"One More Song/Randy Meisner" by RANDY MEISNER [ex Poco/Eagles] (June 2018 Beat Goes On Reissue - 2LPs onto 1CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Trouble Ahead..."

Originally to be UK released 2 Dec 2016 but delayed 'indefinitely' - "One More Song/Randy Meisner" featuring two of the ex Poco/Eagles songwriter's LPs from 1980 and 1982 finally gets Remastered onto 1CD and an airing in 2018. Here come the Hearts On Fire...

UK released 8 June 2018 - "One More Song/Randy Meisner" by RANDY MEISNER on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1265 (Barcode 5017261212658) offers two albums Remastered onto 1 CD and plays out as follows (72:43 minutes):

1. Hearts On Fire [Side 1]

2. Gotta Get Away

3. Come Back To Me

4. Deep Inside My Heart

5. I Need You Bad [Side 2]

6. One More Song

7. Trouble Ahead

8. White Shoes

9. Anyway Bye Bye

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 2nd solo album "One More Song" - released November 1980 in the USA on Epic JE 36748 and in the UK on Epic EPC 84531. Produced by VAL GARAY - it peaked at No. 50 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

10. Never Been In Love [Side 1]

11. Darkness Of The Heart

12. Jealousy

13. Tonight

14. Playin' In The Deep End [Side 2]

15. Strangers

16. Still Runnin'

17. Nothing Is Said ('Til The Artist Is Dead)

18. Doin' It For Delilah

Tracks 10 to 18 are his 3rd solo album "Randy Meisner" - released August 1982 in the USA on Epic FE 38121 and in the UK on Epic EPC 85913. Produced by MIKE FLICKER - it peaked at No. 94 in the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

The outer card slipcase and 24-page inlay (with lyrics, photos and new notes from noted writer JOHN TOBLER) lend this reissue the usual BGO classy look - while the new 2018 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters amp up those Eighties sounds (licensed from Sony).

I had these vinyl albums back on Epic Records in the day (during my Eagles obsessions) and remember them as being patchy. Some famous guests include Kim Carnes singing backing vocals on "Deep Inside My Heart" - Don Henley and Glenn Frey of The Eagles sing backing vocals on "One More Song" – Craig Hull of The Hate Boys plays all guitars.

On the self-titled third LP there are even more - Brian Smith of Trooper who plays Guitar on "Never Been In Love", "Darkness Of The Heart" and "Tonight" - Dixon House of The Dixon House Band plays Piano, Organ and Backing Vocals on all songs - Nicky Hopkins plays Piano on "Jealousy", "Doin' It For Delilah" and "Still Runnin'" - Ann Wilson of Heart sings Lead Duet Vocals on "Strangers" while Nancy Wilson of Heart sings Backing Vocals on "Strangers", "Tonight", "Never Been In Love" and "Playin' In The Deep End" - Tower Of Power horns on "Jealousy", "Playin' In The Deep End" and "Doin' It For Delilah".

So not a lot's changed musically (some good, some badly dated) - but the Audio offered here is a winner and fans who've been waiting years for affordable versions of these forgotten platters will love this CD...

"Planet Beat: From The Shel Talmy Vaults" by VARIOUS (June 2018 Ace/Big Beat Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My

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1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD - Volume 3 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, Underground

Folk-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Country Rock and more

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"...Gotta Have You..."

This is the third release from Ace Records and their 'Big Beat' label imprint for SHEL TALMY Productions and something fans of The Who's "My Generation" first album Producer are going to get very excited about.

Amidst the non-album A&B-sides and other uber rarities are a whopping fourteen Previously Unreleased 60ts cuts - whilst seven of the 24-sides boast a young 'guitar-slinger' called Jimmy Page who would of course go on to form some no-mark band in 1968 that never amounted to anything...anywhere (well, maybe some places). Most of these Planet sessions also included ace sessionmen Nicky Hopkins on Piano and legendary Drummer Bobby Graham who is said to have played on over 15,000 recordings...

The first Talmy CD compilation instalment came in May 2017 - "Making Time: A SHEL TALMY Production" on Ace Records CDCHD 1497 (Barcode 029667079020) and then Volume 2 in April 2018 - "Planet Mod: Brit Soul, R&B And Freakbeat From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 336 (Barcode 029667085120). I've loved and reviewed both and this latest wad of mid-60ts Beat Group goodies is the same – a heady mix of the amazing and the poppy with room in your life for both. Here are the fuzzbox shakers and makers...

UK released Friday, 29 June 2018 (6 July 2018 in the USA) - "Planet Beat: From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 341 (Barcode 029667089128) is a 24-Track CD compilation of rarities (14 are Previously Unreleased) that plays out as follows (55:06 minutes):

1. My Baby Is Gone - THE UNTAMED (June 1965 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 431, Non-Album B-side of "I'll Go Crazy")

2. Leave My Kitten Alone (Alternate Take, Take 1, July 1964) - THE FIRST GEAR (2018, Previously Unreleased)

3. Why - THE PATHFINDERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

4. There's Something About You - THE ZEPHYRS (February 1965 UK 7"single on Columbia DB 7481, Non-Album B-side to "She's Lost You")

5. Lucy (You Sure Did It This Time) - THE DENNISONS (October 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F. 11990, Non-Album B-side to "Nobody Like My Babe")

6. Everybody Knows (Alternate Version, February 1965) - SEAN BUCKLEY & THE BREADCRUMBS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

7. Lonely Man - THE LANCASTRIANS (September 1965 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 15927, A-side)

8. It's Superman - THE IMP-ACTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

9. She Said Yeah - THE PRESIDENTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

10. She You Later Alligator (Alternate Take) - WAYNE GIBSON (2018, Previously Unreleased)

11. I'm Leaving - THE TRIBE (February 1966 UK 7" single n Planet PLF 108, B-side to "The Gamma Goochie" - the A-side is on "Planet Mod...")

12. Gotta Have You - THE LIBERATORS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

13. Casting My Spell - THE TALISMEN (April 1965 UK 7" single on Stateside SS 408, Non-Album B-side to "Masters Of War")

14. How Do They Know - THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN (February 1966 UK 7" single on Planet PLF 109, Non-Album B-side to "How Can You Tell")

15. Black Eyes (Alternate Take) - THE HEARTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

16. Our Love Is Gone - THE IMP-ACTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

17. What'd I Say - JOHNNY B GREAT & THE ORCHIDS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

18. Please Go - THE TREKKAS (February 1966 UK 7" single on Planet PLF 105, A-side)

19. Was She Tall (Demo, August 1964 without JP) - THE LANCASTRIANS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

20. Love Love Love - THE PATHFINDERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

21. Talk To Me Baby - THE RISING SONS (July 1965 US 7" single on Amy 931, A-side)

22. Kids Take Over - THE UNTAMED (first issued 2001 on the CD compilation "Gimme Gimme: The Singles And Unissued Rarities 1965-1966" on RPM Records RPM 223 - Barcode 5013929522329)

23. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Alternate Version, August 1964) - WAYNE GIBSON (2018, Previously Unreleased)

24. Just Can't Keep A Good Man Down - THE TALISMEN (2018, Previously Unreleased)

NOTES:

All Tracks are MONO except Track 10

Tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 23 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (14 in Total)

Tracks 2, 5, 6, 10, 13, 23 and 24 features Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitar

Tracks 10 and 23 also feature Nicky Hopkins on Piano

The info-packed 20-page booklet with new ALEC PALAO liner notes is the usual classy Ace Records affair - Planet Records trade adverts, publicity cards, promotional band photos in black and white and colour, IBC Studios Acetates, Tape Boxes, label repros for Planet, Stateside, Pye and Amy and so on. It's a brilliant and hugely informative read.

Audio – the NICK ROBBINS remastered sound is amazingly good – like the tapes have been kept well. Listening to the fabulous fuzzed-up guitar track, crazed solo and shimmering exit provided by Zeppelin’s Page on the Alternate Take of "Everybody Knows" or his equally wild contributions with Nicky Hopkins to the alternate take of "See You Alligator" will be suitably impressed. The harmonica to The Tribe and their Them-cool R&B growler "I’m Leaving" is superb too – keyboardist Martin Lee, Guitarist Frank Torpey and singer John Neighbor all kicking up a 60ts-groovy storm.

Another winner in the series - and for Page and Zep fans and lovers of the cult Planet Records label - a must buy...

"Shock Treatment/Autumn" by DON ELLIS/ORCHESTRA (April 2018 Beat Goes On Reissue - 2LPs onto 2CDs with Bonuses - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exception CD Remasters  

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"...Seven To The Bar..."

England's Beat Goes On (BGO) continues it Don Ellis CD reissue campaign with this further twofer (see below for other reissues). Here are the details worth trumpeting...

UK released 27 April 2018 (3 May 2018 in the USA) - "Shock Treatment/Autumn" by DON ELLIS and DON ELLIS and his ORCHESTRA on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1333 (Barcode 5017261213334) offers two Stereo albums from 1968 and 1969 Remastered in 2018 onto 2CDs with Four Bonus Tracks (issued 2001) that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Shock Treatment" (66:43 minutes):

1. A New Kind Of Country

2. Night City

3. Homecoming

4. Mercy Maybe Mercy

5. Zim

6. Opus 5

7. Star Children

8. Beat Me, Daddy, Seven To The Bar

9. Milo's Theme

10. Seven Up

11. The Tihai

12. Zim (Alternate Take)

13. I Remember Clifford

14. Rasty

Credited to DON ELLIS and Produced by JOHN HAMMOND - the original July 1968 US and UK LPs on Columbia CS 9668 and CBS Records S 63356 were 10-track affairs. The above track run for this CD mimics exactly the reinterpreted running order of the May 2001 US CD reissue on Koch Jazz KOC-CD 8590 (Barcode 099923859024). If you want to sequence the original "Shock Treatment" album use the following 10 tracks from this CD:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 4, 6, 8 and 11

Side 2: Tracks 9, 7, 3, 10 and 5

Disc 2 "Autumn" (57:44 minutes):

1. Variations For Trumpet [Side 1]

2. Scratt And Fluggs

3. Pussy Wiggle Stomp

4. K.C. Blues [Side 2]

5. Child Of Ecstasy

6. Indian Lady

Credited to DON ELLIS and his ORCHESTRA and Produced by AL KOOPER – Tracks 1 to 6 are the original March 1969 US and UK Stereo LPs on Columbia CS 9721 and CBS Records S 63503.

You get the usual card slipcase (makes the reissue look classy), a 24-page booklet that reproduces the original LP dedications by Digby Diehl for "Shock Treatment" and hip Producer/one time Blood, Sweat & Tears songwriter Al Kooper for 1969's "Autumn" - as well as a new appraisal of Doin Ellis' musical legacy by Mojo's main writer CHARLES WARING. The 2018 Remasters are once again carried out by BGO's resident Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON and being licensed Sony material - sound awesome. At times you have to turn down the sheer assault of brass instruments that hit you on say "Opus 5" while the funky Bongo interplay with Ellis on "The Tihai" is fantastic stuff.

The first album is better heard as released with Track 2 "Mercy Maybe Mercy" being amongst my faves - 60ts TV Cops cool. It's writer Hank Levy is also represented here by "A New Kind Of Country" whilst Howlett Smith gets the lengthy "Opus 5" and decidedly shorter "Seven Up" with Ellis having penned the bulk of the rest. The four-minute 'Alternate Take' of John Magruder's "Zim" is a worthy addition whilst the unreleased trio of "Night City", "I Remember Clifford" and "Rasty" show DE is a more mellow lounge-lizard mood and so were probably left off the original platter because they didn't fit in with the hip 'n' happening vibe of the others. And "K.C. Blues" from "Autumn" is gorgeous stuff whilst the two lengthy pieces "Variants For Trumpet" and "Indian Lady" at 19 and 18 minutes are tour de force playtime. Treatment indeed...

A sweet release from BGO and one that Don Ellis fans will need saspo...

PS: The other DON ELLIS titles in this BGO series are:

1. The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground [1969]/Don Ellis At Fillmore [1970]

(Beat Goes On BGOCD 1143 (Barcode 5017261211439 - released 2014)

2. Tears Of Joy [1971]/Connection [1972]

(Beat Goes On BGOCD1317 – Barcode 5017261213174 - released 2017)

"The Platinum Collection" [aka "Hello Stranger: The Best Of"] by BARBARA LEWIS (March 2007 Warner Brothers/Rhino CD Reissue and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I'll Be Yours Until The Stars Fall From The Sky…"

As part of the legendary label's 60th Anniversary celebrations - Atlantic issued a slew of budget-priced compilations under the title "The Platinum Collection" (see below for the full list). 

This Barbara Lewis set is a straightforward CD reissue of the US compilation "Hello Stranger: The Best Of" issued by Rhino way back in 1994 - just minus the detailed liner notes but still with that great Remastered/Restored sound. 

UK released March 2007 - "The Platinum Collection" by BARBARA LEWIS on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122-79994-9 (Barcode 081227999490) offers 20 superb tracks covering her 5 Atlantic albums and some of her non-album single sides. The original 12-page booklet is reduced to a 4-page inlay that doesn't provide much info - so here's a breakdown of what track came from what (51:22 minutes): 

1. ”Hello Stranger"

July 1963, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8086 (CD Tracks 1 to 5)

2. ”Snap Your Fingers"

January 1964, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8090 (CD Track 7)

3. ”Baby, I'm Yours"

August 1965, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8110 (CD Tracks 6, 8 and 12) 

4. ”It's Magic"

April 1966, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8118 (CD Tracks 10, 13, 14 and 17)

5. ”Workin' On A Groovy Thing"

June 1968, USA Stereo LP on Atlantic SD 8173 (CD Tracks 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20)

Track 9 is "Spend A Little Time" - a US 7" single issued April 1964 on Atlantic 2227, A

Track 11 is "Pushin' A Good Thing Too Far" - a US 7" single issued in October 1964 on Atlantic 2255, A

Lewis is like so many of the fabulous Soul Ladies of the Sixties (Maxine Brown on Wand, Barbara Acklin on Brunswick, Clydie King on Stateside, Mabel John on Tamla Motown, Mitty Collier on Chess jump to mind) - beloved by soul fans everywhere for their sheer class and the strength of the material they issued. The fact that Lewis penned six of these tunes is even more impressive. Doo Wop fans should also note that the wonderful Chess group 'The Dells’ provided backing vocals on seven tracks (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11) while the strings were arranged and conducted on Track 17 by ace producer Arif Mardin.

A great little CD compilation then - and for a peanuts amount of money it’s a top way of introducing yourself to the extraordinary richness of the Atlantic label and its huge Soul/R&B Legacy… 

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are (I've reviewed many of them): 

LaVern Baker, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brook Benton, Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright

———————-

Atlantic Label DISCOGRAPHY:

“Hello Stranger” [1963] 

Atlantic 8086 (Mono), Atlantic SD 8086 (Stereo SD-8086) in the USA

Side 1: Hello Stranger/Puppy Love/On Bended Knees/My Heart Went Do Dat Da/My Mama Told Me/Gonna Love You Till The End of Time

Side 2: Would You Love Me/Longest Night Of The Year/Does Anyone Want A Lover/We're Too Young To Marry/Love Is A Castle/Think A Little Sugar

“Snap Your Fingers” [1964] 

Atlantic 8090 (Mono), Atlantic SD SD-8090 (Stereo) in the USA

Side 1: Snap Your Fingers/Please, Please, Please/Frisco Blues/I'll Bring It Back Home To You/Just A Matter of Time/Twist And Shout/I Don't Want To Cry

Side 2: Turn On Your Love Light/Stand By Me/If You Need Me/What'd I Say/Baby, Workout/Shame, Shame, Shame

“Baby, I’m Yours” [1965]

Atlantic 8110 (Mono), Atlantic SD-8110 (Stereo) in the USA

Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/My Heart Went Do Da Dat/Come Home/Think A Little Sugar/If You Love Her/Stop That Girl

Side 2: Puppy Love/Hello Stranger/Someday We're Gonna Love Again/Snap Your Fingers/How Can I Say Goodbye/Straighten Up Your Heart

“It’s Magic” [1966]

Atlantic 8118 (Mono, Atlantic SD 8118 (Stereo) in the USA

Side 1: It's Magic/The Shadow of Your Smile/Let It Be Me/Quiet Nights/Since I Fell For You/Don't Forget About Me

Side 2: I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him/Yesterday/He's So Bad/A Taste Of Honey/Sorrow/Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

“Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” [1968]

Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8173 in the USA

Side 1: I'll Keep Believin'/Workin' On A Groovy Thing/Make Me Your Baby/Girls Need Loving Care/I Remember the Feeling/Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do

Side 2: Make Me Belong to You/Love Makes The World Go 'Round/I'll Make Him Love Me/Only All The Time/Sho-Nuff (It’s Got To Be Your Love)/Thankful For What I’ve Got

“The Best Of” [1971]

Atlantic Stereo LP SD-8286 in the USA

Side 1: Baby, I'm Yours/Hello Stranger/Make Me Your Baby/Don't Forget About Me/I Remember The Feeling/Make Me Belong To You

Side 2: Baby, What Do You Want Me to Do/Puppy Love/Stop That Girl/Come Home/Stand By Me/It's Magic