"1999" by PRINCE - October 1982 Studio Double-Album on Warner Brothers Records featuring Members of The Revolution - 'Dez' Desmond Dickerson on Guitar, Brown Mark on Bass with 'J.J.' (Jill Jones), 'Lisa' (Lisa Coleman) and 'Vanity' (Denise Matthews) on Lead and Backing Vocals (November 2019 UK Warner Brothers/NPG '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue with Rarities and Bernie Grundman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"...A Pocket Full Of Horses..."

"1999" was probably the true beginning of Prince's legend and for fans - the start of serious collecting mania. 

 

Composed, Arranged, Produced and Played entirely by Prince Rogers Nelson - few artists put out double-albums like this and then followed them with absolute corkers - "Purple Rain" in 1986 and "Sign O' The Times" in 1987 (another double). 

 

His fifth outing "1999" was also The Purple One's first album to break the Top 10 in his native USA. So it's year and a half long success produced five singles across various territories - each with a myriad amount of edits and those tasty 7" and 12" Promo-Only Mixes in tandem (CD2 crams 18 of them onto one disc with a fantastic 78-minute playing time).  

 

And (at last) after decades waiting for decent Remasters of his highly desirable Warner Brothers catalogue - along comes Audio Engineer El-Supremo Bernie Grundman to answer all our delirious needs (he was the Engineer on the original 2LP set in 1982 anyway). A Pocket Full Of Horses indeed. Let's get millennial...

UK released 29 November 2019 - "1999" by PRINCE on Warner Records/NPG R2 604568 - 603497850037 (Barcode 603497850037) is a '2CD Deluxe Edition' Reissue and Remaster of the October 1982 2LP set originally on Warner Brothers Records that plays out as follows:

CD1 "1999 Remastered" (70:23 minutes):

1. 1999 (6:14 minutes) [Side 1]

2. Little Red Corvette (5:04 minutes)

3. Delirious (4:05 minutes)

4. Let's Pretend We're Married (7:20 minutes) [Side 2]

5. D.M.S.R. (Dance, Music, Sex, Romance) (8:18 minutes)

6. Automatic (9:26 minutes) [Side 3]

7. Something In The Water (Does Not Compute) (4:02 minutes)

8. Free (5:07 minutes)

9. Lady Cab Driver (8:17 minutes) [Side 4]

10. All The Critics Love U In New York (5:58 minutes)

11. International Lover (6:38 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 11 are the double-album "1999" - released 27 October 1982 in the USA on Warner Brothers Records 9 23720-1 and in the UK on Warner Brothers 923 720-1. 

 

CD2 "1999 Promo Mixes & B-Sides Remastered" (77:59 minutes):

1. 1999 (7" Stereo Edit - 3:37 minutes)

2. 1999 (7" Mono Promo-Only Edit - 3:35 minutes)

3. Free (Promo-Only Edit - 4:36 minutes)

4. How Come U Don't Call Me anymore? (Non-LP B-side of "1999" single - 3:55 minutes)

5. Little Red Corvette (7" Edit - 3:08 minutes)

6. All The Critics Love U In New York (7" Edit - 3:16 minutes)

7. Lady Cab Driver (7" Edit - 5:06 minutes)

8. Little Red Corvette (Dance Remix Promo-Only Edit - 4:34 minutes)

9. Little Red Corvette (Special Dance Mix - 8:31 minutes)

10. Delirious (7" Edit - 2:39 minutes)

11. Horny Toad (Non-LP B-side to "Delirious" - 2:13 minutes)

12. Automatic (7" Edit - 3:40 minutes) 

13. Automatic (Video Version - 8:21 minutes)

14. Let's Pretend We're Married (7" Edit - 3:45 minutes)

15. Let's Pretend We're Married (7" Mono Promo-Only Edit - 3:44 minutes) 

16. Irresistible Bitch (Non-LP B-side to "Let's Pretend We're Married" - 4:13 mins)

17. Let's Pretend We're Married (Video Version - 4:03 minutes)

18. D.M.S.R. (Edit - 5:06 minutes)

The double opens with three stormers in a row that had most people disbelieving their good luck (man could he pen a hit) - "1999", "Little Red Corvette" and "Delirious" filling dancefloors and FM Radio airwaves the world over. But the gorgeous remaster will allow fans to hear deep album cuts like the lovely "Free" - a track that could easily have made single number six in edited form (the right to be free - free to change my mind). Check out those companion vocals by J.J., Lisa, Wendy and Vanity - subtle but 'so' there - and his guitar that is Rawk but in that very Prince kind of way. The Sly & The Family Stone naughtiness of "Lady Cab Driver" is the same - funky as anything - all those slap Bass notes, subtle doubled vocals, brass stabs, flicked guitars, stunning axe solos later on - what a genius arrangement too even if the orgasmic vocals by the gals is a tad over someone's top. 

 

Prince gets all Velvet Underground and old school sarcastic for "All The Critics Love U In New York" - a sinister little belter that has an incessant beat set against wild guitar soloing and lyrics that barely contain his contempt for falsehood. I'm loving the fuller sound on "International Lover" - possibly single number seven? The wall of voices and the clear piano and beats really giving it such muscle - seduction 747 with Pilot Prince at the controls. And remember as the great man advised - in case of over-excitement - use the cushions provided as a flotation device - oh behave!

I always thought the nine and half minutes of "Automatic" on Side 3 was indulgent, but the 45-single edit at 3:40 minutes finally allows to digest the groove - and I've never heard the 'Video Version' which gives full reign to the song at over eight minutes. Don't know if the 'Mono' mixes add anything other than being rare, but fans have waited so long for easy access to those Non-LP flipsides - "Irresistible..." being my fave. I'm still dipping into CD2 - so that's cool by me.

 

"...I'm going to listen to my body tonight...party like it's 1999..." 

 

I still remember the thrill of this album and the realization that a huge talent had finally caught our eyes and ears. It kills me that musical giants like David Bowie, Prince and Tom Petty are no longer with us. But there is at least this - his fantastic and varied legacy finally done proper by an Audio Engineer of serious respect. And for that, I am genuinely delirious. 

 

Onto the Super Deluxe edition bigger box and threatening letters from the bank manager...

"Watercolors" by THE WATERS - August 1980 Third US Album on Arista Records featuring Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters (August 2014 UK Big Break Records (BBR) Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...It's Flowing Around Me..."

 

Hailing out of Los Angeles – the family of Oren, Julia, Luther and Maxine Waters (Oren is the lead) are the great unknowns of backing vocals.

 

Statistics would have you believe they've been heard by more souls on the planet than any other set of voices. How? They're the backing singers on Carole King's "Tapestry" in 1971, The Bee Gee's "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977 and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1982 - to name but a famous few.

 

Before that there was sessions with Phil Spector on the most played record ever - "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers and onwards into the Seventies with artists as diverse as Pacific, Gas & Electric and Merry Clayton. Since then there's been Bobby Womack, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Patti LaBelle, Adele, Rod Stewart and even Bruce Springsteen. Which brings us to this release…and its pre-history.

 

They started their own American career in 1975 simply as WATERS – their self-titled debut on Blue Note Records BN-LA370-G. Then in 1977 went as THE WATERS for another self-titled start on Warner Brothers BS 3062. Which brings us to album-door number three - "Watercolors" with Producer David Rubinson on Arista AB-4253 in May 1980. The singing family foursome is now literally the subject of an Oscar-nominated movie - "Twenty Feet From Stardom" – hence the timely reissue on Big Break Records of the UK. Here are the details...

 

1. Dance With Me [Side 1]

2. Heart Lead The Way

3. I Can Make You Smile

4. Throw A Little Bit Of Love My Way

5. Party People [Side 2]

6. Come To Me

7. Dance The Night Away

8. Let Him Prove It

 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Dance With Me (Single Version)

10. Heart Lead The Way (Single Version)

 

As none of their LPs had British releases, oversees fans in Blighty will dig this release. UK issued August 2014 "Watercolors" by THE WATERS on Big Break Records CDBBR 0277 (Barcode 5013929057739) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster with two Bonus Tracks (50:10 minutes).

 

Tracks 1 to 8 are the May 1980 album with two bonus cuts added on – the March 1980 single mix of "Dance With Me" (Arista AS-0493) and the promo-only May 1980 single mix of "Heart Lead The Way" (Arista AS-0517). The 12-page booklet has wonderfully detailed liner notes by NYC-based writer and music journalist Christian John Wikane and a fabulous remaster by BBR's resident tape maestro Wayne A, Dickson.

 

It's a typically mixed bag as Soul albums go – it opens with the half-hearted "Dance With Me" – a search for a Disco hit – but things improve out of all proportion with the album's true nugget – "Heart Lead The Way" – a really gorgeous falsetto vocal ballad (lyrics above). The album version stretches to 5:47 minutes and features sublime note-topping by Oren with the 3 siblings backing him to perfection (nice Bass too by Robert Russell and Sax solo by Don Myrick). Hardly surprising it was the second single off the album – although it appears to have been issued only a promo because I have never seen a stock copy. Things get all pop with "Party People" - but again their strength lies in the ballad – "Come To Me" and "Throw A Little Love My Way" being sweet examples.

 

"Watercolors" is so typical of Soul, Funk, Disco and RnB LPs of the Eighties - a good album rather than a great one bolstered up with the obvious single sides to draw in punters. But with little promotion outside of the singles by either the label or the band (The Waters were touring and working with Neil Diamond on "The Jazz Singer" in 1980, a huge record) – it tanked and is something of a unfairly forgotten artifact now.

 

But "Watercolors" has those superb ballads on it and a warm-as-a-blanket remaster. Very nice – and I urge you to see the film as soon as possible…

 

Other Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters I've reviewed:

 

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. Let Me Be Your Angel – STACY LATTISAW (1980)

11. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

12.  I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

13. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

14. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

15. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

16. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

17. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

18. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin' At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Madhouse – SILVER CONVENTION (1976)

29. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

30. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

31. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

32. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

33. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

34. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

35. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

36. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971 Debut LP on Sussex/A&M Records)

37. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)

"Rickie Lee Jones" by RICKIE LEE JONES – March 1979 US Debut Album on Warner Brothers, June 1979 UK – featuring Buzzy Feiten, Fred Tackett, Neil Larsen, Willie Weeks, Victor Feldman with Jeff Pocaro of Toto and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers (June 2012 JAPAN-Only SHM-CD Reissue and Remaster in Mini LP Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...The Vice is Nice..."

 

I can remember when every London Hi-Fi store you went into in the late Eighties had two discs to demonstrate what the new fangled format of CD was capable of - and both were debuts. One was Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" from 1982 and the other was "Rickie Lee Jones" - her beautifully produced self-titled debut from 1979. Yet for such audiophile titles both have remained 'un-remastered' in singular form for the average Joe to buy with ease for decades since. For Steely Dan's Donald Fagen you have to buy the hugely irritating and disappointing MVI Trilogy Box Set and for Rickie you have to go to Japan. And that's where this superb SHM-CD reissue comes in...

 

Japan-Only released 12 June 2012 - "Rickie Lee Jones" by RICKIE LEE JONES on Warner Brothers WPCR-14508 (Barcode 4943674118373) is a straightforward reissue/new remaster of the 1979 album on the SHM-CD format. This Super High Materials CD is housed in Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork with Obi strip - it breaks down as follows (42:15 minutes):

 

1. Chuck E.'s In Love [Side 1]

2. On Saturday Afternoons In 1963

3. Night Train

4. Young Blood

5. Easy Money

6. The Last Chance Texaco

7. Danny's All Star Joint [Side 2]

8. Coolsville

9. Weasel And The White Boys Cool

10. Company

11. After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Rickie Lee Jones" - released March 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3296 and June 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56628

 

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all) nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 15 of them and they're uniformly superb. The 5" repro sleeve is typical of Japanese quality - beautifully rendered (quite what they mean by 'Light Mellow 2012' on the outer sticker is anybody's guess). The black and white 20-page booklet inside has the lyrics in English and Japanese and little else by way of credits (who remastered what and where) - but a nice touch is a repro of the $2 Warner Brothers deal inner bag that came with original vinyl copies. The CD has the Warner Brothers cream-coloured label of the time and a protective plastic to hold the slightly heavier SHM-CD in the $2 inner bag (lovely attention to detail...as there always is with these Japanese reissues). But the big news is the sound...

 

Fans will know that outside of Rhino's 3CD career overhaul "Duchess Of Coolsville" in 2005 (which had 6 of the 11 tracks here) - her staggeringly accomplished debut has never been fully remastered as an album for CD until now. It did receive a coveted Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab remaster in 2012 - but only on vinyl. Here you get the full album and the sonic results are brills - as lovely and as warm a remaster as you could have hoped for. For sure there is hiss on some tracks but its not been dampened or Pro-tooled out of existence in the transfer. Key tracks like "Night Train", "Danny's All Star Joint" and "Easy Money" (represented on the "Duchess" set by a Previously Unreleased 'Demo' Version) has never seen a remaster since the advent of CD - and they shine like audio gold here.

 

Right from the opening seconds of acoustic guitars, drums whacks and clicking fingers of "Chuck E.'s In Love" - you can hear the clarity of musicians like guitarists Buzzy Feiten and Fred Tackett, keyboard whizz kid Neil Larsen, Willie Weeks on Bass and Jeff Pocaro (of Toto) with Victor Feldman on Drums (Michael McDonald does his backing vocals magic here and there too). Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman and mastered by Lee Herschberg - the audio was always going to be something special and this beautiful remaster on SHM-CD brings that out.

 

Not to be swamped in audiophile for the sake of it - the music is amazingly touching too - the best examples of which are "Night Train", "Company" and "The Last Chance Texaco". "I remember you too clearly...but I'll survive another day..." she pines on the gorgeous and affecting "Company" featuring truly beautiful string arrangements by Johnny Mandel. Its here you also hear her other secret weapon - those off the cuff streetwise lyrics that have depth and sass - flirty one minute - then aching the next - like a female Tom Waits. The squeaking of the acoustic guitar strings on "Night Train" sound amazing (even if the beginning of the track is a little hissy) - and I still get bowled over by those "broken like valiums and chumps in the rain that cry and quiver..." lyrics. The double-bass intro to "Easy Money" slides into definite Tom Waits "Blue Valentyne" territory where "A couple Jills with their eyes on a couple of bills..." and although it doesn't say so in the liner notes but I'd swear that's Dr. John on the slinky New Orleans keys with Victor Feldman on Vibes.

 

Funky genius comes in the brilliant Side 2 opener "Danny's All-Star Joint" sounding like Paul Simon's "Stranded In A Limousine" - a stunning mixture of brass and scat like lyrics that amaze. "Coolsville" is admittedly hissy (but it was on the original recording) but it still sounds awesome. "The Last Chance Texaco" features "sleepy diesel eyes" and a floating synth note that ominously backs up the big acoustic chords - it's fabulously accomplished stuff and lyrically grates at a raw nerve in us all about emotional success. Things get hip and street funk with "Coolsville" and the brilliant "Weasel & The White Boys Cool" where Sal is selling 'articles' to his people downtown. Two tracks were recorded Live on 22 December 1978 - the lovely piano and "years may go by" strings of "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" and the final cut "After Hours" where she croons about "America" and how some of its citizens may have lost their way but are still hopeful dreamers.

 

Rickie Lee Jones won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 and her follow-up albums "Pirates" (1981) and "The Magazine" (1984) articulates even more stunning emotional soundtracks - opting for longer songs and richer arrangements. But this is where her jukebox first went 'doyt doyt'.

 

You could of course argue that you simply buy the "Duchess Of Coolsville" triple CD anthology and get a lot more bang for your bucks - but this is one of those occasions where only the 'whole' album will suffice. It doesn't just sound good - it is 'all' good...

 

The Light Mellow 2012 Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series

for RICKIE LEE JONES

 

1. "Rickie Lee Jones" (1979), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14508 – use Barcode 4943674118373 to locate the right issue

 

2. "Pirates" (1981), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 - use Barcode 4943674118397 to locate the right issue

 

3. "The Magazine" (1983), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14510 - use Barcode 4943674118403 to locate the right issue

"Pirates" by RICKIE LEE JONES – July 1981 US Second Studio Album on Warner Brothers featuring Neil Larsen, Clarence McDonald, Randy Kerber, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan on Keyboards, Buzzy Feiton, David Kalish, Dean Parks and Steve Lukather on Guitars, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker and David Sanborn on Horns, Chuck Rainey on Bass, Steve Gadd, Lenny Castro and Victor Feldman on Drums and Percussion, Sal Bernardi on Vocals with Larry Waronker Production and Nick DeCaro and Ralph Burn Strings (June 2012 JAPAN-ONLY Warner Brothers SHM-CD Reissue - Part of their Light Mellow 2012 SHM-CD Reissue Series in Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Packaging) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

Available on AMAZON 

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...Sad-Eyed Sinatra's..."

 

You can understand why the March 1979 US debut album "Rickie Lee Jones" on Warner Brothers caused the stir it did. Great tunes, seriously sleek production values that have made it an audiophile darling ever since and of course the half-bum half-hipster persona of Rickie that captured people right off the bat. It helped too that "Rickie Lee Jones" had "Chuck E.'s In Love" as a bona-fide storming single.

 

But spare a thought for the equally stunning follow-up album "Pirates" from July 1981 (also on Warner Brothers) that never seems to get the worship-at-your-feet accolades it so deserves - despite a Top 5 placing on the US Billboard Rock Albums chart. Maybe because it's because platter number two didn't have that killer single cut – I don't know - but I have adored this beautifully sophisticated singer-songwriter masterpiece for over 40 years now and its time I laid my yacht-rock bruised-and-disco-cruised heart down for the Sad-Eyed Sinatra's (keep the shirts I bought ya boys).

 

Oddly - outside of Rhino's 3CD Rickie Lee Jones career overhaul "Duchess Of Coolsville" in 2005 which has 5 of this LP's 8 tracks and expensive/deleted Mobile Fidelity Audiophile Ultra II CDs - both of these great albums have remained 'un-remastered' in singular form for the average Joe to buy with ease for decades since. So we have go to Japan - and that's where this superb SHM-CD reissue comes a bopping in - or as RLJ would say...James Dean is in the doorway...Natalie Wood is custom tucked...we got a radio that hurts and this is no game of chicken. Here are the rapping the fat scat details...

 

Released 12 June 2012 - "Pirates" on Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 (Barcode 4943674118397) is a straightforward reissue/new remaster of the album on the SHM-CD format and breaks down as follows (39:08 minutes):

 

1. We Belong Together [Side 1]

2. Living it Up

3. Skeletons

4. Woody And Dutch On The Slow Train To Peking

5. Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue) [Side 2]

6. A Lucky Guy

7. Traces Of The Western Slopes

8. The Returns

Tracks 1 to 8 are her second studio album "Pirates" - released July 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3432 and June 1979 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56816. Produced by LENNY WARONKER and RUSS TITELMAN – it peaked at No. 5 in the USA and No. 37 in the UK.

 

MUSICIANS included:

Neil Larsen, Clarence McDonald, Russell Ferrante, Randy Kerber with Donald Fagen of Steely Dan on Keyboards

Buzzy Feiton, David Kalish, Dean Parks and Steve Lukather on Guitars

Tom Scott, Randy Brecker and David Sanborn on Horns

Chuck Rainey on Bass

Steve Gadd, Art Rodriguez, Lenny Castro with Victor Feldman on Drums and Percussion

Sal Bernardi, Arno Lucas, Joe Turano, Leslie Smith on Vocals

Strings Arranged by Nick DeCaro and Ralph Burns

 

A SHM-CD doesn't require a special CD player to play it on (compatible on all) nor does it need audiophile kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the format that picks up the nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 15 of them and they're uniformly superb. The 5" Mini LP Repro Sleeve is typical of Japanese quality - beautifully rendered (quite what they mean by 'Light Mellow 2012' on the outer sticker is anybody's guess). The black and white 20-page booklet inside has the lyrics in English and Japanese and little else by way of credits (who remastered what and where). But a nice touch is a repro of the Inner Sleeve that came with original vinyl copies - a photo of RLJ on one-side and musician credits on the other. The SHM-CD has the Warner Brothers cream-coloured label of the time and a protective plastic to hold the slightly heavier SHM-CD in the repro inner sleeve (lovely attention to detail...as there always is with these Japanese reissues).

 

But the big news is the sound... Once again Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman and Mastered by Lee Herschberg - the audio values originally laid down over four decades ago get to shine in such a sweetly subtle way – a beautiful remaster on SHM-CD that brings out all that world class playing. The chopping and changing and rhythm-popping that take place in the eight-minute Steely Dan complicated extravaganza that is "Traces Of The Western Slopes" over on Side 2 demands serious image control – and you get it here – along with all those speaker to speaker Horn and Keyboard jabs.

 

Side 1 opens with a magnificently arranged "We Belong Together" and along with "Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)" that opens Side 2 – both have always blown me away (Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Rob Mounsey man the Synths for the latter). The huge slap bass of the great fun "Woody And Dutch..." threatens your spoken cones and I am shocked at the clarity and delicacy of the De Caro arranged strings on "The Returns" that ends Side 2 – a female Tom Waits to rival the great master over on Asylum Records (they dated once and she is the girl on the cover of his "Blue Valentine" album). Sure there is a faint whiff of hiss on "The Returns" and "Skeletons" but it is nothing to detract. "A Lucky Guy" and "Living it Up" seem to offer up more too each time you play them.

 

Rickie Lee Jones won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 and her follow-up albums "Pirates" (1981) and "The Magazine" (1984) articulated even more stunning emotional soundtracks – her second album especially opting for longer songs and richer arrangements and being all the better for it.

 

You could of course argue that you simply buy the "Duchess Of Coolsville" triple CD anthology and get a lot more bang for your bucks - but this is one of those occasions where only the 'whole album' will suffice. It doesn't just sound good - it is 'all' good...

 

The Light Mellow 2012 Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series

for RICKIE LEE JONES

 

1. "Rickie Lee Jones" (1979), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14508 – use Barcode 4943674118373 to locate the right issue

 

2. "Pirates" (1981), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14509 - use Barcode 4943674118397 to locate the right issue

 

3. "The Magazine" (1983), Warner Brothers Japan WPCR-14510 - use Barcode 4943674118403 to locate the right issue

"Learning To Crawl" by PRETENDERS – January 1984 Third Studio Album on Sire Records USA and Real Records UK - featuring Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, Robbie McIntosh and Malcolm Foster with Guests Billy Bremner of Rockpile, Tony Butler of Big Country, Andrew Bodnar of Graham Parker's Rumour and Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics and Solo Career (February 2015 UK Edsel Reissue – 2CD+1DVD Deluxe Special Edition with 2006/2007 Rhino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

Available on AMAZON 

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...Thumbelina In A Great Big Scary World..."

 

I loved the stunning and ballsy debut "Pretenders" - finally slammed onto an expectant world in January 1980 on Real Records in the UK (Sire in the USA) after three killer singles across the breath of 1979. That kickass run culminated in the fantastic "Brass In Pocket" - a UK No.1 in November 1979 – and still probably one of their most famous songs. Chrissie Hynde's American-British Rock, Punk and New Wave Band started the decade well and by the time of the "Get Close" album in October 1986 with "Don't Get Me Wrong" - owned it with style.

 

But truth be told and even if some say it's the equal too if not better than its predecessor, I took a lot longer to warm to "Pretenders II" in August 1981. I found it oddly hard work. But all of that went out the window with platter number three. And despite (or perhaps because of) huge internal turmoil (they had lost both original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and Bassist Don Fardon to drugs) – even though Hynde was pregnant at the time (her newborn daughter's efforts gave her the title of the LP) – still Chrissie continued regardless. She has said in subsequent interviews that it was as much to honor the losses in the band and around her personally that continuance was the only way. And what a result – a slew of great singles between the USA and Blighty – and even a Christmas classic that is arguably one of the best Seasonal tunes ever (rolled out every December on every playlist).

 

So I have loved January 1984's "Learning To Crawl" with a passion for over four decades now and this Edsel 2CD+1DVD Deluxe Special Edition (like all of the releases in this series – see list below) has done that mid 80ts tune-fest a proper solid. This is a great reissue gathering up in 2015 all the Audio Rarities from the 2006 "Pirate Radio 1978-2005" 4CD /1DVD DigiBook Set and the subsequent 2007 singular CD reissue of the album (both issued by Rhino). Lots to ponder, to the nitty gritty...

 

UK released 16 February 2015 - "Learning To Crawl: 2CD + 1DVD Deluxe Special Edition" by PRETENDERS on Edsel EDSG 8049 (Barcode 740155804930) is a 3-Disc Reissue with 2006 and 2007 Rhino Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (40:43 minutes):

"Learning To Crawl"

1. Middle Of The Road [Side 1]

2. Back On The Chain Gang

3. Time The Avenger

4. Watching The Clothes

5. Show Me

6. Thumbelina [Side 2]

7. My City Was Gone

8. Thin Line Between Love And Hate

9. I Hurt You

10. 2000 Miles

Tracks 1 to 10 are their third studio album "Learning To Crawl" - released January 1984 in the UK on Real Records WX 2 (923 980-1) and in the USA on Sire Records 9 23980-1. Produced by CHRIS THOMAS - it peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA.

 

PRETENDERS was

CHRISSIE HYNDE – All Lead Vocals, Guitar

ROBBIE McINTOSH – Lead Guitar, Vocals

MALCOLM FOSTER – Bass and Vocals

MARTIN CHAMBERS – Drums and Vocals

 

Tracks 2 and 7 ("Back On The Chain Gang" and "My City Was Gone") feature Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers of Pretenders with session work from Billy Bremner of Rockpile on Guitar and Tony Butler of Big Country on Bass. Track 4 "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" is a cover version of the Soul hit by The Persuaders issued July 1971 in the USA on Atco 6822 - again with Hynde and Chambers as a core it features other session musicians – Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics and Solo Career fame played Piano and Vocals, Billy Bremner of Rockpile on Guitar with Andrew Bodnar of Graham Parker’s Rumour on Bass and Vocals. The rest of the tracks were finished with the 4-piece band listed above.

 

CD2 (38:44 minutes):

B-Sides/Live

1. Fast Or Slow (The Law’s The Law) – Martin Chambers song, sung by him – B-side of the "Show Me" 45-single from March 1984

2. Money (Live at the US Festival, May 1983) – Motown cover version

3. Time The Avenger (Live)

4. Bad Boys Get Spanked (Live)

5. My City Was Gone (Live)

6. Tequila (Outtake)

 

DEMOS

7. I Hurt You (August 1982 Denmark Street Demo)

8. When I Change My Life (August 1982 Denmark Street Demo)

9. Ramblin' Rob (Instrumental, August 1982 Denmark Street Demo)

10. Watching The Clothes (August 1982 Denmark Street Demo)

 

DVD (NTSC, No Region Restrictions):

PROMO VIDEOS

1. Back On The Chain Gang

2. 2000 Miles

3. Middle Of The Road

4. Show Me

5. Thin Line Between Love And Hate

 

BBC TV APPEARANCES

1. 2000 Miles – Rehearsal and Mike Smith Interviews Chrissie and Martin for Breakfast Time TV in December 1983

2. 2000 Miles – Top of the Pops, Broadcast, 15 December 1983

 

The stocky and chunky digipak on Edsel EDSG 8049 certainly looks the part. It folds out into four flaps and pictures the album labels and black and white live shots of the reinvigorated four-piece (McIntosh and Foster were the newbees). The 16-page booklet features lyrics - front and rear picture sleeves and Real Records labels for key singles like the LP primer "Back On The Chain Gang" (September 1982) and the lesser seen "Show Me" (March 1984) as well as the spaceship across the sky pic sleeve for "2000 Miles" and the rip between countries artwork for "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" (repeated on the rear pages). Although it looks good (see photos provided) and they have included the song lyrics, apart from the usual reissue credits - disappointingly Edsel have taken the lazy way out and provided no new liner notes. But I am here for the sounds.

 

Audio-wise they have used Warners Tape Archives used by Rhino in 2006 and 2007 for these 'Special Deluxe Edition' multipacks and their resident Engineer PHIL KINRADE has done the transfers at Alchemy Mastering. I loved the Rhino Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters - here we get more of the same - all of it sounding upped - even those B-sides and the surprisingly good CD2 (the DVD authoring was done by LARA RUFFLE at Sony DADC and is a hoot).

 

The band opened accounts on a lethal double whammy - "Back On The Chain Gang" with "My City Was Gone" on the Sire Records flipside in November 1982 – a full year and a but before the LP got released. It would be November of the 1983 for 45-single number two when the incendiary and lyrically mule-kicking Side 1 opener "Middle Of The Road" was paired with "2000 Miles" (DJs must have loved that combo). June 1984 saw The Persuaders cover hit the shops with the Non-LP live take of "Time The Avenger" on the B-side (it is included on CD2) – a less obvious Pretenders song but an inspired choice nonetheless – the domestic hurt in the song chiming true for new generations. I love the deeper album tracks like "Thumbelina" (lyrics from it title this review) and "Watching My Clothes" - bored in a Laundromat while others party – it all works. Great big chunky audio too.

 

CD2 is fabulous stuff – blistering McIntosh guitar on a live "My City Was Gone" that outdoes the LP original, studio quality outtakes in "Tequila" and "When I Change My Life" that rival anything on the released album and a seriously aggressive Demo of "I Hurt You" that is Punk as well Punk (dig that slap it 'til it hurts New Wave Bass and those Grrrr Guitars). The Martin Chambers track is admittedly good rather than great and the instrumental guitar jangling “Ramblin' Bob” was probably laid down as a guide track to lyrics that were to come at a later stage but never did. The Demo of "Watching The Clothes" also rocks more than the studio cut – maybe losing a little of its Punk mayhem in the transition to the studio version. And while they have included lyrics to the outtakes "Fast And Slow..." and "Tequila" – they forgot "When I Change My Life" which is a bit of a sloppy shame. Edsel has also included a very tasty visual factor this time with 5 Promo Videos and 2 Rare TV Performances on Disc 3 – the All Regions DVD.

 

There's a October 2015 Box Set that gathers up all eight albums from the self-titled 1980 debut right up to 1999's "Viva El Amor!" all with same card digipak packaging, Bonus Audio and Video material etc (see details below) - but this is a great starting block no matter the order. 

 

"...I've been working so hard to make some money...would you like some sour kraut on your potatoes honey..." – Chrissie Hynde sang over 40 years ago – canny and sassy and a proper icon all rolled into one. Her band rocked then and I for one am still listening like a teen now in 2023...

 

2015 PRETENDERS 'Deluxe Special Edition'

Reissue Series by Edsel/Rhino

 

1. "Pretenders" (January 1980 debut) - Edsel EDSG 8047 (Barcode 740155804732) - 2CDs + 1DVD

2. "Pretenders II" (August 1981) - Edsel EDSG 8048 (Barcode 740155804831) - 2CDs + 1DVD

3. "Learning To Crawl" (January 1984) - Edsel EDSG 8049 (Barcode 740155804930) - 2CDs + 1DVD

4. "Get Close" (October 1986) - Edsel EDSG 8050 (Barcode 740155805036) - 2CDs + 1DVD

5. "Packed!" (May 1990) - Edsel EDSX 3022 (Barcode 740155302238) - 1CD + 1DVD

6. "Last Of The Independents" (May 1994) - Edsel EDSG 8051 (Barcode 740155805135) - 2CDs + 1DVD

7. "The Isle Of View" (September 1995) - Edsel EDSX 3023 (Barcode 740155302337) - 1CD + 1DVD

8. "Viva El Amor!" (May 1999) - Edsel EDSG 8052 (Barcode 740155805234 - 2CDs + 1DVD

9. "Pretenders 1979-1999" - Edsel PRETBOX01 (Barcode 5014797892620) - 22-Disc Card Wrap Box Set with all of 1 to 8 above (no extra booklet)