"My Song" by LABI SIFFRE – 50th Anniversary Box Set featuring Nine Albums from 1970 to 1998 on Pye International, China and EMI Records (September 2020 UK Edsel Records 9CD Compilation – 50th Anniversary Box Set - Brick-Block With Nine Singular Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves, 44 Bonus Tracks, 32-Page Booklet with New Liner Notes and Phil Kinrade Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"…See Me Sparkle...See Me Flame..."

 

First things first: there are two variants of the 9CD Clamshell Box Set "My Song" by LABI SIFFRE both released in the UK on Friday, 4 September 2020. The generally available Standard Edition is catalogue number Edsel EDSL0069Y and the second is an Amazon Exclusive variant that comes with a Signed Art Print on Edsel EDSL0069X – a limited edition of 500 copies. Unfortunately both use the same Barcode on the rear (Barcode 5014797903500) and are only identifiable by the Title Sticker on the front shrinkwrap of the Box. The SIGNED ART PRINT variant notes itself as so on that sticker, while the Standard Edition sticker has no mention of it (each sport the different catalogue numbers at the base of the sticker). So check which one you are buying because the Signed Edition is usually far more expensive.

 

Second thing to note is that Siffre fans have been down this CD reissue road before (well partially), but this time they get much more. EMI did a CD reissue/remaster run in June 2006 and then Edsel of the UK reissued five of these nine albums end of July 2015 - "Labi Siffre" (1970), "The Singer And The Song" (1971), "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" (1972), "For The Children" (1973) and the 1998 New Songs Live Set album "The Last Songs" with 23 bonus tracks across those five.

 

"My Song" - 50^th Anniversary Box Set - from September 2020 remasters his other four albums too – "Remember My Song" and "Happy" (both 1975), "So Strong" (1988) and "Man Of Reason" (1991) - adding on a further 21 Bonuses bringing the Extras count to an impressive 44 (146 tracks altogether). The 32-page booklet is new and features an updated Labi Siffre interview (2020) but drops the lyrics that were in each of the Edsel reissues. Each of the nine albums is in a facsimile Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeve ("Crying Laughing Loving Lying" and "For The Children" are unfortunately not gatefolds as per their Pye Records releases nor are the inserts there, but their inner artworks are in the booklet) and the Bonuses are spread across all nine discs and not in one place (see lists below).

 

"My Song" is a very tastily presented brick-block and beautiful sounding too. Both the 1975 LPs "Remember My Song" (the one with the "I Got The..." sample) and the forgotten "Happy" set get great remasters at last too. Admittedly both "So Strong" and "Man Of Reason" suffer badly from 1988 and 1991 over-production where you feel each was reaching for that Dire Straits meets Steve Winwood Higher Love marketplace (have not aged well here in 2023). But the 1998 set "The Last Songs" - 14 New Acoustic Live Tracks is a total gem and feels spiritually in tune with what really matters to LS. There are also genuine goodies to be had in the Bonuses. Lot to talk through then, to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 4 September 2020 - "My Song" by LABI SIFFRE on Edsel EDSL0069Y (Barcode 5014797903500) is a 9CD Clamshell '50^th Anniversary Box Set' covering Nine Albums from 1970 to 1998 (146 Tracks in Total including 44 Bonuses) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Labi Siffre" (48:26 minutes):

1. Too Late [Side 1]

2. Words

3. Something On My Mind

4. Maybe Tomorrow

5. You And I Should Be Together

6. I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today

7. I Love You [Side 2]

8. Make My Day

9. A Little More Line

10. Maybe

11. River

12. Love Song For Someone

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "Labi Siffre" - released May 1970 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28135 (no USA issue).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. I Just Couldn't Live Without Her

14. Maybe When We Dance

15. Ask Me To Stay [Tracks 13, 14 and 15 first issued as Previously Unreleased Outtakes on the June 2006 EMI CD remaster of "Labi Siffre"

16. Here We Are – the non-album B-side to the stand alone 7" single "Watch Me" released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586

 

10 tracks on the debut are Siffre originals with the other two being inspired cover version choices – "Words" by The Bee Gees and Harry Nilsson's "Maybe" – both of which Siffre emphatically makes sound like they were always part of his repertoire. Of his own compositions the brilliance and acoustic simplicity of "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Too Late" stand out immediately (both on Side 1). Flutes, Piano and Electric Guitars mix well on "You And I Should Be Together" initially - but then Producer, Arranger and Conductor Ian Green kind of overdoes it with the strings (trying too hard to impress). The falsely acidic "I Don't Know What's Happened To The Kids Today" is done in the voice of an old man riling at the young (..."I can't say that I fought for kids like you in the war..." Over on Side 2 standouts are "Make My Day", the lovely Nilsson ballad "Maybe" and the warm finisher "Love Song For Someone" with complimentary string arrangements. Kenny Young's American group Moonshine had a go at covering Siffre's "A Little More Line" on RCA Victor 1954 in 1970 calling it "Just A Little More Line" (it was reissued in September 1973 on RCA 2408). And in Germany Polydor put out Siffre's original as "A Little More Line" in December 1970 on Polydor 2001 065 with the gorgeous "Words" as its flipside (its rare 7" picture sleeve is shown on Page 9). Pye released just one single off the album in the UK by pairing "Too Late" with "Make My Day" in July 1970 on Pye International 7N.25528 but it failed to do any business which is a shame because the whole album is far more cohesive than the longer but patchy follow up album "The Singer And The Song".

 

CD2 "The Singer And The Song" (58:21 minutes):

1. There's Nothing in The World Like Love [Side 1]

2. You're Lovely

3. A Number Of Words

4. Who Do You See?

5. Not So Long Ago

6. The Shadow Of Our Love

7. When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind

8. Rocking Chair [Side 2]

9. Interlude

10. Thank Your Lucky Star

11. Talkabout

12. Relax

13. Bless The Telephone

14. Summer Is Coming

15. Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 15 are his 2nd album "The Singer And The Song" - released July 1971 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28147 (no USA issue).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

16. When You Find You Need A Friend – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" issued as UK 7" single in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542, first appeared July 2015 on the Edsel CD Reissue of "The Singer And The Song"

17. Get To The Country – non-album A-side issued as a UK 7" single in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560 (its B-side is track 18)

18. A Feeling I Got – non-album B-side to "Thank Your Lucky Star" (Track 17), first appeared July 2015 on the Edsel CD Reissue of "The Singer And The Song"

19. Till Night Time Comes Along – album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

20. Fallin' For You - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

21. Oh What A Day - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children’s musical "The Magic Bed"

22. Just A Face - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track, from the children's musical "The Magic Bed"

23. Seasons Come, Seasons Go - album outtake first issued June 2006 on the EMI CD as a bonus track

 

Siffre's 2nd studio album "The Singer And The Song" finally kick-started his chart career - weighing in at Number 47 for one week - whereas his self-titled debut album from 1970 hadn’t charted at all. It would take his 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from October 1972 with its hooky title track and the hugely popular "It Must Be Love" (both hit 45s) before Siffre finally broke through to the masses as a singer songwriter of note. Along with his brilliant and underrated debut LP – "The Singer And The Song" has remained something of a curio in his catalogue for most. But this gorgeous CD Reissue/Remaster makes a strong case for reassessment. Like all his albums – there are moments of Funky Rock genius ("Rocking Chair" and "Summer Is Coming") and even beauty ("Bless The Telephone" and "Who Do You See?").

 

Pye tried two 45s – one from the forthcoming album and a standalone track in the same month as the LP release. "Thank Your Lucky Star" b/w "When You Find You Need A Friend" was UK released in February 1971 on Pye International 7N.25542 - while the superb non-album "Get To The Country" b/w "A Feeling I Got" surfaced in July 1971 on Pye International 7N.25560. The first single wasn't a great choice (I own a titled 'promo-only' picture sleeve for it in the UK which is unfortunately not pictured in the booklet) but the second was accomplished and should have made a noise – unfortunately both tanked and the LP did the same.

 

Very much an album of its time – some tunes like the opener "There's Nothing In The World Like Love" with its plinking piano, hippy lyrics and happy-wappy melody admittedly have a slightly dated feel – but despite that – are undeniably pretty. The 32-second "You're Lovely" is a throwaway acoustic interlude (gorgeous audio) that precedes the dreadful "A Number Of Words" where Green's arrangements of the song have Siffre sound like Tom Jones seeking a hit, but in a bad way. Far better is "What Do You See?" which has a naff orchestral intro that suddenly fades into a sweet acoustic ballad – and it hits you – his way with a melody that wins you over. "The Shadow Of Our Love" is a soft-shoe shuffle with strings leaving the short-lived "When I'm On My Own You Are On My Mind" to finish Side 1 in Spanish Acoustic style (again with beautifully clear audio).

 

Side 2 opens with what is probably the best track on the LP and something that should have been released as a single – the funky "Rocking Chair" (lyrics from it title this review). Brian Odgers provided and played the Bass Line while Colin Green provided the guitar solo. "Interlude" is ok but "Thank Your Lucky Star" feels patronizing even now and even though it was sincerely trying to be informative about 'food for the hungry' (a kazoo gives it an almost comical chorus that just doesn’t work). Prettier by far is "Talkabout" – an acoustic plea to a 'beautiful dream girl' with fab audio throughout. "Relax" is again given clunky rhythms and strings that overdo it that are partially redeemed by an "I Got The..." bass-break-moment half way through. Far sweeter to the ear and the heart is the album's other ballad winner - "Bless The Telephone" – lovely and again sounding like he's in your living room. Pace picks up big time with another choice LP cut "Summer Is Coming" where John Spooner plays the Bass Drum accompanied by nice brass arrangements. The two elusive non-album B-sides "When You Find You Need A Friend" and "A Feeling I Got" turn out to be half-decent tracks. But bluntly the outtakes like "Till Night Time Comes Along" and "Fallin' For You" are much better – even if they do sound suspiciously like 1975 or later (him and his electric piano). A good album, but a weak one compared to CD1 or CD3...

 

CD3 "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" (68:23 minutes):

1. Saved [Side 1]

2. Cannock Chase

3. Fool Me A Goodnight

4. It Must Be Love

5. Gimme Some More

6. Blue Lady

7. Love Oh Love Oh Love [Side 2]

8. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying

9. Hotel Room Song

10. My Song

11. Till Forever

12. Come On Michael

Tracks 1 to 12 make up the album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" – released October 1972 in the UK on Pye International Records NSPL 28163 (all songs are Siffre originals).

 

BONUS TRACKS:

13. To Find Love – Non-Album B-side to his 4th UK 7" single "It Must Be Love" released November 1971 on Pye International 7N.25572

14. Watch Me – Non-Album A-side, his 6th UK 7" single released July 1972 on Pye International 7N.25586. It's non-album B-side "Here We Are" is one of the bonus tracks on the debut album "Labi Siffre" (CD1)

15. Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave Me? - Non-Album B-side to "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" released March 1972 as a UK 7" single on Pye International 7N.25576

16. You Make It Easy

17. Good Old Days

18. Pristine Verses

19. You'll Let Me Know

20. For The Lovin'

Tracks 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 were Previously Unreleased Album Outtakes first issued on the 2006 EMI CD for "Crying Laughing Loving Lying"

 

LP3 was the breakthrough period for Labi Siffre – so three 45s were issued by Pye around the "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" album. Using CD3 and CD1, they can be sequenced in remastered form by fans as follows...

 

1. It Must Be Love [4] b/w To Find Love [13]

UK released November 1971 on Pye International 7N 25572

US released 1972 on Bell Records 183

 

2. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying [8] b/w Why Did You Go, Why Did You Leave [15]

UK released March 1972 on Pye International 7N.25576

US released 1972 on Bell Records 218

 

3. Watch Me [14] b/w Here We Are [16 on CD1]

UK released July 1972 on Pye National 7N.25586

USA released 1972 on Bell Records 298

The non-album B-side is available as a bonus on "Labi Siffre" CD1

 

His 3rd studio album "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" from 1972 is a beautiful Seventies singer-songwriter record and a bloody shame Edsel didn't do the gatefold on the Mini LP card sleeve repro – or for that matter give us the lyric insert that also came with originals. "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" opens with the Acapella "Saved" and then goes into the jaunty "Cannock Chase" – beautiful clarity on both tracks. But its nuggets like the lovely "Fool Me A Goodnight", "Hotel Room Song" and "My Song" that have languished in obscurity for far too long. And again I can't emphasize enough the fabulous remastering. I've treasured this album for years on vinyl and to finally hear it given this kind of sound quality is a joy. "It Must Be Love" and the beautiful title track "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" sound fab. I've always thought that the stand-alone "Watch Me" is his masterpiece from the period – a song that literally makes me weepy (I was in love with a girl at the time) and its presence here as a bonus is a winner in my books. Of the album outtakes “You Make It Easy” has a lovely melody – Siffre and an electric piano – its very demo-ish - but full of feeling and has a Bacharach brass refrain during its pretty chorus. A strong album that lead to another which this time the public inexplicably chose to ignore...

 

CD4 "For The Children" (60:58 minutes):

1. Somesay [Side 1]

2. Children Of Children

3. Entertainment Value

4. Odds And Ends

5. Prayer

6. Let's Pretend [Side 2]

7. Someday

8. If You Have Faith

9. For The Children

10. Give Love

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th album "For The Children" - released November 1973 in the UK on Pye Records NSPL 28182 (no USA issue)

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. So What – first appeared on the June 2006 CD reissue of "For The Children" – it’s a 4-act song that runs to 6:48 minutes

12. Oh Me Oh My Mr. City Goodbye - Non-album B-side to "If You Have Faith", UK 7" single released October 1973 on Pye International Records 7N.25629

13. Last Night Tonight - Non-Album B-side to "Give Love" released January 1973 in the UK on Pye International 7N.25602 (A-side is on the LP, Track 10)

 

All songs on "For The Children" are written by Siffre (including the extra track) and are uniformly excellent. Standouts would number the funky guitar strummer "Odds And Ends" (bass and pedal steel sound amazing). Side One ends with the gut-string acoustic ditty "Prayer" which lasts only two minutes but is truly lovely. Side 2 opens with the epic "Let's Pretend" - nine and half minutes of building 12-string guitars and it's properly gorgeous. As the hopeful words float by - he sings of religious leaders dropping their rules - "…Let's Pretend there's a God of love…that he wants us to be…all of the good things we can be…let's pretend…" It's emotional stuff - passes the love test. The keyboard strut of the superb "For The Children" sounds amazing - full of punch and clever stereo tricks. But the album's real masterpiece is the beautiful "If You Have Faith" - as lovely a song as the Seventies produced. Sure its sappy and maybe it’s even a tad naive in its beliefs - but it moves me to tears and more importantly has that rarest of qualities - it fills me with hope. The 4-act bonus track "So What" seems to be two songs run into one near seven-minute tune. "So What" comes first and feels like a recent recording - then about 2:27 minutes in - a separate "London Town" keyboard tune emerges (very 1975) - all of it keyboards. It's very good. The LP produced two UK 45s - "Give Love" and "If You Have Faith" and fans can sequence them and their rare Non-LP B-sides from this disc. Then came a new signing to EMI Records and the first of two albums in the same year, the March 1975 album everyone forgot for almost three decades until Hip Hop searchers sent its sample-desirability into the straotosphere...

 

CD5 "Remember My Song" (53:36 minutes):

1. I Got The... [Side 1]

2. Another Year

3. Down

4. Old Time Song

5. The Vulture

6. Dreamer [Side 2]

7. Sadie And The Devil

8. Turn On Your Love

9. Remember My Song

Tracks 1 to 9 are his 5^th studio album "Remember My Song" - released March 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3065

 

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Run To Him

11. The Love Thing – Tracks 10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of a January 1981 Non-LP UK 45-single on Polydor POSP 215

12. Nightmare – August 1982 UK Non-LP 45-single A-side on Polydor POSP 486 (B-side was Track 11, also Non-LP)

 

CD6 "Happy" (61:40 minutes):

1. Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A [Side 1]

2. You Hurt Me

3. Doctor Doctor

4. Second Time Around

5. Would You Dance?

6. Supaluvva [Side 2]

7. Staride To Nowhere

8. You've Done Something To My Heart

9. Sally Came To Stay

10. La-De-Da-De-Da (Lost Without Your Love)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 6^th studio album "Happy?" - released November 1975 in the UK on EMI Records EMC 3098

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. You've Got A Hold On Me – October 1976 Non-LP UK 45-single A-side on EMI Records EMI 2526 (B-side is Track 10 on the LP)

12. Do The Best You Can

13. Hot And Dirty In The City – Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a January 1977 UK Non-LP 45-single on EMI Records EMI 2577

14. Solid – April 1978 Non-LP UK 45-single A-side on EMI Records EMI 2750

15. One World Song

16. We Got Love – Tracks 15 and 16 by LABI & JACKIE (Labi Siffre and Jackie Beason), January 1980 UK Non-LP 45-single on EMI Records EMI 5023 - both songs by Labi Siffre

 

CD7 "So Strong" (74:45 minutes):

1. Listen To The Voices [Side 1]

2. Nothin's Gonna Change

3. I Will Always Love You

4. All I Wanna Do

5. And The Wind Blows

6. (Something Inside) So Strong [Side 2]

7. Lovers

8. Hard Road

9. I'm Alright

10. When You're Lonely

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 7^th studio album "So Strong" – released October 1988 on China Records WOL 9 (LP) and China Records 837 369-2 (CD)

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. The Secret – November 1987 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "Nothin's Gonna Change" on China Records WOK 16

 

12. Never Let You Down – September 1988 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "Listen To The Voices (7" Edition)" on China Records CHINA 9

13. Tragical History Tour – December 1988 UK 45-single Non-LP B-side to "I Will Always Love You" on China Records CHINA 12

14. (Something Inside) So Strong (Live At The Prince's Trust Concert)

15. Listen To The Voices (Piano Version) – Tracks 14 and 15 are Non-LP B-sides exclusive to the 1989 German 4-Track CD-single to "So Strong" on Polydor 889 379-2

16. Nothin's Gonna Change (Long Version) – November 1987 UK 12" Single A-side Extended Version (6:28 minutes, LP Version is 3:46 minutes) on China Records WOKX 16

17. (Something Inside) So Strong (Complete Version US Promo, 6:25 minutes) – February 1987 US-only 12" Single Promo Version on Chrysalis/China Records 4V9 43124, A-side

 

CD8 "Man Of Reason" (53:49 minutes):

1. City Of Dreams [Side 1]

2. Most People Sleep Alone

3. A Matter Of Love..

4. Lovers In Arms

5. All Fall Down

6. Reason [Side 2]

7. When Lights Are On

8. Sensible Betrayal In The City

9. Wash Away Your Troubles In Love

10. Schooldays

Tracks 1 to 10 are his eighth studio album "Man Of Reason" – released 1991 in the UK on China Records WOL 1015 (LP) and China Records WOLCD 1015 (CD). Guest musicians include Peter Van Hooke on Drums, Guy Pratt and Mo Foster on Bass, Rod Argent on Keyboards, Clem Clempson, Hugh Burns and Ray Russell on Guitars with Katie Kissoon and Rod Argent on Backing Vocals

 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. City Of Dreams [New Version]

12. Reason [Live Version]

13. City Of Dreams [New Version – Extended 12" Version]

 

CD9 "The Last Songs" (Live Album, 72:05 minutes):

1. Samaritans

2. The Dead Don't Matter

3. Everything

4. Little Boy Baby Blue

5. Lose Myself In You

6. Why Isn't Love Enough?

7. Sparrow In The Storm

8. Face To Face (A Paper Regret)

9. The Life I Got

10. Rainbow Moon

11. This Is It

12. Clinging To The Edge

13. A Kiss In The Mirror

14. The Song To Sing

Tracks 1 to 14 are the UK CD album "The Last Songs"  – released 1998 on EMI 356 8822 - these are 14 news songs but all recorded live at different British locations during his 1998 UK tour.

 

BONUS TRACKS:

15. Everything [The OlaZayZoss Remix]

16. (Love Is Love Is Love) Why Isn't Love Enough?

 

The 32-page oversized colour booklet is very pretty – a new appraisal by OLIVER WANG of Siffre’s entire career including his forays into Poetry after the 1988 and 1991 albums takes up Pages 2 to 12 (contributions from LS also) – each LP and rare 45-single picture sleeves around them then pictured with track lists, credits, extras etc. Unfortunately the lyrics that were reproduced in the individual 2006 Edsel reissues are AWOL (so that is a let-down) and Audio-wise these are clearly the same Remasters as 2006 (EMI tapes). Excepting the many-musicians over-production of 1988 and 1991 – the other 7 are largely Acoustic Guitar and Electric Piano based – so the Audio is lovely – clean and spacious. To his history and legacy...

 

In the spring and summer of 1970 when Siffre started out – Pye Records was more familiar to the British public through Petula Clark and Max Bygraves rather than The Kinks, Man and Status Quo. So a young black singer with Folk-Soul affections hardly got a look in. Born in London in 1945 to a Belgian/Barbadian mum and Nigerian father, Labi had his demos sent to a music publisher in late 1969 which resulted in a publishing contract. Siffre's style for the first 4 albums especially on Pye Records was more singer-songwriter than Soulster (for which he is more famous for these days) though the tracks themselves are often very soulful in their nature - sort of a 'Bill Withers meets Gilbert O'Sullivan' vibe. Many were just him with Acoustic Guitar and his high falsetto voice. He's often lumped in with the Easy Listening genre here in the UK that frankly does his superb song-writing talents a huge disservice. And like Gilbert O'Sullivan – Siffre is another 'soft' songwriter of the Seventies not given nearly enough credit for his brilliance in penning a truly touching tune, but beloved still by fans and those who like their singers to be on the side of Gordon Lightfoot (sadly passed in May 2023), James Taylor or even John Prine.

 

Increasingly his songs are being name-checked and used by R'n'B soul boys of the last few years who have realised that Labi's songs offer a wealth of good source material - KAYNE WEST sampled "My Song" from "Crying Laughing Loving Lying" on his "I Wonder" track from 2007's "Graduation" - while both JAY-Z and EMINEM have famously sampled the stunning bass break that happens half way through "I Got The..." track on the "Remember My Song" LP from 1975. Mr. Bongo of the UK was the first Indie Label to reissue it. Siffre retired for a few years but then returned in 1987 with "(Something Inside) So Strong" on China Records - a magnificent Anti-Apartheid anthem single - and as moving a song as you're ever likely to hear.

 

And on it goes to the Live Set "The Last Songs" where he uses an Ovation Acoustic Guitar amplified to beautiful singing precision and essentially treats a very quiet audience to 14 unplugged new songs – wonderful stuff like "Sparrow In The Storm" and the catchy lyrically brilliant "The Dead Don't Matter". In fact a song like "Why Isn't Love Enough?" show Siffre had lost none of his singer-songwriter magic. I know tracks like "Most People Sleep Alone" and "Nothing's Gonna Change" were popular singles off the two China Records albums, but for me the Live Set is the real gem in this Box especially as you plough through towards the end.

 

So there you have it. Yes – some of it is dated – some possibly even too coy for tastes in 2023 – and given the missing lyrics and wee presentation annoyances – it is a 4-star release for me and not five. But make no mistake – the 9CD "My Song" 50^th Anniversary Box Set looks great, sounds spiffing and presents an opportunity to deep dive a singer-songwriter catalogue that warrants rediscovery and real affection. Well done to Edsel...yet again...