"Action Time Vision: A Story of Independent UK Punk 1976-1979" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Alternative TV, The Damned, Maniac, 999, The Radiators From Space, Eater, The Rezillos, Johnny Moped, The Outcasts, Subs, The Fall, Sham 69, Peter and The Test Tube Babies, Tubeway Army, Swell Maps, The Only Ones, The Members, Stiff Little Fingers, Joy Division, Leyton Buzzards, Chelsea, Poison Girls, Vice Squad and more (December 2016 Cherry Red Records 4CD Book Set – Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry

 This review and hundreds more like it can also be found in my 

SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK...

SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE 
Volume 2 of 6 

1960s and 1970s MUSIC on CD
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

It contains 170 in-depth reviews (over 1,000 e-Pages) 
And is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...

This Review Along With 249 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Over 2,000 E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0000AI45Q&asins=B0000AI45Q&linkId=80458332329e7fff4072ce1d26483f02&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...I'm Alive..."

Well kick me in the Rezillos with a Radiator From Space but I love a box set like this. A huge array of tracks across 4-CDs (not all familiar either – many first time on CD and two previously unreleased), a booklet crammed with knowledgeable liner notes and staggering amounts of period memorabilia, best-yet audio remasters from Simon Murphy - and the whole safety-pin packet put together by men who should know better but still care passionately - four decades after the snotty event.

Speaking of 40 years - Cherry Red Records themselves even have their own contribution to this four-disc project in Worchester's 'The Tights' - a West Midlands band that had their first two 45s released on CHERRY 1 and 2 in June and September of 1978. There's a lot erect nipples, Molotov cocktails and snivelling dollops on the pavement to get through here kids, so let's get exploited...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2016 (January 2017 in the USA) - "Action Time Vision: A Story Of Independent UK Punk 1976-1979" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red Records CRCDBOX27 (Barcode 5013929102705) is a 4CD 'Book Set' with 111-Tracks and a 64-Page Attached Booklet that plays out as follows (all catalogue numbers and release dates are UK 7" singles A-sides unless otherwise stated):

Disc 1 (77:15 minutes):

1. New Rose - THE DAMNED (October 1976, Stiff BUY 6)

2. Outside View - EATER (March 1977, The Label TLR 001)

3. Television Screen - THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE (April 1977, Chiswick S 10)

4. Fascist Dictator - THE CORTINAS (June 1977, Step Forward SF 1)

5. Lookalikes - THE DRONES (July 1977, O.H.M...S GOODMIX 1)

6. Shadow - THE LURKERS (July 1977, Beggars Banquet BEG 1)

7. I Can't Stand My Baby - THE REZILLOS (August 1977, Sensible FAB 1)

8. I'm Alive - 999 (August 1977, Labritain LAB 999)

9. No One - JOHNNY MOPED (August 1977, Chiswick S 15)

10. I Don't Wanna - SHAM 69 (September 1977, Step Forward SF 4)

11. Mucky Pup - PUNCTURE (September 1977, Small Wonder SMALL 1)

12. Terminal Stupid – THE SNIVELLING SHITS (September 1977, Ghetto Rockers PRE 2)

13. Worthless Trash - THE VACANTS (September 1977, Disque Festival FLD 680)

14. Hungry - THE ZEROS (October 1977, Small Wonder SMALL 2)

15. Chelsea 77 - MANIACS (November 1977, United Artists UP 36327)

16. One To Infinity - THE OUTSIDERS (November 1977, Raw Edge RE 002)

17. Johnny Won't Get To Heaven - THE KILLJOYS (November 1977, Raw RAW 3)

18. Saints And Sinners - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS (November 1977, Chiswick NS 22)

19. Withdrawal - THE UNWANTED (November 1977, Raw RAW 6)

20. Teenage Treats - THE WASPS (November 1977, Four Play FOUR 001)

21. Youthanasia - THE PIGS (November 1977, New Bristol NBR 01)

22. Radio Call Sign - LOCKJAW (November 1977, Raw RAW 8)

23. Venus Eccentric - NEON HEARTS (November 1977, Neon Hearts NEON 1)

24. Get Your Woofing Dog Off Me - JERKS (November 1977, Underground URA 1)

25. Modern Politics - THE PANIK (November 1977, Rainy City SHOT 1)

26. New Religion - SOME CHICKEN (November 1977, Raw RAW 11)

27. Radio Wunderbar - THE CARPETTES (December 1977, Small Wonder SMALL 3)

28. Love And A Molotov Cocktail - THE FLYS (December 1977, Zama ZA 10EP)

29. Gobbing On Life - ALBERTO Y LOST TRIOS PARANOIAS (September 1977, Stiff LAST 2)

30. Lovers Of Today - THE ONLY ONES (June 1977, Vengeance VEN 001)

31. Nothing To Declare (Live) - SUSPECTS (December 1977, from the Various Artists LP "Vortex Live Volume One" on NEMS NEL 6013)

Disc 2 (78:49 minutes):

1. Read About Seymour - THE SWELL MAPS (January 1978, Rather GEAR ONE)

2. Safety-Pin Stuck In Heart - PATRIK FITZGERALD January 1978, Small Wonder SMALL 4)

3. No Leaders (Demo) - THE BOYS (1977, Previously Unreleased)

4. Office Girl - THE STOAT (1977, City NIK 1)

5. I Don't Need You - ACME SEWAGE CO. (from the 1977 Various Artists LP compilation "Raw Deal!" on Raw Deal RWLP 1)

6. Speed Freak - V2 (January 1978, Bent SMALL BENT ONE)

7. Give It All To Me - BAZOOMIS (1977, Originally Unreleased)

8. Moving Target - RAPED (January 1978, Parole KNIT 1)

9. I Hate The Whole Human Race - BIG G (1977, Originally Unreleased)

10. Gimme Your Heart - SUBS (February 1978, Stiff OFF 1)

11. That's Too Bad - TUBEWAY ARMY (February 1978, Beggars Banquet BEG 5)

12. Blank Generation - XTRAVERTS (February 1978, Spike SRT/SP 001)

13. Door In My Face - FRUIT EATING BEARS (February 1978, DJM Records DJS 10857)

14. System - FRONT (February 1978, The Label TLR 005)

15. You Make Me Sick - SATAN'S RATS (March 1978, DJM Records DJS 10840)

16. Suspect Device - STIFF LITTLE FINGERS (March 1978, Rigid Digits SRD 1)

17. G.L.C. - MENACE (March 1978, Small Wonder SMALL 5)

18. Gutter Kids - THE DYAKS (March 1978, Bonaparte BONE 2)

19. Reasons - SKIDS (April 1978, No Bad NB 1)

20. Big Time - RUDI (April 1978, Good Vibrations GOT 1)

21. I Am A Dalek - THE ART ATTACKS (May 1978, Albatross TIT 1)

22. On Me - BEARS (May 1978, Waldo's Jazz Series 001)

23. Pseudo Punk - 'O' LEVEL (May 1978, Psycho PSYCHO 1)

24. Solitary Confinement - THE MEMBERS (May 1978, Stiff OFF 3)

25. King Of The Bop - NIPPLE ERECTORS (May 1978, Soho SH 1/2)

26. The Murder Of Liddle Towers - ANGELIC UPSTARTS (May 1978, Own Label IS/AU/1024)

27. Bunch Of Stiffs (Live) - MEAN CITY (December 1977, from the Various Artists LP "Vortex Live Volume One" on NEMS NEL 6013)

Disc 3 (79:06 minutes):

1. Action Time Vision - ALTERNATIVE TV (June 1978, Deptford Fun City DFC 07)

2. I Don't Want My Heart To Rule My Head - SOCIAL SECURITY (May 1978, Heartbeat PULSE 1)

3. Bad Hearts - THE TIGHTS (June 1978, Cherry Red CHERRY 1)

4. Cosmonaut - RIFF RAFF (June 1978, Chiswick SW 34)

5. New Wave Love - THE DOLE (June 1978, ULT 402)

6. Failures - JOY DIVISION (June 1978, Enigma PSS 139)

7. 19 And Mad - LEYTON BUZZARDS (June 1978, Small Wonder SMALL 7)

8. Little Miss Perfect - DEMON PREACHER (1978, Small Wonder SMALL 10)

9. Just Another Teenage Rebel - THE OUTCASTS (August 1978, Good Vibrations GOT 3)

10. Psycho Mafia - THE FALL (August 1978, Step Forward SF 7)

11. Urban Kids - CHELSEA (September 1978, Step Forward SF 8)

12. Don't Ring Me Up - PROTEX (September 1978, Good Vibrations GOT 6)

13. Gordon - THE CRAVATS (September 1978, Small Wonder CH 004)

14. England '77 - HORRORCOMIC (September 1978, Lightning GIL 512)

15. C.I.D. - U.K. SUBS (September 1978, City NIK 5)

16. 6,000 Crazy - SPIZZOIL (October 1978, Rough Trade RSTO 1)

17. I Don't Care [Full Version]  - THE DODGEMS (from the 1978 Various Artists compilation UK LP "Vaultage 78 - Two Sides Of Brighton" on Attrix Records RB/03)

18. Kicks In Style - THE USERS (December 1978, Warped WARPED 1)

19. Elvis Is Dead - PETER and TEST TUBE BABIES (from the 1978 Various Artists compilation UK LP "Vaultage 78 - Two Sides Of Brighton" on Attrix Records RB/03)

20. In A Rut - THE RUTS (May 1978, People Unite SJP 795)

21. Drums Over London - DISCO ZOMBIES (Mach 1979, South Circular SGS 106)

22. Never Been So Stuck - NICKY & THE DOTS (March 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 12)

23. Wot's For Lunch Mum? (Not B****s Again!) - THE SHAPES (March 1979, Sofa SEAT 1)

24. Breaking Point - NO WAY (April 1979, Our Own IS/NW/1035)

25. New Way - THE WALL (April 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 13)

26. Sick On You - HOLLYWOOD BRATS (Cherry Red CHERRY 6)

Disc 4 (78:29 minutes):

1. Zerox - ADAM and THE ANTS (July 1979, Do It DUN 7)

2. Death To Disco - NOTSENSIBLES (April 1979, Big Bent SMALL BENT 5)

3. Danger Love - THE VICE CREEMS (June 1979, Zigzag ZZ 22001)

4. D.N.A. - MURDER THE DISTURBED (July 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 17)

5. Flares 'N' Slippers - COCKNEY REJECTS (August 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 19)

6. Totally Useless - PSYKIK VOLTS (July 1979, Ellie Jay EJSP 9262)

7. The End Of Civilisation - THE MOLESTERS (July 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 28)

8. Hypocrite - THE NEWTOWN NEUROTICS (July 1979, No Wonder NOW 1)

9. These Boots Are Made For Walking - PURE HELL (August 1979, Golden Sphinx GSX 002)

10. Time Wall - FIRE EXIT (August 1979, Timebomb TBE 1)

11. King Of Kings - THE PACK (September 1979, Rough Trade RT 025)

12. Dumb Dumb - STEROID KIDS (September 1979, Grundinga SK 001

13. Time Tunnel - ENGLISH SUBTITLES (October 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 22)

14. Soft Ground - THE PROLES (October 1979, Small Wonder SMALL 23)

15. Easy Way Out - THE ADICTS (November 1979, Dining Out TUX 1)

16. My Friends - THE DARK (November 1979, Fresh FRESH 1)

17. I Must Be Mad - WOODY & THE SPLINTERS (from the November 1979 UK Various Artists compilation LP "Vaultage 79 - Another Two Sides Of Brighton" on Attrix Records RB/08)

18. Why Are Fire Engines Red - VICTIM (December 1979, TJM Records TJM 14)

19. Anthem - THE X-CERTS (from the 1979 UK LP compilation "Avon Calling - The Bristol Compilation" on Heartbeat HB 1)

20. Slag - F-X (1979, from the "Souths Gonna Rise Again" EP on Southern Rock SRO 451)

21. Future Rights - THE RIVALS (November 1979, Ace Records ACE 007)

22. I've Been Hurt (So Many Times Before) - SILENT NOISE (1979, Easy ER 02)

23. Nothing - VICE SQUAD (from the 1979 UK LP compilation "Avon Calling - The Bristol Compilation" on Heartbeat HB 1)

24. Things In General - THE PREFECTS (June 1980, Vindaloo UGH 2/Rough Trade RT 040)

25. 1970's Have Been Made In Hong Kong - THE LICKS (November 1979, Stortbeat BEAT 8)

26. Violence Grows - 'FATAL' MICROBES (May 1979, Small Wonder/Xntrix SMALL TWENTY)

27. Under The Doctor - POISON GIRLS (1979, Small Wonder/Xntrix WEENY 4)

When you get the shrink-wrap off the first thing that hits you is the booklet which is frankly a work-of-art. Compiled by the mighty JOHN REED - a man I humbly admit knows more than I do - and featuring Band Biographies by ANDY DAVIS - page after page of detail comes at in a hurricane of info. After each song discussion and at the end of each disc is a two-page fan-fest of pictured memorabilia that must have taken decades to accumulate. Each CD roughly deals with a year and as you can see from Disc 1 although Punk Rock proper started in 1976 with The Damned and their stunning "New Rose" - it was 1977 (November to be exact) that felt like Ground Zero - the explosion of all things Indie, Gobbing and Angry. What you also get from this retrospective is the vast shadow cast by Indie labels - Northern Ireland's 'Good Vibrations', London's 'Step Forward', 'Chiswick', 'Stiff', 'Small Wonder' and 'Rough Trade' to name but a few (Cherry Red too) and only occasionally do we see a Major Label poke its nose into the social welfare queues (United Artists to be exact). Small Wonder alone get a whopping 17+ entries. SIMON MURPHY of Another Planet has handled the Remasters and they Rock from the get-go to the finish.

Sequencing is the key with these things and John cleverly keeps the blister going on CD1 with three initial hammerings from The Damned, Eater and Ireland’s Radiators From Space (how bloody good were they). The minimalist riffage continues in fantastic speedos from The Cortinas (Step Forward's debut 45) and the I-don't-wanna-be-like-you thrashing of Manchester's The Drones. Some of Dr. Feelgood's Wilko Johnson energy infuses the fab "I Can't Stand My Baby" from Edinburgh's Rezillos (sit dune) and the watch-out-Friday-night of 999's "I’m Alive" – while other highlights include The Stooges power of "One To Infinity" from The Outsiders and the snotty upstart attitude of the Jerks who woof-woof through their homemade moment of anarchy like they want to wee-wee on a wall.

Rarities include the behind-the-scenes Punk super-session for "Danger Love" by Aylesbury's Vice Creems that featured Topper Headon and Mick Jones of The Clash (Drums and Production) with Tony James of Generation X (on Bass) hiding behind suitably silly pseudonyms for contractual reasons. There are the delightfully named Murder The Disturbed and The Molesters (very nice boys really) while the racially right-on Cockney Rejects vented their London spleens on Hippies with a brawl never far off. Nancy Sinatra's kinky-anthem "These Boots Are Made For Walking" gets the Hendrix-meets-Punk treatment from Pure Hell - while rare compilation LPs like "Vortex Live", "Vaultage 78", "Vaultage 79" and "Avon Calling – The Bristol Collection" all get their exclusive tracks highlighted here. There is of course so much more...

Downsides (if any) – while die-hard collectors may yawn at the familiarity of some entries it's also very clear that John Reed and Cherry Red has smartly gone out of its way to present the lesser-trodden paths. And even if it does look the dogs-bollox when you open it at any page - the plastic-clip holders in the leaves of the 'Book Pack' drive you nuts as you try in vain to get the discs in and out of either safely (I'd suggest paper-bag each and keep them separately to avoid scuffing and damage). But aside from song-choices and omissions everyone will find fault with and that niggling but fixable packaging blip - "Action Time Vision" is fabulous stuff - a thing of beauty that pulses with life and balls and the excitement of wide-eyed Independent Record companies stamping '1' as a catalogue number onto a 7" single label for the first time.

Worthless - vacant - nothing to declare - terminally stupid - it sure as Hell don't seem like that now. "I'm Alive" snarled 999 in 1977 and isn't it the best compliment ever to say that's exactly how you feel after visiting this kick-ass release. The Kids may not always have been sported a regulation haircut or been the most pleasant of chaps when pogoing about on a dancefloor - but on the evidence presented here - the snivelling little gits were indeed alright and part of a New Religion. Fantastic...

"Front Page News" by WISHBONE ASH – Album from October 1977 on MCA Records - Featuring Laurie Wisefield, Martin Turner, Andy Powell and Steve Upton (May 2010 Japan-Only SHM-CD In 5" Mini LP Repro Artwork - Hitoshi Takiguchi Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

                                                       This Review Along With 169 Others Is Available 
                                                                      In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book

SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE Volume 5

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 

All Details From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…It's Good To See You After All This Time…"

"Front Page News" was the 2nd album to feature Laurie Wisefield on triple Lead Guitar in the Wishbone Ash line up – stood issuing zippy licks alongside Martin Turner and Andy Powell (drummer Steve Upton also contributed to the writing of several tracks). Wisefield was ex CBS Records act ‘Home’ and not only infused the band with a fantastic player but brought on board a genuinely cool songwriter. "Front Page News" was originally released October 1977 on MCA Records MCG 3524 in the UK and on MCA 2311 in the USA (the first was "New England" in November 1976).

This 19 May 2010 Japanese-only CD reissue comes on the SHM-CD format (Super High Materials) that has the highest quality production values and is compatible on all CD players. Universal UICY-94493 (Barcode 4988005607867) is one of those 5" mini LP card sleeves which repros the original artwork; it comes in a gatefold sleeve like the original album, a 'numbered' card insert which reproduces both sides of the original UK MCA label (MCG 3524), a large foldout insert with lyrics (the "Wishbone Ash Part 2 - 1975-80" history is unfortunately entirely in Japanese), an Obi and a protective outer polythene wrap (with the SHM-CD sticker). The card insert on mine is numbered 1240 - it doesn't say how many of these were made - but I'm guessing the number is as low as 3000 for the world.

1. Front Page News

2. Midnight Dancer

3. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend

4. Surface To Air

5. 714

6. Come In From The Rain [Side 2]

7. Right Or Wrong

8. Heart Beat

9. The Day I Found Your Love

10. Diamond Jack

The 2010 DSD Remaster has been done by HITOSHI TAKIGUCHI in Universal's Mastering Studios in Japan (42:38 minutes) and is one of 13 albums released in this series (full list below). The sound quality is BEAUTIFUL throughout - especially the bass and drums. Until the May 2010 "Travelogue" 2CD set in the UK (reviewed separately), this album hasn't been available as a good remaster for decades and hearing "Come In From The Rain" with its blistering guitar battles is a thrill - as is the rocking riffage of "Right Or Wrong". "Midnight Dancer" and "Surface To Air" have loads of presence now too, but the peach for me is the last track on Side 1 of the original LP... You could never get a good sound out of it because of where it was placed - it's a sort of lingering Jeff Beck instrumental circa "Blow By Blow" called "714" (a Laurie Wisefield composition) - and it now sounds glorious.

I've always loved this album and Wisefield's touch with a great rock melody ("Goodbye Baby Hello Friend" is a perfect example - lyrics above), so this is a treat for me. It is pricey, but like all of these beautiful Japanese issues - it's superbly done.

Highly recommended.

PS: the full list of 13 titles in this 19 May 2010 Japan-only SHM-CD re-issue series are:

1. "Wishbone Ash" (December 1970), Universal UICY-94483

2. "Pilgrimage" (September 1971), Universal UICY-94484

3.  "Argus" (April 1972), Universal UICY-94485/6

(2CD set, 16-Page Booklet, 2007 Remastering, Repros The "Deluxe Edition")

4. "Wishbone Four" (December 1973), Universal UICY-94487

5. "Live Dates", (December 1973 2LP Live Set), Universal UICY-94488/9 (2CDs)

6. "There's The Rub" (November 1974), Universal UICY-94490

7. "Locked In" (March 1976), Universal UICY-94491

8. "New England"(November 1976), Universal UICY-94492

9. "Front Page News" (October 1977), Universal UICY-94493

10. "No Smoke Without Fire" (October 1978) Universal UICY-94494

(Doe NOT include the 2-track live 7" single that came with original issues of the UK LP - "Lorelei" and "Come In From The Rain" on MCA PSR 431)

11. "Just Testing" (January 1980), Universal UICY-94495

12. "Live Dates Volume 2" (October 1980 2LP Live Set), Universal UICY-94496/7 (2CDs)

13. "Number The Brave" (April 1981), Universal UICY-94498

PPS: I've also noticed that certain CD sites in Japan are already showing these titles as "sold out" or "unavailable" - a mere 3 weeks after release. I'd say purchase sooner rather than later if you want to get one...

"Sometime World: An MCA Travelogue" by WISHBONE ASH – Including Tracks From The Albums "Wishbone Ash" (1970 Debut), "Pilgrimage" (1971), "Argus" (1972), "Wishbone Four" and "Live Dates" (both 1973, Live Dates a 2LP Set), "There’s The Rub" (1974), "Locked In" and "New England" (both 1976), "Front Page News" (1977), "No Smoke Without Fire" (1978) and more - featuring Martin and Ted Turner, Andy Powell, Steve Upton and Laurie Wisefield (May 2010 Island/Universal 2CD Set – Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 169 Others Is Available In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book

SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE Volume 4

1960s and 1970s MUSIC ON CD

Exceptional Reissues and Remasters 

All Details From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Hello Old Friend…"

Many Wishbone Ash fans will feel they've had to wait the guts of 30 years for a half-decent CD remaster of their favourite British band's huge back-catalogue. Well at last - it's here - and "...MCA Travelogue" is a humdinger, it really is. To the details first...

"Sometime World" takes its name from the 2nd track on Side 1 of their most beloved album "Argus" and features newly remastered songs from 12 LPs - 26 tracks across two fully-featured CDs. Proceedings open with their rare 1970 debut album "Wishbone Ash" and carry on right through to 1981's "Number The Brave" - the only LP exclusion being any tracks from 1980's "Live Dates Volume 2".

UK released Monday 31 May 2010 - "Sometime World: An MCA Travelogue" by WISHBONE ASH on Island/Universal 5326131 (Barcode 600753261316) is a 2CD Retrospective that breaks down as follows (full album versions used)...

Disc 1 (79:55 minutes):

1. Blind Eye

2. Error Of My Ways

3. Phoenix

4. Vas Dis

5. The Pilgrim

6. Jail Bait

7. Sometime World

8. Blowin' Free

9. Warrior

10. Throw Down The Sword

11. Everybody Needs A Friend

12. The King Will Come [Live]

        

1 to 3 from "Wishbone Ash", December 1970 UK LP on MCA Records MKPS 2014

4 to 6 from "Pilgrimage", September 1971 UK LP on MCA Records MDKS 8004

7 to 10 from "Argus", April 1972 UK LP on MCA Records MDKS 8006

11 from "Wishbone Four", May 1973 UK LP on MCA Records MDKS 8011

12 from "Live Dates", December 1973 UK 2LP Live Set on MCA Records ULD 1-2

Disc 2 (79:06 minutes):

1. Persephone

2. F.U.B.B.

3. Moonshine

4. Mother Of Pearl

5. Lorelei

6. Front Page News

7. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend

8. Come In From The Rain

9. You See Red

10. The Way Of The World (Parts 1 & 2)

11. Living Proof

12. Lifeline

13. That's That

14. Open Road

1 and 2 from "There's The Rub", November 1974 UK LP on MCA Records MCF 2585

3 from "Locked In". March 1976 UK LP on MCA Records MCF 2750

4 and 5 from "New England", November 1976 UK LP on MCA Records MCG 3523

6 to 8 from "Front Page News", October 1977 UK LP on MCA Records MCG 3524

9 and 10 from "No Smoke Without Fire", October 1978 UK LP on MCA Records MCG 3528

11 and 12 from "Just Testing", January 1980 UK LP on MCA Records MCF 3052

13 and 14 from "Number The Brave", April 1981 UK LP on MCA Records MCF 3013

The 16-page booklet features an album-by-album appraisal by DAVE LING of "Classic Rock" and "Metal Hammer" magazines, various line-up photos and a pictorial discography of the albums featured. And the release has clearly been made with band involvement (40th anniversary). But the big news is the sound...

Remastered by ANDY PEARCE, the sound is stupendous - at last these tracks are breathing - and to use that old cliché "they're live and in your living room". The instruments are wonderfully clear and full, each track a ballsy revelation. I've waited decades to hear the wicked "Front Page News" album from 1977 with Laurie Wisefield's awesome guitar playing in decent sound (ex CBS act "Home") - and here it is. There is hiss on the earlier albums, but it's neither compressed down nor trebled up - and as you listen to each song - you can't help but feel that real care went into the working of every song. They are as they were - just sounding new - like a visit from an old friend...

Track choices - this may irritate some - "Time Was" is the fabulous opening track on "Argus" and virtually defined their 'sound' for 4 decades to come, but it's missing. And speaking of that fab 3rd album - with the 2005 Erick Labson remaster and 2009 Paschal Byrne 2CD Deluxe Edition remaster (both wonderful), do we really need 4 more versions from that same LP? Those inclusions mean that the massively underrated "Wishbone Four" has only one track featured (albeit a really good one), while I would also loved to have heard the brilliantly funky "Outward Bound" from "New England" too. Having said that, it's quietly satisfying to hear that Disc 2 is just as good as Disc 1 (and in some cases better - "Lorelei", "Come In From The Rain" and "You See Red").

So there you have it - if this is a taster for the individual album remasters to come - then it works. Fans will absolutely love the new and superlative remastered sound quality, while newcomers will dig some classic twin-guitar rock with tunes. And about bloody time too. Big time recommended...

PS: Fans should note that 19 May 2010 saw the CD reissue of 13 classic Wishbone Ash albums in Japan - from "Wishbone Ash" to "Number The Brave" (included the 2disc set "Live Dates Volume 2"). All feature new 2010 remastering, 5" Mini LP card repro sleeves (textured covers, gatefolds and inserts where applicable) and are on the superior SHM-CD format (Super High Materials). They're available to order through Amazon and other reputable sites…

"Time Machine: A Vertigo Retrospective" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (April 2005 UK Universal 3CD Mini Box Set – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 310 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CADENCE /CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
And Others Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Let It Happen…"

Ah! the VERTIGO Record Label – subject of affection and ridicule in unequal amounts...

So what makes me buy a 41-track 3CD mini box set full of the eclectic and the indulgent? Because on rehearing this much-maligned label's output - there's so much to enjoy on here that isn't crap - especially if you like your Rock with a Funky Fusion kick in the nuts. 

Here are the Black Sabbaths having a Warhorse by the Beggars Opera in the Tudor Lodge (if you know what I mean)…

UK released April 2005 – "Time Machine: A Vertigo Retrospective" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal/Vertigo 9827982 (Barcode 602498279823) is a 3CD Mini Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 – Vertigo 9827984 - (78:09 minutes):

1. The Kettle – COLOSSEUM (from the album "Valentyne Suite" released November 1969 on Vertigo VO 1. Charted at 15 in the UK. The band featured Drummer JON HISEMAN (ex Graham Bond ORGANization), Saxophonist DICK HECKSTALL SMITH with Keyboard Player DAVE GREENSLADE and Bassist TONY REEVES who later formed GREENSLADE)

2. Who Do You Love? – JUICY LUCY (February 1970 UK 7" single on Vertigo V 1. A Bo Diddley cover – it reached No. 14 on the UK charts)

3. My Heaven – CLEAR BLUE SKY (on the album "Clear Blue Sky" released April 1971 on Vertigo 6360 013)

4. Travelling Lady – MANFRED MANN'S CHAPTER THREE (on the album "Manfred Mann Chapter Three" released November 1969 on Vertigo VO 3)

5. Behind The Wall Of Sleep – BLACK SABBATH (on their debut album "Black Sabbath" released February 1970 on Vertigo VO 6. It reached No. 8 in the UK charts)

6. To Play Your Little Game – CRESSIDA (on the album "Cressida" released February 1970 on vertigo VO 7)

7. Introduction – GRACIOUS! (From the album "Gracious!" released June 1970 on Vertigo 6360 002)

8. Three Sisters – AFFINITY (from the album "Affinity" released June 1970 on Vertigo 6360 004. The band featured LINDA HOYLE who also had a Solo album on Vertigo in 1971 called "Pieces Of Me")

9. Walking On – BOB DOWNES (from the album "Electric City" released July 1970 on Vertigo 6360 005)

10. I Don’t Know – MAY BLITZ (from the album "May Blitz" released July 1970 on Vertigo 6360 007)

11. Torrid Zone - NUCLEUS (from the album "Elastic Rock" released June 1970 on Vertigo 6360 008)

12. Handbags And Gladrags – ROD STEWART (From his UK Debut Album "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down" released February 1970 in the UK on Vertigo VO 4 - was released as "The Rod Stewart Album" in the USA in 1969 on Mercury Records SR 61237)

13. Nothing At All – GENTLE GIANT (on the album "Gentle Giant" released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 020. They went on to have a long career on both WWA Records and Chrysalis in the UK and remain highly collectable to this day)

14. The Influence – BEN (on the album "Ben" released August 1971 on Vertigo 6360 052)

Disc 2 - Vertigo 9827985 – (76:58 minutes):

1. Evil Woman's Manly Child – Dr. Z (on the album "Three Parts To My Soul" released August 1971 on Vertigo 6360 048)

2. Borne On The Solar Wind – JADE WARRIOR (on the album "Last Autumn's Dream" released November 1972 on Vertigo 6360 079)

3. The Man – PATTO (on the album "Patto" released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 016)

4. Thinking Of My Life – JUICY LUCY (on their 2nd album "Lie Back And Enjoy It" released October 1970 on Vertigo 6360 014)

5. Half Baked – JIMMY CAMPBELL (on the album "Half Baked" released August 1970 on Vertigo 6360 010)

6. For Madmen Only – MAY BLITZ (on their 2nd album "Second Of May" released June 1971 on Vertigo 6360 037)

7. The Lady's Changing Home – TUDOR LODGE  (on the album "Tudor Lodge" released July 1971 on Vertigo 6360 043)

8. Time Machine – BEGGARS OPERA (on the album "Waters Of Change" released September 1971 on Vertigo 6360 054)

9. Bring Out Your Dead – COLOSSEUM (on the album "Daughter Of Time" released November 1970 on Vertigo 6360 017)

10. Mouthpiece – WARHORSE (on the album "Red Sea" released May 1972 on Vertigo 6360 066)

11. Lady In Black – URIAH HEEP (on the album "Salisbury" released February 1971 on Vertigo 6360 028)

12. Through The Years – FREEDOM (on the album "Through The Years" released August 1971 on Vertigo 6360 050)

13. Midnight Moses – THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND (on the album "Framed" released December 1972 on Vertigo 6360 081)

14. Lord Of The Ages – MAGNA CARTA (on the album "Lord Of The Ages" released September 1973 on vertigo 6360 093)

Disc 3 – Vertigo 9827983 – (79:17 minutes):

1. Living At The End Of Time – ATLANTIS (on the album "Atlantis" released March 1973 on Vertigo 6360 609)

2. Life Child – RAMASES (on the LP "Space Hymns" released July 1971 on Vertigo 6360 046)

3. McArthur Park – BEGGARS OPERA (on the album "Pathfinder" released July 1972 on Vertigo 6360 073. It's a cover of the Jimmy Webb song made famous by actor Richard Harris and later Disco Diva Donna Summer)

4. Song For The Bearded Lady – NUCLEUS (on the album "We'll Talk About It Later" released February 1971 on Vertigo 6360 027)

5. Patagruel's Nativity – GENTLE GIANT (on the album "Acquiring The Taste" released July 1971 on Vertigo 6360 041)

6. (A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Mind – GRAVY TRAIN (on the album "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" released September 1971 on Vertigo 6360 051)

7. Powers Of Darkness – RONNO (on the album "Powers Of Darkness" released March 1971 on Vertigo 6360 029. The band featuring ace-guitarist MICK RONSON who went on to Solo stardom and as a sidekick to both David Bowie and Lou Reed)

8. Paper Plane – STATUS QUO (on the album "Piledriver" released 8 December 1972 on Vertigo 6360 082)

9. Little Known – IAN MATTHEWS (on the album "If You Saw Thru My Eyes" released May 1971 on Vertigo 6360 034)

10. Let It Happen – VANGELIS O. PAPATHANASSIOU (from the album "Earth" released 1973 on Vertigo 6499 693)

11. Mwenga Sketch – JADE WARRIOR (exclusive to the double-album Vertigo label sampler "Suck It And See" released May 1973 on Vertigo 6641 116)

12. The Four Horsemen – APHRODITE'S CHILD (on the album "666" released May 1972 on Vertigo 6673 001. The band famously featured keyboard wizard Vangelis and Greek singer DEMIS ROUSSOS)

13. Spiral Architect – BLACK SABBATH (on the album "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" released December 1973 on Vertigo 6360 115)

The mini clamshell box contains a fantastic 48-page booklet with hugely detailed liner notes by reissue hero MARK POWELL – there’s the usual band photos, the album sleeves in miniature (and in colour) – but it’s the trade adverts you’ve never seen that impress most. Better is the PASCHAL BYRNE remastering (done at Audio Archiving in London) which is up to his usual standard of excellence. This guy has been on hundreds of reissues – especially in the Progressive Rock field – so he knows how to handle these tapes. The audio is clear, punchy and if there’s hiss on some tracks – he lets them breath. A great done…

The funkier side of Vertigo is kind of shocking – Affinity's "Three Sisters" from their debut features LINDA HOYLE on lead vocals and comes on like Cold Blood with Lydia Pence (Atlantic Records) – great brass, keys and guitar hooks aligned around a Julie Driscoll type vocalist. It's immediately followed by the even more-catchy "Walking On" from BOB DOWNES sounding not unlike Blood, Sweat & Tears finding their inner Prog. That funky groove continues with "I Don't Know" by MAY BLITZ with a fantastically clever guitar repetition throughout that digs in from the start and only deviates to let the drums and bass battle it out before the guitars rip. At times it sounds like the innovativeness of Zeppelin II. We then firmly enter the area of Rock Fusion with the stunning NUCLEUS instrumental "Torrid Zone" – a near 9-minute fest of IAN CARR's trumpet sounding like Miles Davis discovering his inner bop. It's easy to see why Jazzers and even Soul Boys want this so much – it's undeniably brilliant and the remaster is fabulous highlighting the amazing speaker-to-speaker musicianship. 

After all the Hard Rock, Metal, Jazz Fusion and general mayhem – Rod Stewart's gorgeous cover of Mike D'Abo's "Handbags & Gladrags" comes as a melodic surprise – and as ever – a heart-warming one. We return to more familiar Genesis-like Prog territory with GENTLE GIANT's equally lovely "Nothing At All". Produced by Tony Visconti – its nine minutes has beautifully accomplished harmony vocals floating over pretty guitars and keys – and again – it's shockingly good. Like their fellow mates on Vertigo – the obscure BEN fit into the jazzy Nucleus, Affinity and Colosseum bracket. The ten-minute flute and guitar battle that is "The Influence" sounds like its late Sixties Doors doing an instrumental – funky Rock with Jazz leanings – very cool indeed and it ends Disc 1 on a definite high.

Disc 2 opens with a rarity by DR. Z - their album having reputedly sold less than 100 copies. Formed by a Professor of Swansea University - Keith Keyes aped his surname and played a mean set of keyboards. Their lone track has a slightly vaudeville backing and funky piano riff – sounding not unlike the kind of thing you'd hear in a Jesus Christ Superstar stage show. Colosseum's "Bring Out Your Dead" is a fabulous funky instrumental but Uriah Heep's clunky "Lady In Black" is less impressive. Freedom was formed by ex Procol Harum bods Bobby Harrison and Ray Roger and their "Through The Years" is a cracking Rock tune with great lead guitar from Roger throughout.  But then things go stellar for me – the utterly brilliant "Borne On The Solar Wind" by JADE WARRIOR – the kind of drifting, floating Prog instrumental I love. I'm forever putting it on 70s FEST CD-Rs and it always elicits a "...whose this!?" response. It sounds not unlike Brian Eno's instrumental "Another Green World" – the theme music used for the British TV program "Arena" (with the logo floating in the bottle). Disc 2 ends with the acoustic whimsy of "Lord Of The Ages" where most of its story of knights, dark forests and black granite is spoken. Genius…

Disc 3 opens with a lesser-heard belter – "Living At The End Of Time" by ATLANTIS - sounding like Graham Bond meets Greenslade. It also reminds me a lot of the title track of Gary Moore's first solo album on CBS called "Grinding Stone" – a sort of Jeff Beck speed guitar thing with a fast funky rock backbeat. Things get hippy-dippy with "Pantagruel's Nativity" by GENTLE GIANT sounding not unlike RUSH on too many mushrooms. We're then hit with a piece of genuine Progressive Rock excellence – Gravy Train's "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" that opens with classily orchestrated strings and goes a bit Tull for the rest of it seven minutes. Things get Folk-plaintive with "Little Known" from the wonderful ex Fairport Convention songsmith Iain Matthews. But then we get my favourite on the entire box – a true hidden gem – "Let It Happen" by none other than Blade Runner supremo VANGELIS (trading under his full name). The vocals on this funk fusion gem are actually sung by Robert Fitoussi and I can safely say I've seen the "Earth" album maybe twice in my life. Apparently it was big in Europe but Vertigo did little to promote it or him here in Blighty.

So there you have it. Having worked in record shops all my life – I know the resistance this particular record label evokes – almost to the point of being pathological. Well – well done to all involved with this superb box set for making a case. Don’t be put off – dig in and explore the swirl…