"Illegal, Immoral And Fattening/Moving Targets" by FLO & EDDIE [Mark Volman as Flo and Howard Kaylan as Eddie, Both Ex The Turtles] – Comedy Albums from August 1975 (USA-only) on Columbia and October 1976 (USA) (November 1976 UK) on Columbia and CBS Records - featuring Phil Reed, Ian Underwood, Aynsley Dunbar, Danny Kootch Kortchmar, Andy Cahan, Erik Scott, Craig Krampf with guests Donny Dacus and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (June 2020 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 2LPs onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Pop Star Massage Unit..."

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Ex Turtles songsters and general madcap fun-boys-two Mark Volman (as Flo) and Howard Kaylan (as Eddie) see their sought after live set "Illegal, Immoral And Fattening" from 1975 teamed up with their follow-up studio outing "Moving Targets" from 1976 on this excellent and timely BGO CD reissue. 

"Moving Targets" gets a first time issue on CD here whilst their elusive 1973 debut album "Flo & Eddie" on Reprise Records still remains AWOL on digital even now in late 2020 (maybe this release will prompt movement on that). 

Track spotters will notice that their wickedly entitled August 1975 platter (fattening?) has a bizarre version of T. Rex's 1971 monster British hit "Get It On" covered under its US title as "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" and the Turtles megahit "Elenor" gets returned to on the "Moving Targets" album – all of it with a few tongues stuck firmly in a few cheeks. And in these Covid-19 days of permanent bad news, a wee bit of a laugh and a tune is a welcome injection indeed. To the bad and mad boys of American comedy and parody...

UK released Friday, 1 June 2020 - "Illegal, Immoral And Fattening/Moving Targets" by FLO & EDDIE on Beat Goes on BGOCD1418 (Barcode 5017261214188) offers 2LPs from 1975 and 1976 Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (73:18 minutes):

1. Illegal, Immoral And Fattening [Side 1]

2. Rebecca 

3. Kama Sutra Time /Bang A Gong (Get It On)

4. The Sanzini Brothers Return (with The Tibetan Memory Trick)

5. Livin' In The Jungle

6. Cheap [Side 2]

7. The Kung Fu Killer 

8. Eddie, Are You Kidding? 

9. The Pop Star Massage Unit (Live Medley)

10. Let Me Make Love To You 

11. There's No Business Like Show Business

Tracks 1 to 11 are their second album "Illegal, Immoral And Fattening" - released August 1975 in the USA on Columbia PC 33554 (no UK release). Produced by JOE WISSERT - it was recorded 'live' at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, USA except "Let Me Make Love To You" which was recorded at the Cherokee Studios. 

Band for the live set was Mark Volman (Flo) on Vocals and Guitar, Howard Kaylan (Eddie) on Lead Vocals, Phil Reed on Lead Guitar, Andy Cahan on Keyboards, Erik Scot on Bass and Craig Krampf on Drums. The studio band for "Let Me Make Love To You" was Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar on Guitar, Ian Underwood on Keyboards, Leland Sklar on Bass and Aynsley Dunbar on Drums

12. Mama, Open Up [Side 1]

13. The Love You Gave Away 

14. Hot

15. Best Friends (Theme From The Unsold T.V. Pilot) 

16. Best Possible Me

17. Keep It Warm [Side 2]

18. Guns 

19. Elenor 

20. Sway When You Walk 

21. Moving Targets 

Tracks 12 to 21 are their third album "Moving Targets" - released October 1976 in the USA on Columbia PC 34262 and November 1976 in the UK on CBS Records S 81509. Produced by RON NEVISON, SKIP TAYLOR, MARK VOLMAN and HOWARD KAYLAN - it didn't chart in either country. 

Band was Mark Volman (Flo) on Vocals and Guitar, Howard Kaylan (Eddie) on Lead Vocals, Phil Reed on Lead Guitar, Andy Cahan on Keyboards, Erik Scot on Bass and Craig Krampf on Drums. Guests included Donnie Dacus on "Hot" (Slide Guitar), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers also on "Hot" (Slide Guitar), Graeme "Shirley" Strachan did Chorus Vocals on "Guns" and Ian Underwood played Saxophone on "Moving Targets".

The card slipcase lends these BGO reissues a touch of class and the chunky 20-page booklet features all artwork, lyrics, musician credits and insightful new liner notes from one of Mojo Magazine's regular contributors - CHARLES WARING. Their notoriously lurid stage shows that produced the likes of "Illegal, Immoral And Fattening" are discussed and giggled with and Waring points out that this kind of punchy irreverent satire (especially in music) whilst common in the Seventies with like contemporaries Cheech & Chong, Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart - is something of a dying breed in these ludicrously over-policed PC-times. 

By the time Flo & Eddie had gotten to the "Moving Targets" album (released in the autumn of 1976 and ignored like the two albums that preceded it), a certain world-weariness too had crept into their writing - "Mama, Open Up" pining for the days when it was just a laugh. Audio is courtesy of long-time Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON and their great. It's been decades since I listened to this stuff and I absolutely don't remember it sounding or looking 'this good'. To the breach my naked bedfellows... 

The "Illegal..." album contains naughtiness and grooves aplenty - hilarity at tangled Sanskrit moves in "Kama Sutra Time", the barely hidden Blaxploitation Sly & The Family Stone funk of "Livin' In The Jungle" whilst the almost a proper song "Rebecca" was backed with the album's title track and issued as a song-45 in December 1975 but Columbia 3-10246 didn't make it. Anyone with a Bruce Lee or Carl Douglas fixation had his or her cages rattled by "The Kung Fu Killer" - an almighty razz on the martial arts craze sweeping the world at that time. 

The laughter seemed to have temporarily at least evaporated by the time they made "Moving Targets" - "...it started out so simple and got so far out of hand, making showbiz out of what was fun..." they sang on the autobiographical "Mama, Open Up". Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers stalwart Jeff "Skunk" Baxter provides Slide Guitar on "Hot" and fans count "Keep It Warm" has always been something of a mantra for them and fans - a song about the demands on artists to write that 'hit' but they are drawn (like their listeners) to parody of the money men instead. And as if to stick it in the eye of the oppressor, Flo & Eddie did a sort of "Happy Together" Turtles variant on "Elenor" - a direct jab at the White Whale label that had contained their previous life and chartings. 

For sure this is an acquired taste - and bad taste in my book is actually something that made us bellyache back in the day precisely because it was sticking it to the man. A smart reissue from those astute men over at England's BGO...

"Loleatta/Cry To Me" by LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY – US Albums from September 1973 and July 1975 on GRC/Aware Records featuring the Songs of Sam Dees, Floyd Smith, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Johnny Moore & more (October 2020 UK Ace/Kent Soul Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD with Four Bonus Tracks from 1971 and 1973 – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Be True To Me..."

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You have to love Ace Records - Pandemic all around and still they damn the torpedoes and release a CD like this - asking us addicted inebriated flabby goggle-eyed Netflix types to down the TV remote and 'listen to this, sucker'. 

Chicago-born Soul Singer Loleatta Holloway is featured here by two rare US albums both issued on the General Recording Corporation label (GRC) imprint 'Aware Records' in the autumn of 1973 and the summer of 1975.  

The first sold little and the second despite a minor hit single suffered the fate of the parent record company going into a fraud nosedive just after the vinyl LP hit the shops – leaving the artists and sales of their work in the outside privy. So with both having always been a hard-to-find proposition for UK lovers of Chicago Soul and the Hotlanta Sound – this is a tasty CD reissue indeed. And as you can see from the track list provided below, Kent Soul have also upped the generous playing time to an almost full 80-minutes by tagging on four other cuts as Bonuses - three from Kent CD compilations of old and the other, a rare American 7" single side.

This is pleading lady's soul (chats before the soaring voice sails in) where their men have done them wrong or some bee-ach is trying to steal their man over by the gossips in the grocery store or they realise that Mama was right when she said girl, when it comes to lurve, don't be a part-time lover OR a full-time fool. To the tearful details...

UK released Friday, 30 October 2020 - "Loleatta/Cry To Me" by LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 493 (Barcode 029667100229) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD with Four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (79:46 minutes):

1. The Man I Love [Side 1]
2. We Did It
3. Our Love
4. Can I Change My Mind 
5. Part Time Lover, Full Time Full 
6. So Can I [Side 2]
7. Only A Fool 
8. Love Woke Me Up 
9. Mother Of Shame 
10. Remember Me 
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Loleatta" - released September 1973 in the USA on GRC/Aware Records AA 2003 - Arranged and Produced by FLOYD SMITH. 

11. Cry To Me [Side 1]
12. I Know Where You're Coming From 
13. The Show Must Go On 
14. The World Don't Owe You Nothing 
15. Just Be True To Me
16. Something About The Way I Feel [Side 2]
17. I'll Be Gone 
18. I Can't Help Myself
19. Casanova 
20. H.E.L.P. M.E. M.Y. L.O.R.D. 
Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Cry To Me" - released July 1975 in the USA on GRC/Aware AA 2008 - Produced and Arranged by FLOYD SMITH  

BONUS TRACKS:
21. Merrily 
22. What Are You Gonna Do About Tomorrow
Tracks 21 and 22 previously unissued 1973 Aware Records recordings first released March 1996 on the UK CD compilation "The Hotlanta Soul Of Loleatta Holloway" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 135

23. For Sentimental Reasons (US February 1971 45-single, Apache 2004, A-side)

24. This Man's Arms (previously unissued 1971 Aware Records recording first released November 2011 on the UK CD compilation "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 3" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 364

The 16-page booklet provides fantastic liner notes from KEVIN L GOINS (written August 2020 in New York) that has contacted people around the recordings - both Loleatta and her husband/producer Floyd Smith now sadly passed away. The two LPs are pictured, artwork, labels, promo photos and cashbox entries and some very cool photos of the swish Loleatta and her fab ball of hair. 

Audio transfers are courtesy of Ace's long-standing engineer - DUNCAN COWELL and they are gorgeous. Right from the cover of the Gershwin classic "The Man I Love" that opens platter No. 1 through until the outtake bonus tracks - it all reeks of classy Chicago and Hotlanta sexy Soul - some even featuring heavy-on-the-strings arrangements like "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)" that were more about getting the song right rather than keeping an eye on the budget. To the music...

The driving force behind both albums was the combo of husband Floyd Smith and the song writing contributions of such friends and luminaries as Sam Dees, Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Johnny Moore and many more. Dees provided "So Can I" for the first album and a huge five more for the second - the single "Cry To Me" (January 1975 on Aware AW-047 with his "So Can I" from the first LP on the flip), "I Know Where You're Coming From", "The Show Must Go On", "The World Don't Owe You Nothing" (a co-write with Frederick Knight of "I've Been Lonely So Long" fame), "The Show Must Go On" and another single "H.E.L.P. M.E. L.O.R.D." that actually hit the streets a full year prior to the second LP in May 1974 on Aware AW-039 with "The World Don't Owe You Nothing" on the B-side. 

She also picked some sexy cover versions - Curtis Mayfield's "Just Be True To Me", Ashford & Simpson's "Love Woke Me Up" (a Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet for Motown in 1968), "Remember Me" from the pens of Van McCoy and Clyde Otis as well as the classic Tyrone Davis Dakar song "Can I Change My Mind". William Johnson co-authored "Only A Fool" while Loleatta offered up a lone composition on the two LPs in the shape of the lovely "I'll Be Gone". And on it goes to three of hers in the Bonuses (Tracks 21, 22 and 24) – rejected at the time of issue in favour of other more established writers.

This is a lovely CD – as infectious as her smile and as colourful as that flowery dress she's wearing on Page 3 of the booklet with liner notes that ooze their affection for her and her legacy. Another winner in a long line of them for reissue-champs Kent Soul. Recommended...

"Original Album Collection" by LAUREL AITKEN [featuring GIRLIE] – Including The Albums "Ska With Laurel" (1966), "Laurel Aitken Says Fire" (1967), "Scandal In A Brixton Market" (1969), "The High Priest Of Reggae" (1970) and more (September 2014 UK Pressure Drop 5CD Clamshell Box Set With Mini LP Card Repro Artwork Sleeves and Booklet – Alan Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Rude Boy With Groovy Beats…"

Having worked in secondhand record shops for the guts of 20 years - and been in and out of them for the formative 2 decades of vinyl debauchery that preceded those - I can safely say that I've never seen 'any' of these uber-rare British Reggae/Ska albums - ever! Listed in 2014 price guides at somewhere between £200 and £150 for each album - good luck trying to find one! Well along comes Pressure Drop of the UK (part of Cherry Red Records) rectifying that unnecessary hole in our Skaless lives with this cool little box set which is frankly guaranteed to put some fire in your wire. Here are the rude boy rhythms, stretching braces and naughty lyrics...

UK released September 2014 - "Original Album Collection" by LAUREL AITKEN on Pressure Drop PDROPBOX25 (Barcode 5013929682504) is a 5CD Clamshell Mini Box Set with Five Mini LP Repro Card Artwork Sleeves - 4 original albums and a new 25-track CD compilation put together by Reggae expert and fan LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSET. 

His is a name familiar to me - he did the superlative 2CD Deluxe Editions of "Tighten Up" Volumes 1 and 2 (see my reviews) and the groundbreaking paperback books - "Young Gifted & Black: The Story Of Trojan Records" and "Tighten Up: The History Of Reggae In The UK" (see separate reviews also). This is a guy who knows what's what when it comes to this genre (at times so shrouded in discography mystery)...

As you can imagine Sixties Reggae and Ska was recorded in Uncle Albert's laundry room with a bucket and a broom - so the sound fluctuates wildly depending on the sources. But having said that - ALAN WILSON has done a wonderful job with the mastering. The 4 albums in particular sound amazingly fresh and clean .You can of course here cackle here and there - but frankly that's what I love about this joyous and funny music - it's from the streets and all the more fab for it. Here's a breakdown of what's on the discs...

CD1 is "Ska With Laurel" - first released on a UK 12-track LP in 1966 on Rio Records LR 1 (30:12 minutes)

1. Street Of Glory

2. Lonesome Traveller

3. Madame Sorosie

4. We Shall Overcome

5. Call The Doctor

6. Freedom

7. Hallelujah Train [Side 2]

8. Looking For My Baby 

9. Woman Is Sweeter Than Man

10. It’s Coming Down

11. Take Off My Pyjamas

12. Leave My Woman Alone

CD2 is "Laurel Aitken Says Fire" - first released on a UK 12-track LP in 1967 on Doctor Bird Records DLM (B) 5012 (31:46 minutes)

1. Fire

2. Worried Over Me

3. Halfway To Paradise

4. Coconut

5. Quando Quando

6. If You Need Me 

7. La La La [Side 2]

8. Rice And Peas

9. Stand By Me

10. Sunnyside

11. Mr. Lee

12. Gonna Get Married

CD3 is "Scandal In A Brixton Market" - first released on a UK 12-track LP in 1969 on Pama Economy ECO-8 – credited to GIRLIE and LAUREL AITKEN (43:02 minutes)

1. Scandal In A Brixton Market

2. Madame Straggae

3. Stupid Married Man

4. Tammering

5. Have Mercy

6. Night Cricket

7. Run Powell Run [Side 2]

8. Teddy Bear 

9. Mr. Soul

10. Woke Up This Morning

11. Babylon

12. Stop The War In Vietnam

CD4 is "The High Priest Of Reggae" - first released on a UK 12-track LP in 1970 on Pama Special PSP1012 (34:17 minutes)

1. Jesse James

2. Mr Popcorn

3. I Got To Have Your Love

4. John B

5. Shoo Bee Shoo Bee

6. Hailes Selaise

7. Landlords & Tenants [Side 2]

8. Save The Last Dance

9. Walk Right Back

10. Don’t Be Cruel

11. Woppi King 

12. Suffering Still

CD5 - Exclusive 25-Song CD Compilation - "Skinhead Train: 1960's Singles & Rarities" with all tracks by LAUREL AITKEN except where noted (73:45 minutes):

1. Boogie In My Bones - 1960, Starlite ST45 011, A-side

2. Drinkin' Whisky - with The Caribs, 1960, Starlite 014, B-side to "Honey Girl"

3. Mary Lee  - with The Blue Beats, 1960, Melodisc M 1570, A-side)

4. Bartender - 1961, Blue Beat BB 40, A-side

5. Brother David - 1962, Blue Beat 84, A-side

6. Lucille - with The Blue Beats, 1962, Blue Beat 109, A-side

7. Adam & Eve - 1963, Rio R 11, A-side

8. I Shall Remove - 1963, island WI 092, A-side

9. Lion Of Judah - 1964, Black Swan WI 401, A-side

10. Don't Stay Out Late - 1964, Columbia DB 7280, B-side of "Be Mine"

11. Clementine - 1966, Blue Beat 340, A-side

12. Propaganda - 1966, Ska Beat JB 236, A-side

13. Green Banana - 1966, Ska Beat JB 239, A-side

14. Rock Steady - 1967, Columbia Blue Beat DB 102, A-side

15. Blowin' In The Wind - B-side of 14, Bob Dylan cover

16. I'm Still In Love With You Girl - 1967, Columbia Blue Beat DB 106, A-side

17. Reggae Prayer - 1969, Doctor Bird DB 1196, A-side

18. The Rise And Fall (Of Laurel) - 1969, Doctor Bird DB 1197, A-side

19. Heile Heile (The Lion) - 1969, Doctor Bird DB 1202, A-side

20. Donkey Man - 1969, Unity UN 506, B-side of "The Avengers" by TOMMY McCOOK

21. Reggae '69 - 1969, Nu Beat NB 025, B-side of "Suffering Still"

22. Big Fight In Hell - 1969, Nu Beat NB 033, B-side of "Lawd Doctor" by Laurel Aitken & Girlie

23. Skinhead Train - 1969, Nu Beat NB 047, A-side

24. Apollo 12 (Skinhead Invasion) - 1969 White Label Only

The infectious brass rhythm that permeates "Street Of Glory" and "Lonesome Traveller" pretty much define Ska while he upped the piano involvement for his brilliant and very funny/fruity second LP "Says Fire". Laurel tells of his ardour being 'vexed' and "bwoy me hav fire in me wire..." (what a hoot!). "Worried Over Me" is fantastic - sounds great too. Even his cover of Billy Fury's "Halfway To Paradise" raises a smile. And as you can see from my track listing provided for Disc 5 (these details are not in the booklet) - there's lots of catalogue numbers collectors' want badly. The only let down (if you could call it that) is the 8-page inlay - which feels way too slight. But at least it has a central display of rare UK 45s with labels like Rio, Black Swan, Doctor Bird, Blue Beat, Ska Beat, Nu Beat, Pama and Island - it's the kind of photo that will make lovers of Reggae and Ska drool.

Fans will notice though that the hand of collectors has been involved in putting this together. For instance in the spring of 1969, Nu Beat (a subsidiary of Pama) issued the fabulous Girlie and Laurel Aitken non-album single "Lawd Doctor" on Nu Beat NB 033 – it’s equally rare non-LP B-side "Big Fight In Hell Stadium" turns up as a bonus on Disc 4 – as do a slew of other 45s seeing the digital light of day. "Scandal In A Brixton Market" indeed...

Such an enjoyable release - makes me big and fat - and I don't mind dat...

"The Dream Weaver/The Light Of Smiles/Touch And Gone/Headin' Home" by GARY WRIGHT [ex Spooky Tooth] - US Albums from July 1975, January and December 1977 (two) and March 1979 on Warner Brothers Records – featuring (April 2018 UK Beat Goes On Reissue – 4LPs onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 339 Others Is Available In My

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1975 to 1979 

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"...Think It's Time To Get Ready..."

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Beginning a four-album run with England's Spooky Tooth from the July 1968 debut "It's All About" to July 1970's "The Last Puff" - Keyboardist GARY WRIGHT then pumped out two Rock-Soulful solo albums on A&M Records in 1970 and 1971 - "Gary Wright's Extraction" and "Footprint". They featured folks like Guitarists Jerry Donahue of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay and American rocker Ronnie Montrose, Horn playing legends King Curtis and Rolling Stones regulars Bobby Keys and Jim Price along with backing singers like Nanette Newman, Doris Troy, Madeline Bell and P.P. Arnold (impressive session people to say the least). 

Wright had also been an integral part of the 1970 George Harrison triple-album magnum opus "All Things Must Pass" – Beatle Harrison returning the favour by appearing on and co-producing (uncredited) the second LP "Footprint". Gary would also tinkle those heartbreaking ivory keys on Nilsson's worldwide mega-hit "Without You" in 1972. After two British singles failed in March and November 1972, GW was to see his "Ring Of Changes" LP credited to Gary Wright's Wonderwheel issued sometime in December 1972 on A&M Records - but it was withdrawn due to lack of interest (Esoteric Recordings have done a superb 2016 CD Reissue and Remaster of it). From there he reformed Spooky Tooth and popped out more (largely ignored) studio albums on Island Records like 1973's "Witness" and the delightfully entitled "You Broke My Heart So...I Busted Your Jaw" - most of which I've reviewed on 2016 Paschal Byrne and Ben Wiseman Remasters for Universal. 

Which brings us to 1975 and this October 2018 double-digital cracker from English reissue specialist BGO (Beat Goes On Records). It deals with phase two of his huge career – Wright's signing to Warner Brothers in the USA where he hit paydirt big time with his pioneering all-keyboards albums. After an initial slow start from release in July 1975, two of his Warner 45s from "The Dream Weaver" LP belatedly smashed their way up to No. 2 on the US Top 100 in 1976, prompting the album itself to shift bucket-loads of copies and eventually achieve an impressive No. 7 placing. The other three Warners LPs dealt with it on this British card slipcase reissue charted in the American Top 200 (two from January and December 1977 and one from March 1979) - albeit in ever-lowering numbers. 

I hadn't really expected much from these platters with their slightly cheesy titles (The Light Of Smiles, oh dear) and in all honesty, it's been decades since I played any of them. And re-hearing them now, I can recall why I thought the later LPs lacked something or were just poorer versions of the big one. But like everyone else late to this synth-Rock party, I remain surprised at some of these forgotten goodies. Here are the loves that are still alive...

UK released Friday, 27 April 2018 - "The Dream Weaver/The Light Of Smiles/Touch And Gone/Headin' Home" by GARY WRIGHT on Beat Goes On BGOCD1334 (Barcode 5017261213341) offers 4LPs from 1975, 1977 (two) and 1979 Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

CD1 (74:38 minutes):

1. Love Is Alive [Side 1]

2. Let It Out 

3. Can't Find The Judge 

4. Made To Love You

5. Power Of Love 

6. Dream Weaver [Side 2]

7. Blind Feeling 

8. Much Higher 

9. Feel For Me 

Tracks 1 to 9 are his third studio album "The Dream Weaver" - released July 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2868 and November 1976 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56141. Produced by GARY WRIGHT - it peaked at No. 7 in the USA, didn't chart UK

10. Water Sign [Side 1]

11. Time Machine 

12. I Am The Sky

13. Who Am I 

14. Silent Fury 

15. Phantom Writer 

16. The Light Of Smiles [Side 2]

17. I'm Alright 

18. Empty Inside 

19. Are You Weepin'

20. Child Of Light 

Tracks 10 to 20 are his fourth studio album "The Light Of Smiles" - released January 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2951 and January 1977 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56278. Produced by GARY WRIGHT - it peaked at No. 23 in the USA, didn't chart UK

CD2 (78:00 minutes):

1. Touch And Gone [Side 1]

2. Starry Eyed

3. Something Very Special 

4. Stay Away

5. Night Ride 

6. Sky Eyes [Side 2]

7. Lost In My Emotions

8. Can't Get Above Losing You 

9. The Love It Takes 

Tracks 1 to 9 are his fifth studio album "Touch And Gone" - released December 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3137 and January 1978 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56435. Produced by GARY WRIGHT - it peaked at No. 117 in the USA (didn't chart UK) 

10. Keep Love In Your Soul [Side 1]

11. Love's Awake Inside 

12. You Don't Own Me

13. Moonbeams 

14. Stand 

15. I'm The One Who'll Be By Your Side [Side 2]

16. Follow Next To Me 

17. I Can Feel You Cryin'

18. Let Me Feel Your Love Again

19. Love Is Why

Tracks 10 to 19 are his sixth studio album "Headin' Home" - released March 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3244 and March 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56585. Produced by GARY WRIGHT - it peaked at No. 147 in the USA, didn't chart UK.

The card slipcase on these BGO CD sets lends the release an air of class and the 24-page booklet with JOHN O'REGAN liner notes reproduces all the original LP artwork and inners whilst illuminating his extraordinary career – especially his sort of unspoken/unknown contribution to Keyboard Rock – a pioneer to be held in the same revered sentence as say Keith Emerson, Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and his home contemporaries like Rick Wakeman of Yes and Roger Davies of Supertramp. 

BGO's long-standing Audio Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON has done the Digital Remasters into Hi Def, and always beautifully produced in the first place, it's hardly surprising to find that this 2018 transfer hits all the right notes. The clarity of that "Love Is Alive" synth punch is fantastic and to get all four platters sounding this good for less that twelve quid is some kind of deal. Speaking of the same, much is made in the liner notes of the guitar-less "Dream Weaver" album as being innovative whilst at the same time acknowledging those who had trailed this path before - Stevie Wonder, Tonto's Expanding Head Band and even acts like Beaver and Krause. 

But I've always thought that Gary Wright was actually smarter than that - his noggin pointed at arty 'hits' – no doubt sick and tired of well-intentioned British Rock that didn't really sell. There is also a touch of The Cars about his LPs in this mid to late Seventies period – Yacht Rock hooks swirling around sexy piano-based melodies – commercial yet credible – the clever lad. To the albums...

Despite his huge Stateside success, Gary Wright saw "The Dream Weaver" LP have to wait until November 1976 to get a release in Blighty - the single "Love Is Alive" b/w "The Dream Weaver" issued as a UK 45-single taster in late October 1976 on Warner Brothers K 16831. It seems strange now that such a fantastically commercial double-whammy 7" single like that couldn't have elevated the LP into the British Top 50 - but no joy. And when you listen to the perfectly-formed Michael McDonald-sexy Doobie Brothers Soul-Rock of say "Let It Out" (those great harmony vocals with the ladies) or the driving Boogie-Funk of "The Power Of Love" and the "Love Is Alive" soundalike of "Much Higher" (a tremendous transfer whacks those drums out of your speakers for both) - you wonder why normally-savvied British DJs didn't pick up on this. "Take away my worries of today..." Wright sang on the swirling 'I believe we can reach the morning light' of the title track – another winner on a very satisfying LP. 

"The Light of Smiles" album from early 1977 followed the same all-keyboards of its Yacht Rock predecessor but I thought it wasn’t nearly as good. I found "Who Am I" a little too schlocky for my tastes and the short childish chant "I Am The Sky" little more than filler. "Silent Fury" and "Child Of Light" touched on the same Funky Rock magic of "The Dream Weaver" album – abandoned youngsters making for strangely upbeat song material. 

There is a huge jump upwards in Production values when you reach the late 1977 release of "Touch And Gone" – like he was aiming at the polished Hall & Oates marketplace without perhaps having their genius with a tune that moves both the feet and the heart. The title track is a great single and "Something Very Special" is the kind of upbeat synth dancer that would have played out the credits of any late 70s Rom Com film set in Miami or California. A lot better is the Soulfulness in "Stay Away" and the hit-city keyboard funk of "The Love It Takes" (you've got it baby). You feel a change in the air because your "Love's Awake Inside" on Side 1 of the "Headin' Home" album from 1979, again featuring uber production values. "Moonbeams" feels like it's trying to be soulful without actually knowing how (wash your sorrows in moonbeams - oh dear). Better is the hit-single of "I'm The One Who'll Be By Your Side" and the nothing-to-hide slow dancer "I Can Feel You Cryin'".

For sure there will be those in 2020 who feel these Gary Wright albums are dated and of a time long past that isn't worth revisiting (as I did) and there are enough cheesy moments to prove some of that right. But there is also the good stuff. "I think it's time to get ready..." he sang on "Love Is Alive". Better late than never...

PS: 

The "Gary Wright's Extraction" debut LP came out December 1970 on A&M SP-4277 in the USA (January 1971 on AMLS 2004 in an elaborate foldout poster sleeve in the UK) - while his second studio solo set "Footprint" hit US and British stores on A&M SP-4296 and A&M AMLS 64296 in 1971 respectively. Both were also dealt with by BGO in December 2005 with a 2LPs-onto-1CD reissue – see Beat Goes On BGOCD699 (Barcode 5017261206992).

"The Complete de Wolfe Sessions" by THE ELECTRIC BANANA [The Pretty Things under a pseudonym] – Including Six UK Library Music Albums from 1967, 1968, 1969 (two), 1973 and 1978 on the Music de Wolfe label – featuring Richard Taylor, Phil May, John Povey, John Alder and Alan (Wally) Waller of The Pretty Things (September 2019 UK Grapefruit Records 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Free Love..."

Imagine you're a hip and happening dapper dude filmmaker walking down the King's Road in 1967 London with an afghan coat in one hand and a lysergic tablet in the other. You've just left the Tangerine Tandem Purple Ship Bicycles Bar with your copy of Oz that contains a fascinating article on the use of macrobiotic yoghurt in Himalayan yacks. 

But before that, you engaged in a very disturbing A/B-Button payphone phonecall to your moneyman (i.e. Producer). He has broken the bad news. If you want actual groovy cool music originals from the hipster bands of the Swinging Sixties in your film about nubiles mating with aliens from the planet EggNog at the Stonehenge Summer Solstice - the cost is prohibitive man. Drat - you think. You pop that tab from your right hand into your mouth and wallah! Suddenly, the fog of the hassling man has dissipated and all has become translucently and metaphysically clear baby. I need Library Music...

When I worked as the Rarities buyer in Reckless Records in Islington and Soho - the three big Library Music makers - KPM, Chappell and Music de Wolfe - would present themselves in collections at your counter in the form of albums with the same artwork - just different catalogue numbers. You would have song titles on the back sleeves like "Love Dance And Sing" or "A Thousand Ages From The Sun" - and have no earthly idea who was playing on what LP – or which one of these samey-looking buggers was worth the dosh. 

The dark arts of Library Music always elicited two reactions amongst collectors in my experience - frenzy or a yawn. There were those who adored the Psych and Film Music instrumentals you could stumble upon hidden inside these obscure LPs that turned up like musical thieves in the night in secondhand record shops. But there were also those who had forked out £20 for an LP that contained only insipid incidental interludes – none of which were interesting or cool (burned once, never again). And that’s where this superbly done 3CD Clamshell Mini Box set comes a bopping in.

Our Psych-rocking heroes moonlighting in the latter part of the 60ts as 'The Electric Banana' turned out to be none other than members of The Pretty Things (a quick perusal of the DW/LP credits beneath the titles showed that the songs were written by Richard Taylor, Phil May, John Povey and Alan Waller). A 60ts supergroup in their own right, but also an integral part of that underground scene which had its toes in eclectic films and TV programs - these records have always been touch stones for fans of the PT's. And they are rare in original form. 

The moniker 'The Electric Banana' never did get out an album on a major label, but as this box shows, managed six LPs on the British Library music label Music de Wolfe in 1967, 1968, 1969 (two), 1973 and 1978. And typically, Grapefruit Records of the UK have done a stunning job of shining a torch on a very dimly lit part of the counterculture. To the goose, the street girls, the orphan ladies and oodles of free love...

UK released Friday, 27 September 2019 - "The Complete de Wolfe Sessions" by THE ELECTRIC BANANA on Grapefruit Records CRSEGBOX058 (Barcode 5013929185807) is a 3CD Clamshell Mini Box Set that plays out as follows: 

CD1 (61:51 minutes):
1. Walking Down The Street [Side 1]
2. If I Needed Somebody 
3. Free Love 
4. 'Cause I'm A Man 
5. Danger Signs 
6. Walking Down The Street (Instrumental) [Side 2]
7. If I Needed Somebody (Instrumental)
8. Free Love (Instrumental)
9. 'Cause I'm A Man (Instrumental)
10. Danger Signs (Instrumental)
Tracks 1 to 10 are the UK Library Music album "Electric Banana" released 1967 on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3040 in Mono - credited to ELECTRIC BANANA with TILSLEY ORCHESTRAL 

11. I See You [Side 1] 
12. Street Girl 
13. Grey Skies 
14. I Love You
15. Love Dance And Sing
16. A Thousand Ages From The Sun 
17. I See You (Instrumental) [Side 2]
18. Street Girl (Instrumental) 
19. Grey Skies (Instrumental) 
20. I Love You (Instrumental) 
21. Love Dance And Sing (Instrumental)
22. A Thousand Ages From The Sun (Instrumental)
Tracks 11 to 22 are the album "More Electric Banana" UK released 1968 on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3069 in Mono

CD2 (77:35 minutes):

1. Alexander [Side 1]

2. It'll Never Be Me 

3. Eagle's Son 

4. Blow Your Mind

5. What's Good For The Goose

6. Rave Up 

7. Alexander (Instrumental) [Side 2]

8. It'll Never Be Me (Instrumental)

9. Eagle's Son (Instrumental)

10. Blow Your Mind (Instrumental)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Even More Electric Banana" - released 1969 in the UK on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3123 in Mono [NOTE: see also Track 11, CD3]

11. Sweet Orphan Lady [Side 1]

12. I Could Not Believe My Eyes

13. Good Times 

14. Walk Away 

15. The Loser 

16. Easily Done 

17. Sweet Orphan Lady (Instrumental) [Side 2]

18. I Could Not Believe My Eyes (Instrumental)

19. Good Times (Instrumental)

20. Walk Away (Instrumental)

21. The Loser (Instrumental)

22. Easily Done (Instrumental)

Tracks 11 to 22 are the album "Hot Licks" - released 1973 in the UK on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3284 in Stereo

CD3 (46:28 minutes):

1. Do My Stuff [Side 1]

2. Take Me Home 

3. James Marshall 

4. Maze Song 

5. Whiskey Song 

6. Do My Stuff (Instrumental) [Side 2]

7. Take Me Home (Instrumental)

8. James Marshall (Instrumental)

9. Maze Song (Instrumental)

10. Whiskey Song (Instrumental)

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "The Return On The Electric Banana" - released 1978 in the UK on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3381

11. The Dark Theme (Instrumental) 

Track 11 is from the album "Even More Electric Banana" - released 1969 in the UK on Music de Wolfe DW/LP 3123 in Mono [NOTE: see Tracks 1 to 10 on CD2 for the rest of the album]

These Clamshell Mini Box Sets always feel classy to the touch while three individual card sleeves do their back-and-front best to picture the five albums artwork in varying ways. DAVID WELLS has done the serious sleuthing liner notes to unravel the secrets for the 30-page booklet. Packed with period photos and snaps - you get stills from TV programs like Dr. Who, Monique, Edna The Inebriate Woman, Private Eye, The Sweeney and Dawn Of The Dead - all of whom used Electric Banana music. There is also a wonderful collage page of publicity stuff for the April 1969 movie "What's Good For The Goose" with Norman Wisdom and Sally Geeson - one that shows the band in period clobber looking very right on. The distinctive 'Pop Sound' LP artwork is there too as are repro's of those rare orange and white Music de Wolfe LP labels. 

Sound – the very essence of these recordings is Mono Grunge – so those looking for Abbey Road type Stereo magnificence and perfection should collect theirs at the kiosk now and leave. Not surprisingly there are no audio transfer credits, but the remastered sound is uniformly excellent even given the limitations of these late 60ts recordings. It feels like your eavesdropping on The Small Faces having an extra curricular or in the case of Side 2 of the LPs where you got instrumental versions of the five or six sung-songs on Side A – it feels like you’re listening to backing tracks by The Kinks or The Who - in all their hooky gonzo-bashing power. 

In fact even though the lyrics on Side 1 of the debut about "Street Girls" waiting for customers under the lamplight and self-centred men who sleep all day and come home late at night in "'Cause I'm A Man" are actually way better than most Sixties observations by other bands (excluding The Kinks) – it's the instrumentals and their naked backbeats that have always intrigued me. Striped of the loaded so-60ts references and words, you lock into the mostly guitar-driven Rock-Psych groove they got and I love that (Mods have always had a thing for their Small Faces sound too). And of course no commercially released LP would ever do this configuration – so the song/instrumental side-by-side dynamic was exclusive to Library Music LPs. 
People stare as they pass you by, knowing somehow that you've seen the promised land, says our likely lad in "Walking Down The Street" - whilst the Pretty Things cheeky bugger singer wants to forego foreplay down-payments directed at a woman's affection altogether and go directly to the free love bit in, well "Free Love". 

By the time you get to the genuinely improved excellence of album two, John Povey and Peter Reno have begun to contribute to the songs (alongside Phil May, Richard Taylor and Allan Waller) – examples being the superb Who-meets-The Charlatans vibe of "Grey Skies" and the "...give your soul to the wind...be free... " mantra of "Love Dance And Sing" – a song that eloquently sums up the very essence of breaking down emotional barriers – the stuff that indeed make the Sixties swing. And on it goes to the last LP that features a token PT presence but not a lot of anything else. 

For sure if you are a Pretty Things aficionado then "The Complete de Wolfe Sessions" is a must-own. But it also a way for others to get a crack at side projects – fringe listening that still stands up – songs and their instrumental counterparts. 
"Loving you was my first mistake..." our hero worries in "Danger Signs" – missing out on this will be our mistake now...