"Outlaws/Lady In Waiting" by THE OUTLAWS – July 1975 US Debut Album and April 1976 US Second Album on Arista Records – featuring Billy Jones, Hughie Thomasson, Henry Paul, Frank O’Keefe and Monte Yoho with Guests John David Souther and Joe Lala (October 2008 Germany and January 2009 UK SPV/Yellow Label Reissue – 2LPs onto 2CDs – Roger Lomas Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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BOTH SIDES NOW

FOLK & COUNTRY 

And Genres Thereabouts

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"...Stick Around For Rock And Roll..."

As a Seventies teenager who loved Folk, Country, Blues and all things Rock and Roll (never mind Soul, Reggae and yes Prog Rock) – I was like most guys of my age - completely in the thrall of The Allman Brothers, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and especially Lynyrd Skynyrd. So when Tampa's Outlaws hit the ground running with two absolute corker LPs in the Southern Country Rock vein (their 1975 debut and its 1976 follow-up) – I was loving those two wickedly good gatefold suckers with something of a passion. Full of tunes and impressive triple geetar-leads playing off each other like synchronised ping-pong players – there was a lot to like indeed. 

Rehearing them after all this time (late 2020), and yes, some of it is a bit 'too' Country (if you know what I mean), but like the Call Me The Breeze, Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama boys, much of this good time Bluesy Country Rock has stood the test of time - and rather well too. And how cool is it to get both albums in the same package and rockin' audio-wise. Let's breaker-breaker...

Released in Germany 31 October 2008 (January 2009 in the UK) – "Outlaws/Lady In Waiting" by THE OUTLAWS on SPV/Yellow Label SPV 305882 2CD (Barcode 693723058825) features their first and second studio albums from 1975 and 1976 Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows: 

CD1 "Outlaws" (41:02 minutes):
1. There Goes Another Love Song [Side 1]
2. Song For You
3. Song In The Breeze
4. It Follows From Your Heart 
5. Cry No More [Side 2]
6. Waterhole
7. Stay With Me 
8. Keep Prayin'
9. Knoxville 
10. Green Grass And High Tides 
Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album Outlaws – released July 1975 in the USA on Arista Records AL 4042 and August 1975 in the UK on Arista Records ARTY 115. Produced by PAUL A. ROTHCHILD – it peaked at No. 13 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

CD2 "Lady In Waiting" (37:26 minutes): 
1. Breaker-Breaker [Side 1]
2. South Carolina 
3. Ain't So Bad 
4. Freeborn Man 
5. Girl from Ohio 
6. Lover Boy [Side 2]
7. Just For You 
8. Prisoner 
9. Stick Around For Rock And Roll
Tracks 1 to 9 are their second studio album "Lady In Waiting" – released April 1976 in the USA on Arista Records AL 4070 and April 1976 in the UK on Arista Records ARTY 126. Produced by PAUL A. ROTHCHILD - it peaked at No. 36 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK). 

THE OUTLAWS were (both albums):
BILLY JONES – Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals on Tracks 4, 5 and 8 on CD1
HUGHIE THOMASSON – Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals on Tracks 1, 2 and 10 on CD1
HENRY PAUL – Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and Lead Vocals on Tracks 3, 6, 7 and 8 on CD1 
FRANK O’KEEFE – Bass 
MONTE YOHO – Drums 

Guests:
John David Souther – Harmony Vocals on "It Follows From Your Heart" on CD1
Joe Lala (of Stephen Stills' Manassas) – Percussion on CD2

The three-way foldout card digipak places a CD on either side with a photo of the band in the centre (the front cover artwork for each LP is beneath each see-through CD tray). The 12-page booklet has 8-pages of text with new liner notes by JERRY EWING and 4-pages of product adverts for SPV's 'Yellow' label (ranging from Pete Townshend to Pacific, Gas & Electric). ROGER LOMAS did the Remasters at Ro-Lo Studios from original tapes and both CDs sound amazing – full of vim and vigour - as the music deserves. 

Drying tears from his eyes, Hughie Thomasson takes Lead Vocals on "There Goes Another Love Song" – a jaunty opener about chap-misery for their debut that immediately nails down their Southern Rock credentials – albeit with a wry smirk of line-dancing fun in there somewhere. "Song For You" gives it some great lead guitars and the harmony vocals impress as they sound like the Eagles fronted by Randy Meisner. Billy Paul provided "Song In The Breeze" - a singing through the trees tune where again they give it some Eagles bop. We slow things down for the Skynyrd-pensive "It Follows From Your Heart" - a don't let your problems get you trapped song. 

Billy Jones brings it back to rapido Country Rock for "Cry No More" - a man who doesn't want to wait too long.  Straight onto guitar-picking hoedown time with "Waterhole" - a kind of yee-haw instrumental that is actually not nearly as cool as it obviously thought it once was. Side 2 hits its stride with the funk of "Keep Prayin'", the go-down fiddly-dee of "Knoxville Girl" and the LP's big one - a near ten-minute fab boogie marathon in "Green Grass & High Tides".

If the debut was a great opening gambit, the follow-up 9-tracker felt like a step up to me. The three guitarists once again took lead vocals (the liner notes don’t advise who did what). Arista decided to use the Side 1 opener "Breaker-Breaker" as a lead-in for their second album "Lady In Waiting" – that US 45 issued May 1976 on Arista AS 0188 with the equally likeable "South Carolina" on the B-side. They would also try to cash in on the "Freebird" mania sweeping the USA and the World by taking the nearest the Outlaws had to it – an edit of "Green Grass & High Tides" from the first album paired with "Prisoner" from the second platter on Arista AS 0213 in November 1976. 

I liked the genuinely sunny disposition in "Ain't So Bad" - a lots of long days where you need to open your eyes piece of Southern Rock - nice harmony vocals too. He's got a lady in Cincinnati and a woman in San Antoine, but I don’t think they should wait up for our flirty wanderlust musician in "Freeborn Man" - a song that starts out all Country Rock but then changes into an almost Wishbone Ash rock element that is melodic and thrilling. "Girl From Ohio" ends Side 1 in a very Eagles shuffling melody - back in the heart of whispering winds and birds in homeward flight. Side 2 gives it some rawk with "Lover Boy" while the singing-songs of "Just For You" could be mid-Seventies Allman Brothers. It ends on the fabulous sway of "Prisoners" – a kiss my smile shuffle that segues into the out and out boogie that is "Stick Around For Rock And Roll". 

Some say that The Outlaws' 1975 debut and its 1976 follow-up matched Lynyrd Skynyrd and their 1973 "Pronounced..." debut followed by the mighty "Second Helping" in 1974? I can't help thinking this is reaching and stretching the truth by (forgive the pun) a Country mile. Those LS albums are way better, but man when they made that Country Rock kick, The Outlaws were a formidable five-piece Harmony making machine. And this wickedly good wee twofer from SPV/Yellow is the best place to start that exploration...

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"Starless And Bible Black" by KING CRIMSON – Seventh UK LP from March 1974 on Island Records (April 1974 on Atlantic Records in the USA) – featuring Robert Fripp. David Cross, John Wetton and Bill Bruford (October 2011 UK Discipline Global Mobile/Panegyric 40th Anniversary Series CD+DVD-A Reissue in A Card Slipcase – CD with Robert Fripp, Steve Wilson and Simon Heyworth Remixes, Remasters and Mastering) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Mincer..."

I have a love vs. hate relationship with King Crimson and their seventh UK platter only adds to that confusion. While inhabiting that thin line between genius and tuneless tosh – there is undeniable brilliance here - their sixth studio platter featuring a band of super-talented musicians that walked an unapologetic musical line – and still do. 

Like many fans I suspect, for me the 70ts line-up seemed to Rock and even when the music would whig-out completely - there was always something to hook you back. And this 40th Anniversary Series edition only enhances that feeling - albeit this time with a lot more on the DVD-A. Prog and Jazz Rock ahoy. Here are the great deceptive details...

UK released 3 October 2011 - "Starless And Bible Black" by KING CRIMSON on Discipline Global Mobile/Panegyric KCSP6 (Barcode 633367400628) is a 40th Anniversary Series CD + DVD-A Reissue that plays out as follows:

CD CONTENT (68:45 minutes):
2011 Stereo Mix 
1. The Great Deceiver [Side 1]
2. Lament 
3. We'll Let You Know 
4. The Night Watch 
5. Trio [Side 2]
6. The Mincer 
7. Starless And Bible Black 
8. Fracture 
Tracks 1 to 8 are their seventh album "Starless And Bible Black" [sixth studio LP] – released March 1974 in the UK on Island ILPS 9275 and April 1974 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 7298. Produced by KING CRIMSON – it peaked at No. 28 in the UK and No 64 in the USA. 
Album Mixed and Remastered from original multi-track tapes by STEVE WILSON and ROBERT FRIPP – Mastered by SIMON HEYWORTH and ROBERT FRIPP at Super Audio Mastering in Devon (assisted by Andy Miles). 

BONUS TRACKS: 
9. The Law Of Maximum Distress: Part 1
10. Improv: The Mincer 
11. The Law Of Maximum Distress: Part 2
12. Dr. Diamond (Live, June 23rd, 1974, Palazzo Dello Sport, Udine, Italy) 
13. Guts On My Side (Live, March 19th, 1974, Palazzo Dello Sport, Udine, Italy)

DVD AUDIO CONTENT: 
Audio Content
Original Album (Tracks 1 to 8 as listed on the CD)
MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround 
DTS 5.1 Digital Surround 

Bonus Track: 
1. Easy Money (taken from the album "The Night Watch")
Mixed and Remastered from original tapes by SW and RF

2011 Stereo Mix (Tracks 1 to 8 as listed on the CD)
MPL Lossless Stereo (24/96)
PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48)

30th Anniversary Remaster (Tracks 1 to 8 as listed on the CD)
PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48)

Zurich, Volkshaus: November 15th, 1973 
1. Lament 
2. The Night Watch 
3. Fracture 
4. The Law Of Maximum Distress: Part 1
5. Improv: The Mincer 
6. The Law Of Maximum Distress: Part 2

Additional Tracks: 
1. We’ll Let You Know (unedited from The Great Deceiver)
2. Dr. Diamond (Live, June 23rd, 1973, Richards Club, Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
3. Guts On My Side (Live, March 19th, 1974, Palazzo Dello Sport, Udine, Italy)
4. The Night Watch (Single Edit, Stereo)
22 March 1974 UK 45 on Island WIP 6189, A-side. The album version is 4:37 minutes, this single edit runs to 3:15 minutes. The B-side was the album track The Great Deceiver at 4:02 minutes 
5. The Night Watch (US Radio Single Edit, Mono) 
1974 US 45 on Atlantic 45-3016, A-side of the Promo (also 3:15 minutes), Stereo on the flipside 
6. 30-Second Radio Advert 
7. 60-Second Radio Advert 

DVD VIDEO CONTENT
Central Park, New York, June 25th, 1973 
1. Easy Money
2. Fragged Dusty Wall Carpet 

I have to admit that visually and aesthetically; I find these glossy King Crimson reissues disappointingly ordinary. The inner card digipak offers the CD on the left with the DVD on the right clip - all with the same artwork (its even on the inner part of the card slipcase). The 16-page booklet is taken up with technical data, black and photos of the band (period shots from 1973 and 1974), the lyrics that came with the inner sleeve and some new diary-entries by Robert Fripp on the mastering and restoring processes with further liner notes from SID SMITH. It’s all very functional, at times informative but not very exciting. 

You have to say that for such frantic and dense music – the WILSON/FRIPP Remaster sounds amazingly clear – lifting up what could have been a clashing mess into coherence. I just wish it looked and 'felt' like more of a celebration – but that’s just me. The June 1973 film sequences shot in New York’s Central Park by Atlantic Records for promotional purposes (they shared the bill with Black Oak Arkansas) have been restored for the Video side of the DVD-A, although a performance of Larks Tongue In Aspic seems to be lost to the ether forever. It is also very cool to have those UK and US single rarities (stereo and mono edits). To the music...

Mixing live with studio recordings, Side 1 opens with "The Great Deceiver" - a tale of cigarettes, ice-cream, Cadillacs and figurine statues of the Virgin Mary in some health-food poser's crib. It's angry, angular, nasty even and when "The Great Deceiver" finishes its gnarly four-minutes-plus - you're in no doubt that this is a King Crimson album. And if you don't like that, you can bog off and buy Lena Zavaroni on Regal Zonophone where she assures her mother that someone is making eyes at her (probably Robert Fripp with a sniper rifle). 

People stomp on dirty floors in the sort of anti love-song bass thump that is "The Lament" - the remaster absolutely rocking it - Wetton and his strange vocals getting close to Greg Lake of old. Instrumental time comes with the jagged "We'll Let You Know" - Bass plucks trading fisticuffs with Guitar notes wrenched out of a clearly traumatised Fender. Island chopped the four and half minutes of "The Night Watch" down to a more (ahem) radio-friendly 3:15 minute edit and issued it as a UK 45 with the album cut of "The Great Deceiver" on the B-side. Cleverly, this reissue also includes the rare American Atlantic Records Promo-only 45 version of the Edit in Mono. 

Side 1 ends with the instrumental duo of "Trio" and a delightfully titled "The Mincer" – the first a (dare I say it) pretty song where a lone violin aches after a gorgeous Remaster (I don't remember my original LP ever being this clear) – while the final Side 1 piece elicits a very real menace as Fripp solos, undoubtedly channelling a Universal Pictures 1930s creature from the lagoon movie in his scary head. 

Side 2's bigger set pieces weigh in at nine and eleven minutes plus respectively - the title track "Starless And Bible Black" feeling like a nightmare dawn of digital crickets while "Fracture" is probably the most Prog Rock passage on a challenging album. 

March 1974's "Starless And Bible Black" would be followed by the equally revered "Red" in October of that busy year for King Crimson and come 2024 we will undoubtedly get a 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Blacker Than Black version. 

But in the meantime, if you want to go out and dance all night (lyrics in "Lament"), then look no further than this wee brute - presented to you here in stunning Audio...

"Buddah And The Chocolate Box" by CAT STEVENS – March 1974 UK Album on Island Records and April 1974 in the USA on A&M Records – featuring Alun Davies of Sweet Thursday, Mark Warner of Quantum Jump, Jean Roussel of Hanson, Gerry Conway of Fairport Convention, Jim Ryan, Bruce Lynch, Roland Harker and more with Arrangements by Jean Roussel and Del Newman (August 2000 UK Universal/Island 1CD Reissue – Cat Stevens Remasters Series – Ted Jensen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1974

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"...Oh Very Young..."

I've always loved March 1974's "Buddah And The Chocolate Box" (or least parts of it), though I can also recall that years later many cited it as the beginning of a Cat Stevens musical decline. 

That slide continued with the silly "Numbers" album in November 1975, "Izitso" in April 1977 and "Back To Earth" in December 1978 – three more adrift Seventies albums that no one really cared about then and it has remained that way ever since (he became Yusef Islam and retired in 1980).

Back to 1974 and definitely time for a reappraisal of the wee sweetie that is "Buddah And The Chocolate Box", especially given the gorgeous and revealing CD Remaster/Transfer. Done by Ted Jensen in New York for Island's 'Cat Stevens Remasters' series (11 titles pictured on the inlay spine, nine studio albums and two hits compilations) – this reissue is an Audio gem and one that is largely forgotten too. Time to unwrap the gold foils and get to the candy dandies underneath...

UK released August 2000 - "Buddah And The Chocolate Box" by CAT STEVENS on Universal/Island Remasters IMCD 273/546 888-2 (Barcode 731454688826) is a straightforward CD transfer and is part of the Cat Stevens Remasters Series that plays out as follows (32:25 minutes): 

1. Music [Side 1]
2. Oh Very Young 
3. Sun/C79 
4. Ghost Town 
5. Jesus 
6. Ready [Side 2]
7. King Of Trees 
8. A Bad Penny 
9. Home In The Sky 
Tracks 1 to 9 are his eighth studio album "Buddah And The Chocolate Box" – released late March 1974 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9274 and early April 1974 in the USA on A&M Records SP 3623. Produced by PAUL SAMWELL-SMITH and CAT STEVENS – it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA. Note: technically both the front cover and label of all original LPs credited the album title as "Cat Stevens’ Buddah And The Chocolate Box" – but over the years has simply become known as "Buddah And The Chocolate Box". 

Principal Band:
CAT STEVENS – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards and Synth 
ALUN DAVIES (of Sweet Thursday) – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals 
JEAN ROUSSEL (of Hanson) – Keyboards 
BRUCE LYNCH – Bass 
GERRY CONWAY (of Fairport Convention) – Drums and backing Vocals 

Guests: 
Mark Warner (later of Quantum Jump) with Jim Ryan on Guitars 
Roland Harker on Banjo 
Various Backing Singers (14 first names only)
String Arrangements on "A Bad Penny" by Jean Roussel and "Music" by Del Newman

The 12-page booklet reproduces the original LP's artwork - lyrics, musician credits, the tray of chocolate Buddah figures is beneath the see-through CD tray and so on - but there are no new liner notes (more's the pity). Even if the dark-coloured rear makes reading anything on it virtually impossible, with its 'Cat Stevens Remasters' pictures of album-covers down the see-through spine, this reissue stills makes for a pretty CD jewel case to look at. 

But the real fireworks come in the Remaster - handled by a vastly experienced and long-time Audio Engineer TED JENSEN. By 1974, Cat had his band down tight and the analogue simplicity of say 1970's "Tea For A Tillerman" and 1971's "Teaser And The Firecat" had given way to the studio sophistication of "Foreigner" in 1973. "Buddah..." is a beautifully recorded album and this CD Remaster reflects those original production values. To the music...

You're immediately whomped with a funky piano - Cat being a lover of life amidst a sea of materialistic fools. The Production pours on strings, synths and backing vocals - its neck-jerking Rock strut assuring us that new music can enlighten and save us. Stevens is clearly at war with himself - fame, money and a lack of purpose in God's plan clearly eating him up (did that ending). What follows will surely be one of his fan's faves "Oh Very Young" - as sweet a song as he's ever written about children and growing up in jeans soon full of patches and other compromises. I think the female backing singers make the melody sing - though with only first names in the musician credits - we can't say who does the lead vocal. 

Another total album winner comes in the shape of the double-song "Sun/C79" - his synth playing and that "...sit you down..." break is genius. On the road again and she was in Seat C79 - a drug-habit woman that took his heart but he still couldn't remember what colour her eyes were. Again the clarity of that nightmarish opening to "Ghost Town" is impressive - that Gallagher and Lyle Drums, Bass and Harmonica opening whacking your speakers with real intent - followed up by piano and pedal steel (a far better song than I remember). Side 1 ends with the very personal "Jesus" where an icon is remembered. And in the dark evening when Cat is lost for inspiration - our hero still turns to the thought that his example and "...love will lead the blind..." 

Huge treated acoustic guitars open Side 2's "Ready" - Cat kept awake with her wide Lily smile - hope in her ways - and again the backing singers and Production values just Rock. "King Of Trees" starts quietly with piano soon to be joined by Band-like organ - a guardian of days in the forest - evergreens coming to take him back to peace. A Clavinet and his hurting vocal gives "A Bad Penny" a power but I think the strings are a tad overdone. It ends on "Home In The Sky" - a wall of Acapella voices giving way to organ and piano - a nice tune but again ever so slightly overdone. 

19 March 2001 would see all three of his final Seventies studio albums also join the Cat Stevens Remasters series in the UK - November 1975's "Numbers (A Pythagorean Theory Tale)" on Universal/Island IMCD 277 (Barcode 731454689021), April 1977's "Izitso" on IMCD 278 (Barcode 731454689120) and December 1978's "Back To Earth" on IMCD 279 (Barcode 731454689229). 

I've also reviewed "Mona Bone Jakon" (1970), "Catch Bull At Four" (1972) and "Foreigner" (1973) in the Cat Stevens Remasters series, as well as the two Deluxe Edition 2CD Reissues of "Tea For A Tillerman" (1970) and "Teaser And The Firecat" (1971) and the "On The Road To Find Out" 4CD Box Set career retrospective from October 2001 - reissued June 2008 as a Book Set (see separate reviews for all). 

"Buddah And The Chocolate Box" is a good Cat Stevens' album rather than a great one, but even in half-measures, I've always loved the positivity and beauty in the man's melodies. There is a lot to rediscover here and it's online for less than a fiver in certain places - now that is sweet...

"Midnight Dreamer" by MICK GREENWOOD – September 1974 UK Third and Final Album on Warner Brothers featuring guests Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway of Fotheringay with William Murray of Mellow Candle (June 2001 UK Voiceprint CD Reissue – Denis Blackham Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and Over 220 Others 

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1974

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

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"…Captain Life…" 

Mick Greenwood's debut album "Living Game" was released in the UK in September 1971 on MCA Records MDKS 8003 (November 1971 in the USA on Decca DL 75318) and was the 1st of his 3 albums in the early Seventies. 

The other two were "...To Friends" from October 1972 on MCA MKPS 2026 (March 1973 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-307) - and this - "Midnight Dreamer" from September 1974 on Warner Brothers K 56059 (no USA release). 

June 2001 saw all three reissued on CD on the Voiceprint label of the UK (straightforward transfers for each, no bonus tracks) with "Living Game" dubbed as Part One of 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' - the other two albums being Part Two & Three. The inner booklets each had themed designs and there are slight alterations to the artwork.

"Midnight Dreamer" (34:23 minutes) was issued on Voiceprint VP224CD (Barcode 604388305827), the debut "Living Game" on Voiceprint VP222CD (Barcode 604388305629) and "...To Friends" on Voiceprint VP223CD (Barcode 604388305728). There was also a box set containing all three CDs - 'The Mick Greenwood Teenage Trilogy' on Voiceprint VPBOX99CD. 

1. Black Roses [Side 1] 

2. Captain Life 

3. Writing On The Wall 

4. Easy Street 

5. Miss Morning [Side 2] 

6. Lady Midnight 

7. Diana Demons 

8. Deep Water 

9. Open Road 

Musicians: 

MICK GREENWOOD – Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Electric & Acoustic Guitars 

PAT DONALDSON - Bass Guitar 

GERRY CONWAY – Drums (Tracks 2, 3, 6 and 7) 

WILLIAM A MURRAY – Drums (Tracks 1, 5 and 8) 

BARRY De SOUZA – Drums (Track 4) 

Guests: Kenny Wheeler – Trumpet (Tracks 1 and 5) 

Chris Hughs – Tenor Sax (Track 4) 

Further Brass – Eddie Mordue, Rex Morris, Duncan Lament, Wally Smith, Rick Kennedy, Christ Smith, Creg Bowen and Jonny Huckridge 

Graham Smith – Harmonica (Track 7) 

Barry St. John, Sue Glover, Liza Strike. Barry Hamilton and Kay Garner – Backing Vocals 

Producers – Mick Greenwood and Vic Gamm 

Born in the UK, but raised in the States from the age of 12 - Greenwood returned to London in 1970 in his early 20s to make music. He knew members of the Fairport Convention Folk Rock offshoot group FOTHERINGAY, so when he went to make his albums, Greenwood was able to call on them. And as you can see from the musician credits above, Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway of Fotheringay guest while William Murray of that other huge cult Folk Rock act of the Seventies Mellow Candle also drums on three tracks. 

The 12-page booklet reproduces the lyrics from the inner sleeve and the usual musician/production credits (all songs by MG) and there is a black and white photo of our hero beneath the see-through CD tray. With regard to the original artwork – not only is the rear sleeve artwork not here, to the bottom left of the original 1974 UK front album cover is MG standing and waving as the train goes by and the title logo is on the top left – for some reason this CD artwork has removed him and repositioned the title to the bottom right on the wheels of the train. The only way to get original artwork front and rear (pictured above for comparison) is on the 2006 Japanese CD reissues (see Barcode details below). 

I wish I could say that the Seventies rawk of "Midnight Dreamer" is a forgotten masterpiece – it absolutely isn't. Much of the wildly overproduced music feels like strangulated Elton John circa 1973 and 1974 ("Caribou" and "Philadelphia Freedom"), but without the tunes or hit singles. There are some nice touches in "Captain Life" and "Miss Morning" for sure, but despite that inviting John Pasche front cover train-heading-into-the-distance artwork - mostly it's a pound-fodder album (Warners didn’t even release a 45 from it). And his voice had become that nasal whine that has not travelled well. Former Joe Harriott sidekick and uber-sessionman trumpeter Kenny Wheeler gives tasty solos however on "Black Roses" and "Miss Morning" and the solo finisher "Open Road" has pretty moments. 

What does come out at as truly stunning however is the Remastered Audio from first generation master tapes – another fabulous full-spatial soundstage by DENIS BLACKHAM (of Skye Mastering in Scotland). This CD sounds amazing. There were also Japanese reissues of all three in 2006 on Air Mail Archive using these 2001 Remasters (not SHM-CDs, just Paper Sleeves of the original UK artwork). But all are deleted now and overly expensive ("Midnight Dreamer" was on AIRAC-1253 - Barcode 4571136372522). 

Undoubtedly, Mick Greenwood had run out of ideas by 1974 after the rather good first two albums on MCA Records in 1971 and 1972 – singer-songwriter Seventies stuff actually worth investigating. But if you must have platter number three, this is the variant of "Midnight Dreamer" you want. And I've seen this British CD online for less than two quid in places...

PS: see also my review for his 1971 debut album "Living Game" 

"Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN – Fourth And Final UK Studio Album From July 1974 on Dawn Records – Guests including Bobby Harrison of Juicy Lucy and Snafu, Peter Solley of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu with Jim Frank of Fox, Mary Zinovieff (sessioned for Fox), Vic Smith and Soul Singer P.P. Arnold (October 2016 UK Esoteric Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks from 1975 – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Last Day..."

Lancashire's hard rocking Progressive Rock act GRAVY TRAIN managed four albums across two labels between 1970 and 1973. 

First out of the blocks came their self-titled debut "Gravy Train" on Vertigo 6360 023 in December 1970 (a listed £500 rarity), the follow-up "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" on Vertigo 6360 051 in November 1971 (now a £1000 listing) and their third outing in the shape of "Second Birth" from March 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3046 (newly signed to the label). 

This superb-sounding October 2016 British CD reissue deals with their fourth and final Prog Rock outing "Staircase To The Day" from July 1974 - their second and last album with England's Dawn Records. In fact excepting dodgy bootlegs and a rare deleted 2007 Repertoire issue in a card digipak (itself a limited edition of 3000) - this flying creature Roger Dean artwork album has long been unavailable on an official CD remaster - until now. 

Typically, Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red in the UK) have done the audio business on this rarity – chunky booklet and quality audio. Here are the tales of quick ones in the evening of life...

UK released 28 October 2016 (November 2016 in the USA) - "Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2565 (Barcode 5013929466548) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster of their final 1974 studio album with Two 1975 Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (51:00 minutes):

1. Starbright Starlight [Side 1]
2. Bring My Life On Back To Me 
3. Never Wanted You
4. Staircase To The Day
5. Going For A Quick One [Side 2]
6. The Last Day
7. Evening Of My Life
8. Busted In Schenectady
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth and final studio album "Staircase To The Day" - released July 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLH 1 (didn’t chart UK and was unissued in the USA). Produced by VIC SMITH - all songs written by Norman Barratt except "Going For A Quick One" by Candy Carr and Vic Smith and "Evening Of My Life" which is a co-write between Norman Barratt and John Hughes. 

BONUS TRACKS: 
9. Climb Aboard The Gravy Train (And Get On To A Good Thing)
10. Sanctuary 
Tracks 9 and 10 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 25 July 1975 UK 45-single on Dawn Records DNS 1115 (both sides written by Norman Barratt and Produced by Vic Smith). 

NOTE: "Good Time Thing" was a non-album B-side to the 8 February 1974 UK 45-single for "Starbright Starlight" on Dawn Records DNS 1058, that A-side being a track taken from the "Staircase To The Day" LP. That exclusive B-side is not on this CD, but is on the CD Reissue and Remaster for "Second Birth" as a Bonus Track – see Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2562 (Barcode 5013929466241).

GRAVY TRAIN was: 
NORMAN BARRATT – Electric and Acoustic Lead Guitar and Vocals
(JOHN) J.D. HUGHES – Keyboards (Piano, Organ etc) and Flute
GEORGE LYNON – Electric and Acoustic Guitar 
LES WILLIAMS - Bass Guitar
RUSSELL CORDWELL - Drums and Percussion on all tracks except Jim Frank on three (see Guests below) 

Guests: 
BOBBY HARRISON (of Juicy Lucy and Snafu) – Backing Vocals on "Bring Back My Life To Me", "Going For A Quick One" and "Busted In Schenectady"
PETER SOLLEY (of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu) – Synthesiser on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
MARY ZINOVIEFF – Synthesiser of "Staircase To The Day" and Electric Violin on "Busted In Schenectady"
JIM FRANK (of Fox) – Drums on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One" and Harp on "Never Wanted You"
VIC SMITH – Cowbell on "Going For A Quick One"
FAY & DORIS of THE GOSPEL AYERS – Backing Vocals on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
P.P. ARNOLD (as Pat Arnold) – Backing Vocals on "Busted In Schenectady"

Compiled and co-ordinated by Mark and Vicky Powell - the very "Close To The Edge" shaped logo that gave the album its title but was almost unreadable – now clearly centres Page 2 of the wonderfully indepth 16-page booklet. Alongside those photos of the five lads (the ones used inside the original gatefold), that striking Roger Dean artwork is also featured throughout the booklet, on the picture disc and on the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray. Long-time writer for Esoteric and other reissue labels, MALCOLM DOME provides the new liner notes that also include lyrics and song-writing reminiscences from band members John Hughes and Bassist Les Williams plus older quotes from founder member and principal songwriter Norman Barratt. It’s an entertaining and affectionate read for what the band clearly felt was their best album, albeit one that like the single that followed in 1975, was all but ignored. But the big news is a BEN WISEMAN Remaster from original tapes that really rocks. To the music...

Sounding not unlike a less strangulated version of Uriah Heep - Barratt takes the lead for the well-recorded "Starlight Starbright" – a chugging rocker about ultraviolet ultra-cosmic death-defying rays of light (yeah baby). Things mellow into an almost Neil Young Harvest vibe with "Bring My Life Back To Me" where our hero wanders through streets of pain as an organ and piano hammer home the anguish (feel like I’m almost dead). The pumping Harmonica and guitar-driven "Never Wanted You" makes you feel like you’ve stumbled on Savoy Brown who have just discovered anger and Prog at the same time (nice turn on the chorus). Seven and half minutes of the album title track ends Side 1 on a high - "Staircase To The Day" containing Fruupp, Genesis and even Gentle Giant in all their melodic complexity – flutes soothing treated guitars. 

Central control has been attacked in the very Heavy Metal Kids of "Going For A Quick One" over on Side 2 - where Gravy Train suddenly sounds like a mash-up of Foghat and Nazareth at times. It’s a great groove and the Bass in it jumps out of the mix. And again not a million miles away from the guitar-Rock of say Michael Chapman - "The Last Day" returns to Prog as that flute joins the guitars and cleverly introduced acoustic strums. The short three-minutes of "Evening Of My Life" opens with mournful piano and echoed vocals that hurt – our man feeling old and down – not wanting to make a sound. The album ends on the eight-minute-plus of "Busted In Schenectady" – the long-haired boys of Gravy Train not really welcome – gotta move on lads as the slide guitars get mean. And again it feels almost Rush – Rock meets complexity and comes out on top (both Soul Singer P.P. Arnold and Bobby Harrison of Snafu provide backing vocals). The two single cuts are cool too. 

A huge step up from the rather ordinary "Second Birth" album in 1973 that preceded it, "Staircase To The Day" is a very good 1974 Rock meets Prog Elements album and Esoteric Recordings have done this unfairly forgotten beast proud. Nice one...

"Maid In Ireland: The Best Of Fruupp" by FRUUPP – Nine Tracks - Eight featured on Four Albums and One Stand-Alone UK 45-Single - All Originally on Dawn Records between 1973 and 1975 (August 2020 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Compilation – Card Digipak – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Heaven's Eyes..."

Northern Ireland's wonderfully titled FRUUPP (they took their name from a mistyped Letraset sheet) put out four albums between 1973 and 1975, all of them on England's Dawn Records - home of many such hairy-men Prog Rock acts hitting the UK in those creative years. 

Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have been heavily involved in reissuing their entire catalogue (in conjunction with the band) - their brand of Celtic-influenced Storytelling Folk-Prog-Rock put out as four CD Remasters in February 2009 – two of them with Bonus Tracks. 

And last year in August 2019 - they lumped all four together in one neat and handy Clamshell Box Set called "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" with Mini LP Repro Art Card Sleeves (see reviews for all five). 

"Maid In Ireland" is a 2020 CD Best Of culled from all four LPs with a rare stand-alone 45-single track throw in at the end. Here are the wise as wisdom details...

UK released 24 July 2020 - "Maid In Ireland: The Best Of" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2728 (Barcode 5013929472884) is a 9-Track CD compilation using the 2009 Remasters and plays out as follows (57:44 minutes):

1. Janet Planet 
2. Decision 
3. Three Spires 
4. Sheba's Song 
5. White Eyes 
6. Wise As Wisdom 
7. Knowing You 
8. Graveyard Epistle 
9. Prince Of Heaven 

Tracks 1 and 4 from their fourth and final UK album "Modern Masquerades", February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070 - produced by and featuring Ian McDonald ex Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson 

Tracks 2 and 8 taken from their debut album "Future Legends", October 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3053

Tracks 3, 5 and 6 from their second UK studio album "Seven Secrets", April 1974 on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

Track 7 from their third UK studio album "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes", November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2

Track 9 was a stand-alone non-album UK 45-single not on "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" LP, released October 1974 on Dawn DNS 1087, A-side

The gatefold card digipak houses a colourful 20-page booklet with new liner notes from one-time Manager and Collaborator with the Ulster band - PAUL CHARLES. There are photos of the four album sleeves with their love Peter Farrelly artwork, a few photos of the boys in questionable period clothing, witty remembrances of gigs, tours, song-writing and loyal supporters (they backed up some big names of the day, Supertramp, Man, ELO and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis at their peak). 

The Remasters are the 2009 BEN WISEMAN transfers and are full of life, beans and details. LP highlights like "Knowing You" and deep album cuts like "Decision" and "Wise As Wisdom" are clever choices and I like the way it ends on that lovely single - a short but sweet moment to finish the compilation as its a song all four band-members had a hand in writing. 

FRUUPP have always been an acquired taste, sometimes brilliant, sometimes a bit fay and twee but always touching. It could have been longer for sure, but this is an unusual compilation and so nicely put together. Recommended...