"Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971" by STEPPENWOLF – Includes 8 Albums issued January 1968 to November 1971 in the USA (May 1968 to November 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor, Stateside and Probe Records) – featuring John Kay, Michael Monarch, Goldy McJohn, Rushton Moreve, Jerry Edmonton, Mars Bonfire, Nick St. Nicholas, Larry Byrom, Kent Henry and George Biondo (November 2021 UK Esoteric Recordings 8CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves and Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Heading Off Down The Highway..."

 

British reissue label Esoteric Recordings (a part of Cherry Red) has fast been carving out a place in the hearts of collectors these last few years and a total winner like "Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971" amply shows why – it screams class. And in October 2022 – it's priced at just over forty-quid and not the initial sixty – so is properly great value for money (for years you could only get expensive Japanese SHM-CD Remasters that at one point were clocking in at £400 for what you get here at a tenth of the cost).

 

In a nutshell, you get 8 Steppenwolf albums in Stereo - six studio sets, the full compliment of one live US-double which was only released as a single LP in the UK and a single live set of early 1967 wolf recordings when they were called The Sparrow. On top of that there's a tasty 26 Bonus 45-single Sides (most in their original and rare Mono form), a beautifully presented 52-page chunky-monkey booklet, a fold-out memorabilia-strewn poster, 8 Mini LP card repro sleeves (five of which are gatefolds) and Brand New 2021 Paschal Byrne Remasters from original Dunhill/ABC master tapes. Frankly Frank and don't step on the grass Sam, but that's a whole lot of primo Howlin' Wolf, if you know what I'm barking on about.

 

Always somehow in the second tier of great Rock Bands, Steppenwolf rocked and ever since I heard their angry, but utterly brilliant take on drug-addiction "The Pusher" complete with John Kay's larger-than-life persona dealing with everything from the intrusiveness of The Man and the Vietnam War to snowblind friends - I have loved the mad buggers dearly. Time to come out of the cave man; get wild, tighten up your wig and hop on long motorbikes and suspect carpets. Here is the Sookie-Sookie detail...

 

 

UK released Friday, 26 Nov 2021 - "Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971" by STEPPENWOLF on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC82777 (Barcode 5013929477780) is an 8CD Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork, a 52-Page Booklet, Fold-Out Poster, 26 Bonus Tracks and New 2021 Remasters that play out as follows:

 

CD1 "Steppenwolf" – 1968 Debut LP (74:29 minutes): 

The LP's STEREO MIX ONLY is used on this CD; the 8 Bonus Single Sides are in MONO.

1. Sookie Sookie [Side 1]

2. Everybody's Next One 

3. Berry Rides Again

4. Hootchie Kootchie Man 

5. Born To Be Wild

6. Your Wall's Too High 

7. Desperation [Side 2]

8. The Pusher 

9. A Girl I Knew

10. Take What You Need 

11. The Ostrich

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Steppenwolf" - released January 1968 on Dunhill D-50029 (Mono) and Dunhill DS-50029 (Stereo) and May 1968 in the UK on RCA Victor RD-7974 (Mono) and RCA Victor SF-7974 (Stereo). Produced by GABRIEL MEKLER - it peaked at No. 6 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

12. Sookie Sookie (Mono Single Version) - February 1968 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4123, A

13. Born To Be Wild (Mono Single Version) - May 1968 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4138, A

14. Everybody's Next One (Mono Single Version) - May 1968 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4138, B

15. Take What You Need (Mono Single Version) - Feb 1968 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4123, B

16. A Girl I Knew (Mono Single Version) - Oct 1967 US debut 45-single, Dunhill D-4109, A 

17. The Ostrich (Mono Single Version) - Oct 1967 US debut 45-single, Dunhill D-4109, B

18. The Pusher (Mono Single Version) - August 1970 UK 45-single, Stateside SS 8056, A

19. Berry Rides Again (Mono Single Version) - December 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4221, B-side of "Monster"

 

CD2 "The Second" – 1968 Second LP (46:33 minutes): 

The LP's STEREO MIX ONLY is used on this CD; the 2 Bonus Single Sides are in MONO.

1. Faster Than The Speed Of Life [Side 1]

2. Tighten Up Your Wig 

3. None Of Your Doing 

4. Spiritual Fantasy 

5. Don't Step On The Grass Sam 

6. 28 [Side 2]

7. Magic Carpet Ride

8. Disappointment Number (Unknown)

9. Lost And Found By Trial And Error 

10. Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie

11. Resurrection

12. Reflections

Tracks 1 to 12 are their second studio album "The Second" - released October 1968 in the US on Dunhill DS-50037 (Stereo-only) and December 1968 UK on Stateside SL 5003 (Mono) and Stateside SSL 5003 (Stereo). Produced by GABRIEL MEKLER - it peaked at No. 3 in the USA on the Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK)

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

13. Magic Carpet Ride (Mono Single Version) - Sept 1968 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4161, A

14. Spiritual Fantasy (Mono Single Version) - Aug 1970 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4248, B-side of "Screaming Night Hog"

 

CD3 "At Your Birthday Party" – 1969 Third LP (53:30 minutes):

The 13-Track album is in STEREO; the 4 Bonus Single Sides are in MONO.

1. Don't Cry [Side 1]

2. Chicken Wolf

3. Lovely Meter 

4. Round And Round 

5. It's Never Too Late 

6. Sleeping Dream 

7. Jupiter Child [Side 2]

8. She'll Be Better

9. Cat Killer 

10. Rock Me

11. God Fearing Man 

12. Mango Juice

13. Happy Birthday

Tracks 1 to 13 are their third studio album "At Your Birthday Party" - released March 1969 in the US on Dunhill/ABC DSX-50053 (Stereo) and May 1969 in the UK on Stateside SSL 5011 (Stereo. Produced by GABRIEL MEKLER - it peaked at No. 7 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK)

BONUS TRACKS: 

14. Rock Me (Mono Single Version) - Feb 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4182, A

15. Jupiter Child (Mono Single Version) - Feb 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4182, B

 

CD4 "Early Steppenwolf" - 1969 Fourth LP (43:44 minutes):

Recorded Live at The Matrix in San Francisco, May 14, 1967 (as The Sparrow)

1. Power Play [Side 1]

2. Howlin' For My Baby 

3. Goin' Upstairs 

4. Corina, Corina

5. Tighten Up Your Wig 

6. The Pusher (21:36 minutes) [Side 2]

Tracks 1 to 6 are their fourth album "Early Steppenwolf", a collection of six live recordings as THE SPARROW made in May 1967 with MARS BONFIRE on Lead Guitar - released July 1969 in the US on Dunhill/ABC Records DS-50060 in Stereo and November 1969 in the UK on Stateside SSL 5015 in Stereo (it peaked at No. 27 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts, didn't chart UK).

 

CD5 "Monster" – 1969 Fifth LP (44:53 minutes):

The 7-Track album is in STEREO; the 3 Bonus Single Sides are in STEREO and MONO.

10 Tracks

1. Monster/Suicide/America [Side 1]

2. Draft Resister 

3. Power Play 

4. Move Over [Side 2]

5. Fag

6. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You) [Side 2]

7. From Here To There Eventually 

Tracks 1 to 7 are their fifth album (fourth studio) "Monster" - released November 1969 in the US on Dunhill/ABC Records DS-50066 in Stereo and February 1970 UK on Stateside SSL 5021 in Stereo. Produced by GABRIEL MEKLER - it peaked at No. 17 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts and became their first LP to chart in the UK peaking at No. 43.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

8. Monster (Single Version, Edit, Stereo) - December 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4221, A

9. Move Over (Mono Single Version) - August 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4205, A

10. Power Play (Mono Single Version) - August 1969 US 45-single, Dunhill D-4205, B

 

CD6 "Steppenwolf 'Live'" – 1970 Sixth Album (78:25 minutes):

The 13-Track Live-Double is in STEREO on this CD; the 3 Bonuses are MONO

1. Sookie Sookie [Side 1]

2. Don't Step On The Grass Sam

3. Tighten Up Your Wig

4. Monster [Side 2]

5. Draft Resister

6. Power Play 

7. Corina, Corina [Side 3]

8. Twisted

9. From Here To There Eventually 

10. Hey Lawdy Mama [Side 4]

11. Magic Carpet Ride 

12. The Pusher 

13. Born To Be Wild

Tracks 1 to 13 are their sixth album (second live set) issued June 1970 as a 2LP vinyl double-album in the USA on Dunhill DSD 50075 in Stereo only. On the original US issue the opening tracks "Hey Lawdy Mama" and "Magic Carpet Ride" of Side 4 are configured on the label as one-song hence giving the double a 12-track count. Here they have been separated as two songs, hence the 13-track count on CD. Produced by GABRIEL MEKLER - it peaked at No. 7 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts and No. 16 (as a single LP) in the UK

 

In the UK, "Steppenwolf 'Live'" was issued July 1970 on Stateside SSL 5029 as an 11-Track Single LP in Stereo. You can sequence that version using the following tracks:

Side 1: Sookie Sookie, Don't Step On The Grass Sam, Tighten Up Your Wig, Hey Lawdy Mama, Magic Carpet Ride, The Pusher

Side 2: Corina-Corina, Twisted, From Here To There Eventually, Draft Resister, Born To Be Wild

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

14. Hey Lawdy Mama [Live] (Mono Single Version) - April 1970 US 45 on Dunhill D-4234, A

15. Twisted [Live] (Mono Single Version) - April 1970 US 45 on Dunhill D-4234, B

16.Corina, Corina [Live] (Mono Single Version) - August 1970 US 45 on Dunhill D-4248, B-side of "Screaming Night Hog"

 

CD7 "Steppenwolf 7" – 1970 Seventh Album (50:28 minutes):

The 12 Tracks are all in STEREO 

1. Ball Crusher [Side 1]

2. Forty Days And Forty Nights 

3. Fat Jack 

4. Renegade

5. Foggy Mental Breakdown [Side 2]

6. Snow Blind Friend 

7. Who Needs Ya

8. Earschplittenloudenboomer

9. Hippo Stomp

Tracks 1 to 9 are their seventh album (fifth studio) "Steppenwolf 7" - released November 1970 in the US on ABC/Dunhill DSX-50090 and January 1971 in the UK on Probe Records SPBA 6254. Produced by RICHARD PODOLOR - it peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard Rock Lp charts (didn't chart UK). 

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Screaming Night Hog - August 1970 US 45-single on Dunhill/ABC D-4258, A

11. Snow Blind Friend - February 1971 US 45-single on Dunhill/ABC D-4269, A

12. Hippo Stomp - February 1971 US 45-single on Dunhill/ABC D-4269, B

 

CD8 "For Ladies Only" – 1971 Eight Album (61:13 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 in STEREO, Track 13 is MONO

1. For Ladies Only [Side 1]

2. I'm Asking 

3. Shackles And Chains 

4. Tenderness

5. The Night Time's For You [Side 2]

6. Jaded Strumpet 

7. Sparkle Eyes 

8. Black Pit 

9. Ride With Me 

10. In Hopes Of A Garden 

Tracks 1 to 10 are their eight album (sixth studio set) "For Ladies Only" - released November 1971 in the US Dunhill/ABC DSX-50110 in Stereo and November 1971 in the UK on Probe Records SPBA 6260 in Stereo. Produced by RICHARD PODOLOR - it peaked at No. 54 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK) 

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. For Madmen Only - June 1971 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4283, B-side of "Ride With Me"

12. For Ladies Only (Single Version, Stereo Version) - October 1971 US Promo-Only US 45-single on Dunhill D-4292, B-side of "For Ladies Only (Mono Version)"

13. Ride With Me (Mono Single Version) - June 1971 US 45-single on Dunhill D-4283, A

 

"Magic Carpet Ride..." is a looker of a CD Box Set - the glossy Clamshell giving it a feel of event. The Matt-booklet of 54-pages has reams of MALCOLM DOME liner notes interspersed with LP credits and loads of period photos, while the fold-out memorabilia poster showing stuff like their involvement in the "Candy" soundtrack is a great touch. PASCHAL BYRNE did the new Remasters from original tapes and it absolutely rocks - the lyrically awful "Jaded Strumpet" on "For Ladies Only" might make you wince, but the in-yer-face Audio won't. 

 

My only thing would be that many of the Mono single mixes feel too often like an Audio compromise rather than a Bonus. The fact that the last four card sleeves are gatefolds thereby keeping to their original designs is well tasty too - but the silver foil feel of the debut is missing as is the die-cut of "At Your Birthday Party" - for that level of Mini LP Sleeve detail you have to go to the Japanese SHM-CD reissues of April 2013 and they'll cost ya. But what we do have is superbly done and cleanly presented.  

 

The much-loved self-titled 1968 debut album is balls-to-the-wall brilliant - not surprising then that a whopping eight of its eleven tracks made it onto the 2CD "Gold" compilation put out to universal praise in September 2005 (Erick Labson Remasters - see separate review). So many tracks like their fantastic cover of Don Covay and Steve Cropper's "Sookie Sookie", Hoyt Axton's viscerally brutal "The Pusher" and their own reach for personal freedom "Born To Be Wild" that would lead the "Easy Rider" movie charge the following year. I would have to admit that the filler started to creep in by the time we reach platter number three - "At Your Birthday Party" feeling like its reaching all the time, but killer Kay tunes like "Rock Me" and "Jupiter Child" saving the day.

 

Rock-genius and So-Steppenwolf-Sounding-Riffage courses through the veins of "Don't Step On The Grass Sam" - both John Kay and Joey Edmonton sharing the vocals and those incendiary 'you'll pay if you disagree with me' lyrics. It's of the times for sure, but at a distance of nearing on 60-years - its crafty melody/production turns still amazes and manages to feel contemporary. There are times too when the band's musical reach surprises - even thrills - the gorgeous and cleverly orchestrated string arrangements in "Spiritual Fantasy" - just a song that dreams and hopes - John Kay searching for the supreme. The sexy guitar and piano Blues lurch of "Disappointment Number (Unknown)" is not just a fabulous deep album cut, but the Audio on the Remaster is fantastically clear - Mekler's original Production values shining through. And despite its hippy almost Jazz Fusion feel (or perhaps because of it) - I've been a tad partial to the three-minute instrumental "Mango Juice" on the patchy "At Your Birthday Party" album. 

Other deep dive dips include the slide-guitar shuffle of "Shackles And Chains" on Side 1 of the mixed-bag "For Ladies Only" album - their last for Dunhill/ABC in 1971 before they joined Mums Records for 1974's comback platter "Slow Flux". "Shackles And Chains" is another hooky John Kay message song (funky too) and this time we finally get to hear the great production values from Richard Podolor (guitarist Kent Henry playing a blinder). And I used to put "Tenderness" from the same album on 70's-Fest CD-Rs I made for Shop Plays - its Mars Bonfire-written acoustic/keyboard/guitar shuffle disarmingly touching (gorgeous Audio too). The guitar/keyboard groove of the instrumental "Black Pit" is one for Soul-Rock 'Funky Funky' compilations as well. 

 

While you might think its cool to have the Mono Single Mixes, the version of the lovely "Spiritual Fantasy" in Mono fares fairly well, but "Magic Carpet Ride" in Mono is too muffled for my tastes (guess I'm too used to that great Stereo clarity). Collectors will love the oddities - the decidedly eerie B-side "For Madmen Only" where the band seems to channeling Stephen King on a bad day. But then you play "Ride With Me" as either a 1971 Mono Single or its Stereo LP counterpart - with John Kay at his rumbunktious blazing best - and the rawk racket that Steppenwolf made was/is just fantastic. And on it goes...

 

There is so much on "The Dunhill/ABC Years 1967-1971", we could have it for days, but this Esoteric Recordings 8CD Mini Box Set for STEPPENWOLF hits home on all the right fronts - Presentation, Audio and Musical Surprises for a band so pigeonholed by their 60ts sound. 

 

A Magic Carpet Ride indeed...

 

PS: see also my review for "Gold" and "Slow Flux etc" both by Steppenwolf and the John Kay solo albums from 1972 and 1973 on Beat Goes On Records - "Forgotten Songs..." and "My Sportin' Life"

"Canned Heat/Boogie With Canned Heat" by CANNED HEAT – July 1967 US Debut Album Plus Their January 1968 US Second Studio Album both originally on Liberty Records in Stereo (August 1967 and June 1968 in the UK) - featuring Bob 'The Bear' Hite, Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson, Henry 'Sunflower' Vestine, Larry 'The Mole' Taylor, Frank Cook and Adolfo 'Fito' De La Parra (May 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation Re-Release – 2LPs onto 1CD - Andrew Thompson Remasters – This CD Originally Issued March 2003) - A Review by Mark Barry...

*** 2003 CD Remaster and 2022 Re-Release ***

 

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"...Turpentine Moan..."

 

In their nine-strong reissues of Canned Heat back-catalogue onto CD (see list below) – 2022 has seen England's Beat Goes On (BGO) return to three of them for re-release – and what we have here is the first of the three.

 

"Canned Heat" (July 1967 USA) and "Boogie With Canned Heat" (January 1968 USA) were both originally on Liberty Records and are presented here in glorious Stereo onto 1CD (a near 79-minute total playing time). The combo of their down-and-dirty Blues-Rock-Boogie and hairy-assed five-piece reprobate-charm chimed big time with young eager-to-participate audiences (they were a huge live draw back in the day).

 

First some background. What you technically have here is a re-release – a May 2022 re-release of a CD compilation Beat Goes On (BGO) first put out in March 2003 (itself reissued in 22 July 2013). Confusingly, this 2022 version uses the same catalogue number, Barcode and 2003 liner notes – with only the rear artwork around the copyright date box slightly different - but that is all (see photos above). It has also been suggested online that this is a new 2022 Remaster, but unstated as such, I doubt it. The 2003 Andrew Thompson Remasters were and are brilliant anyway – in yer face for all the right reasons so there would no need for a new one.

 

Time to start Rollin' and Tumblin' with our favourite Sterno Crew...here is the breakdown...

 

UK re-released 6 May 2022 (originally issued 17 March 2003) – "Canned Heat/Boogie With Canned Heat" by CANNED HEAT on Beat Goes On BGOCD577 (Barcode 5017261205773) is a 2LP-onto-1CD compilation of their first and second studio albums originally on Liberty Records in Stereo (UK and USA) that plays out as follows (78:22 minutes):

 

1. Rollin' and Tumblin' [Side 1]

2. Bullfrog Blues

3. Evil Is Going On

4. Goin' Down Slow

5. Catfish Blues

6. Dust My Broom [Side 2]

7. Help Me

8. Big Road Blues

9. The Story Of My Life

10. The Road Song

11. Rich Woman

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut-album "Canned Heat" - released July 1967 in the USA on Liberty Records LRP-3526 (Mono) and LST-7526 (Stereo) and August 1967 in the UK on Liberty Records LBL 83059E (Mono) and LBS 83059E (Stereo) – the STEREO MIX is used for this CD. Produced CAL CARTER - it peaked at No. 76 in the US Rock LP charts (didn’t chart UK).

 

12. Evil Woman [Side 1]

13. My Crime

14. On The Road Again

15. World In A Jug

16. Turpentine Moan

17. Whiskey Headed Woman No. 2

18. Amphetamine Annie [Side 2]

19. An Owl Song

20. Marie Laveau

21. Fried Hockey Boogie

Tracks 12 to 21 are their second studio album "Boogie With Canned Heat" – released January 1968 in the USA on Liberty LRP-3541 in Mono and Liberty LST-7541 in Stereo and June 1968 in the UK on Liberty LBL 83103E in Mono and Liberty LBS 83103E in Stereo - the STEREO MIX is used on this CD. Produced by DALLAS SMITH – it peaked at No. 5 in the USA Billboard Rock LP charts and No. 16 in the UK LP charts 

 

CANNED HEAT was:

BOB 'The Bear' aka 'Big Fat' HITE – Lead Vocals

ALAN 'Blind Owl' WILSON - Vocals, Slide Guitar, Chromatic Harmonica

HENRY 'Sunflower' VESTINE - Lead Guitar (and Sitar)

LARRY 'The Mole' TAYLOR - Bass

FRANK COOK – Drummer ("Canned Heat" LP)

ADOLFO 'Fito' DE LA PARRA – Drummer ("Boogie With Canned Heat" LP)

 

Longstanding liner-notes writer JOHN TOBLER provides us with a potted history of this famous American Blues-Rock band and a track-by-track analysis across 12-pages. Their first two incendiary platters were almost entirely cover versions of Blues and R&B standards given a Blues-Rock work-over and then fronted by two hugely different vocal styles – Hite the Gruff and Wilson the Choirboy. It reproduces the Pete Wilson liner notes from the debut album of 1967 (there were no liner note for the second in 1968) – Tobler taking his history through the loss of Wilson to suicide in 1970 and Vestine rejoining the band in 1971. There is also a period photo of the popular boogie band and a rear inlay through the see-through CD tray that advertises six titles on BGO for Canned Heart. But the Remaster is the thing – a cracking ANDREW THOMPSON transfer from Liberty tapes in STEREO that unleashes each album – dated a little perhaps in 2022 – but no less powerful.

 

The debut is a mess-up of Blues and R 'n' B cover done in Rock-Blues style - a sort of gruffer Paul Butterfield Blues Band - guitar and chromatic harmonica tearing it up. "Canned Heat" opens on a Muddy Waters cover "Rollin' And Tumblin'" followed by Blind Boy Fuller's "Bullfrog Blues" which Rory Gallagher would flame-thorough on his fabulous LP "Live! In Europe" on Polydor Records in 1972. Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf's catalogue not surprisingly gets hammered with "Evil Is Going On" but far better is a Slow Blues shuffler in the shape of Jimmy Oden's "Goin' Down Slow" where Wilson gets to rip on huge Harmonica warbles. The album then goes so John Lee Hooker with "Catfish Blues" - geetar and foot taps soon joined by Bass and Drums in a typical Canned Heat build. 

 

Robert Johnson gets picked up next with his "Dust My Broom" - give this one a bit of welly on the old Volume knob - will repay that special telegram. The production lifts considerably for Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" - Wilson's high-pitched vocals taking a bit of getting used to - but wow that playing. Things speed up at last with "Big Road Blues" but go back to guitar-lead slow Blues for "The Story Of My Life" - a misery and woe tale of abandonment. The album romps home with two credible Howlin' Wolf approximations in "The Road Song" and then "Rich Woman" which comes on like John Mayall in 1966. 

 

The debut was good - even great in parts - but for me this release comes alive with their second LP "Boogie With..." - a far dirtier and more confident affair. The harsh separation of guitars are still in the left and right speakers, but the playing is almost abandoned - like the Riot In Cell Block No.9-sounding "My Crime" - an original of sorts where the boys describe working a hippy place busted by the cops. This is a band finding its groove - the Audio ballsy. We're then hit with a sound we all know - those opening moments of "On The Road Again" - the single that broke them worldwide and especially in the UK - Wilson's weirdly up-there vocals part of its groovy cool. We're then hit with Hite goin' Rawk with "World In A Jug" - another band original that almost has Doors dirtiness about it - fantastic stuff. 

Barroom piano-notes opens the 'running around with someone else' romp that is the wickedly good "Turpentine Moan" - the band cooking as he slashes through the slide guitar with that trademark talking Hite does. Drink a bottle of this and you're good to go. He introduces their second take on "Whiskey Headed Woman" with a giggle, but better is the message-song "Amphetamine Annie" - a lady who's always shoveling speed - pills that crack her lips and turns her skin yellow. "An Owl Song" has jarring brass, "Marie Laveau" is a slow Blues instrumental with great Guitar, Piano and harp battling - but they're whomped into submission by the finale of "Fried Hockey Boogie" - a huge Hooker-Boogie tour-de-force beast of outrageous guitar soloing that clocks in above twelve minutes. I mean they get it on! Hardly surprising that it surfaced on the "Cook Book: The Best Of Canned Heat" set that ended 1969. 

 

For sure this music is grungy, 60ts dated, hippy-ish and at times derivative and even amateur - but man what a racket the Heat made. Blind Owl - do your boogie - and they did...

 

CANNED HEAT CD Reissues/Remasters on Beat Goes On Records (BGO): 

 

1. "Canned Heat/Boogie With Canned Heat"

Debut/Second LPs from July 1967 and January 1968 US on Liberty in Stereo

March 2003, July 2013 and May 2022 CD Reissues

Beats Goes On BGOCD577 (Barcode 5017261205773) for all

 

2. "Living The Blues"

Third album from November 1968 US 2LP set on Liberty Records in Stereo

September 2003, July 2013 and April 2022 Reissues

Beat Goes On BGOCD591 (Barcode 5017261205919) 2CD Set

 

3. "Hallelujah/Cook Book + Bonus Track"

July and November 1969 US Fourth and Fifth Albums on Liberty in Stereo

"The Canned Heat Cook Book: The Best Of Canned Heat" is a Compilation of Tracks from Their First Four Studio LPs

March 2003 and July 2013 with 21-Tracks (no Bonus)

May 2022 Re-release with 2022 Remaster and 22-Tracks (One Bonus)

Beat Goes On BGOCD578 (5017261205780) – all issues

The Bonus Track is the 1970 single "Let's Work Together"

 

4. "Canned Heat '70 Concert: Recorded Live In Europe"

November 1969 US LP, June 1970 UK on Liberty in Stereo

September 1989 UK CD Reissue

Beat Goes on BGOCD12 (Barcode 5017261200129)

 

5. "Future Blues"

September 1970 US/UK LP on Liberty Records in Stereo

September 1989 UK CD Reissue

Beat Goes On BGOCD49 (Barcode 5017261200495) 2CD Set

 

6. "Hooker N' Heat" (CANNED HEAT and JOHN LEE HOOKER)

January 1971 US 2LP set on Liberty Records in Stereo (March 1971 UK)

May 2005 UK 2CD Reissue/Remaster

Beat Goes On BGOCD694 (Barcode 5017261206947) 2CD set

 

7. "Historical Figures And Ancient Heads"

February 1972 US LP on United Artists (March 1972 UK)

August 1990 UK CD Reissue/Remaster

Beat Goes on BGOCD83 (Barcode 5017261200839)

 

8. "The New Age"

September 1973 US/UK LP on United Artists

May 1991 UK CD Reissue/Remaster

Beat Goes On BGOCD85 (Barcode 5017261200853)

 

9. "One More River To Cross"

January 1974 US LP on Atlantic Records (March 1974 UK)

July 2016 UK CD Reissue/Remaster with Two Bonus Single Sides

Beat Goes on BGOCD1233 (Barcode 5017261212337)

"Going For The One" by YES - July 1977 Eight Studio Album on Atlantic Records featuring Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Alan White (August 2003 UK Elektra/Rhino 'Expanded & Remastered Edition' CD Reissue with Seven Bonus Tracks and Bill Inglot/Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sun Thru The Haze... "

With their last studio album proper having been "Relayer" in November 1974 (featuring Keyboard whizz Patrick Moraz in the line-up) and a single-LP sort-of Best-of compilation filler in February 1975 called "Yesterdays" which had one new song on it (a cover version of Paul Simon's "America") – YES seemed an unlikely bet for a Number One slot in England come the rude and gobby summer of 1977. PROG and all its complicated symphonic Rock genre compatriots were perceived as overblown and old fart and were being promptly wiped away by British New Wave and Punk. And some maintained, rightly so my son.

And yet, there they were - YES - with their impenetrable cosmic lyrics and long complex songs and squirrely logo - this time ditching the beauty and signature look of Roger Dean artwork for their latest LP and replacing it with one of the most hideous and frankly ludicrously wasteful triple gatefold album sleeves ever in "Going For The One" – their eighth studio album released 7 July of 1977 (7/7/77). And they did achieve a No. 1 slot in Blighty (No. 8 in the USA) – never underestimate a naked man in front of a skyscraper.

Regardless of that, and as far as fans are concerned (who seem to love it more than I did back in the day – and I had been such a huge YES fan since 1970) – the search ever since has been to find a CD that improved on the harsh Production of the 1977-day. There have been audiophile issues in Japan, SACD reissues, but to me this August 2003 Elektra/Rhino Expanded Edition with Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters is still the best (and cheapest) way to nab this album until maestro Steve Wilson eventually gets a Panegyric 50^th Anniversary 5.1 and Stereo Remix out. To the awakening; wondrous stories...

UK released 25 August 2003 - "Going For The One" by YES on Elektra/Rhino 8122-73793-2 (Barcode 081227379322) is 'Expanded & Remastered Edition' CD Reissue with Seven Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (79:43 minutes):

Side 1 

1. Going For The One (5:32 minutes) 

2. Turn Of The Century (7:55 minutes)

3. Parallels (5:53 minutes)

Side 2

4. Wondrous Stories (3:49 minutes)

5. Awaken (15:31 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 5 are their eight studio-album "Going For The One" - released 7 July 1977 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 19106 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50379. Produced and Arranged by YES - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 8 in the USA. 

"Going For The One" and "Wondrous Stories" written by Jon Anderson; "Turn Of The Century" written by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White; "Parallels" written by Chris Squire; "Awaken" written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

6. Montreux's Theme (Howe/Squire/Anderson/White) – 2:33 minutes

7. Vevey (Revisited) (Anderson/Wakeman) – 4:42 minutes

8. Amazing Grace (Traditional, Arranged by Squire) – 2:31 minutes

Tracks 6 and 8 first issued 6 August 1991 on the retrospective Box Set "Yes Years" on Atlantic 7 91644-2 (USA), Atco 7567-91644-2 (UK and Europe)

Track 7 "Vevey" first appeared as two tracks on the same Box Set in 1991 running to approximately 2-minutes – here is the full version at 4:42 minutes. It features only Jon Anderson on Harp and Rick Wakeman on Organ

Track 8 is a cover version of the famous Gospel song and features only Chris Squire on Bass

 

9. Going For The One (Rehearsal) – 5:07 minutes

10. Parallels (Rehearsal) – 6:16 minutes

11. Turn Of The Century (Rehearsal) – 6:54 minutes

12. Eastern Numbers (Early Version of "Awaken") -

Tracks 9 to 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White only play on Track 9; Tracks 10, 11 and 12 features the full line-up as listed below

 

YES was:

JON ANDERSON - Lead Vocals, Harp and Guitar

STEVE HOWE - Electric, Pedal Steel and Acoustic Guitars, Vachalia, Harmony Vocals

RICK WAKEMAN - Piano, Electric Piano, Synths, Organ, all Keyboards 

CHRIS SQUIRE - Bass Guitar and Vocals 

ALAN WHITE- Drums and Percussion

The front of the 18-page booklet cleverly uses a fold-out flap to mimic the original triple gatefold sleeve artwork of old (it also reproduces the album's inner sleeve with photos and lyrics of the classic Yes line-up - Rick Wakeman having rejoined the crew) and new liner notes from TIM JONES gives an in-depth history of the band at the time and the making of the record including new reminiscences from Jon Anderson and Steve Howe. The pages to the rear give track-by-track credits (the playing times have been put in by myself above as they're not in here) - musician line-ups etc. The audio for this notoriously harsh sounding LP have been handled by Rhino's longstanding duo of Audio Engineers - BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH. These guys have handled thousands of master tapes across the vast WEA archive and although I still find parts of "Going For The One" and "Awaken" shrill what with all that noise and loud slide guitar - the improvement in the gorgeous "Turn Of The Century" is shockingly good. 

I can so hear why fans return to GFTO - it has that classic line-up feel - and when "Parallels" goes into Wakeman's soloing - the effect is quite magical. I was never really a fan of the single "Wondrous Stories" - a little too twee for my tastes - but hey - the chart buying public thought otherwise in September 1977 giving it an unlikely No. 7 chart placing. The singular Bass Guitar cover version of "Amazing Grace" done by Chris Squire is not much more than interesting, but it's two predecessors "Montreux's Theme" and "Vevey (Revisited)" are very cool outtakes. For sure the "Vevey" piece is a tad hissy, but Anderson on a Harp with Wakeman on a Church Organ playing a warm melody is OK by me. 

If I’m completely honest, the three unreleased rehearsals stayed in the can for damn good reason – they were clearly for band reference use only. The first two are noisy discordant messes and as Steve Howe plays only a lead electric guitar for "Turn Of The Century" - all that gorgeous six-string acoustic work/melody that lifts up the album cut is completely missing and replaced with endless noisy electric soloing. Some might find his playing interesting, but it’s rough. And although the liner notes list Rick Wakeman as playing the Keyboards on this rehearsal, he barely seems to register at all?

The most interesting outtake by far (and best recorded) is "Eastern Numbers" – an early high-vibration version of "Awaken" – clocking in at whopping 12:16 minutes. Howe’s playing throughout is fantastic as is White’s tight-tight Drumming and Squire adding that choppy bottom-end. Gorgeous percussion and keyboard moments slink in about 5:30 minutes too. For sure Anderson and that novel of words he sings gets lost in the shuffle a tad, but this is fan-YES – the kind of goodie they love. And if I am completely upfront, I play this outtake far more than I do the finished version.

There is probably (as I say) - a Steve Wilson Remix and Remaster on the way for this audio compromise of an album, but in the meantime, this 2003 Rhino stab is all any fan needs...

"The Mason Williams Phonograph Record/The Mason Williams Ear Show/Music by Mason Williams/Hand Made/Sharepickers" by MASON WILLIAMS - Five Studio Albums from February 1968, November 1968, March 1969, March 1970 and October 1971 on Warner Brothers – guests featuring James Burton, Jennifer Warren, John Hartford, Sons Of The Pioneers, Rick Cunha, Hal Blaine, Milt Holland, Larry Knechtel, Alvin Casey, The Clinger Sisters, Bill Cunningham, Steve La Fever and more (June 2022 UK Beat Goes On Compilation – 5LPs onto 2CDs – Remastered by Andrew Thompson) - A Review by Mark Barry....

 

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"...Classical Gas..."

 

First up, I've picked up this 2CD set in October 2022, and despite claims of issues by other purchasers with the mastering on Track 1 of Disc 1, I don't detect any such thing on my copy - no gaps - so these new variants must be replacements. The audio on this 2CD set is clean, full and really good. I just wish the content across five whole albums were worth it.

 

I'm old enough (64) to remember these US and UK platters in secondhand stores back in the day as always being dirt cheap for a reason - few wanted them. But what I will say in 2022 is that this twofer from England's Beat Goes On (BGO) sounds beautiful in places and presents these five studio albums (all originally on Warner Brothers between 1968 and 1971) in their very best light to date. Let's get to the details for the moment...

 

UK released Friday, 24 June 2022 - "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record/The Mason Williams Ear Show/Music by Mason Williams/Hand Made/Sharepickers" by MASON WILLIAMS on Beat Goes On BGOCD1481 (Barcode 5017261214812) offers 5 Studio LPs from 1968 to 1971 Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (80:16 minutes):

1. Overture [Side 1]

2. All The Time

3. Dylan Thomas

4. Wanderlove

5. She's Gone Away

6. Here I Am

7. Classical Gas * [Side 2]

8. Long Time Blues

9. Baroque-A-Nova

10. The Prince's Panties

11. Life Song

12. Sunflower

Tracks 1 to 12 are his (music) debut album "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record" - released February 1968 (charted Top 2000 in May 1968) in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1729 in Stereo (also WS 1729 in the UK). Produced by MIKE POST - it peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

* = The original version of the hit single "Classical Gas" - he re-recorded it for the "Hand Made" albums of 1970 - different take

 

13. Road Song [Side 1]

14. Baroque-A-Nova

15. Whistle (Hear)

16. The Last Great Waltz

17. One Minute Commercial

18. $13 Stella [Side 2]

19. Love Are Wine

20. Cinderella-Rockefella

21. Generatah-Oscillatah

22. Saturday Night At The World

Tracks 13 to 22 are his second studio album "The Mason Williams Ear Show" - released November 1968 (charted December 1968) in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1766 (W 1766 Mono and WS 1766 Stereo in the UK). Produced by DICK GLASSER - it peaked at No. 164 in the USA (didn't chart UK). $13 Stella refers to the brand name of his old guitar bought for that amount and featured on the cover artwork.

 

23. Greensleeves [Side 1]

24. Bucko's Memoirs

25. La Chanson De Claudine

26. Come To Me

27. Cowboy Buckaroo

28. The Brother's Theme [Side 2]

29. J. Edgar Swoop

Tracks 23 to 29 see Notes on CD2

 

CD2 (78:23 minutes):

1. Sunflower

2. A Major Thang

3. A Gift Of Song

Tracks 23 to 29 on CD1 and Tracks 1 to 3 on CD2 are his third studio album "Music By Mason Williams" - released March 1969 (charted May 1969) in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1788 in Stereo (no UK issue). Produced by MASON WILLIAMS - it peaked at No. 44 on the US Billboard LP charts

 

4. Jose's Piece [Side 1]

5. Find A Reason To Believe

6. Saturday Night At The World (Re-Record)

7. I've Heard That Tear Stained Monologue You Do There By The Door Before You Go

8. All The Time

9. Classical Gas (Re-Record) [Side 2] *

10. The Tomato Vendetta

11. Manha De Carnival

12. It's Over

13. The Exciting Accident

Tracks 4 to 13 are his fourth studio album "Hand Made" - released March 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1838 in Stereo (UK the same). Produced by BOB and DICK GLASSER - It didn't chart in either country.

* The version of "Classical Gas" on this album is a re-record, not the hit single – see CD1 Track 7

 

14. Here I Am Again [Side 1]

15. Largo De Luxe

16. (I'm A) Yo-Yo Man

17. A Little Bit Of Time

18. Linda Crest Lament

19. Little Beggar Man/Hamilton County [Side 2]

20. Poor Little Robin

21. Godsend

22. Train Ride In G

23. Orange Blossom Special

Tracks 14 to 23 are his fifth studio album "Sharepickers" - released October 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1941 and Warner Brothers K 46120 in the UK. Produced by MASON WILLIAMS - it didn't chart in either country.

 

The 28-page booklet (housed in an outer card slipcase) is substantial - repro'ing all the album artwork and musician credits and from Page 16 onward is bolstered up with typically in-depth liner notes from Mojo and Record Collector contributor CHARLES WARING. Our Charles does a valiant job in convincing us (and maybe even himself) that Mason Williams LPs are overlooked, but they were cheap back in the day for a reason - they mostly aren't any good. His moment of glory came with "Classical Gas" - an acoustic-lead instrumental that caught the public's imagination and he seemed to be playing catch up to it every day afterward.

 

The music across all of these LPs is a sort of unclassifiable mixture of acoustic ditties, easy listening, Sunshine Pop, Country-Pop interspersed with awkward humour that rarely amounts to a tune (he wrote comedy for The Smother Brothers). For sure there are moments - his tribute to Jose Feliciano in "Jose's Piece" is lovely - another instrumental dedicated to Claudine Longe in the shape of "La Chanson De Claudine" on the "Music..." LP - but they are few and far between. It all feels like someone desperate to be Jimmy Webb or Gordon Lightfoot without the capability of writing a song that moves you like they both could on even their worst day.

 

What is good news is gorgeous Audio courtesy of ANDREW THOMPSON. A lot of these tracks begin with and feature Spanish Acoustic Guitar throughout, and BGO's resident Audio Engineer has done a truly lovely job transferring the Warner Brothers tapes - none too much hiss (if any) and plenty of body when needed. Musician Guests included Guitarist James Burton, singer Jennifer Warren, Country Music legends Sons Of The Pioneers, songwriters Rick Cunha and John Hartford, Drummers Hal Blaine and Milt Holland, Bassist Larry Knechtel, Steve La Fever of the famous Wrecking Crew Rhythm Section, plus Alvin Casey, The Clinger Sisters, Bill Cunningham and many more. I just wish the music were better.

 

Fans will absolutely have to own it for the superb audio and classy presentation, but the curious should nab a listen first...