"Cover Me: The EDDIE HINTON Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (October 2018 UK Ace Records CD Compilation - Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Miss Him So..."

When I saw this Eddie Hinton 'Various Artists' CD Reissue on the October 2018 release schedule – I knew I'd have to own it. And jammy bugger that I am, I was right. Because those nubile sexpots over at Ace Records of the UK have once again nailed another nuclear-powered acupuncture needle into my already pin-cushioned musical dartboard of a heart.

So why only four stars - "Cover Me: The EDDIE HINTON Songbook" is not perfect by any means - one or two tunes are borderline twee while others are good rather than being great. It’s the kind of compilation you wish was a 5-star whopper but it just misses the mark. But make no mistake – this near 74-minute CD compilation is a wee little nugget anyway - never flashy – never too fast - just sweetly Rock-Soulful and defiantly Southern as it shuffles its sexy way through 24 lesser-heard songs penned by the Blessed Eddie and his friends - Marlin Greene, Donnie Fritts, Dan Penn and others – culminating with three solo. Let the gushing commence...

Who is EH and why should you love him? Imagine a cherub-faced Jon Voight in "Midnight Cowboy" with a character just as naive and you get a visual on Tuscaloosa's Eddie Hinton. A gifted guitar-player and songwriter taboot, he arrived aged just 24 into the creative bosom of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section band in 1966 (affectionately known as The Swampers). Hinton’s slick licks and complimentary hooks would soon be adding that Southern Swing to wads of Soul and Soul-Rock recordings laid down in those halcyon years at Rick Hall's legendary Fame Studios in Alabama (Aretha Franklyn, Elvis Presley, The Dells, Percy Sledge, The Staple Singers and even Boz Scaggs were amongst a long list of those who benefitted).

As if this double-whammy of playing and songwriting wasn't enough – cute-looking Hinton then opened his mouth and sang - and out popped a white Otis Redding - literally. Legend has it that the normally sanguine Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records was so awestruck at the singing voice he heard - Jerry immediately predicted a star would be born when Hinton finally stepped out from those session shadows into a front man position and made his solo pitch. In fact Hinton's raspy guttural vocal cross between Otis Redding and Little Richard in his Seventies Reprise Years had always been something of a well-kept secret amongst those in the know. But of course - it absolutely shouldn't have been.

And therein lies the tragedy. Things just always seemed to get in the way for the man and despite a late flourish with his first and only official solo LP – the sappily titled "Very Extremely Dangerous" on Capricorn Records in March 1978 - the label once famous for The Allman Brothers (Duane and Gregg covered one of his songs when they were The Hour Glass) folded within weeks of its release and Hinton's shot at fame went with it.

He died aged only 51 of a heart attack in 1985 from drug-and-drink related health issues which had dogged him for years just as he was beginning to be appreciated by UK and European Soul aficionados. Post - there have been at least four CD compilations across the subsequent decades covering demo recordings left behind with songs stretching back as far as 1967. Which brings us to this...

UK released Friday, 26 October 2018 (9 November 2018 in the USA) - "Cover Me: The EDDIE HINTON Songbook" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1535 (Barcode 029667092722) is a 24-Track CD compilation that plays as follows (73:45 minutes):

1. Breakfast In Bed - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (February 1969 US 7" single on Atlantic 2606, B-side to "Don't Forget About Me" and on the "Dusty In Memphis" LP)

2. Down In Texas - OSCAR TONEY JR. (March 1969 US 7" single on Bell 776, A-side)

3. Cover Me - JACKIE MOORE (August 1971 US 7" single on Atlantic 2830, B-side to "Time")

4. A Little Bit Salty - BOBBY WOMACK (from the November 1976 US LP "Home Is Where The Heart Is” on Columbia PC 34384)

5. Sure As Sin - CANDI STATON (May 1972 US 7" single on Fame 91000, B-side of "In The Ghetto")

6. 300 Pounds Of Hongry - TONY JOE WHITE (from the April 1972 US LP "The Train I'm On" on Warner Brothers BS 2580)

7. Masquerade - DON VARNER (June 1967 USA 7" single on South Camp 7003, B-side to “Down In Texas")

8. Always David - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (from the August 1969 US LP "Sweets For My Sweet" on Atlantic SD 8225)

9. Poor Mary Has Drowned - BRICK WALL (July 1969 US 7" single on Capitol 2545, A-side)

10. It's All Wrong But It's Alright - EDDIE HINTON (1967 Recording released September 2000 on the UK Eddie Hinton CD compilation "Dear Y'All" on Zane Records ZNCD 1016)

11. Help Me Make It (Power Of A Woman's Love) - MINK DeVILLE (from the November 1981 US LP "Coup De Grace" on Atlantic SD 18311)

12. Save The Children - CHER (from the June 1969 US LP "3614 Jackson Highway" on Atlantic SD 33-298)

13. Every Natural Thing - ARETHA FRANKLIN (from the February 1974 US LP "Let Me Into Your Life" on Atlantic SD 7292)

14. If I Had Let You In - THE BOX TOPS (from the July 1968 US LP "Non Stop" on Bell Records BELL 6023)

15. Satisfaction Guaranteed - JUDY WHITE (December 1968 US 7" single on Buddah BDA 79, A-side)

16. Standing On The Mountain - PERCY SLEDGE (January 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 2848, B-side of "Rainbow Road")

17. I Got The Feeling - THE AMAZING RHYTHM ACES (from the October 1980 US LP "How The Hell Do You Spell Rythum?" on Warner Brothers BSK 3476)

18. Home For The Summer - THE HOUR GLASS featuring Paul Hornsby with Gregg and Duane Allman (from the March 1968 US Stereo LP "Power Of Love" on Liberty LST-7555)

19. Lay It On Me - GWEN McCRAE (January 1971 US 7" single on Columbia 45320, A-side)

20. People In Love - LOU JOHNSON (April 1969 US 7" single on Cotillion 44026, B-side of "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)")

21. Where You Come From - BONNIE BRAMLETT (from the February 1975 US LP "It's Time" on Capricorn CP 0148)

22. Seventeen Year Old Girl - MICKEY BUCKINS & THE NEW BREED (July 1967 US 7" single on South Camp 7004, A-side)

23. Love Waits For No Man - AL JOHNSON (May 1967 US 7" single on South Camp 7002, B-side of "Bless Your Sweet Little Soul")

24. Where's Eddie - LULU and THE DIXIE FLYERS (May 1970 US 7" single on Atco 6749, B-side of "Hum A Song (From Your Heart)"

NOTES:

Tracks 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22 and 23 are in MONO - all others in STEREO

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 16, 18 and 23 co-written with MARLIN GREENE (Track 22 is a co-production only with MG)

Tracks 1, 6, 9, 14, 19 and 24 co-written with DONNIE FRITTS

Tracks 12 and 17 co-written with DAN PENN; Track 8 co-written with DAN PENN and WAYNE JACKSON

Track 20 co-written with Grady Smith; Track 21 co-written with JIM COLEMAN

Tracks 4, 11, 13 and 22 written by EDDIE HINTON

Helmed by long-time Ace Records associate, Soul Expert and Southern Soul aficionado TONY ROUNCE - the 24-page booklet is the usual feast of info and display. You get those tantalising promo photos of cool types like Bobby Womack, Judy White, Lou Johnson, and on Page 17, a spectacularly hip shot of the four gorgeous gals in The Sweet Inspirations with Cissy Houston (Whitney's mum) smiling at the top of the downwards body cascade. Rounce has broken down the song-by-song evaluations into writing partners (as pointed out in the NOTES above) and in between the text and pics of Gwen McCrae and Mink De Ville single and album sleeves - you get those US 45 label repros that make collector's hearts flutter just a little faster - Cotillion, Capitol, South Camp, Atco, Buddah, Bell, Fame etc. Mastering by DUNCAN COWELL is also great even when sources fluctuate as on those uber-rare-didn't sell-jack South Camp singles that I suspect may be dubbed off discs. Whatever you look at it - this is impressive stuff. To the actual music...

Not surprisingly the compilation opens strongly with a dip into Springfield's "Dusty In Memphis" LP called "Breakfast In Bed" - a slinky little Stereo crawl that sounds like the aftermath its title suggests - baby I'm tired, but I'm pleased, now make me some coffee and shut up. I immediately then race down to an album I played into the wall - "Coup De Grace" by Mink De Ville - a 1981 platter on Atlantic that held the gorgeous groove of "Help Me Make It (Power Of A Woman's Love)" – bliss - Hinton's song combined with the swagger of Willy De Ville's Southern Politician sipping mint juleps persona (succumb my buttery friends). Like many who are reading this - Dan Penn is a name that will have some of us step out of our chairs and genuflect in front of the computer - another Southern white boy with Soul in his (well) Soul. His co-write on "I Got The Feeling" is so typical of his church-organ crawl as Lead Vocalist Russell Smith of The Amazing Rhythm Aces literally sounds like an uncanny combo of both Penn and Hinton - sexy, sexy man. Although others may enjoy them, I found "Always David" by The Sweet Inspirations, Cher's "Save The Children" and Brick Wall's "Poor Mary Has Drowned" all a little too saccharine in their subject matters and creepy in delivery too (but I liked the genuine feeling in Lulu’s “Where’s Eddie” (she had a thing for him) and lyrics from the song title this review). And who among us brave troopers can resist Tony Joe White's fabulous groove in "300 Pounds Of Hongry" or Aretha getting into that funky-monkey motion-in-the-ocean shake she got when she recorded any damn thing at Atlantic - Hinton's neck-jerking "Every Natural Thing" a perfect fit for her. Al Johnson puts in a stormer too with "Love Waits For No Man" - the kind of angst-ridden rip-your-innards out song that is liable to have Northern Soul boys reaching a whole bottle of Kalms (not for the first time will herbal pharmaceuticals help them make it through the night). And on it goes... 

2018 sees the 50th Anniversary of all things 1968 - so we grey-haired grizzled grumblies are being bombarded with a wallet-depleting plethora of cultural touchstone reissue giants - Love's "Forever Changes" hit us in April - The Small Faces "Ogden's Nutgone Flake" came in October and on the 9th of November - we'll get wrist-spraining versions of The Beatles "White Album" and Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland" - worthy beasts one and all.

But spare a thought for this unassuming entry – this rather lovely musical CD.

As Eddie Hinton said 51 years ago in 1967 - it's all wrong but somehow it's all right. How prophetic and true. Recommended...and I miss him so...

"Loving & Free + I've Got The Music In Me" by KIKI DEE - November 1973 and October 1974 Albums (February 2015 UK Edsel/Rhino Compilation with 2008 Remasters - 2LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Bonuses) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Ain't Got No Trouble In Life..."

Back in June 2008 – EMI UK and Europe released six Kiki Dee albums (real name Pauline Matthews) onto 'Expanded Edition' CDs covering her catalogue output on Elton John's Rocket Records between 1973 and 1987 (Geoff Pesche Remasters done at Abbey Road).

Edsel have licensed four of those beautifully transferred titles and doubled them up onto two new 2CD releases for 2015 whilst tail-ending each set with bonus non-album single sides of interest to fans. The two missing titles issued in 2008 are "Angel Eyes" from 1987 on Columbia Records and an unreleased album called "Cage The Songbird" containing material from the Rocket Records period (finally issued 2008).

With those six EMI CDs now long-since deleted and acquiring nasty price tags in the meantime and with this particular issue featuring a hefty amount of exclusive Elton John/Bernie Taupin involvement – this new 2CD reissue in its card-wrap is both timely and welcome (not to mention beautifully presented). Here are the Loving and Free details...

UK released February 2015 (March 2015 in the USA) – "Loving & Free + I've Got The Music In Me" by KIKI DEE on Edsel/Rhino EDSK 7078 (Barcode 740155707835) is an 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue with 2008 Remasters and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 "Loving & Free" by KIKI DEE (55:12 minutes)

1. Loving & Free [Side 1]

2. If It Rains

3. Lonnie & Joseph

4. Travellin In Style

5. You Put Something Better

6. Supercool [Side 2]

7. Rest My Head

8. Amoureuse

9. Song For Adam

10. Sugar On The Floor

Tracks 1 to 10 are Kiki Dee’s debut album for Elton John's newly formed Rocket Records "Loving & Free" - originally issued on vinyl in November 1973 on Rocket PIGL 5 in the UK.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Last Good Man In My Life

12. Hard Luck Story

13. Everyone Should Have Their Way

14. Six Days On The Road

Two 45s came off the "Loving & Free" album at the time - with one other single issued 3 years later as a belated hit. First up was "Lonnie & Josie" b/w "Last Good Man In My Life" - with both tracks written by ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN. Released in June 1973 on Rocket PIG 2 - it unfortunately went the same as her earlier singles and didn't chart. The B-side “Last Good Man In My Life” has long been sought after by collectors as a non-album JOHN/TAUPIN track unavailable anywhere else. Apparently it was an outtake from the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" sessions. “Hard Luck Story” b/w “Everyone Should Have Their Way” was a stand-alone UK 7” single released March 1974 on Rocket PIG 10 (it didn’t chart either). The last bonus track turned up on the 2008 EMI CD and was Previously Unreleased at the time – a raucous cover of Dave Dudley's 1963 hit "Six Days On The Road" (and very good it is too).

The second 7" single finally hit pay dirt. "Amoureuse" b/w "Rest My Head" (both from the album) hit the UK shops in October 1973 on Rocket PIG 4 just before the album's release in late November. A beautiful song - it was an immediate hit with the public. Written by French singer VERONIQUE SANSON - its plaintive melody had lyrics added to it by the British composer GARY OSBOURNE. "Rest My Head" is a Kiki Dee original. "Amoureuse" peaked at Number 13 in the UK and introduced Kiki's great voice to the public. It really was a career-maker. Elton would put out his own version of his album contribution “Sugar On The Floor” as a B-side to “Island Girl” in September 1975 (DJM Records DJS 610).

The title track "Loving and Free" was finally released as a 4-track EP in a Picture Sleeve in September 1976 on Rocket ROKN 515 (sometimes referred to as the "Kiki Dee" EP). It followed on the back of the huge number 1 success of the "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet with ELTON earlier in June and July of that year. Its 4 tracks are: "Loving And Free", "Amoureuse", "I've Got The Music In Me" and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am". Why it wasn't released immediately after "Amoureuse" is anyone's guess?

Disc 2 - "I've Got The Music In Me" by THE KIKI DEE BAND (57:43 minutes):

1. I've Got The Music In Me [Side 1]

2. Someone To Me

3. Step By Step

4. Water

5. Out Of My Head

6. Do It Right [Side 2]

7. Little Frozen One

8. Heart And Soul

9. You Need Help

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "I've Got The Music In Me" by The Kiki Dee Band – released October 1974 in the UK on Rocket Records PIGL 10

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Simple Melody

11. How Glad I Am

12. Peter

13. Once A Fool

Three 45s were released around the "I’ve Got The Music In Me" album – August 1974 saw "I've Got The Music In Me" b/w "Simple Melody" put out in the UK on Rocket PIG 12. It was a big hit and rose to 19 in the charts in September of that year (broke her on American Radio too). The flipside "Simple Melody" was non-album (hence a Bonus Track here) - while the second single (the stand alone) "How Glad I Am" b/w "Peter" fared less well and didn’t chart (released April 1975 in the UK on Rocket PIG 16). On 17 November 1975, Rocket went for attempt number three with the non-album "Once A Fool" (fourth bonus on CD2) as an A-side on Rocket Records ROKN 501 combining it with the Side 1 LP-Track "Someone To Me" on the B-side - but it didn't chart.

Looks - you have to say that the presentation here is top-class. There's a card wrap for starters that gives the reissue a classy feel – but the 32-page colour booklet is gorgeous. It amalgamates the CHRIS WHITE liner notes that came with the 2008 EMI issues (he sadly passed away in 2014 and Kiki pays him personal tribute in her own notes on Page 3) – adds in a collage of rare 7" picture sleeves from around the world (Japan, Europe etc), produces track-by-track annotation for the first album and lyrics for the second record (only) and of course had credits for the reissue. Although it doesn’t say it in the booklet – these are the Geoff Pesche remasters of 2008 (done at Abbey Road) mastered in 2014 by Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering. The Audio Quality is beautiful – so clear and warm. Tracks like "Amoureuse" and "Loving & Free" (with its beautiful guitar work by PAUL KEOGH) now sound astonishing - a treat to hear.

"Loving & Free" had its 10 tracks famously produced by ELTON JOHN with his house band of DAVEY JOHNSTONE on Guitars, DEE MURRAY on Bass and NIGEL OLSSEN on Drums featuring on many of the songs. Elton himself provided Keyboards and Backing Vocals on seven out of the album's ten tunes and on the non-album B-side – Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 on Disc 1). GERRY CONWAY and DAVE MATTACKS of FAIRPORT CONVENTION fame filled in the drums on other tracks with LESLIE DUNCAN of "Love Song" fame providing backing vocals on the superb Kiki original "If It Rains". "Travellin' In Style" is a FREE cover, "Song For Adam" is a JACKSON BROWNE cover introduced to Kiki by Elton, while she gives a very soulful rendition of "You Put Something Better Inside Me", a Gerry Rafferty/Joe Egan written STEALER'S WHEEL song. "Supercool" is the third exclusive JOHN/TAUPIN track - a rocker - though not as good as the better B-side "Last Good Man In My Life". B.J. COLE provides Pedal Steel Guitar on “Rest My Head”

The Kiki Dee Band that played on "I've Got The Music In Me" consisted of JO PARTRIDGE (Guitar), BIAS BOSHELL (Keyboards), PHIL CURTIS (Bass) and ROGER POPE (Drums). Partridge provided the song "Out Of My Head" while Boshell stumped up a whopping five – "I've Got The Music In Me", "Step By Step", "Do It Right", "Heart And Soul" and "You Need Help". Kiki brought three originals to the table – "Someone To Me", "Water" and "Little Frozen One". Of the Non-LP stuff – Kiki also wrote "Simple Melody" and "Peter" while Larry Harrison and Jimmy Williams wrote "How Glad I Am" and "Once A Fool" is a Brian Potter/Dennis Lambert song.

Boshell had worked with Folk-Rock cult group Trees on CBS Records, Guitarist Partridge had worked with Colin Scott, Philip Goodhand-Tate and Joan Armatrading while Bassist Curtis had played with Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come, Spirit Of John Morgan and The Steve Gibbon’s band. Roger Pope was with Hookfoot and a regular member of Elton John’s Band. “I’ve Got The Music In Me” features CISSY HOUSTON and MARETHA STEWART on Backing Vocals with MIKE DEACON on Organ and String Arrangements by RICHARD HEWSON. Elton’s long-time Producing associate GUS DUDGEON did the honours at the desk. Musically the album is as strong as “Loving & Free” and hugely polished – songs like the ballads “Little Frozen One”, “Heart And Soul” and of course the title track being stands-outs.

A minor downside to this otherwise excellent reissue is that both "Lonnie & Josie" and "Amoureuse" were released in the States on MCA 40095 and 40157 respectively - and as advance radio promos, both singles sported a mono and stereo mix on either side. It's a damn shame that the exclusive "US Mono Mix" of each single wasn't included on here as bonuses when there was plenty of room. Niggles worth mentioning.

Other than that this is yet another exemplary Edsel reissue of music that deserves your renewed interest. You could of course argue that you simply buy the 2015 “Original Album Series” 5CD Mini Box Set for KIKI DEE and get five albums for a roughly a ten-spot. But I’d argue in favour of the extras and that amazing presentation (the second title on Edsel EDSK 7079 couples “Kiki Dee” from 1977 and “Stay With me” from 1979 – also with bonuses).

"...I will untangle myself...so I can be...loving and free..." - Kiki Dee sang in 1973 in earnest. Way to go Pauline...

KIKI DEE – UK 7" singles on Rocket Records

1. "Lonnie & Josie" b/w "Last Good Man In My Life" (both tracks written by ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN) - released in June 1973 on Rocket PIG 2

2.  "Amoureuse" b/w "Rest My Head" - released in October 1973 on Rocket PIG 4

3. "Hard Luck Story" b/w "Everyone Should Have Their Way" was released in March 1974 on Rocket PIG 10

4. "I've Got The Music In Me" b/w "Simple Melody" was released August 1974 on Rocket PIG 12

5. "How Glad I Am" b/w "Peter" was released April 1975 on Rocket PIG 16

6.  "Don’t Go Breaking My Heart" b/w "Snow Queen" – 24 June 1976 on Rocket ROKN 512

7.  “The Kiki Dee EP” was released as a 4-track EP in a Picture Sleeve in September 1976 on Rocket ROKN 515. It followed on the back of the huge number 1 success of the "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet with ELTON earlier in June and July of that year. Its 4 tracks are: "Loving And Free", "Amoureuse", "I've Got The Music In Me" and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am"

"Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" by MAN (October 2007 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Classic Rock and Beyond 

1970 to 1974 - Volume 2 of 2 

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"...All Good Clean Fun..."

Already on their 4th album in late 1971 (their 2nd record that year) – MAN were properly hitting their stride as a band by the time they released the wonderfully titled "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" 

In fact when United Artists decided to issue their own specially priced double-album sampler for the label (following in the illustrious footsteps of "Bumpers" on Island, "A Breath Of Fresh Air" on Harvest and "El Pea" on Chrysalis) - they used a MAN track as its title - calling it "All Good Clean Fun" (that double was released in May 1971 on United Artists UDX 202 and the "All Good Clean Fun" track was exclusive to that double LP sampler at the time).

In truth Man’s 4th album from November 1971 s largely forgotten now by the Rock buying public (and has always been hard to find on original vinyl) - but this superb CD reissue brings to mind as to why this Welsh legendary group engenders so much affection. It’s a proper belter of a record and in extended form here (three great live tracks) – offers even more that’s worth returning to. Let’s get to why many are called, but few get up...

UK released October 2007 – "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling in?" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2013 (Barcode 5013929711327) is an 'Expanded Edition' Single CD Reissue and Remaster that pans out as follows (73:30 minutes):

1. Angel Easy [Side 1]

2. All Good Clean Fun

3. We’re Only Children

4. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up [Side 2]

5. Manillo

6. Love Your Life

Tracks 1 to 6 are their 4th album "Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?" – released November 1971 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29236 (no USA issue). Production and all compositions are by MAN.

BONUS TRACKS:

7. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up

8. Angel Easy

9. Romain

Tracks 7 to 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and were recorded live at the Gugenhaalle, Essen, Germany in November 1971

The band at the time consisted of MICKEY JONES on Guitars & Vocals, DEKE LEONARD on Guitars, Piano and Vocals, CLIVE JOHN on Organ, Piano & Vocals, MARTIN ACE on Bass with TERRY WILLIAMS on Drums.

Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red) have handled the whole MAN catalogue reissue program with full-on involvement from the band – so Deke Leonard’s liner notes in the 16-page booklet are a great read – witty, informative and proud of the band’s recorded achievement. Visually the booklet is a feast of concert tickets, trade magazine reviews, flyers and business cards – they also include the lyrics and detailed recording/reissue credits at the rear. But the big news for fans is a PASCHAL BYRNE remaster from original master tapes that brings out all that intricate playing – "All Good Clean Fun" sounds amazing.

While associated with a stoner sound at the time (especially live) – most of Side 1 is actually very Prog – complicated Rock tunes given space to stretch out. It opens with the chugging guitars of "Angel Easy" where the two lead players riff off of each other as they run up and down the frets. "All Good Clean Fun" is a weird little tune but I always liked it. The eight-minutes plus of "We're Only Children" is the mellow side finisher where half way through it goes all Moody Blues and Genesis in the vocal department – it's even a little Gentle Giant (gorgeous guitar solo in there too).

"Many Are Called, But Few Get Up" has been a concert standard for the band ever since its release here – and its intricate seven-minutes virtually defines MAN’s sound for the whole decade to come. When it breaks into that Rock groove and the lyrics kick in – it’s brilliant stuff (it became a highlight on the live "Maximum Darkness" set in 1975). For me "Manillo" is one the great undiscovered Rock tunes of the early Seventies – very Kevin Ayers somehow in the treated vocals and fuzzed-up wailing guitars and that slinky almost sinister groove (heady stuff). Side 2 then ends with the nine-minute twin-guitar boogie battle of "Love Your Life" – very MAN.

The extras add very nice icing to the cake. After telling the crowd (in both Welsh and German) to sit down so punters at the rear can see – they launch into "Many Are Called, But Few Get Up". The audio is better than bootleg but not quite live album standard – it still rocks though. "Angel Easy" is good too but far better is the slide guitar work on "Romain" – a standout track on the "Man" album from March 1971 - their 3rd LP. Here it stretches out to a crowd-pleasing 18:33 minutes and is everything that was great about the band at the time. It’s crudely recorded for sure but the power of the band is there in spades.

"...The Trip's just begun, we've broken the ice..." - they sang on "All Good Clean Fun". Break the ice and start your trip here...

MAN Reissue CDs on 'Esoteric Recordings' of the UK 

(Released 2007 to 2014)

1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live at The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (October 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with ‘Map Of Wales’ insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All’s Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 and a repro of the “History Of Man” insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)

"Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" by MAN (November 2007 and August 2013 Esoteric Recordings 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue - Mark Powell and Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Thunder And Lightning Kids…"

I remember buying this album in 1974 and thinking MAN had been bubbling under for what seemed like years. And with seven albums and six line-ups under their belts - by the time the band’s second chart placing came with the zippily titled “Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics” – they’d served their rocking dues and were finally receiving the public attention these Welsh rockers deserved. It wasn’t perfect by any means but the good stuff kept me coming back for years. Time to revisit…

This 2007 Expanded 2CD Remaster comes from the superb reissue label Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) giving the album a proper overhaul and with Deke Leonard’s involvement too. Here are the California Silks and Satins from the valleys of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales…

UK released November 2007 (reissued August 2013) – "Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics" by MAN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2020 (Barcode 5013929712027) is an 'Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (41:25 minutes):

1. Taking The Easy Way Out Again

2. The Thunder And Lightning Kid

3. California Silks And Satins

4. Four Day Louise

5. Intro [Side 2]

6. Kerosene

7. Scotch Corner

8. Outro

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album “Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics” released May 1974 in the UK on United Artists UAG 29631 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA247-G. It peaked at 24 on the UK charts.

9. Taking The Easy Way Out Again – the edited UK 7” single version at 3:19 minutes (album is 4:23 minutes) released June 1974 on United Artists UP 35703 with album track “California Silks And Satins” as its B-side

Disc 2 BONUS DISC (69:17 minutes):

1. American Mother [Live]

2. 7171 551 [Live]

3. A Hard Way To Live [Live]

4. Romain [Live]

5. Bananas [Live]

Tracks 1 to 5 were recorded live at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, 12 March 1974 and are Previously Unreleased. The band featured is MICKY JONES on Guitar and Vocals, DEKE LEONARD on Guitar, Piano and Vocals, MALCOLM MORLEY on Keyboards, Guitars and Vocals, KEN WHALEY on Bass, TERRY WILLIAMS on Drums with JIM HORN guesting on Saxophone.

The 16-page booklet is really good – new liner notes from Lead Guitarist Deke Leonard with some witty remembrances of UA executives digging the album and the dressing-room graffiti in the seedy and famous Whiskey A Go Go where words of wisdom by everyone who ever played there can be found on the grotty toilet walls. There’s repro of a NME article from February 1974, a facsimile of the Hawkwind/Man tour program, a repro of the inner gatefold’s crazy liner notes and best of all - MARK POWELL and PASCHAL BYRNE preparation and remastering of the original tapes. This duo has been involved in hundreds of reissues in the UK handling many of the superb Universal 3CD Box Set Retrospectives like “Spirit Of Joy” (Polydor), “Time Machine” (Vertigo) and “Legend Of A Mind” (Deram/Decca) (see reviews for them all). The Audio Quality on the album disc is top notch.

Their 8th album opens with a stab at commerciality “Taking The Easy Way Out” - and I can see why UA picked it as a lead off single (though personally I’ve always loved its swirling and brilliant B-side more – the gorgeous “California Silks And Satins”). United Artists Germany put out a famous Promo-Only single in a titled sleeve that is pictured in the booklet on Page 3 titling it “Break!” It placed “California…” on the A with the equally brill synth and funky guitar jaunt of “The Thunder And Lightning Kid” on the B-side (United Artists UA 001). Side One ends with the Proggy “Four Day Louise” which even at six minutes seems to overstay its welcome.

Side 2 has two principal tracks “Kerosene” and “Scotch Corner” bookended by an “Intro” and “Outro” and has always divided fans – some loving it – some thinking it disappointing. I’m somewhere in between. Although musically the slinky “Kerosene” is my poison – I hate the lyrics about ladies of the night while there’s no denying the fantastic guitar battles between Jones and Leonard in the nine-minute “Scotch Corner” – as MAN a tune as they’ve made. Famously a band more alive on stage than in the studio – the CD has a fantastic line-up of songs and even if it does sound a tad bootleg at times - it doesn’t disappoint with its extended guitar fests. It opens with a nervous song announcement and the band goes all Doors on “American Mother” lasting a full fourteen minutes. Fans of the “Maximum Darkness” live album will appreciate another stab at the excellent rocker “7171 551” and perennial favourite “Bananas” – both here in rollicking form. But for me one of their greatest tracks has always been “Romain” from their self-titled third album on Liberty Records in 1970. It gets a near 20-minute workout here with a slow guitar-build from the boys – wicked stuff.

Deke Leonard put out three Solo LPs in 1973, 1974 and 1981 (also on UA), Terry Williams later joined Dire Straits and Guitarist Micky Jones passed away in 2010.

From their humble beginnings in the late Sixties - Esoteric have remastered their entire catalogue up to the late Seventies in real style. And like this forgotten album from 1974 – there’s much here to get misty-eyed about…

MAN Reissue CDs on Esoteric Recordings of the UK 

(Released 2007 to 2014)

1. Revelation (January 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2127 (2009 Remaster with 4 Bonus Tracks)

2. 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (September 1969) – Esoteric ECLEC 2128 (2009 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

3. Man (March 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2012 (2007 Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks)

4. Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (November 1971) – Esoteric ECLEC 2013 (2007 Remaster with 3 Bonus Tracks)

5. Live at The Padget Rooms, Penarth (September 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2014 (2007 Remaster with the original 3-track album expanded onto 6 tracks across 2CDs)

6. Be Good To Yourself A Least Once A Day (October 1972) – Esoteric ECLEC 2019 (2007 Remaster In Card Digipak with ‘Map Of Wales’ insert and 2 Bonus Tracks)

7. Christmas At The Patti by MAN and FRIENDS (July 1973) – Esoteric ECLEC 2018 (2007 Remaster. The original vinyl was a live double 10” record which featured FLYING ACES, DUCKS DELUXE, THE JETS, PLUM CRAZY with DAVE EDMUNDS, HELP YOURSELF with DEKE LEONARD and B.J. COLE and finally MAN with DAVE EDMUNDS and STAN PHIFER. The CD contains the full double with no extras)

8. Back Into The Future (September 1973 – Half Live/Half Studio Double-Album) – Esoteric ECLEC 2060 (2008 3CD Remaster with the 2LP set on CD1 whilst CD2 (June 1973) and CD3 (August 1973) have 10 Bonus Tracks)

9. Rhinos, Winos + Lunatics (May 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2020 (2007 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single cut on Disc 1 and a Previously Unreleased 5-Track Live Concert at The Whiskey A Go Go in LA on Disc 2)

10. Slow Motion (November 1974) – Esoteric ECLEC 2062 (2008 Remaster 6 Bonus Tracks)

11. Maximum Darkness [Live] (September 1975) – Esoteric ECLEC 2061 (2008 Remaster with two Live Bonus tracks)

12. The Welsh Connection (March 1976) – Esoteric ECLEC 22403 (2013 Remaster with a Bonus 7” single B-side ad 5 live tracks on CD1 and a 2nd CD of 9 tracks)

13. All’s Well That Ends Well [Live] (November 1977) – Esoteric ECLEC 32431 (2014 Remaster of the album on CD1 with 2 Previously Unreleased CDs of the entire show from December 1976 and a repro of the “History Of Man” insert that came with the first 5000 copies of the original vinyl album)