Milk and Honey' Billboard that was used on the original British LP - that's been relegated (just the Billboard sign) to an inner card holding the CD with the album's title on the other side. The gatefold inner shows Guitarist Howard Pickup and Drummer Laurie Driver while the rear sleeve shows the gorgeous Gaye Advert - Punk's lady pin-up and the band's Bassist. 'The Eyes Have It' is the logo on the CD. The 20-page sepia-feel booklet features new liner notes from DAVE THOMPSON - lyrics to the songs - Adverts buttons on the last page and an explanation by TV Smith of the 'Ultimate Edition' CD reissue (13-tracks, singles, live material etc). It turns out that the six Previously Unheard live cuts come from a gig at London's Roundhouse in early 1978, probably only two months after the release of the album. Smith admits that the tape had remained lost for years until a house move revealed its battered existence (skin heads made the gig unbearable). And so duly baked (to protect the oxide), restored and processed - we can now just about hear what the Adverts were like as they literally faced the uglier side of Punk - ludicrous violence and adversity. Electrifying stuff...

The Damned played three and The Adverts played one - come to their gigs and you could hear all four chords! (as the flyers used to say). "One Chord Wonder" is a storming opener - "...we don't give a damn!" chanted as guitars slash their way to the finish line. Released in August 1977 - "Bored Teenagers" was originally the B-side of "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" as issued on Anchor Records ANC 1043 (Tracks 16 and 17 in the Bonus Material) - here the album version is more polished (if I can describe it that way) whereas the Larry Wallis-produced single had an energy I loved. "New Church" always felt American New Wave to me whilst TV and his mates get loose "On The Roof". People humour the "Newboys" while Smith obsesses over a killer's last wish in "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" - surely one of Punk's great singles with an impossibly hooky chorus (did those Apache drums at the beginning).

"No Time To Be 21" is the 'smash your windows in' anger of a lost generation - outcasts - while both "On Wheels" and "Great British Mistake" bring the album to a cool finish. The session outtake "New Day Dawns" was to be a B-side and it's a 'prepare to lose' and 'don't screw it up' thrasher - well worthy of anything on the album. As the live tracks kick in with "On Wheels" - the crowd's chants are pushed to the background - the sound is good rather than great - bootleg really with "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" wabbling on the chorus - a shame because the playing is firey. Within seconds they launch into "Drowning Men" and the same with "No Time To Be 21" - Punking it to a determined end - not allowing the crowd to dominate. "That's it! Bye bye!" and it's over.

"...People against things and not each other..." The Adverts snarled on "Great British Mistake". It's not perfect by any means and it's a crying shame that the excitement of the live stuff isn't in better fidelity - but what we do get here is a great reminder of a cracking debut...

"No More Heroes" by THE STRANGLERS (March 2018 Parlophone 'The Classic Collection' Expanded Edition CD Reissue - Peter Mew Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...From Out Of Town..."

Although Amazon doesn't give this March 2018 CD Reissue a secondary title - 'The Classic Collection' Series by THE STRANGLERS encompasses the British Punk and New Wave band’s first seven albums on United Artists and Liberty Records - everything from their debut "IV - Rattus Norvegicus" in April 1977 through to "La Folie" in November 1981 (see full list below).

Each CD contains the same liner notes covering all seven albums in a 32-page booklet, but the booklets also provide original artwork, lyrics, additional period photos, picture sleeves and Extras. These are PETER MEW Remasters (probably done at Abbey Road) and as you can see from the list below - each comes with a generous amount of Bonus Tracks. Here are all the Dagenham Daves...from out of town...

UK and EUROPE released Friday, 2 March 2018 (9 March 2018 in the USA) - "No More Heroes" by THE STRANGLERS on Parlophone 0190295892548 (Barcode 0190295892548) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Five Bonus Tracks. It is the second of seven CD titles in 'The Classic Collection' Reissue Series and plays out as follows (54:50 minutes):

1. I Feel Like A Wog [Side 1]

2. Bitching

3. Dead Ringer

4. Dagenham Dave

5. Bring On The Nubiles

6. Something Better Change

7. No More Heroes [Side 2]

8. Peasant In The Big Shi**y

9. Burning Up Time

10. English Towns

11. School Mam

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "No More Heroes" – released September 1977 in the UK on United Artists UAG 30200 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4659. Produced by MARTIN RUSHENT – it peaked at No. 2 on the UK LP charts (didn’t chart in the USA).

ASSOCIATED RECORDINGS (Bonus Tracks):

12. Straighten Out – non-album B-side of "Something Better Change" – a July 1977 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 36277

13. In The Shadows - non-album B-side of "No More Heroes" – a September 1977 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 36300

14. 5 Minutes

15. Rok It To The Moon

Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of a January 1978 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 36350

16. No More Heroes (Edit) – a September 1977 UK 7" single 1-Side PROMO on United Artists FREE 8 sent out to UK DJs. The standard single is 3:25 minutes, this version is 2:58 minutes

THE STRANGLERS were:

HUGH CORNWELL – Guitar and Vocals

JEAN JACQUES BURNEL – Bass and Vocals

DAVE GREENFIELD – Keyboards

JET BLACK – Drums and Percussion

DAVID BUCKLEY – author of the band's official biography "No Mercy" published in 1997 by Hodder – has helmed the extremely detailed liner notes from Page 6 to 21 with the rest of the pages filled in by album artwork (rat looking up out of the wreath), photos of the band live, lyrics (including the non-album singles), a picture sleeve for "Something Better Change" and the usual original LP/CD reissue credits. It's very nicely done although it's obvious that diehard fans buying all seven CDs will be yawning at the repetition of liner-notes info and its odd that no-one involved with the reissue thought to feature the 1-sided UK promo of the "No More Heroes" as a picture/rarity (the album’s most famous song isn’t pictured as a single anywhere in the booklet).

But the Audio is fabulous (a Peter Mew Remaster), the price appears to be pitched at mid-price (less than a tenner and cheaper still if you look around) and it's frankly so good to see these underrated gems out there again in digital-land (they haven’t been available as Remasters since November 2001). Let’s get to the school Mam and controlling promiscuity after hours...

If the April 1977 "Rattus Norvegicus" debut album was a grubby and grimy skirt-grabber (look at all them peaches Jean) – the IV boys became even more sleazoid with LP number two - released only five months later in what was to be Punk’s most explosive year. The single "No More Heroes" was a monster – an anthem of the British New Wave and pummelled the album up the UK LP charts into No. 2 – two places better than the debut. There were few bands using the offensive word gollywog in a chorus – yet when The Stranglers do so - they come at you with a righteous anger felt by the disenfranchised as the Pimpo character in their pumping song makes them feel used and abused. The Audio is fantastic and when it then kicks into "Bitching" you can already hear that their songwriting was on fire – a killer tune that a clever ‘gospel truth’ chorus.

A huge Bass opens the so-cool "Dead Ringer" followed immediately by treated guitars that still sound exciting and fresh like Television and their masterpiece "Marquee Moon" (and don’t ask me what a conkeroonee stringer is?). From out of town, Dagenham Dave works the scaffolding during the day, spending his big bucks on drugs at night only to lose himself amidst the city creeps. Jean gives it some mock-German vocals on the uncomfortable "Bring On The Nubiles" – a tune where you feel the band is just a little too smarty pants for their own good. Better is the Side 1 finisher and obvious single - "Something Better Change" where the IV are impatient (ain’t got time to wait) and won’t mind sticking their fingers up your nose to get what they want.

Side 2 opens with a killer-double – the genre defining anthemic title track (Leon Trotsky got an ice-pick) and the studio version of "Peasant In The Big Shi**y". The delightfully-titled "Peasant..." had been one of the sides of the 2-track Free single that came with UK copies of the debut album in April 1977 – only that cut was a live version (its a Bonus Track on the "IV - Rattus Norvegicus" CD reissue). Here it feels right at home as a studio cut packing just as much punch and vitriol. The final trio "Burning Up Time" (the most Punk tune on the album), "English Towns" (towers of saddened ivory) and "School Mam" round up the school-holidays impishness of the band in fine style. Damn good album overall and the stand-alone "5 Minutes/Rok It To The Moon" UK single (two of the associated recordings) feel like Extras actually worthy of the word Bonus.

Great audio - comprehensive (f not a tad repetitive) packaging and a decent price - what's not to love? I'm having the first four for sure with the sap in me probably wanting the other three. And the first commandment reads, straighten up and line the walls...Amen to that...

  

UK and Europe released 2 March 2018

'The Classic Collection' CD Reissue Series for THE STRANGLERS 

Includes the following albums (all have 32-page booklets)

1. "IV - Rattus Norvegicus" (April 1977) - Parlophone 0190295892586 (Barcode 0190295892586) - 6 Bonus Tracks
2. "No More Heroes" (September 1977) - Parlophone 0190295892548 (Barcode 0190295892548) - 5 Bonus Tracks
3. "Black And White" (May 1978) - Parlophone 0190295892524 (Barcode 0190295892524) - 7 Bonus Tracks
4. "Live X-Cert" (February 1979) - Parlophone 0190295892500 (Barcode 0190295892500) - 8 Bonus Tracks
5. "The Raven" (September 1979) - Parlophone 0190295892487 (Barcode 0190295892487) - 7 Bonus Tracks
6. "The Gospel According To) The Meninblack" (February 1981) - Parlophone 0190295892463 (Barcode 0190295892463) - 7 Bonus Tracks
7. "La Folie" (November 1981) - Parlophone 019029892449 (Barcode 019029892449) - 7 Bonus Tracks