"The Warner Bros. Albums 1970-1976" by JAMES TAYLOR – Six US Albums including "Sweet Baby James" (February 1970), "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" (April 1971), "One Man Dog" (November 1972), "Walking Man" (June 1974), "Gorilla" (May 1975) and "In The Pocket" (June 1976). Featuring Carole King of The City, Randy Meisner of Eagles, Red Rhodes of Bamboo, Chris Darrow of Kaleidoscope, Danny Kortchmar of The Flying Machine, Russ Kunkle of The Section, Leland Sklar, Joni Mitchell, John Hartford, Richard Greene, The Memphis Horns, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Alex and Kate Taylor, Randy and Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Bobbye Hall, Paul and Linda McCartney, Hugh McCracken, David Spinnoza and many more (19 July 2019 UK Warner Brothers 6CD Box Set – Peter Asher, Bill Inglot and Bernie Grundman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Shower The People..."

For long-suffering JT fans (and those who like the earlier hits from 1970 and 1971 but don't know much more after that) - the big news here is not just the sweetly handled new remasters, the tasty presentation box (hell it even has an insert) and the extremely reasonable price (roughly three quid each) – it's finally getting availability to these Seventies albums after nearly four decades of digital shenanigans.

The Warner Brothers period of James Taylor's career has had a very chequered CD past since the mid 80ts. Then after years of ok-sounding reissues - there was the beautiful audio of the "You've Got A Friend" Best Of compilation in 2003 with choice album tracks, followed by the six sexily cool Japanese SHM-CD reissues in April 2010 with new mastering and exact repros of the American artwork. There were also American Audiophile Gold CD reissues of "Mud Slide Slim" and "One Man Dog" – and on it went. But the average Joe has been looking at £20 to £30+ per album purchase (if you can find them).

Well now – at last – in July 2019 - Rhino and Warner Brothers have finally done Boston’s Walking Man the reissue business - six albums in one neat clamshell box set, 75-Tracks from "Sweet Baby James" in 1970 through to "In Your Pocket" in 1976 and new Remastering of the whole shebang supervised by original Engineer and Producer Peter Asher (first three LPs). There is a woke load of detail to wade through, so let's indeed get sweet on baby James once more...

UK released 19 July 2019 - "The Warner Bros. Albums 1970-1976" by JAMES TAYLOR on Warner Bros/Rhino R2 587550 (Barcode 603497852390) offers six albums from 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976 newly Remastered onto 6CDs with Mini LP Repro Artwork and it plays out as follows:

CD1 "Sweet Baby James" (31:54 minutes, 11 tracks):

Second studio album, US released February 1970 on Warner Brothers BS 1843 and November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1843 (reissued December 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46043)

Tan label CD, single card sleeve with gatefold lyric insert as per original 1970 vinyl LP

CD2 "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" (37:21 minutes, 13 tracks):

Third studio album, US released April 1971 on Warner Brothers BS 2561 and May 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 2561 (reissued in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46085 in March 1972)

Tan label CD, gatefold card sleeve with no insert as per original vinyl LP

CD3 "One Man Dog" (37:44 minutes, 18 tracks):

Fourth studio album, US released November 1972 on Warner Brothers BS 2660 and November 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46185

Tan label CD, single card sleeve and lyric insert as per original vinyl LP

CD4 "Walking Man" (34:03 minutes, 10 tracks):

Fifth studio album, US released June 1974 on Warner Bros W 2794 and June 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56042

Burbank label CD, single card sleeve with no insert as per original vinyl LP

CD5 "Gorilla" (39:02 minutes, 11 tracks):

Sixth studio album, US released May 1975 on Warner Brothers BS 2866 and May 1975 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56137

Burbank label CD, single card sleeve with no insert as per original vinyl LP

CD6 "In The Pocket" (44:56 minutes, 12 tracks):

Seventh studio album, US released June 1976 on Warner Brothers BS 2912 and June 1976 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56197

Burbank label CD, single card sleeve with lyric insert as per original vinyl LP

There are cool period photos on the front and rear of the clamshell box and inside, a six-leaf foldout inlay (more period snaps) with new liner notes from original Engineer, Producer and Manager of JT for 25 years - PETER ASHER. Asher gives us a potted a backdrop into 1969 and 1970 especially - Taylor's cohorts in rehearsal and studios – huge names like Carole King of The City pre "Tapestry" fame, Randy Meisner of Eagles (before he'd joined the mega Country Rock band), Red Rhodes of Bamboo, Chris Darrow of Kaleidoscope and his regular rhythm section - Danny Kortchmar of The Flying Machine, Russ Kunkle of The Section and Leland Sklar. There are even corrections to missing musician credits - Craig Doerge (of Jackson Browne's band) playing Electric Piano on "One Man Dog" while David Sanborn played Alto Sax on the huge hit single "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". They were mistakenly left off the original inserts. 

But the big news is a full-on vaults trawl for the remasters - Asher working in supervision tandem with one of Rhino's longest-standing Audio Engineers since the early 90s - BILL INGLOT - and then to final mastering by the legendary BERNIE GRUNDMAN - a name synonymous with audio excellence. And that's where this Box Set hits all the right notes - finally hearing deep album gems like "Sunny Skies", "You Can Close Your Eyes", "One Morning in May", "Wandering" or "I Was A Fool To Care" in properly great audio is fab. A gorgeous job done, and as mentioned earlier, not a box set that’s going to cost your life’s savings.

SINGLES:

This box set will also allow JT fans to sequence almost all 14 of his Warner Brothers US 45s from the period (see Note):

1. Sweet Baby James b/w Suite For 20 G (May 1970, Warner Bros 7387)

2. Fire And Rain b/w Anywhere Like Heaven (August 1970, Warner Bros 7423)

3. Country Road b/w Sunny Skies (January 1971, Warner Bros 7460)

4. You've Got A Friend b/w You Can Close Your Eyes (May 1971, Warner Bros 7498)

5. Long Ago And Far Away b/w Let Me Ride (September 1971, Warner Bros 7521)

6. Don't Let Me Lonely Tonight b/w Who, Don't You Know (November 1972, Warner Bros 7655)

7. One Man Parade b/w Nobody But You (February 1973, Warner Bros 7682)

8. Hymn b/w Fanfare (April 1973, Warner Bros 7695)

9. Let It All Fall Down b/w Daddy's Baby (August 1974, Warner Bros WBS 8015)

10. Walking Man b/w Daddy's Baby (November 1974, Warner Bros WBS 8028)

11. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) b/w Sweet Maria (June 1975, Warner Bros WBS 8109)

12. Mexico b/w Gorilla (September 1975, Warner Bros WBS 8137)

13. Shower The People (Edited) b/w I Can Dream Of You (July 1976, Warner Bros WBS 8222)

14. Woman's Gotta Have It b/w You Make It Easy (October 1976, Warner Bros WBS 8278)

Note: the 'edited' version of "Shower The People" runs to 3:52 minutes; the LP cut is 4:32 minutes

Also the B-side "I Can Dream Of You" is a Livingstone Taylor cover version (his brother) and is a non-album track not available here 

No less that six of the eleven tracks from his 1970 Warner Brothers debut album "Sweet Baby James" were issued across 1970 and 1971 and reissued many times after – classics like "Fire And Rain", "Country Road" and the title song "Sweet Baby James". But fans will go straight for deep cuts like "Lo And Behold", the warm California sound of "Sunny Skies" and the cool acoustic Blues of "Steamroller" – a track he would return to for his first Greatest Hits set in 1976 with a raucous live version.

As a simple Americana, Singer-Songwriter almost Folk-Rock album - "Sweet Baby James" remains as much beloved in 2020 (50 years after the event) as does the follow up from 1971 - "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon". And the Remaster here is gorgeous. For sure you can’t actually read the lyrics in the repro foldout insert without a magnifying glass – but a nice touch nonetheless. And they have correctly used the "Sweet Baby James" title-only artwork of the February 1970 original - copies from late 1970 through to 1971 and beyond had "Including Fire And Rain and Country Roads" printed beneath the album title when those tunes became huge radio hits.

While "Fire And rain" from 1970's "Sweet Baby James" and "You've Got A Friend" from 1971's "Mud Slide Slim..." made him a global star (Carole King and Joni Mitchell's songwriting and vocal presence helped) - 1972's "One Man Dog" had a lot of small tracks that felt awful like filler amidst the obvious singles like "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and "Hymn" (with Randy and Michael Brecker on horns). Linda Ronstadt lent her voice to the excellent "One Morning In May" while a trio of Taylors (Alex, Hugh and James) gave their family harmonies to "Woh, Don't You Know".

Although he managed a healthy No. 13 placing the US Billboard album charts, it's safe to say that by 1974 and "Walking Man" (what boring cover art too), the public was deserting him in the UK where the album didn't chart at all. It's this forgotten album and the two that followed - 1975's "Gorilla" and 1976's "In The Pocket" when he'd teamed up with Carly Simon and was having a parallel career with her on Elektra Records - that will interest hard core fans the most. They are the albums you don't hear and acoustic-peaceful songs like "Daddy's Baby" and "Wandering" are tunes that deserve this second go round.

None other than Paul and Linda McCartney provided backing vocals on the bluesy "Rock 'n' Roll Is Music Now" while his Walking Man band featured famed guitarists Hugh McCracken and David Spinnoza as well as Carly Simon on Backing Vocals. Speaking of pretty (she sings on) "Ain't No Song" and its smooth production reminds me so much of Stephen Bishop's delightful 1976 debut "Careless" over on ABC Records. For sure stuff like "Hello Old Friend" with its city and country naming feels a tad too Neil Diamond (and not in a good way) and the Chuck Berry cover of "The Promised Land" smacks way too much of easily dashed-of filler. But then you get "Migration" - a perfectly lovely JT song - feels just a symphony to me - he sings - and I agree.

For sure there are those who would argue that JT has essentially sung the same tune for 50 years – just in many tiny variations. But I saw him live only ten years ago and it sure didn't feel like that to me. He was magical – evenly paced – never flash - but classy – steady and true. 

Re-visiting these albums has been both a joy and on occasion a tiny bit of a disappointment (especially LPs 3 and 4). But I'm certain that fans and newcomers are going to feel lifted up too - the good far outweighing the bad. Shower the people with love, he sang all those years ago. It was a good idea then and it still is now...

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"Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present OCCASIONAL RAIN" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Album and Single Tracks from 1969 to 1974 (May 2020 UK Ace Records 20-Track CD and 21-Track 2LP VINYL Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Fluttered..."

Entry number six in a set of themed CD and 2LP compilations by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs (of St. Etienne) for Ace Records of the UK (see list below). 

"Occasional Rain" features 20 tracks on its CD variant from 1969 through to 1974 (the 21-Track 2LP VINYL set has one bonus track) and concentrates on that post 60ts feeling of the time - where do we go from here and just where is my Prog-inducing wind instrument?

Unfortunately, like the compilations "Tea and Symphony" and "Three Day Week" that went before it - "Occasional Rain" is a mixture of the great, the good, the average and the decidedly neither here nor there. There are a lot of flutes, off-key voices and obscure stuff that has remained buried for obvious aural reasons - they just weren't very good.

It's hard to know why the pointless instrumental "Nutmeg, Bitter Suite" by Ireland's Granny's Intentions is on here or how it fits into any theme other than being vaguely Prog or Baroque. Then you get really great Pop-Rock in the shape of the unknown 'The Exchange And Mart' - an obscure band and B-side called "I Know That I Am Dreaming" on President Records in 1972 that no one seems to know anything about - and should - a rare moment of brightness in a dull landscape.

So it's a very mixed bag for me yet again. Here are the frozen dreams, ragged rains and two postcards from a knackered-Scarborough...

UK released 29 May 2020 - "Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present OCCASIONAL RAIN" on Ace Records CDCHD 1570 (Barcode 029667098229) is a 20-track CD compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (77:59 minutes):

1. Hidden Treasure - TRAFFIC (1971)

2. Ragged Rain Life - DUNCAN BROWNE (1973)

3. Home And Where I Long To Be - CRESSIDA (1970)

4. Leit Motif - KEITH WEST (1974)

5. Night Time - SKIN ALLEY (1969)

6. Once Upon A Time - CLOUDS (1970 recording, finally issued 2010)

7. Come With Me To Jesus - MANDY MORE (1972)

8. Out And In (Single Version) - THE MOODY BLUES

9. Wasting My Time - SHAPE OF THE RAIN (1971)

10. Nutmeg, Bitter Suite - GRANNY'S INTENTIONS (1970)

11. Sweetness - YES (1969)

12. Station Song Platform Two - PETE BROWN & PIBLOKTO! (1970)

13. Firefall - ARGENT

14. I Know That I'm Dreaming - THE EXCHANGE & MART (1972)

15. Postcards Of Scarborough - MICHAEL CHAPMAN

16. Question Of Time - CHRISTINE HARWOOD (1970)

17. The Castle - 'IGGINBOTTOM (1969)

18. Windy Baker Street - ANDREW LEIGH (1970)

19. Flying South In Winter - TONTON MACOUTE (1971)

20. Innocence Of Child - CATHERINE HOWE (1971)

Also issued 29 May 2020, a 2LP set of "Occasional Rain" on Ace Records XXQLP2070 (Barcode 029667011013) features one bonus track on Side 2 - "Waterlow" by Mott The Hoople

The 20-page booklet is the usual feast of rare album sleeves, promo photos, trade adverts and individual entries for each song and artist. Remasters are by NICK ROBBINS and the audio is uniformly superb throughout.

The problem for me comes with much of the material. There is no doubt in my mind that Duncan Browne's self-titled second album eventually issued in February 1973 on Mickie Most's RAK Records is one of the great undiscovered albums on the early 70ts (I’ve reviewed it and his August 1968 "Give You Take Me" Immediate Records debut) - but "Ragged Rain Life" isn't one of the best tracks on it. They could have used "In A Mist" - the long but beautiful non-album B-side to July 1972's "Journey" single (in fact I'd have opened the entire enterprise with this song). Michael Chapman's Harvest Records catalogue is a huge pool of discovery, but again they choose "Postcards Of Scarborough" from the fab "Full Qualified Survivor" album because of a 'place and weather' theme when there are better tracks on there like "Rabbit Hills" (see my review of the stunning 2011 Light in The Attic reissue of this album).

The other big aspect here is the 'flute' as the unspoken theme throughout (nearly every song features the instrument and I know there are those who can't abide it) and while accomplished songs from the big boys like Traffic, Yes and Moody Blues lift proceedings sporadically - the rest feels tortured and tedious even. There are for sure moments in the Andrew Leigh song, Shape Of The Rain and their sweet countrified acoustic strummer "Wasting My Time" or Catherine Howe's lovely "Innocence Of Child" that shine - but they feel too far and between. Also the problem with vocalists (Cressida, Christine Harwood) is that their dull voices or inexperience doesn't half kill the tunes.

You can't argue with the quality presentation and that generous playing time. But I'd nab a listen first before you purchase into this bad weather, because like me, you may find that much of it is indeed raining on your parade and not in a refreshing way. Shame...

May 2020

Titles to date in this Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Various Artists CD Series are:

1. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present ENGLISH WEATHER on Ace CDCHD 1484 (Barcode 029667077125) - released 27 Jan 2017 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)

2. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present PARIS IN THE SPRING on Ace CDCHD 1525 (Barcode 029667086127) - 25 May 2018 (one less track on the 2LP set)

3. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present STATE OF THE UNION: The American Dream In Crisis 1967-1973 on Ace CDCHD 1533 (Barcode 029667092326) - released 26 October 2018 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)

4. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present THREE DAY WEEK:  When The Lights Went Out 1972-1975 on Ace CDCHD 1542 (Barcode 029667093927) released 29 March 2019 (two bonus tracks on the 2LP set)

5. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present THE TEARS OF TECHNOLOGY on Ace Records CDCHD 1566 (Barcode 029667097628) - released 28 February 2020 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)

6. Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present OCCASIONAL RAIN on Ace CDCHD 1570 (Barcode 029667098229) - released 29 May 2020 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)

There is also

7. Tim Burgess & Bob Stanley present TIM PEAKS: Songs For A Late-Night Diner on Ace CDCHD 1555 (Barcode 029667095921) - released 25 November 2019 

"Bob Pegg and Nick Strut/Carolanne Pegg/The Shipbuilder/Ancient Maps" by BOB PEGG, CAROLANNE PEGG [both ex MR. FOX] and NICK STRUTT – Four Albums from April 1973 (two), May 1974 and August 1975 on Transatlantic Records – featured guests BJ Cole of Cochise and Albert Lee of Heads, Hands and Feet (guitars), Alan Eden (ex Mr. Fox and Drummer with Magna Carta in 1973), Dave Peacock of Chas and Dave, Mike Yarrow, Steve Simpson of Meal Ticket and Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance, Richard Bull of The Kursaal Flyers with Keyboards and Production from Graham Field of Rare Bird and Fields (29 May 2020 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 4LPs onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...In The Land Of The Snow Queen..."

After two well-received Transatlantic Records albums as part of the British Folk/Acid Folk cult group MR. FOX (the debut "Mr. Fox" in 1970 and its follow-up "The Gipsy" in 1971) - it was time for the recently separated Derbyshire duo of Bob and Carol Pegg to go solo. In the case of Bob Pegg – across two years and two albums, BP buddied up with someone else of like mind - Great Yarmouth's finest purveyor of Folk and Mandolin playing - Nick Strutt. Carolanne went her own way in 1973 and Bob would too eventually in 1975.

And that's where this chunky gathering of four rare British Folk-ish LPs newly remastered onto two CDs in 2020 by England's BGO comes a-strumming in. Like their former band, the Pegg and Strutt solo material mixes traditional ye olde Dales narrative-driven historical stories with contemporary Folk influences - arriving at a musical place both grounded in the old but knocking on the mushroom-stoned door of the new. You get all sorts of characters in here - Jesus Christ on top of a hill in the Lake District, a witch's guide to the underground, shipbuilders tormented by lizards and kings and snow queens, dark riders and one-eyed merchants with ancient maps (as Anthony Hopkins would say, very tasty my dear). Let's have at it all - you wild and fertile men and woman of the hills...

UK released 29 May 2020 - "Bob Pegg and Nick Strut/Carolanne Pegg/The Shipbuilder/Ancient Maps" by BOB PEGG and CAROLANNE PEGG with NICK STRUTT on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1413 (Barcode 5017261214133) offers Four Albums Remastered Onto Two CDs and plays outs as follows:

CD1 (79:40 minutes):

1. King Dog [Side 1]

2. Starchild

3. Wildman

4. Baroques Off

5. The Headrow Song

6. Kirkstall Forge [Side 2]

7. Jesus Christ Sitting On Top Of A Hill In The Lake District

8. Gypsy Romp

9. Entr'acte From "The Shipbuilder"

10. The Cows And The Sheep 

Tracks 1 to 10 are the debut album "Bob Pegg & Nick Strut" by BOB PEGG and NICK STRUTT – released April 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 265 (no US issue).

11. Open The Door [Side 1]

12. A Witch's Guide To The Underground

13. Mouse And The Crow

14. The Sapphire

15. Fair Fortune's Star

16. Clancy's Song [Side 2]

17. The Lady And The Well

18. Wycoller

19. The Lizard

Tracks 11 to 19 and Tracks 1 and 2 on CD2 are the continuous album "Carolanne Pegg" by CAROLANNE PEGG – released April 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 266 (no US issue). Note: all songs by CP except "Open The Door" which is a Judy Collins cover version

CD2 (79:44 minutes):

1. Man Of War

2. Winter People

Tracks 11 to 19 on CD1 and Tracks 1 and 2 on CD2 are the continuous album "Carolanne Pegg" by CAROLANNE PEGG – released April 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 266 (no US issue)

3. The Shipbuilder Part 1 [Side 1]

4. The Shipbuilder Part 2 [Side 2]

Tracks 3 and 4 are the album "The Shipbuilder” by BOB PEGG and NICK STRUTT  – released May 1974 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 280 (no US issue). Note: the front cover artwork credits the title of the album as "The Ship Builder” but the label runs both words together as one

5. The One-Eyed Merchant [Side 1]

6. The Map

7. In The Wood

8. The Woman On The Road

9. Darkrider's Song

10. In The Land Of The Snow Queen

11. The River

12. Gipsies' Song [Side 2]

13. Love Song

14. The Wild Man Appears

15. The Wild Man Of The Hills

16. The Beacon

17. The Keeper Of The Fire

18. The Waste Land

19. The Golden valley

Tracks 5 to 19 are the album "Ancient Maps" by BOB PEGG – released August 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 299 (no US issue)

The outer card slipcase adds these BGO reissues a distinctive classy look and the accompanying 24-page booklet is certainly substantial including the foldout story/lyric insert that came with original copies of the 1974 album "The Shipbuilder", the photo of Carolanne with fiddle that adorned the rear gatefold of her solo LP - but not unfortunately the lavish foldout poster/insert of photos and lyrics that came with the 1975 album "Ancient Maps". It looked not unlike a large version of those finger-fold origami paper games we used to make in the schoolyard and was always an impressive thing to see when we bought in a used copy of the album in Reckless (shame it isn't here).

JOHN O'REGAN has provided the liner notes and lifted heavily from named websites (accredited on Page 23) giving a potted history from their mid twenties beginnings in 1965 Nottingham Folk Festivals, via Mr. Fox in the early Seventies and on to a 1996 solo album for Bob (reissued in 2018 with Bonus Tracks) and a 2001 band project called Goshawk for historian and Cambridge University musicologist Carolanne – a group named after her own song on the debut Mr. Fox LP from 1970 - "The Gay Goshawk”. The background filling-in story is amazingly detailed and will be welcomed by newcomers - these three artists being obscure to most except those in deep Folk/Folk Rock circles.

In October 2006 (reissued February 2008) – Castle Music/Sanctuary issued the superb "Keeper Of The Fire" 2CD Anthology for Bob Pegg which containing three of the albums reissued here (but no Carolanne) and also had unreleased Seventies Tracks. But its been deleted years and is upwards of thirty quid on the open market. So with four vinyl rarities in the one place (maximum playing time on each CD) and cracking new 2020 sound from BGO's resident Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON – its time to return to this World of Folk music.

The April 1973 Bob Pegg and Nick Strutt self-titled debut saw both men play a huge range of instruments – Pegg on Whistles, Recorder, Oboe, Guitars, Percussion and Lead Vocals with Strutt on Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass and Mandolin. That array was augmented by legendary Pedal Steel Guitar player B.J.Cole (from the Country Rock band Cochise on United Artists) adding his distinctive moaning sound to "Starchild", "Wildman", "The Headrow Song" and "Kirkstall Forge" (he also played Dobro on "Gypsy Stomp"). But what smacks you in the jaw is the gorgeous sound – original Chipping Norton Studios production values giving us acoustic guitars and doubled-vocals on the opener "King Dog". The pretty continues with the rocket-man story "Starchild" – a terrestrial creature needing loving and sanctuary from the bars on Mercury. "Wildman" gives us an unhappy Duke returned from war hiding in his castle waiting for a sign of sorts. We go Amazing Blondel and ye olde England with the whistle-driven dance "Baroques Off" (a not so subtle in joke).

Cars and high street traffic open "The Headrow Song" where a lone busker tries to be heard – his whistling soon segueing into huge acoustic guitar strums – wind blowing cold on the Headrow as our hero waits for the 47 bus. Mary from Ireland tries to comfort him with sugar in his coffee but the curmudgeon is having none of it. Gorgeous Oboe and clever guitar fills make this Pegg and Strutt song a genuine melodic stand out on the album in the manner of Mellow Candle or Criss and Cross (both of their Folk/Rock gem albums reissued by Esoteric – "Swaddling Songs" and "Bored Civilians" - see my reviews). Jesus contemplates his father's fate for him in the Lake District – wondering which of the six-strong choir will roll away the stone. The album tries an ill-advised bit of Folk Boogie with "Gypsy Stomp" followed by a very Planxty-sounding mandolin on "The Shipbuilder" extract – a theme he would return to for a whole album in 1974. The debut ends of the smiling prettiness of "The Cows And The Sheep" – a young woman advised to not be afraid of the life she is carrying inside her and all it will bring.

Cult reissue label Grapefruit Records smartly used the Side 1 Carolanne Pegg opener "Open The Door" on the excellent "Across The Great Divide: Getting It Together In The Country 1968-74" Box Set in 2019. Her Melanie meets Marianne Faithful voice combines with guitars and banjos as she enthuses about her man's face and being free. The band on her solo LP (she dubbed The Wags) featured some cool names – Albert Lee of Heads, Hands and Feet on Guitar with Dave Peacock of Chas and Dave fame on Acoustic and Bass with her old mucker from Mr. Fox – Alan Eden on Drums and Percussion. A fruity maid talks about the man she fancies in "A Witch's Guide To The Underground" while "The Mouse And The Crow" feels like Fairport Convention Folk-Rock from their mighty "Liege & Lief". A lady needs her aching soul and troubled mind soothed in "The Sapphire" by placing the same on her clothes – hoping it will work as the tomcats howl outside her door.

The gorgeous audio and accomplished Folk-Rock continues with the strummed electric guitars of the Side 2 biggie on Carolanne's debut – the near ten minutes of "Fair Fortune's Star". Voices of the dead – the wind whispering softly in her ear – a kindly old man in the trees with an outstretched hand. I would imagine both Folk-Rock and Acid-Folk aficionados tap into this song on occasion. Softly softly for "The Lady And The Well" while trees bow down for the ancient place of "Wycoller" and it all ends on the jaunty "The Lizard". For sure Carolanne Pegg is no Sandy Denny nor will her voice and mixture of Rock with Folk appeal to everyone – but it's an accomplished album and it sounds amazing.

Over on Disc 2 we get the two lengthy Sides of "The Shipbuilder" LP from 1974 - Bob Pegg and Nick Strutt augmented by Mike Yarrow on Keyboards, Steve Simpson of Meal Ticket and Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance on Guitars and Violin, Richard Bull of The Kursaal Flyers on Bass and Dave Hammel on Drums. For sure side-long pieces of music (18:38 and 19:14 minutes) are not everyone's cup of Darjeeling - especially a fantasy folk epic that opens its backdrop insert with "The story begins on a spring evening..." It then goes on to have our frisky shipbuilder approach a castle half-hidden in a pine forest and have a wee chat with a mythical beast about constructing a boat strong enough to withstand the roughest seas. And then the uppity git only falls in love with the Lady of the Castle (much to the chagrin of the Great White Lord) and they have naughty non-nuptials in the hull of the big ship (you know, like a typical Saturday night in Margate).

Musically we are in a sort of Fairport Convention "Liege And Lief" vs. Traffic and their "John Barleycorn Must Die" LPs type of territory – only with longer songs. Side 1 opens and is all thin whistles and shimmering guitars as Pegg sings the night was cold and the night was still. The shipbuilder carries his hammer and saw as the guitars go all Prog – quite – back to Prog – and so on. The lyrics are reproduced in the booklet so you can keep up with the story – the Lady of the Castle down in the boatyard noticing the shipbuilder – the Lord upstairs loving his gold more than her. Roundabouts 8:22 minutes, a particularly pretty passage of acoustic and piano called Hymn Of The Trees comes sailing in and then in its final phase – gorgeous acoustic and violin from Steve Simpson. Side 2 opens with rolling acoustic notes and piano tinkles that become ominous two minutes in as the storm rages in Prog stylee around them. Things calm and about 5:35 minutes – the bass and piano suddenly get upbeat to indicate that the tempest is over – segueing into "The Raggle-Taggle Gypsies" – a Traditional Irish Folk superstars Planxty had featured on their 1972 self-titled Polydor Records debut. And on it goes to scattered shavings and the shipbuilder a stowaway on the white Lord’s ship. In the end the album’s awkward mixture of Folk and Prog will either thrill or bore you, but it still stands up for me as a worthy adventure.

With Pegg on just Vocals and Acoustic Guitar, his last concept album of the period "Ancient Maps" saw Graham Field (ex Rare Earth and part of his own band Fields) take the Production reins of a huge cast of outside musicians brought in to create the soundscape across its fourteen songs (they are listed on Page 13 – Graham Field also plays Harpsichord on some cuts). Once again Pegg returned to the sounds of olde – Elizabethan rhythms meshing with Prog Rock flourishes and every tune weighed down with heaps of lyrics. Some like "The Map" is a short interlude with echoed Monk-like sung-lyrics while "The Woman On The Road" and "Darkrider's Song" features brass and tales of the Dark Rider in the woods. I must admit that of all four albums, door number four is my least favourite because I think those instruments and the poorman's Jethro Tull feel to the music puts me off on two counts. Side 2 has much of the same and again, I find most of it hard work and very dated now (others may be enthralled).

Another reviewer has problems with the presentation and audio - I've neither. But by the time I'm at album number four I'm not moved - I'm more tested and that's just down to personal taste. For me this is a superb reissue of very rare and rarified material. As the Castle Music/Sanctuary 2CD reissue is pushing too much money by far, I'd say if you've any interest in Bob Pegg and his folky cohorts - then plumb for this sweet alternative...

"Dragon Fly" by JEFFERSON STARSHIP – October 1974 US LP and December 1974 UK LP on Grunt Records – featuring Grace Slick Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Craig Chaquico, Papa John Creach, Pete Sears, John Barbata, with guest Marty Balin on "Caroline" (January 1997 US BMG Entertainment/RCA CD Reissue – Mike Hartry and Bill Lacey Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ride The Tiger..."

By end of 1973 and well into 1974, the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE of 1966 to 1972 was all but defunct as far as record buyers were concerned. The cleverly packaged "Long John Silver" album of July 1972 and its subsequent 'Silver' tour of August/September 1972 put out as the "Thirty Seconds Over Winterland" Live LP in April 1973 were lukewarmly received with Winterland not charting at all in England. Both had clearly signalled a downward slide in songwriting kudos matched by dwindling sales and original leading lights Marty Balin and Jorma Kaukonen jumped ship.

But the tour had brought on-board 19-year lead axe whizz-kid Craig Chaquico and suddenly the juices started to flow again as they prepared their next album in the summer of 1974 (July to be exact). It was time for a change. Jefferson Airplane (the name) – apparently owned by the original five members of the band – couldn't be used. So Kantner and Slick decided on an old-but-new beginning as JEFFERSON STARSHIP. In fact if you look at the front cover artwork of the original vinyl LP - the album is actually credited on the sleeve to a trio 'Grace Slick JEFFERSON STARSHIP Paul Kantner' and then the name "Dragon Fly" below the fab Peter Lloyd illustration.

Also just to show that all was not wildly different, the back sleeve photo'd all of the new band and also showed that they'd even roped in former bandman Marty Balin as a third vocalist on "Caroline" - something the FM radio stations made a big play about at the time. The seven and half minute Rock-Prog epic was Kantner and Balin's first songwriting co-credit since the "Volunteers" LP five years back – and with the three vocalists on the one song – it felt like the old Plane crew was back in better clothing - causing huge buzz about the album. Starship had also gotten Bob Hunter of Grateful Dead fame to do the lyrics to Side 2's "Come To Life". So a few draws for fans on all fronts.

Released Stateside in October 1974 (December 1974 in the UK) on their own Grunt Records BFL1-0717 (via RCA) - the eight-tracker LP and its fantastic leadoff hit single "Ride The Tiger" (featuring incendiary fretwork from Craig Chaquico) made them stars all over again (it peaked at No. 11 in the US LP charts). Which brings us to a rather odd situation on 'digital'...

The American CD I own is the 28 January 1997 variant on BMG/RCA 66879-2 (Barcode 078636687926) with an 8-page booklet (DAVID COHEN liner notes) - itself reissued with a different catalogue number and lesser artwork by US Sony BMG Music Entertainment in June 2007 on Sony A 710529 (Barcode 886971052923). There has been a Japanese Paper Sleeve reissue in January 2008 subsequently - but naught since. In fact, neither the 2007 US variant nor the 2008 Japanese issue offers a remaster credit of any kind - so I'm 'presuming' each used the 1997 transfer. But from scathing reviews of 2007 issues especially (complaints about its dull sound) - I'm not so sure.

I mention all of this because in July 2020 (and for such a huge album in their catalogue) - it appears that the American CD on RCA 66879-2 from 28 January 1997 is the only actual 'Digital Remaster' of the album available anywhere – transfers carried out by MIKE HARTRY and Audio restoration by BILL LACEY (42:43 minutes total playing time). But it's been deleted years and here in the UK has acquired a rather nasty price tag of fifty quid or more from online sites (same in the USA, over eighty bucks in places). So it appears that until another fuller and fatter variant appears in Deluxe Edition form – this old 1997 American sucker is what you got. To the music...

1. Ride The Tiger (Paul Kantner/Grace Slick/Byong Yu song) [Side 1]

2. That's For Sure (Craig Chaquico/Jerry Gallup song)

3. Be Young You (Grace Slick song)

4. Caroline (Marty Balin/Paul Kantner song)

5. Devils Den (Grace Slick/Papa John Creach song) [Side 2]

6. Come To Life (David Freiberg, Stephen Schuster and Bob Hunter song)

3. All Fly Away (Tom Pacheco song)

4. Hyperdrive (Grace Slick and Pete Sears song)

The album opens on a winner - lyrics about men in the orient singing to the sky - Zen archer philosophy nonsense and a great chugging riff that propels the 5:09 minutes of "Ride The Tiger" along with aplomb. But as it progresses it’s the racing up and down the fretboard guitar playing of Craig Chaquico that amazes. I can vividly remember Bob Harris on England's "Old Grey Whistle Test" debuting the track and pointing this out - even now it still seems Santana-like brilliant. After the full-on Seventies Rawk of Tiger, the pretty piano entry passage of "That's For Sure" comes as a welcome breeze - '...you came into this life and you have a right to exist...' being the central theme. What the Remaster brings out is the fab interplay between the vocals, guitars and Creach's subtle violin fills. While the LP's opener is an obvious and genuinely exciting moment, "That's For Sure" is the song that made me feel the band was 'back' - brilliant arrangements and delivery. Recorded in 8 July 1974, Grace Slick wails about the tongues of men - some made of wood and silence - some chasing gold while children starve in her typically loaded diatribe "Be Young You". There then comes the epic "Caroline" - seven and half minutes of the old guard singing about making love, changes people are going through. It helps that "Caroline" has great musical ideas going on throughout (brilliantly musical guitar interludes) - and love-song lyrics that feel thought out rather just functional.

Side 2 opens with Grace alive and spitting - waxing satirical about the American Dream and pawns and people scared to talk back on "Devils Den". It's a sexy piano-Rock little number with near-perfect contributions from the violin bow of Papa John Creach as it boogies along. Cohen is right in his liner notes to point out similarities between "Come To Life" and the bass riff in The Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself" - the song's almost upbeat Pop-Funk feeling like the Starship is going to go Disco at any moment (or at least their variant of Rock-Soul). Five and half minutes of “All Fly Away" fades in slowly on lovely piano notes and a shimmering violin - moonlight above the Rio Grand - drifting into dreams - climb through time tomorrow - nice Remaster too. "Dragon Fly" ends on the epic near eight-minutes of "Hyperdrive" - Grace Slick impassioning lyrics about walls, traps and circles that go nowhere – about finding a place where you can go to be free. It's also probably the album's most Prog tune.

Jefferson Starship would trump "Dragon Fly" with "Red Octopus" the following year - a US No. 1 LP in July 1975. But until someone gets a grip on the 'Grunt Years' as a Box Set or Deluxe Editions of the individual albums - this deleted but cool 1997 CD reissue/remaster of "Dragon Fly" from 1974 will have to be your (pricey) port of call for their tiger-ride...