"The "Chirping" Crickets" by THE CRICKETS [featuring BUDDY HOLLY] (March 2004 Universal 'Rock 'N' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition Series' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…You've Got Love…"

It's astounding to think that in 2015 it's almost 60 years since the release of "The "Chirping" Crickets" by Buddy Holly's band THE CRICKETS. And when you think of how far-reaching its musical influence has been so far (The Beatles and all that followed) - is it any wonder that this American icon is viewed as a classic and one of the all-time-great debut albums. Thankfully this gorgeously presented US CD (part of Universal's "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition" Series) celebrates that landmark long-player in some style. Here are the 'not fade away' details...

US released March 2004 – "The "Chirping" Crickets" by THE CRICKETS [featuring Buddy Holly] on Universal/Geffen/Decca B0001686-02 (Barcode 602498613511) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue in Universal's 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition Series'. It offers their November 1957 Mono Debut Album on Brunswick Records (12-Tracks) and tags on Four Relevant Bonuses and plays out as follows (34:15 minutes):

1. Oh, Boy! [Side 1]

2. Not Fade Away

3. You've Got Love

4. Maybe Baby

5. It's Too Late

6. Tell Me How

7. That'll Be The Day [Side 2]

8. I'm Looking For Someone To Love

9. An Empty Cup (And A Broken Date)

10. Send Me Some Lovin'

11. Last Night

12. Rock Me My Baby

Tracks 1 to 12 are the Mono album "The "Chirping" Crickets" - released 27 November 1957 in the USA on Brunswick Records BL 54038 and March 1958 in the UK on Vogue Coral LVA 9081

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Think It Over

14. Fool's Paradise

15. Lonesome Tears

16. It's So Easy

Tracks 13 to 16 are singles released around the album (see below)

Buddy Holly had had several solo 7" single releases on Decca throughout 1956 and 1957 but "The Chirping Crickets" was his first album proper (with his band). In a not very Rock 'n' Roll manner - Holly's group The Crickets are credited on the back of the album sleeve as a 'Vocal Group With Orchestra' (oh dear) - but there's little amateur about the stunning Audio Quality on offer here. Universal's hugely experienced Sound Engineer ERICK LABSON (over 1000 credits to his name including most of the Chess Records catalogue) has remastered the original Mono 1st generation master tapes  - and what a result it is. The sound quality is just gorgeous - defying the age of the material on every song - hands slapping wooden boxes, strings squeaking and feet tapping - it's all up for audible grabs now.

And using the four extra tracks provided - an added bonus for fans is that this CD will allow the listener to sequence The Crickets' first five US 7" singles as follows:

1. That'll Be The Day [7] b/w I'm Looking For Someone To Love [8]

Released 25 May 1957 on Brunswick 55009

2. Oh, Boy! [1] b/w Not Fade Away [2]

Released 27 October 1957 on Brunswick 55035

3. Maybe Baby [4] b/w It's Too Late [5]

Released 12 February 1958 on Brunswick 55053

4. Think It Over [13] b/w Fool's Paradise [14]

Released 27 May 1958 on Brunswick 55072 - both sides non-album on release

5. It's So Easy [16] b/w Lonesome Tears [15]

Released 12 September 1958 on Brunswick 55094 - both sides non-album on release

(Note: the version of "That'll Be The Day" put out on a Decca 7" single in June 1957 credited to Buddy Holly as a solo artist is different to the version featured on The Crickets album above. The 1st issue is more rockabilly and is rarely heard above the more familiar re-issued version. The song only became a hit second time around - a number 1).

The albums' iconic colour shot of the Lubbock young bucks is reproduced in gorgeous colour on the front page of the booklet with the liner notes of the rear sleeve on the last page. The other 12 pages are given over to a brief history of the album, discography information and re-issue production credits. Very tastefully done. Another nice touch is that beneath the see-through tray holding the CD is a gorgeous reproduction of the original album's chocolate brown label (an original of the album is $1000 + if you can find one!).

There were only two albums really in his short but mighty career - this his debut - followed quickly by his first proper solo album "Buddy Holly" - released in Feb 1958 just one year prior to his untimely death in February 1959 aged only 22. Universal have re-issued both of these under their "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition" banner (see list below and my review for "Buddy Holly" also) and not any of the subsequent compilation albums that made up all of his 60's output. Listening to them again in their straight-up 1957 and 1958 form - you're struck even now by the brilliance of his songwriting - tune after tune brimming with life and yet still somehow fresh even after all this time. What a loss his passing was...

Gorgeous sound, beautifully presented and mid-price too. There's a classy feel to this CD reissue and I recommend it without hesitation...

PS: There are seven releases in the Rock 'n' Roll "50th Anniversary Series" and eleven in their "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" Series and I've loved the lot - great sound, clever title choices and all bumped up with bonus tracks and decent booklets (I'm reviewed almost all of them).

Fans of Holly, Haley, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs (use the Barcode numbers provided below to locate the right issue). They make for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations...and Buddy Holly deserved nothing less...

Universal's 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary' CD Reissue Series:

1. After School Session by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Chess debut LP)

2. St. Louis To Liverpool by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess)

3. The Chirping Crickets by THE CRICKETS (1957 Debut LP on Decca)

4. Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP)

5. Rock Around The Clock by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (1955 Decca LP)

6. Buddy Holly by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st solo LP on Coral)

7. Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP)

Universal's 'Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited' CD Reissue Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON (1972 USA LP with 4 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 56:10 minutes) (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON (SUHA GUR Remaster) (1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes) (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)  (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes) (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes) (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - Tracks 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes) (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends (ERICK LABSON Remaster)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes) (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remasters - 2LPs on 1CD) (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes) (Barcode 008811282325)

"Buddy Holly" [1958 Solo Debut LP] by BUDDY HOLLY (April 2004 Universal/Geffen 'Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary Edition' Expanded CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my downloadable 
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"…Words Of Love…"

After decades of waiting for a half-decent remastered CD - Buddy Holly fans finally had their hero receive some serious appraisal with this gorgeous 2004 US CD reissue and its companion piece "The "Chirping" Crickets" (his debut album). Both of his two official albums were given a proper dusting off audio-wise and 'expanded' as part of Universal's "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary" CD Series (original artwork used too). And man - are these beauties good! Here are the 'rave on' details...

US released April 2004 - "Buddy Holly" (1958 Debut Solo LP) by BUDDY HOLLY on Universal/Geffen B0001592-02 (Barcode 602498129524) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ in the "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary" CD Reissue Series and breaks down as follows (30:49 minutes):

1. I'm Gonna Love You Too [Side 1]

2. Peggy Sue

3. Look At Me

4. Listen To Me

5. Valley Of Tears

6. Ready Teddy

7. Everyday [Side 2]

8. Mailman, Bring me No More Blues

9. Words Of Love

10. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care

11. Rave On

12. Little Baby

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut solo Mono album "Buddy Holly" - released 20 February 1958 in the USA on Coral CRL 57210 and July 1958 in the UK on Vogue Coral LVA 9085

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Take Your Time

14. Now We're One

15. Early In The Morning

Using the 3 bonus tracks listed above this CD reissue allows fans to sequence his first five American 7" singles on Coral Records as follows:

1.  Words Of Love [9] b/w Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues [8]

Released 20 June 1957 on Coral 61852

2. Peggy Sue [2] b/w Everyday [7]

Released 20 September 1957 on Coral 61885

3. I'm Gonna Love You Too [1] b/w Listen To Me [4]

Released 5 February 1958 on Coral 61947

4. Rave On [11] b/w Take Your Time [13]

Released 20 April 1958 on Coral 61985 (B-side was non-album)

5. Early In The Morning [15] b/w Now We're One [14]

Released 5 July 1958 on Coral 62006 (both tracks non-album on release)

The 16-page booklet has liner notes by genre expert BILL DAHL - a name familiar to and respected by all lovers of Rhythm 'n' Blues, Rock 'n' Roll and Vocal Groups (he's a Grammy nominee and winner). It reproduces the original US album artwork on both front and back of the booklet, the beautiful original label on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and best of all - stunning remastered sound quality care of ERICK LABSON - a Sound Engineer with over 1000 credits to his name. The attention to original detail is impressive.

There were only two albums really in his short but mighty career - the debut album  "The Chirping Crickets" (1957 USA, 1958 UK) which I've reviewed elsewhere - and this - his first solo album "Buddy Holly" released just one year prior to his untimely death in February 1959 aged only 22. And you forget just what a blast it is. Opening with "I'm Gonna Love You Too" - you hammered with two things - his amazing knack for a hit - and the gorgeous new Audio quality. While stuff like "Rave On" and "Ready Teddy" give you his Rock `n' Roll chops - others like "Listen To Me" and the lovely "Everyday" show us his softer side. And one of the album's hidden-nuggets surely has to be "Little Baby" - a really great dancer and a brilliant tune that rarely gets Radio play over the bigger hits like "Peggy Sue" and "Words Of Love".

There are seven releases in the Rock 'n' Roll "50th Anniversary Series" and eleven in their "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" Series and I've loved the lot - great sound, clever title choices and all bumped up with bonus tracks and decent booklets (I'm reviewed almost all of them). Fans of Holly, Haley, Berry, Diddley and Rock'n'Roll in general should quickly acquire all of these exemplary CDs (use the Barcode numbers provided below to locate the right issue). They make for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations...and Buddy Holly deserved nothing less...

Universal's "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary" CD Reissue Series:

1. After School Session by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Chess debut LP)

2. St. Louis To Liverpool by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess)

3. The Chirping Crickets by THE CRICKETS (1957 Debut LP on Decca)

4. Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP)

5. Rock Around The Clock by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (1955 Decca LP)

6. Buddy Holly by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st solo LP on Coral)

7. Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP)

Universal's "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" CD Reissue Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON (1972 USA LP with 4 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 56:10 minutes) (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON (SUHA GUR Remaster) (1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes) (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)  (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes) (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes) (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - Tracks 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes) (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends (ERICK LABSON Remaster)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes) (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remasters - 2LPs on 1CD) (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes) (Barcode 008811282325)

"The Island Years" by JOHN MARTYN (September 2013 Universal 17CD/1DVD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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

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

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

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)

"...If You Want To Ride A Rainbow...Come With Me…"

There's a huge amount of stuff on this behemoth - so let's get to the details first: "The Island Years" is a limited edition 17-CD/1DVD LP-Sized Box Set UK issued Monday 30 September 2013 on Universal/Island Records 374 228-8 (Barcode 602537422881) and breaks down as follows:

The first 12" x 12" tri-gatefold sleeve contains:

Disc 1 (74:39 minutes): Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "London Conversation" issued October 1967 on Island ILP 952 in MONO ONLY. Tracks 13 to 24 are his 2nd studio album "The Tumbler" issued December 1968 on Island ILP 9091 in MONO and ILPS 9091 in STEREO (the Stereo mix is used here - the Mono Mix is still unavailable on CD). There are no bonus tracks on Disc 1.

Disc 2 (64:43 minutes): Tracks 1 to 10 are his 3rd studio album "Stormbringer!" issued February 1970 on Island ILPS 9113 in STEREO ONLY and credited to JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN. Tracks 11 to 17 are bonus tracks with 11, 12 and 13 being PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Live At The BBC Recordings (with Beverley Martin).

Disc 3 (48:31 minutes): Tracks 1 to 9 are his 4th studio album "The Road To Ruin" issued November 1970 on Island ILPS 9133 and credited to JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN. Tracks 10 to 12 are bonuses, 10 and 11 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BBC Recordings.

Disc 4 (77:33 minutes): Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th studio album "Bless The Weather" issued November 1971 on Island ILPS 9167. Tracks 11 to 18 are bonuses, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES.

Disc 5 (58:03 minutes): Tracks 1 to 11 are called "Live At The Hanging Lamp 1972" - a PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED concert taped at "The Hanging Lamp" in Richmond, London, 8 May 1972.

Disc 6 (73:38 minutes): Tracks 1 to 9 are his 6th studio album "Solid Air" issued February 1973 on Island ILPS 9226. Tracks 10 to 18 are ALTERNATE TAKES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD.

Disc 7 (68:08 minutes): Tracks 1 to 10 are his 7th studio album "Inside Out" issued in October 1973 on Island ILPS 9253. Tracks 11 to 16 are Bonus Tracks. Tracks 11 to 14 are ALTERNATE TAKES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD, while 15 and 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.

Disc 8 (76:12 minutes): Tracks 1 to 6 are his 1st live album "Live At Leeds" issued in September 1975 on Island ILPS 9343 (10,000 copies only). Tracks 7 to 11 are bonuses live tracks from 1986. Tracks 7, 8 and 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (recorded at Glastonbury Festival), 10 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED while 11 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD (both recorded at The London Palladium).

Disc 9 (68:36 minutes): Tracks 1 to 11 are his 8th studio album "Sunday's Child" issued January 1975 on Island ILPS 9296. Tracks 12 to 17 are bonuses. Tracks 12, 13 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES, Track 15 is an Alternate Take, Track 16 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and Track 17 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD.

The second 12" x 12" gatefold sleeve contains:

Disc 10 (67:41 minutes): Tracks 1 to 10 are "Live At The Town Hall, Sydney, Australia" - all tracks were recorded 11 August 1977 and are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.

Disc 11 (73:35 minutes): Tracks 1 to 8 are his 9th studio album "One World" issued November 1977 on Island ILPS 9492. Tracks 9 to 14 are bonuses, all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES.

Disc 12 (66:55 minutes): Tracks 1 to 11 are "One World 2nd Disc". Tracks 1 to 10 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES of the "One World" album. Track 11 is "Anna" - an Australian-Only 7" single on Island Records from 1981.

Disc 13 (75:48 minutes): Tracks 1 to 9 are his 10th studio album "Grace And Danger" issued October 1980 on Island ILPS 9560. Tracks 10 to 15 are bonuses. Track 10 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED while 11 to 15 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES.

Disc 14 (75:48 minutes): Tracks 1 to 14 are "Grace And Danger 2nd Disc". 3 and 8 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, 1, 2, 4 and 5 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD ALTERNATE TAKES while 6 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD.

Disc 15 (72:56 minutes): Tracks 1 to 10 are his 13th studio album "Sapphire" issued November 1984 on Island ILPS 9779. Tracks 11 to 17 are bonuses. Track 11 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED while Tracks 12 to 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES.

Disc 16 (74:58 minutes): Tracks 1 to 9 are his 14th studio album "Piece By Piece" issued February 1986 on Island ILPS 9807. Track 10 "Tight Connection (To My Heart)" was one of the bonus tracks on the original CD of the album (a Bob Dylan cover) and also featured on the world's first CD single "Angeline" released in February 1986. Tracks 11 to 18 are bonuses. Tracks 11 and 15 are Advertisements for the album while 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ALTERNATE TAKES.

Disc 17 (69:12 minutes): Tracks 1 to 12 are The Previously Unreleased Island Mix of the album "The Apprentice" (later remixed and issued by Permanent Records in 1991). Tracks 13 to 16 are bonuses. Track 13 was recorded at the Island 25th Birthday Party in 1987 while Tracks 14 to 16 are live recordings from the Town & Country Club in 1988.

CONTENT:

Fans will know that November 2005 saw 8 of his Island albums reissued and expanded onto CD with superb Paschal Byrne remasters. There are four double-disc DELUXE EDITIONS of other Island albums before and after 2005 - "Solid Air", "Live At Leeds", "One World" and "Grace And Danger". Across all 12 reissues there's a whopping 83 previously unreleased bonus tracks. The point is that only a fraction of those are included on this box set as the pre-release blurb clearly states - replaced instead with 100 previously unreleased recordings - including a further 19 on CD for the first time. So I wouldn't ditch those old reissues just yet especially not the staggeringly good "Solid Air" DE (which I reviewed way back).

The albums "Sapphire" (1984) and "Piece By Piece" (1986) receive remasters for the first time and the "The Apprentice" is the 1988 unheard "Island" mix that was rejected by the label and ended his contract with them. The studio albums "Glorious Fool" (1981) and "Best Kept Secret" (1982) were on WEA so they're not included in this set.

The 33-track DVD includes previously unseen BBC footage from the 1970s and 1980s ("Old Grey Whistle Test" and "Sight And Sound" shows) including the complete "The Foundations" concert from 1986 on DVD for the first time (the DVD is ALL REGIONS so no worries for foreign purchases).

SOUND:

JARED HAWKES did the Mixing and Mastering at Universal Mastering with further work carried out by PASCHAL BYRNE and BEN WISEMAN at Audio Archiving (both studios in London). Right from the get go the sound is gloriously clear - very, very clean and never showy (the opening lyric from London Conversation's "Fairy Tale Lullaby" titles this review). Soundwise what is also delightful are the Outtakes from the "Bless The Weather" period and onwards. Mostly recorded in Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, they don't just sound fabulous, they're sonically intimate in ways some of the finished album cuts aren't. Many I suspect are earlier takes to the finished version so the band is finding its way. But that only adds an amazing atmosphere to them - like you're eavesdropping on history. Even the glossy 80's stuff sounds fuller - especially the hugely underrated "Piece By Piece" album. It doesn't sound to me like any compression has been applied - and if it has - it's minimal. These are warm remasters - clear and full - but not for loudness sake. The exclusive bootleg tape that is Disc 5 (kindly donated by Graham Hinde) is full of wobbles and people shuffling - not the greatest and for me the first real clunker on here. The dreadfully overproduced mix of "The Apprentice" is slick for sure - but strangely soulless for such a soulful man. But not surprisingly the Alternate Takes from his two meisterworks "Solid Air" and "One World" are thrilling to hear - especially in such spot-on sound quality.

PACKAGING:

It arrives in an outer plain cardboard box, but within is a shaped foam wrap-around which fully protects the shrink-wrapped heavyweight hard-card set and is a very nice touch. The TWO LP-sized sleeves which feature artwork by IAN MUNDAY (one is a three-way-gatefold, the other just a gatefold) that contain the CDs are very cleverly laid out (the DVD is in a separate smaller card sleeve). Each flap has die-cut card inserts, but because of its 12" size there's plenty of wiggle-room to get them in and out - so you don't get that awful scratch-your-disc every time you remove it from too-tightly packed presentation. The CDs themselves are colour-coded - the first 3 featuring the famous PINK Island label - the early 70's with the PINK-RIM label - then the late 70s, early 80s, mid 80s and so on - all labels appropriate to their time frame - a nice attention to detail. There's a poster and promo material reprints that are nice if not a little fiddly. The price is good too. However, its initial retail purchase of £160 is bound to rise as it sells out and word gets round as to just how good this set really is (rather like the Sandy Denny box that preceded it) - so buy it now before extortion sets in.

As you can imagine, the 120-Page Hardback Book called "The John Martyn Album" (done up like a family photo-album complete with mock chord at the front) is the bomb - just gorgeous. It features full page colour plates of each album sleeve (front and rear) with in-studio photos for each period, master tape boxes, the rare "Anna" 7" single from Australia, in-concert flyers, press adverts and huge amounts of written work by keeper-of-the-flame JOHN HILLARBY. The text also discusses his superb albums after Island on Permanent and Go! Discs (like "Cooltide" and "Glasgow Walker") right up to 2004's "On The Cobbles". In the final pages there are tributes from Bob Harris of The Old Grey Whistle Test, Eddi Reader the singer and Mark Cooper of the BBC. The box is dedicated to his loved ones (named) and there's a particularly lovely set of family snapshots at the very beginning that extend for pages - they feature him and his parents as a nipper in Scotland in the 1940's right up to his last days in Ireland in the 2000s with his own partner and children - its revelatory, fun and poignant.

NIGGLES:

The mono mix of "The Tumbler" is still AWOL and for such an extensive project its extraordinary that there's no discography (not even album catalogue numbers or release dates beneath any of the entries). But apart from those paltry niggles - this box set is a feast for the eyes and crucially for the ears. Some may baulk at the cost - don't. It's been a long time since I spent this amount of money on any music project - but when you think about the sheer volume of quality on here and how much more other less-worthy packages cost - then "The Island Years" is cheap at twice the price. I know I'll be dipping into this baby for years.

Like Ronnie Lane, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, John Peel and other hugely wonderful influences in our musical youth and adulthood - Iain David McGeachy is beloved for a reason and sorely missed to this day. Well done to the team behind this set who have so beautifully remembered him.

Partner Teresa Walsh and daughter Mharai McGeachy collected his OBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on 27 March 2009 - John Martyn deserved no less...