"Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by EMMYLOU HARRIS – Forty-Four US 45-Singles culled from Albums, Compilations and Stand-Alone Releases between 1975 and 1990. Guests feature Members of The Band, Eagles, Little Feat and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Plus Musicians James Burton, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Herb Pedersen, Duane Eddy, Paul Kennerley, Carl Jackson and Waylon Jennings. Duet Vocals with Roy Orbison, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, Backing Vocals from Vince Gill, Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Dianne Brooks, The Whites and many more (May 2001 UK Warner Archives/Reprise/Rhino Series 2CD 44-Track Singles Compilation with Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Beneath Still Waters..."

 

Although it doesn't say it on the front or rear cover - what you get here are a huge Forty-Four Country-Rock US 45-Singles (all tracks are Single Versions). Rhino have pulled a humungous thirty-seven tracks from fourteen Studio Albums and one Live Set ("Last Date") and added in a Best Of Compilation exclusive, a Soundtrack duet with Roy Orbison and Five Non-LP B-sides.

 

The LP releases stretch from her February 1975 Debut Album "Pieces Of The Sky" all the way up to the October 1990 set "Brand New Dance". The pictured discography in the booklet however has all releases up to "Red Dirt Girl" and photos of other releases where there is more Emmylou Harris available - like the Gram Parsons twofer "Sacred Hearts And Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology" – also issued May 2001 by Rhino.

 

While the tunes are the usual mix of heartbreak, misery, abandonment and infidelity amongst drunken emotional desperados – there are three things that impress and stay with you. The first is the staggering guest lists throughout the years - Members of The Band, Eagles, Little Feat and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Plus guitar pickers like James Burton, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Scaggs, Albert Lee, Herb Pedersen, Duane Eddy, Paul Kennerley, Carl Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Douglas and Vocal Duets with genre legends like Roy Orbison, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton with Backing Vocals from such luminaries as Vince Gill, Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Dianne Brooks, Sharon Hicks, The Whites and so many more.

 

Door number two is the songs – always aching, often beautiful, and always with smart choices and superlative execution. But then there is number three – the sheer class that emanates off every molecule of her back catalogue – and is presented her in the kind of gorgeous array most recording artists can only hope for but rarely get.

 

When Rhino did the Warner Archives Reprise sets, they really went for it in terms of annotation and quality Remastering. There is so much to love on here – so let’s get to the saddles and get sore...

 

UK released 1 May 2001 - "Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by EMMYLOU HARRIS on Warner Archives Rhino/Reprise 8122-76705-2 (Barcode 081227670528) is a 44-Track 2CD Compilation of Remastered US 45-Single Sides that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (76:20 minutes):

1. Too Far Gone (Billy Sherriff song)

2. If I Could Only Win Your Love (Charlie and Ira Louvin song)

3. Boulder To Birmingham (Emmylou Harris/Bill Dannoff song)

4. Together Again (Buck Owens song)

5. Here, There And Everywhere (Beatles song)

6. One Of These Days (Earl Montgomery song)

7. Sweet Dreams (Live) (Don Gibson song)

8. (You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie (Chuck Berry song)

9. Making Believe (Jimmy Work song)

10. Easy From Now On (Susanne Clark/Carlene Carter song)

11. To Daddy (Dolly Parton song)

12. Two More Bottles Of Wine (Delbert McClinton song)

13. Save The Last Dance For Me (Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman song, Drifters cover)

14. Beneath Still Waters (Dallas Frazier song)

15. Blue Kentucky Girl (Johnny Mullins song)

16. Wayfaring Stranger (Traditional song)

17. That Lovin' You Feelin' Again (Roy Orbison/Chris Price song – a Duet with ROY ORBISON)

18. The Boxer (Paul Simon song, Simon & Garfunkel cover)

19. Precious Love (Byron Walls song)

20. Fools Thin Air (Rodney Crowell/Susanna Clark song)

21. Mister Sandman (Pat Ballard song, Chordettes cover)

22. Colors Of Your Heart (Rodney Crowell song)

 

NOTES on CD1:

"Pieces Of The Sky" Album

Track 1 is a 26 February 1975 US 45-single, Reprise RPS-1326, A-side (see also Track 3 for B-side) – reissued 10 January 1979 as a US 45-single on Warner Brothers WBS 8732, A-side

Track 2 is a 4 June 1975 US 45-single, Reprise RPS-1332, A-side

Track 3 is a 26 February 1975 US 45-single first issue, Reprise RPS-1326, B-side of "Too Far Gone" – second issue was 4 June 1975 on Reprise RPS 1332, B-side of "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (Track 1), third issue was 17 December 1976 on Reprise RPS 1379, B-side of "Light Of The Stable"

Tracks 1 to 3 on her debut album "Pieces Of The Sky", released 7 February 1975 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2213

 

"Elite Hotel" Album

Tracks 5 and 4 (note order) are the A&B-sides of a 11 February 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1346, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Track 6 is a 5 May 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1353, A-side

Track 7 is a 22 September 1976 US 45-single, Reprise RPS 1371, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Tracks 4, 5, 6 and 7 on her second studio album "Elite Hotel", released 29 December 1975 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2236

 

"Luxury Liner" Album

Track 8 is a 2 February 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8329, A-side

Track 9 is a 4 May 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8388, A-side

Tracks 8 and 9 are from her album "Luxury Liner", released 28 December 1976 in the USA on Reprise Records BS 2998

 

"Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town" Album

Track 10 is a 5 July 1978 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8623, A-side

Track 11 is a 2 November 1977 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8498, A-side

Track 12 is a 7 March 1978 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8553, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Tracks 10, 11 and 12 on her album "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town", released 6 January 1978 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3141

 

"Blue Kentucky Girl" Album

Track 13 is a 2 May 1979 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 8815, A-side, a Drifters cover version

Track 14 is a 23 January 1980 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49164, A-side, a No.1 on US C&W singles charts

Track 15 is a 22 August 1979 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49056, A-side

Tracks 13, 14 and 15 on her album "Blue Kentucky Girl", released 13 April 1979 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3318

 

"Roses In The Snow" Album

Track 16 is a 14 May 1980 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49239, A-side

Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of a 13 August 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49551 – the B-side "Precious Lover" was Non-LP

 

"Roadies" Soundtrack Album

Track 17 was a US 45-single released 21 May 1980, Warner Brothers WBS 49262 – a duet credited to EMMYLOU HARRIS and ROY ORBISON. It also featured on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album to "Roadie", released 21 May 1980 in the USA on Warner Brothers 2HS-2441

 

Tracks 21 and 20 (note order) are the A&B-sides of an 11 February 1981 US 45-single on Warner Brothers WBS 49684. It is essentially a stand-alone 45 because the B-side "Fools Thin Air" was Non-LP and the A-side "Mister Sandman" had a different mix on the 1981 "Evangeline" album that contained additional vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt (not on the single version)

 

Track 22 is a 13 May 1981 US 45-single, Warner WBS 49739, the Non-LP B-side to "I Don't Have To Crawl"

 

CD2 (72:43 minutes):

1. If I Needed You ((Townes Van Zandt song – with DON WILLIAMS)

2. Tennessee Rose (Karen Brooks/Hank DeVito song)

3. Born To Run (Paul Kennerley song)

4. Another Pot O' Tea (Paul Grady song)

5. I'm Movin' On (Hank Snow song)

6. (Lost His Love) On Our Last Date (Live) (Floyd Crammer/Conway Twitty song)

7. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) (Live) (Don Everly song)

8. Maybe Tonight (Shirley Elkhard song)

9. Drivin' Wheel (T-Bone Burnett/Billy Swan song)

10. In My Dreams (Paul Kennerley song)

11. Pledging My Love (Don Robey/Fats Washington song – Johnny Ace cover)

12. Someone Like You (Bob McDill/Dickey Lee song)

13. White Line (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

14. Rhythm Guitar (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

15. Timberline (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

16. I Had My Heart Set On You (Rodney Crowell/Paul Kennerley song)

17. Today I Started Loving You Again (Merle Haggard/Bonnie Owens song)

18. To Know Him Is To Love Him (Phil Spector song, a Teddy Bears cover, a Trio with DOLLY PARTON and LINDA RONSTADT)

19. Heartbreak Hill (Emmylou Harris/Paul Kennerley song)

20. Heaven Only Knows (Paul Kennerley song)

21. I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash & Ray Cash Jr.,)

22. Wheels Of Love (Marjy Plant)

 

NOTES on CD2:

"Evangeline" Album

Track 1 is an August 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49809, A-side – a duet with DON WILLIAMS. From the "Evangeline" album, released 28 January 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3508 (see also Notes for Track 21 on CD1 – a variant of which is also on the album)

 

"Cimarron" Album

Track 2 is a 16 December 1981 US 45-single, Warner Brothers WBS 49892, A-side

Track 3 is a May 1982 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29993, A-side

Tracks 2 and 3 are on the album "Cimarron", released 18 November 1981 in the USA on Warner Brothers BSK 3603

 

Track 4 is a 15 September 1982 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 7-29898, the Non-LP B-side to "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date" (for A-side see Track 6 on CD2)

 

"Last Date" Live Album

Track 5 is a 16 February 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29729, A-side (for Non-LP B-side "Maybe Tonight" see Track 8 on CD2)

Track 6 is a 15 September 1982 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29898, A-side

Track 7 is a 1 June 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29583, A-side

Tracks 5, 6 and 7 are on the live album "Last Date", released 13 October 1982 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 23740-1

 

Track 8 is a 16 February 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29729, the Non-LP B-side to "I'm Movin' On" see Track 5 on CD2)

 

"White Shoes" Album

Track 9 is a 19 October 1983 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29443, A-side

Track 10 is a 22 February 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29329, A-side

Track 11 is a 11 July 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29218, A-side

Tracks 9, 10 and 11 from the album "White Shoes", released 19 October 1983 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 23961-1

 

"Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris" Compilation Album

Track 12 was a new songs exclusive to the compilation "Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris", released 17 September 1984 on Warner Brothers 9 25161-1

 

"The Ballad Of Sally Rose" Album

Track 13 is a 27 February 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-29041, A-side

Track 14 is a 12 June 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28952, A-side

Track 15 is a 16 October 1985 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28852, A-side

Tracks 13, 14 and 15 from the album "The Ballad Of Sally Rose", released 31 December 1984 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25205-1

 

"Thirteen" Album

Track 16 is a 22 January 1986 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28770, A-side

Track 17 is a 2 April 1986 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28714, A-side

Tracks 16 and 17 are from the album "Thirteen", released 20 January 1986 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25352-1

 

"Trio" Album

Track 18 is a 14 January 1987 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 7-28492, A-side. Also on the "Trio" album by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, released 2 March 1987 in the USA on Warner Brothers 9 25491-1

 

"Bluebird" Album

Track 19 is an 18 November 1988 US 45-single, Reprise 7-27635, A-side

Track 20 is a 28 March 1989 US 45-single, Reprise 7-22999, A-side

Track 21 is an August 1989 US 45-single, Reprise 7-22850, a-side

Tracks 19, 20 and 21 on the "Bluebird" album, released 10 January 1989 in the USA on Reprise Records 9 25776-1

 

"Brand New Dance" Album

Track 22 is a 22 November 1990 US 45-single, Reprise 7-19510, A-side – also on the "Brand New Dance" album, released 16 October 1990 in the USA on Reprise 9 26309-2 (CD)

 

Produced for Rhino by their A&R man Patrick Mulligan (he introduces the liner notes), the outer card slipcase houses two Card-Digipaks (pictured) with the 50-page booklet slotted in beside them. The booklet is gorgeous and jam-packed with serious discography info and thorough history notes by HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN. Period photos pepper the text – they have even provided Billboard C&W and Pop chart positions for each single. And although Rhino only uses songs from 15 of her actual album releases, they have listed and pictured a full 24-album discography including compilations, Soundtracks and Retrospectives across Pages 42 to 46 as well as other suggestions where to get more of your EH fix (very classy stuff, like the good lady herself).

 

Long-time-associated Audio Engineers with Rhino reissues BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH have carried out the gorgeous Remasters at Digiprep – every song singing like that Kentucky Bird – pedal steel and mandolin solos ahoy. It really is a beautiful listen (check out the clarity on her cover of the going-over-Jordan Traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" – a song that features acoustic and gut-string geetars and mandolins by Ricky Scaggs, Brian Ahern, Jerry Douglas and Albert Lee). To the chunes...

 

Fans are going to love digitally remastered versions of cool rarities like the Honky Tonky guitar-picking of both "Precious Love" and "Fools Thin Air" – two Non-LP B-sides from 1980 and 1981, but that Roy Orbison duet from the crappy "Roadies" movie soundtrack feels like a clunky disappointment. But they are as nothing to the fabulous Rodney Crowell plaintive ballad "Colors Of Your Heart" – another Non-album flipside (from 1981) that surely should have been glistening on an album. The whole band elevates her floating ethereal vocals - Frank Reckard on Acoustic, Hank DeVito on Pedal Steel, James Burton on Dobro, Ricky Scaggs on Mandolin and a few more top session-types bolstering up the Rhythm Section. It’s a perfect example of the surprises this set throws up.

 

The first moment of genius for me on CD1 is her tingle-inducing ballad "Boulder To Birmingham" – as sweet and as movingly simple a listen as you could get in 1975. Her live version of the Don Gibson classic "Sweet Dreams" is fab too – somehow even more emotive for being in front of an audience - but I have to say I find the Dolly Parton song "To Daddy" far too saccharine. Not so the simple brilliance in the Delbert McClinton moaner "Two More Bottles Of Wine" – the kind of boozy-battered-broken-hearted-fool tune Emmylou so excels in. I can understand the clever Harmony Vocal overdubs in her cover of The Chordettes hit "Mister Sandman", but again the LP cut had additional vocals from Dolly and Linda and is much better for it. Vocalist Group The Whites (Buck, Cheryl and Sharon) lend their deeply lovely pipes to a very sweet cover of that "Bridge Over Troubled Water" classic "The Boxer" – Simon & Garfunkel might even have been impressed if they'd been talking. And as I mentioned earlier, "Wayfaring Stranger" is just plain beautiful and a track I return to again and again (Tim Buckley in 1968, Johnny Cash in 2000 and especially Natalie Merchant on her 2003 CD album "The House Carpenter’s Daughter" have all done storming versions too).

 

Over on CD2, the Eighties and its highly polished sound dominates – only in EJ's case she is thankfully determined to not make it Soul-less. Part 2 begins with a beautifully recorded duet with Don Williams on her cover of the Townes Van Zandt song "If I Needed You" – Wayne Godwin on Mandolin and Fiddle. Bert Ahern and Ricky Scaggs give a classy underpinning to the jaunty ache in "Tennessee Rose" (one night would sort things out). Not to be confused with The 1975 Boss Anthem of the same name, husband Paul Kennerley provided with EJ with "Born To Run" – great guitar sound in the clear-as-a-bell Remaster. Surprising lovely is the Non-LP B-side "Another Pot O' Tea", our Kentucky Girl in love with an Irish accent – laughing around the table but longing too.

 

Emmylou and her Hot Band were clearly raring to go with the live set "Last Date" opening proceedings with a cool Honky Tonk version of the much-covered Hank Snow song "I'm Movin' On" (a perfect scene-setter). Immediate concert class comes in the shape of "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date", our gusto-gal foolishly breaking her man down easy only to find she knows it's a fooler mistake as she watches her good baby walk away. Wayne Goodwin opens the lovely "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" with his Mandolin strums only to be joined in the Harmony Wall by Steve Fishell and Don Johnson on Pedal Steel and Keyboards.

 

And again another flipside impresses big time - "Maybe Tonight" benefitting from Dobro by Steve Fishell. Time to get shuffling with the T-Bone Burnett and Billy Swan-penned boogie-down - "Drivin' Wheel". Aided by Barry Tashian dueting on Lead Vocals – it's the kind of Country Rocker that would make Gram Parsons smile in the great Blue Kentucky yonder. Emmylou will hold her man tight and everything will work out all right "In My Dreams". A clever choice is the Johnny Ace cover, "Pledging My Love", Emmylou turning his Doo Wop Fifties pleader into a Country one – such a lovely version with her voice evoking the hurt. And on it goes with an embarrassment of riches...

 

I have seen "Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years" by Emmylou Harris on sale on Amazon for under three quid and on Auction Sites for as little as four or five sterling. I would take up that bargain before the crowds dawdling in some lesser musical space notice their extraordinarily discombobulated dicky behaviour...

"The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" by THE CLASH – Includes Album Tracks and Singles from 1977 to 1982 on CBS and Epic Records (October 1999 UK Columbia Records 2CD Compilation - Originally Issued late February 1988 – 1999 Reissued Here In The Same Packaging and With The Same Tracks, But Newly Remastered by Bob Whitney, Ray Staff & Bob Price) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Bullet Holes In The Cemetery Walls..."

 

When "The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" was originally released 29 February 1988 – even though it was a Best Of Compilation in all but name – it still felt like something of an acknowledgement of their greatness – an event even. I loved it. I had all their stuff, but I bought the bugger anyway.

 

Cut to the October 1999 Remastered 2CD Reissue in the same artwork and with the same tracks (just better audio) and you look at the total playing times on both CDs (49:40 minutes and 50:41 minutes) – and could argue that a bolstering-skywards was in order. They could easily have rejiggered both discs and popped on "Remote Control", "Hitsville UK", "Know Your Rights", "The Call Up" or even deep LP cuts like "Overpowered By Funk" or "Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad" or "Something About England" (plus many more). And the stingy you-will-own-nothing-and-be-glad swinehunts didn't.

 

But I would argue, that there is a listening precision here that I like. I hate to use the phrase 'less is more' on anything by The Clash – but mwah, mwah – I like it like that my son. I'm afraid I am working for the Clampdown. To the Spanish Bombs in Andalucía...

 

UK re-released October 1999 in Restored Remastered form (original was 29 February 1988, reissue uses same artwork) - "The Story Of The Clash Volume 1" by THE CLASH on Columbia 495351 2 (Barcode 5099749535121) is a 2CD 28-Track compilation that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (49:40 minutes):

1. The Magnificent Seven

2. Rock The Casbah

3. This Is Radio Clash

4. Should I Stay Or Should I Go

5. Straight To Hell

6. Armagideon Time

7. Clampdown

8. Train In Vain

9. Guns Of Brixton

10. I Fought The Law

11. Somebody Got Murdered

12. Lost In The Supermarket

13. Bank Robber

NOTES on CD1:

Track 1 from the album "Sandinista!", a 3LP set released December 1980 in the UK on CBS Records FSLN 1 and Epic E3X 37037 in the USA

Tracks 2, 4 and 5 from the album "Combat Rock" - released May 1982 in the UK on CBS Records FMLN 2 and Epic FE 37689 in the USA

Track 3 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 20 November1981 on CBS Records CBS A1797, A-side

Track 6 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 7 December 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 8087, B-side to "London Calling" (see Track 12 on CD2 for A-side)

Tracks 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are from the album "London Calling", a 2LP set released December 1979 in the UK on CBS Records CLASH 3. The track "Train In Vain" on the end of Side 2 was not listed on the sleeve of original copies even though it was on the album (the run-out groove gave you the name of the track). Released January 1980 in the USA on Epic E2 36328 (initial copies were the same regarding "Train In Vain")

Track 10 was on the "The Cost Of Living E.P.", a 4-Track Extended Play 45-single released 11 May 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 7324, Track 1, Side 1

 

CD2 (50:41 minutes):

1. (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais

2. London's Burning

3. Janie Jones

4. Tommy Gun

5. Complete Control

6. Capitol Radio

7. White Riot

8. Career Opportunities

9. Clash City Rockers

10. Safe European Home

11. Stay Free

12. London Calling

13. Spanish Bombs

14. English Civil War

15. Police & Thieves

NOTES on CD2:

Track 1 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 16 June 1978 on CBS Records S CBS 5293, A-side

Tracks 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 15 are on their debut album "The Clash" released April 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 82000 and July 1979 on Epic Records JE 36060 in the USA (with different tracks and artwork). A live version of Track 2 was also a UK 45-single released 13 May 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 6383, B-side of "Remote Control". Track 7 was also their debut UK 45-single released 18 March 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 5058, A-side. Track 9 was also a UK 45-single released 17 February 1978 on CBS Records S CBS 5834, A-side. Track 15 is a Junior Murvin cover version originally released April 1980 as a UK 45-single on Island Records WIP 6539, A-side

Tracks 4, 10, 11 and 14 are on their second album "Give 'Em Enough Rope" - released October 1978 in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 82431 and February 1979 in the USA on Epic JE 35543

Track 5 is a Non-LP UK 45-single released 23 September 1977 on CBS Records S CBS 5664, A-side (see Track 2 on CD2 for the B-side)

Track 6 was on the "The Cost Of Living E.P.", a 4-Track Extended Play 45-single released 11 May 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 7324, Track 2, Side 2

Tracks 12 and 13 are from the album "London Calling", a 2LP set released December 1979 in the UK on CBS Records CLASH 3. The track "Train In Vain" on the end of Side 2 was not listed on the sleeve of original copies even though it was on the album (the run-out groove gave you the name of the track). Released January 1980 in the USA on Epic E2 36328 (initial copies were the same regarding "Train In Vain"). Track 12 was also a UK 45-single released 7 December 1979 on CBS Records S CBS 8087, A-side (see Track 6 on CD1 for B-side "Armagideon Time")

 

THE CLASH was:

JOE STRUMMER – Guitar, Lead Vocals

MICK JONES – Guitar, Lead Vocals

PAUL SIMONON – Bass

TOPPER HEADON - Drums

 

Valet, Roadie and all-round save-them-from-themselves-and-the-British-press good guy ALBERT TRANSOME supplies the witty and brutally honest liner-notes/memories of life at the beginning with the band. There are car-shops in Camden Town whilst rehearsing three-minute wonders every day (the paint dribbles stayed on their clothes as a fashion choice) to fights with German TV Crews in Hamburg beside radiators and Hotel Carpet Replacement bills of £1,400 that chased them around for years, 350 smashed seats at the Rainbow in Finsbury Park in May 1977. There are also unsung heroes – like Alex Michon – a quiet girl who handmade all the Stage Togs. The text is peppered with suitably rebel-yell photos of our four reprobates in various I’m going-to-kill-the-chip-shop-owner for his underwhelming Saveloy supply poses. It's all very Rock 'n' Roll as you can imagine, but I can't help think that an upgraded booklet would have been better.

 

But that's a by-the-by because the real meat and veg comes in new RAY STAFF, BOB WHITNEY and RAY PRICE Remasters done at Whitfield Street Studios that rawk with a panache these recordings needed. For sure the earlier more-crudely recorded years have always felt like sonic compromises in some way and the later material subject to better Production Values, but here they have tackled both with strength and space.

 

It's genius really to start this CD1 listen with "The Magnificent Seven" - it's not Punk Rock, as straightjacket descriptions would have us define it - and yet it is. Coming off the splurge that was "Sandinista!" in 1980 – the count-in, the Bass Notes, the angry 'you lot – wot!' chant in the chorus – the workingman drinking his wages – vacuum cleaner sucking up Budgie – brilliant! And the Remaster is punching it out with real power when you give it some welly. Degenerate but faithful with that crazy Casbah Sound – the opener is cleverly followed with the hugely popular "Rock The Casbah" where you can bet that Sharif don't think its Kosher (he don't like it either). The echoed Reggae tinge continues with "This Is Radio Clash" – deadly exhibitions of murder in Vietnam by Napalm – the snarl of Joe Strummer lifting the tune out of parody.

 

Is it possible to resist "Should I Stay Or I Should I Go" – I doubt it! Armed with a fantastic Rock-Punk riff and lyrics that make you laugh and uncomfortable at the same time (don't know which clothes even fit me). If I am honest, I've always been on the shelf about "Straight To Hell" – though I will say that all that drum patting crossing your speakers with treated guitars is clearer in the Remaster. One million times better and in my Top Five Greatest B-sides evah out of hundreds of thousands with an irration in the nation  - "Armagideon Time" comes storming across your speakers. Lot of people getting no supper tonight – its equally brilliant A-side "London Calling" is on CD2 (I cannot imagine how many movies about the Capitol this song has featured in).

 

At last we get genuine Punk brilliance - "Clampdown" riffing into your living room as the boss men at the factory tell you how lucky you are to have a job. It makes you want to race back one more time to the wonder that is the 2LP-set "London Calling". Clever sequencing now Funks it up with that double’s hidden song "Train In Vain" that ended Side 4 without announcing itself. What a fantastic song – The Clash in brilliant form. Smart sequencing too with the Big Bass almost Dub Rock of "Guns Of Brixton" – politics seeping through their every breath – those wavy guitar fills clearer too.

 

CD1 ends with a run of four that is surely a claim to their greatness in itself. First up is the incendiary cover of The Bobby Fuller Hit from the Sixties - "I Fought The Law" suiting their gang-of-four ethos (you and me against the world). The following two are what made me love the "London Calling" album – angry, smart, topical, mainlining the zeitgeist – barber getting coshed – but elsewhere - "Somebody Got Murdered" – someone dead forever. Perfectly winding the CD down comes two different Clash Sounds - "Lost In The Supermarket" (Joe looking for a guaranteed personality) while I can now no longer hear "Bank Robber" without thinking about Johnny Quid (played by a brilliantly deranged Toby Kebbell) in the underrated Guy Ritchie movie "RockNRolla". Daddy was a Bank Robber, but he hurt nobody, he just loved to take your money. Love it!

 

CD2 is the genuinely PUNK disc. It opens with "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" giving it some angry British Working Class via a Jamaican Sound System - those piano and harmonica and jagged rhythms combo already showing their song-construction chops. Another smart choice comes with the bored-youth of "London's Burning" – yellow lights in the dim night offering a way forward. Love those layered vocals on "Janie Jones" and the Joe Jackson hard Bass line. Riffage and feedback come a stomping into your den with "Tommy Gun" – nutters shooting up the place just for fun. "Complete Control" is so British Punk it hurts, while the discussion about seeing The Pistols for the first time foretells what was to come for The Clash - "Capitol Radio" explaining their beginnings and history in a rough-as-it-comes interview style. It sets up the simple rip-em-up of "White Riot" – the sort of Punk Missile many felt they should have stuck with (but the band was smarter than that).

 

The rage against the establishment machine continues with "Career Opportunities" and "Clash City Rockers" – crude but so powerful the pair of them. The production values go through the roof for "Safe European Home" – the power of the band suddenly captured for real. But then I go into rapture when I play "Stay Free" – that fantastic riff woven into lyrics about school and smoking menthols and ignoring teachers and making plans down at The Crown & Anchor – burn it fucking down (to the annoyance of everyone).  The final four revert to well-known hits – the underworld and phoney Beatlemania biting the dust in the epoch-making "London Calling" – bullet holes in the cemetery walls with "Spanish Bombs" – everyone including Johnny comes marching home in "English Civil War". It all comes to an end with a Junior Murvin cover version – the oh-yeah guns and ammunition of "Police & Thieves" – Joe Strummer worrying about the next generation.

 

THE CLASH were a great band – not a good one – and every fan knows why this compilation avoids even a single song from the sorry swan-song that was the "Cut The Crap" album in 1985 after they broke up. But what you do get here is a gluttony-fest – and it sounds banging...

"Nothing Has Changed" by DAVID BOWIE – July 1969 to November 2014 'Very Best Of' Career Retrospective With An Emphasis On Single Mixes (November 2014 UK Parlophone 39-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters with One Previously Unreleased 1972 Demo and One New 2014 Song) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Moonage Daydream..."

 

Here in late 2023, there are probably too many David Bowie compilations on the market (and we are talking four decades now). But one or two stand above the melee. There is an Expanded 3CD variant of "Nothing Has Changed" – but I dig this twofer because it does the business where I want it.

 

As you check out the track lists on CD1 and CD2 below, you will notice that a lot are either 'Single' Edits or Versions and therefore avoid the excess of some longer Album cuts. Throw in an unreleased version of 'All The Young Dudes', those tasty duets with Queen, Mick Jagger, The Pat Metheny Group and Pet Shop Boys - alongside one new epic orchestrated tune worthy of the great man – and it all feels so damn good the whole way through. To the Moonage Daydreams...

 

UK released 14 November 2014 (17 November 2014 in the USA) - "Nothing Has Changed" by DAVID BOWIE on Parlophone 825646205745 (Barcode 825646205745) is a Very Best Of 2CD 39-Track Compilation of Newly Remastered Material Released between July 1969 and November 2014 (with One Previously Unreleased and One New Song) that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (78:56 minutes):

1. Space Oddity (5:14 minutes)

(11 July 1969, UK 45-single, Philips BF 1801, A-side – also on the "David Bowie" album – released 14 November 1969 in the UK on Phillips SBL 7902 and in the USA as "Man Of Words/Man Of Music" on Mercury SR-61246 with different artwork)

 

2. The Man Who Sold The World (3:57 minutes)

(From the "The Man Who Sold The World" album – released 4 November 1970 in the USA on Mercury SR 61325 and 10 April 1971 in the UK on Mercury 6338 041)

 

3. Changes (3:35 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623 – also 14 January 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2160, A-side)

 

4. Oh! You Pretty Things (3:12 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623)

 

5. Life On Mars? (3:49 minutes)

(On the "Hunky Dory" album – released 17 December 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8244 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4623 – also 22 June 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2316, A-side)

 

6. Starman (Original Single Mix) (4:12 minutes)

(April 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2199, A-side – also on the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702)

 

7. Ziggy Stardust (4:39 minutes)

(On the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702 - also 24 November 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2302, B-side of "The Jean Genie")

 

8. Moonage Daydream (4:39 minutes)

(On the "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" album – released 16 June 1972 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8287 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4702)

 

9. The Jean Genie (Original Single Mix) (4:05 minutes)

(24 November 1972, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2302, A-side – Full Version on the album "Aladdin Sane" – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852)

 

10. All The Young Dudes (3:08 minutes)

(Previously Unreleased Stereo Mix of the song Bowie gave to the British rock Band Mott The Hoople who released their version on UK 45-single and had a hit with it, thereby reviving their careers)

 

11. Drive-In Saturday (4:30 minutes)

(6 April 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2352, A-side – and on the album "Aladdin Sane" – released 13 April 1973 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1001 and in the USA on RCA Victor LSP 4852)

 

12. Sorrow (2:53 minutes)

(28 September 1973, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2424, A-side (a Merseybeats song) – also on the album "Pinups" - an entire LP of cover versions released 19 October 1973 in the UK on RCA RS 1003 and in the USA on RCA Victor APL1-0291)

 

13. Rebel Rebel (4:30 minutes)

(On the album "Diamond Dogs" - released 31 May 1974 in the UK on RCA Victor APL1 0576 and in the USA on RCA Victor CPL1 0576 – an earlier mix was issued 14 February 1973 as a UK 45-single on RCA Victor LPBO 5009, A-side – the album version is used here)

 

14. Young Americans (Original Single Mix) (3:13 minutes)

(21 February 1975, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2523, A-side – Full Version is on the album "Young Americans" - released 7 March 1975 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1006 and in the US on RCA Victor AQL1-0998)

 

15. Fame (4:16 minutes)

(On the album "Young Americans" - released 7 March 1975 in the UK on RCA Victor RS 1006 and in the US on RCA Victor AQL1-0998 – also issued as an edited 3:30 minutes UK 45-single, 18 July 1975 on RCA Victor RCA 2579, A-side)

 

16. Golden Years (Single Version) (3:27 minutes)

(21 November 1975, UK 45-single, RCA Victor RCA 2640, A-side – Full Version on the album "Station To Station" - released 23 January 1976 in the UK and USA on RCA Victor APL1 1327 and in the USA)

 

17. Sound And Vision (3:03 minutes)

(On the album "Low" - released January 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12030 and in the USA on RCA CPL1-2030 – also released 11 February 1977 as a UK 45-single, RCA Victor PB 0905, A-side)

 

18. Heroes (Single Version) (3:33 minutes)

(23 September 1977, UK 45-single, RCA Victor PB 1121, A-side – Full Version on the album "Heroes" - released October 1977 in the UK on RCA PL 12522 and in the USA on RCA AFL1-2522)

 

19. Boys Keep Swinging (3:17 minutes)

(27 April 1979, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 2, A-side – also on the album "Lodger" - released May 1979 in the UK on RCA PL 13254 and in the USA on RCA APL1-3254)

 

20. Fashion (Single Version) (3:26 minutes)

(31 October 1980, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 7, A-side – Full Version on the album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647)

 

21. Ashes To Ashes (Single Version) (3:35 minutes)

(8 August 1980, UK 45-single, RCA Victor BOW 6, A-side – Full Version on the album "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" - released September 1980 in the UK on RCA BOWLP 2 (PL 13647) and in the USA on RCA AQL1-3647)

 

CD2 (75:19 mnutes):

1. Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie (2011 Remaster) (4:08 minutes)

(30 October 1981, UK 45-single, EMI Records EMI 5260, A-side)

 

2. Let's Dance (Single Version) (4:08 minutes)

(14 March 1983, UK 45-Single, EMI America EA 135, A-side – Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

3. China Girl (Single Version) (4:15 minutes)

(11 June 1983, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 157, A-side - Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

4. Modern Love (Single Version) (3:56 minutes)

(12 September 1983, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 158, A-side - Full Version on the album "Let's Dance" – released 14 April 1983 in the UK on EMI America Records AML 3029 and in the USA on EMI America SO-17093)

 

5. Blue Jean (3:11 minutes)

(14 September 1984, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 181, A-side – also on the album "Tonight" – released 24 September 1984 in the UK on EMI America Records DB 1 and in the USA on EMI America SJ-17138)

 

6. This Is Not America – With The Pat Metheny Group (3:51 minutes)

(January 1985, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 190, A-side – also on the Soundtrack Album "The Falcon And The Snowman" released April 1985 in the UK on EMI America FAL 1)

 

7. Dancing In The Street (Clearmountain Mix) – David Bowie and Mick Jagger (3:07 minutes)

(27 August 1985, UK 45-single, EMI America EA 204, A-side)

 

8. Absolute Beginners (Edit) (4:46 minutes)

(3 March 1986, UK 45-single, Virgin VS 838, A-side – also Full Version on the Motion Picture Soundtrack Album "Absolute Beginners – The Musical" released 7 April 1986 in the UK on Virgin V 2386)

 

9. Jump They Say (Radio Edit aka 7" Version) (3:54 minutes)

(15 March 1993, UK Promo-Only 45-Single, Arista 74321 13942 7 JB, A-side – also March 1993, UK CD-Single on Arista 74321 139422– the Full Version (4:22 minutes) is on the "Black Tie White Noise" album from April 1993)

 

10. Hello Spaceboy (PSB Remix) – with The Pet Shop Boys (4:25 minutes)

(February 1996 UK CD-Single on RCA 74321353842 – Full Version (5:14 minutes) on the CD album "1. Outside (The Nathan Adler Diaries: A Hyper Circle" released 25 September 1995 on Arista 74321303392)

 

11. Little Wonder (Edit) (3:42 minutes)

(January 1997 UK CD-single 1 on RCA 74321452072 – Full Version (6:02 minutes) on the CD album "Earthling" released 3 February 1997 on RCA 7432144944 2)

 

12. I'm Afraid Of Americans (VI) (Radio Edit) (4:25 minutes)

(October 1997 US CD-single on Virgin USA 7243 8 38618 2 8 – Full Version (5:00 minutes) on the CD album "Earthling" released 3 February 1997 on RCA 7432144944 2)

 

13. Thursday's Child (Radio Edit) (4:26 minutes)

(20 September 1999 UK CD-single 2 on Virgin VSCDF 1753 – Full Version (5:24 minutes) on the CD album "Hours..." released 4 October 1999 on Virgin CDVX 2900)

 

14. Everyone Says 'Hi' (Edit) (3:29 minutes)

(September 2002 UK CD-single on Columbia 673134 3 – Full Version (3:58 minutes) on the CD album "Heathen" released 10 June 2002 on Columbia/ISO Records 508222 2)

 

15. New Killer Star (Radio Edit) (3:43 minutes)

(September 2003 UK CD Single, from the CD album "Reality")

 

16. Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA Edit) (4:07 minutes)

(October 2013 CD Single – also on the CD album "The Next Day")

 

17. Where Are We Now? (4:09 minutes)

(January 2013 CD Single - also on the CD album "The Next Day" 

 

18. Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) (7:23 minutes)

(New song released as a November 2014 CD Single, exclusive to the compilation "Nothing Has Changed")

 

Although it doesn't say so on the actual CDs or inlays – the sticker advises this is 'The Very Best Of' David Bowie - and as it contains material to 2014 – that was true at the time. The 16-page booklet has basic track entries and release dates but unfortunately none of them go into personnel or guests – Rick Wakeman of Yes playing Mellotron on "Space Oddity" – Mick Ronson giving it some wild English axe on "The Jean Genie" while co-writer Carlos Alomar does his guitar magic on "Fame" too – and so on. Most of the 2014 Remasters are by RAY STAFF who has been synonymous with Bowie's catalogue (some are 2009) and Mastering is by another venerable engineer VIC ANESINI – a huge name over at BMG with Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Aerosmith, Mountain, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King and loads more under his Audio belt. So it sounds the part through and through. To the chunes...

 

Even after all these years – the dip and dive thrills. I get so used to his White Boy Soul period being on album tracks from "Young Americans" and "Station To Station" that the brevity and punch-power of Single Versions for "Golden Years" and "Fame" come as a welcome diversion. "Ziggy Stardust", "Sound And Vision", "Heroes" and "Ashes To Ashes" all still amaze – but spare a dime for his brilliant cover of The Merseybeats tune "Sorrow" or the tart-with-a-heart "Boys Keep Swinging".

 

You might even think that "Under Pressure" (his duet with Queen) followed by a lethal one-two of "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" are too over-played by Hits Radio – but the single edits of the last two keep it fresh and zippy and all three still contain such extraordinary pizzazz – a young energy that does not seem to dissipate with the years but rather grow with them. For sure the musically lean period of "Tonight" in the Eighties where many lost faith in him ("Blue Jean" is too slight by far) is offset by those one-off nuggets - "This Is Not America" (with ace Fusion Guitarist Pat Metheny) and the Live Aid benefit single "Dancing In The Streets" with good old rubber lips (Mick Jagger) still lift the heart and the feet.

 

His 1993 to 2104 phase had its challenging slots too – so "Jump They Say", "Hello Spaceboy" with The Pet Shop Boys and "Little Wonder" may not roll off the tongue as easily as his hits-packed Seventies titles did – but they are still crackers and worthy of rediscovery frankly. And on it goes to the Martin Schneider Orchestra joining Bowie on the new song "Sue (Or in A Season Of Crime)" which has its lyrics on the second last page of the booklet. At seven-minutes plus, its lush orchestration has a humungous roll call of guest Trumpeters, Saxophonists, Flutists and Flugelhorn players as to make the eyes water. The lady Sue is informed by the singer that our boy got a loan so they can buy a house and the doctors have said that his results are good but she left him a note – she exited with a clown and his thoughts are now of crime and gravestones and what kissing her face felt like.

 

Kiss this bride if you get the chance and wonder will we ever see such variety and wit and genius and sheer funk in the one place again. God, I hope so...