"Night Moves" by BOB SEGER and THE SILVER BULLET BAND – October 1976 US Ninth Studio Album on Capitol Records featuring guests Pete Carr and Jimmy Johnson on Guitars, Barry Beckett on Keyboard, Jerry Luck on Accordion, David Hood on Bass and Roger Hawkins on Drums of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Backing Singers Sharon Dee Williams, Rhonda Silver and Laurel Ward (December 1999 US Capitol CD Reissue – Punch Andrews Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Trying To Lose Those Awkward Teenage Moves..."

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It seems staggering that it took Michigan's Bob Seger and his crack-a-lacking group The Silver Bullet Band eight studio albums and one further live double to get to the eventual chart success of 1976's "Night Moves" - his ninth studio set since his debut "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" all the way back in January 1969. 

Preceded only six months earlier by the raucous double-album set "'Live' Bullet" in April 1976 that had reignited every young American's interest in Bob Seger (it peaked at an impressive No. 34 on the US LP charts) - "Night Moves" followed in early October 1976. And with that great voice, his tight band on Side 1 and the even tighter Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on Side 2 – all of it backed up by unbelievably hooky tunes that captured the fun and misery of growing up in small town USA oh so well – it soon became a monster Rock LP that 'just happened' as they say. 

Although his music meant little in Blighty (it didn't chart there - not one of his releases ever had) - Seger smashed the Top Ten in his native USA where "Night Moves" peaked at No. 8 and was the place where his career really kicked off. 

And like fellow mucker Steve Miller who saw his "Fly Like An Eagle" album on Mercury Records alter his life forever in 1976 too, both of these intelligent rockers had been around since the late Sixties, popping out albums to much critical acclaim but not a lot else. But "Night Moves" had three great singles off of it (beginning in November 1976 when Capitol 4369 paired "Night Moves" with "Ship Of Fools" on the flipside) and had legs from its LP release date in October 1976 right through until the late summer of 1977 - spending a whopping 88 weeks on the US charts. 

Which brings us via the fire down below to here. After twenty years in the digital domain, this barebones 1999 American CD Remaster on Capitol Records is still the easiest way to access a tasty listen to it. So let's get them up high, put on a few pounds and head down to main-street...

US released 7 December 1999 - "Night Moves" by BOB SEGER and THE SILVER BULLET BAND on Capitol 72435- 24034-2-4 (Barcode 724352403424) is a straightforward transfer and Remaster that plays out as follows (36:53 minutes): 

1. Rock And Roll Never Forgets [Side 1]
2. Night Moves 
3. The Fire Down Below 
4. Sunburst 
5. Sunspot Baby [Side 2]
6. Mainstreet 
7. Come To Pappa 
8. Ship Of Fools 
9. Mary Lou 
Tracks 1 to 9 are his ninth studio album "Night Moves" - released October 1976 in the USA on Capitol ST-11557 and March 1977 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 11557. It peaked at No 8 in the US LP charts (didn't chart UK). All tracks are Bob Seger originals except "Come To Pappa" which was an Earl Randle/Willie Mitchell song sung by Ann Peebles on Hi Records in 1975 and "Mary Lou" which was a cover of the Young Jessie Modern Records 45-classic from 1955.

The 8-page inlay is a horribly functional affair – album credits, lyrics and zip else whilst the only transfer credit is to a June 1999 CD Remaster by PUNCH ANDREWS at Capitol Mastering in L.A. Having said all of that, this is a lovely listen – clean – pucker – those acoustic strums and the three lady backing singers on Night Moves (Sharon Dee Williams, Rhonda Silver and Laurel Ward) all allowed to breathe. And when it needs to kick ass for say Sunspot Baby – the muscle and clarity are both there too. 

The album is a tale of two groups – the Silver Bullet Band playing most of Side 1 – featuring Drew Abbott on Guitars, Robyn Robbins on Keyboards and Horns, Chris Campbell on Bass and Charlie Allen Martin on Drums - whilst guests the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section took over the reins for most of Side 2 - Pete Carr and Jimmy Johnson on Guitars, Barry Beckett on Keyboards, Jerry Luck on Accordion, David Hood on Bass and Roger Hawkins on Drums.

The four cuts on Side 1 represent something of a clean sweep - the Rawk of "Rock And Roll Never Forgets" where local papers are checked for hot gigs and the sheer nostalgia-fest that is "Night Moves" - our scrawny hero with his eyes popped out by the sight of a girl too beautiful to be real. It really is such a classic tune and like Side 2's unfeasibly-touching "Mainstreet" has become something of a permanent fixture on Classic Rock radio stations for over 45 years now. Boogie returns with "The Fire Down Below" - rich man, poor man, young gal and young buck afflicted with the need for love and a way out of the darkness looming in the distance. 

There is fantastic audio on the rocking "Sunspot Baby" - the Bobster outfoxed by a lady with a penchant for nicking his American Express card and leaving him with the bar tab and whatever other bills she clocked up (he's looked in Miami and Negril, but still can't find her). An exotic but lovely dancer in a downtown club floats his boat every night as she struts her stuff - if only he could get the courage up to speak to her - watching her pass around midnight - is she lonely or is she sussed - is she going to make it one day out of "Mainstreet".  

While I can see the funky-groove attraction of the Ann Peebles cover "Come To Pappa", I never did think it worked but "Ship Of Fools" and the Young Jessie R&B cover "Mary Lou" finishes a great album with an upbeat Rock 'n' Roll vibe of old. 
You can't help thinking that in late 2020 - Bob Seger's classic "Night Moves" is long overdue an 'Extended Edition' or 2CD Deluxe Version (2021 with be its 45th Anniversary, so maybe something is planned for that). 

He would go further with May 1978's "Stranger In Town" album (again on Capitol) - all the way up to No. 4 in the States and a 110-week chart run. But "Night Moves" is where my heart lies and it's as available and as cheap as the waves crashing on the side of a ship of fools. 

"...I'm gonna catch up sometime...sure had a real good time..." Bob Seger sang on "Sunspot Baby". I agree. Invest and enjoy...

"The Complete Island Recordings" by BOB MARLEY and THE WAILERS - Including Eleven UK Albums (9 Studio, 2 Live) - "Catch A Fire" and "Burnin'" (April and November 1973), "Natty Dread" and "Live!" aka "Live! At The Lyceum" (May and December 1975), "Rastaman Vibration" (April 1976), "Exodus" (May 1977), "Kaya" and "Babylon By Bus" (March and December 1978, 2nd is Live-Double, 2LPs onto 1CD), "Survival" (October 1979), "Uprising" (June 1980) and "Confrontation" (May 1983 posthumous) – featuring Bunny Livingstone (aka Bunny Wailer), Peter Tosh, Earl Lindo, Bernard Harvey, Tyrone Downie, Al Anderson, Earl Smith, The i-Threes and more (December 2020 UK/EUROPE Tuff Gong/Island/UMC 11-CD Clamshell Box Set with Singular Mini LP Card Sleeve Repros and a Booklet – Island Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Lively Up Yourself...And Don't Be No Drag..."

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A 12-LP VINYL version of "The Complete Island Recordings" by Bob Marley & The Wailers in a limited edition hinge-top silver metal box of 3000 copies was released 25 September 2015 on Tuff Gong/Island/UMC 5360252 (Barcode 600753602522). This 11CD variant is essentially a digital reissue of that.

I got my CD copy this morning, day of release, Friday, 4 December 2020, and I have to say that "The Complete Island Recordings" is a tad underwhelming presentation wise (hence the four stars) – even if it does boast awesome Remastered Audio. So what's inside?

The albums date from the April 1973 Island Records debut "Catch A Fire" through to the posthumous May 1983 LP "Confrontation". The same dull-looking generic CD-label is used across all eleven albums (no Island or Tuff Gong repros then) and a 24-page booklet that seems chunky at first turns out to be the front and rear of the album sleeves repeated across all the pages and nothing else. What is the point of repeating the album artwork front and rear when it's already on the card sleeves? 

There are no new liner notes, no catalogue numbers, release dates, no history, no chart info - there isn't even a mastering or reissue credit (not 2015 nor 2020 to indicate what Remasters were used). But one listen to all of them and they are the much-praised remasters Universal has used all along with Marley product. Soundwise the first Wailers LP "Catch A Fire" is hissy on most tracks throughout (even if the music is good), but from "Burnin'" onwards, the audio is pretty much amazing - full of life, drums bashes and pumping bass. There is a warm clarity to these transfers and I suspect having shifted some 75-million records worldwide – someone was smart enough to keep the Island tapes in good nick. The final two "Uprising" and "Confrontation" may blow your speakers out – they are that good. Plus stripped of bonuses and remixes – it is nice to hear each album again sans padding ("Exodus" – what a stunning album all on its owneo). 

Disappointingly, "Catch A Fire" uses the spliff reissue sleeve and not the magical Zippo Lighter version that came with original highly sought-after 1972 Island Records LPs (they did this on the 2015 LP Box too) - the "Babylon By Bus" live double from 1978 had a die-cut sleeve for the windscreen, two inners and a poster (all AWOL) - "Exodus" had that gorgeous gold artwork with embossed lettering and an inner, "Live! At The Lyceum" a poster – all not here and so on. As for the 'complete' title, there are single versions, 12" remixes etc that could have been put on Disc 12 but again, not here. Anyway, let's get to what is present...

UK/Europe released Friday, 4 December 2020 - "The Complete Island Recordings" by BOB MARLEY And THE WAILERS on Tuff Gong/Island/UMC 00602435081243 (Barcode 602435081243) is an 11-CD Clamshell Box Set of Remasters with Singular Mini LP Card Sleeve Repros that play out as follows:

CD1 and 2 as The Wailers, all others credited to Bob Marley And The Wailers

LP release-date and original UK catalogue number beneath each CD entry

CD1 "Catch A Fire" (36:16 minutes, 9 Tracks)

April 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9241 as The Wailers 

CD2 "Burnin'" (38:59 minutes, 10 tracks)

November 1973 UK LP on Island ILPS 9256 as The Wailers

CD3 "Natty Dread" (38:52 minutes, 9 tracks)

May 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9281 

CD4 "Live!" aka "Live! At The Lyceum" (37:31 minutes, 7 tracks)

December 1975 UK LP on Island ILPS 9376

CD5 "Rastaman Vibration" (35:20 minutes, 10 tracks)

April 1976 UK LP on Island ILPS 9383

CD6 "Exodus" (37:24 minutes, 10 tracks)

May 1977 UK LP on Island ILPS 9498

CD7 "Kaya" (37:14 minutes, 10 tracks)

March 1978 UK LP on Island ILPS 9517

CD8 "Babylon By Bus" (73:41 minutes, 13 tracks)

December 1978 UK LIVE Double-Album on Island ISLD 11 (2LPs onto 1CD)

CD9 "Survival" (38:09 minutes, 10 tracks)

October 1979 UK LP on Island ILPS 9542 

CD10 "Uprising" (36:15 minutes, 10 tracks)

June 1980 UK LP on Island ILPS 9596

CD11 "Confrontation" (37:53 minutes, 10 tracks)

May 1983 UK posthumous LP on Island ILPS 9760

When the 14-Track Greatest Hits set "Legend: The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers" was released in May 1984 – it quickly became and has become the biggest-selling Reggae LP of all time. But in order to fit into the restricted playing time of a Vinyl LP - eight of its fourteen cuts were either seven-inch single edits or remixes. The 1984 CD (with its extra playing time) allowed for "No Woman, No Cry" and "Exodus" to be their full album versions at 7:08 minutes and 7:40 minutes. Here in 2020, all fourteen of its tracks are available in their full and original album-form and you can sequence an Extended Version of that legendary "Legend" as follows:

Side 1: Is This Love (CD7), No Woman No Cry (Live) (CD4), Could You Be Loved (CD10), Three Little Birds (CD6), Buffalo Soldier (CD11), Get Up Stand Up (CD2) and Stir It Up (CD1)

Side 2: One Love/People Get Ready (CD6), I Shot The Sheriff (CD2), Waiting In Vain (CD6), Redemption Song (CD10), Satisfy My Soul (CD7), Exodus (CD6) and Jamming (CD6). 

The "Live! At The Lyceum" in London set still thrills on sheer atmosphere alone and the opening track "Trenchtown Rock" (new to Island Records) was from his brief tenure at Trojan Records in 1971 and 1972. Album discoveries include the overlooked "Burnin'" LP from November 1973 with the stunning positivity of "Get Up Stand Up", the socially aware "Burnin' and Lootin'" – a highlight on the Lyceum set and "I Shot The Sheriff" which Eric Clapton covered of course on his 1974 mega-hit "461 Ocean Boulevard" album – making everyone ask – who is Bob Marley? By the end of 1975, everyone n the world would know. 

"Natty Dread" and "Kaya" get forgotten about too, the politically charged "Survival" (with "Zimbabwe") whilst the entirety of 1977's "Exodus" is probably his most accomplished work with Reggae, Funk and Love songs all nestled beside each other. And there is prettiness too in "...turn your lights down low and pull your window curtains...let Jah moon shine in". And on it goes...

I just wish Island and Universal/UMC had gone that little extra mile with the overall visual impact. How hard for instance would it have been to provide a separate foldout sheet/insert with the poster for "Live! At The Lyceum" reproduced on one side and the "Babylon By Bus" one on the other? Just how cool would that have looked – even beautiful? Bob Marley & The Wailers was/is a truly legendary artist - and both he and his ace band deserved it. 

Still, despite the lack of extras or even unreleased - at a smidgen under thirty-one quid new from Amazon and delivered to your door shrink-wrapped and ready to make your Hi-Fi Get Up, Stand Up - I suppose you can't really complain in terms of sheer value for money. And it sounds awesome too - I played each and there isn't a duffer except for maybe that slightly hissy first.

Otherwise, i-Three and i-and-i say – if you want to lively up your Dad Rock self in 2020 and be no Covid-drag, then this little sweetie is a fabulous inoculation that won't wither your arm off...

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"Adventure" by TELEVISION – April 1978 US and UK Second Studio Album on Elektra Records featuring Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, Fred Smith and Billy Ficca (September 2003 US and October 2003 UK Elektra/Rhino Expanded & Remastered Edition CD Reissue with Four Bonuses – Dan Hersch Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: ****

 

"...Glory Days..."

 

Like so many of my generation (I came at the Seventies from 1970 onwards) - the second half of that stunning decade from 1975 to 1979 was so many things - fantastic, exhilarating, awful, confusing and so full of new genres, bands and formats - it was frankly dizzying. 

What people also forget is that aside from the spitting and pogoing at gigs and homemade clobber posing on the street (the sheer visuals), both the UK and US Punk, New Wave and Alternative Rock bands were genuinely exciting - especially the American big boys like Talking Heads, The Ramones, Richard Hell, Dead Kennedys and such - on up to The Motels, Jim Carroll and even Canadian Philip Rambow, they all grabbed our attention. 

But none more so than TELEVISION - a band who like The Verve effortlessly engendered hero worship on a biblical scale – especially for some reason in Blighty. Their March 1977 British debut album "Marquee Moon" was a wonder (and it charted here which it didn’t in the USA) - the kind of LP that makes me weak at the knees even now despite that kind-of-crappy artwork. 

So it was probably not surprising that fans and worshippers alike felt like someone had wee-weed on the Mona Lisa when 1978's ever so slightly anaemic "Adventure" turned up in April. It was undeniably a lesser-work, great sounding, but rushed (rambling instrumental bits) even though there were those moments of magic. When they disbanded shortly after its American failure and Verlaine and Lloyd went off to solo and other projects – it kinda got stuck at the back on my vinyl record pile to be sold into secondhand stores when funds got tight. But as so many astute reviewers have pointed out - ok it's not MM - but it is Television and frankly Frank Frankfurter - in 2020 at the age of 62 - that does the tomato ketchup for me. But which issue to buy on CD?

Most will have noticed that if you type in 'Television Adventure CD' into Amazon's search bar, you immediately get thrown onto the cheap 1993 variant on Elektra 960 523-2 (Barcode 075596052320) which is new for about five and half quid. But this 8-track basic variant is not the one you want - the peach you need is the Rhino reissue from September 2003 (USA) and October 2003 (UK) with Four Bonus Tracks (one hidden). This is one of those rare instances where a Remaster and four Bonuses elevate a 3-star album up into a 4-star CD reissue by virtue of their dual quality (I provide the exact Barcodes below to locate either of the Rhino US or UK CD reissues). Here are the foxholes and the glory days...

US released 23 September 2003 - "Adventure" by TELEVISION on Elektra/Rhino R2 73921 (Barcode 081227392123) is an Expanded & Remastered CD Reissue with Four Bonus Tracks (One Is Hidden). The British issue was released October 2003 on Elektra/Rhino/WSM 8122-73921-2 (Barcode 081227392123) – both play out as follows (60:22 minutes): 

1. Glory [Side 1]

2. Days 

3. Foxhole 

4. Careful 

5. Carried Away 

6. The Fire [Side 2]

7. Ain't That Nothin'

8. The Dream's Dream 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their second studio album "Adventure" - released April 1978 in the USA on Elektra Records 6E-133 and April 1978 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52072. Produced by JOHN JANSEN and TOM VERLAINE - it peaked at No. 7 in the UK (didn't chart USA). 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. Adventure - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Album Outtake (5:38 minutes)

10. Ain't That Nothin' (Single Version) - July 1978 US 45-single A-side on Elektra E-45516. The A-side single edit is 3:56 minutes (LP version is 4:53 minutes) with "Glory" from the album as its B-side.

11. Glory (Early Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Album Outtake (3:39 minutes)

HIDDEN TRACK:

12. Ain't That Nothin' (Run Through) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Album Outtake (9:48 minutes)

The gatefold card digipak is unusual in that it has an extra inner-flap housing the Elektra Records logo CD (original 1978 US label design) whilst the first flap has the 16-page booklet with new liner notes by ALAN LICHT (see photos). The lyrics to the eight songs and the outtake "Adventure" are on the inner flaps too while the booklet features black and whites of our four heroes – Tom Verlaine on Lead Vocals, Guitar and Keyboards (all songs written by him except "Glory" which is a co-write with Richard Lloyd), Richard Lloyd on Lead Guitar and Vocals, Fred Smith on Bass and Vocals and Billy Ficca on Drums. There are other photos of the band in the back of some glass-strewn Transit van and a copy of the single Ain't That Nothin' in its US Elektra/Asylum label bag. The sorry history of the band is told that includes comments from Verlaine on the cold US reaction and bad sound engineers at British gigs. For a band that has been so influential, even now in 2020 and over 40 years later, their lack of success on home turf still seems inexplicable.

The Remaster is done by one of Rhino’s most experienced Audio Engineers – DAN HERSCH who along with his partner in tape-research crimes BILL INGLOT - have touched on huge swathes of the mighty WEA catalogue across decades of their releases. This Adventure thing rocks and rolls and is fantastically clear. I was expecting perhaps amateur hour with the outtakes – but no – they sound amazing, as does the LP. 

It opens strongly with "Glory" where a girlfriend dons emotional and physical boxing gloves and spars with Tom over halos, wet red lips and mirrors in vans. When they issued a 45-single to finally promote the album in September 1978, Elektra chose "Ain't That Nothin'" with "Glory" on the flipside – a mistake methinks because I would swear that "Glory" would have drawn in that Cars audience "My Best Friend's Girl" (but who knows). There is a touch of The Byrds in the jangle-prettiness of "Days" - a touch of her hand - standing on a bridge of dreams (gorgeous guitar work from both of the boys). "Foxhole" rocks out like a snot-nosed son of some wicked Lou Reed and Mick Hunter riff off the "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" live album - Verlaine wanting to know where his guardian angel is - dressed up to the poser nines in a relationship dug out. That fantastic pinging guitar solo of Verlaine's on "Foxhole" is just brilliant and full of power on this remaster. "Careful" is pop-Television and its "I don't care..." voices feels false and weedy but I love the old-school romance of "Carried Away" where he could even be Springsteen with the E-Street Band the way he makes that organ sound.  

Side 2 opens with "The Fire" - 5:57 minutes of guitar Television where it begins with Verlaine using a knife as a bottleneck for slide guitar - its slow holding-our-breath vibe feeling all weird and 50ts spacey. It's not the most immediate of Television tunes but there is a doomy vibe to the guitars and words about falling that draws me back after all these years. Riffage ala "Marquee Moon" ahoy with "Ain't That Nothin'" - a flicking-guitar chugger that's good but still feels suspiciously unconvincing until that cool chorus arrives. Six minutes and 45-seconds of "The Dream's Dream" brings the LP to a good if not a tad underwhelming finish. But what lifts me up are the Bonuses - all wicked especially the near ten-minute 'run through' of "Ain't That Nothin'" which is a Hidden Track. I used to slap this on CD-Rs in Reckless playlists and about five minutes into its so-Television guitar drone, the relentless almost Kraut rhythms would bring punters to the counter eager to know 'who is this!'

Yes - reviewers are right to call "Adventure" the complacency-riddled relative to its big brother and "It's A Wonderful Life" war hero - "Marquee Moon". But for me, the Bonuses on this fabulous sounding Rhino CD have saved the day. 

"Moved by the hand that was never a fist..." Verlaine sings on the album-title outtake "Adventure" - get this 2003 CD variant and discover why...

"Original Album Classics" by PATTI SMITH GROUP – Featuring Five Albums on Arista Records - "Horses" (1975), "Radio Ethiopia" (1976), "Easter" (1978), "Wave" (1979) and "Dream Of Life" (1988) – featuring Producers and Arrangers John Cale, Jimmy Iovine, Todd Rundgren, Tom Verlaine, Scott Litt and Fred Smith with Musicians Lenny Kaye, Richard Sohl, Ivan Kral, Bruce Brody, Jay Dee Daugherty, Fred Smith and more (October 2008 UK Sony/Arista/Legacy 5CD Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Mini LP Artwork Card Sleeves – Each Album With 1996 Bob Irwin Remasters and Bonuses) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 339 Others Is Available In My

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Music Of 1977 to 1979 

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"...A Sea Of Possibilities..."

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There are a wad of 5CD capacity wallets (that's what they're technically calling them nowadays) in Sony's 'Original Album Classics" series of mini box sets - and quite a few 3CD variants as well. But some just stick out better than most - Johnny Winter, Shuggie Otis, Sly & The Family Stone, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac in the 3CD issues, etc. 

And so it is with the mighty Patti Smith. Armed with 1996 Remasters by Bob Irwin and Bonuses on all five CDs - you have to say that this 2008 Legacy reissue with its dinky mini LP artwork card sleeves and tasty purchase price has it nailed to the urinated river on every front. Let's get at the details 'cause there's a wave of them...

UK released 13 October 2008 - "Original Album Classics" by PATTI SMITH on Sony/Arista/Legacy 88697313832 (Barcode 886973138328) offers Five Remastered CDs (each with Bonuses) in a Hard Card Capacity Wallet with Five Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and plays out as follows:

CD1 "Horses" (46:42 minutes):

1. Gloria (i) In Excelsis Deo (ii) Gloria (Version) [Side 1]

2. Redondo Beach 

3. Birdland 

4. Free Money 

5. Kimberly [Side 2]

6. Break It Up 

7. Land (i) Horses (ii) Land Of A Thousand Dances (iii) La Mer(de)

8. Elegie 

Tracks 1 to 8 are her debut album "Horses" - released December 1975 in the USA on Arista AL 4066 and December 1975 in the UK on Arista ARTY 122. Produced by JOHN CALE - it peaked at No. 46 on the US albums charts (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACK:

9. My Generation - non-album B-side of the March 1976 US 45-single "Gloria" on Arista AS 0171 - cover version of The Who classic - first appeared digitally on the 1996 CD reissue of "Horses" as a lone bonus track 

CD2 "Radio Ethiopia" (48:40 minutes):

1. Ask The Angels [Side 1]

2. Ain't It Strange

3. Poppies 

4. Pissing In A River 

5. Pumping (My Heart) [Side 2]

6. Distant Fingers 

7. Radio Ethiopia

8. Abyssinia 

Tracks 1 to 8 are her second studio album "Radio Ethiopia" - released October 1976 in the USA on Arista AL 4097 and October 1976 in the UK on Arista SPARTY 1001. Produced by JACK DOUGLAS and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 122 in the USA (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACK:

9. Chiklets - Previously Unreleased track from the 1976 sessions, first appeared digitally on the 1996 CD reissue

CD3 "Easter" (46:59 minutes):

1.  Till Victory [Side 1]

2. Space Monkey 

3. Because The Night 

4. Ghost Dance 

5. Babelogue 

6. Rock N Roll Nigger 

7. Privilege (Set Me Free) [Side 2]

8. We Three 

9. 25th Floor 

10. High On Rebellion 

11. Easter 

Tracks 1 to 11 are her third studio album "Easter" - released March 1978 in the USA on Arista AB 4171 and March 1978 in the UK on Arista SPART 1043. Produced by JIMMY IOVINE and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 20 in the US album charts and No. 16 in the UK. The album also had exclusive song material from Tom Verlaine of Television (a co-write on "Space Monkey") and Bruce Springsteen ("Because The Night")

BONUS TRACK:

12. Godspeed - non-album B-side to the March 1978 US 45-single "Because The Night" on Arista AS 0318 - first appearance digitally as a lone Bonus Track on the 1996 CD reissue of "Easter"

CD4 "Wave" (43:25 minutes):

1. Frederick [Side 1]

2. Dancing Barefoot 

3. So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star) 

4. Hymn 

5. Revenge 

6. Citizen Ship [Side 2]

7. Seven Ways Of Going 

8. Broken Flag 

9. Wave 

Tracks 1 to 9 are the fourth studio album "Wave" - released May 1979 in the USA on Arista AB 4221 and May 1979 in the UK on Arista SPART 1086. Produced by TODD RUNDGREN and credited to PATTI SMITH GROUP - it peaked at No. 18 in the US and No. 44 on the album charts

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Fire Of Unknown Origin 

11. 54321/Wave - Tracks 10 and 11 are the non-album B-sides of the September 1979 US 45 "So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star)" on Arista AS 0453 - first appeared digitally as two Bonus Tracks on the 1996 CD reissue of "Wave" - "54321/Wave" recorded live in New York, 23 May 1979

CD "Dream Of Life" (51:45 minutes):

1. People Have The Power

2. Up There Down There 

3. Paths That Cross 

4. Dream Of Life 

5. Where Duty Calls 

6. Going Under 

7. Looking For You (I Was)

8. The Jackson Song 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fifth studio album "Dream Of Life" - released July 1988 in the USA on Arista AL 8453 and July 1988 in the UK on Arista 209 172 (Vinyl Versions) and on CD too. Produced by FRED SMITH and JIMMY IOVINE – it peaked at No. 65 in the USA and No. 70 in the UK on the album charts. Note: original versions of the album had the track order as follows: Tracks 1, 6, 2, and 3 as Side 1 with Side 2 as Tracks  4, 5, 6 and 7. This CD is based on the June 1996 CD Remaster that altered that running order. 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. As The Night Goes By - previously unreleased track from the sessions 

10. Wild Leaves - non-album B-side to the May 1988 US 45-single "People Have The Power" on Arista AS1-9689 - both tracks first appeared digitally as Bonuses on the 1996 reissue of "Dream Of Life"

The hard card slipcase or capacity wallet (as they like to call it now) houses the five Mini LP Repro Sleeves with the album info available online at Legacy Recordings website for 'Original Album Classics' - they are nice to look at, tactile and with those 1996 Remasters and Bonuses - very cool indeed. The audio is superb – so damn good - all thoughts of those first waves of dullard 80ts CDs banished. It is a shame there isn't a separate slip-in booklet to accompany these five-disc overhauls, but you can't deny that for the price, there is an awful lot of goodness on offer here for really not a lot of wonga. To the poet and her band of merry men...

It is surely the height of period cool to open your debut album with lyrics like "...Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine..." – you go lady of words and music. Patti re-writes the Van Morrison-written THEM classic "Gloria" into a musical pyre – building, building as it hurtles to the finish line with the hymn "In Excelsis Deo" thrown in for good measure. Her sort of Clash-type Reggae Rock kicks in with "Redondo Beach" – looking for her beau down by an ocean of smudge-faced teen suicides. "Gloria" was good for sure, a sure-fire 45-single winner. But for me her special kind of genius began to really show with the ethereally beautiful "Birdland" – a half-spoken and half-sung tale of lost boys left alone by cruel daddies – Lenny Kaye's fantastic guitar so subtly aiding the heavy storytelling (same applies to the piano ache in "Elegie" that finishes Side 2). 

And then, just when you think you've nailed the LP's Punk, New Wave and Art Rock credentials – she moves you with The Velvet Underground-doomy "Free Money" – hot in jet planes as it thrashes its way out your speakers with such anger and life (love those doubled vocals). And on it goes towards a nine-minute three-part collage of Gloria-type speed called "Land" – a racer that includes Chris Kenner's Atlantic Records 60ts soul dancer "Land Of A Thousand Dances" amidst the mantra of Horses, Horses, Horses – Johnny doing the Watusi in a pretty little place in a sea of possibilities - how utterly brill. 

After a balls-to-the-wall breakout like "Easter" – it was going to be hard to follow up, but she did it with the spit and sawdust kick-ass power of "Radio Ethiopia". Hot sometimes as you "Ask The Angels" (great guitar) and don't look at me in this broken state of "Ain't It Strange". I guess "Poppies" is the closest she's come a 'commercial' sound singing about longing and addiction to all manner of debilitating things while the notorious "Pissing In A River" just reeks of pain and loss of love. And don't you just tingle at the sheer rocking abandon in "Pumping" - the soloing axes screeching as she wails about connection and her heart pumping - wow! I would admit that the grunge 10-minutes of the title track is still hard for me to take all in one go, but I was surprised and even taken aback by the "Wild Horses" Rolling Stones acoustic-beauty of the bonus track "Chiklets" - a middleweight boxer getting eulogized. I would probably go as far as saying that the "Radio Ethiopia" album has weathered even better than its more famous and illustrious horsey predecessor – and the Remaster has upped its menace four-fold to where it should always have been. 

In 1978, Bruce Springsteen was all grown-up by the time he released the hard-as-nails "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" LP and it seemed his knack of giving away great songs to other artists was hitting something of a zenith (Southside Johnny, Graham Parker and later Gary U.S. Bonds, Donna Summer and Dave Edmunds). But he kept his best for Patti. I was a Bruce-o-nut in 1978 (continued from 1974 in fact) so the fact that the wicked "Easter" album also contained the equally rampant "Because The Night" by The Boss was all right in the dark-night by me. Other winners included the chug muscle of "Space Monkey" with that old-fashioned organ whining – rusty Polaroids and guitars. And there is peace to your brother in the Indian-chant of "Ghost Dance". She is joined by Jackson Pollock, Jimi Hendrix and Jesus in the infamous "Rock n Roll Ni**er" - while Brit tunesmiths Mark London (Manager to Stones The Crows and Maggie Bell) and Michael Leander provided her with the very Blondie-rocking "Privilege (She Me Free)" – a reason to live – make me lie down in green pastures. And while I never could dig the jagged mayhem of "High On Rebellion" – once again the Remaster saves the day with the superb six-minutes of "Godspeed" – a Bonus Track B-side about static and adrenalin.

"Wave" has always been seen as the let’s go for commercial album and therefore poo-pooed for it, but I liked the Rundgren-esque keyboard fills on "Frederick" and the very Velvets feel to "Dancing Barefoot" – a fantastic song in my not-so-humble opinion – some strange music that draws me in. She sings of sweet payback as she skewers a former flame in "Revenge" (love that huge guitar solo, so Hall & Oates "Along The Red Ledge" that I believe Rundgren also produced) and Patti gives even more lambasting to the message in the Byrds industry-acidic "So You Want To Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star)". Sounding like a drunken sailor, I love the ramshackle feel to the B-side "5-4-3-2-1" – another Bonus that likes up to the moniker. She even finds a tranquil Galilee of sorts in "Seven Ways Of Going" albeit one steeped in a sort of East meets the West rock mysticism (a sleeper on a very underrated album in my opinion). 

After a decade away, she returned to much ballyhoo with 1988's "Dream Of Life" - only eight tracks - but many with that fire of old (even if the reviews were mixed). It opens strongly where "Power Have The Power" sounds like a rocked-up Buffy St. Marie as does "Up There Down There" - a great Rock shuffler with her trademark vocal style letting rip once again. But both are soundly trumped by the sheer loveliness of "The Jackson Song" while "Going Under" feels more hurt than it wants to admit. Of the Bonuses the acoustic-light "As The Night Goes By" feels the lesser to the falling of "Wild Leaves" to the ground. 

For sure you could argue that "Wave" and "Dream Of Life" are not as spectacular as the first three, but for me Patti Smith is like John Martyn or Bruce or Joni - gotta have the lot because I know there will be magic in there somewhere. Babelogue on and on - you lovely slightly loony poetess...

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"Crisis? What Crisis?" by SUPERTRAMP – Fourth Album from November 1975 on A&M Records – featuring Roger Hodgson, Richard Davies, John Helliwell, Dougie Thomson and Bob Benberg with String Arrangements by Richard Hewson (June 2002 UK A&M Records – Part of 'The Supertramp Remasters' CD Reissue Series – Greg Calbi and Jay Messina Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sister Moonshine..."

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Following an all-eight-tracks-are-good winner album like September 1974's "Crime Of The Century" was always going to be a tall order and I remember the disappointment Supertramp unleashed in November 1975 with "Crisis? What Crisis?"

Having said that, there are those who would claim it's unfairly poo-pooed in favour of its more famous predecessor and the hooky genius of what was yet to come - 1979's "Breakfast In America". I don't honestly know about that. 

Re-listening to CWC now in late 2020, tracks like "Sister Moonshine", "Lady" and "Ain't Nobody But Me" are still crack-a-lacking Rock-Pop for sure, but the rest of it feels underwhelming, half-hearted and even dismissible. There was no fat on COTC, but despite the wit of its famously cynical front cover artwork, Crisis did indeed feel like a band stating how it was for them in the actual name on the LP. To the large yellow parasols and stripy deck-chairs...

UK released 11 June 2002 - "Crisis? What Crisis?" by SUPERTRAMP on A&M Records 493 347-2 (Barcode 606949334727) Is Part Of The Supertramp Remasters CD Reissue Series and plays out as follows (47:24 minutes):

1. Easy Does It [Side 1]
2. Sister Moonshine 
3. Ain't Nobody But Me 
4. A Soapbox Opera 
5. Another Man's Woman 
6. Lady [Side 2]
7. Poor Boy 
8. Just A Normal Day 
9. The Meaning 
10. Two Of Us 
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Crisis? What Crisis?" - released November 1975 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68347 and November 1975 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4560. Produced by KEN SCOTT and SUPERTRAMP - it peaked at No. 20 in the UK and No. 44 in the US Albums charts. 

The 8-page booklet is a functional affair reproducing the lyrics that came with the original vinyl LP's inner sleeve - and they are printed against a yellow backdrop (like the 1975 original). There are no other liner notes except for reissue credits on Page 7. Roger Hodgson (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards), Richard Davies (Vocals and Keyboards), John Helliwell (Vocals and Wind Instruments), Dougie Thomas (Bass) and Bob Benberg (Drums) was the band line-up with Orchestral Arrangements done by Richard Hewson. 

For names synonymous with audio impeccability (especially Greg Calbi who has Paul Simon and Paul McCartney as clients) - I'd also have to admit that the audio transfer here is at times a tad less spectacular than a logo like 'The Supertramp Remasters' would automatically promise. For sure the huge twelve-string chiming acoustics on "Sister Moonshine" swirl around your living room with intent, but stuff like "The Meaning" or the all washed-up Sister Washington in "A Soapbox Opera" feel weirdly muted - like they were (dare I speak sacrilege here) - hurriedly or badly produced in the first place?

A good album in places then for me - but never a great one – even though I return to its tunes often.  

"...When I was a small boy, I could see the magic in a day..." Roger Hodgson sang on the optimistic "Sister Moonshine" over 45 years ago. Well, parts of "Crisis? What Crisis?" makes me feel that way - I just wish all of it did...