"Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 18 Album and Single Tracks from 1968 to 1997 by Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Donnie Fritts, J.J. Cale, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Crazy Horse, Ry Cooder, Percy Sledge, Al Green, Thin Lizzy, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Mott The Hoople, Boz Scaggs, The Chi-Lites, Little Feat, Grateful Dead and more (October 2023 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: ****

 

"...You Sweet Thing...You're Driving Me Mad..."

 

I was kind of excited at the idea of the first Bobby Gillespie compilation in this series "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" - but truth be my mistress - the actual listen drove me nuts and had one too many disappointments in song choices (it was released 27 November 2015 in the UK on Ace Records CDCHD 1453 – Barcode 029667074124). I did like a few cuts for sure (mostly in the second half of the listen) - but not enough to get in a fidgety lather about.

 

Well – it seems that the Scottish Primal Scream lead singer and songwriter has gone all I-hear-you-pal psychic on my sorry Irish posterior and eardrums - because his second outing in the series "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" (27 Oct 2023 in the UK and 3 Nov 2023 in the USA) is much better - and frankly in its own self-lacerating way - a bit of a doozy. It also feels actually personal (and revealing) if not a tad too boo-hoo for its own good as the black and white poor-me cover-art photo implies.

 

The journey consists of 18 tracks on CD (15 album cuts and 3 single sides) ranging from professional two-timer Lee Hazelwood on Reprise Records in 1968 all the way up to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds going native on a clever Jimmy Webb cover version in 1986 while Bob Dylan professes to be truly sick of love in 1997 (the further outpost here and the darkest actually). The 2LP Vinyl Variant of "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" even has a 19^th Bonus as Track 5 on Side 1 - "In The Rain" by The Dramatics (Ace Records XXQLP2 098 – Barcode 0029667015417).

 

"I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" is about love on the road being tested, betrayed, lost, longed-for or maybe even formed in-between tourbus stops and Honky Tonks and the untenable nomad existence that is the life of all working musicians. Most of the cautionary tales are from Folk, Country, Country Rock, Soul and Rock journeyman and women feeling emotionally bummed out between 1970 and 1975. Because many are ballads – the jumps don't feel so severe – and work more often than not. I personally sequenced the CD to start at Track 6 - the stunning Crazy Horse song "I Don't Want To Talk About It" that Rod Stewart later covered and turned into a global smash - play down to 18 and then bring in Tracks 1 to 5 (a better listen for me). Discoveries, re-acquaintances, tugs on a fast receding memory lane - this comp is indeed a "Heart Like A Wheel". Let's get to the details...

 

UK released Friday, 27 October 2023 (3 November 2023 in the USA) - "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1605 (Barcode 029667106122) is an 18-Track CD Compilation (19-Track 2LP set) ranging from 1968 to 1997 that plays out as follows (76:52 minutes):

 

1. I Still Can't Believe You're Gone – WILLIE NELSON (from the March 1974 US LP "Phases And Stages" on Atlantic Records SD 7291)

 

2. Love Sick – BOB DYLAN (from the September 1997 US CD Album "Time Out Of Mind" on Columbia Records CK 68556)

 

3. We Had It All – DONNIE FRITTS (from the June 1974 US LP "Prone To Lean" on Atlantic SD 18117)

 

4. Magnolia – J. J. CALE (from his debut LP "Naturally" released November 1971 in the USA on Shelter SW-8908 and January 1972 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 68105)

 

5. By The Time I Get To Phoenix – NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (from the August 1986 UK LP "Kicking Against The Pricks" on Mute STUMM 28)

 

6. I Don't Want To Talk About It – CRAZY HORSE (from their debut album "Crazy Horse" issued on Reprise Records RS 6438 in the USA in February 1971 and April 1971 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6438)

 

7. Dark End Of The Street – RY COODER (from his 3rd album "Boomer's Story" released November 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2117 and in the UK on Reprise K 44224 – a James Carr cover version done as an instrumental)

 

8. Kind Woman – PERCY SLEDGE (July 1969 USA 45-single on Atlantic 45-2646, A-side – also on the 1969 South African-only LP "Wanted" on Atlantic ATC 9210)

 

9. Wait And See – LEE HAZELWOOD (from his June 1968 US LP "Love And Other Crimes" on Reprise RS 6297 in Stereo)

 

10. Strong As Death (Sweet As Love) – AL GREEN (June 1975 US 45-single on Hi Records 5N-2288, B-side of "Oh Me Oh My (Dreams In My Arms)" – also July 1975 UK 45-single on London HLU 10493 – same tracks)

 

11. Shades Of A Blue Orphanage – THIN LIZZY (from their second studio album "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" issued 10 March 1972 in the UK on Decca TXS 108 – no US release)

 

12. Heart Like A Wheel – KATE & ANNA McGARRIGLE (from their November 1975 US Debut LP "Kate & Anna McGarrigle" on Warner Brothers BS 2862, March 1976 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56218)

 

13. When My Mind's Gone – MOTT THE HOOPLE (from their second studio album "Mad Shadows" released September 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9119 and October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8272)

 

14. I'll Be Long Gone – BOZ SCAGGS (from his debut album "Boz Scaggs" released August 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8239, September 1969 in the UK on Atlantic 588 205)

 

15. The Coldest Days Of My Life Part 1 – THE CHI-LITES (July 1972 USA 45-single on Brunswick 55478, A-side)

 

16. Roll Um Easy – LITTLE FEAT (from their third US studio album "Dixie Chicken" released January 1973 on Warrner Brothers BS 2686)

 

17. Brokedown Palace – GRATEFUL DEAD (from their 5th studio album "American Beauty" released November 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1893)

 

18. I Feel Like Going Home – CHARLIE RICH (August 1973 US 45-single on Epic Records 5-11040, B-side of "The Most Beautiful Girl" – November 1973 UK 45-single on Epic Records S EPC 1897, as per US release)

 

Following on from a Track List on Page 2 that details album titles, catalogue numbers and year of release (three of the 18 are single-sides) – Page 3 starts the 24-pages of song-by-song explanations proper (I have elaborated on those in the list above). Anyone who knows Ace Records will know that these booklets are fab collages of single and LP labels, rare picture sleeves/album covers, a trade advert here and here etc. This time however is a bit more basic. Here we just get the album sleeves and occasional British 45 label instead of American issues (Al Green on London and The Chi-Lites on MCA).

 

Not that this is a bad thing - instead of photos, Gillespie waxes lyrical in huge amounts of text about every choice – paragraphs recalling the magical effect that Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott in their 1976 gig awesomeness had on young lads like him and Alan McGee – a lifetime love that will never die. Bobby talks about Richie Furay assembling the last Buffalo Springfield album and including what was essentially an outtake – his own song "Kind Woman" – that Percy Sledge then took to another level in his mournful Soul version. There's stuff about touring and the emotional toll it takes on every relationship a body enters into. It's a great read – personal yet informative and articulate. Genre-wise, the overall song choices are very much in the Country Rock meets edgy Sixties and Seventies Outlaw Rock and Soul veins – much of it dark for sure - but mellow also - and sometimes moving when you least expect it.

 

DUNCAN COWELL – longstanding Audio Engineer for Ace – has handled the transfers and Remasters and almost everything sounds super clean and clear – the noticeable odd-man-out being a wee bit of hiss on the J.J. Cale song – those debut album Shelter Records recordings notorious for being that way. All are in STEREO - so for almost all of it "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" is never less than an impressive listen audio-wise (at times beautiful). To the tunes...

 

It opens with Willie Nelson red-raw the morning after she done left him for the final time - "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" - and the Big Nell knows who is to blame on that fine 1974 dawn. His vocal bottom-of-the-barrel shivering hurt is helped by top musicians like Keyboardist Barry Beckett and most of the Fame Gang bringing up the rear (guitarist Pete Carr, Bassist David Hood and legendary drummer Rodger Hawkins). But I feel that the sparse Bob Dylan leap to 1997 for the "Time Out Of Mind" track "Love Sick" feels too jarring to me (I adore the album like most Zimmer fans but I would have gone with something else like the "Up To Me" outttake from "Blood On The Tracks" say). But things pick up instantly when we get a great lip-quiver pairing - "Magnolia" from J.J. Cale's staggeringly influential debut album on Shelter Records in 1971 (lyrics from it title this review) up to Nick Cave with his bad Seeds in 1986 doing Jimmy Webb via Glen Campbell on a oddly touching cover of "By The Time Get To Phoenix" – smart choices both.

 

Complimenting the Outlaw Country Music vide to the Willie Nelson song that gives the compilation its title – the seldom-seen let alone discussed Donnie Fritts album "Prone To Lean" from 1974 on Atlantic Records featured an astonishing line-up of talent – Billy Swann, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Jerry Wexler as well as ace singer and guitarist Eddie Hinton and keyboardist Barry Beckett (I know folks who scour albums for anything Eddie Hinton touched – a white guy who had a voice similar to Otis Redding). The Fritts entry "We Had It All" is a co-write with Troy Seals of Seals and Croft fame and with Wexler and Kristofferson at the Production buttons - sounds warm and glorious.

 

Essentially to become the backing band for Neil Young – Crazy Horse featured a huge array of talent on their first platter – Danny Whitten on Lead Guitar and Vocals with Nils Lofgren sharing the same – Jack Nitzsche on Piano and Vocals with Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina bringing up the Rhythm Section (Bass and Drums). The Crazy Horse self-titled debut album produced three US 45s using six sides from the 11-track LP - but bizarrely Reprise Records did not use nor seem to see what Rod Stewart clearly saw in the gorgeous "I Don't Want To Talk About It" – a Danny Whitten breakup-song winner nestled at the end of Side 1. Had Reprise aired this as a single – their fate might not have been so like Big Star – another great US melody band on a label that could not or would not break them nationally. My God even Ry Cooder plays slide on it. The sound for "I Don't Want To Talk About It" is glorious, the emotion real and the solar plexus hurt-wallop just about bearable – a very smart choice for a compilation like this.

 

Tapping into the Ry Cooder connection, Gillespie follows with a beautiful acoustic slide guitar instrumental version of the James Carr 60ts Soul classic "Dark End Of The Street" – just one of many gems on the third Ry Cooder album "Boomer's Story" from November 1972. Personally, I would also have tapped "Maria Elena" – another stunner instrumental from the "Boomer's Story" album that would have slotted in just nicely (see my review of the forgotten 2CD set "The Ry Cooder Anthology: The UFO Has Landed" on Rhino from 2008 which contains both songs in glorious Bernie Grundman Remastered form). Keeping it soulful – Gillespie now offers a Percy Sledge cover version of "Kind Woman" – the Richie Furay song on the third and final Buffalo Springfield album "Last Time Around" (July 1968, Atco SD 33-256). Sledge and Atlantic Records issued "Kind Woman" as a stand-alone 45-single A-side in July 1969 – a slow-cooking gurgling-under barnstormer.

 

The self-titled and deeply unassuming debut album for French-Canadian sisters Kate & Anna McGarrigle was received in late 1975 on Warner Brothers by the press (and musicians) as some sort of genius platter carved out of melody gold. A whole year earlier – American vocalist and song-interpreter Linda Ronstadt took one of Anna's then un-issued songs "Heart Like A Wheel" and named her entire album after it (November 1974 on Capitol Records). But you cannot deny the McGarrigle version here from 1975 that slays all in its path – their vocal power in full force from a very clean and clear remaster – those lyrics about a sinking ship out in mid ocean – only love can reduce us to such tears and hurt. That is followed by a deeply sombre Ian Hunter in full-throated Mott The Hoople glory - "Mad Shadows" flying away – just him on a piano with a lingering organ building in the minds-gone background. Relief comes in the slightly Burt Bacharach feel to Boz Scaggs doing "I'll Be Long Gone" – good but not really great and seriously showing its age. Far better is Eugene Record wrenching tears from us white blokes with his lush fabulous Chi-Lites sound on Part 1 of "The Coldest Days Of My Life..." – waves and gulls easing in the reminiscences of a day our hero made the big mistake of letting his lady walk away (I never tire of their Chicago Soul – me and my sis bought the singles on Brunswick with religious regularity).

 

It rolls home with a very tasty triple whammy – Little Feat, Grateful Dead and Charlie Rich – Lowell George achingly brilliant for "Roll Um Easy" – the Dead weary of the grinding road, longing for the river to rock their soul in the tuneful "Brokedown Palace" - while the Silver Fox closes out proceedings with the seriously sad yet resigned piano ballad "I Feel Like Going Home" – everything he done turned out wrong (Epic Records relegated the song to the flipside of the huge hit "The Most Beautiful Girl" on both sides of the pond).

 

I would have considered "Looking For Angeline" by Love And Money – a 1988 nugget on Fontana from 1988 – James Grant playing a National Steel blinder with echoed Harmonica bringing up the longing in the background. Maybe the moving Shawn Colvin cover version of the Judee Sill gem "There's A Rugged Road" from SC's 1994 compilation album of favourites "Cover Girl". On to Chris Smither doing a stunning reinterpretation of the Tim Hardin song "Don't Make Promises" from his 1999 CD album "Drive You Home Again". There must be hundreds more out there. Volume 2 anyone - "I Still Can't Believe You're Still Here".

 

Like so many of these compilations, it's a crapshoot. But "Bobby Gillespie Presents I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" wins on more entries than not (the Vinyl variant with its extra track is a tempting gift and a proper looker too). There are also more than enough discoveries here to please old hands and plenty to entice musical newcomers to sit up and take notice - maybe even visit those musical truck-stops that moved so many of us back in the suburban day.

 

On the long and lonely road to Kingdom Come – the Screamadelica Bobster has compiled a mix-tape worthy of your hard-earned Sovereigns and Petro-Dollars.

 

Dig in and pine no more ye Vagabonds of the Western World. Or as the mighty Rocker Phil Lynott of the much-missed Thin Lizzy used to sing "...Got my cycle outside...wanna ride!"

"Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 24 Single and Album Tracks by The John Barry Seven, Cat Stevens, Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull, Cressida, John and Beverly Martyn, Nick Drake, Linda Lewis, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, Ralph McTell, Dave Evans, Dana Gillespie, Quintessence, Humble Pie, Al Stewart, Shelagh McDonald and more (September 2023 UK - October 2023 USA Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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Rating: ****
 

"...Things Are Great In Notting Hill Gate..."

 

I have had a hard time with some Bob Stanley CD compilations for Ace Records – loved a few – hated others. 

 

But this 'A To Z' journey through the Sixties and Seventies folk side of British Music with London themes built into every song is a very clever little road-map indeed. Sure – some songs are here only because they fit the street/borough criteria, but actually, the choices are cool and the easy-going busman's holiday vibe works as a cohesive whole. To your all zones pass...the details...my bedsit commuters of love...

 

UK released Friday, 29 September 2023 (6 October 2023 in the USA) - "Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1638 (Barcode 029667109024) is a 24-Track CD Compilation of Single and Album Track Remasters that plays out as follows (72:53 minutes):

 

1. Cutty Sark – THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN and ORCHESTRA (March 1962 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 4806, A-side)

2. Portobello Road – CAT STEVENS (September 1966 UK Debut 45-single on Deram DM 102, B-side of "I Love My Dog")

3. Sunny Goodge Street – MARIANNE FAITHFULL (from her fourth album "North Country Maid" released April 1966 in the UK on Decca LK 4778 in Mono only)

4. Jeffery Goes To Leicester Square – JETHRO TULL (from their second studio album "Stand Up" - released 27 July 1969 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9013)

5. Marcel's - HERMAN'S HERMITS (29 December 1967 UK 45-single on Columbia DB 8327, B-side of "I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving")

6. Goodbye Post Office Tower, Goodbye – CRESSIDA (from their second album "Asylum" released January 1971 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 025)

7. Primrose Hill – JOHN and BEVERLEY MARTYN (from his 4th studio album "The Road To Ruin" issued November 1970 on Island ILPS 9133)

8. Mayfair – NICK DRAKE (from the January 1987 UK Posthumous LP compilation "Time Of No Reply" on Hannibal Records HNBL 1318)

9. London Bridge – CILLA BLACK (7 February 1969 UK 45-single on Parlophone R 5759, B-side of "Surround Yourself With Sorrow")

10. Hampstead Way – LINDA LEWIS (from her debut album "'Say No More...'" issued 1971 in the UK on Reprise Records K 44130)

11. Soho – BERT JANSCH and JOHN RENBOURN (from the September 1966 UK LP "Bert And John" on Transatlantic Records TRA 144)

12. Friday Hill – BULLDOG BREED (on the UK album "Made In England" released January 1970 on Deram Nova DN 5 (Mono) and SDN 5 (Stereo) - Stereo mix is used. Band featured BERNARD JINKS and KEITH CROSS who went on to form T2. Cross also teamed up with Peter Ross and produced a lovely folky type album called "Bored Civilians" released July 1972 on Decca SKL 5129 (see separate review))

13. London Social Degree – DANA GILLESPIE (from her October 1969 UK LP "Foolish Seasons" on Decca SKL 5012)

14. Euston Station – BARBARA RUSKIN (28 April 1967 UK 45-single on Parlophone R 5593, A-side)

15. Kew Gardens – RALPH McTELL (from his third studio album "My Side Of Your Window" released December 1969 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 209)

16. City Road – DAVE EVANS (from his October 1971 UK Debut LP "The Words In Between" on The Village Thing Records VTS 6)

17. Parliament Hill – MAGNA CARTA (from their June 1971 UK Debut album "Songs From Wasties Orchard" on Vertigo Records 6360 040)

18. Edgware Station – EDWARD BEAR (from their fourth US LP "My Side Of Your Window" released January 1973 on Capitol ST-11157)

19. Beckton Dumps – HUMBLE PIE (from the 2LP set "Eat It" released April 1973 in the UK on A&M Records AMLS 6004 and March 1973 in the USA on A&M Records SP-3701)

20. Notting Hill Gate – QUINTESSENCE (October 1969 UK Debut 45-single on Island WIP 6075, A-side)

21. Clapham Junction – NORMA TANEGA (from the album "I Don't Think It Will Hurt If You Smile" released 1971 in the UK on RCA Victor SF 8217)

22. Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres – AL STEWART (from his October 1967 UK Debut Album "Bed Sitter Images" on CBS Records S BPG 63087 – reissued June 1970 in the UK as "The First Album" on CBS Records S 64023)

23. Richmond – SHELAGH McDONALD (from her debut LP "Shelagh McDonald Album" released October 1970 in the UK on B&C Records CAS 1019)

24. Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge – JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY (from their third release, the 2LP set "Streetnoise" released May 1969 in the UK on Marmalade 608005/6 and June 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 2-701)

NOTES:

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 to 12 and 15 to 24 in STEREO

Tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and 14 in MONO

 

Following on from the reproduction of the colour front page of The Sunday Times Magazine of 1969 on Page 2 that features a gorgeous Julie Driscoll in her best big hat repose – Page 3 starts the 20-pages of song-by-song explanations proper (24 mini notelets). Anyone who knows Ace Records will know that these booklets are fab collages of single and LP labels, rare picture sleeves/album covers, a trade advert (the first Quintessence 45 on Island from October 1969) and so on. Compiler BOB STANLEY gives detailed appraisals of his choices that all act as a musical mooch around a London of yesteryear (and its un-sung suburbs as the back inlay implies). It's a great read – informative too – the overall song choices very much in the Folk, Folk Rock and Hippy Tradition of things (a mellow yellow listen in other words).

 

DUNCAN COWELL – longstanding Audio Engineer for Ace – has handled the transfers and Remasters and almost everything sounds super clean and clear – the noticeable odd-man-out being the Nick Drake demo. I should add that despite the tracks jumping from Mono to Stereo (especially in the first half of the listen) – the segue feels good - and as it moves into the Tracks 15 to 24 Stereo run - is never less than an impressive listen audiowise. To the tunes...

 

After a very cool start with the instrumental "Cutty Sark" – a dapper John Barry Seven giving in some secret agent lounge room before Bond even knew who he was – the Mr. Smoothy flow fades fast with the dreadfully twee Cat Stevens flipside "Portobello Road". Things pick-up with the Harmonica and Acoustic doom of Marianne Faithfull talking about hashish smokers and magicians and other hippy neer-do-wells on her version of Donovan's "Sunny Goodge Street". On Tull's much-anticipated second studio album "Stand Up" in late July 1969 (their first UK No.1) sat Track 2 on Side 1 – the speaker-to-speaker "Jeffery Goes To Leicester Square". It's a clever choice – lead singer and principal songwriter Ian Anderson swirling the production with phasing giving the song that so Tull feel. "Jeffrey..." and his trip to the famous tourist Merry-go-round area of the Capitol City comes complete with observational lyrics about what was on TV at the time while the populous/tourists gleefully took in the local colour - Ian A's insights sounding way too smart for a beggar standing on one leg with a flute in his hand.

 

Herman's Hermits urge you and "Marcel" to go down to his houseboat on the Thames where men with long eyelashes inhabit this East End wonderland – odd creatures with unfamiliar features keeping it groovy man in the London Borough of Wapping. Not so sure whether I like or just admire the darlings of Vertigo Spiral albums Cressida and their piano-plinking "Goodbye Post Office Tower, Goodbye" where they urge the capitols authorities to just blow up the GPO and be done with it. Better (always better) is John and Beverly Martyn giving it some 'sun going down' on "Primrose Hill" – the kind of Saxophone (Ray Warleigh) and Piano (Paul Harris) hippy ditty she must cringe at in 2023 (it was relevant then in 1970). Lovely production values though. The same cannot be said (unfortunately) for the Nick Drake cut "Mayfair" – a clearly demo-ish outtake that featured on the posthumous album "Time Of No Reply" – nice to have him here but the song is weak and the tin-can audio off-putting.

 

Leaping from the outside lavvy to serious EMI production values – we next get Cilla Black getting soulful and affecting on a beloved B-side. Written by her then hubby Bob Willis and Denmark Street songwriter Clive Westlake, "London Bridge" is the kind of pretty ditty that doesn't get aired enough and kudos to Bob Stanley for spotting its rightful place here. Leaping from that into real Soul, we get true vocal acrobatics from Linda Lewis on her fantastic fun-to-funky "Hampstead Way" – a self-penned gem on her 1971 debut album that features fabulous electric guitar picking from Chris Spedding - soft one second - attacking the next as the pace builds up only to mellow out again. The great lady only passed in May 2023, so for me the Linda Lewis cut is one of at least three genius choices on this intriguing compilation (see also Dave Evans and Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger at the end).

 

While the Bert Jansch and John Renbourn song "Soho" rattles around your speakers with their staggering musicality, there is unfortunately more than a touch of the plodding to "Friday Hill" by Bulldog Breed – not quite a doggy doo-doo but not far off it either. "London Social Degree" (a Billy Nicholls song) and "Euston Station" (Ruskin original) see two ladies Dana Gillespie and Barbara Ruskin comment on street life in the capitol – stressed out people in dead-end jobs not paying nearly enough attention to flowers and trees and their world hurtling into the war-machine abyss. They are good but not really great truth be told. Better for me is the gorgeous "Kew Gardens" by Ralph McTell – beautifully supported by the fay-but-too-fay vocals of Ruth and Brian Britain of the obscure British Folk outfit English Tapestry – a plaintive ballad that could only have come from the optimism of the late 60ts. A smart choice then that is in turn followed by my second fave track on the comp – the genuine discovery of Dave Evans and his winding-down song "City Road".

 

Very much in the vein of acoustic Nick Drake, John Martyn and Meic Stevens by way of a Welsh Leonard Cohen (Evans is from Bangor – a few train stops from Hollyhead in North Wales) – the song may make you rush to buy his debut album "The Words In Between" from October 1971 on the UK Folky/World Music label The Village Thing Records. It is seriously rated by Folk and Folk Rock aficionados – reissued by Earth Records here in the UK in 2018 on CD and already hard-to-find. City Road was an industrial district that housed the Gordon’s Gin distillery (G&T with the D&E). The track has sweetly lovely audio quality with second vocals from Adrienne J. Webber who had her own self-titled solo album in 1976 on Anchor Records as AJ Webber – nursery rhymes and ice-cream chimes. 

 

The rare Norma Tanega 1971 album "I Don't Think It Will Hurt If You Smile" on RCA Victor featured instrumentals in-between songs that referenced London hot-spots - "Clapham Junction" being the one that opened Side 2 with a giggle from her and the musicians having an Acoustic-ish Funk-Up. Who doesn't love every second of Steve Marriott's voice even on a lesser Humble Pie song (he could recite the phone-book and make any London boy shed a tear of joy). And on it goes to a cool duo of lady album-enders - "Richmond" by Shelagh McDonald – a sophisticated slice of musicianship from her revered B&C Records Debut Album of 1970 – in turn followed by the glorious near seven-minute passion of Julie Driscoll giving it some I-hope-you-find-what-you're-looking-for searching in the vocals and acoustic guitar duet "Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge". So sixties, but also looking forward too – a perfect finisher for the compilation.

 

I am certain some punters will look in vain for bigger inclusions like "Richmond" by the Faces from their 1970 second album "Long Player", or pushing the time-frame boundaries a little – maybe the pretty "Portobello Belle" by Dire Straits from their 1979 second album "Communiqué" (probably licensing issues). Or how about "Piccadilly" by the Irish Folk Duo Tir na n'Og from their May 1971 self-titled debut album on Chrysalis Records. I'll bet the list could go on to a Vol.2...

 

So for sure 2023's "Bob Stanley Presents LONDON A To Z: 1962 to 1973" is not all CD compilation genius (there isn't a Vinyl variant either). But there are more than enough discoveries to please old hands and plenty to entice musical newcomers to sit up and take notice and maybe even seek out these lesser-trodden paths. And for any compiler/influencer - that's a job well done.

 

A very cool little compilation – recommended – and contender for the 2023 CD Reissue Lists in someone's December Magazine...

"1981-1998" by DEAD CAN DANCE – Demo Sessions, Album Tracks, EPs, Outtakes, Compilation and BBC Exclusives, Previously Unreleased and Their Last Studio Recording from 1998 – Featuring Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard (November 2001 UK 4AD 3CD and 1DVD Book Set of Remasters (47 Audio and 19 Visual Tracks) with Rare and Previously Unreleased Material) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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This Review and 229 more like it are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,885 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

Rating: ****

 

"...The Song Of The Sybil..."

 

I both love and loathe this release.

 

Typical of most 4AD cryptically displayed releases – it has drop-dead gorgeous and deeply pretentious packaging – managing a kind of snooty disdain for actual informational fact that is quite literally breathtaking.

 

But then there's the music inside DCDBOX1 - and of course other adjectives start to surface in your vernacular that are less than sarky and more about ethereal rapture and general head-bobbing in the man-cave - as you glibly praise your consummate good taste for having anything by DEAD CAN DANCE in your house in the first place.

 

I do love me a good ye olde Brendan Perry Renaissance Rhythm with a Gregorian Chant juxtapositioned onto a Modern Classical percussive drone and all wrapped up with echoed I'm-giving-birth-to-a-Centurion vocals from Lisa Gerrard. And then the sung languages I don't understand – yummy. There is a behemoth here to explain, so to The Song of the Sybil...

 

UK released 19 November 2001 - "1981-1998" by DEAD CAN DANCE on 4AD Records DCDBOX1 (Barcode 652637210927) is a 3CD and 1DVD Career Retrospective featuring Demo Sessions, Album Tracks, Non-LP EPs, Outtakes from Album Sessions, Compilation Exclusives, Previously Unreleased and Their Last Studio Recording from 1998. It is presented in a Hard Card Outer Slipcase, Outer Single Page Credits Sheet and inside a 103-Page Embossed Book with Pouches for the 3CDs and 1DVD. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (76:17 minutes):

1. Frontier (Demo)

Track 1 is an early version recorded in Melbourne in 1981; included on the 29 June 1987 UK 2LP compilation "Lonely Is An Eyesore" on 4AD CAD 703. There is a version of the song on the debut self-titled album, but that is a re-record and remix from 1986

 

2. Labour Of Love (Radio)

3. Ocean (Radio)

4. Orion (Radio)

5. Threshold (Radio)

Tracks 2 to 5 recorded 19 November 1983 for The John Peel Show on the BBC. "Ocean" and "Threshold" were re-recordings of songs on their self-titled debut album while "Orion" and "Labour Of Love" were new songs and unreleased at the time – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

6. Carnival Of Light (Radio)

Track 6 is a second John Peel Session recorded 2 June 1984 for the BBC Radio 1 Radio Show – it is a re-recording of a song that appeared originally in the UK on the 12" 4-Track EP "Garden Of Arcane Delights" released April 1984 on 4AD BAD 408 (see also Track 7)

 

7. In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated

Track 7 appeared originally in the UK on the 12" 4-Track EP "Garden Of Arcane Delights" released April 1984 on 4AD BAD 408 (see also Track 6)

 

8. De Profundis (Out Of The Depths Of Sorrow)

9. Avatar

10. Enigma Of The Absolute

Tracks 8 to 10 are from their second studio album "Spleen And Ideal" released November 1985 in the UK on 4AD CAD 512. Track 8 features Andrew Hutton on Soprano Vocals

 

11. Summoning Of The Muse

12. Anywhere Out Of This World

13. Windfall

14. Cantara

Tracks 11 to 14 are from their third studio album "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" released 27 June 1987 in the UK on 4AD CAD 705

 

15. In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings

Track 15 from their fourth studio album "The Serpent's Egg" released 24 October 1988 in the UK on 4AD CAD 808

 

16. Bird

Track 16 from their first compilation "A Passage Of Time" released 21 October 1991 on CD in the UK on 4AD CAD 1010 CD

 

17. The Protagonist

Track 17 is an Instrumental recorded during the "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" sessions in April and May 1987 – released 29 June 1987 in the UK on the 2LP compilation "Lonely Is An Eyesore" on 4AD CAD 703 as an exclusive track

 

CD2 (77:46 minutes):

1. Severance

2. The Host of Seraphim

3. Song Of Sophia

Tracks 1 to 3 are from their fourth studio album "The Serpent's Egg" released 24 October 1988 in the UK on 4AD CAD 808

 

4. The Arrival & The Reunion

5. Black Sun

6. The Promised Womb

7. Saltarello

8. The Song Of The Sybil

Tracks 4 to 8 are from their fifth studio album "Aion" released 2 July 1990 in the UK on 4AD CAD 007 (LP) and 4AD CAD 007 CD (CD). "The Arrival & The Reunion" features David Navarro Sust on Lead Vocals

 

9. Spirit

Track 9 recorded for their first compilation "A Passage Of Time" released 21 October 1991 on CD in the UK on 4AD CAD 1010 CD – but also released September 1993 as one of two extra tracks on the VINYL edition of the "Into The Labyrinth" 2LP set on 4AD DAD 3013 (the other extra track was "Birds" – see Track 16 on CD1)

 

10. Yulunga

11. The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove

Tracks 10 and 11 are from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)

 

12. Sloth (Radio)

Track 12 recorded live 16 August 1993 in the USA for the Santa Monica Community Radio KCRW Show 'Morning Becomes Eclectic'. Originally titled "Dragging My Feet" in 1993 - a version of the song eventually turned up as "Sloth" on the Brendan Perry solo album "Eye Of The Hunter" released 4 Oct 1999 on 4AD CAD 9015 CD

 

13. Brylar

Track 13 was recorded live 10 July 1996 at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, U.S.A. – first issued as a Lisa Gerrard track on the 1996 US CD compilation "The Echoes Living Room Concerts (Volume 2)" on Echodiscs EDC 1002 (written by Perry and Gerrard) – see also Track 16 for the same sessions

 

14. The Carnival Is Over

15. The Spider's Stratagem

Tracks 14 and 15 are from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)

 

16. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Radio)

Track 16 also recorded live 10 July 1996 at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, U.S.A. – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

17. How Fortunate The Man With None

Track 17 is from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)

 

CD3 (71:22 minutes):

1. I Can See Now

2. American Dreaming

3. Tristan

4. Sanvean

5. Rakim

6. Gloridean

7. Don't Fade Away

Tracks 1 to 7 recorded Live at the Mayfair Theater, Santa Monica in California on the 1993 US tour – UK released 24 October 1994 as their seventh album -the Live Set "Toward The Within" on 4AD DAD 4015 CD. The song "Gloridean" was recorded for the movie (on the Video version of the "Toward The Within" release) - but omitted from the Audio Album (released here). Note: Lisa Gerrard did re-record the track as "Gloradin" on her first solo album "The Mirror Pool" released 21 April 1995 on 4AD CAD 5009 CD

 

8. Nierika

9. Song Of The Nile

10. Sambatiki

11. Indus

12. The Snake & The Moon (Edit)

Tracks 8 to 12 are from their eight and final album "Spiritchaser" released 17 June 1996 in the UK on 4AD CAD 6008 CD. The song "Sambatiki" was given away as an exclusive to purchasers of the US "Spiritchaser" Tour Program while "The Snake & The Moon" is a US Radio Edit Version of 4:14 minutes used for Promotional purposes in the USA (Warner Bros PRO-CD-8306-R) – the full album version is 6:11 minutes

 

13. The Lotus Eaters

Track 13 recorded 1998 at Quivvy Church in Co. Cavan in Ireland as a song for the follow-up album to "Spiritchaser" (the same venue used for the "Into The Labyrinth" and "Spiritchaser" albums) – the session were abandoned and this is the only recording from them – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

DVD (Video, PAL)

Main Menu Songs (Produced and Directed by Mark Magidson)

1. Opening Credits

2. Rakim

3. Song Of The Sybi

4. I Can See Now

5. American Dreaming

6. Cantara

7. The Wind That Shakes The Barley

8. I Am Stretched On Your Grave

9. Desert Song

10. Oman

11. Gloridean

12. Tristan

13. Sanvean

14. Don't Fade Away

 

DVD Additional Performances

15. The Carnival Is Over (Directed by Ondrej Rudavsky)

16. The Host Of Seraphim (Taken from Baraka: A Mark Magidson Production/A Ron Fricke Film)

17. Yulunga (Spirit Dance) (Images from Baraka: A Mark Magidson Production/A Ron Fricke Film)

18. Frontier (Directed by Nigel Grierson at 23 Envelope)

19. The Protagonist (Directed by Nigel Grierson at 23 Envelope)

 

The plain white Hard Card Slipcase has A Single Credits Sheet glue-attached to shrinkwrap on the rear which of course falls apart the second you unwrap it. Inside that is a 103-Page Embossed Hard Card Digibook sporting 3CDs and 1DVD - all in Pouches (the CDs themselves in protective white inners). Credits for each set of songs follows, then lyrics (only those in English) and loads of mostly nondescript photos that are completely useless. The near 60-page band text history is impressive – peppered with those unexplained photos (too small in a non-LP sized package to be have any impact) and new interviews with the main protagonists – Perry and Gerrard. The front cover has DEAD CAN DANCE 1981-1998 embossed into the card and that's it. None of the pages have numbers, but after the liner notes part, at least the explanations of where each track fits in are thorough enough (I have provided catalogue numbers and full release dates). They also advise what is Previously Unreleased, Last Recording, BBC Material etc - and why.

 

The Audio is fabulous - Remasters by JOHN DENT and JASON MITCHELL done at LOUD except for Tracks 8 to 14 and 17 on Disc 1 which were done by JOHN A. RIVERS. Even as you get into say "De Profundis (Out of The Depths Of Sorrow)" from the album that made everyone sit up and take notice ("Spleen And Ideal") or The Cure-like early stuff like "Carnival Of Light" - the sound borders on Audiophile even it is that old. Dead Can Dance were notorious for Audio perfection (if it could be achieved) and when you listen to the lone guitar notes being picked out at the beginning of "Enigma Of The Absolute" followed by big kettle drums - you have to say that the huge soundscape really pays off in Remastered form. The other thing you immediately notice too is the clever crisscrossing of vocalists in their tunes - LISA GERRARD one moment then the deep tones of BRENDAN PERRY the next - the duo being the core and heart of DEAD CAN DANCE. 

I can vividly recall playing the "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" album from 1987 at Reckless Records in Islington and Soho (when I worked there) and punters rushing to the counter wanting to know where all the doomy ethereal was coming from - and how come it sounded so damn good. "Windfall" with its dense keyboard soundscapes and breathy treated flutes always did it too - and here its sounds otherworldly good. And while I was intrigued by the moody organ of "Severance" and the Kettle Drums of "The Host Of Seraphim" with Lisa's staggering old-cathedral chants made real (both on "A Serpent's Egg") - I have to say "Aion" was the album that truly lifted my heart skyward. There is stunning audio on her multi-layered vocals on "The Arrival & The Reunion" while those huge synth and brass notes that backbeat "Black Sun" are killer (Perry wailing). But again if we wanted punters storming the sales counter - we needed only feature the Olde English Court dance of "Salterello" - its rhythms blasting out of your speakers with a clarity that is hair-raising (or is that a jug of Meade). And again the vocal pairing of Perry and Gerrard strikes up genuine magic with the beautiful and moving and yes lonesome "The Song Of The Sybil" - surely where Lisa Gerrard's Oscar winning journey to the soundtrack of Ridley Scott's 2000 movie "Gladiator" begun. By the time I reach CD3 with the prudish and dry "Toward The Within" - it is the "Spiritchaser" and "Into The Labyrinth" albums that kept me playing their albums. And who among DCD fans will be able to resist the fabulous "Spirit" - a groove that even Rock-Soul fans would dig - or the Middle Eastern camel ride of "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove". 

 

I found the Visual side of this release extremely disappointing. First up it's a DVD and not a BLU RAY and while that might sound nitpicking - you very quickly begin to realize the DVD's picture reproduction limitations when you play 'Main Program' which is the "Toward The Within" concert. The audio is fab, but the picture quality is not great at all - blurry in most parts and covering the band of seven musicians in only one or two angles. So when Lisa (looking like a witch version of Rick Wakeman in her long robe) goes into "Song Of The Sybil" - her vocals astound - like Kate Bush's taller and better sister - but the visual is only O.K. and barely moves away from facing her head-on for the whole duration of the tune. Brendan drags out that 12-string for the largely acoustic "American Dreaming" - and what a touching winner it is. The second Main Menu slot is 'Promotional Videos' that offers the five titles listed above. Best visually, musically and just plain Tom Waits mad - is "The Carnival Is Over" - that would be described as a trippy Terry Gilliam visual-fest meets Talking Heads jerkiness as horses in medieval drag and hats and bicycles and dogs go by - and all of it choreographed to Dead Can Dance music (nice). Some of the others are just film of volcanoes or shrubbery or dead tree stumps and quickly become tedious. The last is a 'Discography' - a nice touch and not mentioned in the book.

 

Packaging niggles aside - some years after the 47 Audio and 19 Video components of "1981-1998" sold out and with demand for a sort of Dead Can Dance one-stop compilation more accessible to the masses still in the air – 4AD slimmed down the original release to a 2CD 26-Track All-Audio variant and called it "Wake" (given the crap on the DVD above, it's hardly surprising they dropped all the visual content). 

 

The compilation "Wake" was released 5 May 2003 on 4AD DAD 2303 CD (Barcode 652637230321) – CD1 with 14 Tracks and CD2 with 12 - and with that same quality Remastering - is available from many auction sites often for less than a fiver skydiver – a great British way to get into a great Australian band.

 

But if you want the seriously deep dive into DEAD CAN DANCE and are prepared to pay the big bucks - then "1981-1998" is the Ubiquitous De Profundis Summoning Of The Muse Seraphim Stratagem for you. 

 

Go you Ambient Tribal Ethereal Abstract goer you...