"Greenslade" by GREENSLADE (September 2018 Esoteric Recordings 2CD Reissue - Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...An English Western..."

Whilst Thin Lizzy had its duel-guitar onslaught out front from 1974 onwards – British Prog Rockers GREENSLADE (who shared the musical landscape with the Lizzies around the same time) decided to forego guitars altogether and concentrate on two Keyboardists out front with a Bass Player/Singer and Drummer bringing up the rear.

The band had a huge musical history and pedigree that's worth elaborating on – leader and namesake Dave Greenslade cut his teeth with Chris Farlowe and The Fabulous Thunderbirds on their two Columbia Records albums in 1964 and 1966 only to then join up towards the end of that mercurial decade with Jon Hiseman and his fusion-art-rock outfit Colosseum. Greenslade contributed to their Vertigo Records debut album "Valentyne Suite" (the label's November 1969 first LP on Vertigo VO 1), their second album "Those Who Are About To Die Salute You" on Fontana Records (also from 1969 - the band featuring Tony Reeves at this point) and their third record "Daughter Of Time" also on Vertigo Records in 1970 (Reeves had left but Chris Farlowe guested on some vocals). Dave is also on a final hurrah before the band disbanded with the 1971 live double "Colosseum Live". Second keyboardist Dave Lawson had done stints with Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band, Avant Garde jazzers The Web for their third album "I Spider" in 1970 (issued on Polydor Records – the first two LPs were on Deram) who then morphed into the uber-cultish Samurai and issued a self-titled rarity in 1971 on the obscure Greenwich Gramophone Company Records label. Drummer Andrew McCulloch had bashed his kit for no less than King Crimson on their 1970 LP "Lizard" and later hit the tom toms for the revered CBS act Fields on their self-titled debut in 1971.

Formed in 1972 from the ashes of all these other bands – the foursome supergroup GREENSLADE were also riding on the wave of Progressive Rock's growing popularity - a complicated musical force that had been storming both the UK and USA in those formative years of 1970, 1971 and 1972. After signing to the prestigious Warner Brothers label – their self-titled debut was recorded/finished November and December 1972 and released February 1973 complete with deriguere Roger Dean logo and suitably flashy gatefold artwork (script writing akin to the inner sleeve on Yes' "Close To The Edge"). The Greenslade four-handed-man logo was in fact thought up by Dave Greenslade (drawn by Dean) to reflect the two sets of hands playing the music out front. All of this gorgeous artwork is reproduced on the three-way gatefold digipak and in the elaborate booklet.

The stage seemed set for success too. Those other Proggy giants Emerson, Lake & Palmer (also heavily leaning towards keyboards over guitars) had put their third platter "Trilogy" up at No. 2 in August 1972 on the UK LP charts and would do the same to "Brain Salad Surgery" in December 1973 on their own record label - Manticore Records. YES would put their triple-live "Yessongs" on the No. 7 spot in May of 1973 only to replace that with the four-sided double-album studio beastie that was "Tales From Topographic Oceans" in December - both hugely ambitious and highly unlikely Top Ten entries ("Tales From Topographic Oceans" went all the way to No. 1). In other words - 1973 was a massive year for Prog Rock both artistically and commercially.

I say all of this because despite the press giving our fine-feathered newcomers loads of coverage (six clippings from Melody Maker and NME adorn the new 24-page booklet) and despite their obvious Progressive Rock appeal and backdrop - Greenslade weren't the commercial success they should have been. Of the four albums they did in their classic period between 1973 and 1975 - it was only their third and most sophisticated work "Spyglass Guest" from August 1974 that charted - and even then at a lowly No. 34. In many ways, Greenslade are a footnote in chart history now. That doesn't mean they aren't remembered with huge affection (they are) and on evidence of this exemplary and comprehensive reissue series from Cherry Red's 'Esoteric Recordings' - it's easy to hear why. Let's get to the temple songs...

UK released Friday, 28 September 2018 - "Greenslade" by GREENSLADE on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22645 (Barcode 5013929474543) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ 2CD Reissue and new remaster of their 1973 Debut Album with a Bonus CD of Previously Unreleased 1973 BBC Recordings and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (40:40 minutes):

1. Feathered Friends [Side 1]

2. An English Western

3. Drowning Man

4. Temple Song

5. Mélange [Side 2]

6. What Are You Doin' To Me?

7. Sundance

Tracks 1 to 7 are their debut album "Greenslade" - released February 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46207 and July 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2698. Produced by Dave Greenslade, Stuart Taylor and Tony Reeves - it didn't chart in the UK (made No. 218 in the USA).

Disc 2 (44:13 minutes, all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

1. Temple Song

2. Feathered Friends

3. An English Western

Tracks 1 to 3 recorded 10 January 1973 for BBC Radio One's "Sound Of The Seventies" (first broadcast 29 Jan 1973)

4. Sundance

5. Drowning Man

6. Feathered Friends

7. Mélange

Tracks 4 to 7 recorded 5 April 1973 at the BBC Paris Theatre in London for BBC Radio One's "In Concert" Series

Introduced by ALAN BLACK and Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

GREENSLADE was:

DAVE GREENSLADE - Keyboards

DAVE LAWSON - Keyboards and Vocals

TONY REEVES - Bass

ANDRW McCULLOCH - Drums and Percussion

The three-way fold out digipak is the generic packaging for all three of Esoteric's 2CD GREENSLADE reissues - each picture disc reflecting the Roger Dean artwork cover. The 28-page booklet too (helmed by noted writer MALCOLM DOME) comes with new interviews from Dave Greenslade and Dave Lawson and the whole thing is compiled, researched etc by resident Prog expert and label head honcho MARK POWELL. There's lots of black and white period photos of our fruity foursome and press clippings from the UK, USA and even Promo Sheets from Warner Brothers (most of which I've not seen before) - but disappointingly the lyrics that were on the inner gatefold sleeve (in Roger Dean script) are AWOL which is a bit of a shame considering the obvious effort put into this reissue. Still – it both looks and feels substantial.

Soundwise though - the minor niggle of missing words goes out the window when I clap my weary lugs on another great Remaster from BEN WISEMAN who along with Paschal Byrne is Esoteric's go-to tape guy. Like most I've had the two Rhino/Edsel reissues these last few years that covered their first four albums (I reviewed the "Spyglass Guest/Time And Tide" twofer they put out in May 2011) – and whilst they were good – the audio here is a major improvement. Rehearsed and prepared in advance (the band’s motto) – you can hear the tight rhythm section so clearly – especially Andrew McCulloch whose drums seem to hover just beside the duelling keyboard whizzes as if they were an integral part of the overall soundscape and not just a rhythmic backdrop (very Crimson in fact). Both the instrumentals "An English Western" and "Sundance" are now leaping and hopping through those creative time signatures – wickedly good. To the album...

Penned by Dave Greenslade (lyrics by Dave Lawson) - 6:47 minutes of "Feathered Friends" opens Side 1 with jaunty keys vying for your attention until it settles down into a "what's your poison..." lyrics. It's at this point that some might balk even wince - Dave Lawson's voice - it's a whinny thing and his affected strangulation of the words can take some getting used to. Some love it - I've always felt it was the band's ultimate weakness. At 3:27 minutes the shortish Dave Greenslade instrumental "An English Western" is an undoubted album high - very Camel in its cool keyboard breaks. Doom opens the Dave Greenslade penned "Drowning Man" - clutching at straws - images of comrade’s dead as the soft piano and Mellotron dance between slow and fast rhythms (the Audio is great). A concert favourite "Temple Song" closes Side 1 with its almost Japanese feel and harmony vocals showboating.

But it's Side 2's brilliant opener "Mélange" that gives the album its revered status - a fantastic 7:27 minutes of keyboards and harmony vocals that is broken up by Tony Reeves going all Chris Squire on his Bass. Using its heavy strings like a lead electric guitar - he combines this with the 'ah's and 'ohs' of the floating vocals and plinking pianos and Mellotron sways - it feels like properly sophisticated Prog Rock - brilliant stuff. Lawson returns for a vocal work out on the musically boppy "What Are You Doin' To Me?" but again his 'good guy - bad woman' words come over as terribly Seventies dated - like second rate ELP. Side 2 is closed with the album's other instrumental of sophistication - "Sundance" - another concert fave. A lovely remaster brings up the playing (that lovely turn of notes at 1:16) before it gets Prog Funky and romps off to keyboard soloing heaven only to return to beauty half-way in (impressive stuff).

I had half expected the Previously Unreleased live BBC stuff to be somehow under par - but the 'in the studio' Production values of "Temple Song" from January 1973 puts that one to bed right quick. This is shockingly good - clean - present - and if anything there's an air around the sound that seems to free their playing from the slightly po-faced stuffiness of the album versions. The piano is a bit muted at the beginning of "An English Western" for sure but its soon replaced by that rapid electric piano run and you can hear McCulloch's razor sharp drumming every bit of the way - very nicely done and a cool transfer of something that's been languishing on BBC shelves for over 45 years.  Alan Black introduces the former Colosseum 'Greenslade' and to cheers we're off into the wickedly good "Sundance" - a clever opener that immediately wins the crowd over. The morose "Drowning Man" is sung in almost silence whilst Producer Jeff Griffin did well to catch the huge sound of "Feathered Friends" as the band lifts off into rapid keyboard races. But its "Mélange" that's the stunner here - Greenslade clearly able to reproduce their studio sound out in the great wide open - Reeves getting a chance to shine on those Yes/Crimson-sounding bass runs. Fans will dig this.

I've always felt that "Greenslade" was a four-star keyboard Prog Rock beginning that would lead to the sophistication of "Spyglass Guest" in August of the following year. But (those missing lyrics notwithstanding) this is a five-star 2CD reissue of an obscurity that deserves reappraisal. The packaging is great, the booklet informative and cool looking, the audio a big improvement on what went before and that second disc of unreleased, a no-filler winner.

The second album "Beside Manners Are Extra" is due on a 2-Disc set November 2018 and the mighty third this Friday, 26 October 2018. I’m looking forwarding to all of them now. Nicely done boys...

GREENSLADE – Two-Disc 2018 CD Reissues from Esoteric Recordings of the UK

1. "Greenslade" (February 1973 UK Debut LP) – reissue released 28 September 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22645 (Barcode 5013929474543) – 2CD Remaster with Seven Previously Unreleased BBC ‘In Concert’ performances on Disc 2 (recorded January and April 1973)

2. "Bedside Manners Are Extra" (November 1973 Second Album) – reissue released 30 November 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22654 (Barcode 5013929475441) – CD & DVD Remaster with Three Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions after the album on CD1 (recorded October 1973) and a Three-Song Warner Brothers Promotional Film Recorded 1973 along with Two Old Grey Whistle Test Appearances (November 1973) on the Region Free DVD

3. "Spyglass Guest" (August 1974 Third Album) – reissue released 26 October 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22647 (Barcode 5013929474741) – 2CD Remaster with Eight Previously Unreleased BBC Radio Sessions on Disc 2 (recorded November 1974)

"Official Release Series Discs 1-4" by NEIL YOUNG (June 2012 Reprise/NYA Reissue Box Set Containing The 4 x 2009 Reprise/Neil Young Archives HDCD Reissues – John Nowland and Tim Mulligan Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Show You The Way To Go…"

What we have here is a reissue of a set of reissues...

UK and Europe released 11 June 2012 - "Official Release Series Disc 1-4" by NEIL YOUNG is a 4CD set on Reprise 9362-494975 (Barcode 093624949756) which bundles together the four August 2009 individual CD releases into a simple card slipcase (each is discussed in detail below). 

As such - this neatly bundled foursome represents seriously great value for money and also showcases music that is not just amazing and still stands up some 45 years after the event – but is hugely influential to date whilst still growing as the years move on. So what's on offer and what's the muss?

Over the last two decades in particular - Neil Young fans have had their reissue patience sorely tested by their moody overlord. He has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because of what he feels is the format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes' 'original sound'. But you have to say right from the audio start of these August 2009 CD reissues/remasters - the wait for these first quartet of solo albums - "Neil Young", "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest" - has absolutely been worth the endless delays and press hissy fits.

What a magnificent job his transfer teams have done here... JOHN NOWLAND carried out the Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original Master Tapes (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with TIM MULLIGAN taking care of the Editing and Mastering. These remasters are not bombastically loud - trebled up to the nines for the sake of it - they're subtle - the music is just there in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends - while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about. Now to the details - here are the Loners, Trips to Tulsa and Cinnamon Maids in need of a Man...

Disc 1 "Neil Young" (36:25 minutes):

1. The Emperor Of Wyoming

2. The Loner

3. If I Could Have Her Tonight

4. I've Been Waiting For You

5. The Old Laughing Lady

6. String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill [Side 2]

7. Here We Are In The Years

8. What Did You Do To My Life?

9. I've Loved Her So Long

10. The Last Trip To Tulsa

Written at the tender age of 23 - his debut has been eclipsed by the more illustrious "Gold Rush" and "Harvest" - but real fans will want to start here. Released January 1969 in the USA on Reprise RS 6317 and in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6317 - it didn't chart in either country. While I can live without the countrified "Emperor Of Wyoming" - I still find "The Loner" astonishing in the way that the first Zeppelin album is - powerful, punchy and still rocking today. It's kind of shocking that even though Reprise coupled it with "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" as it's B-side - it failed as a UK 7" single on Reprise RS 23045 in September 1969. I love the Jack Nitzsche arrangements on the magical "The Old Laughing Lady" with Ry Cooder on Guitar and the wonderful singer Merry Clayton on Backing Vocals. The channel separation is harsh (the way it was recorded) but the clarity is fabulous. "What Did You Do To My Life" sounds like a top Buffalo Springfield outtake from their patchy 3rd album while the acoustic guitars on the epic "The Last Trip To Tulsa" are so clear - as is his warbling treated vocals - frail and aching. What I love about this remaster is that its somehow brought the album alive - and now begs rediscovery...

Disc 2 "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (40:47 minutes):

1. Cinnamon Girl

2. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

3. Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)

4. Down By The River

5. The Losing End (When You're On) [Side 2]

6. Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)

7. Cowgirl In The Sand

His 2nd solo album after Buffalo Springfield - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" was released in May 1969 on Reprise Records RS 6349 in the USA and July 1969 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6349. This 2009 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' CD Remaster on Reprise 9362-49790-3 (Barcode 093624979036) is Disc 2 of 4 and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Definition Compatible Digital). The inlay reproduces photos of Danny Whitten (Guitar), Billy Talbot (Bass) with Ralph Molina (on Drums) and David Briggs (Engineer and Producer) - but there are no lyrics.

Niggles - the big disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or even any new info in the booklet - and in the case of this album in particular the omissions are going to be a sore point for fans who've waited decades for these releases. While some rarities have turned up on the 2009 mega box set "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" - some tracks are still missing. "Down By The River" was edited for single release in the UK in August 1970 on RS 23462 with an alternate take of "Cinnamon Girl" on the B-side. To my knowledge neither is available in remastered sound anywhere. Also - "Oh Lonesome Me" was extended for the US 7" and it's B-side - an alternate mix of "I've Been Waiting For You" is again a no-show. All of them would have made for ideal extras material and it's infuriating that they're not on here. Still - at mid price - this remaster of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" is great value for money and with this hugely upgraded sound - makes you focus on the music as is and not anything else.

The sound is especially good on the big rocking tracks like "Down By The River" and the near 10-minute "Cowgirl In The Sand" - while the clarity is just beautiful on Richie Furay's "Round And Round (It Won't Be Long)" - Robin Lane's duet vocals being particularly lovely. Bobby Notkoff's violin on "Running Dry" is very clear - and as the band loosely ramshackles its way into the song - it sounds like they're in your living room - miked up and live - fabulous stuff. On to album three...

Disc 3 "After The Gold Rush" (35:03 minutes):

1. Tell Me Why

2. After The Gold Rush

3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

4. Southern Man

5. Till The Morning Comes

6. Oh Lonesome Me

7. Don't Let It Bring You Down

8. Birds

9. When You Dance, I Can Really Love

10. I Believe In You

11. Cripple Creek

"After The Gold Rush" was released in September 1970 on Reprise Records MS 6383 in the USA and Reprise RSLP 6383 in the UK (it went to Number 8 in the USA and Number 7 in the UK). This 2009 `Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' remaster on Reprise 9362-49790-1 (Barcode 093624979012) is Disc 3 of 4 (HDCD details as above).

Again so many audio highlights - the meaty guitars of "Southern Man" and the harmonica and rhythm section on the slyly lovely cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me". But then there's a triple whammy of audio brilliance on "Don't Let It Bring You Down", the beautiful "Birds" (lyrics above) and the rocking "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". Each is so beautifully done but in different ways. There's now a lovely intimacy on "Tell Me Why" and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" too. Sweet as...and leading up to...

Disc 4 "Harvest" (37:47 minutes):

1. Out On The Weekend

2. Harvest

3. A Man Needs A Maid

4. A Heart Of Gold

5. Are You Ready For The Country?

6. Old Man

7. There's A World

8. Alabama

9. The Needle And The Damage Done

10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

His 4th solo (and some feel his best) "Harvest" was released in February 1972 on Reprise Records MS 2032 in the USA and K 54005 in the UK (it went to Number 1 in both countries and many others around the world). This 2009 `Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' on Reprise 9362-49789-9 (Barcode 093624978992) is Disc 4 of 4 (HDCD details as above).

From the second that the drums, acoustic guitar and low harmonica kick in with the opener "Out On The Weekend" - the audio can only be described as beautiful. The shuffle of "Harvest" now boats the same clarity - but things really go into the fidelity stratosphere with the strings on "A Man Needs A Maid" (The London Symphony Orchestra arranged by Jack Nitzsche) - wow! David Crosby and Graham Nash puts in harmony vocals on "Are You Ready For The Country" while James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt do backing vocals on the gorgeous "Old Man". The muscle from Stephen Stills' guitar on "Alabama" grunges and rocks with Neil's superb lead while Nash and Stills add layers to the finisher "Words (Between The Lines Of Age)" (lyrics from it title this review).

Relistening to these four albums in a row is a revelatory experience. "Gold Rush" and "Harvest" have always received the plaudits - but now the first two have been given a new lease of life by these transfers - and I'm returning to them more - which is surely what a good remaster should make you do...and all of it is available for under a ten spot from most retailers...

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues says "Because Sound Matters" - and I think Rock's great curmudgeon was right to wait until he got it right...

"Original Release Series Discs 8.5-12" by NEIL YOUNG - 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 Albums on Reprise Records including Crazy Horse and The Stills-Young Band with Stephen Stills (August 2017 UK Reprise/Neil Young Archives 5CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1976

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"...Four Strong Winds..."

You have to look at this 2017 5-Disc Reissue in two ways - (a) it contains great material that is now remastered properly and about time too - but there's also (b) - it's packaging is only OK at best and it's ludicrously high price is an out-and-out insult to lifetime fans and newbees alike. But let’s focus on the positive for the moment...

The 'Neil Young Archives Original Release Series' (NYA ORS) finally gives us his much-revered late-Seventies material – five albums worth (one a double live set) - and along with the 3LP/2CD "Decade" retrospective (see separate review) allows fans to savour all of our favourite Canadian whinge-bag's output is truly superb audio (mostly for the first time too). Quite apart from the lack of sleep and Americana rust, there's a lot to wade through, so here goes with the minutiae...

US/UK/Europe released 18 August 2017 - "Original Release Series Discs 8.5-12" by NEIL YOUNG (and CRAZY HORSE) on Reprise/Neil Young Archives 554706-2 (Barcode 093624915416) is a 5CD Card Slipcase Box Set of New Remasters containing the following:

NYA ORS 8.5/Reprise 558557-2 is "Long May You Run" by THE STILLS-YOUNG BAND (39:14 minutes):

1. Long May You Run [Side 1]

2. Make Love To You

3. Midnight On The Bay

4. Black Coral

5. Ocean Girl

6. Let It Shine [Side 2]

7. 12/8 Blues (All The Same)

8. Fontainebleau

9. Guardian Angel

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Long May You Run" - released October 1976 in the USA on Reprise MS 2276 and October 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54081. Produced by YOUNG, STILLS and DON GEEHAM - Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 written by Neil Young - Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 9 by Stephen Stills. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK LP charts - No. 26 in the USA.

NYA ORS 9/Reprise 558558-2 is "American Stars 'N Bars" by NEIL YOUNG (38:03 minutes):

1. The Old Country Waltz [Side 1]

2. Saddle Up The Palomino

3. Hey Babe

4. Hold Back The Tears

5. Bite The Bullet

6. Star Of Bethlehem [Side 2]

7. Will To Love

8. Like A Hurricane

9. Homegrown

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "American Stars 'N Bars" - released June 1977 in the USA on Reprise MSK 2261 and June 1977 in the UK on Reprise K 54088. The recordings stretch from four different time frames - November 1974 for "Star Of Bethlehem" - "Like A Hurricane" and "Homegrown" from November 1975 - "Will To Love" from May 1976 and the whole five tracks on Side 1 from April 1977. Also although the album outer album artwork credits only Neil Young - the inner sleeve credits all of Side 1 to Neil Young, Crazy Horse And The Bullets with the last two tracks on Side 2 as Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Tracks 1 and 2 on Side 2 as Neil Young only). Produced by NEIL YOUNG, DAVID BRIGGS and TIM MULLIGAN - it peaked at No. 17 in the UK on the LP charts and No. 21 in the USA.

NYA ORS 10/Reprise 558560-2 is "Comes A Time" by NEIL YOUNG (37:08 minutes):

1. Goin' Back [Side 1]

2. Comes A Time

3. Look Out For My Love

4. Lotta Love

5. Peace Of Mind

6. Human Highway [Side 2]

7. Already One

8. Field Of Opportunity

9. Motorcycle Mama

10. Four Strong Winds

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Comes A Time" - released October 1978 in the USA on Reprise MSK 2266 and October 1978 in the UK on Reprise K 54099 - it peaked at No. 42 in the UK LP charts and No. 7 in the USA.

NYA ORS 11/Reprise 558561-2 is "Rust Never Sleeps" by NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE (38:23 minutes):

1. My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) [Side 1]

2. Thrasher

3. Ride My Llama

4. Pocahontas

5. Sail Away

6. Powederfinger [Side 2]

7. Welfare Mothers

8. Sedan Delivery

9. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Rust Never Sleeps" - released June 1979 in the USA on Reprise HS 2295 and June 1979 in the UK on Reprise K 54105 - it peaked at No. 8 on the US LP charts and No. 13 in the UK.

NYA ORS 12/Reprise 558562-2 is "Live Rust" by NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE (75:53 minutes, 2LP set onto 1CD):

1. Sugar Mountain [Side 1]

2. I Am A Child

3. Comes A Time

4. After The Gold Rush

5. My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)

6. When You Dance I Can Really Love [Side 2]

7. The Loner

8. The Needle And The Damage Done

9. Lotta Love

10. Sedan Delivery

11. Powderfinger [Side 3]

12. Cortez The Killer

13. Cinnamon Girl

14. Like A Hurricane [Side 4]

15. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)

16. Tonight's The Night

Tracks 1 to 16 are the entire 2LP Live Set "Live Rust" - released November 1979 in the USA on Reprise 2RX 2296 and November 1979 in the UK on Reprise K 64041 - it peaked at No. 15 on the US LP charts and No. 55 in the UK.

The Outer Card Slipcase pictures the five album sleeves on the rear and frankly little else. Inside there are 5 Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves that duplicate the US original vinyl albums between October 1976 and November 1979. The Mini LP Sleeves are slightly larger than your average 5" Japanese equivalent so both the unprotected CD (no white bags) and their inlays fall out easily because there's more room (perhaps too easily). Each Reprise Records Riverboat design CD label also sports the new NYA ORS logo that appears on the spine and rear of the outer box (Neil Young Archive - Original Release Series). Original-LP-packaging-wise - fans will be glad to see that all is present and accounted for - "Long May You Run" has its brown inner bag now turned into a fold-out separate page with the printed lyrics perfectly legible - "American Stars 'N Bars" has its white inner bag turned into a fold-out separate page also - "Comes A Time" had no inner bag originally so is simply given a plain white inner (this should have been provided with all the other discs frankly) and both "Rust Never Sleeps" and the live double "Live Rust" have their bits too - inners, gatefold sleeve for the 2LP set etc. On Young's insistence - the artwork remains exactly as it was - but because there's no other booklet or insert – there’s no history – song comments – no unreleased and mastering isn't even mentioned anywhere.

Audio-wise - undoubtedly this is the same team who so expertly transferred and remastered the first box and more in the NYA series - JOHN NOWLAND and TIM MULLIGAN. The original vinyl albums had good-to-great mastering but for me often felt muted in places. These 2017 CD Remasters are amazing - especially on the first three records - which make me feel like I'm hearing them anew – instruments and space around them opened up and that's just the best. Let's get to the music...

"Long May You Run" keeps it simple - both heavyweights providing good songs and the band featuring cool dudes like Joe Vitale of Joe Walsh's Barnstorm alongside Jerry Aiello and Joe Lala of Stephen Stills' Manassas. The sheer catchy-chorus commerciality of Neil Young's title track saw Reprise give it a 45 release in September 1976 (a month before the album arrived). But despite the excellence of Stills' Eagles-chugging boogie "12/8 Blues (All The Same)" on the B-side - it stalled outside the Top 50 on both sides of the pond. Yet the album was reasonably well received and on hearing stuff like the lights on the boats of the acoustically melodious "Midnight On The Bay" (gorgeous audio) and the very CSNY feel to "Black Coral" – it’s easy to hear why. Young gives it some country grunge guitar and harmonica on "Let It Shine" while Stills provides perfect harmonies – and again a revelatory audio. Screaming ZZ Top guitar pings and huge duet chorus vocals on Young’s "Fontainebleau" make it feel epic - but as much as I love him I’d say that the Stills finisher "Guardian Angel" hasn’t worn well.

Both 1977's snub-nosed "American Stars 'N Bars" and 1978's plain-looking "Comes A Time" have never had too much of a good rep amongst reviewers and even some diehard fans – but I’m thinking they’re due major reappraisal. The remastered five tracks on Side 1 of "Stars..." sound huge - especially the disarmingly lovely "Hey Babe" (the only US 45 off the album - paired with "Homegrown" in July 1977 on Reprise 1390). And there’s also those impressive guests accompanying Young - Linda Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson on Backing Vocals with Carole Mayedo on Violin. Speaking of which - stalwart members of Young's various backing bands The Stray Gators and Crazy Horse – both Billy Talbot (Bass) and Ralph Molina (Drums) prop up "Homegrown" and the LP's other big cut "Like A Hurricane" – here in its full 8:15 minute album glory. It's a shame the British UK 7" single edit of "Like A Hurricane" issued September 1977 (Reprise K 14482) isn't on here as a bonus (alas). Country legend Emmylou Harris lends her distinctive wail to the strumming "Star Of Bethlehem" – and again – another gorgeous transfer. The Bars album rocks out with the short but oh so sweet grunge-rock of "Homegrown" (what are you growing in there Neil?).

"Comes A Time" is a strumming Neil Young album – almost every song an acoustic ballad dominated by Backing Vocals from Nicolette Larson and what Young calls the "Gone With The Wind" Orchestra. Amidst the strings you also get Spooner Oldham on Piano and J.J. Cale guesting on Electric Guitar (not that the liner notes on the rear album sleeve deign to actually tell where they are). Other niceties include the leave-her-first "Peace Of Mind" and the pretty advice-number "Lotta Love" which Nicolette Larson would make a hit on her November 1978 self-titled debut LP over on Warner Brothers (a Neil Young song has now bizarrely become a ‘Yacht Rock’ staple).

"Rust Never Sleeps" was both a beast and a new beginning in ways. The idea was apparently to record the all-new material live (which they did) – but then Young tinkered with it in the studio. Excepting the opener "My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)" - you can’t really hear an audience present - but you can hear that distance in his vocal that only the live setting gives – thereby adding an urgency to angry immigrant, indigenous population and struggling family songs like "Thrasher",  "Pocahontas" and "Welfare Mothers". Roughly speaking Side 1 is the Acoustic set with Side 2 letting rip with the electric guitars – grunge rocking as he begs on behalf of a put-upon pilgrim to ‘shelter me from the powder finger’. Although it doesn’t say so in the credits, sounds like Nicolette Larson is doing the backing vocals on the lovely Side 1 acoustic finisher "Sail Away". There’s a Punk rage in the hard-hitting "Welfare Mothers" and a fantastic frantic power to "Sedan Delivery" that’s part MC5 meets The Sex Pistols. Whilst on that subject – many of the early Seventies rockers at that time either appeared like pomp dinosaurs or rich poodle softies wildly out of touch with the real world in which the kids who adored them lived. Most just seemed musically lost – unable to deal with or answer the sheer spit and venom of Punk and New Wave. Neil Young with his grungy electric guitar roaring and fuming (just like it had in 1969) seemed to embrace Punk with relish. He’d been angry before for sure – but with "Rust Never Sleeps" he had at the time suddenly seemed relevant again. I remember for many – Young hadn’t sounded this good in years – and this huge remaster only hammers that home. The album finisher – the distorted rocker "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)" became an unlikely 45-hit and appears on his "Greatest Hits" – all stabbing and trashy. The album "Rust Never Sleeps" was a milestone really in his extraordinary canon of work – and it sounds incredibly fresh – even now.

Following quickly after in November 1979 came the double-album follow up "Live Rust" – a fantastic live splurge that by including such early rockers as "The Loner" and even "Cinnamon Girl" reminded people that Neil had been there with his screaming guitar long before Johnny Rotten and his cohorts had been in soiled nappies throwing their headless toys out of a pram. Piano and Acoustic moments like "After The Gold Rush", "Sugar Mountain" and "Comes A Time" reminded ecstatic audiences of his power with melody and words. Amidst huge roars his band lay into "Cortez The Killer" with eight-minutes of guitar relish – that almost ZZ Top lonesome feel to his playing – it’s amazing stuff even now almost 40 years after the event.

This box set has its problems for sure (the ludicrous price, the lack of info, input and anything new musically) – but it also serves as a powerful reminder of what has held him in such affection. And it sounds monster. I picked up my copy on a well-known auction site for about forty-quid – the most I want to pay for it.

Neil Young talks of perfect strangers and outsiders in "The Loner" – a man treading his own path and screw-you if you don’t like it – step aside or open wide my son. Fair dues...because warts and all – he’s worth the fork out...

"An American Treasure: Deluxe Edition" by TOM PETTY (September 2018 UK Reprise 4CD Retrospective - Chris Bellman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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E-Book Available Now on AMAZON Sites

Part of the SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK Series

30 Different Titles

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...From The Fire..."

Like so many guys of my age (I was 60 yesterday, 28 September 2018, the day of this release) - I was taken aback my Tom Petty's untimely passing in October 2017 – it hurt me way more than I knew how to deal with. After Prince and Bowie – he was another hero of my musical life gone too soon. So I pre-ordered the 4CD 'Deluxe Edition' of "An American Treasure" months back - and man - what a slam-dunk brill release it is – a truly fitting tribute.

Compiled with the full co-operation of his Heartbreaker band mates Guitarist Mike Campbell and Keyboard whizz Benmont Tench, Producer and Mixer Ryan Ulyate and especially his family (wife Dana and daughter Adria) – the Deluxe Edition of "An American Treasure" on Reprise 9362-49055-6 (Barcode 093624905561) gives you four Discs covering the 1970s on Disc 1 (15 Tracks, 52:53 minutes), the 1980s on Disc 2 (18 Tracks, 63:42 minutes), the 1990s on Disc 3 (14 Tracks, 56:45 minutes) and the 2000s onwards on Disc 4 (16 Tracks, 72:11 minutes).

There are 63 cuts in total (60 songs with 1 Radio Spot and 2 Spoken Intros) – and of the 60 they are broken down into 41 Previously Unreleased versions (outtakes, alternates and live renditions), 16 Album Cuts, 1 Non-Album UK 7" single B-side and 1 vinyl-only LP song from the "Kiss My Amps 2" compilation making its CD debut here. Ace Engineer CHRIS BELLMAN (at Bernie Grundman Mastering) has beautifully mastered this release. I can't emphasise enough the gorgeous audio quality on this release - it's astonishingly good. Sure there's the occasional audio lapse when recordings come from Stadiums and Arenas (usually included for performance and personal reasons) - but those are few and far between. Even familiar and previously well-mastered songs like the Seventies material is given an aural makeover here - lifted up into something stunning (check out the 'extended' version of "When The Time Comes" without the fade out or "You're Gonna Get It" with the Strings brought forward in the mix so you can hear their clever "Purple Rain" type additions to the end of the song).

In fact Campbell states over and over again that he wants fans to 'come into the songs' through these versions and even though you could argue that 16 album cuts you already own (most of whom don't need remastering) is excessive when we could have had more unreleased from what we're being told is a huge unheard archive – the 16 are included for deeply personal reasons as each liner note explains. Speaking of what album cuts are up for grabs – the team have gone deep into his catalogue to highlight what they clearly feel are overlooked nuggets - "The Wild One, Forever" from the self-titled debut, "No Second Thoughts" from the 2nd album "You're Gonna Get It", "Alright For Now" from 1989’s "Full Moon Fever" which often ended live shows on a shared band/audience high note and "You And Me" from 2002's "The Last DJ" - the final musical moment he and his wife shared before he passed (all of which are beautifully rendered by Bellman's masterful transfers).

And as for the unreleased stuff - how gems like "Surrender" (kept off the first album), "Keeping Me Alive" (a Southern Accents outtake) or even the Rockabilly fun of "Lonesome Dave" (from the "Greatest Hits" sessions) were left off albums or the flipsides of singles is a mystery. You also notice how the band so complimented his tunes like the Tench's keyboard part to "Deliver Me" and Campbell's guitar solos and acoustic playing on unplugged live sets - often transforming Rock songs that are ingrained in your memories into a new Americana version that touches and even equals the more flashy original.

There is also the added bonus of Stevie Nicks on the Demo Version of "The Apartment Song", the album cut "You Can Change Your Mind" and a live version of "Insider" - whilst Byrds founder and frontman Roger McGuinn adds his dulcet tones to an early take of "King Of The Hill". Hell even Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gets his June 1981 moment of fame as he introduces the band at The Forum, Inglewood in California and promptly sparks off an ovation that apparently took 10 minutes to quell. If I had a complaint it would be that the quality somehow strangely dips on the 90s Disc and its disappointing that there isn't more insider-recordings from his 80ts masterpiece "Full Moon Fever" – but these are minor quibbles.

Reading the BUD SCOPPA liner notes and hearing Campbell and friends literally get choked up as their reminiscences of the songs and their circumstances come to mind is both moving and just a little heart-breaking. In short - this one is personal - and the love felt for TP and his songwriting craft is very real.

I miss him, his band and their music. "An American Treasure" is beautiful and then some - and surely the Deluxe Edition 4CD variant will be up for a 2018 'Reissue of the Year' gong. Way to go friends and family...job done and more than a nod to his life and musical legacy...

PS: the Deluxe Edition book packaging is superbly laid out too and classy with a capitol C. Released Friday, 28 September 2018, there is also a 26-Track cheaper 2CD truncated version on Reprise 572284-2 (Barcode 093624905547) and a 6LP vinyl set available in late November 2018...