"Ad Astra" - The 2019 Sci-Fi Movie with Brad Pitt, Donald Sutherland, Tommy Lee Jones, Liv Tyler and Ruth Negga - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...I Wov U Daddy...Even Though You're A Complete Nutter And A Bit Of A C**t..." 

- The Tosh That (Unfortunately) Is "Ad Astra"

I'm a huge Sci-Fi fan. Kids of my advanced age all are (62 in September 2020, if I make it that far) - raised as we were on triple-bill diets of Star Wars and Trekkie etc. Our generation would watch any old cack with a time space continuum in it or even a wormhole that leads to a factory that makes libido lollipops when you go through to the other side. We’d watch any old tut, we really would. But it's hard to describe just how bad "Ad Astra" is even if the trailer makes it look like a rockin' ride to the other side of the galaxy...

Everything seems to go wrong here. Although Pitt's acting is possibly the strongest he's ever done in this film - his casting in the lead role is a huge misjudgement. Every second on screen, the normally likeable Pittster seems wildly out of place and even about to burst into laughter.

But then it gets worse, character cliché after character cliché flows at you in an array of scenes you’ve seen in so many buddy-buddy space movies. There are feelingless Sergeants, Space.com executives who care even less, the crewmembers who seem clueless, freeze or freak out - every bloody one of them wooden or borrowed. Other silly inclusions include Ruth Negga and Liv Tyler who get to do so little. Donald Sutherland does his "Space Cowboys" schtick and again it just feels wrong.

But what about the set scenes, say you of special-effects heroin-addiction. Sure, many look good. But none of it is in the service of a good story as it jumps from one ludicrous scenario to another. Things crop up as if they were casual events in space – a chatty woman receptionist at the space station entrance area, gabbing on like she’s having her hair done. Best is - Brad swimming under a lake of pitch-black water on Mars (wait for it) in a fully loaded white clunky spacesuit with a helmet on that doesn't leak - just in time to climb out of a steel hatch on the Martian surface, run across the dust and climb (manually) up the side of a rocket counting down in seconds to blast off with six gazillion pounds of trust below you. And he makes it in through the hatch with just two seconds to go, then all three leave their seats to fight him (during launch sequence) and he kills all of them so he can have those deep chats with Daddy-done-a-bunk hovering (as you do) around Neptune these last 30 years. And don't get me started on the monkeys in space (that's right, you heard me) eating astronauts. And then there's an underlying signal thing coming from Neptune that might destroy the world but I'm not sure what happened or how they were generated because when the end of the film came, it isn’t really explained nor did I care.

But these are nothing to the clunky dialogue that simply hammers you with disbelief time and time again. Coming on like a wannabe "Interstellar" or even "2001..." but without any of the good ideas - there is a persistent narrative from Pitt that hankers back to his father (played by Tommy Lee Jones). Deep meaningful passages just come off as dreck, naval-gazing that’s trying to make the film feel like it's saying something. Unfortunately I'm reminded of those now notorious horrible Cannes Film Festival moments when the assembled audience laughed out loud at Bruce Willis in trailer clips of "Armageddon" instead of being awed. At least "Armageddon" turned out to be a hugely entertaining film that didn’t take itself seriously (unfortunately "Ad Astra" does).

And on it goes with a meandering story for what seems like longer than its two hours duration. The only saving grace is some really great special effects along the way. But as good as they are and as you're watching the movie, you still feel like "Ad Astra" is a spoof of the film "Gravity" now renamed "Gravity - The Even Sillier Version". A damn shame really, because I know from the trailer, many were looking forward to seeing this.

Pitt would redeem himself with Tarrantino's weird "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" film (an Oscar for that half-baked cack, give me a break). But "Ad Astra" has to be the kind of film that turkey jokes were invented for and that can't be good in any man's language...

"Braveheart" on BLU RAY (2009) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 "…A Cun-Three Of Hour Owen!"

Re-watching 1995's "Braveheart" on a 2009 BLU RAY - you're struck by several things...

The downsides - Mel Gibson's truly awful mime of a Scottish accent (title above)...his ludicrous hair and wigs...and it just goes on for too long.
 
Upsides - Mel was also the most handsome man on the planet at the time of filming, Patrick McGoohan was chillingly brilliant as Longshanks The King, it had loads of tremendous support actors throughout (Brian Cox as Wallace's Uncle, Brendan Gleeson as Hamish his friend, Angus MacFayden as the Scottish King in waiting, David O'Hara as a fighting clansman, Ian Bannen as the Leper and the mad-eyed James Cosmo). And to top it all off - you get both Catherine McCormack and Sophie Marceau in the same film - easily two of the most beautiful women in the world. And of course there's also James Horner's haunting musical score - a beautiful air played on the Pipes which kicks in at key moments in the story; it can still bring a tear to your eye and a quickening to the pulse...

But most of the time you are seriously impressed with the cleaned up PRINT - because on BLU RAY - "Braveheart" is BEAUTIFUL to look at - it really is. Apart from a few lines in the opening shots of the Highlands, the transfer is almost faultless throughout and really adds to your enjoyment of the scenery, the costumes and the fantsically well-staged battle scenes. In fact, I also now remember why I liked it so much at the time - it had passion and fire - like "Gladiator" did - and still does.

The original bonus material remains intact, there's two extra hours of added-on special features and the whole 2-Disc set now comes in a tasty outer card wrap (like the Bond titles).

On BLU RAY "Braveheart" is a very handsome thing indeed - a sweetheart. And it has never looked this good and that's for damn sure.

Recommended.

PS: for other superb restorations on BLU RAY, see also my reviews for "The Italian Job", "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner", "Zulu", "North By Northwest", "Cool Hand Luke", “The Dambusters” and “The Prisoner – The Complete (TV) Series In High Definition”, “The Ladykillers”, “Snatch” and “The African Queen”

"Close To The Edge: How Yes's Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock" by WILL ROMANO (2017 Backbeat Book) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"Close To The Edge: How Yes's Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock"  

A Book by 

WILL ROMANO 

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)

"...Total Mass Retain..."

I've been pouring over Will Romano's book for about a fortnight now and there's both good news and bad - with the bad being largely out of his control and the good news outweighing annoying omissions.

At the age of 58 (I'm 59 this September) - I'm probably one of the old gits this New York writer has aimed his book at. Romano has already penned a book on the subject of Progressive Rock - "Mountains Come Out Of The Sky: The Illustrated History Of Prog Rock - Prog Rock FAQ" - which was an excellent and truly informative read. Romano has also scribed a Blues tome (a fave subject of mine as well) called - "Big Boss Man: The Life & Music Of Bluesman Jimmy Reed". So he's not new to this music-book malarkey...

"Close To The Edge: How Yes's Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock" was published March 2017 by Backbeat Books in oversized paperback - 288-pages of seriously in-depth detail about a September 1972 album that amazed then - and is still making jaws drop 45 years later in 2017.

The fourth YES album "Close To The Edge" had only three tracks - one of which was the 18-minute 4-part "Close To The Edge" suite on Side 1. The others over on Side 2 were "And You and I" - four-parts at just under eleven minutes - and "Siberian Khatru" (all one track) at just under ten minutes. "Close To The Edge" had taken months to rehearse and record and cemented the rep given this most British of bands by adventurous Rock with "The Yes Album" and "Fragile" from either end of 1971.

Centred are 12-pages of photos - but only one of the cover – no rear, no inner gatefold, no inner bag? For an album that was so dominated by Roger Dean's artwork - especially the inner painting and the beautifully CTTE scripted lyric bag - it's absence here gives you no insight into what the actual LP looked like - that whole tactile thing. I dare say Romano and Backbeat couldn't get clearance from Dean to reproduce that inner sleeve that so many of us poured over back in the day (I even copied the writing into my schoolbooks) or even show the other three unused RD paintings that turned up for our titillation on the Steve Wilson Remixed 'Panegyric' reissues of 2013 (CD and BLU RAY).

He does reproduce the American A-side label for Atlantic SD 19133 - but sloppily it's a late 70s pressing with the corporate Warner Brothers logo and not an American original. Besides - where's the British original LP label for such a very British band - the Orange and Yellow variant of Atlantic K 50012? The other photos are of band members - the sadly passed Bassist Chris Squire in a church choir as a child - an Atlantic Records 'Gold' LPs trade advert for 1972 and so. They’re good – but I think they missed a trick here by not having the actual artwork…

Impressively detailed reminiscences come from Engineer Eddy Offord, lead singer Jon Anderson, keyboard-whiz Rick Wakeman and everyone else who was key to the project. There are histories of each player (Wakeman with The Strawbs - Bruford with King Crimson etc) - the torturous recording process where certain tracks ended up in a bin by mistake - the endless layers on layers - Steve Howe's amazing guitar playing - Wakeman the same.

This is a good book on an album that actually bears up to this level of scrutiny. It’s just a shame that the very thing that turned us on (as much as the awesome music did) - isn't here – how it looked - the visuals. Fans will know what I mean…

But the best compliment I can pay "Close To The Edge" the book is that it made me want to drag out my Steve Wilson Remastered CD reissue again. And as those 'climb clear of the morning' lyrics and gorgeous acoustic guitar themes kicked in on "And You And I" - not for the first time with this groundbreaking record - I shed a little Proggy tear.

Nice one Will...

"The Cider House Rules" - The 1999 Film Now Reissued On A 2011 Studio Canal BLU RAY - A Review by Mark Barry...

 "…She Was Killed By Secrecy…She Was Killed By Ignorance…"

Lasse Hallstrom's 1999 adaptation of John Irving's 1985 book (of the same name) is a rather lovely little film - that's genuinely been upgraded by BLU RAY. It's not note-perfect as a transfer by any means (soft focus here and there, a bit of grain and blocking too) - but when it's good (which is a lot of the time) - it's really gorgeous to look at.

You notice the improvements especially when the story gets to the home and lands of Olive Worthington and her son Wally (great casting in Kate Nelligan and Paul Rudd). She's an estate-owning boss and he's a dashing young Airforce Pilot who is waiting for overseas action in the Second World War. Even the indoor scenes in the live-in hut where all the apple pickers live (the 'Cider House' mentioned in the title) are very clear and at times amazingly so. The faces and clothing of the actors are razor-sharp too (superb cast choices in Delroy Lindo, Erykah Badu, Evan Park, Heavy D, and K. Todd Freeman). So too when Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire's character) is out walking with Wally's beautiful and vivacious fiancé Candy Kendall (Charlize Theron) while Wally's away at war - the shots by the Sea and the nearby lobster fishing port are beautiful to look at.

Acting-wise - there is so much to savour here. A huge part of the film's heart has to go to touching performances from children - Erik Per Sullivan as the bronchial Fuzzy, Kieran Culkin as the troubled Buster and Paz De La Huerta as the young teenage girl who fancies Homer way too much for her own good. Throw in Kathy Baker and Jane Alexander as elderly nurses with an abundance of unconditional paternal heart - and it feels good the second it opens. The story then moves as Homer does away from the snowbound hills and rivers of Maine to the sunny fields of working orchards in South Carolina.

But the movie belongs to its two principal leads - Michael Caine as Dr. Wilbur Larch and Tobey Maguire as the emotionally stilted orphan boy - Homer Wells (named after a cat and someone whose deep). First up is Caine who is simply sensational. Moving like a force of benevolent kindness amid the cold wooden rooms of "St. Clouds" (a 1930's and 1940's Orphanage he runs) - he is pragmatic and practical to the visiting pregnant women who don't need judgement (dialogue above) but an operation that is illegal. Describing himself as "...a caretaker to many, father to none..." - he mother hen's over a lively cast of young children abandoned in the big house with an almost casual cruelty. Each hurt child of course longs to be genuinely wanted - to be taken away by childless parents who occasionally come to visit and adopt. The scene where one pretty girl appeals to a couple - so they take her - but leave the rest behind - is heartbreaking. Caine imbibes so many of these difficult moments with a huge humanity - he's an actor capable of conveying extraordinary compassion and anger - sometimes one after the other. The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards and won 2 - one for Caine as Best Supporting Actor and the other for Best Adapted Screenplay by John Irving.

Tobey Maguire excels too - his performance is full of quiet acceptance at first - but then moves into a longing for a more varied life outside of his mentor's 'doctoring' requirements. Homer's journey to his own 'purpose in the world' is long but convincing. Maguire is very, very good here. As is Charlize Theron - not just a beautiful woman - but a hugely accomplished actress. Watch out too for John Irving the Author in a tiny cameo as a Station Master at the beginning (doing his Hitchcock).

The "Making Of" interviews all the principal actors - as well as John Irving on adapting his own book, Stephen King (the Author) on Irving's writing and Lasse Hallstrom the Director on shooting such a huge book. Its default aspect is 1.2:35 so it has bars top and bottom of the screen - but even stretched to full screen - it still looks great.

"The Cider House Rules" is a warm film - and one I thoroughly enjoyed re-watching. But more importantly - if you're a fan and have love for this movie's combined cruelties and charms - then you need to see it/own it on BLU RAY. 

Highly recommended.

ASPECT:

1.2:35:1 Ratio

SUBTITLES:

English for the Hard-Of-Hearing

EXTRAS:

Making Of "An American Classic"

Deleted Scenes

Trailer

PS: for other recent reissues on BLU RAY - see also reviews for:

"Amelie", "Beautiful Girls", "American Graffiti", "Bright Star", "Shakespeare In Love", "Love Actually", "A.I - Artificial Intelligence", "Bubba Ho-Tep", "Gone Baby Gone", "Michael Clayton" and "Stranger Than Fiction"

"Walking The Ghost Back Home" by THE BIBLE - Debut Album from March 1986 on Backs Records featuring Boo Hewerdine, Neill MacColl (brother of Kirsty MacColl) and Tony Shepherd (October 2011 UK Red Grape Records '25th Anniversary Edition (Remastered And Expanded)' CD Reissue with One Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…You Will Never See Graceland..."

Before THE BIBLE signed their major-label contract with Chrysalis Records in 1988 and released their 2nd album "Eureka" to much acclaim - they issued "Walking The Ghost Back Home" – their debut LP on the independent label Backs Records.

The vinyl album came in March 1986 (NCHLP 8) with the CD variant 2 years later in 1988 with added tracks (NCHCD 8). There was yet another CD reissue in 1996 on Haven Records.

UK released 3 October 2011 - this '25th Anniversary Edition' CD reissue of "Walking The Ghost Back Home" by THE BIBLE bases itself on that Haven CD and is a fully Remastered version on Red Grape Records RGTB01 (No Barcode) - ‘Expanded' with one more Bonus Track. It plays out as follows…

1. Graceland (Remix)

2. Mahalia (Remix)

3. Walking The Ghost Back Home

4. Kid Galahad And The Chrome King

5. (Talk To Me Like) Jackie Kennedy

6. King Chicago

7. She’s My Bible

8. Sweetness

9. Spend, Spend, Spend

10. High Wide And Handsome

11. Glorybound

BONUS TRACK:

12. She's My Bible (Demo Version)

The album has a convoluted history on CD as I’ve already said but its worthwhile explaining as there's bugger all info on this new release. Recorded in December 1985 - fans will know that the original 1986 UK LP had only 8 tracks - the non-remixed versions of "Graceland", "Mahalia", "Walking The Ghost Back Home" and "Kid Galahad And The Chrome King" made up Side 1 - while "(Talk To Me Like) Jackie Kennedy", "King Chicago", "She's My Bible" and a song called "Red Lights" made up Side 2. When the 10-track Backs Records CD arrived in 1988 - "Red Lights” was dropped and replaced with three new songs - "Sweetness", "Spend, Spend, Spend" and "High Wide And Handsome".

That 10-track version was in turn superseded in 1995 on Haven Records HAVENCD 4 - but this time with both "Graceland" and “Mahalia” replaced by Boo Hewerdine 'Remixes' (Tracks 1 to 10 above). For the 25th Anniversary Edition - that 1995 version is used but with one more Bonus Track added on - "She's My Bible (Demo Version)". It's an obvious set of omissions - but the original 1986 versions of "Graceland” and "Mahalia" along with the original "Red Lights" now seem to be permanently AWOL for this debut album in the digital medium because principal bandleader and songwriter Hewerdine wants it that way.

The black gatefold card digipak of this 25th Anniversary Edition CD Remaster is a very dull affair indeed (as was the original LP’s artwork). There’s no booklet – with all details for its 12-tracks downloadable from their website TheBibleTheBand.com. But the music still stands up big time…

Musically I’m reminded of Lies Damned Lies, The Silencers, Love And Money, It’s Immaterial, The Big Dish and even Prefab Sprout. "Kid Galahad And The Chrome King" has a fabulous melody and I never tire of the "...you will never get to..." longing in the lyrics and tune of "Graceland". The Remaster is warm and full - songs like "She's My Bible" and "Glorybound" sound superb. The Demo is sparse but nice and I can see why it was included - full of atmosphere.

In December 2012, a 13-Track 2LP variant of the ‘25th Anniversary Edition’ by THE BIBLE turned up on Vinyl 180 Records VIN180LP053 (Barcode 5038622127916). Sides 1 and 2 play at the standard 33 1/3 speed but Sides 3 and 4 are at 45 rpms and the song “Red Flag” ending Side 2 is a bonus track not on the CD.

As a band of the period, The Bible is all but forgotten now. Me – I’ve always loved them and I can even recall a support slot with another up and coming Scottish band called Deacon Blue. I’ve also reviewed Cherry Red’s superlative 2CD reissue of The Bible’s second and last album “Eureka” from 1988 (reissued as “The Bible” in 1989) that contains a version of “Red Lights”.

But this is where that musical journey began. Shame they didn’t do more with the packaging (docked a star for that) but the music is absolutely worth it…

"Eureka" by THE BIBLE - Second Album from 1988 on Chrysalis Records (reissued as "The Bible" in 1989 also on Chrysalis) - featuring Boo Hewerdine, Neill MacColl and Guests Calum MacColl (son of Ewan MacColl), Johnny Huckridge of The Charlie Watts Orchestra, Danny Thompson of Pentangle, Martin Green of Idiot Dancers with Production by Steve Earle (October 2012 UK 2CD Reissue on Cherry Red - Expanded Edition Andy Pearce Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry…

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"…Forgotten Faces…Lipstick Traces…"

Musically the Eighties is a much-derided decade (and in many cases warranted too). But it also had its masterpieces - "Hounds Of Love" by Kate Bush, "Steve McQueen" by Prefab Sprout, "Infected" by The The, "Passion - The Last Temptation Of Christ" by Peter Gabriel, "The Colour Of Spring" by Talk Talk and "Hats" by The Blue Nile - to name but a few.

There are many more of course (Durutti Column, Tears For Fears, The Smiths, Hall & Oates, John Hiatt, It’s Immaterial, The Silencers etc) - but I'd like to argue that one of those gems should be the beautifully melodic "Eureka" by Norwich's finest THE BIBLE from 1988 (reissued in 1989 in a different configuration as "The Bible"). 

This is a gorgeous double digital with tip-top audio from one of my fave remaster boffins – Andy Pearce. Here are the Sky Writings...

UK reissued 15 Oct 2012 - "Eureka" by THE BIBLE on Cherry Red Records CDBRED 531 (Barcode 5013929153134) is an Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and New Remaster.

DISC 1 - THE ALBUM (48:16 minutes):

1. Skywriting [Side 1]

2. Honey Be Good

3. Skeleton Crew

4. November Brides

5. Cigarette Girls

6. White Feathers [see NOTE below]

7. Crystal Palace [Side 2]

8. The Wishing Game

9. Red Hollywood

10. Tiny Lights

11. Blues Shoes Stepping

12. Up In Smoke [see NOTE below]

NOTE: DISC 1 features the 10-track LP "Eureka" - originally released January 1988 on Chrysalis CHR 1646. As was customary for the time - the Cassette and CD versions carried bonus tracks - in this case the two were "White Feathers" and "Up In Smoke”, placed at the end of each side - Track 6 and Track 12. This CD reissue uses that MC and CD configuration. But if you prefer to place both these tracks at the end (thereby not interrupting the 10-track LP run) a simple reprogramming of this CD will allow that.

However, the story doesn't stop there. After a less than ecstatic reception from the public (despite a lot of genuinely positive press) - Chrysalis tried to re-launch the album and band the following year. They rearranging the track list of "Eureka" - gave it different artwork - and simply called it "The Bible". This new LP variant was released 25 September 1989 on Chrysalis/Ensign CHEN 12. The first track "Graceland" was a 1989 'New Version' - all others were from 1988 - a mixture of "Eureka" LP tracks and 3 non-album B-sides. This 2CD set will allow fans to sequence that 12-track LP and CD as follows...

"The Bible" - the 1989 compilation

Side 1:

1. Graceland [Disc 2/Track 7]

2. Crystal Palace [Disc 1/Track 7]

3. Honey Be Good [Disc 1/Track 2]

4. Skeleton Crew [Disc 1/Track 3]

5. Red Hollywood [Disc 1/Track 8]

6. Abraham, Martin & John [Disc 2/Track 8]

Side 2:

1. Skywriting [Disc 1/Track 1]

2. Glory Bound [Disc 2/Track 18]

3. Up In Smoke [Disc 1/Track 12]

4. Blue Shoes Stepping [Disc 1/Track 11]

5. Cigarette Girls [Disc 1/Track 5]

6. The Golden Mile [Disc 2/Track 4]

NOTE: "The Bible" LP had 12-tracks as did its CD equivalent on Chrysalis CCD 1727 - but there was a limited edition of the LP which contained a FREE 4-Track 12" Single on Chrysalis CHEN D 12. The first track of the 12" was a new Bible song followed by three beautiful cover versions - all songs done in an acoustic style. They appear on CD 2 as "The Will To Love" [Track 17], "I'm So Lonesome (I Could Cry)" [Hank Williams cover - Track 14], "Motherless Child" [Traditional Blues cover - Track 15] and "On Broadway" [Drifters cover - Track 16].

DISC 2 - BONUS TRACKS (69:19 minutes):

As was common in the 80's - each single release off an album featured as many as five formats and more (7"s, 12"s and CD Singles) - each usually with non-album songs or remixes to entice fans and collectors. And like Deacon Blue and Love And Money - The Bible's B-sides were revered as being good - and on occasion better than the A. Between the "Eureka" and "The Bible" LPs they managed five releases (with a few before that too) - so it's not surprising to see so many extras on here. They break down as follows...

1. Graceland (Remix Version)

2. High Wide And Handsome - tracks 1 and 2 were non-album tracks on the August 1986 UK 12" single of "Graceland" on Chrysalis CHS 12 3036

3. Bubblehead

4. The Golden Mile

5. The Slow Drag Down - tracks 3 to 5 were non-album tracks on the UK 12" single of "Crystal Palace" released February 1987 on Chrysalis BIBX 1.

6. Coming Of Age - a non-album track on the September 1988 German 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis 611 711.

7. Graceland (Extended New Version)

8. Abraham, Martin & John [Marvin Gaye cover]

9. Eureka 

10. Mayday - tracks 7 to 10 were non-album tracks on the May 1989 UK 12" single of "Graceland" on Chrysalis BIBX 4 [in Sept 1989 Track 7 also acted as the opening track for "The Bible" LP].

11. Skywriting (Alternate Version)

12. King Chicago (New Version)

13. Electric Money - tracks 11 to 13 were non-album versions on the August 1989 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBX 5.

14. I’m So Lonesome (I Could Cry) [Hank Williams cover]

15. Motherless Child [Traditional Blues cover]

16. On Broadway [Drifters cover]

17. The Will To Love [Bible song]

Tracks 14, 15, 16 and 17 are described in the NOTE above to “The Bible” LP

18. Glorybound (New Version) - appeared on the August 1989 UK CD single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBCD 5 - it also featured as a track on "The Bible" 1989 LP and CD.

There's an expanded 16-page booklet with new liner notes by noted music-writer DARYL EASLEA with contributions from the band's principal songwriters BOO HEWERDINE and NEILL MacCOLL and American Country-Rock singer and Album Producer STEVE EARLE.

WHAT'S MISSING:

Packaging - the original album had a detailed inner sleeve with more of TONY SHEPPARD'S classy artwork and better still - the lyrics. Both are MIA when they shouldn't be. However, compensating for that are the new interviews, new photos of the band and a collage shot of various picture sleeves.

Songs - the February 1987 issue of "Graceland" on Chrysalis BIB 1 had non-album cuts across the 7"s and 12"s like Glory Bound (Live), Mahalia (Greg Walsh Remix), Spend Spend Spend, The Slow Drag Down (Live), Glory Bound (Live) and Walking The Ghost Back Home (Live) - all MIA. Even better would have been the sought-after Limited Edition 12" single of "Honey Be Good" on Chrysalis BIBAX 3 that featured exclusive Acoustic Versions of "Honey Be Good", "Cigarette Girls" and "King Chicago" - again MIA. None of these have ever been on CD to my knowledge - and they should have been included. Having said all that - tracks like "Coming of Age" and "Bubblehead" are superb - and for me the 4 Acoustic Tracks on "The Bible" LP FREE 12" are absolute highlights - beautifully done - so intimate.

THE MUSIC:

American Country-Rock giant STEVE EARLE produced the first 7 tracks of the album with the last 3 handled by England's PETE SMITH - "Red Hollywood", "Tiny Lights" and "Blue Shoes Stepping". Their combined polish served the songs well - nicely present but never overdone - the sound is classy and well proportioned. And ANDY PEARCE'S CD remaster brings that out.

The punch of "Skywriting" opens proceedings nicely - setting up that sophisticated Bible sound. You're then hit track after track of classy songwriting - particularly loving "Skeleton Crew" and "November Brides". Another nugget is "Cigarette Girls" which is acoustic based (one reviewer claims there's seconds missing off its beginning - but I can't for the life of me hear it - nor even see how it will even be noticed by a new listener (lyrics above)). One of my favourite sleepers on the LP is the slinky jazz feel of "Red Hollywood" - it opens with NEILL MacCOLL'S echoed guitar-work sounding not unlike David Gilmour on Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" from "Wish You Were Here". The track also features DANNY THOMPSON of PENTANGLE on Double Bass and a fantastic Trumpet break from JOHN HUCKBRIDGE half way in - absolutely superb stuff. "Tiny Lights" too is a cracker. The jaunty duo of "Crystal Palace" and "Honey Be Good" were obvious singles and I love "Blue Shoes Stepping" - ending the LP in memorable style.

To sum up - despite my minor misgivings about presentation (sloppy spelling errors too in the text) and tracks that should have been on here - I don't want to do this superb 2CD reissue by Cherry Red an injustice. "Eureka" is the kind of album you need to rediscover - a melodic cracker and something you should investigate pronto.

Like Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera, Gary Clark of Danny Wilson, James Grant of Love And Money and Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout - Boo Hewerdine is considered by many to be one of England's great songwriters  - his melodic tunes recorded in the last few years by top musicians like EDDI READER and KRIS DREVER. And on the evidence presented here - it's easy to see why his songs are so loved...

PS: And if you're listening Cherry Red - how about expanded CD remasters for these other Eighties meisterworks languishing in digital Limbo: "Life's Hard And Then You Die" by IT'S IMMATERIAL - "A Blues For Buddha" by THE SILENCERS - "Dumb Poet" by IMMACULATE FOOLS. I could go on if you ask me nicely...

THE BIBLE - DISCOGRAPHY

7", 12" and CD singles around the album "Eureka" and "The Bible"…

(Graceland was released 4 times)

"Graceland" – UK 12" single on Chrysalis CHS 12 3036 (August 1986)

A1: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix)

(Original Version on the "Walking Back To The Ghost" LP/CD] [Disc 2/Track 1]

A2: Glory Bound

B: High Wide And Handsome [Disc 2/Track 2]

"Graceland" - UK 2 x 7" single pack on Chrysalis BIBG 1 (February 1987)

A: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix) B: Glory Bound (Live)

A: Mahalia (Greg Walsh Remix) B: Spend Spend Spend

"Graceland" – UK 12" single reissue on Chrysalis BIBX 1 (February 1987)

A1: Graceland (Greg Walsh Remix) [Disc 2/Track 1]

A2: High Wide And Handsome [Disc 2/Track 2]

B1: The Slow Drag Down (Live)

B2: Glory Bound (Live)

B3: Walking The Ghost Back Home (Live)

"Crystal Palace" – UK 12" single (and CD single) on Chrysalis BIB 2 (August 1988)

A1: Crystal Palace [Disc 1/Track 7]

A2: Bubblehead [Disc 2/Track 3]

B1: The Golden Mile [Disc 2/Track 4]

B2: The Slow Drag Down [Disc 2/Track 5]

"Honey Be Good" – UK CD single on Chrysalis BIBCD 3 (Sept 1988)

1. Honey Be Good [Disc 1/Track 2]

2. White Feathers [Disc 1/Track 6]

3. Glorybound (New Version) [Disc 2/Track 18]

4. Abraham, Martin & John [Marvin Gaye cover] [Disc 2/Track 8]

"Honey Be Good" – German 12" single on Chrysalis 611 711 (September 1988)

B3: Coming Of Age [Disc 2/Track 6]

"Graceland (New Version)" – UK 12" on Chrysalis BIBX 4 (May 1989)

A1: Graceland (Extended New Version) [Disc 2/Track 7]

A2: Abraham, Martin & John [Disc 2/Track 8]

B1: Eureka [Disc 2/Track 9]

B2: Mayday [Disc 2/Track 10]

NOTE: The 1989 remake of "Graceland" turns up twice on this 2CD set – the 7" mix of 'New Version' at 3: 51 minutes is on Disc 2/Track 18 and the 12" 'Extended New Version' at 4:17 minutes is on Disc 2/Track 7.

"Honey Be Good" – UK 12" Single on Chrysalis BIBX 5 (August 1989)

A1: Honey Be Good

A2: Skywriting (Alternate Version)

B1: King Chicago (New Version)

B2: Electric Money

"Honey Be Good" – UK 12" Single on Chrysalis BIBAX 5 (August 1989)

A1: Honey Be Good

A2: I’m So Lonesome (I Could Cry) [Hank Williams cover]

B1: Motherless Child [Traditional Blues cover]

B2: On Broadway [Drifters cover]

"Honey be Good" – UK CD single on Chrysalis BIBCD 5 (August 1989)

1. Honey Be Good

2. King Chicago (New Version)

3. Crystal Palace (Alternate Version)

4. On Broadway [Drifters cover]