"Deceptive Bends" by 10cc – May 1977 UK Fifth Studio Album on Mercury Records (USA also) featuring Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman with Guests Paul Burgess on Drums and Del Newman on String Arrangements (July 1997 UK Mercury 'Digitally Remastered' CD Reissue – Expanded Edition with Three Non-LP B-sides as Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B000006U4K&asins=B000006U4K&linkId=7728692adac6b25cb38c03f8db696039&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...Will Feel The Benefit..."

 

This Review Along With Over 220 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

After the January 1976 release of their fourth studio album - "How Dare You!" – the original fab-foursome of 10cc split into two – Kevin Godley and Lol Crème exploring the Gizmo Guitar and their experimental October 1977 3LP Box Set "Consequences" - while Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman kept the 10cc moniker and the band going.

 

Much was muted in the press at the time about a supergroup splitting up (Beatles comparisons abounded) – but the overall winning comerciality of "Deceptive Bends" shocked many in May 1977 – the 10cc sound still fresh and inventive – and all of it handled by the dynamic remaining duo (with help from Drummer Paul Burgess and Strings Arranger Del Newman). Fans even got three singles out of "Bends" – the hooky-as-it-gets "Good Morning Judge" and "The Things We Do For Love" that open the LP and the lesser rather-sappy 45 "People In Love".

 

And then there was the brilliance of the eleven-and-a-half minute three-part "Feel The Benefit" – an absolute showstopper that finished the LP over on Side 2. I've seen 10cc do it live in the 80s and it tears up the crowd every time – reminding you of the melodies chopping and changing and flitting in and out (there is even a Prog Rock element to it). "Deceptive Bends" even came in cool Storm Thorgerson Hipgnosis gatefold sleeve artwork. So it's hardly surprising that with Three Bonuses – this old but great-sounding CD Remaster offers a punter loads to nibble on. Lots to discuss...

 

UK released June 1997 - "Deceptive Bends" by 10cc on Mercury 534 974-2 (Barcode 731453497429) is a 'Digitally Remastered' Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (51:33 minutes):

 

1. Good Morning Judge [Side 1]

2. The Things We Do For Love

3. Marriage Bureau Rendezvous

4. People In Love

5. Modern Man Blues

6. Honeymoon With B Troop [Side 2]

7. I Bought A Flat Guitar Tutor

8. You've Got A Cold

9. Feel The Benefit (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

(i) Reminisce And Speculation

(ii) A Latin Break

(iii) Feel The Benefit

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Deceptive Bends" - released May 1977 in the UK on Mercury Records 9102 502 and May 1977 in the USA on Mercury SRM-1-3702. Produced by 10cc - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 31 in the US LP charts.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Hot To Trot

Track 9 is the 3 December 1976 UK 45-single on Mercury 6008 022, Non-LP B-side of "The Things We Do For Love" (Dec 1976 USA on Mercury 73875)

 

10. Don't Squeeze Me Like Toothpaste

Track 10 is the 1 April 1977 UK 45-single on Mercury 6008 025, Non-LP B-side of "Good Morning Judge" (May 1977 USA on Mercury 73917 with "People In Love" as the A-side)

 

11. I'm So Laid Back, I'm Laid Out

Track 11 is the 8 July 1977 UK 45-single on Mercury 6008 028, Non-LP B-side of "People In Love" (July 1977 USA on Mercury 73943 with "Good Morning Judge" on the A-side)

 

The 8-page booklet is both good and bad, but you can' help feel that it's functional at best. Only the front and rear cover of the LP is represented with the inner gatefold and the hugely detailed lyric inner-sleeve both AWOL (no tasty foreigh picture sleeves either). In their place is a new set of liner notes from CHRIS WHITE that convincingly covers their surprisingly good fifth LP for Mercury Records with archival interview quotes from Stewart and Gouldman (first time on CD Remaster too). And the three Non-LP B-sides will allow US and UK fans sequence the 45s – properly good additions for those who've waited decades for them.

 

ROGER WAKE who did all the Strawbs and Joan Armatrading CD Remasters on A&M Records – handles the Remaster here and it's an audio winner. Fans will go for deep LP cuts like the quietly gorgeous "Marriage Bureau Department" and the R&B chug of "Modern Man Blues" and find hugely improved sonic details (guitar soloing) – clear as a bell. After the "Art For Art's Sake" muffle on the decidedly mixed sound to "How Dare You!" – Bends is a welcome uplift. And again, crank it! To the music...

 

With every song written by Stewart and Gouldman – and both playing a huge array of instruments (leaving the Drums to Jethro Tull sessionman Paul Burgess) – the album is essentially theirs completely. Engineered by Eric Stewart, it also sounds so damn good. And as I said before – the Remaster has really brought out those discoveries - "Marriage Bureau Department" and the R&B chug of "Modern Man Blues". You could almost hear five 45s in its clever-clogs run.

 

After the general excellence of Side 1, the opening duo of Side 2 are very disappointing – neither "Honeymoon In B Troop" or "I Bought A Flat Guitar Tutor". Even if it is a tad B-side-ish, at least the hot toddy jaunt of "You've Got A Cold" feels like that cool 10cc of old – great guitar work too that's brought out by the speaker-to-speaker remaster. But the side is dominated by the three-parts of "Feel The Benefit" – a very One Night In Paris affair with an equal amount of melody changes and wild lyric runs. The Latin Break is still a hoot and that dual guitar battle in Part 3 is utterly brilliant and cranked with those strings too.

 

Bonuses: released a full five months ahead of its parent LP - "The Things We Do For Love" had the suggestive "Hot To Trot" – a very 10cc B-side – good not brill enough to be on the LP (she was smiling at me). The putty in my hands "Don't Squeeze Me Like Toothpaste" is OK too, but again never rises too much else. But hell, it sounds great in Remastered form. Best of the three is "I'm So Laid Back, I'm Laid Out" – a tune I would have replaced the Guitar Tutor LP track with.

 

Once again, I'm taken aback at the last-ability of 10cc's Seventies Music – goodies galore and a few gems worthy of re-discovery into the cheap-as-chips CD reissue bargain. Time to feel that benefit once again...

"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...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00004Y6O2&asins=B00004Y6O2&linkId=efbc907e728e3fe1b56708ae25f32b26&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
 

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

 

This Review Along With Over 220 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"...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 

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00008W7P6&asins=B00008W7P6&linkId=444be1acb01f2fb4eeb61f8568c3da7e&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> 

 

 

"...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...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00005OAE6&asins=B00005OAE6&linkId=dc1e8335b05eaa89b859b0dd4df4e620&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

This Review Along With Over 220 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...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...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00005LP1H&asins=B00005LP1H&linkId=2d4870375bc3b39e42b3231790dfe1a0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>  

 

This Review Along With Over 220 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B071P5X2GW&asins=B071P5X2GW&linkId=716e2a561b29ac39bd11daa25c37986b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...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...