"The Ultimate Collection" by BILLY JOEL – Featuring Album and Compilation Tracks from 1973 to 1993 – Guests Include Danny Kortchmar, Ray Charles, Mick Jones (of Spooky Tooth and Foreigner), The Memphis Horns, Producer Phil Ramone, Arranger Arif Mardin and many more (March 2001 UK Columbia/Sony TV 2CD 36-Track Compilation with 1998 Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Don't Go Thinking We're Too Familiar..."

 

The worldwide winner that is "The Ultimate Collection" by Billy Joel was first issued as a twofer in Japan just days before Christmas 2000. That variant also had 2CDs and 36-Tracks, but ended CD1 with "The Stranger".

 

I mention this, because when "The Ultimate Collection" was finally issued in the last week of March 2001 in the UK and Europe – that song was swapped out on CD1 for the lovely but largely forgotten "You're My Home" from the "Piano Man" album of 1973 (his second solo LP). In my opinion that was a genius move – it makes the play on CD1 almost perfect in terms of mood and tempo.

 

Sporting newly minted Ted Jensen Remasters from 1998, all the lyrics (albeit in tiny writing in the booklet) and with total playing times of 75:32 and 78:43 minutes on each CD – you were essentially getting four LPs worth of fantastic songwriting for not a whole lotta dosh. It was also issued on Columbia's SONY TV imprint, with adverts making certain the public who had forgotten his songwriting genius knew it was out there – sounding and looking good.

 

So not surprisingly the double-set charted immediately (31 March 2001) and soon rose to an impressive No. 4 after only a few weeks. It was issued in April in Australia, but not in the USA oddly. Fast-forward twelve years and in 2023, it can easily be found online for under three-quid – and that's a stash of the Dogs Bollox for a Catnip Cheapo cost. Here are the tender moments/serenading details...

 

UK released March 2001 -"The Ultimate Collection" by BILLY JOEL on Columbia/Sony TV SONYTV98CD (Barcode 5099749790827) is a 2CD 36-Track career-spanning Compilation using 1998 Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (75:32 minutes):

1. Just The Way You Are

2. My Life

3. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me

4. An Innocent Man

5. Piano Man

6. You're My Home

7. Everybody Love You Now (Live Version)

8. The Entertainer

9. Streetlife Serenader

10. New York State Of Mind

11. Say Goodbye To Hollywood

12. She's Got A Way (Live Version)

13. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

14. She's Always A Woman

15. Honesty

16. You May Be Right

17. Don't Ask Me Why

18. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (Live Version)

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 1, 13 and 14 are from the album "The Stranger" (September 1977)

Tracks 2 and 15 are from the album "52^nd Street" (October 1978)

Tracks 3, 16 and 17 are from the album "Glass Houses" (March 1980)

Track 4 is from the album "An Innocent Man" (August 1983)

Tracks 5 and 6 are from the album "Piano Man" (November 1973)

Tracks 7, 12 and 18 are from the live album "Songs In The Attic" (Sept 1981)

Tracks 8 and 9 are from the album "Streetlife Serenade" (October 1974)

Tracks 10 and 11 are from the album "Turnstiles" (May 1976)

 

CD2 (78:43 minutes):

1. Uptown Girl

2. Tell Her About It

3. The River Of Dreams

4. The Longest Time

5. We Didn't Start The Fire

6. Goodnight Saigon

7. Allentown

8. All For Lenya

9. This Is The Time

10. Leave A Tender Moment Alone

11. A Matter Of Trust

12. Modern Woman

13. Baby Grand (Duet with Ray Charles)

14. I Go To Extremes

15. Leningrad

16. The Downeaster 'Alexa'

17. You're Only Human (Second Wind)

18. All About Soul (Remix)

NOTES ON CD2:

Tracks 1, 2, 4 and 10 are from the album "An Innocent Man" (August 1983)

Track 3 is from the album "River Of Dreams" (August 1993)

Tracks 5, 14, 15 and 16 are from the album "Storm Front" (October 1989)

Tracks 6 and 7 are from the album "The Nylon Curtain" (September 1982)

Track 8 is from the album "Glass Houses" (March 1980)

Tracks 9, 11, 12 and 13 are from the album "The Bridge" (July 1986)

Track 17 is from 2LP Compilation "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" (August 1985) which had two new songs – this is one of them

Track 18 is from the CD compilation "Greatest Hits – Volume III" (August 1997); it initially appeared on the October 1993 CD single to "All About Soul" and was an exclusive version at 6:01 minutes

 

The 16-page booklet has all the lyrics in tiny print and a small 2-page history on Joel and his amazing singer-songwriter career by PATRICK HUMPHRIES. It's a functional affair, but the Remastered Audio is truly fab – very clean and amped in just the right way. To the listens...

 

I could probably go another ten years without ever having to hear the now slightly irritating Motown throwback chipper nature of "Uptown Girl" or "Tell Her About It" and the "Glass Houses" album felt like a dip when I bought it. But the ballad opener "Just The Way You Are" (lyrics above) and his magnificent 'Yesterday' moment (as far as I'm concerned) in the equally gorgeous "She's Always A Woman" never really get old. "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" is the same – so damn sweet (harmonica complimenting). I love the three live tracks from "Songs In The Attic" because that album was such a smart move at the time – reintroducing deep LP cuts that had gotten lost in the numbers swallowing behemoths that were "The Stranger" in 1977 and "52^nd Street" in 1978.

 

Serious smarts have also included lovelies like the early song genius of "You're My Home" right up to the synth-plinking vs. drumming warmth inherent in "This Is The Time" on "The Bridge" album from 1986. Two forgotten but fan remembered moments tail-end CD2 with the popular jaunt of "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" (a great Bonus on the first Greatest Hits Volumes) and that Remix exclusive to the CD Single for "All About Soul". But I have to say that "Goodbye Saigon" (his Vietnam song for Vets still struggling with the aftereffects) and the workingman's meeting-his-bills dilemma in "Allentown" woke many up to the less delicate side of the US economy ("The Nylon Curtain" album is considered a forgotten classic among Joel devotees like moi).

 

"New York State Of Mind" too from years earlier – nostalgic but profound - a tune about that most famous of cities you can't help thinking only Joel could have articulated so well (the audience pride-roar when he sings the word Brooklyn in the live version of "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)" is another huge moment). A stunning Pepsi vs. Coke set of rapid-fire hammerhead lyrics took the world by storm when he released "We Didn't Start The Fire" (Monroe and Studebakers ahoy). I'd admit though that CD2 feels at times (as the years progressed and the albums came further apart) like it wanes far more than CD1 does. But there is still sexy bombast galore in "I Go To Extremes" and touches of the old magic in "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" - while his crooner styled duet "Baby Grand" with Ray Charles is a big old dollop of piano-schmoozing class.

 

Having sold over 100-million albums but also having been musically inactive for decades – you could argue that Billy Joel is a spent force. Well - all I know is that I spent a lot of time loving his deeply moving songs of angst and triumph and poured over his erudite lyrics on many's a long winter evening - an intelligent impassioned Yank who seemed to speak to ordinary men and women alike with a lyrical honesty that both warmed and stung.

 

There are two four-disc Billy Joel Retrospectives out there that will give you more and flesh out the story with extra layers of quality. But if you want a kick-ass twofer one-stop then "The Ultimate Collection" is comprehensive enough and brilliant sounding into the digital bargain. And in July 2023 - it's available for a pittance that does not reflect its majestic innards. 

 

Get this gift into your seaside palisades and see that the lights don't go down on your Broadway...

"This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON – Featuring Albums Tracks from "Look Sharp!" and "I'm The Man" (both 1979), "Beat Crazy" (1980), "Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive" (1981), "Night And Day" (1982), "Body And Soul" (1984), "Big World" (1986), "Live 1980/1986" (1988), "Blaze Of Glory" (1989) and more (February 1997 UK A&M 2CD 37-Track Artists Chosen Anthology with Roger Wake Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Always Someone Breaking Us In Two..."

 

When you cop the 78-minute-plus playing times for each CD offered in "This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON – you realize that’s TWO double-albums worth of quality songs across both discs – and for often under a fiver in the secondhand market place – six or seven quid at the most. Wow!

 

A bit of a songwriting barnstormer in my book – my pubescent mates and hairy-self fell immediately for Joe Jackson and that stunner debut LP "Look Sharp!" His debut was a razor-tie pinpointed winkelpicker shoes snarling observation on New-Wave England and the dating scene in 1978 and 1979. Sassy lyrics, catchy tunes and angular beats that smacked of Dagenham Dave behind a microphone doing you an emotional favour sunshine. And like Sting with his band The Police, Joe Jackson's albums kept progressing and zigzagging genre wise, so always felt like something to get excited about.

 

And so it is here. This unassuming but stunning 2CD goody two shoes Anthology for his first decade with A&M Records...delivers. You and me against the world...here are the details...

 

UK released February 1997 - "This Is It: The A&M Years 1979-1989" by JOE JACKSON on A&M 540 402-2 (Barcode 731454040228) is a 37-Track 2CD Career Anthology (Tracks Chosen by the Artists) of Remasters that plays out as follows (reissued as "Gold" in 2008):

 

CD1 (78:16 minutes):

1. Is She Really Going Out With Him?

2. Fools In Love

3. One More Time

4. Sunday Papers

5. Look Sharp!

6. Got The Time (Live)

7. On Your Radio

8. It's Different For Girls

9. Don't Wanna Be Like That

10. Amateur Hour

11. I'm The Man

12. Tilt

13. Someone Up There

14. One To One

15. Beat Crazy

16. Biology

17. Jumpin' Jive

18. What's The Use Of Getting Sober, When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again

19. Is She Really Going out With Him? (Live)

20. Another World

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 1 to 6 are from his debut LP "Look Sharp!" released January 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64743

Tracks 7 and 19 are from "Live 1980/1986" released May 1988 in the UK on A&M Records AMA 6706 (2LPs) and A&M Records CDA 6706 (2CDs)

Tracks 8 to 11 are from his 2nd album "I'm The Man" released October 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64794

Track 12 is a Non-LP B-side to "The Harder They Come", a June 1980 UK 45-Single on A&M Records AMS 7536. The A-side is a Jimmy Cliff cover – the B-side (the track featured on this compilation) is a Joe Jackson original

Tracks 13 to 16 are from his 3rd studio album "Beat Crazy" released October 1980 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64837

Tracks 17 and 18 are from 4th studio album "Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive" released June 1981 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 65830. The whole album is cover versions of Forties and Fifties Louis Jordan Rhythm 'n' Blues hits

Track 20 is from his 5th studio album "Night And Day" released June 1982 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64906

 

CD2 (78:18 minutes):

1. Breaking Us In Two

2. Chinatown

3. Real Men

4. Steppin' Out

5. A Slow Song

6. You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)

7. Not Here, Not Now

8. Be My Number Two

9. Happy Ending (Duet with Elaine Caswell)

10. Wild West (Live)

11. Right And Wrong (Live)

12. Home Town (Live)

13. Precious Time (Live)

14. Me And You (Against The World)

15. Down To London (Duet with Joy Askew)

16. Nineteen Forever

17. The Human Touch

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1 to 5 are from his 5th studio album "Night And Day" released June 1982 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64906

Tracks 6 to 9 are from his album "Body And Soul" released March 1984 in the UK on A&M Records AMLX 65000

Tracks 10 to 13 are from his double live set "Big World" released March 1986 in the UK on A&M Records JWA 3 – all new material recorded in front of a live audience

Tracks 14 to 17 are from his album "Blaze Of Glory" released April 1989 on A&M Records AMA 5249

 

The 12-page booklet features new liner notes from RICHARD SMITH and AMY SCHEIBE on his 10-year career with Herb Alpert's record label (highs and lows). A self-professed seeker of better songs and artistic fulfilment – his albums were good but often infuriated fans and critics – one of whom described him as having "...gone completely mad..." And yet song after song shows a songwriter able to move your heart and your hips. There is a Source Discography on the back pages, three photos of our hero and really superb ROGER WAKE Remasters from original tapes. To the music...

 

It will come as no surprise to fans to see that the kick-ass debut album "Look Sharp!" from January 1979 is represented here by five tunes – the big hit of course being "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" - the song that broke him everywhere. But jagged edge social HP Sauce songs like "Fools In Love" and "Sunday Papers" immediately clumped Joe Jackson into the angry-young-man filing cabinet at GCHQ alongside his country compatriots Graham Parker, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello. While the hit "It's Different For Girls" grabbed all the airplay, the second album offered more of what made the debut so smart. And yet I wager most have forgotten how good ballsy stuff like "Don't Wanna Be Like That" is (the Remaster bass is likely to bust your speaker cones) - or the so-New-Wave hurt in "Amateur Hour" where she is moving up and so moving out. Drums whack your living room like a wet kipper – Kung Fu, Skateboards and Hula Hoops all made respectable in "I'm The Man" (wanna buy a watch).

 

A clever inclusion of a live version of "Tilt" means that the listen lines up for a foursome of angry rants from the "Beat Crazy" LP. Sounding amazing, "One On One" comes at you with that Piano and Organ intro all guns blazing – as does The Stranglers-type Bass of "Biology". But at this point, the first three albums are beginning to show songwriting stagnation (and I'm sure he knew it), so it was time for a change. So you immediately go into the Louis Jordan Forties and Fifties Rhythm & Blues of "Jumpin' Jive" – the clarity of the Remaster will make you fell nine foot tall when you're four foot five (I like my eggs on the Jersey side). Blindingly great fun comes in the drunken lurch that is "What's The Use Of Getting Sober, When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again" where dear old pappy is about to blow his wig. There comes something you don't expect – a near Acapella live version of "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" which really works (its Jeannie with her new boyfriend) and breaks up the listen before the drums and keyboard wallop of sophistication that is "Another World" - the opening track on the near audiophile-sounding "Body And Soul" album.  

 

The "Body And Soul" album (complete with natty gatefold sleeve) blew everyone away with its leap into sophistication. We did indeed step into another world. Five tracks from it open CD2 with a fantastic run of songs – the Rock-Funk of "Steppin' Out" catching the ear of American Radio too. Even now songs like "Breaking Us In Two" and "Real Men" have stood the test of songwriting time – forty-one years on and still sounding contemporary to the point of prophetic. When the 2LP set "Big World" was released and both fans and critics realized Jackson had done the entire set of new songs in front of a live audience in order to get freshness into the final performances – most flipped out – and unfortunately not in a good way. 

 

Hearing them now in 2023 – and even though they are so damn clean and polished etc – they are oddly sterile. You can so hear that the fab four presented on here (Tracks 10 to 13 on CD2) would have been so much stronger had they been properly recorded studio cuts with the appropriate Production Values they cried out for. But all is forgiven as we romp home with a fantastic trio from his much praised and beloved "Blaze Of Glory" album – his last for A&M Records in 1989 – the brass, the licks, the catchy choruses that sway – brilliant.

 

A dynamite twofer and proof that quantity and quality can last into two double-album's worth and still leaving you jiving for me. Fools In Love given The Human Touch – and I for one have always been Steppin' Out Down To London for that...

"Carry On" by CROSBY, STILLS & NASH – Anthology with Album and Single Sides, Demos, Alternate Mixes from 1968 to 1990 Including Eleven Previously Unreleased (December 1991 Original, Reissued 30 June 1998 - UK Atlantic Records 2CD 36-Track Truncated Edition Edited Down From The 4CD Box Set "CSN" of September 1991) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"...Horses Through A Rainstorm..."

 

What you have here is an edit – a truncated 2CD variant of the 4CD "CSN" Box Set. That "CSN" four-disc vaults-trawl behemoth was first issued September 1991 in the USA with 77-tracks – this 2CD follow-through "Carry On" came in December 1991. 

 

Using the same cover artwork, but re-titled "Carry On" after the famous Stephen stills song from "Déjà vu" – you got a 36-Track twofer – a sort of Best Of. There is a heap to catalogue – so to the details and the Wooden Ships...

 

UK released 3 December 1991 (re-issued 30 June 1998) – "Carry On" by CROSBY, STILLS & NASH on Atlantic 7567-80487-2 (Barcode 075678048722) offers you 36 Remastered Tracks (done in 1991) across 2CDs and pans out as follows:

 

CD1 (74:18 minutes):

1. Woodstock (Unreleased 1969 Alternative Mix) – CSNY

2. Marrakesh Express – CSN (from the debut album "Crosby, Stills & Nash" US released 29 May 1969 on Atlantic SD-8229)

3. You Don't Have To Cry – CSN (Unreleased First Crosby, Stills & Nash recording)

4. Teach Your Children – CSNY (from their 2^nd studio album "Déjà vu" US released 11 May 1970 on Atlantic SD-7200)

5. Love The One You're With – STEPHEN STILLS (from the 16 November 1970 US Solo debut album "Stephen Stills" on Atlantic SD 7202)

6. Almost Cut My Hair (Unreleased Unedited Original Version, 8:49 minutes) – CSNY

7. Wooden Ships – CSN (from the debut album "Crosby, Stills & Nash" US released 29 May 1969 on Atlantic SD-8229)

8. Dark Star (Allies LP Version from 1983) – CSN (song first issued on the 12 June 1977 US LP "CSN" on Atlantic SD 19104, but this re-made version is the one issued on the 6 June 1983 LP "Allies" – James Newton Howard on Keyboards, Joe Vitale on Drums)

9. Helpless – CSNY (from their 2^nd studio album "Déjà vu" US released 11 May 1970 on Atlantic SD-7200)

10. Chicago//We Can Change The World – GRAHAM NASH (originally released on his debut solo album "Songs For Beginners" US released 28 May 1971 on Atlantic SD-7204 – features Rita Coolidge, Clydie King, Vanetta Fields, Shirley Matthews, Chris Etheridge and John Barbata)

11. Cathedral – CSN (first issued on the 12 June 1977 US LP "CSN" on Atlantic SD 19104 – George Perry and Russ Kunkle on Bass and Drums)

12. 4 + 20 (Unreleased Alternate Mix)

13. Our House – CSNY (from their 2^nd studio album "Déjà vu" US released 11 May 1970 on Atlantic SD-7200)

14. To The Last Whale... (a) Critical Mass (b) Wind On The Water – CROSBY & NASH (first issued on the 15 September 1975 Crosby & Nash LP "Wind On The Water" on ABC Records ABCD-902)

15. Change Partners – STEPHEN STILLS (originally released on his second solo LP "Stephen Stills 2" US released 30 June 1971 on Atlantic SD 7206 – line-up includes Fred Neil, David Crosby and much of what would become Manassas)

16. Just A Song Before I Go – CSN (first issued on the 12 June 1977 US LP "CSN" on Atlantic SD 19104 – Joe Vitale on Vibes, Tim Drummond and Russ Kunkel on Bass and Drums)

17. Ohio – CSNY (4 June 1970 US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2740, A-side – first LP appearance (along with the B-side "Find The Cost Of Freedom", Track 19 on CD4) was on the 19 August 1974 Best Of vinyl LP compilation "So Far" on Atlantic SD 18100)

18. Wasted On The Way – CSN (first issued on the 21 June 1982 US LP "Daylight Again" on Atlantic SD 19360 – Craig Doerge on Keyboards, Joe Lala of Manassas on Percussion, Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles on Backing Vocals with Wayne Goodwin of the Emmylou Harris Hot Band on Fiddle)

19. Southern Cross – CSN (first issued on the 21 June 1982 US LP "Daylight Again" on Atlantic SD 19360 – Richard T. Bear and Mike Finnigan on Keyboards, Joe Lala of Manassas on Percussion, Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles on Backing Vocals)

NOTES on CD1:

CSN = CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (David Crosby (ex Byrds), Stephen Stills (ex Buffalo Springfield) & Graham Nash (ex The Hollies))

CSNY = CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (with Neil Young (ex Buffalo Springfield))

Tracks 1, 3 and 6 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

CD2 (72:14 minutes):

1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Unreleased Alternate Mix) - CSN

2. Carry On/Questions – CSNY (from their 2^nd studio album "Déjà vu" US released 11 May 1970 on Atlantic SD-7200)

3. Horses Through A Rainstorm (Unreleased Song, recorded 28 Dec 1969) – CSNY

4. Johnny's Garden – STEPHEN STILLS & MANASSAS (originally released on the 12 April 1972 US 2LP Studio Album "Manassas" on Atlantic SD 2-903)

5. Guinnevere (Unreleased Early Demo, recorded 26 June 1968, also features Jack Cassidy of Jefferson Airplane on Bass with Cyrus Faryar of The Modern Folk Quartet on Bouzouki) – DAVID CROSBY

6. Helplessly Hoping (Unreleased Live Studio Version, 15 June 1969 Rehearsal) - CSNY

7. The Lee Shore (Unreleased Studio Version, 5:28 minutes) – CSNY (originally showed up as a new song on the 2LP Live Set "4 Way Street" from 1971 on Atlantic SD 2-902)

8. Taken At All (Unreleased CSNY Version) – CSNY (original version first issued on the 25 June 1976 Crosby & Nash LP "Whistling Down The Wind" on ABC Records ABCD-956)

9. Shadow Captain – CSN (first issued on the 12 June 1977 US LP "CSN" on Atlantic SD 19104 – Craig Doerge on Piano, Joe Vitale on Organ and Flute, George Perry and Russ Kunkel on Bass and Drums)

10. As I Come Of Age (Unreleased Version) – CSN (original version is on the 1975 US LP "Stills" on Columbia PC 33575 – this version recorded January 1981 – Michael Finnigan and Richard T. Bear on Keyboards, George Perry on Bass with Joe Vitale on Drums)

11. Drive My Car – DAVID CROSBY (first issued on the 23 January 1989 US LP "Oh Yes I Can" on A&M Records 395232-1 – Michael Hedges on Guitar with Backing Vocals from Graham Nash)

12. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Unreleased Version, Recorded 17 Nov 1980, Traffic cover version) – STEPHEN STILLS & GRAHAM NASH

13. In My Dreams – CSN (first issued on the 12 June 1977 US LP "CSN" on Atlantic SD 19104 – Joe Vitale on Vibes, Tim Drummond and Russ Kunkle on Drums)

14. Yours And Mine – CSN (first issued on the 11 June 1990 US LP "Live It Up" on Atlantic 82107-1 – Branford Marsalis on Soprano Saxophone, Craig Doerge on Keyboards)

15. Haven't We Lost Enough? – CSN (first issued on the 11 June 1990 US LP "Live It Up" on Atlantic 82107-1 – Stephen Stills only on Vocals and Acoustic Guitar)

16. After The Dolphin – CSN (first issued on the 11 June 1990 US LP "Live It Up" on Atlantic 82107-1 – Mike Landau on Guitar, Craig Doerge on Keyboards, Uses a President Truman Radio Broadcast mixed into the music)

17. Find The Cost Of Freedom – CSNY (4 June 1970 US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2740, B-side of "Ohio" – first LP appearance for both sides on the 19 August 1974 Best Of vinyl LP compilation "So Far" on Atlantic SD 18100 – A-side is Track 2 on CD2)

NOTES on CD2:

CSN = CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (David Crosby (ex Byrds), Stephen Stills (ex Buffalo Springfield) & Graham Nash (ex The Hollies))

CSNY = CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (with Neil Young (ex Buffalo Springfield))

Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

As with all of these CSNY-related retrospectives – a team of experts were called upon to do properly real transfers to digital – and the results are gorgeous. In this case 1991 Remixes were carried out by STEPHEN BARNCARD at Sunset Sound along with Analogue-To-Digital by JOE GASTWIRT at Ocean View Digital with both JOE GASTWIRT and JOHN MODELL doing the eventual remastering. The audio is a smidge short of breathtaking for us old farts used to hearing our battered LPs of 1969, 1970, 1971 and those early 1990s CDs. The instruments are so clear now, their harmonies coming at you like a wall of vocal marshmallow – it's beautifully clean and not just amped up for the sake of it. Lovely stuff. And amazingly much of the unreleased stuff matches the official output in terms of beauty...

 

The 66-page booklet of the 4CD "CSN" Box Set gets whittled down to a 20-Page variant for the 2CD Fate Jewel Case of "Carry On" that does at least give you track-by-track info but not a whole lot else. There are period photos but the song-by-song explanations are AWOL that were on the Box Set which is a shame.

 

The track placement on the twofer is just as clever as it was on the bigger box. "Carry On" opens with their electric guitar rockier version of the Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock" (an Alternate Mix) while later we get the same kind of angry sound their stand-alone single "Ohio" exuded – both Neil Young as Lead Vocalist and Crosby as Backing towards the end letting the US political machine know their disgust at University shootings that murdered protestors of the ludicrously poisonous Vietnam war. Solo choices please too like the hugely popular "Love The One You're With" – a 1970 Stephen Stills winner from his debut solo album that features Rita Coolidge, Pricilla Jones, John Sebastian propping up Crosby and Nash on Backing Vocals. His fantastic "Johnny's Garden" from the 1972 Manassas Band period is an absolute gem too.

 

And while you would expect the chipper "Our House" from "Déjà vu" to sound great and the gorgeous "Guinnevere" to move you again – it is shocking to hear stuff like the Alternate Mix of "Taken At All" from 1976 over on CD2 where their CSNY harmonies are still in full beautiful flow. And the 7:04 minutes of an unreleased cover version of the 1968 Traffic classic "Dear Mr. Fantasy" recorded in similar slinky Rock mode in November 1980 by Stills & Nash is a genuine discovery – Stills letting rip on distorted guitar ala Neil Young to amazing effect while Nash harmonizes on the chorus. Stills admits in his liner notes to the song to a lifetime admiration of British songwriter Steve Winwood and had intended him to be the keyboard player in the original line-up of CSN (Michael Finnigan adds his trademark Hammond Organ sound to the cover version to get that Traffic vibe).

 

For sure "Carry On" wanes a tad as the years progress - for all its undoubted recording sophistication, the very Sting with Branford Marsalis "Yours And Mine" from the 1990 album "Live It Up" is not touching, but actually ever so slightly insufferable. They end their odyssey on CD2 (as they did on the 4CD Box Set) by putting on the gorgeous and practically Acapella B-side "Find The Cost Of Freedom" as the last song – their 1970 plea for an end to war and the politics associated with it – a perfect finish for a spectacular vaults trawl.

 

The 30 September 1991 "CSN" 4CD splurge and its December 1991 2CD twofer follow up "Carry On" was by no means to be the end of unreleased material from the whole CSNY camp. Stephen Stills released his "Carry On" 4CD Hardback Digibook Anthology Set in February 2013, David Crosby had his 3CD "Voyage" back in November 2006, while Graham Nash brought us "Reflections" in February 2009 – another 3CD set with mucho unissued. There has also been a beautiful 50^th Anniversary LP-Sized Book Set for "Déjà vu" in May 2021 (see separate reviews for all of them) and Neil Young has not stopped reissuing unreleased material in his infamous Archive Series of CD and Vinyl.

 

Dennis Hopper asked Stephen Stills to pen a tune for the final scene of the Easy Rider movie he was in with Peter Fonda and the fantastic "Find The Cost Of Freedom" was what he offered (even if Hopper was too out of it to get its genius). The band ended every live concert with it – a clarion call to a generation hurting.

 

Well do not leave either the "CSN" 4CD Set or its 2CD baby brother "Carry On" languishing "...buried in the ground...” anywhere near you. I envy you the journey and thanks Coz (passed 18 January 2023 aged 81) for all the beautiful music and memories...

"The Police" by THE POLICE – Featuring Tracks from All Five Studio Albums (1978 to 1983) with Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland (June 2007 UK A&M Records 2CD 30-Track Compilation with 2003 Remasters in a Super Jewel Case – Has Two Bonus Tracks Over USA and EURO Versions) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of..."

 

Hardly the most exciting looking of Best Of I would admit - and that title – The Police – for Gawd's sake. But then you clap your cabbage patch ears on the Outlaws of Love contents and you're reaching for different adjectives – none of which are Canaries In A Coalmine.

 

In their late 70ts New Wave segueing into 80ts Sophisto-Pop kind of a way, the five Police albums rocked. As our tastes and listening pleasures matured, so did Sting's songwriting up to and including the last studio platter "Synchronicity" – arguably their most accomplished album - a Rock Music outing that still makes Top 100 Best LPs ever made lists. Platter No. 5 ("Synchronicity") might have had as pretentious an album title as some of the U2 outings (another fabulous band who need to speak to the album-titling ombudsman as a matter of urgency), but it's brilliance was undeniable. But all their albums felt that way to me - even the patchy third "Zenyatta Mondatta" - clearly knocked off in-between gigs and hotel corridors hijinks. I played the band named after the cops to death on my trusty Garrard SP25 turntable (as we all did) back in the 1978 to 1984 days – and their entire catalogue seemed pretty much necessary purchases (still do).

 

But what singles out this latest twofer career overview and gives it real bite are the track choices and their running order. For sure you have to have all the chart hits as such a compilation would demand, but CD1 also hits with you with deep LP cuts like "Truth Hits Everybody", "Driven To Tears", "Voices In My Head", "Walking in Your Footsteps" and even the Non-LP Andy Summers B-side from the Synchronicity period worth having - "Murder By Numbers". The UK variant of this goody two shoes also boasts two Bonus Tracks (see lists below). To the red lights...

 

Released 11 June 2007 -"The Police" by THE POLICE is a 2CD 30-Track career-spanning Compilation (1978 to 1983) using 2013 remasters that comes in two forms in the UK. The Super Jewel Case Edition is A&M Records 1736143 (Barcode 602517361430) – the 2CD Digipak Edition is A&M Records 1736144 (Barcode 602517361447) – both with 30-tracks (see Note). This review is for the Super Jewel Case version (pictured).

 

NOTE: The US release on A&M B0009080-2 has 28 Tracks – losing "The Bed's Too Big Without You" on CD1 (Track 12) and "Rehumanize Yourself" on CD2 (Track 7) – Both Are Bonus Tracks only on the 30-Track UK releases. There is also a European release on A&M 1736149 (Barcode 602517361492) and it only has 28-tracks which can be mistaken for a UK variant.

 

CD1 (55:06 minutes):

1. Fall Out

2. Can't Stand Losing You

3. Next To You

4. Roxanne

5. Truth Hits Everybody

6. Hole In My Life

7. So Lonely

8. Message In A Bottle

9. Regatta De Blanc

10. Bring On The Night

11. Walking On The Moon

12. The Bed's Too Big Without You

13. Don't Stand So Close To Me

14. Driven To Tears

15. Canary In A Coalmine

NOTES on CD1:

Track 1 is their debut UK 45-single released May 1977 on Illegal IL 001, A-side

Tracks 2 to 7 are from their debut album "Outlandos d'Amour" - released November 1978 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68502 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4753. Produced by The Police - it peaked at No. 6 in the UK and No. 23 in the USA

Tracks 8 to 12 are from their second studio album "Reggatta de Blanc" - released October 1979 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64792 and in the USA on A&M Records SP-4792. Produced by The Police and Nigel Gray - it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 26 in the USA. Track 12 is One of TWO BONUS TRACKS on UK editions of this Compilation

Tracks 13 to 15 are from their third studio album "Zenyatta Mondatta" - released October 1980 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64831 and in the USA on A&M SP-3720. Produced by Nigel Gray and The Police – it peaked at No.1 in the UK and No. 5 in the USA

 

CD2 (63:36 minutes):

1. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

2. Voices Inside My Head

3. Invisible Sun

4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

5. Spirits In The Material World

6. Demolition Man

7. Rehumanize Yourself

8. Every Breath You Take

9. Synchronicity 1

10. Wrapped Around Your Finger

11. Walking in Your Footsteps

12. Synchronicity II

13. King Of Pain

14. Murder By Numbers

15. Tea In The Sahara

NOTES ON CD2:

Tracks 1 and 2 are from their third studio album "Zenyatta Mondatta" - released October 1980 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 64831 and in the USA on A&M SP-3720. Produced by Nigel Gray and The Police – it peaked at No.1 in the UK and No. 5 in the USA

Tracks 3 to 7 are from their fourth studio album "Ghost In The Machine" - released October 1981 in the UK on A&M Records AMLK 63730 and in the USA on A&M SP-3730. Produced by The Police and Hugh Padgham – it peaked at No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA. Track 7 is Two of TWO BONUS TRACKS on UK editions of this Compilation

Tracks 8 to 13 and 15 are from their fifth and final studio album "Synchronicity" – released June 1983 in the UK on A&M Records AMLX 63735 and in the USA on A&M SP-3735. Produced by Hugh Padgham and The Police – it peaked at No.1 in both countries

Track 14 "Murder By Numbers" was a Bonus Track on the Cassette and CD versions of the "Synchronicity" album when originally released in 1983. It was also the Non-LP B-side to the 45-single for "Every Breath You Take" when it was issued in the month before the album showed. Released May 1983 in the UK on A&M Records AM 117 (A&M Records AM-2542 in the USA) – that 45-single was itself a chart Number 1 in both countries (like the album)

 

THE POLICE was:

STING – Bass, Keyboards, Sequencers and Lead Vocals

ANDY SUMMERS – Lead Guitar

STEWART COPELAND – Drums

All songs written by Sting except "Fall Out" by Summers and Copeland (Henry Padovani played Guitar), "Regatta De Blanc" and "Rehumanize Yourself" by Sting, Summers and Copeland and "Murder By Numbers" written by Andy Summers (Music) and Sting (Words). Jean Roussel plays keyboards on "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"

 

The six-panel (either side) foldout-inlay has a Poster across one whole side for a Live New Wave Music Broadcast - 18 May 1979 at Madam Wong's (Wilshire Blvd in West Los Angeles) for KXLU-FM and KSPC-FM Radio Stations in Los Angeles and Claremont. Esther Wong was famously dubbed The Godmother of Punk, her venue was on Wilshire Blvd in West Los Angeles and the repro poster screams The Police Raid Madam Wong's!!

 

The other foldout side has six panels populated by period photos, some functionary liner notes about the band’s history and chart achievements from CHRIS SALEWICZ and the Reissue/Track List details on another part. Given that the release is only three years after the Five Album Remasters campaign of 2003 - these are very evidently the 2003 Remasters done in London and L.A. and Mastered by Bob Ludwig from original tapes. The audio here is fantastic – punchy, clear and at times (having been used to lesser versions) alarmingly in your face. There is a see-through tray for both CDs with a photo of the three-piece band on the rear inlay beneath. To the tunes...

 

The moment you play CD1 – you get what I was saying about the layout of the tracks. It opens on the fantastic Punk/New Wave/Rock Pop of "Fall Out" – their debut 45 on Illegal Records - a tremendous start to a career that would lead them to becoming one of the biggest bands in the world. Sting takes lead vocals with a suitably wild guitar solo handled by Henry Padovani (thereafter left). We cut straight to the A&M years and you’re hammered with hit after hit  - brilliant lyrics, catchy tunes with killer choruses. Immediately the production values take a leap "Can't Stand Losing You" (all this guilt will be on your head). "Next To You" cements Sting's knack of penning an irresistible tune with razor-sharp lyrics that left most Punk Bands in the dust. It's a clever follow to have "Truth Hits Everybody" come after the overplayed "Roxette" and then next up is the chug of "Hole In My Life". 

 

It is hard now in 2023 to realize the impact tracks like "So Lonely" and the genius that is "Message In A Bottle" had on us poor lovelorn punkettes in 1978 and 1979 - swaying on the dancefloor to these teenage-whinge anthems. And when CD1 races home with the winner-after-winner from the "Regatta de Blanc" CHA! album and even its slightly lacklustre follow up "Zenyatta Mondatta" ("Driven To Tears" is an outstanding moment on it) – we have to mention the band's other double-whammy secret weapons other than Sting's songs – the stunning guitar work of Andy Summers and that locked down tight drumming Stewart Copeland displayed on every song. This was a killer outfit given material that made them literally pop.And the world loved it - as the chart statistics bear out.

 

Too many cameras and not enough food – politics, the world, literature, thought processes – it all starts to dominate Sting’s writing by the time we get to "Ghost In The Machine" – an album I adored in 1981. CD2 gives us the obvious cuts of "Everything She Does Is Magic" and "Spirits In The Material World" and "Invisible Sun" is always impressive (one you forgot) – but I have never liked "Demolition Man" and the Bonus "Rehumanize Yourself" is good but I would have preferred "Too Much Information" or "One World (Not Three)" instead. 

 

The final run (amazingly) is all of the 10-track "Synchronicity" album bar three – the lesser Sting song "O My God" and the two truly dreadful Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland tunes "Mother" and "Miss Gradenko" (I am sure Sting put them on the album to show the world who the real songwriter in The Police was). But the song order is different to that of the LP and by slotting in the B-side "Murder By Numbers" in before "Tea In The Sahara" - it works like a new and better listen. There was a sophistication too in the music on the "Synchronicity" album of 1983 that set up Sting's hugely successful solo career that began with "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles" in June 1985 (again on A&M Records). 

 

Truth be told - this 2CD set of Police Remasters is regularly up for sale for under four quid in 2023 and often under that (including P&P). So with its stunning sound and 30 cool track choices – "The Police" represents some serious listening value for money. 

 

England's The Police really were a great band - right up to the inevitable egotistical acrimonious end. But this 2007 compilation hammers that home with big man-trucker boots. Hoover up this trio's not so ghostly spirits in a seriously material world and enjoy...