"A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM featuring Gary Brooker, Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid (Lyrics) (May 2009 Salvo Expanded CD Reissue – Rob Keyloch and Nick Robbins Audio Restoration and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 

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"...All This...And More..."

With a name loosely based around a Burmese Blue Cat - Procol Harum and their droning melodrama has always been something of an acquired taste - beloved and derided in equal measure. But there's no doubting that there's properly great tunes on their 3rd album for EMI's Regal Zonophone Records. "A Salty Dog" saw the three songwriters in the band all step up with the moody goodies - singer Gary Brooker, keyboard player Matthew Fisher and ace-axeman Robin Trower. There are also six worthy bonuses on this 40th Anniversary Celebration CD chosen by Gary Brooker (mostly the LP-line-up band in fine form on an American Tour in April 1969). Here are the squint-eyed seafaring details...

UK released May 2009 - "A Salty Dog: 40th Anniversary Edition" by PROCOL HARUM on Salvo SALVOCD 020 (Barcode 698458812025) breaks down as follows (67:52 minutes):

1. A Salty Dog [Side 1]

2. The Milk Of Human Kindness

3. Too Much Between Us

4. The Devil Came From Kansas

5. Boredom

6. Juicy John Pink [Side 2]

7. Wreck Of The Hesperus

8. All This And More

9. Crucifiction Lane

10. Pilgrim's Progress

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3nd album "A Salty Dog" - released June 1969 in the UK on Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1009 (Stereo) and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4179. It peaked on the UK charts at 27 and 32 in America.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Lone Gone Geek - non-album track, B-side to "A Salty Dog" released May 1969 in the UK as a 7" single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019

12. Goin' Down Slow (Live In The USA, April 1969)

13. Juicy John Pink (Live In The USA, April 1969)

14. Crucifiction Lane (Live In The USA, April 1969)

15. Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)/Also Sprach Zarathustra (Live In The USA, April 1969)

16. The Milk Of Human Kindness (Take 1; Raw Track)

PROCOL HARUM was:

GARY BROOKER - Lead Vocals, Piano, Celeste Three Stringed Guitar, Harmonica Recorder and Woods

MATTHEW FISHER - Organ, Vocals, Marimba, Acoustic Guitar, Piano Recorder and Rhythm Guitar

ROBIN TROWER - Lead Guitar, Vocal, Acoustic Guitar and Sleigh Tambourine

DAVID KNIGHTS - Bass Guitar

BARRIE WILSON - Drums, Conga Drums and Tabla

KEITH REID - Lyrics on all 10 tracks

Along with Lyricist Keith Reid - Gary Brooker provided "A Salty Dog", "The Milk Of Human Kindness", "The Devil Came From Kansas" and "All This And More" - while Robin Trower penned "Too Much Between Us" and "Juicy John Pink" with Matthew Fisher writing the remaining three - "Boredom" (a co-write with Brooker), "Wreck Of The Hesperus" and the album finisher "Pilgrim's Progress". The fold-out three-way oversized card sleeve has tasty black and white photos of band members (taken by Peter Sanders) and a reproduced letter by Alan White of Northumberland to the Melody Maker newspaper of 26 July 1969 bemoaning the lack of public interest in "A Salty Dog" and urging said punters to "...go out and buy it!"

The 20-page booklet is a sophisticated affair - liner notes by HENRY SCOTT-IRVINE that go into each track - there's trade adverts from various musical newspapers, a Regal Zonophone British label bag that actually advertises the December 1968 "Shine On Brightly" LP (along with the Move's latest), superb pictures of the 7" single for "A Salty Dog" from Germany, Spain, France, Holland and Japan, posters for their concerts at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in San Francisco (gorgeous artwork) and even a photo of the road sign for Crucifix Lane in London's SE 1 on which the song is based (deliberately misspelt as Crucifiction). There are recent recollections on certain songs by band members Robin Trower and Matthew Fisher along with the original LP Engineer Ken Scott. It's all very tastefully done actually (a bit of care taken)...

The CD itself sports the FLY label on which it was reissued in 1972 as part of a Twofer LP deal because I think that's who now own the licensing rights - while the Transfers and Remasters have been carried out by ROB KEYLOCH (at Church Walk Studios) and NICK ROBBINS (at Sound Mastering in London). Track 16 was transferred and mixed by NICK WATSON in 1998. Beautifully produced by Matthew Fisher and Ken Scott in the first place - the 2009 remaster is warm and very clear. Even when Trower's guitar gets a bit wild in places (and grungy for that matter) - the stereo imaging isn't too harsh - still reflecting the original Production values. Those big vocals and church-sombre organs sound suitably 'Procol Harum' - there's minimal hiss and where there is - it's not going to detract...

It opens with the Classical-meets-Rock fusion of "A Salty Dog" and immediately the arrangements and melody feel epic - a single you feel should have done better. I've always felt though that the albums two masterpieces come from Trower and Fisher. Trower gives us the unexpectedly lovely acoustic vibes of "Too Much Between Us" - I can't help thinking it should have been single number two off the album with Fisher's equally pretty "Pilgrim's Progress" on the flip (Fisher does the vocal rather than Brooker). A&M Records put out "The Devil Came from Kansas" b/w "Boredom" in the USA on a 45 (A&M 1111) in July of 1969 - but it failed to chart. The British 45 of "A Salty Dog" b/w "Lone Gone Geek" on Regal Zonophone RZ 3019 managed a respectable placing of 44 in the UK - especially given how awkward the track was to pigeonhole in a Pop context. The sleigh bells of "Boredom" make the tune sound like Quintessence or Dr. Strangely Strange or some such hippy happiness. Side 2's grungy guitar vs. harmonica opener "Juicy John Pink" puts an end to that pronto - sounding like its recorded in a garage to get that gritty sound. The best Audio on the disc goes to "All This And More" where the piano, guitar and Brooker's vocals all sound with new clarity.

The Bonus Track B-side "Long Gone Geek" is a fabulous addition to any CD - the Procol Harum going all Small Faces with Reid nicking Bob Dylan lyrics. There then begins a similarly heavy set of live cuts from April 1969 with the band giving it what for to some of the album's heavier cuts (Trower lovers will lap this up).

I bought this Salvo CD when it was first reissued in 2009 but since its deletion it's acquired a nasty top-end price tag. If you can get it at a reasonable cost - seek it out and enjoy. If not there has also been a 2015 updated Anniversary issue on Esoteric Recordings (see review also)...

"Original Album Series" by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (March 2010 UK Elektra/Rhino 5CD Mini Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review And 374 More Like It Are Available In My E-Book

GROOVIEST SOUNDS AROUND!

1960s MUSIC ON CD 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 

"…Blues With A Feeling…"

Quite possibly one of the best Blues-Rock CD Mini Box Sets I have in my fine household (can’t tell the wife how many there are lest I suffer serious physical injury – after the mental torture that is) – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band is a very definite jewel in the erratic crown of WEA’s “Original Album Series” reissues. When the 5-disc series began in 2009  – ‘some’ of the first vanguard of 40 or so titles featured remasters (many unfortunately didn’t). This beauty is one that does – and from the second the opening track “Born In Chicago” on their incendiary debut hits your speakers – it rocks like a madman on Blues Boogie acid and doesn’t let up. Here are the harmonica wails, guitar licks and chooglin’ white boys doing the blues details…

Released March 2010 in the UK - "Original Album Series" by THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND on Elektra/Rhino 8122 79834 0 (Barcode 081227983406) is a 5CD Mini Box Set and breaks down as follows (all are Stereo mixes):

Disc 1 (38:09 minutes):

1. Born In Chicago

2. Shake Your Money-Maker

3. Blues With A Feeling

4. Thank You Mr. Poobah

5. I Got My Mojo Working

6. Mellow Down Easy

7. Screamin’

8. Our Love Is Drifting

9. Mystery Train

10. Last Night

11. Look Over Yonders Wall

Tracks 1 to 11 are the LP "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" - their debut album released December 1965 on Elektra EKS 7294 in the USA (May 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 2 (44:47 minutes):

1. Walkin’ Blues

2. Get Out Of My Life, Woman

3. I Got A Mind To Give Up Everything

4. All These Blues

5. Work Song

6. Mary, Mary

7. Two Trains Running

8. Never say No

9. East-West

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "East-West" - released September 1966 on Elektra EKS 7315 in the USA (December 1966 in the UK same no.)

Disc 3 (45:45 minutes):

1. One More Heartache

2. Driftin’ And Driftin’

3. Pity The Fool

4. Born Under A Bad Sign

5. Run Out Of Time

6. Double Trouble

7. Drivin’ Wheel

8. Droppin’ Out

9. Tollin’ Blues

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw" - released January 1968 on Elektra EKS 74015 in the USA (February 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 4 (34:30 minutes):

1. Last Hope’s Gone

2. Mine To Love

3. Get Yourself Together

4. Just To Be With You

5. Morning Blues

6. Drunk Again

7. In My Own Dream

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP "In My Own Dream" - released August 1968 on Elektra EKS 74025 in the USA (September 1968 in the UK same no.)

Disc 5 (42:11 minutes):

1. Love March

2. No Amount Of Loving

3. Morning Sunrise

4. Losing Hand

5. Walking By Myself

6. Except You

7. Love Disease

8. Where Did My Baby Go

9. All In A Day

10. So Far So Good

11. Buddy’s Advice

12. Keep Moving

Tracks 1 to 12 is the LP "Keep On Moving" - released October 1969 on Elektra EKS 74053 in the USA (November 1969 in the UK same no.)

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:

The five single card sleeves reflect the 'original' front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefolds are unfortunately not reproduced). Also each front sleeve is now 'bordered' with a colour and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code - Green for Disc 1, Light Blue for 2, Orange for 3, Dark Blue for 4 and Brown for 5. It would have been more appropriate to have the original label colour configurations - maybe even the Elektra inner bags (like they did on the Doors albums in the Complete Studio Recordings box set), but alas... The track list is to the left on the CD label with band members with recording credits listed on the right (as there's no booklet nor site to download details from - as there is on the Sony issues - this is some compensation to the lack of readable details).

It has to be said that the outer card box is lightweight and therefore disappointingly flimsy (unlike the glossy hard-card Sony issues). Having said that the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it's nice to see the original artwork used - which in these cases are very sweet to look at (it really makes such a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Drifters and Clyde McPhatter rear sleeves too - beautiful original album artwork). As you can see from the timings - there are no bonus tracks.

SOUND:

The music is incredibly bluesy and ballsy –truly stunning Paul Rothchild Sixties Production values coming at you on every disc. The instrumental “Thank You Mr. Poobah” for instance will probably have your speakers for breakfast. The opening guitars on “Walkin’ Blues” are the same – back in the mix – but still powerful. Don’t get me wrong – these CDs aren’t amped up for effect – they’re just beautifully handled – and it’s sonically obvious that the original master tapes are in tip-top condition. And throughout the records - you get Butterfield’s deep and muscular harmonica slaying all in its path.

Highlights are many and varied – their Soulful and Brassy cover of Marvin Gaye’s “One More Headache”, the wailing Blues of Otis Rush’s “Double Trouble” and the huge Albert King power of “Born Under A Bad Sign”. I love the slinky “Come Together” (Beatles) bass line that opens the slightly jazzy “Last Hope’s Gone” – a sort of precursor to Blood, Sweat & Tears debut album “Child Is The Father To The Man:”. Elvin Bishop provides the witty “Drunk Again” (“ain’t got a dime and smellin’ like a brewery…”) while “No Amount Of Loving” on “Keep On Moving” is a tremendous chugger.

If you want a slice of Sixties Blues-Rock - then you can't go much wrong with these albums (although for me the quality really tapers off on Disc 5). Fans who already own these treasured LPs on previous CD incarnations may balk at acquiring this box set just to have those dinky little card sleeves – but everyone else should just get with the beat, crank up that stereo and annoy the neighbours right away...



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"Beyond Nothingness And Eternity/Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" by MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA – Albums from 1973, 1974 and 1975 on Columbia Records (USA) and CBS Records (UK) - Featuring John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird, Billy Cobham and Narada Michael Walden (September 2014 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review And More Are Available in my E-Book on Amazon
PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE 

And Other Genres Thereabouts

All entries taken from the discs themselves 

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

"…Now And Zen Will Do…"

Back in the day I can remember being fascinated by the Eastern mysticism of Mediation Guru SRI CHINMOY whose name began to appear with almost Godlike reverence on Santana, Robert Flack and Mahavishnu Orchestra albums around about 1972 and 1973 (with his followers having a penchant for dressing in heavenly white). Rock-Jazz-Fusion had been gaining ground on CTI, Atlantic, Douglas and Columbia/CBS since 1970 and instrumental in this was England's fusion guitar sensation JOHN McLAUGHLIN and his band THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA (Maha the Creator - Vishnu the Preserver).

Beat Goes On put out these albums in the Eighties, Sony's own Legacy CD reissues then turned up in 1991 and there's been others since. Well along comes BGO again to whet your appetite once more with a brand new 2014 remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON - and stompingly good it is too. Here's the Devadip inner oneness direct from the fountain of babbling knobosity...

UK released September 2014 - "Between Nothing & Eternity/Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" by THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1161 (Barcode 5017261211613) gives us two straightforward albums remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (42:07 minutes):

1. Trilogy: The Sunlit Path, La Mere De La Mer, Tomorrow’s Story Not The Same

2. Sister Andrea [Side 2]

3. Dream

Tracks 1 to 3 are their 3rd album "Beyond Nothingness And Eternity" - released December 1973 in the USA on Columbia Records KC 32766 and January 1974 in the UK on CBS Records S 69046 (42:07 minutes). The LP was recorded 'live' in August 1973 in New York's Central Park and featured JOHN McLAUGHLIN on Lead Guitar, JAN HAMMER on Piano and Moog, JERRY GOODMAN on Violin, RICK LAIRD on Bass with BILLY COBHAM on Drums. It rose to Number 43 on the American album charts.

Disc 2 (40:17 minutes):

1. Eternity’s Breath Part 1

2. Eternity’s Breath Part 2

3. Lila’s Dance

4. Can’t Stand Your Funk

5. Pastoral

6. Faith

7. Cosmic Strut

8. If I Could See

9. Be Happy

10. Earth Ship

11. Pegasus

12. Opus

13. On The Way Home To earth

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 5^th album "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" - released January 1975 in the USA on Columbia PC 33411 and CBS Records 69108 in the UK. It made Number 68 in the US Albums chart. Many more musicians supplemented the band - namely JEAN-LUC PONTY- who brought his electric violin to the proceedings. All songs on Disc 1 and 2 written by JOHN McLAUGHLIN except “Cosmic Strut” by NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN

There's a classy card wrap/slipcase on the outside and equally superb liner notes by noted Jazz writer CHARLES WARING (Mojo, Record Collector) in the substantial 20-page booklet. ANDREW THOMPSON did the new 2014 Remasters and they’re typically clear and full of presence – the dense instrumental passages now breathing anew...

Taking its name from the last lines in a 1972 Sri Chinmoy poem called "My Flute" - the live "Between Nothingness & Eternity" LP was amazingly consistent despite the crazy the length of the three tracks (one taking up a whole side). The opener "Trilogy" (The Sunlit Path/La Mere De La Mere/Tomorrow's Story Not The Same) has beautiful guitar passages - a melodic trippy opening seguing into Fusion and back again. "Sister Andrea" is the same while the sidelong "Dream" sees McLaughlin trade licks and keys with Hammer in a wonderfully musical dance of virtuoso playing. Even now its impressive stuff and given the venue - so well recorded by Engineer TIM GEELAN.

By the time they reached album number five "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" in mid 1975 - JEAN-LUC PONTY (ex Zappa's Mothers) brought his distinctive electric violin playing to the cosmic stew. The opening duo of Parts 1 and 2 of "Eternal Breath" are amazing Jazz Rock with Keyboardist GAYLE MORAN and Violinist CAROL SHRIVE adding suitably wailing backing vocals. You're also hit once again with the gorgeous production values - the swirling guitar treatments of "Lila's Dance" and the Jeff Beck "Blow By Blow" choppy rhythms in "Can't Stand Your Funk". Thompson is to be praised for a really fantastic sounding remaster. It all gets a bit hippy-dip with the vocal on "If I Could See" but comes back strong with the mellow keyboard and flute vibe of "Earth Ship". Again Jeff Beck's nasty Rock Funk is in evidence on the stabbing rhythms of "Cosmic Strut" - the only non John McLaughlin song on the album  - penned by the then 22-year old drummer Michael Walden (soon to become funk's Narada on Atlantic Records).

It's been decades since I played these albums and while you could do without the metaphysical waffling - the playing is still striking, innovative and at times downright extraordinary. A superb little CD Reissue and recommended...

"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL including tracks from the albums "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" (1965), "Blues Breakers" (1966), "Raw Blues", "A Hard Road" and "Crusade" (1967), "Bare Wires" and "Blues From Laurel Canyon" (1968), "The Turning Point" (1969), "Empty Rooms" and "USA Union" (1970), "Back To The Roots" (1971 2LP set) and more - featuring Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Steve Winwood, Keef Hartley, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Freddie Robinson, Charles Owens, Blue Mitchell and more (July 2010 Universal/Decca 4CD Book Set – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

This Review and Over 384 More Like It

Are Available In My E-Book 

 

GIMME SHELTER!

CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 

And Other Genres Thereabouts 

 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 

All Reviews From The Discs 

No Need To be Nervous!

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Walking On Sunset…Never Reach The End…"

"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" is a long overdue 4CD 75-Track Book Set for England's Blues Rock maverick JOHN MAYALL. There's a huge trawl of great stuff on here so let's get to the blues breakers and shakers right away...

UK released July 2010 - "So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL on Universal/Decca 532 764-2 (Barcode 600753276426) plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (78:11 minutes):

1. Crawling Up A Hill

2. Mr. James (1 and 2 are A & B-sides of a May 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F 11900)

3. When I'm Gone

4. R&B Time

5. Runaway

6. What's The Matter With You (3 to 6 from the March 1965 UK LP "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" on Decca LK 4680)

7. Crocodile Walk

8. Blues City Shake Down (7 and 8 are A&B-sides of an April 1965 UK 7" single on Decca F 12120)

9. I'm Your Witchdoctor

10. Telephone Blues (9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an October 1965 UK 7" single on Immediate IM012)

11. On Top Of The World (first appeared on the December 1967 UK LP compilation "Blues Anytime Vol.2" on Immediate IMCP 105)

12. They Call It Stormy Monday (part of the 1969 UK compilation LP "Looking Back" on Decca SKL 5010)

13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (part of the 1977 "Primal Solos" UK compilation LP on London LC 50003)

14. All Your Love

15. Double Crossing Time

16. Steppin' Out

17. What'd I Say

18. Key To Love

19. Parchman Farm (14 to 19 are from the July 1966 UK LP "Blues Breakers" - John Mayall with Eric Clapton on Decca LK 4804)

20. Looking back

21. So Many Roads (20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of an October 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12506)

22. Long Night (from the January 1967 UK LP "Raw Blues" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1220)

23. Dust My Blues

24. The Stumble (23 and 24 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

[Notes: 1 to 11, 14 to 21 are in MONO - all others are STEREO; CD1 also has an uncredited Track 25 which is simply called "Title 25"]

Disc 2 (76:44 minutes):

1. You Don't Love Me

2. It's Over

3. The Super-Natural (1 to 3 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

4. Sittin' In The Rain (A-side to a January 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12545)

5. Ridin' On The L&N

6. All My Life (5 and 6 are from a January 1967 UK EP "John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield" on Decca DFE 8673)

7. Double Trouble (A-side of a June 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12621)

8. Suspicions (Part One) (A-side of an October 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12684)

9. Oh Pretty Woman

10. Snowy Wood

11. Checkin' Up On My Baby (9 to 11 are from the September 1967 UK LP "Crusade" by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers)

12. No More Tears

13. Brand New Start (12 and 13 are from the November 1967 UK LP "The Blues Alone" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1243)

14. Picture On The Wall (A-side of a February 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12732)

15. Look In The Mirror

16. No Reply

17. Hartley Quits (15 to 17 are from the June 1968 UK LP "Bare Wires" on Decca SKL 4945)

18. 2401 (A-side of a November 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12846)

19. Walking On Sunset

20. Medicine Man

21. Miss James

22. Fly Tomorrow (19 to 22 are from the November 1968 UK LP "Blues From Laurel canyon" on Decca SKL 4972)

[Notes: 4 to 8, 12 to 14 and 18 are MONO - all others are STEREO]

Disc 3 (75:38 minutes):

1. The Laws Must Change

2. California

3. Room To Move (1 to 3 are from the November 1969 UK LP "The Turning Point" on Polydor 583 571)

4. Sleeping By Her Side (recorded at the Fillmore East 12 July 1969 - Previously Unreleased)

5. Don't Waste My Time

6. Something New

7. Waiting For The Right Time

8. Counting The Days (5 to 8 are from the April 1970 UK LP "Empty Rooms" on Polydor 583 580)

9. Off The Road

10. Crying

11. Nature's Disappearing (9 to 11 are from the November 1970 UK LP "USA Union" on Polydor 2425 020)

12. Accidental Suicide

13. Prisons On The Road

14. Unanswered Questions (12 to 14 are from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

Disc 4 (77:04 minutes):

1. Television Eye (from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

2. Memories

3. Nobody Cares (2 and 3 are from the 1971 UK album "Memories" on Polydor 2425 085)

4. Good Time Boogie

5. Got To Be This Way

6. Mess Around

7. Country Road (4 to 7 are `live' from the 1972 UK LP "Jazz Blues Fusion" on Polydor 2425 103)

8. Moving On

9. Things Go Wrong

10. High Pressure Living (8 to 10 are from the 1973 UK LP "Moving On" on Polydor 2391 047)

11. Driving `Til The Break Of Day

12. Burning Sun (11 and 12 are from the 1973 UK LP "Ten Years Are Gone" on Polydor 2683 036)

13. Little Kitten

14. Gasoline Blues (13 and 14 are from the 1974 UK LP "The Latest Edition" on Polydor 2391 141)

The attached 38-page colour booklet is a treasure of great photos (many unpublished until now), album sleeves, concert posters, trade adverts for singles on Decca and brilliant liner-notes by MARK POWELL (has contributed to major Universal box set projects and Esoteric CD reissues). All the big musician names that travelled through the Mayall catalyst camp are in here too - Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Taylor, Paul Butterfield, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Hughie Flint, Keef Hartley, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Johnny Almond, Roger Dean and a whole plethora of other luminaries too numerous to mention.

But for me the big news is the fabulous PASCHAL BYRNE remasters carried out at The Audio Archiving Company in London from original master tapes. I've got most of the important Sixties albums on great Decca remasters ("Blues Breakers", "Bare Wires" and the mighty "Blues From Laurel Canyon") - but what a blast to hear Disc 3 and 4 where it stretches into uncharted remasters - the Seventies. I love the weary piano misery of "Nobody Cares" (from 1971's "Memories") and the live slinky Blues of "Country Road" with a band that's cooking in front of an appreciative crowd (dig Clifford Soloman on Sax). And Laurel Canyon's 9-minute "Fly Tomorrow" is trippy genius - featuring superb Mick Taylor guitar work (later with The Stones) while Colin Allen gives it some California Tabla and cool vibes. It also sounds glorious. You get a little Jazz Blues on "High Pressure Living" and it ends on the funky "Gasoline Blues" bemoaning the foreign oil crisis ("I'm stuck out here in the Hollywood hills...waiting in line `til your engine croaks...").

"I'll be way up in the sky...", John Mayall sings on "Fly Tomorrow". If you want to start your journey - then I'd advise you begin your trip with him to the many varieties of The Blues right here...