"Sweet Dreams: The Anthology" by ROY BUCHANAN - Albums Tracks from 1970 to 1978 on Polydor and Atlantic Records including Seven Previously Unreleased (September 1992 UK Universal/Polydor/Chronicles 2CD Compilation with Ted Jensen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Dual Soliloquy..."

This career 'Anthology' for the guitar virtuoso Roy Buchanan in Universal's 'Chronicles' Series of 2CD compilations unfortunately opens in the worst possible way. You have to wade through four genuine clunkers to get to the goods, but man when you do - you so get the slew of 5-star ratings.

 

This twofer maybe old now in 2023 (it's been reissued probably twice since 1992), but I've seen it online for about six quid or less, and that's a whole lot of dids for not a lot of quids. To the bent notes and floppy hats...

 

UK released 28 September 1992 - "Sweet Dreams: The Anthology" by ROY BUCHANAN on Universal/Polydor/Chronicles 517 086-2 (Barcode 731451708626) is a 26-Track 2CD 'Chronicles Anthology' of Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (75:24 minutes):

1. Baltimore *

2. Black Autumn *

3. The Story Of Isaac *

4. There'll Always Be *

5. Sweet Dreams

6. Pete's Blues

7. The Messiah Will Come

8. Tribute To Elmore James

9. After Hours

10. Five String Blues

11. C.C. Ryder (Live) *

12. My Baby Says She's Gonna Leave Me

13. Please Don't Turn Me Away

14. Country Preacher

15. Wayfaring Pilgrim

Tracks 1 to 4 and 11 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Tracks 5 to 7 are from his debut album "Roy Buchanan" released September 1972 in the UK on Polydor 2391 042 and September 1972 in the USA on Polydor PD 5033 

Tracks 8 to 10 are from "Second Album" released February 1973 in the UK on Polydor 2391 062 and February 1973 in the USA on Polydor PD 5046

Tracks 12 and 13 from the album "That's What I Am Here For" released February 1974 in the USA on Polydor PD 6020 and in the UK on Polydor 2391 114

Tracks 14 and 15 from the album "In The Beginning" released December 1974 in the USA on Polydor PD 6035, February 1975 in the UK as "Rescue Me" on Polydor 2391 152.

CD2 (77:16 minutes):

1. Down By The River (Live) *

2. I'm A Ram (Live)

3. I'm Evil (Live)

4. Good God Have Mercy

5. If Six Were Nine

6. Green Onions

7. Soul Dressing (Live In Japan)

8. Hey Joe (Live In Japan)

9. Fly...Night Bird 

10. Turn To Stone 

11. Dual Soliloquy * 

Tracks 1 and 11 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED *

Tracks 2 and 3 from the album "Live Stock" released August 1975 in the USA on Polydor PD 6048 (no UK issue) - September 1975 in Germany on Polydor 2391 192

Tracks 4 and 5 from the album "A Street Called Straight" released October 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2391 233 and May 1976 in the USA on Atlantic SD 18170

Track 6 from the album "Loading Zone" released July 1977 in the UK on Polydor 2391 295 and June 1977 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 18219

Tracks 7 and 8 from the single-album "Live In Japan" released May 1978 in JAPAN on Polydor Records MPF1105

Tracks 9 and 10 are from the album "You're Not Alone" released May 1978 in the USA (no UK issue) on Atlantic Records SD 19170

The 20-page booklet features a history of the mercurial/tragic guitar player from Arkansas and his trademark Telecaster surgically woven into his hips. Penned in March 1992, longtime music chronicler COLIN ESCOTT does a great job of explaining the sometimes torturous journey Buchanan made - a genius on the axe but with no distinctive vocals that stood out - he was forever trying to find an out front vehicle that maybe only Billy Price got to on the "That's What I Am Here For" album in 1974. When I worked at Reckless Records in both Islington and Berwick Street in Soho, Buchanan albums would come and go without too many people noticing or bluntly caring. While he could play to make the hairs on the back on your neck stand up and do a polka - he could seem to get it together on a cohesive LP. Still the TED JENSEN Remasters are fabulous and I've never heard that rare "Live In Japan" album, so that's a treat. To the music...

We are given four songs from his unreleased first album "The Prophet" touted for release sometime in 1971 on Polydor Records (recordings took place in October 1969, January, July and November 1970 and February 1971). Charlie Daniels and his group act as the backing band (Bob Wilson on keyboards with Tim Drummond on Bass) - provided three of the tunes - "Baltimore", "Black Autumn" and "There'll Always Be" - whilst number four was a Leonard Cohen cover version of "The Story Of Isaac". But laughably for an album supposedly showcasing Buchanan's extraordinary Jeff Beck-like chops on the axe, you hear little of it and Daniels has a terrible voice and the material is plodding at best. 

It isn't until Tracks 5 and 6 from his self-titled debut album "Roy Buchanan" (September 1972) that you start to instantly hear the pyrotechnics he had on a guitar that everyone talked about. The Don Gibson song "Sweet Dreams" that titles the compilation is very cool (he learned it from Tommy McLain's version and not the more famous Gibson or Paty Cline hits), but the slow Blues Rock of "Pete's Blue" (his own composition) is mind-blowing for 1972. Things boogie-up nicely for "Second Album" (February 1973) when he gives us the R&B guitar-and-piano jaunt of "Tribute To Elmore James". Two more cuts surface from that second studio album - a firy Blues in "After Hours" and more of the same in "Five String Blues" - both six minutes plus pieces showing why RB was described in the press as the 'The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World'. It proved a popular album (more coherent than the debut) and shifted units in the USA especially - hitting No. 86 on the Billboard Rock LP charts and enjoying a stay of 13 weeks (his debut had hit No. 107 in September 1972). 

The old 50ts R&B dancer "C.C. Ryder" is next and becomes the fifth Previously Unreleased track. Recorded May 1973 live at The Marquee Club in London - his other four musicians do well to keep up with his 6:49 minutes of slow shuffle to fast building of the song (his playing is fantastic throughout). As a newbee, it's a total find, coming on like John Mayall's Seventies Band on fire and does much to wash the taste of those first four out of your Anthology mouth (one reviewer who had heard the test pressing of the LP described it as 's' two letters and a 't' sending Polydor Records in a new recordings needed panic. "My Baby Says She's Gonna Leave Me" features Billy Price on Lead Vocals while RB goes ape on the pinging guitar notes throughout. UK released February 1974, at least Price gave the whole "That's What I Am Here For" album a Soulful-Rock vibe which moved RB's sound on from just Blues or Rock ("Please Don't Turn Me Away" is the same). "Country Preacher" is a piano-tinkering guitar-lilting short one that comes as a pleasant interlude after all the flash playing that's preceded it. But it is whomped by the fantastic Soulful slow Blues of "Wayfaring Pilgrim" - his playing just so damn good whilst guest Neil Larsen gives us a fabulous piano solo. Both "Country Preacher" and "Wayfaring Pilgrim" were on the February 1975 UK album "Rescue Me" which was called "In The Beginning" in the USA and issued December 1974 there.  

Over on CD2 we get five great live tracks, two from the rarely seen Japan-only LP of 1978, two others from the US album "Live Stock" that didn't get a UK release and the first - a Previously Unreleased Slow Blues of 9:17 minutes duration - Buchanan sounding a lot like Stevie Ray Vaughan goofing off on a mellow Peter Green vibe as he covers Neil Young's "Down By The River". Once again, it's slow boil is bolstered by Billy Price on Vocals with Malcolm Lukens on Keyboards and is a very cool find. Things get funky with a cover of Al Green's "I'm A Ram" recorded the same night as the Previously Unreleased track - Buchanan letting rip - brilliant playing and feel from the band. Acoustic guitar leads in the soft Southern States good moonshine vibe of "Good God Have Mercy" - Buchanan taking Lead Vocals. He then lays into Hendrix's "If Six Were Nine" giving it a Sly Stone/Prince funk-up, Lukens providing the low-rider keyboards that sound so War. The "Loading Zone" studio LP of 1977 saw him give us an 8:09 instrumental version of "Green Onions" - the famous Stax hit for Booker T & The MG's, whilst the Japanese live album throws up Booker T hit No. 2 in the shape of "Soul Dressing" - another instrumental just short of 7:00 minutes (the respectful crowd lets him solo ala Carlos Santana). 

 

By the time we hit 1978, a sort of Fusion sound has set in, very Gary Wright 'Dream Weaver' - the lovely floating "Fly...Night Bird" featuring Jean Roussel on Keyboards (he'd played on Cat Stevens albums in 1972). But my crave is a full-on grunge guitar run at Joe Walsh's fabulous "Turn To Stone". Walsh initially premiered it his first solo album after The James Gang - "Barnstorm" in 1972. Joe then returned to it for December 1974's "So What" album, but this in a more polished/sophisticated form. Buchanan has taken elements of both versions and put in his own floating piano funky fills atop guitar flourishes - making the 5:46 minutes of "Turn To Stone" a true highlight on this 'Anthology' for me. It comes to an end where it began - a whopping 12:06 minutes of "Dual Soliloquy" recorded July 1972 at the record plant for the debut but Previously Unreleased until here. Penned by him, it's just Roy Buchanan on the guitar without any others - and it's a find. Admittedly a tad more hissy than you would want it to be, "Dual Soliloquy" begins with peaceful strums that he builds in pace. But what gets you is the sheer musicality of it - and it feels like he's just goofing off. Music Historian Colin Escott quite rightly points out that it's a proper way of remembering him - one seriously great American guitarist capable of beauty and pyrotechnics in the same breath. 

 

His loss in August 1988 robbed us of a Jeff Beck, an Eddie Van Halen - even a Jimi. But "Sweet Dreams: The Anthology" will help you remember why people were so impressed and remain so to this day... 

"Rory Gallagher: 50th Anniversary Edition" by RORY GALLAGHER – May 1971 UK Debut Solo Album [ex Taste] on Polydor Records – Guest Musician Vincent Crane of Atomic Rooster on Two Tracks (September 2021 UK UMC/Polydor 50th Anniversary Edition 2CD Reissue in a Three-Way Gatefold Card Digipak With Repro Artwork, 18 Rare Tracks on CD2, 16 of which are Previously Unreleased - Plus a New 2021 Remix and Remaster of the Album by Martin Dubka and Frank Arkwright on CD1 at Abbey Road) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Take Him Home Right Away..."

 

Under the supervision of Donal Gallagher (his older brother and former tour manager)  - Irish guitar hero RORY GALLAGHER had his LP back-catalogue first reissued onto CD in 1998, 2000, 2012, and now into 2021 for a round of 50^th Anniversary Multi-Format reissues. But is the new lot worth it – HELL YES!

 

Everything here has been upped for this outing – least not of all a New Remix and Remaster that leaves all previous attempts pretty much in the dust. Lots to wave at, here are the details for Axe Hero No.1...

 

UK released 3 September 2021 - "Rory Gallagher: 50^th Anniversary Edition" by RORY GALLAGHER on UMC/Polydor 3544487 (Barcode 602435444871) is a 2CD Expanded Reissue with a New 2021 Remix and Remaster of the album on CD1 and 18 Rare Tracks on CD2 (16 are previously Unreleased) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 - "Rory Gallagher" 2021 Remix and Remaster - (47:50 minutes):

1. Laundromat [Side 1]

2. Just The Smile

3. I Fall Apart

4. Wave Myself Goodbye

5. Hands Up

6. Sinner Boy [Side 2]

7. For The Last Time

8. It's You

9. I'm Not Surprised

10. Can't Believe It's True

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut solo album (after two studio albums with Taste) "Rory Gallagher" – released May 1971 in the UK on Polydor 2383 044 and May 1971 in the USA on Atco Records SD 33-368. Produced by RORY GALLAGHER and Engineered by EDDIE OFFORD – it peaked at No. 32 in the UK, but didn’t chart USA.

 

CD2 - Bonus Tracks (73:21 minutes):

Tangerine Studio Sessions

1. Gypsy Woman

2. It Takes Time

3. I Fall Apart

Tracks 1 and 2 first appeared on the 1999 CD reissue of "Rory Gallagher" as Bonuses and again as Bonuses on the January 2012 Sony/Capo/Legacy reissue too – they are exciting band-version covers of Muddy Waters and Otis Rush songs (respectively). Track 3 is an album outtake and the first of the 16 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED versions on CD2. Tracks 4 to 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.

 

Alternate Takes

4. At The Bottom - Alternate Take 3

5. At The Bottom - Alternate Take 4

6. Advision Jam

7. Laundromat - Alternate Take 1

8. Just The Smile - Alternate Take 1

9. Wave Myself Goodbye - Alternate Take 2

10. Hands Up - Alternate Take 2

11. Sinner Boy - Alternate Take 3

12. For The Last Time - Alternate Take 1

13. It's You - Alternate Take 2

14. I'm Not Surprised – Alternate Take 1

 

Live On The BBC – "Sounds Of The Seventies 1971" – Off-Air Recordings

15. For The Last Time (Live At The BBC)

16. Laundromat (Live At The BBC)

17. It Takes Time (Live At The BBC)

18. I Fall Apart (Live At The BBC)

 

Band was:

RORY GALLAGHER – Lead Guitar and Vocals, Mandolin, Harmonica and Alto Saxophone on the album version of "Can't Believe It's True"

GERRY McAVOY – Bass

WILGAR CAMPBELL – Drums and Percussion

Guest:

Vincent Crane of Atomic Rooster plays Piano on "Wave Myself Goodbye" and "I'm Not Surprised"

 

The 12-Page booklet in broken into two informational conversations by folks who were there in 1970 and 1971 – the first with Rory's brother, Manager and long-time keeper of his reissue flame – DONAL GALLAGHER. The second comes from Bassist GERRY McAVOY – a familiar sight on Rory's legendary live gigs – stood solid – hammering away with gusto and joy. McAvoy was touring with a band called Deep Joy while Rory also knew Wilgar Campbell from a group called The Method. They met – rehearsed and fused. McAvoy talks on his joining the band and the order of songs - it's a nice read but one that weirdly leaves out the album release date or catalogue numbers? A nice touch though is the array of Rock Newspaper clippings from the period that are spread beneath the two see-through CD tracks and the colour photos of Rory clearly young and enjoying himself as a free solo artist.

 

Still that minor 2CD booklet glitch is firmly kicked out to touch when you clap ears on what has to be the definitive Remaster of this obscure album – it is balls-to-the-wall stunning done by (FRANK ARKWRIGHT at Abbey Road Studios). Two Remaster heroes of mine Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham did the 2012 reissue which was fab – but even that is bettered by this beautiful 2021 Remix and Remaster. When I play the last two tracks on Side 2 – the criminally forgotten piano/guitar of "I'm Not Surprised" or the blistering Rock-Jazz of "Can't Believe It's True" where he plays Alto Sax behind great lead guitar soloing – so very Ten Years After actually – the Audio is fantastic.This is a HUGE upgrade and deserves all the 5-star ratings its been receiving.

 

If I was to use one word to describe this remaster it would be 'fresh' - everything somehow sounds new - clean, present, none too trebled up the nines - and it's easy to hear why Donal and Daniel Gallagher (Rory's nephew) would want these new versions in the marketplace.  While the guitars of the opener are in your face (and for all the right reasons) - the harmonica in the background of "Laundromat" is still part of the mix - it's not rammed out front for effect - nicely handled - don't mess with the original. The Bass is so sweet now on "Sinner Boy" as the guitar pans from speaker to speaker in the solo (lyrics above). In fact his backing band of GERRY McAVOY on Bass and WILGAR CAMPBELL on Drums and Percussion can be heard 'so' clearly on every track - very impressively transferred. VINCENT CRANE of Atomic Rooster and Arthur Brown fame puts in superb keyboard work on two tracks - "Wave Myself Goodbye" and "I'm Not Surprised".

 

The long mid-tempo Blues of "For The Last Time" has been a huge favourite of mine for decades now - I've put in on loads of 70's Fest compilations as an example of an unfairly forgotten nugget. The guitar solo at the end of the track is beautifully clear. The witty and languid "Wave Myself Goodbye" sounds fabulous too. But the sonic-best has to be the last two album cuts - the acoustic Fats Domino R 'n' B of "I'm Not Surprised" and the John Coltrane jazz-influenced seven-minutes of "Can't Believe It's True" where Rory puts in rare Alto Sax playing (double-tracked). The last in particular makes for an odd Gallagher listening experience (he was experimenting) - but a great one nonetheless - and I'd forgotten how good his guitar work is towards the end as he harmonics his way to the final fade.

 

At 73:21 minutes, you cannot accuse CD2 of scrimping and saving. 2021 divides the 18 into three distinct sections, three Tangerine Studio Sessions two of which have turned up before, eleven Alternate Takes and four live-in-the-studio BBC Sessions that were off-air recordings. Wow-city goes to the two exciting cover versions – his guitar playing on the Otis Rush track "It Takes Time" is arguably better than anything on the actual LP – and the audio is HUGE. Track 3 appears to be a band run-through of the album cut "I Fall Apart" and again it is great – well recorded and featuring a more fluid solo that rivals the guitar on the actual LP track. He speeds up the chorus bit which doesn’t quite work and that’s probably why he changed it to the released version. An all right dialogue introduces two takes of "At The Bottom" – an acoustic and harmonica romp that will thrill fans – gorgeous audio quality – the song would eventually show in 1975 on his first Chrysalis Records album "Against The Grain" (the second Alternate uses electric guitar instead of acoustic).

 

"Advision Jam" is an instrumental guitar piece with both boys in attendance – Advision referring to the studio where they were recording – and again as something new – it feels very Rory unleashed and cool. Take 1 of "Laundromat" feels a little too weedy compared to the finished track, but the acoustic "Just The Smile" is magic – his soling going in a different searching direction – trying to find what to use and what to drop. But it is so damn good, and again with just gorgeous clean audio. Acoustic and Vincent Crane on Piano combine in another super-clean take – this time a rollicking "Wave Myself Goodbye". Three electric rockers follow – a rough and grungy "Hands Up" – a quite-at-first "Sinner Boy" that quickly takes off into a riffing vehicle with wicked slide towards the final part.

 

Things go mellow even Bluesy with Take 1 of "For The Last Time" - an acidic attack on the bad management breakup of Taste – I love the guitar feel – his playing fluid and inspired. I was never convinced by the jaunty "It's You" on Side 2 of the album, but somehow this almost poppier version rescues it. There is some dialogue between the booth and Rory before "I'm Not Surprised", but he quickly gets down to business with Vincent Crane again helping out on piano –a nice addition to this casual but wickedly good take where the band almost feels Faces in its ramshackle. As was the way of BBC studio shows, the audio is good but compromised, so it is a pleasant surprise that Rory keeps it live, simple and down so you can hear his guitar.

 

Originally released May 1971 on Polydor in the UK and Atco in the USA (with all tracks self-penned and also self-produced) - his unflashy deliberately softer debut didn't do huge chart business in either country for the 23-year old - and has always been hard to find on original vinyl ever since. The British Polydor Super original in particular has become increasingly expensive in Auctions (much like the TASTE studio albums from 1969 and 1970). So this double CD-set for under a tenner with nice packaging and toppermost sound is a great way of acquiring a rarity at a very reasonable cost.

 

Like most Irishmen, I can't be rational about Rory Gallagher. I saw him and his band as a teenager live in Dublin in the early Seventies and the experience was mind-blowing. I then bought every album he put out after that for years to come and always looked forward to hearing where his flying fingers would go to next. But what I was not expecting is that this release could be so damn good – especially CD2 which is brilliant and revelatory.

 

Rory was sadly lost to us in 1995 through liver failure - and it still hurts to think that this most unassuming and brilliant of guitar heroes is gone. He's up there now as far as I'm concerned - talking the Blues with all the greats. And I for one will be buying the rest of these reissues with a sense of excitement and affection.

"If I Could Only Remember My Name" by DAVID CROSBY – February 1971 US and UK Debut Solo Album on Atlantic Records featuring Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Members of The Grateful Dead, Santana and Jefferson Airplane (October 2021 UK Rhino '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and New Remaster with 14 Bonuses, 11 of which are Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Music Is Love..."

 

*** 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2CD Version ****

 

Although slammed by many press types on its 1971 release – David Crosby's debut solo album "If I Could Only Remember My Name" has gone on to become almost mythical among its many devotees – including me.

 

Featuring an astonishing line up that included Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Members of The Grateful Dead, Santana and Jefferson Airplane - some have even suggested that in hindsight it's the best solo effort to come out of the mighty Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young camp. I'm not so sure about that, but "...Remember..." is certainly up there, and somehow its trippy-Rock soundscapes seem to grow and re-captivate new generations as the years pass.

 

The last decent Remaster go-round was a November 2006 issue by Rhino that featured a CD and a DVD-A (Rhino R2 73204 - Barcode 081227320423) - itself replacing the basic 1990 remaster single-disc issue. Well at last (and not before its Deluxe Edition time), Crosby's Psychedelic Folk debut solo LP gets a 2CD treatment in the form of a '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition'. Disc 1 retains the extra outtake of "Kids And Dogs" the 2006 issue had, while Disc 2 has over one-hour of new 'Bonus Tracks' - most of which are Previously Unreleased. There's a lot to go through, so let's get laughing...

 

UK released 15 October 2021 - "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by DAVID CROSBY on Rhino/Atlantic 603497843398 - R2 659054 (Barcode 603497843398) is a '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition' 2CD Reissue and Remaster with 14 Bonus Tracks (11 of which are Previously Unreleased - 3 are from previous rarity compilation sets) that plays out as follows:

 

Disc 1 'Original Album' (51:43 minutes):

Side 1:

1. Music Is Love [written by David Crosby, Graham Nash & Neil Young] – features Graham Nash on Guitar and Vocals with Neil Young on Guitar, Bass, Vibraphone and Congas

2. Cowboy Movie [written by David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass, Mickey Hart on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead)

3. Tamalpais High (At About 3) [written by David Crosby] – features Graham Nash on Guitar, Gerry Garcia on Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead) with Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane on Guitar

4. Laughing [written by David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Pedal-Steel Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass, Mickey Hart on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead) with Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell on Backing Vocals

Side 2

5. What Are Their Names [written by David Crosby. Gerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Michael Shrieve and Neil Young] – features Neil Young on Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead on Guitar and Bass, Michael Shrieve of Santana on Drums with Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and David Freiberg of Jefferson Airplane on Backing Vocals as well as Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell

6. Traction In The Rain [written by David Crosby] – features Laura Allan on Autoharp and Backing Vocals with Graham Nash also on Backing Vocals

7.  Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves) [written by David Crosby] – features Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve of Santana on Keyboards and Drums, Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane on Bass and Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead on Guitar with Graham Nash on backing Vocals

8. Orleans [a Traditional song adapted by David Crosby] – Vocals and Guitars by David Crosby only

9. I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here [written by David Crosby] – All Vocals by DC

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut solo albums (after The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) "If I Could Only Remember My Name" - released 22 February 1971 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 7203 and Atlantic 2401 005 in the UK. Produced by DAVID CROSBY - it peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard charts.

 

BONUS TRACK

10. Kids And Dogs (Unreleased David Crosby Outtake first issued 6 November 2006 on the US 2-Disc Deluxe Edition reissue of "If I Could Only Remember My Name" on Rhino R2 73204) - the Demo Version of this outtake is on Disc 2 and is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

Disc 2 'Bonus Tracks' (51:08 minutes):

Demos:

1. Riff 1 (Recorded March 1968)

2. Tampalas High (at About 3)

3. Kids And Dogs

4. Games (Tracks 2 to 4 produced by Paul A. Rothchild, Recorded 28 March 1968)

5. Laughing (Recorded 31 May 1968 at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California)

6. Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves) - Recorded 1969, first appeared September 1991 on the US 4CD Box Set 'CSN' on Atlantic 82319 - features Graham Nash and Crosby only on Guitars and Scat Vocals

7. The Wall Song

8. Where Will I Be? (Tracks 7 and 8 recorded 1970, no other details provided)

Sessions:

9. Cowboy Movie (Alternate Version) - first appeared on the November 2006 US 3CD Book Set "Voyage" on Rhino/Atlantic R2 77628 - features NEIL YOUNG on Lead Guitar, plus JERRY GARCIA on Second Guitar with PHIL LESH and MICKEY HART all of THE GRATEFUL DEAD)

10. Bach Mode (Pre-Critical Mass)

11. Coast Road

12. Dancer

13. Fugue 

All Tracks on Disc 2 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED except Tracks 6 and 9 noted above

 

Housed in a three-way foldout card sleeve, the pretty gold sticker (pictured) advises us that Crosby's Genre Defining Debut Solo Album is being given the bells and whistles its always deserved. There are unreleased photos on the inner flaps, a page of handwritten lyrics and a new 20-page booklet with updated liner notes from STEVE SILBERMAN. The album credits/reissue details are on Pages 18 and 19 and as you can see from the track list above features a huge array of famous types all contributing.

 

A posse of names have been involved in the Tape Transfers and Remasters - Mastered by DAVE COLLINS at his studios in Los Angeles with Plangent Processes Tape Restoration & Speed Corrections carried out by JAMIE HOWARTH and JOHN CHESTER. The very quiet Demos on Disc 2 are a teeny-weeny bit hissy, but not so it would put you off - the clarity and warmth of them is lovely. The remaster on the album is gorgeous and hasn't dampened any of the hiss that is so evident on tracks like "Tamalpais" and "What Are Their Names". It's not been ramped up for effect either – it's just right – full of presence and that extraordinary build of instruments that fills so many of the songs. Wonderful stuff.

 

Even now it's hard to imagine who the two 45s taken off the record were aimed at – "Music Is Love" b/w "Laughing" in April 1971 on Atlantic 2792 and "Orleans" b/w "Traction In The Rain" in July 1971 on Atlantic 2809. But all 4 tracks are magical to me now. And yet despite all the starry names listed above – one of the biggest contributions to a song comes from the lesser-known musician LAURA ALLAN who plays gorgeous licks on an Autoharp on "Traction In The Rain" (she sadly passed away in 2006). And there's the sublime harmony vocal Joni Mitchell puts in on "Laughing" with Graham Nash (sends me every time). Two stunning Acapella finishers "Orleans" and "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here" have Crosby soloing to ethereal effect – both clocking in at less than two minutes each - but with the impact of ten.

 

The seven-minute outtake "Kids & Dogs" is hissy for sure but what a nugget. Fabulous stuff. I do however think its a damn shame that the live version of "Traction In The Rain" on Disc 3 of the stunning David Crosby "Voyage" Box Set of 2006 – is absent here. It was recorded in 1971 and sounds glorious. Still if that absence steers you towards that amazing overhaul of his career then that's a job well done (the entirely unreleased Disc 3 is unbelievably good). And it's still astonishing to hear the down and dirty guitar battle that takes place between Neil young and Jerry Garcia on that Alternate Version of "Cowboy Movie" - absolutely astonishing stuff that runs to 10:57 minutes. Fans will also love the echoed Acapella vocals of "Bach Mode (Pre-Critical Mass)" which at 1:59 minutes is short, but oh so sweet. "Coast Road" is so pretty - a fully formed band number that just goofs initially on the acoustics (like much of the album) - but then becomes this gorgeous vibe song about driving into California in the sunshine - what a find. "Dancer" is the same – 5:03 minutes of doubled-vocals humming around an acoustic guitar that has Joni Mitchell just about audible in the background (weird the liner notes do not note this). And on it goes...

 

"If I Could Only Remember My Name" is the kind of album that you turn to – it's peaceful on your brain – lifts your spirit up and evokes a warmth that never fades with time (Carole King's "Tapestry" has the same kind of magic – and again from 1971). Now it's bolstered up with extras in 2021 that are worth the forking out. A wonderful album and a top quality Rhino reissue then. Makes me mushy just looking at it…

"Tattoo You" by THE ROLLING STONES – August 1981 Album on Rolling Stones Records featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts with Guests Ian Stewart, Billy Preston, Sonny Rollins, Bobby Keyes, Nicky Hopkins, Chris Kimsey, Wayne Perkins, Pete Townshend, Ollie Brown, Jimmy Miller and Simon Kirke (October 2021 UK Rolling Stones/Polydor Deluxe Edition 2CD Reissue with New 2021 Stephen Marcussen and Stewart Whitmore Remasters and a Bonus 9-Track Disc of Lost & Found: Rarities) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...I Can Hear The People Talking...Troubles A' Comin...In More Ways Than One..."

 

May 1994 with Virgin, June 2009 with Polydor and now October 2021 on Polydor/Rolling Stones Records – yet again.

 

Weary strolling bones fans like moi have been down this endless reissue road before with our fave hornary reprobates and besties THE ROLLING STONES. But this time it is better – way better – and on an album I have adored for over 40 years – slapped together compilation or no. Some info first...

 

As you've no doubt already read - "Tattoo You" was a ragbag of outtakes from previous albums with a few new tunes thrown in - Rockers on the A-side with Ballads on the B. The material stretched back as far as late 1972 and the Exile period – through Some Girls in 1978 and on to new 1981 stuff before it was worldwide released in August of that year (not that the original record ever told you any of that). And it worked - I played "Tattoo You" to death on release - loved it to pieces - especially the shockingly soulful Side 2. To CDs...

 

The 1994 and 2009 1CD variants of "Tattoo You" clocked in at 44:26 minutes – this 2021 new Remaster by the same team of STEPHEN MARCUSSEN and STEWART WHITMORE – transfers done at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California – clocks in at 44:34 minutes, so is a few seconds longer. And again WOW is the only appropriate response. It is no understatement to say that this sucker ROCKS – there are even times when the clarity is overwhelming for an old fart like me so used to hearing older slightly muddied versions. Disc 2 on the Deluxe Version is called "Lost & Found: Rarities" and offers us 9 new tracks, outtakes and alternate versions including a Reggae-fied take on "Start Me Up" (CD2 clocks in at 39:18 minutes). Personally – and like Disc 2 of the "Goats Head Soup" Deluxe Edition – has been in my player for months. The packaging of the 2CD Deluxe Edition once again lets the side down and is not much to write home about (although the new Jeff Slate liner notes explain things well, especially with regard to the rare stuff) – but the sonic goods are there in spades. To the friends we have been waiting for...

 

UK released 22 October 2021 - "Tattoo You" by THE ROLLING STONES on Rolling Stones/Polydor 383 494-1 (Barcode 602438349418) is a 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Reissue and New Remaster and plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Tattoo You" (44:34 minutes):

Side 1

1. Start Me Up [begun in 1975 during "Black And Blue" sessions, returned to in November 1977 as a "Some Girls" possible]

2. Hang Fire ["Some Girls" outtake returned to in 1979 for lyrics, features IAN STEWART on Piano]

3. Slave [This is an Extended Version - see PS below]

4. Little T&A [Lead Vocals and Bass by Keith Richards, Ian Stewart on Piano - T&A is street slang for certain parts of a woman's anatomy]

5. Black Limousine [the only track on the album co-credited to RONNIE WOOD, it features Mick Jagger on Lead Vocals and Harmonica with Ian Stewart on Piano - backing track dated as far back as "Exile" in 1972]

6. Neighbours [features' both' the legendary SONNY ROLLINS and BOBBY KEYES on Saxophones]

Side 2

7. Worried About You [features BILLY PRESTON on Piano, WAYNE PERKINS on Lead Guitar and SOLO and OLLIE BROWN on Percussion]

8. Tops [features MICK TAYLOR on Guitar with NICKY HOPKINS on Piano; a Mick Taylor "Exile" outtake - wasn't given a writers credit - sued and won]

9. Heaven [co-producer CHRIS KIMSEY plays Piano on this]

10. No Use In Crying [features Nicky Hopkins on Piano]

11. Waiting On A Friend [features Mick Taylor on Guitar, Sonny Rollins on Saxophone and JIMMY MILLER of "Sticky" fame on Percussion]

 

CD2 "Lost & Found: Rarities" (39:18 minutes):

1. Living In The Heart Of Love (4:13 minutes)

[Begun in the Musicland Studio sessions for the 1974 "It’s Only Rock 'N Roll" LP – features Nicky Hopkins on Piano and Backing Vocals from Keith Richards]

2. Fiji Jam (4:00 minutes)

[Begun and recorded in Paris for the 1978 "Some Girls" LP, features Ian Stewart on Piano with Mick Jagger on Acoustic Guitar]

3. Troubles A’ Coming (4:16 minutes)

[Begun in 1979 in Paris for the 1979 "Emotional Rescue" LP, it is the first of three cover versions on CD2. Originally written by Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites in 1970 and found on their "I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine)?" on Brunswick Records. There appears to be no recording info as to who plays on it]

4. Shame, Shame, Shame (4:13 minutes)

[Second cover version on CD2, originally a Jimmy Reed R&B classic from 1963 on Vee Jay Records, it features Ian Stewart on Piano with Mick Jagger on Harmonica]

5. Drift Away (4:06 minutes)

[Third and final cover version on CD2, originally a Dobie Gray US Soul and R&B hit in 1973 on Decca Records 33057, it features Nicky Hopkins on Piano with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards n Backing Vocals]

6. It’s A Lie (4:57 minutes)

[Begun during the 1978 "Some Girls" sessions as an instrumental, lyrics were added by Mick Jagger decades later – features Harmonica by Sugar Blue and Ian Stewart on Piano]

7. Come To The Ball (3:40 minutes)

[Begun as "Windfall" during the late 1972 Jamaica sessions for the 1973 LP "Goats Head Soup", further overdubs took place in Los Angeles in 1973 but was shelved until completion now – features Mick Taylor on Guitar with Nicky Hopkins on Piano]

8. Fast Talking, Slow Walking (5:40 minutes)

[Started in 1972, but recorded 1973 at Musicland Studios in Munich for the 1974 LP "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" – features Mick Taylor on Guitar and Billy Preston on Piano]

9. Start Me Up (Early Version) (4:10 minutes)

[The original version was meant to be this take – a more Reggae groove – but Engineer Chris Kimsey ignored Keith Richards who commanded that the Rock version that is used as the opening track on the LP be wiped permanently. He didn’t and thus the Rock Version prevailed]

 

As ever, the three-way foldout gatefold card sleeve is a mixture of good, bad and just lazy. The lyrics are not here again – the three internal flaps are all close-ups of the red and black tattoos when they could have shown picture sleeves from all over the world. The 20-page booklet offers the fur boot inner sleeve photo alongside a few period shots that are new and excellent new liner notes from band expert JEFF SLATE. Jeff gives us a song-by-song history and the detailed reissue credits pages squash in who played on what – guests like Ian Stewart, Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins and Chris Kimsey all on Keyboards, Sonny Rollins and Bobby Keyes on Horns, Wayne Perkins of Smith-Perkins-Smith and Crimson Tide on Guitar, Pete Townshend of The Who on Backing Vocals (Slave), Jennifer and Susan McLean on Backing Vocals, Ollie Brown on Percussion, Simon Kirke of Bad Company on Drums. It’s a good stab but not something worth writing home about and it is ridiculous that you cannot read the song titles on the rear so the text can match the artwork (you will get more from my list above). Still the new Audio is magnificent.

 

October 2021 sees "Tattoo You" receive multiple formats too – the single CD variant in a standard jewel case is Rolling Stones/Polydor 382 846-0 (Barcode 602438284603), there is an LP Picture Disc and the obligatory Super Deluxe Edition 4-Disc Box Set too which adds two live CDs onto the 2 studio sets from the DE version I’m reviewing.

 

The clarity of the guitar solo on "Slave" is awesome as is the swirling magic of "Heaven", but best of all is the beautiful axework by Wayne Perkins on the Side 2 opener "Worried About You". I think it's the best guitar solo on a Stones album anywhere and its clarity now is fabulous. Absolutely loving the so Some Girls snotty vibe in "Fiji Jim" and his Internet Age updating of the lyrics in the seriously catchy "It's A Lie". The three covers are very cool – R&B prevailing for Jimmy Reed and his "Shame, Shame, Shame" (grungy guitar and Jagger on Harmonica) but a great Soulful vocal for "Drift Away". It is hard to believe that the not-so-good Reggae Version of "Start Me Up" was seriously considered initially as the only version worth using - what a mistake that would have been (well done Chris).

 

To sum up - I know the packaging and presentation leave a lot to be desired, but as I listen to the lovely Piano tinkering of Nicky Hopkins on "No Use In Crying" and the three lads harmonizing on Backing Vocals - I don't care - I love it. The sound is wonderful and a major improvement over what went before. The buggering truth is that once you hear these huge remasters, you're screwed - and true Stones nuts will absolutely have to own the old/new stuff.

 

Despite niggles - it's recommended for the great new audio and the music - the last Stones album where I played all of it...

 

PS: There's an anomaly worth noting re the track "Slave"...

 

When "Tattoo You" was originally released on Vinyl and Cassette in August 1981 (Rolling Stones CUNS 39114 in the UK and COC 16052 in the USA) - the 3rd track on Side 1 "Slave" clocked in at about 3:20 minutes on the UK LP and 4:59 minutes on the US variant. So when the first ever CD version of it came out in 1983 in Japan and on CBS Records UK in late 1986, it reflected the American timing of 4:59 minutes and stayed that way for years.

 

However the May 1994 Virgin Remaster put out an anomaly without telling anyone - that CD version of "Slave" was inexplicably extended to 6:31 minutes. The error was repeated on the Polydor version of June 2009 and is again here for October 2021 in the latest round of reissues. And it is very much a benefit to fans because the Extended Version of "Slave" is sensational. With the legendary Sonny Rollins playing on Saxophone and Billy Preston on Funky Keyboards, the lengthy mix now sounds like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" Part 2 from "Sticky Fingers". A huge chunky guitar riff throughout, great Jagger vocals, Sax wailing - it absolutely rocks (apparently there's a version with the late great Jeff Beck on guitar in the can somewhere too).

 

What should have happened here of course is that the original LP timing be used on this CD - with both the Jeff Beck mix and the Extended Version put on as bonus tracks at the end, but that's for another day and another reissue that will probably never happen...