"No Little Boy" by JOHN MARTYN – Originally a July 1993 UK CD Compilation of 13 Re-Recordings of Older Island Records Material (March 2008 UK One World Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue with Three Bonus Tracks featuring Phil Collins, Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Levon Helm of The Band - Dallas Simpson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"No Little Boy" - The 2008 CD Reissue and Remaster by One World Records

"...What A Time We Had..."

The 1993 John Martyn compilation "No Little Boy" has a convoluted history and this March 2008 expanded CD reissue of it requires some explanation too.

After the well-received but relative commercial failure of the "Piece By Piece" album in 1986 - John Martyn found himself dropped by Island Records and without a contract. He then signed to a new UK label - Permanent Records - who issued two albums of new material - "The Apprentice" in 1990 and the wonderful "Cooltide" in 1991.

However, away in the USA at the time and without his knowledge or permission, Permanent took a swathe of in-progress re-recordings of his old Island year's material and naughtily released it as the compilation "Couldn't Love You More" in October 1992 on Permanent PERM 9. Martyn was understandably furious and denounced it. But in a strange quirk of fate, the public largely embraced it (charted at 65) and the album even opened up a whole new audience for him.

Back in the UK and determined to do it 'properly' - JM put out this second compilation of re-recordings on Permanent PERM 14 in July 1993 and called it "No Little Boy" (a lyric from the song "Ways To Cry"). Seven of its 13 songs were NOT on the "Couldn't Love You More" compilation and some of the other duplicate titles turned out to be radically different versions too (even though it didn't say this on the artwork). 

Which brings us to this 3 March 2008 UK CD reissue of "No Little Boy" by JOHN MARTYN on One World Records OW128CD (Barcode 604388689521). The original 13-track CD compilation from 1993 is now upped by three bonus songs, the music newly remastered and the booklet expanded and annotated better. It breaks down as follows (78:35 minutes):

1. Solid Air (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

2. Ways To Cry (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973)

3. Could've Been Me (originally on "Well Kept Secret", 1982)

4. Don't Want To Know (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

5. Just Now (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)

6. One Day Without You (originally on "Sunday's Child", 1975)

7. Sweet Little Mystery (originally on "Grace & Danger", 1980)

8. Pascanel (originally on "Glorious Fool", 1981)

9. Sunday's Child (originally on "Sunday's Child", 1975)

10. Head & Heart (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)

11. Fine Lines (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973)

12. Bless The Weather (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)

13. Man In the Station (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

BONUS TRACKS

14. One World (originally on "One World", 1977)

15. Rock, Salt And Nails (see Notes below)

16. Hole In The Rain (a REMIX of a track originally on "Cooltide", 1991)

Notes: Tracks 2, 3 and 7 feature PHIL COLLINS on duet vocals; Tracks 2, 3 and 14 feature DAVID GILMOUR of PINK FLOYD on Guitar while LEVON HELM of THE BAND provides duet vocals on "Rock, Salt And Nails" (a cover version written by BRUCE 'Utah' PHILLIPS). Other contributors include Alan Darby on Guitar, Alan Sheppard on Saxophone and Gerry Conway on Drums. Although the booklet doesn't advise who remastered the tapes, the website seems to say it was done by DALLAS SIMPSON – it's far better than the 1993 version I've had all these years.

As you imagine, some of the re-recordings work and some don't. Some to my ears are incredible, just as lovely as the originals but more soulful (even if they are a bit over produced in places). Special mention should also go to PHIL COLLINS for his heartfelt vocal contributions especially on "Ways To Cry" - a track where both their hurting personal lives seem to seep through their voices. 

I derided the versions of "Head & Heart" and "Man In The Station" on the "Couldn't Love You More" compilation, but the versions here are much better. "Fine Lines" is truly beautiful – my personal favorite - a fabulous version, while "Pascanel" gets a superb update with the girly vocals of Shaun Christopher and Rene Stewart and the piano work of Fred Nelson. The bonuses are exceptional too – the new version of "One World" is wicked as is the remix of a song I never tire of - "Hole In The Rain". But 'the piece here is "Rock, Salt & Nails", a cover version, which sees Martyn duet with Levon Helm of The Band to amazing effect – so, so good.

Both collections have been re-packaged to buggery by other labels since then (which hasn't helped) - so fans have all but ignored them or forgotten them entirely. Personally - John Martyn could fart in a bottle and I'd still want to hear it. Which is one of the reasons for this review - this lovely and muscular 2008 REMASTER of that 2nd set has finally brought out just how good many of these re-recordings were and still are. And I would urge fans and newcomers to give these re-makes another chance.

Recommended...

"Cooltide" by JOHN MARTYN – September 1991 UK LP and CD on Permanent Records with Guests Jessica King, Foster Paterson and Spencer Cozens and more (January 2007 UK One World Records ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Reissue with Four Bonus Tracks – Dallas Simpson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Jack The Lad..."

"Cooltide" was John Martyn's 2nd album for Permanent Records and was issued to a largely indifferent public on 9 September 1991 on PERM LP 4 and PERM CD 4 (recorded May, June and July of that year in Glasgow).

A crew of quality players, like keyboardists Foster Paterson and Spencer Cozens, Bassists Alan Thompson and Dave Ball with Saxophonist Andy Sheppard helped give the album a seriously updated and polished sound – even if the original hard copy releases weren’t exactly an audiophile wet dream (this 2007 Expanded CD reissue and remaster is a big improvement). John Martyn played guitar throughout, penned all the tunes and of course sang all lead vocals.

Musically its long, funky and often Rock-Soulful tracks were mature and I loved it from the moment I heard "Hole In The Rain" and the hypnotically magical "Jack The Lad". But "Cooltide" was unfortunately also typical of so many Martyn LPs in the 80's and 90's - superb in places and dull-as-dishwater in others. But my God, when he was good, he was untouchable. And of course, he had that voice - sexy and soothing at one and the same time - a wonder in itself. Here are the cool details...

UK released 1 January 2007 - "Cooltide" by JOHN MARTYN on One World Records OW129CD (Barcode 0604388691326) adds on four bonus tracks to the original 9 and plays out as follows (52:34 minutes):

1. Hole In The Rain [Side 1]

2. Annie Says

3. Jack The Lad

4. Number Nine

5. The Cure

6. Same Difference [Side 2]

7. Father Time

8. Call Me

9. Cooltide

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Jack The Lad (Remix)

11. Jack Sez

12. Jack The Lad (Live 1991, Previously Unreleased)

13. Hole in The Rain (Live 1991, Previously Unreleased)

First up amongst the Bonus Tracks are the two exclusive mixes that came on the April 1992 CD single in the UK for "Jack The Lad" - an extremely hard to find item nowadays (they are Track 10 and 11 on this CD). And finally, two previously unreleased live tracks from the tour of 1991. As luck would have it, they're kicking live versions of the best songs on the album, "Hole In The Rain" and "Jack The Lad". While "Jack The Lad" is good - "Hole In The Rain" is fantastic. It uses a slightly different and yet better synth fill as he sings - and there's a superb guitar solo in it too.These tracks alone make this variant of "Cooltide" an absolute must for Martyn fans. His live albums are often peppered with brilliance like this and this version is right up there (check out his superb re-working of 1975's "Sunday's Child" on the live album "Philanthropy" from 1983).

With regard to the album itself, longtime Martyn fan, associate and keeper of the JM flame JOHN HILLARBY provides the liner notes - but the best news is the Audio upgrade. The original CD - even though it was 1991 - was always underwhelming - especially on tracks like the lovely "Call Me" and "The Cure" and of course the gorgeous "Jack The Lad". Well this DALLAS SIMPSON remaster is about twice as good - not overbearing - but now imbibing muscle into the music – an oomph that it always needed.

JESSICA KING provides the backing vocals on the Side 2 opener "Same Difference" and the near twelve and a half minute title track that finishes the album is lifted up too. In fact it's a treat to finally hear this great little release be given the sonic upgrade it's always deserved - a job well done.

"Cooltide" is a John Martyn album you need to rediscover - check out "Jack The Lad" on iTunes - you'll be hooked.

PS: One World Records is the label imprint by VOICEPRINT of the UK dedicated to John Martyn's work. It features remastered reissues of his albums along with newly discovered titles from the archives. Titles so far include:

1.  "The Apprentice" from 1990, his 1st album in the UK on Permanent Records, it's original 11 CD tracks have had 5 Live Bonus Tracks Added (2007 release) (see REVIEW)

2.  "Couldn't Love You More" from 1992, an album of 15 excellent re-recordings of his Island Label stuff, now remastered with two bonus tracks added (2007 release) (see REVIEW)

3.  "No Little Boy" from 1993, an album of 14 re-recordings covering his career from 1970 up to 1991, now remastered with 2 bonus tracks (2008 release)

4.  "One World Records Sampler CD", 14 Tracks, 1 of which is an exclusive live version of  “Amsterdam” recorded in Oxford, October 1982 (available online only)  (2008 release)

5.  "Live", a new set with 20 tracks across 2CDs (2008 release)

"Live At The Apollo Volume II" by JAMES BROWN and HIS FAMOUS FLAMES featuring Marva Whitney, Bobby Byrd, Pee Wee Ellis and more June 2001 Polydor 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Expanded Reissue - Kevin Reeves Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and over 184 More Are Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series - An Amazon E-Book

SOUL GALORE! 
 

60ts Soul, R'n'B, Mod, Northern Soul, New Breed and More
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Also Includes Harmony Soul, Rare Groove and Funk...
Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (December 2021 Update)
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"...Get The Feeling...HUH!"

Mr. Dynamite returned to his natural stomping ground for live opus numero duo - 24 August 1968's double-album on King Records 1022 - "Live At The Apollo Volume II". 

But what puts this very cool 2CD Deluxe Edition reissue into the must-own territory (especially for JB fans and lovers of primo 60ts Soul) is the 'extras' and the stunning remaster re-construction of the tapes courtesy of one of Universal’s Tape Supremo engineers - Kevin Reeves. Details of the reissue first...

UK released 26 June 2001 - "Live At The Apollo Volume II" by JAMES BROWN and HIS FAMOUS FLAMES on Polydor 549 884-2 (Barcode 731454988421) is an Expanded 2CD Deluxe Edition of the 24 August 1968 2LP classic on King Records 1022 (USA) and Polydor Records 583 729/30 (UK) in Stereo. The DE Version plays out as follows…

Disc 1 (42:10 minutes):

1. Introduction To The James Brown Show (MC Frankie Crocker)

2. Think (Vocal Duet with Marva Whitney)

3. I Wanna Be Around

4 James Brown (Thanks)

5. That's Life

6. Kansas City

7. Sweet Soul Music (Bobby Byrd)

8. It's A Man's Man's Man's World (19:05 minutes)

This performance incorporates elements of:

 (a) Lost Someone (b) When A Man Loves A Woman

9. Caravan (James Brown Band featuring The J.B. Dancers)

INTERMISSION

Disc 2 (50:51 minutes):

1. Introduction To 'Startime' (MC Frankie Crocker with Sad Sam)

2. Money Won't Change You/Out Of Sight

3. Bring It Up

4. Try Me

5. Let Yourself Go

6. There Was A Time

7. I Feel All Right

8. Cold Sweat

9. Prisoner Of Love

10. My Girl (Instrumental Interlude)

11. Maybe The Last Time

12. I Got You (I Feel Good)

13. Please, Please, Please

14. Bring It Up (Finale)

The Original 2LP running order was…

Side 1:

1. Think

2. I Wanna Be Around

3. That's Life

4. Kansas City

Side 2:

1. Let Yourself Go

2. There Was A Time

3. I Feel All Right

4. Cold Sweat

Side 3:

1. It May Be The Last Time

2. I Got You (I Feel Good)

3. Prisoner Of Love

4. Try Me

5. Bring It Up

Side 4:

1. It's A Man's Man's Man's World

2. Medley

3. Please, Please, Please

As you can see from the two track-lists, the original 2LP set had omissions and edits galore most of which have been returned into this 2CD DE Full Monty running order. A word about that – the original was a lickety-splitly tight as a sumo wrestler's jocks four-sided sucker and the sprawling 2CD set actually isn't – a case of less was indeed more in the first place. You can of course just edit out what you don't want. But right from the off though, it has to be said that some of the inclusions are good – but some aren’t and it's easy to see why show filler like "Caravan" was left off the final vinyl product.

Very much on the upside however is the fab Audio - which for 60ts live tapes is incredibly good. The separation and sheer live-cooking vibe inside say "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" is fantastic. You can hear how tight they were – the sympatico between Brown and his players as he teases and raps with the audience in sexy innuendo is amazing and it's an expert ear indeed that can spot-the-join.

Once the outer DE plastic slipcase is off, the four-way foldout flaps of the DE show James in his late 60ts prime while the 28-page HARRY WEINGER and ALAN LEEDS compiled booklet is the usual class act from him. There are trade adverts from the period, band and tour member lists and colour photos of Godfather Of Soul doing his hysterical Please, Please, Please thing – cape and all. Leeds went on to compile and co-ordinate the stunning 2CD sets "The Singles" from Volume 1 to 11 (I've reviewed from 6 to 11). The Famous Flames band has Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis giving it some Saxophone righteousness, while Waymon Reed, Joe Dupars and Levi Rasbury back them up with even tighter Trombones (they're pictured on Pages 3 and 27). To the music…

Here’s a list of the new stuff: Disc One gives us a short 32-second MC introduction by Frankie Crocker as the show begins and Bobby Byrd's 2:38 minute between sets straddler "Sweet Soul Music" - a wicked uptempo cover of Arthur Conley's then new 1967 hit on Atlantic Records. That newbie comes in as JB ends a fabulous kicking version of Lieber and Stoller’s Little Willie Littlefield R&B classic “Kansas City”. Portions are inserted into "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" turning it into a 19-minute stop-start monster (do you know what I’m talking about – yeah!). Within that showstopper you get portions of “Lost Someone” and the Percy Sledge gem “When A Man Loves A Woman”. A final insert on Disc One includes the Duke Ellington song “Caravan” which accompanies the JB Dancers – an awful instrumental in my opinion and one where the tightest band in the world seem to be all at sea with its Jazz syncopations. It’s not something I ever want to hear again and it kind of sours the final moments of CD1 for me (the covers of I Wanna Be Around most famously associated with Tony Bennett and the smooch standard That’s Life also felt out of place to me too).

Disc Two offers us another Startime intro from MC Frankie Croker but this time with Sad Sam (34 seconds), followed by a 42-second snippet of “Money Won’t Change You/Out Of Sight”. CD2 flips the Side 3 running order of “Try Me” and “Bring It Up” and it works – the get-in-the-groove hit-it Funk of “Bring It Up” first, followed by the smooch of “Try Me” instead (the saxophone break features Eldee Williams and St. Clair Pinckney). This cleverly sets up the guitar-flicking huh-huh funkiness of “Let Yourself Go”.

Both “There Was A Time” (8:55 minutes) and “I Feel All Right” (8:52 minutes) are now extended versions on here that segue seamlessly into each other and the wall-to-wall sweat of the band in a mash potatoes groove on the first is astonishing while the second track elicits the joy of the crowd in a hey-hey call and response – it really cooks (Jimmy “Chank” Nolen and Alfonzo “Country” Starks on Guitars). Brown even puts in a brief drum solo and bit of organ work after the end of “I Feel All Right”. As drummer Clyde Stubblefield goes into their latest hit “Cold Sweat” – there is no doubt that this is magic.

Brown then slows it all down and adds strings to the croon of “Prisoner Of Love” – a surprisingly touching shuffle – looking for someone to share with. There is a brief instrumental interlude with 20 seconds of the Motown smash “My Girl” which then slides into a very cool groove with “Maybe The Last Time” – the crowd joining in the oh-I chants.

The hardest workingman in show business proved it all night between the 16th and 25th of June 1967 at The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NYC – and despite the ever so slight oddness of CD1 – CD2 is a stone to the bone monster. It only remains for any of us to say, hit it bobby and take us to the bridge…

"Full Bloom" by JACKIE ROSS (1998 UK Universal/Chess UMD 'Legendary Masters Series' CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Haste Makes Waste..."

Europe/UK released 1998 - "Full Bloom" by JACKIE ROSS on Universal/Chess UMD 80560 (Barcode 602438056026) is part of The Legendary Master Series of Chess CD Reissues and offers the Stereo Version of the 12-Track 1964 LP "Full Bloom" and a further five bonus tracks - two Chess single A-sides and three previously unreleased 1965 Chess outtakes. It breaks down as follows (50:33 minutes):

1. Selfish One [Side 1]

2. Everything But Love

3. Wasting Time

4. I Had A Talk With My Man

5. Be Sure You Know

6. Summertime

7. I've Got The Skill [Side 2]

8. Change Your Ways

9. Don't Take My Love

10. Haste Makes Waste

11. (I Wanna Hear It) From You

12. Misty

Tracks 1 to 12 are her debut album "Full Bloom" – released June 1964 in the USA on Chess LP-1489 (Mono) and Chess LPS-1489 (Stereo).

BONUS TRACKS:

13. Take Me For A While (July 1965 US 7" single Chess 1938, A)

14. We Can Do It (August 1965 US 7" single Chess 1940, A)

15. It's Going All The Way – Previously Unreleased 1965 Outtake

16. I Dig His Style – Previously Unreleased 1965 Outtake

17. Trust In Me – Previously Unreleased 1965 Outtake

Part of the Legendary Master Series (32-Bit Digital Remasters), the Triple Card gatefold offers a small 8-page inlay that reproduces the sleeves notes from the original "Full Bloom" LP by LOUISE D. STONE - a Jazz Columnist with Chicago Daily Defender. And while this American reissue was done by Richard Ganter – there is no mention of a Transfer or Remaster engineer - though I suspect it is either Kevin Reeves or Erick Labson – both ways the Audio is fabulous.

This 1998 Chess CD is cheap and always has been – about say a fiver - a good disc audio-wise. But its very much been outdone and superseded by the Ace/Kent-Soul issue of December 2012 called "Jerk & Twine: The Complete Chess Recordings" – a UK 24-Track CD compilation Remaster that includes all 17 of the above (including the three outtakes) and offers more Chess singles and two new previously unreleased Chess cuts from 1965 called "Stick To One" and "My Square". It also boasts a proper booklet and real liner notes care of Mick Patrick and Malcolm Baumgar (Catalogue No. Ace/Kent-Soul CDKEND 385 – Barcode 029667238526). If you've the cash it's about a tenner or often less and I'd plumb for that instead. 

Either way, you're on a musical winner with this criminally forgotten 60ts Soul LP and the lovely vocals of Jackie Ross...

Anna - A Review of the 2019 Luc Besson Film on BLU RAY starring Sasha Luss, Cillian Murphy, Helen Mirren, Luke Evans and Lera Abova...

"...Pawn Takes Queen..."

"Anna" is a stiletto of a movie – long-legged, elegant and you definitely don’t want to mess with that girl's pointy ending.

French filmmaker and Director LUC BESSON has been here before with "Angel-A" (2005) and "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blonc-Sec" (2010) – two cracking little films that bristle with his style, clever story lines and a flawed but ultimately beautiful and brave female lead (see reviews). Theorists, plagiarists and in fact anyone with an '...ist' in their bonnet will go on about yet another Atomic Blonde type movie - leggy girly with guns and lipstick and bruises and nude scenes (the staple for such films) engages in protracted battle sequences with dodgy unaccountable State forces and so on to a gore-fest finale – and deep down I'd concede they probably have a point. There have also been rumours flying around about on set shenanigans while "Anna" was being made which has meant it may have slipped through the nets in this horribly woke world we're presently in.

But I think Besson is different. I get the impression that he likes women, adores them even. And I'd say that it makes a genuine difference here. When most of the other films depicting such characters have the feel of a user, Besson actual likes his creations and his female leads may start out sappy or even ordinary but they never end up that way. The actresses are given real meat to work with. They are always strong, do their own thing on their own terms and men - though they might like them to be nice or even half-decent and humane on occasion - had better keep their hearts, underpants and wits about them.

What also makes "Anna" work and so entertaining is the superb quad of leads: for the ladies there's the ludicrously beautiful Cillian Murphy and his f-yeah eyes (an absolute crush for many of my lady friends) playing CIA maverick Lenny Miller - a suit who is a lot smarter than the by-the-book company man he first appears to be. On the other side of his morally murky world are the ruthless yet possibly might–have-a heart duo of Helen Mirren and Luke Evans who recruit the young street junkie Anna into the Russian Secret Service. Mirren eats this stuff up – her old, smoke and be-damned Olga is stony faced and precise. Olga has only survived in this vicious man's world by being equally quick with a Bowie knife, Bear Trap or a poison ink-nib. Moreover, Olga will not let her bright new recruit Anna lapse for even a second into mistakes that will get her killed - whilst at the same time having to appear to tow the line for corrupt males officials who give her orders to eliminate supposed enemies of the state and not ask too many questions about the validity of such appraisals.

And then there's the Russian model Sasha Luss playing the lead role of Anna – the kind of sleek trophy totty that adorns the arms of drug dealers by swimming pools or Bond villains in biotechnology labs or the love interest in Kingsmen movies who carry a machine-gun umbrella in London's Saville Row. Only this time in real life our Sasha has actually trained in ballet and that elegance of movement shows in every scene. Sasha Russ is genetically gorgeous for sure - but Besson also knows that she has to be riveting in the role and at the same time exude a tremble of fragility and humanity – and Russ achieves all of it. This is an actress you want to watch. Plus our Sash gets to have fun in and out of expensive dresses, popping off baddies with silencers, skewering bodyguards in fancy restaurants with steak knives or a broken dinner plate, fighting Soviet soldiers in sewers, binning wigs – the usual slow Tuesday stuff for an International espionage agent.

So, beautiful but drifting Anna Poliatova realizes she has a chance to escape a world of user boyfriends and bedsit dime-bag deprivation if she goes with her new handler Alex Tchenkov (a superb Luke Wilson) and commits to years of espionage training. This will eventually turn her into a sort of bloodier version of Killing Eve machine Villanelle – same great outfits but without the jokey psycho streak. On graduation, promises are made of five years service and Anna soon adopts a cover in a Parisienne apartment with the gorgeous Lera Abova playing Maude, Anna's lesbian lover who is in love with Anna but also oblivious to where or what Anna is as she disappears for days on end for business trips. 

But soon Anna begins to realize that she may have traded one life of servitude to drugs for another serving the equally treacherous State and that there is always one more job, one more misery, one more heartless using of her skills that will never end. So as a child prodigy Chess Player, she begins to plot out minnow-moves that none of the bigger fish will see coming. Or will they? Is Olga always one step ahead of her and everybody in fact or is she a Ruskie patriot through and through to the point where Anna is just collateral damage?

If this all sounds a bit complicated for a Spy Action Thriller then actually it is. Besson frames his spiky tale in a series of flashbacks and flash forwards and replays where you begin to realize and see what is really going on. It's a clever and thrilling way to keep the story and action moving. The set pieces/fight sequences are suitably brill and cool and have of course silly body counts that no one seems to notice as they chow down on their oysters and linguini. Then as Anna begins to outplay or even break the hearts of her American and Russian men – you're more and more invested – rooting for her to win...or not...

In March 2020, the BLU RAY is clocking in at about £10 new, but will undoubtedly fall in price as these sort of titles always do, and the picture quality on it is spot-on.

I know many have been derisory about "Anna" - but damn I enjoyed it a bunch even if it isn't quite "Leon" or "Lucy". Top cast, clever story, great set pieces and Daddy's smart girl gets to play Chess too. 

 "Anna" can have my spy bra strap any day of the week...