"Foot Loose & Fancy Free" by ROD STEWART - November 1977 UK Eight Studio LP on Riva Records (Warner Brothers in the USA) featuring Steve Cropper, Gary Grainger, Billy Peek, Jim Cregan and Fred Tackett on Guitars, David Foster, John Barlow Jarvis and Nicky Hopkins on Keyboards, John Mayall on Harmonica, Mark Stein on Backing Vocals, Carmine Appice on Drums, Phil Chen on Bass and more (September 2000 UK Warner Brothers CD Reissue in the Warner Remasters Series – Patrick Krauss Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Thought We Had It Sussed...Valentinos, All Of Us..."

 

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"...Don't you count on me to be here when the sun goes down..." Rod sang on the snotty "Born Loose" - his stab at "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" (complete with Harmonica playing from British Blues Legend John Mayall). Our Mod was born loose, but not stupid it seems - except when it came to love. 

 

With a personal life straddling success vs. excess and an aging fan base moved on to maybe bigger and funkier things, there were many who fancied Rod Stewart the songwriter and raconteur as being over by the time "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" hit the shops in November 1977. Punk spirit or no - his long list of rocking affairs in bars and leggy-models' bedrooms was already passé as far as the new Punk Turks were concerned - and certainly they took the almighty piss out of him by the time December 1978's "Blondes Have More Fun" arrived (they didn't think he was sexy, flush bank account or not).

 

But for me and despite the rather ugly-ish lyrical content in "Hot Legs" that makes for an awkward listen in October 2022 - there are many winners on his last great album of the Seventies. Even the epic cover of "You Keep Me Hanging On" certainly had its moments - Del Newman's string arrangements and those odd drops in the tempo that rewired an overly familiar song. And lyrically "I Was only Joking" is probably the only song that comes close to the genius words in 1976's "The Killing Of Georgie Part I & II". It's a damn shame though that these Warner Remasters don't really go the hog on presentation - the album's fabulous 12-page booklet that came with original LPs completely AWOL - lyrics and cartoon drawings referencing every song. But let's deal with what we do have...

 

UK released 6 September 2000 - "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" by ROD STEWART on Warner Brothers 9362-47731-2 (Barcode 093624773122) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster in the Warners Remasters Series that plays out as follows (44:44 minutes):

 

1. Hot Legs [Side 1]

2. You're Insane

3. You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)

4. Born Loose

5. You Keep Me Hanging On [Side 2]

6. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right

7. You Got A Nerve

8. I Was Only Joking

Tracks 1 to 8 are his 8^th Studio Album "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" – released November 1977 in the UK on Riva Records RVLP 5 and November 1977 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3092. Produced by TOM DOWD – it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA. 

 

The three-way six-leaf foldout inlay is functional at best – album credits – that Scotland and Beer Bottle photo – but the elaborate and decidedly cool 12-page LP-sized booklet from the original vinyl is not here nor any liner notes on the history or charts etc. The PETER KRAUSS 24-bit digital Remaster is great – incredibly clear on what was clearly a very well recorded LP in the first place. And Stewart had surrounded himself and Producer TOM DOWD with his usual crew plus some. 

 

Players included - Steve Cropper, Gary Grainger, Billy Peek, Jim Cregan and Fred Tackett on Guitars, David Foster, John Barlow Jarvis and Nicky Hopkins on Keyboards, Phil Kenzie on Saxophone, John Mayall on Harmonica ("Born Loose" only), Mark Stein on Backing Vocals, Carmine Appice on Drums, Phil Chen on Bass, Strings arranged by Del Newman and more.

 

Just weeks prior to the LP release on 4 November 1977, the arm-swaying ballad "You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" was issued as the album lead-off 45-single in October 1977 with "You Got A Nerve" from the LP on the flipside. Warner Brothers WBS 8475 (USA) and Riva Records RIVA 11 (same B-side) did big business on both sides of the pond – No. 3 in the UK and No. 4 in America. Time to follow that with a rocker and the obvious choice was the down and decidedly dirty Side 1 opener "Hot Legs" – issued January 1978 as a 45-single in the USA on Warner Brothers WBS 8535 with another LP cut on the flipside "You're Insane". Blighty issued it 20 January 1978 on Riva Records RIVA 10, but with the far better "I Was Only Joking" as the B-side. Perhaps none too enamoured with the seriously sexist lyrics – it hit only No. 28 in America but with its better B-side did way better in England – No. 5. And quite why the RIVA 11 catalogue number came before RIVA 10 in England is anyone’s guess?

 

With "I Was Only Joking" relegated to a B-side in the UK, Riva tried no more singles in Blighty, but the USA featured it as 45 number three. "I Was Only Joking" was issued Stateside on Warner Brothers WBS 8568 in April 1978 in an edited form (4:48 minutes) with the Side 1 finisher "Born Loose" on the flipside – but its chart high of No. 22 is to be considered a disappointment given how good the A-song is. There is also a 9 April 1978 Mono Edit Promo-Only version of "I Was Only Joking" that could have been issued as a Bonus Track along with the Stereo Edit of the issued single, two goodies fans would have enjoyed, but no such luck. 

 

The two Side 2 cover versions are cleverly arranged - wildly away from the format of the originals yet somehow complimentary in their new incarnations. Motown's Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote "You Keep Me Hanging On" which The Supremes made a hit of in 1966, while a trio of Soul and R 'n' B writers for Stax Records - Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson and Carl Hampton - gave their magisterial creation "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" creation to Luther Ingram in 1972 (it's been covered by loads of other artists including The Emotions and Millie Jackson). Take that slow guitar solo that appears three and half minutes into "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" - given a very subtle bottom end by both John Jarvis and David Foster on Keyboards later added to by Phil Kenzie on Saxophone. So damn good. 

 

And then there's the album's forgotten little sweetie - "You've Got A Nerve" - a bitter afterthought ballad - a loved-you-once-but-don't-now song where both Jim Cregan and co-writer Gary Grainger hold sway on Sitar and Guitars. It finishes with what has to be an accomplished Rod winner - the kid at school who messed around with all the rules. The Remaster is gorgeous - full and clear. In and out of jobs, running free, Dad said we looked ridiculous, hiding behind the wine and beer - another superb Stewart/Grainger song. 

 

Here in late 2022 - "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" is the sort of Rod Stewart studio album that's actually forgotten about 45 years after the event, but I'd argue it's a lean and mean little brat worthy of your forgiveness and immaculate benevolence. Or in the words of the great man - "Go Tartan or Go Home!"

 

Recommended - even if we (and he) did look ridiculous...

"Hallelujah/Cook Book + Bonus Track" by CANNED HEAT - July and November 1969 US LPs on Liberty Records [Cook Book a Compilation] (May 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation 'Reissue' - 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and now with 1 Bonus Track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

The May 2022 CD Remaster Version 

 

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"...Canned Heat Mama Sure Is Good To Me..." 

For 2022, England's Beat Goes On Records have revisited three of their old Canned Heat catalogue CD reissues originally put out in 2003 and it seems - upgrading them (mostly on the audio front). There's some explaining to do on this, so here goes... 

In March 2003 (themselves reissued in July 2013 with the same catalogue numbers, booklets and remasters) - BGO put out "Canned Heat/Boogie With Canned Heat" on BGOCD577 (Barcode 5017261205773). That reissue contained the American Blues Boogie band's first two albums from July 1967 and January 1968 originally on Liberty Records (both in Stereo - 21 Tracks - 78:22 minutes). 

Then came their third outing - the sprawling double-album "Living The Blues" originally issued November 1968. First reissued September 2003, BGOCD591 (Barcode 5017261205919) was a 2CD set. Using the same catalogue number and Barcode - the April 2022 reissue of that comes in a card slipcase and again is on 2CDs - CD1: 47:39 minutes, CD2: 41:11 minutes (no bonuses). Has the same John Tobler 2003 liner notes and their is no note of a new Remaster (Andrew Thompson did the 2003 version and I've reviewed that - see separate entry). 

 

And then there is this - "Hallelujah/Cook Book" on BGOCD578 - their July and November 1969 fourth and fifth albums - also on Liberty Records - a song count of 20 tracks. "The Canned Heat Cookbook: The Best Of Canned Heat" (to give it its full title) was actually their first compilation LP that gathered up tracks from their first four LPs (see details below). Of the three 2022 reissues, this is the only one that actually names a '2022' audio upgrade.

 

So what you have with this reissue is a '2022 New Remaster' (presumably by Andrew Thompson, but it doesn't actually say) and a Bonus Track added on to make the song count 21 - not surprisingly the Bonus being their worldwide hit "Let's Work Together". Their is no outer card slipcase and the liner notes still hark all the way back to the ones pumped out by JOHN TOBLER in 2003. The front of the booklet however has had the moniker '2022 REMASTER now with Bonus Track' added to the artwork - the rear inlay also has "Let's Work Together" added on to the track list. Weirdly, Beat Goes On have kept the same catalogue number (BGOCD578) and to make matters more confusing, the same Barcode (5017261205780). Let's get to the finite details...

 

UK re-issued Friday, 6 May 2022 - "Hallelujah/Cook Book + Bonus Track" by CANNED HEAT on Beat Goes On BGOCD578 (Barcode 5017261205780) offers 2 Albums from 1969 Plus One New Bonus Track Remastered onto 1CD in 2022 playing out as follows (80:27 minutes):

 

1. Same All Over [Side 1]

2. Change My Ways 

3. Canned Heat

4. Sic 'Em Pigs

5. I'm Her Man

6. Time Was 

7. Do Not Enter [Side 2]

8. Big Fat (The Fat Man) 

9. Huautla 

10. Get Off My Back 

11. Down In The Gutter, But Free

Tracks 1 to 11 are their fourth studio album "Hallelujah" - released November 1969 in the USA on Liberty LST-7618 and in the UK on Liberty LBS 83239 (both in Stereo). Produced by CANNED HEAT and SKIP TAYLOR - it peaked at No. 37 on the US Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

12. Bullfrog Blues [Side 1]

13. Rollin' And Tumblin' 

14. Going Up The Country

15. Amphetamine Annie

16. Time Was 

17. Boogie Music

18. On The Road Again [Side 2]

19. Same All Over 

20. Sic 'Em Pigs 

21. Fried Hockey Boogie 

Tracks 12 to 21 are their first compilation (fifth album technically) - "The Canned Heat Cook Book: The Best Of Canned Heat" [often abbreviated to "Cook Book"] - released November 1969 in the USA on Liberty Records LST-11000 and February 1970 in the UK on Liberty Records LBS 83303 (both in Stereo) - peaked at No. 86 in the USA on the Billboard Rock LP charts and No. 8 in the UK.

Tracks 12 and 13 are from their debut album "Canned Heat"

Tracks 15, 18 and 21 are from their second album "Boogie With Canned Heat"

Tracks 14 and 17 are from their third album "Living The Blues"

Tracks 16, 19 and 20 are from their fourth studio album "Hallelujah"

 

BONUS TRACK

22. Let's Work Together 

February 1970 US 45-single on Liberty 56151, A-side - January 1970 UK 45-single on Liberty LBF 15302, A-side - original a Non-LP track. The B-side on both issues was "I'm Her Man" from the July 1969 album "Hallelujah". 

 

The 12-page booklet is the one used for the March 2003 reissue with JOHN TOBLER liner notes giving a potted history of the band - it also reproduces the inner artwork of 'The Best Of' Cookbook LP on its inner pages. The Audio is great - crank it and the power comes screaming through. With regards to the bonus - February 1969 saw "Time Was" b/w "Low Down" issued as a 45-single on Liberty 56097, while "Poor Moon" b/w "Sic 'Em Pigs" was issued as a 45-single on Liberty 56127 in July 1969. "Low Down" and "Poor Man" are both Non-LP sides that would have been more suitable '1969' sides than "Let's Work Together" - but I appreciate that with a total playing time of 80:27 minutes, you're sure getting killer value for money. 

 

While "Hallelujah" has great Blues Harmonica throughout (check out "Canned Heat" and "Big Fat (The Fat Man)" - the speaker-to-speaker shenanigans of "Get Off My Back" is hard to take now. But there is no denying the down 'n' dirty guitar power evident in both "Get Off..." and "Down In The Gutter, But Free". But strangely enough, you can so hear why "Cook Book" caught people's attention in Blighty - putting a Best Of up to No. 8. - as a set of great Canned Heat cuts - it absolutely rocks. The eleven-minutes and thirteen seconds of "Fried Hockey Boogie" (from their second album) can only be described as blistering Blues Rock - huge dirty grungy guitar throughout that Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top must have worshiped at the feet of - gone baby gone. Then that great single - cool...

 

A clever, timely, great sounding CD reissue with value-for-money up to the wazoo. One for the reminder of things that were great pile...

"Stranger In Town" by BOB SEGER and THE SILVER BULLET BAND – May 1978 US Tenth Studio Album (Second with TSBB) on Capitol Records featuring Drew Abbott, Robyn Robbins, Alto Reed, Chris Campbell and David Teegarden (TSBB) with Guests Glenn Frey and Don Felder of Eagles, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Doug Riley of Famous People Players, with Pete Carr, Barry Beckett, Jimmie Johnson, David Hood and Roger Hawkins of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Backing Vocals by Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Brandye, The Waters and George Jackson (September 2001 UK Capitol Records CD Reissue with Robert Vosgien Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...We've Got Tonite..."

 

For many of us rocker-types who lived through those Classic Rock Years, we first heard of Bob Seger via Thin Lizzy's fabulous cover of their "Rosalie" - the opener of 1975's "Fighting" album on Vertigo Records. The Lizzies would return to it with aplomb when they combined it with "Jailbreak's" 1976 tune "Cowgirl Song" and did a live version which they actually released as a 45 in 1978 on the back of the huge success of the brilliant double "Live And Dangerous". 

 

Seger had been kicking around for years, the LP prior to "Stranger" called "Night Moves" making his first serious chart waves in 1976 in the USA. His "Get Out Of Denver" single from 1974 a seriously cool slice of Rock vs. The Commies Rock 'n' Roll. His "Stranger In Town" album was platter number ten - talk about the long way around. But what a way to finally arrive. Let's get to tonite of long ago...

 

US and UK released 25 September 2001 - "Stranger In Town" by BOB SEGER and THE SILVER BULLET BAND on Capitol Records 72435 35232 2 0 (Barcode 724353523220) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of his tenth studio album (second with The Silver Bullet Band) that plays out as follows (39:25 minutes):

 

1. Hollywood Nights [Side 1]

2. Still The Same

3. Old Time Rock & Roll

4. Till It Shines

5. Feel Like A Number

6. Ain't Got No Money [Side 2]

7. We've Got Tonite

8. Brave Strangers

9. The Famous Final Scene

Tracks 1 to 9 are his tenth studio album "Stranger In Town" – released May 1978 in the USA on Capitol Records SW-11698 and June 1978 in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 11698. Produced by PUNCH ANDREWS and BOB SEGER – it peaked at No. 4 on the US Album Charts and No. 31 on the UK LP Charts. All songs by Bob Seger except two cover versions - "Ain't Got No Money" by Frankie Miller and "Old Time Rock & Roll" by George Jackson and Thomas Earl Jones III.

 

The Silver Bullet Band was Drew Abbott (Guitar), Robyn Robbins (Keyboards), Alto Reed (Horns), Chris Campbell (Bass) and David Teegarden (Drums) with Guests Glenn Frey and Don Felder of Eagles, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Doug Riley of Famous People Players - Pete Carr, Barry Beckett, Jimmie Johnson, David Hood and Roger Hawkins – all of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section with Backing Vocals by Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Brandye, The Waters and George Jackson.

 

The 8-page booklet is hugely disappointing simply repeating the Inner Sleeve Recording Credits and Lyrics, but absolutely nothing else. His biggest record and a serious product-moved in 1978 deserved some kind of decent appraisal – an LP that is beloved by many. At least the 24-bit Digital Remaster by ROBERT VOSGIEN rocks - punchy and true. Sure there is hiss on "We've Got Tonite" (as there always was) but he hasn't tried to dampen it or crush it out of existence. The sound is loose but good and volume pays dividends. To the music...

 

With the album release due for 5th of May 1978, Capitol Records USA stirred up interest in the LP with the first of four cuts from it to set the mood. April 1978 saw "Still The Same" on Capitol 4581 came out with another Side 1 track as its flipside - "Feel Like A Number". And it clicked big time. With its winning acoustic guitar and piano shuffle opening, "Still The Same" was a sure fire 45-single Radio-friendly winner - the ladies muscling up the verses and chorus so sweetly. It eventually peaked at No. 4 on the US Pop charts and lasted 11 weeks.

 

Time to rock it up for single number two - the fantastic rhythmic chug of "Hollywood Nights" - a single I bought on Silver Vinyl in Ireland back in the day and used to DJ at parties. Released July 1978 on Capitol 4618 with "Brave Strangers" on the B-side - it's kind of shocking that its relentless hooky beat didn't do better than a US chart high of No. 12 (should surely have gone Top 5 like its predecessor). In the UK Capitol paired it with "Old Time Rock & Roll" on the B-side of Capitol CL 16004 in September 1978 also giving it a titled picture sleeve and silver vinyl. Gimmicky maybe, but it worked and the wicked British-paired double-act that was Capitol CL 16004 gave Bob Seger his first 45 chart-hit in Blighty albeit at a modest No. 42 high. "Stranger In Town" was also his first LP to chart in England.

 

With the big-ballad picking up plays, it wasn't long before Capitol Records latched onto to the gorgeous "We've Got Tonite" as 45-single number three. Paired with their cool boogie of "Ain't Got No Money" on Capitol 4653 in October 1978 (a cover version of a Frankie Miller song - England's vocal answer to Bob Seger) - again I think it's odd that such a moving tune coupled up with such a first class rocker on the flip only managed a high on the US charts of No. 13. Capitol UK didn't even try any other tracks off the album and in the case of the sentiment in "We've Got Tonite" - I think they missed a trick there. 

 

Single number four in America is probably one of his most beloved - the such-fun "Old Time Rock & Roll" paired with a track from the preceding "Night Moves" of 1976 called "Sunspot Baby". Capitol 4702 hit the US charts in early May 1979, but with interest waning, it only made No. 28. And on it went to the piano bop of "Brave Strangers" and the epic ballad finisher "The Famous Final Scene" – guitar to the fore – bridges burned. 

 

I am definitely of the school of thought that thinks Side 1 of "Stranger In Town" is stronger than Side 2 - despite two containing the tremendous boogie of "Ain't Got No Money" sided with the nostalgia-touching "We've Got Tonite". But whatever way you look at it - Seger deserved his win and until a deeper CD reissue emerges - here in October 2022 - this 2001 CD Remaster will do nicely...

"Squeezing Out Sparks" by GRAHAM PARKER and THE RUMOUR – March 1979 UK Fourth Studio Album on Vertigo Records UK (Arista Records USA) featuring Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, Bob Andrews, Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding with Producer Jack Nitzsche (July 2001 UK Mercury Expanded Edition 25th Anniversary CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks and Gary Moore Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Not Ordinary..."

Despite some great tunes and press adulation bordering on the hysterical, I have always struggled with "Stick To Me" – Graham Parker's third studio album from October 1977. In 2022, still the same. Instead, I will inevitably reach for the far stronger fourth album from March 1979 "Squeezing out Sparks" – a no-nonsense little belter that comes in, does the snotty business, doesn't apologize – and then leaves with two fingers held high in the air.

But what does it for me with regard to this 2001 CD Reissue/Remaster is two genuinely great Bonuses – one a non-LP B-side and the other an outtake that should have been on the finished LP. Time to get some protection - even excited – to the details...

 

UK released July 2001 – "Squeezing Out Sparks" by GRAHAM PARKER and THE RUMOUR on Mercury 548 681-2 (Barcode 731454868129) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with two Bonus Tracks in the 25th Anniversary Reissues Series and plays out as follows (41:14 minutes):

 

1. Discovering Japan [Side 1]

2. Local Girls

3. Nobody Hurts You

4. You Can't Be Too Strong

5. Passion Is No Ordinary Word

6. Saturday Nite Is Dead [Side 2]

7. Love Gets You Twisted

8. Protection

9. Waiting For The UFOs

10. Don't Get Excited

Tracks 1 to 10 are his fourth studio LP "Squeezing Out Sparks" – released March 1979 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 168 and in the USA on Arista AB 4223. Produced by JACK NITZSCHE – it peaked at

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Mercury Poisoning

12. I Want You Back (Alive)

 

Track 11 "Mercury Poisoning" didn't appear in the UK, but did on a US 45-single on Arista AS 0420 (see notes for Track 12). First CD appearance for the song on a CD was the 1992 compilation "The Best Of Graham Parker..." (Vertigo 512 149-2).

 

Track 12 "I Want You Back (Alive)" was originally the Non-LP B-side of "Protection" issued 23 February 1979 a UK 45-single on Vertigo 6059 219. It was issued July 1979 in the USA as the Non-LP B-side to "Local Girls" on Arista AS 0420. 

The rather Poppy song – a cover version of a hit for The Congregation and then The Jackson 5 – became popular on US Radio and was therefore reissued in August 1979 in the USA as the A-side and in a picture sleeve (same catalogue number, Arista AS 0420). That reissued American 45 had "Mercury Poisoning" as its Non-LP B-side, the track being new to US audiences.

 

GRAHAM PARKER – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

THE RUMOUR was:

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Guitar and Backing Vocals

MARTIN BELMONT – Guitar and Backing Vocals

BOB ANDREWS – Keyboards and Backing Vocals

ANDREW BODNAR - Bass

STEPHEN GOULDING – Drums and Backing Vocals

 

The '25th Anniversary Reissues' sticker on the CD jewel case promises 'Bonus Tracks, New Sleeve Notes & Expanded Artwork'. Once you open the decidedly skimpy three-way foldout inlay – you know that Universal has gone all ASDA budget range on our Graham. There are new paragraphs from the great man alongside some history of the album by NIGEL WILLIAMSON and the two rarities listed above (they don’t even picture the rare picture sleeve to the US "I Want You Back Alive" or the UK version of "Protection"). It's good but hardly great – and surely there were more outtakes to be had after all these years? But that budget-priced gripe goes out the boozer window when you hear the muscle and clarity of the Remaster by GARY MOORE. Producer Nitzsche favoured minimalist and so had paired back the band to a tighter New Wave sound - and Parker himself agrees that it worked - giving the acidic material a really sharp edge. 

 

"Discovering Japan" opens proceedings with a wallop and you can so hear why "Local Girls" was chosen as the lead-off UK 45-single - catchy and Radio-friendly into the bargain. "Nobody Hurts You" more than yourself is the sober assessment for a lady in trouble, but all of it gets kicked into touch by the magisterial beauty of "You Can't Be Too Strong" - a counted-in ballad done almost Unplugged style. It's surely one of Parker's best songs - imbibed with great lyrics and a barely-contained pain in his vocals. With the equally strong rocker "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" - it ends a tight and song-packed Side 1 with a wallop.   

 

We get frantic with "Saturday Nite Is Dead" - a so English New Wave song of the day - almost Paul Weller's Jam in its punch-your-face attack. "Love Gets You Twisted: is good too, but "Protection" is brilliant and you can so hear why Arista in America saw it rather than "Local Girls" as the 45 to plug the album with. I love that break in the middle when it just goes into this angry riffage - unexpected but so damn cool. With its "I Want You Back (Alive)" B-side cover version - it made for a dandy 45-release. Parker's knack for wit and slapstick come roaring through with both of the finishers - "Waiting For The UFOs" and "Don't Get Excited". And that coming down with "Mercury Poisoning" outtake should have been on the album as far as I'm concerned.  

So there you have - tight, solid, still standing proud after 40+ years. For sure this variant of "Squeezing Out Sparks" on CD has been deleted some time now and has subsequently developed a bit of an unhealthy price tag because of it, but Graham Parker and his band The Rumour were no 'ordinary' artists and this wee peach is one to seek out...

"Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE – September 1977 (2LP-set), March 1978 and June 1979 Studio Albums on RCA Victor Records (August 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 3LPs onto 2CDs (First is a 2LP-set on CD1, Two Studio Sets on CD2) – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review And 225 Others Is Available In My AMAZON E-Book 

BOTH SIDES NOW - FOLK & COUNTRY 

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"...Can’t Hold Back..."

 

This is the third installment by England's Beat Goes on Records reintroducing the Seventies back catalogue of PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE onto Remastered CDs (see list below).

 

A Country-Rock phenomenon in the States (they charted nine albums there between 1975 and 1981 alone) – Cincinnati's PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE has never really meant diddly in the UK. Even at the heights of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Eagles Country-Rock dominance in the mid-Seventies - I can recall PPL albums (on the ultra-hick RCA label) being reduced to pennies in secondhand racks for years. That isn't to say there aren't melodies galore to be had here – there are.

 

This time round we get an entire live double from 1978 on CD1 (joyous and raucous stuff) with two further studio platters from 1978 and 1979 onto CD2 – all of it originally on RCA Victor Records in the States (only the 1979 album got a UK release). Newly remastered in 2022 to perfection by BGO's resident Audio Engineer impresario-splendido ANDREW THOMPSON, there's lots to discuss so let's have at it:

 

UK released Friday, 5 August 2022 - "Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back" by PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE on Beat Goes On BGOCD1484 (Barcode 5017261214843) offers 3LPs (the first a 2LP-set) Remastered onto 2CDs as follows:

 

CD1 (74:33 minutes):

1. Kansas City Southern [Side 1]

2. Harvest 

3. I'll Change Your Flat Tyre, Merle

4. Lucille Crawfield 

5. Two Lane Highway 

6. Country Song [Side 2]

7. Out In The Street 

8. Dark Colours

9. That'll Be The Day 

10. Sun Shone Lightly

11. Heart Of Her Own

12. Amie [Side 3]

13. Pickin' to Beat The Devil

14. Kentucky Moonshine

15. Fade Away

16. Feelin' of Love

17. Dance [Side 4]

18. Louise (What I Did)

19. All The Lonesome Cowboys 

20. Came Through

Tracks 1 to 20 are the live double-album "Live! Takin' The Stage" - released September 1977 USA on RCA Victor CPL2-240 (no UK issue). Produced by ALAN ABRAHAMS - it peaked at No. 68 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts.

 

CD2 (73:46 minutes): 

1. Place In The Middle [Side 1]

2. Slim Pickin's 

3. Love Will Grow 

4. You Don't Have To Be Alone

5. Love Is Falling 

6. Just Fly [Side 2]

7. Lifetime 

8. Working in The Coal Mine 

9. My Young Girl 

10. Bad Dream

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Just Fly" - released March 1978 on RCA Victor AFL 1-2590 in the USA and June 1978 UK on RCA Victor PL-12590. Produced by ALAN ABRAHAMS - it peaked at No. 79 on the US Billboard Rock charts,

 

11. I Can't Hold Back [Side 1]

12. I Can't Believe

13. Rude Rude Awakening

14. White Line 

15. Misery Train 

16. Restless Woman [Side 2]

17. I'm Goin' Away 

18. Jerene

19. Livin' It Alone 

20. Fool Fool

21. Goodbye So Long

Tracks 11 to 21 are the album "Can't Hold Back" - released June 1979 on RCA Victor AFL 1-3335 in the USA, June 1979 UK on RCA Victor PL-13335. Produced by RON and HOWARD ALBERT - it peaked at No. 124 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts. 

The card-slipcase is classy whilst the fat booklet provides genuinely cool info on the band's long history - all the artwork repro'd and album credits included (net sources named too). But the real draw for fans will be the ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters new to 2022 - well produced albums amplified upwards - the studio sets almost too clean. A typically big balls sounding reissue from England's BGO.

 

They start "Live! Takin' The Stage" with a quick announcement, then immediately into the wailing railroad 'lonesome sound' of Gene Clark's "Kansas City Southern" and straight out of the box you hear how staggeringly tight the band is - a combo of Pedal Steel (John David Call), Twangin' Lead Vocals in George Powell and Larry Goshorn (Lead Guitars too) and in-the-groove rhythm section (Mike Reilly on Bass and Billy Hinds on Drums) - Mike Reilly doing a lion's share of Harmony Vocals as well. Recorded throughout May and July 1977 supporting the "Dance" LP of 1976 - the shows are almost note perfect and some criticized the band for it, but fans lapped it up. 

 

A combo sound that encompasses The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with The Dillards and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils - PPL cover versions include a rather insipid "That'll Be The Day" (Buddy Holly) while Janis Joplin's pal Nick Gravenites had his Western Swing "I'll Change Your Tires, Merle" given a good going over. Better are their own ballads like "Sun Shone Lightly", "Heart Of Her Own" and the Dobro jaunt of "Kentucky Moonshine". The only new tune was the last on Side 4 - a rather good George Powell guitar offering called "Came Through" that ends the set with 'style'.  

The two studio efforts on CD2 are super polished in terms of Production - Country superstar VINCE GILL having famously joined the band for 1979's "Can't Hold Back" (Patrick Bolan on Lead Guitar too). It's easy unfortunately to hear why critics of the day had little time for the "Can't Fly" LP cheeseball of "Slim Pickin's" followed by the jaunty Pop-Country of "Love Will Grow" - both dreadfully dated in 2022. Prettier is "You Don't Have To Be Alone" and "Lifetime" whilst the guitar-rocking "Love Is Falling" is more Outlaws and The Allman Brothers than Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Thinks get funky with the title song "Just Fly" and there's a passable go at Allen Toussaint's hit for Lee Dorsey "Working in A Coal Mine", but you're left with the feeling that the LP is treading water after the exuberance of the Live Shows. 

New Line-up, New Producers - "I Can't Hold Back" has even got Michael McDonald Doobie Brothers sounding backing vocals with a Saxophone solo - maybe hoping it'll have some of that "Minute By Minute" Yacht Rock magic rub off. Vince Gill's "I Can't Believe" improves things - he also wrote "Rude Rude Awakening", "Misery Train", "I'm Goin' Away" and "Jerene". Bennett's "White Line" is pretty - radio song with strings. Brass beefs up "Restless Woman" and on it goes...

 

For sure this kind of fiddle and pedal steel Country Rock will not be for everyone and the last album is more Yacht Rock than Country - but fans of melodies and good songwriting should dig in and long time followers of PPL and their cowboy-hat logo will love the great new audio and presentation... 

 

A List of Beat Goes On CD Remasters for PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

 

1. "Pure Prairie League/Bustin' Out/Two Lane Highway/Dance"

February and October 1972 Debut and Second LPs with their Fourth and Fifth Albums from June 1975 and November 1976 – all originally on RCA Victor Records (USA)

UK 2CD compilation released 19 April 2019 (25 April 2019 in the USA)

Beat Goes On (BGO Records) BGOCD 1376 (Barcode 5017261213761)

 

2. "Live! Takin' The Stage/Just Fly/Can't Hold Back"

September 1977 (2LP-set), March 1978 and June 1979 Studio Albums originally on RCA Victor Records

UK 2CD compilation released 5 August 2022 (12 August 2022 USA)

Beat Goes On (BGO Records) BGOCD1484 (Barcode 5017261214843)

 

3. "Firin' Up/Something In The Night"

May 1980 and April 1981 US LPs originally on Casablanca Records

UK 2CD compilation released 11 September 2020 (23 October 2020 USA)

Beat Goes On BGOCD 1423 (Barcode 5017261214232)