"Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Barbara Lynn, Lightnin’ Slim, Mercy Baby, Lazy Lester, Polka Dot Slim, Big Walter, Jake Jackson, Slim Harpo, Leroy Washington, Al Smith and more (August 2017 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters With Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Sugar Coated Love..."

The 'By The Bayou' Series of CD compilations from Ace Records of the UK now numbers 22 titles in June 2021 and runs through four generalised genre themes - Bluesin' By The Bayou - Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou - Boppin' By The Bayou and Swamp Pop By The Bayou - each title numbered on the spine (this set from 2017 is No. 18, see discography list provided below). 

Each is 28-tracks long (so plenty of listening time) and tackle down 'n' dirty Deep South sounds from a large range of American labels specialising in fast-cat 45s - names like Ric, Goldband, Dixie, Carl and whole slew more. This is the Jay D. Miller catalogue out of Louisiana that got turned out on oodles of those Flyright compilation LPs in the 70s, 80s & 90s – so there is also liberal doses of Cajun, Zydeco, Tex Mex, Rock and Roll and Rockabilly choons too. As Flyright clocked up some huge number of reissues – nearly 300 as I recall – I imagine there are many sea-legs left in this CD Series, even if it is at No. 22 already. 

UK-issued, each CD compilation has its share of previously unreleased (eight in this case) and mixes up known names like Soul Singer Barbara Lynn and Blues Boy Lazy Lester with virtual unknowns like T.B. Fisher and Boozoo Chavis & His Zodico Accordian. With Ace's usual attention to track-by-track booklet detail and period photos to compliment the 50s and 60s listens, as you can imagine each comp is a whole heap of hoodoo fun and a proper journey of genre jumpin' discovery. So let's get to the lonesome cigarettes, sugar coated lovers and prison hamburgers (and that's just the left leg)...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1506 (Barcode 029667084222) is a Remastered 28-Track CD compilation with Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks that plays out as follows (73:08 minutes):   

1. Pleadin' - MERCY BABY (June 1958, US 45-single on Ric 955, A-side)

2. I've Been In This Prison - LEROY WASHINGTON (originally issued on the 1981 UK LP "Wild Cherry" on Flyright FLY LP 574)

3. Little Girl Blues (The Blues And My Woman) - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 3 of a track originally on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright FLY LP 524)

4. I Haven't Got A Home - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

5. Better Start Doin' It – HONEY BOY ALLEN – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

6. Cigarettes – SLIM HARPO (from the 1985 Various Artists UK LP "Baton Rouge Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 607)

7. Hoo Doo Blues – LIGHTNIN' SLIM (originally unissued take of the January 1958 A-side to Excello 2131, first released on the 1981 UK LP "The Feature Sides 1954" on Flyright Records FLY LP 583)

8. Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, B-side of "A Thing You Gotta Face")

9. I'm A Lover Not A Fighter – LAZY LESTER (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 6 of Excello 2143, September 1958 US 45-single A-side)

10. Dreaming Dreaming – JOE RICHARDS (1962 US 45-single on Carl 504, A-side)

11. Still In Love With You – AL SMITH – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

12. In The Evening – COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES (from the 1976 US LP "The Legendary Cookie And The Cupcakes" on Goldband GRLP-7757)

13. A Thing You Gotta Face – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, A-side – for B-side see Track 8)

14. Life Gets Hard – JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

15. Sugar Coated Love – BARBARA LYNN (1971 US Copyright Records 2319, A-side)

16. Tee Black – BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, B-side – see Track 19 for A-side)

17. Angel Please – JIMMY ANDERSON & THE JOY JUMPERS (1962 US 45-single on Zynn 1014, B-side to "I Wanna Boogie")

18. Make Me Cry – CLARENCE GARLOW (from the 1987 US LP "Zydeco Birth" on Goldband Records GFCL 103)

19. Hamburgers & Popcorn BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, A-side – see Track 16 for B-side)

20. I Hate To Leave You Baby - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Alternate of a Track on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright Records FLY LP 524) 

21. If I Don't See You - AL SMITH (1959 US 45-single on Goldband 1092, B-side of "I Love Her So")

22. Baby, Baby, Baby - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

23. I Don't Know - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (from the 1986 UK LP "We Gotta Rock Tonight" on Flyright Records FLY LP 612)

24. If The Blues Was Money - BIG WALTER - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

25. Somebody Tell Me - JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

26. 

Tracks 3, 5, 9, 11, 20, 22, 24 and 28 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

NICK ROBBINS handles the clearly homecookin' tapes - some super clean - but many rough as a gutbucket. The audio is always real - full of energy even if the source has clearly been recorded in Aunty Flo's outside lavvy. IAN SADLER handles the track-by-track histories (Lester Johnson is the real name for Lazy Lester, Julius Mullins is Mercy Baby, gunned down at the age of 47,and so on) and of course you get those rare and obscure 45-labels siding the text. Typically well annotated Ace Records 12-page liner notes.  

"Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry..." opens on a suitably rough-recorded raucous Blues stomper, Mercy Baby asking why his woman don't love him all the time - but his "Pleadin'" falls of her cold deaf ears. The Audio takes a leap up with the cool steppin' toe-tapper "I've Been In This Prison" - Leroy Washington lonely in his factory of the Blues – his prison cell jumpin' every night with songs like this. The big moan continues with Lightnin' Slim in all kinds of misery 'cause his women won't let him be (poor chap). It's worse for Ramblin' Hi Harris whose sleepin' in his bed alone - that's when he has a home to lay his worried mind down in.  

Always loved Slim Harpo and his "Cigarettes" is a great little shuffler with witty lyrics – his pals always broke and bumming smokes off of him. Fantastic comes in the shape of the put-you-down "Hoo Doo Blues" – Lightnin' Slim watching his women runnin' 'round with another man (it even has some talk in dialogue and a blow-your-harmonica-son harp solo too). It gets even better - Howlin' Wolf fans will double-take at the set titles "Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by Polka Dot Slim - a fantastic down-in-the-mud Blues shuffle as he moans like the Wolf and plays his harp like Little Walter. It's not audiophile baby, but it's got Soul and a few other neckjerkin' Hoodoo moments 

in-between. 

Other highlights include the simple Harmonica, Guitar and Piano rolls of the Previously Unissued "Still In Love With You" - a real discovery by Al Smith. Rough and ready is the kicking beat in "A Thing You Gotta Face" by Polka Dot Slim - a recording that's barely hanging on by its tape lapels. There's a pair of bare-bones but well recorded shufflers from Jake Jackson that turned up on an obscure 1989 LP - Volume 55 in the Jay Miller Series. And I'm diggin' the I-don't-have-worry Harmonica shuffle in Barbara Lynn's "Sugar Coated Love" - yes, he's got what Babs can use. 

As I recall the Flyright LPs were easy purchases at record fairs and secondhand stores back in the day - but I also remember they were fab one minute and patchy the next. This Ace CD Series seems to be consciously re-writing that 'hotch-potch' mentality and mixing it up into better compilation listens. "I Hate To Leave You Baby..." moaned Lightnin' Slim as he flicked his guitar like Ike Turner in girly pain yet again. 

A blast of a listen and a good indicator of what the whole 'By The Bayou' Series offers... 

BY THE BAYOU CD Compilation Series 

From Ace Records of the UK 

A LIST 

22 Titles correct to June 2021

Focuses mostly on the Louisiana Recordings of Jay D. Miller 

(The Legendary Sessions Series), a lot of which were issued on 

UK Flyright Records LPs in the 70s, 80s and 90s

Boppin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Boppin' By The Bayou (August 2012, Ace CDCHD 1345 - Barcode 029667052023) - No. 1 in the Series

2. Boppin' By The Bayou Again (January 2013, Ace CDCHD 1355 - Barcode 029667053228) - No. 2 in the Series

3. Boppin' By The Bayou: More Dynamite (October 2013, Ace CDCHD 1380 - Barcode 029667056625) - No. 5 in the Series

4. Boppin' By The Bayou: Made In The Shade (September 2014, Ace CDCHD 1415 - Barcode 029667062022) - No. 9 in the Series

5. Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me Mama! (29 June 2015, Ace CDCHD 1443 - Barcode 029667072229) - No. 11 in the Series

6. Boppin' By The Bayou: Drive-Ins & Baby Dolls (28 October 2016, Ace CDCHD 1486 - Barcode 029667077521) - No. 16 in the Series 

7. Boppin' By The Bayou: Flip, Flop & Fly (June 2018, Ace CDCHD 1529 - Barcode 029667089920) - No. 20 in the Series

8. Boppin' By The Bayou: Feel So Good (29 May 2020, Ace CDCHD 1567 - Barcode 029667097727) - No. 22 in the Series

Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Bluesin' By The Bayou (27 June 2013, Ace CDCHD 1368 – Barcode 029667054928) – No. 4 in the Series

2. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough 'n' Tough (28 July 2014, Ace CDCHD 1403 – Barcode 029667060622) – No. 8 in the Series

3. Bluesin' By The Bayou: I'm Not Jivin' (8 June 0216, Ace CDCHD 1471 - Barcode 029667075824) - No. 14 in the Series

4. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry (25 August 2017, Ace CDCHD 1506 - Barcode 029667084222) - No. 18 in the Series

Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES 

1. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou (February 2013, Ace CDCHD 1363 – Barcode 029668053723) – No. 3 in the Series 

2. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin' (27 January 2014, Ace CDCHD 1388 – Barcode 029667057820) – No. 6 in the Series 

3. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies (26 January 2015, Ace CDCHD 1422 - Barcode 029667063425) - No. 10 in the Series 

4. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups (25 September 2015, Ace CDCHD 1448 - Barcode 029667073127) - No. 12 in the Series 

5. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals And Love Sick Souls (29 July 2016, Ace CDCHD 1478 - Barcode 029667076425) - No. 15 in the Series

6. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' (24 November 2017, Ace CDCHD 1514 - Barcode 029667086424) - No. 19 in the Series

7. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp (31 May 2019, Ace CDCHD 1547 - Barcode 029667094528) - No. 21 in the Series

Swamp Pop By The Bayou TITLES

1. Swamp Pop By The Bayou (March 2014, Ace CDCHD 1397 - Barcode 029667058520) - No. 7 in the Series 

2. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Troubles, Tears & Trains (29 January 2016, Ace CDCHD 1462 - Barcode 029667074520) - No. 13 in the Series 

3. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Let's Get Together Tonight (28 April 2017, Ace CDCHD 1499 - Barcode 029667079426) - No. 17 in the Series

"American Epic" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1910s to 1930s Recordings on 78s and Field Recordings Including Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Lead Belly, Blind Gary Davis, Charley Patton, Skip James, Ma Rainey, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, Hopi Indians, Roots Artists etc (June 2017 UK Sony Music/Columbia/Legacy/Third Man Records/Lo-Max 5CD 100-Track Hardback Book Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Bound For The Promised Land... "

First thing's first - I'm reviewing the 5CD Hardback Book Deluxe Edition - a gorgeous thing to look at and behold for damn sure. And in 2021, it has been reduced to below thirty-quid which is a deal if ever there was one. But the listen however is a very mixed bag indeed – yo-yoing from formative genius to scratchy unlistenable and travelling through all points in-between. Here is a basic breakdown...

UK released June 2017 - "American Epic" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/Columbia/Legacy/Third Man Records/Lo-Max 88875099692 (Barcode 888750996923) is 5CD 100-Track Deluxe Edition Hardback Book Set. Each CD is themed by 'area' of the USA and then broken down further to cities that featured prominently during those formative years.

CD1 THE SOUTHEAST – Memphis – Bristol – Johnson City – Louisiana

Recordings from July 1927 to June 1931 - 59:10 minutes (19 Tracks)

CD2 ATLANTA – The Origin Of Commercial Field Recording

Recordings from April 1926 to December 1930 - 52:47 minutes (17 Tracks)

CD3 NEW YORK CITY / EAST COAST – The Birthplace Of Electric Recordings

Recordings from April 1916 to July 1935 - 63:19 minutes (21 Tracks)

CD4 THE MIDWEST – Chicago – St. Louis – Richmond – Grafton

Recordings from Dec 1926 To February 1936 - 74:08 minutes (23 Tracks)

CD5 THE DEEP SOUTH & THE WEST – Birmingham – Jackson – Hattiesburg – New Orleans – Shreveport – Dallas – San Antonio – Los Angeles – San Francisco

Recordings from March 1927 to November 1936 - 66:33 minutes (20 Tracks)

A companion to the multi-award winning 'American Epic' film trilogy – the Hardback 98-Page 10" x 10" Book features many unseen black and whites of artists (of all colours) that haven't had their moment in the recognition sun - in some cases - ever. I can't imagine the amount of hours it must have taken to accumulate these stunning images (all are given whole pages of tribute - see photos provided) or meticulously do the transfers of battered 78s and field recordings - most of which range between 70 and 100 years old.

On that – you need to temper those expectations - the audio restoration is amazing but it also flits from severe crackles and hiss on Disc 1 for The Memphis Jug Band recorded September 1928 to the near almost eerily perfection gained on the iconic November 1936 recording of "Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson, arguably the starting point for all modern Rock music as we know it.

In-between there are many familiar names – from the Blues we get Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Lead Belly, Blind Gary Davis, Charley Patton, Skip James, Ma Rainey, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmie Rodgers and more – from Country and Roots we get The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon and Charlie Poole - alongside genre music like Hopi Indians, Mexican, Hawaiian and loads more.

Each pages affords discography info (if any) on each song that is sided by a paragraph of reminiscences from an artist who knew the singers or can shed a light on their (often) murky back-stories. There are lyrics in English or Spanish or South American and reams of cleanly rendered photographs - men and women on porches with acoustics, fiddles, banjos and jug bottles - a lot of whom seem to be wondering why someone is pointing one of those new fangled cameras at them. Amidst black and whites of recording studio buildings long gone is an occasional 78" represented and oversized Test Pressing (RCA, Victor, Columbia, Bluebird, Paramount etc), cartoon trade adverts for the latest 75c craze and some of the artist portraits – like the full plate given to a young Lead Belly and his girl on Page 46 – are breathtaking – beautiful even.

The listen can at times be taxing – all that crackle – languages you don't understand, themes of poverty and the underbelly of hurt from out-and-out racism – but "American Epic" is never anything less than fascinating and feels like a privilege to be able to eavesdrop on history like this - voices to be heard.

The actor Robert Redford is quoted on the front cover sticker – "...This is America's greatest untold story..." 

Well, rarely has it been afforded such respect and lavish loving attention. Never mind the hiss folks - feel the hustle, the excitement and the sheer lifeforce flowing from all those pioneers we owe so much to...

"Fatal Mistakes" by DEL AMITRI (28 May 2021 UK Cooking Vinyl CD and LP Released) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Lonely I Have Been So Long..."

I've always loved Del Amitri's particular brand of Faces-like Rock and Slim Chance boozy-Folk tunes (used to play them to death in Reckless on the staff play much to the annoyance of some and religiously collected their CD singles with all those tasty unreleased B-sides).

But like many fans that have waited too much time for this album, my immediate reaction is that "Fatal Mistakes" is only good in places when it really should have been storming all over. Here's a brief breakdown of the details...

1. You Can't Go Back 

2. All Hail Blind Love 

3. Musicians And Beer 

4. Close Your Eyes And Think Of England 

5. Losing The Will To Die

6. Otherwise 

7. It's Feelings 

8. I'm So Scared 

9. Mockingbird Copy Me Now 

10. Missing Person 

11. Second Staircase 

12. Lonely

13. Nation Of Caners 

The CD for "Fatal Mistakes" by DEL AMITRI was UK released Friday, 28 May 2021 on Cooking Vinyl COOKCD780 (Barcode 711297528022) with a gatefold card sleeve and foldout lyric/photos insert (45:54 minutes total playing time). There is also a 13-Track VINYL LP variant on COOKLP780 (Barcode 711297528015) released on the same day that comes with a download code to acquire the music digitally. 

Produced and Mixed by Dan Austin

Recorded March 2020 at Vada Studio

Mastered by Paul McGeechan 

DEL AMITRI is:

ANDY ALSTON

JUSTIN CURRIE 

KRIS DOLLIMORE

IAIN HARVIE

ASH SOAN 

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10,11 and 13 written by Justin Currie

Tracks 2, 7 and 9 written by Justin Currie and Iain Harvie

Track 12 written by Justin Currie and Kris Dollimore 

We all know Justin Currie needs to get out more, his lyrics dark as black holes from which no light escapes - so tracks like "Losing The Will To Live" and "All Hail Blind Love" are hard to take let alone fix yourself to listen too again on purpose. The thudding and teeny-bit-tedious lyric-marathon "Nation Of Caners" also ends the record on a strangely sour note.

But then you get brilliance like "I'm So Scared Of Dying" that has a fabulous drunk-with-hurt feel to it, even if it fades out too soon. The same goes for the burning-through-my-mind "Second Staircase" and the acoustic mocking of the moon in "Lonely". Both the catchy "You Can't Go Back" followed by "It's Feelings" are the obvious Radio-friendly singles but again - they needed to be ace when they're just somehow lacking that killer edge of old.

Nice to hear them again for damn sure – but even after a good few spins now, I just wish I wanted to play this latest load of misery guts more rather than just endure it. And I dare say that will go for so many...

"Juicy Lucy/Lie Back And Enjoy It/Get A Whiff A This" by JUICY LUCY – September 1969, October 1970 and August 1971 UK Albums on Vertigo and Bronze Records (June 2021 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 3LPs Plus Two Bonus Tracks Remastered Onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 347 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

50th Anniversary Issue for 2021

Over 2,600 E-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

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"...Returning To Zelda's Plums..."

In many respects, this is a clever and smart reissue from England's Beat Goes On.

Juicy Lucy's first three studio albums have been CD-reissued before – first by Castle of the UK and Repertoire of Germany in the Nineties and then by Cherry Red's UK label Esoteric Recordings in October 2010 (first two) and April 2013 (for the third) - but they're all deleted now and have been picking up nasty secondhand price tags for years. Their fourth LP "Pieces" from 1972 on Polydor Records issued before they disbanded is not included in this BGO compilation and is also hard to find on CD.

Both the debut "Juicy Lucy" and their second "Lie Back And Enjoy It" were originally issued on the now famous Vertigo label - the first in September 1969 (UK charted April 1970 on the strength of the February 1970 "Who Do You Love" single - a fantastic slashing slide-guitar cover of the Bo Diddley classic) - whilst "Lie Back And Enjoy It" was rush-released for October 1970 – only to chart for one week and clock-up disappointing sales. By the third platter and its cheesy farting/drugs artwork, Juicy Lucy weren't shifting zip let alone doing zippy licks and would bother the charts no more.

So what do you get this time around? This April 2021 UK compilation lumps together the first three albums of their catalogue with two quality non-album B-sides as Bonuses onto two CDs, remasters the lot, puts on a nice-looking (if not suitably garish like their original artwork) card slipcase on the outside and adds a chunky 24-page booklet inside - the whole shebang for under eleven quid new in most digital depots.

Truth and time has told us that the albums are all patchy - especially the spent-force third outing "Get A Whiff A This" from August 1971 originally on Bronze Records. But I've always loved them – had a soft spot for a band that were nailed down by one storming 45 that the mother albums never matched (Ashton, Gardner & Dyke were the same). Juicy Lucy were a band that could have been huge, but fell apart with ever increasing personnel changes and shifts away from the original musical vision.

So with Zelda Plum's modesty covered up by squished apples, pears and (ahem) humungous melons, let's return to the Blues Rock, Country Rock, Gilded Splinters and Bo Diddley Guitar Mania of JUICY LUCY. Here are fruity details...

UK released April 2021 - "Juicy Lucy/Lie Back And Enjoy It/Get A Whiff A This" by JUICY LUCY on Beat Goes On BGOCD1441 (Barcode 5017261214416) offers 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs with Two Non-Album B-sides as Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows:

CD1 (41:09 minutes):

1. Mississippi Woman

2. Who Do You Love?

3. She’s Mine, She’s Yours

4. Just One Time

5. Chicago North-Western

6. Train

7. Nadine

8. Are You Satisfied

Tracks 1 to 8 are the debut album "Juicy Lucy" - released September 1969 in the UK on Vertigo VO 2 (874 901 VTY) and March 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 33-325. Band was Ray Owens on Lead Vocals, Glenn Ross Campbell on Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Marimbas and Vocals, Neil Hubbard on Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Chris Mercer on Saxophone and Keyboards, Keith Ellis on Bass and Vocals with Pete Dobson on Drums.

BONUS TRACK:

9. Walking Down The Highway - non-album B-side to their debut 7" 45-single "Who Do You Love" (Track 2 on Side 1). It was released 6 February 1970 in the UK on Vertigo V 1 and entered the UK singles chart in late March 1970 at number 28 - eventually rising to Number 14 in mid April. On the strength of that popular rocker the album also belatedly charted in the UK in April 1970 - rising to Number 41.

CD2 (74:07 minutes):

1. Thinking Of My Life [Side 1]

2. Built For Comfort

3. Pretty Woman

4. Whisky In My Jar

5. Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham [Side 2]

6. Changed My Mind, Changed My Sign

7. That Woman’s Got Something

8 and 9. Willie The Pimp/Lie Back And Enjoy It Medley

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Lie Back And Enjoy It" released October 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 014 and November 1970 in the USA on Atco SD 33-345. The album charted at number 53 on the UK LP charts for one week in November 1970. Band was Paul Williams on Lead Vocals, Piano and Congas, Glenn Ross Campbell on Steel Guitar and Mandolin, Micky Moody on Lead Guitar (later with Snafu and Whitesnake), Chris Mercer on Saxophone and Keyboards, Keith Ellis on Bass with Rod Coombes on Drums.

BONUS TRACK:

10. I'm A Thief (Mono) - Non-album B-side to their second UK 7" 45-single "Pretty Woman" (Track 3 on Side 1). It was released September 1970 in the UK on Vertigo 6059 015 (also on the Spiral label) and peaked at No. 44.

11. Mr. Skin [Side 1]

12. Midnight Sun

13. Midnight Rider

14. Harvest

15. Mr. A. Jones

16. Sunday Morning [Side 2]

17. Big Lil

18. Jessica

19. Future Days

Tracks 11 to 19 are their third studio album "Get A Whiff A This" - released August 1971 in the UK on Bronze Records ILPS 9157 and September 1971 in the USA on Atco Records SD 33-367. Produced by NIGEL THOMAS and JUICY LUCY – it didn't chart in either country. Band was same as the second LP except with Jim Leverton (ex Noel Redding's Fat Mattress) replaces Keith Ellis on Bass.

Although the players changed across all three albums, the JUICY JUCY line-ups had impressive chops from the get go - Paul Williams had been with Zoot Money's Big Band, Chris Mercer with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and late comer Micky Moody was with Tramline, The Mike Cotton Sound and would later grace Snafu, Whitesnake and do duet work with Paul Williams on Blues Rock in the 90s. Ace axemen Glenn Ross Campbell had been with the much-loved Misunderstood while Neil Hubbard fretted for Graham Bond and Bluesology - only inexperienced but enthusiastic first album lead singer Ray Owens was new out of the box.

ROGER DOPSON gives us the new liner notes that include the latest recollections and 'changed' slants from founder member Glenn Ross Campbell - up to an including hard-hitting opinions on why they ultimately failed to capitalise on that "Who Do You Love" momentum and even the dodgy artwork for LP number three (fonder recollections on John Peel who discovered him wowing the crowds in The Misunderstood). Zelda Plum holds sway on the centre pages - the controversial but fun gatefold sleeve lady for "Juicy Lucy" - while most of the six-leaf foldout sleeve of the second LP is repro'd in the booklet too. There are trade reviews and magazine adverts in-between the text - it's a really decent stab at their recorded legacy. To the choons...

Even though you can't help thinking that at heart they really wanted to be a Blues Boogie band like say early ZZ Top - the first album is battling genres - several of their original songs flitting around Country Rock, New Orleans gumbo and even acoustic moments of Rock beauty (the ANDREW THOMPSON Remaster gorgeous for "Just One Time"). As well as their incendiary take on "Who Do You Love" made famous by Bo Diddley and subsequently by Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks (that version featured a young Robbie Robertson of The Band on guitar while it was Campbell the slide genius on the Juicy Lucy revival), other covers include their good-time boozy R&B version of "Nadine" by Chuck Berry and a near six-minute fuzzed-up guitar stab at the Buddy Miles song "Train" from his 1968 debut album "Expressway To Your Skull" on Mercury Records.

The debut LP also opens strongly with the menace boogie and Beefheart growl of "Mississippi Woman" (dig that geetar) and I have had a five-decades long love affair with the Dr. John Night Tripper voodoo vibe permeating all of the finisher "Are You Satisfied" (beautifully clear Bass and Mandolin). "Walking Down The Highway" is a very cool B-side too – in fact the only thing you could say against the opening salvo album and single is Ray Owens, whose vocals feel strained and not convincing enough.

The Paul Williams penned "Pretty Woman" was released as the second album's only single and you can instantly hear why – catchy as a cold in Margate. The cover of the Willie Dixon song he gave to Howlin' Wolf "Built For Comfort" is less successful as is the awful version of Zappa's "Willy The Pimp", although it redeems itself at about 5 minutes 34 seconds in as it fades out and suddenly turns into a lovely 2-minute long piano instrumental - not surprisingly called "Lie Back And Enjoy It". But the track I dig the most is "This Woman's Got Something" which was co-written by Moody, Campbell and Williams - it's a bluesy builder with great axe work and has graced more than a few 70's FEST CDs I've made up.

"Get A Whiff A This" is the kind of difficult third album that's long forgotten - and unfortunately it's very easy to hear why. To start with it's stylistically all over the place. Steve Ellis had just left the line up to join Boxer - replaced by Jim Leverton on Bass from Noel Redding's Fat Mattress. Lead singer Paul Williams was on his 2nd Juicy Lucy LP ("Lie Back And Enjoy It" was his first) – and the presence of ace-axeman Glenn Ross Campbell who did the stunning "Who Do You Love" took a Pedal Steel backseat to the Lead Guitar of Micky Moody – later of course with Snafu and Whitesnake. Moody's playing has always been a thing of wonder and he's sessioned with huge numbers of artists - Roger Chapman of Family, Mike Oldfield, Graham Bonnet, Alan Squire of Lindisfarne, played Acoustic on Gerry Rafferty's "City To City" and in the 90s and 00's with Tony Ashton, David Coverdale, Walter Trout, Uriah Heep, Gary Fletcher, Bernie Marsden and many more. His playing throughout "Get A Whiff A This" is one of the reasons to keep listening - slide licks and zippy flicks. And on it goes...

In hindsight it is easy to hear why Juicy Lucy are a footnote in the annals of 60ts and 70ts Rock. And yet despite their output dips and directional shortcomings - I return to this underrated British band with an affection that refuses to listen to reason. Dated or no, Juicy Lucy were fun and for an old-fart like me, that'll do nicely.

2021's BGOCD1441 is a great twofer-CD compilation and blindingly good value for money into the bargain, making available again Classic Rock Album rarities that would otherwise cost you a pretty bitcoin, something Beat Goes On has become rather good at of late.

In short - all hail Zelda and her ample offerings because this is one Reissue I won't be getting whiffy about...

"ERA 1: 1978-1984 – As, Bs, Rarities" by CHRIS REA (November 2020 UK Magnet Records/Warner Music Group 3CD 51-Track Digipak Compilation with Alex Tomlin and Nick Watson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Love's Strange Ways... "

Back in the savage and wild blue yonder of August 2007, I reviewed what was then the only half-decent Chris Rea compilation of Remasters worth having - "The Works" on Rhino – a UK-issued 3CD retrospective of 54-Tracks stretching from his 1979 LP "Deltics" through to the "King Of The Beach" set in 2000. It had half decent audio and was part of a series Rhino did for artists like The Corrs, Bread, Everything But The Girl, The Pogues, The Monkees and others. But it had woefully basic annotation, got deleted quickly and for years accrued a rather nasty price tag. Since then – zip really. Until now...

At last - and following on from the five Chris Rea double-CD sets of the 'Expanded And Remastered Series' issued October 2019 (Shamrock Diaries, On The Beach, Dancing With Strangers, The Road To Hell and Auberge) – we finally get the mop up we loony CR fans have been craving – equal only to the same longing that people have for wanting to remake Season 8 of "Game Of Thrones" (perhaps worse).

Compiled by TIM CHACKSFIELD - you get 51-Tracks spread across 3CDs housed inside a chunky digipak - and best of all, we finally get properly upgraded Remastered Audio from NICK WATSON at Fluid Mastering – a very experienced Audio Engineer whose name has turned up on many a praised-reissue. ERA 1 sounds and looks great. So much to discuss, so with swords and hankies at the ready, time to detail this first of his ERA retrospectives...

UK released 20 Nov 2020 (delayed from 6 Nov 2020) - "ERA 1: 1978-1984 – As, Bs, Rarities" by CHRIS REA on Magnet Records/Warner Music Group 0190295306052 (Barcode same) offers 51 Remastered Tracks across 3CDs in a Card Digipak that plays out as follows:

CD1 (64:13 minutes): 

1. Fool (If You Think It's Over) - 17 March 1978 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 111, A-side

2. Midnight Love - 17 March 1978 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 111, Non-Album B-side 

3. Voy A Volverme Loco (Fool If You Think It's Over, Spanish Language Version) - 1978 Spanish 45 on Magnet MO 1972

4. Whatever Happened To Benny Santini? - 16 June 1978 UK 45-single Magnet MAG 121, A-side 

5. Three Angels - 16 June 1978 UK 45-single Magnet MAG 121, Non-Album B-side 

6. Diamonds (Single Edit, 3:49 minutes) - 23 March 1979 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 144, A-side 

7. Cleveland Calling - 23 March 1979 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 144, Non-Album B-side

8. Raincoat And A Rose - 29 June 1979 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 151, A-side 

9. No Qualifications - 29 June 1979 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 151, B-side

10. Tennis (Edited and Remixed Version from the February 1980 UK LP "Tennis" on Magnet MAGL 5032) - also 7 March 1980 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 163, A-side

11. If You Really Love Me - 7 March 1980 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 163, Non-Album B-side

12. Dancing Girls - from the February 1980 UK LP "Tennis" on Magnet MAGL 5032 and 23 May 1980 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 176, A-side 

13. Friends Across The Water - from the February 1980 UK LP "Tennis" on Magnet MAGL 5032 and 23 May 1980 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 176, B-side

14. Ya No Te Veo Nunca Mas (Since I Don't See You Anymore. Spanish Language Version) - 1980 Spanish 45-single on Magnet MO 2054, A-side 

15. Loving You - from the March 1982 UK LP "Chris Rea" on Magnet MAGL 5040 and 5 February 1982 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 215, A-side

16. Let Me Be The One  - 5 February 1982 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 215, Non-Album B-side 

17. Diamonds (12" Version, 4:53 minutes) - 23 March 1979 UK 12" Single on Magnet 12 MAG 144, A-side, Non-Album Version 

CD2 (75:22 minutes):

1. Do You Still Dream?

2. Loving You - Tracks 1 and 2 first appeared on the March 1982 UK LP "Chris Rea" on Magnet MAGL 5040, re-recorded for the October 2019 LP and CD compilation "One Fine Day" on Magnet 0190295498856-CD - 1000 only copies

3. One Fine Day - 1981 recording first issued January 1993 as one of the four tracks on the UK CD Single for "Soft Top, Hard Shoulder" on East West YZ710CDX

4. One Sweet And Tender Touch - 1981 recording first issued January 1988 as one of the four tracks on the UK CD Single for "Que Sera" on Magnet CDMAG 318 

5. If I Ever Break Free - Previously Unreleased 1981 song that first appeared on the "One Fine Day" compilation in October 2019 (see 1)

6. Sierra Sierra (4:13 minutes) - originally issued as the Non-Album B-side to the February 1983 UK 12" single for "Let It Loose" on Magnet 12 MAG 233 - first issued on the October 2019 "One Fine Day" compilation 

7. Members Only - Previously Unreleased 1981 song that first appeared on the "One Fine Day" compilation in October 2019 (see 1)

8. Let Me Be The One - originally issued as the Non-Album B-side to the February 1982 UK 12" single for "Loving You" on Magnet 12 MAG 215 - first issued on the October 2019 "One Fine Day" compilation

9. One Night With You - Previously Unreleased 1981 song that first appeared on the "One Fine Day" compilation in October 2019 (see 1)

10. Every Beat Of Your Heart - first appeared on the March 1982 UK LP "Chris Rea" on Magnet MAGL 5040 - also 7 May 1982 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 225, A-side

11. Don't Look Back - 7 May 1982 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 225, Non-Album B-side

12. Let It Loose (3:37 minutes) - from the Motion Picture "Cross Country" and the June 1983 UK LP "Water Sign" on Magnet MAGL 5048 - also February 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 233, A-side

13. Urban Samurai - February 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 233, Non-Album B-side 

14. Let It Loose (Special Extended Remix, 5:45 minutes) - February 1983 UK 12" Single on Magnet 12 MAG 233, A-side

15. Sierra Sierra (5:38 minutes) - February 1983 UK 12" Single on Magnet 12 MAG 233, Non-Album Longer Version B-side - see also Track 6

16. I Can Hear Your Heartbeat (3:28 minutes) - from the June 1983 UK LP "Water Sign" on Magnet MAGL 5048 - also April 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 244, A-side

17. From Love To Love - April 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 244, Non-Album B-side 

18. I Can Hear Your Heartbeat (Special Extended Mix, 5:46 minutes) - April 1983 UK 12" Single on Magnet 12 MAG 244, A-side

CD3 (73:52 minutes):

1. Love's Strange Ways - from the June 1983 UK LP "Water Sign" on Magnet MAGL 5048 - also July 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 245, A-side

2. Smile - July 1983 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 245, Non-Album B-side 

3. I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It (3:40 minutes) - from the April 1984 UK LP "Wired To The Moon" on Magnet MAGL 5057 - also February 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 255, A-side 

4. Mystery Man - February 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 255, Non-Album B-side 

5. I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It (12" Extended Version, 5:25 minutes) - February 1984 UK 12" Single on Magnet 12 MAG 255, A-side 

6. Bambollini (6:10 minutes) - from the April 1984 UK LP "Wired To The Moon" on Magnet MAGL 5057 - also May 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 259, A-side 

7. True Love - May 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 259, Non-Album B-side

8. Touché D'Amour (Special Remix, 3:20 minutes) - July 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 269, A-side (original version on the "Wired To The Moon" LP) - see also Track 13 for B-side

9. Ace Of Hearts (Special Remix, 3:49 minutes) - September 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 269, A-side 

10. Excerpts from 'I Can Hear Your Heartbeat' recorded live at Montreaux Jazz Festival (7:00 minutes) - September 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 269, Non-Album B-side 

11. Auf Immer Und Ewig (4:41 minutes) - unissued 1984 UK white label A-side to Magnet MAG 269

12. Bitter Sweet (1:08 minutes) - unissued 1984 UK white label B-side to Magnet MAG 269X

13. Touché D'Amour (Instrumental, 3:40 minutes) - July 1984 UK 45-single on Magnet MAG 269, Non-Album B-side (original version on the "Wired To The Moon" LP) - see also Track 8 for A-side

14. Touché D'Amour (Special Extended Remix, 6:07 minutes) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on Magnet MAGT 269, A-side (original version on the "Wired To The Moon" LP) - see also Track 8 for the A-side and 13 for another B-side

15. Ace Of Hearts (Special Remix, 6:32 minutes) - September 1984 UK 12" Single on Magnet MAG 269T, A-side  

16. Let It Loose/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It (Special Edition 12" Medley, 7:25 minutes) - July 1984 UK 12" Single on Magnet MAGT 260M

The 24-page booklet inside the three-way foldout digipak is a pleasingly pictorial affair – every 45, twelve-inch and CD single pictured along the track details. A nice touch is that three of the digipak flaps also feature colour shots of those forgotten picture sleeves while each CD sports well-packed playing times. In October 2019 Magnet UK issued the "One Fine Day" compilation both on LP and CD with each format offering 14 Tracks. A limited edition of only 1,000 copies - "One Fine Day" featured rare vinyl-only Non-LP B-sides, previously unreleased songs (most from 1981) and re-recordings of old ones. Seven of its period-relevant cuts from 1978-1984 are reissued here and fans will also welcome that big time. 

Although there is no context-text to accompany the 51 track-by-track credits and photos (shame that) and that May 1974 UK debut 45 of "So Much in Love" b/w "Born to Lose" on Magnet MAG 10 is AWOL at the maker's insistence – what you do get is a huge hoard of first-time-on-CD rarities – especially all those melodic B-sides.

The joy of a set like this is the tunes you'd forgotten. I can't be the only Rea fan who doesn't think that the "Water Sign" and "Wired To The Moon" albums were wee 80ts masterpieces - so how good is it to hear "Love's Strange Ways", "Let It Loose" and "Bambollini" sound so spiffy. "Ace Of Hearts" too is a typically gorgeous and hooky Rea melody and those "Smile" and "Mystery Man" non-LP B-sides could easily have been on someone else's lesser album.  And I suppose those 1988 re-recordings of "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" and "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" he did for the "New Light Through Old Windows" compilation will turn up on ERA 2 - a nice thought. 

I'm Irish (from Dublin originally) and along with David Gray, Josh Ritter and The Blue Nile (to name but a few songsmiths) - Chris Rea has always been huge there. A man with a tune and a melody that's gonna get to you. Look no further for evidence. A top reissue compilation for 2020 without doubt...