"Kiss Me Quick, Squeeze Me Slow: The Collection" by MICKEY JUPP (October 2014 UK Repertoire Records 3CD and 1DVD Book Set - Jon Astley Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"...Rock 'n' Roller..."

Industry-wise Worthing's Mickey Jupp has always been a cult – a name mentioned with affection and even awe by those in the Rock ‘n’ Roll know and first on the Rolodex when a boppin' British band is in need of a snappy tune. But like most music lovers in the general public, I came across the wit and boogie brilliance of Sussex's finest sideways - through his tunes done by other people on a whole myriad of fairly well known albums.

Anyone who worshipped at the feet of all things British Pub Rock in the mid to late Seventies (Dr. Feelgood, Ducks Deluxe, Dave Edmunds, Kursaal Flyers, Brinsley Schwarz et al) will have spotted Michael Graham Jupp's funny looking surname in the writing credits of their LPs. The fact that he wrote "Cheque Book" on the Feelgood's 1975 debut album "Down By The Jetty" and later penned the killer riffage of "Down At The Doctors" for the Canvey Island boys practically marks him out as God incarnate in my books. Apart from hugely affectionate/knowledgeable liner notes from Will Birch of The Kursaal Flyers - Wilko Johnson also gets a quote in the attached booklet talking about the outset of the Doctors musical career in 1974 - when intimidated a tad – Wilko shook Jupp's hand in genuine admiration (the music of Jupp’s band Legend was a sort of precursor to the Pub Rock sound). Two years later and Lee Brilleaux, Wilko Johnson and their stunning band Dr. Feelgood would see their live belter "Stupidity" hit the No. 1 spot in late 1976 on the UK LP charts.

Jupp unfortunately never enjoyed such commerciality with his any of his own releases whether it was with R 'n' B outfit The Orioles in the Sixties (not featured here unfortunately), the Rock 'n' Roll revivalist band Legend in the early Seventies (17 cuts included from 3 albums) or his own solo career from 1978 onwards with Stiff, Chrysalis, A&M and Line Records. But that doesn't stop me from thinking that this man's joyful English variant of Rock 'n' Roll isn’t some of the most enjoyable listens I've heard in years.

Repertoire Records of the UK feel the same and are determined to rectify our obvious and frankly unforgivable short sightedness by way of producing this humdinger of a Box Set covering his lengthy and productive career. There's a lot to savour here - so let's get out the chequebook and praise the man they call The White Chuck Berry...

UK released 27 October 2014 (11 November 2014 in the USA) - "Kiss Me Quick, Squeeze Me Slow: The Collection" by MICKEY JUPP on Repertoire Records REPUK 1173 (Barcode 4009910117323) is a 70-Song 3CD and 1DVD 'Book Pack' Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 CD (79:09 minutes):

1. You Know What I Mean (B-side to "You Made A Fool Out Of Me", a November 1979 UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHR 2384, for A-side see Track 5 on CD2)

2. You'll Never Get Me Up In One Of Those (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

3. Switchboard Susan (from the November 1979 UK LP "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis Records CHR 1261)

4. Short List (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

5. Cheque Book [by LEGEND] (from their 2nd UK LP "Legend" [aka "Red Boot"] released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 019)

6. Brother Doctor, Sister Nurse (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

7. Old Rock 'n' Roller (A-side to a September 1978 UK 7" single on Stiff Records BUY 36, B-side is Track 11 on CD1)

8. Taxi Driver (non-album B-side to "Modern Life", a March 1982 UK 7" single on A&M Records AMS 8208)

9. Don't Talk To Me (non-album A-side, April 1981 UK 7" single on Stiff GFR 001 - originally released Feb 1981 on Good Foot Records G.F.R. 001)

10. Make It Fly (from the November 1979 UK LP "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis Records CHR 1261)

11. S.P.Y. (B-side to "Old Rock 'n' Roller", October 1978 UK 7" single on Stiff Records BUY 36)

12. Politics (from the November 1979 UK LP "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis Records CHR 1261)

13. Shine On My Shoes [by LEGEND] (from their 3rd album "Moonshine", January 1972 UK LP on Vertigo 6360 036)

14. Making Friends (B-side to "Down In New Orleans", a 1978 Australian 7" single on Stiff K-7444 - version also on "Juppanese")

15. Hole In My Pocket [by LEGEND] (from their 2nd UK LP "Legend" [aka "Red Boot"] released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 019)

16. Joggin' (A-side of a 1981 German 7" single on Line Records 6.13 532)

17. Junk In My Trunk (B-side of "Don't Talk To Me", April 1981 UK 7" single on Stiff GFR 001 - A-side is Track 9 on CD1)

18. Cross Country [by LEGEND] (A-side of a 1970 French 7" Promo single on Vertigo 6832 957)

19. Nature's Radio (non-album A-side to a September 1977 UK 7" single on Arista ARISTA 136 - B-side of the April 1978 UK Promo-Only 7" single on Stiff Records UPP 1 - A-side is "My Typewriter")

20. Pilot (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

21. Chevrolet (from the November 1979 UK LP "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis Records CHR 1261)

22. Rooms In Your Roof (non-album A-side of an April 1980 UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHS 2388)

23. Down At The Doctors (non-album B-side to "Nature's Radio, a September 1977 UK 7" single on Arista ARISTA 136 - for A see Track 19 on CD1)

24. Down At The Doctors (Mono - Alternate Version) (from the 1979 UK Sampler LP "Southend Rock" on Sonet Records SNTF 806)

Tracks 5, 13, 15 and 18 by LEGEND - All Other Tracks by MICKEY JUPP

Disc 2 CD (77:44 minutes):

1. Down In Old New Orleans (A-side of a 1978 Australian 7" single on Stiff K-7444 - B-side is "Making Friends" - Track 14 on CD1)

2. Boxes And Tins (A-side to a September 1983 UK 7"single on A&M Records AM 145)

3. Georgia George (Part 1) [by LEGEND] (A-side of an October 1969 UK 7" single on Bell Records BLL 1082 in Mono - Produced by Robin Trower)

4. Blues On Their Own (from the 1980 German LP "Oxford" on Line Records 6.24531)

5. You Made A Fool Out Of Me Do You Know What I Mean (A-side of a November 1979 UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHR 2384, for B-side see Track 1 on CD1)

6. Virginia Weed (B-side of "Some People Can't Dance", a Dutch 1982 7" single On A&M Records AMS 9209)

7. Oxford Dick And The Words (from the 1980 German LP "Oxford" on Line Records 6.24531)

8. Monty Bronte And The Sisters (from the 1980 German LP "Oxford" on Line Records 6.24531)

9. Another Guy [by LEGEND] (from their 3rd album "Moonshine", January 1972 UK LP on Vertigo 6360 036)

10. Lorraine (Part 2) [by LEGEND] (B-side of as 1970 German 7" single on Vertigo 6832 957)

11. Switchboard Susan (A-side Track 1 on a 1983 German 12" single on Line Records 6. 20 094)

12. My Typewriter [by LEGEND] (A-side of a 1978 UK 7" single on Stiff Records UPP 1)

13. Some People Can't Dance (A-side of a Dutch 1982 7" single On A&M Records AMS 9209 - for B-side see Track 6 on CD2)

14. Orlando Fla (from the October 1983 UK LP "Shampoo Haircut And Shave" on A&M Records AMLH 68559)

15. Barbara (from the November 1979 UK LP "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis Records CHR 1261)

16. Poison Girls (B-side of "Don't Talk To Me", a 1980 German 7" single on Line Records 6. 12 939)

17. If Only Mother (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

18. Superman (from the April 1982 UK LP "Some People Can't Dance" on A&M Records AMLH 68535)

19. School (from the October 1978 UK LP "Juppanese" on Stiff Records SEEZ 10)

20. True Love (A-side of a 1979 German 7" single on Chrysalis 6155 266)

21. Modern Music (A-side of a March 1982 UK 7" single on A&M Records AM 8208)

22. Standing At The Crossroads Again (from the LP "As The Yeahs Go By" released 1991 by On The Beach Recordings FOAM 2)

23. Brother Doctor, Sister Nurse (Alternate Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 3, 9, 10 and 12 by LEGEND - All Others by MICKEY JUPP

Disc 3 CD (78:25 minutes)

1. National Gas (Mono Single Mix) [by LEGEND] (A-side of a French February 1969 7" single on Bell Records 2C 006-90.305)

2. Wouldn't You (Single Mix) [by LEGEND] (B-side of "National Gas", an October 1969 UK 7"single on Bell Records BLL 1048)

3. Heather On The Hill (Mono Single Mix) [by LEGEND] (B-side of "National Gas", a French February 1969 7" single on Bell 2C 006-90.305)

4. July (Mono Single Mix) [by LEGEND] (A-side of an October 1969 UK 7" single on Bell Records BLL 1048 - for B-side see Track 2 on CD3)

5. Life (Mono Single Mix) [by LEGEND] (A-side of a 1970 German 7" single on Vertigo 6059 021)

6. Late Last Night [by LEGEND] (B-side of a 1970 German 7" single on Vertigo 6059 021)

7. Don't You Never [by LEGEND] (A-side of a 1971 German 7" single on Vertigo 6059 036)

8. Someday (B-side of a 1971 German 7" single on Vertigo 6059 036)

9. Feel Free (non-album B-side of "Joggin'", a May 1982 UK 7" single on A&M Records AMS 8222)

10. Anything You Do (A-side Track 2 of 2 on a 1983 German 12" single on Line Records 6. 20 094 - for Track 1 see 11 on CD2)

11. Cheque Book (B-side Track 1 of 2 on a 1983 German 12" single on Line Records 6. 20 094 - for others see 11 on CD2 and 10 and 12 on CD3)

12. Daisy Mayes (B-side Track 2 of 2 on a 1983 German 12" single on Line Records 6. 20 094 - for others see 11 on CD2 and 10 and 11 on CD3)

13. Stormy Sunday Lunchtime (A-side of a July 1983 UK 7" single on A&M Records AM 128)

14. Reading Glasses (B-side of "Boxes And Tins", a September 1983 UK 7" single on A&M Records AM 145)

15. Only For Life (A-side of an August 1984 UK 7" single on Towerbell Records TOW55)

16. Animal Crackers (B-side of "Only For Life", an August 1984 UK 7" single on Towerbell Records TOW55)

17. Claggin' On (A-side of a March 1988 UK 7" single on Waterfront Records WFS 40)

18. Driving On Your Lights (B-side of "Claggin' On", a March 1988 UK 7" single on Waterfront Records WFS 40)

19. Be Stiff (1979 6-Track UK-Only Promo-Only 12" single on Stiff Records ODD 2 - Six Stiff acts do a cover of Devo's "Be Stiff)

20. Anything You Say (1994 Swedish CD-single on Gazell Records GAZSI-100)

21. Joggin' (A-side of a May 1982 UK 7" single on A&M Records AMS 8222)

22. I Feel Like Sleeping [by LEGEND] (from their 2nd UK LP "Legend" [aka "Red Boot"] released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 019)

23. Mother Of My Child [by LEGEND] (from their 3rd album "Moonshine", January 1972 UK LP on Vertigo 6360 036)

Tracks 1 to 8, 22 and 23 by LEGEND - All Others by MICKEY JUPP

Disc 4 DVD (24:31 minutes, Stereo PCM, Aspect Ratio 4:3, NTSC: Region Free, Exempt from Classification):

The Marquee Documentary "Long Distance Romancer" was transmitted by ITV-Anglia on 22 December 1994. Produced and Directed by Roger Deakin

The outer hard-card slipcase offers real protection to the digipak book while the 48-page attached booklet is a lovely thing to behold filled with rare picture sleeves, trade adverts, the Stiff Records Tour of 1978, photos of Legend and even a Vertigo Records Promo Page telling the world the good news. As you wade through the band and session players listed on the final credits Pages (1969 to1994) – the guest list is mighty impressive stuff - Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher, Gary Brooker and BJ Wilson of Procol Harum, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Rory Bremner and Terry Williams of Rockpile, Kevin Godley and Lol Crème of 10cc, Francis Rossi of Status Quo, Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, Tim Renwick of Quiver, Iain and Gavin Sutherland of Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Micky Moody of Nazareth and Snafu, Jimmy Jewel of Jake & The Family Jewels, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Dave Bronze of Dr. Feelgood, Chris Spedding and Production from Mike Vernon of Blue Horizon Records (as well as Robin Trower, Tony Visconti and Francis Rossi).

JON ASTLEY of Who Reissue fame has done the wickedly punchy Remasters – each track feeling beefed up and rearing to go – and not just trebled for the sake of it. It’s a testament too to the original Producers that boogies from 1970 and 1971 can sit safely alongside 1978 and 1979 songs and not sound wildly out of place. Great work done. Let’s get to the music...

Fans will be pleased to see that 10 of the 12 tracks from his brilliant solo debut album "Juppanese" on Stiff Records are featured here (only "The Ballad Of Billy Bonney" and "Partir C’est Mourir Un Peu" are missing) as well as a tasty extra on CD2 – a Previously Unreleased Alternate of the LP’s final track "Brother Doctor, Sister Nurse". 1979’s follow-up album "Long Distance Romancer" on Chrysalis does equally as well with 8 of its 10 songs represented (only "Hard Times" and "I'm In Control" are missing). From there we get 6 of the 11 on 1980’s underrated "Oxford" LP on Germany’s Line Records – 7 out of 10 for his 1982 album "Some People Can’t Dance" (with an extra remix of "Joggin'" on CD3) and 4 of 11 from 1983’s "Shampoo Haircut And Shave" – both on A&M Records UK. And so on...

If I was to single out just one track that shows his talent with a zippy tune and funny lyrics it would be "Politics" - a Chuck Berry Rock 'n' Roll beat chugs along as he churns out "...when I've used up all my guitar licks and got my house out in the sticks - I'm gonna dabble in politics..." He always seemed to get so close but never the cigar - the fantastic Bo Diddley shimmering guitar of "Joggin'" (I called my buddy and told my mate...I'm gonna lose my baby if I don't lose weight...) was chosen as a single in 1982 and received loads of radio play around the London Marathon of that year - but it didn't translate into sales. In fact the booklet tells us that the Mike Vernon Produced "Oxford" album it came off (which he rated highly) didn't sell jack despite the quality of tunes like the radio-friendly boogie of "Taxi Driver" and the witty "Modern Music". Again and again his wit hammers you - In "Old Rock 'n' Roller" Jupp sings from bittersweet experience - "...I'll do it 'til I'm blue in the face...sing and play guitar and jump all over the place...sing some heavy lyrics and the chords to fit...trouble is I don't know when to quit..." You can 'hear' Chuck Berry jump off these songs like he's channelling the great man and his inherent fun.

He can’t give up smoking in "Virginia Weed" – becomes a nerd musician in the testing-testing one-two-three of "Oxford Dick And The Words" and he can’t take whiskey with his water and gravy on his greens but when its come to Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker – Jupp loves the "Blues On Their Own". Even when he was with Legend in 1970 singing "Hole In My Pocket" - you know he's been there, endlessly wisecracking his way through another hangover. "...You buy the drinks...I'll just sit here looking pretty..." she says in the song and you just know that this lovestruck schmuck is gonna pay all night long. In "Making Friends" he sings of weariness with a twist - "...I've had enough of love and all that stuff...don't want you to miscomprehend...just making friends baby...not looking for love..." Jerry Lee Lewis gets tapped for the piano-rolling "Monty Bronte And The Sisters" – a crazy Rock ‘n’ Roll band made up of that bookish family. It’s also impossible not to hear Jupp sing "Cross Country" and wonder did Nick Lowe half-inch his entire solo career and singing style from this man (and I mean that in a nice way). Speaking of imitation and flattery - the treated old-world guitar of "Chevrolet" with its sexy 60ts Chess Records sound haunting every shimmering nuance - could be Dave Edmunds on Swan Song Records reincarnated.

"Switchboard Susan" gets two outings – the first from 1979 on CD1 and then the Line Records remake from 1983 on CD2 (she's got Michael's extension you know). He then goes all "Monster Mash" with the Bobby Boris Pickett and The Crypt Kickers pastiche of "My Typewriter" – a machine that doesn't feel pain and only tells fretful MJ what he wants to be told. "Orlando Fla" is wickedly good Berry Rock 'n' Roll while the Feelgoods would take "Standing At The Crossroads Again" on their 1991 "Primo" album and practically make it sound like it was a Doctor tune all along (Robert Johnson and Elmore James would approve). Jupp then hits you with something like "Pilot" - a rare and shattering hurt song that drips of real loss – a sailor sunk without trace – a pilot without a plane since she walked away – last time he saw her face. Listening to the utterly brilliant slink of “Down At The Doctors” - Jupp urges his listeners to embrace the sleaze of the East Side of town and invites patrons to "...come here sunny...ain’t gonna do you no harm...I'm just gonna shoot some Rock 'n' Roll in your arm!” OK boss - if you insist...

What good advice. Take mine – invest in this peach while you can and prepare to want everything he’s ever released thereafter. I’ve got a cure...gonna fix all your ills...I’m on my bike now mate...

"Sweeney's Men/The Tracks Of Sweeney + Bonus Tracks" by SWEENEY'S MEN - 1968 and 1969 UK Folk/Folk-Rock Albums on Transatlantic Records featuring Terry Woods (September 2017 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs onto 2CDs Plus Bonus Tracks - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"...Some Pleasures To See..."

Good gawd man - was it really 50 years ago! In truth it's been nearly four and half decades since I last heard these two Transatlantic Records albums from 1968 and 1969 (picked up on them in the early Seventies) and I'd honestly forgotten how good they are – especially the huge leap forward on their second and last studio platter. Typically too - England’s Beat Goes On has once again delivered a stunning Remaster of both in 2017 - making these Irish Folk artefacts all spangly new again and very much ripe for roots rediscovery. But a little history first because these influential Irish and English boys are absolutely steeped in it...

A forerunner of Planxty, Horslips, The Bothy Band and even Moving Hearts - SWEENEY'S MEN initially consisted of three seriously talented individuals deeply enamoured with Irish, Scottish and English Traditional Folk, Americana tales of woe and murder and the occasional European waxy dargle dalliance - Johnny Moynihan, Andy Irvine and Terry Woods. Each multi-instrumentalist also had distinctive voices and tones that made for sweet three-part harmonies when they merged (check out "Dicey Riley").

Musically you’re dealing with two radically different recorded beasts here – the first album is pure Trad Folk – while album No. 2 has its Traditional moments too (instrumentals and covers) – it also has a more Incredible String Band Acid-Folk vibe and reflects the emergence of American and British singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. In fact I’ve always thought the duo should have changed the band name for LP No. 2 such is the difference in sound. With original songs from Terry Wood and some very melodic co-writes with Henry McCullough changing everything – LP 2 feels like a huge leap forward and in 2018 – a bit of an undiscovered masterpiece to my ears.

After the band imploded – they had a huge history especially in the emerging Folk-Rock genre of the Sixties and Seventies. Dubliner Moynihan later joined the ranks of Dr. Strangely Strange for their second album “Heavy Petting” on Vertigo in 1970 (Irvine played on it too as did Skid Row’s Gary Moore), joined Planxty and De Danaan in the early to mid Seventies and The Fleadh Cowboys in the Eighties. Englishman (born of Irish parents) Andy Irvine made a famous self-titled duet album with Paul Brady in 1976 on Mulligan Records (much beloved in the fair city and beyond), joined Planxty too, played with Dick Gaughan, Christy Moore, Patrick Street, Barry Moore (later Luka Bloom), Jimmy Faulkner and just about everybody else on the Irish Folk scene. Terry Woods would split off from Sweeney's Men to form the revered and hugely collectable The Woods Band and thereafter pump out four Folk-Rock albums with his wife as Gay and Terry Woods (she would also later form Auto Da Fe in the Eighties). Woods left after the first Sweeney’s Men album and was replaced by another sessioning English axeman - ex Eire Apparent and future Wings guitarist Henry McCullough who contributed two songwriting co-credits on the second SM album. The original three (Moynihan, Irvine and Woods) are all but Folk and Folk-Rock superstars now in Ireland and beyond. And on it goes.

So let us now appreciate that innocent beginning and get all Pretty Polly on this release (some pleasures to see)...

UK and USA released September 2017 - "Sweeney's Men/The Tracks Of Sweeney + Bonus Tracks" by SWEENEY'S MEN on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1298 (Barcode 5017261212986) offers 2LPs from 1968 and 1969 Remastered onto 2CDs with Four Bonus Tracks (the A&B-sides of two non-album 7" singles from 1967 and 1968) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (40:51 minutes):

1. Rattlin' Roarin' Willy [Side 1]

2. Sullivan's John

3. Sally Brown

4. My Dearest Dear

5. The Exile's Jig

6. The Handsome Cabin Boy

7. Dicey Riley [Side 2]

8. Tom Dooley

9. Willy O' Winsbury

10. Dance To Your Daddy

11. The House Carpenter

12. Johnston

13. Reynard The Fox

Tracks 1 to 13 are their debut album "Sweeney's Men" - released 1968 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 170 (produced by BILL LEADER)

Disc 2 (45:21 minutes):

1. Dreams For Me [Side 1]

2. The Pipe On The Hob

3. Brain Jam

4. Pretty Polly

5. Standing On The Shore

6. A Mistake No Doubt [Side 2]

7. Go By Brooks

8. When you Don't Care For Me

9. Afterthoughts

10. Hiram Hubbard

11. Hall Of Mirrors

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second and last studio album "The Tracks Of Sweeney" - released 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 200 (produced by BILL LEADER).

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Old Maid In A Garret

13. The Derby Ram

Tracks 12 and 13 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 17312 released 24 April 1967

14. Waxies Dargle

15. Old Woman In Cotton

Tracks 14 and 15 are the non-album A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N 17459 released 30 January 1968

The card slipcase and 24-page booklet add this Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue (BGO) a feeling of class. JOHN O'REGAN does his usual first-rate job of disseminating the tangled history of the band and especially the musical legacy of the core trio of players - Moynihan, Irvine and Woods. You get repros of the original artwork and pages of detailed history - very impressively done. But again the big news is new 2017 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that are wonderfully clear and warm - full of acoustic instruments and Bill Leader's complimentary production. These really are beautiful sounding discs...

Apparently recorded in one booze-laden 36-hour session - the debut album "Sweeney's Men" (the band's name is from a Flann O'Brien character in "At Swim-Two-Birds") is traditional Irish and English Folk with an Americana murder ballads twist. The three alternate solo vocals - so Moynihan leads off the first two songs accompanied by his Bouzouki on "Rattlin' Roarin' Willy" - a slip reel with words reputedly by Robbie Burns - while he reaches for the tin whistle on "Sullivan's John" - a travelling tinker song bolstered up by lovely Harmonica from Irvine. "Sally Brown" is the first with Irvine on Lead Vocals - a wey-hey tarry-sailor song where he recalls a one-legged captain in Virginia and a Liverpool liner where he met the lovely Sally (the concertina by Woods gives the air a wonderful wistful feel - similar in fact to tracks on Horslips' debut album "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" in 1973).

Terry Woods gets his turn with "My Dearest Dear" - a tune he'd written to lyrics given him by Peggy Seeger. "Dicey Riley" shows their combined talent - all three going at it Acapella. Speaking of that format - Kate Bush fans will know she did a truly gorgeous virtually voice-only version of "The Handsome Cabin Boy" as one of the non-album B-sides to the 12" single for "Hounds Of Love" in February 1986. Here Johnny Moynihan fills his "Handsome Cabin Boy" with harmonica and you can't help thinking that our Kate was listening to the Sweeney's Men as a child.

The second album is the real jewel here for me. Terry Woods penned four originals for the album – the gorgeous strummed Folk-Rock opener "Dreams For Me" as well as "Brain Jam", "When You Don't Care Me" and "Afterthoughts". He also co-penned "A Mistake No Doubt" and "Hall Of Mirrors" with Henry McCullough and Johnny Moynihan and arranged the Traditional Song covers "Pretty Polly", "Standing On The Shore" and "Hiram Hubbard" with Moynihan. The other Traditional on here is the instrumental "The Pipe On The Hob" – the most straight up Folk song on the LP. But the album's singer-songwriter heart truly lies with the acoustic-Dylan vibe surrounding "Pretty Polly" – a pleasures you can see tale of American doomed love – over the mountains and the valleys they did go until he slept on her grave all night. In fact you can so hear where Natalie Merchant and Willie Watson got that back-to-basics Americana sound – songs dripping with the ghosts of the past.

Echoes of Nick Drake and his acoustic lonesomeness appear in the lovely “Standing On The Shore” – a seaman recounting faces from the past that are now gone (nothing standing clear). Tom Rush circa "Circle Game" and Joni Mitchell circa "Song For A Seagull" all collide in the gorgeous "A Mistake No Doubt" where high-stringed guitars, strummed zitars and penny whistles all combine to give a gorgeous Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance feel. Taking Leonard Cohen’s poem "Go By Brooks" – Terry Woods give it some mumbler sorrow in a very quiet Acoustic number – rivers and eels and my love walking there. Better is a double of acoustic love songs - "When You Don't Care For Me" (so Nick Drake) and "Afterthoughts" – lone gut-string notes and gently flicked finger-cymbals giving it something of an Incredible String Band and Dr. Strangely Strange feel. This great album ends of two more winners – the not guilty Traditional "Hiram Hubbard" and the second of McCullough's impressive contributions "Hall Of Mirrors" – echoed strums and a recorder once again making your hear the influence of Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. The four impossible-to-find single sides are pure diddly-idle Irish Folk with a witty twist – a man wooing his lack of marriage prospects and so on.

Both original LPs are listed at £90 in the Rare Record Price Guide of 2018 – but try actually finding copies. They must have sold squat at the time because from experience I can recall only seeing either sporadically across the decades that I ran the Rarities Dept. in Reckless Records in London – a busy, busy store for stock. Transatlantic began a reissue campaign in 1977 and put out “The Tracks Of...” LP in different coloured artwork - but minus the “Afterthoughts” song on Side 2. Even that’s listed too as a rarity.

So – two hard-to-find but worth it records (one being an undiscovered gem in my books) – and four uber-rare single sides – and all of it in gorgeous audio and proper presentation kudos – I'm giving it five stars. More importantly I'd urge you to check these out and don't feel they’re just 'Folk' per say – that last studio platter is so much more than that. At Swim Two CDs...

"Blank Generation" by RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS (November 2017 Rhino '40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' 2CD Reissue - Greg Calbi Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 300+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

"...Another World..."

Kentuckian Richard Lester Meyers (Rick Hell to you and I) made the front cover of the NME I remember in April 1977. But British fans of the American New Wave icon would have to wait until October of that year for his Sire Records debut album on vinyl (released the month prior in his own USA).

Despite not charting in any real way in either territory – the album has garnished a hardcore following ever since – a reputation far past four decades of influence (and rightly so methinks). It was famously recorded in March 1977 at New York’s ‘Electric Lady Studios’ – but dissatisfied with the results – the bulk of it was re-recorded three months later at Pizza Studios. To this end Rhino USA have chosen to honour the ex Television and Heartbreakers original and his superb and ballsy account-opener with a '40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition'. It sports a Remaster of the released 10-track album on CD1 and 12 Rare Tracks on CD2 – some of which are those first version discards and live CBGB cuts from an audience cassette (most Previously Unreleased). It really was another world back then - here are the two takes...

UK released Friday, 24 November 2017 (reissued 16 February 2018 with a ‘Record Store Day Exclusive’ stickered sleeve) - "Blank Generation" by RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS on Rhino 081227932787 (081227932787) is a '40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' 2CD Reissue (Remastered album on CD1 with Twelve Bonus Tracks on CD2) that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 'ORIGINAL 1977 ALBUM REMASTERED' (33:34 minutes):

1. Love Comes In Spurts [Side 1]

2. Liars Beware

3. New Pleasure

4. Betrayal Takes All

5. Down At The Rock And Roll Club

6. Who Says? [Side 2]

7. Blank Generation

8. Walking On The Water

9. The Plan

10. Another World

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "Blank Generation" - released September 1977 in the USA on Sire Records SR 6037 and October 1977 in the UK on Sire Records 9103 327. Produced by RICHARD GOTTEHRER and RICHARD HELL - it didn't chart in either country

Disc 2 'BONUS TRACKS' (35:01 minutes):

1. Love Comes In Spurts (Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version)

2. Blank Generation (Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version)

3. You Gotta Lose (Electric Lady Studios Outtake Version)

4. Who Says? (Pizza Sound Studios Alternate Version)

5. Love Comes In Spurts (Live At CBGB in New York, 19 November 1976)

6. Blank Generation (Live At CBGB in New York, 19 November 1976)

7. Liars Beware (Live At CBGB in New York, 14 April 1977)

8. New Pleasure (Live At CBGB in New York, 14 April 1977)

9. Walking On The Water (Live At CBGB in New York, 14 April 1977)

10. Another World (Ork Records Version from 1976)

11. Oh (Original 2000 Release)

12. 1977 Sire Records Radio Ad (1:03 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 12 are Previously Unreleased

RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS was:

RICHARD HELL - Bass and Lead Vocals

ROBERT QUINE - Guitars and Background Vocals

IVAN JULIAN - Guitars and Background Vocals

MARC BELL - Drums

The gatefold three-way-foldout card digipak certainly looks the 'You Make Me...' part (close up that shirt pal) - the album's original inner sleeve collage of photos splashed across the inner flap. Disappointingly there are no photos beneath the see-through CD trays (missed a trick there boys) - but the 24-page booklet makes up for it with pictures of master tapes from the two key recording venues - Electric Lady and Pizza Studio - along with period snaps of Richard with Guitarists Bob Quine and Ian Julian, Richard's September 1977 diary pages (CBGB's gigs), period adverts and even a note from fans promising things to the lead singer that no young boy should be promised. The first half of it gives us a personal account of his earlier life including the four years Hell struggled with The Neon Boys and Television and then onwards to a track-by-track explanation (very illuminating). That's in turn followed by an interview with Ivan Julian (20 July 2017) where Hell is queried on Tour Dates, memories of his European and British tours, growing up in Washington and so on. There is a final page of New York reminiscences by Susanne Savage (also one of the reissue’s producers) putting the American Top 10 Singles in 1977 into context. Safe and perfect bands dominated from February to November as opposed to what was going on with New York's noisy boys giving it some angry short-sharp-shocks as they aired the frustrations of a blank generation (take it or leave it each time). You also get the lyrics, reissue credits and so on. My copy also sports a ‘Record Store Day Exclusive’ sticker because it was bought in 2018. Very nice...

While that’s pictorially pleasing – the real deal here for me is a new GREG CALBI Remaster that gives amazing power and clarity to that wall of US Punk and New Wave that keeps coming at you - track after track (he was the original mastering engineer on the 1977 LP). Quine's guitar solo in the Blues Punk Waltz of "Betrayal Takes Two" for instance is even more scuzzy than I remember - and amen to that. Calbi is more famously associated with Supertramp, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney Remasters – but he's also done Television's 1977 masterpiece "Marquee Moon" and that's a total magnet for me...

Coming over as a snottier version of Television - musically Richard Hell and his Band had that New Wave voice and stance down - making him especially instant NME hero-worship material right from the off. That 'attitude' comes screaming out of "Love Comes In Spurts" as he roars about being fourteen and a half with the innocence of "Love Me Do" and "All You Need Is Love" just not cutting it anymore. Smiling lies, pompous jerks and ridiculous creeps get short shift in "Liars Beware" - the song stretching to unforgivable Prog Rock length of 2:58 minutes. Those opening guitars in "New Pleasure" are seriously good now - the rhythm section feeling like they're in your living room - sublime poses indeed. I absolutely love that guitar sound Quine gets in "Betrayal..." (bit of a mini operatic masterpiece that song) and the sheer uh-huh scotch 'n' soda fun of "Down At The Rock And Roll Club" is still exciting. Both "Blank Generation" (dig those guitar jabs) and a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Walking On The Water" seal the album's greatness for me - making a John Fogerty song sound like it was a Voidoid tune all along. "Another World" gets all Talking Heads guitar wacky while Hell sings in his 'oh baby oh' best Stranglers-sleaze voice. I could live with you in another world, not this one. And you believe him...

What of the Bonus Material? Although its hard now to dislocate myself from album tracks I’ve known and loved for so many years - there is an amateur-hour feel to the Electric Lady recordings of "Love Comes In Spurts" and "Blank Generation" that don’t actually enhance the kick - but somehow lessen it. I can so hear why they were dropped. At least the Pizza Studios Alternate Version of "Who Says?" is a goer equal to its released version. But "You Gotta Lose" has to be surely worth the price of admission alone – an outtake where mum is a pinhead and God is away on holidays. What a find this track is!

The November 1976 CBGB live cuts are crude and rude (an audience cassette) and just a notch above bootleg quality – while the ones from a year later (April 1977) fare only a tab better. The six-minute 1976 US single of "Another World" on Ork Records 81976 (Richard Hell only credit) is another decent Bonus – but amazing that no one thought to repro its rare Picture Sleeve in the booklet. The final Voidoids recording "Oh" from 2000 comes 24-years after the event (same line-up) and yet cleverly reclaims that grungy sloppy feel of the 1977 songs. The 'no matter how you say it' radio advert for the album is cringingly awful but Hell (no pun intended) - it was American Radio in 1977...

Great remaster of the album, about half the Bonus Tracks actually worth owning and a decent presentation/price. Makes me want to...

"Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (August 2017 Esoteric Recordings 3CD Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

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"...Tear Down The Wall..."

For those of us who wouldn't know a Belgian 'Marsupilami' from a Mushrump 'Gryphon' or indeed a Marxist 'Humblebum'  - thank God there's Cherry Red Records of the UK and their Satanically loony as a Buckled-Pentangle label offshoot – Esoteric Recordings.

Men of twisty beards and impeccable taste, ladies of dangerously short skirts and Laura Ashley Saleswoman of the Year Awards and paisley-trousered accountants who really should stop doing Peruvian dancing dust in the bijou toilet area - have put together the 3CD Mini Box Set that is "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976".

It's the kind of barmy musical journey that will have your partner wondering why she married you - and as she listens over Sunday's Brisket to The Deviants rabbiting on about a "Metamorphosis Explosion" or CMU waffling omnipotent about a "Song From The 4th Era" (what happened to the other three you ask) worry that maybe the mercury that's been in your teeth all these years really does need to finally come out. It's all a bit mad and very eccentric and fantastically tear-down-the-barriers adventurous stuff - if you feel my planetary drift man. Let's get to the English Underground before the Eurocrats in Brussels tell us it’s the wrong shape and colour...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32600 (Barcode 5013929470040) is a 39-Track 3CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:31 minutes):

1. We Can Swing Together - ALAN HULL (non-album A-side of a December 1969 UK 7" single on Big Tree Records BIG 129, B-side is Track 8)

2. 11 B.S. - CIRCUS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 207)

3. Midsummer Nights Happening - THE SALLYANGIE [with Mike & Sally Oldfield] (from their 1968 UK debut LP "Children Of The Sun" on Transatlantic Records TRA 176)

4. Light Flight - PENTANGLE (from their 1969 third UK LP "Basket Of Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 205)

5. Billy The Monster - THE DEVIANTS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "The Deviants" on Transatlantic Records TRA 204)

6. Paint It Black - JODY GRIND (from their 1969 UK debut LP "One Step On" on Transatlantic Records TRA 210, a Rolling Stones cover)

7. Norwegian Wood - CIRCUS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 207, a Beatles cover)

8. Obadiah's Grave - ALAN HULL (non-album B-side of a December 1969 UK 7" single on Big Tree Records BIG 129, A-side is Track 1)

9. Lucifer's Cage - GORDON GILTRAP (from his 1969 UK LP "Portrait" on Transatlantic Records TRA 202)

10. Once I Had A Sweetheart - PENTANGLE (from their 1969 third UK LP "Basket Of Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 205)

11. Metamorphosis Explosion - THE DEVIANTS (from their 1969 UK debut LP "The Deviants" on Transatlantic Records TRA 204)

12. Saturday Roundabout Sunday - THE HUMBLEBUMS [Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty] (non-album A-side to a 1969 UK 7" single on BIG T Records BIG 122 (B-side was "Bed Of Mossy Green")

13. Makin' Time - LITTLE FREE ROCK (from their 1969 UK debut LP "Little Free Rock" on Transatlantic Records TRA 208)

14. Mona (A Fragment) - MICK FARREN [of The Deviants] (from his 1970 UK debut solo LP "Mona - The Carnivorous Circus" on Transatlantic Records TRA 212, a Bo Diddley cover)

15. Plastic Shit - JODY GRIND (from their 1970 UK 2nd LP "Far Canal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 221)

Disc 2 (78:34 minutes):

1. All In Your Mind - STRAY (from their 1970 UK debut LP "Stray" on Transatlantic Records TRA 216)

2. Born To Be Free - MARSUPILAMI (from their 1970 UK debut LP "Marsupilami" on Transatlantic Records TRA 213)

3. We've Had It - JODY GRIND (from their 1970 UK album "Far Canal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 221)

4. Mice And Rats In The Loft - JAN DUKES DE GREY (from their 1971 UK album "Mice And Rats In The Loft" on Transatlantic Records TRA 234)

5. Homage To The God Of Light - PETER BARDENS (from his 1970 UK album "The Answer" on Transatlantic Records TRA 222)

6. Around The World In 80 Days - STRAY (from their 1970 UK debut album "Stray" on Transatlantic Records TRA 216)

7. Mendle - MR. FOX (from their 1971 UK album "The Gypsy" on Transatlantic Records TRA 236)

8. Prelude To The Arena - MARSUPiLAMI (from their 1971 UK album "Arena" on Transatlantic Records TRA 230)

9. Don't Ever Give Up Trying - UNICORN (from their 1971 debut album "Uphill All The Way" on Transatlantic Records TRA 238)

10. Reflection - PENTANGLE (from their 1971 UK album "Reflection" on Transatlantic Records TRA 240)

11. Skin Valley Serenade - SKIN ALLEY (from their 1972 UK album "Two Quid Deal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 260)

Disc 3 (73:33 minutes):

1. Tear Down The Wall - PETER BARDENS (from his 1971 UK debut LP "Peter Bardens" on Transatlantic Records TRA 243)

2. Son Of The Father - STRAY (from their 1971 UK LP "Suicide" on Transatlantic Records TRA 233)

3. Don't Count Me Out - GERRY RAFFERTY (from his 1971 UK debut solo LP "Can I Have My Money Back" on Transatlantic Records TRA 241)

4. Rick's Seven - SKIN ALLEY (from their 1972 UK LP "Two Quid Deal" on Transatlantic Records TRA 260)

5. Song From The 4th Era - CMU

6. A Distant Thought, A Point Of Light - CMU (tracks 15 and 16 from their 1973 UK LP "Space Cabaret" on Transatlantic Records TRA 259)

7. The Ungodly - DECAMERON (from their 1975 UK LP "Third Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 304)

8. Fair Fortune's Star - CAROLANNE PEGG [of Mr. Fox] (from her 1973 UK debut LP "Carolanne Pegg" on Transatlantic Records TRA 266)

9. Move It - STRAY (non-album version on the A-side of a 1973 UK 7" single on Transatlantic/Big T BIG 516 - B-side was "Crazy People")

10. Shelter - RENIA (from the 1973 UK LP "First Offenders" on Transatlantic Records TRA 261)

11. Opening Move - GRYPHON (from their 1974 3rd UK LP "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" on Transatlantic Records TRA 287)

12. Journey's End - DECAMERON (from their 1975 UK LP "Third Light" on Transatlantic Records TRA 304)

13. Criminal World - METRO [featuring Duncan Browne] (from their 1976 UK LP "Metro" on Transatlantic Records TRA 340)

The Mini LP Sized Clamshell Box contains a jam-packed 48-page booklet where compiler, co-ordinator and researcher MARK POWELL deals with each artist and band in alphabetical order (taking a leaf from the booklets within the Decca. Deram and Vertigo box sets from Universal). Paragraph after paragraph provides deep insider detail and all of it sided by stacks of repro'd memorabilia- album covers, UK, US and European Trade Adverts, concert tickets and even hand-written bills on headed Transatlantic Records paper. It's beautifully done and must have involved serious amounts of research hours (well done to all involved). Long-time label associate and Audio Engineer BEN WISEMAN has done the transfers - each Remaster full of air and muscle. The sources as you can imagine vary, but little of it feels underwhelming - stuff like the Hard Rock of Stray vs. the delicacy of Unicorn by way of the full-on Prog of Peter Bardens - it's all strong and most times belies the labels limited Production budgets. To the mixed-up confusion...

Disc 1 opens with Lindisfarne's Alan Hull issuing a solo 45 in 1969 on Transatlantic's 'Big T Records' - "We Can Swing Together" (the B-side is Track 8 on Disc 1 "Obadiah's Grave"). The lyrics are angry - the law breaking down doors, county judge sending the boys to jail, laughing as they walk towards the cell - all of it acting as a defiant-attitude opener. Just as you were about to get comfortable with all that witty Newcastle swinging from the rafters in natty pubs - in creeps Circus with six and a half minutes of the challenging "11 B.S." - a very Prog-Jazz instrumental featuring Mel Collins on Saxophone (he would shortly after depart for King Crimson). English countryside prettiness come sin the shape of the dreadfully twee yet sweet "Midsummer Right's Happening" by The Sallyangie - famous for housing Sally and Mike Oldfield - one of them dreaming of bells and ridges etc. Far better is the sexy swing of "Light Flight" from Pentangle followed neatly by two wild covers - Jody Grind going hell for leather at the Stones' "Paint It Black" - a version mad enough that surely Jagger would approve of it - and then Circus giving us seven minutes of Rubber Soul's "Norwegian Wood" like you've never heard it (fuzzed-up guitars ala Crimson saxophone) - nice. Other Disc 1 goodies include Gordon Giltrap's wonderful acoustic slasher "Lucifer's Cage" where he lays into what sounds like a twelve-string - virtuosity and Bert Jansch flourishes coming at you from every angle. Tim Hinkley of Jody Grind guests on "Makin' Time" by Little Free Rock - easily one of the weakest cuts here. Better is Mick Farren of The Deviants going at Bo Diddley's "Mona" in a suitable grungy shimmering guitar manner accompanied by clever Cello slashes ("hey Mona, let me run away and lie with you..."). It ends on the very Punky "Plastic Sh**" from Jody Grind where our boy goes all Stooges-angry on environmental destruction (wicked raw guitar). 

Disc 2 is the longest playing time of all three so Stray's "All In Your Mind" may run to over eight minutes - but don't let that fool you into thinking its some Prog-tastic minuet - it's a straight-up rawk tune with more than a few elements of Stooges Punk in its effected guitar solos - very impressive stuff. Things return to trippy on the excellent "Born To Be Free" by Marsupilami - great musical ideas abounding. Acoustic Guitars and English madrigal melody greet us on "We've Had It" - Holland's melodious instrumental beginning then becoming a sort of early Gryphon meets Genesis Prog Rock moment. "...Moonbeams danced on the night..." we're informed in a high-pitched voice during "Mice And Rats In The Loft" - Jan Dukes De Grey giving it some nine-minute guitar-and-drums wig out. Camel's Peter Bardens gets to show his inner doom on "Homage To The God Of Light" - another fast-paced Prog number where guitars vs. keyboards battle it out for thirteen and half minutes (Van Der Graaf Generator fans will eat this up). Things calm with Stray's mellow "Around The World In 80 Days" - together on our magic carpet ride. Other highlights include the melodic acoustic Folk-Rock of "Don’t You Ever Give Up Trying" by Unicorn – a proper-tunes band (like say Badfinger) admired by Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour who would go on to produce Unicorn’s next three albums - "Blue Pine Trees" in 1974 on Charisma and two on Harvest - 1976's "Too Many Crooks" and 1977's "One More Tomorrow". And don’t get me started on the genius of "Reflection" – the title track to their fifth and last album for Transatlantic Records where Pentangle use violins and Danny Thompson’s Double Bass in what could be described as a Prog Rock ethereal drifter (all eleven minutes-plus of it). Skin Alley tidy up Disc 2 with the very Jethro Tull flute-driven "Skin Valley Serenade".

Disc 3 brings us from 1973 onwards and the production values increase even though Peter Barden's opener "Tear Down The Walls" flanges your speakers to a point where it grates the listen. Better is Stray's "Son Of The Father" which starts out like an anti-war chant but soon becomes enveloped in Mellotron and Guitars (yeah baby). Stepping out of his Humblebums duo - Gerry Rafferty shows an early sign of melody-writing brilliance in his "Don't Count Me Out" - a cut off his debut LP. Skin Alley gives us "Rick's Seven" sounding not unlike early Rush with a restrained Steve Marriott at the microphone. Contemporary Music Unit (CMU to you and I) are probably the most 'out there' melodic Prog outfit on here (which is saying something) and their brilliant and imaginative twofer "Song From The 4th Area" and "A Distant Thought, A Point Of Light" are full of bodies changing, astral travelling through the Universe and generally becoming one with galactic consciousness (as you do at the cosmetics counter in Boots on a Saturday). Folkies Decameron follow with "The Ungodly" – questioning authority types and ‘may God forgive them’ unholy decision-making. Carolanne Pegg of Mr. Fox gives us ten minutes of "Fair Fortune’s Star" – a master in the woods tale of woe and warning that feels like Fairport Convention giving it some "Tam Lyn". Another ten-minute extravaganza of playing virtuosity screams of out your speakers in gorgeous remastered form in the shape of Gryphon and one part of their four-piece Chess Suite "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" – very Greenslade meets Genesis meets – well Gryphon. It all ends on the odd Folk-Pop of Metro – a Duncan Browne band that is held in affection to this day – their Brian Protheroe Eighties sounding music defying its 1976 recording date.

What a ride – even though I'm fairly sure some will say of bands on here - what a pile of indulgent tut. But isn't that the point. "Let The Electric Children Play: The Underground Story Of Transatlantic Records 1968-1976" is aimed at those who want to explore – remember days when music like this could be recorded – when we actually did tear down the walls - when we reached for it and sometimes got 'there'.

"...Flowers...coming into bloom again...as lovers and as friends...there’s no reason now to be afraid..." – Decameron sing on the lovely "Journey's End". This stuff should be remembered and I for one will welcome Electric Play 2...