"Giant Step/De Ole Folks At Home" by TAJ MAHAL – October 1969 US 2LP Set on Columbia Records GP 18 in Stereo (November 1969 in the UK on Direction S 8-66226) – First LP is With A Band – Second LP Is Taj Mahal Alone on Acoustic Instruments (Guitar, Banjo) – Band Featuring Jesse Edwin Davis on Guitar, Gary Gilmore on Bass and Chuck Blackwell on Drums (1998 UK Columbia/Direction/Rewind CD Reissue – Rewind Series – Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Country Blues..."

 

In truth Taj Mahal's third Blues-Rock album for Columbia Records USA issued October 1969 (Direction Records in the UK in November) is all but forgotten now and languishing on a 22-year old 'Rewind' CD reissue/remaster for just over four squid, brand new. It deserves better than that...so let's get postin' those bonds and linin' those railroad tracks...

 

Issued Stateside as a 2LP set in October 1969 on Columbia Records GP 10 (360 Sound Stereo) – Sides 1 and 2 of the first LP "Giant Step" are Taj with a three-piece band including the hugely complimentary Jesse Edwin Davis on guitars and keyboards with Gary Gilmore on Bass and Chuck Blackwell on Drums. Sides 3 and 4 of the 2LP set called "De Ole Folks At Home" is a sort unplugged journey back into old timey Traditionals by Leadbelly and Gary Davis. Singing and Jiving the words unaccompanied - Taj uses his Mississippi National Steel-Bodied Acoustic Guitar and his Banjo - and alongside his own compositions in that bygone style – goes for a certain bare-bones feel to the music (the evocative photo on the rear sleeve of Negro players looking dapper in Virginia in 1895 showing his appreciation and admiration for the roots of the Blues). So one LP rocks while the other tickles and evokes. Here are the mixed up details...

 

UK released June 1998 - "Giant Step/De Ole Folks At Home" by TAJ MAHAL on Columbia/Rewind 491692 2 (Barcode 5099749169227) is a straightforward transfer/remaster of the whole 22-Track Double-Album onto 1CD and plays out as follows (69:28 minutes):

 

"Giant Step"

1. Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie (Anymo') [Side 1]

2. Take A Giant Step

3. Give Your Woman What She Wants

4. Good Morning Little School Girl

5. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond

6. Six Days On The Road [Side 2]

7. Farther On Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me)

8. Keep Your Hands Off Her

9. Bacon Fat

 

"De Ole Folks At Home"

10. Linin' Track [Side 3]

11. Country Blues No. 1

12. Wild Ox Moan

13. Light Rain Blues

14. A Little Soulful Tune

15. Candy Man

16. Cluck Old Hen

17. Coloured Aristocracy [Side 2]

18. Blind Boy Rag

19. Stagger Lee

20. Cajun Time

21. Fishing Blues

22. Annie's Lover

Tracks 1 to 22 are the double-album "Giant Step/De Ole Folks At Home" (his third studio outing) - released October 1969 in the USA on Columbia Records GP 18 and November 1969 in the UK on Direction Records S 86626 (both in Stereo only). Produced by DAVID RUBINSON - it peaked at No. 85 in the US LP charts (didn’t chart UK.

 

These 'Rewind' reissues were all the same, no new liner notes and you were lucky to get the original artwork which is exactly what's offered here. The gatefold slip of paper acting as an inlay gives you the credits of the inner gatefold from the original double-album but nothing else. Columbia always claimed that every 'Rewind' reissue featured a new Remaster and although there are no credits here - it should jumps and rocks - "Six Days On The Road" undeniably kicking. To the music...

 

It opens on a pointless one-minute whistle-through called "Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie (Anymo')" followed by the first song proper - a cover version of Goffin/King's "Take A Giant Step" made famous by The Monkees in 1966 (the B-side of "Last Train To Clarksville"). I have to admit that Taj doesn't really improve on the Prefab Four's version. Co-written with noted American songwriter Joel Hirschhorn, "Give You Woman What She Wants" was featured in the May 1969 comedy movie "The April Fools" starring Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve. First issued on the Columbia Masterworks LP to the Soundtrack - it's good but has always seemed like a badly recorded ditty to me. But that doesn't stop it being fun though. Things continue with the saucy Bob Love and Don Level classic from 1961 – "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" – a good mid-tempo shuffler. He finishes Side 1 with a Buffy Saint-Marie song from her first album "It's My Way!" in 1964 on Vanguard Records called "You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond" – a romper about ole man death slipping into the room and what you'll need to deal with that sly old fox.

 

Side 2 opens with the Carl Montgomery romper "Six Days On The Road" from 1964 - a song so upbeat that its been covered by so many - Johnny Rivers, Jimmy Lawton, Dave Dudley, Johnny Cash and Steve Earle to name but a few. Taj offers us the first of what are IMO his best songs on the album - his own harmonica shuffler "Farther On Down The Road (You'll Accompany Me)" - a wicked groove. Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter provides the not so subtle 'big leg mama' tune "Keep Your Hands Off Her" which Taj snarls out at you in a 'uh huh' salacious way. The first LP ends on another winner - his second best cut on LP1 - Taj's cover of The Band's "Bacon Fat" written by Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson. It's near seven-minutes of guitar-and-harmonica shuffle could easily be mistaken as a Taj Mahal original such is his comfort with the 'oh baby' and 'ooh ooh' and 'groovin' for y'all' vocal jabs. The audio on this track is fantastic and you get to hear Jesse Edwin Davis stretch out on the guitar as the song slinks to the run-out groove.

 

The second platter "De Ole Folks At Home" feels like an altogether better beast than "Giant Step" - made stronger by its simplicity and stark crystal clear production. It opens up with Moses smoking on that distant shore as Taj gives us a growling Acapella rendition of "Linin' Track" – Mahal sounding like he's on the chain-gang in "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" There then follows 2:37 minutes of National Steel Guitar bliss – the rattling slide notes of the instrumental "Country Blues No. 1" pumping out of your speakers like a ghost that means you no harm but does aim to please. His playing on this is stunning (Leo Kottke good) and thankfully the Audio is right up there with the best that LP1 had to offer. Won't you come here wild woman and sit down on your daddy's knee, Taj suggests in "Wild Ox Moan" as he strums and sings with sly intent (not sure you should believe what this big daddy is saying good woman). The banjo appears for "Light Rain Blues" - drops hitting the window - while voice and knee slapping provide us with the Acapella "A Little Soulful Tune" - not sure it will make you dance but it is impressive especially as he starts that storytelling. "Candy Man" is a Mississippi John Hurt cover version done on banjo – and again stunning audio on this I’d do anything is this God almighty world tune. The same goes for "Cluck Old Hen" – a happy Rooster and his hens imitated on rolling banjo notes – gorgeous audio for a witty ditty.

 

Side 2 opens with "Colored Aristocracy" – a fantastic banjo instrumental that feels like a soldier coming home from the Confederate War just so glad to be alive and in one piece. Back to guitars for "Blind Boy Rag" – this instrumental on a 12-string while the Lloyd Price classic "Stagger Lee" gets slowed down on the same instrument. A great big fight, but a cool rendition. The short "Cajun Tune" pans his Harmonica from speaker to speaker while the album ends on a twofer - the lazy "Fishin' Blues" and the ain't-too-fussed chap in "Annie's Lover" - a big old African gent who loves his farm animals and doesn't sweat life as long as he's got his gal (I think he may be on to something).

 

I don't hold truck with opinion that calls this Taj Mahal 1969 double-album a masterpiece. But there is much here to love and despite Giant Step's half-century+ age – still sounds the business (this fab-sounding CD Remaster is still available in 2020 for peanuts money). Get Country on those Blues folks and thanks Taj, farther on down the road and we're still listening and admiring...

"Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1974" by FLEETWOOD MAC – Including the Albums "Then Play On" (1969), "Kiln House" (1970), "Future Games" (1971), "Bare Trees" (1972), "Penguin" (1973), "Mystery To Me" (1973), "Heroes Are Hard To Find" (1974) and the Previously Unreleased set "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" (September 2020 UK Warner Music/Rhino 8CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Artwork and 20 Bonus Tracks Overall – Justin Smith, Chris Bellman, Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Fleeting Glance...Been And Gone..."

I suspect huge numbers of long-suffering Fleetwood Mac fans will absolutely love this 8CD Mini Clamshell Box Set - even if it does cover the British/American band's musically compromised period (there really are some dogs in here, two-to-three star music given five-star reissue, hence the four stars). Still, the new first-time Remasters on the six albums between 1970 and 1974 are fabulous ("Then Play On" from 1969 was done in 2013), the presentation is pretty good (card repros that ape their original vinyl releases including inserts), loads of excellent extras actually worth the moniker 'bonus', a Previously Unreleased Live Set from 1974 with the Bob Welch and Bob Weston line-up and all eight discs for just over thirty-quid (reasonable in September 2020). There is mucho to discuss, so let's have at the specs first...

CD BOX:
The "Then Play On" set is the 'exactly' the same as the August 2013 Expanded Edition CD reissue - Chris Bellman mastering and identical total playing time of 69:53 minutes - so this 2020 issue is nothing new or shall we say improved on that. That last Peter Green line-up album and the singles around it had a staggering convoluted history – so see my detailed separate review on "Then Play On" using Barcode 081227964436 to locate it on Amazon. Six of the original seven studio album CDs here have bonus tracks ("Penguin" is the exception, tracks details are outlined below) and the eight title is new – "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" – a concert at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California made during their US Tour for the "Heroes Are Hard To Find" LP. Originally the show was a simulcast on the legendary Rock Radio Station KSAN-FM in San Francisco.

Of the 20 Bonus Cuts (overall) on this Box set, 8 are Previously Unreleased. The Live CD is mastered by long-time Audio Engineer Associates to Rhino – DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT (done at D2 Mastering is L.A.). The "Kiln House" album has always been a huge fave of mine and here it is expanded to offer four perfect Bonus Tracks – the stand alone 45 from 1971 of "Dragonfly" by Danny Kirwan with its exclusive B-side "The Purple Dancer" unbelievably making its digital debut anywhere in the world in 2020 – alongside very cool 45-single edits of two album winners "Jewel Eyed Judy" and "Station Man".

 
ARTWORK
From the generic pictures advertising "Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1974" on Amazon and the Net in general - you could get the impression that the Mini LP Repro Art Card Sleeves are all singular issues. To my delight, they aren't. They follow the original releases. "Then Play On" therefore has its gatefold, "Kiln House" the same and to my amazement the rare 'Penguin' gatefold insert of band photos that came with original 1970 Reprise Records LP has been reproduced too - something even my Japanese SHM-CD Remaster hasn't got. "Future Games" and "Bare Trees" are singular cards as per the originals, "Penguin" has its gatefold as does "Mystery To Me" and its rare insert, "Heroes..." is singular and they've given appropriate artwork and a rather tasty gatefold to the new Previously Unreleased set "Live From The Record Plant - December 15, 1974" which runs to a pleasing 72:42 minutes. The 12-page booklet is pretty but unfortunately a fairly functional affair – pictures of the albums – tracks lists and bonuses – penguin logos - but zero liner notes of appreciation on this dark and murky Mac period. They didn’t even bother to list release dates or catalogue numbers – no line-ups – no photos of incoming band members. The clamshell box is pretty and fairly sturdy to look at and touch – like say the Joni Mitchell or Ry Cooder sets – but you can’t help thinking that after all these decades waiting someone somewhere should have laid into the details and given this much-maligned period of Mac History a proper do over. Pity...
 
VINYL BOX:
LP freaks will know that 19 August 2013 saw the "Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1972" VINYL BOX SET issued with titles 1 to 4 here and a bonus 7" single of "Oh Well - Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" (Warner Music/Rhino R1 535581 - Barcode 081227965358). Well, at last, we get the remainder. Friday, 4 September 2020 sees "Fleetwood Mac: 1973 to 1974" on Warner Music/Rhino offering us titles 5 to 8. There is an individually Numbered Limited Edition Exclusive from Rhino.Com with Coloured Vinyl for Each LP - Penguin in Yellow, Mystery To Me in Orange, Heroes Are Hard To Find in Gold and Live in White with the 45-single in Blue. The LPs have Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from Original Master Tapes and are on 140-Gram Vinyl with a Bonus 7" Single – "For Your Love (Mono Promo Edit)" b/w "Good Things (Come To Those Who Wait)". The B-side is Previously Unreleased and both are Bonus Tracks on the "Mystery To Me" CD. The "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" is a 2LP set.
 
AUDIO:
Produced for release by STEVE WOOLARD and BILL INGLOT – JUSTIN SMITH did the Remastering at WEA Studios in Burbank California sometime in 2016 and 2017. There have been probably three to four releases worldwide of this Mac period – especially 1971 to 1974 with Bob Welch – none of which have had proper remastering if truth be told – so this set represents a long held wish by fans. And I have to say, Mr. Smith has done a great job. Let’s get to the musical details...
 
UK released Friday, 4 September 2020 - "Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1974" by FLEETWOOD MAC on Warner Music/Rhino R2 596006 (Barcode 603497851300) is an 8CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Artwork and 20 Bonus Tracks Overall. It plays out as follows:
 
CD1 "Then Play On" UK LP Configuration – see NOTE (69:53 minutes):
1. Coming Your Way [Side 1]
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Fighting For Madge
4. When You Say
5. Show-biz Blues
6. Underway
7. One Sunny Day
8. Although The Sun Is Shining [Side 2]
9. Rattlesnake Shake
10. Without You
11. Searching For Madge
12. My Dream
13. Like Crying
14. Before The Beginning
 
BONUS TRACKS:
15. Oh Well - Pt. 1
16. Oh Well - Pt. 2
Tracks 15 and 16 are the 26 September 1969 UK 7" single on Reprise RS.27000 - 19 November 1969 USA 7" single on Reprise 0883
17. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)
18. World In Harmony
Tracks 17 and 18 are the 9 May 1970 UK 7" single on Reprise RS.27007 - 3 June 1970 USA 7" single on Reprise 0925
 
NOTE: Tracks 1 to 14 are the UK-configuration for the "Then Play On" album - released September 1969 UK LP on Reprise RSLP 9000. The US LP was issued twice – originally in 19 September 1969 with 12-Tracks without "Oh Well" and in November 1969 with 11 Rejiggered Tracks to include the then November 1969 two-part hit "Oh Well". Using the CD above, you can sequence both variants as follows:
September 1969 USA 1st Pressing LP on Reprise RS 6368 with 12 tracks:
Side 1:
1. Coming Your Way [1]
2. Closing My Eyes [2]
3. Fighting For Madge [3]
4. When You Say [4]
5. Show-biz Blues [5]
6. Underway [aka Under Way] [6]
 
Side 2:
1. Although The Sun Is Shining [8]
2. Rattlesnake Shake [9]
3. Searching For Madge [11]
4. My Dream [12]
5. Like Crying [13]
6. Before The Beginning [14]
 
November 1969 reissued USA LP on Reprise RS 6368 with 11 tracks:
Side 1:
1. Coming Your Way [1]
2. Closing My Eyes [2]
3. Show-biz Blues [5]
4. Underway [6]
5. Oh Well (Full Length Version) [15 and 16 - minus the minute in error]
 
Side 2:
1. Although The Sun Is Shining [8]
2. Rattlesnake Shake [9]
3. Searching For Madge [11]
4. Fighting For Madge [3]
5. Like Crying [13]
6. Before The Beginning [14]
 
CD2 "Kiln House" (51:17 minutes):
1. This Is The Rock [Side 1]
2. Station Man
3. Blood On The Floor
4. Hi Ho Silver
5. Jewel Eyed Judy
6. Buddy’s Song [Side 2]
7. Earl Gray
8. One Together
9. Tell Me All The Things You Do
10. Mission Bell
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Kiln House" – released 18 September 1970 in the USA on Reprise Records RS 6408 and October 1970 in the UK on Reprise Records RSLP 9004. Line-up was - Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood with Christine Perfect [nee McVie]
 
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Dragonfly
12. The Purple Dancer
Tracks 11 and 12 are the 12 March 1971 A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Reprise RS 27010 [no US equivalent] – both tracks non-album – B-side available digitally here for the first time. "Dragonfly" was featured on LP on the November 1971 "Greatest Hits" set.

13. Jewel Eyed Judy (Single Version)
14. Station Man (Single Version)
Tracks 13 and 14 are the 6 January 1971 A&B-sides of a US 7" single on Reprise 0984

(See paragraphs below on the "Kiln House" LP re the above 45-single edits)
 
CD3 "Future Games" (73:22 minutes):
1. Woman Of 1000 Years [Side 1]
2. Morning Rain
3. What A Shame
4. Future Games
5. Sands Of Time [Side 2]
6. Sometimes
7. Lay It All Down
8. Show Me A Smile
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Future Games" - released 3 September 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6465 and September 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44153. Line-up was - Danny Kirwan, Bob Welch (ex Head West), Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.
 
BONUS TRACKS:
9. Sands Of Time (Single Version) - A-side of a December 1971 US 7" single on Reprise 1057
10. Sometimes (Alternate Version)
11. Lay it All Down (Alternate Version)
12. Stone
13. Show Me A Smile (Alternate Version)
14. What A Shame (Unedited) - Tracks 10 to 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
 
CD4 "Bare Trees" (51:18 minutes):
1. Child Of Mine [Side 1]
2. The Ghost
3. Homeward Bound
4. Sunny Side Of Heaven
5. Bare Trees [Side 2]
6. Sentimental Lady
7. Danny's Chant
8. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
9. Dust
10. Thoughts On A Grey Day
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Bare Trees" - released 14 March 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2080 and April 1972 in the UK on Reprise K 44181. Same line-up as "Future Games"
 
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Trinity (Mono Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
12. Sentimental Lady (Single Version) - A-side of a May 1972 US 7" single on Reprise REP 1093 
13. Homeward Bound (Live)  - no data supplied
 
CD5 "Penguin" (36:39 minutes):
1. Remember Me [Side 1]
2. Bright Fire
3. Dissatisfied
4. (I'm A) Road Runner
5. The Derelict [Side 2]
6. Revelation
7. Did You Ever Love Me
8. Night Watch
9. Caught In The Rain
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Penguin" - released 30 March 1973 in the USA on Reprise MS 2138 and May 1973 in the UK on Reprise K 44235. Line-up was - David Walker, Bob Weston, Bob Welch, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
 
CD6 "Mystery To Me" (54:46 minutes):
1. Emerald Eyes [Side 1]
2. Believe Me
3. Just Crazy Love
4. Hypnotized
5. Forever
6. Keep On Going
7. The City [Side 2]
8. Miles Away
9. Somebody
10. The Way I Feel
11. For Your Love
12. Why
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Mystery To Me" - released 15 October 1973 in the USA on Reprise MS 2158 and January 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 44248. Line-up was - Bob Welch, Bob Weston, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
 
BONUS TRACKS:
13. For Your Love (Mono Promo Edit, 3:10 minutes) - A-side of a December 1973 US-Only Promo Single on Reprise REP 1188, the other side has the Stereo Mix
14. Good Things (Come To Those Who Wait) - Previously Unreleased Bob Welch song
 
CD7 "Heroes Are Hard To Find" (42:36 minutes):
1. Heroes Are Hard To Find [Side 1]
2. Coming Home
3. Angel
4. Bermuda Triangle
5. Come A Little Bit Closer
6. She's Changing Me [Side 2]
7. Bad Loser
8. Silver Heels
9. Prove Your Love
10. Born Enchanter
11. Safe Harbour
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Heroes Are Hard To Find" - released 13 September 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2196 and September 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54026. Line-up was - Bob Welch, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
 
CD8 "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" (72:42 minutes):
1. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)
2. Angel
3. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
4. Sentimental Lady
5. Future Games
6. Bermuda Triangle
7. Why
8. Believe Me
9. Black Magic Woman/Oh Well
10. Rattlesnake Shake
11. Hypnotized
Tracks 1 to 11 are exclusive to this 2020 Box - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
 
The moment you play "Kiln House" you hear the slight hiss, but you are soon enveloped in the sheer power of the Remaster. This isn't loudness wars - it's been allowed to breathe. I've been listening to "Kiln House" since 1970 (I'm 62 now) and I've never heard it sound so bloody good. The twin guitar assault of Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer is given full reign by this sonic upgrade in gems like "Jewel Eyed Judy", the slinky "Station Man", the instrumental "Earl Grey" and my heart's desire - "Tell Me All The Things You Do" (Paul Weller riffage ahoy) - all sounding spiffing and full in your speakers. The jangling echoed guitar-break in "Earl Grey", the goodbye world cod vocals of "Blood On The Floor" and the rocking "Hi Ho Silver" – all sound fab.

Throw in the US Single Edits of two great album-cuts that concise the tunes even better in my book - "Jewel Eyed Judy" at 3:17 minutes and "Station Man" at 5:11 minutes (lops off 30+ seconds of the fading-in building-up intro) and "Kiln House" the 2020 CD incarnation comes close to "Then Play On" as magnificent. The album was always an overall 4-stars in my book even though I've loved it. But with these tasty additions - it's a 5-star stormer for me now. Reprise has even found the small-sized gatefold 'Penguin Photo-Insert' that came with original LPs and repro'd that - something my Japan SHM-CD from 2013 (with Mini LP artwork faithfully reproduced) didn't even manage.

PS: the cool-looking German picture sleeve variant of "Jewel Eyed Judy" b/w "Station Man" lists the playing time of Judy as 3:17 minutes (as per the US edit) but also lists its B-side "Station Man" as having a 4:00 minute playing time. Other countries like the Netherlands and Australia simply listed the full 5:49 minutes LP version and I presume carried that full album cut out of regional laziness. I have never seen this supposed German Edit Version on any CD anywhere and as this September 2020 Warner Music-Rhino 8CD release is/was entirely US-based - it's hardly surprising that it didn't show here. Perhaps in the future - it will appear on a Repertoire CD out of Germany - wait and see. 

But then (musically at least) it all goes pear-shaped - and big time. Although the Remasters of "Future Games", "Bare Trees" and "Penguin" improve things immeasurably - all three albums are a case of ascending musical dreadfulness. But again - an odd thing happens here too. There are six bonuses on "Future Games" and whereas the Side 1 instrumental "What A Shame" putters out at 2:15 minutes on the original LP - the bonus 'Unedited' cut is a whopping 8:25 minutes long - finally allowing that hidden John Perfect brass work to be heard and making an inconsequential song into an altogether more impressive beast. The unreleased studio outtake "Stone" is a pretty 2:30 minute acoustic ballad from Welch and again the muddy LP version of Kirwan's "Sometimes" and Welch's "Lay It All Down" get 'Alternate Versions' in the bonuses that are IMO way better than what was released. "Bare Trees" has a bonus in the previously unreleased "Trinity" song (albeit in Mono), a four-minutes-plus Danny Kirwan guitar-whig-out fans will love to bits. And the previously unreleased "Good Things (Come To Those Who Wait)" is another goody - a Bob Welch tune that should have been on the album (not surprised Rhino and Warners have used it as one of the songs on the Bonus 45-single in the Vinyl LP set).

 
The remasters will also finally allow fans to hear deep LP cuts like the touching "Woman Of 1000 Years", the acoustic "Dust", the Funk-Rock of "The City" and the Mac doing Seventies Beach Boys harmonies on the stunning "Caught In The Rain". They will also reach for "Hypnotized" - Welch's shimmering vibe tune on "Mystery To Me". The Production values on both "Mystery To Me" and "Heroes Are Hard To Find" go way up as the band edges towards that Buckingham-Nicks moment in 1975 and of course "Rumours" 1977. David Walker's vocals on the cover version of Jr. Walker's "(I'm A) Road Runner" impress too. The live set also has blistering versions of "Hypnotized", "Green Manalishi..." and the double-whammy of "Black Magic Woman/Oh Well" - a huge crowd pleaser from the old days with Peter Green (what a loss he was in 2020).
 
There are fans that swear by the Bob Welch period but I am not one of them. Having said that, I am more than pleased to be hearing those forgotten Mac moments in properly decent audio at last (including his better tracks). I'm off now to play the stereo knackers out of "The Purple Dancer" or Christine McVie's lovely "The Way I Feel" (another forgotten album nugget), the orchestral majesty of "Why" and generally dip my toes once again into the rest of it with hope in my heart and the curves of Salma Hayek on my mind (but that's another story/lawsuit). Enjoy peeps...

"Volume Two" by THE SOFT MACHINE – August 1969 Second US Album on Probe/ABC/Command Records in Stereo (November 1969 in the UK on Probe Records, Their First LP released in the UK) – featuring Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Hugh Hopper with Guest Brian Hopper on Saxophone (August 2009 UK Polydor/UMC Straightforward CD Reissue – Paschal Byrne Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
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"...Dada Was Here..."

Do you remember when weird was good, even beloved and revered? Well, welcome to The Soft Machine's second album – all late 60ts Experimental, Prog Rock, Avant Garde, Jazz Rock, Comedic and at times my post-pandemic brethren of Covid-19 bleary-eyed zombie monsters - just plain batshit. Would we have it any other way...

Following immediately on from an intense and exhausting two-month US tour with Jimi Hendrix and his Band of Gypsys which saw Kevin Ayers up and leave – the new trio of Drummer and Singer Robert Wyatt, Keyboardist Mike Ratledge and Bassist Hugh Hopper joined forces with former Wilde Flowers Saxophonist Brian Hopper (brother of Hugh) to make their second platter in February and March of 1969.

Seventeen cuts were made with the 10-Track seventeen-minutes-ish Side 1 being called "Rivmic Melodies" and the 7-Track sixteen-minute-ish Side 2 wittily entitled "Esther's Nose Job" (well of course it is). Many of the cuts were just snippets really (less than a minute) some including only dialogue (Wyatt reciting the alphabet forward and backwards). And as other reviewers have quite rightly commented – with slot number two, Soft Machine moved into all manner of genre-realms that seemed to leave ordinary song structure in the dust. They really don't make record albums like this any more, and in September 2020, there appears to be little room for them even they did.

By the time the vinyl gatefold LP hit the American shops in early August 1969 on Probe/ABC/Command Records CPLP 4505 (UK fans would see it be the band's first LP release in Blighty in November 1969 on Probe Records SPB 1002 in a single laminate sleeve) – Ayers was already signing to the then emerging Prog-Rock based Harvest Records label for his first solo album. But let's get pataphysical baby and go back to platter numero duo, then on to this rather good 2009 Paschal Byrne Remaster...

UK released 3 August 2009 - "Volume Two" by THE SOFT MACHINE on Polydor/UMC 532 050-6 (Barcode 600753205068) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of their second studio album from 1969 and plays out as follows (33:33 minutes):

RIVMIC MELODIES [Side 1]

1. Pataphysical Introduction - Pt. I

2. A Concise British Alphabet - Pt. I

3. Hibou, Anemone And Bear

4. A Concise British Alphabet - Pt. II

5. Hulloder

6. Dada Was Here

7. Thank You Pierrot Lunaire

8. Have You Ever Bean Green?

9. Pataphysical Introduction - Pt. II

10. Out Of Tunes

ESTHER'S NOSE JOB [Side 2]

11. As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still

12. Dedicated To You But When You Weren't Listening

13. Fire Engine Passing With Bells Clanging

14. Pig

15. Orange Skin Food

16. A Door Opens And Closes

17. 10:30 Returns To The Bedroom

Tracks 1 to 17 are their second studio album "Volume Two" - released August 1969 in the USA on Probe/ABC/Command Records CPLP 4505 and November 1969 in the UK on Probe Records SPB 1002. Produced by THE SOFT MACHINE - it didn't chart in either country.

 

The 16-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth and pretty affair. It even gives a photo of The Wilde Flowers with three of the Softs looking suitably 'with it' as they ponder Beat Poetry and Dadaism - brothers Hugh and Brian Hopper with Robert Wyatt and drummer Richard Coughlan (who would later join those other Canterbury stalwarts Caravan). There are trade adverts (would you feed your daughter to the soft machine?), Psychedelic posters of the period, a label repro of their ultra-rare February 1967 debut British 45 "Love Makes Sweet Music" on Polydor 56151, the band as a three-piece and then a four-piece and so on. MARK POWELL of Esoteric Recordings fame does the superbly detailed liner notes for both the self-titled "The Soft Machine" debut and "Volume Two" in this 2009 CD Reissue and Remaster series (both discs are dedicated to Hugh Hopper who had passed in June 2009).

 

A fave Audio Engineer of mine PASCHAL BYRNE has done the remaster - 24-bit transfers from original tapes and it sounds amazing to my ears. I had the British LP for decades and it was good, but not like this. We're not talking audiophile here, but the upgrade is palatable and to my ears, properly improved. To the experimental artefacts of earnest men and their questionable choice of trouser patterns...

 

RIVMIC MELODIES opens proceedings with a throwaway pairing - Robert Wyatt introducing the 'British Alphabet' behind a one-minute piano refrain while his actual ABCs that follow lasts only 10 seconds. The first song-proper is actually "Hibou, Anemone And Bear" - nearly six minutes of Prog Jazz Rock - Ratledge giving it some wildman on the organ while the rhythm section tries to keep up with his soloing. More alphabet musings but this time Pt. 2 of the alphabet is 'backwards' - which is in turn followed by "Hulloder" – a 60-second pondering on FBI surveillance of humanoid counter-culture threats (pesky things called people – or students – depending on which Communist you talk to). The manic and cluttered "Dada Was Here" has always felt to me like something special is going on – a vibe almost – a lingering in that rhythm section that exudes period cool. Wyatt’s voice floats in "Have You Ever Bean Green?" over the instruments searching for a groove whilst the Side 1 finisher "Out Of Tunes" is just insufferable tuneless nonsense.

 

The Softs go Crimson before-the-debut-jagged with "As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still" while "Dedicated To You..." is uncharacteristically pretty sporting a whole heap of great lyrics about Chicken Pox and Oxygen and Geophysics and advise not to use magnets (it also has probably the best Production values of the whole album). "Fire Engine..." is once again a discordant nonsense too far but Wyatt goes on about time wasted in the rapido "Pig". The final three see the band jag and jab in full-on Prog Jazz Rock fashion – taking no prisoners as they break down musical boundaries and live up to that freaky front-sleeve artwork.

 

"...Everyone's heads are more together. After hearing this album, yours will be also..." read the original LP sleeve in 1969.

 

In September 2020 those rather embellishing liner notes may not exactly ring true for today's musical journeyman (Soft Machine's second will absolutely not be for everyone). But in you are up for a bit of a whig out accompanied by the falsetto voice of a Radio 1 presenter doing drugs – then lie perfectly still man and embrace the weird baby (you know you want to)...