JAMES MOODY - "Return From Overbrook" featuring the "Flute N' The Blues" and "Last Train From Overbrook" US MONO Albums from 1956 and 1958 originally on Argo Records (March 1996 USA MCA/Chess/GRP CD Reissue - 2LPs onto 1CD - Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Good News…I'm Back…"

This 20-Track March 1996 US CD "Return To Overbrook" on MCA/Chess/GRP GRD-810 (Barcode 011105081023) features two 1950s albums in their entirety by Saxophonist JAMES MOODY - both originally issued n Mono on Leonard and Phil Chess' Jazz label offshoot Argo Records. It breaks down as follows (63:54 minutes):

1. Last Train From Overbrook

2. Don’t Worry 'Bout Me

3. Why Don't You

4. I’m Free a.k.a. What's New?

5. Tico-Tico

6. There She Goes

7. All The Things You Are

8. Brother Yusef

9. Yvonne

10. The Moody One

Tracks 1 to 10 are "Last Train From Overbrook", a 1958 USA-Only LP on Argo 637 [Mono]

11. Flute 'N The Blues

12. Birdland Story

13. It Could Happen To You

14. I Cover The Waterfront

15. Body And Soul

16. Breaking The Rules

17. Parker's Mood

18. Easy Living

19. Boo's Tune

20. Richard's Blues

Tracks 11 to 20 are "Flute N' The Blues", a 1956 USA-Only LP on Argo 603 [Mono]

The 1st generation analogue master tapes have been remastered by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON and the sound quality is superb throughout (Orrin Keepnews Produced the Reissue). The 16-page booklet has a preamble by Dave Usher (Argo and Chess producer) and further liner notes by Bob Blumenthal (a Jazz critic for The Boston Globe) - it also pictures album sleeves and label close-ups and has discography information on the sessions where known.

Moody was primarily an Alto and Tenor Saxophone player, but he also excelled on the flute. His session men included Johnny Coles on Trumpet, William Sheppard on Trombone, Numa "Pee Wee" Moore on Baritone Sax with Jimmy Boyd on Piano, John Lathan on Bass and Clarence Johnston on Drums. The "Last Train From Overbrook" album is entirely instrumental, but three tracks from "Flute 'N The Blues" - "Birdland Story", "Parker's Mood" (lyrics above) and "I Cover The Waterfront" feature Eddie Jefferson on scat vocals.

The title comes from his turbulent stay at the "Overbrook" Mental Institution in New Jersey and the music is imbibed with his journey of redemption from that awful place and mindset.

Georgia-born James Moody played in the USA as late as 2009 and this CD reissue certainly shows why he was still such a draw even in his 80ts. It's now quite a rare disc, but well worth seeking out - especially given the wonderful sound quality…

"The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz: The Complete Mono And Stereo Recordings Recorded In New York City 1956" by JOE TURNER (February 2020 German Bear Family 2CD Compilation Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rock Me Baby, All Night Long..."

When I first picked up on Atlantic R&B in the mid 70s, I was an Irish teenager living in Dublin embroiled in Rock, Prog, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Punk and New Wave. I knew of some old Blues, Boogie Woogie, Rhythm 'n' Blues and Rock 'n' Roll like everyone else in the schoolyard, but hard copies were so scarce on the LP ground that it only registered as something vaguely interesting in the musical distance.

But when the stunning seven double-albums Box Set "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974" appeared on vinyl in 1985 - everything changed. With an awakened lust for authentic Blues and R&B of the Forties and Fifties, I went into The Clovers, Ruth Brown, La Vern Baker, The Coasters and Clyde McPhatter's Drifters big time and I've been chasing that low down dog ever since. When you dive into that joyous music, you quickly come against one of Atlantic Records' biggest stars of the 50ts day - BIG JOE TURNER. 

His first US Blues Album proper had been a self-titled duet with piano genius Pete Johnson on Emarcy Records in June 1955 and what we're dealing with here is technically his second LP release from June 1956 (his debut for Atlantic after five years of 78s and 45s).

So when I hear that one of the best reissue labels in the world (Bear Family of Germany) is finally going to tackle one of the early Atlantic Records giants - then I'm gonna sit up, get my tights in a tangle and a don that nylon hose baby (it can be a problem at times I know). And true to BF's longstanding rep, their double-CD of Big Joe Turner's landmark second album "The Boss Of The Blues..." is a cockle-doodle-doo rooster-crowing humdinger – especially on the Stereo Audio front. Let's get the technical stuff out of the way first...

German/UK/Europe released 14 February 2020 - "The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz: The Complete Mono And Stereo Recordings Recorded In New York City 1956" by JOE TURNER on Bear family BCD 17505 (Barcode 5397102175053) is a 2CD 32-Track Compilation of his second studio album from 1956, originally on Atlantic Records. This newly remastered issue features the 10-track US and UK LP in both Mono and Stereo form with 12 Bonus Track Outtakes from the original March 1956 New York Sessions and it breaks down as follows:

CD1 (71:11 minutes):

1. Cherry Red - STEREO [Side 1]

2. Roll 'Em Pete - STEREO

3. I Want A Little Girl - STEREO

4. Low Down Dog - STEREO

5. Wee Baby Blues - STEREO

6. You're Driving Me Crazy - STEREO [Side 2]

7. How Long Blues - STEREO

8. Morning Glories - STEREO

9. St. Louis Blues - STEREO

10. Piney Brown Blues - STEREO

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz" - originally issued June 1956 in the USA in MONO only on Atlantic 1234, the STEREO version first appeared January 1958 in the USA as an 'Open Reel Tape' on Atlantic ALC 1901 (this rarity is pictured on Page 8 of the booklet) with the VINYL 'High Fidelity' STEREO LP showing in September 1958 as Atlantic SD 1234. The British LP first appeared February 1957 in MONO-only on London American Recordings LTZ-K 15053 and then June 1959 (over two years later) in STEREO on London SAH-K 6019 (American Series).

11. Pennies From Heaven – STEREO **

A March 1956 "Boss Of The Blues" outtake used to bolster up the track run for the September 1959 original recordings that made up the "Big Joe Rides Again" LP issued in the USA in July 1960 on Atlantic SD 1332.

12. Roll 'Em Pete [Take 4] - MONO **

13. Roll 'Em Pete [Take 5] - MONO **

14. Cherry Red Blues [Take 1] - MONO **

15. Cherry Red Blues [Takes 2 and 3] - MONO **

16. Morning Glories [Takes 1 and 4] - MONO **

17. Low Down Dog [Take 4] - MONO **

** Tracks 11 to 17 are BONUS TRACKS

CD2 (62:47 minutes):

1. Cherry Red - MONO [Side 1]

2. Roll 'Em Pete - MONO

3. I Want A Little Girl - MONO

4. Low Down Dog - MONO

5. Wee Baby Blues - MONO

6. You're Driving Me Crazy - MONO [Side 2]

7. How Long Blues - MONO

8. Morning Glories - MONO

9. St. Louis Blues - MONO

10. Piney Brown Blues - MONO

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz" - originally issued September 1956 in the USA in MONO only on Atlantic 1234 (the STEREO version is Tracks 1 to 10 on CD1). The British MONO LP first appeared February 1957 in MONO-only on London American Recordings LTZ-K 15053.

11. Pennies From Heaven - MONO **

A March 1956 "Boss Of The Blues" outtake used to bolster up the track run for the September 1959 original recordings that made up the "Big Joe Rides Again" LP issued in the USA in July 1960 on Atlantic 1332 (Mono).

12. Testing The Blues - MONO **

13. St. Louis Blues [Take 1] - MONO **

14. You're Driving Me Crazy - MONO **

15. I Want A Little Girl [Takes 1 and 3] - MONO **

The album was recorded across two days, 6 and 7 March 1956 at the Carnegie Hall Recoding Company on 57th Street in New York with the following personnel:

BIG JOE TURNER – Vocals

PETE JOHNSON – Piano

FREDDIE GREEN – Guitar

PETE BROWN – Alto Saxophone

FRANK WESS – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 only)

SELDON POWELL – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 only)

LAWRENCE BROWN – Trombone

JOE NEWMAN – Trumpet (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 only)

JIMMY NOTTINGHAM – Trumpet (Tracks 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 only)

WALTER PAGE – Bass

CLIFF LEEMAN - Drums

If I’m completely honest, the three-way foldout card sleeve packaging comes on as a bit of a disappointment. As you can see, the pictures of BJT on the inside flaps aren’t anything like the period memorabilia we’re used to from BF and the bare tightly-fitted CDs inside each flap will cause problems for those wanting to remove them without greasy thumb-prints or scratches. The 24-page booklet stuck inside the centre flap almost caused me to rip the whole damn thing trying to get it out. On the upside COLIN ESCOTT provides the liner notes and Discography at the rear and (as always) offers up his knowledge and affection on the subject matter in an entertaining and enlightening way.

Downsides – although the Side 1 US label for Atlantic SD 1234 is repro’d and there are a couple of photos of our hero (one with Alan Freed and those Mercury Records R&B stars Buddy and Ella Johnson (Page 7) – the 1956 or 1957 LPs actual cover artwork or rear sleeve isn’t here for either the US or UK variants on Atlantic and London Records nor are the subsequent reissues of the album (Discography too). But you do get a genuine oddity and rarity. As you can see from the info I’ve provided above, the STEREO variant first appeared in January 1958 not on an LP but on an 'Open Top Reel' of Tape. I've never seen a picture anywhere of Atlantic Records ALC-1912 and a quick Superhighway trawl tells me that (it looks like) neither has anyone else! While the expensive LP might have set a punter back four or five bucks (a lot back then), the reel-to-reel tape was aimed at Hi-Fi buffs and cost a whopping twelve dollars – so I can't imagine how many of these first issued Blues Album in Stereo things are actually still intact and in existence in 2020.

But all of those minor gripes are wiped away once I clock my enormo-lugs on the AUDIO – Disc Transfers and Mastering care of MARLON KLEIN. The last CD I had of this album was a Japanese 2012 issue that claimed DSD Remastering – and it was/is great. But this Bear Family 2020 offering is another ball game altogether. Hardly surprising that Bear start with the STEREO variant on Disc 1 because its shockingly good – the separation clean and the sound just gorgeous. By the time I was onto "Roll 'Em Pete" or "How Long Blues" or even the cheesy outtake "Pennies From Heaven" – I was blubbing like a Wall Street Banker with a Covid-19 thermometer in his gob.

The other Bonus Outtakes are like eavesdropping on history albeit in a much muddier way – the Audio is compromised - but Takes 4 and 5 of the fabulous horn-bopper "Roll 'Em Pete" even with a distant vocal sound cool to me and I've never heard of "Testing The Blues" over on the MONO CD2. Tasty…

Pete Johnson passed in March 1967 and Big Joe lasted until November 1985 - gigging to the end because he needed to pay the bills (Ahmet Ertegun, the co-founder of Atlantic Records paid off his debt so that his wife could live on in their home free of worry). Anyone who loves old timey Rhythm 'n' Blues and especially the fantastic Atlantic Records sound - will cry at this release. And isn't that how we should remember a man many feel was the greatest R'n'B and Blues shouter of em all...

"The Professor And The Madman" - A Review by Mark Barry of the 2019 Farhad Safina Film starring Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Stephen Dillane, Natalie Dormer and Eddie Marsan - Now on BLU RAY...

"...Fly...On The Wings Of Words..." 

- The Professor And The Madman on BLU RAY -

As you sit through the engaging real-life-story movie that is "The Professor And The Madman" - you might well think - where was this fabulous film in the 2020 Oscars? Why was the entire world told that fatuous tut like Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" was worthy of our attention or even an Oscar for Brad Pitt? There are just so many choice roles in "The Professor And The Madman" that on any other year, it would have been garnished with nominations galore. Is it that in Hollywood, Mel Gibson is still a persona non grata? Well, be that as it may, this is without question the Australian actor and director's most accomplished work in decades...

Shot in Ireland and especially the older parts of Dublin (the truly gorgeous library inside Trinity College is featured to fabulous effect), I suspect that for many viewers, this beautifully realized movie is coming out of left field. Few have heard of it, let alone went to see it in a cinema. Based on a true story - principled Scotsman and Professorial multi-lingual scholar James Murray (Mel Gibson) is charged with forming an English Language Dictionary chronicling every word along with its history, meaning and literature reference - a task that has defeated snooty Oxford and Cambridge dons for decades - possibly even driven some of them stark raving mad.

But James Murray is different. He has armour and secret weapons. His wife Ada is his rock and their many children fill James with wonder, strength and even purpose (Ada is beautifully played by Jennifer Ehle of Pride and Prejudice TV Series fame). Murray is also in love with language and words to the point where he feels they may even be a route to the divine, love and that most difficult of all emotions in the mid 19th century - forgiveness.

Used on one third of the earth as a 'mother tongue' - Murray goes at the impossible task of finding and defining 'every' word and permeation of the English language with aid from his team of researchers led by Henry Bradley (Iain Gruffudd). But it soon becomes obvious why others have been driven to tears with such a task - smashed up every time against the rocks of 'proof' for even the simplest of words like 'art' or 'approved' - and that's just the 'A's'. But help comes from an unlikely source and a parallel story.

Possessed of a demon-infested and yet brilliant mind, Dr. William Minor is also drawn to the healing of literature. But while he was once a respected surgeon in the American Civil War, conflict and actions he was forced into (maiming a soldier deemed to be a deserter) have left his mind shattered to the point where in a frenzy of voices and illusions - he shoots dead a young man called Everett. This has left his young wife Eliza and her five children to destitution (Natalie Dormer excelling in a genuinely great part for the Games Of Thrones star). Dr. Minor (a seriously brilliant Sean Penn) is easily convicted and sent to prison – Eliza Everett initially glad to see him suffer.

Inside the correctional facility/lunatic asylum for the criminally insane that is Broadmoor in Berkshire, he meets Dr. Richard Brayn - a caring physician played by the stunning Stephan Dillane - also of Games Of Thrones and cruelly robbed of an Oscar for his exceptional work in the Churchill film "Darkest Hour". Determined to methodically help inmates rather than let them rot in cells, Dr. Brayn gives the mad but clearly intelligent American leeway that may indeed lead to his salvation – space, paper and books. And after a letter is found inside a book that has called on the entire English-speaking world to supply words and their meanings, the strange relationship with the Scottish Professor James Murray and the convicted-of-murder American Civil War surgeon William Minor begins – over an English book from Oxford.

Both Gibson and Penn are magnificent in this movie - not just good - but towering. Throw in the genuinely awesome humanity that Eddie Marsan of "Ray Donovan" fame brings to everything that he does (Eddie plays a guard called Mr. Muncie who takes pity on the madman and is instrumental as a liason) and a fantastically good Steve Coogan as an establishment friend to James Murray who can oil and circumnavigate the cogs of Oxford snoots malicious and vindictive towards the Scotsman (Anthony Edwards and Laurence Fox leading the doubters) - and you get an inkling of the kind of quality ensemble cast that is on offer here. There are at least six or seven more names I could mention...

Good as they all are though, the cast excels because the story and the writing that depicts this unusual tale is simply beautiful - a gorgeous script by Director Farhad Safina (credited as P.B. Shemran) and Todd Komarnicki (Safina wrote large swathes of both seasons to a Kelsey Grammer Mayor-of-Chicago TV Series I loved called "Boss"). Based on a 1998 book by Simon Winchester called "The Surgeon Of Crowthorne", the 2019 film "The Professor And The Madman" has heart and compassion and delights in language and its power to diffuse and even heal. And on it goes to the credits where photographs and achievements give further insight into these odd but earnest men and their achievements – Bear McCreary’s music lifting proceedings all the way to the end.

I loved "The Professor And The Madman" and I suspect many others will too. As the damaged man, Dr. Minor says, "...I can fly out of here...on the wings of words..." Good advice, I think. A really, really good movie and well done to all involved...

BLU RAY: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - MOVIE TRANSFERS That Are Fabulous, That Are Good and Then There Are The Ones That Suck - Reviews by Mark Barry...

BLU RAY: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Prints that are fabulous, sort of good and those that suck...

1.    Back To The Future Trilogy. The three "Back To The Future" films are remembered with great affection and rightly so (the first especially). But little will prepare you for how good they look on this 4-disc Lowry Digital Restoration Box Set. Great extras too - see review...

2.    Pride And Prejudice – The Film. Formerly only available in HD-DVD with the dodgy US ending, this March 2010 UK Blu Ray reissue finally allows this superb adaptation room to shine. Massive improvements over the DVD - see review....

3.    The Prisoner (TV Series). First aired in Sept 1967, this iconic 35mm-filmed masterpiece has enthralled & divided ever since. This stunning Sept 2009 6-Disc Box Set won’t. Gobsmacking to look at -see review…

4.    Brief Encounter. David Lean's 1945 morality tale of repressed England love in a train station finally given a properly great makeover by the British Film Institute. People say things like "frightful" and "beastly". The loveliest this absolute classic has ever looked. See review…

5.    Kelly's Heroes. Released in 1970 after "M.A.S.H." and in the same month as "Catch 22" - this 3^rd slice of WW II irreverence has been beloved by movie fans ever since. The Blu Ray print is a revelation. See review…

6.    Shakespeare In Love. Re-watching this film in 2011 and you get its 13 Academy Award nominations. But now it has a fabulous transfer too onto Blu Ray - bringing out endless detail in the clothing and sets. See review…

7.    Band Of Brothers. I bought "Pacific" on Blu Ray but haven't finished it. This, however, is a different ball game. "Band Of Brothers" is truly astonishing on Blu Ray and one of the format's best bargain-buys. See review...

8.    Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A 1968 family film given a frame-by-frame Lowry Digital Restoration and reissued on a 2010 Blu Ray with spectacular results. A benchmark even for Lowry. See review…

9.    Road To Perdition. You would think a film like this would be absolute Blu Ray heaven – but I found it an ever so slightly disappointing print. Although it’s a great re-watch as a film, the definition never rises to it

10. Green Zone. Filmed in a hand-held documentary way to get gritty realism and huge swathes of it at night, unfortunately what you get on Blu Ray is a really bad film with a rubbish unwatchable print. 

11. 2010: The Year We Make Contact. A very good Sci-Fi film from 1985, but unfortunately it has an awful transfer to Blu Ray that completely undermines your enjoyment of the watch. See review…

12. The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen. Another great film with ingenious and unique Gilliam visuals let down by a very so-so transfer. This should be a winner on Blu Ray. See review…

13. Stargate: The Ultimate Edition. Improved in places, but still with real problems in others. However, has hours of genuinely expanded extra features and a good price - both make it tempting. See review… 

14. Amadeus. A sumptuous period piece about the musical genius and fall of Mozart. And yet this is another film that should be gob-smacking on Blu Ray, but only manages slightly better. Very, very disappointing…

15. The X-Men Quadrilogy. Each of the first 3 films is a double-edition whilst "Wolverine" is a single-disc version (7 total). Superlative transfers to Blu Ray (way better than the DVDs) with a shed load of extras and a good price.

16. Ray (Ray Charles Biopic with Jamie Foxx). The reason I bought so completely into High Definition was viewing the HD-DVD of this Ray Charles biopic. A great film sensationally rendered. So good you can even see their wig lines! 

17. Coraline. Weird and wonderful animation (very Tim Burton) complete with 2D and slightly gimmicky 3D Versions (& several viewing glasses). An immaculate print and it's reasonably priced too. See review… 

18. Taken. A very good example of an ordinary print on DVD – but extraordinary on Blu Ray. It’s taught, beautifully filmed and endlessly re-watchable. The people’s rental/to buy champ for 2008. See review...

19. Intolerable Cruelty. 2011 Blu Ray reissue of a Coen Brothers film that divides fans. I think it deserves reappraisal and it’s fabulous to look at on the new format. See review…

20. Quo Vadis. Restored print with beautiful clarity, however, this bloated 1951 sand-and-sandals epic is a bit of a bore – even with Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn’s scene stealing. See review

21. Rio Bravo. A 1959 Western in Colour with great performances from the Duke and Walter Brennan. But the real revelation is Dean Martin. The print is very good too despite the vintage. See review...

22. Despicable Me. Saw this at the cinema in 3D - what a blast!  The yellow big-eyed Minions engendered incredible laughs and affection. Up close, this 2D Blu Ray reveals the beautifully realized artwork. Fresh & fun. (Triple Pack, Blu Ray, DVD & Digital Copy)

23. Out Of Sight. Another HD-DVD only title I owned – Blu Ray has the same stunning visual quality (big improvement on DVD), zippy script, chemistry between Clooney & Lopez & making-of with the cool cast interviewed. 

24. Live And Let Die. All 22 of the Bonds got Lowry Digital Restoration (still only 9 on Blu Ray). The opening New Orleans segment has best-ever clarity. From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Thunderball – all the same…

25. The Lake House. Initially only on the defunct HD-DVD format, this Blu Ray reissue mimics that entirely (even the menus are the same) and gives you a lovely print of a lovely movie. See review…