"Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings" by THE POLICE (15 November 2019 UK UMC/A&M/Polydor 6CD Clamshell Box Set of 2018 Abbey Road Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Make The Best Of What's Around..."

The last time the Police's catalogue was remastered in 2003 (by Bob Ludwig), each CD was an enhanced version with a single video of note as the bonus track ("Roxanne" for the debut, "Walking On The Moon" for the second and so on). 

This 2018/2019 reissue goes back to basics...removing the vids and net content and adding peripheral recordings from the band's initial studio output between 1978 and 1983 (they disbanded when Sting went solo in 1984).

Police fans will know that this gorgeous box set first appeared a year ago with the same title as a VINYL 6LP treat on 16 November 2018 – all records remastered and pressed up as Half-Speed Masters at Abbey Road. This is simply the belated CD variant of that using the same 2018 remasters (unfortunately minus the 24-page booklet). Five Studio Albums onto 5 Individual CDs and a Bonus Disc Compilation called "Flexible Strategies" that gathers up 12 straggler single B-sides and rarities (I've broken it down track-by-track, see list below).

The bonus track "Murder By Numbers" that was on the original Cassette and CD versions of 1983's "Synchronicity" (also the B-side of the "Every Breath You Take" 45) has now been moved over to that compilation and each card repro sleeve made into a gatefold (including No. 6). The collage photo of the band for "Zenyatta Mondatta" and the inner sleeve for "Ghost In The Machine" (which admittedly was never much to look at) are at least reproduced on the inside of the card gatefolds - but the lyrics for "Synchronicity" are AWOL (the first two LPs only had paper inners) and the sixth has a boring non-event inner gatefold when it could have been used to display the pictures sleeves for the singles and their A-sides. While there is no booklet or any lyrics (mores the pity), there is a pleasingly oversized clamshell box with a ribbon inside to remove the card sleeves without too much damage (there are no inner protective bags for the CDs which are tight inside the flaps – so watch that as you remove them).

But surely the big news is the upgraded mastering which to my ears is mind-blowingly good and the intro price of less than seventeen spondulicks for six CDs – a proper Christmas cracker if ever there was one. So what do you get...

Released Friday, 15 November 2019 - "Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings" by THE POLICE on UMC/A&M/Polydor 779 757-7 (Barcode 602577975776) is a 6-Disc Clamshell Box Set that breaks down as follows...

CD1 "Outlandos D'Amour" (38:17 minutes) - originally UK released November 1978 UK on A&M Records AMLH 68502

CD2 "Regatta De Blanc" (41:56 minutes) - originally UK released October 1979 on A&M Records AMLH 64792

CD3 "Zenyatta Mondatta" (38:28 minutes) - originally UK released October 1980 on A&M Records AMLH 64831

CD4 "Ghost In The Machine" (41:20 minutes) - originally UK released October 1981 on A&M Records AMLK 63730

CD5 "Synchronicity" (39:55 minutes) - originally UK released June 1983 on A&M Records AMLX 63735

CD6 "Flexible Strategies" (43:38 minutes) - released 15 November 2019

1. Dead End Job - non-album B-side to "Can't Stand Losing You" in October 1978 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7381)

2. Landlord - non-album B-side to "Message In A Bottle" in September 1979 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7474)

3. Visions Of The Night - non-album B-side to "Walking On The Moon" in November 1979 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7494)

4. Friends - non-album B-side to "Don't Stand So Close To Me" in October 1980 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7564)

5. A Sermon - non-album B-side to "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" in November 1980 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7578)

6. Shamelle - non-album B-side to "Invisible" in September 1981 (UK, A&M Records AMS 8164)

7. Flexible Strategies - non-album B-side to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" in October 1981 (UK, A&M Records AMS 8174)

8. Low Life - non-album B-side to "Spirits In The Material World" in December 1981 (UK, A&M Records AMS 8194)

9. Murder By Numbers - non-album B-side to "Every Breath You Take" in May 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 117)

10. Truth Hits Everybody (1983 Remix) - non-album B-side to "Every Breath You Take" in May 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 117 DOUBLE-PACK Version - second 45 was catalogue number A&M AM*01)

11. Someone To Talk To - non-album B-side to "Wrapped Around Your Finger" in July 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 127)

12. Once Upon A Daydream - non-album B-side to "Synchronicity II" in October 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 153)

The remasters are superlative. Their explosively hip debut hit the 1978 British New Wave landscape running with gutsy and lyrically smart tunes like "Next To You" (wow those drums and that guitar break), "So Lonely" and the brilliant "Can't Stand Losing You" – all utterly booted and suited now. Then you go deeper - album cuts like "Bring On The Night", "Deathwish" and "The Bed's Too Big Without You" simply rock-fabulous on the second platter - huge bass and drums - all that power-trio tightness roaring out of your speakers. The Zenyatta double of "Driven To Tears" segueing into "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" is stunning as is the sheer thump that comes off "Voices In My Head". The brass on "Too Much Information" and the sexy sway of "Tea In The Sahara" – all better.

What's missing - fans will notice the May 1977 UK debut 45 for "Fall Out" b/w Nothing Achieving" on Illegal Records IL 001 is not here - probably licensing - and several B-sides like the live version of "Man In A Suitcase" that turned up on the second 45 in the "Every Breath You Take" double-pack is also AWOL. The 1986 remake for "Don't Stand So Close To Me" isn’t here either - but these are minor omissions once you clap your ears on the clarity of the Remasters.

Is the bonus disc any good - in truth and excepting better B-sides like "Murder By Numbers", "Low Life", "Someone To Talk To" and "Once Upon A Daydream" - overall the supposed Bonus Disc "Flexible Strategies" makes for a painful listen. Police B-sides really were not the greatest - the ludicrous speed of "Landlord" and the throwaway nature of instrumentals like "Shamelle" and "Flexible Strangers" haven't worn at all well. And that 1983 remix of "Truth Hits Everybody" sanitised the cool punk kick the original debut album version had – neutering a punchy anthem. It is however cool to hear those better outsiders in such good audio again ("Once Upon A Daydream" should have been on the "Synchronicity" album instead of the dog that "Mother" was).

To sum up - the five albums only remind you of how good THE POLICE really were - a fantastic singles band too – Sting’s writing getting better and more sophisticated with each outing – Andy Summers on Guitar with Stewart Copeland on Drums making the perfect trio. The remasters are genuinely ace, it looks damn good and "Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings" is currently selling its rather tasty little booty for three quid less than its pre-purchase price of a twenty spot.

"...When the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around..." - Sting sang on that thrown-together third album. Even on a bad day, The Police were still head and shoulders above so many bands of the time. My advice, with this amount of quality in such a tasty display and the cheap-as-a-politician's-promise price tag - grab this oversized regatta de bollocks while you still can...

"Little Women - Original Soundtrack Album" by THOMAS NEWMAN (1995 Sony Classical CD)

"...Snow Play..."

The masterful soundscape-maker himself THOMAS NEWMAN gives us a typically beautiful and poignant CD soundtrack - and the music is from a year where Newman's skill with a sweeping emotion seemed to be utterly inspired – 1994 – home of the mighty Redemption.

This time his strings and lush arrangements went to the 1994 girly-fest movie remake of "Little Women" directed by Gillian Armstrong (Winona Ryder and Gabriel Byrne have almost shocking chemistry in the affection department). 

1. Orchard House (Main Theme) 

2. Meg's Hair 

3. Snowplay 

4. Scarlet Fever 

5. Ashes 

6. Spring 

7. La Fayette's Welcome 

8. A Telegram

9. Two Couples

10. Burd3ns 

11. New York 

12. Harvest Time

13. Maria Redowa

14. Letter From Jo

15. Amy Abroad 

16. Limes

17. Beth's Secret 

18. For The Beauty Of Earth 

19. Little Women

20. Learning To Forget 

21. Valley Of The Shadow

22. Port Royal Gallop 

23. Domestic Experiences 

24.The Laurence Boy 

25. Lovelornity

26. Under The Umbrella (End Title)

USA CD released 10 January 1995 - "Little Women – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" written and conducted by THOMAS NEWMAN on Sony Classical SK 66922 (Barcode 074646692226) was Produced by TN and BILL BERNSTEIN.

Lots of the 26 cuts are admittedly short - sometimes less than a minute in some cases and they often feeling like snatched moments - which is of course exactly what they are (even with that number of titles, its total playing time is only 37:24 minutes). But it's the beauty of the opening 3:29 minutes of "Orchard House (Main Title)" for instance or the 3:41 minutes of "Under The Umbrella (End Title)" at the finish line that show why Newman was and still is nominated so many times for Oscars and many other awards.

TN is also famously a close relative of the iconic songsmith Randy Newman – himself a prolific Soundtrack writer who has contributed to some of Pixar's most famous movies "Toy Story" and "Monster’s Inc." to name but a few. Thomas Newman also did the gorgeous sweeping music to Pixar's much-loved "Wall-E" – another beauty with an exclusive Peter Gabriel song in the closing credits.

"Little Women" is not "The Shawshank Redemption" for sure where every second feels soul touching and epic (others would passionately disagree and say "Little Women" is its musical equal). But I have to own everything this songwriter has ever done and I suspect after one listen to the loveliness contained within this - you may become the same...

"Tradish" by BRENDAN POWER (2004 UK Tethnik Records CD) featuring Ian Carr, Chris Newman, Declan Masterson and Andy Irvine - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Real Blues Reel..."

Brendan Power is a 63-year old virtuoso Harmonica blaster from Auckland, New Zealand (born in Kenya) now living in England who mixes in Blues, Celtic, Kiwi, Dixie Jazz and all manner of World influences into his musical palette. And what a sound he makes...

Blowing Diatonic and Chromatic harps - 2004's "Tradish" on Tethnik Records TETHNIK 109 (Barcode 829667018629) appears to be a self-published effort (62:28 minutes total playing time) that features 15 Tracks (14 BP originals and one cover) all sporting an impressive guest list of International Trad players (especially from Ireland and the UK). Names like...

STEPHEN COONEY - Guitar

IAN CARR - Guitar on "Hakanoa Hideaway" and "Farewell To Muswell Hill".

CHRIS NEWMAN - Guitar and Bass on "Tom's Tune" and "Monaco Madness"

ANDY IRVINE - Mandolin on "The M1 Reel"

GARY VERBERNE - Guitar and Bass

GERRY O'CONNOR - Tenor Banjo on "The Bloom Of Youth" and "20 Out Of 10" 

DECLAN MASTERSON - Flute on "Hakenoa Hideaway" and Uilleann Pipes on "20 Out Of 10"

BOB SHEPHERD and NEIL HARLAND - Bass

STEVE GARDEN - Drums

GREG SHEEHAN - Tambourine

MICK KINSELLA - Diatonic Harmonica on "The Real Blues Reel"

The all-original instrumentals were recorded across 8 years in three different studios (Dingle and Kildare in Ireland, Ilkley in England and Auckland in New Zealand) with the above list of musicians as impromptu guests (Power also plays Mandolin and Mandola on "Tom's Tune"). Only "The Bloom Of Youth" is a cover - a Traditional arranged by Power.

A very cool album with amazing harp blowing – technically brill but still with feeling and panache – a sort of Irish Trad vibes meets Rock meets Real World Records. The final tune "Lament For The 21st Century" has just him and his Chromatic wailing away like he was born to impress. A fabulous CD album then that deserves better attention...

"1972 - TUMBLING DICE" - Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters - A SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK by Mark Barry...

The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK Series...

1972

TUMBLING DICE

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

Over 2,350 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
302 Reviews from the discs themselves...

* 2,352 E-pages of info, 302 in-depth reviews for quality CD Remasters - March 2021 Draft

* Formats included - CD, SACD [Super Audio CD], HDCD [High Density Compatible Digital], Japan SHM-CD and Japan Platinum SHM-CD  [Super High Materials]

* Major Label Box Set Retrospectives from – EMI, Sony/Legacy, Universal and WEA

* Best Independent Reissue Labels highlighted – Ace, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On, Big Break Records (BBR), Cherry Red, Earth, Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Lemon, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Raven, Repertoire, Rev-Ola, Rhino, Salvo, Soul Music Records, Sundazed and Panegyric

* Technical data from the discs themselves (total playing times and more)

* Release Date, Catalogue No and Barcode to locate the correct issue

* CD Track lists and Details on Bonus material (if any)

* VINYL Discographies referencing CD Box sets (track numbers to sequence singles and albums from the discs – huge number of record labels covered

* UK and US catalogue numbers and release dates for original vinyl albums, 7” singles and EPs within each review

* Remaster/Tape Transfer Engineers highlighted

* Packaging descriptions, size of booklets, what’s contained within, who wrote the liner notes, repro artwork explained

* Reference to the Audio Quality of the CD - analysis of songs

* Guest Musicians highlighted – Cover Versions noted

PREFACE

N

ot too many Music Books (let alone a review tome concentrating on 1972) contain slots for artists like Mordicai Jones, Pamela Polland or Miroslav Vitous – but this one does! I make a point of showcasing Artists and Titles you probably don’t know but deserve your attention…music that’s worth getting into your life in other words. Price tag isn’t a factor either. Many entries in this large and unique book cost less than £10 while others are under a fiver. And even if certain Box Sets and Deletions have acquired a bit of an unsavoury price tag since release - because they’re the best, I’ve included them for your (audio) culinary delight.

And just what is the right issue to buy? It’s always a subjective argument when it comes to Audio I know – but in today’s marketplace of multiple format reissues, those kinds of decisions can be a bit of a minefield to navigate. I worked as the Principal Rarities Buyer in Reckless Records in Soho’s Berwick Street for nearly 20 years (one of the best secondhand record shops in London). So as you can imagine, I came across hundreds of CD reissues – some better than others. This book (like most of my Sounds Good series) is about highlighting those reissues that creep to the top of the pile.

Major label retrospectives are in here from Universal UMC, Sony/Legacy and WEA etc. The best Independent Reissue Labels (defunct or not) are also highlighted throughout the text and include – Ace Records, Audio Fidelity, Bear Family, Beats Goes On (BGO Records), Big Break Records (BBR), Cherry Red, Earth (Record Label), Edsel, Esoteric Recordings, Grapefruit, Hip-O Select, Lemon, Light In The Attic, Mobile Fidelity, Raven Records (Australia), Real Gone Music, Repertoire, Rev-Ola, Rhino, Salvo, Soul Music Records, Sundazed and Panegyric to name but a few.  

There are 302 titles reviewed - CD reissues and remasters beginning in the 1990s and continuing through to 2021 (March 2021 Update). If the album was issued in 1971 in the USA but didn't arrive until 1972 in the UK (or vice versa) – I've included these too. Compilations that carry 1972 singles or rarities or interesting album tracks are also in there. In fact there's a huge 2,352 E-Pages...so plenty to read and for a good price. Genres include Pop and Rock, Blues Rock, Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Kraut Rock, Avant Garde, Folk, Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Soul, Funk, R n B, Reggae, Ska, Soundtracks and a few other points in-between.

Each entry focuses on decent remasters with factual info that helps a purchase decision. You get catalogue numbers, barcodes to identify correct issues, track lists including info on original issues like album and 7" single catalogue numbers, total playing times, packaging and liner notes descriptions, what important guests played on what, cover versions highlighted, remaster engineers named and a lot of info on the original album. I provide a Discography for Box Sets and these lists also include Imports, some Audiophile Titles and Japanese SHM-CDs too where relevant or exclusive.

Enjoy the reads... MARK BARRY (2021)