"Brain Salad Surgery: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (September 2016 BMG/Manticore 2CD Reissue Using Newly Mastered 2014 Remasters and Remixes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 310 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CADENCE /CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Tough Customer..."

Taking its title from a lyric in a Dr. John song on his 1973 LP "In The Right Place" (the tune is "Right Place, Wrong Time" to be exact) - ELP's fourth studio LP "Brain Salad Surgery" came forth in the UK in November 1973 (December 1973 in the USA) in a year when Progressive Rock was huge and I can remember at the time hating it (apart from the cool artwork courtesy of Swiss Shock-Rock Artist H.R. Giger and his Alien paintings).

I loved the first three studio albums that preceded BSS in 1970, 1971 and 1972 - but I thought most of Side 1 on the new platter was pretentious knob and the abomination of "Benny The Bouncer" has to be the worst crap I've ever heard a major band do. It was of course 1973 and Progressive Rock was at its most bombastic and flashy - much of it difficult to get into but brilliant nonetheless (I was and still am a convert). And if you want sheer diversity and a slice of Prog greatness in all its pomp and circumstance then the first two parts of "Karn Evil 9" spread across two sides of the original vinyl album takes some beating (the title came from Pete Sinfield who suggested the four parter sounded like a 'carnival' - a word Keith Emerson then twisted into 'Karn Evil'). But again – even as a fan and on a re-listen – this for me was the beginning of the end...

ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery" has had a ludicrously twisted history when it comes to digital reissues and this September 2016 'Deluxe Edition' is no different. It contains 2014 Remasters and Remixes – but what is worth noting and slightly different to those contentious sounds – is that this double has been ‘mastered’ in 2016 by two engineers I trust and love – ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. And I think for ELP fans that worship at the feet of this densely recorded/mixed platter (the band rejected the first mix back in the day) - the 2016 mastering results on this 2CD Deluxe Edition are worth noting – audiowise anyway. Let's get to the Toccatas and the Impressions...

UK released 30 September 2016 (reissued 1 March 2017) - "Brain Salad Surgery: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on BMG/Manticore BMGCAT2CD6 (Barcode 4050538180275) offers a 2014 Remaster on Disc 1 of the original 1973 LP (newly mastered in 2016) and a 2014 Stereo Mix of an 'Alternate Album' on Disc 2 (also newly mastered in 2016). This 2016 2-Disc Reissue plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Original 1973 Album (2014 Remaster, 2016 Mastering)" - 44:50 minutes

1. Jerusalem [Side 1]

2. Toccata

3. Still...You Turn Me On

4. Benny The Bouncer

5. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression (Part 1)

6. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression (Part 2) [Side 2]

7. Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression

8. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth studio album (fifth release overall) "Brain Salad Surgery" - released November 1973 in the UK on Manticore Records K 53501 and December 1973 in the USA on Manticore MC 66669. Produced by GREG LAKE - it peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA.

Disc 2 - "The Alternate Album (Jakko M Jakszyk 2014 Stereo Mixes)"  - 72:36 minutes:

1. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Original Backing track)

2. Jerusalem (First Mix)

3. Still...You Turn Me On (First Mix)

4. Toccata (Alternate Version)

5. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 (Alternate Version)

6. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 (Alternate Version)

7. Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression (Alternate Version)

8. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Alternate Version)

9. Excerpts From Brain Salad Surgery (NME Flexi Disc Version)

(i) Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1

(ii) Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression

(iii) Still...You Turn Me On

(iv) Toccata

(v) Jerusalem

(vi) Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

(vii) Benny The Bouncer

(viii) Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2

(ix) Benny The Bouncer

10. When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine (Non-Album B-side to "Jerusalem" - released November 1973 in the UK as a 7" single on Manticore K 13503)

11. Brain Salad Surgery (Non-Album B-side to "Fanfare For The Common Man" - released May 1977 in the UK as a 7" single on Manticore K 10946)

12. Brain Salad Surgery (Instrumental)

13. Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression (Different Version)

Keyboard Wiz Keith Emerson plays Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Synthesisers and Accordion – Guitarist Greg Lake plays Electric 6 and 12-String Guitars, Bass and sings Lead Vocals whilst Carl Palmer plays Drums, Percussion and Synthesised Percussion.

Each of these BMG/Manticore Deluxe Editions come in a three-way fold-out card digipak - this 2016 variant boasting a 16-page upgraded booklet with new band photos and interviews with CHRIS WELCH on the making of the album, its inspirations, Giger's extraordinary artwork, Keith’s new Polyphonic Moog Synth, buying the ABC Fulham Cinema to write and rehearse it as a 'live' show and then finally to Olympic Studios with legendary Engineer Chris Kimsey (famed for his work with The Rolling Stones) to record it. There are photos of the famous NME 'Excerpts' Flexi that preceded the album's release in November 1973 as well as repros of three foreign picture sleeves for the album's only single "Jerusalem" with the non-album song "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" on the flipside (Track 10 on Disc 2). There's an British Tour 1974 Program but a rather stupid omission is the lyrics that came with the foldout inlay from the original LP. But at least the new liner notes acknowledge Keith Emerson's sad passing in March 2016.

But the big news over the 2014 Sony/Leadclass Ltd. Reissue and Remaster is only subtly alluded too. Although these are the 2014 versions which some didn't like (no changes in track lists) - this 2016 upgrade has been 'newly' mastered by ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM whose Remaster catalogue is huge - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Black Sabbath, ELP, Spooky Tooth, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Thin Lizzy and even Lee Perry. I think they've managed to wangle more - a better depth and naturality. To the music...

The bells and crashing Tympany drums of "Jerusalem" roar and that Greg Lake wah-wah guitar break in "Still...You Turn Me On" punches out of the acoustic guitars with intent. That fantastic synth break Emerson goes into towards the end of Part 1 of "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression" chugs along with a zip I haven't heard before and of course they've joined the synth fade out of Part 1 to Part to make it into one seamless piece of music. Alberto Ginastera's "Toccata" has all that wild percussion stuff coming at you (he approved apparently) while Lake's guitars pan across the speakers in Part 2 of "Karn Evil 9" in tandem with Emerson's synth soloing - like both are gone on a virtuoso bender.

I can't really tell if there's that much of a difference between the 'First Mix' versions of "Jerusalem" or "Still...You Turn Me On" - while the Bass and soaring Synths on the Alternate Version of Part 1 variant of "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression" sound amazing to my ears - probably the most King Crimson ELP ever got. I'd forgotten how cool the NME Flexi was - a very cleverly mixed 'excerpts' that feature eight snippets that runs to only 2:52 minutes. The long-winded/silly-billy titles notwithstanding - I've always thought 'both' the instrumental "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" and "Brain Salad Surgery" tracks should have replaced "Toccata" and the horrid "Benny The Bouncer" on the album. I've always thought both are brilliant with "Brain Salad Surgery" substituting "Bouncer" for the album's moment of wit. 

--> They would release the indulgent live triple album "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends" in 1974 (lyrics taken from "Karn Evil 9") practically ushering in the need for Punk Rock. But if you want to know why they caused such a Proggy Jangle - then this 2016 Reissue of "Brain Salad Surgery" is the one for you...

"Ommadawn: Deluxe Edition" by MIKE OLDFIELD - October 1975 UK LP on Virgin (June 2010 UK Virgin/Universal 2CD/1DVD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00004Y6O1&asins=B00004Y6O1&linkId=77a8e853d434ff590d2996ad28f16fbb&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

This Review and 204 More Like It Are Available In My

Amazon e-Book 

CAPT. FANTASTIC - 1975

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters 

All Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut And Paste Crap) 

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08RDVQJXV&asins=B08RDVQJXV&linkId=e28b896c81e7bebf30e2101a666e021f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"…Musical Fool…"

As I recall an “Ommadawn” in Ireland was a bit of an eejit – a fool – a dunderhead. I don’t know if that was Mike Oldfield’s intention - but as the South African group JABULA play the final percussive repeated refrain on “Part 1” - Clodagh Simonds of the cult Irish Folk group MELLOW CANDLE sings “Ommadawn ag ceoil…” which roughly translates from the Gaelic into “Fool singing music…”

Along with his first two albums “Tubular Bells” (1973) and “Hergest Ridge” (1974) – 1975’s “Ommadawn” was always going to be a DELUXE EDITION contender and Universal have done a wonderful job on this intensely layered masterpiece and firm fan favourite. Here are the Hertfordshire themes…

UK released June 2010 – "Ommadawn: Deluxe Edition"by MIKE OLDFIELD on Universal/Virgin 532 676-1 (Barcode 600753267615) is a 2CD/1DVD Reissue and Remaster set and breaks down as follows:

CD 1 (51:19 minutes)

1. Ommadawn (Part One)

2. Ommadawn (Part Two)/On Horseback [Side 2]

Previously Unreleased 2010 Stereo Mixes by Mike Oldfield of the 1975 album

3. In Dulce Jubilo

A-side of a UK 7” single released October 1976 on Virgin VS 163

4. First Excursion

5. Argiers

6. Portsmouth

Tracks 4 to 6 originally released October 1976 in the UK on the 4LP Box set “Boxed” on Virgin VBOX 1

CD 2 (53:39 minutes):

1. Ommadawn (Part One)

2. Ommadawn (Part Two)/On Horseback

Original 1975 Stereo Mixes. Tracks 1 and 2 issued as the album “Ommadawn” released 25 October 1975 in the UK on Virgin V 2043 and in the USA on Virgin PZ 33913

3. Ommadawn (Lost Version – 1975 Demo)

Previously Unreleased

DVD (All Regions):

1. Ommadawn (Part One)

2. Ommadawn (Part Two)/On Horseback

Tracks 1 and 2 are 2010 5.1 Surround Mixes by Mike Oldfield

VISUAL CONTENT

3. In Dulce Jubilo (Original Promotional Video)

4. Portsmouth (Original Promotional Video)

One of removable stickers you have to cut open criss-crosses the base of the glossy DELUXE EDITION digipak and when opened - you get what were the pictures of the inner sleeve of the original 1975 Virgin Records LP. The 20-page booklet features pictures of Oldfield at his Hertfordshire home where Virgin installed 24-track recording equipment for him, snaps of the huge numbers of instruments he played on the record, a foreign picture sleeve of the “In Dulce Jubilo” single and excellent liner notes from MARK POWELL (including interviews with Oldfield about the difficulties of recording – tapes disintegrating etc). Both MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE (names who’ve handled huge amounts of reissues for Universal) did the tape research with Oldfield and Paschal Byrne handling the 24-bit remasters.

The 2010 version is a revelation. Side 1 was always this dense mass of music that felt too packed in some ways – the remaster and remix brings so much more to the fore. There sweet clarity to the acoustic and Spanish guitars and the ethereal vocals floating in the background. And if I re-listen to the 2000 HDCD version for Side 2 where Paddy Maloney’s Uilleann Pipes (The Chieftains) come sailing in – the 2010 version has gorgeous depth - making his beautiful air even more spine tingling. It’s been decades since I heard the “Boxed” tracks and I’d forgotten how good they actually are – especially the guitars of “First Excursion” sounding like Eno or mellow King Crimson. 

"Argiers" feels like a Steve Hackett Genesis instrumental circa “Foxtrot” with a Flute added - while “Portsmouth” has only ever annoyed me (and still does). But you have to say that best of all is the 5.1 Surround Mix on the DVD - which I’ve admittedly only heard once on a mate’s system – it’s properly amazing – like the Steve Wilson remixes of the Yes and Crimson catalogues. Gotta invest…

After a critical drubbing and overkill backlash for “Hergest Ridge” in 1974 – Oldfield had time to record and build “Ommadawn” from the bottom up. It felt ‘accomplished’ on release in 1975 and still does to this day.

Nice to hear this 2010 DE remaster give its dense layers that extra oomph. The multi-instrumentalist all-dancing fool rises to play his song once more…and how…

"Taking Out Time: Complete Recordings 1967-1969" by THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (August 2016 RPM Records 3CD Box Set - Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and over 340 more like it can be found 

In My Amazon E-Book 

GIMME SHELTER!  

CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD
And Other Genres Thereabouts 

Your Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters...

<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013TDUC2K?&linkCode=li3&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=cd0b719a1c262f64edfa2da19b1aa5b9&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B013TDUC2K&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB" ></a><img src="https://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&l=li3&o=2&a=B013TDUC2K" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

"...Every Little Thing..."

There's a moody consensus which would have us believe that after the mercurial talent and Mod-Soul voice of a young Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group, they descended into mediocrity. RPM Records and their 3CD retrospective covering the post-Winwood years of 1967 to 1969 (when alongside Spencer Davis - Ray Fenwick, Eddie Hardin and Pete York essentially took over the musical reins) wants to make a case against such tetchy poo-pooing. And "Taking Out Time..." makes a damn good fist of it. There is a lot to love here and much of it rare too in 2018.

Fans have been after this material in digital form for years and this beautifully laid out Clamshell Set won’t disappoint – three albums worth in Stereo, Mono Single Mixes, Alternate Takes from the albums that appeared on Previous CD compilations, a new unheard Stereo Outtake and a whopping 15 Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions including two new period interviews. We’ve a ton of hipster groove to get through - so once more my Aquarius-beaded shimmy-shaking patrons as we dance buck nekkid round the Mulberry Bush on our Pot Pourri way to the Pictures of Heaven (yeah man). Here are the details direct from the Sanity Inspector (it says here)...

UK released 19 August 2016 - "Taking Out Time: Complete Recordings 1967-1969" by THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP on RPM Records RPMBX533 (Barcode 5013929553309) is a 68-Track 3CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters with three repro card sleeves, a 24-Page Booklet and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "With Their New Face On" (74:31 minutes):

1. Time Seller (Single Version)

2. Don't Want You No More (Single Version)

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a July 1967 UK 7" single on Fontana TF 854

3. Taking Out Time [Side 1]

4. Every Little Thing

5. Virginals Dream

6. Looking Back [Side 2]

7. Pictures Of Her

8. Just Like Me

9. Possession

Tracks 3 to 9 are seven of the eight songs the band provided for the 12-Track Movie Soundtrack to "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush" - released January 1968 in the USA on United Artists UAS 5175 [Stereo] and January 1968 in the UK on United Artists SULP 1186 [Stereo]. The other SDG song on the LP was "Waltz For Caroline" written by Steve Winwood but is not included here for contractual reasons. The remaining four songs were by Traffic and also outside the remit of this Box Set.

10. Mr. Second Class (Single Version)

11. Sanity Inspector (Single Version)

Tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a December 1967 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1203

12. After Tea (Single Version)

13. Moonshine (Single Version)

Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a March 1968 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 2213

14. With His New Face On [Side 1]

15. Mr. Second Class

16. Alec In Transitland

17. Sanity Inspector

18. Feel Your Way

19. Morning Sun [Side 2]

20. Moonshine

21. Don't Want You No More

22. Time Seller

23. Stop Me, I'm Falling

Tracks 14 to 23 are the album "With Their New Face On" - released June 1968 in the UK on United Artists SULP 1192 in Stereo and in the USA on United Artists UAS 6652 in Stereo.

BONUS TRACK:

24. After Tea [Stereo] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Disc 2 "Funky" (77:49 minutes):

1. [Aquarius] Der Wassermann

2. Let The Sunshine In

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a 1968 German-Only 7" single on United Artists 67129 - the A-side is a German-language version of "Aquarius" from the "Hair" Musical - the B-side was also featured in "Hair"

3. Short Change

4. Picture Of Heaven

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a December 1968 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 2226

5. I Met A Woman [Side 1]

6. Letters From Edith

7. Raintree River

8. What A Way To Die

9. Funky [aka “Firefly”] [Side 2]

10. Magical Day

11. I Guess I'm Wasting My Time

12. Poor Misguided Woman [aka “Misguided”]

13. And The Gods Came Down

14. New Jersey Turnpike

Tracks 5 to 14 are the album "Funky" - released 1970 in the USA only on Date Records TES 4021 - it was withdrawn quickly thereafter. Scheduled for release in late 1969 on CBS Records 63842, the UK variant "Letters From Edith" was also withdrawn – never released.

15. Magpie (TV Show Theme)

16. Twice A Week

Tracks 15 and 16 are credited to THE MURGATROYD BAND (The Spencer Davis Group under another name - Davis, Hardin, Fenwick and York) - the non-album A&B-sides of a December 1971 UK 7" single on Decca F 13256. The A-side was recorded in 1968 and became the TV Theme to the popular BBC kids program "Magpie"

OUTTAKES:

17. I'm Lost

18. Pools Winner

19. Groove Extra

20. The Girls' Song

21. Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (Demo with SUE and SUNNY on Backing Vocals)

22. Feel Your Way (Backing Track)

Tracks 17 and 18 first appeared as Bonus Tracks on the 1997 CD Reissue of "With Their New Face On" on Repertoire Records REP 4684-WY

Tracks 19 to 22 first appeared as unreleased outtakes on the 1994 CD compilation "Taking Out Time 1967-1969" on RPM Records RPM 127

Disc 3 "Radio Sessions & Alternative Versions" (60:46 minutes):

1. Feel Your Way

2. Morning Sun

3. Taking Out Time

4. Picture Of Her

5. Just Like Me

6. Possession

Tracks 1 to 6 are Alternate Versions recorded in 1967 for the Soundtrack to "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush". Tracks 1 and 2 first appeared as Bonuses on the 1997 CD Reissue of "With Their New Face On" on Repertoire Records REP 4684-WY – Tracks 3 to 6 first appeared as Bonuses on the 1997 CD Reissue of "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush" on Repertoire RPM 179.

BBC RADIO SESSIONS (All Previously Unreleased):

7. Don't You No More (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Saturday Club', Recorded 18 December, Broadcast December 1967)

8. Interview (Recorded 18 December 1967 for "Top Of The Pops")

9. Mr. Second Class (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Saturday Club', Recorded 18 December, Broadcast December 1967)

10. Time Seller (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Saturday Club', Recorded 18 December, Broadcast December 1967)

11. Feel Your Way (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Pete's People', Recorded 17 January, Broadcast 10 February 1968)

12. Taking Out Time (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Pete's People', Recorded 17 January, Broadcast 10 February 1968)

13. Time Seller (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'Pete's People', Recorded 17 January, Broadcast 10 February 1968)

14. Moonshine (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 11 March, Broadcast 21 March 1968)

15. Interview (Recorded 11 March 1968, a BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Transcription Service Radio Programme)

16. After Tea (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 11 March, Broadcast 18 March 1968)

17. Feel Your Way (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 11 March, Broadcast 19 March 1968)

18. Dust My Blues (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 24 March, Broadcast 1 July 1968)

19. Interview (Recorded 24 June 1968 for the BBC's 'Top Of The Pops', Transcription Service Radio Programme)

20. With His New Face On (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 24 June, Broadcast 4 July 1968)

21. Mr. Second Class (BBC Radio 1 Session for 'The David Symonds Show', Recorded 24 June, Broadcast 3 July 1968)

22. Dust My Blues (Recorded 24 March 1968 live at the Daily Express Stars Organisation for Spastics Radio Show in the Empire Pool, Wembley)

Track 22 first appeared on the 1994 CD compilation "Taking Out Time 1967-1969" on RPM Records RPM 127

Conceived and compiled by JOHN REED (with help from Syd Kreft and Andy Neill) and Produced for RPM Records by MARK STRATFORD - the 24-page booklet has new liner notes by ANDY NEILL featuring fresh interviews from the key band players and songwriters - Spencer Davis, Ray Fenwick, Eddie Hinton, Pete York and Phil Sawyer. The text is peppered with repros of A-label Demos, Sheet Music, Trade Adverts, Foreign Picture Sleeves, period photos of the differing band line-ups and so on while each CD Card Sleeve reflects artwork variants of the "With Their New Face On" and "Funky" albums (not "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush"). A nice touch is that the Previously Unreleased 'BBC Radio Sessions' (long rumoured to have been lost or corrupted) are given pride-of-place and broken down into finite detail on the last few pages (intricacies collectors will love). SIMON MURPHY over at Another Planet has done the Remasters and they sound kicking and full of muscle even if the Stereo cuts can be too in your face at times (personally I like it loud). Let's get to the new face and music of The Spencer Davis Group...

Even if the band thought it wonderfully ahead of its, well time - I've always thought "Time Seller" was a crap tune, a sort of poor man's Move (terrible Mono sound too). But its fantastic B-side "Don't Want You No More" is a different slap-and-tickle altogether. A fab R&B groover with flicking guitars and a John Lee Hooker driving rhythm - it's a winner and should have been the A (most people will in fact know the song from The Allman Brothers Band who covered it on their self-titled November 1969 Atco debut). We're then greeted with seven of the eight tracks SDG contributed to Clive Donner's period movie "Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush" unleashed on a hip public in January 1968 (along with the soundtrack LP that also featured four cuts from Traffic). Highlights include a hard-hitting bopper in "Every Little Thing", the gorgeous Tuba and Clavinet instrumental "Virginals Dream" and the hip-shaking Rock-R&B podium-dancer of "Looking Back" (a wicked co-write between Davis and Phil Sawyer) where Spencer's got a chick and she's as mean as she can be (oh dear).

The lack of Steve Winwood's extraordinary set of lungs starts to show in the social commentary single "Mr. Second Class" b/w "Sanity Inspector" - another two-header from Davis and Hardin that's good but feels too busy and needed the sheer power of a real singer to get it across. The shadow of "Sgt. Peppers" and Indian Sitar Music permeates through "After Tea" with the R&B dancer B-side "Moonshine" faring better. It didn’t take reviewers of the day but a few moments to see that the June 1968 LP "With A New Face On" gathered up preceding 45s – similar songs now done in Stereo with different mixes and even musicians. The ubercool piano vs. drums boogie instrumental "Alec In Transitland" (peppered by occasional shouts of 'yeah' as the spirit of Ray Charles flows through his fingers) started out life in their first new-SDG sessions as an Eddie Hardin and Pete York Jazzer called "For Pete's Sake". Other winners on the album including the catchy Boogaloo of "Feel Your Way" where it feels the new-SDG is having some fun with Alvin Lee on Vocals, the striking 'you're trying to make me see' Rock of "Morning Sun", an uptempo'ed better cut of "Moonshine" and a grinding-remake of the fabulous "Don't Want You No More" which could easily be a Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac track from their 1968 debut. And hippies everywhere will rejoice at the new Stereo cut of "After Tea" too – so much clearer as the sitars and flutes spread out (very nice).

While the first CD impresses on almost every level - Disc 2 begins to let the side down in places. The German language version of "Aquarius" is not just bizarre but superfluous to requirements (the English language cover of another "Hair" musical tune "Let The Sunshine In" on the flipside is much better). But the withdrawn US/UK album "Funky" is 0inflicted with too many genres and uninspired material. It was to be called "Letter To Edith" in the UK but was again withdrawn by CBS in late 1969 despite being allocated a catalogue number (Ray Fenwick penned or co-penned every tune). It's not all bad though - the very cool instrumental title-track "Funky" that opens Side 2 actually lives up to its moniker – a fabulous little groover that aficionados of Wynder K. Frog type Hammond Organ will chew up. And Fenwick was clearly listening to the Led Zeppelin 1969 debut and The Jeff Beck Group's "Truth" album when he wrote the 'she caused me so much sorrow' Blues Rock of "Poor Misguided Woman" – a hard-hitting guitar-chugger with BST Brass punches throughout. But both the last two tracks are more plodding than inspired and some of the others feel like poor-man's Hollies. Of the singles the December 1968 double-header "Short Change" b/w "Pictures Of Heaven" is a clear winner – lyrically and musically. And that "Magpie" ITV Theme song makes me grin and think of my teenage crush on the gorgeous and classy Susan Stranks (heavens a Murgatroyd indeed). The piano-funky B-side instrumental "Twice A Week" is a bit of a goer too. Diehards will probably have the studio-song outtakes "I'm Lost" and "Pools Winner" on the 1997 CD-reissue of "With Their New Face On" (one a gorgeous 60ts ballad, the other a groovy instrumental). If you don't – both are great discoveries and Andy Neill rightly name-checks them in his liner notes. "Groove Extra" is another excellent instrumental – the kind of sexy guitar-grinder that will end up on some cool CD compilation somewhere. And the German language demo of "Aquarius" (with session regulars Sue and Sunny adding backing vocals) is actually better than the released cut to my ears (music historians should note that the three-minute demo doesn't actually get to "Let The Sunshine In" despite the double-headed title printed on the box). I can fully understand why RPM included the Backing Track to "Feel Your Way" – it's the most fantastic groover and again will be winging its way to you on some cool comp right soon (it ends Disc 2 on a high).

Disc 3 will be exciting for fans – almost all of it unreleased BBC Radio Sessions that many thought would never see the light of day. It opens with six outtakes from the "Mulberry Bush" sessions - the fab "Feel Your Way" kicking opening proceedings with style. The other I like here is the very Kinks "Just Like Me" and "Possession" even has a few seconds of dialogue before the music. As you can see from my breakdown of the Radio Sessions above the recordings begin in December 1967 and continue right through to February 1969. Complete with a 'hey, groovy' Keith Skues DJ intro "Don't Want You No More" opens the account on a winner even if the audio is a tad muddy. A very cool version of "Feel Your Way" from a Pete Murray show in February 1968 arrives minus any intro - the recording sharp and full as the boys sound re-energised (Hammond A-Go-Go). "Taking Out Time" too sounding brilliant - live Love or The Zombies in a groove. Both "Moonshine" and the Elmore James cover of "Dust My Blues" get DJ-excited entries - both sounding great - that fab combo of Harmonicas and Hammond. It all ends on a crude recording of a live "Dust My Blues" - the band still sounding kicking and the crowd enthusiastic.

For sure not everything on here is Leonard Da Vinci - but each disc contains enough to satiate fans and turn on the newly interested. Time to 'fell you way' too methinks. Well done to all involved...

"Lancashire Hustler" by KEEF HARTLEY - May 1973 UK Album on Deram Records (January 2009 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue and Remaster) - 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 1 of 3 - Exceptional CD Remasters

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

Blues Rock, Prog Rock, Psych, Avant Garde and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs
(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Got To Be Happy…"

Despite his natty leather hat and Cherokee jacket look on the front cover of "Lancashire Hustler" - and Deram's reputation as a Hard Progressive Rock label - this obscure Seventies album is essentially a Soul-Rock LP - and Esoteric's wonderful new remaster of it only hammers that home.

Originally released on vinyl in May 1973 on Deram SDL 13 and featuring 8-tracks - the UK vinyl album has always been hard to find (as has much of his output). So it's nice to see this January 2009 CD reissue do it proud...

1. Circles

2. You And Me

3. Shovel A Minor

4. Australian Lady

5. Action

6. Something About You

7. Dance To The Music

Remastered for CD from the original analogue tapes by Mark Powell and Paschal Byrne - "Lancashire Hustler" by KEEF HARTLEY on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2101 (Barcode 5013929720121) is a straightforward transfer of the album (38:43 minutes). I've raved about these sound engineers before - both have huge numbers of reissues under their belts and they've done their usual bang up job here - great presence and clarity. The 8-page booklet reproduces the inner gatefold on its centre-pages and has short but informative liner notes by Keef Hartley himself.

All tracks excepting the instrumental "Shovel A Minor" feature ELKIE BROOKS and ROBERT PALMER (then with VINEGAR JOE) on backing vocals with the mighty JESS RODEN on Lead Vocals. Other band members include Junior Keer on Guitar and Vocal, Jean Rouselle on Keyboards, Mick Weaver on Organ/Moog, Phillip Chen on Bass and Hartley on Drums.

It opens with the slow "Circles" sounding not unlike a Soulful Robin Trower with James Dewar on Vocals. The separation of the instruments and vocals is a bit harsh but amazingly clear - especially Jean Rouselle's lovely piano playing. Things get even more funky for "You And Me" where there's almost as Ashford & Simpson feel to the moog and brass jabs - while I've always loved the chipper instrumental "Shovel A Minor" sounding not unlike Greenslade going into boogie mode if you can imagine such a thing. It has brass pumps - guitar flicks that go all B.B. King - it's almost fusion too in places - hard to pin down but a blast nonetheless.

Things slow down again considerably for "Australian Lady" where again the brass accompanies a moody vocal and a floating keyboard note complimenting lovely guitar flicks floating over it all. It's unbelievably mellow and given the Deram Label rep for Progressive Rock almost wildly out of place (it even has a witty Take 3 piano interlude at the end). "Action" is probably one of the best `rawk' tracks on the album - featuring fantastic guitar work and a raspy Robert Palmer adding real muscle from behind to Roden's lead vocals. It's near six minutes sounds at times like Free or Humble Pie with its drum and bass breaks.

Back to Trower funky with the choppy fazed guitars of "Something About You" and its mellow keyboard breaks. It ends on the massively upbeat Motown feel of "Dance To The Music" (a cover of the Sly & The Family Stone classic) that finally lets Elkie Brooks loose on the vocals and features great Steve Winwood Spencer David Group keyboards. It last over six minutes and despite its frantic need to sound like everyone's having fun - I'm not sure it works though I think Sly would approve of the odd-sounding Moog solo.

You wouldn't call "Lancashire Hustler" a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination and those looking for Hard Rock or Prog should look elsewhere. But if you like your guitars Soulful and Funky like Robin Trower or Free or Humble can be on a good day - then hustle this little forgotten nugget into your life real soon...

"Sheet Music" by 10cc - June 1974 Second Studio Album on UK Records (April 2007 UK Cherry Red/7T's Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 255 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

 

PICK UP THE PIECES - 1974

 

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45's...

All In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves

Over 2,280 E-Pages

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B08CQ7QLV2&asins=B08CQ7QLV2&linkId=4a0921806bfd2d1d5d1a3ee8294a571e&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...Groomed To Enrapture..."

Although the self-titled debut LP "10cc" had numbers like the fabulous "Donna" and (for me anyway) the ultra-irritating No. 1 hit "Rubber Bullets" - as an album their July 1973 starter on UK Records always felt underwhelming to me. Having said that some fans love it and see that initial ejaculation as a bit of a forgotten gem...

But as Michael Heatley's excellent liner notes point out - while many bands blew their best tunes on their debut only to find following up with more musical goodies problematical - 10cc actually did get better with every album thereafter. And their second platter "Sheet Music" from July 1974 (again on UK Records) only hammers this point home with a pistol-slapper. Despite the LP's overly knowing launch single "The Worst Band In The World" tanking chartwise (the public seemingly not in on the joke) - "The Wall Street Shuffle" follow-up 7" smashed the Top 10 and with "Silly Love" hot on the heels of that - everyone knew 10cc was not just special – but this so very British band had arrived.

But what I love about "Sheet Music" is that it's not a record dominated by the hit singles but by stunning album tracks like "Hotel" and "Somewhere In Hollywood" - the complexity of such songs being a stepping-stone to the full-on brilliance of "The Original Soundtrack" LP and of course the dazzling "I'm Not In Love" in 1975.

Reissued with fabulous audio by '7T's Records' - they're part of Cherry Red's roster of labels and in April 2007 also reissued the debut "10cc" on CD with Five Bonus Tracks (7T's Records GLAM CD 25 - Barcode 5013929042520) and threw in a further 14-Track CD compilation of their early 45s called "The U.K. Records Singles Collection" for good measure (7T's Records GLAM CD 27 - Barcode 5013929042728). But for now let's get to the 18-Carat "Sheet Music"...

UK released April 2007 - "Sheet Music" by 10cc on Cherry Red/7T's Records GLAM CD 26 (Barcode 5013929042629) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster with Three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (47:29 minutes):

1. The Wall Street Shuffle [Side 1]

2. The Worst Band In The World

3. Hotel

4. Old Wild Men

5. Clockwork Creep

6. Silly Love [Side 2]

7. Somewhere In Hollywood

8. Baron Samedi

9. The Sacro-Iliac

10. Oh Effendi

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Sheet Music" - released June 1974 in the UK on UK Records UKAL 1007 and August 1974 in the USA on UK Records AUKS 53017. Produced by 10cc - it peaked at No. 9 in the UK LP charts and No. 81 in the USA.

BONUS TRACKS: 

11. 18 Carat Man Of Means - Non-album B-side to "The Worst Band In The World", a January 1974 UK 7" single on UK Records UK 57

12. Gismo My Way - Non-album B-side to "The Wall Street Shuffle", a May 1974 UK 7" single on UK Records UK 69

13. The Worst Band In The World (Radio Version)

You get a picture CD (the LP’s artwork) while the 16-page booklet reproduces the lyrics from the lyric-sheet insert that came with original copies of the 1974 vinyl LP - whilst Pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 have a cool display of no less than 12 different 7" single pictures sleeves - French, Dutch, German and European rarities for the album's three 45's - "The Worst Band In The World", "The Wall Street Shuffle" and "Silly Love". Uber-fan MICHAEL HEATLEY provides the informative liner notes and the material is licensed from Jonathan King Enterprises (no Remaster Engineer named) - the Audio being superb - punchy and full.

The album spawned three singles – the first creeping out as early as January 1974 on UK Records UK 57. But despite its clever-clever title "The Worst Band In The World" combined with a non-album B-side in "18 Carat Man Of Means" – this primer was met with terrible indifference and even anger. The public it seems neither liked the in-joke or the song. But things changed radically when a month before the album’s release in June 1974 – UK Records tried "The Wall Street Shuffle" in May 1974 (UK Records UK 69) and again paired it with a non-LP B-side called "Gismo My Way". It worked. With its fab irresistible riffage and cool lyrics "The Wall Street Shuffle" peaked at No. 10 in the UK – giving the equally sophisticated Rock of the album a huge boost in sales. As a by-the-by - the word "Gismo" in the flipside song was famously about a contraption 10cc had placed over the guitar strings to give it more range and different sounds – a device they used on the indulgent 3LP Godley & Crème Box Set "Consequences" in 1977. They actually tried to sell the said Gismo as a new guitar innovation – but it didn’t take. Single number three was just as good and as hard rocking as money blitz in Wall Street. "Silly Love" was paired with "The Sacro-Iliac" from the album’s second side and arrived in late August 1974. But despite Top of the Pops appearances and heavy radio-play - it inexplicably stalled at No. 23 in the UK despite being just as good as its boogie predecessor.

As they sing "...here I am a record on a juke box...a little piece of plastic with a hole..." on "The Worst Band In The World" – the jokes about being the darlings of Rock and Roll who are too big to meet the roadies (left them in the van) suddenly feel so knowing and better than I remember them. "Hotel" has about forty different rhythms going on – Salsa, Bubblegum Pop, Rock and hell even a little Hawaiian – a genius little tune that surprises you every time as they sing about Americans and Islands and Riches and the ghost of Tarzan (gone over to the other side apparently). There is very 10cc sadness to "Old Wild Men" – a sideways ballad about forgotten musical heroes feeling the past-it pinch – dead strings and old drums (dig those doubled-up guitars ala Mike Oldfield). Side 1 ends with the tick-a-time-bomb of "Clockwork Creep" where the refrain "...Oh no you'll never get me up in one these again...” would reappear as the lead-in for "I'm Mandy, Fly Me" - the huge hit single from 1976's "How Dare You".

Side 2 opens with a killer – the takes-the-beauty-out-of-beautiful "Silly Love" – an acidic Rocker that takes the Royal Michael out of loved-up dudes. My favourite track on the album is the brilliant "Somewhere In Hollywood" - Queen in its scope and complexity - a sardonic look at casting couches and the pups Vaudeville threw up many becoming crazy dogs up in Beverley Hills. Again so many ideas going on - you can't help think that Tears For Fears were listening to this when recording "The Seeds Of Love". The album's final trio "Baron Samedi", "The Sacro-Iliac" and "Oh Effendi" continue on in that chop-change mode - flitting between Lounge Bop and Silly Dances and zippy wordplay like 'don't want to annoy ya with my paranoia'.

With 10cc newly signed to Mercury Records in 1975 for their third album "The Original Soundtrack" – UK Records tried a third themselves with the "Greatest Hits Of 10cc" compilation. Released May 1975 - the black-covered LP gathered up the obvious hits and placed them alongside those non-album B-sides – most of which have been provided as Bonus Tracks across these "10cc" and "Sheet Music" CD Remasters. Next stop would be the album glory days of "The Original Soundtrack" (1975), "How Dare You" (1976) and "Deceptive Bends" (1977).

But if you want to know why they caused a stir and are remembered with such affection forty-plus years after the event - pull back that "Sheet Music"...